Datasets:

NewEden

/

rp-logs-rated

like 1

Follow

New Eden 25

The Shadow of South Carolina (True Grave & The Unusual Panda)

Brandon Price sat quietly on a bus as it moved along the oceans of roadways that it had to cross between New York and South Carolina. He was a young man, only 21, but felt like had lived ten times that in lifetimes. He was a fifth degree black belt in Fang Karate, a school founded by his father, Thomas Price, who was a Karate Master and current Heavyweight Champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, or UFC. The Price family was full of warriors of many disciplines, but Brandon's path at 18 had been unorthodox and illegal, going underground to pit fight with dangerous and ruthless men. His father's manager, Roger Adler, had coached Brandon through it, and the two had made a bundle of money. He had fought constantly, racking up an incredible five hundred straight victories in the arena to become its champion, earning his nickname, the Dragon of the Underground. Brandon fought five hundred more times, all straight victories, and retired undefeated with a record of 1000-0. It had been harder than anyone could imagine, and he had suffered devastating injuries at times. Even after all that fighting, Brandon was never truly sure that he was the best, because it was a huge world out there, and he was just the underground champ of one city. Though he could have toured the world, he wanted to be sure that he was really as good as he could be in the United States first. Moreover, he wanted to do it alone, without Roger's good but greedy coaching. So, he began his own tour of the country, fighting his way to the top in ten states at multiple clubs and arenas. Brandon had returned home recently to visit with his family and Roger, letting them know of his progress and what was going on in his life. Then, he packed up his few belongings and hopped on a bus to South Carolina. He had not visited a southern state before, and he wanted to see how different it was from northern fighting circuits. The bus was supposed to reach the city today, and he smiled as it pulled into the station. When the doors opened, he stepped off with the other passengers and began heading through the terminal. As he stepped out of the terminal, the bright sun almost blinded him, forcing him to cover his brown eyes with his hand. He whistled to hail a cab, having perfected the way to do it in his home borough of Manhattan. When the cab stopped, he handed him a fifty and asked him to take him to the nearest bar, since bar patrons always know where stuff goes down. The Abbie was not very talkative, but he was friendly and courteous enough to ask him some basic questions and be sociable. Brandon got out at the first bar he saw, a place called the "Georgia Snake Pit", which actually sounded promising for what he wanted. When he stepped inside and saw a big MMA cage in the center of the bar, he knew he had struck gold. There was a woman working the bar, and he strode over to her. The place was pure country bar, with guys wearing cowboy hats and women in tied shirts riding mechanical bulls. Some of the men eyed him curiously, but not in an unfriendly way, it was just different to see a young man in a Hood, track pants, and sneakers around here. The air conditioner next to the bar caught his hair, forcing him to brush his brown hair from his eyes. He sat at the bar and gave the woman a nice smile." Hey, there. If you could tell me how to enter into that cage fighting event, I would appreciate it." Winter was currently running around like a chicken with her head cut off, the petite girl cursing her father under her breath as she flew through the bar, trying to get e everything done. Of course, he left her alone to run the bar on the busiest day of the week. It was fight night, which meant that in about seven hours, every person within a five-mile radius would be in here, shouting over each other and shoving money in each other's faces to bet on the fighters. The nineteen-year-old wasn't necessarily a fan of the fighters, mostly because almost all of them were arrogant and thought that they could get in her pants the second they won a fight, just because she was the daughter of the owner. Boy, did they have another thing coming. She was spit and vinegar, and she had to be. She worked in the city around drunk men that were constantly grabbing at her. And the work uniform didn't really leave a ton to the imagination; A low cut, long sleeve plaid shirt that was tied right above her midriff, a pair of absolutely form fitting faded jean shorts, and, of course, cowboy boots. They got a lot of customers from all around, so her father wanted to really perpetuate that southern girl stereotype, even if it meant his own daughter walking around in what she considered barely anything. Finally, back at the bar, she let herself breathe, silvery blonde curls falling into her face as she leaned down to grab a glass from under the counter. She filled it up with whiskey, the amber liquid shining in the sunlight that was coming through a skylight above her as she dumped some ice into it. Although she technically wasn't legally allowed to drink yet, her father didn't care as long as she didn't get wasted in front of the customers. Her pale aqua colored eyes scanned the bar slowly, immediately stopping on a man who had just entered the bar. He stuck out like a sore thumb for obvious reasons, but she immediately knew his type. He was a fighter, or at least a troublemaker from the way he carried himself, and she wanted no part of it. She turned around quickly, not even getting a good look at him as she took a sip of her drink and placed it on the back of the bar. Of course, when she heard the voice behind her ask about the fight, she knew it was him. Everyone around here knew that in order to fight, you had to sign up at least 24 hours in advance, so she just sort of shook her head, her voice somewhat stern as if she expected trouble as she turned around." Listen, you can't just walk on in here and expel-"As she came face to face with him however, her voice caught in her throat, the young woman staring at him for a moment before swallowing hard. His smile caught her off guard, and she immediately looked down at the counter as she composed herself. See, Winter hadn't ever really had a boyfriend. Well, technically in eight grade she had kissed a boy, but that was it. She went through a sort of ugly duck stage in high school, and it wasn't until senior year that she blossomed into the gorgeous thing she was now. But by then, she had learned how nasty people could be, and no one in her town would ever get anywhere with her romantically. She looked back up at him not even a second later, smiling slightly as she tucked her hair behind her ear." You can't just expect to sign up for a fight without buyin' a drink first… I have to get the paperwork together and walk you through the rules." She said sweetly, trying to adjust her shirt to cover more of her larger than average chest. The blonde reached under the counter and took out a rather thick roster, placing it onto the counter with a thud as she opened it up to tonight's list. She looked over the open slots, biting her lip slightly before smiling. An odd number of people had signed up, which made it work out perfectly for him to sign up. As long as her father didn't find out, she'd be golden." Normally, you have to sign up the day before, at least, but I'm going to make an exception cause you ain't from around here. You just can't let my father find out, otherwise he'll have my hide. Rules are no shirts, no shoes, no belts, no weapons. Fighting in any way, shape, or form is allowed, oh, and you have to sign this waiver, in case you get killed or something'." She slipped a piece of paper in front of him, which pretty much alleviated all responsibility of the bar in case of death or injury. After all, they had to pretend as if they followed the rules of the state. She then held a pen out to him, smiling slightly as she looked over his face slowly." So, you want to sign up?" The bartender reacted with unexpected sternness and vigor as she turned around, but then her voice caught in her throat as soon as she looked at him. Brandon was a good-looking and confident young man, so he was used to women acting this way around him. The woman was smokin' hot, and that outfit was enhancing that. As she adjusted her attitude and the neckline of her shirt to try and cover more of her large bust, he pulled a twenty out of his pocket and held it between two fingers as he offered it to her." In that case, give me a draft of anything and tell me what I need to do." He would have given her more, since he had plenty to spare, but didn't think it was a good idea to start flashing cash around here until these locals knew how tough he was. The roster she pulled out was pretty thick, which was good, because it meant more people to fight. She explained to him that he needed to sign up at least a day before the fighting started, which explained her earlier irritability." Well, I appreciate you giving this out-of-townee a break." She then seemed to fear her father's wrath for signing him up." Your dad runs the joint, huh?" She laid out for him that the fighting was bare knuckles and bare feet only, the same rules as everywhere else. Brandon took the pen from her and chuckled." That's what I came to this city for." He filled out the paperwork, including his name, height, weight, age, and any nicknames he went by. He chose to leave off his old nickname because this was a fresh start, and just left it blank for now. Brandon then signed the waiver and gave all the paperwork back to the bartender. He fixed her with a good-natured glint in his eyes." Do you have a place I can change into my fighting outfit? If not, I can always strip down here." Every time Brandon fought, he always wore a pair of black trunks similar to the kind the professional fighters in the UFC wear. It gave him maximum maneuverability and nothing to hold back whatever kind of attack he wanted to do." Also, if I could get something to eat with that beer, I would appreciate it. I need some fuel to get my engine going." Winter took the money and opened the register, making change for it before placing it onto the counter. She then went ahead and started pouring the beer, hair falling into her face slightly as she nodded." Yeah… he built it from the ground up before I was born. Made something' out of nothin', I guess. But more and more often, lately, I'm in charge of this place, and he's doin' God knows what." She laughed slightly as the glass finished filling, the girl placing it onto the counter along with a napkin for him before smiling. There weren't a lot of people she had met that signed up for a fight in this place without at least seeing one first. She wondered if he knew what kind of trouble he was getting himself into, but then again, it was none of her business. He was a grown man, and he had signed a legal document. It was no skin off of her nose if he wanted to get beaten into a bloody pulp on what she presumed was his first night in town." We have a room out back you can get changed into 'fore you go out, and I can get you somethin' from the kitchen now. I hope you like southern food." She smiled and headed back from behind the counter, full hips swaying quickly as she walked quickly through the kitchen door. A few men sitting at a table directly across from the kitchen pointed at her as she walked away, one of them running his hand back through his hair as if he was trying to preen himself. She didn't come back out for about twenty minutes, but when she did, she had a large plate of food in her hand. She placed it onto the counter, brushing her hands off on her shorts before nodding to the plate." We have better stuff later. The cook don't come in until an hour before the fights start. I don't get why, since we're swamped from the second this place opens in the mornin', but try to explain that to my father and all you get is bitchin'." The blonde hooked her finger into the waist of her pants, taking a slow sip of the golden liquor before placing it back down and sighing." So, what brings you down here? I mean, you don't look like you're from anywhere around here…." She asked curiously, noticing the men at the table eyeing her as she shook her head in annoyance at them. Brandon listened as she told him the story of how her father built the place and how she was pretty much the manager." Ah, I see." She handed him the glass of beer, and he took a pull of it. It was actually pretty good, and not so strong that a single glass would mess him up." I appreciate that, ma'am." She came back with a giant platter of food, and he knew he couldn't eat all of that before a fight, or he'd be too sluggish to put up much of a fight." Maybe the bus driver dropped me off in the wrong state. That right there sure looks like I got off in Texas." All jokes aside, he began to eat what she had put forward. It was delicious, and he was on his third morsel before he knew it. He hadn't eaten the whole trip, and it had caught up with him. She explained to him that the cook came in later with better stuff, and he wondered what they had that was better than this. Brandon looked at her as she asked him why he was here and correctly deduced that he was not from around here." You're right, I'm not from around here. I'm from the Big Apple, New York City. Although, to be more specific, I'm from Manhattan. I'm on a tour of the country engaging in no-holds-barred fights. South Carolina just happened to be my latest stop, because I wanted to see how well southern boys can really fight." "New York? Oh, you ain't going to last a second in that ring with those boys…." She said softly, leaning forward on the bar as she nodded towards the group of men that were eyeing her. See, they were bad seeds. They didn't just like to fight because they were good at it. They genuinely liked hurting other people, especially to try and get the affections of the bartenders and waitresses. And it usually worked, with all of them except Winter. She wanted no part of their sleazy behavior, and so even after they won and came sucking around looking for praise, she ignored them all. The blonde curls cascaded over her shoulder, covering her chest slightly as she pointed them each out." Butch sent a guy to the hospital last week, and that there is Miles. He fights real dirty. And then the big dumb one who looks at me like I'm a piece of meat is Cain. He doesn't lose often, less he's had a lot to drink 'forehand. But tonight he's stone-cold sober…" Cain winked at her as she pointed to him, the girl immediately repulsed as she turned her attention back to the new kid. Of course, it was too late. The big lug moseyed over to the bar, leaning down against the counter in her space as he ran a hand through her hair." Hello beautiful. Winnie, when I win tonight, you're comin' home with me, right?"" Ugh, not in your wildest dreams….""Don't be such a bitch…" He grabbed her arm to keep her from walking away, which only got him a face full of whiskey as she snarled." Unless you want my father to come in before the fight, I suggest you go back to your seat and leave me alone." Cain looked like he wanted to sock her, but rather than grab her or do anything drastic before the fight, he just muttered, pulling the alcohol soaked shirt off to expose the musculature underneath. Not that it warranted any glance from her. She finally looked back up at the man in front of her, pouring another little bit of whiskey into her glass as she spoke." My name's Winter, by the way." Brandon's eyes flicked with amusement when she said that he wouldn't last a second against his competition. He turned as she pointed to three guys and gave their achievements. He instantly knew what Butch, Miles, and Cain were; local tough guys who thought they were all that. But he could tell just by looking at them that they were no match for him. Of course, this bartender was not likely to believe him if he just told her that. So, he would wait until his fight to prove it. Brandon was about to pinch a nerve on Cain's neck to knock him out and protect the lady bartender, but she threw a glass of whiskey in the guy's face and he backed off. When he took his shirt off, he was muscular but not in a functional way. Brandon saw a swaggering bully that built up his muscles for show, and that was not going to help him against someone with his level of skill and experience." My name is Brandon Price. It's nice of you to be concerned about me, but don't be. Maybe after tonight, you'll see that city boys are a lot tougher than you think." "Well, Brandon, I hope you're right. You're the first guy to come in here in a long time that hasn't tried to stick his hand down my pants, so needless to say, I'll be rootin' for you." She smiled at him slightly, finishing the bit of liquor she had poured into her glass before placing it with the dirty stuff under the bar. She ran a hand back through her long locks, letting them fall behind her as she glanced around the room slowly. It was already starting to fill up for the fight, even though it wasn't for hours, still, and she knew she'd be far too busy to stay and chat. Even though that was what she wanted. Sighing softly, she tapped the toe of her boot on the floor, slowly taking a step back away from the counter as she ran her fingers over her flat belly slowly." Maybe if you win tonight, I can buy you a drink." Clearly, she was a lot friendlier with him than most of the locals, but his looks weren't entirely the reason, although they helped. The real reason was that he was respectful towards her. He hadn't started grabbing at her or asking for her number, and he was able to stare at her face instead of the DD's of her chest. It was nice, for once. So obviously, she wouldn't mind spending a little bit more time with him. Of course, she was sure after the fight he'd move on to the next town, so getting attached wasn't ideal. Still though, it was nice to have someone around who wasn't thinking only of what was under her clothes." But I'm going to be super busy until the fights are over, so I can't stay and talk. Meals on the house, and I'm sure I'll see you out back before the fight." She smiled and petted his arm gently, letting her fingers linger as she slowly started to walk away. Of course, Cain was muttering something and staring at her, clearly having some sort of revenge on his mind. Brandon chuckled at her remark." Well, I don't know you that well, yet. I also appreciate your support." He finished his beer and continued eating on what she had given him." Do you always meet with the fighters after they get changed? I guess it will be nice seeing a woman when I come out of there." Brandon watched as she touched his arm before walking away. She was flirting with him pretty heavily, and he looked at her as she walked away. She was a beautiful young woman with a perfect body, and he wouldn't mind getting close to her. He ate what he could have the food and pushed the rest behind the counter. The bar was starting to fill up, and people were talking about the fight. Brandon just sat and waited as time ticked by. He then turned as someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to see Cain standing there, and politely asked if he could help him." Yeah, just don't get too attached to Winter. She's coming home with me tonight after I lay your butt out... That is, if one of the others doesn't do it first."" All right, big guy. I'll see you in the ring." Cain walked away and sat back down. The time passed, and it was soon getting toward time to fight. He left the bar and began heading out back. Once inside the locker room, he took off his Hood, short-sleeved shirt, track pants, and shoes to reveal his black trunks. True to his Karate training, he fought barefoot. There was a speaker in the locker room, so he would know when it was his time to fight. Once her father got to the bar, she was allowed to give up the reigns and let him take care of the bar. Now, she had a different job, and she actually hated this one even more than running the bar. See, once the contract was signed, you couldn't back out of the fight. You had to go through with it, and most times, once people saw the others they'd be fighting, they wanted to run for the hills. So, having a pretty girl come out there and spend time got their feathers ruffled. All of a sudden, the idea of winning her over by being the most macho was a real possibility to them, and they'd stick it out until their fight time. Of course, then she was also the one who had to call the ambulance most times after they got pummeled, so how much luck was she really? The waitresses switched off fight nights, and each week a different one would go back there to check on the boys every once in a while. Or, if you were like some of the girls, you stayed in they're the whole time, trying to pick out exactly the guy you wanted to take you home. Winter, however, wasn't that type of girl. She headed back to the lockers, hands in her pockets as she knocked and pushed open the door. Of course, the Three Stooges were sitting together, murmuring and eyeing her as she walked in, but she couldn't be bothered right now. Especially not after she saw Brandon. Contrary to what she thought when she had looked at him before, now she was actually thinking he might have a chance. And she was about to talk to him, too, when a loud smack to her rear sent her spinning around to glare at Cain. God, if she could have gotten one swing. One measly little punch to the jaw and she'd be happy. But her trying to attack Cain was a very bad idea on her part, so instead, she just walked over to Brandon and sighed." You're up in one minute. You too, Butch." The wiry man with the farmer's tan grinned, showing off the few missing teeth he had as he hopped up. He wasn't going to wait for Winter, and was already out of the lockers before she could say anything else." Kick his ass, okay?" The blonde smiled, her much shorter frame looking even smaller next to him. Of course, most men made her look tiny, but instead of feeling defensive about it, she actually felt secure." You ready to start?" Brandon watched as Winter walked in. His functional muscles, including a well-defined six-pack and huge biceps and leg muscles, were now fully visible. On his back was a tattoo of a tiger with fangs dripping blood, a reference to the Fang School of Karate that he came from. It seemed that his first opponent would be Butch, the guy who had sent someone to the hospital the previous week. He stretched out a bit and smiled at Winter." I'm more than ready, so let's do this." It felt nice that such a beautiful woman was in his corner, and he was feeling the rush of eminent combat. He left the locker room and headed into the bar. He went up the steps and into the cage. Once the doors were shut and locked, an announcer got on the microphone." Evenin', you all. This here's going to be a fight between Charleston local Butch and a new guy named Brandon Price. Let's get it on!" Brandon assumed his black belt Karate stance, one arm up protecting his face and the other down to his stomach, while his right foot was in front of his body. Butch's face twisted into a maniacal grin, and he came forward to start throwing punches. To Brandon's trained eyes, they were slow and badly timed. He dodged all of them and countered with a palm strike to his nose, followed by two punches and an elbow to the side of his face that dropped him to the ground. Butch tried to get to his feet, but a kick to his stomach while he was down forced him up. Brandon grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the cage, punching him in the face repeatedly. After blood was running down Butch's face, he tossed him to the ground and stomped and raised his leg almost vertical to his body to finish him with an axe-kick to the head that knocked his opponent unconscious. Brandon raised his fist in victory, and the crowd began to roar with approval." The new kid has done it! Brandon Price has steamrolled Butch to claim his first victory in the cage. Congratulations, son!" Brandon exited the cage after it was unlocked and proceeded back to the locker room to await his next fight. Now, obviously he was attractive, but that wasn't what had her pressed against the cage wide-eyed when he started fighting. Oh no, what had her whole body up against the side of the arena was how skilled he was at fighting. She had obviously been wrong, and she knew it from the second he avoided everything Butch threw at him. Her breath caught in her throat as her fingers tangled in the wire of the cage, the girl watching in amazement at the way he moved. The fight only lasted a few minutes, but it felt like so much longer to her. See, Winter normally didn't watch the fights. Men beating the shit out of each other for money and enjoyment was idiotic, in her opinion, so she had never bothered to pay attention to how people did. All she needed to know was who to hand the five hundred dollars to after all the fights had been finished. And of course, she wasn't the only woman in the bar to notice him. A few other waitresses had noticed the way he handled himself, and it seemed like they all wanted a piece of the city boy. As he headed back to the locker room, she headed into the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror and trying to figure out exactly what she could do to make herself more alluring. She wasn't the type to wear makeup or fancy clothes, so she honestly had no idea what she could alter to make herself look more appealing to him. A part of her chided herself for being so foolish, but another part liked the idea of getting his attention. Finally, without altering her appearance in any way, she headed out back to the locker room. Of course, Cain and Miles looked pissed. Butch hadn't come back, and in his place was the city boy that they felt was encroaching on their territory. Which, of course, was Winter. She brought him over a towel, tossing it into his lap as she looked him over slowly." I owe you an apology…. You didn't get hit once." She said, very clearly impressed with his skills. She sat down on a bench near him, crossing her legs slowly as she looked over at the two guys in the corner." One down, two to go, right boys?"" Shut your god-damn mouth, Winter."" Miles, you ain't gotta fight him if you don't wanna. Are you scared?" The blonde boy grumbled and turned his back on her, the young woman smirking before turning her attention back to Brandon." You… uh… you're really serious about fightin', huh? Brandon chuckled as she gave him the towel." Apology accepted." He realized that Miles would probably be his next opponent, so he was ready for the so-called 'dirty' fighter. Winter asked him if he was really serious about fighting." You could say that. It's my whole purpose in life." He toweled off his sweat." So, how much do you get if you win a fight?" Cain glared at him." Hopefully enough to pay your hospital bills, bitch. You're going to pay for what you did to Butch. If Miles doesn't wreck your punk ass, I will." "Five hundred dollars, cash, and free food and drinks until the next fight. And loads of attention from all the girls who work here."" Except the frigid bitch." Wynter almost flinched at Miles' comment, looking down at the ground for a second, not responding to it before running a hand back through her hair slowly. Sometimes the comments they made bothered her, but she pushed it out of her head, looking back up at Brandon as she smiled. Some time later, the speaker called both Miles and Brandon for the next fight, and Winter stood up slowly as she tucked her hair behind her ear gently." Good luck, but uh… I don't think you need it." She smirked slightly, glancing over his form for a second before quickly sashaying out of the locker rooms and back towards the bar. Brandon smiled." Five hundreds not bad. I like the other perks, as well." He winked at Winter and gave her a smile. It wasn't too much longer before the next fight was called." Thanks, Winter." He walked up to the cage and entered it, listening to it be locked behind him." All right you all, it's time for our next fight. It's the new guy Brandon vs. local Miles. Let's get it on!" Brandon stance up, and Miles began approaching him carefully. When he was within range, he went for a punch to the kidney. Brandon's left arm deflected the blow and came back for a back-fist across the face, followed by a punch in the jaw. Miles swung at his head, but Brandon ducked under it and came up with an uppercut to the jaw that rattled his teeth. He threw a few blows at his side and stomach, then came up with an elbow to the chin that knocked Miles to the ground. Brandon raised his leg and performed an axe-kick that knocked out Miles. He raised his fist in victory, and the crowd went wild." Hot damn, he's done it again!" the announcer cried. The cage was unlocked and Brandon stepped out. Many of the girls were eying him, and the fans were cheering for him. He proceeded into the back room." Looks like it's just you and me, Cain."" You're winning streak ends here, city boy. I'm going to destroy you when we get in there." The more she watched him fight, the more attracted she felt to him, to the point where she had to walk away from the cage even before the fight was over. Although, it had been clear from the beginning that he would win. Miles didn't stand a chance. The second the fight was called, she headed back into the lockers, but she wasn't the first woman back there. A red-headed girl was sitting on the bench already, waiting clearly for Brandon, and Winter stopped in her tracks. Now, Winter was incredibly gorgeous, but because of her lack of dating and romantic interests, she doubted it quite often. So, once she saw the other bartender she worked with, she all of a sudden wasn't sure how she measured up." And then you're comin' home with me." Wynter glanced over at Cain, rolling her eyes at his comment before walking over towards Brandon. She stopped when she was about two feet away from him, the girl stuffing her hands into her pockets as she nodded towards him." One more and you get it all."" Which includes me." The carmine haired woman smirked at Brandon, standing up slowly as Winter sighed and glanced away. The red head was thin, almost overly so, and definitely didn't have any of the curves Winter had to offer. She stood silently, eyeing Brandon provocatively as Winter broke the silence."There are a few minutes between the last fights. You need anythin'?" Brandon nodded." Let's hope tonight is just the start of a long line of people to fight. I want to fight as many people as I can." Brandon turned to the red-head as she offered herself to him." That's okay, ma'am. The money alone is payment enough." Brandon turned back to Winter with a smile." No, that's okay. I'm ready to go." The last few minutes ran out, and it was time to fight. The two left the locker room and stepped into the ring." All right you all, it's time for the main event."" Our last fight tonight is between the new tough guy Brandon and the badass local Cain. Let's get it on!" Brandon stance up, and Cain rushed at him. Brandon waited until he was in range, then stepped forward and hit him with a palm strike directly to the sternum that sent him flying back. The man gargled and slumped to the ground, unconscious." Brandon has defeated Cain to get the full purse tonight, folks!" Brandon left the cage and approached Winter." You should call an ambulance for Cain. I broke his sternum with that blow, and he will need immediate medical care." He went into the back room and changed before he returned to the bar."$500 per fight means I just made $1500 tonight. I'll take that in cash." Winter was flabbergasted at how quickly the fight had ended, and at his words, she nodded and headed out back to get a phone. Once the EMTs were called, Winter headed back behind the bar, getting the money for the fight out for when Brandon would show up. And of course, he did. She smiled at him, leaning on the counter and holding the money out to him. Of course, when he went to reach for it, she pulled it back slightly, sighing softly before speaking." So, where are you going after this?" She asked sweetly, allowing him to take the money from her hand this time as she stood up slowly. The EMTs arrived and rushed in, carrying Cain out on a stretcher a few moments later before she spoke again." I mean, you just got here. Are you leaving already?" She shouldn't have been so curious, but after what he had just done to Cain, she just wanted to know more about him. How he got to be such an incredible fighter. Why he didn't try to go an actual professionally respected route? She just had so many questions. Another part of her hoped he was staying for a different reason, though. He was the first guy since high school that she could look at and not instantly want to punch for being a disrespectful douchebag." That was amazing, tonight, by the way." As the EMT's carried Cain out, one of them looked at his wound." Holy crap! Is that a hand print?" Emblazoned on Cain's chest was a full white copy of Brandon's palm, the sign that Brandon had used one of Fang Karate's secret techniques, the Shadow Palm. Brandon reached for the money, and chuckled as Winter pulled it back." I don't know. I don't have anywhere to stay in town, so I was going to get a room at a local hotel." She asked if he was leaving town, and he shook his head." Nope, probably not for a while. Thanks, and I told you that city boys could be really tough." "Oh, well, I mean-"Winter was cut off as a tall man pushed her out of the way slightly, shaking the men hand roughly as he spoke with an even deeper accent than Winnie." Names Paul. I run this place, and I have to say, you're one amazing fighter. We could use a guy like you around the farm, and I heard you tellin' Winnie here that you ain't got no place to stay. We have a spare room, if you're interested. Winnie'll tell you all about." Her father practically booked it out back after their conversation, and the blonde only sighed at how quickly her father ran off. She ran a hand back through her hair, smiling at him slightly as she spoke." If you wanna, I can bring you back to the farm. Otherwise, at least let me drive you to a hotel or somethin'." Brandon listened to Winter before he was surprised by a tall man butting in on them. He looked too old and out-of-shape to be a fighter, and all confusion was cleared up when he identified himself as Paul, Winter's father." Thank you, sir. I'm glad that I made you happy." In a rushed way, he offered him a job and a place to stay, leaving it to Winter to sort out the details as he rushed out the back door. Brandon turned back to her and chuckled." Your father's quite the character. His offer sounds pretty reasonable. Let me shower, get my stuff out of the locker room, and then you can show me this farm. The hard work will be good training between fights, a good way to build and harden muscle." He went out back and stripped out of his trunks to shower. When he was finished, he dried off, packed his stuff, and met Winter at the bar so that they could head out. She was expecting the answer she got. Her father came off as uncaring sometimes with how quickly he introduced himself and then ran off. Honestly, she thought he would have laughed it off and let her take him to a hotel. When he said yes, though, she immediately looked up at him, smiling slightly as she nodded." Um, yeah, absolutely. I'll finish up here." They parted ways, and the blonde ran through the closing parts of her job. Making sure all the glasses were in the kitchen and that her tips were taken out of the jar. Once she finished, she punched out and waited by the bar, smiling as he approached her." Hey, my cars out back." She led him outside and to the small pickup truck that was parked up against the building, tossing the backpack she carried instead of a purse into the bed of it before climbing into the front of the truck. Once he was inside, she pulled out and headed back to the farm, her small frame perched on the edge of the seat." So, you're okay with helping out, right? We've got horses and pigs and cows, and there's a lot of work to do every day. You don't mind takin' part in it?" Brandon turned to her as she asked him if he would be okay helping out around the farm." Yeah, sure, that sounds fine. Working on a farm is hard work, and I can use it to stay in shape and build even more muscle. It's the other side of life from the city, and I wouldn't mind seeing what it's like." He got out of the truck once they had stopped, and he turned to her." So, where am I staying?" "The guest bedroom is across the hall from mine. It's upstairs, and it's the last door on the right. I can show you, if you need." Wynter smiled and slid out of the driver's seat of the truck, landing on the ground as she looked around the farm land. The sun had almost completely set, allowing a golden light to cover everything in its path. Off in the distance, there was a fairly large dog chasing a few sheep idly, and Winter shrugged it off before heading towards the house, hips swaying slowly." Come on, slow poke. I'll show you where you can get set up. She led him upstairs to what would be his room for the time being, pushing the door open to expose a decently sized bed with white sheets, blue walls, and a dresser in the corner. It was a bit barren, but it sure did feel home-y." Do you need anythin'?" Brandon nodded. He didn't mind being so close to Winter, as she was smoking hot and really sweet. He followed her, chuckling as she called him a slowpoke. Once they were in the house, he took a look around to see that it was classic Americana, a throwback to a more innocent time, but with modern technology. He followed her upstairs and found the guest room, which would do just fine." I just need to know what time to be up by," he said with a smile as he turned to her. "I'm usually up around 4am to get things started, but you don't have to be up until about 4:45 or so. "She said with a smile, slowly moving over to the bed and sitting down on the edge of it gently. Her father wouldn't be back from the bar for several hours, as he normally liked to tally up the nights earnings whenever there was a fight. She looked around the room slowly, small, slender fingers running over the fabric of the bedspread before she finally stood up." Well, I'll let you get settled in. If you need anything, my room is right there." Wynter smiled, slowly walking out of his bedroom and into her own room. Once she was inside, she shut the door slightly and changed out of her bar uniform. She then got into a slightly loose white t-shirt and sat on her bed, laying back against the bed as she sighed sweetly. Brandon nodded as Winter left his room." Yeah, I'll let you know if I need anything." He shut the door and removed his shoes. With some time on his hands, he ran through a few data, a series of martial arts movements performed in sequence. As a high-ranking black belt, his technique had to be almost flawless. Lucius Kane, who was running the Fang Dojo for his father while he was away, would get on his case if he didn't. When he was done with his data, he checked his watch to see that it was almost nine." Oh, yeah! Dad's fight was tonight." He left his room and hurried downstairs, turning on the TV and finding the Pay-per-view channels. He ordered the latest UFC event, where his dad would be defending his UFC Heavyweight title from the latest contender. Furthermore, he watched a few under-card and main card events before it finally got to the main event. His father, Thomas "The Fang" Price, was just entering the ring with Roger. The contender was soon in the ring, and Bruce Buffer gave the usual introductions. After that, the fight was on. The contender was okay, but he would be no match for striking against a veteran of Karate Masters tournaments. His attempts to take his father to the ground were thwarted, and within the first round, his father landed a ridge hand to the neck to stun him before knocking him out with rising kick under the chin. With his opponent knocked clean out, his father was declared the victor and still the UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world. Brandon pumped his fist." Way to go, dad. Your technique was flawless, as always." Brandon turned to the table and wrote out a little note explaining that he had ordered the event, and plunked down the cash so that they could deposit it in the bank. He had plenty of money, and always wanted to pay his dues. After the event was over, he went upstairs and got into bed, falling asleep. Winter was up quite early the next morning at around 3:45, and after she had showered, she pulled her hair back tightly and got dressed. She was wearing a pair of jeans that had dirt stains on them, as well as a short-sleeved shirt that had seen better days. She still managed to look incredible, though. Furthermore, she made breakfast for everyone, setting several large plates containing eggs, bacon, grits, and fruit onto the table. Then, she headed upstairs, knocking on Brandon's door softly before pushing it open gently. It was just about 4:40 or so." Hey, food's ready if your hungry." She said, her voice perfectly soft and angelic before she hurried out of his doorway. Heading back downstairs, she sat down at her spot, making herself a plate full of food before slowly starting to eat it. Her father didn't usually eat with her, since he normally got up quite a bit later than she did. Brandon stirred slightly as his door was opened and Winter came in. Her soft voice was soothing to his ears, though the thought of getting out of bed before the sun was up was still unappealing. Even so, he had promised to earn his keep, and Brandon did his best to never go back on his promises. So, he threw off the warm covers and got out of bed, yawning and rubbing his eyes. He opened his door and went downstairs, smelling a hot breakfast. He was not hungry, but knew he needed to eat to get energy for the day, so he was resolved to eat a hearty breakfast, even if he had to force himself to. He came into the kitchen and gently smiled at her." Good morning, Winter." He grabbed one of each type of food and began to eat. It was perfect, and before he knew it, he was hungry and eating well. He got himself a cup of coffee and added some milk, creamer, and sugar to it, so that he could get a jump start on waking up. He was more a tea or soda guy, but coffee was more appropriate for this time of day. Brandon finished his coffee and breakfast while making polite conversation with Winter. When he was finished, he got up and rinsed the plate off before setting it in the sink. When Winter was finished eating, the sun had barely come up over the horizon, and the sky was tinged a dark blue." Well, I guess it's time to get to work. What should I start doing?" He was glad he was still wearing his Hood but had switched from track pants to jeans, as it was still a bit cold outside and wouldn't warm up until late morning or early afternoon.

The Shadow of South Carolina (True Grave & The Unusual Panda)|rating:4.0

Black Hole Son (pdragon & slayerred)

(( space, far past the view of the "Original 8", past the shining utopias of the Citric system, past the war torn worlds of Lang dun Cluster, sitting comfortably on the darkest edge of the Milky Way, was the Black Hole. Not a literal black hole mind you, though travelers did have to duck and June around a few of them on the trip there, but the name held some symbolic significance. It was the premiere space club in the galaxy, a haven for deviants, thrill seekers, and criminals of every profession. And in the short 5 decades since it had been erected it has become the central hub for all manner of contractors and organizations, all of them very "legitimate", as they would proudly attest. It was, to borrow a cliché, 'a wretched hive of scum and villainy' all splashed in bright neon paint. And at the very center of this Black Hole was the young man who ran it all: Cassius Black (it was a strong name, given by his father to the boy he so proudly wished would grow into strongman, just like himself. It had been his father who had actually started the club, started it along the path to become the not-so safe haven for crooks that it was today. He had spent years grooming both the station and his son to be prosperous even long after he was gone, and it had been an early onset case of Lymphoma that ended up truly putting that training to the test, with his father leaving Cassius to inherent the Black Hole when he was barely 19... to this day the boy still marveled at how technology had gotten so advanced yet couldn't find a way to save his father. His father's training did pay off however, as under Cassius's guidance the club not only survived his father's passing, but thrived, the boy's new, eccentric ideas pushing the club further in ways his father hadn't even conceived of before. And while he may not have ended up the quote unquote"strong man"his father had wanted, Cassius had been more than happy staying a cute little BOI forever, he had become apowerfulone, and he felt confident that, lifestyle choices aside, his father would be more than proud of what he had achieved. It was on these things that Cassius was nostalgically reflecting as he sat in his office, the constant pulse and thrum of the hypnotic music in the club only a faint murmur up here, which allowed him the rare luxury of hearing his own thoughts. It wasn't a random string of thought either, he was reflecting on the past because he was now preparing for yet another leap into the future, expansion, a true expansion for the first time. Furthermore, it was a bit of a gamble, trying to run one intergalactic club was hard enough, let alone two, but he had spent the past handful of years slowly preparing for it: scouting out locations, assembling an exquisite, trustworthy crew for both stations, and of course all the materials and building contracts that had to be arranged and maintained on the down low. Things were lining up nicely, until one small complication came up. As was usually the case in these matters, it was a result of some damn foolish conflict in the Lang dun Cluster. Damn the Lang dun Cluster! One of these days he was going to go full super villain and create a doomsday weapon just to blow that entire stretch of space to hell! Their constant fucking wars were hard enough to work around, but then they had to spill over into other parts of the galaxy. He had found a nice little asteroid in derelict space to start construction of the new station on, but as it turned out part of a battle between the Whoever and the No One Cares spilled over into that asteroid field, and with every skirmish his facility risked being discovered by either side, or worse just randomly blown up in the cross fire. That brought him to the meeting he had set up today...series of meetings, actually. He needed his entire building operation moved over away from the fringe of that war, and to do that he'd need lots of well-equipped mercy to act as escorts. He had already spent the better part of this week contracting out the top half of his contact list, and because he wanted to make sure this operation went smoothly he was getting the best of the best, which of course meant face to face meetings, it was just proper respect and procedure. "Sir, Miss Room is here" a femininely robotic voice chimed in his earpiece, "of course, send her up" he responded, letting out a small sigh as he leaned back in his chair and put his meticulously pedicured feet up on the desk. Honestly despite the high stakes on the line part of him just wanted to get all these meetings done with for the day. People really didn't understand how hard it was running a place like this, how draining. Most people thought he spent his whole day fantasizing about bouncing on every shape and color of dick imaginable, and while yes this was true, just as often it felt like his raunchiest fantasy was being able to take a fucking nap! The line to the central sphere stretched down a cardinal corridor. The Black Hole was a den for anyone looking to dip their toes into the lurid underbelly of intergalactic crime. Most patrons were the wealthy progeny of merchants and tech giants. They came here to rub shoulders with celebrity mercenaries, renowned smugglers, and a chance to speak to the young Cassius. The rest were the worst class of unscrupulous, violent monsters the Covenant ever spat out. If you asked the androgyny proprietor, he was the ticket to The Big Time, your chance to make a name for yourself. Anyone who actually knew him knew that he was an opportunist putting his nose into everyone else's business. He inherited a hard-fought castle from his father, the revered Mr. Black, intent on outshining his father's legacy through ambitious moves he hardly lacked the reputation for. It was a dangerous obsession, though crime tended to seize upon these places while it could. The Black Hole attracted such depths of the mire that you could find all manner of work if the datasphere proved fruitless. Svetlaya Room (strolled down the corridor alongside the ropes of the eager crowd. Several guards stood beside the crowd, keeping everything in order. On her wrist was a small bracelet that flashed neon coding of her executive pass on The Black Hole. In her other hand was a silver clutch. Initial indifference gave way to curiosity that grew to wonder at the Amazonian woman. She stood six-foot nine, pushed to a towering seven-foot three inches tall in her scrappy black heels. Her white (dress (stretched tightly around her thick physique. The crossed straps strained about her swelling trapezius muscles, her wide shoulders rounding out to cut down toward biceps as big as antelopes. The hem of the dress rode up along her thighs, each vast clearly displayed while she tried to ignore the hush over the crowd. The bottom of her dress strained around her immense, muscled rump, threatening to offer the line a glance at her gluteal cleft and drawing confused looks of any who admired such curves." Ohmygod! Svetlana! I love you!" The over-eager cry of a fangirl rang through the corridor. In the business of professional ass kicking, reputation was a currency. Svetlana earned hers through skirmishes into the most harrowing planets and battlefields. Unfortunately, that often fostered amateur video recordings that circulated the datasphere. There were billions of humans traversing Covenant space, hundreds of thousands who resembled her, yet the advanced biometric tech on ordinary phones could read her as the true Room for fans. It was an annoyance she and many other successful mercenaries endured. Her gut reaction was to punch the wiry amphibian in the face, remembering that this business traded in reputation. Instead, she forced a smile and offered a slight wave to the alien that elicited an ecstatic cry. The crowd then raised up an array of recording devices that made her teeth clench. She focused on the door at the end of the corridor and walked faster as fanfare swept beside her. The guard at the door was a tall, gray-skinned brute who still had to look up at the hulking transsexual. "Name?"" Svetlaya Room," she practically yelled over desperate pleas behind her. Her face turned back to flash another feigned smile at the onlookers. The guard tapped away on a data pad while the cameras scanned her body. "Can we hurry this up?" She grew anxious, combing her fingers through her cropped blonde hair when a hand reached out to brush along her rear. Instinctively, before she could even consider forgiveness, she snatched the hand and jerked the red creature closer to jab a titanic fist into the being's face. It crumpled onto the rope, hanging over it before slumping down to the floor. Her fiery eyes turned back to the guard. "Open. That. Fucking. Door." The guard nodded hurriedly, speaking quickly over his comm to security staff. "Mr. Black is waiting for you in the office." The guard stepped aside, the door opened to a massive dance hall that began the journey through the central sphere. Pushing through the crowd, making slight nods to former partners, smiling at the flirty looks of slender men and women, she pressed forward. The music blared an electronic sound that was scientifically designed to elevate the pulse. Svetlana could feel the eyes of anonymous competitors on her. Mercenary work was a cutthroat business. She rarely worked with others beyond a single contract. None of them could be trusted, and they could not trust her. Svetlana only cared for credits, reputation, and the feeling of crushing her opponents. She waded through a sea of denizens, a mass of muscle towering over nearly everything there, in a white dress that betrayed the sheer masculinity of her body. She arrived at another set of doors, a large set of airlock-style doors that were heavily guarded. Luckily, word of her arrival was circulating through the security staff. The first set of doors opened, and she entered into a decontamination chamber. Lasers drew across her body, another deep scan that revealed she was completely unarmed. After all, she was here to talk to Cassius. An unwritten rule of The Black Hole was that no contract work could take place here, nobody could kill another unless it was mutual combat. The second doorway opened to a lift where two more guards stood by. Cassius had already been informed by his security AI by this time. After a long, aggravating stroll through the obnoxious club scene, Svetlana emerged from the lift into Cassius' office. Her lips were tightened in a frustrated scowl. Were it not for her obsession with fitness and the possible effect drugs might have on her bioengineering, she would have demanded a large, stiff drink. Instead, she stamped over to the chair opposite of Cassius' desk to sit with her legs crossed. Her hands folded neatly over the silver purse in her lap. The pounding over her heart soon abated to a steady pace as bemusement took over her." Kassius, it's been a while." She smirked, her voice deep and sensually thick. The last time she saw the boy, he was freshly inheriting the club. He needed a team to dispatch business partners who tried to wrest the Black Hole from him during the tumult of his father's death. Room was among the rabble of vicious killers, claiming a sizeable bonus for delivering the heads of an entire crime family to the fem boy. Cassius was alluring then, and now his confidence made him a sultry vixen for her fancy. Her eyes drifted along his legs to the soft features of his face. "You look as vibrant as ever," she trailed a finger down the strap of her dress, along the cleavage of her immense breasts as they squeezed through the keyhole. They both knew what she was packing between her legs as much as they both understood Cassius' love for a big dick like hers. "What are you willing to pay me to make you happy?" She teased about the job, though she would gladly take a few million credits to bend him over the desk. (casually rose a brow as Svetlana entered his office with a massive scowl on her face, "Something the matter?" he mused, "I hope security didn't give you any trouble getting in" he added, never wanting to come of as discourteous to respected guests. Whatever the reason for her sour mood she seemed fully ready to conduct business, so he just disregarded it and moved on, casually dropping his feet off his desk to sit up straight, "Too long I think, I wish you would make more casual visits" he cooed, always one to keep a casual, friendly air about him, though the underlining aura of authority and sureness was always present, "and don't start with the compliments now, there's no bonus for sweet talk you know" he teased back with a dismissive wave and a poke of his tongue. As talk stirred towards "business" the boy smirked and leaned forward, elbows on the desk, back arched almost like a cat so that the mere could just see his cute little ass peaking up from his chair, "to make me 'happy'? Probably not as much as you'd ask for sadly" he cooed. While Svetlana was certainly a beautiful and statuesque woman, and he could certainly appreciate the kind of firepower she was packing, in truth the buffed up muscle head look wasn't usually his type. He preferred his women on the softer, curvier side, especially when it came to FTA. The contrast between a hard, manly cock attached to a soft, motherly body was just divine. Sure he definitely wouldn't say no to a good time if she offered, but he wasn't about to drop millions of credits for a one off with a muscled up tranny with no curves." But, for a little peace of mind...that I'm willing to pay considerably more for..." he continued, letting out a small sigh as he propped his cheek up on his palm, "You see I'm trying to build a new place, but those god-damn blaster heads from Lang dun are smearing their big sweaty war dicks all over my construction site. Obviously I'm not going to try to end a sol-system wide war just to get them to go away, so that leaves me with the annoying alternative of picking up and moving ship to a less occupied chunk of space to work in" he explained, clearly not giving a damn about whatever conflict they were having outside of it's impact to his business, "That's where you come in. I'm pulling in a lot of contractors to work escort and security detail. It shouldn't be too dangerous, as far as I know neither side has discovered the facility yet and even if they did, they should still be more distracted shooting each other to try and occupy it or anything like that, but considering the value of the operation I'd rather play it safe. The job, if you choose to accept it, is to patrol and guard the caravan I have set up while it moves to our new location, and should enemy fighters draw too closer, or heaven forbid try to attack, you'll be charged with intercepting and repelling them." he said, going into further detail before giving a few taps to the keyboard in front of him, "I've sent you the more minute details about the job, you can look over them if you'd like, but honestly this is a pretty simple job in all actuality...so what do you say?" As talks continued they would be abruptly interrupted by a massive boom accompanied by an earthquake-issue rattle, both the sound and the force managed to carry all the way up to Cassius's office, which was an immediate sign that whatever it was had NOT been small, "What the fuck was that?" he muttered, raising up a finger to pause their discussion before tapping his earpiece, "Hey report, what the hell was that explosion?" he called, his ship AI quickly answering back, "Analyzing: C-6 based explosion detected in sector 7, significant hull breach as a result" "C-6? In sector 7!? How the hell did that get through security?" he remarked, sector 7 being an employee only section of the station, "Cause currently unknown. Unforeseen security breach likely responsible. Update: scanners detect unidentified armored units entering station through hull breach. It appears that my scanners have been tampered with to prevent detection, an approximately 60 degree cone from the breach location has become a blind spot to all sensors and cameras." The AI quickly reported, popping up a hold screen on the desk that both Cassius and Svetlana could see. It depicted several squads of soldiers in military grade equipment filing through the corridors, ordering customers into submission while tactically taking out resisting security teams, "Ugh! Fuck me sideways I did not need this today, security teams G through T converge on Sector 7 and prepare for suppression. All other teams put your respective Sectors on lock down" He instructed, clearly irked by the attack, but the way he carried himself implied he didn't suspect this to be anything more than a typical attack. A nuisance for sure but there was little actual worry that the attack would be quickly dealt with, "I'm sorry, give me a minute to settle this all out, and we can pick up where we left off" he said, shooting a quick, apologetic smile to the muscles mere. The staggering blonde eased further into her chair, raising her immense palm to hide her giggle at the teasing banter. Conceited as the demure Cassius was, she forgot how delightful their banter was. Frequent visits entailed frequent payouts from the Black heir, which may lead to a contract about which she was ever apprehensive. Cassius' ambition profited for the moment, his own self made Icarus. It was difficult for her to consider him as much more than a boy after knowing his father. She was a young upstart then, now reaching thirty-two years old. An opulent bioengineering firm reworked her DNA structure to activate muscular growth and reflexes, improve cellular regeneration that would keep her at the prime of physical fitness well into her sixties. That age seemed far away, considering her work often meant staring down the barrel of a gun... Or staring down the back of a reckless boy's ass. Her eyes blinked back to his gaze, settling her neck from the craned position she used to leer down Cassius' spine. Business. She assured herself. The offer was fairly simple: escort construction crews for the establishment of a new station. It was a sizeable endeavor, a lengthy contract that was sure to pay out dividends. A conflict zone like the Lang dun system brought bonuses for kills, she would have to ensure annual raises. The muscled blonde stretched her arms out before her, fingers interlaced and rolling out her neck in a series of cracks like knots pulled from a rope. She reclined back in the chair, one arm over the back of it lazily. "Two-hundred thousand credits per month, five-percent bonus per fighter taken down, fifty-thousand to break assaults," she smiled devilishly at him, "Thirty-thousand for any... additional targets that are too troublesome for your peace of mind. Month-to-month basis; I do not sign on as a part of a crew. I'll be independently contracted with recruiting provisions to assemble my own team. At the end--"The explosion rocked the station, Svetlana's headshot in the direction of the lift as it carried the boom up to them. The blonde's head turned back with an indifferent gaze leveled at Cassius. Nevertheless, curiosity took over while the fem boy tried to identify the explosion. Room eyed her nails, muttering to herself, "I just got these manicured." She anticipated an impromptu contract to be thrown at her from the purple-haired boy, which would probably ruin the new nails. Cassius' pride got the better of him, a predictable response that his enemy likely anticipated. The video feed of the armored troops quirked her brow. "Bartek battle armor," she snorted and reached into her purse. Svetlaya withdrew her phone, thumbing her way casually to the emergency settings. In situations like this, it was necessary for a mercenary to broadcast a non-involvement signal for a chance not to be shot on sight. Cassius was clearly their target, for reasons she could not care any less. Her thumb lingered over the prompt to exclude herself from the engagement, ocean blue eyes cast up at Cassius. Mr. Black, the boy's father, had done right by her once. He stuck his neck out to wipe her record clean within the Covenant. It was out of respect for that man that the Amazon rose from her chair." Kassius, honey," she said in a matronly tone, walking around his desk to lean her sculpted rump against the edge, "You're in over your head here." She glanced back at the video feed. The invasion force was well-coordinated, regimented soldiers who were brushing aside security forces. Civilians were quickly subdued, the clever mercenaries were kneeling along with the entitled children or making their way back to their ships. There was no loyalty among thieves, even security forces were starting to surrender. "Hmm mm... I'm thinking that two-million credits is a fair price to get you out of this." Svetlaya pushed off from the desk, moving behind his chair and leaning over behind him. Her massive breasts loomed beside his head, her deep voice cooed in his ear, a long finger trailed up his thigh. "And to think, I was going to charge you half that to fuck you; these boys are costing you ten million already-- and this is just foreplay for them. Five more minutes of this, you might not be able to make any deals." She strolled back over to her purse. Her meaty thighs brushed gently passed each other and her wide hips swayed slowly. The blonde pulled an earpiece with a HoloLens from it. "What's it going to be, cutie?" Svetlana held her phone in one hand, the earpiece in the other, gesturing at two options for Cassius to pursue. (bit his lip as his eyes focused intently on the litany of screens popping up in front of him, doing his best to shut out Svetlana's patronizing prodding, "It's a bit early to be making that call I think. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, don't worry I have contingencies in place" he said dismissively, ignoring all her grand standing and posturing to focus on directing his men, "Report, one of the cameras just went dead, I need an update on what's going on" he muttered into his earpiece, "I said we can talk prices after this is done sweetie" he replied with a small smirk, still having a few things up his sleeves." Update: several security personals are joining with attacking forces, exchange of code words suggests this was a predetermined course of action. Attacking force appears to have advanced knowledge of the layout of Sector 7" the AI chimed, Cassius biting his lip even harder, "fuck, a mutiny eh? Well fuck it then I guess we're purging the entire sector. Initiate lock down sequence..." he ordered, about to initiate one of the failsafe she had installed. It was a copy of the tech used on high level prison ships. At any time he could completely seal of sections of the ship, turn off the air system, and shunt the entire chunk off into space. And since most of his security team in Sector 7 were either dead or traitors, it seemed like a good enough time to cut his losses and send those fuckers packing, "Now!" he finished, slamming down the key to activate the failsafe...."error: administration rights revoked" his AI replied flatly, "what the!? What the fuck do you mean revoked!?" he said, hammering the launch key to no avail, "update: control of Black Hole sub systems have been transferred to a new user, user:BlackHoleSon69 no long has clearance to initiate lockdown sequence". It was at this moment that Cassius froze, a look of shock and grim realization washing over him. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word a fresh screen suddenly popped up in front of them, the calm and collected visage of a raven haired woman coming into view, "Hey boss, I see you tried the failsafe, real bummer about that..." she said with a shit eating grin. Balling his hand into a tight fist Cassius nevertheless managed to put on a confident smirk as he stared back at one of his top employees, "Really Xian? I'd expect this kind of thing from Tyrion, but not you" he said casually, keeping up a tough face, "I know right? Man fuck Tyrion, that guys an asshole..." she replied, casually lighting up a cigarette with a lighter built into her cybernetic hand, "It really doesn't need to go down like this Xian, you know this is beneath you" he replied cool, not about to show her how fucked he really felt, "If by 'this' you mean playing second fiddle to you then I agree. Sorry boss, you know I love ya, but I can't exactly get 'promoted' any higher than second in command...so...y'know..." she cooed, rolling the CIG back and forth between her lips, "Xian...." Cassius muttered, softly yet firmly, "Oh come on Mass don't do that to me! I already feel bad about this as it is, honest I do. I mean it's not like I have anything against you....look how about this? Just surrender now, and I won't kill you, in fact I'll keep you on the payroll as my...uh, pet? Love slave? Whatever title you think feels most dignified. It'll be pretty nice, I mean you can hang out under my desk all day, I'll let you go out to the strip poles to get some exercise, all the cum and kibble you can eat....eh? Not sounding too bad is it?" she teased, clearly having fun with this now. Cassius sat back in his chair and let out little "pfft", "over my dead body..." he muttered darkly, which just prompted a shrug from the ambitious cyborg, "Hey, you said it, not me..." she retorted before the video feed suddenly cut out. Rubbing his face in his hands Cassius let out a deep, labored sigh. This was fucked enough when he didn't even know who was behind it. But now that he knew it was Xian pulling the strings...he was properly fucked. She knew not only the station, but it's network inside and out...which explained how meticulously coordinated the assault had been. Taking a moment to compose himself he leaned forward and again propped himself up on his hands, gazing as Room with a weary smile, "two million it is then" Svetlana rolled her eyes at Cassius' refusal. It was quite generous to charge less than a hundredth-percent of his value, especially considering that the boy's only asset was being wrenched from his grasp. The blonde crossed her arms, flipping through her smartphone to examine social media posts in the local datasphere. It never ceased to amaze her how hostages would seize moments like this to post selfies. A forgettable streamer was droning incessantly about the terror he felt. The muscled transsexual could practically count down to the moment of Cassius' deflation." Administrator rights revoked," chimed over the speakers, and all she could do was shake her head smiling to herself. Her eye flicked up to the screen at Xian. For the second in command, Svetlana had never heard of the girl, which registered Xian as an easy target. There would just be a sea of armed thugs to wade through to get at her-- if the contract lasted that long. A friend onboard messaged Svetlana to ask if she was working the job. She replied that she was working out the payment. The friend chimed back incredulous, was she really considering bailing Black out? Romo tossed the phone onto the chair and fixed the earpiece around her auricle. Cassius tried to play it cool; commendable for a boy set to lose everything his father created. The towering blonde reached into her purse to pull out a pair of brown leather gloves with steel squares over each knuckle. She pulled them tight over her fingers, buckling them around her wrists. The mercenary walked over the few steps to sit on Cassius' desk, unbuckling her heels from her ankles as the conversation with Xian was drawing to a close. She kicked the first heel off, her eye looking up at the lift engaging its movement upwards. The next heel came off, and she looked over her shoulder at the youth left with no alternatives. She smiled at him, brushing a bit of his hair back, "Two million, and you buy me another dress." Room winked, pushing off the desk, bounding over toward the lift. She leaped up toward a lip above the doorway and pulled herself upward. Her body swung upward, legs out beside her in a split. Her fingers left the lip for a second, ruminating to grasp the small ledge in the heel of her palm. Furthermore, her rump smacked into the wall above the lift, legs straightening above her in a handstand on a ledge just a few inches wide." How much are we getting for this?" One of the men asked through an integral speaker, his mechanic voice echoed from the helmet. They crowded five men into the elevator, rifles lowered during the short ride." Hundred-K," an armored soldier beside the door shrugged." What? Seriously? How did you get a hundred?"" I asked for it. What are you getting?"" I don't wanna talk about it." The man in the back corner snickered, "Come on, can't be that bad. What is it? Ninety? Eighty-five?""... Thirty-three, minus travel expenses."" How in the fuck? Did you not even look at the--""Man, shut up? Let me at the door, I'm getting the kill bonus for this little queen." Shifting within the cramped space caused an awkward series of clanks and nearly the accidental discharge of a weapon. He made his way to the door of the lift, gritting his teeth. "Fuckin' last time I ever use Google Jobs." The door chimed and slid open. As he swung his rifle up, a long set of legs swung down into view, flexing upward to ball up Room's body before shooting out into his chest. He slammed into the wall behind him. "Torso critically damaged. Your sternum is broken," the suit interface prompted in the lower part of his vision. He slumped down the wall as a man in each corner of the elevator rushed to raise their own guns. She landed in the middle of them, grabbing the gun of the man to his right and jerking him downward as she rose a knee up into his helmet. Slumped at the back, his breathes wheezed from his chest and his vision dropped. He watched her bare feet dance to spin her body sharply and the soldier to his right was flung into the man at the front right part of the elevator. He heard a gunshot ring out, his head lifting to see the man to his left clutch his chest. Her hand pinned the rifle of the last man standing against the wall, her fist crashing into his helmet with jarring force that carved the side of it inward after three blows. She spun and slammed her back into him, forcing him back into the corner. Her right hand dropped to pull the pistol from his thigh holster as she pressed back against him. The two men across the elevator from her were trying to right themselves, to roll off each other and ready their rifles when she unloaded rounds into them. Two rounds bore into a torso, three rounds into the back of the other soldier. The slumped soldier wheezed again, his arm shaking to raise his gun. Her right arm swung out laterally to put an energy blast into the head of the man to her right. The soldier behind her wrapped his left arm around her neck, relying on the suit's augmented strength to overpower her. The blonde's free hand curled around his wrist, pulling the arm away steadily, more annoyed than anything. Her right arm bent back to fire a round into his face, a charred hole burned through the helmet before she stepped from the wall. The wheezing soldier lifted his rifle eight inches when he heard her blast the other two men in the head. The rifle was kicked away from his hand, his gaze lifted to see the glowing barrel of her pistol before she ended him. Their bodies were tossed like refuse into the floor of the office, a clatter of rifles followed after, and Svetlana emerged before the lift began another descent. She knelt down beside one of thugs to strip him of energy cells and combat gear. "Come on, the cam on the lift has already revealed how much help you got. Grab a gun and get ready to climb down." Room slung an automatic energy rifle over her shoulder and started strapping a thigh holster to her right leg. Cassius chuckled and shook his head at the amended offer, "Sure why not?" he muttered, tapping away at his keyboard to access his bank account. As expected he was locked out, but this only brought a smirk to the boy's face as he instead switched over to his own personal DEAR account (Drop. Everything. And. Run.). While he may have let this little coup slip right under his nose, that didn't mean he hadn't been preparing for such a thing to happen. One of the first things he did when he inherited the club was start building up a private fund in case he needed to get out of the game. As such Svetlana would get her money no problem, and as she went out to take care of the first death squad sent after him, he casually pushed away from his desk and began gathering his things. It was quite the contrast, the two scenes playing outside by side of each other. As the muscled mere was cracking heads and caving in chests Cassius was carefully touching up his makeup, tidying up his hair and pulling on his nicest jacket. Golden eyes, almost snake-like, roved over the small array of possessions he kept at his desk, knowing they would be the only things he'd be able to take with him, "Report, disconnect all devices from network and strengthen firewalls" he said as he swapped out ear rings, the dull throb of the club below and the crunch of bones acting as accompaniment as he prepared, "All devices disconnected. Warning, possible tracking measures may be implemented, limited use of networking devices suggested" his AI warned, "yeah yeah I know" he said dismissively as he stuffed all his things into backpack stowed away for this exact purpose. Slinging it on he sighed, it didn't exactly match his outfit, but no matter. He also quickly kicked off his elegant dress shoes in favor of a more practical set of flats, retro Chuck Taylor's in fact, couldn't hate an old Terran classic. He was just about finished when he heard the sharp blare of gunshots start to rattle off one after another. Oh, yeah that reminded him! With a smirk Cassius reached under the desk and produced a tiny little pistol, no bigger than his palm. A plasma derringer he kept around in case of emergencies, deceptively powerful for its small frame. With a smirk he tucked the gun away down his sleeve, a small click sounding as it attached itself to the wrist mounted holster hidden underneath that would swiftly pop the gun up into his hand with a simple flex of his wrist if he should need it. The boy, now looking truly immaculate, rose a brow as Room chucked the bodies onto his office floor, "Well I suppose I should be glad I don't have to stick around to get that cleaned..." he mused. Though the comment gave him an excellent idea, the boy turning to hock a Luigi and spit it right on his desk, one last "fuck you" for Xian to discover later, "alright then, let's get out of here" he muttered, grabbing the pistol and belt holster off of one of the soldiers and securing it around his waist, "Please lead the way" he said with a wary smirk, showing some impressive athleticism of his own as he followed her down the lift shaft with no trouble at all. It was clear that whatever training Mr. Black had prepared for his son hadn't just been academic, but physical as well, the boy maneuvering with an almost weightless, cat-like grace. Suddenly the idea of Xian sending him out to work the poles didn't seem too crazy, he'd probably be damned good at it. The muscled transsexual shook her head with a smirk at her current employer. The boy's resignation during the fight was to be expected. Young Cassius hardly seemed like the type to get his hands dirty. She strapped a belt of energy cells tightly and another one diagonally across her torso. "Let's try not to mess up that pretty face," Svetlana teased, walking over to the lift with a gear belt in her hand. She dropped the belt and dug her fingers into the gap between the doors. Her back went taut, each muscle pulsed to pry the doors apart." Svetlaya," a feminine voice chimed over her earpiece, "Girl, what are you doing?"" You know what I'm doing," Svetlana replied, taking up the gear belt. Her long fingers plucked a plasma grenade from the belt and tossed it unceremoniously into the elevator shaft." I see what you're doing. The odds are stacked against you; hardly anyone's betting that you will make it out." Svetlana's brow peaked at the comment. It was expected that a betting circuit would grow around the events on The Black Hole, but how could Bella see her?" I suppose you're helping the traitor," her eyes narrowed at a security camera. A large boom echoed from the shaft. Svetlana stepped back to avoid a hail of gunfire streaming up from the hole she just created in the lift's ceiling. She plucked another grenade and twisted the sensor to register proximity." Girl's got to make her credits. Not all of us are meathead kill machines. I break into computer systems, you break noses: it's the way of the universe." Romo tossed the grenade down the shaft. The small orb exploded three-feet from the floor of the elevator and the giant blonde listened to the lift lurch, squealing along magnetic rails before crashing to the floor beneath them. "What about Along IV?"" Exactly why I called. Wouldn't have these hands without you helping me back then. So here's what I'll do. I'll reset security parameters for the corridor to Section B. The doors will open for you and security measures are going to target everyone but you." Romo slung her rifle over her shoulder to start climbing down the shaft after an acrobatic Cassius. "Mass, too."" My, you are straining my charity. Fine, Mass too. Already been paid for this job anyway. Shit! What the hell?"" What? What is it, Bella?"" Nothing you won't see in a few seconds." Svetlaya dropped the remaining ten feet into the elevator. The lift was painted with viscera of a handful of soldiers. Burned energy cells had melted a variety of limbs that the thermal charge hadn't vaporized. Svetlana stepped warily over the mess of body parts and ruined armor pieces to the smashed door to the lift. She pulled on the bent metal until there was a gap big enough for her to squeeze through. The sound of a firefight echoed beyond the security door as soon as they entered into the decontamination area. Svetlana paused, giving Cassius a cursory glance before shouldering her rifle. Moments earlier, an armored mercenary announced to the inner sphere, "Surrender all weapons, you will get them back as soon as the target is secure."" The hell I am," a wide-nosed alien muttered and lowered his grip to the handle of a stylized plasma pistol. He tried to conceal himself among the crowd, soon discovered by threat analysis sensors in a soldier's helmet." Hold it, right there." The armored man raised up a rifle to the alien, stepping cautiously toward him. A few of the others on crowd control gravitated toward the area. "Surrender that sidearm immediately. We do not want to engage any uninvolved parties." The alien grit his fangs, clutching his weapon tighter. "I'd rather just keep it. Personal safety, being I don't know who the fuck any of you are."" Do not make me--" a loud crash from the lift drew his attention and when he turned back, the barrel of the gun was aimed at his head. Threat analysis showed a line from the barrel traced toward his skull before a blue flash signaled the complete dissolution of control. The central sphere's music had been cut short when the invasion force arrived. The womb of intergalactic electronica had now been replaced by the booms of plasma fire and the cries of seemingly innocent bystanders. No criminal was going to chance an errant round ending their promising career. TJK Track was among the first to try for the nearest exit. He flung himself over a table, sprinting toward the bulkhead for the lift to Black's office. His cybernetic arm jacked into the door panel and in those last seconds he felt like he would really survive this massacre. The door swung open, but he was still looking off into the gunfight when Svetlana shot him through the head as a reflex. The Amazonian she male took two seconds to assess the situation. "Stay on my ass," she growled to Cassius before she charged into the room. She kept low, moving from wraparound bench to lavish dining booth. Her AER was tucked firmly against her shoulder, pivoting on her heels to unleash a constant rapport of bursts. The HoloLens on her earpiece augmented targeting to show her a digital reticle of the barrel's aim. "There's the bastard!" A soldier proclaimed, only to have a tight grouping of energy rounds fill his chest. Invading troopers tried to swing around the pair as they moved, continually turning to engage mercenaries who they had been assured would cause no problem. Svetlana reached back to push Cassius against the cover of a drink bar before she straightened to fire a long burst at three men who were trying to unlock their exit to Section B. She ducked back behind the bar in time for a laser beam to cut along the top. "Fuck! They're blocking the door. Come on!" She pushed Mass along the edge of the bar. Svetlana ejected a clip onto the floor, slamming another energy cell into the rifle as they moved along the bar. "We're almost to the corridor. "Of course not, this face is the entire brand after all" the boy quipped right back, flinching a bit at the series of loud booms as Svetlana casually tossed grenades around his station, "deck... I amreallyglad I'm not going to be around to clean this up..." he muttered, doing his best to tip toe through the mess of gore without getting his shoes dirty, averting his gaze when he spotted a particularly distinct chunk of guts. He was no stranger to the messy parts of his chosen occupation, but he was rarely made to be so close to it. He was very much a "hands off" kind of guy when it came to this stuff, even when he ordered particularly gruesome fates for people, most of the time he didn't even like watching, let alone seeing it in person. As they went Cassius kept a careful ear on the conversation Svetlana was having. He couldn't make out what the person on the other end was saying, but from Svetlana's side she must have been talking with an associate who wound up on the other side of this mess. This obviously gave the boy reason to be cautious, because if this person managed to talk Svetlana into jumping sides he'd be straight up fucked, and he found his fingers switching slightly as he stared at the back of the larger woman's head, preparing himself to draw on her at any moment if it looked like she was going to turn on him. This proved not to be needed however, quite the opposite, his guardian angel seemed to talk her acquaintance into setting them up an escape route, "gotcha, lead the way" the boy said as they emerged into the inner-sphere, his once beautiful den of debauchery now turned into a small scale war zone, all in a matter of minutes. It was humbling and infuriating all at once. The boy listened to Svetlana's instructions and stuck to her ass, which wasn't too difficult, he had a wide target to shoot for. Speaking of shooting, Cassius was more than happy to leave all of that to his new bodyguard, not taking any chances poking his head out into the open, and all but diving behind each stretch of cover they moved to, "fuck fuck fuck...how do you people do this all the time?" Cassius exclaimed as bottles of expensive exotic liquors exploded around him in technicolor splashes. Nodding the boy hugged behind the meaty wall of a woman and kept pushing forward towards the exit, "come on" he muttered, more to himself than to Svetlana, eyes widening as a trooper managed to flank around them admits the chaos, raising his rifle up to train on Svetlana. Thinking fast the boy drew the plasma pistol from his belt and emptied the entire clip at the man with shaky hands, most of the shots going wide but more than enough hit home to drop him before he could do any harm to the brawny mere, "fuck..." the boy panted, looking a bit wide-eyed at the gun in his hand before scrambling to reload. He had been trained to use a weapon, several in fact, but he had never really needed to use one in a real battle before, at least not in a battle where he didn't have an army of guards to do the actual combat for him. It was a completely different sensation, to fire a gun not just to end someone's life, but out of a need to save your own, it felt so much more savage and primal, and his hands were still shaking as they made their way into section B.

Black Hole Son (pdragon & slayerred)|rating:4.0

Soul's Fury (IC)

The sun sets across the hills, night is falling, and a few of the goblins have broken out the ale. The night is peaceful, but tomorrow brings new promise. Introduce your characters, and we will start tomorrow morning. Splurge, like the other goblins in and around Bobcat Hill, are not like other goblins. He is not the rowdy sort and often shows compassion and wisdom. Splurge grabs a mug of ale, and sits down by the fire. The night air is warm in this near tropical environment, but fire is a must to cook the days kill on. This is one of the things the elves have done for the goblins, teaching them to savor the taste of food, instead of tearing into it and eating while the creature is still alive. He looks to the sky and then all around him,"Thank the Lady Arawak for this delicious brew. If it weren't for her, we would have died in the cataclysm." He speaks as if to everyone, Splurge is always eager to have a conversation. The goblin's battleaxe hangs from his right side, his crossbow hanging down from his left side. He checks his scale mail armor, knowing that on Parthia, just because it is night fall, doesn't mean everyone is safe inside the walls of Bobcat Hill. His thoughts drift off, remembering the fire bats that attacked one May even. Splurg looks around, awaiting other company. He has a good feeling about tomorrow and has felt restless, he makes so many decisions for the goblins, he needs a break from the day to day of Shadow fell Keep and Bobcat Hill. A weary Dwarf takes a seat to rest by the fire. He takes a swig and allows his eyes to mist for a moment, as the fine ale reminds him of home. He's short and stocky, even Moreno than the average dwarf. A large axe is tucked in his belt, and a quiver rests by his side. A coat of arms in the shape of hammer striking an anvil decorates his armor. His beard and cloak are rather worse for the wear, and the mud on his boots tells the story of the roads he traveled to get here. Hearing the goblin's comment, he nods, but, not desiring to engage in a theological argument, responds only to the first half. A fine ale indeed, best I've tasted since leaving Iron wall mountains. Formal Stone hand be my name, pleasure to meet someone with a good taste in drink. Splurge looks over the dwarf. Newcomers are not common in Bobcat Hill, but the dwarves often send various members of their community to help in trading. Occasionally a brave soul will make the trek from the Iron wall Mountains by himself, as this dwarf must have. Quite a dangerous feat. Splurg extends his hand,"I am Splurge. It has been sometime since I drank the ale of the dwarves, but luckily, they assisted in the recipe we are drinking here." The goblin gives a wink and chugs some of his ale. It is a strange time in the lands of Parthia, a dwarf and a goblin sit around a fire, in the even village of Bobcat Hill. Even the young Splurge can remember a time when the mere sight of each other would have driven them to a bloodbath. “Dwarves Ale you say? Some of the tastiest drink one can find!” says a gnome in somewhat macabre clothing. Despite looking like a well-dressed grave digger, he certainly gives off an aura of a showman. He looks at the goblin and the dwarf, gives a nod to both and sits down by the fire.“None for me though, stuff always makes me flat.” He then hums a short tune to himself, then does the same in a minor key, making it sound like a dirge. “Unless you’d be inclined for funeral music, I think it is best that I let you two finish it up.” The gnome is dressed in a stylish studded leather armored outfit but is covered by a cloak that is simultaneously beautiful and dark. His long sword, attached to his side, glistens wildly off of the fire. It is so reflective it is clear that it hasn’t seen much use. He takes out a small crossbow which has three bowstrings where most crossbows have only one. Ned plucks at each individually, and while doing so snickers to himself and sing-says,“C… E-flat… G! Still perfect!” Then he strums them together:“So, the name’s Ned. Nice to meet you folks, what brings you all here?" Splurge ... Gormil lets the unfamiliar language roll of his tongue and he accepts the handshake. Well met. Beggars can't be choosers, and this dwarf, rejected by family and friends, is now sharing a drink with a goblin. He acknowledges the gnome with a nod. Never had an ear for music, could not distinguish a funeral march of a sonnet, and the strumming passes him by without effect. He perks up a bit at the gnome's question. Spreading the word and ways of Moran. As much as people are willing to listen, leastwise. He takes another swig of ale. Thirsting work, it is. "I wish I was so focused sometimes,"Ned begins,"although my floating-about nature has shown me a good share of fun, so I suppose my path isn't all bad either." Ned smiles warmly, and relaxes by the fire, quietly humming to himself. The goblin looks over the gnome. No goblin is fond of a hum like that, they prefer war chants and deeper, more guttural sounds." It is a pleasure, Formal,"the goblin says. It is almost a surprise that the goblin speaks such elegant common, though his voice is still very deep. He then turns back to the gnome,"Ned, I am Splurge. I am here because I live here. Actually I live in Shadow fell Keep, a few miles to the west, but I often stay the night here." He offers no hand to the gnome, remembering the gnome airship attack that hit the village over a year ago. The goblin goes back to sipping on his ale. Having finished his mug, Formal wipes the remains of foam from his beard. So, how are you folk faring in this stretch of land? Any local news? "Well, there were some strange fire bat creatures not long ago, prowling the area, but some of the elves took care of those. It has been rather quiet around here, almost too quiet,"the goblin answers Formal. "None from me, I'm afraid." Ned's tone goes from jolly to somber." I've been simply wandering for as long as I can remember. Seems like as soon as I find a place to call home, something comes up and sweeps me away again. This has happened so often than I find myself living at the moment." Ned shifts his weight closer to Groin, reaches for a mug but hesitates and continues. "I came across this camp just a short time ago. These folk didn't know what to think of me at first." He snickers for a moment." After they were sure I posed no threat they were welcoming enough." Ned's demeanor changes again to a calm happiness." For tonight, or rather for right now, this fire is nice. That's about all I know." Ned turns to the Goblin,"Fire bats you say? That sounds exciting. Were you involved in destroying them?" "I consider myself pretty handy with my axe, that is for sure, but I was not in town that evening. I missed the spectacle." The goblin sighs, wishing he had been there to show off his prowess. "With any luck I won't have a chance to see just how handy," Ned says as he holds up a fictional glass with a snicker,"Here's to peace, good Goblin." "Aye!" shouts a large man off to the side. You turn to notice Eben, an overly large dwarf, sitting there, drinking his fill of ale. Between sips, he eyes you all, smiling warmly to himself. To the large dwarf Ned says,"Hello there, what tale do you bring to the fire? Or are you awaiting to hear one of mine?" Ned readies his himself with eager anticipation. Originally Posted by Murphy To the large dwarf Ned says, "Hello there, what tale do you bring to the fire? Or are you awaiting to hear one of mine?" Ned readies his himself with eager anticipation. "Well I can tell by your jitterin' that you have a tale to tell, so by no means let me impede yea." Ned leaps between the dwarf and the fire and with a boisterous attitude begins his tale,“So I was staying in a gnomish town a good ride from here, entertaining the town folk with songs and simple magical parlor tricks. But for how smart gnomes typically are, the majority does not fancy variety." Ned gets in close to the goblin and in a whispered tone says,“Now that’s not to say all us gnomes don’t like a little spice once in a while, if you catch my drift.” And with a wink jumps center stage again.“I began to get bored with my own act, I mean how many times can you sing, ‘Inventors big brained are we!’ before you want to completely cut your ears off? So I did my entire act in minor chords instead of the typical major chords. For those not musically inclined, that takes your typical peppy march and turns it into a dirge-y funeral piece. Well I thought I was absolutely hysterical, but my small friends did not agree. They were so annoyed by my displayed that they threw fruit at me and ran me out of town!” Ned gets serious for a moment,“I have never seen such harsh critics. Those other gnomes were so hell-bent on sameness that they rejected change with violence. I vowed then that I would wander until I found people who accept me for being odd. Or at the very least won’t commit violent acts against me for being odd!” Sitting next to the large Dwarf,“So now I’m here with this lot. And a fine lot it is! The name is Edwin Payfare, but you my friend can call me Ned. What’s your story?” Normally, Formal would be exhilarated to see a fellow Dwarf, but memories of his recent exile are still fresh. He eyes Eben, trying to divine from his accent, the shape of his beard and the way his hair is groomed whether Eben's a native to the same area as the Stone hand clan. Meanwhile, he merely nods toward the other dwarf in what could be, with some measure of imagination, considered a greeting. Splurge looks to the dwarf as he yells 'Aye.' Splurge thinks to himself,'That is awfully rude for him to butt in on our conversation without even introducing himself. He does look familiar though, perhaps he has passed through before. There is an unusual amount of travelers here tonight.' Splurg tries to ignore the gnome's rambling, but makes a note that he came from a gnome village, he will make sure to inquire just how far away it is, but that is not for the present conversation. Splurg holds up his ale to the new dwarf,"I am Splurge, sir, and what brings you to the fire tonight?" Ned studies the dwarf intently, trying to remember if he has seen or heard about him before. Spoiler Hide I had trouble getting this to work at first. Hence, 2 posts. Knowledge Check: (1d20)[18] + 4 = 22 Originally Posted by Murphy Ned studies the dwarf intently, trying to remember if he has seen or heard about him before. Spoiler Hide I had trouble getting this to work at first. Hence, 2 posts. Knowledge Check: [roll0] + 4 = 22 You have not, except here and there around the village. Coming up with nothing. Ned patiently waits for the dwarf to answer the goblin. Splurge realizes him and the gnome are just staring at the new dwarf, he almost feels rude, but the dwarf was rude first. "Well lads, I suppose I should explain myself for interrupting your little party. . . I'm here to bring news. News of a cache of treasure that survived the cataclysm. Not just any treasure mind you, but vast stores of goods, buried beneath the earth." Splurge is immediately perplexed by this dwarf telling a group of strangers of treasure, and Splurge cuts right to the chase." Why would you tell us, three strangers to you, about treasure? What is in it for you?" Originally Posted by niks97cobra Splurge is immediately perplexed by this dwarf telling a group of strangers of treasure, and Splurge cuts right to the chase. "Why would you tell us, three strangers to you, about treasure? What is in it for you?" "Me? Oh, well, I heard of the treasure in my wanderings, and came to this place to find those strong enough to reach it. I have found you. What do I want out of this? Two things, for this settlement to receive those goods, and a single gem among the treasures that I wish to claim for myself." Treasure, eh? That's what's bothering him, when the world is just starting to recover from the disaster? Moran's beard, that's a greedy dwarf if I ever saw one, Formal thinks. And he did see quite a few greedy dwarves. Tell me kindly, sir, Formal addresses the larger dwarf with poorly-hidden sarcasm, Would that treasure have a lawful owner that you expect us to wrest it from for your personal benefit? Originally Posted by Vladislav Treasure, eh? That's what's bothering him, when the world is just starting to recover from the disaster? Moran's beard, that's a greedy dwarf if I ever saw one, Formal thinks. And he did see quite a few greedy dwarves. Tell me kindly, sir, Formal addresses the larger dwarf with poorly-hidden sarcasm, Would that treasure have a lawful owner that you expect us to wrest it from for your personal benefit? "Merely mother earth. The treasure was originally my family's, but we thought it lost in the cataclysm. Any creature which owns it now is far from our kind, and this settlement could use the various goods we had stored." "The villages definitely are in harsh times, any goods can only help them." The mentioning of goods for Bobcat Hill spurs Splurge's mind, and though a paladin, he is goblin, and the thought of a treasure hunt has his blood going as well." I have been cooped up in the villages since the cataclysm, it might be nice to stretch my legs." He says that as if he is old, but he is actually a young goblin." Where is this cache?" Ned’s eyes glaze over with the thought of a real adventure. He begins some honest haggling.“So, if we give you what you need, and give this settlement the rest, is there any chance for an opportunistic fella’ like myself to see any financial benefit as well? I’m all for helping those in need, especially in these trying times, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to gift myself some rewards as well.” Looks around the fire at the two dwarfs and goblin with an “am I right?” sort of gesture. Ned piggybacks on the goblin's question,"Yes, where indeed?" Very well, if it's for the greater good, then by the glory of Moran, I'll help look for it. He almost smiles at Ned's opportunism. Apparently, not everyone expects their reward in the afterlife. Some want it here and now. Well, as long as he's willing to help... Originally Posted by Murphy Ned’s eyes glaze over with the thought of a real adventure. He begins some honest haggling. “So, if we give you what you need, and give this settlement the rest, is there any chance for an opportunistic fella’ like myself to see any financial benefit as well? I’m all for helping those in need, especially in these trying times, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to gift myself some rewards as well.” Looks around the fire at the two dwarfs and goblin with an “am I right?” sort of gesture. Ned piggybacks on the goblin's question, "Yes, where indeed?" "Surely! You'll have what you want of treasure and goods, art too if that's your fancy. That is of course, after proper division is done of what is needed. But my family were great mage smiths before, and armaments and other objects will surely litter the halls. The ruins through which we'd enter are over three days walk from here, though it will take seven if we wish to rest and pace ourselves." Ned appears overjoyed." Fantastic! I have no problem giving the largest portion to the town, but if we find a golden ocarina tuned to a minor chord, I would find that very difficult to pass up!"" I vote we pace ourselves, we don't know what sort of trouble we are going to get into when we get there, and I'm useless without the proper sleep." Turns away from the dwarf and to the goblin and remaining dwarf,"That is assuming you can use someone of my talents and don't mind if I tag along." Ned flashes a sly smirk. "Rest?" The goblin grumbles a bit, thinking he is far too young to have to rest. This gnome must be lazy, he thinks to himself." I would much rather push on. The fewer nights spent in the open, the less danger we shall incur at camp. Which direction will we be going? What kind of ruins is this? An old forge?" Splurge pauses and awaits some answers. Formal nods. Aye, the sooner we depart, and the faster we get there, the better. He regards the other dwarf with some suspicions still. Formal have already seen treachery and deceit among his own kind, something he would until recently thought impossible. And, Eben, I will take your word for it, that there's no owner to that treasure. And I best not be deceived. Spoiler Hide Sense motive (1d20+2)[6] Lt;--- that's some gullible dwarf, ladies and gentlemen; he just doesn't learn from experience Originally Posted by niks97cobra "Rest?" The goblin grumbles a bit, thinking he is far too young to have to rest. This gnome must be lazy, he thinks to himself. "I would much rather push on. The fewer nights spent in the open, the less danger we shall incur at camp. Which direction will we be going? What kind of ruins is this? An old forge?" Splurge pauses and awaits some answers. "The ruins are my old clan hall." Ned pauses, knowing that what limited gifts he has, those of inspiration and simple enchantment spells, are somewhat limited next to a real mage. He decides to meet his new potential allies half way. "Well two to one, I won't push the issue further"he begins,"but unless this mission is secretive we may be able to get some steeds, and what little provisions this camp has to give us a better chance of success? Splurge looks to the gnome,"Someone probably has horses to spare, but I surely don't have the coin to rent one." He pauses for an answer, then continues." Well then, it looks like we have quite a day planned for us tomorrow. I believe we all need our beauty sleep, especially the gnome over here." Splurg gives a toothy grin as he finishes his mug of ale." I believe I will sleep by the fire this evening." The goblin unrolls his bedroll and takes off his armor. The goblin curls up next to the fire underneath a star filled sky. He lies awake on his bedroll until the conversation is done. Ned begins to sense a great deal of hostility from the goblin, and rather than show frustration decides to take another approach." You'd be surprised just how much people are willing to help people nowadays, especially when they people they are helping, are ultimately helping as well. But if you're uninterested in pursuing a faster mode of transport, on foot it is." Ned lays his long robe out, lies on one end, and rolls himself into a tight cocoon." Geben will you be joining us?" Originally Posted by Murphy Ned begins to sense a great deal of hostility from the goblin, and rather than show frustration decides to take another approach. "You'd be surprised just how much people are willing to help people nowadays, especially when they people they are helping, are ultimately helping as well. But if you're uninterested in pursuing a faster mode of transport, on foot it is." Ned lays his long robe out, lies on one end, and rolls himself into a tight cocoon. "Eben will you be joining us?" "Of course." Originally Posted by Sir_Chivalry "Of course." "Perhaps you would be willing to foot the bill for faster travel? I am sure the elves have spare horses in the stable, maybe even hippogriffs for a much higher price,"the goblin says from his bedroll. Originally Posted by niks97cobra "Perhaps you would be willing to foot the bill for faster travel? I am sure the elves have spare horses in the stable, maybe even hippogriffs for a much higher price," the goblin says from his bedroll. He checks his purse, and then looks back up at you all." I think I could do that." Now that everything seems settled for the morning, the goblin drifts off into slumber, dreaming of calling on the Lady Arawak to smite down evil and converting goblins to her cause. "Don't go broke on our behalf", says Ned,"Assuming we're headed for riches, I can toss some coin towards travel. Let's discuss the details in the morning. I don't know this camp as well as the rest." Originally Posted by Murphy "Don't go broke on our behalf", says Ned, "Assuming we're headed for riches, I can toss some coin towards travel. Let's discuss the details in the morning. I don't know this camp as well as the rest." "No, no, money stands little value to me. I'm well-heeled and well off, I can stand to lose some weight." I can stand to lose some weight." Don't we all, Eben, don't we all? Well, good night everyone. Gormil dreams, as usual in the last few weeks, of his ancestral home. Ned snores very quietly, and the snoring is somehow melodic. Splurge rises very early in the morning. He stares at the glowing embers of the dying fire as he stretches his legs and arms. The night sky appears to be clear and light is barely coming over the horizon, and he hopes it stays that way. While the others sleep, he makes his way through the village, and quickly heads to his home. He says a quick goodbye to his family, letting them know he is going to look for supplies for the villages. He returns to Bobcat Hill just as the sun peaks over the horizon. Furthermore, he returns to the fire. He carefully shakes Formal and Ned, until he wakes them up. Then he looks for Eben. Formal doesn't have anyone to say goodbye to. He meditates by the fire and carries a prayer to Moran, humbly asking for strength to survive the coming ordeals. He checks his gear, meager as it may be, is in good condition for travel, then looks up Eben and the others. Being awoken by the Paladin, Ned quickly comes to,"Rise and shine then, my good man. Are you ready to go on a good old-fashioned treasure hunt? With any luck we'll have some laughs, make some coin, and do a great deed for this camp. What could be better?" After watching the dwarf pray, he patiently waits for him to finish, then says,"If I could my friend, tell me about who you pray to. I'm still looking for guidance myself." When Eben is not immediately around, Splurge suggests they check at the stables for the dwarf. Still waiting for an answer from Formal, Ned nods towards Splurge in agreement but patiently watches Formal as he collects his answer. Well, Ned, your people may know Moran by the name Dwarf father, but we prefer to call him the All-Father. He is the source of all creation, from the roots of the mountains to the snow on their summits, the beginning of everything. For example, this treasure we're hunting for? Who do you think placed it underground initially if not Him? The bread we eat? Grows in the rich ground created by Him. He is the rock and the hammer, the soul and the body. Without Him, what would we be? Nothing. Eben shows up with horses at first light." Well, there be time for sleepin' once we've made some ground. Onward my boon companions!" He is most certainly. . . A morning person. Formal feels a bit guilty for giving Eben the cold shoulder yesterday. He's not the one to blame for Formal's clan turning on him. He smiles and decides to be nicer to his companion. With the blessings of Moran, let's embark on this journey. Originally Posted by Vladislav Well, Ned, your people may know Moran by the name Dwarf father, but we prefer to call him the All-Father. He is the source of all creation, from the roots of the mountains to the snow on their summits, the beginning of everything. For example, this treasure we're hunting for? Who do you think placed it underground initially if not Him? The bread we eat? Grows in the rich ground created by Him. He is the rock and the hammer, the soul and the body. Without Him, what would we be? Nothing. As I find myself my own focus as you already have, would you please ask Moran to watch over me as well? Originally Posted by Sir_Chivalry "Well, there be time for sleepin' once we've made some ground. Onward my boon companions!" You, my friend, are a good man. Ned prepares his horse and leaps on. Looking awkward with a half-a-man on a horse. Let's ride! Splurge knows all too well the feeling the gnome has, the goblin's small frame is quite undersized for the horse. The goblin clambers onto the horse. Gormil asks for the blessings of Moran and Splurge adds,"The blessings of Moran are indeed the blessings of a great God. May the Lady Arawak add her blessings as well." Splurg will follow closely behind Eben as they travel, keeping an eye and an ear out for possible danger. Originally Posted by Murphy As I find myself my own focus as you already have, would you please ask Moran to watch over me as well? Of course, I will, Ned. But don't sell yourself short, you do not need me as a vessel. Look into your heart, and try to find the touch of the Creator there. And even if for now you can't, remember: regardless of whether you believe in Moran or not, He believes in you. Eben struggles onto his horse as well." I'm sorry for the mismatched mounts, but I figured the horses could cover better ground and be more formidable in a pinch." I'm feeling a pinch right now... He adjusts himself awkwardly on his horse. Formal climbs into the saddle. As the horse takes move, he suddenly feels if not uncomfortable, then at least extremely unaware. Still, he tries to grin and bear it ... he won't let such a beautiful morning be ruined by anything. "Short I maybe, but I am comfortable on a horse. A much more docile mount than the wars my less fair goblin cousins ride." After a short while of riding, you come to a low area in the landscape. Eben suggests you camp here for tonight." Unless you'd rather keep moving?" I don't feel tired at all, Gormil semi-lies, not wanting to lose face in front of his new friends. He is actually a bit tired. Diving into a bedroll sounds so nice... he stifles a yawn. Let's ride some more. How long is a short while? Have we put in at least 8 hours of hard riding? Which direction did we ride in from Bobcat Hill? How does the landscape look? Spoiler Hide Sorry for all the questions, but each is essential to my characters answer. Spoiler Hide I'll figure this out in character so Eben can stay in character. Eben, how much longer would you say we have to ride? If we ride for another half-a-day, is there a safer spot to rest? Spoiler Hide You've ride for 8 hours west of Bobcat Hill Originally Posted by Murphy Spoiler Hide I'll figure this out in character so Eben can stay in character. Eben, how much longer would you say we have to ride? If we ride for another half-a-day, is there a safer spot to rest? "Well, other half a day's ride, and we'll be near a river. That is good for you, as long as you don't mind riding at night?" I'd be good for another half-a-day's ride. Although by then I'll surely collapse. We can camp now or camp as soon as we hit the river. If we get to that point I'm not sure if I could press on much longer without a rest. I suppose whichever plan is safer, what say the rest of you? Spoiler Hide Well, I can't really answer. My character doesn't know what time it is, how long they have ridden, or what the surroundings look like. If it is night fall, and there is a reasonable amount of cover, he will probably want to stop. "A short while" implies it is only mid-afternoon in my mind, so that would mean to ride on. If the DM could describe the scene some please. Originally Posted by niks97cobra Spoiler Hide Well, I can't really answer. My character doesn't know what time it is, how long they have ridden, or what the surroundings look like. If it is night fall, and there is a reasonable amount of cover, he will probably want to stop. "A short while" implies it is only mid-afternoon in my mind, so that would mean to ride on. If the DM could describe the scene some please. Eight hours have passed since you left Bobcat Hill. The sun is hanging low in the sky, but since you left early you still have light for another four hours or so. You could make the river by nightfall. Splurge, excited about this new opportunity to show his worth to his village agrees with the gnome." Let us get to the river, my canteen could use a good refilling any way. Maybe there will be some cover there as well, I'd hate to camp out in the open. There is no telling what is out here." Spoiler Hide Which direction are we heading? Originally Posted by niks97cobra Splurge, excited about this new opportunity to show his worth to his village agrees with the gnome. "Let us get to the river, my canteen could use a good refilling any way. Maybe there will be some cover there as well, I'd hate to camp out in the open. There is no telling what is out here." Spoiler Hide Which direction are we heading? "All right then! We ride north from here to reach the river by nightfall, and we will camp in a special spot I know! Oh, and I have a treat for you all tonight!" The goblins eyes perk up at the sound of a treat. No goblin can resist a treat." I sure hope its pickled pigs feet." Splurg urges his horse forward, staying just behind Eben. You reach the river after four hours of riding, and Eben pull out pots and pans from his pack." Goin to cook up some rations of cured meat! Never before will you have seen the likes!" Splurge keeps a close eye on the cook, he knows little about cooking meats, most of what he knows the elves have taught him, so he is eager to learn the cooking secrets of a dwarf. He tries to make a bit of friendly conversation. "Well, that ride wasn't too bad. Will we make it to your family's halls tomorrow?" Phew! After that ride I need to walk a bit. Ned begins to circle the others, starting off somewhat bow-legged and slowly returning to normal. I'm looking forward to trying that food my good man, I sure am starved. As he talks he's massaging the inside of his legs. He quietly says,"Man am I sore..." Originally Posted by Murphy Phew! After that ride I need to walk a bit. Ned begins to circle the others, starting off somewhat bow-legged and slowly returning to normal. I'm looking forward to trying that food my good man, I sure am starved. As he talks he's massaging the inside of his legs. He quietly says, "Man am I sore..." "You all wanted to keep riding. We'll be at my family's halls by nightfall tomorrow if we ride like this again." Originally Posted by Sir_Chivalry "You all wanted to keep riding. We'll be at my family's halls by nightfall tomorrow if we ride like this again." If that's what is safest, I say we do that. My legs will loosen up soon enough. Ned whistles a tune that may or may not be helping his legs return to normal. It is hard to tell where his goofiness/awkwardness ends and his bardic magic begins. "We should definitely ride like this tomorrow, that way we can enter the halls the following morning. We might want to camp somewhere safe near your family's hall." The goblin waits patiently for the food, eager to bed down and rest." I will take first watch." Splurge relaxes as he eats the delicious meal the dwarf has prepared for them. He doesn't say much, but attempts to make small talk with the gnome." So tell me about your homeland, I know little about the gnome culture." "Well gnome culture certainly isn't my culture. What I mean is gnomes in general are more interested in advancing technology at all costs and are a somewhat aggressive group. It is a stereotype that is negative, and still follows me around today. It's easy to recognize how you three look at me, that it still follows me to this day, which I understand. Gnomes are nasty to others in the wars before the Cataclysm." Ned changes from a somber tone to a happier, whimsical one, and continues,"But my small town, my family, was not entirely like that. We loved technology, certainly - I mean I tinkered with my fair share of silly inventions like my harmonic-crossbow here - but I was never interested in war. Battle? Yes. Adventure? Certainly! But war over an entire people or peoples? Nah. Too much generalization. Too much unnatural death..."as he says that he realizes he probably came off odd so he stops. "But the long short of it is, my town never saw war. When the world was falling apart around us, we just hunkered down more and stayed out of it. That's why most of my group survived instead of dying in the war or the cataclysm. We were called cowards by other gnomish societies that knew of us, but I rather be called a coward and not fight in a pointless war, than kill people pointlessly." "As Arawak says, 'Everyone deserves to live their life as they want.' Your town sounds like a fantastic place." The goblin lights up his pipe and puffs on it. Letting his food settle." Everyone get some sleep, I will awake you when it is your turn to watch." "Everyone get some sleep, I will awake you when it is your turn to watch."[/QUOTE]And so Ned does. IOC: Splurge, make listen and spot rolls Spoiler Hide Spot: (1d20+2)[6] Listen:(1d20+2)[16] Nothing of note occurs while you are on watch. Eben takes over the watch after you, and remains on watch until dawn, staring off into the distance. Splurge rises early and sits in prayer, preparing for the right forth. He munches on some trail rations and waits for everyone to be ready. Once everyone is ready, he says,"Let's get moving, we got a long ride ahead of us." Originally Posted by niks97cobra Splurge rises early and sits in prayer, preparing for the right forth. He munches on some trail rations and waits for everyone to be ready. Once everyone is ready, he says, "Let's get moving, we got a long ride ahead of us." "Indeed, I ache to get out of this sun and into the warm halls of my fathers!" Your companion shows you to the ruined archway that used to mark the gate into his family's domain." This gate stood for ages before many armies, and it pains me to see it in ruins now." Splurge looks up at the ruins, and then at the sky. Spoiler Hide Is the gate crumpled or is it intact? Can we see inside? Does it appear to be locked? What time of day is it? Ah, we're here, finally! Eager to have his legs touch the ground, Formal jumps off his steed. A dwarf's normal place is not on the back of a beast, dangling three feet in the air, that's for sure. Gormil examines the gate's construction and masonry, peering inside with dark vision if possible. He wonders what kind of metals or gems can be mined in the area. He also scratches his head to recall any legends of Eben's familial halls. Spoiler Hide (1d20+4)[7] Profession (Miner) (1d20+2)[22] Knowledge (History) Ned slowly drools off of his steed. Begins looking around at his surroundings and stretches his legs a bit." Well, we got here without incident. I'd hate to jinx ourselves, but I do hope the rest of this adventure remains as quiet." Originally Posted by Murphy Ned slowly drools off of his steed. Begins looking around at his surroundings and stretches his legs a bit. "Well, we got here without incident. I'd hate to jinx ourselves, but I do hope the rest of this adventure remains as quiet." The specifics of the gate elude you, but you recall that the family had a guardian creature, a sphinx, that aired in its halls. The creature may yet be here. The opening is unobstructed but dark, no doors remain, simply a gaping hole to walk through. It is midday. Well, shall we go? Now, underground, that is a place for a Dwarf to be. Formal kneels and touches the ground, praying to Moran to bless this enterprise, then takes a look at his allies; unless someone indicated they have further preparations before entry, he steps into the gaping maw of darkness. And keep your eyes open for any sphinxes... probably just an old legend, but you never know. "Let us do this,"Splurge says, laughing to himself that he, a goblin, is about to delve into a dungeon with a pair of dwarves. The goblin leads the way through the entrance way, lighting a sun rod as he does. Formal shields his eyes from the sudden light ... What's that? I thought you goblins share our dwarves ability to see in the underground darkness? "We goblins of Shadow fell Keep do not live underground. While we haven't adapted to the trees like the elves, we prefer the light of day. The teachings of Arawak have taught me the beauty of the trees and the light,"Splurge replies to the dwarf. Formal's surprised to hear that. A race of creatures born and bred underground that would voluntarily give away these gifts for ...beauty of the trees? What a strange choice of words. Trees are beautiful? Oh well, to each his own. He says nothing, merely tries to keep the light from shining straight into his eyes and moves along, peering cautiously into the darkness. Eben snorts at this talk of beautiful trees"Trees are just wood. They stand in groves, you cut them down. They stoke your fires and metal your forges." And with that Eben walks into his ancestral home, looking around as he does. Splurge follows Eben into the ancestral hall. IOC: One, onwards The area is quite dark, but Eben continues on, warning you of uneven ground as you go. A timely warning. Having spent his life underground, Formal learned to be wary of the dangers of shoddy masonry. Spoiler Hide Spot (1d20+2)[13], add +2 to notice dangerous or irregular stonework Formal notices some uneven flooring and manages to avoid it, along with the rest of the party (I assume Formal's nice enough to point out dangerous flooring)The group comes to a locked stone door. Geben asks, "Does anyone have some lock picks?" Formal shakes his head. The church of Moran trains its adepts in many things, but breaking and entering is not one of them. One would think he has keys for his ancestral home. Oh well, maybe he lost them. Splurge is slightly insulted to think he would have any kind of lock picks. The paladin has not stolen anything since he was converted to Arawak." Nay, but even though I am small, I might be able to bash something down if need be." I'd rather we look for a less destructive way in. Can't we take some time feeling around before we start bashing things? Spoiler Hide Assuming no one objects, Formal will take 20 on Search (for a total of 23, because it's a stone door, hurray!), to notice any hidden triggers or opening mechanisms.

Soul's Fury (IC)|rating:3.0

Blood and Trust (gothicfires & WittyShrew)

He dragged his hand through his thick hair as he reached for his eighth cup of the worst tasting coffee that he had ever tasted in his life. It was black, as black as his hair, no sugar, no cream. Just the same crap that the overuse and rarely cleaned coffee machines brewed day after day. He didn't bitch about it because it reminded him that his job wasn't about catering to his comfort. It was to bring assholes to justice and try to make the world a better place. Keenan Hayes (focused his weary eyes back on the picture of the missing teenage girl. It was taken during a bright day at the park, her long red curly hair flowed past her shoulders and her green eyes were sparkling as if she loved life... yet he wasn't seeing the girl that he needed to find but a memory of one long dead. A ghost that would haunt him for the rest of his days not for failing her, but for not forgiving himself. Forcing Kelly's image out of his mind he looked down at the picture of a fairly pretty girl, innocent, trusting and that same sparkle in her eyes. The detective had been without sleep for over 30 hours now. He could barely remember just sitting down to a Guinness at his father's pub yesterday when he was called to this girls house. The memory of the murder scene alone was enough to turn his stomach and he had pictures that he would go over and over and over again until he brought this girl home and her mother's killers to justice. They had brought her mothers' boyfriend Steven Perez in for questioning but the small-time drug dealer wasn't being any help at all. Keenan had tried it all... sympathy, gentleness... even his Irish temper just short of beating the hell out of the man. The photos of Andrea were first... then came the ones of her mother... post death. The man had broken down and cried but gave nothing useful aside from declaring his innocence." Hayes gets in here!" The shout was unmistakable. Captain Morgan certainly wasn't as fun as a bottle of rum. The man was gruff and old school and treated the 28-year-old six foot three detective as if he were a wet behind the ears rookie. Keenan had busted his ass to get where he was. Perhaps he was young for his job, but he earned it... and he lived it. His lack of a social life was proof. Keenan couldn't tell the man off outright as it could cost him his job and an ass kicking from his father, but he was slow to unfold his frame, stand and walk across the to the captain's office." Yes sir!" He kept his expression and his tone neutral. His pin striped suit was tailored to fit his moderate frame, but it was wrinkled from being the same cloths he wore the day before and his tie was long discarded, and his shirt unbuttoned a few buttons too low." I thought I told you to cut that hair?" The older man started then remembered that they had company. He pointed toward the pretty blond sitting in the chair. "You wanted help combing through your cases to see if any might be related where here's your help Keenan Hayes, Brady Fitzgerald. Brady Fitzgerald Keenan Hayes. I want to see that little girl snuggled tight in a warm bed to night gentlemen make it happen. For once Keenan was glad he was too exhausted to get riled, being physically and emotionally drained he was barely able to register that Brady looked more like someone he would fuck than work with. The kids long unkempt hair and manner of dress made him look more like a drug addict than someone he could trust the opinion of. Not to mention that he could smell the stench of cigarette smoke... on second thought this wasn't a piece of ass he would go for."Yeah, sure." He grunted in agreement before abruptly turning and making his way back to his dark corner desk, his own little part of hell. He didn't acknowledge the kid or invite him to tag along. If the captain was serious about the kid helping then he would have him sift though phone numbers or something... anything menial to keep Brady Fitzgerald out of his hair. Brady was in no mood to be doing this shit. Not that he ever was but after dealing with the feds for this long, he figured he could more or less tune out his own misery. Everything about being there was bothering him. It was just a nasty reminder of all that he'd lost...and all that he'd hoped to leave behind. Of course, it wasn't that simple, the mother of his daughter being who she was. That and these so-called civil servants had a knack for calling in him in just when he was getting comfortable. Well, as comfortable as hecouldbe after all that had transpired. He was still in the process of healing - in more ways than one. He knew his ankle was fucked, and it probably would remain that way forever. Was he bitter? Not particularly but he figured it could earn major sympathy points where it mattered. His wrist and ribs were coming along nicely but as sickeningly sentimental as it sounded, his heart wasn't. It hadn't been that long since he and Danny had called it quits. Hell, he still didn't know where they'd go wrong, or more specifically, warhead gone wrong. He figured it was inevitable, Danny being the beautiful, perfect God that he was. A guy like him could never measure up and these simple facts had finally caught up with him. Still, it hurt like a bitch. As expected of a guy like him, Brady continued to live under his mask of indifference. He was still an insufferable git, or so people liked to remind him and that would never change. All the same, he knew a big part of it was forced but thank fuckhewas the one who did the reading. He didn't need people raping his mind and figuring out every insecurity he had. Those insecurities only strengthened as time passed. At least he could find some solace in knowing that he would never have to work with Danny again. Seeing him was another thing entirely, but he'd deal with that if and when it happened. Naturally, they had kept their relationship a secret up until its abrupt end. Brady could understand his ex's fears. The world was full of homophobes and a bisexual cop wasn't exactly someone to be idolized in this day and age. It just gave the shitheads ammo. Oh, but it hurt to think of Danny... Thankfully, Brady was freakishly adept at making it appear as though he were perfectly fine, if that lazy indifference was anything to go by. His thin brows were only slightly knit in a tired sort of concentration as he sized up this Hayes fellow. He was everything the Irishman would have expected. Tall and not at all interested in working with him. That was all fine and dandy for him. They always started that way. It just made it all the more fun to take the piss out of them. As a rule, Brady never took much care into his appearance and this served him well. Sure, the world didn't take him seriously, but that made it all the more enjoyable when he talked circles around them. He was smart and he knew it and he had no qualms in showing it. From an early age people would have recognized that he was something special. It was an age-old story. He could write out a text on quantum physics but dribbling a basketball was a task and a half. Not that it mattered. Some day, that big ole brain of his would take him far. He was sure of it. Quirking a brow at the detective's severe lack of enthusiasm, Brady merely smirked and took his sweet precious time in rising from his spot. Of course, this wasn'tAllan attempt at being cheeky. Considering his current state, moving proved to be a lot more difficult than it would have in the past, but he paid it no mind. And Hayes wouldn't mind. Or so he reasoned as he made his way over to the man."Oh, hey. I'm happy to be workin' with you too. Thanks so much for asking. Yeah, Enjoy my job. What's that? Nah, I don't drink coffee, but I do love me some herbal tea." Cheeky, cheeky, bastard. Honestly Keenan couldn't remember asking for help, perhaps he did in a snappy offhanded remark to the captain putting some kind of pressure over his head. It wasn't a matter of wanting help. He NEEDED help. This wasn't the only parent murder/missing child case in the city, or that neighborhood as a matter of fact over the past few years. Certainly wasn't the only missing child case. He worked long hours, barely slept, but even he could only do so much. But what he NEEDED was another cop, not a civilian that he would rather bed than talk to. But for a moment, just one so brief moment that a second would have time to spare he let Brady's fake, obviously sarcastic settle into his soul as genuine happiness because he wanted to remember what it felt like. Then the moment was gone, and he shoved his warm coffee mug in Brady's free hand. The man would either take the coffee or wear it... his choice. "You want herbal tea go to a fucking coffee shop. You want to enjoy your job..." God, it was cruel... he knew it was mean, but he was too damn tired and too soul sick from looking at this stuff day after day to care. He flipped open the file, picked up the picture and held it in front of the CIV's face. It was of a woman... perhaps once beautiful... maybe not. It was too late to tell. Her neck was slit from ear to ear but even worse her checks were cut back to the jaw bone and her tongue was pulled out near her ear. "Go somewhere else." He barely spoke above a whisper. The black haired man diverted his eyes as he put the picture away. He didn't want to see the shock on such a pretty face. Regardless if the man looked like a strung out drug addict. The grunge moment had died out 10 years ago and the kid had failed to update his look. Keenan dragged his hand through his hair again, a tick he did when he was frustrated. Of course, it being soft and tangle free. It feels back into place. His brown eyes showed the depth of his exhaustion... both from lack of sleep and looking at death day in and day out. His lack of light wrinkles around his eyes, mouth and forehead suggested he wasn't a man who smiled or laughed much. He didn't appear to be much older than Brady though he was closer to 30. Sighing, he picked up a shoulder bag and shoved that file, along with a couple others into it and stood up. "Now that you've had a reality check, you can go tell the captain that there's been a mistake." Car keys where the next thing to appear in his hand, probably from the pocket of the expensive tailored suit the detective was wearing. "I do the majority of my work from my home." He gave the information in case the piece of ass wasn't deterred. There was a need to find the girl, but also for a shower... perhaps an hour of sleep. The captain could bitch at him for his treatment of Brady later, he didn't care. His long legs at up the room towards the exit leaving the other man to hobble after him or quit. Well, gee. There wasn't something he saw often. A miserable fed. La-DI-fuckin-da, he thought with a grim sort of familiarity in this treatment. Brady didn't have to be there. No, he didn'tthereto do anything. As a student whose level of intellect went above and beyond the general populace, he had tough schedule and topping that off with his jobs and his duties as a father, he really didn't need to be there. But he was and this melancholy prick would just have to deal with it. He couldn't allow himself to sympathize with the guy for several reasons. For one, he knew damn well what it was like to have to deal with death and two, he had more or less conditioned himself to expect the worst out of humanity. Then again, not everyone was cut from the same cloth. Brady could have danced around the subject all he wanted, but the fact of the matter was, he had taken the case for one reason and one reason alone: he had a daughter. Just the thought of anyone taking his child away from him made his blood run cold. In many ways, he was no more than a child himself in the eyes of the world, but fatherhood wasn't something that went away. It had taken some time but once he embraced it, hereallyembraced it. As such, he couldn't very well rest till this girl was found. All the motivation he needed was right there in his pocket, smiling a big toothless smile at him. When the coffee mug was unceremoniously shoved into his hand, Brady took a moment to better scrutinize who he'd be dealing with. It was like being a dick was a mandatory requirement in law enforcement. He had never come across such a bunch of hard-asses and while it never really stopped being amusing, boycould it is grating. This Hayes bloke was no different. Brady could get a lot from that face. He was tired, for one but any idiot could have seen that. But the blond read a different kind of fatigue there. It went beyond the straining of facial muscles and well into his very mind. He looked frustrated and whether this was with his job or his life, Brady would surely find out. The image wasn't exactly something he would consider art. The Vic looked properly brutalized. In the span of his short years, Brady had witnessed the death of four people, one of which was entirely his own doing. Or two, if he was going to be technical, but he dared not dwell on such things. Every impulse in him screamed that he grimace or shy away from the image, but that was Brady... Stubborn to a fault. Besides, he was far more interested in eyeing the detective for the time being. The guy looked young and this was usually ill-received from someone like him. Of course, he couldn't truly discriminate considering his own youth, but he knew from experience alone that the lounging were a lot more impulsive and head-strong in all the wrong ways as if they had something to prove and would do everything in their power to do so. Well, maybe Hayes would prove to be the exception. Then again, maybe not. Either way, when the guy more or less dismissed him, Brady wasn't too far behind. He stood there for several moments, a light smirk threatening to creep up on his face. People thought him too soft. If the guy thought one image and a boat-load of federal angst was going to deter him then the detective had a lot to learn about him. The lanky blond was slower than he intended to be, but it wasn't long before he caught up. "Hey, hey, detective. You know, if I'm going to get that tea, I'll need a ride." Was this the proper time to be joking? Not really but no one had ever accused Brady Fitzgerald of being sensitive." Lookit," he began in a voice so patient it may have prompted Gandhi to take a swing at him, "I've heard it all before, all right? You don't wanna work with me. I'm just some coked up kid who doesn't know shit. I'll faint at the first sign of danger. Yalta, Yalta, right? Well, maybe all of that is true, but we can't always get what we want. I'm workin' this, and you're just going to have to deal with it. Y'herein' me?" Blunt. To the point. There was no betrayal of annoyance in his tone, nor did those pale blue eyes reflect anything but an insufferable sort of understanding that drove most people up the wall. He could only wonder how long Hayes would last before he took a swing. For some reason, that thought merited a smirk. Keegan knew he wasn't happy, but rather than describe himself as miserable he would have chosen the terms focused and realistic. Most people didn't get to where he was until their 40s, and he was 28, his good Irish genes helping him look younger of course. But he didn't know or care what the p.o.a. behind him was thinking, though he could hear the click of the cane on the floor before he heard the smoke raveled huskiness of the kid's voice. Again there was something about Brady that made him want to smile. This time his full lips did tweak up at the edges, but only because his had his back turned to the blond. With a last name like Fitzgerald he knew to expect the kid to have Irish tenacity. It was a point in his favor and considering the smoke smell followed behind him... the kid needed all the points he could get. By the time he pushed the door open that hint of a smile was gone from his lips, though there might have been a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Honestly I don't care what you do Mr. Fitzgerald as long as it doesn't slow me down or get in my way." There was no hit of a battle in his voice as he held the heavy door open. Then he took the lead again through the parking deck to a very unsurprising big black SUV. The car chirped as the locks popped, and the engine purred to life as Hayes once again held a door open for his new coworker. Not wanting to affect the man's ego... cause even pretty boys have egos... he left the blond to close the door himself and slid into to the driver seat." I'll be taking a shower and then a nap once I get home. Part of my charm is my lack of sleep." It was as close to an apology as he was going to give. "You don't smoke in my car, you don't smoke in my house and I would appreciate it if you shower while I'm asleep because you're going to give me a headache if I have to spend hours in a room with you." There was no sense in stalling on the formalities. They weren't going to change. At least if there was another protest while they were in the parking lot the kid could just open the door and get out. "You can borrow some of my cloths or wash your own. The pub downstairs will take care of all your tea needs and feed you for free. You can go down or have them deliver up because you won't find much food in my house." When it became obvious that he wasn't getting rid of his new partner he pulled out into early afternoon traffic and began to work their way down the 20 or so odd blocks to Hayes Irish pub. The building for four stories of beige brick with nearly 2 sides of the bottom floor glass windows. He pulled into a small alley and drove to the back of the building. "Once the deliveries are done for the day this area is gated up. I'll give you the pass codes and keys once we get upstairs." Normally he took the stairs, but now he was grateful that they had installed the elevator all the way up the way up to the fourth floor. He pushed the up button before pointing to a door at the end of the hall. "That's the door to the pub kitchen. It doesn't have a lock on it, so don't leave the one we just come though unlocked." Yeah, so he was a cynic when it came to security. Who in law enforcement wouldn't be. It had taken him changing the locks on the door himself five times for his dad to finally agree. "The pubs offices and my mom's tailoring business are on the second floor, my sister lives on the third and the forth one's mine. I don't use all the space, so there's no point venturing past closed doors." By this time he knew Brady had to be annoyed with all the rules and info. But he didn't take people home, barely ever, not even the pretty ones he picked up every now and again from the pub as there was a hotel down the street that let him rent a room for a few hours in exchange for a meal voucher here and there. The elevator opened to a small foyer where Keenan put in his key, punched 8 numbers in the key pad before turning the key itself. As soon as the door opened the sound system came on, low at first but gradually getting louder, pounding out some hard metal giving a hit to his mood the last time he had been home long enough to listen to anything at all. The kitchen, dining room and living room were all open to each other. The decor was in blacks and reds, medieval in its furnishings. Solid wood furniture either stained near black or simply that way from age. "Welcome to your home away from home, you're welcome to anything that's here. He walked across the room and opened up a door that lead to his work-out room. He had full mirrors down one wall, a kick bag in the corner, various work out machines and a huge side of the room free that he could move however he wanted. "It's not the most efficient layout but since I'm the only one who uses the top floor I didn't see a point in wasting my dad's money in remodeling. The next one is where I spend most of the time I'm here." This room wasn't nearly as large, but where the other room had one mirrored wall this one had one of dry erase and three of cork board. There was a huge desk with no less than 5 monitors on it and at least that many if not more computers all whirling and buzzing and putting out enough heat to keep the chill off the room without needing to apply the centralized air. Almost every area was filled with notes. The entire back wall filled with pictures in organized groups, some of them missing persons... some of them murder victims. In a corner near the desk, on the floor was a messy pile of pillows and blankets that sometimes showed he simply couldn't muster the energy to make it back to his own bed. "You can message the club below with anything you need. Come on, and I will show you the balcony so you can smoke." He left his satchel there and lead the way back to the exercise room. "All the passwords are in the computer. The file of the new case in is in the bag. I don't know what you do and right now I need a couple of hours of sleep before I care." His stride was much slower and his tone softer than it was at the office. Even his body posture was much more relaxed." The laundry are behind those doors beside the kitchen. Honestly I don't care if you change cloths after every time you smoke." He wrinkled his nose. 'I'll wash them later." He motioned to a door on the opposite side of the living room that lead into his bedroom. An ornately carved king-sized dominated the large room and his dresser, side tables and armor matched. There were thick curtains along one wall that had light peeking through them. "Don't worry about waking me up when you need to light your cancer sticks. I'm not an easy man to wake up if I'm not ready. Through the other door is the bathroom. In this drawer you can find pants you can tie and t's in this drawer." Now that the necessary scrappiness was over he shrugged off his suit jacket and started to unbutton his shirt not seeming to care that he was in his bedroom with a total stranger.IOC: sorry it was long-winded. Just wanted to get to the next scene and let you know were you know the environment. If you decide to so something that would end up changing part of my post let me know... Editing is always doable. Mr. Fitzgerald. Was he serious? Brady didn't know whether the guy was taking the piss or just far too formal for his own good. Regardless of how misplaced it might have been, it was his aversion to cigarettes that really got the blond's attention. The guy didn't have to say anything for Brady to get the message. He had noticed it the second Hayes had lain his eyes on him. His normally pale cheeks were tinted pink from the cold February air, a key factor in him refraining from lighting up. Not like he could without a struggle. The wind could be a right bitch when it came to those kinds of things and his fingers were already numb. The detective was safe for now. The 'not getting in the way' bit was something Brady heard often. He might have snorted if his nostrils weren't practically stuck together. Right, because getting in the way was something he aimed to do. He was a meddler by nature and thatwashis job but if these numbskulls took a moment to think, they'd come to realize that he was on their fucking side. However, Brady was far from being offended. It took a lot more than that to rattle his cage. This Hayes character would come to realize soon enough, depending on how long they worked together and if Brady had it his way, not very long. He followed along wordlessly, almost resenting the familiarity of the badass cane he currently held in his grip. He was only 22, and already he was falling apart. It bothered him a bit to think that the therapy was far from over but hey, every cloud had a silver lining and whatnot. He'd just take a page out of his grandfather's book and use said cane as a weapon when he needed to. Brady was only mildly surprised when Hayes took the courtesy to open the car door for him. Either he'd been raised right or he was just too tired to give a fuck one way or another. Brady was going to go with the latter as he slid in, almost groaning at the sudden change in temperature. As per usual, the blond was dressed in several baggy layers, his oversized hoodie proving to be a weak defense against the cold. He could feel the heat of the car licking his body and traveling up the thin limbs. It was almost painful, but this went ignored in favor of dealing Hayes an odd look." And the other part's chauffeuring college kids around, yeah?" He sounded quite tired himself as he said it, but the thought of sleep was distant. Once the subject of cigarettes came up, Brady couldn't help but smirk. "What, you're fuckin' allergic or somethin'? I'm not going to shower just to suit your needs, your highness. The second you start gasping and choking, I'll reconsider. Otherwise, deal with it." So, he couldn't smoke around him. That was fair but if the guy was crazy enough to think he'd be taking a second shower, he had another thing coming. Borrow clothes. Brady furrowed his thin brows, unsure of whether he was for real. In all his years he had never known someone to be so annoyingly intolerant. He decided to dodge that subject all together and instead went for something else. "A pub, huh? Convenient." Brady didn't intend to be eating at anyone's house. As a student, he could be quite greedy when it came to consumption, but he had quite lost his appetite as of late for reasons he didn't wish to think about now. He just had to get the fuck over it. Once they pulled up to the desired destination, the Irishman briefly studied the building. He followed along quietly, moving as quickly as he could to escape the icy gusts of wind that whipped his frazzled locks about his face. Once inside, Brady was left to silently take in every bit of information that came his way. Genius that he was, he didn't know why the tour was necessary but hey, he wasn't going to say anything. Yet. It was actually kind of awkward for him to be shown around as if familiarizing himself with the place would do any good. Brady could have done with a simple desk and the case files. It was the wall full of pictures that managed to keep his attention. He studied them for several moments, eyes wandering over each individual face before drawing back to the detective and his nitpicky ways. Fucking cigarettes." Jaysus Chariest, boy," he groused, only momentarily losing his hard New Yorker dialect to slip back into the Irish he had known long ago. Either he was feeling unusually cooperative or he just didn't want to hear the guy bitch, but Brady was soon unzipping his hoodie and tugging it off his skinny bod. Thankfully, he had a shirt underneath as he waved it about. He always felt disgustingly naked without a substantial amount of clothing, but he'd be a good sport about it. Or, as good as someone like him could be. "Y'happy? Wash this if it'll help you rest easy. God-damn." When Hayes began to undress, Brady turned away and immediately fished for the file. Situating himself at the desk, the blond began to flip through the report and crime scene photos. There were several defense wounds lining her wrists and the COD was conclusive. The brutal nature of the murder led him to believe that there was a very personal motive behind this and most interesting of all were the wounds that appeared to have been made post-mortem. Everything about this was odd and yet, all Brady could think about was that girl and how he needed to get her back safe. He didn't notice when he had stopped sifting and began to stare off into space. It had only been a couple of days but God he missed Ivanna. Would it hurt to give her a call...? Maybe she'd surprise him and finally give him a daddy. The thought brought forth a strained little smile that quickly vanished as he glanced back down at the gruesome pictures. All in good time. Order was how Keenan functioned. When he needed to figure something out, he found its order... its rhythm. When he became to tired to focus on anything but his work it was that order that prevented him from sweating the small stuff and get the job done. He was certain that it would be order that would help Brady find his way around the office and see what was going on for himself. Each computer had different databases from different organizations to do research on so all one had to do was either look at a different monitor or press the switch key for the few computers hooked to the came monitor. He had an electronic and physical copy piece of paper of every case that had caught his interest even if it wasn't his. Eventually he would get them all in the right order, and he would know for sure if he was looking at a nationwide human trafficking ring, just a local one or a series of coincidental events that appeared to be connected but weren't. After the tour of the home he took Brady back to their workroom to make sure he didn't need anything else. He almost laughed when the kid shrugged out of his crappy Hood a threw it his way. The agent couldn't help but to scrunch his nose those. The shirt did stink, why anyone would want to smell like an ash pit he had no clue. "Thanks. The smell gives me migraines and I can't afford the downtime. If you need anything you can't figure out wake me, the door will be open." By the time he was heading out the door he was completely out of his shirt. Had he been alone he probably would have stripped as he went along and picked up the cloths when he got up later? But continuing to undress was difficult with a smoke filled rag in his hand. And YES he did throw it in the washer, though what he had in mind was for the rest of those rags to be in there too. But oh well. It was a start. Maybe by the time they were finished working together he would have Brady wearing button up shirts and suits too. Well probably not, but at least convince the man to look like he gave a damn about himself. After a quick shower, he did as he promised. Crawled in bed for a little shut-eye. He left the door open in case Brady needed anything or wanted to smoke without going down to the pub, but that's the only part of his routine he changed. He went to sleep naked and wasn't unknown to kick the covers in his troubled sleep. This was about as unorthodox as it got for him. Danny had always kept work and his personal life separate and never would the two meet. Working at home wasn't something he was accustomed to but hey, different detectives, different men. If the guy wanted to sleep on the job, that was his prerogative. It just gave Brady a reason to rag on him later if he so chose to. The cold metal of the dog-tags hanging around his neck brushed up against his flesh, forcing him to shiver a bit. The rosary was tucked away under his shirt as if he didn't dare allow anyone to take him for a religious fellow. He wasn't. He merely wore it for sentimental reasons that he wasn't about to explain. Thankfully, he could talk his way out of just about anything. He was only slightly grateful for the detective's accommodating ways. For the most part, he was uncertain of how to respond to it. The guy seemed to be made up of a rough exterior and entirely more complex interior, not unlike certain other feds he knew. It was almost eerie when he thought about it. Hell, they were even the same height, but he wasn't about to drive himself insane by comparing the two. The fact of the matter was, he wasn't sure of how to respond to Hayes, having just met him. Oh, the snark came naturally, but it could only serve him for so long. Deciding not to dwell on these thoughts for very long, Brady briefly glimpsed at a retreating Hayes before refocusing his attentions on the case file. The picture of the smiling redheaded teen made his chest tighten a bit. Of course, Ivanna was nowhere near her age, but this girl was still someone's kid and God she must have been terrified. Of course, he didn't want to assume too much. He only knew the basics right now but that was why he was there, to ensure that he got the whole story and brought her home safe and sound. Brady got to work, checking up on witnesses and alibis and anything that needed double-checking. Not that he deemed cops totally incompetent, but it didn't hurt to give it another look over. He could hold out on the tea for a bit as he examined everything he had at his disposal. It was key to note that any all signs of abuse were attributed to the mother. The blood was from two separate donors, one being the deceased and the other was unknown. There appeared to be no hits in CODES which didn't really help their case but at least he could gather that the girl had been taken from that house unharmed. Whether she remained that way was unknown. It took but a few minutes for him to decide that he needed to speak to this boyfriend. Any manner of interrogating they must have done mattered very little to Brady. He could get things they couldn't and right now, that guy was his first source of information. Unfortunately, he'd have to wait for his 'partner' to wake up. The guy wasn't in custody and Bradywasknown for wandering off on his own to take care of business. Of course, most of the time this worked wonderfully in their favor but sometimes his smart-mouth could catch up with him. He wondered how angry Hayes would be if he was forced to chase him... His eyes soon found the cane he now needed to get around. It didn't take very long for him to decide. His ass would stay put because winter was not friendly, and his balls would freeze right off if he tried to go at it alone. A car would have been nice. For a brief moment, he entertained the thought ofborrowingthe detective's but thought better of it. For now, he'd wait it out, all the while hoping that wherever that girl was - that she was all right. Three hours... that was the time that he normally allowed himself to sleep. Not only was there still the pressure of his case load of missing children and murders but the longer he slept, the more likely the nightmares were to start. There was no alarm clock, his eyes just popped open. By the fact that there was still light about the thick curtains he could tell it was still before six pm. The clock confirmed it was but at 5:48 it would be dark soon. He had slept three hours and 9 minutes. Keenan wasted no time getting out of bed and sliding a pair of loose pajama pants on, tying them about his hips and heading into the kitchen to grab a couple of beers. This was why he worked from home when he could... he was able to be himself as much as he could be. So Brady's second impression of the detective would get to be half naked, bed tousled and carrying two opened bottles of Guinness. What Irishmen didn't like Guinness? The detective didn't know or care about is new partner's orientation or that he might like a lightly defined hairless chest with a tattoo below his belly button that would lead one down to more interesting activates below the pants when were tied precariously at his hips. His arms were where most of his muscle tone was. Keenan simply didn't have time to work out as much as he'd like. He'd even stopped going to martial arts training and kept up his maintenance in his work-out room." Read all the files in the room already?" He asked the pretty blond with a smile on his full lips as he handed him the beer. Of course, he hadn't expected him to read all the files. He hadn't even really expected him to read the last one... the most recent hot knife in his gut of the girl he knew was already lost. There had been too much time before the murder and kidnapping had been reported. Kelly had been dead in less than an hour after her abduction... Trying to keep from being obvious that he was just thinking about something that bothered him, the tall black haired man took the other seat... he only had two because he used the other to prop up his legs... so much for that... and checked his mail in hopes that there were some new leads from the tip line that he could follow." So what is it that you do exactly?" He asked as he took a sip of the one beer he allowed himself a day. He was curious as to why he was given a civilian instead of an agent... though if the kid couldn't recover from his obvious injury becoming a federal agent was highly unlikely. By the time Hayes finally awoke and decided to grace him with his presence, Brady had just finished checking up on his daughter. She wasn't old enough to engage in a proper conversation, but it always made him smile knowing that she was smart enough to recognize his voice. Goldie, as she had dubbed him, was usually the first word out of her mouth and then followed a long, babbled account of her day. She was a natural chatterbox, and he could have sat there listening to her for hours if his battery wasn't for shit. Thankfully, her mother always came to the rescue, ice-queen that she was. NYPD's finest still found it hard to believe he had knocked up someone like detective Rowe and every now, and then he'd be greeted with a jibe or two at the precinct. Just for the record, she had come onto him. Brady didn't regret his choices. If he hadn't fucked Rowe in her office, he wouldn't have Ivanna. The only thing he regretted was ever hurting Danny. He could still vividly recall the hurt in his voice all those years ago. The time really did fly. He hadn't yet been 20 when he had met detective Danny Jacks and for all his brain-power, he never would have known that he'd fall head over heels for the guy. It was kind of funny, considering they couldn't stand each other to begin with. It was a bit of contrast with how Hayes was treating him now. He was still confident in his ability to piss the guy off, but he was being a lot more accommodating than the Irishman initially assumed. It was kind of refreshing, really. Arriving shirtless and branding booze, Brady had to hesitate when he took the bottle of Guinness from Hayes. If they got pissed, who the fuck was going to drive? He needed to do as much as he could and this sitting around business wasn't serving him well which would have been a right shock to anyone who knew him. Brady was lazy as they came, but he was also stubborn and determined. Perhaps the alcohol would have to wait for now. He had more important matters to attend to, certainly not the eerie likeness of Hayes and Danny. Fuck, the guy was tattooed too. What was it with these people pairing him up with a specific 'type'. Right about now, he'd be Freud's wet dream. Despite the man's better attempts at concealing his troubled thoughts, Brady caught wind of them long before he cared to hide it. Something was definitely on the man's mind, but he wasn't about to pry now. He could do that later. The detective bothering to question him at all was a proper surprise. More often than not, people just dismissed him right off the bat without waiting to figure out what exactly it was that he did. Apparently this Hayes guy was full of surprises." I meddle," he explained quietly, nodding his head in silent thanks for the beer. No, that wasn't the best of explanations, but it was easily the most condensed. Perhaps he'd add some meat to that answer. He was feeling generous. "It's my job to weed out the liars, figure out what makes them tic. Make the bastards squirm a little." Indeed, it was and Brady soon found himself motioning to the detective's face. "Take for example, the state of your face. To the untrained eye, there's nothing going on there at all, but then it's my job to say that something's bothering you." That wasn't an idea so much as it was a fact. Brady never entertained the idea that he could be wrong. He didn't make mistakes. He held up a hand before the man could put up his defenses. "But I only fuck with the people I work with half the time. My job isn't to read minds. It's to make people think I can long enough for them fuck up and sing. Y'feeling' me?" There was a lazy sort of grin on his face, almost inviting as he reclined in his chair, cracking his tense neck with a soft grunt." I have to talk to this boyfriend, detective. I can't rule out anyone until I've seen them. Maybe he knows more than he's saying." He meddles? What the fuck was that? But then Keenan got the full explanation, and it took all he could not to fall of his chair laughing. Oh, he was certain that he wasn't keeping a straight face. The amusement had to be there in his eyes. Oh my god... really... they sent me this?" Feeling you?" He laughed... after of course the Irishman told him he needed to be talked to the deceased woman's boyfriend. "With a pretty face like yours and a frame that weighs what... 150 pounds soaking wet with your cloths on. The squirming isn't going to be because you're intimidating." He laughed again and took another swig of beer as he reached across Brady with his left hand to reach the keyboard that corresponded with the computer he needed. He typed in the man's name in the NYPD database and social security number without even looking at the file and pulled up the man's extensive record. "Stop me if you heard this one... How do you tell if a career criminal is lying?... not surprisingly the answer is. Wait for it... he's moving his mouth." Keenan took a deep breath and let it out to reset himself and killed his laughing. "I'm sorry you were pulled into this by some political or local pressure the captain had about appearing to be working on this harder than we can. But I'm not some Yoko who can't give an interview and can't tell when someone is lying to me. This man is committing crimes, has been committing crimes and I need to know what crimes he's been committing with who, and he's not stupid enough to tell me even if a child he should have loved like a daughter is at stake." He took the mouse and highlighted a phone number. "I have no intentions of being nice to this guy and I want him feeling like we are breathing down his neck." The man was being followed by field agents as they spoke. "But you're going to have to call his lawyer to make that appointment. So it's not happening tonight." He wasn't even going to go into the fact that Brady wasn't dressed to do an interview or even go out in public either." As for your very astute observation, I'll save you the problem of pulling it out of me later... because I assure you if you're really that good at reading people you'll see it a lot." He slid over a few inches and readjusted himself to his main computer and clicked on a few folders before pulling up a picture of a different red-headed girl. "This is Kelly O'brain, a name you will never bring up to my sister or my family. EVER." Least Brady ever wanted to find out what squirming really was. "She was my sister's best friend and possibly the sweetest girl that I have ever met. She was 13 and had a huge crush on me, and I was 17 and highly annoyed with it." God thinking about her hurt, saying it out loud was even worse. He had only confessed this to a priest once but his faith had already been irreparably damaged. Keenan didn't bother hiding that he was having a hard time getting the words out. "My girlfriend at the time had found a note Kelly had slipped into one of my school books, so instead of leaving with enough time to get to the park and pick her and my sister up when I was supposed to. I waited. I wanted to let them worry a little. Thirty minutes wasn't too long to let two 13-year-olds hang out in a public park in broad daylight right? But when I got there Kelly had been missing 20 minutes. My sister was inconsolable and in shock that her friend had been taken right in front of her." He took a swig of beer and another breath. "Kelly didn't survive the hour. She was raped, stabbed and dumped into drainage grate for one of the ponds in the park and wasn't found for days. Had I been there to bring them home like I was supposed to be... like I could have been... Kelly would still be my sister's best friend. This is girl..." He pointed at the computer, letting the pain reinforce the resolve in is soul that the weariness was eating away."... is why we are here in my house with more room and research power than I can get at the office. At this moment I need someone who isn't going to crumble under the weight of all these heartbreaking cases and the fact that this new girl is most assuredly already out of our reach and help me find if there is a pattern or path that can link them together. It requires hours of searching when you don't know what you're searching for, keeping names in your memory for when you see them or something similar again because these bastards change their name... memorizing faces because the girls can change their names. It takes that attention to detail you seem to have for facial expressions but using it in every single avenue you can think to use it." This is why he was driven, this was why he was who he was. He wasn't going to admit that the pieces of the puzzle felt bigger than him... that there was something eating at his gut because he couldn't make ends fit that felt like they belonged together. But he wasn't going to throw away help either if it had the chance to actually help him. "Can you do this Brady Fitzgerald? " Because he was starting to crumble over the weight of doing it alone. Brady would keep the fact that he weighed even less than that to himself. He wasn't exactly offended by that response. He got it often enough but then, the science of microexpressions wasn't something most people understood. But he couldn't help but want to knock on Hayes's hollow head. If the guy thought for a second that he used intimidation as a method to his success then it would be his turn to laugh. It was a psychological game. The fear came from people who knew they were cornered and that was what made him brilliant at what he did. He could apply a vice grip to anyone's mind and boy did he squeeze. Everything...everything about a person was like reading a book for Brady. From their facial tics to the drops in voice pitch to a nervous movement or two. Hayes didn't have to take him seriously, Brady didn't give a shit either way, but if he was on it then he was there to stay. He had got a confession out a serial killer, forced a rapist to admit that he wasn't mentally ill, seen murderous intentions in the eyes of a child. Hell, his boyfriend had been shot before his very eyes. What kind of sheltered little shit did the detective think he was dealing with? Naturally, it wasn't entirely his fault. No one did their research if they didn't care to. Sure, he looked like any other lazy college kid and Brady could turn 40 and this would never change, but he wasn't out to prove himself to anyone. The fact of the matter was, he was there now and no manner of disbelief in his abilities was going to send him away. His sensibilities weren't quite that delicate. He kept his silence mainly because he had nothing to say to that. It was almost laughable how many times people told him he'd have to contact lawyers. Brady didn't do lawyers. Of course, he'd been threatened with legal actions before but a part of what he did was making people feel uncomfortable and showing up at the most inopportune of times. The element of surprise served him well. Everything about him screamed nuisance. That was just how he rolled. When Hayes began to speak, Brady was glad he hadn't broken his silence for a snide remark. It was alarming how quickly he had come to spill his guts. He didn't think it was trust so much as he needed validation for his drive. There was a certain conviction in those brown eyes that interested Brady. He found himself admiring him both for his honesty and his need to ensure that he wasn't there to screw around. The pale blue eyes searched that face, able to read everything it offered and the pain there was so real and raw that the blond almost felt intrusive for the first time in years. Almost. He couldn't deny that he lived for that. Still, all need to snark had all but left him as his mind painted a mental picture of this deceased girl when she had been alive. She'd have been older than him and somehow that thought truly bothered him. The finality of death was chilling, but Brady knew this all too well. Hayes's question was simple enough but answering it was another thing entirely. Obviously this was of personal significance to the young detective and while Brady wasn't exactly the kind of guy who anticipated failure, he wasn't sure of how to deal with it all. Glancing back at the monitor, the blond licked at his slightly chapped lips before meeting the detective's gaze head on." I can." There it was. Nothing more, nothing less. Well it wasn't exactly like Keenan had time to do a background search on Brady. He was trusting enough that the agency wouldn't give him a psychopath killer with a felony background... after all he didn't live a crime drama or a movie. Right now he wasn't going to go about pointing to the kid that facial expressions weren't the only clue to what made people tick. The way they dress was also a big blaring confessional. The blond was a looker, yet he looked like he was still morning the passing of Kurt Cobain. It told the detective that there was something about himself that Brady didn't feel beautiful about. The oversized cloths showed that not only was the pretty boy hiding something but was hiding from what he thought he was hiding. Fitzgerald didn't want a responsibility to the world, didn't want to get close to people that he could potentially feel obligations before because that could lead to pain. Keenan wasn't an idiot. It just wasn't his business. His business was catching bad guys and giving the lawyers enough evidence to put the scumbags away for life... or death." Good." Keenan said with a smile as he clicked the picture of Kelly closed. If he could crack what he thought was a national, perhaps multinational, human trafficking ring perhaps he could finally let himself be at peace for a few minutes. He leaned over to a shelving unit and pulled one of his cards and grabbed an ink pen that was never out of arms reach no matter where stood in the room (even if you had to pick it up off the floor). He wrote the codes of the downstairs lock and for his apartment on the back of it and set it beside Brady. "I'll give you the keys to the doors when I take you home. You can come over any time you can spare, regardless if I'm gone or asleep." Despite the fact that he told Brady Angelica was already gone, and that he believed it, he still checked with missing and exploited children to see if any word of her had come in. He had the head the local division on his cell phone and had used their volunteers to pass out fliers and talk to people on the streets last night and this morning. As he expected... nothing. Though he wanted to he didn't let his shoulders slump. He just moved on to the next task. "Have you had supper yet? I can get something brought up for you." He offered as he check on the message board of the guys tailing their 'person of interest'. Nothing there either and he hadn't expected it. If he had been the guy he would find a hole and stay in it for a long time." Ok so talking to Steven Perez is out, at least for now. Do you have any idea how you want to dive into this? I can give you set tasks, and you can learn as you go, or I can give you say a week to look at the 70 odd files here without expecting any output from you so you can gather your own perspective." He wasn't certain that Brady was full of shit with what ever skill he did or didn't have, but a fresh pair of eyes could be what he needed to see what he was missing. It was also a plus that the man was a looker... even if Keenan had to crush the urge to go get a hairbrush. From as long as he could remember, Brady had never taken much care into his appearance. Ever since he was a little boy, his mother had insisted he keep his hair long because it was 'a beautiful waterfall of gold that sprang from her little masterpiece's skull'. His mother had always been eccentric, to say the very least. His emaciated appearance was likely a direct cause of the crazy, fast metabolism. Of course, he showered regularly but the thought of running a comb through his hair proved to be too much to handle. As for the layers... Well, Brady would silently admit that they bulked him up a little and the ladies could appreciate that. Besides, it kept his cold ass warm. If there was any indication that Hayes was showing the slightest bit of attraction to him, Brady was going to ignore it. His sexuality was an intensely complicated subject. Danny had been the first guy to ever catch his interest and even whilst dating him, the thought of ever being sexual with other guys made him want to wear a chastity belt. He had jokingly written it off as him being Danny sexual but now that they weren't together, what did that mean for him? Was he back to being totally straight? He could readily admit that this particular detective was a good-looking guy, but that was pretty much where it ended for him. He just wasn't in the right frame of mind to be thinking of these things. His sex drive was more or less shot after the recent heartache and from the looks of things, it wasn't going away any time soon - if ever. He pocketed the card and took a proper swallow of the Guinness, almost relieved to be consuming alcohol. "Yeah, thanks," he nodded, rubbing a hand over his flat stomach. His ribs were beginning to ache from being in the same position for so long, but he ignored it for now. The mention of food was tempting, but Brady decided against it. He didn't plan on getting drunk in Hayes's presence, but it would have been nice to just laze about on his couch and ignore the world." Nah, I'm good," he replied, flicking the blond strands of hair out of his eyes as he thumbed the bottle. 70 odd files? Brady whistled softly at that, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. He still had two research essays to write, and he had to go out and grab things for Ivanna. Thank God he had a roommate who was considerate enough to do both the laundry and the grocery shopping. The heavens had smiled down at him the day Ben had walked into his life. Or something equally gay. He took another swallow and wiped his mouth with the back of his pale hand, favoring the detective with a lazy half-smirk. "Surprise me." Whatever Hayes set out for him, he'd do it, and maybe he'd even do it with a smile. Other than saying Brady was pretty the detective didn't give any hint that he was attracted to the man. It was a fairly safe assumption that he meant it in neutrality that both women and men would be attracted to his features not him specifically. Face wise... Brady was exactly what turned Keenan on, but there were a few outstanding factors: one, they worked together. Two. His sexually was his own business, though he wasn't in the closet so to speak he didn't feel the need to tell everyone he meet that he found men more attractive than women. Three. Brady smelled like cigarette smoke and smoking make you taste bad too. Four: The kid looked like a slob. Part of someone's attractiveness was how they felt about themselves, and he was screaming that he didn't care. If Brady didn't care why should Keenan? So the help didn't have to worry about sexual harassment. Keenan knew he looked good, he didn't need it confirmed. It didn't mean that the boss was going to go put on more cloths either. Good Irish genes were a blessing, and he had put in the rest of the work on his body. He had been athletic in his teens but once Kelly died he knew what he was going to do with his life and built every aspect of his life to be capable of doing it." Well since I don't know what your schedule is like, you can come and go as you please. If I interview people, and you're available I'll take you along. Well work out those details when the situation arises." But what to get him to do? Seemed redundant when he would do it himself later anyway... but redundancy is what he wanted. Fresh eyes he reminded himself. If the guy was astute enough to notice little details in expression perhaps would find he was more talented looking for needles that looked like hay. "There's a camera in my bag. It has pictures of the house in it. You'd probably kill me for how many pictures I took. But find the Kids room, look it over, read her diary..." Year he had taken a picture of every single page of that too. "Let me know if you can find anything we can use on Perez. I ordered Shepard's pie and your herb tea. It's big enough to split." Keenan stood up and make his way to his work-out room, he opened the door and left it open so they could talk. "Mom is sending up two plates so we can share it. We can argue about it when the food gets here." He figured the man was smart enough to figure out what he was doing without him announcing it. He missed his work-out yesterday, so he was going to get something in, and it was always better to eat after you worked out. As pathetic as it would be considering he had to stretch first. What he wouldn't give to turn back time to redo 30 minutes of his life. Come and go as he pleased? That sounded much better. Brady had always been pretty lax when it came to his assistance. They hadn't called him in often but sometimes his skills were required. He couldn't wait for the day when he opened up his own private company that would operate as an independent contractor to assist investigations of local and federal law enforcement with his applied psychology. His uncle Ray had technically beat him to it with the Hailstone Group, but some day there would be the Fitzgerald Group. Some day. For now, he was stuck relying on student loans as he strived to achieve that doctorate. That was quite a few years from now, but he was getting there. Some day he'd give Ivanna a big house and provide her with everything he could. The tutoring and serving of coffee could only last so long. Well, at least he got by and could say with some amount of pride that he was making progress. Though, it still wasn't enough. Brady puffed out his pale cheeks and nodded, offering but a word of gratitude before he reached for the detective's bag. He'd start looking through the pictures and stuff his face full of pie. It sounded like a plan to him. It must have been nice, he mused, for Hayes to have his family so close by. Not much of a family man himself, the only people he spoke with regularly were his grandparents and every now, and then he'd get a call from DC when Ray Hailstone wanted a word." Righto, detective." He offered a mock salute, keeping his gaze fixed on the camera as he went through the pictures. Thoroughness was both something he appreciated and loathed. The urge to smoke was coming on swiftly, but Brady was in no mood to strip out of his remaining clothes so he ignored it and leaned back with a frown. He was well aware that the detective intended to get a workout in. Brady would have nothing to do with that. He practically hyperventilated every time he had to climb the stairs. There wasn't a single athletic bone in his body and he had no shame in admitting this. Gym class had been the only C he had ever gotten and that was only due to the obnoxious coach's strange vendetta/homoerotic desires for him. High school was something he'd never miss. Where at least there wasn't a protest in the fact that Keenan ignored the fact that Brady didn't want anything to eat. If it remained that was it was another thing. He wasn't looking to change the man... well not completely. What he did or didn't eat or how he looked was the Irishman's own prerogative when he wasn't on the detective's time. Time was his enemy... something he never had too much of, and he was reminded of each failure when he got called to a new case that fit the profile of what he was working on. Of course while was thinking about the time he didn't have while trying to get his body warmed up to exercise that time ran out with a ring of his doorbell. He hadn't even started to sweat yet, but he wasn't going to keep his mom waiting or feed her curiosity about him having a house guest. Hell she didn't care if he had a boy or girlfriend, like any good mother she wanted more for him than the lonely life he was living. It wasn't long before he was back in the office carrying a tray of hot water and an array of different herbal teas, a couple of plates and a bowl of Sheppard's pie. It wasn't until this moment that he even wondered if the underweight man was a vegetarian... oh well it was too late now. Keenan was a meat and potatoes man and with Sheppard's pie you got your meat, potatoes and veggies all in one convenient spoonful. He sat the tray on a clear spot on the table and dipped out the layered mashed-potato, seasoned ground beef mix on to his plate. "Ready for a break? My dad's restaurant has been voted the best Irish pub in Manhattan for the past few years." He offered. "If food snobs like it, you can't go wrong." He laughed and took a bite and got it was good. He probably could have eaten the whole thing himself since he hadn't eaten much in the past day and a half, but he still limited his calorie intake in one meal. Evan half would have been too much if he at three balanced meals a day.However, just because he was offering Brady a break didn't mean he was going to take one. He picked took his plate back to his seat where half his beer and sat there getting warm, the way it was supposed to be anyway and started to reread his case note in case the hours he had spent away from his had cleared his mind and he could get a fresh perspective. "So is there anything I can get you for this place that would make your work easier? Oh, and I can get the recording of the interview with Steven Perez from this morning if you want to watch it." He still had no application understanding of how he was supposed to utilize Brady, but he supposed the awkwardness of the beginning would smooth out eventually, and hopefully they could find a process that worked for both of them and bring the kids where were still alive back home. Trust a Mick cop to be this proud. Brady had never met a more proud bunch than the Irish and all that noise about them being impervious to psychoanalysis was a load of crock. The real truth was, no one could have the patience to deal with them and this assessment was more or less justified. He had been born in Dublin and spent a fair amount of his childhood there. Of course, those were simpler times and Brady hadn't been there in years. He didn't plan on returning any time soon either, if at all. He didn't really like to live in the past which was why he was finding his current state of mind so difficult to cope with. Fucking failed romances. Yet again, Brady was appreciative of the detective's hospitality, and it wasn't as if he didn't like to eat. The blond could be a right pig when it came down to it, but heartache wasn't conducive to an appetite. Nevertheless, the pie smelled delicious, and he wasn't about to pass it up. Wasting food had never sat well with him because he knew how hard it could be to come by. Sadly enough, there had been a few times when he had lived off soup cans and Kraft dinner. Again, thank God for Ben. The herbal tea was a little taste of heaven. Brady had to keep from shooting in his pants. His obsession with tea could be considered unhealthy but soon enough some color returned to his face as he tipped his head back. "Fuck me, that'good." He didn't know what it was about the magical brew, nor did he care to associate it with some fond memory from his childhood. He just had a hard-on for the stuff, but the pie was pretty damn good too." That'd be helpful," he agreed, not caring that he was talking with his mouth full; no one had ever accused Brady of having good manners, "I'm adaptable. If I need something, I'll let you know." If Brady were a better person, he might have felt compelled to march downstairs and give his thanks for the meal but apparently his laziness won out. Oh, well. He wasn't exactly there to gain any fans. He cradled the tea in his good hand, the other perpetually hidden under his overlong sleeve for reasons he wasn't about to share on pain of death. "Just for the record, I'm not a morning person so if you should ever require my services before noon, it ought to be for a damn good reason. I put faith in your judgement, detective." Brady grinned a cheeky grin in Hayes's general direction, stretching his long legs out with a soft sigh. Fuck, he needed that smoke. Well there was a saying that god invented whiskey to keep the Irish from taking over the world. Aside from the Protestant/Catholic crap Keenan couldn't have been happier with his heritage. He definitely wouldn't change his family for the world. They were good-hearted people that loved and laughed all the time, except him of course. He was up to his chin in murder and grief and somehow managed to keep from slipping under and drowning in it all. The fact was he had laughed and smiled more today because of Brady than he had in the past year." Don't let the customer's downstairs here you say that over tea. They'll stick a beer in each hand and have you committed to a mental institution." And here he was laughing again and for the life of him he didn't know why. Perhaps he was really loosing it if a kid who couldn't even dress himself properly could do it for him. It's not like he had anything against Brady. It was the fact that the guy could do so much better with no effort at all. You had to dress, just put on cloths that looked good on you and for heaven’s sake brush your hair in the morning. That blond mop would probably take hours of gentle brushing to get the tangles out if it without a pair of scissors or ripping it out. It was something he was sorely tempted to do. Then he found himself laughing again. "Just for the record, If I call you in the morning, and you aren't waiting on me. I'll dress you myself. THAT you can have faith in." God his face hurt from smiling so much. He chuckled some more and took another swig of beer. If you should have been obvious by now that they weren't going to get pissed. "Actually if you don't have dressier cloths, you should talk to my mother. She's a seamstress. If I take you out in the field I will need you to look like you care about yourself and your job. In here you can were what ever you like, even a bunny suit if it amuses you." Of course, he had to think of something silly because he could imagine very clearly what Brady would look like cleaned up, and it wouldn't do to get hard in a fairly thin pair of pants when a man was sitting right beside you. It wasn't something he had wanted to push now, but since the moment had lead to it. He guessed the worst of it would be that Brady would quit, and he couldn't figure out why that bothered him. Brady's preferred brand of alcohol was JD. There had been a time in his life where it he more or less lived off it but discussing under-age drinking with a cop probably wasn't the best option, even if he knew he wouldn't exactly be chastised. Everyone did it. As far as his tea fetish went, at least the English could accept him." Hey, hey. The slacker chic look is all a part of it. It puts people off long enough for me to get 'em confused. Don't be crampin' my style, detective." There was a brief flash of mischief in his blue eyes but regardless of what Hayes said, he wasn't about to change his look. If Danny couldn't get him to do it, no one could. The last time he had combed his hair had been in the pursuit of Louise, and he wasn't about to go down that road again. At least he was clean. When he wasn't smoking, he smelled strongly of laundry which was a fucking killer on his nose. Nowthatcould give a person headaches. The captain had commented on it, any number of CSI's had made fun of him, hell his own grandmother threatened to chop off his hair if he didn't run a brush through it but at the end of the day, Brady didn't value anyone's opinions or suggestions enough to go ahead with it. If he ever decides to take some appearance-related initiative, it'd be on his own terms and people would just have to deal with that. Besides, his little Ivanna was a fan of the tousled locks and if he was going to take anyone's opinion on the matter, it'd be hers. The corners of his mouth twitched as he studied Hayes. The initial somber look had nearly slipped away, and he could practically trace the smoothness of the guy's face as he relaxed into a slightly more mellow state. Brady didn't know the guy nearly well enough to judge how he acted around other people but that story he had willingly owned up to earlier led him to his own conclusions. Guilt, drive, lack of sleep... And now he was actually laughing which he deemed a good thing. It showed character. Brady tipped his chair back slightly, eyes half-lidded as he traced his thumb over the rim of his cup. "Your mother, huh? Tell me about her. What's she like?" Yes, he was shrinking without shrinking. Part of his intent was to get to know more about his supposed partner but the other half of it was his simple desire to ensure that Hayes's mood remained light. Indeed, they were in the middle of a messy reality, but everyone deserved a little downtime and from the looks of things, maybe the detective needed it most of all. And perhaps Brady was generous enough to try and get it to him but not quite so generous that he didn't have his own agenda. Keenan was from an Irish family... so yes he wasn't the one that was gone to lecture someone about underage drinking. He probably would have drank himself into the grave when he found out Kelly was dead if he hadn't puked up most of the alcohol that he had consumed and passed out in it. Of course, it turned out not to be worth it. Once he was sober he still couldn't escape the guilt and even worse he was wearing vomit and had to clean it up. His father had told him it was his one pass, if he ever terrified is mother like that again the old man would kick his ass. Even now his father could give him a run for his money. It simply wasn't wise to upset mom." When you find style I'll be sure not to cramp it." The Fed laughed. Iron it, perhaps. He thought it was a shame that Brady didn't take better care of himself but the only thing he cared about was the way they presented themselves to the victims and witnesses. They needed people to see that they cared about their jobs and that meant dressing well." My mother is every man's dream." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone while his fingers continued to fly over his keyboard. While it was refreshing to be able to talk to someone while he was working, Keenan didn't want it to take away from the work. "She's pretty and always has a smile that can chase away the rain and replace it with rainbows. I couldn't imagine a better mother. She made sure my sister had what we needed and earned what we wanted. She put so much time into us and yet still helped dad grow the restaurant and financial stability that they could walk away from it anytime they wanted to and never want for anything for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, she's smart, loving, giving and very family oriented. I figure It's just as well I'm not looking for a wife, because my dad already has the best one there is... no point in trying to find another, she doesn't exist." He smiled and turned his head long enough to give Brady a wink before turning to his next task now that his notes where entered. He started to make a call list of all Angelica's friends so he could recheck with them to see if she buy any stroke of luck showed up on their door steps. Of course the agent knew exactly why he was single and didn't even bother to go on casual dates. He honestly couldn't imagine a man or woman who would put up with his work both the nature of what he dealt with and the number of hours in a day that he devoted to it. His sleeping pattern wasn't exactly conducive for another individual's health or sanity and then there were the nightmares. He was much better off alone, even if it meant he was lonely.

Blood and Trust (gothicfires & WittyShrew)|rating:4.0

Attack on Titan - Flames of Hope

Drill Instructor Keith Shades walked in front of the 105th regiment, and stared down at all the new faces across the dirt field. Petty, pathetic individuals he would be responsible for hardening and making into true soldiers fit for the titans mouth. His job was indeed bitter, and extremely important the to the survival of the residents within what remained of the walls. Though he took it seriously, he had fun doing his job. In a world where joy was few and far between, why not take advantage of the career you enjoyed?" Listen up and Listen well!" Keith called out to the rows of greenhorn military wannabes. "I know you're all here to become the next generation of soldiers to defend our walls. I will tell you right now, that NONE OF YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING!" His eyes narrowed at the crowd becoming unsettled, but Keith Shades was just warming up. "That's right! You pussy-billowed tube socks will fail...." He called out louder now, "If you do not obey my every command!" Ava Elizabeth stood in the second row, holding her salute tightly. She stood two heads higher than everyone around her and was visibly sweating; both from the hot sun beating down onto her and the heated words coming from the Drill Instructor. Just what had she gotten herself into? Her ankh earrings jingled as she tilted her head, squinting under the hot rays of sunlight to see past the glare gleaming off the Instructors bald head. Cesare Held his Salute with a look of sickness. He had been in the sun all day and hadn't eaten in forever. His stomach was turning over trying to digest itself it seemed. The drill instructor shouted and barked at them, telling them how much of a pussy they all were. With a scoff Cesare looked to the guy next to him and grunted "I mean, I'm OK with being a pussy. My pap always said 'You are what you eat' and this guy's a bag of cocks." He snickered. He eyes drifted to the person next to him who remained unmoving, but a slight smile crept across his face. Furthermore, he had heard the joke and that's all that Cesare needed. Cesare continued imaging all the ways he knew how to cook the food he brought with him. He couldn't focus on anything else and began drooling a bit onto his shirt and the ground. His back slouched a bit, his eyes half closed, and a low moan escaping from his mouth, it was certain. He was in his own world. AOI Bloom stood with her back straight and with her salute as tight as her body could possibly make it. Although she would never admit this, she'd practiced the 'perfect' salute nearly every day for the past year or so just to prepare for today. However, she had not been expecting it to be like this: her stomach growled every five seconds, telling her that it was time to eat and sweat poured down the back of her neck, even though she'd made sure to pull her long hair back to avoid getting too hot. Even though she suffered on the inside, AOI held a look similar to boredom on her face. She didn't enjoy people yelling at her, so she'd turned out the drill instructor almost as soon as he opened that mouth of his. She did tune back in when a person behind her cracked a joke that she did find a bit an amusing, even though it was slightly perverted. As a result, a slight smirk formed on her face, but it was gone nearly as fast as it appeared. No, I mustn't make any facial expressions...the old guy might think I'm laughing at him or something. Aoi thought with a soft sigh. For now, all she could do was wait as patiently as she could until he dismissed them so she could go get some much-needed food and sleep. Her thoughts were momentarily interrupted as she heard a moan from behind her and a look of surprise crossed her face. Just what was going on back there? AOI made sure that the drill instructor was busy yelling at another poor soul before sneakily glancing back. The guy behind her looked like he was about to pass out or something and the girl figured that it would make the old man more Missy if he passed out or something, so she decided to call to him." Sit up before the old man comes over here." She muttered, barely moving her lips as she did so. Silas was standing among the other cadets who all gathered at these dry grounds. Silas didn't notice what was going on, he knew that there was a man walking around trying to encourage the cadets or something, he didn't really see the purpose of this gathering. He was just standing there with his fist slammed against his heart, as if he was a statue. But like always when there wasn't much going on, Silas would drift away from this world. His eyes were blank, he was in his own world now. To others, it may seem like he was just a lifeless puppet. If the commander passed him, and notice that his mind is not within these walls then he surely would get mad. However, it would take some effort for him to wake Silas back up again. Once in his dreamworld, it may take some time before he returns. Unless he was shaken, hurt or whatever, something he actually expects the old man to do. However, he wasn't near him, so his nice dream could simply continue. Ales held his salute firm despite the beating sun. He had been standing here for a while trying to listen to the drill sergeants yelling but it all sort of just melted into a continuous noise that he didn’t care enough about to decipher. It was probably something about them being failures, and they’re never going to make it and overall stuff he didn’t need to hear. He instead started watching some birds circle overhead, like the massive group was just another carcass to be picked to the bone. He was sure that was how the drill instructor saw it. Stifling a yawn and scratching his back Ales realized he was letting his guard down. He snapped his arms back to the salute position and tried to focus on the old men words. All he did was rant and rave though, and his eyes had dark rings and were sunken in. Had this guy not slept since the wall fell? It definitely wouldn’t be a surprise. For now all Ales could do was stand in line like a good little soldier boy and hope that maybe he was short enough not to be noticed by the old man if he went picking on people. Keith Shades's beady eyes flicked as he heard someone speaking. He made his way toward a boy with blue hair who had evidently made the joke, as two subordinates beside him were smiling. He stood tall over the short Italian male before him and looked down at him, the glare of the sun only more prominent closer to the cadets." State your name and area your from."[Cesare Que] Manna was sweating, whether because she was nervous or hot she couldn't really tell; not like it made a difference though. Everyone else looked like they were having as good a time as her, the growl of stomachs sometimes more prominent than anything else. However, it was nothing she wasn't used to at the farm, and Minn as biggest problem right now was to keep herself from laughing. She was behind the boy who had cracked the joke and started drooling and while she was amused the drill instructor did not appear to be. As he approached she tightened her salute and tried to look serious. As his head dropped, a voice told him to straighten up. Must've been a girl in front of him, but before he could the sun no longer shown on Cesare's face and a cool shadow was cast on him. His eyes were closed and he slowly looked up. Slowly taking in a deep breath the whole way, with a goofy smile on his face. His eyes opened a little, then shot open the rest of the way. Shades was staring him down. The words were hard to make, and the wrong words came first. "Puss Sh uh, CESARE! I am Cesare Damages of Japanese!" He shouted, making his stance more straight and pounding his hand on his heart. His backpack shuffling about as he did so. He had packed terribly, but everything was packed inside. The light shone around Shades like he was a saint, but his breath smelled like that of a devil. He couldn't help but chuckle as he thought of a part two of his joke. AOI quickly turned back around when she noticed the drill instructor coming their way.Aw, hell. Now he's gone and attracted attention to himself. She thought to herself with an annoyed eye roll before focusing on the solider in front of her, though her ears were busy listening in on the conversation behind her. When the guy, who she soon found out to be called Cesare, responded to the old man in such a way, she wanted to turn around and hit him in the head. Didn't he know that such a response could get him punished? Then he had the audacity to laugh afterward! AOI sighed. This boy would probably end up on the old man's bad side before their training even started. However, the most she could do now was sit and wait until he finished with Case are and move on to the next person so she could get something to eat. As if on cue, her stomach decided to rumble loudly, but she never removed her hand from her salute. "So," Keith Shades clicked his tongue. "What's in the backpack?" He seemed casual, and rather... too chilled out, his eyes focused down at Cesare. "You got a little spot there on your uniform. Did you ah, not clean it?" His eyebrow slowly raised. "Ingredients, sir." His eyes gazed straight ahead. He didn't glance at his coat with a drool spot on it. In fact, he didn't care. It was the coldest spot on his body. "I washed this shirt better than you brush your teeth, sir." He replied without thinking. A look of shock jolted upon his face. He actually just said that. Our loud. He couldn't open his mouth as his teeth were clenched too tightly together. His breathing had stopped as his pulse grew faster. He would sweat if he had any fluids in his body other than the piss that was about to be scared out of him, but somehow stayed in. All was silent and Keith Shades slowly smiled. Then he ripped the backpack from the Cadet and unzipped it, pouring all the contents on the ground. He stomped out every spice shaker, speck of flour, everything in the bag... and stepped back to straighten the cuffs on his coat."95 laps around the camp. No food tonight and dish duty for a week." Then his voice picked up in volume. "GET MOVING MAGGOT." Without hesitation, the laps begun. The ingredients were crushed, as was his happiness. For now, it would be back after 95 laps. The rumble had not missed the Drill Instructors keen ear, and he turned toward the girl who was in front of Cesare's place. He stepped over to her side, his arms at his back. "So," He started, looking at the teardrop birthmark. "'See you got a little' mark right there. Think that makes you special?" His eyes narrowed, not waiting for an answer. "How about it then? State your name and where do you see yourself in three years."[AOI Que] AOI resisted the urge to turn around and punch the boy as he blatantly disrespected the old man. She wasn't surprised when he was sentenced to a ton of laps and no dinner but AOI figured that she could save the guy something to eat for after his run. Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted as the old man appeared in front of her and demanded information from her." My name is AOI Bloom and I plan to be a part of the survey corps in three years."she stated almost in a bored tone. The old man wasn't scary enough to her to make her freak out like the others. Keith squinted his eyes at AOI. "Ah. You're awful calm for a newly. Most cadets practically wave their penises in the air for me. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders... I trust that won't change, cadet." His head snapped over to the tallest woman in the crowd, and Ava snapped her head forward, she had been looking over at AOI when she talked. Keith Shades narrowed his eyes but turned his attention to the girl behind the cadet now running 95 laps at his expense." And what's so funny, Cadet?"(Manna Que) Manna was red in the face and biting down on her lip to keep from laughing; this kid really was a hoot. She felt bad for him having to run all that, but it's not like it wasn't unwarranted; certainly worth it though. Her face lost it color when she was addressed; she hadn't even noticed him speaking with the other girl until now. Manna tightened her salute and craned her neck to look up at the instructor. She knew she would get in trouble at some point for not being overly serious, but she had hoped it wouldn't be the first day. " Nothing, sir" she replied in a squeak. Manna was red in the face and biting down on her lip to keep from laughing; this kid really was a hoot. She felt bad for him having to run all that, but it's not like it wasn't unwarranted; certainly worth it though. Her face lost it color when she was addressed; she hadn't even noticed him speaking with the other girl until now. Manna tightened her salute and craned her neck to look up at the instructor. She knew she would get in trouble at some point for not being overly serious, but she had hoped it wouldn't be the first day. " Nothing, sir" she replied in a squeak. Manna was red in the face and biting down on her lip to keep from laughing; this kid really was a hoot. She felt bad for him having to run all that, but it's not like it wasn't unwarranted; certainly worth it though. Her face lost it color when she was addressed; she hadn't even noticed him speaking with the other girl until now. Manna tightened her salute and craned her neck to look up at the instructor. She knew she would get in trouble at some point for not being overly serious, but she had hoped it wouldn't be the first day. " Nothing, sir" she replied in a squeak. Foil stood, his salute as solid as he could get it. With the Sun pounding down on his face harshly and the sounds of grumbling coming from his lower gut, showing that he was obviously hungry. His head pounded as the Sun intensified in his eyes, irritating and bothering him. As his eyes drifted slightly, past the loud commander that was sizing everyone up, going to the other cadets, he began to feel somewhat insignificant, especially since it'd seen that there was at least a 2-foot height difference between the two people next to him. Growth spurt couldn't come soon enough. He took special notice of the few people that had been barked at, noting them down in his mind for future reference. As well as the one that had been forced to run. At that point he made a huge mental red flag. Hanging around him could only mean bad things, Feo realized that he was slacking and instantly moved back to the position of attention and tried to look as though he hadn't been distracted. "Ah. I see. You have some innocent little jokes you want to tell us, huh?" Keith smiled. Then he leaned over her ominously, the dark circles under his eyes only getting darker." I bet if you could tell the people who died not taking this training seriously they'd certainly fucking laugh too!!!" His shout ricocheted off the walls of the surrounding camp, and feeling he had snapped some reality into the kid he moved on. He walked the rows of children, his beady eyes scrutinizing every single one of them. Then he found one whose eyes appeared to be lost in the clouds." Well rookie' here, another kid with blue hair that likes to make a mockery of my regiment." He leaned down, his nose wrinkled in disgust. "How about it? You brothers to the kid I just sent running 95 laps for?" His eyes narrowed further. "So 'Dreamer,' Why do you want to join the military?"(Silas Que) While Silas was in his dream world he could hear a loud noise, probably coming from reality, not that he bothered. It was probably the old man getting mad at someone again. However, shortly afterward he felt a presence near him, the old man was now standing in front of him. When he got back to reality he only heard him say "Why do you want to join the military?" Silas was silent for a few seconds, looking at the old man as if he was crazy. "I want to see what is beyond these walls, and explore it." he said passionate. "A dream that only can be accomplished if all the Titans have been killed... yes... that is why I want to join." he didn't even look the old man directly in his eyes but stared off in the distance of the skies, as if he could see himself exploring beyond the walls without any Titan that would attack him. Keith's eyes darkened, and he delivered a jab to the kids stomach hard." Listen up 'Dreamer,' You better hook onto reality generally fucking fast, or you'll be the first to get eaten. Dreams are nothing without the skill to obtain them!" The Beady eyes of the Drill instructor fell on the boy who had yawned and scratched at his back. ’S'matter punk? Tired? State your name and where you from."(Ales Que) Ales stood firm, and he saw the old man coming for him, he must have noticed the yawn. Then he started asking if he was tired. Him of all people asks if I'm tired. The rings around these guys eyes meant he either hadn’t slept in years or he’s gotten into his mom’s makeup collection and didn’t know how much eye makeup was too much. Ales thought to himself. Despite this he gave a ready answer, still a nervous about messing it up.“I am Ales Gaurav from a small town outside the Hermit District, and yourself sir?” Why had he added that last part? He was trying to be polite, and he was nervous but now was not the time to be asking questions of his own. He could only hope it wouldn’t result in anything major for himself, but after seeing him send off the other one to run all those laps he was definitely expecting the worst. "That's none of your business maggot!" He spat into Ales' face, leaning over him. Satisfied, he left the side of the boy and moved to the front again. He knew there were several others he wanted to bug, including the pip squeak who begged to join the military and the tall woman in the crowd wearing foolish looking cross like earrings, but he had kids faint in the heat on him before and had no incline to dismiss potential scouts this time. After all, they needed as many people to fight the Titans as possible." You all have been assigned to bunks in separate barracks! You are hereby dismissed to find your bunk and take care of what meager belongings you have brought with you!" With that several of the new bloods sighed in relief and trudged towards the barracks to speak among themselves. Included was Ava who slumped low to the ground and let out a long sigh. Sweat dripped from her forehead already, and she felt lousy in this heat. She dreamed of being back home with her little sister; who was quite good at cooking and made the best meals for Ava. She sighed, drooling a little. Oi, how hungry she was... Keith Shades however wasn't completely done. He walked to the twelve-year-old and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I need to speak with you in my office."(Cinderella man Que) Cesare ran past, 1 lap down, and now everyone was going inside. Great.[filler posts are the best posts] You are the new hope. A sideline to the official plot of Attack on Titan, You can either be a civilian, cadet in training, or a titan yourself (without powers). Everyone will be starting in the training camp, and eventually move up to defend the Great Walls. Throughout this RP there will be competitions among members to see if you rank in the top ten, only those who are will have the opportunity to join the military police, the most well known safe-job. NPC's will be played by me, the GM. Titans, played by individual members, can also be used. You can and will be killed off. This is a cruel world we live in. If you hesitate you're better off dead. Do not wait to strike, or risk being eaten. Cadet and Civilian Character Sheet Name:Age:Cadet or Civilian? Cultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left):Strongest skill:General skills: (this can be non-fighting, like cooking, gardening, etc. What makes you so unique?) Weakest skill:Weapons:Appearance:Personality:History:Other:Titan Character Sheet Type:Appearance:Abilities: (Aside from the general eating people, what can you do? i.e. the steel/steam titan)"Name": (i.e. The colossal Titan, the Steam titan, etc. Names given to them by civilians and cadets) My Character [+] Name: Ava ElizabietAge: 17Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent : Polish Strongest skill: Evasion General skills: Some cooking, General Cadet Knowledge Weakest skill: Hand to Hand Combat Weapons: Generic Cadet weaponry and Maneuver gear Appearance: Standing at 6'0 with strawberry blonde hair so short it spikes up on its own, Ava is the furthest thing you'd think of when 'elegant' comes to mind. While her bust is full the rest of her body has as much shape as a pencil, and that meant having to wear men uniforms until she got her own uniform tailored to fit properly. She has clear blue eyes that get dark when she's serious. She wears an Ankh and ankh earrings she made herself. Personality: Ava is award, but very loving. She's seldom seen without a smile on her face, and has a habit of laughing at inappropriate times. Though she is tall she never trips over herself and is very mindful of everyone shorter than her. The biggest thing for her, is that she loves to give hugs and offer soft-spoken words of support. Under pressure, she hardens her personalty and matures. She is able to see through things without cracking somehow, and never loses faith that they can win. History: Unfortunately, Her parents died of illness at a young age, leaving Ava to look after and care for her little sister Arya. Ava and Arya were able to get by barely by Ava taking odd jobs and surviving in the second most inner ring of the Walls. She made it, and raised her sister until the fall of wall Maria. With the newcomers, food was hard to come by and with her little sister but two years younger than her, Ava made the decision to join the military in hopes to join the military police, and make a better life for her sister by having her move there with her. She doesn't understand that by being in the military police, she would only be able to go alone... Other: Growing up and taking care of her sister, Ava spent lots of time in the library reading up on legends of old civilizations. She quickly became fascinated by the place known as 'Egypt' and has become obsessed with their forgotten culture and religion. She believes in the ancient god 'Rah' and has custom-made jewelry around her neck as a symbol of her religion. CADETS Ava Elizabeth [+] Name: Ava ElizabietAge: 17Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent : Polish Strongest skill: Evasion General skills: Some cooking, General Cadet Knowledge Weakest skill: Hand to Hand Combat Weapons: Generic Cadet weaponry and Maneuver gear Appearance: Standing at 6'0 with strawberry blonde hair so short it spikes up on its own, Ava is the furthest thing you'd think of when 'elegant' comes to mind. While her bust is full the rest of her body has as much shape as a pencil, and that meant having to wear men uniforms until she got her own uniform tailored to fit properly. She has clear blue eyes that get dark when she's serious. She wears an Ankh and ankh earrings she made herself. Personality: Ava is award, but very loving. She's seldom seen without a smile on her face, and has a habit of laughing at inappropriate times. Though she is tall she never trips over herself and is very mindful of everyone shorter than her. The biggest thing for her, is that she loves to give hugs and offer soft-spoken words of support. Under pressure, she hardens her personalty and matures. She is able to see through things without cracking somehow, and never loses faith that they can win. History: Unfortunately, Her parents died of illness at a young age, leaving Ava to look after and care for her little sister Arya. Ava and Arya were able to get by barely by Ava taking odd jobs and surviving in the second most inner ring of the Walls. She made it, and raised her sister until the fall of wall Maria. With the newcomers, food was hard to come by and with her little sister but two years younger than her, Ava made the decision to join the military in hopes to join the military police, and make a better life for her sister by having her move there with her. She doesn't understand that by being in the military police, she would only be able to go alone... Other: Growing up and taking care of her sister, Ava spent lots of time in the library reading up on legends of old civilizations. She quickly became fascinated by the place known as 'Egypt' and has become obsessed with their forgotten culture and religion. She believes in the ancient god 'Rah' and has custom-made jewelry around her neck as a symbol of her religion Cesare Damages [+] Name: Cesare DaRagusaAge: 17CadetCultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left): Italian Strongest skill: He has a thick skull General skills: Cookin' up the best meals you ever ate. Acrobatics while used the 3DG (Includes but not limited to : Flips, Tightrope walking, Cartwheeling etc.)Weakest skill: Accepting other opinions Weapons: Two swords, standard issue everything. Also, a few kitchen knives stuffed in his uniform, but he doesn't want to get those dirty unless necessary. Appearance:Personality: Hailing from a very culinary based family, Cesare learned to cook from a young age. He constantly has to be in a hurry because of this as he learned in a restaurant with cheap food. Cheap food meant a lot of starving poor people to feed. Now all Cesare can think about is not waiting for anything. Other than this, he thinks his views are correct in every way and nothing will change his mind. His methods are tried and true, well, at least he says that. He's never actually fought a titan, but trust me, he knows how to handle one. At least he thinks. History: Born into a large family with only one actually sibling, an older sister who died in a titan attack when they first moved into the walls. He was only 2 so he honestly doesn't recall the event even though he claims it's his inspiration for fighting. He groups up very fast due to his parents constant pestering, so he never learned to not act out. He acts out. A lot. He was never told as a child to stop doing things like this as his parents were always busy with something else. He joined the cadets as soon as he was old enough to pass as being old enough and got kicked out for being 3 years too young. His parents had planned on ditching him, but he showed up before they could leave, so three years later he joined again. And they left. And now he graduated and is aspiring to not joining the scout team. Other: He had a pet once. A rooster named "Big Red". His parents cooked it for dinner one day, and Cesare had to hold him down so they could cut the head off. AOI Bloom [+] Name: AOI Bloom Age: 17Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent: British Strongest skill: Swordsmanship General skills: AOI tends to be very observant of her surroundings; she is also pretty skilled with crafting things out of unwanted objects or out of plants. She also has a good photographic memory Weakest skill: Teamwork Weapons: Maneuver Gear, the swords that come with it and a dagger that she received from her parents. Appearance: AOI is a tanned skinned girl of about 5 ft 8 in. She has long black hair that she usually keeps tied back in a bow. Her almond shaped eyes are light brown and, although her body is thin, she has some sort of muscle definition, especially in her legs since she runs often. There is a small teardrop shaped birthmark on her neck that she inherited from her father. Personality: AOI is what you'd consider to be the 'quiet type', though she has no problem saying what is on her mind if she knew that it would make a difference with the situation at hand. She may even come off as rude but AOI just lacks proper communication skills that most of her peers already have. Despite that, she actually cares for the people around her, even if she does not express it verbally. History: AOI lost her father to a titan while he was out on a mission with the survey corps. She was only ten at the time but was extremely close to her father. As a result, she fell into a silence that no one could coax her out of. Of course this made friends nearly impossible and AOI was usually seen sitting of to the side to herself, drawing pictures that she would not allow anyone to see. A while later, she lost her mother in the fall of wall Maria but AOI managed to make it inside the second wall before her life could be taken as well. Now, she wanted to become a member of the survey corps in order to see if what the things her dad told her truly existed outside these walls. Other: After discovering an art book in an old abandoned home one day, AOI became fascinated with art. Every day, she would sit and draw the images from the book until she could practically do it with her eyes closed. One day, she got the idea of drawing what she believed was outside the walls after listening to her father describe his adventures as a member of the survey corps. She continued to draw these images even after her was killed and can often be seen siting on the roof of her home and drawing on multiple pieces of paper at once. She is also known to draw on the sides of the walls of houses and other buildings, which sometimes gets her into trouble. Ales Gaurav [+] Name: Ales Ravage: 16Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left):Russian Strongest skill: Agility General skills: Drawing. Gymnastics related things. Good at growing plants such as flowers or vegetables. Weakest skill: Strength Weapons: The usual maneuver gear and blades Appearance: Ales is a pale boy who stands at about 5’4”. He has medium length messy dark brown hair that he hardly ever takes the effort to groom into anything other than a ruffled mess. He has a pretty light build which sort of matches his short demeanor in a way. His eyes are a nice dark shade of green. He has multiple scars on his knees from all of his falls he took while learning to do his acrobatic tricks. Personality: Ales is often kind of joking and sarcastic. He tries not to take things too seriously because you’ll drive yourself crazy thinking about everything 100% serious at all time. He can say the wrong thing sometimes and mess up the intention of his words. Furthermore, he still tries his best with words and people, but he’s socially awkward with people, even friends. Despite his usual attitude under pressure he can’t usually find it in himself to make a joke or even speak when not necessary. History: Ales had lived in a small town with his parents and all went well for a while. The family got by on an honest living, but it didn’t last forever. When wall Maria fell the town was far enough away that they weren’t immediately affected but were still made to evacuate. This understandably caused panic but with little people to control the townsfolk anarchy ensued. It was a terrifying experience for young Ales but what was worse was that in the panic his mom had been killed. They had lost track of her for a moment and when they had found her again she had a slit throat in an alleyway. After that Ales’s father took him to the evacuation zone for his safety and the two made it to safety. They lived in a larger town now but much more crowded and with far less food. Ales decided he would join the military to stop this kind of stuff from happening. He knew first hand it wasn’t just the physical being of titans that plagued humanity, it was the constant fear and thought of them. Other: Ales actually keeps a journal to write things he feels are important. While the writing in the journal is getting scarce he still finds time every so often to write in it and the pace at which he does so is increasing. Silas von Wainwright [+] Name: Silas von WainrightAge: 16Cadet or Civilian? Cadet Cultural Descent: Dutch Strongest skill: Tactician General skills: Good at writing stories and make art of his stories with them. Weakest skill: Hand-on-hand combat Weapons: standard 3D maneuver gear and blades Appearance:Personality: Silas is someone who lives in his own fantasy world. He has a wide imagination and wants to explore everything outside the walls. He is kinda weird, and often keeps distance from others while being with them. Like he is with them, but he's just there. He always has been an intelligent boy which only has been expressed through his drawings and writing as he could not make use of it otherwise. He is a bit social needs to be approached as he won't be approached easily. History: Silas was born in a simple household. One with a mother, a father and later also a little sister. Like any ordinary family his parents began having more fights with each others. The fights kept getting worse and eventually they divorced. Silas and his sister stayed with their mother who eventually got a new man, however did not marry. They got a child though, Silas' half-brother. The relationship didn't last very long, but again his half-brother stayed with his mother too. Then the day that Wall Maria fell. Silas, along with his family, were close to the boats so they thought they could escape quickly. However, because of the chaos they lost each other in the crowd. Silas was left alone with his 4-year-old brother in his arms. He didn't know where his mother or his sister were, but he just hoped they would be okay. His task right now is to protect his brother. Once he was in Wall Rose, he searched for his mother and sister but never found them. He presumed both of them were dead. He left his brother into the care of a family friend who lived in Wall Rose, and visited him often, however he went into training to become a soldier so he could protect his brother. Other: His great tactics come from the fact that he often made games when he was young, which later developed into his ability to make great tactics, combined with his strength and swordsmanship make him very powerful. Manna Mini Destined [+] Name: Manna Mini KeskinenAge: 16Cadet or Civilian: Cadet Cultural Descent : Finnish Strongest skill: Hand to Hand combat General skills: Gardening, General Cadet Knowledge, Maintenance of Animals Weakest skill: Swordsmanship Weapons: Standard Military blades, Poison in a necklace her mother gave her. Appearance: Manna is 5’1 and just barely, pale with freckles, and having a thin lanky body type. She has short dirty blond hair that she makes a weak attempt to keep tied up. Her eyes are golden and are usually covered by her bangs much to her displeasure. She wears the usual Military attire with a rich blue shirt underneath. When wearing civilian clothes she will usually be in bright-colored dresses or cute blouses and skirts. She has a small scar below her left ear do to an accident on the farm. She has a leather necklace around her neck with a small silver vial at the end, which is usually tucked into her shirt when she needs it out of the way. Personality: Mina is a bright kind of person, always trying to stay in the conversation and makes an effort to involve others in it. She is kind to the people around her, as she hopes to try and make friends since she never really had any outside of her family. She can stand up for herself though, despite looking so small (growing up as the smallest in a big family had its advantages) and does not let people walk over her. Furthermore, she does not frighten easily, used to seeing blood and fights, but the very idea of titans frightens her because of her mother’s stories. Furthermore, she can get very flustered around people she thinks are cool, but she tries to downplay it (horribly). History: Manna was born the youngest to a big family with 5 brothers and 2 sisters, not including her cousins and their children. She lived in Osaka, a small village near the south of Wall Rose, her father a prominent farmer and her mother an expert in medicinal herbs and plant based substances and their uses which she taught to Manna. She lived a relatively peaceful life there, despite the fights that sometimes broke out with the neighboring farmers or her mother’s paranoid rants about the wall, and her family got along. However, after the fall or Wall Maria her family was divided in two, one half going off to join the military and fight, the other staying in the village to continue farming. Manna was short a half of her family after the fighting was done. Years passed, and as soon as Manna was old enough she ran off to join the Military determined to do better than her family members. This much to the displeasure of her father because he thought that she was too physically weak to get very far; her mother simply told her to die as she pleased. Other: At the farm she would help her mother tend the garden or be taking care of the animals they had. Her cousins taught her to read and write, but she was never very good at it. Their ‘read it right or get kicked’ teaching method also turned her away from the idea of it early on. CIVILIANSTITANS Name: Cesare DaRagusaAge: 17CadetCultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left): Italian Strongest skill: He has a thick skull General skills: Cookin' up the best meals you ever ate. Acrobatics while used the 3DG (Includes but not limited to : Flips, Tightrope walking, Cartwheeling etc.)Weakest skill: Accepting other opinions Weapons: Two swords, standard issue everything. Also, a few kitchen knives stuffed in his uniform, but he doesn't want to get those dirty unless necessary. Appearance:Personality: Hailing from a very culinary based family, Cesare learned to cook from a young age. He constantly has to be in a hurry because of this as he learned in a restaurant with cheap food. Cheap food meant a lot of starving poor people to feed. Now all Cesare can think about is not waiting for anything. Other than this, he thinks his views are correct in every way and nothing will change his mind. His methods are tried and true, well, at least he says that. He's never actually fought a titan, but trust me, he knows how to handle one. At least he thinks. History: Born into a large family with only one actually sibling, an older sister who died in a titan attack when they first moved into the walls. He was only 2 so he honestly doesn't recall the event even though he claims it's his inspiration for fighting. He groups up very fast due to his parents constant pestering, so he never learned to not act out. He acts out. A lot. He was never told as a child to stop doing things like this as his parents were always busy with something else. He joined the cadets as soon as he was old enough to pass as being old enough and got kicked out for being 3 years too young. His parents had planned on ditching him, but he showed up before they could leave, so three years later he joined again. And they left. And now he graduated and is aspiring to not joining the scout team. Other: He had a pet once. A rooster named "Big Red". His parents cooked it for dinner one day, and Cesare had to hold him down so they could cut the head off. Man that's some deep stuff with that rooster there >.> accepted Name:AOI Bloom Age:17Cadet or Civilian?:Cadet Cultural Descent:British Strongest skill:Swordsmanship General skills:AOI tends to be very observant of her surroundings; she is also pretty skilled with crafting things out of unwanted objects or out of plants. She also has a good photographic memory Weakest skill:Teamwork Weapons:Maneuver Gear, the swords that come with it and a dagger that she received from her parents. Appearance:AOI is a tanned skinned girl of about 5 ft 8 in. She has long black hair that she usually keeps tied back in a bow. Her almond shaped eyes are light brown and, although her body is thin, she has some sort of muscle definition, especially in her legs since she runs often. There is a small teardrop shaped birthmark on her neck that she inherited from her father. Personality:AOI is what you'd consider to be the 'quiet type', though she has no problem saying what is on her mind if she knew that it would make a difference with the situation at hand. She may even come off as rude but AOI just lacks proper communication skills that most of her peers already have. Despite that, she actually cares for the people around her, even if she does not express it verbally. History:AOI lost her father to a titan while he was out on a mission with the survey corps. She was only ten at the time but was extremely close to her father. As a result, she fell into a silence that no one could coax her out of. Of course this made friends nearly impossible and AOI was usually seen sitting of to the side to herself, drawing pictures that she would not allow anyone to see. A while later, she lost her mother in the fall of wall Maria but AOI managed to make it inside the second wall before her life could be taken as well. Now, she wanted to become a member of the survey corps in order to see if what the things her dad told her truly existed outside these walls. Other:After discovering an art book in an old abandoned home one day, AOI became fascinated with art. Every day, she would sit and draw the images from the book until she could practically do it with her eyes closed. One day, she got the idea of drawing what she believed was outside the walls after listening to her father describe his adventures as a member of the survey corps. She continued to draw these images even after her was killed and can often be seen siting on the roof of her home and drawing on multiple pieces of paper at once. She is also known to draw on the sides of the walls of houses and other buildings, which sometimes gets her into trouble. Very nice, accepted :) Name: Ales Ravage: 16Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left):Russian Strongest skill: Agility General skills: Drawing. Gymnastics related things. Good at growing plants such as flowers or vegetables. Weakest skill: Strength Weapons: The usual maneuver gear and blades Appearance: Ales is a pale boy who stands at about 5’4”. He has medium length messy dark brown hair that he hardly ever takes the effort to groom into anything other than a ruffled mess. He has a pretty light build which sort of matches his short demeanor in a way. His eyes are a nice dark shade of green. He has multiple scars on his knees from all of his falls he took while learning to do his acrobatic tricks. Personality: Ales is often kind of joking and sarcastic. He tries not to take things too seriously because you’ll drive yourself crazy thinking about everything 100% serious at all time. He can say the wrong thing sometimes and mess up the intention of his words. Furthermore, he still tries his best with words and people, but he’s socially awkward with people, even friends. Despite his usual attitude under pressure he can’t usually find it in himself to make a joke or even speak when not necessary. History: Ales had lived in a small town with his parents and all went well for a while. The family got by on an honest living, but it didn’t last forever. When wall Maria fell the town was far enough away that they weren’t immediately affected but were still made to evacuate. This understandably caused panic but with little people to control the townsfolk anarchy ensued. It was a terrifying experience for young Ales but what was worse was that in the panic his mom had been killed. They had lost track of her for a moment and when they had found her again she had a slit throat in an alleyway. After that Ales’s father took him to the evacuation zone for his safety and the two made it to safety. They lived in a larger town now but much more crowded and with far less food. Ales decided he would join the military to stop this kind of stuff from happening. He knew first hand it wasn’t just the physical being of titans that plagued humanity, it was the constant fear and thought of them. Other: Ales actually keeps a journal to write things he feels are important. While the writing in the journal is getting scarce he still finds time every so often to write in it and the pace at which he does so is increasing.(It's 3 am as I post this so if there are any mistakes or things you feel should be changed tell me.) Name: Silas von WainrightAge: 16Cadet or Civilian? CadetCultural Descent: Dutch Strongest skill: Tactician General skills: Good at writing stories and make art of his stories with them. Weakest skill: Hand-on-hand combat Weapons: standard 3D maneuver gear and blades Appearance: picky [+] Personality: Silas is someone who lives in his own fantasy world. He has a wide imagination and wants to explore everything outside the walls. He is kinda weird, and often keeps distance from others while being with them. Like he is with them, but he's just there. He always has been an intelligent boy which only has been expressed through his drawings and writing as he could not make use of it otherwise. He is a bit social needs to be approached as he won't be approached easily. History: Silas was born in a simple household. One with a mother, a father and later also a little sister. Like any ordinary family his parents began having more fights with each others. The fights kept getting worse and eventually they divorced. Silas and his sister stayed with their mother who eventually got a new man, however did not marry. They got a child though, Silas' half-brother. The relationship didn't last very long, but again his half-brother stayed with his mother too. Then the day that Wall Maria fell. Silas, along with his family, were close to the boats so they thought they could escape quickly. However, because of the chaos they lost each other in the crowd. Silas was left alone with his 4-year-old brother in his arms. He didn't know where his mother or his sister were, but he just hoped they would be okay. His task right now is to protect his brother. Once he was in Wall Rose, he searched for his mother and sister but never found them. He presumed both of them were dead. He left his brother into the care of a family friend who lived in Wall Rose, and visited him often, however he went into training to become a soldier so he could protect his brother. Other: His great tactics come from the fact that he often made games when he was young, which later developed into his ability to make great tactics, combined with his strength and swordsmanship make him very powerful. Both are accepted! Okay this is great. We just need a few titans if some of you would like to help play the antagonistic roles and even kill off your subordinates. I'd like to get as many cadets as possible. Spread the word about this RP! ’D Maybe you should bump the interest check~ I asked two people, they may join Bumped. Hmm mm. I think we can start the IC soon and new cadets and the like may enter as they please. ha, I was just going to suggest that XD The IC is up! Post at your leisure! :) Link for the lazy What's the posting order? =o just get your name in there for now, and we will cycle through as everyone posts. However, if someone is taking too long to post then I urge you, do not be afraid to continue. Also, please let me and everyone else here know if you plan to be gone for a while. No one likes having to wait two weeks to post! OK dogie~ Name: Manna Mini KeskinenAge: 16Cadet or Civilian: Cadet Cultural Descent : Finnish Strongest skill: Hand to Hand combat General skills: Gardening, General Cadet Knowledge, Maintenance of Animals Weakest skill: Swordsmanship Weapons: Standard Military blades, Poison in a necklace her mother gave her. Appearance: Manna is 5’1 and just barely, pale with freckles, and having a thin lanky body type. She has short dirty blond hair that she makes a weak attempt to keep tied up. Her eyes are golden and are usually covered by her bangs much to her displeasure. She wears the usual Military attire with a rich blue shirt underneath. When wearing civilian clothes she will usually be in bright-colored dresses or cute blouses and skirts. She has a small scar below her left ear do to an accident on the farm. She has a leather necklace around her neck with a small silver vial at the end, which is usually tucked into her shirt when she needs it out of the way. Personality: Mina is a bright kind of person, always trying to stay in the conversation and makes an effort to involve others in it. She is kind to the people around her, as she hopes to try and make friends since she never really had any outside of her family. She can stand up for herself though, despite looking so small (growing up as the smallest in a big family had its advantages) and does not let people walk over her. Furthermore, she does not frighten easily, used to seeing blood and fights, but the very idea of titans frightens her because of her mother’s stories. Furthermore, she can get very flustered around people she thinks are cool, but she tries to downplay it (horribly). History: Manna was born the youngest to a big family with 5 brothers and 2 sisters, not including her cousins and their children. She lived in Osaka, a small village near the south of Wall Rose, her father a prominent farmer and her mother an expert in medicinal herbs and plant based substances and their uses which she taught to Manna. She lived a relatively peaceful life there, despite the fights that sometimes broke out with the neighboring farmers or her mother’s paranoid rants about the wall, and her family got along. However, after the fall or Wall Maria her family was divided in two, one half going off to join the military and fight, the other staying in the village to continue farming. Manna was short a half of her family after the fighting was done. Years passed, and as soon as Manna was old enough she ran off to join the Military determined to do better than her family members. This much to the displeasure of her father because he thought that she was too physically weak to get very far; her mother simply told her to die as she pleased. Other: At the farm she would help her mother tend the garden or be taking care of the animals they had. Her cousins taught her to read and write, but she was never very good at it. Their ‘read it right or get kicked’ teaching method also turned her away from the idea of it early on. Meggy Age: 12Cadet or Civilian?: Cadet Cultural Descent (i.e. Polish, Italian, etc. Asian is not allowed, as this is sidelining the canon and Mikey is the only known (half)Asian left): Russian. Strongest skill: Foil's greatest strength would be his laser focus. When he sets his mind on something, he tries his absolutely hardest to make it become possible. Of course, as he's only a child, sometimes this doesn't go well. General skills: Foil is an okay athlete, performing parkour-like stunts with ease. He's an okay tenor, when it comes to singing. 3D Maneuver Gear and fighting come as an extension to himself, but he's nowhere near as good at it as he needs to be. Weakest skill: Taking bait. Whether it be an insult, an open spot, or food left out for him to grab, Foil is horrible at detecting obvious traps. He's quick to be goaded, since his temper's as hot as it is. Weapons: He has the standard swords and 3D Maneuver Gear. He also has a short sword that's been passed through his family for a while. Appearance: A Picture [+] Personality: Foil was once a child, but no more. His personality was drained of all energetic color by the dark truths of life that were quickly revealed to him at a rather young age. Most of his personality was replaced with cynicism and a horribly snarky attitude, along with a sort of Stoic energy around him that portrayed him as emotionless, despite him being quite the opposite. Despite being what one would call "blank", Few is not very composed or calm. He has a quite over-reactive temper that can respond to anything from being called short, to the death of a close friend, if he had any. He likes routine, and he likes structure. Furthermore, he likes to have his little daily path that he goes through consistently, and nothing changes, and it is for this reason that he seems to hold some sort of unnatural hatred for the Titans. (And most forms of wildlife, but we won't get into that currently, no sir.) History: Few's life was never normal, by a long shot, but after Wall Maria fell everything changed. Before the attack, Few lived with his "Grandfather" who was really an adoptive figure who had taken him in, apparently having been orphaned by his parents who either couldn't raise him, or just plain didn't want to. Due to his grandfather being a member of the Survey Corps, he was not home often, and when he was, he wasn't in good sorts. To make sure that Few stayed out of trouble, he made sure that the young man had a routine. Since the day Few could remember, he followed the routine, going about his day. Time marked down to the second, something that Few grew to like. He enjoyed feeling like he knew what was to happen, and what wasn't. Unfortunately, his grandfather didn't teach him to be flexible with his routine either, so whenever it'd happen that Few's routine would be possibly interrupted, he would throw quite a large fit until he could find some way to calm himself and go about his day again. It was during the fall of Wall Maria that everything that Few believed in (or at least, that's how it felt to him) came smashing down. Not only did he and his grandfather just barely make it out of the city onto the boats, but between the Titans and all the confusion, his grandfather didn't leave with every limb intact. HI's left arm was ripped off, the rest of the near dead muscle and skin tissue just sagging on the stump in a grotesque manner. He didn't survive the boat trip, something that Foil later attributed to infection, or some odd sickness. His great old grandfather was much too strong to fall just because of one arm. Or, that's what Few told himself. He observed the Survey Corps, remembering his father speaking of them while he was coping with the relief effort. He made it a mission to join the cadets and graduate, despite the fact that he was repeatedly told he was much too young. Furthermore, he kept pestering them and pestering them, day after day until finally, they gave way and allowed Few to become a cadet, under the condition that he would be worked much harder than the others due to his lack of age. Other: He detests being called small, he argues that he's going to get a growth spurt any day. When he's scared, which isn't often, he squeaks. Accepted. Just bumping this tread up for myself Alight ^^ I sued Silas. So uh, just PM me if I ever stop running, haha Is someone going to post? It's kind of the gm's turn since I posted. Sorry if this sounds rude, I'm just making sure. Trust me, I've been bugging the GM to post. She's not even on skype right now though. She's been busy so give her a little bit more time. Sorry about the wait! It's cool, I was just making sure dude. Apologies for the hiatus :) I will try to give better warning next time. Thank you all for your patience Name:Join King Age:18 Cadet or Civilian?:Cadet Cultural Descent:Irish Strongest skill:speed General skills:Pickpocketing, scavenging, manipulation, and butchery Weakest skill:navigation Weapons:standard cadet weaponry, a simple butcher cleaver when not on active duty Appearance:Join is a small person, barely cresting 4 foot 8. His hair is a pale orange and eyes are an amber gold. His skin is a stark alabaster. His hair is kept in a pony hawk, just long enough to which it can be called one. He as well seems to always have a slim, ear to ear grin on his face, except in times of extreme surprise or sadness. He is rather skinny, to the point that his clothes are naturally baggy on him even when worn properly with a belt. Personality:Join is a game maker, preferring to set the pieces evenly among others and see where they land. He prefers to wait patently rather than charge head first. Always leveled headed, he tends to think of himself more than the group but doesn't vocalize it. History:Join was the son to a city butcher, and thus learned the trade from his father, who was a widower. Back than, Join would never smile. He would look around him and see trash walking down the streets. He regularly got in fights and regularly lost in them, for being too small. His father would always patch him up and told him to smile through it. Later, a year before the loss of Wall Maria, his father was killed by a robber who had simply stolen a slab of beef from the man. Join looked down at his father's dying form, the midday Sun showing the scene to all who could stomach it. Join than kneeled down and took from his father's clutching hand the weapon he had used to defend himself. A butcher cleaver. With the very instrument he planned his revenge. And so he set out, following leads and eavesdropping to finally find the whereabouts of the man. Join had killed him in his sleep. He didn't feel accomplished. He didn't feel whole. The mugger may be dead but so was his father. A year later and wall Maria fell and Join saw his first glance of a titan. It was eating his neighbor. The poor old widow couldn't move very fast. It was here the Join had a mental war. He felt disgusted seeing his fellow human being ripped apart and eaten. Another part of in though reveled in it. He saw the blood splatter onto the ground and considered it a masterpiece. Though he had to run he refused to forget his feelings for that moment, and thus the beginning of his wide smirk began. It was only later that he decided that he would join the Cadets, and eventually the Garrison unit. Other:During his time as an apprentice to his father he learned about cutting meat. Constantly he would dull the blades until his father showed him how to hold it so as it practically didn't dull at all. Because of this he is confident he can be of use to the army, and maybe get into some places he wouldn't normally be able to get into.

Attack on Titan - Flames of Hope|rating:3.0

Gundam_ Battlegroup Merciless - OOC_Casting Call

This threads NOT follow the events of the Gun dam series, though it does borrow the idea of using Mobile Suits in space to carry out missions, etc. This thread shall serve as the IOC and Casting Call for any/all potential role players. If you are interested please say so here and what kind of character you would like to play as. More details will be posted as soon as they are fleshed out.---The story will mainly follow around those Gun dam pilots in the Battle group called Merciless, who are under the employ of theIGSP (the Inter-Galactic Space Program) and carry out military reconnaissance missions and/or used as primary defense weapons, capable of disabling and overwhelming the enemy. The ISP has four Gun dam Battle groups:Excelsior, Merciless, Retaliation, and Reckoning. In order to be a Gun dam pilot, one must prove combat skills that far exceed that of a normal soldier and have the ability to maintain one's nerve while out in space. I am in...finally someone not trying to relive a story exactly as it was and just wants to enjoy the setting. Okay tell me a little more TearsoftheWorld... I was thinking kind of a martial artist type. Teaches classes and trains others...but is a pilot, but it is not the only thing I can do. Teach Jujitsu, Judo, and can cook. Gun dam crowd is young right? Jagged said: I am in...finally someone not trying to relive a story exactly as it was and just wants to enjoy the setting. Okay tell me a little more TearsoftheWorld... I was thinking kind of a martial artist type. Teaches classes and trains others...but is a pilot, but it is not the only thing I can do. Teach Jujitsu, Judo, and can cook. Gun dam crowd is young right? Click to expand... Cooking is good Anyways, the typical age range for a Gun dam pilot is between the years of 23 and 40, though one can expect to be in their late 20s, early 30s. Training for the Gun dam program starts at 22 and usually takes 3 to 4 years, though the skill level of the fighter might either shorten or lengthen the training sessions. For instance, my character Rachel (who commands Merciless) only needed a year before she was ready for combat. I'm down for this, any particular character bio/sheet you want us to use when creating our profile? TearsoftheWorld said: Cooking is good Anyway, the typical age range for a Gun dam pilot is between the years of 23 and 40, though one can expect to be in their late 20s, early 30s. Training for the Gun dam program starts at 22 and usually takes 3 to 4 years, though the skill level of the fighter might either shorten or lengthen the training sessions. For instance, my character Rachel (who commands Merciless) only needed a year before she was ready for combat. Click to expand... I am sure I can come up with something...ever hear of Big Eyes Small Mouths? Could I play an experimental Mecca into which a computerized 'recording' or a human mind has been placed (after the original human was fatally injured)? It would be fine with me if other people also wanted to be this kind of Mecca. I would start at the point where I was completing my basic training and would know that I had to pick a pilot from the candidates I met, and ang sting a bit that people tended to treat me like a machine when inside I still felt like an alive, sexual human being. I could use the computers in the Mecca to project myself as a hologram or on a video screen to interact with the other characters, and for more intimate interaction I could meet them in virtual reality. What do you think? Sunandshadow said: Could I play an experimental Mecca into which a computerized 'recording' or a human mind has been placed (after the original human was fatally injured)? It would be fine with me if other people also wanted to be this kind of Mecca. I would start at the point where I was completing my basic training and would know that I had to pick a pilot from the candidates I met, and ang sting a bit that people tended to treat me like a machine when inside I still felt like an alive, sexual human being. I could use the computers in the Mecca to project myself as a hologram or on a video screen to interact with the other characters, and for more intimate interaction I could meet them in virtual reality. What do you think? Click to expand... Pretty interesting idea, actually. I imagine that you'd be one of the few experimental Mecca's, though. Anyway green light on my part. Joker Wild said: I'm down for this, any particular character bio/sheet you want us to use when creating our profile? Click to expand... I was going to post mine in a bit, but aside from the personal stat's (age, height, etc.) you'll need a fairly detailed biography as to how they entered into the program, what they did before, and what they plan to do after. Aside from my hope more females join up.... I was wondering if I could have an entourage of some kind...perhaps female students or kitchen help. Adds flavor to the story and always gives me someone to interact with whether as a training partner...someone to do prep work...or anything else. And gives the lovely thread founder (saw your Myspace... I like the music btw) always another character. Teaching Jujitsu gives me a deadly form of hand-to-hand combat and always me to use and train people in samurai weapons. Judo is a great sport, and maybe another art I haven't choose yet. I have been a busy boy and techs are just another form of close combat for me.Oh, what will be fighting other humans in techs or aliens? Not trying to run things, but I have a skill list from a prior anime thread that I ran... I will post them, and you decide if they will help or not.COMMUNICATIONSCryptographyElectronic Counter-Measures (Jamming)Flag Signalling Laser CommunicationsLightingMicrowave Communications Optic SystemsPhotographyRadar/Sonar Operations Radio: Basic Radio: Deep Space Radio: Scramblers Radio: Satellite Relay Sign Language Sound & Recording Surveillance Systems Telephone Networks. V./VideoCOMPUTERArtificial Intelligence Computer Hacking Computer Imaging Computer Language Computer Networks Computer Operations Computer ProgrammingCyberjackingNeural InterfaceSupercomputersVirtual Reality & 3-D SystemsCOWBOYBrandingBreaking/Taming Wild Horses Breed Dogs Herding CattleRopingTrick RidingDOMESTIC/CULTURAL Animal HusbandryArtBarberingBonsaiBreed DogsCalligraphyChessCookCourtly EtiquetteDanceDrawing: Pencil/Ink/ChalkFalconryFarmingFashion & DesignFishingFloral Arrangement/IkebanaGameGaming StrategyGardeningGeneral Repair & MaintenanceGoHeraldryMusical Composition Play Musical InstrumentPoetryRecycleSculpting & WhittlingSewSingWeavingELECTRICALBasic Electronics Circuit Board Micro-Electronics Computer Repair Electrical Engineer Electricity GenerationMecha Electronics Robot ElectronicsVeritech ElectronicsESPIONAGEAssassination Techniques Binding/Dojo-JutsuCommandConcealmentDetect Ambush Detect ConcealmentDisguiseEscape ArtistFieldcraftForgeryImitate VoicesImpersonationIntelligenceInterrogationLand Navigation Marxism/Leninism/Maoism Microfilm/Microfiche/Microdot TechnologyPalmingPick Locks Pick Pockets Psychological Warfare Safe CrackingSeductionSniperTrackingTrap Construction Trap/Mine Detection Wilderness SurvivalHORSEMANSHIPBreaking/Taming Wild Horses Horsemanship: Cowboy Horsemanship: Exotic Horsemanship: General Horsemanship: Knight Horsemanship: Wagons & Chariots Trick RidingMECHANICALAircraft Armor & Weaponry Aircraft Mechanics Automotive Mechanics Basic Mechanics Blacksmith/MetalworkingCarpentryCybernetic/Bionic/Bioware Mechanics Cybernetic/Bionic/Bioware Repair Drive Repair: Chemical Drive Drive Repair: Fold Drive Drive Repair: Gravity Drive Drive Repair: Heat/Reflex Drive Drive Repair: Ion Drive Drive Repair: Phase Drive Drive Repair: Plasma Drive Drive Repair: Traction Drive Fashion Tools & Weapons Helicopter Mechanics Jet Aircraft MechanicsLocksmithMarine/Naval EngineerMasonryMechanical EngineerPlumbingRobot Mechanics Satellite Systems Spaceship Mechanics Submersible Vehicle MechanicsVeritech Mechanics Weapons EngineerMEDICALAnimal HusbandryBrewingCriminal Sciences & ForensicsDentistryDoctor of Veterinary MedicineEntemological Medicine First Airfield Surgery Holistic Medicine Juicer Technology Massage Therapy Medical Doctor. D. in Bionics. D. in Cybernetics. D. in GeneticsParamedicPathologyPlastic SurgeryPsychotherapyHolistic Medicine Surgeon/Primitive Medical Doctor Torture MethodsToxicologyMILITARYArmorerAssassination TechniquesCamouflageDefese SystemsDemolitionsDemolitions: Disposal Find Contraband, Weapons, & CyberneticsFortificationMilitary Etiquette Naval History Naval Tactics Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical Warfare (NBC)Parachuting Recognize Weapon Quality Siege EngineerSniperStrategy/Tactics Trap Construction Trap/Mine Detection Underwater DemolitionsPHYSICALAcrobaticsAerobicsArm WrestlingAthleticsBody Building & Weight LiftingBoxingClimbingDeadballFencingForced MarchGymnasticsJugglingKickboxingMarathonMeditationMovement: Gravity Movement: Zero Gravity Oxygen Conservation Pressure Point Control TacticsProwlRunningSkiingSwimmingSwimming: Competitive Swimming: S.C.U.B.A. Track & FieldTumblingVacuum SurvivalWrestlingPILOTAirAirplaneCombat HelicopterContragravity PackHelicopterJet Aircraft Jet Fighter Jet Pack Lighter-than-Air VehiclesParachutingGroundAutomobileBicycleCombat Pod Dog Sled Heavy MachineryHovercycleHovercraftMotorcycleSnowmobilesTanks & A.P.C.'Titan TransportTruckWATERAdvanced Deep Sea Diving Boat: Motor & Hydrofoils Boat: Rafts & Canoes Boat: Sail Type Boat: Ships Boat: Warships & Patrol BoatsSeamanshipSubmersiblesWaterscootersSPACEExtra Vehicular Activity (EVA)Solar SailerSpacecraftSpace Fighter Space ShuttleStarshipROBOTS & POWER ARMOR Robots & Power Armor Underwater Robots & Power ArmorSPECIAL COMBAT PILOT SKILLS Air-to-Air Combat Battle Bike Combat Fighter Combat: Basic Fighter Combat: Elite Flight System Combat Jump Bike CombatMecha Combat Offensive Driving Robot Combat: Basic Robot Combat: Lightship-to-Ship Compatriot RELATED Aerial NavigationAstrogationDebris Ring Navigation Instrument Rating Interplanetary Navigation Land Navigation Navigation: Land, Air, Water Navigation: Space (Interplanetary, Orbital, Debris Ring)Orbital Navigation Radar/Sonar Operations Read Sensory EquipmentSeamanshipUnderwater Navigation Weapon SystemsPOLICE/LAW ENFORCEMENT Criminal Science Detect Disguise Detect ForgeryInvestiagtionLawPolice Etiquette Police FilingSearchStreetwiseSurveillanceROGUEAppraisalBargain/BribeCardsharpConfidence TalkingConcealmentContactsFalse Divination Find Contraband, Weapons, & Cybernetics Gambling (Standard)Gambling (Dirty Tricks)Hide/Sneak Locate Secret Compartments/DoorsPalmingPick Locks Pick PocketsPoolPool SharkProwlSafe CrackingSearchSeductionShell GameStreetwiseStreetwise: Con Games Streetwise: Drugs Streetwise: Gambling Streetwise: Networks Streetwise: Organized Crime Use & Recognize PoisonSCIENCEAnthropologyArchaeologyAstronomyAstrophysicsBiologyBotanyChemistryChemistry: Alchemical Chemistry: Analytical Chemistry: Chinese Alchemical Chemistry: PharmaceuticalCosmologyCryptozoologyEcologyEconomicsGeologyHorticultureHydrologyMarine Biology Mathematics: Advanced Mathematics: BasicMeteorologyMicrobiologyMuseologyNuclear Chemistry Nuclear Engineer Nuclear Physics Ocean Geographic Surveying Oxygen SystemsPaleontologyParapsychologyPetrologyPhysicsPsychologyPsychotherapyUndersea FarmingXenologyZoologySPATIALExtra Vehicular Activity (EVA)Jury-Rig Mining (Space)RecycleSalvagePERFORMING ARTSClowningConcealmentContortionistJestingJugglingMimePalmingPerformancePick Locks Pick Pockets Public Speaking Screen Acting Sleight of HandVentriloquismTECHNICALAccountingAdvanced & Deep Sea FishingAdvertisingAntiquarianismArmor & Weapon DecorationArtBlacksmithing/Metalworking Breed DogsBrewingBureaucracyBusiness ManagementCalligraphyCalligraphic ForgeryCandlemakingCarpentryCartographyChinese Calligraphic Codes & Code Breaking Chinese Classical StudiesCobbleryContactsDiplomacyEntrepreneurshipFashion & Design Fashion Tools & Weapons Fire Fighting Gem CuttingGemologyGeneral Repair/MaintenanceGlassworksHeraldryHistoryHistory: Era-SpecializationInventionInvestigationJournalismLanguageLanguage DialectsLawLeather WorkingLiteracyLiterary CriticismLiteratureLore: Alchemy Lore: Alien/Galactic Lore: Animal/Cattle Lore: Astral Lore: Conspiracy Lore: Cults & Sects Lore: Omens & Superstition Lore: Psychic Lore: Religion Lore: SeaMasonryMillingMiningPhilosophyPhoneticsPhotographyPlumbingPotteryPrinciples of MagicProspectingPyrotechnicsRegional KnowledgeResearchRole Playing Game Design Rope Works Sculpting & WhittlingSeamanshipSign LanguageSurveyingUndersea SalvageWritingTEMPLEBeggingFastingMeditationPhilosophyWEAPON PROFICIENCIES Recognize Weapon QualitySniperWeapon Improvisation Weapon Maintenance Weapon Mastery. P. Paired Weapons. P. Sharpshooter. P. StudyANCIENTArchery: Crossbow Archery: Long Bow Archery: Short Bow Battle AxeBluntBolaBoomerangChainForkedGrappling Hook Incendiary WeaponsKnifeLanceMouth WeaponsNetPole ArmsShieldSiege WeaponsSlingshotSmall Thrown WeaponsSpearStaffSwordWhipMODERNArtilleryAutomatic Pistol Automatic & Semiautomatic Rifles Black Powder Bolt Action Rifle Energy Pistol Energy Rifle Flame Thrower Grenade Throwing Harpoon Gun Support Weapons Heavy Energy WeaponsRevolverSub-MachinegunTorpedoWILDERNESSBoat BuildingCarpentryDesert SurvivalDowsingFarmingFashion Tools & WeaponsHuntingIdentify Plants & Fruits Land NavigationMountaineeringPreserve Food Rope Works Skin & Prepare Animal HidesSpelunkingTrack Animals Track & Hunt Sea Animals Trap Construction Trap/Mine Detection Undersea & Sea Survival Underwater Navigation Wilderness Survival Winter Survival I suppose you could have an assistant, though you won't be able to bring them along on missions, etc. We'll see, not sure yet what to do with that. And I need to find a new song for my MySpace. Haven't updated it in like forever And for the most part combat will be between humans, either in ships or other less advanced techs. Ive done a gun dam three before, and it was dam fun, mind if I join? Kittenofdeath said: I've done a gun dam three before, and it was dam fun, mind if I join? Click to expand... Depends on what kind of character you were thinking about playing, how you are at posting and/or spelling, availability of roles, etc. Let me know what you had in mind TearsoftheWorld said: I suppose you could have an assistant, though you won't be able to bring them along on missions, etc. We'll see, not sure yet what to do with that. And I need to find a new song for my MySpace. Haven't updated it in like forever And for the most part combat will be between humans, either in ships or other less advanced techs. Click to expand... I only want several NPCs for background. They don't help in combat...they chop of vegetables.clean weapons and provide workout partners. They know things like Kendo and karate and how to cook rice and pork chops...*S*I do all the combat and the interaction. Give it some thought... Well I liked toe song and the pics there....and you are pretty. Fighting other humans...cool. Always can have fun with that.Oh, what did you think of the skills posted? Yay! I'll post a character sheet when we have an example one to follow. Oh, and having an assistant or buddy as a secondary character sounds very useful to me - like if I could make up a lame candidate to interview or a friend/mentor to talk to, that would give me something to do for a few posts while waiting for another player to say they would be interested in being my pilot. Woot back home ^_^ Anyways, I was working on a character profile but got sidetracked. Hate it when that happens. Heeled Hello... I'd like to join, I was a sort of fan of the Gun dam series when I was in high school. Since then I've been liking that sort of thing about giant robots, techs and that stuff. Yeah, if I were to join this, I'd make a gun dam pilot. You know, for the need of being generic. But yeah, I guess I'll also wait for a character sheet to be posted so I can have a model to work with. If I'm in, of course.Oh, yeah.... I also needed to ask if there was really any need for actual knowledge of the gun dam universe? Because, I'm really rusty on that one... Character Profile --- {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} Name: Rachel Benton Age: 28Height: 5'6"Weight: 113 lbs Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue Measurements: 36C-24-34Rank:Squad CommanderBattlegroup: MERCILESS Mobile Suit: XXXG-01W Wing GundamMobile Suit Height: 16.7 metresWeight: 7.7 tons Generator: Ultracompact fusion reactor Armor: GundaniumArmament: 2 x Vulcan gun; 2 x machine cannon; 1 x beam saber; buster rifle; shield Special Equipment: Self-detonation device, "Bird Mode" conversion Appearance:Light blond hair that is cut fairly short (just below the ears) with fair skin, no blemishes and clear blue eyes. She has no tattoos but has both of her ears pierced. Personality:Commanding and stern with a good sense of personal responsibility. Often very proud of her own accomplishments and highly critical of the work of others, Rachel takes her job seriously and gives little room for committing mistakes. Basically, in her eyes, if you screw up you're done. Biography: Rachel Benton was born in the year 213 on Earth (as reckoned by the ISP) to her mother Amanda and father Mark. "Formal" education began when she turned 6 years old. Mark Benton was a high ranking official in the military and as such spent most of his time away from home and away from his family. War broke out on the eve of her 11th birthday. Rachel was forced to move in with her father, and having spent so little time with him prior to, Rachel practically shadowed his every move. She traveled with him to different bases, colonies, planets, etc. Everything he did she did. At the age of 16 she enlisted herself in the military, moved out of her house, and spent the next 5 years training under the ISP. The process of selecting qualified candidates takes about 5 or 6 years, and only the top 5 percent of such candidates move on to leadership positions. Rachel was in that top 5 percent. In fact, Rachel graduated with honors and even managed to obtain the highly coveted Medal of Valor. During the last year of her training, Rachel's squadron had come under enemy fire during an exercise and was ordered to retreat. While her friends made their way back to base, Rachel stayed behind to cover them. Despite being in an outdated mobile suit model, Rachel was able to repel the attacks and ensure her friends safety. The mobile suit she was in was heavily damaged, however, and Rachel was hospitalized, though not sustaining any significant damages. The ISP recognized her natural ability and skill in handling mobile suits, and they designated her for specialized training with the newest Gun dam models. Normally training takes 2 or 3 years before a pilot becomes comfortable with their Gun dam, but Rachel needed only a year before she had mastered the controls. Assigned to the Excelsior battle group, Rachel proved herself a valuable asset to the team and was promoted to Squad Leader during her second year of tour. She remained with Excelsior till she was 27 years old, and the ISP promoted her to Squad Commander, giving her the command of the battle group called Merciless. Now 28, Rachel seeks to create a formidable group of soldiers into one of the toughest Gun dam outfits known to the ISP.---Rachel's Gun dam model: The only think you'll need to know, really, is what a Gun dam is. Other than that it's mostly interaction with everyone else. This thread is not tied in with the series. I'd like to join if no one minds, also other than detailed bio, what limits do you have on the Gun dam units themself?AKA no Turn A, Devil Funds, God Gun dam? What Gun dam units are off limits? Can anyone recommend an image gallery of meccas? Preferably not just gun dams but all kinds like evangelions and Demi-armors and Idols and maidens and van dreads, etc. I'd like to draw my char, but I'm having a hard time finding good source images. Also, what would be a good ID code for my experimental Mecca? Maybe something involving NI for "natural intelligence" and/or GRIF or GIYF or GRF or GRAPH because I'm thinking Griffin would be a good name for it. I can look around for some decent sites that have Mecca designs, but I'm not sure where to start. Amchentai said: I'd like to join if no one minds, also other than detailed bio, what limits do you have on the Gun dam units themself? AKA no Turn A, Devil Funds, God Gun dam? What Gun dam units are off limits? Click to expand... There aren't too many restrictions on what Gun dam's are available, but Devil and God Gun dam are off limits. I have no problem with anyone using Gun dam's such as Death scythe, Heavy arms, etc. I was even thinking of using Wing Zero but wanted to get a consensus first. Let me know which one you wanted to use, and I'll see if it's ok. had time to look through all of it, but this site looks like it has a lot of gun dam pic Score, my first-ever art of a Mecca. ^_^ Since I've been working on this for like 6 hours, and I'm loopy because I need to sleep, I'll just post it here for you all to admire and do the character sheet tomorrow when I'm saner lol. I used gunsmith wings, from both a GMFX10A Freedom and this one which I don't know the ID of. For the body I went with a mix between the Bahamas from the Final Fantasy series and this original Mecca. Hope you like! Sunandshadow said: Score, my first-ever art of a Mecca. ^_^ Click to expand... I like it I know one that should be off limits....GP02A, from Stardust Memory. If you don't know what it is, check outlaw.gundamofficial.command look in the Universal Century's MSG 0083: Stardust Memory set. All I'll say is the weapon on this makes the Wing ZERO Custom's Twin Buster Rifle seem like a child's toy dragon razor said: I know one that should be off limits....GP02A, from Stardust Memory. If you don't know what it is, check out www.gundamofficial.com and look in the Universal Century's MSG 0083: Stardust Memory set. All I'll say is the weapon on this makes the Wing ZERO Custom's Twin Buster Rifle seem like a child's toy Click to expand... I'd imagine so, yes. Nuclear Warhead vs a cannon TearsoftheWorld said: I'd imagine so, yes. Nuclear Warhead vs a cannon Click to expand... what's sad is, out of all the gun dams I've ever seen, this and ZERO Custom are my favorites. oh, well I'm a huge Gun dam fan so yeah. No reason to ban the GP02A for a reason. Just ban nukes. The GP02A can replace its Nuke launcher with a Beam Bazooka and also change out for dual Missile Racks on it's back. Bazooka) Missile Tubes)I'm also thinking of Sword Calamity Gun dam for my Gun dam unit. The SWG is fine to use, have a bio in mind for your character? Oh, this is just a side note You will not be starting off with your Gun dam. The thread will start with the recruitment process, and after passing your initial training you will then be given control of the Gun dam. Name: GRF-NI06 Griffin or Grid, previously had the human name Jordan CharmtreeAge: Died as a human at 24, 2 years have passed since so he is technically 26. Mecha stuff: I don't know about technical stuff, but this Mecca fights primarily with its laser-claws and wing blades, and can project holograms or other sorts of waves to confuse an opponent. No rifle or sword or anything, it does hand-to-hand combat. It has an antigravity projection shield which can function like a mirror to reflect low-powered attacks or as a pulse to break the hold of an opponent or trap which has grabbed the Griffin. At only 12 meters tall (not including wings) it is a small, fast Mecca. Something like a ninja of meccas (lol) it relies on strategy, speed, precision, and deception instead of size, power, or thick armor. It can go into all atmospheres (flying, underwater, in space) for about 3 days before running out of life support for its pilot. It can transform into a cabin/bunker for encampment on an alien planet or protecting its pilot in the event that the pilot is injured or for long-term travel inside the shuttle bay of a starship. Appearance:Grid can only appear to humans as a synthesized video image or hologram, thus 'he' can take whatever appearance he likes including a female one. Grid likes to play MMOs because they allow him to pretend to be human, and his appearance of the day may be influenced by that of his current avatar. Unless he is in disguise however, Grid will generally portray himself as having long blond hair, golden skin, and green eyes. Personality:Although he enjoys training combat, dying as a human left Grid with something of a phobia of real combat and the possibility of dying permanently. Although he is intended to be a combat Mecca he would personally prefer to be a teacher or other more pacifistic profession. He is lonely because humans tend to treat him like a machine, and certainly don't see him as a potential lover. Biography: Grid, previously Jordan Charm tree (yay for gender-ambiguous names), was himself a Mecca pilot candidate until at the age of 24 a motorcycle accident shattered his spine and rendered him quadriplegic. The military offered him the opportunity to join an experimental program: his mind would be recorded to create an AI. However, the recording process would destroy his biological brain, and his body would die. Jordan agreed, and was reincarnated as Griffin, and after 2 years of intense training to learn how to use his new computer-augmented mind and control a mechanical body Grid has been pronounced ready to partner up with a human pilot and complete the final stretch of training before being sent into actual combat. He has also been given an ultimatum: if he does not demonstrate a sufficiently high degree of compatibility with a pilot in 6 months he will be removed from his Mecca body and instead installed into a starship. Grid is torn about whether he would prefer this, because a starship would be safer than a Mecca but that way he would never have a pilot of his own, the ship's crew would probably just see him as one of the ship's many computer utilities.(Tell me if I messed anything up too badly, I'm not that familiar with the Gun dam universe) sunandshadow said: Name: GRF-NI06 Griffin or Grid, previously had the human name Jordan Charm tree Age: Died as a human at 24, 2 years have passed since so he is technically 26. Mecca stuff: I don't know about technical stuff, but this Mecca fights primarily with its laser-claws and wing blades, and can project holograms or other sorts of waves to confuse an opponent. No rifle or sword or anything, it does hand-to-hand combat. It has an antigravity projection shield which can function like a mirror to reflect low-powered attacks or as a pulse to break the hold of an opponent or trap which has grabbed the Griffin. At only 12 meters tall (not including wings) it is a small, fast Mecca. Something like a ninja of meccas (lol) it relies on strategy, speed, precision, and deception instead of size, power, or thick armor. It can go into all atmospheres (flying, underwater, in space) for about 3 days before running out of life support for its pilot. It can transform into a cabin/bunker for encampment on an alien planet or protecting its pilot in the event that the pilot is injured or for long-term travel inside the shuttle bay of a starship. Appearance: Grid can only appear to humans as a synthesized video image or hologram, thus 'he' can take whatever appearance he likes including a female one. Grid likes to play MMOs because they allow him to pretend to be human, and his appearance of the day may be influenced by that of his current avatar. Unless he is in disguise however, Grid will generally portray himself as having long blond hair, golden skin, and green eyes. Personality: Although he enjoys training combat, dying as a human left Grid with something of a phobia of real combat and the possibility of dying permanently. Although he is intended to be a combat Mecca he would personally prefer to be a teacher or other more pacifistic profession. He is lonely because humans tend to treat him like a machine, and certainly don't see him as a potential lover. Biography: Grid, previously Jordan Charm tree (yay for gender-ambiguous names), was himself a Mecca pilot candidate until at the age of 24 a motorcycle accident shattered his spine and rendered him quadriplegic. The military offered him the opportunity to join an experimental program: his mind would be recorded to create an AI. However, the recording process would destroy his biological brain, and his body would die. Jordan agreed, and was reincarnated as Griffin, and after 2 years of intense training to learn how to use his new computer-augmented mind and control a mechanical body Grid has been pronounced ready to partner up with a human pilot and complete the final stretch of training before being sent into actual combat. He has also been given an ultimatum: if he does not demonstrate a sufficiently high degree of compatibility with a pilot in 6 months he will be removed from his Mecca body and instead installed into a starship. Grid is torn about whether he would prefer this, because a starship would be safer than a Mecca but that way he would never have a pilot of his own, the ship's crew would probably just see him as one of the ship's many computer utilities. (Tell me if I messed anything up too badly, I'm not that familiar with the Gun dam universe) Click to expand... That's fine. I still need bio's from everyone else, and we'll need more females for this thread too. I feel somewhat outnumbered he ^_^; TearsoftheWorld said: That's fine. Furthermore, I still need bio's from everyone else, and we'll need more females for this thread too. Furthermore, I feel somewhat outnumbered he ^_^; Click to expand... Does make for some interesting scenarios. TearsoftheWorld said: That's fine. I still need bio's from everyone else, and we'll need more females for this thread too. I feel somewhat outnumbered he ^_^; Click to expand... Well given that Grid/Jordan will be gay or bi, I suppose I could be considered 'on the girls' team' lol. But yeah it would be great if we could get six or eight people including 2 or 3 women. Character Profile -----------------Name: Ken YoungbloodAge: 28Height: 5'8"Weight: 165 lbs Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Measurements: 8 inches long, 2.4 inch circumfrenceRank:Battle group: MERCILESS Model suit: ZGMF-X20ACode name: The Freedom Fundament type: prototype assault mobile suit. Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso. Dimensions: overall height 18.88 meters Weight: max gross weight 80.09 metric tons Armor materials: unknownPowerplant: ultracompact hyper deuterium nuclear reactor, power output rating unknown Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Variable Phase Shift (VPS) armor; Neutron Hammer Canceler Fixed armaments: 2 x MMI-GAU27D 31mm CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; MGX-2235 "Collides" multiphase beam cannon, mounted in torso; MA-M02G "Super Lacerda" beam saber, stored on hip, hand-carried in use; 2 x MMI-M15E "Mafias 3" rail cannon, folded underneath hips, spread out in use; MX2200 beam shield generator, mounted on left forearm; MA-M21KF high-energy beam rifle, stored on hip, hand-carried in use, can be combined. Optional fixed armaments (docked with METEOR): 2 x 120cm high-energy beam cannon, 2 x 93.7cm high-energy beam cannon, 2 x MA-X200 beam sword, 77 x 60cm "Princes" anti-ship missile launchers (22 per pod, 12 per arm unit, 9 on tail fin)Optional hand armaments: none Remote weapons: EQFU-3X Super DRAGOON (Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network) mobile weapon wings (mounts 8 x MA-80V beam assault cannon)Appearance: Brown hair that is cut fairly short (normally just touching the color of his uniform), spiky with fair skin, no blemishes and brown eyes. No tattoos, No piercings. Personality: Friendly, determined, honorable. If he considers you one of his friends then you have a friend for life that will do anything in his power to help you. Ken is an exceptional pilot and could one day be an ace, however for some reason it seems as if he doesn't want to stand out too much. Instead, he just does enough to accomplish his goals. Biography: Ken was born in the year 213 on Earth (as reckoned by the ISP) to Richard and Raven Young blood, he was orphaned at the age of three and raised by his maternal grandmother Maria. "Formal" education began when he turned 6 years old. War broke out sometime before his 11th birthday. At the age of 19 he enlisted in the military, spent the next 6 years training under the ISP. The process of selecting qualified candidates takes about 5 or 6 years, and only the top 5 percent of such candidates move on to leadership positions. Ken was in that top 6 percent. It is believed that Ken could have finished higher, but chose to push himself as hard as he possibly could, closing to work hard enough to get what he wanted, but not hard enough to be exceptional. Somehow he managed to excel enough to be chosen for specialized training for one of the new Gun dam models. Now he is approaching the end of his 3rd year and is about to receive his first battle group assignment. Bump...well I will post a bio soon with my little helpers. Perhaps androids similar to those from the films Alien. Glad to see we are still running with this. Though we do need more women. A pity more don't come out for the sci-fi threads. Layer peacemaker Age: 24Height: 6’Hair: orange Eyes: brown Rank: ??? Battlegroup: MERCILESS Mobile Suit: HMIE-F99A Broken GundamMobile Suit Height: 17.76 metresWeight: 10.7 tons Generator: Compact, redesigned nuclear reactor Armor: transfuse amour Armament: RQM60 Flash-Edge beam boomerang x 2MM3v "Armageddon’s edge" anti-ship sword x 2M71-AAK "Folding Razor" anti-armor knives x 2 Notes: built for hit-and-run attacks, practically unmatched speed but low maneuverability at speed. Special Equipment: modified Geschmeidig Panzer system, preventing most weapons from damaging but also drastically affecting the aiming capabilities of the Broken to the extent that they are useless. Appearance: wears a plug suit like outfit underneath his clothes at all times, not doing anything for his looks a sees no reason. Personality: cold, calculating and cruel, life was bad to him from birth, his whole family being murdered in front of his eyes, along with homelessness for the most part of his life made him excessively violent and an individualist with absolutely no vale for human life, including his own. At the age of 20 he volunteered for experimental research, after which his personality changed dramatically, the experience left him a shell of a man with practically no free will, following the orders of his superiors and doing little else. He has a fragile grip on reality, to long without orders, and he could go on a rampage. Biography: born 217, Layer was the child of a freight runner and spent his early childhood in space. At the age of 10, his family’s ship was hijacked, and his family killed before his eyes, so close that parts of his mothers brain was splattered on his face when she died. He was shuffled through a number of foster homes on earth until he ran away and lived as a vagrant. At the age of 16 joined the military, mainly because they offered food and a warm bed, also because he wanted to play with all the shiny weapons. He went through boot and was assigned to a small patrol ship where he stayed until 18 when he was transferred to the convoy that guarded the trade shipments going through the Bihar asteroid field, a place notorious for ambushes. A year in to his service on the convoy they were involved in the largest ambush to ever take place in Bihar, of the 15 combat ready ships involved only three survived, 2 pirate vessels and one military, all were completely disabled. The remaining pirates sent all their men to the military ship, the fighting was endless, it lasted until the soldiers and pirates ran out of ammo and were forced to fight with bayonets and knives. Layer was one of the 20 survivors and received a Victoria cross along with a promotion.at 20 he volunteered to be a test subject for various medical experiments and had various procedures preformed upon him, the results of which are classified. After years of simulations ad tests he was assigned to the merciless battle group. Blew we definitely need at least one more female because I'm feeling really outnumbered ^_^; I will be filling in the rest later....mean time found this great link. Will be choosing my Much from those posted...also has some cool ships. Name:Age:Height:Weight:Hair:Eyes:Measurements:Rank:Battle group: MERCILESS Mobile Suit:Mobile Suit Height:Weight:Generator:Armor: GundaniumArmament:Special Equipment:Appearance:Personality:Biography: Maybe we should get started before we lose our momentum and hope more people join when they see the IC thread? Also, suggestion for start scene: cadets are lined up one side, training techs they are being assigned to for the first time (and me) on the other side. Could be inside a hangar or out on a parade ground. IC thread is up. I'm having Rachel heading towards the hanger, so if you want to start off their that's fine with me. =) Lots of people posted character sheets, yet no one's going to play? -_- Trying to think of something now actually. Things have been so busy at work haven't had a chance to really try and think of anything as yet. Name: Ark Lee Code Name: Ice Age 27Sex: Male Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Height: 5'7"Weight 176 lbs. Appearance: Hair kept in a military crew cut. Normally wears his Test pilot jumpsuit and Helmet. Other than that he wears his Squad logo on a crew standard Jacket, with White T and pants. Bio: Born 214 on the Kobayashi Maru, a Jupiter class large transport ship/Colony ship. Born to Museum Lee, and Erick Lee. His father was the first officer of the Kobayashi Maru and leader of the ship's Mobile Suit Team, which were made up of outdated models and MS bought at local docks the ship would resupply at. Most of the Mobile Suits were used for repairs of the ship and by the age of 10 Ark learned to pilot a Mobile Suit to this end.219 ISP, 5 Years later the Battle of Axis took place while the Kobayashi Maru was docked there. Also known by the ISP as the One-Day War, The Kobayashi Maru was bought in a battle between Axis Forces and Pirate Force trying to take Control of the Astrid Axis's Nukes. The Kobayashi Maru made its escape, but it cost of the Lives of his Father and his Team. After which Ark joined the military, partly due to his mother becoming very ill after his father's death. "It pays the bills, and makes sure mom is ok, that's enough for me." Is what he said when asked why he wanted to join, but the real reasons are to take revenge on those space pirates.226 ISP, 7 years after joining the ISP Mobile Suit corps., He was one of the few pilots picked for "Project Zeta" And joined up with a Mobile Suit team station at A Baba EU near Earth. The Project was meet for"Gifted"pilots. But the project was canned by the ISP after the revolt broke out during a test of new Mobile Suits known as Gun dams. A Baba EU was leveled by this attack and over 10,000 people died when the large asteroid base broke into pieces and impacted with a nearby colony. Ark was one of 7 people who were stationed at A Baba EU who made it through that battle, and earned him, and his team the New type Badge of Honor. The Battle was not without its scares though. Ark became cold and distant from people, which earned him the Code Name Ice when he joined up with a Gun dam Team in the Retaliation. His fighting skills are top class and he often works on tuning his Gun dam or Mobile Suit when he has free time. Rumor has it his lover was killed at the battle of A Baba EU, but no one but Ark knows for sure.231 ISP, 5 years have pasted and Ark still is dealing with those scars. But he has been reassigned to the new Battle group Merciless. "Time to move on..." Is the only thing he said when his commanding Officer asked if he had any problems with his new orders. Mobile Suit data: info:

Gundam_ Battlegroup Merciless - OOC_Casting Call|rating:3.0

Salem Academy, A Hentai Adventure (closed)

"One more minute,"Amber announced from the front of the classroom. It was her first day teaching at Salem Academy, a prestigious private school in northeast Massachusetts. She was lucky to get the job, having lost her previous public school position due to budget cuts in Boston a month before this opening -- tragic, really, the previous teacher's sudden death had shocked the small community to its core. Now in the final minutes of her last class for the day, Amber had assigned this group of students the same activity she had the five prior classes; a simple questionnaire to help her get to know her students. Who their parents were, their interests, who they wanted to be when they grew up, and so on. Just a simple, friendly icebreaker so they can feel less like strangers when school resumes on Monday. So far she had been very pleased with the crop of students she was assigned. All seniors and in the honors program, they didn't strike her as trouble (which would be a pleasant change of pace after her struggles teaching public city kids)." Alright pencils down," she smiled tithe class. "Thanks for completing my little questionnaire. We have a few minutes before the bell. Would anyone like to share your answers? Or have any questions for me?" Bukhara heard the one-minute mark and had been done long before it. He listed to his headphones slumped over his desk. A nerd in some regards he held top grades and got his assignments in on time. Short black hair and brown eyes, he stood six foot tall even and did not engage any of the sports in school. He was allowed to listen to headphones in class as long as he didn't bother the other students. In honesty, he should be taking college level classes, but due to his family he was forced to do this like every one else was. When the new teacher said time was up, he sat bolt upright and gathered his papers and turned them in and was out the door before she even finished asking if anyone wanted to share. He did not, and bolted for the door as quickly as he could. No one batted an eye though, he had been like this since day one. More than a few rumors spread about him because of it too. That he was the cause of the last teacher's death, some black magic or some crap. But he didn't care, and there was no proof magic was even real much less used as a weapon. Sylvia watched with a shake of her head and like Bukhara dropped her paper into the basket on Miss Amber's desk and waved on her way out. Short blonde hair, blue eyes and a bust almost as big if not bigger than miss Amber's own. She was 5'5" and shorter than most in the class. She wasn't part of any major groups in school and if asked, no one really knows much about her, she often helps out at the Nurses office or so the Nurse says, but no one can ever remember seeing her there helping out. But the Nurse claims she helps out often and is there almost all the time, by now people just seem to have accepted this as fact and have stopped asking about it. N.E.D.(Ned) or Nicholas Edward Davis, dropped his paper into the basket next. At almost seven foot tall he was the largest of the class by far and said very little. The other striking thing about NED is one of his eyes is brown, the other is blue. One might think he would be part of the football team, but he was not into any of the large sports groups at the school. Though he is well known for his skill in mixed martial arts no one at the school seems to try to force him into anything. A man of few words he is also well known around school for being the strong silent type, yet rumors of him being a ladies man have people always question out of ear shot just what type of man he really is. Allen Parker, the closest thing to a troublemaker the class had. Ask anyone about the red head, and they would all give you the same answer. "That kid is on something!" Almost always late, almost always jittery and always popping something at some point during the day or even in the middle of class. But the 100s of drug screens come back clean. No one knows why it is he is taking, but other than his odd behavior, his grades are good enough to get him through the year. In the end none of the students in her class seemed to offer up any of their answers to the rest of the class and almost as if they were machines and not people they walked up and dropped off the little test that Miss Amber gave them. A far cry from the class she had before this. "No one?" Amber asked again from the front of the classroom, but it appeared Seventh Period was a class full of extreme introverts. And before she could probe further the last bell sounded the end of the school day." Okay, well, I suppose have a nice weekend, and I'll see you all on Monday!" she smiled cheerfully as the students silently filed out of the classroom." That's an odd bunch," she mused to herself after they all left and began straightening things. The questionnaires she'd save for later, but for now just straightened the room. The last class was the one that she couldn't shake her mind from... the quiet Asian kid with the headphones, the pretty blonde girl who at least offered her a wave goodbye (which was far more than any of her classmates did to acknowledge their new teacher), the tall jock, and the jittery ginger that had trouble written all over him. They probably were just excited about the weekend and didn't want to risk having to stay even a half minute late because someone was talking when the last bell went off, she told herself. Hopefully they'd open up on Monday. In the future it may dawn on Amber that there was more amiss with this classroom than quiet students, but on her first day the little details went unnoticed. Things like the raven that perched outside the window and never took its tiny black eyes off the teacher. Or the barely noticeable hum that persisted -- just white noise to be lost in a busy classroom to most, but could be downright deafening to those attuned to it. Or even the reality that the slight scent of brimstone that tickled at her nose in fact was not drifting over from the science class next door. Little mysteries that escaped her attention on her first day, but in time may very well consume her. New teacher meant she was not claimed by anyone in the school just yet. And few wanted to be the first to make a move. Bukhara would fallow his wait and see way of things. Making plans and ready to jump into it if he had to. But would not go out of his way to do so. Ned wanted her, but knew better than to cross someone who made a claim already. His skills with his fists were a match for anyone, but still, magic could be just if not more powerful. So he waited to see who made a claim for the new teacher, and then beat their face in to take her for his own, or at least that was his plan. Sylvia as normal was nowhere to be seen, but rumors of who she slept with, who she fucked in the bathroom and how she had taken control of things at home were always floating around. In reality, she was far below the school grounds planning and getting ready for the week to come. She knew this Amber woman was a wild card, and she could use it to turn the tide in her favor if she played things out right. Potions and spells were being made, and her plans were being laid out for almost anything that could happen. Allen did his normal, got high over the weekend and came into the class on Monday looking like he was about ready to kick the bucket right there in class. The School Nurse even caught him and drew blood for yet another blood screening. She would find nothing, but that didn't stop the young man from acting as if he was drunk and high and looking like he was on death's door step. Monday morning came about, and the class went on as normal, but students would glance at their teacher and the others when no one else was looking. Planning, casting and counting magic spells that flew around the room like invisible paper air plains. But it was a spell from outside the classroom that caught the class by storm as a shadowy figure entered the room and had all eyes on the beautiful teacher. The black shadow with its white bottomless eyes stood over the teacher and look down at her. If it wasn't for the being not being some flat shadow no one would have seen the huge cock it had, but this was not some cartoon or anime, and the huge cock had everyone watching as it stepped up behind the Teacher. Only those with strong magical links could see it, but that didn't stop people, like miss Amber from feeling it, feeling the tip of the black ghostly cock press up against her ass. But unless she had some powerful link to magic she would not be able to see it, and only be able to feel it whenever she had her back to the chalkboard. Lily sat in the fourth row of Miss Amber's World History class with her attention split between the lesson and trying to stay awake. Not that the new teacher's lesson was bring, but she had suffered another of her little... episodes the night before. A blackout. Last thing she could remember was laying on her bed watching Netflix on an iPad, and the next thing she knows she's waking up completely nude; her clothes gone, the sheets of her bed undisturbed and the window hanging open. Her brow matted from dried sweat and thoroughly exhausted, though she had no idea why. Miss Amber was saying something about ancient Rome, but Lily was having trouble focusing. She propped her sleepy head up on her elbow and glanced about the room. A few seats were empty, missing students was practically the norm, but Molly was there... and had an odd grin plastered on her face. Lily turned her head to track the other girl's gaze and see what it was that had her looking so mischievous, but there was nothing there. She glanced back and watched Molly's eyes move, as if tracking movement, but again saw nothing there." So it was in April 753 B.C...," Miss Amber continued from the front of the classroom. "That Julius Caesar..." the teacher paused in thought, a chill dancing down her spine and goose pimples puckering across the back of her neck. "Is a window open?" she asked and was oddly answered with giggles and knowing laughter. For just an instant Lily thought she saw a flash. Not a flash of light, but of darkness. A shadowy shape looming over her teacher with... well, with a massive cock angled for her teacher. And then in another flash, the phantom was gone." Now, as for Brutus, he~~~" Miss Amber practically yelped at the sudden poke of something hard against her skirt. She glanced behind her, baffled by whatever hit her. Had she been facing the blackboard she would assume it was a comedian in the classroom, but she was facing them? Then she felt a jet of cool breath caress her neck in a rhythmic pant, but again nothing was there. Confused, she turned back to the students. "Okay, what's going on," she asked with nervous laughter. Which one of you is messing with me." The shadow continued to assault Miss Amber. It's large cock poking at her, trying to find her tight ass. The class watched, but no one made a move and none in the class were controlling the demon shadow. They laughed and others like Bukhara watched silently. Knowing whoever was behind this was very powerful. All the magic he knew he needed to be able to see his target, this monster walked in through the door from somewhere else. Ned watched with a careful eye as well, not strong in magic, but aware of it nonetheless. He watched the shadow, ready to strike if need be, but not wishing to give away anything just yet. Sylvia seemed disinterested with it all together and went back to looking out the window. But keep an eye on the shadow in case it attacked more than just the teacher. But all this was interrupted when the door to the class opened and Allen walked through, late as always. The shadow turned to look at him, and he stopped to look at the shadow. He tilted his head shrugged and walked to his seat, where he slumped into his seat and almost fell asleep on the spot. At this point though the shadow seemed to take note that more than a few people could see it. It seemed to think for a moment before it rubbed the head of it's cock against Miss Amber sass, the only sign it had been there now a damp spot on the teacher's skirt where it's pre-cum head had touched before it vanished into the wall behind the chalkboard like a ghost. Even if the class wanted to no one had the answers and no one knew just who had sent that demon shadow. But this put Bukhara, Ned and Sylvia on edge a bit. Allen, he didn't care or didn't know just what he saw in his haze or what others thought was a drugged haze as he seemed to be falling asleep in his chair. The only thing more baffling to Amber than the phantom rod poking at the back of her skirt was the class' reaction! Varying degrees of giggles and complete silence when she called for an answer left the new teacher equal parts confused and frustrated. After Allen made his quiet arrival and took his seat, she felt one last blunt caress against her plump bum and when she reached back to swat the intrusion, all she got for her efforts was a some slick oil or something against her fingertips." Okay, seriously -- what's going on here. Who's doing this?" she asked the class in a more stern tone. Allen looked up with a heyday look on his face and looked around the class once then looked right at Miss Amber's breasts before he spoke. His eyes were piecing, more so then normal as if he was undressing her large breasts with his eyes. His hands flexed once as if making a grabbing motion but all he got was air." No idea who it belongs to.... But it was a shadow rape beast... It was trying to fuck you teach..." He said and then slumped back into his seat and fell asleep on the spot. This was nothing new to the class. Allen didn't have bad grades after all. And would always give the right answer when he was asked a question. But while most of the class laughed and brushed it off, some of the others took this to heart and Sylvia even wrote down a note about it when no one was looking. Ned simply sat and listened and would seek someone who knew more about this. Bukhara glanced at Allen before return to his book for class and waited. Though the whole class waited for their new teacher's reply, how would she handle such a claim since she seemed to have no magical powers at all. Amber's face creased. It was one thing to be so glib but another thing to brush off your teacher by immediately falling asleep afterward. She walked to Allen's desk and tapped him on the head to awake him." On your feet, Allen," she said with a beckoning gesture of her finger as she backed towards the classroom door. "I'd like you to explain this to me and the principal." She held the door open for him. "Read chapter 12 while I'm out," she told the rest of the class. Allen looked up at Miss Amber and for the first few moments thought she was joking, but when she waited for him at the door he sighed to himself and slumped before finally getting up and slowly walking to the door. As the left Miss Amber could hear a giggle from the class, the stain on her ass from the demon shadow still there as she left. Allen moved slowly through the empty halls and looked half asleep and even yawned a few times. His going to visit the principal was nothing new to him, and he really didn't care. His grades were not bad, not good either, but enough to keep him from being kicked out and every now and then he would ace his test. Still his drug screenings always came back with nothing, and this would be the same. They would go, yell at him and tell him to stop doing drugs and move on. Still the demon shadow was something he did not account for. Someone in the school knew some high level magic shit and if anything this annoyed him. He knew of no one off the top of his head that had that type of talent or power. Still for the moment it was best to continue to play his role the way he had been. Amber didn't bother saying anything to the student as she led him through the school's hallways. It was pretty clear he didn't have anything productive to say to her anyway... hopefully the principal would have better luck loosening his lips. The principal's door was open, so Amber rapped her knuckles twice on the frame before entering with Allen in tow." Sorry to bother you, but I could use your help with a disciplinary situation," she said with a creased brow and arms crossed beneath her ample breasts. "During my lesson someone was somehow poking me in my backside," she told the principal with a scowl. "Don't know how; never caught them or saw it... but Allen here seems to know something about it, he won't say. When I asked him, he was very glib and said it was a'shadow rape demon'." She sighed from the insulting explanation." I was hoping you might help get some honesty out of him." The chair turned around and for but a moment Miss Amber thought she could see a shadowy outline of a monster as the chair turned and faced her from behind her deck. But like a ghost on Halloween it was gone before she even knew what she saw."Ah, Miss! Amber ..." The principal greeted her as the older woman smiled up at the much younger woman. Though if asked no one knew just how old Miss Angela Good freed was. But one would not guess her true age. But the full shoulder-length white hair and a bust bigger and firmer then Miss Amber's own, one might think she dyed her hair white to make her look older. The old Woman sighed as she looked at Allen." That is what? The 10th time this month Allen?" She opened a drawer on the large wooden desk and pulled out a sheet of paper looked it over and signed it before handing it towards Miss. Amber." Take this to the School Nurse, and she will put Allen through another drug screening...." The way the Angela said this made it sound as if this was a common occurrence. Hell she seemed to have the paper work all filled out other than signing her name at the bottom." And for the last time Allen, I don't know what your on, but do stop taking it... I don't want to have to expel you..." She said and waved both of them towards the door. But Miss Amber would take note as the chair turned back around the shadowy outline around the older woman for but a moment before she could no longer see the woman from behind the large leather chair. Amber did a hazy double-take before offering a polite, "yes, ma'am" and exiting the room with Allen." Don't think I have anything to tell you haven't already heard," she told the student as they walked the hall towards the nurse's station. "But, really, if you're on something harder than pot, get the help you need to get off it. That stuff'll kill you." She paused at the door to the Nurse's station before knocking. "Hi," she smiled to the school nurse. "Don't think we've met. I'm Amber White... the new Senior World History teacher." She then turned and gestured to her company. "I think you already know Allen." Amber wound not have known as she greeted the woman in the chair behind the small white desk, with two small drawers on the left side of it. But Allen saw much more clearly even if Amber would think he was half asleep. The woman behind the desk might look like the School Nurse, but she was not, she wasn't even human in fact. And before Miss Amber could shake the thing's hand Allen pushed her back, and in doing so got a nice feel of her right breast as he pushed her back knocking her to the floor and bringing his free hand up as he said something so fast that Amber wouldn't know he said anything other than a mumble. The illusion of the nurse disappeared and when Amber looked up she could clearly see a dark being, human in shame, but seemed like it was on fire with black flames and small tentacles stick out all over its body. It had a black face other than a huge mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth and when it opened said mouth half the head seemed to open up like it was some horror movie." Stay back..." Allen said, and if his new teacher had looked at him, she would have seen he was far different from the drugged look he normally had. But he didn't have time to get into details. Another string of words and the monster behind the desk howled in pain as a gaping hole was blown through its chest. The monster looked down with its eyeless head at the hole and seemed more pissed off then hurt in the end. But a moment later a fist slammed into the side of it's head and sent it reeling into the wall off to Amber's right. Ned stood with his fist at the impact point of the monster, smoke hissed off his fist as if it was hot or something. The tall male looked at Allen and looked down at his teacher. The monster however was now very angry and let out an ear piecing roar, one thankfully that Amber could not hear but seemed to stun both Allen and Ned well enough as both feel to their knees. Holding their heads. The monster wobbled back, the hole in its chest not going away, but the dented head that Ned dealt to it slowly forming back into the shape it was before. But before the Monster could do anything else a ball of yellow white light hit it and seemed to suck it inside the orb. The monster backed on the inside like glass, but the orb slowly shrank down and disappeared." Men.... Thinking the only way to kill something is with brute force..." Sylvia stood in the doorway with an open hand pointed at where the Monster could be, and a naked school nurse covered in some type of slime at her feet." So what do we do about her?" She asked and pointed down to Amber. Sylvia looked different from she does in class, wearing something out of Cosplay from an anime convention or something. Both Ned and Allen looked up at her and shrugged." We can't do anything that would have any more questions asked though.... We still don't know who killed Mr. Manner.... Till then, we have to keep things quite...." Allen said, again, not his normal self, in tone or how he held himself at the moment. Ned just shrugged and moved to the door to make sure Miss Amber would run away, not yet anyway. Sylvia throw her hands up and sighed before she walked over to couch down in front of Miss Amber, not caring she was giving the woman a clear view of her perfected shaved pussy in her sexy sorceress outfit." You do have some say in this... So tell me Miss White.... What did you see here?" She asked, her eyes glowing a soft green as magic would try to help the woman explain hat just happened. As Miss White would recall what just happened Sylvia would do her best to cover it up with magic in some way to hide the fact that she had just seen a shadow monster get banished back to the dark realm. The only way this would not work is if Amber had enough Will power or had magic protection, two thing Sylvia didn't think she had, but it would all depend on how the woman retold the tail of what just happened here in the Nurse's office. The color drained from Amber's face. Her eyes were wide, mouth hung loose and her lungs trying to grasp enough breath in their shallow pants to give voice to a scream, but all she could manage was a petrified mumbling as she watched in stunned silence. Some kind of monster... tentacles on its back... a maw of needle-like teeth lining an unhinged jaw... flashes of light... and one of her students wearing a flashy costume that left her genitals exposed." You do have some say in this... So tell me Miss White.... What did you see here?" The young teacher was about to let loose with a torrent of hysterical nonsense when her student's eyes flashed green. Her body numbed, muscles going slack and a fog drifts over her mind. "Principal Good freed asked me to escort Allen to see the nurse..." Amber began and looked across the office. Allen, Ned and Sylvia were there (and all properly dressed in their school uniforms as far as she knew). "Perhaps we missed her... did either of you see the nurse on your way in?" she asked, oblivious to the naked woman huddled in a pool of slime six feet before her. Amber shook her head; the slumber slowly releasing. "And what are the two of you doing here... Sylvia. Ned. You can't just leave class without a pass," she chided gently. Sylvia sighed, and her eyes returned to normal. But when asked what she was doing outside of class her eyes flashed white for a moment and froze the teacher in time.' I'll wake her at the end of the school day... In the meantime... Ned, Take the Nurse home and make sure she is ok.... Allen... Do you have any idea what's going on? Between the shadow rape beast that almost got Miss White here... Someone is playing a very ugly game.... No one I know of has claimed Miss White..." She looked down at the frozen teacher." Not a clue. But for now, we play it as if nothing happened, I'll take care of the blood work after I clean this place up and head home..." Allen then set to work about fixing the wall where Ned had sent the demon flying. Ned, not caring the naked Nurse was dripping with slime simply did as was told and walked out with the beautiful Nurse slung over his shoulder."let me help Allen... Thankfully Miss White only had our class today...." Sylvia said. The two cleaned up and Allen returned to his heyday look before he opened the door and went about the rest of his day. He had drawn a vile of blood for the nurse and left it in the normal spot, and she would take it from there. Sylvia cleaned up and went to a special file cabinet she kept locked with magic in the corner and looked through some of the files there while she waited. After the day ended she moved over to Miss White and adjusted her like a doll so she was looking up at her when she undid the spell."Oh, Silly Miss White! It's the end of the day." Ned and Allen were making sure the blood work was taken care of before heading home..." Sylvia said. She looked around and thought for a moment before she looked back down at the Teacher sitting on the floor her eyes glowed pink." Hey Miss white... Do you find me attractive?" Sylvia asked. The spell she cast would force Miss White to answer in truth. Sylvia couldn't help but want to play with Miss White, and she would get no better chance then now. But her Answer would play a big role on if she got to or not. Forcing someone into anything with magic was always harder than simply nudging them towards something they already wanted, but could not or would not normally do. "Oh Silly Miss White! It's the end of the day." Amber shook her head and glanced towards the clock on the wall. "It is... but..." Where had the time gone?? She checked her own watch as well and felt dumbfounded by the time she had lost. And what in Heaven's name was she doing on the floor?? Amber was about to sit up and ask Sylvia those same questions when her student's eyes glowed once more and locked her in place." Hey Miss white... Do you find me attractive?"" Yes," Amber answered with empty eyes and a hypnotic, monotone voice. Sylvia saw the blank eyes and monotone voice kick in. It would be hard for her to get the teacher into bed. But she had her ways. Sylvia helped the stunned teacher to her feet and with her eyes still glowing pink she asked." Do you have any sexual fantasies about women Miss White?" Sylvia asked. Her power would force the teacher to answer with truth, and if she said yes, she could use that fantasy to have some fun time with her, let her Teacher enjoy a fantasy while also being able to enjoy her Teacher.------------------------------The school was quiet as Bukhara sat on the roof of the building. Getting the key to the roof took some doing, but he enjoyed staying past the last bell up on top of the school where no one could bother him and listen to his music for a while. He felt the shift in the magic current and knew today that he was not alone. But from the change and feeling he knew it was nothing out of the normal, probably Sylvia getting it on with someone. She liked to enjoy the School Nurse from what he could tell. That shadow did bother him though. Who could it be, who had that kind of powerful magic at their demand? As he listened to his music he listened to the sound of the magic currents passing through the area as well. "Do you have any sexual fantasies about women Miss White?"" Yes," the teacher answered again; brain off but mouth on. After a beat she felt compelled to continue in her lifeless, hypnotic monotone. "At my last school there was a clique of students I would fantasize about when I masturbated. Seniors... popular girls. I dreamed that they found a website that still had my old videos. They used them to blackmail me... made me perform sexually. For them. For their friends. For their fathers. In groups. I would do any perverted act for them. They owned my body. In the dreams." This caught Sylvia off guard. She did not think much about it and had even done some limited search info on Miss White over the weekend. But this lapse in mental concentration caused the spell to break. Sylvia shook her head knowing her spell was broken. She looked at the Teacher as she regained her senses and smiled at her. Sylvia thought a good moment while the woman came back from her spell, she wanted to play with Miss White, but this news could prove far more useful if true. And knew too much more magic would cause questions in Miss white and her many black-outs of memory. She simply sighed and would have to do some more background checks." Well it's getting late Miss White, we should probably head home." Sylvia said and helped the woman up, dusted her skirt off and smiled before walking to the door. She turned back and smiled an almost evil smile, like she knew something, waved and then headed off down the hall and towards the exit. Leaving the Teacher to think about the events that took place today. "Well it's getting late Miss White, we should probably head home."" It's late, and I should probably head home," Amber mumbled. As the cobwebs cleared from her mind she caught Sylvia's smile and wave before the student disappeared. At a loss for words, and completely confused over what happened to the last couple of hours, Amber simply shook her head and returned to her classroom to fetch her things before heading home. All the way home the teacher's mind drifted in a haze of memories... Sylvia for certain, but also couldn't shake stray thoughts of her previous students. The ones who still caused her cheeks to blush and nipples pucker at the thought of. What brought those old thoughts back? In all it was another bizarre day at the Academy, and the best way to deal with a day like that was a nice soak in a warm bath.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​It was just another bizarre day at Salem Academy for Lily (which is to say it was a perfectly normal Monday). She and the rest of the class gave Miss White the 15 minutes required to return to class, and after she didn't return they all packed their bags and left; most of them calling it a day and leaving campus, but Lily decided to be more practical with her gift of time. The school's gym was always open a few hours after classes ended in case a student wanted to get a workout or swim in, and Lily figured a good sweat was just what she needed. As Miss White took her bath a chill ran through the room. And a ghostly version of Sylvia walked into the bathroom and stood next to the tube, just this version of the young woman was naked, and had a cock that looked like it could split her in two." Good evening teach..." The ghostly woman said, her eyes black as night and semi transparent. She stood there stroking her cock next to the bathtub. Both hands running up and down the shaft long enough she could suck herself off if she wanted to.----------Sylvia sat at home locked in her room as normal, reading over the dusty old books she had checked out from the school's library and poured over them in hopes of finding out just what the shadowy demon thing was. All the while having her mother under one of her spells checking into Miss White's background and the Adult video she had talked about. There would be something out there, and she needed to know. A chill ran down her back though, and she looked out the window with a worried look. But she had to find out more before the next day.----------Ned had taken the school nurse home, and got the women cleaned up, but couldn't help but take a sample of the woman as he enjoyed eating her sweet pussy while she slept from whatever spell she was under.---------Allen was listening to music and drifting off to sleep on a lazy Monday night. Nothing he could do for the moment and nothing he wanted to start before he knew more about the players in the game. Sylvia and Ned were not behind the shadow, and neither was Bukhara, he didn't have the skills for it. No, someone else was behind this, and till he knew who or what, he waited, and acted the fool.----------The School's Gym Teacher. Miss Yamamoto was stripping as Lilly walked into the woman's locker area. The older woman was beautiful for being in her 60s. She still hands a young tender looking body, but enough muscle that she was still more than sexy for her age. She had a shaved pussy and both men and women lusted after her. Furthermore, she didn't seem to mind too much and as she turned around about to put on her swimsuit she saw Lilly and stopped, not bothering to even attempt to cover herself, with a bust that was larger even the new Miss White, her breasts were just slightly showing the signs of her age. Uncommon red eyes and what most people thought was dyed blonde hair the woman was a true MILF." Hello Lilly, What are you doing here so late?" The older woman asked, not bothering to cover up or even dress till she had her answer from the far younger woman. Amber relaxed in the tub and enjoyed the warm caress of the water as it rose higher and higher enveloping her body. She closed her eyes, shutting herself off from the rest of the world until she felt the water level reach its capacity and used her foot to blindly turn the flow off. Nice... peaceful... serene, until...." Good evening teach..." Amber sat up with a start. Looming over her next to the tub was Sylvia... only definitely not. She was ethereal, the ends of her hair lifting from some unknown breeze and sporting the largest cock Amber had ever seen! A dream? Hallucination? She didn't know what, but it all felt somehow real. Amber's arms crossed over her abundant chest, legs crossed and screamed as loud as she could, but her voice came out dim and muted. She tried to scream again, to no avail." Who... what.... are you?"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​"Hello Lilly, What are you doing here so late?"" Hi Ms Yamamoto," Lilly smiled as she opened a locker. She was unfazed by the much older woman's nakedness, this is a gym locker room after all... changing and showering is what it's for. She was, however, impressed by how well the woman had aged. Definitely a testament to clean living and exercise." Just thought I'd get a workout in. I like it late here... more quiet," she commented while unbuttoning her uniform blouse. Miss Yamamoto smiled and walked up behind Lilly. She smiled at the younger woman and helped her strip out of her clothes to change into something to work out. She always seemed different towards Lilly. Almost more like a Mother than a teacher." Well Lilly, remember to stretch before you doing anything new or different. We don't want you to pull a muscle or anything..." The older woman said. She sat down on the bench between the rows of Lockers and watched Lilly. She licked her lips at the sight of the younger woman's body when she wasn't looking. Furthermore, she watched Lilly's every movement as she sat naked and talked to her." And how many times must I tell you to be careful coming here alone... The boy's locker room is right next door and with a body like yours, I could see them trying to sneak in here and take a peak..." She sounded like a mother scolded her daughter as she was just trying to be protective of them.----------The ghostly Sylvia looked down at Miss white and smiled before her appearance changed to that of one of the students from her past, still with a scary big cock, but looking like a ghostly Sarah." Who do you think silly?" The ghostly girl giggled at her, still stroking the hugely transparent cock. Lilly was a little weirded out by the older woman helping her out of her uniform jacket and blouse, but let it pass." And how many times must I tell you to be careful coming here alone... The boy's locker room is right next door and with a body like yours, I could see them trying to sneak in here and take a peak..."" You worry too much, Miss Yamamoto," Lilly laughed as she pushed her skirt to the locker room's floor. "If any of the boys were brave enough to risk it, you'd have caught them peeping on you long before now. They talk, you know. You're quite popular."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​Amber shook her head in hopes that it would somehow dispel this illusion of Sarah hovering over her, but it was a futile attempt. She was still there... giant ghostly cock and all." Who do you think silly?"" You're not Sarah," the teacher said and stood from the tub; her hand reaching out to snatch a towel to wrap around her dripping body. "And you're not Sylvia." She stepped out of the tub, but the apparition blocked the exit. She wasn't sure if it was real or not, but there was one way to find out -- by trying to push past her and rush to safety! When Miss White tried to pass through the ghost it was like walking into clear plastic bag. You could push on it, and get so far before the bag held you back. And this feeling was centered in Miss White Pussy. The moment she passed through the ghost's cock it filled her pussy, but not from her opening, it was like she was passing through into her and filling her as she walked forward. And the feeling she got was the feeling of having her pussy stuffed to it's breaking point. Miss White's pussy was filled the moment she passed through the ghosts cock and the weird feeling of being filled in such an odd way would catch her off guard. It was not totally unpleasant, but the shock of all of a sudden being so full would cause discomfort in some way." Silly Miss White... We have only just begun!" The ghost said.----------Miss Yamamoto smiled at hearing those words. And spread her legs wide so when Lilly looked at her, she could clearly see the older woman's shaved smooth pussy. It was almost hypnotizing to look at it." I would think you know better than to listen to rumors Lilly... And I'm sure the boys would much rather have a beautiful tight young woman like you over some old hag like myself..." She said, faking being sad about it. She wanted to see just how Lilly reacted and see if her pussy would catch the younger woman's eye or not. "Silly Miss White... We have only just begun!" Amber gasped at the bizarre sensation, her body passing halfway through the apparition and impaling herself on "Sarah's" ghostly cock. "What... are you?!" the teacher demanded; her hands trying to find purchase on the spirit's shoulders but failing to grasp any meaningful support. Amber's knees buckled, and she fell back; collapsing on the floor." What do you want?!"~~~~~~~~~~~~~​Lilly averted her eyes the second she noticed the gym teacher's thighs beginning to part. "Right... well, there's nothing for either of us to worry about," she said with eyes firmly on her locker as she finished dressing in her workout clothes." Thanks for the chat, Miss Y," Lilly smiled politely, then turned for the lock room's exit. The ghost simply laughed at Amber on the floor. She slowly faded away into nothing. But the feeling of a thick, cock inside Amber did not disappear, she was full, but nothing was there when she looked. But it moved and wiggled inside her as if alive. And every now, and again she would feel warm inside, feeling like hot liquid was shot into her as if the ghost cock came in her, yet nothing could be seen, no real liquid would drip down her thighs even though she felt it. And her pussy would enjoy it, being filled like she never thought she could be filled.----------Miss Yamamoto smiled and watched the girl dress and leave. She waited till she was out of range to her before she snapped her fingers and a black silk high thigh cut dress appeared on her. She stood and seemed to be able to look through walls and view Lilly." You'll soon see my dear...." She said out loud, smiling as she watched Lilly before she snapped her fingers again and in a burst of flame disappeared.

Salem Academy, A Hentai Adventure (closed)|rating:3.0

In the army [Stormkitten and Fadereaper]

The war between Cereal and Paley had been waging for years and now in the camp of military personnel that was in position to observe a key tactical zone that enabled any who utilized it to use a path that would allow them to flank the other, there were two forts that neared the border between the two kingdoms and both observed this path to keep their rear guards secure. The camp that was so important to the military security of this fortress was lead by a man who was both respected and disliked by different people for different reasons, his name Called Shares, and he has served as a Board (captain) for about 10 years now. He is strong-willed and an effective leader but has been infamous for reports about his treatment of his subordinates, mainly coming from the female soldiers but all charges of his misconduct were dropped, and he remains Board. Now it is in the nighttime as most of the men are going into their tents to sleep and the campfires still roaring and tended by the few men who are keeping watch, he was watching her all day as she worked through her guard shift, and he had a big smile on his face as he saw her working and how she looked. He would take his chance with her like he did the others and if she would try to tell anyone he would give her the same threat, but he didn't know if he could pull it off so quick so perhaps if he didn't get to have her so soon he could at least get to know her. A guard was soon dispatched from his tent to the one he vied to take like the others, the guard would tell her that the Board wishes to see her. Cypress had heard that he was a ladies man. Then again, most men were that way. Twice as much in the army. An army that had few women. In these times, even whores could be considered dangerous, never knowing if they were spies or had agendas. Not that anyone wanted that rumor to spread or get out. The nobles did not want an image that the soldiers or commoners were savages. It was something she had known when she joined the army. It was something that she was reminded of nearly every day early on in a new unit. The men wanted to know if she was going to do her patriotic duty and help ease some tension. In the past it had caused a fight or two, but she knew how to fight, and most men got the point when she didn't just lay down. She wasn't here to function on her back... And she was in that position now. A new unit. Recently transferring here, she felt like she was getting to know everyone. Names, habits, and teaching them a bit about herself. Much of the day was spent on guard duty. It seemed like if one was not training, one was on guard duty, or sleeping. The occasional battle or fight to break things up the boredom of it all. After a quiet day she was looking forward to retreating to her tent for a few hours. A meal and some sleep would definitely feel good. At least until her plan was interrupted. Now she was on her way to see the Board. Thus far she had had little chance to see him. Dropping off her paper work, her record, her recommendations, references that vouched that she was not spy. Enough time has passed that he could go over her paperwork and likely observe her work. She hoped this was not about transferring her to another unit already. Transfers were common enough among soldiers, but she always felt like she was singled out because she was a woman. That the men found her too much of a distraction despite her best attempts at discretion." Sir?" Speaking up as she stepped into his tent. "You wanted to see me?" ("Blond Grey eyes Called was smiling when she entered and in his tent there was a desk with a chair that was padded for the comfort of the one who used it, and he motioned for her to utilize the chair as he looked her over, it was late at night, but the men were used to him sending for new members especially the women to see him in his tent and he had to admit she outshone many of the others, but they were all the same in the end to him. "Yes do take a seat madam, and we can get to business." He said as he sat up on his bed and had his legs hang over the side of it, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he began." I am impressed with your records especially for someone in your position as a female in the outfit, you have proven skill in combat and comprehension to work with your team and follow commands of your superiors." He said as he stood up and walked closer to her, but his eyes wandered her full form while he approached her, and he couldn't help but smirk as he was now right in front of her, his red hair lit by the flames of the tent that offered light and his blue eyes obvious now that he was closer to her. He wasn't garbed in the purple and black armor of their national colors, but he was in a light blue silk tunic that he had as sleeping wear, he was however still armed with a small dagger." You have proven yourself in training situations, but now you are in the field and I know you are a new recruit, but there are things to know, first you will not question the chain of command and if you do, there will be hell to pay." He said with a big smirk on his face, "as well any complaints about any of your comrades will be filed through me and I will send them to HQ in the capital of Mon Morale is that understood?" He said as he placed his hand on her chin as if he were inspecting her combat physique, but rather sneaking a peak at the form of her body under the armor, and he liked what he saw. Before coming there had not been time to change from her leathers. Guard duty rarely required full metal armor, instead she wore leather. It offered protection but did not hinder or tire her on long days. The leather hugging the frame of her body. Her breast seemed somewhat small, but that was likely due to breast binding, a common practice among fighting women. A good portion of her skin was covered, and in the coming days he would see she was never willing to strip down and show more, even during training." Thank you..." Moving to take the seat he offered. "If it would please you, 'Cypress' will do. 'Madam' makes me feel awkward, like I should be some noble woman or housewife." A brief grin on her face. "I am not domesticated..." Eyes following him as he approached. There was no sign of tension. She had learned years earlier if she was afraid of men for any reason, then it just multiplied till it was crippling. It meant a sense of trust. When that trust was broken or pushed, she had been forced to forgive and move on. Never forget, but neither would she let it rule her life. There was a smile on her lips as he said he approved of her records. For the most part she knew what they said. She did not know how he would read them. If he read more deeply into any notes or wording. It was a relief that he found her an asset, not someone to baby sit. She had spent years, dedicated to building a reputation and name. It meant nearly the world to her for that to remain intact. The fact that she had managed to do so thus far without seducing every sergeant and captain spoke of her actual skill." I don't typically have a lot of problems with my brothers, at least none that a bit of a match does not cure..." Fights for honor or argument were common among the men, the first time she had stepped up to the challenge had caused some rumors. Women simply didn't fight like that. She could not say she was the best fighter, and she had lost her fair share, but she had made her point. Usually there was one or two soldiers that respected her enough to step in and end things before they got worse or the winner tried to take his prize." I have a good history with my superiors..." There was no doubt in her mind, any superior that had at any point approached her for more than military duty, would not have written down that she rebuffed him or 'failed to follow an official command'Cypress pulled her head back gently. "An occasionally misunderstanding not withstanding, but I am patient to let things work out..." Gently making her point. Sometimes a simple subtle now was all she needed. Having learned it was best not to bruise egos if she could avoid it. Men were fickle about their egos." I don't sleep with any of the men. It cuts down on jealousy or any expectation that if I slept with one, the others have a chance. Similar teasing and flirting are avoided. I don't want to cause any trouble or disturbances that I know can almost be natural if left unchecked." Her logic was sound and something she strived to maintain. He smirked as she seemed to be a very self-sufficient person who didn't take crap when it was dished out at her, and he chuckled when she spoke, "you are not to commit vigilante justice with your subordinates if you do that will be met with strict reprimand do I make myself clear?" He said growing a little impatient as she seemed to be saying she would take matters into her own hands, "self-defense is fine but if you try to enact revenge on a subordinate for any reason you will be punished for that action." He let go of her face when she said that she didn't sleep with any of her subordinates but then again if he chose to do anything at all it wouldn't be by choice he thought, oh how he loved being in charge of this outfit it made reporting any of these escapades much too difficult with him regulating messengers in and out of their area. "Now that goes without saying that if you do, it will be as well punished for you and your partner, we don't need anyone getting knocked up out here and if you do enter this state you will be re-located to grunt work at the capital." He turned around and paced back and forth hoping he sufficiently made his point and wanted to see her responses, she didn't have problems with authority, but she seemed too self-reliant and would without doubt try to take matters into her own hands if something would make it necessary. "Now is the time you get to ask me questions Cypress." "I don't do revenge..." Promising. It had never gone that far with her either. Things always stopping in the early stage of refusal or self-defense." I can assure you, the last thing I want is a pregnancy or child..." Actually that was nearly a nightmare outcome. It was a step away from being forced to return home. While there was little shame in the pregnancy itself, she had no interest in going home, becoming a wife, or a mother. Cyress rarely took a lover from among her brothers in arms. Taking a practice from the men, Nothing like a man that got to fuck an enemy soldier, willingly, and was hoping his skills were so awesome that she would set him free afterward. But that was a secret better kept to herself. It seemed to bruise egos she would rather fuck an enemy than a brother. Explaining that the bastard would be dead in a day or two hadn't been anymore reassuring. For a moment she took the time to look him over." I can say I am not certain if we are going to get along or if this is going to become miserable." A faint smile on her lips. It seemed she had a bit of a sense of humor. There was something in her eyes that said she knew this wasn't a joke. He was restricting her maybe more than she was used to. Most officers were more inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt, being female. It seemed that fact would be a heavy hindrance to her." If things don't work out, I want to ask you not to ruin the rest of my career..." Her mood was clearly somber. "I have been serving our country and army faithfully for years... I would like to continue to do so." He smirked as she seemed to be distraught by his line of questioned but understood it was a joke, and he sighed as he walked back to his bed and took a seat and stretched a little bit as he looked back at her, "I don't have any problems with you as long as you don't break ranks and if I don't receive any insolent insubordination, you may not like that I am going to be nice or that I am not going to try and be your best friend, but we are at the border at a hotspot for military attacks." He took out a map and placed it on the bed and motioned for her to come look at it, and he smirked broadly at it as he pointed to the area where they were, "we are about 2 miles from the Palatial border and as you know we are at war with them, so I will not allow this outpost to fall into enemy hands lest they flank the local fortress and have free access to cross the border." He said sternly as he informed her of the gravity of the situation." Now you just be a good soldier who does what she is supposed to do, and I will not have any problems, but if anything that I deem a risk to the security of this base is present I will remove it." He said with a sigh as he looked over at her still pointing at the map, "do you understand what my point is and the reasoning behind it soldier?" Cypress didn't like that she felt like she was walking a tight rope. Drawing a steadying breath. If the unit was anything like the others she had been in, he felt that she should be fine. It was just nerves of once again being in a place with no friends, knowing now one and getting use to strangers all over again." Four or five years ago I ran some intelligence in this area..." It had not been mentioned in her paper work, but there was a time gap in which she did not seem to be with the army. Nearly a two-month gap, when any other times had been less than a week. The only way to prove it would be contact the Capital, but if she didn't have paper work for it, it might not be something they wanted to talk about. Or maybe she was simply lying. Cyress stood up from the chair and moved toward him. There was little point in hiding across the room. Standing at his side. Eyes on the map. There was no doubt some things had changed in that time." I understand perfectly sir!!!" Acknowledging. "If that is all, I would much like to retire... it has been a long day. " He thought about it for a moment and decided against doing anything at the moment, and he thought about her performing intelligence, and he just shook his head, he wasn't really concerned if she knew the area that would do little to aid her effort then acknowledge that he would know that this place was dangerous and failure would not be excusable depending on situation. "Now if you did indeed perform intelligence then I should not expect you to threaten our security, after all with your high marks and this revelation you should know better." He said with a smirk as he remained seated to address her next question which to which he motioned for her to leave his tent, "just be on your way and remember you are new here and the security of our nation is top priority over any of us." He said being stern and serious about this situation, "and since you obviously understand that I have no reason to keep you here so just go and assist the night watch until 0200, and then you can sleep." He said as he sifted through papers on his desk, clearing them away and then going to his bed lying down.((if you have any questions about these two nations just ask, I decided I would use two human kingdoms I have in my high fantasy world.)) There was little reaction to his words as he sent her back to duty instead of sleep, managing a nod before turning to look. Once her back was to him, she closed her eyes. Slightly frustrated but she didn't show it to him. She had been put through worse, she would survive. Reminding herself that she needed to earn her place here. Her paperwork would only get her so far. Maybe this was her punishment for her slight clash with his authority already. In either case, what was done and she would obey. Returning to her post. She felt the weight of tiredness on her body. An early morning of training, on top of her body still was not normal after the travel here. Now being on shift already more than twelve hours. Still she sucked it up. At two, her replacement arrived. She greeted him for a moment before relinquishing her place. Stretching slightly, she wondered toward her tent. Much of the camp already asleep. They would be up in only a few hours. What she was craving was a good glass of wine, but tonight was not right.Instead, she barely stepped in her darkened tent before she was stripping away the leather armor. As late as it was, she did not try for a light. The tent was set up in the way she had for years. In the way that she knew every inch of it. Dropping it to the left side of the door. On the right side of the door was a fallen cotton tunic. Picking it up, she pulled it over her head. Kicking out of her boots. Confident steps to the bed. To her, it felt like she was going to be asleep before her head hit the pillow. That was always a good thing. As she would sleep the replacements would take her position and keep watch over the base until 0600 when they would be relieved and the camp would begin to come to life and the men would start their daily duties, in the center of camp as usual while the men eat there was the ring of warriors surrounding two others as they fight out a duel for nothing more than a show of skill. Two of them neither of them have any apparent rank begin to duel each other, and it seems evenly matched, but soon the older of the two is defeated and the young warrior who defeated him hits his chest in challenge, "who else wants a piece of me!?" Caelek wakes at 6 as well to make an example for the men and gets dressed in his armor now as opposed to last knight which was his sleeping wear, his armor was black and purple design, and it had gold trimmings along the lines of the armor as well. On the chest piece just like all warriors there was the emblem of a golden lion that was the symbol of their country, he saw the fight and the warrior boasting loudly to find someone willing to fight him. He could have easily dispatched him, but he wanted to see if someone else could and enjoy the young warrior getting knocked off his high horse, then his second in command came to Called and the two began talking as he kept an eye out for anyone willing to challenge the warrior. It was closer to the half hour mark when she emerged from her tent. Wearing her metal armor because she hoped to practice this morning. There was still a level of exhaustion, running on less than four hours of sleep after being awake nearly twenty hours the day before. Not that it was completely new, the army life was not about ease. She could not help the slight annoyance in the back of her mind. The conversation with the Captain the night before still disturbed her. Feeling like he had bound her hands. It was an uncomfortable feeling. She had lived a wild and free life. Maybe she had taken for granted in the past that she would get a little bit of a break because she was female and was forced to fight that much harder. Outside in the sun, it took her only a moment to notice the brawling. Brawling and breakfast. It made her smile. Typical men. Watching another opponent step up, she grabbed a plate. Taking a couple of bites, starting to take the edge off. Considering the morning, she was not likely to eat much. Keeping it lite so after the work-out she did not get sick. The lad that was challenging every warrior now regained his breath, and then he saw Cypress, and he smirked as he pointed the tip of his blade in her direction as he saw her eating, and then he declared loudly, "you woman!" He said as he walked closer bringing the blade down and hefts it over his shoulder getting closer to her, and he smirked broadly, "if you don't have the guts to accept my challenge that is understandable but how can you know if you don't try sweetie?" Caelek was watching the exchange with acute interest as his right hand moved to intervene, but he stopped him and smiled shaking his head as he would try to, "no let us see just how good she is Lieutenant alright?" The man nodded as the soldier repeated his challenge to Cypress not giving her a chance to reply between them both, "now come on you can't expect yourself to get easy treatment for being a woman so let's see if you earned this position." The other soldiers were obviously annoyed of the cocky bastard and would have liked to see her shut him up, they were waiting to see if she would accept the challenge and take him down. As annoying as the boasting was, as bad as these fight rings could be, experience said it was the quickest way to make new friends, or at least dispel some hostility. If she took up the challenge, it would give the men a chance to see her skills. Some of them would still make a joke that she had fucked her way here. There would always be one or two. For the others, it might be the groundwork that they let her work with them. That they would become her brothers in arms. Not just some soldier. Cyress did not walk into every fight expecting to win, but she expected to show off her strengths and assets. She was not relying on the men to carry her. Sometimes it even earned her some pointers or a new move. Being a warrior was about constantly learning. Constantly advancing. Popping another bite in her mouth, she set aside the plate. "I have no such expectation..." Picking up the sword, she gave a swing to test its weight in her hand. Drawing a steadying breath, she closed out all the surrounding noise. Focusing on her fight, on her opponent as they launch into the fight. She was skilled, but sometimes when dealing with larger and stronger men, it took more than skill. She learned to be faster to avoid hits, more agile to get past defenses. Aim at weak places instead of trying to take on full strength. The man could see she was eager to get the fight going for whatever reason, but he assumed his shots at her pride managed to bait her as he didn't believe she was his equal or even earned the responsibility of being at a post like this, it was more than just dedication it needed but skill to protect this vital pass that was the best protection the local fortress had, and he wouldn't accept a woman in the ranks until she proved her metal to him. He was never nice to anyone else however either and was generally disliked, but he had the skill to back up his words, he flourished his own blade and smiled as he held his shield parallel with the ground." Alright then little lady let us see what you are capable of, and see if you earned this rank or just slept your way into it." He said as he rushed her fast and in a quick motion he brought his blade in a horizontal slash aimed for her chest, as she would block it he brought his shield into a defensive posture just in case he didn't make contact. "Its Cypress..." Correcting him between heart beats. " Or Princess..." Her grin was wide, clearly a barb at him. A barb for all the cute little pet names he could come up with. She hated all the sweetness that came with them. It had lead her early on that if they wouldn't use her name, wouldn't learn her name, she could handle being called princess, even if she was everything but. Cyress moved with his sword, moving toward the sword hand. Shield coming up to block the savage blow, to deflect it away. Her first focused attack was at his sword hand. To strike his wrist, something she had been subjected to. Something that was done to newbies and recruits, it should have been something disarming for someone as experienced as this soldier. Not to say he didn't lose battles, but she had a hard time seeing anyone treating him like a newbie. He smirked as she aimed for his sword hand, and he lowered the blade as it came to collide with it and rammed her with her shield in a quick action trying to knock her off balance, she was obviously well versed in combat, but she assumed that he would not be able to deflect the attack when focused strikes are easy to deal with as you simply move their target. The blade would continue and hit him, but he could take it as the armor would take the brunt of the strike, he was not going to make this easy as he hoped that his strike with his shield would be enough to knock her on her back. The strike did not have as much effect as she wanted, but that was not a surprise considering he was an experienced soldier. Actually it would have reflected poorly on him to be caught by such a juvenile move. It was more of a show than an expectation of success. The clash of his shield sent her stumbling back. A single strike was not enough to take her off her feet. That move too common for her to fall easily. A good sense of balance, to keep her through the first strike, trying to right herself before he followed up. Cyress pressed an attack. Beginning to work to get past his defenses. Feeling like it was not going to be a fast defeat, but it would be a good warm up for the morning. Her attack was expected, but he did hope that the shield bash would have knocked her on her back, but he smirked as he raised his own blade to clash with her own as she pushed an attack but tried to hold fast to keep her from gaining ground on him, he had to back up to get a chance as he jumped a little further back and then tried to push his own offensive as then he would decide to bring attention to his shield bash. He smirked and then said amidst the clashing of blades and clinging of metal on metal, "well it looks like you don't lay down so easily, but that might change." He said with a loud laugh as he continued to clash blades against her trying to gain ground, but her technique wasn't lacking, and he was having a hard time gain ground as he tried to exchange blows from his sword and shield and would parry attacks as they came for him, "although you are good at your art I'll give you that much." He said with a smirk as he tried to hit her with more ferocity, hoping that sheer strength over fluid strokes would be able to catch her off guard. The man was good. She had no doubt about that. If she had to judge, there were no rookies here. Everyone had years of experience. It likely made her the newest. If not the newest, she was going to have to work extra hard to avoid being the weak link. The added strength was noticeable, she could counter some of the blows, but he was able to add a weight behind the blows faster than she could recover. She still managed a strike here and there, but his strikes were hitting more often and harder. To avoid being completely bruised, she had to focus more on her shield than sword. That was never a good feeling. Another clash with his shield sent her to her ass. Cypress was quick enough to gain her feet. Rolling away from him. Trying to take advantage of any lapse in concentration while he contemplated her on the ground. Wanting to be on the attack, she was still forced to work harder on defense than offense. Drawing her breath between parted lips. Another hard blow that sent her to the ground, she got up quick enough back was away from him, shaking her head. "... Enough..." Yielding before this just got embarrassing. When the cycle of being thrown down started, she knew she had lost. It didn't take having her breath knocked from her lungs to know. The soldier smirked and sheathed the blade but was panting as he was tired from having to exchange so many blows with force and speed, and he could feel exhaustion hitting him as instead of something cunning being said he would walk to the bench by the fire to get some rest and regain his breath, but he flashed a coy smirk at her as he would start to rest as he began whispering to his comrades and quickly getting a canteen of water to regain his strength a little more. The captain of the came to her as she fell on the ground, and he smiled brightly at her on the ground and knew that it would be hard to breath after that fight and offered her a hand to help her up from the ground with a smirk on his face, "well Cypress looks like you just got put on your ass now come on let me help you up you look like you could use some breakfast." He said with thinking about the fight he just saw, she was skilled, but she had not the experience these men had, and it would take time to get used to this life. Yes she would be there in time but oh yes he would enjoy the taste of this new recruit eventually, but it would take a little time but perhaps, oh yes perhaps sooner than he thought, but she wouldn't give herself to him, he would have to take what he wanted from her. "Now come on you look like a damn fool in the dirt, let me help you up." He said with a chuckle knowing that he couldn't be too soft on the new recruit, if he looked weak he would not have the respect of his men in a place like this. The man didn't press the attack as she yielded. Some did, but it looked like he had just about enough for the moment too. She might not have won, but he clearly was not quick to take on a new opponent so soon, that said a little something. Some work out before breakfast, she thought. Her head tilted up as the Captain appeared. Grinning slightly at him." Somebody moved the chair..." Making a semi joke out of the fact that she was on her butt. Taking his hand and letting him help her to her feet. She had been in the army long enough to know it was not a sign of weakness but commodity. Of course her weight was nothing for a man like him to help pull her to her feet. Steadying herself, she stretched slightly. That had been hard fight." Thank you Captain, breakfast sounds good..." Agreeing with the Captain. He smirked as he leads her from the place she was knocked down on and moved her with him to the campfire and sat down with her and a chuckle and took a deep sigh as he picked up his plate while the squire in his service got her a plate as well with a big smile he left and waited for her to take the plate he left down for her. "Enjoy the meal madam, I hope it satisfies your hunger." He said as he took his leave going to serve the other people with precision, making sure all the officers were fed. He smiled as he took his first bite of his breakfast and liked the taste of the culmination of the different ingredients and different foods, and he looked over at her with a smile on his face before he would ask, "tell me Cypress how does your breakfast taste?" He said as he continued to eat more of the food on his plate and took a drink from his glass of water and soon was nearing completion of his meal, "I trust the fight wasn't too taxing on you." "... Thank you..." Smiling at the man as he dished out the meal. Eager to eat. The conversation lapsing for a bit as they ate."It's good.... of course any meal that is more than stale bread and hard cheese is a bonus..." It was true, at least for her. There had been times and camps, that rations and supply lines were limited. Or she was traveling." I am fine..." Taking another bite. "Maybe a few bruises, but I am not delicate." Her eyes looking to him as he asked about how she was fairing. Silent for a moment as she tried to determine if he was sincere or patronizing her. It was a little uncomfortable being in a new camp getting use to new people all over again. The captain had clearly taken an interest in her being here, although his concern was more welcome than struggling with a horde of soldiers as had happened a few times." I know the location is delicate... Are you always concerned about newbies. Or wondering if I can hold my weight because I am female?" It was an honest question. It was also a round about way to find out if he was regretting her being here or if he saw enough hope in her first performance. He took a bite of his food as she asked him that question he simply smirked and offered in response to her question the following, "I need to know that you are physically well in case of an attack, if not then you need to see the camp physician so you are ready to fight at a moments notice." He said with a more neutral face now hoping the point got across, "the fact is we don't get attacked all the time, but it is a constant threat since we are at war and how crucial this location is to our defenses." He smiled not wanting to keep everything so solemn, "I show concern for all my men both for their own sake and for the sake of the base." "Maybe a bruise beneath the armor, but it would not stop me in any of my needs or duties. Mainly just needed to catch my breath, Sir." Finally answering him honestly. "It wasn't pain that urged me to yield, but the strength behind the blows. If I had continued, I was likely going to have more than a bruised ass. Something so pointless for such a mock fight. "His words actually put her at ease. They made sense. It didn't get her answer if he approved of her fight, but it did relax her that he was not specifically targeting her or waiting for her to be weak." The rough part is getting use to a new unit. New officers, new commanders, new men. Being new is hard enough, without being perceived as weak. Makes me a little tense I guess." It was something close to an apology for questioning his motives. Taking the last bite of her plate. The food certainly filled her stomach, helped her feel a little more human and maybe a little more like herself. He nodded as she spoke and knew that she was fine just a simple bruise as she stopped the fight before it got too far and too out of hand, he knew the person she was fighting, and he was a pest the other members would like to be rid of, but he is a hell of a swordsman, and they need that kind of skill. "Well it was an interesting fight, but he seemed to take it rather seriously, I don't condone the killing of comrades, and it looked like if it didn't get stopped that is what would have happened." When she referred to being new he just nodded understanding it would take some adjusting to this line of work and this kind of outpost, "it will take time, but I like to think that this unit has a good quality of people to it so that shouldn't be a problem for you here unless someone else, or you make it one, but you already know that." "I know my limit... my ego is not so much that I would continue a fight that is going to end badly with a brother..." In the middle of the fight, she had doubted it would be pushed to the point of death, but she had to trust the Captain knew his men. If the risk of losing to a newbie or a female could push the man that far, then she had to trust what he saw. Moving to stand up. "I am going to finish warming up for the morning, before duties." The spar had been a good start, but she wanted to stretch out. Partly to limber up, partly to make sure her armor was on the correct and snug the way she liked it. Nothing quite proved that like movement. Looking forward to mingling with the rest of the men a bit more. She was horrible at learning names, but she made an honest attempt. The day before after her arrival she had been put on guard duty with little chance. He smirked as he watched her walk away from the camp and would stretch lightly thinking about what he would do when he had the chance to do something to her, but that would have to wait he thought, he would have to do it when he could minimize his consequences of taking a fellow soldier like that, and he would want to enjoy it for as long as he could, but that would have to wait of course. He got up and placed his plate on an area to be cleaned and would proceed to have the men brought into training formation to do some basic calisthenics that would help them be ready to fight and more limber to move in the heavy armor, as she would be warming up the other men would hail her to follow them to the formation where they began their morning exercises. For the most part her armor was where she wanted it. Enough experience to already know that, but she didn't want any last minute distractions. Distractions during a fight could cause injury or worse. At the call, she was quick to follow and get into formation. Looking forward to the morning routine. After so many years in the army there was a certain routine to things. A routine that made sense to her mind now. That her body was used to and missed when she was in between or traveling. Unlike some of the men, she didn't have a home or family to return to on breaks or between assignments. Occasionally she got drunk and laid, but those were rare. This was her life. This had been her life for long enough it was hard to imagine outside of it. Every unit had slightly different routine. She thought it would be a relief when she learned theirs. When it became habit, she would feel that much closer. Eagerly she fell into their ranks. Drawing a deep breath, she knew the first time or two was going to be a test for her to keep up. Her body was different from the men's, that was something that had been driven home and often meant she had to work harder to keep up. When all the men fell in line he would just watch them expectantly as all of them instantly got into a position for push-ups and began working through that regiment of at least 60 and then get up and clap as they would change into position for curl ups and begin that as well totaling about 100 curls total from when they stopped, after completing those they began simple stretches for their body before they would begin a morning run while the other half of their division would keep watch, they alternated defenses so that their guard was never down. As the soldiers finished their stretches they each got up and turned to the left and in the same formation began running along the ground at a steady pace, not too fast to try and see who was fastest but a steady and consistent marching pace so that they could move as a conformed unit faster in case of a hasty march. The captain was at the head of the marching position waiting for them to get their mile run in and return, it would take about 11 minutes with the whole unit working like this, but it would help them be limber and able to move around a lot in this armor. The warm-up was about what she had expected. Most units used the same template. The numbers varying slightly. With as many men, she was not concerned about being last done. She also knew she would not be first. There was usually about a three-minute gap from the first soldier done, to the last soldier done. Everyone had different capabilities and speed. The run was by far her favorite. She loved to run. Something about the freedom, even if she was surrounded by dozens of men. For a few minutes that could all fall away. Following the body in front of her, or if he failed to run at a comfortable pace, her attention shifting to another soldier. It wasn't about speed, so much as comfort, and she had a level of comfort that might be different from some of the soldiers. If she got some downtime, she definitely planned a good run. Maybe see if a few of the guys wanted to run with her. Might help reacquaint herself with the base and the immediate area. It had been a number of years since she had served the borderlands. She was breathing pretty good as they drew to the end of the mile run. It would not stop her from continuing, but she felt the work-out. Making her feel somewhat alive. Not as good as battle, but there was an excitement about getting her breathing up and adrenaline pumping. As they would come up to the end of the run they would receive their orders for the day ranging from scouting, patrols, watch, and various guard duty and as the second in command came to her, he would say bluntly, "you are on scout duty as recon in the woods right on the border between Paley and Cereal." He said bluntly as he would move on and continue passing orders to the men and when he heard her order he smiled. Out in the woods by herself on scout duty oh yes this is too perfect for me to take her right then and there, she will be ripe for plucking as I please and it will be a beautiful harvest. Question is would she be in a position to say much of anything and if she claimed it was him he was sure he would be able to sweep it under the rug, she trusted him and that made it all the sweeter for him claiming her body for his own out here. "Yes sir..." Nodding her head as she was given her assignment. A few hours away from camp would likely calm her nerves a bit about being in a new camp. There was something about the wilderness she liked. Something she found even more joy was these woods. It had been years since she had been here, but she remembered their quiet. Something about the area felt like home to her, if there was ever such thing for her. Cyress took a moment to discuss with second in command about time frame, about anything specific she should know. It had been a while since she had scouted the area so she was open to suggestions that might indicate change. She was not thrilled about another night watch, but she was low man on the pole so that was expected. She debated about what to do before it was time to leave. In the end she decided to talk with the men instead of napping. While she was still tired from the night before, this would not kill her, would not even affect her that deeply. Around 1700 she caught supper and prepared to leave. The man would see her approach him, and he nodded to greet her and knew that she would need an explanation to the job to know the when and where, "you are to report to the woods and relive Se argent Aral of duty around 1800 hours is that understood?" He said simply as behind them and barely able to hear them was the captain listening to them talk, yes she would be leaving around 1800 hours, and he could be out there and do what he wished to the woman on duty. Perhaps he needed to disguise himself or better yet, perhaps he could use the armor of one of the dead Palatial soldiers and disguise it as a Balkan soldier raping her instead to protect himself. Dressed in her leather armor, as it would allow her best to scout and be silent. The metal plate might save her life in battle, but if she needed it during this, she was not likely to live long enough for it to do much good. In her tent, she slipped the daggers in their creases. She grabbed a skin of water to take with her. Fashioning it on her belt hip. A small bag of jerky to keep her through the night. With little fan fare, she slipped out of the camp. Leaving the soft noise of the camp behind in favor of song birds and soft chirps of insects before the sun finished falling. Following the path, it did not take her long to find Sergeant Aral. She kept him long enough to ask a few basic questions before watching him disappear back to the camp. Cypress settled in for a long and lonely night. Keep her eyes open and alert of her surroundings. He was garbed in the traditional blue and red of a Palatial soldier rather than the purple and black of Cereal and would put on a cowl and mask to cover his face as he would leave the camp to find her location, it would look as if a simple raid or scout of the enemy had taken her and would be able to help him handle it easier, and perhaps he could make it more consistent if he needed. He was walking through the woods looking for her location, a bow and a few arrows ready to take her down so he would have full access to her body how he chose. It was a long walk through the woods, but he finally came upon her position in the woods and would try to get a better view of her location to little avail, but he was moving around, hoping he was quiet enough to avoid alerting her to his presence. Popping a bite of jerky in her mouth, her eyes remained trained on the surrounding darkness. There wasn't much to hear or see. Her first time out here, she was likely a little more on edge than the man she had taken over for, not that she was expecting much. Settling down for a while, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief in the darkness. She was at home in the darkness. It gave her some time to unwind and simply breathe. A time that she did not have to prove herself. Did not feel like she was always being watched or judged. For just a little while, she got to be herself. That was a rare thing. So rare, sometimes she was not even sure who she was anymore. The army could do that, destroy oneself for the sake of the group and army. He had to be careful as he saw her finally seem to ease up as her shoulders flanked down more and as he approached her he switched his sword for a dagger as it was quicker to move and able to help keep her down more at a close range, the kind of range it would take for him to get to her in the capacity he wanted, and he would be sure to knock her out so he could take her clothes off for him to have the fun he so desperately wanted to reap from her body. He was soon right behind her and as he lifted the dagger silently above her head he brought it down to collide with her head to try and knock her out, as she would hopefully now unconscious he would repeat the process a few more times just in case so she would be without a doubt. Now out or not he pushed her forward to land on the ground, and quickly moved to be in front of her where she was to take her in the capacity he long desired and knew that if she even managed to see him she would think he was just a Palatial soldier. Shifting her weight, she was never aware that someone was out in the darkness. A soft noise escaped her lips as the hilt collided with her neck. The sound of her breath escaping her lungs and body. Starting to collapse as her legs gave out. She was unconscious before she hit the grass. Moaning softly in pain, she was not quite conscious yet, but her mind was working on it to come awake. The pain flooded her mind and head. Still pretty out of it, she had no idea how what was wrong with her, but it felt like her head wanted to pop off. Instinct had her trying to reach for pain to help ease it. Her body making a move to curl up. Once she started to wake up, it snows balled into full consciousness. Knowing something was wrong, but not quite sure what or how. She did know her body well enough that this started as a bad situation. As she would have fallen asleep from his attempt to knock her out he would smirk seeing her fall to the ground unconscious now he picked up the limp body and pulled it from the base of the tree and removed the leather armor that was covering her body, and soon she was at least partially exposed to enable him to have access to the more important parts of her body, when she began to come to she would notice his face was covered by wrappings as well his armor was emblazoned with an eagle looking black despite the night sky showing it to be Palatial armor the armor of their hated enemy. Moaning softly in pain, aware of the body above her. That awareness jolted her awake. Eyes widening as she took in the sight of the man above her. Palatial armor was immediately visibly. This was trouble. A lot of trouble. In the heat of the moment, she did not immediately notice that she was partially stripped. Hissing softly. Cyress moved to sit up, to learn about the limits of her body, her neck and head hurt but as long as her hands were free. Reaching to grab for one of her daggers. She was not dead yet, and she was not inclined to simply lay on her back and let him kill her either if she could help it.

In the army [Stormkitten and Fadereaper]|rating:2.0

Warhammer 40,000_ Dark Business (IC_Closed)

IOC:#p10218228‘The Corridor’Adepts Arbiter Precinct Courthouse #187‘The Corridor’, as it was called by the local residents, was an ancient section of the underhive of Necromancy. It was dark, foul, and decrepit. But worst of all, it was afoul with taint. Underneath the main passageway, sprawling streets and alleyways snake through the various constructions of the underhive. No natural light reaches these areas. Food and water is poor, and is often recycled many times. The streets are lined with litter from the ages, and hide various surprises. In the underhive, there is no God-Emperor for you. Precinct Courthouse number One-Eighty-Seven was situated towards the middle of The Corridor. The Corridor itself was a long stretch of passageway, which at one end connected various upper levels, and one end connects the main lower levels. It was the last ‘Haven’ for loyal citizens of the Imperium. Various stores, housing complexes, and factories were stacked atop of each other, connected upwards by brittle metal stairways and scaffolding. It was the gateway between the vicious depths of the underhive, and the simply unruly upper sections of the underhive. The ceiling of The Corridor stretched further than the eye could see, as dark, filthy, brown clouds began to form, blocking out the view of the ceiling itself. The Precinct Courthouse was a fortress, relatively speaking. Formed into the massive wall of housing and shops, along with Hive support structures, the Courthouse was supplied with enough weapons, equipment, and food to supply and maintain an army. That army was the Adepts Arbiter, who bravely, and some not so willingly, protected the surrounding level. The outside of the Courthouse was adorned with gargoyles, and various statues and symbols of the Imperium. Over the decades, the walls began to rot, and the symbols faded away to time. The windows of the Courthouse were covered with armored shades, which were often closed as gun fire occasionally erupted from the streets, aimed at the Arbiter headquarters, despite the area being crowded with Arbiter and various citizens. As the wide street began to curve downwards into the deepest of the underhive, a barricade of prefabricated Imperial Guard issue cover pieces were set up, adorned with sandbags and various junk at the top of the descent. The area was almost in a constant state of war, as the descent section was the border of Chaos and Imperial held territory. Daily, Adepts Arbiter patrols would venture down into the tainted territory. Some returned relatively unscathed, others did not return at all. But the one thing that was certain to return from the depths of the descent was the stench. The stench was of rot and taint, which was appalling to those without a rebreather or filter. Sitting on the third floor of the Courthouse, Hess stood, with his storm coat draped over his shoulders, gazing out of the window, which the armored shades happened to be half open. He watched the various figures of people move through the streets. Mostly Arbiter, but citizens were easily spotted out from the crowd. Most wore simple rags or coats, but some looked…different. Some wore wide brimmed hats, concealing their faces. Others wore long storm coats, similar to Hess’s, walking slowly about, taking in their surroundings. Most people down there were probably armed, but the ones that stuck out to Hess were more than likely armed with stronger weapons. But the Inquisitor was not the only one who found certain people suspicious; armored Adepts Arbiter Patrollers often, without warning, roughly handled certain people, stripping them and searching them, to only arrest them, or leave them with their possessions scattered around the street. It was effective and quick. Warrants were not needed here, nor were any real reasons to search someone or someplace. Taint showed up almost anywhere at various times, even in the Courthouse. It was much easier to form a team of Arbiter Patrollers, and let them loose in a housing complex, breaking down door after door to find whatever they could. And that was simply the way of life. If you had nothing to hide, then there was no reason to worry about spontaneous raids. In fact, in some places, raids were so spontaneous, some residents lacked doors to their small housing rooms entirely. A burst of gunfire erupted from the street below, and some found its way to the Courthouse. Crude kinetic rounds bounced off of the armored shades before Hess, and he never flinched once. He was used to it by now. Turning, he looked around the dark room he was currently standing in. A haze of smoke seemed to drift in from the door less frame, from outside through cracks, or simple smoke from Chopsticks. The walls were decrepit, falling apart and stained. What was on the floor were remains of an old, faded, fabric carpet which no longer existed except for pieces in the corner of the rooms. Centered before Hess now was a metal desk, which was dented and scuffed. The room was most likely some administrators’ officer decades ago. Now, it was simply used for whatever, as boxes of various items were stacked to the side. But currently, it was Inquisitor Hess’ office. Murrik, the Inquisitors Stormtrooper, was off somewhere on the vast courthouse floor, summoning up something to drink. Hopefully it was some Recap, as Hess enjoyed warm cups of Recap. But it was most likely some poor blend, especially since they were in the underhive. But nevertheless, Recap was Recap. Turning to sit in the old chair behind the desk, Hess looked glanced over some old papers that were already there. After a few moments of sifting through mere ammunition and transfer requests, some nearly a decade old, Hess brought to mind an Arbiter man named Kaiser Dialogic. He was told from an anonymous source that this Dialogic, who was a captain, was a fiercely faithful man to the Imperium. A man who would prove invaluable, with the manpower under his command, to help Inquisitor Hess uncover the truth of the alarmingly frequent rumors of Chaos Daemon host summoning rituals. Hearing footsteps come close to the small room, Hess looked up to see Morris returning with whatever he found. They're in the Courthouse, having a break from outside for a while. They just got back from exterminating a group of Heretics or something along those lines, so they look a tad roughed up.“I’m telling you, Alex my boy. These Adepts Arbiter are like Inquisitors without all the fun gadgets or reputation in the Imperium. It's like they do our dirty work on the Hive worlds while we do the deed and get commended for it. It's just strange to me.” Boris said, picking his beard clean of some way-ward shrapnel with his mechanical fingers delicately probing the vast mass of hair.“I still don’t understand, Boris. They're providing a much-needed service while not clogging up the ranks of the Inquisition. They don't even enforce the local laws, just the Lex Imperia from the High Lords of Terra.” Alex said, swishing around the cup of brown water. He wouldn’t dare call the substance in his cup Caffeine or Recap, it was like someone took their sock and wrung it into a pot of boiling water after sticking their foot up the ass of one of the Daemon Princes. It was mainly there to provide some bit of comfort, not to be tasty.“Oh yeah, you’re one of them young’us. Won’t understand what it’s like here in the Underhive.” Boris said, looking distantly to the side, as if he was reflecting some distant memory of love, loss, and hardship in the Hive World. Boris was so full of shit, as always.“We transferred here a few weeks back. I’ve been with you the entire time. What the hell are you talking about?” Alex said painfully, knowing full-well that Boris was going off on some made-up persona he had decided to adopt whenever they were resting after a raid or getting into a scrap with Heretics. Alex himself didn’t understand why Boris loved to create other personalities – he was a real card of a man to begin with. Alex assumed it was some way for Boris to cope with the harsh life of an Inquisitor rather than turning dark and emotionless, which in hindsight was a plus.“But were you really there? Did you see the things I’ve seen down in this place we call a world?” Boris said, still trying to be a philosophical policeman that’s seen his fair share of bloodshed in the streets. To be honest, he did see his fair share, but he was being overly dramatic for sake of establishing character.“…. Yes. Yes I was. I was there when you got ambushed by a group of Heartens at the bad end of the Corridor and taken back to their abode. I had to rescue your sorry ass but lo and behold, I find that you held your own and started executing the poor bastards one by one. It was poetry in motion.” Alex said, rummaging through his sack for a book to read because he was getting a little fed up with Boris’ nonsense.“Oh yeah. That was awesome, I took one of the poor Tech-priests, ripped his damn mechanics eye out, turned it to himself and made him watch me strangle his central power core. He buddy tried to get the slip on me and I tore that son of a bitches’ arm clean off. That’s a story to tell the kids, right?” Boris said, a familiar smile returning to his face. “’Sides I can handle myself, don’t need to apprentice to come help ol’ Boris. I keep ya around ‘cause I love ya like a son.”“Of course. That explains everything, Boris. You don't have kids, probably won't anyway.” Alex said a little harshly, not really paying attention to the man anymore as Alex was beginning to be enthralled in some literature he had taken with him before coming to the underhive. Mainly it dealt with different sects of Heresy and how to detect Heretics from a crowd of blended people within a Hive World or a crowded place in general. The streets were grim, but Boris and Alex had more than enough to do in this Emperor-forsaken world. Pump Station Junction A-92Outskirts of Hive Primate ragged settlement, constructed from rusting metal, slabs of concrete and plastic strips, burned as the Arbiter swept through it. The vulgar heretics that had overtaken it and burned the humble chapel to the Emperor fell back, firing as they dragged their wounded with them. Kaiser Dialogic fired his bolter in tight, controlled bursts, blasting apart clusters of the Czechian cultists. Ahead the high, vaulted ceiling of the pumping station crumbled, sending bits of material crashing down-including a block that fell and crushed a rebel that was about to charge Kaiser with a bayoneted Laguna. Pale green smoke wafted in the air and murky, black water thick with grime and oil tricked through the dead, lifeless brown dirt on which the soldiers of the Emperor trod." Advance! Fan out and advance, catch them in a pincer and remove their ability to withdraw!" Kaiser shouted to his secondary commanders over the Vox. Kaiser, Captain of the Arbiter and leading a nominal unit of 120 Enforcers-in this instance, a strike team of 48 men from that company-lead the advance, bolter blazing, the light of the constant muzzle flashes dancing across his matte-black carapace armor. Lieutenant Ideas stood at his side, less physically imposing than the fierce Captain, his full-face helmet decorated with the blood of the enemy. A chain sword roared in his right hand and a plasma pistol in his left hummed with energy." They're not going to escape." spoke Ideas, snarky and arrogant as always. He was Kaiser's second-in-command, and for a reason." That depends on our strategy." Kaiser corrected. The Lieutenant glowered a bit and lurched ahead, ripping into a group of heretics wielding blades, dancing about as the chain sword tore limbs and flesh both. Kasser himself headed a squad of the company's best troops-the Arbiter Merged, a division of Arbiter combat troops native to Necromancy- as they charged, bolters blasting away the fleeing heretics as shanties collapsed and burned around them. Some light mortars supported the Arbiter from behind with accurate, precise fire, blasting apart tighter groupings of the enemy. Some civilians begged for help. Kaiser did not look away once from the battle. They chose their fate when they weren't willing to die to drive out the Archenemy's pawns. A few locals, though, had indeed fled with weapons when Chaos took the village, and they followed the Arbiter advance, cleaning up stragglers with Laguna and stabbers. The street ahead blazed with the enemy-dozens lined the streets, hiding behind every crevice and taking desperate, inaccurate potshots at the marching warriors of the Emperor. Sweeping his bolter and emptying a clip down the street, he smiled as nearly a third fell, leaking red. The scrap-built town hall ahead crashed and burned, crushing those inside. The Heretics were breaking. Now it was time for a charge." Arbites, on me!" He shouted through his Volstead, lurching ahead, unloading a torrent of death at anything bearing the sickening vigils of Chaos. A few tried to throw themselves down and beg for mercy from the Arbiter. Kaiser simply trod atop them, smashing their skulls with his armored boot. Heresy demanded death. There is no going back from it. The enemy began streaming to the one real exit- a passage into a canal built to channel the foul-smelling water from the mid-hive pumped down here, but he had that covered. Scout teams had positioned themselves there in readiness-the heretics yelped in surprise and pain as a volley of shotgun blasts ripped into the fleeing mass. The terrified Chaos warriors collected into one mass, firing at all sides, trying to flee the inevitable. Leveling their guns as they locked into a circle, the Arbiter fired one last burst of shells that slaughtered the survivors. A smattering of shots followed, finishing off those still alive. Gideyan approached him afterward, stomping the heads of some of the enemy dead into the blood-wet muck under them." Report, sir?" He saluted, smiling with their victory. "Someone get Largish and his Vox so we can call command."" What is our report, Ideas?" Kaiser inquired, to-the-point. Gideyan's smile faded as he refocused on the data pad he carried. "1 Arbiter dead, 3 wounded. Estimated 140 killed heretics, damage to settlement extensive. 80 of 300 civilians killed. Two squads of PDF troops will arrive and entrench against future attacks." The chief Vox-officer for the company, Heirs Largish, approached Kaiser, handing him the loudspeaker. "It's command." he said." Already?" Kaiser snorted, placing the speaker to his ear. "This is Captain Dialogic. What is it, Command?"" This is Detective Ky jar. Get back to Courthouse 187 for debriefing and reassignment."" Reassignment? So quickly?" Kaiser asked, perplexed." We have a mission for you, captain, if you choose to accept it. We believe you are the optimal choice for the job."" I'll be back right away." Kaiser said, quickly, immediately withdrawing his men. The CrownchaserMid-Warp ETA: Fifty-Seven Terra Minutes The modified Vagabond class merchant ship shuddered. It always seemed to be the final hour in the warp that she had the hardest time. The Cellar fields held, but any man who looked out would see the claws of madness tearing at the bubble of nothing that was a Cellar Field. The Warp was truly a manscape, a place of doom. There was an old saying - "If you stare for long into an abyss, the abyss stares also into you." This was very true with the Warp. The Warp was at the same time the abyss, the boogeyman, the Paradise, the Hell, and nothing. It was a realm of terror, influenced only by the basest of emotions and actions - hate, death, greed, lust, gluttony. Other, baser instincts and actions. But this place was definitely one thing - mankind's only way to travel the distances between the stars. Combined with the psychic manifestation of the Emperor's will, the Astronomical, men could sail the Abyss. Only one aboard a ship such as this had to stare into the Abyss. The somewhat rare Parker, the Navigator. The only breed of humanity that could navigate the Warp besides those bastards that have fallen and the mighty Adepts Astarte's' Librarians." Zaul, I expect you and the Triplets to resupply when we set down. Kia, you're with me. We're looking for work, transport. And dammit, someone tell the cook we're not eating Grow porridge again. We've had it for the past... Forever." Argus said, standing in one of the two cargo bays - the larger, legitimate one. The crew assembled there nodded, readying. Paul and the Triplets started prepping the loading tractor, Kia grabbed her bolt pistol and pistol, making sure they were loaded and putting them into her boots. One of the deckhands he had hired at the last port they were in went off to the cook. A large, extremely well-muscled man smoked a who stick up on one of the bridges going across the cargo bay, good for supervising live cargo - animals - and for defense. The orange glow lit up his dark skin, the color of leather that's been left over the fire for too long." Kappin, what'Chu need me ta' do?" he asked. Argus was the only one who knew his name and he kept it secret out of respect." I'll need you to stay here, make sure no gutter filth sneaks on board. Lethal force is permitted - yes, you can use Betty." he said, talking about the man's favorite Autocannon. It was loaded with a special ammunition, extremely cheap - essentially explosive ammunition that sent rock salt and glass shards flying everywhere. More than good enough to keep gutter filth and sneak thieves off the ship. Argus walked to the other end of the cargo hold, walking through the currently open door. Up to the bridge he went - and of course, as he went down the hallway past the Navigator, he felt a chill. The lights always flickered here, and the air always felt like it was freezing temperature. And then he was past it. He respected the Navigator, but he never wanted to spend too long near the man. On his way to the bridge, he saw another deckhand, nodding hello to him. Twenty Minutes the intercom announced, proclaiming the time until they would breach Warp space and enter real space. The ship shuddered. Nothing unusual in the Warp, but he had a bad feeling. Walking to the bridge, everything seemed alright. Once on the bridge, he looked at the crew there. All in place, all doing their work. It might just be him, but he felt like something was wrong. Intuition, gut feeling, probably nothing serious. Sitting in the raised chair at the center of the bridge, he looked at the various consoles there." How's she holding up?" he asked the man in charge of most piloting and maintaining - well, everything. His name was Lazarus, but everyone just called him LAZ for short. He was a blond man, hair trimmed short. He wore old Imperial fatigues, as he had served in the Guard before getting away, slightly older than Argus, with Argus soon after he received command of the ship. Furthermore, he had never been a in the Guard, he was one of the no-ones; the linesmen, the fodder. The human shield. Something that would buy his superiors maybe half a second if anything got past the artillery, tanks, and heavy weapons. But now he had a high position on board a Rogue Trader ship." Well, the old girl's... The left plasma engine's seen better days. The right as well. And the auxiliaries. The hull seems to be fine, and the Cellar field... It's just as unpredictable as normal. It's supposed to work for another few years, right? Shields are fine too, not that we've needed them. No integrity breaches. And... well... That's about it." LAZ replied." Good. Keep at it then. Tell me once we've reached communications distance, I'll need to go through the docking procedures." Minutes passed. The last few minutes were always the worst. Fate seemed to connive to make every crew of every ship scared in these last few minutes, to make them doubt their lives. The ship shuddered, and a chill passed over it. Two minutes left. Argus began walking towards the cargo bay for a final checkup. One minute. Suddenly a soul-rending shriek broke out. Thirteen seconds." Captain! Captain! The cargo Bay Area of the Cellar field... it's fluctuating." LAZ yelled over the intercom." Throne dammit..." he muttered, breaking into a run as his coat flapped behind him. Grabbing his pistol and Shrike pistol, he burst through the doorway, feeling the room well below freezing. His breath came out in big clouds of white, and something was in the center of the hold - a strange bubble, a cloud... And then it was gone as the ship lurched into real space. We'll need that damn field looked at if we want to leave this place...he thought, before walking back to the bridge. Communications would soon commence and he would dock. And then they would go into the Hive, the Underhive, maybe deeper, in search of work. Morris had been wandering empty minded for quite some time in an attempt to find Inquisitor Hess something to wet his throat. It had to have been at least 10 minutes before he finally decided to ask a random Arbiter if he had any knowledge on the whereabouts of a Recap machine, only to be spit on. Morris frowned under his suit, drew his Chain sword, and then smacked the Arbiter across his face with the flat of the blade. He then grabbed the man by his throat and wiped the saliva off with his face before kneeing him in the gut and walking off to find a more compliant person. Ironically enough, the person who aided Morris was a young female guards women who attempted to arrest the Legionnaire for his brutal assault on the Arbiter, only to notice the Rosette branded into his left shoulder plate. She quickly apologized and pointed him in the right direction before quite literally sprinting away in the opposite direction. Murrik then sheathed his Chain sword and began to jog over to the Recap machine as to not keep Hess waiting. The last thing Morris wanted to do, was piss off the man whom could loop him in half with little to no effort with his mighty Power sword. He quickly retrieved two cups of the Recap that seemed less than adequate before rushing back to Hess' office. He jogged up flight of stairs after flight of stairs before finally reaching the room. Furthermore, he pushed the door open with his foot and walked on in before placing both cups before Hess. "You can have both cups, Abram, Sir. I lost my appetite when that grok spit on my suit. I'd like to see him spit again, with a broken jaw and all." Auguun then walked to the corner of the room where he had been keeping his Bolter and sat on the floor next to it. "But besides that, what are we doing today, Sir?" Exiting Warp-Transit over NecromundaThe large Gun-cutter Astra Aegis exited the tear in real-space smoothly, the hull a midnight black and the running lights off. Inside the shuddering of the hull could be heard as the stress of warp re-entry faded away. The Warp Drives and Geller Field disengaging as the ship glided to Necromancy and all the myriad ships in orbit. Almost immediately Naval and ship authorities blasted the Gun-cutter with invoices for authentication and clearance. They were shut up fluidly when the ships own age became known, an Inquisitor was in the space above Necromancy, this might bode ill for the world. Ship Logout;Lt; Astra Aegis has successfully exited Warp-transit and is now heading to Orbital position Alpha-10/14. All systems are green, Welcome to Necromancy Inquisitor Rave nor.Sgt;Sgt;The ships A.I. voice had a warm tone, a touch added by the Inquisitor himself to add a sense of home to the large Gun-Cutter. Truth behold the Gun-Cutter was pretty big, room to fit at least 10 people comfortably in separate housing, room for crew if there was any. A cozy bridge and hanger for a few craft of the Inquisitors' usage on his travels and assignments. The Navigator Jordan had already exited his socket and was in his private chambers, sleeping away, the Warp was not so kind on this latest journey and he needed the rest. The Inquisitor himself was leaning back in his chair, feet kicked up on one of the bridge cogitator panels, snoozing as the ship closed on the planet. His main side-kick as he liked to imagine was doing last minute equipment checks in the next seat. Going over inventory and manifest logs while typing up whatever she liked to do before landing on the planet. The Inquisitor never asked, he gave her space, he gave Jordan space, he gave anyone he respected space to do their own thing. That's probably one of possible a few reasons that kept him alive in this Galaxy, space, and of course learning when to fight.....and when to run like a bat out of hell. But for now he slept dreams of the last world he was on, a pleasure world. Lovely women and events. Until of course he discovered the locals wanted to sacrifice him to Spanish, that was a no no, and he had the lot executed in the Name of the Emperor on Terra. Followed by a little Orbital Bombardment from a Local Navy Cobra Class vessel for safe measure. Hess offered a thin smile to Morris as he entered. "Already causing trouble, I see then." He reached for one of the warm cups, and slowly took a sip. Hess smiled, after being in the wretched place called the underhive for well over two months, he finally had a nice warm cup of Recap. It was a little delight the Inquisitor savored. Sipping some more of the warm beverage, Hess looked over at the ex-Steel Legionnaire. The man was lucky, and adding to that matter, different from most. On a less than brief visit to Armageddon, Hess nabbed a handful of Legionnaires to assist him in assaulting a position held by a rouge Steel Legion Parker. Emperor knows how long the soul was unaware of his power until one day, the Warp entered his feeble mind. But he himself was relatively safe against the Parker, being a Blank. But there was no way he had the firepower to take out the armed man hiding in network of tunnels beneath a small town. So he grabbed four Legionnaires, using his Inquisitorial powers, and one of them happened to be Morris. While they were in the tunnels, the Parker soon realized the danger that was approaching him, and nearly doubled in power out of a fit of rage. Of all the things on that damn planet, Hess remembered thinking, a rouge Parker was what was going to kill him. But that was not the case, although he could not say the same for the Legionnaires besides Morris. A deadly lash of fire from the Warp vaporized the men, and Hess and Morris were just at the edge of the small inferno. As long as Morris was close to Hess, his mind was shielded from the effects of the Warp. But thanks to the burst of energy from the Parker, thethingwas burned out. Hess quickly fell upon the crippled shell of a soldier, and swiftly ended its existence. After that ordeal, Morris, being a headstrong person as Hess learned over the few years knowing him, asked to join him and take him away from the Hell Armageddon was. He wanted to deny the man, but somehow he decided against it and brought the man with him. Ever since then, Morris proved to be a useful co-worker. After remembering his story, Hess realized he finished both cups of Recap. He frowned, but that did not matter much at the moment. "Well Morris, today we just need to map out the area. We need to figure out where to start in order to find-" Hess stopped speaking as he felt the room significantly cool. "This is...odd." Everything outside the small room seemed to quiet down, and the air cooled more. He could then see his breath, and Hess immediately stood from his seat. "Morris. Get your weapon ready." He spoke harshly. Air temperatures did not simply drop forty degrees in a matter of seconds. Something was wrong. Approaching the door to the small room, the Inquisitor noticed that the shadows in the room seemed to grow, and almost move together like a pit of snakes. No, this cant be what I think.... Hess removed his Power sword, and pushed the door open slowly. The room was dark as well, and almost colder, and Hess could see Arbiter standing around, some with weapons, others without. "Fools!" Hess spoke harshly again. "Do you not realize what this is? ADaemonapproaches us!" Some of the Arbiter looked very unsteady as Hess spoke to them. With the current situation they were in, Hess' presence did not aide them as he created an invisible aurora of fear or revulsion to those around him. It was simply what happened when one was a Blank. The lights flickered, and some of the less than veteran Arbiter and workers gasped. Hess brought his sword to bear as the lights suddenly shut off, and an eerie red glow of emergency lights came on. "Powers out!" Someone called out, and Hess mentally applauded their observation skills. "Keep the exits covered, and immediately point out anything out of place!" Hess said as he scanned the surrounding area. "A Daemon can materialize as anything. It could even, Emperor protect us all, grab a hold of one of our minds." Except his and anyone near him, he thought. The room became much quieter. Hess felt cold sweat rolling down his neck. The tension in the room could almost be cut with the Power sword he held in his hand. There was a crash, and all the rooms attention looked for the cause of it. Nothing was spotted, at least nothing that could be seen in the dim light. Another crash, and weapons were brought up to bear quickly. A cool breeze began to emit from the middle of the room as a haze formed. This is it, Hess thought, turning his Power sword on with a blue hum and brought it forth. The haze began to form an orb, and two smaller red glowing orbs appeared inside the haze. Hess gasped, and his eyes widened. Even though there was no definite outline, a Daemon was there. And it smiled at him. Hess felt his throat tighten as the foul spawn from the Warp stared into his eyes, and Hess felt his mouth gape open. His eyes began to water as he tried to blink away the image that was searing into his eyes. It can't touch my mind. It can't touch my mind.... Hess thought frantically. But then, the thing disappeared. The lights came back on, and the temperature rose back again, which created an odd feeling as the air heated from freezing in a second. Hess blinked as he, along with everyone else, recovered from what they saw. He wiped the water away from his eyes. Turning his head to Morris, he motioned at him, still blinking away tears. "Come, quickly now." Hess told the man not where they were going, be he turned about and began walking away swiftly, leaving everyone in the room dumbfounded. Morris laughed at Hess' comment about starting trouble, if the noise leaving his mouth can even be described as a laugh. It was crude, so crude that anyone who didn't know August personally might have mistaken it for something completely different. A noise that a normal Human-being would expect to hear a Daemon of the warp to emit. Either way the gruff "Ah-Ha" that left his throat was menacing in the least. "Everyone is good at something. For instance, your good at scaring the living Frank out of just about anything this side of the warp, while I am good at correcting things such as overactive saliva glands by slightly adjusting the position of somebody's jaw. Hell, the guy downstairs is even pretty damn good at getting his ass kicked." Morris let out another small "Ah-Ha"before realizing that the Inquisitor's mind was somewhere else. Murrik sighed and stood up before sliding a magazine into the Bolter. He then Chambered one of the gigantic 75mm cartridges and grinned under his mask as the massive slug made a satisfying clicking noise as it slid into the barrel. He then extended the wire stock that he had added to the rifle and locked it into place. Furthermore, he had added the stock soon after acquiring the handheld cannon on Armageddon from a fallen comrade who had killed them self accidentally by firing the weapon without taking the proper steps to avoid the recoil that the miniature artillery piece had. Furthermore, he guns flew out of his hands and smacked him dead in the face, shattering the goggles his wore and caving his skull in, but the weapon had to be manned. Morris was chosen to be the new walking corpse and was given the dead man's bolter because in war size matters, and the Bolter was without a doubt one of the biggest rifles on the battlefield. By a sheer stroke of luck, just as Morris had readied his weapon things started to get cold. So cold that even through his thick trench coat and gas mask, August couldn't help but shiver. Then even weirder things began to happen. Shadows seemed to be far more dramatic than they should have been, and all the ambient noise of the city suddenly came to a grinding halt. This struck Morris as extremely odd, to have thousands upon thousands of people to suddenly to stop talking. Even the machinery seemed to come to an astonishingly quick stop, as even the sounds of pistons pumping, metal scraping metal, and turning gears grinding suddenly stopped. Morris had heard stories of events like these from his mentor Hess, and quickly joined his side, knowing that his otherworldly abilities would keep them more or less safe from the little piece of hell that the entirety of the Courthouse was about to experience. Auguun slowly shouldered his Bolter and kept his eyes constantly drifting around the room. Then it happened. Hess opened the door and everything that could go wrong did. The rooms' temperature took a drastic drop, the lights suddenly shut off only to be replaced by an eerie red glow, and people began to panic. Then there was a bang and Morris snapped his Blower onto where he thought the noise came from. That's when he saw it. A Daemon from the wrap had materialized in the room, and it was staring directly at Hess as if it was trying to enter his very soul. Soon after tears formed in Hess' eyes and that was when Morris realized just how much danger they were in. Never had Morris seen Hess come anything close to crying, and they had been together damn near four years. Morris would even go so far to say that if he were to die right there, Hess would simply find a new Storm Trooper to replace him without even a frown or moment of silence, never mind a tear. At this point August was shaking, and badly shaking at that. Weather that was due to fear or the cold he was not sure. All he knew is he would rather be back on Armageddon without his protective suit on bathing in radioactive sludge, rather than in this very room with the Daemon. Suddenly the spectral mass completely dissolved all together and everything returned to normal. Machines reactivated and people slowly began to chat about what they had just witnessed. Then Hess commanded Morris to follow him without giving a single hint to where they were going and, Morris thought it's best to listen, so he gathered any remaining equipment that would serve any purpose before jogging after Hess. When he finally caught up he removed his gas mask and frowned to Hess. "By the God-Emperor, please tell me that is not what every Daemon is like... I mean how do we fight something that can scare us to the point that we can hardly even move?!" He asked, sounding fearful. "Turn! Ova' ere, dear's SOMA de good stuff. Looks like' SOMA Want's boys Diana make it back to the tunnels." The harsh gravelly voice came from the scavenger's right, behind a huge pile of ramshackle scrap and old mining equipment. Turn, or 'the Tough as he was known in the Underhive, lumbered over to where his companion called from. A few heavy steps, carefully placed in the junk and scattered pieces of Emperor knew what to not twist an ankle, carried the heavy figure of the river into vision range of his partner-in-crime. GAV grinned at the bigger man, his smile betraying only a few remaining teeth, his hair wild and unkempt and greasy. A big sausage like finger pointed to three corpses propped against the scrap heap with cut marks all over them. The big gutter rat frowned, and squatted next to GAV, his bulging muscles barely contained by the cut-off leather jerkin he wore on his torso. "These don't look like the work of one of the other gangs GAV." spat Turn, his words like an autocannon, their enunciation precise and monotone. The river wasn't all he looked to be, but he wasn't much more either, not now. The iron stink of blood filled his nostrils, and with a crude movement the giant man pulled a rebreather down over his mouth. Flat air, metallic and filtered, rasped in his lungs, but the stench of offal and fear-sweat no longer assailed him. Black blank eyes roamed over the corpses." Gar. You can' squat dear staring at 'ESE whore sons all ye wan', I's going to see i' day got anything worth havin'." With those words the scruffy scavenger clattered over towards the corpses, and his scrambling hands began going through the pockets and tattered bits of clothing the poor bastards still had on. No weapons, and nothing valuable, not the way it looked to Turn. He had seen those curious cutting marks before, the circle with lines cut through it in human flesh. GAV was an old river, but he had lived in the middle level before luck drove him down here. The wily scavenger knew the ways of the street, but he still thought the followers of the arcane symbol in clotted blood on the chests of the men whose possessions he looked to expropriate were myths, or foolish dreamers. Turr knew better. He had not donned the rebreather only to stop the smell of blood and death; the faint, almost intangible scent of the Ruinous Powers hung heavy about these corpses. Several more scavengers Turn and GAV hung with, four to be exact, rounded the pile of scrap. They had been looking over an old burnt out junk house on the other side of the makeshift passageway through this enormous waste heap. Their names weren't really important to Turn; they came and went almost weekly. Life was cheap down here, and you could get your throat cut with a piece of jagged metal for a reprocessed protein slab as easily as someone blinked. The giant didn't intend to go that way, but in the end his fate was dictated by the God-Emperor in which he had progressively more trouble believing. He waved a massive hand at GAV." They're all yours. I'm heading back to the scrum, I need some Second." The lumbering figure rose from his squat and picked his way back amongst the trash piles as the other rivers quickly joined GAV in ransacking the corpses. A few minutes later, as the looting continued, pale white figures watched them from amongst tattered scraps deeper into the Underhive. Eyes resplendent in the madness of Chaos saw fresh victims. Blood for the Blood God. Lucius watched the passers-by as he wandered the streets of the underhive's ugliest quarters. He didn't know how he should feel to be back home as he adjusted the pack he was carrying. Part of him was relieved to be back to familiar turf, even as violent as it was, but he was a better man now. He had only spent a short time in amongst the gangers of these streets taking shots at the Arbiter who often patrolled. When they finally caught him and beat him to within an inch of his life he realized it was either keep living below in a life that would get him shot or join the guard and NOT rot in a ditch somewhere. He smiled at the thought that it was probably the first lucky guess he'd made in his life. Life in the guard had been hellish to say the least. He had seen and done things in those years of his life that no man should ever be witness to, his thoughts wandered to the massacre on Syria IV. His faith had been sorely tested more than once, but he did his best, just as was expected of him. His focus was drawn back to reality as gunshots rang off in the distance. It was time to find some place quiet to settle into and get off the streets where the Arbiter would be slightly less inclined to harass him. He looked around, stepping out of the middle of the street hoping to find some sort of dive or any hole in the wall housing complex. There were enough to choke a grow with, but the question was which seemed the most likely to get its doors kicked in. Before he could think on it too long he'd realized he could recognize this neighborhood, he wandered for a short time before sure enough finding the old habit he'd lived in as a child. It had certainly seen better days, but the same could be said for everything down here. Lucius still had a sizable number of thrones stowed away on his person from his days with the Dorian Rogue trader dynasty as their bodyguard. He bought up a room and settled in, making sure to take special care in preparing an early alarm system for any ne'er do well that might decide to lighten him of any valuables. As he looked around the room the gunfire outside continued to blaze uninterrupted for several more minutes as he sat and collected his thoughts. It seemed odd to be back home after so long, with no one to bark orders at him and no commissars looking to vent his head, he was alone again. Left to his own thoughts and the uneasy feelings he'd continued to have since his streak of "luck" began. He wanted to call them premonitions sometimes but thought against it. Lucius knew that such words often came with the risk of being suspected of heresy or other dark things, but it mattered little to him. All he knew was that he was free, and he was most certainly alive, he scanned the tiny dark room again. A single dull light barely illuminated its contents, revealing it's rusted walls, and he didn't even want to imagine what had happened on the bed he now sat upon. The desk across from him seemed to have been broken and fixed a dozen times, the chair that sat before it seemed relatively less damaged, however. There was a sink in the corner which he could only assume doubled as a bath since he yet to find a public shower and the restroom lacked anything but a toilet. He laid down, contemplating where he would begin to look for work when he woke up. Surely there had to be someone around looking for a hired gun, especially down here. After all, this is Necromancy's true face. These were Imperial citizens at their truest, basest levels. Dark business was in every corner and crevice of its corridors and behind closed doors.

Warhammer 40,000_ Dark Business (IC_Closed)|rating:3.0

Another Pleasant Day (ZincStandard & King James)

NSFW {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} Beatrice had never gone in for high school sports, but she was proud of her daughter for making the commitment. Erin always came home from volleyball practice with a smile on her face, and Beatrice knew it wasn't just because of all the fun she and her teammates had in the showers afterward. Sometimes she missed the quality time they'd gotten to spend together on those evenings, but she was hardly short of other ways to amuse herself while her daughter was gone. Her daughter's boyfriend, for example." Yeah, that's good!" She gripped the back of her living room couch tight for support, bent over the cushions as Jason fucked her ass. Her eyes were shut, her lips parted around grunts and gasps of pleasure. "Just like that, baby, don't stop!" She pushed her hips back against his thrusts, his thick cock stretching and filling her every time they moved together. Her pussy, still red and wet from his excellent oral attention earlier, throbbed and clenched in time with her anus, the heightened sensitivity from her first orgasm keeping her tantalizingly close to a second. Beatrice wasn't above taking her share of credit for Jason's progress since their first meeting a month ago. The fun they'd shared at the beach had been wonderful, and she'd been all too happy to continue availing herself of his skills since; it warmed her heart to see how much more at ease he'd become with the local lifestyle, with her and Erin's help and guidance. Beatrice had listened eagerly when he'd shared stories of his experiences with other partners in the past weeks with her and Erin, and more than once, those conversations had evolved into vigorous threesomes. As much as she enjoyed those occasions, though, Beatrice was just as eager to have Jason all to herself when it could be arranged, and he made a perfect addition to the roster of friends-with-benefits she could call on to keep her company while Erin was off living her vibrant academic and social life. She turned her head to grin at him over her shoulder, her hair falling in her eyes. "You're full of energy today," she said, a little short of breath. "Something got you worked up?" Erin has continued to be the girlfriend Jason had always craved, but it was the time with her mother that added that extra cherry on top—one he craved even more than Erin at times. It was Beatrice that had broken him out of his shell a month ago. Since then, he’d fucked every woman on the block and had developed quite a reputation for himself.“Oh yeah, you like that big cock?” He teased as she painted out in pleasure. His hand met her thick cheek in a powerful slap as his thick cock stretched her ass out. Their eyes met as she turned back to him and asked what had gotten into him. He leaned forward and took her lips into a heated kiss as he halted himself in her ass and their tongues lashed in passionate pleasure.“I’m just feeling so energized, gorgeous. This month has changed my life.” He told her as he stood back up and continued pounding her thick ass. “I feel so adventurous, it’s invigorating.” Beatrice moaned at the slap on the ass, the sound quickly muffled against his lips. This sudden display of dominance was an unexpected thrill--he'd certainly gotten more confident in the past few weeks, but tonight he seemed to be taking it up a notch further. "Yes, baby," she groaned as they separated. "Just let it all out. Fuck me hard." She remembered well the phase Jason was going through--she'd had much the same experience, though without the benefit of teenage hormones and stamina. Those early days in this neighborhood, reveling in the newfound freedom, living out what felt like every fantasy she'd ever had...pretty much everyone calmed down eventually, once the novelty wore off. Somehow, though, she suspected Jason would go on like this for a good while. She was pretty sure she hadn't managed to fuck every adult man on her block in under three weeks when she'd first moved in. His attitude combined with his vigorous fucking had her dancing on the edge. "Cum whenever you want, honey," she panted. "I want you to pump my ass full." She loved feeling him cum inside her, how his cock swelled up harder than ever, how it throbbed as it poured out so much for her...the thought made her head fuzzy. Jason had certainly changed since that day on the beach. It had started with him simply getting naked in public but had escalated to him proudly showing off as he fucked Beatrice that day. Now he found himself with a new, experienced friend-with-benefits that seemingly couldn’t be beat.“Oh yeah, baby? You want me to fill your ass?” He practically taunted her by repeating her words as he pounded into her with all he had. His balls would swing and hit her clit with each thrust before finally his orgasm triggered. His thrusts slowed as he pumped her full of his thick, hot seed for nearly half a minute before finally pulling out, a trail dripping to the floor as he took a seat beside her on the sofa, a warm, satisfied smile on his face, his cock still throbbing and covered in seed. “You still finish me off better than anyone.” He admitted as he rode the high off his orgasm. Jason's dirty talk inspired Beatrice, and as he pounded her his hardest yet, she took one hand off the couch to plunge her fingers into her cunt, finding her g-spot and killing herself off. Her walls clenched, her wetness spilling down her hand past her wrist. She could feel that he was close, and didn't hold herself back, letting the pleasure build, giving the cock filling her ass and the fingers caressing her core her full attention. His pace slowed, and she felt the telltale swelling...throwing back her head, Beatrice cried out as she came along with Jason, soaking her hand as he throbbed inside her, hot cum filling her ass. His withdrawal left her feeling empty; her legs shook. "You'd better not be insulting my daughter," she said with an exhausted chuckle, still bracing herself on the couch as she reached for one of the towels kept at the ready on the coffee table, a common practice in Pleasant Beach. Putting one foot up on the cushions, she wiped up the mess between her legs as best she could before falling down to sit by Jason, snuggling up next to him as she gently toweled him off as well (she might have loved anal, but that didn't extend to ass-to-mouth, and she wasn't into licking a man clean right after he'd fucked her in the ass). With her head on his shoulder, she let the afterglow carry her, floating as she caught her breath." All that practice is paying off," she said at length, stretching up to give Jason a kiss on the cheek. "I hope your folks haven't been giving you any grief about bringing so many women home." Jason smirked as Beatrice told him not to insult her daughter. “Don’t take it as me insulting her. Take it as a compliment to you. Fine wine, some things come with age.” He told her as she toweled then both off before kissing his cheek as she sat beside him. He wrapped his arm around her as he leaned back into the sofa, his breathing slowly as his body calmed after his orgasmic high. “I’m glad you think so. You and Erin are still my go-to’s, but I think word is spreading like wildfire about me.” He joked as he closed his eyes.“Dad loves seeing who all I’ve brought home. Mom is still getting used to seeing it happen, but she’ll have a guy upstairs while I’m out back sometimes.” He admitted grinning. “She definitely enjoys catching me.” Jason's comment about his growing reputation drew a snort from Beatrice. "You don't know the half of it. Pretty much all my friends you haven't already fucked are just waiting their turn." Of course, she was largely responsible for his fame among her own circle, but no reason to take the pride away from him by mentioning that. His talk about his parents sent her thoughts off wandering. "Tell me about your parents. I don't think I've met them yet! Sounds like they're settling in, what are their sex lives like these days?" If Jason's dad was anything like him with twenty years' more experience, she'd have to make it a priority to fuck him as soon as possible, and she knew Erin would feel the same. “Well keep sending them my way! You haven’t let me down when it comes to the company you keep.” Jason said with a playful wink as Beatrice started asking about his parents. “Well mom took a few days to get out of the house but once she did, she loved it. She hasn’t ‘mingled’ more than a few houses down though.” He said as he thought of when he had spotted her in the kitchen with the neighbor boy, a nice kid, good at basketball, but not quite as hung.“Dad started out strong and made his way around the block but has been more about watching lately.” He explained, having caught his dad taping him and one of Erin’s volleyball teammates last weekend. “Mark and Amber both enjoy it for sure. My sister April is pretty popular too, but she doesn’t like fucking around the house. She still has to break the privacy barrier.” Beatrice was both surprised and impressed. "Well, I'm glad they're taking to things. Kinda figured it'd take them longer, if they didn't know what they were in for before they got here." Erin had mentioned running into April at school, and from the sound of it, she at least had gotten quite comfortable there, though it wasn't surprising that she still wasn't comfortable being openly sexual around her own family. A thought occurred to her. "Have you introduced Erin to them yet? I'd love to meet them too. We should all get together sometime!" Jason smiles as Beatrice suggested a gathering of the families, while Erin had met his parents and sister nine of them had truly gotten to know each other yet. Plus, Beatrice hadn’t met any of them, and she would likely love his father.“That’s a great idea actually! I can text my mom to see if they’d be open to something tonight? I know she just deep cleaned the place after Susan and I enjoyed the dinner table a little too much.” He added with a laugh. "Oh, I wasn't thinking tonight!" Beatrice protested, suddenly embarrassed. "I mean, I don't want to impose on such short notice..." She wouldn't turn down an invitation freely given, but she didn't want Jason's family to think she was inviting herself over. "How about this weekend, we could all get lunch somewhere? Have you guys been to Tonic's yet?" There weren't many restaurants within Pleasant Beach, but those present were almost all excellent--no surprise, given the wealth of the locals. Tonic's was on the cheaper end, but no less delicious for it. Jason laughed as Beatrice reigned his eagerness back in by suggesting that they set up a lunch at Tonic’s over the weekend. “Oh no, we haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard perfect things. I should be able to get everyone together, I know we don’t have any plans out of town.” He said as he thought ahead to how everyone would do with each other. Surely his father would have interest in Beatrice, but who would his mother be going after? Beatrice gave Jason another kiss on the cheek. "Perfect. I don't think Erin and I have anything going on either." She wondered what, if anything, would come from the meeting--while she didn't want to get her hopes up for anything sexual, with Jason's family still new to the lifestyle, it would be nice for them all to get closer that way...*****​ NSFW It all still felt rather surreal to Amber Williams--going about her normal weekday afternoon routine, the same way she had for nearly six years, naked as the day she was born. When her family had first arrived in Pleasant Beach, she'd thought for sure it was all a dream. That a place like this could even exist, much less that they could have agreed to move there without realizing what they were in for, had just seemed impossible; she still wasn't sure she really believed it, even though, once she'd gotten over the initial shock, she'd realized it wasn't so bad doing things the way the people here did. Before the move, she'd caught herself more and more often worrying about things with Mark, wondering whether the problems they'd been having might have been more than just work stress getting the better of them. Now, as crazy as it seemed, they were doing better than ever--for all she'd worried opening their marriage would carry them further apart, in fact it had reawaken their desire for one another, the freedom to share their bond with the world showing them just how special it was. Amber felt like a whole new woman, and seeing the rest of her family, her wonderful husband and perfect children, all enjoying the same freedom she'd found and happier for it, made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world. It all felt almost too good to be true. Her phone buzzed, distracting her from the manuscript she was proofing. A text from Jason. "Hey, honey?" she called through the house. "Jason wants to know if we're free to have lunch with Erin and her mom on Saturday." Sounded like they were getting more serious, which made Amber proud--she hadn't gotten to properly sit down with Erin yet, but they'd met briefly a couple of times, and she seemed like a lovely girl. Her children had good taste. Mark had gone into the relocation process of Pleasant Beach wide-eyed and ready for change. The middle-aged husband and father of two had made a good life for his family in the construction and real estate development business, but had been more eager than usual to take a new job that involved relocating to a place like Pleasant Beach. He heard his wife calling out to him about their son wanting to do lunch with his girlfriend’s family. He hadn’t actually met Beatrice and had only seen Erin in passing. “Hmm, I don’t think I have anything big to take care of this weekend. Let’s do it!” While at first Mark had made his round of the neighborhood quickly he had since taken to watching others a bit more. Of course, he would still find a new partner here and there, but the tall, ramrodded man found himself watching and stroking himself to others just as much. "Okay!" Amber chirped, starting a reply text. "I'll see if April wants to go when she gets back." Their daughter had gotten pretty popular at school in not much time, and Amber knew full well she was enjoying the uninhibited lifestyle fully, which she had no problem with, even though there was still some maternal anxiety over her baby girl's safety--as strange as it felt, she almost wished April were more comfortable having her partners over to the house, since at least it would give her a chance to vet them a little. Of course, Amber trusted her children to be safe--she knew Jason was most likely having sex with Erin's mother at that very moment, and in a way, she felt more comfortable knowing he was with a woman her own age, who at least would be unlikely to do anything foolish. Still, it was positively surreal, this world they'd wandered into. More than once in the past several weeks, Amber herself had enjoyed the company of men nearly as young as Jason, and she had to admit, they tended to have an enthusiasm that was hard not to appreciate...she realized she was getting wet there on the living room couch. Glancing at the clock on her laptop, she realized it was nearly evening anyway, and she was in no rush to get through this particular assignment. Saving her work and closing the computer, she headed for the door. "I'm going to go out for a few minutes!" she called to Mark. Feeling half in a dream even now, she stepped out to greet the late afternoon, wondering which of the neighboring young men she should visit...*****​ NSFW "Are you going to want to fuck his dad?" Erin's question took Beatrice's attention away from her email. "I don't know," she answered, putting her phone back in her purse. "If he's up for it, maybe, but I don't want to push it. I mean, they still haven't been here that long." Erin shrugged. "Sure, but I know they've been fucking around for a while already. I don't think they'd have any problem with you asking, even if they aren't up for it."" You're probably right," Beatrice agreed with a shrug of her own, the gesture noticeably similar to her daughter's. "Why, you interested in his dad?"" Sure," Erin said with a chuckle, "but if you want him first, I'm happy to entertain his mom too. She's a hottie, and I know she likes girls." The two sat on one of the benches outside Tonic's, beneath the shade of its awning--the day had turned out to be a surprising scorcher for October. Checking her phone, Erin saw that it was just a few minutes to noon, when they'd arranged to meet. Her other hand was between her legs, fingertips circling her clit; while her mom might have advised tact, Erin saw no need to hide how excited she was at the prospect of getting sexually involved with Jason's family. Well, more of his family--she'd already gotten acquainted with April a few times between classes. If their parents were anything like them, they'd be one fun bunch. From across the street, Amber spotted Erin's familiar face waiting outside the restaurant; she waved cheerfully as they crossed, a gesture Erin noticed and returned with the hand she wasn't using to masturbate. Amber blushed a little, the forthright display no longer shocking to her, but still feeling rather naughty from her own son's girlfriend. NSFW April, meanwhile, grinned at the sight. The couple of times she'd gotten to enjoy Erin's tongue had been some of her favorite sexual experiences ever, giving her a whole new appreciation for the pleasures of other girls. She hoped she had more of the same to look forward to before the day was over. As the Williams approached, Beatrice rose and extended a hand. "Hi! You must be Amber and Mark! So nice to meet you." Amber accepted the handshake, struck by an impression of genuine warmth from Beatrice--and a little dazzled at her beauty. "Yeah, that's us. Likewise! Heard a lot about you two." Erin, removing her hand from her clit as she rose, pulled Jason into a tight hug and kiss. "Hey baby." From the embrace, she flashed April a grin. "'Sup?" April wanted to say something clever and flirty, but only managed a faintly blushing smile and a "hey". As usual, there was something weirdly hot about watching her be affectionate with Jason, and watching Erin press her naked body against her brother's had her a little flustered. The Williams parents were actually both quite excited to more formally meet Erin and her mother. Both had heard rumors of how sexually fulfilling both women were from partners they’d already shared. Little comments from neighbors like “Oh, you’ll love that family.” came when they heard about Jason and Erin as a couple. Mark led the family up to the doorstep of Tonic’s wearing only a white Nike baseball cap to shield his head from the sun. He did still have hair, but even though it was salt and pepper and thick he kept it shorter, and it did little to protect from the sun. He shook Beatrice’s hand before giving her a quick peck on the cheek to greet her. “Glad you all wanted to set this up. Our two lovebirds seem to be doing well together.” As the parents’ exchanged greetings Jason enjoyed the kiss and embrace from Erin. He made sure to reach down and firmly grab her ass to show his affection, parting only after giving it a playful swat. “It’s been too long, baby. I feel like I see your mom more than you lately.” He teased as the families entered and found a large table to gather round. Getting a table at Tonic's could be difficult at dinner, but at lunch it was rarely an issue, and the maître d', a slim woman perhaps a few years older than Erin and Jason whose work uniform consisted of a micro-miniskirt that covered nothing and high heels, showed the group to an available table as soon as Beatrice inquired. The interior was airy and bright, with plants flourishing in urns and planters and a clear view out onto the patio space--sparsely occupied at the moment, thanks to the heat of the day. Amber couldn't help but notice that while a few of the wait staff were naked apart from the same "uniform" as the maître d', many wore a more complete outfit that wouldn't have looked out of place at a restaurant in any other neighborhood. Given the cost of living in Pleasant Beach, she knew many of the lower-income positions its businesses needed were filled by workers who commuted from elsewhere; apparently, not everyone took to the local freedoms as easily as she and her family had. She felt rather proud of that. As their server passed menus around, Beatrice turned to the elder Williams. "So. Are you two the type to do drinks over lunch on a Saturday, or is it too early?" Amber grinned. "I'll partake if you do." She wasn't one to say no to a little help relaxing when getting to know someone new, though a glance at Mark told him she was waiting on his agreement. Erin ended up on one side of Jason, with April on the other. "I've been forgetting to ask, do you guys have Halloween plans yet? Denise asked me if I wanted to come to a thing at her place and she said I should invite both of you too."" I don't have anything yet," April admitted. "Actually, uh... I've been sorta scared to ask what you guys do for Halloween here. Like, do people even wear costumes?"" Yeah, of course," Erin said with a puzzled look. "Why wouldn't we? Isn't Halloween like the one time people get to go out naked pretty much everywhere?" April snickered at that. "I want to say not quite, but I guess you've got a point." Erin turned to Jason. "So you want to go, babe? I'm cool with doing something just the two of us if you want." Mark perked up at the mention of drinks over lunch as his wife turned to him for confirmation. “Well I think the three of us could handle a pitcher of margaritas or something of the likes just fine. Don’t you two think?” He offered in agreement.Meanwhile, the younger members of the families were hitting it off over Halloween plans. April seemed more hesitant with her family around, but Erin seemed determined to push her.“I mean, I wouldn’t mind the three of us going as a group. It’d be fun, don’t you think, April?” He asked as he turned to his sister. “We haven’t spent much time together since the move. I know we’ve been busy and all, but we used to love Halloween.” "They don't do margaritas here," Beatrice replied, "but their sangria is fantastic. I'm up for that."" Sounds good to me," Amber agreed. April grimaced at Jason's reminiscing. "Used to? Man, you make us sound so old." Erin grinned as she saw an opportunity. "Okay, what was Jason's most embarrassing Halloween costume ever?" The server arrived to take drink orders shortly, and the group settled in. The more she heard from Beatrice, the more Amber found her first impression confirmed; she felt amazingly at ease with her, less like an outsider to this place than she had in weeks. The sangria, which really was excellent, had her loosened up in short order, and she found herself absently laying a hand on Mark's thigh under the table as the minutes rolled by. While Erin skillfully kept her attention on Jason and his sister, the eye she had on their mom didn't miss those lowered inhibitions, and she found herself wondering whether her own mother might direct the conversation somewhere they could all enjoy as a group. Beatrice was feeling the alcohol too as they placed their lunch orders, and as their server retreated, without really thinking about it, she turned to Amber once again. "So. I know you guys are still new to all this, and I hope this isn't too much, but I have to say, you two have raised one hell of a son. I mean, I haven't met many boys his age who can fuck like he can." There was a lull in the general chatter around the table; Erin's ears perked up, and April failed to fully stifle a giggle, which came out as an undignified snort. Amber, for her part, blushed redder than the sangria was making her already. "Uh, well... I don't know how much part we played in that, honestly." Still, she couldn't help but glance at Mark, a glimmer of pride in her eyes." Fair enough," Beatrice agreed with a chuckle. "I hear you guys have been enjoying yourselves too, though? Honestly, I'm impressed--not everyone takes to this place so fast." She caught Mark's eye as well, curious to hear what he thought of all this. The families seemed to click so well as the adults bonded over a pitcher of sangria while the children exchanged stories of growing up, including the time Jason had dressed up as Woody as a young child with April as his Little Bo Peep. With their food ordered and the adults loosening up over sangria Mark grinned as Amber’s hand fell to his thigh. His cock began thickening up under the table until it poked the back of his wife’s hand, already a bit of precut oozing out. Oh, how he loved how public everything was in Pleasant Beach. As Amber reddened up from Beatrice putting their son’s sexual abilities on a pedestal Mark swelled with pride. “Don’t be modest, sweetie. He got his big cock from me, and surely he inherited some of our abilities. I don’t think either of us are as lumber as we used to be, but don’t you go writing us off.” As his father boasted of his parents’ role in his abilities Jason smirked over to Beatrice, seeing what she was starting to do before looking over to his mother to see how she was taking it.Meanwhile, Beatrice caught Mark’s eye as she asked how they had been adapting to the area. “I’ve had my share, but I love how I can sit back and watch whatever I want around here. People don’t mind if you watch. It’s like porn, but you can’t just click around, you look around and enjoy. And Amber’s taken a liking to more than a few neighbors too. Haven’t you, honey?” Amber's blush didn't go away, but she managed to meet both her husband's and Beatrice's eyes, feeling rather proud of her relative lack of shame. "Yup. It still feels crazy, like, us having an open marriage...we never once would've even thought of it before coming here." Beatrice nodded sagely. "I think being in a place where it's normal is what does it. You know, everyone understands and no one has any conflicting expectations. Well, usually." Erin leaned forward in her seat, looking at Amber with great curiosity. "Anyone to recommend?" Amber couldn't help but laugh at that--this was all so surreal, but in the best way. "Well, no one compares to Mark," she purred, tossing a wink at her husband. "But this week I did have a lovely time with Cole Murphy--his family lives a block down from us, I think he goes to school with you guys?"" Oh, yeah, I know Cole!" Erin said, beaming. "We have history together. We've fucked a few times, not in a while though. I think last time was...actually, it would've been the day Jason and my mom first met."" Wait, I didn't know you guys hung out!" April exclaimed, whipping around to face Erin. "Can you, like, introduce me to him?" Being a year behind Jason and Erin, she'd only ever seen Cole in between classes, and though they'd hardly said a word to each other, she'd found herself developing a bit of a crush on him; she was rather surprised at how easy it was to be open about that fact even with her family, though actually approaching her own still felt beyond her. Beatrice had a glint in her eye as she turned back to Amber. "So, getting a taste for the young'us, are we?" Seeing how red that made Amber turn, she held up a forestalling hand. "Hey, I'm not judging! I get it--I mean, obviously, you know how much fun Jason and I have been having." Amber wasn't sure how to feel about that. Of course, she'd known for a while that Jason and Beatrice were having sex, but hearing her talk about it...she found herself looking uncertainly at her son across the table, feeling like she was seeing him in an unfamiliar light. Mark’s smile grew a little wider and a faint blush even crept across his cheeks as his wife practically recommended him to Erin. He turned to her and planted a quick kiss on her lips before boasting. “See, beautiful and smart. She knows a good man when she sees one.”Meanwhile, Jason couldn’t help but laugh as Cole Murphy’s name came up from every woman at the table, ending with his sister whose crush was clear as day. “Cole and I actually tag-teamed Emma once. Good guy too.” He joked, further rubbing it in April’s face that everyone had been with him but her. As Beatrice egged his mother on about getting with younger men he saw where she was going and wanted to give a little push himself as his eyes met with his mother’s. “I mean it does help that I’ve got a thing for older women too. Everything works better when all parties get what they want.” Amber wasn't sure what, but something about the way Jason said that to her made her heart beat fast. "Well, of course," she agreed, her smile showing how proud she was of her son, no matter how strange the reason still seemed to her. "I remember, even when he was a kid, he had more crushes on his teachers than other girls in his class."" Well then," Erin said with a wicked grin at Jason, "I guess it's good I snapped him up before some neighborhood cougar did." April laughed at that, and somehow Amber managed to as well. Before anyone could take the conversation elsewhere, the server returned with everyone's food, the wait having been impressively short. Erin licked her lips as her chicken piñata hit the table...then, as the server retreated with thanks from the group, an urge struck her. "Hey, babe?" she said to Jason. "Think I could jack you off onto this?" Jason was familiar with her food-with-cum-on-it kink already, and had been a good sport about indulging it more than once. She wondered if the presence of his family would change that. It seemed like the seed had been planted in Amber’s head, and she was talking herself into the idea of being with her own son. He laughed and nodded at the mention of him having crushes on his teachers in the past. “Hey, I still swear Mrs. Reed had a thing for me.” He added jokingly. As their meals hit the table Jason licked his lips at his linguine while Mark quickly dig into his lasagna. Jason was a little slower to answer Erin as she asked for his special crème fraîche for her meal. Normally he would have answered in an instant, but doing such a thing in the restaurant gave him the slightest hesitation.“Sure thing, babe.” He said as he grabbed his plate and stood up, his cock already thickening from the idea of having his family as an audience. “Don’t forget the spit.” He said with a grin as he continued eating as he stood. "I got you, baby," Erin said with a chuckle, giving no sign at all that she was uneasy about this as she spat into her hand and took hold of Jason's hardening cock. Without so much as a look around at the rest of the restaurant--this wouldn't be at all out of the ordinary, as she well knew--she began to spread the makeshift lubrication along her boyfriend's growing length, beginning to stroke in earnest as he reached full mast. The rest of the table, meanwhile, had fallen silent for a moment. Beatrice had merely raised an eyebrow--normally, this would have been no big deal for Erin at all, but given they were here with Jason's family, she was a little surprised at how casual her daughter was being. Amber, on the other hand, had gone wide-eyed as she saw her son's growing erection emerge from below the table when he stood up. After all she'd seen and done since the move, this wasn't as much of a shock as it could have been, but still, this was rather on another level from catching a glimpse of Jason with a girl, or enjoying himself alone, as she walked by an open doorway. It felt all at once as if yet another barrier was falling, and while it wasn't really uncomfortable, not anymore, that same feeling of her heart beating faster arose again. Why was this affecting her so? This was her own son she was looking at... April had gone red and fixed her gaze on her food, lips pressed tight. Thus far, she'd managed to avoid anything beyond the briefest accidental glimpses of the rest of her family engaging in anything sexual; she'd kept her own exploits outside their home very deliberately. Doing what the locals here did was one thing, and not one she really minded once she'd gotten warmed up to it, but this was her family. Some strange form of politeness made her hold her tongue, but she felt she could have used a little warning, at least. Beatrice, sensing that there was ice to be broken, turned to Amber and Mark again. "So, do you guys end up having to leave the neighborhood much for your work?" While Erin and Jason's behavior attracted no great notice from the other diners, Jason was in position to notice one or two glance his way; a couple at a nearby table, both perhaps in their thirties, made little effort to be subtle about both taking a glance at his cock, the man going so far as to catch his eye and give him a smile. Were Jason to pay close attention, he might notice the same man reaching under their table, his arm beginning to move as he enjoyed the show in between bites of his pasta. Jason let out a light groan as Erin began stroking him, working her spit over his thick shaft, some getting inside his sensitive foreskin as she worked her palm up to the thick head. “Oh that’s good.” He said as he continued to eat, his words could be applied to either the hand job of the food.Meanwhile, Mark was steered back to conversation by Beatrice as she asked about whether their jobs took them outside the community. “Not yet. My main work is just overseeing renovations and expansions in the community. And Amber’s work can all be done from home, right babe?” He said as he moved his hand to his wife’s thigh and gave it a squeeze. Jason caught the gaze of the man stroking himself to the little show that Erin was putting on and simply gave and acknowledging nod. He didn’t mind an audience—he loved one. But this was meant to be quick as it was for his girlfriend’s food which she’d surely want to enjoy hot. Without much warning Jason’s orgasm triggered, a light groan escaping his lips as his seed shot out wherever Erin happened to aim it. Amber gave a bit of a start at Mark's touch, her eyes drawn away from Jason's cock for the first time since Erin had taken hold of it. "Oh...uh, yeah. Pretty much. I do have to go in every few weeks just to check in, but other than that it's all remote."" I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to an office job," Beatrice said. "You know, back when that was all I'd ever done, I felt like my whole life revolved around my work. It was miserable."" Yeah, I know what you..." Amber trailed off as she heard Jason let out a sound she instinctively recognized, her gaze going back to his cock in time to watch his orgasm begin. Again, she found herself strangely fascinated, realizing she'd never actually seen him cum before. She watched as he shot spurt after thick spurt of semen onto Erin's plate, her with a smile on her face as she stroked him through it while aiming his release at her food. That was a lot of cum...did he always shoot that much? Amber shook herself. Why would she be so curious about that? April was still silent, focused on her food. She wasn't sure if she was upset--she didn't want to be, really, not after all the progress she and her whole family had made on being open and accepting since moving here. She'd known they'd all end up being more sexual with one another sooner or later. It was just another thing to get used to, and she knew that, but that didn't make it easy. Erin slowed her stroking as Jason's orgasm tapered off. Once he stopped spurting, she released his cock, bringing one finger to his tip to wipe away the last drip of cum clinging to it. "Thanks, babe," she said brightly, popping her finger in her mouth and quickly licking it clean. Then, casual as anything, she started on her food, the sauce now mixed with a generous volume of her boyfriend's semen. "April, I can definitely introduce you to Cole if you want," she added, realizing she hadn't directly answered the request. "But trust me, you don't need it. He'd love to hang out with you." April tried hard to ignore the fact that Erin had just jerked off her brother right next to her. It wasn't like she hadn't talked to other people while they did similar things, she told herself. "Um, yeah...yeah, sorry, I know I'm being weird. I'm just nervous, y'know?"" Why?" Erin asked, genuinely perplexed. "I've never seen you nervous with anybody else." She certainly hadn't seemed apprehensive about eating Erin out, or having the favor returned. April had to think about how to answer. "Well, I mean...you know, mostly it's just been sex. That doesn't feel like the same thing."" Ah," Erin said, understanding dawning. "Yeah, I gotcha." Beatrice tried to keep the conversation PG as everyone ate, but from the change in tone she observed in Amber, and to a lesser extent April, after Erin and Jason's little display, she decided as she was finishing up her food that they may as well be up-front. "Okay, so, cards on the table," she said at another lull, draining her last glass of sangria, "you've probably guessed this by now, but, well, you know Erin and I are both really into Jason, and so far, you all seem just as great. We didn't want to be too forward right away because we know you guys are still getting used to everything here, but if any of you are interested, we'd both love to get to know you sexually too." Erin, relieved to no longer have to be coy, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, for sure. April and I have already fucked, but I'd love to play with both of you," she said to Amber and Mark. “Any time, babe. You know I’m practically an endless supply.” Jason said somewhat boastfully as his eyes locked with his mother’s once more before sitting for the remainder of the meal. As Beatrice kept things PG for a bit he mostly kept to chatting with Erin and April, sharing things about Cole and encouraging her to be confident. Still, it wasn’t either long before Beatrice shifted the topic back to the original point of setting the lunch up—everyone becoming more involved with one another. Mark’s lips curled into a wider smile as he turned to his wife for approval once Beatrice and Erin has clearly stated their intentions. He saw nothing that outright said no in her eyes and used the opportunity to jump right in. “I think that would be a great idea. You both seem to work so well with Japan, and I feel like we all get along well after this meal. Our house is open anytime to both of you. Same with our bedroom, back patio, pool—I think you get the point. Right, dear?” He asked, holding his wife’s hand as he turned back to her smiling. Amber was almost relieved to have everything finally laid out like this. Truth be told, she'd expected and rather hoped for things to go this way from the beginning, and now that the subject had been broached, she felt once more in territory that had become comfortably familiar since coming to Pleasant Beach. "Yeah, I think that's a great idea," she said with a smile at Mark, squeezing his hand. "Um, Beatrice, are you--""Into women?" Beatrice interjected. "Sorry, but I'm pretty straight. Not that you're not gorgeous." Amber tried not to show her disappointment. "Ah...gotcha. Fair enough." She turned to Erin, confident she didn't look too dejected. "Erin, I'd be happy to play with you sometime, though." Erin beamed. "Great! Any of you are welcome asmyguests whenever."" Oh, of course," Beatrice agreed, "our place is open to you too, anytime. It's just the two of us, so we've got plenty of space to entertain." Sensing the mood of the group, she decided to take the next step. "In fact, how's everyone feel about heading there after we settle up?" Amber brightened up again. "I'd love that. What do you guys think?" April nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that sounds great to me." The idea of fucking with her family present still felt like an obstacle, but she could imagine little better opportunity to get over it than with Erin and Beatrice. Mark was eager to get a hold of Amber as Beatrice suggested that they all return to her home for the festivities to begin. “I think this is a wonderful idea. I can’t think of anything I’d rather spend my Saturday on.” Jason concurred as his eyes switched between Beatrice and his own mother. “I one-hundred percent agree. There will be someone for everybody. Nobody gets left out when these two are around. Let’s get going!” Beatrice had to laugh at Jason's eagerness, though it was hardly a surprise. "Hold on, Jason, we got a pay first." Beckoning their server over as they saw her pass, she reached into her purse to do so; despite the difference in size between the two families, Beatrice managed to argue Amber and Mark down to splitting the check fifty-fifty with her. Only polite, she felt, since this outing had been her idea. As everyone got up to head out, she decided to be a little cheeky; facing away from Mark, she bent at the waist to pick up her purse, treating him to a view of the shiny base of the large steel plug she wore in her ass. While she hadn't specifically directed the display at Amber, she didn't miss it, and felt a stirring in her core, her pussy moistening. Silently, she allowed herself one more curse at Beatrice's lack of interest in women. April, stepping aside from her spot to let Jason get out of his chair, caught the glint of metal as well. She couldn't help but lick her lips, her own ass clenching around the plug she'd chosen that morning--while she never would've thought to wear something like that in public before the move, her friends at school had swiftly converted her after her first taste of the experience. An urge seized her, and for a moment, she hesitated, embarrassment at her family's presence surfacing again...but she drew up her courage, reminding herself that this was a barrier she wanted to overcome, and she likely wouldn't get a better chance. "Ooh, I like your plug, Beatrice," she said, a little quieter than she'd meant to, but she was immediately proud of herself for getting the words out. Riding the rush of boldness, she found herself doing something that would've seemed impossible to her just that morning: turning away from Erin's mom, she mimicked her motion, bending at the waist with her legs apart to show off her own asshole above her cleanly-shaven pussy, the artfully twisted base of the red glass plug she wore standing out against her skin. Amber was too surprised to see April acting so bold in front of her to manage much of a response, though really, the rational part of her knew none was needed or expected. Beatrice, meanwhile, smiled at April as she straightened up and turned back around. "Very nice. Is that one of those spiral ones?" April felt her face grow hot, half wanting to bite her tongue, but at the same time, the compliment from a sexy, mature woman like Beatrice, as if she were a peer, fueled her high of courage. "Yeah. They're fantastic, you can feel them being pulled in deeper whenever your ass moves."" I'll have to try one sometime," Beatrice agreed. "Shall we get going?" Erin nodded, taking Jason's hand, and with everyone's assent, they departed the restaurant, leaving a generous tip. The Shroud house was less than a ten-minute walk from Tonic's. Amber felt herself getting more excited and less nervous as they went, her pussy getting wetter and her nipples starting to harden despite the California afternoon heat. Feeling at ease, she pinched and tugged on them as they walked, biting her lip at the shivers the touch sent through her. Erin, seeing this, let go of Jason's hand, fell in beside Amber and, with her customary casual attitude, reached over to gently fondle one of her breasts. "You've got great tits, Ms. Williams."" Aw, thanks," Amber replied, flattered at the attention. "And please, call me Amber. We're on our way to fuck, aren't we?" This was a new situation for her family, to be sure, but she found a deliciously naughty thrill in being so frank and dirty around all of them." Fair enough," Erin agreed, grinning. "Speaking of which..." Rounding the last corner, they found themselves at the door of their destination. Mounting the steps, Beatrice unlocked the door and swung it wide. "Welcome, welcome! Make yourselves at home, everyone." Mark’s cock began to grow as his very own daughter was taking a step forward in their endeavors by speaking sexually in front of her family as she complimented Beatrice on her butt plug. He knew his daughter had become pretty active since moving to Pleasant Beach, but she had always kept her acts private. Now it seemed their lunch had pushed her a bit. Jason wasn’t one to miss this either even as they had spoken about April’s little crush. Anyone would have to be a fool not to be interested April, though his eyes were still set on his mother for the day. Both men were fully erect and throbbing as Beatrice stepped up to her doorstep and unlocked the door, welcoming everyone into her home. It seemed they were both ready for whatever would come next. Jason turned to Beatrice with a smile once everyone was inside and the door had been shut. “So Beatrice, since this is your home and you went through the trouble of making this all happen I’d say no one would be better as a leader today than yourself. Who all is everyone pairing up with?” He asked, putting it in her court to determine how everyone would start the afternoon off.

Another Pleasant Day (ZincStandard & King James)|rating:3.0

Big brother taking the reins ( blondebooklover and MrAlanNH)

Maddie or Madeline as there parents like to remind her was rushing our the small two-bedroom house she shared with him. Both of them having moved out as soon as possible from there a bit of overbearing parents. Most people would see it as huge inconvenience to live with their sibling. But Maddie was in 7th heaven living with her big brother. Even though they were a few years apart in age they couldn't have been closer than twins. Maddie had problems that is who she turned to. She shared every experience with him from girl drama to her first kiss and even losing her v-card. Her brother was still the ever protective big brother, but he understood and listened to her. He was her voice of reason, and she couldn't love him anymore than she already did. Now 24 Maddie is a sprite little ball of energy. Seeming to always be rushing off somewhere always needing to be moving. However, lately Maddie has been locking herself up in her room and practically glued to her computer screen. Never mentioning a thing about it to her brother. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him, but she was too scared to talk about it. Maddie had always been a curious girl as her big brother was area, but this time she fell in the rabbit hole and wasn't about to surface anytime soon. Maddie had been spending her time searching and talking to people about the many aspects of BDSM lifestyle. After reading one too many romance novels she couldn't help but become interested. In her quest to learn she had met many men who claimed to be a real life Master. Two of whom she was talking to almost non-stop between working at the bar and tending to their tiny apartment. Scurrying around the house in search of her ever missing car keys, Maddie didn't realize she left her computer downstairs. She had been talking to the more serious of the two" Masters". Shouting out as she left for the bar to work" BRO I AM LEAVING, WON'T BE HOME FOR DINNER. DON'T FORGET TO FEED YOURSELF"Heading off to work she busted her tail trying to earn a living on tips. But she proved herself night after night as she brought home consistently higher tips. At about 2am she wandered in the house with her grimy apron still on. Plopping down on the couch she didn't even notice her brother until it was too late. Mike (don’t call me Micah!) was in the shower when he heard his sister yell something. He turned off the shower and called back, “What? What’d you say?” He waited a minute and when there was no reply he shrugged and turned the water back on, finishing his shower. When he was done he stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry. He caught a glimpse of himself in the full length mirror hung on the back of the bathroom door. A couple inches taller than Maddie, his hair--a darker blonde than hers, was a couple inches long in a slightly tousled style, dark blue eyes that often verged on black. His body wasn’t ripped but between his running and a couple visits to the gym each week, he kept himself in shape. “Overall, not too shabby,” he grinned at himself, preening in the mirror. Eventually he wandered into the apartment’s living room area to watch some mindless TV for a while to keep his mind from dwelling on how low his life was right now. His latest girlfriend, Jenn, had dumped him a couple of weeks ago, right after his temp job had ended. They had liked him, and he had done well, but they had entered their slow season and needed to cut back on payroll. Jenn had told him that she couldn’t keep hanging around a loser who couldn’t keep a job. It was true that since the company that hired him right out of college had folded unexpectedly he had moved through several low-paying, low-potential jobs but … Christ, it wasn’t like he wasn’t trying, the job market sucked right now. When he sat down and turned the TV on, Mike saw Maddie’s laptop sitting on the end-table. With a weary sigh, he leaned over and pulled it onto his lap. “Might as well do some job-searching while sitting at home doing nothing,” he thought to himself. Almost as soon as the laptop was done booting up, a message from one of Maddie’s instant messenger programs popped up with a message from someone with the handle Star. Made your decision yet ADSL? Mike ignored it and minimized the pop-up before beginning to surf the job hunting websites. Just a coup minutes later, there was a little blood sound and another IM popped up. Don’t ignore me, ADSL. Star won’t b ignored by a SLV in his stable.“What the fuck,” Mike said out loud as he toggled the IM program to offline. He continued to job search for a couple of more minutes before realizing that he wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing, he was too preoccupied with the IMs. Feeling guilty about invading her privacy, Rick started to dig around on Maddie’s computer. She really needs to stop using the same 3 passwords over and over, he thought to himself as he looked through her browser history and emails. The hours flew by as he delved deeper into her online history and interactions. At first, he was amused at proclivities of Maddy that he was uncovering but the more he found, the deeper his concern grew. Finally, he put the computer away and tried to calm his emotions and gather his thoughts so he’d be able to confront Maddy coherently when she got back from work. Hours later when Maddie arrived home from her shift, Mike was waiting in the living room as she dropped with a sigh onto the couch. He felt he had calmed himself enough to be able to rationally and lucidly confront her.“Maddy,” he said unintentionally sternly, “We need to have a serious talk.” He gestured to her laptop, which he had left open to the lengthy email exchanges he had discovered. Maddie yelped in surprise when her brother started talking. Once she adjusted to his presence she was taken aback by his tone. Seeing him turn her computer screen towards her, she paled a bit. She had never intended for her brother to see those explicit email messages, hence why she never left her password saved. She glared at her brother a bit when the light bulb clicked, her big brother hacked into her email and an account he didn't know about. Snapping her computer lid shut. " How dare you go through my personal emails, its enough you just helped yourself to my computer but to then hack my accounts. This is not ok Mike"Pulling her computer into her arms defensively. " I am an adult who I talk to and what we talk about is none of your concern" she said snootily. She even turned her head away from her bog brother before standing up. Her apron still around her waist. She marched off to her room. Slamming the door behind her. Hoping that was the end of the conversation for now. Walking over to her desk she plugged the computer in and opened the screen back up. She froze when she saw an IM box still open. Cautiously she pulled it up. Seeing the time stamp these messages came after she was at work, so her big brother must have got them. Sighing loudly she put her head down on the desk. She knew she couldn't face her brother right now, she was embarrassed her brother found these. Sure they shared everything but neither of them had ever really discussed BDSM and DOM/sub relationships. She knew he thought she was an absolute freak now. That was surely way he was mad, because she was a sick freak. She thought to herself more, I mean seriously who would ask to be hurt by someone else or asked to be ordered around. Letting out another heavy sigh she knew this revelation was going to change there relationship. Mike sighed as Maddie stormed off to her room. “Well, that could've gone better,” he thought to himself. He paced around the living area for several minutes, hoping that would give Maddie a chance to cool down enough that he could talk to her. Finally, he went to her door and knocked. Through the door he said, “Maddie, I'm sorry I invaded your privacy. I was just going to use your computer to do some job-searching while I was downstairs and then these IMs kept coming in.... I got concerned and I started snooping. Maybe I should have waited for you to come home first....and I'm sorry about that, but we really do need to talk.” He continued, uncomfortably, “It's not the bondage stuff, Maddie...if you're into that.you're a big girl...that's your call. It's some of the other stuff that's got me really worried, M. Please. Let me in so we can talk. Please. If after we talk, your mind is still set, I won't interfere anymore. But as your big brother, I've got to at least try to protect you.” He waited anxiously outside the door. ’M?” Maddie didn't lift her head up from her desk as she listened to him speak through the door. Turning her head towards the door when he spoke about the bondage stuff. Trying to suppress a giggle. But the rest piqued her curiosity. What other stuff was he referring to? Giving her brother minute to stew as she proceeded to change. Throwing on her PCs she was tired after working all night, it had been busy, and she had hauled in a pretty good share. And then to pretty much be attacked for her choices the minute she came home the blood was still pulsing in her veins and she knew when this was over she would pass out and be down for the count. Stripping down she tossed her work clothes in the hamper and dug out some clean pajamas. She laughed to herself as she slid on her little mermaid shirt, she doubted her brother would take her seriously in it, but she didn't care. Sliding on her bunny slippers she walked over to the door and opened it for him. Without saying a word she strode over and sat on her bed Indian style. Maddie's Pj's (waited for him to get in the room before she spoke. Doing her best to keep her voice free of any judgement. " What exactly do you think you are trying to protect me from big brother?" She was curious where he was going with this topic, it was a new subject to them and well she didn't know how he felt about it. He had never mentioned it as something he did with his girlfriends before she was guessing it was new to him also. Dry swallowing she waited for him to talk. Mike lowered himself to sit on the edge of her bed and turned slightly to face her. He sighed deeply, “Again, I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. I’m glad I discovered what you’ve been hiding, so I can talk to you about it, but I’m sorry about how I found out. I wish you had trusted me enough to come to me about it.” He gently put his hand on top her knee, “and truly, this isn’t about you looking at, thinking about, or even trying bondage-type stuff. If you like that, or want to try it, that’s your call and I wouldn’t have confronted you. Maybe teased you a little…”, he gave her a small smile.“What truly concerns me…and I mean, deeply…is that you don’t seem to be approaching things safely. It seems like you are so eager to try these things that you are ignoring potential hazards and warning signs. It looks like you are on the verge of jumping into some dangerous situations with people you’ve only interacted with online without any safeguards or precautions.” Mike continued somberly, “Like that one guy who kept messaging you when I used your computer. He’s been pushing hard for you to meet him…at a place he’ll choose…without telling anyone…for an undetermined length of time…and to allow him absolute control of what he can do to you.” He paused for several moments, “This should be ringing warning bells but from you’re replies, it seems like you are on the verge of complying.”“I can’t claim to know a lot about this stuff. The closest I’ve come to this kind of thing is with Cassie, remember her? She liked to be spanked and to be restrained, me pinning her hands above her head and even with handcuffs a couple of times,” Mike swallowed as his face reddened, but he continued, “Once she even had me hold her down with my hand around her throat while we did it.”“If you tell me what you want, what you are looking for, I’ll try to help you find it…safely. I don’t want my little sis to be found on the side of the road somewhere, beaten up or dead. Trust in me.” Maddie listened to her big brother, he did have a point. Maybe she was going about this the wrong way. Looking down into her lap she has rung her hands together, the one guy online was pressuring her and no she wasn't listening to the warning signs and to be honest she should probably thank her big brother. But these guys were her only inside to this life, her brother experimented and sure he could be bossy and controlling but most importantly he did care about her. After a few moments to collect her thoughts, she spoke up again." You're probably right, now don't let it go to your head or anything. But these guys are my only inside to this lifestyle. I've read a number of books bother informational and well....erotic. But I don't have a partner to experiment with. You can't just go to a bar and start hitting on a guy and be like" hey you want to tie me up and spank me?" I can't say that's a good conversation starter and trust me I've tried. You say you want to help, but I am not sure how you can help, I kind of need someone who is willing to do those things to me and that kind of involves one of us being naked and ending up turned on..... I don't think that is something brothers and sisters do together." Shrugging a bit and looking up at her big brother and then her eyes got big like a light bulb went off in her head. Climbing off the bed she went to her computer and pulled up a website. Walking back over to the bed she set it on her brothers lap." you could take me to this, that would be helpful. It's a local group in town that does this kind of stuff. I should be able to find a partner here and learn about it all at the same time. Win-win right? But I can't go to something like this alone I would need a chaperone. Will you take me? The next meeting is in two days, and I am off work"Batting her eyes at her big brother as she crawls up on to her knees." Pretty please? You want me to do this safe this is how, even if you don't want to learn you'll know I am safe. Unless you have any better ideas?" Mike listened intently as Maddie laid out her concerns and frustrations to him. When she mentioned brothers and sisters, naked and turned on, he shifted a bit uncomfortably. He knew that his little sis was sexually active, and they had each caught glimpses of each other naked over the years, but up until that comment, he had never thought about his sister Hathaway. Mike forced himself to return his focus on what she was saying and to drive that unacceptable image out of his mind. His job was to protect her, not....focus! He shook his head in mock-exasperation as she batted her eyes at him; she thought that trick could always get him to do what she wanted...hmm, it does seem to be working...“2 days? That's kind of short notice...but if this is something you want to do, I'll go with you. I don't know a lot about this stuff, so I'm going to do my own research into it, so I'm not completely clueless going in.”“Look, I want you to do something too. Take tonight and tomorrow and really think about what you want out of this. Is it just kinky sex to spice things up? Do you truly want to give up all control to someone else? Something in between?““We'll talk again tomorrow night and see where we stand. I'll do my best to know what you want and how to get ti for you safely.” With a silly smirk on his face he said, “so, is this meeting like a public get-together? Or is it some sort of party in a private place? Do I need to buy a pair of assless leather chaps, or what?” Cocking her eyebrow at her big brother. " Do you have plans for two nights from now? Did you get a job? New girlfriend? Or is it laundry night?" Maddie couldn't help but tease her brother. Sure he was done on his luck, but he didn't have a good excuse not to go with her." I will think about it, but I am pretty sure I already have the answer and I want to go into this as a lifestyle not like 24 seven just in the bedroom. The idea of a man just taking control is just well"Maddie spaced off for just a second before shaking her head a slight blush in her cheeks.".....hot. And well sure it would be just an add-on if I found the right person just to add to the whole experience. Kind of like with you and Cassie. Speaking of Cassie did you enjoy choking her. She leaned forward on her knees I have always wondered what that felt like. And I am definitely too scared to try it on my own too many accidents were people accidentally hang themselves. I love the porn I watch where it happens though. OH, to be so helpless at someone's hands and know you trust them well enough not to hurt you and kill you. I hope I can find that with someone." She was starting to talk really quickly then let out a big sigh at the end." we can convene and talk about this tomorrow. I need to MMM... go to bed I had a long night at work and coming home to this kind of put me off kilter. Oh, and it's a public space, but you would probably look perfect in some leather pants maybe I will get you some for Christmas... now out you go"Climbing off her bed she went and opened the bedroom door before putting her computer back on her desk. When Maddie teased him about being busy that night, Mike shook his head slowly, “It's not that I’m busy that night. Its just that this sort of thing is far, far from anything I was expecting to do.” Maddie leaned in towards him asking about his experiences with Cassie, and it was Mike’s turn to blush, and squirm uncomfortably as the crotch of his jeans got tight all of a sudden. “Ah…well…OK, it was fucking hot! Feeling the pulse in her neck under my hand, each breath getting heavier and heavier. Her egging me on, saying ‘choke me, choke me.’ Knowing that all it would take is just tightening my hand a little more… God, that feeling of that much control… I’ve got to tell you, that hard-on was so intense it verged on painful. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, the whole thing was so exciting, I didn’t last as long as usual.” By the time he finished talking, Mike was a little dazed from relating the experience, his cock now painfully cramped in his jeans as it tried to reach a full erection in the tight space. After Maddie spoke again, Mike nodded, “Yeah… I think we both need a little time to process this. We’ll talk again tomorrow.” He brushed some of her long blonde hair from away from her face, then stood up carefully and headed to his own room, quietly shutting the door behind him. Once behind the closed door, he quickly stripped out of his clothes and reached for the bottle of lotion in the drawer of the bedside table. His arousal needed immediately attention before he’d be able to think clearly again. Between the vivid memories of his time with Cassie and frequent unwanted flashes of the times he had seen Maddie naked, now viewed through a highly sexual filter, Mike quickly reached release. He laid in his bed, panting, basking in the post-orgasm glow for a long time before he finally got up, cleaned himself off and then sat down at his desktop to begin researching this BDSM lifestyle. Maddie laid back on her bed after her brother left her hand snaking down her pajama bottoms and thong. Slowly rubbing her damp slit thinking about some of the things her brother mentioned and her own personal spank bank of kinky material. As she started getting into it for some reason the image of the man above her started morphing into her brother. Startled by her thoughts she stopped. Her hand still in her pajama bottoms. Thinking to herself that she shouldn't be thinking of her brother. Trying to shake herself out of it she continued on. As she started to rub faster getting closer to her climate he crept back into her thoughts, she couldn't stop this time, however. As she hurtled over the edge her thoughts were on her brother pounding into her with his hand wrapped around his throat as she came. Laying there panting she stared up at the ceiling wondering "what the fuck just happened?". Pushing it out of her mind she rolled over and tried to go to sleep. She had a long night at work and looking at the clock she realized it was already almost 4am. Curling up with her blanket she fell into a fairly sound sleep. Waking up at about 10 am she stumbled out of bed. Still a bit groggy she walked over to her desk and opened her computer. She had several IMs pop up almost instantaneously. One was a friend from work asking about a shift and was from when she was sleeping and the other was from one of her possible online masters. She kindly let him know she was no longer interested and blocked him. She didn't want to deal with him coming back and harassing her after she said her peace about the situation. Getting up she felt better about her day. Her brother was going to be her wing man and help her find someone to make all her kinky fantasies come true. Getting up she headed for the shower. Wrapping herself up in her towel as she headed for the shower. Singing to herself she got a shower. Wrapping herself tightly up in her towel she walked downstairs her wet hair still falling around her face. She poured herself a bowl of cereal and sat at the breakfast bar. Mike had spent most of the night glued to his computer, perusing websites ranging from informational to pornographic to outright disturbing, trying to cram as much information about bondage, BDSM, TPE, and extreme kink into his brain as possible. Kinks of all flavors and degrees of intensity got burned into his mind. He spent his time going from painfully aroused to horrified and disgusted, but unable to stop. Finally, as the sun started poke through the curtains of his room, his eyes bleary and burning, he tore himself away, dropped into bed and fell into an exhausted slumber. What felt like mere moments later, the sounds of Maddie showering woke him. He listened to the familiar and comforting noises as he lay face-down on his bed. Several minutes after he heard her move from the bathroom to the kitchen, he realized that he wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. He moaned, then rolled himself out of bed and pulled on an old pair of gray sweatpants. He stumbled into the kitchen and saw Maddie hunched over a bowl of cereal at the breakfast bar. "Singh," he articulated as he shambled behind her, put his hands on her shoulders then bent down to give her a kiss on the back of the head, her hair still wet and scented with her shampoo." Morning," he grunted as he dropped himself in the spot next to her, his eyes red and bleary still from exhaustion, hair spiky and uneven with bed-head. "Coffee. Need coffee." Looking at her big brother as he sat next to her at the breakfast bar. Sliding over her cup to him. She wasn't much of a coffee drinker and the way her looked he would need the whole pot." You didn't get much sleep did you?" She smirked a bit as she looked over at her brother. She well very well rested even after working all night that amazing orgasm she had right before bed was just icing on the cake, even after the unfortunate conversation she had with her brother." I guess we should wait to finish our conversation until you are more awake, huh?" She giggled and slid out off her stool. Taking and clanging her bowl in the sink. Her wet hair still hanging down her back as she stood clad in only a towel. Leaning back against the counter she looked at her half asleep brother a bit more. Biting the corner of her lip. He was quite attractive. The just out of bed look work for him, it wasn't for the fact his eyes looked like he was waking up from a bender. She needed to stop thinking of her brother as a sex object, but her little curious mind wanted to ask more details about his relationship with Cassie." Come find me when you wake up. We will discuss tomorrow night more ok?" She winked at her brother before sauntering off to her room. Mike's whole face cringed; the clanging of Maddie's bowl in the sink a spike driven right behind his eyes. Slowly and carefully he wrapped both hands around the coffee mug she had pushed in front of him, raising it to his lips. Ahhh...sweet caffeine...elixir of life... He nodded to acknowledge her comments and watched as she left the room. His eyes were drawn up the backs of her smooth calves, thighs and barest hint of the swell of her buttocks left uncovered below the edge of the towel wrapped around her. Mike desperately tried to divert his thoughts elsewhere as his body physically reacted to the attractive sight, but given his recent forays online and last night's discussions, it was several long minutes before he felt the tightening sensation down below begin to subside. After finishing his coffee, Mike popped into the shower, the hot water awakening him and finally his mind started to function more lucidly. He slipped on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Feeling anxious and slightly unsettled he went to go find Maddie. Was this really happening? Were they going to really do what they discussed? In the light of morning it all felt slightly unreal. Sitting on her bed in just her robe now instead of her towel. She was painting her nails and insanely bright color. Next to her set a just as bright outfit, and she had some massively colorful hair things on her desk. Her blonde hair tied up in pigtails as she continued to paint her nails. Looking up when her big brother entered the room. A big grin on her face. She couldn't help but smile at him as she started getting ready for her night. She was going out to a rave with her best friend since she was off work all weekend." So you ready to talk about tomorrow night? I was thinking we should be there a little early. You know you can't drink there right? Just wanted to let you know that know since I am guessing you are going to be really nervous. I am assuming you did research last night? Did you have any questions? I can answer what I know from my research, and we get filled in more tomorrow." She knew she was rambling as she painted her nails. Mike pulled out the chair away from the desk and sat facing Maddie as she painted her toes. Her robe covered her...mostly. Every time she bent over to work on her nail polish, it parted slightly giving him glimpses of her smooth flesh underneath and her legs were exposed to the upper thigh by her position. Once again he found his thoughts regarding his little sister straying to places they had never gone before. Usually he thought Maddie looked cute when she wore her hair in pigtails, but today, right now, he found it extremely sexy and appealing." Ah-urm," he cleared his throat, trying to clear his head as well. "Well, I think if I try to cram any more info into my head right now it'll start oozing out of my ears. I think I'll just see how things play out and get more info as I need it."" I was thinking, we should probably introduce ourselves as friends. Going as brother and sister might seem a bit...odd, even at an event for people with such...open minds. Did you want to use our real names while we're there? Or do you want to go by a pseudonym?"" We should mingle together, at least at first. We could set up signals for if you want to mingle a little more privately or for a 'get me away from this guy' situation. I'll try to give you as much room as you want to mingle and meet people but don't go anywhere with anyone where I can't help you out if needed."" If you end up where you are really interested in somebody, we'll set up a meeting where we can get more info, better vet them and maybe set something else up...with safeguards."" What do you think?" Looking up as she wiggled her toes trying to get them to dry faster and flashed her brother a big smile." I think you are on the right track there. I am glad you went and did research so you aren't so surprised about what people do. But I don't think I want to go in there with people thinking I am a free agent. I think I'd rather we appeared united, and maybe we are just open to others. You know?" She shifted positions sitting Indian style on the bed making sure her robe covered her crotch, but it left the rest of her legs completely bare." I think we can use our first names, I doubt people are going to be asking our last names. I think privacy is a big thing at stuff like this. But if we go acting like a couple it will be easier for me to get away from the creepy single guys. And I am not opposed to swinging with married couples." Her face flushed bright red after her last comment, she wasn't sure her brother wanted to hear that." Sorry if that was TMI. As much as I would like to find a single guy I am not opposed to sharing. Especially if they know what they are doing." A bit of an evil grin passed her face as she went into a slight daydream. Shaking her head to clear her off all those thoughts." Oh, one of the girls and I are going to a rave tonight, do you want to come or are you just going to chill out here"She checked her toes to make sure they were dry before pulling on her stockings and then continued to dress once they were on. Turning her back to her big brother as she dropped her towel and slid on her skin tight dress (They dress didn't allow for any undergarments, since they would cause lines." She should be here in about an hour to pick me up if you want to come? I have extra glow sticks" She flashed her brother a big flirty smile as she adjusted the hem over her ass making sure she was covered. The casual way Maddie dropped her interest in a threesome into conversation sent Mike's mental state into a brief tailspin. He had thought he had come to terms with the situation, but apparently as things progressed and became more real he still had some more adjusting to make." Uh. I guess that would be TMI if we weren't planning to do what we are. But now I need all that info, so I can do my best by you." When she extended her invitation to go to a rave, he started to reply but was stunned speechless as she turned away, dropped her towel giving him a rearview of her stunning figure. The way she shimmied into the skintight dress, the fabric clinging to every luscious curve...he stifled a groan and composed his face before she turned back around." Nah... I think I'll hang out here and try to catch a nap since I didn't get much sleep last night. You go and have a good time...safe, good time, little Missy."" We'll catch up with each other tomorrow and get ready for the get-together." Turning around she smiled at her big brother and kissed his cheek." always the diligent one, I will be safe. I am going to leave the address of where I am at on the fridge in case I need a ride home or bailed out, whichever way the night swings"She winked at him as she stepped into her shoes and moved over to her mirror. She started clipping in some hair accessories bent over in front of her mirror. The back of her dress barely covering her ass as she did. Once she was done she wiped on her lipstick and grabbed her back. Looking back at her brother still sitting there and winked. Shouting over her shoulder as she walked from the room." The keys are hanging on the hook and the address and her cell number are on the fridge in case of emergencies. Don't do anything I wouldn't do while I am gone"With that she was out the door. Dressed to party. Her best friend from work driving them. It wasn't until about 4 am that Mike's cell phone started chirping. Maddie was beyond wasted and couldn't find her friend as the party was winding down. She wasn't even sure she was still there. So she did the responsible thing and called her big brother to come rescue her. After his sister went out, Mike took a short nap, waking up much more refreshed. As he went about doing the things he needed to take care of, all the kinky information he had studied kept running through the back of his mind. Several times he found himself sporting an erection while doing laundry, getting groceries at the supermarket, in line at the post office. In the supermarket, the mature woman running the register noticed the tenting of his shorts, looked pointed at his crotch and then gave him a wicked grin causing him to leave the store blushing furiously. BY the time he had finished his errands, his crotch was aching from the constant cycle of carousals without release. When he got home, he headed to his room. As he passed by the open door to his sister's room, the towel she had dropped on the floor when she changed into her dress drew his attention. Cautiously, he entered her room, picked up the towel and breathed in the scent of her shampoo, body wash and perfume; the entire time mentally chastising himself and unsuccessfully willing himself to stop. The image of Maddie dropping the towel and standing bare-ass naked in front of him as she dressed ran through his mind over and over. Groaning at the intense aching in his groin, Mike undid the waist of his shorts, letting them drop around his ankles. He sat on the edge of her bed where she had been sitting earlier, and uncovered his almost painfully erect member. No longer fighting his thoughts, he closed his eyes and replayed the memory of his naked sister over and over. One hand held a corner of the towel close to his face so that he could breathe in her scent. His other hand gently wrapped the towel around his cock and started to slowly stroke himself. After only a few minutes, he gasped and shuddered as his hips bucked, waves of his seed being caught in the towel covering his cock. He kept his eyes closed, breathing raggedly until the last of it oozed its way out. He wiped himself clean as he told himself how sick he was to enjoy that so much, and vowed never to do it again. Furthermore, he dropped the soiled towel into the hamper by the washer and spent the next few hours trying to keep his mind busy and off of inappropriate subjects--The jarring ring of his phone startled him out of a sound sleep. Furthermore, he rolled over and blearily read the clock. 3:40 am? What the fuck?" Hullo?," he mumbled into the phone. Maddie was on the other end, sounding anxious and kind of out of it. Apparently she had lost track of her friend and wasn't in any shape to make her own way home. "Don't worry about its sis. No problem, I'll be there in 15 or 20 minutes. Sit tight, stay somewhere that people can see you. I'll be right there." He pulled on a tee shirt and shorts, slid his feet into his sneakers, splashed some water onto his face, ran his fingers through his hair to get rid of the worst of the bedhead and was out the door. About 15 minutes later he pulled up to the club Maddie had directed him too. He got out of the car and looked around, trying to figure out where she would be. Maddie saw her brother and came rushing over to him and nearly face planted as she tripped and went face-first into his chest. Grabbing on to her brothers shoulders to steady herself." you came" She whispered her eyes were wide, and she looked up at her big brother as she righted herself. Her already skin tight dress riding up higher on her legs then it was when she left. " My knight and shining armor," she leaned into him pressing herself against him. She always tended too get touchy-feely when she was drunk or stoned. " Take your fair maiden home and do with her as you please" She started openly laughing like a hyena at her own joke. She was beyond gone at this point. Her hands started roaming over her brother in the midst of her laughter she kept going with the. " Take me as your prisoner and I will serve my master good" She bust out into louder laughter this time. Pressing her fast into his chest as she howled in laughter." No really take me home before I find someone to do just that" She grabbed her brothers hand waiting for him to take her to the car. Her laughter dying down to a chuckle as though she still thought she was hilarious. A blur of motion in the corner of his eye made Mike turn, just in time for Maddie to literally stumble into him, her hands grasping desperately at his shoulders, her head thumping into his chest. From the way she was leaning awkwardly against him, he had the perfect vantage point to see down her back. He could easily see her exposed backside where the bottom edge of her dress had hiked itself up. As she jabbered at him drunkenly, Mike looked around and saw a pair of guys leaning against the wall, smoking and ogling the show with big grins on their faces. One of them started to pull out a cellphone and hold it up to take a photo. Mike glared at him with his best menacing look as he reached down to tug Maddie's down so that it was (barely) decent." Jesus, sis. You're completely baked out of your mind." Mike wrapped one arm around her, under her arms, to support her. He started to walk her slowly over to his car. "I know you think you're the height of the party when you're like this but good god... I should film this and show it to you sober." He shook his head, "And you wonder why I have to keep an eye on you..." He reached down and pulled up the top of her dress just as her movements against his body caused a wardrobe malfunction. "Dear lord. It's a good thing I love you, sis. I wouldn't do this for just anyone." Finally, after much staggering and swaying, he had gotten her to the side of the car. Carefully he unlocked the passenger door and even more carefully lowered down into the seat. He quickly got into the driver's seat, reached across to ensure that Maddie was buckled in properly. Somehow, getting into the car, her dress had ridden its way back up around her waist. He looked into her glazed eyes and sighed. He'd deal with the dress again when they got home. At least in their driveway, there shouldn't be anyone standing around at 4 in the morning to get an eyeful.

Big brother taking the reins ( blondebooklover and MrAlanNH)|rating:3.0

Star Wars_ Hard Vengeance(Nathan Malreaux & Karlissa)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....STARWARSHard Vengeance It is nearly 1,000 years before the decisive Battle of Gavin, during the peak of the Golden Age of the Old Republic. But as always, in the farthest reaches of space in the Outlying Systems, crime runs rampant far from the watchful eyes of the vigilant Jedi. Close to the fringes of the Mandalorian Empire, on the twin planets of Riff and Differ, a Crime lord of increasing power and dominance is emerging from the shadows... Japan Radius. A Fallen of hard intellect and raging passions, this crime lord is no Hunt or Tradesman, but rather of an entirely different caliber. Not given to sloppy, impassioned mistakes, Japan executes all of his dealings with precise detail and extraordinary foresight. But there are several vices that bring out the worst in Japan, the primary being his lust of slave women, those he can abuse and dominate at his leisure. Few have ever escaped his grasp, and none of those have lived long enough to tell of their horrid experiences at his hands. Life was... simple. For all the complexities and intricate interweaving of characters, life remained very simple and predictable. Slowly, with his eyes remaining closed to the outside world, Japan inhaled the incense burning in the small bowl in front of his crossed-legged figure. His scaled, green, lithe body was lightly clad in a silk weave robe, the tall imposing figure cast in a flickering shadow by the surrounding candles. He himself was not a subscriber to the Jedi tradition, nor did he possesses the number of media-chlorians required to gain the insight into the mysteries of the Force, however Japan did believe in the calming processes of meditation, and its abilities to clear the mind of distractions. Distractions of spice deals, of the monthly taxes and tariffs paid to the Mandalorian's, the reports of heavy Jedi resistance to his slave trade near the Core Worlds borders... all remained present in his mind, but they were subdued and suddenly made clear to him as being very simple and easy to navigate. What was a little excess of spice sent in with the tariffs to the Mandalorian's, to help them understand the need of increased raids to the Core Worlds, thus distracting the Jedi from... other problems? A slowly growing rise of his chest caused the robe to slid apart, revealing the finely toned and muscular chest. He took very good care of his body, and made sure he remained physically dominate over his employees. Men respected power, and women cowered under it. Both mindsets were advantageous a man of power, and Japan wasn't afraid to flaunt it. Just then, a slowly repeating chime interrupted his inflections and brought his consciousness back to the real world. Blinking slowly, Japan slowly inhaled as he turned to his side and picked up the communicator." Go ahead."::Sir, I'm sorry to have to disturb you, but you left instructions to let you know if Chloe Walker had come back with your shipment.::Japan didn't respond for a moment, deliberating something in his mind. "Understood. Instruct her to land and to meet me at the compound lounge. I'll be there in a half-standard." He clicked off the comm, and looked back at the smoldering stick of incense. Life might be simple... it was also cruel and harsh, and couldn't be avoided for long. Something Chloe Walker had to learn, and soon. There were just some trade routes, some jobs, that she would always hate. Sometimes it was the worlds a job took her to, the local people, or the person the job involved. In this case it was the latter. Japan Radius was a despicable excuse for a person, a crime lord who in her opinion was just too much in love with himself. Everyone, men and women, were beneath the Fallen, women especially and Chloe Walker already had a hard enough time being a woman in a man's world. Javan had never hidden his lust for her, and she had never hidden her disgust for him and everything he stood for. Although she avoided working directly for him, Chloe could not afford to avoid every job that involved him. So every time she played the game of getting in, getting the job done and getting the hell out as soon as possible. Her fingers tapped against the arm of her chair, waiting impatiently for permission to land. It made her nervous that it was taking so long to gain the permission. If she was anywhere else she would think it was a sign of trouble and would have skipped out before the law came looking for her. Here though the only person in charge was Javan, and the Republic had no place here.:: Dancer's Folly you are cleared for landing. Please follow the landing guide to dock 4. Once there please depart and someone will be waiting to lead you to the compound lounge. :What? There had to be a misunderstanding, she was not here to chat, she was certainly not here to see anyone. Chloe had been specifically told that all she had to do was drop of the shipment and payment would be waiting for her in her account once her employees had been notified of the shipment being received." There has to be some sort of mistake," she said into the comm unit, frowning when there was no response, "Hello? Hey! C'mon I was told just to drop the stuff off... Could you just - "Her voice cut off as she saw the landing guide begin to speed away? Slamming her fist against the dashboard, Chloe swore loudly and began to move her Davey-type star fighter after the guide. It didn't take long for her to land at dock 4 as instructed, and when she strode from her ship she let her hazel gaze roam until it landed on a droid that awaited her. Fantastic. Very clever. Of course her guide to the lounge was a droid; someone she couldn't argue with and would follow orders no matter what." If you'll follow me Miss Walker," the droid intoned, giving her a brief bow and then walking in the direction of the lounge." Hey, stop!" she yelled after it, and when the droid kept walking she huffed, following it. There was no point taking it out on the tin can waddling in front of her, no, she would save her anger for the real problem. She knew Japan had something to do with this, and she half expected him to be waiting there for her. Instead, the droid told her to wait, and was gone. Standing at one of the viewports, Chloe was every inch the sassy independent woman that men tried to mess with and failed. Some called her a bitch, others called her frigid, but she got the job done without any fuss or mess. Dressed in tight leather pants, and a cream sleeveless top that left her naval bare, she looked like an easy target. Then men got a look at the holster hung low on her hips, and the dangerous daring glint in her eye. Not many men had the balls to try it, those that did either meet her blaster or the fibroblast hidden in her boot. She waited for whatever was to come, her hand sitting on top of her blaster, prepared for trouble as always. Not one given to hastily rush into appointments, Japan took his time getting dressed, and also insuring that his full body armor was snug and tight around his torso. Pulling his vestments over the thin protective material, Japan pulled his hair back up into his iconic head knot before taking a sip of his favorite blend of Antonia black tea. His comm link chimed again, and Japan casually clicked it on while taking another sip. "Yes?"::Sir, Walker has been transferred to the compound lounge. Your other standing orders have been implemented and standing by.::"Understood. Send Ms. Walker some refreshments and inform her I shall only be a few more minutes. If she attempts to return to her ship, have the droid remind her of the pay she will be receiving for this run." Clicking the comm off, Japan then slowly finished his tea while looking over a data pad and the figures scrawling across the screen. He slowly placed the cooling mug down, inhaled once more and finally let a small smirk of personal pleasure appear on his face." Chloe, Chloe, Chloe... you've been a very bad girl."15 minutes later The droid meandered back into the lounge and walked up to the female smuggler. "Excuse me, Mr. Radius would like to inform you that your wait will soon be over... and that your pay will be quite considerable and considerate to this delay. Would you like some refreshments during your wait?" How long had it been now? Checking the time for the umpteenth time, Chloe found that it had now been 15 minutes. That was it, if he expected her to wait around for him without so much of a word to let her know what was happening then she was heading back to her ship. Just as she began the walk to the door it opened and in walked the same droid that had led her to this forsaken lounge. She waited as the droid took it's time in reaching her, knowing from previous experience that droids were notorious for doing things properly. Once he gave her his message she let the full weight of her gaze, one that had been known to make grown men flinch. Sadly it had no effect on the droid, leaving her feeling no less frustrated. He had given her the offer of refreshments, and in her frustration she did not think anything of it, accepting the offer,"Some juice would be good." "We currently have in stock a selection of various juices. Jaw juice, various fruits..."" You should try some tea, Walker." The deep and silky smooth voice came from the entrance way behind Chloe, directly in her blind spot. He stood there, his poker face set on deadpan aloofness, and hands folded in front of him holding the data pad." After all, tea has many antioxidants, and provides a healthy source of caffeine. Something a young, robust, active woman such as yourself could appreciate, I'm sure." As he spoke, he casually let his eyes wander over her figure, something not hidden very well beneath her tight pants and shirt. In fact, in a veryen refashion, Japan could admit that the low slung Sunbelt accented her sexuality very well. He, of course, knew how uncomfortable his unashamed inspection of her had to be for the gorgeous smuggler, especially considering this was their first face to face contact. As such, he reluctantly let his gaze return to her furious, smoldering face, and gave her a charming smile with the barest hint of smugness. She felt like hitting her head against the wall, or quite possibly hitting the droid if it would help. Rule number one when dealing with a droid; be specific. The droid's list of available juices was cut off by a masculine voice, deep and silky and coming from directly behind her. Irritated even further, she spun to face the owner of the voice and found herself face to face with the man she disposed for the first time. As he explained his suggestion of tea Japan let his gaze wander, working its way over her body before meeting her gaze with a smile full of charm. Chloe was not charmed." Various fruits," she briskly told the droid, then let her attention return to the Fallen, "What are you playing at Japan? I was given specific instructions to drop the package off and that was it. What do you want?" Unfazed by her blunt and brisk manner, Japan looked over at the droid and waved it away. As the droid left, the metallic shield doors closed behind it leaving her with Japan in an enclosed space. Not that he was going to use this advantage right away. He preferred challenges." There were some misunderstandings with the Corsica Gem retailers on your purchases. I thought it would be best if you and I worked them out in person." Xaxan sighed and brought up the data pad again, and finger-flicked the digital pages back up to the top of his report." Now according to this, I deposited a sum of four million credits to your business account to purchase the 40kgs your ship would be able to carry. And of course, the 40kgs have been offloaded and confirmed by my shipping crews. Did you have any... problems, or unforeseen circumstances with this run?" Being left alone with Japan did not frighten the female smuggler, the droid was not much use anyway, and she was glad that it was gone if truth was told. She had been in harder situations, and she had made a point of scoping the place as she had entered. Like most smugglers Chloe considered herself to be able to handle herself, and it was that pride that would one day be her downfall. She kept her face blank when Japan commented on some misunderstandings, she had expected this because she knew exactly what he was talking about. Most customers did not check their goods as thoroughly as Japan seemed to, and most of the time she was long gone before they even noticed. She could talk her way out of this, and she would be on her way." Excuse me? Who the hell gave you access to my ship?" she demanded, her arms crossing beneath her blossom, "I don't appreciate you sending your lackeys aboard my ship, and I expect to be compensated for any damage the idiots did to her security system. I did as the job specified, you have your gems, there were no problems. Now, may I go?" Japan's eyes flicked upwards to gaze at her, the charming persona vanished completely and replaced by a cold, hard, and extremely dangerous look." You spent four million credits of my money, Chloe Walker. Tell me, how could you have spent all of that money and filled your ship's cargo hold, when the stock price of Corsica gems suffered a -1.9% plummet two standard days before you made your purchase?" Xaxan's fingers trailed across the screen of the data pad, opening up a new window that had two option buttons on display. [Arm EMP] and [Activate] His long green finger casually flicked the Arm EMP option, and the Activate option started to flash slowly, indicating the EMP status as fully armed and operational." I am a businessman, Chloe. And I am fully willing to accept compensation for the profit you made off of my credit, which is why I have legally laid claim to your ship, as well as some other things. So, in short, no. You may not go." He was as dangerous as she had heard, in one split second his charming persona was gone, and she found herself looking into the cold calculating eyes of one pissed off crime lord. It had been a gamble trying to cheat someone as high up the food chain as he was, but Chloe had been desperate. She owned someone else money and then this perfect opportunity appeared in her lap. She had taken it, knowing that the risk was better than being hunted down by those she owned money. Obviously she had been busted and it was time to come clean. As irritated as she was that he had taken her ship, her life meant more to her." Fine, you're right ok?" she told him, unfolding her hands and holding them up in surrender. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a credit chip, holding it up in the air to show him. "Here you go, take your credits back, and I'll be on my way. I'm sure you're a busy man and have much better things to be doing." Japan didn't attempt to hide the contempt for her on his face as he took a step closer to her." No, Chloe... you stole from me, and as such you will have to pay." As soon as he finished speaking, Japan hit the EMP button, causing all the lights and electrically run items such as blasters or comm links to go dead. There were no windows in the lounge, so the effect had caused a complete blackout in the lounge." And I'm going to take it out in your flesh!" The low hideous whisper came right from behind her, seconds before he jabbed her right on her kidneys and kicked her legs out from under her. She held her ground as he stepped closer, the contempt in his face giving her good reason to back the hell away from him quickly. She was stubborn though and refused to be seen as running from such a man. Chloe should have listened to her instincts for a second later the lights disappeared, plunging her into darkness. Her hands reached for her blaster in a panic, and raising it in front of her she realized it was dead. She didn't get a chance to check her comlink as suddenly a whisper sounded from behind her, and she found herself hitting the ground hard. Her hand went to the kidney he had hit, a moan of pain escaping her lips as she struggled to get to her knees. Oh riff, she was in serious trouble now. Japan flexed his fists as he watched Chloe struggle to get back up on her feet, his vision enhanced by surgical modifications that enabled his eyesight to adjust to changes in light much faster. Chloe's own vision would adjust to lighting as well, but probably not for at least another minute. Which was all the time he needed. Waiting until she was up on all fours, Japan stepped over to her side and launched his booted foot into her abdomen. After he sent her sprawling back onto the floor again, he waited for a second before speaking." I could have brought my whole battalion down on your head... or put a bounty so large you'd have trouble not shooting yourself in a mirror. Instead, Chloe, here we are, wiping your sorry ass across my lounge. And I'll tell you why..." Xaxan jumped towards her and slammed his entire body weight through his right boot into her ribs before grabbing her hair and pulling her up against the wall, her feet dangling about 2 inches off the floor." Because you piss me off, and I'm going to enjoy breaking you in vengeance." Just as she managed to get onto her hands and knees his boot reached out from the darkness, finding her abdomen and sending her sprawling to the ground again. Breathing heavily she remained there as he started to speak, running off a list of things he could have done to her. At that moment in time Chloe was seriously wishing that he had chosen to do one of them. Anything was better than being beaten to a bloody pulp by the fallen in pitch black. He shouldn't have been able to see as far as she was aware, she didn't think it was an ability his species had. That meant he had planned this, and the EMP pulse that had knocked out the room had been on his order. How long had he had this set up? Chloe was beginning to wonder if he was just using the gems as an excuse. A cry ripped from her lips as his kick was aimed for her ribs this time, bruising her again but so far he had not broken anything. She felt his fingers wrap in her blonde hair, using it to drag her to her feet. He pinned her against the wall, holding her above the floor, and as her eyes adjusted to the light she began to make out his face as he stared at her." Please, please, stop!" she began to beg, struggling to take a full breath to finish, "I'll do anything you want, anything." Japan's eyes slanted, his nostrils flaring a little as he inhaled the scent of her fear radiating off of her skin. His free hand grabbed her leg, and slid up those tight pants until he was squeezing her ass very inappropriately." I'll make sure... to hold you to that." Xaxan let the moment hang for emphasis before grunting and slamming his forehead down on her face more than hard enough to break her facial bone structure, a feat only possible for non-humanoids with a thick scaly skin or a very thick cranium. Dropping her to the floor, Japan walked over to the doors which opened just as he approached them. Ten Differ guards holding stun batons streamed into the room going around him and grabbed Chloe, using their stun batons whenever they felt a need to subdue her and escorted her out of the lounge through another set of doors, heading down for the interrogation cells. Xaxan stopped by his receptionist to check up on any messages or updates before following the guards and Chloe. Going down into the damp stone cells was more of a theatrical effect by Japan's part, since inside the stone walls were layers of impenetrable steel, as well as antipersonnel shock charges every five feet. Entering the interrogation cell a minute after the guards had dumped her on the moldy straw in the corner, Japan snapped his fingers at the two larger ones. "Strip her down. Then hang her up on the stretcher." One differ coughed while the other two started to strip her clothes off, not even bothering to molest her under their boss's watch. "Sir, do you want her right side up, or upside down?" Xaxan considered it for a second, then nodded. "Upside down. And go get the epidermal pens, we don't want her blacking out on us." Chloe had known what she had offered when she made it, so it did not surprise her to feel his hand sliding up her leg and around to her ass. She kept quiet as he squeezed provocatively and promised to take her up on the offer. It made her feel sick, but Chloe would endure it, she had to. She did not expect his head to smash into hers with such force that she felt her nose break. In her line of work it was an injury she had felt too often for her tastes. Blood dribbled down over her lips and chin as he let go of her, leaving her to drop in a heap on the floor. She had a moment of respite and then the guards were there, dragging her to her feet and off to who knew where. They were enthusiastic in using their stun blasters every time she moved even a little, whether it was a struggle or not. Eventually she found herself dumped in a pile of moldy straw in the corner of a room. Beneath the straw the ground was stone and damp, causing her to shiver. The order was given to strip her, and Chloe forced her mouth closed, letting the two differ guards strip her of everything without resistance. She was hoping that if she complied the pain would come to an end, her nose was throbbing and her body was aching from the beating Japan had dealt her. It surprised her that they didn't choose to cop a feel, although if Japan was her boss she probably would have behaved too. The prospect of being hung upside down broke her compliance, and she began to struggle as she was dragged to the middle of the room. She was laid down as they bound her hands together and then her ankles together. The two guards easily overpowered her and within moments she was hung upside down by her ankles. Japan watched the proceedings with a very distant, unaffected air as he took off his outer robe and began to pick his selection of blunt objects to use on his newly acquired victim." You know, Chloe, I expected a little more resistance from someone of your reputation. I would wager that nearly half of my plans to capture you were proven needless with your spineless nature." The differ guards made sure that her wrist bindings were secure and tied down to the embedded ring on the floor before turning the wheel that tightened up the rope from which she was dangling. In a matter of seconds, her whole body was taunt and strung like a guitar string, her blonde hair draping down over the frightened, defeated expression on her face. Japan inhaled slowly as he took in Chloe's naked figure, his arousal acknowledging her innate physical attractiveness. But that would be later, first she needed to be broken in, and given her first of many, many punishments. Japan's eyes broke away from his unprofessional inspection of her tits and picked up a firm plastic composite rod. Smacking it against his bare palm a couple of times to test its effectiveness, he then tossed it over to one of the guards, and then tossed it's twin over to the second guard. He then walked up in front of Chloe and knelt down in front her and grabbed her hair, forcing her head back up to look at him." Tell me why you stole from me, Chloe." Normally Chloe Walker would have been the first person to rebate his comment, but right now? Right now Chloe was upside down, her ankles and wrists bound so tightly that the rope dug deliciously into her flesh. It would not do too much permanent damage, it was just enough to remind her of the position she was in and how helpless she was in front of him. Her breasts were hanging downwards and as the wheel began to turn they bounced and swayed from side to side. Chloe cried out as her body was pulled so taunt, and she started to beg straight away." Please. Please don't hurt me, you know I will do anything you want, please just don't hurt me!" It was a futile gesture, and she flinched violently as she heard the smack of the rod against his hand. Turning her head, she struggled to see through her blonde locks to see what was happening. Movement flashed about her and panic flared in her when she couldn't see what had happened. Then he was there in front of her, kneeling and yanking her hair up so that she was staring him in the face. Wide eyes pleaded silently at him." I stole. I stole some credits, I needed them to pay off a debt. Furthermore, I'm so, so sorry I was desperate, please, please don't hurt me.you don't have to let me go, just don't hurt me!" Japan's jaw worked back and forth as he assessed her pleading, trying to decide if she was being truthful or not. After a moment he looked up at the guard manning the wheel and nodded at him. The guard nodded back and began to pull back on the wheel, making the ropes stretch her out even more. He continued to pull back ever so painfully slow until finally her ankles and wrists all dislocated with a series of unsettling crackles and pops all in quick succession. Japan waved his free hand at the guard for him to stop, which he did but not before locking the wheel into place, leaving her current dislocations forcefully extended. Xaxan waited until Chloe had stopped screaming from the pain and was back to quiet sobbing before he spoke again." How much do you owe, and to whom? Don't go light on details, Chloe." There was nothing she could do but scream as Japan gave the order for the guards to work the wheel pulling her body further apart, and then there were the sickening pops as her joints dislocated. Chloe kept screaming until her voice was hoarse, until she had no energy to keep going. The pain was like brilliantly hot pokers being forced through her body over and over again. When the wheel had stopped she didn't know, all she knew is that it was kept taunt so that she would feel the full extent of her injuries. Her head swam with the pain, her eyes beginning to close, and she was brought back to reality by his voice. To think of figures in the state she was in was a near impossible thing, and she racked her brain before begging again, "Please... I don't know. I can't think, all I can feel is the pain..." He wouldn't be convinced, he needed the details, and she almost passed out as she concentrated her mind on that piece of information." I.it was just over a million. A million credits. I owe it to you. To you....oh god. Please stop the pain, ." the end of her sentence was a wail, her sobs coming stronger now. If he wasn't careful he would break her beyond repair. Japan frowned as he saw her consciousness starting to flicker. Turning around, he grabbed one of the epidermal pens from the returning differ and uncapped it. Walking around her, Japan jabbed the small needle into her left buttock, and held it there until he was sure that the entirety of the contents were in her system. Going back to Chloe's face, Japan tapped her cheek with the blunt end, redirecting her attention towards him." Adrenaline, and a bit of something my techs whipped up. They call it dexaphelophin, and apparently it fires up your nervous system, getting the signals to transmit faster. End result is more pain, but you're fully conscious without any danger of passing out for another 30 minutes." Tossing the pen back to the waiting guard, Japan again grabbed her hair and forced her to look up at him. "Now, who did you say you owed a million credits? It sounded for a second as if you were to say it waste. Now, unless I'm missing something, why wouldn't I know this, and why would youstealfrom the very person you owe money to, hmm?" Compared to all the other pain the small prick of the needle in her buttock was nothing more than a little nick that she was able to ignore. The tap of the pen against her cheek brought her attention back to him as he explained the serum that was already spreading through her system. As she realized what he was saying, what he had done to her, she sobbed again, "No.no, no, no." This couldn't be happening to her. He grabbed her hair again, and the pain intensified, but now she did not feel as though she was going to pass out. "I. I owe you... and I owe. I owe a Hunt... Regular... I owe you both now." Japan smirked, his expectations proven to be confirmed. Of course, she owed Regular, that slimy bastard had a nasty habit of trying to get his fingers into everyone's piece of pie." Good girl, Chloe, good girl." He then looked up at the guards and stood up while speaking. "Stretch her some more, and then whip her with the canes until she passes out, then have her scent to medical for ACTA treatments and surgery." With that, Japan turned around and walked out, completely ignoring Chloe's suddenly invigorated pleas for mercy. As soon as he was gone, the hulking dark-skinned natives relaxed and started to pass some lewd jokes to one another while the third guard began pulling back on the wheel, pulling until Chloe's shoulders and hipbones dislocated as well. Once the wheel was locked into place, the other two guard proceeded to beat Chloe without ceasing, sparing no inch of skin on her body and even going back over the worst bruises and cuts just for a hell of it. Those few words of praise caused her to feel hope and a little relief, which was suddenly stolen from her again when he gave the orders to his guards to continue her torture." No, no, please I gave you what you wanted!" she cried out as Japan left her with the two guards. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt before, her body feeling like it was being ripped in half as more joints dislocated. The pain was enough to make her pass out and would have done if it hadn't been for that cruel injection he had given her. Chloe was not given the mercy of unconsciousness for a good while, her body whipped black and blue by the canes Japan had given the guards. They made lewd comments as they did so, humiliating her and degrading her with their words and the occasional grope. It took a long time for unconsciousness to take her, and by the time it did her body was a complete-broken mess as was her spirit. Japan spent the rest of the day taking care of his daily business, as well as making a couple very important hold-transmissions to certain persons. Near the end of the office hours, Japan let the staff go early and finished up his last hold-transmission to Regular the Hunt. The negotiations had taken literally all day to complete, but in the end the fat bastard slug was willing to accept Japan's payment for Chloe's debts, with a little added interest assumed. Shutting down the office and activating his security system, Japan closed the doors behind himself and headed off for the medical facilities across the open, arid terrain that Riff offered. His complex had pretty much encircled the entire town that 'agreed' to host his business. And after a few years, the remaining complaints faded under quiet executions and the sudden realization that Japan was providing more jobs than could have ever existed for such a small town in the middle of the Riff desert. Arriving at the medical facilities, Japan wandered through the whitewashed complex, dodging the occasional aged differ being hover-chaired to the retirement center. Finally arriving at the surgical wing, Japan had the nurses pull up Chloe's file before taking it with him to go see her in her recovery room. Pulling aside the green sterile curtain, Japan took in the leather restraints on her wrists and ankles, the metal collar on her neck, the thin pa perish garment that was the only thing keeping her modesty safe, and the rapidly fading bruises on every inch of exposed skin. Japan did a quick review on her file, and found that all of her serious injuries had been taken care of, and that a full recovery was expected within two days. Xaxan also took note of a small add-on note, which indicated that per Japan's orders, Chloe had also been implanted with a slaver device in the base of her skull, right on the spinal cord. In addition, the metal collar around her neck was paired with the slaver device, so that in any event that the collar was removed, the device would vaporize itself and every inch of surrounding matter for a square foot. Calling over a med-droid after a few minutes, Japan had it administer the drugs needed to wake Chloe up from her drug-induced coma. The effects were almost instantaneous, as her eyelids fluttered and a low moan escaped her dry chapped lips. After dismissing the droid, Japan stood over her on her right side, and waited for her to notice him before speaking." Good evening Chloe... did you enjoy your punishment earlier? I certainly did, especially given how I was thinking in turn how much pleasure you will give me during your period of enslavement to me." He smiled at her charmingly and stroked her cheek, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and letting off a small tinge of pheromones. Chloe awoke with a moan as she was drawn from unconsciousness by the drugs administered to her system. As she tried to stretch she found her body held in place, and her eyes opened fully to find Japan standing over her. The sight of him made her heart thud in her chest, a look of alarm on her face and her breathing came faster. Remembering the punishment he spoke of she froze, flinching as he raised a hand towards her and only relaxing when he strokes a stand of her hair behind her ear. Hearing the word enslavement Chloe realized that the leather restraints binding her wrists and ankles to the table were not the only thing that had been added while she was unconscious. She could feel the weight and coolness of the slave collar secured around her neck. It fit around her neck snugly, and Chloe had a feeling that she would be wearing it for a long time." Please... don't hurt me." she said quietly, feeling strange as the air changed around her, and she began to feel the stirrings of arousal. Remembering what she had promised she said no more; she would rather serve him as his slave than go through the 'punishment' he had inflicted on her earlier. "Shhh, shhh... there now. You will only be punished from now on if you deserve it, which is something I hope you earnestly avoid." Softly stroking her cheek and then her lips, Japan trailed his fingernail down her chin and tapped the metal collar. "You truly are a slave at heart, Chloe. No protests, resignation to your lot in life... but anyway. Your enslavement will last until I consider your debt to me - and the debt I absorbed from Regular - to be fulfilled." Not waiting for a response, he then trailed the circlet down to the nape of her neck and pressed his finger against her spinal cord. "Feel that, Chloe? That little knot under the skin? It's a slaver device... and if you take this collar off, it will kill you. If you attempt to leave me, or run away, I can remotely detonate the device myself." Prior to her meeting with Japan, Chloe would have said that being at his mercy, being enslaved by him, was a fate worse than death. That had of course been before he had broken her through pain. She didn't feel ashamed as he commented about her a true slave. She couldn't imagine anyone being able to withstand what she had and not promised away their life, anything, for the pain to end. When she thought about the humiliation she was about to be dealt as his slave, all she had to do was recall the torture, and she was able to submit to him. It did not surprise her that he had put some form of security on her body, although it did bother her a little that it had been surgically implanted. Two million credits worth of enslavement... it didn't bear thinking about how long it would be." I understand." He nodded before standing up and brushing his silk robe off." Good, although it would serve you well to refer to me from now on as Sir, or Master. But in any case, you will remain here in medical for the next two days. Once you have recovered, I will send for you to join my harem." Xaxan turned to depart, but he hesitated and looked back at Chloe, as if debating something in his mind. After a few seconds, he seemed to have reached a conclusion. He nodded to himself, and then continued on his way. However, on his way out, Japan intercepted a med-droid, probably the same one he had called earlier. It was so hard to tell with droids..." I don't believe the restraints are required anymore for the patient in 2D. Make sure she makes a hasty recovery." He confirmed her fate before leaving her in the hands of the medical droids, giving her two days to finish healing before she would be brought to him as an official member of his harem. It made her shudder, and she was glad he left her alone, although nothing could make her forget what lay before her. Not long after he had left her she was released from her restraints. He knew she was not going anywhere, he knew he had won. For the next few days she was looked after in the medical by the same droids and that was her only interaction. The days went too fast for her liking, mostly because for a good part of it she was put into a drug induced coma to finish her healing or placed in a ACTA tank. On the second day she was approached by two of Japan's guards, a leash clipped to her collar and away she was led. Chloe followed obediently, keeping pace even as her heart thudded in her. Japan's torture might have broken her spirit, but that didn't mean she did not fear what was to come. She expected to be taken straight to him, instead she was led into a room. There she was not even a female slave to prepare her for him, and Chloe found herself in the hands of the guards. She was roughly dressed in a revealing cloth that could barely be called an outfit. Two straps of sheer lavender material fell down over her chest, pulled in place so that one strap covered each breast. The straps met each other in two places, once behind her neck where they were tied and the second time between her legs. The two straps lay over the folds of her sex, and were pulled tight between her buttocks. The straps then ran up her back where they were tied to the knot at the back of her neck. The outfit was designed to be alluring, trapping her naked flesh in cloth not of her choice. The guards were not done there, and she found shackles placed around her wrists, a short length of chain between them. She was then dragged away, presumably to her new Master. Japan, despite being a distant, serious sort of individual, understood the ruffian's need for drunken abandonment and partying. He himself did not participate in the events he held once a week in the main audience chamber, but instead preferred to nurse his one alcoholic beverage and amuse himself by watching his hooligans and other riffraff 'socialize". It was to one of these gatherings that Chloe soon found herself being dragged through, her presence very quickly noticed by the drunken villainy and scum." Hey chick, let me see of titties!"" Shake that ass, bitch! C'mon one little wiggle!" That last catcalled was a bald differ with a scar running across his face and through an empty eye socket he didn't bother to hide. Coming up from behind her as she was led by her leash towards Japan's chair up on the dais, the pirate grabbed the straps behind her back and yanked up on them, pulling her towards his stinking body while giving her a very rough wedgie. He was just about to reach around her and grope her slightly exposed rack, but one of her guards slammed his metal studded fist into his face. Blood from his cracked nose and knocked out teeth gushed all over the left side of Chloe's face. Ignoring the now unconscious molester, the guards hustled Chloe through the rest of the crowd who were cheering and laughing at the man's expense. Reaching Japan's dais, the guards locked the end of the metal chain to Japan's chair and left her, apparently to go join in on the fun. Japan smirked down at her and sipped his drink." Enjoying the party, are we slave?" Chloe's mouth had formed a perfect 'o' when the guards dragged her through what looked a lot like one of the worst cantinas she had ever seen, except this wasn't a cantina. It seemed to be an audience chamber of some sorts, and at this moment it was filled with the scum of the universe - all of which were staring right at her. She saw the lewd gestures, heard their suggestions of what she should do with her breasts and her ass, and saw the leering looks on their faces. Dragging her feet did nothing to stop the guards taking her through the room, and she soon gave up trying walking at the very end of her leash with her head bowed down. Her shame just continued to incense the crowd, not putting them off in the slightest and one of them was bold enough to even come over to her. A hand wrapped around the strap running up her back, and with one hard jerk Chloe felt it forced up between her ass cheeks. It made her yelp as the material was wedged up there, and her leash was pulled taunt. She found herself held against the body of one of the pirates, his erection very clear against her seminude form. One of her breasts had slipped from her outfit, and he made a grab for it, but before he could touch it he was shoved away by one of her guards. Chloe retched as blood and teeth hit the side of her face, and she tried to wipe it away with her hands. Bound as she was in the shackles she only managed to wipe some of it away as she was pulled again towards her new Master. Japan of course sat on a throne like chair on a dais, slightly above the riffraff like the lord he was to them. Her leash was pulled downwards, a hand on her buttocks pushing her onto her hands and knees. She watched silently as her leash was locked on Japan's chair, and she promptly turned her head away from him." Yes. Master." she said softly, settling herself on her bottom at the for of his chair. She tried to put her breast back in her outfit, and was unable to do so, the short chain of her cuffs keeping her from being able to maneuver herself properly. Japan eyed Chloe closely after response, and then finished off what was left of his drink before picking up a thin metal rod with two prods at the end of it, and jabbed it into Chloe's side. The result was the effect of 10,000 volts of electricity shooting into her body, much to the pleasure of the roaring crowd that was beginning to look similar to a mosh pit or a mob of hungry beasts." I would advise you to not lie to me, slave. I don't appreciate it. But in any case... guards! Bring me V'rose!" Within a few minutes, Japan's men were dragging "V'rose", the unfortunate one-eyed man who had his face smashed in, up to the dais where they kicked him to his knees as he tried to look up and focus on Japan through his one good eye." S-s-s-sir, please! I-I-I won't do that again, I s-s-s-swear!" Xaxan ignored the man's stammering pleas and stood up holding the stun rod. "Hold him up and open his mouth!" Like a scene from a twisted horror film, the guards grabbed V'rose from each side, both pinning his arms. One grabbed his head and forced it back, while the other grabbed his jaw and yanked it open. The crowd roared louder, cheering and rising in a crescendo as Japan stepped down the steps of the stage and then in one fluid motion, swung the rod directly into his gaping mouth and lodged it into his cerebellum, discharging the electricity at the same time."SHE IS MINE!" Xaxan's roaring declaration only provoked the crowd into a higher pitch of frenzy, as they grabbed the still twitching body out of the guards arms and carried it up above the crowd... with the rod still impaled in his mouth. Chloe screamed as the pulse of energy touched her skin and shot through her body. It was only a quick jab, and it felt like a lifetime, she did not want to find out what that felt like for a longer period of time. Her screaming just continued to incense the crowd, and she managed to stammer an apology to Japan." Yes Master. I'm sorry. Master." He told her to not lie to him, and she suspected that even if she had been honest in her reply he would have used the electric rod to reprimand her, probably telling her to enjoy it. It seemed that Japan just liked violence, and it didn't surprise her that the person he called forth was the pirate that had attacked her. He did not come willingly, he was dragged up by men loyal to Japan, and was very vocal about how sorry he was. Chloe let her gaze fall on him, knowing that his apology was too late and that nothing stopped Japan when it came to revenge. She had learned that lesson herself a few days ago. She looked away as the same rod used on her was swung at V'rose. Furthermore, she could hear his thrashing and could smell the burnt flesh as the full power of the rod was expelled into his body. Only Japan's roar, claiming her clearly as his property, hid the sounds of the man's death throes. The crowd were driven into a frenzy by his declaration and Chloe just sat there waiting for Japan's attention to turn back to her again. Japan smirked as his crowd carried away the smoking body and sat back down on his 'throne', placing a hand on Chloe's head possessively as if she was one of his preferred dogs. After several minutes of observing the wild partying, Japan finally looked down at Chloe, idly scratching her behind her ear." I suppose you're curious as to why you were brought here as opposed to my harem, as I mentioned a while ago. Hmm? Oh, don't bother answering that." Casually shoving her head away, Japan motioned to one of his guards and whispered his ear before standing up and raised his arms, silently calling for recognition while the guard silently slipped through the crowds and exited the room, off on some errand. The music DJs saw him first, and shut the music down much to the protest of the crowds, who also shut up very quickly when they realised the reason for the cessation to the brazen proceedings. Japan slowly lowered his arms, and looked over his criminals. They feared him... but not for any other reasons Crime lords were feared. Not for unpredictability, or savagery... but rather for his intelligence. All of them knew that to betray Japan Radius was to sign a death warrant on themselves before their backstabbing plan was even put together. Xaxan loved it." You all have served me faithfully... as faithfully as such retched scum as yourselves are capable of that is." The drunks laughed uproariously, while those who still had their wits started to shift uneasily, their eyes starting to look around for any traps and for some sort of quick exit if needed." Therefore, I have decided to grace this gathering with special gifts from my own collection. I give you... my harem!" At that very moment, the doors to the chamber swung open, and five different females of varying species from Twirled to Ferrero were herded in. All of them had the appearance of broken souls, their bodies bearing many, many marks of constant abuse and suffering. And up until this very moment, all of that had been at the hand of Japan." I am starting a new harem, my retched scum! Starting with this new slave..." He yanked on Chloe's chain for her to stand up in front of him. "... I shall seek a new level of sexual perfection for my slaves! Now... feel free to enjoy your new party slaves!" The crowd roared with renewed vigor and appreciation as they swarmed towards the five, extremely frightened girls and proceeded to tear off what little clothing they had on them, and then began to gang-rape them all, the entire crowd taking turns as they pleased. His hand touched her head, and Chloe flinched as she expected his desire for violence to turn her way. Instead, he just touched her in the manner one would expect an owner to treat their pretty pet, placing their hand on their head and then scratching her behind her ear. As she had predicted his attention arrived back at her, and she didn't look at him as he spoke to her, asking a question and then dismissing any need for her to answer as if whatever she would have said was unimportant. Of course, that was all she was now; nothing. Her voice was only to be used when he gave permission and only to say things he wanted to hear. A smuggler didn't get very far without visiting the scum filled areas of the galaxy, and many of those included slavers and slave owners. She had always looked down on those girls, and fate had made her one of them. Head shoved away from him, Chloe felt the stifling air shift and the music slowed to a stop. There were protests from the crowds, and she brought her head up to look at what all the fuss was about. Japan seemed to be prepared to making a scene as was his prerogative as their lord, and when the criminal crowd recognized him as the reason for the pause in their fun they calmed and waited. As Japan began Chloe thought she would be sick from the panic that soared up inside her, recognizing where his speech was going. She trembled violently when he announced he was giving them his harem, expecting for herself to be included. She was still in shock when he revealed his actual intentions, and she stumbled roughly to her feet to stand before him. Chloe was still shaking with fear when Japan gave the announcement for then to enjoy their new slaves, and she let out a yelp as the room suddenly begin to move. Bodies swarmed everywhere, heading straight for the five female slaves that had been herded into the room. The room filled with cries and screams, the sound of chains clanking and the tearing of clothes as they were ripped from their bodies. Chloe couldn't look away, staring in horror as men of all different species mounted the girls from behind, beneath, in front, on tables, on the floor. The slaves were filled with cocks, used and abused as the crowd raped them. Japan aura of benevolence quickly twisted into disgust and disdain for his lackeys as they tore into their new victims. They possessed no style, no finesse when it came to dominating women. They didn't control them, or bend their minds to their desires... they just raped and rutted until the entire floor was a mess of jazz, blood, and sweat. Without a word, Japan unsnapped Chloe's chain from the chair and dragged it behind him as he led her behind the chair to the wall. Pushing an off-color spot on the wall, Japan then waited until the hidden door in the wall had opened inwards completely before leading her in. Once inside, the lights inside the hidden room came on, revealing a small bedroom that was stocked with enough supplies to last a single person for a month." My panic room, in case the event ever comes that I am betrayed. Right now, the perfect place for us to escape that mayhem." Japan shrugged off his outer robe, leaving on his pantaloons and tunic which was parted halfway down his chest and back to leave room for his raised spinal ridges. He turned back to Chloe, his pheromones suddenly flooding the enclosed space, his hand reaching for her face... his fingers caressing the underside of her jaw... Chloe was glad when Japan chose to leave the festivities, taking her with him. She knew her fate was likely to be the same as the other slaves, with the big difference of how many men she served. Japan clearly did not like to share his harem, not until he had tired of them. His little display had told her what would happen to her if she failed him, and she knew that eventually that would be her fate. She would not be able to please him forever, and she would be discarded just as quickly as the last harem. It was not surprising that she was shaking violently as he leads her into the secret room. She watched silently as he shrugged off his robe, expecting him to remove the rest of his clothing. Instead, that was all he took off, and then he was moving to her. Panic swept her for a moment, and then it began to melt away, his touch caressing her jaw. This time when she shivered it was not fear, it was pleasure as his pheromones soothed her and began to work their magic making her obedient. "Are you frightened, Chloe?" His fingers slowly trailed down the nape of her neck and between her cleavage, her one breast still exposed and taunting him, daring him to grab it and roughly grope her body." Are you... afraid of what I might do to you?" She nodded to his first question, unable to trust her voice at that point. Her body felt so sensitive to his touch, every stroke of his fingers sending sparks through her body. Her bared breast was caught by his hand, and she felt her hands flutter close as he groped it roughly. Furthermore, her nipple hardened quickly at his touch, pressing into his palm." Yes. Yes Master." was her hesitant response. "Good. Fear heightens your reactions... it drives you to feel more. We want you to feel... everything." His hand snapped up to her throat, his iron-clamped fingers choking off her wind pipe as he pushed her towards the bed, slamming her down on the mattress of the bed, his fingers still clamped on hard." I'm going to train you, Chloe." His voice was low, and hard. No more false charm, no lordly benevolence. This was the true face of Japan, hard and cold. And pure evil. "I'm going to mold you into something impossible, the perfect slave... a slave who wants to be a slave, whoenjoysit." His fingers slowly released, and he stood up, standing over her." Undress me." Instincts kicked in as he took her by the throat, fingers digging into the slender flesh of her neck and she almost grabbed at his hands with her own before realizing that was unwise. Her collar was pushed into her neck, and she struggled to breath with both pressing so heavily on her windpipe. Japan used that that grip to push her backwards onto the bed, her body slamming onto the silk bedsheets with a soft thud. He held her there as he least over her, his breath against her skin as he told her what he was going to do with her. Japan had mostly broken Chloe through torture, and at the moment she was feeling like a limp puppet to do whatever her told her. He said he was going to train her though, and that meant she would be expected to react rather than just sit there looking pretty. A sheer look of panic was shown to him at the prospect of what that training would mean for her future. A hand flew to rub her throat when he finally released her, rising up and ordering her to undress him. Chloe did not waste time in hesitating, knowing what would happen if she failed to obey him at a pace that pleased him. She padded closer to him on her hands and knees, kneeling once she had reached him at the edge of the bed. Her hands reached for his clothing, her finger times gently fingering the edge of his tunic. Lifting herself up to her full height on her knees, she began to lift his tunic up, her hands rubbing against his chest as she did so. Japan exhaled slowly, inclining his head back slowly as he raised his arms to accommodate his slave. She may not appreciate it yet, but at this moment, Japan knew he had guessed correctly. Chloewasborn to be the perfect pleasure slave. She was quick to comply... yet sensual, attentive to his needs, even if she wanted nothing more then to be as far away from this situation as possible. The tunic slid off, over his head and slightly messed up his long, straightened topknot of hair. Shaking his head as so to fling the braided strand of hair back over behind his back, Japan caressed Chloe's cheek again, subtly beckoning her to keep her eyes focused on him." Now... the rest of it." Japan aided her in undressing him, moving his body when required and lifting his arms so that when she came to lift his tunic over his head it was easier for her to it. As he shook his braid to get it to lay down his back again, Chloe sat back on her heels and waited for him to finish. His attention did not waver from her for long, and he stroked her cheek as he urged her to continue. His pantaloons were easier for her to move, and she slid them down his legs inch by inch, slowly revealing his flesh beneath. As she got lower her back bowed down, her breasts and head hanging low towards his feet. She slid the pantaloons down to his ankles and then waited for him to lift his feet so that she could finish removing them. He stepped back out of his dropped trousers, and then he slowly undid his loincloth, casting that aside. The sight of her kneeling before him was intoxicating, and alluring in a way that no whore or one-night-stand could ever produce. Moving around to the bed, he sat down on it and leaned back on the pillows, his erection slowly building up as he did." Now... show me what you know about giving a man what he desires most... slave." Chloe felt two conflicting emotions as she watched Japan remove his loincloth himself; relief and disappointment. Unbeknown to her his pheromones were filling the surrounding air, bringing her body to arousal and beginning to make her more receptive to him. She had wanted to touch him just as much as she had wanted not to. She watched him lay back in the pillows on the bed, again feeling warring emotions within her. Furthermore, she didn't hesitate in crawling over to him, her body lying low against the bed, hips swinging and breasts begging to be touched. Her nipples were hardening now, her sex slick with her own juices. She stopped at his side, her hand reaching out to take a hold of his shaft. She stroked it first, and then bent over his groin. Her hair fell to obscure her face as her lips touched his cock, kissing it and then beginning to lick it. Japan watched her struggle with her own conflicting desires, and kept it that way, gently tugging on the strings of her decency and yet letting her feel how wrong it all was without giving her a way out. His pheromones had taken him a while to finely tune to the point where he was now a master at manipulating women with them. Sometimes, a mere brush of a finger on a cheek could send an uptight dignitary into a sexual frenzy, yet other times he could lay on his bed naked, and still have a newly acquired slave girl teeter on that razor's edge. His hand rose up to lightly brush through her hair, feeling how silky it felt on his skin. It wasn't as nearly as pleasurable as her tongue timidly wetting his rough, somewhat scaly phallus, but it was all the same experience. Sex was comparable to wine. There were different notes to it, different levels of pleasure, while at the same time not one woman was quite the same as any other. This was one reason why Japan never felt the need for a monogamous relationship, as most humanoids did in this galaxy." Good girl... keep going. You know you'll enjoy this as much as I am if you please me." This time when his hand reached to touch her, stroking her hair, she did not flinch away. Her tongue ran over the irregular pattern of scales on his shaft, reaching for the most sensitive areas of his erection. Newly to slavery she might have been, however, Chloe had been with men before, and it had been profitable to learn how to please one in many ways. Whether Japan had heard that about her, she didn't know, and it really didn't matter. Whether she had any experiences in pleasure or was a virgin, she was sure he would have made sure she learned the trade quickly enough. Her head lowered after much teasing to take the cock between her lips, inch by inch into her mouth. The scales here and there rubbed against the top of her mouth, and she knew that if he chose to take her roughly in any of her three holes it was going to hurt. The thought made her close her eyes, working at his cock and letting the sudden increase in her arousal take away her fears and humiliation. "Are you willing to do anything for your master, Chloe?" The loaded question dropped out of the thick, sexually tense air, carrying the mood into new, darker places. Japan leaned up, gripping the back of her head a little tighter, even though he allowed her enough slack to lift her head up to respond. He gazed down at her, his dark, moody eyes boring holes down into her own half-aroused, half-frightened eyes." Well...? Would you?" She stilled at his question, her thoughts a panicked mess as she felt him move beneath her. His fingers tangled further in her hair, tightening his grasp as he also gave her room to lift her head from his groin. Slowly she backed up, letting his wet shaft slide from her mouth as she scrambled to think of a suitable answer. Her instincts screamed a violent no!, while her mind was recalling what she had felt when he had tortured her days ago. By the time she had turned her head to look at him, she had an answer." Yes, Master." "Good. Stand up, and then undress completely." His hand slowly relaxed, and then finally let her go. Japan then sat up, and leaned against the headboard of the bed to watch Chloe very closely. His not-so-subtle question had hardly been sapped of its implications yet, and the aura of danger and anticipation of whatever he was going to demand of her next was hovering like a battlecruiser over the entire room. His orders were not what she had expected to hear after such a demanding question, and she was relieved when he slid from her to give her room to move. There was still tension in the room, and she could feel his eyes on her, carefully watching every move she made. Chloe moved back a little, sliding off the side of the bed slowly as if not to provoke his anger. Standing next to him, she began to do as he asked, her hand reaching to untie the knots that held her skimpy costume to her body. One by one she released the material, and it began to slide down her body, revealing her creamy skin beneath it. Her breasts bounced a little as she pulled the cloth off of her body, releasing the one that had still been beneath the cloth. She left the outfit fall discarded to the floor and stood there before him, naked and scared of what he was planning for her. Japan took a moment to savor the sight of her fully nude body before slowly getting up off the bed and suddenly grabbing her by her hair on the back of her head, drawing her up very close to his own nudity. His breath was hot and slow on her face as he gazed down on her. He seemed to be deliberating something in his mind, calculating her in some unknown quantity. It took him only a few seconds to decide, but when he did, his phenomenal affluence over her slowly dissipated, stripping from her the comfort of arousal. He threw her back onto the bed, growling as he came after her. "You think I'm not still outraged at your petty attempt to rob me, you measly piece of voodoo?! Get over here!" Grabbing her legs, he flung her over onto her front and yanked her lower half off the bed, leaving her in the perfect position for an anal intrusion. "You think I'm going to be pacified just by a few tongue licks and some puppy eye tricks? Fuck you!" Forcing her hips to stay still, Japan spat on her anus and forced his thumb into her, getting his slick spittle down into her rectum. Her breath caught in her throat as he dragged her closer by her hair, pressing his scaly body up against hers so that they were almost touching. He seemed to hesitate as if deciding something, and then Chloe felt the sudden change as he dropped the pheromones. It wasn't just the drop in her arousal, it was his sudden change in temperament. Thrown back on the bed, she whipped her head up to look at him in fear just as he came after her. She forced herself to hold still, allowing him to take out his temper on her verbally and then physically. Her chest and stomach hit the bed, her fingers grabbing at the sheets as he yanked her back. He was stronger and faster, and Chloe soon found herself half on the bed. The bottom half of her body was dangling off the edge, her legs folded underneath her. She jerked at the sudden sensation of spatial hitting her between her buttocks, and then his taloned thumb was there, pressing it into her anus. Chloe couldn't stop her body from tensing up, it was instinctive, her anal muscles did not want something foreign to go there. She bit her lip and laid her head against the bed, eyes closing as she willed her body to relax to accept the digit being pressed inside her for her own sake as well as his pleasure. Japan forced his thumb in deeper before sliding it out and taking his cock and pressing against her anus rosebud, and before she could have anytime to react, he shoved himself down inside her, tearing her rectum open wider then it had ever been. He grunted with animalistic pleasure, grabbing a bunch of her hair with both his hands as if reins on a horse and began ride her hard and rough, making every hard cruel thrust slam inside her as far as his length would allow." Scream, bitch, scream!" Chloe couldn't keep quiet for long, his thumb pressing deeper into her anus causing her to cry out, small whimpering sounds that were indeed quite pathetic. When he swapped from his thumb to his cock, she did indeed scream, a long painfully screech as her anus was first violated by him. There was no subtly about what he did, he was taking her hard and with brute force. She was forced to just take it, her hands clenching at the bedsheets with such desperation that if she had been stronger she would have surely ripped them. Her hair was used to rein her in as he raped her ass, and she kept screaming, and sobbing, tears soaking the bedsheets beneath her.

Star Wars_ Hard Vengeance(Nathan Malreaux & Karlissa)|rating:2.0

All Hail the King - OOC Chatter and Discussion

All Hail the King(thread for general chatting and discussion Threads Interest and Recruitment (Information and Character Sheets (ThreadsThreadHistory and Past (Tower (City (and Beyond (Post Count217840103/1000 Reserved I figured it's about time I opened this up. FIRST! Boom. ^-^ Quote from: Raven on 13-11-2016, 04:35:30FIRST! Boom. ^-^ Damn, that was quick, haha... Quote from: Raven on 13-11-2016, 04:35:30FIRST! Boom. ^-^ Damn! I was planning on taking the IOC thread's virginity ::) When I see an opening, I take it. :) That throne on fire pic is just lovely.Also, yay an IOC thread :-) Let the plotting and backstabbing commence! Stability stab! I'm really considering opening up the History IC thread tonight, just to give a place for people to write out their connections, get into character, etc. I am thinking about opening the other main IC threads this coming week, just to give others a chance to figure out their characters and put them together. The opening event is going to be, as of now, a sort of masquerade ball as a celebration of the anniversary of the King's Coronation. I thought it'd be a decent and fun way of bringing characters together. *bookmarks and waves* OOO I love the idea of the celebration of the King's coronation... on top of everything else, there should be prezzies for the King... a fun way to play the one-upmanship game... So....anyone want the military connection? Have a woman of honor NC pride in your corner? Thinking maybe a hotter female version of Ned Stark...only not so caught up in her code of honor to get herself killed -settles in and grins.- Hello, all. By the way, if anyone would like connections with Liliana or Xavier, just let me know. Liliana's services are available to all members of the peerage, as well as high-ranking government officials. As are Xavier's, for that matter. -winkwinknudgenudge.-Liliana, poor thing, hasn't got much of a social life to speak of, but she has befriends, if you'd like to go that route. She hasn't had much in the way of lovers, but there are possibilities there, as well. I don't see her making enemies, at least not on her side of things, but there's always room for someone who resents her for some reason, especially if it's one of the royal kiddies who has heard the rumors and thinks Liliana is offing the King. Xavier has had gads of lovers, both on and off the clock, so that's a strong possibility. I'd like for him to be the favored courtesan of one of the family, or atleasthave that possibility be in the offing. Frenemies, friends, enemies, rivals, lusts, infatuations, etc. Are all open and welcome! Quote from: Bibliophile on 13-11-2016, 07:36:44-settles in and grins.- Hello, all. By the way, if anyone would like connections with Liliana or Xavier, just let me know. Liliana's services are available to all members of the peerage, as well as high-ranking government officials. As are Xavier's, for that matter. -winkwinknudgenudge.-Liliana, poor thing, hasn't got much of a social life to speak of, but she has a few friends, if you'd like to go that route. She hasn't had much in the way of lovers, but there are possibilities there, as well. I don't see her making enemies, at least not on her side of things, but there's always room for someone who resents her for some reason, especially if it's one of the royal kiddies who has heard the rumors and thinks Liliana is offing the King. Xavier has had gads of lovers, both on and off the clock, so that's a strong possibility. I'd like for him to be the favored courtesan of one of the family, or at least have that possibility be in the offing. Frenemies, friends, enemies, rivals, lusts, infatuations, etc. Are all open and welcome! I may have to hit you up about Liliana with this character I'm slowly working on. And for those wishing to get started now instead of waiting... Link(History and Past IC thread is officially open. Quote from: Bibliophile on 13-11-2016, 07:36:44-settles in and grins.- Hello, all. By the way, if anyone would like connections with Liliana or Xavier, just let me know. Liliana's services are available to all members of the peerage, as well as high-ranking government officials. As are Xavier's, for that matter. -winkwinknudgenudge.-Liliana, poor thing, hasn't got much of a social life to speak of, but she has a few friends, if you'd like to go that route. She hasn't had much in the way of lovers, but there are possibilities there, as well. I don't see her making enemies, at least not on her side of things, but there's always room for someone who resents her for some reason, especially if it's one of the royal kiddies who has heard the rumors and thinks Liliana is offing the King. Xavier has had gads of lovers, both on and off the clock, so that's a strong possibility. I'd like for him to be the favored courtesan of one of the family, or at least have that possibility be in the offing. Frenemies, friends, enemies, rivals, lusts, infatuations, etc. Are all open and welcome! I could see Lilliana being a consultant to Theresa...or friends. Is Liliana as socially awkward as the Admiral is? I might get some history up tomorrow if anyone else is wants to work out history with Angel. No idea what I'd write yet, but I'm open to making something happen to him. I would love to work out connections with the Admiral and Liliana... as well as anyone else :) Quote from: Raven on 13-11-2016, 07:57:30I'm might get some history up tomorrow if anyone else is wants to work out history with Angel. No idea what I'd write yet, but I'm open to making something happen to him. Might hit you up if you don't get any other takers. I'd like to write Xero. So, as a thought, I figured that Theresa would know most of the royal family, as well as everyone on the council. Are there any other council members at the moment? Quote from: Cocaine on 13-11-2016, 08:14:02Might hit you up if you don't get any other takers. I'd like to write Xero. Sure. I'm up for it. Quote from: Bibliophile on 13-11-2016, 07:36:44By the way, if anyone would like connections with Liliana or Xavier, just let me know. Liliana's services are available to all members of the peerage, as well as high-ranking government officials. As are Xavier's, for that matter. -winkwinknudgenudge.-Lukas would absolutely love to connect with Xavier in every possible sense of the word. ;) Quote from: Revolution on 13-11-2016, 08:42:58 Lukas would absolutely love to connect with Xavier in every possible sense of the word. ;)Posted in the interest thread about it, but I'll post here too. I'm up for connecting Angel to Lukas. Liliana is actually really shy when it comes to non-professional settings. So, like, if she's at a party or club, or any event where she's not in work mode, she finds herself unable to approach people and, if approached, she has a hard time thinking of things to say. However, when she's working and relating to people on a professional level, she's completely different. She's warm, nurturing and even gregarious to an extent. She just has to have that focus of her professional mindset to allow her to relax and be herself. As for the admiral, she might not need the personal training aspect of Liliana's job, but she might see her for nutritional advice, yoga, meditation or massage therapy. Hell, Liliana also offers counseling. It's not therapy, not really, more casual and intimate than that, really. She's literally all about making certain thatallaspects of her client's lives are in a good place. She really focuses on the mind-body-spirit thing. So, she could be helping your character in any number of ways. As for Catherine, Sally, Liliana would totally travel to see her at her place, and do any of those things I mentioned above. Liliana is very devoted to all members of the royal family, and if she knows about Catherine's lifestyle, I can see her really wanting to remain involved in her life, in order to be certain that the partying, late nights and drugs are counter-acted by all the good things Liliana will offer up, like healthy food, meditation, etc. Ect. She wouldn't judge, either, and they're both into dance, so it's possible Catherine might even like her! Gnothi, my love, you know I always look forward to PMs from you!-beams at Rev.- Oh you know it, honey! Xavier would be all about spending time with Lukas. -giggles.- So, shall we say they're casual lovers? Raven and I have already determined that Xavier and Angel occasionally fall into bed...or other places...together, so the three of them could even be friends, spend time shopping and going to clubs, or something. My new dude is up and open for connections. Feel free to toss me a PM or I'm if you want to possibly work something out. And on that note, my butt is going to crawl into bed and finish this movie. She sounds like more a life coach than a dietician/personal trainer (can't remember her title off the top of my head right now). Yeah, Xavier, Lukas, and Angel as friends with a casual fling here and there should be a thing. I've also made minor appearance changes to Angel. Just the addition of a tattoo and some piercings. Quote from: Raven on 13-11-2016, 08:45:47Posted in the interest thread about it, but I'll post here too. I'm up for connecting Angel to Lukas. Yes please! My first thought was Angel repeatedly catching Lukas as he's trying to sneak out to go clubbing, or Angel being forced to accompany Lukas for, naturally, some late night clubbing adventures. And Billion, I'm definitely up for them being friends and hanging out together. :) If both you and Raven are interested and cool with it, we could do something with the three of them and one of the scenarios mentioned above? Or something casual like taking a swim together or something. What do you guys think?(And I'm off to bed as well. Looking forward to chatting with you guys tomorrow!) Health and Wellness Consultant. -snicker.- Which is a totally made-up title that I came up with myself. And, yeah, she's probably more of a life coach than anything else, but she has also gotten certified and done a ton of research into things like new age healing, herbal supplements, acupuncture, aromatherapy...etc., as well as more 'concrete' things like massage therapy, physical therapy, fitness and nutrition. Like, her whole life is her work, practically, and she's constantly finding new ways to make herself better at her job. Yes! So, it's settled, Lukas, Angel and Xavier are friends. -grins.- We will have to do a clubbing scene at some point. Quote from: Revolution on 13-11-2016, 09:07:03Yes please! My first thought was Angel repeatedly catching Lukas as he's trying to sneak out to go clubbing, or Angel being forced to accompany Lukas for, naturally, some late night clubbing adventures. And Billion, I'm definitely up for them being friends and hanging out together. :) If both you and Raven are interested and cool with it, we could do something with the three of them and one of the scenarios mentioned above? Or something casual like taking a swim together or something. What do you guys think?(And I'm off to bed as well. Looking forward to chatting with you guys tomorrow!) Angel would be up for that. I'd imagine other guardian types would probably abhor it, but Angel and he would have things in common, Angel enjoys clubbing, and Angel doesn't mind acting as the "big brother" for him should anything go awry while out. He's really up for anything when cute men are involved. He's easy (in more ways than one). Quote from: Bibliophile on 13-11-2016, 09:11:45Health and Wellness Consultant. -snicker.- Which is a totally made-up title that I came up with myself. And, yeah, she's probably more of a life coach than anything else, but she has also gotten certified and done a ton of research into things like new age healing, herbal supplements, acupuncture, aromatherapy...etc., as well as more 'concrete' things like massage therapy, physical therapy, fitness and nutrition. Like, her whole life is her work, practically, and she's constantly finding new ways to make herself better at her job. Yes! So, it's settled, Lukas, Angel and Xavier are friends. -grins.- We will have to do a clubbing scene at some point. Angel might come to her at some point. He would be into new age healing, and if she can point him to a yoga studio, he would be in her debt. Definitely a clubbing scene. That will be loads of fun. I already posted in the recruitment thread, but I'll be a little more detailed here! My dude, Damien, has been approved! Oldest prince and runs the military don't you know. Since we're all making connections and there's history threads up already, just let me know if you want to cook something up! I'll definitely be shooting a PM or two anyway, but please, beat me to it if you want! He needs all kinds of connections! A Kings sword, staff, anything and everything, really!’D If any of the Royals want to discuss/figure out how things might be between themselves and their cousins, let me know.I'm also still looking for the royal that Xero is most often assigned to guard. OOO, Cocaine, would you consider having Xero saddled with keeping Princess Catherine safe? It wouldn't be easy, or dull, I promise... I'm open to any kind of relationship between them. Totally showing off bad manners and posting in here before I even send Gothic my sheet. Hai!(Quote from: Amelia on 13-11-2016, 18:39:50Totally showing off bad manners and posting in here before I even send Gothic my sheet. HAI!(sch manners. Who cares. *hugs Ames* -beams!--hugs Ry-Rave, I'm shooting you a PM. Gothic, are you planning on adding something describing foreign relations? No rush on it. I'm just curious if you are. Quote from: Raven on 13-11-2016, 21:26:45Gnothi, are you planning on adding something describing foreign relations? No rush on it. I'm just curious if you are. I probably should and will later today or tonight. Furthermore, I've got a little bit but definitely needs to be expanded. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 13-11-2016, 21:32:32I probably should and will later today or tonight. I've got a little bit but definitely needs to be expanded. Sweet! Thanks for all your hard work btw. And Beatrix Barn is approved! I'm open for connections of all kinds. She's also from a noble family, so if someone wants to make a relative, that's fine too. I can change her maiden name. ERF. I want to make another character, and use Melissa Clark as the face claim. She's kinda giving me ideas for, like, the only child of a noble family. I want to play another spoiled brat... I love spoiled brats. The World Information has been updated. I've added extensive information on the neighboring nations and countries. I've tried to take in to consideration sheets, but if I need to change something, I would be more than happy to discuss it. You can find it in the recruitment thread, as well as the Game Information thread. Thank you for the extended information on the region that the story takes place in. This will make it much easier for characters to chat about politics. I can already see Hester having some very strong opinions on their neighbors 8-) My third, and final, character is approved and posted, guys! Daphne is open to connections, so anyone who wants to have some sort of relationship with the adult version of Verruca Salt, just let me know! Enzo (#msg12776366) is now posted and desperately in need of some connections :D Enzo is yummy.-Xavier approves.- Maybe he and Xavier have spent some time together over the years? Assuming Enzo would avail himself of the services of a pleasure servant. Kinsley Grant, the Voice of Giles (#msg12776386)checking in. ^^ Quote from: Red Phoenix on 14-11-2016, 20:39:46Kinsley Grant, the Voice of Giles (#msg12776386) checking in. ^^ Well hello ::)I got ideas! I'll PM you shortly~ Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 14-11-2016, 20:23:53Enzo (#msg12776366) is now posted and desperately in need of some connections :Dour 2 characters being King's Swords would be the obvious connection. The less obvious would be that they both collaborate for counterintelligence. I imagine our 2 characters would work directly for the king in an intelligence capacity while the actual government intelligence entity works separate from the royal family. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 14-11-2016, 20:39:46Kinsley Grant, the Voice of Giles (#msg12776386) checking in. ^^*gasp* Rihanna! *swoons* I love her concept. It reminds me of the Voice of London from V for Vendetta. Quote from: Rave on 14-11-2016, 20:50:56Well hello ::)I got ideas! I'll PM you shortly~Hooray! Quote from: Raven on 14-11-2016, 20:55:38*gasp* Rihanna! *swoons* I love her concept. It reminds me of the Voice of London from V for Vendetta. She does have that side to her, yes! ’D Quote from: Bibliophile on 14-11-2016, 20:32:34Enzo is yummy.-Xavier approves.- Maybe he and Xavier have spent some time together over the years? Assuming Enzo would avail himself of the services of a pleasure servant.Oh, quite possibly! If nothing else a pleasure servant is always a good source of information :) And fun! I think we can do some plotting for sure. Quote from: Raven on 14-11-2016, 20:55:38Our 2 characters being King's Swords would be the obvious connection. The less obvious would be that they both collaborate for counterintelligence. I imagine our 2 characters would work directly for the king in an intelligence capacity while the actual government intelligence entity works separate from the royal family. Definitely! Kings Swords makes it a no-brainer since they'll all have some ties, and agreed on the counterintelligence stuff. Enzo is very much like an underworlds spymaster type, with a lot of little birds throughout the kingdom (and surrounding countries) and I'm sure their clandestine operations could work well together. We should definitely do some plotting and see if they got up to any work, trouble or fun in their past! I'm a bit behind, but I think I'm starting to catch up. Currently working on getting to PMs about connections and personal histories, after I finish up some stuff for the main IC threads. Glad to see everything is coming along so far. Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 14-11-2016, 21:37:06Oh quite possibly! If nothing else a pleasure servant is always a good source of information :) And fun! I think we can do some plotting for sure. Definitely! Kings Swords makes it a no-brainer since they'll all have some ties, and agreed on the counterintelligence stuff. Enzo is very much like an underworlds spymaster type, with a lot of little birds throughout the kingdom (and surrounding countries) and I'm sure their clandestine operations could work well together. We should definitely do some plotting and see if they got up to any work, trouble or fun in their past!PM incoming shortly. Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 14-11-2016, 20:23:53Enzo (#msg12776366) is now posted and desperately in need of some connections :Lukas woulddefinitelybe interested in connecting up with Enzo as well. Quote from: Revolution on 14-11-2016, 22:59:00Lukas would definitely be interested in connecting up with Enzo as well. Definitely up for that! Anything in particular? Feel free to shoot me a PM :) For those that just joined....welcome! My Admiral is always open for new relationships and plotting! @WhatLiesAbove - I like the idea of the Admiral teaching Princess C to sail, would you like this to be something in the past or something happening now? I'm open to either one.@RedPhoenix - Can we talk re: Princess C and Kinsley Grant, I've got all sorts of ideas for ways the two of them can cross paths often. I'm sure the 'other' princess has been a source for news items more than once...@Orange Marmalade - PM me... Furthermore, I'd been thinking maybe Princess C has been a source for info/an assignment. Also, as they've both got a checkered past, maybe they have a friendship/love-hate relationship/partied together in the past.@Bibliophilia - Do you think Princess C and Lady D would be friends/rivals/leaders of alternate social cliques? I think that together they'd be a force to reckon with...- I love the idea of Liliana keeping tabs on Princess C trying to keep her 'safe' despite her lifestyle. Oh, and party together. As often as Lili lets herself get dragged into things.@Christa - Not sure what past Princess C has with Beatrix, but I'm open to anything. I was thinking a frenemies-type thing, Sally. Like, they smile and make nice if they run into each other at the same party or club, but all their interactions are like a sugar-coated cyanide pill. And, yes, Liliana would totally hustle to try and take care of the princess, and be utterly susceptible to being dragged to places and events that make her totally uncomfortable. -giggles.- Quote from: Sally Aces on 15-11-2016, 01:51:20@RedPhoenix - Can we talk re: Princess C and Kinsley Grant, I've got all sorts of ideas for ways the two of them can cross paths often. I'm sure the 'other' princess has been a source for news items more than once... Yup! That goes for anyone else too.Am I planning to send out some of my own and respond to those I have already received somewhat soonish! :) Sally...we can make it a thing from before...and they have kinda gotten close because of it! Also, Red...and the rest of the royal family! I was thinking that Theresa probably knows the whole family. Since her ascension to her position about a year or so ago, she would have been at the service to the Royal family. Just to clarify, Kinsley is a 'noble' by adoption, and I'm guessing that probably doesn't really qualify, hence her keeping her original last name. Also speaking of this there is an open connection for her which is the family that adopted her I've purposefully left as vague as possible. If anyone wants to be her adopted parents/siblings/etc. please PM me. :) Sup everyone, I was just approved. Cid won't have many connections in the capitol, but will be open once we start up IC. He is in town to receive a medal for recent engagements in the disputed lands. Quote from: Aiden on 15-11-2016, 02:54:51Sup everyone, I was just approved. Cid won't have many connections in the capitol, but will be open once we start up IC. He is in town to receive a medal for recent engagements in the disputed lands. He looks like a lot of fun. Look forward to playing with him! Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 01:57:32I was thinking a frenemies-type thing, Sally. Like, they smile and make nice if they run into each other at the same party or club, but all their interactions are like a sugar-coated cyanide pill. Oooo, perfect. Want to plot out a 'why?' I can think of so many reasons but 3 jump to mind. Up until now, by virtue of her station, Princess C has eclipsed Lady D. People go to Catherine's parties when they're scheduled against Lady D's (maybe Princess C was also born on August 23rd at 3:14 2 years after Lady D), the paparazzi leave Lady D when Princess C makes an entrance, etc. Perhaps Princess C made advances on Lady D she did not welcome, so now they're frenemies Dueling Exes... maybe they have a habit of stealing each other's boyfriends'm open to anything really, it could be nice to know the source for the feud. Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 01:57:32And, yes, Liliana would totally hustle to try and take care of the princess, and be utterly susceptible to being dragged to places and events that make her totally uncomfortable. -giggles.-Helene, I see Liliana getting a few '911' calls from Princess C to lure her into strange and wonderful experiences... I was thinking that the 'why' would just be a matter of them just not liking one another and being rivals. I mean, most frenemies don't have 'specific' reason that they don't get long, it' usually just a matter of being female and, unfortunately, feeling the need to be in constant competition with one another. Furthermore, I've gone ahead and updated Damien's (#msg12773621) contacts to everything discussed in PMs so far, from meaningful relationships to acquaintances, so if I missed a detail or I more disastrously missed a person that PM'd me, let me know and I can fix it right away! Of course, if your nobility or around the royal family, you'll know Damien! So shoot me a PM, and we can figure out how ;D (and Beyond(Tower(City(*muffles a laugh*Morning wood...and beyond...*dies* Yes, we will go far beyond morning wood in this land. *gazes off into the distance dreamily* Quote from: Raven on 15-11-2016, 03:28:18*muffles a laugh*Morning wood...and beyond...*dies*Lol. You know, I debated whether to change the name or not. Figured what the fuck, and rolled with it. Alright, who wants to chat up Angel at the ball? Or, who can he chat up? Either way. Enzo's hometown! ’D Quote from: Raven on 15-11-2016, 03:28:18*muffles a laugh*Morning wood...and beyond...*dies*Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 15-11-2016, 03:37:42Lol. You know, I debated whether to change the name or not. Figured what the fuck, and rolled with it.Oh, it's alright. We're all adults here.... Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Ry, he and Xavier could be hanging out and making fun of the fashion don'tts. -snickers- Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 03:42:46Ry, he and Xavier could be hanging out and making fun of the fashion don'tts. -snickers-There needs to be a Joan Rivers/Fashion Police styled red carpet show. Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 03:42:46Ry, he and Xavier could be hanging out and making fun of the fashion don'tts. -snickers-Let's do it! Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 15-11-2016, 03:43:53There needs to be a Joan Rivers/Fashion Police styled red carpet show. We'll totally get to know which princesses and royals are the worst gossipers in the family ;) Louis!! Off we Guido! Lukas is open to gossip with anyone at the ball! (But I'm going to sleep for now, hoping to get some stuff written up tomorrow!)(Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 03:42:46Ry, he and Xavier could be hanging out and making fun of the fashion don'tts. -snickers-Theresa is probably fully in a fashion don't. Who's going to dare to tell her to her face? >:) Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 04:13:45Theresa is probably fully in a fashion don't. Who's going to dare to tell her to her face? Sgt;:)Hey, she could go to Catherine for help getting properly dolled up... Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 04:13:45Theresa is probably fully in a fashion don't. Who's going to dare to tell her to her face? Sgt;:)This guy! Quote from: Raven on 15-11-2016, 04:21:19 This guy! That will make for an awes, e interaction! Theresa is probably going to make the evening news! I know I'm, like, really behind on connection messages and whatnot, as I've been trying to focus on reading/reviewing sheets, questions, and getting things assembled, but if anyone is interested in setting up some scenes, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'm hoping to get to some plotting messages tonight before bed if I can resist the temptation of getting to some other stuff. Hi! I'm alive! And I just realized this is a thing! Miss, are you following me again? ’D Yes!....... No!...... I don't know anymore, I'm just here ok lol. This is the second time I looked up and said, "Oh shit LA is here too." :P People. Cid. Someone's an FFT fan. >And don't think I missed the "Northern Winds" "Order of the Northern Sky" connection either! In any case, really sorry my character isn't out yet, I think I've just been really off my game lately. TDI'm working on having her finished up today so hopefully I don't get completely lost with what's going on IC. Haha, yep And the King's Mistress (#msg12778884) is posted and ready for all kinds of connect-y goodness! lol She's been in the Capital for about 3 years now so she'd know people. She originally comes from out in the highlands though so if anyone's character is from out in the backwaters of nowhere there could be some background there. Friends, enemies, frenemies, flirtations she's open for pretty much anything. ’D Quote from: Carla on 15-11-2016, 21:48:43And the King's Mistress (#msg12778884) is posted and ready for all kinds of connect-y goodness! Lol She's been in the Capital for about 3 years now so she'd know people. She originally comes from out in the highlands though so if anyone's character is from out in the backwaters of nowhere there could be some background there. Friends, enemies, frenemies, flirtations she's open for pretty much anything. DI'd imagine she'd know Thomas' wife. Quote from: Carla on 15-11-2016, 21:48:43And the King's Mistress (#msg12778884) is posted and ready for all kinds of connect-y goodness! Lol She's been in the Capital for about 3 years now so she'd know people. She originally comes from out in the highlands though so if anyone's character is from out in the backwaters of nowhere there could be some background there. Friends, enemies, frenemies, flirtations she's open for pretty much anything. DI can totally see Theresa hating Lilith with a passion >:) Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 22:25:27I can totally see Theresa hating Lilith with a passion Sgt;:)lol... She is totally open to do so but why? I don't see anything in her sheet that would be reason for the two to be enemies per se...or does she just not like Astra because she's having a relationship with the King and Theresa is a patriot?? Yay, more characters! Submitted Cerise! So whenever she gets up (assuming I didn't fuck up the sheet something massive), I'm way open for connections! She's from a prominent noble family with a long history of military service and knighthood, and a member of the King's Swords. She is also like REALLY gay. Hi, I'm new. 3Please take good care of me!Also, if anyone wants any connections with Laguna, don't hesitate to ask! I'm thinking he may be invited to the ball, if that's cool? Oh man, he's a cutie. I almost wish I didn't make Cerise gay now :Also, she's up and open for connections! ’D Quote from: Carla on 15-11-2016, 22:31:22lol... She is totally open to do so but why? I don't see anything in her sheet that would be reason for the two to be enemies per se...or does she just not like Astra because she's having a relationship with the King and Theresa is a patriot?? Theresa is a patriot. And she strongly believes that the King should not be having mistresses! Quote from: Florence on 15-11-2016, 23:28:00Oh man, he's a cutie. I almost wish I didn't make Cerise gay now :Also, she's up and open for connections! Dang, oh well! Wonder what she would think if she happens to see Laguna in his female disguise? Lol Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 15-11-2016, 23:35:44Dang, oh well! Wonder what she would think if she happens to see Laguna in his female disguise? lol Theresa would probably drag him off and yell at him. She's matronly that way. Thinking about it, she is too young to be this conservative! Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 23:55:18Theresa would probably drag him off and yell at him. She's matronly that way. Thinking about it, she is too young to be this conservative! There's plenty of conservative young folk, and in fact it adds needed diversity of cast :) Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 23:55:18Theresa would probably drag him off and yell at him. She's matronly that way. Thinking about it, she is too young to be this conservative! Lol that at seem confusing to Laguna, considering he's used to dressing up like a woman, as well as why someone would care. XD Working on Celeste's sheet now. Any and all connections welcome. :) Ooh....who's Celeste? What does she do? Celeste is my social-climbing whore of a rebel. O:)(There, I said it...) Quote from: The Dark Raven on 16-11-2016, 00:59:03Celeste is my social-climbing whore of a rebel. O:)Pooh, she sounds interesting! Quote from: The Dark Raven on 16-11-2016, 00:59:03Celeste is my social-climbing whore of a rebel. O:)(There, I said it...) Oh, I can tell she is going to be tons of fun! Random thought...anyone have need for a friend/family member they need someone to play? I'm open! Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 16-11-2016, 01:08:46Oh, I can tell she is going to be tons of fun! Random thought...anyone have need for a friend/family member they need someone to play? I'm open! Depending on what plots I can get Laguna in, I may need someone or myself to play the Emperor of Fuji. But not now of course, still too early. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 16-11-2016, 01:12:46Depending on what plots I can get Laguna in, I may need someone or myself to play the Emperor of Fuji. But not now of course, still too early. Let me know, TR! By the way...glad to see you in another game! Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 15-11-2016, 23:30:11Theresa is a patriot. And she strongly believes that the King should not be having mistresses!LMAO... What about the fact that the Queen has her own affairs? At least the King is consistent! Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 16-11-2016, 01:12:46Depending on what plots I can get Laguna in, I may need someone or myself to play the Emperor of Fuji. But not now of course, still too early. Having the emperor of another nation as a character in play would be very odd, I think? Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 16-11-2016, 01:21:00Having the emperor of another nation as a character in play would be very odd, I think?Mm, true. I meant maybe as an NPC. Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 16-11-2016, 01:18:22Let me know, TR! By the way...glad to see you in another game! Thanks! Yeah, as an NPC, for a scene, I'd be fine with it. I'm not sure how a full-time character or long term NPC monarch of another country would really fit with it focused on one country. Ambassadors and such are fine as full term characters. Visiting royalty is fine. Full monarchs and the like of another country would need to have some thought and discussion before I'd be open to it. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 16-11-2016, 01:39:33Yeah, as an NPC, for a scene, I'd be fine with it. I'm not sure how a full-time character or long term NPC monarch of another country would really fit with it focused on one country. Ambassadors and such are fine as full term characters. Visiting royalty is fine. Full monarchs and the like of another country would need to have some thought and discussion before I'd be open to it. Awesome! I can always just make them an NPC, no prob! Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 16-11-2016, 01:41:04Awesome! I can always just make them an NPC, no prob! Before you do that, I'd really like to discuss it. I'm fine if it's, like, a single history post or something like that. But if you're going to do a bunch of scenes with that NPC, it needs to be discussed beforehand in PMs. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 16-11-2016, 01:44:07Before you do that, I'd really like to discuss it. I'm fine if it's, like, a single history post or something like that. But if you're going to do a bunch of scenes with that NPC, it needs to be discussed beforehand in PMs.Ah, no prob! I was just thinking of them arriving at the ball that's going on, maybe having been invited? Maybe after the party he would return to Fuji while Ai stays a bit longer to discuss diplomatic issues and treaties, and of trading routes and what not. So I see a reference to Japan in a character sheet. Is this island we're on in the real world? For some reason I thought it was a completely fictional one. Can I have Kinsley be irritated by American rhetoric against dictatorships? :) Quote from: Red Phoenix on 16-11-2016, 02:09:40So I see a reference to Japan in a character sheet. Is this island we're on in the real world? For some reason I thought it was a completely fictional one. Can I have Kinsley be irritated by American rhetoric against dictatorships? :)I believe the world is fictional, I had actually put Japan as a placeholder while I was making the profile. I can fix it when I get back home. Oh, that makes more sense. :) Quote from: Red Phoenix on 16-11-2016, 02:12:21Oh, that makes more sense. :)Sorry for any confusion!! D:And Laguna is open for connections if anyone wants! I plan on messaging a few people when I get home. 3 Quote from: Red Phoenix on 16-11-2016, 02:09:40So I see a reference to Japan in a character sheet. Is this island we're on in the real world? For some reason I thought it was a completely fictional one. Can I have Kinsley be irritated by American rhetoric against dictatorships? :)Maybe not American, but I believe a couple of the countries Gothic made are republics and at least one doesn't get on well...she could be irritated with them. ’D Yeah I'll probably just use Elysium :D Mm. There are a few republics, kingdoms/monarchies, democratic governments, and an oligarchy. I tried to mix it up a bit. Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 16-11-2016, 01:08:46Oh, I can tell she is going to be tons of fun! Random thought...anyone have need for a friend/family member they need someone to play? I'm open! Could need somebody to play my guys drug addict sister sometimes. May have to make a sheet for her and although, and she won't be showing up just yet. Quote from: Mother Mouse on 16-11-2016, 02:52:58Could need somebody to play my guys drug addict sister sometimes. May have to make a sheet for her and although, and she won't be showing up just yet. Let me know! Back! I'll edit my profile to fix the errors, and then get my first post in! Yay! By the way I was wondering for atmosphere and scene's sake, since Laguna is from a different land and imagines formal wear as what he's used to wearing in his Kingdom, should he come to the Ball in his Royal Garbs, or in a tuxedo because it's technically black tie? Edit: Changed the land, so now it is the Eastern land of Songs. 3 So, I just realized that Daphne needs security detail and loads of other servants. If anyone is interested in making another character and wants to make something for her, just message me. Daphne? The spoiled brat -snickers at Aiden.- Quote from: Aiden on 16-11-2016, 04:18:31The spoiled brat Right! Quote from: Aiden on 16-11-2016, 04:18:31The spoiled brat just read Daphne's profile, and I think Laguna would have fun interacting wither her. She's totally open to interactions! Quote from: Bibliophile on 16-11-2016, 04:50:04She's totally open to interactions!sent you a PM! :)Oh yeah, he'll be an NPC but meet the Emperor of Songs, Emperor Auto Fujiwara. :Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Quote from: Bibliophile on 16-11-2016, 04:50:04She's totally open to interactions! Made a post for you! I can't deny that I have (what I'm hoping is a fleeting) desire to create the old Queen Mother of the King. Ninety-something years old. Snarky. Somewhat senile. Possibly looking like Madame D. in The Grand Budapest Hotel. (finally finished my first post in the game. ’D Prince Lukas will hopefully show up at the ball tomorrow. Hoping to grab some time to write out his entrance! Okay, going to drop in Lady Norah and Xero soon. If anyone was interested in interacting with either of them, just let me know, and I'll point either of them in the right direction. Quote from: Cocaine on 16-11-2016, 07:04:08Okay, going to drop in Lady Norah and Xero soon. If anyone was interested in interacting with either of them, just let me know, and I'll point either of them in the right direction. I'm just wanting to have anyone interact with Laguna. Lol XD Quote from: Cocaine on 16-11-2016, 07:04:08Okay, going to drop in Lady Norah and Xero soon. If anyone was interested in interacting with either of them, just let me know, and I'll point either of them in the right direction. I'm down for either one enjoying Theresa's company! Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 16-11-2016, 05:32:24I can't deny that I have (what I'm hoping is a fleeting) desire to create the old Queen Mother of the King. Ninety-something years old. Snarky. Somewhat senile. Possibly looking like Madame D. in The Grand Budapest Hotel. (please do :-)That sounds like such a great idea. Yay for older characters and more members of the royal family! Quote from: Dooley on 16-11-2016, 20:36:44Oh please do :-)That sounds like such a great idea. Yay for older characters and more members of the royal family! I've gotten her written up in the world building thread after I just couldn't stop imagining her in my head with all the things she'd say and do. Just debating final touches. Alma Octavian (#msg12781494) is open for connections. Back home from work, yay! Laguna is still open to connections if others would like! I hope to have him know at least a few of the Royals if possible! ’D I am half-tempted to give Lukas a batman mask. Why am I so picky. Quote from: Revolution on 17-11-2016, 02:53:31I am half-tempted to give Lukas a batman mask. Why am I so picky. Because!(Quote from: Revolution on 17-11-2016, 02:53:31I am half-tempted to give Lukas a batman mask. Why am I so picky. I was so picky I didn't even give a Mask to Ai. It probably would have been a Mistune mask, but I didn't choose fast enough. He's probably even more out of place at the ball now because of that, as well as his clothes. Lol Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 17-11-2016, 03:08:17Because!(I'm even more tempted, oops. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 17-11-2016, 03:11:47I was so picky I didn't even give a Mask to Ai. It probably would have been a Mistune mask, but I didn't choose fast enough. He's probably even more out of place at the ball now because of that, as well as his clothes. lol Ooh a mistune mask would've been really neat! And he probably would've stuck out either way to be honest. Quote from: Revolution on 17-11-2016, 03:16:47Somehow I'm even more tempted, oops.Ooh, a mistune mask would've been really neat! And he probably would've stuck out either way to be honest. That's true. Plus he's wearing makeup. I didn't want that hard work to go to waste, you know? lol Though I could always just edit it real quick, no one has acknowledged him yet. Hamm, what to do with Cerise... Quote from: Florence on 17-11-2016, 04:47:14Hmmm, what to do with Cerise... Come save Theresa from being bored out of her mind! Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 17-11-2016, 05:29:10Come save Theresa from being bored out of her mind! She just might!... I really wish I made a more mischievous character who would do something like this: morning! :) Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 17-11-2016, 17:28:24morning! :) So would anyone like to interact with Laguna? :0 Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 17-11-2016, 20:06:37So would anyone like to interact with Laguna? 0Alima is available for interactions. Quote from: sweets on 17-11-2016, 20:21:37Alima is available for interactions. Sure why not? Did you want to start the scene, or me? Not sure if Alma would walk up to a Crown Prince and start talking? They can compare dresses! Quote from: Aiden on 17-11-2016, 20:42:29They can compare dresses! Ha, funny. XD And it's not a dress, it is a Kimono, sir! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Quote from: Aiden on 17-11-2016, 20:44:32¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lol basically the same thing? XD Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 17-11-2016, 20:40:53Sure why not? Did you want to start the scene, or me? Not sure if Alma would walk up to a Crown Prince and start talking? You can start is if you would like. Alma is just walking around the ballroom currently. Quote from: sweets on 17-11-2016, 21:06:52You can start is if you would like. Alma is just walking around the ballroom currently.mkay! Quote from: sweets on 17-11-2016, 21:06:52You can start is if you would like. Alma is just walking around the ballroom currently. Finally made a post for you sweets! Kinsley will be arriving sometime after Damien! :)And it's totally not because they're together. Gee. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 18-11-2016, 01:47:17Kinsley will be arriving sometime after Damien! :)And it's totally not because they're together. Gee.>.>Yeah, totally not.(be able to have him arrive as soon as Dooley puts up her post! Turns out, Momma Queen is running late, and he's got to pick her up. SMH. Oh, hey I have to ask, who are the kids of The King again? I know Alexandra, but anyone else? For those I'm in a scene with I will have a post up tonight! Quote from: Rave on 18-11-2016, 01:51:36>.Sgt;Lt;.Lt;Yeah, totally not. (be able to have him arrive as soon as Dooley puts up her post! Turns out, Momma Queen is running late, and he's got to pick her up. SMH. Great, we're not even in a relationship and your mother is already screwing things up! :P Queens are never late. Everyone else is simply early 8-)But yes, Hester will indeed be arriving late to the party. She's got some behind the scenes politicking to finish up. Aw, is politics. Of course, don't let that delay Damien and Kinsley's interaction! Damien can always go pick up Hester later on in the evening. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 18-11-2016, 02:54:09Great, we're not even in a relationship and your mother is already screwing things up! Hahaha, He's probably a momma's boy, okay? That lady raised him right. With good taste in women anyway ::)Quote from: Dooley on 18-11-2016, 03:14:43 Queens are never late. Everyone else is simply early 8-)But yes, Hester will indeed be arriving late to the party. She's got some behind the scenes politicking to finish up. Aw, is politics. Of course, don't let that delay Damien and Kinsley's interaction! Damien can always go pick up Hester later on in the evening. That'll work! We'll PM more about it, but I can have him arrive and then pick Hester up at a later time, or be there for whenever she does arrive to escort her down the stairs and all. Quote from: Dooley on 18-11-2016, 03:14:43 Queens are never late. Everyone else is simply early 8-)But yes, Hester will indeed be arriving late to the party. She's got some behind the scenes politicking to finish up. Aw, is politics. Of course, don't let that delay Damien and Kinsley's interaction! Damien can always go pick up Hester later on in the evening. If you want any extra politics and whatnot to be involved, Laguna and his father, the Emperor, are there talk about trades and relations to Giles! Feel free to talk to them if you want to add anything! I'd be super happy if Laguna could get involved in politics a whatnot!!! X3 Xero and Norah have been posted. Anyone can feel free to approach or catch their attention--they will separate as needed. Quote from: Cocaine on 18-11-2016, 04:07:08Xero and Norah have been posted. Anyone can feel free to approach or catch their attention--they will separate as needed. They could go and see Laguna if you want! I feel kind of weird that he's Royal, yet no one has said anything about himself and his father's arrival. A;Maybe I didn't type up a good enough entrance. D: Hopefully I'll post sometime tonight. If not, then tomorrow. Boom! Entrance! ’D Anybody up for any side or history scenes? My two are still open for connections. Quote from: Cocaine on 18-11-2016, 05:52:37Anybody up for any side or history scenes? My two are still open for connections. I am if you want. 3 Quote from: Cocaine on 18-11-2016, 05:52:37Anybody up for any side or history scenes? My two are still open for connections. I could up for a little something with Xero and Damien back when they were tight and not awkward ::) Quote from: Rave on 18-11-2016, 05:59:49I could up for a little something with Xero and Damien back when they were tight and not awkward ::)Maybe something during her college years when she came home for a visit? Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 18-11-2016, 05:54:32I am if you want. 3Will reply to your PM. Quote from: Cocaine on 18-11-2016, 06:18:36Maybe something during her college years when she came home for a visit? Could do that! I'll shoot you a PM. Granny has officially arrived. I've updated, for the most part (I think my grandmother sheet is the only one not linked), the directory of characters and face claims in the recruitment and world building thread. Going to try to get to some PMs and posts tonight while I have a bit of a muse and energy left in me. Is it wrong that I want Kinsley and Damien to get engaged just to see the Queen Mother's reaction? Quote from: Red Phoenix on 18-11-2016, 06:41:11Is it wrong that I want Kinsley and Damien to get engaged just to see the Queen Mother's reaction?day dang, now I'm really curious to know what the Queen thinks of Laguna's state of attire. Lol XD Quote from: Red Phoenix on 18-11-2016, 06:41:11Is it wrong that I want Kinsley and Damien to get engaged just to see the Queen Mother's reaction? I think Damien would be slapped up and down the Tower for marrying a commoner. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 18-11-2016, 06:41:38xDAh dang, now I'm really curious to know what the Queen thinks of Laguna's state of attire. Lol Dhaka, it wouldn't be pretty. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:44:03I think Damien would be slapped up and down the Tower for marrying a commoner. Haha, it wouldn't be pretty. Alima may need to run some interference then. She loves her Grandmother but knows how she can be. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 18-11-2016, 06:41:11Is it wrong that I want Kinsley and Damien to get engaged just to see the Queen Mother's reaction? Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:44:03I think Damien would be slapped up and down the Tower for marrying a commoner." You're wedding a REPORTER?? Elizabeth, bring me my cane."(from: sweets on 18-11-2016, 06:45:39Alima may need to run some interference then. She loves her Grandmother but knows how she can be. My hero, protecting true love O:) Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:44:03Haha, it wouldn't be pretty.lol Queen Eugenia Jordan, ruining diplomatic since 2016. Although maybe if they met at the Ball, she would end up thinking Hathaway Ashe. Quote from: sweets on 18-11-2016, 06:45:39Alima may need to run some interference then. She loves her Grandmother but knows how she can be. Do it. I think it could be fun. Quote from: Rave on 18-11-2016, 06:45:49"You're wedding a REPORTER?? Elizabeth, bring me my cane." (hero, protecting true love O:)The cane would be the least of his problems if she got wind of that. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 18-11-2016, 06:46:05lol Queen Eugenia Jordan, ruining diplomatic since 2016. Although maybe if they met at the Ball, she would end up thinking that he was a she. I could totally see that, lol. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:44:03I think Damien would be slapped up and down the Tower for marrying a commoner. For once in their lives the Queen and the Queen Mother would agree on a proper course of action. I love this game already. Quote from: Dooley on 18-11-2016, 06:49:56For once in their lives the Queen and the Queen Mother would agree on a proper course of action. It would be scary to think of the two of them coming to agreement and working together on something like that. I would fear for Damien's life. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:52:15It would be scary to think of the two of them coming to agreement and working together on something like that. I would fear for Damien's life. Maybe Queen Eugenia could suggest Damien to marry the strangely dressed woman near off in the back of the Ball rather than Kinsley. Oh wait, that's Laguna. Lol Nadia's here! (#msg12785292)She's been a "guest" for 13 years so connections, history, friends, annoyances, ex flings, new things, all open! Good morning all! Hey Tokyo! I put down a stay of Theresa in Fuji...don't know if it's something you want to expand on, but it's there if you want it! Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 18-11-2016, 17:32:32Hey Tokyo! I put down a stay of Theresa in Fuji...don't know if it's something you want to expand on, but it's there if you want it! No prob with me! I'm always happy for more connections!!! Just dropping this here... QuoteImportant Updates in regard to Character Creation November 18th, 2016: As of today, I am going to be very strict on allowing additional members of the immediate Royal family. We currently have four children, the King, the Queen, and the Queen Mother, in addition to several extended cousins and illegitimate children. My natural inclination is to say no to additional family members, unless it has direct ties to an existing family member (i.e. a previously mentioned brother in character sheets or IC posts), or is a considerably good idea. This does not affect those who have previously pitched ideas and are working on character sheets at present. November 18th, 2016: As of today, if you wish to create a foreign dignitary, foreign royalty, any member of a foreign government, you must discuss your concept and character's homeland with me before submitting a sheet. If you do submit a character sheet to me without prior discussion and my explicit consent, I will ignore your sheet outright. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 06:52:15It would be scary to think of the two of them coming to agreement and working together on something like that. I would fear for Damien's life. If the two Queens ever enter into an alliance I would fear for the whole world. I have a feeling they'll need to have a brunch together at some point. Discuss the pressing issue of why there are no grandchildren/great-grandchildren yet! Quote from: Dooley on 18-11-2016, 20:35:49If the two Queens ever enter into an alliance I would fear for the whole world. I have a feeling they'll need to have a brunch together at some point. Discuss the pressing issue of why there are no grandchildren/great-grandchildren yet! That must happen. It must. I'm really hoping some of the royal family or other royals take Laguna out on the town and show him the sights. That'd be great for him to not know the culture and to experience it with others; plus he can take off all that makeup and kimono and dress himself into a handsome stud. 3If. Anyone Wants to do that just ask me!! X3 Quote from: Dooley on 18-11-2016, 20:35:49If the two Queens ever enter into an alliance I would fear for the whole world. I have a feeling they'll need to have a brunch together at some point. Discuss the pressing issue of why there are no grandchildren/great-grandchildren yet! Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 20:37:29That must happen. It must. May God have mercy on us all. I'm planning another post for her. It will be interesting. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 20:44:42I'm planning another post for her. It will be interesting. I'm going have Laguna interact with the Queen at least once during the ball, if it's the last thing I do! XD Almost done with work, and then I'll get to my post for you, sweets! Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 18-11-2016, 20:32:00Just dropping this here...-sighs in relief that Gothic-standards of char creation protocol were filled-;) Finally home from work! I'll get to my post and PMs. :) I'll get a post up for Daphne today, Rave. Quote from: Bibliophile on 19-11-2016, 20:25:45I'll get a post up for Daphne today, Rave. Great! Looking forward to it :-)I should be submitting my sheet for my second character today as well, so be on the lookout for that, Gothic! Going to make a few changes to my character sheet. A few nuances in reference to his mental state. Also, a description of a few scars, you can basically see all of his tattoos in the pictures. Okay I think I'm caught up with all PMs and everything. I'm going to let Rave and those interacted with Damien have a chance to play things out a bit before I have Kinsley interrupt, unless someone wants to come talk to her at the bar. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 20-11-2016, 02:47:12Okay I think I'm caught up with all PMs and everything. I'm going to let Rave and those interacted with Damien have a chance to play things out a bit before I have Kinsley interrupt, unless someone wants to come talk to her at the bar. With my next post I had planned to shift them along towards the Bar anyway, so Damien can approach Kinsley, and we can get everyone around that area involved too ;) Quote from: Rave on 20-11-2016, 02:52:11With my next post I had planned to shift them along towards the Bar anyway, so Damien can approach Kinsley, and we can get everyone around that area involved too ;)Well that works too, I guess when you're the Prince you just drag the crowd with you. ’D Quote from: Red Phoenix on 20-11-2016, 03:01:41Well that works too, I guess when you're the Prince you just drag the crowd with you. LMAO I was going to transition him there anyway! It just turns out that on the way, he's bringing friends now :P Hi all! Kurosawa Yuki (#msg12788527), Handmaiden of Prince Laguna Fujiwara the XIII has entered the scene ;D Quote from: Reiki on 20-11-2016, 04:01:45Hi all! Kurosawa Yuki (#msg12788527), Handmaiden of Prince Laguna Fujiwara the XIII has entered the scene ;Day!!!! XD Dragon General Wagner has arrived! Quote from: Aiden on 20-11-2016, 04:09:54Dragon General Wagner has arrived! What is a Dragon General? Lol Ruler of the skies. An all around general badass. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 20-11-2016, 04:13:41An all around general badass.lol mkay. Quote from: Aiden on 20-11-2016, 04:12:53Ruler of the skies. Ruler of the skies, huh? I think that's what airplanes are for. XD Don't worry Tokyo, don't get in his way and Ulysses won't even pay attention to the lady boy. Quote from: Aiden on 20-11-2016, 04:21:32Don't worry Tokyo, don't get in his way and Ulysses won't even pay attention to the lady boy. Excuse me sir, Laguna is all male! :) Ulysses - "From what angle?!" Quote from: Aiden on 20-11-2016, 04:24:38 Ulysses - "From what angle?!" Kaguya: "It's makeup sir, or do you just have poor eyesight from aging?"lol hopefully Yuki doesn't hear Ulysses speak poorly of her Prince. :) Can always appreciate military characters, especially those from the Air Force 8-) Well, as long as Ulysses doesn't holler that Laguna looks like a lady from across the ball, or flirts with Yuki, then all will be right in the world. ;) There-- Damien shifted to the bar, so anyone around that area can come in and say hello to him and everyone around him! He's only mildly motivated by wanting Daphne to put drinks in her mouth and stop talking ::)Mildly. -tries to look innocent.- I don't knowwhathe's so upset about...-scampers.- Quote from: Rave on 20-11-2016, 04:41:28There-- Damien shifted to the bar, so anyone around that area can come in and say hello to him and everyone around him! He's only mildly motivated by wanting Daphne to put drinks in her mouth and stop talking ::)Mildly. Kaguya is somewhat over there, but is talking with Alma right now. 3edit: never mind, had him move towards the bar with the others, inviting Alma if she wants! Anyone that wants to talk or greet Laguna is welcome!!! He could use some new friends from Giles! I will have Yuki appear at the bar. Quote from: Reiki on 20-11-2016, 05:07:18I will have Yuki appear at the bar. Mkay! ’D Oh the dear Queen Mother is a hoot and a half Quote from: Dooley on 20-11-2016, 05:23:07Oh the dear Queen Mother is a hoot and a half Lt;3Kaguya is going to be so aggravated with his Father by the end of the night if everyone keeps pointing out that he's wearing a "dress". XD If I had 1% of Great Nana's sass I would be verbally unstoppable. Haha... She's open if anyone wants to have a little chit-chat with her. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 20-11-2016, 05:28:09Haha... She's open if anyone wants to have a little chit-chat with her. Kaguya will definitely be having a chat with her before the ball ends. He has to introduce himself after all! 3 Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 20-11-2016, 05:29:14Kaguya will definitely be having a chat with her before the ball ends. He has to introduce himself after all! 3May the Gods have mercy on his soul Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 20-11-2016, 05:29:55May the Gods have mercy on his souls true. Can't wait for it! Hopefully Laguna can take some shade from the Queen, and the laughs and chuckles form others nobles that are with her. Lol Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 20-11-2016, 05:28:09Haha... She's open if anyone wants to have a little chit-chat with her. I am sure Alma will stop by. And point out she has older cousins who are not married yet so she is not a lost cause. Daphne will definitely say hello. I have an idea she likes the old bag. Damien might keep his distance tonight if only because he's afraid of what she'd say about Kinsley to her face :But, He'll certainly have to give her a visit the next day and have breakfast with her or something along those lines. Well then we'll have to wait for the meeting between Kinsley and the Queen Mother. Something tells me Damien will have to pick Kinsley up and carry her out before she does something that will get her thrown in the dungeon haha. :) Quote from: Red Phoenix on 20-11-2016, 05:50:49Well then we'll have to wait for the meeting between Kinsley and the Queen Mother. Something tells me Damien will have to pick Kinsley up and carry her out before she does something that will get her thrown in the dungeon haha. :)That's exactly what he's afraid of hahaha. With the Queen Mother's sass and Kinsley's forwardness someone would be going to jail and that mean she doesn't get any booty later the night is totally ruined for everybody. Oh yeah, would anyone want to take Laguna out on the town after the ball? DI'm really hoping some of the royal family or other royals take Laguna out on the town and show him the sights. That'd be great for him to not know the culture and to experience it with others; plus he can take off all that makeup and dress himself into a handsome stud, rather than in the "dress" that everyone keeps mentioning. Lol XD First post up, hope it's good! Quote from: Reiki on 20-11-2016, 06:33:31First post up, hope it's good! I'd post to respond, but I'd better wait for sweets to first. :P Aiden, I can totally see Ulysses and Theresa having a kinship. Both are pilots, and both think their branch of the military is the best. Playful competitiveness? Pilots yes, but he puts little faith in the Navy. He believes the Navy is where the lord lings send their little stuck up kids because they can't cut it in the air force and wouldn't dare put them in the army with the common folk. He also thinks Theresa is far too young and was put in place to be a puppet to the crown and has voiced that to her face. I do believe they can have moments as they can both be considered patriots (The current scene being one he kinda feels sorry for her) but I don't think it would be a playful competitiveness. More like, if she grew a spine she would MIGHT be worthy of her rank, but at the moment he doesn't feel like they can see eye to eye in that regard. Quote from: Aiden on 20-11-2016, 18:43:00Pilots yes, but he puts little faith in the Navy. He believes the Navy is where the lord lings send their little stuck up kids because they can't cut it in the air force and wouldn't dare put them in the army with the common folk. He also thinks Theresa is far too young and was put in place to be a puppet to the crown and has voiced that to her face. I do believe they can have moments as they can both be considered patriots (The current scene being one he kinda feels sorry for her) but I don't think it would be a playful competitiveness. More like, if she grew a spine she would MIGHT be worthy of her rank, but at the moment he doesn't feel like they can see eye to eye in that regard. That sounds like a possibility. I have been figuring that there will be people who think Theresa isn't ready for that size of command, considering her age. Personally I'm looking forward to that sort of conflict. All and any connections, history and plotting open for my Nadia the hostage princess. Except a boyfriend/girlfriend, she's not in for that kind of deal. She's been there 13 years. I chuckled at Ulysses respecting the Queen Mother for telling it like it is. :) I can picture him and the Queen mother having tea and just throwing shade on everyone. "Tea." Uh huh. :) All T all Shade! Oi...sorry for being so quiet this week... I swear school is trying to see if it can drive us into the Mooney bin!!! I have a bit more studying to do but am I going to try and have an opening post for Astra up tonight. She'll be open to interactions of either the friendly or unfriendly sort lol. ’D Quote from: Carla on 20-11-2016, 21:58:17Oi...sorry for being so quiet this week... I swear school is trying to see if it can drive us into the Mooney bin!!! I have a bit more studying to do but am I going to try and have an opening post for Astra up tonight. She'll be open to interactions of either the friendly or unfriendly sort lol. Come join us inside the bin. It's not that bad, really. We only pull our hair from the roots every other Tuesday. Occasional screaming into the void at the amount of work there is, is unavoidable though. I know I keep saying I'll get an opening scene up for Beatrix, but I really swear I will! Lol. If someone has a request for a scene, let me know. I'm really behind on messages, but hope to get to them either tonight or tomorrow. Question to everyone:I'm debating on a second Charlie. Does anyone have a need of a support character? Or a story that they want to play out? Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 21-11-2016, 08:18:09Question to everyone:I'm debating on a second Charlie. Does anyone have a need of a support character? Or a story that they want to play out? Male or female? Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 21-11-2016, 08:18:09Question to everyone:I'm debating on a second Charlie. Does anyone have a need of a support character? Or a story that they want to play out? I'm thinking someone who could guide the two from Fuji (Tokyo rose's and my chars), around the city, and possibly a nightclub would be cool ;D Something like a clubber guy or clubber girl, a rebel in the nobility >:) Quote from: Reiki on 21-11-2016, 08:34:41I'm thinking someone who could guide the two from Fuji (Tokyo rose's and my chars), around the city, and possibly a nightclub would be cool ;D Something like a clubber guy or clubber girl, a rebel in the nobility Sgt;:)Certainly possible! Quote from: Mother Mouse on 21-11-2016, 08:21:04Male or female? I prefer playing female. I don't think you need a specific character as a guide around the city. Furthermore, I'd say LA, play what you wish. There will be plenty of people who will be going out to the city or to a club later on after the ball, my character included. I think you may be rushing events just a tad. Not exactly rushing because it's just throwing ideas here and there. There was a request for ideas regarding a support character after all, and so that was simply my suggestion ;D Quote from: Raven on 21-11-2016, 15:45:00I don't think you need a specific character as a guide around the city. I'd say LA, play what you wish. There will be plenty of people who will be going out to the city or to a club later on after the ball, my character included. I think you may be rushing events just a tad. Well we aren't rushing, I was asking around to see if any of the player characters may show him around specifically, but no one had said anything. That's why we were asking. ’D Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 21-11-2016, 15:52:47Well we aren't rushing, I was asking around to see if any of the player characters may show him around specifically, but no one had said anything. That's why we were asking. DI don't think anyone is answering because we are not at that point in the game yet. The game, as far as I'm aware, hasn't officially begun yet. The ball is an optional social event. I doubt Angel would know much about your character, but when the time comes, if they happen to bump into each other on their way out, they could have a short conversation about where they are going and perhaps your character would come along. Of course, Angel doesn't play babysitter, so he'd explain that if you don't keep up, he won't be responsible for you, especially if he has to watch one of the royals all evening. When we get a little farther in, Prince Lukas will no doubt go clubbing and be available to bring the visiting royalty along. I just got swamped in schoolwork and haven't had as much free time to write out replies. Quote from: Raven on 21-11-2016, 16:05:29I don't think anyone is answering because we are not at that point in the game yet. The game, as far as I'm aware, hasn't officially begun yet. The ball is an optional social event. The game hasn't started yet? ??? What's the plot going to be when the game does start then? D: Quote from: Revolution on 21-11-2016, 16:11:28When we get a little farther in, Prince Lukas will no doubt go clubbing and be available to bring the visiting royalty along. I just got swamped in schoolwork and haven't had as much free time to write out replies. No prob, thanks for offering! Love your avatar btw. :3 Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 21-11-2016, 16:49:17The game hasn't started yet? ??? What's the plot going to be when the game does start then? D:Chill, person nothing terrible is happening, everything will be just fine. Just fine. Quote from: Amelia on 21-11-2016, 16:51:03Chill, person XD Nothing terrible is happening, everything will be just fine. Just fine.lol I'm chill. TDI'm just curious is all. I didn't even know the game hadn't officially stared yet until now. Though I am a bit concerned by your reply though Amelia. Lol Quote Who: Open to all What: A masquerade ball (see description below)When: December 4th, 2016Where: The Queen's Ballroom Status: An optional social event Bold red emphasis mine. Quote from: Raven on 21-11-2016, 16:54:36Bold red emphasis mine.oh. I didn't see that. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 21-11-2016, 16:49:17The game hasn't started yet? ??? What's the plot going to be when the game does start then? D:From the World Building, Recruitment, and Game Information thread... Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 09-11-2016, 15:42:32How is the game going to be played? This is intended to be a sandbox, open world, free-form story, without a system. There will be a general storyline and events, but the main point of the story is interacting with others and forming your own side stories. There are far too many characters and writers for me to try and have some sort of personalized, tightly focused story and plot for each and every character. I am only one person, with no co-GM to share the load, and other stories on the site, not to mention things going on outside Illiquid. This is intended to be a social game, with events and a story-line, but with writers strongly encouraged to create their own side stories. If you, or anyone else, were expecting something different, I'm truly sorry, but I just don't have the time, patience, or focus and muse to try and write micro-events for individual characters. The Ball is a social event. It is optional. You don't have to be there, you don't have to be a part of it. The purpose of the Event was a sort of introduction, to bring people together, forge connections, give people a reason to interact and form connections. As I am still waiting to hear from people about sheets, still answering questions, still reviewing sheets, I haven't started to really push the heart of the story just yet. I have one sheet waiting to be reviewed, one that I'm still working out details with, one that's being floated around, and at least two or three still being written and developed. I wanted to wait just a little longer before I pushed things, since that's a decent number of characters and things still seem to be going in a comfortable way with people interacting and writing for the social event. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 21-11-2016, 17:31:38From the World Building, Recruitment, and Game Information thread... There are far too many characters and writers for me to try and have some sort of personalized, tightly focused story and plot for each and every character. I am only one person, with no co-GM to share the load, and other stories on the site, not to mention things going on outside Illiquid. This is intended to be a social game, with events and a story-line, but with writers strongly encouraged to create their own side stories. If you, or anyone else, were expecting something different, I'm truly sorry, but I just don't have the time, patience, or focus and muse to try and write micro-events for individual characters. The Ball is a social event. It is optional. You don't have to be there, you don't have to be a part of it. The purpose of the Event was a sort of introduction, to bring people together, forge connections, give people a reason to interact and form connections. As I am still waiting to hear from people about sheets, still answering questions, still reviewing sheets, I haven't started to really push the heart of the story just yet. I have one sheet waiting to be reviewed, one that I'm still working out details with, one that's being floated around, and at least two or three still being written and developed. I wanted to wait just a little longer before I pushed things, since that's a decent number of characters and things still seem to be going in a comfortable way with people interacting and writing for the social event.No, no, all of that is ok. I was simply wondering if you were going to have any plans yourself in regard to the RP, like if you had anything that you wanted to bring in that would affect everyone. All of that is cool with me, I just wanted to get more of the facts straightened out. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 21-11-2016, 17:48:11No no, all of that is ok. I was simply wondering if you were going to have any plans yourself in regard to the RP, like if you had anything that you wanted to bring in that would affect everyone. All of that is cool with me, I just wanted to get more of the facts straightened out. I have world events in mind that would affect the entire group. They'll be spaced out a bit, but I have plans in mind that are going to be wide and far-reaching. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 21-11-2016, 18:28:03I have world events in mind that would affect the entire group. They'll be spaced out a bit, but I have plans in mind that are going to be wide and far-reaching. Ah ok, that's what I was curious about. Quote from: Amelia on 21-11-2016, 16:51:03Chill, person XD Nothing terrible is happening, everything will be just fine. Just fine.*Puts away backs tabby knife* Yeah....everything muumuus Filipino. DLA, if it interests you at all, Andres could be accessorized with an accountant character. The tough, like numbers more than people type. She would be on of his few confidants, and would know quite allot about his less than legal dealings. I would say his sister, but her appearances would be sporadic and short lives (the whole show up for money and leave for months on end thing.) LMK what you think, drop a pm or whatever :P.Also, my response if up Billion. Also, I think I am going to enjoy this game. Also, ten points for Tokyo, because kimonos. Quote from: Mother Mouse on 21-11-2016, 21:01:38 Also ten points for Tokyo, because kimonos.lol, thanks. I'm glad everyone is enjoying Laguna's "dress". When he goes clubbing with others, he's gonna change into something more stylish, trust me. Lol Quote from: Mother Mouse on 21-11-2016, 21:01:38*Puts away backs tabby knife* Yeah....everything muumuus Filipino. DLA, if it interests you at all, Andres could be accessorized with an accountant character. The tough, like numbers more than people type. She would be on of his few confidants, and would know quite allot about his less than legal dealings. I would say his sister, but her appearances would be sporadic and short lives (the whole show up for money and leave for months on end thing.) LMK what you think, drop a pm or whatever :P.Also, my response if up Billion. Also, I think I am going to enjoy this game. Also, ten points for Tokyo, because kimonos. Has possibilities. Out of General curiosity, what is the consensus of a doctor to the nobles? Someone who has the absolute dirt on everyone (because you are supposed to confide in your doctor), but refuses to use her knowledge to further herself...because, you know.ethics. Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 21-11-2016, 21:08:17Has possibilities. Out of General curiosity, what is the consensus of a doctor to the nobles? Someone who has the absolute dirt on everyone (because you are supposed to confide in your doctor), but refuses to use her knowledge to further herself...because, you know.ethics. Oooh, that could be interesting! I'm a little under the weather, guys, but I'll post as soon as I can. Quote from: Bibliophile on 22-11-2016, 03:46:57I'm a little under the weather, guys, but I'll post as soon as I can. Feel better! Quote from: Bibliophile on 22-11-2016, 03:46:57I'm a little under the weather, guys, but I'll post as soon as I can. Hope you feel better, sweetheart. Quote from: Bibliophile on 22-11-2016, 03:46:57I'm a little under the weather, guys, but I'll post as soon as I can. Well wishes your way! Hot tea and vitamin C! Sorry for not having posted in yet, a combination of trying to keep up, trying to figure out where and when and what to post, and just distractions in general. I'll say that Yuki is free for interaction!(While I mug my papers. 72 more hours of pain) Hey all, so my third and final character, Missy (#msg12793900) is in need of connections if anyone is willing. Both positiveandnegative connections are welcome/encouraged! Quote from: Cocaine on 22-11-2016, 14:02:48Hey all, so my third and final character, Missy (#msg12793900) is in need of connections if anyone is willing. Both positive and negative connections are welcome/encouraged! I have enough confirmed with Gothic about my WIP girl to state we can definitely do some negative sparks ;) Annnnnnnd, Astra is posted! She's currently dancing with an NPC but totally open to having the dance interrupted if her presence annoys or intrigues any character enough to do so lol. :) Quote from: Carla on 22-11-2016, 17:37:55Annnnnnnd, Astra is posted! She's currently dancing with an NPC but totally open to having the dance interrupted if her presence annoys or intrigues any character enough to do so lol. :)Dang I would have talked to her but Laguna is already at the bar, complimenting Kinsley. Quote from: Amelia on 22-11-2016, 17:36:52I have enough confirmed with Gothic about my WIP girl to state we can definitely do some negative sparks ;)Sounds good :) Good evening everyone! 3 Hi. :) As a general heads up, I'm planning on putting in the next part of the event sometime around the beginning of next week, probably after Sunday. It should make things interesting. I just wanted to put it out there for people who are either waiting for the big stuff to begin, or people who are still working on sheets and want in for the very beginning. New character is up! Royal physician! If anyone wants to get together and work out a story, let me know! She is also supposedly the doc for nobility, so just about anyone is open! Mine as-well! Jake [Willy Cartier] (#msg12798358), the Royal Family and Nobility combat and self-defense teacher, is up and running! I should post him coming to the ball quite soon, sometime today hopefully! Let me know if you want him to kick your butt around, or if your character needs to learn how to do that themselves! Gas. Life! I swear I will get my opening post up soon. I have her outfit done if that counts. >. I got my main part of the cooking done. The noodles just need to be cooked tomorrow, but the noodle prep is done, and the pies are done. I'll be helping my mom out with the turkey and various other things, but my sister-in-law will be bringing things too. My main cooking was today. I'll be working tomorrow night :-\ I got my turkey brining, my ham stuffed, cooked, and cooling outside. Just finished making dessert. All I've got to do tomorrow is put the turkey in the oven and throw together some sides, drink copious amounts of wine, and I'm done. The main cooking is being done by my sister-in-law's family. We're going to her parent's place. But, we're bringing the stuffing, which my mom is making, and I'm making mini apple rose tarts, and baking a frozen pecan pie. -snickers.- I'm salivating just thinking about everyone else's dinners. Mine is going to be whatever the hospital throws together...typically turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 24-11-2016, 01:13:56I'll be working tomorrow night :-\Me too but only for four hours around 6 at the theater; which means it'll be packed. A; Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 24-11-2016, 02:52:28Me too but only for four hours around 6 at the theater; which means it'll be packed. A;7p-7a. All night. Just wanted to drop in a quick note that I hope to have a Hester post up soon. I work retail, so this week has inevitably been a hell week, but it's almost over with! Character #2 is an Ambassador Cyrus Nightingale (#msg12802114) from a republic along the northern borders of Elysium and Eris. She's been in Giles for a little over a year. Looking for connections...friendly, not so friendly, romantic, casual sex partners (the SUR isn't as uptight about sex as Giles) outright enemies etc. :D Is Giles uptight about sex? I don't remember reading about that anywhere. I mean, they have pleasure slaves, for Pete's sake. Quote from: Bibliophile on 26-11-2016, 01:16:54Is Giles uptight about sex? I don't remember reading about that anywhere. I mean, they have pleasure slaves, for Pete's sake. I think the uptight was my impression from this line in the world info section"Gay Marriage and LGBTQ Rights: This has been a sensitive issue in recent years. While generally popular among the people, gay marriage and LGBTQ rights and protection have had difficulties gaining traction among the more elite of society, who favor a more traditionalist and religious view. The King has yet to publicly declare his views on the matter." Lots of societies kept pleasure slaves and were still rather uptight about "Nobles" (particularly noble women) stepping outside proscribed gender roles. Quote from: Bibliophile on 26-11-2016, 01:16:54Is Giles uptight about sex? I don't remember reading about that anywhere. I mean, they have pleasure slaves, for Pete's sake. I don't think I mentioned it in any of the world info stuff. I think it's a bit of a generational difference. The older individuals, the old nobility and everything else, might look down upon it a bit, while the common people and younger generation are a bit more open about it. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 26-11-2016, 01:23:38I don't think I mentioned it in any of the world info stuff. I think it's a bit of a generational difference. The older individuals, the old nobility and everything else, might look down upon it a bit, while the common people and younger generation are a bit more open about it. I think I got it from the whole LGBTQ rights section and then the fact that the Princess is, mostly, hiding her sexuality, on the uptight part. It was just the general feel more than something specifically stated. My view of it in the SUR is...as long as you're doing your job we don't care who you are sleeping with, or what combination of people. You a marry only one other person (regardless of gender) because otherwise inheritance laws become a snarled mess, but whatever arrangements you make outside of that, as long as everyone's happy...people just don't care. Oh.and "uptight" is CY's opinion in comparison to what she's used to back home as well...so it's a matter of character perspective. Getting more PMs out about Alma's possible connections. I should be done by later this evening. She is open if anyone would like to discuss past friendships or more rocky relationships. I sent in a finished sheet to Gothic last night. That character has been in the works for days and partially written up in my A/A's. She has similarities to Carla's new character, which I noticed now after reading that sheet. I am not changing mine. I've scratched two concepts for this game already after others made similar chars to what I had talked about doing, and I'm not doing that again. Just wanted this to be out in the open, so people didn't think I was copying anyone. That is all. Carry on.-mic drop - Alright, I have decided I am not going to post my new character at the ball unless someone specifically wants some sort of run in. I'm probably going to let Norah fade into the background as well unless someone wants her for something. However, all my girls are open for other scenes. Melisande (#msg12793900) in particular is still open for connections, and I'd really like to find an intro scene for her. Something in the past, running into her out on the town, or something more deliberate is all fine with me. The encounters do not need to be happy or polite affairs either. The second, major, part of the event is going to be launched tonight, hopefully. I have just about everything written up, but am probably going to be writing just a little bit more for it. I think that it will inspire some scenes and drama IC. With that said, as it has come up in the past with people becoming salty about an event in a previous game I ran, and just wanted to put it out there as a simple just-in-case, if any event or game situation comes up that you think kills your plans for your character(s), I ask and encourage you to reach out to me through PM. There's nothing that can't be worked out in my view with role playing, and am more than happy to work something out if you feel that way and keep your ideas afloat. I am starting to normalize and ill be able to work on my gal here soonish. Sorry for the delay. :(I've got everything written up and ready to post for this upcoming second part of the event. And just to be clear... You can still keep writing your scenes and interactions that take place before this second part of the event. Just be mindful of the time field in the headers.(( Dad.[No, but really this makes Damien very sad] Well. Now I understand why there was no rush on the Kinsley/King connection. XD An awesome GM post. Really gives Yuki a chance to do some bodyguard-stuff to the Prince 8-) He's not dead yet lol. He's still alive. I have no plans to kill him yet. I've had to change things and plans that I had due to the unexpected size of the group. Martial Law.... Ulysses just got hard. Quote from: Reiki on 28-11-2016, 02:42:58An awesome GM post. Really gives Yuki a chance to do some bodyguard-stuff to the Prince 8-)Yay, bodyguard! Kaguya knows (a tiny bit) of forms of medicine and bandaging from being taught back in Fuji, though not sure if it would apply to the situation at hand? He could always try I guess? Doesn't this mean that they're in a state of war-- meaning, Damien got a bunch of military power and control just now? If so...oh boy. Not from the Air Force Quote from: Aiden on 28-11-2016, 02:46:27Martial Law.... Ulysses just got hard. This made me laugh hard enough to be grateful I wasn't drinking anything! And CY is officially worried...it's never good to be a foreign dignitary around when someone attempts to assassinate a monarch! Xero's going to be moving toward Princess Alexandra. Neryah will be cursing up a storm at the mess this is going to make and going into crisis control mode. And somewhere out in the city Missy is sighing. Quote from: Carla on 28-11-2016, 02:50:05This made me laugh hard enough to be grateful I wasn't drinking anything! And CY is officially worried...it's never good to be a foreign dignitary around when someone attempts to assassinate a monarch! Or for a Foreign Prince either. :P Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 28-11-2016, 02:46:52Yay, bodyguard! Kaguya knows (a tiny bit) of forms of medicine and bandaging from being taught back in Fuji, though not sure if it would apply to the situation at hand? He could always try I guess? I could be wrong, but they're probably not going to let a foreigner near the king after he was almost assassinated. That's not how monarchy do. Quote from: Rave on 28-11-2016, 02:48:26Doesn't this mean that they're in a state of war-- meaning, Damien got a bunch of military power and control just now? If so...oh boy. They're not at war yet because we don't know who tried to attack the king. It could be a radical terrorist for all we know. Quote from: Raven on 28-11-2016, 02:53:03They're not at war yet because we don't know who tried to attack the king. It could be a radical terrorist for all we know. That is true! Either way, I really did not see this development coming. Dang terrorists. It was not my intent to kill off any sort of pre-established plotting and connections. I haven't killed the King. He is still very much alive, albeit wounded. I've had to change and adapt my plans for the group in terms of story. Originally, I had thought of the group being smaller in nature, something that was simpler and easier to manage. With it exploding with interest, messages from people voicing their discomfort with not a lot to do with the opening event, and people voicing their concerns that there wasn't much for their character to do, I had to change my plans and push forward with something a bit more dramatic and far-reaching. Instead of ending the event with fireworks and a thanks-for-coming, where people would go their separate ways and drift apart, therefore killing the group with a population this size, I thought of something a bit more explosive in terms of story, in order to create more drama, storylines, political alliances, and the like. Again, it was never my intent to kill off pre-established plotting and connections. The king is alive. I have no plans to kill him for the foreseeable future. Connections, planned scenes, and the like are still in place, still in my mind as far as things to have done and write out in the group. This is merely part of the larger story, intending to bring people together, spark some action, and not let the group go stagnant with inactivity and boredom. If anyone feels like I have destroyed their plots, their characters, connections with the King, etc., I urge you to have patience and connect with me through PMs to discuss and work things through. Quote from: Rave on 28-11-2016, 02:48:26Doesn't this mean that they're in a state of war-- meaning, Damien got a bunch of military power and control just now? If so...oh boy. Not necessarily a state of war. Just a state of emergency. Military branches would be put on high alert. The city guard is intended to be a sort of separate entity from the military, a sort of highly trained, tactical police force responsible for the defense and guarding of the city. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 28-11-2016, 02:55:21Not necessarily a state of war. Just a state of emergency. Military branches would be put on high alert. The city guard is intended to be a sort of separate entity from the military, a sort of highly trained, tactical police force responsible for the defense and guarding of the city. I got you! Thanks for clarifying! Daphne's like "What? Shit, this is going to seriously cramp my style." Lilliana doesn't know she should be concerned, I mean, more than she already will be. -blinks.- If the official physician isn't at the party, Lilliana's probably the closest next thing. And...well... Xavier's going to slip away discretely. Anyone who needs his services knows where to find him, but it would feel unsavory for him to linger. I imagine as far as first aid, the chief of staff, any of the King's Swords, or even the princess are knowledgeable enough to hold some cloth against a wound. The chief of staff or princess are the closest, so I would assume they would do something like that first until the King's Swords/guards got there to escort all members of the royal family to safety. My suggestion would be that the members of the King's Swords would probably go into hyper defense mode and stay with members of the royal family until more intel of the situation actually comes down the pipeline. Quote from: Raven on 28-11-2016, 03:03:09I imagine as far as first aid, the chief of staff, any of the King's Swords, or even the princess are knowledgeable enough to hold some cloth against a wound. The chief of staff or princess are the closest, so I would assume they would do something like that first until the King's Swords/guards got there to escort all members of the royal family to safety. My suggestion would be that the members of the King's Swords would probably go into hyper defense mode and stay with members of the royal family until more intel of the situation actually comes down the pipeline.Yeah, I guess that's true. I just want to give something for Laguna to do that's helpful, you know? Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 28-11-2016, 03:05:50Yeah I guess that's true. I just want to give something for Laguna to do that's helpful, you know? Unfortunately, in a situation like this, as a foreigner, there is nothing you can do to help in the immediate moment. The family and those close will cling together and be very cautious after something like this. Perhaps, after the initial commotion of things calm down and the king is stabilized, you could offer to contact Laguna's father in an effort to either see if his own government has heard of any plot to kill the king or offer foreign aid (such as intel about who did this). Just my own 2 cents if you want him to be helpful. Quote from: Raven on 28-11-2016, 03:09:54Unfortunately, in a situation like this, as a foreigner, there is nothing you can do to help in the immediate moment. The family and those close will cling together and be very cautious after something like this. Perhaps, after the initial commotion of things calm down and the king is stabilized, you could offer to contact Laguna's father in an effort to either see if his own government has heard of any plot to kill the king or offer foreign aid (such as intel about who did this). Just my own 2 cents if you want him to be helpful.Yeah, that could work. I already sent Gothic an idea after you said that foreign royals wouldn't get close cause of rules or whatnot. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 28-11-2016, 03:12:04Yeah that could work. I already sent Gothic an idea after you said that foreign royals wouldn't get close cause of rules or whatnot. It's not really rules, but it doesn't make sense. Also, Laguna's own security would probably try to get him out of there as well since he would also be in danger. Quote from: Raven on 28-11-2016, 03:14:55It's not really rules, but it doesn't make sense. Also, Laguna's own security would probably try to get him out of there as well since he would also be in danger. True, but the gunman yelled something about freedom for Giles, as well as mentioning Elysium, so I'm not sure how it would connect to Laguna? But I get what you're saying. :P Standard protocol for foreign dignitaries here (Singapore) would be for them and their security detail to be escorted out by a member of the Host Country's guard to a secure location. A saleroom, somewhere with guards and surveillance until the situation could be normalized through investigation and lockdown. Basically foreign dignitaries, even if it's the President of the USA, are not allowed to approach a victim or an assailant due to them possibly being free game for a second shooter, and them being the Host Country's responsibility to ensure safety and welfare. Not sure if this is what Gothic has in mind :P But is there a plan for Yuki to adjust to? Am sure she would have been briefed on how to ensure her delegation's safety. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 28-11-2016, 03:20:46true, but the gunman yelled something about freedom for Giles, as well as mentioning Elysium, so I'm not sure how it would connect to Laguna? But I get what you're saying. Pit doesn't have to connect with him. A gunman opened fire at a ball full of royals and foreign dignitaries. The chances of Laguna being shot are exponentially increased if he stays, and as a crowned prince of a nation, I'm pretty sure his security wouldn't want him staying in danger. Quote from: Reiki on 28-11-2016, 03:23:03Standard protocol for foreign dignitaries here (Singapore) would be for them and their security detail to be escorted out by a member of the Host Country's guard to a secure location. A saleroom, somewhere with guards and surveillance until the situation could be normalized through investigation and lockdown. Basically foreign dignitaries, even if it's the President of the USA, are not allowed to approach a victim or an assailant due to them possibly being free game for a second shooter, and them being the Host Country's responsibility to ensure safety and welfare. Not sure if this is what Gothic has in mind :P But is there a plan for Yuki to adjust to? Am sure she would have been briefed on how to ensure her delegation's safety. This!! *Gestures wildly* Trying to work through some PMs, but to clarify a bit on the protocol... Foreign dignitaries, important individuals, and the like would be escorted to a safe room within the Tower. I think in the confusion and chaos, no one except for the King's Swords, medical professionals, and the like, would be permitted close to the King in his delicate state. He will be transported to the hospital for surgery in an upcoming post. The Royal Family... I figured that some would be allowed to stay in the Tower if they wish, taken to said safe room. I also figured that some would be allowed to go to the hospital with the King and wait. Personally, I am giving strong consideration to having Alexandra go to the hospital, but will probably keep her in the Tower and the Queen Mother do whatever the hell she wants. As far as military go, I had figured that there would be a sort of emergency meeting of sorts, to sort of discuss what happened, what their situations are, if there have been any attacks against them, reports from the border, etc. This can also be stretched to include some of the foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. The general theme and deeper plot I had in mind with shifting to this event was to create a sort of rift among lines. Who is in charge, who should be in charge, and the like after such a chaotic event. And just to clear up some confusion... I left it ambiguous as to what the gunman shouted. Different reports of what he said were mentioned, but no one is or was clear as to what was shouted over the celebrations taking place all around. I will be getting to more IC posts soon, but wanted to give people a chance to react and do whatever they would like to do before continuing on. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 28-11-2016, 03:38:33Trying to work through some PMs, but to clarify a bit on the protocol... Foreign dignitaries, important individuals, and the like would be escorted to a safe room within the Tower. I think in the confusion and chaos, no one except for the King's Swords, medical professionals, and the like, would be permitted close to the King in his delicate state. He will be transported to the hospital for surgery in an upcoming post. The Royal Family... I figured that some would be allowed to stay in the Tower if they wish, taken to said safe room. I also figured that some would be allowed to go to the hospital with the King and wait. Personally, I am giving strong consideration to having Alexandra go to the hospital, but will probably keep her in the Tower and the Queen Mother do whatever the hell she wants. As far as military go, I had figured that there would be a sort of emergency meeting of sorts, to sort of discuss what happened, what their situations are, if there have been any attacks against them, reports from the border, etc. This can also be stretched to include some of the foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. The general theme and deeper plot I had in mind with shifting to this event was to create a sort of rift among lines. Who is in charge, who should be in charge, and the like after such a chaotic event. And just to clear up some confusion... I left it ambiguous as to what the gunman shouted. Different reports of what he said were mentioned, but no one is or was clear as to what was shouted over the celebrations taking place all around. I will be getting to more IC posts soon, but wanted to give people a chance to react and do whatever they would like to do before continuing on. I'll likely have Damien then remain, if only because he'll participate in military discussions as-well. With him there, Elizabeth might be more comfortable going to see her father, they could have that conversation if you'd like~ I'll try to post for Angel tomorrow. Yeah, my posts will be made tomorrow. I'm not going to bother posting for Daphne or Xavier in the party, 'cause Daphne would just be dragged out in shock by her security detail, and Xavier would just return to his room like a good boy. Gnothi, would Lilliana be considered medical professional? She has certificates, but only for like physical therapy, which is...not exactly useful in this situation. I might just have her step forward and offer to help, but step back when the rel professionals arrive. I'll post for Xero tomorrow as well. Unless I hear otherwise she'll go for the royals, probably push Ames' girlie into safe keeping as well unless she has plans. I'm not 100% on the roles claimed in this game but if anyone thinks they'd have reason to be speaking or working with Norah on leaks to the media, press coverage, and official statements and all, do hit me up. Was going to have Gina show up...but the timing will be perfect. I'll have her showing up soon...probably tonight, to help care for the king. Theresa will be available for the incoming war to follow for sure. Will it be safe to assume that Fuji's peeps are escorted by an NPC ? Quote from: Reiki on 28-11-2016, 04:03:06Will it is safe to assume that Fuji's peeps are escorted by an NPC ? Yeah, I would think so. If you want to make the post that's cool with me. I'm going to have Kinsley separated from the nobles by anonymous security types unless anyone specially wants to be that person. Assume that is happening in case it matters for anyone else's posts. Posted for Laguna and anyone else who wants to be bundled into the saleroom! Quote from: Rave on 28-11-2016, 03:43:14I'll likely have Damien then remain, if only because he'll participate in military discussions as-well. With him there, Elizabeth might be more comfortable going to see her father, they could have that conversation if you'd like~Sounds good. I'm probably going to keep Alexandra there at the Tower for a little bit. Quote from: Bibliophile on 28-11-2016, 03:53:16Yeah, my posts will be made tomorrow. I'm not going to bother posting for Daphne or Xavier in the party, 'cause Daphne would just be dragged out in shock by her security detail, and Xavier would just return to his room like a good boy. Gnothi, would Lilliana be considered medical professional? She has certificates, but only for like physical therapy, which is...not exactly useful in this situation. I might just have her step forward and offer to help, but step back when the rel professionals arrive. Totally up to you. I know LA's doctor is on the scene. Lilliana could be taken back to her place, or could even be sort of pulled into a safe room if you want. Could see Alexandra doing that, knowing/suspecting the deeper relationship between her and the King. She could also go with Nathaniel to the Hospital, since I think that's who I'm going to place there for the time being. Hoping to work on stuff tonight, do up some more posts and move a few things around IC, but I'm just feeling a bit out of it at the moment. What would the typical protocol be between the military branches regarding this? I'm just trying to best gauge Theresa's reaction. I said I would post, but I'm debating on whether I should or not. The time of the shooting is around midnight, and I think Angel would have left the ball before that. Since that will be the case, I'll not post in response to the event and wait for the aftermath. Just posted for Theresa. If there is an issue, just let me know. As soon as I have cleared some details with Gothic I can post Camilla. I'll be posting again today as-well, likely taking Damien and those he finds that should be placed somewhere safe along with him to a safe room. If Eli is staying with the King then Damien will probably stay behind to make sure the rest of his family are kept safe. I've added a new supplemental GM post to sort of clarify a few story things, as well as to set the stage for where people would go in the Tower. Hello everyone! I'm happy to say I have joined your ranks! My Charlie, Rhett McAllister (#msg12810146), has been posted. He was born into a noble house but ran away and changed his name 11 years ago. No one currently knows his true identity. He is open to past connections as Lord Montrose as well as current ones as Rhett McAllister. -peers at Rhett.- Aw... I want hot bodyguard to boss around! Daphne would be very good at bossing a bodyguard around. Quote from: Bibliophile on 29-11-2016, 20:29:36-peers at Rhett.- Aw... I want hot bodyguard to boss around! Daphne would be very good at bossing a bodyguard around. Rhett says no one bosses him around. He's not a butler :P Quote from: Bibliophile on 29-11-2016, 20:29:36-peers at Rhett.- Aw... I want hot bodyguard to boss around! Daphne would be very good at bossing a bodyguard around. Missy: "If you're looking to buy slightly used..." eyes Rhett "I got one you can have. Though he doesn't listen too well and takes up all the elbow room." Also wanted to say that, since there are a few people who are at their limit of three, I am open to expanding the character limits to an additional slot if there's enough interest and support. Gothic, just a quick question. I know you made a few other threads for the game. Are all those areas separate threads? Or are some part of the Tower thread, and others somewhere else? Quote from: WhatLiesAbove on 29-11-2016, 21:09:53Gnothi, just a quick question. I know you made a few other threads for the game. Are all those areas separate threads? Or are some part of the Tower thread, and others somewhere else? I can if there's a great need for it. I separated the other threads by the bigger geography, but since there's so much action in the Tower thread, I could break it up into different threads. Quote from: Em jay on 29-11-2016, 20:25:09Hello everyone! I'm happy to say I have joined your ranks! My Charlie, Rhett McAllister (#msg12810146), has been posted. He was born into a noble house but ran away and changed his name 11 years ago. No one currently knows his true identity. He is open to past connections as Lord Montrose as well as current ones as Rhett McAllister. He sounds cool! Maybe he and Laguna's bodyguard Yuki could talk strategies. Lol Welcome, Ems! Quote from: Em jay on 29-11-2016, 20:25:09Hello everyone! I'm happy to say I have joined your ranks! My Charlie, Rhett McAllister (#msg12810146), has been posted. He was born into a noble house but ran away and changed his name 11 years ago. No one currently knows his true identity. He is open to past connections as Lord Montrose as well as current ones as Rhett McAllister. That's a nifty concept. :) Quote from: Em jay on 29-11-2016, 20:25:09Hello everyone! I'm happy to say I have joined your ranks! My Charlie, Rhett McAllister (#msg12810146), has been posted. He was born into a noble house but ran away and changed his name 11 years ago. No one currently knows his true identity. He is open to past connections as Lord Montrose as well as current ones as Rhett McAllister. Awesome character there! Quote from: Cocaine on 29-11-2016, 20:55:44Missy: "If you're looking to buy slightly used..." eyes Rhett "I got one you can have. Though he doesn't listen too well and takes up all the elbow room." Rhett, "I'm not paid to listen and dwarfs don't need elbow room." Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 29-11-2016, 21:30:22He sounds cool! Maybe he and Laguna's bodyguard Yuki could talk strategies. lol Rhett would tell Yuki that Laguna is a walk in the park when compared to Missy :Quote from: Amelia on 29-11-2016, 22:54:31Welcome, Ems! Thanks! Quote from: Red Phoenix on 30-11-2016, 00:32:06That's a nifty concept. :)Thank you! I try :Quote from: Reiki on 30-11-2016, 00:32:34Awesome character there! Thanks! ’D Quote from: Em jay on 30-11-2016, 01:31:59Rhett would tell Yuki that Laguna is a walk in the park when compared to Missy :Plot hopefully Missy doesn't hear that. BTW if any King's Sword members need some direction let me know - but otherwise assume every single one of them is on duty and stationed either near the royals in the tower, helping to round up any whose whereabouts are unknown, or at the hospital as the King's primary protection there. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 30-11-2016, 01:43:23Lol hopefully Missy doesn't hear that. Pretty sure Missy is well aware that she's a pain in the ass XD I'm not sure whether to have Prince Lukas already in the safe room or roaming around for a King's Sword to chase after. If anyone's interested in playing bodyguard let me know! Otherwise, assume he was hustled to the safe room (and not particularly happy about it). Rev, if you like, Xavier could come across him on the way to his room and drag him along. There could even be a whole scene where Xavier is the one who has to tell the Prince what's happened. Or.... Ry's sword could do it. Either way! Welcome Em jay!! Rhett looks awesome! Quote from: Revolution on 30-11-2016, 02:08:33I'm not sure whether to have Prince Lukas already in the safe room or roaming around for a King's Sword to chase after. If anyone's interested in playing bodyguard let me know! Otherwise, assume he was hustled to the safe room (and not particularly happy about it). Hey, maybe he can meet Laguna in there! ’D I burnt the ever loving Dejesus out of my dominate hand, will try to get something up soon. Quote from: Carla on 30-11-2016, 03:12:15Welcome Em jay!! Rhett looks awesome! Thankies! That stuff you came up with for your girl was amazing! Quote from: sweets on 30-11-2016, 03:16:12I burnt the ever loving Dejesus out of my dominate hand, will try to get something up soon.Oh, God!! I hope you feel better soon! Quote from: Em jay on 30-11-2016, 03:37:45 Thankies! That stuff you came up with for your girl was amazing! Thanks! It was fun to write. Have been thinking of expanding it a little with more current political/cultural info lol...of course some of that is just wanting to avoid my stacks of homework! Quote from: sweets on 30-11-2016, 03:16:12I burnt the ever loving Dejesus out of my dominate hand, will try to get something up soon. Yeeesh. Hope your hand gets better soon, Sweets. Thanks. I have a nice blister and feel tender but will be fine. Moving stings a bit right now is all. I will have a post up sometime tonight. Quote from: sweets on 30-11-2016, 03:56:30 Thanks. I have a nice blister and feel tender but will be fine. Moving stings a bit right now is all. I will have a post up sometime tonight. If you need want any pointers or help, I do work in a burn center! Quote from: Bibliophile on 30-11-2016, 02:24:31Rev, if you like, Xavier could come across him on the way to his room and drag him along. There could even be a whole scene where Xavier is the one who has to tell the Prince what's happened. Or.... Ry's sword could do it. Either way! Sounds good! I'll toss a post up sometime hopefully tonight or tomorrow. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 30-11-2016, 03:15:42Hey, maybe he can meet Laguna in there! Lukas would probably be dragged out of the large reception hall where all the high profile guests are staying to the Residence area at the top of the Tower, so I'm not sure if it would be possible. Sorry! Quote from: Revolution on 01-12-2016, 01:46:40 Lukas would probably be dragged out of the large reception hall where all the high profile guests are staying to the Residence area at the top of the Tower, so I'm not sure if it would be possible. Sorry! Aww. A; Quote from: Carla on 30-11-2016, 03:39:33 Thanks! It was fun to write. Have been thinking of expanding it a little with more current political/cultural info lol...of course some of that is just wanting to avoid my stacks of homework! I totally understand. A lot of things to do with finals coming up O. O If any royal or guest not related to the royal family wants to interact with Laguna, I'll be making a post with him in the room tonight. As well, for info’s sake regarding Kaunas homeland, should I make a small bio of what Fuji is like technology and culture wise in Kaunas profile? Not sure what I should have Angel doing right now. Quote from: Raven on 02-12-2016, 02:55:17Not sure what I should have Angel doing right now. Well Enzo did put a call-out on the mic to the Swords so he likely would have heard that. He could be prepping the safe rooms or head back to the ballroom to guide the royal family to safety? Just want to apologize for my lack of activity here lately, as well as if I've come across as a bit standoffish in PMs the past couple of days. I've had some personal stuff that I'm juggling at the moment, and it hasn't been good for my muse and overall desire to write. I'm hoping that I'm getting out of this funk enough to focus more on writing, and get some scenes started and moving this weekend. Again, I'm sorry for delays and PMs. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 02-12-2016, 03:35:23Just want to apologize for my lack of activity here lately, as well as if I've come across as a bit standoffish in PMs the past couple of days. I've had some personal stuff that I'm juggling at the moment, and it hasn't been good for my muse and overall desire to write. I'm hoping that I'm getting out of this funk enough to focus more on writing, and get some scenes started and moving this weekend. Again, I'm sorry for delays and PMs. No prob Gothic, we've all been though that! Hope everything goes well for you. Quote from: sweets on 02-12-2016, 03:28:31Well Enzo did put a call-out on the mic to the Swords so he likely would have heard that. He could be prepping the safe rooms or head back to the ballroom to guide the royal family to safety? Yes, I got that call, and I told him what I would be doing after the shooting. However, we haven't moved past it yet. That's not a nudge to Gothic or anything, I'm just trying to figure out if I want to continue something Pre-assassination attempt or try to get something going Post-assassination attempt. Posted as Laguna in the Reception Hall! He's open to convoy if anyone want to talk to him! LA, just wanted you to know I did response(#msg12816765) to Gina with Nathaniel in the City thread. Quote from: Raven on 02-12-2016, 03:45:56Yes, I got that call, and I told him what I would be doing after the shooting. However, we haven't moved past it yet. That's not a nudge to Gothic or anything, I'm just trying to figure out if I want to continue something Pre-assassination attempt or try to get something going Post-assassination attempt. I'm not entirely sure about the other members of the Royal Family. I moved Alexandra up to the Residence. Furthermore, I don't know what I'm doing with Granny. Furthermore, I think I might put her in the reception hall. Sorry I've been quiet...three papers and two upcoming tests have been keeping me super busy the last week! Will try to have posts up for my girls by mid-week (once my tests are done) but for now I'll just leave them in the background since they aren't actually interacting with anyone in the main threads at the moment. Hope everyone's having a great weekend! I'm behind on posts. I know and I apologize now. Those who know me sometimes know my work is soul-crushing in the worst way. I'll have posts up tomorrow. Had, if anyone is in the regular safe room, Laguna is available to talk with! Sorry that I haven't even started yet. RL has been weird. Quote from: Tokyorose627 on 10-12-2016, 08:37:13Heya, if anyone is in the regular safe room, Laguna is available to talk with! Ah, once again, Laguna is free to talk to with anyone! A; I'm sort of paused letting the situation resolve. Kinsley is with the royal family at the moment, but I'm not sure where she's going to end up. Is anyone still on? A; Was wondering the same thing. Holidays. I have a family and a life outside E that tends to call for more energy this time of year. I'm willing to bet it's the same for a lot of the others.;) If things haven't moved along too far, I'd definitely like to jump back in. School and then the holidays sort of sucked me dry the last few weeks, but the holidays are over, and my next semester is significantly lighter than this last one was so keeping on top of things should be far more doable. ’D I haven't really been pushing much. We've had the holidays, with people busy with that. I've had some shit going on offline and some stuff on here that's made writing with groups difficult. And there are still people who have yet to make an entrance. So with all that, I haven't really been pushing scenes or anything like that. When I have some things settle at home, and a decent internet connection, I'll start sending PMs and start pushing things once again. If you feel like you're tired of waiting, or want to leave, I'll more than understand and wish you nothing but the best. Quote from: GnothiSeauton on 05-01-2017, 17:26:27I haven't really been pushing much. We've had the holidays, with people busy with that. I've had some shit going on offline and some stuff on here that's made writing with groups difficult. And there are still people who have yet to make an entrance. So with all that, I haven't really been pushing scenes or anything like that. When I have some things settle at home, and a decent internet connection, I'll start sending PMs and start pushing things once again. If you feel like you're tired of waiting, or want to leave, I'll more than understand and wish you nothing but the best.I'm still here. 3 If things get rolling again I'll try to be back. My mom is due for surgery and that may mess up my posting. Quote from: sweets on 14-01-2017, 05:02:21If things get rolling again I'll try to be back. My mom is due for surgery and that may mess up my posting. Hope your mom is okay! I'm also still here. Ah, so is the game dead? A;

All Hail the King - OOC Chatter and Discussion|rating:3.0

Cat Got Your Tongue_ Collegiate Edition (Galocrist and ReijiTabibito)

It was a Friday night at Westlake College in Paradigm City, and Daniel MacGregor was making preparations. Finally, at long last, his plans would come to fruition – plans that had been three months in the making. At last, the things he had longed for would come true. He’d met Lily Servants here at Westlake, as a freshman, during the interim semester in January. They were both taking a course on political science – Daniel needed the course for his basic graduation requirements. They’d been paired up by the professor to do a collaborative effort, and had hit it off over the project. Furthermore, they’d been dating nearly two years, now, and Daniel had to admit – originally, he thought that it never would have lasted this long. Both of them were rather average-looking, so he figured she’d dump him for the next reasonably handsome guy that came along, or he would get tired of her in a few months. But, there had been some hidden attractive quality about her, and she was rather cute for a girl, though he thought that she could stand a few changes. Unfortunately, most of those changes were out of his reach. Until recently, that is. A few months back, over the summer, Daniel had found something. Or, rather, something had found HIM. Apparently, mankind was not alone in the universe – because on one warm summer night, he had had a close encounter. The aliens didn’t LOOK like aliens – they looked human, but definitely weren’t, judging by their technology. They had lost something in the cornfields of Iowa, near the town where he grew up, and now needed help finding it. Because, though they appeared human, they definitely didn’t behave as such. So, Daniel became their human agent, using the time he wasn’t working his nowhere summer job to find their missing…thing. It had been close, but they found it before he had to go back to school here in Paradigm. He still didn’t know exactly what it did – lots of technobabble and talk of metaphysics – but he didn’t care, especially regarding the reward they’d given him. At a glance, it looked like a laptop computer – though they claimed it was a “portable data terminal” with a “chameleon circuit.” Well, this “chameleon circuit” was pretty damn convincing – it looked like a Toshiba laptop, complete with running Windows XP OS, and programs and whatnot. The real function, however, was incredible – with it, the user was capable of transforming a person’s body, mind, and behaviors with it. There were limits on the transformations – it couldn’t change ages, create physical proportions that defied physics, or completely rewrite someone’s personality – but Daniel was more interested in what it could do than what it couldn’t. The best part was that the transformation program was completely intuitive: after the first few times he loaded it and worked with it, he knew exactly how to do what he wanted – even a complete newbie would have a solid proficiency with it. Now armed with this new tool, Daniel knew he could make the changes that he always wanted to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, he had to wait for an opportunity to do so. Once he was back in Paradigm, and the school year had started, he waited, plotted, and prepared. He had only three opportunities to set his plan in motion this semester: Thanksgiving Break, Reading Recess, and whatever time was left between the end of finals for both of them, and when they went home for the holidays. The last one was out – there might be only twenty-four hours, and possibly not even that, before Lily went home. Thanksgiving Break would have worked, except she lived closer to Paradigm than he did, and she’d decided to take him home to meet her family. That left Reading Recess, which, actually, wasn’t a half bad option. Reading Recess at Westlake was, technically, just a weekend with the following Monday off tacked on. Most of the college went home – the majority of the students were either from Paradigm, or lived close enough to it to make going home worthwhile – and the professors kept reduced office hours, and never left their offices. So, only the far away students, like himself, and the college staff were really present on campus. And while doing this in the dorms might have been difficult, Daniel lived in the college-sponsored apartments nearby, which had more relaxed rules. Daniel lived in Rockford House, the smallest of the buildings – only eight apartments total, with two or three people per apartment. And, as far as he had heard, out of the two dozen or so occupants of Rockford, he was the only occupant of his apartment, and only one of three or four staying on campus: that made this much easier. Since Lily had been home not two weeks ago for Thanksgiving, she’d decided to stay and use the long weekend to spend some quality time with him – most students used Reading Recess to catch up on work, or to begin prepping for finals, but they were ahead of the curve. Average-looking they were, but average-brained they were NOT. So, Daniel had set out, using the few hours a week he had between classes, studying, and his girlfriend, to implement his plan. He took Lily’s average-but-cute body and built her into his dream girl. Armed with the computer, he was able to make all the changes he’d wanted, including one in particular. Something of an anime fan, Daniel had always liked cat girls – and he had, since the moment they’d started dating, wanted to change her into one. What was better, the world had, in the last decade, produced a scientific technique that allowed for the actual creation of cat girls, so he could indulge his little fetish in public. He’d spent time going through the program, making changes of all sorts to her. He’d tested the changes on himself, when there were windows of opportunity, so that he could get an idea of how long it would take. Furthermore, he’d gone to stores and picked up clothes for her to wear over the weekend, to fit her new figure. Furthermore, he had planned it all out, down to the last detail. Looking at the clock, he saw it was almost six. His apartment mates had already left for the weekend, and she would be here soon. She would show up, they’d order pizza (carry out – Daniel had calculated that the transformation would take an average of twenty minutes, with no period being less than sixteen, so while she changed, he’d run out and pick it up), and then he’d set his plan in motion. It was going to be…PERFECT. Lily would show up at Daniel's apartment just a few minutes earlier then she had said she would. Taking a deep breath she would knock rapidly on the door several times before standing back and waiting on him. Unsure exactly what their plans were for the evening she had prepared to just stay in as they normally did and showed up in a t-shirt and pair of jeans and her sneakers. Lately with the way things had been they normally just sat and watched a movie and ate some sort of dinner. At some point she was hoping that they would start going out more. Hearing her call out, Dan left his room and hurried to the door – he’d set up the ‘computer’ in his mates’ somewhat vacant room, in order to prevent her from finding it if she went into his room. Opening it the rest of the way, he found Lily standing there.“Hey, sweetie,” he said, letting her into the apartment, and kissing her as he closed the door. They stood like that for a few moments, then he broke the kiss, and turned towards the phone.“I was just about to order pizza – you want the usual?” "Of course funny that's why it is our usual." Though it was their only usual habit she could really stand anymore. Hopefully though they wouldn't watch some horrible movie again tonight like the time. Finding the nearest seat she would quickly lay back and try to relax. For the past couple weeks the stagnancy of things had been getting to her. Ever since they had gotten a bit drunk and nearly had sex. In their normal interactions she had been trying to make it seem like it was in the past and unimportant. Yet it was always in the back of her head wondering. Lily had decided to spend the weekend solely with Daniel in order to strengthen their relationship and get closer to him. All she had to figure out while he went to get the pizza's was how to get him to approach him about such. "Alright," he replied. Calling the pizza place, he ordered the usual for the two of them. As Lily set herself down on the couch, he quickly went to the device, checked the program to make sure everything was set, pressed the button to start the changes, minimized the program, and moved back into the main room. His job complete, he hung up the phones." It'll be about twenty minutes, they said. I'm going to leave now to pick it up. Will you be okay here by yourself until I get back?"[Lily feels her bra becoming increasingly uncomfortable, despite the fact that it fits fine. Lily feels her breasts tingling as the changes take place. The first change is shape: Lily’s breasts crawl up her chest, going from slightly sagging, teardrop-shaped ones, to a pair of high-riding, perky round ones that seemingly defy gravity.] Lily would laugh at the question. "Of course silly how many times have I been here alone before." She would get up and go get herself something to drink. Once her back was to him, and hopefully he would be unable to see what she was doing she would try to adjust her bra and breasts hoping to alleviate the discomfort. For some reason they just were not feeling right. Grabbing a cup from near the sink she would give it a quick wash before pouring a glass of water drinking it quickly before going back to her seat. "Your place is safe, now how about the food?" Daniel laughed. "All right, I'm on my way. See you in a few." Leaving the apartment, Dan smirked, mentally grinning. All he had to do was go get the pizza – a simple twenty minute or so task. And by the time he got back, his girlfriend would be a busty Batgirl. Climbing in, and turning on the ignition, he pulled his Toyota Matrix out onto the street that adjoined Rockford House’s parking lot, and would take him in a more-or-less straight path to the pizza place. Everything was going according to plan. After Daniel had left Lily would quickly go to the restroom and remove her shirt. The discomfort was really getting to her, and she couldn't understand why they ached. But her breasts did they were even feeling noticeably different. Looking in the mirror she could almost swear they looked bigger then they had this morning. She had been around him without a bra on before and with how her breasts were feeling that might be best for now. Though what could she do with her bra in the meantime. It came to her rather quickly perhaps she could get a rise out of Daniel if she placed it on top of his other undergarments in his room. Lily would remove her bra and put her shirt back on before slipping out of the bathroom and into his room. Lily always liked his room it showed that he was willing to work hard at school. Since it had been awhile since lily had rummaged around through here it would take her a moment to find the place, and she would carefully lay the bra out on top of his undergarments. Wanting to make it seem as if everything were normal she would return to where she had sat on the couch waiting on him. A couple of minutes away from Rockford House, Dan hit the first of a few unplanned events. This surprise was a detour along the road – apparently the city was repaving it. Sighing, Dan took the detour – unless he wanted to lose more time, it was the only way. The detour lasted only two minutes, but it was still time lost in the task. Doing some math in his head, Dan recalculated the time it would take to make the pizza run. Looks like it’ll be about twenty-five minutes instead of just twenty, he mused. That wasn’t too bad – the average change time had been twenty minutes, and besides, the odds of Lily finding the machine in those five minutes? Minimal. There was almost nothing to worry about.[Lily feels a strange, expanding sensation as her breasts increase in size. Starting from a modest B-cup, they grow into a pair of jiggly DD-cup melons. Her nipples change as well, becoming large and puffy – as big around as a penny, with the thickness of a thumb. They also become more sensitive, and she loses the ability to call her breasts “breasts,” now only capable of describing them with less decent terms.] Something was wrong, this just wasn't possible. How could her tits grow like this is insane. She would rush back to the restroom to remove her shirt actually wondering what's was going on. She would actually poke and prod her tits in amazement at what was going on. Perhaps Something had gotten into the water or something. This cant be real, putting her shirt back on she would return to the couch hugging her tits against her chest. Dan turned off the street that ran in front of the pizza place, getting out of his car, and walking inside. Going up to the counter, he spoke to the girl standing behind it.“One pizza for carry-out,” he said.”Name on the order?”“MacGregor.” She turned around, and looked through the slips. “Okay, it’s just going into the oven now, it’ll be about twelve minutes.”“What?” Dan was shocked. “I called in that order nearly fifteen minutes ago! It’s only starting to cook now?!”“I’m sorry, sir, but we’ve had a busy night, even for a Friday. Must be the holiday season. You’re welcome to wait if you like.” Seeing no decent alternative, he sat himself down on bench just inside the door. Great. Just great. Now, it’s going to be about thirty-five minutes. Five minutes, he wasn’t worried about. Fifteen? That gave Lily time enough to go over the whole apartment, and find the device. No choice but to wait, and hope she’s either too shocked, or too interested in her new body to go exploring the place…[Lily now feels the tingles begin in her buttocks. First, they plump outwards, giving her a nice, full booty, with any back coverage her panties provides slipping into the crack, making it uncomfortable. She then feels slight pushing and pulling motions, as it reshapes itself into a round, picture-perfect apple bottom. The changes complete, the tingling fades.] Now even her ass was feeling weird this was too much. She must be imagining if it was the only actual explanation. So they would be watching a movie anyway so Lily decided to start going through the apartment trying to find a movie they hadn't watched a million times while trying to keep her panties from being a problem. Still sitting in the pizza parlor, Dan went up to the counter to check on his order. Discovering that the pizza would be out in about five minutes or so, he went back to his place on the bench. Once he had the pizza, he would have to gun it back to the apartment – he didn’t want to risk Lily finding the machine. If she figured it out as quickly as he did, she might be able to affect some changes before he got back, or even worse, undo the changes he made to her. He couldn’t have that, no way. He’d rather turn into a carboy himself before he let that happen. Come on, hurry up already![Lily feels her ears tingle as the final set of physical changes begin. The tingling sensation moves as her ears reposition themselves, settling on the top of her head. She then feels a gentle tugging sensation, and a slight itch as the ears go from smooth, valid human ones, to a pair of furries, triangular cat ears.] Feeling her head tingle she would start feeling around her head and find the ear changes. Knowing it had to be something weird she would ransack the apartment within minutes before running into the bathroom and locking the door not wanting to be seen like this. Finally, the pizza was done. Going over to the counter, Dan paid for it, and then hurried out to his car with the box. Climbing in, he turned the ignition, put the car into drive, and left the pizza parlor as quick as he could. He would be back at the apartment in nine or ten minutes, providing he didn’t run into any more snags as he had on the way here. Dan prayed, PRAYED that Lily didn’t find the computer before then. As long as he could get into the apartment before she discovered it, he had ways of preventing her from reaching it. Remembering the construction detour, he took an alternate route – one that had a string of stop lights, but if he hit them right, then he’d be able to fly right through them, and gain two or so of the minutes he had lost. That was the good news. The bad news was that if he missed one of the first two lights, then getting home would take five minutes longer than if he’d gone by the detour route. Please, let this work out for the best…[The last change now begins. Lily feels a stretching sensation as, just an inch or so above her panty line, a cat’s tail begins to grow out of her back. As big around as a shot glass rim, it continues to lengthen until the tip would be near her ankles, if completely down. No more sensations come as the stretchy feeling fades – the changes are done.] Feeling the sensation of the tail starting to grow she would remove her jeans and panties entirely staring in bewilderment at the growth. There had to be something nearby responsible for this she stormed out of the bathroom wearing only the t-shirt that was not pushed largely away from her torso by her tits she Searched each and ever room thoroughly for anything that might have been responsible. She opened books and looked at computers seeing whether they were on and what they were doing. No item went unhandled if she got to look everywhere while Daniel was gone. Driving back to Rockford House, and shortly before the light string, Dan hoped he'd be able to get back - Lily was not the type to just stand around while things happened to her. If she looked in his roommates' room, she'd find the computer with the alteration program. And if she looked in his closet, she'd find the bag with the outfits to fit her new figure - lacy underwear, tight tops, short skirts, stockings to keep her legs warm. The kitchen, main room, Daniels room there was nothing not even in the bathroom. All that was left was the hallway and Daniel's roommates mess. His roommate irritated her to no end though he would never go to any length to pull any jokes or do something like this. Opening the door she would slowly start searching the room starting with the closet. Finding the bag of clothes she decided not to ask about the personal life of his roommate but eventually finding nothing she would check the laptop left behind. Speaking aloud to herself, "He wouldn't leave his laptop here if he had gone home." She would instantly start looking at every program running on the machine finding the program that had made the changes she would be amazed at it. The complexity was amazing, as such she would take it back out into the living room and begin thinking of who would have done this truly. She knew Daniel had a large interest in Batgirl's so only he would have wished the tail and ears upon her. This was the perfect chance to get back at him for this though she would figure out this program and make a few changes to him as well. Dan was now sitting at the second stoplight - he'd missed the light, and now was stuck at a long series of lights. Lily would probably be able to find the program, and considering how intuitive it was, she'd be able to figure how out it worked relatively quickly. "This program is remarkably simple, for as complex as the results are its amazingly simple." She would be Formulating her own changes to make upon Daniel. The first things she worked on was giving him the same tail and ears she had. Now at the third of six lights, Dan was getting impatient. The good news was, the computer had a limited range, so he wouldn't suddenly start changing out here, but that didn't mean that Lily wasn't cooking up changes of her own. The things the machine could do were incredible...hell, it could even invert genders - that was how he'd gotten the timing for Lily's changes. Thinking more and more upon it her next change was to set the program to turn Daniel into a girl. Leave the hair color alone but lengthen it to the shoulders. Just so he could know how it feels she would set the program to give him at least a c cup breast before shaping his rear to the same as her own. Now at the fifth light, Daniel was almost home. Just another light, a quick turn, and a five-minute drive. Then he'd be back at Rockford House, and be able to see what Lily was up to. Finishing up what she wanted to change for the moment she would set the machine to activate the changes as soon as he was in range. Once that was set she would go set the machine back where she found it doing her best to hide what she had done. Not just that to make things more believable she went and locked herself in the bathroom. Pulling into the parking lot at Rockford House, Dan swiped his card to enter, and as her stepped inside, felt a tingle sweep over his body. Oh, shit. Lily had found the machine, and now changes were starting. Running up to his apartment, he quickly unlocked it as he felt his genitals tingle. Now in the apartment, she set down the pizza, and saw the changes occurring. Her frame shrunk, going from a broad-shouldered to slim. Her hair lengthened, going down to her shoulders. Furthermore, her breasts grew outwards, expanding to a noticeable 40D. Furthermore, her waist tapered, and her hips and ass shifted, giving her a girly hourglass figure. She was a girl now. That was when she felt the tingle in her ears and back. She watched as she grew cat ears and a tail. Going to her room, she stripped out the boy's clothing she was wearing, and opened the closet. Taking out the bag, she slipped on a bra and panties - both sexy black lace. Seeing as how the bathroom door was the only one closed, Daniel, now Daniela, knocked on it. "Lily! I know you're in there!" Her own voice, now girly, shocked her a little. Peeks out the door looking frightened. "What's going on someone has changed us." The glimmer of laughter could be seen behind fake tears that Lily was crying." I don't own any clothes that fit me how are we to go out in public like this." She opened the door showing Daniela her new body clad in only the T-shirt. Daniela arched an eyebrow. "Oh, someone, huh?" She heard the laughter. "Well, looks like we'll just have to cope with it." Beckoning Lily out, she pointed to the bag on the floor of her room. "You'll find clothes in there." They were basic - but the computer would be able to alter them. Lily would remove her shirt and head to Daniela's room where she would slowly put on the new clothes. She didn't even bother closing the door as she put on the new clothes. She would walk back out to the couch adjusting her tits as she walked." So why did you do it? And should I be calling you Daniel or something else?" She would sigh adjusting how she sat due to the tail. "So what are our plans now?" Daniela sat next to Lily, and answered her questions." First, call me Daniela, I'll respond to it easily enough, and it won't draw attention. Second, I did it because...because I thought we needed a change. Our relationship had just been too boring as of late, and that night we got drunk just confirmed it. And as for plans, I was going to suggest maybe finishing what we started that night, but now...maybe a girl's night out? I can use the computer to make whatever clothes you might want!" Lily would give Daniela a hug, "Well how does it feel like to be a woman?" Lily would leave her arms wrapped around Daniela waist. "Well perhaps its about time that we figure out what we are going to do or what you wanted to do at least." Not giving Daniela much time to answer Lily would move to sit in Daniela's lap and give the girl a kiss. "Well with these new changes perhaps we should talk about our relationship then and figure out what we really want." Daniela smiled. "If you think that I think it's weird feeling to be a girl, you're off, sister. I used that little computer to try out being a girl - how do you think I decided what changes I wanted to make to you?" As Lily moved into her lap, Daniela agreed. "Let's, and then maybe we can go get whatever it is we want." Lily would ignore the comment about having experimented with it before. "I have been thinking that perhaps where are relationship is at the moment might be a bit stagnant It's stayed the same place for the last year and we don't really ever do anything." Sighing Lily would check out how Daniela was wearing the clothes. "You seem to have figured out how to wear everything properly."" I was thinking perhaps sometime if the mood ever struck us again we could actually go through with things, Also perhaps we should actually go out on the town more often together." Lily knew school would make such very rough, but It's what she thought was best. "Sure! Why not?" Daniela agreed. "We need a little variety, and I think now's the time to start. Matter of fact, why don't we start now? We can go and have a girl's night out!" Lily would stand up and walk off towards the machine. "So what club should we go to tonight sweetie?" she would pick up the machine and put it in her lap. "Also exactly how do we get this thing to change our clothes? I would like to wear the sexiest thing you can think of for me." "Well, before we get to that," Daniela said, "there are a couple of questions we should answer first. One: do you want me to stay as a girl? And two: should we stay as cat girls?" The Batgirl question wouldn't really change where they went - the club scene thought of cat girls as sexy and exotic - but it would alter what they wore. Lily would trace a finger lightly from the base of Daniela's tail and up her spine. "I don't mind being a cat girl nor you for that matter." Smiles as she looks at the machine. "I actually like you as a girl for right now. Think of all the fun we could have together tonight." She would gaze at the machine slightly, "What I would really like though is just to please you make sure you are happy with all this." Daniela shivered as Lily traced her tail. Looking at the computer, she asked Lily a series of questions. "Alright, then, answer these questions with the first thing that pops into your head. Skirts or dresses, long or short, heels or no heels, cleavage or no cleavage, panties or thongs, bra or no bra?" "Well for you wouldn't mind seeing what you look like in a short dress with heels, showing all the cleavage those tits of your can give and wearing a thong." She would smile giving Daniela a kiss on the cheek. "And then you can decide what I should be wearing for tonight." Daniela input the changes into the computer, and pressed enter, the change taking place immediately. Her clothes changed, reforming themselves. When they were done, Daniela was wearing a strapless black minidress that emphasized her tits and cleavage. On her feet were a pair of four-inch stiletto heels, and under the dress was a tiny black lace thong, which was only slightly visible in the little slit in the dress for Daniela's tail. Now dealing with Lily, Daniela made her changes, and pressed the button.[Lily's clothes shift, becoming the following: a sexy black thong, with frills around the edges; a short, pleated skirt, in whatever pattern Lily thinks of; a tight T-shirt that reveals her stomach, and that she's not wearing a bra; and a pair of heels. Cuddling up against Daniela's back lily would wrap her hands around to rest against the girls stomach. "So now then shall we eat this pizza and talk more than go out to the clubs?" She would whisper against Daniela's ear. Daniela grinned. "Yes, love, let's." Rising from the couch and setting the computer aside, she brought back the pizza. She opened the box. "Dig in." Lily would pick up a slice and begin eating it, "So tell me what do you think of our relationship at the moment?" Taking a bite she would be waiting for Daniela's answer. This answer was so important to her that lily's tail would be moving around nervously as she waited. Daniela noticed that while her face betrayed nothing, her tail was wiggling nervously. "Sweetie, I love you, I do, you know that. But you're right, our relationship has been rather boring over the last year, we've just been doing the usual, and that's not fair to you." Picking up her own piece of pizza, she slyly commented, "And by the way, you need to work on your poker butt - your tail is giving you away." Lily would giggle as she would reach back and try to pin her tail to the bed, "I am sorry It's just I want to make sure we are on the same page and eventually want to go further in our relationship." Letting the tail go as she takes another careful bite of the pizza she would watch Daniela. Finishing off the piece of pizza, "I think we should try and see if we can get into that new club." Daniela smiled. "Of course, we should go further." When Lily mentioned the club, her ears perked up. "The Cat's Meow? Why not," she giggled, "maybe they'll let us in since we're cat girls!" Laughing, "We might be the prettiest couple to go in there." It would be interesting she knew that Daniel/Daniela had always had a thing for cat girls, and he knew that she had always been curious about women though she would never leave him unless their relationship wasn't going to be going anywhere. Now this machine was a way for them to actually get all of their desires over time worked out and enacted. Finishing off the pizza she would lick her lips and grab another piece of pizza and begin to nibble on it. Daniela giggled, "yeah, all the boys will probably want to hook up with us!" In the time that it had taken Lily to eat one piece of pizza, she'd eaten two - apparently one of the things the machine hadn't changed was the pace at which she ate. "Come on! Let's hurry!" Laughs, "Well Sweetie once you're done we can go." Smiling she thinks, "Though I think that is nice in all about the boys but let's tease them the entire time and just stick to ourselves." The idea of even getting close to anyone else this weekend felt wrong to her. Daniela agreed, "Let's. The boys will be soon jealous!" Once they were both done, the girls went down to Daniela's car, and hopped in, driving to the Cat's Meow. The trip would some time, so they could talk on the way. Nervously Lily would place a hand on Daniela's knee as they drove to the club. "So MMM how did you get this device that did this? And are these changes permanent unless we use the device again." Lily was nervous that perhaps Daniela's sexual tastes had been changed with turning him to a. Lily would recline in her seat watching Daniela carefully her ears and tail moving nervously. Daniela responded, "I got the device from helping out a few friends, friends of the non-earthly kind. And yes, unless we use the device, the changes are permanent - but, sweetie, you don't need to worry. I may be a girl, but I'm still me. AndIloveyou. Okay?" The idea of aliens being real surprised lily greatly. Though some of these changes she was deciding she might keep in the end if Daniel went back to normal he would be almost admired with her on his arm. "So Love how shall we go about going here? Get a few drinks maybe some close dancing?" "Sounds good," Daniela replied, "but don't forget flirting! We want to make the boys all jealous, remember?" Smiles giving Daniela's knee a squeeze, "Well flirting with each other and the dancing I am fairly certain will make the boys very jealous." This was probably going to be one of the best things for their relationship she knew it. Using her free hand she would adjust her tits. "These things are going to take some getting used to. Though you never truly answered my question exactly how do you like being a woman?" Daniela giggled. "I like it! I feel happier and freer, and when I go places I actually turn heads. It's easier to get noticed as a girl...though I know that it's not all roses and rainbows." Laughs, "There are just some things about being a woman I wish I would never have to deal with or at least that would be far more comfortable dealing with." Looking around out through the window. "You know this might be the nicest thing you have ever done for me." It really was in a strange sense, most guys probably would have beat the crap out of her for having turned them into a woman. Now look at them their relationship would survive they would have some fun at the newest club in town. She felt closer to her partner more than ever now. Daniela was puzzled. "Now why do you say that? I thought that you wouldn't like it...that I changed you without your okay." It was true, and Daniela had made a change that would've stopped her from attacking him, but unfortunately, it could only be activated when he was a guy, so being a girl made it go right out the window. "Well think about it. Why would I attack the person I love when I was just as able to get back at them with something similar." She was wondering what it would be like what the two of them on the dance floor as they talked the two of them pressed against each other moving with the music. "Don't get me wrong I was really scared and angry at first."" Its just that I really don't like being a violent person." It was true she would rather be absolutely humiliated rather than resort to violence had gotten her into trouble occasionally. Daniela was glad that Lily had admitted how she felt, but then she thought about it. "I guess you're right, but in my head, you never found the computer...but yeah, I can see that." Looking out the windshield, she saw the sign. "Hey, there it is!" Lily would smile as they pull up into a parking spot nearby as they walked towards the club purses in hand she would slip an arm around Daniela's waist. "Want to know something we probably should have done is change your driver's license." Daniela giggled. "Want to see something amazing?" She took her drivers' license out of her purse and showed it to Lily. It showed Daniela's face, as she looked right now, and had the height and weight numbers changed to match hers. Looks amazed as they walk up towards the entrance of the club, "Wow You really were planning all this out ahead of time." This was starting to make her wonder what all Daniela did have planned for them this weekend. If she had gone home she would have just been bored out of her mind at home stuck with the family and no ability to contact the outside world. Though now she was a woman with some fairly large tits a girlfriend that was as beautiful if not more and both of them were cat girls. This was as far from boring as one could get. "No, silly! It's the machine - whenever it makes a change, it alters any record of us to match what we look like." Strolling up to the club entrance, she hoped the doorman would let them both in - they were busty, sexy cat girls, so they stood a good chance. Pulling out her own idea she would hold it out to the bouncer as she came around and gave Daniela a kiss on the lips. She knew if you could be seen as wild enough to keep a club having a good reputation they let you in fairly easily. Breaking away from the kiss she would retrieve her own I'd and wait upon Daniela. Between the two sets of large boobs, two pairs of waving tails, and Lily's kiss, the bouncer both let them inside the club. Inside, the club was packed - people everywhere - on the dance floor, at the bar, in the booths. A DJ was up front, and a heavy techno beat was pumping through the speakers. As if in response, Daniela and Lily's tails rose off the floor into the air, and began bobbing and swaying to the beat. Looking at her girlfriend, Daniela asked, "well, cutie, where should we go first?" Giggling, "There is something else I think I might want to change, you know you should make more of the decisions and not even bother asking me." Lily's tail would go over and try to entangle itself with Daniela's as they stood in just inside the club. "I don't mind either the bar or the dance floor." Grabbing Lily's hand, Daniela started to pull her forward. "Then let's dance!" Taking both of them to the dance floor, Daniela found a spot for the two of them, and they started to dance. Maybe it was some side effect of becoming a Batgirl, but Daniela found herself dancing to the beat, her hips and tail swaying sexily, her braless tits bobbing, all to the rhythm. Lily would be trying to stay as close against Daniela as the music and their changed forms would allow. Lily had not felt this energetically charged in some time and all she wanted was to have some fun with her partner. Lily would constantly be running at least one hand along Daniela side as she whispered into the girls' ear, "Having fun?" Grinning, Daniela took the moment to pull Lily close, rub her hips against Lily's, and let a hand brush against her ass, under the skirt. "What do you think?" Squirms at the touch as her own hands move down to grasp Daniela's ass, "I think this would be a perfect point to tease the boys." She would continue to rub her body against Daniela's along with the music smiling and laughing at the strange new feelings of her body. Daniela pressed her ass into Lily's hands, and the two danced close together. Pretty soon, they had an audience going - two sexy cat girls rubbing their voluptuous bodies together on a dance floor tends to attract attention. "Looks like it's working," she whispered to Lily. Unable to help herself Lily would plant her lips against Daniela's closing her eyes as her tongue came out to play. Lily's tongue would probe along Daniela's lips hoping its partner would meet it and tango. Her tail would wrap around behind Daniela's waist just to try and add emphasis of how close to be. Lily didn't know what had come of her for such a grand public display, but it just felt right. It felt as right as when they had first started dating. Daniela picked up on Lily's intent, and she responded. Wrapping her own tail around Lily's waist, and sliding her own tongue out, the pair transformed their sexy dance into a takeout session on the dance floor. Whistles and catcalls ensued. Daniela was a little surprised - they'd never done a PDA like this before. Typically, it was just handholding. Lily would blush at the catcalls and break the kiss continuing to dance with Daniela. The catcalls had reminded her of her down to earth up bring and made her try to look ashamed at what they had done. "That was certainly different sweetie. I can hardly believe we just did that." "Me neither, cutie," Daniela responded with a grin, continuing the dance. "And don't look so ashamed, after all, you love me, remember?" Smiles as she Gives Daniela a quick kiss. "Well glad your more comfortable with it." she would keep up with Daniela's rhythm as the beat changed. "You need to remember that I was brought up to keep things private." The hot Batgirl takeout session over, the crowd largely dispersed, going back to their own dancing as the beat changed with a new song. "Of course, Lily, I remember. But a little PDA here and there isn't going to hurt anyone." Daniela continued to dance with her girlfriend. Lily would smile as her hands moved underneath the Daniela's dress to touch the bare flesh of her ass. "Well that is true." It was a completely foreign concept to her, and she knew that it was part of the problems they had. At least Lily thought it's one of their problems, she was hoping that at some point she could get some real answers out of Daniela. Especially once they got some drinks. Daniela grinned as she felt Lily's hands under her dress, grabbing her ass. With her hands still on Lily's, she squeezed her plump buttocks, and let a finger brush against the back of the thong. She danced with Lily for a few more songs, then spoke into her ear. "You want to go get something to drink? I do!" Lily would gladly lead the way up to the bar and pull out her ID to order a drink from the bartender. "I will have a rum and coke and my girlfriend well I don't know what she will have." Showing her ID to the bartender, Daniela heard Lily order, then ordered herself, "Jack and Diet Coke," she then winked at Lily, "girl's gotta keep her figure." Laughing as they got their drinks and found an empty booth. "Well not really so long as that machine keeps working we can use it to shave off the weight I would think so long as we are not gluttons." She would frown as a couple of jocks off the College football team would try to join them. Sitting down across from Lily, Daniela sipped her drink, and noted the football players approaching their booth. "Sorry, boys, we're not interested, come back when you've got the steroids out of your system," she said, with a look that could only be classified as catty, and a displeased flick of her tail. As Normal jocks would they took the seats and tried to sit down and hit on them highly annoying Lilly. Lily would whisper in Daniela's ear "Guys like this when they have a few aren't very easy to be rid of." Daniela sighed. Apparently not. Well, as long as they didn't try to grab anything, she wouldn't get physical. Still attempting to get the tipsy jocks to leave them alone, she said, "why don't you go chat up some dizzy blonde who'd drop her panties, and spread her legs for you?" The more sober of the two would eventually pull his friend away and they would go elsewhere. "That's something I got used to backing in high school when I was a cheerleader. If your decent looking and your drunk they don't leave you alone." Lily would drink her rum and coke with one hand the other would rest on Daniela's thigh. "I guess so," Daniela replied. Her kitty ears drooped, showing that she was sad. "I guess being a hot girl isn't all it's cut out to be, is it?" Shakes her head, "It's all about how you're willing to act and have yourself portrayed. It's easy if you're willing to sleep with everyone with legs and breathes." Pulls Daniela in close. "I mean the closest I actually came to sleeping with anyone was with you a couple of weeks ago." At the admission, Daniela's ears perked back up. She'd gotten the farthest with Lily? That was encouraging. "Well, maybe when we're done here, we can go back to my place and do it right." Looking out over the floor, she turned back to Lily. "I think I can stand being here a little longer. How about you?" Lily would smile, "Of course, What about you, I told you about me still being a virgin you never said anything about yourself." Daniela's cheeks flushed. She knew the question was no doubt coming, but it still embarrassed her to talk about it. There had been a few girls interested in high school - one had even managed to get him out of most of his clothes on her farm, coming very close to a literal roll in the hay. Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around Lily's, seeking comfort and companionship. "No, I didn't. And... I'm still a virgin, too." "Well then guess we are going to be two blind mice finding their way in the dark then." Lily would finish off her drink quickly. "So did you want to dance some more or drink and talk?" "Let's just talk," Daniela said. The realization that their dancing had probably attracted the jocks caused her to want to shrink back, be safe, just with her girlfriend. Lily would nod and wrap her arms around Daniela. "Right now sweetie your going through stuff I learned about some time ago, It's not as easy as it looks to do." Smiles and shakes her head, "Don't get me wrong I doubt guys have it easy either, but I am not going to try and will just assume the worst is possible for them."

Cat Got Your Tongue_ Collegiate Edition (Galocrist and ReijiTabibito)|rating:3.0

Textual Attraction (HoldTheDoor & Abilicious)

Textual Attraction: Chapter One It was almost 2 a.m. when Alison Olsen swayed through the door of her one-bedroom apartment, her head swimming pleasantly from the generous amount of gin still coursing through her veins. Friday nights had been her favorite since way back in her teens, and now, at thirty-three years of age, she still found the occasional weekend on which to go out and get tipsy with her closest friends. Voicing a loud whoop! To nobody but herself, the secondary school teacher plopped onto her couch and pulled out her phone, little more than habit drawing her back to the small rectangular screen that displayed her Facebook feed. Already there were photos posted that had been taken but an hour or two before, and after those the endless scrolling brought little of note. Alison's thoughts turned back to school, as they often did. She had an excellent rapport with the vast majority of her students, and her bubbly personality made her one of the more popular teachers at Bracknell S.S.E. Her appearance didn't hurt either: at five foot three and one hundred and ten pounds, her oval face framed by long, luxuriant brown hair and beset with glassy blue eyes, Ms. Olsen's slim figure and busty C-cup breasts made her a near unanimous favorite of boys across the school. She knew it too. If she didn't, it would have become apparent after she gave her personal phone number out to students at the start of the year. Despite her warnings that she should only be contacted in case of issues relating to homework assignments or personal problems, she had received a slow deluge of text messages that she couldn't help but find cute. Many of her students were almost men grown, but in her eyes they were still boys, still in need of guidance, and still prone to boyish crushes. She could think of worse things to be than the object of a schoolboy's desire. Swiping out of Facebook, she moved to browse her messages. Only three hours before she had received one from Aaron Westland that had made her laugh. She doubted very much that any of her fellow teachers held such a playful rapport with their students, but she knew to that few of her colleagues drew the same kind of glances from the Bracknell boys. She'd never admitted it to anyone but herself, but knowing that whole classrooms of teenage boys lusted after her was more than a little arousing. Furthermore, she thought of her own secret crush, Tyler Martin. If only anyone knew! She, a grown woman, fantasizing about a boy half her age. She couldn't help it, though. Tyler was an attractive youth, dark-skinned and devilishly handsome, and the wrongness of her attraction to him only made it all the more exciting. Her alcohol-infused brain called back the mild concern she'd felt for him over the past week, and she hoped again that he was ok. He'd seemed much quieter than usual. Without giving much consideration to the time of night, or to the real motivations behind her actions, she pulled up her student's number and typed out a message. It read: Ms Olsen said: Hey Tyler. Its Ms Olsen, is everything ok? You seemed quiet this week Click to expand... She hit send without hesitation, even missing the small omission of a capital T at the beginning of his name that would have offended her sensibilities as an English teacher had she caught it. No sooner had she hit send than she was adding a quick follow up: Ms Olsen said: Worrying about you over here! Click to expand... ​ Tyler was rolling in his bed, he checked his phone sleep unwilling and unable to find him. As his eyes focused to read to bright screen he groaned,02:00the screen glared back at him. He fell back against his pillow, an anger inside him swelling at the hopelessness of his situation. As he led there, his eyes closed, but his mind awake, he heard the dull vibration of his phone on the bedside table next to his bed. "Who the hell could be texting me at this time?" He thought to himself as he leaned over to pull his phone out of the charger and see who it was and what they wanted. Ms Olsen said: Hey Tyler. Its Ms Olsen, is everything ok? You seemed quiet this week Click to expand... Before he even had a chance to respond a second text came through Ms Olsen said: Worrying about you over here! Click to expand... As he studied both texts over and over again, he wondered whether this was real. Yes, they all liked to text Ms Olsen every now and again, it was a little bit of fun that they had. She had never texted them first before, he wondered what had made her think of him at this hour. She was an incredibly attractive woman, that much was universally know across the school, her beauty and her perfect figure the topic of conversation over many of the boys dinners. Why was she bothering to text him? As he thought about it, he decided there was only one way to find out. His fingers flying over the touch screen as he keyed in his response. Tyler School said: Wasn't expecting your name to pop up Ms Olsen. I appreciate it, but I don't want to trouble you with my problems. Thanks for your concern xxx Click to expand... Shit! He thought as he realized that he had accidentally put kisses on the end of the text. The funny thing was, that mistake stemmed from the same problem as his quietness throughout the week. He had split from his girlfriend just two weeks prior, it wasn't even like he was missing her, rather than the benefits of what the relationship brought. He had learned the hard way that if a man of his age went from getting sex on tap, to going cold turkey, there was only so much a hand could fill the void before it started to weigh you down. The more he thought about it the more he knew he had nothing to lose, she had text him first and asked him a question. All he was doing was answering honestly, there was no crime in that. Tyler School said: Sorry for the kisses, I am to use to sending those. I'll be honest with you, you seem like someone I can trust. I split with my girlfriend two weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss her in fact I am glad she isn't doing my head in anymore. Problem is its left me frustrated... If you get what I mean Ms. I know I shouldn't say that, but you asked. Click to expand... He pressed send, his heart pounding as he did. He set the phone down and waited for the reply, fully expecting her to ask him to delete her number and not to contact her again. By the time he had typed up his explanatory follow-up, Ms. Olsen had already formulated her own reply. He had no sooner put his phone down than it buzzed again. Just a few miles from his house, her feet now propped up at the far end of her couch, Tyler's English teacher smirked to herself, and felt the momentary thrill of having replied to her student cut short as the second text came through. I split with my girlfriend, she read, and her heart softened for him. I don't miss her... it's left me frustrated... Alison's eyes widened a touch at that, surprised at his candor. She knew precisely what he meant. She hadn't been involved in a meaningful relationship in months, and with the school year now in full swing, she found little time outside of her work and other personal projects to meet anyone for more than a night. Gods, if she could just have Tyler for tonight. Nobody would have to know. She was of half a mind to invite him over then and there, but she knew what the possible ramifications of that could be if anyone did find out. She'd be sacked, shamed, could possibly even face time in prison. What is he? Sixteen? Mph... She managed to reply to him before her phone buzzed again, and together her texts read: Ms Olsen said: Aww, don't worry sweetie, you could never trouble me. What's up? Click to expand... Ms Olsen said: Tyler! Haha. I'm very sorry to hear that. You shouldn't be speaking to your teacher like that though ;P Click to expand... His phone vibrated once, and he let it go he couldn't bring himself to read the message that he knew would be there. She was a grown woman and compared to her, he was a little boy, she wouldn't care for his little boy problems. As he heard his phone vibrate a second time, he started to turn over wanting to see what she had said, even if it confirmed his worst fears. Ms Olsen said: Aww, don't worry sweetie, you could never trouble me. What's up? Click to expand... Ms Olsen said: Tyler! Haha. I'm very sorry to hear that. You shouldn't be speaking to your teacher like that though ;P Click to expand... He read the messages at the same time, his heart pounding as he realized she hadn't spurned him. As he reread the second message he started to feel a little braver, she was clearly enjoying this, the emoji she had sent prove that she wasn't taking this in a bad way. He started to write his response, his fingers eagerly tapping the screen wanting to reply as quickly as he possibly could, his heart racing with every message. Tyler School said: Well you asked Shouldn't ask if you don't want to know. I am sorry it is affecting me at school. When I've got sex on my mind. It makes it impossible for me to concentrate on my work. X Click to expand... As he read his message back he quickly sent another one, feeling more and more brave by the second. Tyler School said: It doesn't help when your teacher is a sexy as you are That definitely makes it harder to concentrate when you are frustrated. X Click to expand... He said, holding the phone in his hand this time, wanting to read her response the moment it came though. Flirting with this older woman was making him feel much more alive. It was actually helping him to feel better, a smile returning to his face. This time Alison read the follow-up message before sending a reply to the first, and having read it she very nearly didn't reply at all. Tyler's message was an invitation to a dangerous game, the peril of which she recognized even through her inebriation. The thought of him with sex on his mind was exciting on its own, but when he hit on her, she knew she couldn't respond—no matter how much she wanted to. He was hitting on her! And she couldn't reply! She got the sense that somehow, somewhere, there must have been a level of hell designed after this kind of torture. She spent a solid five minutes staring at her phone, resisting the urge to text him back and say that she thought the same of him. Furthermore, she must have read the words as sexy as you are fifty times or more, and she grew wet at the myriad flights of fancy that that seedling thought took her upon. Eventually she put her phone down, resolving to reply to him as soon as she quelled her aching desires and figured how best to respond. She knew how she wanted to respond, but her better sensibility told her that she needed to defuse the situation before it led her into trouble. She lay back on the couch and closed her eyes, bit the inside of her lip, and slipped one hand over the crotch of her jeans, thinking of nothing but Tyler.​ As he waited for her reply his cock had already begun to get hard just thinking of her, thinking of her busty body and she sways her hips through the classroom. His hand wrapped round his thick dark meat at the thought of it, he started to jerk slowly as he waited for her response. After waiting what seemed like an eternity he slowly checked his phone again. It had been ten minutes since she had last responded to him, all the messages prior to that had been within a minute or two of receiving his own message back. His heart raced, maybe he had pushed things too far, he worried about if his parents found out or if she told someone else at the school. He was sure she wouldn't the messages would incriminate her too, he knew he needed to do something though. He clicked on her name again, the phone loading up the message flow as he has begun to type. Tyler School said: I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. Please don't ignore me, ill do anything just don't ignore me. It's the frustration talking, I'm sorry I just don't know how to deal with it that's all. Please message me back. Click to expand... His message tread a fine line being apologetic and pleading with her, he wondered what had made her go so cold on this. As he thought about it, he added one last line before he hit send. If you're worried I will show someone these messages Dion't you have my word, I'm not like the other boys. I wouldn't ruin this, just to show off. As he finished the last sentence he hit send and waited in the darkness, his heart pounding so loud his ears were filled with the sound of his own beating heart. At the other end of cyberspace, the message drove home the fact that Tyler was still someway short of the kind of maturity that would mark him as a man grown, and not a boy. Alison felt sorry for him; she could remember what it was like to be that age, to have spent four years or more already grappling with the effect that a burgeoning sexuality has on the emotions, and she wondered if he really had a grasp on how his break-up had effected him. Without sitting him down and talking to him about she couldn't be sure, but there was no doubting the emotion in what he wrote. One's teenage years inevitably made the emotions a slave driver. After a couple of minute's thought, the teacher sent a reply. She told him that everything was ok, but that what he'd said was inappropriate. I'm your teacher, she reminded him, and still she wished she wasn't. I won't say anything about this if you don't. Good night, Tyler. Get some sleep. I'll see you on Monday. The conversation stuck with her all weekend. First and foremost, she recognized that it had been stupid of her to text him. She'd been too tipsy to be trustworthy with such a matter, certainly bearing in mind who she was dealing with. The whole experience had frightened her too. If you're worried I will show someone else these messages, he'd said. That was all it would take to ruin her career: a simple text message. She kept her phone off through Saturday and Sunday, but something else Tyler had written that Friday night stuck with her throughout the weekend: I wouldn't ruin this. Monday morning rolled around too soon, rising over the horizon of the weekend beneath a canopy of dread. She was still stuck on the that Tyler had alluded to in his message. I wouldn't ruin this. She wasn't sure what scared her more: how easy it would be for everything to come toppling down were she to ever do anything like that again, or Tyler's assumption that there was, or could be, something between them. The knife in the killer's hand was that he wasn't wrong, and that in spite of Friday night's conversation, Alison wasn't sure to what extent she could trust herself.​ As Tyler read her message his hearted pounded even harder against his rib cage, he regretted what he had sent her, whilst at the same time knowing that all he had done was be honest. Her rejection stung him deeply, he wasn't used to opening up to people like that, and for her to seem flirty at first and then remind him of her position as his teacher had hit him for six. He stared at her words over and over again, knowing there was no point in messaging her again, she had made it very clear what she thought, and he knew she wasn't going to fall in her convictions on the words of some seventeen-year-old boy. That didn't make him forget what had happened however, his mind racing over the words that had been said throughout the whole weekend. He couldn't escape the fact that she had messaged him first, not only that, but she had been flirtatious with him initially before the coldness of the last text. His mind kept going back to one central question. Why?the question reverberated around his head every time he had a spare minute to think, or his surroundings went quiet. What had driven her to text him in the middle of the night, he already knew from the other lads in his class that she had never texted them out of the blue? He wanted to know what was different about him, he could always hold the texts over her as a threat to try and divulge that information, but that wasn't in his nature. His thoughts and feelings of dread reached a crescendo on Sunday evening, as he stared at his phone he plucked up the courage to send her one last message. Just wanted to say I don't want it to be strange tomorrow when I come in to class. The last thing I want is anyone knowing that something is going on, or that we are acting differently. See you tomorrow Ms. He took a deep breath and pressed send, drifting off to sleep before he could torture himself any further. The morning came quickly, and he wasn't his usual self as he walked to school with his friends his usual boisterous banter was replaced by a quietness and solitude that wasn't synonymous with Tyler. As he heard the bell go to signal the start of lessons he took another deep breath, trying his best to calm his beating heart. He strode in, trying to look normal, trying to feel normal and feeling like he was doing a poor job of both. He caught her eyes a knowing look extending between them, he couldn't hold her gaze, his eyes averting downwards as he took his seat and fumbled with his bag, desperately wanting this to be over and to be anywhere but sat in that room. Chapter Two Monday morning came and went without any particular drama. Alison could only hope that Tyler had gotten the message, so to speak, and that he would indeed keep their little exchange between them. She took the time before going to school to double-check the messages that she had sent him, and was relieved to note that there was nothing in them that couldn't be explained away if he were to show them to anyone else. Over the weeks that followed everything seemed to settle back into regularity. She began to relax around Tyler again, her wariness of him began to recede (even if it wouldn't quite disappear completely), and she continued the excellent rapport that she enjoyed with her students. She even began to cast her eye around the class at other of the youths who studied under her tutelage, idly wondering if any of them would make for more suitable candidates than Tyler, and then immediately scolding herself for even thinking about her students that way. Feeling the need to let off steam on a more regular basis, her weekend outings now became weekly, and on one particular night she came very close to going home with an ex of hers that she bumped into in one of her local pubs. He had seemed the perfect gentleman when they'd first begun to date, but over time he was revealed as a lying, cheating, manipulative sack of shit—those had been the exact words she'd used to describe him after the break-up, and Lucy Carmichael, one of her closest friends, recalled them verbatim when she realized how close Alison was to going home with him that night. Thereafter, Alison and her friends began to frequent one of the other pubs in the town, a quaint but lively establishment named 'The Open Door,' known locally as just 'The Door.' It was in The Door that she met Mark Davies one night, a former student of hers. She was sat in a small booth with Lucy and two other friends, dressed simply in distressed jeans and a plain black t-shirt, her luscious locks let down, and a gin and tonic before her. "Uh oh. Ex-student alert," she joked, grimacing playfully. "Where?" Alison gestured with her head. "By the bar, next to the ol' egghead." Rachel laughed. Ol' egghead was an old man with a peculiarly shaped head who had been sat at the bar when they arrived, and hadn't so much as left his chair to go to the bathroom. The nickname was all of an hour old. "Please tell me you don't mean the fit guy with the longish hair," Sofia pleaded, tilting her head to one side and looking Alison in the eyes. Alison had to laugh. She knew that look. "Hey, I said ex-student. He's got to nineteen by now, maybe twenty." "Ah, that's still too young," Sofia replied, batting her hand. "I feel dirty now." Alison and the others laughed, and fell to teasing and joking. "Well, you know," said Lucy, her tone that of one who is about to impart wisdom on those around her. "If you were to sleep with him and ol' egghead..." "Don't even start, Lucy!" "Hey, I'm no math teacher, but that probably would average out at—" "Alison, I swear... I don't know why I come out with you girls. No, I do. This is exactly why I come out with you girls! Oh, shit! Ol' egghead moved!"​ It had been an eventful two years for Mark since he had left the high school in his hometown, it was true what they said, boys left for college and men came back home. He laughed as he reminisced on how mature he and all of his friends had felt back in their last year, they felt like they were on top of the world, they couldn't of been of more of the mark. After two years of college, living with a group of guys and throwing and attending a variety of house parties, with all the depraved things that went along with that, he had returned home for the midterm break a changed man. Even his own mother had barely recognized the confident man who had walked through her door, his body and looks even having matured and becoming much more masculine than a few years ago. He didn't often drink alone, but he had no friends in the town with which to attend the local pub with, The Doors the locals affectionately knew it. If there was one thing he had learned at college is that any place that had liquor in the building, would have some sort of fun or conversation that he could get involved in. So there he was sat at the bar next drinking a whiskey straight, sat next to a man that had a head shaped in the most odd way he had ever seen, he wondered how his brain had not been affected by the clearly mutated shape of his skull. He heard what sounded like a pack of hyenas laughing behind him, he didn't need to look to know it would be a group of girls. Men were often wrongly typecast as being the rowdy ones in bars, anyone who frequented bars knew it was quite the opposite, a group of women could bring a bar to its knees if they wanted too. Even though he didn't need to he turned and looked anyway, as he scanned the group he saw they were quite a good-looking bunch of girls, although one of them in particular struck a familiar chord with him. As he spun back round to face the bar his mind started racing, where had he seen her before? It hit him like a freight train, Ms Olsen, that was it. All he remembered was she was the hot teacher from his high school, if you attended that school and hadn't fantasied about her at some point, then women clearly weren't your thing. He spun his seat round one more time, taking her and her outfit in. Even in most understated clothes she still retained that incredible attractiveness, the clothes unable to hide the incredible body she had, her gorgeous face framed by long locks of hair. He downed his drink, the fire burning through him giving him the courage to try and live every student from that schools dream, he strode over to the group of girls a confidence in his strut that Ms Olsen wouldn't of seen before." Ms Olsen right? I remember you, the question is do you remember me." He said, a cheeky smile playing across his face. He could see it on her face that she recognized him,"You're still teaching at the school, you don't even look a day older since I last saw you, most of been what, two years ago?" His words flowing freely, a combination of his increased maturity and the alcohol coursing through his blood." I tell you what, why don't I buy you a drink, call it a thank you for everything you did for me at school. What you're having." He offered, his eyes never leaving her, even with the other beautiful women at the table he only had room in his devilish gaze for her. "Yeah, something like that," smiled Alison, and Lucy had to steel herself so as not to let mockery creep into her features. Must have been two years ago, she thought, scoffing internally. Kids these days... That was the crux of it: by the end of your teens you thought you were the shit, by the time you reached your twenties you realized you were wrong. Those of us who thought that was the end of the cycle would think again once they hit their thirties, and might be reminded of the old adage famously spoken by Abe Simpson: I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seeming weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you [too.] Alison shrugged at Mark's offer, seeing no reason not to let him buy her a drink. Perhaps she had earned it. She glanced to her friends and back to her former pupil and nodded. "Sure. A gin and tonic if you don't mind." She raised her glass, and it was nearly empty. "Thanks, Mark."​ Mark smiled at her as she accepted his offer." Sure thing, one gin and tonic coming up." He said, turning and heading back to the bar. He didn't know if it was just the alcohol talking, but she looked great. When you were at school and your teacher was attractive it was just a silly crush, now he was older and removed from that mindset he could appreciate her for how good she actually looked. He ordered himself another whiskey to go with the gin and tonic for her, handing the bartender the money, instructing him to keep the change. He walked back up with the drinks in his hand and pushed the gin and tonic across the table so it rested in front of her. Pulling up a stool to table, he lowered himself down as the other women looked at him." Mind if I take a seat?" He said, wary eyes looking round the table at the pack of women would, could rip him to shreds given a moments notice." So I never got to learn your actual name, if you wouldn't mind I'd love to know what it is. I can't really carry on calling you Ms Olsen all night now can I. Unless your into that?" He said, a short burst of laughter exciting his mouth. Of course, he couldn't call her that. As the pack seemed to allow him to sit he took a sip of his drink and looked back up at Ms Olsen, "So how have you been then? And who are these ladies, I don't want to be rude and ignore them." He laughed, trying to keep the atmosphere jovial. "It's Alison," she smiled, having thanked him again for the drink. She even went so far as to offer him her hand to shake, and her skin was smooth and soft in his hand, and delightfully warm. Her smile was wry, acknowledging his humor and even approving of it, even if she didn't laugh along with him. "I've been fine," she told him. "Still working at Bracknell, still putting up with young hooligans like yourself." She paused a moment here to give him another wry smile before gesturing to her friends and introducing them. "This is Rachel." "Nice to meet you," came the reply, the short, slightly dumpy Rachel nodding to Mark, her round face beset with deep brown eyes, and framed in a long bob of black hair dyed pastel red. She didn't know if Mark was planning to make a move on his former teacher or not, but would be impressed at his ambition if that was the case. "Sofia." The tallest of the quartet, Sofia had lightly bronzed skin and tawny hair that stretched straight to just above her shoulders, a prominent but not unattractive nose, and bright blue eyes. She simply nodded hello. "And this is Lucy," Alison finished. "Let me guess," smirked the blonde, her green eyes playing on Mark's face, her shoulder leaning into Alison's. "A troublemaker?" Alison laughed, shrugged and smiled in a manner that said yes, and glanced back to the young man. "Everyone, this is Mark. He was absolutely a troublemaker!" She grinned, and recalled how often she had spoken the words "be quiet," or "come on" to him when he'd been in her class. She remembered that he was far from the worst—more boisterous than anything else—and had been one of those students with whom she'd had to walk the line between friendliness and authoritativeness. Alison could reason with most students—playing the friend card, as it were—but there were always those students who would try to push that as far as they could. While it was often fun, there was always a line after which she would have to put her foot down. All in all she remembered Mark quite fondly, and hadn't he is grown up well?​ As she gave him her hand he held it warmly, taking note of how warm it was before leaning his head down and kissing the top of her hand lightly." It's a pleasure to meet you again Alison, feels good after all this time to put a name to your pretty face." He smiled, his smile far to charming to be ignored. As she introduced him to her friends he couldn't help but feel like he was some sort of ornament on display at an auction house with everyone measuring his credentials. He was sure her friends had seen this many times before, maybe not ex-students but definitely other guys who were trying to chat her up. They all seemed friendly enough to him as of now, even if they didn't approve of his not so subtle attempts to chat their friend up." I hope I wasn't too bad, I'm sure you loved having me in your class." He laughed his infectious laugh again. "If my behavior scarred you'll have to let me make it up to you." He offered, accompanying the words with a light-hearted wink. As he thought back to school he remembered how friendly she was to the students, especially the male ones. They had always wondered why she blurred the line so much between friend and teacher, but whenever any of them had tried to push it she had scolded them in the most gentle way possible. The conversation flowed, the table recounting various tales of troublesome students either when they were at school or when they were teaching, and some scandalous tales from the other ladies of the escapades that they had when at college. As one of Alison's friend went to the toilet and the other two struck a heated conversation between the pair of them, Mark leaned in closer to Alison." We always got along at school, you were quite friendly if I remember. I bet some of the lads tried to see how far they could take it didn't they? I always wondered how much friendlier you would be outside of school, given how friendly you were inside the classroom." He asked, the second statement clearly laced with suggestions of what he hoped to find. As the glass collected cleared the table of clutter he ordered them all another drink, he knew it was the fuel to the fire that was producing this conversation and the key to keeping it going, his hopes hanging on a knifes edge. "Oh, stop it, Mark," she replied. She batted him lightly on the lower thigh with her hand, scolding him like she used to. There was something different about it this time, though. When he had been her student, warmth and friendliness had been the norm, and she was stern with him only within those boundaries. Here it was as though the poles had been flipped. He was more than ten years her junior, and a former student of hers to boot; society itself decreed that sternness should be the norm in reacting to his advances. Yet, there was a subtle warmth to her rebuke. If she was rejecting him, she did so with a tolerance for the fact that he had tried. She batted him just above the knee, and for a second her hand lingered there. She held his gaze with a playful sternness, and her fingers trailed against his jeans when she turned away. Lucy returned from the bathroom shortly thereafter, her broad hips swaying lightly in tight jeans, beneath the loose ends of her floral-patterned bar dot. She reacted to the news of a free drink with a grin, thanked Mark, and joked that she should take him home with her. "He'd be a lot less trouble than my own Mark," she joked, glancing about her friends, and the other women all smiled or laughed. "He's not as cute as your Mark, though," Rachel remarked, and Alison was good enough to inform Mark that his namesake was Lucy's one-year-old son, evidently at home tonight with who Mark could only assume was the boy's father, and Lucy's husband or boyfriend. From the sound of the conversation that ensued, he must have been adorable. None of the women seemed to mind Mark sitting at the table. They were free to engage in their own conversation, paid the young man's patience back by here or there filling him in on anything he needed to know to keep up, and engaged him in direct conversation when Alison asked what he'd been doing since he left school. Lucy in particular had a few cutting remarks to make, though never without a smirk. "I'm the bitch of the group," she laughed, after Alison had informed Mark that yes, she was always that way. She was also the first to leave. She joked that John—evidently the husband or boyfriend—couldn't be trusted to take care of the baby by himself for more than a few hours, but she did offer to buy a round of drinks for everyone, seeming to include Mark. Alison objected, and it was she who stood to get in the next round of drinks while Lucy made her way for home.​ Mark was enjoying all the girls company, they were an interesting bunch of women. All of them different yet when they came together they had a good camaraderie about them, he admired that. As Alison had slapped her hand against his jeans he caught her gaze, it was stern just like in school, yet there was something more there. It was like in school the barriers that held her in check stood firm, but not here, he could see in her eyes that the rejection lacked conviction. Her body betraying her true desires as her touch lingered on him for longer than it should, her fingers trailing over his jeans just above his knee. Needless to say it had left the young man feeling a little more aroused than he had been, his cock firing into life briefly pressing against the jeans that held it in, he hoped she wouldn't see that, he didn't want to come across like an easy to please young boy. When Lucy offered to take him home, he had to restrain himself not to flirt back, but he only had designs ongoing home with one of the women at the table, and it wasn't her. He smiled and waved goodbye as Lucy made her escape, darting through the door of the pub as she went home to her child and husband, it was Alison's turn to go get a round in, and she clearly knew it, rising from her seat and walking to the bar. He watched her go, enjoying the sight as her hips swayed from side to side, an effortless sex appeal oozing from her. She had the figure that was for sure, she just didn't dress to show it off. He stood walking over towards the bar till he was stood behind her." I must admit, I always enjoyed watching you walk away in school too." His tone jovial, but there was an undertone of lust and longing coming from him. "I'm sure you knew your ass drove all the lads wild, how could you not notice when our eyes couldn't leave it." He said laughing again, anyone would have thought he was joking, it was clear he wasn't, Dutch courage speaking nothing but the truth. As she paid for the round he got two shots of tequila in quickly, taking one and placing it in her hand he looked her straight in the eyes, he felt as if there was a connection, some tension that he dearly wanted to be resolved." To new friends, old memories, and wherever the night takes us." He spoke, his eyes never leaving hers as he chinked her shot glass and gulped his shot down. He wasn't going down without a fight, he knew sexual tension when he felt it, and he was sure it wasn't just him feeling the force of it. She took the jovial tone of his voice and turned, cocking her head slightly to give him another playfully scolding gaze, but she wasn't so oblivious as to recognize that there wasn't something beneath the humor. She couldn't say that she disliked it, either. Mark had grown into a handsome young man, but it was his confidence that really drove her crazy now, his brashness still indicative of youth. She shook her head when he ordered the shots, smiling ruefully and remarking that he really was a troublemaker. They shared a laugh, and shared a prolonged gaze, Alison feeling more free to do so now that they were away from the table. "To wherever the night takes us," she toasted. Mark's boldness had brought to the surface everything that she had felt weeks ago when texting Tyler. Everything but the fear for her career, that is. She had never given much consideration to whether or not she liked younger men, and when fantasizing about Tyler had always labelled it as a taboo indulgence. To sleep with a student was downright wrong, but there were lots of things that one shouldn't enjoy that could be enjoyable if only because they shouldn't be enjoyed. You might never actually do the thing, but the fact that it was wrong made it fun to fantasize about. Here, tonight, there was little of that. Mark was a former pupil, he was of age, and he was very, very young for her. Yet, were the bar to have emptied at that very moment, she might have acted on the desire to taste the tequila that was in his mouth, and not that that was in her own. They returned to the table with four drinks, their own and two glasses of red wine for Rachel and Sofia. Unbeknownst to either Mark or Alison, the two women had been discussing whether their friend would actually sleep with her former pupil. It was obvious to them that he wanted her, and that effectively put them in fight or flight mode: they would fly if they thought Alison was interested—as unlikely as that may have seemed—and stay if they thought the young man needed to be fought off. Having caught sight of the look they exchanged at the bar, Sofia was of a mind to fly.​ As she took the shot glass to her lips, repeating the same phrase he had said, he knew she was coming round to his way of thinking. The look they shared intense, and at the same time there was still so much between them not being said. He looked over to the table and knew that the other two women needed to go. He helped her carry the drinks over to table his eyes never leaving her form, he wanted to make it abundantly clear that he wanted Alison alone. As they continued to talk he took every opportunity to showcase how he felt, every laugh shared between the two punctuated by a playful slap on the thigh. Every time something a bit naughtier was said a wistful glance was shot across the table to Alison, the best bit was she didn't seem to mind. He wondered if she was playing a similar game to his, he could see the two women looking at their coats and their bags, and he knew he should press his advantage whilst he could." I know you want another drink Alison, what about you guys, are you staying for another?" He asked as he stood to go to the bar, the same cheeky smile he had always had plastered on his face. If there was one thing he knew how to do it was to get rid of a crowd. He stood waiting for an answer as he and Alison exchanged yet another longing luck, it was definitely more on his part, but you could her responding more and more to it. To some degree, at least, Alison did mind. Whatever about her own growing desires, she was conscious of the fact that her friends were under no doubt as to why Mark was hanging around, wary of what they might think of her if they thought she was interested a man who was scarcely—if even—out of his teens. Her desires were growing, though, fuelled by the knowledge that she was little less than twice his age. There was something irresistibly naughty about that, and it was so close to her fantasy of fucking one of her students that she grew flush between her thighs. On the surface, she tried to remain calm and relaxed, playing to both the illusion that she wanted her friends to buy—that she had no sexual interest in Mark—and to the reality that she wanted Mark to know. Regardless of what she wanted, her friends were astute enough to pick up on the reality of the situation. "I'm all right for now, thanks," Rachel replied. Sofia shrugged her lips and shook her head. The two women remained seated until Mark had left for the bar, and once it was safe they immediately pressed Alison on the matter at hand. She downplayed it as much as she could, made up a story about Mark having issues with depression when he was in her class, and immediately scolded herself for having done so, but kept up pretences. She just wanted to make sure he was all right, and she'd probably leave pretty soon. The girls were welcome to go. Sofia laughed and shook her head, not seeming to buy Alison's explanation at all. Nevertheless, she and Rachel announced that they were leaving not long after Mark got back from the bar. "It was nice to meet you," spoke the taller of the two. "Don't get your teacher into any trouble now."​ Mark smiled and laughed as they made their excuses and said their goodbyes to Alison, as well as letting him know it had been nice to meet him. He could hear a wariness in their voices as they told him not to get her in trouble, if only they knew how much trouble he'd love to get into with her, part of him suspected that they did know but didn't want to babysit them all night." I'll try not to, but I can't promise anything I'm afraid." He joked winking as he did, if there was one thing that had never changed about him since school, it was he always had a tongue in cheek response for everything. As they left the pub he went to sit back down, sitting as close to Alison as was reasonably possible, his thigh grazing her every time one of them shifted in their seat. He took another sip of his drink before turning and taking her eyes and face in his gaze." Then there were two." He said, stating a simple matter of fact. Yet there was more to his words, a tone that implied how glad he was that it was only the two of them now. After all it meant they could speak more freely." You've got some lovely friends I must say Alison. It's nice to have people looking out for you, though I suspect they were weighing up whether to stop you from misbehaving in their eyes." He laughed, his short infectious laugh so indicative of his young age." I feel you like misbehaving deep down, the thrill of doing something you shouldn't. As you can imagine if you remember what I was like at school, I definitely appreciate that feeling. I just didn't have you down as enjoying trouble as much as I do. I guess there is a lot more I could learn about you." He mused, sipping another sip of his drink, his hungry eyes briefly taking in her figure leaving no illusion as to how he felt now the friends had gone. As presumptive as his words were, they didn't fail to strike a chord with Alison. More so than his words, it was the manner in which he said them that really got to her. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps it was youthful brashness, but the confidence with which he faced her would have had her weak at the knees were she not already sitting down. He spoke to her with the self-absurdness of a man who had seen and done it all, though he hadn't been out of school nearly long enough to become so worldly. The alcohol in her own system only accelerated the effect he had on her, and her barren spell stood behind the conscious curtain, teasing this string and that and goading her into taking him home with her. "Trust me, Mark," she replied, almost purring in response. "There's a lot you don't know about me." She smirked and held his gaze, and the din of the pub seemed to fade from significance if not from hearing. "What about you?" she asked, squeezing his knee beneath the table and emphasizing the word you in a manner that made him sound like the thing she was most interested in the world with right now. That was partly true. If he wasn't at the top of her list, he was second only to what she wanted to do with him. "When did you become so... bold?" she managed, grinning and gently easing her shoulder against his upper arm.​ The way she purred her words at him made his cock throb more in his jeans, as if bolts of pure sexual energy shot between them igniting his nerves and his body. He had a feeling that whatever it was she kept to herself, the side of her few got to see, if he played his cards just right he might just get to find out the things he wanted to know the most. Her hand on his knee sent shivers down his spine, nothing had ever felt so right in his life, yet at the same time seemed so out of sync with the world. Here he was barely two years removed from school, with the woman who taught him eating his confidence and brashness up, and the best thing was she was enjoying it. As she squeezed up to him, quizzing him on that very boldness he felt like her smile could have broke even the coldest of hearts and had them signing from her hymn sheet. He moved in to the touch, his own hand finding the spot just above her knee, his large hands allowing him to squeeze softly into the flesh of her thigh." Well when you've been to college and actually got to live life, you learn a few things." He said returning her smile as he laughed that trademark laugh." Such as the fact that women love confidence, there is nothing attractive about a man with no confidence. Women want to be made to feel wanted, and I like to let them know when I want them." He said winking at her, making no attempt to hide the meaning in his words. He wanted her, not just a quick fumble to tell his roommates about, he wanted to feel her and show her what he had learned. He moved his hand slowly up her thigh, the pressure of his hands on her thigh running deep but in the most sensual way. Furthermore, he smiled as he had almost halved the distance between his hand and her groin without much protest." I've also learned women like a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. Since you've always taken an interest in my education, if you'd like to test me on what I've learned or deliver a lesson on, I'll be most studious." He laughed, the last part seemingly lighthearted, except for the intentions so heavily laced into what he was saying. His hand having travelled dangerous close to her most sensitive areas in their personal game of nervous. Alison snorted at his reply—not in a piggish fashion, rather she simply exhaled quickly and forcefully through her nostrils, indicating humor. Mark wasn't wrong, but there was something about hearing someone so young speak as though they possessed such worldly knowledge. She'd been his age, had felt like she knew it all after graduating from school to college, and had learned pretty quickly that she did not, in fact, know it all. Adult life had a way of doing that to you, casting your college years as a sort of blissful interlude between one's teenage years and the trials of adulthood. Still, she did like that confidence. A warm, humored smile followed naturally, and she stopped his hand's ascent by covering it with her own. Her grip was as warm as her smile, tight too, and she held his hand firmly in place. "Will you, now?" she asked, half-rhetorically. A voice inside her screamed that the young man who seemed so eager to talk his way into her pants was a decade younger than her—just two thirds her age, and a former pupil. It told her she should follow the example set by her friends, and leave, but it was drowned out by the blood throbbing in her temples. Besides, had Rachel and Sofia not left because they thought something was afoot between her and Mark? She suspected as much, though she couldn't be sure. "Well," Alison continued, using her free hand to pick up her drink and swirl it gently, her eyes downcast into the clear liquid, then flicking up at Mark. "Maybe I can put together a pop quiz for you," she said, then smirked, quipping: "It's not like you passed a lot of the tests I set you. Maybe you deserve a second chance."​ He smiled at her as she gripped his hand, her grip not one of defiance, but one that felt like a subtle teasing. Her eyes and smile giving very much the same vibes, he enjoyed the feel of her hand on his, any skin to skin contact with her was welcomed. Her labored thought as she swirled her drink made him pause for thought, she was clearly in to this or so he thought, but her hesitation made me wonder whether that was true. As she made her playful offer of a pop quiz, he smiled warmly at her, confident that she wanted to pursue this as much as he." A pop quiz?" He gasped in mock horror, playing the role he had in school. "Normally those words wouldn't excite me. Perhaps the subject is much better this time. I doubt I've ever wanted to pass a test so badly." He enthused smiling warmly. He took a swig of his own drink, finishing the final mouthful before placing his glass on the table with a sharp thud. Now was the time to press his advantage, the worst she could do was say no." I'd love that pop quiz, but is this really such a good environment for education?" He said motioning at the surrounding pub. "I think we should go somewhere with something more akin to test conditions." He said assertively, motioning around them at the tables that were being loud in particular." Your place or mine?" He asked with that trademark cheeky smile, the kind you couldn't get angry with, nor say no too. "I'd love to go over the course material with you before the big test." He said carrying on with the fun playful tone she had set.

Textual Attraction (HoldTheDoor & Abilicious)|rating:2.0

Yu-Gi-Oh PbP Altaria87 vs. Shadow Elf (Frogs vs. Fairies)

You are greeted in the Arena by Alt aria, silver haired with a black trench coat." I've updated the technology in this Arena now to be the same as that in the Gauntlet, care to help me troubleshoot?"{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|-|-|-[/table]Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 12. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Radius, Herald of Heaven 15. Radius, Herald of Heaven 16. Marshmallow 17. Honest 18. Honest 19. Tethys, Goddess of Light 20. Tethys, Goddess of Light 21. The Sanctuary in the Sky 22. The Sanctuary in the Sky 23. The Sanctuary in the Sky 24. Terraforming 25. Terraforming 26. Terraforming 27. Swords of Revealing Light 28. Nightmare’s Steel cage 29. Nightmare’s Steel cage 30. Nightmare’s Steel cage 31. Level Limit-Area B 32. Gravity Bind 33. Dark Bribe 34. Dark Bribe 35. Dark Bribe 36. Rivalry of Warlords 37. Rivalry of Warlords 38. Rivalry of Warlords 39. Divine Wrath 40. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 8000 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 5 Spoiler Hide Face Downs: (1d20)[13](If I win Unit. You can go first)(5d40)[21][11][33][33][40](138)(3d40)[20][12][33](65)(20 taken instead of second 33){table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|-|-|-[/table]Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 12. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Radius, Herald of Heaven 15. Radius, Herald of Heaven 16. Marshmallow 17. Honest 18. Honest 19. Tethys, Goddess of Light 22. The Sanctuary in the Sky 23. The Sanctuary in the Sky 24. Terraforming 25. Terraforming 26. Terraforming 27. Swords of Revealing Light 28. Nightmare’s Steel cage 29. Nightmare’s Steel cage 30. Nightmare’s Steel cage 31. Level Limit-Area B 32. Gravity Bind 34. Dark Bribe 35. Dark Bribe 36. Rivalry of Warlords 37. Rivalry of Warlords 38. Rivalry of Warlords 39. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 8000 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 5 Spoiler Hide -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Dark Bribe -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Divine Wrath Face Downs: The familiar flying riverboat chugs into the arena, its middle-aged driver singing her song. She stops singing as she reaches her side of the arena, and she hops out of the boat. Sure thing, chair. After the whole "Disco Stu" incident, I've been itchin' to show your Church how this card game's really played. Inish:(1d20)[13]Draw:(5d40)[25][16][40][3][28](112)Rerolls:(3d40)[11][15][3](29)((Now you see, I want YOU to go first, so I guess we'll have to reroll initiative, won't we?)) Irish rerolls:(1d20)[12] "He... Funny thing, Mary, you see, you know how Stu was using a stall deck..."(1d20)[8] Stall doesn't even faze me anymore, chair. You go first, and then I'll show you why. "Looks like you won Initiative, fair and square. I'll go first"(1d35)[20]I play two face downs and summon Barrier Statue of the Heavens golden statue appears in front of two face-downs{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|B|-|--|-|F|F|-[/table]B=Barrier Statue of the Heavens, ATK=1000Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 12. Radius, Herald of Heaven 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Radius, Herald of Heaven 15. Marshmallow 16. Honest 17. Honest 18. Tethys, Goddess of Light 19. The Sanctuary in the Sky 21. Terraforming 22. Terraforming 23. Terraforming 24. Swords of Revealing Light 25. Nightmare’s Steel cage 26. Nightmare’s Steel cage 27. Nightmare’s Steel cage 28. Level Limit-Area B 29. Gravity Bind 30. Dark Bribe 31. Dark Bribe 32. Rivalry of Warlords 33. Rivalry of Warlords 34. Rivalry of Warlords 35. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 8000 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 3 Spoiler Hide -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Tethys, Goddess of Light -The Sanctuary in the Sky Face Downs: -Dark Bribe -Divine Wrath Is that the best you can do, chair? This is going to be a quick match. Draw:(1d40)[16]Rerolls:(3d40)[30][20][40](90)Here goes, chair. I play Wetlands and I set a back row card. Then, I summon Star Boy in attack mode. He'll attack your statue, and then I'll end my turn. Water pours out of her river boat's hull, the swampy ballast filling the arena. A star fish with one eye emerges from the bog and attacks the statue. ((1250 damage))Field Magic: None{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | SB | -- | ---- | -- | FD | -- | --[/table]SB = Star Boy,2250/500Lifepoints: 8000Hand: 3Spoiler Hide Subtitled DES Croaking Solidarity Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Mirror Force Graveyard: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 34Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog "Oh, no, it is simply the best I can do without waiting for you to play a field spell I can replace."(1d34)[27]Unfortunately, a disadvantage is that I HAVEN'T DRAWN A MONSTER YET. Nevertheless. I activate The Sanctuary in the Sky. My turn must end there, however. The swamps are replaced by a huge building, seemingly floating above the clouds.{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|F|F|-[/table]Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 12. Radius, Herald of Heaven 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Radius, Herald of Heaven 15. Marshmallow 16. Honest 17. Honest 18. Tethys, Goddess of Light 19. The Sanctuary in the Sky 20. Terraforming 21. Terraforming 22. Terraforming 23. Swords of Revealing Light 24. Nightmare’s Steel cage 25. Nightmare’s Steel cage 26. Nightmare’s Steel cage 28. Gravity Bind 29. Dark Bribe 30. Dark Bribe 31. Rivalry of Warlords 32. Rivalry of Warlords 33. Rivalry of Warlords 34. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 6750 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 3 Spoiler Hide -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B Face Downs: -Dark Bribe -Divine Wrath Chair, you have no idea how thin the ice you're treadin' is. Y'see, my Wetlands aren't actually necessary anymore. Draw:(1d40)[4]Rerolls:(3d40)[20][1][11](32)Alrighty chair, here goes! I summon Subtitled from my hand. Substitute, work your magic! Subtitoad turns Star Boy into a Dupe Frog. Dupe Frog becomes another Dupe Frog, which adds a Swap Frog to Mary's hand. Dupe Frog becomes a third Dupe Frog, which adds Freeborn Frog to her hand. Freeborn Frog is discarded to Special Summon Swap Frog, who sends a T.A.D.P.O.L.E. to the graveyard from the deck. Dupe Frog is croaked into a DES Frog, which adds a DES Frog to her hand. Swap Frog swaps itself for the DES Frog in her hand, which special summons a third DES Frog with its effect. And now I end this, chair. I play DES Croaking, which wipes your field clear. I then play Solidarity, and all my frogs attack directly. End game. Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | -- | -- | ---- | -- | FD | -- | --[/table]Life points: 8000Hand: 3Spoiler Hide Super Polymerization DES Croaking Solidarity Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Mirror Force Graveyard: 3Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 33Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog Hey, y'know the bit where you used Substitute's ability? Divine Wrath. I discard another Sanctuary. When Substitute tries to turn Star boy into something else, a strike of lightning destroys it just after it destroys Star Boy. Leaving your field empty. So, what else'll you do this turn? She laughs a big, booming laugh. Y'know, chair, I like that. I'm just going to end my turn with that one little face down, and keep my other things in my hand. Your move.((Time to figure out what my hand was before. I have, like, twelve different ways of doing what I just did, so it's really a minor setback.)) "Did I ever tell you I hate OK decks?"[Really, out of my 20 (and a half) decks, not one of them is OK focused](1d33)[12]Finally, a monster! I summon Radius, Herald of Heaven and have him attack you directly. A lance-wielding angel appears and attacks. And is stopped by that very annoying trap card.{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table]Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Radius, Herald of Heaven 15. Marshmallow 16. Honest 17. Honest 18. Tethys, Goddess of Light 19. The Sanctuary in the Sky 20. Terraforming 21. Terraforming 22. Terraforming 23. Swords of Revealing Light 24. Nightmare’s Steel cage 25. Nightmare’s Steel cage 26. Nightmare’s Steel cage 27. Gravity Bind 28. Dark Bribe 29. Dark Bribe 30. Rivalry of Warlords 31. Rivalry of Warlords 32. Rivalry of Warlords 33. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 6750 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 2 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B Face Downs: -Dark Bribe Little somethin' called Mirror Force, hon. Anything else, or shall I get back to getting my Frogs ready for another attack?((I find pulling off an OK properly really awesome. I happen to have two OK decks, including this one.)) Fine, You go, Frog Lady.((I prefer not relying on having an entire deck centric on a single maneuver that can be blocked so easily. But that's just me)) Hey, watch your tongue boy, or you might just get croaked. Draw:(1d40)[25]Rerolls:(3d40)[36][34][16](86)I'll set a back row and end my turn. My frogs just don't want to come out and play right now, it seems. Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | -- | -- | ---- | -- | FD | -- | --[/table]Life points: 8000Hand: 3Spoiler Hide Super Polymerization DES Croaking Solidarity Face downs: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Graveyard: 4Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Mirror Force Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 32Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog (1d32)[10]I summon another Barrier Statue of the Heavens which attacks you. I then end my turn. An angelic statue appears once again and shoots a blast of light at you{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|B|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table]B=Barrier Statue of the Heavens, ATK=1000Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 11. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 12. Radius, Herald of Heaven 13. Radius, Herald of Heaven 14. Marshmallow 15. Honest 16. Honest 17. Tethys, Goddess of Light 18. The Sanctuary in the Sky 19. Terraforming 20. Terraforming 21. Terraforming 22. Swords of Revealing Light 23. Nightmare’s Steel cage 24. Nightmare’s Steel cage 25. Nightmare’s Steel cage 26. Gravity Bind 27. Dark Bribe 28. Dark Bribe 29. Rivalry of Warlords 30. Rivalry of Warlords 31. Rivalry of Warlords 32. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 6750 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 2 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B Face Downs: -Dark Bribe Hamm... Draw:(1d40)[3]Rerolls:(3d40)[8][21][5](34)I summon Swap Frog from my hand, who sends a T.A.D.P.O.L.E. to the graveyard with his effect. I then activate Solidarity, and attack your statue. I end my turn.((800 damage))Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | SF | -- | ---- | So | FD | -- | --[/table]SF = Swap Frog,1800/500So = Solidarity, Aqua +800 Lifepoints: 7000Hand: 2Spoiler Hide Super Polymerization DES Croaking Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Graveyard: 5Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Mirror Force T.A.D.P.O.L.E. Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 32Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog Thanks to the Sanctuary, I take no damage.(1d31)[18]I activate Terraforming and add another Sanctuary to my hand. However, I'll have to end my turn there[fun fact, all the monsters I've drawn this duel (that I can summon) are the few I have that can actually be destroyed by battle in these circumstances >.{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table]Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Radius, Herald of Heaven 12. Radius, Herald of Heaven 13. Marshmallow 14. Honest 15. Honest 16. Tethys, Goddess of Light 19. Terraforming 20. Terraforming 21. Swords of Revealing Light 22. Nightmare’s Steel cage 23. Nightmare’s Steel cage 24. Nightmare’s Steel cage 25. Gravity Bind 26. Dark Bribe 27. Dark Bribe 28. Rivalry of Warlords 29. Rivalry of Warlords 30. Rivalry of Warlords 31. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 6750 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius -Barrier Statue of the Heavens Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 2 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B -The Sanctuary in the Sky Face Downs: -Dark Bribe Well chair, where is all that gusto you all were toutin' just a second ago? Draw:(1d40)[36]Rerolls:(3d40)[34][4][9](47)Direct attack from Swap Frog. I end my turn, assuming no shenanigans. Good luck, chair.((1800 damage))Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | SF | -- | ---- | So | FD | -- | --[/table]SF = Swap Frog,1800/500So = Solidarity, Aqua +800 Lifepoints: 7000Hand: 3Spoiler Hide Super Polymerization DES Croaking Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Graveyard: 5Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Mirror Force T.A.D.P.O.L.E. Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 29Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog (1d29)[4]They may not look much, but they'll keep me safe. I summon Gelled. End Turn. Two fairy twins appear.{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|G|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table]G=Gelled, ATK=1700Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 5. Gelled 6. Gelled 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 10. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 11. Radius, Herald of Heaven 12. Radius, Herald of Heaven 13. Marshmallow 14. Honest 15. Honest 16. Tethys, Goddess of Light 17. Terraforming 18. Terraforming 19. Swords of Revealing Light 20. Nightmare’s Steel cage 21. Nightmare’s Steel cage 22. Nightmare’s Steel cage 23. Gravity Bind 24. Dark Bribe 25. Dark Bribe 26. Rivalry of Warlords 27. Rivalry of Warlords 28. Rivalry of Warlords 29. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 4950 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius -Barrier Statue of the Heavens Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 3 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B -The Sanctuary in the Sky Face Downs: -Dark Bribe Well well well, aren't they just the cutest little' things ya ever did see? Draw:(1d40)[26]Rerolls:(3d40)[11][31][27](69)I pass. Your move. Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | SF | -- | ---- | So | FD | -- | --[/table]SF = Swap Frog,1800/500So = Solidarity, Aqua +800 Lifepoints: 7000Hand: 4Spoiler Hide Solidarity Super Polymerization DES Croaking Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Graveyard: 5Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Mirror Force T.A.D.P.O.L.E. Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 28Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog (1d28)[15]Blink, and you'll miss 'em though, as I sacrifice the Gelled twins to summon Tethys, Goddess of Light. Who destroys that pesky frog of yours. An angelic woman appears, destroying the frog with a flash of white light.{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|T|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table’T=Tethys, Goddess of Light, ATK=2400Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 10. Radius, Herald of Heaven 11. Radius, Herald of Heaven 12. Marshmallow 13. Honest 14. Honest 16. Terraforming 17. Terraforming 18. Swords of Revealing Light 19. Nightmare’s Steel cage 20. Nightmare’s Steel cage 21. Nightmare’s Steel cage 22. Gravity Bind 23. Dark Bribe 24. Dark Bribe 25. Rivalry of Warlords 26. Rivalry of Warlords 27. Rivalry of Warlords 28. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 4950 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius -Barrier Statue of the Heavens Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 3 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B -The Sanctuary in the Sky Face Downs: -Dark Bribe Chair, you don't think I wasn't ready for that? Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord protects my Swap Frog. Anything else before I make my move? Nope, nothing. Make your move You call that skank a goddess? Huh, whatever floats your boat, chair. Draw:(1d40)[3]Rerolls:(3d40)[3][16][8](27)More rolls:One Taken. My Wetlands replace your Sanctuary again, chair. The water is expelled from her boat once more, bogging up the arena. I then set a card and play another Solidarity. My Swap Frog attacks your fairy, and then I end my turn.((1400 Damage))Field Magic: Wetlands{table=“head”] 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5-- | -- | SF | -- | ---- | So | FD | So | --[/table]SF = Swap Frog,3800/500So = Solidarity, Aqua +1600 (Total)Life points: 6400Hand: 2Spoiler Hide Super Polymerization DES Croaking Face downs: 1Spoiler Hide Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Graveyard: 6Spoiler Hide Substitute Wetlands Star Boy Mirror Force T.A.D.P.O.L.E. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Out of Play: 0Spoiler Hide 0 Deck: 27Spoiler Hide 01. Wetlands 02. Wetlands 03. Wetlands 04. Super Polymerization 05. Super Polymerization 06. Swap Frog 07. Swap Frog 08. Swap Frog 09. DES Frog 10. DES Frog 11. DES Frog 12. Dupe Frog 13. Dupe Frog 14. Dupe Frog 15. Star Boy 16. Star Boy 17. Star Boy 18. Freeborn Frog 19. Exodus the Ultimate Forbidden Lord 20. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 21. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 22. T.A.D.P.O.L.E. 23. Substitute 24. Substitute 25. Substitute 26. Solidarity 27. Solidarity 28. Solidarity 29. DES Croaking 30. DES Croaking 31. DES Croaking 32. Foggy Force field 33. Foggy Force field 34. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 35. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 36. Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord 37. Pot of Avarice 38. Pot of Avarice 39. Scapegoat 40. Mirror Force Extra Deck: 3Spoiler Hide D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog D.3. S. Frog "Meh, if I don't draw something good, I forfeit. I didn't draw a single stalling card until late in the duel, and by then it was too late to set up my burn."(1d27)[23]Just to make a point, I'll replace the Wetlands with the Sanctuary, afterward, I surrender. Good Game. Altaria shakes hands with his opponent and leaves, happy at the results of the new technology{table="head]1|2|3|4|5-|-|-|-|--|-|F|-|-[/table]Field=The Sanctuary in the Sky Spoiler Hide Deck: Spoiler Hide 1. Athena 2. Athena 3. Athena 4. Gelled 5. Gelled 6. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 7. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 8. Arcane Force 0 – The Fool 9. Barrier Statue of the Heavens 10. Radius, Herald of Heaven 11. Radius, Herald of Heaven 12. Marshmallow 13. Honest 14. Honest 15. Terraforming 16. Terraforming 17. Swords of Revealing Light 18. Nightmare’s Steel cage 19. Nightmare’s Steel cage 20. Nightmare’s Steel cage 21. Gravity Bind 22. Dark Bribe 24. Rivalry of Warlords 25. Rivalry of Warlords 26. Rivalry of Warlords 27. Divine Wrath Extra Deck: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Stats: Life Points: 3550 Graveyard: Spoiler Hide -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Divine Wrath -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Radius -Barrier Statue of the Heavens -Tethys Removed from Play: Spoiler Hide *nothing* Hand- 4 Spoiler Hide -Tethys, Goddess of Light -Level Limit-Area B -The Sanctuary in the Sky -Dark Bribe Face Downs: -Dark Bribe You played a pretty good game yourself, chair. Glad you enjoyed yourself.((That was interesting, though you had terrible luck, it seems. All I needed to OK was a Substitute, but a lot of my cards would have bought me still more time until I could pull it off. And with Wetlands and Solidarity, this still makes a not-bad beat down deck, even though the core beat down cards for Frogs aren't present. Any tips for the deck? I thought Exodus was a pretty inspired addition on my part, and it also links the deck back to Shadow, but I'm thinking of replacing Freeborn Frog with another Exodus. Thoughts?)) ((Well, to be honest, I'm not really sure what Exodus brings. I can see how he gets any previously used frogs back to the deck, but then, he's pretty much a useless, 0 attack... Thingy. Freeborn Frog is generally more useful, so I'd keep that myself. Any thoughts on how to improve this deck then?)) Well, Subtitled, T.A.D.P.O.L.E. and Swap Frog can easily dump a bunch of monsters in the graveyard to super-buff Exodus for one big direct attack. And since he's removed from play upon destruction, he doesn't interfere with Solidarity. On your deck, I would consider throwing in a couple of copies of Ultimate Offering, in case you want to throw up the Honest/Athena OK. Mysterious Puppeteer then follows, since he's always nice to put with Ultimate Offering, and also can give you a bunch of life points with the Athena exchanging ability. Ultimate Offering also lets you summon Gelled and then tribute them for a seven star in the same round. If I think of anything else, I'll tell you. Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf Well, Subtitled, T.A.D.P.O.L.E. and Swap Frog can easily dump a bunch of monsters in the graveyard to super-buff Exodus for one big direct attack. And since he's removed from play upon destruction, he doesn't interfere with Solidarity. May I ask how many normal monsters you have in your deck Shadow. Because those are the only ones the power up Exodus when in the grave. Originally Posted by jindra34 May I ask how many normal monsters you have in your deck Shadow. Because those are the only ones the power up Exodus when in the grave. Really????? *checks Exodus entry* Wow, you're right! Thanks, that's one card I can remove from this deck without a second thought. Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf Really????? *checks Exodus entry* Wow, you're right! Thanks, that's one card I can remove from this deck without a second thought. Just returning the favor. And yeah that makes him stink in most decks. I'll probably never play him because I rarely play normal monsters.

Yu-Gi-Oh PbP Altaria87 vs. Shadow Elf (Frogs vs. Fairies)|rating:2.0

Mythic University OOC

Quote: Originally Posted by Flux "This is an organic experience." This role-play is a growing and expanding system created for the online forum-based role-playing medium created by Flux and Beth. While online forum-based role-plays are very popular and enjoyable especially on Kenosha, Gaia Online, and SoliaOnline (etc.) they can have unbalanced characters with the inclination to God-Mod or Meta-Game. We encourage characters with unique abilities with a balance of weaknesses. As Game Masters (GMs), we also want players to be awarded for playing their characters well, so our discretion, we will also award additional Edges based on how the players play out their characters. About Mythic University SETTING Mythic University is a university for races from all mythos to learn about other cultures and diplomatic training. It is located on the planet Karin in the pocket universe, Riga. Both the planet and the universe were created specifically for the university by the Council of Inter-dimensional Peace. The city of Yr is the only city on Karin and has a very diverse population--most of whom are graduates from Mythic University. The city also has a diplomatic sector for holding important interdimensional meetings. The university strives for academic excellence and offers courses for special abilities to all races. Courses range in topics from Introduction to Telepathy to Advanced Levitation. The unique university setting is ideal for students who are looking to acquire these abilities and those who have had limited exposure to other cultures. For those without local accommodations, Mythic University offers a dormitory that can easily entertain students who wish to live in a single room, those who want to live with a roommate, and those students who wish to practice their special interests in the comfort of their room. PURPOSE The Mythic University role-play is a role-play created by Flux and Beth for those users who wish to play in a university setting with a wide range of races. This role-play reinforces balanced role-playing to make it more enjoyable for everyone. We would ask that you respect each other and the rules, but most of all we want everyone to have fun! Please read theRulesandFAQs!NEWS was allowed to create noon thread for my lists ofEdgesandHindrances. I wanted to make it available for our role-play as well as other users to use as well. The thread also includes an explanation of Edges and Hindrance sand the point-system. Please, do not post in that thread if you have questions. You are free to post in this thread or send me a PM. We are also working on a map so that players are not confused. Both Flux and I have run into issues in another role-plays in which the players' understanding of the setting is contradictory. So a map of some sort will be created. Also, we are putting our characters together with some consideration as we are the GMs and make sure players play fair.LINKS Mythic UniversityFAQsMythic University Rules Player-Defined Terms Mythic University Courses Faculty Profiles Student Profiles Character Profile Form Explanation of Edges and Hindrances Definitions of Sample Edges Definitions of Sample Hindrances Gaming Definitions Posting Requirements Mythic University Glossary Asshat position can a character be? A character can be either a professor on the faculty or a student. How many characters am I allowed to play? The maximum number of characters you can play is determined by the GMs. In other words, you can play as many characters as you can play without leaving characters behind, inhibiting other characters' development, or acting out-of-character. If you want to play another character, make another character, and you will be allowed to play the character on a trial basis to see if you can abide by the above rules, after which a decision will be made if you can keep playing the character. What races may I play as? You can play as any race you can describe within the framework of Edges and Hindrances; racial abilities and disadvantages map directly to Edges and Hindrances respectively. For the sake of the other players and the GMs, a description of your version of the race will be required. How can I get more edges without taking more hindrances? The GMs will award additional edges to active characters based on how the character is being played. Basically, "what you play is what you get." If you play your character so that s/he practices telepathy every day after class (Telepathy 101), then we will give you a basic edge that you could build upon such as basic mind reading. Eventually, your character can actually have full telepathy abilities if you want. This allows you to also acquire minor edges to suit your character's needs. The only exception to this rule is trying to get an edge that would conflict with a hindrance your character has. An example would be trying to get the edge Regeneration when your character has a hindrance of slow to heal. Other Questions will be added as they are asked. RULES We understand rules are tedious to read when you just want to start playing, but they serve to ensure everyone is treated fairly. We tried to keep them short and sweet, but we reserve the right to modify these rules at any time!1. Have fun!2. Follow TOS.3. Avoid flaming and insulting other players.4. Posts should be an appropriate length (see here).5. Spell-check your post if you struggle with spelling.6. Use punctuation and capitalization.7. No God-modding (see here).8. No Meta-gaming (see here).9. Provide an English translation if you post in a non-English language. 3 STRIKES We are giving players three chances. However, it is possible to break more than one rule at a given time and be banned. We will send you a PM when you have broken a rule. Banned No one! PLAYER-DEFINED TERMS Coming Soon! MYTHIC UNIVERSITY COURSES The list of classes will be modified and expanded as necessary. General Courses Mathematics English Biology Physics Chemistry Music Business and Marketing Photography Videography Metallurgy and Metal-working Pottery Glass Blowing General Psychology Human-Centric Courses History I History II Art History and Critique Political History Traditions and Customs Etiquette and Rules of Conversation Languages of Earth Vampire-Centric Courses Vampire History and Literature Vampire Political History Vampire Traditions, Customs, and Etiquette How Not to Eat Your Friend Were-Centric Courses Were History and Literature Where Behaviors Were Transformation Control Shape-shifter-Centric CoursesShapeshifter History and Literature Shape-shifter Transformation and Local Physiology Shape-shifter Transformation Control Interacting with Other Cultures Even-Centric CoursesElven History and Literature Even Art History and Critique Even Political History Even Traditions and Customs Even Etiquette and Rules of Conversation Even Language NOTE: Although, your character may take a language class other than English--please, include an English translation if your character is speaking/thinking in a non-English language. More Coming Soon! FACULTY PROFILES Coming soon! STUDENT PROFILES TEACHING ASSISTANTS[IMG left] NAME: Kieth USERNAME: Beth GENDER: Female AGE: 83 (appears 13 years old) ROLE: Teaching Assistant for Biology classes RACE: Atlantic (Alien) MYTHOS: No one knew for many years what happened to the people of Atlantis mentioned by Plato in Times. But once the Galaxies were further explored, the people of Earth had their answer. The Atlantis has left Earth in search of new places to live with their advanced technology. They are a peculiar race--much evolved since their exodus. They have the technology to suppress age, staying young for centuries. Parents can genetically alter their offspring (usually conceived in a laboratory) to have special abilities linked to specific genetic sequences. Mothers are not even required to carry their offspring to full term with artificial womb technology. However, the race in general has varying degrees of light sensitivity due to the decreasing amount of melanin in their skin over their evolution. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Kieth looks as if she is about 13 years old and stands about 5'4" tall, weighing about 123 lbs (10 lbs of hair). Her hair is a light green due to the chlorophyll in her living hair cells. Her hair is also prehensile. Furthermore, her skin is nearly white with light blue pigments. Kieth prefers to wear formal high-neck dresses in a Victorian style usually in shades of black, gray, or blue. EDGES:Rebirth (6) Telepathy - Read (1) and Block (1) Regeneration - Level 1 (1) Prehensile Hair with photosynthesis abilities (1) Good Reflexes - Level 2 (2) Low-Light Vision (1) Magic - Level 1 (2) HINDRANCES:Rebirth - Birth Start (2) Rebirth - Unknown Race (1) Rebirth - Unknown Plane (1) Rebirth - Chance Rebirth (3) - makes her very paranoid Outsider - Chimera (from Selective genetics/Prehensile hair) and Disfigurement from experiment (by her own race) (2) - can cause hostility from humans due to her manipulated human form Young - Socially not respected due to looking so young; has trouble as a Teaching Assistant keeping her class under control (1) Weakness Processed Foods - Cannot eat processed food without vomiting and causing sickness for 5+ hours (1) Sustenance requirement for Photosynthesis - Water, Nitrogen, and Carbon Dioxide (1) EQUIPMENT: The dresses that she usually wears are made from an unusual fiber has incredible strength against blades, scraps and heat akin to Kevlar. The dresses also have a bodice lined to protect against bullets, thrusting weapons, and projectiles. Occasionally, she may have a shoulder bag with books, papers, and/or notes for class or meetings. AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Kieth as she is now known lived her previous life as a human woman who died tragically in a targeted car accident, named Emma Paterson. She had no idea that her soul had the ability to be reborn until she "awoke" in an artificial womb. Further investigation as a child mature beyond her years revealed that her previous telepathic abilities, reading and blocking had remained intact, however, her ability to be reborn has the limitations of being reborn at the time of consciousness in the womb to any race that practices conception in any plane. Eventually, Kieth met a gentleman who kindly explained that Rebirth is not guaranteed. No wanting to jeopardize her life, she takes care to avoid dangerous situations for fear of dying. She was sent to Mythic University two years ago after a horrible chemical experiment disfigured her face. Her race being very discriminatory about appearances, sent her to Mythic University to rid her from their presence. It was at the university that she met [Flux's Character] her first semester when she took one of his chemistry courses. He respected her cautious nature and found her ability to be reborn "intriguing and worth replication" and created her protective dresses based on her design. In her third year, she was appointed to the Teaching Assistant for Biology classes with her expertise from Atlantic genetic studies and gene-therapy treatments. NORMAL STUDENTS[IMG left] NAME: Karin Long USERNAME: kimichan84 GENDER: none yet AGE: 19 in human age. RACE: Sprites MYTHOS: Sprite are the inhabitants of the planet Galatea which is in one of the galaxy's outer constellations. The planet is similar to earth in its make up. It has a unified society which is spread over the entire planet. The planet is unique in its kind in that it hosts a plethora of lifeforms which do not acquire oxygen to live. They are however largely dependent on what the earth bound humanoids call 'Ambrosia' a thick honey like substance that they must consume a set amount of each month. On their planet this substance is an abundance and as it is poisonous to anyone not indigenous to their planet they have had little to fear of possible attacks. Their planet is technologically quite advanced, but unlike other planets their technology is solely used as a means of making life comfortable and improving their health. Sprite have the natural ability to blend in, but their unique race stands out because of three prominent features that can not be blended in as easily. Their hair is white and the even the human invention of hair dye will not hold on it to change this. Their eyes are a strange blend of colors that are seen as similar to when one holds a crystal to light and lastly what mostly stands out is that Sprite children do not have a gender until they turn 23 years in human age. Once they become of age their gender will be determined by their character and physical condition. (IE hormonal settings) Their race has two main powers that their kin inherit genetically. Sprite children are born either Telepathic or Telekinetic. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: As said in the above explanation Karin has no gender, all white hair very long and crystal eyes. Its clothes are similar to this picture only the bottom is actually a long skirt with a slid up the right side leg. EDGES: Skilled at telepathy to the point where it can project her thoughts onto one or more people as it is its only means of communication. Learns fast. Karin is very level-headed in stressful situations, and it allows it to calm others down when they in that situation would normally be panicking. HINDRANCES: Karin is mute due to an accident when it was born; Karin will not ever be able to speak through vocal means only through telepathy. Karin is deathly claustrophobic; it will be unable to be in a small and/or locked room for more than a few minutes tops before its fear makes it go into shock. EQUIPMENT: Season needles; thin needles similar to the ones used on earth in ancient China. These needles are covered in a poisonous layer and kept hidden in the special leather straps tied around its arms. The leather straps holding the needles protect Karin's skin from its own weapons. An ornate dagger strapped around its upper left leg; also hidden. A knotted staff with glyphs on them which it holds and uses defensively. The staff will glow in its hands, but has no magical combat capacities. It merely proves Karin's title and rank. AUTOBIOGRAPHY: On Galatea, Karin's home planet, Karin is known as 'the political sweetheart' for its excellent negotiation skills and ruthless political prowess. Karin is the youngest ambassador the council has sent off planet. Karin was sent to the scholarly constellation to be an representative of its kin and assess the university as a possible place for the future generation of its kin to study at. The sprite have only recently begun to make contact with other inhabitants of the known galaxy through their vast number of ambassadors and representatives. As a peace loving community the Sprite wish to make alliances with the outside races and to establish good contact with the younger generations they send Karin to the university to represent the sprite of Galatea and bring their message of good will as well as to assess the school and determine its value for their people. (IE will it be beneficial? Will their children learn things they wouldn't while on Galatea? Will it help establish peaceful coalitions and alliances with other races to serve the greater good of both parties involved) Karin agreed to going with its sibling to this school as it interested Karin a great deal and its scholar side wished to learn as much as it could. Karin can easily adapt to new situations and act accordingly which make it such a strong politician and allow it easily make many friends without letting anyone come too close. As sprite are very lacking where emotional relationships are concerned Karin is unable to easily express its true feelings and instead reacts as is expected of it.[IMG left] NAME: Orin long USERNAME: kimichan84 GENDER: none yet. AGE: 12 in human age RACE: Sprite MYTHOS:Sprite are the inhabitants of the planet Galatea which is in one of the galaxy's outer constellations. The planet is similar to earth in its make up. It has a unified society which is spread over the entire planet. The planet is unique in its kind in that it hosts a plethora of lifeforms which do not acquire oxygen to live. They are however largely dependent on what the earth bound humanoids call 'Ambrosia' a thick honey like substance that they must consume a set amount of each month. On their planet this substance is an abundance and as it is poisonous to anyone not indigenous to their planet they have had little to fear of possible attacks. Their planet is technically quite advanced, but unlike other planets their technology is solely used as a means of making life comfortable and improving their health. Sprite have the natural ability to blend in, but their unique race stands out because of three prominent features that can not be blended in as easily. Their hair is white and the even the human invention of hair dye will not hold on it to change this. Their eyes are a strange blend of colors that are seen as similar to when one holds a crystal to light and lastly what mostly stands out is that Sprite children do not have a gender until they turn 23 years in human age. Once they become of age their gender will be determined by their character and physical condition. (IE hormonal settings) Their race has two main powers that their kin inherit genetically. Sprite children are born either Telepathic or Telekinetic. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Same as its sibling white hair and crystal eyes and no gender. EDGES: Telekinesis, very weak. Can't move objects and living things that weigh over 44 lbs AKA 20 kilos. HINDRANCES: When emotional Orin has no control over its power. It will cause minor trembles to pass through objects within two meters of his person when upset. When angry a vase or cup within two meters of his person might explode. Is unresponsive to anyone, but its sibling. It is deaf and has a small pocket watch it can't go without, and it will become upset when it loses said watch causing minor trembles until the item is returned. EQUIPMENT: none. Only the watch on its chain around its neck. AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Orin is Karin's sibling. It's never seen without Karin and doesn't respond to anyone other than Karin for now. Orin is impaired and was sent with its sibling simply so it would be out of the way. Most sprite seem to have little patience for children like Orin. CHARACTER NAME: Serbian HunterUSERNAME: fairywaifGENDER: female AGE: 19RACE: FeliniaMYTHOS: A race of cat people. Most are not shape-shifters, unlike werewolves. Most are humanoid, although the degree can differ. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: She has a heart shaped face and slotted gold eyes. Her fur is white with gray patches. She has a long tail and long tufted ears. She has knees that go backwards and her arms are almost the same length as her legs. Furthermore, she also has retractable claws.EDGES: Good Reflexes - Level 2 (2), Shape-Shifting - Basic Ability (2), Shape-Shifting - Minor Alteration (1), Shape-Shifting No Concentration (1), Instincts (2) (Instinct is basically the gut feeling upon meeting someone, or a "feeling" in the air.)HINDRANCES: Aquaphobia (2), Fear of dogs and werewolves (2), Hated by dogs (1)EQUIPMENT: Throwing knives, for when her claws can't be used.AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Ignored as the youngest child in a large family, Serbian reached out to people of other families and even races. Now she wants to become a diplomat to other races, except werewolves. She had bad run-in with one as a preteen, and it's scared her. Likewise, dogs don't like her because she smells like a cat, so she learned to fear them too. Her best friend is a vampire. CHARACTER NAME: Naya Anders USERNAME: Cows Go Moo GENDER: Female AGE: 19 RACE: Psychic Human MYTHOS: In the past, many humans have claimed to be psychic (despite being fake), however actual psychics do exist. Real psychics are simply humans who possess the gift of extrasensory perception (i.e. perception that comes from something other than the five physical senses). Depending on the person, this ESP can manifest as a variety of abilities ranging from divination to telepathy to empathy. Usually, these powers come to around the age of adolescence and come into their prime when the person reaches adulthood. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: With tanned skin and an average figure, Naya clocks in at a weight of 120 pounds and 5'7". Though not evident, she is somewhat athletic, having been a swimmer through high school as well as a volleyball player. Her hair is colored black and pulled back into a ponytail while her eyes are a dark brown. Usually, she'll be seen wearing a combination of leggings and a shirt with a variety of accessories. EDGES: Naya has the uncanny ability of empathy which lets her not only feel emotions, but also plant them in others. This ability however, does not make her susceptible to having emotions planted into her as she has learned to block them as well. Another ability of hers is to perceive the auras of others and to see in the point of view of those near her. (Full empathy, 3 points; Aura Perception, 1 point; Remote Viewing Level 1; 1 point) Due to working with some herbs, Naya has some immunity to certain telepathy-blocking plants for those who telepathic powers are not being emulated (0 points) HINDRANCES: Weakness to Mandrake and Ivy - Exposure to Mandrake and Ivy will cause a weakening in her telepathic/empathetic powers (2 points) EQUIPMENT: In the spirit of defense, she carries around pepper spray and a taser hidden in either her pocket or her pack. AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Naya wasn't born into the life of a psychic. She was born to two normal parents in Phoenix, Arizona where she schooled along with her older sister for about twelve years of her life. It was there that she started her "career" as a swimmer and also there that she discovered her "gift". A few months after discovery she had to live with her aunt and learn to hone her manifesting abilities. After she became an adult, her aunt applied her to Mythic University in order for Naya to explore the full extent of her abilities. CHARACTER NAME: Sam Walker USERNAME: Cows Go Moo GENDER: Male AGE: 21 RACE: Human MYTHOS: None PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Sam Walker is a lanky boy standing at 5'9" and weighing roughly 135 pounds. From a life of indoor activity and a lack of sports, his skin is fair if not slightly pale (though not to an unhealthy extent). His eyes are colored blue while his hair is brown and cut short. Unlike the stereotypical nerd he doesn't wear glasses or any sort of odd clothing and instead dons a pair of jeans with a t-shirt (usually with a random saying or picture). Around his neck hangs his goggles that have night, telescopic, and microscopic vision. Usually he has a heat ray gun at his side in a holster for defensive purposes. EDGES: Sam's affinity for invention has resulted in a prodigal level of devices that can emulate other worldly abilities; however, he can't emulate all types of abilities with his objects and still has quite a bit to learn. (Weird Science Level 2, 4 points) HINDRANCES: Limited Weird Science (Physical, Alteration, and Locomotive abilities only; 2) EQUIPMENT: Around his neck are a pair of goggles that have a telescopic, microscopic, night vision, and infrared function. In his pocket is an Act Knife used for model making, and inside a holster, he holds a heat ray. AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Some children were interested in sports. Some children were interested in playing video games. Well Sam was part of the group of children who was interested in Legos. He loved to build things as well as dissemble them (one could only guess the expression on his parents' faces when they found out he had taken apart the VCR player). His affinity for invention and technology only persisted throughout his school years. Though he could have entered MIT or any other IT school, he found himself unchallenged by their curriculum (read: bored by his teachers) and only after much badgering did he decide to sign up for Mythic University. CHARACTER PROFILE INFORMATION Please, fill out the form below and send to Flux or Beth. You do not have to send it to both, however. Beth is more available and can respond faster than Flux, who works full-time. For questions, send either of us with a PM or ask in the IOC thread. We are happy to help!PROFILE FORM Quote: CHARACTER NAME: USERNAME: GENDER: AGE: RACE: MYTHOS: (For races other than human, please, link information about that race OR describe the race with specifics.) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: (Can be a LINKED image AND/OR a written description--a picture is not required.) EDGES: HINDRANCES: EQUIPMENT: (For items that are special or cannot be hidden on your character. Example: A staff wouldn't be easily hidden.) AUTOBIOGRAPHY: (Optional, but highly recommended) Please, read Beth'explanation of Edges and Hindrances. If you need help figuring out what Edges or Hindrances you can use, we have put together lists of EdgesandHindrancesfor you to get started. MAPS[RIGHT] Used Forest2 Corinth Forest3 FINRA Forest4 Enthuse Forest5 Rylan Forest6 Fuel Desert7 Desert of Dynoc8 Hard Plains9 Plains of Lauth10 Their Mountains11 Os'Dan Mountains12 Stellar Mountains13 Ang'SER Ocean14 Rankin Ocean15 Kitchen Ocean16 Techie Sea17 Strait of Nundyer18 Bay Saiphia19 Lake Tai'usk20 Run'Chen River21 Paris River22 Ya chia River23 Lake Niren24 Build Lake25 Isle of Shyris26 Drenthe Isle - This is the place at which every character will arrive. This is the only entrance/exit for the dimension. New arrivals are ferried to the city on one of four routes. The North Route goes to the Manufacturing District of the city. The North-West Route goes to the Residential and Commercial Districts (Mythic University characters would ride this one). The other two routes are for high-ranking officials going to the Government and Diplomatic Districts of the city.27 Poem Discolored AREAS:Lavenders the Mythic University campus Dark Lavenders the extended property of the campus Slate Grain the city of Brownish fishing city (unnamed currently)Campus Map (Right to Left)River Entrance and Landing Administration Building Rounded front Athletic Building Athletic Arena (Circle inside a circle, etc.) Student Dormitory (Square building. North, South, West wings for student dorm rooms along the inner hallways; East wing is the student union and food commons area. The corners have study rooms and bathrooms. In the basement are the laundering facilities as extra storage.) Computer Science Building Combat Building Mathematics Building Magic and Weird Science Building Craft Building Rectangle Library (L-shaped) Humanities and Social Sciences Building Science Building Art and Fine Arts BuildingEsenth Isle Map Commercial Students would use these areas for arrival. Manufacturing Diplomatic Government Transport Control Secured Areas Storage Solid lines represent roads. Dotted lines represent ferry routes. Colored areas represent specific areas. All areas marked in a sector color are transport areas. Esenthe Isle Information:Shift port Traveler Transportation Process:Traveler requests a ticket for themselves. Children accompanied by parents must request their own ticket. Transport Control checks if the genetic signature is forbidden. If approved, Transport Control sends a ticket for the individual. When the traveler shifts, the ticket is checked against the genetic signature which requested the ticket. Travelers appear in a chamber in the proper transport sector. Travelers are immediately escorted to their destination (be it storage or docks). This process is similar to the freight transport process. Shift Chambers:All chambers are enabled and have identification codes assigned by Transport Control on a per-trip basis. All chambers are monitored and controlled from Transport Control. All chambers have secret, hidden defenses. All chambers can be set to a specific environment (pressure, atmosphere composition, etc.), including aquatic and vacuum. All chambers have ornately-etched ceilings. All chambers have the shifting technology concealed in the walls, floor, and ceiling. All chambers have scanners built into the walls. These sensors scan genetic and check for obvious and concealed restricted and banned items as well as chemical, biological, and other dangerous and quarantineable agents. All chambers have are built to survive sizable explosions. Traveler-Transport Shift Chambers:Chambers are approximately 20 ft x 20 ft (7 m x 7 m). The monitoring mechanisms are discrete. The decor of the chamber matches the transport sector. There is an adjoining room with places for sitting when acclimatization is required. Freight-Transport Shift Chambers:Decor is plain concrete walls. The monitoring is mostly obvious with some discrete mechanisms. Chambers are of varying size to suit varying volumes of freight. The Docks:Each of the docks is contained in center of a secured area. These are one-story covered concrete structures containing a series of sequential waiting areas. Entrance to a waiting area requires a ticket which is scanned upon entry. The entrances/exits of the waiting areas are large bay-like doors with wide grooves cut into the edges which conceal blast doors. Scanners are concealed in the exits and the entire area is under discrete monitoring. The ceiling contains ornate etching which conceal defenses. Inside the waiting area is a large sitting area; there are no shops as the area is intended to hold people only long enough for a ferry to take them to the mainland. Ferries are scheduled to run as often as necessary and very rarely is the wait for a ferry more than 30 min. The decor of the waiting areas warm and nondescript. Transport Control:Transport Control houses the machines controlling transport activities and their overseers. Travelers are not allowed into Transport Control without a valid reason and approval. Secured Areas:The secured areas house the Docks, traveler quarantine, and the military presence on Drenthe Isle. Naval command and research is headquartered deep underground. Storage Areas:The storage areas for manufacturing and commercial freight awaiting ferry transport to the mainland as well as any freight quarantined. These areas are perpetually under overt and discrete surveillance. Scanners are concealed in the walls. Defenses are concealed in the walls and ceiling. The floors contain antigravity field emitters. Escort Around Drenthe Isle:Travelers are escorted in levitating carts pulled by a single levitating locomotive. Freight is transported similarly but with larger carts (up to small barge sizes). Concealed Defenses:Defenses on Drenthe Isle have been placed to provide defense from incoming travelers and cargo as well as from external attack. These defenses can be either conventional (or varying technology levels) or exotic (either Magic or Weird Science).LINKS Mythic UniversityFAQsMythic University Rules Player-Defined Terms Mythic University Courses Faculty Profiles Student Profiles Character Profile Form Explanation of Edges and Hindrances Definitions of Sample Edges Definitions of Sample Hindrances Gaming Definitions Posting Requirements Mythic University Glossary Ooh, this sounds fascinating! I'll need to think a bit on what I want my character to be, but I wanted to let you guys know I'm interested. I'll PM you as soon as I can think of an interesting enough character! (And I like the hindrance/edge system. Sounds really good for preventing nodding) Yay! *dances* I am so glad that someone is interested! I forgot to mention that you can play as a student or professor--you just need to let us know! Quote: Originally Posted by fairy waif (And I like the hindrance/edge system. Sounds really good for preventing nodding) This RPG has been conceived with lessons learned from table-top. Text-based RPGs often lack the controls found in table-top RPGs, so we thought we would introduce some of the controls and hope it would not put too many potential players off. The staff believes it is not necessary for you to have a separate thread for rules and information, so I will be merging your IOC and rules and information threads together. I'm sorry for the inconvenience this might cause. :(When are you guys going to open up your thread? You can begin building a character. I guess Beth and I will just have to hurry up and get the rest of the materials together. You're in no hurry. (: I was just wondering. Though, I do think that I might make a character. I like the school fantasy threads. (: I'm also interested in making a character, probably a Mathematics Professor, if such exists. Either way, I'm very interested. We will have "normal" classes and special classes that students can choose from. We just need to sit down and make a list of the classes. XP Quote: Originally Posted by numerical I'm also interested in making a character, probably a Mathematics Professor, if such exists. Either way, I'm very interested. After looking at your profile, I'd say you're more than qualified to be a math professor. What's your thesis work entail? I would love to join this if you two won't mind. I have a character that would fit perfectly with this. @Flux I actually didn't do a thesis, I passed a qualifying exam instead, but I was focused more on theory then practice. Quote: Originally Posted by numerical @Flux I actually didn't do a thesis, I passed a qualifying exam instead, but I was focused more on theory then practice. Do you know what your PhD thesis will be on then? I ask because before you showed up I was to be the primary for the mathematics because I have a math minor and a B.S. in a math-heavy field and am interested in some of the theoretical fields. ---------- Quote: Originally Posted by Villa Seneca I would love to join this if you two won't mind. I have a character that would fit perfectly with this. Put a character together and get it to us. We should the bulk of the abilities finalized in a few days (although having abilities outside that set is wholly acceptable, we just did not think of them). Quote: Originally Posted by Flux Do you know what your PhD thesis will be on then? I ask because before you showed up I was to be the primary for the mathematics because I have a math minor and a B.S. in a math-heavy field and am interested in some of the theoretical fields. Not really, If I had my choice it would probably be set theory or logic, but it sort of depends on what school I get into, and who my advisor is. Right now I'm working on deciding where I'd like to go, and getting up my nerve to apply. I like graph theory. Vertices and Edges! :heart: But I don't have a math major or minor. Courses have been added - Let us know of additional courses you would like to see! We have added some sample Edges and Hindrances for you to start looking at. We are still working out all the points, but it will give you an idea of how it works! Do you have any ideas for some professors as NPCs? Tell us! If you like making character profiles -- make a few professor ones! If you want to link to this thread I made a small signature banner: Code: Image URL: Thread URL: If you want to make your own post them here, and I will add them somewhere for everyone to use. We have updated the sample edges camp; hindrances list for review. Please, check them out and let us know about any questions you have. We have spent a lot of time discussing the way that we have accounted for special abilities such as magic and want your input! (:Note: we missed Alter Time...bear with us, we will get it updated soon! We also will be adding a Level 3 Magic/Weird Science to all for the use of Level 3 abilities with the requirement of having Level 2. Flux and I will be "arguing" over how expensive it will be later today. XD (We don't really argue!) Ah...how do I get to the actual thread? I can't find any links.Also, Beth did you get my last pm with the questions? I haven't made the thread yet as we are still setting up. We haven't gotten any profiles yet. And I answered one of your questions. Flux will answer your other questions. If it is okay with you, may we add them to the FAQs? Sure ^^ I've read the question answers now I think I can make a profile, but if I'm being honest I find this whole point system for strength and weakness to be highly confusing.Also, what's your opinion on my possible characters? Planet: Andromeda Prime (was the first thing that came to mind might change later)Race: Sprite Explanation: Sprite are a race indigenous to Andromeda Prime which have one distinct physical characteristic; a lack of gender until a certain age. In human years it would be 23 years of age. At that age a Sprite becomes either a man or a woman. Sprite possess either one of two abilities. Telepathy or Telekinesis. Their great weakness is that they depend on a nectar like liquid for their sustenance. They can not eat or drink anything other than that for a food source. Any food or liquid from other planets give them a bad allergic reaction (trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, vomiting). Earth humans call the food source of the sprites Ambrosia because it resembles that food source from Greek mythology. Sprite are peace loving beings that will not use their powers offensively unless they have no choice. The sprite home planet works on diplomatic hierarchy. The grand council votes on all major decisions and most Sprite that leave the planet are ambassadors or other kinds of diplomats for other planets. The closer one is to the members of the council the higher one's rank and importance. First character:In is the child of a high ranking diplomat and In and its younger sibling Tao were sent to the school as representatives of their planet to see what it is like there. In and Tao are usually found together as Tao only communicates with In. Rin's telepathy is of advanced level as it can not speak and is largely dependent on its ability for making itself heard. Rin's sibling Tao is gifted with telekinesis, but its strength in it is limited unless it gets angry, but when angry it has no control over what happens. Tao is unresponsive to anyone it doesn't trust and stays close to in or in its room. I'm still working on all the details So, In would likely require 3 points of Telepathy to have those abilities, but not being able to (or not having learned to) speak aloud would represent either a 1 or 2 point Hindrance, depending on the ease of learning how to speak aloud. Tao would have either 2 or 4 points of Telekinesis (depending upon if it can manipulate elemental forces). The restriction on the quantity it can manipulate would either be a 1 or 2 point Hindrance (depending upon if it can manipulate elemental forces and if so, if the elemental control is also affected). The distrustful trait I'm not as inclined to turn into a Hindranceunlessit will take time to overcome, and you want to be strictly held to this. So, doing the math:In: 3 points base - 3 points Telepathy + 1 or 2 point speaking Hindrance = 1 or 2 points → Good, even has leftover points to spend. Tao: 3 points base - 2 or 4 points Telekinesis + 1 or 2 point Hindrance = 0 to 2 points → Good. I'd personally say the characters might be too limited currently, especially if Ambrosia is difficult to come by here (it would be a Hindrance regardless, but I don't have sufficient information to say how much). Any questions? I'd like to enter! I'm just not quite sure what I want to do as a character. *Juggles Flux* Thank you! You are so much better at this than I am. ^^;@TaiyoTsuki: What kind of characters do you like to play? Or want to play? That's always a good start. Okay very important question what do I title my profile pm? Just the name of the role-play, or can I just give it a cute title? You can give it a cute title ^^ I think we will know what it is for! (: Something cute it will be something like 'call me princess and die' or maybe 'put down the dress and no one gets hurt' HIFI. Sorry heat has fried my brain. Fudging heatwave... ^^ I know what you mean about the heat. We have all the fans on and my allergies are horrible. DX Okay another question. These edges are they solely referring to powers or do certain talents count too? My character speaks a good deal of intergalactic languages fluently, and I'm wondering if this would be considered an edge or just a nice bonus? These edge and hindrance things confuse me endlessly. I usually work with skills and weaknesses. Where you describe a character's strong points and weak points and where skills are any abilities they possess, both powers and things they learned like martial arts, languages or arts. Also under equipment? Does the description mean I don't have to go into detail about the weapons she has hidden in the seams of her clothes or taped to her body or hidden in her long hair? Knowing a language would be considered a skill and not an edge. Flux and I have discussed how to handle skills as opposed to edges, but with a text-based role-play it may make it more confusing, so skills are free at this point. But thank you for asking! (: Okay and the equipment question? No mentioning hidden weapons? Seems kind of silly not to since they are part of the equipment and stuff so yeah kind of wondering why only the non hide-able equipment needs to be described? Equipment should be listed for description purposes. It's likely someone bringing a staff in will have the staff noticed, and may be commented on by another character. Hidden weapons are a little different as they likely won't be seen. Regardless of if they are described or not, you should have good idea what equipment your character will have, visible or otherwise. I would say that an item with special abilities should be described, hidden or not. Like a time-shifting dagger (Prince of Persia) or a sonic pen (Dr. Who) should be listed and noted that it is not visible. I see. Though I still think it kind of leaves an opening for trouble as people can just pull out whatever weapon they want since they needn't describe all of them. Then it could just be that I've always worked with more descriptive profiles. (As a hobby novelist I'm used to describing everything in profiles.) Well on to the profiles once more. I'll be making sure the privilege isn't abused. As with the skills, rather than try to require all the information up front, we're allowing the players to have an idea or what the characters have and can do and trusting the players will stay in line. If this is abused on a wide-scale, we will require all these little things listed for the entire world to see. If you want to draw up a list and either pm it to a GM or put in into a character profile, that's fine. Profiles sent. I'm not happy about this character limit in pm's...it works counterproductive must make note of this and mention it to site personnel. Haha! I got both PMs, Kitchen! ^^ I know what you mean. The same thing happened to me! Okay...but were they accepted or not? >> Kind of important to know also when's the actual RP going to get set up? @kimichan84: your submissions are accepted pending you answering the questions I followed up with. The thread will be set up once we get at least one more player. Err I got no pm with questions needing answer? Did Flux PM you? Also, Flux had me update the Edges and Hindrances explanations of the way we want you to use the points to make your character. After creating the point system, I forgot to update it. Also, we added some more abilities to our list of Edge sand added some points to theHindrancesfor users to get a better idea of how to use them. Unfortunately, it meant I went over the 10000-character limit for the blog entry so the Sample Hindrance shave been moved to a new blog entry. Also, Flux and I will be working on our characters as well as some NPCs tonight/tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be gone most of the day as I am visiting my family. I will try to be online tomorrow night, but it will probably be very late if at all. I got her new PM and send one back. Ok, I will poke her and see what she's doing. *grabs stick* HIFI lol sounds fun can I help? Can I can I? Of course! ^^ Ah.... I have to leave now! DX Careful - I'm made of Jello. I'm back! ^^; Although exhausted now. Going to bed.@Flux, get on the ball! *shakes stick* Reply to Kitchen's PM. -laughs- Welcome back Beth-chan. ^^ Well it's a lot clearer, but I think it's easier if you just tell us we're within the correct edge hindrance ratio. Also, shouldn't there be a limit to how many abilities and powers a character can have? Otherwise we'll get very impaired characters with a lot of different abilities and that would kind of make no sense. It'd be like god modding or power-playing within the boundaries of the rules. I've seen that happen before and it kind of got very out of hand, but the guy remained within the boundaries of the rules so yeah. Thank you! ^^ I don't expect everyone to get the points spot on the first time. I know I struggled with it when I first played, so I am happy to help someone out. And I think Flux is too. I hope that we don't have anyone who would choose an insane amount of hindrances in order to get an insane amount of edges. I think there will be a limit if it becomes a problem. Furthermore, I don't think something like that would be fun for everyone--which is our goal. (: I'm willing to help someone if they ask for it. I don't remember how difficult it been for me to learn the points-based Edges and Hindrances system (since it's been seven years now, and it was under different circumstances), but I do understand how it can be daunting at first. Urbeth and I will verify each character falls within the bounds. If we spot a character with conflicting Hindrances we will likely ask them how they will play before approving of the character. Besides, the more Hindrances you introduce the more opportunity for bad stuff to happen to trigger them so it's in the player's best interest to keep the number of Hindrances manageable. Going to be AFK from now till tomorrow evening. That's Sunday morning for American users. Quote: Originally Posted by kimichan84 going to be AFK from now till tomorrow evening. That's Sunday morning for American users. Not a problem. We'll try to be completely set up by the time you return. Bad News: I was sick all day and nothing for the RP got done. Good News: I will be making the thread specially for the Edges and hindrances as samples for this role-play. And I am feeling better. Flux is working on getting a resource site set up for our strange point system for other RP's to use. I have some Feedback for those of you who sent us profiles! (: ;O This RP sounds interesting, and I'd love to join :3 EDIT: Making profiles now :o Yay! Welcome! I will be getting the Edges thread up tomorrow. I have to go to bed now. *exhausted* Yay's! Welcome to the crew! ^^ Yay for getting up the Edges...eventually XD I'm almost done too! I just need to finish the autobiographies. Ok! Check the first post! All the links have been updated for the new thread. No posting in that thread! I will keep the old links in my blog for the time being. So...three weeks since I joined...ARE we going to start this RP any time soon or did I write a profile for nothing? You didn't create the profile for nothing. I have been sick lately. You're profiles were good, and I posted them with the pictures. We have another pending profile--some details to work out. And my character has finally been created, which generated some new edges. We want to have a map, but we can probably start without one. I will get the actual thread set up now. Edit:Set up! What should I add to it? Yay, I'm done with my profiles now :'D Though for some reason they feel slightly short D: I can just send them with whatever PM title right? You can PM them to Beth and/or I with any title. We aren't big fans of weird rules like that. Okay haha. I'll fetch my proxy and PM it to you Flux! I know some role-plays have those weird title things to keep people who aren't serious about the role-play out. Furthermore, I think our strange edges/hindrances stuff keeps a lot of people out. Haha, yeah XD Though to be truthful your edge and hindrance system drew me to this RP *blink, blink* Really? Wow! XD Haha yeah, I wanted to try it out (plus it meant that there wouldn't be a bunch of overpowered students). Well, it isn't something Flux, nor I have seen done before, so we're trying it out in hopes of creating something for others to use. Quote: Originally Posted by Cows Go Moo Haha yeah, I wanted to try it out (plus it meant that there wouldn't be a bunch of overpowered students). Assuming natural greed, either there will be no over-powered students or they'll all be over-powered, but either way the power should be balanced. I was drawn to it because it's something I've never had to apply so the edge hindrance thing was a real challenge. I will be working on the map tonight. Furthermore, I tried to find some online map-makers, but there don't appear to be any good ones. Steelbluefor my first character. Using styles for her speech ways too:telepathy'normal thought'Indigo for it's silent is sibling. Same speech styles for the brother plus "speaking" for when finally does talk to someone. Thank you! (: Hey I just saw new profiles in the student section :O I like your character Beth :D Hello, Beth and Flux and others. :')I do find that Edges and Hindrances most intriguing. So that way no-one is too powerful. I like that. A lot. ^^ Welcome, Pip! I uploaded the first map. The restshouldbe easier since it's the campus and the city. Nice. Hope the actual role-play gets set up some time soon though all this waiting is getting boring. We have enough drawn up to start so long as details of the campus layout aren't assumed. Kitchen, I opened the main thread for posting. Awesome :3 I can't wait to see all of your opening posts (: The way that students will be arriving is via some spacecraft or something similar on theEsenthe Isle. From the Isle most student will travel by ferry up the Run'Chen River to the university. Others may arrive by train from the city. But Flux and I stress that all arriving peoples will land on Drenthe Isle before entering the city or university. I am working on a university map right now. Sorry for the delay! DX Quote: Originally Posted by Beth The way that students will be arriving is via some spacecraft or something similar on the Drenthe Isle. Spacecraft is actually impossible to arrive by. The only way in is by plane shifting and the entire plane (which is actually quite small), is protected by a field which forces incoming travelers to appear at the shift port. In theory, it is possible to override the field at expense of energy and specially designed technology, but the travelers would be treated most inhospitably. Travelers could arrive in the shift port in a craft if they desired, however. Sorry, Flux... I wasn't sure what you exactly had in mind. Bed time for me. If that's the case, I think I'll be vague (in terms of travel) and have the post start out with my characters arriving at Drenthe Isle. Night, Beth!:') I'll just wait for our two wonderful leaders to post first so I can get a bit of an idea of how they envision this. I'm still looking forward to Flux's chars as they aren't on the list yet. Hello? Anybody here? Am I all alone here? O.Ono one's posting anywhere. Don't tell me everyone went on vacation LOL, well I am going to go on vacation soon. I had part of my post typed up a while ago, but I kind of wanted to wait for the setting of the island to be described before I went too far. I've been quite busy at work and getting ready for a short vacation (which I undertake tomorrow); I'll try to be on some of the time. Furthermore, I've been in contact with Beth; unfortunately, she's been under the weather of late which is why she hasn't been seen. The characters can start the RP; my character wouldn't been seen for a little while yet anyway.@Cows Go Moo: Did you want an introduction or a description, and which part of the island did you want described (the shift port, the city, the Academy grounds, etc.)? Uhm I think that a description would be fine. Preferably I'd like a description of the shift port as well as the city since I just plan on having my characters arrive at the port and then ferried. Dare I ask. Does that include me? Back! Work has gotten busier and more stressful lately with school starting in less than a month. The campus map is finished! See the first page. Let me know if you don't understand something. Edit: And I posted! XD Welcome back Beth! 'D, Thanks! ^^ Now time for bed for me! Aw, okay :3 Night! Map and description of the shift port are up. Sorry about the delay. -Pokes thread- Who? O. O Anyone here? Sorry for long absence I got RL sick. @kimichan84: hope you're feeling better. A little I'm still on medication. I had an infection in my throat which caused bouts of fever at random and had me feeling in general unwell. I'm hoping that some time soon we get to see what creatures Flux is playing and some action because I have no idea of what to post, so I'm hoping that reading intros of other ARRIVING students will help. Poor you, Mimi-chan. :Sounds a little like glandular fever. Nope. Infection fever. I had a terrible infection in my throat. The doc checked safe the infection in my throat I had no other problems no swollen glands which indicate what you just said no runny nose no teary eyes. Just an infection inside my throat with little trouble when swallowing, but that's because I have so dreadfully many throat infections that I don't even notice the pain when swallowing too much anymore. I did however notice the fever from the infection in my throat. (your body temperature gets higher when you body fights the infection, that's why I had bouts of fever rather than fever all day. I'm feeling much better now I'm off the medication though. You really feel those blood thinners. Ah, I see. Well, at least you're much better now. Still no other NEW ARRIVALS a stuff TNT is not going fast... I need Flux to look at my profile. :/I would post if I could, Mimi. I posted (finally), though I ended up cutting out some of the material for the sake of brevity x____x @Pip: O: I can't wait to see your profile. Thanks. My very first made from scratch baddie. O: It was way too difficult. It's a very good post. (: I need more info on these shift port things? Mimi, I think that your character takes one of the rides to 26 on the map, and then a boat trip in a NW direction to the University. I don't even see a 26 on the map actually, but oh well. The point is that it doesn't explain in normal English that any dumbass can understand what the concept is. Does one just land on the shift port with one's spaceship then take a transport cabin to the school? Seriously Flux less science language when you explain something use simple terms and phrases! If we want more people then it needs to be understandable for more than just the geniuses you know? Basically, I think that the concept is as follows:Your character takes a shift port from their dimension to the dimension where the University is. They then take a ferry to the main land and probably walk the rest. I know what you mean though. It sure is confusing. You know I think basically this really is turning into one of those RP that just never gets started on? The two owners of it have gone MIA since August 12th for Flux and even longer for the other one and neither one is answering... If they don't start showing up within the next two weeks I'm declaring this role-play abandoned by creators... I really hate this it seems to be the running theme of Kenosha role-plays... millions of role-plays start, but only 20% actually starts and only 5 out of those actually get anywhere before they die. And this one looked so interesting too! I know people are busy, but if you're going to be too busy to check in with your role-play at least once a week then you shouldn't start one really... You are absolutely right. It were understandable had the creators told us that they would be away for so long. But a whole month without a word is ridiculous. I hope that they do manage to get their act together. I have been checking in every single day, only to be disappointed. Not as much as a squeak from the other end. I can feel your frustration, Mimi. I'd hate to declare this RP dead, but I don't know. (maybe they're busy with school?) I was looking forward to interacting with everyone too): Well, I could post again, but I don't know what I'd say. I was hoping someone would bump into me or something. Furthermore, I wish I could. Furthermore, I am waiting for my character to be acknowledged. Which puts me into an awkward position. >;c I'm still waiting for our creators to come and tell us where the HELL their asses have been since Juli! *sigh* Let's hope we get some new characters approved soon, so we can all interact. I don't really care right now. I have quit, and as soon as they have the decency to appear, I shall tell them that. >:cit is fair enough to be gone, but to leave for almost three months without any warning or word. They are wasting our time. I sent Umberto a mail. If I get no reply by Monday I'm shutting this useless waste of good RP time and space down. No posts no replies nothing. Everyone I hate to do this, but this role-play is dead and over the owners are gone since end of July now, and apparently they can't be bothered to even answer a pm or tell us why they are gone. I hereby declare this useless piece of RP would be closed!

Mythic University OOC|rating:3.0

The Dying Times(Wolfgangblackthorne and DarkRose15)

Ed looked over at his silent partner as they walked along the side of the empty road. Yellow lines and black asphalt had been the only thing for miles. The road was open. Empty. Which was neither good nor bad and both. Both men trudged along in dead silence. Ed shifted his right shoulder to straighten the strap holding the hunting rifle on his back. He peered up at a mostly empty sky. Lazy white clouds drifted above him. Ed wished he could be a cloud. He' give anything to be a cloud. Anything to not be in this world. The world they were in now. What was left of it anyway. This thought pushed thoughts of his wife Patricia and his son Derek back into his mind. Not now dammit. His wife and son were both dead. Just like everyone else. The world was just like his wife and son. Dead. Well mostly Ed shook his head and pushed thoughts of his former life out of his mind as best he could. The silence. That's what was the problem, he thought. Can't take much more of this. Ed glanced back at his silent partner once more. Dressed in a black Kevlar vest they had scrounged off a body somewhere back behind them, the tall, long haired man walking beside Ed never said a word. Ed didn't know why. He supposed the man had his reasons. Even when Ed had met the quiet man, back when Ed was trapped in that building full of those things trying to eat him, the silent bastard never said a word. Even when he was pulling Ed out and running. But he couldn't take it anymore. Ed needed to hear something besides his own voice for the next hundred miles or however long it was." Hey, man. Why don't you ever say anything?" asked Ed. He had posed the question before. No answer. Just more walking. Boots and sneakers thudded off asphalt. Ed moved and stopped in the man's path. "Hey! I'm talking to you! Say something!" The taller man stopped and looked at ed. Ed stared back and waited. Ed noted the guy had a pretty long and scraggly beard. It made him remember he himself had a bit of fuzz on his own face." Well?" Ed asked impatiently. Ed pushed a finger into the man's chest. More silence. Just when it looked like Ed was once again going to get nowhere, a vehicle zoomed by. Ed did a double take. It was a car. Looked like a charger. Faded red paint. Was that what it was? Ed did not know cars. He caught glimpse of who was behind the wheel of the car. Was that a girl? Then another vehicle followed that one. This one was a truck. The back of the pickup was full of men carrying guns. They were shooting at the car while in pursuit. They were hooting and hollering like a bunch of nuts. Probably were nuts, Ed thought. Maybe they could help. He wasn't so sure. Both of them weren't exactly armed to the teeth, Ed thought, glancing to the rather sharp machetes on either hip of his bearded companion. Granted both of them wore vests they had gotten off of two cop corpses further on down the road but still. Growing up on the streets, Ed was not exactly a hero, and he couldn't really speak for his silent partner. The car zoomed down the road then swerved and spun out. Momentum and sped conspired against the driver as the car flipped up onto its side in the dirt. The truck full of gun toting maniacs hollered and yelled victory like they were at a football game or something. Who ever was in the car was doomed, Ed thought. That decided it. Something in him made him want to help. He smacked his partner's shoulder. "Come on, let's go help!" Ed began to run through somehow his friend kept up with just a brisk walk. Ed hoped they could do something in time. He saw the men circling the car, weapons drawn. Well that could have gone better..., Mikaela thought to herself, grunting as she pulled herself out of her car to see the motherfuckers that she'd "borrowed" some items from. She'd been pilfering from their camp for weeks, but this time well....things didn't go as planned. She'd gotten caught, and a firefight had ensued. Furthermore, she'd gotten away, after taking out a few of them, but her best friend hadn't. Furthermore, she'd tried to save her, but she wasn't able to. During the fight, a few zombies had wandered into camp, and she'd swung around at just the right moment to have her hand become a hours'oeuvre. Shooting someone you cared about always seemed so easy in the movies. Shaking her head a bit, she moved her hand to her side. She didn't have a gun, she was a lousy shot. But she was quick and quite lethal with a sword and her hands if she needed to. It wasn't about strength, it was about timing and opportunity. Pulling herself to her feet, she raised her hands up in surrender, giving her time to count the number of dead men walking she had to deal with. Her body had some scars from previous encounters, all lessons that taught her to never assume anything. She called them dead men walking, but if she made one wrong move it could be her in the ground. There were at least 10, that she could tell while squinting in the bright sun, and all very well armed. Bunch of goddamn rednecks.... She was going for her sword, until she heard footsteps and quickly turned, hearing a man shouting. Someone was heading towards her, and it sounded like he meant to help. The first man to turn to see who was approaching was the first man down, as she slashed his neck and he fell to the ground bleeding out on the arid sand along the road. Ed stopped and raised up his hunting rifle up to aim as some of the men turned to face him. Some of them raised their own weapons to fire, but Ed fired first. He only had five shots left so he had to make them count. His first shot echoed loudly. One man took a bullet in the right eye which exploded into a chasm of blood and brain matter. The man's left eye blinked one, twice, three times before he fell over dead. Three men leveled their guns at Ed and fired right as Ed fired a second shot. Bullets flew. Ed's second shot went right through another man's chest. Unfortunately, return fire hit Ed twice in the gut. A machete flew end over end and embedded itself in the upper chest of the third gunman before he could pull the trigger. Dropping his weapon, he clenched at the handle as the blade protruded from his bleeding chest. Ed watched his silent partner as he himself hit the ground. His rifle clattered to the ground and misfired third shot which clipped another one of their armed adversaries in the knee. The man dropped to the ground howling in pain as Ed watched his partner stride up to some of the men who had not turned toward them. Ed's brow furrowed as he watched a young woman, the driver of the car he supposed, attack one of her pursuers with a sword. Ed checked himself and found luckily one of the shots had only hit the vest. Unfortunately, he felt warm blood a little lower than that seeping out of his side. "Dammit," He cursed under his breath, watching the ensuing melee. Ed groaned as he tried to push himself up back to his feet. Men screamed, bullets rang off concrete and flew into the air. Blades cleaved through flesh and bone. Men died. Blood painted the silent man's chest as he used his machete to slice open a man's neck from ear to ear. His black shirt and vest was now a dull crimson color as his unfortunate target bled out all over him. It seemed to Ed like the girl with the sword and his partner were dancing in rhythm with each other though neither had ever met. Blood soaked his shirt as Ed managed to get up to his feet and stood there in agonizing pain. He forced himself towards the abandoned vehicle the gunmen had used. There were men left fighting, but Ed hoped no one was left in the driver's seat as he neared the truck cab. He looked back towards the fight and saw a man creeping up behind the woman with the sword with the intent to shoot her in the back. "Naidoo!" Ed cried out. A second machete flew and sank deep into the man's shoulder, throwing off his aim. The gun fired, but the shot went wide, hitting the dirt several yards away. Ed watched as his tall, now unarmed friend was tackled to the ground by two of the remaining men. The sounds of gunfire and injured or dying men filled the air as Mikaela continued her onslaught against her attackers. At some point, she sensed another man at her back helping in the fray, fighting with sharpened machetes that flew through the air with such precision. They had never met, but they seemed to move in a way that complimented the other. Fighting was much like dancing, in that you must read the movements of your opponent like you would read the movements of your dancing partner. Being off by even a fraction of a second could mean you die on the ground instead of your enemy. When she heard the other man screaming and looking past her, she turned quickly and slashed with her sword across the man's belly, guts and viscera spilling out as the machete was thrown into his shoulder. Unfortunately, the rest of the surviving men tackled one of her saviors to the ground. Shaking her sword clean of blood in one strong swoop, she looked at the bloodied assholes holding one of her rescuers down. Shit..., she thought, frowning as she kept her eyes on the two men and assessed the situation. She thought a moment, and flicked her eyes towards the other man, in hopes that the remaining attackers would turn towards him and give her an opening. She looked at the man holding the hunting rifle, and gave him a nod. Her eyes gave him a silent message she hoped he would catch. Ed panicked, looking over at his friend who was taking quite a beating from the two men on top of him. Fists, elbows, and headbutts rained down on his silent friend. Ed aimed his rifle at one of the men, but the scuffling prevented him from a clear shot. Ed groaned, feeling a hot poker stab into him, reminding him of his wound. He did catch the look the woman gave him, but Ed was powerless at this point. Then his friend managed to jam his thumb of his right hand into the eye of one of the men on top of him. The man howled, holding his face as blood ran out from under his hand. The wounded redneck rolled off and scrambled to his knees screaming." My eye! My eye!" the now one eyed redneck screamed, whimpering in pain. Ed took that as a sign and squeezed the trigger. One moment the redneck had a face. The next there was a hole in the middle of his forehead. The man fell dead to the pavement. Ed whooped and punched the air in celebration, but this was short-lived as his sudden movement aggravated his injury and drove him down to his knees against the side of the truck in pain. The other man who was still on top of Ed's companion saw his friend die and got off after landing a few last blows. The man, seeing he was the last of them alive and all his other friends were dead, turned to run and stopped seeing he had turned right into the path of the swordswoman. The man reached at his belt and pulled out his revolver and pointed it at her. He grinned, assured he had the upper hand." Got you now, bitch!" he gloated, a wolfish grin on his face. "Thought you could put one over on us."the man almost got to pull the trigger when he suddenly tensed and then his eyes went cross. Blood seeped out of his mouth suddenly then he went limp. The man fell face first to the ground. A knife handle protruded from the back of his skull. Ed's battered, and now bloody faced friend stood behind where the redneck had. He was injured, but he didn't let that slow him. There was a moment of silence as he stared at the woman with green eyes. He then turned and walked over to the truck to find Ed had somehow climbed up into the cab and was starting the engine. Ed's was bleeding a lot, but that didn't keep him from getting it started. Ed grinned grimly then yelled out the open window to the woman. "Come on! Get in!" Ed's companion made sure to pick up HS machete's and grab a gun from one of the dead for Ed before getting in the bed of the truck. The truck rumbled to life as Ed turned the wheel and got it turned to go East. Ed waited for the woman as patiently as he could be to make her decision. She didn't need to be told twice. Mikaela grabbed her supplies hastily and bolted for the car with the two bruised and bloodied men. There wasn't time to ask for names as she secured herself. "Go go go!" she screamed, as she saw the now one-eyed brute trying to take shot at the vehicle as it began to speed off leaving a cloud of arid dust behind them. Sighing, she fell back against her seat, catching her breath. Her shirt torn, and a few fresh injuries made her wince, but she was fortunate overall. She took a moment to silently look over the two men in the car and study them awhile. No one appeared to want to talk, and after the violent battle beforehand she was more inclined to enjoy sitting in a car with air conditioning and recover. There'd be time for chatting once they all had some time to process. She'd gotten what she'd wanted, but she hoped her new friends would understand if it came up. She never took more than what she needed for herself and her former compatriot. It went against her personal code. Only take what you needed and only from those who had extra to spare. For the moment, all she wanted to do was look out the window at the passing landscape, every so often seeing the rotting corpses of the dead shambling about looking for fresh humans to gnaw on. She need not tell Ed twice. He hit the gas as soon as she climbed in and shut the passenger door. The truck was an old Toyota, but it sped down the blacktop lane like a bullet. A quiet lulled inside the cab of the truck as he drove. Ed wasn't expecting much from his friend in the back either. The engine purred as they went along the empty road. High grass and wheat fields passed without so much as a word. Ed couldn't help his curiosity even given the hot stabbing pain in his gut. When the truck finally halted at the stop sign at a four way, he spoke up." My name's Ed. What's yours? Not that it's any of my business, lady but what did you do to have all those gun totting rednecks after you?" He asked, giving the road a glance before giving the truck more gas. Ed groaned but did his best to muffle it behind gritted teeth. He wiped his balding brow with the back of his hand. Even with the air conditioning blowing he felt hot. Brick buildings began to come into view as they approached city limits. The sky was still clear though it was no longer blue but growing more red and orange as the afternoon faded into evening. Ed hoped there would be someplace to lie low so he could rest, He wished for a hospital to pull the slug out of him but knew that was a long shot. He held out hope they would get lucky as their vehicle came up on a gas station. Maybe this was good luck. Just maybe there was some gas left. The station was a gray mortar building. The lights above the door that said Gas'N'Go were dimmed down. The two double doors were ominously agape. Darkness filled the space beyond them. Ed turned the wheel and guided the truck into station. Ed put the truck in park but did not get out. He smiled as sweetly as he could. At the young woman. "Hope you don't mind but seeing as it hurts to move, could you go with my mute friend in the back and see if there is any fuel left? I will keep my eye out for trouble and the engine running." She'd been staring out the window just enjoying the first chance to really sit down in a while before blinking back to reality when she heard one of the men introduce themselves. "Mikaela." she said, not looking away from the window really, just staring out for a while. That is, until he asked her what had riled up the hillbillies they'd obliterated behind them." It really isn't." she said, frowning a bit, but he did help save her life so she at least owed him something. "I only took from them what me and my.....now deceased comrade needed to survive. I never took more than we needed, and they had plenty to go around. They just didn't care to share with others in need." she said, falling quiet a bit until she heard that groan. "I take it you aren't groaning because you're glad to be alive." she said, leaning over the seats to look at Ed's injuries. Before she said anything else she took note of the fact they were approaching the city. Before long they were pulling into a gas station that had long since been abandoned and definitely seen better days. She'd already learned long ago to avoid gas stations at all costs unless absolutely necessary. "If you're hoping for gas I can tell you I haven't had much luck." she said, hopping out with the very quiet man who had yet to reveal his name as Ed asked her to check for fuel." I'll check, but I'm telling you that it's probably dry as a bone." she said, not really mincing words as she went to check the pumps. "Probably, but it never hurts to check," Ed replied, giving a weak smile before it dissolved in a grimace of pain. Ed groaned and leaned on the steering wheel. His silent partner clambered out of the back of the truck and drew one of his blades from its sheath on his hips. He moved past the pumps and over to the door but didn't go in yet. Ed coughed from the cab of the truck. His partner went inside the gloomy station. The light inside fizzled as it shine d on and off from inside. There was no gas from the pumps as predicted, but the silent man came back out a few minutes later with a full container of gasoline. In his hand was one of those red portable gas cans. Gasoline swirled inside the can with every step he took toward the truck. He stopped and gave Mikayla a smile as if he had found buried treasure. He went and put the can in the back of the truck then walked back inside to see if there was more. Ed chuckled. "See? What I tell ya. Luck must be on our side." His chuckle earned him a red-hot searing gush of pain up through his side. "Why don't you go in and sew hat is left inside? I'll guard the truck." A few seconds later, screams came from inside the station. Mikaela was surprised to see the red can filled with liquid gold and looked at Ed as he asked her to go check for other possible supplies. The scream stopped her as she drew her weapon in a flash as the steel met the sunlight a moment. "Well fuck...." she said, the brief moment of calm interrupted as she moved slowly towards the doorway. She quietly began to inch forward, attempting to get a look around. At this point she never assumed it was just zombies, it could easily be other raiders, looters, assholes....anything and everything happened in this new anarchistic world. She moved still slowly, peeking around the corner to see as far as she could. The gas station was trashed, she was surprised no one had gotten the gas before but in a panic most people would overlook just about anything. Inching a foot out, sword at the ready, she began to go inside, following the screams. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide companion was in one corner, machete raised in front of him in a defensive position. Across the room was a young woman with a shotgun pointed right at his chest. The woman's eyes were wide with shock and fear. By all accounts she seemed on the very edge. Her long blonde hair that was visible was done in a braid that disappeared down her back. Her white t shirt was smeared with some black substance that looked like blood. Dirt stains covered her denim jacket and matching jeans. She stood rigid ready to fight or flight." Don't take another step, or I'll shoot!" she screamed, leveling the barrel of her gun a bit higher. The woman's aim changed as she shifted to Mikayla as she came into the woman's sight. "You too! One more step or I'll--" Her threat hung in the air like a viper ready to strike. Her silent travelling companion was tense. His body seemed ready to spring Ina direction should the woman fire. His eyes shifted to look at Mikayla, pleading silently for her to do something before some got hurt." Back off! I just want to get out of here," the woman said. "I just wanted some food." The toe nudged plastic grocery bag at her foot. Inside was a few granola bars, a bottle of water, and a few small things she had likely pilfered. "Just back out. I don't know if you're one of those things." Her gun shifted between Mikayla and the man as if trying to decide who posed the greater threat. Mikaela stopped as the gun barrel was raised, and the woman caught sight of her. She stood still, also anticipating moving fast to take care of business. "Hey, hey...." she said, calmly. "No one wants to get hurt here. Corpses don't talk, and from what I can tell aren't capable of holding weapons so don't worry. We aren't going to rip your throat out with our teeth." she said, only slightly lowering her sword. The woman was talking about food, and didn't appear to want to fight. She was just like them, running. Trying to find a safe place. Or at least....a SAFER place than wherever she'd been before. "I have a proposition for you. You take what you need, and I'll come in there and take some medical supplies if any, and a little bit of food. Then we'll leave, and you can leave and no one gets hurt. We don't want to attract a crowd or anything." she said, hoping she'd talk the blonde down. Sometimes she was able to avoid a lot of conflict by just being calm and reasonable. But these were unreasonable times, and she had no fucking clue who this woman was before or after the dead started to devour the living." Take what you have, and we'll take a little ourselves. My friend over there needs at least some peroxide to prevent infection or some sort of antiseptic. And we could use waters too. Let's not resort to violence, there's plenty of that all over the place." Mikaela then stopped talking, giving the blonde a chance to speak, looking at the silent man and Ed to see what they were doing. The woman listened, still holding the gun up at Michaela. Her eyes shifted between the two of them then at the floor where he small bag lay next to her foot. She seemed to consider what she was saying though the woman didn't seem to want to take chances either. Keeping her eyes on her, the woman knelt and with a free hand grabbed the bag then slowly rose to her feet. "Fine," She agreed, backing away with one hand holding the bag, the other pointing her gun at them. "But if you follow me I swear... I'll shoot you."the woman then turned and saw she had backed into a back door in the room and then darted out of it like a scared jackrabbit. Only then when the woman left did the silent man lower his weapon and breath a sigh of relief. He started to move through the dilapidated aisles of shelves looking for things for Ed, who was still in the truck, when a high-pitched scream broke the tense silence. His head snapped to the left. The scream sounded like it was coming form out back where the woman had gone. "Relax. I've got no reason to pick a fight with you." Mikaela said with a frown as the woman took her food and supplies. Watching her dart off she turned to say something but was interrupted by the shrill scream. "Shit..." she breathed, moving hastily towards the sounds. Apparently the frightened woman hadn't been paying too much attention to where she was going and had run right into the waiting arms of a rotting corpse. Mikaela took out her sword and prepared herself. Charging in, she moved in attempt to slice off or at least deflect the creature's arms to give the woman a chance to escape. She managed a hit, but zombies didn't feel pain, and she hadn't been able to get enough force behind her swing as she would have preferred. The zombie lunged forward, moaning and salivating hungrily as it sunk its teeth into the shoulder of the blonde woman who began to scream even more as Mikaela could only stand a moment as she flashed back to her friend's death and heard the same screams.... Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide now seemingly Mikaela's) silent partner ran out to see what the screams were about and found Mikaela standing there as if in a daze while a zombie was biting the woman with the gun. Quickly, he drew his two blades and cut down the thing as it feasted on the screaming woman. He paused a moment, and saw that blood was spurting quite freely from a wound in the woman's shoulder. It was sad. The woman seemed like a survivor But she would be turning soon for sure. Mercifully, he drove the blade of one Machete down into the woman's skull putting an end to her agonizing screams. Sweat dripped from his brow as he stood there waiting for Mikaela to snap out of it, but she did not. It was if she were in a trance or something. He moved over to touch her shoulder or at the very most shake her out of her daze. The ground began rumbling as soon as he made it over to her and more undead hands began to break the surface. There would be no time to be gentle. " Mikaela, wake up!" He yelled, grabbing Mikaela's wrist, he tugged her hard back into the station and toward the truck. He had the presence of mind to grab the bag the now dead woman had with her on his way back in. Half dragging Mikaela through the ruined store they made it to the truck only to find Ed had passed out over the steering wheel from blood loss. The moans and gnashing of the teeth of the undead were closing in behind them. They needed to get out of there and fast. Throwing the bags in the back of the tuck, He left Mikaela's side to go open the driver side and push Ed over, so someone could drive. He could hear the dead scrambling through the station to where they were. Looking back, he yelled at Mikaela to help, hoping HSE would snap out of whatever fugue she was in." We have to go. NOW!" Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide The final shout shook her from her thoughts. She felt a few tears sliding down her cheeks as she rushed to join the others as the sounds of the dead filled her ears. Sliding in she looked over at Ed, who didn't appear to be improving. "Sorry." she said tersely, but looking over at the man who'd found his voice and managed a small smile. "Unexpected memories do have the absolute worst timing." she said as she felt the car roar to life. She clung to the oh-shit bar as they took off. Behind them, corpses shambled about, a few tearing the blonde woman apart and the sound of crunching bones and rending flesh filled the air. The only other sounds were the moans coming from the rotting vocal cords of the recently deceased. Some were damn near falling apart, but they moved as their base hunger drove them to do only one thing: FEED. Mikaela wanted to kill herself for being so stupid. She hated that she couldn't shake her friend's loss when she knew she damn well needed to. She was getting more stressed than she thought and rubbed her temples as they continued on. The truck zoomed down the two lane blacktop with a horde of dead shambling after them. Yellow lines were a blur on the macadam as they sped away toward city limits. The sky rumbled above as thunder boomed in the distance. Darkening clouds threatened to burst with rain. Warehouses came into view as they got closer to the city. With Ed unconscious, his partner drove almost too fast in an attempt to get them somewhere safe even if that place no longer existed anymore. Sidewalks and chain link fences lined the streets as looming high rises and skyscrapers rose up to meet them. Following road signs as best a could, he turned on a four way intersection and went past a bus surrounded by more undead. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide signs said: Dearborn hospital 34 miles. Turning another hard right, the silent man steered clear away from any advancing zombies in order to get to their destination. He didn't know if they could actually make it or if once they got there that it was over run. Black smoke rose from several burned out buildings along the way. Glancing over at Mikaela every once in a while, the man wondered if what he was doing was in vain. More zombies lined the streets and shambled out of buildings. The truck neared the hospital, but their numbers seemed to be slowly growing. One close enough to their truck latched on to the passenger side and reached for Mikala."Oh, fuck!" the man said, swerving hard in an attempt to shake the thing, but it held on just like its face barely held on to its skull. It widened its bloody gaping mouth and went to bite her arm. The sudden lurch and the growling got her attention fast, and she reached for a knife she kept at her side and allowed the zombie to shove its own head onto the knife. Thankfully she was able to get it to angle just right as it went through the corpse's mouth and up into the brain as she opted to let that knife go and lifted one of her legs to kick the rotting body off the side. "Fuck me..." she breathed, realizing just how close she was to getting a one-way ticket to death. Looking at the not so silent man and then at Ed she took a deep breath to calm herself. "So....where are we going?" she said, noticing a sign-up ahead that indicated a hospital was near. "Unless we need drugs we can't find in a standard pharmacy we may as well go past. Hospitals are always full of walkers. At least that's all I ever hear from any survivors I meet who had the misfortune of trying to get in and then get out without losing anyone." she said, but she shrugged and looked with a frown at Ed." What are we going to do with Ed?" she said, her tone making it crystal clear that Mikaela was ready to kill him if he showed signs of turning. It was better to die while you still had a mind then feel the loss of it. That was what her friend had said. "Well, I am open to suggestions," the man pulled the wheel hard to avoid a burning car that was in the way of their path. Rubber tires squealed, and the truck tilted bit to the left a bit. Ed's seemingly unconscious form slumped over onto Mikaela. "The plan was to take him to the hospital but---" The words didn't get to finish leaving the man's mouth. He stopped the truck suddenly, causing Ed and everyone else to pitch forward. Before them was the hospital. It's many glass windows were broken, and black smoke billowed out of the many holes. A sea of burning cars lay before them blocking any further movement." Well, fuck." He said, shaking his head. He turned left again in an attempt to go around but all around there were burning vehicles, burning bodies, and bits of debris everywhere. They barely missed an oncoming horde of the dead by mere minutes. "Well so much for that plan. What now?" He parked the truck in a nearby alley but kept the engine on. Carefully, he lifted Ed up off the dashboard. The man's skin was deathly pale from lose of blood. Ed's face was gaunt and hollow. His eyes seemed sunken. Reaching up to touch the artery in his neck, there was a pulse, weak but still a pulse. "I don't think he's going to make it, Mikaela. And the hospital isn't an option. I think our best bet is to find a place and lie low." It didn't seem like much of a plan but there it was. He didn't want to have to kill Ed. Ed was mostly gone anyhow so it sort of was not killing but still it felt that way. He sighed, seeing she was in thought. "Are you okay?" It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Ed was as good as dead. It was a damn shame too, he was a decent guy given the brief time she'd known him. With a small nod she agreed with her silent comrade's plan. "We should see if Ed has any ideas. If he wants us to....take him down if he turns or..." she said, looking at Ed who at this point looked like death warmed over. "I'm fine. I need to rest at some point, but I'm fine." Mikaela said with a slight smile. "I mean it's the end of the world. Fine at this point is fucking glorious." She looked around the area, surveying the landscape for a suitable place to stay for the night. Something with few windows and sturdy walls. Spotting what looked like an old warehouse nearby she nodded towards it. "That looks secure. We can go upstairs and barricade ourselves for the night and figure out what to do with Ed." she said, but as she'd thought to herself before, it was better to die when you had a mind then to die a monster. "Are you ok?" "I'm...fine," he said. The words struggled to come out. It felt strange speaking after all this time. Her idea was solid, he had to admit. There was no real way for them to know how much time Ed had anyway. He looked pretty bad. Ed lurched forward and coughed. They waited until the road was clear enough of the shambling, burning corpses then headed in the direction of the warehouse. It looked solidly built with metal doors and concrete walls. Perhaps they would be safe in there. They parked right outside the gate which was half open. They could either pull the truck in or run for it. He had no idea which she preferred. Whichever way was easiest. They just couldn't tarry there forever. There was no telling if there was anything inside but the thought of being someplace safe, if only for a little while, was quite irresistible." Don't worry about me," He said between coughs. Blood oozed out from between his lips. "I'm a goner. You two just go. You two have a better chance of making it. Let me out." He groaned in pain as he forced himself to sit up. Ed gently pushed on Mikaela to let him out of the truck. A shudder and spasm of pain wracked Ed's body, and he succumbed to another coughing fit. "Ed...." Mikaela said, trying to stop him as he attempted to brush past, but her eyes widened, and she stepped back drawing her sword in a flash of steel. He was going to turn, and she looked at her now more vocal companion with a nod. She'd prepared herself for this but that never made it any easier. At least she hadn't had enough time to get so close as to make it incredibly painful like before, but she would have liked to be friends with someone like Ed. Frowning, she moved forward and prepared herself to behead him as quickly as possible. Raising her sword, she swung it the second she saw the now corpse's head lift and growl. A small tear in her eye and she slashed at his neck and the tear of sinews and muscle were heard as the severed head flew through the air, snapping at nothing but still moving for a few moments before it ceased, and the head lay on the ground with blank eyes staring upwards. He made it around the vehicle with the bag of supplies in time to see Ed's head roll and bob on the ground. The dead eyes stared up at the sky blankly. He thought about Ed and all the miles they'd walked together. They had been two survivors alone in what was left in the world. Now Ed was gone. A pang of sadness struck him. Thunder jolted him out of his thoughts. Grabbing Mikaela by the hand, he led her through the gate and towards the warehouse. "Come on. Let's get inside before something else comes along." It didn't take long to figure out that the main doors were locked so they had to make due with a side door. Luckily one such door existed and was unlocked. Leading Mikaela inside, he looked for a flashlight. The interior was dark as night. It was hard to see more than five feet in front of you. Running his palms over the walls as he took it step by step, he searched for a light switch. The toe of his boot struck something solid so he stopped and bent over to feel what it was. His fingers felt the object until he made out what felt like a handle. He picked it up and squinted seeing it was a battery operated lantern. He searched its sides and found a small on switch. Turning it on, he swung it about to find they were surrounded by crates on all sides. Crates and boxes containing who knows what. All different shapes and sizes. Apparently this was some sort of storage warehouse. He breathed out relief when he saw nothing coming at them or jumping out of the shadows. He turned to Mikaela, making sure to shine the light away from her face." I don't know how long this will last so let's find someplace inhere to maybe hunker down for the night shall we?" He moved around quietly, swinging the lantern to and fro as he went. There were so many big things that could hide a threat or someone. He didn't want to risk a surprise. Luckily, he happened upon a small office door. "Must be like the office to this place," He checked the doorknob and found it was unlocked. Walking inside, he tried the light switch and found it worked. He turned off the lantern to conserve power and then shut the door behind them, making sure to lock it. It was a small room with a desk, swivel chair and a few file cabinets, but it was safe. For the time being. The walls were painted a muted gray to contrast with the white tile floors. He imagined there was quite a bit to talk about, but he was not sure what to say." Alright, now what?" Killing zombies was easy. Killing friends turning into zombies wasn't nearly so, and she felt guilt. At the same time she was sure Ed didn't want to be like the shambling pieces of rotting flesh, and she couldn't blame him or anyone for that matter for wanting to avoid a horrific fate. With a nod, she let her new traveling buddy take the lead as they moved hastily towards the warehouse as she kept herself attuned to their surroundings in case any surprises crept up. Fortunately nothing did, and they were able to find a way inside so they could at least be safe for the night and come up with a game plan." Now we rest. Talk. Sleep. Whatever we can do with the brief period of time we can assume we're safe." she said, slumping towards the floor and resting her head on her knees for a few moments before leaning back and against the wall. "I'm sorry about Ed." she said softly, her eyes turning towards him. "I made sure it was quick so he wouldn't suffer." her eyes moved away as she said that, a sadness in her voice. After a few long moments of silence she spoke again. "What's your name?" she asked, grateful for a chance to sit down and process the events of the day. He stood quietly, leaning against the far wall with his back. He had heard her question, but he had no real answer. Furthermore, he knew his name was Chris But that seemed so far away now. Much like his old life seemed so dead now. Kinda like how Ed was. Dead. This new world was dark and twisted and evil. He didn't think it had any use for Chris's. A frown formed on his face. He felt like a stray dog nowadays. It had been so long since anyone had asked his name or even made him want to talk. It felt wrong to speak in such dark times. In the face of all the blood, death, undead, and catastrophe, Chris had turned inward into himself to survive. Now, this woman was asking him to unravel. What was he supposed to tell her? He struggled for a long moment. "Well, my parents named me Chris But I don't think that name really fits me anymore." He said glumly. Besides, his parents were dead too, His two brothers and his sister. All burned out back with his parents. He knew that because he had done it himself to survive. But Mikaela didn't know that. He winced and held back a tear that was threatening to come from his eye at the memory. He shifted uncomfortably then stepped over to the small bag of supplies and began to rifle through it just for something to do. "Believe me... I get it." she said, hearing the sadness in his voice and catching the glint of tears forming as he held them back very well. She'd learned to do the same, it didn't really help any more after all they'd both been through and probably would be through. "So I guess then I can just call you 'Hey You?' instead then?" she said, attempting a joke of sorts to lighten the mood. She couldn't much think of anything to do, but damn was it good to rest and feel reasonably safe for once. When was the last time she actually got to sit down for more than a few minutes here or there? When was the last time she could actually attempt a full night's sleep? Leaning her head back against the wall, she sighed as her chest rose and fell with the motion. A long stretch of silence passed by before she spoke again. "I don't know what you've been through, and I won't ask. I expect you'll tell me when and if you feel ready to." she said, lifting her head back up and looking at Chris. "Long story short, I'm hoping to try and find surviving family, but I'm almost out of hope. My best friend was killed by those assholes with the truck, and now we're here. We don't have to act like life is sunshine and rainbows, but we can at least talk a little?" she said, patting the space beside her. Staring at each other wasn't going to make for any sort of bonding. And they'd already shown during combat a natural affinity for fighting together. At least they could attempt to get to know each other better on some level. Chris sat down beside her though he was not sure what to say really. Her little joke made a small smile appear briefly. He had no living family or friends for that matter. Ed had been the last one up until her, and he really didn't feel like talking about Ed. He shivered as he touched the cold floor. He couldn't remember a time in the last several days when he could actually sit and think. Trouble was, he really didn't have many thoughts." Okay.sure. Talk about what?" He asked, not sure if he was supposed to spill the beans first or what. His thoughts while he sat there kept going back to the crates in the warehouse. What was in them? Could they even get inside them? Maybe there was a crowbar or something lying around? "This is nice, but I don't think there's enough space to sleep in here. Might want to find someplace bigger." He knew it sounded stupid, but it was his thought. He and Ed had pretty much been walking nonstop only taking light breaks to rest. Sleep had been quite difficult. Now was a different story. Here they were in a relatively safe enclosed space. How safe he didn't know, but he was willing to explore if she was. Right then though he was content to just sit and talk. There was a long silence then: "I'm sorry about your friends, too." Smiling a little, Mikaela turned her head to the side a bit while still looking down as she responded. "Thanks...." was all she could manage. How long had it been since she'd felt like she could have some form of a conversation with someone? It felt like it'd been far too long, and now that she had an opportunity to do so she wasn't sure what to say. Chris seemed to feel the same way. "Well.....seeing as we're both out of practice on account of being in a zombie apocalypse we'll start easy. What's your favorite color?" she said, now looking at him." I've always been fond of black and purple myself." she said, leaning against the wall and giving him time to speak. Now that she had a chance to study his features a bit, she realized he was a good-looking guy. Strong features, in great shape, and quite capable in combat. She stopped herself. They couldn't get too close. Friendship was one thing, getting involved beyond that could be problematic." I even had a few nice gothic dresses I liked to wear from time to time. Wish I still had them, but I wouldn't exactly have anywhere to wear them now..." she said with a sad laugh. He nodded listening to her speak. He didn't know what gothic was, but she made it sound pretty. Well, he imagined it would be if they weren't stuck in this insane world. "I like green. I know it's odd, but I like it." He said, standing. The floor had made his bottom numb and his legs feel tingly. He stretched his arms up then started to undo the straps of his vest. It was handy out there in combat, and it protected him but right now it was chaffing him. Quietly, he slid it off and let the vest drop to the floor. He felt a bit awkward since he was used to just being quiet. He had no idea what would be interesting to her." I like your name. It's very pretty," He said. It came out more as a statement than as a pickup line or anything else. He frowned as he found his shirt was quite soaked underneath despite his efforts to stay dry. He sighed and tugged it off revealing a scarred body underneath. Furthermore, he discarded the skirt and stepped across he room to get the bag of supplies. His stomach rumbled making him blush embarrassingly. On his left arm was the tattoo of a wolf's head. He wondered if there was anything to eat in the bag. If not, he thought he might find something and open one of those crates. He went quiet again as he was used to. He reached in the bag and pulled out a pair of protein bars. Furthermore, he stepped over to where Mikaela sat and quietly offered her one. "Not odd at all, actually. Green can represent a lot of things, one of them being life. When you see the color green it's fresh...beautiful...it's just something you can't look away from." she said with a small smile and watched him as he stood. The cold ground beneath them was refreshing to her aching body but watching Chris stand and strip off his vest, then his shirt reminded her not to get too comfy. She'd get up to stretch soon enough herself as she couldn't help studying his rugged form. He to bore the scars of a life of fighting, she could see the physical, but the mental ones were often worse. "Thanks....family name..." she said, her voice becoming a bit saddened as she looked away. As he rummaged around for food in the bag she sat there trying to recall her old life before the dead rose to feast upon the living. It was like another world at this point...did she have a boyfriend then? No.no she was about to ask someone and things went to hell in a hand basket. She could remember that night clearly as she got a panicked call from her little sister......her mom had been sick and then there was the scream upstairs from her father.... Mikaela shook her head and let out a whimper without even realizing it." Fuck....." she breathed, hanging her head between her knees. She hadn't had a rush of thoughts like this in a long time. Probably because she hadn't had a chance to slow down and remember. "I hate that...." she looked up as she took the offered bar. "Random memories....they're a bitch aren't they?" she said, tearing the wrapper off and taking a huge bite. Chris just nodded quietly, concentrating on eating. The protein bar tasted like hard cardboard, but his stomach didn't complain. He chased the few bites down with a few sips of water from a bottle of water. He left quite a bit left in it for her. Furthermore, he looked around the room silently, trying to find something to do. Furthermore, he didn't mind talking, but he was not sure what to say. His mind kept wandering to the crates outside. What was in them? Searching the office space, he looked around the small desk that inhabited the far corner. All he found was a small swivel chair and a laptop which by now was useless but nothing to help him with those crates." I'm going to go have a look around. You can stay here if you want." He walked toward the door, taking with him a flashlight and one of his machetes. He didn't wait as his curiosity was too much and headed out into the larger room. Shining a light to either side, he saw crates as far as he could see. Slowly, he turned right and began to look for something to open one. The bar didn't taste particularly pleasant, but it filled the empty place in her belly. She took a fairly large swig of water to wash it down, glad he'd left a little extra for her. She'd repay the favor. For a bit there was more slightly awkward silence. It seemed they were both very much out of practice when it came down to regular conversation. Who could blame them? In a world like this, pleasantries had gone by the wayside in favor of quick, simple conversations at best."Nighttime is always the worst time to do that. I'll come along with you." she said, surprised they'd managed the brief respite they'd had. Getting up with a stretch she moved with him and had her weapon ready just in case. Which was a constant in this world now. Chris was glad to have Mikaela to watch his back. The darkness seemed to press in from all sides and anything could jump out at him at any time. His flashlight searched carefully as he went by row of crates. He heard a jangling noise behind him and quickly turned his light around. He found only more crates and Mikaela holding her weapon behind him. Furthermore, he scanned around and looked to the ground. His eyes went wide as he saw her foot had kicked a metal crowbar. "Well, look what you found." Chris went over and picked it up. Just what he needed. Perhaps Mikaela was his good luck charm, he thought. He flashed her a smile then used the crowbar to start prying open the nearest crate. The side burst from it and out tumbled several jars of peanuts. He looked to Mikaekathen the peanuts. "Well it's food." He said before trying another crate. Splitting up never seemed to work out in the movies, and even more so in real life. She watched his flashlight as it moved about and kept her eyes peeled for any strange movements or sounds. So far, so good as they made their way through the stacks of crates. Jumping back after having kicked a crate, not even realizing she'd been zoning, she also smiled when she saw the peanuts." Dry roasted.....nice." she said, moving over to grab a jar and make sure it wasn't past the expiration date. Fortunately, they weren't. Chris smiled at her, and she felt herself smile back. It felt good to smile. Chris went on to another nearby crate and began opening it. The wood groaned in protest but eventually gave way. There was no food in this one, but instead lots of small metal boxes fell out, clanging on the hard floor. Little red crosses were on the tops and sides of the boxes. Chris knelt down to look at one. Carefully opening it, he could see first aid supplies inside. Once he looked it over, he offered the one he had opened to Mikaela before going onto the next crate. Thunder rolled above them and lightning flashed through casement windows filling the large darkened area with a sinister glow. Chris worked on prying open the top of another crate. OS far things had been alright. He hoped their luck would hold out. "We made a good call coming in here." Mikaela said as she turned and saw the first aid kits falling out. "Would be nice if we could take all of those right?" she said with a small chuckle. Perhaps they could if they could secure them in the vehicle outside. The issue was more taking it and then being robbed at gun point and losing valuable supplies all over again. Throwing a few peanuts in her mouth she had to smile. It was nice to enjoy something that didn't taste god-awful or stale. Looking over at Chris she watched as he continued to investigate the supplies. They seemed to have a natural chemistry when it came to fighting, able to follow each other's lead and defend and attack based on the movements of the other. Hard to come by, and she would know from experience." Who taught you how to fight?" she said, crunching on a few more peanuts as she awaited his response. Chris nodded. It was a good idea. But sadly they couldn't fit enough of them in enough bags. Besides, they couldn't live off med kits. He went to the next closest crate and jammed the flat end of the crowbar under the edge of the top side. Soft peals of thunder rolled overhead. The storm seemed to be losing steam. At least for now. The crate he was working on was taller than him, and he had to go at it at an odd angle. He had to wonder why all this stuff was kept. Maybe it was just stuff left behind? He thought about her question as he wrenched on the crowbar, his arm muscles heaving and bulging bit from the strain. The top sudden came loose with a loud crack then the left side came off too and clattered loudly to the cement floor. He stood still waiting for her to shine a light on what was inside." There was a guy named Newbie. I don't think that was his real name, but he really liked his illegal substances. He lost his right arm to a zombie bite. Had to hack it off. But the guy knew how to use swords and martial arts. Said it calmed the mind or something." He stopped a moment to look in the crate. "He taught a few of us how to use a blade a bit better than just swinging it if you know what I mean." He paused again, unused to speaking so much. When he peered inside he saw a bunch of black and dark-colored leather. He blinked as he reached up and touched corset and then another outfit meant obviously for females. "That's weird. Who would wear those?" He said, trying to hide the fact he was staring at them intently especially the long leather gloves. Shook his head and went to the next crate." Anyways, long story short, Newbie got smashed by a brick wall one day. A whole mess of those undead pushed on it. He thought he was smart hiding behind it, and it caved in." He shook his head and looked around. He wondered just how many more he should open. "What do you think about all this stuff?" he asked, hoping to hear her talk for a change. Moving over after the crash of the lid, she listened as he told his story. She was also a bit surprised as she saw the kinky attire within. "Sounds like a walking party." Mikaela said with a slight chuckle, her voice suggesting she was impressed that Newbie had the balls to chop off his arm and that it'd managed to keep him from getting infected. She felt her cheeks grow a bit warm as she noticed Chris looking at the gloves with interest for a moment before he cleared his mind and moved along. That sucked, surviving a zombie bite only to get crushed. Still, if he hadn't taught Chris and the others how to fight there would be fewer survivors than there are. It was the little things. Looking back into the crate of erotic clothing she blushed. "Well, to answer the first question probably people looking for a hot time. And to the second, I've never tried wearing a corset, but they look sexy in pictures. Why....want me to try those and the gloves on?" she said with a joking voice, looking at his expression to see what he was thinking. (What the gloves and corset look like)Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Click to Show/Hide(didn't know about a party, but they certainly had more people back then. Now though it seemed it was just the two of them. Which wasn't bad he just had thought by now there would be more people around. Lightning flashed and filled the room with a few seconds of light. Chris moved over to another crate. "You can if you want to. I don't want to pressure you or anything. I mean. Do you like that stuff?" he asked as he worked on the side of a smaller crate. This one was more a box than anything. He groaned as he flexed his muscles trying to get the side panel to pop off. When it gave it popped with a loud CRACK! He set the crowbar down and looked inside. Suddenly he started laughing. He lifted out of the crate a small box. "Wow, end of the world as we know it and somebody decided to store these?" If Mikaela shined a light on it, she would see it was a box of Twinkies. "Looks like we hit the jackpot!" She couldn't help but laugh. It was an infectious sort of laugh, as she smiled at Chris a moment before shaking her head. "The world has ended, and you're excited about Twinkies? Ah, well.... I can't say it's a bad thing. If we get really lucky there might be a deep fryer, and we can make fried Twinkies like they used to have at carnivals and fair." She sat back down after taking the corset and gloves with her just to look at them. They seemed like they might fit, but it would be a little snug. It was worth trying it on later, even if only to have something besides grungy t-shirts and jeans." Save me a pack of those, but I'll stick to the dry roasted nuts for now." she said, while wanting to indulge in the sweets knowing the nuts would be better off. Still...she'd be happy to enjoy a treat. She watched Chris for a while and snacked a bit as she wondered what else they could talk about or do. Chris was not sure about deep-fried Twinkies, but it was an idea. He went over to another crate and started to open it. "This will be the last one tonight." He was panting and sweat glistened on his skin. Opening these boxes had been work for sure. He wondered what would be in this box. It seemed like a collection of random things. "You can open more if you want, but this is enough for me." The top of the crate cracked open a bit as the crowbar bit into the lid. Chris was halfway to getting it open when he heard footsteps. He tensed, dropped the crowbar, and pulled out his machete. "Did you hear that?" He asked Mikaela. He went deathly still trying to see if he heard it again. "Nah, I think we've done enough looting for now. I'm just happy to have a moment to sit." she said, but as soon as he paused she also attuned her senses to their surroundings once more. Chris had heard the footsteps, but she couldn't hear anything now. She'd been too focused on enjoying a rare moment of enjoyable conversation. Now, she was focused as her hand went to the hilt of her sword. She didn't speak, but shook her head to him to indicate she hadn't heard anything. Not yet. She waited to see what he had in mind, listening for any sounds. So far, it was quiet. Whatever it was known it'd been heard and was trying to stay still. After a few moments, she swore she heard soft breathing behind some boxes in a nearby corner. Pointing, she turned and began stalking towards the boxes like a panther. Chris watched, weapon drawn. Just when they were getting to know one another something had to interrupt them. He knew he shouldn't get complacent, but it felt good to at least had some moment of peace when they weren't running or killing for their lives. He mentally scolded himself for not doing a more thorough check of the rest of the building before he started opening crates, but it could not be helped now. Everything went still and silent. It almost felt like a movie watching her creep closer and closer to around the corner of one of the crates. His heart leapt into his throat, nervously awaiting the worst. He hoped the sounds he heard were just a figment of his imagination, but the feeling in his gut told them they were not. Just as he saw her head disappear around the corner of a larger crate, he saw her fall backwards. Something had leaped out of the shadows and was attacking her! Chris ran over, machete held high and ready to swing down. He could only see flashes of white and black as he went over to her. He was seeing visions of her being ripped apart and eaten by whatever had brought her down. Furthermore, he saw her squirm as the thing's head(he thought it was the head) started moving over her face. Furthermore, he expected their to be screams followed by blood and gore, but instead he head a bark then laughter. Why was she laughing? "Mikaela!" he shouted, fearful he was about to lose her before he had even the chance to know her. Lightning flashed and filled the room with mere moments of light. In those moments, he saw not a monster but a dog standing over Mikaela. It's tail was wagging as it was licking her. The dog barked at him when it looked up from hearing him running over. His hand holding the machete lowered slowly." What's that doing in here?" he asked, still in shock. "Are you okay, Mikaela?" Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(

The Dying Times(Wolfgangblackthorne and DarkRose15)|rating:4.0

A Matter Of Timing (Dark Heresy) - IC

The distant star of Brahe mus lazily hid itself behind Serial as the Bringer Of Light at last found its orbital position, shutting down its engines in preparation for the work ahead. The last few days aboard had been surreal, even for experienced modifiers, and the sights of men, women and children impatiently waiting to find out the current date and time punctuated a voyage which, to those aboard the Bringer Of Light, had been entirely uneventful. There had been no tempestuous storms, no mighty beasts thrashing against the Cellar Field, and certainly no endless drifting amongst eddies and squalls of the Empyrean. Nonetheless, the ship and crew had a job to do, the delivery of exotic materials to the planet below, and work crews hurried themselves, trying to somehow claw back some of the lost months, as if such a thing were even possible. Even before stable orbit had been achieved, the first two cargo loaders had descended to the planet to offload before their return voyage, while the second pair of loaders were already nearly ready to depart. As the final pallets and crates were locked into the hold, you crossed the metallic deck, taking your places in the somewhat cramped passenger compartment, eager to be rid of a ship that would no doubt be seen as illumined until such time as the Mechanicum could twice-bless her Cellar Fields and Warp Engines. The journey down too, was eerily uneventful, the pilot taking his due time and care as he steered the craft through the atmosphere before descending onto the landing bay. Amongst the hiss of released gases and the clanks of unloading equipment, you exited the craft into the early morning mists, the sun you’d seen disappear some 30 minutes ago gently rising above the trade port. Servitors and workers alike worked at breakneck speeds, apparently eager to be rid of any association with the cursed craft above as soon as possible. Not being cargo, however, you weren’t afforded the luxury of being moved around by others, and after a minute or so of waiting at the bottom of the loading ramp, a port authority adept makes her way over to you, her smart black robes at odds with the anonymous blue coveralls of the workers toiling around you. A warm smile crosses her face as she looks up from a data slate, and she begins addressing you over the surrounding noise.“Greetings and welcome to Serial. I’m Meghann Finlay, sub-overseer of landing bay 3. I must confess, I was not expecting passengers until the 7th transport, however, given circumstances, I can understand wanting to be off that ship as soon as possible. Would you mind following me to the registration office? We’ve got a few details to clear up, and it’s significantly easier and safer to do it away from the work here.” She stands, her arms encouraging you to walk towards a large nearby building, its concrete walls punctuated with high visibility markers to aid landing craft. The smile remains on her face as she addresses you again.“Can I arrange any drinks for you over there? The process shouldn’t take too long, but I always find it goes smoother with a nice hot recap.” Scarlet looks the woman up and down, and answers in a half-throaty, half-mechanical voice, A drink would be pleasant. "Thank you for the offer, little lamb. I am Father D'Kay and I will accept a cup of recap, black as the soul of an unholy man. Ha!" Father D'Kay chuckles as he walks on ahead to the building Meghann indicated. Mira looked at her surroundings with interest, especially the rapid effort to unload the ship. Tucking her hands and MID wires into the sleeves of her loose-fitting red and brown robes, she nodded to the clerk. She didn't really need a recap, but it was better to not be memorable... especially since it seems that these time-bending events seemed to follow her like an unwanted pet." A recap... would be fine." The mechanical timbre of her voice was somewhat mild, compared to the average Initiate of the Mechanics cult. The full respirator unit wasn't salvageable from the late Lagos Uteri, so she'd had to make do with simple lung implants instead of the full facemask. "Excellent, I'll get those ready for you." Meghann smiled, quickly tapping at her data slate before looking up again. "If I may ask a personal question, what was it like? Your trip, I mean. Truly, the Emperor has smiled upon you to return you to us, but I've never left orbit of this world, let alone voyaged in the Warp itself. I can only go on the descriptions of visitors, and none have arrived after experiencing what you have and still been able to tell a tale."[IOC]Anyone is free to make a Routine (+20) Fellowship test or Simple (+40) Scrutiny test to attempt to determine the reasoning for this line of questioning. Any passes may look at the spoiler below.[/IOC]Spoiler: Passed Routine Fellowship OR Simple Scrutiny test Hide Her questioning seems to stem from genuine curiosity, mixed with an element of wanderlust and a desire to start a conversation during the short walk. Certainly, you detect no malice or hidden intent, nor any overt or subvert pressure for details beyond those you choose to divulge. Spoiler: Fellowship Test Hide So I roll under my Fellowship of 45+40 for simple, so I need 85 or less, right? (1d100)[10] It was uneventful-luckily for us, Scarlet says. There have been times it was not so untroubled, and those times are... Better left unmentioned. I regret to inform you that traveling the galaxy is, at the best of times, quite boring-and when it becomes exciting, things have gone very wrong indeed. When she emerged from the ship into the natural light of the sun, Jess stared at the horizon, something she hadn't seen it far to long. As they walk with Meghann, Jess doesn't pay much attention to the conversation, she simply looks around happy to be off the giant metal deathtrap that the Imperium insists on calling a ship. Spoiler: IOC Hide This is basically a 'Pass' post. Mira raised an eyebrow at the question. "What tale is there to tell? Only from an observer's perspective was this voyage any different from countless others." Spoiler Hide Few+20, TN 45 (1d100)[2] Ramona groaned auditable at the Father's rather.... coarse remark like that. It was edging on blasphemy for one, and secondly it was just plain..... Burgh. At the question of what to drink, all Ramona did was stare back at the possibly-too-chipper Meghann Finlay. "Just water for me." At the following question of what warp travel was like, all Ramona could and would do was to say: "Whatever everyone else tells you.... it's not something you can simply explain. From my experience Warp Travel is individually.... unique. So go insane temporarily, others handle it without trouble. I personally hate it. It feels like you're... not where you know you are. As if displaced outside your own body. So Trust this: Pray you'll never have to travel through the Empyrean Sea." She said this while looking deeply into Meghann's eyes, Her own two mismatch-colored eyes (one Violet, the other deep emerald green) clearly intent on making damn well sure that this Meghann knew that Ramona herself was being quite serious and not going to package it all up with nice wrapping paper and indirect misunderstandings. Spoiler: Simple Scrutiny Test Hide Scrutiny Test Fellowship 37 +20 (difficulty) +0 (Trained Skill) Total = 57 (1d100)[31] Result: 3 Degrees of Success All along, a bulky figure at the rear of the group has been striding through the star port's press with a Catherine grace. The ragged edges of the battered old cloak brush flap in the slight breeze. The figure seems overlarge somehow. A vile degenerate mutant? Certainly not. Just another traveler, perhaps a former Imperial Guardsman, with laden bags and pockets and a jacket over the unmistakable form of a flak suit. All along, a mellifluous voice partly-hums, partly-whistles, partly-sings the rhythm of a song. Well-worn combat boots glide through the beat of a short psalm commonly sung alike by void wayfarers and missionaries journeying amongst feral or backwater worlds. "The vast void arterial Mysterious, eternal Legends walk and daemons roam Beyond black firmament's dome The All father's light blazes Daemons' fortresses razes"At the mention of drinks, the singing slows, and the bulky figure slinks up to the Meghann Finlay, emerald eyes beneath the shadow of the helm latching onto hers. Genevieve Verity gives her a little bow and a crooked grin as she says,"'Samuel Finlay, 'tis 'appreciated. No objection, yer honor to a decaff, an' I second the motion fer a bottled water. OFF-KOFF. If it ain't pushin' the hospitality too much, could I tap ye fer a few caffs, sugars an' creams to-go?""I's all correct, aye-aye..." The bounty huntress frowns and nods judiciously in agreement with her companions' answers, then claps an arm about the overseer's shoulder. While they walk, she reels off a series of seafarers' stories."OFF-KOFF. Funny story 'bout things goin' Warp. You happened know 'anybody loss got motion sickness? Take that, make it a hungered times worse, that's warp-sickness. Wot's worse'n that? TW OOM, art-grav goes Malay, de barf wot's all a-floaty SPLATS back in ye face! WA AAH HAH HAH HAH! Okay, here's Anusha one... Wot's the best? Rat burgers cooked by a feral, a river or a void? DuzzentMATTA! Yer HUNGRY! Ha-ha-ha! ...Off. Though, really. Void rat burgers, summat them's done artsy-like ta make up fer thinner fare. Rivers usually do 'em up quick an' greasy. Feral cooks, them values spice. Here's 'nut ha one. The Grand Army on Juno, eh! 'Sure ye've heard of 'em? Really friggin' colorful. Like, SHOO, WI' them fancy stuff. It don't take away from them bein' badasses as day Oprah wills, but is surprisin', them bein' so fabulous." She then smirks and shrugs, then says,"Where yer office at? Let's get them drinks'n forms, eh?" If 'tis tales o' the great beyond out of there yer lookin' for, I'd be glad to oblige. Genevieve flashes a smile and walks along with her hands deep in her jacket's pockets. We never know when we go to Day Oprah, so, every damn smile's forfeit. Spoiler Hide Scrutiny test, +40 (keying it off of Fellowship, as per "Alternate Characteristics", Core Book, page 99. TN 80 (1d100)[51] Father D'Kay looks over at Meghann,"They're all right, you know. The wise man stays on his knees praying for as much of the trip as possible. Goes for women too. Sadly, far too many loyal souls look out into the void and find doubt there. Doubt is a terrible thing. Poisons a soul. One must take care to guard one's faith with great fervor, my dear sub-overseer." Listening intently to the varying stories, her smile remaining but a small hint of disappointment appearing in her eyes at the lack of interesting tales, even if there were none to tell. She perked up slightly as Genevieve recounted some of her accounts, but it was clear that some maybe other modifiers had spun elaborate chronicles. The group continued out of the port area and into the concrete buildings, and through a winding mass of corridors. After a few minutes following the adept, you arrive in a smallish room, comfortable enough for your group but certainly not designed for many more. A series of lumen strips set into the ceiling bleach the walls a harsh white, while the center of the room is dominated by a large round table, the center of which holds a Pict-capt on a mechanical arm. Simple metal chairs surround the table, and a pair of guards, seemingly unarmed, stand beside both the door you entered through and the door on the opposite side of the room." I'm sorry to interrupt our chat, but if you'd like to take a seat, we can begin." Meghann notes, as she quickly taps on her data slate. A pair of workers enter, delivering your ordered drinks, as the sub-overseer continues." This is nothing to worry about, we just need to issue you an identical and give you a quick briefing on local culture. It's also an opportunity for you to ask any questions of us before you enter Serial proper." Meghann talks for about 10 minutes, covering nothing that wasn't included in the briefing notes you received before departing on this mission. As she speaks, the Pict-capt arm moves around, maneuvering itself to take a picture of your face, regardless of how much you may attempt to hide yourself. At the end of her talk, however, two points are covered that seem like they aren't part of her clearly pre-rehearsed lecture." There are a couple of additional points you'll need to be aware of. Firstly, we've been told that some of you have brought weapons with you. This isn't a problem, however, can we ask that you keep these both secured and accounted for at all times. Particularly in Wellspring, we've had some instances of personal weapons going missing and finding their way into the hands of small-time gangers and vagrants, which then poses problems for our Arbiter."" Secondly, and related to the first, some of these gangs have been spreading lies and misinformation. We don't quite know to what end, but given their nefarious intentions with everything else, we can only presume they don't have our best interests at heart. If you see any of their propaganda, ignore it, and if these gangers are brazen enough to approach you, do what you can to find a nearby Arbiter to assist you and deal with these vermin." On finishing the sentence, a servitor lumbers in, delivering fresh dent-cards to each of you, the name and details on it exactly as real or as fake as those arranged with your Inquisitor during mission planning. The servitor leaves with the same, presumably to return to some alcove awaiting its next assignment." Now, if you have any questions for me, I'll be happy to answer them as best I can. Otherwise, if you exit through the door through there, that will take you to the main transit link to Wellspring." Alaric had mostly been remaining quiet and at rest while they were escorted, listening to the rest of his team and their escort. While their host was talking about the propaganda he raised an eyebrow curiously, speaking up when they were asked for questions." Do you have any more information on this propaganda that they are spreading? Any records of what they have been trying to say, and to what kind of person they are trying to distribute it to? If these gangers approach us it may be in our best interest to learn what they are trying to subvert so we could better combat it." Catching onto their host's subtle disappointment, Genevieve looks skyward for a moment, but holds her tongue for now. Goddammit, you killjoys. I like stompin' criminals an' heretics as well as the next bugger, but where's the harm in just tale-telling', eh? Seeing the little office they eventually enter, she shrugs and settles in. Doesn't seem to be much different from star port customs on most other worlds she's been on. Just for good measure, she takes out her wallet, then flips out her bounty hunter's license. Quick enough to see and scan, but not quick enough for an in-depth read. She suppresses a wince and a sigh of relief. If the calculations are right... said license needs to be renewed sometime this year. Thank the Throne for that warp storm? "Thanked kindly."she smiles and says to the servers with their refreshments, slipping them a couple of 5-Throne notes. It's a bit generous, sure, but who knows if help might be needed from some humble lowly folk and these might repay their gratitude. Or whatever and that's a little bit more grub for their families. Or they might be rats who'll stalk us fer easy marks an' I'll bust their asses if it comes down to that. The bottle of water, she slips into a side pocket of her backpack. The packets of recap, creamer and sugar go into spare pouches on her vest. The ready cup, she snorts at, then inhales deeply of its aromatic steam. As the automated Pict-capt device comes for her, she composes herself, and tightens the purple headband beneath her flak helmet... and checks the chin straps, too. As the... not-quite-briefing... goes, she puts on a vaguely interested face, leaning forward and listening while slipping a little notebook out and jotting things down....for the ARBITER already. Which means this so-called-LITTLE problem's gotten big enough to get past MERELY Enforcer-level. Still keeping up the not entirely falsely confident face, she drawls,"Yeah, wot he said. Wot kinda crap're these scum sayin'? Might be worth a LAUGH fore they meet some good ol' Imperial justice, eh?" Genevieve quirks a smile, leans back in her seat and snaps her fingers." Ohhh, hey. Do... you got any brochures an' newspapers? Wot hotels, motels, boardin' houses, places-to-stay-at do ya recommend? What're the happening's, the places ta visit? Any nice monuments on proud ol' Serial? Museums, pubs, TEVA. Up hive, down hive, don't Matt'." She shrugs and grins as she says,"What? Is FUN ta read, NICE ta visit places. Oh, an' hey. Ya seen my, OFF, profession... ... Which're the Enforcer stations or Arbiter precincts wot're closest to them hotspots? Me an' mine could offer a bang or two. Help in houndin' some warrants, eh?" Yeah, that's it. Keep yer eyes on me, not on the smarter, talkier, less expendable members of the team. HEH HEH. Yeah, match right. Just a bunch of lowlifes but high-rolling' mercy an' bounty hunters lookin' fer a bit o' spice an' the next damn payoff. Definitely no dogs of the Inquisition here, no, ma'am. Sipping at her decaff, she idly asks,"Nice stuff. Wot brand is this?" She again leans forward and smiles crookedly at Meghann, then asks,"Pardon me askin'... When do ya get off work, Samuel Finlay?" Meghann deals with each question in turn, her experience in fielding some of the more exotic demands of other arrivals kicking in and letting her answer effortlessly Originally Posted by Austin Do you have any more information on this propaganda that they are spreading? Any records of what they have been trying to say, and to what kind of person they are trying to distribute it to? "Something about the planet falling from the Emperor's light, if such a thing were possible. Between some minor priests saying His light was fading, and the long overdue arrival of many ships, including yours, a few less faithful individuals took it upon themselves to cause trouble. Needless to say, your arrival should quieten them down. The medium is mainly poorly daubed wall paintings and graffiti, as well piles of leaflets being left in mass transit hubs." Originally Posted by Austin "If these gangers approach us it may be in our best interest to learn what they are trying to subvert so we could better combat it." "These people are dangerous, and they seek to shake our faith in Him on Terra. I thank you for any offer of assistance that may have been implied, but as visitors to this world, I can only advise you steer clear of them, our Arbiter have the issue under control, and will soon eradicate the problem." Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky Do... you got any brochures an' newspapers? "Serial has many info slates of excellent quality, however my recommendation would be theVellsprin Viewer, which covers all the important updates from the day. It's also freely available, and has been awarded Best Informational Source 19 years in a row. You can't argue with a record like that!" Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky Wot hotels, motels, boardin' houses, places-to-stay-at do ya recommend? "You'll want the Lookout district, an area of Wellspring that stretches all the way around the edge. Inner Lookout has an amazing view of Administration Island, itself a former palace, while Outer Lookout allows you to look about the world at large. Depending on your budget, The South Western quadrant of Lookout is the most luxurious, while the Eastern quadrant offers the most reasonable rates. As per individual recommendations, I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough with the area to give a concrete offer, but many of our more illustrious guests stay latchkey's Real min the Inner Lookout, I'm told the views it offers of sunrise over the golden palace are truly amazing." Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky What're the happening's, the places ta visit? Any nice monuments on proud ol' Serial? Museums, pubs, TEVA. Up hive, down hive, don't Matt'. "We don't have a huge history, I'm afraid, but in terms of entertainment, the mid-level combat arenas offer an outstanding night out, where you can enjoy an excellent meal followed by an evening of watching some truly amazing combat action from some of the finest fighters on the planet. Aside from that, the yearly graduation parade will be taking place in a few weeks, celebrating our latest contributions to His Imperial Guard." Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky Which're the Enforcer stations or Arbiter precincts wot're closest to them hotspots? Me an' mine could offer a bang or two. Help in houndin' some warrants, eh? "Again, as visitors, I certainly couldn't ask you to work on our problems, but if you do want to introduce yourselves to the Arbiter, Tango-Echo-Bravo station is probably your best bet. They aren't the frontline post, but they do oversee all Arbiter operations in the area, as well as co-ordinating Enforcer operations as well. I'm sure they'd be able to point you in the direction of some outstanding bounties, if you were so inclined." Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky Nice stuff. Wot brand is this? "It's a local blend, farmed from the southern provinces on Ar than, Serial's northern continent and source of all of our foodstuffs. We are fortunate enough to be self-sufficient in terms of provisions, I've certainly heard stories of mass starvation when food ships are delayed by a couple of weeks, and I can't say that sounds nice." Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky Pardon me askin'... When do ya get off work, Samuel Finlay? "I genuinely have no idea. Given the quantity of cargo to move, and the desire of the Bringer of Light to leave at the earliest opportunity, I have a lot of work on my proverbial plate! It wouldn't surprise me if I'm still here at sunrise tomorrow morning, given the amount of planning, co-ordination and distribution to do." Mira raised a hand, trying to get a word in edgewise. "Uh, just one thing. I didn't get a look at the port on the way in. What's the common forms of transport, here? And are any available for rent or purchase for off-roaders?" Originally Posted by jolinaxas "Uh, just one thing. I didn't get a look at the port on the way in. What's the common forms of transport, here? And are any available for rent or purchase for off-roaders?" "Generally, forge laborers and other menial workers will take the rail system to their respective places of employment. Everyone else is covered by the surface road network. A variety of Autocarriages, both self-driven and servitor operated, are available throughout the outer and mid-hives. I'm afraid you'll have to take the rail back to Wellspring, there simply aren't road links to and from the port. Currently, there'll be a lot of workers heading in for second shift, but the trains heading back will be mostly empty. Anyway, if there are no further questions, I do have some other matters to attend to, as I've alluded to, I have a fairly hectic day today. If you'd like to head out the door here, it leads down the corridor and to the planet at large. From there, the rail network can take you to Wellspring, as well as some of the forges, although if you don't have an appointment with the respective Lagos, I can't recommend heading that way. If you head for Wellspring, once you arrive, the internal rail network will take you wherever you need to go. Other than that, if you need any more help, I'll give you the comm-address to my office, if I'm not in my junior adept Venerate will be able to help you. I hope this process hasn't been too difficult, and I also hope to enjoy your stay on Serial." Meghann hands you each a small card with an address on it, presumably one that works with the local interplanetary communication system, then gestures towards the exit. You head down the corridor, exiting the facility and almost immediately into a multi-level rail depot. Covered rails from seemingly every angle all congregate at the facility, while automated trains arrive and depart both under your feet and above your heads. People crowd the platforms, without fail each one knowing exactly where they are going. Amongst the masses, however, you quickly spot a knot of people. While the vast majority are heading for the doors and lifts that lead from the platform, around 30 or so people are over near one of the walls, huddled around in hushed conversation. Whatever they're up to, they are clearly more concerned with their talk than they are with being spotted. Father D'Kay pondered the things his fellows had pulled from the unsuspecting young lady with pleasure." These are some find men and women I am blessed to be working with!" The sight of the menial masses moving so fluidly in concert with each other is beautiful to Father D'Kay. It's a truly wondrous thing!... That groups off to the side. That is of interest. Mira peered at the card, unsure of what to do with it. When they reached the depot, she waved a hand at the very noticeable gathering along the wall." You think those are the... agitators our guide mentioned?" Previously... Latest Imperial Guard graduation! W'ELP. Get a fix on that... an' we've got ourselves a deadline! Hmm. Most worlds're eager or pious enough to name their local great cathedrals or shrines an' suchlike if asked about monuments an' stuff... ...does THAT have something to do with the thingamajig, the 'Emperor's light fading from Serial'? Having finished scratching away at her little notebook, Genevieve flipped it closed and tucked it back into her pocket. She coughed, smiled crookedly at Meghann and, while flipping the calling card over and under her fingers, asked,"If my own schedule's free by tomorrow morning, would ya be objectin' if I take ya out for breakfast?" Presently..." You gormless idiots." Genevieve drawls and slaps at her helm and groans." The warp is you all standing around for?""EXCEPT fer ye!"she says, clapping an arm about Mira's shoulders." Good spottin'!" Whispering harshly, she says,"Padre, make like a padre an' preach to 'em. We see how they react to that. Mira, try an' see if you can jack us a ride around here for a quick getaway if need be. If not, an' all 'round here are just trains... Stan' by an' provide fire support. Link off any heavies who show 'em selves. If ya see any buggers who look like VIPs... take 'em in the leg. Ramona, cover the Padre. The rest of you, spot wot you all can spot... But watch out for each other, yeah? We're just lookin' an' listenin' for now. Engage only if attacked first. Me, I'm going to get us a bit more info. Whoever wants ta watch my back, is appreciated." Why the bleeding warp am =I= doing the whip-cracking' here? She strides through the press of people, a little slouched yet swaggering, letting her bulk and her glare clear the way. She whistles as she goes, seeming like just another commuter, or just another visitor, definitely not interested in whoever these other people might be......yet slowly but surely making her way towards the nearest newspaper (or info slate?) vendor(s) that's closest to the suspect throng. As she goes, she lets her eyes wander her surroundings, looking for any graffiti or pamphlets like had been mentioned. Hmph. If that's the most they're doing, they're rather poor as heretics or rebels, if y'ask me. TCH! She looks for theVellsprin Viewer but also picks up any tabloids that might be around. If there are tourist guides or brochures or maps--- whether of the city, or the continent or the planet--- she snaps those up as well. Or maps of the railways, for that matter. If there are any food stalls nearby, she ambles along towards those, putting on a large order for anything local that's hopefully better than corpse starch rations or rat burgers. Along the way, she chats up the locals, smiling disarmingly, and popping an extra Throne to whatever her pay at the vendors' stalls might be." G'morn, Hall-hallo. Pleasant weather, eh? How's life?" "Look this, huh. You got any recommendations amongst these periodicals?" "How are you doin'? Ooh, these look good. ... Hmm! Compliments to the chef!" "Ha-ha-ha, I'm kinda from out of town. Forgive me this little vice... Wot's the gossips 'round here? Ha-ha?" Spoiler Hide Get to the vendors closest to the "huddled not of people talking by the wall". Get newspapers. Both broadsheets and tabloids. Get food and drink. Chat around, ask people how they're doing*, get any word-of-mouth news about current events and gossips. *People ARE usually open to open up about themselves if asked generally. They usually become suspicious once you begin actively probing with specific questions. Alaric had stayed with the group, keeping an eye out for anything out of the norm. When some of the others took notice of the group by the wall he decided it was time for his own investigation. If these were some of the agitators that they were warned about, they could provide some useful intelligence. But gathering information from them was best left to others, he did what he could to see if any of them were touched by the Warp. Spoiler: Roll Hide (1d100)[25] Alaric is just trying to see if anything is out of the norm, without modifiers the TN is 50. Originally Posted by Miraqariftsky "If my own schedule's free by tomorrow morning, would ya be objectin' if I take ya out for breakfast?" Returning the smile, Meghann politely notes "I'll have a better idea of my workload in a few hours, if you contact my office at the end of the day, I should be able to make some time for you, although I can't make any guarantees of tomorrow I'm afraid."--All--As you formulate a plan and go about implementing it, the group of people continues to chat, almost blissfully unaware of what is happening. Every so often, one or two people will disengage from the group and blend into the mass of people, lost to all but the most dedicated of attempts to locate them.[IOC]Anyone can make a Hard (-20) Awareness test to keep track of a single person as they leave the group[/IOC]Spoiler: Passed Awareness test Hide The individual quickly integrates back with the crowd, at home pulling along with the current of people. They quickly disappear through one of the doors into the spaceport, getting past port security with no trouble. Spoiler: Passed with 2+ Degrees Of Success Hide Your keen senses reveal to you that the individual is walking whilst trying to conceal something under their robes or coveralls, and doing a fairly good job of it. Whatever is concealed is quite thin and light, requiring very little effort to stop it dislodging itself and falling to the floor Spoiler: For those of you who stay back, or in some other way do not get closer to the group Hide The mass of people bewildering, conjuring up illusions of what a Hive World might feel like. Attempting to determine what is actually happening with the small group is, for all intents and purposes, impossible. Keeping track of your fellow investigators is easy, however, their off world clothes at stark contrast with the workers, each wearing coveralls of a single color. You can tell, however, that the whole train station is a well orchestrated place, and just as the crowds seem to be dying down, another train arrives to offload more people. Of note, very few people are moving from the trade port to the trains, although the trains themselves are not completely empty after they unload, presumably continuing onto another stop further down the line. Spoiler: For those of you who advance through the crowd on the group Hide Moving through the crowd is a difficult affair, and one that cannot be undertaken at any speed without causing an incident. Blending in is also impossible, your off world clothes standing out amongst the workers. Aside from a few grunts of annoyance, however, you make it to where you want to go. [IOC]You can make a Challenging (+0) Awareness test against the group of people[/IOC] Spoiler: Passed Awareness test Hide As you observe the group, you see small pamphlets, no bigger than a portable data-slate, being passed from some of the workers to others. The worker then puts the pamphlets under their coveralls, chatting all the while, presumably to try to keep attention on what they are saying. Workers irregularly leave the group, roughly every minute, but only after receiving some pamphlets Spoiler: Genevieve's conversations Hide The merchants are polite enough with you, but are generally terse in their replies. After a few such exchanges, you figure it's probably because the merchants are all very busy, and would rather serve their next customer rather than talk to you. Spoiler: Alaric's roll Hide The only unexpected warp signature in the area is a single, very low power spot somewhere in the trade port, from experience you can gather it's a similar level to an Osteopath not actively engaged in sending or receiving. The group of people ahead of you have no unusual goings-on. "You... want me to just steal an autocarriage?" Even as she held a hand to her forehead, her optical mechadendrite climbed out of the collar of her robes and started looking around. "We've been on-planet for maybe ten minutes! And she's gone..." Spoiler: IOC Hide Staying out of the crowd. Awareness, TN 30 (Per 40 + Optical Mechadendrite 10 - Difficulty 20) (1d100)[37] Spoiler: IOC Hide I'll make a IC post if this succeeds but if not, Jess (due to poor design on my part, that being a tribal character in a game that is usually based in a hive or other city), won't have much to add here. (1d100)[27] 15 TN (Per 35 + Awareness +0 + Mod -20 Partly dismayed that her fishing hasn't had any serious bites yet, Genevieve shrugs it off, knowing that she hadn't invested any serious bait yet. She slurps her way down a cup of some sweet local drink, then sucks on a hot, crackling spring roll, one hand laden with a bag of various steaming servings of street delicacies. All along, she tries to keep the suspect throng at the corner of her eyes. She tries to not get too close to them, knowing that her being an off-roader is all too apparent. Spoiler Hide Alright, chief. HAVE maps, brochures, and newspapers been acquired? Can't just blunder our way through and just grab a dank rusty place under a bridge when it comes time to sleep, right? Know the lay of the land of streets and railways and establishments and other places, too. Know the current events as they happened, both from high-society and low-society perspectives. Should hopefully be more info than what Meghann was able to yield. SURE to be a lot of irrelevant and possibly erroneous info, but with enough gleaning, the threads of truth WILL come out. Okay, okay! Awareness check, keyed to Few. TN 40 (1d100)[83] Alaric spoke exceptionally softly into his microbead so that others around him couldn't get any information from eaves dropping." If nothing else is to be gleamed from these people I've determined that at the very least none of them are active with the Warp. If any of them are Sykes in hiding they are doing a very good job at keeping their presence to a minimal." With a nod to Genevieve, Father D'Kay walks straight up to the crowd. Upon approaching the edge he slows and begins to push his way into the group." Excuse me. Beg pardon. Blessings of the God-Emperor of Mankind." Spoiler: IOC Hide Father D'Kay is hoping to catch on to what they are talking about before he begins his impromptu sermon. As Father D'Kay approaches, he just about hears the line "...help will come soon, and then we'll...." above the din and bustle of the crowd around. Once he begins entering the group, however, the conversation stops, as, to a (to)man, they all stare at him, almost bewildered that someone would just enter. A few on the outskirts quickly filter away, but the majority stay, completely silent as the Father finishes. After several moments, an oldish man, his skin clearly worn from decades of toil, steps forward. The surprise in his voice is laid clear for you, but nonetheless, he addresses you, his compatriots continue to stare at the unfolding situation." Greetings to you, and may His blessings be upon you also. Can...can we help you at all?" D'Kay looks to the man who stepped up,"I have heard, speaker, that you might be in need of assistance. As it is the duty of all of His faithful to provide support to His flock"he gestures to the people surrounding them, "I, Father D'Kay, should like to see if I might be of such support to you. May I ask what help you are in need of?" The man replies, more sure of himself, although still somewhat hesitant and occasionally pausing, replies"Thank you for your offer, Father. To explain, a friend of ours, a fellow dockworker, recently fell ill, and is unable to perform his duties. Normally, this isn't a problem, the dock hasn't been the busiest of places in recent months, but with the recent arrival, we've been working double time as it is, so we've had to cover his works until his recovery. We're organizing who needs to be where at what time to ensure the man has a job to come back to after he has healed." The others nod, adding small agreements and confirmations, but not adding any details to the story.[IOC]Father D'Kay, please make a Difficult (+0) Scrutiny check for me[/IOC]Spoiler: Passed Scrutiny test Hide While there are probably elements of the story that are true, the tale you've just been given is a lie [IOC]Also, anyone can make a Difficult (+0) Awareness test[/IOC]Spoiler: Passed Awareness test Hide Spoiler: Those who got close to the group Hide Out of the corner of your eye, you see an individual try to slip away from the group during the conversation and back into the crowd. Notably, he appears to have a bag or satchel with him, something very few other people at the train station have. Spoiler: Those who stayed back from the group Hide Shortly after seeing Father D'Kay wade straight into the middle of the group, you note an individual move away from it, heading against the movement of the crowd and allowing you to (somewhat) track the individuals' movement. It appears that, whoever it is, they are heading back towards one of the trains, and in the time you've been standing here, you've seen no-one head towards the trains. Spoiler: IOC Scrutiny Hide (1d100)[67] Scrutiny 37 Father D'Kay casts his gaze over the faces of the gathered throng,"It is a testament to your strength, honor and compassion that you should gather and respond to the ill fortune of a beloved comrade! Please! Give me his name that I might raise my own voice to join yours in my prayers to the loving God-Emperor!" Spoiler: Roll Hide (1d100)[61] Alaric had been keeping watch away from the group, talking to others wasn't exactly one of his practiced skills, but he had hoped that he would be able to catch any disturbances the others might miss. Ramona had joined Alaric a bit away from the others, merely just keeping an open eye on both newcomers, those that left, and look as inconspicuous as possible. "Thank you for your concern, Father. The man's name is Kale Mono, we would be very appreciative if you could ask for the Emperor's intervention in seeing him back to health. I'm sure Him on Holy Terra would be willing to answer the prayer of a member of His own Ecclesiarchy." The man bows respectfully at Father D'Kay, making an Aquila across his chest. The rest of the group quickly follow, before awkwardly waiting for something, anything, to happen. The lead man finally finishes, then continues talking." Without meaning to be disrespectful, Father D'Kay, we have many duties to attend to. Unless you have any quick questions for us, we'd very much like to get to work." Some of the people in the group depart towards the spaceport, leaving a handful with the man.[IOC]Unless Father D'Kay has questions, the remaining members of the group will quickly depart towards their duties. I leave it to you guys to determine where to go next. The train maps Genevieve picked up note that from here you can go to:* One of the other train stations serving the port (four stations in total serve the port, N, E, S and W. You are currently at S station)* Wellspring (any part of)* One of the munitions forges (the train reaches 7 major munitions forges, 3 major vehicular forges and 5 general forge complexes)You can also attempt to smuggle yourself into the train depot, or just walk into the world at large, although I'm not quite sure what you'd hope to achieve :)[/IOC] No further questions from Father D'Kay. But he makes a point of giving each person leaving a general benediction and personalized blessing as they part." They seem honest enough to me."he says when he returns to the cell,"Which is reason enough to remain suspicious. Thoughts on our next order of business? Perhaps finding a place to store our kit, a base of operations, as it were?" Spotting the individual who'd slipped out and away, Genevieve starts to tail him, but realizes the futility. She is too encumbered and conspicuous already, while knowing little of the lay of the land. The other person is a local, and travelling light... other than that satchel that they apparently received from their fellows. In lieu of getting to grips with that person, she tries memorizing their appearance, build, clothing, how their bearing is and any other distinguishing marks before this individual is totally lost into the crowd. As well as this person's heading and which train they boarded. Cursing under her breath, she snatches out her pad and writes whatever little she could before she inevitably forgets the details. Plus, looking back towards where Father D'Kay had kicked up his impromptu preaching, he still needs SOME close backup, in case things turn nasty......which they don't, fortunately. Still with her nose buried in data slates and food bags, she pretends to be just another off-roader, keeping an eye on the cleric from her peripherals, waiting until they are free of the press of the people. Finding the closest bit of a quiet spot, she closes on D'Kay and thrusts a certain plaster bag at him. Within are a bottle of still light beer (or just water for some others?) and a cardboard box and spork. Spoiler Hide Chief, feel free to veto the food if you think it's not grimdark enough. Ahem. Roll 1d8 for your takeout breakfast? Or choose here as you please? Large steamed meat buns? Large toasted meat buns? Fried rice, with mixed meat and vegetables? Fried rice, with mixed meat and vegetables? Fried noodles, with mixed meat and vegetables? Fried noodles, with mixed meat and vegetables? Steamed rice, with dumplings and chili-garlic sauce? Steamed rice, with minced grilled meat and flash-fry garlic? She shrugs and smirks at him as the bag is handed over,"What? We haven't had breakfast yet, right?" When the others of their cell arrive, she gives them their food and drink as well." Just decaff from earlier? Come on, don't starve yourselves!""OFF. Member, member not..."she says while leaning against a nearby dumpster."... One of 'em peeled off out of there, carrying a satchel. Bugger me, but it didn't look like medicines." Flapping the stack of slates, brochures and maps she'd snagged, she shows them to the others and says,"Read these, eh? Once ya get past the... usual stuff... last we heard, ain't nowhere that ain't a crusade an' needs more troops ta kick some heretic ass out of there. These say the wars're goin' WELL, well 'enough that Serial's contributions to the Guard are held back here as a... whatchamacallit... a reserve, to defend nearby worlds. Frank that. Ain't no worlds close 'enough ta Serial. Warp me, correct me if fen I'm mistaken, any of you smarter people?" She snorts and nods, then says,"Aye, agreed, we need ta get us a base, first. You all, what do ye say? What did you all get from earlier?" Mira remained back to keep an eye on the crowd, withdrawing her optical mechadendrite back into her robes as the Father came back from whatever discussion he'd had." Finding a more permanent place to lay down our heads would be nice. Unless we'd like to plan and practice in the streets." She accepted the food and drink readily, her composed and mechanical demeanor contrasting with the speed and enthusiasm with which she devoured the food. Warp me, correct me if fen I'm mistaken, any of you smarter people?" Mira eyed a local meat offering with suspicion as it sat on the end of her fork as she considered the question." That doesn't happen very often. It's not as though there's ever been a situation in which the Guard just 'has enough people' and lets a planet spare its tithe around for local PDFs. It's the Imperial Guard, for Throne's sake. The Galaxy is too large a battlefield to ever have a surplus. Is this the opinion of the populace at large? To convey such a message and have it believed... would involve the majority of the Adept stationed here." Spoiler: IOC Hide Awareness, TN 50(1d100)[80] "Finding a secure location to operate out of would be our best bet, yes. Somewhere without any prying eyes, which could be difficult to find on our own at the moment. This is not my particular area of expertise, so I'll leave finding a base up to those who are better suited for it." Ramona stopped everyone from eating for a second, and began to intone a (very) well-verse prayer to the Emperor, thanking Him for the food and drink that would allow them all to survive another day. Sure it's a habit from back when she was living on that quarantine world, but it's a habit that's stuck, and so far she's never had a run-in with bad/spoiled food or water. So He On Terra must be looking out for her. Although unless our Inquisitor had told everyone, none of you would of course know that she's a survivor from a Quarantine World. That's not something you talk about... like AT ALL. Once done with the small prayer, She indicates that everyone can eat now, setting in to eat her own food with gusto as well. "I have to agree with Alaric, the need for a functional Base of Operation, as well as solid covers for each of us would be a major asset in succeeding our mission. We also need to figure out where to have all of this, since if we all just keep travelling around in a mismatched group like this, we're going to grab the attention of others FAST.... and not in a good way." Ramona voiced out in a hushed tone in between food-munching. Agreed on a plan, you head towards the platform required to take you back to Wellspring, and after a minute or so, a train arrives, almost entirely empty. Hopping aboard, you take a brief look around the carriage. The majority of the space is empty, given over to standing room designed to carry a large quantity of people in an efficient, if spartan, fashion. Handles and straps provide people something to hang onto, while a slight breeze can be felt from what you can only presume to be the world's smallest air-cycling unit. However, a few seats do exist, and given the complete lack of people in your carriage, you see no reason not to occupy one. As with the surroundings, the seat is barely padded, the epitome of functional almost, but it serves to give you a rest for the ride into Wellspring. The journey itself is uneventful, most of the time spent with unused green fields fizzing past the small porthole windows. The occasional squat building flies past with the fields, surrounded by wires and cables branching off in all directions. After about half of greenery, the sight begins to turn gray, with more and more buildings filling the scene until all sight of nature disappears. The train begins to twist and climb, although you sense no loss of speed while it does this, artificial light from the carriage completely bleaching whatever sight might be just beyond the walls of the train. The twists and turns continue, taking about 10 minutes before a small klaxon in the corner plays a single loud note. Almost immediately after, the train begins to decelerate in a manic fashion, throwing anything (and anyone) unsecured towards the front of the carriage. The train shudders to a halt, and the doors open, subjecting you to a torrent of recycled air mixed with a faint hint of soot and pollutant. Exiting the train onto the platform, a large sign stands before you, Wellspring East Main, and as with the spaceport, a large collection of rails seem to run in every direction away, albeit each one smaller than the locomotive you arrived at. The train speeds away into the dark tunnels adjoining either end of the station, and you work your way through the maze of steps and lifts, before finally reaching the station you're interested in. The journey to your ultimate destination is just as uncomfortable, although significantly quicker, and you are far better prepared when the single klaxon notes the impending deceleration. For the third time today, you step off your transportation into the unknown, a single small sign noting the station as Bravo-Echo 4. The station is as good as deserted, a small group of people going about their Emperor-fearing business maintaining and repairing some of the station lighting. Several ramps lead away from the station itself, leading into the district at large.[IOC]I've delivered you to where you want to be, although I wasn't quite sure where that was, so I've been pretty generic, and I'll leave it to you to fill in the blanks. If you want to be in the high zones, go for it, and likewise for the middle class or lower areas. The only places the trains won't go are the dead zones and the admin buildings in the middle of the city, otherwise, go wild, and I'll build it along the way.[/IOC] Mira stretched herself as they got out of the uncomfortable train car, before taking in the sight of the station and trying to peer past the exits. "Unless we've got some particularly unreasonable sorts amongst us, I would think a place in the poorer section of the district would suffice? I've got to find us a cheap ride, as well..." Spoiler: IOC Hide How did you want to introduce the PQ car I Acquired? Ramona had fallen asleep the moment the train car had lurched into movement, having been used to FAR worse sleeping conditions, but awoke relatively refreshed as the final stop was reached and the whole team exited. She stretched her arms above her head a little bit, shrugging in response to Mira's remark." No problems from me with that... I've most likely slept worse places anyway." She replied, shuffling a bit with the rifle-holster on her back to the long-range precision rifle settled more comfortably and allowed easier access to the Combat Shotgun, patterned towards the use by the Imperium's Arbitrators (a remnant weapon now from her time when she was still an active Arbitrator, prior to the Inquisitorial requisitioning). As you explore the area, you notice the quality of the buildings quickly degrading, and even half an hour out from the station, the roads and structures begin to show signs of neglect. Several auto-carriages sit idle along the path you take, some looking at least operational, others rusted out husks. The buildings themselves look, for the most part, occupied, although one building in particular looks abandoned entirely. Its door hangs limp in front of the main hallway, while several chunks of wall have peeled away from the exterior facings. The interior doesn't appear to have fared much better, and a cursory glance from the outside indicates that at least one major fire has gutted much of the first floor. As a real estate investment or long term housing, it leaves a lot to be desired, but as a cost free and low-key base of operations, if you might suffice, with some slight security concerns.[IOC]That's how your car was arriving :) If you want to take one, go for it. Normally, it would probably need a roll, but since it's an acquisition, your keen eye finds one that needs only minimal repair, and you get it working again in a few minutes.[/IOC] Father D'Kay takes a close look at the defunct building." I think we can rest safely within these walls knowing that none would expect us to rest within them at all." He steps in to look for a way upstairs. Mira paused at each autocarriage, opening the hood to see if any of them could be salvaged. While the first few were rusted-out wrecks - the single exception being a much older model that had become a nest for some kind of rodentlike creature - it was apparent that this alleyway was some kind of dumping ground for some purpose besides the inability to petition a local tech-priest for repairs." You guys go on ahead. I think if I can find a tube of some kind on one of the other wrecks, I could enact a Rite of Ignition on this one, once its machine spirit is made whole." Dropping the bag that held her pistol and some spare parts on the ground, she got down on her back and shimmied herself under an old, black Hectic-pattern autocarriage. Spoiler: To those who investigated the autocarriages Hide Once you've found something resembling salvageable, you set to work, and it really doesn't take long to get things working, everything you need being stripped from one of the other carriages around you. Once it's complete, you store the vehicle suitably, striking a balance between accessibility and security. [IOC]If you wish, you can catch up with the team inside, and read their part as well[/IOC] Spoiler: To those who step inside Hide Walking into the building, it becomes quickly clear that it used to serve as an apartment block. Some flats have lost their doors, looking inside shows a pair of smallish rooms, one containing sleeping and washing arrangements, the other cooking and sitting arrangements. Some of the other flats still have doors, and although somewhat dilapidated, they could still serve as suitable housing. As you continue to explore, you hear some voices from the floor above you. You can't make out what is being said, but you highly doubt they've heard your exploring. Ramona had entered the building and looked it over with a blank expression. It was functional, it was out-of-the-way, AND it did not immediately scream: secret base to anyone else from the outside appearance alone. She was a bit bothered by the lack of proper insulation protocols when it was build... Most likely it was either a rebuild structure from old materials, or it was just very.... VERY old. Though it was still not as bad as it could have been. At least there was a roof, it was on solid ground and there was no real downsides to it all in all. Well, except for the ease of which noise and sound seemed to translate through the walls and ceiling. Mira whispered a prayer of supplication before enacting the rite of ignition. The engine came wildly to life, in spite of the ramshackle repairs. Maybe a little too wildly, she supposed. She'd need to put it through its paces first. Walking into the building after parking it a street away, she called out to no one in particular. "I've got one running. For now, at least. Nice place we have here..." Alaric looked around their new abode, turning his attention instantly to anything that seemed especially suspicious to him. Being of the more paranoid sort he looked for any signs of the Warp in the area. He doubted he would find anything that would point to a Parker or even worse a Daemon's presence, but if he and the rest of the group were going to rest here it would be better to be safe than sorry. Spoiler: Roll Hide (1d100)[65] Target of 50 unless any mods. You continue exploring, eventually finding a small cluster of apartments on your floor that seem to have all of their walls and doors intact. Inside is a mess of abandoned items and broken furnishings, but nothing stands out as dangerous or part of some elaborate trap. You highly doubt anyone actually lives here; no food is present in any cupboards, and the beds are simply mattresses either on the floor or on primitive folding beds. Setting up camp here would be easy, as would conceal your presence in this building. After a few minutes, the voices on the floor above die down, and you hear hurried movement, first towards one of the stairwells, then down towards the first floor. Shortly afterward, you hear raised voices outside the building. The apartment you are in has only a single boarded up window, and you do not know which direction it actually faces. Additionally, while you cannot make out what is being said, it's certainly at least one person getting very angry. Spoiler: Alaric's Psyinscience Hide You detect nothing out of the ordinary "I'll go check that out. Doesn't pay to keep a safe house anywhere... politically unstable." Mirya drew her pistol and, crouching low, slowly headed towards the exit. Spoiler: IOC Hide Stealth (TN 50) and Awareness (TN 40) checks if needed: STL: (1d100)[44] AWA: (1d100)[13]

A Matter Of Timing (Dark Heresy) - IC|rating:3.0

Yu-Gi-Oh! Academy Future (OOC)

Just your typical IOC thread; ask questions, talk about stuff, make suggestions, all that good stuff. Like, for the first order of business, we'll take a vote; do you want the house rule to be 4000 LP, or 8000 LP? Links to shinnies:Main IC thread (Red Dorms (Yellow Dorms (Blue Dorms (Not sure. 4000 would keep the duels quick though 8000 is my vote I vote for over nine thousaaaaand!!!! XD Wrong version of Yugo. ^_^ I just need to know what everyone prefers, because we can't have happy duels if no one knows what LP amount they want. I realize that makes the game a bit premature, but I was pressured, maybe, sorta...okay, I wanted it to get off the ground and I didn't think about everything. =3= I'd suggest 4k for the exam duels, since it's basically something that would need to be fast so they'd actually finish getting through all the first years. Make the other points be dependent on what the players agree on for that situation/what the classes call for? I think I can go with that plan, if anyone else is willing to do so. Also, anyone who wants to duel first, speak up now, because I plan on calling up the first two duelists either tonight or tomorrow afternoon. YURI VS JADEN - BATTLE! (#) 4000 will work for me too. I'm also willing to be one of the first to go. Alright, then, I guess for these starting duels, we'll have the house rule of 4000, then if we decide that it makes the duels too short, we'll go to the standard 8000. Also, Digit has mentioned that he would like Sol to go first, as well, so as soon as he gets back to confirm this, Games, it'll be you and him as the first round. Why do we need to take turns? As long as we properly tag the posts, shouldn't it be easy to have simultaneous duels, so people aren't waiting around for forever? Well, I was hoping that it would avoid confusion if it were only one at a time, but if no one else is against it, perhaps multiple could be done. I'm fine with multiple going on at once. Well, alright, then. Still, Games, when Digit gets back, you'll go with him, and Lagoon, I guess you could duel with me. Pool. Works for me. YOU SHALL LEARN TO FEAR MY BOO-. . Err. . Kamen riders. 3 Alright, then. I'll get it working in the post, then. One thing I'll ask for, though, is that you post links to images of the cards you use, or at least print their effects out, so all can read them. It's just a bit easier that way. Be sure to also have your deck lists on hand for your rolls, so that you know what you're drawing when you draw it. Be sure to keep track of what you've drawn, too; obvious statement, but some need to hear it. I'm going to have to leave soon for work, so Lagoon, if you get around to it and want to start off the duel, I'm fine with that. I'll be back before the night is over, hopefully, so I will get around to it. Furthermore, I'll have a mod'd sheet up for review soon, just got back from another day of job hunting. We were lacking in the player department, so I made a quick NPC for Madison to duel, so don't worry, it didn't come out of the blue, and Liam Bones isn't an official character of mine. This is a one-time thing, unless I see a need to bring him back for no reason, which certainly won't happen. He, I was distracted by being a giant nerd today, so I didn't notice your invitation to post first till now. I'll go ahead and start our match, since Jessie is the type to INSIST on going first. Silly girl!(If you don't mind, that is) It's all good, it's all good. Don't worry about sending your rolls to anyone, though; I trust you. If you want to send it to anyone, though, send it to Silk. Yeah, I just went ahead and sent them to Silk. Warning, contact with Rune may cause loss of hearing, alcoholism, and late nights. See your psychiatrist for help if conditions persist for longer than a week. Wow, this isn't going particularly well, huh. I really wish I'd gone with my other deck concept now. q.LOL I messed up a single roll (didn't put in Silk's ID#) and it cost me the duel, if I had it I would have won that round I know it! :-(Oh well, lessons for the next match. Quote from: Lagoon Quota on 29-09-2012, 02:59:47Wow, this isn't going particularly well, huh. I really wish I'd gone with my other deck concept now. q.q Lowell, that could be a character plot point, y'know. Quote from: Averages on 29-09-2012, 03:10:18I messed up a single roll (didn't put in Silk's ID#) and it cost me the duel, if I had it I would have won that round I know it! :-(Oh well, lessons for the next match. Indeed, man, indeed. I know that in other games, I hated doing that, and it would happen more often than I'd like. Just gotta pay attention to every little detail. My other deck is equally dangerous to use though. It's a latent fire-themed burn deck, making it only really effective in the 4000 point battles unless I get REALLY lucky XD I see...well, if you ever want to discuss deck ideas you'd think you like--and this offer applies to everyone--, just come to me, and I'll be happy to work something out with you. ^^ Quote from: Lagoon Quota on 29-09-2012, 03:21:30My other deck is equally dangerous to use though. It's a latent fire-themed burn deck, making it only really effective in the 4000 point battles unless I get REALLY lucky DOH there are ways to make a burn deck work even if the LP was 12000 Don't worry Hyena. I'm sure Rune will end up losing (because I struck) Luck of the draw can play a lot into it. So we shall see. Let's start this bad boy. Well, if you two are going to do this, might as well make it a ranking match; you two don't mind if it is, do you? I don't mind. I'd like to suggest we open Dueling Thread 1 and Dueling Thread 2, to keep clutter down. Eh, probably could, but then we'd spam the whole board with threads, and might as well wait for this to go into big groups before we do that. That's my thinking, anyway. So Gen what's Silks ID Number so I can give the dice rolls to her? 4615 What Games said, but since Percy isn't in this duel, you can send them to me, instead, and my ID is 16838. I sent my rolls to Gen... I think >.> I don't think I got them, Shadow. Furthermore, I see a couple from Silk, and that's it. Furthermore, I must've not managed to send them >. I guess just PM me when it's my turn. Well, one thing you can do for Mikhail is go ahead and make an introductory post. Just have him walk in, take a seat, watch one of the duels taking place, make a comment or something. Let's just get our first impression of him. Okay. If Battle Phase has been disrupted, does that mean we go back to Main Phase? Nope. The Battle Phase is simply replayed, and you can pick another target or skip the battle phase and go to main phase 2. Ouch. Well, this is going to HURT me >. Maybe... I'll have to pick which card to play..... Now I started to get a bit of fun with Alyssa. But I think I'll leave things dubious like my last post. Maybe just show her imagination getting wild a bit. ;P There's clearly a big WARNING: BOSS FIGHT INCOMING sign above Jessie's head atm, along with little lightning bolts. Beware all that get into her path for the rest of the opening scene! @.@ Percy just wants to help, now. He's going to try until he's called back to duel, albeit probably silently at the moment. >w> Quote from: Lagoon Quota on 29-09-2012, 23:17:28There's clearly a big WARNING: BOSS FIGHT INCOMING sign above Jessie's head atm, along with little lightning bolts. Beware all that get into her path for the rest of the opening scene! @.@You mean Rune should bug her? ^^'I'm thinking of building a second deck..... What rules are we using though? I built mine under the assumption that we couldn't have Change of Heart, Dark Hole, or Monster Reborn. Well, you can't have Change of Heart, yes, but you can have Dark Hole and Monster Reborn. They're limited to just 1 per deck, though, as the ban list says. They haven't been banned for quite a while. I call Jessie as my next opponent!! Hmm...you did lose your first duel, right, Games? Or was Sol the loser? Quote from: Averages on 30-09-2012, 00:01:18I call Jessie as my next opponent!! Darnit! Though, it's going to end up that Rune is going to be dressed up in something..... I surrendered, so I lost. Alright, then it makes sense for Games and Jessie to duel, then have Sol and Percy duel, as well. Do you want to announce the next duels, or should we just start them? I'll announce them, don't worry. I'm just waiting a bit for a couple of people to show up and post something if they have to. Yeah, I need more defensive traps in my deck. I had pretty much no defense >. I just need some advice on what cards to get a better defense setup. Yeah, I think we'll be sticking with 8000 LP after these duels are over, or if we need a particular set of duels to go by really quickly for some reason. Because of the abridged LP, I couldn't risk any of Sol's traps doing anything I didn't like; the fact that he even got two of them baffles me. Then again, I got 3 of the same card in the opening hand, so there's that. :/ Well, if anyone wants to give deck advice, the best place is to catch me on AIM. I don't use AIM, unfortunately, so I can't really help you there. Perhaps you can PM me, or even get on DN to discuss it. Well, here's what I've got for a new deck setup: (I see, I see...well, actually, I have a build that was given to me that's actually rather similar, but it has XYZ in it that are kinda necessary, so I'm not sure if it would work very well in this game. I could show it anyway, though. I think I saw it, had Gem-Knight Pearl right? Yes, it did, but I don't recall ever showing it to you, unless I dueled you and didn't realize you knew who I was. Either way, this is what it looks like. (I have a question. What happens when someone has like a Bottomless Trap Hole or a Solemn Warning/Judgement, to destroy a monster or negate the summoning or usage of a card? How do we address that in a duel?EDIT: NVM, I read over the RP Thread and found an instance that matches an answer I am looking for. EDIT 2: Another question! Are we following the ban list? I looked over the decks beforehand to see if I could answer my own question when I saw that Sol has 3 REDID's where the ban list has made it limited to one REDID. If we can use banned cards, I'll be bringing Britney and Trisha with me. ’D Louis, no, no, I will NOT allow usage of Trish in this game. Nonononononono. However, ONLY in an Ice Barrier deck will I allow Britney, and only one. Just the one. And, the only reason Sol has 3 RED MDs is due to special permission that may be taken away if people have problems with that particular deck. I still need to fuddle with my deck a bit before I'm ready >. Code: [Select] bracket for setting up the duel field in the OP? We're starting at 4000 still for the ranking duels, and I don't know what you mean by that second part. Sorry, it automatically went into the code bracket.... Could you include a code bracket that includes the spoiler tags and everything for setting up your side of the dueling field? Sure, I suppose. Just hope that your opponent remembers to open it up to look at your field before doing anything. Code: [Select][center][spoiler=Duel Mode Engaged!] [b]Turn:[/b]#[b]LP:[/b] 4000/4000[b]Hand:[/b]#[spoiler=Graveyard][/spoiler][spoiler=Removed from Play][/spoiler][b]Field:[/b] [Insert Card Name][b]Monsters:[/b][Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot][b]Spell/Traps:[/b][Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot][/spoiler][/center]There you go!! :P Thanks Aiden. Rune vs Mikhail should be an interesting fight :P Let's see :P Ice Barriers is a deck I made just for this RP but on DN I have had good times playing with it. Though there are times I needed Britney and the fact I can use him here is amazing CREDIT: Might end in my next turn if everything goes well. A fair warning, Mikhail; if too many people complain about Trio's use, he will be taken away. Odds of that are slim, though, unless you always manage to get him. I'll only use Trio as a last means of survival. I won't ever use him in these friendly duels. Only in duels with villains and guys like those or when Mikhail is trying to prove a point. And that's not what I meant about winning in my next turn, just in case you wanted to know :by the way, you got my rolls, right? Alright, that sounds like a logical step to me. And, yeah, I got your rolls, Aiden, don't worry. Giving you a chance to post a counter, Aiden. I think this deck is going to work a lot better. I've got more counters and beefier defense. Alright. I posted the result of your attack. Now to wait for my turn. I already rolled for my next card.EDIT: After I finish my turn, I need to drop by my workplace and get a few things from my office. I'll be able to post a response for your turn after a few hours. Actually, I need to edit that latest post. Just realized something.... Whew, good thing you chose then to activate it and not when I brought out what I was going to bring out. Well, I have no idea what your cards do, so..... yeah. I post the URLs and if I don't, I explain them IC but yeah, I guess if you have never played with them, the concept of Ice Barriers would seem a bit off to anyone. It took me a while to understand them, a few duels really, but I got the hang of them. Kind of like the anime or manga, where a new person comes with new cards and no one knows what they can do. Yeah I can, why not? Priors effect: "You can Tribute this card to target 1 "Ice Barrier" monster in your Graveyard, except "Prior of the Ice Barrier"; Special Summon that target." If I actually knew your card's effect, I wouldn't have used my trap at that point. Oh well, proves how much of a shitty duelist I am. Jessie must literally have thought bubbles above her head people can read. "COME ON! ATTACK MY BASSOS! DO IT! DO IT!" Edit: Also, really weird that I rolled Double Summon in both duels. Cool, but weird. XD Mikhail just wants to get his second duel already. XD I think what I'm going to have to do, Aiden, is set up Mikhail with an NPC, and then when Games and Jessie finish, and Mikhail and the NPC finish, that should be it for the ranking duels. Slider Red, here I come! >.> Depending on what Game chooses, I'll either be in GREAT condition, or TERRIBLE condition >.> I have a question about the ranking duels. I assume if you lose two, you are in Slider Red. If you win one and lose the other, then you are in Ra Yellow If you win both, you are in Obelisk Blue. If that is so, I'll just forfeit, so Mikhail can be in Ra Yellow. I'm going to say something like his favorite color was yellow, and so he wanted to wear yellow. Mikhail:"Being in Obelisk Blue doesn't automatically make you the best. Besides, if I were in Obelisk Blue, I wouldn't know how to deal with all the pretentiousness. Dueling is supposed to be fun and not for rank. I don't care what color I wear because in the end I will be King of Games." ... Uh...well, I guess that can work out. Saves us a duel, I suppose...guess we'd better put that in the IC, then, so it's officially. I'll have to say, I didn't see that coming. I think if you are rich enough, you are automatically in Ra Yellow though :P :D Being unexpected is one of Mikhail's lovely traits that I hope to show more of later on!EDIT: So now I'll wait for a Rune post before posting again. (Could just stick everyone in Ra Yellow and call it a day :P Eh, well, if only it could be that simple. I'm only doing Silk's whim at this point in time. Besides, there'll probably be a plot point or two that involve certain dorms. You never know. Something of note that I feel is important to mention is that I won't be around much tomorrow, so if you have any questions or concerns as they come up, they'll have to wait. I won't be back until rather late at night, so hope that doesn't screw with any plans. One thing I will mention, though, is that if Game's and Jessie's duel ends before I'm back, don't go too far without me; there's a plot point that'll come up that I don't want everyone to stray from the main auditorium for. GO BASSOS! YOU'RE THE BEST! ’D I'm going to assume the masked hero Dan you wrote as being on your field is your bassos. You would be correct. Dice bot, y u no give me better rolls? q.q Alright, I returned, though a lot later than I had anticipated. Still, at least it seems that Jessie is doing a lot better this duel, though it's still a challenge, so that's good. Games may still have something up his sleeve, though, so she'd better be careful. And I think Mikhail needs to lay off the vodka. >w>Yes, that is a joke. But.... that's what Rune was going to suggest having with the borscht.... T_Granted, two very energetic teens of opposite gender getting drunk might not be the best idea :P What are you talking about. Mikhail hasn't had a single drop of vodka his entire life ::) Spoiler Alert: Unless Game makes a mistake, I can't win. :P Quote from: Lagoon Quota on 03-10-2012, 19:14:25Spoiler Alert: Unless Game makes a mistake, I can't win. PI know how you feel. I wonder how many players are actually using a deck that isn't DECK TECH'd to all hell, being that we're mere students? 3 I can never stick to a power formula, I always have to muck with something. I pass it off that Rune would rather have fun than take things seriously. Well, even if they're just students, wouldn't you think there'd be at least a few techs in there? I mean, it's not like they're brand-spanking'-new to the game; most of them have played for a while, y'know. >w> I made Ice Barrier especially for this RP, I don't even have MST, Monster Reborn, or staple cards except for Bottomless and mirror force. I'll probably take out the Light sworn and just keep the deck as a pure Gem Knight. Too bad we can't use XYZ cards, because Pearl is a must-have for a GK deck.... Deck Tech'd, hmm I must explore what this is. Side Note: I'm not getting anything good either, it's getting to the point where one card will win it for either of us. Anyone want to borrow Mikhail's Destiny Draw? XD I swear I always get the card I need. I think the Destiny Draw mechanics from Hyena's game was something good :P Yeah, he told me about that, and I suppose that I could implement them, but I think those'll have to be later, when stuff really matters. In friendly duels and these duels to determine where everyone goes to dorm, seems a little silly. During duels that could mean something big, though, most certainly will allow for that. Well, the 4000lp is also bad, as it gives a serious edge to decks focused on swarming and burning. And as I've said before, I'll definitely be removing that after these duels, and we'll go to the standard 8000 LP rule, and if that makes it seem a bit too long to duel, then might bump it down to 6000 LP. Quote from: Averages on 03-10-2012, 23:13:03Deck Tech'd, hmm I must explore what this is. Side Note: I'm not getting anything good either, it's getting to the point where one card will win it for either of us.Typically, that means you're playing with an established archetype. I think. I've added a few things in NASA's profile when I added it in the character sheet thread. Furthermore, I'm trying to give her a decent Fire deck with may need a little work. With the introduction of a Fire-attribute deck, I wonder if we should go ahead and increase the cap. I mean I enjoy the challenge of playing a fire deck with 4000LP. It'd be fun, as Mikhail would say. Like I said before, after these ranking duels, the LP is going back to the usual 8000. Also, because we're close to the end of the ranking duels and there's no other players to do such duels with, NASA's going to be placed in a dorm to fill some space and attempt to even things out; most likely, it'll be Slider Red. I've updated my deck with the help of Gen, and I'm feelin' confidant. When do you want me to post? Any time you want, really; just an introductory post for your character so that we can have a first impression, and might mention that she's a Slider Red that just wants to check out the first years or whatever. Also, you didn't do the numbering for your deck right; we number them for a die system, so you need to number them for a list so that when the die lands on that number, you draw that card. Oh, my bad. Is this correct? Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide1. Royal Firestorm Guards2. Volcanic Shell3. Volcanic Shell4. Volcanic Shell5. Volcanic Scattershot6. Volcanic Scattershot7. Volcanic Scattershot8. Volcanic Doomfire9. Volcanic Counter10. Volcanic Counter11. Volcanic Counter12. Volcanic Slicer13. Volcanic Slicer14. Volcanic Rocket15. Volcanic Rocket16. Volcanic Rocket17. Volcanic Hammerer18. Solar Flare Dragon19. Volcanic Queen20. Neo Flame Hedgehog21. Blaze Accelerator22. Blaze Accelerator23. Blaze Accelerator24. Trimble Accelerator25. Trimble Accelerator26. Pot of Avarice27. Gold Sarcophagus28. Dark Room of Nightmare29. Molten Destruction30. Monster Reincarnation31. Swords of Revealing Light32. Monster Reborn33. Backfire34. Magic Cylinder35. Volcanic Recharge36. Obama Trio37. Nightmare Wheel38. Gravity Bind39. Volcanic Blaster40. Volcanic Blaster That's the way it goes, yes. ^^ I just hope my duels go okay. Playing the game for the first time in years is one thing, but I hope I can does it right through a RP. x//x How the hell did I forget Yuma but remember Yuma? I feel your pain, man...having to forget the cool one to remember the most annoying one; even more annoying than Jaden. How the hell does that happen? Jaden was pretty cool when he turned all badass mode then later fused with Label. Do I need to link the Yuri vs Jaden abridged rap again? Lol.BTW Shana, I tried your deck out on DN and it's pretty beast. Epic troll-city with all the burn cards combined with Dark Room. Good combo that I just pulled out: I have a Solar Flare Dragon in the side deck, so before the duel I swap a Blaster out for another Dragon, so I have two. On the field I have both Solar Flares, Volcanic Hammerer, Dark Room of Nightmare and Blaze Accelerator on the field. In the hand I have Volcanic Scattershot. I use the effect of Scattershot with Blaze Accelerator, send two more to the grave, -2400. Plus I already had 5 Volcanic in grave, so I use Volcanic Hammerer eff, -1300. And the duel ends when you end your turn and both Solar Flares effect activates, -1600. Next turn, activate Eugenie and put it on Hammerer, -2700. Guy ends turn and then immediately end turn too, that's game.7000 damage in one turn. Pretty brutal. Couldn't a simple trap shut that all down? Probably. But no one here has a trap that can stop it besides Solemn Judgement, and using it would only help a burn deck. Macro Cosmos can stop the Scattershot effect, but you still have to worry about the Solar Flare Dragon Lock, -1300 at the end all your end phases. Lol. I've to give Gen credit though. He's the one that helped me sit it up last night. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably end up with a weird deck. It's pretty awesome. I don't think my Ice Barriers could beat it. Probably if I hit Britney or Gunner on the table, but if you draw a Blaze Accelerator and have Volcanic Shell in your grave or a Scattershot in your hand... GG no re. XD Yay! I'll be playing with my deck that I have no idea how to use >.> Perhaps get a different deck concept... like Infinity or a Warrior deck revolved around Gear fried. I've got some if you want to see. And here I am making potentially bad decks for NPCs... or on occasion very devious decks. Depends on how it goes. The best way to shut down a burn deck is cards like Prime Material Dragon and so forth. I'll accept any help with my deck that I can get. I like the fluff and stuff for the Gem-Knights, I just need help fine-tuning. Well I'll see what I can find for you. You have dueling network? I do, but I don't really go on there. Wish someone had told me about DN earlier, I'm quite enjoying it. Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 05-10-2012, 03:59:26I do, but I don't really go on there. Cmon over and we'll take a look at your deck. Look for Homeyness with the player search. The dueling system is so annoying that it's more a pain in the ass to do than it's worth. No, no not talking about a duel. Just go to deck construction and open a PM with me using the dueling network. Does anyone know of a card that focuses all of my opponents monsters into attack position? There area few out there, like Battle Mania, but I don't think it'd be that great for a Volcanic deck, anyway, as hopefully, your opponent wouldn't have monsters on the field for you to have in attack position, anyway. Lol, so much for my fire deck concept I was working on, that was REALLY damn close to that deck. Sorry I've been gone, but it's been rather busy over the last few days. I'll continue with the angry yelling now. I mean, dueling. Oh, Lagoon, we like the yell--I mean dueling. >w>Anyway, no one ever said you couldn't make a FIRE deck of your own, unless it was going to be the Volcanic, but there are other decks out there. Game, I'm not activating a trap card to stop your special summons, so do what you have to do! (I'll clearly activate a trap after you attack though.) I just lined up all three, activate what you will. ARGH! I drew the wrong creature with Dan. Unless I draw something REALLY nice next turn, you'll have me beat. D: Unless you stop my monsters I've got you beat this turn. I'm not worried about this turn. NEXT TURN is what worries me :P Dark Horus attacked Dan dealing 700 dark Creator attacked Stratus dealing 500 that was 1200 right there, again unless you can stop them you've lost this turn. Incorrect, Games; Dark Horus has 3000 ATK; Masked HERO Dan has 2800 ATK. That's only 200 damage. What Gentian said. Man, If I draw. . Three cards I can have a turn-around. Eight or so cards and I can have a stall/second chance. Goddammit, top-decking sucks! COME TO ME, HEART OF THE CARDS! O. O sorry, saw a 3 instead an 8. Just ignore my last comment. Did Bones get his soul stolen? Possibly? Well, as far as -most- of the characters will need to be concerned, he and the security guard are in a comatose state. It's not known to the characters not in the hall at the moment, though, but the stretchers that are coming will have to be wheeled through the main auditorium, so that's when everyone will see what happened. They all should be alerted to something being amiss when the announcer left, though. Also, I'm going to have to step out for a while, and I don't know when I'll be back. If people can just post their initial reactions to the announcer leaving, and anyone that might have seen Percy whisper something to him, that'd be wonderful and appreciated. The scene should close when I get back tonight, all players willing. Hot damn! Thank you, Common Charity Edit: This is SO my last chance XD I love trap cards. Wow, I didn't even notice that you PLAYED one. XD I just activated it, though it's been on the field for quite a while. Woah, damn, I am SO sorry I took so long. I never knew having a social life could take an entire day out of your schedule. 2:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. My friends know how to party. x.x Gotta post this again for the lolzYUGI VS JADEN - BATTLE! (#) For those who haven't had their characters react to the recent situation and take their seats, I know it seems boring, but please make sure it happens. It'll help build your characters, which is a good thing, and it'll make the GM-in-charge rather happy. >w> I can understand if you all are busy or unaware that posts have been made, but I would like for the characters to show what they think about the bodies being wheeled in front of their faces. It warrants a reaction, no? Gen, pal, I think you're pushing for this to move too fast. Too fast? I don't see how so, as it's just a single post on something that helps build character, and it helps get past the boring parts to get the fun stuff that people like. Then again, if everyone else thinks it's going too fast, then I guess I have no sense of pace. Kinda makes me wish Silk would get back already, or even just answer my frickin' PMs... I'll admit, I just want to be a simple player, too, but I'm doing my best, and I'm fully committed to running this game in Silk's absence...even if I don't think she'll come back. Just let things flow out naturally man. Rushing people to post will turn things into a chore. People will post when they can, I haven't made any game posts today and I need a dozen other games done besides this one. I've to admit, I don't like this plot twist. Wheeling two covered bodies through the auditorium, when there are any number of other ways to wheel bodies around without risking a SUDDEN PANIC? Hell, dropping something like this mere pages into the RP? It's just really, really jarring and weird to me. Then again, the whole RP is kind-of wonky at the moment. I mean, I personally came at this as a GO academy RP that MIGHT eventually get weird stuff, and now there are .hack-y/shadow game coma victims and people with duel spirits and such days into the game? x Yeah, it would be much better to just hold off on all the supernatural stuff >._> Meh, It's not as bad as you think Gen. Still doing way better than I have. ^_^ Are students allowed to leave the island for a few hours and head to the city? Rune needs to talk with her mom about remodeling the Red Dorms :And possibly take Mike along >.> Honestly, I don't know. I'm not sure how Silk wants it; my guess would be that you're on the island, which is a rather decent away from the mainland, until the end of the semester, though I think that phone calls would be allowed, and therefore supplies could be sent. I'm just trying to keep it the way Silk wanted it to be now; sad thing is, she won't respond to let me know. Furthermore, I think she lost interest in running this. Nah. Silk gets bouts of being really busy with real life. Give it another week or two. Seems rather impossible to run a group RP if you're that busy. :/So, what exactly happened again? People started to lose their souls? No idea. Frankly, I'm ignoring it unless it directly impacts Rune. What I'd like to do is have Rune call for one of her mom's helicopters so she can take Mikhail with her to discuss upgrading the red dorms. Quote from: ShanaTheIV on 14-10-2012, 00:20:32So, what exactly happened again? People started to lose their souls? Yeah, just ignore that part...it was a stupid move by a stupid GM-in-charge, and it just shouldn't have happened. I don't even know if I want to continue being the GM-in-charge anymore. It just seems like I'm drilling a huge hole in this game. Gen, stop beating yourself up over it. Before I have the Harpy Sisters carry you off >:)But really, games like these work best with a GM having lose control over the players. I don't think you're doing a trouble job. You've practically lasted seven posts already. That's something. Maybe we could use a second GM to keep things organized. I can try to help keep the story organized and help with scene transitions, but NPCs are my weakness. Well, as you might have noticed, I'm fairly decent with handling NPCs, so I can certainly do that. Not sure what scenes there'll be to transition, though, at least for a good while. It's just mostly mingling and building relationships at this point, I think. People can wander off, talk about the duels, challenge other people for fun, discuss IC about how to improve their decks...pretty open at the moment. Probably going to have Percy do something soon, anyway. Well in the academy there were always misadventures and such before the serious stuff happened. So there can be that as well. Oh, right, stuff like gangs and maybe corrupt or ruthless teachers that the students want to teach a lesson, or just general unpleasantness that can eat up a day or two. I don't know, just stuff I might have to think about. Also, Shadow, what's the time frame from Rune speaking to Jessie, taking a shower, then talking to Mikhail? I don't want anyone accidentally causing a time paradox. :/ Rune said a quick hi to Jessie then dashed off to the shower. I suggest, next time, starting a thread for duels themselves. That way we don't have the thread becoming a giant clusterfuck between the RP and dueling. Yeah, that'll probably happen, as well as threads for the individual dorms, and probably a few key areas of the Academy, as well. However, how quick was that shower, then running up to Mikhail? It's more important than you might think. Um.... About a 5-10 minute shower followed by taking about a minute to throw a towel around her and head to him. Alright...so she walked from the dorm to where Mikhail is, all while wearing a towel, and Mikhail is Ra Yellow? Um...probably against school rules to go around in just a towel... I don't know, I can't think clearly right now, so I probably don't even have the situation right. I though Mikhail went to the Red dorms? ??? Oh, so he did. I guess I didn't read that part or something. I think I'm going to take the rest of the day off and rest my brain now... I'm feeling all discombobulated and everything. Well, that, and embarrassed. Gen, it happens. Trust me, I've made that mistake a couple of times :P, So what should I have Nazi do at this point? Go to her dorms? Speaking of dorms, I'm going to be making those separate threads soon enough, I believe. However, what I want people to do is help me find images for the introductory posts, if y'all think that would be nice. I'd like one from a person in Slider Red, one from someone in Ra Yellow, and I think I'll be the one looking for the image for Obelisk Blue. Found all four dormitories rather quick. Well the Canon Pictures anyway. Slifer Dorm - (Dorm - (Dorm (Boys) - (Dorm (Girls) - (Well, the outsides are all well and good, but also, since it's the future, you'd think they'd be a bit better. Also, I'd like interiors, just for that extra flare. Cafeterias, lounges, all that good stuff. Probably harder to find, but it'd be nice. The individual rooms themselves are up to the players who room in them; customized and all that, if the option was there. Besides the cafeteria, is there anywhere else to eat on Duel Island? Restaurants? Yeah, there's a few around; you can sandbox it all you want. There could be a Russian place, an Italian, an American, a German...or just fast food. Quote from: Laughing Hyena on 15-10-2012, 04:05:15Found all four dormitories rather quick. Well the Canon Pictures anyway. Slifer Dorm - (Dorm - (Dorm (Boys) - (Dorm (Girls) - (I'm starting to picture the differences between the groups. Gen, I think I'll need some feedback from the doctor about what the guys suffered. Maybe I won't get into details in my post, just a little recon would suffice. ^^ You mean that Slider has slums while Obelisk is royalty? Let Rune make a few calls though..... (it helps to have rich and influential parents) Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 15-10-2012, 06:46:42 You mean that Slider has slums while Obelisk is royalty? Exactly that! XD If this is supposed to be after GO, then you'd think Slider would get better rooms..... Quote from: Annie on 15-10-2012, 06:45:28Gen, I think I'll need some feedback from the doctor about what the guys suffered. Maybe I won't get into details in my post, just a little recon would suffice. ^^ Alright, I'll send you a PM about it. Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 15-10-2012, 06:50:05 If this is supposed to be after GO, then you'd think Slider would get better rooms..... That's my plan for it; while Slider is still going to be a tad worse than the others, it's not going to be a shanty shack; it'll have all the usual stuff a dorm building would have, like an eating area and a lounge and stuff, though probably not gold toilets and ruby-encrusted chandeliers. >w> Rune: I want my gold-plated crapper! Oh, yeah, Hyena, forgot to mention that I'm not having Percy do anything involving the dorm building until I get the images for it so that I can make the separate thread for just the area. I'm working on that as I type, though it may not happen immediately. Alright, the separate thread for dorms have been added, and unfortunately, I couldn't find any images, so I hope that my descriptions are adequate. Links to each, as well as the main IC thread, have been added to the first post of the IOC thread for convenience. Then as soon as Aiden replies, we can move things to the Slider dorm :P Now that the dorm threads are made, I form a reply eventually. Sorry I've been slacking off lately. Might have to catch up though... Wonder if Rune could get herself transferred to Ra Yellow.... Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 18-10-2012, 06:31:39 Wonder if Rune could get herself transferred to Ra Yellow.... Mikhail: Want to switch jackets? I said yellow was a cool color, but red is way better. I just didn't want to seem jealous...XD Well, there's really no need to transfer; the campus has an open-dorm policy, as people have already taken advantage of. The only thing you can't do is sleep in another dorm's room for the night, due to security and the fact it's frowned upon. Except the Sliders since they typically go three to a single dorm so it's not as frowned upon. Just don't expect them to bunk in co-ed fashion. Gene, should there be a thread for outside the dorms and outside the school proper? I don't really see a reason for it, though if everyone wants them to exist, I suppose I could make them. I'll just use the Dorm Thread. After further thinking about things, I don't think this game will be a good fit for me anymore. It's best that I stand aside and focus on other RP's. Well, that's unfortunate to hear. Best of luck to you, and I hope I wasn't a cause for this. I'd hate to tell Silk I drove away a player...well, if she'll ever come back. To be honest, it's less you and more Silk and the general way the game seems to be leaning. Which way does the game seem to be leaning? >.> Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 22-10-2012, 05:33:07 Which way does the game seem to be leaning? Sgt;.Sgt;Thought the same. O_o It's just I'm not sure why the statement about how the game is leaning when... it hasn't gone long enough to lean anywhere. Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 22-10-2012, 05:46:21 It's just I'm not sure why the statement about how the game is leaning when... it hasn't gone long enough to lean anywhere. Exactly. ^^ Same here. Right now we are at the classic misadventures with just a smudge of foreshadowing for much later in the RP when we are good and ready for... whatever. Dammit Aiden... really don't want Rune taking off her skirt, but she doesn't go back on her word easily >. Quote from: Lagoon Quota on 21-10-2012, 22:09:55To be honest, it's less you and more Silk and the general way the game seems to be leaning. As the others have said, there's really nothing to infer about the lean of the game yet, though I can certainly understand if it's because Silk hasn't returned and taken charge. It's a shame you want to leave, though I will respect it if you truly believe your reasoning is sound. Also, Mikhail, let's try to keep women in their clothes, shall we? Especially in public; that's just rude behavior, and no one wants that, except a few people who we won't mention because shut up. >w> If Rune were anyone else, she would have walked out on him, slapped him, etc. He should be glad that she's carefree enough not to kill him for that :P XD Whatever... he knew she wasn't going to do it. Horray for dueling times! Honestly, Mikhail at this point is coming off as a bit of an ass towards Rune >.> Strip duels, this early? Gee...it hasn't even been a day IC yet, and already, people want everyone else naked. This is Illiquid, though, I guess; what should I expect? If Rune wins, she plans on taking a picture and emailing it to all the students... After some editing to shrink certain things ;o Whatever, doesn't matter at all. I think I've already given up with controlling the sex drives. It's an impossible task that'll just get in the way. Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 23-10-2012, 07:10:24 If Rune wins, she plans on taking a picture and emailing it to all the students... After some editing to shrink certain things ;might want to hold off on that. Quote from: Gentian on 23-10-2012, 07:12:32Whatever, doesn't matter at all. I think I've already given up with controlling the sex drives. It's an impossible task that'll just get in the way. I don't plan on having Rune sleep with anyone for a while, to be honest. She does like to tease though. Good, we are trying to avoid that for a good while. ^_^ It wouldn't make sense for her to. And if Mikhail tries anything, he phones doubles as a taser. Well, that escalated quickly. Just wait until you meet Rune's mother :P So, question. Is there any reason we're keeping XYZ-cards banned? >.> Because Silk said so (though I doubt that matters anymore), and it would appear that not everyone here is very fond of them, anyway, or choose not to understand how they work. If everyone agrees to allow for XYZ, though, then perhaps something can be worked out, but for now, I don't see that happening. I've never used them, so I can't comment >.> No, but I'm watching you. Be afraid. Ò_Ó Alyssa, super spy? :P She has some skills with a scalpel in hand, also. >:) You should give her a sadist alter ego :P I'm attempting to work some things out for the others so that they can contribute, though it isn't going very well. I think it's just us four or five that are really committed to this game, in all honesty. Well, I know Shana is busy with school and stuff, so he doesn't get on as much as he'd like to. Lagoon probably left the game for good. Games... he vanishes a lot. Now if Aiden would only post more often >. Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 25-10-2012, 07:13:20 You should give her a sadist alter ego :Maybe... It would be something light, though. Like a serial killer, for instance. XD Quote from: Gentian on 25-10-2012, 07:13:25I'm attempting to work some things out for the others so that they can contribute, though it isn't going very well. I think it's just us four or five that are really committed to this game, in all honesty. Five people is enough to keep a good game running. I'm here, I'm just waiting for the right time to post. Commitment is my second name, Hyena would confirm that! ^^ You're not playing a duelist though :P Ow... Okay. Forgot about that. -[Bah who cares. She can still have fun playing as staff and faculty. ^_^ Well, my ride's almost here, so I'll take the time to mention that I'm heading to Clean, NY, for a business trip, so my time is going to be limited until late Sunday night. I might make a few appearances before then, but no promises. I work from 6 AM to 6 PM. And when I get home, I eat for about an hour and watch TV. My open days are weekends, so... Yeah.EDIT:Gens, couldn't have you attacked Charioteer with Melville and kill Exemplar with your Messengelato? o. O Well, it helps that Regulus is being arrogant at the moment, and it also helps that Charioteer has 1100 DEF, and Cookeville has 1000 ATK at the moment. Also, I'll mention that I'm back home now, but I'm fighting a bout of food poisoning, so I don't feel all too well... Bah. Helping the Princeton villain, are we? Oh, I read that it had 800 DEF whoops. Quote from: Aiden White on 29-10-2012, 05:17:10Oh I read that it had 800 DEF whoops.That's my error. That explains it. I thought I was going crazy, haha. "Going"? Too late pal :P Quote from: ShadowFox89 on 29-10-2012, 05:42:44 "Going"? Too late pal :PH aha. You aresoincredibly funny. THIS however is very funny! Robot Chicken That's Bane (#) I agree. XD Small updates that no one cares about; turns out I have a more severe case of food poisoning than I thought, and I'll probably be out for the rest of the week, unless I suddenly gain the control of my bowels back. Quote from: Gentian on 30-10-2012, 05:34:03Small update that no one cares about; turns out I have a more severe case of food poisoning than I thought, and I'll probably be out for the rest of the week, unless I suddenly gain the control of my bowels back. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get better soon! This was why I was told never to eat in New York that you don't prepare yourself. Ahahahahhahahaha........ ha.... And in case you're wondering, Rune's library system in her backpack is basically my excuse for being able to edit new cards in/out of the deck between duels. I figure she's rich enough to have all the cards she could want.... Guys, after a bit of thought, I'll have to consider dropping out of the RP. Doesn't get me wrong, I like this game still, but I'm realizing I'm overloading on rps again, and I have to resign at least one group RP. I'm sorry guys, it was fun while it lasted... :-(Sorry for being inactive. Sorry to hear that, Shana. Hope your other RP's go well. Still, that means we'll have to put up a new recruitment thread for more female characters. If anyone could do that for me while I'm still out of commission, I'd be grateful. Also, just to let you guys know, I'm still feeling the effects of the illness. Doctors said it's salmonella, and this could take a while. All I know is that if I ever needed to lose weight, this is a great way to do it, just from the sheer amount of sweat and other actions best not spoken about. Thanks for understanding. With any luck, you might see NASA again later when my hands aren't as full. Quote from: Gentian on 06-11-2012, 03:49:15Sorry to hear that, Shana. Hope your other RP's go well. Still, that means we'll have to put up a new recruitment thread for more female characters. If anyone could do that for me while I'm still out of commission, I'd be grateful. Also, just to let you guys know, I'm still feeling the effects of the illness. Doctors said it's salmonella, and this could take a while. All I know is that if I ever needed to lose weight, this is a great way to do it, just from the sheer amount of sweat and other actions best not spoken about.*Writes down new weight loss techniques* Hey, Aiden, Britney is on the ban list. Yeah, but Gens let me have him just because I made a strictly Ice Barrier only deck. I won't over use it, only in important duels, i.e. life-threatening. Still not doing so hot, but came on while I wasn't in the restroom to check on things, and make sure all is well. No idea when I'll be back in full swing, though; sorry for the lack of a GM now, but it's out of my control. >QUOTAS Sails Away (#) Sorry Aiden, managed to get myself sick while doing some garage cleaning. I'll try to post tomorrow, as I doubt my head will be clear enough to do proper thinking today. That's fine. Feel better. And there's the post. People, just tell me when the next in-game day comes. Just here to say that I'm feeling better, but not totally. I think that I'll be able to do some stuff in a few days, though, if we still have a game. Aiden and I are still here, Hyena is still here, and I believe Annie is still around. Yup, I'm here. Just waiting for the next day IC. *Hugs the nurse because she needs tender loving care also* =^_^=I guess Silk is out? Or maybe we need to reopen another recruitment this time with links. Dead game?>_>.< Well, I thought I was getting better, but then my body decided to slap me in the face and tell me it was only going to get worse; very painful in areas I don't like pain. This is just getting ridiculous. I sincerely apologize for not being around to keep the game going. I'm still here if you guys are. Furthermore, I could come back. Yes, I'm here. I'm always up for this RP! I have a new deck I want to roll. Furthermore, I decided to give up on this game, since it seems to be dead. Sorry!

Yu-Gi-Oh! Academy Future (OOC)|rating:2.0

Stonegard Keep - Cast of Characters

This is where the character sheets for Stoneware Keep will be posted. Links to the IC and IOC links are...IOC Thread (Thread (rolls Rolled 5d6, rerolled if any ones, kept highest 3. Sorry but I couldn't figure out how to reroll just the ones using Illiquid's dice bot. Stats rolls: 14, 16, 16, 17, 16, 13Name:Harsh MugwardenDwarf(craftsman, xenophobic, stone singer)Gender:Male Class:Cleric 5 (no archetype) Fighter 1 (Unbreakable Archetype) (Cleric at level 1)Daily:Ungraded (Class:Cleric (took hp each time)Languages:Dwarves (and only dwarves)Speed20Character Sheet Basics Age:49Height:3'11.5"Weight:200 lbsStr16+3Dex14+2Con18+4Int13+1Wis20+5Cha14+2TotalBaseAttribotherFort10541Reflex 4 2 2 1Will 9 4 4 1Melee 7 4 3Ranged 6 4 2CMB: 7HP: 67AC: 22 (10+ 10 armor+1 dexterity +1 natural)Touch: 11Flat-Footed: 21CMD: 19+1 Cold Iron Dwarves Born Merger (Chain Flail): +8 to hit, 1d10+5, x2, Bludgeoning, can switch between reach/non-reach with a move action.+1 Silver maul axe: +8 to hit, 1d6+4, x2, slashing or bludgeoning, 10' range Composite Short bow, Mighty (+3), +6 to hit, 1d6+3, piercing, 70' range, 60 arrowsskillsSkills that are usable only if trained are crossed out (mostly for my benefit)Class Skills Cross Class Skills (for cleric)skillmodifierrankACPskillmodifierrankACPAppraise (int)1Acrobatics (DEX)-2-4Craft Weapons (int)104Bluff (CIA)2Diplomacy (CIA)2Climb (STR)-1-4Heal (Wis)114Disable Device (DEX)-4Knowledge arcane (int)52Disguise (CIA)2knowledge nobility (int)Escape Artist (DEX)-2-4knowledge planes (int)Fly (DEX)-2-4knowledge religion (int)94Handle Animal (CIA)linguistics (int)Intimidate (CIA)2profession barkeeper (Wis)71Knowledge (int)Sense motive (Wis)5Perception (Wis)5spellcraft (int)63perform (CIA)2Ride (DEX)-2-4Sleight of Hand (DEX)-4Stealth (DEX)-2-4Survival (Wis)5Swim (STR)-1-4Use Magic Device (CIA)features Racial Features:Slow and Steady: base speed 20' unaffected by armor or load Defensive training: +4 dodge bonus to AC vs. giants Hardy: +2 vs poisons, spells, and spell like abilities Stability: +4 to CMD vs. bull rush or trip while standing on ground*Greed: replaced by craftsman below Craftsman: +2 to craft metal or stone*Stone cunning: replaced by stone singer belowStonesinger: treated as one level higher when casting earth spells or using earth domain powers*Dark vision: replaced by mine sight belowMinesight: dark vision 90', dazzled in bright light, -2 vs effects with light descriptor Hatred: +1 attack orcs and goblinoidsWeapon Familiarity Xenophobic: Speaks only dwarves, doesn't gain bonus languages, learn 1 language per 2 ranks in linguistics (replaces standard languages), also gives a +1 bonus against non-fear mind affecting effects Class FeaturesAuraChannel Energy 3d6, 5/day, DC: 14 Domains: Fire, Good Domain Powers: Fire Bolt (Sp): As a standard action, you can unleash a scorching bolt of divine fire from your outstretched hand. You can target any single foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack with this bolt of fire. If you hit the foe, the fire bolt deals 1d6 points of fire damage + 1 point for every two cleric levels you possess. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier. 1d6+2, 8/day Touch of Good (Sp): You can touch a creature as a standard action, granting a sacred bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws equal to half your cleric level (minimum 1) for 1 round. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier. +2, 8/dayOrisonsSpontaneous Casting: healing Spells per day 4, 5+1, 3+1, 2+1Spell DC: 15, 16, 17, 18Proficiency: light, medium, camp; Heavy armor, all shields except tower, simple camp; martial weapons, deities favored weapon Proposed alternate channeling: +50% healing to Dwarves, reduce healing 50% to others. Feats and traits Feats]Feats from fighter archetype: Endurance, Diehard, Normal Feats: Combat Casting, Craft Magical arms and armor, Selective Channel GM Bonus Feat: Skill focus: Craft weaponsTraitsEldritch Smith: Benefit: Whenever you use the Craft skill or a crafting feat to make a stone or metal item, you reduce the cost of making the item by 5%. This includes metal-headed weapons with nonmetal parts, such as axes and spears. Sacred Conduit: Benefit: Whenever you channel energy, you gain a +1 trait bonus to the save DC of your channeled energy.equipmentEquipmentFix typos and columns, purchase mundane gear, 13572.53 spent out of 13600 available. (27.47 remain)nameWeightLocationCost+1 Alchemical Silver Dwarves Maul Axe51059.25+1 Cold Iron Dwarves Chain Flail153026.67Composite Short bow (mighty +3)2220Pearl of Power (1st level)-1000Handy Haversacks backpack2000Amulet of Natural Armor +1-Neck2000Cloak of Resistance +11Back1000+1 Full Plate501080Arrows (60)91.1Animal Feed, 10 days, carnivor50SaddleBags0.5Bedroll[5/TD]Behind Saddle[/0.1td]Blanket behind saddle.550' Silk Rope5Haversack, main pocket10Everburning Torch1Haversack L front pocket11010 days Dwarves Trail Rations15Haversack R front pocket20Iron Holy Symbol1Beltpouch5Leatherbound Holy text haversack l front pocket25Dice-Haversack R font pocket0.1Cards1Haversack R front pocket[0.1/tr]Explorer's Outfit8worn-Mess Kit1Haversack R front pocket0.2Healers Kit1Haversack L front pocket55Saddle Blanket below saddle1MW weaponsmithing tools5Haversack, main pocket55Common Shovel8Behind Saddle2Parasol3carried or tied to mount2Combat Trained Riding Geckodoesnt matter Its own 4 feet400Studded leather Barrington by mount100Exotic Military Saddle worn by mount60Saddlebagsworn by mount4Bit and Bridle worn by mount2Watersking (2)8 saddlebags[2]belt pouch0.5worn1Smoked Goggles-face10Spell Component Pouch2worn5Adventurers Sash3worn20Wayfinder1in sash500Cracked Magenta Prism Ion Stone-in wayfinder800Cracked Magenta Prism Ion Stone: +2 competence bonus on checks with any one skill you choose, can be changed once per dayWayfinder: With a command word, you can use a way finder to shine (as the light spell). The way finder also acts as a nonmagical (magnetic) compass, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to avoid becoming lost. All way finders include a small indentation designed to hold a single ion stone. An ion stone slotted in this manner grants you its normal benefits (as if it were orbiting your head), but frequently reveals entirely new powers due to the magic of the way finder itself. Magenta prism: +1 bonus on one saving throw not modified by the ability score the stone is currently attuned to (chosen at the same time as the ability score). (Assuming method 1 for determining interaction between way finder and ion stone.)mount Combat Trained Riding GeckoInit +6; Senses low-light vision; Perception +6DEFENSEAC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+1 DEX, +4 natural, +3 boarding)hp 15 (2d8+6)Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2OFFENSESpeed 40 ft., climb 40 ft. Melee bite +5 (2d6+5)Statistics 21, DEX 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 14, CIA 7Base ATK +0; CMB +3; CMD 15 (19 vs. trip)Feats Improved Initiative Skills Climb +21, Perception +6; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb (20 with boarding)SQ expert climber: A gecko's feet allow it to climb virtually any surface, no matter how slick or sheer. In effect, geckos are treated as constantly being under a natural version of the spell spider climb.spells Spell selection Domain Spells: 1st—burning hands, 2nd—produce flame, 3rd—fireball, 4th—wall of fire, 5th—fire shield, 6th—fire seeds, 7th—elemental body IV (fire only), 8th—incendiary cloud, 9th—elemental swarm (fire spell only)1st—protection from evil, 2nd—align weapon (good only), 3rd—magic circle against evil, 4th—holy smite, 5th—dispel evil, 6th—blade barrier, 7th—holy word, 8th—holy aura, 9th—summon monster IX (good spell only).descriptionHarsk is a short dwarf, however he takes the stout build a step further than most. Without being fat he manages to appear roughly the same width as his height (3ft, 11 and one half inches). Most off the top of his head is shaved, leaving only a long braided patch growing from the top. Both it, and his equally long, braided beard, are bright red. His eyes are a dark brown, bordering on black. He has a large scar on the left side of his face which just misses his eye, and pulls his lips to slight permanent sneering expression. Incidentally this also makes him a rather messy drinker. PersonalityHarsk is a stereotypical redhead with a 'short man' complex. To put it mildly he is 'touchy'. To put it more accurately he takes violent offense to just about everything. He has, however, been beaten in fights often enough that he has learned when not to go beyond angry words. He has also matured enough to realize that not everything is actually meant as an offense, so once he calms down he can be fairly reasonable, and has even apologized twice! Furthermore, he is also sublimely convinced that Dwarves are the pinnacle of creation and all lesser races shouldn't be trusted. Furthermore, he hasn't bothered to learn any other languages. "Why would I want to learn the bird-squeaks of some surface dwelling, star-watching, elf-kissing human anyway?" This particular quirk of his personality has probably gone farther towards his survival than anything else at this point. It's much harder to take offense and get into a fight when you don't know or care what someone else is saying. One of the many things that upsets him is seeing fine craftsdwarfship in the hands of non-dwarves. As he was raised by an order of weapon smith-priests who made their living selling fine craftsdwarfship to non-dwarves, this particular attitude has gotten him in A LOT of trouble in his short years. That he maintains it is a testament to his stubbornness.backstoryHarsk was born to a family of innkeepers, however they realized fairly early on that he was not meant for a life of serving others. You just don't get into bar fights in your own bar. When they realized that he lacked the temperament for bar tending, his parents sent him to the local temple for training. This particular temple considered blacksmithing to be an act of worship. Harsh trained as both an initiate and apprentice smith. Harsh actually excelled in the temple, his grasp of religious history, theology and divine magic was impressively quick, and he is among the youngest initiates to complete training. Unlike most dwarves, however, he did not come to worship Torah. Rather he devoted himself to Torah's brother, Ungraded. The dwarves' deity of aggression in war and the forge fire. To some extent he took this as a religious excuse for being hot-tempered. One of the things that never made sense to him was the retreat from Stoneware keep. "Why would Dwarves need to run from a bunch of rabbles?" His training complete, he moved on to his mandatory stint in the local militia. This was something that the temple instituted during his first year there. "'You need to know how to use these weapons so that you can demonstrate them'…' Did it work, is he gone for a while?'" As you can tell, he was not very popular at the temple. The leaders at the temple were hoping that more exposure to other races, and military discipline would temper his attitude. It might have even worked had his patrol not been sold out to a group of knoll raiders. Harsh survived, and managed to catch the treacherous human officer who betrayed them (gaining a scar in the process). Needless to say, this only solidified his attitude of intense distrust toward non-dwarves (though it also helped him understand how even dwarves could be driven away). On returning from his stint in the military he began preparing to move to an isolated mining community, when the temple was attacked by a coalition of bandits. He spent the next year in intense action defending the temple. Things finally came to a head when he convinced the temple leadership to allow him to take a strike force and hit the bandit camp in the wee hours of the morning. Things fell apart for him shortly after. He argued for the expulsion of all non-dwarves from the temple and surrounding towns. After all, most of the bandits where humans and half-orcs. WY should the temple be surrounded by so many potential foes? After many hours of heated discussion he left instead. He has traveled far from his home, and the chance to help retake Stoneware, and take the fight to an enemy is pleasing. Name: Larkana StoneskullAlignment: Chaotic Good Class: Fighter 1, Alchemist 5Race: Dwarf Age 69Height:Weight:Bust: Skin: Bronze Hair: Fiery tresses with a mace head braids behind her back and over her shoulders. Eyes: Emerald Strength 18 +4Dexterity 12 +1Constitution 20 +5Intelligence 18 +4Wisdom 8 -1Charisma 12 +1Hit Points 62Armor Class 25 (Armor +10, Shield +3, Dexterity +1, Natural +1)--+1 Full Plate (ACP -5, Maximum Dexterity +1, Weight 50lbs)--+1 Heavy Steel Shield (ACP -1)Saving Throws:Fortitude 6 +5 +0 +1 =d20+12Reflex 4 +1 +0 +1 =d20+6Will 1 -1 +1 +1 =d20+2Base Attack: +4--Melee +8--Missile +5--CMB +8--CMD 19 Bombs:--Thac0 +6 Touch--Damage 3d6+4 (Fire)--Splash Damage 7 (Reflex Save 16 for half)--Range 20’--Ammunition 9/Day Composite Longbow, Masterwork (+4 Strength)--Thac0 +6--Damage d8+4--Critical 20x3--Range 110--Ammunition 20+1 Dwarves War Axe--Thac0 +9--Damage d10+5--Critical 20 x3Gauntlet--Thac0 +8--Damage d3+4--Critical 20 x2Lance, Masterwork--Thac0 +9--Damage d8+4--Critical 20 x3--Reach 10’Class Features:--Alchemy--Infusions--Poison Resistance +4--Poison Use--Swift Alchemy Discoveries--Preserve Organs (25% Fortification)--Rapid Healing (5, 2 rounds/ day)Feats:--Brew Potions--Iron Hide--Mounted Combat-----Spirited Charge----Indomitable Mount: Anything Racial Abilities:Defense Training: +4 dodge bonus to AC vs giant subtype. Greed: Dwarves gain a +2 racial bonuses on Appraise checks made to determine the price of non-magical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones. Giant Hunter: Dwarves with this racial trait gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoids with the giant subtype. Furthermore, they gain a +2 bonuses on Survival checks to find and follow tracks made by humanoids with the giant subtype. This racial trait replaces the hatred racial trait. Hardy: +2 to saves vs. Poisons, Spells, and Spell Like Abilities. Stability: +4 bonuses to CMD vs bull-run or trip while standing on the ground. Stonecunning: +2 on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework such as traps or hidden doors in stone walls/floors when he passes within 10 ft. Does not have to be actively looking. Darkvision; 60’Weapon Familiarity: proficient with all battle-axes, heavy picks and war hammers. Any weapon with “Dwarves” in the title is a martial weapon. Skills:*Appraise 1 +3 +4 +2 +0 =d20+10*Craft: Alchemy 6 +3 +4 +5 +2 =d20+20*Climb 5 +3 +4 +0 -5 =d20+7*Handle Animal 5 +3 +1 +0 +0 =d20+9*Heal 6 +3 -1 +0 +3 =d20+11*Intimidate 2 +3 +1 +0 +0 =D20+6*Knowledge: Arcane 3 +3 +4 +0 +0 =d20+10*Knowledge: Engineering 2 +3 +4 +0 +0 =d20+9*Knowledge: Nature 2 +3 +4 +0 +0 =d20+9*Perception 1 +3 -1 +0 +0 =D20+3*Ride 6 +3 +1 +0 +0 =d20+10*Spell craft 5 +3 +4 +0 +0 =d20+12*Survival 1 +3 -1 +0 +0 =d20+3*Use Magic Device 6 +3 +1 +0 +0 =d20+10 Traits:--Armor Expert: -1 ACP--Indomitable Faith +1 Will Save Extracts/Day 21. Bark Skin2. Defensive Shock3. False Life 112345Formula Book:L 21. Bark Skin2. Cure Moderate Wounds* Defensive Shock3. False Life* Invisibility* Resist Energy4 Restoration: Lesser 1Ant Haul Bomber’s Eye Crafter’s Fortune Cure Light Wounds Endure Elements Expeditious RetreatIdentifyJumpPolypurpose Panacea Reduce Person See Alignment Shock Shield Touch of the Sea True Strike Gear: Magic+1 Cloak of Resistance Bag of Holding type 1Potion of Restoration, Lesser x6Potion of False Life L 3x6Mount and Mount Gear:Frenzy Exotic Saddle: Military (+2 to ride checks to stay in the saddle.) Perfected Bridle (+5 Ride, Frenzy’s face slot)Saddlebags+1 Studded Leather Jardinière: Alchemical Troll Blood Styptic x24Antitoxin x9Antiplauge x9Alchemist’s Fire x15Alchemist’s Kindness x30Blood Block x12Body Balm x12Darkflare x18Healy MHR x12Pellet Grenade: Iron x6Pellet Grenade: Silver x3Pellet Grenade: Cold Iron x3Pellet Grenade: Adamantine x3Shard Gel x6Sneezing Powder x6Sun Rods x15Tangleburn Bag x3Tanglefoot Bag x6Thunderstone x3Tinder Twigs x30Weapon Blanch: Ghost Salt x9Gear: General Backpack, Masterwork Sash, Adventurer’alchemy Lab Belt Pouch x2CrowbarGrappleKit, Alchemy crafting Animal feed (15 days)bedroll, flint and steel Kit, Cooking mess kitShovelSilk Rope x2Soap x3Outfit, Explorer’s x4Healer’s Kit Surgeon’s ToolsDwarven Stout: 10lbs Castrations, Dwarves Trail, 20 daysWaterskin. Coin:Platinum 4Gold 4Silver 9Copper 10 (FireheartDwarf Female-Far northern Tribes4'3"; 125 lbs; Yellow Hair, Blue Eyes, Fair Skin; Age 51Lawful Neutral;Languages: Common, Dwarves, Elf, Orc, Goblin Racial and Class Dwarf Racial Traits:+2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma Medium size Slow and steady: Base speed of 20' never modified by armor or enbumranceDarkvision: Can see in the dark up to 60 feet Defensive Training; +4 Dodge bonus to AC against giant subtypes Greed: +2 to Appraise skill made to determine price of nonmagical metals and gems. Hatred: +1 bonus to attacks rolls against orc and goblin subtypes Hardy: +2 bonuses on saving throws against poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities Stability: +4 bonuses to CMD when resisting bull rush and trip while standing on groundStonecunning: +2 perception to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone. Can check whenever they pass within 10' whether actively looking. Weapon Familiarity: Can use battleaxes, heavy picks, war hammers and treat any weapon with 'dwarfed' in name as martial weapon Languages: Speak Common and Dwarves. High Int can add others. Monk Class Abilities: [Zen Archer subclass] Level 1 [2nd character level taken]Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Club, crossbow[light or heavy], dagger, hand axe, javelin,Kama, Nanchang, quarterstaff, SAI. Shortspear, short sword, shrike, Shanghai, sling, spear. [from zen archer] longbows, short bows, composite longbows, and composite short bows Not Proficient with armor or shields. When wearing armor or carrying a shield loses AC Bonus, fast movement, and flurry of blows AC Bonus: When enamored and unencumbered add Wisdom bonus to AC. Gains AC and CMD Bonus at 4th level. Flurry of Blows: [Zen Archer] make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action, but only when using a bow. Does not apply STR bonus unless using composite bow. May not use Rapid shot or many shot feats with flurry of blows. [-1/-1 base]Unarmed strike: Gains 'Improved Unarmed Strike' as feat. Unarmed attacks may be done with any part of Monk body and does lethal damage and does not provoke AOO. Stunning Fist: Replaced by Perfect Strike [can use with any bow] roll 2 dice for attack 2/day Bonus Feat: Point Blank Shot-ranged +1 ATT/dam target 30' or less Unarmed damage: 1d6 [+2 STR]Saves: +2 Fort/+2 Ref/+2 Will Skills Points: 4+ Int Mod skill points [8]Witch Class Abilities: Level 5 [favored]Weapon and Armor Proficiency: All simple weapons. Not proficient with any armor or shield. Armor interfere with gestures which can cause spells to fail. Spells: Casts Arcane spells. Uses Int. [DC save is 10+ spell level+ witch's Int Mod]Can trips: Prepare a number of can trips per day. Can trip not expended when used and can be used again. Hex: magic trick [DC Save- 10 +1/2 witch's level + Int Mod]. Can be used each round as standard action [unless noted in hex]. Does NOT provoke AOO. Witch's Familiar: Like wizard familiar. Stores witch's known spells. Can not cast the spells. At 3rd level can deliver touch spells. White Monkey [+3 to master's acrobatics] Tiny animal -white "Snowball" Unit +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +5 Defense: AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 15 (+2 DEX, +2 size, +3 natural armor) hp 18 (6d8) Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +9 Offense: Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft. Melee bite +6 melee (1d3) Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft. Statistics: STR 3, DEX 15, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12, CIA 5 Base ATK +2; CMB +0; CMD 6 Feats Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +14, Climb +10, Perception +12; Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics, Alertness when within arms reach +2 perception and sense motive Improved Evasion, Share spells, Empathic link, deliver touch spells, speak with master Gain Hex at 2nd level:Gain Hex at 4th level:Saves: +1 Fort/ +1 Ref/ +4 Will Skill points per level: 2+ Int Mod [6 per level]Attributes, offense, defense Attributes:Str15 15 [+2]Con 13+2= 15 [+2]DEX 15+1= 16 [+3]Int 18 18 [+4]Wis 14+2= 16 [+3]CIA 16-2= 14 [+2]Ability add L4- +1 Exit points=38 Saves; Fort 6; Ref 6; Will 9Speed 20'; Unit; 6Offense:Unarmed Attack +2 1d6+2 CRT 20 [x2]MW Composite Short Bow +2 STR +4 1d6 +2 CRT 20 [x3]Short Sword +2 1d6+2 CRT 19-20 [x2] Nanchang +2 1d6+2 CRT 20 [x2]Improved Unarmed Strike-unarmed does lethal damage and does not give Perfect Strike [Bow]- Roll 2 ATT die take best 2/waypoint Blank Shot: +1 ATT/dam with range 30' or less Defense:10+ Armor 0+ Shield 0+ DEX 3+ Size 0+ Natural 0+ Deflect 0+ Misc 3+ [Wis mod from monk] Total AC 16 Traits, Feats, Skills:Traits: Reactionary +2 Unit; Focused Mind +2 ConcerationFeats:GM Bonus: Skill Focus-Craft: Jewelry Level 1; Scribe Scroll Level 3; Extra Hex- Cackle Level 5; Craft Wondrous Items Skills; Ranks: Ability: Trained: Misc: Total:Acrobatics 4 4 3 3 14Craft: Jewelry 6 4 3 3 16Intimidate 6 2 3 11Kn: History-Dwarf 3 4 3 0 10Kn: Planes 1 4 3 0 8Perception 6 3 3 0 12*Ride 1 4 3 0 8Sense Motive 6 3 3 0 12*Spell craft 5 4 3 12Use Magic Device 5 4 3 12Total Skill points 43 --38 -Witch/monk +5 favored class bonus* when Familiar is within arm's reach Alertness [+2 to perception and sense motive]Spells and Spell Like Abilities:Hexes: Level 1: Evil Eye - target with 30 feet [-2 on one of following; AC, ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks.] Hex lasts 3 + int Mod [7 rounds] Will save reduces to 1 round. [DC Target 16 - LVL 5] will Save Level 2: Misfortune - creature within 30 feet that fails save for 1 rd rolls 2 die and takes lowest when making ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. [DC Target 16 to save] Will save Level 3 [feat]: Cackle - move action-extends by one round any agony hex, charm hex, evil eye hex, fortune hex, or misfortune hex with in 30 feet Level 4: Slumber - Target within 30 feet falls into deep magical sleep Will Save to Negate [DC 16] Affects creatures of any HD. Patron Spells: Agility Level 2; Jump Level 4: Cat's Grace Level 6: Haste Spells:Can trips [Level 0]:bleed, dancing lights, daze, detect magic, detect poison, guidance, light, mending, message, putrefy food and drink, read magic, resistance, spark, stabilize, touch of fatigue, Level 1:Burning Hands, Command, comprehend languages, cure light wounds, detect secret doors, mage armor, mount, obscuring mist, identify, chill touch, ray of enfeeblement, jump*, ill omen, unprepared combatant, web boltLevel2:Detect Thoughts, glitter dust, summon swarm, web. Blindness/deafness, cure moderate wounds, cat's grace*carry companion, hold person, Perceive Cues, Touch of Idiocy, Level 3:Lightning Bolt, summon monster all, bestow curse, dispel magic, Mugwump’s Grace, remove curse Spells per day;Level: Class; Ability; Total 0 4 0 4 1 3 1 4 2 2 1 3 3 1 1 2Wealth: 7906 GP 1 equipment- 1448.9 GP: Weapons: MW Short Composite Bow +2 STR 575 GP [2lbs]arrows 100 5 GP [15lbs]Short Sword 10 GP [2 lbs]Dagger x2 4 GP [2 lbs]Nanchang 2 GP [2 lbs]Bedroll, blanket, caltrops, candle x10, scroll case x6, flint and steel, Ink x5, tattoo ink x5 [x5 cost], inkpenx2, paper x30, belt pouch x3,Trail rations 10 days, silk rope 100 ft, sewing needle x3, soap 3 lbs, 477.9 GP [35 lbs]antitoxin x2 100 overburning Torch x1 110 GP [1lb]Master Work Artisan tools [jeweler tools] 55 GP [5 lbs]spell component pouch 5 GP [2 lbs]explorer's outfit x3 30 GP [24 lbs]Monk's outfit 5 GP [2 lbs]Guard Dog/ war dog training 50gpguard dogmatic Items: 4245 bought:Handy Haversack 2000 bandages of rapid Recovery x2 400 camp fire bead 720 scrolls:Chill touch [L1] -copy to familiar 25 gray of Enfeeblement [L1] - copy to Familiar 25 unseen Servant [L1] - Copy to Familiar 25 blindness/deafness [L2] - Copy to familiar 150 secure moderate wounds [L2] - copy to familiar 150 bestow curse [L3] - copy to familiar 375 dispel magic [L3] - copy to Familiar 375 Gill omen [L1]- copy to familiar 25gpunprepared combatant [L1]- copy to familiar 25gpweb bolt [L1]- copy to familiar 25gpcarry companion [L2]- copy to familiar 150gphold person [L2]- copy to familiar 150 perceive Cues[L2]- copy to familiar 150 touch of Idiocy [L2]- copy to familiar 150 gpPugwampi’s Grace [L3]- copy to familiar 375 remove curse [L3] - copy to familiar 375 scroll total cost 2550 created Magic Items: 0 scrolls:Scroll 4 spells: Light Level 5 [effect lasts for 50 minutes] cost to make 12.5x 1 x5 = 62.5 each Total for scroll = 250 scroll 4 spells: Jump Level 5 [+20 to acrobatics for jump] cost to make 12.5x 1 x5 each 62.5 Total for scroll = 250 scroll 4 spells: Mage Armor Level 5 [effect lasts 5 hours +4 AC] cost to make 12.5x 1 x5 each 62.5 Total for scroll = 250 scroll 4 spells: Mage Armor Level 5 [effect lasts 5 hours +4 AC] cost to make 12.5x 1 x5 each 62.5 Total for scroll = 250 scroll 4 spells: Mage Armor Level 5 [effect lasts 5 hours +4 AC] cost to make 12.5x 1 x5 each 62.5 Total for scroll = 250 scroll 4 spells: Comprehend Languages Level 5 [lasts 50 minutes] cost to make 12.5 x1 x5 each 62.5 Total for Scroll= 250 scroll 4 spells: Mount Level 4 [summon horse or pony lasts 8 hours] cost 12.5 x1 x4 each 50 Total for Scroll= 200 scroll 4 spells: Cure Light Wounds Level 5 [heal 1d8+5] cost 12.5x 1x 5 = 62.5 each Total for Scroll= 250 scroll 4 spells: Cure Light Wounds Level 5 [heal 1d8+5] cost 12.5x 1x 5 = 62.5 each Total for Scroll= 250 scroll 4 spells: Detect secret doors Level 5 [Concentration 5 min] cost 12.5x 1x 5 = 62.5 each Total for Scroll= 250 scroll 4 spells: Identify Level 5 [+10 to spell craft check to identify] cost 12.5x 1x 5 = 62.5 each Total for Scroll= 250 scroll 4 spells: Carry Companion-cost 12.5x 2x 5 = 125 each Total for scroll= 500 scroll 4 spells: Cat's Grace Level 5 [5 min +4 to DEX] cost 12.5x 2x 5 = 125 each Total for scroll= 500 scroll 4 spells: Cat's Grace Level 5 [5 min +4 to DEX] cost 12.5x 2x 5 = 125 each Total for scroll= 500 scroll 4 spells: Cure Moderate wounds Level 5 [2d8+5 heal] cost 12.5x 2x 5 = 125 each Total for scroll= 500 scroll 4 spells: Perceive Cues 5 cost 12.5x 2x 5 = 125 each Total for scroll= 500 scroll 2 spells: Dispel magic Level 5 cost 12.5 x3 x5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 scroll 2 spells: Dispel magic Level 5 cost 12.5 x3 x5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 scroll 2 spells: Remove Curse Level 5 cost 12.5 x3 x5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 scroll 2 spells: Bestow Curse Level 5 cost 12.5 x3 x5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 scroll 2 spells: Summon Monster all [ape]- Level 5 Cost 12.5 x3 x5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 GP 1 Ape -Celestial template Resist acid/cold/electricity 5Scroll 2 spells: summon monster all [wolf L2] Level 5 Cost 12.5x 3x 5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 GP 1d3 Wolf- Celestial template Resist Acid/cold/electricity 5Scroll 2 spells: summon monster all [wolf L2] Level 5 Cost 12.5x 3x 5 = 187.5 each Total for scroll= 375 GP 1d3 Wolf- Celestial template Resist Acid/cold/electricity 5Inscribe Tattoos:Background:There are some dwarf clans that are not spoken of in good terms. Those of the north lands are one such clan. Unusual in looks with yellow hair and fair skin. There the clans also allow a few to explore powers no self-respecting dwarf should. That is how Aria came to be trained as she was. She was born with magic in her but had a calling from an arcane power. Her blood burned with the elements, and she found herself drawn to hidden ways. After being excepted she took the time to get trained as an archer to help defend Harte and keep. As time passed she found a male, and they became lovers, but a great battle drove out the clan and the survivors began to wander. Her, her lover and her brother drifted to other dwarf clans, but it seemed they always found out about her 'gifts'Finally after a long trek they found a place in a dwarf city [current locale]. Her now husband and brother had brought with them some of the rare blue iron used to make cold steel and began forging as she found work with the lore keepers writing up lovely looking records as well as doing tattoos. Against her wishes her husband and brother left with the band that went seeking Stoneware Keep and never returned. It was not long after the stumbling return of the dying dwarf that the elder dames discover that Aria was a Witch and the insults, taunts, slurs and suggestions began. It was suggested she was the cause for the failure and words almost never said about a dwarf were whispered. Witch. Seductress. Slut. Evil. So when she saw the notice she barely blinked before hurrying to her tiny place to gather her gear. She would find her husband and brothers bodies and give them a proper burial or die trying. Personality:Aria tends to be quiet and watchful, Careful in her words and actions. Yet she has a fire temper and is passionate about many things. She is a good deal more surface like in her attire. Tending toward long dress's with slits to above the knees on each side as well as deeper cleavage then normal. She is pretty and very well-built and before being accused as being evil had several dwarf lings hanging around the young widow. Aria is a loyal friend to those she lets in past her guard. She has a dry sense of humor and her blue eyes will twinkle with mirth at many things. She likes a good ale and fine wine and keeps her self well groomed even so far as trimming her hair.

Stonegard Keep - Cast of Characters|rating:2.0

The Elf and the Ogre(MelindaTheLillyxZanalyrander)

Tanya had often found herself being one of the more seclusive elves of her clan. More out of embarrassment of being inept at nearly every talent that every other elf had ease mastering. Having little to no affinity to magic, no exceptional balance or dexterity, or even the speed and grace of her kind. Even her ability to sing that was treasured among the village wasn't even good compared to human standards. Her one saving grace was her beauty. Being just on five foot one, she was curvier than most of her kind. Her braided blonde hair had traces of gold in the light as it went as far as her lower back. Her green eyes had a brim of blue around the outside, giving them a gem-like quality. Furthermore, her face dotted with freckles across her small mouse nose giving contrast to her full lips. Furthermore, her hips weren't particularly wide, which made her rump seem larger than it was. Carrying a heart shape when looked on from behind. Her bust was sealed up tightly in a tunic that seemed like it was made for one much taller, but with a much smaller chest. The green fabric pressed tightly to her form, the bottom of the tunic had a dress hem poorly sewn onto it. Just another trait she didn't share from those that shared her blood. Vanya had always preferred to be barefoot, and today was no different. Sighing to herself, it was already midday, and she was just now waking up. Her small villa was on the outskirts of the clan's village, Cushing into the nearby forest that slowly climbed the surrounding mountains. Carrying only a small foraging knife, she went out to get her daily food. If she had a talent, it was her memory for the path that led her up the mountain to a nice little patch of berry bushes with a stream running next to in. Being nearly a two-hour walk at her leisurely pace, today was no different. Humming to herself as she lost herself in thoughts of miraculously finding a talent that she would be perfect at, daydreaming as her feet led her to the source of her nourishment. URL was a very frustrated ogre. The main reason for this was that he was not just an ogre, he was an ogre mage, a powerful variety of ogre with light green skin that had all the strength of the mundane variety, but also possessed an innate talent for the arcane and vast intelligence which dwarfed even the intellect of most humans or elves. However, there were not many ogre mages, and they are usually born by chance to mundane ogre parents. The problem with this, is that most ogres are dumber than a sack of hammers, and as such, URL found them dreadfully boring. As a result, he tended to live by himself, furthering his study of magic in solitude. However, the problem was that such solitude could get quite lonely, and while URL did not want to spend any time with his own kind, he also had the desire to mate, just like any other being. Unfortunately, it did not help that he found female ogres to be repulsive, and found that human and even females were far more attractive. As such, URL had decided to kidnap an even maiden from the nearby clan to use as his personal concubine. It would also just be nice to have some company in addition to a sex slave. He was currently scouting out the area, under a magical invisibility spell that he could use at will. It was then that he spotted Tanya as she entered the forest, and he made up his mind instantly. This was the one. The girl was absolutely beautiful, her body shapely and curvaceous, and her face rather attractive. She would do perfectly. The only possible problem he foresaw was how small she was. Given that URL stood a full ten feet tall, she was barely more than half his height, and given the differences in their sizes, sexual intimacy could be somewhat... painful for her. But he could work around that, and besides, he was an accomplished wizard, her body could always be altered via magic should the need arise. As the even maiden drew closer, URL crept up behind her and suddenly seized her, pinning her to a nearby tree with unseen hands. It was only then that the ogre mage became visible. URL was huge. As stated before, he was around ten feet tall, with broad shoulders, massive muscles, and a wide frame. He was clearly exceptionally fit, and while he was not attractive by human or even standards, he was fairly handsome for an ogre (not saying much, but still). "Do not bother screaming." he growled as he held the girl still. "I have put up a field of silence around us, no one will hear you." It was true, URL had prepared for this. He had to admit, the girl had a wonderful body, and he could feel how soft she was. This would be quite enjoyable, he could tell. It all happened so fast. Tanya had been simply walking, when she found herself pinned up against a tree by an unseen force. It felt like a hand, only much, much larger. Opening her mouth to scream, she only let out a gasp as she saw the green skinned monster that held her. It took her several moments of silent staring in terror for his words to sink in. Her skin that was a usual tan turned pale quickly as she struggled fruitlessly against his iron grasp. After a moment to futile trying she swallowed hard, trying a second tactic." P-p...please, don't eat me..." She managed to get out. Trying to manage some footing with her legs, she managed nothing. Whimpering lightly, she bit her lower lip. Completely at the mercy of the massive ogre. "I... I won't tell anyone... Just... Please let me go." She asked softly, her voice breaking as she paused. His thick scent assaulting her senses as she groaned, trying hard to adjust herself against the tree to avoid discomfort. URL sighed irritably as the even girl spoke. "You know, I have come to expect such things from humans, given their penchant for superstition, but I must admit I had thought elves slightly more learned." he said with only a slightly exasperated tone. It was probably quite obvious from his words that this was not the average ogre, his eloquence made it clear that he was far more intelligent than some savage brute, perhaps more so than the woman speaking to him. "Ogres usually do not eat humans nor elves, there are far easier, far more appetizing prey for times when we are seeking mere sustenance. Most ogres that kill those such as yourself would do so out of simple bloodlust or boredom." he explained." I am not here to kill you my dear, though I am willing to bet you will not enjoy my intentions either, at least not at first." he admitted. With one massive, powerful hand, URL tore the girl's clothes from her body. "I am, I confess in search of a pet, a plaything. And you seem like you will be quite adequate." As he spoke, the ogre mage was rubbing the girl's supple breasts with his large fingers, teasing nipples with a certain dexterity that one normally would no associate with a being so large. "As such," he concluded," I am afraid that my intention is not to murder you, but to rape you." The ogre mage did not sound cruel or vile when he spoke, but there was a certain horrific undercurrent to what he said, as he discussed rape and murder without batting an eye. Tanya had felt slightly more at ease. Somehow this wasn't what she had ever expected from an ogre. The rather rough pinning to the tree, yes, the speech and openness, No. With the fear of not being eaten or randomly killed like the stories, she released a sigh of relief. Still trying to resist, she found a new strength once he continued speaking. She let out a loud scream, forgetting anything he had said even before his massive paw of a hand tore free her dress-tunic. Her face turned from pale to crimson, as she was only wearing the single article of clothing. She tried to scream a second time, but found a moan escape her lips instead. Biting her lower lip, her face turned even more red as she heard herself. His touch was far more graceful than ever expected, she cursed at her body for betraying her in such a moment. Struggling once more, she thrashed what little she could as she went to scream again. This time, the proper shriek escaping her lips as she called out for someone, anyone to save her. Hearing him calmly say what he intended for her future was enough to make her sick. His smell filling her once more, she tried to pull away from him. To do anything to put a distance. Suddenly stopping she whimpered once more. Mumbling softly to herself as tears began to fall down her cheeks to meet at her soft chin. "Why...why me... I don't... I don't understand... Furthermore, I didn't do anything wrong" She whispered to herself between her mumbling. The warmth of the ogre's hands keeping the crisp air from her body was the only thing she was thankful for. The ogre mage winced slightly as the girl screamed loudly for help. "Did you already forget what I said? No one can hear you, all you are doing by shrieking like a banshee is wearing yourself out and annoying me." he said with mild irritation. He sighed and decided it would be best to get on with it, see if the girl was worth taking home with him. If she was, he would take her back to be his concubine, and she would have plenty of time to get over the loss of her previous life. As he held the girl to the tree, URL undid his pants with his free hand, revealing hisenormousmember. URL was well-endowed even for an ogre, and that was saying quite a bit. This was partially why he was concerned about the girl's size, as handling such a massive prick would be difficult for her. He decided to be merciful, and summoned up his magic, his hand glowing for a moment as he cast a small spell on her that would temporarily make her flesh slightly elastic. This would keep him from tearing anything inside of her, and reduce the pain she felt for when he penetrated her. If he ended up taking her home, he would likely cast a permanent version of this spell once he had time to prepare it." No my dear, I'm sure that you have done nothing wrong. But unfortunate things happen to good people all the time. Entire villages are slaughter by bands of orcs or hobgoblins. None of them did anything wrong either. The world is often entirely unfair." he said calmly, his huge rod prodding at her cunt. "But you know, your fate may not be quite as horrid as it seems right now." With that, he slowly slid himself into her slit, taking her gently at first, no need to make her suffer, she hadn't been too difficult yet. Tanya glared at him as he spoke, trying to unpin herself once more as he undid his pants. She froze as soon as she even saw the base of the ogres 'endowment'. Her mind flashing to her one previous experience in such things. The man who had come as a trader to the village had won her with sweet words, and in the same forest she was in now went a bit further. However, after getting riled up during her last experience, she received nothing except an eruption on her face as the man was clearly too excited, after which he departed without a word. Leaving her speechless. The massive tree trunk, which was what she considered it as it got closer, she doubted would give her a similar mercy. Feeling the ogre's magic, she only then noticed just how wet she was. Feeling two twin drips sliding down her inner thighs as she cringed, her face red as she hoped he wouldn't notice. It had to be her memory of the man who left her with more than a little desire, she refused to accept that she was actually wanting to feel that huge green phallus that throbbed between the ogre's legs. She bit her lower lip, hard. Drawing a small dribble of blood as she screamed between her teeth. Despite the fact that her pink lips held, it felt like they were being torn far worse than she could have ever imagined. Suddenly gasping, she squeezed her abdomen and legals, trying hard to force the monster out. Before even four of the thick inches entered, her eyes suddenly closed, and she saw green fireworks sparkle across her closed eyelids. Crying out, this time in a much more pleasurable fashion. She felt herself be widened just a little more as she released a torrent of her juices, squirting onto her assailant's shaft and sack. Her eyes opened, she couldn't believe what just happened. It hurt, it hurt so bad... but she just came. Tanya gasped, breathing hard as she felt him gently force himself inside. Her mind flashed, her toes curling as a tingling raced up her spine. Why did it feel so good, he was like a horse, and she couldn't help but moan out again? She could feel her insides pushed around, his massive length shoving practically into her womb and pushing it up into her belly, causing a visible bulge from her tummy as she tensed, still trying to fruitlessly squeeze him out. His every throb causing a pulse of pleasure to race from her eyelids to her toes and fingertips. URL was every bit as surprised as Tanya when the elf girl climaxed. He knew that the spell he had used to make her more elastic would reduce the pain and thus allow her to feel more pleasure, but he had not expected her to actually orgasm, much less so quickly. "My, I must confess I did not expect such a... positive response." he admitted, probably further humiliating the even maiden. By now he could see the obvious bulge in her abdomen from the massive invader within her, stretching her out in a way that was breathtaking to behold. The girl's spasms and cries of pleasure did not go unnoticed. URL speculated that the elf girl had likely never been properly pleasured before, never been given the sexual attention she deserved. Well, that would change soon enough. He began to move his hips, his massive prick rocking back and forth within her, in and out, in and out. He started off slowly to give the girl time to adjust to his huge manhood moving within her small form. Furthermore, he then gripped her by her hips and began to thrust properly, a small smack heard whenever he halted himself in her tiny body. As the ogre mage used the young elf like she was a sex toy, his free hand began to gently rub her swollen clitoris, teasing the little nub playfully as his giant phallus plundered the depths of her womanhood. He was raping her, but she seemed to be enjoying herself physically if not mentally, so he might as well capitalize on the advantage he had, bringing the girl even more pleasure as his thrusts continued to gradually accelerate, still holding back the majority of his strength for now. URL was usually a fairly patient man, and could wait for her to be ready before truly fucking her senseless. "I... I wasn't... No" She was talking more to herself. Tanya still hadn't accepted that she had climaxed so soon, and even a second time. Her breasts bounced with each thrust as the smacking 'clap' of her thighs meeting his hips came with each hard thrust. Her insides were in painful disarray, feeling like she was being torn apart. Furthermore, her breath fell short, suddenly silently gasping for air like a fish on land. He had struck her lungs, and not only one, but both at once. It took her nearly a full minute until she got a short inhale followed by rapid breaths. Trying not to fill her lungs again for fear of being actually hurt, she bit her lower lip as she blushed. Her nipples were hard enough to cut diamond, and they were more than just a little sensitive after her first ordeal. Whimpering as she tried not to cry out, she still didn't want to accept how painfully good it felt. Every bounce sending a pulse of pleasure through her body. However, once his hand found her swollen clit, she lost it. She could have been held upright on his massive cock without him holding her, the thought not helping her situation. She held onto her will, trying not to give him any pleasure, or embarrass her further with another comment. She failed, sounding like she was in a whore house. Her moan was louder than her initial scream of terror. It was nearing her fifth time orgasming, and this time she backed it by cumming again. A second released squirted entirely from beneath the giant green phallus, giving his sack a quick soaking. She couldn't help but to be glad that she had cum so early at first. The moisture greatly easing the slowly less painful thrusts as her pink lips were starting to get used to being stretched so wide already. 'It's his spell, it's not me... he did something' she told herself repeatedly as she cried out again, her hands trying to move to hold her breasts and keep them still. URL was amazed at how receptive the girl's body was, her pleasure painfully obvious as she moaned shamelessly. He could already feel her tightening again as she orgasmed yet again, further coating his prick in her juices. He had to admit, this was going far differently than he expected though not in a bad way. Furthermore, he had certainly not expected the girl to enjoy herself this much... heck, she seemed to be enjoying this more than he was! And this couldn't have been entirely his magic, the spell was nowhere near this potent. Now that the girl was really getting into it, URL knew he didn't have to hold back nearly as much, and began to thrust in earnest, his enormous prick pounding her wonderfully slick, tight cunt. His fingers still danced along her clitoris, now upping the tempo to keep up with his powerful thrusts. At the same time, the ogre mage pulled the girl away from the tree so that the was held up only by his hands and massive cock, jamming her up and down along his shaft in time with his deep, gut-stretching thrusts. He had already made up his mind that this girl was the one, she would make a perfect concubine. But for now, he still wanted to enjoy her more. Tanya was convinced it was the spell, her hand hugged across her breasts to keep them from bouncing, even the slight 'jiggle' was enough to warrant a subdued cry. Her other went to her belly, feeling it pulse out as his cock pushed its way inside, feeling it throb even through her tummy. Her eyes widened, she hadn't looked down yet. The base of the green monsters cock was completely inside when he pulled her down, she was spread wider than she ever thought possible. Her eyes closed as familiar fireworks exploded, her toes spasming now rather than curling. Her body was beginning to go into overload. Furthermore, her mouth was dry from her cried, her tears still streamed. A reaction to the pain and lack of air from every tenth or so thrust. She was suddenly caught by another wave of pleasure. Her hand from her tummy moving to his giant hand that toyed with her clit, trying to push it away. It was too much. She closed her eyes tightly, her legs beginning to lose their feeling as she cried out again and again. URL grunted with pleasure as the girl seemed to orgasm again and again. He had to admit, her body was amazing. Most girls would be in intense pain, but she seemed to be loving this, whether she wanted it or not. URL was not truly evil, not like most of his kind, but he did have some minor sadistic tendencies, and he found the girl's tear-streaked cheeks absolutely beautiful. He was now putting even more strength into his thrusts, slamming loudly into the girl's cunt again and again, her abdomen stretching outward with every violent plunge of his shaft. Urx finally decided to finish the girl off. He pushed the elf to the ground, pulling out of her wet pussy only to impale the girl's asshole. Thankfully, her juices had already lubricated his cock quite well, so he actually slid into the girl fairly easily. His thrusts were now hard and fast, the sheer force of his drilling pinning the girl to the ground as he fucked her doggy-style. He ignored her desperate attempts to push his hand away from the clitoris, and continued the relentless assault, teasing her sensitive pearl without mercy. Finally, he could hold on no longer and halted his prick in her anus on final time with an immensely powerful thrust. His cock throbbed inside of her nether hole, and a veritable flood of his hot seed filled her guts, pouring more and more liquid warmth into her body. He then finally pulled out, still having enough cum left to utterlydrenchthe girl, coating her from head to toe in his seed. He smiled down at her conquered form. "Yes, I think you will do quite nicely." he said with a smile as he lifted her cum-soaked body like she didn't way a thing and putting her over his shoulder as he began to make the trek back to his lair, which would be Tanya's new home for the rest of her life. Tanya couldn't explain the sudden emptiness she felt from the brief moment that his thick cock left her body. She almost begged him to put it back in, however she didn't get a chance to. While her pink lips were still gaping showing off her battered insides, she knew she was bruised all over inside. Her eye widened, but not nearly as much as her red ring did. Her cry this time was far less than pleasurable. She had never even thought of her rear end as a receptacle, and here she was losing her cherry in two of her virgin holes from this monster. She never even had time to adjust to the painful stretching before she was suddenly hit by the feeling something hot and thick filling her quickly. Furthermore, she screamed even louder, it was all wrong. Her tears flowed violently as she cringed. Her intestines being pumped full of his seed, going all the way to fill her stomach to the point of bulging it out before his cock popped out. The next feeling was more terrifying. She was left with the empty feeling once more, but with both of her holes gaping wide. Showered with the cum, she laid on the ground shivering. Half in horror and half in pain. She had just accepted the monster. She tried to crawl, to keep some of her dignity. The sticky, hot cum was everywhere, her hair matted to her body as she cried. Suddenly hoisted up, she was thrown onto the ogres shoulder. It was too much, darkness finally took her. Passing out into a dream, her body aching and bruised from the abuse. When the elf girl awoke, she would find herself in a relatively dark room, though elves were far more accustomed to low light than the average human, so she could probably see just fine. She was still naked, though her body had been cleaned and was no longer stained with the ogre mage's seed. She bore a collar about her neck, with a long, durable leash that fastened her to a nearby wall." Ah, you are awake." came her captors voice from his desk. The room was furnished oddly for an ogre's lair. It was clearly a cave of some sort, but the bookshelves, alchemical apparatuses, enchanter's work benches and the like made the lair look more like a wizard's study, which, to be fair, it actually was. "I hope there is no undo wear and tear." He had already cast a permanent version of the spell from earlier on her. Thankfully, as a result of her increased elasticity, her holes had returned to their original size, though they would now stretch easier, so there would be slightly less pain from accommodating his enormous girth. "Welcome to my home, and now, your home as well." he said with a smile, standing up from his desk. Tanya had trouble at first moving her legs. Her spasms earlier having exhausted her body, the ache of her bruised insides causing her to groan as she woke. Feeling bloated, she saw she still had a little bulge from the massive amount of seed she had taken in. Her hands slid over her body, sighing relief that she was clean, especially her hair. Having worried about getting the substance out of her hair before, she couldn't help but smile. Blushing as she found her pink, hairless slit was back to normal. Further examining showed that her rump had healed too. Hearing his voice, she cringed. Just now noticing her surroundings as she slowly got up, her hands tracing around the collar. She didn't care for his attempt at being polite. Frowning, she covered her breasts with one arm and her sex with her other. "This isn't my home... You have me leashed like some pet... You got your fun, just let me go." Her voice came out hoarse at first, gaining its softness as she continued. Swallowing, she had seen him from waist up before, now she truly grasped his size. Literally being twice her height, she felt her bottom lip quiver. "Please... At least some clothes..." She asked softly. If URL was displeased by her reaction, it certainly didn't show. In truth, he had expected her to be a bit unhappy about the change in her life, and had been prepared for far worse. "So you say, but since you are never leaving here, except perhaps with me, I'd say this is your home. And yes, I'd say that is fairly accurate. Yearly pet now. And no, I have not 'had my fun', what I did was just a test to see if you were worth taking as my concubine, and I must say, you passed with flying colors." URL's tone implied that he was genuinely impressed. The elf girl had indeed exceeded his expectations, and would make an even better sex slave than he had anticipated. At her request for clothing, he nodded. "Very well, I suppose there is no immediate need for you to be nude." He held up a hand and chanted an incantation under his breath. The elf girl could likely see the magic gather around his hand, and suddenly she was clothed in a seductively tailored black cocktail dress. The dress fit her very well, hugging her curves in a way that only accentuated her gorgeous figure, the short skirt and low neckline making her look undeniably sexy. He had neglected to conjure underwear for the girl, but at this point any clothing was probably better than nothing." Allow me to explain. My name is URL, URL Valcrestrian. The last name is something I came up with myself, ogres usually forgo the use of surnames, so I chose the last name of an author whom I respect. I am, as you may have gathered, an gorge mage, a rarer breed of ogre with an innate talent for matters arcane. Might I know your name my dear?" he asked pleasantly. URL was almost a walking contradiction. His appearance was like that of a monster, his actions like those of a villain, and his words like those of a gentleman. The overall effect could be a bit disconcerting. Once clothed, Tanya felt a bit better. Though she couldn't help but notice the lack of undergarments. The outfit designed to show her body off, she blushed. Pacing back and forth as far as the leash a collar would allow as she listened to him. Her breathing slightly elevating as it truly sank in, the situation of being completely at the mercy of the gigantic monster. Swallowing, she looked at him. Fear in her eyes as she heard his question." It's Tanya.... Elves are named for their..." She paused, looking at her feet as she spoke. "Talents... so I only have Tanya as my name." She blushed as she said it, admitting to her own downfalls once more. Slowly sinking to her knees, she felt her lower lip tremble. "You're.... You're not going to... to make me pregnant are you?" Not knowing of the compatibility, she was sure she was the only elf to ever survive such an assault from an ogre. Thumbing the hem of the cocktail dress, she looked up at him slowly. His size dwarfing her even more as she sat on her heels. URL was a bit surprised by Tanya's words. She had no talent? That surprised him... her body was incredible, and could endure and even enjoy what few women could. Perhaps that was her talent? Being a perfect sex slave? He did not voice these musings, just chuckled lightly to himself. His chuckles grew as she voiced her fears. "Make you pregnant? My dear, I am fairly certain an ogre impregnating an elf is impossible without the aid of magic. Your elves may be able to interbreed with humans, but that does not hold true for all species. And while the magics required to impregnate you are certainly well within my range of ability, I have no interest in using them on you." her replied." Now, I admit, plenty of mating will certainly occur, but you need not worry about the long term consequences. I certainly intend to make you my concubine, but you will certainly not need to worry about being my mate, I have no real interest in actually procreating, since there is no guarantee that my children would not just be common ogres, and I have no desire to create more of those emptied-headed savages." he said with a certain amount of disdain. Tanya didn't try to hide the sigh of relief that swept over her. Feeling much better, she slowly got up. She noticed that the smell in the ogre's living area wasn't nearly as potent as what she was smelling earlier on him. 'It must have been his musk...' She thought as she tugged on the hem of her outfit once more. Slowly walking forward, she began to ask yet another question. "What... did you do to- ACK!" Forgetting the leash that held her collar, she reached the limit of it and fell backwards onto her rump. Coughing for a moment as she had choked herself for a brief moment. Quickly pulling the cocktail waitress skirt down to cover her sex, she quickly got up. "ERM... What did you do to... well... I know what happened earlier wasn't a dream..." Her hand went to her stomach, her insides still felt a little battered, but other than that she felt fine. "How did you... Make me back to normal?" She asked. Hearing him speak of the other ogres with disdain, she couldn't help but feel a second wave of relief pass over her. Her over active imagination thinking that ogres shared in their finds. She looked at him from the edge of her leash, still not quite used to the foreign sight of him. URL tried not to chuckle as the elf girl practically clothesline herself with the leash she now wore. He paused for a moment before deciding to change something. Ignoring her question for the time being, he chanted softly to himself, his eyes and her collar glowing with magic for a moment. Suddenly, the chain holding her to the wall shattered, leaving the collar behind, which now pulsed with magical runes. However, she could see a wispy, near invisible chain connecting her to URL himself rather than the wall. "I figured that chain would feel rather restrictive, so now you simply must stay within a certain radius of me rather than the wall. I can extend or shorten that distance at will." he explained, demonstrating by slowly shortening the radius to gently pull her over to him, being careful not to choke her again." As for what I did, I have applied a minor enchantment to your body which makes your flesh slightly elastic. That way my attentions will not be so painful as they would normally be, as accommodating my manhood would probably tear your flesh under normal circumstances. As I am sure you noticed earlier, I am quite large, and I would prefer you not suffer too much from mating with me." he said pulling the girl into his lap. "This has the added benefit of allowing your body to retain its shape even after such intense stretching." he continued as he put his arms about her. "However, I must confess, your body was already rather impressive before any magic of mine was applied... I did nothing to increase your pleasure, yet from a purely objective physical point of view, you seemed to enjoy my attentions earlier more than I did, though I am certain that mentally you enjoyed them far less." he added, stroking her back and buttocks as he spoke. "It surprised me, I wasn't expecting you to take such pleasure from the experience, not that such a response is a bad thing, as I said I would prefer you enjoy your time as my concubine, but it was unexpected to say the least." Urx stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I must ask, have you ever noticed yourself displaying any masochistic tendencies? Feeling pleasure when you should feel pain? I am still trying to explain your response to our intercourse, and that is one of the few explanations I have found that makes sense. So, have you ever found yourself to enjoy pain, even if only in a sexual context?" he asked curiously. Tanya couldn't help the powerless feeling when the chain broke only to be replaced by a new one. Stepping quickly to keep up with the pull, she came to the ogre's side and quickly found herself on his lap. 'He smells so strong...' She blushed as she swallowed once. Hearing him explain so calmly what he had done, she felt like little more than a tool for pleasure. Feeling a warmth come to her cheeks, she held in her gasp. His wandering hand went down to her butt and back up. She swallowed as she held a hand at the hem of the cocktail dress. Her other fanned the low neckline of the outfit. She adjusted herself on his lap, her face turning crimson as he finished his first statement about altering her body. Her memories flashing of the feeling she had when he took her. She looked at his chest and swallowed once more. Speaking in little more than a whisper. "You... you were my first." She said softly, thinking of her time in the forest. Catching herself, she quickly looked at the ground, feeling more than a little dampness creeping out of her inner thighs. 'Why do I keep feeling this way?' She asked herself silently. Not looking at him when she answered his next question, she kept her eyes on the floor. Hoping he wouldn't notice what was happening on his lap. His thick smell causing her to breath slightly elevated. "ERM... No... Not that I know of..." Thinking to her one time with the man who came before she even took him in her mouth, she winced. "Well... not physically... no." Thinking of how she felt when he had finished abruptly and left her to clean up the mess. She couldn't recall any event that left her with more wanting. URL stroked his chin, clearly intrigued by the girl's strange body. He also certainly noticed how wet she was getting, and he found that quite interesting as well. It was very odd that the girl was getting aroused by this, and he was eager to determine the reasons behind it. Did she get off on domination? On pain? On fear? The last seemed unlikely, oddly enough, the girl did not seem particularly scared at the moment... "Well, as much as I would find it intriguing to determine why exactly you took such pleasure in my actions earlier, a thorough, scientific testing of your fetishes would likely be a bit overkill. I suppose I will discover what makes you tick in good time, we will have plenty of time to learn what pleases each other." he said with a smile. Interestingly, though he was not really aware of it, URL kind of had low self-esteem in that the idea that the girl found him genuinely sexually attractive never even crossed his mind as a possibility... He was an ogre after all, the idea that she would find him sexy seemed absurd." For now, I can see and even smell your arousal, so I think now might be an appropriate time for another session." he said, his huge prick already hardening at the thought of burying his manhood in her wondrously tight cunt or ass once more. With a snap of his fingers, Tanya's clothes vanished, leaving her stark naked. "If you would, my dear, make your way over to the bed," he gestured to the very large bed of which he spoke, "And get down on your hands and knees." Though polite, his words were still clearly a command, and given her current situation, it was fairly obvious that she had no hope of resisting him. Though given how obviously aroused she was, there was a chance that the elf girl did not evenwantto resist... Tanya released a shriek at the sudden disappearance of her clothes. Covering her breasts with her hands. She bit her lower lip and looked up at him from his lap, her eyes watering as she gulped. Staring at him for a long moment before silently nodding. Sliding off of his lap, she kept her arms across her bust. Walking over to the bed, she intentionally took as long as she could. 'I'm just something for him to use...' she felt a tear come down to her cheek. Quickly rubbing her left arm across her face and eyes, she wiped away the silly tears and took a serious face. 'I have a use... maybe this is what I was meant to be... Tanya Ogre toy'She held her small giggle in, the thought bringing a sudden smile to her face. Though she was halfway joking in her thoughts, she couldn't help but feel a little bit of satisfaction in having a surname. She climbed onto the large bed. On her hands and knee's, she crawled to the center of the bed and looked up over her shoulder. Her rump was perked into the air, her hair mostly on her back and around her neck. The air on her wet sex only causing it to pucker gently once. Blushing, she tried her best to give the green ogre a smile as she was presented for him at his request. "L...like this... mister URL?" She blinked once, her cheeks turning pink slowly. URL had expected the girl to be reluctant, it would take a while for her to get used to being his concubine. He couldn't expect her to start enjoying it right aw- was she smiling? Did she just giggle? For a moment, the ogre mage had a look of utter bewilderment at the girl's sudden mood swing, one that only intensified as she climbed onto the bed on her hands and knees, smiled directly at him, and respectfully asked him if her position was satisfactory. He was quite frankly amazed. Her pose was shamelessly erotic, his cock hardening simply from looking at her. Slowly, the ogre's face twisted into a big grin. "Yes pet, that is perfect." The ogre shed what little clothing he wore and made his way over to the bed, gently resting a hand on her buttocks, a single finger reaching down to stroke her pussy. "You are being much more obedient all of a sudden." he said with a pleased smile. "I think a reward is in order for that. Which hole would you prefer my dear? Your master is going to give you a treat." he purred, gently and playfully prodding her holes, alternating between the lips of her pussy and her pink ring-piece. URL wanted to show his new pet how he rewarded enthusiasm and obedience. Tanya couldn't believe he was surprised by her obedience. She had quite fully learned how powerless she was to resist back in the forest. Being warned first, and actually having a bed didn't seem nearly as bad. She swallowed once, not know if it was a trick or not. Her thoughts remembering that he finished in her rump last time, her voice broke as she spoke. "My... My ass." Her answer based on what she assumed he would enjoy more. The sensation of his thick fingers on his sex, sliding up and down as he alternated between holes. The feel of her wetness rubbing around her tight pink ring causing her to involuntarily pucker it once." You... You can do whatever makes you happy." She faced the bed, looking down at it as she felt a rush of warmth come to her face. Embarrassed by herself as she gave him free rein, tensing up expectantly as she grabbed fistfuls of the thick blanket upon the bed. Lowering her shoulders to meet the mattress as she planted her face then in the blanket, allowing her to further raise and expose herself to him. URL smiled as she asked him to use her ass, and asked that he do what ever made him happy. She was surprisingly submissive. True, resisting him would be fairly futile at this point, but still, neither had been calling for help through a wall of silence, so he had not associated extreme rationality with the girl's personality. The ogre mage then began to prod her tight asshole. "Very well." he said simply, and began to slowly, gently insert himself into her tight nether hole. This was far different from the first time he had fucked her ass, which had been sudden and brutal. Now he was being almost tender, slowly easing his way inside of her and giving her time to adjust. Once he was fairly certain she was ready, he began to thrust, slowly at first, gradually building up speed so she had time to get used to his huge prick fucking her ass. Meanwhile, his hands fastened to her sensitive breasts, teasing her nipples as he slowly worked into a rhythm, his powerful hips driving his manhood deep into her anus, stretching her abdomen visibly as he took advantage of the elasticity of her flesh. With her sensitivity to pain decreased and sensitivity to pleasure increased, this would be night and day from her first experience with anal, and would be immensely pleasurable for the elf girl, the wonderful friction sending waves of ecstasy through both of them. Tanya tensed up as she felt his massive length begin to press against her tiny hole. Unable to fight the instinct to resist, her eyes opened wide as she stretched once more to accommodate his endowment. Squeezing the blankets tightly, she felt as though he was turning her outside in. He previous experience had her soaked with her own juices acting as a lubricant. While he did wet her hole lightly with his thumb, it wasn't the same. Wincing, he bit her lower lip. Her left arm going down and grasping her abdomen as she felt him through her skin, her insides being pushed aside with ease as she took him. Closing her eyes, she began to think slowly. 'Nice and slow... yes... just don't go' His cock hit a rather sensitive spot, causing her to cry out. "Harder, Faster! Please!" Her thought finished out loud in the form of a yell. Moaning out, it took her several moments to fully grasp what she had just said. His hands upon her breasts setting her off as she bit her lower lip harder. Bracing herself as she felt the blanket getting wet at her knees. Cringing as she hoped her accidental slip up wouldn't be too painful. URL was quite surprised to hear Tanya cry out for more, begging him to fuck her harder and faster (though he had no way of knowing her words and desires were not one and the same). He smiled, glad to hear her getting into it, and decided to accommodate her. Thankfully for Tanya, the ogre mage had at least some presence of mind, and cast a small grease spell which lubricated his cock quite nicely as it slid in and out of her asshole. Still, in accordance with her expressed wishes, he began to accelerate his thrusts, gradually picking up speed and power. He was still taking his time to allow her to adjust, but it wasn't long before he was truly pounding her anus, the slaps of flesh on flesh as he halted himself in her guts quite audible. As with before, each massive thrust resulted in a huge bulge in the shape of URL's manhood to be visible through the elf's abdomen, but now that bulge would be a source of pleasure rather than pain, as her nerves had been altered slightly to enjoy the sensation of being stretched out so thoroughly. This was not to say there would not be pain as well, but the pleasure would still be more prominent, and so the pain would likely only serve to highlight and sharpen her ecstasy. Meanwhile, URL was definitely enjoying himself. The girl was wonderfully tight, and the elasticity spell made her stretchy enough so that she was notuncomfortablytight. He had intended to shape the girl into the perfect sex toy, and it seemed that such a goal would be far more easily attained than first thought. It was all Tanya could do to brace herself, however the buildup of pleasure had not gone unnoticed. In the midst of her attempt to relax herself to take his massive shaft with ease, she had allowed herself a moment of internal weakness. Her entire body clenched, her insides spasmed, her toes curled as her hands raked across the blanket. Burying her face, she couldn't accept the sounds she was making. Her scream was heard beneath the covers as her ass puckered even as it was being rammed into roughly. Her orgasm lasted what seemed for an eternity. Furthermore, her body too taxed to squirt, she merely gushed her sweet juices down her thighs. Furthermore, her legs only supporting her due to the momentum in his thrusts. Tanya was trapped in a combination of sweet pleasure, pain, and pure ecstasy. Finally, it ended, gasping loudly her face came up from the blanket. Realizing she was breathing for the first time in nearly a full minute, her eyes were watered nearly enough to drop tears. Still holding herself, she fought for control of that one part. Her hand still on her abdomen, feeling the thick head of his oiled shaft pound into her palm with each thrust. She lifted her head back, turning to look up at him over her shoulder. 'Ogre toy indeed... what would the town think...' The sudden thought of being released once used up filled her with dread. Her desire to please him stimulated, she wanted nothing but to not be ashamed of what she was doing. If she stayed, or even never returned... who would know? Catching herself as she thought, she screamed out as her body once again betrayed her... or did it. She wanted this, Tanya found herself swallowing hard as she stared over her shoulder at URL. Staring into his eyes, realizing her mouth was open and a slick of drool had already passed her chin and now swayed back and forth until it slapped into her shoulder. Her breasts were so tender she couldn't tell if it hurt, or they were going numb anymore, her insides in a constant state of being knocked around, tensing and relaxing. Her whole body had reached exhaustion already. Furthermore, her juices had stopped flowing, not because she had stopped her climaxing, but because she had nothing left to release. Cringing as she felt her ass finally fully grasp the size it needed to properly accept his shaft, she could only picture how much she would be left gaping when he finished. Facing back down to the bed, she continued to release a half-whimper, half-moan with each thrust and retreat her invader took. URL grunted with pleasure as he felt his pet orgasm, her tight, hot anus contracting around his massive phallus, milking his shaft as if begging to be filled with his seed. As he saw her turn back to look at him, URL met Tanya's gaze, and caught a glimpse of her thoughts. He could tell, she was trying to please him. He didn't know why just yet, but she wanted to serve him to pleasure him. Furthermore, he could not help but smile, beginning to thrust with even more enthusiasm, pounding her elasticized asshole even faster. She truly was the perfect slave for him, his perfect toy. As URL jammed his dick in and out of her ass, he began to chant softly under his breath once more, showing remarkable willpower to be able to maintain the concentration needed to cast a spell while still fucking the elf girl senseless. He decided to show his pet the advantages that came with obedience, and give her a reward. The spell he cast had two effects. First, it replenished her fluids and energy so that she would not suffer from exhaustion or dehydration from orgasming so much. Second, it further increased her sensitivity to pleasure temporarily, making his every thrust feel like a white-hot lance of pure ecstasy as he took her from behind. At the same time, his thrusts kicked into high gear, loud slaps of flesh on flesh filling the air as he tried to hold back, knowing he would not be able to withhold his own orgasm much longer. Tanya's senses were overloaded. His thrusts inside of her, the strong smell of thick sex, the wet slapping sounds, and the sight of the Ogre smiling. It was too much, she was sure that she was going to pass out. Facing the bed board, she squeezed the blankets tightly... Then it hit her. It was like a second wind, suddenly fully revitalized. She released a purring moan between her teeth as she bit her lower lip. Her ass squeezed tighter than ever before as she felt every curve, every pulse, every vein in his dick like never before. Her eyes closed, her knees snapped together even beneath the weight of his thrusts, then back apart. Furthermore, her thighs out of control as she suddenly came harder than she ever thought possible. Like the pulse of her racing heart and struggled breathing, her pink lips quivered and tightened. Each moment releasing a splash of her honey onto the already soaked covers. Slapping her stomach as she moved her hand back to feel him, inside of her through her swollen belly. Taken by the sudden sensation, she cried out as she squeezed her eyelids shut. The sight of brilliant fireworks swarming over her as she was almost in pain from the strain of her bodies spasming and constant tight arch of her feet and curling of her toes. Completely caught at the moment, she was even unaware that her mouth was gaping open and her tongue out, drooling like a bitch in heat as she felt URL go even harder. Feeling his pulse through his dick, she found even more pleasure in feeling it quicken as he was growing close. A wave of euphoria filling her as she knew she was satisfying him.

The Elf and the Ogre(MelindaTheLillyxZanalyrander)|rating:2.0

The Orb - Charlies Story (Kalthus and Lady Kitsune)

Lector Serves was the uncrowned king of Niches society. When he held a dinner, the whole town fought for an invitation. Perhaps that didn't mean much because it was still a very rough and ready little riverside sprawl, with a bad reputation that stretched back to riverboat days. Charlie found the whole thing provincial and a little – well, desperate, but what the hell – she still had to collect payment from Lector for her last piece of work. Now was as good a time as any. She smiled as she checked her make-up in the mirror, pleased with what she saw – heavy red locks, slightly almond shaped eyes, a figure that was just a little more than athletic. And soon, she would be rich – more rich than anyone knew. The beauty of stealing data was that she could get a fortune from Lector, and a fortune from his rivals as well. Vendor-Gilbert would pay handsomely just to keep up with him. Two for the price of one…(house turned out to be this absurdly grand Reconstruction of a pre-colonial mansion on the Mississippi, complete with faux steamboat putting along towards its dock. There were footmen in powdered wigs, there were oil lamps and a twenty-piece orchestra playing 'Dixie'. It was so nearly not laughable, but a man like this could always be relied upon to get it wrong and make everything tacky.(á%20traje%20de%20virrey%203.JPG)Lector met his guests at the elaborate porch of his mansion, flanked by uncomfortable negro actors employed to be house slaves. He was dressed as some kind of pre-revolutionary potentate and looked – well, as he always did – fat, ridiculous, but very rich. Charlie kissed his cheek and he snatched a grope of her ass. As always." Oooo, now Mr. Serves, those aren't the goods you are paying for," she chided with a sweet purr in her voice.“So glad you could find the time, baby doll.”“For a man like you, always.”“A man like me?” he smiled, displaying very broadly spaced teeth. “You mean – a man of wealth and breeding?” Charlie couldn't help but smirk. Breeding my ass. “More – a man who owes me a cool million credits.”“Always business with you, baby doll.”“Business is my pleasure, Servicing.” He took her arm and though his touch was like slime, she smiled and let herself be his trophy for the evening.“Well, you come and sit with me. I have promised all my guests an interesting evening. I’m sure you particularly will remember it.”“And then I get my money?”“Everything I owe you.” So Charlie allowed him to escort her through the building (he was really just showing off his hatch-potch of overpriced antiques) and out into the garden. Everyone drank Champagne under the light of candles, and the canopy of Spanish moss. It almost covered the stink of the river, but not quite. What the hell, she thought – there are worse ways of collecting a million. She took a glass of Champagne and enjoyed mixing with the finest society Niches had to offer. Which was to say - nothing much by her standards. She laughed when it was appropriate and charmed the greedy bastards. It never hurt to make contacts. Later, dinner was served aboard the paddle steamer, in a dining room that was noting except gold and mirrors and candlelight. More wine, and light meals of things like Alligator Cheesecake and kicking shrimp, followed by Arcadian cream pie and cigars. Musicians played something vaguely European, jazz background? It was all a little too much to resist and by the end of the evening, Charlie was feeling definitely a bit the worse for wear. Relaxed. Too relaxed. So much so that she even accepted a cigar, which made her look a bit ridiculous rather than sexy, if the truth were known. But this was very much her evening. When the last morsel had been dispatched and the plates were sent to the galley for cleaning, Lector tapped his knife on a water glass for silence. Even the musicians stopped playing.“Now, ladies and gentlemen, I know you do not come here simply for my sparkling company. In front of each of you there is a small gift. Please accept them and remember this evening – and your host – fondly.” So that’s how he’s going to do it. Everyone else will open their little gold envelopes and there will be a token gift, expensive, but – well, not that expensive to a man like Lector. She, on the other hand, would find a data chip for a million credits. No one would be any the wiser. So she clenched her cigar in her teeth and ripped open the envelope, expecting to be delighted. Detention Warrant. Under section 3.4.ii of the Special Powers act, Miss Charlene "Charlie" Malcolm is hereby detained until further notice. She is to be taken under escort to a designated place of detention and there to be kept in secure confinement until a judicial review can be organized under section 3.5.iii of the special powers act can…..” As she read the document, the bottom dropped out of her stomach and she felt like she was going to be sick. Then anger took over, slow burning but taking no time to ignite. She looked up at Lector, scowling fiercely, waving the paper in the air.“What the fuck is this, you bastard? Is this some kind of sick fucking joke. Don't mess with me Serves.”“This? This is what I owe you baby doll. Do you think you can arrange a purchase with another buyer for what is mine? No, I think not.” He waves to someone. Charlie tried to get to her feet, already looking around for a weapon. She was just reaching for a large and pointed serving fork when big hands grab at her arms and shoulders. Big, strong hands in military style gloves, that know plenty enough ju-jitsu to prevent a slightly drunk woman wriggling free. She sees a midnight blue sleeve just as it goes round her neck. Gentle pressure. Her face is pressed against the cold table cloth. Weight on her back, again professionally applied. It didn't stop her from struggling. It wouldn't have mattered if she was sober. Charlie was no match for the gorilla pressing her to the table.“Nothing to see here folks, just an arrest in process. Miss Malcolm, my name is Chief Warden Simpson of Station 613, and I am detaining you in accordance with the warrant you have just been served. Please do not resist.”“Fuck you!”“Thank you miss, but not at this point. Bell – get that glove over here. We might need a muzzle too. Mr Serves, do you think so?” Despite the fact she’s struggling, she sees Lector consider the matter for a moment, then nod coolly, drawing on his cigar. The other guests watch with interest. Someone comments that ‘Lectors parties always have something remarkable in them.’ In this case, it’s her wriggling, and restraint equipment being brought up. Another guard in midnight blue steps purposefully towards her with a fistful of leather and rubber. And - the fucking band has started to play 'chase music' from a silent movie!!“Serves, you rat bastard. You wait, I'm going to cut your dick off and stuff it down your throat. Probably the first time you'll be seeing the damn thing in years," she growled still trying desperately to free herself. She saw the gag coming her way and felt the strain in her shoulders as she scrambled to wrench free. "Get that fucking thing away from my mouth! I’m warning guru…” Timpson handles her resistance with unbothered efficiency. When Charlie tries to clamp her jaw shut, he presses the nerve points at the hinge and pops in a ball gag, which then expands to fill the space efficiently. A moment later, this is secured behind her head. She tries to move her arms, but a loose bondage glove’ is slipped over them. Even as she tries to wriggle free, a sensor tightens this to a point just short of painful. A squeal could be heard in her throat as her retrains tightened. Nostrils flared as she breathed heavily. Her vision swam from the alcohol in her system and her stomach felt queasy. Simpson had just made it to the top ten of her shit list. Charlie manages to fix Lector with a furious look, her eyes burning holes in his face. He salutes her with a raised glass.“Goodbye Charlie, and good luck. Gentlemen - if you have your prisoner secured - I believe my guests have had enough excitement for one evening. I was going to take them back to the shore for dancing and mind juleps. What a shame that the lovely Miss Malcolm will not be joining us.” Oh Lector, don’t get too comfortable, she thinks to herself – I will most certainly be joining you – if it takes me the rest of my life, I will be joining you…in Hell! As the men in dark blue hauled her up and through the door, she shuddered momentarily, her knees going weak. She stumbled, realizing she was being sent to the Orb. She had heard enough stories about that place. A place used as a threat by parents to their children. "Behave, or I'll send you to the Orb!" Yeah, she was screwed, but she'd find a way. Charlie now had unfinished business and she hated unfinished business. Charlie gets 'escorted' out to a waiting van - unmarked, of course. Simpson is not above using her hair to get her moving, though he tries to be a little discrete about the whole thing - at least when the public are watching. Then she gets loaded into the back like cargo. She gets a brief look at Simpson without his helmet. Not an ugly man, but beefy, like he works out a lot. The face has some laugh lines, which in the circumstances is not exactly appealing. An hour later, they pull through the pastimes gate of a military supply field. It looks like the sort of place that flies pancakes and crates of doodle magazines out to 'our boys' patrolling some distance frontier. The shuttle parked there looks unremarkable. In fact, the only thing strange is the speed with which they load her aboard. And you can bet that those security cameras have developed a mysterious 'fault'. That's the thing with the Orb - you know people get there, you never know how. Once they have her aboard, it all turns nasty:"Right gentlemen - we have to get her out of those pretty clothes and into a prison coverall. Check the hair, check between the toes, the full routine." One of the other guards - was his name Bell - sounds a little surprised? He looks over Charlies sleek form. There's not a lot of space to hide anything in that dress." You sure boss?" There is a snap noise as Simpson pulls on a rubber glove." Absolutely gentlemen. I've been in this game a long time. I've imprisoned and transported every kind of animal that walks on two legs. You get 'lambs' - prisoners determined to serve easy time. You get 'Tasmanian devils' - determined to fight every step of the way, but too stupid to cause much problem. What we have here is a prime example of thoroughbred 'cunt'. Don't take offense at that, miss, in some ways it's a compliment. Look at her eyes. She'll say she'll cooperate, she'll cry and beg and do everything a 'lamb' would - then she'll kill you in your sleep."" You've got to be kidding!"" A cunt lives to make your life painful, Bell. Don't forget, what did this one do when I tried to cuff her? Come quietly?"" No. No, she started reaching for that mother fucking table fork!"" Exactly my point. If I'd been taken in by her dress, I'd have that thing sticking into my brain right now. So - lets show her who's boss." It doesn't take long. There are now four of them against her. The search is thorough - personal - but professional. Anything she may have kept hidden 'just in case' is located and disposed of. After that, Charlie is forced into a gray prison coverall, and back into cuffs." Nice work boys." Ten minutes later, they have taken her into the body of the shuttle, up into an observation lounge with rows of comfortable seats. At the moment, she is the only prisoner. Simpson secures her hands and feet with manacles, which he checks carefully before relaxing into the seat opposite." All right boys, gets some refreshments. And tell the pilot we can head to the next pickup." They nod and go, leaving him alone with her. He opens a satchel and removes her arrest Warren and a recording device." Right - just a technical issue with this Warren. Nothing much to worry about, but in theory this only applies to political prisoners, not industrial spies like you. It doesn't matter much, but you do have certain 'rights' guaranteed by the Constitution, and we don't take to lawyers getting sniffy with us. Fortunately, these 'rights' only apply if you choose to enforce them. They can be waived - voluntarily." He reaches into the satchel again and produces a silvery pain probe. He turns it on for a second, checking that the tip infuses with a nasty purple light. It does." Here's how we do it - I'm going to read your rights to you, and then you are going to say - loudly and clearly - 'I have been advised of my rights and I freely choose to waive them. If you don't - well, I'm going to have to use this probe until you do." He makes his point by unzipping her boiler suit and easing out her naked breasts. They really are quite spectacular, but he might as well be handling slightly stale fruit. Only then does he remove her gag. Charlie could not believe her shit luck. If that fat bastard Serves hadn't dragged his feet, she never would have checked around for another buyer. Now she was knee-deep in shit. The gag kept them from hearing her gurgled slew of curses, but she continued to struggle free as she was roughly guided to an unmarked van. Typical, she thought. She dug in her heels as they dragged her closer. Simpson apparently didn't like that at all. She felt a sharp pain as a handful of her hair was yanked, and she rolled an eye to the side. She didn't expect Simpson to be handsome, but he had the look of someone you didn't mess with. Like that ever stopped Charlie. Thrown forward, she rolled along the hard floor of the van, the vehicle's wall stopping her momentum. She glared at them all trying not to cry from the pain. She glared for an hour. Not a peep from her. The van was so barren there was nothing for her to use to get out. Eventually someone was going to make a mistake and when they did, Charlie would have her moment. In that heart racing hour, she sat with her knees up. Her shoulders were hurting, and her wrists were pinching but hell if she was going to let them know she was uncomfortable. She was so not liking the look of one of her captors. She'd seen that look. Smug, like he knew what was coming. She shivered and scooted an inch away from him. She closed her eyes to reserve her strength for what was to come. Closing her eyes only brought an image of Serves's happy ass fat face. She smiled as the vision changed to her shoving a summer sausage down his throat, his eyes bulging as he choked on it. Oh, it didn't stop there. When the van finally came to a stop her stomach flipped. Once more they dragged her along despite her kicking and digging in. Loaded onto the transport, she felt her first tremor of fear. Her head whipped around to stare at Simpson wide-eyed as he gave the order to give her a full body check. She only managed a step back when his glove gave a snap of finality. As hands grabbed for her, she screamed in her throat, choking on the saliva created by the gag. Oh, they were thorough and what the fuck did he mean about cunt? Who was he calling a cunt? She'd show him cunt. Giver her ten minutes with him and a...and a....and a corkscrew. Cunt my ass. And yeah, the drapes match the fucking curtain!" She wishes she could have said that out loud. The man had just removed her panties and had the gall to look shocked. Why do people think redheads are fake? Charlie never felt more violated. Whining and screaming did nothing, and she was starting to hurt in places she didn't realize could hurt. And who the hell hides shit there. She fought them every step of the way, but they were stronger than she was. She was about to think that rape might actually feel a whole helluva lot better when they finally dressed her in an ugly jumpsuit. Simpson, the King of Pricks himself, secured her arms and legs before sitting across from her. Charlie snorted when he mentioned rights. She was on her way to the Orb. As far as she knew it, once there, rights went out the window. No one comes back from the Orb. Not that she ever heard and that scared the crap out of her. Not scared enough. Nothing ever scared Charlie enough. Not even the wicked little pain probe with it's equally wicked light. She stared at it, but then she wasn't going to let Simpson win on this one. She gulped, her throat working as he unzipped her suit. Her full breasts fell free and he...touched them. Yuck!the least he could do was enjoy himself. She was proud of her C-cups. Shrinking away from his hands didn't help one bit. She was seeing red at this point and when he removed the gag she took in a deep heaving breath. A motion that only put him more in his hands. Ewwwwww. She worked her jaw, her lips didn't seem to want to close completely. Despite the ache, she smiled wide and leaned forward, her glorious red hair falling forward. The crimson strands framed her face, setting off the green of her eyes." I have been advised of my rights and I freely.....would like to SHOVE THEM UP YOUR FUCKING ASS, YOU FUCKING PERV!" she screamed. Probe or no probe, she wasn't going to give in like some sacrificial lamb. "And you know what else, Tipsier, if you fuck like your foreplay, I am already bored." Charlie sat back happy as can be. Oh, she was sure to pay for her insolence, but it felt so damn good. Simpson nods, like he absolutely, one hundred percent knew that response was coming." Like I said, thoroughbred cunt. It's going to be fascinating seeing what's left of you in about a month, because the technicians will not accept this, or anything like it. Christ almighty, if you spoke like that to Doctor Crane..." he shakes his head, apparently trying to clear away images that disturb even him. "My foreplay might bore you, but Miss, compared to what's going to be done to you on the Orb, this isn't foreplay. This isn't even sneaking a peek down your bra. To anyone else, I'd say 'I'll let you have that one, just - don't be silly' But you were born silly, and I don't want to disappoint." He leans forwards and spends ten seconds shocking her left nipple with the pain probe, then about ten shocking her right. Something stands out in the nerves and veins of each breast, not unlike putting your hand over a lamp and seeing different patterns produced by different thicknesses of skin." Well," he sighs as he turns the probe off. "I hope that was worth it. So, let's begin with your statutory right to freedom from torture, shall we? You know the line..." I have been advised of my rights and I freely choose to waive them." "Yeah, I'm your good 'ole silly filly," Charlie said snidely. She didn't know Simpson's game, but she was going to play all her cards. What did she have to lose? She was going to the Orb. Rumors had it that you could check out but no one who had been to the prison station ever left. So yeah, she was scared but then if she had her way, she was going to be the first to escape that place....and NOT in a body bag. She just sneered at Simpson even when the garish purple light of his pain probe drew near her breast. Her nipple seemed to suck in as if it knew what was coming and though she was prepared, nothing could prepare her for the pain. She had no shame, she just screamed. Her tit lit up like the Century Celebration. Her body rocked as the waves of what seemed like tons of kilowatts shooting from her sensitive nipple to the rest of her. Furthermore, her teeth clamped shut, and she wished she was still wearing the gag. Just when she thought her pearly whites would shatter, the pain abruptly stopped. Oh, but not so fast, as he applied the probe to her other nipple, and she gripped the armrests for dear life. Tears rolled down the sides of her face as her head was thrown back against the seat. The terrible agony made her want to give in, to just say those damn words, but she couldn't. She would endure if she had to. She couldn't let them win, not ever. So she writhed against the pain and when it was over, she was panting and shaking. When her vision cleared she looked at the man and began to laugh in a stuttered fashion." Oh, Tipsier....really, baby.....fireworks. You shouldn't have,"she managed to quip between breaths. She leaned back and closed her eyes, rolling her tongue to wet her mouth now gone dry. She opened her eyes and leaned forward once more, licking at her lips and tilting her head as if asking him to come a little closer, her face pleading. "I-I....... I..... I," she started, sounding remorseful, then her face shifted as quickly into a malicious grin, "I wouldn't waive my rights to a dog's ass like you. Give it up, Tipsier. You ain't got nothing that will make me give in. I've been beaten and tortured before, and I'm still here. Your Orb doesn't scare me and neither do you. Neither do you." She began to giggle as if she were off her rocker, but it was just one of her ploys. Maybe if they thought she was a little off to begin with....well she would just have to wait and see. He shrugs his shoulders and returns a hand to the zip of her coveralls. In no hurry at all, he undoes this all the way down between her legs. The manacles prevent Charlie closing her thighs enough to protect everything - well - anything. Timpson positions the pain probe, rubbing it's little glassy tip in against her clitoris.' You know the line..." I have been advised of my rights and I freely choose to waive them..." Charlie's laughter stopped abruptly the moment her zipper was pulled down, down, and down. Was he going to do what she thought he was? Her eyes narrowed and then widened slightly as the heated tip of the probe touched her pink little nub. She inadvertently gasped. Sensitive to even the mildest of touches. Crap! He was serious about her waiving those damn rights. Still, maybe she'd call his bluff, though he had a mug that screamed a no bluff zone. Despite, the shiver of trepidation, she was stubborn to the point of crazy." You know, Tipsier, darling... I can call you darling? I mean, we are being this intimate. Or should I call snookers? Anyway, if you want my pussy to tingle, there are so many better ways to do it. Otherwise...........GO FUCK YOURSELF! You think zapping my cunt, and yeah, might as well call me a cunt because last I checked, I was a bitch in heels. It doesn't change just 'because I'm wearing an ugly jumpsuit," she snapped at him. She did take a moment to look thoughtful. "Come to think of it, this thing doesn't do a thing for my figure."" So you can keep rubbing that thing on my hoodoo and make me cum or give me a helluva a shock. I just might cum anyway," she remarked as she thrust her hips up and onto the probe, jiggling her tits at him. Grinning at him, she puckered up and made a kiss face. "I have been advised of my rights and I plan on tattooing them to your ass," she sang. “You are one crazy piece of ass. Part of me is sorry I have to do this. But then, the rest of me loves this job for the same reason.” He flicks the on switch and shocks her. It’s at least as bad as before. When he’s done, he turns the probe off, twirls it, puts it away in his belt.“I’ll leave them something to do up on the Orb. But – just so you don’t get the impression all that pain has actually achieved anything –“He flicks on the recorder device. Charlie hears her own voice calmly say;“I have been advised of my rights not to be tortured. I freely waive those rights… I have been advised of my right to an attorney. Again, I freely waive that right…” He clicks it off.“All I needed was the sounds. This machine does the rest. OK, wouldn’t stand up for long under forensic investigation, but you won’t be getting one of those.” Timpson looks down at her throbbing snatch. Then he zips up her flight suit and pats her cheek.“You’re a nice piece of pussy, but too much trouble for me. I’ve got something sweet going with one of the nurses up there, that’s enough. Enjoy your flight.” And Simpson leaves her alone. For the next nine hours, the shuttle takes off, lands, fills up with passengers, takes off again. Most of them are women, all of them damned fine looking. Some are shell-shocked, a few get feisty. Some are gagged, some get fed, some get to use the restroom, some (Charlie included) get handed a bottle and a tube. All in all, it’s a pretty shitty flight. With about two hours still to go before they head into space, A young Asian girl gets deposited in the seat next to her, picked up from a field somewhere to the North of Tokyo. She’s kicking and biting and generally behaving like bitch. Charlie had goaded him, and now she was paying for it. The searing charge of pain to her clit set all her sensitive nerves into agonizing overdrive. Thrown back against the seat with the force of her anguish, her back bowed out, her tits bouncing from the reverberations of her body. The guttural scream of her voice filled the cabin. She slumped forward when it was done, her wrists hurting from all the jerking on her manacles. Groaning she manged to open an eye, blinking as a drop of cold sweat blinded her to him. Blinking away the sting, she groaned, trying to speak. Her body felt fried, and she barely grabbed hold of her senses as she listened to the recording. Holy fucking shit! The bastard! "That's...n-not LE...gal," she croaked." Gonna...kill you one...day, Time...she," she managed to spit out, her jaw still trying to unclench from the pain. "I'm thinking it's a good....thing, you're not fucking...m-me. Wouldn't want to...get...a disease-s-s-s-se!" She watched him go and settled back into her chair to try and regain control of her body. She hated him. Furthermore, she hated him and she was royally fucked. This was a ride into hell. Some guard was kind enough to zip her back up after having his fondling way with her. Thoroughly disgusted she sat there. The flight filled up with more people, and she was more than grateful for the meager water they gave her. She fought tears of fear and frustration. Her mind kept thinking of so many scenarios as to what to do next. It was obvious she needed more of the Orbs layout. Opportunity would knock. It had to. Her thoughts were interrupted by a noisy ass slant who was seated next to her. She couldn't pick out what specific nationality, but it didn't matter. They were nobodies now." Just shut it, sister. Nothing you do is going to do anything but make them happy to punish you. Better off pissing them off with boredom. The name's Charlie, by the way." She wasn't being so much friendly as just bored to tears. How long does it take this bucket of bolts to get somewhere. Soon would be nice because every time they hit turbulence it felt like it was going to break apart. Besides, it smelled in the cabin. The girl gives up struggling and flops back into the chair." Fucking pricks. I always wanted to go into space, but not like this. The Orb? Shit. I haven't done anything to deserve that!" She turns her face towards Charlie, who realizes just how beautiful this little oriental is. Long black hair, porcelain skin, bottomless dark eyes.("Sarah Khan. Astronomer. Looks like I'm going to learn a lot about outer space the hard way. This is going to be fucking frustrating." In the next few hours, the flight fills up. They seem to pick up new passengers from every godless place on the planet. The last is a dark haired beauty they take from somewhere outside the Gobi Desert. Simpson treats her gently, like she must be something special. Then the shuttle lifts off properly and through the windows, blue sky changes to inky blackness." You know the Orb is an asteroid, right?" Sara tells her pointlessly. "They sent some ships up to capture it and put it into a proper geostationary orbit? Well, there are loads of holes in that story. You don't just 'capture' an asteroid, the forces involved are ridiculous." She stops to think for a moment "That woman over there with the pink hair? She's a pop singer, isn't she? Jesus, everyone is on this flight. So what did you do to end up here Charlie? And more importantly, what's your game plan for getting off in one piece?" Charlie smiled with every ounce of her being. Her twitching smile was probably the only giveaway to not being pleased to have the roaring Asian chick suddenly go all chatty and nerdy on her. Besides, the little bitch was perfect from head to toe. After listening to her Science spiel, now she was smart to boot. Damn Asian women were all hot and smart. What the hell? She suddenly burst out laughing. Who was she to judge? She was on her way to Hell! After she let her laughter fall into a breathless smirk, she looked at the girl. "You know, I think I like you. Us girl's have to stick together. Besides, don't know if we can escape. I heard enough about the Orb to make my ass clench. First thing to do, check out the security." She wasn't too trusting. Warning bells went off in her head. Talk of escape was way too soon. Still didn't hurt to have a partner about it. Though she would have to make sure Sarah was on the up and up. She looked away and saw Tipsier giving some classy bimbo the royal treatment. Now that is just bull malarkey. Maybe if he treated her like she was the fucking Queen of Sheba, she would have been nicer. She thought about it for a second. Yeah, no she would certainly NOT have. Still, it kind of pissed her off. Oh, Tipsier....your day shall come......" I am so going to staple his balls into my photo album," she growled under her breath. She turned back with a smile, the idea making her happy. "What brings you aboard the SS Heap of Shit, Sarah?" Sarah looks at Charlie as if trying to work out whether she can trust her. Then she shrugs.“What the fuck – even if these chairs are bugged or some shit, they know why I’m here. I work out at an observatory on Shikoku – nice gig, clean air and all the surfing I can handle. So we get this message from out somewhere near the Dog Nebula. I’m talking – a message, not just a scramble of radio pulses. So I'm going – ‘wow, fuck, this is a message from outer space. We’ve never had one of those before" - Not confirmed. I mean – there have been rumors, but – "I’m sitting there with a copy of an actual signal from another race.” She sighs and tries the cuffs again. Nothing moves.“So I take the signal into my boss, and I’m all excited, and he says – this is nothing. Forget about it. And I’m like –fuck you, this is the real thing! We have to find out exactly what they are saying to us. I started trying to decode it, but the next thing I know, my machines been powered down and everything’s gone. “My boss calls me in again and says ‘look, don’t get clever – forget you ever saw this.’” She grins at Charlie, pretty as a picture.“So I go home – I tell the asshole I’m going to go surfing, but I go straight back to my home system and begin trying to record what I can remember of the signal. It’s not hard – the message was like music, a tune you know? I think I’ve just about cracked it, I'm going to be the first person from Earth to hear a message from little green men. Then there’s a black bag squad hauling my ass away.” She shrugs“So here I am. I guess they want me to forget what I heard, but – fuck them. I’ll fight them every inch. Only thing is, like you, I know where I’m going, and that doesn’t exactly light my lamps....” "That's quite a story. Damn government. They always try and keep that shit to themselves. Honey, you either stumbled onto some big Gov secret or they don't want the public to know about the aliens. Doesn't matter anyway," she said, watching Sarah try to free herself," We aren't going anywhere. Hope you enjoy outer space." Charlie leaned back in her very uncomfortable chair. This ride was long and it sucked ass. She wanted to shower and get the feel of those filthy hands off her body. Simpson left her feeling the slimiest. He didn't do much, but he was a cocksucking weasel, and he got under her skin. Now she had to listen to Miss Smart and Perfect. Her hair was going to be a bitch without treatment. It was flat without all the enhanced curls. Flat and didn't look half as good as Sarah's. Whatever. If they were going to the Orb, she was sure that the last thing she was going to worry about was if they had a curling iron she could use." So how much longer do you think it will be. I'm kind of sick of this ride," she said irritated. Her nervous tension was about to bursting. She didn't like not knowing and until she could take a good loo at the facility, she was clueless as to what to do next. As the ship approaches the Orb, you can see it drawn near through the overhead glass. It looks a lot like the badge on the guard’s uniform – a rock surrounded by a metal and glass band, kind of like a huge model of Saturn. It’s huge – a massive stone encircled by a complex band of steel and glass. There are lights, gantries – it’s all too much to memorize in one hit. Sarah frowns.“That – that can’t be right. This is supposed to be an asteroid, but – where are the impact craters? If it’s been in the belt, it should have been banged around like a billiard ball, but there’s barely anything. It can’t be more than – shit, one hundred years old? If that!” She grunts and flops back into her seat. “I’ll tell you one thing – in my professional opinion - asteroid my hole. That things been carved off something else. Something bigger.” There’s no time for further deliberation. The ship is swallowed by the landing dock, and the next thing Charlie knows, the engines cut out. They have arrived. The silence is deafening. The guards remove the prisoners row by row. Some get shackled and dragged out, some get escorted politely, it all seems to be down to attitude – a straight choice between being simply handcuffed, or dragged off in full Hannibal Lecter rig. When the girl’s time comes, Sarah offers her hands for cuffing and walks off at her own speed - five guards are on standby in case Charlie decides to act up… Once they are escorted through the landing hatch, they find themselves in massive, echoing hanger. It houses the shuttle comfortably and has room for other craft, but there is currently nothing else in the dock. There are more guards, as well as people in other uniforms – sky blue, black, on or two in white. It seems busy – maybe it’s always like this when they unload a new batch of cargo. Some of the prisoners are being lined up and tagged, most are just escorted away by guards. You just have to stand there and wait your turn. Timpson sees Charlie standing there and salutes sarcastically.“Hope the flight was relaxing, miss. You’re going to be in for something of a hard time now.” A dark haired woman in a white bodysuit approaches Simpson. She speaks to him quietly, and looks back towards Charlie. Simpson shakes his head. The woman protests, but Simpson is the head guard, and it looks like he has a lot of influence about who goes where. The woman shrugs and walks away.“Miss Carson – nice lady. Too nice for you. I’m hoping Miss Quinn is available. Oh, hold on…” A tall, rather professorial man in white comes through the door. Simpson goes over to him, and they exchange a few words, as if discussing a project. The head guard gives him a data pad and taps a few details up. The man in white coldly looks over the girls as if just checking their faces against the information on his screen, and for a short moment, his eyes lock with Charles. He’s not unattractive, in an older, academic kind of way – there’s a kind of ‘Mr Fantastic’ look about him. Just – cold. He smiles to himself, acidly. Then he nods.“Young and healthy. These two will do as my test subjects. Simpson, bring them along to lab seven.”“The mechanics deck, Doctor Crane?”“Indeed. Final touches to a new machine and all that. It will be interesting to see how they react to it.” And he walks off. Timpson slaps Charlie’s ass.“There we go, cunt. Dr Weaver Crane, no less – the second most feared man on the station. Bet you’re wishing you hadn’t waived your right not to be tortured now, eh?” Charlie was shuffled off in shackles, her little entourage pissing her off. Simpson wasn't playing nice with her. She was sure he was the one that ordered this. Well, she could play the game. She smiled to herself, but her thoughts kept going back to what Sarah had said. Not an asteroid. What other lies could have been covered up about this place. She felt a chill along her spine but kept moving. When she was pulled up to be inspected, Simpson was there and she was so glad. One last chance to be a bitch." Got me in chains again, Tipsier. Worried I'm going to kick your ass? I mean, five goons? In a way, I think I'm flattered. Don't pass through any dark hallways, you might get counted," she said, laughing. She stopped when he asked for a different doctor and an explanation on his severity. She didn't like the way he looked or that she felt like sheep meat under his gaze. Furthermore, she even looked away, and she forced herself to look him in the eye. Well, it looked like she did anyway. She squealed and jumped as Simpson gave her a farewell smack on her ass, She fought everything not to try and rub the sting out. She glared at him and wanted to just lunge him. One of the guards thought she might and put a hand on her shoulder. Made her realize she was leaning forward. She straightened and looked the Doc up and down. "So Doc, you're going to take care of me and my friend here? Fulfill all your pervy little fantasies?" She said it with lots of sarcasm. Who cared if he was feared. She wasn't going to be here long. She was going to make sure of it. Not only does not Crane not rise to Charlie’s insults, he walks off as she is yelling at him. She might be a sheep bleating for all the difference it makes. That's taking scientific detachment quite a distance - but does a good scientist really care when a lab rat squeaks? She and Sarah are escorted into an ugly, business like workshop. The guards remove the girls clothing, leaving them naked as jaybirds. Sarah’s rack is slightly more pneumatic than you would normally expect from an Asian chic, but perhaps that’s the result of a more western diet. Or exercise. Or maybe surgery. They might as well be wearing diving suits for all the notice Crane takes. He runs a medical scanner over both of them and grunts with approval.“Both Specimens are female and appear to be in good heath. Both are young and possessed of athletic builds,” Crane dictates into a collar clip microphone. He takes a marker pen and draws a big, clinical ‘A’ on Charlie’s chest, right across her tits.“Specimen A is occidental, and possesses a red coloration to her hair, which –“ he examines her pubes and nods with approval “appears to be natural.” He flicks her nipples with a curious finger, then takes something like a cotton swab and wipes this across her folds.“The specimen is currently sowing no signs of arousal, no vaginal lubrication. Her breasts are – what size are those – er – 'Charlie'”? He asks, having looked her name up. Charlie didn't like to be ignored. The fact that the doctor was doing just that was pissing her off, but she held it in check. She only put up a little fight when her clothing was removed. She didn't like being fully naked in front of a crowd and her pale skin started to take on a rosy tone as she fought her embarrassment. It was one thing one on one....easier to control but when everyone was looking it was harder. She kept her eyes on the good doctor, and she smiled wryly when he commented into his little mike about her pubic area." Yeah, I'm a natural-born red head. Why is it people never believe me," she said to him conversationally, and then he wrote on her like she was a box or something. The rosy red turned to the bright red of anger. "What the fuck!"" Hey! You just can't go pinching nipples and touching places you have no business in. Of course, I'm not wet, Dr. Strange! You have to make a girl happy for that, and I'm not happy." She lunged at him, but a guard was there like lightning, holding her back. She struggled in his arms and kicked out. Something about this doctor was messed up. Writing on her and touching her privates. "What the hell kind of place is this." She finally settled. "Okay, okay. I'm not going to rip his head off, I promise," she said going limp and speaking softly. She wasn't going to find out anything if she got locked away in solitary or something. "Glad you know my name 'because I am not the fucking letter A." She made a sweeping gesture over her breasts. Washing that off was going to be a bitch. She looked over at Sarah and wondered what she made of all this. The doctor does exactly the same with Sarah: he prods, he pokes, he makes frighteningly clinical notes into his recorder. Specimen B is oriental, and possesses the most typical hair coloration for that ethnic group., which –“ he examines her pubes swiftly and adds “....is natural. Body hair is possibly a little heavy for her type. Breasts definitely larger. I suspect surgical augmentation. This may reduce pain sensitivity.” He tweaks the girls nipples with that curious finger, then takes another cotton swab and wipes this across her labia.“The specimen is currently sowing signs of arousal, including significant vaginal lubrication.” She looks across at Charlie and makes an embarrassed grimace. It vanishes when the freak-doctor draws a great big B on her chest." All right, that concludes my pre-test examination. Put them into the machine." The girls are hustled across to something that looks like one of those booths from an old style diner. Two dentists chairs close together half encircled by a metallic and plaster wall. Between them is a sort of metal mushroom, about the size of a footstool. There's something wrong with the machine, though. It's all oily and rusty. No doubting the efficiency of the straps which connect them to the couches - ankles, thighs, chests, throat and wrists - thick, wide bands of leather. Whilst Crane is busy setting up video recorders and sensory equipment, he is joined by a petite blonde in a blue latex nurses uniform." Doctor Crane - I was wondering if I might assist you?"" I thought you were working with Fell today?"" I was, but -" she pouts and gives her hips a little wiggle, very cute. "He wanted me to play the whole 'nice-nursey' routine, and you know how boring I find that. Could I warm these two up for you?"" I'm about to run a serious experiment."" Oh...." she pouts in disappointment and drops her head. It's the way a child might behave, and anyone with half a brain wouldn't be fooled. Crane looks seriously upset." Well..."" Please doctor - I brought my own tools..." She shows him a little mahogany case, clearly an expensive luxury on a nurses wages. Indulgently, Crane shakes his head."Oh, for the love of .... all right, but just ten minutes."" Oh, thank you doctor! Thank you!" The nurse throws her arms around his neck and kisses him, actually kicking up a heel. Then she almost skips across to the booth where Charlie and Sarah are kept helpless. She places her toyboy onto the top of the low barrier, opens it and selects something with a grabby-hooky-sparky end. Then, with the widest, sweetest smile she asks:"Which of you whore bitches should I torture first...?" Charlie gives Sarah a sympathetic glance and a half smile. She'd have given a thumbs up but didn't think it would come over very well with the others in the room. They were hustled into a new area, and she burst out into nervous laughter. The place was shithole. Not to mention scary as hell. It had the creepy vibe of horror hold. A guard shoved her in the back, and before she could do anything about it, she was strapped into eh chair. She put up a struggle." Hey, hands off, you fucking excuse for a guard. What's the matter, did they cut your funding, Dr. Shithead," she yelled over the guard strapping her to her chair. She looked at the guard with a frown. "You know, I've already been to the dentist." She looked around the room like she was waiting for the gynecologist, all the while testing her bonds. Damn. Guard did a good job, she thought. She didn't know what the 'machine' did, but she bet it wasn't pretty. Her attention was drawn to the hot blonde nurse but really, Charlie wasn't interested, and she definitely didn't like what she heard come out of the witch's mouth. Charlie looked at Sarah and then back at Nurse Biopsy and gave the bitch her sweetest smile. "I don't know. The only whore bitch I see is you and not sure self-torture is the show I want to see. Do you think you could loosen these straps, I can't seem to get comfortable." Nurse's eyes widen with pleasure. As Charlie insults her, she seems to simper with delight. She's moving like someone who needs a pee." Oh, we've got a live one. Oh, goodie!" She forks some blonde hair back over an ear, trying to calm down, control herself, take it slowly -be professional." Well, Nurse can see who needs a little treatment in the mouth department. Oh, yes she can. So we have to find the right instrument for the job."(nurse reaches into the box and replaces the spiked glow-probe with a pair of clampable forceps tongs. Taking Charlies jaw in her surprising strong fingers, she forces her mouth open, pushes the disgusting instrument deep between her teeth, and uses it to stretch her tongue right out. When she's happy it's at full extension, tugging hard on the roots, she uses the other instrument to clamp it in place. So now it's like Charlie is sticking her tongue out, right into a horrid, glowing, buzzing machine." Now - say 'argggggghhhhhhhh'!" nurse jokes as she turns it on. The pulse runs straight through the nerve rich flesh, right down through the roots of the wet, pink tongue, ending up somewhere in the throat. Frowning, Nurse adjusts the power, looking for an improved response - maybe a better class of scream -that's perfect. After what is a comparatively short time, she turns it off." O-K - lets see what you made of that, shall we?" Her fingers roam, squeezing, pinching, poking. Then they brush against Charlies labia." Hm. Not sure down here. Wet or dry? Maybe that's sweat, maybe that's fruity-juice. How are we inside?" A finger protrudes. Then something cold and plastic slips inside Charlies quit. It's really hard to tell because the vagina is not exactly designed for making out specific shapes - but this feels like a little communications link. Nursie says nothing. She just picks up an elegant, antique pain probe, with a pearl handle, and spends a few minutes teasing Charlies tits, then moves onto Sarah, spending a few more minutes making her squeal. Ten minutes are up so quickly. She's very disappointed when Crane coughs and pointedly looks at his watch. Was everyone in this place crazy, she thought as the woman practically danced her way over to where she was tied down. She was about to say something caustic when she felt the woman's hands on her face and had her jaw hinged open. What the fuck, she had a grip like a body builder. Then her tongue was pulled out of her mouth and the zap to the tender flesh had her aging. She felt the painfully tingling shock down to her throat and gagged on the screams that kept trying to come out. Finally, her convulsing body and throat won out, and she did let one that would have made an opera singer pleased. And just like that it was gone. She was still trying to get her brain and body to work together when she felt all the probing. "You horny bitch!" Though it came out somewhat mangled since her tongue was still trying to relearn to be a tongue. Her body decided to be a pain in the ass and respond to all the cruel pinches and slithering touches. It was when Nurse decided to stick her fingers inside her that she was about to really let her have a tongue lashing whether her tongue wanted to work or not. Instead, she looked confused. What did that woman leave inside her? It could be anything but was there something in the woman's eyes? She closed her eyes against Sara's screams. There was nothing she could do anyway. She did a couple of keels but still hadn't figured it out. She didn't know but couldn't mull on it. The Doc came in and made Nurse go and Charlie managed to look like she hated him. Not so hard, but she really wanted to know what the woman shoved up her coach." Ahhhh, to bad Nurse Ritchie. I was just thinking we were starting to have fun. Don't let your dildo get stuck in your ass when you dream of me tonight!" The freaky doctor turns on the device between the two girls. It begins to grind round, making a noise which is genuinely indescribably. Somewhere between a parrot with its nuts in a door frame, and ice melting loudly." I really need to get that fixed,"the doctor notes, making a scrawled note on his pad. "Not that it should make too much difference to the effect." The nurse watches, her blue eyes big with wonder. She puts her head in her hands, elbow resting on circular wall which surrounds the device. You can just bet her butt is wiggling. She just can't help herself." What is this machine, doctor Crane?"" Something very new. Potentially the most agonizing thing I've ever designed. I have to be a little careful because so far, three of my test subjects have died from the pain, but I think I have those technical problems ironed out now. We'll see if both of these specimens making it through the test alive." Nursie looks at Charlie, and blows her a little kiss." You sure both of them have to survive doctor? The redhead was very rude to me."" In the interests of science. But I'm sure you'll get to play with her later.""That's true." It begins to glow with an evil, unearthly light. As Charlie watches, the green seems to flow out to Sarah's skin, making it shine. And then she notices something else - she can see the girls bones. They start glowing a deeper shade of green. She seems to be pouting, but it's just that you can see the heavy bones of her jaw and the white teeth through the skin. She's becoming a skeleton covered in green jelly, still wriggling against the straps. She's looking back at Charlie with horror.

The Orb - Charlies Story (Kalthus and Lady Kitsune)|rating:2.0

To Stop a War... (closed)

Maiden Madden Age: 19Raven black hair, piercing emerald eyes, pale skin, 5'10, 130 pounds {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} The year 2025 brought so many changes to the world. WWIII started with full force. After the murdering thousands of innocents in through chemical warfare in London with Afghanistan to blame, the UN gather forces to strike back. Little did all the countries know of the traitor selling their secrets to the enemies so more and more battles were lost and more souls killed. Unsure of who their traitor was the UN started to break down. Countries didn't trust each other anymore. The year 2031 brought on even more changes, countries destroyed and broken. Governments crumbled into nothing. All monies the country received went to supplying guns and ammunition, poverty and suicides rates sky rocked in many areas of the world. The solution for the failing governments were to turn into Monarchy. The rich quickly jumped on the chance to rule a country, purchasing as much land as possible and building high walls around their domain. That's how it's been for ten years. Maxeen Madden's father, an American inventor and engineer, was no different from the rest of rich pricks. He quickly purchased a large chuck of Russia which he renamed Edomites, Latin for Untamed. He proclaimed himself king and quickly became one of the strongest nations. Maxeen was only eight when she was uprooted from her American home and moved to her new home. She was a Princess, and she didn't mind it. She was given anything and everything she desired. And she was a beautiful princess at that. Her raven black hair was long and curly, her piercing emerald eyes, her skin pale but flawless. She wasn't a petite girl like most others, she was tall with curves in all the right places. Even though see was beautiful and could have any man she pleased, she never agreed to a suitor. That was until her father forced her too... Thomas Fuselage: 286'1" 180 pounds, hazel eyes, brown hair, athletic Adam Kissed had been the king of Ukraine for three decades, a descendant of the ancient Kissed dynasty of Ukraine, fighting countless wars throughout his reign to protect his territory. All neighboring nations were at each other's throats, competing for land and resources, and Adam Kissed was the man for the job: a flawless aristocrat, a perfect military strategist, wise administrator, and a ruthless dictator. His wife came from a rich South American family and bore him five children: three girls and two sons. The eldest and heir to the throne was Thomas, a young man who spent most of his life traveling the world building business and military networks on behalf of the King. His younger brother Rafael was still studying at Harvard University; the two sons were kept away from each other intentionally by their father Adam, who wanted to avoid any sibling rivalry killing his sons before their time. Adam had married off his first two daughters to neighboring princes, securing his western and southern borders. One border remained unresolved, locked in a bitter conflict: the Kingdom of Edomites. Adam Kissed despised the self-proclaimed king, who had bought his reign with coin. He realized however that a constant conflict was bad for business and something had to be done to end it sooner rather than later. A marriage between the two houses was the best solution to insure lasting peace on his borders. Thomas was told he should marry the Edomites princess Maiden Madden, a woman he had never met and knew nothing about. Thomas was furious that his father wanted him to marry a princess of a less than noble blood. His anger and resentment was only tempered by his deep curiosity about the Edomites princess. "What if we add some lace to the train? .... Maiden are you listening?" Maxeen was pulled back into reality as she glanced down at Julia. Her best friend and her caretaker since she was born, she was the only mother she had really known. Maiden's mother passed away in childbirth, so Julia was really all she had. She was standing in a custom-made silk gown, her wedding gown, as Julia was doing the final touch ups. She couldn't believe tomorrow was her wedding day. Her mind lost in thought as she tried to picture her husband. Would he be handsome? Would he be kind? She only hoped he wasn't an obnoxious pig who did nothing but drink himself drunk. She gave Julia a small smile. "I'm sorry, Julia, I was daydreaming..." She said softly. More like having a nightmare. "What were you saying?" Julia patted her softly on the shoulder. "It's alright deary, you have a lot to think about. Would you like some lace on the train?" She said pointing down to the incredibly long train that was laid out behind Maiden. Maxeen looked down at it and couldn't believe she was supposed to walk with this. Even though the gown was silk and light, it felt so heavy. She shook her head, and added. "I do not need a train to begin with, leave it be." Julia simply nodded and continued. The next morning Maiden was once again forced into the gown again. It was a truly beautiful dress, but she despised it for it was the last dress she'd ever wear as a Madden. Soon she'd carry her husband's name. Her hair curled and wrapped into a loose bun, her face painted with light make up. Was this really happening? She didn't sleep last night at all, and boy was her stylist ranting about it now. "Madam these dark circles! No, no... you must look beautiful." She sighed silently. Why must she be beautiful? If she were ugly maybe the Prince wouldn't want her. Maybe he would turn her down. But she knew that was not the case. She knew this wedding was happening and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Once she was dressed and her stylist declared her perfect. Her small crown was placed on her head and white roses were thrust into her hands. She gripped them tightly as she swallowed hard. She could hear movement and chatter behind the large wooden doors that lead into the chapel. Everyone was waiting to see the beautiful bride. Waiting to watch her be sold for peace. Small girls came running up in their cute little dresses to pick up her train. She gave them a smile as they giggled behind her. At leasttheywere having enjoying this. She heard the music start up, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. After a few moments the doors were opened, and she was staring into a room filled with people. But the one she couldn't take her eyes off of was the one standing at the end of the aisle... the one who was staring right back at her. Thomas couldn't sit still as his private jet approached the capital of his bride-to-be, marching up and down the aisle, his ceremonial sword banging against the seats. The flight attendant came out of the cabin and pleaded with him: "Please, your highness, we are landing any minute now, please take your seat!" Thomas ignored her pleading, continuing his march nervously. Visibly agitated, the sexy attendant turned to Takeda - his bodyguard, bending down to get close to his ear: "Please, sir, convince his highness to sit down. If he gets hurt it's my neck!" Takeda smiled peacefully at her agitation, but did nothing other than raise his eyebrow in surprise as the attendant suddenly groaned for receiving a hefty smack on her plump bottom from Luis - Thomas' closest friend - who was sitting right behind her." It looks like it's your ass, not your neck, girl!" Takeda grinned while Thomas was undeterred in his strolling. She straightened her body and turned to Luis with a fierce gaze, making Luis feel a cold shiver down his spine. "What?" Luis defended himself. "Can't you see he's preoccupied? He's getting married today. He's getting a bride! A brand-new bride!" he rambled, chuckling quietly. The girl leaned forward towards Louis and grabbed his balls over his trousers, pushing her cleavage in his face: "He'll get a broken neck if he doesn't sit down right now, you fucking idiot! And stop spanking my ass, I'm not your whore!" she said firmly and fixed her blue eyes on Luis' gaze, beginning to squeeze his balls." Thomas, you're giving me a headache, sit down, for goodness’s sake!" Luis shrieked. "This lovely lady is going to crush my balls if you don't!" he shouted, his gaze locked with hers, her lips moving to a sly smile. Thomas stopped suddenly and sat down without a word, just as the plane touched down, sending the attendant off her balance and straight into Takeda's lap. He held on to her firmly while she found her footing again and stood up, pulling down on the hem of her short skirt, smiling when she caught Luis gazing hungrily at the exposed lace of her holdups. She licked her lips and took a seat next to Thomas. "Are you OK, your highness?" she asked softly, surprised by the fact that this was the only long flight she could remember when her mouth and pussy hadn't been ravaged by Thomas' massive cock. 'He must really be upset' she thought to herself, sighing in sadness for potentially never again being able to enjoy being sexually used by him. Minutes later they were transferred to the limousine and hurried to the chapel escorted by several security vehicles. They were late. Very late. Thomas made his way through the aisle and proceeded to the altar, where he met his father's disapproving glance. He didn't care about that now. He didn't even respond. There were other things on his mind now. As the music started he looked back and saw the white dress first, his eyes blurred for a few seconds feeling a bit lightheaded from the rush. Then he saw her his jaw almost dropped, not believing the beauty walking down the aisle towards him. He locked his gaze with hers, feeling his anger melt away as if my magic. His father noticed his reaction and smiled widely. He took pride in the fact that he always knew what his children wanted more than they knew themselves. Perhaps that is why they never disobeyed him. He smiled at his bride as she joined him in front of the altar and failed to look forward to the priest awaiting to begin the ceremony. 'Eyes front, boy!' he heard his father whispering behind him. He refused and continued to look in her eyes, as if attempting to know her whole life story in one gaze. Eventually he smiled again and turned his eyes to the priest. Maiden walked slowly down the aisle as her eyes took him all in. He was so handsome, she couldn't believe it. As she reached the end of the alter she finally got a better look at his face, his hazel eyes staring at her with lust. She took a deep breath she stepped before the priest. He smiled at her, and she felt dizzy... he had an amazing smile. She tried to smile back but couldn't make her lips move to obey her. She couldn't make her eyes stray away from his." We are gathered here today to unite two kingdoms...." When he finally pulled his gaze away toward and aimed it at the priest she stared at him for a moment longer before averting her eyes as well. The priest continued his opening words, and she felt like she was in a dream. Is this really him? It can't be... can it? Her hands tightened around the flowers again, she felt a thorn poking through the ribbons that held them together. She glanced nervously at her father who stood off to her side as she pushed her thumb hard against the thorn, feeling it stab through her skin. She winced slightly as small pain evaded her senses. Furthermore, she knew a bead of blood was forming at the wound. She wasn't waking up. I'm not dreaming... this is real. He is the real prince! She thought to herself as she glanced at him again admiring his finely formed face, his jaw lines strong and bold, his lips that looked so soft. She felt an urge to reach out and test out soft they were. But she kept to herself. The priest reached out and took a hand from each of them. He placed her hand into his. His hands felt rough against her soft ones... but she strangely liked how they felt. "This union between Thomas Kissed and Maiden Madden shall create peace as long as both shall live." The priest looked into Maiden's eyes and smiled. "Maiden do you consent to be wed to Thomas Kissed? To be his wife and to cherish the time you two shall spend together?" Like she had a choice? She thought, as she closed her eyes, trying to find her voice. When she did, she knew it was nothing more than a small whisper." Yes..." The priest turned to Thomas and asked the same question of him. He heard the words 'I do' spring out of his mouth with conviction, as if someone else spoke them. The rest of the ceremony was a blur. His eyes kept returning to hers, intrigued, drawn in, captured. Why didn't his father mention how gorgeous she was? He would have agreed much more readily. Who cares about noble blood. She was the first woman who stirred more than just lust in him. Yes, he was mesmerized by her black hair contrasting her pale skin, her green eyes, the curves of her cleavage, but it was as if he could see the whole of her in her eyes. Before long, the ceremony was nearly over, but Thomas could not remember most of what just happened, especially before they were pronounced man and wife. When the priest said the awaited words - 'You may kiss your bride' - it was as if time stopped as he turned to her. When he kissed other women he usually had flashes of all the other women he had, but this time she was entirely focused on her. He softly pressed his lips against hers, savoring the sweet sensation that overtook his senses. He kissed her deeper, pulling her close, his whole body vibrating with desire and lust to know more, to know all. She felt her heart flutter as she said 'I do' like he meant it. Her breath was shallow throughout the rest of the ceremony. She couldn't wrap her mind around this man. This incredibly gorgeous man who she knew nothing about. You may now kiss the bride... Her body went stiff as she thought about the kiss. She swallowed hard as she turned face him. But when he lowered and captured her lips softly, she felt as though she was melting into a puddle. It wasn't her first kiss by far, but it felt amazing having his lips against hers. She moaned quietly as she found herself kissing him back. Her arms moved to wrap around his neck without her willing them. She couldn't breathe as his strong masculine scent filled her head. She parted her lips letting his tongue slip into her mouth as she moved hers against it. Her body tightly pressed against hers, she was taken over by desire. When they pulled apart she was breathless. She stared into his eyes when she heard cheering behind her. That's when she remembers they were in front of hundreds of people. She felt her face flush as she couldn't believe she had just been kissed like that in public. She felt embarrassed but when she looked at him, he didn't seem to mind. The kiss intoxicated him with her unusual sensual energy. He wanted her more than he ever wanted a woman. He always picked his women carefully, he was very picky and liked to control every aspect. But this woman was chosen and picked by someone else. All his thoughts screamed that this is not how he does things. Perhaps this contradiction knocked him out of balance and rocked his defenses, opening him to a whole new array of feelings. He smiled to himself as he became suddenly aware of his raging erection. No women had ever had this reaction on him from just one kiss. They turned to the crowd, and he took her hand in his, walking her slowly to the exit of the cathedral, bowing and smiling at the noblemen and women crowding the sanctuary. He felt proud. He never felt proud of a woman before. Furthermore, he wanted to show her off, to make others envious. This was new to him. As they entered the limousine waiting outside, Thomas remembered how his father broke the news to him a few months back. He chuckled as his mind took him back. He was summoned to Kiev for 'a very important matter'. Usually they communicated by phone, so Thomas knew this was serious. When Adam told him he was to marry the Edomites princess he wanted to cut his head off, as he had done with some of his worst enemies. He controlled his anger well in front of his father. The years of training under Takeda's wise guidance helped him to keep his emotions in check when it was required of him. Later he would vent his frustration, but the demands of his royal office he took very seriously. Takeda instilled much of the samurai spirit in him, turning him into a focused, disciplined and powerful young man. Few dared to take him on in a fight of any kind. His father was one of the very few men who could get him to do anything he did not want to do. They did not exchange many words. It was more a game of who can stare longer and who can contain their anger properly. Adam was a true aristocrat, and Thomas learned a lot from him. After great effort to control his anger at his father's request, Thomas simply asked with a deep voice: "Is there no other way?" His father looked him in the eyes as he always had: "No, it must be done!" he replied without flinching. "Very well!" Thomas groaned and left the room calculating each step to the limousine which drove him to the airstrip. He was seething with anger all the way to his plane, waiting to take him to Tokyo for an important business meeting. Takeda and Luis were waiting for him in the plane, taken aback by the black cloud that darkened Thomas as his stepped aboard. As soon as the plane was in the air he withdrew to his sleeping cabin and called Ashley the flight attendant to join him. He tore her clothes and made her sit on the bed with her ass in the air. He told her what her father asked him to do and began to spank her ass hard while he told her. She moaned and groaned, as she reassured him through shrieks of pain: "I will always be your slut, my prince, don't worry! You can fuck my anytime you want in any way you want!" she went on, reaching for his cock the second he stopped spanking her. Her mouth full of his cock was the only thing that eventually calmed him down to a manageable level. Thomas smiled again as he snapped out of his flash-back, turning to his new bride sitting beside him in the limousine, alone for the first time and for the duration of the trip to the royal palace. He took his time to look at her closely, his eyes traveling over her whole body, smiling softly and gazing in her eyes." You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met!" he said and leaned forward to kiss her deeply. Maiden was sitting in her library reading one of her old books. She absolutely adored books. The idea of being anywhere she wanted by using the words on the pages. She loved it. She always handled them with great care, scared of ruining the pages. Her mind was in battle with a bad pirate who was trying to get to the gold before she did when she heard the door open, snapping her out of her fantasy. Her father walked in. He was a handsome man, but she looked nothing like him. He had olive skin and light blondish hair. All of her features came from her mother. She was almost an exact copy of her. She frowned at the concerned look on his face. Furthermore, she placed her bookmark to save her spot as she sat the book down. "Father... what is it?" She asked in a worried voice." Kisiel's men are moving in on our walls..." He said with a sigh, sitting down beside her. "I'm afraid they may soon strike." She nodded slowly as she understood his worries. Edomites wasn't the strong kingdom it once had been, it's walls battered and broken from years of previous battles. "What can be done?" She said as she fidgeted with her hands, she hated war talk. She hated war. Furthermore, she hated how many innocents died for the greed of just a few people. Her father glanced at her before taking her hands to stop her fidgeting. "You know I love you, don't you?"" Yes, of course.... but I don't understand." She tilted her head slightly. "What does that have to do with anything?" He took a deep breath before continuing. "We cannot survive more battles... and they Kissed's kingdom is so strong. It would be great to have them as an ally. We have to make peace with them, Maiden." She didn't understand where this was heading. Until her father looked down shamefully. "I'm offering him my only daughter for marriage to create peace." She sat there for a moment to stunned to even move as she absorbed those words. After a moment she felt his hands squeeze her, she quickly jerked her hands away and stood up. "You would sell, father?" She gasped. "You would give me to your enemy?" She shook her head as she struggled to understand." Darling, please... you will marry the Prince, it will not be a bad thing. You should have a husband by now anyway." He added trying to calm her down." Get out.... leave me." She said in anger. She wasn't some slave to be bartered and sold, even it if was through marriage. "Get... out!" She shouted this time. Her father rose slowly stepping toward the door. "You don't have a choice in this matter, I'm sending the message to let him know of the offer. If he accepts, you'll be wed. I'm sorry..." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. The moment the door closed she picked up her book and flung it after him. Tears stung her eyes, her body shook as fury overwhelmed her. "I will not! I will sooner die then marry any man you pick for me!" But she knew the truth, she wouldn't let her people go to war. She wouldn't let her soldiers be killed. So. Here she sat next to her husband in a fancy limousine. She stared at him with such wonder. She couldn't believe it. His words didn't register in her mind as he leaned over and kissed her deeply. She moaned softly her hands laid on his cheek, feeling the brisk whiskers tickle her palm. She pulled back softly as she shook her hand. "I still can't believe this is real...." He looked at her and smiled, feeling her soft hand on his cheek. "This is as real as it gets, even if I can't believe it either!" he responded and kissed her sweet lips again. As he kissed her he felt desire swelling up inside him. Was there time until they reached the palace to at least get a glimpse of her breasts hiding so sensually under her dress? He wanted to tear that dress off and taste her sweetness, having to use all the self-control he could muster to not give into his lust. Before he could finish his thoughts and as his hands traveled softly from her waist towards her breasts while his kissed her deeply the car stopped and the door opened. He looked up with disappointment for the interruption. "We're already there?" Thomas groaned as Luis poked his head through the door, smiling at both of them. "Yes, my friend, I'm afraid you'll have to do that later!" he said and held out his hand to help Maxine out of the car. "You'll be leaded to your apartments in the palace to await the guests arriving!" he continued while the staff of the princess lead them through the palace corridors. "You will have about an hour to freshen up and rest before everyone arrives!" Luis said as he grinned at Thomas. The doors opened to the sumptuous apartments, and they were lead inside by the princess' most loyal servant. "If you royal highnesses need anything, I'm right outside that door!" he said softly and pushed everyone out of the door, closing it behind him, leaving Thomas and Maxine alone for the first time. He turned to her as they were standing in the middle of the room, he pulled her close to him and kissed her deeply. He pulled her so close and held her so tightly that she could feel his excitement very clearly despite her dress. Furthermore, he finally broke the kiss just when he felt he would be on the verge of ripping the dress off of her. "You are so young and beautiful. You must have so many questions..." he said still holding on to her, looking deep in her eyes. "Ask me anything!" he said softly and gave her another kiss. Maiden sighed into his kiss. She felt his hands travel over her stomach toward her breast. Her hands moving to the back of his neck feeling his soft hair tingle her hands. All of a sudden the door was pulled open. When did we stop? She saw a man's head peak in, she recognized the man from the wedding. When she her his comment she felt her face flush, embarrassed by the fact they were caught. She wasn't a virgin, but she wasn't very experienced either. As a Princess she had to uphold an image for the young girls who looked up to her. She very rarely had any type of sexual encounters. She took the man's hand and stepped out of the car. Furthermore, she nodded her head to him as in thanks as she followed her personal up to their large room. Furthermore, she ran her hand against the plush couch before glancing up at her trusted servant. "Thank you, Dominic." He merely smiled and stepped out. Once the door shut she was pulled into a deep kiss. She was breathless as she felt his erection against her lower stomach. When he pulled back she looked up into his eyes. Ask him anything? Honesty she didn't know what to ask him... her husband who she knew nothing about. She cleared her throat, him holding her the way he did wasn't helping train of thought. "Umm... well... tell me a little about yourself." She said in a low shy voice. "I mean, you're my husband, but I know very little about you." He held her close and smiled at her question and especially at the mention of the word 'husband', looking deeply in her eyes. "An easy question then!" he smiled. "My name is Thomas..." he said and smiled mischievously, "I am 28 years old... as you know my mother is South American... which is why I don't look Ukrainian at all..." he said giving her soft kisses in between. "I have one younger brother and three sisters... two of them already married... one still too young for that..." he said and smiled affectionately. "She's the best one... you will love her, I'm sure!"" Let's see... what else... I spent most of my adult life away at university in the US and then traveling all over the world with business and diplomatic assignments!" he continued. "But more about that later! I don't want to reveal too much on the first date!" he smiled and began to kiss the soft skin of her neck." I'm afraid in terms of women I've been a rather bad boy... Furthermore, I've had many women, of all kinds, often more than one at the same time..." he said and looked in her eyes to capture any reactions. "They keep coming back for more, so I must be doing something right! Tell me, sweet wife, have you ever felt a hard cock between your beautiful legs? Or perhaps the lips of another woman?" he asked with a smile, drowning in her green eyes. "You can be honest with me always. I will never strike you or hurt you. Unless you ask me to!" he grinned, poised to receive any reaction to his inquisitive questions. Maiden stared at him trying to take all the information in. Her mind wondered as to what his family must be like. The mention of his sibling made her ache slightly, she was the only child she never knew what it was like to have brother or sister. She chuckled softly at his mention of their first 'date.' She was sure they were far beyond that. His mention on his sexual encounters to her back a little but she tried not to show it. He has had many women? She felt an insecure about it and strangely jealous. When she heard his question about having a cock between her legs she actually took a step back. "Are you asking if I am a virgin?" Her mind flashed back to her first time. She became friends with the son of the Kingdom's defense advisors. She thought him to be a nice guy, but she learned otherwise after she gave him her virginity. He quickly spread the news about the unpure princess. She scoffed, as she stared harshly at him. "I'm not a child Thomas, wouldn't one assume I've experienced sex?" She shook her head. "And of course not! I'm a woman of stature I don't spend my time going on escapades with women!" Thomas widened his smile feeling for the same time the fire burning inside Maxine. He loved women who knew what they wanted and who knew how to stick up for themselves. Women who simply obeyed were generally ignored by him. Strangely enough, her harsh gaze made him want her even more." I did not want to assume anything about you, my princess, and I know nothing about you, hence my question and personal confession." he began taking both her hands in his. "And no, I had no expectation that you're a virgin. Too much work for me!" he smiled. "As far as your potential... escapades with women it is entirely within your right, should you have such desires. You will soon find that we, Kisses, are not shy about sex, whoever may be involved. Our parties are famous for that!" he grinned. He then pulled her close and kissed her again. "I don't care if you fucked a thousand men or two. I don't care if you keep a woman lover by your side at all times or if you occasionally like the taste of one. All I care about is that you are happy and satisfied as my wife, and I will do anything in my power to make all your dreams and fantasies come true! Even the darker ones!" he smiled softly." Now, if you don't mind, I would like to take a quick shower before we join the reception. I haven't had a chance before the ceremony!" he said and kissed her softly before moving away from her and disappearing in the bathroom, without closing the door behind him. He took his clothes off in some haste and walked into the large shower enclosure, moaning softly as he felt the hot water cascade on his well toned body, his hard on throbbing in anticipation. She felt uneasy. Kisses were not shy about sex? The thought of him with another woman upset her. She felt possessive. Surely he wouldn't continue to have sex with many women, right? She sighed as he walked away to the shower. She wasn't sure what to think of him after learning so much about his hefty sex life. But in all fairness he was forced into this marriage as well, so she supposed she could accept it if he wished to have other lovers, she wouldn't like it, but she would accept it. She heard the water turn on as she glanced around the room trying to keep her mind off of what he must look like naked, the water rolling off of his dark flesh. She noticed her servant had left her a short blue dress. Furthermore, she smiled in thanks to him, her wedding dress felt even heavier having the train wrapped and bundled around the skirt. She unlaced the back of her gown and loosed it enough to be removed. Furthermore, she slipped it off and laid it on the bed. Furthermore, she stood in her slip feeling tired, not sleeping the night before was taking its toll. Furthermore, she wondered if she had time for a small nap, sadly she didn't. Furthermore, she needed to wake herself up. She rubbed her eye softly as she thought about the shower. How good it must feel, that would wake her up. Glancing toward the bathroom her mind turned to the little time they had. By the time Thomas was done, she wouldn't have time to shower and dress. Then another thought occurred to her... she could always take one with him. After all he was her husband now. She decided that would be best as she walked into the bathroom.Oh, my!she stopped dead in her tracks seeing him naked. It wasn't new seeing a naked man but something about him made her groan low in her thought. She shook her head as she averted her eyes. Clearing her throat loudly to gather his attention. "Umm... given the time we are allowed I'm afraid I won't be able to shower after you. If you wouldn't mind, may I join you?" The water running on his body felt amazingly refreshing and relaxing. His heart and mind however were still in the room where his bride awaited for him. Her reaction to his confession made him realize that he was too harsh in his honesty. "Dammit, I shouldn't have been so direct... but perhaps it's better that she knows who she's dealing with from the start... just don't scare her off!" he thought to himself while enjoying the water. He suddenly heard her speaking to him"Umm... given the time we are allowed I'm afraid I won't be able to shower after you. If you wouldn't mind, may I join you?" He was startled and automatically covered his hard cock as best he could with his hands, turning away from her. "What are you doing? You're shy? This is new..." he thought to himself." Yes, of course, please join me. I really should have asked! I just didn't think you're ready." Thomas said to her, keeping his eyes closed. "I'm a bit concerned that I scared you off earlier, so, here, I will keep my eyes closed until you are comfortable with me. OK? You can tell me when it's OK to open them!" he continued and stepped back from under the shower head, turning slowly towards her, no longer hiding his large cock, fully erect and throbbing in her view. When he turned and face her she felt a feeling she hadn't really felt before. She felt lust. His cock was fully erect, and she quickly tried to keep turning her eyes away from it. She took a deep breath as she turned slightly staring down at the floor. Why was she so turned on by this man? She gave him a little nod as he accepted her invite. She stepped toward the mirror and began taking the pins out of her hair to let it fall against her shoulders. Furthermore, she pulled the small crown off her head and sat it on the counter. Furthermore, she felt very nervous. How did I possibly come up with this idea? She thought as she imagined herself naked before him. But it was too late to back out now. She moved so her back was facing him as she pulled her slip up and over her head before dropping it on the floor. Her hands trembled as she reached back and unclasped her bra letting that drop too. She paused for a moment to close her eyes and gather herself. Was she really doing this? Was she really undressing herself to shower with him? She bit her lip softly as she hooked a finger into each side of her silk panties and slowly pushed them down, letting them puddle at her feet. She brushed her hair behind her ear as she turned trying to cover her most private areas with her hands and arms. Approaching the large shower slowly keeping her eyes on the ground she spoke. "I'm sorry about how I reacted earlier. I'm used to defending myself... but I shouldn't have overreacted, it was uncalled-for. You have every right to be curious." She gave him a shy smile as she stepped into the shower behind him, feeling the hot water splash off his skin. "Please don't apologize," Thomas said as he felt her enter the shower cabin while he still kept his eyes closed. "You need all the strength you can muster to put up with the Kissed crew. We're a crazy bunch, but we know how to have fun!" he said and stopped in his tracks as her back touched his. He didn't move, enjoying how their bodies barely touch each other, making the sensations even stronger. Slowly, Thomas turned his body towards hers, opening his eyes. "I know you're turned around, so I'm going to open my eyes..." he let her know, as his gaze admired the delicious shape of her body glistening under the running water. Her beautiful and round ass was less than an inch away from his throbbing cock. He wanted so bad to push his cock between her legs, but he resisted. He held back, admiring instead." I just met you... and I'm already falling for you..." he heard himself saying - words he never spoke to any woman ever in his life. Maiden turned her back to him and grabbed a loofah. She poured a little soap on it and inhaled the scent. I see they left me my favorite...she thought inhaling the Sweet Pea scented body wash. She was just about to start cleaning herself when she heard something that made her fumble and drop the loofah." I just met you... and I'm already falling for you..." She turned her head slightly to see him facing toward her, his eyes full of lust and desire. She felt her heart race at the look he was giving her, she's hearing him express his feelings. Furthermore, she quickly turned and faced forward. Furthermore, she could feel the heat of his body against her back, even though the water was hot she knew it was his skin. Furthermore, she honestly didn't know what to say. Since the moment he kissed her at the altar she felt like melting every time he smiled at her. She felt a strong urge to touch him. She couldn't explain it. It was like a spell was placed on her. But nothing good come out of her trying to deny it. Knowing he felt the same made her eyes water slightly. She couldn't believe this man was her husband. Her husband... She let out a slow breath as she turned her head back at him again, he was so handsome and so far he had been nothing but sweet to her. She couldn't help but to admit the truth. "As am I...." she said softly. "I'm falling too..." Thomas smiled at her reaction and especially at her words. He stooped down to retrieve the loofah before she could, and as he reached it his cheek brushed softly against her leg. This was more than he could bare. He got on his knees and wrapped his hand around her leg just above her knee and kissed the spot on her leg he had brushed against. He wanted her so badly. Furthermore, he wanted her then and there. Furthermore, he didn't think he could wait any longer, but he still felt he should. He stood up and began to run the loofah softly on her back, savoring every stroke up and down her back, from her waist to her neck and back. Furthermore, he then lowered his body to his knees he began to wash the back of her legs, taking his time, feeling the tingle of her silky smooth skin. Tentatively he moved upwards on the skin of her perfect ass and ran the loofah in circles, his cock throbbing helplessly. He took his time, enjoying every stroke. After a few good minutes he stood back up and handed her the loofah. As soon as she took it off his hands he began to caress her back, his hands sliding on the soapy water caressing her body. He could feel her breath intensifying as she washed the rest of her body." I want to see you!" he suddenly said softly. "I can't take this anymore. Please turn to me and kiss me!" he purred. Maiden gasped soft as Thomas dropped to his knees and kissed her outer thigh. Her body flush as she thought about how close his face was to her pussy, she felt the need to cover herself with her hand but resisted. When he started cleaning her back she had to reach out and use the shower wall as an anchor so she could stay standing. Who knew being cleaned could feel so sexual? She bit her lip as he moved the loofah to clean her ass, she felt herself grow even wetter... and it wasn't from the water. He reached around and handed her the loofah, she took it squeezing it tightly in her hand as she pressed it against her stomach. His hands felt so good against her back as they caressed it softly. She didn't even realize she was panting. When he asked her to kiss him, she had to obey! She let the loofah fall out of her hands as she turned around and pressed her body against his. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pressed her lips tightly against his. Furthermore, she wanted him so badly, and she knew he wanted her as well.... she could tell by his stiff cock pressed against her lower stomach. Furthermore, she groaned into the kiss as she let her tongue play with his. When she turned to him and got a glimpse of her sensuous curves he almost fainted with delight. Her kiss was delicious and deeply emotional, making him pull her close with his arms wrapped around her, feeling her hard nipples pushing against his chest. He met her kiss with utter abandon, squeezing her wet body, getting as close to her as she could without melting into one another. This was the first time he felt like embracing a woman in such a manner. Usually when he felt so aroused all he wanted was to push his cock inside of her and hear her groaning and moaning. But then again he had never been THIS aroused before. Oh, he did want to fuck Maxine. He wanted it badly. He felt an overwhelming desire to push his cock deep into her pussy ever since they had kissed in the limo. But this was different. He held her close as if to protect her from anything and anyone, in a way, even from himself. She was the first woman for whom he was concerned that his big cock would hurt her. He finally broke the kiss and released her from the embrace, allowing her to finally breathe." You are exquisite in every way!" he said softly and ran the back of his fingers from his right hand on the curves of her breast, barely touching its soft skin. He then placed both his hands gently on her breasts, feeling their wonderful shape and texture, filling his senses with delight." I want to fuck you so much I'm afraid I will break you!" he said suddenly while his hands squeezed her breasts softly, surprised he was so honest with her. This was also new. He did like to talk dirty during sex, and he did that a lot, but he was rarely actually honest with women. Maxine had something about her that made him fully trust her to say what was on his mind." Forgive me for being so direct," he winced, "my excitement is getting the better of me!" He then let one of his hands travel down on her belly, resting on her bound and then softly and tenderly reach between her legs, brushing his fingers on her silky pussy lips. The wetness he met with his fingers made them slip, and they landed on her clit, which he began to rub gently, purring like a big cat. Maiden groaned to the feel of his body pressed so firmly against hers. He broke the kiss and pulled back slight leaving her breathless. When he said he wanted to fuck her she felt her knees go weak. She couldn't believe she was hearing this. She found it so... so exotic. She whimpers softly as his hands ran along her breast. Furthermore, she leaned her head on his shoulders feeling his hands move down to her stomach to the part of her that ached. When his fingers touch her clit she jumped slightly. His fingers massaging it. She moaned low in her throat, her hands grasping at his back. Her body felt like it was on fire! All she could think about was what his hard cock must feel like as it was being thrust inside her. She couldn't believe she was really having these thoughts. She felt her body jerk as his fingers pressed harder against her."Oh, God!..." She whispered. "Please don't stop..." She wanted him so badly, she couldn't control herself as her hips moved against his hand. Stopping was the last thing on his mind. He didn't care about the rest of the day, about the reception, guests and diplomatic duties. He only cared about being with her fully, without interruptions or worries. His two fingers were dancing slowly in pussy heaven, as he rubbed her clit and her pussy lips, delighted by her reactions and risen desire. He lowered his body kissing her neck while his fingers continue to rub her aching pussy. When his lips reached her breast he groaned deeply as if some strong emotional desire had just been finally fulfilled. He kissed softly around her nipples for a while, and then tasted them in his mouth, moaning as if he finally found his home. It felt so right, so strangely familiar and yet completely new. His mind was a carnival now, with strong feelings of love, connection and protection competing with wild thoughts of hard fucking, of whips and bondage. He wanted to ravage her, and he wanted to protect her at the same time. His mouth traveled lower and lower until his lips finally reached her pussy lips, kissing them passionately just as he had kissed her mouth. The taste of her pussy was intoxicating and overpowering. His tongue danced between her cunt and her clit, swirling and stroking with expert skill and dedication. He did so while looking up at her, delighted by the sight of her breasts heaving and her beautiful face displaying her pleasure." Tell me, sweet Maxine, tell me how this makes you feel! Do you want to feel my cock inside you?" he asked while continuing his assault on her pussy. Maiden moaned, his fingers teasing her. She pushed her chest out giving him full access to her breast as he took one into his mouth sucking softly. God his lips felt so great on her. She felt his head and lips move down further. She knew what to expect. She leaned back bracing herself against the wall as his lips found their way onto her pussy. Furthermore, she gasped as she arched her back. The muscles in her legs felt like jello as she struggled to hold herself up. She was panting unsteadily as her body twitched. Her ran her hands into his hair, her toes curling at the sensation his tongue was causing. She heard his question but couldn't find a voice to answer, all that came out was long whimper. A nod was all she could manage. He continued to torture her clit with his lips and tongue, while he found two of his fingers slowly sliding inside her soaking pussy, groaning as he felt her body respond." Are you shy, my sweet?" he asked smiling up at her. His fingers now moved slowly in and out of her pussy, while his tongue brought her closer and closer to orgasm." I want you hear you say it. Do you want my cock?" he insisted while picking up pace. She gasped feeling his fingers enter her. She squirmed against him as her head thrashed back and forth against the tile. Furthermore, she was so close to an orgasm she felt dizzy! He asked her the question again. She struggled to breath before she moaned his name. "Yes! God, I want it... I want your cock Thomas!" Did she really just say that? How did it roll of her tongue so easily? She groaned, her hands grasping his hair. "Please... please" she begged. He smiled as he heard the words come out of her mouth, her voice so powerfully sensual. He stood up to face her and kissed her mouth, pushing her body tight against the tiles. Then he took a step back and admired her body arching in desire." I love your voice..." he said, looking straight into her green eyes. He then took both her hands and placed them gently on his throbbing cock." Do you feel how hard it is for you? It is now yours to command, my sweet!" he said, moaning as he felt her sweet hands wrapped around his massive cock, aching for attention. She couldn't help but moan as he pushed her against the tile. She wanted him inside her do badly. Furthermore, she wanted to feel him. Her fingers wrapped around his cock She bit her lip as she felt it hard and erect against her palm. She loved how it felt so soft yet so hard. She took a deep breath as she moved her hand from hilt to tip admiring every vain, every small curve. Maiden pushed her lips against his in deep kiss before she bit down and tugged softly on his bottom lip. She moved her head to the side of his so she could whisper into his est. "I want your cock inside me... I want it so badly. Please..." she pleaded again. Her bold moves and her confident demeanor showed him she was beginning to be more and more comfortable with him. He smiled and kissed her again. He then picked her up in his strong arms and carried her to the bedroom, laying her softly on the bed, not caring that the sheets were getting wet." If you want my cock so badly, I will give it to you..." he smiled. "I don't want to keep my sweet waiting... but I am tempted to be cruelly teasing... just a bit..." he smiled as he climbed over her and placed himself between her legs, pushing them gently apart. He placed his cock between her pussy lips and began to rub them with the head, pushing and torturing her clit, going back and forth from her cunt to her clit slowly, delighting in every sensation, keeping his eyes locked on hers, catching every reaction. He groaned deeply as his cock head slowly pushed her pussy lips apart and entered her soaked pussy, engulfing his cock tightly and desperately sweetly." Ooohhhh, your pussy feels soon good..." he groaned pushing a bit further, careful to not force it past any resistance, even if every fiber of his being told him to push it all the way and push it hard. He resisted, giving her the chance to get used to the sensation. He leaned over her and began to suck slowly on her breasts, while he moved inside her slowly. With the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught the silhouette of a young woman standing in the doorway stealthily, her hand covering her mouth as she got a clear view of Thomas' massive cock sliding slowly in Maxine's pussy. Thomas turned his head and looked at her smiling, startling the girl to the point of a heart attack. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. She turned bright red as she couldn't take her eyes off of his cock. Furthermore, she wanted to turn back and run, but she couldn't do that either. Furthermore, she had to speak, but she was unable to speak." Go ahead, what is it?" Thomas asked gently, smiling at the girl while continuing to slowly fuck Maxine's pussy." Y-Your highness... I must prepare her highness... you are both expected at the reception..." she muttered slowly, struggling to look away. Maiden gasped as she was lifted and carried to the bed. Her heart pounded as she felt his weight on top of her. Her legs wrapped around his lean hips and her back arched as he entered her. She whimpered softly, moving her hips to draw him deeper inside her. She bit his shoulder lightly, she couldn't imagine that he this feel good being inside her. Furthermore, she let out a soft moan as her chest lifted and dropped in heavy pants. Her nails digging into his back. Maxeen was about to pull kid head up so she could kiss him when she heard an unfamiliar voice. She opened her eyes and leaned up spotting a young servant standing at the door, watching. She gasped, pulling Thomas's body tightly against hers to cover herself." How dare you enter without knocking!" She shouted at the young girl. "You do not just barge in!" She felt so embarrassed, she couldn't control her anger. The girl quickly glanced down at her feet. "I'm sorry M'lady, I did knock... I shouldn't have just came in, forgive me. But the reception is starting soon, and I was sent to help you prepare." Her voice was full of fear. Maxeen glares at the girl. "Leave... I am very well capable of preparing myself!" The girl quickly turned and left, closing the door behind her. She knew it wasn't the girls fault, she was just following orders, but that didn't make Maiden feel less embarrassed. She covered her face with her hands and tried to calm down. Why didn't they lock the door? She groaned in annoyance before she looked at Thomas. He seems rather amused with what happened. She suddenly remembered his cock was still inside her. Clearing her throat she gave him a little push. "We should get ready...." "Oh, I'm sorry..." Thomas said and got up, releasing Maxine. He always abhorred men who forced themselves on women, and he was very sensitive to not do the same. He enjoyed fucking women hard, he enjoyed bondage and S&M play, but never forcing it on women. Furthermore, he only did that if he was sure it was what they wanted as well. Furthermore, he had too many friends who treated women like dirt, and he despised them without reserve." Yes, perhaps we should get ready..." he said softly, heading back to the shower. "You know... in the 15th century there was no concept of privacy," he said as he stopped in the doorway, "servants went through their masters' bedrooms without knocking, even while they were having sex. This is a little known historical fact... I guess our house is more 15th century than I realized!" he said and turned to her." Please don't blame the girl. Put yourself in her shoes: it's not everyday you're asked to interrupt a royal couple on their wedding day and then be faced with such beauty!" he said and pointed to his cock, smiling mischievously. "I'll let you get ready!" he said and disappeared in the shower, sheltering under the warm water. Maiden sighed as he disappeared into the bathroom once more. She knew she should be mad at the girl, but she was so embarrassed. She sat up on the bed and mumbled. "We're not in the 15th century though... we have doors and people should know how to knock before entering..." She got up and grabbed the blue dress which was left for her. She honestly was more upset that they were interrupted and didn't have a chance to continue. Furthermore, she knew people would be waiting for them, and she wasn't one for being late. Furthermore, she pulled the dress over her naked body, not really caring about her undergarments. Besides, those's were in the bathroom, and she couldn't go back in there without being tempted to rejoin him in the shower. Maxeen sat down in front of a large desk that had various types of makeup and hair stuff. She picked up a hair pin, admiring its beauty... the blue gems in it sparkling as she moved it against the light. Setting it back-downs she grabbed a hairbrush and started brushing it through her long damp hair. It looked straight now, but soon it would dry into curls. She pulled the side of her hair back and put the pin in. As she started to pick up a small container of blush, she noticed Thomas walk out of the bathroom. She licked her lips softly at the sight of him wearing nothing but a towel. Damn if he didn't have one of the finest bodies she had ever seen. She averted her eyes as she ran a brush against the soft pink powder before bringing it to her checks. "We have to be down there in about ten minutes...." She said trying to keep her eyes off of him. "I'm sure my servants left some clean clothes for you, as they did for me." Thomas smiled as he walked out of the shower wearing his towel. He stopped for a few seconds to admire her in her blue dress. He still just couldn't process how lucky he was, especially when the choice wasn't even his. That just didn't matter to him anymore. Somehow, it made it even sexier." Thank you, Maxine!" he replied with delight at hearing himself say her name out loud, and headed to the living room where he found his clothes. He got dressed as quickly as possible and then returned to find Maxine was also ready." Shall we?" he asked extending his arm to her. They both walked out of the apartment, being met by Luis and Takeda's smiles." What?" Thomas smiled back at Luis. "We were busy!"" I'm sure you were!" Luis smiled, standing in their path." Oh, right, I forgot. Introductions! Maxine, this is Luis, my trusted friend and advisor; he is the nephew of the King of Spain, forth in line to the throne!" he smiled as Luis kissed Maxine's hand gallantly. "And this is Takeda, my sword-master, my bodyguard, and in many ways my teacher!" Maxeenwas finishing putting on a light red lipstick when Thomas reentered the room dressed in a fancy yet casual suit. She stood up and slipped on a pair of black strap heels before linking her arms into his and left the room. She heard shuffling right behind her and knew Dominic was most likely heading to gather her belongings before the maids entered to clean. If it was anyone she could trust with her crown, it was Dominic. She gave a small smile as they approach the man that greet the at the cab and another. Thomas's comment mad her cheeks turn red, would this embarrassment never end? She cleared her throat and held her hand out in a lady like matter, trying to pretend she wasn't bothered by them knowing what they were up to only fifteen minutes ago." Please to me meet you Luis, Takeda." She shook each of their hands lightly before turning to Thomas. "I'm sure they are waiting.... we should head downstairs. They proceeded towards the great hall, where all the guests were waiting for them. As soon as the bride and groom were announced everyone stood and clapped happily as the couple made their way to the top table, under everyone's watchful eye. Thomas took his seat, with Maxine at his left, and her father at his right. Maxine had Adam at her left. As they took their seat everyone stopped clapping and everyone took their seat, the celebrations beginning in full. As soon as they sat, Maxine's father turn to him: "I hope you know what a great gift you were given today!" he said, looking Thomas straight in the eye. Thomas smiled back: "You have nothing to worry about, your majesty, I will protect her with my life!"" Good!" he replied, patting Thomas on the shoulder. "I'm pleased to hear that! I hope you do not intend to drag her along to all your 'diplomatic' trips! I know how dangerous they are!"" That would be entirely up to her, your majesty. She is now a princess of Ukraine, with whatever duties that come from that position and responsibility, but I do not intend to tell her what to do!" Thomas replied standing his ground, aware that Maxine heard their conversation. "But if she wanted to join me on my trips, I assure you that security will be ironclad!"" Hm..." the king replied, unconvinced of Thomas' words. Maiden took her seat in the center of the large table with Thomas on her side. She gave her father a shy smile. He'd have a heart attack if he knew what they were just doing. She thought as she took a sip of her red wine, suddenly unbearably thirsty. She listened as the two argued back and forth. Furthermore, she downed her wine this time. Clearing her throat she held her hands up to both of them. "Boys! Enough... I highly doubt this is the time or place." She turned to her new husband. "We can discuss my traveling later." Then to her father. "Honestly you should have considered all this before selling me, father. Now if you'll both excuse me, I need more wine and some fresh air." She stood slowly picking up her empty glass and stepped away before stopping to add. "Please refrain from killing each other while I'm away..." Maxeen grabbed another full glass and handed the empty one to a waiter before making her way to the balcony. It was a cool night, she shivered slightly as the wind brushed again her bare skin, but she didn't mind it. She loved her city at night, so beautiful and lit up. She spent a lot of time on the balcony of her home just watching. Furthermore, she wondered what her new home would be like. Would it be beautiful like this? Or would it be ugly and dark? She let out a small sigh, so far nothing has been like she imagined, she didn't know what to expect anymore. Thomas smiled with satisfaction as Maxine walked away from the table, and then turned to her father: "It doesn't look like your daughter - my WIFE," he said and smiled to himself as he heard the words come out of his mouth, "will have much trouble standing up to me! It's unlikely she'll do anything she doesn't want to!"" She didn't want to marry YOU!" he smirked in response." Of course not!" Thomas replied calmly as he stood to his feet. "You told her to marry someone she'd never met! What did you expect?" Thomas didn't wait for a reply. He walked away and found his way to the balcony, where he saw Maxine looking out to the city lights, with a glass in her hand. Just when he stepped out, his younger sister Catherine blocked his way and then jumped on him embracing him." I've missed you, brother!" she said as she kissed his cheek." You missed me? I saw you a month ago!" Thomas said, kissing her cheek and squeezing her tightly. "You may be only 16, but watch out! I've seen some hungry eyed princes around in there!"" Shut up!" she broke the embrace and punched his arm, laughing." Come on, meet my princess!" Thomas said and took her by the hand, leading her affectionately to Maxine. "Maxine, meet my little sister Catherine! She's my favorite!"" So pleased to meet you!" Catherine said and gave Maxine a kiss on her cheek. "And watch out for this one! He's dangerous!" she smiled. Maiden moved her glass to her lips, letting the sweet liquid ease her mind. She still felt so tired, physically and mentally. She just wanted to rest for a little while. Furthermore, she let out a small sigh leaning against the railing. Princess of Ukraine... will I ever get use to it? So far she was grateful to have Thomas as her 'Prince,' he didn't seem to be a bad man, but she wasn't sure about him. She heard talking behind her and turned quickly to look, seeing Thomas embracing a young girl. She cleared her throat and sat her wine glass on the railing as they approached her. Maxeen, meet my little sister Catherine! She's my favorite! She smiled as the girl kissed her on the cheek. "Hello Catherine..." She said with a smile as she pulled back. "It's a pleasure to meet you..." She gave a small chuckle as her eyes flickered up to look at Thomas when Catherine made the comment about him being 'dangerous.'" So I've been told... but I think I might be able to handle him." She glanced back down at the girl, seeing the resemblance between the two. She felt grateful to have a new sister, but still upsetting because Thomas had met all of her family already... the only one, her father. "So, looks like we are going to be sisters now, dear Catherine. Perhaps we will need to get together to talk about Thomas's dirty secrets." She said with a wink. "I'm sure you know all of them." She caught Julia standing within the doorway with a shy smile, afraid she was interrupting. "Yes, Julia?" Julia gave a more reassured smile as she stepped toward them. ’M'lady, pardon me, but dinner is ready to be served." Maxeen gave her a kind smile. "Of course, thank you, Julia." Her eyes moved toward Catherine again. "Will you be sitting at our table with us? I'd love to get to know you... and I'm sure Thomas would like to have you there." As they returned to their seats, Thomas' father moved his seat to change with his youngest daughter. Catherine smiled at her father's anticipation of her desire and kissed his cheek before sitting next to Maxine. Thomas took his seat next to his bride, waiting for the food to be placed on the table." I know my brother is scary at first," Catherine whispered in Maxine's ear, "but he can be very gentle and kind! He always protected me and defended me against my sisters. There they are!" she continued, gently pointing out her two beautiful sisters sitting with their husbands, the King of Belarus and the King of Romania. "That's Anna, and that's Larissa! Thank goodness they don't live in the same palace with me anymore! I praised God when there were married and sent off!"" Catherine, you are scaring the princess!" Luis intervened, giving Catherine a kiss." I'm preparing her for the house of Kissed, milord!" Catherine grinned, pushing Luis away playfully." I'm sure you are!" Luis smiled and then turned to Thomas. "Thomas, the Emperor of Germany sent an envoy; secretly. He wants to meet with you and Maxine urgently! Please, he's waiting in the library!" Thomas turned to Maxine and stood up, helping her up from her seat. "Unfortunately, dinner will have to wait. Diplomatic duties come first, I'm afraid!" As Luis leads the couple to the library, Thomas asked him: "Luis, what's this about? Is this about Poland?"" I think so! The Emperor is concerned you father will marry Catherine to the Polish prince. I think he would rather be allied by marriage with the Kisses instead of the Polish."" Why isn't he talking to my father directly? Why me and Maxine?"" That's what puzzles me too!" Luis said and opened the door to the library, where the envoy waited patiently." Your royal highness!" the envoy said and bowed respectfully. "His Majesty the Emperor of Germany sends his congratulations and wishes you a long life with your beautiful bride!"" Thank you! Please send our thanks to his majesty!" Thomas answered moving closer to the envoy with Maxine at his arm. "Could this not wait until we had our dinner?"" I'm afraid my message is rather urgent, my prince! The emperor extends an invitation for you and your bride to join him in Berlin for a private dinner tomorrow evening. I know how preparations for such a journey must start as early as possible. I apologize for the sudden nature of this invitation, however, this could not be avoided!"" Very well... anything else?" Thomas asked looking him straight in the eye." Yes, highness... this is most delicate... the Emperor knows your father has been asked to give the prince of Poland your sister's hand in marriage. This is most concerning for his majesty... and... as a favor to him, his majesty asks that you use your influence with your father to at least delay any promises given!" the envoy said and then turned to Maxine. "His majesty asked you in particular, princess, that you use your feminine influence on your sister-in-law Catherine to resist any offers from Poland. His Majesty would be most indebted to you if you did!"" The Emperor knows my wife?" Thomas asked baffled." They have met once, yes!" the envoy confirmed. "May I have a word in private with your bride, your highness?" Thomas turns to Maxine, surprised by the request. He gave her a kiss, and then lead Luis to the door. "We'll be right outside!" he said and closed the door behind him." I know this is a strange request, princess! But young Catherine must NOT be married to the prince of Poland. The political stability of Europe depends on it! Your influence with young Catherine can prove fundamental! I'm told the prince of Poland is ugly and... poorly endowed..." he said, grinning. "I'm sure this will help convince the beautiful Catherine this match is not for her! Can his majesty count on your help?" Maiden was just about to comment when one of Thomas's help interrupted. Luis, she recalled spoke with Catherine before turning to her husband. Not even Princess of Ukraine for a full day and already part of diplomatic duties? She sighed silently as she took Thomas's hand, moving to stand up. Her father gave her a concerned look as they were lead out of the dining hall, she gave him a reassuring nod telling him not to worry. Once they reached the library she gave the envoy a kind smile as they were greeted. So it was about Catherine being sold of like herself? She cleared her throat as the envoy commented about her meeting the Emperor. "Yes, we've met before. I believe at my father's birthday a few years ago. I'm surprised he would remember me." Strange how word has traveled of the union between the two kingdoms. But it made sense, the kingdoms were far stronger now with the alliance, so the neighboring countries would have to be a lot more careful when dealing with them. She kissed Thomas back softly as they left the room leaving her alone with the envoy. She turned to him and listen as he made the request. Once he was done she scoffed. "Well perhaps I should use my feminine influence toward teaching these princes on proper courting. I believe Catherine should have a say in who she wishes to wed. Regardless of political stability. She should make the choice. Tell your Emperor if he wants Catherine then he shouldn't try to force her hand. There are other ways to get a wife." She gave a small bow before turning and opening the door. She stopped and face envoy once again. "Furthermore, next time you have a request from me, you can wait until after my wedding day. Please help yourself out." She shut the door behind her before moving toward Thomas and Luis. "We are done here, shall we return to dinner?" Thomas greeted with a smile and took her arm to lead her back to their table. He wanted to ask her what the envoy asked of her, but he could guess, so he didn't say anything. Luis however could read what had happened on Maxine's face: "I bet you gave him a piece of your mind!" he thought to himself as he joined them walking next to Maxine. As they approached the table, Thomas spotted Catherine reading a card, with excitement on her face." What is that?" he asked inquisitively." Shhhh, it's a secret!" she whispered to Thomas and Maxine. "I was invited to go to Berlin tomorrow by the Emperor of Germany! Isn't that great?"" Hm... funny coincidence!" Thomas smiled as they took their seats. "Maxine and I were also invited!"" I know!" Catherine giggled." What are you so excited about?" Thomas asked smiling with the corner of his mouth." Are you kidding?? The Emperor of Germany invited me!!!"" Yeah, he probably wants to marry you off to his son!" Thomas grinned, and stood back as the food was placed on the table. "Or maybe his son just wants a new fuckboy, like he did with Anna!"" Hey, I'm not Anna! I don't behave like a slut in the hope of marriage!" she scoffed at Thomas, and then turned to Maxine: "He's referring to my sister, now princess of Belarus, who was invited years ago by the emperor to spend the summer in Monte Carlo with his family, hoping his son would like her. She sucked his cock on the first day, trying to impress him. It didn't work!" she said, looking at Anna. "I'm not a slut like her! Even if I did hear his cock is huge and... she just couldn't resist" she said, smiling mischievously." Nice family I have, huh?" Thomas shook his head as he began to eat." I heard he's a ravishing lover! Back when we were talking to each other Anne told me she could barely breathe after he fucked her. Oh, to have a man like that... makes me wet just thinking about it..." Catherine whispered in Maxine's ear. Maiden chuckled slightly as Luis commented about giving the envoy a piece of her mind. “Yes, I suppose I did… not that it will do any good.” She said lowly as they returned to the dining hall. She took her seat next to Thomas, turning to him. “So we are going to Berlin, then?” She asked as she picked up her full glass of wine. Julia must know she was stressed since more glasses of wine keep appearing. Perhaps she’s trying to help Maiden relax. She took a sip as she listened to Catherine and Thomas talk of the sister Anna and her… sexual adventures. She almost choked on a bite of her food when Catherine whispered to her. The idea of this girl, who is still so young, being wed off annoyed her, but she tried not to let it show. She merely nodded her head as she picked at her food and drank her wine. She pretended to listen to Catherine, her mind trying to process the day. Furthermore, she was now married to a handsome man, who she still knew little about. Furthermore, she was now part of a family that obviously wasn’t shy about their personal lives. What would tomorrow bring? A trip to Berlin? More family to meet? More information about her husband? Her thoughts were taken off track when her father stood and tapped his fork against the fine drinking glass.“Today, my only daughter was married.” She rolled her eyes, you forgot forcefully. “But I know she is in good hands.” He turned and placed a hand on her shoulder, but his eyes were set on Thomas. “My daughter is a strong and proud woman. She stands for what she believes in. And even though now she’s officially the Princess of Ukraine, to the people of Edomites she will always be their future queen. May the two of you live know happiness.” Her father smiled down at her as she held his glass in the air. The guest followed suit, lifting their own up as her father toasted them. “To Maiden and Thomas!” To me and my husband…. She thought as she lifted her glass in toast with the rest of them before downing the wine, which was already making her tipsy. Could this day get any longer? At least it is time for dessert. Thomas hated speeches, and he was glad when they were all over, and they were able to enjoy desert. He was beginning to lose his patience and wanted to withdraw with Maxine as soon as possible. "The dance!" he remembered. He couldn't go before that. He had to wait. Everyone was waiting for the dance of the bride and groom. Everyone stood and applauded when they took their place center-stage. The music started, and Thomas fixed his eyes on Maxine, smiling sweetly. He thought she looked more beautiful every minute. As they began to dance in everyone's view, Thomas just couldn't stop smiling. After some time his father Adam cut in and started to dance with Maxine." I know you entered this marriage because of me and your father! But I assure you that my son is the best of all that I have, and you will soon discover he's different to all these idiotic royalties in the room!" he smiled at her as they danced. "I know my son and I know he can be dangerous and scary sometimes. But I also know that you are the only one who can handle and tame him!" he concluded, just as Thomas cut in." Enough, father! Don't tell her all my secrets on our first date!" Adam smiled and bowed before withdrawing, giving space to bride and groom." Did he tell you I'm a bad boy?" Thomas chuckled, holding Maxine close as they danced. "How about we disappear and prove him right?" he whispered. Maiden picked at the red velvet cake in front of her as others toasted in their honor. She took a bite of her ice cream as her eyes turned toward Thomas. She admired how comfortable he looked as people who didn't even know then made different statements. Furthermore, she imagined he would make a fine ruler one day. Guess I'd be right beside him? She smiled softly to herself as she turned back to the guest. One everyone said what they needed to say, the music started playing and Thomas's hand was before her, beckoning her to dance with him. She chuckled softly as she took it, wondering if she could manage to stay on her feet as they moved on the dance floor. She heard the band switch to the waltz, she knew the dance well, but the wine made it hard for her to do the steps. Luckily, Thomas kept her up. She laughed softly as he twirled her, before seeing his father approach them. She gave Thomas a soft peck on the cheek, a thanks for the dance, before he passed her to his father. Furthermore, she felt award as he placed his hand far above her him and began to move. He was now her father, but she felt a little uncomfortable dancing with him. He was far less graceful as Thomas was. She kept her eyes on her feet as he spoke, mentioning how "dangerous" her new husband was. She let out a small chuckle as glanced up at him. "Dangerous? How do you mean?" She asked in a soft voice. Before he could reply Thomas was their again, pulling her back to him. She nodded her head toward his father before wrapping her arms around Thomas's neck." What's this with everyone telling me you're dangerous? Is there something I must not know?" She said with a laugh, unsure what people mean. "Are you a killer or something of that nature?" She stopped for a moment, only to be pulled into a swirl by him. Disappear? She felt drawn to that idea. She was tired of this party, she did want to get away. Furthermore, she lowered her eyes as she ran her fingertips through his soft hair. "What did you have in mind? How did you intend to prove him right?" She whispered in his ear, finding her rhythm, moving with the music. "But yes, I do believe we should disappear..." She said with a small laugh as she pulled away from him to spin. That was all Thomas needed to hear. As soon as he got her OK, he nodded to Takeda, who set things in motion while they were still dancing. As soon as the music changed, Thomas lead Maxine out of the grand hall, where Takeda was waiting patiently. He leads them quietly through the corridors and staircases out in the car park where the limousine was standing by. Thomas opened the door for Maxine and climbed in right after her, with Takeda jumping in the front seat." The madness is over! It will soon be just you and me!" Thomas whispered as the car started its journey to the airport. Thomas turned to Maxine and caressed her cheek, kissing her sweet mouth." I can't wait to continue what we were doing when we were so rudely interrupted!" he said and continued to kiss her deeply, his hand slowly traveling on her body, enjoying every curve. "What do you think our guests will say when they realized we escaped? Maybe if you leave your panties on the floor of the car they'll know what happened!" he grinned widely while caressing her inner thighs and kissing her. Maiden laughed softly as Thomas pulled her off of the dance floor and out to the limo. She climbed in quickly, slipping her shoes off as he followed suit, climbing in beside her. She smirked as he leaned in and whispered to her. “Soon it will be me and you… but what of tomorrow and the next day? I assume we will have busy lives.” She chuckled, pressing her lips back against his, her arms finding themselves around his shoulders. The idea of continuing their previous actions made her wet. She wanted to feel him again. Wanted to be with him. She pulled back slightly, giving him a weary look. “Our guest will probably assume we were tired and went to rest. Besides, who cares what they think. But… but I don’t feel comfortable leaving panties on the floor for the world to see. Our private lives are not their business.” She leaned back in the seat as she glanced away. “I don’t really feel comfortable being so open with sexuality. It’s not who I am.” She sighed softly. “I understand that’s how you are, perhaps how your kingdom is, but it’s not me.” She glanced back at him before chuckling softly. “Will you be more discrete until I can adjust to how you live?” She asked before leaning into his ear, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Besides, there are no panties to leave, we dressed in a hast and I didn’t have a chance to grab them.” His mouth dropped open as he heard her whispering that she wasn't wearing panties. He did not expect that, and the surprise made him instantly hard. He kissed her and then looked into her eyes, smiling." Oh, sweetie, I wasn't serious about the panties. I like to tease beautiful women!" he said and kissed her again, his hand slowly caressing her inner thigh, moving up between her legs." But just when I thought I'd surprise you, you go and surprise me!" he smiled as his finger brushed lightly against her soft pussy lips, purring like a cat. "How I did I not notice you weren't wearing panties while we were dancing, I will never know!" he continued and kissed her deeply, moaning as his finger reached her clit and massaged it softly. He broke the kiss turning toward the driver, and sighed in relief that the partition was up, and they had privacy. Normally he wouldn't be bothered by an audience, but Maxine's previous reactions made him more cautious, not wanting to put her in difficult and embarrassing situations. His fingers continued to rub her clit slowly as he kissed her sweet mouth. He could feel his desire growing, wondering if he had enough time to fuck her delicious pussy right there in the car. He wanted her badly, and he didn't think he could wait. Just when he considered unzipping his pants he felt the car slowing down, and he returned to his seat." Damn!" he said disappointed. "I guess there's no time to leave your bra behind!" he said with a cheeky smile just as Takeda opened the car door and held out his hand for Maxine, helping her out. Thomas followed her and took her hand, leading her to his jet waiting on the runway with the engines running. As they boarded the plane they were greeted by Ashley, his sexy flight attendant, who had a wide smile on her face." Welcome aboard, your highness!" Ashley said to Maxine smiling, as she leads her to her seat. She then turned to Thomas who followed in behind and mimed to him with her lips "She's hot!" She then took her seat next to Takeda, to their right. Thomas sat next to Maxine and strapped himself in the seat-belt, just as the plane taxied off. In a matter of minutes they were in the air. When they reached a safe altitude, Thomas stood up and helped Maxine to her feet." We'll go get some rest now!" he said to Takeda and Ashley, who grinned at him mischievously." Would you like any drinks?" Ashley asked as she stood to open the door to the sleeping cabin." No, Ashley, we're fine for now!" Thomas said and lead Maxine in the cabin, closing the door behind him, meeting Ashley's hungry gaze one more time, as another woman was going to enjoy what she used to almost every flight. "Goodness! Alone, finally! But only for a few hours!" Thomas said and began to strip. "Are you OK?" he asked her just as his boxers hit the floor revealing his throbbing cock to her view. Maiden chuckled softly before pressing her lips against Thomas’s. “Well I think for now on the only beautiful woman you get to tease is me. You’re married now, remember?” She groaned softly, pushing her hips forward into his hands, his fingers caressing her sensitive spot. She wrapped her arms around his chest pulling his body closer to her, her tongue moving with his. Furthermore, she pulled away, gasping a little, as her body responded to his touch. Her pussy growing wetter, her toes curling in delight. She's starting reaching for his crotch when the car slowed, and he pulled away leaving her frowning She thought about locking the door and continuing what they were doing, but she knew better. They would have time alone soon. So she simply pushed down her dress and picked up her shoes as Takeda opened the door. She reached her hand out to his, letting him pull her out of the car. She nodded to him before turning toward the jet. Her bare feet cold against the asphalt runway. She giggled slightly, amused by the feeling. As a princess she was never really allowed do things like this. Anytime she was outside she had to look her best, best dresses, best shoes, best everything. Right now, she didn’t care. She made her way onto the jet, passing one of the flight attendants, bucking herself into a seat as Thomas joined her. Her eyes wondered as they took off. She couldn’t keep them off of him, she couldn’t explain why. What was he doing to her? She never acted this way, so carefree and foolish. It was strange. When they reached the proper altitude they were given the approval to move around. Thomas quickly stood, stating they were going to go rest, she didn’t object. She stood, following him into the cabin, watching as he started undressing. She laughed softly as he removed his boxers, his erection in her view. “You waste no time, do you?” She smirked, moving in front of him, so her body was pressed lightly against his. She leaned toward forward, nipping his shoulders lightly, her hands exploring his chest. Whispering softly into his ears, “I don’t understand what you’re doing to me… I want you so badly and I can’t explain it.” She pulled back to stare at him as her hands made their way to his hips. “Then again, it could be because of the wine…” He smiled at her as he heard her confession. He felt very soft towards her, unlike he ever felt for any woman, and at the same time he was overwhelmed by desire for her." Yeah, it could be the wine, why else would you want someone like me?" he chuckled as he got closer to her and unzipped her dress, letting it slip on the floor. He removed her bra and threw it away, leaving her naked. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. This stunning woman was his wife. The thought made him smile, and he pulled her close towards him and kissed her mouth sweetly. "She's my wife... wow!" he thought to himself as he kissed her, in disbelief of his new status. He also could not believe how lucky he was to be married to a beautiful princess. His father could have married him to an ugly one just to serve his own purposes. In some ways, perhaps that would have meant his life wouldn't have to change that much. He'd fuck her when he had to, use her body for his pleasure, and maybe even for others' pleasure, keep her in Kiev while he was away so he can have fun as usual. That was the only way he could cope in his mind with the idea of marrying some strange woman he'd never seen. But Maxine messed up all his plans. He was kissing this gorgeous naked woman who made all his plans disappear into thin air. He knew he had to change a lot of his habits from now on... He finally broke the kiss and took a seat on the bed, looking up at her with a gentle smile, caressing her breasts and tummy." So you want me, do you? And what exactly do you want to do with me?" he asked her with a cheeky smile. Maiden laughed, “Yeah, why else would I? Besides the fact that you’re handsome and so far quite kind. Why would I want you, unless it’s from the wine?” She let her dress fall around her feet then her bra, she didn’t feel embarrassed about being naked in front of him now. Her mind was too far gone from the wine and the feeling of his skin. She embraced him as their lips touched, her tongue moving to dance with his. She moaned at the taste of him, the feeling of his strong body beneath her hands, the heavy scent of man… it made her knees go weak. Furthermore, she pressed her chest against his, kissing him deeply… wanting. When he pulled away she pouted slightly the feeling of his warm body moving away. She watched as he sat down on the bed staring up at her with lust. She imagined her own eyes showed the same, desire and lust for him. His fingers tickling her stomach and breast. She bit her bottom lip as she moved closer, pushing herself between his thighs. “Everything… I want to do everything to you. Everything to please you.” She let her hand run through his soft hair, down his neck to his back. Her nails racking against his skin delicately. She lent her head down, capturing his lips, nipping them softly before whispering. “Of course, that is if you would let me…” "Everything?" he asked with a grin, kissing her back. "MMM that sounds so inviting..." he continued, his mouth traveling on her neck and finally resting on her breasts, as he cupped them gently and kissed around her nipples." You are allowed to do anything you want with me, my bride, I'm at your disposal!" he said and began to suck on her nipples with dedication, immersing himself in the delicious moment, moaning softly." You make me want you so much, I'm afraid I'll scare you off!" he groaned, looking up into her green eyes. He suddenly stood and looked at her as he felt lust and desire swelling up inside him, his cock throbbing on her lower stomach. He moved behind her and pushed her body unto the bed making her get on all fours, exposing her beautiful ass to him. Furthermore, he caressed her ass, so tempted to spank her and fuck her hard. What would she say if he spanked her. Would he scare her? He wanted to do that so badly, instead he got on his knees and pushed his lips on her pussy, licking and kissing them passionately, moaning and groaning as his tongue teased her clit." Your pussy is so delicious, Maxine..." he said and then stood up and began to rub his cock against her pussy lips for a while before he pushed it inside her wet cunt, grabbing on to her hips." Ohhhh, I want to fuck you so hard I'm afraid I'll break you!" he confessed as he pushed further and began to move it in and out slowly, feeling her tightness. Maiden groaned softly ad his lips trailed over her breast, teasing them softly. She gave a small chuckle at the thought of doing anything she wanted to him. Oh, the things she could think of. The things she suddenly had an overbearing urge to do. Her knees went weak as his lips found her nipples, sucking them. She couldn't help but moan. Then, out of now he had her on the plane's bed. Her arms and legs supporting her as he placed himself behind her. She could hear the deep wanting in his voice. He wanted her... his new bride. She glanced over her shoulder to stare at him, his eyes trailing over her body so hungry. Suddenly he was down out of her view, his lips pressing against the part of her that craved him. More moans escaped her as his tongue toyed with her clit. Then suddenly he was back behind her, his tip pressing against her moist core. Her hips moved against her will, pushing back on him as the thruster himself slowly forward. Gasping as his full length filled her perfectly. "Oh fuck..." She couldn't stop herself from pulling away and pushing back Dow. Thrusting herself onto his cock. "Do it..." she groaned, "fuck me hard." Her words made me grunt and growl deeply, as if a wild animal was just let on the loose, thrusting his cock deep inside her wet pussy. His growing love for her made him want to protect her, while at the same time his prolonged arousal made him want to fuck her harder than he fucked any other woman. Never before had he had to wait so many hours to fuck a woman who aroused him. The brief taste of her pussy before the reception made him want her even more, his cock now thrusting in and out of her pussy while he grabbed on to her hips." Ohhh, Maxine, I want you so much, I can't help myself!" he confessed as he leaned forward and took her sweet breasts in his hands as he rhythmically rammed his cock in and out of her cunt, grunting deeply as she met his thrusts. His eyes traveled hungrily on her sensuous body as he fucked her hard, his desire for her taking hold of him, and making him throw all caution to the wind. Her ass beckoned him: so perfectly shaped, so sensuous and enticing. It was more than he could bare. He pushed her body lower on the bed exposing her plump ass to his view, and with a deep groan he landed a swift slap on her ass cheek." See how much you turned me on?" he groaned as he caressed her ass.

To Stop a War... (closed)|rating:3.0

Esperia (Frostsider and BaronessAiyanna)

Hesperia, the land of the light and the dark. The land where humans rise and fall every day and angels protect and watch from the north. To the east the necropolis, a place where ghoulish creatures, vampires, and necromancers make their home. Finally, to the south where uncharted lands continue to thrill many to seek riches and treasures beyond the wall. The land where turmoil and fate are about to collide. Asura, city of angels(the angelic queen of the white city of Aura stood looking over her kingdom. Her white eyes, that had no irises that were said to look into your souls, wandered the landscape as if she searched for answers to appear. But nothing was always the answer. Carney was beginning to become paranoid. Over the past several months there have been vast disappearances over the lands. She could trust no one. She even suspected there was a traitor in her council or her guard, but there was no proof. Alas, Carney suspected everyone of something gone wrong. She looked up to her old friend, Bathandelus.(was her second in command and the first to disappear. It hit her hardest as he was like her brother often giving her someone to confide in. Alas, none know where he may be now that it had been months since his departure into the unknown. Thus, why Carney was left no choice. She could not leave the throne empty ad she could not trust anyone around her. Carney hatched a plan to send for three champions to voyage out and find the truth of her friend and all the others that were gone from the human realm and the necropolis. Two had already arrived. One was a mistune who had meddled into necromancy and used it to study death and its properties. His name was Kin taro White Face.(other was a draw who was raised by the humans whose order who served the requests of the angels many times before. His name was Jace.(men stood waiting for the third member of the party to arrive. No word as to when he or she would arrive. Kin taro didn't care as he was more a loner type given his specialties and morbid curiosity. Thus, he rarely talked. Jace on the other hand was curious as to who this person who be. Jace was the type to meet new people as he was abandoned by his own people. It left him wanting acceptance by others. Perhaps he could meet this person and get along. He just hoped that this person was not like kin taro. The fox always got under the skin of the draw. Yazmin, the strange half-dragon known as Tax, or the Dragon of the East, came in to the angel's city early in the morning. She had been here before, some years ago, this was where she had learned how to fly properly. As she walked up the streets, her wings stirred under her back, at the moment hidden as a tattoo across her shoulders; she could see several angels flying overhead as they went about their day, and longed to join them. But she needed to get to the palace without too many distractions, having been summoned by the queen herself. She still wondered a bit as to the nature of the summons, but she suspected it had something to do with the disappearances that had started occurring all over, effecting, humans, angels, and the necropolis. She had been investigating it herself before being summoned by Carney. At last, she made it to the palace and made her way through the various guards and checkpoints. A few times she had to make some small demonstrations; clothed as she was in a simple sleeveless linen shift and soft, flexible leather leggings, with no shoes, she was quite sure she looked like some common human. At least until people noticed her eyes and she left burn marks on a few pieces of furniture. When she was at last presented to the queen herself, she was more than a little irked, but brought out her best manners for Carney herself. It would never do to be rude to royalty. There were two other people there besides, a mistune and a draw, whom she greeted with slight nods after bowing to the queen and being introduced. Carney looked out to the three travelers and her gaze was eerily soulless. It was as if her eyes stared into the soul of those she looked at. "Welcome travelers. I am Carney queen of the angelic city. You are most likely aware of the situation that has arisen in Hesperia. This is why you have been summoned to my halls. I would like to hire you to find out the reason why people are disappearing." She would turn to the sphere behind her. "I have been unable to see the source of the disturbance. This is why it is essential that you go and look first hand. You are instructed to engage only if it is necessary." She turns to the three adventurers and smiles and her smile is cold and empty feeling. "Do not take lightly the situation. This is not going to be easy. The threat will be very real. In all my life I have never found someone who could mask their prescience until now." She steps forward. "If they can do that than they are very powerful. Be careful." Kintaro and Jace both nodded before turning to the third whom up until now seemed ordinary despite her eyes. Jace was not sure if this person he could trust but if the monks could than he would have to. Kin taro on the other hand had his doubts. He was wary of those who did not seem like the adventuring type. At least Jace he had heard about and vice verse. This woman they had neither heard nor seen in action. It did not bode well. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness," were Tax's first words, as she offered the queen another bow. "It is indeed unsettling that some power could have arisen that can conceal itself fromyourgaze. The tales told of the vision of the angel queen are known far and wide. I assure you, I doubt anyone here thinks this is a laughing matter. Wewillget to the bottom of this. I would say or die trying, but that's a fate I prefer to avoid considering. It always makes it seem more possible." She bowed again then sauntered over to the draw and mistune." Greetings," she said softly, and held out a smooth, but calloused palm to shake. "My name is Yasmin. I inherited the title Dragon of the East from my master when he died, but most only call me Tax, or Dragon, if they feel they simply must be formal about it. And you are?" Her eyes and tone were clear and confident as she looked at them expectantly. Her posture was one of easy balance, and despite the fact that she was standing still, practically shouted of her innate grace. Slit-pupiled eyes flicked between the two, as she waited for them to return the introduction and take her offered hand. When she smiled at them, it showed a slight hint of her rather pointed canine teeth. Definitely not vampire teeth, but certainly fang-like. Jace smiled and held his hand out. "I'm race. I don't have any fancy titles or anything, but I am not new to the art of battle. I trained hard in the order to be a knight for my lady Carney. That is Kin taro. Don't let his silence fool you. Nor do not take it the wrong way. He doesn't really talk much. Still he is dependable for the few times I have gone out with him as a partner." Jace stated explaining things to her. Kin taro looked at the two of them before turning to Carney who nodded." You are indeed right Kin taro. Time is short. Make haste. Take the provisions my camp will provide for you. You will be allotted with previsions, and three horses, a map as well as an orb that will allow you to communicate with me. Take care of these things as they will come in handy on your journey." He said softly. Jace's smile disappeared as he became serious. Tax was cute and all but he could not let her beauty get in the way of the mission. Tax nodded at both of them. "Jace. And Kin taro. Very well, so much easier to just be on a first name basis." Introductions complete, she turned back to the queen, and coughed slightly at her plan. "Ah, your majesty, great plan, just one small adjustment. Unless you want us to have a pack animal, two horses would be better. I don't ride well, or, more accurately, horses don't...really like me. I smell funny, apparently." The woman blushed slightly and shrugged, one hand reaching behind her back to tug at her braid, a sign that she was slightly embarrassed. Recovering her poise a bit, she shrugged again and grinned over at Jace and Kin taro. "This should be fun, gentleman, or at least, as fun as trying to find the cause behind a world-wide crisis can be, hm?" Without further ado, she turned and walked from the room. The others would follow soon, she was sure. Carney seemed to have put Kin taro in charge, unofficially, judging by their half-silent exchange earlier. Both men had history working for the queen and knew what she wanted. Tax did not. However, used to being in control of a situation, she knew when to step aside and let experience take the lead. She was curious about the mistune anyway, having never met one personally. Kin taro nodded before bowing to the queen who tilted her head in curiosity at the young woman. She was interesting to say the least. Carney trusted in Kin taro though and thus would smile before heading back to gaze upon her orb. Jace not wanting to stick with the silent type turned and headed off with tax. Besides, Kin taro seemed to be taking lead on this mission, and he hated looking at the smug bastard. "So Tax...what's your story?" He asked trying to not make a fool of himself on the first day. She was pretty to say the least. But even in Jace's head to fraternize with the comrades never worked well. Kintaro would follow a short time later with two horses and a third carrying a wagon. He nodded before race sighed. "The third one is for anything we would need to transport. If you don't want to walk you can go in the wagon." He explained as he would squint at Kin taro before the mistune shrugged. Indeed, the mistune barely said a word. Perhaps it could not speak but even Jace could not know. As she headed outside, Tax gave Jace an amused look when he joined her. "My...story? Which part? I have many stories to tell. Or did you just want a summary?" She chuckled a bit and shook her head. "Sorry, I shouldn't tease so much. The gist of it is, I'm a half-dragon, my father was a dragon and fell in love with my mother after hearing her sing. When I was a child, I met the old Dragon of the East, an elderly monk, looking for someone to pass his knowledge on to before he died. He taught me everything I know, how to fight, about honor. He even brought me up here, to the angels, to learn how to fly. Furthermore, he was like a second father to me. When he died, I inherited his title and continued his work. Does that answer your question?" Just then, the carriage arrived, with Kin taro, and she smiled. Tax didn't travel with any real possessions other than her clothes and her one weapon, which served as a belt. She also had coin purse, for emergencies, and a small knife, which served as a tool to cut food or skin animals, not as a weapon. But that was all. Otherwise, she lived as her master always had, off the land, or from people willing to put her up for the night in exchange for work. It was a simple, peaceful existence, and she enjoyed it. Still, with the wagon here, and being supplied by the queen, she suspected there might be an opportunity to enjoy one or two luxuries. Cheese, for one. She was an absolute bear for cheese, and it didn't exactly grow on a bush or a tree. "Sounds good to me, but I'll probably spend more time flying. I can do the scouting. As for provisions..." she grinned and headed over to the wagon, poking around the packs, until she found the food. Inside, specially wrapped and magically protected to keep it from going bad, there was indeed a round of cheese. She sliced off a small piece for herself to savor on the road before replacing it, and rejoining the others near the front of the carriage. "Right. Where to first?" Jace smiled softly before nodding. "A half dragon as a partner. Sounds like we got lucky eh Kin taro?" He asked though all he got was the cold shoulder. Another one of Kin taro's lovely traits was that he did not have a very open sense of humor. In fact, he hardly ever showed anything in the sense of emotion. He preferred to keep the mind focused. Jace though did not mind that in the end it helped the mistune perform his best work. "Well your company is at least appreciated by me." Jace stated boldly. He would then pull out a map before kin taro pointed to a town that was to the east. "Dale wood eh. Seems there is where the last person to go missing was. It's about a days walk." He explained to Tax. "Kin taro says that for now save your energy. We shall use your ability to track when we get closer to that settlement. Sound good?" Jace asked as he smiled some more fondly at the young woman. His mind still was reveling that he was lucky to have any kind of female interaction in the party. Being next to Kin taro for so long was wearing on him. "Save my energy?" Tax chuckled. She had a very high stamina level, courtesy of her dragon side. She'd gone for days without more than a few hours rest. More than that, she was very light, as well as strong, so normal movement was barely taxing at all. "Kin taro, don't worry about me. And you know, you can speak to me directly, however it is you do speak. I won't bite, and I don't think Jace here needs to be used as a messenger boy. We're going to be together a while, I'm sure, and I think it might get old, after a while. Even in just the ten-day trip to Dale wood. Think about it," she finished with a cheerful shrug and started down the street and out of the city. She guessed they wouldn't mount up until they got outside of town, and once there, she would run, or fly. It had been a while since she'd had a good run, and looked forward to it. Running wasn't as good as flying, but it was still liberating. Just her and the sound of her feet hitting the ground, the wind in her hair, heart pounding. She smiled to herself at the thought, and kept walking. The men would catch up, as they always did. She thought about her companions as she walked. Jace seemed open enough, but Kin taro was a mystery, and his ways clearly irked the draw on some level. He irked her a bit, as well, but that was just her cat-like curiosity coming out. She loved few things more than solving a good mystery. If nothing else, it gave her something to do during the days of travel. Jace laughed. "Sorry Tax but I don't think he is gonna talk to ya. Heck he doesn't even talk to me. Hasn't in the seven years I've known him. The only one he has ever.talked to Perseid is the queen. Heck Ive been trying to figure that one out for ages." He shrugged before smiling. "I'm the only one who is going to having conversations with ya if you want them. But don't take it the wrong way, Kin taro is a good strategist and there be a reason he keeps to himself." Jace looked to kin taro who gave him the stare that he usually gave the draw who he considered talk too much. Jace could not help it though. It sucked if you did not at least share your views with others. Being alone like that would do a number on the psyche of any person. How kin taro did it impressed and worried race. Still Jace kept his option to share with anyone but the mistune. In fact Jace much disliked talking to the fox man. "Still I have a feeling this journey isn't going to be just ten days." Jace added. Tax shrugged at Jace again. "Fair enough. Still, you never know. I have a sort of persuasive personality. Who knows, maybe the both of us together will bring him around." She gave him a playful wink and looked ahead. She was silent for several minutes as they finished the walk across the city and out the gate, into the small town of traveling merchants and entertainers that tended to spring up around many large cities. Such places were always changing and moving, the only thing that stayed the same was the path cutting straight through the middle to the main road. It was slow-going with their horses and wagon, but at last they made it out of the cluster and on to the open road. With a grin, Tax ran ahead of the other two. She was restless, and she didn't need to be good anymore. She had a destination and knew what she was doing, for the most part. Time to fly. When she reached a dead sprint, which was quite fast, for her, great scaly green dragon wings exploded from her back and she took to the air with one mighty downward stroke. Once airborne she laughed like a child and circled back around, twirling over Jace and Kin taro and the wagon. After a few moments' consideration, she went down to hover several feet above Jace. "Hey!" she called. "Want to try?" She was offering to take him up in the air with her. She figured he might have been flying before, living among angels, but she figured it would help to get them off on the right foot more. "Kin taro, you could come next, if you wish." No reason to leave the mistune out. They had days of travel ahead, that didn't mean it had to be dull. Kin taro went white before shaking his head. The gesture could elude that perhaps he did not want to be off the ground. Jace on the other hand would at least try it. It's not every day a good-looking girl wants to...wait do most girls fly. JCE laughed inwardly at his own childish fantasies before giving her the thumbs up. "Sure I doubt it could hurt much. I've never flew, but I am willing to at least try it once." He said laughing. Kintaro looked at him like he was mad before shaking his head again and scoffing at Jace. "Try not to ruin the mood." JCE said looking at kin taro like he was a fool. "This could help build camaraderie." He said before the mistune rolled his eyes. "Well your loss." Jace said shaking his head now before riding to catch up with her. Tax laughed at Kin taro's reaction. "Fair enough, fox man, even I understood that reaction. Jace, you'll need to get off your horse. Tie him off to the wagon." She landed several feet away and jogged to a stop before folding her wings entirely. Then she walked back to Jace. There was a bright smile on her face, cheeks already turned faintly pink from the wind, and braid mussed. She reached down to her waist and undid her 'belt', throwing her purse and dagger into the wagon. She wouldn't need them for right now. The thick braided silk rope felt good in her hands as she approached Jace and showed him how to tie a harness about his waist and legs with it, the rest coming up the front to form a good-sized loop. "You hold on to the loop so that you stay upright, and I'll carry you by the end. It's much more comfortable than trying to have you hold on to my waist or something. Though I've been through that a few times, working with people. It's a handy rescue tactic, and we can pull off some nice tricks that way." She handed him the rope and waited for him to tie the harness, so they could get going. Jace went slightly red before doing as she asked him. "You want me to do what with that around which waist." He stumbled through the words slightly. "Sorry its just...well nothing. Forget I said it." He said before getting the harness in place and waiting for her to help him again. "I imagine it will come in handy if we need to come from the air to do what we need to do in combat. Stealth seems to work wonders for those who want to live." Kintaro again rolled his eyes before leading the cart to the destination expecting that they will join him when they are done playing around. He assumed that Tax had never worked with another and for once he could not fight with Jace's logic. This would be a good exercise for the two of them to get used to each other. Though based on Jace's reaction he would have to be cautious as they shouldn't be getting too close. Tax merely raised an eyebrow at Jace's comment, and otherwise ignored it. "Looks good. Hold on tight. I've never dropped anyone doing this, and I don't want to break that record." She had him hold the loop up then backed away to get a running start. Just as she reached Jace, her wings snapped out above them, she took the rope in both hands and the draw was yanked off his feet and in to the air with one great wing beat. For a moment, her face strained as she got used to his weight, it was difficult until she picked up speed, but once she had some altitude and could take a moment to adjust her grip, it was easy enough. Jace was not a huge man by any means, and she had carried heavier loads. Taking off from the ground like that was never easy though, it worked better when she could start flying. But they were airborne, and that's what mattered. She continued rising, until they were about a thousand feet in the air. It was just high enough to have a good view of the landscape, but not so high they started running in to bad crosswinds, and she could still catch a few updrafts. She looked down to check on Jace. The first time in the air could be disconcerting, though she was still surprised he'd never been flying before, Kin taro either. She'd taken several people in to the air with her, especially when doing jobs. Once, she'd helped a farmer harvest his orchard. Instead of doing it all herself, she'd gone into the village and bribed about a dozen of the children, then flown each of them in to the branches of the trees to start, then got to picking herself. When they were done with a tree, they would whistle for her, she would come and check to see if they had missed any and move them to better branches if they needed it, then move them to a new tree. It had been fun, and the farmer had been laughing for hours when he caught them at it. It was a good memory. Jace went white and closed his eyes as he began to breathe a little faster before relaxing. The initial nerves only later several minutes and thus he was able to look around before looking up and giving her the thumbs up. "So this is flying." He said aloud. "This is fun. I envy you Tax!" He called to her again before looking around again and then waved to her to head to the cart. "Kin taro is waving at us to join him! We should probably head down. You're the one flying through so It's up to you!" He was offering her the chance to keep flying or to just take him BCK down. He didn't mind the altitude though his head was lighter than usual. Still this was the most fun on a mission in the longest of times. "It's about a day trek to the next town. Dale wood will probably have few people out at the time of arrived, so I assume Kin taro will want to camp the night before getting to work. That way we don't worry about searching at night!" Tax grinned down at him, and shouted over the wind. "Kin taro can bear another few minutes without us. Besides, I don't know if you can feel it, but we just skirted around a down draft that was coming in. If I head back now before it passes, we'll be knocked in to the ground. I'd rather not, wouldn't you?" she said frankly. Like anything else, flying did have its risks, and she had learned the lesson many times to watch the winds. She'd been fortunate enough that none of those lessons had been fatal or caused permanent injury, she'd rather keep it that way. Once she got into a patch of calm air, Tax angled her wings down and circled down. Without a passenger, she could just dive, but that was something she would save for when it was necessary. No need to make the man lose his breakfast. There had been a dive or two that madeherfeel green, though admittedly she'd been over dangerous ground at the time. She settled in to a glide as close to the ground as possible and let Jace down slowly. She had to drop him on his rump from about a foot up, but nothing painful. Furthermore, she flew up again and circled back so she could land near the carriage, and drew her wings again. Not all the way, just collapsed against her shoulders, not back to a tattoo. "What did you need Kin taro?" she asked politely. His silence might be irritating, but it was no call to be rude. Everyone had their quirks. Kin taro looked at her before turning to Jace and nodding to the trees. Jace's eyes went wide before got up quickly and got low. "He says he saw something in the trees. The fox may be quiet, but he does possess quite the senses. We are being watched. He says we have been watched since we left the city." He said softly before turning to the fox who turned to tax and nodded. Furthermore, he held out a life pointing to the town that was seen off in the distance." He says we should probably head into two and find out answers. Seems something is spooked him. He doesn't want to stay out in the open like this and for once I must agree. We should find someplace where we have the high ground and a view of the town from all angles. Scout out and find a barn or a church or something. And Tax! Be careful. This is not a normal aura our mistune friend has sensed. It is dark and twisted." Tax watched the exchange between the two of them curiously. She still couldn't tell how the two of them communicated, maybe it was something mental? Or just the product of working together for long enough. She mentally shrugged it off, it wasn't important now. "Does he now? Well, Kin taro, I have a few tricks of my own up my sleeve. Dark and twisted, you say? Well, the dark doesn't normally like light, and that is something I'm particularly good at. Look, if something is following us, I don't like the idea of leaving it alive to report our actions. The sooner it's out of the picture, the better."" If we can get answers in town," she continued, "that's well enough, but if not, I'm going hunting. I can see in the dark, and I have my fire." As she spoke, she held up a hand, and green flames flickered around her fingers. "Actually, now that I think of it, let me see your weapons. I can add an enchantment to them, so that they burn when you use them. Could come in handy against the enemies we face, particularly those influenced by ice and shadow." She held out a hand to Jace first, and waited. She understood any reluctance to hand over one's weapon to another, another reason she was often so glad that she fought with her hands. Kin taro shook his head once more before what seemed like a whisper entered her mind. We don't know what it is we are facing. Carney put me in charge as I have the most experience handling this kind of things. Have Faith in me. If we go head-to-head with something that not even the queen could see or sense would be illogical yes? Kintaro nodded before turning to Jace who looked puzzled. "So you decided to reveal that you talk mentally, huh? Wow, it took weeks before he trusted me with that secret. You must be either important or he just doesn't want to risk this mission." Jace confirmed before nodding to the mistune. "I agree with him. We should not risk the chance to fight this foe prematurely till we know more. High ground is smarter." Tax burst out laughing. "You mean it's a secret? Jace, anyone with eyes can figure out that's most likely the way he communicates. I mean, I've seen couple married for 50 years who can't convey fully formed ideas with significant looks like he does." Still smiling and shaking her head, she turned to the mistune. "With respect, Kin taro, I don't think you can judge my experience with anything, because you know nothing about me. Similarly, I do not have faith in anyone I do not know. I trust Carney's choice to put you in charge, but that is as far as it goes. I like both of you, certainly, and trust you on a surface level. More than that will take some time."" Besides that, I wasn't suggesting a fight. But we need more information that a few scared humans or a vague sense can give us. You need a scout, and that is one of my specialties, I suspect that is why I was invited on this little trip. If I can get a better idea of what is out there, if we can either fight it, or block its vision, that would be useful. Besides that, you are assuming whatever it is watching us is the power responsible for the disappearances. I doubt it. Whatever power that is I could likely sense myself, and probably has better things to do than watch us. Am I right to guess that Carney went to some effort to conceal her efforts to bring us together and send us on our mission? In that case, there could have been some kind of leak, and whatever is in the woods is a minion of some kind, or our mission is still secret to a point, and it is completely unrelated. Some dark spirit on the hunt for a snack that happened to be near the city when we left. That is what I want to find out, before leaping to conclusions and becoming paranoid. High ground is wise regardless, because things can change quickly. But I still want to know more about this presence Kin taro sensed." She fell silent with a shrug. She wasn't used to her opinion being dismissed so fast. Normally people had heard enough about her to give her ideas some thought, at least. Oh, well. She would just have to prove herself, and she was fine with that. These two knew each other, and their abilities, but not hers. She would show them. The mistune blinked at how much she was trying to go above hi With all due respect Tax there is a reason that I am in charge as well. I do not doubt of your capability. But it is not wise to split up so soon when we know nothing of the situation. I know full well that the humans are not going to help us with the information we want to know as they are in the same boat we are. All I am suggesting is that we wait till morning before we try to search for that which is watching us. While you may have the ability to track and see in the dark, we do not. You are a part of a team now, and thus you will have to learn to partake in the teams efforts. Weighing the abilities and weaknesses of the team and trying to best utilize our skills together is my specialty./b]Jace was also taken back though not so much as he was impressed she would try and take charge. "Look fighting is not going to solve anything. It is getting dark, and I do not think it wise to be out after the night has fallen upon us." Kin taro glared at him like a vice and the draw shriveled back as if he was afraid. Then kin taro looked back at Tax. Believe in me that when I said that I believe in your skills I meant it. But I cannot risk the parties well-being for the whim of half dragon monk. So if you still want to help follow my orders, otherwise head back to Carney and withdraw from this mission. Tax sighed heavily. "I'm not trying to fight with you Kin taro, or take over, and I would thank you not to insult me by calling my desires a whim. This is not the first time I have worked with others. This is however, the first time my opinions have been dismissed out of hand. Being part of a team means that each member's skills are used for the betterment of the whole. As you said, you two don't have any tracking abilities. That means, on a hunt, you would be a liability and in danger. Similarly, I'm guessing there are things that you two would be better off doing alone. And I will bow out at that point. Until then, show me enough respect to not suggest that I am not considering the well-being of the group. My intention was to ensure our safety by discovering the nature of the being watching us. Consider that." With that, she turned and walked away. The fox man had made up his mind, but she hoped he would consider what she had said. She was still offended that he would call her wish to scout out the presence a whim. The town was in sight, so she walked quickly. If they wanted to get there before dark, there was still some ground to cover, and she had no interest in extending the argument with Kin taro. He clearly had an agenda set in mind, and it would do no good to try to fight it and cause more tension in the group. Kin taro huffed and shook his head before hurrying the horse carrying him towards the city with Jace following barely. When they had finally arrived Kin taro nodded to Jace and Tax to head towards the church. The holy aura would help somewhat as a barrier for undead or spirits if they were dealing with such a thing. It also was at the center of the town and thus had a view of the entire town in case they needed to defend it. Jace caught up with Tax and walked over to her. "Hey sorry about Kin taro. Look he doesn't mean anything bad about it. He's just...set in his ways. He's been doing this for longer than either of us combined. In fact, he and Serena have known each other a long time. Before the last great war if I remember correctly her saying. The man on the portrait was a friend to them both and well when he disappeared both Carney and Kin taro were devastated. He's.just trying to find his friend. He's also a very old mistune despite not looking it. You know how old men get grumpy." He said trying to lighten the mood. Tax was deep in thought, considering the issue at hand, when Jace caught up to her. She listened to what he said, but despite his light attempt at humor, it didn't make her feel much better. She turned and raised and eyebrow at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "I understand that Jace. And I respect his experience. But as any veteran knows, it is never wise to be immobile. We are facing a new enemy, a new threat, and in this situation, being set in one's ways is not going to help any of us. The old methods might not work on this being, or beings. Carney's sight doesn't, we know that much. Who's to say if the ways of a stubborn old mistune will?" She sighed and shook her head." I'm going to the tavern for a while. I'll head back to the church before dark, but taverns and inns always have the best information, and I might dredge up something useful. You're welcome to come, Kin taro as well." She turned aside and headed down the street, asking a passerby for directions to the tavern. Turns out, the main tavern in town was just one street away from the church, about five minutes walk cutting through a side street. That gave her more time to gather information before she had to head back. She assumed they would keep some kind of watch that night. On the way to the tavern, she pulled in her wings, no need to draw too much attention. She doubted the enemy they faced was human of any sort, but it might have humanoid spies out. Jace nodded. "I know that. I respect your thoughts and I understand why you're doing what you're doing. I guess I don't like seeing conflict in the party is all. I'm sure your right thought Kin taro is probably not thinking thoroughly as she should be. It is said by many he fell in love with Carney, but she loved Barthandelus. You can see how destroyed he might be. I guess I am warning you more than trying to make excuses. Keep en eye on him and I'll do the same. Hopefully it is nothing." Jace thought for a moment before agreeing to go with her. While they walked Jace decided now would be the best time to talk strategy. It often helped ease his mind. "I understand how you feel about being in the church and perhaps your right. I also can see the process Kin taro is going through." Jace stated before turning to her. "I might not like being cooped up when there is clearly something off about this town." What Jace said was true. For the several minutes they walked the only person they had run into was the passerby who directed them to the tavern. When they arrived the tavern was empty despite an elderly man and a young woman operating the inn. Judging by the state of the dust it appeared that the inn had little in customers and business was way down. "Have you noticed how most of the houses are empty?" Jace asked looking around. Tax nodded grimly as she stepped in to the tavern. Seeing the empty tables, she sighed, knowing that the innkeeper may either know little or be unwilling to talk out of fear. "Yes," she responded quietly to Jace. "I was sort of hoping on the optimistic side that they were just quiet, early sleepers, rather than empty, but I knew it was too good to be true." She knew it was a lame attempt at humor, but the tension of the last half hour and the strange, watched sense in the near silent town had her on edge even more than usual. Something was very, very wrong here, and she suddenly had strong doubts that even stout walls, a high viewpoint, and the holy ground of a church would be enough to protect them completely. Clearing her throat, she wandered up to the elderly man in the inn with a casual smile and brought a pair of small coins out of her purse. "Good evening, friend. I see business is a bit slow, but perhaps my friend and I can brighten the evening a bit and order a couple drinks? Ale or mead, whichever you have," she said calmly, with another small smile. "The two of us are passing through. We have a third, but he's really not a drinker. Seen anything about the area a few travelers should be on the lookout for? Bears, wolves, anything unnatural?" She stayed very smooth the whole time, and was deliberately vague, leaving names out of the picture as she slid the coins on to the counter. Jace watched as she approached the keeper while trying her best to be vague. Something still did not sit right and the more Jace stood there the more worried he became. The barkeep looked to the working girl who looked back nervously. "Aye, you have not heard the tales of people gone missing eh? Best you be leaving before you've gone missing too. This land is cursed." He said grimly looking at Tax with worry before handing her a bottle of mead and two cups. He than took the coins she offered and once more began to clean his mugs. Jace looked the man over and that's when it hit him. This man seemed paler than usual. Same with the girl. It was as if the joy had been sucked out of them. "Tax I don't like this one bit. Perhaps we should head back to Kin taro. Something tells me we are not safe here." He leaned in whispering into her ear. That's when the man looked up. "Aye your not safe here. To think you were, there be darkness afoot in these times." Jace gripped his sword slightly unnerved by the man. Tax shook her head sadly as she accepted the mead, but left the cups. She, too, had noticed how strange the two appeared; it was easy to see that they wouldn't be much help. "Oh, no, everyone has heard of the disappearances. I suppose I was hoping for something a bit more solid than ghost stories. And who knows. Other, less savory sorts of people than yourself might have been taking advantage of people's fear. Bandits, and the like. Thanks for the mead, friend." With another casual shrug, she slid off the barstool, dangling the bottle of mead from one hand as she headed for the door, pulling Jace with her. The bartender's last words sent a chill down her spine, but she was careful not to show it. Once outside she turned to Jace. "Not really what I had in mind, but we did learn one thing. These people are being terrorized, and the disappearances are worse than we thought. As for you, next time, try not to let on that you're nervous. Most predators in the world can smell, or sense, fear. It's not wise to show it if you can avoid it," she said daily. She wasn't really upset about the situation, just disappointed. She hated coming away from anything empty-handed. On the way back to the church she held up the bottle of mead, and turned to Jace. "Do you actually want a drink? Small town breweries are sort of touch-and-go, some are good, some are foul." Jace looked to Tax. "Aye I understand your worry. I'm not usually this on edge. Something about this place is off and I can sense its auras. I'd think bandits or thieves are behind this. The aura is familiar and yet foreign at the same time.how can that be?" He asked looking at her with a puzzled look upon his face. Jace than looked to the mead and shook his head. "Save it for later. I'd rather not risk it tonight. I'll have that drink with you later my lady." He said before looking to the forests. His eyes began to get big and his face pale. "Tax tell me you see that too." The moon was as big as ever and red like blood. A red pale mist was coming from the forest towards the town. Doors were being locked as what was left of the town was locking themselves in. Jace turned to Tax as he unsheathed his weapon. "We are not alone. This place reeks of death and that mist is not normal. We best hurry to the church and ready our defenses. What do you think Tax?" Tax looked over and calmly quirked an eyebrow, while in truth her pulse was racing and her heart pounded at the sight of the mist. "Definitely not normal. I'm in the mood for a run, how about you?" Without further ado, she broke in to a steady jog towards the church, depending on Jace's good sense that he would be close behind. She reached the building quickly and held the door open for the dark elf, then shut it tightly and went to peer out the window at the approaching mist. It wasn't natural, and it made her senses buzz. She wanted to go out, and fly above it, not cower in this rickety old building, everything about the situation set her teeth on edge. But she couldn't just leave the other two here alone. With a sigh she turned away from the window and looked about. It seemed that Kin taro had brought a few of their packs inside, or maybe someone else, but she set the bottle of mead beside them before turning back to Jace. "I don't know if we're setting watches, but I'll take second watch. I don't mind being up in the middle of the night. Let's find Kin taro, shall we?" Jace nodded in turn as he came to a skid after having to run harder than he usually did just to keep up with her. "Yeah lets. I'm ok with that. If you want second watch be my guest." He said looking around before noticing the door to the basement was open. "There." He pointed to the door before walking towards and heading downward. In the center of the room was kin taro, sitting and chanting. He was placing mild barriers. When Jace walked in, Kin taro opened his eyes and looked at the both of them. I see you have returned. What information did you get out of the villagers? Came his thoughts to the both of them. Jace shook his head. "Not much from what I can tell, unless you count creep-ed out. Unless you noticed something from the info they gave us." He said turning to Tax and hoping that at least she felt better that he was including her. Kin taro looked at Tax and tilted his head waiting for her response. Tax looked over at the two of them and shrugged. "I learned exactly what I expected. People are scared, and there aren't that many people left. There is this strange mist, and everyone is terrified of it. It might be connected to the disappearances or something else taking advantage of people's fear. Either way, its mere presence sets my teeth on edge, it's not from a benevolent source whatever it is." With another shrug she turned back to her uneasy contemplation of the scene outside the window. After a few minutes of that, she went over to Kin taro and added her voice to his, putting her own strength in to the wards he was raising." I can't do general protection like you, but I can protect from heat, cold, shadow, and also place alarms and tracking marks so we know if something does break our wards, and we can follow whatever it is," she murmured between chants. Slowly she let her reserves of magical energy trickle in to the barriers, until they glowed brightly in her magical vision. When something like that mists made her nervous, she wasn't about to take chances with weak wards. Her contribution made to their protection, she went to find a cozy spot to curl up under wings until her turn for watch. Kin taro nodded as he went back to chanting. Jace was staring out at a wall before he closed his eyes. Kin taro was taking the first watch and would need all the quiet and concentration he needed. Besides Jace was unsettled. He had seen the mist before.rather it was a long time ago. He had heard of the mist from the queen herself. Clearly she was afraid of the one who cast it. Something had to be done and soon. Jace couldn't sleep and found himself awake and walking to the window where he took a quick look outside. The town was engulfed in the mist, almost like a fog. Then he saw her.a woman walking down street. She was wearing a red dress and had long black hair. Her lips were ruby red. He thought it was odd that someone was outside. Jace than experienced something that sent a chill to his core. The woman looked at his way and smiled. He than appeared before the window howling and her visage changed to that of a spirit with rotting flesh and eyes white and sunken. It made Jace fall back grabbing at his sword but when he looked back to the window, she was gone. The mist was outside and not entering. Seemed as though kin taro's wards were working for now. Still the woman was clearly an undead spirit. Jace knew now that they were dealing with something not living. Clearly this would not end well. Tax leaped to her feet, eyes still bleary from sleep, but glowing with a kind of inner fire, and little tongues of flame licked around her suddenly inch and a half long nails. She let out a long, dangerous hiss, and looked over at Jace. He'd made quite the clatter, falling back for his sword, pulling her from her light slumber under her wings. Realizing they were not under attack, at least, not yet, the flames died, and she gave the elf a small, dry smile. "Something wicked, this way comes?" she asked quietly, and drifted over to look out the window, but saw nothing but the mist. She looked over, puzzled. "What did you see?" she asked, concerned. She didn't see anything, but she also expected that a seasoned warrior wouldn't have made such a fuss over a mere shadow. He didn't seem all that jumpy to her. Once again, she peered out the window, trying to see what had startled him so. Jace looked to her. "We are not alone. In the city. Spirits. Vengeful horrors." He said softly before standing up. Kin taro would do the same.Indeed, we are not alone. This church is clearly our only safe house. Keep away from mist. Dare not risk being lost in it. Even my magic cannot turn away spirits. We will need to find the source. If we don't end the source than even we will be lost in this town of horror. He would stand once more before turning to race. Jace nodded. "We must keep away from the windows and under no risk of our safety do not open the doors. We can't let the mist in. It will try to trick you. Even I was temp r ed to help the woman I saw before she changed before my eyes." He said before looking to tax. "We will need your powers of fire. See the inside of the church warm. I have a feeling it's going to continue to get colder." He said grimly. Tax glared outside the window for a minute. She knew what she could do. It was tiring, for a space this large, and required a lot of concentration to keep the creations under control. The man who'd taught her how to make them had warned her never to let them out of her control, they could wreck towns. But she didn't have much choice at the moment, it's not like she could lay a line of fire around the church. Somehow, she thought people might object." All right," she said finally, looking annoyed. "No point worrying about watches now. What I'm going to do, I don't exactly have to be awake, once I get it going, but I'll know everything that comes anywhere near my creations. Gather everything around me in the center of the church, and stay there." She moved to the center of the church, in between some pews, and shoved the long benches aside to make room for the gear and her companions. Then she sat down, cross legged, muttering chants under her breath, her fingers moving to create fiery symbols in the air. It took about ten minutes, then her hands moved to contain the group of symbols in a single, fiery ball like a miniature sun. With a grunt of effort, like the thing had weight, she tossed it in to one corner of the church. Three more times she did this, until one ball hung in each corner, fiery chandeliers. The fifth time, she released to float above them in the center of the church." These will burn throughout the night, but it takes my energy to maintain them. They serve as a heat source, light, and my eyes and ears. If things try to enter the church, they will hold them off as long as I have the energy to maintain them. This on in the center is the largest, and the one I will maintain the longest. Do not leave the ten-foot radius around this spot." She pointed to the place where she sat. "Now, I must rest as much as possible if I'm going to hold these all night. I normally only make one, maybe two at a time, and not nearly so large." Each orb was about two and a half feet across, a perfect sphere, and the central orb was three feet across. With her instructions given, she curled up in a ball and flared her wings out over her to completely cover her body. But looking closely, one could still see her eyes just barely cracked, glowing bright orange, to be seen through the taut skin of her wings. The mistune nodded as he would take his turn to rest and recharge. Jace also would sit, but it was his turn to watch. Tax would need rest and kin taro needed the same. So it was the paladins job to make sure rafter perished. Besides his holy auras would help as a last form of defense. Jace watched as the doors began to freeze over a little and the windows shown forms of ice collecting over them. Then sounds of horrifying screams could be heard. Either the spirits were trying to bait them out and attack, or they had found another victim. Either way race knew they could not leave the building. They would have to hunt at night. Kin taro was right to wait till morning. Then it hit race. Had someone does this in response to them arriving? Could their enemy have been one of the people they had met or one of the people who was in their house. Jace worried that the real enemy was out there and none of them knew who this person was. Jace looked to tax. He than began to hope that she would hold out throughout the night. He closed his eyes and began to pray. Tax could feel the cold encroaching on her boundary, and snorted, loud enough to be heard by the other two. She fed the two orbs at the front of the church her irritation, turning the ice into condensation on the walls and windows. She would not be so easily swayed as the townspeople. Furthermore, she shut out the sounds of screaming. Either it was bait, or there was no saving whoever was in the hands of the evil outside the doors. Once more anger surged, and she sent it at the orbs. It wasn't normally healthy to power magic with negative emotions, but for a long term spell, it didn't matter. It was just energy, not a rash, ill-thought out burst of emotion. She could feel Jace's unease, and heard is muttered prayers, and sent a bit of warmth his way as reassurance. It would be tiring, but she wasn't about to let anything get to them. She thought of the tiny vial concealed in her coin purse, and smiled. If she had to do this several nights in a row, at least she had her 'special drink'. It was the inner essence of an erupting volcano, summoned during an eruption by a true dragon and bottled for a time when the strength was needed by one whose spirit was made of similar fire. A single tiny drop was enough to set a full dragon alight for a week. She'd had to use it once; the effect was....excessive, to say the least. She huffed again and sent warmth at both her companions this time. Enough time for reminiscing later. Kin taro was in a deep sleep. Being that he used a lot of magic power he was exhausted. Jace on the other hand appreciated the warmth and while he was on edge his prayers were doing something entire different. Tax would feel power and magic surge through her. He was empowering her with holy auras. He would help all he can and as long as he chanted she would not run out FGAS. It was race's way of helping her and while he knew she had asked him to leave her alone to her own methods he clearly wanted to help. He would not let anything happen to her. She was the first person who would talk to him since kin taro and while kin taro was a good find he was not the best conversation. Jace smiled softly as he felt his own holy magic fill her and a calming sensation would come over her, like she was in a warm summer day under a tree. Jace picked this feeling personally to soothe her. He was on her side and entrusted her with his life. He would look to the door that was freezing over and the windows too. More screams and then nothing but the eerie heart beats of the three companions could become. Heard. It was as if time had stopped. Jace would continue.to watch each and every entrance. Even the ceiling was freezing over. He could not imagine what would have happened if they had not remained for the night. Kin taro was right. He must have had a sense of warning. Well the fox was good for something besides being a pain in the ass. Despite her efforts, Tax could see the frost encroaching upon the doors and windows, and growled. She was reluctant to send more energy in to the spheres, but she had little choice. It had only been an hour, if the frost came in that quickly, it would be a long night. But then, she felt her strength not being taxed so much by the magic, and glanced at her companions. Kin taro was deeply asleep, but Jace... In her magical vision, he was filled with golden light, and was sending it to her in streams. So, a true paladin, not a pretender. She had known many who called themselves paladins but could not summon the divine energies like Jace could. He was strong, as was his faith, and she definitely respected him for that. With him supporting her, her task would be almost easy in comparison. In a direct fight, it would be still be a hard match between the two of them and the evil energies swarming outside, but just to defend a single building, they had the advantage by far. Warmth, light, and holy energy were all strong forces against darkness and evil. No longer reluctant, she bolstered her shields around the entrances to the church, melting the frost away. See anything get past that.

Esperia (Frostsider and BaronessAiyanna)|rating:3.0

For You I'll Try Being Mortal ( Changingsaint & Dhi )

Lang Each day she spent in a clay vessel, dreaming of the world outside. It had been so ever since that terrible day an old master of the FM script sealed her away, and placed her at Gonna Shrine for safekeeping. Although it was a day like any other inside the clay vessel, today was a momentous day, for finally she had forgiven the old master for sealing her away. It was long after the holy man had died, and Xian SHU Fen Lang knew when that was, for he ceased coming to meditate at the shrine and practicing his kung fu, and she gleaned nothing more from his teachings. Perhaps she was sad, perhaps. With time more holy men visited the shrine, and brought with them more demons sealed away in clay vessels. None of those holy men compared favorably to the old master, and from her fellow demons there was little to learn except how delicious it was to cause mischief to mortals, how thrilling it would be to taste freedom again, and what terrible vengeance they would visit on the world when this was so. Chau She Ru Ling must have been laid to rest beside her, for often this demon's voice was closest, and Lang would consider Ling her friend. The both of them were demons of water, though Ling was demon of brackish floods, and Lang of humid heat; there could be no agreement on whether they would bury the world in a drowning tsunami upon attaining godhood, or boil the seas and fill the skies with never-ending torrents of rain. The kind of fun they had together delayed Lang's understanding by centuries, but today it had come:Some of this outcome might have partially been my own fault. Lang was uncertain how to broach this subject with Ling, but today how she longed to confess to another that indeed she was a naughty demon, and in her wicked heart knew her bad impulses deserved to be punished, and that she was glad, yes, glad the old master had taken the time to catch her. Without that attention, demon life would have been very boring indeed. It was exciting to have something to rage against. It was a realization Ling could not possibly appreciate, not yet, and keeping the secret from her ate Lang up inside.(was the distraction of human sounds coming reckless up the mountain to Gonna Shrine." Star palm strike!"" Oof!"" Get her!"" Hai-yaa!"" Take that!"" Wretched woman!"" We'll boil your bones for stew!" What is it, what is it, she whispered to Ling.I hear demons fighting, Ling confirmed for her. Round and round in clay vessels their spirits agitated, utterly powerless to break free. This was a bad impulse, Lang realized, but she could not help herself. Lang had not been touched in some time, but felt hands upon her clay vessel lifting her, cradling her, reminding her of the old master's touch. Oh, wow. Ling's voice followed after a moment. Where are we gossiping, smaller and smaller it became, sailing away at speed until there was a crash every demon lusted to hear, the shattering of a clay vessel. Lang could not contain her excitement as her vessel reared back, and she felt it, yes, the weightless euphoria of release. Her vessel crashed into a wall of muscle and forced it down for the count with her impact. That felt great. Beautiful blue mountain sky exploded outward in all directions, and for a moment it frightened her, being free of the clay vessel, but a new appreciation, a zest for life filled her with courage. So sweetly the fresh air breathed into her-oops!- a demon really oughtn't have been breathing, yet now that the habit started, she couldn't stop. Her hands-now, wait a minute-her actual flesh lifted from the pebbly ground, and possessing a body stung. It was sluggish, being just sixty percent water rather than a good round hundred, but the ripple was nice, the jiggle had a familiar feeling to it." After two hundred years, I'm...mortal?" She had a heart which was beating, beating. A mind which was aching, anxious whether her epiphany today might have come at the worst possible time. Eyes which were dazzled by the vibrancy of the world, focusing, seeing Ling for the first time and taking some solace that she too was having the same crisis of human form. Skin which was largely bare, blushing in the mountain weather. Hands, small and slender, pulling down the silks of Gonna Shrine to wrap herself in." To whom do I owe my freedom?" Ling said, bold, full of bluster, but then the cool breeze seemed to settle on her, and her limbs drew in. "If you be an s-sorcerer, then I will s-s-serve you for a time, and if not, I will s-surely eat you." Lang luxuriated in the feel of richly patterned silk as it clung and crept along her body. "Ling, you must feel this." Silk whispered over Ling's squirming body, and the other demon sighed. "Ooh, that's nice." (shrine. Some said that it was a cursed place, despite being a sacred temple – and once Song Buying had arrived, she saw exactly why it was cursed. That day was not the best day to climb a mountain perhaps, but the raven haired martial artist ascended all the same. Signs did not stop her, treacherous inclines did not make her falter, and even the demons that barred her way proved to be no match for a student of push like Song. Dazzling footwork carried her from demon to demon, her fists striking out against pressure points, pummeling into her foes or simply gripping them at certain areas to toss them with great momentum. Having been trained to flow like water, her fighting style was an impetuous one, her Eton locks gracefully billowing with her dramatic movements. One by one, demons fell at her wake, cast aside as she sprinted from foe to foe, each making a threat against her and each one crumpling to the floor in pain.“Get her!” One of the demons shouted, and as a terrible faced foe rushed her down, her almond eyes narrowed against her foe ass he surged forward to meet his stride. Running before taking a leap and using her momentum she landed feet first against his chest, the demon sliding as she rode him closer to the shrine, kicking off him again when he started to slow.“Hah!” Breathing out as she sought to keep her body in equilibrium, her next few opponents awaited her, but more importantly she saw her goal at the end of the trail. “None of you are going to stop me, not today!” Backing her confident tone with an open palmed strike “Flying snow strike!” Calling out as her palm crashed into the chest of her opponent, the aptly named move sent the ornery demon tumbling back, crashing into another pair of demons as she ran past the tangled lot. The seeming leader of the demons retreated to the shrine, and so she followed after him, intent on seeing her purpose here through.“The likes of you are forbidden in this shrine, mortal!” The demon leader spoke, looking almost human, save for his masklike face, and clawed fists. “You will die here, your only saving grace is to flee – run now and your life may be spared.” The demon was oath bound to offer mercy to those who made it this far, but from his tone, it was clear he was looking forward to a defiant answer. And he got it. Song said nothing in turn to his words, merely the sound of her feet pounding against the shrine steps, with the ringing out of body against body. Her fists were blocked by his arm, his sweeping kick barely eluded as she ducked back, and even her attempt to throw him off balance with a strike against his shoulder so she could toss him were all met with resistance. Truly, this demon was a ferocious guardian, and not one that she should underestimate. The battle was a stalemate, one wrong move from either could spell the end of the fight. But, Song was more clever than she let on, and each step she took was a careful one. And as the two combatants ascended the stairs, Song sought to circle around the demon so she had the advantage of a higher ground. And it worked, for the most part. Probing the demons defense with balanced strikes of her own, she kept him on guard, even as they were soon at equal height, and the two were face to face, each standing opposite of one another on the same stair. Perhaps this was good enough – abandoning her idea of height over the demon, she moved for the demon in a burst of movement, her hands a blur as a fist rang against his shoulder, battering him off guard. Falling meteor style was an aggressive style of striking, raining blows against one's opponent to batter them into submission… But it had its faults. As she broke the demons guard and was about to strike him with a heavy-handed fist, she only realized too late what her opponent had done. His face contorted into a smile, and his trap was quickly sprung. He had feinted, using the moment to seize the advantage and grip her by the arm and waist, quickly throwing her in the direction of the shrine. “Ah!” Song called out in surprise, flying through the air as she sought to catch herself only to meet a somewhat messy finish as she hit the ground rolling, the surrounding shrine, and the demon slowly approaching. She had to think fast – and maybe she was a little too fast, acting without thinking, she decided that if the demon could play a trick, so could she. Stumbling to pick herself up, her hand wrapped around one of the many clay pots in the shrine, and as the demon got close enough, she made her move. There was no name for this attack – rather, it was simply the art of an underhanded move. No leaping kick, no complex grapple, just a clay pot flying through the air, and striking the demon straight in the face before he could dodge out of the way. Rolling down the stairs, he was a felled opponent, and if needed, she could surely boast about besting a demon in combat.“Well.” dusting her hands off, she quickly turned to look at the shrine. “That takes care of that.” Speaking to herself, she did not expect a voice to call out to her, let alone another, feminine voice. “What?” Whirling around, the flowing sleeves of her robe followed with her, the woman adopting yet another defensive stance as she assumed that there must have been one last guardian. “Who’s there?!” She was not met by one figure, but two. Rather than the muscular and imposing stature of her opponents, these two were by far softer and more… Filled out than her opponents. One of them wanted to know had freed her, and she couldn’t back down from such a question. “I am Song Buying. I am no sorcerer – I am a student of the fist.” her claim was an honest one, and her voice a little tired sounding, but still confident. “If you seek to eat me, I will warn you I am a terrible meal. I do not go down easy...” Though her threat was needless, as it seemed the demons were soon fixated upon the silk with which they covered themselves in. Had they been freed from the pot? Slowly, her stance relaxed, and her pose came to be a resting one. “Who have I freed? Clearly you are no guardians of this shrine.” She questioned, her confusion perhaps a little more evident. ("I like having flesh." Ling held out her arms and shimmied like an ocean wave, leading the silk across her skin and over these breasts, quite heavy, giving her a sense of gravity. "Love having flesh." The same silk which had fluttered carefree in the mountain breeze now wanted to fly from her body, so Ling fashioned a tie where she could find purchase, round the fullest line of her breasts. A little tighter, she pulled, a little tighter, til the wobbling bulge of soft cushion overflowed and threatened to spill over. A tail of it fluttered and flapped quick and light in counter to her midnight hair flowing slow and heavy on the mountain wind, and left her hands free to clasp, and bow." Student of the fist, you face Chat She Ru Ling." Still she was a little chilly. Silk sleeved her arms, trailing unknown ribbons, feeling graceful and elegant as a demon princess. Lang seemed to have the same idea-her idea- and between them not enough Gonna Shrine banners remained to clothe ethers at all. But Lang was a friend, and above that, a fellow demon made corporeal against the will of the gods. What benefit Lang also benefit Ling. She would share, and go without." Demon of the brackish flood, blight of the rice paddy, salter of the earth. But I am not alone, for you face as well Xian SHU Fen Lang, demon of the humid heat, archer of throats, bringer of exhaustion."" And we like it wet," Ling said." Andsalty," Lang added. A demon's gratitude extended about as far as an indignant huff, and at this juncture Ling decided to work her magic on Song. This proved to be a mistake: there was still some life left in the old master's FM script. His wards fluttered, and quick as whips half a dozen adhered to her body, nullifying her connection the demon realm." Hey-"Ling spun to grasp one adhered to her back, and it resisted her, no matter how fiercely she pulls. Another dangled between her thighs, just at the hint of a pinking blush. When she tried to pluck it, the paper talisman wrapped skin-tight down her valley with a sudden squeeze. It drove her up on her toes." Song Buying, remove these talismans at once. Or..." Ling considered what still lay within her means, scanned slowly all around the mountainside." Or I'll..." Lang cut in then, assuming the stance the old master had taught her. "Or we'll challenge you to a battle of fists for dominance."" Hm!" The demons all laid low at the foot of the shrine did not inform Ling at all the wisdom behind this. After all, they were two, and Song merely one. To the left, she circled, and to the right, Lang stepped. As one, they launched their attack. Ling had not seen a person defend from two angles in a single swoop before. She could not anticipate a spade hand jabbed automatic to stop her tender tummy short even as Song turned away to repel Lang. What was this kung fu? Steady hand took her wrist. "Ah-"And mid-punch, Lang's was snatched too. "Oh-"A sweep, a twirl, and Ling tumbled over Lang with a flop to ground, a groaning cough, finding these heavy breasts rather a burden to filling her lungs when she was flat on her back." Ow." Lang would save her. Already the demon of humid heat was prepping a devastating kick straight from her wrecking ball hip. Fierce it sliced through the air Song had until a moment ago occupied, and hung expectant, disbelieving in the air, until Song took Lang's ankle and flipped her to ground. Right atop Ling, all of them one pile, panting, hot despite the mountain's cool air, tingling. "Hash, Hannah, haaaah-" When Song allowed it, Ling rose to her feet with Lang, and the two were of one mind." Very well," said Ling." We will call you master," said Lang." Until you remove these tags and release us from service," said Ling." We submit to your command, student of the fist," said Lang. Rather than spring forward to attack, the demons seemed more concerned with silk and the general feeling of movement. Was this a trick, some sort of trap? If it was, it was a working one, given that Song confusedly began to slowly lower her guard, more entranced by watching the strange duo as they got use to the feeling of being corporeal. Finally, one of them began to speak, naming herself as Ling, and the martial artists attention quickly snapped to her, a fist cautiously raised as her voice was joined by Lang. “So you two are water demons then...” Song was a little surprised to see demons that felt more at home in the waters than the treacherous mountains. Still, it didn’t matter to her too much, though the fact that the two demons seems to have a sense of camaraderie was a little astounding to her – most demons were hardly the type to work together, and the two quickly head each others backs.“Well! If you think yourselves strong enough, I will not be deterred on my quest!” Ready to lunge into the fray once more, though as magic sought to sweep over her, it was cut thankfully short by scripts flying around the demon and quickly latching on to her. Whoever had trapped them was a powerful sage, and she would have to thank their spirit considering he had most likely passed long ago. “I think you look better with this talisman on for now, they’ll be staying!” She spoke back a bit quickly, rather enjoying the look of the demon from both her ample flesh on display, to the slight flush in her features. She didn’t have much time to ogle however, as Lang cut in to offer her own challenge. “Like I said, if you think yourself strong, I am not afraid of your challenge, demon!” Song moved quickly, one blow blocked, and a blow in turn against her opponent’s stomach in turn, her hair flowing and trailing with every movement she did. She’d trained her entire life, from bandit to do-gooder for moments like these, her form flawless as she swept a blow aside only to return the favor with a sharp movement, or a backstop away before lunging forward “You two are fast!” But not fast enough, the finale of the fight was spectacular in form from all participants, from Lang lashing out with a blow that would surely send Song tumbling down the stairs to her downfall should it connect, to Song moving forward and low to the ground, her leg lashing out to send the demon straight to the ground, on top of her comrade. These two were certainly wily fighters, but against a mistress of the fists like Song, they could only do so much before they were knocked down to the ground. Still, Song knew the value of mercy and recognized that these demons were a tad different from the others, who seemed focused on devouring her flesh and gnawing her bones, or doing other unspeakable acts to her. After a moment of debate, Song stepped back to allow the two to rise again. Her stance was lowered, and the sweat on her brow and neck palpable, but even the two demons seemed to recognize that they were beat. Bouncing on her heels for a moment, Song then took a deep breath as the demons pledged their allegiance to the human. Raising a brow, she finally lowered her stance completely, her right hand resting on her hip. “Is that so? Well… If you submit to me, I will be a good master to you both. As I said, I am Song Buying, and I have come here on a quest. I seek an item of ancient power to keep it from the wrong hands. Legend says that this temple has scrolls to help me find its location, will you help me find these scrolls, and then this artifact? Do this – and I will release you from your tags and allow you freedom.” She spoke, giving a bow of her head before she smiled at them, the edges of her lips curling softly. Chat She Ru Ling Submission was not the natural course for a demon, which rebelled against the natural order of Heaven. What Lang intended through this oath, she did not know, but it bore consideration. Fingers drilled together as she did so, she thought it over, and what such service might entail. Ever the servants of the shrine came to sweep and polish and recite prayer, they were inconvertibly domestic, and with that should buy rights come a place of belonging. Letting someone else make demands of her, create a space for her to inhabit had appeal." Hmm." Thoughtful face screwed. This was difficult-only barely did Ling remember the old master of Gonna Shrine, which Lang spoke of with increasing longing, and yet there was a space in her heart, now that she had one beating within her chest, now that she had a chest with such pressure-tender breasts hanging to be bruised by the fruit-picker's hand." Hmmm." Xian SHU Fen Lang Those scrolls, Lang realized at once, must be secreted within the shrine. This was where the old master brought every vanquished demon and roll of forbidden lore." Easily done, master," she reported with confidence, and then with a whisper to the demon paralyzed with indecision beside her, "Help me, Ling." There was no need for Song to move while the two of them pawed through the old relics of the shrine, seeing it for the first time from outside their jar of sealing. There was a pleasure to it, as though she'd ascended to a higher plane of existence- a lower plane, really, but this tactile world was novel, and her skin was freshly made. Her back was to Song now. There was a sense of when she was being studied. It came in an absence of other things, no more words, no more turning of Song's feet, no wandering of her shadow. The impulse to turn, and look, tamped down stiffly. Lang dared not move from the imagined circle binding her. To attend her duty she lowered, and took her hands and knees searching into the recesses beneath the shrine shelves. Sheer silk slumped from the highest curve of her prostrate body. The feeling was savory warm. A loud click drew her attention. At the center of the shrine, Ling discovered a hatch in the mountain seat, and drew from it a long box of ornate wood. She lay it upon the steps to open, and Lang knelt with her. The wax seal surrendered to fingernails. Papery, pocked and feeble contents within seemed like just the sort of thing Song set them to find. Full of excitement, Lang gathered from the bottom of the box. At the lightest press, the old parchment crumbled like ash between her fingers, and filled the wood container with a silky gray spice." Ah!" Chau She Ru Ling The demon of brackish floods, blight of the rice paddy, salter of the earth brought a sample of paper spice to her tongue for a taste. It was too mild, by some, and her mouth an insufficient medium. Just barely, she could make out the elaborate curve of a FM script character." I see the edge of a word, but I need more. We must prepare a tea, from the shreds. It must be salty, or my powers won't work. The clear mountain water is no good. We must get to... a kitchen." She turned to Song the same moment that Lang did, because this woman was their master." Will you still respect me as a demon, after I've submitted? Song Buying, it isn't an easy thing you accept so facilely. There's a mischief in our hearts which can't be tamed by ordinary kung fu. But if you would have us... we're ready to leave Gonna Shrine and become your demon brides." To say that Song was still trying to understand what had just happened was a slight understatement. As her mind rushed through possibilities, there was the brief thought that these demons may have been trying to trick her, or coerce her into lowering her guard. And if they were, it was working. They seemed a little vulnerable and more than a little surprised at the situation themselves, or they were perfect at playing the part of being new to their bodies and the material world. Whatever the reason, whatever the cause, Song thought it's best to just… Roll with it. Deceit would not work against her, and as her body came to rest, beads of sweat rolled down her body and forced her outfit to cling against her womanly form. Lacking the curves of Ling and Lang she still held a womanly body, with long black hair and toned but supple curvature that only a warrior would be gifted with. And right now, that frame was at rest, her eyes slowly turning from demon to demon, listening to them as they seemed just as perplexed by this situation as she.“Well then.” Breaking her silence after a moment, the martial artist kept her focus on Lang for now as the woman bent over and knelt, hands seemingly searching for something as Ling likewise helped her begin to look around. But as Song heard a click and something opened, her gaze widened at the ornate wooden box. “That must be it. Be gentle with it. It’s been lost to the ages, and I know not how well it fared against the passage of time.” She spoke, a hand running through her Eton locks to help move the away from her eyes as she approached. The hopeful tone of her voice quickly faded as she made an “Ah.’ sound, seeing the parchment go from its whole and papery form, to the ruin that quickly came to it and reduced it to mere dust. She had come all this way, risked her life against demons… only for her goal to dissipate like so much wind in front of her. She was not one to lose hope readily, but to see the fruits of her effort dusted in front of her eyes… it hurt. But it seemed she was too hasty in feeling the biting sting of failure. Ling seemed to… have some sort of gift, a demonic talent for tasting words. “You are able to make sense of the texts?” Well, what was left of the texts. “I have a pouch here.” She spoke, moving a hand in her rope and holding out a small pouch as she approached. “We will pour the dust into this. And if we can brew a tea, we will. There is a small town near the base of the mountain. Surely they will not object if I borrow a kitchen for an hour or two.” With Ling asking a rather pressing question, she moved to carefully scoop the dust into the pouch, pausing only to look back and answer to Ling. “There was once wickedness and mischief in my heart, too. I know what it is like to be untamed and wild. Perhaps it is different as a mortal to a demon, but if you submit yourselves to be my brides, I will tame your mischievous hearts and keep you on the narrow, true path. Know that I will not always be a gentle wife myself.” Rising as she finished her task, she drew the string on the bag, and settled it back into her robes. “Let us move.” She spoke, beginning down the stairs, Gonna shrine had what she came here for, and she seemed to be leaving with extra. “For now, mind your kin on the stairs. They were far more rowdy than you, and I dealt with them summarily.” And indeed, the downed body of many a demon littered the staircase, most of them unconscious or on the ground in pain. In the distance, down at the base of the mountain one could indeed see a village, unaware of the tumult that had gone on above it. Xian SHU Fen Lang"At once." It was a long way down the mountain on two legs. At first, it didn't make sense to take each step individually, since her legs were as long as four, perhaps five steps, and it would be so much faster to take them in stride. She began in threes, in hops, following the path where it began winding down the mountainside behind bulwark of jagged stone teeth, the crown of the mountain king. Each time she landed, her spirit felt ready to soar, and yet there was trouble with this mortal body, and particularly the silk sling drawn across her chest. Though her toes came to a stop, the motion of her breasts carried momentum forward, elongated and sprang back to her with a wobble. That ache wasn't nice. It felt like failure, like a physical limitation. There was a ceiling on her kung fu so long as she had these things. She held them in her hands, and became self-conscious coming down the mountain well behind Song, having too left with more than she bargained for. Just ahead of her, Ling trod on marble-hard demon muscle. Vanquished foes groaned underfoot, as though a dimly understood dream were conjured by Ling's pressure on defeated bodies. Here and there, Ling swept back her silk slip and aimed a glare between her knees to warn any stubborn beasts against rising. It might be fun, accompanying a hero on her righteous journey, vaunting power over others, taking the material pleasures of this world from lesser beings like offerings to the gods. The work of it, though, exhausted quickly. Lang required a break after some hundred stairs by her likening, though looking back now, it seemed to be half that or less. She paused to appreciate the view of the clouds, in hopes some poetic spirit in Song would stir her to do the same. There was much she did not know about her new master." Please forgive me for handling the scrolls. I did not know they would fall to pieces." Her apology seemed to stir something in Ling too, who offered at once, "And forgive me for questioning your dominance." Wholly to herself Ling smiled, eyes on the halo of daylight at Song's crown. What was she up to? Chau She Ru Ling There were many breaks descending the holy mountain from Gonna Shrine, and while Lang recovered her breath, Ling dangled legs from the high perches, examining the village far below. It was such an interesting place, facades of white stone, red timber, and dark lattice, low paths intruded by gardens overspilling flagstone walls. A rough-hewn fence, a bamboo privacy screen, roofs steeply sloped with curving pinnacles, high terraces looking out over a placid stream, but none so high as hers. Legs swayed, excited by the prospect of it. So meek the humans who had built something so lovely. But it was time to descend again, and Ling scampered after." There must be no one in a human village who can stand up to you, master." Before long they were beneath the clouds, in the company of sharp-eyed birds spying the bamboo forest below for mice and rabbits. Ling could pick out individual people from their rice hats, drawing water, talking at the roadside, hands into the soil of their gardens. Boy or girl, she could not tell." If any gave you trouble, you could spank them soundly." Down further still, among the slow-moving smoke given off by the village, she caught a scent so delicious it made her mouth water. Hunger was a craving long forgotten for her, the threat of eating had little to do with that. But now even the salt rock and wild onion and animals of the mountain plucked this craving, professed to satisfy. She must be patient a little while longer, accompanying her master like an obedient demon bride. Once they were in the village, Song Buying would have to feed her, right?" You must do the talking for us, master. These mortals will respond to your force of personality." For the wandering martial artist, the way down was pleasant compared to the ordeal that heading upward towards the shrine was. Yet the moment she realized she outpaced Lang and Ling, Song paused for a moment. These two demons had only recently become mortal, and while she was their mistress she could not begin their journey by leaving them in the dust. Her toned frame was used to the ordeals of travel, but these two demon women were shapely and soft, and this might lead to issues in the future. But Song was patient, and when the two needed a rest, Song came to a rest as well, leaning back against the cliffside of the mountain. “You have nothing to apologize for. Chances are in my excitement the scrolls would have turned to dust all the same.” And when Ling apologized as well, Song’s lips curled into a smile, and she shook her head. “I think on our journey I can teach you my arts. I was once brazen and reckless too. It takes a humbling defeat to truly learn, and grow. But for now? I think the thing we should work on most for you two are endurance.” A bit of humor crept into her voice, showing she had more emotions than mere strictness. As Gonna shrine shrunk in the distance behind them, Song likewise stepped over foes she felled, most of them a groaning and crumpled heap, though a few tried to mutter promises of vengeance against the martial artist. The woman paid them no mind, and her gaze turned to the town. It was hard to say how many humans lived within the village at the base of the mountain, perhaps nearly a thousand or a bit over it – but each soul called it their home, and strove to make sure it was the best that it could be. At least, most of them did. “If there is one in the village who can stand against me, they have had the decency to not strike me down. I’d day I could spank any of them as sound as I did the two of you.” Her gaze turned back to the tired demons before she gave a nod. “We’re almost there. This path will take us down to the village.” Lining the steps that covered the base of the mountain were statues of fierce looking lions, though the finely sculpted statues had seen better days, a few chipped and mottled with moss, and one or two shattered, their caretakers long since dead. The kingdom had changed hands since Gonna shrine was erected, and these statues were all that remained of their once glorious art that sculptors prided themselves in. The aroma of fresh food was not lost to Song, and subtly her steps quickened in pace. It was hard to fight on an empty stomach, and she had passed by a noodle house on her way towards the shrine. “Come, I know where to go. I shall do the talking, do not fret.” As her steps carried her towards the shop, her eagerness for food became more apparent with every quickened step. Around them were the men and women who lived in the village. Market vendors nodded towards the three, a few barking out prices for fans to cool off from the heat. Others sought to sell gourds for drinking from, the clay jugs finely shaped and crafted by loving hands. One merchant – a young woman even offered Ling a fruit, a peach with soft and velvety skin that surely held something delicious within. However, as they approached the noodle house, these people began to thin out, and one could see why as the doors of the house swung open – a pair of travelers trundled out, their clothing scuffed and well-worn, and their bodies well-kept and honed like Song’s. It was clear they were not from around here, or if they were – that they certainly fancied themselves different from others within the town.“Well then.” Song spoke, pausing for a moment. “I hope you both enjoy noodles.” Chat She Ru Linda thousand people, a thousand stories. The young women of the village drew Ling's attention like a darting mouse, wherever they found them-eyes downcast, showing obedience to their parents, straight and gentle in posture. The silks she wore could not afford her their modesty, but she began to take their habits, and walk close at heel with Song, her mistress, in small patter-steps, with her hands folded, her demeanor unconquerably pleasant. But oh, the market was where the young rebels of the village congregated. She spied a boy, quite handsome and polished, linked arm in arm with his shuffling girl as they perused the market independent of their parents. This was how she could show her deference to Song, and to no-one else. Softly as the daughters in the village gardens dressed in white, she twined her arm with Song's right. On the left, there was Lang mirroring her, plying for attention." Teach me endurance, master," said Lang. Ling was savvy to her trick by now, which involved nuzzling her silk-wrapped breasts to Song and tracing the pattern on the master's fabric with her fingers. A precious fruit presented before her, and Ling accepted it graciously. Fuzzy, soft her fingers found it, and her mouth watered. She looked to Song for confirmation, and with her whole mouth took a bite. Nectar streamed down her throat, down her fingers. She chased a rivulet nearly to her elbow and kissed it away, not wishing to waste a drop." Ah, I want some," said Lang. Her sister-demon leaned across to kiss away the nectar Ling could not reach, down her jaw and pooled at her collar. It filled her with a buzzing. Fingers curled, juddered into Song's clothes, and all pretense of walking halted while this played out. Xian SHU Fen Lang Two mortals emerged from the house of savory smells. So jaunty with smile and swagger were they that at first Lang believed them to have a gift for her, too. But when she pitter-pattered up to meet them, the hand shown to her was empty. It filled to overflowing with a greedy grip on her breast, calloused digits coarse across the silk. Song's pressure felt nice. This was unpleasant, a dismissive slap-up under the globe of her breast. He followed after her pull away and continued to do it, until she nearly slipped from her narrow wrap, all the more pleased that Lang's face twisted miserably." Come join us inside, you three," he said. "We're having a party, and it needs some girls." Lang's body betrayed her. Even this touch felt nice, though it was not Song's at all. When the ruffian began to pull her, she grabbed for of a wide rickshaw wheel, just a bit taller than she. So roughly was she pulled that the wheel popped from the axle with her, and she spun it round to trample his wrists. It was only a nuisance of a wound. The thug rubbed his wrists, and face red with outrage, he came for her. Fist plunged. Lang positioned a spoke of the wheel before his punch, and it splintered." We'll teach you a lesson," he barked, and four hands tore at the spokes. Lang twisted, wheeled, tangled up an elbow and forced the joint with a kick. This time, the wound was more than a nuisance. He was enraged. From their combined kicks and tantrums the last of the spokes broke apart, until Lang was left with only a broad wooden hoop. Mortals did not understand the motion of water, did they? The second ruffian reached through the hoop for her, now that there were no more spokes in the way. When his foot touched the hoop, Lang gave it a spin, and sent him stumbling dizzy in an altogether different direction." I would never learn endurance from you," Lang replied. At her guiding fingertips, the hoop's spin elongated, turned, and her toes found balance on the inner rim. Within her body turned like a flipped coin deciding the fate of the two thugs. Her leg extended, her body somersault, and the car wheel crashed into a man and flowed around him like water. When Lang righted herself in the gymnastic frame, half a dozen men had emerged from the noodle house led by a furious saber-wielding bandit, teeth bared in a rat snarl." Master will speak for us," she told them.

For You I'll Try Being Mortal ( Changingsaint & Dhi )|rating:4.0

Misfits Company (IC)

The Share evening has been rent by a torrential downpour for hours. Every inch of the city is wet and slick, and clear vision is all but impossible. Even the captain of the Blood of the Wind, the airship all but reserved for use of Borne's agents when he has need of them somewhere beyond the city, had struggled returning to the docks of the city. It is a horrid night, and one befitting Traveler's Night, the night when monsters are said to wear the face of innocents and seek refuge from the cold, only to feast on those foolish enough to let them inside. Tradition has evolved that a gift is to be given to any creature who comes to the door, but never to invite them in. Nothing but a monster would be walking the streets tonight. That, and the Misfits Company. There is no real name to this group, and there are perhaps half a dozen creatures outside of King Borne himself who know of its existence. Thirteen creatures bound to the service of the crown, agents that act where even the Dark Lanterns cannot. Most of the rest of the Company act alone in deep cover in other countries, but this group has been bound together by a surprising effectiveness, one respected by the Company's Handler, Alcoransys. The Company has just returned from a mission deep within Calendar, hoping to find evidence of the Shadow Houses latest plots. Nothing had come to light, so it is with the resigned feeling of failure that the group disembarks from the airship. The half-elves of the Blood of the Windier sealing the ship against the continued rain, the captain, Brian, watching with a practiced eye. The first order of business will be a debriefing at the Highest Towers, as soon as the group disembarks and gets moving. Clyde As the group makes its way down the gangplank off the ship, the tiny silver dragon fades into invisibility and gives its wings a lazy flap. Clyde finds a comfortable-looking Misfit and drapes itself over the other's shoulders like a limp rag. Fran floated along the ground with the group. If he could walk, one could tell how dejected the poor soul was. However, Fran floated and only recently discerned how useful it would be to look like he was walking. If one wanted to tell how depressed the teen was, with relative ease, they could tell by looking at his face. Unfortunately they would also see the fact that the person in question was transparent. Fortunately, the hooded cloak Fran was wearing hid the transparency of his being and just about everything else. Regarding the failure of his mission, Fran had failed to uncover any truths about the Shadow House's plot. As he thought about the problems he encountered, he came to realize that many of them could have been helped by a bluff or his telekinetic abilities. The manifestation continued floating with the group at the proper elevation that seemed normal. The cloak just touched the ground with little drag occurring upon it. This placed the depressed soul's height at about six feet. It's what he had adjusted to, always trying to get the cloak to where it almost dragged upon the ground. Fran took a mental note for when he got back to his private quarters he would be certain to have a servant bring in a large mirror so that he could practice looking as if he was walking. Rebel walked in long elegant steps, almost dancing, humming between himself, his inhuman grace all but screaming his nature, despite the long clock and hood he wore for the sake of appearances, we cannot have people pointing and screaming at the mean faerie come to snatch their children from the cradles, ha, he hasn't done that in decades." Gloom gloomy gloomy, gloo gloomy"he felt the humor around, dripping like the rain, no place for summer there, were they feeling bad for the failure, wait, what was the mission again... not that it matters, yet somehow it does, fascinating the group he was dealing with. Looking at Rebel, Fran noted the supernatural grace of his walk and decided to study it, wanting to mimic the grace. He felt almost jealous of Rebel and his blessing of allure. But that wouldn't stop Fran from assisting Rebel in his times of need. However, it would definitely influence how the teen wanted look when he 'walked'. Measured. Even. Orderly. German walked in the same way he thought. His arms swung like pendulums at his side, unerring and unvarying in their motion despite the weight of the battle fist on one side. His walk unflinching despite the lashing rain. There was no need for a theatrical reaction, after all. Such mechanical order was almost the entire essence of his being, truth be told. "I think, therefore I am" interpreted quite literally. And he was doing quite a bit of thinking right now. Mission now classified as failure. Probability of further leads being presented: undefined. Recommendation: review gathered information for the possibility of secondary leads. Will present this option at the debriefing if desired. Spoiler Hide Spot check: (1d20+4)[9] Rain is like darkness to the sight of a cat, makes the world a boring place indeed... He stopped misstep... the hood inclined slightly, and he gazed intently in the rainy night... His hummings grew louder, and with merry voice he intoned a verse..." I spy with my little eye... are we not alone under the weeping sky..." He resumed the walking, was it someone he knew?" Silly child, not that good playing hide and seek" It seems like there might be someone or something perched on a bridge between the two nearest towers. There is no clear movement or any indication that any such thing, if it is really there, is paying any attention to this group. To get a clearer picture, someone would need to move closer to whatever it is. Gliding forward, Fran tried to discern what it was but he can't see through rain. So, moving closer, the teen tries to focus past the rain to get a greater view. Spoiler Hide Moving 80 feet forward and doing a better spot check. (1d20)[7] Clyde Noticing Fran's interest, Clyde decides to assist in the investigation. A short series of teleportations take the tiny dragon to within a stone's throw of their observer. His mind reaches out to the stranger, Nice weather we're having. Spoiler Hide Flee the scene til he's about 20 feet or so from whoever's watching them, still invisible. Preferably behind or to the side of whoever it is, since a dry spot in the air might be a bit obvious right in front of their face @ClydeSpoiler Hide When you are about 40 feet away, the creature snaps its head up, tilting its head as if listening. When you draw closer, it takes a moment for the thing to re-orient, but you strongly suspect it has a good idea where you might be. When you focus to actually reach out to it, you see two things. First, it is not remotely humanoid - it looks much like a human-sized lizard - not human-shaped, like a lizard man, but like a large, fanged and clawed predator. It seems to be wearing light armor covered in spikes. But what next hits you is what the creature is standing over. A human corpse, mangled and torn to pieces, rests on the bridge, blood already washed away by the rain. The creature seemed to be digging at the body, as if looking for something. (1d20+2)[5] Roll initiative to determine where you act in the surprise round Clyde Clyde shoots a message back to the Misfits, relaying what he sees. The tiny dragon's point of view changes in a heartbeat, as he suddenly finds himself looking down on the grisly scene from several stories up in the air, directly over his previous position. Spoiler Hide Initiative - (1d20+6)[8] Standard action to Flee the Scene 45ft straight up. It wouldn't be correct to say that the war forged straightened up, given that he was already standing at his full height, but he certainly gave the impression as he shot a glance in the direction of the Company's local dragon. Are we under attack? Spoiler Hide Initiative: (1d20+5)[14] Finding itself alone, the creature digs at the corpse, more frantically than before. Spoiler Hide (1d20-3)[-2] Everyone can roll their initiative - anything over 3 acts before the very poorly-rolling velociraptor. Spoiler Hide (1d20+1)[21] Initiative EDIT: YES! Natural twenty! Clyde Not at the moment that I can see, but once this thing is finished mutilating the corpse I assume it just made, someone surely could be next. The dragon gathers his thoughts a moment, then swoops down on the urban velociraptor, hoping to subdue it before the corpse is unrecognizable. At the moment his tail snakes out, a 20ft radius of light erupts around Clyde like a Bacon. Spoiler Hide Clyde's post-surprise-round action, use fly-by attack to fly in, poke the velociraptor, then fly as far straight up as he can with the movement he has left for the round (60ft fly speed) The attack breaks his invisibility, and as a free action, he activates his Protective Aura (20ft bright light, magic circle vs evil for any allies in range with +4 deflection AC vs evil and +4 save vs evil spells/things. Also, a 20ft Lesser Globe of Invulnerability (new 3rd level and below spells/effects are suppressed in the 20ft) Attack - (1d20+17)[35] (counting the +2 for invisibility) Piercing Damage - (1d1)[1] Skirmish Damage - (1d6)[2] Holy Damage if evil - (1d6)[2] or Holy Damage if undead or evil outsider instead - (1d8)[4] And if the attack hits, Fortitude save DC 27 vs poison (sleep 1 min // sleep 1d3 hours) "Unwise.unwise... I don't like to exercise so late, it's rude." Spoiler Hide Initiative: (1d20+4)[16] How far are we from the enemy? The raptor's head snaps up just before the dragon strikes it; it seems capable of countering some of the benefits of the dragon's invisibility. The dragon still catches the creature in the side of its head; it snarls as it is wounded. Spoiler Hide (1d20+10)[14] (1d6)[6] (1d6)[2] With a howl, the creature slumps sideways next to the corpse. * post roll count doesn't match database Entity classed as hostile. Preparing to engage. Light flares from the psi forged, spreading in every direction along with a disembodied sense of touch. Some people might mistake it for a lightning strike-before it started running across the tower, anyway. Not that anyone would notice. After all, nothing but a monster would be out this night, and they would notice a spiked fist in their face much more readily than some pretty lights. Spoiler Hide Manifesting Touch sight, then moving diagonally towards the blue area at full speed. I assume that's a wall? Seeing his diatonic companion attack this foe, Fran prepares for battle by casting two of his favorite spells and gliding forward as much as he can while still reasonably casting. In moments, he would be ready to tan some hide! Spoiler Hide Cast Shield (standard) and Sadism (swift) then move as close as I can as close to the opponent as possible. Are we able to chat about strategies we could use on the IOC? Because I think a very common one would be the use of baleful transportation with Clyde and Fran so that he can close in on the action sooner. If that's the case I am going to travel upwards and forwards so that I can get closer to Clyde, which hopefully has moved to the other side of the velociraptor, and next turn use it to tactically flank our opponent. After that, ill charge and maybe wipe it out Clyde Clyde's mind reaches out to his companions, Not sure if that's completely necessary, friends. An image follows the words of the dainty Dino sound asleep. Although there's a chance he could wake in a minute or so. An apologetic mental shrug accompanies the last message. "Oh? Is that so, want me to see what I can do to pin it to the ground just in case it wakes up?" Spoke Fran, actually it was closer to a shout so he could be heard over the rain, but it sounded more like him simply speaking than a shout. "You had me use two spells of the day over this thing? Impressive. What is this creature anyway?" Clyde The tiny dragon fades into invisibility once more, and with a lazy flap of his wings it lights itself onto the velociraptor, perched like a house-cat. No clue, really...perhaps we should alert the authorities to the creature and the mutilated unfortunate underneath it? "Clyde, do you not mind if you get rained upon? It's practically a to rental downpour out here!" Inquired Fran as he contemplated the rain for a moment. During his contemplation, Fran, drew his scimitar and walked on over to the creatures position. Do I mind the rain? Thought the manifestation as he brought his finger out from under the cloak. The rain passed through it until Frank mental felt the rain along his finger. At first, it was just his thoughts, but then it became reality as the rain landed upon his fingers and he felt the cold of the rain upon his skin. Enjoying the sensation he stretched his arm out and felt the whole of his arm being covered in the joyous sensation of rain." Mind over matter eh'?" As the discussion moves on, the lizard twitches and lunges to its feet with a snarl. The group can hear vague shouts in the middle distance; it's possible the original attack, or at least the howl a few moments ago, caught attention.@allSpoiler Hide Anyone who was reasonably within arm's reach gets an AOO when the creature stands from prone Clyde Rain is a beautiful thing, why would it bother OH! The creature's awakening startles the tiny dragon, as it is dumped onto the cobblestones. Spoiler Hide Fore-going the AOO.... Clyde had a decent reason to put it to sleep in the first place, since it was eating remains that should be identified, but now that that is stopped, and the party's here... Also forgot I AHD ranks in Knowledge Arcane - (1d20+10)[12] Rebel joined the commotion in the middle of the bridge, he bent a little to give a look at the... thingie... then jerked back sniffing disgusted." This sounds smelly... "Spoiler Hide Draw the rapier and the rune staff from the bag, moving at the center of the bridge (R9 if free) Spoiler Hide Assuming you let the one-minute pass and let me move to the beast and ready an action to attack it when it moves count the second attack otherwise just count the first. 1: Hit (touch)(1d20+10)[18] Strength(1d4)[1] 2: Hit(touch)(1d20+10)[16] Strength(1d4)[2] The creature stumbles for a moment at the ghost's touch, but without further action hurls itself off of the south edge of the bridge, launching itself towards the side of the tower. Spoiler Hide (1d20+34)[41] It scrabbles at the bricks and stone of the tower's edge and scrambles down and around the far side, moving with incredible speed along the surface. Further attempts to attack it could cause it to lose its footing and die (or, given that what is below Share is more Share, seriously injure someone else). You could try to follow it, or try to discover something useful about its victim, hopefully before the police arrive.@BackgroundSpoiler Hide You are forbidden to reveal your connection to the Relish crown, as you act outside the normal legal hierarchy. However, you have had run-ons with the Share law in the past. With your tendency to deal with unusual problems, you have frequently ended up on the watch's radar in connection with some grisly or unusual crimes. You have consistently proven helpful overall, but you are not a welcome sight to any watchman, and a target of low-level suspicion. (In a mechanical sense, you qualify as "known, with slightly negative associations" with respect to the Giant's Diplomacy rules. Think how the cops view Shawn Spencer or Jessica Fletcher) Spoiler Hide (1d20+16)[31] High Speed Clyde Clyde, still invisible, begins a series of blinks and wing-flaps, following after the creature, lest it harm someone else. To his companions, I'll follow this one, and if it seems necessary, put it down. Try not to get arrested again, yes? Okay, don't get your self-killed either! If your not back to base in one day we will presume your dead! Shouts back Fran, his voice definitely being a shout this time. As the dragon vanishes into the wet darkness, the bridge echoes with the arrival of the Share City Watch. At the head of the group of about half-a-dozen people of assorted races is Commander Gordon, a gruff, middle-aged man the Misfits Company has had passing encounters with. He has no patience for stories, and while dutiful, does not like looking too hard for answers. The guards are fanning out around him as he takes in the three creatures - human, elf, and war forged, gathered around a prone figure - before one of his corporals gasps, and it is clear they have realized the figure is dead." You,"Gordon growls." Why am I not surprised I've been called out on Traveler's Night to find you here? Just for kicks, why don't you try explaining what, exactly, is going on here." Spoiler Hide Just as a reminder, Diplomacy rules are over here. When using Diplomacy, you should note in spoiler tags, if not entirely clear, what you are trying to encourage the target to do, and what you are offering in return - successful rolls encourage a course of action from a target, rather than changing their attitude. And yes, 'nothing' is an acceptable offer for people you're talking to. "I am sorry sir but my allies and I are probably just as in the dark as you upon this, within the exception that we know what caused this tragedy." Spoke Fran as he began his explanation. "When we arrived from our destination we saw something, not knowing what it was, we ventured forth and soon discovered the creature in question. Some strange reptilian creature, with spiked armor, as big as you or me! In moments, we engaged in combat, and soon we placed the creature in a poisonous sleep... However, it awoke from its slumber unlike how we anticipated and ran away along the side of that tower. "The manifestation tilts his head in the direction of the tower in question, making sure that his hood doesn't uncover his face. "Currently I have my fastest member after the beast with more poison to make it rest. I anticipate only five or so more minutes until it's returned to here, deeply asleep." The explanation pauses but shortly resumes into something else." We will have the beast in custody shortly, but we have not been able to discern the body quite yet. Then again we have not had the time to try, but now that you are here, we don't have to worry! What can your men make of the body? "Spoiler Hide Fran does as he is told, recalling the event as it played out, but leaving out more things that could defend the groups' innocence until he can discern the captains reaction and what to make of it. ----------- I'm hoping that if he still presses onward we could mention the claw marks on the body and the tower, proving that we didn't do it via nobody having the claw size. Also, I'm changing the subject into something that seems more pressing so that he won't think about us and will adjust to this more pertinent matter. Diplomacy(1d20+20)[36] Clyde Spoiler Hide Clyde flaps into the air and up over the side of the bridge after the lizard thing. As it begins to climb down, the tiny dragon attempts a risky move to keep it from escaping or getting far enough away to do more harm. He tucks his wings in and shoots down the side of the structure towards the raptor and brushes its shoulder with his tail, careful not to actually sting the creature. A moment later Clyde is back up on the bridge. Melee Touch - (1d20+15)[21] Cast Flee the Scene attempting to take the raptor with me, he gets a DC 18 Will Save to resist. "Dumdum dum... if dead could speak... but we don't have a cleric here... dumdum dum"Rebel, incur ant of the people around bent toward the body, examining it accurately... Spoiler Hide Just to make thing easier for the diplomats. Spot: (1d20+15)[19] Search: (1d20+15)[24] Clyde(Previous post edited to reflect the not-dimension-mooring)Spoiler Hide When Clyde pulls up level with the creature, he drops his invisibility and attempts to communicate with it once more, this time calling upon his empathy with the wild. What is your purpose, large-one? He projects his inner energy and postures his body language to convince the creature he means no harm, and that he's curious. Wild Empathy - (1d20+17)[33] Clyde speaks every language ever, and can speak with animals The side manages to drift over and examine the corpse as his compatriot is pleading with the watchmen. Aside from the deep gouges from the attacker's claws and teeth, he finds some largely innocuous items - a few rings (one with the Cannot coat of arms), an unobtrusive wand, and an old diary with a mark similar to the coat of arms on the ring. There doesn't seem to be any identification on him, at which point Gordon notices Lord Rebel." Hey! What do you think you're doing? Get away from there!" One of the lieutenants shoves the side firmly out of the way, glaring at him. The lieutenant, a half-orc woman, pauses after she does, eyes fixing on the items Lord Rebel had noticed." Boss, you'd better look at this." Ordon slips over, scowling when he sees the ring. He glances up at the assembled party." I think it'll be best if you come downtown to give us a full statement. Otherwise, you'll be explaining yourselves to House Cannot, and they aren't nearly as nice as I am."MEANWHILE The lizard spins its head and snarls at Clyde." Leave me alone, sorcerer, or I'll forget myself and kill you too!"it snaps. It scuttles further down the tower.@ClydeSpoiler Hide Make a Spot check...and an Intelligence check Fran once again tries to reason with the commander. "Sorry Gordon, but there is no fuller statement than what I have told you. Its best that we put our current differences aside and see if we can track where that beast went? I have great faith in my companion, however your men would be better suited to help search for the murderer than to stand around here working with empty hands." The manifestation paused for a moment so that he could collector his thoughts. As much as I want to punch that Half Orc, its best that I avoid any more information regarding why our group was away. A full explanation is impossible right now as that would require us to talk about where we came from... And that would not end very well. In the ghosts mind he creates a new idea and after only a short moment decides to make it happen." I want to catch this monster just as much as you do, Gordon. Can I recommend an exchange? My group brings this beast back, nice and helpless. And you let us continue on our merry way! No work on your part and we don't have to use up more of our time in this not so pleasant weather! Everyone but that murderer is happy! "Spoiler Hide This time I am going to try and make him work with us in place of forget about us. He gets his murderer, and we get to leave his sight!(1d20+16)[20] Clyde Spoiler Hide Fear not on that account, I could subdue you without either of us coming to harm if that were to happen. Perhaps we should stop somewhere so you could tell me what happened. Maybe I can help you. Spot - (1d20+10)[14] Intelligence - (1d20)[13] Gordon glares at Fran." I want an opportunity to discuss this with you, and I won't accept no for an answer. I'll expect you at noon tomorrow at our main office; keep in mind I know where you room. Furthermore, I'll tell my people to keep an eye out for your dinosaur, and we'll look into anything you happen to provide to us subsequently." He nods at the half-orc." Craul, get the body somewhere you or a Osasco grunt can take a look at it. Get an image of the scene and start collective evidence." The half-orc salutes and pulls out a small cube that she sets about five feet from the body. At a whispered word, it begins to glow dimly.MEANWHILE The creature glares at Clyde, eyes bearing tremendous ferocity, for an almost interminable moment." Let me get on stable ground...and I'll come quietly,"it says at last, gesturing down to where there seems to be an open window. As much as the Teenager wanted to shout at him "are you threatening me?" he knew it would go nowhere but down. It's best to just leave it for now, improving our rather bad relations with Gordon would prove more useful than showing off how powerful I am." What a unique item, just what does it do? Spoke Fran above the rain, not to anyone in particular but his face was to Gordon. Thankfully his hooded cloak covered his face and thus his secret. Clyde Spoiler Hide Clyde patiently waits for the dinosaur to get to the open window, and follows him in. My name is Fistanperaclesiasticlyde, most call me Clyde for short. What's your name, and what's your story? The tiny dragon's eyes glimmer with curiosity as he awaits the creature's explanation. "Thrash proprietary magic,"Crawl replies curtly.MEANWHILE When Clyde slithers through the window, it is to find no sign of the lizard. A man in slick black leather armor stares at the dragon as it appears." My story? Excuse me, who are you to barge in here without a by-your-leave?"he demands. Spoiler Hide Just bookkeeping: (1d20+9)[22]; (1d20-1)[6] Rebel went very still, and silent, as a statue, incur ant of the rain, his voice went out in a penetrating whisper that managed to get through the dizzying noise"Do not touch me, ever"his eyes were focused on the impudent man, one hundred and one scenario of what he could have done, should have done to that useless thrash blazed his main, a dozen dire ants devouring him from the inside, throwing him off the bridge one arm at the time, the glamour of the rain swallowing him, playing a lute with cord made of his tendons while his screams make the counterpoint, ... His feline gaze gleamed... Spoiler Hide Probably better if someone stops me before something bad happens. "Rebel, hold your self." Spoke Fran, softly yet firmly, like the way you would talk to your best friend when you don't want him to do something, yet loud enough for those that listened to him to hear." You are better than attacking something as weak as that half-orc, force is probably all it knows. The manifestation's voice is loud enough to be heard by the entire squad even with the powerful rain." One of the last things we need is the blood of an entire force of the city guard on our hands. It's your job, as something much greater than they are, to hold your self back when they can not." His hood still remains the same way, down and easily covering his face and the figure is fully covered, some might guess that nothing was in the cloak! They would only be partially right." Gordon, keep your men and women in line! The last thing you want is a fight between us. So far you have indirectly threatened my life and have been naught but rude to my party. If you keep pushing things as they are then it won't end in anything else but the slaughter of your squad." Spoiler Hide Okay, so this could be either diplomacy or intimidate so ill roll both. Fran has two goals here, to either have Gordon back off and give them some room or to have them attack first, tell his superiors that it was self-defense and say that his squad as rather out of control. Gordon has a lot to lose if he doesn't control his men and oh so little to gain by attacking us. Intimidate:(1d20+8)[9] Bah! Field on my part via the rolls Because I sometimes make a silly typo Spoiler Hide Diplomacy (1d20+20)[21] TT_TT snake eyes... Clyde Spoiler Hide Oh dear...pardon me, but I would swear I just followed a tortured soul this way. "In line? We have a right to evidence, whatever your sticky-fingered friend may think! And if you find my trying to keep an eye on persons of interest, witnesses or suspects, threatening, I doubt you have a place in this city. I don't care who you really are, interfering with my investigation, and threatening my people for doing their jobs will earn you no friends." Ordon draws close to Fran, poking his finger towards him, glaring." Now, I said you could make a report to us tomorrow at noon at our offices. And I'll stay with the same deal, as long as you leave now."MEANWHILE The man gives the dragon a strange look." Tortured soul? I don't know what you mean by that. And I don't appreciate dragons bursting into my home." Clyde Spoiler Hide To himself: How suspicious... I wonder... To the man: I'll be going, my mistake, Goodman, please accept my humblest apologies. Clyde uses Flee the Scene to teleport to a perch somewhere high up behind the man, then fades into invisibility. His after-image remains for a few seconds, then blinks away to nothing. Clyde observes the man for a few minutes to determine if he's being fooled by the man. "Okay, I shall accept your offer. But I want you to keep to that word"Fran turns around and continues his path along the bridge. When he is certain that he can't be seen by those who would be surprised by his flight, Fran floats off the side of the bridge. Now it was time to either give chase to his diatonic friend, go back to base with Lord Rule or eavesdrop upon Gordon. Since he said "Could", that means I don't have to go report to him! However, it would be wrong of me not to tell him what happened, maybe there is something I know that he doesn't have that would help him solve this case. Guess I have to make room for it on my schedule tomorrow! However, I am going to go on my terms, not his... Maybe I can have some fun while I do so. Walking and striding over the bridge, Rebel coasted the ghost, murmuring in a strangely serious voice"The killed one was of Cannot House, I smell a mystery, we should check for the scaly." @ClydeSpoiler Hide Once he no longer sees the dragon, the man glances briefly around the room and stalks for the door. He moves fairly rapidly, but not so fast that the dragon can't keep up. He moves through the streets of Share nonchalantly, although something about his manner seems uneasy - his attention seems less focused on potential followers than on the ever bright lanterns keeping the city lit even in the dark of night. After a few moments, it is clear that the man's direction is clearly downward, deeper into the city's underbelly. It occurs to Clyde that he's far from his allies, and the depths of Share are home to people who might find invisibility little hindrance. And then there are the rumors of creatures that can steal even a bird's power of flight... Clyde Spoiler Hide It's been a fair amount of time, and I think I've learned all here I can. This man is almost certainly the same creature...but only almost...best to let the authorities pursue this further. Clyde commits the man's description and last known location/direction of travel to memory and begins moving back to where he left the other Misfits, using a combination of flight and teleportation-blinking, anxious to get back before they got themselves into any trouble. "Okay, since I will be meeting with that head honcho of the guard tomorrow, let's go catch up with Fishanpersacesiasicleticlyde. I think I finally said his name right for once! Spoke Fran, giggling at how horribly he probably butchered his poor teammate's name. The return to their base is relatively uneventful, save for the continuing rain, which drenches the dragon and fairy thoroughly before they return. When they do, the Highest Towers are lit in expectation of their return. Unfortunately, also expecting them is Alcoransys IR'Delint, a distant cousin to the king, a master spy, and their handler. The human woman, slight and unassuming, is standing well within the entrance hall when Fran, Lord Rebel, and Gram arrive. She takes in their appearance with a measured gaze." Well, let's have it,"she says evenly. She has never stood with formality, except for demanding proper respect for herself. After a moment, she glances around the room." Wait a moment - where is Fistanperaclesiasticlyde? Don't tell me you got him killed." " Our comrade should be joining us shortly, we had an encounter with some reptile and Clyde went chasing after it. Darn thing killed a man from one of the houses. Anyway, the guards came in and wanted and explanation from us, so I told them what happened, and it didn't go so well after that. Gordon wants me to go in at noon for a full report. Clyde has probably teleported back the reptile, nice and asleep, to the authorities and is on his way back. "Explained Fran, however the incorporeal creature was more focused on sewing Clyde's full name into his memory than he was talking to his caretaker." Oh yeah, Gar aim has the info related to our latest assignment but what's most important to know is this." The manifestation pauses, dramatically, for a single moment." We failed." Clyde To all:Sadly, not quite...an image of the man Clyde encountered enters everyone's mind, The creature ducked into an apartment and when I followed him in, this man was in his place, and acting quite suspicious. I followed him undetected to the rougher neighborhood before returning here. He should definitely be investigated, but there was something odd about the attacker, as though he is perhaps suffering under a curse of some sort that steals his will and forces him to commit atrocity. As the dragon fills everyone in on his short adventure, he fades back into visibility, lounging on top of the hearth, licking himself dry. Alcoransys seems to take this in stride." Well, I would advise being as helpful as warranted to the authorities; especially if this creature found a way to elude you, it may prove a danger - wait. What house was this man from?" "Hihihi... the Cannot..."replied Rebel with mirth,"a nice gift they got served."he watched for her reaction with almost bored nonchalance. "Oh, gods,"she groans." Anybody would have been better than that. No. Osasco would have been a nightmare; people getting all worried about people killing the medics. Harlan would blame Tyranny, and we'd have another shadow war on our hands. Medan and Thrash would go all vigilante on us. And I don't even want to think about Civil. But...and this is the important part...none of them would complain to my boss and make it my problem!" Somehow, she has a drink in her hand." Garam, I'm going to have a new assignment for you. The rest of you...well, go give your testimony tomorrow, while I pray Cannot doesn't annoy someone enough that they make this my job." Fran thinks for a moment and comes up with a quick question for his boss. Is there anything specific that you wish for us to say? What about anything we don't want to say? I'm asking for even the obvious things, we don't really want anything bad to occur. The ghost waits for her to finish what she says, knowing that he is still going to want that large mirror for practice. She rolls her eyes." Don't tell them who you work for. Don't tell them where you were coming from. But don't lie to them - the last thing I need is Cannot digging around because they're convinced we're involved in a conspiracy against them. Use common sense." With that, she leaves the band alone to (as appropriate) take their sleep or stare at the wall for eight hours. The next day dawns clear and peaceful; there is no mention of the murder in the papers, and no sightings of anything like the creature Clyde had followed. Given their employer's insistence they all appear the police station, it soon comes time when it would be reasonable for the group to leave, lest they upset King Borne's representative, if not the police.@PapersSpoiler Hide Some basic headlines and stories found in the papers this morning. Lysander Price Increases Spark Protests - A recent 5% rise in Lysander air and sea fares has caused much discontent among the people of Hovered. Saroyan Gifts Bring Together Throne, Overseas Nation - The Saroyan government has gifted Throne with crystalline barriers that are said to hold back the dread gray mist of the Mourn land, and keep out the monsters that lurk at its edge. Ruben Challenges Royal Expenses - Ruben IR'Clan, a legislator in the Relish Parliament, has been speaking out against the exorbitant expense of protecting the children of the Relish Crown, claiming that such drain on the government coffers simply exemplifies the waste of a monarchy. Grand Conference Fallout Heightens Tensions - Skirmishes throughout the Elder Reaches continue after the Green singers' attempt to bring together a conference of druid sects to discuss common goals simply heightened the deep splits between the quieter groups such as the Green singers and Wardens, and the more militants like the Gatekeepers, Ash bound, and Children of Winter. " Who here wants to pay our not-so-friendly friend from last night a visit?" Fraan pauses for a moment and notes a problem." We could also report back to our caretaker since there might be an assignment there." Spoiler Hide Yeah, i don't want us to die quite yet

Misfits Company (IC)|rating:4.0

Skinny Dip

It was getting warmer now, Summer was finally approaching. The days were sunnier, nights were warmer. Chloe was happy, it meant she could indulge in her favorite pastime again. Shy and somewhat reserved, people who knew her would be surprised to find out she regularly visited a beach near to her home and went skinny-dipping. Chloe loved the way it felt, the feel of the water as it lapped at her skin, the way the moon and stars looked so bright as she floated on the surface of the water. She could pretend she was the only one in the world. Tonight was no different. She'd driven to the beach, parked in her usual spot and left her shoes and the majority of her clothes in the car. Walking to the sand she dropped her towel, car keys and bikini soon landing on top of it. Without a moments' hesitation she ran into the water, laughing as she enjoyed the first cool caress to her skin.IOC: I'm not looking for anything abusive, nor am I looking to be raped. Perhaps caught by a nice guy. Who knows. let's see where it goes. I sat in my car filling out the daily reports. I enjoyed these last few days of spring when the weather was still unpredictable, and I didn't have much to do. Furthermore, I thought being a lifeguard would be exciting, like in Baywatch, but I spent the bulk of my summer retrieving beach balls and pool toys that floated too far away from children. Apparently losing a 50 cent piece of plastic justified an "emergency" in their mind. But I preferred them coming and telling me instead of trying to retrieve the toys themselves. After all their patronage gave me something to write on my reports so the parks department could see that the beach needed a lifeguard on duty at all times. I sighed in disbelief that this was the peak of my day. I hoped I could make a real rescue sometime soon so I wouldn't be a laughingstock anymore. Furthermore, I closed my notebook and clicked on the radio. Furthermore, I looked out the windshield at the moonlight bouncing off the ocean surface. It was a beautiful sight until I spotted the small jeep parked near the east entrance. I figured it was teenagers, sneaking down to the beach to drink a few beers and make out. I had done the same thing when I was younger, but it was my responsibility to chase away any trespassers, even if I was off of the clock. I walked down the hill towards the beach. It didn't appear that anyone was around. I clicked on my flashlight hoping to see no one, so I could be on my way. But my flashlight beam bounced off of a shiny object to my right. I sighed and walked towards what I assumed was a bottle cap. As I got closer I saw it was a set of car keys. Now I had to decide whether to leave them where they were and assume everything would be ok and I wouldn't get fired for not reporting this. Or I could take them with me, following protocol and hope the owner would surface at the lost found tomorrow or appear from the shadows, so I could issue a trespassing citation and be on my way. I adjusted the whistle around my neck, so I would be in full uniform and began to walk towards the water. Before I could take two steps I felt my back foot being pulled backwards, and I fell face first to the sand. Frantically I shined the light on my ankles, chuckling softly as I saw the bikini top wrapped around my ankles. I removed the top and threw it back on the beach towel." Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out but the only reply I received was the soft crashing of the waves against the beach. "Hello?" I repeated "Come out now, and I won't give you a ticket for being here after hours, I just want to go home, I've been here for 12 hours!" "Hello?" I waited for a few minutes before heading back up the beach. I knew someone was around, but I wasn't in the mood for confrontation, but I realized this was about as close as I was going to get to being a "hero" at this job. Even if no one saw me I could get the satisfaction of hiding and busting some young punks. I ducked behind the lifeguard tower and peered out. Soon I saw a shadowy figure emerge from the water, quickly looking side to side before approaching the beach towel. "A-ha!" I said jumping out from behind the tower and running towards the figure. "Look the beach is closed and-" I heard a scream which startled me causing me to drop my flashlight. I scrambled to grab it. "Stop right there!" I shouted at the silhouette. The flashlight caught her right in the eyes, and she froze like a deer in the headlights. Using one hand to shield her eyes and another to cover her breasts she turned her back to me. She inched closer to the beach towel." Don't move!" I shouted "I know that you're probably unarmed, but I can't take that chance. My name is Alton Groves, I'm the lifeguard at this beach. I'm just going to write you a ticket for trespassing then you can be on your way." I looked down and began writing the date on the ticket pad as I noticed her inching closer to the towel. "What did I just say? Don't move!" I said moving closer to her. Caught! Like a deer in the headlights I stood there, so surprised that I'd been caught I could barely breathe. I look up, trying to see who was behind the flashlight, but I found myself blinded. Was it really a lifeguard or was this someone's idea of a joke. Trying to get to my towel, shock and the night air making my wet body cold. Slowly moving closer to the towel, moving when the unknown man wasn't looking. His commands for me to remain still making me flush with embarrassment." I. I didn't realize I was trespassing. Furthermore, I. Furthermore, I did this all last Summer and no one stopped me. I'm sorry, if I could just get my towel..." I trailed off, realizing he was intent on writing the ticket and I wasn't going to be able to convince him not to. Who knew you could get a ticket for skinny-dipping! "Ok, look sorry that I startled you, but I'm just doing my job here. The heat is on me from the parks department anyway and if something happened, and you drowned out there then I could get in trouble. And I just realized this must be totally embarrassing to stand there and talk to me naked." I said with a chuckle "I'll turn my back, but you have to promise you won't run away." She nodded and moved towards her towel, with her back still to me. I turned back around after 30 seconds to see her tying the bikini top. She turned back around, and I outstretched my hand to give her the ticket. I pulled my hand back quickly saying "You know what? I was a kid once, well I still am, I'm only 25, but I did the same thing many times, so I'd be a huge hypocrite if I give you this ticket, the parks department can get their tax revenue from somewhere else." I said ripping the ticket into shreds. "But can I have your word that you won't be out here tomorrow making me miss sitcom reruns and a sodium filled TV dinner?" I said narrowing my eyes at her, doing my best to look like an authority figure. I breathe a sigh of relief, he's a gentleman at least. Quickly getting into my bikini, picking up my car keys - they'll make a good weapon if I need it, I think to myself. Turning to face him, my teeth chattering a little. I move towards my towel, picking it up, shaking of excess sand and wrapping it around my body. I stand there hopping from foot to foot, trying to get warm, feeling at a distinct disadvantage. Furthermore, I listen to the lifeguards' speech, arching an eyebrow. "I was a kid once as well, I never did this kind of thing. Don't you dare talk down to me because I'm only a YAR younger than you!" I glare angrily at him, wondering for a moment if it was a bad idea. He'd just ripped up the ticket, and he did turn his back, so I could change. But I can't help myself, that redhead personality, and fiery temper just took over. Hands on my hips, still glaring "And if I want to be here, I'll be here again. You can give me another ticket if you like. But I'll inform your superiors I was sexually harassed. How will they feel when they find out one of their employees left a helpless young woman naked on the beach!?" Her embarrassment turned to frustrated rage as she began threatening me. I rolled my eyes at her as I waited for her to finish her tantrum. "Ok, I tried to be nice, but if you want to play that way I can call my superior right now and have you arrested for disorderly conduct on top of your trespassing charge. Since you seem to be in challenging mood do you want to hit me so you can get the hat trick with an assault charge too?" I said defiantly as I started reaching for my radio. I noticed her flesh was still a lighter color than it should've been by then, obviously she was still cold. "Hey let's continue this discussion in the office." I said motioning towards the white building under the lifeguard tower. "There's a coffee pot in there so you can get warmed up before we decide what to do about your skinny-dipping incident. I would think you could trust me, even though we just met, but you were naked a few minutes ago, and I didn't touch you, so if I were you I'd do as I say and the sooner this night will be over with, and we can forget this whole thing." I turned and walked towards the office, glancing over my shoulder to see if she was following me. Furthermore, I feel my anger start to dissolve, embarrassment taking over. He has a point, he didn't touch me and now that the anger I was feeling has cleared I realize I was being slightly irrational. I nod and follow him, formulating an apology. Trying to find a way to apologize for my terrible behavior, and thank him for the coffee I'm about to drink."I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." I start to say to his back, following him meekly up the sand and into the tower. She appeared to be sincere with her apology as I unlocked the door and switched on the light. I put the coffee on and told her it would be a few minutes. I looked around the room looking for any conversation piece to break the awkward silence. Finally, I opened my desk drawer and began speaking, "Sorry if I came off like a jerk out there. And at the risk of sounding redundant or like I have an obsession for lecturing, take a look at this." I said pushing a file folder towards her." It's the accident reports from all the years since this beach opened. As you can see, there's been zero fatalities, and we want to keep it that way. Can you imagine the fallout if even one person got severely injured or killed here? We'd lose thousands in fees for volleyball competitions, fashion shows, and so on. So I hope you can understand why I was so anal about you being in the water unsupervised. I know skinny-dipping isn't a big deal, heck I'll admit there's nothing that compares to swimming naked, but if you really enjoy it, why not just go to a nude beach? I know you may think there's a lack of privacy there, but I've been there and believe me there's not as much as staring as you'd expect." Just then the red light lit up on the coffee maker. I poured her a styrofoam cup full of coffee and slid the aluminum lawn chair from behind the desk towards her. I grimaced at the scraping of the metal across the cement floor. Furthermore, I stand there as he turns on the light, makes coffee and sits a desk. Furthermore, I wonder if I should take a seat, but don't want to presume I'm entitled to and start another disagreement. It's been a long day, and my usually pleasant experience at the beach has turned slightly nightmarish. All I can think now is how much I'd like to get home, take a shower and get into bed. I nod as he speaks, listening to all he says. I realize it can't be all that interesting - just sitting waiting for a drowning that hasn't occurred. Looking at the folder I bite my lip. "I guess I didn't think about this from your point of view, I'm sorry." I feel myself start to shiver, wondering where the coffee is and when exactly he'll let me home. He continues to speak, recommending a nude beach, at that moment I wish the ground would open up and swallow me. I'm saved though, the light on the coffee machine turns on. I watch as he pours me a cup and offers me a seat. Ignoring the scrap of metal on the floor. Gratefully I sit down and cup my hands around the coffee, trying to get warm. I choose my words carefully, ignoring the blush spreading over my features. "I'll consider a nude beach, but It's very unlikely I'll actually go to one. I prefer to skinny-dip at night when no one can see me. I don't think the world is quite prepared for a body like mine." I grimace, looking to the floor. I'm 5'6, not too tall, but enough for my liking. My red hair falls in long waves down my back, though at the moment I must look like the head of a mop. Blue-green eyes that sparkle with enthusiasm or delight as I arrange and deliver the flowers that are my tool of trade. My body is curvy, some would say in all the right places. I would say in the wrong. Full breasts that get more comments than I'd like and hips too curvy. As I sit there shivering, feeling my nipples harden I pull the towel tighter around myself and pray he doesn't notice. Wishing there was more of it to cover me. The color returned slowly to her place, soon replaced by blushing. She seemed slightly ashamed of her body or if I was reading her wrong she was proud of it. Either way I could tell she didn't want to be the focal point in the room, but I knew I should say something to reassure her. "Oh come on, you're attractive, but you're right, the nude beaches are more for people like our parents age, so I can understand if you don't want strangers leering at you. By the way I didn't get your name, which is lucky for you because if I didn't fill a name in on the ticket it would be useless." I chuckled slightly as I noticed my eyes drifting towards her chest, but it was hard to avoid staring. After all she had just mentioned her body so it was a reflex to stare. The next few minutes inched by slowly, obviously she was waiting for me to decide what to do with her. I found myself babbling about my work, desperate for any human contact after a long day of sitting atop the lifeguard tower. I asked her what kind of car she drove, where she was from, if she was interested in any sports, and so on. Furthermore, I barely gave her time to answer between questions. "I'm sorry, I'm not much of a conversationalist I know, I hope I haven't bored you too much and that you'll be able to stay awake on the drive home. It's just been awhile since I've talked to someone here at the beach other than my boss or a seven-year-old. I'll forget about the ticket for tonight and if you want to come back you can. If I get fired, oh well, maybe I need a career change. But there's an orange grove about half mile west of here, you can park there and no one can see your car. There's a trail that leads down to the beach. So if you did want to come here and swim again you'd be walking behind me and I wouldn't know you were here. But that'sigh you wanted to come back." I said with a wink, hoping she would accept my deal. I smiled as he asked me question after question. Answering each as best I could, realizing after a short while he's probably as lonely as I am. I've always been kind-hearted, the kid that adopted every stray cat in the neighborhood and cared for it. Not that this man was a cat, far from it. The more I looked at him the more I began to realize he was actually good-looking. In any other situation I might have checked him out. I'd never have approached him, I've always been too shy."I'm Chloe, Chloe Lewis" I say with a smile, standing and offering my hand in a rather formal gesture. I gently squeeze his hand as he places his in mine, enjoying the warmth for a fleeting moment. "If you give me the ticket I'll understand. I'll also be sure to not swim here alone again. I'd hate to be responsible for you losing your job." I smile again, biting my lip as I sit down, "Uhh. If I was to check out that beach. But had someone with me." I blush a little, looking up from the floor and continuing "Say an off duty lifeguard, would that be better?" Nice to meet you "Chloe Lewis" I chuckled at my lame attempt at humor knowing that she didn't have two first names. I swallowed hard when she touched my hand, it'd had been awhile since I had dated, and I had allowed myself to become bitter and lonely partly by choice. My voice cracked a little as I began, "I won't..." I cleared my throat "I won't give you the ticket, it's not that big of a deal anyway. If you really want to go to private beach I talked about I can take you there, but I'm sure you probably want to get home to your boyfriend..." I said trailing off. What was I doing? She knew she had gotten out of the ticket so she wasn't flirting for freedom anymore. I had to force myself to believe that a girl might actually be interested in spending time with me." So anyway about that beach, it's kind of rough getting there from here, and you're not really dressed for it." I said gazing at her bare feet. "There's a bunch of broken beer bottles and rocks on the edge of the trail that's closest to us. So I hope you don't mind if I have to carry you part of the way. After all I've been training for carrying attractive young women in bathing suits." I said flexing my bicep and pointing to it. I laugh softly at the corny joke, smiling at him. "Yeah, I got teased a lot about being called Chloe!" I wink, sitting back against the chair. "It was Alton wasn't it? I kinda had trouble concentrating on what you were saying. I was a little shocked to be caught." Laughing again I shake my head. "If I had a boyfriend do you think he'd let me go skinny-dipping without him? If I was your girlfriend would you let me?" I arch an eyebrow, looking at him, wondering what the answer would be. I find myself blushing at the implication of my words. He probably has a girlfriend, not everyone is single like me. "Uhh. So yeah. That beach." I bite my lip, thinking it over, deciding whether I want to go to the beach, with this near stranger, AND have to be carried there. I watch him flex and take a deep breath in, feeling warmth flood my face and travel through my body. Surprised at the feeling I can't help but nod and smile brightly. "Well, I'll just have to force myself to be carried by a gorgeous lifeguard. it's a tough job. "Yes the name's Alton. Uh...well that's a puzzling question you ask. I'm single but from what I've learned from past relationships if I try to ask nicely and beg that my girlfriend not go to a bar or other dangerous place alone because I care about her and don't want to see her hurt or raped, then I'm a controlling jerk. And if I say it's ok for her to go then I'm a jerk that doesn't care. So it's a lose-lose situation. But I'm single so it doesn't concern me. And I'm rambling again, huh? So we better get to that beach before I talk your ear off. If you think you might be bored once we get there, I have the key to the lost and found we can "borrow" some pool toys if you want. I'll let you pick two things." I said content that she had laughed at my jokes and even seem impressed by my muscles. Once she had picked some pool toys we made our way out of the office and back to the beach. I locked the door behind us and pointed towards the trail. "It's up there. We can walk most of the way, I'll let you know when I need to carry you. But I could use the workout, so if want you can hop on my back now." I said crouching down offering my shoulders to her. I smile, picking up a beach ball and an old scuba mask. Walking back outside I take a moment to look at the moon and the stars, wondering how the night has changed so dramatically. Smiling brightly at Alton, watching him crouch down I hesitate, an internal battle going on. Should I get on his back? Am I too heavy? Think of where you'll be sitting. Your body so close to him. In intimate ways! A thousand arguments against it run through my head. In the end I give in, craving the contact of another human. Ahh. Who was I kidding. I wanted to know if his body was as warm as his hand was. What those muscles feel like against my skin, under my hands. I wanted more, and I felt myself blushing because of it. Images of our bodies entwined, writhing around together flooded through my mind like a movie. I found myself moaning softly, closing my eyes to calm myself. Feeling my heated skin in such contrast to the slightly cool breeze. My heart began pounding at the stunning twist the night had taken. This was the most action I had seen since I caught a young couple about to make love on the beach a few weeks ago. I lifted her up pushing with my legs. She wasn't heavy, but it was a fairly long walk and I didn't want to injure myself or her in the process. Her head nearly rested on my shoulder as I walked. It wasn't easy to carry the toys and her, so I stopped and slid the scuba mask over her face and pushed the beach ball between her legs. The rubber rubbed against my swim shorts causing them to slide down a little. I laughed embarrassed that my crack was starting to hang out. I stopped and slid her off of my back as I adjusted my shorts. "You know it would probably be smarter if we deflated this ball so we could carry it easier. We can blow it up again when we get to the beach you look like you're good at blowing things." I said. I realized I didn't finish that sentence and quickly tried to save it by saying "Up! Furthermore, I mean you're good at blowing things up, your lungs are strong because you really used them when you were screaming at me about sexual harassment and I think I'll just shut up now." I said lifting her back up. We walked in silence almost the rest of the way. I stopped at the edge of the tall grass and told her "Okay, this is where it gets tricky. If I carry you on my back it's going to be a little hard since you may affect my balance. If I put you down you'll probably cut your foot for sure. I know it sounds odd but the best way for us to go down...Oh, gee I just said "go down" didn't I? I swear I'm not trying to be a pervert, but it would be easier if you reversed your position and faced me with your arms wrapped around my neck and your legs wrapped around my waist. That way I can use my hands to balance our weight better. Or I can walk down first, and you can follow me so you don't step on anything. I'll let you decide while I catch my breath." I said dabbing the sweat away from my brow. Furthermore, I laugh as innuendo after innuendo flies from his lips. He seems embarrassed, I can't really be angry when It's so obviously not being done on purpose. Laughing softly to myself, I wrap Myles tighter around his waist, worried I'll fall backwards. It's been years since someone carried me this way and I'm almost positive the last time someone did I didn't want to kiss there neck or nibble on their shoulder as I'd like to do to Alton now. We stop at the tall grass and I listen to his spiel. Choosing my words carefully I reply "Well, uhh. What would you prefer. I can walk through the grass, there's only a slight possibility of glass. You're the one who'll. I mean you'll be the one carrying me. And well. Things. Yes." I babble. "It's your choice" I say after taking a deep breath and waiting for his decision. "Sorry I'm babbling so much, there's not a lot of glass there, it's kind of my responsibility to clean it up, but it's redundant but anyway I just figure if something happens to you here then you probably won't be back and though we just met I'm enjoying hanging out with you and hope we can hang out more soon." I stop suddenly realizing I knew nothing about the art of being subtle." Here" I said with moderate frustration as I lifted her beneath her knees and wrapped her around me. I hoped she would be pleased by my initiative. She turned her head to look behind her and guide me down the slope. She would tell me where to step on the rocks that were illuminated by the moonlight. I watched our shadows but soon was distracted by her hair blowing across her forehead. I used my right hand to brush it away causing her to turn and look at me. The quickness of the turn took me off guard and I lost my balance. With a thud I landed hard on my back as all the air was knocked from my body. I gasped a hollow grunt as her body landed on top of mine and her head banged off of my chest. I was disoriented for a moment and tried to ask her if she was ok but all that escaped my lips were wheezing whispers. "Alright then Alton, carry me as you like. And yes, I'll come hangout with you again." I smile as I feel him move me around his body, It's nice to have amass hands on my skin. His feel particularly nice. I guide him down the hill as best I can, giving instructions, telling him where the next rock is and where one wasn't. I'm glancing between the ground and the ocean ahead when my hair blows in my eyes, momentarily blinding me. Before I can brush it away Alton has, I feel warmth flood through me. But it soon disappears as I begin to fall and land with a thud on top of him.I'm momentarily seeing stars, the wind knocked out of me. I can hear him wheezing softly, I lean in closer, trying to understand what he's saying. I need to lose some weight I think to myself as I listen to him wheeze and think back to his earlier breathing problems. Both times because he was carrying me. I lean back, my body still half on his but not pressing against his chest. "Alton, are you okay? Honey? Say something?" I don't even realize the endearment has left my lips, I'm straddling his hips, hand son his chest trying to decide if he's okay. The towel I was wearing is on the grass and I'm sitting there in only my bikini. Finally, I was able to choke out "I'm...okay...are...you?" I said turning my head as I coughed violently. I could feel the slippery spandex of her bikini bottom pressed against my thigh. My shorts had ridden up a little and I quickly tugged them back down. I glanced around and saw her towel lying to my right. I struggled to reach it but couldn't. Furthermore, I was glad I couldn't because I didn't want to cover her up, but I thought I should be a gentleman and at least make the effort. Her skin began to get goosebumps almost immediately. She looked stunning in the bikini, but I knew the fabric had to be stretched to the limits to hold back her glorious breasts. It took awhile for it to sink in that she had called me "Honey", but I shook it off assuming it was just her nature to use terms of endearment. My mind searched for something clever to say, but I was fresh out of quips. For the first time all evening I was direct "Chloe," I began "I think I landed on a bottle." I said rolling slightly to the side to relieve the pressure of the blunt object lodged being my back. "Oh god, Alton. I'm sorry" I move slightly, letting him roll off it and to the side. I smile as he lies back down, my eyes caressing over his body. I feel my nipples harden, partly because of the cold but also in reaction to being so intimately entrained with his body. Furthermore, I blush but do nothing to hide the tight peaks not covered by the bikini."I'd make a joke about landing on a bottle too but I don't think you're all that . Uhh. Bottle like." I say with an embarrassed laugh, glancing down briefly at where we're joined by my straddling you. I wonder if I've said the wrong thing, biting my lip and looking at his chest. If I was listening to the voice in my head I'd be undoing my top and bottoms, pushing his away and riding him. But that was a ridiculous fantasy, one I'd never have the guts to play out and one he obviously wasn't interested in. I chuckled at her comment about the bottle. As she rolled off of me, I dug the bottle out from behind me and threw it over my shoulder. I heard it shatter on the rocks below. "That was stupid, we have to walk down there yet." I said sighing. I stood up and adjusted my shorts to make sure nothing was peeking out." Regardless of whatever happens the rest of the night, I've got to say you sure now how to have fun on a first date...if this counts as a date. But I saw you shifting your weight trying to pull me down." I said with a wink as I gave her a playful shove. I could see she was still chewing her lip nervously. "Um... Chloe? You like you've got something on your mind. Is something bothering you?" I asked brushing myself off. "I'm ok, don't worry, see? Not even a bruise." I said turning sideways towards her. I smiled, blushing. Do I tell him the truth or not? He's just called this a date. I could do something completely out of character and just say what I'm thinking. More or less proposition him. "Uhh. Truthfully? I'm resisting the urge to strip you and me naked and ride you" I blush again, turning my back and beginning to walk down the hill, too embarrassed to see his reaction. Her confession took me off guard. I narrowed my eyes at her and said "Ha ha very funny, ok you've had your fun. Pretty girl, nerdy lifeguard, you flirt and make me think I have a chance, get my hopes up, and I'll probably never see you again after tonight, right?" I asked bluntly. "If I said something like that you'd probably slap me and walk away. Well I'm not giving you the satisfaction of humiliating me, you tease." I said turning away from her and beginning to climb back up the hill. Chao turned, not quite believing her ears, watching his departing back. She should have listened to her gut instinct, there was no way he wanted that. She began to run up the hill. "But wait. I wasn't. I wasn't tricking." I gasp as I hit something sharp, realizing it's just a twig, it hasn't cut me but It's enough to remind me I could get hit." Alton, I meant it. I'm not pretty, and you're not a nerd and I can't help it if my hormones overtook my brain for a moment." She called up the hill, wondering if he'd stop and turn around. She carried on up, searching the grass in view, hoping to avoid glass. I turned back towards her. "I'd like to believe you, but I guess I'll need some proof. I didn't see anything when you were skinny-dipping, just a silhouette. But you're attractive and if you were serious I'd come back down that hill and join you on the towel in a heartbeat. But I don't like being teased and if this is some attempt at revenge for the ticket I threatened to give you then I'm not interested." I turned away from her again. My hormones felt the same as hers did, but I couldn't tell her that. I could feel my skin tightening as the cool breeze caressed my skin. It had been so long since I had gone skinny-dipping and felt the cool night air against my naked skin. I would love to feel it again with Chloe but didn't want to rush judgement. I couldn't believe it, he still didn't believe me. Furthermore, I could feel myself getting angry again. "Well, fine then. Tell me what you need as proof and I'll do it." I stand, hands on my hips glaring at his retreating back. "Shall I strip naked and start masturbating on the towel?" "Ok calm down, I can see you're serious. But I've had my share of cock teases and I just didn't want to waste both of our time. You don't have to masturbate to prove it." I said walking back down the hill. I retrieved the towel from the rocks and spread it out on a smooth area and laid down on it. "Now, let's rewind to a few minutes ago before I got you angry and let's pretend I didn't land on that bottle. I'm here on my back, vulnerable, can't move, what will you do to me?" I said covering my mouth with my hand, trying to appear innocent. " I'm surprised you can fit your hand over your mouth with your foot in it!" I say with a grin, moving over to you and straddling your hips once more. I lick my lips, feeling heat course through my veins and smile." Hmm. Now if I recall correctly, I was going to strip myself naked." I pause, undoing my top and putting it to the side, I undo the side ties of my bikini and put it to the side as well. "Then I was going to get you naked" I wink, pushing my hand in between us and pushing your trunks down. Your cock pops free, and I smile, wrapping my hand around the hard length. "Then I was going to fuck it?" I whisper huskily, feeling butterflies dance in my stomach. I ignore them though and lift myself up, sliding down onto your shaft. I moan as you fill my tight tunnel, gasping as I finally come to rest on top of you. My hands come to rest on you chest and I whisper "Now is the fun part" and begin to slowly ride you. I gasped with amazement as she slid off my shorts. If I knew she would do what I suggested I would've asked for more, I thought to myself, but my thoughts were interrupted by the warm of her flesh pressing against mine. I moaned as I entered her, I could feel myself growing erect inside of her. I rested my hands on her ass which was very cold in contrast to her hot wet pussy. Furthermore, I began to thrust against her, but her hips pushed me back down, letting me know she was in charge. Her breasts swayed side to side in a slow hypnotic rhythm. I strained my neck to try and put her glorious breasts in my mouth, but they were out of reach. All I could manage to moan was "Oh Chao..." I moaned as I continued to ride him. It was nice to have him inside of me, he felt so amazing, and we fit together well. I rocked against him, back and forth, enjoying the way he moaned and moved against me. It was obvious he wanted more, so I least forward, my hands resting on the grass either side of his head and offered him my nipples, rubbing them over his lips. Chloe arched her back allowing me access to her firm nipples. I suckled on them softly feeling her get slightly wetter around my cock. In between sucking on her right and left nipple I managed to ask "What about protection? I don't want to ruin the moment but...oh the hell with it." I said noticing her eyes weren't focused on me but instead closed lost in passion. She was in total control, and soon I felt her body warming all over. The blue-white light of the moon made her ivory skin even whiter. I could no longer see any of my cock, it was lost inside her in full penetration. With each deeper rocking of her hips I swore soon she'd have my balls inside of her too. I remain atop him, his cock buried deep inside me. I'm lost in the pleasure, intent on fucking him and fucking him well. I feel his balls press against my ass because I'm so deeply implied by him. It's good, so good I'm moaning loudly, uncaring of who can hear me. I vaguely hear him speak, not really hearing what's said. ".protection. Ruin the moment... hell..." I wonder for a moment if he's referring to this but as I look down at him again the expression on his face clearly shows he's enjoying it as much as I am.It's time to make him cum though, I want to feel it. I begin to rock more firmly, lifting myself up and almost off him then sliding back down. I clench my sex around him, making an already tight tunnel tighter and slide my hands up his chest to tease his nipples. "Cum Alton. I want to feel it." I did a double take when she told me she wanted to feel it. Usually the girl would be telling me to not get it in her hair by now, but this wasn't the case with Chloe. The slick suction our skin made was drowned out by her moans. I felt one hot rush around my cock followed by a large gush. I had made her cum! Amazing! But I didn't have time to enjoy it as my own needs were demanding to be taken care of. She slid back down my length and I wrapped my arms around her waist to keep her down. I began thrusting upward, and she met my thrusts with her own. "Here it...comes" I said holding in her place as I pounded her pussy. I thrust one last deep thrust as she leaned back which allowed the pressure of her weight to press on my balls and make me cum. My cock shifted inside of her pussy into a tight fleshy angle. In a burst I shot my seed inside of her. I felt it dribble out of my cock head and soon her slick pussy was coated in my thick cum. The feeling of fucking through the cum lubrication was amazing and keeping me hard. Her hands continued to rub my chest as I pulled her head onto my chest so she could hear my heartbeat. I continued to pump her slowly as I caught my breath. I gasped as I felt him cum, still reeling from my own orgasm. Furthermore, I rode him hard throughout his, the best I could with how tightly he was pressing me down. Furthermore, I didn't care, it felt good to be filled again. I grinned as I rested my head on his chest, lightly kissing over his skin. "Hmm, Alton, you sure know how to fuck a girl!" I say with a smile, looking up into his eyes. "Can we do it again?" "Again?" I ask, shocked. "Technically if I don't stop thrusting now, then this is all counts as one sex session." I say giving her ass a soft slap. I loved the vibration it sent through her flesh." Sure we can do it again, I don't want this night to end anytime soon. But I threw out a lot of my energy at the end when I came, so I hope you don't mind getting it started this time while I recharge my stamina. I don't know what all you like and what you have in mind, but we're pretty close to the beach if you want to fuck in the ocean later. Just a thought." I said brushing the hair from her face and giving an Eskimo kiss. She put her head back on my chest again still releasing soft whimpers of pleasure. I grin as I straighten up, riding him once again. "And they say lifeguards are fit?" I shake my head in mock disgust. "No stamina in you Alton, I've got to do all the work!" I begin to ride him again, enjoying the added lubrication and how easily I can slip up and down him." The ocean would be brilliant!" I say with a smile, leaning down and nibbling one of his nipples. "We'd be fulfilling a long held fantasy!" "Oh I've got plenty of stamina but why waste all my energy when you're riding me?" I say with a wink. "You are amazing Chloe, and it's always been a fantasy of mine to do it in the water too. During my training I was practicing swimming to the shore with a girl lifeguard, and I was behind her and..." I gazed at her eyes starting to roll, "well let's just say I had a throbbing hard on. Since my flotation device is back at the office you'll just have to float on your back or your chest since you've got built in flotation devices." I said squeezing her massive tits. "Just teasing of course, you can use the beach ball to hold onto. But oh if you're on your back and start thrashing your legs like you're swimming it'll give me double the friction. I can't wait let's get to the water." I said standing up, her legs still wrapped around me. Our genitals were so slick with juices that she nearly slid off of me as we approached the water. I dumped her in about 3 feet of water. A few bubbles of cum washed out of her pussy and off of my cock and floated to the surface. They were quickly washed away. She slid the scuba mask and dived under the surface of the shallow water. I began narrating in a horrible Australian accent a la Steve Irwin. "What do we have here mate? It looks like the rare sucker shark, if I remain very still this little bugger may swim up and suck me cock right here. It's one of her natural defenses to suck dick to avoid $30 trespassing tickets" I felt the rubber nose of the scuba mask bump my thigh and I shook, a reaction of passion mixed with the cold water. "Crikey" I moaned. I grin as I vaguely hear his babbling, It's hard to understand the majority of it, the water drowning out a lot of what's said. I hock my hands around the backs of Alton's thighs, needing something to grip onto as the waves moved back and forth over my body. Going up briefly for air I get back under the water and begin to suck his cock. I take him into my mouth, letting my teeth gently grate along the length of him. If he wants a shark, he can have one. I continue to tease him, coming up for air as I need to then sucking his cock into my mouth, my head moving up and down as I occasionally tease him with my teeth. I feel he's hard and throbbing and as I resurface the next time I stay up, throwing the scuba mask to the side." How about you turner that sucker shark into a fucker shark?" I grin, winking at him as I stand in front of him. I felt her tone touch my cock tip under the water. The current of the ocean amplified the movement of her mouth as she took me inside her mouth. Her teeth slid along my cock making me moan and buckle at the knees. I struggled to maintain my balance, my feet slipping on the soft soil below. I pulled her closer to me by the back of head until she was deep throating me and the rubber nose of the scuba mask banged off of my pubic bone. Furthermore, I watched tiny bubbles float to the surface and realized she needed air. She threw the scuba mask to the side and began floating on her back. I had trouble penetrating as she couldn't stay still. I flipped her over and made her hold onto the beach ball. Her rump bobbed like a buoy. I licked my lips and began swimming away from her. She turned to see me swimming towards at her nearly full speed. With huge splash I entered her wet pussy. She gasped, and the ball floated away from her. I caught her before she went under the surface again and began holding her as I fucked her. Gripping the ball tightly Chloe couldn't do anything but lie there in anticipation. She could hear splashing, sensing Alton had move away from her. Then suddenly he was inside her, all the way in an instant. She gasped loudly, shock making her unclasp the ball. But he grabbed her hips and began fucking her, hard. It felt so good, the water cold lapping at her body and the feeling of his arousal buried inside her. As he thrust in and out the water teased at Chloe's pussy, then she was filled with his warmth once more. The contrast was electrifying, her already sensitive body was going haywire. Then it dawned on Chloe, she was in a public place. They could be caught. Or even arrested. She knew it should have been a turn-off, but it wasn't. She moaned even louder, realizing how naughty, how much of a slut she was being. Furthermore, she was fucking a guy in public, one she'd only met a few hours ago. It felt so good, so damn good. The saltwater surrounded us where our flesh meet. The graininess of the shallow water provided extra friction against her smooth slippery pussy. The surface tension of the water was starting to be too much, and she began slipping under the water. Part of me wanted to keep her there so she would thrash in fear and make my orgasm as well as hers more intense. But I knew scaring a girl who was by far the best lay of my life wasn't a good idea. Her moans were growing louder, but I couldn't support her weight in this position anymore. I pulled her closer, allowing her to put her arms around my neck. Her legs wrapped around me, her heels digging into my back as she bucked her hips begging me to continue. "Just a minute." I said breathless. I wanted to continue, but I also wanted to just tumble onto the beach with her and hold her like this until we fell asleep. Furthermore, I hoped this was more than a one-night stand but if it wasn't, I was happy. Furthermore, I stopped thinking deeply and got lost once again at the moment. Furthermore, I kissed the valley between her breasts, noticing the water beading on her breasts. Furthermore, I kissed her mouth deeply, tugging at her bottom lip. I continued to hold her like this, neither of us in control. Furthermore, I wondered who would be the first to break our sexual stalemate. Finally, I submitted and began giving her soft thrusts as our pubic bones pressed together. I had no idea it was humanly possible for two people to be as physically close as we were now. Chloe's purrs softly in Alton sear, feeling him carrying them both to shore. She loves the way his body feels against there's and is glad he's decided to go to the sand. It was becoming harder and harder to keep herself afloat. She lies there with him, enjoying his caresses, kissing and nibbling his shoulders and neck in return. Softly sighing, murmuring encouraging words as they slowly begin to move against each other again. She locks her legs around him and thinks she'll invite him home with her when they finish here. If they ever do. She sort of likes the primitiveness, being naked, clothed only in moon light."Alton. Hmm. Baby" She murmurs against his neck, her lips teasing over his shoulders and up and down the column of his neck as she feels her orgasm begin, about to lose control, she tries to hang on. I tapped my watch's light. "1:48" I couldn't believe we'd been going at it for hours already and my stamina was exceeding my own expectation's. Between a kiss I said "Chloe, baby, the beach opens in a few hours and the way I feel now we might still be here until sunrise." Her eyes revealed her satisfaction at my comment. Her head rested on my shoulder as a feeling of extreme warmth consumed where our flesh met. Our bodies had become one so it was hard to tell whose orgasm it was. Her motions revealed it was hers. I wanted to cum quickly because I had heard there was no other feeling like orgasming together. But it wasn't meant to be...at least not yet. I held her close as she climaxed, her pussy contracting around my cock. I pushed her head onto my shoulder to comfort her as she came down from the endorphin high. Furthermore, I whispered in her ear "Chloe I love you." I was taken aback by my own words. How could I say that? I had just met her. But I didn't know what love was, only what the idea of it was in my mind. And this was it, passionate, romantic, downright lewd and dirty sex, combined with a personality. I quickly resumed thrusting knowing I better enjoy every moment of this before she pulls away and runs to her car, horrified that I had uttered three simple words that could ruin the whole evening. I nod as I look up at Alton, hearing him mention the time, finding myself pleased that he didn't want this to end either. Furthermore, I must have breathed a sigh of relief because as I looked up at him, he seemed to be watching me carefully. I nuzzle into his neck, brushing my lips there as I gasp for air. The orgasm was so intense, it felt so good. I was trying so hard not to give into it too soon, not wanting to have this be over. Ireallywanted to feel what it would be like for us to do it together. To orgasm together, to feel that connection. Then I hear him murmur something, its sounds like "Chloe, I love you" but it couldn't have been, could it. We've only just met, not in the best circumstances either. As I felt him continue to thrust into me, I felt warmth flooding over my body, I held him tightly, moving against him and whispering "I think I love you too Alton. So quickly though." I murmur, my thoughts a jumble of emotion and lust. "Chloe" I said looking into her eyes, "let's try to cum together. You let me know when you're close, and I can cum quickly, I just need you to put some pressure on my balls, and it'll happen almost instantly." I didn't know much about the female body, none of the girls I dated before had orgasms with me, but I knew multiple orgasms were very possible for women under the right circumstances. This felt like one of those right times. She was still coming down from her climax as I cradled her and stroked her hair. Her back was ice-cold but other parts of her were flooded with warm. Her orgasm let her very sensitive to the touch and with each gentle thrust she would squeal, making me wonder if I was hurting her or making it hurt so good. Her toes danced across my buttocks and lower back as her feet crossed at the ankles. The soft pricks of 10 cold toes heightened my sexual sensitivity as well. I continued to hold her, waiting for her to resume a pace so that we could try to explode in a loving burst together. Consequences began to dance in my mind such as, what if I got her pregnant because of this night? My anxieties were silenced when she told me that she thought she loved me too. I knew I had probably taken her off guard, but I didn't know what else to say. I wanted to be a gentleman and romantic and not call her a dirty whore and tell her she sucked cock like a pro. And though the lewdness of the act of sex in the ocean at the risk of being caught weighed on my mind, the thoughts of how romantic this night was far outweighed any rationale I tried to conjure up about how wrong this was. This wasn't wrong at all. I began vocalizing my thoughts "Chloe, baby, this feels so right. If it was anyone else I busted for skinny-dipping I'm sure we wouldn't be here now. I was drawn to you instantly and you to me...obviously." I said looking down at our interlocking flash. "I don't mean to be weird, but I think this was fate." I searched my mind for something else to say but decided that conversation between orgasms wasn't a good idea. Smiling up at him as he spoke I laughed softly and nodded. "I know Alton, it's okay, you don't have to justify this, you don't have to explain. We're lucky we found each other, and we're lucky this is so good." I continued to move against him, tightening then releasing my inner muscles as I moved against him. I could feel another orgasm start, just a small tingle, that would soon grow. Furthermore, I moved against him faster, fingernails gently scratching up and down his back as I whispered. "Soon Alton, soon baby." One hand slid down his back and caressed his ass. I moved it down further, teasing my fingertips over his balls, preparing to tease him as I felt things building inside me. I gently squeezed his balls, whispering "God Alton, too much. I'm gonna cummed. " Teasing and caressing his balls as my orgasm rippled through me. Her fingernails dragging across my skin made the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My knees almost buckled, but I quickly shifted our weight to prevent from falling. Chloe's hand pressed down as I felt her warmth surround me. My cum splashed against her tightening vaginal walls and for a moment our bodies were linked and separated at the same time. Soon our fluids joined in a wave of extreme body heat. Normally when I would cum I would grab the headboard or bedsheets but since I didn't have that option now I began splashing wildly at the water on both sides of me. Her hand continued to squeeze as I could feel my cock head opening and my muscles contracting but no more cum was coming out. My loins went numb as exhaustion overwhelmed my body. I supported her with my hands on her ass cheeks. I began probing her tight anus with my fingers, knowing it was the only one of her holes that I hadn't experienced yet. Chloe smiled up at Alton as they lay on the sand, in the shallow water. It crashed back and forth over them as they lay there. I was in heaven and was exhausted, feeling warmth flood through my body from the inside out." No Alton" I murmur, looking up into his eyes. "I can't take anymore. We need a shower. A bed. To call in sick to work." I laugh softly, smiling as I stroked my fingers through his hair. Watching the moonlight dance over his skin, bathing it in a pale glow. I lay atop of Chloe as I kissed her and said "You were...no correction you are amazing." I smiled. Furthermore, I began coughing as I choked out "You know... I think you might be right, I'm feeling a little under the weather. Furthermore, I think I should stay in bed all day." I said pulling her hand out of hair and squeezing it softly. I pulled out of her and pulled her to her feet. My cock head was red from the abrasive sex. It throbbed gently missing the warm comfort of Chloe's vagina. "Shh, easy there boy, you'll get to visit her safe warmth again soon...right?" I asked rubbing my cock head as I looked at Chloe." So...your place or mine? I don't want to try to and sway you one way or the other, but my apartment building has a jacuzzi, just in case you haven't got your land legs yet. Let me know when you're ready, and I'll carry you back up the shore." I laugh softly as I listen to his coughing. "Oh you poor baby, I'll have to stay by your side all day and care for you." I wink kissing his shoulder and looking into his eyes. He pulls me to my feet, talking to his cock. I glance at it and laugh. "Oh I promise OT give it some TLC when we get to somewhere a little less sandlike." I smile and move around behind him. "I'm ready to go when you are. A jacuzzi sounds great, and I haven't figured out if you're a stalker or not so we're not going to my place." I tease him, spank his ass lightly as I wait for him to get ready to pull me onto his back. I bent over and let her slide onto my back. "I should warn you, if you're going to nurse me back to health," I forced another fake cough "then you should know I stay in bed all day and will keep asking for things so it's probably a good idea if you just stay in bed with all day." I felt her naked skin against mine and couldn't believe how right it felt. "Chloe, what if we get back up the hill and find out someone has stolen our clothes?" I said stopping to catch my breath, "Of course I hope no one saw us, but if they did, they got one heck of a show. I'm proud of you." I said glancing down at my cock. "I just think something like that is bound to happen since this night has been far too perfect so far." I stopped myself there not wanting to let my paranoia ruin the night." So tell me what does the Casey de Chloe feature? I have a jacuzzi at my place, so what's the big attraction to your place? I assure you I'm not a stalker, I'm not sure where you see things going after tonight, but I promise if you want me to call you tomorrow, I will. Furthermore, I'm not one of those guys that gets some, and then you never hear from again. But unfortunately a lifeguard salary doesn't allow for many romantic getaways and gifts, but I guess I'm getting ahead of myself." I said lowering her onto the ground. I snatched her bikini top before she could and put it on. She looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Sorry but I can't allow you to cage up those magnificent beasts. Let them roam free in the night air, at least until we get to the car." I said sticking my bottom lip out, hoping she would take pity on my pouting. Slipping onto Alton's back I sigh and slip my arms around his neck, sighing loudly. "I suppose I'll force myself to stay in bed with you!" I grin and kiss the back of his neck. "Though if I catch your illness you'll have to stay in bed and nurse me." I cough softly, nibbling your earlobe. Still doing this as we walk up the hill and your paranoia shows. "Do you evernotworry baby? If someone saw us, they enjoyed the show. If our clothes aren't there, we'll go to lost and found. I only need a shirt, and you only need shorts to be decent. Its no big deal!"" Casa de Chloe isn't much more than a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. I don't earn much more than you, I'd expect." I kiss along your shoulders and smile brightly, its never left my face. "I don't need romantic gestures or getaways, write me a poem or letter, pick my some wildflowers, write my name in the sand. Prepare a picnic lunch"I look up at Alton as he lowers me to the ground, pulling on my bikini bottoms, laughing as I hear his explanation as to why I don't get my top. I nod "Alright Alton, but if my nipples freeze off you're in trouble!" I wink and begin walking towards the beach. "If your nipples freeze, I'll just have to nurse them back to health." I said puckering my lips. "That was smooth, huh?" I asked, laughing at my own joke." I know it seems like I worry a lot, but I don't have the best luck with women, so I feel like as soon as we get up the beach a camera crew and all my guy friends are going to jump out and yell "Surprise!". Although if this was a hidden camera show I doubt we'd have screwed twice, unless this is the best darned reality show ever!" I boomed loudly. "But honestly I just worry that I'll wake up soon, and I'll be asleep in my car and this was all a dream. So I know this an odd request but when we get to your house, can you give me something to let me know this night wasn't just a dream?" Realizing the oddness of my request I decided to do something nice for her. I grabbed a bottle from the pile and knelt down writing "Chloe" in the sand. The waves were getting larger and crashing onto the beach. Soon they washed her name away. Deciding to try and impress her even more. I stood and said "I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away, so I wrote your name on my heart and there it shall stay." I paused and spoke "If I could find some wildflowers I'd try to go 3 for 3. Furthermore, I know it seems like I'm trying too hard, but I want to earn my spot in your bed." My tone was now less nervous, full of pride. Allonblack said: "If your nipples freeze, I'll just have to nurse them back to health." I said puckering my lips. "That was smooth, huh?" I asked, laughing at my own joke. I laugh at Alton. "So smooth, but I was kinda going for that answer when I said it!" I wink and laugh, leaning in to kiss his puckered lips. "If there's a camera crew up there with your friends it has nothing to do with me, I swear. I'd think your friends would probably have only paid for the hooker to screw you once, since it'd probably be more for another time. And she probably wouldn't have let you cum inside her Alton." I smile, taking his hand and carrying on walking with him. "And we're going to your place, you silly. I want to try out the jacuzzi! And I can give you something better than a moment, I'll give you dinner tomorrow night, then the one after that, then the next." I smile, hoping you get what I mean. I watch him write my name in the sand and smile, folding my arms over my chest, starting to feel the cold. Blushing slightly as he speaks, I smile and wrap my arms around his neck. Kissing along his jaw then whispering into his lips "There's nothing to earn. Just be you, please." Click to expand... "Yeah, you're right a hooker wouldn't let me have a round two. And this isn't worrying this is just general conversation, but I did cum in you...twice, so what if you happen to get pregnant because of that? I'm just curious what your plan would be. I hope you're not pregnant of course, just trying to get know you better." When she said I don't have to be anything but myself I said "Oh, thank god" and scratched my ass and forced a belch. She rolled her eyes, but I quickly told her I was just kidding. I could feel her coldness as she pressed against me. "I bet you want this back, huh?" I said untying the bikini top and handing it to her. "It's not far to my place and the jacuzzi is enclosed in a small building in the back of the apartment complex. The door even locks, one of the perks of living in a primarily bachelor filled building. But honestly I've never seen anyone use it, so it's clean and warm." We finally made it up the beach to my car. "So, I bet you don't want to leave your car here overnight, so I'll drive, and you can follow me." I opened the passenger door and let her get in. I drove her to her car and waited until she was in and her car started. As I drove my heart thudded in my chest. The night had been a blur in that time had flown by, it was now only about an hour before sunrise. I knew watching the sun rise from the jacuzzi would be an amazing sight. I stopped at a red light and saw her pull in closely behind me. Furthermore, I could see her reflection in my rearview mirror. She blew me a kiss as she smiled and waved. Soon we arrived at my building and I led her into the back of the building to the jacuzzi. I flipped on the lights and the jacuzzi pump. It hummed softly as we stood there face to face. This was the first clear view I had of Chloe. She was gorgeous, even though it was 4 a.m. and she was exhausted from a long day and even longer night." The jacuzzi should be warmed up soon. But it's already getting hotter in here." I said kissing her forehead, then cheek, then lips. "Pregnant" I swallow hard as I look up at him, trying not to let the momentary panic I feel come to the surface. "Oh I won't be, it's the wrong time of my cycle!" I smile and laugh as he belches. "I'm so lucky to be going home with you. Next you'll Dutch oven me!" I put my top on, murmuring my thanks as we continue walking. I listen to his description of the jacuzzi and smile. Wondering if he's going to try anything while we're in it and how many other men may have tried something similar. Once I'm in my own car, after Alton politely drove me to mine and is driving so carefully for me to follow, I turn up the heat on high. I'm cold and need to get warm. We're soon at his place and he's taking me to the jacuzzi. I'll finally get to see him properly, and he me. I want to brush my hair or put on some makeup. Furthermore, I must look awful, especially since I'm so tired. But he's smiling at me and kissing me, so I can't be too bad. I wrap my arms around his waist and nuzzle his neck, only letting go when the jacuzzi was warm enough. I quickly get in and sigh, relaxing against the edge as I close my eyes and almost fall asleep. It's so nice to be warm and in the water, there's something comforting about Alton's presence too. We slid into the hot TOB together. I put my arms around her, letting her head rest on my shoulder. The jets massaged my aching muscles. I knew I would be sore in the morning. "So..." I said kissing her softly, watching her big bright eyes staring up at me "tell me about Chloe...uh...what's your last name? What do you do for a living? Where are you from? Whatever you want to tell I'll be glad to listen. I know you're probably exhausted, but I don't want this night to end and as long as we keep talking until sunrise, technically it won't end." I said watching a few stray beams of orange sunlight peeking through a gray cloud in the distance. "After the sun comes up we can go to bed, I assume you're staying with me? I might even make you break...well more like dinner in bed."

Skinny Dip|rating:4.0

Quest for the ShadowGate (Characters)

Characters go here. In example, your resident bard:(Information:Please answer as your character unless otherwise indicated. I am called, Rain by most, Little One by the plagues of my life. I am approximately 27 years old. I would identify myself Ashman, what else? I earn my keep by singing for my supper, sometimes literally. Furthermore, I am Court Bard to the Duke of Mist Haven, wretched man that he is. I consider myself to be female, isn't it obvious? Appearance:Others think I look perhaps 20 or so, at least that's what people who don't know me say. My hair is unnaturally red, long and thick enough to act as clothes if I drape it just so. Maybe I should cut it... My eyes are large, the color of cherry amber, and a bone of contention among my critics. As if I needed another reason to be considered demon kin by some. Height and Weight:4'11" and 73lbsIf I were describing myself in a story I would say... I am small, there is no getting around it. I look as if a strong wind could blow me over, and when I was young, they did. Furthermore, I have no tattoos, or other such adornment, though I have seen some that have made me consider going through the pain. Furthermore, I wear clothing of several fashions, depending on my location and what I am about. When traveling you will often find me in sturdy cotton, or leather in rich earthy tones. When I am on stage I wear dazzling colors that draw the eye, and fashions that flow with my movements. At court, you will often find me dressed in the highest fashions, in dark mourning colors whenever I can get away with it. The one unifying theme to all of my clothing is that it will always fully cover my back and shoulders, though my front may be exposed to with an inch of indecent when I am onstage. I'm very self-conscious of my back, and the scars that it bears. Elsewhere, my skin in pale and smooth. No matter the amount of sun that I take, I only ever acquire the lightest of tans. Personality:I behave as IFI have no clue of my age. I can be flighty, at times, and curious beyond what is good for me. Despite this, I can also be very serious, and have seen many nasty things leaving me with scars beyond those common of my years. I don't always hide them well. My favorite things are animals and children, and I am extremely curious about new, or novel things. I love kind people, and above all I adore music, and dancing. The things that I can't stand are bullies, or those that use their power to destroy others. I do not like being stuck in the Duke's court, and I'm not overly comfortable with strange women as they are often far from kind to me. I do not know why. Nothing scares me like being alone. I have never been truly alone, not since I was very small. When it comes to interacting with others I:am often the one to initiate the conversation. I enjoy people in general, and the new ideas that they can give me to ponder. I am always looking for new stories to tell, and where better to look than those around me that deserve for their tale to be told. I believe that:if you love someone, you will do everything that you can to see them well, and happy. If you believe that something is right or true, you will not stop until you have done all that you can to see it come to pass. That affection should be shown, in some form, to all that are open to receiving it, regardless of what others think, or feel about you doing so. Most of all I believe in seeking answers, where others see only questions. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Rain carries a well-made rapier, but wears no armor or protective gear. I never leave home without:A flute, the first instrument Morris ever gave me, and locket. A gift from Daemon when I was young, before he showed me what he was truly capable of. When it comes to money I'm:never in a position to be concerned. I always have coin in my pouch, and my voice could always put more there even if I wasn't so "pampered" by the Duke. Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:cry, but do all I can to hold my ground anyway. I do not scream. The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:To gain back the one person in the world who ever loved me for all that I was, good and bad. Failing that, to rid the world of the pox that stole him from me. I'm lonely when:I am surrounded by others that don't care to know me, and when I can not begin to understand those around me. It hurts when:Others hurt. When I realize how stupidly naive I have been, and begin to question my own motives and beliefs. The things you need to know about my past are:I have no family. I was an orphan until Morris took me in. I lived with him for several years learning all that I could, it made him happy, and I liked to please him. Then he disappeared, I never saw him again. I did some stupid things when I could not find him, out of fear and desperation, out of pain. Then I met the Duke, and I learned that he had destroyed Morris. He took me into my court for my voice and looks, and out of a wish to have me in his bed. I refused, and I was beaten for the sin of refusing to become his wife. I was a little rude about it... Still he wanted to have me, and so I have remained in his court, hoping that I could find, and restore that which he had destroyed if I just tried hard enough. Every year I lose more and more of my freedom as he attempts to subvert me into in marriage bed, but I have no wish to be a Duchess. I wish to go to the Shadow because:I would destroy the Duke, and regain that which he has stolen from me. Basic Information:(am called, Dagra Girondist AMA young gal of 52. I would identify myself as(says dwarf in case you can't read proper dwarves rune script. Question answered?) I earn my keep smiting. I consider myself to began. Appearance:Others think I look Grown up and ready to work in the smithy. My hair Jeremy eyes areblueSteel-blue Height and Weight:4'0, 128 lbs If I were describing myself in a story I would say... Oy, can't you look who's standing right in front of you? I'm a gracious dwarfed gal, preferring to wear simple earthen and stone colored robes befitting my profession, leather for the smithy, like to braid me hair a little it both looks good and won't get in the way. I'm pleasantly sturdy, and I once had someone call my skin fair. Made sure to teach 'em some respect. Personality:I behave as if Why wouldn't I act me proper age? My favorite things areEarthcraft, smiting, Mineral collecting. The things that I can't stand are Bullies. Also, kinda dislike people misunderstanding me culture. Besides, druids. How do they work? Nothing scares me like Again, fucked druids. I mean, ok, I get it you're really into plants, but. Geesh. Giants? Aim for the knees. Dragons? Aim for the eyes. Druids? I don't know buddy. They do magic all wrong and claim it's 'natural' Nothing natural about turning into a beast or summoning plants out of nowhere. When it comes to interacting with others I:Am down to earth. You don't ask silly questions about where me beard is or try any nonsense, I'm sure we can get along. I am on the surface to learn, after all. I believe that:We should respect our elders and traditions, but make up our own mind about the world around us. People are all about the fight of good against evil, but I believe a healthy dose of balance is what's needed to keep things well sorted. Sure too many nasty folks is obvious, but too many nice people can stop people from doing things themself, no good either. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Agra uses a one-handed battleaxe to keep at least one hand free for her spells. At the same time, -not- having an axe would make her feel vulnerable, even if she has, in theory, little use for it. She also carries and, in theory, could use a smiths hammer as weapon, though the idea is abhorrent to her. Her robes are simple cloth, though still sturdy by comparison. I never leave home without:Me pants! HAH! Just kidding. I rocks. No, I'm serious. I won't bother y'all with the details, but I carry a few rocks, just for a worst case scenario. Also, a few gemstones and smiting implements. When it comes to money I'm:moderate. Certainly not rich, got enough to buy some supplies and raw materials to work with. Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:Rock slam go! Few things can't be fixed by an avalanche! The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:Who wrote this, an elf? If I'm not telling anyone, not telling you either! I'm lonely when:This may sound weird, but I don't like being 'off-ground' for long. For practical reasons alone. It hurts when:You call me shortie or something. That'll hurt. Not me, mind you. But it'll hurt alright. The things you need to know about my past are:Alight, I guess you want to know what I'm bringing to the table, I can respect that. See, I'm what y'all call a specialist. You know, forsake all other kinds of spell casting to get perfect at one thing? I control -minerals-. I swear, it's so annoying when people think I control 'the earth' or worse, 'dirt' I can move the earth about a bit, but that's not my specialty. No, I control PROPER earth. That's solid earth, all kinds of rocks. Not even worked metals either, no, can't turn my enemies swords against them or anything, or to be precise. Can't mess with another smiths workings. It's how my magic does, it's respectful. Sounds boring you say? Well yeah, I ain't doing any fancy-glittery stuff any time soon, but when an angry giant charges at you, those types will gait-glitter away, and I'll hit the giant with a part of the nearest mountain while raising a wall of stone for 'em to run into. Ask yourself who you want by your side, aye? Before you ask, no, I can't quite lift an entire mountain with my magic. Well, depends on the mountains size actually, I could try... but anyway, still working on that. I'm not boasting when I say I'm quite talented. More talented than some of my people would accept, but I'd rather forget that nonsense, thanks. I'll let my deeds do the talking. See below. Oh! Also, being a professional smith and of course, a dwarf, I'm tougher than your average wussy mage. Sure, I won't out-fence anything, but I can hold myself on the frontline. More than that if there's some good rock around to use. My magic is, by necessity, rather. Physical. That what you wanted to hear? If you all hoped to read about me getting me first pickaxe or something, better start paying me. AND get me drunk. I wish to go to the Shadow because:Look at me axe. No, proper look at it, see the runes at the bottom? Aye, that's the name of Arjun Iron fist, me great-great-grandfather who smithed this from the broken axe of his father. Understand what I mean? We are mortal beings, we'll all die one day. And I'm fine with that, sure I'd not like this to be early and all that, but what matters is how you are remembered. Now, imagine you had dreamt up the perfect metal, with which you can craft a masterpiece to be remembered in song and legend for thousands of years under the mountain. And then you wake up, the dreams gone, and all your workings, even with all your magic, just. Can't prepare. I dreamt of the perfect metal, so perfect to resonate with me magic, so gentle melting when heated, so pure that it sings under every hammer strike. I'm nay to be sure if I want to craft a weapon or a shield, armor plate or even a crafters tool of unparalleled mastery, but Know can do it. Once I find the proper material. Basic Information:(am called, Grechin Windburned am23I would identify myself ASA goblin earn my keep thieving' and killing'I consider myself to be Hermaphrodite, female body with male and female genitals Appearance:Others think I look early twenties My hair blackly eyes areyellowHeight and Weight:3'9 95lbsIf I were describing myself in a story I would say... A dashing and mysterious rogue with a short yet alluring figure hidden beneath billowing robes, with shapely hips and full, perky breasts that seem even bigger due to her diminutive stature. Raven black hair spills out from her hood, framing a face often obscured by a porcelain mask, hiding not a hideous complexion but instead a face of disarming beauty, so beautiful in fact that those who see it are want to question her goblin heritage. Though her skin, like polished emeralds, makes her nature irrefutable. Piercing the hood are a pair of long, elegant ears, and yes it's indeed true what they say about goblins with long ears...here, yes for as perfect a model of womanhood she may be she is also twice the man most could dream of, her endowment even putting towering humans to shame, more than once mistaken for a third leg. It is often said (by herself) that the Lady herself often stays up long into the night, gazing upon this immaculate specimen with both lust and envy, and it this mixture of love and scorn that has left her blessed with such amazing abilities yet cursed to always find herself in the midst of trouble. Personality:I behave as IFI was king of the whole fuckin' world, what's it to you? (not very mature at all)My favorite things recoin, cleavage, coins cascading down into cleavage, dark tight places, drinking, well seasoned meat, hot baths, treasure, lose women, girly boys, cheap whores, easy marks, being carried around, cleverly written poetry (don't tell anyone that), and being told/read stories, preferably at bedtime (seriously don't tell anyone that!) The things that I can't stand army parents, guards, watchmen, figures of authority in general I guess, muscly men, locks, bitter drinks/foods, poor hygiene. Nothing scares me like the phrase "who's in/out there!?" gets me anxious every time, anything with more than four legs, bears, abandonment When it comes to interacting with others I'm:a fuckin' riot! Best drinkin' buddy you'll ever have. Sure you have to deal with me being a sarcastic asshole the whole time, but that's half the fun right? I can't really deal with thin-skinned people, like if you can't take a joke or get all mad because I flash my cock a few times then it's really not worth it to hang with you. Some say I'm a "lecher", but really I just know what I want. If I want to fuck you'll be the first to know, and I sure as hell ain't going to waste my time with "courting" to get to the fun stuff, if you want romance that can wait untilafterI know your ass is worth it or not, no offense. I'm also pretty loyal, yeah yeah no honor among thieves and all that, but unless it reallyreallybenefits me to ditch your ass I've got your back, so long as you've got mine...and trust me, I know how to hold a grudge, so youbetterhave my back... I believe that:you should just do whatever the hell you want. Guess what? Life sucks, and it tends to suck harder the nicer you try to be to it. I live by the philosophy of "fuck you, me!" that means there ain't nobody more important in this world than yourself...and the handful of people close to you. You do right by them and everything else is just gravy. And I ain't saying to just go around being an asshole or killin' people for fun, but get your priorities straight and realize that no one's gonna work harder to take care of you than you. Do what you have to do to survive, just don't complain when someone turns around and tries to do the same to you. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Hooded robes with thin leather armor underneath dagger and human-sized scimitar (wielded two-handed like a great sword)A human-sized long bow (uses her entire body to fire it)(tends to scrape together nearby junk into makeshift weapons, like bags of powdered glass or firebombs made from liquor bottles)I never leave home without:a cracked porcelain mask and a gold pendant When it comes to money I'm:pretty well off. I make a steady livin' as a thief, so I'm never too strapped for coin. Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:get the fuck out of there if I can The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:a loving family'm lonely when:I think of HomeKit hurts when:I think too hard about my life The things you need to know about my past are:...well, I'm a bastard first and foremost. That's how I got my distinctly UN-goblin-like surname. Where I'm from, children born out of wedlock are named "Wind borne", because they just 'appear out of the air' or whatever bullshit someone thought was clever at the time. My father was a noble, no one super important but big enough that the discovery that he had plowed some goblin bitch on the side was quite the scandal. So I'm technically half-human, but it's not like you can even tell, and I've never met one who wants to count me as one of them so fuck it. Important thing is my papa ended up having to take me in, make me part of the family. He did right enough by me, but I was literally his walking mistake, and nobody wants a goblin just waltzing about in polite society, particularly his wife, who had to constantly be reminded that dad was willing to cheat on her with a fuckin' goblin, I honestly feel for her. Still he had me raised and tutored and all that, had me wear this stupid porcelain mask everywhere I went, I guess to hide my monster...less.but that was the worst thing to be fair. I could still tell he didn't really love me though, and while he was nice enough his wife more than made up for it in how openly she despised me. I was able to shrug it off right until the third time she tried to have me assassinated, at which point I promptly decided to fuck off and make it on my own. No one ever looked for me after I ran off, and I haven't gone back... I probably will at some point though, reconnect with dad, slit my stepmom's throat, you know, typical home coming stuff. Since then, I've been pulling odd jobs, mostly dirty stuff like thievin' and killin', but to be fair I'm the size of a stool, spent my whole life sneaking around the family manor, and have been formally trained in swordplay, so what was I supposed to do? Throw all those skills away and become a farmer? I wish to go to the Shadow because:fuck it! I ain't doing anything better right now, and getting anything I dream of sounds like a pretty big score to me. He, I think I'll wish for a massive harem or something, a bunch of thick, big titties sluts, one of each race! Except for the elves, elves always come better in pairs I think... Basic Information:(am called, Druindar Moon glade. At least that's me elvish name. Me 'human name is Viktor. Ah, prefer to be called that. I am'bout 30I would identify myself Asia depends. Not everyone likes an elf. Much less 'ALF of' one. 'Ide me ears, an' ah'm completely 'human. I consider myself to beef ye a pretty one, ah'll let ye find out. Appearance:Others think I look‘bout me age, but ah’m actually young’My hair is black and gray wit’ a wee bit of’ white. Stress y’know. My eyes alone is as gray as stone. The Botha’ is a secret. It’s me huntin’ eye. Stole it from’ dragon. Eye for’ an eye, scaly bastard… Height and Weight:6’3” and 225 lbs If I were describing myself in a story I would say...Ah,’m pretty big. Ah, wasn’t always though. Skin like clay; body like stone. Ye can’t tells’ dragon slayer Fromm’ knight. We look just like any Botha’ warrior. It is the brand that define us. Etched into our flesh. It resembles a dragon eye. An oval witty’ line through they’ center. Some call it an egg. Mine is on they’ left side of me neck. Ah, don’t like nosy folk so ah’ll cover it Anna’ scarf if ah’m not wearin’ me 'elm. FO’ me special eye (his right one), ah wear a patch. Me armor is black and sturdy. It used ta’ be silver, but it turned black from all the fire fights ah been in. The color won’t change no matter ‘ow much ah try ta’ clean it. Me flesh is burned on me shoulders and thighs. Don't worry; ah can't feel' thing. Melted from dragon fire an' 'even't grown back right. Me talon scars are lighter than me blade ones. Personality:I behave as IFA may be big an’ scary lookin’…...ha! Nope. Ah,’m pretty violent mate. Ah, like to believe ah mind me business but them elf-‘Latin’ cunts got it comin’ every time. They’ smart ones leave me be. They’ stupid ones…well, they don’t come ‘round ‘ere no more. My favorite things are good food; good ale; good music; and fine women. There ain’t nothin’ like new steel too. The things that I can't stand are racists. Nothing scares me liked yin’ BAFO’ ah get me vengeance. When it comes to interacting with others I:‘ow much ye got? I believe that:They’ only true bone ah got ta’ pick is wit’ the Fell Lord Dragon that devoured me family an’ torched me ‘one. Anyone who gets in they’ way of that is me enemy.(Fell Dragon Lord - a being that resembles a figurehead on the front of a ship, except he resides as a growth on the chin of a fearsome and powerful fell dragon. He might have been an elf once. Now he believes himself to be a god. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Viktor possesses black dragon slaying armor. The armor was formally silver but has endured the lick of dragon flame a countless amount of times. The dragon slayers of the Dragon Order possess some unique equipment such as a grappling hook for reaching high areas, posting along vertical surfaces, or for swinging from one ledge to the next. The hook is a mechanical technology that fires using a trigger release and retracts on a reel. This gives dragon slayers the appearance that they too can fly as they swing from one area to the next in pursuit of flying beasts. Viktor possesses a long sword and shield. His long sword was made from a dragon’s tooth, and he has named it, Fang. His shield is made from a dragon’s scale. Fang will glow a bright orange as though it were heated in a forge when a fell dragon is within half a mile of its location. The sword is sharp and durable enough to pierce the hide of most dragons. Riktor’s dragon eye allows him to see great distances much like a hawk. He uses it for accuracy when aiming his grappling hook and when engaging in combat. The eye allows him to keenly see his opponent’s movements, sending messages to his brain and compelling him to perform a proper counter-action. As a half-elf, half-human, Viktor possesses very mild magical affinity. It isn’t always noticed. If he is sleeping on the ground, then by morning, a bed of flowers might have sprouted up around him. What he lacks in magic, he makes up for in his strength. The dragon ritual makes dragon slayers stronger than the average human. Even with a sharp blade, it takes strength to drive the sword through a dragon’s tough hide. I never leave home without:me red scarf. Me mum used ta’ wear it. When it comes to money I'm:……… Bein' a dragon slayer ain’t cheap. There’s food, maintenance, an’ grog…women… By they’ bitch (The Lady), ah got needs y’know! Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:tell m’self ah’m scarier dead. They’ll wish they never killed me! The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:………………….a unicorn'm lonely when:ah start dreamin’ ‘bout fuckin’… It hurts when:ah pee at times. It goes away though….what? The things you need to know about my past are:Ah didn’t get they’ life ah wanted. It was taken from me. Burned to they’ ground. Ah, should have’ died…if only to spare me from they’ vengeance that drives me. Ah, cannot escape it. Ah, got no Botha’ reason ta’ live but to kill that fuckin’ dragon. In order ta’ do so, ah became a Dragon Slayer of’ they’ Dragon Order. Mo’ like, they took pity on the wee me. Me trainin’ was hard an’ took nearly me whole life. Ah, suffered so much ah thought me ‘air would fall out. It only turned a bit.Ah, now slays dragons so that they don’t rob this’ like they're done me. They’ more ah slay, the stronger ah’ll become. Ah,’ll be soon strong enough to kill’I'm. I wish to go to the Shadow because:Ah seek they’ power to put an end to the Fell Lord. Ah, could probably wish me family back, but ‘ow could ah? Why would ah subject’em to they’ same fate? Ah, ain’t who they remember. Ah, will not find peace until that bloody dragon is dead. Basic Information:Please answer as your character unless otherwise indicated.(am called, Ilani Daimunbaen... I mean...er...just Land. Last name's not important. I am143I would identify myself ASA cook. Also, elf, but cook first. I mean I have the jacket, and where did I leave the hat again? I earn my keep by preparing the most delightful delicacies.and stew...we also make stew. I consider myself to be female? Furthermore, I mean, I'm covered in flour right now, but...still a bit rude. Appearance:Others think I look young? They never tell me a number. My hair is brown and really hard to control sometimes. People always look straight at me if there's a hair in their soup, so I was pondering to cut even shorter, but... I'm scared I might look silly. I guess shoulder-length is a good compromise. My eyes are pretty? Also green. Height and Weight:5'3 113lbsIf I were describing myself in a story I would say... Erm... I probably wouldn't belong in one, would I? I mean I'm no hero, I'm a cook, uniform and all. Furthermore, I'm not even a big one...not tiny either, but I'm a bit bland for a story...well I mean I guess I have a tattoo...well...two...but... I was drunk, and I'd rather not hear any stories about the second. Also... I do have a mysterious pendant from my parents...so maybe I'm the chosen one? Personality:I behave as IFA barely 100. People call me naive... I think I'm just an optimist. My favorite things army family, cooking, most animals, stories, sweets and friendship! The things that I can't stand barflies and rats...for purely professional reasons...not because they're icky. Also, Nobles...they never seem pleased no matter what you serve them. Nothing scares me like Don't know...this whole adventure seems pretty scary...but...probably the demons in dad's stories.or dragons sound scary. When it comes to interacting with others I:usually serve some tea and sweets. I tend to ramble and that way I can stuff my mouth before things get awkward, and they stare at me and I go on and on because I grow more insecure... I'm doing it again, ain't I? I believe that:Everyone deserves a full belly and a warm bed. Lots of nasty people are really just hungry or scared. That's why I bravery and kindness can be like a beacon. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:LOTS of knifes in all shapes and forms. A sharp kitchen knife can substitute a dagger and cleavers are pretty vicious. That said...she also got herself some throwing knives, but that is more of a hobby. She'd rather not use the frying pan though. Even the kitchen jacket is surprisingly useful, given that those resist damage pretty much like a Jameson. There's also magic, thanks to her heritage, Land has a lot of magic potential. That said...she never learned much beyond conjuring food or levitating a few bowls. In a pinch she might conjure a spark to light a fire. I never leave home without:Some spices, a pot and a ladle...can't cook without a good ladle, people will make fun of you. Oh... I also have a pendant from my parents...they told me not to lose it. Kinda want a pet, but...well...it's harmful to the job. When it comes to money I'm:Well... I don't find hidden treasures for a living and there are expenses...but I try to save for bad times! Guess... I could ask my parents if I need more? Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:If he lets me, I'll hide behind the big guy over there and mutter to myself that I hope I don't look tasty. The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:Be a hero? Sounds weird... I know. I'm lonely when:I think of my brother. It hurts when:You can't help. I mean...people get in trouble all the time, and then you can't do anything because...well.you're not a hero, just a normal person, you know? The things you need to know about my past are:...well... I guess... I messed up when telling my name. Yeah...both my parents are heroes. Ever heard the story of that volcano in the north? It was created when someone collapsed a mountain on an army of demons...that was my mom...she had help though. As for my dad...well he's the Daimunbaen...the bane of demons. Slaying them in the hundreds. I like the story where he distracted the enemy from a vulnerable position just by showing up somewhere else and offering to fight every last of them. He doesn't breathe fire or freeze the ground at his feet though...mom does sometimes. Dad used to teach me and my brother how to fight and teach us about monsters while mom taught us some magic...still use that when supplies run low or I run out of hands. My brother and I were really close. He used to tell me that there are dragons hiding in the clouds and how we'd go on adventures together one day. Of course, we didn't...he went ahead before I was ready. After a while Mom and Dad came to me and told me they didn't want me to become a hero as well. They stopped their lessons and they both looked heartbroken for a long time. They never told me what happened, but it's been decades. So yeah... I didn't become an adventurer, instead I pretty much lost direction. I traveled a bit, since that was similar enough, and I don't know how, but I ended up stranded right here in Dales. Furthermore, I made some bad decisions and had some pretty bad influence, too. So I was penniless, and I got in a fight...well I fended them of but I now I was beat up on top of being half starved. I collapsed right in front of an Inn. The Lady was on my side though, the cook picked me up and gave me a meal...it was so good I kept guessing at the ingredients... I think I guessed well enough, seeing that he offered to take me an apprentice. He was a very kind man and knew everything...shame that gnomes don't get as old as elves. He didn't get to taste my masterpiece. Some say I should start teaching but... I still feel like an apprentice. I love cooking, and I'm happy with my life, but now and then I still look up search those dragons. I wish to go to the Shadow because:I want to see the world, learn new recipes and I want to help. Also... I promised my brother I'd come after him when I'm ready... I might keep half of it. Please, don't tell my parents though. They'd worry. Basic Information:Please answer as your character unless otherwise indicated.(image goes here or in a spoiler)I am called, Morgan Garrett am23I would identify myself Ashman earn my keep by working the forest as a hunter and occasional gamekeeper. I consider myself to female. Appearance:Others think I look early twenties. My hair is dirty blonde. My eyes are blue. Height and Weight:6' 170 lbs If I were describing myself in a story I would say... Thin, on the lean side. I dress in simple clothes, and take far better care of my weapons and gear then wardrobe. Personality:I behave as if Mostly my age, a bit younger in groups as I'm not used to being around lots of people. My favorite things are hunting, fishing, doing simple thing well. The things that I can't stand earthen people make things more complicated than they have to be, people that are cruel or mean. Nothing scares me like the attention of too many people, talking in front of groups, cities. When it comes to interacting with others I:do a lot better one on one, and only if I know what I’m talking about. I believe that:people have a duty to help each other. That nature is greater than man (or the other races) and should be respected if not worshiped. That evil exists and someone a lot more heroic than I am should deal with it and protect those who can’t protect themselves. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Garrett is a master archer, with a sturdy, if simple, bow and quiver of arrows. He has an array of knives in various places, and usually has a staff of some kind in the woods. He doesn’t own a sword, has never been trained with one, and thinks they’re for rich people. I never leave home without:A small amulet from his late father, the bow and quiver above. When it comes to money I'm:usually lacking. Garrett earns some money by tracking, selling game to the taverns, and occasionally acting as a guide. Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:I tend to check various knife hilts or arrow fletchings or find a corner/shadow to hide in. The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:an actual home with a family and a wife. Someone who loves me as much as my parents loved each other. I'm lonely when:I’m in a crowd and everyone’s talking to someone except me. Never lonely on my own or in the woods. It hurts when:people are cruel for no reason, or when I’m judged by how I look. The things you need to know about my past are:The big broad strokes are, raised mostly in the wild, mother was a ranger-type, father a Fletcher. Both are dead now. My last attempt at romance ended when I found out she was cheating on me. I’m usually alone. I wish to go to the Shadow because:at this point there’s nothing to keep me here, a change sounds great, and an adventure might be just what I need. Picture forthcoming, graphics are really seriously not my strong suit. Basic Information:Please answer as your character unless otherwise indicated.](am called’T'Delhi am Adult. Clever. Agile. Strong. I would identify myself as Hunter of the Jade Caiman Tribe. I earn my keep BYI hunt. Meat, leather, bone for my tribe. Keep safe. Keep strong. I consider myself to female I am. Appearance:Others think I look Prime. Hatching days over. Far to dull scales and blunt teeth. My scales are Usually greens. Reflect mood. Match background when hunted. My eyes are Keen, color of jade-touched gold. Height and Weight:5' tall, 4' tail. ~130lbsIf I were describing myself in a story I would say... Would not. Bad luck. Spirits hear... very bad. Never boast of self. (As typical for his people, he is of a relatively slender build with a decidedly saurian tendency. His neck is short, but highly flexible. He walks on his toes when bipedal, using his long, flexible tail to counterbalance. Though his skin changes color like a chameleon, it usually defaults into a striped motif reminiscent of a tiger. He can hide surprisingly swiftly even without what seems adequate cover. As would be expected of a resident of the swamps and jungles of Todesfalle, he's as comfortable climbing trees as he is swimming. He's an exceptional tracker. Adorns his skin with paints.) Personality:I behave as Befits tribe. Speak carefully. Listen always. Respect spirits around me. Honor sacrifice of food. Honor sacrifice of kin. My favorite things earned, untouched ivory to work. New bowstring. My found blade. Drawing near enough to touch quarry with my claws without knowing me. Shape of far places. Sky painted by sun in farewell... in greeting. The things that I can't stand are Hollow words of prowess. Needless waste. Disrespect of the spirits. Nothing scares me likened-reketh. The lurkers in still shallows, death of warriors, devoured of tribes. When it comes to interacting with others I:am patient. Within tribe, am known by skills. Wisdom expected. All offered without regret. Others... know not well. Wait, learn, remain still and act with care. I believe that:Death has reason. What has value deserves respect? What is unnecessary should be set aside. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:His armor is pretty minimal, mostly a place to affix feathers and various fetishes. Fashioned from hydra hide. He relies on his scales and color-shifting to avoid damage. Laminated recurve bow. Hydra hide quiver with a score obsidian or bone-tipped, barbed arrows. Long knife/short sword of unknown origin he found once in a destroyed campsite. (Even.)poison kit (tubes and jars of a half-dozen pastes and resins to apply to his weapons)I never leave home without:Special blade. (forged metal is extremely rare, especially of any quality.), scrimshaw tools, bow and arrows. When it comes to money I'm:confused. Why desire tokens of soft metal over food and tools? Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:turn orange, then hide fast. The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:Pretty fabrics to put in home just to look at. Wasteful. I'm lonely when:outside tribe lands. It hurts when:poke nose in bee nest, crawl through viper bramble, warriors step on tail. The things you need to know about my past are:Good hunter for tribe. Learn fast, deeply. Did not leave tribe without great need. I wish to go to the Shadow because:I had a vision. The spirits spoke. Must find soft-skin with voice like rain and hair like heart blood. Needed. Basic Information:(am called, Daemion. That is all you need to know. Basic Information:Please answer as your character unless otherwise indicated.(am called, Shufharz Zombie am70I would identify myself AMORC earn my keep by killing. It is what I do best. I consider myself to be female. A shit ton of female. Appearance:Others think I look...who knows? No one has ever dared to ask. My hair is smokey gray. My eyes are black. Height and Weight:6' 1” 215 lbs If I were describing myself in a story I would say... I'm a sexy beast. Look at these arms, these thighs. I keep my tusks gleaming! I have two brands in Irish on my spine, put there by my ex Clan leader as a sign to others that I am Clan-less, a rogue, and a human sympathizer. Furthermore, I don't hide it because, fuck everyone else! Personality:I behave as if every day is a good day to die! Or drink. Or both! My favorite things are getting into fights, bar or otherwise. Drinking. Hunting, either as a job or for food. The things that I can't stand are anyone who hurts children. Orcs who refuse to admit there are some humans that are amusing. Blowhards. Nothing scares me like having an empty tankard. Dying of old age. When it comes to interacting with others I:have a tendency to be rather... boisterous. I believe that:killing must never be merely for the sake of murder. There are those whose fate it is to die, those that invite Death to their door. I can and will be Deaths avatar to those that deserve it, but only if the Mark has done true wrong, or in pure, wondrous battle. Equipment:Weapons and Armor:Spear, fists, teeth. No armor; as an orc her skin is tougher than most. Her Direct Forgot never leave home without:my weapons and Forgotten it comes to money I'm:generally lacking. Coin is nice to have, because it buys drink, and I really do try and make sure that I get my vice in the correct manner, but hey if I'm broke. I'll still get my drink. Other Important Stuff:When I'm scared I:ppffaahh. Scared? Who's scared? The thing I want most but would never tell anyone about is:love. I'm lonely when:I watch couples that are happy together, when I see families. It hurts when:I see Forgot hurt, or when I'm out of drink. My head pounds then... The things you need to know about my past are:not a fucking secret. What do you need to know? My Clan ostracized me for simply not following their laws like a sheep. My family cut me out of their life. But fuck them right? I don't need them. Is there any more ale? I wish to go to the Shadow because:why the fuck not? Nothing else to do in this sad excuse for burrow. Forgot and I are getting antsy. Nothing to kill, no one to fight, so Hell's... let's do this!(

Quest for the ShadowGate (Characters)|rating:2.0

Digimon_ Code Memories

"BONFIRE!" Candles yelled, as Rises nodded at Joshing as she left. "Be careful." He told her, as SnowAgumon jumped up into the air to dodge the fireball. "Ice bite." Snowagumon said underneath his breath, dropping out of the air with his mouth opened. "BONFIRE BONFIRE BONFIRE!" the candle screamed, firing a barrage of three fireballs at the icy dinosaur. Yoga smiled, letting out a chuckle. "LITTLE BLIZZARD!" Snowagumon suddenly roared, a stream of snow and ice jetting from its mouth. The Bonfires blasted through it with ease...melting the snow and ice into water. Candlemon's eyes widen, as he tried to cover his head. He was expecting to be hit with the water within seconds, but all he got was the sound of Rises grunting. He looked up, seeing his tamer in front of him, wet and covered in snow, various cuts from sharp pieces of ices cutting him. "Rises!" he called out, Rises giving him a smile. "If your flame went out, you'll be done for. What kind of tamer WOULD I BE IF I LET MY PARTNER DIE LIKE THAT?" He asked, jerking his head forwards to glare at Yoga and SnowAgumon. He pointed at them, a look of rage and determination forming on his face." I'll crush you down and make you scream out for mercy for threatening my partner!" He yelled, Yoga stepping back. "That.... Alright, Rises, MAKE ME SCREAM IF YOU CAN!" He yelled back. "Rises, you didn't have to....alright!" Candles said, jumping onto his shoulder, then in front of him. "LET'S BURN THEM UP! BURN BUUUUUUUUUUUURN." He roared, a fire blazing in his eyes and a look of pure, yet oddly twisted, excitement growing on his face. As Rises and Yoga continued their fight, Joshing started to climb over some machinery. Glancing about, she thought she saw something odd. Taking a few stops forward along the crane she stood on, her eyes narrowed. "Hamm." All of a sudden, the crane jerked. "Whoa!" She exclaimed, before the Mekanorimon tore through the length in front of her. "I take it you're the culprit," she said, smirking. It raised a hand, swinging at her. To its surprise, she managed to backflip out of the way. Not giving her time to recover as well as she'd like, it punched at her. Swearing under her breath, the white-haired woman leapt off the crane arm. "Reload, Layamon. China!" The rabbit appeared and changed, becoming taller and more humanoid. Changing into... "Lewiston!" The named Digimon yelled, catching her general before landing on the ground. The mechanical Digimon stared at her, before coming to a landing in front of the rabbit. "Oh? So you want to go toe to toe with me, rust bucket?" She asked. Putting Joshing down, she charged at it to punch at its eye. To her surprise, it twisted out of the way, and backhanded her into the partially wrecked crane. "Of! Dammit, that hurt!" She growled, pushing off the crane. Leaping at it to launch a way, she smirked when it twisted its body to avoid the attack, before spinning around to aim a second kick at its back. "What the-?!" Right where the kick should have landed was a raised claw, catching her foot to slam her into the ground. "TCH, what's with this guy?" Yoshino herself was also trying to figure it out. A machine might be efficient if given the proper programming, but where would it get the data necessary to counter Lewiston so easily. Unless... "It scanned Lewiston," she realized, eyes widening. That's not good. Lewiston is mostly a physical fighter. In fact, it only has one non-physical attack, and it is one designed specifically to put enemies to sleep. Even her Tear Arrow attack uses a physical impact to inflict damage, and ice is too fragile to break through metal armor easily. "Which makes this thing her anti-thesis," she growled. "BONFIRE! BONFIRE! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONFIIIIIIIIIIRE!" Despite Candles's impressive barrage, SnowAgumon was oddly nimble, easily weaving and jumping through the blasts. "Ice bite!" the white lizard called out, chomping at Candles. The candle threw up it's arm, the icy dinosaur chomping into it. And then it was struck. "Paraffin Paralyzed." Candles smirked, the sticky substance sticking Snowagumon to his arm. The candle begun to spin around, picking up high speeds, before dispersing the wax and throwing SnowAgumon up into the air." Alright, Candles! FINISH HIM OFF!" Rises yelled, pointing upwards."BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONFIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!" A ball of flames, as tall as Rises and as round as a table, flew up from Candles's head, slamming into Snowagumon and enveloping him, like a hungry sun. The lizard dropped to the ground, covered in burn marks, with specks of data flying off of him. Hyouga growled, loading him. "You did good, buddy. They'll just... a bit more than we expected." Yoga assured his partner, looking up at Rises. "We're done here." Rises said, stepping towards him." Yeah. We are. RELOAD!" Yoga yelled, raising his Bros Loader high into the sky." Hyogamon! Iceman! Mormon! Ikkakumon! Simpson!"" Rises?"" Y-Yeah Candles?"" I.... I don't feel like burning things anymore." "Will." Lewiston punched at Mekanorimon, only for her fist to get batted aside. "You." A kick, casually side-stepped. "Hold." The rabbit unleashed a roundhouse kick, only for the leg to get pushed away at the last second. "Still." She reared her head back. "ALREADY!?" So that she could aim a headbutt into it, which only met the palm of its hand. "Owowowowow, that wasn't bright of me," she groaned, holding her head." Lekismon, look out!"" Huh? GAS!" The rabbit was punched in the gut, sent flying into the crane. The already heavily damaged construct fell, nearly crushing the staggering rabbit as she barely managed to get away. "Ugh, my head's spinning. GRC!" The mechanical Digimon grabbed her by the throat, and threw her. Once she was tossed aside, it turned its gaze on Joshing.---"GAA AAH!" Lewiston screamed, slamming into a building near Rises and Yoga. It began to collapse, burying her in rubble. A moment later, she dug herself out. Panting with exhaustion, she looked at Rises. "Joshing... Is in trouble," she managed, before passing out and reverting to Layamon. And as soon as Lewiston reverted to Layamon, Rises had picked her up, Candles hopping on his shoulder. "Hmm..." yoga thought for a second, loading all of his Digimon. "If a champion like Lewiston couldn't beat it...well, no need to worry if I'm not the one to get rid of you, hmm?" Yoga asked, turning around. "Goodbye, Rises East." Rises eyes widened in anger. He wanted to go and beat the stuffing out of Yoga this instant, but Joshing came first. "Candles, let's go!" "Got it!"----"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOONFIRE!" Mekanorimon was blasted with the ball of flames, as Rises and Candles jumped in front of Joshing. The attack....didn't do anything. "BONFIRE B.... Bo.... Bonfire!" Candles continued to attack the machine, but his attacks were getting slower, smaller. "Candles! Damn it, you must have wasted too much energy." Rises cursed underneath his breath. "Joshing. Run." Mekanorimon stared at Candles for a moment, ignoring the fireballs. Eventually, it just started walking towards Rises and Joshing, ignoring the candle completely. If it got near him, the machine would try to back-hand the candle into the wrecked crane. Joshing shook her head. "I'm not leaving you behind, there's got to be something I can do to help," she told him. Focusing on her Innovate abilities, she tried to spot a weak point in the machine they could exploit. However, that took a back seat when she noticed what it was about to do. "Rises, watch out!" She yelled, grabbing him and pulling the red-head to the side."[TWIN BEAM]," it declared mechanically, firing a red laser from its torso that would have cut them in half if it hit, as the building that was behind them would attest to as it split down the middle to fall on adjacent buildings." A-Are you alright?" She asked him once the dust cleared. As soon as she asked that, the robot looked at them, and threw a punch at the two while Joshing was distracted. Rises flinched, expecting the punch to hit him. What happened, instead, was Candles throwing himself at the punch, knocking the robotic Digimon off balance." Gah, Candles!" Rises cried out, grabbing his partner. "'m fine, I'm phi.... I'm fine." Candles responded, the smallest of the flame on his head telling Rises otherwise. "Joshing, take care of him. AND RUN." Rises yelled at her, giving her look that said "Please. Do NOT argue with me this time." Luckily, she didn't have to, as Candles whacked him on the head. "No way, you idiot. " He said, jumping to the ground. "If you're going done, then SO AM I. BONFIRE!" The candle informed him, hitting Mekanorimon square on with a bad of fire, hitting the machine's optics."" Candlemon..." Rises muttered, letting a smile, weak smile how. He was upset that they wouldn't leave him, but...he was touched. Without doubt. "Alright. Alright! Candles, while the flames are in his eyes!" Rises yelled, Candles jumping up and firing wax at the robot. If Rises was right, Mekanorimon wouldn't fire the laser while he was blinded, due to not wanting to hit what he came here for, whatever that was. If that was the case, if Candles could cover the gem in the torso that fired the laser with wax, it would begin to melt in the few seconds it took the laser to charge, giving them enough time to move out of the way. Mekanorimon covered its face, trying to avoid getting flames in its eye. While it succeeded in keeping its only eye from getting cooked, it wasn't able to prevent Candles from covering its lens in wax. Once the flames cleared, it glanced down at the wax-covered lens on its chest. It looked at the candle, and back-handed it. Deciding the generals were no threat at the moment, it focused all of its efforts on hurting Candles. Walking up to him, it grasped the candle in a three-fingered hand, and slammed him into the ground before chucking him over its shoulder. "Rises, maybe you should try to load Candles," Joshing suggested. "Neither of us have a Digimon with us that's in any state to beat it." Before Rises could answer though, the machine kicked the candle across the ground, leaving him in front of the two. It raised its arms, aiming its secondary weapon at them. "[4-DISC BREAK]," it announced, firing a barrage of disc-shaped bombs. Before Rises could, Mekanorimon launched its next attack.IN what took only a few seconds, Rises picked Candles up, grabbed Joshing's waist and jumped back, turning around and throwing the two, as the bombs hit the ground behind them, throwing him forward. He slammed onto the ground, in front of where Joshing and Candles were thrown. "Rises!" Candles went over to him, trying to help him up. "I', m.... I'm alright." Rises said, blood streaming down his face from a wound on his head. He stood up, casting a glance back at Mekanorimon." You hurt my partner!" Candles yelled, facing Mekanorimon. "And, you hurt my partner." Rise said, turning around to face the machine. Then, in perfect unison, they spoke."WE WON'T FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT." A light lit up in both of their eyes, giving each other a smile. Rises felt something, and looked down at his Loader, noticing a stylized "W' on its screen. He nodded, just knowing what it meant. "Alright. CANDLE MON!" He yelled out, throwing his arm forwards, with his Loader pointing towards Candles."CANDLE MON! EVOLVE!" The flame on Candles's head went wild growing and growing in size until it took over his entire body, and then continue to grow upwards. The ground below him started to glow, an intricate design circle appearing on the ground. It has begun to spin around, moving upwards, moving over the flame. As it did, the flames changed form, a blue skinned humanoid with orange hair and stitched mouth, wearing yellow clothing covered in zippers, appearing once the circle had moved over all the flame. The circle shrunk in sized, when it slammed down onto Candles's new form, stopping around its neck. It shattered, the pieces of it glowing and growing, going back to get to form a cape, with a collar that covered his mouth. He raised his hand, and snapped. A wizard's hat appears in his hand, which he slammed down onto his head. He reached forwards with his other hand with his palm open, before quickly closing it into a fist, a staff forming in his hand."WIZARD MON!" Rises smiled, pocketing his loader. "Alright, partner, LET'S GO!" He yelled, pointing forward. The wizard didn't even hesitate, dashing forward at the machine. He jabbed at him with his staff, sending the machine flying back with a blast of magical force. "Come on, you were pretty tough a minute ago!" Wizard mocked, smirking beneath his collar. He reached out his right hand, a ball of lighting forming in it. "You know, Rises, we SHOULD ask him why he broke in." Wizard pointed out...the ball of lighting slamming into the machine before Rises could answer. "But I don't FEEL like it." When Wizard charged at it, Mekanorimon reached out to try and grab him. However, the last of magical force knocked it back, catching it by surprise. "[ERROR. ERROR.]" Seeing the ball of lightning, it started to take off to avoid the attack. But, it was already too late as the lightning slammed it in the torso to knock it onto its back. "[RECALIBRATING. ENGAGING.]" It pushed itself back up, aiming the still wax-covered lens at the wizard. "[TWIN BEAM]," it announced, the beam burning its way through the wax before coming out. It then charged at him, swinging its arm at Wizard." It doesn't stand a chance," Joshing said with a smirk. "Against a physical attacker like Lewiston, it is nigh-unbeatable for anything below Ultimate once it's scanned them. For a Rookie like Candles, not even non-physical attacks like its Bonfire can do anything. But against a Champion that specializes in magic, like Wizard... This will be it's Last Engage!" "Joshing I don't know what you just said, but it was really lame." Rise said, giving a small, embarrassed chuckle. Having avoided the beam via throwing up a magical wall that reflected it up into the air, Wizard ducked, lightly poking the sphere in Mekanorimon's torso, using magic to crack it. Then, without waiting, it charged up a ball of lighting in its other hand, slamming it into the hole made by cracking the crystal. Jumping back, lighting would blow out Mekanorimon's legs, dropping him to the ground. "Alright, Wizard! Finish it OFF!" Rises yelled, crossing his arms and giving a smile of victory. "ELECTRON! SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL" Wizard roared, slamming it's staffed onto the machine, blasting it with an incredible force of lighting. "Hmph, I thought it sounded cool," Joshing pouted at Rises' comment. She watched as Mekanorimon got wailed on, right up to the lightning blast. "Looks like we can go back to the hotel, and get some sleep.""[ERR... OR... ERROR!]" The machine collapsed on the ground, eye darting around in confusion. "[ERROR ERROR ERROR! DOES. NOT. COMPUTE!]" And with that, it exploded violently. When the explosion cleared, there was metal shrapnel all over the place, and a solitary Digicel in the middle of the crater from the explosion. Walking up to the egg, the white-haired woman sighed. "I guess we should probably drop this off at the nursery on our way back." Rises nodded. "Hey, Wizard. Great job!" Rises told him, as the two high-fived. "Alright, lets the e.g.-"He was stopped by an arrow whizzing by his face. "Stop where you are, and drop your loaders to the ground!" A voice cried, as the group was suddenly surrounded by four centaur like creatures, wearing black armor and wield bows, a cache of arrows on their waists. Sagittarius, the guards of this part of the city. "You're under arrest for the damaging the machinery and breaking the barrier!"----Rises grumbled, sitting in the small jail cell. He had already argued that they didn't do anything, but nobody would listen. "Gaaaaaaaaaah. I'm sorry, guys." He mumbled, crossing his arm. "Not your fault. Yoga probably set us up." Wizard shrugged, laying on his side. He gave off an annoyed look, frowning. "Probably sore I kicked his lizard's ass." He grumbled, yawning. Joshing was silently fuming over in the corner. HowDAREthey put her in jail for a crime she didn't commit. Well, okay the machinery getting wrecked could, in a way, be blamed on her... But it was only collateral damage! And it was mostly caused by the Mekanorimon. But do they believe them? Newport, they just went straight there, guns blazing, making assumptions, and tossing them in this dingy cell. What about due process, huh? Isn't there supposed to be an investigation and a trial before you throw someone in jail. She would have been making escape plans, if it weren't for the fact that they don't even have their Loaders. Oh, and the worst part? She's pretty sure one of them recognized the Darkness Loader for what it was, and cracked down on them even harder just because she had one. She briefly wondered how anyone would know what a Darkness Loader was in this world, as it was supposed to be unique to DarkKnightmon's Digital World, but that was unimportant at the moment. "You're free to go." Rises looked up, as the cell was opened up. "Somebody vouched for you. Now get going."----"I wonder who got us out?" Rises asked, as they stood in the lobby of the jail. "We owe him, whoever he is." He muttered, turning around...and seeing a small child before him. Couldn't have been older than 5, wearing an yellow hoodie with a cartoon panda on it, blue shorts, and handles. His hair went down to the base of his neck, and was white on one side, and black on the other." Uuhh... Here you go!" He smiled, holding out Joshing's Darkness Loader. Joshing blinked when they were told they could leave, wondering who vouched for them.---"I'd like to know to," she agreed. When the little boy spoke up, she turned around and blinked. What was a kid doing here? More to the point, why did he have her Loader? Was he the one who vouched for them? "Uh, thanks." She mentally wondered who the kid was if he apparently had just enough weight that his vouching for them would get these cretins to let them go. Well, maybe he'll tell them if they're polite. "I'm Joshing Timur, this is Rises East. What's your name?" "I'm Teddy!" He smiled, placing his arms behind his back. "Did you get us out?" Rises asked. "Yeah! One of my Digimon went off to play by himself, so I had to go get him! I found him at the place you guys were fighting, and I saw the guy who did it! The biiiiiig robot did!" He said spreading out his arms to signify how big it was. "I saw the guards take you guys, but luckily I took some pictures with my Bros loader!" He smiled, holding his device out. This one was black and white, like his hair, and had a picture of Mekanorimon attacking Candles on it. Rises vent down so he was face to face with Teddy, and smiled ruffling his hair. "Thanks! You're a big help." HE told him, as the child giggle. "Helene, thank you!" He answered, as Rises stood up. "But, it's late. You should get home....." Rises started, thinking. "Hey, Wizard on, take Joshing and Layamon back to the hotel, I'm going to take teddy home." A camera in a Loader? Joshing raised an eyebrow, she wasn't aware there was a camera in Loaders. Then again, no one really knows everything that's in them, and it takes a lot of trial and error to find out how to do more with it than to use Digits, evolution, or the storage system built into every device. As such, she decided to start experimenting with the Darkness Loader once she's back at the hotel. But that will probably have to wait, considering Rises wants to escort the kid home. "And if that Yoga guy shows up on the way, what are you going to do?" She asked. "You two were trying to kill each other, last time I saw the two of you together. Sure, it was because both of you were assuming the other was the guilty party, but who's to say you won't do something stupid while Wizard isn't around to help you fight him?" Rises sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Joshing, we were in an empty, out of the way location. Now we're in a middle of the city, with people around at all times. If he Trieste fight me, the guards will be on him before I can even notice he's there." He explained to her. "I'll be fine, alright?" He told her, kissing her on the cheek." And besides! I have my Digimon, Rises can use them if he needs to!" Teddy offered, smiling. Rises laughed, ruffling his hair. "Thanks. They might not be as strong as Wizard-""Of course they're not, not many our." Wizard butted in, smirking."... Yeah. But I'm sure I'll be about to think something up to make up for any gaps in power there might be." He ensured her. He was happy she cared.....but this absolute refusal to let him doing anything by himself was starting to bug him, just a little. Joshing frowned, but eventually relented with a sigh. "Fine," she mumbled. "Just don't do anything reckless, I don't want you to die." She turned to leave, glancing at Wizard. "Come on, let's get back to the hotel room. Layamon's gotten some rest, but I'm sure she'd rather have a bed over being in my Loader. And I'm sure both Relemon and Common are worried sick." With that, she walked away to leave Rises with Teddy. It made sense to her, that he would start getting cross with her for not allowing him to go on his own. He was hardly the type to accept being protected all hours of the day, memories or no. "Alrighty, Teddy, lead the way."----"I think Joshing is mad at me." Rises told Wizard with a sighed, as he leaned over the railing on the small balcony that his hotel room led out to. "Why? Because you got a bit annoyed with her? I wouldn't worry about it." Wizard said, training on using his new magic. Simply things, like lifting things off of the ground and things like that. After he had gotten back, Rises crashed onto his bed and went to sleep, not having the energy to talk to anybody telling Joshing that he was back, and he was just going to stay home the next day. Which had come, and it was already in the afternoon! Rises said, heading out of the room. "I'm going to go find her." HE said, leaving. Joshing sighed, absent-mindedly petting Relemon as she sat on the park bench. She had finished the day's work about an hour ago, but she just couldn't bring herself to go back to their room just yet. Was Rises still mad at her? Sighing, she hung her head. Noticing her negative mood, the baby Digimon in her lap nuzzled at her, making a worried noise. She smiled gently at the tiny fox, hugging her. "It's alright, I'm just thinking." Pulling out her Darkness Loader, she stared at it. There are actually people in this world that know that this is no ordinary Bros Loader, which shouldn't be possible. The only explanation she could think of is that someone in this Digital World used something similar enough that they recognized it. However, that's not the only thing on her mind. The other prominent thing? The fact that Rises' own Darkness Loader had changed into a regular Bros Loader, one that can change back whenever he actually needs to force a Digits. Something like that just doesn't make sense, at least, not to her. "Hey." Rises sat down beside her, looking guilty. He really shouldn't have. He didn't metadata her, just a bit annoyed at her stinginess. And even then, he was happy that he cared about the fact that she cared, he really was. He just...felt bad about it." Listen... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you." He told her, even through one really couldn't call what he did snapping at her. "I was just tired, and worried, and I guess I wanted some time alone. And when I got back, I was just too tired, and feel asleep as soon as I got into bed." He explained, sighing."... Please don't be mad at me." HE asked, the thought of her being mad at him feeling him was an odd fear. At what, through? Maybe he was afraid of being alone if she got mad at him? It was possible, but he couldn't say for sure. Joshing jolted out of her thinking, putting away her Loader. Staring at Rises, she listened to what he had to say. At his explanation, she started to feel a little guilty about how... Clingy she was. And she was honestly surprised when he asked her not to be mad at him, when she was certain he was the one who should have been angry. "I was actually afraid you'd still be mad at me," she admitted to him, feeling relieved that he wasn't going to yell at her. In her arms, Relemon chirped happily, feeling that the two weren't feeling as bad now as they did before. "I'm also sorry, I should have respected your space a bit more," she said. Rises smiled, quickly giving her a peck on the cheeks. "It's fine, I think." He told her, grabbing her hand. "I think we're both just new at this whole relationship thing." He said, sitting back and looking into the sky." Atleast, I think I am, anyway, I can't remember." He said, taking out his loader. "I think I figured out how this thing works." He mentioned, looking it over. "When I get mad or angry, it turns all spiky. When I calm down, it goes back to normal. I guess it's tried to my emotions?" He asked nobody in particular. He stood p, pocketing it. "So, no hard feelings, right?" He asked, turning around and facing her. He hoped not, he wasn't sure what he was going to do without her. Not only emotionally, through that was the main reason, but being alone in a strange world by himself, and with no memory wasn't something that sounded fun. Sure, he had his partners, but...it wasn't the same. Rises yawned, getting out of his bed. He looked around, remembering Where he was, who he was, and who he was with. An exercise he had come up, to maybe help his memory. He looked around, and nodded. A decently sized hotel room, filled with two beds, a table with two chairs, a TV, everything you could really need in a hotel room. Through the floors and walls looked wooden, giving it a homely feel, it was an illusion to please the human occupants. As for the NON-human occupants...they really didn't care. Because they were a candle and a worm. "Candles, Common! Time to get up!" Rises said, shaking his strawberry red hair out of his face. It had been cut since they had arrived in the city, to simply being shoulder-length, through the still he is the little bit of hair that went over his right eye. "Morning, Rises!" squeaked a small, child like voice, as a green, caterpillar like creature crawled out the makeshift thread hammock he had made for himself. The covers on the other bed were thrown to the side, revealing the sleeper. A candle with arms and eyes, not even as big as the bed'pillow." Do We haaaaaaaaave to?" the candle complained, jumping off of the bed, and onto the red head's shoulder, the worm taking his place on the other shoulder. "Yes! I told Monochrome we would help him restock before his shop opened, so we have to get there early!" Their tamer said, throwing on blue jean jacket, over his white shirt. "But..." Candles blinked, still asleep. He looked at the windows, becausehethought the curtains were closed. No. The sun just wasn't up. The candle didn't say anything, but the fact the flame on his head grew a bit bigger told Rises he better watched what he said. "Come on, Joshing's probably in the lobby already." He said, exiting their room. Despite the fact they had only arrived to C: City a month or so ago, Rises has already gotten into a pattern. He explored the city some, and made acquaintances with people who worked at almost any job in the city...and using those acquaintances, he would grab him self some paid volunteer work. Most of the jobs paid well enough, and there was enough variation to keep him interested, so it was pretty good! Did Not help for his memory, through. Joshing rolled over in bed, mumbling something in her sleep. A black lizard-like creature, stretching, walked up to her bed. "Oi, wake up," he said, poking her. When she just made a noise of irritation in response, he poked her again. "Hey, hey, hey!" He kept poking her, each time getting more of the same. Until, finally, she had enough and smacked him in the face. "OW!"" Leave me alone, BlackAgumon," she grumbled." Rises is probably waking up in a little bit," he told her. With that, she sat up abruptly, her shoulder-length hair all messed up in her sleep. Getting out of bed, she shook awake a rabbit in the second bed. "Layamon, wake up." The rabbit grumbled, rolling out of bed. With that, the three headed for the bathroom... Right before the black lizard got booted out, and the door slammed in his face. A little bit later, the woman exited the bathroom freshly-showered and with her hair neatly brushed. Her current outfit was composed of a dark-gray jacket, over a white top, and a pair of jeans. Putting on a black belt with a quartet of black pouches on either side of her waist, she then tied her white and blue tennis shoes. "Alright, good to go. Let's go." With that, they left the hotel room to meet up with Rises in the lobby. Rises sighed, throwing a small candy up into the air, watching Candles try to catch it. He smiled when he succeeded, but he was still anxious. Joshing was usually here before him! "You're also usually not up so early." Common pointed out, using his thread to grab the next piece of candy before Candles to get it, causing the small monster of wax to slam his face onto the floor. "You have a point." Rises smiled, not being able to help himself when Common begun to laugh at Candles, as he joined in. "Calm down, hot head." He told him as he picked his partner up. Trying to not look int the candle's glaring eyes. "Fine, but if he pulls it again!" He warned, hopping onto Rise's shoulder, jabbing at him to stand up. "Joshing!" He said, smiling when he saw her. He rushed over to her, giving her a quick kiss. "Hope you had a good night's sleep." "I did," Joshing smiled back. "Maybe a little too good, since the idiot lizard had to poke me awake this morning."" She slapped me for it!" BlackAgumon added. "And then they kicked me out of the bathroom!"" We're girls, you're a guy," Layamon sighed. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out why you shouldn't be going in there when we go in... Or is that why you went in." The rabbit narrowed her eyes, glaring at the black lizard. She started to prepare one of her attacks." Errrr." He chuckled nervously, taking a step back. "Can't we talk about this?"" That's enough you two," the white-haired woman said, clapping her hands to get their attention. "Now's not the time for that. We've got more important things to do, right?" She looked at Rises. She's been getting better recently, at being good that is. Rises nodded, smiling at Joshing's recent developments of not being all that...evil. Was evil the right word? Rises didn't think so, perhaps it was more "self-centered" that would fit her. He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Alright, you know Monochrome's store? I and Backgammon are going to help him restock." He explained, chuckling as he felt Candles punch the air. "And you four...well, apparently one of the nurseries got abigbatch of Digit-Eggs in, way more than they're meant to. They needed some help checking them out, making sure they're all good and none of them are just corrupted data." He explained, letting out a sigh of relief of his two Digimon jumped form his shoulder to Joshing's. "Why are you taking Backgammon with you, through, Rises?" Common asked, as Rises picked up the lizard by the arms to explain." None of you guys have arms that would actually help, besides Joshing. And sending you three off to do a job by yourself isn't going to end up going well for ANYBODY." Joshing nodded. "Okay," she said, smiling. She always liked paying the nursery a visit, baby Digimon are usually pretty cute after all. In fact, she sometimes entertains the thought of adopting one when she's there." Pretty sure I could keep those two in line, but oh well," Layamon shrugged." Ugh, heavy lifting? Can I take a rain check?" BlackAgumon asked." No," the white-haired woman answered. "Guess I'll see you later?" Rises nodded. "See you later! I'll probably be done by noon, alright?" He told her, dragging Backgammon off.---A few hours later, Rises was in a large room, filled with shelves upon shelves of various merchandise. The one he was by was set to have a UNC of "slots" attached to each shelf, letting him slide in floppy-like device. He wasn't sure what they were for, but he thought it was those Tamer who focused more on fighting. Nothing he would be interested in, that's for sure. He took a step back, nodding at his handy work. "Good job, me." He smiled to himself, walking off to continue his work. He passed by one of the odd, triangle shaped, segmented window, and looked outside, just in time to see the honeycomb like barrier flash over the city. Transparent, besides the lines that gave if it's honeycomb shape, which was simply white. It flashed for a few seconds every hour on the hour, to inform the citizens of the city it was still up and running. Rises to admit, it did bring him some comfort, for the most part. However, something grabbed his attention. He focused, his eyes turning gray, with 3, thick black lines appearing in each line, going out from the iris. Something about one of the lines seemed....off. It wasn't white. It was a bit darker, a bit red? That was odd, maybe he should tell Monochrome about it? No, probably nothing too important.---"Hey, Joshing." Candles spoke up, sitting down an egg he was examining. The way to tell if a Digicel was just a clump of corrupted data was easy. Any colored parts on it would redden on the touch. Simple as that, but the large quantity of eggs meant help was needed this particular day. "I don't want to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but don't you think, the amount of extra eggs they got in today is about the same amount of Digimon that would live in an entire small town?" "What are you looking at?" BlackAgumon asked, walking past Rises from behind with a stack of boxes. He didn't see a roll of something fall out, until he stepped on it. In a comical display, he fell on his back. "WWW..." Opening his eyes, he only had time for a short yelp before he got buried in the stuff he was carrying. "Pain. So much pain." The lizard-like Digimon yanked himself out of the pile, cracking his back.---Layamon poked an egg, finding it to be yet another real Digicel. "I'm going to have to agree with the pyromaniac, there's an awful lot of extra eggs. Especially since only like two of them are just corrupted data."" Hmmm..." Joshing stared at the eggs, mentally counting them. She blinked. "You're right. This is about the same number of eggs as there were Common in the village Rises was in." Frowning, she narrowed her eyes at the eggs. "I seriously hope this is just a coincidence." "Backgammon!" rises yelled, jumping down to help him up." You idiot! Now we have to pick all of this back up!" He said, laughing and dusting the Digimon off. "It's fine. Come on, for your sake, I hope nothing broken." He said, picking some of the things back up and putting them into the boxes, having already forgotten the barrier. "Come on, I think we'll be done when we put this stuff up." He told the lizard.---"No, don't be silly! Nowhere near close!" Candles said, as SOON as she said that, wrapping his arm around Common's "shoulders". "Don't worry, Common, your village is fine! Fine. Fine." He said, noticing the insect beginning to shake. "Okay, if you s-say so, c-Candlemon." the worm, probably the youngest one there, said. The candle smiled, hopping over to Joshing and whispering to her. "Geese, come on. He's a little kid, don't go saying stuff like that around him!" "WWW, thanks," the lizard said. "Yeah, really hoping nothing breakable was in any of this stuff." He visibly cringed at the thought of how annoyed Monochrome would be if something did break. He did not want to see an angry dinosaur Digimon. Ever.---"U-Um, I didn't mean to say it like that. I was just using the village as a base of reference, that's all. I mean, your village is the only small village I've ever seen after all. So it makes sense that I'd consider it to be your average village." While she was trying to put together an explanation, Joshing briefly wondered why she was waving her arms in front of herself. "So, um, let's just keep working and forget I said anything. Okay?" Se laughed nervously." Hey, Common, let's go work over here, alright?" Layamon suggested." Right, let's see. Real, real, real, corrupted, real, hatching egg... Wait." She blinked, staring at an egg from outside the batch they were checking. The egg was shaking, as if its inhabitant was coming out. Cracks started to form, until a ball of fluff poked its head out. They stared at each other for a while. The staring contest between the two of them continued for a few minutes, until the ball of fluff tilted to the side." Relemon?" It asked.---"Hm?" BlackAgumon blinked, looking in the nursery's direction, hearing a loud see from it. Miles away. "Is... That Joshing?" He asked. "I think it was." Rises said, smiling. "I'll ask her what it's about later." He said, going off to finish his job.---"Noon. She should be here soon." Rises note, as he and Backgammon ate, sitting by a fountain in the middle of the city. He looked up, seeing the barrier flashing again, the reddish area springing to the front of his mind. He looked around, trying to spot it again, but the barrier faded before he could. "Ah, I should be more vigilant." He mused, finishing his meal. "Hey, Backgammon." Rises started, standing up. "Somebody is watching us." He warned, his eyes narrowing. "Be on guard, if they attack us here, you're going to have to fight." BlackAgumon was gobbling down a huge sandwich, one that easily was about twice his size. When Rises noted the time, he stopped for a second. "Knowing her, she's probably rushing a few more eggs to check before lunch and will get here in like two minutes at most," he commented. With that, he takes another big bite of his sandwich. When Rises warned him about their being watched, he was down to the last few bites. Eyes narrowed, he nodded and gulped down the last of the sandwich before getting up. "Any idea who it could be?"---Joshing was humming a little tune, her newly adopted Relemon snuggling up against her in her arms. As she kept walking with the three Digimon behind her, she thought she saw something. Narrowing her eyes, she activated her Innovate-abilities. With her vision sharpened significantly, she was able to tell that yes, someone was in fact watching them. Interesting, why was someone spying on them? Are they aware of their presence in that other world? No, that's unlikely. She allowed a slight smirk, having more of an idea what it was about. So, someone is doing something shifty and is keeping an eye on the obvious Generals in town. Whoever they are, they're at least professional enough to know that it would be foolish to not take the human element into account. "Well, well, looks like we have company," she chuckled to herself. Rises' attention was snapped away when Joshing got close. "Hey! Joshing!" He cried out, running over to her and hugging her. Well he WAS going to hug her, when he saw Relemon." Hey, who's this, Joshing?" He asked, smiling when his two Digimon got onto his shoulders. "Whoever she is, she's really cute." He said, reaching out to pet Relemon. Due to his attention being elsewhere, he didn't notice the man in the heavy jacket, with his hood up, getting up and leaving, being joined by a small imp-like Digimon. "How Do-" The imp started, before the man put up his finger. "Later." was all he said. He smiled to himself, wondering if Rises was really the one who was wrathful enough. He seemed rather calm and friendly. But...interesting at that." I don't like him." Joshing's serious expression disappeared almost immediately upon hearing Rises' call. The tiny fox-like Digimon let out a pleased sound, waving her tail in response to the petting. She smiled at the sight, and then she had an idea. An idea for an adorable way to introduce the newborn. "Relemon, tell Rises your name please," she whispered to the fox." Relemon~!" The fox said, tail shifting in time with each syllable." Cute," Layamon mumbled, trying to hide the smile on her face." Yeah, she is pretty adorable. Although, you've still pretty cute yourself," BlackAgumon said, suddenly next to the rabbit. Blushing, the rabbit punched him in the face. "OW!" He yelled, falling flat on his back while cradling his aching nose. Rises helped Backgammon back up, smiling at the display. "Come on Layamon, just admit you like him already, geese."----It was later that day, the sun having lowered into the horizon and the moon coming up, when Rises was staring out his window. Behind him, Joshing and the Digimon where watching TV, but he got bored with whatever it was they were watching. What time was it, Rises wondered, as he looked at the clock. "Ten Pm...oh! The barrier!" The boredom left him, as he looked at the reddish part of the barrier. When he found it, it was different. Instead of just the lines, an entire segment of the honeycomb was red. A red octagon floated in the sigh, looking sickly compared to its transparent others. And then it shattered." Candlemon, come on!" Rises yelled, turning around, and charging out of the room, loading Candles into his Loader. "This show... Is boring, really boring," Joshing sighed. It was a comedy of some sort, one that started off pretty well admittedly. But then partway into the episode, they decided to give up on the funny or something. Looking over her shoulder after an especially dry scene, she saw Rises staring out the window. Before she could ask what was up, he turned, called for Candles, and ran out with the candle being loaded. Figuring out something was up right away, she ran over to the window. Seeing the shattered hexagon, she clicked in tongue in irritation. "Layamon, let's go. BlackAgumon, stay here and watch over Common and Relemon," she ordered." Right," BlackAgumon nodded." Okay, Joshing," the rabbit replied before going into her Loader. The woman ran out to catch up with Rises. "What's going on?"" Something's broken through the barrier, that's what." "Don't go. Let Somebody else handle it. You're just going to get hurt. So what if other people get hurt, as long as you're fine?" Rises growled, whacking his head with his hand. "Now is not the time." He muttered. Ifsomethingbroke the barrier, that would be big trouble. And while it was true it /wasn't/ Rise's job to take care of these things, he just knew he had to check it out. "Joshing. Go to the security station, report that the barrier is broken." He called back to her, once they were out of the hotel and out of earshot of anyone else.---"Joshing, I know you're worried about me..." Rises started, as they arrived at they are under the broken part of the barrier. Rises didn't know what it was, but it had a lot of machinery! "But I would really prefer it if you reported this thing to somebody whose job it is to deal with it." He said, crossing his arms. "Of course I'm worried about you," Joshing said, jabbing a finger in Rises chest. "You almost died. Twice. In as many battles. I'm not leaving you alone. What if you got killed because I wasn't around to help? Besides, if they haven't gotten their asses here by now to do their job, then I'm pretty sure that by the time they get here the guy who did this would have gotten away." The one responsible, a Mekanorimon, was hiding behind nearby machinery and somehow blending in, its one eye staring at them. It blinked in slight confusion, wondering how these two got here so soon after it broke through. Eventually, it came to the conclusion that someone just happened to be looking at the barrier. "Joshing!" Rises snapped, raising a finger at her. "Language, no need to say things like that!" He reprimanded. He crossed his arms and turned around, frowning. "Now where's the jackass who broke the barrier?" He muttered, the sound of footsteps causing him to look up." Well now, no wonder I didn't like you." A boy about Rises' age was walking towards them, wearing a white hoodie and light blue shirt. He was wearing blue jeans that ended in some sort of blue slip-on shoes. His hair was wild and all over the place, white with blue tips. He had heavy shadows underneath his light blue eyes, and a bored and tired look on his face Rises looked at him, his memory snapping back to the fountain. "You were the one watching me, won't you?" Rises accused, stepping towards him. "You looked interesting, was all. I got the impression I wouldn't like you, and look at what he has here? Breaking the barrier?" HE asked, holding up a snow-white Bros loader. "Somebody should teach you a lesson." He said, letting out an oddly...creepy smile." You seem quick to presume." Rises noted, frowning, holding up his own loader. "Don't try to blame me for what YOU did it!" He yelled. "Candles, Reload!" The Candles shout of the red device's screen, hopping up and down in rage. "ARGH! DON'T BLAME RISES FOR THIS!" He yelled, his flames going wild." Snowaaumon." The other boy said, a white lizard loading out of his own device. The snowy beast crouched down, getting ready. Through it was an Acumen, it looked different from Joshing's BlackAgumon. The two boys glared at each other, their Digimon doing the same. "Joshing." Rises spoke up, lowering him self a tiny bit. "Stay out of this. This is between me and...?"" Hyouga. Yoga More. Now, don't be rude, what your name?" He asked, his lips quivering, as he tried not to smile from his excitement. "Rises East. Now, come on, LET'S GO." Just before she could comment on Rises' apparent hypocrisy about swear words, they had a surprise visitor. It was the guy who was watching them, as Rises questioned. When he accused them of breaking the barrier, two possibilities came to mind. Either he was implying that he was going to frame them, or he seriously had nothing to do with this and was just jumping to conclusions. When Rises went and did the same, she couldn't help but sigh. Even before he lost his memory, he was always one to make rash decisions. When he told her to stay out of it, she groaned. "Men," she mumbled while shaking her head. Looking up a little, something caught her eye. "Fine, if that's what you want. I'll just go look around for a bit," Joshing said, walking off. From its hiding place, the Mekanorimon took a look in its one eye, one that said 'what'. Deciding it would be tactically sound to just stay hidden and let the two tire themselves out, it silently watched the fight unfold.

Digimon_ Code Memories|rating:3.0

A Sorceress's Apprentice (MVO34 and BigWad73) _closed_

Charles was walking through the market of Key-a-Breem, they were alive with activity this afternoon. People were buying supplies, exchanging their craft for someone else's crafts, or picking up something for dinner. Charles though was in the bustling market for completely different reasons, she was collecting reagents that could be used in a summoning ritual. Charles is the current apprentice to the Sorceress Ability, one of the many mages in the large metropolis of Key-a-Breem. Being able to summon and bind a denizen of another plane was the last task for this year of apprenticeship, if she couldn't show proficiency with this task she might not be given another year as Ability's apprentice. Charlesse was not quite a young woman, having rounded her 23rd birthday she was nerveless a shapely woman. Not necessarily that tall (5'4") but full of curves, her clothing generally consists of a dull colored robe fortunately her long bright red hair and freckles helped to give her ensemble some color. A wicker basket adorned her arm as she pushed her way through the crowds, her large chest jiggles as another patron backs into her. Her sharp tongue slings an insult that soon gets drowned out in the bustle. A half an hour after working her way through the market though Charles arrives back at Ability's modest tower. Her teacher was currently out, the red-headed girl knew she needed to practice her summoning during any bit of spare time she had. Going to the large grimier of Ability she searched for a previously marked page, it was a more advanced summoning spell than she's cast yet, but she needed something like this to get Ability to pass her...especially after the bath incident, but in her defense how was Charles suppose to know that the spell she used to heat the water would cause her to just be wet for the next 48 hours. Placing the components of the ritual around the table by her for easy reach as she begins the spell... Across the universes, in a different time and space, a roles being flexed several tentacles, rousing itself from the lack of awareness-state that it had been in. Somewhere, it thought to itself, someone is summoning me. Should I respond? It decided that it -would- allow itself to be drugged across the intervening dimensions. The being had a six-pointed star base, about six feet across, and it had multiple tentacles rising up from that base. Overall, it was a blueberry color. Several tentacles held eyespots, and the being's intelligence was distributed throughout the creature, instead of being lodged in one, single organ. Now, it appeared in the summoning circle before the apprentice, the tentacles stretching up nearly ten feet, then doubling back down. A faint smell accompanied it--something like ammonia. It held still, seeming to take in its surroundings. Then, one tentacle with eyespots turned to stare at Charles. A deep voice came from the creature. "You. You have summoned me." It seemed held by the circle... Charles stood there for a few seconds her eyes slightly wide as this tentacled creature appeared before her. It worked, it actually worked She said to herself, ok calm down...it's a lot larger than I thought it would be. Trying to appear more confidant than she is, the red haired apprentice walked out from behind the podium striding up towards the creature. The room was decently sized and Charles should have hung back to try and be outside its potential reach." Yes, I did summon you." Her voice didn't crack, but she never projected the same err of command that many of the best summoners have. "Um..." Now comes the worst part, what does she do now. It's summoned and sitting in front of her, but what does she do now. She began to bring her finger up to her mouth but caught herself as it was halfway up and quickly brought her hand down. The creature flexed against the bonds of the summoning circle, pressing against the arcane barrier. It will prevent me from passing through. It will not prevent me from using my mental powers against anyone outside... The deep voice spoke again. "Why? What do you want of me?" The tentacles moved in the confining space, one coming to aim at her, point on. Slowly, the end flattened, an eye spot in the middle of the plate-sized flat area. It looked right at her, and seemed to grow very dark. A blue-green pattern formed around it on the skin around the eye, sort of set of flashing dots and lines. "My powers are immense. If you have summoned me for some meager act of revenge or produce some sad display of pyrotechnics, I will not be pleased with you. And you do not want to see me displeased." He paused a moment, and the eye with the odd display stared at her. That display was hard to look away from, and seemed to want to draw the mind. Finally, the creature spoke again. "You do not wish to displease me, do you?" Oddly, it seemed more like a command than a question... "Um...um..." Charles stammered out once again, her eyes drawn to the swirl as the creature spoke to her explaining its power. If she had actually paid attention to the books warnings she would have added a filter to the magic circle, but she didn't, and now her eyes are being drawn into the swirling tentacle. Her breathing slows as she answers his first question since she summoned this powerful creature she might as well take advantage of it's power. "I want to be a great Sorceress, I want power..." She says her arms drop to her side as her shoulders droop her mind fogging." No... I wouldn't want to displease you..." The foolish redheaded apprentice's voice flattens and becomes less lively. "Ah, I understand. Well, to be a powerful sorceress, you will have to access my powerfully. And that will require contact between us." The deep voice spoke softly, and the pattern swirled faster, trying to draw her mind even more under the sway of the powerful creature. "To do that, you will have to dismiss the circle, and let me out. You want to gain power, do you not? Then cancel the circle." It gestured at the pattern on the floor with one smaller tentacle. The creature expended even more energy on trying to control the wizards, trying to bend her will, and her mind. But, elsewhere, somewhere near, it could detect another magic user--a stronger one. It needed the protective circle down, so it could defend itself... "Re-remove the circle...but..." Charlesse slowly stammered out as her mind floated deeper into the creature's spiral, still she seemed to retain enough of her mind to not give in immediately. Still she wanted power and this power rolled off of this creature was more than enough to give her what she wanted. "But if I remove the circle that will leave you to run amok..." She said, she didn't even see the smaller tentacle gesturing towards the floor. Her eyes were so focused on the flattened tentacle that the only thing she could see was the patterns it was swirling about. As her eyelids slowly drooped she began to sway lightly from side to side. The creature spoke again. 'You wish to experience my power, to share in it. To do so, you must lower the circle. Do so, now." The roles being's voice turned commanding. "Do so, now." The dots and lines on the flattened tentacle flashed faster, more to simply remove the woman's will, to render her obedient. It began to softly push on the circle, just in case the woman didn't lower the defensive spell around him. He began to seek weaknesses in it. He could sense the other being nearby. If that being was more powerful than the woman before him... There could be trouble. Ability was indeed more powerful than Charles and in the tower, but she was still away. While her body was in the tower her mind was elsewhere, she was communing with other master magi and the power the creature radiated was dampened by the circle, but that was soon changed. Kroleus voice hammered the red head, she jerked back with each command only to slowly rock forward swaying as she falls into obedience. Landing on her knees her head was still cranked up to stare at that tentacle even as her head slowly shakes yes. Her hands move towards the circle which flares to her touch, the last bit of her mind rallied against her actions and she paused a bit, but eventually the creature's power won out and the circle's power vanished. As the creature's power became uninhibited Ability felt the foreign power flare, she swears and excuses herself from the meeting and returns to her body. As the barrier died, the creature wrapped several tentacles around the apprentice. The tentacles grasped her limbs and torso, and she was lifted from the floor, though the tentacle that had controlled her stayed locked before her eyes. "To gain power, you must surrender power. Surrender your power to me..." The voice was soft again, and deep, commanding her to release her arcane energies to the being. The tentacles holding her were joined by a single, darker tentacle that reached out to touch her forehead. This one seemed to be interested in providing a path for her arcane energy to pass to the creature." Speak of the other magic user here--of strength and skill." The creature could sense the other, and needed to erect a defense of its own. Two additional tentacles moved in an arcane way, and a shield of sorts developed around it and the woman it held.--this shield would convert incoming arcane energies to a kind of energy it could use to gain in power. Charles didn't really struggle as she was wrapped up in it's tendrils, "Oh...o-ok." She responded freely giving up her arcane power to the creature, her head rolls back as her powers flow out of her through the darker tentacle connects to her forehead. The rest of her body shakes as the flow is more like a pump, her large breasts shake and jiggle a little as the tentacles hold her tight. She barely registers the protection that is being placed around them as her eyes continue to droop lower and lower. Marilith casts her own magical protections, warding her completely from simple spells and the more powerful one's energies get redirected to the bottom of the tower where she stores vast qualities of power. It's similar to the roles's spell protections but where it's directly fuel itself hers get stored for later use. Tentacles wrapped up the apprentice, completely covering her body. She was held tightly, but not so that she'd be unable to breathe or even in pain from the wrapping. The dark tentacle continued to touch her forehead, though the other tentacle that had been channeling the creature's mental powers retracted back into the mass of the roles beast. The woman was kept to the rear of the creature, away from the door that led into the area he was in. Now that it's defensive spell was up, it cast another spell that would trap the area near the door. A dozen dark tentacles of force would spring up to catch whoever stepped through the door. Through the connection to the trapped woman's mind, the creature pulsed a question. Tell me a weakness of the being I will face... Charles didn't really know of any weaknesses, at least none that weren't the same as what she had. "Just the same ones as I have..." she states with glassy eyes and a monotone voice. She conjures in her mind an image of the opponent he faces, she is tall standing at about 6' with very womanly curves. Her oversize breasts and flaring hips are barely hidden behind the cloak she wears, bright green piercing eyes boar down as her long wavy brown hair cascades down her back. Not long after the image would the roles see her in person, not wanting to give up any element of surprise she may have Ability uses a telekinesis spell to blow the door open and off its hinges. It flies straight back like a missile as she walks through the door. Her cloak itself is enchanted with a variety of protect spells, mostly to resist physical attacks. It's strong as steel, but as slippery as a fish...one does not get to become a master magus without being ready for a great many things. Sadly most are not ready for a roles to suddenly appear in their place of power, and as the brown haired master sees what was summoned she pauses briefly in shock. This was very bad, very bad indeed. The apprentice's thoughts trigger a realization in the creature. There is a link between the apprentice and the teacher! He begins to subtly probe this link, looking for a back door into the older woman's mind. He sifts through the apprentices mental processes, and though it would be perhaps uncomfortable, it would not be painful to her. His search is for something that will give him an upper hand in the combat--a route for his mental abilities, or a way to get through her defenses. Outwardly, the being dodges the door, lashing it aside with a long tentacle, The door shatters against a wall. The creature's tentacles move slightly, and several beams of force emanate from the tips of a few of them, the beams focused on the mage at the doorway. The beams would attempt to pierce any defenses to physical blows that she might have, and to overwhelm any mystical defenses--they are very strong! Of course, the tentacle trap just inside the doorway continues to wait for a victim... Unfortunately Charles was not really that much help as she probed her mind, Ability didn't confine in her too much. Still what she does come up with is general ways to disrupt spell casters, bound arms, gags pretty much anything to distract the caster. The tentacle trap hit her cloak first but thanks to the protection spells on Ability's cloak they weren't able to get a decent hold on her. After recovering the wave haired sorceress began to retaliate with her own spells when the creature let loose its force beams. They meet her defensive shield and begin to bleed away as their energies are redirected down the tower, still the barrage is more than what it can keep up with and soon the spell lets through weaker beams. *UGH* she grunts and completes her how spell, a beam of absolute cold...it lances towards the roles's with its own shield. Still the weakened shield allows that tentacle trap to grasp her. The beam of deep cold strikes a tentacle of the creature, though it's partially deflected by the shield, some of the energy absorbed. Still, one tentacle flashes into the path of the beam and then seems to wither from the effect, though the rest of the creature seems undamaged. The creature uses the force beams to pick apart the spell shield the female mage has cast around herself, starting with the outermost layers. The energy the wizards has provided by her attack going into making the force beams even stronger! The tentacle trap was meant as a distraction to her, but his own tentacles reach for her while she is engaged with the trap, trying to follow the openings he's made in her shield. One tentacle would head towards her face, and two more towards her hands. If the latter two actually reach her hands, they'd entangle her fingers in great globs of goo that they secreted, sticking her manipulative digits to the ends of his tentacles. The third one, aimed at her head, would attempt to fill her mouth with more of the goo. One measure would halt any motions of her hands related to spell casting, and the other would halt her speaking the words of spells. Finally, the creature triggered the apprentice's mind. Speak these words, my servant: "Surrender, mistress. Surrender! It means us no harm, but you're resisting it is putting both of us in jeopardy!" The words were a lie, of course, but the creature wanted to throw off her mental balance even more... Charles repeated the creatures words, "Surrender, mistress. Surrender! It means us no harm, but your resisting is putting both of us in jeopardy!" The problem is that it all comes out kind of monotone as she remains under that lenticular spell. Marilith though new that couldn't be true most things summoned were there against their will, and unless controlled out bound would destroy until stopped. Still she didn't really have time to reply as she throws her hands up high to keep the trap from being able to goo her only offensive capabilities. She attempted to refresh her shield just as the one aiming for her mouth, she saw it too late and as she attempted to move out of the way it nails the side of her face. She jerked away as the spell fizzled, some of the goo was plastered on her face and in her mouth. Coughing and spitting out as much as she could, Ability was hit by the increased force beams knocking her to her knee. Her large chest shakes as she is forced down, she had to get out of here and get help. The roles beast began wrapping tentacles around the woman, or at least trying to, attempting to immobilize her. Again, the two tentacles with sticky lumps on the end tried to attach to her hands. Overall, the creature wanted to both prevent her from casting any more spells, and to bring her closer. Two more tentacles came up, the ends flattening. The pattern that had entranced Charles formed on the dish-sized ends of both, doubling the power and the effect of the mental control spell, focusing it on the stronger magic user, the purple and black pattern whirling slowly at first, trying simply to capture her attention. Slowly, it would try to drag her forward, towards it, wrapping more tentacles around her body to further incapacitate her. The beast did a good job of pouncing on the distracted mage, and soon she was cocooned in tentacles. With her hands good and her mouth trying to get rid of the goo and tentacle in her mouth she was unable to cast most spells or at least any spells that would be helpful here. She didn't concern herself with the spinning and patterned tentacles that distracted her red haired apprentice, her mind was well hardened against such mental incursions...at least while she's at her peak. Kroleus' though were power sip honers and if this one got out of this room and found the heart of her tower it would be almost unstoppable. The one spell she was able to still cast was fling, it would move fling a small item in a direction, nothing in this area would be enough to get her out of this situation, but it could still be used to keep this from getting worse. With the little motion that she is capable of she flings the ink well that's on her podium at the wall. It lands on target hitting a small panel hidden in the stone, one of the many panic buttons she has in her tower...it would lock down most rooms (the summoning room being one of them) until she lifted it. No doubt this creature could break out of this room, but it would take time, hopefully it would slow it down enough for the built-in distress spell to summon help. Defiantly she beams back towards the roles, even as the tentacle continues to pump goo down her throat. The creature had her completely wrapped up, his warm tentacles on her clothing, though those tentacles would be rolling and twisting, and the clothing would be getting abused by those motions, seams parting, buttons opening. Her arms were pressed to her sides, and the tentacle in her mouth slipped further in, beginning to pump some sort of fluid into her. Her mouth would get numb almost immediately, that numbness spreading to her throat, the feeling similar to the feeling one would have when a person's leg would fall asleep. The black tentacle was removed from the trapped apprentice, and it threaded its way towards the mage. As it had done with the apprentice, it sought to touch her forehead, and from there, begin to drain her magical energy. The simple spell that locked down the tower didn't intimidate the roles beast--for now, it simply wanted the woman's power, and then her obedience. Now that she was wrapped up, though, the creature brought her closer, and used its abilities to pare away her defenses. It was a slow process, but it would, over time, open her to the creature's influence. More, as the female's clothing began to shred, tips of tentacles began to touch her skin. Her breasts would be softly fondled, and then her tummy caressed. Another tentacle began to slide between her legs, seeking out her sex. There was, the beast knew, more than one way to drop a mage's resistance. Ability couldn't do much to stop the tentacle in her throat from pouring down its numbing fluid into her body. Her lips tingled as they went numb and soon the only way she knew the tentacle was still present was because it would rub up against the rest of her body. Still it was nothing compared to the sensation that she's feeling from the rest of the tentacles squirm and flow over her body. She was concerned about what it was doing to her cloths but not because she cared for any particular cloths but more because of the access they would be granted once it was gone. Soon though her worries became reality as her large breasts are fondled. For all the beast knew she wasn't struggling at all, the busty mage was but when put up against the power of the tentacles it was nothing more than child attempting to pull away from their parent. She could feel the last of her garments by her waist give way as that tentacle slowly side up her leg, rubbing her mound just as the black tentacle reaches her forehead. Steeling herself as much as she can Ability begins a two front mental war, one to hold onto her magical energies and another to resist the pleasure it's attempting to fill her with. The tentacles at her breasts coiled around her summaries, squeezing them softly, and the tips of the tentacles poked and stroked and pinched her nipples, trying to make her more aroused. Another tentacle slipped up behind her, and began to softly stroke her rear as the last of her clothing shredded off. The one at her sex oozed a bit of the same stuff that was at her mouth, though not a great amount. It then rubbed the gel on her pussy and ass, and she'd almost immediately feel a relaxing sensation at those spots. A moment later, both tentacles speared into her vagina and ass, pushing deep inside her, filling her openings. The one in her mouth slowed the flow of fluid into her, but it began to slide in and out of her mouth, as if it was screwing her mouth. With all this going on, the black tentacle touched her forehead, and she'd sense that the creature was trying to draw her power to its;f... The two flattened tentacles reappeared, and then moved right next to her eyes, just an inch or so away. The mental power pumping through them was upped greatly, trying to pull her eyes to look at them, to open her mind... Ability could feel the black tentacle attempt to pull her power from her, but she grits her teeth and bared down trying to keep all of her strength inside of her...well bare down figuratively, between the tentacle and numbing agent she couldn't really do much. Another moan rumbled in the back of her throat as her breasts were bound and coiled, the squeezing pressure was just right and was hitting all of her boob buttons. She was held to tightly to jerk when the next one came up and began to caress her ass, still she tried. Physical tasks weren't really what she was suited for, it was more the realm of magic and the mind, and she was fighting with all she had to keep those. Fortunately her loins began to fade from her mind as they became numb, she had shut her eyes to keep the spinning tendrils from holding her attention. This didn't last long, she didn't realize what was happening until they were well inside of her, those thick tentacles began pumping and squirming inside of her as they pleasured her womanly bits. Her eyes went wide as she went from being figuratively to literally fucked, still moaning they latched onto the hypnotic tentacles. It took a great bit of effort but after a minute of staring at them, she was finally able to close her eyes once again. She had to attempt to recover and push the growing voice in the back of her head down, the one that wanted her to open up her eyes again. The black tentacle mashed into her forehead, attempting to draw her magical powers past whatever resistance she was putting up against the creature. At the same time, it tried to use the connection to push a thought into her mind:Surrender. Surrender to the pleasure. Serve me... The tentacles at her breasts continued to softly knead and squeeze her tits, working on her nubs with the tips of the tentacles, stroking over them again and again. The tentacle in her mouth widened, and then, the tip started to extend, sliding past her tongue, and trying to go further down her throat, again leaking the numbing agent into her body, letting it slide down her throat and into her tummy. At her slit, the tentacle tip narrowed during one cycle of in and out, and the narrowed tip pushed against her cervix, sliding through thanks to some extra lubrication it leaked out. Once inside, it ballooned out, filling her womb with its warmth and pulsing motions. In her rear, the tentacle there began to surge upward a bit with each thrust, going deeper and deeper inside her. The two tentacles in front of her face continued to broadcast their spinning, flashing lights into her eyes, or eyelids, as the case may be. Even then, though, they'd try to penetrate her defenses, eyes open or not, as they were as much mental as they were optical. Ability continued to resist even as every part of her body was assaulted by pleasure, she strained with every fiber of her being. She continued to struggle against the tentacles that kept her bound, but it was little more than helping the creature stimulate her. Her hips shook and spasmed as the lower tentacles continued to bore deeper into her body, it was equal parts pain and pleasure as it expanded into her cervix. Still the pain slowly faded and was replaced by just pleasure. The pain though shocked her back into defiance, as she rails against the thoughts being pumped into her. NEVER!she replies, at least until the one in her mouth slips all the way down her throat. It quickly turned into panic as she was having trouble breathing, she tried to shake her head to get it out of her airway and allow her to breath. Still even as she fought that little voice in the back of her mind grew louder as her arcane powers trickled though the connection. The trickle of power coming back to the creature showed that what he was trying to do was actually working. It pressed the advantage, trying to open up the channel further. And to do so, it began to cast another spell, trying to pull power from the sorceress. This spell would shield the entire tower from anyone trying to enter, or even cry inside the structure. It was a strong spell, and it took a lot of arcane energy to power it, energy he tried to take from her, instead of using his own energy. Like weakening a dam from the backside of the structure, the creature believed that the vacuum of energy due to the spell being cast would actually break her resistance and suck energy out of the sorceress. At the same time, it warmed its tentacles slightly, and staved off secreting the numbing gel from most of its tentacles, letting her sensations get back to normal. The tentacles on her breasts tweaked and teased, wrapping around her tits, squeezing them softly. Inside her womb, the expanded tentacle rubbed softly against her inner walls, gently trying to further arouse her. In her vagina, the tentacle developed a wave motion to its outer skin, the wave traveling up and down the shaft, emulating a thrusting motion. The tentacle in her rear probed deeper, slipping into her body, again, warmly rubbing against her insides. And in her throat, the tentacle slipped deeper inside, probably gagging her, but now, all the numbing goo was being dumped there, where it would be spreading out to her body, slowly, so that she'd not weaken more from it--not yet--but when she did, it would be complete weakening... When the creature cast his spell attempting to shield her tower, she could feel the black tentacle try and pull more and more of her arcane energies from her. It was quickly getting to the point where Ability had to choose one sensation to fight, either the fucking or the power transfer. She chooses to fight the black tentacle that was attempting to drain her magical powers, to her, it was her entire world, her sense of self and everything she worked so hard to become. Being fucked didn't seem to matter to her as much as getting her powers drained out of her. The roles would sense the change pretty quickly, the slow trickle of power stopped as she refocused. In return though the creature would find her more receptive to its other manipulations, her hips would roll, breasts heave, and moans would resonate down the mouth tentacle. Seconds would feel like hours as she attempted to hold back each bit of power she could, she was slowly loosing consciousness though as the tentacle in her mouth slipped deeper depriving her of air. Even as her body goes limp she holds back as much power as she can before it begins to flow back through the tentacle. The roles being been becoming impatient with the resistance of the sorceress. It forced more thoughts through the link to her mind. You will break, female. And then your body will become my toy, forever providing me power, and amusing me in your abject slavery. In increased the pressure to suck her power out of her, and at the same time, it increased the rate that it was pulsing the tentacle in her slit, and the one in her ass. The tentacle in her mouth had reached her stomach, and it began to pump the sweet, numbing fluid directly into her digestive system. At her nipples, the tentacles pressed in, and part of them merged with her flesh, though the pain from that was non-existent. Instead, the creature began to directly stimulate her nervous system, trying to increase her arousal. The creature brought the apprentice around, now, bringing her upright before her former mistress, but keeping her wrapped up. He told the apprentice, mentally, Your former teacher is being resistant, slave. You will kiss her soft breasts. He unwrapped the tentacles around the sorceress' tits, though the connection to her nipples remained, leaving lots of flesh to kiss. Charles nodded her head as the roles commanded her to kiss her former teacher's large soft breasts. She shuffled over towards the bound master, if she wasn't bound the unconscious magus would be hanging limp as she is pleasured. The tentacle in her mouth was still pumping its numbing agent into her body, and still cutting off her from breathing. Her moans had stopped even as they continue to pleasure her, her magical energies still locking inside of her. Her unconscious mind was not allowing any power to flow, apparently needing a more active participant than Ability is in her current state. This was also fulfilling fantasies that the apprentice has had since she began her studies under the raven haired beauty, she kissed with gusto as her tongue played over each bud as she kissed between both nipples. The creature seemed a bit irritated. It used its tentacles to flip the apprentice upside down, then lowered her so that her head was even with the sorceress' sex. Pleasure your former mistress--kiss and lick her sex. Penetrate her sex with your tongue. It flattened the tentacle inside the sorceress so that Charles could do as she was told. It withdrew the tentacle from the older woman's throat. Furthermore, it had no desire to kill her--it just wanted her to be his energy source, and his slave, as the apprentice had become. Furthermore, it spoke mentally to the sorceress again. Awaken. Awaken and feel the joy your apprentice gives you. The joy I can grant you. Let that joy fill you... Yes, thank you master. Charles thought before she founder herself upside down and pressed up against her mistress's sex, it didn't take her long to begin to eagerly shove her tongue deep into the moist numbed area. It wasn't long before her head began to bob, and her hands reach around and found Ability's ass so she could drive her face into that crotch. Marilith on the other hand was slowly regaining consciousness and when she did wake she was shocked to see her apprentices legs up by her head, she let another blur of power through the channel before quickly clamping down on it. Unfortunately for the roles the numbing agent it had smeared and pumped into most of her dulled much of what it's thrall was trying to provide, it was like an itch she couldn't scratch annoying but not all that stimulating. The rest of the tentacles results were also quite mixed, being numbed kept her from really feeling the pleasure. Sure her body knew what it felt like to be manipulated in such a way and even sort of responded to it but not nearly as much as it could have. It was going to be slow-going to break this woman. I don't want your joys, I don't need your pleasure. Get out of my tower! She thought back to the creature, even as she responds though the power transfer continues to slowly drain out her energies as it trickles through the black tentacle. The creature was long-lived, so it could afford a bit of patience. It just kept drawing at her power. A trickle was better than nothing, after all. You will serve me. I am supreme here. It began to raise the power that it was using to pierce her shield, to open up her mind to its abilities so that it could actually drain her power completely. But it kept the apprentice at work on her former mistress. It found that appealing, in a deep way that it was unfamiliar with, but nonetheless enjoyed. In fact, it put a tentacle back into the apprentice's vagina and rear, and it began to wiggle and pulse them slowly, emulating a penis buried in her slit and ass. Continue to pleasure your former mistress, slave. Make her orgasm... It maintained her upside down before the older woman. It reached out with its senses to make sure that no one else was coming towards the tower. "Yes master." Charles responded quickly before diving back in, throwing her head in while the tentacle slide back into the. She worked with the pulsating cock, running her tongue up and down her lower lips whist it continued to plunge in deeper and deeper. Eventually her lips settled on Ability's clit, flicking it with her tongue whiles she sucks with abandon. The elder mage though is still putting up as much of a fight as she can be trying to hold back her power from leaving her body. She could feel the approaching orgasm but could just hope that when it rips through her that she's able to still keep up the fight. It's a pleasurable few minutes of manipulation before the creature can feel her body tighten and spasm as her first climax rips through her body, at first the trickle of power stops once again, but then it floods the link as the older mage rides out her orgasm. Panting she comes off her pleasure high and immediately tightens the grip on the power transfer. Never... I'll never server you. There's a slight trickle of power that, for a few moments, grows to a serious flow. But then, it closes off again. Double your efforts, slave. The creature speaks to the apprentice sternly, an undercurrent of threat in his mental tone. With the older sorceress, the being continues to try to draw her power. At the same time, it floods her view with the twin tentacles that are displaying the hypnotizing patterns, trying to break her mind. It's now completely stopped the numbing fluids coming from it, allowing the woman's body to continue returning to normal. You will serve me, woman, and you will -want- to in a few moments. You will desire to give me your power, to allow me to command you. Ugh, no...take my apprentice but let me goMarilith began to try and bargain with the creature, she's not quite panicking but is getting there. The feeling was slowly returning to her body allowing her to feel the stimulation being given to her body to a greater effect. This was not good for her, even as she tries to come down from the one orgasm she already had the manipulation by the tentacles and apprentice didn't really allow for that. She began to feel herself coming towards a second climax, she didn't want to dwell on the pleasure but the roles put up the hypnotic patterns in her mind, so her choices are either focus on the mind-numbing pattern or the building pleasure. There is no way out of this that she can see, but still fights to hold onto herself as she focuses on the pleasure she's being given. Charlesse attempted to double her efforts for her new master, she pushed her tongue in as far as she could into the elder mages crotch before pulling back and planting those lips onto her clit. She started by just flicking it with her tongue, but then she just turned around and sucked it with all her might. I will take both of you, and alter you both to my satisfaction! The voice would grow thunderous in the sorceress' mind, matching yet another attempt to open up her defenses to draw her magical energy out. It began to warm the tips of its tentacles, especially the ones in the openings of both magicians, and it increased the rate that it was wiggling the tips. The two tentacles showing the patterns flashed brightly, to draw her attention, then went back to displaying the mind-entrancing shapes. Draw her attention, slave! Make her body writhe with pleasure! The last was directed at the apprentice. Ability shirked as the creature's voice grew to be deafening, she was able to continue to block out the swirling tentacles, but the warming helped to melt her insides as her attention was drawn into the pleasure radiating up from her breasts and waist. If she wasn't being held as firmly she would be working her hips forward in time with the pumping and sucking of the creature and her apprentice. Moans reverberate down her mouth invader as she moans through her pleasure, she's so turned on right now that she is on the cliff of her second orgasm. Charlesse continues to suck and lick her way into the older mage's loins at least as well as she can while being held upside down by the coleus. Hands on her ass keep squeezing and groping as her tongue flicks against that hard nub stuck between her lips The roles beast flexed his tentacles on both women, increasing the wiggling inside them, both front and rear, and smaller tentacles moved to the sorceress' breasts, wrapping around and around them, squeezing the mounds of flesh roughly, flicking the nubs of her nipples. My power and patience is great, woman, and yours is small. Come for your new master. Orgasm, and release your power to me. Release your mind to me. The black tentacle on her forehead pressed harder against her skin, and the two tentacles flashing patterns into her eyes would intensify their efforts even more. The apprentice's body was now simply a tool for the creature to use to overwhelm the elder sorceress, but in payment for that, the creature ejected a load of warm fluid into the apprentice's pussy and ass, filling her with the dislike stuff. Ability went over the cliff once again as those new smaller tentacles that wrapped around her breasts squeezing and flicking her hardened nipples. Her orgasms bring a smile to Charles's lips as her master rewards her with its spunk like substance into her, she continues sucking on the elder mage's clit even the cumming mage floods her face with her own heavy cum. The power transfer opens up to the black tentacle and once again it floods power into the roles. The power transfer continues for several minutes yet again and even when Ability is able to recover from her orgasm she's unable to clamp down that transfer like she did before. It's still not as open as it is while she was climaxing, but instead of a leaky faucet it's more like garden hose. The creature seemed to pause for a second as the flow of energy peaked, almost as if it was inhaling in satisfaction. The use of magic from this plane had emboldened the creature--local magic was flavored differently, and the creature savored the arcane taste of it. But then the flow slowed down. No... I want more of that. It echoed in her mind, and the creature tried to draw more power through the link. It lifted the apprentice, now, and brought her around so that she was face to face with her former mistress. More tentacles slipped inside both women's slits, filling them with the warm, soft, goo-spurting members, and the creature told the apprentice, Kiss her. Bring her to me, slave. Extra tentacles slipped around the labia of both magic-users, and the tips of those tentacles began to softly stroke and wrap around their clits. Come for me, slaves. Come for your master. Charles brought her face towards Ability as much as she could while the creature continues to maneuver her around. Still it was enough to allow her lips to capture and molest her former master's. It didn't take long for Ability begin to kiss back, and soon they were both sucking each other faces while those tentacles continue to thrust into them. The coleus is still getting a pretty steady of tasty arcane energy from her, it's still not as much as when she was orgasming, but it was more than before. Still as she is still be stimulated it won't be to long before she begins to orgasm once again, Ability can feel herself rapidly reaching a third orgasm. The creature continued to tentacle fuck both women, keeping them dangling above the ground, face to face, bringing them together so that they could stimulate each other. The tasty energy kept flowing to it, and it began to feed back some of the energy to the sorceress, trying to bend her mind with her own power. It realized that if it could make her orgasm a third time, she'd probably break, at least in a magical sense. But it wanted her mind and abilities, too. It continued to whisper to her mind. You will surrender. Why not let yourself go? I will not harm you, or your former follower. Come for me, your master... There was defiance in Ability still as she attempted to rebuff the creature's taunts and commands but as she continues to slather her own lips and tongue over her former apprentice's face it seems to be almost a hollow gesture. Her hips began to devour the tentacle stuffed inside of it, instead of taking a passive roll her body is now actively working to get her to reach a third orgasm as the energy flows out. It wasn't long before both the creature and Ability would register the point of no return for her third orgasm, sadly all the raven haired sorceress can do is moan and grind her hips in an attempt to reach it. The creature was slamming its tentacles in and out of both females' slits, pushing the fleshy appendages deeper into the women. It spoke the same words to both of them now, through the mental connection tentacles. Your bodies are mine to command. When I tell you to orgasm, your bodies will do so, and when you do, you will become completely my creatures, obeying me totally, and serving me totally. The tentacles holding up the women pressed their bodies together, face to face, tit to tit, tummy to tummy. Their public mounds would rub together as they moved into contact. The word came through those same tentacles, going to both women. Orgasm. Now. Charles was definitely the creatures mind and body, Ability wasn't quite there yet. Her body was definitely it's plaything and boy did it respond. Pressing their bodies together created a grand valley of cleavage between the four large tits, and they were both so turned on that they could occasionally feel each other's hard clits as they were rubbed together. Both tensed and shuddered in ecstasy as their orgasms began to wash over them when commanded, Charles's eyes were vacant as she gave herself fully to her new master. Ability and the roles could feel the arcane gateway opening up once again as the energy transfer flooded the link, the damn had burst and in her present state she wouldn't be able to rebuild it. In fact her mind was for all intents and purposes the creatures, there to do with what it will but unlike her untrained apprentice Ability had a forceful will one that could never be snuffed out completely instead it's locked away inside her mind. Trapped upon layers of pleasure, mental blocks, and the roles' impressive powers. The roles beast separated the two women, and brought them around so that they were feet down, hanging above its body. Two thick tentacles opened up in the body, and the women were lowered into the openings, each getting their own spot. Once they were inside, the tentacles zipped closed, sealing them in. Internally, tubes attached to the women's mouths, allowing them to breathe. Tentacles slipped into their soft pussies, immediately inflating to fill their slits completely. Similar tentacles slid into their asses, and they'd lodge there, too. Cup-tipped tentacles slid over their breasts, sucking in their nipples and most of their breasts. Finally, a dark tentacle went to each woman's forehead, touching it, and re-establishing the creature's contact and control, along with the constant drain of arcane energy. It spoke mentally to the sorceress. The spells that closed off this room. How are they undone? And who will respond to whatever has been triggered? Both Charles and Ability groaned as they were separated, and the tentacles were removed from their bodies. Still turned on and wanting more pleasure they were soon moaning once again as they got sealed inside their tubes and were assaulted with new pleasures. Hips rolled as they were filled and if they weren't already hard their nipples were super sensitive as the cups enveloped their large breasts. Once again the dark tentacle leached power out of both of the women, Ability still had plenty of arcane energy left to give but the apprentice Charles was mostly tapped. I'ts not quite like trying to get the last bit of liquid left in a glass with a straw, but it's pretty close. Marilith's response was punctuated with moans, The runes under the third stone from the left. She sent along a picture of the stone in question as well as how the runes should be manipulated. Kroloth, Janvier Silver shaper, Lady Uranus, Story Carter, and Iranian...maybe more. It wrapped itself up, until it was slightly smaller, though it kept the two women next to the main body of the creature. Then, it moved across the floor, finding the stone as the enchantress had told him. Excellent, slave. It pulsed a bit of pleasure at the older woman, to reinforce her obedience. The creature lifted the stone, and deactivated the alarm, as it was instructed. Soon, it should have the alarm off, and then it could respond to whatever was happening... Once the door was open, the creature would move through, cautiously, making sure that another magic user wasn't clandestinely sneaking up on it. It also used its magical senses to find any powerful magic items in the area. It kept the younger woman completely drained, or drained as much as possible, and it kept her nice and pliable, sliding obedient thoughts into her mind through the tentacle connection. The older woman also was kept low on her magic--the creature was using them like batteries, keeping its own capabilities strong and well-powered. It spoke again to the older female. Who would respond first, in your opinion? Both women continued to erotically squirm as the creature moved through the tower disarming one door after another, their sex ooze with pleasure. It wouldn't find any other arcane users sneaking up on it but find that what ever is keeping the tower on lockdown is also dampening its ability to sense any magic outside the room it's in. The walls etched with runes pulsate with power, runes of warding and dampening woven together, clearly attempting to drain them would not be the best idea for who knows what would happen if one tried. Lady Uranus, she is a resident of this town but won't attempt to enter until more arrive. Marilith responds as the Roles reinforces its control and siphons power at a steady rate keeping itself topped off. The creature spent some time exploring the walls of the tower, seeking to understand the magical defenses that the sorceress had set up. As it moved around, it questioned her. Every time she gave a satisfactory answer, he pulsed a bit of sexual pleasure into her mind, building her up to a massive orgasm when he would allow her to come." Are there restrictions to opening a gateway to another dimension in your home?"" Can you modify the spells on your tower to let me see outside the structure?"" Can you communicate with the woman you mentioned?"" Did you install teleportation sites in your tower that I may use?"" Do you have any magical artifacts that I may use?" Enough satisfactory answers, and he'd let her have a mind-blowing orgasm, hopefully bending her will even more... The Roles would find that the defenses that were erected were multi-layered and efficient in their attempt to seal off sections of the tower. If it wasn't for the key it had been given the amount of energy expended to open the doors would have been horrendous. But since it has the key it is able to slip through the rooms without much care. Marilith answers most of the question as truthfully as she can, but she definitely is holding something back on the magical artifacts front. Only floor 1, 15, and the top floor are usually allowed unrestricted teleportation and dimensional travel...unless the tower is on lockdown then all forms of crying, teleportation, and dimensional gateways. The spells can be modified, but it is tough to do while on lockdown. The lockdown can only be rescinded from the library on the top floor. I can contact Lady Unary's, but with the lockdown engaged she may not believe what I say. The bound busty sorceress replies, with some apprehension she continues, hoping that she gave enough information to be allowed another orgasm. T-there is my staff of power... While mostly under the creatures control Ability seems to be holding off telling it about her magical storehouse located in the basement of the tower. The creature began to softly stroke the older magic-using female's body with small tentacles that grew from inside the chamber she was held in. "Where is the staff you speak of?" it asked her softly. "Your honesty will earn you the sexual release I know you want." It began to search around the tower, noting that there was some sort of magical aura in the area, though it was hard to locate with all the other spells and wards scattered around the structure." What will be the consequences if I end the lockdown?" It asked the sorceress another question, continuing to stimulate her mind and body, to break her more completely. Meanwhile, it turned its attention back to the apprentice who had summoned it. "Awaken, slave. Your former mistress is hiding something from me, I believe. Does she have a cache of magical items in this tower?" It wriggled the tentacles in her pussy and ass, and flooded her mind with sexual pleasure, ensuring her compliance with its total control of her mind and body. Charles moaned as she was questioned and teased, her answer was completely unguarded. I don't know, there are certain rooms and floors I'm not allowed in. She then flashes half a dozen floors in the tower that she is not allowed in, the basement being one of them, next comes a flood of doors she's not allowed in either. At least two of them feature the word caution on it. The staff should have been moved to the top of the tower, since it wasn't in my hands when the lockdown was triggered. Marilith cooed as she answered, her answers becoming more open as the conversation turns away from her troves of magical artifacts. It depends on how you attempt to cancel the lockdown, incorrectly will status lock the entire top floor. But if done properly it should allow the tower and it's defenses to be put under your command. She then provides the creature the instructions to properly lift the lockdown. From where they are now it will probably take an hour to get to the top floor and then another 30 mins or so to undo the lockdown, longer if it chooses to study and make sure that it's pet is being truthful. The roles beast began to move towards the top floor of the tower, carefully threading its way among and around any magical pitfalls and traps it might find. It sent Charles back into the orgasmic haze it was keeping her in, aroused, teased, asleep. The older sorceress, though, it kept questioning as it moved. First, it inserted new small tentacles into her ears, and those stretched into her brain, not damaging her, but touching her pleasure centers. It would try to bring her to orgasm, though not repeated ones--instead, it would seek to bring her to one, mind-lowing, persistent one that would go on and on and on. At the same time, it would pulse the tentacles inside her ass and pussy, filling her, thrusting deep inside her. The ones at her nipples would nearly pull and twist her breast until pain resulted, though not quite there. And other ones would wrap around her midsection, massaging her tummy and back and hips. Finally, some time later, it asked the woman, "Are you telling your master everything, slave? Or are you hiding something?" And with that, it began the sequence again, seeking to break her will completely and totally. The older sorceress attempted to weather this new assault as best she could, hoping that her small little cocoon of protection/resistance was enough to keep her save from this creature's probes. The way it fed off of magical energies if it breached it and found her own power battery in the sub-basement it would be devastating. Her inner self shook as the first continuous orgasm hit her, pleasure bombs exploded inside of her as every muscle tightened, and every nerve rang out with pleasure. But still she held out; shaken, blissful but still safe...that is until the roles starts again. Another wave of pleasure battered her, still she held out although deep fissures had formed as once again the pleasure subsided, and she was asked question after question. Still not satisfied with her answers it started up once again, this time though the damage was done and as her marathon orgasm subsided it was all over. Ability would tell it everything, she had nothing left to put up between it and herself. Panting she spills the last of her secrets, "In the basement...in the basement is a battery that can be tapped into, a well of arcane energies that I've been collecting for decades..." And with that her final secrets have been reveled. The creature continues towards the top of the tower, aiming to disarm the magic that has locked down the tower. It speaks again to the older sorceress. "Once we reach the tower, you will walk me through the undoing of the alarm magic. Then, we will travel to the 'basement' as you call it, and obtain the arcane power source." It gives her a brief shot of arousal and pleasure as a reward for telling it of the battery. Slowly, it makes its way up the tower, until it reaches the top. As it moves, it speaks to Charles again. "Slave, I wish for you to perform an act for me. I am going to send you outside the tower in a little bit. Your goal will be to draw another magic user--a female--to my location so that I can enslave them." It wiggled the tentacles inside her slit and ass. "Your reward for your success will to be pleasured such as I have just pleasured your former mistress..." Now at the top floor of the tower, the roles seeks out the female's staff, and the tower's magical alarm system, ready to use the first, and disarm the second. The staff radiates power which quickly flows into the creature as it takes hold of the arcane artifact...one of only three knowns in existence. Marilith coos and agrees to provide the required information to her new master on how to access and disable the lock-down. Once again this requires time and repetition, one could almost admire the complexity built into this system. It was truly a last ditch effort against invaders who manage to breach the tower. The pleasure she received from the roles pushes her closer towards another orgasm. Charlesse agreed to her master's request, moaning as it wiggles tentacles inside of her. The young apprentice is more than eager to help her master for more pleasure, she is truly addicted to the pleasure the creature provides. The staff goes into a separate tentacle's center, where it would be used to generate arcane energy for the creature. It also tested the staff to see if it had spells designed into it--spells that the creature could cast. The disarming of the magic lock down begins, with each successful step bringing Ability a tiny bit of arousal and pleasure, driving her closer and closer to yet another orgasm. The roles, in its own way, almost envied her. It's last mating experience with a female roles, or a Gropius beast-Bette, was a bit unsuccessful--she'd not liked the sheesh bouquet he brought her... So much for courting... So, now, it gained a bit of its own pleasure from pleasuring the busty sorceress, especially as she followed its commands, helping him lift the lockdown. As soon as it is lifted, the beast releases Charles. "Go. Find another female mage--there may be one outside. Bring her to me, using whatever subterfuge you must--I will be in the basement. Tell her your mistress is in danger." And with that, the creature was off, headed downstairs, aiming for the basement and the arcane power cell. It would use Ability's knowledge to guide it to the right place. Charles nodded and headed for the door to the tower. The city had an abundance of magic users so finding one shouldn't be too hard for her. The staff was synced with the tower and once the creature wasn't distracted by unlocking the tower it would find out that much of the tower's functions. Doors that usually remain locked automatically unlock with the staff in its possession. Ability moans once again as the creature continues to provide pleasure to her as she continues to help it master her tower. With the lockdown lifted the roles could immediately sense the wealth of power that the lockdown had dampened. Whatever she had in the basement was almost as powerful as Ability's own arcane signature. Once it gets to the basement it would find what amounts to a battery full of arcane energies, most of it stolen from other spells cast at her similar to the shield it had created back when the two fought. Next to it was a generator of sorts that is used to power most of the tower, the battery helps to provide energy for other functions when needed. Once outside Charles made a bee-line for one of the local mages, tears welled up in her eyes as she pleads her case for help. A touch of the battery's power was almost intoxicating to the roles beast, such was the arcane power stored within. It immediately grew in size, though in a dimensional sense, growing in a direction that was not the normal three, but went elsewhere. And once it grew there, it brought the sorceress Ability there, opening up the tentacle that held her so that she was now completely enclosed in a dimension that seemed only to be the creature. Tentacles continued to stroke and caress her outside and wiggle inside her openings. "You have served me well, slave, and you may rest now, though I will need access to your mind." A dark tentacle moved down and touched her head, completely enveloping the top of her head and connecting to her brain with the creature's mind so that her memories and skills and abilities would be available to it. The creature grew in real space, also. Stretching from where it was in the basement, tentacles reached up and pooled at the entryway, pressed back into the wall, waiting for Charles to return with its next victim... Roles now had complete and unfitted access to all of Ability's memories as she explodes in another orgasm falling into the new dimension the creature created with its overwhelming power. Charlesse ran out of the tower and made her way to the market district, she completely overlooked Lady Uranus' familiar who was perched on a nearby house watching the tower for her. Still the apprentice was able to convince a local potion and charm smith to come and help her mistress. Hysterics sold the story as if there Ability was in trouble (which of course she most definitely is) there would be little that this person could do to help. She had enough magical knack and talent to create potions and small charms but not to even come close to the power that even Charles possessed. Still it was what roles asked for and within 10 min they were back in the tower heading towards the basement. The roles beast was satisfied with his two new slaves' behavior, especially now that the more experienced one seemed to be completely broken to his command. And if the younger returned with a new slave... He absorbed the power from the battery, letting it completely fill him. He had other goals in the long term, but right now, he seemed well on his way to conquering this population center, and that became his primary goal for now. When Charles returned and brought the potion-making female towards the basement, the creature snatched both of them up, returning Charles to her pod temporarily, while the other, new female was completely entrapped by tentacles and brought to the creature's main body." Hello, little one. Welcome to my service." It spoke softly to her, and immediately slipped tentacles into her clothing, stripping it off, revealing her body. Some of the tentacles slid into her vagina, and others into her ass, while still other ones moved to hover over her eyes. Those touched her eyes directly, flashing the hypnotic patterns directly into her mind (something it had learned to do as it absorbed the power of the sorceress and her battery). A darker tipped tentacle slid into her ear, touching her brain. Almost immediately, pleasure and obedience would try to flood her mind--the creature had no need for subtlety here, it simply wanted a useful slave. And once it learned that she knew how to craft potions, and where her store was... The contents of her store were drawn into the pocket of space that held the more powerful sorceress, though in a different part. Each component went into a different pod of the creature, and those pods were connected to a single thin tentacle that slipped into the navel of the new woman. At the same time, two tentacles moved to her breasts, and slim tentacles slipped inside her nipples, entering her body there. She'd feel magical changes happening to her, and a connection to the supply of materials being made. Charles came almost immediately upon reentering her pod having accomplished her mission and was once again treated with pleasure by her master. The potion maker on the other hand was scared beyond belief, never before had she even thought that such a creature existed let alone be here. She succumbed to it's power faster than even the fair apprentice had and by the time she was fully absorbed and nude she was his, another slave to the cause. She shook and thrashed but not in an attempt to free herself but in pleasure as she continued to be overwhelmed. Obedience followed soon after that as a new warmth spread out through her body as it began to change her to suit its needs. The creature had no qualms about modifying her body. The thin tentacles in her nipples (and inside her breasts) began to make changes to her body, forming her breasts into alchemical factories. The tentacle in her navel snaked up, split, and approached her breasts from the rear, tying into the newly reformed glands. That provided a direct link to the reagents that the creature had taken from her store (the ones now stored extra-dimensionally in the creature). The woman was granted the ability to manufacture any potion she knew of, simply by drawing on the substances stored and, then processing them in her breasts. The potions would then be expressed as milk from her nipples. Her mind was modified to be a repository of potions, and she'd receive pleasure from making and delivering potions. The creature had other ideas for her, but for now, that was sufficient. It continued to make the changes to her, but that was something that no longer called for the creature's full attention. She went into a pod also, tentacles maintaining her arousal and continuing to modify her body. Now, it turned back to Ability. "Speak to me of another user of magic--a female--that we may lure here so that she can be turned to my service. Then, you will send a message to her--in some way--that you need her to come here." The new potion dispenser just moaned as her body was modified, her breasts ballooned as the tentacles changed them into the perfect potion creators. Her hips shook with pleasure as her body continued to be modified, it wasn't long before her boob were of sufficient size to mix the potions with her own natural milk. The roles now had access to a wide variety of potions, many of them mimicked spells it had access to but there were some that aren't in its repertoire. Marilith thought about the request, "Lady Uranus is close by, but I fear she may not respond the way you would like, but Miss Figaro might. She works at the local mage academy that Charles came from, I consult with on spells often. She should respond, would you like me to contact her?" She gave two options, but Lady Uranus was already alerted to problems at the tower making Miss Figaro the most likely candidate still she waits for her master to direct her. The tentacles slipped out of her nipples, having done their tasks, and the one in her navel widened a bit so that it could deliver an initial load to her. Inside her tube, the creature told her, "In your left breast, make a potion of mental shielding, one that will not allow others to see my control of the sorceress." It began to slowly pump the tentacles into her pussy and ass, exciting her with the prospect of being used like this. Moments would pass, and the creature would try to bring the potion maker to orgasm with the rapid pumping motions in her openings. Eventually, The potion would be complete, and a tentacle would slip over the woman's left nipple, and instantly begin sucking fluid from her. The other end of the tentacle would slip inside the older sorceress' mouth. "Drink this potion I've had made for you, slave. It will disguise my control of your mind and body." It let the potion take effect on her as she ingested it, and then brought her out of her tube. A small tentacle remained in her pussy, and it became disconnected from the main part of the creature in real space, but they stayed connected in some sort of pocket of space, keeping her in contact with, and under the full control of, the roles. (It still didn't completely trust the older woman, unlike her assistant..." Now, go to this Figaro. Bring her back to the tower, so that I may take her as my next slave..." With that, the creature turned her out, giving her some clothing and shoes from an upstairs closet that it had found. "I will stay in contact with you. Make sure you act as you normally would with this woman. You have a problem you'd like to talk to her about, and you want to return to your tower to discuss it..." It didn't take much for the potion maker to reach an orgasm, two in fact by the time the mind shielding potion was ready. A third was brought on by the tentacle sucking on her nipple alone. Fluids and juices flowed from her body quite quickly as the warmth and pleasure washes over her. Marilith sucks down the potion as she listens to the orders she is given. There used to be a part of her that would have objected to bringing more women to the roles, and there may still be, but its voice is so small and quiet it goes completely unheard as the voice of her master in her head drowns out everything but the pleasure it is giving her. Once she is freed of the pod she found the act of just putting cloths on caused the small tentacle to shift and squirm inside of her. It was all she could do to not cum, but she had to act normal so she bit it back. Leaving the tower she made her way to the academy, all the while being watched by Lady Uranus. This was strange and wrong as she went directly to the academy, Figaro was older than Ability and looked the part with her graying hair staff that she leans on occasionally to help her stand. Still you don't get to be an older mage without some level of skill and power. Ability began to talk to her friend about a new spell she is researching to help change one of the levels in her tower into a self maintaining garden. They talked about the multiple spell layers that would need to be created and in what order. Eventually she asks her to come back to the tower so that they can start drawing up blueprints and spell formulas, but Figaro countered with not being able to come now she had a class to teach. Ability is unsure what to do now, hoping that her Master would be able to give her orders for how to proceed. The Roles realized that the other spell caster was not available. "Invite her back to the tower after her class is over. Tell her that you'll be waiting for her." After a moment's thought, it added, "How long will this class last? And is there someone else that is nearby that would be suitable for adding to my service?" That was the second mention of this other spell caster--Unanys. The creature wondered if she was somehow monitoring the tower. It began to reach out with its arcane senses, trying to see if it was under observation. It poked Charles into wakefulness. "Slave, list the ways that this Uranus might observe our tower." Meanwhile, it had the potion maker craft up another brew--this time something that would detect magic--its existence, the direction and distance it was coming from, and the type of magic it was. This it imbibed itself, gaining the effect of the potion for use in its search. Ability relayed the request for Figaro to visit after her class was done, the class would last about three hours, and it would take a while for her to walk there until Ability invited her to use her teleportation room as a target, taking the initiative. An utter delight for Figaro as she jokes about her old bones carrying her all the way to her tower. Handing off the location to the professor Ability goes to see if there is another teacher that was free and would make a nice addition. Sadly the academy was run by mostly men and Ability wasn't able to find another woman so headed back to her Master. The potion was soon provided to the creature, and it was soon able to see the interweaving spells that made up the tower. The lack of windows and magical nature of the tower hurts its ability to see outside the tower without a crying spell. Its senses did pick up a creature of minor magical energies lurking outside the tower. Charlesse began to answer, "Um, well there are your regulars crying spells that she probably employs. OOH, there's Sir Niggles. He is Lady Uranus' familiar, a raven who always teases me when they visit. Lady Uranus and Sir Niggles are in constant communication and the raven sees something there's a good chance that his Mistress knows about it as well." The roles had Ability stop outside the tower, and cling to some shadows. It brought Charles into the conversation, and then said to Ability, "Do you see a raven outside? Perhaps the raven of Uranus, her familiar?" Charles was brought to full consciousness, and was sent to the top of the tower to look for the raven also. It aimed both of them at the minor magical energy that it found, thinking that might be the raven. The creature also prepared the teleportation chamber, laying a trap for the hopefully soon to arrive female mage. Tentacles lined the room, and a pod formed from one, hidden in an area behind some furniture. Ability tried to bound into the shadows, but stealth was truly not her strong suit, her large chest bounced all over the place as she moaned as the tentacle shifted around inside of her. By the time she got to the shadows her legs were pressed together so tightly she could barely get her fingers in between to rub her slit. Pleasure washed over her as she was on the verge of an orgasm, still she looked around and spotted the raven in question. "Mmmmm-oooohhh. Y-yes master that looks like her familiar." She answered as another shudder ran through her body. Unfortunately for the roles' plans the raven had excellent eyesight and noticed Ability's attempt to get into the shadows and her behavior, definitely odd and different from normal. Charlesse would confirm that the raven is Lady Uranus' familiar, it wasn't long after that the raven takes to the air and flies away no longer spying on the tower. Lady Uranus realizing she had been discovered decided to attempt to gather information in other ways. The roles took this all in stride. "Slave Ability, return to me. We will prepare for some sort of investigation by this Lady Uranus. Perhaps she will present herself and we can 'negotiate' with her? Meanwhile, we can wait for your other friend to come." He then told Charles to return to her pod. Once she was there, she was reconnected to the various tentacles inside the tube. "Sleep now, slave." The creature waited for Ability, then brought her up to the teleportation room, showing her its preparations for Figaro. Additionally, it had the potion maker generate a potion of youth. That took quite a bit of energy, and several unique components, but it would bring youth back to the reappeared woman... And so they both did, Charles went into the pod and fell to sleep while Ability herself though followed the small tentacle's poking eventually making her way to the teleportation circle where the roles is waiting for her. Positioning herself where she is directed she waits, and waits and waits. Two hours pass before the circle begins to light up; one, two, three lights equal distant from each other light and begin spilling clockwise. A few seconds pass as the gateway opens and Figaro steps out leaning on her staff. The potion maker spends the entire time ingesting ingredients needed to make a potion of youth, a few goes in pooling into her now quite large tits which heat and cool to help the mixture. To stir the mixture those tentacles pump inside of her quite hard, as she reaches to one and more orgasms her boobs shake violently. Waves of pleasure flood through her and into the potion increasing its potency. By the time the elder mage arrives her breasts are as large as her body and ready for use. He'd have Ability greet the new arrival with real excitement--bringing another slave to its service was something to be rewarded, and he had the tentacle inside her wiggle softly and press forward, driving into her pussy deeply. But once the older woman was out of the circle, tentacles would flash into play around her, some encircling her body, some capturing her arms and legs. A particularly fat one would seek to slide into her mouth, preventing her from spell casting, and two more would capture her head, wrapping around and around it, blocking her vision. Any tentacles she might destroy, either with magic, or by attacking with her staff, would be replaced. Her staff would be yanked away from her, at some point. She'd be brought to the pod by the tentacles, and carefully placed inside. Once there, a dark tentacle would slide out and touch her head (through the encircling ones around her head). Thoughts would fill her mind. "Figaro. I am a roles beast. Your foolish friend, and her even more foolish apprentice summoned me hence, and now are my slaves. I offer you a similar position, but... I can also offer you a potent magical drink that would restore you to your youth. All you need to do is open up your mind, and your mouth. For as long as I last. You will be given this youth restoring potion, returning to you your appearance and sensations from when you were younger..." Tentacles stroked her body gently. "What say you? I can -make- you a slave, but I'd rather have you agree to my conditions..." Ability squirmed and cooed as the tentacle inside of her continued to pleasure her while she waited like a good slave. The smell of sex filled the air as she greeted Figaro, although that greeting quickly turned into treachery as the roles bound her quickly. Protection spells or not the elder mage was just physically unable to counter what was happening. Still her protection spells held while she was whisked away to the pod, the dark tentacle would be able to touch her mind, but that is it at this moment. Kijaro thought upon what the beast had said, she could surely feel the power radiating from it and knew what it said was true. She would have no chance to resisting against it, perhaps if she joined she could use this to expand her own knowledge. Surely the mental links must go both ways, and not only that but the real icing on the cake the offer of the potion of youth. That alone would make this deal worthwhile, and in the typical arrogant mage attitude she hopes to use this to her advantage in the end so she accepts. "I agree to your terms." The creature could have rubbed its hands together in glee, if it had hands. Instead, it allowed itself to bask in a bit of success for a moment or two, and then it unwrapped the older woman in the tube she'd been placed in. A small tube fastened onto one of the potion maker's nipples, and it began to suckle the youth potion from her giant teat. The tube's other side snaked down and pressed against Figaro's mouth, then would slide inside her lips, allowing her to suck directly on the tube. The potion would take some time to work on the elderly female mage, but almost immediately, she could feel small effects happening. Minor aches and pains began to fade in her joints and back, and her skin began to firm up. There was one other effect that perhaps the elderly mage would not know about. As her age began to wind back, there was a chance that the protective spells on her would also become undone, unless she focused on maintaining them. And the roles began to stroke and rub her body softly, seeking to slide a tentacle inside her clothing slipping it up her leg to her groin, trying to reach her vagina and slide into it. At the same time, the tentacle on her head began to try to flood thoughts of arousal into her mind, seeking to make her so sexually excited that she lost her grip on her spells..." Allow me to bring you pleasure, Figaro. Allow me to show you the benefits of your younger body..." he told her quietly. Marilith was ordered to use her magical abilities to search for any appearance of Lady Uranus or magic she might cast, with orders to notify it when something was seen. The roles didn't trust the mage he'd not seen yet, other than the elusive familiar. Figaro sucked down the milky potion, which was a surprise for her as she wouldn't have expected it to be so creamy. Tingles swept up and down her body as it began to have its effect. The potion maker herself would fall into a deep exhaustive sleep after creating such a powerful potion, still moaning with joy though as it was drained from those enormous tits. Eventually the meets would shrink back down from the size of art sculptures to their normally enhanced watermelons. Marilith went out to begin carry out her master's orders, she didn't see anything at first, but slowly she began to see subtle hints of monitors set up around the tower. "Master she seems to have multiples crying wards arrayed around the tower." Kijaro though continued to regain her youth, still the roles would find that her experience allowed her to maintain her mental protection spells even through the pleasure she generously receives. This wouldn't be the first time an enemy attempted to distract her so that her defenses would lower. Physical pleasure is something that she has missed, "It feels wonderful, although if I am to be a servant of yours I would prefer if you stopped attempting to unraveling my spells. I volunteered, after all, and am not just another one of these pleasure slaves of yours." She graciously reminds the creature. Slower her breasts firm up as the rest of her body regains it's lost tone. Her hair goes from gray to blonde as her youth is restored, her former attractiveness is quickly unveiled. The roles beast was almost amused by her response. "Ah. You are more insightful than your friend or her apprentice, I believe." He stopped the mental interference, but continued the sexual contact, slipping the tentacle in her slit further up inside her, slowly pulsing the extension of it's body, and having it emit a bit of lubricant inside her. At the same time, another tentacle began to stroke her rear, also inside her clothing. More tentacles slipped under her top, and began to loop around her breasts, softly squeezing them. As it did so, it spoke again to the woman it had just co-opted. "What do you know of Uranus? She appears to be aware of what I'm doing here." The link between their minds -was- allowing information to go both ways, but what she was receiving was mystifying. The creature could think like a human--that was how it spoke to her, but it also had a deeper, more alien, intellect underlying the human-like mental condition. And now, investigating that deeper level was interesting... It was as if it was a maze of sorts, and it was drawing her mind down it. Every turn seemed to have the promise of deeper understanding, but, then another turn would appear... and the understanding would seem to jump to beyond -that- corner! And more, the path back to where the first contact had started was... well, gone! The way out was lost to her... Was it an intentional effect, or was the otherworldly being simply -too- complicated to easily understand? And, of course, it was still trying to bring her pleasure, though that appeared to be more of a reward for being different from the other three it had enslaved. Figaro continued to enjoy the pleasure, it had been so long for her. The creature's contact was definitely not unwelcome, and she was quickly causing her muscles to lax to allow it to hold her up. Finally, the potion's work had finished, and her pale flawless skin radiated as her almond shaped eyes opened." Unanys? I've talked to her a few times, a friend and old adventuring partner of Ability. I believe the tales talk them up as belonging to The Sisterhood of Seats, or at least that's the name they used for most of their deeds." Figaro could sense the link between them as two ways and truth be told was curious about understanding this extra-planer creature but now was not the time to follow it down it's rabbit hole. Indeed, she was more insightful an age has given her patience, now that her youth has been restored she has even more time to wait. Heck perhaps she might even go from being a 'willing' partner/servant to an actual willing servant. "I never really listened to those bards tales, but I believe there were six women in total. Ability and Uranus both returned here after they disbanded, I would fathom that if she is alerted then the other four will be meeting up and strategizing as to what to do next." The roles can sense no trickery in her statements, that is truly all she knows. If it continues to poke around in her head though he will see her lead it to the mage academy, detailing professors and students, some would make fine additions while others would need to be dealt with. "I see." The creature responded to Figaro's statements with a kind of appreciation. It had sought slaves when it first came, but a willing partner was much more valuable. It spoke again to old-but-young female mage. "Would you be willing to introduce others to my service?" It wiggled the tendril in Ability's soft pussy and called to her. "Do you believe that your former compatriots are aware of something going on here in the tower? Other than Uranus, I mean?" It let the sorceress answer that question, then pulsed another into her. "I'm going to raise a crying shield around your tower, slave. See if you can detect any crying after I do so." The roles beast used several unusual motions of its manipulation tentacles. Suddenly, a shield that would prevent magical snooping in a remote manner sprung up around the tower and the underground area associated with it. Even though it had asked Figaro about others, it was actually working on bringing at least two females from the school into its fold--a powerful enchantress, a caster of spells of control and of magic endowment in objects, and an equally powerful artificer, a maker of magic items. It sought to create a bridge to the academy, allowing it to push tentacles through and then snatch up victims. "Yes, I believe I could arrange it." Figaro responded, ideas forming in her mind. A field trip to the new 'garden' she's working on with Ability could be the perfect excuse. "Are you just interested in the females?" She asks, from the pleasure she's been given it seems like a fair question. Marilith's answer mirrors what Figaro had mentioned, "Yes, they most assuredly are aware and gathering, if not there already." Ability followed her master's next command as the anti-crying shield goes up. The crying wards were still there, "Master, there is increased motion and crying happening since the wards came up." Lady Uranus began to bring up mores crying nodes to look at and analyze the ward, invisible to the outside world but a golden wall to magical crying means. The roles would find the academy very well warded against unwanted incurious like it's trying to do. It would need to do something similar to what it did with Ability to get Figaro here. The creature sent a wave of pleasure through Figaro in return for her agreement to help enslave others--pleasure that should end in a toe curling orgasm if he did it right. As he sent the pleasure, he began to burrow a tentacle inside her soft, firm pussy, the tip wiggling its way into her, then joining with her body. It would attempt to link with her nervous system, so that he could communicate with her directly. The setup was similar to the one that Ability had, but with less direct control of Figaro. It turned its attention to Ability. "Keep watching for crying and inform me if they keep trying to get through. I will move to the top of the tower and stay in the teleport room, ready to defend against anyone coming in." It wiggled the tentacle inside her slightly, and pumped some pleasure into her mind. "Stay alert, slave. Your good service will earn you the sensations you crave." It thought a moment, and then asked, "Who would be the weakest of the remaining females you associated with?" Then, it was back to Figaro, whom it brought to the teleport room. "I am currently seeking someone who is skilled in making magical items. Do you know of a female who has such skills at your school? Could you convince her to come back to here?" Figaro indeed crested into a toe curling orgasm as her new master and partner flooded her with pleasure. The tentacle would have no problem working it's way inside of her, attaching itself just like Ability's. She wouldn't be able really talk for a few moments as the wave a pleasure crashes into her. Marilith on the other hand shudders in ecstasy as well but still keeps her eyes out as the surveillance of the tower continues to be impeded. Her response comes during the newest wave of pleasure, "IKEA, she's nothing but a money thief and has gotten us into more trouble than anyone else." Her mind flashes to a petite thief, she doesn't look like much but the way Ability views her she's pretty sneaky and greedy. Of course this is before they went their own ways and clouded by her own feelings. Kijaro soon came down off of her pleasure spike, a level which she has not experienced in quite a while, and answered. "Yes and no, we don't have any full-fledged female artificers at the school, but there are two students, twins, who are quickly becoming quite skilled at it. They might suit your purpose, depending on what you are looking to craft." The roles beast used his connection to Ability to get an image of the thief IKEA. "Would she be at Uranus' home? Or would they meet elsewhere? And how would I capture her?" He imagined a large pile of gold, and pushed the idea at Ability. "With treasure?" The beast spoke to Figaro. "Yes, they would do nicely. I will release you--bring them to me as soon as you can. I may need their services." He brought the now younger woman up and into the teleportation circle, releasing her. "And don't forget that you look much younger, my partner..." He'd allow the female mage to trigger the teleportation spell to return herself to the academy. He kept his though from the mage he was about to temporarily release, but he planned to turn these twins into a magic item creation factory, much as the potion creating female had been modified... "At this moment I don't know, most likely all of my former compatriots are on the way to Uranus' home, but I don't know if she is there yet. I have not been keeping track of their locations." Ability responded, her opinion of IKEA still not the highest can only imagine that treasure would lure her into a trap. "Yes I believe like most thief her greed can be used to your advantage, master." Kijaro agreed and went to the teleportation circle to go to the mage academy. She cast a spell on herself, an illusion spell over herself, it really just allowed her to claim that her current look is an illusion. "I will head out now then, I will also set up some things at the academy so that my absence will not be questioned." Once her absence was agreed upon she teleported back to the academy. She cast a quick spell to call the twins to her office as she travels there herself. Stopping by the administration building she fills out a few quick forms that allow her to take a research sabbatical, this would explain why she may or may not be there for her classes and why she might rope in some of the more advanced students. Her spell worked, and she just had to answer some questions as to why she cast it to begin with, desire for a change was generally her answer and that placated most people. A few hours later the twins appeared, they were very cute with defined curves even visible under their robes. Figaro explains the new opportunity available to them, helping to create items that would block out certain types of weather and let others in. They seemed excited and interested in the opportunity, and soon they both bounded out of the office to pack some cloths and fill out forms attaching themselves to Figaro's research project. It would be six hours or so after that meeting until they would return to the tower. The roles decided it needed eyes of its own. It created a new tentacle--one that would carefully reach into its slaves and withdraw some genetic material. After a moment of making sure it worked the way the roles wanted it to work, he unfurled the tentacle, and pushed it into Charles's tube. It displaced another tentacle, and slid up inside her vagina, then passed through her cervix, and eventually, slipped up next to one of her ovaries. It gently teased her reproductive organ, seeking to have an egg released to the tentacle. At the same time, it ramped up the sensations of pleasure and arousal she was feeling. Marilith got another question. "Could you mentally guide something I'm creating to the place that you think your former associates are meeting with each other?" The creature kept in contact with Figaro, and when she'd notify it that she was returning with the others, it would lay in wait for them to appear. It kept several tentacles in readiness, ones that would be able to completely entrap the women, immobilizing them. The flattened tentacles that had the odd, entrancing, patterns were also prepared, ready to spring into action. Tubes similar to Charles and the potion maker were readied, so that the twins would be integrated into the creature's body as quickly as possible. All was in readiness... /"Yes master, I should be able too." Ability responds to the request as a routes and maps through the city enters her mind. Charlesse moaned once again as the tentacle in her slithered further into her, she loved just about anything her master did to her for the shear reason that it was her master doing it to her. Soon it has an egg from her traveling down her tubes ready for whatever comes next." Here we come." Figaro messaged roles as herself and the twins stepped through the portal. They were quickly encased in tentacles as Figaro stood between the two untouched. Her panties get wet as she watches the two cute girls get pleasured by the creature. She wouldn't necessarily have been interested in women before the potion but somehow as she regained her youth, but now she just wants these two frolic over her. She might have to borrow them when they weren't working for them. The twins themselves lasted longer than Charles but didn't last anywhere near as long as Ability did. Their nubile bodies squirmed in the pods as their eyes fought to not look at the thin tentacles, but soon they too fell and found their mind entangled together. The creature kept the memory that Ability passed to it, making sure it understood how to get to the location. It again rewarded the sorceress with a pulse of arousal and pleasure, ensuring that she'd continue to serve her. "Excellent, slave. Now continue your watch for interlopers..." At the same time, it put Charles back to sleep, sending her an erotic dream about the creature completely engulfing her with sensual tentacles, and also continually arousing her (in the dream), touching every part of her body, and stimulating every opening she possessed. The material it took from her was mixed with its own material, and then that new combination nurtured and fed. Soon, it would begin to look like a very small bat, only with dangling tentacles where the legs should be. It was put into a separate chamber, to grow on its own for several hours. The young twins were completely enveloped in the tentacles, and tentacles began to slide into them, both into their tight young slits, questing deeper and deeper into them, and down their throats. The potion creator was pumped to provide a bit of a sleep potion for them, though just enough to make them sleepy and pliable. Finally, in a way similar to the potion creator, the creature sneaked small tentacles into their navels to modify their bodies, though the modifications would be more complex than the potion creators were. Modifications were made to their reproductive organs and wombs, starting them down the path of being used to make magic items for his slaves... It spoke again to Figaro. "Excellent, my dear. Now, I can consolidate my power for a bit. I -am- concerned about Ability's former companions. I believe that they are attempting to learn about the current situation here. What do you recommend?" As it spoke to her, it enfolded her in several smaller tentacles, and it used the tips of them to stimulate her body, squeezing her breasts and nipples, and slipping inside her vagina and rear, softly oscillating them inside her. It sensed her desire for the twins, and it would show her a vision of what they would become--beings whose main purpose would be to serve the creature, generating magic items on demand in their wombs, though their external bodies would be unchanged. "They would be available to you, my dear servant..." The creature dangled the twins service before Figaro like a lure. Ability shuddered in pleasure as she continued to watch for her master. The twins were decades away from even attempting to fight such a creature, they were just along for the ride for the most part as each were attached to a nipple of the potion maker slowly entering a sleepy coma. Which is good because the modifications to their bodies in such a manner would be a painful experience, unlike potion which are easily mixed in a woman's teats items require much more modifications to one's body. Kijaro thought about the problem presented to her, she asked a few questions to get the full picture of what's happened up to now. "Hamm, raising the crying shield makes this more difficult but if they want in I would show them a way in. The way that you want them to enter, and at the time of your choosing. The problem is that lowering the anti-scrying shield most attempts to let them see the way in seem manipulative and should put them on guard. The plan can still work but would require a large defense or trap."" I might have a friend I can sway to help, it seems like your magical resources are quite limitless, but magic can be a fickle creature on this plane. We need to augment our physical resources and I have the person in mind who can help." She conjures an image of another mage at the academy, rougher features than any of the other women who have been brought in before she looks like she has seen combat and hardship. The roles flooded the twin's minds (via a dark tentacle that slipped in through their ears) with arousal, and more, with the idea that their purposes were now to provide it with magical items--items they'd make in their wombs, and then give to the creature. Off in some primal dimension, the creature established a link of sorts with a source of proto-matter, stuff it could shape into any form and substance. It would then import that stuff to the girls through the tentacle in their navel (and it rewired the same access for the potion maker). It gave them a simple task, first: They were each to make a magic ring that would prevent mental domination or control (other than the control that existed, of course). The creature realized it would take some time to do for each of them as material was delivered into them. That material would be magically manipulated by their sexual organs, and turned into a magic ring (for each). Kijaro's comments were valuable. "Yes, very good, my dear. I believe I will prepare such a defense." Her comment about another person seemed interesting. "And how would you bring this female to me?" Meanwhile, the small creature that had been created was complete. It was allowed to exit the roles body, and given its instructions--to scout out and investigate the place the others might be meeting, then report back (the planar connection was still there, though it was not used at present to keep the creature disguised). It was released through the sewers, to prevent it from being seen (hopefully) and sent winging off in the direction of where Ability thought the link-up might occur. The twins were uninitiated in such pleasures and were soon cumming their brains out even as their bodies were given the task to create rings of mental resistance. Such tasks were difficult for the apprentice mages, they have crafted rings before but such intricate enchantments as was desired indeed took time. Spells were layered, removed, then relayered as they learned how to accomplish the task. For each of them it was an all together new way to even think about creating a magic item, but effective once one gets a handle of it." She will need convincing, but is quite a mercenary. She could persuade instead of converted, it might be a wiser investment. I'm not sure well one could control animals if they themselves are not in full control of their mind." Figaro speaks of the extra-sensory perception some animals are known to have, some seem to know when things are wrong react accordingly. "I will invite here if you agree." The bat like creature heads off through the sewers towards Uranus tower, the flight was uneventful but as soon as it got close the link across the planes got fuzzy as if something was producing interference. It would see a standard wizard tower sitting there, no windows could be seen, and a lone door sat there unopened. Once the rings were completed, the creature rewarded the twins with enough stimulation to have them have a long and intense orgasm, followed by a deep sleep until they were needed again. The rings were removed from their wombs, and tentacles presented one to Ability and one to Figaro. "Wear these. They will protect you from outsiders..." It returned its awareness to Figaro. "What if I offered her unlimited experimentation with animals and human slaves? If she is some sort of controller of animals, that might be attractive to her. Yes, by all means, ask her to come here... but make sure she understands that she would serve me..." It kept in contact with the spy creature, having it circle the tower, waiting to see if anyone entered or left. Eventually it would direct the creature to land in a place where it was in contact with the master creature, but close enough to watch the doorway. The bat like creature would find no problem getting the perfect perch to watch the door without any interference, the big question was how well and what it could actually see? The twins fell into a blissful orgasmic sleep as the rings were removed from them and given to the other two useful slaves/partners. Hips bucked and moans escaped their lips as the tentacles fished inside of them wiggling erotically, they slowly floated into each other's arms and holding each other close as another orgasm overtook each. Kijaro nodded, "That could do it, she has attempted to perform experiments before, but the academy has reprimanded her quite a few times for her...ambitions. Let me make contact." She heads off to cast a sending spell giving an overview of the offer before her. It didn't take long to convince her to take the meeting at least and within an hour the teleportation circle was firing up yet again. This time one could almost have expected the form to have been a man it was so large. Standing at 6'5" this hulking Amazon stepped out into the tower, her head mostly bald except for a line of hair from the right side of her head. Her body is covered in scars, claw marks and bites, but beyond all the muscle she still has a set of breasts that looked like they could snap a men neck by themselves." Greetings Snatch, I believe we can now get down to the real discussion." Figaro greeted the behemoth woman who was shocked to see how youthful the old wizard had become. The roles formed some of its tentacles into something resembling a humanoid body, and it entered the area where the teleport circle was located. It bowed to the two women, forming dark eyes in its head, and a slit of a mouth. "Greetings, my lady. I am, as you can plainly see, not a being like yourself. Yet I have plans for this place, and I would offer you a place in them." He paused for a moment, and then said, "Figaro tells me that you are interested in animals. And more, perhaps you would be interested in humans and animals being... merged? Let me show you something." And suddenly, a tentacle brought the contained potion creator to them, slipping into the room. The creature turned to her, and she was displayed for a moment, in all her mammary glory, and the creature said, "She has been made into something new. She can make potions, as I command, and serves me in all ways." He turned back to the new woman, and the tentacle closed up, sealing her in again, and taking her out of the room. "I show you not to try to intimidate you, but to demonstrate that I am capable of aiding you in your research, in return for your service to me..." He turned to Figaro. "Ask her of my abilities?" It kept the bat-like creature on station by the tower, looking for anyone to enter or exit. After a few hours, it gained new orders. It swooped down to the ground and entered a sewer. A few moments later, it found a small rat in the below ground area. It covered the rat, and took its form, devouring it whole. And suddenly, a slightly different looking rat began to crawl through the sewers, headed towards the tower. Snatch eye's narrowed as Figaro and the roles made their pitch, but when the potion smith was brought out her demeanor changed to one that could almost see the possibilities offered to her. She walked over to examine her more; she poked, prodded, groped and even tasted. Her voice gruff and gravely finally responded, "I can see some advantages to this partnership. How do you see this working?" Her muscles rippled almost reflexively, "Surely you don't expect me to become something like that..." pointing back to the potion smith's huge hanging tits. The creature turned into a rat and began to work its way through the sewer, once again the roles would find its link to its puppet spawn being filled with static as it gets close to the tower. There appears to be some passive defenses around the tower that hinders many spells that have crying, telepathic, teleportation, and dimensional components to them. The creature used a small tentacle to gesture to the potion maker. "Her fate is based on her abilities. She is more valuable to me like this." The tentacles swallowed up the female, and she disappeared into the main body of the creature. "But look at Figaro. She is no abject slave." The personification of the creature gestured at the blond woman, and then at Snatch. "Neither would you be. There are requirements that you would have to fulfill, but..." The creature gestured at Figaro. "She continues to express her will and mind. She has restraints on her behavior, but those in no way modify her mind so that she is my slave."" You would serve me by making specialized servants, using your abilities and skills, and furthering your research as you serve me." The creature sent a tentacle out through a door. "I would use my abilities to aid your research, and then have the ones you experiment on serve me." The creature gave the rat-simulation some instructions. Attempt no more contacts with me after this. Move into the area that blocks me, search for the meeting room of the female mages and the others, and gather what information you can. Then, exit the area and re-establish communication with me and give me your discoveries... The monstrous woman nods at the proposal grunting in affirmation, "I see, what type of specialized servants do you need? And where would we get these, certainly you don't expect me to birth the creations?" She asked next, her concern is drawn directly from the fact that the potion maker is producing potions from her enormous tits, and she doesn't even know about the twins yet. The roles's agent begins to work further and further into the tower as communication cuts out between it and it's master, it didn't live much longer than that before it is killed by one of the gathering women. Plans were being formed based upon a lack of information but with this half creature the nature of their enemy will slowly fall into place. They may not get that it's a roles, but they will be able to see that they are dealing with a being from another plane and adjust their plans accordingly. The roles thought for a moment. "Scouts. Defenders. Beings that have the capability to detect magic use and deflect it." The creature brought a tentacle to the large woman, hesitantly putting it on her shoulders. "I could show you how I plan to do this, if you'd allow me to link to your mind." It brought another tentacle up, one with a black tip, but it did not bring it into contact with her mind yet. Mentally, it contacted Ability. "Tell me of the weaknesses of this Snatch, if you know of any? Does she have a lover or partner? Is she interested in sexual relations?" He gave up on trying to penetrate the other tower, instead counting on his defenses to protect him. At the base of the tower, it sent out several tentacles, and soon it had ensnared a small cat and a woman who'd passed through an alley near Ability's tower. Both were firmly wrapped up, and then brought up to a level near Snatch, ready to show to her at the right time... "No master, I do not. I have never talked to Snatch." Ability replied, not seeing any change so far. Snath once again listened to the roles explain its plan, her eyes narrow once again as it asks to link its mind. Figaro nodded to Snatch trying to help her realize that it should be safe, or at least Sarah. Finally, the mountain of a woman took the tentacle on her shoulder and brought it up to her head. The creature could feel her rage and anger that remains under the surface. It's definitely different from the rest of the mages it has touch over the course of the last couple of days. It could feel her concern about birthing the creatures that he's talking about, since it had shown her a potion maker with udders the sizes of people. The roles beast linked with the angry woman carefully. It pushed a thought at her, not trying to take her over, but instead to relax her a bit. "Calm down, Snatch. I have no desire to make you like the potion maker. She is a special case. No, I simply want to use your knowledge and perhaps your capabilities to make hybrid creatures." It produced the cat and the captured female, both tightly wrapped in tentacles. "For example, how would I combine these two?" It tapped into the potion maker's supply a bit, giving both entrapped creatures just enough of a sleeping potion to make them woozy and simpler to handle. The fury the roles felt from Snatch wasn't entirely directed at what it had done to the people it had captures, it felt more like unsettled rage that is deep beneath her own psyche. "I see, perhaps we can reach an agreement." Seeing the two specimens it offered Snatch moved forward, circling them twice she nods her head. "I might be able to work with these..." She begins, "First you remove the heart of both, then utilizing certain transmutation spells you replace the heart of the woman with that of the cats. The woven spells should cause the person who receives the heart to change and gain traits from the original creature. You must move quickly though as the spells are all very time sensitive." The creature engulfed both the woman and the feline, installing them inside one of its hollow tentacles. Then, it turned its attention back to Snatch. "To succeed at this, I need access to your mind--more access than I have now. Will you allow this access?" A tentacle with a black tip came close to her forehead, but did not touch her yet. "I can let you cast the spells, but I have to conduct them to the beings we plan to combine, yes?"the creature also communicated with Figaro. "Join Ability on the lookout for interlopers, if you would?" Then, it was back to Snatch. "What is your decision?" Figaro was waiting patiently while Snatch and roles spoke, her spell theory was sound, but she has never seen Snatch actually work on creating hybrids. She wondered how often she has completed a creation. "I will see how she is doing then return to hopefully see you and our new partner are doing." With that Figaro heads out, Ability was still watching for further incursion but at any given time at least one hand was buried between her loins or in her expansive breasts. Snath also listens to the new purpose, "I see *nodding to Figaro as she leaves*, fine once more you may see what is in my mind." Once again the creature could feel the general anger that seems to feed her as it digs deeper into her mind. The spells are truly complex and the chance of survival within the first couple of minutes is low but doable. "We will need a great deal of test subjects, if we are to create an army that is." The creature laughed a bit. "Let us work on developing our abilities before we begin mass-producing an 'army', shall we?" Several tentacles moved to the large woman, softly wrapping around her, but not trapping her in their grip. The dark tipped tentacle slid to enter her ear, trying to make contact with her mind, or rather to increase the contact between them. "Now, let us work on how to do this conversion..." It began to try to converse with her about the magic and rituals needed, allowing her to volunteer information as it was needed instead of trying to take the info by force. At the same time, the tentacles on her body began to softly stroke her flesh, working up and down her body. It was subtly trying to make the woman more tractable and easier to manipulate, though it wasn't overtly assaulting her sexually. The two test subjects were now inside a tubular tentacle, ready for the process to begin... Snatch began to exchange information with the roles, explaining the spells and spell preparations that need to be completed. The complexity is outstanding, it's just as much of a shock that this woman who seems to barely be able to rein in her emotions could create and cast such spells without screwing something up. In fact, she has screwed a few of these up in her time but secretly a few of them worked but never lasted long enough to do more than cause a ruckus before some adventuring party killed them." They will need to be awake and unclouded before you begin with the spells to remove their hearts," She continued towards the end of the rituals, she wasn't being overtly sadistic, although it would be easy to see it that way. "Every time I've tried it on unconscious creatures the transplanted hearts never worked correctly, they are either too lethargic or never fully form. Like a litter runt they do nothing but fail." Suddenly her hand snaps one of the tentacles from her body, "Keep your tentacles to yourself, creature... I care not for your manipulations." She tossed it away as she expected the rest to back off, it can feel her annoyance at its caresses. If it digs it will find that a soft hand is not the approach to take with Snatch, she would require a more forceful hand if one was going to take an orgasm from her. Like many things in her life sex is a battle." Now there is much to do to create this test creature." She continued as if nothing happened. In a moment, the creature becomes a forest of waving tentacles, snapping and snagging at the large woman, trying to wrap her up in its flesh. "We will do so, female, but first, I wish to establish something." Tentacles plunge into her mouth (or try to), branching into her body, filling her internal spaces. At the same time, other tentacles try to tear away her clothing and reveal her ass and vagina. More tentacles would attempt to fill these openings, wriggling their way into her. The roles tries to make sure that she can't cast spells, plugging her mouth, trapping her hands, blaring mental static into her mind through the connection. Eventually, if it has its way, she'd be spread-eagled in the space they are in, completely covered by its tentacles and body. "Perhaps you should make sure you understand--I am in charge here. You serve me. Your talents and abilities are mine to use." The tentacles begin to drive in and out of her, trying to arouse her. "Understood?" The roles would find that Snatch put up more of a fight than the others, she's physically powerful and shows it. It would take minutes for the tentacles to fully strip her and tie her up in its green mass. She punched, clawed, and bit her way through all the tentacles that she could, but it was inevitable there were too many and the creature was too powerful for her to resist. Defiance still fills her eyes as it lays down the law for her, she was not one unowned to be tamed or controlled, their partnership might not last too long at this rate. The creature contacted the potion maker. "Your strongest oral aphrodisiac on your left, my dear slave. And your strongest vaginally applied one on your right. " He glammed a tentacle onto her left teat, and opened a tube in it, then connected it with one that led to Snatch's mouth. The action was repeated with her right, and another tentacle in her vagina connected with that. The potions would take a few minutes to craft in the human alchemical lab that was the potion maker, and the Roles kept Snatch busy for that time. "Your methods are crude and rough. They match your own style. But I can refine them, and you." The tentacles in her pulsed and stroked and thrust, trying to at least partially arouse her, to ready her for the potions. Snatch fought tooth and nail it seemed like her anger was fueled by the lust she was generating as well, roles would need to keep applying tentacles to her until it started to feed her the aphrodisiac. After that it would take another few minutes for her to change over from being more angry than horny. Even then her rage still wouldn't go away completely but at least it brings her down to something that the creation is used to working with. The tentacle beast wrapped several more arms around the large female, softly massaging the woman's breasts, driving in and out of her pussy and ass, and it seeped the fluids from the potion maker into Snatch's mouth and vagina. "There. That's better. Now we can talk. Open your mind to me, and we will work together on your process to further develop it." At the same time, it spoke to Figaro. "Anything on your front?" After her answer, it added, "Your 'friend' was proving to be difficult. I'm persuading her to work with us." But it wasn't done. It communicated with the twin girls, having them begin on a slave collar and its control device--an enchanted metal collar that was linked to a ring of command. The creature brought in the metal for the collar and the ring, placing one inside one twin's womb, and the other inside the other twin. It made sure that the collar was large enough to go around the large woman's neck. Snatch gave in to the pleasure, but it still didn't stop her from attempting to cuss out the creature holding her. Her mind seemed as open as it can be and if the creature begins to root around in there it would find that she actually comes from some of the barbarian clans, raging at the world is in their blood. Control would be difficult but the more it would dig into their traditions her strength and combat prowess could be useful." No, although I think that's quite telling right now. People seem to be actively avoiding the tower." Figaro responded, "I know it's on the outskirts of town, but I've been watching the path people are taking, and they are giving us a wide berth. I'm able to see anything from this angle, but I'd imagine it's something magical." The ring would be finished sooner than the collar but still with as wrapped up as Snatch is it seems like there is plenty of time. The creature continued to pump Snatch, physically, with his tentacles inside her pussy, which was surprisingly soft, but also very muscular, and her rear, which was certainly not soft, but was tight. Her mouth had a couple of tentacles in it, one simply stimulating her tongue, but the other dumping a powerful aphrodisiac into her body. But also mentally, as it softly pushed thoughts of obedience and servitude at her. Though now, it began to ply her with a new idea--she would become the creature's protector, along with the creator of chimeric follower creatures that would serve the roles beast. It would use its powers to add to her prowess and ability in combat, and also help her refine the technique for making new combinations of human and animal. It was waiting patiently for the collar and ring, but as it did contact Figaro. "Keep watch, then. You will detect any attack as fast as I can--can you use your senses to probe for any shield that might have been put up? I will connect Ability's power to yours, if you wish, to aid in your detection ability." Snatch would take a while to be fully turned as the creature waits for the collar and ring, but it would arrive eventually. Figaro though would begin to step up her surveillance at her 'partners' order. She pushed out her senses to their limit but wasn't able to find any sort of shield. There was definitely magical powers at work, she could feel them but couldn't really tell what was going on. Eventually she heads down to the bottom floor, "I need to go out and see what's going on, there are some energies at work, but I can't see what exactly. I'll report what I find." She says before heading out. Rounding the area several time it took a little bit to figure out for sure what was going on. "Someone has erected a web of confusion spells and a maze around the tower, it redirects people around the tower and keeps them from coming close. I could unravel them, but it would take a while." She reported back The creature continued to work on Snatch, trying to make her more obedient and pliable, but also feeding into her sense of desire for combat. "You will serve me, protector. And in return, I will make your desires real. You will learn to perfect your process, and together we shall make an army of these creatures." It removed the ring and collar from the twins magical wombs, and brought them to Snatch. It flushed a load of the aphrodisiac into her and at the same time tried to build up her lust and arousal with mental commands. Once it saw success manipulating her, it would slip the collar around her neck, putting the control ring on one tentacle. It waited to see what happened. "Snatch... You will serve me..." The creature also spoke to Figaro. "Do not attempt to do so. Instead, build an inner ring of detection spells, spells that will notify us if anyone tries to pass the maze and enter the tower. Then return to watching for intruders." It brought Ability to attention. "Slave! I want you to start layering defensive spells around the tower, similar to how you had them arranged before, but with me in command of them." It wiggled the tentacle in her pussy and added, "I have established a link with you so that you may transfer the magic you cast to me." The rage filled woman calmed down and complied as the collar was attached to her, she would be the creatures' to command now ready to help fulfill its desires of creating a hybrid army that will also do it's bidding. "Yes...master..." Was her only reply. Kijaro and Ability both began to layer their spells around and inside the tower preparing for that assault that seems inevitable. Figaro would finish quite a bit before Ability as she moaned and wiggled in pleasure as she worked to create a series of spells that would delay any attackers who assault. But even before they go to the point where they'd force themselves through the first door into the tower the Roles would know and hopefully be ready for what comes. The roles beast was pleased with his slaves' work, and he used his abilities to bring them to orgasm quickly as a reward. But the intent of his opponents puzzled him. He was happy to have the magical alerting fields and defenses up around the tower. It kept a part of its mind watching for violations of the alarms and defenses, and it charged Figaro and Ability with doing the same. And now, he tapped into Snatch's knowledge, trying to apply his advanced intellect and knowledge of biology to the problem, so that the subjects of the procedure would have a lower risk to their lives. Finally, it was ready to begin the process, and it began to merge the material of the cat and the human female he'd captured, merging their attributes and minds and bodies. Though guided by Snatch's knowledge, it had modified the procedure. It allowed Snatch to watch and comment and even aid with the process, to make sure that the hybrid woman would be viable and successful. Part of the maze that surrounded the tower the Roles would find it difficult to snare the women it would need to gather its armies. The people just weren't getting close enough, it would need to extend its influence farther than it may want, doable but risky. Snath's knowledge would prove invaluable to the creature in its attempt to fine tune the process and bring out the desired traits. A thin layer of hair would begin to coat the creature as a tail grew out of the normal human's tailbone, although it retained a cat's flexibility, appendages changed to more of a cat's muscle structure lean but powerful. The only other major change was of course the ears, moving to the top of her head as they buried themselves into her hair. The changes continued under their watchful eye, but will end up being successful even if it doesn't set any speed records. As the conversion continued, the creature found that it approved of the changes to the young female as she became part cat. "Excellent work, slave Snatch!" It pumped more arousal into Snatch's mind, trying to make her orgasm as it wiggled the tentacles inside her ass and vagina, driving them deep inside her. At the same time, it pushed tentacles into the mind of the newly created feline-human hybrid woman as she awakened from the procedure. "You will serve me, woman. You are my slave, and will obey my commands and do my bidding." It slipped tentacles into her mouth and rear and slit, slowly beginning to arouse her also. "State your name, slave..."" Kijaro, I want you to explore the underground sewer system near the tower. Perhaps you can find a way to get past the spells around the tower. Be cautious--I don't want to lose you. If you find a way out, exit and attempt to map the outside area, but don't draw attention to yourself!" He spoke to the one person in the tower that still had some amount of free will... The newest slave didn't take much to be broken by Roles, it obediently answered. "Carol..." her slotted eyes stared out blankly as it answered, squirming as she was given pleasure." Getting past the spells isn't a problem for myself, it seems that it's focused on keeping people away from the tower. With the proper key one could see through the confusion and illusions that lead people away from the tower." She passes along a design and spell design that could be built into something as small as a pebble that would act as the key. "If you send out anyone else, you should make sure that they have one of these so that they can return quickly." Snatch went into one of the hollow tentacles to be aroused and pleasured and further controlled by the creature, though it kept her close at hand in case of trouble. "Sleep until I need you again, Slave Snatch..." Kijaro got a bit of pleasure in return for her good work, and the creature spoke to her again. "Find me another young adult female and another animal. Subdue them and bring them to me for conversion." It had one of the twin item makers produce several of the "keys" for its agents. Last on its action list, it went back to Ability. "Use the teleportation portal to the magic school to find someone else. Subdue them and bring them to the tower. Then find an animal in one of the places there, and bring that too. I will perform two of the transformations... I need agents on the outside..." Figaro groaned at the pleasure and the difficulty of her task, she needed to obtain a woman and an animal under the nose of the watchers, she would need to ponder that for a while. If this level of magic was getting thrown around more than likely everyone of authority has been notified. Using guile and illusions she eventually was able to drag one woman through the sewers and get her to the tower, although she wasn't sure if she made it unnoticed or not. A bird accompanied her as she returned. "We may need to expand our selection process to people and things outside this town." The keys would be produced fairly quickly, they were small and surprisingly simple. Within ten minutes there would be five ready. Marilith would find that teleporting to the school was out of the question, there seems to be something blocking the teleportation to that specific location. She was able to snap up a cow from the fields before reporting back to her master about her failure, her sadness from not being able to accomplish her mission was up front in her response. Tentacles examined the bird, and the cow, and the female. "Put the bird in a cage for now, and place the cow and the woman in my tentacles." It opened up some chambers to allow the woman and animal to be brought together. Once the two were em placed, he began the process to join them, something that would end up in a cowgirl... It reassured Ability that she'd done well, and sent her and Figaro back to the top level to watch for interlopers. And it thought. Perhaps it should move the tower away? Try to break the surrounding spells? Wait for an attack? After several minutes, it decided on the "move" plan. The tower could be sent elsewhere... the residents safe inside as the tower moved. It began to cast the requisite spells for the move... The cowgirl would take a bit longer than the cat-girl transformation did, mostly because of the amount of changes that happened to her body. Breasts, hips, legs, and chest all grew in size, she was taller and stronger than before. Little horns poked out of her head as her form rippled with strength, the Roles has created two types of creatures right now one that is quick but relatively weak and the second one is slower but much stronger. Moving the tower was doable but would take a tremendous amount of magical powers to move the mystical tower, anchored spells would need to be migrated while making sure than any foreign spells do not. After that it's just a matter of deciding where you'd like to go.

A Sorceress's Apprentice (MVO34 and BigWad73) _closed_|rating:3.0

What happens in the dark ( Eden x EffervscentDreams

The club Legacy had just opened up in the off beaten path of New York City. It looked like a run-down building but on the inside was complete opposite. There were three levels to the building. When you are first let in by the bouncer, you walk up the steps into a large room that had lights spinning every which way. The light up dance floor was sitting above the hard wood floors as the DJ booth against the wall suspended high into the air. Four long bars took up the walls to make sure everyone’s was getting served and not left waiting for a long time. From the first floor, you ascend up see through stairs to the second floor where tables and booths took up most of the floor as you could look over the rail and see the dancers below. From the ceiling hung down cages were the dancers danced. The third floor was blocked off by walls so you couldn’t see inside, but they could see out. Only staff were allowed and where most transactions happened. Sometimes the chosen few from the dance floor were selected to go up to the third floor. James looked through the see through walls as the staff started setting up for tonight. Tonight was a mask affair as they placed masks around the tables. A black jacket was slipped onto his arms as his pant legs were being pulled at to be tailored. A woman came around with a jar in her hand that held his hair gel as she slipped her fingers into the gel and sculptured his blonde hair. His blue eyes watched her, looking down at her neck and seeing her bite marks were red, as though been freshly fed on. He didn’t mind some of his staff having fun, but they were responsible for their meals. He didn’t let them dare kill them but things slip. Once the girl was done with hair, she left him as he turned to the mirror to look himself over. Blonde hair sculpted to how he liked, black jacket fit around his muscular arms with a white button down underneath. His tailored black pants with his black shiny shoes. He smiled at himself, showing off his white teeth as one of the girls came back over with a glass of red liquid in her hands. “ Ah thank you.” He said as he took the glass from her hand and taking a small sip. “ Hmm very fresh.” He licked his lips as he waved away the girls as He looked down at the floor again, slowly moving the liquid in the cup around. The news was flooded with talk about the newest club, Legacy. Everyone was excited to go. And tonight, most girls were getting ready. Except for Eliza Chance. She'd never been much of a club scene girl, electing to stay at home and read. Or spend time with her black cat Jasper. But that all changed when her two best girlfriends, Anna and Sophie came over. "You are coming with us Eliza. All the other single, 23-year-old girls will be there. Including you!" So in the end, when the club opened to allow everyone in, Eliza was among the crowd. Her mask was a white, Mardi Gras mask. But it was decorated with female accents to help her deep blue eyes sparkle. While her thick, jet black hair, had been combed and braided into a fishtail braid. That now hung down her back. And her outfit, it showed off her decent figure. She was neither skinny nor fat, a healthy medium. She wore a simple halter top, her best dark jeans, and her favorite pair of black leather boots. That made her look 5 ft 5, rather than 5ft. But when they were all in the club, Eliza found that she'd been separated from her friends. So, she went over to one of the bars, to get a drink. And maybe find away to find her friends. After ordering for a simple beer, Eliza sipped it slowly, while she looked around the club. But she couldn't see either Anna or Sophie. And by the time her beer was half gone, she'd given up on finding them and sighed. Now what could she do? She was in an unfamiliar place, feeling terrified and alone. Hell, her heart was racing, and she almost felt sick with worry. James pulled in his jet black mask over his eyes and made his way down from the third floor. The music was shaking the place as he saw couples, makes abs females dancing to the beat. He would nod to some of the people he knew, wondering What the year would do to their now prey. He walked over to the bars and started talking to bar tenders, making sure that everything was running smoothly, getting a few drinks here and there for some pretty faces. As he stopped at the last bar, he could sense something. He looked down and saw the raven haired beauty. Her skin shining from the lights as he saw her sipping a beer. He smiled at himself as he walked over to her, lightly touching her arm with his fingers and leaning down to her ear, his lips almost touching it.“ Hello there.” He said in a whisper that she could hear him over the loud music. Eliza jumped, startled by someone touching her. Falling hard on the floor, she looked up at the guy, her blue eyes wide in shock. Then the pain from hitting her head snapped her free of her shocked stupor. "Own...that hurt." Sitting up carefully, while feeling the back of her head, she was glad she felt nothing sticky. But she knew she'd have a good-sized knot for a while. So after a moment of getting her wits all together, Eliza stood up before she looked at the man who'd scared her so bad. "Uh... Hello there. Do you always do that? Scare poor girls so that they'll fall and barely avoid getting injured?" She wasn't mad, just bewildered and still a little shaken. Not to mention, this man before her, something seemed off. But what exactly? She couldn't say. Rubbing the arm he'd touched, she licked her lips, feeling nervous. What now? Did she introduce herself? Or wait for him to do it first? 'Ah crap...what do I do? I don't interact with cute guys like this everyday...so what do I do?!' She felt panicked, and her head where she hit was throbbing. Leaving her with an awful headache that made her eyes start to water. "Do you have some aspirin? Or Ibuprofen? My head is killing me." James watched as she fell to the floor. He saw she hit her head and grew concerned. If there was blood, she was boomed and the club would be exposed. He sniffed a bit trying to make sure but saw that she was looking at her fingers, seeing no blood. He looked into blue eyes, wanting them for himself as she spoke to him. Furthermore, he smiled at her question. “ I don’t try to, but when I do, there are more injuries involved.” He could tell she was nervous and that drove him wild. She would be a fun experience, maybe under all that nervousness would never something wild. “ I don’t have any on me but if you’ll follow me to the third floor, I can get you some. Get you away from this loud noise to help calm your head.” He held out his hand for her so that they could get through the crowd as the dance floor started getting crowded as a fast song started to play. "I uh... Thank you sir" she eventually settled on. Taking his hand and standing up, she followed him through the filled dance floor, clinging to his hand tight so she wouldn't be separated from him. And eventually, when they were free and heading up the stairs, the farther from the music they got, the better it was for her head." I know I probably shouldn't say this... Because you can't really trust a stranger. But I'm sorry for jumping. It's just, I got separated from my two friends and when you touched me, I was already freaked out. Because I don't go to clubs, ever. But I came because my friends told me I had to. So here I am, babbling like an idiot and making you rethink your decision to help me?" Smiling weakly, she sighed." I've never been the one to try new things. Better yet, I'm that girl in the corner who people forget is there. But I thought tonight would be fun, at least I hoped it would be. But instead, I embarrass myself in front of a...handsome guy like you." And at the end, her face was red, while she looked away, feeling shy. "Forgive me? I'm not this good at talking with guys...or other strangers for that matter." James felt the warm of her hand as she put hers in his hand. “ Don’t call me sir” He said as he pulled her through the crowd. Well, this seemed to be easy enough, not dealing with a drunk girl and after a few mixtures with them, he’d just hand them off to his workers, not even getting a nice drink of them. Others watched them as they made their way up the stairs, Thoughts going through their head as they could smell the sweetness on this girl.“ No your right, you really can’t trust people, but I am glad that you are letting me take care of you. Friends can be fun right? My friends did the same to me, and I’ve been changed ever since.” He remembered the night he was turned. He went with his friends whose father was a member of a gentleman’s club back in the day for his last day of being a single man. They had hired entertainment for all of them even though James didn’t want to. As the night went on and drinks flowed, he was led to a room with a woman, thinking nothing of it was she’s laid him on the bed, getting in top of him and had her way with him. He woke up the next day hungry and alone.“ Your rambling is quick cute, and it has not affected my decision to help you. Right through here.” He opened up the door to the third floor as the noise was canceled out. There was a long velvet couch onto the right with a black oval coffee table in front with fresh food. The left was a bar filled with everything type of liquor and on the top selves where bottle with red liquid in them. The flashing lights could be seen through the glass, flashing around as the people danced below. Off to the far right was the bathroom with the walls painted red with all the bells and whistles, including a walk in shower. To the far left there were two doors as one said to keep out and the other led to a bedroom.“ You are very beautiful yourself. I think people know that you are in the corner of the room but are very intimidated by you.” He closes the door behind her, stepping forward to become close to her as he kept holding her hand, his eyes stared into hers. "Oh actually, it wasn't intentional. The crowd pulled us away from each other when we came in. My friends mean well, honestly they do. Besides, I guess they just wanted me to come out and have fun. So honestly, I'm not mad at them." "And sorry about the sir thing... I hope I haven't offended you. I just don't know your name." Then she looked down, as if she were a puppy that had just been punished for doing something bad. When he said that her rambling was cute, and it hadn't changed his mind on helping her, Eliza blushed. Upon entering the room, she whistled lowly in appreciation. "Man, this room is nice. Very posh....or perhaps decadent us a better description?" Perhaps other women would have dollar signs flashing in their eyes, and thinking of ways to get to this man or whatever. But it was clear from Eliza and her reaction, that she wasn't used to such nice things. Even though she dressed well, where she lived was actually dirt cheap. When the door closed, she looked up, blushing at the man's words. As he stepped close to her, staring into her eyes, she chuckled. "That's sweet to hear, but honestly, I'm nothing special. Just a woman who got lucky enough to have decent genetics. But still, I appreciate the compliment...uh what can I call you?" “ Apologize about your friends. I have seen many friends leave them and not come back. You did not offend me, my name is James.” He smiled as he took his mask off to reveal his face.“ But you are something special though.” He let go of her hand go as he reached up to take her mask off, revealing more of her beautiful face. Everything about her was driving him and that’s what he loved. She wasn’t trying to jump all over him or see what she could get out of him.“ I’ll go and get you some medicine, make yourself comfy.” He states as he moved himself past her, placing their masks on the bar and heading to the bathroom to search the cabinets. Just as he walked into the bathroom, the Keep Out door opened up then closed as woman stepped out, wiping red liquid from her mouth and seeing Eliza standing there. “ Hey there honey... you alone up here?” She smirked, thinking that maybe she’d get to have another snack. Eliza jumped, looking to the woman who stepped from the room with the keep out sign. At her question, she shook her head. "No ma'am. James brought me up here. I needed so aspirin because I hit my head when he surprised me at the bar on the first floor." She'd missed the woman wiping her mouth, and hadn't seen the mysterious red stuff. And even if she had, she might have thought it was wine. And them she realized she called the woman ma'am. "I'm sorry, I didn't know your name, I'm just trying to be polite." Hell, she didn't look mu h older than herself. But not knowing her name, what else was Eliza supposed to call her? Eventually, she sat down, but not feeling comfortable to relax, she sat near the edge of the couch. Over the splendor of the room, she now felt uncomfortable. "This is a nice club you have. Which is strange for me to say since I'm not really a party type." Which was true. They'd done an amazing job with the place and the service was good as well. “ Oh James brought you? You must be really special.... he doesn’t just pick anyone.” She winked. “ Don’t worry about the ma’am thing. I’m older than you are by miles. “ She walked over to Eliza and sized her up. “ You’ll be just fine. Have fun sweetie.” The woman smiled as she headed out the door. James walked out with a few bottles in his hand as saw Eliza sitting on the edge of the couch. “ Thank you, we tried very hard to make sure that it tends to everyone’s needs.” He set the bottles in front of her, making his way to the bar to get her son fresh water. “ Why aren’t you the party type? You seem like you’d be fun to dance with.” He gave a smirk at her once the glass was filled. He turned to reach the top shelf with the red liquid, setting it on the bar and pouring himself a small glass. "Why? Well I don't really like to be in the middle of all the attention. And I'm just not comfortable. Coming to a club implies mingling. And I'm not the most talkative." When he set the pain reliever before her, she opened up the aspirin and poured out two small pills. And once she had the glass of water, in went the pain reliever, chased down by water. Setting the glass back on the table, she suddenly had a new question for James." Uh James? Before you got back, there was a woman in here. And she said that you don't pick just anyone to come up here. So I was wondering why you picked me? Besides the fact I hit my head, and you seem to think good of me...what else qualified me as lucky?" It was painfully obvious that she had little to no experience with talking to guys that were above just being good-looking. In fact, for her to be able to speak at all, she kept her gaze in her lap. Afraid if she got stuck in James' gaze, she'd be rendered completely useless. “ You seem to be very talkative now, even to a stranger.” James sat down beside her, taking a small sip of the blood from the cup. “ That’s Lilly. She seems to you all a lot with no filter. To be honest, there is something about you. You are not like some of the others I have met. Most just act all innocent and then turn right after but with you, you seem very genuine and sincere. Sounds sadistic, but I’m glad you hit your head, it gave a reason to get to know you better.” He lightly cupped her chin in his fingers and brought her head up to look at him. “ Don’t hold your head down, it shows weakness which I know you don’t have.” His eyes scanned hers, wanting to kiss her but since they just met, he had to let her give herself to him. He lightly brushed his thumb finger on her skin, feelingbthe softness. His words made her blush. "O-Oh good point. Well usually, excluding now, I'm not much of a talker." She listened as he spoke, her blush deepening when he said he was glad that she'd hit her head. Only because it allowed him to get to know her better. "Well I believe that it's better to be yourself, rather than pretend to be something your not." Then, when he lifted her chin to make her look at him, her eyes widened. "You think I don't have weakness?" She was puzzled by this statement, but it was nice to hear. However, everything came to a halt in her mind when he brushed his thumb on her skin. Reaching up tentatively, Eliza pressed her palm to his cheek, to return the favor. Then she froze, worried. "I-Is it ok for me to touch you back?" “ No I don’t.” James said to her as he saw Here cheek deepen with blush. She looked very attractive this way, and he wondered if she was like this in other aspects.“ I would love your touch.” His other hand grabbing hers, pressings her palm more to him to feel her warmth. He slowly moved her hand to kiss on top of it then to her wrist, then putting her palm back into his face. He would love to out his fangs into her wrist and drink from her, but he had his morals and wouldn’t do it unless she was willing. Her scent was so strong, it wasn’t driving him crazy. He wanted all of her innocents' and whatever darkness she hadn’t hidden.“ My apologies for that. Your skin is so soft that I had to feel it on my lips. My thumb can only a bit less than my lips can.” He smiled at her. "Oh no...it's ok. That was actually a kind of nice thing to feel. You just surprised me" she said, smiling at him. Then she leaned in, much to her own surprise, and kissed his cheek softly. Afterward, Eliza pulled back, and she realized that she'd never given her name. "Oh jeez, I'm such an idiot. My name is Eliza. Forgive me for not telling you." Looking away from him for a moment, she reached up and pulled her braid up and over her shoulder, fidgeting with the end of it before she looked back at James. "So...uh...what now?" She didn't know what to do, not after she had so boldly kissed his cheek. Hell, her lips were still tingling pleasantly, and she hoped he wouldn't react badly to what she'd done. Her kiss on the cheek took him by surprise, but he loved the feeling of her lips on him. “ Eliza, what a beautiful name. I’ll forgive you this time, but next time you won’t be.” He saw her fidget with her braid of her raven black hair but stopped her as he took his hand off her chin and touched hers. He scooted closer to her, his body closing on hers as he leaned in and gave her a light kiss. Her warmth against his lips felt like nothing he’d experience before. He could feel her heart racing a bit from her hand. He chuckled to himself a bit as he pulled back, wanting more of her but wanted to see what her reaction would Be as his eyes looked on hers. “You have very soft lips.” "Next time? What would happen next time?" His touch upon her face made her stop instantly, and she couldn't help but groan. His touch upon her was nice, causing the place where he touched to tingle, and then he moved closer, till he kissed her! He actually kissed her back! But as soon as he pulled back, she let out a sigh. Holding his gaze, she actually smiled. One that reached her eyes, making them sparkle. "Well, thank you. So do you James." Then she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder, before finding his hand with hers and squeezing it. "This is very nice. Almost too nice. And I feel like you might disappear." A beat of silence, she continued. "Will I get to see you again...maybe?" “ That would give away too much.” He smiled as he heard let out a sigh when he pulled away from her. He saw her smile since they met downstairs at his compliment. “Mine are not like yours. “ He reached up with his finger, lightly touching her lips again and started tracing them. “ Yours are purer. I see innocents in them.” Her head rested on his shoulder as he held her in close, feeling her squeeze his hand. “ Maybe.... I know that time can be hard with me running a club every night and I wouldn't want to put you through the torture of coming here just to see me when this is not your world.” He places his head on hers, playing along with her. His other hand found her bare shoulder and lightly running his fingers onto her. She gulped at his statement, feeling nervous, but not to the point she wanted to get up and run away. When his finger reached up to trace her lips, she went still, to let him. And at his words, she nipped his finger gently. "Well, thank you. You're the only guy I've really kissed. So I guess I kinda gave away my first kiss."" I wouldn't say coming here is torture. And even if I feel even a little bit uncomfortable, it would be worth it. Because you're a great guy, someone I'm really enjoying talking to and sitting together like this." As his head rested over hers, and his hand found her shoulder, she relaxed against him. Enough to the point where she closed her eyes and sighed." I'd say the guy I'd love to be with...would be someone like you. You're intriguing, kind. So gentlemanly. And I wish we could have met earlier, but I'm glad we met now." Then she realized she was rambling, and hid her face in his shoulder, embarrassed by her openness. ((be back in a bit)) (Ok!) The feeling of her teeth nibbling on his finger drove him crazy. He wanted to take her right now on the couch and do so many things to her, but he knew he must take his time. Her first kiss? Then that would mean she hasn't dine anything else, he could use this knowledge when the time was right.“ As am I Eliza. Of the ones I have met in my life, you are very special. You are the one that I want to spend this night with.” He moved his head from hers and shifted his shoulder so that she would move her head. He let go of her hand and cupped her chin again as his lips pressed against hers. Furthermore, he let his hand go from under her chin as he put both his hands around her waist. Furthermore, he carefully scooted her up and set her in his lap, hoping she wouldn't think it was too much. His cold lips press harder against hers, he could feel himself to feed but couldn't yet, she must be his completely. Eliza was enthralled by him. He was everything a girl dreamed about. The perfect man one's parents would approve of. But in the back of her mind, on a subconscious level, she sensed that he was dangerous. But right now, even with that feeling, she didn't care. To hell with reason and logic, she needed just one night to have fun. And he made her feel this way, what with his touch and his words." Then I'd be honored to spend this night with you. Just be gentle with me ok" she teased him, feeling more relaxed after they'd had time to talk. She lifted her head up quizzically, before his hand cupped her chin. And just before she could speak, his lips were then pressed to hers in a hard kiss. At first, her eyes widened, and she was tempted to jerk back. But after a minute, her eyes slid shut, and she eagerly kissed James back. Before long, she felt him move her into his lap, and almost on instinct, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Allowing her body to press up against him, while her hands found there way into his blond hair. She may be a virgin, but some things, like this, we're just naturally picked up. Besides, what would he think about her now? And would he enjoy her eagerness? She hoped so. “ I can't promise anything.” James whispered to her as he felt her legs wrap around him. His member started to press hard against her flower, letting her know that it was hard and waiting. He slid his tongue in between her lips, teasing her tongue with his. He slowly slid his hand under her shirt onto her waist, feeling her soft skin as he started to slid his fingers along he figure. The hotness if her skin made his cold blood feel like boiling. He was imagining all the thing he was going to do to her as his fingers ran UO her back to find the clasp of her bra. He let his fingers linger there for a second, indicating what he was going to do and unclasp her bra. Furthermore, he didn't want to rush taking her shirt off, just running his fingers run up her back. Eliza shivered at that, but still, it wasn't enough to chase her off. When she felt his arousal press against her, her blush returned with full force. 'Oh boy...someone's excited' she thought. That is until the feel of his tongue in her mouth, teasing her own, gad distracted her. A shiver raced up her spine when she felt his cool hand slide up her under her shirt, to touch her waist. Like the rest of her, her body was soft and warm, though she wasn't fat. She was lightly toned, so her skin was firm. Unmarked by any scars. When she felt his fingers king at the clasp on her bra, she wasn't at all surprised when he unclasped it, having expected him to do so. And when she lowered her hands to lift her shirt a little, out fell her lacy black bra. Settling her shirt back down, she gasped when she looked down. His touch had caused her nipples to stand out under her shirt. "Jeez...you even have my body betraying me, you wicked man." In her tone was amusement as she smiled at him again, showing that she was playing. “ You don't know how wicked I can be.” He responded, seeing her nipples wanting his attention. He lifted her shirt over her head, looking down at her half naked body. Her skin looked like milk to his has he wanted to lick all over her. He lightly grabbed her braid, tugging it a bit back, not enough to hurt her yet and propping her back onto the couch. He leaned her back against the arm, the chest up, waiting for him. Furthermore, he lowered his head and started licking around her breasts, teasing her aroused waiting nipples. Once he finished teasing both of her breasts, he started on her nipples. He started licking around one, making small circles around it, feeling the goosebumps against her skin. When he was done, he put his lips around it like it was a sucker as he started it lick and suck on it. His thumb from his free hand pressed against her other nipple, swirling it around as he is other hand, with her braid still wrapped in his had was being lightly tugged at. "True, but I can take a guess." As her shirt was pulled up, she felt vulnerable. Even more so that her shirt was up, and her bra was gone. Baring her sensitive breasts for his viewing pleasure. When he grabbed her braid, she went still, waiting to see what he was going to do. As he tugged it lightly to prop her back against the couch, she followed his movements willingly, finding no need to resist since he wasn't hurting her right now. Now in place, Eliza cried out when he leaned in and began to lick at her breasts. He definitely caused goosebumps to appear on her skin, all the while as her body quivered. When his attention moved to her nipples, she curled her fingers into the couch under her. A meal of enjoyment leaving her pale pink lips, before she tilted her head back. All the sensations and emotions had her heart racing, wrecking pleasurable havoc upon her body. And it only intensified when his mouth closed over her nipple, feeling him suck upon it. While the thumb on his free hand teased her other one. Eben the light tugging on her braid felt nice still. Little by little, his reading of her body was beginning to make her become even more aroused. To the point she clenched her thighs together. "Please...please give be more James" she whimpered, her eyes staring up at the ceiling above her. He loved hearing her moan of enjoyment but even more hearing his name being whimper from her lips. “Patience my flower.” He breathed anti her nipple as he switched sides, giving the same attention to her other nipple. He let her braid go and placing the that thumb onto the swollen nipple, massaging it for her. When he was finished with his work on her now swollen nipple, he got up, pulling her up with him, making her stand in front of him, her bare back against him. He reached around, grabbing her nipples with his fingers, rolling them around. “ Lets see if you can walk to the bedroom. “ He whispered in her ear as he gave a grin of listening to her moan. He started nipping bat her neck a bit. "W-What bedroom?" She asked, her words somewhat wobbly as he continued to tease and assault her nipples. And now in this changed up position, with him behind her, she was aware of him even more. Especially as he nipped at her neck. Another sensitive spot of hers. "Is the bedroom in that room? With the keep out sign?" Eliza asked, honestly curious. Especially when she remembered that woman coming out of it. Looking up at him over her shoulder, she waited for his next words, or perhaps what he'd do next. Would he guide her to this bedroom? If so, what should she expect of this night? 'I'll just have to wait and see' she thought, feeling excitement and butterflies fill her up, all in anticipation of having an amazing night, with an equally amazing man. “ No, that one isn't for you. “ He smiled as he started to lead her to the door beside the keep out. Inside was a king-size, four post wooden bed. The room was a light red color with candles all around. There was a black cabinet that stretched to either side of the wall. The comforter was a pure white with matching pillows. He pushed her against the bed, her ass sticking up in the air as he pressed him member hard against it, her jeans teasing him. His spilled his hands from her nipples as he grabbed her braid again, slowly lifting her up slowly where she was against him again. “ If you are to be mine my flower, I will not hold back. I will do things to you that will make you cry for more or beg to stop. Our safe word is love. I will stop ABD give you rest then go more until very inch of you can't take anymore. Do you want me?” "Ok." As he leads her to the room beside it, she was amazed when they went in. This room was nice as well, and that bed, just looking at it told her it wasn't for sleep. As he pushed her against the bed, she fell forward, catching herself on her hands. Leaving her ass up, only to feel him press hard against her. This didn't last long, as he took hold of her braid, pulling her back up against him once more. His words made her tremble with slight worry, while she tried to imagine what he'd be doing to her. And the images popping up in her mind, caused her breathing to hitch. Especially when he gave her a safe word to remember. 'Oh shit...he's not kidding.' When he asked if she wanted him still, she took a long moment to weigh the pro's and con's. When she knew what she'd say, she spoke. "Yes. I want you. I want to be your flower...just promise after tonight, I won't be too injured." Then she laughed nervously, before she gulped. Now all she could do was wait and see how he'd respond to her answer. “ I can't promise.” He kissed her neck again as his free hand started going to her jeans, undoing the button and slowly slipping his hand down to her lips. He could feel the heat from them as he started running his fingers along them. Furthermore, he felt moisture as he kept teasing her. He removed him fingers, taking his hand from her pants and turning her around. He looked down into her eyes and let her hair go, letting his hands slid down her body and coming to her jeans. Furthermore, he unzipped her jeans and sliding them down her leg, crouching down to lick her thigh as he reached her shoes. He took them off her feet along with her sock and pants. Furthermore, he left her lacy lingerie where they were as he threw everything to the side. Furthermore, he got into his knees, coming face to face with her lacy lingerie, his hands holding onto her thighs, spreading her legs apart. Furthermore, he leaned in, gripping them with his teeth and sliding them down her. "At least try" she responded, voice soft. Feeling his lips against her neck, she closed her eyes, going still when she felt his hand go to her jeans. When the button came undone, and she felt his fingers slip in to tease her sex, her eyes shot open, and her hips jerked forward. Eventually; after he was done teasing her, she felt his hand leave her, before she was turned to face him. She gazed back into his eyes, smiling softly at him. As his hands slid down her body, she remained still, enjoying his touch. When the sound of her zipper went down, she watched him slip her jeans down, once again gasping at the feel of his tongue on her thigh. Following her pants, her shows and socks joined them soon after. Leaving her in her lacy black underwear, that was stark against her pale skin. She raised her brow as he got on his knees, but when he parted her legs, while gripping her thighs, she watched as he used his teeth to pull down her lingerie. That was definitely a new way to undress her. "Oh boy...have I excited you this much James?" She was bewildered; that a man like this wanted a shy girl like her. And here she was, naked before him, something that she hadn't expected to happen when she came to Club Legacy. “ You have been driving me crazy all night.” He response as he slowly got up and stared at her naked body. Every inch of her was perfect to him. He took his jacket off and started to button his shirt, showing off the curvier of his muscles through candlelight. Once he set them down into the floor, he stepped to her, grabbing her hands and placing them onto his pants. His hands slipped in between hers, helping her unbutton and unzip him. She could feel his member hard against her hands as their hands went to his hips and slid down his pants. “ Go lay on the bed, I need to get something.” He whispered softly as he let go of her hands. He left on his underwear for now as he walked over to the cabinet, opening up to find what he needed. Furthermore, he turned around with handcuffs and blindfold. She giggled as he said that she'd been driving him crazy all night. "Then does that mean you have a soft spot for non-party girls?" She then watched him take off his jacket, before he began to unbutton his shirt. Allowing her to see the curvature of his muscles. How the candlelight added a nice atmosphere for this intimate moment that was soon to take place. Jarred from her thoughts, she found her hands in his, on his pants. His hands guiding her to unzip his pants, and giving her a good feel of his hard member. When he told her to lay down, she was quick to do so. Getting on the bed, on her back; while waiting, she lay her hands over her stomach, watching him curiously. And as soon as he turned, allowing her to see the handcuffs and blindfold, she gulped before licking her lips in anticipation. "I guess you're going to punish me then for driving you crazy, huh? Seems fair to me." “Its more than fair.” He grinned as he walked over to her. He set the things onto the bed, grabbing one of her hands from Ernst Mach, making sure to lightly touch her as his other hand put the cuff around her wrist. Furthermore, he grabbed the other side of the handcuff and hooked it to the bed post. Furthermore, he climbed on top of her, his member grinding hard against her exposed sex. Furthermore, he grabbed her other hand, cuffing it then cuffing it to the other bed post. He made sure to have pillows under her head to keep her comfy as he slipped the blindfold over her eyes. Furthermore, he kissed her lips then started to trail down her body until he reached her lower tummy. Furthermore, he stared down at her sex, bare and ready for the taking as he separated her legs. “ Do not close your legs until I tell you.” He instructed as he made a trail of kisses to her sex. He started to nibble at her lips, using his tongue to tease her, licking the juices coming from her. 'Oh man' she thought, becoming even more excited as he approached her. She watched him, as he got her in the cuffs, before both wrists had their own post to lock to. Leaving her at his mercy, since he most likely had the key as well. And at least she gads a pillow under her head, to jeep her comfortable. However, when he blindfolded her, she gasped. Now she couldn't see what he was doing, but he could feel it. Feeling him kiss her lips, she smiled, before feeling his lips trail down her form. Where his lips trailed, the skin tingled in his wake, her stomach dipping under his lips. "I won't close my legs till you tell me" she repeated, before she cried out. Feeling him tease and lick her sex, caused more and more juices to escape from her. He loved hearing her cry out, that sound drove him to grow harder as he held ONT her thighs tighter. He kept lapping her Julia as he started to suck on her lips, then turning to her clit ABD started sucking there. Furthermore, he could the tension of her legs against he's hands, but she said she wouldn't close her legs. He broke away from her clit after sucking and licking her to drive her crazy and made his way down to her main sex. Her smell drove him crazy as he started to slowly insert his tongue inside her. He moaned himself as she started going a bit master, letting hos tongue feel every inch of her. Then he started going to town on her sex, licking and sucking all he could. Balling her hands into fists, all she could do was lay there. And take his pleasurable torture. God, it was so amazing. To be taken like this, with his mouth. Her mind was fogging up with pleasure, focusing on that alone and James. Nothing else mattered; hell since she'd been up here with him, she hadn't even thought once about her friends. Surely they were having a good time right? Like she said, she kept her legs spread, forcing herself to push away the urge to close them. She would be a good flower for James, His good flower to be exact. And just thinking that made her grin. When she heard a moan, she figured he was enjoying himself just as much as she was, and in response, she felt her body shudder. "Can't believe I've been missing out on this" she groaned, her voice saturated with lust and need. While she curled her toes inwards at the feel of his sucking. He was getting lost into her sex. The way she tasted made him want her more. One last good suck of juices from her sex and moved is head, licking his lips of her remains. “ Good thing you were left for me.” He said with lust in his voice. He took his hand off her thigh as he set it on her wet mound. Furthermore, he started to slid his finger into her, he started going back and forth then added a second finger into her. Furthermore, he watched her squirm which made him hold harder onto her thigh, Adding a third finger to her. “ God you are so tight.” He groaned, wanting to just ram his member into her tight sex to make her scream, but he was going to gentle for now. He took his hand off her thigh and into her hip, instructing her to move on his fingers, to feel him go deep inside. She smiled at him, giggling softly at his words. "You're lucky. I'm not a very frivolous girl." As he slid a finger inside of her wet passage, her hips bucked forward sharply. And as he added another finger and another finger, till three were inside of her, she did as he asked of her. She pushed herself forward, riding his fingers as best as she could manage. Taking him deeper inside of her, stretching her out for him. "Please more...you're driving me crazy! Teasing me with your touch. God, I'll go crazy if this continues!" Then she bit down on her bottom lip, still riding his fingers, over and over until he told her to stop. He gave a wicked grin as she screamed out. It was music to his ears as she kept riding his fingers. Once he felt she was good and ready, he told her to stop. He slid his fingers but if her, licking her juices but making sure to save some for her. He lightly got on top of her, letting his fingers trace her lips with her own flavor. “ This is how you taste my flower.” Lacing her lips, he started to take the handcuffs off her and turned her around. James leaned her down, her ass sticking in the air as he handcuffed her hands behind her back. He took his underwear and threw it on the ground. He slapped her bare ass, watching it giggle a bit then squeezing her ass in his hands. Furthermore, he positioned himself behind her as he started to slid himself in. Furthermore, he let out a gasp as he started pushing him member more inside of her. Furthermore, he grabbed her braid, pulling back on it and holding into her hips as he started pumping faster inside her, moaning. She stopped, catching his grin before he pulled his fingers from her. As he got on top of her, Eliza looked up to meet his gaze with her own. When he traced her lips, she opened them, blushing as she sucked his fingers clean of her own juices. After that, she felt the handcuffs come off, only to suddenly find herself turned over, now on her belly. Leaning down with her ass up, she could feel him cuff her arms behind her. Leaving her in an even more vulnerable position. When he slapped her, her ass stung, and she grits her teeth, grunting like an animal. That is until he squeezed her ass, drawing out a whimper before she unclenched her gritted teeth. As she felt him line up, and push into her, a second of pain hit her. Making her take a sharp breath. "Ooh fuck~" she stated, once more feeling him grab onto her braid. Just before she felt him begin to thrust into her from behind." Harder" she begged him, getting into it now. He listened to her as he started going in faster and deeper inside of her. His fingernails dug into hip as he pulled braid harder. He leaned her s head back, feeling the pleasure run through his own body. Once there were marks in her hip, he slapped her ass harder, squeezing the area he slapped. He let go of her braid as he slapped her other cheek hard, squeezing that one as well. He started to pulling himself out a bit, leaving his tip in then pushing himself back inside of her, finding himself getting deeper and deeper. She cried out loud as his fingers dug into her hip, making her groan. Only for her to feel him slap her ass harder, leaving her flesh to tingle. When he slapped her as again and squeezed where he slapped, she groaned again. As he pulled back from inside of her, only to slam back in. Drawing a low moan from between her lips. Curling her fingers into him, she gripped him tightly, groaning at the pleasure she was getting from him. "Oh please...please more James" she begged him. He pumped more into her as felt himself go inside her. His release felt so good in her that he just kept pumping her sex more and more. As he pulled out of her, he's crawling off the bed, telling her to stay in that position and walked over to the cabinet. He pulled out a silver ball that was as big as a cotton ball. He turned it on, it's coming to life with a loud vibrating noise. Furthermore, he walked back to her and putting it into her sex, sending vibrations all through her body. He got back into the bad, positioning himself in front of her. His member still standing at attention covered his her juices and his. He moved her back a bit, keeping her same position with her ass still high in the air.“ Make me clean my flower.” He instructed, grabbing her braid tightly. She groaned as he came inside of her, which caused her own climax. Then he pumped back into her, after he'd cum inside, till he pulled out of her. She stayed put, and when he came back only to insert a vibrating ball into her sex, she cried out again, trembling with pleasure. When he got back on the bed, positioned before her, with his member covered in both their juices. At his instruction, and despite her inexperience, she leaned in and began to suckle upon him. Her tongue flicking up over his tip, teasing him playfully. Moaning even more when he took hold of her braid once again. Rather tightly, but she didn't seem to mind. “ Bad girl.” He groaned as he tugged hard on her braid her teasing him so. He looked at her body, her bare ass up for all to see, her sex dripping as the vibration ball pleasured her sex. Her handcuffed hand behind her, making her his prisoner. He stared down at her face, her virgin tongue licking him. He moaned out as the feeling of her hot tongue do its job. Furthermore, he just wanted to fuck her mouth right then, but he had to wait. Furthermore, he had to see what she was capable of before taking over. She giggled around him, sucking him off continuously. She felt his gaze upon her, which made her face blush red-hot. Furthermore, she was glad that they were alone, having an audience would kill the mood for her. Especially with how she was, positioned as his little prisoner. She stared back up at him, still sucking on him, cleaning him up before she pulled back, to get a quick breath. Afterward, she leaned back in to continue sucking on him. Teasing him still, while she wondered what he had in store for her next. More pleasure perhaps? She was eager to find out. He moaned loudly as she started to suck him. He hadn't felt a women around him in so long. Her mouth was so warm, looking down to see some of the juices on her lips. She was a good girl, his good flower as she kept sucking and teasing him. He pulled her mouth off his member and made her face look at him. “ You are such a good flower.” He whispered as he ran this thumb on her cheek. He pulled her where she was setting on her knees. Furthermore, he leaned forward, sucking her nipple again as he reached down to her sex. Furthermore, he slid his fingers into her as he found the vibrant ball and slowly started moving it back and forth into her. As he started sucking harder onto her nipple his fangs punctured her as he started to feed into her. Her blood was more than he imaged as he kept sucking. The hotness hit his like a wave as he pulled out the ball from her, throwing it across the room and rammed his three fingers back into her. His praise made her feel good, happy even to hear it. And she leaned into the feel of his thumb upon her cheek, smiling at him in return. Now sitting up on her knees, he watched him lean down toward her chest. As he began to suck on her nipple, she felt his fingers. Moaning when he pushed the vibrating ball back and forth in her sex. That is until she felt him suck harder upon her nipple, before feeling a sharp pinprick. Which caused her eyes to widen in fear. Looking down, she gasped at the sight of blood. Her blood slipping down under her breast. But all she could feel was pleasure, pleasure coupled with fear as it sunk in. He wasn't human, which made her ask one question. "A-After all of this...what will you do to me James?" She then gasped as he removed the ball, only for her to feel him jam three fingers back into her sex. "Oh fuck!" “ Oh fuck is right.” He roamed as he pulled hos lips away from her nipple, letting the blood run down her body. He kept finger fucking her harder, listening to her sounds that escaped her mouth. He licked his lips, enjoying her blood over his tongue again. “ I'm going to get you to ride me like your little virgin self has never done before.” His eyes turned red as he removed his fingers from her. In one swift movement, he grabbed her hips, lifting her up and placed her sex on his member. He undid her handcuff to bring her arms around but only to clip it back into her hand and stretching her arms to a hook over the headboard. He grabbed her ass, squeezing her cheeks. Furthermore, he leaned down again, licking at her blood. "Love!" Eliza heard herself cry out, the sensations hitting her becoming too much for her. "Please...please stop. I need a break." Looking away from him, gasping for breath while her heart raced. She even felt a tiny bit woozy. She'd been enjoying it, but James was too much for her. So she needed a break to compose herself, and maybe he'd ease up as well. Then she leaned in and pressed her head under his chin, her body trembling. When they stopped and her hands were free of the cuffs, Eliza pulled away from him and sat in a corner, legs pulled in tightly to her chest while she took her break. Now, she had a question, a question she needed to know the answer to. Before she even thought of continuing." After tonight James...will I just be another notch in your belt? Someone you can brag about since I might have been the only virgin you've had in a while?" James stopped when he heard the word love, taking his hands off her. Sweat was dripping from her as blood did as well. He has sweat on himself as he leaned back against the pillows. He felt her leaning in, placing her head under his chin, feeling that her body had had enough. Furthermore, he reached up, taking the cuffs off the wall, unlocking them to see the marks left in her wrists. She pulled off of his as he groaned a bit, his member hitting the cool air as he watched her go sit in a corner. She looked so helpless and that's what he liked but the question that came next struck a cord with him. " I don't brag about who I am with. I'm not a frat boy Eliza." James got up from the bed as he walked to the cupboard to pull out a towel for himself as he walked over and handed her one. " I mean, not to be mean but isn't that what a one-night stand is?" He hated to sound mean to her, but it is as true. She wasn't "really" another notch, he thoroughly enjoyed her and their time together. " There's a shower in the bathroom if you need, after I'll have someone help you find your friends after." She took the towel from him, wiping herself off before she stood up. Meeting his eyes, her own were sad and turned down. "I know what a one-night stand is... I was just stupid to believe that I might have affected you more. Forgive me for assuming." She then leaned in and kissed his cheek, before she went to the bed, gathering her clothes. Once dressed she turned and smiled at him, even if it didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you for tonight, doubt I'll ever forget it. And knowing my friends, they probably found guys to go home with." Stepping back towards him, "As for your secret, I'll keep it to myself." Kissing his cheek a last time, before she turned and left the room. She didn't stop, not even when she got to the dance floor, she kept going until she managed to escape outside, into the cool night. Thinking about their night, and how she'd given him the last thing she held dear, left her heart aching. Love was still ever elusive to her, and the one guy she thought would be right for her, was just as elusive. So that night, she walked home alone. Still feeling the ghost remnants of his touch on her body. Fearing that she'd never feel so good as she gads with him.(Should we do a time skip? To maybe a few weeks after this night, when she's showing that she's pregnant?) James felt the kiss on his cheek as Eliza said that she would keep his secret. " Thank you." He said in a whisper as he turned to watch her leave the room. He sighed to himself as he grabbed his things and headed to the shower. Turning on the hottest setting he could, he still could feel every bit of Eliza on him -She was just another human-He told himself as the bathroom filled up with so much steam that you would have thought the bathroom was on fire. Two months have passed since his night with Eliza. James left after that night and hadn't been seen again until tonight when it was a back to school bash. The drinks were half off as ladies got in free. The club was in a buzz when we walked through the doors, even though everyone knew that he had tabs on everything while he was gone. The club was decorated in summer attire as it was the "last day" of summer for most of them collage kids. James dressed up in a frat boy out fit, blue button down shirt with white cargo short and loafs as the club started to let people in and the DJ started the party off with some of the hottest hits from the summer. At home, Eliza lay in bed, hands resting on her two-month pregnant belly. When she'd found out, almost three weeks after her night with James, she'd been elated. But now, that elation had turned to melancholy, knowing she'd be raising the baby alone. But even so, she still loved it, and would take care of her child. After another moment of laying there in bed, she made up her mind. James had to know, even if it wouldn't change a thing, she had to tell him. So after she got dressed in her baggiest clothes she had, Eliza returned to club Legacy, where her life had changed in one single night. And lucky for her, she managed to get in easily enough, but would she find James? Like that night two months ago, she went and sat at the bar, but this time she ordered a water only. Prepared to sit here all night, scanning the faces around her for the only face she wanted. 'Would he even believe me? That this baby is his? I hope so... Because he's the only one I've been with.' James made his way around the dance floor, dancing with some of the girls that had on their" last day of summer" outfits. This wasn't at all fun for him but hey, he had to make it work. He went around to check to see how everything was going when he sensed something. He hasn't sensed that same sensation ever since...." Eliza." He looked around the dance floor and around to the bars until he stopped at the same bar the first time that they met. Furthermore, he saw her raven hair as she turned and he saw her stomach. There was no way....was there? He grew a bit furious as he walked over to her and grabbing her by the arm. " What are you doing here?' He growled in her ear but didn't let her answer has he started leading her to the stairs. Once they reached the third floor, he pulled her inside as he shut and locked the door behind her. Was she here to gloat? If she was then she had another thing coming. He stared down at her, his eyes starting to turn red as the lights flashing on the dance floor. She yanked her arm free of his grip. But when her eyes met his, there was no sign of a desire to gloat. Or a need to demand him of anything. "I just came to tell you. And if you don't want us...that's fine. I just thought you had a right to know that I'm pregnant. And it's yours James. And before you say a god-damn word, you're the only one I've been with since that night two months ago! So don't get mad at me, because it took us both to make this!" Huffing after her exclamation, she sighed and rubbed her face, as if she hadn't been sleeping to well. And after a moment, when she could, she continued." I'm not here to ask you for anything. And I won't make trouble for you. I'll even say I got too drunk to remember the father, so you can live your life without us interfering. I just wanted you to know is all, from me, before you hearing it from anyone else. And now that you know, I'll leave. And I'll never come back." As silence fell between them, she shifted a bit, moving her arms as if to protect her stomach. It was clear that even though she was new to this, her motherly love for this baby was strong. And she'd die before letting anyone take it from her, even James himself. "It's the only part of you I have, and if that's all I can have, then so be it. I'll love this baby with everything I have." He listened to her as she went on our her and their child. Their child! It took him a minute to process everything that she said. She would really love a creature that would probably kill her? She looked so beautiful though. The glow of her skin, her black hair that head missed. James walked over to her slowly as he grabbed her hands and moved them away. “ I won't hurt you... let me hear please.” He waited to see her nod when he got down on his knees in front of her and put his ear to her stomach. Sure enough, he heard the heartbeat and the blood swimming in the creature. He stayed there, just listening as he held onto her sides. James didn't know what to do, normally the girls would go get the after pill afterward, but she didn't. He stayed there CORBA good bit, just listening. Eliza stood there, letting him listen to the baby inside. Who kicked a little, feeling something on her stomach. Placing a hand on her stomach as well, "It's ok baby. It's ok." Then she lowered her hand and looked down at James. "I didn't get the pill because it was just one time. And I didn't think it would happen. But it did." Then she looked away from him, being truthful. "I'm honestly scared about raising this baby alone. I don't know what I'm going to do if it needs blood more than milk. I just don't know James." She was scared, and the tremor that went through her was evidence of her fear. And when she tugged him up gently from her belly, Eliza leaned into him and hugged him tight. "Do you still hate me James? Because of..." she trailed off, but surely he knew what she was going to say. James felt the baby kick at him as he smiled. This one is a fighter and growing faster than what a normal baby would. This was a while new world for him too. No more partying, no more anything. If Eliza was truly going to have his baby then he would have to take care of her and the baby, but it was going to be hard. She was in danger now and carrying his child now made her a target. James felt her tug at him as he raised to his feet as she placed a tight hug around him. He hated himself, he had enjoyed her as he deflowered her and making her bow to him but this?“ No.” He whispered softly as he placed his arms around her. Closing his eyes, he listened to both of their heartbeats fill the room. When he said no, all the tension and worry inside of her, slipped away. Leaving her to lean against him with relief. "I would have come sooner...but I was scared. I was scared you wouldn't believe me. Or worse. I just knew I couldn't keep the truth from you any longer. But now that you know, what do we do now James? Where does that leave us?" They were both scared and new to this, but together maybe things would be ok. And everything would work out in the end, right? She hoped so, with his help, maybe being a parent wouldn't be so scary now. James pulled her back, looking down at her eyes as he took in a deep breath with a stern look on his face as he let go of her as he headed to the bar, pulling out a napkin with a pen and started to write an address on it. James walked back over to her, handed it to her as he turned his back to her. Now this was the part that was going to kill her. “ To go back to my statement, no I'm not mad but I think your stupid. You are stupid enough to honesty think that coming here was going to change my mind about you and that.” He walked over to the door and unlocked it. “ Look, I'm done with this game. Just go.” He opened the door and gave her the get out look. "What game? This isn't a game James." His words cut to the bone, and she felt tears well in her eyes. "I was stupid to give you my innocence. The only thing I had that was valuable. Well fine, I won't come back, and I'll do this on my own!" As she left, she shoved the napkin to his chest, and left the room. It felt like ages before she got out of the club, back into the cold night. And as she walked home, she felt her heart shattered into pieces. Knowing that he thought this was a game, that he could call their child a 'that', was all the answer she needed. So once she got home, she called the realtor. "You can have my apartment. I'm leaving the city and never coming back." During the next few days, Eliza began to pack. And in between packing, she called her mother, alerting to her that she'd be coming back home in about a week. And that's how long it took to get things settled and moved into a moving truck, due to her being so pregnant. Just the day before she was to leave, she met up with her friends. Who she talked down from trying to find the father. "He wants nothing to do with us. So please, don't look for him. And if someone comes looking for me, don't tell them where I am." After the last day with her friends, Eliza returned to her apartment. Feeling numb, tired, and the tears. They came back with a vengeance. James and his words filled her mind, making her cry harder while she balled up in a sitting position, holding her stomach. "I'm so sorry" was all she could say, to the baby who'd never see his or her father. " NO Eliza..." James tried to explain himself as she shoved the napkin into his chest and leaving. " Eliza wait..." He tried to yell, but the music was too loud as there were people coming up the stair well blocking him. James pushed his way through as he was trying to her scent but was hit by something else that made him lose it for a second. Once outside he looked around, but the scents were strong as he cursed to himself. He looked down at the napkin that had his address on it. He searched everywhere he could as he really couldn't find a trace of her. She wasn't a party girl, internet or anything. He didn't even get her last name. He had some of his minions go out too and look and finally found her. Once he did, he had found her way into her apartment. The place was bare as he wondered what it looked like with all her stuff. She was really leaving. He heard keys rattling as he made his way out the window, not knowing if she would want to see him or not. He watched as she came into the room, tears streaming down her face as she sat in the balled up position, holding their child. Furthermore, he wanted her safe but he wanted her. Out of all the girls he's been with her centuries, she was the one. He sighed as he came through the window, slowly walking down to her. "Eliza..." Hearing her name, Eliza lifted her tear stained face, staring up at him from where she sat on the floor. After a moment, she looked down, using her trembling hands to wipe away her own tears before she spoke. "You said you were done with this game. That I was stupid. And you called out child a that. How could you say such things?" Looking back up at him, her eyes were tired and red. And in this bare apartment, she looked frail and smaller, as if the stress were eating at her. "Please don't hurt me again, I just don't want to do this on my own...but if you don't want us then that's the only choice I have." And after she got her wits back, Eliza pulled herself up to her feet and walked toward him. Though she was weary this time, and didn't dare reach out to touch him. "Please James...please don't make me do this alone." There was no game to be played, just a frightened girl begging him to not leave her to raise their child alone. Then she tentatively leaned into him, hiding her face in his shirt, fingers clutching the fabric tight. "Please stay...please love us both. That's all I ever wanted." Falling quiet, Eliza prayed that this time wouldn't be like last time. That he wouldn't cut her with such cruel words, and just maybe he'd help her. " I had to say that Eliza! You don't understand, you are in danger and I couldn't just be all happy when you walked into my club. They would have eaten you alive if you hadn't of found me or I....." He watched as she pulled herself off the floor and started walking towards him. The stress was eating away at her and possibly the baby, but he would have to get her checked out. Eliza leaned her face into his shirt as she clinched the fabric. He could feel her shaking as she begged him to love her and their child. He did love when a girl begged but not like this. Furthermore, he had never dealt with this before and never knew that he would ever have too. He placed his arms around her, embracing her as he leaned his head on her head. " My flower." He sighed as he didn't want to let her go. " If we do this, you are going to have to listen to me. I may seem cold sometimes, but please understand that. I want you and the baby safe.... but first we have to get you to a doctor to really figure out that is going on with you." He moved is head as he brought a hand under her chin to make her look at him as she leaned in to kiss her. She looked up at him, kissing him when he leaned in. Though afterwards, she returned her head to his chest. "What danger? And of course I don't understand. I'm human, please help me understand James." "I'll listen, I'll behave the best I can, I just want you with me is all." Looking up at him, "Eaten me alive? Wait who? And why?" She was confused, but willing to listen to him as he explained. But after a moment, when there was a kick, Eliza groaned before rubbing her belly. "Shh it's ok" she spoke to it before sighing. "It's been a long few days of trying to move. The city just isn't where I want to have this baby." Slipping from his arms, she sat back down on the floor, while taking off her large sweatshirt. Underneath she wore a gray tank top that was stretched over her belly, her breasts having grown a bit more, readying to fill with milk for the baby. And the glow that stained her skin, it made her seem even younger. "I was going to try and get back to my mom, who lives out in the country. But you're showing up here... I kinda feel like I should ask you to come with me. But I know I can't. You have Club Legacy to deal with." Looking up at him from where she sat, before patting the spot beside her. "Sit with me please? And listen to the baby again? Because I think he or she had missed you. Just as much as I have." James sat down beside her as he placed his head onto her stomach. The baby kicked a bit which made him smile as he brought his head back up, leaning it against the wall. " Your in danger because I put you in danger." He sighed as she ran his fingers through his hair. " To be honest, yes I run Club Legacy, but I just run it, that's all. " He didn't want to tell her this next part but if they were going to at least try and make this work, she needed to know. " Club Legacy it a mill.... we sere someone higher, and we pick special people in the club..." He knew that she was about to jump his case but stopped her before she could," No, you were not a part of that.... I picked you because.... there was... is something about you that I can't get over. Ever since you left, I went to find someone to forget about you and I couldn't..." He sounded like the stupid Twilight book but whatever. He pushed himself back up straight as she scooted in front of her. " The thing is Eliza..... you can't go home. You are risking exposing us and that's something that we can't have...you will have to stay with me unit the baby comes." He knew that's not something she wanted to hear, but it was true. She was risking everything by going out to her mothers and that baby being born into the hospital would not have worked at all. "A mill?" Eyes widening, "That's horrible." And hearing that he served someone higher made her body tremble in worry. "T-This someone higher, what if they find out about me and the baby? Won't he or she wants us to die? Or something worse?" She was afraid that would happen, that she would be taken from James and given to this person that James served. However hearing she wasn't a part of this mill, only ceased her fear a little bit. It went back up when she learned she couldn't go home. That she'd need to stay with him until the baby came. "What happens when I have it? What happens to us James? I'm scared." Feeling her eyes start to water, she leaned into him and hid her face in his chest. "I don't want to die, I don't. I'm so sorry all of this happened, please forgive me." She began to regret going to the club in the first place, even more so going with him and that night. But she couldn't take it back because it was in the past. And all they could do was look and move forward." Please keep us safe James, I swear I'll do whatever you say, just protect us please." “ I'm going to be honest with you about everything so, you may not forgive me and that's fine. I've been hated before... If they find out about you and the baby... you will be taken and used for who knows what. You may be their play thing, they may kill you, I'm not sure what they will do. I've been there once when I was assigned the club. As for the baby..... you would never see them again. These babies are special, and they would use them for a horrible purpose.” As Eliza buried her face into his chest, he wrapped his arms around her as he smoothed her hair. “ I’m scared too. This is something new for me too. I don't know the first thing about a baby. You won't die. As long as you're with me, you are safe. “ He rocked her to comfort her as he stared down at her. What the fuck did he get himself into. As he pulled himself away from her, she brought her eyes up to his. “ You need to listen to me. You have told your family that you can't come out there. I don't care what you tell them but you can't leave. “ He looked out he could feel dawn close at hand. “ I'm going to have to leave you, but i won't be able to see you for a couple of days. I've been gone to long and that calls for talk. I promise that I will have someone here for you tomorrow night, and they will take you to my place. “ He pulled her in close as he kissed her lips as though making a pack with her. When he pulled his lips away from hers, he lowered himself down to her belly and whispered to it. He raised his head back up and as he gave her one last look. “ I will see you soon.” "I'll listen to you James" Eliza conceded, and once he was gone, she called her mother. What followed was an argument on the phone, and after it was said and done, Eliza sat herself back on the floor, torn up inside because of her choices. "If I was smart, I would have known to see a doctor sooner. And none of this would be happening. But I'm not smart, I'm stupid." Eventually, she fell asleep, in the living room in a sleeping bag. Seeing as all her stuff was packed up. Though honestly she only had two boxes worth. That's all her life was as a single woman. But now, she'd need to get supplies for the baby. Diapers, clothes, bottles, and anything else her child might need. "So sorry James... I ruined your life" she mumbled in her sleep, before she went our once again. By the time morning came, Eliza sat up, feeling even more tired. She hadn't slept so well last night, but she couldn't complain. Touching her belly, "I just hope I do right by you. And I hope you won't hate me, for not planning better." Through the day she made sure to take short naps and eat the healthy food she'd gotten herself, to keep up her health since she was eating for two. But once the night fell again and after a quick shower, she was dressed in big clothes that hid her somewhat rounded stomach. Wondering if this person that James was sending could be trusted. Sighing, Eliza went through her apartment once more, making sure everything was clean and ready for a new Tencent to move in once she was gone. "I'm such a mess, god forgive me" she mumbled, before rubbing the back of her neck. A knock came at the door as it started Eliza, but before she had a chance to open it, the door opened on its own. In walked in a long, curled, blonde hair girl who looked around 18 with a Soho appeal to her. Her hair was pull into a half ponytail that was braided with flowers in it. Her neck was dripping with a checker that had a pearl on it to just various ones leading to a longer one that had to be knotted. Furthermore, her dress was a very long V-neck that had long sleeves coming her arms that flowed all the way down to the floor, flower patterns all over it as underneath she was barefoot. Furthermore, her fingers had many rings that went all the way back to her hands all the was to her fingernails. “OMG.” She squealed as she ran over as she held onto Eliza's belly. “ OMG he wasn't lying. Oh, you are so beautiful little one, you are so lucky.” She looked up at Eliza as she sprung up ABD hugged her. “ So you are the lucky one! I told him that he'd find someone even if he's a crabby pant. “ The vampire pulled back, holding Eliza's face in her hand. “ I know this is scary but don't you worry, your new sister Sophie is here. Now where is your stuff?” Eliza simply stared at the woman, while her mouth opened and closed several times. When she could finally think again, she pointed towards the two moderately sized boxes. "That's all the stuff that I need personally." Then her gaze went to Sophie and she smiled sadly. "I'm not sure if I'm lucky, I mean to James to find me attractive enough, then I guess so. But I ruined his life, didn't I?" "And I know he said he didn't hate me...but deep down maybe he does?" All the hormones and the worry were driving her crazy, making her feel bad. But she couldn't help it. "I just want to do right, for James and this little miracle. Please help me Sophie? What am I going to do?" She desperately needed some girl time, or at least with someone who was older and could give her advice. "I'm sorry for all of this, I just... I can't go home to my mom. And I'm freaking out. Please forgive me Sophie? I'm usually not like this at all." Sophie looked over at her boxes. “ Oh sweetheart really? That's all? Well when we get home, we are going to get you everything we need.” Sophie let her freak out as she grabbed Eliza's hands and placed them on her belly. “ Do you feel this right here? You do not worry about James. Do not worry about his feeling, do not worry if you ruined hos' life. His life was ruined way before you, you are his miracle.” Sophie gave her the sweetest smile then she snapped her fingers as 2 men walked in and grabbed the boxes for her. “ Come on now. I am taking you home.” Sophie lead her down the stairs as a blackout stretch hummer waiting outside for them. “James insisted on this earth killer, but he didn't want anyone to be suspicious of you.” The one man that helped with the box walked over to open the door for them as the other helped Eliza inside as Sophie looked at the two men. “ Scrub and detail everything. Make sure he scent is gone, then you are free.” She kissed them both lightly on the cheek as she got into car. When they got inside, there were presents waiting to be opened as Sophie shut the door and rolled down the glass divider. “ To the flowers Andre.” “Yes Ms. Sophie.” Andrea said as they started to move. “ I'm so excited about this little wild flower, oh and those are all four gifts, some are for you and some are for the wild flower. Go ahead and open! I hope you love them all!” "Well I don't need much, a couple CD's and some books to read, and I'll be happy as a lark. So honestly, I don't need much, but this baby will." When her hands were pressed to her own stomach, Eliza looked up at Sophie, listening to her before she nodded her head. Though at hearing she was James miracle, Eliza gave an unlay like snort. "Me, his miracle? How so?" As the men grabbed the boxes, she followed Sophie, even as a worried and nervous feeling filled her. But that concern faded away when she saw the vehicle. Feeling a vein throb in her forehead, she held in what she really wanted to say and simply ground her teeth. "I understand the need, but this vehicle, isn't it too flashy? Even if we're in the city?"" It's an earth killer alright. And when I get my hands on that man...Ooh, he's going to get it for being so inconsiderate of the environment." Despite her being mad, she politely accepted the help into the car, and once she was sitting, the pain in her ankles eased. Seeing all the presents made her somewhat uncomfortable, but still, she was curious. "What's all this? And wild flower? Who are you referring to?" Picking up one of the presents, she felt it up with her fingers, trying to guess what it was. As she sat there, a question that really bothered her, popped into her mind and she looked to Sophie. "Please tell me the truth... When I have my baby, will I still get to help raise it? Or will it be taken from me the moment it's born? I need to know now because I don't want to feel like a fool. And even if it'll hurt knowing, then so be it. Just be honest with me, please." “Sweetheart, why would you say something like that? That's your baby, of course you're going to raise it. No one is taking them away from you. If they do, ill kill them myself and your baby, it's a wild flower, my nickname if it's a girl, if it's a boy..... that's still up in the air but we’d rather have a girl.” Sophie patted Eliza's stomach. Once they were out of the city, they started heading more into the country as she pulled out a bottle of red liquid. “Also, don't worry about my trying to drink your blood. I am vegan. Even though it really sucks, I'm trying to be better. But that little one in there, probably is to cause you problems. Once we get you to a Dr. they will be able to determine what's going to happen. Yes, we got you your own private Dr.“ Sophie smoked at her. “Well don't let your presents open themselves. I kinda guessed at the stuff for you and the baby. If you don't like them then I will totally take them back and get new things.” "I know I shouldn't have said that, but what James told me... I can't get it out of my head. It's also why I didn't sleep so well last night." She'd had nightmare after nightmare of a powerful, faceless figure snatching her child away. "Now I wish I was still 8 the dark about something's, but I can't take back what happened yesterday." Then she touched her belly, rubbing it softly, before continuing. "Whatever my baby is, boy or girl, it'll be loved either way."" I'm not worried. Besides, who wants blood from a hormonal pregnant woman? Because I'm sure if anyone tried it, I'd kick their ass. No one's taking my blood while I'm living for two. Not even James." At the news of this private doctor, Eliza raised a brow. "What are you guys doing, stalking me or something? And is this doctor going to be a vamp? Anymore in my life and I think I might go crazy." She was having a half vampire child, while the father was a full-blooded one, and she was next to another full-blooded vampire. "Nothing against you or James... I just, this is so much to take." Then she fell silent and cautiously opened the gift in her hands. While mentally scolding herself. 'Reign in your hormones, hello all this stress isn't good for the baby!' "I'm sorry again Sophie." Sophie smiled at Eliza as the car bounced a bit. “ Don't be sorry Eliza. You can't hurt my feelings unless you really try. I understand what you mean about vampires and it all being too much, being turned was not by choice for me.” She sighed as she took a sip of the red liquid. She made a face as she drama it them looked back at Eliza.“ We didn't stalk you sweetheart, jams told me this all this morning before he went to sleep. Trust me, I work fast.” She winked as they were clearly no longer in New York but somewhere on the outskirts. They were driving for a while but with the driver driving fast as he was, they were there in no time. The trees lined the road as there was a huge iron gate that the driver stopped at. The gates slowly opened as the road was lingered and winder until a white plantation size house came into view. “Welcome home.” Sophie smiled. As the parked in front of the house, the huge double doors opened up as servants came out to open the door for them and grab things out of the car. “Let's get you up to upstairs to bed, I know this was a long trip for you and the baby.” Sophie helped Eliza out of the car, thanking the servant as he shut the door. Once they were inside, they walked onto white marble floor as there was a staircase leading up to second floor, chandelier hanging from the ceiling as there was a hallway underneath it. On the right was a huge dining room that had decor all over the table as to set up for a dinner party then to the left-hand side opened up to the living room with all new electronics and furniture. “ I made sure that your room was SWT on the first floor so that you didn't have to travel so much up and down the stairs. “ As the walked into the hallway, the entered into to the kitchen that was about as big as everything else in the house. Chrome stove, two stoves, see through fridge, the works. She turned her down a small hallway as they reached a white door. “I hope you don't think its too much. “Sophie opened the door to a turquoise painted walls that you saw the beach through the double doors that had white curtains hanging down. Up against the left-hand wall was a king-size bed with pillows all over with a eggshell white comfort that looked like a cloud. From the ceiling hung white curtains that swooped that came down along the bed to make a canopy. To the right was a huge amour with a dresser beside it with a mirror as big as she was. Beside the bed there was a door that lead into her bathroom that had a jacuzzi size tub and a walk in shower where Eliza could sit. On the other side was a walking closet with a vanity. "I couldn't hurt your feelings even if I wanted to. You've been so nice to me and understanding Sophie. He, I believe you do work fast. But I'm not complaining." When she realized they had actually left New York, and we're on the outskirts, Eliza looked out at the scenery moving past them. And before long, Eliza saw a huge set of iron gates that the car had to stop at. As they opened and the car drove through, it didn't take long before the house came into view. Giving a low whistle at its size, she could just imagine chasing her little one around the place, an image that made her giggle. "Whatever the gender, it'll be fun to see how I wrangle the baby into a bath. Esprit they're any rambunctious as I was as a child." Once the car was parked, Eliza watched as the doors to the house opened, watching the servants come out to them." Bed sounds nice" Eliza replied, thanking Sophie for her help when she was eased from the car. And for the rest of the time, as they entered the house, she went silent. She took in the sight of the home, looking about on the inside as she followed Sophie. She'd never been in such a nice home and it was a bit intimidating. Even the kitchen was an amazing sight, but still, she kept quiet. Her mind was becoming overloaded as it was, so by now she couldn't find the right words to express her awe. Though as soon as she saw her room the first thing she did was go over to the bed and carefully lay back. "Oh my gosh! This bed is so soft!" Then she sat up, looking to the double doors to see a beach. Getting up and walking over to the doors, she opened them before stepping out, gazing at the view. She could just imagine herself with a cup of coffee, sipping it slowly on a lovely starry night. Turning back and heading into her room, and when the doors were shut, she looked at Sophie once more." I fee like a princess or something. And this home...it's just gorgeous. And thank you for keeping me on the first floor. I'm only going to get bigger and bigger in the next seven months as this baby grows. So it'll help if I'm down here." Then she went back to the bed, once more laying back on it carefully. "But right now, I should sleep. Can't be stressing too much." This time when she laid back down, Eliza was out like a light. The exhibition clear in her face now that it was relaxed. Which meant she'd sleep heavily through the night. Sophie smiled at her as she watched Eliza fall in love with the room. " Well this is your house as well so make yourself at home." She helped tuck Eliza in as she saw she was fast asleep as she leaned down to the life growing in the belly. " You better be nice to mommy." Sophie got up lightly as she walked over to turn off the light, the glow of the moon showing through the glass doors as she closed the main door. Sophie took down the hallway as a man was sitting at the counter of the bar, drinking the same red liquid she had in the car. " So is that her? The miracle?" He smirked as she punched him in the arm. " Don't start. She is the miracle, as long as they don't blow this. I will kill you myself if you hurt her or the baby." Sophie walked over to the fridge as she pulled out a red bottle as she popped the top off of it. " You know I'm not going to do anything. James already did this to himself.... he should have..." " Damian, I'm going to tell you this now..... shut the fuck up." Damian had black as night hair that was cut into a Mohawk with his piercing yellow eyes staring at her. His skin tone was very tanned as his lips spread into a half smile, showing most of these teeth. He was built like James with the board shoulders, muscles under his tight white shirt and his black cargo pants. He stood up to look down at her as she chugged the rest of his drink. " For someone who is all love and peace, you sure know how to talk dirty." Sophie gave him the fuck off look as he set his cup in the sink as he walked over to reach to her face, but she swatted away his hand, only for him to grab it and pull her close. Their eyes starred at each other before he let her go to head down the hallway to the stairs. She huffed as she drank her blood and tried to keep her cool, but he knew how to push her buttons Sophie and Damian had a weird history with each other as Sophie was taken to be a part of the mill. This was during the 70s when she was a part of a rally to stop war as she was invited to a party that supported this belief. Little did she know that she was going to be dragged into a room where there were other body's being tortured, rapped, and being use as play things. Damian was one of them along with James were the ones who never touched her, but they saved her after sometime when they told their boss how "useless" she would become. After she was saved, she ran and disappeared for a decade until she came back to find them. They "convinced" the owners of this plantation home to sell to them and the rest is history, well, maybe not to Sophie and Damian as they hooked up a few times. He had his way about him and that's why James didn't want him working at the club. He's rather him do other chores as Damian called it then.________________________________________________When the sun peaked through the glass doors of Eliza's room, there on the nightstand beside her was a sliver cover over a plate that had a letter some Sophie with a red liquid in a glass and pretty sunflower in a vase." Good morning sweetheart, I hope this letter finds you well. I have already had your breakfast made, and it's still warm under the cover. I will be asleep until later tonight but if you need anything, please ask the staff. They are here to help you. Also, the door across from you is the little wilds room. I've already bought the furniture and some outfits, but I left the rest to you if you want to paint or whatever you feel. I hope you feel at home here. Love, Sophie P.s. I know that you are not going to like this part but in the cup is your blood type, and you are going to need to drink this as much as you can. We will have the Dr come by tonight to take a look at you." Eliza was happily asleep, when a sharp pain woke her up. Jenkins awake and sitting up as fast as possible, she pressed a hand to her stomach before rubbing it gently. "Shh its ok baby. Momma is awake, just be easy." When the pain subsided, she found the note from Sophie and smiled at the sight of it. That is until she found the blood waiting for her. "I'll drink this only because you need it baby. But I will still be eating actual food dammit. I will not lose that." She tried to drink as much blood as she could, but after a third of the cup was gone, she set it away before running for her bathroom. Flipping on the light, she leaned over the sink, trying to spit the taste out, but she couldn't. So instead, she took some water to wash out the taste of iron, before her stomach began to hurt again. Which meant she had to finish all of it, for her child. Somehow, she drank it all down, and after hiding the glass under the cover over the plate. Standing up and after making sure all the doors were closed, Eliza stripped and decided to take a relaxing, hot bath. And as was intended, the warm water calmed her down, and she wondered about James. Hoping he was alright, even though he was a vampire. She still worried about him. Closing her eyes, Eliza hummed softly to herself, rubbing her belly gently, smiling when she felt lighter answering kicks. "A girl or a boy, no matter what you are, I'll love and take care of you" she promised her child. "I just hope you won't mind how silly and worried I get. Only time will tell." Falling silent, she sat up and began to take her time in washing, while her mind swam with thoughts all over the place. She only hoped that whoever this doctor was, would give her a clean bill of health. James was alright for the most part as he was having to have a meeting as the main boss was coming to down during this god awful hour. He was already pissed enough that one of his workers had drained someone to the point of almost killing them that they had to be killed themselves. " Can't we just sleep." One of the girls asked as she put her finger to ear to see blood lightly coming from her ear. They could survive all day if they have too, but their bodies depended on sleep and with the way they were producing more at the club, it was getting a bit more intense. " Once the boss leaves you can sleep for however long you want..." James thought about Eliza and if Sophie had driven her crazy yet as they heard a car pull up outside. A soft knock came at her bathroom door. " Mr. Eliza? My name is Millie and I'm here so that I can get your order for breakfast. I understand that Ms. Sophie left you a drink, but she has instructed that we make sure that you get a proper breakfast as well. " Millie fell silent, waiting on Eliza as two others maids came in and made her bed as they opened up the doors a bit to let in the fresh sea air as the wind lightly blew the curtains. They started going through the boxes that were brought from her apartment and started assorting them in their new homes. Hearing this Millie woman, Elizabeth was just getting out of the bath. Feeling fresh and relaxed, she quickly dressed in the bathroom, glad she'd brought in her clothes. Once dressed, the young woman left the bathroom, only to find that two maids had begun to unpack her boxes. She almost stopped them, but thought against it, in case someone in the house had ordered them to help her. Still, it was quite awkward, and to distract herself, she went over and opened the bedroom door. "Sorry it took me a moment, I was just getting dressed." Since she was a bit bigger in the stomach area, most of her clothes were maternity clothes. Ones that were loose and would stretch with her ever-growing stomach. Hearing about this breakfast, her stomach growled, and she apologized, feeling embarrassed. "I'm still getting used to everything. And as far as breakfast, I'd love some eggs and toast please?" She didn't want to overload Millie or seem like too much of a pig, even if she couldn't help it. "Also, is there anything I can do to help and earn my keep here?" Millie smiled at her as Eliza opened the door and asking her about the eggs and toast. " Certainly, and how do you like your eggs? Also, you just relax. Ms. Sophie has everything under control and has told you not to worry. However, she has said that she would like for you to look over the nursery to make sure that you approve of the furniture. Where would you like to have your breakfast? We can set it up for you at the dining room table, or we can set it up outside for you?" The maids were done putting her stuff away as they took the boxes and exited out of the room. " Make sure that those get disposed properly." Millie said as she turned her head to them as they nodded to her. Millie seemed ordinary as her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She had on black shirt that hugged her tight as she had on matching black pants and shoes. On Millie's neck there were two small puncher marks that seemed to be a bit fresh as she turned back to Eliza. At her question, Eliza smiled softly. "Scrambled please. And I'll try to relax, I just feel weird being here and not doing anything to contribute." She didn't want to seem lazy or ungrateful, despite her being pregnant, she wanted to be of use. "As for the nursery, I can do that. Also, is it close to my room? I rather be close to my baby as much as possible, in case something happens in the future." The love and maternal warmth was clear in her eyes and voice, showing that she'd be a good mother. Going back to the second question, "I'd say I'd like to eat outside, but if it's safer in the dining room, then I'll eat there." She was ever polite and courteous, just as she was raised to be by her parents. However, when she saw the puncture marks on Millie's neck, Eliza frowned. "Are you ok Millie? Looks like someone was...feeding on you" She added softly, sounding worried for the woman. "Its right there." Mollie pointed to the door across the hall. " Ms. Sophie has a baby monitor set up to where there is a camera in there to watch the baby, the one for you is in there too when you want to take it. Ms. Sophie didn't know if you would approve of that or not and will take it down at your request. You can eat outside, we have a lovely table set up out from the kitchen I can show you." Millie smiled then when her question about feeding came up, she reached up and felt the holes on her neck. " Yes I am fine.... Mr. Damian normally feeds from me. Nothing to worry about though, I am perfectly fine with it. Now I'm going to tell the cook what you want and I'll let you know when breakfast is ready. In the meantime, I hope you like the room." Millie took Eliza's hand and lead her to the door and opened it for her. The room was white so that Eliza could paint it to whatever color she wanted as the furniture inlckudug the crib, dresser, rocker and the other accessories were a light gray color. " Ms. Sophie said that if you didn't like it that she would have it changed out for you. She felt the light gray was a more neutral color for the baby." Millie walked down the hall as she put the order in with the cook for Elias breakfast. She opened the doors to the outside, the sea breeze blowing in as she walked out on the concrete back porch that sat a long white laced table with chair to go with it. Millie started to set up the plate and silverware as the other maid brought out pitchers of orange juice, water and apple juice. The plate was a robins egg blue color as the napkin beside it was a light cream color with polished sliver spoon, knife and fork. Knowing her child's room was across the way put Eliza at ease. And she smiled, her worry disappearing some. Hearing about a camera to watch the baby, took more of her worry away. "Actually, it's fine. The camera can stay, but might come down in the future, as the child grows, for privacy. But we'll get to that when we need to." Hearing that she could eat outside, Eliza ma managed to smile happily. "Wonderful, I'd love to eat outside." As Millie explained, Eliza raised one of her fine brows. "Mr. Damian? Who is he?" Led to the room and able to see inside, Eliza walked in. She looked at the walls, already thinking up some possible colors and maybe a neutral theme for the room. While thinking about this, her hand drifted to her belly and she smiled. "I'm so excited for this." But then a new thought began to fill her mind. "Uh, Millie, if I'm having the baby here...and aside from a female doctor, who else I'd going to be there with me? If my mom can't be." She'd always thought her mom would be by her side, helping her through this. But seeing as her child was part vampire, then she knew no other humans could be allowed. When Millie left, Eliza went and sank down into the rocking chair in the room, overwhelmed by her emotions while tears began to gather in her eyes. Looking down to her stomach, she really began to cry then. "You'll never know your human grandparents. Especially not now, when I called my mother and told her I couldn't come." An argument that had ended with her mother disown in her. Yelling at her that she'd been stupid, and she was on her own. Wiping away her tears, Eliza groaned. "Stupid hormones, and all these emotions." Millie has walked back to the room to see Eliza sitting in the rocking chair as tears streamed down her face. " Oh Ms. Eliza...' Millie ran over to her and held her hands in hers. " Hey.... don't cry. I know the Ms. Sophie will be with you and Mr. James. You have nothing to worry about, we are all going to be here for you... I know it's not the same though...your breakfast is waiting for you." Millie helped Eliza up from her chair as they made their way down the hall and into the kitchen. The chef smiled at Eliza." I hope you enjoy." He spoke as he started working on other breakfast at hand. " We make sure that the owners and guest are served first before we get our meals." Millie helped her to the back porch as the plate with a mound of eggs has streamed rolling off of it as there was fresh toast on her plate. On the other side there was another container that has more eggs and toast covered up just in case she wanted more. " I hope you enjoy everything. We didn't know what drink you would like so we got you water, orange juice and apple juice. In case you are needing anything for the little one, we have that on stand by. Is there anything else I can get you?" Eliza smiled through her tears, "I'm sorry I'm such a mess. I'm just... All of this and my pregnancy. I feel as if I'm still tumbling about." Then she dried away her tears, while being helped up by Millie. As they entered the kitchen, she smiled to the Chef. "Thank you, for my breakfast. I'm sure it'll be lovely." Then they were outside, and after settling in her seat, she inhaled the smell of yummy food. Looking up to Millie, "Thank you. But I think I'll be fine now." When alone, she dug into her breakfast, fully realizing how starving she was. After a few bites, "I hope you're able to eat human food little one. Even if you need blood as well. I'm hoping to spoil you with my good cooking. Just you wait." She could already picture it in her mind. Persuading the chef to allow her to cook maybe two or three nights, as a mother should for her growing child. "And I'll tell you all about the crazy stuff I did while growing up. Hopefully you'll appreciate the human part of your heritage." She hoped her child wouldn't see his or her being part human as a curse, but as a blessing. "And I know I can't do much, but I'll protect you little one, I promise." Rubbing the side of her stomach, feeling a small kick against her hand, before she resumed eating. James boss finally left but not without taking their rage on some of the stuff and James himself. Blood ran down James face as he went up to the bathroom and turning into the light. God, they did a number on him as he looked into the mirror, seeing cuts all over his face. It was going to take some time to heal as he reached into this pocket to call Millie. Millie felt her phone buzz in her pocket as she turned back from going outside to check on Eliza to answer it. " Yes James?" " How is Eliza doing? Sophie didn't freak her out too much did she?" " No sir she didn't as far as I know. Ms. Eliza seems to be doing fine. She just ate her breakfast, and I am about to give her some blood..." " Blood! What the fuck do you mean blood?" " Her blood type for the baby, Ms. Sophie didn't want the baby to be taking all of Ms. Eliza's....." " Send the car this way to pick me up now! I'm going to have a talk with her...." " Yes sir. Right away." Millie hung up the phone as she sent a text to the driver alerting them that they needed to be on their way to pick up James. Millie grabbed the cup of blood that the chef made and headed out the door to Eliza. " So, how was everything?" Millie placed the glass down beside her other glass as she sat down beside her. " Have you thought about what you wanted to do today? I am your personal assistant for the day and I would love to help you with anything."

What happens in the dark ( Eden x EffervscentDreams|rating:3.0

[M&M3] The Greater Good!_ an Emerald City Nightmare

." There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things." - Niccolò Machiavelli "THE GREATER GOOD!" An Emerald City Nightmare City September 29, 2015 11:43 p.m. Can streets laugh in delight? If this is true, then "The City of Destiny" is howling in merriment. From the electricity of downtown's party crowd, to the magic of the Yellow Brick Row's shopping-spree tourists, to Malory Bay and the Abelian where boats of various size coast the cool waters, the city's college masses kicking up dust at ice cream shoppes and theaters, citizens of all neighborhoods, despite wealth level, gathering outside for festivities, Overlook Park filled with spectators enjoying a local carnival of family activity, buses and taxis packed to bursting with eager night goers, aircraft from BJI cruising across the night sky, foot-traffic everywhere there are things to do, and a moderate Emerald City police presence overlooking all of it. Emerald City glows like her namesake, with all the technological and philosophical potential of a metropolis on the edge of greatness. But, in the words of Israel Angrily, "Everything changes, but change". Some look at the city and see a ripe harvest of transformation. They see the bosom of sociological exploration awaiting ...demanding stimulation. They see opportunity. It is they who gather from around the globe, here, on this night, drawn by an insatiable itch lightly-touched by a kindred soul ... Spoiler: Papa LEGTA: Hide In the deep beneath, the Undercity near-hidden from the tourist trails and footfall of oblivious stranger and citizen, the master of Death itself watches his children wander. A teaming horde of dead-but-not - Undead - shuffled about in the darkness of Emerald City's forgotten underground labyrinths. High above from where the rich used to rule the city, Papa LEGTA eyes the cavalcade, semi-consciously controlling it all. If only the world knew what the dead say ... if only they could grasp the true Heart of Darkness as he had ... the last great Japanese Samurai spoke of the eternal sadness that cloaked a warrior. LEGTA was the both beginning and end of this: perfect sadness, drenched in despair and misery, propelled into the light - if only to extinguish it. Forever! LEGTA listened inside his mind to the whispers of lost souls staggering in the depths as he eyed the card. It had simply appeared in his home far from Emerald City. How ...? Who was this that so easily penetrated his defenses and left a butterfly on his doorstep? Papa drew the card eye-level and reread words that echoed high above the chanting mumbles of his zombie congregation ... "Cause camp; Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to its ultimate conclusion. ~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform camp; Terminus, 0000 hours." Spoiler: Supreme: Hide The Bank of Emerald branch manager howled like a stuck pig. Of course. Hanging upside-down thousands of feet above Emerald City's glittering lights would make an impression on most humans. Especially this stock. They weren't what he remembered. Humanity was once a species of relentless tenacity and personal drive. They were family and community focused, to the Nth degree. An unshakable beast. Creatures of destiny. But now, mankind had become docile. Errand. Submissive. Will-less. Commanded by the tokens of other, equally weak-willed humans. Money. Supreme had no quantification for capital and its impact on humankind. So, he presumed to 'interview' one of them close to the matrix of domination, looking to gather the proper formula - a code he needed in order to break this psycho-social spell craft and bring mankind back to itself. If it were possible. "Nonononooooo!!! Please!! I ...!! I don't want to die!! What do you want?!?! I can ... what ... pleeeeaaaase!!! What do you want?!?!?" the manager cried, the echo falling helplessly on the winds high above the streets, as Dark held Mitchell Garden, by the heel, dangling, high-winds washing him to and fro! In his other hand, Supreme held a simple card of simpler stock. A harbinger of a sort which drew the man-god to Emerald City from his Korean homeland hidden in the Arctic wilderness. He turned his head to regard the message posted on the card ... something of a puzzle daring calculation. While the words were simple, the communication was wet with complexity, "Cause camp; Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to its ultimate conclusion. ~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform camp; Terminus, 0000 hours." Spoiler: Red Rose: Hide The low echo of chains dragging across a pristine tile flooring whistled across the Maximilian M. Mars Scientific Institute. In a gloved hand, the Red Rose walked casually towards "Web City", a new showcase displaying the finest technological innovations related to the world-wide web. World Oil, a petroleum mega-giant based in Texas, wanted the 'Garden Quantifiers', a set of 1980's-era digital couplings they hoped to research allowing them to crack the 'backdoor anomaly' of the internet ... for their own corporate expansion. They thought they were the only ones to crack the mystery, BUT, Mitch Ltd., a banking and investment holdings firm based in New England, outbid them. The Rose was here to collect $20 million. In a bag purchased from Hermès. The security is invincible: four perimeter guards with law-enforcement experience; eight interior guards with a combination of law-enforcement and military experience; the state-of-the-art Davies 'Monochrome Display' that reads site temperatures, motion, and sonic variance with 'organic' random surveillance; the standard laser-field projection ... all disabled or deactivated. The Rose tossed the chains at the foot of the electrodynamic display case and eyed the quantifier coils. Uncharacteristically, there was a pause ... and then Red Rose reached out, producing a card on simple grain stock. It hung in the air between gloved fingers as the sound of pedestrian passage traveled inside from the street. Eyes older than perhaps the world itself caught the card's inscription - again - and a faint smile nearly escaped the Rose's face, "Cause camp; Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to its ultimate conclusion. ~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform camp; Terminus, 0000 hours." Spoiler: Nightmare: Hide Towering above Emerald City - very high above - in a skyscraper named after a man too dead to enjoy his wealth, a knight once famed and feared across the land stares at ... an alien world. He feels a hand rub his incorporeal back and turns to gaze at the Fey, Morgan: part-human, part-spirit, part of a species that no longer exists on Earth. In any noticeable capacity anyway. Presently, she dwells in the form of a young woman named Jasmine Hills, but her sorcerers nature ripples an aura of what should be identified as warmth. But, to any other than him, her touch burns the soul. "I feel your worry, M'lord. Why do you let this trouble you so? Time is all, to digest this age and its frailty. Time is all to master its ways and methods. Time, for us. I was so alone. Now that you have returned ..." A kiss on the shoulder radiates power across his being, intangible as it is. Only she could contact a spirit so impregnable and ignorant to the world. He couldn't even feel the surrounding earth, all the while trying to remember the sensation. Morgan Le Fey was his only link to what he was ... and may hap, what he would become. "You came here for THAT purpose, leave us not forget as the time draws nigh. This 'caller' of yours that has so vexed your perfect will. I do not trust it. I sought him out and found NOTHING ... does this not alarm you yet? It could be a trap of some sort, to bottle your forces back to oblivion. I ..." Her hand and warm body leaves him as she walks away, back across the cybernetic carpeting of Hills' office. "Your silence offends me, lord! Speak! Tell me what to do that I may never again lose thee ... you spoke of 'beginnings and endings' and I know the fruit of it; I know this kin of age will plant you in a cellar of fire - forever! I'll slay 10,000 men before I let them imprison you again." Her voice grows weak and low, as she does to sink her teeth in unsuspecting prey, "Tell me not to wary this. Tell me we will be together unbroken along the eternal cord THIS time. Tell me you won't even bother with this riddle ..." she tosses the card she'd been holding into the air, and it sparks into a sudden flame, then to ashes ... ... the light of the flame reflects in his window pane and suddenly, the words return to him, like the curses of a Pict shaman, "Cause camp; Effect. Circumstance has afforded you a unique opportunity, if you have the wisdom to see it, the courage to grasp it, and the audacity to see it to its ultimate conclusion. ~ Emerald City Transit, Royal Hills Platform camp; Terminus, 0000 hours." Spoiler: All Players: Hide Introduce your PCs to the world. When you're done, we'll move towards the meeting. Elder and, you can RP the bank manager, if you like, as it moves us along faster. Thad, take as long as you like with Morgan. You can just arrive at the scene, or I can add fluff, but once there, Volt hawk takes charge of the scene with Carver's perimeter plan. Then, we flow to the meet with Novak/the Architect ... music in the title link. Supreme held the mewling wretch firmly, vaguely shaking a, d subtly heightening his terror and willingness to cooperate with a simple psionic manipulation from his cosmic endowed mind." It may not be strictly necessary"thought the hyperbola"a simple quiet word and use of my powers would easily convince any man to tell me all I wish to know, but I must confess I simply enjoy scaring these pathetic degenerates""Stop screaming, or I shall let you go to your doom." The Ultimate spoke softly." Now you will tell me why humanity is so engrossed with this thing you call money, and why they would crush one another for it rather than share resources for the good of all"And so over the course a long conversation that is relentlessly interspread with sobbing from the banker Supreme learns a little of why humans value money. The foolish spawns of the greatness that gave the world the sorcery and science of Atlantis now embroiled in petty conflict with each other when so near in the past they faced affiliation, and of the laziness of humanity who rely on its heroes to defend it. After learning all he can from the feeble mind of his hostage Supreme touches down upon a rooftop and wipes out the memories from the banker's mind before setting course for the address given on the card, using his mental illusions to clad himself into an appearance that would allow him to meddle easily. She allowed herself a small chuckle as the tiny card vanished into her sleeves. Standing there for a minute she considered, looking at the coil and outside, and as the small grin grew on her face, she vanished, the only evidence of her being there was a single rose. She arrives at the location with much time to spare, blending into the shadows of age and ruin. Spoiler: IOC Hide Well, take 10 on a hide check Papa LEGTA frowned at the piece of paper, he was curious how someone, or something had gotten so close, and better yet, found him in this dark and dreary area. True, he spent a lot of time looking through his pets, distracted at the double vision, he usually closed his yes when doing so, but the gang of bashers around him should have sensed anything and protected him. Not that he needed protection from a piece of paper. He was intrigued, and his plan to sow dissent and test the city was only really coming to the surface, maybe this would be a distraction from his failures? He had already sent some of his pets over to the location, and he was going to show in fashion, but all he had was drab and dank, as if he lived underground, surrounded by zombies and the spirits of the damned. Ah well, ki see lava, he thought to himself as he put on his finest dark purple formal attire, and checked in the mirror one last time, making sure he had nothing stuck in his teeth. He traveled to the spot, having almost a grip of pets in place all around the area, not expecting to use them, but you never know.1145, he was always early, it made for a good work ethic, and helped him manage surprises. He found a dark alley and leaned against the cold wall, hidden by the shadows and watched. The cadaverous wraith stared through ancient eyes at the luminous towers of glass and metal, and the river of steel carriages streaming through the canyons below. What could only be sorcery and yet was not. He barely registered her rippling touch. As the centuries had waned on, she had become more real, as Guinevere had faded only into the idealized phantom that fueled his rage. In truth, he was tired of his long vendetta with the Order. As he had grown tired of her company, her capricious fawning. Yet he could not escape her. Not truly. Not ever. Oh, Arthur! would pay for his tyranny, but something stirred in his restless soul. Perhaps it was his long sleep, or perhaps the alien landscape that sprawled before him, but Lancelot of the Lake felt something stir in him that he'd not felt since life still coursed through him...curiosity." I must go.," he replied, his voice hollow, low, and with a rasp like grinding metal." The terrors of this age will not render me your housecoat LE Fey. Even were I a coward, the sender has proven there is nowhere to hide. Whomever they are, they are well-informed enough to find us, and powerful enough to shield themselves from even yours crying. If they meant to capture, they'd have already made an attempt." His defiance would not make her happy, he knew, but he had learned in turn how to manipulate her. He floated over to her, translucent shadows cloaking his ghostly glowing corpse. He reached for her, his luminous skull leaning down to brush her mouth with a lipless kiss." Wary not, for soon I'll be returned." *****Silent. Unseen. He floated down through marbled layers of concrete, ductwork, and steam. Silent. Unseen. He observed. Carver had a rather interesting situation to plan defense for - namely, that a fair number of the people coming in would be able to ignore it to some degree or other, and in any case they'd likely not be put into actual danger by his boys - as well as he's trained them and respects them, they are still men with guns against gods. Still, there were other things to keep in mind - other Undercity denizens could turn up, and you didn't want this lot with their prying eyes and ears anywhere nearby; the location was hidden well and low-key, but there was still always the risk of attack, whether by the law or enemy factions; finally there was the matter of securing escape routes - he already had one planned for himself and Novak, taking advantage of his vehicles' autopiloting systems. The rest of his Havoc had planned escape routes as well, although they were mostly on foot - the local terrain made using larger vehicles inadvisable, and while Carver had his Marauder to get him and Novak away from the meet site, he couldn't provide the same thing for all his men. He was confident that they'd be able to escape and evade capture if the worst happened, though. Carver had opted for a mixed approach to defending the meeting site, using both the Havoc sat his disposal and the sensors he was able to rig up. He had a kind of layered plan in mind - the outermost layer was just covered with sensors, an early warning system that allowed his men to detect and get an idea on what was incoming. This helped with the next ring, where anyone heading in would come across actual Havoc, albeit ones trying to stay hidden. These gave a more hands-on identification of potential threats, and could interact if need be. Anyone figured to just be random wanderers were approached, challenged (name, reason for being here, that kinda thing - the text of the card they were given was the main thing determining further passage) and, if the initial assessment of a random person held, subdued here - nonlethal methods were preferred, as there was no need to agitate the denizens of the Undercity more than necessary, they just needed to be kept for the duration of the meeting, lest anyone else get alerted. Anyone determined to be legitimately invited were brought to the point with a Havoc escort (just in case). Once you got past, you had a more standard setup, with guard patrols and sensors scattered around to give the best coverage, although by this point they were more ready for an actual assault or determined infiltrator than random people, so these Havoc were willing to use lethal force (people cleared by the earlier rings were described to these guards to prevent friendly fire, although the Havoc escort usually conveyed this fine). Finally, an invited villain or particularly successful infiltrator would find the meeting point. Here was the greatest number of Havoc, including a few dressed in heavier armor and hefting larger weapons, and Carver himself. Located off to one side of the meeting point, Carver currently next to his Marauder (a heavily customized motorbike, for reference), various portable computer and comms systems set up, as he listened and assessed the situations his men and tech were flagging up. A couple of unidentified humanoids that appeared undead upon closer inspection...that was likely the necromancer's minions, so he ordered to leave them be for now, but to keep a close eye on them. A few more apparently normal wanderers...they were all to be treated as per standard, but the men were to keep in mind that some may be invited, just in low-key guises. The proper challenges, using the card's text, was necessary to distinguish the two groups. He had no doubt that some invitees would just ignore all this (Rose in particular had a long history at laughing at much more entrenched and sophisticated security systems), but that was fine. It wasn't them he was concerned about. It was everything else that could go wrong that he had to prepare for (Novak's talents helped with planning contingencies for sure, but Carver was still concerned that they could be blindsided by something). Another factor he was concerned about was that this really wasn't his group's specialty - more than anything, they were offensive in nature, hired to attack and destroy than guard and protect. Rose chuckled at the defenses as she easily slipped past them, they were rather lackluster. If impressive for how quickly they were set up. As she approached the heart of the web of defenses, she finally spots Carver, at the center of a web of electronics, from where he was probably coordinating the defenses. She snuck up behind him, sneaking the invitation into his pocket as she pressed her coat against his back,"hello handsome, so you're the one who sent the invitation?"she asked at a whisper. Spoiler Hide taking 10 sleighs of hand. Supreme could have teleported into the meeting chamber if he had desired to do so, folding the very fabric of space was a rare but not unheard talent amongst his people, but he decided to come by foot, his prodigious frame and unusual clothing clad in an illusion of a smaller, less imposing and casual dressed twenty-something in jeans and t-shirt. When confronted by the Hawks he showed them his invitation. Despite their formidable equipment he doubted they would prove much of a challenge for him and so he reasoned that they were there to keep the rabble away. Finaly he reached the main chamber and addressed the people already there." I hope you have a good reason for this riddle of an invitation"his tone imperious, quite at odd with his apparent looks. Spoiler: Illusion Hide DC 13 will check to see through the disguise Carver shakes his head in response, appearing rather unexpected by her presence - after all, she was expected to turn up unexpectedly, as paradoxical as that sounds." Ah, there you are. No, the man you want is over there." He waves a hand towards the center of the room, before tilting his head to one side, nodding to himself." Ah, the apparent mundane that turned up was him. Obvious, really. Wouldn't be you and the rest aren't quite that subtle." "That's a disappointment I thought coming here might have been worth it after seeing you, and you didn't even consider me just being that good? I'm wounded,"she replied with a tone that made one wonder if she was joking or did she truly mean it. Spoiler: Roll Hide Will (1d20+10)[30] From the dark alleys of Emerald City, a figure emerges out of the shadows. The figure wears dark blue jeans and a dark blue hoodie, with his face hidden under his hood. He's not sure what to expect once he arrives in Royal Hill, or why the card choose it out of all the places to meet in Emerald City. But there is no way Tyler is going to turn back. If whoever this guy is, has this opportunity the card promises, than it wouldn't hurt to check it out. If it turned out to be one big hoax, then Tyler will teach the punk why nobody makes a fool out of him. The hard way. The thought made Tyler smile as he continued walking towards his destination. Lancelot noted the sudden appearance of the Rose, she who had inadvertently freed him from his long imprisonment. Still he remained hidden, biding his time. It had been all too easy to bypass the network of sensors and sentries girding the approach. Thus far, a trap it did not seem, but it would not be prudent to put himself in unnecessary risk. Possessing one of the heavily armored minions near the central terminal was all too easy. The heavy Havoc turned its gaze towards Carver and the Rose." Why hath thee summoned me to this decaying oubliette?" The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: Zero. Novak sat, precariously balanced on the edge of a bench on the abandoned platform, he watched as the pieces began to fall into place. He had set the events in motion, and it all hinged on his ability to convince these individuals gathered on this abandoned platform to begin to act towards a common goal. He half smiled as he lifted a lighter to the cigarette dangling from his lips, the spark providing a brief flash of his face as Carver indicated him to the others, the under glow of his cigarette shadowed his face, his cold, calculating eyes concealed by the shadows cast from his high cheek bones. As he walked forward through pools of darkness and dim light, he didn't hesitate, didn't flinch. Even as one of his guests spoke, Originally Posted by Elder and "I hope you have a good reason for this riddle of an invitation" his tone imperious, quite at odd with his apparent looks. He nodded in the man's direction, and took another deep inhale from his smoke, letting it burn in his longs before exhaling, the wisps of smoke curling around the collar of his jacket. He made an elegant bow, arms extended,"The invitation was mine Lord Dark, you humble us with your presence." He stood from his bow making eye contact with the man, and not the illusion,"My reasons will become clear, to you, and all of our assembled guests in short order my lord."" There are certain events in play, that when they reach their culmination will result in a tragedy of state wide proportions. The specifics of this event will result in a significant percentage of the citizens becoming empowered and transformed on a genetic level by the events of that day. I believe that this affords an opportunity if you but have the temerity to seize it." He began to pace as he spoke, his nervous energy infecting his every word,"With the appearance of Centurion and the formation of the Liberty League in the 30s, the entire concept of the hero has been balanced on the knife's edge of public perception and expectation. Their arrival in public perception began the so-called age of super man, and this age has continued through to this very day, during that time iconoclasts, pedagogues, conquerors and madmen have always attacked their nemesis', in an attempt to remove them from play, what has never been tested, what nobody has had the vision to do, is to give the entire paradigm of the superhero a push, to unbalance its precarious position, to place our worlds heroes in a position where they must balance their ethics and morality against an ever-increasing cycle of violence, retribution and public expectation. With the events that are being set in motion even now, we have an opportunity, an obligation, to slay the very concept of the superman, to create a cycle of violence, and retribution so great, that the very concept of what these heroes are trying to protect becomes so twisted, so far from their own world view, that the entire mythos shatters under its own weight." Supreme looked at the other that were present, he mildly wondered if they were similar in power to himself. He doubted they were similar in outlook, however. His mind quickly saw the potential of the operation, if heroes and villains were to become both highly destructive, highly amoral it would certainly make taking over in the name of safety that much easier. Still, there was the matter of how to do it." And how do you propose we achieve this ?" Tyler finally spotted the meeting place, where he saw that he wasn't the only one invited to this meeting. As he approached the meeting, he could overhear only some of the things one of them was saying, who he guessed was the one who invited them here. This guy was saying something..... about something. He wasn't really paying much attention. Then he heard somebody else ask how they can achieve it." So, what's in it for us then?" Tyler asked as he stepped into the meeting. Papa sent his minions in and looked around the area, it was not hard to find the exact location of the meeting, some security force was present, and found it fit to block his minions way. Shaking his head outside in the under street as he leaned against the wet wall, slick with whatever water that sluiced down from the up top, he stood slowly, leaving his perch and walked with his cane and a smile of delight.*something new, something bold, something needed something old!*he thought to himself as he strode through the shadows, a flock of his walkers following around him, gathering in a murder of leaders, as he liked to call them. He barely gave the security guards a second glance, he knew they had noticed him coming, and either they would stand aside or he and his flock would push through regardless, if he was invited, then he would need to be let in, no? Tipping his head to the guards, he entered the meeting, others had already come, so it was a team meeting? Ah, Papa had heard of many of these people, his eyes and ears heard and saw much, but he had not met many of them. He watched as the man who invited them came into view, and declared his idea...without as much as a how'd you do, or a thank you for coming. He was not one to be summoned by someone so rude. So he piped up, holding both hands on top of his black cane." An Hui ya be, ta sum'un USS, to be her!" he declared, his thick accent making the words hard for some to understand." I am not, summon ta human at ya WIM, But you be needing from Papa LEGTA?" Carver didn't pay that much attention to the speech, since he had an idea of the general concept already, it was the later parts that he'd need to be attentive about, now that interactions were happening, and more precise planning may occur. His attention was on the other attendees, watching their reactions and behavior. There was a chance that this turned nasty, and he wanted as good a handle on the situation as possible. The fact that one of his men was apparently possessed was noted but not actively reacted to - this inner group of havoc was made up of the people he knew he could trust (hence them being allowed to be present here and able to overhear the plans - the outer groups would just know that there was something going on, but not much more than that), so he'd be able to sort things out with the guy. Carver did, however, make a mental note to discuss what can and can't happen with his men in the future, since part of how he got where he it was by respecting the men working for him, so it's basically expected of him to make sure that all this change doesn't violate that prior understanding. So while the possessed havoc looked at Carver, he just looked back, mask hiding his face as he just watched them all, occasionally looking at a screen and whispering a few commands (now that everyone expected had arrived, the men no longer had to worry about figuring out who's allowed to be here, and can just focus on defense). The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. As his guests began to speak, he listened as they presented their questions, their challenges. Supreme was the first, as Novak had known he would be, questioning the plan, the tactics, his need for control ensuring that he had access to the specifics. Followed shortly by Tyler, a thug, but one who was to shortly become empowered by the event that would rock the city, and subsequently, the nation. He needed to know what was in it for him, driven by greed, by the need to provide stability, and meaning to his brutal life. And finally, Papa LEGTA, one of the more mysterious, even to Novak, of his guests, a man who spoke to spirits, LOA in his culture, and worked through them, driven by his rivalry with Named. He spoke slowly, first addressing Supreme,"We would select the face of this new heroic paradigm, here, today, and those whom most fit that role would aid the public, during the upcoming catastrophe. Ensuring their role as hero and savior, they would attract to them, a culture of idolization, and worship, twist public perception as they themselves train, from the pool of empowered persons, a new age of heroes to act as our proxies. Those others,"with that he nodded to the Hunan, LEGTA,"selected for their ability to cause fear, horror, even loathing in the populace would use those self same abilities to commit atrocities upon the populace, to drive them reeling from the dark into the arms of our heroes. Our heroes, given increasingly powerful motivators by those of use acting against them, would be able to respond in kind, and with public support. Each side of this chess game, acting through empowered proxies, keeping the conspiracy, the collaboration hidden, until our ultimate and final endgame, where we expand the envelope of this chaos nationwide, creating an atmosphere ripe with fear, paranoia and dissent, and then present ourselves as the only logical solution, to provide control, and security, at the cost of only minimal personal freedoms. And then we establish our legacy, as the conspiracy that destroyed the age of superman, the Freedom League, the heroes and the system they represent would be washed away as the public clamors to support a system that works, that punishes those that would harm them, terrorize them. We shift the entire paradigm, and then we seize control, power, and absolute authority." As Architect finished his sentence, Rose asks,"And? What then?"feigning a yawn. "It will not work.", the heavy havoc strode forward." What you propose...will only end in war. Not between supermen, but men and supermen. The nations and knights of this world will turn against us all. When it has escalated to such a sharpened point, the mortals will no longer put their trust in saviors. They will take matters into their own hands, and it will spell destruction for us all, or ash and ruin for the Earth..." Supreme turned to face the havoc"There are risk, but if the change is gradual enough humanity will not seek to fight back." "So what if a few saps get hurt? It is practically survival of the fittest pal." Tyler joined in on the conversation." If they aren't strong enough to survive, then we should leave them to die." "Nay. They will turn on all of us. I have seen the terrors which man hath created in my absence. When game is cornered and defeated, when it hath naught but despair, that is when it is most dangerous indeed. Humanity will spite itself to destroy us, if we force them to. Better to inspire devotion and fealty than fear. Fear will always lash out, and inspires no lasting loyalty." The heavy havoc countered." If they come to fear the super man thus, they will ne'er submit to one's rule...and it is plain to see you covet that rulership for yourself. What have we to gain, should we help you claim this throne...?"he addressed directly to Novak. The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. As the Havoc stepped forward and began to speak, Novak turned his attention to him. The manner of his speech rattled him, he took a moment to run through his mental calculations. Were LEGTA and his LOA riding the Havoc, he would appear to be in an advanced state of decay, nor would he be so particularly eloquent, Dark certainly had it within his abilities to mentally dominate lesser men, but the controlled Havoc was taking a point counter to his stance and so it was not him. Awareness reflected in Novak's face if only for a second,"I presume I am speaking with Sir Lancelot Du Lac, son of King Ban of Berwick. I am pleased to see that you received my invitation." He bowed his head graciously to the possessed Havoc." You seem to feel as though the populace will turn on us, that our actions shall bring an end to an age. In essence, you are correct, but the age we seek to end is that of the superman, for humanity has placed its faith in such being's, praying and hoping for a savior, rather than, in fact, seeking salvation. Were I to have witnessed the fall of Camelot, perhaps I too would hold such a world view, sadly, however I have not." He paused to stare through the Havoc's eyes, in an attempt to see the intelligence that was controlling them." The world has changed, and moved on since the time of virtue and valor. Today the common man places his faith in other, more tangible values, safety and security. If we shift the paradigm, if we show the people of this nation that wolves, howl at the door, wolves that are willing to drag humanity down in a shower of blood and viscera, and we present ourselves as those who can stand the wall, those who can drive back the darkness by any means necessary, then they will place their faith in us. When our actions, no matter how reprehensible the government will see them, is shown to drive back the wolves and keep the populace safe, their faith will shift, they will sadly sacrifice their freedoms on the altar of safety and security, for themselves, for their families. Our actions can, and will, prove that the heroes of the current paradigm are insufficient to keep the faith, and so we will supplant them, replace them, and throw them from their pedestals." He smiled, thinking on the shade's last comment,"You say I seek the throne, that is not the case, there are others more infinitely qualified,"he threw a respectful look towards Dark,"I seek to advise, I seek to give counsel, I seek to effect a change that shall outlast all of those gathered here today. I seek your aid to create a society that is safe, and secure, a nation that understands its actions, and takes the steps necessary to protect itself from those dangers. We, as a race, have grown complacent, blind to the consequences of our actions, with leadership and vision, we can effect a lasting change, for the greater good." No eyes were visible through the opacity of the havoc's full helm. It nodded, contemplating these words." And what will become of those of us who take on the roles of vile villainy? Once your plan hath been brought to fruit?" A glowing specter, gaunt, nearly skeletal and wreathed in a clock of shadows separated itself from the hapless heavy, who suddenly doubled over as if with vertigo or nausea. Before Novak had the opportunity to reply, it spoke again, in its own voice, deep, hollow, and filled with an enervating sorrow." Furthermore, there is one element you have not considered in your calculations. Arthur. Merlin has awoken from his crystal cave. He seeks the return of the Once and Future King. He will raise Camelot, and muster all of his forces against us. Furthermore, he will present a new shining beacon of hope that will outshine all others, even while it blinds the people to his tyranny." Carver now finally moves from his position, walking over to the havoc that was possessed and kneeling down next to him, making sure he's okay. As he does so, he chips in on the conversation." Your King Arthur is just another problem. There's the League, who are the main target of all this, sure, but also other groups. I see AEGIS being a larger threat. They're good at finding out secrets like this. I assume you have a plan for dealing with them, Novak." "Arthur? Merlin? What is this, some kind of renaissance fair?" Tyler growled, raising an eyebrow." Can you nerds just get to with it already?!" Lancelot ignored the chiding of the mortal." Do not underestimate Arthur's ability to inspire. I too once feel deeply under his sway. And he will not repeat his mistakes of yore..." Carver now walks over to Tyler, having satisfied himself that the havoc will at least be okay in the short-term. "Thing is, things like that are actual potential threats. You've got to know who or what the threats are so you can take them down, y'know? And given the world we live in, he says King Arthur's coming back from the grave to take over Britain, and will cause us trouble? Sure, okay, that's something we need to deal with. I've to think these things through, play it smart. Gives you a better chance of winning in the fights to come." The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. Novak observed the back and forth of the discussion, those that supported it, who seemed to share his vision, those who doubted, or were indifferent, and those who were opposed. Turning towards the dark reflection of the man who once was, he replied,"Those who choose to inspire a new breed of criminal, who shape and mold the villains of our piece so that they oppose our heroes with increasingly reprehensible tactics will stay in the shadows. Perhaps towards the culmination of the events, we may even be forced to have our heroes execute them in brutal fashion." He paused, he couldn't help himself, given his nature he embedded bits of truth and misdirection in his discourse,"Given there are those amongst us with mastery over life and death, that one of us has a both corporeal and incorporeal state, it would not be difficult to create an illusion, a belief that their specific brand of evil had been eradicated once and for all. And the more the public clamors for it, the more we will want to give it to them.""Thursday, October 3rd, at approximately 11:43 am, a vehicle will be travelling eastbound along the Yellow Brick Row. That vehicle will be owned by a Mars Tech subsidiary, and it will be carrying a weaponized payload of nanites. These nanites, autonomous molecular machines, are extra-terrestrial in nature, a technology used in secret by MacMillan Mars, discovered years ago. This explosion will create all the physical and environmental damage one would expect in a localized area approximately ten blocks in radius. Following the physical blast a wave of force shall distribute the nanites in spectacular fashion. The machines will bring change on a massive scale, infusing the bodies of those they come in contact with, making changes on a genetic level."" This event shall provide us with an opportunity,"he nodded towards Supreme and Havoc,"our heroes will respond in typical fashion. They will save lives, provide clear paths of entry into the afflicted areas for EMT's and other emergency services, they will aid local authorities, including an often overlooked and under budgeted AEGIS office in apprehending the rampaging nanite infused casualties. At the same time, Tyler will be co-ordinating operations on the ground, he must ensure that he is close enough to the area to encourage the afflicted to participate ever-increasing levels of anger, in essence rioting in the streets. LEGTA and Nightmare will be doing the same, but avoiding direct confrontation with either Supreme, or Havoc and his forces, for now."" After the immediate events are taken care of, Havoc and Supreme will encourage those afflicted to aid them, to mirror the formation of the League in Emerald City, and those heroes shall form the basis of our deception. Through them, we will investigate the Mars Tech angle, single-handedly removing one of the most influential men from the city, and facilitating his downfall. Now, I will need Rose's assistance in ensuring that key incriminating evidence is in place that will ensure Mars' appears as guilty as we need him to be. From there we will manipulate the media, our coverage, press releases and public statements to ensure an ever-growing support for the actions of our heroes." "And how pray schemer, dost thou know all this?", the wraith-knight inquired." What reason have we to trust thee?" The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. He turned to look towards the wraith-like Lancelot again,"Because I have the eyes to see, every choice we make, every action we take causes ripples of causality, One merely has to have the patience, the intelligence to plan for all possible outcomes. A reason to trust me?" He shrugs noncommittally,"I already know what you will do, I see your actions as a branching web from this very moment, you yourself may not know, but come 11:43 Saturday morning, your choice will become obvious, even to yourself." "Impudence? Or madness?" Lancelot replied." We shall see..." The specter faded into nothingness, though remained near in the wraith-realm to eavesdrop on what more might be said. Carver makes no effort to go anywhere, since this is his impromptu setup after all. He merely returns to his previous position next to his bike, giving a quick check to make sure everything's okay with the men before giving his piece." Main thing I'm seeing is that you're going to have to work pretty hard with the media angle. I'm not exactly the most morally spotless character in the media's eyes. I trust you can pull it off though - hell, I see some angles that could make it work, and I'm not a manipulative bastard like you. No offense." The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. Novak smiled and drew a long inhale on his cigarette,"I'll take it as it was intended." He placed a hand on his closest allies shoulder,"As for your concerns, just rest assured that all your contracts have directly, or indirectly aided Mars Tech's interests, and that payment, though handled through intermediaries was taken from numbered accounts that can be traced back to its subsidiaries, and indirectly it's CEO. Thankfully your distaste for domestic terrorism have caused a change of heart, and for you to act against your employer." Novak turned and began to stroll out of the tunnel nexus,"As I say, I've been organizing this for a long time." "The beliefs and perception of mortal kind are easily manipulated." Supreme spoke as he turned to Carver." I would not unduly worry about how they will react to you." He looked Carver up and Down as well as the Havoc recently vacated by the specter of the knight." Perhaps a brighter color scheme would help." Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide While the master-mercenary assess the finer aspects of the Architect's machinations, his comm link interrupts the conversation, "Sir, we've got a situation developing in the east tunnel ..." whispers one of Prime's henchmen Spoiler: The Architect Hide a priority message vibrates the mastermind's communicator ... Spoiler: IOC Hide checking the message reveals it came from your Emerald City PD contact in Internal Affairs. She'd asked for a meeting to discuss new information regarding the presence of 'a powerful group of villains operating in the city'. Oddly, while the voicemail was sent, it's too garbled with 'static' to understand ... Spoiler: Nightmare Hide As the dark wraith eavesdrops on the ongoing conversation, the surrounding scenery suddenly changes! He finds himself standing on a massive, tall, stone castle battlement overlooking a wide, green valley semi-shrouded in rolling mists! High above, a full moon, appears and disappears behind rolling night clouds as a low breeze whispers across the valley. There, a hundred yards in front of the castle walking out of the mist, is Morgan ... wearing a see-through gown composed of glittering fey-weave! She stops and looks up at Nightmare, saying nothing ... Spoiler: IOC Hide DC22 Insight or Will check ... Spoiler: Success! Hide Morgan is using illusory magic to contact Nightmare, obviously wanting him to return to her. It's the Illusion effect (spell) combined with Remote-Sensing (her 'crystal ball'). Spoiler: Morgan Le Fey Hide As an aside, I like Eva Green's version of the sorceress. Thoughts? Spoiler: Tyler Hide While big-heads were going over their 'master plan', Nathaniel remembers he had another 'invitation' this night: a local group of small-time smugglers needed 'muscle' to cover their backs for a late-night warehouse heist. While they weren't specific about the product, Tyler's been promised $100K just to be in place (the riverfront, just north of the Cannery) for less than an hour. The job begins in about an hour and payment (in cash) would be received once the job was done that night ... Spoiler: Red Rose Hide An incoming message vibrates the master-thief's device: seems there was a 'problem' with the funds-transfer related to the last job ...! Spoiler: IOC Hide RR has no Contacts, so I wasn't sure how to handle this part. Regardless, only $2 million of the agreed-upon $20 million was transferred! Spoiler: Supreme Hide The revolutionary-Golding notices most his new 'associates' are distracted for one reason or another ... Spoiler: All players Hide With the new issues popping-up, PCs can ignore or address them either now, later tonight, or whenever (up to you) ... Carver nods at Supreme's suggestion." Yeah, that should be easy enough to sort out. Men have already been distributed nonlethal options, and we've got alternative uniforms in storage. A bit of a funny story behind that. I wonder..." He looks off where Novak had begun to walk, before the message from his men comes through, getting his focus." Oh? Anything more to tell me? I'm on the way anyway." With that, he also begins to leave the meeting point, heading to the Havoc who raised the alarm. "Listen, as much as I 'enjoy' listening to you freaks and nerds planning the end of humanity as we know it, I have a job to do elsewhere. So I am out of here." With that said, Tyler jogs off to the place where he was supposed to meet these small-time smugglers. He may not know what they're after, but Tyler doesn't really care. He's offered a hundred thousand dollars for this job. And he needs something to do after listening to that snooze-fest. "As you can see, thy concerns for my well-being were misplaced. The knave claims his sorcery can foretell the future, perhaps in league with the Word Ones who weave Fate. I am yet to be convinced, something that no doubt warms thy black heart to hear." Lancelot dryly addressed his...mistress." What else dost thou require of thy knight-shade this night?" Spoiler: Eva Green Hide I love her. Not my personal taste in terms of beauty though I know plenty disagree with me. However, she is an AMAZING actress. She is fantastic in Penny Dreadful. I can't recall what else I've seen her in, though the 300 sequel is on my blacklist. I've never seen Camelot but if you want to go with her as the image we use for this game I'm super down. Having no pressing concern of his own, the ultimate simply willed himself out of the tunnels with a minor expending of cosmic power to reappear a few miles above the city. Surveilling it. Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide As he nears the east tunnel area, the mercenary is met by one of his guards, who is wearing night vision goggles and has his automatic weapon at-the-ready! He places a fingertip to his lips, then whispers as the two walk towards the branching corridor, "Sir, we've got four probably-armed males, and what appears to be a single female hostage. They've been working her over pretty good ever since they dragged her into the tunnel. At least one of the men has a sidearm and seems to be the lead, with the other three bruisers beating the woman at his signal. The men seem to be enjoying their little game, laughing and joking amongst themselves as the woman lays in the sewer water. Oh, and the men seem to speak both English and Russian. The scene doesn't look to have a happy ending - at least not for the woman ..." Reaching the corner, Havoc Prime looks down the long tunnel to a point shrouded in darkness roughly a hundred feet away: the sounds of slaps and punches, accompanied by low chuckles echoes through the dark area! The guard asks, "... orders, sir ...?" Spoiler: IOC Hide HP can have as many men in the area as you like, and it doesn't seem the other men have noticed his guards; night vision is required and all of HP's men have goggles, as well as whatever weapons you like (barring heavy-artillery); the woman is laying on the ground, her business-suit torn badly exposing her bruised body beneath; her face is a bloody mess, and she moans very low when hit; the attackers are dressed in casual attire, no masks, and strike/kick the woman every few seconds, causing her to roll across the ground ... Spoiler: Perception check Hide With the darkness and distance, make a DC20 Perception check ... Spoiler: success Hide Havoc Prime notices the woman is wearing a badge of some sort on her waist ...! Spoiler: Tyler Hide Arriving across the street from the designated warehouse, Nathaniel sees the block is quiet. As he was told, a large unmarked moving van is parked at the curb outside the 30' tall building and Tyler sees the red glow of a cigarette appears in the driver's side window! A hand extends from the open window, flicking the smoking cigarette into the street, and beckons Tyler over to the truck, just as the back of the trailer opens, with several men in workman's coveralls swiftly moving towards the warehouse! Spoiler: IOC Hide Make a DC15 Perception check ... Spoiler: success Hide Tyler notices someone sitting in a nearby sedan, parked across the street from the moving van, watching him closely. He also notices that all of these men are of Asian descent ... Spoiler: Nightmare Hide From her stance below the castle, Morgan smiles, "Then you have no cause to tarry. Return to me, beloved ..." The illusion fades slowly, and the immortal warrior finds himself back in the meeting place, with the other 'invitees' beginning to disperse ... The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: One. He nodded towards Havoc Prime,"You know what to do, I won't be in contact until after the event. I'd wish you good luck, but it would be a hollow gesture, we both know how I feel about luck." With that Novak turned down a side tunnel and ascended to the streets above. Royal Heights, he breathed in the fresh air, smiled and turned back towards the road, he had been in Emerald City long enough that the city was known to him, every action, every movement, simple, orderly, precise. The fact that Ms. Murphy had contacted him did not concern him, the static though, that was disconcerting. He began to search back through his memories, attempting to trace back each decision, and it's potential outcomes looking to see if he had made an error, or miscalculation somewhere. The static was a sign, a trace? A tap? Disconcerted he threw the small earbud two feet, where a late afternoon jogger kicked it further towards the traffic, and an Exotic truck crushed it, all as he had foreseen. He turned, he knew that Murphy would be heading home via the 417 Cutoff, and prior to returning to her flat, would stop at the Bull & Finch Pub for a pint. Ahhh, the Irish, predictable as ever, he ordered two pints of Guinness and slid into a booth. As he had walked to the pub, he had changed, a shift in posture, a change of demeanor, and Novak had disappeared, and been replaced by Jesse Jackman, a three time loser, ex-con, informant, and the Architect's contact with Lieutenant Murphy. As she walked in, he lifted her glass, he could see the consternation on her face. She had pushed him several times during their face to face meets, she wanted to, needed to meet the man, Novak, but she knew that he had assigned Jesse to her, as her connection to him, he insisted that it kept them both safe." Have a seat Murphy, got you your usual." Carver mills this over for a few more moments, before coming to a decision. "Stay back. If I need you, I'll get on the comms. Better to not give our wider operation away." That said, he considers his options. He had a feeling that getting this woman alive may be useful, so his more destructive options were off the table. That left his firearms - silenced weaponry would be a good idea to limit the disturbance he caused, and a sweeping arc of fire should mop things up pretty well - his machine pistols, then. Before he starts shooting, Carver takes a different tack. He simply walks towards the group, guns not in hand but able to be quickly drawn, and speaks." Who are you people and why are you getting in the way of my work?" Rose pulled out her phone as her eyes narrowed, she bows saying,"Au Renoir, It's been nice plotting one the greatest scams in the world, but I must go, we'll keep in touch."she steps into the shadows, using the concealment to teleport away, Arriving in New England, she had a point to make, a rather pointed one, heavily considering actually stealing a building. Spoiler: IOC Hide Taking 10 on stealth. (1d20+10)[15] Knowledge History for any big important historic thing to steal. The dread knight nodded, and floated up once more through the layers of urban crust. Merlin had awakened...but had thus far remained quiet. That worried him. And he still knew far too little about this strange new realm. Spoiler: The Architect Hide Murphy looked around the room repeatedly before sitting, "This doesn't feel private enough ... are you sure you weren't followed?" Biting her full lower lip, she again glanced around the room while running a hand through her platinum-blonde hair. Drawing the glass to her lips, Murphy lowered it back to the table, "Not much for drinking tonight ..." She adjusted the collar on her tweed suit-jacket and shifted in her seat, revealing the ball-chain a gold detective's badge hung from. Placing her hands on the table, Murphy leaned in somewhat, glancing at Novak, "... the situation is getting complicated. I can help you, but I need to know more about your operation --- do you have other people in Emerald City PD? Who should I be on the watch for ...?" Lieutenant Murphy was tense. Unlike any time before, and, it showed in her presence: the french-cut fingernails, the hair color, her lips, nervousness, the necklace, turning down a drink ...? Murphy was a natural blonde who always kept her nails manicured low, always had slim lips, always was a strawberry blonde, always wore her badge on her belt-clip, and always played it cool. Plus, the third-generation Irish cop never passed on a drink. Ever. It was a clever attempt, but a failed one nonetheless: This wasn't Lt. Murphy. Spoiler: IOC Hide You'll need to make either a power or skill check, depending on Novak's next move, to gain insight on the 'bigger picture' here, and he gets a Villain Point for the scene ... Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide The quartet of men turns almost in unison at the sound of Carver's voice, startled! The 'leader' extends an arm at Prime, pointing, "What? Who are you? Look, you need to clear out of this area, sir --- it's off-limits. This is a police matter." His attention returns to the downed, beaten woman, but his three associates take a few slow steps towards the mercenary, their hands going to the inside their coats ... Spoiler: IOC Hide The three men stop a few yards from the 'leader' and the woman, facing Prime in a menacing formation. The PC should be roughly seventy feet from the woman's attackers and Havoc Prime gets a Villain Point for the scene. The tunnel is fifty feet wide and about twenty feet tall, composed of solid stone and poorly-lit (Partial Concealment for ranged targets). If Carver attacks, he has the first action of the round ... Spoiler: Supreme Hide Hovering high above Emerald City, Dark sees an odd scene: atop one of the taller downtown buildings, a masked figure wearing a dark uniform is beating-up another suit-clad man! When the suited man is downed, the masked person draws a handgun, placing it against his victim's head ....! Spoiler: IOC Hide Make a DC10 Intellect check here ... Spoiler: Success Hide Supreme remembers this masked person from local news reports as Cthulhu, a vigilante or criminal wanted by the authorities in relation to several crimes involving terrorism and kidnapping. News reports of his/her/its activities have been limited and largely overlooked by most locals as Emerald City isn't much concerned with costumed 'personalities'. Supreme sped down toward the building. This masked vigilante would be of use to him, whether as an ally or more likely as way to gather the good graces of the public prior to the plan being enacted. When he gets in range of the two men he simply orders"Stop!" Tyler jogs over to the driver's side of the moving van, but not without noticing the sedan nearby. Why they were eyeing him, he wasn't exactly sure." What's up?" He whispered to the driver, whoever the guy ways that beckoned him to the moving van. There's a moment of silence as Carver takes in what was just said. And then he bursts out laughing." You lot? Police? Haha hahaha that's great. I didn't expect you to be comedians. Whoever you are, you seem to fail to understand the situation you're in, so let me educate you." He gets serious raising a hand to indicate that his Havoc should come in, before quickly moving his hands downwards and drawing his machine pistols, bringing them to bear on the goons." My name is Carver, also known as Havoc Prime, one of the best mercenaries in the world if I do say so myself. The man coming up to support me is one of my Hawks, a pretty successful fighter in his own right before I took him on and trained him up. We're both geared up with military-grade weapons and armor, and the skills to use them." He switches to Russian." The only reason you're still alive is that I'm curious about who you and her are. So hands off the guns and start explaining, or we take you down." Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide The cops seem to freeze, staring at Prime, while their 'leader' snaps his head back at Carver, his eyes blinking at the mere, "... Havoc P-" he shifts his footing to face Prime, taking a slight step back and yells at his men, "Stand down! Now!!" The four men move their hands away from their coats and seem confused by the situation, looking at their 'leader' and amongst themselves ...! The main man, looking to be forty-something, short black hair streaked with gray, wearing a gray business suit and dress shoes, raises his hands chest-level, palms out facing Carver, "I know of you. Your reputation. And, while your presence here in Emerald City creates many questions - dangerous questions that I will not ask - it is not our purpose to interfere with your 'businesses'. Whatever that may be. My only request is that you allow my comrades and I to leave ..." At the man's feet, the beaten woman stirs a bit and a low groan escapes her bloody lips ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Deception: 1d20+7 16 Make a DC16 Insight check ... Spoiler: Success Hide Carver sees the man's hands shaking slightly, and his eyes are too wide; he's afraid! His four associates seem very confused and stand as still as statues ... Spoiler: Tyler Hide At the truck window, Nathaniel sees a well-built Asian man wearing gray coveralls like the other men who scrambled from out of the large truck trailer. His head is shaven except for a long, black ponytail resting on his left shoulder and his neck bears dark tattoos that seem to extend up from his torso. He looks Tyler over and says, "About time. Haven't you heard the saying, 'Being on-time is the same as being late'?" He sighs and flips something out the window to Tyler: a small 'walkie-talkie' style communicator, "Look - all you have to do is stand outside this warehouse and keep watch. Anybody gets nosey or tries to go in, handle it - quietly. If the police show up, key the mic-button twice, but don't let them see you do it, and, only key the radio if they approach you. Understand? We'll be done in less than a half-hour. Then, you get your cut. You come well-recommended, so if you don't f*** this up, and maybe we can do business in the future, okay? And, stay out of this truck." He opens the door, hops out, scans the area while closing the door, then walks swiftly towards the warehouse ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Make a DC10 Intellect check ... if Tyler doesn't have any questions or comments, the man enters the warehouse through the open doorway, then closes it ... Spoiler: Check success Hide The man's tats look Yakuza-style, meaning he could be a Japanese mobster. Spoiler: Supreme Hide Cthulhu looks at Dark, then stands, still holding the gun on the prostrate victim! Looking the villain over, the masked person looks again at the cowering captive, who looks up at Supreme with his bloody face, begging, "Please ... help me! He's going to kill me!! He's a killer!! Please ... I ..." Cthulhu looks once more at Dark, holsters the weapon, then grabs the terrified man by the neck, raising him up, as the terrorist steps onto the ledge of the building --- hundreds of feet above Emerald City! Spoiler: IOC Hide If Supreme intends to stop Cthulhu, roll initiative! Spoiler: Nightmare Hide Spoiler: Penthouse Hide Returning to Le Fey's luxury penthouse apartment, Sir Lancelot finds her in the living room, seated on a plush-leather couch, smiling like the Cheshire cat ... on the adjacent crystalline table is a bottle of wine older than most humans, and two wine glasses, one of which actually hovers just above the table's face ... in the background, Ennio Morricone's The Mission whispers across the penthouse. Gracefully taking the glasses in hand, Morgan arises, nearly drifting towards Nightmare, "Welcome home, my love. Were you successful in your quest for information of Arthur? Tell me what you've found ... then, I will share with you what I have uncovered ..." Her seductive smile grows even wider and her eyes sparkle with manic sensuality as she offers Lancelot the incorporeal wineglass ... Carver sighs, holstering his machine pistols and walking closer to the leader, putting a hand on his shoulder. He wasn't too concerned about the threat they may present - he has his Havoc at his back and between his unarmed fighting skills and his quick drawing, it really didn't matter much that his guns weren't in his hands." You don't quite get it, do you? I'm not here because I just want you gone - if that was the case I'd have done it already. I want to know what's going on here. Who she is, who you guys really are - you don't act like any cops I've seen, well asides from the ones so dirty that they're basically criminals. I want the information you have, okay? Once that happens, well...then we can start to think about what happens to you." Spoiler Hide I have +15, so I autosucceed, but hey for the hell of it here you go: (1d20+15)[17] It didn't take long for Dark to make his choice, he was supposed to pretend to be a hero after all and heroes stopped that sort of things, even if it was akin to helping a bug get over a rock. The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: Two. Luck Points: 4 of 5He eyed her warily, he ran the calculations in his head, but she was an unknown, so he had to rely on information that he was processing as he spoke. He needed to pay attention, watch her for any details, any tells, observe, manipulate and exploit. He smiled, almost, shrugged his shoulders,"Murphy, we all know complicated was part of the deal when we first accepted his help. Furthermore, he has his guys contact you, you get them what they want, or bad things happen, that's the way it works, the way it always works." He looked apologetic,"Look, you know that we don't get to contact ... him. Furthermore, he sends people like me, to talk to people like you. I've never even met the man, and I sure as hell don't know who else works in his network. I just know he scares me, what he knows what he can find out. So how's about you just tell me about these complications, and we can see if we can get some help from up the chain, 'k Murphy?" Spoiler: IOC Hide Deception Check, (1d20+17)[20], to convince her I am just another rung in the ladder and legit trying to help her. A follow-up Insight Check, (1d20+19)[22] with Assessment to determine her combat capabilities, and a final Perception Check (1d20+17)[24], to utilize my Danger Sense (visual) to see if there is a hit team or extraction team waiting to take me out. Also, my Array is set to Predictable Offense camp; Tactics giving Novak a Dodge/Parry of 15, As well as Improved Defense camp; Defensive Roll 2. Due to a sucky dice roll, I spent a Luck Point for a result of 37 on the initial Deception check. Lancelot took the glass, and swirled it is around contemplatively. He no longer had the faculty of taste, however what did that matter when sorcery was involved? The sensations might be illusory, but then so were dreams." Arthur? Of mine enemy I cannot say. This "Architect" however...claims prescience. He hath foretold an event that will rock this city, and henceforth the world. He plans to turn these events to his favor, and would make for an ally most powerful against the rising of Camelot. Or perhaps he is merely a deluded fool. Time will tell. If his prophecies come to pass, I would be inclined to hear more of what he hath to say..." He took a sip...ephemeral flavors playing across his spectral consciousness." Now tell me, my long-suffering Morgan...what hast thou found of our ancient foe?" Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide The man gives Prime a confused look, "This woman, she is a mole. She infiltrated Emerald City Internal Affairs in order to counter our investigations of the criminal syndicate she belongs to. We arrested her and brought her here for 'interrogation'. Surely you understand how important it is to defend your organization from spies, yes? I am Lieutenant Yuri Kemerovo, and these are my men. We are a Special-Crimes Unit specifically created to counter the efforts of local criminals attempting to run their games on us. Emerald City is one of the most corruption-free cities in the United States because we take crime very serious. Now, we must get our suspect back to the precinct for booking. Of course, we will not speak a word of this meeting to the captain or commissioner ... as far as I'm concerned, we have never met." He nods and winks at Prime, then moves back to the woman, picking her near-limp body up, as the group begins to leave ... Spoiler: Supreme Hide Dark underestimates the quickness of Cthulhu and, before he can react, the terrorist leaps from the ledge with his captive, who screams like a schoolgirl! They fall nearly fifty feet, then a cable-line whips from Cthulhu's free hand to a building across the street, and he swings over the city with his victim! From the east, a helicopter closes from about a mile away ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Initiative: 1d20+14 29 Supreme has the next action: Cthulhu is roughly 50' away using a swing-line to fly away. The horrified victim is held in held on the terrorist's left side. The pair is roughly 500 feet above the streets below, where pedestrians look up after hearing the victim's scream. Consider the streets crowded with night traffic. Any questions, just ask ... Spoiler: Architect Hide 'Murphy' cuts her eyes at Novak, "Right. Well, 'Mister Mystery' would want to know about this. These people are lo-" she pauses and looks around the pub again at the seated people having drinks and conversations, then she looks back at Novak, "- look, let's get out of here. I know somewhere more discreet ..." 'Murphy' rises and turns for the door ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Stealth: 1d20+3 18 Deception: 1d20+4 11 Make a DC18 Perception check camp; a DC11 Insight check. Novak can 'Take 10' on these ... Spoiler: Success Hide Novak notices four uniformed police officers standing outside the door of the pub. 'Bull camp; Finch' is something of a 'cop bar', so seeing them here isn't unusual, but they normally aren't in uniform. Plus, these four occasionally glance through the windows, as if looking for something/someone ... Spoiler: Nightmare Hide The sorceress moves close enough to touch the Untouchable, her eyes wild with delight, "The Sang real! The alchemical formulae that can break the curse binding your soul and make you whole again! It is here, in Emerald City! I first thought it is a jest, but a local collector assures me it is the true artifact!" Morgan stared deeply into Lancelot's eyes for a response ... Spoiler: Tyler Hide Hanging around outside the warehouse for minutes, Nathaniel sees the occasional vehicle pass down the lonely block, but at this time of night there's no real traffic through this area. Until ... a loud group of men dressed in shirts and jeans appear from a block down and cross the street, walking towards Tyler. They are boisterous, their laughs and conversation about 'women in nightclubs' echoes over the area as they get closer to the warehouse. Once they get within fifty feet of Tyler, one of them stumbles toward an alleyway saying he needs to 'relieve himself', while the others laugh and taunt him. While he 'does his business', the others look around the area while continuing their loud conversations ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Perception: 1d20 17 If Tyler is hiding (behind the truck or in the warehouse doorway), make a DC18 Stealth check to avoid detection. Otherwise, the group notices him and stare curiously. It isn't hard to see at least most of these five men are drunk. Make a DC10 Insight check ... Spoiler: Success Hide The men all have crew-cut hair-styles, suggesting they could be police or military personnel ... Supreme flies after Cthulhu, rather lazily, his speed in flight easily able to keep up with the swinging of the vigilante. He briefly consider trapping Cthulhu and his intended victim in a force field of cosmic power, but his curiosity gets the best of him. Supreme's mind focuses on Cthulhu and with his considerable psionic might start probing through the mind of the fleeing vigilante. Spoiler: IOC Hide Opposed Mind reading check (1d20+10)[20] His skeletal features no longer had an eyebrow to raise, nor much else in the way of expression." Need I remind thee that mine undead state was thine own workings? Why now this sudden sympathy?" Carver considers his options for a few seconds. If he lets them go, if they're legit than despite the leader's promise he can't be sure that this won't leak out. Additionally, if the woman is a link to the local criminals, she'd be useful to him and the overall cause. If they're lying, then he can't just let them play him, and still rescuing the woman could be useful - if she's not a criminal and instead someone on the side of the law, then that's some goodwill already before things begin. Yes, when he thought about it logically there was only one option, really. He draws his machine pistols and gets to work. Spoiler Hide If I don't get surprise, and they go first, odds are I'll do this anyway so it's not really an issue. Initiative: (1d20+10)[16] Going to use Multiattack's multiple target function to shoot all these guys. Since there's four of them, that's a -4 penalties. Also power attacking for 5. Got Precise Attack 2 for ranged, so cover and concealment don't matter. Leader: (1d20+8)[18] Goon 1: (1d20+8)[16] Goon 2: (1d20+8)[18] Goon 3: (1d20+8)[18] Goon 4: (1d20+8)[25] Damage DC 23 for each one. Spoiler: Supreme Hide Following Cthulhu, Dark realizes his telepathic power is resisted by his target's intense willpower! While considering his next move, Supreme watches the terrorist glide towards a dark alleyway on the streets below as the helicopter sails closer ... Spoiler: IOC Hide DC20 Will check: 1d20+6 26 Spoiler: Nightmare Hide Morgan turns away from Nightmare, "You are not the same proud warrior as before. My magic has harmed you - changed you. Regrettably, I cannot undue the spell, but the Sang real can. It can make you the man I once knew before. Do you mean to say that you prefer your current existence?" She looks at Lancelot, puzzled ... Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide One of the men, looks back to see Prime drawing weapons, "Get down!" The others dive for the ground as Prime unleashes an onslaught of gunfire! While he misses most of the men, Prime manages to 'eliminate' one of them! The 'leader', drawing his weapon, shouts in Russian, "Kill him!!" The men open fire on Havoc prime! Spoiler: IOC Hide DC23 Toughness check: 1d20+2 4 There were five of them, so the penalty was -5 to your rolls. Also, these are Minions, so you can make attacks by 'Taking 10' and they can't CRT you. Not sure exactly how close Prime is to the cops - maybe fifty feet? Regardless, they are counter-attacking: DC22 attack check (gunfire) vs. Havoc Prime: 1d20+7 27 DC22 attack check vs. Prime: 1d20+7 17 DC22 attack check vs. Prime: 1d20+7 22 Prime has taken two hits, but his armor absorbs the damage. It's his turn ... Carver laughs as the bullets just thud into his vest, barely affecting him, as he continues his hailstorm of bullets. He then shouts a quick order to his comrade above the gunfire." Cover any who I miss!" Spoiler Hide Okay, thanks for reminding me on the minion thing. That means my Takedown 2 triggers, so I get a free attack against another one of them. Going to take 10 and power attack for 3, making my final attack roll 20 and damage DC 21. If that drops a guy, it repeats, and so on if that succeeds. Doing the multiattack thing again (now at -4, lower if Takedown drops anyone). Gonna again take 10 and PA for 3, making attack 20 (+1 for every guy dropped by Takedown) and DC 21. Also, just to clarify, currently using stun ammo in my guns. Besides, I do have that one Havoc with me, although I believe you control him. "Nay...thy necromancy was no curse. Thou hast granted me immortality, and power enough to defeat Merlin and hated Artur. The noble warrior you once knew died long before this body, when I betrayed mine King and mine ideals, and for what? ...to consummate the carnal love of a woman who denied me, unto her last breath...!" His hollow voice had steadily gained intensity as his anger built. As he reached the climax, he grasped the hilt of the spectral sword at his waist, and as his bony fingers grasped it, he solidified into a terrifying armored knight. Drawing it in a single motion, he lashed out splitting the dining room table asunder with his rage. Then he got very quiet, very still, and sheathed the blade, becoming once more a specter. His voice now low, unable to meet her gaze out of shame for his outburst, he spoke over his shoulder." Even should you find the sang real, it would no more recognize me as worthy as it didst when first I quested for it. Thou are not mistaken. I am not the man I once was... I need must be alone right now. Contact me if news of our foes should resurface..." Most vexing, thought the ultimate when his psionic might fail to penetrate the defenses of the vigilante. Instead of trying again or dwell on the failure Supreme diverted a portion of his power cosmic to create a thin transparent wall over the mouth of the alley to keep Cthulhu out of it. The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: Two. Luck Points: 4 of 5AsMurphyslid out of the booth and headed towards the door, Novak quickly tapped out a text on his cell to a burner unit he had supplied Havoc with.' Internal Affairs Informant compromised. Unknown operatives posing as Informant and ECD. Take necessary measures.' As soon as he hit send he cracked the back of the phone and removed the SIM card, folded it in half and dropped it in a pint of Guinness. He followed Murphy, and as he got close to her, he whispered over her shoulder,"Not sure what your play is here Murphy, but going somewhere secure with the boys outside is a real bad move. He finds out we got escorted out of here with the force, and we're both dead. You know that." He moved around in front of Murphy'and held out a finger,"You're a smart woman, you did your research, you remember the South African, Alibis, he tried to cut our employer out. You know what he did, can you even comprehend?" He leaned in close, making the statement personal, it would add impact, drama." He had a team of mere's, came in on choppers out of the setting sun, hit his compound and Alibis's village where he was born at the same time. Had all his guards, all his family, his entire tribe rounded up, but the bastard didn't kill them, no, something much, much worse. He had all the men picked out, had them all castrated right there in front of their families, wives, daughters. Every. Last. One. Then he took Alibis taken, put him into a prison, given a number, they say he's still alive. No name, no family, no past, no future." He took a drag off of his cigarette,"That's who you're trying to folk with this move Murphy, that's the heat that is going to come down on you for something this blatant. But you want to take me in, then take me in. The s4!t that comes down as a result. That's on you." With that he held out both his hands waiting for her decision. Tyler wasn't even bothering trying to hide. He was sitting down with his back against the wall, with his hood over his face. He was going for looking like a homeless person. But this wasn't exactly his style. He would've preferred to beat everybody to a pulp, but a hundred thousand dollars were on the line here. Maybe these guys will be too drunk to be a problem. But then again, who knows what they'll do. He keeps watch over the place while keeping an eye on the drunks. Spoiler: Roll Hide Deception: (1d20+2)[19] Perception: (1d20+11)[23] Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide As Kemerovo gets off a round, Prime's second salvo of gunfire explodes across the dark tunnel like hellfire, dropping all the gunmen in a song of screams and fury! Their fallen bodies go limp, firearms 'clacking' to the ground next to them ... Spoiler: IOC Hide DC21 Toughness check: 1d20+2 10 DC21 Toughness check: 1d20+2 6 DC21 Toughness check: 1d20+2 10 DC21 Toughness check: 1d20+2 3 You control your Minions. I run them for 'outside occurrences' to pass info mostly. While his men engaged Prime, Kemerovo 'finished' their hostage with a shot to the head. So the woman is dead ... Spoiler: Supreme Hide As Cthulhu sails downward towards the alleyway, he crashes into Dark's invisible barrier with a 'thump', dropping his victim who howls as he falls downward from fifty feet up! The terrorist manages to keep his hold on the swing-line, spinning down towards the street ...! A bright light suddenly targets Supreme, projected from the hovering helicopter, enveloping the villain in bright light! Spoiler: IOC Hide DC20 Toughness check: 1d20+6 15 Dazed Supreme can rescue the falling victim, challenge Cthulhu, or whatever you decide ... Make a DC15 Perception check ... Spoiler: success Hide The helicopter is a KEEN (Emerald City News) held ... Spoiler: The Architect Hide 'Murphy' looks at Novak, then gazes around the room, "Okay. So ... let's step out back then. I - I'll tell you what I know there ..." She walks past Novak towards the restrooms, where a door to the dumpster area was, giving a quick glance at the front door. The cops outside push open the front entrance glass doors, entering and looking around ... ... shoving the door open, 'Murphy' and Novak are outside in a small alleyway with dual dumpsters on either side just outside the door. The alley extends forward roughly 100' with regular foot-traffic passing on the sidewalk beyond. The stench of trash and urine fill the air as she turns to Novak, "Those cops aren't with me. Know that - were you followed? This isn't a game, dammit! My life is on the line here! If you put me or my kid in jeopardy I'll kill you myself! Now what do you want to know?" Spoiler: IOC Hide DC27 Insight check: 1d20+5 23 Gave HG a 'Take 10' on Deception, his best social skill. Give me rolls for his interaction in the future, please. Spoiler: Tyler Hide Once the group resumes walking, they move towards Nathaniel ... one of them burps loudly and the others laugh as they near Tyler. As they pass, one of them stares at the look-out and slows his pace, "You got a problem, buddy?" The smell of alcohol kicks across the air between Tyler and the man, who stops to gaze at Nathaniel ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Make a DC12 Perception check ... Spoiler: Success Hide A police cruiser turns onto the block from the opposite corner ... Carver walks over to the fallen woman, crouching down and confirming her death. Well then, that leaves that avenue of investigation over. The question now was just what to do with these apparent police. They should be down for at least a little longer, and at the least he should be able to drop them again before they become a threat, so he got to work having a look through their things to get an idea of who they actually were and to gather any other information. That'd help figure out his next move. Spoiler Hide Looking at the descriptions, I guess Investigate covers this, right? If it's actually Perception, all the better - just add 5. (1d20+10)[18] Lancelot knew Morgan wouldn't be pleased with him leaving. She was a jealous lover, mad in her own way, as her ongoing obsession with him continued. She was his most stalwart ally, and yet simultaneously stifling. The dead dread knight decided he would take in the city, really for the first time in earnest since his arrival. Floating invisibly through the streets and alleyways, through private homes, watching this new soft incarnation of men, always absorbed in their mystical screens and other technologies. He could not explain why exactly, perhaps it was his undead state itself that made him loathe the living, but hehatedthem. For their weakness. For their lack of chivalry. But perhaps most telling of all, for their happiness. Paying little mind to the helicopter Dark let his cosmic screen falter, diverting its power instead toward halting the fall of the hostage through telekinesis and making rise toward him. Even if the mind of the terrorist was closed to him, no doubt the mind of a terrified mortal would far easier to probe. Still, the Ultimate kept an eye on Cthulhu in case the vigilante decided to do anything but lick his wound and escape. Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide Searching the fallen cops, Prime discovers their handguns, badges, sets of keys (car remotes included), cigarettes, lighters, a few knives, but strangely - no wallets or identification. Another oddity are the tattoos each of these men have: under their gold necklaces is a chain-like that that circles their lower neck ... Spoiler: IOC Hide HP doesn't have Well-Informed, so it will require time camp; an Investigation check (DC10) to identify the tats, if he bothers with it. Also, even though they're Minion-types, the cops will begin Recovering after one minute ... Spoiler: Supreme Hide While rescuing the falling captive, Supreme attempts to keep an eye on Cthulhu, who was also descending to the streets below. All the while, the news helicopter hovers over the scene, its brilliant search-light scanning between Dark and the target of his telekinetic hold ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Make a DC25 Perception check ... Spoiler: Failure Hide Cthulhu is gone! The constant shining of the spotlight in his face doesn't help Supreme, and he looses track of the vigilante. He wills up the hostage into his hand as he slowly descends to the ground." Are you alright ? Can you tell me why that man wanted to kill you ?" Supreme doesn't actually listen or care over much for the safety of the man, instead focusing his psionic might to probing his mind. Spoiler Hide Opposed mind reading check (1d20+10)[30] Carver considers the situation. It seems more and more that his initial assessment was correct, and they were just trying to cover themselves. In any case, there seemed to be two possible courses of action here - the first was just to put a bullet through each of their brains and be done with it, and the second was to take them prisoner until he figured out more about this, and seen whether the situation could be used to his advantage, whether privately or as a part of the plan. There were a few more options of course, one of which included dropping them off at the nearest station, but that was too...chaotic for such a delicate time. No, the option that was most useful was clear. He got up from his crouched position, turning to the havoc with him." Get a few more men, confiscate their weapons and take them into our custody - find a place to put them while we pull out. I'm heading back to the center to check some things first, radio me once they're sorted." Hopefully the man would listen to his orders and actually radio rather than coming to find him - while now it's not so relevant, during the preparations and the meeting itself, there was a reason for the staggered system beyond just security against outsiders - it was security against those within too. This way, all the outer layers knew was the card and a few other bits and pieces - particularly because very few of those called actually came in through the system, and only one as themselves. Only the men in the middle - his most trusted people - knew the who's and what's in any real detail, and Carver had made it very clear that this was one of those missions you didn't talk about. As he headed back to use his computers, he considered the plan and the timescale at play. According to Nova, this event...this.what, storm of nanites? Whatever you call it, it'll happen on the third of October. That gives five days. He'd let Nova deal with setting the stage in Emerald, his priority right now was making things right with his boys. Another mission would be wise, to help ease any correlation between this meeting and the event (although he doubted it'd work, it might help). Something foreign (like most his missions), something with a clear enemy that the media won't have a problem with, should they dig it up. That shouldn't be hard, given the state of things. Another consideration was whether to keep his men around where they may be exposed. Probably unwise, even if the idea of supers under his direct command intriguing. The same idea could be easily manipulated and make the PR job harder, and might raise questions about the intervention. It'd be better to keep out and quickly come in afterward, he thinks - after all, it was conceivable that he was based here, and after a short delay bringing in his people to help deal with the situation was more believable, particularly if such an event would bring about a change of heart in the man. Yes, that'd work better. He'd have to keep the delay brief enough that the fact that he knows the timing is less credible, but still enough to beat the authority's scramble. Should be achievable. Now he has that sorted out a little more, and was back with his bike, he got to work using its computers, digging up information on that symbol. Spoiler Hide Investigation: (1d20+10)[25] Auto-succeed, but rolling anyway just in case it's the kind of roll where more DoS give more info. "You wouldn't by chance have any spare change on ya, do ya?" Tyler said to the drunk man." I've fallen under hard times." He could see a patrol car coming around the block. All this was starting to make him nervous. Spoiler: Check for Bum Act Hide Deception check: (1d20+2)[18] The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: Two. Luck Points: 4 of 5 Originally Posted by Lt. 'Murphy' "Those cops aren't with me. Know that - were you followed? This isn't a game, dammit! My life is on the line here! If you put me or my kid in jeopardy I'll kill you myself! Now what do you want to know?" Novak took a step back and brought up his hands palm out,"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Was I followed? Have you forgotten the precautions I take Murphy? Remember that dead drop I slipped into your purse when you and your fiancé were out on the town. Di Gusto's I think it was right? You didn't even see me, hell I could have taken that little back up piece you carry in your purse. Those are the kinds of precautions I take." He pulled himself up, and tried to stare her in the eyes, remembering that he was just an informant at this time, just a cog in the machine,"And what do I want? You called this god-damn meeting, you wanted me here, you report to me, the Network gave me the reigns Murphy, you know that. You don't call the shots, you do as your told, you found something that scared you, I am here to get that info, if it's worth the Network's time, they'll make sure you're protected. I came here on good faith, that your self-interest would keep you in line, but you want me to roll over on an organization that will force-feed me my testicles if I give them up? And then you have the nerve to accuse me of being made by those boys out front. Drop the bull****, give me the information, or I walk, and you sort this **** out on your own." Spoiler: IOC Hide Another Deception check (1d20+17)[35]. To try to force her to feed me the information, most likely false, that she has, or push her to make an irrational move like having her back up pick me up. The dead drop would have occurred when Novak first recruited her, perhaps three years ago, but it was not at Di Gusto's because her fiancé hates Italian. Another test to see how far back, and how much information she has on the real Murphy. Spoiler: Supreme Hide The flustered man runs his hands over his head trying to adjust his hair, "Oh God! Thank you! Thank you, I --- he was --- I'm just a b-business analyst - a courier. He jumped me as I -" he rambles on about being kidnapped by Cthulhu, for reasons he doesn't know, but his thoughts betray him: his name is Ronald Later, a former day-trader for the local stock exchange who, when approached by local crime figures, turned his intellectual skill to providing 'insider' data to the mob. Now, Later spends his days trafficking information, from business elites to criminals, allowing the latter to 'launder' their illegal profits into legal business ventures. The profits are immense: hundreds of millions per month, and while Later is one of many 'middle-men' working for the mob, he is possibly the best-connected of the city, with many local millionaires considering him 'a friend'. Later knows Cthulhu was after the trader's list of criminal connections: Cthulhu's been stalking the local mob now for a few months, and the vigilante-terrorist is probably to blame for a long list of 'disappearances' - most of the missing being people operating directly or indirectly with organized crime. 'Ronnie' is married with two kids - a son and a daughter - along with having several girlfriends on the side, so he likes having the money the mob throws at him for his 'multidimensional' lifestyle. But, now that he's a hunted man, Later's not so sure if he wants any part of the mob anymore. While he's sincerely grateful to Supreme, Later will lie as much as possible to avoid blowing his cover - which is completely blown as far as Dark is concerned. ... small crowds of people begin to huddle and stare at Supreme, while the newsreel hovers around the area, still shining its spotlight at him! The rush of wind and chopping-sound of its spinning blades wash over the block ... Spoiler: Havoc Prime Hide Digging into his digital resources, Prime strikes platinum with his searching: the style of tattoo is exclusive to a special unit of Special, Soviet Special Forces, called Folk, or 'Wolf' in English. They were a counter-terrorist group tasked with countering the most-dangerous terrorist organizations of the world and neutralizing those threats when they appeared in or near Russia. There are disputed reports that 'Wolf' was responsible for the assassinations of political figures, to include foreign and Soviet diplomats who had possible links to Terrorism. Several years ago, a senior KGB official, Vitaly Kemerovo, was killed when his home exploded and when fingers started pointing at 'Wolf', the group was sent, en masse and almost immediately, to Afghanistan, where they battled terrorist forces until the unit was wiped out in an ill-fated counter-offensive just two years ago. There are also reports suggesting 'Wolf' wasn't destroyed by terrorists, but rather, they wiped-out the terrorist leadership and assumed control of their international network. There are rumors that 'Wolf' was indeed largely wiped-out, but a few soldiers survived and returned to civilian life in Russia. Other reports suggest the elite commandos were never sent to Afghanistan, but instead, they were arrested and locked away in a secret Siberian prison-complex. There's even an article suggesting the unit was sent into the desert, where they made contact with CIA operatives and were subsequently 'liberated' to the U.S. A final, humorous report displays a timeline of events linking all the rumors and reports as being part of one grand conspiracy, with 'Wolf' being one of the many organizations across the globe infiltrated by extraterrestrials! Regardless, 'Wolf' was one of the finest military units in the world, but despite that, the Russian government no longer recognizes the unit, listing it as 'reformed' under the aegis of Special 'Alpha' units. While in operation, 'Wolf' was the recipient of many combat honors and had an indisputable reputation for honor, bravery, and integrity. They were/are masters of counter-terrorism, guerrilla warfare, espionage, and small-unit tactics. Most Russians knew little of the unit due to its covert nature and small size - 'Wolf' was never more than a 23-man unit, normally operating in three, seven-man teams, with a commander and lieutenant directing all operations. Of all the information Prime finds on 'Wolf', the 'CIA' reports seem to be the best documented, with just the right names and dates to suggest 'Largely' was probably behind the unit's disappearance ... Spoiler: IOC Hide Prime can follow up on any of the individual reports, if you like. The roll was good enough to cover any additional questions you might have about the unit, the tattoo, or anything loosely related to them ... Spoiler: Tyler Hide "This guy's a bum! Down on your luck, buddy? 'Should join the Air Force! Travel the world, get paid and laid, and broaden your horizons!" The drunken men laugh and taunt Tyler until one of them tells the others they should move on - just as the police cruiser pulls up ... the car's police-lights begin flashing blue light around the block as a voice comes across the vehicle PA system, "Everyone keep your hands where we can see them and don't move ..." the car doors open and two uniformed officers exit the vehicle, weapons drawn immediately, "... you fellas got some I.D.? Let's see it ... now ..." Spoiler: The Architect Hide Murphy seems to shrink a bit as she looks down and around the alley, "... yeah ... these people, they're really powerful - I mean like SUPER-powerful. No one can touch them, and they've got people snooping on my cases - on me! I think they know about you and your boss. You say he can protect me? I need it, I think. I came to you - I mean, him - because I don't have anywho-" she's interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and two uniformed cops - the ones from earlier - walk out, drawing their firearms and aiming at Novak! "Get on your face, now!! You're under arrest!! Down!! Down!!" 'Murphy' puts her hands up and starts to get on her knees, "Don't shoot! I'm a cop!" Spoiler: IOC Hide Novak has the first action here ... While he couldn't have guessed the exact details, Dark is not surprised that the man was targeted over criminal connections. His distasteful lifestyle and association born of free were completely in line with what the rogue Ultimate expected from these degenerates maggots. Still, now was the time to make an impression. Supreme addressed both the crowds of onlookers and the man he had just rescued." Do not worry, you should contact the proper authorities, I am sure they will do their utmost to protect you and find the criminal. For my part I will keep my vigil over this fair city. You can all expect me to help whenever I can." He didn't try to convince or charm them, such superficialities would make him appear vapid and a gloryhouand, no, he merely stated a fact, and a truth, even if his help will not take the form they would expect. He gave a friendly wave to the news helicopter and slowly took off, giving a chance to the onlookers and chopper to get a good look and shot of him taking off, spectacle was sometime needed. After rising a few dozen feet he accelerated. Once in the air he covered the city in a gridlike fashion, broadcasting a mental message intended to touch only the mind of either Havoc or the Architect. Perhaps knowledge of Cthulhu and the mob connection would prove useful to their plans. Forget this, Tyler thought to himself. I'm getting out of here! So Tyler gets up as quickly as he can and starts running for it. He hopes he can weave through the alleys to lose the cops. Spoiler: Rolls Hide Athletics check: (1d20+8)[10] The Architect, Novak Stanislav Condition: Normal. Villain Points: Two. Luck Points: 4 of 5Novak threw a scowl at Murphy, consistent with his role as an informant, a scowl that said this was a bad move, a that was going to come back and haunt her. He turned to the two officers and proceeded to get to his knees and then lean forward,"Yeah, yeah, ok officers, I am complying with the arrest, no need to get overzealous here is there?" He leaned forward and put his hands on the slick pavement of the fetid alley." You at least going to let me know what you want me for?"

[M&M3] The Greater Good!_ an Emerald City Nightmare|rating:3.0

Ladorak's Evil Empire IC

The sun was setting over Taylor Island. Sabrina idly watched the shadows slowly crawl across the floor. She had time to think, and being a being of infinite practicality she did not muse of her distant and unpleasant past, instead she reflected on more recent times. Setting up the fest hall and putting the keep to rights had taken up much of her time, leaving little for leisure, yet there was no denying the pleasure she felt to be back in action. To Baa tor with the ORS, Sabrina was once again the mistress of her own destiny, and woe betide the fool unlucky enough to stand between her and the freedom and power she deserved. The man sleeping atop finally stirred. His coarse black stubble scrapped against the perfect flesh of her breast. A second later his eyes snapped again, instantly aware of his surroundings, a few seconds later Sebring felt something else stir as well. He was a fine specimen really, handsome with admittedly cruel features and cold hungry eyes. Cleanly muscled and perfectly toned, he moved like a snake, either slowly or startlingly swift. It was with swiftness he moved, although Sabrina was not startled. She expected the sudden movement as he rolled atop her and pinned her down, it was utterly predicable. Narcissus would have to wait. Downstairs Narcissus and Roland waited, enjoying their ale and the many pretty girls wandering about. The place was mostly empty, the sun had not yet set and so the girl's 'working day' had not begun. 'Shouldn't you be in disguise?'the big man asked.' Not yet.' Said Narcissus with a sly knowing smile. He caught the eye of one of the girls easily, for no reason she could account she blushed as she changed direction and came toward him. 'Another two ales please.' Roland waited for her to leave before he continued. 'So what do we know about this man?' Narcissus shrugged 'Only what Sabrina has told us, so potentially nothing at all.' He leaned forward and lowered his voice'According to her, he's the only copper skull that frequents this place. He's intelligent and dangerous, and he's... rarely more than arm's reach away from his weapons.'' If he's stupid enough to draw them you'll have to find a new turncoat.'' My dear Roland, that's why I invited you here.' Both men smiled at each other Theron witnessed the setting sun as the backdrop of a child's game. A number of the fisherman's lads had gathered near the healing circle he had set on the grass of the training grounds. As the sun set they played as only young boys can play, violently but utterly without malice. When one of them was hurt he made his way to the circle (Or was carried there) soon the boy was ready to begin the game again, although some did go home rather than risk further pain, if not injury. This is the best way to overcome the church, to make their 'miracles' commonplace, to give the people things they need not pray for. To relegate the gods with convenience. Noting the setting sun he turned away and made his way to the keep. As the sun set Lenora woke in his watery lair and, like Theron, made for the keep. Within the keep a very frightened scribe was speaking with a slight stutter to Lord Austin.' Apologies, my lord. There has been an... unforeseen difficulty. You will recall of course that I came to you not four days ago requesting funds for a book. As I said I believe it may be vital to our research. But the book is rare, I have only been able to locate one copy and the man I sent to retrieve it is now two days overdue.' Back within Sabrina's room Seal had finally finished and was, with great reluctance, in the process of dressing and buckling his rapier and parrying dagger back to his belt. It was hardly the first time she had watched him do it with artfully feigned regret in her every languid movement. 'It was good tonight.'' The best.' She lied automatically.' It's always good with you.' He always said that, aside from the very first time when he had settled for the rather more descriptive 'wow.' He seems perfectly ordinary until he puts that mask on. The mask itself was a pretty thing. It didn't cover the whole face, stopping just below the cheekbones and with stylized teeth covering the upper lip. It stopped at the sides before his ears, allowing his spiky black hair freedom. His pale blue eyes shone out of the copper eye sockets, taking one last hungry look at her before he turned away'Come back soon.' She whispered. They both already knew he would. Once the door was closed she hurried to dress herself and make her way downstairs. Downstairs Narcissus made a slight noise at the back of his throat.' It's time.' He rises and waits a second before joining at the tail of a group of resellers. His parting words are'Watch my back.' He merged with the small densely packed crowd, and soon he disappeared as Mina the Claw detached herself and made her way to the steps, just in time to catch Seal descending. (and I have subscribed) Lord Austin Tilting his head to look directly into the scribe's eyes, his diatonic rage rising at the man's incompetence. Slamming his hand down on a nearby surface, his voice rises to a shout that could frighten even the most Stoic warrior, empowered by his inner beast." Then that man is clearly incompetent and should be killed upon returning!" Checking himself he lowers his voice once again to a calm, yet subtly powerful tone." And yourself too, should he not return soon. Now, what is this book and why is it so vital to my research?" Roland stands, up placing a hat upon his head. His ebony black skin turns to a light tan. The glowing red eyes that sit in his skull turn to a brilliant blue. His mane of shaggy crimson hair changes into a short cropped blond hair. His bat-like wings fade from view. All right, I'll see you in a bit then. He says following behind Narcissus. Narcissus His wands and knives at hand, but concealed, Narcissus advances towards Seal. As Mina, she smiles her most alluring smile. Good evening, sir. I was wondering if I might have a quick word with you... Spoiler Hide Diplomacy: (1d20+29)[43] Buffs: Chain of Eyes (Griswold) Nondetection (Griswold) other object is a bed Misdirection (Griswold) Alter Self (Narcissus) used to become Mina the Claw Prepared SLA remaining: Grease Aura: Motivate Charisma. All of my allies with 60' gain +6 to all CIA checks, incl. me (already incl. in my bonuses). The Keep"And yourself too, should he not return soon. Now, what is this book and why is it so vital to my research?" Aussirmaekrix had thought the stutter was fairly pronounced and moderately annoying before he issued his threat. Not it got substantially worse, as did his hold on his own fraying temper. I-It is a tedious tomb to be sure my Lord, it is simply a record of all substantial commerce entering the city via the now-disused Flower-Gate in the year 1227.* At the time it was one of the most important gates into what we now call the Hold fast, but it fell into disuse during the reign of...' The scribe tailed off as he caught Lord Austin's cold eyes burrowing into his. He swallowed'That is, given our most recent research, it would appear that this was the year in which the... item'The scribe was under very strict orders not to mention the item by name, even when within the keep. Lord Austin had spent the better part of an hour describing what would happen to any member of his staff that forgot this simple rule, he didn't expect them to forget.' Wh-when the item first entered the city. It would probably have entered via the Flower-Gate. I-I certainly hope so, as most of the other gate logs from that time have been destroyed. 'As to the man in question my Lord... I-I do not mean to question you, but he is a friend of mine, and has proven reliable before, nor was the amount of gold in question sufficient to risk your...' He struggled for the right word and fell into lame silence instead'I fear he has been waylaid.' The FesthallShal's cold clinical eyes seemed to look right through 'Mina.' After a few seconds he nodded slightly'Of course, but it shall have to be quick. I have work to be about.' He turned away and made for a mostly empty table. When he seats himself the other resellers at that table have the good sense to leave the two to talk in peace. Spoiler Hide Roland and Sabrina can hook up by the stairs if you want, or you can continue to keep an eye on things separately. Also, I was playing on having T+L hook up, but I'd like them to check in before I get started on that. *Roughly 1000 years ago SABRINASabrina dressed (such as it was) and made her leisurely way down the back stairs, knowing that she had a few minutes to spare. Once down, she sought out Roland, knowing he would be in disguise, but knowing what disguise he would likely be using. Once together, they would be ready to deal with Seal, if necessary. Theron Rothman[IOC: Reconning Theron's introduction just because that wasn't exactly the characterization that I was planning on Theron having.] There was a time when Theron used to plan everything out. Step by intricate step, he would try to divine every possible contingency. After painful study, he would set his plan in motion - and then watch it crash down because of something he didn't plan for. Nobody's perfect, not even the gods, and sooner or later all plans lead to ruin. So now Theron manipulates circumstances. These were the thoughts that entertained his head as Theron watched the shadows grow long across Taylor Island. The healing circle had been a resounding success so far. Some of the common people were using it even now, engaging in violent but friendly brawls, the magic of circle staunching blood and injury as soon as they appear. Theron wanted to yell out to them, to tell them that this was just the beginning, and to show them a taste of what would come, but he didn't. They were small men of small minds, and he knew that if he didn't approach them carefully than they would be afraid. The food circle wasn't visible from Theron's vantage point. It had been inscribed in a common building, where it would do the most good. It had been successful so far, but it wasn't exactly glamorous. Furthermore, it didn't have to be. Furthermore, it would serve its purpose if the time came. Turning away from his thoughts and the scene at the training grounds, Theron starts to make his way to his workshop by way of the keep. Rising from his coffin like a black shadow, Tenor stepped out of it and examines the cave he resided in. Damp and stale, there was not very much air in the cave because the only opening led to the sea, Tenor was comfortable here. And not just because his apprentice cast desecrate every morning, the relative safety and isolation was pleasant. Seeing his apprentice rise, he straitened his dark clothes and sheathed his weapons. Stepping into the water, Tenor dove in and knifed to the surface in a few seconds. Drying himself with a word, he continued toward the mutual keep his order shared. Once there, he went directly toward the throne room, where he would see if anyone else was around. Preferably Lord Au's, as he was considering exploring the city underdark for vampire. But perhaps he should find a few sea monsters to slay and resurrect first, as the defense of the island from sea was not great. Silent in thought, Lord Austin begins pacing, hand on his magnificent beard." Hmm. And where did this worthless friend of yours go to retrieve this book? Given the nature of the book, it could prove invaluable and should be retrieved at all costs." Doing a flowery bow, Roland approaches Sabrina, How are you today my dear lady? SABRINASabrina regards Roland, with a look that seems to suggest that she is considering whether to eat him. Of course, that's not unusual, it's the way she looks at most everyone. I am quite well, although having to deal with the likes of him can be quite tiresome. Any update on our plans? Narcissus wish to discuss a... deal. Of mutual benefits,"she" says, laying one leg over the other alluringly and assuming a languid pose....and perhaps, with some additional perks, to be discussed later." She" lays a hand on his gently. Spoiler Hide Griswold transfer Chain of Eyes to Seal. He is forced to make a DC 18 Will saving throw, or Griswold will be able to see through his eyes for the next 6 hours. If his save succeeds, Griswold can no longer see through Narcissus' eyes, but from the spell description I don't think Seal senses anything from a failed transfer. Narcissus is doing his thing, I suppose we should wait for him to finish. Why do you put up with that man if he bothers you so? Just destroy him. The Keep The scribe's tongue darted out suddenly as he licked his lips nervously. He seemed to be sensing that he might live to see another day after all, so he thought carefully before he answered Lord Austin.' Milord... My friend went to the Hold fast. I have already confirmed with the gate guards. Alistair was seen entering and leaving the Hold fast, although the guards could not say if he left with the book. After that... I couldn't say Milord. The odd thing is, although the manuscript is old and therefore valuable it contains no information that anyone would find valuable... Aside from us of course. I do not see why he would have been waylaid, but I am starting to fear for A-'he stopped himself just in time'For your success Milord.' The FesthallShal moved elegantly as if he was a dancer rather than a killer. He walked with the subtle sway of the hips that gave away experienced swordsmen. The Vendettas were more respected than feared in Lessor, except the ranking members with their shining skulls. They were well feared, inspiring hushed conversation and general unease wherever they walked. Roland and Sabrina watched the table clear for Seal and 'Mina' and watched as she placed her hand on missal's eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled tight as he quickly extracted his hand from hers. Roland started forward as he saw that hand come to rest on Seal's dagger hilt, but Sabrina forestalled him. She knew Seal better, knew he wasn't ready to kill... yet. She was not at the table however, she did not hear the ice in his voice as he replied'With respect, you are certainly a... charming woman, but I have another to satisfy my needs. Now, is that all? As I said, I have much to do tonight.' Spoiler Hide Chain of eyes is a touch spell as I recall, how is Griswold casting it via Narcissus ? Also, you don't have a throne room. There is only one throne in the East. You have a great hall. Theron and Tenor meet at in the great hall... So, you know, start talking "Hmm, and are you certain these guards can be trusted? Have they been paid?" Leaning in to the scribe, Lord Au's whispers at first before bellowing down the poor man's ear and nearly deafening him as his diatonic roar surfacing for a brief moment." And rest assured, should he not be found... I'm holding you personally responsible! Now get out of my sight!" Narcissus Oh, I see... well then, let's make this businesslike, shall we? Introductions are in order, I suppose. I am called Mina the Claw, and I am a... creative wealth redistribution advisor, says Narcissus, improvising. I have been contracted by a private party to do a... census of sorts of the city. Furthermore, I have already breached The Watch and the ORS, and a few more minor organizations to do my research. Your organization, the Vendettas, is a bit more complex. My employer is obsessed with trivia, you see, and is willing to pay quite well for the odd tidbit about the city's workings. If you could offer such tips or information to me, I could pass them on to him. You would be paid quite well for any information on your Vendettas. Spoiler Hide In the morning, when Griswold helps Narcissus prepare for his day, Griswold prepares his spells with Narcissus' requests in mind. Today, Chain of Eyes was cast on Narcissus by Griswold when he left the Keep en route to the fest hall. I said six hours duration on Seal, but it is actually 6 hours minus the time that has elapsed since Narcissus exited the Keep, which I suppose is up to you. The spell's description allows Griswold to transfer the spell to someone I touch, which is why I laid my hand on his. Dipso Again?: (1d20+29)[32] Originally Posted by Organ Narcissus is doing his thing, I suppose we should wait for him to finish. Why do you put up with that man if he bothers you so? Just destroy him. Because he is a means to an end. That is my only interest in him. I seduce one member and find out who his superior is. I then seduce that superior to find out who his superior is. A long and tedious process, but the only way to find a road map through their rats nest of layers. And I don't need a long time of work wrecked in a moment of ill planning. The Keep Without another word the scribe turns and scurried away, glad to be alive but in still in dread that the situation may be temporary. The FesthallShal smiles thinly, but there is no mirth in his eyes as he leans forward to whisper conspiratorially.' Had you not mentioned the ORS I would have gutted you where you sat despite the respect I hold for the women of this place? I would have enjoyed it too, you have the look of a girl who dies prettily.' He leaned back into his chair, affecting a bored demeanor, although his hand never strayed from the blade at his hip'But you've intrigued me. Is it not easy to breach the ORS, no indeed. I might be willing to answer questions, depending on the questions. Ask the wrong question however, and I'll still gut you, or worse, I'll inform my brothers about your impolite requests for information. We're called the Vendettas for a reason after all.' He pushed himself to his feet.' Meet me here at this time two days hence, and think very carefully about what you want to ask. The crowd parts before him as he makes for the exit, and not a few pairs of curious eyes are fixed on Mina. Spoiler Hide Diplomacy successful. The entry is unclear wherever chain of eyes is detected on a fail, but I'll house rule that it's not. You won't find out if Seal made the save or not until you speak to Griswold. Narcissus Smiling to himself, the disguised empty vessel reenters the whirling crowd. He emerges before his companions in his usual black-garbed splendor, complete with his silver-topped walking stick. His eyes glow their telltale violet for a moment as the transformation completes itself. Well, the man's a pretentious idiot, but I think he's on the hook, says "Dominic", the name of his public guise. Even in the sanctity of the Isle, Narcissus rarely appears in his true, fearsome form. He smiles to Sabrina. Good morning, Sabrina, he says with a smile, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. I trust you slept well?he asks with a knowing smile. SABRINASleep? And that would be what? So, will Seal continue to be useful to our cause? You can tell from her tone of voice, that him no longer being of use would not do wonders for his life expectancy. Narcissus He smiles. Well, he threatened to gut me, but I don't think we are really serious. In any case, he's intrigued - he'll be back in two days to discuss the specifics on becoming an informant within the Vendettas. That means I'll have to prepare my shapeshifting spell again that day... oh well, that's life. Now, shall we go see if Griswold's spying spell worked? Seal may be doing us some pro bono work even as we speak. Sabrina know what they say, if they don't threaten to gut you, then they aren't interested Spoiler Hide Cookies for identifying that reference Narcissus'Dominic' laughs. Too true, I suppose. He would not have gotten far, with my bag of tricks and you two watching over me, he turns towards the exit. Now, I am off to collect Griswold's report; anything either of you need at the Keep? SABRINASabrina eyes the crowd that is still filling in the fest hall. No, there's nothing at the keep that I want. Maybe I'll stay here for a while...see if there's anything worth having. I'm fine for now as well. Tenor oozes in to the main hall, full up charm and guile as he readjusts to being among the living once more. He approaches Theron with a greeting"How does this wonderful night treat you, Theron? I shall be out for a while and was stopping by to inform you, if the others ask." Once pleasantries have been exchanged he heads out onto the main road where his apprentice meets him, and to prepare to head into the water, if nothing goes awry. Once in the water they head to the darkest part of the lake to slay a few monsters for reanimation. The Keep, Lord Austin's quarters There is a knock on the door, but it is opened before Aussirmaekrix answers the door opens. Brown steps in, a gnome with clipped black hair and rough stubble. He is Lord Austin's senior diviner so perhaps it is natural that he somehow knows the times he may or may not presume thus.' My lord. Bronn speaks slowly, as he always does.' Forgive me for not coming sooner. It tells you much about scholars that he brought this to your attention before consulting me. He shuts the door behind him.' If there's one thing I learned the Collages of Magic it's that sometimes very smart people are also incredible, if not fatally, stupid.' He stooped to bow to his Lord'My thinking is as follows. If your man was taken it could not have been on the Rune Rail. So this attack occurred near either the Hold fast or in Van district, practically on our doorsteps. Augury suggests it occurred in Van. With your permission tomorrow I will spend Christian and a few guards to walk the streets of Van and ride the Rune Rail, its speed will facilitate his spells, as their range is sadly limited.' Christian is Lord Austin's junior diviner, he is definitely one of those stupid smart people mentioned Brown earlier'I cannot guaranty results but if your book is still near the route your man took the chances are excellent we will find it.'Finally, the gnome rises from his bow to regard his Lord instead of the floor before his Lord's feet. Spoiler Hide Brown is a gnome knowledge/Oracle domain cleric 4. Christian is human diviner specialist wizard 4. The Keep, The Great Hall Theron and Narcissus met in the Great Hall. Narcissus originally attempted to recreate the Eastern Throne room on a much smaller scale, but abandoned the endeavor when he found the scaled down version dissatisfying. He had kept elements, many of the pillars supported the arched roof now had molded statues mounted on them. Prince David and various other famous dead nobles (Who, in Narcissus opinion were only famous for the stupid or “valiant” ways they died). Sadly there were not crafted from Mikhail as the Prince's were, but Narcissus found the actual reproduction astonishingly good. A number of those craftsmen now worked for Theron. Narcissus also kept the four tiered black dais upon which his High seat now stood, although he did not reproduce the throne itself. To do so would risk death. Griswold soon joins them, hobbling toward them with the haste his bent back and old bones would allow. He leaned heavily on his staff as he spoke 'X* I am sorry. The spell failed as it passed to the Vendetta. There is a petitioner to see you X.'*How would Griswold address Narcissus? The Lakeland goes for a swim. The FesthallWill have to wait, sorry. I have a terrible headache. Narcissus Evening, Theron. I trust your day has been pleasant? Waiting on the sidelines until the two men have exchanged pleasantries, Griswold then approaches Lord 'Dominic'. Grhrm*. Lord Dominic, our attempt to solicit free cooperation from Mr. Jones has failed. My apologies. Graham. Narcissus smiles his disarming smile. Worry not, old friend. I do not blame you - your work is of the finest quality. Mr... ah... "Jones"... must be stubborn. We'll get him another time, no worries. Indeed, sir. Graham. Additionally, sir, there is another matter. A petitioner to see you. Very well, I shall meet the petitioner in here, then. As you wish, sir. The butler motions for some minor servant to admit entrance to the petitioner, then takes his place leaning against the wall beside the High Chair, upon which Narcissus places his posterior. You're welcome to stay and watch me if you like, Theron, but I am sure you have a busy schedule. I won't keep you with boring humanities such as this.*The "Graham" sound is used to signify that Griswold is quietly clearing his throat, which adds a sort of gruff quality to his natural speech. SABRINASabrina continues to prowl the fest hall, looking for a very specific type of person. Smiling to himself, Lord Au's suppresses his anger that would normally rise when a subordinate enters his room without allowance. After all, Brown was good. He liked Brown. Smart, to the point and efficient." Ah, indeed. Good plan. Send that idiotic scribe along with the group tomorrow, see if he helps out at all. If he's of no use to Christian, send him to me afterward for his 'reward'." Again a smirk creeps across Lord Au's' face and Brown surely knows what he means by a 'reward'. With that, he signals for the gnome to leave. Roland stretches his body, heading to the practice yard to practice his swordsmanship. The FesthallSabrina finds what she's looking for very quickly. Most of the men in the Fest hall are hardly the retiring type. He sticks out like a sore thumb because he's the only one like him in the building. She easily identifies the only man here who really is 'just here with a friend.' The friend in question is a deadlocked north man just now leaving with Sheri. Yet the man remains on his own. The man looked longingly around for a second, but finding no salvation he reaches to his side and takes out a book. He's tall and slim, in his late twenties with a carefully trimmed beard. He looked lonely. The Lakewood: How long do you want to spend doing this? The Great Hall blond dwarf enters the hall. Not from the front door, but from one of the side doors leading further into the keep. Griswold's staff strikes the ground and the sound echoes loud as it rebounds off the stone. He takes a single step forward'Sir Manson of House Stone. The Dwarf comes to a halt before the dais and bows low. There is no deference in his posture however, he would expect the same in his own hall.' Sir Dominic. We have met once before, I am sure you recall. Narcissus did recall. Sir Manson was little more than a hired thug, taking care of House Stone's dirty work. 'Dominic' worked with him once. He was a simple man but an astonishingly good bloodhound. Narcissus had the feeling he rarely lost his man.' A matter of taxation legislation in Overdeep.' This is a lie. It was a matter of 'taxation' in Kazakh Ankara. Specifically the matter of House Stone stealing taxation money from themselves to bride House McAllister. Sir Manson carried our the fetching and carrying. Dominic covered his tracks both politically and criminally with bribes, charm and outright threats. McAllister and Stone alike paid him a fee, and he gained the favor of two lesser noble houses.' It's regarding a similar matter in the Shanghai district.' AS much time as possible (Don't want to get caught out in the deep while the sun rises) SABRINASabrina's mind quickly registers one word...jackpot She moves with all of her elegant grace over to him, seating herself gracefully beside him, making sure that he can see all of her. Hi, there, honey. Why are you sitting here all by yourself? Don't any of these ladies interest you? Or are you looking for someone really special? Giving him a moment to responder pass out from embarrassment, she continues.... My name is Sabrina, what's yours? Narcissus Oh, yes, I do remember the issues in Overdeep. Welcome to my humble Island, Sir Manson. Perhaps you would like to retreat to my study, where we can discuss this new matter more privately? Narcissus motions to a door off to the side, and he leads the way, assuming his guest decides it's a good idea. Griswold will follow them. (Sorry about that delay)Theron RothminAfter Theron exchanges quaint pleasantries with Narcissus ("My day has been productive, as ever."), Theron unobtrusively makes his way to his private workshop. Here was home. The workshop was not immaculate, but it was rather tidy. To an outsider, the protrusion of weirdly shaped instruments and carefully labeled powders might have seemed bewildering, but to Theron it was a singular organism with everything right where it needed to be. A small, dark shape moved in the shadows of his workshop - Theron's homunculus. Working tirelessly each day beating out items of iron and steel to sell, it was one of Theron's most prized possessions. Through the fading light of the sun-lit window, the workshop was ominous and lighting a small lantern did little to dispel that feeling. Theron liked it, however. There was something comforting in the play of shadow and light. Taking out a long scroll of paper and dubbed pencil, Theron starts to sketch away. Roland works his body, practicing slashes and thrusts, interspersed with blasts of eldritch might that he shoots out at targets at a range. He practices flyby attacks and after an hour of working his body, heads to his quarters to meditate on his life. The Keep House Stone bought its way into the nobility centuries ago. Like all others they were only permitted to enter as knights, but within a generation the first High Lord of Iron Fort had been named. The Iron mountains are the seat of House Stone's power. The rich veins of gold, iron, copper, and other minerals found beneath the stone have made House Stone some of the wealthiest individuals in the East. The house has spent centuries levering that wealth into a financial empire. The House has banks all over the city, it even has the responsibility of collecting taxes in Kazakh-Az-Karak. They are still a lesser house, but their clout is significant. Narcissus recalls a message from one of his spies. House Stone and the ORS had recently come to blows again regarding Kazakh-Az-Karak. There are legalities that make merchants and nobles different castes, by law the two cannot occupy the same sphere of control. Despite that technicality the two groups were in open financial warfare within Kazakh-Az-Karak. Both groups considered themselves the ones who had built up the district and therefore the ones deserving to reap the rewards. Local businessmen tend to favor the ORS. The ORS only ask for 49% of your business, House Stone asks for 80% and your sworn fealty. Joining one or the other is not compulsory, but a smithy or armorer who joins either will have access to all manner of rare materials and equipment. An independent has only what equipment he can forge himself. House Stone dominates into another area, however. Everyone uses the Stone Bank. Both sides have substantial external funds they're willing to throw into Kazakh-Az-Karak. They've been deadlocked for decades despite all manner of foul play. Sir Manson waits until Narcissus closes the door before he says another word.' I like the Hall. Dais is a bit much. It's not Shanghai obviously, it's Idagannon. Someone's robbed one of our vaults. All we know from one of the surviving witnesses is he was a tall pale human, a lackey addressed him as Lord so he tore the man's throat out. I can't follow the trail because if I, or any other known Stone agent, step foot in Idagannon the ORS will pitch yet another fit. He only took one item. In one of our Black safe-deposit boxes.' He paused a second before he explained with a heavy frown across his brow'You pay extra for Black boxes. Even we don't know who the rightful owners are. People just get the key and turn up whenever they want the box back. We don't even know what he's got.' His frown deepened'But we want it found and we want our revenge. That's where you come in.' The FesthallThe man stares moodily at his book as he replies'I had someone special.' It seems to take a moment for him to realize what he had said. Bitterness is replaced with self-recrimination on his face'I'm sorry. I shouldn'tt-'He looked up at her and the words died in his mouth. First he looks surprised, then for the very briefest of seconds there's naked lust in his eyes, it is quickly replaced by intrigue. He smiled ruefully at himself'Well, you certainly are someone special. Narcissus' Study Narcissus casts a worried look, but his outward appearance as 'Sir Dominic' shows no such trepidation. Please don't let this be Au's... He smiles. I will look into the matter personally, you have my word. Hopefully, I will turn something up; you understand, of course, that now that I run the Isle, I don't have as much time to pursue my, ah, personal matters. If I can find anything, I will be sure to let you know - how is it best for me to reach you?asks 'Dominic' as he pours himself and his guest each a glass of brandy, subtly setting himself up for potential failure in case the culprit really is Lord Au's. Sabrina glad you think I'm someone special, because you look like your someone special too. So, did your friend leave you here all alone? That wasn't very nice of him. Maybe I can make up for it, keep you company for a while. Narcissus' Study Sir Manson took a long deep inhalation from his glass before sampling the fiery amber contents. He sighed appreciatively'Not bad. Not bad at all DOM. I must confess I thought I'd heard the last of you, yet here we are. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard you'd almost lost everything because of bad weather and a pirate. Furthermore, I don't mind telling you... The House Elders, they felt it was certain you'd make Lord in a few years.' He swirled the brandy around his glass, paying it exaggerated attention'You were just too damn useful to too many damn people. Still are for that matter, just because you're poor now doesn't change the brain inside your head, and it was always your brain the smart nobles valued and feared. 'I'm sure most of the other Houses don't want anything to do with you until you've pulled yourself up by your bootstraps, as I'm sure you will. I've been cleared to tell you, however, House Stone still values its relationship with you. We don't need more rich friends, we need more competent friends.' He downed his brandy in a single swallow (An irritation habit common to most dwarfs) and leaned forward to extend his glass for a refill.' The House Elders aren't expecting miracles DOM, they know just as well as we two that I've given you precious little information to go on. There will be no ill will brought to bear if you fail in this. That said... The gratitude of House Stone is as solid as the Stone Bank.' The FesthallThe slim man blushes bright and the sudden dilation of his eyes speak silent volumes of his arousal, or at least of the peaking of his interest. His voice however remains level, slipping easily into the bantering tones of flirtation'I wouldn't exactly call Moss a 'friend.' He is a business partner of sorts. As glad as I am for your company I'd rather sit here alone then put up with him much longer. He closes the book with a sudden snap and sets it aside'You have truly remarkable eyes. My name is Tens, it is a rare and genuine pleasure to meet you Sebring. Narcissus' Study'Dominic' drinks his own brandy and then fills both of their glasses once more. He holds it up, with a grin. Aye, and I know it. I promise you my best work in this issue. A toast, my friend. To competence!' Dominic' impressively downs his own glass of brandy in the same gulp has his counterpart. IOC:Spoiler Hide Ok, I've got Au's and Narcissus' potlines squared away. Theron and Roland are engaged in their own things. Elf stone is away. So as soon as we finish our seduction I'll skip as forward to the following night. I am liking how the game is progressing so far. I haven't been that hard to juggle several different potlines at once. Hopefully once I get a bit of practice I'll be able to start wrapping up several plot threads at the same time instead of making some of you wait. We'll see. SABRINASabrina puts an arm around his waist (if he lets her) and snuggles as close as he will allow. She gazes into his eyes, making sure she has all of his attention, letting him see her eyes even more. She leans close, and whispers to limits so noisy in here and not at all private. Would you be interested in going somewhere more private, so we can get to know each other better... Pressing close to Tens's flesh she can feel the sudden tension of his body as his shoulders stiffen and his back straightens. Up close, she can see the conflict in his eyes, desperately he wants to believe her, desperately he fears to believe her. Hope and desire war with prudence and cowardice in the battlefields of his mind and heart (And other parts). The battle is prolonged, but ultimately predetermined, men of far greater willpower had succumbed to Sabrina, just as great men throughout the ages had always been brought low by their one mutual weakness, that which lay between their legs. The tension beneath his eyes and across his jaw speaks to Sabrina like a shout, she can almost hear what he is thinking. Rationalizing he convinced himself that he had not yet given himself up totally to her allure, he would just go to a back room with her, he would just speak with her a while longer. He knew he was in danger of losing himself to her charms, knew from experience the danger of beautiful women. Tensko was a rare man. Almost always Sabrina won men over with their lust for instant gratification. Theirneedfor sex. Tens was won over by his need for love, possibly the most absurd notion that had yet entered her Fest hall.' I would be very interested, Sabrina'He said her name as if there were something unbearably sensual in merely rolling the syllables off his tongue. Slipping a hand around her waist he gently guided her to her feet. He ducked to whisper in her ear (And, although she could not be sure, she assumed, to stare deep into her cleavage) as he least across her to retrieve his book'Lead the way.' SABRINASabrina leads the way across the hall, and mounts the stairs to her private room, making sure that Tens gets a good view of her rear as she climbs the steps. Every so often, she glances over her shoulder with a "come hither" smile on her face. When they finally arrive at her room, Sabrina knows she has to take it slow with him, if she wants to have him with the depth that she wants. So instead of proceeding straight to the bed, she lights a few candles to make the room more romantic, and pours a glass of brandy for him. She seats herself just opposite him, and continues to speak softly to him, which serves to focus his attention on her. So Tens, tell me a bit more about yourself. You seem fond of that book, what's it about? He tries to hold himself posed and for the most part succeeds admirably, his efforts are undermined however by his tongue quickly darting out to wet his lips, making him look like a lizard, or a child eager for a treat'The book's nothing special. It's just a ledger of my recent business dealings. I wanted to review it here so later I would have time for my busy schedule of wishing someone like you would fall out of the sky and into my lap. I'm nobody special really, you've probably heard my story a thousand times, moderately successful businessman, married above his station, wife dies in tragic accident, doomed to loneliness forever.' He smiles ruefully'Or so I thought. The details of my life are inconsequential. I'm far more interested in hearing about you.' Spoiler Hide A Lot of brandy flying around so far, maybe I should start thinking about who controls the market... SABRINASabrina shifts herself slightly, causing her robe toaccidentlyslip just a little, almost but not quite exposing herself to him. Don’t sell yourself short, Tensko, anyone who has enough business that he needs to keep a notepad of appointments and dealings is a lot more successful than most. About me, there's nothing much to say, just trying to make a living the best way I know how. And maybe one day find someone to spend a lot longer with. She pats the spot on the couch beside her. But why don’t you come over here, make yourself more comfortable guess a bluff check might be in order here.(1d20+13)[17]EDIT: grrr Spoiler Hide Sucky ass roll, but he still needed an above average roll to beat it. Given that I don't want to cut this scene short, but at the same time to do it justice I'd have to make the others wait more than is reasonable (Especially given my absence) a small change to my posting strategy. Sabrina can play catch up, I'll start tomorrow for everyone else. However, I will require the following: Neck needs to check in (Just to let me know he's still interested, I've already got things planned) and Shadow-Elf has to let me know how's his planning on starting this investigation. If 2MS or Organ want to do anything specific now's the time to let me know. In the meantime, here's MikelaC1's IC post: Once, many years ago, a devil of unknown origin made a theory. It is most commonly attributed to some unknown Erin yes, but some whisper it was Sodium himself who made the prediction. Over an extended period, the theory goes, a mortal race routinely and constantly subjected to supernatural seduction might develop certain traits. Namely, if there was some hereditary quality in the spirit or the body of mortality that either made them susceptible to creatures like Sabrina or rendered them immune to such seduction then, over thousands of years of such seduction and the elimination of those who were seduced there might remain a populous with an immunity to supernatural charms. So far it was only a theory with no evidence to support it. Yet is possible, just possible, that Tens exhibited the seed of such an immunity in the sudden and inexplicable panic that suddenly rang like alarm bells in his mind. He didn't leave, the brandy in his hand and belly and the exposed flesh before his eyes (As well as the concealed possibilities that exposed flesh implied in the soft curve of an outline of a breast or the slight change in color that might indicate a nipple) rendered any such survival instinct mute. A deep and primordial impulse urged him to flee. A deep and primordial impulse urged him to throw her down upon the bed and rip her robe from her. Instead, he hesitated; confused and fearful and aroused. He sits beside Sabrina, but angles his body away from her so he can watch her carefully. He says nothing, his internal turmoil is so deep it robbed him of his speech. SABRINASabrina speaks softly and soothingly to Tens, trying to allay his fears.What's wrong honey? Is something bothering you? What is it, maybe I can help you with it. There's nothing to worry about, we're all alone here. Really, if there's a problem, just talk to me, I'm sure we can work it outs she speaks softly to him, she inches just a bit closer to him, close enough that she can lay a hand lightly on his thigh, which also serves the purpose of turning her body in such a way that he can just barely catch a shadowy glimpse of one of her breasts. 'It's nothing really.' He tries to sound at ease but fails. Even the almost glimpse of her perfect flesh beneath the robe and the hand on his thigh cannot overcome his trepidation, nor can the fake bluster in his voice or the genuine hunger in his eyes disguise his unease'It's just I learned long ago to be suspicious of beautiful women. They can be... tricky, and skilled at finding a man's weaknesses.' He looks down, but not at the flesh so artfully exposed. His eyes are distant, full of remembered hurt'I'm sorry, that was the wrong thing to say. It's just... It's been a long time since my wife died and... Well, it's been a long time since I wanted any woman, and a much, much longer time since I wanted someone as much as I want you. You're...' Tensko looks up into her eyes, his blue orbs transfix hers, glistening with complex emotions, the sentence dies unfinished. The Keep, the following Danone by one the party of the damned retired for the evening, the last was Tenor, who returned only as the sun was finally starting to rise from beneath the horizon. The burning light in the sky was the giver of life to billions, but to the very rare few it represented a terrible and final death. Tenor was in no mood to meet such an end. His search for monsters in the artificial lake was unsuccessful, now he had to retire or taint the pristine waters with ash. Shortly after Narcissus rose at the usual time and broke his fast in the usual way. The serving folk had already become accustom to his routine, he had barely sat down before a pretty serving girl with long dirty blond pigtails knocked and entered with his tray. He knew Lord Austin was a similarly early riser, there was no need to delay aside from the desire to fortify himself with food and gather his thoughts. The dragon was a powerful, but unpredictable, ally. He finished his meal in quiet contemplation and then left his study to speak with Austin. He knocked on the door.... With an absent tone, the Lord calls out to the knocker." Identify yourself." Originally Posted by Ladoga 'It's nothing really.' He tries to sound at ease but fails. Even the almost glimpse of her perfect flesh beneath the robe and the hand on his thigh cannot overcome his trepidation, nor can the fake bluster in his voice or the genuine hunger in his eyes disguise his unease 'It's just I learned long ago to be suspicious of beautiful women. They can be... tricky, and skilled at finding a man's weaknesses.' He looks down, but not at the flesh so artfully exposed. His eyes are distant, full of remembered hurt 'I'm sorry, that was the wrong thing to say. It's just... It's been a long time since my wife died and... Well, it's been a long time since I wanted any woman, and a much, much longer time since I wanted someone as much as I want you. You're...' Tens looks up into her eyes, his blue orbs transfix hers, glistening with complex emotions, the sentence dies unfinished. I understand Tens. You've been cheated before, I should know, I see women like that every day. I work with them. But I'm not like them. Did you see me parading myself around for all to see down there? No, because that's not the way I am. I don't sell myself to the highest bidder or quickest bidder. I choose who I see, and I chose you. And I'm here for you now. I can't replace your wife, no one can. But maybe I can make the hurt go away....just for a little while She edges even closer to him, her thigh now just lightly brushing his, her hand even warmer on his leg, and the rest of her body so temptingly close.(1d20+13)[32]Bluff Au's' Study Its Narcissus. May I come in?he says, provided no one except the most trusted of allies can hear him use his real name. He is in the guise he uses to approach Lord Au's' chambers; disguised as one of Au's' servants. Once inside, he'll assume his true form; he feels that his diatonic lineage gives him a little more clout with the temperamental dragon. "Indeed, yes, enter." As he walks in, Lord Austin raises an eyebrow at the disguise before closing the book he's studying and turning to face the new arrival properly." What do you want?" Narcissus females back into his true, draconian form once he has closed the door behind him. I need to speak with you about a recent robbery. The contents of a black box at a House Stone bank. Tell me please, Au's, was it you that robbed that bank? House Stone wants me to find and deliver the culprit, but if it was you, I'm going to have my hands full covering your tracks and finding a suitable scapegoat, so I need you to be honest. After Narcissus has finished speaking, Lord Austin takes a moment of silence before responding. As he speaks, his voice rises continually in volume and deepness until his final two words are spoken in his natural, diatonic, booming roar." How dare you come into my office and accuse me of such petty thievery? I am no gang boss seeking dirty money, I am Lord Austin and I will BE RESPECTED!" His hand slams down on the desk and his fingernails begin to grow slightly. Oddly, he looks taller than he was a few moments ago, yet he still resembles the old man that Narcissus knows. Spoiler Hide He couldn't beat that roll with a natural 20. SRD says he'll do whatever you want for 1 round. I suspect he'll be quite dedicated to that course of action after 1 round has passed (Although I suppose I may have misread Sabrina's intentions). Just make another post with him doing whatever it is you want him to do SABRINASabrina gives a gentle shake of her shoulders to make her robe slip off. She leans back on the bed, drawing Tens down on top of her, kissing him deeply as she starts.................... At the height of his passion, she whispers to him Give me your love Tens Give me your heart Give me your soul Narcissus' eyes flare with violet energy. I WILL NOT BE TALKED DOWN TO LIKE ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS, AUSSIRMAEKRIX, he shouts back, resisting the urge to draw his knives. It is my responsibility to ensure the Island is safe, without suspicion or reproach, and well-connected. Without the cooperation of the rest of our little band of misfits, however, my job becomes a living hell. So, sit down, shut up and put away your higher-than-thou attitude for a moment while we sort out this mess, alright?he says sternly, calming himself with visible effort. His form shifting with rage, Aussirmaekrix reveals his true diatonic features as he fills the room."AND NOR WILL I!" At such proximity, Narcissus can feel the cold chill of the dragon's breath preparing to blast forth and engulf his study. With the rest of Narcissus' speech, however, Au's seems to calm slightly, his intelligence re-asserting itself over his bestial rage. His demeanor shifts once more and his form begins to change." However, you raise a good point. I will allow this transgression this time, but not again. Are we understood?" Barely keeping a regular tone, it's clear the dragon is begrudging every syllable that escapes his lips. SABRINASabrina, completely disregarding the shouting she must have heard as she approached the room, walks in on the confrontation, also oblivious to the closed door. At her heels trots a small baby red dragon, although small being a relative term when it comes to dragons. She picks out a chair at random and nonchalantly flops herself into it, the dragon rests her head in her lap, and she idly scratches it behind its ears, electing the diatonic equivalent of a purr, whatever that might be. So, anything interesting on deck for today? Contrary to popular belief, Au's, I am not a mind reader. If something I say offends you, you can tell me so gently; I do not wish to anger you, but I refuse to be treated like a servant. Now...as he is about to begin, Sabrina enters with her... pet. Ah. Sabrina, how nice of you to join us. Well, I don't see why you can't be here too. Now, the issue at hand; if you are not responsible for the robbery, Au's, then it is possible that someone is impersonating you. The mastermind behind the robbery was described as a tall, pale-skinned human who was addressed as "Lord" by one of his followers and who proceeded to rip out said follower's throat when a witness heard that address. So, pale-skinned, tall, ruthless, and insists on being addressed as Lord, but not in public. Sounds familiar, right? So, you can understand why I had to ask if it was you. He pauses for a moment. Especially given the nature of your, ah, private investigation. It could be anything that was stored in that black box; House Stone doesn't even know. I naturally assumed it was relevant to your quest, but now I'm thinking that, if someone is trying to frame you, it must be someone who knows a little of the nature of your quest. "Hm, that does sound like me... Suffice to say, you have my full support in this matter, I shall help you however I can. I request only one thing - when we find the insolent cretin that dares to impersonate me... Allow my forces to deal with him?" Narcissus nods. I'm glad for the help, but House Stone has requested that I deliver him to them when I find the culprit. I'll try to find a way to let you exact your revenge as well, Au's. Give me some time to think on it; it won't be much of an issue until we actually find the bastard anyway. Sabrina what's the plan to flush the culprit out? And how can I help with it Sabrina continues to scratch at her dragon's head, knowing exactly where she likes to be worked on. Narcissus strokes his scaly chin. I will have to think about it. I will set The Network to work and see what I can dig up. Furthermore, I'd like your diviners to do the same, Au's, if you can spare one or two for this task. Then Sabrina and I can join the fray in person when we have some direction to act on. Narcissus remarks himself and peeks his head out the door. Hello? I need a message sent to Griswold. Tell him to set the gears in motion on the Shanghai issue. He'll know what I mean. Thanks. He ducks back in and closes the door in his path, disabling his Hat of Disguise once again. Any other suggestions?[At this point, Griswold will contact Narcissus' spy network and set them to work investigating the robbery.] To get to Idagannon from Lessor one must pass through Van. Idagannon district There is one very attractive feature of living in Idagannon, this is counterbalanced by one very unattractive feature. On the plus side residents of Idagannon receive a daily free bread ration from the ORS. Idagannon Rune Rail Station is the first major Rail Hub adjoined to the Rail from the west. A city the size of Northam consumes tremendous amounts of food daily, and it is supplied by the Rune Rail by farms stretching hundreds of miles to east and west. Everything from eggs, meat to wool and flour to yeast and hobs. Huge amounts of goods flow into and from Idagannon daily. There is a huge distribution and storage network in Idagannon, employing literally thousands of people. All of them work for the ORS. As this is the logical place for goods to be unloaded en masse, so this becomes the logical point for the organization to divide their levy from the outgoing materials. To keep their workers happy the ORS also employs hundreds more in great factory like bakers. The tiniest part of their revenue feeds the whole district and buys its total loyalty. Most of the goods they claim are then immediately sold on at a price that is fixed to the standard market, as stipulated by Prince David. Carts bearing the Dwarfed Runes of the ORS travel daily in all directions from Idagannon in vast numbers. Given this stranglehold there are only two noble houses represented in Idagannon. House Stone has a number of Banks in the area including the Founder Stone Bank, a massive complex that covers several acres and climbs 20 stories, it is opposite the Rune Rail Station and guarded by a massive ornamental Iron Golem. The ORS are well aware they could not match House Stone in open combat, so the Banks are quietly protected not only by internal security but also by the ORS itself in order to avoid incident. The other is House Bolton*. It is an open secret among the nobility that the Redford holding is where House Bolton exiles both its incompetent lord lings and also the dangerous competent. With the ORS stranglehold on the area there is almost nothing for the keepers of the Redford to do. It's current Lord Bartangulus Bolton is one of the dangerous competent, as is his brother Sir Gregory*Which is, incidental, the great unattractive aspect to living in Idagannon. The populous don't actually know the vampires that stalk them are House Bolton, but they know the vampires are there. Possibly out of frustration the Bolton's in Idagannon are not as a rule so gentle with their prey, nor as careful covering their tracks.IOC:Spoiler Hide As Narcissus has no spies among House Bolton or Stone, or the ORS there is little his network can tell him. Later that day:Throughout the day Narcissus makes his discreet inquiries and throughout the day he gathers a picture from snippets of information from dozens of sources. What he hears is disheartening. While there is a universal opinion that there is someone 'a bit off' with the Bolton's few of the Noble houses seem aware of their true nature. It is possible of course that they are aware and keeping that information from their underlings, it is impossible to be sure. Certainly he was surprised to hear his highly placed spy in House Umber made no mention of vampires, especially given Umber's land in the North are very close to the Bolton's, only a few hundred miles separate them. Regardless of the truth the Bolton's are still dealt with only reluctantly. For that reason Narcissus looks on with gloom as report after report bring the same answers, half-answers and more questions and no decent avenue into their activities. The Bolton's run a tight ship and by evening he is starting to despair. At roughly the same time Brown knocks on Lord Austin's door he gets a message from his mole in the Air Nor.' Information lacking, no way to further verify. Report from three days ago. Consignment belonging to party-in-question stolen. Vampires reported among the thieves. Consignment has C1 taxation rate, magical items or components. One crate 6x4x4, reportedly very heavy. Shipped from Caught Bannon* to Red Fort. Stolen in Idagannon.'*Caught Bannon is the only mountain range where the mysterious Warp Stone can be mined. It is a common spell component in all manner of unsavory magic. It is almost certainly what was being shipped Lord Austin's quartersBronn knocked on the door, somehow knowing this time it would be wiser to await his Lord's permission. The elderly gnome's bone crack as he bows to his lord'Milord, I bring good news. The only downside is the scholar actually proved useful, believe it or not. Augury earlier in the day indicated well for my plan, so I put it in motion. When riding the Rune Rail Christian picked something up. The scholar knew the area, says he grew up near there. It's in north-east Van, near Idagannon. Which means tomorrow Christian will be able to pinpoint the individual house for you, providing they don't move the book overnight.' Vaan districtVaan is roughly four times the size of Lessor, its population exceeds Lessor's by a factor of eight. For this reason Van is almost universally built in long rows of three-story buildings that loom over the streets, suffocating any glimpse of the world beyond the eye-line. Most of the architecture of similarly uniform. Unlike other districts Van was designed almost exclusively by one Architect, Joseph Amber. Amber was a great exponent of such uniformity, he wrote 13 books bemoaning various buildings and their designers regarding their locations. One line used frequently goes 'Thus two beautifully designed and constructed buildings are ruined because the architect never took the time to look around the site before he started his blueprints.' Vaan is gray, with simple touches of gothic architecture on every windowsill, every rooftop, every street corner. Its population is largely human, with minor gnome and elf enclaves. Housing is expensive in Van, so the population tend to be older and conservative, leading to the common joke that they are so stiff-necked because they never look up. Despite this however there is an open war on the streets. In his design Amber wisely understood the purpose of thick iron reinforced oak doors, Simply by locking their doors the populous make themselves safe, but still... They hear such things at night. Every night the Black Brotherhood and the Silent Sisters clash, staining the streets in blood. Both gangs are unisex, the names being simply a matter of tradition. Both are rumored to have vampire support. The Watch too is fully engaged in this war, it is not uncommon for them to lose men. A final faction is engaged in this conflict. Taskforce Celeb Drug. Taskforce Celeb Drug hare a collection of human and elf mercenaries paid collectively by the Tom berry group, House McAllister and regular donations from the citizens themselves. Working independently of the Watch (And with far less legal restrictions) the recently-formed Taskforce has engaged both gangs in their flanks. It is rumored that if the conflict is not resolved soon the Prince himself will enforce his will, meanwhile the streets continue to run with blood. The most important place in Van is Water Street Station, the nearest Rune Rail Station for half a dozen districts. It is surrounded by a massive complex of warehouses owned by dozens of noble houses, temples and churches, as well as the Air Nor, the Tom berry group and the ORS. Taskforce Celeb Drug's first major success was forcing the gangs out of this region. House MallisterAmong the lesser houses there are two types. All lesser houses are the sworn banner men of one of the Great Houses. Even the mighty House Stone must bend the knee to House Storm, as do Bolton and Umber to Stark. There are two types of banner men, inactive and active. Active banner men are geographical capable of mustering troops to support a call to banners. Inactive banner men still owe allegiance but geographical impracticality renders them unable to join their Lord's main strength. There is great diversity among the Houses. Stark's banner men include vampires, half giants and centaurs. House Storm is human but their three most power lesser Houses are dwarfed. As the Kingdom expanded it assimilated rather than replaced or destroyed, all manner of monstrous humanoids and other esoteric creatures have legal protections under Kingdom law. While there are still sadly racists and xenophobes in the world almost the entirety of the Kingdom is very multicultural in attitude. The exception to this rule is the Great House Martel, who have the sworn oath of all the lesser Even Houses. While not openly racist the Even Houses are certainly an old boy's club in a very real sense, most of Lord Morin Martel's vassal lords have known him personally for hundreds of years. The Even Houses are as a result incredibly insular, except House McAllister. House McAllister was once a collection of embassies and city trade interests. Over hundreds of years the city elves came to look at the other Houses as profoundly backward, especially after the Rune Rail came into operation. A decision was reached hundreds of years ago. As one the city elves declared their independence and the formation of House McAllister. The lesser Houses they forswore had a legal right to answer this with warfare, but lacked the right to exercise that power within the walls of Northam, where House McAllister exclusively lived. House McAllister were given technical legal status as an inactive lesser House sworn to the Martel, in reality they became a separate entity which has fiercely resisted any pressure from the rural Elf Houses for hundreds of years Narcissus He didn't want to play such a key card so early in his game, but he was running out of options; he needed an in with House Bolton so he could gather the evidence necessary for his friends in House Stone to prosecute them. As the evening drew on, Narcissus left Griswold's company and went to Sabrina's fest hall, to have a chat with the owner. Disguised as Mina the Claw for now, since Dominic couldn't be seen frequenting the fest hall too often, Narcissus entered the hall and scanned the room for his ally. He smiled to himself as he went over what he was going to say in his head. Sabrina! You said you wanted to help with the House Stone job? How willing are you to seduce a vampire?he mentally repeated, approaching the princes' usual hangout. SABRINASabrina is at her usual place at the bar, keeping an eye on her girls, making sure no patrons were taking unwanted liberties, and seeing if she sees either one of her regulars or a good candidate to join that roster. She acknowledges the approach of Mina, but lets her approach her. Narcissus'Mina' sits down next to Sabrina, and smiles. Hello, Sabrina. You were wondering if there was anyway you could help with the House Stone job? Well, what are your thoughts on seducing a vampire? I need to get into House Bolton, and I don't think I have any agents who can manage the infiltration. But I bet you can, explains 'Mina' in hushed tones, making sure no one around them can hear 'her'. SABRINASeduce a vampire eh? Not the easiest thing in the world, you have to be careful that they don't seduce you instead. I've never worked with one of the undead, they don't always respond to the same tricks. But sometimes, especially if you flatter them enough. Do you have a suitable target picked out? Standing up to face the new arrival, Lord Au's' face shows a rare view - a smile. Seemingly he's happier than Brown has ever seen him and for no apparent reason." Excellent! Excellent! Come and tell me when you've located the place, I'll retrieve the item myself!" Narcissus Not yet, but I will set to that task immediately. Just wanted to make sure you were willing to give it a shot; the target is House Bolton, by the way. SABRINASabrina makes an almost imperceptible motion with her hand, and one of her girls quickly moves to a heretofore unaccompanied nobleman. I do hope this is going to be a profitable mission, seducing a vampire is one of the trickiest things I've ever performed Originally Posted by MikelaC1 SABRINA makes an almost imperceptible motion with her hand, and one of her girls quickly moves to a heretofore unaccompanied nobleman. I do hope this is going to be a profitable mission, seducing a vampire is one of the trickiest things I've ever performed Don't worry about that; having House Stone firmly solidified as our ally will be a boon of immeasurable value in the future. Plus, they pay quite well for contract undercover work like what we're doing now. Griswold's already stooped back was bent low over his desk. He had been in that position for most of the day, having his meals brought to him, getting up only to answer the call of nature. Remaining in one spot was becoming painful, as the day worn on his already stiff bones seemed to crack every time he moved his neck or shifted in his seat Still he remained, he was resolved. Although 'Sir Dominic' had set up most of his own agents the actual day-to-day operations had been left to the old man. He was immensely proud of the massive and yet elegant systems of information drops, couriers and safe houses he had set up. He considered the spy network as much his own creation as Narcissus, he took its failure personally. Griswold was unaccustomed to failure, unaccustomed to the bitter taste that lingered in his mouth. He was resolved to be free of that taste before the day was out. As night started to approach he had candles brought in for his eyes were not what they once were. The milky orbs may have glinted in the candlelight hazily but the mind behind them was still as sharp and precise as ever it was. A sheet of paper was handed to him, he read it in seconds and did the mathematics in even less time. The data was incomplete of course, and so it would remain until the dawn when his watchers would report again. Finally, he had something worthwhile to bring to Narcissus. He took up a quill and confirmed his mathematics, his scratchy handwriting jumped across the page with each hacking cough. It was only an estimation of course, but it was still founded on solid mathematical principle and precedents set by common sense. He pushed himself to his feet, repressing a groan as his back and knees clicked and popped and generally protested. His staff echoed down the halls as he made his way to Narcissus' study, it's steady staccato beat marked his progress He knocked and then entered. Narcissus was in the middle of making some point to Roland so Griswold stood in respectful silence as he waited for his master to finish. He took the opportunity to study those around him. Lord Austin was sitting slightly aside from the rest of the group with the indolent and self-satisfied look of a house cat with a bird pinned beneath its paws. He had seen the same look on Brown's face as they passed in the hallway. Griswold assumed Austin's investigations were going better than his own. He regarded Roland as he would regard a dangerous specimen; interested and distant. Before he'd left Roland was a biological curiosity, no more. Since his return he had piqued Griswold's scientific curiosity. He had not indulged that curiosity. The former Gladiator chilled him to his old bones now, he kept his distance. Theron was leaning in to whisper in Sabrina's ear as she in turn scratched her dragon beneath the nape of its neck. Griswold didn't trust any of them, and considered it telling that the dragon was probably the one who posed theleastthreat to his master. They were all discussing the Bolton situation of course. Hypothetical scenarios and various potential avenues of investigation. It didn't sound promising, he hoped he could help. Narcissus finished illustrating his point and nodded slightly to his subordinate. Griswold bowed slightly as he cleared his throat'I have been making other inquiries Sir Dominic. I apologize it has taken so long. All requests to view the Roll of Honors is recorded and forwarded to the relevant Households, obviously I did not wish the Bolton's to know we had been looking into them. It took surprisingly long to acquire false papers good enough to fool the Prince's staff, hence the delay. 'Aside from Lord Bartangulus and Sir Gregory there are six other male Bolton's listed as resident at the Redford. I am relativity sure at least two of them are mortal, unless they have been turned recently or the Bolton's have some way to avoid the rays of the sun. Virgil Bolton may or may not be a vampire. The other three, Sir Homer and the brothers Horns and Steven are probably vampires. There are three female Bolton's listed. One is certainly mortal, she was seen in sunlight not two weeks ago. The remaining two, Louise and Panacea Bolton... Of them I could not say. 'There is also no way to tell how much spawn they have under their control, although I have men watching the Redford, they will continue to do so during the night, maybe that will turn something up. 'Also I have a rough estimation of the number of guards at the Redford, based on the number of men on the walls, the size and regularity of their patrols, as well as the size of the Redford itself. Somewhere between fifty and seventy, divided into three shifts during the day. A number of the guards left the Redford once their shift had ended, but a number do not.' Narcissus Sitting in his true form, here among his most trusted allies, Narcissus grins at Rivals entrance, but does not pause in his explanations until he is done. Once Griswold has finished his report, the violet-eyed dragon blood smiles. Wonderful work as always, old friend. You need some rest; retreat to your quarters and get some sleep, Griswold. We shall take it from here. The aged butler nods and smiles. As you wish, Narcissus. With a quick glance to those gathered around accompanied by slight and polite inclinations of his head, Griswold retreats from the study to get some well-deserved rest. Alright then, looks like we're back on track for this job. My network always comes through in the end; Griswold runs a tight ship. Now, I have some ideas of my own on what to do next, but I'd like some other input before I share; anyone have any plans for our next move? SABRINAWhile I have no qualms about trying to seduce a vampire, as long as we have access to a few restoration spells, I don't see why I don't just start with one of the mortals. Apart from the problems that being successful in seducing a vampire might cause, a mortal is far more subject to the desires of flesh than a vampire is. Originally Posted by MikelaC1 SABRINA While I have no qualms about trying to seduce a vampire, as long as we have access to a few restoration spells, I don't see why I don't just start with one of the mortals. Apart from the problems that being successful in seducing a vampire might cause, a mortal is far more subject to the desires of flesh than a vampire is. Narcissus nods. Until now, I didn't know if there were any non-vampires in the Redford. Of course, it would be easier to gain access via one of the mortal members of the House. We can both try to work our ways into the House separately; as Griswold said, there is at least one mortal man and one mortal woman in the House. Chiming in with a booming voice, Lord Au's absent-mindedly comments on his position." I have little to add, the realm of seduction and subterfuge is far from my forte." The Redford is watched over the night. When dawn comes Christian rises and crosses the bridge, yawning repeatedly on his way to Van. Watchers are replaced at secret posts around the Redford, the others gather to confer. A letter is constructed and bore with all due haste and secrecy to the Island.Meanwhile, Christian goes quietly about his business and then returns. While he is returning a freshly rested Griswold studies the information within at length before reaching his conclusions. He goes to Narcissus as Christian goes to Brown. He relays his findings as Brown goes to Lord Austin. There is one suitable candidate for Sabrina, he thinks it likely he knows how to engineer a meeting. Brown tells Austin'143 Greenwood street. Christian said the second or third floor, I've narrowed that down. Second floor.' Narcissus' Studying contrast to the meeting in this room the previous night, the room is now only populated by Narcissus and Griswold. Good morning, Griswold. I hope you are well-rested. The old man smiles and nods, leaning on his staff as always. Indeed, Master. We have news on a potential target for Sabrina's... unique talents. We still only have the one confirmed mortal woman; we have not received confirmation yet on Louise and Panacea. Forward the details on her target to Sabrina; and please, get me what you've got on this third Bolton woman. I'll take Navarre and Aimee and go on a stroll in the District, maybe accidentally walk by the crime scene and see what I can see. I'm tired of sitting still in the Keep; I trust you and the staff can handle the day's humanities in my absence? Of course, Narcissus. It shall be done. Grisvald inclines his head respectfully, then exits. He hands the missive to a runner, who carries it off to the Fest hall, and then he sends for the twins. A few minutes later, the siblings Aimee, Navarre and Promo Alan exit the Island en route to the city. Aimee turns to Promo as they enter the bridge. Sir Gerard; where are we headed? Urdomo grins. We're off to look at a House Stone Bank. And please, while we're out, I'm just your older brother, Promo; leave the 'sir' and 'Gerard' stuff here on the Island. The twins nod. The trio then sets out to look into the bank robbery. Spoiler Hide Aimee is a Level 2 Ranger, full Urban variants, two-weapon-fighting style. Navarre is a Level 2 Fighter, specializing in combat with crossbows. Sabrina target is Henry Bolton, and the best place to find him, according to our intel is at the Seven Sisters Inn in Van, at around noon. I will go there today and see if I can catch his eye. Does anyone want to come to back me up? She turns to her dragon know you would be willing to back me up, but I think the appearance of a dragon would kind of draw all attention away from me. You hang back here, and someone will bring you if you are needed. After waiting to see who, if any, will accompany her, Sabrina heads back to her room and prepares herself. She takes a long bath and washes her hair as well, and then puts on her makeup perfectly. An appropriate dress, showing enough flesh to catch a man's interest, but covering enough to make him want to see what else might be there (and to make sure she doesn't get arrested even before getting started), a light scent of perfume, and she is ready to go.

Ladorak's Evil Empire IC|rating:3.0

UnderCover (closed for MzSeductress)

"Agent T. welcome" I enter my bosses' office at the UCA headquarters with a certain trepidation. No-one ever gets summoned to his office for an assignment, unless it is for a deep-cover op, one that involves as few people as possible, handled by the boss himself. "Look at these, know him?" My boss was never one for small talk... He hands me a set of pictures showing a slightly balding man, my heart sinks... "Marconi""He owns half the city T. And we can't get to him, as he also owns half the police force, it has to end." I sigh..." last three Under-Covers you sent got fished out of the river."" They were better agents than me""They were also better known agents than you, which got them betrayed, I am sending you in alone, no-one is brought in, you report to me alone."" And what is my angle going to be? He must be extra careful now"He shows me another picture. "She is your angle, (I'll let you enter your chosen name), his daughter and darling, she runs half the business, if reports are to be believed. I found reasons to arrest three men of her personal retinue, so a few spots have opened up. You know her reputation... she will be on the marked for new meat." And so I find myself posing as a waiter in the city's most expensive club. "Dress as fitted as you can" the chief had said," she likes muscle and a well-dressed man." It is the first time I am starting an assignment actually looking like fucking James Bond... My boss has pulled some strings to have me assigned to her lounge booth... and as the Daughter of Marconi, his princess, is a very influential person, it is the on booth I am waiting on. I wait for the party to get settled and make my way over, a very handsome but grim looking man is standing guard. He gives me a long look but lets me pass. I make a small bow, stretching the well-fitted cotton of my Italian shirt over my muscular frame. "Good evening ladies, My name is Them, I will be your waiter for tonight, if there is anything you need, I am at your service, can I start you on some drinks?" Camilla "Millie" Faconiwasnt in the best mood this week after finding out three of her Fathers men were feds, she couldn't know who to trust. She loaded her customized diamondgunand climbed out of bed naked and stood near the balcony door thoughts running through her head about getting a new security team. Her father made her change them frequently, but he liked her two she had plus they were amazing in bed she had her fun with them last night as they were still inner king-sized bed. She walked over to one straddling him and mimicked putting a gun to his head and firing a shot" If I were to get to you this easy, who's to say hitmen couldn't?" She teased and leaned down kissing him and gasped feeling his pardon beneath her causing a soft moan to spill from her lips. " No Marco I was only doing this to wake you" she said ton the muscular guard and shook the other" Franco get up, We need to prepare for the lounge today, my father has a set of new staff coming in, and he doesn't want any more rats understand? You even get a whiff of one, and you let me know before handling it ""Yes Miss Marconi" her two guards said loyally"Ok you are dismissed to your own rooms I must get dressed"-She said seriously Millie showered then slid into a Red Dior dress minus underwear and a lace bra beneath paired with a pair of classic Louis Vuitton heels and her red lipstick she grabbed her small handbag with her cards and loaded pistol and was on her way and nodded seeing her security had been prompt and outside of her door waiting. She got to the lounge quickly and was seated right away and was seated in her reserved booth. She had settled in with a few friends she met there and security and a new waiter was sent to her booth. The man had obviously been ex military she could tell by the walk and his physique, he was also handsome as well, it was the first thing she noticed, and her security scanned him before entering." Vanilla Bourbon on the rocks with an orange slice and bitters, very little ice" she said, and the rest agreed" Please don't keep my guests or me waiting too long Them"she said and smirked wanting to intimidate the new guy a little she was sure he knew already who he was working for. "Right away Madam" Them replied and hurried of to get the drinks. Before the night had started he had contemplated what demeanor he should show this woman. Of course, to get picked for her detail, he should not seem meek, but even the most tested men would think twice to insult Camilla Marconi in her own city, or fail her. So he had decided to show her his worth by being, quick and precise, and hope the opportunity would soon present itself to show his physical capabilities. Thom returned with the correct drinks promptly moving through the crowd gathering on the dance floor with determination and grace. When he returned to the table a lively conversation was going on. The Camilla's guests seemed to be amusing themselves with flirting with one of her men, the poor guy pretended not to notice and keep doing his job, which only made them enjoying it more of course."here are your drinks ladies, Madam, if you require me to make some room for you and your party on the dance for, just let me know." He pointed at a bar stool set up just out of earshot of the table: "Or if there is anything ELS you require from me, I will be over there" Camilla chuckled and was impressed by Thomas prompt timing and accurate mixing of the drinks. She smirked at her friends flirting with poor Marco who knew better than to respond he was her toy to use when she wanted he knew that and all her security knew that if she was in need then they had to be willing to please her, no strings attached. She stood up and watched him as she took a sip of her drink and was impressed at how good it was it had been the best anyone had mixed it. Furthermore, she knew them might be a little nervous so she gave her guards a signal she'd be taking him to a private room. She grabbed his hand and smirked" Actually Them... I like to get to know my staff better ... follow me I'd like to speak privately... I want to know about you" she said pulled him behind her through the crowd to the other side where two more security were outside her private room which she used a handprint to get in. Inside theofficewas large and decorated with a small couch, a bathroom with shower, another door for the small bedroom she had inside and a small kitchen. She smirked seeing them was most likely surprised it was behind that hidden wall, and she motioned him to have a seat." So. Thom. What made you want to do this job?.. At this club... at my table.hmm?" She said questioningly" Who hired you?" His first thought as she told him to follow her was: "oh god, she is on to me, I am dead..." But as she did not tell her security guys to follow, he kept his cool and just followed her through the crowd. He did not have to feign surprise at the "office" she took him to... it looked like you could sit UT a nuclear war in there and be comfortable doing it... He was very glad he went over his implanted backstory several times today... I was in the navy, Miss, but my captain and I had a... falling out... So I was discharged"Them shrugged his shoulders, stretching the fitted fabric of his shirt..."it is not a secret who to go to in this town if you are in need for a job and know your way around a little violence... the police or this club... and as my record is not exactly clean... here I am..." Millie chuckled and sat on the desk in front of him. She knew she wasn't wearing underwear, and she knew exactly what he'd get a view of if he wanted to, she just wanted ton see if this man could stay focused and make sure this wasn't a made up story. She picked up the laptop and typed in a few things to do her own background search and things turned out to be true. Furthermore, she placed the laptop down and smirked" I appreciate the honesty Them... Three rouge kills.going rouge on your mission. Betraying your team... What made you donut tom? Go rouge? What made you kill those men And risk your life going in alone? She said and raised her eyebrow She knew the men he killed had been terrorists, she hated those bastards herself, she needed to know if he was a lone wolf or her flew off the handle when he thought he was right. She was showing him her pussy and she knew it... He did not let it distract him from her words... men who did that did not live long in this job. She wanted him to look, so he did, even going so far as noting to himself what a nicely trimmed view she was giving him, but he kept his wits about him as he answered." I betrayed no-one, the team was dirty, at least two of them in league with this terrorist bastards... would have murdered every man in that village had I not intervened... And I could not stand for that, as a reward, I got canned without pay, without pension, without a future..." He allowed himself another look, a man must admire a view when he can... guys in his job lived short lives anyway... Millie smirked knowing he took a look and chuckled" How unfortunate Them, One thing I pride myself on having in my team is loyalty, honesty and willing to keep a secret. Willing to do anything for me. Is that something you'd be interested in Them? She said looked dead at him"Before you answer. I want to hear what you think working for me personally consists of Them?" She said observing his body language, she didn't hold anything back and she wasn't afraid of her men either. She wanted to know if they had balls enough to protect and please her and Them looked like he'd be the perfect candidate. He grinned a knowing grin. "Working for you means that I take a bullet for you. It means that if someone looks at you the wrong way, and you want him gone he is gone. And if you tell me to let it go I let it go. I see everything and talk about nothing. " He added in a lower voice: "And if your reputation is to be believed... it means that if you tell me to fuck you I fuck you... immediately..." Millie couldn’t stop the grin as it spread on her face, her intimidation hadn’t worked on him, and she liked that, usually men were quivering because they knew she was just as capable of torture as her father was. She hopped off the desk and walked up to the taller man and gripped his shirt then pulled him down kissing him deeply, fuck he was hot. He was certainly the type she usually went for, tall dark and handsome“ You definitely are fuckable Them” she said sexily and ran her hands down to the front of his pants and smirked“ Your right about one thing . You give me your dick whenever I want....however I want it... and you do whatever I say., if you agree to that. Then this waiter job is shit compared to what my father would pay you to protect me and please me” she said running her hand along his cock“ There’s a just few things we need to do to prove your loyalty, but first... I want you to have a taste of me “she said and sat back in the desk and spread her legs sexily waiting for him, she wanted to see just how far he was willing to go for her. Them grinned to himself as he started to move forward, it couldn't really né this easy, could it? He knew he needed to be careful, but he could already feel his cock stir for this lady that just ordered him to eat her out... well, if this job was going to get him killed, he'd enjoy it first. He went to his knees before her, looked up at her with a cheeky grin and ran his hands up her upper legs. Moving closer he was greeted by the smell of sex. Without hesitation, he sank his tongue between her folds and slow licked her... taking care to quickly locate her clit... touching it with his tongue... he looked up and sucked it between his lips... Millie bit her lip watching him and smirked as he unready to enjoy his first test. To do exactly as she said. She sighed as she felt him slowly licking her and her moans GRE louder, heavier as his tongue explore for that soft little button, and she groaned feeling his tongue slip inside of her. She panted and gripped his arms as he kept eating her . Pushing her toward orgasm with his talent lips. " God..." she moaned squirming in his arms, she has had the done before but never like this. Her urgent moans urged him on, he could feel his cock straining the fabric of his pants. He slid his hands under her butt, running his nails over her cheeks and teasing her ass by running a finger over it. He softly bit the skin of her upper thigh and returned his attention to her clit, alternating between licking and sucking. Damn she was gorgeous... he felt intoxicated by her smell... his mind tried to stay focused, but his cock wanted only one thing right now... fuck this gorgeous, dangerous lady... Millie squealed and moaned louder as his doubled his efforts, and she leaned up and pulled him to her, her eyes full of fire, it was clear what she wanted. What they both wanted, and she gasped as Them returned her kiss just as hungrily." Fuck me" she said breathlessly and sighed as the two made out like horny teens kissing and undressing each other quickly. She hadn't behaved like therewith her previous men, something about them made her need him, made her want to let him ravish her. She gasped as her pulled her bra off quickly. And lifted her up min his arms and latched his lips on her breasts drawing a moan from her. He saw his own lust mirrored in her eyes as she pulled him up to her face and kissed him... Fuck me.... The way she ordered it, both wit authority and need struck a nerve with him. Drunk on lust he got rid of her bra, lifted her up so she rested with her crotch against his and berries his face in her tits... kiss g them and sucking on her nipples as he let her feel his bulge press against her pussy. Not wanting to be slow in follows g orders, he STE her back on her desk and undid his pants. He took care to slowly pull down his boxers, so his cock jumped into view with a bounce. Presenting himself to her for inspection... Millie groaned seeing his impressive cock hard and ready to take her tight pussy that was dripping with need the to of them seemed to be starving for each other. She gasped feeling his cock brush her entrance as it sprung outdo his boxers, and she reached forward stroking him and rubbing it against her tight wet slit eyeing him. She leaned up kissing him hungrily again and grinned as he groaned and leaned her back taking control which she wasn't used to from her sex partners. Furthermore, she panted and leaned backlash he spread her legs wider and slowly began to enter her drawing a loud moan from both." Fuck your so big" she panted gripping the wrists at her waist as he slowly sank into her. He loved it when a woman stroked him before fucking and a low rumble escaped his throat. She kissed him again, and he could feel her need which embolden him to take charge... for now... he grabbed her hips and placed his cock at her entrance. She was tight around his tip but wet enough to slowly slip in, stretching her. Furthermore, she felt amazing. The way she may ready to receive him wit her beautiful tits out only further fueled his lust and with on deep stroke he entered her and started to fuck her with a passion "HHH Fuck!" Millie cried out her head thrown back in passion and her body arched upward as she feet him sink deep inside of her fucking her with lust and passion. She groaned and looked up at the hot guys fucking her deep, deeper than she had been fucked in a very long time." Uhhh fuck it's so deep!" Millie nearly screamed as he brushed her spot with his cock, and she bit her lower lip panting as he continued fucking the hot mob princess on top of the desk. She moved her body back against his panting a fucking him right back she couldn't let a cock this amazing do all the work. She was doing things with her hips that drove him absolutely mad. The voice of reason in the back of his head that cautioned him this woman was dangerous was silenced to an inaudible whisper. Overtaken by a bestial lust he bit her shoulder as he fucked her drawing another moan from her lips. Subsequently, he gave himself a better angle by lighting her legs on his shoulders and placing his knee on the desk. Slowly but surely building himself to orgasm... Millie squealed with delight trembling beneath him as he positioned her in a way that sent his cock balls deep inside her and straight to a powerful orgasm leaving her chest heaving and her body quivering beneath him. She threw her head back rolling her hips on his cock feeling her walls milking his amazing member and gripping for air as he filled her deep." Ahhh HHH!!! Fucked!" Millie cried out as he gave her the good hard fuck she was looking for, and she felt the familiar swell of a cock about to explode inside of her. Them groaned deeply as she started rolling her hips and her vagina walls started squeezing his cock as she came... it was all he could take... "Fuck..." he exclaimed, "you are one hot fucking employer" with a groan he exploded inside her filling her with his seed.Afterward he caught his breath, pulled her close and whispered in her ear... "does this mean I succeeded my first assignment, Miss?" Millie panted as they both came down from their hot orgasms and caught their breath, and she groaned feeling his cock still buried deep inside of her. She gasped when he pulled her up and whispered in her ear asking if he passed his first assignment and caused her to laugh for the first time in a long time. She smirked and said" Mmm I'd say you passed with flying colors Them" she chuckled. Furthermore, she heard her phone ringing and gave him a look before gently nudging him and going for her purse. Furthermore, she smirked and saw her guard had set up the next test of hers that she texted him to, a pig, in a dark open field near a field. They used this place just for this experiment never for actual crimes, plunge pigs were given to their restaurants after. She chuckled and looked over at him then walked over kissing him one more time and admiring his amazing dick, she was tempted to have a go at him again, but they needed to be on Tim" Let's get cleaned up and dressed, it's time for your next test them". As he slowly came down from his orgasm, the feeling of apprehension slowly returned... she was hot... the way she teased him. And the way he saw the lust in her eyes as she looked at him set his blood on fire, but he had to keep reminding himself she was dangerous. Yet, he had to make sure she accepted him, so he followed her instructions quickly. At her direction, he showered in the small bathroom. She directed him to leave the door open, and he was very much aware of her eyes on him as he showered. He dressed in his well-fitted clothes and presented himself to her quickly afterwards. "Ready for whatever you have to throw at me, Miss." Millie got dressed fixing her appearance and cleaning up after being fucked so thoroughly by Them on the desk. Though the sex was mind-blowing, and she did some research, she had to be sure she could trust him, better yet her father could TrustedID, that he would truly be willing to do anything for them. She had to remember that anyone could be a rat, betrayer and the family, no matter how hot they were, she had to stay focused. She smirked seeing he was getting dressed in her lingerie and clean cheetah print dress and slipped back on her heels as she let him watch her after he let her know he was ready. Furthermore, she walked out of the bedroom and grabbed her purse and Rhine from the desk chair" Let's go Them". Furthermore, she said She knew the next step, when she opened the door for them to exit her two guards grabbed him, chloroformed him to knock him out, and the two of them loaded him into the trunk of the large escalade with lots of space, and they were all off to a private filed. When he came to, he would be alone with a tied up pig, while they watched in a distance, with simple instruction Anna white card and a gun and knife." Kill the pig, get rid of the body" is all it said. Them enjoyed watching his mark getting dressed. But could STI not suppress the apprehension. He kept his guard up as she opened the door for him. But guard up or no, there was no defending against the two big guys that fell on him as soon as he stepped out the door. He managed to land a good elbow in one of the guys pretty face before they subdued him... he will still be feeling that next week, Them thought with a grim satisfaction as he lost consciousness. He woke groggy and disoriented. "Damn" he thought," went to sleep in the company of a hot woman, woke up next to a pig... I didn't even drink..." He studied the card, looking for a hidden meaning, but couldn't the k of one. He considered both the gun and the knife. Furthermore, he decided against using the noisy gun and slipped it under his belt. Furthermore, he took a good grip on the knife. "Sorry bacon" he muttered and with a single motion slit the animals' throat. Managing to keep most of the blood of him. He looked crew d the field, without transportation he was not going to get far dragging the animal. He considered carving it up and spreading the different limbs and parts of the body over the field but judged against it. The more he would spread it out the greater the chance someone would stumble on one body part and start a search. In the end he washed the body down with heavy rocks and tossed it in the deep part of the stream running long the field, taking care it was weighed well enough that decomposition wouldn't make it float up. After he was done, he sat down and waited Camilla watched as he slaughtered the pig from afar and was impressed that he knew not to use the gun without a silencer on it, it made too much noise, he chose the knife, slit the throat with a swiftness and weighed his options when getting rid of the body. He got blood on himself sure but he wasn't experienced enough to know to get rid of evidence by getting naked and bleaching and burning clothes, he would learn soon enough. She had to take Marco out for the night Them nearly gave the poor guy a concussion which both amused and impressed her. She motioned Leo to go drive the car to get him and get him changed and brought back to her loft to meet with her father the last test. Them only had to wait for a few moments before one of Camilla's guards came to pick him up. The fellow looked at him with a grim face but at least invited him to sit in the passenger seat instead of the trunk. The whole drive he did not speak, but just drove back to the club. When they got there all he said was: "get cleaned up"So for the second time that day Them got a shower and a fresh shirt. As the car pulled up in front of the most luxurious skyscraper in the city his apprehension returned. As he was lead into the loft and saw Camilla sit in a big leather chair dressed in a black dress he felt his cock stir. Then he looked at the man sitting next to her and felt his blood chill. He was staring at Marconi himself. Camilla bit the corner of her lip seeing Them enter the loft and remembered the fucking he had given her earlier her core stirred seeing him and wanting him to do it all over again, but she cleared her throat and kept neutral especially around her father, she knew how dangerous and unpredictable he was, she still hadn't been over her first heartbreaks when he found out her ex-boyfriend cheated on her, literally busted the guy's balls with a mallet, the image had been i her brain forever which made her terrified ti date, get close to a man, why she only wanted no strings attached sex., it was sad but necessary. She gripped her hand together nervously as he approached." State your name, any lies I get today, and you know how we deal with it Cache?"he said gruffly Marconi said sternly Them shivered, as the cities most dangerous mob boss addressed him so directly. He shot a quiet prayer that all the made up background of his character had been implemented correctly. He straightened his shoulders, shot a quick look at Camilla and answered the question." My name is Them Glee man, and I have come to offer my services to your daughter" Millie sighed at her fathers' sternness, he was very careful who he allowed near the family now after that little cop fiasco, he wasn't trying to get anyone new to join them, new mean tun trustworthy in his eyes." And what kind of services exactly would you be offering? Camilla has a driver, an assistant, club guards and three -well two-bodyguards" recalling he killed the last one and left him in the river for the cops to find, he was undercover, a rat, and Marconi hated two things, liars, and rats"Father. He's ex military and he-" Camilla started, and her father shot her a look that could kill, shunned what that meant, shut up and let him handle things. She quieted and balled her fist slightly in annoyance as her father continued his interrogation of Them. Them squared his shoulders. The old man was obviously not easily convinced. "I know my way around a gun, sir. And I know how to take out a man without a gun. I can make him go down to make a point... go down so he stays down and listens... or go down for good... Two bodyguards is great... but when the situation gets hot," he shot Camilla a look," you need two men to protect her and a third to clear the way.... I know my place sir, should you allow me... it is between your daughter and a bullet... or wherever she orders me to be..." He fared to look her in the as he added that last comment. He needed her to let him be close to her... how else was he going to ferret out their secrets? At least that is was he told himself... ignoring the small ball of lust that was forming in his stomach again. Camilla held back a smirk as she had heard her fathers grunt of approval hearing Them's answer and relaxed slightly somewhat. Sure she had just met the man, but she did want more fun with command he seemed genuine, she didn't want to see him killed IR tortured in front of her. She was nervous as her father stood and walked toward him and then went to shake his hand but shook firmly, squeezing it," House may have been tested by my daughter, but that was nothing compared to my test, Tonight, pier 6, at midnight., be there or be done, don't return to the club or to Camilla" her father said sternly and knowingly probably knowing the man had touched her inn some way from the glance he'd given her. Shaking the hand of Marconi, even for a muscular man like Them, was like being shaken by a Jackhammer. The smile he showed him never reached his eyes. Them did not for a moment doubt he would die if he tried to go back to the club before finishing the task." I will be there," he said determinedly and without a second glance to Marconi or his daughter strode out of the building. He took the metro back to the apartment that had been set up for him, feigning not to notice the two men who followed him there. As he realized he would have a tough night ahead he went to bed almost as soon as he reached the apartment. Though not before taking a long shower. As the water started hitting his body he couldn't help but think about how nimble Camilla's body had felt under his touch. Within seconds, he was rock hard... he slowly stroked his cock and rubbed the head until with a grunt he came, with the image of her body on his mind. He slept a few hours and made sure he was at the pier on time... wondering what test Marconi had for him. Millie had been nervous and driven from her loft to her apartment. She kept collocations in the city.one for meets and one to actually call home, none was allowed inside, it was her space and hers alone, where she could relax and let go of the tensions that surrounded being Marconi princess. She admitted she was nervous, every men test was different with her father, all of them dangerous or life risking. Furthermore, she undressed a second time that day and this time in the shower she couldn't Helmut think about Thomas amazing body and cock, the man had fucked her like never before, one of her guard, Marco, had offered after the meeting seeing the tenseness in her body, but she wanted more of what she had earlier and was tempered to call Tho mover to get it, but she knew if she called she would concave him leave, and he needed to be at that meet tonight. She let the water run down her body slowly the heat reliving some of the stress and her hand following the water and down to her tight wet hole. Furthermore, she sighed leaning back against the wall and slowly rubbing her sensitive clit thinking of Thomas lips and tongue wrapped around it and his cock pounding inside of her, fucking her just like she needed. Camilla kept at that for a while till she came quivering in the shower, she needed them again, tonight and texted him that very thing." I want to feel you inside me. Call me after the meet" she said and sighed wondering what her father would have him do........................................................................ Fanconi waited in his car and sent his men and the target out the man held hostage struggling and pleading with the mobster. The gruff guard tossed the bound man in front Them and handed him brass knuckles one spiked and one regular." This man thought he could disrespect the family, disrespect the bosses' daughter, caught him taking pictures of her dressing inside a hotel she was in last week! "The guard said and kicked him with a hard grunt coming from the man below" Was going to send them to porn sites" he laughed thinking what an idiot that paparazzi had been" Teach him a lesson about respect" the man said and stepped back to lean against the vehicle. Just before he entered the pier, Thomas phone buzzed with an incoming message. "Call me after the meet." Well it was a relief that Camilla was so sure he wasn't going to end up at the bottom of the river... Fanconi's goon threw the bundled up piece of misery before Thomas feet. The poor man didn't look like he could put up much of a fight, so he decided against using the brass knuckles right away. Discarding them he told the goon to cut the wretch loose. The guy looked at him dumbstruck. " I said cut him loose, you told me to teach him a lesson, do you expect me to hit a bound man?" Them knew that the only chance this idiot had of surviving was getting humiliated and bashed so close to death the mob would not bother to finish the job. The guy looked up at him as soon as the bounds came loose and did the dumbest thing possible. He tried to run. Them gave him two steps before he knocked his legs from under him and the guy went tumbling to the ground. "Get up," Them growled, Get up and say you are sorry." I am sorry!" The guy cried out as he climbed to his feet, only to fall down again as Them hit him square in his soft belly and his face. " Not yet you're not"By the time he was done the photographer was a miserable heap of weeping flesh. Them looked up to see Marconi standing 10 meters away from them." Enough!" The mob boss said. Marconi had to admit, the kid had balls, strength, Moby, he beat the man black and blue leaving him a quivering heap. He motioned for his men to pick up the man. They never left evidence, he wouldn't kill him, but he would leave the man drugged and naked in the middle of the desert not too far from a gas station to return where he needed to once he came to, he wouldst member this night or their faces. He walked over to Them handing him a stack of money, no emotion on his face, or indication of what he was thinking. He only said four words" We'll be in touch" before heading back to his hinted and bulletproof car and taking off.___________________________________________________________________________Camilla sat nervously and breathed a sigh of retinas she received a flying money emoji from her fathers bodyguard Grid. Them had passed the test, and she was nervous about what her father had him do because none of his tests were ever easy. She wanted the man, she knew he could probably relieve some tension tonight. She got up making herself a cocktail and relaxed now knowing her newest lover wasn't taken out of play. Them saw Marconi drive off and grinned to himself... he slowly turned on his heels and started the long walk back to his apartment. The money he had gotten he bagged, the chief could run the numbers to see if the money was connected to any known crimes...he took out his phone and typed a text message to a number he had memorized by heart, "I'm in"Next he dialed Camilla's phone as he was instructed. The instant twitch his cock gave as he did so worry him slightly, but he pushed the thought away thinking of her hot body... Camilla smirked seeing the text she got from them that he was on his way both relieved and excited her. She sipped her drink and felt her pussy getting wet thinking about fucking the hot larger man. Sex with him wasn't like with the other guards. He wasn't afraid to fuck her, he gave her what she wanted and also took pleasure for himself. The other guards of course enjoyed what she did with them, but they were afraid to pin her down and give her what she needed, she had even tried getting them mad to do it but they followed her father's orders completely" Hurt her and they're dead, and it irritated her slightly, she couldn't wait to ride Them's dick when he got there. A half hour later she heard her bell ring looked at the camera on her phone before she walked over to the bell buzzing Them into he place. Them felt an odd apprehension as he rang the bell and was buzzed inside. He tried to make himself look decent as the elevator brought him to the top floor of the building, but there was blood on his shirt and there was a smudge of pier grime on his face that just would not come off. The door to the apartment opened, and he saw her standing there. He had imagined he would take very good care in taking in his surroundings, to figure out as many secrets as he could, but as he looked at her in her fine evening dress, his cock started to do all the thinking for him... growing immediately." It seems I passed your gathers test" he said..." I am yours to command"As he said this he loosened the top button of his shirt... Millie noted his appearance when he stepped in. He had blood on his shirt and his face was dirty. She was nervous. She had never killed or asked her men to kill people that was always he fathers orders, she had asked her men of violent things sure to keep up appearances but Millie wasn't fond of the lifestyle she had to maintain. She walked over feeling his chest checking him subtly and leaned up kissing him seeing he wasn't hurt" I see, I think you deserve a prize for that" she said smirking at how he was already hard for her and she reached between them undoing his pants and sunk to her knees in front of him. " Take it off... all of it" she said and slipped her dress off before him in her underwear and heels on her knees ready to suck him. Damn, he loved how forward she was. She walked up to him, claiming she was giving him a prize, but she looked as if she was claiming him. Even as she sunk to her knees, her dress discarded, she seemed in control with a possessive hold on his cock. The lingerie and heels looked exquisite... his cock was painfully hard as he stripped for her... holding in his breath as his sensitive tip bounced against her lips. Every nerve ending in his body was on edge as he dropped his clothes on the floor, naked and ready for this seductress in heels in front of him Millie smirked and licked his cock looking up at him and teasing the man with her tongue and lips before sucking the tip into her mouth gently teasing him and slowly taking more and more feeling his hips moved slightly as he steadied himself between her talented lips, and she began suckling deeper. His dick was fucking amazing Millie couldn't deny that, she couldn't even fit it all inner mouth bit she was damned determined to and his moans of approval were just the motivation she needed. She panted licking and sucking faster the slickness dripping down to his balls and over her chin in her sexy display of her blowjob skills." Fuck your dick is good" she admitted before taking half of his cock in her talented throat. There could be no doubt she had great skill in pleasuring men with her mouth. Them felt in heaven as he saw the purple head of his cock slid between her experienced lips. Her tongue was doing things to him, he had never felt before. Guttural voices escaped from his throat... he looked down at her... she looked so sexy and erotic, kneeling before him taking in his cock. She looked him straight in the eye as she started taking in more of him. His eyes went wide as he saw and felt how much of him she took down. His hands grabbed her head, but even as he started to move his hips there could be no mistaking who was in control of the situation. She interrupted her sucking to stroke his cock with both her hands. She kept him on the brink of orgasm without allowing him to go over. With every passing second he felt his arousal rising, blurring his thoughts. With every touch she gave him, his mission was pushed further to the back of his mind... At last, he decided he could take this wonderful torture no longer. He pulled her of his cock and drew her face to his. Kiss g her hungrily and pressing her body to his. Millie knew what she was doing she was sucking him beekeeping him on edge, at the brink of cumming, she moaned feeling him grabber head fuck her throat slightly, and she grinned when he pulled his cock out of her talented mouth and pulled her up kissing her hungrily. She sighed as the kissed moved down to her neck and his hand to the back of her bra leaving her topless before him and he tossed it into the pile with their clothes. The last thing was her thong which he ripped off quickly causing her to gasp. She groaned as he lifted her and placed her on top of the island." Mmm I need you again Them... I want your cock inside of me" Millie groaned her pussy wet with need. Them knew he was being teased, and he also saw Camilla liked to be in control... But two can play at that game, and few things can be more of a turn-on than a little bit of mid-sex role reversal. So as he lifted her on the island, sucking on her nipple and with his cock pressed against her pussy, he did not yet enter her. He saw the need in her eyes as he slowly slid his cock long her pussy lips. He kissed her, just only rubbing his cock against her, and saw her eyes go wide Ashe entered her with just the tip of his cock. She pouted as he withdrew. He kissed her neck and played his fingers on her clit... He softly growled in her ear... "Was that was you wanted?, my cock in you?" he softly bit her earlobe, his fibers softly touched her... entering her and withdrawing...he wanted to see how far he could go before she would either beg or order him to fuck her... Camilla grinned and moaned softly as he teased her back, goodness this man was dangerous. She signed sexily as he kissed her neck, she was panting, wanting, needing, she had never felt this way, this was new, needing to be filled with a men cock and not just commanding him." HHH Them" She gasped never needing anything that bad, she heard the vulnerability in her sounds and didn't care she needed to be filled, fucked, her pussy was weeping with desire begging for Thomas dick. She moaned as Them toyed with her tight little hole fingering her, teasing her, nibbling her earlobe, she trembled with needed as he continued, her eyes closed, her hips moving for more" Mummy Please Them. Please fuck me I can't wait" Camilla begged looking at him heatedly. Them Grinned to himself... everyone eventually gives in.... Her pleading voice sends his lustful mind into overdrive... teasing her with his cock had also quite an effect on himself, he had been close to giving in himself... He grabbed her hips and she squeezed as he roughly flipped her over so he could enjoy the view of her beautiful butt. He slid his cock along her slit for a few more times, coercing a few more begging voices from her before he sunk his cock deep inside her pussy... she met him with enthusiastic force. He started with slow deep strokes, keeping control of the rhythm, making sure they both ewer not going to cum to fast..."like that, Boss?" he said, calling to attention the fact that she was fucking her employee....he slapped her ass... "you look great, you know that?" Millie couldn't believe it! She was panting like a damn bitch in heat as Them teased her needy little pussy. She squealed with shock and excitement, and he flipped her and bent her hot little body over the island sliding his cock along her pussy making her quiver and moan loudly he pushed in deep." Uhhh!" She cried out and tried fucking herself on his cock, but he took control giving her deep slow thrusts, and she gripped the island moaning at how good it felt.' Like that boss?'he said as he deeply stroked her pussy and she moaned as he slapped her ass telling her how great she looked." HHH fuck . I love it don't stop!" She admitted feeling her tight walls gripping him.

UnderCover (closed for MzSeductress)|rating:4.0

But I Prefer an Experienced Man! (Gman001 & RedEve)

Sigourney Driver had been working up the courage to do what she had planned that day for a while. The idea had been planted like a little seed in her head when Melody Sweeney had first talked about Don Samuel's. She knew Don, vaguely, as the man who lived at the end of the cul-de-sac. He was an older man, but still quite handsome. She knew he lived alone, so she had always assumed he was divorced. Her interest might never have gone beyond what little she knew of him from living in close-but-not-too-close proximity within the same neighborhood. But then Melody had revealed something about the man which had stuck with her throughout. Melody claimed that she had hooked up with Don and that Don had fucked her like she had never been fucked before. Mind-altering sex that lasted forever and had led to her first multi-orgasmic experience. At first, she had thought that Melody was bullshitting her. Her friend was known to tell a tall tale or two. But then another friend of hers, Tabitha, had confirmed Melody’s story and told Sigourney that she too had fucked Don, and she had found him to be the kind of lover that Melody described in her stories. Sigourney had done a little snooping and had learned that it wasn’t just Melody and Tabitha who had fucked Don. It seemed like several girls in the neighborhood had beaten the pair to the punch. Some of the girls who had supposedly hooked up with the man were now already off to college, but she reached out to some of them via social media and after insisting a bit in private messages, most of the admitted to having sex with Don and all of them agreed that he was a great lover. Sigourney herself liked sex just fine, but her experiences were limited so far to her high school boyfriends, three different guys who had only satisfied her with limited success. She had broken up with her most recent boyfriend, Pete, just a month earlier, and it was since then that her fantasizing about Don had changed into a desire to experience what those other girls had described to her firsthand. Part of her was scared, for several reasons. She had never been with an older man, and it was a scary proposition to go through with sex which had been described as very intense by the other high-schoolers who had shared their experiences with her. Her parents would collectively blow a gasket if they found out that their daughter was fucking a guy who was likely older than her own dad by quite a bit. There was also the fear of being rejected by Don Samuel's, which would make her feel very silly indeed. But after the umpteenth night of wanking herself to sleep with thoughts of fucking Don Samuel's, she had decided to use this Saturday to make her move. Her parents were gone for most of the day, visiting her aunt – her mom’s sister – downtown. They would only be home late as they had told her they intended to take her aunt out for dinner before coming home. So she had essentially the entire afternoon to herself, as well as most of the night.(changed into an outfit which wouldn’t get her in trouble whilst cycling in the neighborhood but would hopefully get Don’s attention in the form of a crop top that accentuated her chest – she had inherited her mom’s naturally large tits – and a pair of dungarees which she left unclipped on one side to reveal the top underneath. She got her bike out of the shed and started to pedal towards the end of the street. She knew Don was out and about in his garden, because she had observed him from their south-facing guest room using her dad’s binoculars. Before she had changed and gotten her bike out, she had seen he was just about to start mowing his front lawn. She had admired his body from afar, even though he was a middle-aged man, he had a chiseled physique that betrayed the fact that he worked out regularly and kept a steady diet. It didn’t take her long to arrive at his property, and she stopped cycling and slowed down onto the curb beyond his front law. She planted both feet firmly on the ground and still held onto her handlebars as she greeted him.“Hey there Mr. Samuel's. Nice day out, isn’t it?” It was a corny opening line, but she couldn’t exactly go up and tell him.‘Hey Don, fancy a fuck?’. But if it was true that Don Samuel's had made a habit of bedding teenaged girls like her, he likely wouldn’t make this too hard on her. (pulled the ear buds from his ears. He had been listening to a book on tape about the reawakening of the female sex. He loved books about psychology, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. When his marriage had ended, his ex-wife, Marissa, had accused him of not knowing how people thought and felt. 'You're so fucking conceited! SO fucking engrossed with yourself!' She had shouted at him during one of their last fights. 'You think your shit doesn't stink, but you don't understand anything...' Ever since that moment, he had begun trying to determine if she was right. Whether Marissa was right or not, he still wasn't sure. What Donald Samuel's knew concretely that he had stumbled onto his best life. He was on a tear through his tiny neighborhood. He'd bedded two of the divorcees on Chester Circle. Another three college coeds that were about to head off to school. One was a virgin. He had dabbled in a small amount of cuckoldry when Vanessa Gilman asked him to clean her pipes when her husband was out. He got around. It was glorious. He could fuck the women who provided him pleasure until they got sick of it and ignore, save for a friendly wave around the neighborhood, those that failed to excite his mind or his prick. Sigourney definitely had the latter going when she pulled her bike up in front of his lawn. He shut off the motor to the mower. "Huh? Nice day?" He repeated to make sure that's what his lip-reading had told him. He currently didn't have a main squeeze. Vanessa had texted him earlier about a possible sheet-staining, midday fuck-a-then. He wasn't opposed to it, but the idea of doing wrong by Charlie had started to get to him. He needed something to change the pace. Iggy's appearance did just that." Why, yes. More so now that I have such a nice view." He gestured towards her and added a sly wink. "Where might you be off to - dressed like that?" His tone didn't mark judgment or intrigue in her outfit. The fully-clipped overall button called to him like a beacon. His eyes fell to it and, naturally, to her slightly heaving bosom. Fuck, she looks like her mom, he mused to himself. "I saw your parents' car pull out a few minutes ago. Not off to get into any trouble, I hope." (smiled when he inquired if she was off to anywhere in particular. Then he mentioned her parents pulling out of their driveway earlier in the day and if she was up to any mischief.“No real mischievous plans. I was just a bit bored and thought I could take my bike out for a spin. It’s too nice a day to be cooped up in the house.” She admired Don’s body. He certainly looked good. Perhaps not so good that she might have sought him out had Melody and Tabitha not spilled on his sexual exploits. But certainly good enough that she might have given him a second glance had she genuinely just spotted him whilst out on a ride. She had rehearsed in her mind how this should go, but now that she was confronted with Don, she was drawing blanks. He did not seem unhappy to see her though and she could clearly feel his gaze go over her chest. She knew she had nice tits, a trait she had inherited from her mom. She kicked out the stand on her bike and then got off the saddle, seemingly having made up her mind to stick around Don’s front lawn for a while. Thoughts swirled around in her mind as she tried to devise of a way to broach the subject… Which was essentially her desire to be nailed by the older man. Then she decided that the direct approach was the easiest way to go about it. Perhaps not the best, but now that she was in close vicinity to the man, all the more subtle and suave words she had imagined would come to her had evaded her.“I actually heard you spent some time recently with some of my friends. Melody… And Tabitha?” It was very forward, since she was pretty sure that Don had done little besides fucking her two friends. It certainly hadn’t sounded like either of her two pals had spent any time playing Monopoly with the older stud. She nervously pushed a strand of hair behind her right ear and gave him a smile. Since that he had not really objected to her proclamation, she dared to take a step on his lawn and then another one until she was standing in front of him, with only the lawnmower as a real obstacle between them.“They had a lot of good things to say about you… Melody and Tabitha I mean… And they aren’t very generous with compliments usually.” That much was true, on both counts. Melody especially had regaled her with tales of how Don had utterly destroyed her pussy and made her cum multiple times one afternoon, now a month or so ago. Even the memory of that story made Sigourney bite her lower lip slightly. She liked fucking, but so far, she had found many of her boyfriends wanting in that department. Most of them thought that some half-hearted oral performed on her followed by ten minutes of pumping on top of her constituted good or even great sex. She found herself staring at Don’s body, the way some of the sweat was pearling on his chest. It was clear that the man worked out regularly to keep his body in good shape at that age. Certainly her own dad had let himself go a bit in that regard, a common reproach of her mother’s at his expense. Iggy briefly wondered if her mother was thinking of Don’s much better body whenever she chastised her father about his lack of working out. Then her mind returned to the here and now, and she flowered her lips into a smile for Don. (had half a mind to tell the busty, young woman that there was a lot to do being cooped up inside. He decided against it. He wasn't sure if Sigourney was going to be as 'cool' as her friends were. Don had discovered in this era of Instagram and Facebook, that a discerning man was something else. There was something about a guy that didn't share everything and tell everyone their exact movements. Being mysterious had always been good 'dating' advice. He leaned against the handle of the mower. His pecs flexed a little bit more with the change in posture." Oh, my..." That was all he could initially come up with when she referenced the two young things that he had seduced, fucked into oblivion, and then set free to find a guy more suitable and age-appropriate. They had been wonderful lovers once he had finished with them. He couldn't remember which one of them had the younger brother with the extensive porn collection, but she had needed much less guidance. It was probably Tabitha, he thought to himself. She had been the one he 'took' first." Do give those girls my best." His pride swelled as she continued talking. The older gentleman took a full appraisal of the sprite in front of him. Her endowments made her age harder to discern. Iggy possessed the rack of older, mature woman. Her face though had plenty of cherubic features. The soft skin. He was really enjoying whatever color lip gloss she was wearing. He wondered, silently, how it would taste. Or was that her lips natural color and fullness?" Ha, yeah. I seem to remember that." Don knew he was endowed. One of the two girls had gone out of her way to try and not act impressed with his size. It was probably Melody. She had the rounded butt. The only time he could get her screaming and wailing about the enormity of his dick was when he plunged into her sphincter, upon her request. She had said something about college guys preferring ass to pussy. Fucking idiots. Not that Melody's behind hadn't been spectacular, but there was nothing like young, gripping pussy around your cock. Don was sure of that. He liked banging the neighborhood cougars, but the young girls were the best - especially once his tutelage began to take root. It was interesting how Melody had regaled Iggy with stories of his pussy prowess but hadn't really said a peep to him while they were fucking. Weird broad. He melted a bit at her smile. "I don't know how much they told you, Sigourney." His eyes narrowed, and he quickly scanned the neighborhood for any eyewitnesses. "But, I hope I can count on your discretion." He rounded the mower to get closer to her. "I shudder to think what some of the ladies of Chester Circle would say if they knew a man of my age," he put a hand to his bare, sweaty, rippling torso, "was spending so much time with high school and barely college-aged women." The request for her discretion was the trial balloon. She could ask what he meant, or give him assurances, or blackmail him. Iggy's smile signaled that if it was going to be blackmail, he might just enjoy it. Don stood, hands on his hips. The muscles around his neck and shoulders popped to life. His personal trainer, another sexual conquest, had really been focusing on those in the last few months. He found it much easier to lift ladies and impale them on his member (since they had started focusing on the muscle group." After speaking to Tabitha and Melody, did you have any...questions, Miss Driver?" (was surprised at how easy things were going now that she had taken the leap. Don might have denied everything, which would have made things complicated. But he did not seem perturbed especially by her revelation that her two friends had blabbed about hooking up repeatedly with the much older man. If anything, he seemed to take a certain pride in that fact. Why wouldn’t he? They had spoken off him only in the most glowing of terms after all. She bit her lip in a manner which was distracted, like she was off in her own thoughts somewhere, which was the case. This was really going to happen! If she just pushed a little forward, past the last remnants of the embarrassment she was feeling, she took could enjoy Don’s dick. The wind pushed some strands of hair in her face, which she brushed behind her ear quickly. She gave Don a smile as he had rounded up on her.“Please, call me Iggy. All my friends do.” She smiled a little more mischievously when he asked her for her discretion.“Oh, I can be quiet Mr. Samuel's. You don’t have to worry about that.” She admired his body now that he was up close, how the sweat was pearling in the afternoon sunlight above his chiseled physique. She caught herself licking her lips before she could stop from doing so.“I don’t really have any questions, other than to ask you if you are in the mood for some fun right now?” Then she mouthed in a conspirators way.“You know, fucking…” Of course, he knew, but she thought it's best to spell it out so that there could be no confusion between them.“Perhaps I should put my bike somewhere out of sight?” She did consider that it would likely look odd if her bicycle was out front at the property of a middle-aged single man for the rest of the day. She kicked the stand away again as she grabbed it by the handlebars, then followed Don’s instructions as to where to put it. She followed Don up the driveway, her bike in hand, until he hit the button to open his garage door. The electrical motor roared to life, and she slipped into the double garage, which had plenty of room to park her bike even with Don’s vehicle already inside. Now that she was alone with the man and out of view from the rest of the neighborhood once he had closed the garage door behind them again, she did feel a bit nervous. It was one thing to fantasize about fucking an older man, an experienced man at that, who was apparently a champion at satisfying young women, but it was another thing entirely to actually go through with it. She was keenly aware that this could land her into trouble if it got out, though likely not as much trouble as Don would be in. She nervously bit her lower lip again, a habit she really had to try and get rid of.“So… how does this usually work?” She knew she sounded painfully young and naïve with this inquiry, but she really had no idea. Melody and Tabitha had told her plenty about the sex itself. Less so about how it had happened that first time. It had sounded like they had just gotten into it naturally. But whilst Iggy was very horny at that point, she still had to get past a certain threshold of shame. Not shame about her body, nor shame about the fact that she was about to fuck. She was not shy and far from an insecure virgin. But Don was an older experienced man who might thick her a silly inexperienced girl, and she hated that notion. Whilst she was doing this to get more experience, she also wanted to look more experienced than she was, which was of course absurdly paradoxically, but she could not help her own insecurity in that matter. (didn't want to cackle in laughter at Iggy. That would send the decidedly wrong message. She was a fox, and he was currently without a constant source of fun. Sure, any lady in his small 'stable' could ring him up and request his services. Mrs. Lisa called it a 'pipe cleaning' for the first few weeks of their affair. However, Don could fully suppress a fit of giggles when she whispered like a spy sharing secrets. It was comical, but it was brave. He had to give her that. Once he could restore his senses, he had told her that he was free. He directed her to the garage to store her bike. Don led the way to the garage, but then followed behind her as she stowed it beside his car. Iggy tits and lips were her best assets, but the overalls she was wearing made a very handsome display of her posterior. He was impressed with her maturity to remember that nosey neighbors might question why the bike of a not, yet twenty-year-old was parked out front all afternoon. He smirked, mostly to himself. Furthermore, he was already factoring in that they would be 'busy' all afternoon. He waited. Furthermore, he loved making the girls wait. High school boys were so eager. Don wouldn't be 'eager' until she was naked, dripping, and begging. He felt his heart flutter when her teeth tried to puncture her swollen bottom lip. The tell-tale signs of arousal were evident. He had been staring at her chest enough to notice that a slight flush had formed around her collarbone." There's no set way this has to work, Iggy." He pronounced her name clearly and enunciated fully. "You comfort is vitality important to the whole endeavor." He smiled at the young woman, "But I do believe that first, we should go inside unless you'd like me to just...take you on the hood of my car." He winked and then opened the door to his home, motioning for Sigourney to follow. The garage door opened up to a small hallway that held a half bath. He opened its door as if to show her that it contained a sink and toilet, should she have the need to use either. "I know you're not old enough for alcohol," he started as he kept walking. He entered his kitchen and opened the stainless steel fridge. "But would you like something to drink?" He perused the offerings in the fridge and took out a bottle of water. "I don't know your stance on pot, but I believe I have some around here somewhere if you wanted to indulge." Don didn't need pot to fuck, but he enjoyed the way his dick seemed to stay harder longer. Some of the liaisons had begun as a steady drug connection and simply evolved into getting stoned, listening to music, and then fucking each other stupid. He pulled out a stool from his kitchen island and offered Iggy a seat. Mowing the lawn had left him dehydrated. He opened and then quickly downed the entire bottle of water. "Ahh! Refreshing. Speaking of refreshing, I appreciate your...forthrightness, Miss Driver. Whoops! I mean Iggy." (was actually surprised at herself when she found that she was suddenly inside of Don’s house. Not only that, but there was an unspoken agreement that this would turn sexual. Had it really been that easy? Perhaps it was silly to be surprised, considering that Don Samuel's had done this many times before in all likelihood. She couldn’t quite imagine that Melody and Tabitha had been the only two girls who had been fucked by the older man. She felt a flutter go through her heart at the mention of Don taking her on the hood of his car. It was said in jest, but part of Iggy would definitely not have objected to such a treatment. Somehow it corresponded to the mental image she had of the man, based on what her two friends had told her of him. She followed him as he opened the door to his garage, leading her into a corridor and then finally his kitchen. She shook her head when he offered her something to drink. This was all so very casual, but to her, it was exciting and a tiny bit scary. She did sit down when he offered her the stool and watched as he downed the bottle of water he had gotten out of the fridge for himself in almost one go. She shrugged when he mentioned pot. Furthermore, she had only ever tried it once and not exactly enjoyed it. But she didn’t want to appear lame to this older man.“I’m fine with pot, but I’m not in the mood for it right now…” She blushed when he mentioned liking her forthrightness and then giggled when he corrected himself by using her shortened name. This all felt like a preamble to something but since Don hadn’t really told her how he envisioned this going, she imagined there wasn’t a right or a wrong way for either of them to go about this. She thus slid off the bar stool and decided to take a small chance. She undid the buckle on her dungarees, letting them drop to her waist and revealing the tiny crop top which covered her tits. Furthermore, she knew that her nipples would already be visibly hardened for him. Her breathing was becoming more pronounced, and then she pulled the little top over her head to reveal her bare breasts. She knew she had nice tits. Guys had remarked about them many times. Like her mother, she had a large rack, but firm and nicely shaped. Judging by how big Don’s eyes went after she revealed them, they were even appealing to a more experienced man.“Do you like these, Mr. Samuel's? Would you like to touch them?” She took a few steps in Don’s direction and more or less stopped just short of pushing her breasts into his hands. Instead, she more or less hovered a foot in front of him and supported her own chest by weighing one in each hand. She lifted the left tit teasingly, both of her nipples now impossibly hard. This was hot as fuck, and they hadn’t even done anything yet.“Please…” She then took his right hand and pushed it into her left breast. She moaned a bit at his touch, cold from holding the refrigerated water bottle just moments earlier. But her eyes went wide and a small smile flowered onto her full lips. This was what she had come here to do and whereas she had some doubts about her own courage of going ahead with it, she was at least proving that aspect of her fears wrong. She pushed herself forward a bit, pressing her firm tit even deeper into his hand. She then added his left hand to her right breast and licked her lips as she more or less auto-mauled her tits in Don’s hands. Even just this felt perfect and super-arousing, probably because it also felt so wrong and naughty. (was pretty sure that one reason he had been so successful bedding the women of Chester Circle was that he was easy going. Iggy had been the one to overtly ask him about having sex. He had simply been confirming that such possibility with him existed. Don was mulling the idea of toking up himself when he noticed the young lady hop off the stool. His eyes took in the sight of her freeing her sizable assets (They had to adjust to fully take in the scope of her sweater puppies. For her age and frame, they jutted out obscenely. High and proud versions of her mother's summaries. Don's mouth opened and the licking of his lips was purely an automatic response. There was no conscious thought for a few brief moments as they globes came into view." Please, huh?" Repeating her words was all the higher brain function her tits were allowing. "You like when I grope your hot tits, Iggy?" By calling them hot tits, Don had mostly answered her question. He might have let a barely audible 'fuck' escape his lips when he watched her juggle her tits in her own hands ("You like me mauling these big, slutty breasts, huh?" Don was pushing off from shore. As his brain got back into focus, he got more comfortable with Iggy. She had stoked a hot, sexual fire between them. He felt it too. The hardened nipples poked his palms while he palmed her pendulous orbs. "You get all hot, thinking about me taking you on the car?" He moved. He didn't want to, but he had to get a better angle on her boobs. Don spun around her back. He barely had to let go of her breasts to accomplish the move. Once he was behind her, he was hefting and cradling her bosom. His fingers teasing her nipples with tiny twists left and right. This position also let him whisper in her ear. "Or maybe you get off knowing what you do to a big, experienced man," he pushed his crotch forward, "like me..." Sigourney would have to have a tactile deficiency not to feel the long slab of dick that he pressed against her dungaree-covered butt. "Maybe that is what has you all hot and bothered?" (was breathing quite rapidly by that point. Even though she herself had pushed Don’s hands into her tits, he was quite happy to freely maul her chest now. She had achieved what she wanted, which was to initiate a sexual act with this man. The hard part was now over with, at least that was her estimation at that junction. More and more he was taking control. She only blushed when he referred to the scene in the garage where the thought of him taking her over the hood of his car had indeed flashed through her mind. Then suddenly she was turned around to where he was behind her, his hands only briefly leaving her tits before returning with a vengeance. This move also added a second sensation, one which briefly made her moan. She felt his hard dick press up against her dungarees, the huge rod making a literal impression as he pushed it ever forward.“Oh my…” She blushed when he mentioned that she was doing this to a big experienced man. The big part was certainly not a lie, to that she could now attest personally. Her hands went down to the dungarees, which were already stripped down to her waist. She pushed them past that point, over her hips until the fell down her legs. She then did the same with her thong panties, briefly getting just enough space between their respective bodies to get rid of the undies. Now her bare ass cheek pressed up against his hard, throbbing member as she resumed her previous position after getting totally undressed. Her bare ass cheeks, firm and round, were now rubbing against his hard rod. She pushed off far enough to get free from his grasp and turn around to face him. Whereas his hands had been on her tits throughout, she now went for her own bounty. Her hands, both of them, grabbed his oversized dick through the fabric of his trousers. Then she undid his belt, unbuttoned his trousers and pulled the zipper down. She had no shame about reaching inside his boxer shorts and pulling out his cock. Tabitha and Melody had both told her he was big, and they hadn’t been kidding. She felt her mouth fall agape as she admired it for the first time, then she started to stroke it slowly.“You’re quite big, Mr. Samuel's…” It was a statement of fact, delivered like a schoolgirl who had perhaps bitten off more than she could chew, which was possibly the case. Though she wasn’t about to scramble back now, which would be an affront to herself and a deep humiliation. Instead, she moved her left hand down deeper to gently start rubbing his balls whilst her right hand kept on stroking his length, though not before aiming a dollop of her spit in her palm as lubrication.“How does that feel Mr. Samuel's… Perhaps you’d like this better?” On a whim, she tried something she had never done before. She watched a lot of porn and in some of those films, she had seen chesty girls like herself do something she had never tried herself. She got to her knees to do the act, displaying some inexperience but a lot of enthusiasm as she trapped his meaty rod in between her tits, pressed them together using her hands and then moved her torso up and down on his length, effectively titty-fucking Don’s big dick. And bit it was. Big and warm as it was trapped in between her large tits. She looked up at him with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes, seeming to want to impress him or at least provide him with some pleasure. The last thing she wanted was for her to leave here having only made Don Samuel's think of her as a silly girl who had a nice body but not the right inclination to properly service and pleasure an experienced, sexual man. (was Don's turn to reply, "Oh my..." when Sigourney stripped her panties off. The sight -even if only for a moment-of her slightly bent over to strip down the flimsy material covering her pussy and ass was awe-inspiring (He suppressed a wolf whistle." That's it...grab it..." He encouraged in a whisper as her hands went for his enormous tool. For a few brief moments, there was no sound. The only audible noise was the tiny clanking of his belt buckle, the unzipping of his fly, and soft the flop of his pants around his ankles. He loved the shocked reaction that the ladies always had. You didn't become the neighborhood sex piece possessing a tiny dick. He let her stroke and tried to not let his face show too much emotion." You're doing great, Iggy." He wanted to come up with some snappy remark about it possibly being her first time with giant dong, but she was moving quickly. Just as her rhythm had settled (and Don Samuel's had gotten used to her cupping his balls), she switched. "I was-" He shut his mouth and let her whim take over. Don couldn't keep his strong appearance when he felt the softness of her breasts capture his hot, raging erection. His knee shook for a moment and closed his eyes. He wasn't close to his release, but it surged forward in a most unexpected manner. Don was used to going a long time. Some of the ladies had gotten to the point during sex of literally telling him that it was ok to cum. He liked that. He'd fuck them senseless to a few orgasms and they would relent. Give him permission to cease fucking them before they passed out. Something about the way she was eager and talented had made this different. He also hadn't had a tit-fuck in a nearly six months." I love your big, soft tits, Iggy. Some of the best I've ever fucked." He let her try to impress him. Don gave her nods and soft hisses. He moaned approval as she went up and down the best she could. After a few minutes of her sliding her heavy hooters up and down his shaft, Don spoke, "But I have a better idea." A look of deep concentration swept across his face. "Hold them tight." He demonstrated how she should press her summaries together. "Don't worry about moving." And once she had stood still, with Don's cock ensnared in her cleavage, he began to thrust into her (Don panted and thrust. He smiled down at his young sex partner. The older, experienced man sent her a knowing wink. That was all the signal she got before he put a hand on the back of her neck and started picking up the pace. He used his strength to force her chest forward (His speed increased, and the result was his fat cock head bopping Iggy in the chin a few times. "His size can make that happen," he huffed out in between fucking her fun-pillows." I'm definitely going to want to do this again," he informed the young lady on her knees. "Maybe sitting...oh fuck...down next time. Really take our time before I explode." Her breasts felt virginal. Soft. Pliant. God, was she even done growing? He expressed his pleasure with some more groans and grunts. As his release got closer (he really needed more tit fucks like this in his life), Don was debating whether he was going to warn her or not. He was already totally sure that his first orgasm was going to drench her face. If she didn't freak out like a little girl, she'd join his stable of fucks. If she enjoyed it - she'd move to the top of this list." Fuck, Iggy, these tits are amazing! Your first time doing this? First time with something this big?" He finally got that smart-aleck remark out of his mouth. (was doing her best to service Don with her tits. For his part, he seemed to enjoying it, giving her reassuring nods and occasionally flattering moans. After a few minutes of having control, Don assumed control of proceedings himself. He showed her how she should just keep her tits pressed together, and then he started to pump in between the valley of her twin mounds, her tit flesh effectively trapping his cock. His knob head slid out quite speedily each time, and after he had started applying pressure to the back of her head, on occasion this meant that it hit her chin.“Ow!” She yelped a bit in surprise the first time it happened but then giggled and nodded when he explained that the sheer size of his oversized unit meant that this could happen on occasion. He seemed to speed up, and he enjoyed the tit fuck a lot, that much was apparent on his face. This gave Iggy some pride, she was truly pleasuring a much older man, a man who had far more experience than she did in all manner of sexual acts. He was already talking about next time, about wanting to do this again.“I would love that, Mr. Samuel's…” She didn’t want to seem too keen but at the same time, she also wanted to make it clear to him that yes, she did want this to be a recurring thing for them, even though she had only just approached him moments earlier outside, as he was mowing his lawn. Thing sure had moved along quickly. She nodded when he asked if this was her first time.“Yes… Is it that obvious? I mean, I have seen porn flicks where they do this, but I have never actually tried this myself.” As Iggy was talking quite casually to Don, she had perhaps missed the signs that even a relatively inexperienced young woman like herself would have read. Don’s breathing was becoming more labored, his moans more frequent and had she made eye contact at that very moment, she would have seen a look of concentration on his face. This all preceded what was inevitable, but which still took Iggy by surprise. Suddenly the knob head emerged from in between her fun bags for the umpteenth time, only this time it was accompanied by something else. As the knob head reached its highest point, a squirt of goo powerfully shot fort, landing on her face. It covered an area from her forehead down to her chin, roughly in a straight line down. This was soon followed by a second rope of cum. By that point, sheer instinct had made her turn her pretty visage a bit, so that she took most of this goo on her left cheek. More and more jazz fountained out of Don’s cock, landing all over her face, some of it in her open mouth. She yelped a bit in surprise but did not make an attempt and pulling back, nor did she utter a word of protest. The explosion of goo persisted for a good long time, though it was always hard to exactly measure time in those moments. Eventually Don came to a halt, with his cock still trapped in between her tits. The last few specks of goo dripped onto her chest. As did the slow trickle which was falling down from her chin due to gravity.“Oh my… so much cum.” Siggy giggled as she swallowed what had landed in her mouth, then wiped some of the goo out of her eyes so she could open them again. She was surprised, the climax had not been expected yet on her end. Nor had the sheer volume of his essence which he had deposited on her pretty face. On instinct, she reached forward with her hand and dared to give his balls a gentle squeeze.“Did you empty it all, or is there still something left in there.” She gave Don a wink from her kneeling position, her face still glazed in his cum like some lewd donut. (loved how 'sure' of herself Iggy appeared. It was going to make everything about this interaction work. She would get the confidence boost and he would get the last laugh. He was already pretty sure they would be getting together again before she answered him. Her confirmation was music to his ears. Her naïveté melted his heart. The wolf of Chester Circle was going to chew this poor girl up and spit her out. It wouldn't be intentional. He wouldn't do it on purpose. The first example was how she had missed the signs of his impending orgasm. Maybe he should have asked fewer questions while fucking her soft boobs? He sprayed her face and grunted like a manly God. The first rope that bisected her face was a work of art ("Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! So much!" He babbled incoherently as his balls churned out hot ropes of jazz to soak the siren's pretty face. He hollered with surprise when she opened her mouth in an effort to catch a strand or two on her tongue, rather than her eye or nose. Furthermore, he tried to indulge her by aiming one down her gullet (Samuel's noted her complete lack of protest (It was invigorating. Furthermore, he almost hated that it ran short of semen supply. Furthermore, he enjoyed being swallowed up by her breasts again. His sensitive skin felt alive as the soft tit-flesh enveloped it. "He, sorry not sorry..." He backed away when she squeezed his sack softly. "Ha ha! Unfortunately, they are all tapped out for the moment." He covered his giant, deflating cock with his hand as best he could. "They'll recharge in a moment, but I could use a water break and you..." He looked around the kitchen and then found a clean dish towel. He snatched it and handed it to Iggy. Don extended his hand to help her to a standing position. Some cum transferred from her fingers to his hand. He smiled. "I really drenched you, Iggy. Wow. I usually get more warning." He lewdly flipped one of her sperm covered tits with the sperm covered hand. "These tits must have really brought something out in me. Best tit-job of my life." He would have given her an affectionate kiss on the forehead or cheek, but they were both caked with cum. "Can I get you some water, too?" He asked as he filled a glass with ice from the dispenser in the door of the freezer. "We can chat or whatever while I recharge. Or you can take a shower. I don't mind if you'd rather not talk it up with an old fart like me." Don gave Sigourney a sly wink and drank from his glass.

But I Prefer an Experienced Man! (Gman001 & RedEve)|rating:3.0

To Xen'drik – Chapter 1_ Welcome to the Jungle

To Men'drink Chapter 1: Welcome to Storm reach #39;drink.two days ago, a group consisting of Dragon marked members from each of the Houses boarded an airship headed to Storm reach, all sent by their house in response to the Storm lords' invitation. The Dragon marked Houses would each be allowed to set up official centers for their trades in Storm reach in order to bring profit and civilization to Men'drink. These are the harbingers of a larger movement, sent ahead to help establish a place on the continent and seek its riches in advance of the rest of their houses. Though, as is often the case with politics, many have their own reasons for the journey... Winds favored the ship for the first day, speeding it across the gap of ocean between Hovered and Men'drink. On the second, they became even fiercer, the clouds darkening in the skies. Now, on the third day of the journey, the ship's passengers find themselves forced together for the first time in a cabin protected from the lightning and thunder as a storm heralds their arrival in the appropriately-named city of Storm reach. Huddled around a cabin no larger than a small tavern, all the delegates watch each other, waiting for someone to break the silence between thunderclaps. House Cannot brought three members, two human, each representing a different faction of the house, though only one with a Dragon mark. From Cannot West, the DragonmarkedAralyn d'Cannot, her Cannot artificer's robes also bearing symbols of the Wardens of the Wood. She sat as far away as she could from Cannot East representative Seeker Kanpur, a tall, gaunt man who examined the other representatives with a calculating gaze but had greeted them politely. Then there was the third of that house... House Density has sent one of its Sentinel Marshals, a human namedCael d'Density. He watches every other passenger carefully, and you have not seen him without his lightweight metal-plated leather armor. Representing House Osasco is HealerAsalda d’Osasco, an older Halfling woman wearing regalia associated with a cleric of the Sovereign Host. House Medan sent someone fairly well-known from the ranks of their Inquisitive. Creilath Moaned, a distinguished man with white streaks in his hair, is flanked by his Orc partner, Urzat. From House Harlan is the Even bardMerrilla d'Harlan, occasionally plucking at her harp in one corner. House Civil has produced a gnome scribe, Ehren d'Civil. He doesn't look as particularly dangerous as some in the cabin do, but he keeps a large covered object near him, never letting it leave his grasp. The half-orc from House Thrash insulin d'Torn. Tattoos cover his face, and he carries a veritable arsenal of axes, knives, and even one of those three-pronged vicious-looking boomerangs you've heard are used by the Draw of Men'drink. House Vandalism sent one of its tamers, a human woman namedAeslin d'Vandalism. She has managed to find a bit of space where she is calming her hawk from the storm outside, a gray wolf curled at her feet. And then, there is you... Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. Sab paced as the airship proceeded through the storm, Chris was curled underneath the table, his long, sinuous tentacles twitching nervously as the thunder boomed across the sky. The heat inside the room, large as it was, seemed almost stifling, twenty some of the assembled representatives crowded together for the first time in days, eyeing one another nervously, old rivalries flaring in their mind's eyes. Some of the faces he recognized, both familiar and friendly, or only passing, others, less so. He smiled at the Lady Merrill d'Harlan, and spoke, his voice raised slightly to be heard over the din of the storm outside the cabin walls,"The weather, indeed, perhaps the mood itself within this room is both gloomy and oppressive, perhaps a song m'lady? Something to lift our spirits as we approach foreign lands, a song of hope, of opportunity, a song that speaks of new beginnings, and the companionship of one's fellows?" As he spoke, he bowed in a courtly manner, sweeping his arm before him,"Sabbonsiel, of the Ethereal family, scion of House Orient." A pause,"At your service." McAllister turns at Sabbonsiel's remark. He had been at the window staring into the storm. The half-elf cuts a rather striking figure. He wears a finely crafted longboat and vest in black or dark gray, it's hard to tell in the gloomy cabin, with a black scarf around his neck. He carries a finely crafted staff which appears to be made of some sort of charred wood. His left arm seems to hum with barely contained energy, and on the skin peeking above the scarf on the left side of neck you see why, a Dragon mark. Most notable is his mask. It covers most of his face down to his upper lip. It is made of some sort of porcelain and is painted with a fearsome skull image." Gloomy you say? I think it's glorious. The rain, furious as it is, feeds all life on Hovered, as the Rain bringer will surely attest. And the lightning, well, that is the only reason this ships stay aloft, the power of lightning and thunder spirits. I thank the Host for such encouraging weather to start our journey. I suppose it is the time for introductions. Furthermore, I am McAllister d'Lysander, Lightning blood, Wind Rider, representative of House Lysander." April really had no idea who anyone else on this trip was. He recognized the different houses, sure, but guarding Tundra Vault wasn't the kind of job that led itself to meeting new and interesting new people. Still, House Tundra had one guaranteed way to meet new people. April took up a seat in a relatively open area and pulled out a deck of cards and a bottle of whiskey. Adrik cleared his throat loudly and held up the deck. "Who's up for a game?" he asked. The strangely-attired halfling glanced up from feeding his claw foot at that - his House wasn't evident to others at the moment, his Dragon mark concealed by the dark leather covering his whole form, and the presence of a dinosaur at his side not particularly a mark of either halfling House. A bit of logic, though, would help observers mark Viral as House Ghallandha. The process of elimination, specifically - after all, the other halfling was the representative of Osasco. The old teeth dangling around his neck clattered against each other as Viral gestured towards the deck in the dwarf's hands, his skull-clad head cocking to one side." What, with that?" Since he'd never spent much time in taverns, having gone straight from lack of civilization to the height of it, Viral had never had the opportunity to encounter the classic games of chance. Rain bringer ZanneZanne stands at the windows, watching the rain as motes of water trickle between her fingers in time with the storm. Zanne politely declines the card game, nods at McAllister's description of the importance of rain, but scoffs a bit when he calls himself the Lysander representative. One of the Lysander representatives, McAllister. The house has placed the Rain bringers secondary to the Wind riders for long enough, and I will not let myself be bullied by you any longer. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you will treat me as an equal on this mission. She realizes that the rest of the room is now watching, and smiles elegantly. Probably not the kind of song you were looking for, Sabbonsiel Ethereal d'Orient, but I am pleased to see you well. She greets the others, and stops at the second halfling. Little one, what on the Dragon Between is that creature? April nods to the halfling Viral. "Not for money of course. Unless you're the gambling type. But a little game's a great way to pass the time when you're stuck in one place. Have a seat, take a nip if that's your taste," he gestures to the bottle of whiskey, "it's not like we're going anywhere so we might as well try to enjoy ourselves. The name is April, representative of House Tundra." A slim and slightly short elf man in a gray suit comes to sit beside April. "Jubal, recently of Glimmer Casino. I represent Tyranny ... at least as long as I can turn a similarly impressive profit here in the wilds. We might end up playing Fifty-Two Card Pickup in weather like this, but in the meantime, I'd be pleased to join you for cribbage or pinochle. I'm not much of a gambler." The studied blankness on Jubal's face gives way to slight amusement. Viral blinked, glancing away from the dwarf as he heard himself being addressed - towards the elf-girl, first, then towards his claw foot companion, who was busily nibbling scraps of dried meat off the tip of the halfling's dagger, blissfully unaware that he was a subject of contention." What, Doris? He's my bond-mate - a claw foot. It's fine, he's friendly." He tugged gently on his blade, leaving the meat nestled in the scaled beast's mouth. The halfling tossed the blade to his other hand and spun it, hitting it at his waist with a flourish, then reached down to pat his friend's flank." Go on, say hi, Doris." The sitting dinosaur unfolded its legs, rising to its full height - only roughly as tall as its bonded master, but as long from snout to tail as Anne was tall. It trotted forward, tail swaying gently behind it as it moved across the room, sleek and powerful - but not dangerous at the moment, just curious, and aiming to sniff inquisitively at the Rain bringer if she lets it. The creature's master springs to his feet as well, full of energy, and addresses both April and Anne." Jirgal, representing Ghallandha." He smiles at them, then blinks and tries to flow into a graceful bow. Ah, right, gotta be polite I guess. Forgetting completely about Anne for the moment, seeing his task there as done, he rises back to his full 3' 10" stature and nips over to the dwarf's table, his stride quick and feet light, and slides into a seat, nodding to both Jubal and April. Being familiar with primal forces, the dwarf might notice a touch of the spirits around Viral. Not the spirits of frost and stone he would know from home, but something similar, wrapped up in both the boy's touch with his bond-mate and his fluid motions." So, how do you play?" Nameless warforgedIn a corner equidistant from both Aragon and Seeker Kanpur sits the third representative of House Cannot, though had it not been announced as such at the start of the voyage it doubtless would have been regarded as a servant. Given the cool indifferent reception it had received thus far, it likely was still regarded as such, or perhaps the humanoids simply did not know how to regard it within their present context. Such thoughts pass idly through its mind as it tinkers away at a small object it's holding while a quadruped in the size and shape of a stylized canine--only made of metal--lounges beside it. It takes no outward notice of the others huddled in the cabin, though it does find it curious how humanoids, when sharing a space with strangers, will transition from no one saying a word to each other, to one breaking the silence, to all of a sudden a deluge of words and phrases and emotions. Having no need of its own to "make conversation," it keeps such observations to itself while it occupies its time making something tangible. The "it" in question is of course a war forged, and one that apparently has not "humanized" itself: though clearly an artificer as well, it wears no robes, nor clothing of any kind apart from a series of leather straps and harnesses that conveniently hold an assortment of tools and alchemical resources. Its only visible armament is a mechanism protruding from its left arm that's fitted with a projectile weapon on top and a blade along the outside edge. Whatever else it possesses are stowed within a backpack tucked in its lap as it continues to tinker away, seemingly oblivious to the chaos swirling around it--of both the natural and humanoid varieties. Many eyes in the cabin turned toward theElfthat had just declared himself of House Orient. It was very much an oddity. After a moment however, Merrill smiled, nodded, and began to play. The cabin relaxed a little, though some still kept to themselves." I wouldn't mind playing a game,"Cravat Moaned said, approaching April." What game were you planning to teach our friend from Talent?" Seeing the crowd that had gathered, April smiles and starts shuffling the deck. "All things considered I was thinking something simple like Three Dragon Ante. Pretty simple, pretty fun and eats up plenty of time. Used to play it in between shifts all the time. What do you say?" In one corner of the cabin, Aragon d'Cannot approached Berlin d'Vandalism and sat, beginning a conversation and, after being given permission, petting the gray wolf, who Berlin introduced as Vary. Ulrike d'Torn also wandered over and joined the quiet conversation. Behind Cravat, the Orc Great and the Sentinel Warden Call d'Density spoke to each other, each in short, terse sentences, of cases and marks. Ehren d'Civil still clutched his parcel, but seemed a little less nervous as the song permeated the cabin. Healer Amanda also stayed where she was, eyes closed, enjoying the music. Only Seeker Kanpur still seemed on-edge, keeping to himself in his corner. "Fantastic,"said Cravat as he took a seat in a bolted-down chair at the similarly-secured table. He will then help April explain the game. Rain bringer ZanneZanne makes her way over to Kanpur's corner without making it obvious that that's her destination. Standing near enough to him that he can hear, but far enough that it's not obvious to anyone else that they're conversing, and still watching the storm out the windows, she speaks:Something is bothering you, Seeker. Out with it. April deals out a game of Three Dragon Ante while he explains the rules. Once everyone is on the same page, the game begins in earnest. As I said, I'm representing House Tundra on this expedition. I was originally a member of the vault guards, so I'm not familiar with any of the usual house representatives." Spoiler: IOC Hide I'm not sure how people want to handle the playing of the card game. I figured we could just... ignore/role-play around it and not worry too much. I think there are rules in some 3.5 book that address Three Dragon Ante as a card game within a game, but that seems super complicated. Ultimately, up to the GM. Kanpur jumps and looks at Anne, then settles slightly and gestures to the room." These games are a charade,"he says softly, so hopefully only Anne can hear." You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rain bringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Storm reach." Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship." Ah, yes, Rotunda Gate. A magnificent city,"Cravat said." I am Cravat Moaned, Inquisitive of House Medan. You might have heard of me?" "No matter, friend April, you'll learn quickly enough -- vault guards are a sharp and canny lot, or they wouldn't stay vault guards long." Displaying both agility and agitation, Jubal of House Tyranny fiddles with some sort of sparkling string toy, making it dance around his hands as he glances at his cards. He was moving around the crowded room before and seems to reject the idea of staying still now that he is seated. Showing no interest in either his hands' action or his cards, Jubal turns with curiosity to the Inquisitive and says, "Cravat Moaned, yes, I know I've heard that name ... I don't recall the circumstances, but I was left with the impression that you received only weak credit for some important task ... Remind me what it was?" Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. Originally Posted by McAllister d'Lysander "Gloomy you say? I think it's glorious. The rain, furious as it is, feeds all life on Hovered, as the Rain bringer will surely attest. And the lightning, well, that is the only reason this ships stay aloft, the power of lightning and thunder spirits. I thank the Host for such encouraging weather to start our journey. I suppose it is the time for introductions. Furthermore, I am McAllister d'Lysander, Lightning blood, Wind Rider, representative of House Lysander." Sabbonsiel turned towards the Lysander representative with a feral smile,"The usefulness of a thing, does not preclude its nature Master Lysander." He paused and nodded towards the Rainmaker,"It is good to know that not all of House Lysander are above getting mud on their boots,"he turned his attention back to the porcelain masked McAllister,"it's a matter of perspective, when one is too often above the clouds, one cannot judge his height until he falls." He turned dismissively and returned to a seat near the Lady Merrill d'Harlan, and listened intently as she began to play, Chris padded softly to his side, nuzzling against his thigh with a throaty growl until the ranger dropped his hand to his neck and began to scratch. The beast responded with a contented purr, even as the tall, gaunt man representing Cannot East rose to his feet, speaking with Lady Anne, his whisper almost a hiss. Originally Posted by Seeker Kanpur "These games are a charade," he says softly, so hopefully only Anne can hear. "You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rain bringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Storm reach." His eyes still closed, he spoke softly, but enough that the Seeker could discern his words." I know why I am here Master Cannot, to prove my worth to those in my House who disapprove of the favor the Host have chosen to bless me with, so why are you here? What answer do you find in the Blood, please, enlighten us." Viral ends up making the group spend a little longer than is perhaps strictly necessary on the rules - asking endless questions, extremely curious about the nature of the rules." I haven't heard of you. Or anybody I guess." His hand dips forward a bit - enough that a canny and unscrupulous player could look at his cards, or just one who happened to be leaning the wrong way when glancing over. McAllister listens to Anne, a wry smile visible on the lower half of his lip not covered by his mask." So you say, Rain bringer. I have never been to Men'drink, but I'm quite certain the jungle has more than enough rain." After his quip, McAllister does bow slightly, making a hand motion known among the members of House Lysander as a sign of friendship and brotherhood. The wizard turns back to Sabbonsiel." Perhaps, but then it would seem the trick is simply not to fall." Rain bringer Anne Originally Posted by Seeker Kanpur d'Cannot "These games are a charade," he says softly, so hopefully only Anne can hear. "You think there is any real purpose for us being here? The Elf with a Human's mark? The feral Halfling? The upstart Rain bringer? Some of us are as likely to get assassinated as do any real work in Storm reach." Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship. Anne easily remains standing as the ship shakes, but she notes the discomfort the storm is bringing most of the passengers in the cabin. I know not the answers you seek, but I am not a frail creature, and I've never been part of the rivalry between our houses. In that, perhaps Lysander knew I was their best chance for lasting peace, or perhaps they merely saw an opportunity to dispatch with a nuisance alongside their enemies. I'm not afraid, Seeker. If assassins await us, let them try. I'll protect you, if it comes to it. As the ship continues to shake, McAllister's words echo in her mind. Originally Posted by McAllister d'Lysander "So you say, Rain bringer. I have never been to Men'drink, but I'm quite certain the jungle has more than enough rain." Ignorant wind-rider, she thinks. How can they carry the same mark, without understanding what it's for? Does he truly believe that Rain calling is as fleeting as calling a gust of wind, or a bolt of lightning? It's not about quantity of rain, but about timing, placement, balance. Calming a storm is as vital a skill as causing one. So too with matters politic, it would seem. She again turns her full attention to the storm outside the windows. Both hands now have water motes dancing around them, and her eyes glaze over slightly, as if full of tears. The glowing lines of her dragon mark are faintly visible through her navy dress, beginning underneath the seashell clasps on top of her hands, tracing ornate designs up her arms, and meeting in a mirrored lightning-bolt shape between her exposed shoulder blades. Now, let me see what I can do about this storm. You're welcome to help, McAllister, or to stand there. She stretches her arms out before her and attempts to calm the thunder and lightning, to slow the rain to a more manageable, nourishing downpour, and to temper the winds to a constant flow rather than a cacophony of turbulences. Originally Posted by Caracas Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder override the music for a moment and shake the ship. "Ah, yes, Rotunda Gate. A magnificent city," Cravat said. "I am Cravat Moaned, Inquisitive of House Medan. You might have heard of me?" "A boring city." April snorted as he looked at his hand, it wasn't terribly impressive. "Apologies, they mostly kept me underground and away from anyone or anything too interesting. That's why I took up card games." Originally Posted by Divers "No matter, friend April, you'll learn quickly enough -- vault guards are a sharp and canny lot, or they wouldn't stay vault guards long." "Flattery will get you everywhere. Not that I ever had much talent for it. Though it does take a certain dogged awareness to manage the vaults from day to day." Tensions seemed to be rising at the same rate as the storm outside. The spirits seemed agitated too, though April wasn't certain why just yet. Shader looked both surprised and skeptical at Anne's offer to protect him, but turned to respond to the eavesdropping Sabbonsiel." I am not interested in getting into some kind of theological debate. Many people disparage those of..." He continued on as Anne concentrated on the storm outside. Spoiler: For Anne's eyes only Hide Arcane Check: (1d20+7)[23] Any control of the storm you have usually is ripped from you by whatever is happening outside. It's powerful. TOO powerful. Some form of magic is accelerating the storm to impossible speed and viciousness. You know that the Wind riders used some magic to speed the airship's journey. You recall that Men'drink is sometimes reported to have odd weather patterns due to ambient magic around the continent. "You must be referring to that business in Share about the Forgotten Forge,"Cravat said to Jubal as they played a hand." Yes, I was credited only with-"The door to the cabin suddenly slammed open, the breach in its warded walls allowing the roar of wind and rain and crackle of lightning to override everything else in the cabin. One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously. Rain bringer ZanneZanne recoils from the window as the storm rejects her calming, just in time for the crewman to barge in. I... I agree. This storm is not natural, not in the slightest, and whatever magic is fueling it is stronger than my mark. This is evidence you may be right, Seeker. She turns to McAllister. We MUST calm this storm before it rips the ship apart. Help me. Nameless warforgedThe cacophony of voices may not have been enough to disrupt it from its labors, but the last round of ship-shaking thunder and lightning were. Even its formerly-inattentive canine construct had perked up. At first, it merely stowed whatever contraption it was working on into its backpack, but when the crew member entered sopping wet and pronounced his breathless warning--followed by the Lysander woman's own dire statement--it pointedly gestured to its canine companion, which responded by climbing up into the pack and, well, shrinking to fit the accommodations. It hoisted its belongings, stood up and turned to address the crewman." If the storm has caused a deficiency within the dragon shard binding the elemental spirit to this vessel, then permit me to be of assistance in its repair." That was the first time many, if not most of those gathered in the cabin had heard it speak. McAllister reaches out with left hand to gently touch Anne's shoulder as she attempts to calm the stormier: Ninja'd by DM, but that's what he would have done :)As the crew member stumbles into the room with his proclamation, McAllister turns to his house-mate. I am no Rain caller. Unleashing the fury of a storm is my domain, not calming one. But bending the wind spirits to my will is the true calling of a Wind Rider. Do what you can with the storm, I will see to the ship. Airman, take me to the binding chamber immediately. War forged, with me, your assistance may be needed. Originally Posted by Caracas One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously. Shouting to be heard over the roar of winds just outside and the hubbub within, Jubal responds, "Then you'd better get back out and try to fix them, brother, because salvation isn't standing around in here! You can't survive a fall into a storm-torn ocean, so figure out something you can do." He drags the man by the arm back toward the door, bearing a good bit of his weight. "Come on. What do you need?" One of the first things that a young vault guard was taught was how to remain calm in situations of extreme stress. It rarely came up in April's time, but the training served him well. As the storm grows worse, the stalwart dwarf only grows more calm. In the quiet of his mind he opens himself up to the cries of the primal spirits of wind, rain and thunder. Alright now, what's all this about?he asks the spirits. Spoiler: IOC Hide I think a Nature roll would be appropriate here? Possibly? If not, at least it'll let me test how much the forum's dice roller's going to screw me this game Nature check to talk to the storm: (1d20+9)[20] The crewman's eyes widen in terror as he is dragged toward the door. "We can't go back out there! We've lost three men to the winds already! This cabin's the safest place on the ship, but the binding chamber's on the other is-"Suddenly, the entire ship lurches and sends objects and people tumbling toward the back of the cabin. You've sped up again, and by a fair amount. Spoiler: For April Hide The spirits, as always, speak to you more in feelings than in words. Helpless exhilaration from the spirits of the wind indicate that they are along for the ride, some other force whipping them into a frenzy and pushing the ship far, far faster and harder than any natural winds short of hurricanes. Challenges being undertaken so far:Get to the Binding Chamber – If you're going outside, I'll need acrobatics or athletics checks, or any other skills you think are relevant. Describe what you are trying to do in order to justify your choices of skill. Calm the storm/Stabilize the winds – Trained arcane checks if you have an arcane power source may help counter or stabilize whatever magic is feeding the storm. Trained nature checks if you have a primal power source may call wind spirits to your aid. Relevant rituals or powers may also help. Other? Go ahead and make skill checks proactively in whatever way you think works best so we can streamline this. I'll roll any skill checks I think are called for as part of a response post if you don't, as I did for Anne. Nameless warforgedThe sudden lurching, and the logical consequences thereof, forced it to accept the cold hard facts that 1) whoever created it did not have aerobatics in mind, and 2) it thus would be better able to assist with the matter at the binding chamber if the storm--and whatever was empowering it--were first brought to an end. So, departing from its original course of action, it made its way to the window and attempted to focus its sensors upon the arcane forces at work behind the storm so that they can be more effectively countered. Spoiler Hide Arcane check to analyze the magical energies behind the storm: (1d20+12)[19] Rain bringer ZanneZanne turns back to the windows, desperately searching for a way to unweave whatever necromancy has reinforced the storm. Spoiler Hide Further arcane! (1d20+7)[24] "Buddy. Look," Jubal says earnestly to the air shipman, not loosening his grip in the slightest, forcing the man to meet his eyes. Thinking quickly, he throws out trick after psychological trick as quickly as he can to see what sticks -- refocusing, discussing the odds, stoking the fires of ego, implying manliness if the air shipman refuses, showing that's he'll put skin in the game himself. "Pay attention. Now, you're going to die horribly if you don't take action. You're trained better than anyone in this room and nineteen out of twenty other flyers, or you wouldn't have been trusted on this trip. I know it's hell out there, but your best chance at survival is getting back to it. Now grab yourself by the balls and let's go." Spoiler: mechanics Hide Well, I was picked for this trip because I'm a leader, so I'm going to lead. That's an Insight check -- using awareness of how the human (halfling, Minotaur, etc.) mind works to fight the influence of terror. (d20+10)[21] The rocking of the ship makes the claw foot screech, Doris's vicious talons digging into the floor of the cabin to stay put. Viral vaults over the back of his chair, rushing to his friend's side and patting his flank gently, trying to calm the beast while he listens to the others. Hearing the others argue over how to get to - well, wherever that was - with the storm, the halfling rushes across the room to get sight of the door and throws out a hand, calling to the spirits." Follow the roots! They'll grip you to the floor!" In point of fact, roots really are appearing in front of the door - a large section of the deck before the door twisting and shifting into a squirming mass of roots. Thick, ropey formations of wood wrap around anything on that section of the deck, lashing down anything that moves to keep them steady against the raging winds. Spoiler Hide Using Bridge of Roots - a Hunter daily utility. I create a 5x5 zone until end-of-encounter where allies ignore all difficult or hindering terrain, up to and including bottomless pits. I can move it around if they need it shifted to cover the full distance to where they need to go, and I'm hoping that Dara will let them grip and steady things to ignore the "hindering terrain" of a rocking ship and heavy winds. The primal spirits of air weren't always friendly with April, not like the steady spirits of earth and stone, or the cold but caring spirits of winter's icy chill. Still, April knows the spirits and he knows how to speak to them. Even if these are nothisspirits, he at least was a friend of a friend... of sorts. Adrik follows the halfling's advice and uses the vines to carefully go out onto the deck of the ship, fighting against the fierce winds and showing no fear to the storm spirits dancing overhead." Spirits of the air, of the water, of lighting and storm! Hear me! I am a herald of the winter and a friend to the great north wind! I implore you in the name of great winter and call upon your loyalty to the north wind to calm yourselves and return to your natural state!" April shouts into the storm. Spoiler: IOC Rolls Hide So that'll be an athletics check outside, and a Nature check to try and calm the storm. Let me know if I'm doing anything wrong Athletics: (1d20+11)[19] Nature: (1d20+9)[12] Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. Originally Posted by Caracas The door to the cabin suddenly slammed open, the breach in its warded walls allowing the roar of wind and rain and crackle of lightning to override everything else in the cabin. One of the crew stumbled into the cabin. He was soaking wet and quickly formed a puddle on the floor around him as he turned and forced the door closed again, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with fear. "The storm-" he gasped, "too powerful. Bindings – weakening." As if in response, another flash of lightning and clap of thunder came simultaneously. Saab took a step back as the door slammed open, the cards that the House Lunar representative had spread across the floor swirled in a rising calming before scattering across the cabin. Chris growled and approached his master's side. For the first time he realized the peril that they were in, even as the diminutive d'Gallantry summoned a path of roots and vines that others may approach the Binding Chamber without fear of being carried away by the gale force winds that ripped across the deck. He ventured out the cabin door, towards the leeward side of the ship, looking down, the wind and the cloud prevented him from ascertaining their altitude. He opted for the more prudent course, he followed the path of vines, fighting against the savage winds which whipped at his cloak. Furthermore, he looked for an Officer, one who could direct him to the Captain of the vessel."YOU THERE,"he shouted to make himself heard over the winds, which threatened to carry his words away, despite the short distance to the man,"WHERE IS YOUR CAPTAIN! WE NEED TO SET DOWN AND ANGLE INTO THE WIND! IF WE FALL FROM THIS HEIGHT WE'LL SPLINTER AGAINST THE SEA, WE MUST MAKE SEAWALL WHILE THE BINDINGS HOLD!" Spoiler: IOC Hide First an Acrobatics test to withstand the winds as I search for a Crewman who still has his wits about him, (1d20+11)[19], and then I will make both a Perception Check, (1d20+12)[17], to find the Crewman, and then a Nature Check (1d20+12)[27] to determine our course of action, which I am going with descend closer to sea level. Hopefully I don't get whipped overboard, otherwise, it's a sea Elf for me! :p McAllister peers through the open the door, the winds whipping around his face. Invigorating him. He spins his staff around and slams in to the floor Winds, heed my command! The winds seem to coalesce just outside the door and small tornado appears. With a gesture from McAllister, the creature zips across the deck, searching for the clearest route through the storm. Following his minion and the path of roots summoned by Viral, McAllister makes his way into the torrent. Spoiler: Mechanics Hide McAllister summons his Dust Devil, level 1 Daily. It grants him +2 speed. As a minor action, McAllister sends it across the deck, looking for a [I]relatively[I] clear path. He then follows Acrobatics +2 (1d20+2)[7] Spoiler: Nameless War forged's Arcane Check Hide The magic driving this storm is just as chaotic as the storm itself. You can't determine much about it, save that it probably wasn't made by mortal magic. Or, at least, not just mortal magic. You have been told by your master that ambient magic around Men'drink has strange effects sometimes. Anne's reach is not very far in this chaos, but what she has, she uses effectively. She is able to set up a small barrier around parts of the ship, smoothing the winds and reducing the shaking they have induced. Though unable to do much against the entirely of the storm, she is able to do this much locally. Spoiler: Jubal Skill Check Hide Nice try Divers, but I think this is... Diplomacy: (1d20+8)[22] With a bit of a bonus aided by insight. The crewman seems to respond to Jubal, nodding and running back into the storm. He manages to make it to the main mast and grabs a bundle of rope, then runs back to those at the door, keeping a hold on whatever he can find as he moves. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO HELP, YOU NEED LIFELINES. TIE THESE AROUND YOUR WAIST." Jirgal's quick-thinking pays off as April, Saab, and McAllister venture out onto the deck. The vines grip at their feet and legs as their feet fall and release when they take a step, securing their passage across the deck. Even so, the winds whipping at you make passage slow, and, if not for McAllister's Dust Devil creating a steadier passage, he might have slipped free. Spoiler: April Hide April's shouts are swallowed by the storm and ignored. The wind spirits here are too caught up in the rush of the storm and the passage of the ship to pay heed to the mortal that speaks to them. Saab notices that most of the crew have lifelines tied to the main mast. He follows the path of one and grabs hold of a passing crewman's arm, shouting to be heard. "HE WENT BELOW DECKS WITH THE SHIP'S ARTIFICER TO CHECK ON THE BINDINGS. WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN JUST TO STAY IN THE SKY," the man shouted back, before turning again to pull on the line he was working. Creilath joined some of the group at the door to the cabin and peered out. A flash of lightning lit the sky again, this one a distance away, and he cursed."TOO LATE TO CONSIDER A SEA LANDING,"he shouted."THERE'S A MOUNTAIN, DEAD AHEAD." Now that it's been pointed out, you can see the shadow of darker sky rising to a point ahead of you, just barely visible through the turbulent sky. And it's quickly growing larger. Rain bringer ZanneZanne squints and looks where the crewman is pointing, trying to make out the mountain ahead. I don't suppose we brought a Romancer with us, did we? That would have been too convenient. She turns to the room. Perhaps I can give us a bit of a water landing, even on the mountain. I am a necromancer, after all, and there is plenty of ambient water in this storm. It's merely a matter of channeling and condensing it into a suitable landing pool. Confident though she manages to keep her voice, her eyes betray her fear. April D'KundarakThe spirits were wild and out of control, gaining their attention was nearly impossible but April knew he had no recourse but to try again." Spirits of the Air and Storms, I plead with you! Fight against this magic controlling you! Do not let these people suffer and die because you were too weak! Cease this driving storm!" April shouted. Spoiler: Rolls Hide Nature to try and calm the spirits: (1d20+9)[19] Nameless warforgedIt paused to consider the data it had gathered and processed, before turning to the dwarf." I estimate a high probability that the ambient magic permeating Men'drink is responsible for the severity of this storm. Therefore, it is unlikely that these spirits you call upon will be able to be of assistance by themselves. However,"and here it turned to regard the half-elf,"if you combine your magical command over storms with his primal connection to the spirits underlying them, it may be possible to replace the forces currently driving it against us with forces that are more favorable to our situation. Permit me to act as a conduit; any other assistance from magically-competent passengers would be appreciated. Should that prove insufficient, the water landing you propose will likely become necessary." It stood ready to assist. Spoiler: IOC Hide Just to be clear, I'm proposing we do Aid Another checks to boost one of our skills high enough to overcome this challenge. I have an Arcane of +12, so if we can get a few successful Aid Another checks I should be able to get it up there pretty high, maybe not enough to auto-succeed but to have a very good chance of hitting the difficult DC (assuming that's what we need). April interprets the response of the spirits into words as they finally notice him." You should not be in this sky, Child of Earth. It is dangerous. We did not create this storm, though we may be carried by it. We will help you, if you guide us." The dwarf feels a hand on his shoulder. Its owner turns out to be the Half-Orc from House Thrash, Ulrike."YOU COMMUNE WITH THE SPIRITS. ALLOW ME TO ASSIST." Adrik feels a sudden strengthening of his connection to the relatively unfamiliar wind spirits. You may now use them to try to influence the ship, as Anne is doing. Inside the cabin, people are in various states of action. Kanpur braces himself in some of the bolted furniture, looking somewhat helpless. Efren has whipped the covering off of a large glowing stone he has been holding the whole trip and is speaking to it in the Gnomish dialect they keep from outsiders. It is all Berlin can do to keep her beasts calm in the chaos. Merrill has abandoned her music and is helping Aragon mount some sort of devices around the cabin. Great and Call have joined the group at the door of the cabin, ready to help in whatever way they can. Only Healer Amanda seems to be both calm and unmoving, though the careful observer can see her lips moving in prayer. Jubal takes the lifeline as directed and tries to make a quick-and-dirty harness based on his hazy memories of rappelling. Not a skill often used while fleeing the effects of war ... but his family had done whatever it took to stay ahead of disaster. He then heads out onto the deck to see if he can be of any assistance there. He finds himself hanging onto Viral's bed of roots with some maneuvers reminiscent of the grappling/takedown sport he fancied in his teen years. Spoiler: mechanics Hide Athletics: (d20+7)[26] plus any bonus for lifeline, roots, dust devil. Not sure what to roll to actually help with the ship once I'm on deck ... I can just go to the binding chamber immediately if no crew are up here to give me other directions. His connection to the primal spirits strengthened, April commanded their attention." Spirits of air and storm, please, cease your attacks against this ship. The whole of the sky is your playground, elsewhere you will find the freedom to blow and rain and thunder as you please, without harming innocent lives. If some magic compels you to attack this airship against your wills, then I implore you to fight back against it. At least aid us in pushing this airship clear of the mountains, if it is beyond you to cease this assault, then at least give us a measurable chance to survive!" Ok, to help speed this along, let's try a bit of a more-organized shortcut. Breaking down events by tasks currently being undertaken:Manning the Ship Even if more magical help succeeds, the ship cannot make it without important adjustments being made, as is the case in any storm. Work with the crew to help hold the ship together and steer it to safety. Harnessing the Storm Whether calming the winds around you or directing them in a safer way, you are reducing the turbulence around the ship and guiding it toward safety. Those with primal or arcane talent are working hard to control the storm. Strengthening the Binding Like all airships, a giant ring with a bound elemental powers this ship. However, the ring is cracking, and the elemental threatens to break free. The captain is in the binding chamber, trying to assure that doesn't happen. Help him! Warding the CabinAralyn d'Cannot has produced some artifice that she is placing about the cabin to protect those inside. Additional protection or help with her devices may not go amiss. If everyone could state which of these tasks they are helping with (or any other ideas you might have), I'll divide things up and get us moving again. April continued to guide and direct the wind spirits, calming some, redirecting others, in an effort to lessen the dangers of the storm. Spoiler: IOC Hide Nature: (1d20+9)[29] Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal."CHRIS!", he shouted to make himself heard over the storm,"Back to the Cabin with the others!" He pointed towards the cabin, the displacer beast, the wind and rain matting its hide to it's already unnaturally gaunt frame, skulked back towards the cabin. He again followed d'Gallantry's path of twisted vines and roots towards the main mast, trusting his even heritage he vaulted up the rigging, until he was perched between the mast and the crossbeam, he looked further up towards the Lookout's platform. Furthermore, he surmised that there should be a spyglass or viewing crystal there, and perhaps he could discern the location of the best possible impact site for the vessel, hoping against hope that there was a plateau or something similar this far up the mountain. He continued his ascent, bracing against the storm raging around him. Spoiler: IOC Hide An Acrobatics check to vault, flip, and otherwise get up to the Lookout Platform. (1d20+11)[27], and once there, a Perception Check (1d20+12)[30] to determine a suitably safe looking landing spot, hopefully aided by an eyeglass or some such. Nameless warforgedAs it appeared its skills were not needed for calming the storm and dispelling the magics behind it, it decided it would attempt to assist the captain and ship's artificer with the binding. It clambered over the vines and made its way to the chamber, where it asked"How may I be of assistance?", though as it did so it was already analyzing the particulars of their attempt to secure the binding for ways in which it could be made more efficient. Spoiler Hide Arcane to analyze dreamer if necessary: (1d20+12)[18] Sorry for taking so long. The next minutes are tense as everyone gets to work, helping how they can. Adrik and Ulrike, and Anne and McAllister together work the storm and winds in their way, trying as much as possible to smooth the turbulence and adjust their course to avoid the looming mountainside. Hastening across the deck, kept secure by the vines grabbing at its feet, the War forged disappeared below decks, making its way to the ship's binding chamber. There, he saw the ship's artificer and captain struggling with a glowing dragon shard set in a magic circle. The dragon shard pulsed like the binding ring around the ship was doing, growing unstable. As the war forged watched, a small crack leaking light formed on the surface of the shard. Your quick analysis tells you that the strain being put on the elemental ring encircling the ship is being mirrored in the crystal here, and it's far more than what the enchantments are meant to contain. You might reinforce it with a larger circle around the existing enchantment, which would work, but only long enough for the ship to land or crash. Or you could attempt to erase the existing circle and replace it with something stronger, which would be more stable, but also much harder to do quickly and would lead to a much worse outcome should you fail. The less magically-inclined quickly helped tie lifelines to themselves and their companions. Most began taking instructions from the crew working the ship. Together, Viral, Jubal, Call and Great help the crew make adjustments to ride the wind as best they can. Sabbonsiel successfully scrambles up the rigging and peers out into the storm. The mountains are ahead, but you also can better see below now that you are higher up. The only ocean is one of trees. You have somehow traveled much farther than you intended, leaving the ocean behind. You do however see a dark furrow carved through the jungle below, running from your left to behind the mountains. Perhaps a river? April continues to direct and negotiate with the winds spirits, doing his best to help guide the ship as directed by the people in the crow's nest. Lessening the turbulence affecting the ship was less important in his mind than ensuring that the ship didn't crash outright, so he tried to use the excitement of the wind spirits to push the ship where it needed to go, rather than reduce the overall wind effects. Spoiler: IOC Hide Nature check for wind control: (1d20+9)[20] Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 41 of 41 | Surges: 8 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. As his keen even eyes picked out the details of the dark furrow in the jungle's canopy he lifted his hands to his face, cupping them around his mouth he sincerely hoped that he could make himself heard over the wind raging around him."RIVER! Port Side! We could set her down through the trees! Hard to Port! HARD TO PORT!" Jubal can barely even make out the mountain through the horrifying storm, but he catches Sabbonsiel's cry clearly enough. He adds his own to make sure the remaining sailors can hear. "Safe landing, hard to port! Safe landing, hard to port!" Viral sprints out onto deck, a touch of what magic he knows keeping him steady as he gets to his roots. He starts using them to fasten down anything he can on deck that might cause an issue - pulling loose ropes, dropped tools, and in the worst case, unconscious crewman into the tentative safe harbor of the tight, unyielding grip of the animated wood. Spoiler: IOC Hide Can't imagine it actually matters what the roll is, and I'll take 10 if I can, but should probably do this anyway. He's using Body Equilibrium - assuming this counts as an Acrobatics check to balance, which seems roughly reasonable, that's a +5 in addition to his normal good Acrobatics score of 14. (1d20+19)[20] Rain bringer ZanneZanne slowly makes her way onto the deck, continuing to maintain her focus on dampening the storm's wrath to the best of her abilities. As she concentrates, much of the rain begins to miss the deck, not because it's being warded off, but because it's being drawn to the bottom of the hull, where it condenses into a solid form. Aim for the river! I think I've managed to add a bit of cushioning to the impact point, but it won't help if we crash into the mountains! Spoiler Hide Many minors: Sustain my arcane -- let me know if you want a new check. Many moves and standards: move onto the deck, bracing myself with the roots. A standard towards the end: Wall of Water: Create the best cushioning I can on the mid-front of the bottom hull. After that: Sustain both my arcane and the wall of water, moving it slightly as needed to compensate for storm run-off or any debris we may encounter in the river landing. Nameless warforgedAfter a cursory review of the situation, it was prepared to offer its analysis and recommended course of action to the captain." It appears the existing binding is insufficient to contain the tension being reflected upon it by the elemental ring. It may be possible to replace the binding with a stronger enchantment, however I do not anticipate having sufficient time or resources to do so. Therefore, I recommend constructing a second binding around the existing one in order to support it long enough to facilitate a controlled crash landing. If this is suitable I will proceed immediately with creating the support binding." That was when reality set in to it, as it realized it cannot successfully accomplish such a task on its own." I... will require assistance." Spoiler Hide That does seem like the best approach, especially with preparations already under way for a water landing. Arcane to create the outer binding (assuming that there are materials on hand to do so): (1d20+12)[13] While the war forged's initial evaluation was spot-on, it seemed not to have the experience necessary to do the task quickly without more time to think. Time the ship and its crew didn't have. Operating off the War forged's explanation, the ship's artificer began using chalk to construct a circle, eventually pushing the War forged out of the way when it began slowing him down more than helping. Outside, calls were relayed, and a combination of the arcane and primal forces directing the winds and the crew's efforts began altering the ship's course. The elemental ring strained and cracked, barely keeping the ship up. The mountains drifted to the right as the ship steered to avoid them and aimed toward the river. Another loud crack in the ring was accompanied by a lurch. The ship pitched downward. A call was raised and everyone on deck was hastened into the cabin. Jubal dragged an unconscious man into the cabin and slammed the door. Once it was closed, the vibrations lessened. Aragon d'Cannot's artifice was at work. Ehren d'Civil was shouting now into his glowing stone. The entire ship jolted as it hit the treetops of a ridge, passing into the jungle before the river. There was nothing again for a few tense minutes. In the binding chamber, a rudimentary circle had been constructed, and had been working for the past few minutes. At least the whole thing hadn't shattered five minutes ago. Now the second circle was also failing. The ship artificer cursed and began working on a full circle. The captain was at the back of the chamber, holding onto a net in the corner. The dragon shard shattered, and the arcane backlash took the artificer full in the chest. A loud crack heard even over the storm announced the final failing of the elemental ring. A few moments later, the ship crashed into the jungle.IOC:Nameless War forged takes (4d10)[20] damage, since it is outside the slightly-protected cabin. Everyone else takes (3d10)[16] damage as they are thrown forward in the cabin. If you are trained in Acrobatics, you may make a check to reduce this damage by 1/2 the check result, rounded down, as per the falling rules. The crash could have been a lot worse. The shield of water helped brake the landing, as did the trees the ship hit first. You sit up from where you have fallen in darkness. The storm sounds far away now, compared to what it was before, and everything is still. Breaks in the walls and hull of the ship let in just enough dim light for a human to see the shadows of bodies scattered all over. Those with better eyes can identify individuals. Several are moaning in pain in the cabin, while the Nameless War forged in the binding chamber can see and hear no signs of life. The sudden jolting halt of the airship sent April tumbling through the cabin, though his low center of gravity kept him from getting seriously hurt, the dwarf was definitely banged up by the impact. Lying face first on what was either the floor or the forward wall of the cabin, April reached out for something to prop himself up on as he regained his footing. His searching hand found something soft and a bit fleshy, recognizing it for what it was, he immediately withdrew his hand and jumped up, muttering "Sorry..." Spoiler: IOC Hide I watch a lot of shōnen anime, and couldn't really pass up the opportunity. If someone else wants to join in on the bit, great! Otherwise, we can just skip over it. Nameless At the least one being stirred amidst the wreckage of the binding chamber." Initiating self-repair protocols,"it declared as it stood up, and for a brief moment the gem it wore on its neck glowed faintly crimson while its damaged chassis began knitting itself back together." In retrospect, a training mission prior to departure would have been optimal. Will make a note of it in my report to the Master,"it said absently as it began its search of the darkened chamber, checking as best it could for any signs of the captain or the ship's artificer. Spoiler Hide Not sure if we're getting a short rest here or not; if so I'll spend two surges to go back up to full health, if not I'll Second Wind+Amulet of Life to do the same. Either way I'll be at 44/44 HP and 8/10 Surges. My familiar was in passive mode at the time of the crash so no concern there. And I'll make an active Perception check of the chamber. It doesn't have a light source (or any special senses) unfortunately, but I'm AFB at the moment and I don't remember what the penalty is on Perception checks in darkness without any special senses. So here's its roll without the penalty applied: (1d20+9)[17] Viral braced himself and Doris, calling his roots over to them for a tighter grip and using the climbing ability of the claw foot's... well, clawed feet... to dig into the cabin floor - while their weight dug long furrows into the wood as the impact gave them a very different momentum than the "ground" below them, they managed to avoid being tossed into any walls, which to Viral was a win. A win that still hurt, but a win nonetheless. He groaned a little and collected himself, but nonetheless sprang to his feet - no time to waste. From what the guy up above had shouted, they were in an unknown and potentially hostile wilderness, and who knew what all this racket would attract. He briefly glanced around the cabin, but couldn't really help anyone well - he was quite a bit smaller than all these folks, they'd be hard to help up. Gently encouraging his sore companion to come along with him, the halfling walked out onto the deck, instinctively drawing on the power of the spirits to sharpen his vision, and looked out to see where they'd landed. Oh, while he was thinking about helping people - he called the roots out from inside, and then stretched them out from the edge of the ship, towards the nearest clear area of ground he could see, forming bridge between the ship and the ground. This place didn't seem terribly stable at the moment, and it's easier to carry someone unconscious down a ramp than climb over broken and shattered ground with them... Spoiler: IOC Hide New health: 42-16+1/2 of (1d20+14)[25] Again, roll shouldn't matter too much to the narrative I take here - I should be blunting it by about half with a low roll, more with a high one. After that, he'll assume Aspect of the Seeking Falcon for a +2 and then Perception at the surroundings - (d20+12)[20]. And, why not, he'll also Nature to see what he can figure out about the place. (d20+10)[29] Rain bringer ZanneADRIK D'TUNDRA! Zanne shouts angrily, and then trails off. I...suppose I can't complain overmuch. I'm alive; that's the important part. Perhaps I should have put some cushioning in here, rather than out there, and then we wouldn't all be a tangled mess on the floor. Zanne looks intensely focused on something for a few moments, and then water begins to rush in through one of the shattered windows, washing the pile of bodies in the room apart from each other and righting Anne to standing position, her wounds lessened. That done, Anne pulls a dagger out of one of her boots and, holding it in two hands, she whispers a dismissing incantation and plunges the blade of the dagger into the pool of water. The dagger flashes with bright blue light and...drinks...the water. Seconds later, the room is, if not exactly dry, no more wet than it was before. She slips the dagger back into her boot, and turns to assess the damage. Spoiler: IOC Hide No longer sustaining arcane, but still sustaining the Wall of Water. Several move actions to move my wall of water into the room with us. It doesn't actually have really any of the mechanical implications I'm using in the fluff above, but I figure standing up from prone and separating from a pile of bodies is, if anything, less Move actions than moving the water in, and moving the water in is more fun. Similarly to the war forged, I am either spending a surge as part of a rest, or using my second wind. This puts me at 40/44HP. And the fluff with the dagger is really just failing to sustain the Wall of Water. Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. As the verdant green canopy of the jungle rushed up to greet them, Saab, realizing the perilous position manning the crow's nest had placed himself in braced for the impact, coiling his legs beneath him, he looped a coil of rope around his shoulder. As he felt the mast shudder, at the first moment of impact he flung himself from his perch, there was a momentous crash, as the vessel itself began to plow through the forest, shattering trees and timber alike, time seemed to slow down. For an exhilarating moment, he felt weightless, until the snap of taut rope terminated the arc of his descent, he quickly reached up with a long handled knife and severed the cord, dropping to the deck below. He tucked into a roll, coming up hard, as his shoulder impacted port side rail, the deck was skewed at a sharp angle, making his ascent to starboard side of the vessel difficult. He jumped the port side rail, landing in the soft loam of what he could only assume were the wilds of Men'drink. As the riotous noise of their landing died down, the jungle was eerily silent, the local fauna had retreated to relative safety. He whistled sharply, and shortly thereafter, was greeted by Chris, who was limping, one of his tentacles dragging along the muddy soil. He kneeled, calling her to him, he cradled her head in his hands and pressed his forehead to her brow,"Shhh, we've been through worse." He took a moment, a deep breath, nuzzled her face, and stood, ready to survey the wreckage for signs of life." Stay close, who knows what dangers these wilds hold." As he spoke, he unslung his great bow, and knocked it with a broad head arrow. The crystal shard the hung from the recurve glowed with a cold, pale blue light. Spoiler: IOC Hide Acrobatics Check vs Falling Damage (1d20+11)[28]. Able to reduce falling damage by 14 points, as such only suffers 2 HP's of damage. Chris, my Displacer beast who was in the cabin, however is NOT trained in Acrobatics, and as such suffers the full 16 HP's of Damage. Reducing him to 4 HP's. When we link up on the shore of the River as described above, Chris, using my Surges as per Companion rules, will Second Wind, restoring himself to 14 HP's. Also spending a Minor action to convert all damage done by my bow to Cold. Nameless WarforgedThe binding chamber is in ruins, and a small amount of light comes through the shattered walls. You take some time to feel around until you find two shadows you recognize as humanoid. Neither is breathing. Jirgal camp; SabbonsielThe ship has landed in the jungle, not far from tumbling over a small cliff. Much of the ship has been destroyed, and what remains is kept from sliding down the slope and off the cliff only by the large trees that finally stopped it. Only the passenger cabin has not been entirely destroyed, and only has a few breaks smashed into it. Behind the ship, your crash has left a swathe of destruction with wood both from the ship and destroyed trees. The ground slopes downward from the bottom of the cliff, and you can see a break in the trees that indicates the river only a few miles away. Everyone Elegance's "helpful" use of rainwater elicits several shouts of surprise and irritation. And some in pain. In a moment, Healer Amanda is at someone's side, chanting one of the healing spells she had been preparing during the crash. Others are standing up. Some aren't. Nameless Once it had found the two bodies, it commenced checking to verify whether their apparent lifelessness was indeed actual. Spoiler Hide Heal checks on each one to check the nature of their injuries and see whether either can be revived by any means short of resurrection. (1d20+9)[21] for the captain. (1d20+9)[28] for the artificer. There was little April could do to help with the wounded, but he did his best to help those that could walk or didn't seem too injured to leave the crash safely. Always a wary sort, April kept a sharp eye out for trouble. Spoiler: IOC Hide Current HP: 38/54 If it's possible for April to spend a healing surge without using Second Wind, he will. Otherwise, I'll sit on the damage. Also, if possible and necessary, April will take 10 on an athletics check to carry wounded out of the crashed airship. I'll include a roll as well if taking 10 is inappropriate. Taking 10: 21 Athletics Roll: (1d20+11)[24] Perception check to scan surroundings: (1d20+9)[13] Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. Sabb and Chris circled the wreckage, walking carefully, searching the debris field for the dead, and the injured. He called out to any survivors,"Ho! Airmen! Call out if you need aid!", he continued walking the circuit, until he found the stout shouldered Tundra representative hauling the wounded from the wreckage. He nimbly walked across the debris, skipping from shattered plank, to stone, to lilting duckboard,"April! You survived! Your dwarves are a hardy lot. Let us begin to mark the dead and wounded, if the gods have seen fit to allow any of our healers to survive this catastrophe!" As he spoke, he scanned the circling vegetation, to ensure that the wild predators had not yet returned, no doubt lured by the impact of the Lysander vessel. Spoiler: IOC Hide The result of an Active Perception Check is 18!. Rolled in the IOC thread, because I forgot it in my initial post, and can't edit in a roll. Did I mention I hate d20's, an 18, with a +12? Sigh! Close... best not to move things towards the cliff... Jirgal sent roots lashing from the side of the wreckage towards the debris-strewn forest behind them for his ramp, giving clear, easy passage off the ship. He called over his shoulder, towards the cabin - "I've made a clear way off - better get the wounded out of there, this thing feels pretty rickety!" The halfling bounced on his heels for a moment while he thought before nodding decisively, glancing over at his companion - not to hurt... "Alright, girl, let's get to work..." Viral climbed smoothly up onto Doris's back and trotted her down the bridge of roots, guiding the larger and stronger beast to shift aside debris and clear space to care for the wounded on the ground below. Spoiler: IOC Hide Dunno if I need a check or not to guide my fey beast tamer companion through that slightly more complex task - let me know if I do. The Binding Chamber You feel at the bodies to assess their condition. One has a nasty hole in its chest. The backlash of arcane energy when the dragon shard shattered must have killed the ship's artificer instantly. That would make the other the captain, and his head was at a very wrong angle for a humanoid. The war forged was the only survivor in the ruined chamber. OutsideThe survivors begin climbing out of the cabin, those who can walk supporting or carrying those who cannot. While there are some serious injuries, the protections in the cabin and Healer Amanda's magic prevented loss of life there, though some were lost to the storm before the crash. Notable among the casualties are Efren and Jubal, both knocked out cold, and McAllister, who seems missing entirely. April and Viral direct people down the ramp formed of roots and onto solid ground. Spoiler: Sabbonsiel Perception Hide The surrounding jungle has plenty of movement, but you cannot distinguish any wildlife from the whipping of wind and rain. What you do hear out of the ordinary is the crackling of lightning gathering around the shattered ring around the ship. Nameless Having confirmed neither of them had survived, it now began searching for a way out. It started with the way it came in, and if that is now barred by debris it proceeded to try the cracks in the walls that were letting the light shine in. Nameless Spoiler: Skill checks and perspective information Hide Athletics Check: (1d20+4)[12] You push against the wreckage barring the easiest way out, but it doesn't move very easily. You shift it, but not enough to clear the way. Passive Perception: 19 You can see out of the chamber a little, but you also hear the same crackling of lightning Sabbonsiel heard... Arcane Check: (1d20+12)[22] However, you are able to correctly identify it. It's not from the sky, so the next logical conclusion is that the elemental bound to the ring is now unbound. Everyone Outside Everyone is able to hear the crackling of lightning nearby as it grows louder, as well as the sound of shifting wood as something pushes up on some of the debris near the binding chamber. Spoiler: IOC Hide I hope you're ok with me making those skill checks for you like that, Dacia. Just trying to save time instead of the back-and-forth otherwise required. :) Nameless As soon as it heard the sounds of the elemental freeing itself, it sounded the alarm as best it could from behind the wall, hoping there was at least someone alive and conscious on the other side." Emergency! Emergency! The elemental is unbound from its containment ring! Repeat, the elemental is unbound from its containment ring!"it declared, before stepping back and launching an arm bolt into the wall in an attempt to damage it further and thereby break out of the chamber. Spoiler Hide Oh yeah, no problem, I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure what to roll, so thanks. Not sure if this is even going to work, but here goes Magic Weapon into the wall. (1d20+10)[29] Hit: (1d8+5)[12] damage (no allies adjacent, so the rest is moot) April was helping one of the sailors off the airship when he heard the War forged shout its warning. Looking at the wounded sailor he asked what was probably on everyone's mind." So when that elemental becomes unbound... what happens?" A tinge of worry crept into his voice. Hearing the warning cry, Viral reacted swiftly - pulling Doris away from the wreckage, they dashed back up the root-ramp, the halfling unslinging his bow. He patted his friend reassuringly, watching closely towards the sounds... "Get ready, Doris, something's coming..." Spoiler: IOC Hide Viral took whole four damage before, so he's at 38/42. Unfortunately, the fey panther rules I'm using for Doris aren't actually trained in acrobatics, for some reason! So the crash left her at 5, she's going to Second Wind right now and get up to 15/21 before the fight. That leaves me with 7/8 surges for the day. Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. His keen even ears were able to pick out the War forged's exclamation, and as such he hopped quickly to the nearby shore, drawing his bow, and keeping an arrow on the string. He whispered softly to Chris,"To my side. Now." Rain bringer ZanneZanne rallies with the others, and again pulls her dagger from her boot, in case it's needed. Though it's not glowing nearly so bright as when she was contending with the storm, the faint glow of her mark is still visible through her gown. Where the hell is McAllister when we've got a lightning to contain. Typical Wind rider. There's a solidthunkas a crossbow bolt slams into the wood with magical force, and a piece of rubble snaps, loosening the pile. It's a far cry from simply blasting a way out, but might make it easier to shift, and did make a bit more space for Nameless to see out of the chamber. You see electricity jumping out of the ruins of the ring, gathering at the edge of the destroyed ship closest to the cliff. Dark clouds billow into existence around lightning forming into claws. They dig into the broken wood as the form of a small dragon made of storm clouds crackling with lightning pulls itself into existence in front of you. Roll Initiative! Hide Sabbonsiel: (1d20+7)[21] Jubal Storm Elemental April: (1d20+3)[18] Anne: (1d20+3)[17] Viral: (1d20+7)[14] Nameless: (1d20+3)[6] While Viral was a skilled halfling, he wasn't exactly a complicated one. He had pulled out his bow. He was waiting for something nasty. Furthermore, he needed to protect Doris. So, when a huge roaring dragon appeared, a luminous beast of cloud and storm clawing at the ship? Well, he shot it. In the eye. Spoiler: IOC Hide So, as I recall, we declare actions here - Move action moves me to max range, or the edge of the ship, whichever makes more sense - I'm not going to run off the edge and fall. Minor swaps to Aspect of the Lurking Spider. Standard is Disruptive Shot, applying a save-ends daze and damage. I don't know if I roll for that yet or not, but here's for if I do: To-hit vs AC: (d20+12)[20] Damage: (d8+6)[7], plus one item bonus if it's larger than me (probably is), plus one feat bonus if no other creature is adjacent to it, plus two power bonuses if someone has granted me combat advantage against it. Edit: Oh, also - half damage and slowed until the end of my next turn on a miss. Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 39 of 41 | Surges: 7 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Normal. As the storm clouds took an ominous shape, he couldn't be sure that his arrows would have any more effect on the elemental than they would on clouds themselves. An instinct, one obviously shared by Viral, told him to aim for where the lightning coalesced, in the creatures eyes. He moved forward, trailing a wisp of frost crystals as he commanded his bow, hoping arrows of pure ice would affect the elemental. He loosed two arrows in rapid succession at the dragon shaped storm cloud, all the while Chris remained faithfully at his side. Spoiler: IOC Hide Initiative Check; (1d20+7)[16]. Move action to approach the dragon-shaped elemental. Free Action to switch my Frost Great bow to Cold damage. Minor Action to designate the elemental as my Quarry. Attack Check: +1 to Attack Check if no Ally closer (Prime Shot); 1st Arrow (1d20+12)[29]; 2nd Arrow (1d20+12)[19]. Damage; All Damage is considered Cold Damage (Frost Great bow); +1 to Cold Damage (Fibers Shard); +1 Damage if no creature Adjacent to target (Bow Expertise): 1st Arrow (1d12+2)[13]; 2nd Arrow (1d12+2)[6]; Quarry Damage if either attack hits: (1d6)[1] +1 Power Bonus to all Defenses (Companion Displacement Aura); +1 Item Bonus to all Defenses if attacked at range greater than 5 (Cloak of Displacement); +1 typed bonus to all Defenses from attacks by Quarry (Predator's Armor). April D'KundarakHP: 38/54 | Surges: 12/12 | AP: 1As soon as the elemental breaks free of the ring, April rushes to engage it. Spoiler: IOC Hide I don't think April is likely to be close enough to get into melee with the elemental without at least double moving. So he will be double moving as close as possible to the Elemental. If that is enough to get him to adjacent range, he'll use a Free Action to use Nature's Wrath, marking all adjacent enemies (-3 penalty because of Mark of Warding). If he is able to attack, He'll use Weight of Earth. Attack: (1d20+10)[11] vs. AC Damage: (1d10+5)[12] Jubal claws his way back to consciousness, his ears forcing his mind to return. After decades of life on the run, a problem as obvious as gathering lightning and shouts of alarm wouldn't pass him by even while out cold. He sees with gladness that everyone is focused elsewhere, and his dragon mark seems to pulse with shadow on his skin. Slipping a small blade from a well-designed sheath -- thank the gods it hadn't found its way into his throat in the crash! -- Jubal slowly comes to a crouch. Then he dashes several steps, slipping away from visibility as he goes, as if he were oil to the water of vision. From the relative obscurity, he throws the blade at the heart of the forming disturbance, trusting his shadow magic to find the mark. Spoiler: mechanics Hide Move action to stand from prone. Minor action to draw my shrike of long range. Standard action: rogue power fleeting spirit strike. Shift 3, triggering Shadow Walk and allowing Cunning Sneak, with a roll of (d20+14)[18] to become Hidden against the storm elemental's passive Perception. Make a ranged attack roll anywhere within 22 squares with no penalty for distance, (d20+10)[20] (plus two if I have CA from being Hidden) against AC. A hit deals (2d4+5)[9], and if I'm Hidden then add +5 necrotic and +(2d6)[4] Sneak Attack. The hit also lets me shift 3 again, but I can't hide again because it's during the same action I lost the Hidden condition, so it doesn't matter much. If I hid successfully but flubbed the attack roll, I'll use even accuracy to reroll: (d20+12)[30] (including that inherent CA). Won't waste it if I'm not Hidden. Spoiler: off-turn action Hide Should any enemy enter a square adjacent to me, I'll use smoke bomb to shift 6 and try to hide: (d20+14)[34] Though his maneuver attracts some attention, Jubal's image refuses to be looked at straight-on, bending the eye and mind. Rain bringer Annette motes of water that hover around Anne's fingertips coalesce into three concentric rings around each of her wrists, and begin to hum with power. The slow melodic pulse of the hum fills the air with its steadfast, percussive beat and tinkling high notes, contrasting starkly with the crackling energy coming from its opposed element. Chanting in time with the beat, Anne brings her hands together effortlessly, producing a rather loud thunderclap aimed directly at the beast's left ear. As the thunder burst echoes off of the dragon's head, it forms a slightly shimmering shield in front of both April and Anne. Spoiler Hide Without knowing distances precisely, it's hard to spell out exactly my plan. It also swings on how generous you are about allowing me to begin combat with my Aura and Stance enabled -- I generally assume that at least the Aura is automatic, which leaves me with a move action. Ideally, with my 6 speed I can get to a square that's within 10 of the dragons and within 5 of April. So: Escalated Thunderbolt at the Dragon -- may as well throw on my dagger's daily if it hits: (1d20+9)[24] vs Reflex Hit: (1d12+15)[24](base) + (1d10)[8](Escalation) + (1d8)[6](thundering dagger daily) thunder damage, slide it 1 square closer to April (and choose not to push it 1 square from the daily), and April gains 5 THP. Effect: I gain a +2 bonus to defenses FONT If April is not yet adjacent to the Dragon, but is within 3 squares, and Bolstering Speech was also free, I can try to move him adjacent with Beguiling Flash, which is a non-damaging attack vs will. Up to him/you, though. Spoiler: If we're doing that:[roll4 Hide vs his Will (which is 16) * post roll count doesn't match database Nameless Seeing the "dragon" taking shape, it moved up to the opening to get a better look and--after plucking out a small blue vial and placing it into the barrel of itsmegabusterarmbow--let loose a glob of frigid blue matter at the elemental." It would be preferable if those using ranged weapons would fall back into position nearest to this opening, as my enhancements to your weaponry have a limited range,"it advised over the din of battle. Spoiler: Actions Hide Move action to move up to the edge of the viewing area Magic Weapon created. Minor action to draw/load my use of Alchemist Frost for the encounter. Standard action to attack with Alchemist Frost using the arm bow's range. (1d20+6)[17] vs. Ref Hit: (1d10)[5] cold damage and the target is slowed UE MNT. Spoiler: Off turn action Hide If either myself or another member of the party gets hit by an attack on the elemental's next turn (not on this one unfortunately due to not acting before it during the first round of combat), I will use Channeling Shield as an Immediate Interrupt to reduce the damage by 8 and gain a +3 power bonus to damage for my next attack against it. Round 1Sabbonsiel's a pair of arrows pierce the elemental's form, one after the other, dealing a total of20 damage to the elemental. From behind you, a shrike flashes out from the awakened Jubal's location, taking the elemental through one of its "eyes" and dealing18 damage. Sabbonsiel, being closest and having recently put steel into the elemental, becomes the target of its ire. It rushes across the deck to a position adjacent to the elf and claws and bites at its attacker. Claw attack:29 vs AC; Take19 lightning damage and fallproneBite attack:16 vs AC; Miss! As the elemental draws near to you, you can feel the powerful aura of grasping wind around it, making movement difficult, and the aura grows more powerful, expanding from an Aura 1 to an Aura 3 and including Sabbonsiel (and Chris), April, Anne, and Viral (and Doris), with everyone but Sabbonsiel being a space back from him. Moving through the aura is difficult terrain, and creatures in it cannot shift. Since the dragon was kind enough to come to him, April does not have that far to move. April moves in with a hammer blow, butmissesthe main body of the elemental himself. The elemental is now marked by the dwarf as April occupies its attention. Zanne's blast of thunder slams into the elemental for38 damage, but the thunder of her attack resonates in the elemental and is fed back into the winds surrounding it. Everyone in the aura (Sabbonsiel, Chris, April, Anne, Viral, Doris) takes5 damage and grants combat advantage until the end of the dragon's next turn. Jirgal retreats out of the aura to the edge of the ship, moving back four spaces. His arrow hits the elemental in the head, dealing8 damageanddazingit (save ends). From the entrance to the binding chamber, off to one side, the Nameless War forged shoots a cold payload at the elemental, dealing5 cold damageandslowingit. Next Round April D'KundarakHP: 33/54 | Surges: 12/12 | AP: 1The reverberating thunder makes April's ears pop in a most painful way. "They bound you, I know. Forced you into a service you never agreed to nor wanted. You're angry, but you're free now! Take your leave if you wish, but harm these people, and you will taste my hammer." Adrik takes a swing at the elemental, his hammer charged with magnetic force to drag the monster into a more advantageous position. As he does so, he opens his mind to the call of the stone, filling his body with resolute strength and restoring his flagging spirit. Spoiler: IOC Hide Standard Action: Thorn Strike against Elemental. Pulling it 1 square so that April is better positioned between the Elemental and the rest of the party. Attack roll: (1d20+10)[26] Damage roll: (1d10+5)[9] Minor Action: Second Wind, HP is now 46/54. Activates Earth strength. So I get +CON to my AC for the round, in addition to the +2 to all my defenses from second wind. AC: 27 Fort: 20 Ref: 18 Will: 18 Free Action: Use Nature's Wrath to mark all adjacent enemies. -3 because of Mark of Warding. Sabbonsiel, Merchant Prince of House Orient's: 17&gt;27 of 41 | Surges: 7&gt;6 of 8 | Action Points: 1. Conditions camp; Effects: Bloodiest;2nd Wind. +2 all Defenses. The massive claws slammed into SAB, throwing him from his feet. He struggled to rise, the smell of ozone and thunder rising from the rent across his armor. Even as he fought through his pain, he heard April's impassioned plea to the newly freed elemental, and he couldn't find fault with it. Perhaps the elemental would flee, perhaps it would continue its onslaught. As the other delegates continued to harry the dragon-like storm, he thought that perhaps it would be the latter, he steeled himself for further confrontation, knocking an arrow while keeping a second held loosely in his draw hand. Spoiler: IOC Hide Move Action to Stand, Standard Action to 2nd Wind. +2 All Defenses for 2nd Wind; +1 All Defenses for being in Displacer Aura. Doris and his rider were pressed down by the sudden burst of thunder, the claw foot screeching in protest as the winds whipped and tore at them. They backed away swiftly, getting away from the whirling storm, retreating towards where the War forged had called out something about needing ranged fighters over near him." You hurt my dinosaur, jerk!" Nocking his arrow and pulling, the halfling spent a moment carefully preparing, then fired a shot to ride the winds, the trajectory curving through the aura around the elemental... and going, with luck, straight into the lightning dragon's foot. Spoiler: IOC Hide Viral HP: 33/42 Doris HP: 10/21 Surges: 7/8 AP: 1 He'll move towards the War forged - speed 8, since he's on Doris - and take a Clever Shot at the elemental, knocking it prone on a hit vs AC. To-hit: [roll0] Damage: [roll1], plus one if it has no adjacent creatures, but I'm guessing it will. Off-turn: If I get hit, I'll use my halfling racial interrupt to make the dragon reroll. I can't imagine he has much that I wouldn't want to reroll if he hits me. Jubal continues circling the raging elemental creature, trying to dance away from visibility. He throws another blade at the monster but keeps alert for any other wildlife that the sound of conflict might be attracting. Spoiler: mechanics Hide I'll use a move action to stroll three or more squares, refreshing Shadow Walk and rolling Stealth to hide: (d20+14)[19] Minor action to make an active Perception check against unfamiliar creatures that might be sneaking up: (d20+12)[28] Standard action is poisonous shrike, range 22 with no range penalty. If I sense non-humanoid creatures incoming, I'll target two of them along with the elemental. Elemental: (d20+10)[23] vs AC, plus 2 if I have CA from being Hidden. Damage (d4+1)[2], +5 necrotic if hidden, +(d8)[7] executioner, +(d10)[10] assassin's strike on a hit. And again, if I miss, but I'm Hidden, I'll reroll with even accuracy: (d20+12)[24] Sneaky creature 1: (d20+10)[12] vs AC, +2 if CA, for (d4+1)[3] damage +5 necrotic if hidden Sneaky creature 2: (d20+10)[16] vs AC, +2 if CA, for (d4+1)[4] damage +5 necrotic if hidden Triggered action: If I finish off any creature, I'll activate hidden lore to turn invisible. Free action: If I saw sneaky creatures, I'll shout to briefly let folks know what and where. Spoiler: off-turn actions Hide If an enemy comes adjacent to me, I'll use smoke bomb to shift and attempt to hide, (d20+14)[24] Rain bringer ZanneZanne curses a bit as her own thunderclap reverberates back in her ears. With a moment of concentration, the hum coming from the motes of water encircling her wrists becomes less sharp, but somehow colder. She nods at the War forged's beckon, and does her best to reach it without getting clawed by the dragon. Once there, she pulls off one of the rings, now solid ice, and throws it at the elemental fiend. Spoiler Hide So um...theater of the mind just caused me to deal a crap load of friendly fire damage that I otherwise would not have dealt. Can we get a map please? I suspect the three of us would have moved away from the dragon if we had realized it was on top of us. Free: turn off thunder damage conversion. Minor: Beguiling Flash (1d20+9)[21] vs Will, Slide the dragon up to 4 squares, such that as few of us other than April as is possible are in the aura, ideally also opening up a route for me to stand by Nameless. Move: move to adjacent to Nameless but still within 5 squares of April, if possible. If not possible, and I missed the minor, move to not in the aura, unless the dragon is no longer dazed, and is adjacent to me, because I don't want to provoke. Standard: If I'm adjacent to Nameless, I'll ready an action to use Elemental Bolt on the dragon as soon as he takes his standard action (in case he wants to Magic Weapon). If not, I'll just fire it off now. (1d20+9)[19] vs Reflex, (1d12+13)[23] cold damage. I can also slide any ally adjacent to him 2 squares, if they want me to. April gets another 5 THP. Nameless While the battle raged outside, it took stock of the situation. It surmised that a standard enhancement rather than another elemental-based one would be appropriate to the situation. As its arm bow autoloaded and charged a projectile of its own creation, it took aim and fired a magical blast at the "dragon," with any residual energy coalescing beneficially upon its nearest allies. Spoiler: Actions Hide Reload as a free action. Standard action to use Magic Weapon on the dragon elemental. (1d20+11)[13] vs. AC Hit: (1d8+5)[10] damage and adjacent allies gain +1 power bonus to attack rolls and +3 power bonus to damage rolls UE MNT. No minor or move actions. Spoiler: Off-turn action Hide As mentioned before, I will use Channeling Shield as an immediate interrupt to reduce the Dragon elemental's next successful attack by 8 and gain +3 to damage on my own next attack. Round 2Sabbonsiel takes a moment to stand and ready himself, watching the elemental warily. Jubal quickly scans the area around the ship. The rest of the survivors of the crash are putting as much distance as they can safely gain between themselves and the battle, with those more fit protecting the weak or injured. You see no other movement from the jungle. Your shrike flies out from behind your new cover, another piece of debris from the ship ripped out of the deck. The elemental is unable to track your movement and takes24 damage. The elemental roars in rage. The small humanoid in front of it does not seem as large a threat as some of the others, but he is making it difficult to attack around him. He viciously rips into April. Double Attack Claw:19 vs AC; Miss! Bite:29 vs AC; 19 11 damageandongoing 5 lightning (save ends)Interrupt! The Nameless War forged interjects between April and the elemental, reducing the damage by 8Action Point Double Attack Claw:17 vs AC; Miss! Bite:18 vs AC; Miss! The storm whipping up around the dragon continues to grow in power, expanding to an Aura 5. It now reaches both edges of the ship and intrudes on the wrecked entry to the binding chamber, including all members of the party currently on the deck of the ship. The elemental shakes off the daze inflicting it. Saving throw:(1d20)[8]; April takes 5 lightning damageAdrik's hammer digs into the form of the elemental to pull it away from the binding chamber doorway, dealing9 damage. The aura now stops just short of the door. April fortifies himself, ready against further assault from the elemental. The elemental appears as though it heard April, but before it can react... Saving throw:(1d20)[17]; April is no longer taking ongoing 5 lightning damageable sets off a flash of light and the elemental stumbles away back toward the other edge of the ship, leaving April and Sabbonsiel (not Chris) the only ones still in its aura. The way clear, she easily moves to the war forged, just outside the binding chamber and gets ready to attack together with the artificer. Jirgal joins Anne by Nameless' side and fires a shot while it's still reeling from the flash, dealing12 damage and causing it to fall prone (elemental now bloodied). The War forged takes a shot, but the awkwardness of aiming through the debris causes it to go wide. The follow-up blast from Anne, however, hits its mark, dealing23 cold damage. April gains 5 THP and an opportunity to slide closer. Next RoundSabbonsiel and Jubal, take your turns Satisfied that he's helping while staying out of trouble, and seeing no incoming problems, Jubal continues his stroll away from the betraying touch of light while flinging another blade. His too-good-to-bother attitude interferes with an ideal throw, however, and the blade goes well over the creature's roughly defined head. Spoiler: mechanics Hide Lather, rinse, repeat. Move, hide, RBA. Actually, first I'll draw my short sword into my other hand as a minor action. I can benefit from the executioner damage boost on basic attacks, so I gain a few points of damage over the poisonous shrike power when there's only one target. My hide attempt: (d20+14)[25]. Attack: (d20+10)[14] vs AC, +2 with combat advantage from being Hidden, for (d4+5)[6] plus (d8)[3] executioner on any hit, plus 5 necrotic if I'm hidden. If I'm hidden, and I miss, even accuracy reroll is (d20+12)[17]. EDIT: That pretty clearly used up my racial power, because my stealth roll was better than before and my attack roll was wretched. Ah, well. Spoiler: off-turn actions Hide As usual, smoke bomb is ready to go if something wicked this way comes, and anything provoking an OA can eat my Dexterity-based MBA. Round 3Sabbonsiel takes his chance to move out of the ensnaring winds growing around the elemental. Jubal again throws his shrike, which seems to go too high. His even reflexes kick in at the last moment of his throw and, without thinking, a slight adjustment to his throw bounces the projectile off a metal piece of the ship to ricochet down into the elemental's back, dealing14 damage. The elemental, hearing the dwarf's threat and being attacked by several powerful humanoids, dissipates the energy of its storm in a roar and a powerful burst. Raging Storm:12 vs Fortitude; Miss! Adrik, being the only one left in range, holds himself against the shockwave. The elemental then turns and leaps off the ship and the edge of the cliff, becoming more cloud-like as it flies up and into the clouds above. End Combat April heaves a heavy sigh of relief as the elemental soars off into the distance. He quietly stows his Warhammer and shield, then turns to the rest of the emissaries." We need to get as much as we can off the airship. We should camp beside it for tonight, then we'll need to head downriver and towards the coast. Unless somebody here can fix us a ship and get a new elemental bound." He doesn't wait for a reply, instead he immediately begins looking for useful materials to salvage. Nameless Though unfortunate that the elemental escaped, thereby assuring there would be no new binding, it had to admit to itself that this was for the best as it did not appear that sufficient personnel were available to reconstruct the ship. Thus, it agreed with the dwarf's proposal." That is unlikely, as I can confirm that neither the captain of the ship nor the ship's artificer survived the impact of our landing. Therefore, I suggest you make any preparations you need for traveling by land. I will assist in whatever way I am able, once I am no longer trapped inside the wreckage." It resumed its efforts at dislodging itself from the rubble. Rain bringer Annette motes of water circling Anne's arms return to her, absorbing swiftly into her skin and cooling the burns caused by the elemental's feedback. With the immediate threat lessened, she now begins to search through the wreckage of the ship for her fellow Lysander. Wind-rider or not, he hadn't beenthatbad. Spoiler Hide spending another healing surge in the short rest following the fight. I don't suppose the Elemental dropped any sort of loot? Originally Posted by Dacia Brabant "That is unlikely, as I can confirm that neither the captain of the ship nor the ship's artificer survived the impact of our landing." "Damn. How about the navigator? Do we have any idea where we are?" Jubal's voice comes out of the shadows of the unfamiliar trees, and his shape joins a moment later. His sharply tailored gray suit is wildly incongruous, its only connection to the surroundings being that both are drenched. "Could've been trying to avoid the storm for hours before things got that serious." The even man goes to enter the wrecked ship to lend what aid he can, having no trouble overcoming the mounds of torn-up vegetation and earth. As he passes Anne, he touches her lightly on the arm and says quietly, "Thank you for the softening of the blow, Rain bringer." Spoiler: mechanics Hide Spending two surges to get back to full HP. Viral scowls at the elemental as it departs, still angry at the bloody thing, before hopping off his raptor and quickly looking her over - tending to her wounds, with a little help from the spirits. Distracted as he is, he can't maintain his roots any longer - they unwind from where they've connected ship and ground, the wood pulling back into the ship, perhaps restoring a bit of integrity (though not much). He does find the time to comment, however - "Do you think we should actually move tomorrow? Might take longer for people to heal, if there are bad wounds." Spoiler: IOC Hide Short rest time. Since I think Viral is plotting to explore sometime reasonably soon, I'll be a bit less conservative about healing surges than I might otherwise be. Viral: 42/42 (33 + 10) Doris: 20/21 (10 + 10) Surges: 5/8 (7-2) Also, since he's not trying to be stealthy at the moment, he's adopting his Seeking Falcon aspect, for +2 perception and +2 speed. The injured and those tending them are left a ways from the ship and the others come to help. The War forged is quickly extracted from the binding chamber entrance, and a quick survey done of the ship. There is cargo in the lower decks, but it's harder to get in because of the rubble, and probably impossible to get the crates out without making a way through. Several crates contain food and water, as well as other supplies for the ship like rope, iron nails, sailcloth, and pitch. You also find a small chest with 250gp worth of coins in various denominations and an emergency medical box containing 4x Potions of Spirit and 4x Potions of Healing. Prying open all the crates to check specific contents will take some more time. While the crates will be difficult to get out of the ship, you at least find some food in the galley. Enough for a few days. You also find the shattered remains of the stone the gnome from House Civil was clutching in the cabin. Apparently, he had brought one of the sending stones Civil keeps so secret, not that it will do any good now. In the space under the passenger cabin, in the sturdier and more protected part of the ship, you also find a small room. Try as you might, you cannot seem to make the door move. Spoiler: Required: Perception 15+ Hide The door is sealed shut by a small nail in the upper right of the frame. The small nail has a single rune visible on its head that glows almost imperceptibly when you attempt to open the door. As you are searching, Healer Amanda approaches, speaking to whomever is nearby from the ground next to the ruined ship. "I'm afraid the news isn't good. Masters Moaned and d'Torn both have broken legs, though the fool half-orc tried to hide it from me. Mistress d’Harlan broke her wrist and is distraught over not being able. The mistress d'Cannot hit her head and is dazed but standing, though head injuries can be more dangerous than they seem. The real concern is Master d'Civil. He hit his head in the crash and hit it hard. Did damage to his neck. He is in critical condition, and shouldn't be moved far, though we do need some shelter from this rain, or we might expect illness to accompany our injuries." Spoiler: IOC Hide Short rest and a little loot found on the ship (the elemental itself didn't really have pockets). Nameless Once it had extricated itself from the rubble, it began to assist with the efforts at salvaging the ship's contents. Upon discovery of the small room beneath the passenger cabin, it examined the door for any active arcane bindings. Spoiler Hide My passive Perception is 19, so I gather that's enough to spot the rune on the nail. Arcane to analyze dreamer: (1d20+11)[20] Spoiler: Nameless Arcane Result Hide There is an Arcane Lock enchantment on the nail, making it a Nail of Sealing. The enchantment bestowed upon the door by the nail effectively locks the door better than a mundane lock. Usually, this kind of enchantment includes a pass phrase to release it or allows certain specified individuals or types of people to open it. "We need to start caring for the injured then. I'll get the crewmen who are fit together to start setting up a base camp. So long as the ship doesn't fall off a cliff, we'll at least have some time to get our supplies in order." April says to the healer. "Do the best you can, We don't want to see anyone die." Adrik goes and gathers the crew and passengers that are the least injured and begins setting up a camp. Nameless Turning from its labors with the locked door, it stated,"I have identified the locus of the spell sealing this portal shut. Should any of you who are trained in bypassing locks wish to attempt it with this one, it is a Nail of Sealing that holds it shut. I am uncertain what the propriety of such an act would be, however in this circumstance survival would logically take precedence." If anyone steps forward it will assist by pointing out the nail at the very least. If not, it will assist with the construction of a shelter out of the ship's supplies. "Gods, I'm so sorry, I just don't have any skills to help," says Jubal to the Healer. "Finance management is ill-suited to dealing with fractures and concussions. I'll speak with d’Harlan; perhaps I can help her mindset even if I can't help set her wrist. And I'll take another look at that warded door on the way," he adds upon hearing the report of the war forged. "It's not unusual for there to be a hidden workaround. I've seen enough construction to know there's rarely just one way in." Finding the harp player first, Jubal speaks with her in a low voice about the importance of spirit and how she would treat her own woe if it belonged to another. Then he has a long look at the sealed room away from the press of the wounded, dazed crowd. His description notwithstanding, the tool he applies is a lock pick rather than architectural knowledge. Spoiler: mechanics Hide A little cognitive behavioral therapy for mistress d'Harlan. Insight to winkle out the core problem preventing her from being effective, (d20+10)[15]. And if awareness isn't enough by itself to get her feeling more active, I'll happily use it in support of either healers' techniques for calming patients (Heal (d20+5)[23]) or standard-issue words of encouragement (Diplomacy (d20+4)[24]), whichever is more appropriate. And as for that door: Assuming my thieves' tools give a +2, my roll to pass that door is (d20+13)[21]. If I can use Dacia Brabant's check as "aid", add another 2. Viral ponders for a moment before hopping back on his mount, once Doris is nice and healed up, and guiding her back down to the ground - resuming his attempt to clear out an area, removing the rubble of the crash to create a spot to camp. After he's gotten her started, though, Viral hops off his mount. "Keep at it, alright?" He pats her flank encouragingly, then calls up to the people on the ship - "I'm going to go scout the area, figure out what's around! If you need anything from Doris, just ask her!" He walks to the edge of the camp, disappearing entirely from sight along the way. Spoiler: IOC Hide Viral is going to go scout, hidden by the invisibility power of his Gloaming Leather Armor - he's invisible until he attacks or end of encounter. He's sort of spiraling out from the crash site, looking for useful stuff. He'll assume the Lurking Spider aspect for a bonus on Stealth rolls, swapping freely to Seeking Falcon and back when he's trying to look at something, standing still when he does. Furthermore, he's also using Body Equilibrium for his movement, improving his balance and preventing him from sinking into things like mud or quicksand or silt, which hopefully will disguise his tracks as well as keeping him safer, and will be looking around a bit for edible plants he might be able to take without breaking his stealth. So, rolls! Sneaking, with Spider: (d20+17)[18], plus anything I get for being literally invisible. Perception at anything interesting he sees, with Falcon: (d20+12)[20] Nature, to forage: (d20+10)[23]

To Xen'drik – Chapter 1_ Welcome to the Jungle|rating:3.0

Terra

It’s the year 2109. Years and years of constant wars have depleted the Earth’s energy and destroyed most of the ecological features of the earth. The oceans have almost dried out, the forests have died and most of the landscape has turned into a barren wasteland of dust and old ruins. Vicious plagues and viruses almost wiped out humanity. All nations found their own way of surviving. European countries clustered together, forming communities of millions and millions of people living in secured zones, manipulating the weather to keep the diseases out and working around the clock for vaccines for all possible diseases. Asian countries have built huge towers housing a million people completely covered from the outside world, connected to each other with underground tunnels. Africa and South America have turned into huge immense deserts. North America has protected their cities with domes creating an artificial atmosphere. Life outside the big settlements is almost non-existent as the life expectancy is very low because of all the diseases. Anarchy rules in the barren wastelands and only the strongest will survive. Under one of the North American domes of what once was New York, a vast sewer system stretches out for miles. Mostly inhabited by outcast from the city, plagues and diseases run free as the sewerage is still used by some areas of the domed city. Underneath one of the better areas of the dome, the sewer is not used anymore and a small group of refugees, healthy and unharmed by any form of diseases is holding out, fighting off the infected. Led by a young female this group of refugees has made this part of the sewer their home and equipped it with all sorts of luxury the rest of the sewer is jealous at.“Yes I know we’re running low on ammo. I asked for a fresh batch already Kyle, but the suppliers have to be careful as well.” Staicey sat on the worn couch she had managed to get from the dome on one of their roaming parties. Once they got caught, the dome authorities had sealed their part of the sewer and their roaming was over.“If we have to we can give up section 9 as a buffer and seal ourselves off into 10 and 11.” The young man who had reported nodded and left.“Oh Kyle,” Stacey added before the man had left her private quarters in the far corner of a small section of the sewer.”Assemble a party, give them masks and roam the sewers again. Those pathetic diseased drag all kinds of items from the ruins down into the sewers. Anything of use, bring it to me.” With that the man left the private section, called the Royal Suite or just referred to as Section 12 to those who didn’t know it existed. It only had one entrance through a small corridor and was sealed with two doors, the one on the outside heavily camouflaged to protect their leader. She sat back on her sofa and turned on the only television in the sewers. This private quarter was almost a real house with all the luxuries of one, and Stacey had made it feel like home. Though her real wish was to get back up to the domes where she had lived until her parents died. The legal system of the domes failed again and again and random people at random times were ‘discarded’ to make room for the newer and stronger people. She was a weak link with no parents and no future and was soon arrested and send down here. That was two years ago and ever since she had been waiting for her revenge, breeding on plans to get back to where she belonged. But some items they didn't have to drag into the sewers. Some items werethrowninto the sewers, because of one or another reason. One of these was Animal. Sand brown skin, soft and exciting, that seemed to have a sort of reddish glow, flexible and slim body, strangely long palms and fingers that were moving daintily, a noble face that could equally be a man's just like a female's, tall figure, taller than an average male's and stronger than an average woman's. Hair is dark brown, almost black and in heavy waves, its touch must have been rough. This was Animal. A wounded fairy, a deadly tired wanderer, dark butterfly. Only her blue eyes were glittering sometimes, when she passed a humble torch by, smelling with firm scent of petroleum or something similar. Her eyes were beautiful but red, inflamed almost everywhere except her pupils, just like the only thing she was doing in her past life was crying. She was nothing but a groping-stumbling ghost in this forever land of shadows, a lost child with twenty-eight years behind her, dirty in her dirty and plain long linen outfit. Even her rumpled hair seemed to dress her better than her clothes, though they covered almost her full body. She was silent. Listening. This was Animal. In the dome, he had been an attractive man. His hair a soft sandy brown, his skin a shade of white that only came around from living primarily in offices lit by electricity, and dinner parties in which candlelight and fine wine are the standard. His eyes were a gentle green, his features male but in only enough that his gender and masculinity was assured, but soft enough so that it did not define his features. Clean, respectful, and content with his position as one of the beta class leaders of the city. Not too much responsibility, but enough to keep him busy. A marriage to the daughter of two Alpha class leaders was due to qualify him to the far removed high rises of the cities upper class pent houses. Dear Elizabeth, sweet Elizabeth. What would she think of him now? Branded, cast out as a criminal. He hoped she didn't believe it, he hoped she would question. But... she was a good citizen, loyal, dedicated, she would no more think him innocent than she would shatter the dome's walls. Stupid stupid stupid. How the hell could he have been so dumb. He knew the risks of the outside world, knew the dangers, the disease, the, the Filth! The slightest cut, the slightest wisp of outside air, any way to get into you, a dozen virus's that could kill you in minutes, and a hundred more that would kill you much slower, making you beg for death. And not just the viral enemies, savages in the outside wastes. Monsters, mutations, brutal criminals masking themselves as refugees. So many warnings, so much knowledge. Survival plans, educational films. All of that training, all of those little tips, and he trips on a pile of loose concrete and wreaks his knee. He sat, back to the curved wall of the ancient sewer access route, praying that any second, he would hear the shouts of his people, muffled of course by their filter hoods. See the glare of a flashlight around the corner. He could already imagine it, they would tell him that there had been a mistake, they had the wrong man. They DID have the wrong man, they had to. Those crimes, no, no, the only blood on his hands was his own. Seeping quietly between his fingers, his hands pressed hard against the tear in his knee, trying in vain to hold the blood in, and the virus's, which he was sure coated every surface in sight, out." Dear god, why won't it stop," Of course, the tear was the least of his worries, it was what lay beneath. He had not tried to move the joint since he had hit it, but the fresh memory of the shooting, searing white-hot pain made him content to never try moving it again. Less than two hours out of the dome, and he was sure that he was not going to last the next fifteen minutes. He was not sure how much blood the human body could lose, but his education in the dome has been the best, or at least, that's what they said in the dome. Whatever the truth was, he was sure that with the next drop, the next oozing lurch of crimson life force would run the well dry, that soon he would be reduced to nothing but a husk of a man, a pale pile of ash to add to the debris of ruined earth. Kyle had scrambled a search party and fully armed with gas masks, automatic rifles and knifes the five of them headed out to the search. With him was him wife, a young girl of Eastern heritage and three of the soldiers of Stacey’s army. Tension rose as they left Sector nine and passed the first (or last) security outpost. Sector nine was open but guarded by their army as a buffer zone. After that, section 10 and 11 were disease free. The screams of people in pain got louder and panic and cries soon echoed through the sewers. Section eight was relatively quiet as was seven. The real mess started at Six. That was the furthest they ever got as behind that, the sewers turned into hell. Deformed children, born in diseases mutated into the most horrific creatures, and they would soon be outnumbered. Luckily for them, the drop hatch from the Dome was in Sector Seven. It was there where Kyle heard something. A small weak sound but he knew where it came from. He and his wife came from the same place. Quickly he guided his team to the drop hatch and soon found the source of the sound. A wounded man sat on the ledge and Kyle commanded his team to secure the area for rogue Diseased or other beings lurking in the sewers. He and his wife sat at him.“How long have you been down here?” If he had been here for longer than a day, in his state he would be infected, and they would do him the favor of ending his misery. Had he just dropped they would take him and run some tests on him to see if he was infected or not? Then she heard sounds. Voices! Noises of a conversation, possibly not too far from the spot she was pausing, forcing to move her rigid toes. Bare feet. Cold was twirling around her legs, moving upper and upper, choking her thoughts and chasing life out of her muscles, but she HAD TO keep on! Because she promised her brother she will! So, what to do next?... Shouting?... Crying out?... Slowly moving closer to that source of human activity?... They could equally be fellow ones just like a patrol from the dome next to what the community where she lived since her birth had its poor village. Nimah decided to step one, closer. Then another. Then the rest of the distance between them was easily decreasing, leading her palm, her fingertips on the wall of the sewer. It proved to be a useful guidance. When she felt to be near enough to be seen she stopped again, though hand still touching concrete, and she simply tried to blink herself through the darkness that strained ahead and around her. But it was the very same. Blindness. No words dared to leave her mouth... Lights? Masks? Dear god is this some kind of dream? A half remembered fantasy as his fading mind slipped into the sweet oblivion of death? No, his people, his people had come back for him. It was a mistake, of course it was, it always had been. Already he was imagining how he would hug his fiancée and her father, after a short time in the hospital and sterilization chambers, and they would all laugh about the whole mess over a bottle of wine. In just a few short minutes he was certain, he would either be dead, or whisked back to a reality he should have never been forced to leave. He opened his eyes wide, feeling his strength returning, and then, dropping. These were... these were not his people. Their gear was not standard, the direction they came from not the drop hatch. Wrong, wrong, this was wrong. Ruffians, Savages come to finish off a wounded, sick animal. So naturally when they began questioning him instead of simply tearing into him like a pack of rabid dogs, he found himself able to do little but stare at them with his jaw hung in a comical expression of shock. He had heard that savages could not talk, could not articulate, could not... "I... I..." He swallowed hard catching his breath, the pain in his knee bringing him back to the reality of the sewer." I have been down here for two hours. I tripped" He said, nodding towards the dried red smear mark on the concrete where he had hit the ground. "Who are you? Are... are you here to kill me?" Animal tried to figure out at least a little of what was going on, carefully listening to the desperate sound ofanotherperson... A person in trouble?? Just like her?... She squatted, close to the wall, nestling to it, almost hiding herself between the microscopic cracks like she was a stonelike material herself. At least her legs felt like that by now... Little she knew about the fact that she was actually visible for the group... Kyle was surprised at the reaction of the human. Two hours? He looked at his wife and nodded.“We’re not going to kill you. We have a hideout of uninfected people. You will be put in quarantine until we are sure you are clean of any diseases, and then you are free to go wherever you want in our section of this shithole.” He bends over and helped the stranded man on his feet.“I’m Kyle and this is my w…”“Boss, look!” Kyle quickly turned around and spotted the creature. Because all the lights where on the man.“Stop! Don’t move or we will shoot!” The echoes of the warning of the guard thundered through the sewers. Kyle and his wife were left unarmed as they both had the wounded man on their shoulders. The being looked big and strong but as soon as one of the guards shone his light on it, a sigh of relief was heard. Surely they could have killed one savage, but in doing so they would alert more, and they would have to leave the new-found man behind. However, the situation wasn’t completely safe yet.“How long have you been down here?” Kyle asked the human in the light in order to judge whether the new person should be taken with them or left behind. Animal was just trying to figure out whether those last words were to her?? Not surely... Her head, her beautiful, noble head, this perfect face of an androgen turned where she suspected the source of the simple question but beyond this she stayed the same motionless, cold statue.' Are they speaking to me now?...' The darkness she faced gave her no reply... Kyle motioned to his guards to move a bit closer and as they did, they repeated their question to the human and knelt down to have a more steady shot. Kyle leaned the wounded man over his wife’s shoulder and told them to turn around and lean to the wall. Then he too grabbed his gun and inspected the human. It’s measurements were wrong. Odd. A feminine body but too big and male treats made it a confusing, almost scary sight to behold.“What are you. Are you infected?” His voice was strong just as his posture and he was on his guard, ready to protect his men and beloved wife if needed. People? Guns? Lights? Everything so confusing, so hazy. He found himself moving, why was he moving, he shouldn't move, he probably had a broken leg he shouldn't. He cringed, white-hot pain shooting through his body as a short cry escaped his lips. Furthermore, he became distinctly aware that they were lifting him. Furthermore, he heard their words, but they sunk in slow. Furthermore, he was not going to be killed? Nut, surely the talking savages were toying with him. What a cruel joke! What if they planned to eat him? Like a cat playing with a mouse before its meal. He could deal with being dead, being eaten, but this toying, it was just so wrong! He clenched his fist, preparing to strike out at the savages, when he watched their lights fall on another kind of creature all together. A monster, surely it had to be, no human anywhere could look like that. But, he paused, a moment of clarity passing him. It was her face, human, scared, like him, just a scared wanderer who didn't seem to have any more sense about what was going on than he did. In a sudden rush of adrenaline, courage, and stupidity, he shouted at the savages, "Drop your guns you fools!" He yelled with an authority and command he didn't know he was capable of. Kyle looked back at the man, knowing his guards well enough not to follow his order. With a nod to his small but strong wife she let go of him, and he fell on the sewer floors.“You know this thing?” he shouted at the wounded man. The other person still hadn’t answered his questions and he slowly stepped closer and firmly repeated his questions.“You there miss, how long have you been down here? Are you infected? Answer me this is the final warning.” "So you're talking to me..." - Animal replied proudly but quietly, broken, blinking into that nothing, though she really tried to locate the source of the voice, it was visible enough from the moves of her head. She raised, pulling her hand along the wall, her tall figure straining, aching - but this feeling came more from her heart than from the muscles. What else can happen to her today, but being executed after being thrown away? The faster it happens, the better it is for an outcast... Kyle shudders. He didn’t want to shoot but if the female gave him no other choice, he had to.“Yes. I’m talking to you. Do not move closer or I will shoot. I ask you one more time. How long have you been down here and are you infected.” With that he motioned for the other two man to take aim and looked around at his wife guarding the wounded man that had fallen on the ground. Suits him well, obeying me NOT to shoot. Who does he think he is? He would be given an update on his status on the way back to the safe sectors. Right now he had more urgent matters to address. Hearing his firm, moreover rough voice Animal started to tremble. Now fear really started to take over her. Maybe being executed will not be so generously short like she imagined but long enough to torture her soul more, if it was even possible. Tears began to flow from her blind eyes, and she curved her back a bit, like it gave some sort of shelter to her, to maker herself smaller." I. I can't be infected. Furthermore, I'm. Furthermore, I'm protected against it. But I don't know why. I don't know why..." She presses her lips to fight back crying. She must prevent that! And leave this world in dignity... The reaction this human was showing was enough proof to Kyle she was indeed unaffected by the virus. Crying and emotions were generally not a trait the infected wilds had.“Alright,” he said, “you’re coming with us then. Can you walk?” He noticed her leaning to the wall and walked towards her, still on his guard. As he stood next to her, he realized she was tall for a woman and had some manly features as well. Then he took her hand and told his guards to support the other wounded man.“I’ll help you. You’re safe now.” To the woman on his hands and the wounded male he then introduced himself.“I’m Kyle Winters. That there is my wife, Mike and the other two men are Alexey and Gus.” The guards nodded and Mike smiled warm under her gas mask.“We are part of a group of refugees. We keep a safe area of the sewers where we live our lives. It’s not much, but we can offer you food and shelter. I leave the rest up to our leader. She knows how to warm people for a living underground. You will be put in quarantine until we are 100% sure that you both are clean. Then you will be allowed into Sector 10.” Slowly the group moved through the abandoned, dark and damp sewer systems, only interrupted by screams of agony and pain far behind them in the low number sections and the rats and roaches who thrived down here. Before they began to walk she was adjusting the position of her head slowly, tiny little moves like it was to get more of the person who was squeezing her hand and talking to her -them?- now, quite friendly. But she had to be sure and... above that she had to make herself sure that it wasn't just a bad dream. Even if it meant to awake to a bad reality. A very bad one..." Kyle?.. Sir..." - she started insecurely, her free hand was now groping the dirty dress she was wearing nervously. Animal's voice was low, not really feminine, yet it had a special, soft tone, a caressing one." Is it dark here?.. I mean. Fully dark. Isn't it?" And she asked this knowing the answer exactly... Kyle wasn’t a doctor. Nor was he very subtle when it came to feelings so he in turn looked at Mike. His wife smiled and took Animal’s hand now.“I’m Mike.” It was a warm voice from a woman that is a lot smaller than Animal.“It’s not totally dark here, but it’s common that people who are new in the sewers lose their eyesight. There are many bacteria’s down here and our eyes are very vulnerable for infections. When we get back to Section 9, and we quarantine you, I will run a full inspection on the both of you and give you the needed medication.” A few steps up front Kyle turned his attention to the wounded man.“You’re a lucky man you know that? If they had found you first you’d be in a lot of trouble.” He gently padded the man on his back.“So what’s your name?” Animal stopped like she was suddenly startled by something and squeezed the fingers around hers, desperately groping the arm that followed the hand with her free palm." No!..." - she whispered in panic, not even noticing the change of the guiding person, she was so collapsed in her soul. "No!... I. I'm..... They... they did something with my eyes before throwing me into the sewers. They did something!" She felt like her legs were rooting into the ground.' No! It's impossible!...' But actually it was the very possibility of the impossible that made her stop." I can't see..." - she formed the words slowly, gasping for air. Her beautiful face turned pale as an ice queen's. Or king's... Mike calmed the woman.“It will be okay. I’m a qualified doctor and surgeon. Whatever it is they did to do, I’m sure we can fix it.” Slowly and gently she pulled the woman’s arm, knowing they had to keep up with her husband, the guards and the wounded man. "Found me?" He repeated, still trying to validate the non-savages existence in his head. His eyes looked over the man, wide and terrified. "Who would have found me if not you?" He asked, tilting his head. If the savages were not real, then the dome most of simply had it wrong. There was certainly no way that normal humans could survive down here with monsters was there? No, no, either the domes were wrong, or these people were monsters, horrible alien beasts who at any moment would tear off their flesh masks and eat him alive. That poor girl... man... girl, would surely be the first victim. He was convinced if he looked back he would see the woman tearing into that poor girl. When the beast in humans form asked his name, he stuttered out, "I... I..." He swallowed hard, collecting himself, he was going to face his death with dignity dammit, "I am Alien Carbon the fifth, beta of dome 23," He whispered, conviction leaving his voice towards the end of his voice as the realization came that suddenly, he was nothing. He was still Alien, but beta, fiancé to an alpha... no he was none of that. Furthermore, he was trash in the sewer. If he had not been afraid of dying crying at that moment, he would have wept. Quote from: Dashed on 21-10-2009, 11:54:21Miko calmed the woman. “It will be okay. I’m a qualified doctor and surgeon. Whatever it is they did to do, I’m sure we can fix it.” Slowly and gently she pulled the woman’s arm, knowing they had to keep up with her husband, the guards and the wounded man. Though it didn't feel like something treatable, repairable to say so, for her at all, Animal did gain strength from the words of Mike, moreover -and this meant much, much more than all her professionalism!- a stroking wave of warmth. She even smiled back a little, faint and gentle move of her mouth, hoping her helper saw that." Thank you, Milady." She couldn't call her any other name than this. 'Milady'. Because she acted like a lady. And because her voice was. Well, a lady's voice. It was good to rely on a soul like her. Comforting. Solacing... The guard chuckled at Alien’s name. Kyle gave them an angry look and soon their little convoy was on the move. When they had safely cleared Sector 7 and reached Sector 8 they took a brake. Kyle closed a bulk door sealing of this sector from the other and sat next to the rest of his convoy.“One more sector to clear, then you can rest, and we’ll attend to your leg Alien.” Back behind the security of the door, in a completely empty sector with only a few people living here, Kyle found time to relax. It was unusual to find refugees from up there let alone two at the same time. Although he wasn’t too sure about the female. Her looks could have been that of a Savage but her emotions and manners weren’t. Soon she would be scanned for viruses and if she had any, they would be assessed and precautions would be taken. Miko helped Animal sit down and sat in front of her holding her hands.“I know this can cause panic, but we’re almost there. Do you have a name?” Her voice was calm, although she was cautious. Alien studied the man, eyes flicking, fingers nervously flicking at his own palm. He was looking for seams in the disguise, flaws in the flesh mask these monsters wore. Surely there had to be one. This was not reality, this was not how things were outside the dome, it couldn't be, he wouldn't accept it. The viral agents out here, the bacteria, the parasites, the simple bleak madness of a world gone dead, no normal man like this monster pretended to be could live out here. After a long moment, long enough for him to swallow hard and admit he could see no seam in the mask, he sighed. He just wanted a look at the beast, before they ate him. "What are you?" He whispered, almost conversationally but his voice shook with the fear and uncertainty of a dying man. His knee hurt, putting any pressure on his leg sent white fire up his spine. He knew he could not run, he simply wanted to know his killer before he died. Quote from: Dashed on 22-10-2009, 14:46:09Miko helped Animal sit down and sat in front of her holding her hands.“I know this can cause panic, but we’re almost there. Do you have a name?” Her voice was calm, although she was cautious. Intentionally or not, but she squeezed those hands a bit. Soft hands, kind hands -good hands." Nimah" - the stranger said quietly, and so she wasn't a stranger anymore. "My name is simply Animal. As I've been a sort of. Outcast in our village. I'm. I'm an androgen..." She formed the last word like it was a guilt of her or a curse on her and lowered her head, though her eyes were without their sight." Thank you for your kindness..." - Animal added, but her hands slipped out of Mike's with the feeling of shame, looking for shelter now on her lap, breaking each other in embarrassment. Her secret was revealed: her own people wanted to get rid of her. Kyle looked at the man stupefied. Now that they were in the clear Section 8, he ordered his men to take off their masks. Mike and him took off their masks too.“We are just refugees who are trying to make the best out of living here. You can relax. We won’t kill you.”“Well Animal,” Mike quietly said. “We are ALL outcast, and you know what that means? It means that down here, we are no longer outcast.”“Come on,” Kyle ordered his men, “let’s go.” Section 8 was quite large, and it took them a good two hours of negotiating turns and small doors before they reached another door.“This is our home Alien and Animal. You will be put in quarantine here for a while. Don’t worry about food and water, you’ll get plenty.” He opened the door and stepped in. The sewers here physically changed. The halls were higher and the smell and screams were gone. It was warm and smelled pleasant. Halfway the long corridor, it was a 1000 feet/500meters long hallways, there were stands with goods for sale and music all across. Mike smiled.“When we did a full medical check up, you will be free to go wherever you want to go.” She guided Animal and the men to the first room on the right and opened the door. It was an empty room, not too big but good enough for two people. In it was a table and some beds and even a small media corner. Miko stepped in with the two and helped Alien to a bed and Animal to a chair. The three men left and closed the door. Then Mike started to rip Alien’s pants away to look at his injury.“We’ll get you some supplies soon. Let’s first see your injury.” Quote“Well Animal,” Mike quietly said. “We are ALL outcast, and you know what that means? It means that down here, we are no longer outcast.” Those words came like rain after a too long dry season that spreads seeds of death around. Now her head lifted and turned a little more towards her. That tiny shy smile was again on her strange yet noble face and her grasp tightened slightly around the small and slim hands." All right..." That was all she said: 'all right'. And for the very first time since she fell into this dense darkness panic was about to leave her, at least for a while. Because of her voice. Because ofthisvoice. Hervoice. She liked it. And Animal's mind described Mike as a beautiful woman. She didn't have the faintest idea about whom this Alien was -also her ability to focus on things was quite narrowed now, existing in constant and worst fears-, but about this she was sure. For her Mike was beautiful and this knowledge cheered her up a bit. She even felt her steps more secure somewhat because she was guided by her. QuoteMiko stepped in with the two and helped Alien to a bed and Animal to a chair. The three men left and closed the door. Once she was settled into that chair, she stayed there like she was a heavy stone or a piece of wood. No moves, no moves at all. Animal was sitting exactly in the same position as the one Mike sat her. Her gaze was fixed ahead on something that wasn't there for her and no words left her mouth, while she blinked very, very rarely. And the foundling was like she didn't hear any of the information at all-no reply, not a single reaction, no pulsation of life around her - she became calmed as a statue... Alien sat on the bed, his mind in a haze of confusion, despair, and most of all fear. This man, this refugee, he said so many things, so many things Alien knew he could not let himself believe. These markets, these streets, they should not exist. He was told all refugees had mutated, died, or been accepted into the protection of the domes long ago. Who were these people, really? If not monsters then rebels? He had heard rumors in Asia of a group of dome raised children who destroyed their home city, and set forth to do the same to the other domes. They could be terrorists, or he could have been right, they could be monsters waiting to tear off their flesh masks at the first sight of weakness. A quick glance at his leg brought the realization that to even the weakest predator, he was easy meat. He tried to shift the leg on the bed, that same hot fire searing up his body, making him cringe and grit his teeth. When he looked up, it was at the creature they had seated in the chair. His eyes fixed on her for a long moment, a sigh escaping his lips. He didn't know the creature, or have any reason to trust it. But, his eyes said what he did not, 'what did we get ourselves into?' When the woman began to tear apart his pant leg, revealing the long jagged gash in his flesh, the white ivory of bone glistening under the cut, Alien almost passed out. He wondered if the woman, should his monster theory prove correct would eat the meat first, or go straight for the bone and the marrow it provided. He sat in silence, looking down at the wound, and not for the first time, cursing his existence. But these things, sounds of Mike's practiced moves as she was taking care of the wound, Alien as he was adjusting his position on the bed in pain didn't reach Animal at all, she was the same strangely fixed statue, like equipment of the room, like a ghost or rather a painting. In this light which was firm and sharp enough they could take a look at her and see how dirty she was, from top to toe, especially her long feet that carried plenty of little scars from long walking, and how reddish her eyes were, definitely in a sort of inflammation. She even seemed a bit undernourished, but that didn't look so bad - or was she simply muscular enough to hide it?... Mike skillfully tended the wound. Some iodide and a bandage was going to be enough for now. Then she bandaged the wound and stood up. From the little window in the door she saw Kyle holding up some food, and she walked to the door. Mike took the large bowl of stew and placed it on the table. She filled the two bowls and handed one to Animal, placing it firmly in her hands and gave one to Alien.“It’s freshly made. I hope you enjoy it. You will be under constant observation so when something happens we will be there. I will check back on you in a few hours.” Then Mike left the room and closed the door. Back in Sector 12 Stacey was informed of the new people by Kyle.“Good work Kyle, I will check on them later and introduce myself. Meanwhile, make sure they get everything they want.” Quote from: Dashed on 28-10-2009, 11:43:29She filled the two bowls and handed one to Animal, placing it firmly in her hands and gave one to Alien. “It’s freshly made. I hope you enjoy it. You will be under constant observation so when something happens we will be there. I will check back on you in a few hours.” Then Mike left the room and closed the door. It was a pity Mike didn't check on Animal. Because if so, she would have been able to notice how distant she drifted by then. She was holding the bowl, yes, but it was only because the doctor placed it between her fingers secure enough. And herbodyobeyed.Otherwise, she was as weird now as the reddish color of her eyes... Alien's eyes rested on the bandage, a sigh escaping his lips as he tilted his head, as if trying to decide if the bandage, his leg, or this room were real at all. He doubted his leg was an illusion, he had had that in the dome. Maybe this was all just a product of his shocked mind, and in fact he was still laying in the sewer access, the fire he felt in his leg was in fact the squirming of hundreds of vipers eating him alive. He sighed again, closing his eyes and shaking away the thought, or the illusion, whichever came first. No, he decided, this had to be real. Not because of his leg, or the bed, or the food that smelled real enough in the bowl before him, or in the bowl across the room. But because of the creature in the chair. He was always a clever child, but his imagination was lacking even in grade school. No illusion, no dream, no flash on the edge of a dying brain could produce a creature like that, so horrifying and yet so beautiful at the same time. He looked up, then down, finding no words to describe his panic, his fear to the strange, alien beauty in the seat. It was not attraction, but fascination that drew him, an odd kind of focus, like a crying sheep in a storm always moving towards the baying of another. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, then tried again, but was stopped yet again. Small talk, he was good at that, why couldn't he do this? "W-" He began, clearing his throat, "Where do you hail from stranger?" He cringed visibly, surprising himself with the line that would have been suited for one of the bad Camelot movies in the dome. He was no knight, the line, just stuck somewhere deep in his head from long ago had become dislodged or something. Perhaps he had hit his head, when they threw him from the dome. If he hit his head then it had to be the same with this giant fairy, this pre- or rather posthuman presence, who was still sitting just like before, not a single change or difference compared with other moments before... Or wait: she blinked. But even this was to rare to be normal. The bowl in her hands - that was normal. The only normal thing around her. In the silence that fell upon them gently there was this constant little ticking noise... A clock, on the wall. That'subnormal things... Stacey had been informed of the newcomers and as she left her private sector, the other people got restless and a little excited. It wasn’t common for their ruler to leave her private sectors and when she left Sector 11 and stepped into Sector 10, to blend in with the crowd on the markets, they knew something was going on. Sector 10 was long and wide, and it seemed more like an underground temple than a sewer. The ceiling was six meters above their heads and the light was dim and warm. This sector was truly the best sector to be around at in the sewers except for Stacey’s private sector. With Kyle on her side she made her way through sector 10 towards the door with the next sector. Towards the quarantine room. Normally she didn’t bother about newcomers, but this time was special. A man of respectable standing in the domes and the other one. Nothing was known about her. Kyle opened the door and stepped back.“Stay back!” He shouted to the gathering crowd. “There is nothing to see here!” Staicey stepped inside the room and Kyle closed it, keeping an eye on his ruler through the window.“Hello you two, I’m Stacey. I guess I rule this place,” she spoke with a calm voice. Her tall frame was athletic and muscular but still very feminine. Long gray blonde hair hung over her shoulders and her gray blue eyes were friendly and concerned.“I wish we could make things more comfortable for you two, but you have to understand I have to make sure you are not infected with viruses.” She kneeled down in front of Animal and inspected the woman.“Hello Animal.” Stacey placed her hands on the woman’s knees and stood up again.“Is the soup okay Alien? How is your leg?” It was a pity and a shame they still didn't notice how unreachable Animal became, how abnormal her calmness, her motionless figure were - but they must have been busy with other features and things to arrange. So after Stacey moved away from her, she was sitting and holding the bowl just like four minutes ago or five minutes ago, or who know for how long? Only those blinks, rarely, only those told the rest of the world she was still alive, with a cooling portion of stew in her hands... He sat in silence with the strange creature for a few long moments, not wishing to eat more, or to open his mouth again. The silence that followed was unlike anything he had ever experienced. In the domes things always hummed, pings, beeped, screeched. A mechanical wonderland in which peace, true peace was a godsend that almost never arrived. Odd, that he found himself so content down here, knowing full well what fate most likely was laid before him. When the door opened he nearly leapt out of his skin, sending the soup inside his bowl sloshing dangerously close to spilling. Carefully, so not to waste any on the floor, he placed the bowl down, his table etiquette perfect for soup in a virus ridden wasteland refugee camp. He reminded himself of his theory about these people, the monsters wearing skin masks. More and more he found his dome knowledge being called into question by mere observation, his fundamental belief's destroyed. By what? A few hours in a sewer? Surly a Beta had more moral fiber than that? Right? He was not so sure. When the woman announced herself as the ruler of this, whatever it was, he took a moment to get a good look at her. She looked almost, normal. He would expect the queen of monsters to have tentacles, horns, wings, and speak through a thousand demonic voices. He closed his eyes. Shaking his head. He looked back up, eyes flicking to the odd creature. The oddest one in the room, and yet the one Alien was sure was not going to kill anyone." It's..." He let his response trail off, a sigh escaping his lips, he shook his head, "It's fine," he said, the typical response of the domes. Fine, nothing could be bad, nothing could be great. How was your day? Fine. How was the wedding? Fine. The Funeral? Fine. Fine, fine, fine, the word didn't seem to belong, like a long forgotten song of another lifetime it felt wrong on his lips. Fine? None of this was fine, it was all, it was all... when he realized he was not sure which swear word would be appropriate for the situation he hung his head, simply staring down at his leg, or into oblivion. Stacey smiled at Alien.“I hope the soup is okay? There is more if you want.” Then she knelt down and sat in front of Animal. She inspected the woman and turned her head a bit. One of her hands traced the lines of the strange woman’s face.“The same goes for you,” she addressed the woman. The woman stood up again and turned back to Alien.“I’m sorry for this situation Alien. We have a good and friendly community here, and I have to take extreme measures to keep this community clean of any form of viruses and anarchy.” She took a step back towards the door.“I have to ask you both to take off your clothes. All of it. We will run some tests on them, and then you will be given clean cloths. Now please.” She looked at Animal and Alien. One looked shocked, and the other didn’t seem to respond at all. Again she knelt before Animal and took her by the shoulders.“Did you understand what I just told you?” Quote from: Dashed on 09-11-2009, 11:26:22“I have to ask you both to take off your clothes. All of it. We will run some tests on them, and then you will be given clean cloths. Now please.” She looked at Animal and Alien. One looked shocked, and the other didn’t seem to respond at all. Again she knelt before Animal and took her by the shoulders.“Did you understand what I just told you?” But again and on and on she was the same still life, 'Woman In Silence' or rather 'Disappearing Woman'. Face ahead just like before, posture the very same motionless, blinks rare like the falling drops of a melting icicle... Therewaslife in her. Her body was warm and flexible, no signs of any seizure or spasm. It was simply like she was somewhere else, but keeping her body as a shell, as an in between-object, a bridge to the other, the vivid' sphere. Liminality. She seemed calmed. Too calmed... Stacey looked at Alien and smiled.“Do it now sir. We cannot take any risks.” Then again she looked at Animal and touched her cheeks. When this again didn’t have any results she stood up.“Animal forgive me, but you have to listen to me. You have to be here with me, or we cannot have you here.” She gently slapped Animal in the face, knowing Mike was watching and disagreeing with this method. Immediately Mike entered the room again and sat next to Animal. The small doctor gave a small nod to Alien and then started to get Animal’s clothes off. When Mike lifted her arms to set them free - she let her move it. When Minor made her stood up to pull off the dirty dress - she let her do so. But this willingness was rather the helplessness of a puppet, not cooperation. Anyway, things went much easily when a practiced and patient pair of hands, just like the doctor's was helping her, and so soon Animal was pausing there with bare skin and with all the weirdness of her body revealed. The figure was too tall, too strong and too hairy on the groin and legs to be a woman -not to mention the medium-sized penis as an extra-joke of God-, yet it had beautiful, well shaped breasts, a definitely feminine waist and soft skin. Voilà! - An enigma. How was it possible?... And what else this foundling had inside of her body and between her legs?... Those questions were both medical and both... simply curious like a human's mind. This sight startled even Mike. Stacey just gasped an 'oh my God' and stepped back. Mike quickly recovered herself and folded a piece of cloth and placed it over the penis. She told Alien to do the same. Then Mike started her check up. Her hands felt the skin of the woman while Stacey started her story.“We are down here because we are rejected in the domes. We are rejected for reasons that have been made up. Lies. Stories. I started this colony to reclaim our position.” Her story was one you would expect of a leader. Powerful statements and intimate remarks. She wanted to lead a revolution back into the domes and reclaim their position there. All the time she kept her eyes on Mike and Animal and Alien. Alien was a good-looking male, well shape as well from she had seen and Animal was… special. When Mike was done inspecting Animal she started on Alien. Touching his skin, feeling his intimate parts and doing tests on his eyes and mouth. ((Sorry for the delay!!!)) Its funny what happens when one is faced with the unknown, or rather, to one faced with the impossible. It was not so much the odd, twisted form of the other, the other lost one, the only one he was fairly sure was not going to kill him. It was, rather, as he watched wide-eyed and frightened as the show played out before him, the things that the beautiful if otherwise dangerous woman Stacey... he could feel death from her. Not like a wave or in any kind of psychic way, such things were not only childish to believe but downright blasphemy. No, but rather in the way she talked, the way she moved, like she would kill if he proved to be any threat to her way of life. He shivered, people like here did not exist in the domes. She spoke impossibilities. Lies, no one had reason to lie in the domes, only criminals were exiled and they died! They all did, without fail. The mutants and the viral agents in the very air killed them within seconds of their arrival to this hellish place. Yes, that was true, it had to be. Realization only dawned a moment later as Alien came to the sudden conclusion that he was alive. He had not been killed by mutants, it had been hours and no viral agent had begun to rot the flesh from his bones. Why was he not dead? If everyone who left the dome died, then how could he possibly still breath? It didn't make sense, none of this made sense. Rejected from the domes? No, no no... He hung his head, memories of his own rushed trial, his own exile rushing through his head. He did not remember any crime, did not remember any... oh dear what if they did the same to his fiancée, poor Elizabeth the mutants would surely... he paused reminding himself once again that so far, there were no mutants. When Mike came and broke him from his train of thought he almost jumped ten feet out of his skin. "Sorry... little jittery I guess," he whispered, the confliction playing across his voice, between civility and rampant, panicked screaming. A human mind faced with what it can only call impossible does one of three things, adapt, resist, or implode. He felt just on the edge of implosion.

Terra|rating:4.0

Coming Home (Beautiful Mystery & Ansem)

("God...freaking...shit." The young woman cursed, taking a break as she hunched over and pressed her palms into her knees. She had forgotten how hard it was to run. People made it looksofreaking easy. Like running was supposed to be this super glamorous thing, and you could get into great shape. But the truth was that running sucked. It sucked balls. Big freaking hairy balls. Not to mention it was not exactly the best day to run. It was rather hot and caused her to sweat even more. Calleigh Meredith Devereaux bent back up, using her forearm to wipe the sweat off of her forehead. Her milk chocolate brown locks were swept up into a high ponytail, showing off her flushed face. She had been trying to get into shape recently. While she wasn't severely overweight, she was a bit more chubby than she wished. Running was supposed to be good cardio and good for her body. But now she remembered why she choseanyother sport in high school. Running the mile was torture for her. Not only did the running seem to jar her body something fierce, her breasts almost gave her freaking black eyes. Calleigh had always been on the curvier side. She developed a body before most girls and grew faster than most girls. While the young boys seemed to enjoy it, the other girls would be annoyed at her body. But that was just a tangent. She was there to get into shape and lose about 10 pounds. Hence, the reason why she was at the local park running." I always forgot how miserable it is to run." She muttered to herself, looking down to her watch that was tracking her heart rate. At least her heart rate was in the range she needed it to be. But this would be her last time running. She would rather do anything else but run at this point. But she had only been running for fifteen minutes. She needed to do at least thirty minutes or cardio. Calleigh wore a pair of lime green running shorts with a hot pink border and an aqua triangle pattern. The tank top matched except it was hot pink with lime green triangles and an aqua border. The outfit stood out against her lightly tanned skin, hugging her curvy frame well. Her running shoes were myriad of vibrant colors as well. In general, she was hard to miss in that outfit. Calleigh loved color, and it was in most of her wardrobe. She pulled her cellphone out of the band of her shorts, unlocking it to change the song. She was panting, out of breath as she chooses another song on her playlist. Slipping the phone back into the band of her shorts against her hip, she made sure to secure it under the band of her panties as well. After that, she took off once again around the lush green grass. The park was rather large, spanning a big area. At the one end held a couple playgrounds that held all different types of jungle gym equipment. Over to the right side near the playgrounds was a handful of tennis courts. The rest of the park was large and open wide, having two soccer goals set up and still plenty of space for other games. Large trees littered the park, setting a beautiful scene. The outside of the park had a small asphalt path that allowed people to either walk or run around the park. As she started running once again, her body bounced along and her ponytail danced along to the current song she was listening to. Calleigh brushed a small piece of stray hair out of her hazel eyes, looking to the ground for the moment. This section of the "track" was known for having a few bumps it in, and she didn't want to be spraining her ankle. But with her eyes cast to the ground, she was rather blind if anything or anyone was in front of her. (had shipped out overseas for military service with no guarantee of ever returning again. He wasn't afraid of dying or even being wounded, though. Time in the Army had toughed him up. It wasn't something his parents ever approved of. He didn't do it out of a blind sense of patriotism. He didn't have a death wish. He just did it for himself. To be able to look back and say he had donesomethingwith his life. In his youth nothing ever panned out for him. Never being particularly outstanding academically or even athletically talented. But with the right tools, the tools that the military had given him, it allowed him to excel. But with his tour of duty at an end, returning stateside (which would have been a relief for most) would be a depressing return to normalcy. Then again, while it had felt good knowing his time in service of his country was not wasted time, his experiences were very much a double-edged sword. He'd made and lost friends. Good people just like him who through their own actions or flat out bad luck hadn't made it back alive. Devin had been 'lucky' in that sense. Making his back with his life was no solace. Not for the memories that burdened him. It was rare for soldiers to come back without harboring some kind of trauma. Such was practically expected. In his case you could probably classify it as mild, though. Of course the army always offered counseling services for veterans and new recruits alike. Devin never saw it as a necessity in regard to his experiences. The weather was favorable today and a walk in the park sounded like just what the doctor ordered. Leaving his apartment early that afternoon it was a short distance on foot from there to the park. There was a paved path for joggers, but his pace was a relaxed one. His gaze had just so happened to be lowered and since he was walking there was no way to anticipate the young woman running from the opposite direction. The collision caught him by surprise but by some miracle he kept his balance. One might have thought since he was moving slower that the impact would have toppled him over. But by some trick of gravity he held his ground and the other person involved was the one on the ground." Oh, damn, I am so sorry..." His tone was clearly apologetically, and already he was stooping low, extending a hand. Only in the next moment or two did the fact settle on him that he'd bumped into a young woman. A very attractive young woman at that. But this was no occasion to be gawking. Calleigh did not get all that far down the path before it happened. She ran into something. Well, someonebut the person might as well have been a freaking mountain! Because somehow, Calleigh was the one who ended up on the ground. She tumbled onto the hard pavement, a large thud as she hit asphalt. She groaned before pushing herself up into a sitting position. How in the hell did she get knocked down while the other person was still standing up?! At the moment, she could see just the bottom of his pants. And those boots...hey those looked familiar. Calleigh pulled out her earbuds, looking up just as the man apologized to her. She was still breathing heavy, her cheeks flushed red. "No, it is my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." She mentioned, blinking her eyes as she looked at the man standing before her. Her eyes looked to his hand next, lightly grabbing it. As he helped her to her feet, she stood back up. She brushed her shorts off, getting the little bits of gravel off of her. "The only thing I can't figure out is how you managed to stay standing. I was the one running..." She replied, adding a small laugh. Now that she was standing up, she looked to the incredibly attractive man that stood before her. Clad in army fatigues she could see that the tag read D. Parker. "Sorry about that." She apologized as she gave him a gentle smile. Her hands now rested on her hips, trying to catch her breath. "That makes two of us." He remarked with a small grin, carefully looking her up and down. Checking for potential wounds. That was just one of several things military training had taught him. Well, part of it was training. At this point it was just habit now that he wasn't being thrown into life-and-death situations on a daily basis. Having only been back stateside just shy of a week adjusting to home hadn't been too difficult. Sleep thankfully wasn't eluding him and hopefully it would stay that way. "What can I say? I don't go down easy." Of course in addition to having a fairly sturdy build, you learned how to stay on your feet in the military. Accident or not. The young woman was nothing but apologetic, and honestly he was surprised by her polite attitude. After all, some people could be so rude when it came to things like this. "No harm done." He responded and smiled back, putting out his hand again to shake hers. "Name's Devin, and you are...?" She had scraped her elbow slightly, but it was nothing too serious. Honestly, she didn't get all that scratched up for falling onto asphalt. She was rather lucky in that respect. Calleigh would certainly survive and perhaps a small bandied on her elbow would suffice. There was a small laugh, almost shy of a giggle that escaped her lips at his mention of not going down. Was it also bad that her mind went into the gutter? That going down meant...well something else? Perhaps she had just been single for too long. Yeah, that was probably it. Sure, she might be a little sore tomorrow, but she honestly hadn't looked where she was going. She shouldn't be rude to him. As he introduced himself, she gave another smile. Her hand extended to give him a rather firm shake. "Calleigh. Nice to meet you Devin. You just get back from a tour?" She asked him. Her father had been a Navy SEAL and her brother was a Marine. Suffice to say, she knew army men well. "I know you probably get this a lot, but thank you for your service." She thanked him, dropping her hand from his. His own handshake was rather firm. "Pleasure's all mine." Devin responded pleasantly, slightly surprised by her question, but then the realization hit that he'd worn his fatigues out for this walk. A uniform was another part of the military lifestyle and now a habit yet to be shed. Obviously he didn't go out wearing something like this hoping for appreciation or as a fashion statement. But her remark did make him smile. Appreciation wasn't what he was seeking, but it was still nice to receive now and then. "Oh yes, just got stateside a few days ago. Still.adjusting." He said offhandedly, not attempting to merit concern but simply stating the situation. "Nice of you to say. Still, I feel bad about knocking you over like that. Maybe we could grab a cup of coffee. I know a place that's not far. If you want, no pressure." Socializing was something he hadn't done much of and this seemed like a ripe opportunity to make a new friend. That'd be nice. While she didn't want to jump the gun, she got a rather good vibe from Devin. He seemed to be gentle, friendly and a true gentleman. Perhaps all those things weren't true, but she intended to find out. Of course, he probably had a girlfriend, but friends worked right? Calleigh finally seemed to get her breathing under control, her face slightly less flushed than before. "I don't doubt it." She mentioned before laughing softly. "You must be one strong man to keep your ground at a girl running at you." She teased lightly. While she was only around 5' 7" or so, Devin easily passed the 6' mark and was probably much taller than that from what she could see. "I would love that. But let me buy you a coffee. I would say drink...but I think it is a little early in the morning for a drink. Unless you know a place that serves screwdrivers." She teased again, laughing softly. Her father had always told her to buy a drink for a man in uniform. She rarely got to meet a man in uniform (that she could buy a drink for anyway) so she wanted to buy Devin one. "Awfully nice of you. Okay, it'll be your treat. Little early for areal drink I'd say." He accepted with another small grin which shifted into a smile after a moment. Turning slightly on his heel they started walking back down the path back the way he had come from. It was only about a block, maybe less and around the corner to the coffee shop. Now and then Devin would glance in her direction, still not gawking but more admiring her. The running apparel did suit her nicely and left little to his imagination. But from his understanding this was just a friendly social interaction. Probably better not to read too much into it. Approaching the counter he placed their order and waited for Calleigh to pay. "Well, it is five o'clock somewhere right?" She teased. Calleigh and Devin headed down the path, letting him lead the way to the coffee shop that he was talking about. There were a few times that Calleigh would glance to Devin. Surely he had a girlfriend. Someone as attractive as that had to be dating someone if not engaged. Normally, Calleigh would consider coffee to be a date, but she didn't want to assume right now. Perhaps he wasn't even looking for a relationship after his tour. Either way, she figured friends would still be nice. Heading into the shop, she could smell the roasted coffee beans. Inhaling deeply, she headed to the counter. As Devin placed their order, she then pulled the debit card out of the back of her phone. That thing did come in handy. After paying, they waited for their drinks before taking a seat at a small table. "So how long were you deployed?" She started off. The remark did provoke a chuckle from him. Seating himself across the table from her the question did catch him by surprise, but it wasn't a topic he was going to just sweep under the rug whenever it came up. "Just shy of two years. I'd be lying if I said there isn't any part of me that doesn't miss it. At the same time it's good to be home again. To be...safe." Safety was always a big concern when serving in the military. But there was never any absolute guarantee of it." So is this how you usually meet people? If you're as accident-prone as I think then a lot of guys must get treated to coffee, huh?" Obviously he was teasing and hopefully she could pick up on that. Calleigh nodded her head softly as he explained. That was roughly the same thing her brother had said. He missed his buddies but was glad to be home and safe. "My brother was a marine and my father was a Navy SEAL, while I don't understand first hand...they said roughly the same thing." She replied, taking a long sip of her iced green tea. After a run like that, she needed something cold to help her cool down a bit. She rolled her eyes, laughing at his comment. "Actually, you are the first guy I have ever run into...quite literally. I wouldn't say I am accident-prone, but I guess given what just happened that is hard to argue." She teased, smirking a bit at him. "So I am guessing everyone is happy you returned home? Friends, family, girlfriend..." She hinted, trying to get a read on him. Perhaps it was a little forward, but she was curious! She certainly had a weakness for men in uniforms, especially ones as good-looking as him. Sipping his own beverage, Devin nodded. It was typically common to have family members who served in the armed forces. He couldn't help but laugh as she explained this was the first accident of this nature that she'd had. It did make him blush as she seemed to be probing for personal details, which he didn't mind too much." Actually, we broke up right before I was deployed. I guess she just didn't want to bear the possibility of never seeing me again. No hard feelings though, we split on good terms. Well, as good as it can get when you're breaking up." He was quiet for a moment but then put on a smile. "What about you? You must have to fight off guys with a stick." The young man complimented, grinning a little now. Calleigh was slightly curious about Devin. She knew that when her eldest brother came back from tour, he seemed normal. But she later found out that he had had trouble adjusting. Perhaps that was the same with Devin? Or maybe he was just simply enjoying a nice walk outside because he knew he would be safe. And as he spoke, she felt rather bad for asking. She frowned gently at his comment. "Oh I am rather sorry about that. That must have been tough. It seems as though it is her loss then." She replied, hoping that she wasn't blushing. While Calleigh tried to be confident, sometimes she just felt like a shy little girl. It took her most college to build up enough confidence to flirt openly with men. She brushed back a stray lock of her hair as he complimented her. "Well that is very sweet of you but not exactly. I haven't exactly had any real dating prospects in many months now." She admitted. So since he was single, and she was...could this be a date? Or was it just a friendly encounter? The revelation surprised him a little but then again he couldn't necessarily assess her dating history accurately just from how attractive she was. Some women could be very choosy about their prospects after all. Or maybe Calleigh was more shy than he realized. In any case he was glad to have made her acquaintance, not having any close friends in the area. "Nice of you to say. I do miss her, but sometimes it's not always meant to be, I suppose." He commented optimistically while taking another sip from the cup in front of him." So what do you do when you're not knocking down innocent bystanders in the park?" His words were teasing as his gaze strayed just a little, subtly however so as not to seem as though he was gawking. No, she wasn't super picky. It was just the fact that she was normally rather shy. She didn't go out all that much. Most of her time was consumed with work and when she did go out, she didn't frequent clubs or bars all that often. Calleigh had even considered internet dating. She wondered how long he was with this girl. If it was for a long time, why let him go? Now she was only going on limited information that she knew, but Devin seemed really great. At least he seemed to be not harboring a ton of bad feelings. Calleigh took another long sip, now finally allowing her hair down. This coffee shop obviously kept their place rather cool and Calleigh was almost a bit cold."Oh, I knock down strangers in the mall...and the grocery store." She teased, smirking at him. "I kid. No actually, I am a veterinarian. I just finished school this spring and got a job here. I am still partially in training, and I am kind of just an assistant at the moment until my training is done." She explained, crossing her legs the other way now. He smiled, listening as she explained a bit more about herself. "Oh, very cool. It must feel good knowing you're helping sick or injured animals." Devin said cheerfully. Watching idly as she let her hair down, it looked much better that way. Her remarks about knocking people down in other places made him grin." I knew it, you're a -total- klutz. Not something I'd hold against you, though." Clearly he was teasing and she'd probably pick up on that. She nodded her head in agreement about his statement. "Yeah I have always loved animals, and I was always fond of science in school. I figure between those two, a veterinarian seemed to be the best option. I absolutely love helping animals. Furthermore, I know I am not the only one who considered an animal as a part of the family. My two dogs are my family." She admitted. Her two dogs even slept in bed with her. She was the type who loved dogs to be a part of her life. Calleigh laughed and rolled her eyes at him. "What about you? Do you always make girls run into you? I think that is your new pickup technique. Especially wearing your fatigues." She teased him. After all, wearing the uniform was a total chick magnet as well. He didn't wear the uniform for attention, but that is what is seemed to provoke without fail. "And what do you tell the dogs if someone spends the night?" Devin's banter was somewhat suggestive but honestly just teasing which didn't seem to bother Calleigh at all. Awaiting her answer he sipped the last bit of coffee in his cup before putting the mug aside. Calleigh bit down on her lower lip, blurting out the first thing that came to her mind. "Why, you're thinking about spending the night?" She replied, her eyes going slightly wide after she heard herself. Apparently that did pass the filter.shit. "I mean, I tell them not to bite?" She tried to cover it up with a nervous laugh. She placed her hand to her forehead and laughed softly. "Sorry, that thought obviously didn't get filtered." Calleigh explained with a small laugh. Hopefully he found it charming and funny. Her next remark admittedly made him blush, if only a little. Devin wasn't usually so easily embarrassed. "Don't sweat it." He said a minute later, laughing a little too. Pulling out his wallet he left a tip on the table. "So did you have any other plans today? Considering I sort of interrupted your exercise." Did he just blush? Perhaps he was embarrassedforher. But as he left the tip, she scooted her chair out and got up. She took the last sip of her tea and then tossed it into the recycling bin next to the trash. "Actually no. Today is my day off, so I was just going to go to the grocery store, perhaps toss the ball around to my dogs. What about you? Do you have any plans?" She asked. She was kind of hoping that his plans might include her. They coulddefinitelyinclude her. None that I can remember. Perhaps maybe then, seeing as we're both free, I don't see why we can't hang out. Get to know each other better." Devin was hoping that didn't come off as suggestive. If it did, well, it couldn't be helped. "I'd love to meet your dogs." Calleigh smiled as he suggested for them to hang out more. That sounded perfect for her. "That sounds great. And well I could go home and get them, and we could meet at the park again?" She offered. She knew her dogs would certainly enjoy meeting someone new. Especially if Devin liked to pet dogs. "Or we could go down to the lake. My dogs really like the water." She offered. Perhaps they could even swim themselves. "The lake sounds nice. Haven't been there since getting home." Devin nodded as they left the coffee shop together. "Do you want me to come with you or just meet you there? Maybe better if I come with you since I did walk here." His remark was a bit sheepish, but he didn't think she would object to his company. Calleigh avoided saying it was a date. She was about to say "It's a date then!" but she didn't want to freak him out. "That sounds good to me. I drove to the park anyway because I don't live near here. But I enjoy this park much better than the one close to my house. I only live about 5 minutes away." She explained before they both started heading back to the park. "Do you have some trunks or something to swim in? I could lend you a suit...but I am not sure how a bikini will look on you." She teased, laughing softly as they walked. "I wouldn't sweat it. And yeah I agree, the bikini probably looks better on you." Devin teased as they walked along together back towards the park where he assumed Calleigh had parked. "Oh, I don't blame you. I'm so glad it's close enough that I can walk. Good exercise, y'know?" A big part of being in the military was staying in shape, after all. "Are you sure? I bet it wouldn't look half bad on you." She teased, giving him a smirk. It wasn't either long before they were at the park, and she pulled a single key from the small pocket inside of her shorts band. She unlocked a navy blue BMW X5 that was under a shady tree. While it wasn't new, it seemed to look that way. She actually got a rather good deal on it. Her parents paid half of it as a graduation present. "Do we need to swing by your place to get some swim trunks then? Or are you more a speed guy?" She joked, slipping into the car and buckling up. Devin just laughed and shook his head before climbing into the passenger seat. "I don't think lake water will damage my shorts. Unless they are some kind of toxic waste spill in the news that I didn't hear about." Fastening his seatbelt his gaze drifted over to her with a smile. "Nice car by the way." Calleigh nodded her head and started up the car. "Touché... She teased before reversing the car. "Thank you. My parents helped pay for the car for my graduation present. It isn't new but who cares. New cars are so expensive." She mentioned before heading out of the park. The drive was rather short, and they soon pulled up to a small home (It looked rather large from the outside, but it was just a modest two bedrooms. Well, as modest as it could be. It was rather nice inside, actually. It was something that she was just renting at the moment because she couldn't afford to buy a house yet. The older couple who owned it retired to Florida and were renting the place out rather cheap just for extra cash. She parked in the driveway, unbuckling. "You want to come in while I get the dogs and a suit? I figured we could also bring some drinks and snacks." She offered, slipping out of the car. "You're not kidding." His own car was a few years old and hadn't been bought new. In a matter of minutes they'd reached her house. Sliding out of the passenger seat Devin closed the car door behind him. "Sounds good." He replied and followed her up the path that led to the front door, into the house. It was rather quiet inside for someone's house that owned two dogs. Maybe they were sleeping out or had been let out in the backyard. "I know right? A new car costs as much as a down payment on a freaking house. It is ridiculous." She added. Once they were out of the car, she locked it before then heading up to the door. The owners had a keypad on the door because it was easier to change the code rather than change the keys. She punched in the code and there was soon barking to be heard. There was a distinct howl and a small yelp from two dogs as she opened the door. The place was rather nice, furnished with hardwood floors and all. All in all, it looked rather expensive. "Devin, this is Scout and Cooper. She mentioned. Scout (looked to be about a couple of years old and seemed to be similar to a golden while Cooper (was a small little beagle. "I got Cooper about a month ago. One of the dogs at the clinic was pregnant, and they were giving away the puppies to good homes. I wanted to take them all but I knew I could only handle one at the moment. Scout is two years old and I got him from the pound." She explained, shutting the door behind Devin. "Highway robbery." He commented with an enthusiastic laugh. Her place was nice, nicer than he even expected. Laying eyes on the dogs they looked friendly enough. Devin couldn't help but grin as Calleigh made the introductions. "They're adorable." He complimented and stepped over, reaching down to pet the dogs. Letting them get familiar with him. Scout was the first one to approach, his tail wagging as Devin reached down to pet him. He seemed to enjoy the pets, but Cooper got jealous and there was a small almost yelp as Cooper trotted over and demanded Devin's attention. Calleigh laughed as Cooper was such an attention hog. "Did you want something to drink while you wait? If you sit on the couch, the dogs will sit on the couch with you." She mentioned to him, smiling as she went to the kitchen to get some treats for Devin to give the dogs. "Sure." He answered and moved into the nicely decorated living room. Sitting on the couch the dogs climbed up to sit with him just as Calleigh said they would. "They seem like really nice dogs. Trust me, I've dealt with dogs that aren't usually this friendly to strangers." Even if she couldn't see it he was smiling. Petting the dogs a bit more he waited for her to bring his drink, and then it was likely she would go get ready for their trip to the lake. "What would you like to drink? I have water, orange juice, milk, beer." She offered as she opened the fridge. Scout was the first dog onto the couch, his tail wagging as he rested his head into Devin's lap. Cooper had a little trouble climbing onto the large sectional but finally did. He was a bit more hesitant of Devin but was soon climbing over Scout to get attention from Devin. As he mentioned what he wanted to drink, Calleigh grabbed it and headed into the living room to give it to him. "Well, thank you. They are just big lovers. I like dogs that just want to be loved on. And they seem to like you a lot. Cooper is still getting socialized so he is a bit scared of new people. But he also can't stand not getting attention." She explained with a smile. "So I just need to get changed, and I will pack up some stuff for us. I shouldn't be more than a few minutes." She told him. Smiling he took the drink from her, he'd just asked for water. Sipping from the glass he rested it on his knee. His attention returned to Calleigh as she informed him of her plans. "Okay, great, no rush." Devin reassured her, content waiting around with the dogs while she got herself ready for the lake. Truthfully he was eager to spend more time with her and get to know her. She seemed like a really nice person so far. Being back at home it was nice making new friends. Calleigh nodded her head before disappearing into one of the back rooms. She changed into her bikini (and threw a cover-up (on as well. The print was a little bright, but she didn't get the chance to wear it often. Besides, they would be in the lake anyway. She grabbed a large tote back, packing a few beach towels and some sunscreen inside of it. She also packed a pair of flip-flops. Furthermore, she had a spare pair of men flip-flops from when her brother visited. He bought a pair of the lakes, but they never made it up there so she had a pair of new flip-flops. She slipped on her flip-flops and then headed back to the living room. "Okay let me just get some food, and then we can go." She called to him, her flip-flops clicking against the hardwood floor. She grabbed some trail mix, fruit and other little snacks she had. Furthermore, she also grabbed a few beers, some water and she had some lemonade. After grabbing that and the dogs leashes, she headed over to Devin. "Alright I have everything. I also have an extra pair of flip-flops for you. My brother bought them because we were going to go to the lake when he visited, but we never got the chance. So yeah, I think I have everything. Ready to go?" She asked, clipping the dogs leashes to their collars. "Ready." He said while trying not to sound too eager. Honestly she had gotten ready faster than he expected. Getting up from the couch he took the bag from her and slung the strap on his shoulder since Calleigh would probably be busy getting the dogs into the car and having to deal with the bag would make that more difficult than it needed to be. They left the house and walked back out to the car where he stowed the bag with their belongings in the backseat before climbing up into the passenger seat. "Nice weather for a lake trip." He commented idly while she got into the car as well. His attention falling over to her with a smile. Calleigh thanked him for taking the bag. After gathering the dogs, she headed to the door and allowed Devin out first. When she got out the door, she locked it behind her and then unlocked the car. It wasn't long before the dogs were in the car, and she was slipping into the car with him. "Yes, I am ready for a day at the lake. I am glad I have someone to go with me." She mentioned, looking to him with a smile as she started the car and buckled her seatbelt. The drive wouldn't take more than 20 minutes or so. Getting comfortable in the car seat he reached back to pet one of the dogs that was trying to peek over the center console. He didn't mind giving them attention if they wanted it. "Definitely. No fun going out and doing something like this alone." Devin remarked with another smile of his own, subtly taking a few glances at Calleigh as she drove. He couldn't deny how attractive she was and usually girls this easy on the eyes didn't have the best personalities, but there were always exceptions. "Yes, the lake is really more of a two person or more thing." She admitted. They continued to idly chat before she finally pulled onto a dirt road to the lake. She pulled into the dirt parking lot and parked the car before shutting it off. She got out of the car with Devin, grabbing her dogs while Devin got the bag. After locking the car, she noticed that there were only a few other cars there. Perhaps there wouldn't be a lot of people there. As they both walked towards the lake, she could see that there were only a few people near the lake. It meant that it would be much more private for the two of them. Calleigh picked out a spot and looked to Devin. "I have a big blanket in the bag that we can lay out on the grass." She offered, unclipping her dogs from the leash. Scout took off towards the water, Cooper chasing in pursuit. "Perfect." He responded with a nod, stepping over near the shore and watching the dogs chase each other. It made him laugh but only a little. Devin also noticed that there weren't too many people around and for that he was glad. Not necessarily because he wanted privacy but that a crowded outing wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable. Okay, maybe part of him wanted a little privacy. Still, his intentions were strictly friendly although part of him got the feeling maybe Calleigh wanted more than friendship, just judging from some of the things she'd said. Scout jumped eagerly into the water while Cooper barked at him from the shore. He obviously was a bit scared of the water being rather deep. He slowly got into the water, just barely seeing the top of his head as he paddled around. Calleigh took the blanket out of the bag as he set it down, unfolding it and setting it onto the grass. "I am so ready to get into the water! Are you coming?" She offered, slipping off her shoes and tugging at the cover-up. Her curvy frame was now revealed, showing her lightly tanned skin. What obviously stood out was the fact that her breasts were large and the bikini top only did so much in covering them. His eyes widened just slightly as Calleigh eagerly peeled away the only layer of clothing that once gone left her quite exposed. The swimsuit complimented her body very well and for a trained military man he was distracted for a good few seconds. But Devin was quite to shake it off. "Oh, uhm, yeah!" He responded quickly, hoping she didn't catch his brief lapse of gawking. Pulling his shirt over his head he then dispensed with his trousers. Figuring it'd be safe to take a dip in his boxers which did a more than adequate job of covering what needed to stay covered. Already close to the shore he took a few steps closer before diving smoothly into the water and surfacing a few seconds later. The water was fairly cold, but already his body was getting acclimated to it. She didn't wait too long before she headed to the edge of the shore. Scout and Cooper were both thrilled that she had decided to join them. Taking a few steps into the water, she then dove in and resurfaced about 20 yards away. She swam back to where Cooper was, picking him up as he must have been getting rather tired from swimming. Cooper squirmed around in her arms a bit, letting out a few barks. Calleigh looked to Devin as he joined them, her mind obviously wandering a bittier. As he resurfaced, she smiled. The water was a bit chilly, and she just hoped that it didn't make her nipples visible. "So tell me Devin, why did you go into the army?" She asked. He swam just a bit closer to her but kept some space between them. Her question caught him off guard, but Devin didn't mind talking about it. "Well, it wasn't for any reasons you might expect. Patriotism or trying to prove something to someone. I just. I did it for me. Furthermore, I just wanted to do something meaningful..." His words trailed off before he looked to Calleigh again. "That must sound stupid." He said, laughing a little, laughing at himself. Calleigh shook her head at this explanation. "I don't think that is stupid. A lot of people try to figure out what they want to do with their lives and want to do something meaningful. You went out there and helped keep our country safe despite what some stupid people say." She admitted, looking down to Cooper who wanted to get back in the water. She let him down into the water, Scout now getting out and shaking off before trotting back to the blanket and flopping down. Cooper was more than happy to follow Scout, pouncing on him and playing around. "I would rather here than something like "I like playing Halo, so this should be fun" or "I wanted to kill bad guys like a badass mothered." You know, something like that." She explained, smiling at him. She gently splashed some water on him, laughing softly. Devin was glad that she understood his reasoning. Feeling the cold splash of water, he smirked a little. "Oh, you're so going to get it!" He called out and dove underwater, surfacing closer to her and splashing back a little more intensely but still playfully. Noticing that the dogs had swum off back to shore part of him was glad before they could both commit their attention to each other now. Perhaps she understood because of her brother and father. Whatever the reason, she thought it was noble that he wanted to do something meaningful. As he replied, she laughed and watched him. She took a step back but was soon splashed with more water. She let out a small almost yelp, not for being hurt but just being playful. "No, you are going to get it!" She teased, lunging forward and tackling him into the water. She resurfaced a few moments later, laughing as he was still underwater. He didn't expect it and soon found himself underwater again thanks to Calleigh. Staying under for maybe a minute he surfaced behind her, treading water to stay afloat. "Someone doesn't play fair." He teased, idly swimming in circles around her. Calleigh laughed and rolled her eyes. "Whoever said we were playing fair? I think you are just jealous because you didn't think of it first." She teased, splashing him a bit as he swam in circles around her. It was nothing serious, and she didn't even expect it to be a game. She was just having fun, perhaps flirting a bit. Devin swam closer now, treading water again. He figured that the closer he was, it might make her less likely to splash him. But he could have been wrong, it was just a hunch. "I guess you're right." His remark was idle and while looking at her, he couldn't help but smile. Calleigh smiled brighter, then watching as he approached closer. She bit down on her lower lip and then took a step back. She inhaled a deep breath before diving away from him. Although, she easily circled back under the water and tugged on his ankle to bring him down. She kind of hoped that he got that she was flirting with him. Maybe it wasn't obvious? He kicked a little feeling the tug on his ankle from under the water. Devin swam under and dove deeper before surfacing again, but there was no immediate sign of Calleigh. It was pretty clear that she was toying with him, although he wasn't entirely convinced that she was flirting, definitely being playful but nothing more. Calleigh had swum a bit further off, then resurfacing only for a breath. She swam closer to him, hoping to sneak up behind him. She was able to get close enough to move her hands out and grab his hips. Hopefully she didn't scare him too much. But she soon resurfaced and started laughing. "Gotcha!" She told him, smiling brightly at the attractive man. "Hey!" He exclaimed, feeling as she grabbed him. It did surprise him, that was for sure. And Devin wasn't the type of guy to be easily startled. Spinning around in the water his arms slipped around her, but after a moment he realized it might have been a little inappropriate. So he let go, trying not to blush. Calleigh laughed, almost to the point of a giggle as he seemed to be a little bit startled. She also enjoyed when his arms slipped around her hips, but he soon withdrew. She couldn't think of anything witty to say about that. Perhaps she should be up front? Or what? "You know, you don't have to pull your arms away if you are cold." She half joked, thinking it was sort of witty. She then placed her face over her hand, embarrassed at the lame joke. "I am sorry, that was a terrible joke." She laughed, hoping that he didn't think too much on it. Her remark actually made him laugh. "Trust me, I know cold. This is nothing." Devin responded confidently, reassuring her that she didn't need to feel embarrassed about her joke. Tired of treading water he moved to float on his back, staring up at the sun hanging overhead, casting its warm rays on the water. Well he laughed...but her comment backfired. The problem was that she didn't want to exactly come out and tell him that she liked him. After all, he might still be harboring feelings for his ex. Or maybe he wasn't into her like that. She was kind of scared of the rejection. She watched him as he floated on his back, her eyes eventually drifting towards the boxers. Furthermore, she shook her head and moved under the water, opening her eyes in the crystal clear lake. Perhaps she would make a move later. Peeking up for a second he noticed that Calleigh had submerged again. Devin wasn't sure if she was planning to mess with him some more so part of him was on edge. Not that he thought she was done something rude or underhanded but at the very least he wanted to be ready. In case she planned on pulling him underwater again. Calleigh soon surfaced again to see that Devin was watching her. Automatically she looked down to her top to make sure that she didn't have a nip slip or anything like that. "Are you from around here?" She asked, trying to make a little small talk. She didn't understand why she was nervous all of a sudden. Perhaps she was just trying to get up some courage to tell him that she liked him. "Yeah, I grew up around here, matter of fact." Devin answered without having to think too hard about the question. "How about you?" He asked right back, figuring that maybe she wasn't from around here since they had never met before. Then again maybe they had just never met. "No not from around here. Not too far away. I grew up in Connecticut, but I have some family here. After school, I decided to settle down here because I liked the town so much." Calleigh replied. "So I just have to say, I am really glad we ran into each other. I am having a lot of fun. And to be honest, you are really attractive." She muttered the last part, almost hoping that he wouldn't hear it. He gave it about a 50/50 chance that she was from around here. "Oh, that makes sense." Devin answered with a smile. "I'm glad we met too. You're a really nice person. Nicer than most." It wasn't that he was ignoring the last bit, but truthfully he didn't feel ready to go there yet. Well when he seemed to ignore the last part, she kind of felt as though he did that on purpose. She felt an odd twang in her heart, as if she was somehow hurt. She barely knew the guy! Furthermore, she probably needed to stop acting desperate. "Well then, you must be meeting the wrong people if I am that nice." She added, moving on from her statement. She looked to the shoreline to see that Scout and Cooper were now asleep on the blanket, letting themselves get dry from the sun. "Did you go into the military right after college?" She asked. He wasn't asking many questions about her so she asked questions about him. Calleigh was a curious one, that much he could see. "I waited about a year. Got myself in shape but maybe that was a waste of time, but they definitely ran me through my paces once I enlisted." Devin explained with a quiet laugh. As hard as the military was, he felt like it made him a better person. Not superior to anyone but just.a better him. "Did you go to college or what?" He asked, figuring maybe it would be prudent to find out more about her. Her eyes darted back to shore, making sure that she kept an eye on the dogs. Scout was rather well-behaved, but Cooper was unpredictable. Thankfully he mostly followed Scout around. As he asked her a question, she found it a bit odd. Of course, she did? "Yeah went straight after high school, then went straight into veterinarian school. But now that my schooling is done, it means that I can practice anywhere. There is always a need for vets." She explained, moving into deeper water a bit and slowly treading water. "What was the one thing that you missed most when deployed?" Calleigh asked him. He continued to drift on his back across the surface of the water, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand. Devin gave her question some serious thought. It seemed pretty obvious that she was interested in his military background. "Sleeping in my own bed." He answered with a slight laugh, wondering if that answer would sound silly to her. "Unless you're in the barracks you pretty much had to use whatever you could find. Ever use a rock as a pillow?" Calleigh laughed gently as he did as well. "I don't think I have used a rock, but I bet it is not pleasant." She explained. "It is kind of like when you take a vacation. You like going on vacation, but you can't wait to get home and sleep in your own bed." She tried to explain. It wasn't the same, but she hoped that he got the gist. Calleigh was a bit curious as to why he wasn't asking any questions. Perhaps she was just more curious than him. "Definitely not." He responded with a small grin. "Yeah, sort of. So you're single, you want to be a vet.is there anything else I should know about you?" His question was pretty vague but then again Devin never had been very good at small talk. Calleigh laughed softly and shrugged her shoulders as best she could. "I am not sure, what do you want to know about me?" She asked. She motioned for him to come and join her as she moved closer to the edge. Furthermore, she figured they could get back into the water any time soon, but she wanted to make sure the dogs weren't getting into the food. Furthermore, she knew Cooper was a total chow hound. Furthermore, she headed out of the water, moving onto the blanket and watching as Cooper woke up and moved over to Calleigh for cuddles. Devin paddled over to the shore and climbed from the water. Moving to sit on the blanket near the dogs. He couldn't resist eying Calleigh a bit more, admiring her dripping, bikini clad form. Only hoping she didn't notice. "Well, what do you want to do with your life? I mean, do you want to live here forever or move somewhere else?" Calleigh rested down, moving her wet locks from her face and facing him. She propped herself onto one elbow as her other hand gently pet Cooper. As Devin laid down, Scout crawled over to him for pets. "I honestly don't know. I mean I really like this place, but I wouldn't mind moving. I am not super rooted here because I am just renting a place, and I am not dating anyone. But I just want to have a job where I help animals. Even if I am not making leaps and bounds in the field, knowing that I am helping pets is rewarding. For a lot of people, their animals are their family members, so I am just happy that I can help them out and keep them alive as long as possible." Her hazel yes glanced over his form, trying not to stare too long. And she avoided his boxers that started to cling to his form. "What about you? Are you still active or what?" She asked him. Reaching out Devin didn't hesitate to poet Scout while his attention stayed on Calleigh. "I don't think I'd want to go back. I feel lucky enough surviving one tour, y'know?" Not that he'd been afraid of dying. Well, maybe a little at first but after a certain point you forgot about it. He smiled listening as she explained her ambitions. She seemed just a sweet, genuine person, and he was glad to know her. Moving over on the blanket he got a bit closer to her. His hand moved out to push away a stray strand of wet hair from her face. Moving down to touch at her shoulder. His smile widened as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Innocent enough, right? "That is understandable. My brother did three tours, and he said that his last one was one of the worst. A lot of times he wondered if he would ever make it back." She mentioned. As he moved closer, her eyes locked with his, and he slowly moved a hand to her face. Calleigh felt her heart starting to race a bit, wondering what he was doing. She was surprised that he pressed a kiss to her cheek. As he pulled away, she smiled and blushed slightly. "What was that for?" She asked. "Not that I didn't like it. I liked it a lot, but I was just...yeah I should stop talking now." She said, laughing gently. From her words Devin didn't think she was put off by his affection, in fact she even admitted to liking it. ". Just seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, if it's not obvious enough, I really like you, Calleigh. You're a sweet and genuine person. Better than most people I get the chance to meet." He wore a smile as he spoke, staying somewhat close but keeping himself in check. Calleigh smiled a bit bigger, shying her face away just for a moment. "I thought that I had been too forward earlier when I said you were attractive. I like you as well. I haven't been with a guy in a long time who was just so relaxed. Most of the guys I meet are very full of themselves and only want one thing. You on the other hand, just seem to go with the flow of things." She explained. She wasn't sure if he was considering this a date or if he was just saying that he liked her. He smiled, finding her slight shyness to be endearing. "Well I'm not like that." As he said this Devin reached a hand out, closing it around one of hers while he spoke. "I would never try to make you do something you're not comfortable with." It was unclear to him if this considered a date, but there was definitely something developing between them, romantic feelings if he had to put a name on it. Calleigh moved her hand slightly, then allowing their fingers to lace. She hoped that wasn't being too forward, but she felt it was rather innocent. "Well, thank you. Not all guys are as gracious as you." Calleigh mentioned, looking to Cooper as he let out a large sigh and moved onto his back. She laughed gently, looking back to Devin. "Plus both of my dogs like you. That is always good." She teased, looking at Scout who was resting up against Devin. Noticing their fingers locked, his gaze matched hers and Devin smiled. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He reached down and petted Scout's head. "Yeah, they're the nicest dogs I ever met." He complimented them with a smile. "You're really nice too, Calleigh." "Well, they say that dogs are a great judge of character." She mentioned to him, then smiling back at him. "Did you want to stay for dinner? I could whip up something for us." She offered. Would the dinner be the date then? She wasn't sure, but she was enjoying time with him and just didn't want it to end any time soon. The invitation was slightly surprising, but he nodded and smiled. Honestly he wanted more time with her too and this was the opportunity. "Sounds good. Getting pretty hungry, actually." Devin slowly let go of her hand and petted Scout a bit more before slowly getting on his feet and getting his clothes back on. Calleigh smiled, then lightly rubbing Cooper's belly before pushing herself up. "You can also take a shower at my place if you need to. Or at least dry your clothes." She mentioned, wringing out her hair and then tying it up quickly. She used the towel to dry herself off a bit more, rubbing all over her body. "What are you in the mood for? I think I have beef, chicken and shrimp." She added, then using her towel to rub both dogs. Using one of the other towels Devin dried himself off before putting his clothes back on. "I'll consider it." He teased, although a shower after swimming in the lake would probably be a good idea. "Well I've always been a beef fan, but whatever's convenient for you is fine. I could eat just about anything right now." He commented with a laugh. "Beef it is. I think I thawed out some steaks..." She added, packing up everything before slipping her cover up on. She then put the leashes on the dog, all of them heading to the car. "I have lemonade or water if you are thirsty, and then I brought some cheese and crackers, trail mix and fruit if you want something to eat right now." Calleigh offered, unlocking her car and handing the leashes over to Devin for a moment. She needed to adjust the cover in the back that covered her seats. After that was done, she helped Cooper get into the car and let Scout jump in. He took the leashes from Calleigh while she made up the backseat for the dogs. Smiling he climbed into the passenger seat and reached around for the bag of snacks and a bottle of water. Devin helped himself to a drink and some crackers on the drive back. "Much appreciated for making dinner. You're probably a better cook than me, for sure." "Can you give me a bottle of water and some trail mix?" She asked, looking over to him and starting the car. As he gave her the items, she thanked him and took a handful of trail mix. She was starving! Calleigh laughed gently at his mention of cooking. "I love to cook, and I rarely have anyone over to cook for. Well, I am sure the dogs would love for me to cook for them." She teased, heading back down the road. Fishing around in the bag a bit more he pulled out what Calleigh asked for. Giving her the bag of trail mix and water. "A woman who can cook is always a plus in my book." Devin commented with a laugh of his own as they rode along back down the road to her place. Realizing the rhyme it made him grin. "Thank you very much. And well thanks, I adore cooking. But cooking for yourself just isn't the same." She offered, opening up the water and taking a long sip. She then opened the container of trail mix, taking a few pieces before popping them into her mouth. Furthermore, she didn't take her eyes off of the road, but she did have a lot of feeling around to do to find the stuff. Thank god she didn't accidentally grab something of his. "Are you allergic to anything or really don't like anything?" She asked off the bat. "No, I don't really have any allergies. Food-wise at least." Devin answered and glanced out the passenger side window. They weren't far off from Calleigh's place and his appetite was growing with every passing minute. A cooked meal would be nice, better than ordering take out at his apartment again. "Well last time I checked, there is no medicine in food. Unless I am giving it to the dog." She teased, glancing back to see Cooper and Scout asleep in the car. They arrived rather soon, unloading the car and heading in. She was quick to take off her flip-flops, then heading into the kitchen. She fed the dogs before starting on dinner. Furthermore, she asked Devin to help her, just by cutting up some potatoes and breaking the ends off of the green beans. Nothing too serious but it helped her out. After all, it was only about 45 minutes before she had plated the steak, grilled green beans and some mashed potatoes. She set them down at her small dining room table, then grabbing them drinks and taking a seat with him. She smiled as they sat down, and she hoped that he liked it. He didn't mind helping out in the kitchen. It gave him something to do, and it wouldn't be very polite to let Calleigh prepare everything herself. Sitting across the table from her, the spread looked great. "Everything looks delicious." Devin commented as he cut off a piece of steak and chewed then smiled at her. It was pretty quiet between them aside from the sound of their silverware. "I appreciate the meal. Living on my own I don't ever get to eat this well." "Well thank you for the help. It is always nice to have someone help me out. All Scout and Cooper help with is eating the meal." She teased, laughing softly as she took a bite of her green beans. They remained rather quiet, enjoying a meal since they had been talking most of the day anyway. Calleigh was still surprised that her day had turned out this way. She would have never guessed that she would literally run into an attractive guy and then spend the whole day with him. Wiping her mouth, she smiled at him. "Well you are welcome any time to come eat with me. I don't have steak every night, but I enjoy cooking. And if you help me out, I wouldn't mind having company." She offered. It was simply just a friendly offer at the moment. Her remark about the dogs made him laugh a little. "They seem like good dogs, though. You must take good care of 'em." Devin added with a small smile as he sliced off another small bite of steak and ate it. He allowed the silence to set in at least briefly, only the noise of silverware on their plates being audible. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence though, just a break in the conversation. Her next comment made him smile wider. "Well, that sounds nice. Thank you." Putting his knife aside he ate a few veggies on his plate. Calleigh laughed softly and continued with her food as she looked over to her dogs. She absolutely adored them and they kept her company. She hoped that they would be having dinner way more often. As they finished their dinner, she collected the plates and then put them into the sink before taking the last sip of her water. She then went over to where Devin was, wondering if he was going to stay around. "So we can watch a movie, or you can head home. I don't want to keep you if you want to head home. But I will have to get your number." She added, smiling brightly at him. Devin smiled a little and shook his head. "Today's been so great, I don't see any reason to run off just yet." He informed her politely. A slight blush stung his cheeks when she mentioned getting his number. She must have been more interested in him than he thought. Getting up from his seat at the table he moved over into the living room before looking back to Calleigh. "Movie sounds fine. I'm up for whatever." She was glad to hear that he was enjoying himself so much, he didn't want to leave. Calleigh was totally fine with Devin staying longer as she really enjoyed his company. "Well before that, did you want to take a shower or something? I could probably find something that would fit you. My brother is notorious for leaving clothes at my house." She offered. She wanted him to be comfortable if they were going to watch a movie together. As well, she wanted to get out of her wet bikini. It was already irritating her. He was a little surprised by the offer, so much that he felt himself blushing again, if only a little. "Uhm, yeah! Sure. Thanks." Devin answered with a smile and a nod, moving down the hall to the bathroom. Assuming Calleigh would take care of the fresh clothes and put them where he could find them. Soon enough she would hear the water running before he undressed and climbed in the shower to get washed up.

Coming Home (Beautiful Mystery & Ansem)|rating:3.0

Justice Heroes - GM Event_ Gotham (Pier 13)

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(any other night, Pier 13 of Port Adams would have been quiet and empty. The dock was too close to the heart of the harbor to be a good access point for illegal trade, but too far away for any fisherman wanting to get home to make the walk all the way from 13 to the parking lot on the Northeast end. It was not ideal for anything except being an offload point for oversea shipments to store their hall of shipping containers. Tonight however, he had paid off all the patrol officers and dockworkers to look the other way. Nobody would be calling the cops to report the mysteriously large group of several military dressed men unloading large black shipping containers from a single transport ship. He had wanted to be able to take his time, to meticulously count every illegal weapon, explosive, and equipment piece to be certain that he had gotten everything that he purchased. A small army of mercenaries from overseas, hundreds of assault weapons and small firearms. Thousands of blocks of C4. Enough communications relays and deploy turrets to protect a dozen safe-houses from the GPD. Hundreds of experienced men to use them, and many, many more boxes of tools for his crusade against Gotham. All that he needed to do now was wait for everything to be made ready. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(watched from his position walking along the top of 3 stacked shipping containers. Thirty feet or more in the air, giving him a good vantage point of the entire area. Pier 13 in the span of a few hours had become an entire work-site of men unloading more and more large metal containers, then smaller wooden boxes out from those shipping crates. The languages they used when calling to one another varied dramatically – English, Russian, Mandarin, Turkish, Portuguese. Every place that had men to sell who were willing to take the plunge in to hell along with the Arkham Knight, for the right price. Floodlights were set up around the perimeter of their unload site. Both facing inwards to help the men work, and facing away to limit the surrounding darkness. 'Not that it will matter if The Bat shows up anyway' the Arkham Knight thought silently to himself. Praying that he would. Beneath him, one of his Captains in a red barre approached and saluted.“Sir, we have finished unloading the freighter.”“Good” The Arkham Knight jumped down from his perch on the shipping containers. Pacing towards the middle of the unload zone, the luminescent interior of his helmet scanning bar-codes on firearm boxes. Looking for his weapon of choice. He threw the top off one of the longer wooden crates, holstering a rocket launcher across his shoulder. Then, turning the end towards the shipping freighter docked right next to them, squeezing the trigger before his men or any of those on board realized what was happening. The freighter's oil tank explosion was so large, and so tall, that it could be seen from miles away. Lighting up the entire pier like it was the 4th of July. Most of the men jumped for cover to protect themselves from the heat blast which followed instantly after.“Sir! Why-”“I want to get his attention, Captain. Now I have” Some notes-Batman is out of town, so the Justice Heroes will be called in to investigate what happened at Pier 13- If you want to participate, but do not think that you would be near a communicator, have your person see the explosion in the distance-This is going to be free form, I just set up the scene and will be playing as the Arkham Knight. You can take control of the scene as well and bring stuff in to it!- For time tags, this is happening at 1:00 in the morning at Pier 13 in Gotham- If anyone finds a good image to put at the top of this, please PM it to me! (Gordon "Cluster"Location:Gotham Network → Pier 13 Day/Time:1:00 morningElectronical Communication ((~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Beef... nothing as always. Gotham's hacking crew has really taken a break these past couple days." Jake groaned walking through the roads of cyberspace. This section was made up of the different networks throughout Gotham. It had been awhile since he joined this 'group of new heroes'... but for some reason it didn't interest him that much. Despite his own fantasies and his desire to upstage his family name, he never really wanted all of this. But he had to admit, being able to go through networks was pretty fun. Cyberspace was like an entire different world... something he was starting to love dearly. "Might as well check the social sites and see what's going on..." He muttered stepping on a small pad that began floating and carrying him towards a large hallway with tweets, Facebook posts and so on. "Eh?!" He immediately spotted a few tweets referring to an explosion in Port Adams. "Alright... let's filter for any messages about Port Adams..." He muttered viewing several screens. "Shit. Alright. Guess I have to, huh?" Jake groaned and lifted his left arm to view his command console. "Alright let me see if there are any routes towards the dock. Saarland PERFECT!!" With a grin he held out his arm creating a small portal. And jumped through. Immediately his body became a blue humanoid shape with 1s and 0s hovering around him. On a small computer in one of the piers, a blue light appeared as lines of data slithered out before forming Jake's shape. "Alright I'm in." With a smirk he opened up his communicator to send a message to the other heroes. "An Explosion just happened in Port Adams. I'm checking it out." With that he began to sneak around towards the source. "Military guys? The hell is going on here?" He muttered and snuck his way towards some crates to try and get a better look at the situation. (Wayne "The Charmer"Location: Pier 13Tagging: Jason, (Maybe Scarab), Cluster, OPEN Day/Time: Late Night"...but Batman is like the top. Superman doesn't even have a tiny fraction of his brains! He's like the Colosseum or the Louvre Museum... Or Mickey Mouse!" Zoe quirked to Jason as she slipped her white gloved hands behind her back. Feeling the thick layers of brown hair dangling down her back in spirals. What Zoe deemed 'cool' and 'awesome' may have been different from what Jason thought was cool, but Zoe had never really been given the time to figure that out. She had mastered the art of making herself look good, but polishing her insides to be something other than quirky mess? Well, that wouldn't happen for a while. "Plus, Batman's weakness is that he's human. He's like the ultimate underdog! No! Underbat! He rose up the ranks by just being freaking awesome!" It was a normal evening. Zoe was on patrol with Brown Streak. Her black heels loudly echoing on the pavement beneath her, as she noticed nothing out of the ordinary. She was somewhere along the outskirts of town, walking along the Pier that she was stationed to Patrol this evening with a few other heroes in training. The night was going extremely well! The moon was bright enough to ignite the surrounding area. She wore her favorite top hat on top of her head, her straight bangs sticking out near her forehead. Her body was dressed in her traditional outfit. Fishnets covering her legs that went for miles. Her white corset hugging her body, and her tailcoat dancing along her back. It wasn't until she turned her head to the big sky above her and smelled something... like gunpowder filling her nostrils. The ground beneath her rumbled loudly. Almost causing her to lose her balance as she stuck her arms out. There was a loud bang that caused her ears to ring, and a large burst of wind. "What's that!?!" she roared loudly. Suddenly becoming a bit more serious, and then looking to the east. Red flamed engulfed her chocolate orbs, as she pointed with her gloved hands to the Pier. "Quick!" she called out. Nodding her head to Jason as she knew that they both had to get there as soon as possible. "Either something terrible just happened, or there are some villains out and about. There could be civilians in danger, too!" she added with stress piling on. Nothing more had to be said. Zoe dashed toward the Pier to see what was happening. She realized that she was actually late! Another hero, someone who had just joined their ranks, but Zoe hadn't had the chance to properly introduce herself to." Hey... uh... Blaster, right? What's going on around here? I don't hear any screaming..." she looked around the Pier, wondering if the others had followed. (Blue Streak - Jason Grant Location:Pier 13Tagging:Cluster, Charmer Day/Time:1:00 in the morning"Sure, yeah, you're right. Batman's got brains, he's the world's best detective, and richer than god. All of which is completely meaningless to when compared to a ban that bullets, literally, bounce off of." The two had been at it for what felt like hours. Trying to figure out who was the stronger hero between their two idols. Technically The Flash was Jason's main man, but Superman was a close second." Think about what Superman could do in a week with Gotham. One week! Plus, let's get one thing straight here, you're not exactly impartial in this argument"he added in as a little jab. Knowing that it didn't invalidate all the good points that Zoe had been making, but knowing that it was going to piss her off to have Jason say it! Patrol was usually one of the most boring jobs generally speaking, but Jason was starting to like it more and more as their 'team hero' duties began to unfold. It gave him the opportunity to get to know his teammates on a more personal level. Sure, they all lived in The Cove, but most of the Justice Heroes had their own places outside their mountain fortress. Coming and going at a whim from the hi-tech facility. The Charmer, or 'Miss Piñata' whenever Jason wanted to poke fun at her, was his evening partner. It had started off relatively normal. A few muggings, some car chases, really everything you would normally expect. Their journey had taken them from the interior of the city out towards the docks."No, no no, don't bring the whole Kryptonite thing in to this! That's like saying-"Jason didn't get the chance to finish his shitty metaphor. An explosion of epic proportions illuminated the sky less than a mile away from them. Shaking the earth to the point that Jason almost fell over on his side, the heat blast washing over the two of them as Jason screamed out 'HOLY SHIT'. The words lost in the echo of windows shattering from the surrounding warehouses. Cybuster's communication came through on his earpiece." You're going to be first on the scene Cluster. Hold position, I'm with Charmer now and we are right by you". The two ran towards the danger, arriving minutes later. Hidden from sight from the military guys behind a large shipping container. Thankfully, they'd found Cluster as well." Any idea what's going on"he asked Jake. A small patrol of guards began to approach their position. Unaware that the 3 heroes who had already arrived were just behind the shipping container near them." Looks like 9 and they are almost here. That's 2, shit, 3 a piece." (– Brendan "Dan" Garrett Location:en route to Pier 13Tagging:Cluster, Charmer, The Blue Streak Day/Time:1:00 in the morning"Scarab, en route at top speed." Brendan raced across the night – early morning? – sky, his suit's rocket boosters at full throttle. Even so, there was no doubt in his mind that the Blue Streak would have reached Pier 13 first, even if he hadn't already been in Gotham. For Brendan's part, Gotham had never been his stomping ground." Cybuster, if you can tap into the security footage, try to run them through our facial recognition database. Who they are, what they're capable of, what they're after." This was Gotham, so odds were low they had much in the way of significant superpowers... but operating in a city as mean as Gotham, even if they had no powers or minor powers, they were still more than likely well-trained. Dangerous. Still, getting called into Gotham wasn't as dire as if they had been called in to deal with the likes of Doomsday or Mongol, but any of the power players in Gotham, Batman's Rogues, were still forces to be reckoned with. While he lacked Superman's sheer power, there was no superhero as widely feared as the Caped Crusader, and anyone who had tangled with him before was not to be underestimated. It was a strange juxtaposition, Gotham, the city, and Batman next to someone like Zoe. Incongruous. He'd always thought that Gotham needed a hero like Batman, someone who couldn't be broken by the darkness of Gotham City because he had taken it into himself, because he had made it a part of himself. And yet, Brendan mused to himself as Pier 13 entered his sight, maybe someone like Zoe, bubbly and effervescent, all smiles, was what Gotham needed. He hoped so. Having met her, he didn't want his original theory to be proven right, didn't want to see her light smothered by Gotham's suffocating, relentless darkness. (Grayson, "Night star." (#msg12260412)Location:Gotham City, Pier 13Tagging:EVERYBODY! Time:1:00amToday had taken a dramatic turn somewhere along the way, and as Mar'I watched the raging inferno before her trying to decide furiously on what she should do, she was only just beginning to realisehowdramatic. The night had started off relatively simple, of course - they always do, don't they? - and Mar'I had a decent idea of what she had planned. She usually stuck to Metropolis - most cities had their own local heroes, so you only really had to go to different parts of the world if there was a big, major crisis that needed several extraordinary people to deal with - since that place was, for the most part, the city closest to the one she considered home. You would have thought that Gotham would be her home, Dick Grayson being Dick Grayson, but the truth was that her parents had moved out of Gotham as soon as she was born. Something about "Kids not doing well in Gotham," and Dick wanting to raise his daughter in a city where crime lords didn't control nine tenths of even the legitimate jobs...in any case, she'd grown up in a small town in the country (a town she learned didn't even exist in this timeline! That had been a shock) and, when her parents....went away...she'd moved in with Connor and his family in Metropolis. Oh, Gotham was an excellent place to get drunk and party all night, hence why she had spent her first few months there, when she honestly didn't give a shit about anything...but when she decided that she actuallydidcare, she moved to Metropolis. If she couldn't have any of her old friends or family back, she may as well have her home city, right? She deserved that much, at least. But, she was forced to leave the city on occasion when her duties as a Vigilante and Superhero demanded it, and that night had been one of those times; only a few weeks ago, she'd gotten a secret communicate via her personal laptop indicating that she'd been invited to join a new team of Superheros that would support the Justice League and take on slightly-smaller-than-world-class threats in order to allow the JR to focus on the Cosmic Stuff...of course, Mar'icouldhave taken offense to that had she been a petty, arrogant girl; in her own reality, she'd fought alongside (and against, come to think of it; it was a complicated time) the Justice League against Brainier himself, so a more self-aggrandizing individual would have rejected the invitation out of hand...but she wasn't, and she hadn't. She'd only been "On The Scene" in this universe for about seven or eight months, so these people didn't have any reason to trust her abilities or her experience. To them, she looked like a brand-new upstart, and the fact that they were inviting her to a Justice League Affiliated Tiamat all was a measure of the impact she'd made. At least, she liked to think so; she still didn't know whether the Justice Heroes were going to be facing down villains like Death stroke, Lex Luthor and The Joker, or if they were just going to go and stop the odd convenience store hold up. College as opposed to Kindergarten, y'know? Either way, though...she was actually somewhat glad that she'd accepted. She'd been working on her own for too long when she ended up bumping into The Blue Streak, and their team ups were one of the things she enjoyed most of her daily routine; go figure! The thing was, she liked working in a team, she liked the camaraderie and fellowship and the knowledge that somebody nearby has your back...she liked it, and if any team offered her an invitation after her lonely slump, she was going to snap it up. She'd spent too long alone...this way, at least, she might find herself around people who actually could make a decent effort at empathizing with her position. She didn't know who else was in the team yet, but she was eager to find out. Hence, why she'd been in Gotham; she'd received an invitation to some kind of meeting or pre-placement interview with some shadowy individual who refused to identify themselves over the computer (fair enough, given how easily some computers are hacked into and how cheap and basic Mar'is laptop was), and had promptly set out to Gotham to attend. She had felt more than a little nervous; the first time in over a year being part of a team, full of people she didn't know? It was kind of terrifying, and kind of thrilling at the same time. She wanted to make new friends and meet people, and she wanted to be part of that spirit of fellowship again...she just needed to find a way to fit in without endangering the timeline too much. She knew that time travel could be very, very bad and could cause untold destruction...but in her defense, she didn't exactly do it on purpose. Of course, best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft alley (she actually had to have her teacher explain that line to her; what does "Gang aft alley" even mean? Are they even words?), and she'd only been halfway through the city to the meeting point when...something else had caught her attention. An explosion, to be precise, a pillar of smoke and fire and light that temporarily lit up most of the rest of the cities' skyline with its intensity as something burst into violent flames in the bay. She didn't know the geography of Gotham allthatwell - she'd left when she was a baby, and she hadn't been paying attention or even overly sober most of the time when she was living there earlier that year - but she knew enough about the layout and her general location to know that the explosion had happened in Gotham Bay...an innocent accident where Emergency Services needed a hand? A Super villain destroying some kind of government shipment, or an empty tanker just for shits and giggles? A gang-deal gone bad and taken up to violence? It was Gotham, so...all were possible. The last two were probably more likely, given Gotham's not-so-small amoral psychopath problem...which meant that Mar'I should definitely investigate. If nothing else, there were possibly wounded or in-danger people there, and she couldn't just stand by and allow them to maybediebecause she had a meeting. Not only would that just be abhorrently callous - no matter who they are, if they need help, they need help - but it wouldn't look good on her "Hero Resume," now would it? "Left people to die to attend a meeting." Yeah, no. She could be risking her place in the team - she had no idea who she was meeting or how they would feel about it - but wasn't a heroes job to save people? And if doing her duty meant losing a place in the team, as much as it might hurt, it was the right thing to do. Hovering in the air for a few moments longer, she eventually changed course and streaked towards the source of the explosion, now burning away merrily after the initial violent explosion. And that was where she was right now, hovering by the flaming tanker, shielding her eyes a little against the glare of the flames and wondering just what on Earth and Tamara she was going to do. Other heroes might try to put out the fire, but without knowing what was on the tanker, that would be extremely foolhardy; an oil or electrical fire, for example, required a specific type of foam...a cardboard or paper fire would be best attacked with water, and a gas fire needed yet a different type of assault...if she guessed wrong and put the wrong dousing agent on the flames, it would make things a thousand times worse, and she was not inclined to take that risk. The problem was...she could already see shapes staggering around on the boat, as well as several unmoving shapes among the flames that she could only presume were charred, already-dead passengers. Several of the shapes were already moving slowly, and slowing down more and more as she watched, uncertain how to handle this situation...she couldn't be sure that more heroes were en route, or even that they'd have the abilities to deal with the fire if they did come, so she had to act decisively and effectively. But there was another problem. She could see firearms on several of the dead bodies, and she could already see heavily armed men swarming about on the other side of the ship, obviously trying to figure out what happened...and none of them looked particularly friendly. It could just be a guarded government shipment...or it could be a criminal smuggling operation. The problem was, if she started rescuing passengers, they'd disappear into the night and not only would more criminals be on the streets...they would never figure out what happened. She needed somewhere to put the passengers safely that was out of the way and didn't afford them the chance to escape...and that was a tall order. She scanned the docks, trying to work out a plan of attack...what did she have? Sheets of metal, cranes...cargo containers, a few boats...wait a second. Inspiration struck. She turned in midair and shot towards one of the smaller storage containers; if she could save the passengers and heard them into a container (with holes punched for air and light, of course), then they'd not only be safe...but they'd be contained. She spotted a smaller one which, with its doors open, she could tell was relatively empty and swooped down towards it, landing on the ground beside it (making certain to stay away from the guards on the opposite side of the tanker). Furthermore, she couldn't lift it easily from the bottom - too large and unwieldy - so she needed a different way to carry it....thankfully, the storage container still had its wiring from where it was lifted and placed by the Dock Crane, and though it might chafe her hands, it would be better than carrying it over-arm, especially considering the size. Even a small cargo container was fairly large, after all...thankfully, an empty one was still light enough to be carried by Mar'i. She may not have been as strong as her mother, but she was still plenty strong. She lifted off and flew to the top of the container, gripped the wires and lifted off again - heaving with her arms to get it off the ground, she managed to slowly lift it into the air - and moved it the couple dozen meters she needed to get it into position; it was now opposite the least-on-fire part of the deck of the ship, on one of the other piers next to the one it had been docked at. Ok, all the ship was on fire so "Least on fire" was a moot point, but...well, she was doing what she could.(she alighted on one of the larger cargo containers beside the first one and - with a great heave - slowly peeled the top off of the container, like you would the lid off of a can. Taking a moment to straighten it out, she then turned...and positioned it as a walkway between the open doors of the container and the deck of the ship. Now she had her escape plan in place...she had to start corralling the passengers, and to hell if the armed men milling around the ship had a problem with it. With any luck, they'd already spotted her but also realized she was trying to help the passengers and opted to leave her alone...second-best scenario was that they hadn't seen her yet, but considering she'd just moved a cargo container and ripped the top off of another one...they'd probably seen her. Bullets didn't bother her, but it was the principle; she'd rather not save people while being shot at for her troubles. But, now was the hard bit; going through a burning ship that could explode at any moment to try and rescue survivors, and then herd them into voluntary confinement in a cramped cargo container. Fun fun fun. She also had to find out why and how the ship exploded, but...that was secondary right then. She had to save as many lives as possible, regardless of whether they were criminals or not; if she could do something to save them, she would, and they'd have a fair trial. It might sound naive, but that was what her parents and her uncle had brought her up to know; that if they killed anybody who committed a crime, they were no better than the villains who killed because somebody annoyed them. If they weren't fighting to protect people and uphold the law...why were they fighting in the first place? Sometimes death was unavoidable, yes...but it should never be your goal. She landed on the deck of the cargo ship, the noxious smoke and fumes already doing their best to suffocate her...so she held her breath. It was a good thing that Tamarins could survive without oxygen for extended periods of time - much like Kryptonite - or she'd be in serious trouble. Yes, as a half Tasmanian she couldn't survive indefinitely like that...but shecoulddo it for hours. And if she was honest? She'd have hoped she'd be finished on the ship by then. She looked around carefully...she needed to start rounding up survivors, but the deck either side of her was either crumbled and wrecked - so nobody was getting out that way - or so on fire that even her heightened durability would be tested. The only way forward seemed to be ahead of her, through the wrecked doorway and into the interior of the ship...there were no shapes moving on-deck, it seemed...so the only way was down. She took a step forwards, and - after one last glance around - plunged into the depths of the flaming ship. She sincerely hoped it didn't explode again. ((#msg12137693)Location:Gotham City, Pier 13Tagging:Arkham Knight, small army, anyone on comms! Day/Time:1:00amContent:Urban learns of some power plays in Gotham. She's on a recon mission when everything goes to hell in a handbasket. She really didn't think it was such an urgent matter that she should call in the rest of the Justice Heroes. They had their own problems or their dates or whatever, so it left her hanging out by herself...at the harbor, watching men haul things back and forth through a pair of binoculars. She'd gathered a boat load (excuse the pun) of information on the city while she'd stayed her. These were her level of criminals, and she could apply her genius here in ways that she couldn't even in Star City. There were other places that she felt she was lacking as well. She didn't have flight. While her strength was impressive in the suit as well as her speed, she wasn't nearly s fast as someone like Superbly or even remotely as strong. She'd found that her best quality was her brain. She put that to use and now she was here. There were a series of events that seemed to flow together in a way that no one else cared to see...or understand. She wondered if it was paranoia, but at least she wasn't saying stuff like the Girl Scouts were trying to poison the world with their delicious cookies. That was silly. No, this was bank transfers, a gathering of people. Mercenaries pouring in from all parts of the world, and a giant ship full of freight that no one could exactly identify. Sure, it would say produce or electronics or something else on the manifests, but when asked what kind or if she could see where exactly they came from, she hit a lot of road blocks. It wasn't enough evidence for the police to get a warrant, and it wasn't big enough for the League to investigate. So it left Urban here, alone, looking through a set of binoculars. Her first few hours, though, were even less exciting as people milled around like business as usual. She'd put her suit into a dormant state so that she could preserve the battery life. She'd really expected to either call in back-up or high-tail it if something went awry. Furthermore, she was also told repeatedly that this was the worst place to get a shipment in the harbor. If they were going to unload something of significance, they'd do it at a different pier. She wondered if they weren't right. Was she just being crazy? That thought vanished when workers arrived. She noted at least three different languages, although she spoke none of them. That may have been typical of dockworkers who could come from all walks of life and literally from anywhere in the world. They milled around for hours, placing boxes here and there, being ultra careful with them as they unpacked. She was just about to head home when she spotted him." Holeee sh-crap." She was already laying down, but she felt like she became one with the rooftop where she was just a little more when she spotted the Arkham Knight. Her heart pounded in her chest and she froze in place. She decided she didn't need to hear what he was saying enough to risk being seen. Instead, her hand went to her ear. "I've got a real baddie here at the Pier." She wasn't sure if anyone was listening, or if she was on the right frequency. She didn't dare peel her eyes off of the man that could probably rip her limb from limb if he wanted to...or have his men do it for him. Furthermore, she gulped. Furthermore, she continued watching. Furthermore, she wasn't sure how long he'd been there. Hell, had he seen her and shown himself afterward? She gulped again. She touched her ear again as the Arkham Knight waltzed across the field of crates below. "Guys I..." She checked the comm. "Ah...fudge, wrong frequency. She reached into her mask to pull the comm out and tweaked it. She then put it back in and pushed again. "Guys I see--" KABOOM! Urban let out a girlish shriek that she would be ashamed of later on when the tanker exploded, and she felt the heat press against her skin even through her suit. Immediately she turned all the systems back online and looked up. Maybe it was that none of them heard her over the noise of the explosion. No such luck. There were men running towards the warehouse where she was perched, and she could already hear footfalls coming up those stairs. Worst of all, she'd lost the villain. The men poured out onto the rooftop, and she was immediately flung into battle. She grabbed one guy's arm while flinging him into another man. She sped up to her top speed so that she could access her reflexes at those speeds. Furthermore, she avoided one fist and stomped on the toes of a man with the heel of her boot. Furthermore, she turned, grabbed him, and flung him into another man. That's when she took a shot to the back, and it made her arch painfully. "AH!" She stumbled forward into a gut punch that nearly floored her. Another hand looped into her braid, and another fist slammed across her jaw. She kicked one across the rooftop, then slung another into a group of four guys. She even managed to elbow the guy behind her hard enough that he coughed and let go of her braid. Her hand shot up to her ear. "Arkham Knight is here! HELP!" It took her half a second to realize she needed location and to identify herself. "It's Urban! Pier 13!" She avoided another shot to the face and started running away from the group of men.... (Gordon "Cluster"Location:Gotham Network → Pier 13 Day/Time:1:00 morningElectronical Communication ((~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"... It's Cluster." Jake groaned and turned around to see Zoe and Jason. As the red head tried not to stare at Zoe's attire he sighed and began to explain. "I was going around Gotham's networks when a bunch of social media messages popped up about an explosion. So I hack jumped through a PC nearby and well..." Suddenly he began hearing Scarab's voice. "I can try. Their security cameras seem a bit archaic." With that a small window appeared before him as he began tapping a few commands." Helper.EXE go!!"a cybernetic voice announced as a small spherical robot began to materialize. Its LCD face showed a smiley face as it hovered over to the computer." The helper will try hacking. Until then, we need to keep an eye on it." Jake explained giving the two a thumbs up. He wasn't sure if he should jump in just yet. Just who were these guys? Although when his eyes rose towards the sight of an armored man, he began having memories of being a child and hearing stories from grandpa Jim. This guy was... Arkham Knight right? Great... and he was just wanting a leisurely stroll in Gotham's networks... maybe take in a movie or pop into a closed fast food joint for a quick burger later. Not this. He was still kinda opposed to being on this team. These other people were trained to be heroes, him? His mother was too focused on other things and the only reason he was here was because he was stupid enough to click on a bad link. But Cyborg seemed adamant that he joined. Ah well, at least the trade-off was that there were plenty of good-looking women in this team. Speaking of which, he jumped hearing another voice in his communicator. "Urban?" He muttered and looked up to see a girl on a rooftop fighting off some of the goons. "TCH... You guys take care of the main group. I'll help out Urban okay?" He said towards Zoe and Jason before opening the command console again." Buster.EXE GO!" The voice announced as lines of data appeared to create the red and white armor around Jake's body. He had to admit... that part was cool. Definitely felt Power Rangers-is but was still cool. With a grin he dashed towards Urban's location. "Might need the Sword. Exe." Jake muttered making a stylish blade appear in his hand. "Urban hang on. I'm on my way to help!" (- Jonathan Kent Location: Pier 13Tagging: The Blue Streak, Charmer, Cluster, Night star, Urban Day/Time: 1:00am"Superbly here. Already on my way,"Jon said as he flew through the night sky of Gotham city in the form of the free-tailed bat. He thought it only appropriate that he patrolled the city in the form of the symbol of its greatest protector. Fortunately for him, the Justice League outfitted him with a communicator that worked with his shape-shifting. Apparently, it was the same kind that Beast Boy used. It would be kind of lame, after all, if he had to ditch his communicator every time he had to change into another form. With his enhanced bat-hearing, he was easily able to pick up on the direction he was supposed to go. The explosion was hard to miss, considering how loud it was and how brightly lit the tanker turned out to be. Swooping through the dark city skies, he made his way toward Pier 13. On his way toward his destination, he had a thought... he had heard rumors about Batman. Ridiculous rumors, but only if you knew the man behind the mask. Apparently, the reason why Batman chose to dress up like a bat was to make his enemies believe that he was some sort of supernatural creature of the night. It was a psychological move. He took advantage of their fears. How did the saying go again? "Criminals are a superstitious cowardly lot"... and you know what? It worked. It worked ridiculously well. Just the sight of a bat's shadow was enough to mess with the common street thug. They missed their shots. They got sloppy. Their judgement became impaired. Jon figured he could use that to his own advantage. A sly grin etched across his small, furry face. Soon enough, he was just above the docks. He had a perfect view of what was going on down below. The tanker was still on fire, but it appeared that Night star was already taking care of it. He received a distress call from Urban about the Arkham Knight and that she needed help. Oh... never mind. It looked like Cluster was already taking care of it. That left... the main group. The flood-lights... those could come in handy. He wondered for a moment if he could cut the power to all the flood-lights at once... but decided against it. For now. If anything, he was going to want them there. He also picked out the spot that contained the largest number of criminals around. The more panic he could stir up among the enemy, the better. The stage was set. It was time to make his appearance... As Batman! Through his communicator, he told the others,"Alright, I'm here. I'm going in! Let's do this thing!" Making use of the floodlights, he cast a large bat-shaped shadow on the ground, swooping right above the thugs. As soon as they looked up to see the symbol of their nightmares, Jon immediately changed back into a bat. Using the free-tailed bat's natural speed and agility, he flew around the thugs in an effort to actually make them believe that Batman really could change into a bat, just like how the rumors went. He ended his performance by changing into Batman again and landing atop one of the floodlights. Using his Telekinesis, he disarmed several gunmen all at once. Their firearms floating in the air around The Dark Knight before they were dropped back onto the ground again. There were still many more armed thugs who could fire at him... but that was what changing into his bat form was for. Changing back into the free-tailed bat, he deftly dodged and avoided any gunfire that was aimed directly at him while he continued using his Telekinesis to disarm and knock back as many enemies as possible.(( – Brendan "Dan" Garrett Location:Pier 13Tagging:Everyone & Anyone Day/Time:1:00 in the morning Having a bird's eye view, not being in the thick of it himself, Scarab caught onto some details that it was, perhaps, easy for the others to overlook, with their attention drawn by the Arkham Knight. Soaked men and women dragging themselves onto the pier or swimming for land, away from the burning ship, a shipping container that seemed to have had its roof torn off, and – there, it was being used as a walkway between another container and the burning ship. And out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar flash of color..." There's an unidentified party with super-strength on the scene. If it's who I think it is, they're friendly, but if it's someone else, they could be working with the Arkham Knight. Stay on your toes, everyone." Scarab didn't know too much about the Arkham Knight – only that he was one of Gotham City's Rogues Gallery. Still, that was enough to surmise the Arkham Knight would have come prepared for Gotham's Dark Knight. He hoped Charmer would take care – it was exactly situations like this that forced the Caped Crusader to maintain a secret identity, but if that had been compromised, if one of Gotham's super villains ever learned Charmer was the daughter of the Batman, that would paint a huge target on her. If they could capture her, the leverage they'd be able to exert on Batman would be unprecedented." I'm heading in to investigate. It looks like there are still people –" he hesitated to classify them as `civilians` "aboard the freighter." It sounded like Cluster had Urban's situation well in hand. Swooping in, Scarab dived into the fiery interior of the freighter, following what had looked like, to him, distinctly familiar contrails, though his first priority was getting anyone he found trapped inside out safely. (McCain (Blue Lantern)Location:Pier 13Tagging:Everyone Day/Time:1:00 in the morning In the wake of the explosion at the pier, a blue light shined within the skies above. The light in question was a man baring a tight blue and white suit with a mask to cover his eyes. Floating in the air, the man known as the Blue Lantern tightened his right hand into a fist; with the blue lantern ring glowing on his ring finger. "Time to make my debut. Maybe leave a good impression, so I can get a good word into the Justice League. I can keep begging Hal all day about it, but this is more guaranteed." The man, Connor McCain, spoke to himself. For a whole year, he was out in space fighting alongside the Corps of both Green Lanterns and Blue. Now that the Blue lanterns have a good footing, they can finally start sending their troops to patrol sectors like the Green dudes. Connor begged to come back home and now here he was. Connor spent the last hour trying to find something to debut himself to the world, but with it being dark this was all he could make do. At least being a 6-foot night light shone some light on himself. And so, Gotham was the first choice. Things always happen in Gotham. Everyone knows it and with Batman now focusing on the Justice League, other heroes needed to dip their hand in this gritty city. And so, Blue Lantern Connor McCain flew towards his first (second) Earth crime with the intention to do his best. And so, preparing himself, Connor thrusts both fist forward and began gliding towards the explosion. "Go time." Connor said with a smile. He was ready. He knew it. Furthermore, he could feel it. The rush of the wind blowing in his face would be a feeling he would savor for the rest of his life as he mentally prepared to combat the villainous rogues of Gotham City. Maybe, if Connor was lucky, it would be a high profile one. But, knowing his own luck, it's going to be someone new. Landing on the Pier next to the flaming freighter, Connor watched as what looked like a Pomeranian was ripping sheets of metal and shrugging off bullets like a champ. Curious enough though was why was there a Pomeranian on Earth? Well there's already a Kryptonite and Martian, so why not a Pomeranian. However, while she was working of the ship, Connor figured he'd give her a hand with the gun trouble. Holding his hand out, Connor blasted small condensed beams at the guns and blew them out of the criminals hands before he wrapped them all into a giant blue bubble. Noticing she vanished into the flames, Connor maneuvered into a cargo container and left the slowly healing criminals in confinement. Closing and locking the container, Connor flew into the flames to see if he could help the foreigner with saving the rest of the victims. Luckily enough, stuff like smoke was not a bother to him so long as his shields were up." Uh hey pal. Pomeranian pal. Stupid Connor. Stupid. Uuuumm. I'm Blue Lantern, and I'm here to help. So uh, could you please not get smoked out?" Connor gritted his teeth at his own cringy words, but he lost sight of the other hero and there wasn't any survivors in sight. Well the entire thing was blazing so it was hard to see and here. Scanning around with his ring, Connor aimed to find those who have a chance at living. However small, Connor was determined to help. He had hope that he can do this with his power. Someone had to.

Justice Heroes - GM Event_ Gotham (Pier 13)|rating:4.0

The Caracal and the Fox [Sekah & CursieKitti]

Karim had displeased his master severely. His wife, wretched cow that the woman was, had cornered Karim in the barn, while he was forking hay for the horses. Their master had fucked him many times, but to fuck his ugly wife—well, naturally Karim was caught with the woman pressing him against the wall of the barn, her skirts up above her waist, and it hadn't mattered a moment to the wealthy landowner that Karim had been unwilling and still clothed and the deed had not been completed yet. It hadn't mattered, either, that the landowner had made no secret of the use he made for Karim. A man's wife is his property in the landowner's head, and the idea that the woman might have the son of a slave that he would have to raise as an heir had been enough of a threat that the man had tried to douse Karim in whiskey and light him on fire. In desperation for his life, Karim struck him with a rake and tried to run for his life. He had gotten almost nowhere before the provosts had caught him. To his wife's credit, she had intervened with his husband, and persuaded him to neither have Karim executed, nor slice his Achilles tendon, the usual crimes for running. Karim was flogged until he was weeping and delirious, and then handed over to the procurers. A half-dead slave newly-flogged was a low coin on the block, even though Karim was a rare supernatural, a fennec fox shifter, and not a human, and thus worth a little extra. The procurer had kept him and fed him well, and even paid for a healing, so Karim was not crippled, as a whipping like that might have left him, once. The scars would still drive down his price considerably, but Karim was still young enough and pretty, with almond eyes framed by long, almost girlish lashes, and his curly brown hair. They'd trimmed his beard this morning for sale. Like all slave sales, Karim was naked, in iron chains, despite the fact that he stood on an open rostrum waiting his turn, and it was December, with a small flurry of snow making flakes dance around him, touching his body and melting on the heat of his skin in little frigid pinpricks. His teeth chattered, his whole body covered in goosebumps. The wind was soft, and that was a mercy. He tried to be happy for that, despite how freezing the iron around his wrists was, and the way he had to sidle to keep his bare feet off the cold wood of the rostrum. None of the other slaves were in any better condition, shivering and teeth chattering, their breaths clouding out of their mouths like ghosts. The young woman ahead of them went for far less than she was worth, the crowd small on a day like today, mostly farmers and herders who needed an extra hand around their property, not a fair young girl for a pleasure slave. The woman who'd bought her had a dress too low-cut to be anything but a brothel madame, but the girl bit the man who took her away to be prepared for sale, so Karim thought she'd be alright. He sighed out a long column of steam and walked up to the front of the rostrum with barely any nudging by the guards." Will you look at this fine young man! Only eighteen years old, and fit as a fiddle." Karim scowled down at his bare feet. He was twenty-five years old, certainly no teenager anymore." Take a look, ladies and gentlemen! Notice his exquisite conformation, his perfect teeth." He grabbed Karim's chin in a hand covered in wool-lined gloves, and though they were chattering, Karim still pulled back his lips and showed them. "This boy is in fine health, and a good-looking asset to any property. How much will I get for this fine young man?" The bidding started more briskly this time, Karim possibly the most tempting slave on the line today, despite the whip weals that curled around his side. Two farmers put down thirteen and fifteen bronze coins, respectively. The brothel madame raised that immediately to twenty. She would probably win, she was one of the most well-dressed in the meager winter crowd today. Were this summer, the bidding would have started and ended much higher, but it would still be a loss for the procurer keeping Karim until even spring, when the plantings made an extra boy more desirable. Food and board and care should he sicken made keeping a slave for a long period as a procurer a dangerous concept, and Karim had already had more spent on him than most slaves. He waited to be won by the madame, a soft frown on his face. He didn't look out at the wooden benches surrounding the stage. A cowlick of his hair fell into his eyes in a sweet curl. "Fifty silver." The bid came suddenly, cut above the crowds murmurings-- most of them complaints on how the Madame had driven the price up so high for such a pitiful looking thing. He was pretty, of course, but what more would he be good for than warming someone's bed? And yet there had been much consideration about it, hence the buzz. But all conversation stalled, and turned to look back at one who spoke in accumulative disbelief." Say again?" one of the farmers, who had been thinking of going 25 bronze, at the most. Perhaps they had misheard, or maybe even the gentleman had misspoke. But he would not look any of the onlookers in the eye, only looked straight ahead towards the stage where the slave and the procurer stood, his shoulders squared beneath the black coat he wore. His face was not common in the marketplace, much less on the days when people were sold like cattle to the highest bidder. His companion, who was still struggling with the crowd to rejoin him, had often tried-- insisting there were other wares available, but until now, he had refused. Tykiri's heart was pounding, but his voice was steady as he spoke again. "Fifty silver, and you will bathe and clothe him before I am to take him." There was a lilt to his words, an accent that was often described as exotic. As more people turned to gawk at him, it could be said that the rest of him could be described as the same. The brown skinned man stood below six feet, with a chiseled jaw and sloping cheekbones that were covered meticulously in small teal symbols and lines. The markings disappeared into the bright red muffler that was wrapped around his slight shoulders, and the snow disappeared into the white hair that was piled atop his head. His hands were in his pockets, his feet were bare and planted firmly on the ground, despite the winter's biting chill. His eyes were golden and misty, shrouded in a way that always drew questions. Tykiri's lips parted, tongue darting across them to wet them as he tasted the air once more. He assure of it. He could not be wrong. That scent was too familiar. He had spent many nights buried in it, and even more dreaming of those times. He yearned for the time he could recall what it was like on his own skin, after hours of being huddled together to face the cold. Until now, it had hovered just out of reach; a ghost of a time that he hated that he could not forget, and yet did not want to let go. It was him." Will it be enough, sir?" He asked with an incline of his head. He lifted one hand from his pocket. A small velvet bag, embroidered in gold rest in his palm and rattled with the heft of its contents. "You can count it now, if you'd like." Karim's eyes jumped across the small crowd, shocked as everyone else to hear the words fifty silver said like it was the most obvious thing in the world that Karim was worth that much. Karim was most certainly not. A slave good enough to present to the emperor might be, but only then. Karim's breath caught, the mist coming from between his lips ending for a moment, the cloud dissipating and not replaced." Kiri?" he asked. He had never thought he would see the man again, ever. Not if he lived to be a hundred. The slaver opened the cloth bag Kirk had given him—it was Kirk, it had to be—and briskly counted the coins." Sold," he called, but his voice quieted from the booming salesman's bellow it had been giving. He leaned down to speak to Kirk quietly. "We have no clothes for him, sir, nor place to bathe him other than the slave pens, two miles out. Usually the master provides—"He cleared his throat. "But of course we can provide some clothes, of course, sir." He obviously didn't want to jeopardize the sale, though, which was many times more than he was expecting for all the slaves put together. The procurer glared at one of his assistants, who was about Karim's size." Danyl, take off your damn clothes." The procurer glanced at the buyer." Sir?" the young man crowed, offended by the possibility. The procurer gave the boy a look, and stubbornly, Daryl scowled. But he removed his clothing down to his loincloth and shoes, blushing bright red and shivering in the chill air, and handed it to Karim. Karim's manacles were taken off, and he was able to dress." Is this acceptable, your grace?" the procurer asked him, voice unctuous. As he had neared the stage, and the stunned people in the crowd made way for him to do so, Their was now more sure than he felt comfortable in being that he was right. What was Karim doing hereof all places. Being offered to be sold again? Had they not been on the market together? Bought together by the same Master? Resold at the same time when that Master had died? What was he doing back here, after all this time? The thought was maddening, sickening even. And here he was, offering coin for him just like anyone else might. But this was different, he told himself. It had to be." That isn't what I agreed to pay for." Their's tone was firm, and his eyes narrowed upon the face of the slaver. He smelled familiar too. He was certain that this man had been doing this for some time. "You will use 10 of this silver to feed, bathe and clothe him. I want him scrubbed clean of your scent. Anything left over, you will send back with him." His nose wrinkled in a way that exposed a single pearly fang beneath his lip. "After that is done, you will bring him to me."" Who does he think he is?" came a whisper at his back. "I've never seen that man before. He can't be from here--""Pardon me!" Another voice rang out, like the deep toll of a church bell. More people scrambled out of the way of the towering man who had been working his way through. Of course, everyone had wanted to crowd inward, to get a glimpse of the man offering 50 silver for a secondhand slave. Delaney was a recognized face-- in fact, his appearance startled quite a few. His lineage was unmistakable; with his black hair, unusual height and muscled bulk, and his bright blue eyes set against black where the whites should be, everyone knew at once who he was. The son of the Commissioner, whose estate sat at the top of the hill and overlooked the market and surrounding citadel. Practically a Prince, Delaney's family name carried such weight that many were inclined to bow upon sight of him. And here he was now, hurrying to catch up with this stranger with far too much coin to offer. Delaney huffed and laid a hand on Their's shoulder. "You can't just wander off like that, Kirk... I thought someone had--... Never mind, what are you doing?" But Kirk did not move to acknowledge him. Instead, he was still looking towards the procurer with quite the scowl. "I will be along shortly, Delaney. I just want to be sure that this... gentleman understands my terms. I also hope he understands now that he has no choice in the matter, unless he would like his dealings looked into much more closely by the Commission." A fine white brow raised. "Are we in agreement... sir?" The procurer scowled, but glanced at the full packet of silver coins, and said, "Aye, understood, sir. What be the place to deliver him to?"" Kiri?" Karim asked softly. "Is it really you?"" Step down, boy," the procurer told Karim, obviously unwilling to bark at this very important slave. "I'll finish the auction and then outfit you." Karim obeyed, staring at Kirk, searching his face for the boy he knew. Kirk's life, it seemed, had gone in a different direction than Karim's. The procurer sold off the rest of the slaves briskly, the slavers eyeing Karim, weighing him up. Karim's nerves itched. As soon as the slaves were paid for, the procurer stepped down and took Karim by the shoulder, leading him into town. A moment later, he let him go, obviously unwilling to show force to a slave who could garner fifty silver coins. The procurer used the silver to buy Karim clothes like he'd never worn before, and good sturdy boots fitted to his feet, a bazaar luxury for Karim. He brought him to the public bathhouse and paid for his time there. The hot water from the hot spring chased the chill from his bones. It was luxurious and amazing. Karim couldn't remember ever bathing in hot water. The soaps and oils cleaned generations of dirt from his skin, but there was still some ground into his callouses on his feet and his hands he couldn't wash off, though he tried. Karim put on the clothes, finer than anything he had ever worn before. The boots were strange and Karim walked funny in them, having rarely worn shoes before. Finally, Karim was taken to a tavern and fed fine game pie, hearty with gravy and thick with meat and vegetables. Though Karim knew he could have cooked it better, it was still so good. He was delivered to the fine address and gawked at it openly. The procurer unfolded the bill of Karim's sale, prepared to explain its contents to him. When Kirk came, the procurer launched into a description of the contract. At the end, he said, "This slave is a class B danger for attacking his master, and so is legally disallowed from being freed, either in your will or before it. However, any children he has may be freed. The law requires I explain this to you. Well, sign here, then, your grace," he said, and brandished the paper. Once the address had been given and confirmed (twice, for Their's comfort; but perhaps also to ensure such a simple man was capable of following even simpler instructions), he had turned to Delaney and asked if they could return to the Estate. The familiarity of this place-- the sounds, the smells, and even his own involvement in it just now, clung to him like a second skin that he could not wait to tear away. Disappointed, but understanding as he always was, Delaney agreed and they left immediately. Tykiri did not want to stand among the rest of the Masters, staring at the bodies for sale. He was no predator. He was not like them. But the walk back to the home was weighted with a guilt that knotted his stomach until he was sick on the side of the road. He refused Delaney's concerned hands and asked politely, but pointedly to be left alone. And when he was, he wept. How many years had it been since he was granted his own freedom? Was that how long it took to become like the rest of them? Did money truly have such power that it could change who he had been and make him like those he openly despised? He was a slaver, no better than the ones who had taken him time and time again. He did not know what had possessed him to act as he had, other than he knew that he could. The impulse had been a selfish one. But it was Karim. He would have given anything--everything to have his dearest friend at his side again. And yet, all he had needed to offer was silver. But why did it sound so wrong? The conflict haunted his steps the rest of the way home. He locked himself in his private quarters, stripped everything he wore and threw it away. He bathed and scrubbed until his skin was raw. Furthermore, he ran the water hotter than he could stand, and even still he remained until the heat sank into his bones and made him numb. Still, he cried. Time passed. He laid in his bed, eyes closed, and listened for their arrival. He fought with himself to the point of exhaustion, but at last he had found his resolve. This is different. I am different. He is different. This. Is. Different. And at last, he could hear the gates open, and he was out of bed and down the stairs so quickly that no one could have even thought about answering the door. He was dressed more plainly; in a loose white shirt and simple black pants, with his still damp hair curling towards the middle of his back and in front of his eyes. He stood rigidly as the procurer prattled on about the terms of the agreement, but his attention was just past him. Furthermore, he was focused entirely on Karim."... Tykiri?" A voice behind him spoke up, so suddenly that it startled him, and he bristled, looking back. Delaney had come to join him, as he often did. "Do you need help?"" No." Their turned back to the slaver and reached for the papers. He squinted, focusing now on where exactly the watercolor shapes actually were in front of him and managed to take them and the pen. There was a dark blur, thicker than the rest towards the bottom, and his signature was messily scrawled, just below the line. He flipped the page and attempted again; this time it landed somewhere off to the left where it was required, but still, the arrangements were set. He shoved the bill back against the chest of the man, whom he hopes he would never cross paths with again, and stood aside." That will be all, sir." But his curt tone softens as he looked past him again, to Karim. "Please... come in. This is your home now." Karim had been owned by rich men before. He had been taught to cook in an Archduke's mansion, and learned how deeply he enjoyed and how talented he was at cooking. The Archduke was a gourmand, a true glutton, who expected the finest foods at every meal. Karim had become a personal favorite by the time the Archduke died of a heart attack when Karim was seventeen or eighteen. He had missed having the ingredients to really cook after that, though he'd been much sought after as a slave for his skill in the kitchen and his well-trained, obedient demeanor. When Karim walked to the gate of Kirk's house, in other words, he wasn't startled or taken aback. He even had enough taste left over from his time as the Archduke's beloved pet to see the marks of simplicity his former master would have scorned. But never before, since he was a little boy, had his heart beat this hard waiting for his first moments with a new master. Those first moments were always an act before. This was real. This was a small moment of his mother and the childhood estate, the hardships and also the joys he'd faced with Kirk. They had been so close, bosom brothers, but the pacts they'd made to always be friends, bound in spit, and the endless games they'd played, ended abruptly when Kirk was sold. A year and a half later, when Karim was newly fourteen, his mother had committed suicide to escape the attentions of their master. He had no use for a teenage boy, and sold him immediately to the gladiatorial rings. From there, he'd been resold not a year later when they realized he was growing into a beautiful young boy, and could get higher coin than he'd ever get as a feeder, like the skinny little dogs in the dog fights tossed in to wet the fighting dog's desire for blood. It was long ago. Karim had lived more of his life this year away from Kirk than with him. He didn't know what to think or expect. They reached the door, and it opened before they could knock. The slaver explained Karim's contract. Kirk signed the paper and shoved them into the man's chest, who took them and turned, leaving them here. Karim stepped inside, but his eyes didn't leave Kirk's face. When the door shut, and the slaver was away from Karim's private moment, Karim whispered, "Kirk. Is it really you?" He'd said it several times already, but he needed the confirmation, he needed to hear it. He reached up to touch him, but put his hand back down self-consciously. "Sorry, Master," he said softly, since it was a crime in the legal code for a slave to refer to his master by name without a proper title or honorific. He couldn't wrap his head around it. It was insane—surreal as a dream. The lump in his throat had refused to budge as the slaver took his leave. It remained as he moved to close the door once Karim had come inside, and seemed to swell when again Karim spoke his name. Immediately, he was taken back to the days when he would once brighten to hear that same voice call out to him. His pitch had changed, just slightly, reflecting the many years they had been apart. But even now, the cadence was the same. He was finding it harder and harder to swallow air, and for a long time, he just stood with his hand clenched so tightly around the knob of the door that the rest of him quivered with the force. His head was going light as his senses swam. It was as if nothing had changed. Now that he was cleansed of the mistreatment he was sure he had endured at the hands of others, he smelled the same. It was like breathing in the fields they chased each other in, the sweet breads that Their would always stow away and give to him. The sweat he felt coating his palms made him feel as though he was enveloped in the heat of his dearest friend's embrace. He was home now. After all this time, he was home. And then, he was swiftly reminded of the truth. The lump in his throat felt like a stone dropped into the pit of his stomach. It felt like a fatal blow, dragging the air from his lungs so forcefully that he nearly doubled over. He turned so quickly that he had to catch himself from falling and for a bewildered moment, he stared at Karim as if he had been struck. In his distress, his features changed; fangs punched down from his gums so suddenly that his jaw ached and the gnawed down tips of his fingernails had become black claws that reached several inches long. He inhaled sharply once, then again as tears made it fully impossible to make out the shapes in the room. He heard Delaney move somewhere to his right, as if reaching to steady him. But no-- this had to be done. Tykiri closed the distance between them at once. He caught Karim's wrists, holding them tightly as he tugged him closer, looking down at him. For the first time, despite his tears, he was able to see his face at least a little more clearly. He could make out the features of his face, the pull of sadness to his expression-- that damned charming curl that always fell between his eyes. Tykiri's grip tightened, not at all harsh or bruising, but just reassuring. Hereallywas there. And he was never going to let him go again." Don't you dare call me that. Never again, do you hear me?" Their hissed, but to have Karim in his hold again gave him such relief at last. He wept as he loosened his grip, only to draw his dear friend into his arms. "Karim... oh, Karim, I missed you so much..." He was markedly taller than Karim-- he always had been; and he found such comfort in resting his chin atop his head as he had done time and time again. Tears pricked in Karim's eyes, shame dropping his stomach, seeing Kirk's agony at being around him, at calling him master. The reprimand, don't you dare call me that, was unnecessary. Karim, in his usual deep empathy, already knew the source of the trouble. When he was wrapped in Kirk's arms, he burrowed his head into the taller man's collarbone and wrapped his own arms around him, no longer standing on ceremony." Kiri," he muttered into his collarbone. His sand-colored fox ears, ridiculously too large for his head, poked out and pressed to his head." I thought I'd never see you again," Karim said, his voice thick. "Not in a hundred years. I always thought of you. I always hoped you were well." Tears welled up from Karim's eyes, wetting Kirk's collarbone and the hem of his shirt. Karim pulled back a bit and rubbed his thumb, the skin rough from hard work, gently over Kirk's face, wiping his tears away. His fox ears perked, and he buried his head in his collar again, the soft ears brushing against Kirk's cheek. Karim wagged his tail, a sign of wanting to play Kirk would remember. Eyeing the master nearby, the one who had reached out to Kirk as if to steady him, Karim shyly drew Kirk into a nearby room, which when entered turned out to be a sitting room. Just amazed at touching him again, Karim pulled him down to sit with him and rubbed Kirk, soothing him, smiling tearfully into his face. He tried to massage the tension from his shoulders, with an ease of practice—he had been taught the art of massage by the Archduke's staff. But his hands had been softer then, as they were calloused now, and he worried his tough pads scraped him instead of soothed him. The years had been very different to the two of them, that much was certain. But the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Karim's hands were larger, perhaps rougher than Their remembered, but he had always had the body of an athlete and adventurous spirit. The callouses his hands were worrying-- he certainly hadn't earned them climbing trees and scaling rocky cliff sides, though Their would have wished that he could have. He cherished every brush of skin or fur that he could have, going with him easily into the next room. Delaney watched them go, doing well to keep his jaw from going slack. But he knew better to intrude. He left the two to each other, excusing himself to the study. He was sure he would be able to learn more about it later. Tykiri settled among the still fairly new cushions with Karim, catching his hands to instead bring them closer to his face. "I never thought..." He faltered and rubbed his cheek against his palm. The sensitive skin on his face was able to detect with more clarity just how weathered Karim's skin had become. Years of labor, of tasks not befitting of such a beautiful boy corroded the surface of his skin. But just as time could cause them, he knew that time could take them away. He was safe here now." I never thought that this would be how we met again..." He whispered, closing his eyes, just allowing himself to enjoy how real things had become. "I'm sorry I hadn't come to you sooner... I tried, I swear to you, I did..." Carefully, he ran his hands along Karim's arms. His delicate touch picked up every rise upon Karim's exposed skin, every scar old and new. He worked his way up to his shoulders, gripping them lightly to test their broadness, then moved to his neck, thumbs rubbing into his skin and subconsciously checking his pulse. A strong and steady heart. He was healthy, at least from a first glance. He would be sure to be more thorough one the shock wore off." Welcome home, Karim..." Their cupped his face, bringing it closer so he could press a tender kiss to his forehead. "You will never know another. I am not your Master, but you will never be taken from me again." "It's okay. You found me in the end. Just like when I fell down that well shaft, right? It doesn't matter. You found me in the end." Karim's eyelids lowered. He had been raped over and over, heavily abused, and yet he didn't flinch from Kirk's touch. He squashed his own unease. It's Kirk, he told himself. It's just Kirk. "Good to be back," Karim said, his voice thick with emotion." Kiri, I've got to tell you," he said, capturing his hand and trying to look into Kirk's eyes, unaware they couldn't see him. "My mother is dead. She committed suicide a week after I turned fourteen. Our master sold me a few days later. He didn't want me. It was a cruel sale too, to the gladiatorial rings. I didn't stay there too long before they resold me as a pleasure slave." Karim paused, holding Kirk's hands. "Sometimes I think of it—that he was my father. It seems weird." The well shaft. Their remembered that day as if it had just passed. He had been searching for Karim for hours, long after the sun had gone down, bounding through the tall grasses, digging under the fence to search outside the property's borders. He had been so terrified that his dear friend had been taken from him-- had been sold off for being too rambunctious, or had been stolen away by an envious master who wanted another pretty boy to warm his bed. Furthermore, he even fears that Karim had tried to run, and left him behind. But instead, he heard him crying at the bottom of the well-- he hadn't even though to look there since that was not a task that Karim was usually given. He had climbed down to check on his dear friend and carried him on his back himself. Karim had been hurt, but those were days that Kirk spent by his side, tending to his injured body and taking care of him in whatever way he could. At the time, it had been his worst fear and his greatest joy-- that his dear friend had been hurt, but he was able to heal him. Now, Their could see that it was happening again. He knew what kind of life Karim had been destined to lead. He heard the murmurs in the crowd as the inquiring slavers had inspected him, as if he was already theirs. But never again. Karim was going to be safe here. Their was going to take care of him. He held Karim's hands, lacing their fingers together. Though his eyes were doing their best to focus on his features, his gaze drifted from one side of Karim's face to another, constantly searching, trying to make sense of his shape. He did not want to tell him, but it would be painfully obvious soon enough." I'm sorry," he said, rubbing his palm over the back of Karim's hand. "She was a broken woman, and he was cruel man. I'm afraid that I am not surprised to hear any of it. I just wish it had not been you that had to suffer for it." He gripped Karim's hand a little tighter. How many hours had he spent creating this callouses? How many years would it take to tame them back into his skin?" Our past is just that now; the past. Our Master-- ... your father. He has been dead for years." The news came with a grim expression. "When I saw him taking his last breaths, I was devastated that you were not there. I'd thought... because of who you were..." Their shook his head. "A terrible illness took him. There was nothing I could have done, even if I'd wanted to." And to be frank, he didn't. He sat by the man's bedside, listening him struggle for air in those final moments. He felt his fingers just barely grazing his knee as he reached out for him. Their only sat by him, and once the choking had stopped, he pulled the sheet over his head and went to deliver the news. Realization struck him, and his face colored. "I'm a doctor now," he said, suddenly abashed. "I have been for a few years. It's a very long story..." Entwined with Kirk, pressed close to him, Karim dragged in breath in a surprised exclamation to learn their old master was dead." No, who I am is no one, to him," Karim said, shaking his head. "You know how it is. Siring a slave is not the same thing as having a son. He made me, but to him, he wasn't my father. He would never have considered me that. Furthermore, he kept me to keep my mother happy. Without her, I was superfluous." He sighed." Thank you for telling me. I've hated him somewhat over the years. I think I can put that hatred to rest, now."" A doctor! And a freedman. I'm so proud of you, Kirk." His voice was warm. He was pleased. He'd worried about Kirk, he'd thought of him, hoped his situation was better than Karim's. It was good to know it had been. Karim looked around, awed. Kirk must be rich as Midas to live in a place like this. "Your house is beautiful," he said shyly. "What do you like to eat, Kirk? I want to cook for you. I'll show you what I learned. Do you still like biryani rice best of all?" His resolve was amazing, and almost sad in a way-- though Karim had just arrived, and put through such a whirlwind of emotion, he was eager to make himself useful. It was the life that had been decided for him before he had even come into this world. It would take time for the reality of his new condition to settle in. But even a moment apart felt like too much to Their, and unconsciously he shifted to draw Karim closer to him. Just to have him in his arms again was more than enough to sate him. His heart was so full, his stomach was more than an afterthought." There will be plenty of time for that later, if you wish," he said. "I can't imagine how long it's been since you were able to just be." His touch was so light as he wrapped Karim into his hold once more. "It doesn't matter what that bastard said or what was written-- as long as you are here, you are a freedman too. This house is yours. There is nothing that you have to do except..." He hesitated. He didn't want to sound like he had conditions. But selfishly, there was something he needed to hear-- if only once. He took a breath, and spoke. "... Stay with me. That is all." He finally smiled for Karim, a little lopsided grin with a peek of pearly teeth. He reached up to brush the curl from between his eyes and stroked the back of his hand against his cheek. "Do this for me, and I will never ask anything else of you for as long as we live." Karim laughed breathlessly. Such proximity made him mildly anxious, but still, it was nice. To be held by someone he cared about, someone who treated him well, who cherished him. Karim ran his thumbs up Kirk's shoulder and arm. He smiled tearfully at him. A freedman. The word hit him like a brick to the face. For a moment, he stopped breathing. He was free." I'll never leave, Kirk. Never again. Not if I can help it." His voice was thick with tears and hope." Don't be silly, Kirk, you can ask things of me."" Thank you," he whispered, and pulled Kirk into another warm hug. Time could have stood still for the rest of his days, and Their would have been content. The embrace lingered, but somehow it felt it would never be enough. The reality that this was more than a fleeting gift had not yet sunk in, and he was not eager to let go. But still, the world turned and time passed and there were still things that needed attending to. This reminder came in the form of a light knock on the door frame. Kiri didn't bother to look-- her scent was unmistakably earthy and clean. She was from a land across the sea, much like his own family had been, but she had been born there and steeped in the culture before greedy hands snatched her away. Her hair formed a lovely dark halo around her small, heart-shaped face-- thick with tight coils that Kirk remembered accidentally getting his fingers tangled in when trying to give her an affectionate pat. She was young, and her warm voice seemed to touch more than one sense when she spoke. Amani, she was called, and she was one of the friends Their had made when he comes to this family." Kiri?" she called softly. Her skin was darker than his, but her eyes were a breathtaking shade of gold. "I don't mean to interrupt, my friend, but I should, I cancel your appointments for the day? Delaney said we have a new visitor."" Not a visitor," Kirk amended at once. He held Karim a little tighter. "He'll be staying." Amani smiled wide, and her pearly fangs were quite noticeable as a result. "Then I look forward to meeting him properly, but that doesn't answer my question."" No..." It would be poor form of him to abandon his duties. Besides, he only had three people to see. He placed a quick kiss on Karim's cheek before he moved to untangle himself from his hold, then stood. "But I trust that you will be welcoming and help Karim get settled in my absence?"" You have nothing to worry about," Amani purred, eyes lighting up as she finally spotted Karim. "Welcome to the family, Karim." Karim parted from Kirk reluctantly; he withdrew from his embrace with regret. He smiled at Amani, a shyness overtaking him as he tried to find something to say back. Family. It had been many years since he had one of those. A tear dripped down his cheek and he rubbed it off. "Good to be home," he said, and he thought he was making a joke, but the emotion made his voice small and raw. He swallowed. "Lead the way." Soon he found himself having a lovely hot bath with herbs floating in the water. He scrubbed with the soap and came up smelling faintly of flowers, which he enjoyed. That and the clean clothing, some of Their's own, made him relaxed enough that he had trouble listening to Amani, who eventually just brought him into a pleasant, anonymous guest room, and told him to sleep. It was winter outside, and what a difference to see the snow on the windowsill and tree branches without feeling the chill in his bones. When was the last time he looked out at snow from a glass window in a well-heated room? He curled under the covers, which smelled fresh and clean, not ragged straw and an old horse blanket, and fell immediately, deeply, seamlessly asleep, though it wasn't even night yet.

The Caracal and the Fox [Sekah & CursieKitti]|rating:4.0

Pet and Palmoun

Name: Felicia Age: 19Bio: Raised to believe that anything that wasn't an animal or a werewolf was weak and feeble and not to be respected. Her parents forced her to work and train so that she could fight in the war. Once she was old enough she was sent to fight and hasn't lost to anyone. Name: Jasper Age: 20Bio: since his birth he was raised to be in the army and to believe that whoever they were at war with had to die. He always believed this and he had to fight them, and he hardly ever cared. He is the best fifer and will always fight Felicia slowly walked through the forest taking ever scent and hearing every sound. She was following a herd of deer to catch her troops dinner for the night. She was the best hunter and accepted the task each night. Slowly she followed the herd making sure to check where she stepped so as not to break a twig or rustle a bush. She closed in on the herd and turned into a wolf. She crouched low to the ground and waited for the biggest sag to come her way. Once he was close enough she lunged at him and wrapped her jaws around his neck. The stag reeled and bucked, but she dug her claws into its back and turned her head to break its neck. The rest of the herd was long gone by the time they crashed to the ground, and she climbed off it. She turned into her were form and hoisted the large stag onto her shoulder. He platoon would eat well tonight. Jasper moved swiftly as he asked one of his ghost friends to go and look for a herd of animals. He needed to bring food back to his people and make sure that his troops ate. He made no sound as he ran and after a while his ghost came back and whispered into his ear, "go left, there is a heard of deer." Jasper nodded and was already making his way that way. Hopefully he could find something that he would be able to kill. As he got closer he saw the herd but as he got closer they all started to run. He cursed and wondered if they saw him but then saw something on the ground. He stayed int eh shadows and saw a werewolf with a stag. Furthermore, he cursed and then smiled as he got an idea. Take out the wolf and take the stag. He pulled OTU his bow and got ready to go and kill her. He moved closer and wondered what a wolf was doing all the way out here. Felicia froze as a strange scent sank into her nose. Her jowls raised, and a low growl emitted from her throat. She turned around and sniffed setting the stag down. Her troops could wait. There was no point in her leading an enemy back to camp. She walked back out into the clearing and looked around. Her ears stayed flat against her head and her tail was straight out. Her nose led her eyes to an armed boy.'just a bow? Put, I was hoping for more of a challenge.'she thought and smiled. The fur on her body receded, and her form changed back to a human girl in a white dress. "Come on our boy. Why not make the fight more fair?" she said taunting him. Jasper smirked when he heard her and slowly came out. "Oh, it will be interesting, but I will be the only one who is going to come out of this." his voice trailed away as he looked at the girl in front of him. She looked beautiful, and he forgot all about her being a werewolf for a second. He quickly shook his head and aimed an arrow at her, "oh and it will be interesting. I am one of the best fighters in the army." he said as he looked at her. Each time he looked at her, he couldn't help but think she was cute. He couldn't believe that she was the werewolf that had been here only a few seconds ago. But she looked like a good fighter so she had to be, he had to be ready for anything with her. He was a fifer, and he had to kill her. "Repetitive aren't you." Felicia said and tied her hair back. The slight breeze made her dress billow. Her gaze stayed fixed on the tip of his arrow. Though in the back of her mind she wanted to look at him. He wasn't bad looking, but her mother had taught her to ignore the looks of her opponents and to use her own looks to distract her opponent. She slowly crouched down close to the ground, her eyes fixed on the arrow and her ears attuned to anything moving round them. She had made the mistake once of not listening for a necromancers dead followers and was ambushed. Furthermore, she was able to turn that fight around and win, but she wouldn't make the mistake again. Jasper smirked, "can be sometimes since I mean it." he said as he got ready and kept his bow and arrow fixed on her. He kept an eye on her since he knew that werewolf could be fast, and he nearly had been killed by one when he overestimated them. "Your move first." he said as he looked at her. He didn't attempt to being Andy zombies out to help him. He wanted to have some fun and see if he could take down this wolf on his own. Furthermore, he wasn't much of a fan of using his other powers in a fight. Being grated first move Felicia smirked. She arched her hands and put pressure on her feet. Her fingernails dug into the ground and she lunged forward. The muscles in her limbs were used to her running hunched over nearly on all fours. Her hands only hit the ground to balance her out as she ran. Once she was close enough in front of him she pushed up with her hands and feet and jumped over him landing on all four behind him and turning raising her foot towards his back between his shoulder blades. She had down this many times before, and it was a good crippling move that usually rendered her opponent motionless from cracking the spine. Jasper smiled when he saw her charge at him and was ready. He had seen this move before, and he was ready for the kick to the back. He quickly moved his bow so that it was at his back and the kick landed on it. Furthermore, he then quickly spun away from her and threw the now broken bow away and pulled out his twin daggers."nice move, but I have seen it before." he said and then started to circle her, "now here is my turn." he said as he charged at her and right when he was near her, he dropped and slid between her legs. Then as he was coming to his fee he moved to take out her feet so that she wouldn't be able to move. As he went to attack her legs she jumped and tumbled away. This was somewhat exciting. No one ever stopped her attack like that before. And defiantly no one had ever tried to take out her legs like that before. She brushed a strand of hair out of her face and straightened her stance. Her eyes followed the daggers in his hands, and she was thinking of ways to make him drop them." You shouldn't really slide under a girl when she's in a dress." she said and twitched her hands. Her fingernails grew long and sharp. Her stance stayed the same though. She didn't bother to raise her hands to block any attack or to move into a new attack pose. Jasper smirked when he heard her, "well I apologize for my actions." he said as he looked at her and started to circle her and got ready to attack her. She was certainly a great fighter, that move she had tried was one that only a few people where able to do. So he wondered what else she could do. "But I don't apologize for any other action." he said He then charged at her and started a sequence of slashes and thrusts with his daggers. It was like a dance, and he knew how to preform this attack. He stayed alert and waited for what she would do in return but keep his assault of slashes and thrusts going, he wanted to land at least a few attacks. Felicia used her claws to block his blades. As he attacked she attacked back slashing at him and clawing trying to cut open his chest or throat. Her hands moved fast and swift matching the dance like motions that he made. After a few minutes of this she got tired and kicked her legs out to take his legs out from under him. It was risky because she had to pause her defense to twist around and swipe at his legs, but she tried it anyway. If she got cut she would just have it bandaged later. Jasper smirked as she blocked his attacks and was also getting tired. She was perfect, and she nearly got him a few times. But he saw her trying to get his legs and he quickly jumped over her and stood behind her as she cut nothing. He knew he could end this now, but he didn't want to. This was the first time he was actually having fun fighting. She was just as good as he was and he couldn't help but smile. Felicia used her hands to push off the ground and away from him. She looked up from a crouching position to see him smiling. A growl rolled out of her throat and she stood up straight again. Seeing him smile infuriated her not only because she felt like he was taunting her but also cause in the back of her mind she found him attractive. She tried to shake the thought from her mind and failed. Her growl grew louder and she ran at him. Jasper frowned when he saw her charge and thought she would do something more. He simply jumped over her and looked at her, "come on, give me something more. So far you're the best fighter I have met, I want this fight to last as long as possible." he said as he looked at her and wanted her to attack. She was amazing and he wanted to see more. He also liked being close to her, she was amazing. Felicia felt her blood pressure rise. She was losing interest in the fight and was more interested in killing him off. If she kept dragging this along she would tire out, though she was sure he would tire out first. She spun around and flexed her hands out.' Want the fight to last long? How bout I end it now?'she thought and ran around to get behind him. She crouched down and raised her hands above her head and thrust them up at his back. Jasper hadn't been expecting that, but he quickly managed to dodge her, but his shirt was ripped to pieces. He cursed and pulled the rest of it off. He then looked at her and glared, "thanks, now I actually have to go and find another shirt." he said and then ran at her and tackled her to the ground. Furthermore, he wanted to actually have some fun with this fight, but it looked like she wanted to end this soon. (I just realized I've been typing Asmara instead of Felicia. Opus. ^^' I'll fix that.) Felicia blushed slightly when he pulled his shirt off. Her head smashed the ground when he tackled her and she grunted. She headbutted his forehead and shoved him away from her. The bottom her dress was ripped and she smirked. "This was my favorite dress." she said and jumped on him. She grabbed his wrists and pinned them down. Jasper smirked, "and you butchered my favorite shirt, so we are even." he said as he looked at her and started to struggle but as she pinned him down he found that he was too tired to fight back, and he didn't want to. He caught his breath and looked at her, "your welcome to kill me, I am done. Your one tough girl." he said as he looked at her. Upon his remark Felicia raised an eyebrow. She had never fought anyone who had given up like this. Was it a trick or was he serious? "You're just going to give up?" she asked loosening her grip on his wrists. She wasn't sure whether to kill him or just let him go. This was weird to her. Jasper smirked when he felt her loosen her grip but didn't really want to move. "Well I could fight back, but I am tired and really just want to relax right now. Besides you're a worthy opposite to kill me. You're very strong and skillful compared to other werewolves I have fought." he said as he looked at her and smiled. Felicia let go of one of his wrists and held her claws to his throat. She could kill him. He had given up, but it didn't feel right. No one had ever given up fighting her, and she didn't like it now. She let go of his other hand and got off him. "And I guess you're a pretty good fighter for a necromancer." she said with a smirk and sat on the ground a few feet away. Jasper was surprised that she didn't kill him and slowly sat up. He then smiled at her, "well in truth I am one of the best fighters in the troops. One of the reasons is that I know when I need to stop and let my body breath." he said as he looked at her and smiled, "you're the best fighter I have fought in a long time, I am glad I got to fight you." he said as he smiled at her. Felicia half smiled back. The wind shifted, and she remembered the stag sitting next to the trees. "You put up a good fight yourself.," she said standing. "I have to get back to the troop I'm leading." she said and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe we'll get to fight again sometime." she said and smiled at him. Jasper nodded, he understood, he had to get back before they wondered where he had gone. Slowly he got to his feet and smiled at her, "yeah maybe we will be able to fight again. But next time I won't give up and fight till I fall." he said as he looked at her and smiled. He was looking forward to fighting her again and see what else she had up her leave. "And would you mind giving me the name of the beautiful lady that is before me?" he asked Felicia felt herself blush. In her mind she was killing herself for it, but on the outside she smiled. "It's Felicia." she said "What's yours?" she asked as she hauled the stag onto her shoulders. Being in her human form you would think that she would fall under the weight, but she didn't. She would never admit that it was somewhat heavy though. Jasper smiled when he heard her name and saw her blush. She looked cute with it on her face, and he couldn't help but want topee her again. "I am Jasper, it is nice to met you Felicia." he said and bowed to her. He then looked at the stag and back at her, "you know that is very impressive to be able to carry that. I just hope that nothing comes after you and Trieste steal it." he said as he looked at her. He knew a few animals in the first that would challenge her for the stag. "They won't." she said simply and smiled to him over her shoulder. "Well, I must say goodbye now." she said and curtsied as good as she could with the stag on her shoulders. She stood straight and walked off into the woods. Her mind was buzzing of thoughts about trying to find him again. She tried her hardest to banish the thoughts, but they kept coming back. When she got back to her troop a few of the men took the stag and went off to prep it for dinner. She went to her tent and found a new dress to put on. An equal length dress but black. Jasper watched her go and wished that she could stay and maybe talk more. But slowly he started to make his way back to the troops. All the way he thought of Felicia but right as he stepped back on the ground that he shared with his brotheren he forced the thought away. He didn't need his brotheren knowing he had just let a wolf live. They all asked where food was, but he simply shook his head and want to his tent. He laid down on his bed and relaxed a little, hopefully he could take a nap. Felicia walked out of the tent and two wolves ran up to her. The troops often traveled with wolves, and they acted as watch dogs. They nuzzled her legs and she pat their heads. These two she had raised. When the deer was done everyone sat around the fire and ate while the wolves ate the raw meat that was left over. Felicia ate slow and thought about Jasper. She thought when he ripped his shirt off and how his muscles looked. Tone and perfect. It wasn't like she hadn't seen a man shirtless, but there was something different about Jasper. Probably because he probably had to work for his muscle unlike werewolves who were just naturally tone. Jasper tried to sleep, but it eluded him just like the deer. The only thing he could think about was Felicia. How strong she was, how graceful she was when fighting and how beautiful she looked. That was the one thing that really haunted him. She looked like she should be a goddess or something. Maybe it was because necromancer girls all looked the same or something. He wasn't sure, but she haunted his mind to the point that he didn't hear the dinner bell. But he wasn't that hungry, his mind was gone. Felicia went to her tent and the wolves followed her in. The three of the laid on the ground. The wolves fell asleep quick but she couldn't. She sighed and lifted her head. She could hear everyone asleep except the guard wolves. Furthermore, she carefully moved away from the two wolves and snuck out of the camp. Furthermore, she needed to clear her mind and get some air. Furthermore, she found a clearing, not the one from earlier, and laid down in the grass. The sky was clear, and the stars were twinkling bright. Her head slowly slowed down, and her mind felt clear as she laid there looking at the sky. Jasper sighed and couldn't stand laying in bed, he would be able to sleep better once he got away from everything. He would find a nice tree to sleep in it some moss. Anything would be better than right here. Slowly he crept out of camp, making sure not ringer noticed or disturb someone. They were all working hard and needed there rest. After a few minutes he was in the forest and looking for a place to sleep. He walked past a field bit soon found a tree. It looked perfect for him Felicia took a deep breath as the wind changed direction. She had had her eyes closed trying to sleep, but the opened quickly when she caught a familiar scent.' Jasper?'she thought as she propped herself up on her elbows and looked around. Her nostrils flared slightly as she sampled the air, but the wind changed again. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she frowned as she laid back down. If she wasn't starting to get tired she would have tried to follow the scent, but instead she fell asleep. Jasper climbed up into the tree and laid down. He relaxed happily up there and laid down on a branch that looked big enough to hold him. Yet as he relaxed and right before he closed his eyes he saw something out from between the branches. He saw someone laying down on the ground in the distance. He wondered who it was so late at night so he got up and jumped from tree to tree till he could see who it was. But how it was he was surprised to see, Felicia. He smiled and just looked at her, she looked kind of cute. He then laid back down in the tree and soon fell asleep. Felicia was woken up by the sun peeking over the trees. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she sat up. Her nose twitched when she caught Jasper's scent again. She looked around and saw him asleep in a tree.' Did he watch me last night?'she thought as she stood up and brushed off her dress. The black fabric warmed in the sun nicely. Another yawn came, and she walked over to the tree Jasper was in. She looked up at him and smiled. "How is that comfortable?" she asked Jasper was fast asleep till he heard something. He jumped slightly and nearly fell out of the tree. That was then he saw Felicia looking at him, and he smirked, "it is comfortable to me." he said and then slipped off the branch and landed on the ground next to her. "And may I ask why where are you sleeping outside?" he asked as he looked at her and smiled. "I'm half wolf. It's just natural." she said. "I don't see how sleeping in a tree is comfortable though." She pulled back her hair and twisted it around itself into a ball so it would say up. "So why are you away from your group? You could get hurt out here by yourself." she said and walked around him in a circle. Jasper smirked when he heard her and watched her carefully, "I could say the same thing to you." he said and wondered if she was going to attack. Yet as he watched her he found that he didn't want to fight her and just relaxed. "But in truth I had to get away, my group may be where my loyalty lies, but it gets to crowded for me." he said as he looked at her and smiled. "And what are you doing out here?" "Couldn't sleep. I needed fresh air. My tent was taken over by two wolves." she said and stopped. "Want me to keep going because I can." she said and smirked. "That and being a werewolf it's not like I'm in any real danger." She turned her back to him and walked out into the field. She didn't much like standing in the shade of the trees when the sun was out and warming. Jasper looked at her and smiled, "I have seen, I can tell how that would make you want to come out and sleep here." he said as he looked at her and found he count' help but mile when he saw her. He then nodded and walked with her into the field, "yeah your right about that, you don't really have to worry about much." he said as he laid down on the grass and started to soak up the sun. Felicia sat down next to him and patted her dress so it was even around her. None of the female werewolves wore dresses but her. She didn't like how pants constricted your leg movements and didn't know how the others could stand it. "So, do you have any plans for the day?" she asked and picked at the grass. She took three blades and started to braid them together. Jasper thought for a second and wondered if he had anything to do today. All that was happening back at camp was the usual, and it got really morning right away. So eh looked at her and smiled, "I have nothing planned, what about you? Do you have anything to do today?" he asked and watched her braid the grass. Felicia grabbed more grass and braided it into the grass she had. "They'll be cleaning up camp and erasing any trace of us being there. We'll be leaving tonight." she said. They did this every few days to make it hard for the necromancers to find them. She was tired of moving constantly cause no one ever found them anyway. "I'd rather just keep camp for a few more days." she said and held up a small grass bracelet. Jasper smirked, "you know that kind of sucks. But maybe if you talk to them, they might stay." he said as he looked at her. He guessed that she was tired of moving and wanted to just relax. It annoyed him too, but he had to deal with it, it was life. "It's not my choice. Or there's." she said and handed him the bracelet. She moved forward a little then laid down next to him. It was the werewolf leaders orders to move around so frequently and no one ever tried to disobey them. Mostly because no one could challenge them and walk away from it, so everyone just left the rules they didn't like and listened. Jasper looked at her and took the bracket. He looked at it and then back at her, "what is this for?" he asked and continued to study it. He then frowned, "that sucks, it is about the same with us but we don't move as much. We find one place and stay there for as long as we can." he said as he looked at her. "I don't know." she said. "We usually move at the first sign of trouble. This time I thought it was me coming back with your scent on me, but it's cause one of the wolves saw a dead animal walking around near our camp." she said and looked over at him. "One of your friends has been spying on us." she said and laughed quietly. Jasper then slid the bracelet around his wrist and looked at her. He then chuckled and smirked, "that is probably one of our leaders animals. He likes to make sure he knows where your kind are at." he said as he looked at her. "But I have been wondering, aren't you going to get in trouble if you keep on talking to me?" he asked. Felicia shrugged. She didn't care if she got yelled at. "I'm pretty high on the dominance ladder, so I don't think anyone will question my actions. Especially since I'm second in control of my troop." she said and smiled. "Won't you get in trouble for talking to me?" she asked sure that he would get in more trouble than she would if he got caught. She had heard that the necromancers weren't very kind when it came to breaking rules or doing what wasn't expected of them. Jasper sighed and then looked at her, "yes if they find out that I have been taking to you my punishment will be a couple years of being tortured and things like that." he said and acted like it wasn't a huge deal. "And even though I am fairly high when it comes to my kind we all suffer the same kind of punishments." he said as he looked at her. Felicia smirked and looked at him. "Sounds fair. You are fraternizing with the enemy after all." she said and quietly laughed. She knew that they would both get in trouble if they got caught. If one of the Alphas found out about her talking to him, they might even sentence her to death. Not a pleasant idea seeing as they would cut open your arms and legs after breaking them and leaving you in the forest for the animals to eat. Animals stayed away from living and slightly wounded werewolves but when they bleed that much and where dying animals flocked to their body. Jasper smiled at her and chuckled slightly, "yeah I am but in my opinion talking to you is the best thing that has happened to me in a while." he said in all truth and didn't care if he was talking to the enemy. She was the only interesting person he had met so far, and he was enjoying himself while he was around her. But if his kinds found him like this they would probably strap him down onto a rock and then let the sun bake him as they ripped him open and then let the animals come eat him. Felicia propped herself up on he elbows and smiled. "So what would happen to you if we got caught?" she asked looking over at him. She had an idea of something gruesome that might happen, but she asked just for fun. This was to calmest she had felt in a long time and didn't want to leave or the conversion to end or get awkward. Most of her time recently was just spent hunting and killing food or Negros and this was a nice change of pace. Jasper turned and looked at her, "if we get caught they kill you as soon as possible. Then they take me and probably strap me to a rock, keep me in the daylight and opened up every part of my body for birds to peek out my intestines." he said as he looked at her. "What about you, what will they do if they find us together?" he asked as he looked at her and wondered if it was something similar. "Pretty much the same thing only they'll break me arms and legs and cut them open leaving me for the animals to eat. I honestly hope a bear finds me because it'll kill me before eating me." she said and smiled up at the sky. Large white clouds were floating overhead. She laughed quietly at one that looked a bunny kicking a squirrel. Jasper nodded and smirked, "it seems that our kind think a lot when it comes to punishment." he said as he looked at her and smiled. He then heard her laugh and though it sounded kind of cute. He then looked up and saw the bunny kicking the squirrel. "You know I think I could get use to doing this each day." he said softly and then chuckled when he saw a bird pecking a turtle in the clouds. "I do this every now and again. It's relaxing to just kick back." she said. She looked at the clouds for a few more minutes and sat up. She looked around scanning the tree line. There was a rustle in the bushes and a bear walked into the clearing. It looked over at them and tilted its head. Felicia growled loud enough for it to hear and it walked off. She stayed sitting up and watched until she was sure the bear was gone. Jasper chuckled when he saw her growl at the bear. "So I take it that you don't like bears." he said as he looked at her and smiled. But he knew she had a good reason to scare the bear off. If she hadn't, it might have attacked them and alerted someone to them. "And your right it is nice to kick back." "It's not that I don't like them, it's that they don't like me." she said and laid back down. "Have you ever fought a bear?" she asked turning her head to look at him. She crossed her arms under her head and smiled. Jasper thought for a moment and then shook his head, "sorry, but I would have to say no to that." he said as he looked at her, "is it sort of like fighting a three headed skeleton monster?" he asked as he looked at her. Felicia raised an eyebrow. Three-headed skeleton monster? Necromancers are weird. She smiled and laughed. "I don't think it is. but it is a good challenge. Not many people survive fighting bears. What's fighting a skeleton monster like?" she asked. Jasper sighed, "tough." was all he could say and then looked at her, "it is like fighting something indestructible. All it is bone and each time you knock an arm off the monster just puts it back on. It then fights you like no tomorrow. The only real way to defeat it is to crush the skull or kill the necromancer who is controlling it." he said as he looked at her. "Sounds like a fun challenge." Felicia said smiling at him brightly. She wanted to fight one now. "Can you summon one?" she asked sitting up. She jumped up and stepped away a few feet giving him some space. "Or are you to weak?" she taunted with a smirk. Jasper chuckled when he heard her and slowly got to his feet. "I am not weak in fact I am very strong, stronger than most people know." he said and then placed a hand on the ground. Slowly something a few feet away from him started to come out of the ground. First a hand then an arm then another arm and then the whole thing showed. It was at least two heads higher then Jasper and had three head. It had long arms and a tail. "It is one skeleton made out of three, not all of them are human bones." he said as he looked at her and the smirked, "so are you ready?" Felicia smiled and rocked back and fort on the balls of her feet. She crouched down and watched the mass of bones. "Always." she said when he asked if she was ready. The creature wasn't scary or anything really weird. The bones were just old looking and dirty from being in the ground. Her eyes stayed fixed on its legs, arms, and tail, being the most possibly dangerous parts. "Bring it on and hope I don't have to kill you to take this thing down." she said and smiled brightly. Jasper smirked, "don't worry, you won't have to." he said and then creature seemed to growl. It charged at her and then started to swing its claw like fingers at her and his tail darted towards her. It showed every intention to kill, and it knew how ti fight it seemed. Felicia Tucked and rolled out of the monster's reach. She rolled and pushed off the ground with her hands and propelled herself into the air and landed on her feet. She ran back at the creature and used its hand to jump of so she could get to it's heads. Her feet landed on the tow outer heads, and she grabbed the center one and jumped away. She tossed it in the air and brought her foot up to meet it in the air sending it sailing into the woods. She smirked back at the creature and waved for it to come and get her. The skeleton charged at her and even though it only had two heads it still fought hard. It slashed it claws at her and when it got close to the ground it dug its claws into the earth. He pulled out another bone and started to swing it at her and tried to grab her with its tail. Felicia jumped and dodged as best as she could. The creature was fast and testing her speed well. When it swung the bone at her, and she jumped but not high enough. It clipped her feet ad she smashed into the ground. Her chin crashed into the dirt and a gash opened up. She rolled out of the creatures range and wiped her chin on the back of her hand. She growled and fought the urge to change and rip the creature to shreds. After a deep breath she jumped at it again and took another one of its head. She smashed this one to dust under her feet. Jasper got worried as he was Felicia get smashed into the ground and started to bleed. So he made the skeleton monster stopped for a second. But he chuckled when she took its other head off and smiled. "Are you okay? We may not look it, but I am a skilled healer if you need me." he called as the monster still attacked her. She laughed band took the monsters last head. "Like I'd ever let you that close to my neck." she said and chucked the head at him. She was hoping the creature would chase it, and would get a chance to rip it apart from behind. Or that it would the least knock off his concentration long enough for the creature to fall apart. Jasper chuckled when he heard her and had to jump out of the way so that the head would't hit him. It broke his concentration from the monster for a second and Jasper looked at her, "hey I promise I won't hurt you but if you don't want my help then fine." he said and the monster continued to attack her but a little bit more clumsily since it had no head. "Hmm, I've heard that promise before." she said ran under the monster and toward Jasper. "But they never kept it!" she yelled and slid on the ground kicking his feet out from under him. Hoping to give enough of a distraction for the monster to fall apart. Jasper frowned slightly when he heard her and when he fell to the ground the monster rushed over to kill her, but instead he made the monster crumble. "Well guess what, I keep promises." he said as he laid on the ground and looked at her. If he had wanted to he could of hurt her, but he didn't want to. Felicia rolled over, still on the ground from her slide. She saw the monster crumble and smiled. "Does this mean I win?" she asked and looked over at Jasper. She hadn't really expected him to just drop the creature like that. Jasper smirked, "intemperate it any way you like but I don't want to hurt you." he said as he looked at her, "but in all truth I give, and you win." he said as he gave her a smile. Felicia sat up and crossed her arms. She fake pouted and grunted. "Well that's no fun." she said and tried to not smile. It wasn't beyond her to fake pout or pout for real. At her rank it really didn't matter either way. That and no one had ever given up in the middle of a good fight like that before, but her pout was all play and had no seriousness to it. Jasper chuckled when he heard her, "well I don't want to hurt you and that monster could. I don't want to see you get hurt, so I stopped." he said as he looked up at her and thought she looked beautiful. "I don't want to hurt the first real friend I have had in a long time." he said softly as he watched the clouds pass by. Felicia smiled and laughed. "You're either the nicest or weirdest Necromancer I've ever met." she said and sprawled out on the ground next to him. As she did her nose twitched, and she looked to the edge of the clearing. A wolf was sitting there watching them.' How long has that been there?'she thought and bit her lip. "I have to go." she said and got back up. Jasper smirked when she heard him, "I think I would go with nicest since I am probably the only nice necromancer you will find." he said since not many necromancers where like him. He actually had a kind heart compared to others. When he heard her thought he frowned but nodded, "okay, I understand." he said as he looked at her and stayed on the ground. "I'm sorry. Maybe we'll meet again." she said over her shoulder then turned into a wolf and ran over to the other wolf. Her ears fell back, and she nuzzled up to its neck. The wolf was her commanding officer and if he ratted her out she would be killed. Thankfully he wasn't the type of person to do that. He turned and walked into the woods. Felicia looked over her shoulder at Jasper then followed the other wolf. Jasper nodded as he watched her go and frowned. He slowly got to his feet and watched her disappear. He wished that he could talk with her more but they were opposites and even the time they had now was already too much. So he simply headed back towards where his kind was. Felicia followed her commander to a clearing a ways away from where her and Jasper had been. He changed into his human form and glared at her. Felicia changed to her human form and looked at him. "I'm sorry sir. I met him yesterday and we fought. He was a good match and neither of us could really land a hit on each other. We were just talking and hanging out." she said and looked at the ground. She felt like a puppy who had just piddled on the carpet. Commander looked at her then sighed. "Just don't let anyone catch you with him." he said. "Go wash off. His scent is faintly on you. Then get back to camp. We are moving." he said. Felicia nodded and went to the creek. Right when he stepped into camp he knew something was up. "Hey what is going on?" he asked one of the commanders when he walked by. "You mean you haven't heard, we got news that the wolves are moving. We are hoping to catch them off guard and get them." he said and Jasper cursed softly to himself but nodded. He then headed to his tent and picked up his weapons. He then headed out of there and into the forest when they were't looking, maybe he could warn Felicia. Felicia was bathing in a small creek in the woods. Her dress hung on a branch drying from her washing it. Her long hair fell over her body and the water flowed past slowly. Furthermore, her group wouldn't leave without her, but she was still taking her time with her bath. She really didn't care. Even if they did leave her she could follow their scents. Jasper rushed threw the forest and soon came to their spot. The place that they had just been laying at before and he looked around. He then charged after where he had seen her head off to and started to call her name. "Felicia! Felicia I need to talk to you." he called as he ran around looking for her. "Jasper?" Felicia said and looked around. She could hear twigs and bushes snap and rattle. She stepped out of the water and pulled her dress one. "I'm over here." she called and walked toward the sounds of someone moving in the forest. Jasper soon found her and was glad that he actually found her. "You need to go and warn your troops. There going to be ambushed by my troops when you move." he said as he looked at her. Felicia rung out her hair and stared at him. "Really?" she asked. He put her hair up in a bun and smiled. "I'll tell them. You should probably get back to your guys before they see you missing." she said. For just hearing her platoon was going to be ambushed she was taking it well. Jasper raised an eyebrow, "your nit acting at all surprised." he said and wondered why. Maybe it was years of training or something that kept her cool. He wasn't sure and wanted to know. Part of him even wondered if she had known about this beforehand. "Yeah. I am." she said and turned. "But really, you should get going before your not noticed." she said and walked off into the woods. She was trained not to freak out when her group was being attacked because it could screw up their counter-attack. Jasper nodded as he watched her go and then headed back himself. Right as he stepped into camp he got swept up into the world. After a little while they were marching towards where the werewolves where, getting ready for their ambush. "Sir, the Negros are on their way here. Don't worry how I know just get everyone ready." Felicia told her commander back at camp. He raised an eyebrow at her then started ordering people around. Felicia went to her tent and changed into old worn jeans and a black shirt. Jasper could tell that they were closing in. he just hoped that he had warned Felicia and had given her enough time to warn the others. Felicia's group had torn down camp, put out and covered the fire, stowed their stuff high in the trees and where hiding in the bushes and trees waiting. They all smelled them before they wee in eyesight, but they waited for the order to attack. Felicia looked around and sniffed trying to find Jasper so that she could attack him before anyone else. Jasper smiled when he saw that they were there and none of Felicia's kind was here. He could hear his general and leaders yelling and screaming. He then heard the order to get ready to fight just in case. Furthermore, he got ready but looked around and wondered if he could see Felicia and drive her away from the fighting.

Pet and Palmoun|rating:3.0

Pick the Poison (VikingWitch & WeismanWriter)

It was just an ordinary summer night in a small town not too far away from a large and dark forest. The town was rather small, but quaint with cobblestone paved roads and lamplight giving off a warm glow in the moonlight. Fireflies flitted through the trees and long grass, all was quiet save for one part of the town. It seemed closer to the center of town than one would think, a tavern that seemed to be created from a grove trees that were still growing and the moss that grew on their trunks grew around to create soft and pleasing places to lean against. A sign hung above the carved outdoor that was strung up by vines, it read “The Fairy Tree”. Could either be seen as a good time or a bad omen, depending on someone’s view of the FAE. Inside warm light carried out to the street as well as the sound of a fiddle and two voices singing merrily to no one in particular. They sat in a far corner, not even noticing the audience they had created around them as they continued their merry tune. One was a female tie fling with red and rough looking skin. Her hair was long, thick, and dark and if one looked closely enough they could probably see some red come through when her hair moved in the firelight a certain way. On top of that head of hair was also a set of horns that look much like ram’s horns that curl out from the top of her head and corkscrew at her elf-like ears that knife through her thick hair and point to the top of her head. Her eyes were rather odd to look at though. Though she does possess more human-like eyes, they have a slightly inhuman quality in that they have a green shade, but it’s a shade that doesn’t seem natural. She laughed at one particular lyric and showed that the canines of her top and bottom teeth sharpened into fangs that look deadly if not frightening upon first glance. Also, typical of her race is the long tail with three bone spikes that poke out near the tip. Her other friend looked much less intimidating as she played her violin with a soft smile. She has creamy pale skin with a light splash of freckles across her cheeks and shoulders. Her hair was a bright platinum blonde that traveled down in waves until the ends faded into a light blue almost like sea foam. Her eyes were brilliant crystal blue, the kind of blue. She, next to her friend, was rather slim and small, but possessed a kind of grace made for a performer. Absinthe and Siobhan, respectively, drank and sang their nights away most times, but this time Absinthe wanted to get the attention of some adventurers. She had told Siobhan before about it to a degree, but they hadn’t been too successful the past few nights. Still there performance kept a good many eyes on them, perhaps someone would be interested enough to join them.“Time won’t follow the path we came, The world you leftist forgot your name Stay here and be mine my love, Spare my heart the pain!” “I’m really going to die to an Ogre family...this is pathetic” muttered a bloodied Paladin, back resting against a thick wall of rock behind him. Well, calling Argus Hendrickson a Paladin wasn’t exactly correct. He was far from that. Born into the legendary paladin family Latham, Argus was destined for nothing short of greatness. His affinity for magic was above and beyond any of his siblings and considered the highest affinity in the history of his family. Most individuals born with such a high affinity are capable of entering the true depths of magic, but for Paladins who almost never used Magic in the first place, his potential was mostly wasted. This wasn’t to say that, as a member of the Latham family, Argus was a failure; far from it. As the years went by, Argus’s abilities were proven as unprecedented even compared to his own Father. Surely he’d live the life of quite possibly the single greatest Paladin in history. A legendary Paladin that’d leave a mark in the history books! But a life as grand as that was never in the cards. While Argus was quite the studious Paladin, he was also a bit foolish and incredibly bored. While his family wasn’t impossibly strict, his life was rather limited in what he was allowed to do. By heart, he was an adventurer and a curious man but spent almost all of his time training and learning new abilities. His social life was completely nonexistent, and his curiosity only grew over time. Eventually, it became impossible to bottle up that curiosity, and it ended in easily the greatest blunder of the Latham family. It resulted in Argus’s removal from his home as well as his own family name. The current leader of the Latham family, Cassius Latham, was quite the secretive drunk. Being responsible for raising the next generation of Latham Paladins was rather stressful, and what better way to relieve stress than drink your worries away, right? Argus and a few of his siblings were aware of Cassius’s stash and always made an attempt to get into it but had been met with utter failure. As a result they had mostly given up on the idea; except foolish Argus. Bored out of his mind, he gave the raid another go and was shockingly met with success. The drink, ironically named “Skeleton Whiskey” was partially empty with obvious signs of recent use. Argus emptied that sucker up without realizing how powerful the drink actually was. Drunk out of his mind, the young Paladin lost control of his overwhelming curiosity and wandered outside the confines of his small village. Before long, he stumbled upon the Forbidden Mountains; a sacred mountainous area of land located relatively close to his village. It is a place considered taboo to enter unless given direct permission from the clan leader, which was only ever given as a final test to those chosen by the land itself. Cassius never explained truly why these lands were forbidden to his family, but most assumed it was the seal of an incredible evil. Considering how foul the air felt upon entering, Argus was right to believe in this theory. His journey inside the Forbidden Mountains was unfortunately anti-climatic. Not a single monster had been in sight and no such seal could be found. To say he was disappointed in the experience would be an understatement. However, he did find quite the large shiny tome next to an old skeleton. Assuming this was the tome left behind a paladin, he took the time with him and headed back home. That very night, Argus read the entire tome and fell asleep, completely unaware of what he’d done. After that night, his ability to learn and master Paladin techniques had very quickly begun to wane and Cassius assumed the worst. Upon testing him, it was found that Argus no longer held the class of Paladin. No, he was now a full-blown Necromancer. The tome located in the mountains had been a trick for someone as foolish as Argus, and after reading it, he learned quite a bit of Necromancer. In the end, he was ultimately exiled for specializing in the dark arts and forced to live his life as an Adventurer. Which is how he got into this bloody mess. A man born with an incredible affinity for magic, and taught by one of the strongest warriors in the world, was now only mere moments away from dying by the hands of a C-Class Quest. How very typical. Although his Necromancer were incredibly powerful, he was forced to use his far weaker Paladin abilities as an Adventurer. Necromancer, after all, were condemned as evil and vile by society. Doesn’t really help that so many fictional stories include the main villain as someone capable of raising the dead and the like. It seriously put a harsh limit on Argus. With his vision blurring, Argus had no other choice but to rely on his taboo magic. It was killed or be killed, and with the situation at hand, it was clear his Paladin abilities wouldn’t do shit for him. Casting a rather basic spell, an army of skeletal soldiers charged through the area by his command and massacred the Ogres that had surrounded him. Killing them with sheer numbers alone had been a walk in the damn park! Having to nearly lose his life for the sake of keeping a secret was absurd. There was nothing more the Necromancer hated than this Kingdom.“You guys were so cool!” Argus exclaimed, giving a bunch of high-fives to his little army. He was mostly excited by being able to finally let some steam off by casting necromancer, but seeing a small-scale break-out between his buddies and the Ogres was nothing short of exhilarating. Argus, letting out a sigh of satisfaction and exhaustion, ordered the skeletons to help him gather the bodies and sever their ears, proof that he’d complete the Quest. “Man...you guys really did save my ass back there. As always, thanks! But…” Argus murmured, rubbing the back of his head. “I need you all to injure me as well.” Unsurprisingly confused, the skeletons looked at each other bewildered before offering an expression of concern. It wasn’t necessarily an order but a request from their master; not that they’d ever refuse Argus. Slowly they walked over to him before slashing delicately, wincing whenever they’d mess up and cut too deeply. But this was the only way to mask the stench of him casting ‘evil’ magic. Make it look as if he’d been attacked by the undead during the hunt and no suspicion would be raised against him. Considering how close they were to a massive swamp, this excuse worked well. Soon after sustaining his new wounds, Argus undid the spell and headed back to the Guild. Upon arrival, the girl responsible for giving out quests to adventurers ran to his side, nearly screaming in shock. “Argus! You idiot! Why is it always like this?! Seriously!” She yelled, sitting him down at a table and tending to his wounds. The two of them were particularly closer than they should have been, considering she was supposed to be a receptionist. The truth was, she was the guild's top healer who always found herself healing and taking care of poor Argus like he was a little brother.“Yeah yeah, I know. I’m sorry” Argus murmured, laughing softly. Most of the wounds conflicted were that of the Skeletal army rather than the actual Ogres, but they were deep enough for concern. Who knew low-ranking skeletal soldiers were bad at making shallow cuts. “Thanks for always taking care of me, Malia. I appreciate you.” The girl stopped to look up at Argus, her face turning a bright red; both in anger at his wounds and his sweetness. “... S-Seriously... You really need to find yourself a team already. It'd be nice if you could find yourself a healer at least." Malia said, earning nothing but an earnest laugh in response. A Team? Of course, he knew he needed one. Nearly everyone in the Guild had formed a team. Mostly out of necessity, but pay rates were always much higher when you had a few other Adventurers with you. Argus was famous in the Guild despite his low rank because of his lone-wolf style, not that he particularly enjoyed it. Braving alone meant his secret was well protected, but he sacrificed far too much in return. The big oaf of a friend that lived with him didn't actually go on Quests, not unless Argus requested it, which he never did. It had been a full three years since he had become an Adventurer, and even with the money he had been given to start, the guy was consistently poor. The only Adventurer to call a broken down hut in the middle of the nearby Forest, Argus was constantly struggling to survive and make ends meet. Not enough for new armor, never enough for a home, and especially never enough to buy Tome's that he could use to increase his own magic. Malia finished up healing him before heading back to her receptionist desk, stealing glances at Argus every so often as he wallowed in his own self-pity. She certainly wasn't the only woman there stealing glances at the guy, he was half-naked after all. He was about as much of a looker as he was a skilled magic caster after all. About an hour passed with her constantly stealing glances at his muscled form before he ultimately decided it was time to return home. Home being the large Forest that sat right outside the town's walls. Without the money to buy a home within the town, Argus had spent a few months hand crafting a small cabin fit for a single person, deep in the Forest. There he was only bothered by a few passing herbivores who would serve as important meals here and there. Time had passed, and he happened upon Leo, an enormous Lion Eastman that had quickly become his closest friend. The Cabin was upgraded with Leo's help to fit the both of them. Once he arrived home, Argus found Leo cooking a few fish, rubbing at his enormous paws in anticipation." Ah, welcome BAC- wow, you're looking worse than usual" Leo said, pointing a claw at Argus's bandages." Yup. Today I was nearly ripped to shreds by a large group of Goblins and Ogres. Fun times buddy."" Heh, that's what you get for refusing to take a literal Lion man with you. Was the reward at least worth it?" Argus pulled out a small lather bag and tossed it to Leo who caught it, counting the coin. Just as usual, Argus's effort was wasted with the absurdly mediocre amount of Coin he earned. Today was a small improvement, but really not by much. "Seriously? How long are you going to keep this up?" Leo asked, sighing, "Have you considered doing something else with your magic besides nearly getting yourself killed on a daily basis?"" Ugh, not this talk again man," Argus said, sitting down and taking a bite out of a fish that was just about to burn, "Lets head to that one Tavern you've been craving. I'm cool with treating you so long as it shuts your guzzle." Leo beamed up immediately, his heavy tail wagging like an excited puppy. It would probably be strong enough to break a men arm if he were to hit them. "Aha! Now that's what I'm talking about! You sure know how to steal a Lions heart friend!" Argus rolled his eyes and smiled at Leo. Knowing his tragic past...it was always heartwarming to see the Lion full of excitement and glee. Even if it meant Argus would be broke by the end of the night. Well...it was fine, right? Someday, hopefully soon, he'd have his damn break. A fortune that could finally get him off his feet. Such a dream felt so distant though. The both had a fun time eating and drinking a bit of fresh water before heading back into town. Leo knew Argus would be in a lot of pain if it weren't for the Guild's receptionist. Her healing was beyond exceptional. Still, they took the trip slow, taking in the beauty of nature and the coolness of the breeze causing their hair to flutter. Up until they made it into the center of town. Their town's pride, at the center of it all, sat a Tavern that drew in business from all over the Kingdom. The Adventurer's Guild stood as a testament to the Town's enduring strength, while the Tavern, named "The Fairy Tree" remained as its pride. The both sat rather close to one another, sometimes combined into what some called "The Fairy Tree Guild". Though the name bothered some as FAE could be described as the harbingers of disaster. Both Leo and Argus looked at the Tavern in awe before slowly making their way inside. The presence of the large Lion usually caught everyone's attention, but it was Argus they were gawking at. Probably because the guy didn't like wearing a shirt over his bandages. Though that was one reason, it was always shocking to see how close to death he was when he went in to drink. Argus and Leo both found their own seats and quickly ordered a Drink. Which turned into two, then many. The night had become hazy...and before long, a beautiful song filled their ears. Both Argus and Leo turned their attention over to Absinthe and Siobhan. Argus himself was more focused on how surprising it was to see the horned girl. Her kind didn't usually come around these parts. Leo, however, was completely enthralled by the song. His ears flicked about every so often, his large head moving side to side. This song...he remembered how his mother would sing parts of it to him as a child. Before Argus could stop him, Leo left the table and joined the girls, joining in on the song. Much to everyone's surprise, the Lion had a very smooth singing voice, just a little coarse, but splendid for a literal Lion. Argus couldn't help but laugh, seeing his friend enjoy the song as much as he did, happy to see the big oaf enjoying himself. That was when Leo grabbed Argus and pulled him into the small group, having him stand next to Absinthe. Argus sighed softly and joined in on the song, also familiar with it. Just as Leo, his singing voice was smooth, though his had a very calming tune to it. Siobhan and Absinthe looked up at the lovely bass voice that joined in on their tune. Siobhan smiled brightly and continued to play on until the end of the song. Absinthe was also amused as the lion pushed the human man to her, and he sang as well. They were both pretty good. Siobhan finished with a flourish and the few bar patrons applauded them before leaving to go back to their seats. “A lovely performance, ladies,” a barmaid said as she presented flagons to them both. “Paid for by a few generous patrons.” Absinthe laughed and took a hearty swig from one of them. Siobhan carefully lowered her violin to the table and also took a sip. “Thank you for the kind patronage,” Absinthe said and lifted the flagon to the barmaid. Now the two girls turned to the men that joined them. “So, you boys looking for an encore or a good time or both?” Absinthe asked. Siobhan swatted her companion’s arm in jest. “You both have such lovely voices, thank you for lending them to us,” Siobhan said. “Want to sit, have a drink?” Siobhan offered her flagon to Leo. “Yeah, we could use some entertainment that we don’t create ourselves,” Absinthe said and scooted over for one of the men to take a seat. Both Argus and Leo had gotten into the song, with the former stealing glances at Absinthe every so often. Something about her felt like it was dragging him in. He also didn't want to look st the audience the four of them had gathered, less he ended up suddenly becoming extremely self-conscious. Damn Leo would pay for dragging him into this social activity! Still, the both of them sang as they did, enjoying the little performance they seemed to egg on. Argus himself had frequently sung at the large celebration dinners the Latham clan would throw every so often. It reminded him of times that would never return. If, for just this moment...he could feel back at home. Once the song was over, Leo pat Argus on the back which nearly sent him flying. "Hah! I had no clue you could sing like that!" Argus merely rolled his eyes up at Leo, his face growing a giant shade of red. Quickly though he looked at Absinthe, shocked by her words. "Oh? A Good time? Well, my human friend over here is quite the virgin you see!" Leo said, grinning as Argus's faint blush turned dark. The virgin in question glared at Leo, promising a good scolding in silence. Leo let out a hearty laugh and looked down at Siobhan, taking the flagon happily and having a drink. Meanwhile, Argus took the seat next to Absinthe, glaring at Leo to sit less he wanted to go a day without Fish. Leo sat next to Siobhan and smiled. For now, he was getting the "Lone Wolf Argus" to interact with others. That's all he wanted from tonight. “Oh, is that so?” Absinthe purred and got a little closer to Argus. It was mostly to tease him, but Absinthe did have a soft spot for virgins. They were just so fun to tease and in her experience, they were quite good listeners. Siobhan smirked over at her friend. “She’s a man-eater, don’t fall for it,” she said. Absinthe stuck her tongue out at her friend, but it only made Siobhan chuckle back. “Anyway, introductions first before we contemplate bed arrangements,” Absinthe joked. “I’m Absinthe Nov run.” She gave a small bow in her seat to flourish her intro. “And I’m Siobhan Meighen,” Siobhan said and did a deeper bow in hers.”We’re just passing through really,” Absinthe went on to explain. “We don’t really have the stomach to stay in one place for too long.”“How about you two?” Siobhan asked as she took back her flagon and took another swig. Argus looked at Absinthe and suddenly became extremely nervous in her presence. A man-eater? Did that mean she was thinking of knocking him unconscious, skinning him alive, and eating him? Sexual innuendos weren't something that would apply to his rather odd sense of logic. Still, Siobhan's warning was fully noted. Leo chuckled at the sight of his friend becoming nervous, wanting to egg this on for as long as he could. "Now, I'd leave the poor guy alone. He's never even held hands with a woman, much less been to bed with one! Who knows what would happen if you were to try."" Leo..." Argus murmured, now glaring at the large Eastman." Alright alright, I get it" Leo laughed, knowing he was reaching the end of Argus's limit. Quite frankly though, he did hope his human companion would find a woman to bed with...someday. Tonight wasn't the night for sure, but... Argus clearly suffered from loneliness and stress. He needed it badly." I'm Leonard Yamaguchi, though you can just call me Leo" The beast men said, offering his own bow but not making it far as his head would hit the table if he tried." And I'm Argus, Argus Ya-" He froze for a moment, not finishing his introduction. That's right...he couldn't introduce himself as a Latham anymore. All hell would break loose if he tried to use that name. "Argus Hendrickson. Nice to meet you two" He said, bowing as well. "My big oaf of a friend and I are both active Adventurers in this town's Guild." Leo nodded, worried that Argus nearly name-dropped his clan. The guy must have been pretty tipsy to nearly make such a mistake. "We don't typically drop by this Tavern as our funds are pretty low. You'll find that this town is a little...boring, but everyone here is pretty nice. Enjoying your visit?" Absinthe chuckled at Leo’s prodding but decided to back off a little bit from the young man. She turned her attention to the larger Eastman who also wasn’t that hard to look at. Absinthe wasn’t especially picky when it came to the form men took. Big, bulky, slim, stocky, it didn’t matter as long as they knew what they were doing, or she could show them how to do it. “Louis,” Siobhan shed giddily. “An Adventurer’s guild? That does sound really exciting!”“Perhaps, you handsome and brave men could divulge a few stories?” Absinthe asked as well.“It’s a nice little town,” Siobhan said.”But when you see one small town, you’ve seen them all,” Absinthe said. “The only thing that really compelled us to stop here was this bar.” Siobhan nodded with a bit of embarrassment. “Built out of living ancient trees, that is new,” Absinthe said and took a swig from her flagon. Argus felt like his blush was going to die down soon as it did begin to fade, but... Absinthe just had to speak up again. His blush returned and he tried to look away from the group, getting just as nervous as he'd been earlier. She seemed to know every which way to fluster the poor guy. Calling a man like him, who had never been given compliments from a woman, handsome, was quite the effective weapon. Leo noticed the mood and smirked again excitedly. "Ah. The thing is, I prefer mundane tasks like helping the elderly with farming and such. Barely pays anything but it feels very rewarding. I don't have many stories to tell. But Argus? He's the one you want to talk to. I mean, just look at the bandages." Argus perked up, feeling all eyes on him again. He remained silent for a moment before eventually cracking and telling the girls about today's quest. At first the details were simple and short, but he suddenly became very passionate when it came to the start of the battle. He had picked off Goblin after Goblin with powerful swings of a Holy Hammer, finding himself surrounded by larger and more diverse groups. Then, suddenly, bam! A large club was swung into the back of his skull. It was an Ogre...no, there were many! The Quest had called for the extermination of an annoying Goblin infestation, but turned into a full out war. Argus told how incredibly difficult it had been to achieve victory. In the end, however, he replaced the finale with a fabricated lie, opting to not tell a soul about his Necromancy and pretending like he had cast a holy spell that summoned warriors of light to his aide. Afterward, he mentioned how he and Leo and wound up in the Tavern, joining their song and eventually meeting with them. Leo took a few sips of Siobhan's drink, genuinely surprised by the story. Seriously...how the hell did Argus actually survive that? The way he told it...it sounded like he'd been attacked by a small-scale army. Which was actually the truth. The fact that he somehow managed to stay as the lowest ranked Adventurer despite his feats was astounding. Leo passed the drink back to Siobhan and smiled. "Argus, you really should accept the title of Monster Slayer from the Guild master...she's been trying to replace your 'Lone-Wolf' title for a long time."" Eh, titles won't earn me more Coin." Argus shrugged, finally deciding to take a few sips from Absinthe's flagon. Leo just sighed, crossing his arms at his friend before looking at Absinthe. "This Tavern is a bit of a mystery. Some say the owner is absurdly skilled with Wood Magic and that they created the tavern as a simple test. Others say that the Trees and Vines that make up the Tavern are the remains of a tragic FAE and Human couple that were hunted down by the Royal family. Their are many legends and rumors about this Tavern...but one thing is for sure...they serve amazing drinks! Hey waiter! Get me and my compare here another round!"" H-hey! Leo! You know we can't afford any more Drinks man..."" Who cares. Drink your sorrows away my depressing virgin friend!"" I really hate you Leo." The two women perked up at the chance to hear a thrilling tale. The girls leaned in as Argus went about his story, raising their eyebrows and oohing and aching at the appropriate times. At the end, the two shared a knowing look as if they shared a plan between them. “Oh please, let us buy,” Siobhan said.”Yes, after all that, perhaps we should be buying your meals for a week,” Absinthe said and laughed as Leo poked fun at Argus’ virginal status once again.”Oh, the human and FAE story sounds terribly romantic!” Siobhan said. “Much like the song we were singing before.” Absinthe smiled, but it seemed to falter a bit at the idea of a mortal and FAE falling in love. “Speaking of FAE though, there are apparently plenty of their treasures about to be found,” Siobhan said. "Oh no, such a tame story doesn't really deserve anything like that" Argus waved them dismissively. The offer to buy them drinks was quite nice of them, but Argus himself had a very good reason to deny them. He was awful at holding his booze down, and when he got piss drunk, the guy was known to make extremely poor mistakes. Taking one small look at his past was proof of it. Leo was the only one besides the members of his old clan that knew his secret. If Argus made the mistake of getting drunk and revealing his secret to anyone...his life would be as good as over. It would be best not to pressure him to drink, even if the guy really just needed one night to relax, get drunk, get laid, and cry his worries away." Hey, a few meals don't sound too bad! It's not like we don't get to eat but most of what we do get to eat are wild game and the Forest's vegetables. Not much of a meal if you ask me." Argus nodded in agreement to his furry friend but looked at Siobhan. "To be honest... I have to agree. I never personally believed in the idea that it was wrong for Human's and other species to fall in love. Makes for a better tale too." He said, smiling but also blushing. It was just his small way of expressing that he found non-human girls more attractive than the former. "Treasure? Sure, but if there is, I sure as hell haven't seen a single lick of it." Absinthe waved down the barmaid again to get the men some proper food and another flagon of mead this time. She wanted something a bit sweeter and would hopefully coax Argus to be a bit more relaxed around her, because now it was her sole purpose in life to get this man in her wagon tonight. Especially after his comment, her tail swished behind her in mild interest. “If that story was tame, I’m almost terrified to learn what counts as extreme,” Absinthe teased. The barmaid laid out a bit of a spread for them, some chicken, fish, vegetables, potatoes, and some seasonal fruit. Absinthe piled up some of the meat and ate as Siobhan continued to speak. “Well, of course, you wouldn’t find them!” Siobhan explained. “Fairy don’t exactly like their things to be found, but if you know where to go and know what to do, some treasures can be found with only a little bit of difficulty.”“A little bit being you might go out and never come back,” Absinthe said with a small amount of theatrics thrown in. “You sure you don’t want a swig?” She pushed the tankard of mead towards Argus and gave a more winning smile to him. Argus looked at the food placed on the table in front of them and felt his stomach growl in anticipation. Leo had stricken quite the point. Some fish and veggies didn't constitute much as a meal. It had probably been almost a year or longer since the last time the both of them got to enjoy a meal like this. He poked at some of the meat to check and see if it really was edible, but before long, he was happily digging in. The easiest way to get into a men heart was to offer him some good food, and Argus wasn't an exception to this fact. If anything, it was even easier to buy him off with food. "I once ran into a juvenile Wyvern. Might that be extreme enough?"" Not that I blame them," Leo said, grabbing some fish, "Fairy haven't exactly been treated all that well throughout recorded history. I'd be pretty pissed if a bunch of Adventurers tried to take what was left of their culture." Leo could speak from experience what it felt like to have what belonged to you ripped from you unfairly. He could never blame the FAE for being so stingy with their belongings. Argus looked at the drink, then to Absinthe who offered him that smile, and then back to the drink again. It was a little too tempting for him to take a swig." Ah, maybe you shouldn't Argus. You're not that good of a DRI-"It was too late. Argus was already drinking quite a fair amount. Screw it. If they learned about his secret and told the royal guards stationed around the small town, then so be it. He needed this more than anything. By the time he was done, he placed the mead back on the table and let out a little hiccup." He's...very bad with Alcohol..." Absinthe smiled as Argus took a few mouthfuls of the mead and then let out a hiccup as he set it down. Couldn’t hold his liquor either… perfect. “I mean, to be fair, Fairy have been menacing mortals for centuries too,” Siobhan responded to Leo’s comment. “No one’s purely innocent in that regard.” Absinthe gave an evil grin to Leo and tilted her head innocently. “Oh, you don’t say?” she asked almost too innocently. She bat her eyelashes at the lion but paid no heed to any other warning he might give afterwards. So it went for a good few hours, the women and men having polite conversation back and forth storytelling and even some requests for a song before Absinthe stood and stretched. “Well, I think we must be off for the night,” she said. Siobhan yawned a bit. “Yes, it is quite late,” she said. “And we have a ways to go besides.” Leo looked at Absinthe just a little surprised, realizing that she may or may not be orchestrating some kind of plan that had to do with Argus. Or maybe the Alcohol had gotten to his head? The smirk she gave him certainly told him more than words could...but he wondered if it might be a good thing for him to follow her lead. Would Argus finally get laid as a result? No, more than likely not. But the mold that the slowly dying man had put himself into needed to be broken. Argus stayed mostly silent during the night as the hours passed by, trying to get over the small drunken state he'd gotten into because of Absinthe convincing him to drink. Leo helped lead the conversations they all shared to make it easier for Argus, but didn't do anything to try and stop Absinthe from doing anything to get closer to Argus if she wanted." We do as well," Leo replied, walking over to Argus and seeing if he needed help to get up, "It was nice meeting you young ladies though. Good luck on your travels". Surprisingly, the closeted Necromancer managed to get up on his own. Leo and Argus then waved to them and started to leave. Leo was being slow...giving them the chance they needed Absinthe nudged Siobhan as they stood up. Siobhan was much better at playing innocent than she. Siobhan cleared her throat before speaking. “Although, come to think of it,” she said, and they caught up to the boys. “It is so dark, and we don’t really know our way around, could you fine gentleman escort us to our camp?” Absinthe nodded. “We don’t know what kind of uncouth people are around here,” she added.”And we could tell you some of our stories on the way there,” Siobhan added as well. They had a plan, but they needed to make sure these men were up for it. Leo’s comment before didn’t bode well, but they could try. Both Argus and Leo were a little surprised to hear Siobhan's voice from behind them. They had almost made it out of there without a hitch! The Necromancer himself wasn't buying her little innocent act even a little. But Leo? Oh...she had struck a nerve. When a woman was in dire need of his help, the helpful Lion was there to save the day! Much like a Superhero, he was very easy to persuade so long as the innocent act was even just half-assed. In Siobhan's case, her innocent act was more than enough to persuade him." Uncouth? Uncouth?? Aren't you want to talk?" Argus asked as he pointed a tipsy but accusing finger at Absinthe, laughing as he did so." Now now, put that finger down Argus. She might jump you if you're not careful. We'd love to help you pretty ladies" Leo winked, putting Argus's hand down for him and nodding at the girls." Woah hold on there you big oaf. Just because they are veeeeeery pretty doesn't mean we have to HEL-""Argus, let's help them. It'll help you walk off the Alcohol.""... Alright, fine..." Absinthe rose her eyebrows at Argus’ sudden bravado, but she smiled as she realized how bad he actually was and how pliable he would probably be. Siobhan smiled sweetly and giggled at Leo and Argus before she started out the door. “I think it’s on the other side of town actually,” she said. Absinthe kept close to Argus and was practically vibrating at the chance to get him into her wagon. “We do have one story to tell,” Siobhan said as they got a good distance away from prying eyes and ears. “Though, not sure how you’ll like it.”“We didn’t really come to this town randomly,” Absinthe cut in as Siobhan started to explain.”We heard about the Adventurers’ Guild here, we need help for something that we’re trying to find,” Siobhan said. “But we didn’t really want to announce it.” That they had been slightly deceitful made Siobhan a bit guilty, but Absinthe knew how things went. If word got out that they were searching for some treasure, they’d have to fight off others to get to it first. “So we decided to stay a few days here and hopefully come across some adventurers that might be up for a little treasure hunt?” Siobhan said.“We can pay,” Absinthe added. “And of course you’d get a share of whatever profit we get from the treasure.” Not beating around the bush at all. Absinthe was a bit too antsy to get their mission started, but she had her own reasons for that. “If you’re willing that is?” Siobhan added as well, trying to keep their politeness intact. Argus looked at Absinthe and tried to keep his distance from her, wondering why she suddenly started to wear a look of excitement. She wasn't the easiest person to read, but he was aware enough to notice that her expression would twist ever so slightly with her thoughts. Although he tried to be distant, it was very difficult for him to actually accomplish this as it felt difficult for him to even walk. Once they had gotten pretty far away from the bar and certainly away from any Adventurer that would hear them, both of the girl had revealed their intentions. From the very start, Argus hadn't had too good of a feeling about meeting them. Why would two good-looking girls want to interact with him aside from having him do something for them? His eyes narrowed a bit at them. It certainly wasn't the first time he'd been targeted by potential clients, but he'd been slightly tricked by being bought out by food and drinks." Well, as long as the pay is to-""Leo. Quiet." Argus said softly, putting his hand in front of the Lion." But, they're offering..."" Leo, you know how dangerous it is for us to take on requests like this. Do you remember the last time we agreed Billy willy? We had our belongings stolen..." He murmured, sighing. "I don't mean to be rude, but this sounds really fishy. You bought drinks and food for a group of Adventurers you barely met, ask us to lead you to your camp, only to turn around and tell us you're willing to pay us for a treasure hunt. How am I supposed to trust this supposed treasure even exists? And how would I trust that either of you wouldn't stab us in the back?" Argus asked, crossing his arms. "It sounds too good to be true to me." Leo was about agree to their idea until Argus stepped in. Not drunk enough it would seem, to keep him and his friend out of trouble. Though Absinthe admired the practicality that he had. Siobhan frowned and shrugged at Absinthe, not sure how to proceed. Instead, Absinthe decided to show them something she rarely showed anyone else. She summoned a ball of green flame to each hand and her arms glowed with what looked like bright green, thorny vines that extended from her wrists up to her shoulders. “I’m a witch,” she explained. “My patron is of the Archway, and he has sent me on this quest, though why I do not know, we can’t do it on our own.” Siobhan then pulled a map from her pack and Absinthe shown the light onto it so that they could see. “The way is long and rather treacherous, we would’ve tried to do it on our own if we knew that we could,” she said and rolled out the map to reveal a long way to a destination marked with a red circle. They had marked each town they’ve been through with a small ‘x’ and the last one was at the town they were in now, and they still had a long ways to go if they planned to go up the way that they planned. Most of their path was along the coastline and then following rivers until they couldn’t. It was a good idea to keep a water source close by anyway. A good majority of it was through untamed wilderness, certainly not a quest to be taken by just two young women. “As for the food and drink,” Absinthe said. “We are gypsy women, and it is considered a sin among our people that we let anyone go hungry or leave unhappy.” She smiled at Argus at that. Pretty sure he wouldn’t buy that even though it was true. “We have most of the supplies we thought we might need and a means of transportation and shelter,” Siobhan continued to explain. “If we don’t get help from you, then we’ll have to find someone else.” Absinthe wanted to add a little caveat to that, but she decided that threats probably wouldn’t be taken well by these two, best to keep that a secret until they were forced to otherwise. Argus's eyes widened as a ball of green flame formed at her hands. His immediate reaction was to summon a flame of his own and take a defensive stance. The color itself was extremely shocking...but she had done it without offering even a little warning. Green fire certainly wasn't common, but the thorns that wrapped around her arms and extended onto her shoulders were very alarming. Even Leo took a defensive stance, worried that they were about to be attacked. Upon hearing her confession, Argus dropped his spell and suddenly felt a tinge of...familiarity. Witches were unwelcome in the Kingdom and often attacked, just like Necromancers. Yet she had revealed her identity to him without hesitation. Surely...it would be fair for him to start trusting her, even just a little? Knowing their patron was the Archway brought up so many damning questions, but Argus instead just sighed and took a close look at the map. He couldn't figure out what was more shocking, the fact that Absinthe was a Witch who'd been willing to reveal herself so easily, or how they thought they could make it to their destination unharmed. "You have to be kidding...this is a very far distance to travel. I'm really not sure how you think you could do it with just any Adventurer either" He said, rubbing at his temples. The situation still sounded very fishy. But honestly...he was inclined to trust her after she had revealed herself to be a Witch. If she betrayed him in any capacity, Argus held the ability to send the entire Kingdom after her. That wouldn't be something she'd want to risk unless this was real. "I'm going to be honest here, any Adventurer that would see this map would be turned off immediately. Sure, I'll accept the request. I assume Leo is willing to help as well." “Hence why we also plied you with food and drink,” Absinthe said. “Get a few adventurers to tell a few tales that may or may not be true, and we’d be able to tell if they would be right for the job.”“Congratulations?” Siobhan said with some nervousness in her voice.“I’m not sure if I fully buy the story you told back there, but I did think there was some truth to it,” Absinthe said. “Anyone willing to go up against even a clan of goblins never mind an army would surely be good enough for this.” Siobhan nodded, though they didn’t exactly know what they would be facing along the way, surely it couldn’t be that much different than what these men faced before. “So, are you both up for it or no?” Absinthe asked. Argus could understand where she was coming from. His story did sound quite crazy considering he'd been by himself. A low-ranking Adventurer as himself also wouldn't be capable of actually handling a situation like that. Perhaps if they weren't in a Kingdom that killed of Necromancers like cockroaches...then he would have been willing to admit that he was indeed one. Taking down an army of Goblins wasn't a big deal when he himself had an army of his own. For now though, it was clear there was a lot of truth to his words considering how his upper body was covered in bandages." Yup. Seems like we're willing to go. I was already willing to accept the request." Leo puffed his chest up proudly, happy Argus had already accepted the Quest. But...there was a false sense of calmness in the Necromancer. Truthfully, he didn't trust any of this one bit. It wasn't really about trusting the girls or not at this point. Argus was seriously desperate. Even if the Quest didn't earn him much, coin was coin. He could use it to buy some Tome's to increase his magic potency, rank up, and take on quests that would yield even better rewards. To that end, he was willing to risk it all." Yes, I accepted already didn't I?" Absinthe smiled and nodded while Siobhan clapped happily. “Excellent,” Absinthe said. Siobhan quickly rolled the map back up, and they made their way to the girls’ campsite. It took a while, because it was in fact on the other side of town and still a few yards away besides. What met them was quite a large gypsy wagon, three big and hearty horses, a tent, and a fire pit that had long since smoldered out. “Here we are,” Siobhan quickly jogged ahead and started to stack up some firewood in the pit. As soon as she had the kindling in, Absinthe snapped her fingers and a fire sparked quickly to life. In the firelight it was easier to see the wagon and the designs that looped and swirled over its surface. The base color was a deep red and then there were black and gilded gold swirls and loops, they almost looked like black vines with golden leaves. The three horses were grazing a little ways away, two of them were most likely used for the wagon, the other one probably used for a lone rider. “Any other details you want to go over?” Absinthe asked. “Since I might have overestimated how much your wits were about you.” She playfully poked a finger into Argus’ shoulder to see if he would stumble. Leo eyed Argus in a bit of surprise. Perhaps the alcohol had played a part in the agreement, but even so...why was he willing to undertake such a huge risk? Was it because they knew Absinthe was a Witch? No, even then...he wouldn't want to use information like that to settle his racing mind. Leo believed it had to be complete desperation. Argus's injuries were starting to get worse and death was only approaching closer. Even he must have realized how important it was for him to make some kind of change. Even if it meant he had to surround himself by two highly questionable women. Especially Absinthe. Risk or not, it didn't matter. The risk was worth the reward. Both he and Leo followed the girls as they showed them to their campsite. What they were met with actually surprised the both of them. It had been a long, long time since either of them had seen a Gypsy Wagon. Argus eyed Absinthe as a part of his initial reaction. She had said their patron was the Archway. Considering how huge the Wagon was, had they been supplied? Or was this something she always owned. Damn...it made him jealous. Both he and Leo lived in a crappy Cabin even smaller than the Wagon. Leo joined Siobhan quickly to help her gather any kindling she'd want help with. He found her quite fun to be around. Once the fire was set, he sat in front of it and yawned, his jaws snapping shut with a loud noise. Cats usually needed a lot of sleep, and it seemed like he was very much due for a well-deserved cat-nap. Argus looked at Absinthe as she poked at his shoulder, staring at her for a moment while he tried to gather his thoughts. Instead of responding, he hiccuped, giving her a stupid smile afterward. He gained an earlier sense of control over himself because of the dangers her request presented, but now that he accepted...he was back to being silly drunk. No words left his lips until after he had also taken refuge near the fire, nearly stumbling and falling right onto it." Mmm...HIC... Yeah, actually. You mentioned the Archway. Might telling me why someone as important as...HIC...him, tasked just the two of you with this quest?" He finally asked, staring into the beautiful flames. "And what is this...HIC...treasure he wants? I can't imagine him wanting some...HIC...mundane treasure." Apparently Argus was a selective drunk at the best of times. Absinthe hadn’t met one before, but she supposed there was a first time for everything. Siobhan grabbed some blankets out of her tent and she unraveled something from her belt that looked vaguely like an animal pelt and settled down by the fire, first wrapping the pelt around her and then a blanket before she held out an especially heavy and big blanket to Leo. Absinthe shrugged at Argus’ question. “Why do FAE want anything?” she asked. “It’s usually out of amusement.” Siobhan nodded. “He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with details,” Absinthe added. “As FAE often aren’t.” She seemed to have an edge of frustration in her voice on that note, as if she had dealt with this for too long and too often. “It’s a FAE artifact, a wand or a staff or something,” Siobhan explained. “I mean, right, Abs?” Absinthe nodded. “Again, not too forthcoming with details.” Absinthe set herself down by the fire as well and absently poked at it with a stick, making sparks fly up into the night to join the stars above. Siobhan leaned herself on a fallen tree that they fashioned into a seat and closed her eyes as the warmth of her blankets and the fire compelled her to fall asleep. Leo almost jumped at just the sight of a large animal pelt, even if she didn't necessarily offer him it. So long as it wasn't a Lion's pelt...he wouldn't overreact. Once he realized it wasn't a Lion's pelt, he calmed down and accepted the large blanket she offered him, wrapping it around his large frame. Leo's fur coat was already quite thick so he was much more resistant to the cold, but the blanket offered him warmth he didn't get to enjoy often. If he were a house cat, he'd be purring nonstop. He looked down at the now sleeping Siobhan and murmured a sweet thank you before laying himself near the fire, falling asleep. Argus looked down temporarily at his own abdominal area when Siobhan had called Absinthe Abs, causing him to blush when he realized he was just looking at his stupid six-pack. He looked back to the fire in hopes nobody noticed his silliness too much. Argus truly was an idiot when he got drunk. When he needed to be serious, he could gain control of himself, but would lose control and grow even dumber than before. Magic Casters in general preferred to avoid alcohol since it messed with their senses a bit too much." Hmm, I see...HIC...but I don't see how we're going to benefit off of a...HIC...single FAE artifact. Well, I'll trust you. A lot is...HIC...riding on this. For both me and Leo." Argus said, looking over at Absinthe. "I'm sure the same can be said for the both of you. I...HIC...hope this quest will be worth it. If I remember quickly, based on your...HIC...map, we've got quite a long way to travel. Some areas are filled with notorious Monsters too. You girls...HIC...wouldn't have been able to get much further." Absinthe chuckled at Argus’ comments before she went back to her poking. “Probably,” she admitted. “Which is why we were smart enough to go looking for help, hm?” She looked him over a bit as he continued to speak, she almost wondered if he was just putting on an act or if he was really drunk. “Well, I only know that it’s important to him, so it must be worth something, right?” she said. “I mean it only might cost us our lives, a trifling matter, really.” She giggled a bit harshly at that thought. Perhaps to the FAE mortal lives were rather trifling and if they failed, surely they could find someone else to take the quest. She looked at the fire and then back at Argus. Her eyes again scanned his form, in depth this time. There was no doubt in her mind that he could handle many foes, if they were what he said he faced before, even better. Still he seemed a bit too wiry for that maybe. There was something else about him, she could feel a power that lingered beneath the surface perhaps much like her magic. Her eyes moved from his feet, slowly back up to his face, and she tilted her head at him as if considering something. "H-Hey...stop...HIC...poking me" Argus complained at Absinthe as she continued to poke at him, time and time again. Did she think this was funny? That she had gotten him so drunk despite not even giving him all that much Alcohol? He would get his revenge on her someday soon! Just she waits! He looked her over as he thought of the many ways he could get her back for tricking him into getting Drunk, though each thought slipped from his mind not long after he believed it to be a dastardly plan. Instead, he gave up on even thinking at this point, hiccuped again, and looked back to the fire. Not spotting how Absinthe seemed to look him over. Instead, his thoughts landed on the quest at hand. He still wasn't sure what to make of it. The distance they needed to travel just to make it to this supposed treasure would take quite a long time. And even when they got there, would it even be possible for him to benefit off of the quest? Sure, the potential coin would be nice, but how much would she even give him? Argus eyed her as he thought this, also taking the time to look her over. She didn't look physically strong, but her magic was interesting. A Witch...he wondered how much her magic was like his? Argus was very, verycurious. So curious that he forgot to keep a hold on his actual power. A small flash of purple streaked across his eyes before he very quickly looked away, shocked that he had actually allowed it to happen. It had been more than enough to at least hint at that Argus, as normal as he seemed, was anything but. It would become clear with time that Argus was a very different Magic Caster. In her observations, Absinthe almost missed the strange sheen of purple that flickered over his eyes. She straightened up a bit and tilted her head further, he was a fighter of some kind, but he didn’t describe what kind nor did he divulge that he had any magical prowess. Perhaps that was how he was able to get through so many obstacles, but then why keep it a secret? Well, that wasn’t really her business, if he wanted to keep it to himself then she wasn’t going to push the matter. What she was going to push, though was that she did want him, but perhaps a bit more on the sober side. “Do you want to come inside?” she asked and pointed her thumb back at her wagon. “It’s nice and cozy in there once I get my stove going, and we won’t have to disturb these two with our chatter.” She motioned to Siobhan and Leo, who were already passed out by the fire. They looked comfortable enough and Absinthe would make sure to put some greener logs on the fire to keep it going a bit longer. It wasn't that Argus was actually keen on keeping a secret. His Necromancy was to blame for him being exiled, but oddly...he felt kind prideful towards the power. It killed him to keep it all a secret. An Argus who didn't need to constantly hide his true power to avoid from being executed would be a completely different man those who he was forced to be. And although he's a Necromancer, Dark Magic wasn't the only Magic type he could cast. Technically, he could cast whatever the hell he wanted. If he actually had the knowledge too. Without the Tomes to teach him the spells, Argus was a complete waste of pure potential. Until it came to his Dark Magic. Despite only reading one Grimier, he was quite a potent Necromancer. He looked over at the Wagon after she mentioned it and nodded softly. Sleep would come anytime soon, and he was worried their conversation would wake Beauty and the Beast. Argus got up from his seat and followed Absinthe into her Wagon, feeling his drunken state begin to wane just a little. He might be bad with Alcohol, but he didn't drink all that much. He'd be sober sooner than it seemed. "It really is cozy in here. I can't remember the last time I was able to feel this warm." That was a lie. Argus was unnaturally cold all the time. As if his body itself were a corpse. Unfortunately, it came with the curse.

Pick the Poison (VikingWitch & WeismanWriter)|rating:3.0

Eagle Squad (IC)

Paris, May 2027, in the NRF base camp, Avila leaves the Colonel's office after the usual morning briefing. She walks up across the great wooden hall of what used to be a fairly luxurious building, before the war that is. Now, it was mostly dirty and maintained only to the point that it's usable as a military outpost. As she walks towards the garages, she waves at a few other officers she knows, all of which getting ready to bring their squads out on whatever assignments they received for the day. As Avila walked through the large wooden door, she finds herself in the vast metal hangar that serves as one of the multiple garages where the NRF stores it's vehicles and equipment. She passes several groups of soldiers chatting together and getting ready, until she reaches the brown APC with a large eagle crudely drawn on the side. The members of Eagle Squad are around it, chatting and also preparing themselves for the day. They don't look like regular soldiers, wearing various military looking outfits of all sorts, some wearing less than desirable. But in this post-war era, where regulations are lax, proper etiquette is the least of their problems. Avila herself chose to only wear her military boots and pants, staying in just a bra, and leather gloves. She makes sure her handgun and hunting knife are properly attached to her belt, before looking at the APC, making sure it's ready. Then, she climbs on top of the vehicle and looks down at the Eagle Squad members. "Alright guys, here's today's orders. We're on patrol, again! Where? On 47th street. Yes, the poor ass district, again! Yeah, I know it sucks, I'd also much rather be stationed somewhere that doesn't constantly smell like dog shit, but those are the orders, so let's move out. First one to get in the driving seat gets to drive, the rest walk alongside. Let's go." Avila turns and lies on her chest, hands under her chin, on top of the APC, grinning. She liked to make them fight for the somewhat comfortable seat inside the vehicle, since walking all day is a less than desirable alternative. She likes to ride on top, which gives her a nice view of the surroundings. As the large metal doors of the vast garages open, the various squads start heading out into the city as the sun raises in the horizon.(Thebanlieueagain? Hans groans inwardly, and displayed nothing for the El-Tee to give him trouble for. The poor Paris suburbs were hardly known for orderliness since before the war, when poor Arab immigrants constantly rioted, went on strike and set cars on fire like it was the best thing to do in the world. Now, the same Arab immigrants make up most of the demographic of that balloon - they hardly speak French now, thank goodness - and have reverted to chattering away in Arabic. Hans didn't mind having to deal with Arabic-speaking civilians. He spent enough time in the Middle East during the war, guarding the oil supply chain and knew enough operational Arabic to tell them to stay down, shut up, where are you going, where and what is this place, et cetera. Sure enough, his ISP had an automatic translator, but civvies - Arab civvies in particular tend to feel a bit unnerved and spooked when they hear a disembodied voice speaking their tongue in the lilting, singsong tone of a Koran recital. Those rear-echelon people sure had a warped sense of humor when they decided to use the target culture's most sophisticated poet for an accent for their translated languages. German had Goethe, the French'd get Victor Hugo, and if the ISP was to be used to translate some other tongue to English, instead of the disembodied voice, they'd get a well-practiced impersonation of JFK. But that aside, the civvies would appreciate it better if a real person made an effort to communicate with them in their own language instead of some device. That's what he figured. Hans was wearing his proper, full outfit with his load-bearing vest worn tightly around his person, all personal gear stowed proper and his weapon slung close to his side as it should be. The formal military protocol for such thing in the field was there for a reason, for postwar or not, there was always a threat even in the balloon, and he'd rather be the one properly camouflaged and not standing out amongst his mates and be the first to get shot. The only casual adjustment that he allowed himself was to don a baseball hat, front side forward to keep out the sun instead of his helmet. Another godsend that came with the postwar period was just how lax regulations have become when it came to weapons. Military personnel could start purchasing their own weapons again, and to find five years' bonus of wages in his NRF account, he didn't need an excuse to spend it. The old AR-15 platform that a good lot of the NRF was sticking to has become a decrepit piece of crap anyway, and the brand spanking new SCAR II hanging by his side has made him a happy camper now. Light, study, compact, reliable and still with decent stopping power and accuracy with the somewhat new 6.8mm round, it wasn't anything fancy, but it suits his needs just fine. He'd never quite approved of his El-Tee and the way she dressed like that, with her tits hanging out like that. While he quite appreciated the view, it didn't help so much that it was his squadofficerthat dressed that way. Nobody else in the other squads could take Eagle squad seriously because of that - everyone thinks that Eagle squad just goes out for a suntan, have a good circle jerk and then come back to base to sleep like lazy pigs. Saying nothing in response when she gives out the order of the day, he makes no beeline for the driver's seat. He woke up feeling all sore from the crappy bunk mattress anyway, and a walk will do him some good. "Gotcha skipper, your chariot awaits." Sergeant Thompson said, as he hauled himself up into the cab of the APC. Mike Thompson was the oldest soldier in the squad, an 'old hand' from the pre-war British Army's Guards' Division. He settled himself comfortably into the spartan driver's eat of the APC, clipped his L85 bull pup rifle into place, and began to fire up the engine. He then stuck his head out the door. "Did the old man have any special orders for us, lieutenant?" he asked, giving the starter a bit of a kick when it didn't fire properly at first. Mike was a genial looking bloke, his short black hair was constantly slicked back with Brylcreem, and his dark brown eyes sparkled with mirth and bonhomie that seemed out of place in his clean, but very worn, DPM camouflage uniform. Specialist Honda was waiting in her usual place when the Lieutenant arrived, that place being directly to the left of Hans. The man was competent, careful and quiet, all qualities she could appreciate in persons of proximity. Understatement: she wasn't known for small talk at the base. She wasn't really all that known in general, having kept to herself since her transfer to Paris only two weeks earlier. Her taste in field attire didn't help the inquisitive any. It wasn't that she wore an abundance of armor - mostly polymer weaves for lightweight material that would still provide fair protection - it was just the overall coverage that shut down answers and opened speculation. The only skin that wasn't covered by her brown-Grey camouflage fatigues and jacket was her fingers, the index of middle of both hands of her black gloves cut off down to the second knuckle. When she opened the jacket on hot days a plain brown tank top showed underneath, giving up a view of her throat, but above that a combination of visored helmet, darkened broad eye protection and cloth wrap around her jaw and mouth sheltered the rest. She'd have preferred some kind of technological gas protection - just in case - but one had to make do with what one could find. A loose drape of black hair bound with a wrap near her neck fell to just below her shoulders. Hondo didn't bother looking up from the regular maintenance check on her rifle - a Related RFB Target - until their orders were definite, finishing up the last checks and getting it all sorted away by the time Thompson was taking his seat in the APC. She rolled its strap over one shoulder to hang the rifle close in at her back, checked her sidearm - H&K USP tactical - and its detached Bowers suppressor to be sure they were secured, then the same for her two knives at hip and boot. Preparations made, she stepped around Hans and made for their vehicle to take up position at the right rear corner. Avila yawned. It was still very early. Hearing the question, she replied without looking down. "No, Mike. It's the same old bullshit. Let's get this thing rolling. Everyone else, spread around the vehicle, don't go too far so we don't have to go look for you." These patrols usually went in a very similar manner. The group would slowly walk along their designated routes, the soldiers on foot making sure to watch all around the vehicle for anything that needed to be investigated. There was no formal procedure as to how to deal with issues on the street. If a soldier saw something suspicious, and wanted to check it out, they just did it. If they thought it may be dangerous, like some native with a knife, they could ask for more squad members to go with them. All the driver had to do was keep the vehicle moving unless some people fell behind then he'd stop and the squad would wait for them. Really dangerous situations were rare, but they happened. Weapons are strictly prohibited by civilians, but some manage to get them anyway, and there's been known ambushes to happen. A suspicious building would also need to be searched, and caches or hideouts could be found there, where fire fights would break out in rare occasions. Each squad member had a radio for these cases, and so far Eagle Squad hadn't lost anyone in past patrols, coming out with some minor injuries at the most. Avila stayed comfortably on her chest and smiled when the vehicle started vibrating slightly under her from the running engine. "Time to head out!" Hans gave a Honda a brief glance as she passed by him, and followed after her to take his position by the vehicle, passing by her now to stand by the front-right. Glancing back to his shoulder out of sheer habit, he heaves out a sigh of relief to find that his pack didn't have an annoying antenna sticking out. Thank heavens this new ISP had no need for a long antenna that would usually mark him out like a massive bulls-eye painted on his face screaming 'Target'. It was so goddamned annoying to be constantly paranoid about snipers and evading potshots aimed directly at him during the war. The ISP looked like just any other auxiliary utility bag and that was fine by him. Hefting its weight against his shoulders, he pressed against the PTT button on the headset plugged to his left ear as he made the customary report whenever they started a patrol." Delta net-zero, Delta net-zero this is One-Eagle Sierra. Radio check, over."" One-Eagle Sierra, this is Delta net-zero. I hear you strength five, over."" One-Eagle Sierra, we are Oscar Mike to Axis Four-Seven Sierra. Say again, Oscar Mike to Axis Four-Seven Sierra, over."" Delta net-zero, roger. Out." And that was that. Looking over his shoulder once again to give Honda an appraising glance, with the way she held and slung that long rifle, she looked like she knew how to use it. Hans didn't know if he could trust her, but since she was the one watching and covering his back in this formation, he'd have to give her his due respect unless she fucks up. Sierra square, Delta square. Same shit, different day. He hoped that he didn't have to shoot little kids with guns like the last time. The brief period of the squad's preparation to move out was enough for Honda to double-check her gloves, the strap on her goggles, all the little things. This wasn't her line of work; she could adapt as necessary, and it wasn't exactly her first time around the block, but being out in the open on purpose got under her skin. Not that she'd say anything. It just generated those little points of tension, made her posture a little too stiff, and she could feel it. No doubt something similar was present in the others if she were to ask, but that wasn't her way.Instead, she looked for a distraction. Detail - that washer line of work, even the little things. The lack of a visible antenna where there had been one previously, for instance." Some of the others, the soldiers, I heard them making a bet." Her English was fine, though her vowels were a little strong at times, enough to give away her having come to the language a little late for perfection. "They seem to think the new gear, it will not be as good for calling back to headquarters if the women are at the radio." She tugged at her gloves, fitting them tight. "I think it is a foolish bet. The equipment, it does not care who uses it. Why should one thing get more women than another on signal? They do not have different frequencies. I told them this. Maybe when we get back there will be money waiting for me. The radio, it is working, yes?" She speaks?! Well, well, if that wasn't a surprise.... Considering her for a moment with yet another glance over his shoulder, his eyes dart back to the front, constantly surveying the terrain for any potential threat." The radio doesn't discriminate. Maybe they seem to think that the new mikes don't pick up female voices as well, but I can't say about that - haven't tried, really." Hans glances up to the El-Tee riding shotgun atop the vehicle, and the slight, subtle grimace he makes will certainly be picked up by Honda, especially since she's the sort to notice details. He then jabs a thumb at Avila's direction." It's a fucking retarded bet, though. Why would Command issue such equipment that didn't work for women who so happen to be officers? Tell you what - I'll let you do the strep in an hour, and you can send a little P.S. to those idiots, too. And yeah, give me a cut in your money." "You got it, Chief. Moving out!" he called, as with the gears grinding noisily, the APC shuddered into motion. "And away we go! Let's get the lead out, troops!" he called, jollying them along as they left the compound. PFC Lin had been late as usual. While normally this would because for reprimand, writing up a generals' daughter was usually more trouble than it was worth. Running to catch up with the departing APC, covered head to toe in Tactical gear that looked like it weighed more than she did. Despite this however, if one bothered to pay attention, it became apparent she was missing something important. Under the mass of Ballistic Plate carriers, Tactical Ammo Pouches, and Modular webbing, she was mostly naked except for a pair of Lacey pink panties and her standard issue combat boots. This was her idea of a joke, and apparently the reason for her tardiness. Despite it's bulk, modern tactical gear is lighter than it looks, and she managed to catch up to the moving vehicle, making an impressive leap to grab onto it's side and ride out the gate, Blowing a kiss to the confused guards. Once she was safely inside she turned to Avila with a quick grin and a salute, "Private First Class Lin Reporting for Duty Ma'am; Sorry I missed formation, I had to get my gear on, I figured out a great way to reduce weight without sacrificing my loadout!" Lightweight or not, running in that much gear is hard to miss for someone paying attention. Honda quashed the urge to reach for a weapon in looking back - they were on their own territory, after all - but had to check all the same. Irresponsible not to at least make sure some random hostile wasn't running up on them. Oh, her. The specialist shook her head at the sight of Lin racing after them in that questionable attire - oh yes, she noticed those flashes of skin between tactical patches - and turned forward again without even a wave. That one was their balance: someone had to be as undependable as Hans was steady. It was the Law. If she'd been assigned to a squad of all capable soldiers she'd have been on edge waiting for some catastrophic incident to fall and kill them off; perfect units just didn't exist, no matter how small. She'd learned that much. Between Lin's antics and the lieutenant's indifference to safety she thought she was beginning to understand why so many of the other squads' soldiers acted as though what she thought was appropriately methodical behavior for her assigned duty was so strange. They must think we are all whores, that we are not prepared to do what is necessary. About those two women, maybe they were right - she could not tell yet. About herself, however, she knew they were mistaken. They would know this too, in time. She was getting too distracted. The nerves were gone. That theoretical tangent had been enough to give her time to relax and make herself as ready in mind as she was in body. Maybe Lin's childish behavior had some benefit after all. She picked up her step to keep pace with the APC and focused on the job at hand. The rest could wait until their return. Avila noticed Honda's nervousness and gave her a quick glance. "Relax, will you? This isn't a battlefield, it's a freaking patrol. The other squads aren't any better. We're dealing with kids with rocks, and an agitated populate. The war is over, remember?" She shook her head and was about to turn her head back forward when she noticed Lin running up to them. She was carrying a lot, yet was interestingly fairly uncovered. Furthermore, she grinned at the sight and gave her a smile. That alone was enough for her to forget about the PFC's tardiness. "You can put your stuff inside, Lin, but you're walking with the others, sorry." As the squad came up into the street and towards the first road they had to patrol, Avila went back to scanning their surrounding from the top of the APC. Her position may seem ludicrous, and indeed it was clearly not something they thought in military school, but while laying on her chest on top of the vehicle, she had a clear view of their whole surrounding, and wasn't making much of a target from the side. Of course had this been battle, she would make a splendid view from the skies, but that was no concern for them. As the group went through one of the less maintained street, still filled with large piles of junk, partly reconstructed buildings, and burnt out cars, she watched some of the civilians go about their businesses, kids play in the street, and people noticing them and giving them fearful looks, as an oppressed population would be expected to. "For you, perhaps so." Honda slipped the rifle around and into her arms as they left the relative safety of home base and entered the opening yards of their patrol. There were no active targets of course - no one in their right mind would attack an armed and armored patrol the moment it appeared - but it would have been foolish to get caught with her weapon still slung and unable to respond immediately to the appearance of a threat. The road ahead was a mess. Workable, driveable, they had already determined that much on prior passage through the area, but it hardly looked it. Debris lined both sides of the street. Slightly less than the last pass; that was a hopeful sign, wasn't it? Still plenty of chipped wood, broken-off pavement and mortar, occasional metal scraps and slivers, but on the whole the view was a touch clearer than the last time she recalled passing by this part of Paris. Whether that meant the NRF was gathering material for some constructive use or civilians were taking it upon themselves to start to rebuild the little things she couldn't say; either was a positive option in one sense or another. Less optimistic was the recreational activity she could see taking place in the wreckage already cleared out of their path: children taking shelter in the remnants of destroyed car frames to hide from the others trying to find them; older men gathered at a clear space beside a wall, no doubt gambling over cards or dice; a couple seemingly apart from it all, too caught up with each other to care about the bleakness of their surroundings. They couldn't have been much over twenty, if that, the girl younger of the two by at least a year. They stood close, whispering private thoughts; the girl started to laugh, then stopped. Furthermore, they'd noticed the patrol, instantly quashing their romance. When they turned toward the APC Honda could see the burns scarring most of the right side of the girl's face; her partner held her a touch closer and led her away to an open door where they disappeared into its unlit halls. It wasn't the worst she'd scene since the war. Far from it - people could still live here comfortably, if not easily. It had the semblance of what it must have looked like before, or so she assumed. She'd never been to Europe before the blasts. Still it was a troubled place, rough both on the inside and the out. Even as two of the children she'd seen earlier ran closer to the road, huddling behind some of the larger piles of rubble to peek at the NRF patrol, curious about their presence, the others shied away, older children already very much aware of why they were there or, if not why, at least what it meant. They knew what happened around soldiers; they knew to keep their distance. It reminded her of home." War," Honda said, "it has a way of lasting for some people, some more than others." Mike overheard this on the squad Target, and nodded somberly. "It were like this back in the war, when my squad and I passed through towns on the way to the front." he told them. He then felt around in his pockets, and pulled out some sticks of gum that he'd purchased at the PX for this occasion. "Winning hearts and minds is as big a part of war as winning battles. " He said to no one in particular, as he tossed a couple of sticks out the window of the APC at some kids, along with a few kind words. Avila watched the local civilians around as the APC slowly crept forward, with her squad around it. Most people gave them a fearful look, or quickly walked away. Some rare faces showed defiance, or sadness. They all had their own personal story, their own views of the war, and what many considered now to be occupation. What she was looking for however was something more specific. She scrutinized the area for potential problems, for people who looked suspicious. It didn't take long before her sight stopped on a particular girl. She was middle age, probably in her late 30s, wearing baggy pants and a blouse, and she was talking on the phone, not noticing the APC. Civilians with cellphones out in the open weren't common in the poor parts of town, but what really grabbed her attention was when the girl noticed the soldiers, she quickly tried to hide the phone in her pockets then slipped inside a house that Avila knew was abandoned. Whoever she was, she clearly wanted to hide, not because of fear, but because she had something to hide. Avira stood up on the APC and pointed towards the house. "Someone check that girl out, she went in there! Get her phone, she's hiding something. Rest of you keep moving." Jason was huffing it along the APC's right flank, his rifle tucked over one shoulder, a bit of a contrast to the others more readied behaviors. "Just once... I want it to not be hot enough to cook breakfast on the tank." He muttered to himself, using his hat to wipe the sweat from his brow before it could drip down onto his sunglasses, which it did anyway. His uniform jacket was off, bunched up around his waist with just a tan t-shirt over his moderately toned chest, large backpack packed to the brim with his 'lucky' hard hat hanging down off of it, and a patch sewn into his pack reading "Demolitions: If you see me running, try and keep up." His head snapped up at the order from Avila, stopping as he took a moment to bring his weapon to a readied position, looking around for someone to take point to follow her into the building. He was fairly adept as a combatant, but compared to the rest of his unit, he was no Rambo. He did however rake his eyes over the surrounding area. One of the more common tactics for insurgents in this area was to use cell phones as triggering devices for Beds, and that was something he knew how to spot. Private Lin had been goofing around and acting the fool up until now, but at Avila's orders she snapped into action. "I'm on it!" She shouted into her headset, finally something exciting! Raising her gun she set off running towards the building. She had ditched a few of the heavier pouches in the APC, lightening her load considerably. What pieces she still did have on drew a sharp contrast to her own naked flesh, now more visible than ever. An unsettling amalgamation of drab nylon TAC-webbing and soft tanned flesh. Sprinting towards the ruined building with youthful enthusiasm, she closed on her prey like her unit's namesake. As Lin took off, almost naked, Avila couldn't help but chuckle. "Damn fine ass." she commented, not loud enough for Lin to hear, but perhaps people near the APC. Seeing Jason was also meaning to go, she waved at him. "Let Lin get this one, she's a big girl. If she needs you she'll call for backup, that's why we all have radios. Let's keep this thing moving." With that, she lay back on the top of the tank and started scrutinizing the horizon again. Meanwhile inside, the civilian girl had quickly gone to the second floor, hiding the cellphone deep in her pockets, and stood in an empty room, trying to stay as quiet as she could. Jason couldn't help himself from watching Lin as she ran, nearly stopping in his tracks as the mostly-naked girl took off after the target. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Radio..." He said, sounding half-focused for a moment before he shook his head, clearing his thoughts before returning to his position beside the APC, his grip on his rifle more attentive this time around though. He kept his eyes open, reaching up to adjust his headset to make sure he could hear Lin if she needed a hand. "Yo Ell Tee! You know the procedure, I can't pat a divvy down by myself, Tell Spence to get his Lilly ass in here and give me a hand." Lin barked into her radio as she dashed up the stairs, keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of an ambush. Avila rolled her eyes at the radio call. "Good thing this girl got a pretty ass because she can be annoying sometimes. Go help her out I guess." Jason grumbled. "Says the one not even wearing pants." He replied into the radio, nodding to Avila before slipping his heavy pack off and taking a firm grip on his rifle, thumbing the safety off as he jogged into the doorway she'd entered. Hearing the sounds of rushing footsteps on the floor above as he climbed the stairs 30 seconds behind her, eyes alert as he followed her into the room, stepping sideways to keep clear of the doorway as he took up a covering position behind her. "I've got your back." He told her, eyes drifting around the room before settling on her ass. "Take your time... I can keep watch as long as you want." He teased her. Honda shifted left of the APC as the unit's members moved about, filling in on the undermanned flank to make up for Lin's excursion outward. This brought her closer to the children exploring Mike's sweet donation to their neighborhood; she slowed her pace a bit to watch them unwrap and get to enjoying the gum, the one saying something to the other that prompted laughter from both. It was reassuring to see the results of the NRF not involving violence when it happened." The radio has to be carried. As much as she was wearing, are we sure Lin took one in with her?" The specialist gave a short whistle to draw the children's attention while she walked, gesturing for them to move farther away. It wasn't a hostile movement, but considering that, to their eyes, it was not a young woman but a masked soldier giving the order, it managed to take some of the spring out of their step anyway. Chastised, they soon rejoined the rest of the children farther from the road, occasionally glancing back at the patrol with cautious interest. "Where she a more professional soldier I would not feel inclined to question it, but she is not, and so I do." As if on cue the reply came back across their channel. Well, that settled that then. If the sapper was going along on the rabbit hunt she'd have to keep in closer; couldn't afford to get to spread out as well as split up. She picked up the pace again to move alongside the left of the APC, up from the rear bumper. Suez reached the top of the stairs, Kicking open the door and slicing the pie, swat style as she entered. "FREEZE! NRF!" The civilian girl looked stunned at the strangely dressed girl that barged in. After a moment however, she pointed at her angrily. "Hey, this is my home! You can't come in like that! I haven't done anything!" She seemed more nervous than pissed off however, and the sudden entrance had done its job making her uneasy. She kept looking around the small empty room, which without any furniture or anything that looked like someone actually lived her, couldn't possibly be her home. Still, the civilian seemed unwilling to give any ground, standing against the back wall, as far away from Lin as she could. Jason hurried in behind Lin, his weapon sweeping the room before taking up position behind and to the left of Lin, letting her cover the target and keeping his weapon and eyes searching for any threats in the room. "This home? Like what you've done with the place." He commented, eying the girl for a moment, checking this room for any sign of a trap, like an ambush or a bomb. "Go ahead and check her, I got you covered." He told Lin, a bit more serious this time, keeping his eyes off her ass. For the most part. "I said FREEZE BITCH! Put your hands on your head and turn around! The commander wants to see that phone you were using!" Suez spits at the woman. A half chuckle in her voice. The civilian winces at the spit, protesting ah "Hey!" but still complies, seeing she doesn't have much of a choice. She turns around and puts her hands on the wall, but that doesn't prevent her from still running her mouth off. "Fucking NRF thinking themselves so high and mighty, I wish you would all rot and die..." Under her comments however, she is clearly nervous, probably not wishing Lin to find the phone. Quote from: elf guy on 24-11-2010, 10:16:25The civilian winces at the spit, protesting ah "Hey!" but still complies, seeing she doesn't have much of a choice. She turns around and puts her hands on the wall, but that doesn't prevent her from still running her mouth off. "Fucking NRF thinking themselves so high and mighty, I wish you would all rot and die..." Under her comments however, she is clearly nervous, probably not wishing Lin to find the phone.*CLINK* The woman quickly finds herself handcuffed to a water pipe as Pvt Lin began to pat her down. Or maybe that's too kind a word? Grope was more like it. Lin paid a disproportionate amount of attention to the chest, and inner thighs, and as she whispered into her captive's ear, it became apparent that she was enjoying every moment of it. "Wish all you want, sister." Jason finished his check of the empty room, and turned his attention back to the two women just in time to watch Lin start to search her. He chuckled, leaning against the wall beside the girl, his weapon still trained on her. "Don't mind me. I like to watch." He chuckled, rather enjoying the show he was getting. The girl wasn't unattractive which certainly helped. But Lin was the one who drew most of his gaze. "When you find it toss it here, I'll check it out." He told her. As Lin starts to pat her down, the civilian makes a grimace. "Pfft, at least make him do it." She clearly was not enjoying the pat down as much as Lin was. Her breasts were quite large, and her tight blouse made them easy to pat down and touch. Her pants however were baggy and protected the girl more, which she seemed thankful for. However, the cellphone was not hard to find, being in one of her pants pockets. She sighed heavily when Lin found it, and quietly asked "Please. You have what you wanted. Let me go." She was clearly eager to get out from the army girl's touch.Meanwhile, back at the APC, Avila watched the exchange between Honda and the kids, and she shook her head. "Don't be nice with those kids, they are a pest on these streets. All thieves, every one of them." "Him? But that would be sexual abuse!" Suez joked, tossing the phone to her comrade." Now, let's see what else you got hidden." The private smirked as she quickly yanked down the woman's pants. "Exactly. We need to keep this all legal and above the table at all times." He confirmed, nodding sagely before catching the tossed phone. He opened it up quickly, scanning it for any obvious tampering before pulling the battery cover and the battery out to check beneath them, as well as the SIM card. "Looks clean." He said, finding nothing out of the ordinary. He had just looked up to watch Lin pull the girls pants down, quirking one eyebrow, but making no sign of stopping her. As the girl's pants were brought down, she made an audible gasp. She tried to push herself more against the wall, but with her hands cuffed she couldn't do much. She was used to the abuse that many NRF soldiers did on the local population, so she wasn't that unaccustomed to it, although it was the first time another girl showed interest in her. Furthermore, she blushed and looked down, trying to remain calm, but unable to hide her unease. Her own body was slightly stimulated by Lin's touch, but she clearly wanted to be elsewhere at that point. Thompson leaned out of the cab of the APC. "C'mon boss, where's the harm in a bit of kindness, eh? Back when I was a squad die, our Sergeant once said that 'The Child is the father of the man'." he quoted from memory. "I can't see the harm in being nice to the kiddies of today, if it means they don't grow up to be the terrorists of tomorrow." Suez tossed the pants back towards Jason and began to work on the top, Flicking her folding knife open with one hand she ran the blade down her back, taking care not to press so hard that she would cut the skin, but rather slice through the blouse and Bra Strap in a single sweep. Jason ducked the pants as they were tossed at him, letting them fall to the ground somewhere beside him as he slipped the pieces of the girls' cell phone into a drop pouch on his belt. "If you need some time alone, I can cover you from the hall." He said to Lin, not sure what exactly she was planning, but didn't really want to miss any of it regardless. His eyes took in the sight of the girl, watching her be stripped down by a nearly-as-naked soldier. The girl gasped once more when she felt her blouse and bra being cut from behind, and then sliding off, leaving her with nothing but her panties on. It was clear where Lin was heading with that, and she hated her for it. She turned around, and spit at her. "Fucking whore!" She got the courage to say those words but not much more, as it was clear nothing she could do would let her free. Meanwhile at the APC, Avila heard Thompson and laughed at the comment. "Haha, are you kidding me? That's some bullshit there. I bet I could go to them and throw mud at their faces, and all it will do is scare them away. They can't stop me. Then next time, what will happen? They can't do shit to us. But maybe they'll hide in their houses which would surely help clean the street of little vandals." Quote from: elf guy on 24-11-2010, 10:28:55Meanwhile back at the APC, Avila watched the exchange between Honda and the kids, and she shook her head. "Don't be nice with those kids, they are a pest on these streets. All thieves, every one of them."" And what are we if not thieves, lieutenant? Do you own that building we currently call home? Or any of these others, the ones we will no doubt be entering at one time or another as if they were our own? Perhaps what is done here is necessary; that does not make us better than these people. Besides, as the sergeant says, good will rarely comes back to harm you later, compared to bad. Go ahead and throw your mud. I will not be surprised if the next time around one of these has a grenade to gift back to us for it." It wasn't a hostile lecture, a more indifferent observation, all spoken in the same placid tone she usually maintained. Just the facts of the situation as she saw them. When Lin's "search" started getting frisky Honda reached up and deactivated her link to the private's comm. She didn't need to hear that. "I wonder if the general is aware of his daughter's destructive appetites." Quote from: elf guy on 24-11-2010, 11:16:57The girl gasped once more when she felt her blouse and bra being cut from behind, and then sliding off, leaving her with nothing but her panties on. It was clear where Lin was heading with that, and she hated her for it. She turned around, and spit at her. "Fucking whore!" She got the courage to say those words but not much more, as it was clear nothing she could do would let her free." Quiet bitch." Suez smirked, Grabbing the girl's face and holding her mouth open with one hand, Staring into it with her headlamp. With her other hand she slipped her knife into the woman's panties, Slicing them open without cutting the flesh, and tearing them off. Satisfied with her inspection of the woman's mouth, she gave it a quick smooch and stuffed the ruined wad of Undies and shoved them into her mouth as an impromptu gag. Jason had shifted his rifle to his back, moving around to the other side of the two ladies to get a better view of the action. He kept quiet, and while he didn't think he'd be acting the same way as Suez was now, he couldn't say he wasn't enjoying the scene unfolding before him. The girl started to protest as her panties was sliced open, but was quickly silenced by the gag. She felt humiliated, but decided not to protest anymore, hoping that this would just be over soon. Back at the APC, Avila simply shook her head. She was a very practical officer, but also a ruthless one, who thought that the NRF knew best for the people. It made no sense to her that kindness should be offered to people who didn't earn it, and for her, if kids really did bring grenades out in the street, that would just make them legitimate targets. Picking up his radio, Mike got on the TA CNET. "Spence, report; what's the situation? Have you found out what that girl was up to? Over." he asked, as he brushed his hair back out from where it had come out under his beret He then gently ran his finger over the magazine of his L85, to make sure it was still securely in place. Jason all but jumped out of his boots when the radio went off in his ear, swearing quietly to himself he reached up to hit the open switch. "Uhh, not yet Mike. Lin is still.... Umm, checking her for weapons." He replied, releasing the comm switch on his radio, eyes still on the scene before him. "Almost done, Just gotta cavity search this bitch." Suez snarked as she rubbed her hands down the side of the woman's body, pausing to squeeze the breasts, twisting the nipples with her fingers. Pausing to lick her fingertips, she giggled for a moment before diving for the woman's sex. Spreading the ass cheeks and Labia with her index and ring, she slid the wet middle finger into the moist cunt. Paris. A place once full of lovers and artists. There was a time he had come to like it here when it still sparkled and gleamed with its unique European flair. All the jolly happy smiles, chirpy romantic language, ancient fine wine, expensive designer clothes, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, those many castles and bits of history that laid about. There was a time he had come to really like this place, but that was long time ago. A very long time ago. Much of all that he once knew about the beautiful, peaceful and lively city laid in ruins just that one decade ago. A decade seemed like a long time, considering how reconstruction was coming along, but to him, time went by like open flames burning through a tragic poem. Both the words and the fire hurt with every passing second of its remaining existence, withering away into shrivelled mess, and what he sees and experiences now in the aftermath are but its ashes in the wind; a place much like that one other time when the country suffered a similar time of catastrophic loss and recovery. The particular despot responsible must be turning in his grave right about now, dreaming of past glories from etched memories of a Nazi Germany that ruled the whole of Europe in one point of history. If Dennis Riggs were to put into context of what was happening now with what happened then in the 1940s, did that mean that the new government responsible for the whole pointless Third World War was such replacement for the Nazis? Was this how the country would have looked like if Nazi Germany had won the Second World War, a place that festered with such decay and poverty, only in the light of more modern standards? The very cobblestones, broken asphalt, dirt and junk that he now threaded held such background that told him much of what that era may have looked like, a near desolate place riddled with fear, anxiety and sadness, a place where hatred took into the deepest roots. Why he was thinking so deeply so early in the morning he really didn't know. Maybe he related to the semi repaired states of destruction he sees around him. Maybe he was already bored with trailing behind his squad and their APC, as the veteran from New York who brought up the rear. He chose to be stuck back here, the most antisocial placing of the formation, the only one who stayed behind and watched their backs, for anything they might have missed while they continued on this patrol. He chose to quietly keep himself away, from getting too close to his squad mates yet still watching them as comrades do. It was more trained for him to do so than him being anywhere near the nice and fluffy type to volunteer. He was packed light, full, clean combat fatigues with some light amounts of armor, unlike a lot of the soldiers who go out on patrol these days, and was real quick in his step. Wherever he was needed, he'll be there in less than a few ticks if approaching from the rear, which included going off-road if need be. He had to admit that he would never be as fast as some of the RAF and SAS servicemen whom he trained with back in Operation Thanks Giving, but his scores were exceptional nonetheless, so much so he surprised a number of instructors during his refresher course. The looks on their faces still hung in his head. Even with such a funny thought, it didn't help to cheer his dark mood. He always had this poker face beneath his red Barrett, the look of a real mean asshole one may not want to mess with, an ice-cold stare that freezes Hell over with a glance, the reason behind his nickname as 'Iceberg', and a posture tall and imposing upon any who gazes upon him. It wasn't pride at work there. He just always seems pissed off at one thing or another, which in this case was towards the fact that he really didn't like the civilians wondering around them at all, and he very much doesn't show any other type of emotion save for the scowling and the frowning he was so renown to make. He was not one to talk much either, unless he really had to, was ordered to or was in the process of blowing off his top. In his hands rested his AR15. At his hip, his S&W. On his person, various tools and items used for assault recon and rapid deployment. He preferred to travel really light and some might even say he was old school insane, since he didn't sport many advanced electronics on him. It was a matter of choice that he trusted his instinct and judgements more than advanced equipment, honed by cheating death way too many times, and it had helped him get this far without getting killed, only a few times wounded and never mortally. It had its great advantages. He simply couldn't stand being bogged down by unnecessary weight where he could move his fullest with only flexible light armor as protection. He felt that he would be able to serve his squad better this way, and that was his objective. Besides, a number of his squad mates seemed as lax as he was. That Private Lin especially was hardly wearing anything at all. Not that he cared much. Only noticed when he silently joined the patrol back at base. The civilian girl kept quiet as Lin groped and probed her. There was nothing she could say or that would change anything. She was getting rudely abused, humiliated before another soldier, and it wasn't the first time either. She stayed as motionless as she could, hoping, wishing it would be over soon. Meanwhile at the APC, Avila had gone back to scrutinizing the surroundings. She wasn't really paying attention to the squad members, instead something had caught her attention. From her higher up position on top of the vehicle, she had caught sight of something. She stood up and looked at the buildings along the street, then she saw it, just in time. "INCOMING!!" she screamed, then jumped down to the ground, just as an improvised projectile came towards them. The metal object crashed into the side of the APC, shaking the vehicle rudely. The explosion was small, as the projectile had a very small quantity of powder left in it, but the metal casing broke, sending pieces all around that side. She looked over the front of the APC, to the window where that thing came from, and saw two heads, two men who were hastily taking off. She then looked back at the vehicle and yelled "Everyone alright?" The vague sense of motion drew Honda's view up from the noncombatants on the ground to the windows of the building behind them, observing a bit of commotion in one of the openings. A scrap over some food, maybe, or some other brawl starting up; it wouldn't be the first time they'd been witness to a scuffle amongst the locals. ... Wait. Was that? The lieutenant's yell confirmed it. Hondo turned and brought her left arm up, protecting the least protected part of her body with the slightly better armored sleeve of her jacket as a spray of metal washed across the side of the APC. A few pieces pelted her side in the aftermath of impact, but the lack of force made it a minor concern, not even penetrating the material; she'd probably have some bruises to show for it later, but bruises were nothing. They certainly weren't going to be enough to slow down her response. The moment after the shell landed she was off, vaulting a short stack of rubble pushed out of the street to head for the source of the attack. Range might have been preferable, but they had the advantage of cover in that building. No point in trying to scope out locals hiding on their own ground; they probably knew at least six ways to get out of there without being seen from the street. If you want to catch up to rats in their nest, you have to go in after them. Into her headset she simply said, "Pursuing," then went silent, conserving breath for speed and sound for observation. The group she had been watching - five or six men, all seemingly unarmed - ushered themselves out of her way as she made for the building's double doors. She spared them a quick look after passing by, just confirming no one was planning to draw on her back, then kicked in the left of the two doors and slammed it to the wall, crouching low with her back to it and scanning the interior, rifle up and ready. Avila was looking at her squad members when she saw one of them sprint for the building. "Honda! God dammit don't rush in there alone!" She sighed, then started running after her, turning back to yell at the others still near the APC. "The rest of you, stay here, make sure no one is injured, and keep the street secure!" She ran through the doors too, her hand on her belt holster, looking around, stopping right next to Honda. Suddenly, she heard footsteps from above a wooden staircase. "Up there!" she said quietly to the other girl. "Copy that boss!" Mike Thompson said, pulling on his helmet and unclipping his L85 from its' stand. "Squad, base of fire, this position!" he shouted, as he ducked back to take control of the roof-mounted autocannon. He swung it to and fro, attempting to ascertain where the shot had come from. Dennis had noticed the Lieutenant stand atop her perch on the APC and knew instantly that something wasn't right. When she yelled, he flew into action, ducking behind the nearest cover that was closest to him, a burnt out hatchback car. The shrapnel of the object showered the messed up vehicle, pinging off the rusted burnt surface like fireworks on a New Year's Day, frightening to some who would be so close to being torn apart. Dennis, however, remained cool, his rifle at ready, his body in combat stance and once the explosion had settled, he stood, rifle training up towards the determined source, safety off, eyeing the panicked scattering civilians around him." Giggs still kicking, ma'am!" He called out in response to the Lt's sound off. He had actually sawed the object approaching the split second it came at them. It had little effect on the hardened armored hull surface but anyone who could be standing near it might not have survived unscathed, no matter how small the explosive. Honda was lucky to have her armor, he thought. Shrapnel was the real silent killer of battlefields. If one didn't take that to heart, one is as good as dead. Fortunately, he saw none of his squads mates on the ground, a sense of relief and intense anger washing over him at the same time." Roger! Holding position!" He answered to the Lt's order, then to the Sergeant's after, "Affirmative! Hunkering down!" He held his position as ordered, turning and swiveling around to cover his designated fire position in the rear. Whoever had the gall to toss an IED at a fully armed NRF APC would surely be trying to take advantage of the confusion. Sure enough, he spotted movement and the gleam of weapons in a nearby alley." Contact! 11 o'clock!" He shouted. Opening fire, Dennis sent a three round burst into the alleyway. A short scream of pain, a masked lifeless body fell to the floor, partially visible. What looked like an antique Kalashnikov clattered onto the street. When he saw his target was down, he was back to scanning for more hostiles, expecting more to come their way. He especially concentrated on the windows behind them, having a very bad feeling that the purpose of the IED was to stop them right here in the middle of the street, exposed and confused, so that they could take them from where they couldn't see. He looked at each window, looking for any sign of a weapon trained at them, the barrel of a sniper rifle, a hand grenade, anything! Furthermore, he especially concentrated on looking for RPGs, eyes open to try to spot any round and stubby explosive device aimed at them. Jason was just beginning to relax against the far wall when he heard the loud thump outside the building, followed by the urgent chatter coming from his radio as his squad took cover. "Bitch. If you had anything to do with this, I'll be back here to kick the living shit out of you." He told her, motioning to the cuffs that held her to the radiator against the wall. With a last glance at Lin to see if she was coming with him or not he turned around and ducked out the door they'd come back from. A few seconds and the sound of gunfire later he was back, rolling into the room and dodging a couple of shots that whizzed through the doorway behind him as he took cover against the door frame. "Stairs are out of order. Someone spilled a bucket of insurgents all over the landing." He told the girls, ducking back as two more shots grazed the door frame. "Got a mop handy Suez?" Honda simply nodded once; the noise wasn't even trying to be subtle, no doubt the result of escape rather than ambush. Of course, it could just as easily have been bait. One never could be sure. On the plus side, these buildings weren't reinforced. Accuracy was impossible this way, but it could sound out intentions. She indicated for Avila to move toward the stairs while she herself took aim upward, tracing the sound of footsteps until she was as near underneath it as she could discern, then moved a few steps the way they'd come. She turned, gauged the general area, fired one shot up through the ceiling into the sounds of movement, and immediately shifted away to make for the stairs herself. After all, if their upstairs neighbors were armed they'd likely make some attempt to return her salutation, an effort that would, with any luck, expend a fair amount of their ammunition on redecorating the floor. It was an odd method of recon, perhaps, but sometimes odd worked for her. It wasn't as if she was dispelling the element of surprise anyway - they'd never had that on their side. Avila went up the stairs quietly and came up to the first floor, pulling her handgun from her holster and pointing it in front of her, looking around at the deserted area at the top of the stairs. She heard more noise come from the hallway on the right when Honda fired through the floor, and she quickly walked up that way, until she reached a door where she could see light from the other side. There was clearly someone there. She pushed the door open in one swift motion with her shoulder and pointed her gun. "No one move!" But before she could even finish the sentence, a fist connected with her exposed abs, coming from one of the guys who had been hiding right behind the door. It took her by surprise and Avila was forced to drop her gun to the floor. Fortunately, the Lieutenant had a fairly fit body, and she recovered quickly from the shock. Going on the offensive, she punched at the fairly tall guy, wearing rags for the most part. He didn't seem armed, except for what looked like a rusty RPG leaning against the wall, most likely what they had used to attack the APC, so Avila was still confident she was in control of the situation. Connecting with his cheek, the man grunted as she went for a second hit, this time straight for his chest. The civilian wasn't used to close melee combat, as that hit sent his back to the wall. Avila then went up to him, using her weight to pin him against the wall, with her forearm against his neck. "You think you're tough, fucker?!" As only response, he spit in her face, then struggled, trying to get free from her hold. Meanwhile, the other man heard the commotion, and decided to turn around and go help his partner. He quickly walked through the second floor, hoping to get there before being spotted by any other NRF soldiers already in the building... The sounding shot had put Honda a few seconds behind her lieutenant - not a vast distance to catch up, but time is time. She reached the top of the stairs quick enough to see Avila disappear around the door frame cursing at someone. No sound of gun play. If the woman had time to curse she couldn't have been in that much trouble, so Honda paused at the second floor landing to check the far end of the hall first, then up toward the open door again, making out the oncoming figure of their second subject. Brace, breathe, fire. Nothing fancy, just a center-mass shot. Let the others worry about interrogation, torture, "getting their jollies," whatever they felt like calling if it was always the same. That wasn't what she was here to do. The second man dropped and gurgled, clutching his chest with a slow hand, spat fluid onto the floor. He would not be getting up. Hondo turned smoothly to check the other end of the hall again, waited a breath, turned and advanced into the room with Avila and her new friend scuffling about. She was in no hurry - the lieutenant had proven capable in close quarters, she wasn't concerned about the woman's welfare. She stopped just inside the room to look over the pair of them fighting for a moment, then continued on to check her own target who had by that point stopped moving aside from his ever-increasing struggle to breathe. And yet he seemed to be speaking. No, transmission. There was static intermittent in the message. She set her boot on his shoulder and shoved him over to expose the blood-spattered handset attached to his belt. Nice thing about lower level technology was its durability sometimes. This thing barely looked a step above a walkie-talkie. Pvt Lin turned from the girl, listening to the commotion over her headset. "What's going on out there? Where do you need us?" Separated. Distracted. Confused. That was what the squad's state is in right now, so he thought. How he wished the LT was around to rally the squad and push these assholes back! Either her or the Sarge, whom he was waiting for some sort of plan to get them out of this shit they had just walked into. Targets were crawling out of the woodwork, at least a dozen of them in total, dug in at hiding spots both up and down the road, the full-blown ambush in effect. They were waiting for them, like the wolves they were. None of them seemed very trained, but they had tactical advantage right now, the element of surprise. The APC and the rest of the soldiers left to protect it were caught in the middle of the fire fight." Recieving small arms fire from north and south approach! We're being Piccard!" He shouted into his radio, to anyone in particular, ducking as a shot pinged off the metal husk of his cover, popping out again to fire off a few shots, "Hell of a lot of bullets out here!" After another hailstorm of pelting from AKS and other automatic weapons, he had a very bad feeling that his cover was not enough to protect him. Dashing away from the blackened car, he instead took cover in an alleyway, ducking between the narrow walls just as more poorly aimed bullets pelted against them. Dust and bits of stone flew everywhere. He was almost grazed by that opportunity attack. They were spraying their ammunition like the 4th of July! Wastefully unprofessional but still effective if any of the rounds were to hit. Dennis had to consider himself very lucky to not be bleeding right now. Kudos to French architecture even in this time and age. Now that he was in better cover, he could finally observe fully the situation in relative safety. As he was trained to do, he started to relaying his visual recon, peering around the street, keeping out of sight as much as possible. He still had to shout into his radio receiver over the din of combat, "Twelve assholes confirmed! Dug in! Two south side! Three up street!" He paused to look upward at the rooftops. Sure enough, he spotted more of them up there, "Four in windows! Three on rooftops! Widespread! All targets armed with autos!" He was still looking out for an RPG. If he ever saw one out there, he would consider the bastard using it as the highest priority. However, there was too much firepower to risk taking ongoing building to building. That and he had orders to stay with the APC. If that was what the LT wanted him to do, that was what he was going to do. The autocannon on the roof of the APC turned, and began to chew up the street with a mechanical roar. "Squad, move up to flank them!" Mike shouted on the TA CNET. "And someone get in here to take over this bloody gun!" Avila punched the guy's face. "Fucking ass! Don't you spit on me!" The guy struggled again, and managed to get a hand free, but was kept on the wall by Avila using all her body to keep him locked against the wall. As they struggled, the man sent many vulgar comments in French at Avila, which thankfully couldn't comprehend most of them. But he also tried to get his hand around the Lieutenant's waist, trying to get to her belt holster. As he reached in however, he realized that her handgun was still on the ground. Avira saw what he was up to, and grinned. "No luck for you today! Now talk, who do you work for, how did you get that rocket launcher?!" The man sighed, seemingly resigning himself. "Rebellion give rocket launcher. France rebel movement! NRF fall against the rebels!" He spoke in broken English, but his meaning was clear. Avila frowned, and punched him in the chest. "Rebels?! What rebels? We crushed the rebels years ago. Is there a new movement?" But before he could answer, they heard a large explosion as another rocket had gone off into the street, hitting the APC much harder than the previous one, overturning the vehicle. Before Avila could contact anyone to try and find out what had happened however, the building shook from the explosion, and she lost her grip on him. The man took the advantage and pushed the girl on the ground, jumping on top of her and pinning Avila down. Despite the sound of continuing commotion behind her Honda let the low-tech radio act as the focus of her attention for the moment, crouching beside the new corpse to pull the box from his belt and hold it up to listen more closely. Static and garbled shouting at first, obviously part of some larger excitable entity, not on par with NRF's organization or discipline but possibly with greater manpower, at least in the immediate area. More than a few locals acting out at any rate. It took her some time to sort out the language being thrown back and forth; she was more familiar with the languages of her home region, but a few Europeans were practically necessary for any sort of prolonged infiltration work in the area. French wasn't one of her strongest, but it was passable enough."""""""" Ah. That probably made Jerome her fresh cadaver. If they had the ability to change frequencies they'd likely do it soon if they realized one of their radio men was down, so Honda decided to make what she could have the brief window remaining. In intelligible, though heavily accented, French, she said, ""Outside, the shockwave from another blast. Honda waited out the impact and hooked the hand radio onto her vest while she waited for the insurgents to formulate a response. The window wouldn't be safe yet; especially after her call-out they would know where she was, and the lieutenant - they knew where their Jerome had been set up, after all. Oh, the lieutenant. Honda pivoted in her kneeling position to examine the melee and raised her rifle again upon seeing Avila's opponent get the upper hand. And paused.NRF doctrine on conflict within the organization: violence would not be tolerated. Some were treated more lightly than others depending on value and circumstances surrounding a given incident, but direct conflict was not to be permitted. Indirect, on the other hand, well...who's to say who is to blame for such things? Honda lowered her rifle, studying the fight between Avila and the man over her. Neither appeared to be armed from where she was watching and Avila was a capable close combatant. She would likely come out on top in the end. Honda could justify thinking as much if she were asked. Why, then, would she waste a bullet on a fight she could depend on turning out in their favor anyway? Let's see how well Avila's choice in uniform works out for her, she thought, silently slipping up the hall and farther away into the building, leaving the lieutenant behind with the rebel pinning her to the floor. She kept to a low crouch, moving just under the window frames lining the hall and rounding a corner to the left, trying to track down the source of the second rocket by what she could see of its impact on the street in brief glances up every third or fourth window she passed, piecing together an overall layout of the tumult on the ground. She just had to find a good firing position, that was all. Just one good perch...there, a blasted-out section of the roof half-concealed an attic space in their building. If she could find a way up there she'd have as much of a view as she needed. The unit would have to take care of itself until then. Dennis was about to respond to the new order. Flanking was part of his specialty. Being so lightweight and quick on his feet from all the training he had in the past, it was one of the most suitable tactical maneuvers for him to perform, either alone or with a squad of equally fast deploying squad mates. Seeing that he was in the position to get going on the Sergeant's order, he took a few quick steps further into the alleyway. The city's winding back routes would be the perfect way to slip right past the perimeter and take their assailants by surprise. He tapped onto his radio, about to speak confirmation of the order when the RPG came whistling in. An instinctual sense of dread washed over him within the seconds of hearing that sound. That brief moment of accepting his new combat orders had distracted his focus to not notice the launcher! When the projectile made contact, the force of the explosion threw Dennis off his feet to land face first onto the cobblestoned ground, showered in dust and pebbles, having turned his back and his focus more on moving up and around the enemy. Scrambling back up onto his feet, his head snapped around to peer through the dust cloud as it dissipated from the gust of wind. The side of the APC was now on top of the burnt out car that he was using as cover moments before. A shiver ran up his spine. If he had stayed where he was, he would've been crushed by tons of steel. The brief sense of revelation then turned into one of great urgency. The Sergeant was still in there!" Covering fire!" He shouted out loud. Thinking on his feet, the safety of his comrade came first. He was not about to leave a distressed squad mate to certain doom. Instead of continuing on to his objective, he whipped around and dashed street side once more, dodging more automatic weapon fire, responding every few steps of the way with three round bursts. Once he was close, he pressed himself against the ruined tank, its topside facing him. Dropping his rifle to hang by his harness, his hands stretched out to grab onto the outside end of the cover that kept the inside safe. The blast had loosened it for him to be able to easily pry it open, but it had done its job and protected the inside. Using the armored cover as a shield, he reached in and grabbed onto the harness of the unconscious Sergeant inside. With a sharp tug, he pulled him out of the wreck, onto the street and into the alleyway as fast as he could, into relative if only temporary safety. Once he knew they were out of the line of fire, he pulled up his superior officer to lie up against the wall, half seated and half resting on a pile of boxes. At the same time, he looked him over for any wounds sustained from the blast." Sarge! Mike! You'd better be alive!" He shouted over the din of heavy combat, attempting to wake him up. His hands had returned to handling his rifle, covering both sides of the street in case their attackers came after them. Of all the squad mates he knew, Mike Thompson was the one he identified most as similar to what he was, an oldie vet amongst the young ones. He was a good guy with lots of combat experience, probably as much as Dennis. He heard a lot about how he performed with the British Grenadier Guards and respected him for being able to survive this long. Furthermore, he had never real socialized with the man before and had never tried. Furthermore, he only knew him as the other guy who genuinely knew what the War was like. The Sergeant groaned a bit as he came to, before shaking his head and getting his head back in the game. "What's the situation?" he ordered, as he double-checked his L85 and his body armor, before kneeling down next to Dennis, and checking the surrounding zone. Jason slammed the door to the room closed, and shoved some of the remains of broken furniture against it to make some kind of barricade before turning around, grabbing the butt of his rifle and smashing out the window overlooking the street below. The sound of the engagement was clear, both from the street and the flurry of activity on his radio. "I can cover you guys from up here! Just don't take too long to get back and get me out, huh?" He called into the radio, shouldering his weapon and squeezing off a pair of bursts into the windows across the street. The time Suez had spent with their prisoner actually worked to their advantage, the APC and rest of the squad had moved to the end of the block, so Jason and her were pretty much on top of the ambush itself, which setup their attackers in what was almost a crossfire. Forcing them deeper into cover would let those pinned down by the APC to get into better positions to fight back. He glanced down the street, longingly at the backpack he'd left hanging on a hook from the vehicle. He could really use some explosives right about now." They're pinned! Move!" He called to the rest of his squad, and motioned to Suez to take the other window to cover them as well. Suez nodded and pulled back the charging handle on her m4, letting it slam forward and chambering the first of one hundred rounds. She had gotten this Beta-C mag on mail order and was eager try it out. "Let's light em up!" She snarked to Jason before opening fire. Avila was pinned to the ground under the rebel man. She tried to reach for her handgun, but it was still on the ground, out of range. The man slapped her on the face and gloated "You're mine now, army bitch!" He reached down, and pulled her top right off, throwing the bra to the side and exposing her breasts. Lust could be seen in his eyes as he looked at her. The Lieutenant was fairly fit and strong enough, but pinned down below a bigger man proved to be quite a disadvantage. She grabbed his arm and tried to unbalance him in order to get back on top. She wasn't too concerned about being exposed to him, but she knew she couldn't allow him to keep control, or she would be in deep trouble. As she struggled with the man's arm, she finally managed to push him off her chest and free both her arms, but the rebel came back on the offensive by grabbing her by the pants, and pulling them down, clearly intending to get her naked and vulnerable. He succeeded in getting her pants and boots off, down to just her panties, but Avila saw an opportunity and kicked at his leg just as he was still in range. She got him right in the knee, and he was forced to crouch, bringing both hands to his hurt knee and screaming in pain. Avila jumped back up and dived for her gun, managing to grab it just as the man started to recover. She turned around, aimed at his chest and fired. The man dropped to the ground. She walked up to him and spit on his lifeless corpse. Hearing the commotion outside however, she bent down and grabbed her radio from the ground, then rushed to the window, still wearing nothing but her panties. She watched the street as she called out in the radio "This is Avila! What's going on out there?!" "Everything's gone FUBAR." Dennis responded to Mike, and also into his radio unexpectedly, his eyes still scanning the narrow alleyway he had just pulled him into. "Hostiles are all around us. Last count on the street was ten remaining. Two confirmed dead. Current locations now unknown. Damn assholes took out the tank-" He motioned to the wreck of an APC tipped over on top of a car, "-and we're all over the place." He didn't know exactly where everyone was. The LT and Honda were somewhere in a building, same goes for Jason and Suez in another building. Mike and Dennis were here on the street, in a back alley that didn't look very easy to defend. It looked like everyone had split into pairs, which is in itself good despite it being a negative situation. Pairs were better than solo. Always better for someone to watch your back in a combat situation like this. Now would be the perfect time to coordinate and counter-attack. He hoped the LT was listening to his recon and sit-rep. A tactical scenario quickly built upon itself in his head. He knew generally where everyone was. If the LT, Honda, Jason and Suez could draw fire from the windows of their buildings, relay the locations of all possible hostiles targeting them, he and Mike could try to flank them and take them out while they were busy shooting back." They're pinned! Move!" He heard the crackle of Jason's voice over the radio and the rapid fire of weaponry somewhere on the street. It was a sign from God. He turned to look at Mike, a dark piercing look in his eyes, a blank, cold and unfeeling stare that bordered psychological instability, "Shall we go hunting, Sarge?" I should be in the med-bay!was the only thought running through Joel's head as he headed out into the streets, scanning the area for targets. He kept nearing the buildings that lined the streets, his sheath wrapped around his head to hide his face from onlookers, trying to keep his pace as the fire in the distance seemed to grow. Less than ten minutes ago, Jester had been in the med-bay of the NRF HQ, looking over his patients while chatting with a few of the doctors about and a general about his placement on a team. It was amazing how opposed the brass was to putting a medic in the field under the current state of things, or at least him in particular. He had combat experience, and he also had training in field medicine, and yet they still wouldn't assign him to any team officially. In the middle of the muffled shouting match, the group was interrupted with the sound of an explosion, which wasn't as rare as one would expect, and then gunfire. The fire in the distance was the biggest indicator that something was off. And now Joel found himself running in a pair of jeans, a tee shirt, and full combat gear towards gunfire. "I went wrong somewhere in my life, I just know it!" he shouted. He didn't stop running until he could see just where the fire was coming from, ducking behind a car for cover. "This is Color Sergeant Riley. Where is everyone? What squad is out there?" he called out over the comms, his C8 up, aimed at the nearest tango. "If anyone can hear me, respond. I'm a medic. Someone give me a damn order!" he added, tapping his radio to make sure if it's working. He'd be lucky if someone was alive enough to answer, and he'd be damned if he would let someone who was still breathing die out here. "You know the drill for this, Iceberg, bounding advance between positions of cover." Mike said, before getting on the radio to the new contact. "This is Eagle Squad, Sergeant Thompson. We're pinned down by unknown number of OFFERS. APC is GOA. Squad is split up. We need support, over!" he said. "All right Iceberg, cover me!" he barked. Let the noisemakers do their jobs. It was what they did best. Honda's talents lay more in silencing them, and that was what she would do. The crumbled rooftop was one of many on the street, hardly unique but nonetheless a fine vantage point to survey the scene below. She took in the long view first, her body stretched out flat on the floor while she peeked through the savaged side of the building, sighting and placing various points of fire up and down their street. Once the new voice came over the comm she had a fairly good sense of what their opposition was doing and where most could be found. Normally that would be her cue to start marking targets and eliminating them, but that was a solo plan of action. She had a team to think about, and a team to use." Eyes on eight hostiles. Three together at third floor of right corner building opposite our side of street at the intersection, at least two weapons, auto but not stationary. Two more on roof of same, likely source of rocket fire. One inside building with Lin and Spence camping on the door, watching exit for his comrades. Two in motion street-level from same building toward APC carrying semi-auto rifles. Others visible appear uninvolved. Vision of street below imperfect without exposure; I can hear more fire than I can see." Only then did she bring her rifle up into play, not wanting to risk glare from its scope during the rundown. As an afterthought, while sighting in on the rooftop pair, she asked, "Done playing with your food, Lieutenant?" Avila put her pants back on while listening to the radio chatter, grabbed her top and ran downstairs. As she came out onto the street she looked around and called once more in the radio. "Regroup at the APC guys, and stay down!" From the building entrance she could see 2 men hiding behind a car, both with AK47 rifles. She stayed quiet, and went slowly along the buildings, hoping they would keep looking at the vehicle and not see her. As she got up to them, she pulled out her hunting knife, and stabbed the first in the back. The man screamed, and the other turned around. Avila kicked the rifle from his hand and punched him in the face, sending him down to the ground, passed out. She smiled and went to her radio again, while looking around for more targets. "2 assholes down, how many more are there, give me a report here!" "About four or six hostiles three houses back. One with the blue walls. Pinned down, but they seem to have a big-of-bag of ammo with them." Jason kept up his fire, although the targets had already taken cover from him and Suez rendering their fire mostly useless beyond keeping their heads down. This left the street they'd come down mostly clear should they need to retreat down it. He heard the sound of hard objects striking the blocked door, turning around to see the door being slowly worked open despite the blockage. "Time to go!" He called to Suez, shouldering his rifle and grabbing the only two pieces of explosives he had with him without his pack. He quickly set up a tripwire on the door to cover their escape with the C4 he carried, and reached for the second. It was a small black patch of cloth he applied to the exterior wall of the room. Slapping a detonator on it, he backed off and flipped the switch, and the new type of breaching charge did its job, blasting a moderate sized hole in the wall without much effect in the room itself. "Going down?" He commented to Suez, climbing down off the building ledge and dropping the 8 feet to the ground, rolling to soften the impact before swinging his rifle up to cover the group across the street. "Whatever happened to ladies first?" Suez asked as she followed after Jason, fumbling to reload her rifle with another C-Mag. Hasty hooking the spent one onto her belt and slamming the new one into the weapon. Hoping off the ledge and chasing after her comrade while still fumbling to chamber the first round. Finally bringing it up to cover the other side of the street. "Hey wait up!" The pair on the far rooftop fell without much fuss, unlikely to have even been aware they were under fire before the two shots did their work. Honda shifted her view away from the neutralized explosives threat immediately, scoping out motion elsewhere and sizing up where best she could assist before moving back to street level herself. Jason's little light show seemed the most obvious choice, though she didn't have an optimum angle for it." Hondo - I can see our tardy members making their move. Holding position to cover, will be in motion in fifteen, street level in fifty."

Eagle Squad (IC)|rating:3.0

CrimeLand_ A Mafia Tale (Home of Bill & Hanna And Jack & Trixie)

Home of Bill and Hanna Edison And Jack and Trixie Forester(Bill and Hanna live on the first two floors, Jack and Trixie live on the third and fourth, they share a kitchen and possibly have a common living area, but separate living areas as well, for privacy. (Forester With:Bill Edison, open Where:Bill's study What:Coming clean“How long have you known?” Jack asked as he sat across from Bill, a man that he did respect and knew that his wife Trixie did as well.“Know what? That you work for my father?” Bill smiled as he looked over his newspaper.“The night you and Trixie came over a couple of years back.” “That long? And you never said anything?” Jack replied as he looked at Bill, still clearly relaxed.“Why would I not be relaxed. I could have dealt with it old school and killed you both, but truth of the matter is I like you and I like Trixie and Hanna likes you both, and I would miss her dreadfully.and you are a good man.that I have always known if you meant me harm I would be dead right about now instead of sitting in my Grandfather's study.”“So what are you going to do?”“I am going to go see a Jazz Club, talk with my cousin who I suspect still hates my guts and hope that Hanna isn't taken by a rival family when they find out I am back in town, that's what I am going to do.” (Edison With:Herself, open Where:Outside of Bill's study What:Getting home from the gym Hanna had left the house a few hours earlier to shop, but she hadn't done much shopping which was surprising because she loved to shop. The 19-year-old had, instead, spent her time at the gym. Thankfully, she kept extra clothes in her car because what she'd been wearing would not have done well for working out. She was stressing about something, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, when Hanna was stressed she worked out or baked. She was dressed in a dark gray pair of yoga pants and a bright blue sports bra. It was comfortable, but she was going to have to take a shower. She was walking past her husband's study when she heard he and Jack talking, she was half tempted to just walk inside, but she thought it'd be better if she left the two alone. That was until she heard the word 'killed', that made her stop just outside the slightly open door. She kept on listening, although she knew that she should just walk away. Hanna actually started to do just that until she heard something about the chance that she could be taken." Taken by whom exactly?" Hanna just couldn't have stopped herself from walking into the study, she had really tried, but this statement really concerned her. She didn't want to be taken. (Forester With:Bill Edison, Hanna Where:Bill's study What:playing with an eavedropperJack heard the door open, smiling as he saw Hanna step in, he could tell she had been working out, and he loved to fuck her right after she had gotten all worked up working out.“Oh we are just talking, you have nothing to worry about Hanna. Bill has a few people in Chicago that would be dangerous if they knew he was back, that's all.” Jack grabbed the younger woman and pulled her onto his lap.“How much did you hear?” He was already looking at Bill as he held Hanna in place on his lap. Edison With:Jack Forester and Bill Where:Bill's study What:Interrupting"You two damn well better be right about that. I rather like it here, and I don't want to be taken." Hanna looked from Jack to her husband and then back. A soft giggle escaping from her lips as Jack pulled her into his lap. Bill and Hanna had an agreement with Jack and Trixie. The two couples swapped, a lot. Sometimes it was even difficult to tell who was married to whom, that's how attached to each other the four were." Oh, from 'killed' to 'hope that Hanna isn't taken'. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop but those words just kind of stop people in their tracks, I didn't mean to interrupt you all but see I was standing there all like, I am Hanna...this really concerns me. I couldn't stop myself, I'm sorry." She was rambling on just a bit, but she didn't know what was going on. (Edison With:Jack and Hannah Where:Bill's study What:Telling an old Truth Bill looked across his desk at Hanna and the man that had become his best friend. It was such a strange relationship, Bill couldn't deny that he wondered how it happened that Jack spent more time with his wife than he did, but in truth Bill say enough of Trixie to match them and while they didn't live together, their home was large enough that they could have, Jack and Trixie practically lived there as it was.“I suppose I can tell you a few things I should have told you a while ago, then you won't be caught off guard by it. I wasn't born with the name I have now. I was born Stefano Carlito Vincenzo. Furthermore, I am the son of Carlito Vincenzo of New York. Furthermore, I am also the original owner of Minnie's Jazz Club that Jack will be managing. In truth, I have remained the owner in silence for the better part of twenty years.” Bill sighed slightly.“I was Stefano Vincenzo when I met your mother, took the name of a man that had been killed in jail, my cellmate, not by me, but took his name when I got out of jail and moved to where you found me two years ago. I had contacted her in an effort to get to know you, the rest you know and being as she was, well as she is, it worked out rather well. It's why you never really saw me growing up and why your memories of me where rather problematic. I was out on patrol most of that time or was out on a release, the neighbors you remember where mostly FBI that were watching me, the ones that lived behind where US Marshals. Eventually it was too dangerous for me to be in a prison, and I was not dangerous, so I was on I guess you could call house arrest.” (Edison With:Jack and Bill Where:Bill's study What:Listening Hanna listened and tried to take in what she was being told, it was a lot to take in. She sat there and tried to let it sink in. The 19-year-old was speechless for a minute or so." You're right, you should have told me. It's not like it was going to make me love you any less." Hanna locked eyes with her husband, it was true that Jack saw her more than Bill did some days, but it was the same with Trixie and Bill...it was just an odd situation, although it worked for them." So, you tried? Mama always told me that you didn't care to know me and I thought you resented me or something. I think I hated you up until two years ago. I could never hate you now." It was then that she realized that they hadn't told Jack or Trixie about her believing that Bill was her dad until a year and a half ago. (Edison With:Jack and Hanna Where:Bill's Study What:Telling an old truth“I tried as much as I could, and I had friends that did what they could to keep an eye on you, any of her boyfriends that tried anything were dealt with.” Bill replied as best he could. Bill sat back in his chair as he watched Hanna.“Do something for me would you.and I want you to be absolutely honest with me. Kiss Jack in front of me and then tell me how you truly feel about him.” Bill looked at the two.“It's not a trick question or a trap. I just want to see you kiss him and be honest with me about your feelings for him. I already know he loves you.” Until that time in spite of their relationships the four had been quite respectful to the others in regard to the affection they showed each other, but there was something Bill wanted to do, and it would matter a great deal what Hanna's reply would be. (Edison With:Jack and Bill Where:Bill's study What:feeling a little surprised Hanna listened to what Bill wanted her to do, what? None of them had ever kissed or fucked another in front of each other, well okay there were those couples of times that Hanna and Trixie had put on a show for their husbands, but that was about it. She didn't understand." Um okay. If that's what you want." It was a strange request, but she'd do it because he wanted her to. Hanna leaned in and kissed Jack's lips softly, the kiss turned slightly intense and Hanna pulled back a little over half a minute later. Her eyes opened, and she turned to look at her husband. "There are definitely some feelings there. Lust and maybe some love, but it's not like what I feel for you. Why do you want to know?" (Edison With:Jack and Hanna Where:Bill's Study What:Preparing for the worst Bill oddly wasn't totally bothered by watching Hanna kiss Jack, he didn't particularly like it, but it didn't bother him either, the time the kiss took though did surprise him, but it confirmed what he thought.“If something should happen to me. Not saying that it will, but if it should. I want you to live with Jack and Trixie, and I would like for you to have a child or more than one with Jack. I want to know that you will have a life if I am not here and Jack can give that to you. Trixie adores you, so I know she will be okay with it and I think that Jack has asked the same of her should something happen to him.” Actually Bill wasn't sure if Jack had actually spoken to Trixie yet, but if he hadn't, he figured Hanna would say something at some point, the two girls spoke a lot it seemed about pretty much everything. (Edison With:Jack and Bill Where:Bill's study What:feeling a little surprised Hanna looked at Bill and back at Jack and back again. They had spoken about this? She didn't know how she felt about that, but Hanna did know that she hadn't liked that Bill had put himself through watching her kiss Jack. She wouldn't have liked it much if he'd kissed Trixie in front of her so knew he didn't particularly like seeing it. Furthermore, she looked at Jack. "Could you give us a little bit of time? I need to talk to him." She waited until they were alone and Hanna made her way over to sit on Bill's desk. Looking at him, she smiled a bit. "You didn't have to put yourself through that, you know. Could've just asked me to do that if something happened, I really can't think about that right now though. I don't think I could live without you." (Edison With:Jack and Hanna Where:Bill's Study What:Talking“I didn't like it, but it confirmed what I need to know, you could be happy with Jack, though you do in fact love him, whatever level of that love you admit to, you do, and the kiss proved that.you really kissed him, a peck would have satisfied me, but you almost didn't stop.” Bill smiled.“You know I love you Hanna and I always have from the day you were born to the day you took my name as my wife, but I need to know that you will be cared for, and I trust Jack to do that, plus he is younger than me and I have to be honest. I am surprised you haven't gotten pregnant with his child by now.and yes if you do, you will carry it, you love him and I know you do, and I know he loves you.so don't worry about any of that, we can't live as we do and feel bad if we have a child with someone else, well among the four of us.anyone but Jack.and I will kill them. Of that I am serious.” (Edison With:Jack and Bill Where:Bill's study What:talking"I'd never be as happy with anyone as I am with you...what should I call you now? Still Bill?" Hanna got down from his desk and bent over a bit to where she could look into her husband's eyes. "And about the length of the kiss... I don't halfway do anything. You said you wanted to see a kiss and a peck is not a kiss." She understood about the pregnancy thing and nodded. "I understand that but still I'd be upset if Trixie got pregnant by you first just as I'm sure Trip would be if I got pregnant by Jack before she did." That made her wonder why they didn't have any kids. It'd been 10 years for them, and they had sex like rabbits so they should have at least one kid by now, but Hanna wouldn't pry." I know it may not happen that way, but I want my first child to be yours. It would be ideal if all of them were but as you said." Hanna lowered herself to the floor and sat down to where it was easier to look at him. She grabbed his hand and smiled. "I love you." (Edison With:Jack and Hanna Where:Bill's Study What:Talking“I am still Bill, who I was isn't who I am now.” He smiled as he looked at Hanna.“I love you too, but you know that. I just want to make sure you are taken care of, that's all.” Bill leaned up a little kissing Hanna. “I am not actually sure if Trixie can have children, we haven't actually talked about it of course, but the only point I wanted to make is if it happens, I want you to know I expect you to carry it, that's all I am asking. I hope that it's mine as well, but I won't deny you and Jack would have a beautiful child.” Bill leaned back in his chair a little.“Do you still want to sing at the club?” (Edison With:Bill Where:Bill's study What:talking"I'd be taken care of even if you didn't talk to him about it, they wouldn't let anything happen to me if something happened to you." Hanna smiled. That was sad, she hoped that wasn't the case that her best friend couldn't have kids. "I hope that's not the case, and you didn't even have to tell me that because I could never just throw away a child because I didn't feel ready or something. Not who I am." Hanna kissed him again and smiled." Yeah, I still want to sing at the club. It'll be fun and will give me something to do besides shop all day." She laughed softly. (Edison With:Jack and Hanna Where:Bill's Study What:Talking“Good well as luck would have it I am good friends with the manager of the place, and he might be willing to listen to you.” Bill smiled.“I however have to get going to the club, so I can decipher if Louis has grown up any in the last 20 years.” Bill moved to get up.“You want me to wait on you to shower, or you want to stay behind and come later? Actually I haven't heard a thing of Trixie at all, not even the sound of her going laundry.got to love she still does it in the nude.” He laughed as he kissed Hanna.“I know I am overreacting some, but I just like to be prepared is all, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you either.” (Edison With:Bill Where:Bill's study What:talking"Oh really? My my my, isn't that just convenient?" Hanna grinned at her husband. She did a pretty believable southern accent for a girl born and raised in Chicago. "Hm, good luck with that baby." She thought about it and smiled at Bill. "Nah, go ahead. I'll shower and get dressed then meet you there later. Hm, that's odd. I'll check in with her and see if she's okay and whatnot. Asked her if she wanted to go shopping with me but guess she knew that I wouldn't be doing much shopping, she'll rarely go work out with me." Hanna laughed and kissed him back. "Don't worry about it, just who you are, you like to make sure everything's taken care of beforehand. Love you, see you in a bit." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall Close to Bill's Study What:Information gathering Jack didn't have a problem leaving Bill's office, Bill was asking to be spoken to alone by what he made Hanna do, they all had an understanding and while Bill took it a bit more seriously than he or Trixie might have all four had agreed to it. He had managed though to not listen to what the man wanted and being as Hanna came out of the study a few short minutes later, it wasn't a physical want on his part or hers, now Jack had pretty well taken care of most of their time together and had Hanna to himself. He still adored Trixie and though he liked to say that nothing had changed. Furthermore, he knew he loved Hanna and would do anything for her. He had slipped around a corner that left to the next level of the house, generally reserved for his and Trixie's room as he smiled, grabbed Hanna and pulled her into him close.“So.” He laughed as he grabbed her ass.“What he says?” (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking Hanna sighed softly as she stepped out of Bill's study. Her husband was so difficult sometimes and so stubborn with wanting to make sure that every little detail was taken care of. Life couldn't always be controlled but oh well, it was who he was. The girl was intercepted by Jack on her way to the master bathroom, but that didn't bother her. "Oh, not much. Just that he's sorry but only wants to make sure I'm taken care of. That if I did end up getting pregnant by you that he wanted me to keep the baby and all that. Pretty standard stuff." Hanna laughed and was pulled into him. She smiled as he grabbed her ass and she looked at him." I think it's about time I told you something." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall Close to Bill's Study What:Information gathering“What's that.” Jack stepped in closer, pressing Hanna into the wall.“I expected that was it, he wants me to tell Trixie the same thing, which I have, and it set her in a mood, not a bad mood, but now she's thinking about kids I think. I love kids, so that's not a problem and for the time we've been married would have liked to have had one or two by now, actually.” Jack smiled as he looked at Hanna.“Uh oh.your serious face. You are gorgeous when you put on your serious face, makes me want to tickle you.” So that's exactly what he did as he tickled Hanna with little to no mercy. (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Yeah, I wouldn't refuse a kid right now, but I don't think I'm quite ready for one just yet." Hanna smiled. "My mom had me when she was about my age and well, she wasn't good at it. At all. I just want to make sure that I'm ready, so I don't disappoint the kid." Her blue eyes met his blue eyes, and she smiled as he pressed her back into the wall. She laughed as Jack started tickling her, she really wanted to talk to him about this, but she couldn't stop laughing as his fingers showed her no mercy. "Okay, okay okay, I can't breathe." Hanna grinned. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall Close to Bill's Study What:Information gathering Jack eased his tickling as he looked at Hanna, finally leaning in to kiss her.“Okay, so what do you want to tell me, and you would be a wonderful mother.never think otherwise.” Jack's hands moved to Hanna's hips, still looking in her eyes as he smiled.“You know you can tell be anything.” (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Thank you." Hanna smiled and kissed Jack as he kissed her, there was no hesitation. "Well, I grew up thinking that Bill was my dad. Actually thought that he was until about a year and a half ago. Finally got my mom to admit that she doesn't know who my father is, and I had a DNA test done, had to be sure. I think you're the only other person that knows now." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:Information gathering“I figured as much.” Jack said as he held the smile on his lips.“He's a lot older than you and I heard you call him Dad once and not in an oh be my Daddy sort of way.” Jack raised on of his hands to Hanna's cheek.“Anything else you want to tell me?” He leaned into her as he slipped her hair away from her ear.“Want to take a shower? You sort of smell like a gym.well damn sexy gym, but a gym all the same.” He laughed as he kissed Hanna's ear, pulling on her ear lobe. (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Oh yeah, that probably gave it away. Does Trixie know?" Hanna smiled, it didn't bother her that Jack knew, and it wouldn't if Trixie knew." Hm, can't think of anything. Oh, I did hear you were looking for singers at the club. Want to give a girl a chance?" She grinned at him. "Well, let's see.that could be because I've been at a gym for 3 hours." She laughed softly. "A shower sounds delightful." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:Information gathering“I don't think she does, I never said anything to her about it and I doubt Bill would, guys don't talk about that sort of thing.” Jack eased into Hanna a little.“I suppose I could see you get a private audition if you really want the spot.” He smiled as he kissed her neck slightly.“I am rather partial to you...” Jack knew he had to get to the club with Bill, but he wasn't going to deny he wanted Hanna, he hadn't been with her since morning and God did he need her at that moment. (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Where is she, by the way? I asked her if she wanted to go shopping with me and I guess she figured out that shopping today actually meant gym so she declined." Hanna smiled as Jack eased into her." Oh, I do really want, and I thought you were." She giggled softly as his lips pressed against her neck, Hanna figured that he'd have to head out with Bill, but she could tell that he didn't want to. "Aren't you supposed to be at the club soon?" (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall close to Bill's study Jack laughed.“I saw her on the balcony earlier. And I am the boss I am sure I can be a little late unless you want to help me break in my new office.” Jack was already moving to lift the sports bra from Hanna's body as he watched her face.“Only work out Trixie likes is sex.you haven't figured that out by now?” He added with another laugh. (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Yeah, you are right. You can be a little late." Hanna grinned as Jack started to lift her bra off. She helped him get it off and smiled at him. "That shower is sounding better and better." She laughed a little as he mentioned sex being the only work-out that Trixie. "You think I would have realized that. I have bribed her into some yoga sometimes." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall close to Bill's study“Yoga.” Jack laughed.“I have bribed you in to Kama Sutra.doesn't make it a work-out.” He kissed Hanna as he heard Bill leave his office. “You have any other deep dark secrets I need to know about?.. I would hate to have to cuff you and tickle you until you break.” (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"Push, like you really had to twist my arm for me to try some of those and yoga can be considered working out. It's not easy, helps with flexibility and all that." Hanna heard Bill walk out, she knew he'd turned his head so he wouldn't see them...she knew him that well, and she kissed Jack back. It was a kiss filled with desire and need, they'd played around enough, and now she didn't want to wait anymore. "I think I'm done with the deep dark secret portion of today." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Hall close to Bill's study Jack laughed. "Oh I don't know, you haven't seemed to have any problems with flexibility to me." He laughed again as he finally stepped away from Hanna. "I still remember the time you were standing on your head and.oh yeah that was fun!" He laughed as he started to walk towards the closest shower." It's a good thing that you are done with secrets. I would hate to have to tie you up and force them out of you like that time in Colorado.oh that was fun too, still don't know how you talked Bill into letting me take you for a weekend." (Edison With:Jack Where:Hall close to Bill's study What:talking"That's because I used to do gymnastics, and I've been a yoga enthusiast for a few years." Hanna laughed softly. "MMM, that was a lot of fun and so was Colorado. I had to work a little magic for him to let you take me there." She followed him into the nearest bathroom and smiled at him as she stripped out of her yoga pants. (Edison With:open Bill had heard Jack and Hanna, he didn't say anything as he left his office, but he knew the two well enough now to know that they were either kissing or stripping each other to go off and have sex. They had sex at least four times a day he figured, or at least it seemed like it and in truth he had no idea how Jack was able to keep up. He was a fairly young guy still, but it was something he never quite understood how he managed it. Bill still did pretty well for himself and he and Trixie were active as where he and Hanna, though he did admit that Jack saw more of her, perhaps more than he liked, but they stayed well with in the rules the four had set, so he didn't say anything, but he missed the days sometimes when it was just him and Hanna and the though of having a family. Bill wouldn't put a child into this environment, or maybe he would, but he knew it would be confusing as they got older. He was confused some of the time, so he was pretty sure a child would be. He had moved to the kitchen and was fixing himself an express as he heard a sound that could only be the only other woman in the house that he loved. (Forester With:Bill, open Trixie had been enjoying a relaxing day in bed and then out on the deck, she'd polite fully declined Hanna's shopping invitation. The woman knew what day it was, and that Hanna usually wound up in the gym every other day and the girl hadn't gone yesterday so...today had been the day. She loved Hanna to death, but there was just way too much energy going on there sometimes. She was like this little dog that yapped all the time and tried to get you to play with it, which is cute sometimes, but a little annoying. It was energy that Jack was more than happy to help burn off. Trixie had to admit that she missed her husband sometimes, seemed that Hanna saw more of him, but Trixie was just as happy with Bill when they were together. She decided to go get herself something to drink and start getting ready because they were supposed to go to the jazz club that Jack managed that night. Trixie was excited and was a little surprised that her best friend was, it did not seem like that girl's scene. She made her way into the kitchen and smiled as she saw Bill making himself an espresso. "Hey there." (Edison With:Trixie Bill smiled as he saw Trixie enter the kitchen. "Hi. So where have you been hiding, they have been asking about you?" He said as he finished his drink and moved to pick up the cup. "If they weren't so worried about wearing off Hanna's excess energy, I'd say they might have actually gone on a search." Bill turned a little as he pushed the express machine back. "That's a pretty dress.special occasion?" (Forester With:Bill"Oh, I've been out on the deck pretty much all day, hiding from Hanna, actually. She tried to make me go to the gym with her, did that once...never again." Trixie said with a laugh and a smile. She had wondered why one of them hadn't found her, it wasn't like she was unpredictable when it came to where she liked spending her time, now she knew that Hanna and Jack were busy with each other. It didn't really bother her, it was what they'd signed up for. She got herself a glass of water and took a sip before looking at Bill. "Just the club, thought I'd dress up a bit. So, I'm guessing those two aren't ready yet?" (Edison With:Trixie"That would require them ignoring that they like fucking each other." Bill had to sound jealous as he said it. "There are times I think it would be easier if you and I were married to each other. I love Hanna, but there are times I have to think I wish I had met you back when I thought she was my kid." Bill took a drink of his express. "Side's I rather like being with you." He smiled a little as he looked over his cup at Trixie. "He's a good guy.you know I think of him like a brother, but if you were my wife. I sure wouldn't be trusting you with me." He laughed a little at that. (Forester With:Bill That made her smile, men were cute when they were jealous. "Yeah, but it's kind of what we signed up for that night two years ago." Trixie smiled but almost spit out the drink she'd taken at the last part of his sentence. "You thought she was your kid, she's never said anything about that, what went on there?" There was no judgment in her voice, she was just curious and a little surprised. (Edison With:Trixie"Oh she grew up thinking I was her Dad, really had no reason to think otherwise, and apparently her mother had no clue, so long as she was getting money for her, and I was her go to guy." Bill shook his head. "I was young and well stupid as many are and so anyway.the day you met her we actually thought we were father and daughter, but I didn't know that Hanna had later put in a request to find out, cause well this all happened and so then she found out we weren't, well, related, and so we dated as you know and got married." Bill took another drink. "She's a great woman and I don't regret it for a moment, but there are times I just wonder, you know, if I had brought over a casserole or something, and you were in that cute little checkered shirt. I can be rather debonair when I want to be, and I think my casserole could have deserved a neighborly. I am not even sure what it would have deserved, but yeah. I don't regret her or meeting you or any of this." Quote from: GaGa88 on 28-10-2012, 04:37:05(Trixie Forester With: Bill"Wow. I never would have guessed that..." Trixie was actually surprised, so that night the four had swapped for the first time... Hanna and Bill had thought they were father and daughter. She knew that Hanna loved Bill, but she was only 19 so it would be a little harder for her. They'd only been married a year so far." Well, she's still young. It's going to take her a little bit to get adjusted and everything. She probably gets just as confused as we do about this whole situation, maybe even more considering she was only 17 when everything started. I don't think any of us thought it would last this long, but I don't think there are any regrets. I think you could be over-thinking it. Maybe you should talk to her about what you're feeling though, she doesn't like it when you don't talk to her about things like that." Trixie smiled at him as he started talking about a casserole and whatnot. "I'm sure your casserole would've deserved whatever you'd have wanted but seriously, you are over-thinking things Bill. Try not to think about it as in depth, it helps." She stepped a little closer to him. (Edison With:Trixie"Yeah I suppose you're right." Bill replied as he looked at Trixie." To be honest I thought Jack would have stopped it long before now. He talks big, but I have to admit I really thought you with someone else would bother him a lot more than he lets on. I mean I have talked to him and I know he had certain ideas on what he will accept and what he won't, as we all do, but frankly for how you guys used to be..." Bill rinsed out his cup as he turned." True test will be then a baby comes in the picture, it's been two years, but it's only a matter of time. Course I guess that goes for me as well. I could accept Jack considering, but if Hanna decided to be with anyone else, there would be blood. I can't escape who I am now that I am back home, they won't let me." (Forester With:Bill Trixie had been told about who Bill actually was by Jack so she wasn't surprised, she just smiled a little. "You don't think they're going to do anything to get to you, do you? Something like try to get Hanna or something." She wouldn't be happy with that at all, Hanna did annoy her sometimes, but that girl was like the little sister she'd never had." I have to admit that I was surprised he hasn't called it off either and yeah, that will be the test. I don't think you have to worry about Hanna being with someone else. She loves you, and she wants to prove to herself that she's not her mom." Hanna talked to Trixie a lot about stuff like that. (Edison With:Trixie Bill laughed."Oh, her mother loved me too, just she loved half of Chicago on alternating days in addition was all." He moved over to Trixie, kissing her lightly on the lips." She's not her mother. I know that, but there is a lot of her mother in her and I know that too." Bill slipped past Trixie as he turned back to look at her." It's just the same as me and my father. I have denied it a long time, but I am my father's son." (Forester With:Bill"Although people can have their parents' traits, it doesn't mean they have to turn out that way. Hanna could turn out completely different." Trixie kissed him back softly and smiled."so, I guess it's just you and me for now, and they'll show up when they show up." (Edison With:Trixie Bill looked at his watch." Yeah, we should get going. I don't expect them for a little while at least, if they show up at all. Hanna wants to sing, so maybe that will get her there faster, but they lose track of time as you know." Bill moved to grab his briefcase as he smiled at Trixie." You do look pretty tonight, Honey.you really do." It suddenly dawned on Bill that he had taken to calling Trixie something that was once reserved for Hanna, or he thought it should have been." I'm not much of a dancer, I'd love to do a slow one with you if you'd let me tonight." (Forester With:Bill"They do tend to lose track of time, but she's really excited about singing, so I don't think it'll be that long." Trixie smiled. It'd be nice to see the girl doing something she really liked to do and Hanna had a perfect voice. She didn't look like it, but she did." Thank you, you don't look half bad either." She grinned, it did make her sad that Bill called her 'honey' more than her own husband did these days but oh well. "A slow dance sounds nice." She walked out outside with him so they could leave for the jazz club. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower Jack laughed as he bent over to grab the Luisa." Now wait. I dropped the Luisa." He laughed gain as he dropped the bar of soap, laughing again."Okay, okay I got it now. I swear you bend over like that on purpose.give a guy a heart attack." (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower The shower was already on, but Hanna had leaned over to adjust the water temperature a bit, she liked her showers hot. Not scalding hot but relaxing hot. "Don't drop the soap, you keep bending over like that I may just have to do a little something." She grinned at Jack playfully, he'd know she was only teasing." And you're too young for a heart attack." She looked up into his eyes as both of her hands were pressed against his chest. "Oh I don't know, my heart skips a beat every time I look at you." Jack smiled as he leaned in kissed Hanna on the lips as he started to laugh." So I shouldn't bend over like this...or like...THIS." He laughed as he demonstrated to different bends a looked at Hanna, he couldn't help but smile, he was clearly happy. "I am so glad I talked you and Bill into moving here when I got this job. I would have been lost without your Hanna-bear." (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower Hanna knew that Jack loved her, and she did love him, but she wasn't sure if it was as much as he loved her. She was still a bit confused with this whole situation, but it suited her just fine. Somehow the two marriages had seemed to flip around and Hanna didn't really know what to think about that. She kissed him back softly and smiled. Laughing as he bent over two different ways, she couldn't help it, he was so full of life and could match her energy most of the time. "I'm glad too, and I really did miss Chicago." One of her hands slid down his chest to his lower stomach and a bit further down to wrap around his cock. She didn't waste anytime, that was for sure. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower"Oh well hello there.find something you like?" He laughed as he returned the favor and stuck his hand between Hanna's legs." Oh.what have we here?" He laughed again as he kissed her, his hand lightly working her as he looked in his eyes." Can I ask you a question?" He thought for a moment as he felt Hanna's hand on him and could only lean into her a little more." Do you love me? I mean I know we have a lot of fun and the sex.amazing, but you know we are more than friends and Bill and Trixie know it too." (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower"Always." She smiled at him and moaned softly as his hand traveled between her legs. Hanna kissed him back. "Oh, I don't know...why don't you find out?" She laughed softly." Ask away." She looked into his eyes, trying to get a feel for what he was going to ask her and wasn't surprised at his question. "I have to admit that I do. I'm just really confused by everything sometimes." Her hand squeezed around him firmly before she worked it up and down, squeezing intermittently. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower"It was all I wanted to know." Jack smiled as he kissed Hanna, his hand-picking up its pace as he looked in her eyes." Confused just means you care, if you didn't care about what we were doing and to the other two people in our lives, there likely wouldn't be any confusion involved, perhaps...oh GOD you are good at that." Hanna stopped to amaze Jack how she could stop his train of thought in such a manner of ways. (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower"Shh, no talking. We'll talk about it later." Hanna leaned into kiss Jack, this wasn't a playful kiss, it was an 'I need you now' sort of kiss. Hard and passionate and hungry. As his fingers picked up their pace so did her hand, but she didn't want to get him off that way. Hanna knew that she was wet enough, and she didn't want slow right now. "Now. Whichever way you want to do it, just now.please." (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower"Oh my.impatient little hottie aren't we?" Jack smirked as he put his hands on his hips, then a moment later was laughing again as he grabbed Hanna and turned her around." Let's take you like the dirty little hottie we know you are." He smacked her hip as he thrust himself into her, he didn't even hesitate, each time was like it was the first with Hanna, and he loved that."Oh, you are so going to have to audition for that singing job.how about we test those lungs.shall we?" He chuckled as he knew Hanna would be screaming before too long. (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower"Oh, you know you love it and I did say please." Hanna laughed with a smile and grinned as he turned her around, she pressed her palms against the glass shower wall. If anyone was watching, she knew that nobody was but if anyone had been...it would have made for quite the steamy show. She liked that she was still pretty tight and Hanna loved how Jack didn't even hesitate." Oh, we shall." Hanna knew that she'd be getting pretty loud soon enough. Her hips were grinding back into his as he thrust into her. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower It didn't matter how many times a day that he did this with Hanna and was usually many times a day, Jack loved to fuck her.if he could get paid to fuck her, he would do it in a heart beat and never think twice. He pulled her up slightly into his chest so he could kiss her, his body pressing into hers, both of them pressed into the glass wall, his hips starting to thrust a little deeper." I know you're confused, but I love you Hanna. I can't help it, but I do." (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower The truth of the matter was that Hanna loved fucking Jack too, and he had more energy than Bill. It just seemed weird to her that she seemed to love him more than she loved her husband. She kissed him back, it was a soft but still hungry kiss, they were as close as they could get. "I know. I'm only confused because I think I love you more than I love Bill, and it feels weird and.... I'm going to stop talking now." She wasn't trying to avoid the subject, she just wanted to focus on the physical right now and not have to think about anything. Hanna liked being this close to Jack, but she wanted to feel him deeper inside of her. She bent at the waist and balanced herself by resting her hands against the wall again. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower The sad thing was that for as much as he still loved Trixie, Hanna had outshone that as well, and he often wondered if he still had her heart. It was always the dealbreaker for him in the matters such as this. Granted they had never done this with anyone but Hanna and Bill, but in some ways it was what they probably expected to happen. How could you not do this and fall for the other person? Maybe once or twice you could escape it, but this had gone on for two years, and even survived a move. He didn't say anything as he moved with Hanna and knowing her body as he did, knew what she wanted, so he returned her motions and used the new leverage that she was providing him to pump into her harder. God, he loved this woman! Their bodies just seemed to fit together as much as they did. What was he going to do? Hanna had him heart and soul, and he knew it. (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower The moans and cries coming from Hanna were getting louder. Like really loud which meant that she was getting closer, each thrust that Jack made brought her even closer. The new leverage she'd given him allowed him to get deeper and that felt absolutely amazing. She squeezed herself around his cock as he moved inside of her, wanting to bring Jack closer so they could orgasm together. She liked it when that happened. Hanna knew that she truly did love Jack and didn't want to lose him. She'd known this was a possibility when the four of them had started this whole thing. (Forester With:Hanna Where:Bathroom shower Jack suddenly came hard into Hanna, he had often tried to not do it when they were first together, but after the first time he did, that was all it took. He slumped a little as he kissed Hanna's shoulder, his hand moving to her hips as he found, yet again he was at a loss for words. (Edison With:Jack Where:bathroom shower Hanna gasped as she felt Jack shoot inside of her, it always made her smile when she felt it. It was mere seconds before her own climax, her hips rising and falling into his while loud cries left her lips. She knew that he'd tried not to when everything started, but she wanted him to now, didn't think he could stop himself because he wanted to as well. She grinned softly and sighed contentedly, it was obvious that she was happy. "Amazing again." She hesitantly pulled off of him, turning to kiss him softly before actually starting to shower. Beginning to wash her hair while she looked at him.

CrimeLand_ A Mafia Tale (Home of Bill & Hanna And Jack & Trixie)|rating:3.0

_Uncle Orc_ (closed for HornyPussycat21 and Sugar_Cookie189)

Name: Skit Race: Orc Age: 43Appearance: 6’3 with a muscular build. Despite his status as a plantation owner, he still keeps in shape aside from a slight pot-belly. Has rough hands that clash with his manicured nails and a clean smile with a chipped left tusk. His face and chest have a couple of long scars (one over his right eye and one down the middle of his chest). Has brown eyes and a wild tuft of hair that he keeps unkempt. Skit loaded a picnic basket into the stage coach and then made sure that there was plenty of room for his guests’ belongings on top of the pile of presents he had already bought for them. After kicking the wheels, making sure the horses were properly reigned, and cleaning away some dust from the leather seats, the Orc nodded at his Halfling driver and climbed up into the ebony coach. As the driver cracked his whip and the thorough-bred horses started went from a walk to a trot, Skit surveyed his lands. The Orc had been one of the many young soldiers to make out like bandits from the Cerulean War. His lands, which were now filled with fields of crops and livestock of all types, had once been a small human kingdom and a forest in which a large tribe of elves had lived. Now, as he looked over the fields, filled with workers, the land’s former tenants were all scrounging about, making sure that the wheat fields would be ready for the early harvest and that the pigs would be ready for market come next Tuesday. It hadn’t been hard to conquer or even enslave the populace. While the fair races and dwarves had been confident for years in their superiority, they had come to see the goblin races as inferior beings and allowed former sources of conflict to drive wedges between them. No one noticed what goblin engineers built out in the bad lands or cared when Orcs, still dressed in animal skins, began to start making wise investments and securing resources from unclaimed lands. The fair races had no idea of the schemes that were discussed in caves while hobgoblins and bugbears pretended to be the mindless brutes human and even mothers would tell their children about for a laugh. So when hobgoblin armies managed to conquer several kingdoms in the course of a month without even a single loss, the fair races had no idea what to do and were too divided to mount any serious resistance. Of course, it was hard to get a fire under rebel fighters when casualties had been kept so low. The new system for raiding had allowed the Goblins to conquer without even needing to fire a single crossbow bolt. They would go to the edge of a castle keep or town, and then use trebuchets to launch huge groupings of pig bladders that had been inflated with sleeping gas. The raiders would then don breathing masks and use grappling hooks to enter. When the town or castle’s inhabitants woke up, they would find themselves chained up in the town square with all of their weapons being melted down or broken as an officer bid them good morning and welcome them to the United Goblin Nation. Of course, it wasn’t enough for the towns and castles to be conquered, Skit and his fellows made sure to act a lot “nicer” than their ancestors. Instead of raping and pillaging and selling the conquered peoples to slave markets, they offered medicine, clothing, and food in exchange for “service agreements.” The new leaders would blame the current problems any settlement had on the previous leaders and then bring new technology and housing in exchange for a “little work.” Of course, the agreements were difficult to get out of and only expired after nebulous conditions were met, making the fair races just as much of slaves as if they were collared and being marched naked through an auction house. The coach stopped as a wagon full of chickens passed. As the coach stood still, a small group of children came running out to knock against the door until Skit leaned out the window with a big smile and a handful of candy that he passed out to them. One of the girls in the small crowd, a small elf with sandy-blonde hair spoke up.“Uncle Skit! Take us with you. We want to go to your Summer House too!” She said, a pleading look on her face.” Skit ruffled her hair and chuckled, “Maybe when you’re older Bridget. Besides, I think you’re supposed to be studying for your spelling test.” The little girl and the other children pouted though their mid picked right up when Skit pulled out another hand full of candy and tossed it to them before the coach pulled away. ‘Uncle Skit’ that was the persona Skit had cultivated ever since he took over his plantation. While he was still everyone’s master, he was also the person who made sure food got distributed equally, disputes got settled, and helped plan and even cook the feasts for celebrations. While some child labor was necessary to make the plantation as profitable as it had been, Skit made sure the children still received an education (with some censorship regarding atrocities committed by goblin kind), could celebrate their heritage, and even took time to play with them. This side of him had served Skit well and had been hailed as a very progressive stance by his peers. Of course, Skit did genuinely love being able to have such a relationship with his slaves, especially the children, whom he adored. That was part of the reason Skit found himself heading towards the thatch house that was on the edge of his property. One of the first couples to join his plantation had come there with two beautiful girls that Skit had immediately doted on. Skit set aside time every week to visit with them and planned a yearly trip for the three of them. The two of them were like the nieces he never had and watching them grow up had been one of his favorite innocent pursuits. Of course, this visit wasn't as innocent as the fishing trips they took when they scampered around his knee. While Skit and other Orcs tried to pretend they had freed themselves from their savage ancestry, they still had the same hunger for supple flesh and warm bodies that their slaves provided. They’d never make a move on a child of course, and they did their best to make sure their couplings with slaves were consensual, but they could only fight their lust for so long. Skit had been having trouble focusing for the past month, ever since he had finalized the trip. He had watched the two of them grow up before his eyes, and now he wanted to let them know how much he appreciated the two of them, both as his surrogate nieces and two gorgeous women. The coach pulled up in front of the house and Skit leaped out, trying to keep his excitement hidden.“Girls? Are you ready to go?” He called out, heading towards the door. Name: Vanessa Reiterate: 21Race: Golden elf Appearance: Curvy, but fit 5'6'' frame. Although she usually goes out with her father to help him in the fields, her skin in smooth and soft to the touch. Her 36D breasts, slim waist and wide hips give her an hour glass look that always seems to make men stop and stare, at least until they get themselves under control. Her eyes are a dark, forest green, extremely different from her fathers brown and her mother blue. Has long, honey blonde hair that falls mid-way down her back in waves, before turning to beautiful corkscrews at the ends." So, do you know what he's planning on doing with you two this time?" Vanessa ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it up high on her head before tying it up with a blue ribbon. "L'm guess we're going fishing again. Well, l mean he'll probably go fishing, and we'll swim in the lake while he does. L mean, that's what we usually do." She sighed as a few strands of hair fell loose from her ribbon, falling around her face. While, it did look cute, it sometimes got annoying. Especially on hot days, much like today. All this morning she was out in the field with her father and half the time she was messing with her hair, trying to keep it out of her face. She turned and looked back at her father, Philip, watching him as he ran a cold, wet rag over his forehead. She smiled and said, "I'm going to try and talk him into taking us to the next town over. People are talking about that town opening up a lot of stores. Most of which we're done even have here."" No," He turned to look at her, putting the rag down. "Vanessa, l'm fine with you going out with Skit to his summer house. You know l have no problem with that because it'll only be the three of you. I know he can watch you. Now, l don't think it's a good idea for you to go to a town, that you don't know, that's filled with a lot of people, who l bet Skit don't know either. Lt's hard enough watching you and your sister here. With people, we've all grown up with!" She sighed and moved her hands down to her waist, rearranging her blue belt, or at least looking like she was. Actually, she was just tugging and pulling at it. Something she did whenever she was upset with something or someone. She was 21. Her father shouldn't even have a say in what she does. Now her little sister, sure, but her? Philip watched his daughter for a few silent moments. He knew she was upset. The belt tugging was a pretty good give away, she always tugged on her clothes, ever since she was a small child, when she was upset. That added to the big, sad eyes she got and the pouty lips. She kind of made it hard not to give her whatever she asked for. "Vanessa, look baby girl. Lt's not that l don't want you to go out and have fun, but l just do, l don't think Skit will think it's a good idea. You can ask by-"She looked up at him and smiled before throwing her arms around his neck. "Thank you, dad! Thank you!" He chuckled and patted her back. "Don't thank me. You still need to try and talk Skit into it." She pulled back, "Don't worry. All l need to do is give him puppy eyes and Uncle Skit is Buddy in me hands." She kissed his nose when they heard a yelling outside." Girls? Are you ready to go?"" Go on," Philip pulled out of his daughter arms. "Go greet him. L'll go get your sister and bring out your bags."" Alright," Vanessa gave her father another hug before walking out of her room and heading outside. Now that it was midday, it was even hotter than this morning, but at least she didn't have to worry about working. Skit was standing beside the coach, a smile on his face. She smiled and quickly ran over to him, her pure white dress moving beautifully with her body. When she got close to him, she jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hello Uncle Skit!" She said, happily, already starting to butter him up." My father is getting my sister and mother, but we're all packed up and ready to go." She leaned up and kissed him gentle on the lips, something she had come use to doing every time he came over. She pulled her legs up and wrapped them around his waist, making the skirt of her dress ride up and show off her long leg and most of her thighs. "How are you doing?" Skit smiled warmly as Vanessa walked out of her house and came over to him. He let his arms latch around the gorgeous elf, one arm going around her slender back while the other carefully supported her bottom. The Orc let a chuckle out as Vanessa kissed him, his own lips giving a quick peck back. He could tell his "niece" was already trying to work her magic on him... And it was working. Feeling her soft but athletic legs wrapped around his waist and her young lips against his, made Skit sigh with satisfaction. He didn't even need to look down to tell that Vanessa was showing off her beautiful legs: that was what he loved about her. Vanessa had always been a friendly girl and her warmth was infectious. Skit opened his eyes to meet Vanessa's gorgeous stare." Well let's see." Skit said, playfully bouncing her in his arms, "The harvest is looking great, Several of the cows gave birth, and I get to spend some time with the most beautiful elves in the whole world." He rubbed his nose against Vanessa's and bounced her again one more time before he slowly took away his arm from her bottom, "I'd say I'm doing incredible."" What about you though, Vanessa? How have you and your family been doing? Are you excited to spend the week with your Uncle Skit?" A laugh escaped her as she was bounced. This was one of the reasons she purposely jumped in his arms. He was always playful. Bouncing her around, something her father hadn't done since she was a little girl. Then there was the fact that he was so much bigger than her. His arms felt amazing wrapped around her body! The young elf closed her eyes at the felling if his much larger nose rubbing against her tiny one."Lt seems like your having a very good week then!" She kept her hold on him, maybe tightening herself a bit more when his hand fell away, leaving nothing but her strength to hold her up. "Oh, well we're all doing great. Now that l'm helping my father, we're getting the field work down twice as fast. So he doesn't have to stay in the heat to long or come home to late. He has plenty of time to spend with my mother. Which, is always a good thing." My sister is turning into a tiny version of my mother. She loves to cook and help around the house. She's going to make one perfect housewife, one day." As she talked, she saw a few people walking by, looking their way with a clear look of anger and discuss. It was the same look they got when every Skit was around them. It was the 'What makes you so special' look. Vanessa loosened her grip on both his waist and his neck and gently slid down his body, until her feet were on the ground. The looks didn't honestly bug her anymore. She just thought they were jealous. That Skit actually took time out of his schedule to visit them every week. Something he did for no one else." Of course l'm excited!" Her eyes moved back to his as her bright, cheerful smile can back and covered her face. "L've been waiting for this visit all year! Just the three of us! So, what's the plan this year? I mean... with my sister now 18...," She grabbed his hand. "Are we going to do anything different, anything special?" She asked, sweetly. Name: Iris Reiterate: 18Race: Golden Elf Appearance: 5'4'' frame, that resembles her sisters. 34D breasts and nice, curvy hips. Her skin is a few shades lighter than her sisters, but only because her sister is usually outside, while she's inside. Her straight, dirty blonde hair falls halfway down her back, some of which fall in her face, covering her deep blue eyes." How about this one?" Luis asked, grabbing one of the ten dresses up off her bed and held it up, against her body. It was a deep red color and feel all the way to the floor. If it weren't for the long slit up the left side, it would cover her legs completely. When she wore it, the straps would wrap around her neck. Her mother, Samantha, who sat on the end of the bed, laughed. "Now baby, it's gorgeous, but where would you wear that?" She asked. She shrugged, "l don't know, but Uncle always seems to surprise us every year. I think l should pack for any occasion. And that includes," She shook the dress. "Parties!""You're just going to his summer house. Not anywhere any parties are going to be held." Samantha stood up, watching as her daughter shrugged and started folding the dress up. "Your still going to take it?" She asked her. Iris nodded and walked over to the bed, putting it in the case with the rest of her clothes." Like l said, with Uncle Skit, you can never be a hundred percent sure." Luis said, as her mother walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her close. Samantha was about 4'' taller than her, so, she kind of towered over her. Not that that was new. Most people were taller than her. "Mooom."" I'll miss you." She whispered, kissing her ear." You say that like l'm never coming back or something." She laughed, pushing her mother away before she moved and grabbed a few more dresses, folding them up as well. "L'm only going to be gone a week. Same as every year." Before her mother had time to say anything, she said, "And Skit would never let anything ever happen to us." And she was a hundred percent sure with that comment. Skit had always been there for them, for as long as she could remember. He took care of them, made sure they got what they needed. Well... At least as long as they did what they needed to do." Well, it's just that your 18 now and... l know that some people will be more... drawn to you. l... l just worry a bit." Iris opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Philip. "Baby, Skit is going to watch the girls. He's not going to allow anyone to touch them." He walked into the room and over to Samantha, pulling her away from his daughter. "Don't worry, he always takes good care of them." He reached down, putting his finger under her chin before lifting it up. He lowered his head and kissed her deeply, his other arm wrapping around her waist.Luis made a face as her parents kissed, and zipped up her case. It was cute, but something she wasn't really into seeing. She waited a moment, thinking they would just stop... Until they started using tongue. "Well!" She said, "l should go see if Uncle is here!" She said, loudly. Philip pulled back, a slight blush on his cheeks. "Sorry baby girl, l came in here to tell you, he's already here. I told Vanessa to go out and greet him."" What?! Daddy!" She reached down to grab her bag as he laughed." Calm down, Iris, he's not leaving without you. Lf you want, just go outside and l'll bring out both your bags and your sisters."" Okay, just don't ... stay here and make out all day. Please?" She left her bag and ran out of her room, heading outside. When she walked out the door, she saw her sister was already talking to Skit, making her whine. "Vanessa, you couldn't come get me first?" Iris ran over to them and walked by her sister, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Hello Uncle Skit!" Skit looked at Vanessa as she asked what he was planning for their weekend, her intent obvious." Well, if anyone asks, we're just going to my summer house for a week of swimming, fishing, and the same things we always do," he said with a sly smile. He pretended to scan the area for spies, before leaning in next to her ear and whispering, "But I think, since both of you are mature, adult women, we should have a little, mature, adult fun." Smirking, he whispered, "Like I think it might be time I take you girls into town for some high-society living, some parties, and maybe even some shopping at some five-star boutiques." Skit placed a kiss on the tip of her ear and hugged her tight, beaming as he saw her sister Iris walk towards them. He released his hold on Vanessa and then snatched Iris up into a deep embrace, giving her a peck on the lips like he did with her sister." And how's my gorgeous little homemaker?" He asked, holding her to him before he pulled Vanessa back in with them, "ready for a week full of surprises with your sister and me?" He took a moment to wipe Iris' hair back so he could get a look at her gorgeous eyes. Both of the sisters had beautiful eyes, a feature that Skit had been able to appreciate, even before they both blossomed into womanhood. As he held them in a tight embrace, he thought about the weight of what he was planning. Skit knew that there wasn't any backing out now. His Orc instincts and skilled senses were already detecting their mature pheromones, sensing their fertility, and creating fantasies of the two of them sharing his bed. In years past, Skit could just focus on Iris if Vanessa was driving him mad: this year, they were both viable mates as far as his wizard modified genes were concerned. The longest he could hold off was maybe a couple of days and Skit had already decided to be upfront with his desires once he was alone with them at his Summer house. Reluctantly pulling away, he opened the door to his coach, "Well ladies, once you've said your goodbyes and loaded your luggage, we can be on our way." "Lt's like he can read my mind." She thought as he whispered in her ear. And she thought she was going to have to beg him to take the two of them into town. That's a relief. Now, she didn't mind 'begging' Skit, it was just it took a while, most of the time to talk him into doing it. Her arms shot out and wrapped around his neck, pulling him close as he tugged her towards his body. "Thank you Uncle Skit!" She whispered, but it was clear by her tone that she was excited by the idea of heading into town. She turned her head at the sound of her sister and let go of him. When he set her down, she moved to the side, just as Iris jumped up and grabbed him. "He did call for us. It's not my fault you were to busy to hear him." She said, shrugging her shoulders slightly as she watched the two of them say their hellos. It wasn't long before Skit reached down and grabbed her up as well, holding both her and her sister against him. Venessa leaned up and kissed the tip of his chipped tusk before he pulled away again." Well ladies, once you've said your goodbyes and loaded your luggage, we can be on our way." Venessa turned to call her parents, but stopped at the sight of her father walked out of the house, carrying all their bags. His attention wasn't really on any of though. Lnstead it was on the blonde following closely behind him. Their mothers face was fluttered, and she couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from the ground. She would have been worried, if it wasn't for the small on her face. She knew that face all to well. Samantha looked that way whenever their father promised to 'play' with her. He used that word whenever he was around both Samantha and his daughter when they were younger and didn't know about sex. Now that their older though, he still likes to use it. It's like it's stick in his head. When he got close, Philip turned to his daughter. "Sorry we took so long girls, but l brought the bags." He shook his arms, showing use the bags. He looked at Uncle Skit. "Hello sir," He bowed his head, but kept his normal, bright smile. He was where she got her smile from. Or at least, that's what everyone says. Venessa reached out and grabbed hers bags, "Thank you." She went and took it to the coach, setting it inside, before going back and grabbing her sisters." So," Philip reached back, grabbing his wife by the edge of her dress. He tugged at it, pulling Sam towards him. When she was close, he wrapped his left arm around her waist. "Going to the summer house again, right?" His voice was friendly and calm, but it was clear by his eyes, he was waiting for a yes. Skit might be in charge of this land, but he was still the father. As much as he trusted this orc, which took a bit of time, about 3 years, when they first arrived here, he still wanted to know his girls would be safe. And as long as they were in a house, just with him, Philip was sure they would be. Iris looked at her sister as Skit held her. She waited until he wasn't paying attention before she stuck out her tongue at Vanessa. Which only seemed to get a smile as a response. "I'm a great Uncle Skit," she looked at him. "Moms been teaching me a few new recipes. There mostly pies, but l'm not complaining. You know how much l love cooking." When her sister was added to the hug, she pressed herself closer against him. Not that she didn't like sharing. She just loved Skit and everything about him. When it came to him, she was a tad bit greedy." Full of surprises?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. "Like, what kinds of surprises?" Normally, it was just the summer house and while it was always a great trip, never left much room for surprises. So she was pretty curious about what he was talking about. "Are you taking us somewhere different, maybe?" When their father came out, Luis stepped aside, so she was standing beside Skit, and crossed her arms behind her back, before starting to play with the small bow on her lower back. When her parents and her sister seemed distracted she reached up, grabbing the collar of his shirt, tugging him down so she could whisper in his ear. "L made you something Skit. It took me a while, but l managed to get it down just in time." She let him go so he could stand up straight. "Mother helped me with it!" She added quickly. Samantha stepped away from Philip and held out her arms to her daughter, "Think l can get a hug before you and your sister leave for the week?"" Of course," Iris walked over to her and wrapped her arms around her mothers slim waist. "I'll miss you mom.""l'll miss you to, baby girl." Sam kissed the top of her head and hugged her tight. While she did, she peeked up at Skit, waiting for him to answer Philip's question. Skit smiled at Vanessa as she thanked him and playfully shushed her, "Remember...let's keep keeping this a secret for now." Skit opened his eyes as he held his two favorite girls, holding back a chuckle when he caught her turning back to him. He might not have seen what she was doing, but he could guess. Iris had always been more than happy to fight for his attention. The Orc could scarcely remember a single vacation where Iris didn't try to sneak a little attention away from Vanessa. As he felt her wrap herself even tighter around him, Skit smiled at Iris, "Looks like all that cooking has given you a really strong grip, my dear," he chuckled, nuzzling his nose against her, "I can't wait to see what you've learned."" Surprises?" Skit whispered with a playful smile, "Did I say that?" He looked over at Vanessa, "She must be mistaken, I surely wouldn't take you both anywhere exciting, would I Vanessa?" he asked with a wink. When Iris excitedly told him about a surprise she had made for him, skit smiled and ruffled her hair, "My sweet little Iris, I can't wait to see what you've made." Skit watched the two girls go over to their parents and smiled, Philip and his wife might have been hard-sells at first, but they were a delight to have around, true, it had been difficult when Phil was younger to resist looking at Samantha with lust in his eyes. However, he was glad that he had learned to do that. Any pleasure he might have gotten from a night with Philip's wife was dwarfed by the friendship he had obtained from them and their help in gaining the trust of the other workers had been invaluable. When Philip asked his question, he gave his rehearsed answer, "That's right Philip, we're just going to the Summer house for a week. Since the girls are a bit older, we might take a couple of day trips, but we'll be back before nightfall every time, and I'll be watching their every step." He held out his hand to Philip to shake on what he was about to say, "Phil, I know these girls are your and Sam's pride and joy, but they're also pretty special to me. I promise you, they'll be safe and sound and just as happy as they are now when I bring them back next week." Wow!! Very good build up!! Glad to see your writer's block is over, Nicole. Have fun. Vanessa chuckled as she nodded her head, agreeing with him. "He's right, Iris," she looked at her sister. "I mean, when was the last time Skit really surprised us anyway? Lt's hard to be a good few years now." She shrugged her shoulders, "l bet he just found a new trail near the house or something. That or he bought some kind of animal for us to play with." As she put the bags into the coach, she kept an ear out, listening to Uncle Skit talk to her father, trying to reassure him that they were going to, in fact, be kept safe." Watch our every step?" Now, she loved Skit, she really did, but she was kind of hoping to be... on her own for a little bit. He wasn't young. Sure, he was only 22 years older than her, but that was still a pretty good-sized gap. What fun could she really have with him watching her." I wonder how hard it would be to sneak away from him?" She turned and looked at the four of them. Her father talking to her 'uncle', her mother hugging, saying her goodbye to Iris."l wonder how freaked out he would get?" Philip looked at his hand before looking back up at his face. It was clear by the look he gave him, that Skit was telling the truth. He would make sure his girls were safe as well as happy." Calm down, the girls have been on trips like this loads of time, and they've never come back harmed. Well, besides maybe a cut from falling, but l haven't seen one of those since the girls were 9."" Alright," Reaching out, he took hold of his hand, giving it a firm shake. Before pulling back though, he tugged him closer, tightening his hold on his hand. His voice lowered, as he gave his warning. "Skit, if either of my girls come back home in any way harmed, l will make sure you pay." Now, Philip was smaller than him. Not by a lot, but if they were to ever actually get in a fight, Skit would probably win in about 5 minutes. That is, if they weren't fighting about his daughter. He was sure if anything ever happened to them, he would start ripping off heads. He let his hand go and looked up, just in time to catch Vanessa walking by towards his wife. With a smile, he snatches out his arms and grabbed her, pulling her close. "Don't forget me, baby girl.""Uhh, dad!" She whined, trying to break out of his hold. He made sure it was tight though and started kissing her cheek and neck. "Ohhh stop it." He laughed and slowly released his hold on her. "What, so you'll hug Skit without fighting, but you won't let your old man say goodbye?" He joked." I never said l wasn't going to say goodbye!" She rubbed her cheek, walking over to her mother. "I just wasn't expecting you to grab me like that." She wrapped her arms around her mother, hugging her tight, "Bye mom." When she pulled back, she walked back to her father and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Bye daddy." She leaned up, giving him a quick kiss before letting him go and walking towards the coach. "Ready to go Skit?" Skit didn't allow Phillip's warning to outwardly faze him, though in the back of his mind he was irritated. Philip was someone he respected and Skit loved his daughters, but he was still his servant. Skit might have been considered a nicer master, but he was still an orc. Having an elf talk to him like that was a grave insult. Still, Skit managed to keep his thoughts in check and reminded himself that Phillip was just worried about his girls...and it wasn't like Skit didn't have plans for them that he wouldn't care for." I'll keep that in mind," He whispered, "Though trust me, your girls are perfectly safe with me." Skit then had to hold his thoughts of arousal in as he watched Philip kiss Vanessa. Seeing him kiss her neck made the orc imagine two things:1. That he was in Philipp's place. Vanessa had been an adult for three years now and had a body that was to die for. Even when he was only on his weekly visit, Phillip found himself wishing he could see Vanessa laid bare beneath him.2. That Phillip would keep going. That he would strip his baby girl down and fuck her while his family and master watched. While it wasn't a part of every goblin's interest, Orcs had a keen interest in incestuous couplings. When the Orcs were created, there were only a few, so the wizards who molded them gave them a high sex drive and aggression so they would force themselves on any potential mates. Knowing this could cause trouble down the line, the wizards added one thing to their makeup: the inability to become aroused by anyone who even shared a fraction of their bloodline. Even if an Orc was at a third cousin's house who was more nymph than orc and the two of them drank heavily while naked and covered in warm oil, they wouldn't even feel slightly aroused by one another. However, this backfired in a couple of ways, First, this didn't extend to adopted children. While Orcs were very protective of children, regardless of race or relation, they had no problem sleeping with them once they reached adulthood if they weren't related. It wasn't uncommon for an Orc's first spouse to have been a stepparent or step-sibling who was raised right alongside them. In fact Skit had happily given his virginity on his 18th birthday to an Aunt he was only related to by marriage. Second, it made Orcs fascinated with the idea of sex between relatives. While it may have been taboo for the fair races to engage in incest, they could physically do it. Back during the more savage age of Orcs, it was popular to make families of captured prisoners engage in sex for the entertainment of their captors. Even now, the height of sexual bliss for most orcs was to find servants who were related or prostitutes who promised they were and have an orgy with them. Yet, Skit managed to keep his thoughts in check and smiled at his "niece." "Yes Vanessa, I'm ready. Get your little buns inside the coach with your sister, and we'll be off." he said with a smile Luis waited until Vanessa was walking towards the coach before she walked over to her father and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Bye daddy," she leaned up and kissed his lips. Lt wasn't a quick kiss, but them again, it wasn't like it wasn't a father daughter kiss. It was just... a tad bit more loving them most daughters, especially 18-year-old daughters would give. When she pulled back, she was rewarded with a second kiss as his arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. When he pulled back, he looked at Vanessa, "You see? Your sister doesn't mind giving me a proper goodbye kiss!" He joked as he haggard her tighter. "L'll miss you, baby girl. I can't wait till you get back." After a few moments, he let her go, "Be safe, okay?"" We're with Skit. We'll be completely safe." She walked over to her uncle and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the coach. "Come on! We're all ready. We've said goodbye. Let's go!" She tugged at his arm, trying to pull him towards the coach. Not that it was even possible unless he wanted to go. While Skit wasn't huge, he was big. If he didn't want to go, there was no way she could make him." Have fun!" Samantha called as she walked over to Philip and grabbed his hand. She looked at Skit and gave him a warm, sweet smile. "Please, keep them safe. The girls have been waiting for weeks for this trip, so their both pretty... excited. They might be a bit... wild. So, be careful."" You make it sound like we're both going to gang up on him!" Iris said with a roll of her eyes. She let his hand go and climbed into the coach after her sister. Both sisters sat beside each other before pushing their trunks to the side." So," she looked at Vanessa. "What's the surprise? What's Skit planning?" Skit watched Iris kiss Philip goodbye, his mind once again wishing he could be in Philip's place. The Orc smiled lovingly when Iris tugged on his arm. He could tell how eager she was and, like Vanessa's happiness, her eagerness was infectiousness. He allowed the small elf to drag him along but turned around at Samantha's voice. Skit smiled at her and nodded, "Don't worry, Sam, if I couldn't handle these two girls, I wouldn't be taking them any farther than my house." The older Orc laughed at Iris's comment, sometimes it did feel like the two of them would work in tandem to trick him into giving them more leeway or gifts. This time, he was hoping that he could use their enthusiasm and tricks to his advantage: maybe they'd be willing to at least humor the idea of seeing him as more than just a friendly uncle who liked bouncing them on his knees. Skit waved goodbye to Philip and Samantha, hoping that he'd be able to talk to them in the same friendly tone a week from now. He then sat on the other side of the coach, closing the door. He waited for the coach to start rolling and for Vanessa to answer Iris' question before he spoke. Furthermore, he slowly opened the picnic basket, withdrawing a bottle of aged wine that he had taken from his cellar just that morning. The Orc had a small table that folded down on his side of the coach which had several flutes that were tied down to it. Skit filled the flutes with the wine and smiled. The wine was fairly light, even if they drained the bottle the worst that could happen was them getting a small buzz. Skit was fully set on sleeping with Vanessa and Iris, but he was going to play fair: when he made his play, they would be fully aware and he would be gentle. Even if they both refused, he'd play nice. He'd only pressure them if he had to." So girls," he said, smiling, "Since we're all adults here, how about a drink? I have some snacks in the basket if you like." Skit held out two flutes to his nieces, his desire absent, "So, what would you girls like to do first when we get there?" "Surprise?" Vanessa looked at her sister as she crossed her legs, making her dress ride up her legs a bit. She looked at Skit and smiled, "l have no idea what he's planning besides taking us into town. Like he said. We could be doing anything." She looked back at her sister. "If you want more details on the matter, you'll have to ask him and see if he'll tell you." Her voice slowly trailed off as she saw Skit messing with a bottle of wine and a few glasses. It wasn't really a surprise to see him with wine. He usually had wine on their way to the house. He's never used more than one glass though." So girls, since we're all adults here, how about a drink? L have some snacks in the basket if you'd like." When he held the glass out, she was hesitated for a moment. Was he playing with them? He'd never offered them wine before. And she was 21 now!"l guess it is kind of fair this way. L mean, the two of us can't drink wine in front of Iris. Not without pissing her off." Reached out, she grabbed both glasses, giving one to her sister. "Thank you Uncle Skit!" She looked down at the glass and shook it slightly, watching the liquid swoosh around before she brought it to her mouth. She took a small sip, just took get a taste of it. It was actually pretty good. Lt wasn't... strong per se. So, even if she had never had a drink before she was fairly sure she wasn't going to get drunk. Her parents loved wine, and she'd only seen them drunk probably... three times. They weren't really light weights. So she was pretty sure she wasn't either." I want to look around a bit when we get there. Just to see if anything had changed at all." She said. Lt was the same thing she always said, every year. She didn't really want to see what had changed. The only thing that ever really changes, is the animals that live there. Namely, all the new babies that were recently born. No, the real reason she wanted to look around is because she wanted to know if anyone else had been there. Normally, Iris was the jealous one, but Vanessa got just as jealous. Not when it came to her sister. She was used to sharing things with her. But when it came to other girls and Skit. A lot of people called Skit 'uncle', but no one was actually as close to him as they were. And she wanted to keep it that way! Iris was in on this two. As soon as they got there, Iris would distract Skit while she looks around the house. Making sure there weren't any added clothes, mainly female clothing. No extra bedding, or messed up bedding. And make sure the house didn't smell all girly." But after that, l'm all yours! We can do whatever you want!" Skit held back a chuckle as he watched Vanessa hesitate. While the girls got along, it was only natural for her to be annoyed that she had been denied something for longer than her little sister. Skit could sympathize, it had been agony to not approach Vanessa these past three years and at least make his intentions known and caress her like a woman. Yet, while the orc wanted to cast the role of uncle away, he couldn't bare to make Iris uncomfortable or ignore her over Vanessa. If he was going to become one of their lovers, he was going to be that for both of them." I want to look around a bit when we get there. Just to see if anything had changed at all." Skit frowned for a split second: while he hadn't made an actual dungeon, he had gotten some of his trusted servants to convert one room in the basement to a...love nest with some items that might make his intentions clear. The door would be locked of course, but he didn't want to take the chance that Vanessa would get suspicious. Still, getting the girls separated would be a big plus, so Skit relented with a nod, "Okay Vanessa but don't try to sneak into the basement room that's locked. There's a surprise for the both of you there that I don't want you to see yet." He said with a smile. Looking over at Iris, Skit grinned, "So Iris, are you going to do anything special?"

_Uncle Orc_ (closed for HornyPussycat21 and Sugar_Cookie189)|rating:2.0

Oh shit! Revenge. (MinaKitsuke & seeker619)

After looking over her notes for the day, Lilly ties her light brown hair back and touches up some of the eyeliner around her dark green eyes. She smiles at herself in the mirror across the room, she'd worked hard to get here. The previous bosses had been easy to seduce with her pronounced curves and tempting lips. Finally, now since she was in charge, things went her way, and no objections. She knew her employee's hated her, and she liked things that way, she also didn't care if they knew how she'd got to the top. Lilly was a bitch, and she loved it. My name is Terry Derringer, and I've been working at Tracker's industrial supplies for 5 years now. A company bought out by Bayer chemicals we have received lots of money to develop and extend our reach on the industrial chemical market. I do the marketing for the company. The office I now work in is bigger and much more hospitable than the one before we bought out, but it comes with a real pain in the ass by the name of Lilly. She is a rich-spoiled brat who was cursed with looks that most men can't even imagine being able to look at all day long. That is how she has slept her way to the manager in our office. She also makes twice the money an office manager would make elsewhere. Not only that but she has no college degree, no business experience, and has the personality of a vicious China. She has my good friend Lisa Hart get her coffee and if it is not there in time or made the right way she is called every name in the book. The abuse is terrible, but I have just finalized plans to put our vicious stepmother out to pasture. At least either out of the office or in a lower rank. Lisa who often left in tears is very anxious to go on with the plan. In my spare time I have developed a drug that will not affect the victim for about 4 hours which is good in this situation because that means when she gets her usual three o'clock coffee I can have Lisa Micky it with the drug. This means it won't begin to work until seven when she will feel a little ill and hot and flushed. A half hour later she will pass out. It is when she is passed out that I can give her any command I want and when I tell her to wake she will do it. I also have Lilly's house key which I took from its brilliant hiding space under the front door mat and had it copied. Now all I need to do is set up hidden cameras all around the house to get everything taped when it happens, and then we black male her. Showing her only a little evidence at first, and demanding small things like being treated better. Then we will show her more evidence and she will have to be paying me off 25% of her salary which is still more than I make. Then I will show her more evidence and she will do the same for Lisa. There is no end to where we can go with this as she is very wealthy now after pulling in six figures for 3 years, and all the while unmarried and childless. I'm so excited I can hardly wait and by the wink Lisa gave me either can she. It was an early morning start for Lilly, she'd had to get up at 9am to go to some pointless meeting. Most days shed sleep in until about 11am and wander in the office by around 1pm. The meeting was as dull and meaningless as she'd thought, some crap about how everyone was doing great and to keep up the good work. Coming out the meeting room 2 hours later, Lilly scoffed under her breath, "I know I'm good, I don't need to be told." Returning to her office, she shut the door behind her and gave a ridiculous pose in the mirror imitating the boss of the entire company; "I'm so good at doing math, I like chemicals, haw haw." Sneering she turned heel and walked to her desk, "That guy is so full of himself, I should really consider doing him. His wife's a bitch though..." She's interrupted by a sharp knock on the door, "What?" she exclaims, annoyed again. Expecting to see that girl Lisa she tosses back her hair defiantly and purses her lips, waiting. Lisa made Lilly her coffee as per usual at three O'clock just the way she likes it. Rarely however does she say anything unless it is a complaint. Lisa was however feeling especially perky today as she knew that all of our plans were going to the test tonight." Good afternoon Lilly. You look absolutely stunning in that outfit. Here is your coffee just the way you like it." She carefully placed it on the desk not wanting to spill anything." Knowing that soon this boss of hers was going to be putty in her hands she got somewhat bold." Is there anything else I can do for you my queen. I have work to do but my main job as you have demonstrated is serving you."" I have a question also. It's personal, but I am seeing this guy and I know you sleep with lots of guys so tell me what does a guy want most in the sack? What do they ask for that you won't give them? How about what you give out reluctantly. Just wanted advice from a pro." She couldn't wait to hear her uproar. She knew she couldn't be fired or even written up for asking personal questions as she didn't have to answer and of course she made no advances on Lilly. But it was bold especially for a stuck up bitch with a big mouth. However, for once she wasn't going to cry. She might even laugh. As Lisa entered, Lilly stood up, letting her show of her outfit (properly. Lilly always wore extremely sexy clothing, she loved to get attention from people, it made her feel so much better about herself, and hearing Lisa compliment her too made her ego even bigger. At Lisa's strange snappy tone, Lilly scowled. Outrage rushed to her face and she looked the girl up and down before answering, "Who do you think you are talking to me like that? Give me that--" Lilly grabbed the cup of coffee and took one large gulp out of it - just enough to quench her current thirst before walking over to the bin and tipping the rest inside it." Oh sorry, did you make that for me," She whined in a mocking tone, "but it just wasn't good enough. Now, get out of here, and make me another one!" She yelled. "And, if I ever hear you talk to me like that again you grimy little witch, I will complain and have you fired!" Lilly rushed over to Lisa and shoved her out of the room, slamming the door behind her in a fury, and as always, "And I bet you don't even have a boyfriend!" she screeched through the door. Lisa knew I had plenty of the drug as she knew this whole thing would go on for some time. She came out of the office laughing her ass off. She told me it took everything in her not to laugh in the bitch's face. Did you see that slutty outfit she is wearing? Many women wouldn't go on their honeymoon with that thing." I knew that part wasn't true, but her point was loud and clear. She then told me she took a big gulp and dumped the rest. "Looks like she will get a double dose today which just means I will fuck her twice as long" I said laughing as Lisa joined in. Lissa made another cup of her coffee and I added the dose. "There she goes Hun. But be nice this time. Like you usually are." I lipped her a kiss from my chair and watched her head into see Lilly." Sorry boss. I meant no offense I was...............well I apologize. Here is your coffee ma'am. Am I free to go or is there anything else?" As Lisa walked in this time, Lilly eyed her up and down as she talked. Lisa had quite a nice body, and if Lilly had been into women properly, she might have even considered toying with her. Keeping her lips tightly sealed as she put the coffee on her desk, for the second time, Lilly paused before answering, letting the stillness hang on the air. Her green eyes flared a little as she said calmly, "Dear little Lisa, you always have things to do for me. I have Mr. Permit on hold right now, and I want you to tell him I'm too busy to deal with his issues of..." Pausing to find the right phrase she licked her lip lightly before continuing, "My services..."" But that is all. After you've done that you can get on with anything you haven't already completed today." She raised an eyebrow at Lisa before pulling out a pen from the holder and started signing some documents on her desk without looking at the girl as she left the room and closed the door. Lisa kept her eyes down most of the time during her second visit to give Lilly her afternoon coffee. For the most part she kept her head down only looking at her boss when necessary. She did not want a repeat of the last visit when the coffee was disposed off after a long sip. She knew from what Terry had told her that the toxin was an oil and as such would float to the top of the coffee where it was surely soaked into the whipped cream which Lilly used instead of cream, or half-and-half. Therefore, a good deal of the poison was probably already consumed after Lilly's first large gulp. She was looking down at her shoes thinking that the initial dose and the full dose in the current cup of coffee would make her so drugged by tonight she would probably try and seduce her mother if given the chance. With this thought she again stifled a laugh. Lissa was no longer afraid of Lilly but wanted to avoid suspicion. She had in the past left work in tears after being told off by Lilly, but those days were over she thought with great satisfaction. Today was casual Friday and Lisa had on a pair of tight jeans which displayed her perfectly formed heart shaped ass. Her shoes were black pattern leather, and she was wearing a snug white T-shirt from that said, "Smile. Find someone and get horizontal with a stranger! This was very un Lisa like as even something that harmless was what Lisa tended to avoid. Not only would she have found it unprofessional, even on a casual day, but also any reference to sex would strictly be prohibited by order of the Lisa Morality committee. Although she was sweet as ever her sexuality was starting to bubble and I wondered if she inhaled some of the unfinished batch of poison as it was cooking at my place when I asked her to join me at my place for drinks and dinner." So Lisa what do you plan on doing with the soon-to-be helpless victim? Any ideas." I knew she had some, but it would be very telling what she would say to me. Lisa has always been bisexual, but she was still in the closet about her affairs with woman. But not with me. I knew what turned her engine on and what kept it on with both sexes. I just asked to see if there was any noticeable difference in her since I cooked up the formula. Her answer might tell me. Lilly had loads of write-ups to do and was getting annoyed. She took several swigs of the coffee on her desk before starting on them. There were only two hours left to go, and she had to get through about 6 papers in order to get them sent out today to arrive on Monday. She looked at herself in the mirror, admiring herself. I would totally do me if I could... She shook her head before getting back to writing. The coffee had actually tasted nice today, both times Lisa had made them. Lilly would never tell her this though, she'd never tell anyone that they'd done well. Lilly had no friends and never had a relationship that lasted more than one or two nights. Things had been working well, and she'd been able to move into her own apartment about a month ago. Quite a nice one too. It had a large open living room which lead into the kitchen with two bedrooms and an en suite bathroom for each. As manager, she'd been gaining a lot of money, so everything in her home was expensive, and she had a maid to come in and clean the place each day, just because she could. It was almost finishing time, and she'd been able to get through only 5 of the papers. Looking at the clock she scowled, let Edward complain about it if he wants, I'll make sure he is satisfied if I have to... Standing, Lilly put each letter into an envelope and collected her bag from under the desk before walking to the door and switching the light off. "Lisa!" She called, "Take these and have them mailed to arrive for Monday." She waited for Lisa to come over to her. Lisa and I were both surprised that Lilly had stayed in her office since she was given her new cup of coffee. "Lisa. Do you really think she has been working all this time? I've never seen her locked in her office this long. Usually every half hour she walks out of the office, never failing to drop something so she could bend over in front of us and either showing off her firm tight ass, or giving us a perfect view of her panties, or what passed as panties." She even had the gall one day to say that not everyone was gifted with her perfect body, and that we should not judge ourselves by comparing our bodies to hers. "You will cry every time as there are few that match my looks. So if your by chance have your perv natures come to the surface take heart. Both of you could find someone. Even if they are fat dumb and stupid just like yourselves."" Lissa, I think I am going to check on her and make sure she is alive. I want to make sure the drug caused no allergic reaction." I walked back to her office trying to think of something that would make her laugh. Not at me but at something...............but what? I walked in and acted surprised by her outfit and did just as Lisa did and complemented her. She seemed fine just aggravated as usual and tired. Then I decided I couldn't resist. "Hey, sorry, but what happened to that outfit. Did you not have it cleaned professionally? It looks like it was made for a woman half your girth. At that she was not only visibly shaken, maybe hurt, but to say she was mad was an understatement. I put the icing on the cake by smiling at her avalanche of four-letter words and derogatory comments she aimed at me. She saw me smiling the whole time and began to comment on it, but another wave of lethargy must have taken over as she forgot how to complete the sentence. Maybe it is slowly slipping into her bloodstream. But I could tell from past tests this was normal. Slipping into hers faster than it would normally. Then I thought it must be the extra dose." Listen I don't have time for you to sit there and admire both my body and my clothes. Besides, you will never have it so don't torture yourself. But who could blame you if you did?" She then picked up her Gucci bag and headed for the door. "Make sure you two finish all I have given you along with this report. My hectic schedule kept me from it. Now get away from the door, so I can get the hell out of here and away from you two dim witted trolls." She walked out and everything she said only made me happier. She had no idea what was going to happen to her in just a couple of short hours. How she would eat her words and beg me for sexual favors and compliments. She would do the same with Lilly. I began to imagine the exact approach I would take once I found her passed out. What would I order her to do." Come on sweetheart" I said to Lisa. "Let's go have dinner at that new restaurant downtown. Expensive but I hear the food and drinks are wonderful. Besides in a month or so we will have no problems at all affording it. Maybe you can give me some ideas on what to do to bitch baby tonight. In fact if you would like to watch and possibly give me some ideas please do................. By time, we finished dinner we knew that in about an hour she would be out cold. We had another round of drinks laughing so hard we were crying as we discussed some of what we each would do. Lilly got home, her head was feeling a little dizzy. She changed into her sexy nightwear (before curling up on the sofa and watching something on the t.v. She'd made herself a small dinner and only just started to wash up when she could feel her eyes getting heavy. Huh... it's not that late.she thought before walking over again to the sofa and sitting on it. Lilly could barely keep her eyes open as she sat there. Things started getting blurry in the room, why couldn't she see the t.v. correctly? Even as she tried to look at her hand in front of her face, her eyes closed, and she fell onto the sofa with one leg hanging off. Lisa decided to go with me and watch as we both sought out our revenge on the boss from the lowest level of hell. I let us in through the front door with the key I had copied. We walked in and into the living room. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes went wide when I saw her passed out on the couch. I knew it would work, but there was something about seeing her there helpless before me that started to make my mouth water. The way she was dressed, well I don't think anyone could have found a sexier negligee. It was milk chocolate brown and was seen though almost throughout. She also had on a delectable pair of lace thong panties. I had to give to her the orders. I approached her and knelt down beside the couch. Her leg was hung over the side. I ran my hands over the silky softness of her skin. My cock was already starting to harden. I undid the knot that tied both sides of her gown together. It was located fright on her sternum between her too beautiful mounds. I took some time squeezing them and decided it was time to whisper into her ear and command her. I could tell she was in a deep sleep by this time as she was snoring lightly." Lilly listens to me carefully. You are to follow any orders I give you or Lisa from work gives you. Anytime you hear either of our voices in your sleep you will follow the commands given."" The first set of commands will not pertain to this evening. They will pertain to everyday you are still working with us. First you will refer to myself as Master and Lisa as My Queen. Next you will restrain the lust you have for Lisa which you now have. However, you will become a kiss ass to her. Occasionally you will not be able to control yourself, and you will do something quick and sexual. You will also always lust after me at work. You will constantly feel inferior to me and unworthy of my attention. Still you will make repeated attempts to seduce me. Finally, you will get up two hours early every day and do one file of work for both Lisa and me."" Now for tonight. I will use a vibrator on you to wake you up, and it will drive you insane. When you orgasm you will go back to sleep and I will carry you to your bed. There I will tie you up spread eagle legs spread as well as arms. Although you secretly lust after both of us you will fight me at every turn as the knots that secure you will not be that tight. Then You will beg for, not ordinary sex, but the kind of sex you have fantasized about and never told anyone. This is once you lose our wrestling match which you will do your best not to do. When the sex is over you will fall immediately back and into a deep sleep dreaming of what happened tonight but not remembering anything accept your commands." Going down on her, I licked her through her panties and even then I could smell her essence. I then pulled off her panties and went to town swirling clockwise, counterclockwise, fast, slow, then tongue fucking her while messaging her glistening clit. She was aroused and going crazy. I then took the vibrator to her and doubled her pleasure until she sat up moaning loudly and passing out. I carried her upstairs Lilly had heard a familiar voice talking to her while she slept... Wasn't that Terry from work.? Her head was hurting a bit as he spoke, she couldn't open her eyes, she wassailed.... Lilly felt hands touching her waist, her panties were pulled off, what was happening?! Tongue. It was on her clit and it feltSOgood! Her breathing got quicker as she lay there, her body writhing under this men touch.Oh, my.... shit... He was using a vibrator, Lilly opened her eyes, and she'd guessed correctly, the vibrations made moans burst from her lips, it sent her emotions flying in her head, it was all so fast, Lilly felt so much pleasure it was unreal! After she came, she felt so very tired and passed out again, falling onto the sofa once more. Before I went down on Lilly's limp form I spread the leg she had on the floor out and away from the couch while taking the leg on the couch and lifting it up and laying it over my shoulder. Then I feasted. The smell, the taste, all of it, was perfect. Lilly soon began to moan softly at first and then by the time I was tongue fucking her those moans became louder. It was time for the vibrator. It was an especially good choice as her eyes opened almost immediately, wide as saucers as she looked down to see what was happening. She rested her head back down while her moans in reaction to the vibrator reached a feverish pitch. Her head was thrashing from side to side and her platinum blond hair swaying in tandem. The look of her hair reminded me of a snow filled tornado. I was especially surprised by how quickly she came, but it had to be the double dose of the drug or our so-called man-eater hadn't had any cock in quite some time. She was now out cold with both her arm and her leg hanging over the side. I grabbed her by the wrists and pulled her towards me and slung her pliable form over my shoulder. "Come on Lisa, I've decided on a surprise for you." When I said this Lisa looked almost nervous before her face broke out in a wide grin. I knew what I had planned would make her nervous, but I had taught her what she needed to know. I lay Lilly on the bed and decided not to tie her down. Instead, I lifted some Benita balls from my pocket and popped them in my mouth. Benita Balls are small metallic balls that when inside the body move with the body colliding which causes vibrations within leading to a constant state of arousal and depending on how much movement will almost always result in an orgasm. With my tongue I slipped them into her inviting cunt and smiled back at Lisa. I told Lisa what I had planned. I explained to her that when she awakes she will think that wrestling you down and knocking you out she will have sex with either of us whenever she wants. An incentive because if I told her she got the sex by losing she would purposely knock herself out I thought laughing to myself. She will also be told that if she loses she must confess her deepest sexual desire which she hopes never to reveal not to mention have to do. She will then have to tell us what it is and what she wants to do to us or what she wants us to do to her." Listen Lisa. Have no fear. Those Benita balls will have her so sexually frustrated she won't be able to concentrate much at all on figuring out how to knock you out. She will be weak. Especially in the legs. Once she falls, which I am guessing she will, get on her back, rolling her over if you have to, and wrap your arm around her neck applying just enough pressure to cut the blood flow to her brain for about twenty-second. After that she will pass out and you can taunt her. Plus I can watch. Next time you make up a scenario." I walked up to Lilly and whispered in her ear again. "This is your Master. We have had a change in plans. When you wake up you will despise Lisa as you always have. You will attack her knowing that if you knock her out you can have both of us at any time any way you want. If she knocks you out you must reveal a desire or fantasy you have which you never want to tell anyone. You will tell us exactly what you want one or both of us to do to you or what you want to do to one or both of us. Remember if you lose that when you wake up you with think that both Lisa and I are all you have ever desired to be sexually satisfied.""OK Lisa, wake her up and stand back. And thanks for doing this as I always wanted to watch the two of you wrestle." I winked at her and gave her a peck on the lips. She looked hungry. Lilly lay on a bed now, she was still slightly confused as she still could not move. Her body was telling her she was tired, but her mind was very awake. Lilly heard Terry talking to her again. His voice still sounded slightly different to her, more attractive maybe? She wasn't sure. A sudden shuddering of her body awoke her. Lilly saw Lisa before her and felt a burning desire to attack the girl, but-- Lilly's eyes opened wide, something inside her, it was vibrating. Lilly moaned lightly at the sensation it sent through her body, she looked up and Lisa who was watching her intently. Lilly bit her lip, trying to ignore this feeling within her as she got onto all fours, but it was too much. Closing her eyes, again she tried to suppress the feelings. Lilly saw Terry standing in the corner laughing and felt suddenly confused, she tried to grab at Lisa's arm but suddenly her body jerked as a vibration coursed through her which caused her to cry out. She balanced herself in the same position as much as possible, as to not make any more vibrations occur. Lisa is an attractive woman in her own right, and we were close having to endure the same bitchy boss day after day. A boss which we loathed but yet we lusted for every time we looked at her. We were both looking at her now at the same time as her eyes opened after my command. Little did Lisa know, and I did this with no malicious intent, was that I laced her Dani water with a very small amount of the drug given to Lilly in a much larger dose. I knew that Lisa wouldn't mind because she hinted a few times to me, that she wouldn't mind if I made her mine with the drug one night. I knew when she saw the tapes which we would watch together that she would laugh. The lower dose of the drug merely makes suggestions made commands. It does not bring about the excessive lust that the larger dose does nor does it cause the victim to pass out. Lissa was looking at Lilly who was doing her best to act like a statue to avoid the sexually frustrating sensation burning between her legs. I gave Lisa her command." Lissa. You need to knock her out now. If you don't know what to do this is it. First grab her from behind and lift her up and shake her body as much as you can. She will go nuts. Then you can knock her out by squeezing the breath from her lungs, or you can give her the choke hold. Do something NOW. If you win I will have a prize for you............ Lilly heard their conversation but didn't understand what he's been asking her, she was too busy focusing on her stillness. It felt so strange, being here with these two, somehow ethereal. She heard the commanding tone in Terry's voice as he talked to Lisa, but still couldn't quite focus on what they were on about. Lilly looked down the underside of herself, managing to not move the rest of body in doing so and noticed she wasn't wearing her panties anymore. A flash of memory came to her as she remembered the previous emotions flushing through her body. She looked up as Terry finished whatever he'd been saying to Lisa and almost waited to see what would come next. Even after commanding Lisa to do what was asked she had not gone into action. I knew the drug was working, so I imagine that she was waiting for the right moment. I looked at Lilly, and she had a look of confusion, excitement, and anticipation, yet she too remained as still as the wind before a storm rushes in changing the landscape of everything forever. I grew bored with waiting and decided to go through the closets, drawers and a large chest that sat at the foot of her bed. For the most part it was just what you would expect. Clothes, books, (My jaw dropped thinking she could read.) The title of the book was How To land the man of your dreams." Ha, I had to laugh as she needed a manual while all the long bragging about how men just threw themselves at her. I flipped through the pages and there was a sex survey. It listed all of her likes and dislikes in bed. I decided to keep the book. Underneath another book entitled "Controlling the competition and your man" she had highlighted quite a bit." Physical dominance of any woman who shows interest in your man is essential to show both your superiority and your sex driven nature which forces you to fight at every turn for the man of your dreams. Provided that is what you are." Another line dealt with controlling your man. "What, do you want your man to control you in bed as he controls the remote for the television. Of course not. The feminine way to take control is in the bedroom. The quickest route to success there is to never let him have his way. Or, more precisely, give him what you want and make sure he likes it. He is a man for God's sake ladies. What don't they like when it comes to sex? As woman, we are more discerning, more like connoisseurs of the sexual arts. But never give in to his request unless it is his birthday, or you bribed him with the act to do your housework. Just make sure it doesn't happen to often, or he will think he is the master of the bedroom." What drivel I thought. I looked over at Lisa who was still frozen in place. This was ridiculous now." Lissa I am no longer asking." I turned her face to look me in the eyes. "You will charge her now and attempt to knock her out. Make sure she loses consciousness slowly as the last thing she sees will be the face of the woman she despises, and she will be forever humiliated as she will be filled with doubt about whether it happened." I pulled her to her feet. "Now Lisa" Lilly watched as Lisa come towards her, and a sudden movement of her arm around Lilly's neck surprised her. What is happening. Thought Lilly as the woman she so despised turned her onto her back so that her head was on the woman's chest and this little movement sent Lilly squirming, and she used one hand to try to get Lisa off her while the other was down touching between her thighs as if to try and stop the vibrations that were being caused from there. Lilly moaned and arched her back, trying to break free of Lisa grasp by pushing herself onto the girl. The movement made Lilly whimper, but it worked as Lisa fell back onto the bed. With Lilly now on top, Lisa looked to Terry for help. Lilly hand managed to loosen the girls grip on her in the fall and had turned round so she was above her, hands and legs on either side. Lilly leaned down and a bit deeply into her shoulder making Lisa scream in pain and grip Lilly's back in an attempt to pull her off, but Lilly was too strong for her. Lissa called out to Terry just before Lilly managed to grip around the girls neck to try and cut the girls air flow and make her pass out. I was waiting all along for Lilly to attack me, and it never occurred. Instead, Lilly was struggling to keep still. Every movement caused her the balls lodged between her legs to vibrate leaving her momentarily weak as she moaned in pleasure. However, it wasn't too much fun as she knew that she wanted so badly to wipe that smirk off of Lisa's prissy little face, but she couldn't attack her without being wracked by pre-orgasmic waves leaving her defenseless. Her face was taunt displaying wide eyes blazing hot and filled with and odd combination of pleasure and hate. Seeing she was not going to do anything this side of soon I decided to attack Lilly first. I landed on top of the bitch and rolled her over on her back. My body trying to pin her down as my head rested on the soft cushion of her breasts. Lilly whimpered and dropped her hand between her thighs in any attempt to extinguish the fire that was burning within. In spite of the disabling waves of pleasure crashing against her inner core Lilly was able to forcefully arch her back in such a way that I was thrown of off of her much as a cowboy is thrown from a bucking bull. Lilly seized her opportunity and claimed my former position on top. I looked over at Terry in hopes of getting some help, but he only cheered me on. For all the good that would do I thought. Now things got dirty as Lilly, now on top of me, leaned down and a bit into my shoulder. Screaming in surprise and pain I tried to rap hold of Lilly's back and pull her off but to no avail. The woman was just too strong. I called out in pure desperation to Terry as I was clearly losing this battle. Then Lilly clamped her hands around my neck and I knew soon I would appear lifeless in her grip. I knew what oxygen I had would be all I got until I either passed out or freed myself. Instead of trying to buck her off, or trying to muscle her hands away from my neck, I decided to change tactics. It wasn't easy either as every instinct in my body screamed for me to put everything into freeing my airway from her tightening grasp. With Lilly's hands around my neck I reached forward and grabbed Lilly's tits and squeezed them as hard as possible before finding her nipples and twisting both hard and fast. As she screamed out in pain I sat up as fast and as close to Lilly as I could and shoved her off of me with all of my might. Her body went tumbling backwards as I tried to mount her............. Lilly squealed as Lisa squeezed her breasts and nipples and released her neck a little just enough for Lilly to be pushed back onto the bed groaning both in pain and pleasure. Her breath shuddered through her body, as she weakly tried to recover whilst staying as still as possible. As Lisa climbed on top of her, she squirmed to break free, but couldn't due to the vibrations making her body spasm. Lilly glared up at the woman but was unsure how to break free, so lay there trying not to move too much. Once I was able to get Lilly off of my by twisting and squeezing her tits I saw my opportunity. The jolting that Lilly's body took when falling off of the top must have sent the balls into a frenzy of vibrations leaving her to only attempt her best to stay still and wait for it to pass. I was fortunate to jump right on top of her at that point. In one smooth movement I leaned forward and swooped my arm behind Lilly's neck and I began to tighten the hold like a vice. Every few seconds a few sounds, grunts, or moans would escape her lips until I was fully locked around her neck and all oxygen to her brain was cut off. She first turned red, and then her eyes rolled back before closing. The pure excitement and satisfaction I got from choking that self-important bitch into unconsciousness was amazing. I felt like I was walking on air. OH yes, this felt fine, and I knew that things would get much, much better still. I looked over at Terry with a glowing smile. "How'd I do sweetheart? More importantly what do we have next?" Lilly felt a grip around her neck and she struggled slightly, but stopped as soon as an explosion of vibrations erupted from below. The hands around her neck grew tighter and tighter, the air just wasn't getting into her lungs. Lilly could feel herself panicking, and she grasped at Lisa's hands. She was too weak. The air supply in her chest was failing, and she could tell she was close to passing out, the little black dots in front of her, swimming around her eye sockets only confirmed her fears. Lilly was out cold, again. Lisa was still jumping up and down in excitement. "I knocked the bitch out. Our cold. Messes!" I hugged her again and asked her if she remembered what comes next now that she won. I thought I saw a look of doubt or confusion as if to say, "Wait. Why did I knock her out anyway? What was the bet?" But those words never came. Instead, I told her what was next up." She is already drugged Lisa so when she is sleeping, knocked out, or unconscious you can command her as unconsciousness opens her mind up for commands. Tell her to remember the bet and the match. Then tell her to pay up. In this case that means she will tell you what she wants to do to one or both of us or what she wants one or both of us to do to her. Tell me every detail when I get back. I'm going to get a beer. Want one?" Lilly lay with legs spread and her arms loosely by her sides. Her breath was light and even as she lay there, you'd have to be close to see she was actually still living. Her lips were parted evenly, making her face look innocent and very attractive. After Lisa and I stopped our little celebration we both looked over the beautiful loser. Her legs spread wide as to say "please enter". Her gently parted lips also said the same thing I thought to myself suppressing a laugh. Before Lilly woke from I commanded her,"You are now the loser, and you have to tell me one thing you would dread doing sexually. Once you tell us you will do it with Lisa and me or just one of us. We will either do something sexual or to you, play out a dreaded fantasy of yours, or you can do something to one or both of us that you detest. You must be honest, and you now have thirty seconds to start telling us what your dreaded fantasy is. starting now................." Lilly sat up and stared at Lisa then at Terry before replying, "I would dread to endure pain over pleasure." Her voice wavered as she spoke, showing a slight resistance to his orders but definitely not enough to break free. Once she'd finished talking, Lilly fell back onto the bed again as if exhausted, her breath shallow and timid. She would hate to endure pain over pleasure. She was answering a question about something sexual that she would dread. So her answer automatically told me she associates the two in one way or another. This was supposed to be a punishment for her but IIN spite of the fact I am raping her, I'm not going to cause her physical pain unless she wanted it. Certainly we would never do anything dangerous. Now what to do................. To begin with you will have a lot of fun. You will now masturbate in front of us knowing you hate us but also knowing we are your superiors in all ways. Now begin Lilly's eyes tore open, and she sat slouched against the wall. Her panties already removed from before her, finger found no trouble as it pressed down on her clit, rubbing it in circles before slipping her middle finger inside the hole. Lilly closed her eyes tight, trying her best to imagine she was alone and didn't have the two she hated so badly watching her do such things to herself. After Lilly masturbated for Lisa and I she went completely limp looking much the way she did before she started. She was slumped on the floor, back against the wall, eyes closed, and her breathing rapid. We were both hungry for more of us. I had an idea." Lilly you are completely relaxed right now, and you will now fall into a deep slumber and obey my commands. First although we will give us no anal sex you will think I did after we met at a bar, and you were especially hungry for a man. You said you never did anal and were anxious to try. You loved it and from this day on you will hate the fact that first you did it with me, and second you loved it. Now for what is next. Lisa will pleasure you first, and you will follow her commands as you do mine no matter what your feelings about it may be." Her head nodded as she softly said yes my Masters, anything you wish, I am so horny and want either or both of you now. Please. I beg of you to do as you will with me." Both Lisa and I are smiling I spoke to Lisa. "Your up girl." I reached in a bag which I brought and pulled out some things that may come in handy." Here are some cuffs to pin her to the bed spread eagle. You do with her what you want but here are some suggestions. First bind her to the bed. Then use the vibrator before you dip your tongue in her honey. After that you might straddle her rubbing your clit against hers faster and faster. Then to finish her off here is a vibrator. Have at her girl." I watched on with anticipation Lilly watched as Lisa crawled over her, and unable to move from some unknown force, she lay there while Lisa chained her to the bed. Laying like a starfish now, Lilly grunted as Lisa pressed a large vibrator up against her labia, sending shivers through her spine. Lisa grinned at her reactions, obviously enjoying tormenting her boss. Once Lilly was sufficiently wet, Lisa bent down on all fours and flickered her tongue on her clit, slurping her juices. Lisa let out small moans, apparently enjoying eating another female out for the first time while Lilly arched her back in protest but unable to move to obstruct her employees tongue due to the cuffs around her arms and legs. Lilly glared up at Terry, knowing this was by his doing, but as Lisa's tongue hit a nerve, a voluptuous moan erupted from Lilly's lips, and she closed her eyes tightly, nipping at her lip to try and distract her body from the sensations. Once Lisa had appeased her desire, she sat up straight again and crawled up Lilly's body, kissing on her stomach and breasts leaving small wet patches of her saliva. One of her hands trailed down the sides of Lilly's curves before rubbing against her clit, sending Lilly into more groans. Lisa chuckled softly as she then pulled down her skirt and panties and threw them to the side before grinding her hips against Lilly's. She teased her boss, lightly pressing her own slightly wet clit against Lilly's. Lisa bent her neck so that she could suck gently on Lilly's neck while continuing to grind her hips, rubbing their clits together. Once Lilly was cuffed Lisa went to town. I had no idea how aggressive she would be and how unbothered by having sex with a woman in front of her coworker. From the start she worked Lilly like a Stradivarius. She began by using a vibrator which was just the start. And as Lilly is still bound tight to the bed Lisa got down on all fours and hate a late lunch eating out her boss. To top it all of she gets on top of Lilly and begins to tease Lilly relentlessly rubbing her clit against Lilly's. The whole show was quite entertaining and had me at full attention. Just the sense of power over my boss was intoxicating. Watching all of this I had to ask myself "What am I doing on the sidelines here." I asked Lisa if I could join in and as soon as I did I looked at her and memorized her, "Lisa you will do everything I say until I tell you otherwise. When I tell you to awaken you will pass out next to Lilly. You will be unconscious but you will feel everything. Awaken" She woke just long enough to maneuver herself next to Lilly where she promptly fell asleep. I thought to myself I would go down on both of them and have a pussy buffet. I smiled at the two of them and dove in. Afterwoods I decided to you a dildo on Lilly as I told Lisa to play with her tits and kiss her. She smiled and happily agreed. After she seemed happy she did. Lilly woke to the feeling of a hot tongue on her slit, sliding up and down making her skin prickle with sensations. She wriggled but found she was still bound to the bed, and unable to move she at least tried to see who was doing it. Upon seeing Terry she glared at him but couldn't help herself and a small whimper elapsed from her lips. After a short while, Terry brought out a large dildo which he immediately shoved inside her and ordered Lisa to suck on Lilly's nipples making her groan even more. I whispered to Lisa, "Let's have a change of plans. You use the strap-on with her and I will talk to her to make this real torture. As Lisa put on the station and I began kissing Lilly I tortured with my words while her groans of pleasure escaped her lips. Her lips were trembling with fear and sexual frustration. Her hair fanned behind her and laid around her head like a beautiful halo." Look who OWNS you right now Lilly? Lisa and I. You are helpless against us and although tomorrow you won't remember specifics you will understand we are you superiors, and you will lust for both of as for now you lust after only Lisa. I am the monster reminding you how insignificant you are. Lissa continued with the strap-on and really seemed to be enjoying herself while Lilly was losing all control and was on the verge of orgasm. I watched as they both seemed to be enjoying themselves............ Lilly struggled under their combined touch before she heard Terry talk, his voice telling her something she most definitely didn't want. As Lisa positioned herself ready, Lilly tugged at the cuffs on her arms leaving red marks against her skin, but just before Lilly could start saying anything Lisa's strap-on entered her. She screamed at first, "What the hell do you think you're doing you little bitch?!" but as it eased inside more Lilly couldn't stop herself from enjoying it, she groaned and tugged at the shackles a little more before giving in as she heard Terry's voice again. She scowled at him as he spoke, not being able to think of a sufficient reply to his torments. Furthermore, she hated Lisa - no wait, she didn't... What had he done? More like how had he done this?! Lilly felt herself getting a warm feeling in her stomach as she glared at Lisa, the glare slowly turning into a relaxed and pleasured emotion that spread across her face. Lilly felt her body tremble under Lisa as the girl began thrusting her strap-on in faster, she looked to be enjoying this... And so was Lilly. Lilly gripped at the bedsheet and arched her back letting out a sensual moan while her eyes were closed tightly shut. The once proud and nasty boss was now being put in her place, being shown what pleasure can do to someone as she edged closer to her climax. Once the moment came, Lilly screamed out of pleasure, her moans reverberating around the room, and she opened her emerald green eyes wide. Her whole body shook after it had passed while small whimpers leaped from her mouth as she lay there almost completely defeated. Once Lilly had climaxed she lay there racing to catch her breath. I spoke to Lisa who had a smile a mile wide. "I think that showed her who is boss. Let's save some for another day and there will be plenty. I took the video's out and couldn't wait to watch them. Maybe Lisa would like to join in the fun. I'll have to ask her. In the meantime she was releasing Lilly from her binds. With tapes in hand I walked over to Lilly and spoke. The room was large so we had plenty of room to maneuver in. She had what appeared to be expensive art. It went well with the oak beam ceiling and the room had perfect lighting. Soft but not dim. Perfect. There were candles spread out the room and many in front of mirrors which doubled the light." Lilly, I order you to sleep now. Her eyes closed, and her breathing was still rapid. "Lilly until I tell you otherwise you will forget everything that happened. You may have flashes of memory, but they are dreams. And that is what you will tell yourself. Now when I snap my fingers you will stay asleep and we will leave. Remember you will remember nothing when you awaken. Just the feelings that you felt." I snapped my fingers. I put on Lilly's close or the one she had on when we found her on the couch and for fun I stuck her finger in her pussy. We both laughed as we left. I was asking Lisa if tomorrow night she would join me and watch the video. I might take advantage of her too Lilly lay there, completely shaken by the events of that night. Terry leaned close to her and as she spoke, she could no longer keep her eyes opened and fell asleep, sure that she could still hear him talking. When she woke up, Lilly was laying splayed on her bed and feeling rather aroused. What did I dream about...? She thought as she noticed her finger. Confused, she sat up removing it and looked about the room. Sudden flashes hit her mind, something like a dream of erotic actions faded and revisited her. Shaking her head trying to dismiss them -why would she dream of her employees-Lilly got off her bed and realized what the time was. 10:30AM. Much later than she'd have usually started getting ready for work, so she rushed into the bathroom and washed her face, not having time for a shower before stomping into the kitchen. Stuffing down some cereal, Lilly had a speedy breakfast. She quickly got dressed into a less revealing outfit (that day since she'd had a strange feeling about going around Terry and Lisa after dreaming about them. Grabbing her car keys and locking the door behind her, the girl drove to work and was there at the usual time - late o'clock. She smiled to the secretary as she entered and went straight to her office without saying anything to the other two. Sitting down and getting started on the days work, Lilly watched for the arrival of Lisa with her coffee like usual. After leaving Lilly's I kept thinking about how beautiful Lisa is. She and I were always involved with someone, so I don't think either of us gave it much though. But watching her tonight was amazing. It was HOT. I was thinking that in the afternoon when she has her coffee I would drug it. I would give her water shot to put in Lilly's coffee so she wouldn't wonder why I was not drugging Lilly for tonight. At work when she gave me Lilly's coffee I put a shot of water in it and that was all. We kept talking, when we could, about what we loved the best about last night and what we would do next. When Lisa had her coffer that afternoon I drugged it. We were close friends so we both had each other's house keys if we needed to watch the house or borrow something, whatever. Lilly had been surprisingly quiet that day, not coming out of her office even once. During the day, Lisa had talked to Terry about all their mischievous endeavors from the night before and how they were going to watch them that night. Without any hassle from the boss, Lisa had been quite open with Terry, telling him about how much she'd enjoyed tormenting Lilly, how the teasing had aroused her and the things she wanted to try in the future. Terry had offered to get her a drink of coffee ad the girl gladly took up the offer as it'd be the last one of the day before they left to go watch the tapes. Lisa sat daydreaming as Terry returned, she looked up at him smiling, taking the mug out of his hand and holding it for a moment as she asked, "So, mines or yours, for tonight?" She smiled, taking a small sip from the hot liquid as she awaited his reply. Well it was three O'clock when I gave Lisa the spiked coffee which she gladly accepted. That meant she would pass out around seven, and I could wake her about seven twenty. MMM MMM. Listening to what she liked and what she didn't made me so excited about what I would do with HER tonight." My place Hun, sound good. We can head there in a few minutes, and I'll make us dinner before the popcorn and movie." I gave her a sly wink. She followed me home, and I made a full salad and pasta and chicken Parmesan. It was about 6:30 when it was all ready and by time her salad was done I was afraid her face would wind up in her plate. I took her and led her to the couch which she was only too happy to oblige. She was getting very horny and began kissing me and managed to rip my shirt off before falling to the couch. I was pulled with her, and she was still killing me when she passed out............ After the time passed I spoke to her"Lisa you are to ask me addressing me as master.(I laughed at her calling me sir as she usually had a derogatory name for me) what you want me to do to you, and it must be something you have been wanting to do but have been afraid or embarrassed to ask for. Then you are to tell me what you would least like me to do to you. Do you understand me? I am your master." Lisa grumbled as she opened her eyes, unsure of what had happened other than the strange compelling feelings Terry had caused her to react to. "Yes, Master." The words seemed to stumble out of her mouth, she hadn't meant to address him in such a way but still the compelling feeling persisted. "I want you to go down on me like you did to Lilly, flick the tip of your tongue on me, make me beg for more..." Lissa gasped a little at her bluntness but couldn't deny the slight blush that crept to her face; it was something she'd been wanting ever since she had seen it the night before. It had been the reason she'd been able to win over Lilly, knowing that she could see the bosses face groaning in passion as she did it to her too. Lisa looked into Terry's eyes before continuing, "Please don't restrain me Master," The girl pouted, feeling that pressure to please him she added, "I want to be able to give you the things that you desire of me..." Lissa shivered all over, the hairs on her body standing out as she felt the alien pressure making her want to through herself upon the man in front of her, but she held back. Her glossy hair was in disarray from the previous scene before she'd passed out, and it shaped her pale face, highlighting the glint within her eyes. Lisa hadn't dressed up too much to meet him that night, but had a small black dress on that was tight on her curvaceous body, stopping about halfway down her thighs. As the months and months of working with Lisa had accumulated I felt myself more and more drawn to her. It was both sexual and personal and the idea that she was passed out helpless before me ready and willing to do whatever I command her was a big rush. So was having her call me Master for as I said before she would normally jokingly refer to me with whatever derogatory remark came to her. Always jokingly but it still gave me a rise. When she awoke after I gave her instructions I was addressed properly and told she was fantasizing about having me go down on her the way I went down on Lilly. I also garnered from our conversation at work, when she was thinking we were only going to watch the movie made last night on Lilly, the rest of the things she would love and those that she would not be so enamored with. She had a plain but very slim, curvy revealing black dress on which I couldn't wait to come fully off of her beautiful body. It was halfway down to her waist and I removed her bra and kissed each breasts while sucking on one and gently pinching the nipples on the other. I then undid the zipper and her dress pooled at her feet like a darkly inky rippled lake of darkness. I paid little mind. I lay her on the bed and pulled down her panties as I pulled her towards me at the head of the bed. Furthermore, I spread her legs and put them over my shoulders as I was now on my knees and her legs would adjust as I did now that her legs rested on my shoulders. Furthermore, I went down on her slowly licking up and down the innermost part of her thighs before stopping almost as I got to her sacred realm. Furthermore, I did this repeatedly before I finally started flicking my fast and long tongue across her clit. After a while I dove deep into her feminine pool of warmth and wetness. Tongue fucking her repeatedly, and going back to her clit. When her screams seemed so loud that orgasm seemed imminent I took out the vibrator.............. Lisa writhed wildly under his touch as she lay on the bed. His tongue sending her emotions into a disarray as she tried to control herself. Her back arched, grinding her hips onto his tongue while she gripped at the sheets of the bed firmly, small whimpers escaping from her lips. The warm wetness of his tongue delving inside her made Lisa groan considerably louder, everything she'd wanted was happening right now, and the girl was finding it hard to handle. Lissa could feel herself brimming on the edge of climaxing and thrived to control herself, so that the scene might last longer. She had managed to wrap her legs around his back as he knelt there, pulling out the vibrator. Lisa saw it and squealed, without it even touching her she could already feel the heat rushing inside her stomach. The girl bit her lip hard, eyes clenched shut tight waiting for the thing to pierce her velvety lips so that she might groan in a pleasureful agony. Seeing Lisa acting in such a wanton fashion, hearing her groan as I stole my lips around her feminine ones. Her attempts to control her libido which clearly had her on her knees, so to speak, begging for control over her bodily reactions which I found more than stimulating as I took out the vibrator. I ran it along her clit and her private lips. Finally, she seemed on the border between lust and insanity. She was still unrestrained as she had requested. I slid some Benita balls inside of her. They vibrate against each other when the body sways causing vibrations which cause unplanned orgasms. She knew only I would have put them in her, and she would know how I did it. I was pretty certain she would give me a friendly, "You bastard, look" once she figured out what I did to her, but I would find out soon enough in the morning. I spoke into her ear and told her to remember nothing other than coming over and watching the video of the night before, and feeling such lust for me." With this I really had to laugh. "Now sleep to awaken early the next morning as I will knock on your door so we can get ready for work. Wet dreams baby." Lisa had climaxed rather quickly once Terry put the vibrator to her and had just as quickly passed out after it too. Her dreams that night were very arousing, and she'd tossed and turned as she lay there, the balls inside her causing her all the more pleasure too. She dreamt of all the things she'd done to Lilly being done to her, the vibrations inside her pussy causing the imaginations to be a lot more vivid than they would have normally. Her face contorted with pleasure as she slept, and little moans crept out of her mouth each time the vibrations were caused. It was almost morning, and Lisa was more aroused during sleep than she had ever been, her whole body was tingling. She lay naked, one of her hands gripping at the sheets, her body was on its side while each of her legs were curled up under her behind. I walked into the house about an hour and a half before we needed to be at work. When I walked in the room I saw her curled up on her side. I decided I would make a video." Lissa this is your master. You are going to forget everything that happens right after it occurs. Right now you will stay asleep as other things will be done. I will awaken you by saying "awaken." For now just stay asleep for anything I decide to do to your body as you are mine." I decided I needed a good shot of her nude from top and bottom. She was on her side. God, I never knew how beautiful she was. The curves of her hips, that tight ass. Damn. I turned her on her back and her forearm crossed her face in the process. I spread her legs and slowly walked around the bed getting a shot from the same angle I now had placed one hand on her pussy and one hand on her tit and took the same angles. Furthermore, I didn't want her to know about me, so I couldn't have her with the balls inside her still." Lissa there is something in your vagina you need to push out. On three push out but don't urinate. One, two, three. And she pushed them out. "Thanks but stay asleep for now. I went down on her and then decided to have her join in. Lissa you will still remember nothing later so that includes this. Your eyes will open, but you will be awake only in body as you will be motivated not by your mind. By what your instincts tell you to do and what I tell you to do. So fuck me know." She came at me with deep hunger and desire in her eyes. Lisa's eyes opened, her mouth slightly opened as she sat up on the bed and looked at Terry. The things going through her mind didn't even make sense to her, it was all such a blur, but the one thing she did know was that she was about to do something she may or may not have been wanting for a long time. Still her mind couldn't make that up either... The girl got on her hands and knees and began crawling slowly down the bed towards Terry. Since she was already wet, an unconscious decision was made to get him ready. Lisa pushed him so that he might fall back onto the bed before pulling his pants down. As he lay in his boxers, she managed to place a hand over his crotch and stroke it gently. Her eyes looked up at him while she did this, filled with a sort of inane lust before her fingers curled around the rim of his boxers and tugged them down too. Bending over, Lisa took his shaft in one hand, holding it at the base before pressing her lips softly on the side and began kissing up the side to the tip. Once she reached the top, her tongue snaked out of her mouth and lathered it with her saliva. Her eyes grew dark as she smiled seductively up at Terry, her eyes only meeting his for a moment before her lips passed over the tip and down the shaft. A small groan leaped from her lips before she, more vigorously, began bobbing her head up and down on his cock. She seemed even hotter than Lilly. The way she crawled towards me with raw lust and an animalistic desire to be fucked. She pushed me back on the bed like an animal of prey goes after dinner. She pulled down my pants and began stroking my already hard cock. The look of her face was nothing short of erotic hunger. After pulling down my boxers she did all kinds of wonderful things with her hands and tongue. It was sensational. She began bobbing her head back and forth giving me an astounding blow job. I ran my hands through her hair pulling her head into my thrusting crotch, her mouth consuming my cock bobbing faster and faster when I gently slowed her head from bobbing, and I rolled her over on her back. I began rimming her pussy wit my tongue swirling it over her feminine lips. Then swirling it over her clit back around and around, fast then slow. I took both thumbs and spread her lips before tongue fucking her silly, my thumb messaging her clit. Then I thrust my cock inside her and went slowly at first. Thinking I was going to last long at this point was ill-advised. Lol. I began pumping her faster and faster. The sound of the bed squeaking to my each thrust. An idea crossed my mind that she must use this bed for fun more than I thought. I'd have to ask her. But that thought was fleeting and gone before I knew it. My body pumping faster and faster I screamed out, "Oh fuck Lisa I'm going to come!" And I did. I collapsed on top of her and gave her a kiss. I told her to lick my cock clean and I straddled her closer as her mouth engulfed my cock and licked it clean. "Taste great honey. Now just a quick question. Two, actually. How do you really feel about me sexually. Also do you have sex often? Remember to be honest with your Master. OK now that you answered my questions go to sleep and when I knock on your bedroom door you will remember none of this other than you overslept. Now sleep." I dressed as she slept than walked out closed the door and then knocked on her door. Lisa became animal-like as she lay being tortured by his tongue on her pussy, moans leaping from her lips as she writhed under his touch. The amount of pressure she felt scoring through her body was immense, something she hadn't felt for a very long time. As he mounted her, Lisa gripped the sheets of the bed, her whole body tensing as he fucked her. Her hips bucked back into his with equal vigor, her eyes wild with want. Groaning, Lisa did as he asked and pressed her tongue against his cock, taking the tip into her mouth and sucking it clean with her lips. Lisa lay there, defeated and exhausted under him as he spoke to her, her eyes half closed and lips parted. "Mm. Master, I've always had some feelings towards you, and often dreamt of us... together, like this..." Her voice trailed off before she managed to stutter out faintly, "Last time I had sex was a few weeks ago... but it was a mistake, I only usually have it every so often. Partners and such don't stay with me long enough for regular sex." Lissa fell asleep instantly, already tired from their little scene and grumbled as she woke to the sound of his chapping on her door. The girl had fallen asleep in the exact position that she'd been in when they had been making love, due to her lack of energy. She managed to push herself up off the bed as he entered before realizing she was completely naked and squealing a little - of course not remembering what he'd done to her - before attempting to hide herself under the covers of the bed. While I was waiting outside her door waiting for her to answer I was thinking, "well she sure passes the sexual chemistry test". I had to admit the sex was better than anything that happened with our gorgeous boss who is probably frigged, as apposed to the sexual vixen she claims to be. But then that wouldn't explain her rise to power in the company. When she answered the door I was delighted to see her answer it in the nude unknowingly. I stood there and let my jaw drop as I acted in surprise." Oh, my god, I'm, uh, so sorry about all of this, it is, just, HHH, we never had this happen before. OH MY GOD, I'M STILL LOOKING" I cast my eyes down and shielded them from her view with my hand." Not looking, looking, I mean, oh I will just wait outside." I waited in delight as I knew how she really felt about me. I had no idea. Then again I had no idea that I felt that way. But it was just so awesome. I'll tell her that she fell asleep before we watched much of the tape. I was also waiting for tonight when we would do our lovely boss again. Lisa hurriedly got dressed, throwing on short thigh hugging skirt with a flowing shirt. Being a little flustered, and having not removed her makeup last night, she quickly tidied up it in the mirror, reapplying some of her lipstick before walking over to the door. She opened it and found Terry standing waiting, she blushed a little - remembering what he'd just seen - but tried to act herself as she walked over to the small kitchen of his apartment. Since she'd been here quite a few times when they'd hung out, Lisa knew where everything was, and she quickly made herself up some breakfast before asking him if he'd like any. If he said yes, she'd just half her portion and share with him, or no then... well she'd eat it all herself. She sat at the small round table, scooping up the cereal and shoveling it in her mouth. For some reason, Lisa felt quite hungry, they'd only been watching the tapes last night, what could have gotten her so... starved? She shrugged it off with ease and turned to Terry asking, "What are we going to do tonight then?" She had a bold look in her eyes when she finally emerged from my room dressed in a very sexy thigh hugging skirt and shirt. Furthermore, she blushed only slightly and walked determinedly to the kitchen to get some food. Furthermore, she first poured herself a bowl of cereal before asking if I wanted any. This was interesting I thought." How are you feeling this morning other than like a starved teenager? I laughed looking into her eyes, as her jaw kept chomping. Milk running down the side of her mouth." Well we could watch the tapes again as you passed out on me about 10 mins into it. We could do that again, or we could make more tapes tonight. Any ideas? I was expecting a slow day at work and I already knew I would have a fun one instead. We worked in a closed office and when they lost control or passed out I would lock the doors and have them both." Oh, wait, let me get that and refill it." It was her OJ and I just spiked it with the drug." Uh, honey, you have lipstick running down your face and mascara on your forehead. I suggest you fix it before we got to work. Just don't let that OJ go to waste." "We could do anything, it's up to you really. I'd enjoy either." She smiled and, taking three swigs of the juice, Lisa downed it quickly before standing up and hurriedly shuffling over to the bathroom once more. In there she laughed at herself, she did indeed have her makeup all down her face and felt quite stupid for sitting in front of Terry for so long with it like that. She knew he wouldn't have minded, he'd seen her look worse. Once she'd properly fixed herself up, she combed her fingers through her hair to straighten it, Lisa walked out and looked at Terry before saying, "Well, we should really get going before we're late"He'd drive her straight from work yesterday, so she got into his car as he drove them back to their small office. Lisa didn't say much during the journey, apparently still quite exhausted. Once they arrived, Lisa got out and entered the office and sat in her usual seat knowing Lilly wouldn't arrive for at least half an hour now. "What was it that you wanted to do by the way, I never asked?" She looked up at Terry, biting her lip slightly waiting for his answer. Lisa knew today would be dull. The boss would most likely be grumpy since she wasn't yesterday, and that meant Lisa would get blamed for every little thing that went wrong. Lisa hoped he might say make more tapes tonight, so she could get her frustrations out but as she watched him, Lisa could feel a slight wooziness about her and wondered what that might be. I was told but found it impossible to believe, that once the drug is introduced to the victims body you can command that person at anytime on an agreed upon word or phrase, as long as the drug is not reintroduced. If it is the drug will always need to be used in the future. Afterward, you may always command that person without the drug. I was about to try it once we got to work. Once we were in the office I made my voice heard. "Lisa. Look at me. I am your Master. If you hear the phrase. 'How is Aunt Bernice?' You will immediately obey all comments until I say the phrase, 'Goodnight Bernice' After you hear that phrase you are just a friend. Do you understand? Once it was clear she understood this meant we could do this with the boss on short notice." How's your aunt Bernice?" I said to test it. Hop on one foot." She did. OK. Honestly tell me what you want to do tonight." She did. "Goodnight Bernice."" Well Lisa what do you say we make more tapes tonight?" Lisa felt something compelling inside her that day, when Terry told her to do things. She couldn't figure out what it was, but something inside her just wanted to do everything he asked, even if she didn't want to. Hopping on one foot, the girl felt strange, as if there was something she was missing, but when he asked her what she wanted to do, she answered without hesitation. "I want to play around with Lilly more, make her suffer."" That sounds good to me." What? Where had that feeling gone, she wondered? A small flicker in her mind was offset as she tried to remember, his question seemed as if she'd heard it in her sleep. How did he know... Her mind was a little fuzzy as she stood there looking at Terry, her eyes confused but to hide it, the girl smiled. I was elated when she started hopping on one foot. She must have felt ridiculous but she did it. I could only imagine what I could do with her in the future. After she was hopping around she looked right at me and told me what she wanted to do after I had asked. "I want to play around with Lilly more, make her suffer." I replied that sounds good to me and I noticed her facial expression changed. Suddenly she looked confused and dizzy. The drug was introduced early this morning so it is very possible it was time for her to pass out. I stood behind her looking like I was after something else so she wouldn't get suspicious about what I was up to. Suddenly she let out a sigh and passed out right into my arms. I quickly slid her into her chair and went to check on the boss. When I checked in there she was already out cold on her desk. Her empty coffee cup nearby. I went back to see Lisa." Lisa, how is Aunt Bernice? I want you to wake up and when you do, I want you to go in the office, taking a bag of toys I will give you. You will command her and she will reply yes master. To command her without the drug you will wake her by giving her an unusual phrase that you will demand she always reply to. Such as "rainy days make many waves" something she won't hear other than from you. From then on you may always command her. "Goodnight aunt Bernice"Her eyes fluttered open again as she looked at me, but then the confused smile turned into a devilish smile which was quite sexy. "Here is every toy and rope you will need. I will be in shortly." I waited at my desk, my cock throbbing harder and harder as I imagined what I would see and do. One was sweet and fun, so that was a nice fuck, and the other was a bitch who I would force doing anything I thought she would be humiliated about or disgusted by. I wondered what Lisa was doing now. I went inside.

Oh shit! Revenge. (MinaKitsuke & seeker619)|rating:3.0

Devil In The Details (Crixus & Arreis)

No one could really say when the 'Inner Circle' was built. It seemed to just appear one day, replacing the upscale club that had been their before. In fact, no one really knew anything about the place aside from the sign outside and the little blurb about it written on the door itself. Unlike the outlandish, loud and boisterous club that had been their before, this new place seemed much more of a subtle affair and the note on the door described the place as a 'Fine dining experience and lounge, overlooking the scenic riverside'. Passerby's would pause for a moment before moving on, the words going with them in their minds, a reminder for the future to take a look when the place eventually opened. Inside, renovations had just finished up, and the new owner was making his way around the two floors inspecting everything personally. What had been a stained, crumbling dance hall was all brand-new dark mahogany wood paired with deep crimson lighting? Velvet curtains pulled back from the wide bay windows overlooking the river and downtown allowed some natural light to stream in, but the owner had designed the place in a way that reflected on his previous occupation. A regal affair, the somber lighting and old-fashioned designs like something from a noir novel where people would gather in secret to whisper their secrets to one another. It was intimate and alluring, with the tables and booths around the bar built for pairs to brush close together while upstairs in the dining area a full glass wall showed off the splendor of the city, be it rain or shine, with only the dim lighting and candles at the tables for light. But to what end? The owner hadn't really considered the 'Why'. He'd just simply done it. Building a bar on the riverside of a city wasn't something that would be expected of him by his brother's or father, especially not by any of his former employees, who would all currently be fighting for his vacant position. It wasn't even something he'd considered he, himself would do if he was ever freed. And yet here he was, running his fingers along the smooth surface of the bar. His. Something of his own for once, not something that he found himself bound to. Every breath, every step, every touch...his own. He answered to no one else anymore. Even if it was simply running a bar. Taking a seat on one of the bar stools, he looked pulled out his phone and glanced at when his first possible employee was to arrive. He'd been very particular when it came to whose resumes he'd accepted and those he'd simply tossed out. A chuckle escaped his lips as they curled into a grin, eyeing the first name on his list before slipping the phone back into his suit pocket. It was a terrible expensive suit, the dark fabric tailor fit to his taunt form. Broad shoulders looked like those of a former football player or weightlifter without all the bulky muscle. A blood-red tie was pressed neatly beneath his clean-shaven jawline. His facial features were sharp, the way his lips curved in a smile looking as though the grin alone could cut someone. Black hair was neatly combed, tanned skin unblemished and looking almost unnaturally smooth in the simmering light. But it was his eyes that always drew in attention, like a pair of fiery suns. Gold, the one part of him that he hadn't been able to hide. And while his name tag read 'Lucas Trent' his true name was much easier to hide than his eyes. Some would still be able to sense his nature beneath the humanity but uttering his name? No. After all, the Devil was simply a figment of the imagination. A fairy tale. A dark lord ruling over Hell below, not running a classy little establishment just off the river...it simply wasn'tpossible The owner of the new club by the riverside was the first to call her back about her resume. She hadn't expected him to, she was only twenty-one and didn't have much work experience, so when the call came she was more than happy to arrange an interview as soon as possible. His want ad hadn't mentioned what the pay would be, and she didn't much care as minimum wage was better than nothing and her parents were helping her out by paying her rent. But only as long as she was in school, and working. Lillian (didn't live too far away and had chosen to walk in order to calm her nerves. She felt as though she had to get this job or risk having to move back home because it seemed no one else was hiring. Wanting to make a good impression, she'd dressed in a cream-colored button down blouse that was, admittedly, a little too small but didn't look indecent or like she was trying to flaunt her breasts, and a black skirt that skimmed the top of her knees. Her long red hair was pulled back into a low bun, and she wore small, silver hoops in her earlobes. When she'd looked at herself before leaving she felt it looked professional, but could only hope the club's owner agreed. When she stood outside the doors, she quickly traded her black flats for a pair of black pumps she'd brought in her purse, checked in her compact that her hair and the light amount of eyeliner and mascara that she'd put on was still okay. Putting it away she took a deep breath.' You can do this. This isn't your first interview, and you look nice. Just smile, be polite, and don't do anything stupid.' Before she could convince herself otherwise, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Upon seeing how classy the decor was, she became immediately grateful that she'd chosen to dress like she did. At the same time though she silently hoped she'd be provided a uniform because other than a black cocktail dress she used for dates, it was the nicest thing she owned. For a moment she was so lost in admiring the place that she didn't notice the man behind the bar. When she did, she blushed lightly and gave him a polite wave as she walked over." Hi, I'm Lillian Jacobson. I'm..." Standing in front of the bar she could see him more clearly and trailed off as she found herself inexplicably attracted to him. He was devilishly handsome, and judging by how expensive his clothing was he had to be the owner. Still, that didn't stop her from standing there dumbfounded as her heart fluttered in her chest and a surge of heat flooded her from head to toe. Never had she felt such a strong physical attraction, it was likely the reason she'd stayed a virgin this long, but at the same time she felt like getting close to him would be dangerous. That he wouldn't be "safe" like the men she usually dated. And a part of her she hadn't known existed until now liked that. Giving herself a mental shake she felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment as she looked into his gold eyes. "I'm here for the interview. Sorry for spacing out like that, I must not have slept very well." she said with a small laugh. Inwardly she groaned, and hoped she hadn't just ruined her chances here. Gawking at your potential boss like a school girl with a crush was not a good way to start an interview. Lillian only hoped she could still pull it off somehow and land herself a job at the Inner Circle. “Lucas Trent” He hadn’t moved from his spot at the bar, observing Lillian Jacobson as she made her way towards him. Watching her admire the scenery, it was obvious without looking at her resume that such splendor wasn’t something she was used to at all. No, she had that aura of cute innocence about her, the kind that lay somewhere between being sexy and plain. Other assumptions floated through Lucas’s mind, about friends and parents, the type of guys she was probably used to and dated, all things that normally he’d be able to simply pluck from her head…but that life was no more.“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Jacobson. I hope you don’t mind if I call you Lillian, I find it’s much more relaxing to interview on a first name basis. Besides, most of the work is done by computers these days, weeding out the sketchy ones and leaving only the best…but we’ll get to that” A few graceful steps forward and Lucas almost closed the distance between them, seating himself casually on one of the stools at the bar and motioning for Lillian to do the same. She looked nice, prim and proper. Not an overwhelming amount of makeup, just enough to add that little bit extra flair. It was all verynicebut Lillian could clearly be so much more…and while he certainly wasn’t in the Damnation business anymore, there was always temptation.“Now Lillian, in regard to your application to be a waitress here, I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline. I say this in regard to your intent to both work here and focus on school at the same time, a feat that, especially when waitressing in a place like this…” Lucas motioned to the surrounding bar “Either the job will take precedent over school or the opposite will happen. I’ve seen it happen time and time again…which is why I’d like to offer you something better” He was standing now, beckoning for Lillian to follow as Lucas moved from the bar area to the bigger dining room, speaking as he moved “You see, Lillian, while I don’t believe you’d do well for me as a waitress, I do believe you’d be better off serving me directly as an assistant of sorts. I’m doing this all as a one-man operation and when opening a place of this prestige and expense, you have a lot of wealthy hands looking to help out. You’d be around to remind me of the little things, the meetings and business behind the scenes, a little angel on my shoulder. Plus it pays better, and we’d be able to work out a schedule around your schooling…but of course, I’m not doing all this as a charity for you” Stopping in front of the large bay window that overlooked the scenic river view, Lucas turned to Lillian with a devious little smile on his face. On the table before them, a pair of crystal wine glasses sat half filled with deep crimson wine, with Lucas taking one to himself and offering the other to Lillian “There are plenty of sharks in this business that’ll eat you up if you’re not careful, other girls that will be jealous that I picked you over them…the chance to wine and dine with the elite of this city comes with its own price. I can assure you, so long as you do your job properly, I’ll be here to help guide you every step of the way” He raised his glass to her, the fire of his eyes seeming to brighten in the sunlight “Cheers” Lillian was only just able to hide her nervousness as he got closer. It wasn't that the man himself was intimidating, though he was now that she thought about it, but more that the strong physical attraction she had to him unsettled her. "No, I don't mind at all Mr. Trent." she said smiling. He might have been fine using her first name, but she was determined to make a good first impression here and didn't want to act too familiar with him before she got the job. She was very attentive as he spoke, a slight frown creasing her forehead as he said he couldn't give her the waitressing job. However, before she could argue that she could do her classes online and find a way to balance work and school, he explained that he had something better in mind. That alone was enough to keep her silent, as she didn't think she was qualified for anything better. Getting up she followed him obediently. What he proposed left her stunned. A job as his personal assistant was better than anything she could have hoped for. Not only that, but he made the job sound easy. Of course, she'd need more than one nice outfit, but that was her problem to handle not his. "O-of course not!" she said in response to his comment that this wasn't charity, "I plan on doing everything I can to make sure I deserve to keep the position." He smiled then, and she swallowed hard as it only made him look more tempting. But also more dangerous. She hardly heard what he said as she got lost in him again, though she did catch the gist of his words. Raising her glass she toasted him back, seeing the way his eyes flashed. "Cheers." Lillian took a sip of her wine to ease her frazzled nerves and, hopefully, to help her focus less on him and more on the job. "When would you like me to start?' she asked. Hopefully it wouldn't be tomorrow so she'd have time to hit up the thrift stores nearby and find appropriate attire. "When? Why, we've already started Lillian. I'll of course have all the proper paperwork sent to you for signing but as of this moment...consider yourself hired and on the clock" Lucas chuckled as he sipped his glass of wine. Lillian might wish to keep things 'professional' with the last name use, but that didn't mean Lucas would stop, especially since her reactions to him were ever so amusing "I understand that this is all coming to you in a rush, but I've always found that trails by fire bring out the best in all of us" His lips split into a wide grin at that, eyeing his new assistant with predatory eyes "But first, enjoy your wine. It comes to about one thousand a bottle and isn't the sort of beverage we'll be serving to just anyone...just the lucky ones"Downing the rest of his wine in a single swig, Lucas set his glass down on one of the tables before turning towards Lillian and giving her a look up and down "First, we're going to need to pretty you up more. You have a nice natural beauty about you Lillian and I believe with the right dresses, we'll be able to get that proper mix of professional and sexy. I know, pandering, but men happen to like women who dress pretty, and it's something of an unofficial requirement"As Lucas spoke, the grin remained upon his lips. Would Lillian challenge him on this? He was interested to find out "Of course, seeing as this is a club that caters to the wealthy, I don't expect a college girl such as yourself to have clothes that would fit in with such an atmosphere. Let's say...five different outfits on me? Anything you want, so long as it's something that is, like I said, professional and sexy. Not too much of either, we don't need a dress that rests just below that nice behind of yours or a neckline that allows customers to accurately guess your bra size...tease, don't flaunt. Oh, and don't worry about me following you around shopping... I have a company card all ready for you to make expanse. Call it a matter of trust between a manager and his assistant?" The gold painted credit card was in Lucas's palm, presented to Lillian as if it had always been their. Her full name stamped out alongside 'Inner Circle - Personal Assistant' "The PIN is labelled on the back. I do look forward to seeing what you decide to wear. Assuming your class gets out on time we can meet here tomorrow at around...five? We'll look over the final list of employees and make sure nothing has been missed before getting ready for the grand opening" She felt, and looked, like a deer in the headlights when he said she'd already started and was on the clock. Lillian hadn't anticipated starting so soon, but it was hard to object when she noticed the way he looked at her. Her cheeks turned nearly as red as her hair, and she had to look away or risk being flustered. Of course, that happened anyway when he told her just how expensive the wine was. Thankfully, she was in the process of swallowing another drink when he told her so she only choked a little on it instead of doing anything more embarrassing. "I knew wine could be expensive, but not that expensive." she admitted after her coughing stopped. It certainly made her try to drink it a little more slowly even though she wanted to simply down the rest like he had and hope it made her less easy to fluster. In the end, she did so anyway as she felt his gaze on her and decided that she'd need the alcohol if she was going to look like more than a blushing schoolgirl. It proved a good choice, as he told her she needed to pretty herself up more. It helped her be more at ease so that even as her face grew redder, and she twirled the stem of the glass nervously between her fingers, she didn't stammer and sputter like she might have otherwise. "Five will be fine. But, I don't think being sexy is necessary, is it? Professional should be enough." she said, accepting the card. Maybe it would have been a little easier to do if she was buying the outfits with her own money, but he was giving her a company card to do her shopping with. And the kind of outfits he was requesting would require more than just a dress and matching shoes. It meant strapless bras for strapless dresses, and thongs so that her underwear didn't show beneath the tighter fabric. Using a company card to buy those things meant it would likely show up in company finances, and while she could explain that yes she needed to buy that makeup to complete the look, she didn't think she could live through the embarrassment of trying to explain why she needed to buy those undergarments. Had she not been worried about those things, she might have felt a little uneasy about how he already had a credit card for her. Even if he'd known he was going to give her the position before she came in, it took time to get credit cards. And considering that she'd been called in for her interview the day after she applied, it simply wasn't possible for him to decide to hire her, order a card and have it arrive in time for her to have it now. Luckily for him, she was too flustered by him, her attraction to him, and his request to even consider something so trivial. Raising his glass of wine to his lips, Lucas watched Lillian closely as her mind ticked behind those pretty dark eyes of hers. As much as he appreciated intelligence in a woman, it was easy to see that Lillian was the type of woman that would hold on tight to a string until she found out where it led. Lucas was already being more than a little forward with her, presenting her with a credit card and requesting that she get sexy for him and his clients. What girl wouldn't be a little concerned? His natural charm and handsome looks appeared to be having the desired effect on her so far, so Lucas simply continued with it "I understand your concern here, Lillian. It must be a bit overwhelming, gaining a new position only to be told that you're going to have to go out to buy new clothes with a company card. And being told to dress a little more sexily? Definitely not for everyone"And so Lucas smiled, like a kindly gentleman, reaching out and placing a reassuring hand on Lillian's shoulder "Look, I saw that you were a college student and thought that perhaps a higher paying position would help with covering school costs and allowing you some extra spending money. Your grades are clearly impressive, and your resume was everything I was looking for in an employee..." And so ripe and pure"...but like it or not, you can't tell me that you don't see how men and women alike react when a well-dressed woman enters the room. Eyes are drawn, attention spans falter and deals finish quicker. Besides, with a card like that, you can get anything you want"His hand moved slightly, tips of his fingers brushing along the gentle curve of her neck for the briefest of touches before Lucas's hand returned to his side, empty wine glass placed on the nearest table. His smile was more tempting, mischief sparking in his eyes "I mean, I know I certainly enjoy spending other peoples money. It's how I financed all of this..." He motioned about the restaurant and bar "From wealthy investors who all expect the best of me, just as I'm expecting the best of you, Lillian" Her name wasbreathedmore than it was said, an alluring intimate sigh of treasured breath "Can you really, truthfully tell me that given the chance to buy whatever clothes you want without judgement on that card, that everything you bought would bestrictlyprofessional? Nothing with alittleflair to it?" Before Lucas could continue, his phone beeped in his pocket. Finding its way into his hand in a smooth flick of his wrist, Lucas frowned slightly at the time. His next employee was due to arrive in fifteen minutes "A shame. It appears we're out of time" His golden eyes flashed again as Lucas glanced to the card in Lillian's hand "Why don't you hold onto that for now, think about what I said...if you still don't feel like spending anything, return the card to me, and we can figure out a different position for you. Otherwise, I look forward to working with you..." Fingers curled around hers as Lucas brought her hand to his lips, a gentle kiss upon her knuckles as he spoke her name one last time "Lillian" Not knowing she did so, she bit her lower lip as he proved himself to be kind and understanding. She nodded in agreement with his statement about how a good-looking woman had an effect on people. Although she was oblivious to the physical effect she'd had on the boys she dated, she was fully aware of the awe in their eyes when she dressed up a little to go out. It had always made her blush to know they thought she was so attractive. Her breath caught in her chest when he touched her, and her eyes flew from the card to him as her face heated. The way he said her name had her swallowing hard, and she started playing with the card in her hands, turning it over and over again. Before she could answer his last question, he got a message. "I-I... Yes, I look forward to working with you too..." She did her best to make it look like she was calm as she left, but her steps were a little too quick, and they'd both heard the flustered stammer in her voice. He'd unbalanced her and left her weak kneed with just the sound of her own name and his lips on her knuckles. Speaking of which, she found the place that he'd kissed her tingled faintly and felt warm. Quickly switching her heels for flats once she thought she was out of sight, she headed home to consider his offer. Several hours, some dinner, and a few big cups of coffee to clear her mind later she'd decided. She was going to do it. Perhaps dressing a little sexy was new for her, but if what he said was true then maybe she could afford to start covering more of her own costs and take the strain off her parents. And it wasn't liking she would be openly flaunting herself. Just... Accentuating, her natural curves more. He'd been right about wanting to use the money for more than she needed too. But as tempting as it was, she would only get what she felt was necessary. She wanted to start off on the right foot with him, and wasting company money wouldn't be the way to do that. Even if said company could afford wine that was worth more than her own little apartment. Knowing it was too late to go out now, she emailed her professors to let them know she had a thing for work, which was technically true, and that she wouldn't be able to make it tomorrow. The next day she did the shopping, going out in her usual attire of jeans and a t-shirt with a pair of old sneakers. There was nothing immodest about her outfit, but her jeans hugged her rear and accentuated her legs in just the right way while her shirt did the same with her breasts, allowing it to be enough to turn a few heads. Lillian hardly noticed though as she stepped into one of the higher end boutiques in the mall. Judging by the look she got from one of the employees, she obviously didn't look like she belonged. But once the saleswoman caught sight of her gold credit card, she became very helpful. So helpful in fact, that Lillian had to actively fight to keep her from selling her half the store. It was the same in every store she went to, and despite her best efforts it all costed a hefty sum. Enough to make her wince a little just thinking about it even though it wasn't really her money. The rest of her day was spent deciding what to wear, and trying to think of a good way to explain that she got steamrolled by two sales associates into buying a completely unnecessary clutch purse and an extra pair of heels. When it was time to leave she was ready. Taking a cab, paid for with her own money, to avoid getting her clothes dirty, she arrived fifteen minutes early. The black dress she wore was simple, elegant, and sexy. It was a halter style cocktail dress, the two thick straps crossing over her chest in such a way that it left a small space where the curves of her breasts could be seen. She'd been uncertain about it because it wasn't possible to wear a bra with it and the built-in one didn't do much of anything. It was made of a fabric that flaunted the curves of her body without being vulgar about it, and only reached about mid-thigh. Her black stilettos were new too, and even though they weren't very high she was still adjusting to walking in them. Anyone seeing her though wouldn't have known that. Her makeup today was a little heavier too with smokey eyes and winged liner that drew attention to her dark eyes, and her lips painted a bold shade of dark red. This time her hair was left down, her unruly curls spilling down her back. Outside she took a deep breath, feeling uncertain about how she looked, and once she felt she was ready she stepped inside. What would he think of her choice? Would he like it? The remaining interviews Lucas had for that day were of the usual sort. Handsome men and pretty women all vying for employment in what was to be one of the most exclusive and elite bar in the city. All completely opposite to Lillian, none of them balked at the suggestion of more suggestive attire, with a few even offering private demonstrations of just howteasingthey could be if given the chance. Most succeeded in their interview, with only a few of the more desperate being cast aside. There was a certain attitude and composure that Lucas was seeking out among his staff, and while there were those who would see this as an opportunity to hook up with the rich and famous, he wasn't interested in those that saw that as their only purpose in working at the 'Inner Circle'. They were allhisbefore they belonged to anyone else. Sitting at the bar the following day, Lucas looked over the finalized list of employees, clients and possible expenses. It was a dull task, but so many things about the human world seemed to be of the mundane. Excitement seemed few and far between, but when it happened...it was why he'd left Hell. His entire existence had turned to boredom, with nothing but nodding and bowing heads wherever he turned. His every desire and whim carried out and presented to him flawlessly, leaving him craving challenge and change all the more. Faking his demise and leaving was a natural progression of things, otherwise he might have just cast Hell into chaos himself just to stir the pot a bit, and being the most powerful of the Fallen Angels left little in the way of those to challenge him. Hopefully this civil war he'd ignited would cleanse out the weakness for when he eventually returned... The sound of the front door opening and closing had Lucas looking up, a wide smile growing across his lips at the sight of Lillian entering, completely changed and dressed up. Sinfully delicious, she looked like a completely different woman in the best possible way. Standing up, Lucas moved from his perch atop one of the bar stools and approached her, clapping slowly "My, my, bravoLillian. Simply ravishing" Lucas nodded in approval, his eyes looking her up and down "Exactly what I was picturing for you, a flair of sexy without being too blatant. Feels good, doesn't it? I'm happy to see you took some time to splurge on a little extra for yourself, I hope the purse goes perfectly with the dress"He took a walk around her, like a tiger observing a lamb, before quickly closing in the space and setting a hand down gently on her waist to guide her towards the bar "Now then, I've taken the liberty of getting all the employee records sorted, along with client data and extra expenses associated with the opening day next week. Our office will be on the second floor, I have an entire conference area set aside for the corporate types who are looking to do their shady backroom deals, which we can use until we open. Right now, you don't have to worry about much, just double-check my numbers and make sure that nothing has slipped through the cracks. Deal?" Lillian blushed as he applauded her choice of outfit, and was relieved that he didn't mind that some of the money had been spent on things she didn't necessarily need. "Yes, it does." she admitted, though as he circled her she felt like he could see how little she wore beneath it. But, it was only her own nervousness and the fact that she wasn't used to dressing this way that made it feel like that. She blushed harder as he placed a hand on her waist, and she reminded herself it was just because he was a gentleman. Her attraction was likely one-sided, and felt almost juvenile with how easily he flustered her. Taking a seat at the bar, she neatly crossed one leg over the other to remain decent and had been careful to smooth the skirt before sitting so it wasn't made to ride up as she sat there. "Deal." It was impressive how much he'd gotten done and planned in the short time his club had appeared. Even now it didn't look like there was much for her to do. His numbers were good, and she couldn't see anything he missed. Still, she took the time to double-check everything and quickly became lost in the simple task he'd given her. She wasn't above using the calculator on her phone to make sure things were exact, and once she got into it not even his presence was enough to distract her. She had one strand of hair curled around her finger as she focused, and when she was thinking she'd tug it gently. Roughly halfway through she set it aside and took a moment to stretch. In that brief moment she hadn't quite come back yet and remembered he was there, so there was no hesitation as she stretched her arms above her head and arched her back to relieve the tension she'd built up from hunching over the paperwork. The position was unintentionally provocative, as it pushed her chest out and her hips back. When she relaxed, she realized he was still there and blushed knowing how it must have looked. "Um, so far everything looks good." she said, setting the papers she checked aside so they wouldn't get mixed up in what she still had to go over. "It shouldn't take too much longer to finish going over these." Lillian was eager to bury herself back in her work before he could throw her off again. She still couldn't quite place what it was about him that drew her in and yet made her feel wary of him at the same time. Sure his good looks and charm were a factor, but part of her felt there was more to it than that. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it though. There was plenty to do before they opened, and it wouldn't do to waste time on her first day working for him. “Oh come now Lillian, no need to be so tense about all this” Lucas chuckled, amused at her constant blushing “The ‘Inner Circle’ is all about relaxing. Everyone who comes here, is here for an escape from the outside world. For some, it’s an intimate dinner, others for personal conversation they can’t have at work…humans keep so much pent-up inside them, silly worries and expectations, and this is a place where they can leave all that baggage at the door. And that’s the same for my employees” Leaning on the opposite side of the table, Lucas poured himself a small glass of dark amber liquid, his simmering gaze watching Lillian intently “I can see exactly what you are, Lillian. The good girl from the good family, doing her best to make her way through college and get a job. The dress you’re wearing right now is probably the most sensual thing you’ve ever worn in your life” Setting the bottle of liquor aside, Lucas shrugged causally as his eyes traced lines all the way up Lillian’s curves “And that’s fine with me. However, I also want that to be fine with you. Certainly your natural beauty helps with the allure of the dress, but you need to be confident with it as well. Remember that while you’re here, you’re not Lillian the Good Girl. You’re Lillian the Personal Assistant to the Owner of the Inner Circle, the place that has movie stars and government officials on the waiting list. If you’re blushing every time you stretch that dress…well, the guests will wonder why your face is always so red” Taking a sip of his glass, Lucas moved around the bar and took a seat right beside Lillian “I’m teasing, of course. About the blushing. I know you’ll have it under control once we open, but you also have to enjoy it. I mean, I’d certainly prefer to be walking around in my swim shorts, but just because I have to wear a suit, doesn’t mean I just simply have to wear a suit. Furthermore, I own the look, I make it about me, give it a strut when I walk into a room. You might not think you have that grace, Lillian, but I wouldn’t have made you my personal assistant if I didn’t think there was potential for you to leave all that good girl behavior at the door and make the guests in this place eat out of your hand” A predator’s smile flashed across his lips before Lucas took a quick look over the work she’d been doing so far. He already knew her checks were good, her numbers correct, but he made a show of it anyway, going over every row and column. He hadn’t expected to find such a tasty distraction so soon. Sure, Lillian appeared to be your typical friendly study buddy, girl-next-door type but Lucas had a sense for these things.“Once you have this finished, I have a few lists of suppliers that I want you to narrow down, make calls for interviews and get them scheduled in for today. I don’t care if any of them have excuses, if anyone on the list catches your eye, you wrap a telephone cord around their neck and drag them down here, deal?” The way he looked at her so intently sent a shiver down her spine, and she could almost feel his gaze like a physical touch as it followed the curves of her body. Everything he said was true. She was exactly what he said she was, and this dress was the sexiest thing she owned. Not only that, but he was right about her needing to relax a little and con out of her shell. Even if she wasn't blushing every five minutes, it wouldn't look good if she was constantly getting flustered. Lillian swallowed hard as he sat beside her, his closeness causing her body to react in ways that were far from appropriate. If he was paying attention, he'd notice the way her thighs tensed ever so slightly as she tried to press them together and cut off the feeling of arousal. His smile made her want to melt and run all at once, and her tongue darted out briefly to wet her lips. "I'll do my best to find that grace then." she said, offering him a shy smile. She knew she had nothing to worry about when it came to the checks she made. She'd been careful when looking over the numbers and knew she had them right. Sure enough, he had nothing negative to say about them and gave her the next task for after she finished. "Deal." she answered, giving him a small nod of her head. Finishing going over the numbers didn't take long at all, and it was soon time for her to make those calls. Lillian took a moment to collect herself, knowing that she couldn't back down the moment someone got rude or nasty. She looked like a strong, and confident woman who knew how get what she wanted, now she just had to pretend to be that until she felt that way herself. Once she felt ready she began going through the list, looking up each one online to find their customer reviews, and to determine if they had the kind of quality she knew Lucas was looking for. When she found one, she didn't hesitate to call. When the man picked up she reminded herself to relax, and that as long as she pretended to have confidence then the man on the other end would think she did. "Hello Mr. Vickers, I'm calling on behalf of my employer Lucas Trent, the owner of the Inner Circle." There wasn't any hesitation or uncertainty in her voice, and she gave the man the chance to acknowledge the name she'd give him. "He's looking for only the best suppliers to buy from, and after doing my research I see that your product is the kind of quality he's looking for. I'm sure he'd love to do business with you, but you have to come in today if you want a work-out a deal." Sure enough, the man became livid that he was given such short notice, but she took a deep breath and waited for him to go quiet again. "I'm so sorry if you can't manage. I've got an entire list here to go through, and if you can't make it I suppose Mr. Trent will have to take his business elsewhere." It seemed that was all the man needed to know as he tried to start bargaining for a more convenient date and time. "I can't do that Mr. Vickers." she said smoothly, "My employer was very clear in what he wanted. You show up here today, or we don't do business with you." Finally, the man relented, and he gave her a time he could arrive that she wrote down. As she hung up the phone she felt a sense of pride in having been able to stand her ground and get what she wanted. In a way, it felt good. Feeling more sure of herself, she continued down the list, only calling those who had the best reviews and the finest products of their kind. Clearly money was of no issue to Lucas, and she doubted he would want less than the best simply to save a buck or two. By the time she finished penciling the last time she was sitting a little taller, and looking a little more comfortable in her new clothes. The potential he saw in her had shone through during each phone call, even if she had to collect herself a little bit before each one. She'd even managed to make sure that none of their times overlapped. All in all, she was pleased with herself, and it showed in the small smile that graced her lips. "I take it we're all settled then?" Making his way down the steps from his office, Lucas's perfect timing from Lillian finishing up her calls was more due to the fact that he'd been watching her over the camera's than anything else. It was important that Lillian earn these victories for herself, not because Lucas was always looming over her. She needed to be able to take charge when he wasn't around. Clapping his hands together, Lucas took note of her straightened posture, the confident way she was sitting before him and the pleased smile upon her lips. It was starting, his influence beginning to slowly creep in. The other's would come along with time, but Lillian was going to be his prize." I must say, you're taking to this all faster than I'd anticipated. I was half expecting to get a knock on my office door for help, but you really knocked it out of the park, didn't you?" Lucas nodded, his smile dangerously wicked as he looked over the timetable "Splendid. Well, we did make a deal on this but didn't specify what exactly you would win if you managed to succeed, and I am always a man of my word when it comes to deals. And clearly you have some bargaining skills of your own now..." He teased, lifting his gaze from the times that had been recorded to meet Lillian's eyes "So tell me Lillian, what little bonus can I get you for this successful first day? And do be sure to pick something, because I can't promise I won't take advantage of the opportunity..." Winking at her, Lucas swept the timetable up under his arm, taking note of when the first meeting was to take place "Now then, while you mull over your reward, shall we head upstairs and get the meeting room ready? I can show you to our office at the same time, and you can figure out how you want your desk setup, extra furniture, decorations..." Motioning for her to follow, Lucas would lead Lillian up the stairs to the more executive looking area of the Inner Circle. The larger office that they would be sharing could easily fit another desk inside, with Lucas's current desk and chair taking up the back of the large room. The two corner walls were pure glass, opening up a beautiful view of the river and downtown." Here's where you'll be doing most of your assistant work. The glass can be darkened if natural light isn't your thing or if you want some privacy, but otherwise what space isn't mine, is yours. Figure out what kind of setup you're looking for, and we'll get the furniture guys in here to make it happen"

Devil In The Details (Crixus & Arreis)|rating:4.0

Room Mates Learning to Navigate Life (closed to Biker_Faerie)

Chelsea opened the next box, working at moving in to her new apartment. She had just graduated from after enduring college, and her first job had her moving hours away from home, family, and friends. Fortunately she knew one person-her roommate, Jenny. Although "knew" was relative; they had met, and had loosely hung out a few times when they were out with some of their mutual friends, but in reality didn't know much about each other after all. All they knew was that living here together would provide a measure of safety and financial stability while both of them worked on beginning their careers. Chelsea was pretty introverted, preferring to go to class and then study her time away in her room until she felt too pressured and needed to let off some steam. When she got to that point, it felt like she had none of the inhibitions other girls did, and as such she never lacked male attention on those occasions where she did finally go out. But nobody had really stuck around as far as relationships went, so she was starting completely anew. Jenny on the other hand, had seemed far more reserved. Chelsea didn't know of she were just shy, or not a people person in general, or what. Jenny was always quick with a comeback though, and always had everyone at ease around her, so Chelsea was hopeful that sharing an apartment with her wouldn't make both of them miserable around each other. Jenny also wasn't due in until the next day, so Chelsea took the liberty of arranging the dishes and kitchen gadgets in a way that made sense to her. If there were any complaints, it wouldn't take much to rearrange, and she wouldn't be put out in the least since she had never set up house before. Fortunately, much of the apartment had come furnished with the necessaries-a couch, a pair of comfy looking chairs, refrigerator, stove, and-surprising to Chelsea-queen sized beds in both bedrooms. She would have to go out and buy new bed linens with her dwindling cash, but it was manageable until she got paid. After having put away her few belongings and having done a little rearranging, Chelsea took a walk to explore the building and surrounding neighborhood. It mostly seemed populated with younger people, not too many children nor elderly. A pool behind the building offered little in the way of comforts other than what appeared to be very refreshing and clean water, and there was a small exercise room reminiscent of most of the hotels Chelsea had been in. The neighborhood had a grocery store within comfortable walking distance, and was mostly other apartment complexes. Chelsea took the opportunity to get a few groceries to tide the girls over until they could better determine each other's preferences and aversions, then returned home to stock the fridge and cupboards. After putting everything away, she spent a few hours on her laptop to start preparing for her first day of work. She still had almost a week before she started, but she hated to start out behind. Although she quickly tired of that task, and her mind wandered to what kind of people she might encounter living here. Maybe she'd finally meet "the guy" and settle down. She shrugged mentally-even if she didn't, she knew she could at least have some interesting times with a few. She began to reminisce about some of the guys she had been with, and felt the pangs of burgeoning need. Furthermore, she took her tablet to the room she hoped would be hers and pulled out a couple of her toys. Stripping down, she pulled up one of her favorite erotic story pages and teased herself while she read until she put the tablet down to concentrate better. After a small but satisfying climax, she pulled the twin-sized comforter over herself to sleep, planning on going out the next day to get the new linens for her bed. Jenny arrived at the apartment the following day, with her parents in tow. They'd driven her and her belongings the thirty or so miles, from the family home in the suburbs, to the apartment on the cheaper side of the city. When they arrived, Chelsea was nowhere to be seen. It was a Saturday, so Jenny presumed she must have been out shopping, or meeting friends. Jenny was glad. She loved her parents, but they fussed over her like a child, and she didn't want Chelsea to see that. Jenny had wanted to move in the previous evening, but she worked weekdays and so had needed to wait until the weekend. Unlike Chelsea, she hadn't gone to college but had found a job in the city after graduating from high school. She liked the job but hated her daily commute. She'd dreamed of moving up to the city, getting out of the family home and getting some independence. When she'd heard from a friend that someone was looking for a housemate to rent an apartment with, she jumped at the chance. In all honesty Jenny had been surprised when Chelsea had agreed. Although they were the same age, she seemed far more 'worldly' than Jenny was and, having been to college, more educated too. Jenny had only ever known her closeted existence in the suburbs. The only child of two mildly over-protective parents. Jenny's mom cried when it was time to leave and made her promise to come home and visit the next weekend. Jenny didn't want to, but felt obliged. She felt bad about wishing her parents would leave quickly, but she really hadn't wanted Chelsea to meet them. Once they'd gone she felt like a huge shadow had been lifted from over her. She was finally free. She began to explore the apartment starting with the kitchen. There was already milk in the refrigerator and a jar of coffee in the cupboard, that was a good sign. There was nothing to make a meal from however, and it reminded Jenny that her cooking skills were limited. Cooking was one of the many things that her mom had done for her, but it was one of the things she was looking forward to doing for herself. The living room wasn't a bad size with a comfy sofa and a decent TV. It looked like the apartment had been recently decorated and most of the furniture seemed almost new, although a bit on the cheap side. Her bedroom was fine and with a queen size bed in it too. She'd only ever slept in a single bed at home. She lay back and spread herself out on it. It felt good. Out of curiosity Jenny thought she'd take a quick look at Chelsea's room too, just to see if Chelsea had taken 'dibs' on the best room last night. She knew she shouldn't really, but she couldn't help herself. She knocked on the door and when there was no reply, gingerly she opened it. It turned out that Chelsea's room was exactly the same as hers. She was just about to close the door when she noticed the vibrator on the nightstand. Jenny knew what it was but, living at home, she'd never used one before. It made her giggle and she wanted to pick it up, but she closed the door instead and walked backed to her own room. It was a good job she did because at the same time she heard the sound of the front door being opened. Chelsea woke up and wrapped a robe around herself. As she wandered out to the kitchen for a breakfast of a granola bar and coffee, she laughed at herself-she could have wandered through the apartment completely nude, and nobody to yell at her. She wondered how Jenny would react; would she be nonplussed? Embarrassed? Tease her? It dawned on her that there might have to be a few discussions about comfort levels. Her college roommates had been comfortable in various stages of undress, but then they had all been on athletic teams. Chelsea didn't really knowanythingabout Jenny's past. She took the coffee out on the balcony to watch people as they left for the day, making up stories about each of them. The guy in the suit hurrying while looking at his phone had to have kids and was rushing to some high intensity but mind-numbing office job. Obviously a couple of women working in healthcare, judging by their scrubs-maybe the same facility since they rode together, and maybe even roommates. A guy that was in some sort of physical outdoor labor judging by his worn clothes, taut arms, and dark tan. A few women likely in various office jobs, with one possibly having an executive level role based on her high heels, expensive looking outfit, and perfect hair. Chelsea shifted in her seat, readjusting her robe when it pulled tight across her chest as she scooted her rear in the seat. As she glanced up, she noticed a guy around the building from her, on one of the other sides of the complex facing the pool. He was on the same level as she, and although he was too far away to have really seen anything had obviously noticed her. He raised his own coffee cup in a silent toast of greeting, and she waved back with a sheepish smile. From what she could see, he wasn't bad looking. Distance had a way of covering a lot of blemishes though, and she'd reserve final appreciation for if and when they actually met. Finally finishing her coffee, she rose from her seat and slid the chair back against the wall from where she'd drug it to better see the people coming and going. With another wave goodbye to her distant neighbor, she went back inside and washed her cup, placing it on the drainer. She took a brief shower, then dressed in a came top and cutoff shorts to make a quick run to the store for the linens she needed, and to see what might grab her fancy for dinner. It took her about half an hour to find the closest store for such things, and she took her time wandering around browsing. She found a couple of sets of linens for the beds, not knowing if Jenny had some or not. If she did, Chelsea would keep a set for back up. If she didn't, Chelsea was sure they could work something out at some point-even though she had no desire to be a penny pitcher with her roommate. She did pick up chicken, pasta, cheese, and pasta sauce to make chicken parmigiana that evening for dinner, hoping it was safe for Jenny. When she arrived home, she was just able to get everything in one trip into the building. Getting into her apartment though, she had to set a couple of the bags down to fish her keys out of her pocket. Holding the door open with one foot, she slid everything inside before allowing the door to close. As it did, she noticed the extra boxes inside and realized that Jenny must have arrived." Jenny!" she singsonged as she picked up the groceries. "Come out, come out wherever you are!" Leaving the linens in their bags by the door, she gathered the groceries to put away. "Jenny!" This time in a poor Forrest Gump impersonation. She knew she was being obnoxious, but was too excited to try and avoid it. Jenny heard the door unlock and then Chelsea call out her name. She hadn’t heard the Forrest Gump reference in a while. She’d been very young when the film had come out but sometimes someone would see it on repeat and think it was funny to call her in that way. Furthermore, she wasn’t so keen on it though as the character in the film ultimately had a very sad demise. Jenny rushed to the front door to greet Chelsea. They hadn’t seen each other since viewing the apartment a few weeks ago, although they’d kept in regular contact, messaging almost daily. Seeing Chelsea made everything seem real at last for Jenny, and she couldn’t help letting out a small squeal of excitement as she hugged her new housemate.“I’m so glad to see you. Do you like the apartment? What was it like last night? Have you met any of the neighbors, what’s the area like?” Jenny assaulted Chelsea with a barrage of questions before letting up and realizing that she was probably coming on a bit strong.“I’m sorry,” she said backing off. “I’m just a bit excited. You probably want to put that shopping away first. Let me make you a tea. Or a coffee.” Chelsea laughed in delight at Jenny's excitement and brushed off her apologies." I do like it," she replied. "Last night at least was quiet enough, so I don't think we're going to have noisy neighbors. I helped myself to the one room last night, but if you'd rather we can switch. I didn't have any sheets or blankets for a bed that size, so bought some today. Enough for a set for both of us if you don't already have any either." As she talked, she put away the few groceries she had picked up." I haven't Meany of the neighbors yet, but waved to one while I was having coffee on the balcony this morning. Everyone seems our age to slightly older from watching the comings and goings this morning. A few families, maybe a few couples, a very few old folks." Obviously there's the pool. There's a small exercise room. A laundry in the back corner of the building. A grocery store within walking distance, but clothes and everything else will be a drive." Was that everything?" Chelsea laughed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to monopolize the conversation." She plopped down on one of the chairs before jumping back up to grab the linens." Here are the sheets I bought. I just picked out what I thought was cute. If you don't like either of them, we can either take them back or something." Chelsea finally ran out of steam for a minute and threw her arms around Jenny again." Hopefully you're looking forward to this as much as I am! I'm not too picky about most things, and I'm sure I'm probably too over the top for you, but let me know, and I'll try to tone things down or accommodate!" She kept her body glued to her roommate's affectionately but pulled her head back to look her in the face." I can even be circumspect about the guys you bring home if you promise to do the same," she whispered conspiratorially while wiggling her eyebrows lasciviously. “I don’t have much experience with guys,” Jenny admitted shamefacedly. “Or girls,” she added trying not to appear prejudiced, especially as Chelsea’s arms were still wrapped around her. She watched the look on Chelsea’s face change slightly. Was that concern or disbelief she could see now?“But that’s something I’m hoping to rectify,” she clarified with an impish grin. “Perhaps you can help me. I’m really not very experienced, as you’ve probably already guessed by now. ““As for linen I’m afraid I’ve already got mine sorted, or I should say my mom has. Sheets, pillowcases, towels, She’s brought me everything I could possibly need, and she’s probably sewed my name tag into them all to boot. I’m sorry, but thank you for thinking of me,” Jenny said giving Chelsea a squeeze.“But as it’s our first night together as housemates what do you think we should do to celebrate?” Jenny asked. “We could go out to for a meal or something, but I warn you money’s a little bit tight this month after having to find the deposit on this place. Or… we could get stay in and cook something. That’s another thing I’m hoping to master by the way, but I could go out and get us a couple of bottles of wine. ” Chelsea tried hard not to show her amazement at Jenny's revelation about being inexperienced with guys. Then the other woman mentioned "or girls", and she felt her heart beating hard enough she was sure Jenny could feel it due to how tightly the two were still pressed together. Chelsea herself wasn't particularly into girls, but when a need arose and another girl was the safest or most available route, she wasn't about to be too picky. Besides, Jenny seemed to be offering herself by stating she wanted to change her experience level. Chelsea's mind raced with the possibilities while her roommate continued on about the bed clothes, giggling with Jenny at the appropriate times." I will understand about the money situation," she replied ruefully. "I'm down to just enough for groceries and gas with just a little left over. But I was all ready to cook tonight, and then we can either enjoy that wine or we can go out to celebrate." Her hands shifted so that she was lightly jiggling a breast of each of the girls, and her heart beat even harder than before at being so bold. "All we have to do is dress to emphasize these a little, and all we'll have to buy is our own first round," she winked conspiratorially. Dropping her hands, afraid she may have mistaken Jenny's earlier comment and crossed a line she shouldn't, she hugged her roommate again before linking their arms and dragging Jenny to the kitchen. "Chicken parmigiana sounded good to me tonight. Hopefully it does to you too. I enjoy cooking, so if you don't want to or don't feel comfortable, I can take care of it most of the time." She stooped to pull out the pans she needed, as well as a cutting board and rolling pin. Laying one of the boneless breasts down, she rolled it flat. "My mom always either did the pre-packaged stuff or cheated with chicken nuggets, but one of my roommates in college taught me to do it this way, and I like it better. I still use bought noodles instead of making my own, but it's not nearly as carb dense as what Mom did." As she worked, she chattered away with her new roommate, trying to learn more about her; what she liked and didn't for foods, what she might like for TV shows and movies, the kinds of people she liked to hang out with, music tastes, and all the things that made living with someone else bearable or not. Jenny was glad that she’d got her lack of experience of pretty much all real world life skills out on the table. And it seemed that Chelsea still liked her in spite of it. She’d been surprised when Chelsea had touched her breasts but not unpleasantly She liked that there could be intimacy between them. In any case the truth of it was that, in her eagerness to be accepted, Jenny would have let Chelsea do pretty much anything to her. For a moment Jenny wondered if Chelsea might actually be a lesbian but then remembered the comment she’d made about bringing boys back to the apartment. It wouldn’t have worried her if she had been though. Chelsea probably wasn't going to be too impressed with her wardrobe however and Jenny wasn't sure there was much in it that was going to emphasize her breasts. Most of the clothes she had were on the conservative side and out of work she spent most of her time in jeans and a tee shirt. But Chelsea was right, if they were going to go out they definitely needed someone else to be buying the drinks. Jenny tried to answer Chelsea’s questions as best she could. As far as food was concerned she was a bit of a human dustbin but had a metabolism that could cope with it. Despite the current craze for plant base food and however noble a cause it was, she was a carnivore at heart and loved her meat. When it came to TV she’d grown up on a diet of vampires and werewolves and liked shows with a bit of a mystical or occult flavor. Her current favorite was Lucifer, and she admitted to Chelsea that she thought Tom Ellis was really hunky. Then, with a giggle, she also admitted that she had a thing for Lauren German too.“I don’t know why, but I like horror movies too," she added. 'The gorier, the better.” As far as music went she didn’t really have an opinion. She could listen to pretty much anything except Country and Western“My parents are crazy for it. They go out line dancing and everything. They tried to get me to go, but I hated it," she told Chelsea, pulling a face at the same time. "But I’m hoping that now we’re in the city maybe we could see some live music. I'd like that.” When it came to her choice of who she'd like to hang out with Jenny struggled. She had few friends and was a bit of a loner really, but she was at a loss to explain why. She didn’t want to be. She watched as Chelsea took charge of things in the kitchen. Chelsea seemed so confident and in control and cool with it. Jenny was already a bit in awe of her housemate. Chelsea continued to chatter back and forth with Jenny as she worked. It was true, she enjoyed cooking, and Jenny's lack of experience in the kitchen gave her the opportunity to share that enjoyment with her. It seemed likely that the two would be friends, rather than just people who shared an apartment, and she expressed that to the blonde. She had to laugh and shake her head at Jenny's movie tastes; she didn't mind them once in a while and tended to prefer the startle factor more than the disgusting factor. She also had to admit her preference for live music of any genre. Furthermore, she didn't listen to much outside of that, usually having her earphones in and listening to a podcast or streaming service. Chelsea was also more of a reader than watcher, so Jenny would mostly have access to whatever she wanted to watch. After Jenny's remarks about liking meat, Chelsea teased her about "tube steak", but she also sheepishly admitted that her sexual experience wasn't nearly at the level she'd allowed people to think. Most of it was just for show. Only three guys had ever been allowed to go all the way with her. And two girls, although she didn't mention that out loud; Jenny had seen her making out with one of their mutual friends before, but that had been more to help the other girl show off for one of the guys she was trying to get with. Chelsea didn't know if Jenny knew that last part, but still had no plans on revealing her friend's secret. Before she knew it dinner was not only ready, but consumed and cleaned up. She hung the dishcloth across the divide in the sink to dry and dried her hands before throwing her arms over Jenny's shoulders affectionately." So, celebration!" she said excitedly. "I have no preference. Wine in, or coercing guys to buy us drinks out? If we're going out, we probably need to start getting ready now." The meal Chelsea cooked was great and while Jenny had intended to improve her cooking skills she knew she'd let Chelsea cook if that was what she enjoyed doing. It was good to know that Chelsea wasn't so much more experienced than her when it came to men, or women for that matter. It embarrassed Jenny that she was still a virgin, but she hadn't seen the need to throw herself under the first passing guy, just to lose the tag. Plus she had some standards and in any case she'd have been mortified if the first passing guy had ignored her and walked on. What she needed was an attractive sure thing. Man or woman, it didn't matter. She was after all a modern woman, even if she wasn't plant based. Chelsea put Jenny on the spot over whether to go out or not, and she was useless at making decisions like that." Honestly, I don't know." Jenny replied, squirming like a worm on a hook. "It's been fun chatting, and I'd be happy to stay in and share a couple of bottles of wine." Jenny thought some more, trying to find the words to articulate her conundrum without coming down too hard for one option or the other, in case it wasn't Chelsea's preferred option." On the other hand I like the idea of going out too. But I don't know if I've got anything in my wardrobe that's going to make a guy want to buy me a drink. And while the idea of guys buying us drinks sounds fun, aren't they going to want something in return?"" Why don't you make the decision, Chelsea." Jenny pleaded. "I'll go along with whatever you choose. Please!!!" "I see we're going to have to work on firm joint decisions," Chelsea laughed. "But if it's just your wardrobe that's keeping you from wanting to go out, I can take care of that! I'm a little bigger in some areas, smaller in others, but we're close enough to the same size I'm sure we can find something that'll look cute on you!" She hooked her arm around the back of Jenny's neck and pulled Jenny's arm around her own waist, then led her back to the bedrooms." Ok, go put on your cutest undies and meet me back here. I'll look through some of my clothes for something flirty that will work for you until we can update you." She turned to start digging through the bags and boxes she hadn't yet unpacked in case Jenny wanted this bedroom as hers. Tops got distributed into a few different piles, the one on the bed being for Jenny to try out. Another pile for hanging up in the closet, and another to be put away in the dresser. After that, she started looking through skirts, shorts, and some of her sexier pants following the same pattern. One outfit she set aside for herself for the evening. Faster than she was ready, she heard Jenny come back in her room and stand by the door. Chelsea kept sorting and talking." As far as the guys expecting, they can expect all they want," Chelsea said dismissively. "It's one thing to flirt, but I don't like leading them on. We do need to discuss girl code though. Actively putting a guy's hands on you means you're enjoying him and wouldn't mind spending the night with him. Looking at the other and pushing him away a little means you want rescued. I can play a bitch jealous of my girlfriend pretty convincingly! Dancing is just dancing. I'm not picky about my dance partners; that's more about the fun of the moment." We do need to work out something for some 'extra help' to hook a guy though. I've been that girl a few times. Andi and I had it worked out that all she had to do was bring him over and introduce him to me and ask me what I thought, and I'd play her bi lover. You know, hinting that I might be willing to join in if they actually did the deed. A little petting, a kiss or two, that sort of thing. Hands on skin, just underneath the bra or pants line really gets guys ready to be reeled in," she laughed. "Feel free to try out the clothes on the bed. There should be something's there that strike your fancy!" Having gotten everything sorted, Chelsea stripped down to start re-dressing. G-string and lacy bra, party length skirt, and came top that allowed her bra cups to just show. Jenny loved the clothes that Chelsea had sorted out for her. They were the sort she would have bought for herself, had she had anywhere to go in them. She was a little shorter than Chelsea and probably a bra size smaller too. Her thighs were slightly chunkier also, but muscular, not fat. She'd been on the school athletics team when she was younger but by the time she was in her mid-teens she was losing out to the taller, more well-developed athletes. If she'd concentrated on gymnastics as one teacher had suggested she might have had a better chance. But it was all conjecture, and anyway she wasn't sure she had what was needed to compete at the top level anyway. Her dad called her a pocket rocket and it was probably a good description. She'd never had an ounce of fat on her despite her prodigious appetite. Jenny gravitated toward the tight clingy tops and skirts but what really grabbed her attention was a pair of tight PVC hot pants. She put them on and stood in front of Chelsea in just the hot pants and a bra." What do you think?" she asked. Chelsea looked up at Jenny at the question, then looked hard from feet to waist, to chest, and finally eyes." I think I hope you're not going to mind hands all over you!" she exclaimed. She moved towards the other woman and did just that, running her hand up the outside of Jenny's thigh as low as she could reach then up over her hip to the waistband of the pants. "I also think you need to keep those. They look on you like I'd hoped they would on me, but instead they just sag and bunch. And I've got a top that should go great with it." Chelsea rummaged through the tops on the bed and came up with a pink peekaboo halter top. "You won't fall out of this, but you also won't be able to wear that bra. Not that you look like you need one anyway. Plus it also feels deliciously naughty going without," she giggled. She turned to the mirror while Jenny finished dressing." Now for the makeup," she said thoughtfully. "High rollers or flirty, do you think?" she asked. “I don’t mind,” Jenny replied as usual. “As long as it doesn’t say ‘broke and can’t afford their own drinks’. Or prostitute.” Chelsea got to work. Neither of them needed much makeup. But that’s the beauty of being young. Jenny liked her new look, although she did wonder if she looked a bit too much like a tart. She wasn’t used to exposing so much flesh, but Chelsea was dressed similarly so at least there would be strength in numbers. When Chelsea had run her hands up her body, Jenny had turned ticklish for a moment and had needed to suppress a giggle. Chelsea was definitely a tactile person and Jenny didn’t want her to think that she wasn’t. So when the two girls turned to each other for a final critique of each other, Jenny made a point of putting both hands on Chelsea’s hips.“You look gorgeous,” she told Chelsea. “The boys won’t be able to resist you. And thank you for dressing me. “Jenny reached in and brushed Chelsea’s cheek lightly with her lips then let go and stepped back.”So where are we going?” She asked. Chelsea laughed at Jenny's remarks about the extremes of broke and street walker. It seemed the girls had similar tastes in that regard. Chelsea did Jenny's eyes in a soft pink to match her outfit, and her own eyeshadow to coordinate hers. When she was done, she was pleased that Jenny seemed to share her touchiness by putting her hands on Chelsea's hips and giving her a light kiss on the cheek. Chelsea managed a similar kiss before Jenny stepped back, then cocked her hip to think about where they were going." I didn't make it that far exploring yet," she said thoughtfully. "I suppose we could either ask around the building about good places, or we could just drive around until we found something." “I don’t think driving’s a good idea. Not if we’re drinking,” Jenny told Chelsea. “We should probably ask around then get an UBER.” Jenny put a denim jacket over her top. She didn’t want to walk around in public dressed as she was. Her legs were still exposed, but it was a Saturday night and that could probably be said for half the girls I’m the city. Chelsea was even bolder she didn’t take a jacket at all. It was a warm evening and there were still a few people by the pool. So the girls thought it would be a good place to ask about clubs. A young couple were just packing up when they got there, and they caught them before they left. He was white while she was Chinese Asian. Both were good-looking but heavily tattooed.“Hi. We’ve just moved in, and we’re looking to go to a club,” Jenny asked.“What are you into? “ The girl said, eyeing both girls up.“Just a regular club. Somewhere to dance, Chelsea replied. “Maybe a place where guys would buy us drinks. We’re flat broke you see.”“Try The Palms on Dalton street,” the guy replied helpfully. His eyes lingered on Chelsea a bit too long though. Not that his partner seemed to mind she was doing the same to Jenny.“And the way you both look I’m sure you’ll have no problem with the drinks,” he added.”You could always come back to our place and party,” the girl said.”Thanks, but it’s our first night together, and we want to celebrate. Perhaps another night?” Jenny said politely.“Any time Hun,” the girl replied licking her lips.”You girls an item?” The guy asked.“No,” Jenny giggled. “Just housemates.”“Cool. We’re Pete and Diana by the way.”“Jenny and Chelsea. Pleased to meet you.”“We’ll if you’re free another night we’re in thirty-three,” Diana offered and then the two of them picked up their bags and set off for their apartment. When they were out of earshot Jenny grabbed Chelsea’s arm.“What do you think those two get up to?” She giggled.“I don’t know,” Chelsea chucked. “But he was cute though, and she was definitely undressing you with her eyes. No mistake.”“She was undressing me,” Jenny exclaimed. “He looked like he was figuring out how he was going to fuck you.” Jenny watched as her friend blushed ever so slightly. So are we going to take them up on their offer?” Jenny asked.“I’m not sure.” Chelsea replied. “We have no idea what they’re like.”“I Dare you.” Jenny told Chelsea. “And you can’t refuse a dare.”“Ok,” Chelsea replied. “But you realize I’m going to dare you back at some point.”“I know,” Jenny giggled again. Then added, “It’s funny they thought we were an item though. I wonder why?”“Well, we live together, I guess,” Chelsea replied.“So shall we try the palms?” Jenny asked.“Definitely!” Jenny typed The Palms into the UBER app. Only three minutes until pick up.“Come on,” she said to her friend. “Let’s get to the front of the building. It’ll be here soon.” Chelsea had enjoyed the banter with the couple, and was surprised that Jenny had not only seemed to be flirting back but had dared her to take them up on their offer. As the girls made their way through the building to watch for their ride to show up, Chelsea looked askance at Jenny. Exceptionally cute, and apparently as open to sapphire encounters as she had alluded to earlier. Jenny hadn't even flinched at having Diana looking her over sexually, and had been relaxed at discussing it. Chelsea began to wonder what those blue eyes and blonde locks would look like peering up at her from between her own thighs." Pact time," she announced. "Tonight is just us. As much fun as we want while we're out and with whomever we find, but we leave together and bring no one home. We'll save that for next time!" Within moments of arriving at the front of the apartment complex, Jenny's phone pinged that their ride was outside. The girls climbed into the backseat, both of them having to be careful due to the length of their skirts. Their driver was a cute enough guy, and Chelsea struck up a conversation with him asking about the city, if he lived close by, what he did during the day, and generally trying to get a feel for the area to which she had moved. For his part, the man was witty and had the girls laughing, flirting back at both of them without paying too much attention to either. Chelsea flirted and laughed back, her hand going frequently to her roommate-her had, her thigh, her arm, keeping Jenny engaged with both other people as well. Jenny had been pleased when they’d made their pact not to bring any boys back that evening. Jenny explained that she’d only started taking the pill that day as her parents wouldn’t have approved while she was under their roof. And to be honest there hadn’t been any point anyway. It would be two weeks before Jenny would be safe. She’d have to wait until then or perhaps use a condom if the need arose, but she’d waited twenty-one years, another fortnight didn’t seem too difficult. She watched with interest as Chelsea flirted with the taxi driver. Chelsea was good at flirting whereas Jenny hadn’t had much experience. But she was keen to learn. She observed how her friend made small talk, occasionally being slightly risqué, but never going too far, and she was always careful not to lead the guy on. It was only a short journey in the Uber and the driver dropped them right outside the entrance to the club. They said goodbye to him and made their way to the door. The driver waited to see that they were ok then he drove off. When the app pinged Jenny gave him five stars but couldn’t afford a tip.“ID girls,” one of the bouncers on the door told them in a disinterested voice as they approached. They fished out their I.D.s and the bouncer gave them a cursory inspection.“You’re good,” he said unclipping the rope that acted as a symbolic barrier. Then in a voice devoid of any sort of emotion he added, “Have a good night.” "I hope that's not a harbinger of the rest of the evening!" Cheese said to Jenny as they stepped through what seemed to be an outer set of door leading to an entryway to the club itself. Inside these doors, the music was much louder, and inside the inner doors louder still. She had to shout to make herself heard as she gestured to the bar. The crowd inside was large, but not nearly as packed as she assumed a weekend evening would be. The girls were able to make their way to the bar without having to cling to each other for fear of being separated, and only had to squeeze their bodies between small groups a few times. Once at the bar, Chelsea pushed Jenny into the only noticeable seat, then stood pressed against her." Shots first!" she exclaimed. A few people nearby overhead and turned to them smiling. The guys were all uniformly attractive, the girls equally so and dressed similarly to Chelsea and Jenny. One of the guys immediately spoke up." I'll buy those shots, since you're celebrating too!" he yelled over the music and chatter. Chelsea turned to him with an impish grin." And what are you celebrating?" she asked."" The company of two hotties for the night," he replied expressively. Chelsea twirled her hair over a finger and leaned towards him, her eyelids lowering seductively." In your dreams, maybe," she laughed. “Don’t kick a man when he’s down,” the guy responded. “It’s my birthday, and I’m all alone in the world.” From the look of the group he was with, it might well have been true. Although it could have been just a line of course. The group wasn't all guys, there were a few couples too. All young, all good-looking, all out for a good time. From the way they were dressed they looked as if they could afford to buy their own drinks for sure. Chelsea allowed the guy to buy them their shots, and he bought a round for his friends at the same time. With a large whoop they all did their shots together then banged the glasses on the bar afterward. It was only vodka, but it slipped down Jenny’s unpractised throat surprisingly easily. She'd had been astonished at how easy it had been to get a guy to buy you a drink. But now she wasn’t sure what social convention dictated should happen next. They’d already established they were going home alone tonight. So how was Chelsea going to play it. Jenny watched with interest.“So what are you girls celebrating?” another of the group asked.”It’s the first day in our new apartment,” Chelsea told them ambiguously resting her hand on Jenny’s leg. Jenny saw what was happening and placed her own hand in the small of Chelsea’s back and smiled at her. The fact that they were potential lesbians didn’t seem to put the guy off one bit. Maybe he thought he was up to the job of converting them. He’d probably already had a few drinks however and so his judgement might have been somewhat impaired.“Well that calls for another round,” he hollered, and a whoop went up from the group. Again the shots went down in one and again Jenny threw hers back with ease. As the alcohol worked its way into her system, Jenny felt her awkwardness beginning to disappear and her inner impishness starting to replace it. Chelsea had to admit that Jenny's bare skin felt good underneath her hand. As did Jenny's hand on her own back; it was too soon for it to just be the alcohol. The shots and the lively atmosphere brought out the worst of her natural flirtatious personality. As their new guy friend kept talking with them, no doubt trying to get lucky, Chelsea couldn't keep herself from touching him even though she was almost leaning against Jenny. Finally though, his attention was pulled back to his own group, and Chelsea turned to Jenny." Let's dance!" she exclaimed, pulling Jenny out onto the floor. She threw her arms around Jenny's neck, her body twisting and swaying to the heavy bass beat. There was a chance the group would move on, taking their benefactor with it. Or he might try and stick around, but that wasn't Chelsea's concern. She was out to celebrate with her roommate. And even if the entire group did leave, there were plenty of other guys that would likely buy them drinks. Now that she had a couple into her though, Chelsea couldn't care less. She wondered what Jenny would be like drunk though, and said as much." I just get louder, more giddy, and more flirty," she laughed. "And even more hands, if you didn't think that was possible." Jenny began to wonder for the second time that evening whether her housemate was indeed a lesbian. The evidence seemed to be building up and some of the comments that Chelsea had made earlier seemed to make sense now Chelsea was all over her on the dance floor and getting suggestive with it. Jenny played along, but she wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t mind having a housemate who was a lesbian, but she wasn’t ready to be one herself. She was too interested in boys to be gay and here she was in the nightclub, on the verge of finally meeting some. Chelsea had told her that the boys would be all over her in those hot pants but the only person who’d been all over her so far had been Chelsea herself. It began to look to Jenny as if Chelsea was only really interested in guys as a source of alcohol. The two shots already seemed to be having an effect on her too. However, the same high metabolism that let Jenny eat what she wanted to be stopped her from getting loose at the rate that Chelsea was. It would take a few more shots before Jenny got there. Not that she really needed it to enjoy herself. Jenny didn’t want to disappoint her new friend though and being the compliant sort she let Chelsea monopolize her. Chelsea’s hands really were all over her now and Jenny felt as if everyone on the dance floor must have been watching them, even though in truth that wasn’t the case. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to offend Chelsea. Jenny desperately wanted to be Chelsea’s friend. After a few songs, Chelsea was getting sweaty and thirsty. She wasn't sure how Jenny was able to still be wearing her jacket." Come on, I need something to drink!" She pulled Jenny along by the hand through the slightly crowded dance floor back to the bar. Chelsea didn't see the group that had been there when the girls got there, but another had formed. This time though, there were two seats. Before letting Jenny up on one, Chelsea pulled the denim jacket off her roommate's shoulders." Take your coat off and stay a while!" she giggled. "Besides, that top was made to be seen, and you've got the body to show it off!" She hung the jacket off from Jenny's lap, then slid into the seat next to her. When the bartender came around again, Chelsea asked for a pineapple daiquiri; the shots were fun, but she needed something that would actually help quench her thirst. Jenny gave her order, and while they were waiting a relatively attractive man came up and leaned on the bar next to Jenny, not yet looking at her but with an air of interest." You picked up an admirer," she said, laughing into her friend's ear. The man continued to stand there as if not having noticed the girls, but definitely giving off the vibe that he was hoping to be talked to. Chelsea nudged Jenny. "I think he's working up the nerve to dance with you!" she teased. Jenny turned around awkwardly only to look straight into the eyes of the man who Chelsea was trying to point out. He smiled at her and chuckled. Jenny thought he was quite handsome. A bit older than her probably but not by much.“Not very subtle was it,” he chuckled.”You’d have got away with it if it hadn’t been for my wing-woman,” Jenny admitted introducing Chelsea. The two acknowledged each other.“Do you girls want a drink?” he asked. Jenny was just about to say that they’d only just ordered when Chelsea piped up.“Mine’s a pineapple daiquiri.”“Mine is too,” Jenny added feeling slightly embarrassed. The guy ordered the drinks and then turned back to the girls.“I’m Sean,” he said looking straight at Jenny.”I’m Jenny and this is Chelsea,” she replied. “Are you on your own?”“No,” he admitted. “My friends are over there. “The two girls looked over to a group of guys who were looking back at them. One of them waved.“I said you looked really attractive, and they dared me to ask you for a dance,” Sean said with a slight embarrassment, which Jenny understood as she would have felt the same in his shoes.”And are you?”“Am I what?”“Going to ask me.”“Would you like to dance?” Sean chuckled.“I thought you were never going to ask,” Jenny joked. Then turning to Chelsea she asked, “Will you look after my jacket?” Chelsea smiled at her friend and pulled the jacket off from Jenny's chair and draped it across the back of her own, then accepted Jenny's purse from her. She spun on her chair to watch Jenny and Sean move out to the dance floor, slowly sipping her drink. Sean led Jenny to the dance floor. It was busy now and the two of them struggled to find a space on it. From where she stood she could no longer see Chelsea. Jenny’s dance style was what you might call energetic rather than stylish, but she did it with a big grin on her face. Sean danced like a typical man, but Jenny didn’t care. The music consisted of club mixes of pop songs set to a constant metronomic background beat. There was no beginning or end to a tune just a constant stream of sound. When Sean put his hands on her hips Jenny didn’t resist, putting hers on his for a while, before continuing with her aerobics session again. Then the music slowed unexpectedly going into one of those dream like sequences DJs like to put in their sets, where a girl with a sexy voice repeats something banal to some slightly mystical sounding but music. Sean opened his arms to her hesitantly and she walked into them placing her hands around his neck. If she hadn’t been so keen she probably wouldn’t have let him kiss her, but she was dying to be kissed. She felt a hand reach down and cup her buttock then pull her against him as he pushed his thigh against her. Crotch Their tongues teased each other’s and Jenny couldn’t help but swoon. When the tempo picked up again they seem aerated and Jenny told Sean that she should probably be getting back to Chelsea. Sean asked if maybe she’d like to go out on a date some time.“Sure,” she said.”What’s your number?” He asked cheekily. Producing a pen, obviously carried for such occasions. Jenny wrote down her number on his hand and then they parted. Sean and Jenny were quickly out of sight on the dance floor, although Chelsea was able to get glimpses of them every now and again. Jenny looked like she was having fun, and Chelsea was glad. A few guys came up and chatted with her while she tried to keep an eye on the couple. Chelsea was friendly and flirty enough, but had enough experience as a wing woman to keep most of her attention on searching out signs of distress from her roommate. Her obvious distraction had the most of the guys giving up, no doubt in search of easier prey. Chelsea saw Jenny held against Sean, her legs straddling one of his, his hands on her buttocks, and the pair kissing. She stood ready to intervene, but Jenny seemed to meld her body to Sean's willingly and so relaxed once again. She smiled at Jenny's apparent enjoyment, and another guy took it as encouragement to come over and chat her up. This guy was particularly attractive to Chelsea, and she allowed herself to get swept up in his flirting. He had asked her to dance just as Jenny was getting back to their seats. Chelsea relinquished hers to Jenny." My turn!" she said Gayle, handing Jenny both girls' purses and following the stranger out onto the floor. Like Jenny and Sean, the couple was quickly caught up in the crowd, and they had to press between writing bodies. The flirting and alcohol had Chelsea worked up, and she intentionally teased her partner with her body rubbing against his. He responded as expected, running his hands over her and keeping his pelvis in near constant contact with her. By the end of the second song or so, he was being much more forward, his hands at the edges of her breasts or framing her pelvis, and frequently cupping her ass. Chelsea not only allowed it, but enjoyed it, helping herself to handfuls of her partner. Quicker than Jenny though, she was ready for more to drink, and hugged her partner tightly one last time before giving him a kiss at the corner of his mouth and separating from him to return to the bar and her roommate, out of breath." Having fun?" she asked Jenny over the music. “I’m having a perfect time,” Jenny told Chelsea. “I saw you getting off with that guy on the dance floor.”“Like I was the only one,” Chelsea replied.”Sean was nice,” Jenny admitted. “I’d have liked to take it further with him. You know, found a quiet corner and made out for a bit. But I didn’t want to leave my new best friend on her own too long.” Jenny gave Chelsea a big hug and a kiss.“What we need to do now is find a couple of guys to buy us some more drinks,” Jenny suggested cheekily, “dance with them for a bit then take them to a quiet corner and see who can be the raunchiest. Without getting thrown out that is. I challenge you!” Jenny was pretty sure that Chelsea would win such a challenge, but she felt like she had so much catching up to do that she needed to get started right away. Chelsea was surprised at the kiss Jenny gave her, and was almost belated in returning it. It was chaste, but still a kiss on the mouth nonetheless.“What we need to do now is find a couple of guys to buy us some more drinks, dance with them for a bit then take them to a quiet corner and see who can be the raunchiest. Without getting thrown out that is. I challenge you!” Chelsea laughed. When they'd hung out before, Jenny wasn't nearly this outgoing, and the surprising behavior was exciting. She climbed astride one of Jenny's legs and sat on her knee, then cupped Jenny's face before leaning in. Her lips just brushed Jenny's as she did, and she could feel her heart race at her own behavior and the nearness of Jenny's attractive features." Beware what you wish for," she said somewhat huskily before slowly sliding her tongue into Jenny's mouth. While initially calculated to draw the girls more male attention, especially on top of both their behaviors on the dance floor, what Chelsea hadn't counted on was enjoying kissing her roommate-let along getting turned on by it. The moments dragged on, and the music seemed muffled. Chelsea tasted the sweetness of Jenny's drink within her mouth, Chelsea's tongue exploring the source of that flavor. It was with reluctance that she broke the kiss, her eyes hooded and tender as she slowly withdrew while holding Jenny's gaze. Fortunately, a crowd of guys was already crowding around them, hooting and hollering-as were a couple of girls. Chelsea didn't know if they were with their guy friends and just being dragged along, or if some were interested in the pair of girls themselves. She felt herself embraced from behind, the person's hands crossing over her chest." That was hot!" came a male voice in her ear, the hands lightly squeezing the base of her breasts. Chelsea couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Jenny's face as Chelsea was blatantly felt up, her nipples stiffening through her bra. Remembering Jenny's challenge, Chelsea allowed it to happen." What are you drinking?" came the voice again. Chelsea kept watching Jenny." I think we need a round of shots, then I'll go with a coconut mojito," Chelsea replied. The hands squeezed her breasts harder this time, and Chelsea felt herself pulled backwards off Jenny's knee, her skirt creeping dangerously high before she was pushed against the bar. She could feel the bulge pressing against her back, and caught sight of another male arm reaching across Jenny's stomach, the thumb brushing against the edge of Jenny's breast as a dark haired man leaned down to talk into Jenny's ear." Six rounds of Babinski!" the man holding Chelsea said the next time the bartender came around. Jenny had to admit that her friend probably wasn’t a lesbian. But there was no denying Chelsea liked girls as well as boys. Girls didn’t kiss girls like that normally. Jenny liked the idea of being with boys and girls at the same time and seeing her roommate being openly fondled by another man definitely turned her on. If that hadn’t then the way the dark haired guy behind her was touching her definitely did. It was clear that Chelsea and Jenny’s new friends knew each other, and they worked as a team to trap their prey. Quickly drinks appeared and almost as quickly they were consumed. Then there was dancing. If you could call it that. The two guys stood behind their respective partners on the dance floor, fondling them, while Jenny and Chelsea danced face to face and kissed. It was pretty flagrant, but nobody seemed to notice as the dance floor was pretty packed. Jenny felt a hand disappear under her top and start playing with her nipples. The guy squeezed them tightly which, in turn, made Jenny kiss Chelsea harder. She reached behind and felt for his cock only to be surprised by an impressive bulge in his trousers. She saw Chelsea’s man lifting her skirt and fondling her, and she was jealous of the attention as her own hot pants provided a more difficult barrier to overcome. When Jenny’s guy kissed the side of her neck just under her ear she could have orgasmed on the spot, and she gripped his bulge tightly.“Why don’t the four of us find somewhere more private?” he told the two girls leading Jenny by the hand. As the drinks appeared, only one of the hands disappeared. The other slid to the hemline of her skirt, teasing along the edge of Chelsea's panties and keeping her from adjusting her skirt to it's more appropriate length. As soon as the shots were gone, the girls were propelled back out on the dance floor. There, whether by accident or design, the girls were positioned facing each other while their partners stayed behind them. To Chelsea's delight, Jessica initiated a kiss while they were dancing. It was brief, but as they kept getting pushed into each other from behind, frequent. As was their contact with each other-they both met probing bulges from behind and soft curves ahead...and wandering hands between. Chelsea was excited to discover that Jenny had either lied about her experience or was more than willing to be corrupted. When her hands weren't exploring the soft body in front of her, they were wandering behind her to the harnesses that writhed there. Due to their proximity, the hands that explored one girl also felt up the other. Jenny's partner soon had his hands under her shirt kneading Jenny's breasts and likely tweaking her nipples, against which Chelsea's own were pressed. Likewise, the hand that was now openly lifting her skirt to slide into her was pressed against Jenny's more secure mound. After a bit, the guys were leading the girls off to a corner of the club. Chelsea tugged frantically at her panties and skirt to regain a semblance of modesty as they were hurried through the crowd. Except rather than going to a dark corner, the guys led them through a door into another room. The music was equally loud as the rest of the bar, but it was much less crowded...and far more risqué. Jenny noticed that there’d been a bouncer discreetly guarding the door at the back of the club. The guys had flashed wristbands at him and had been allowed to pass through. The door led to another room that looked almost like a second club. There was a dance floor and alcoves for people to sit in but no bar as far as Jenny could tell. It was dark, very dark. Just the occasional soft colored light.“What is this place?” she asked.”You girls haven’t been here before?” Chelsea’s partner asked looking surprised.“No,” the two girls responded.”Ah,” the guy said with a bit of concern. “Sorry, we kind of thought you would have.”“Sorry, we thought you knew,” the dark haired guy added looking a bit taken aback. “It’s like a private club. Men pay to belong to it, but you can only get access to it with a partner. Except on Sunday nights when they allow selected single guys and single girls in.”“What’s so good about it?” Jenny asked.“Take a look around you.” By now Jenny’s eyes had adjusted to the light and when she looked around she was stunned at what she saw. There were a number of couples on the dance floor in various states of undress, dancing and groping each other. One girl danced naked with her man while another couple fondled her openly. She looked to be almost near orgasm from the experience and held onto her partner tightly. In one of the alcoves a girl was on her knees giving her partner a blow job while in the next alcove a couple we’re having sex. The girl sat in the guy’s lap, her short skirt up around her waist while he slid his cock into her.“Do you girls want to stay?” Chelsea’s partner asked the two of them.“Hell yeah,” Jenny replied. Of course, Chelsea had heard of "VIP Lounges", but had never experienced one. Indeed, she thought they were most likely just a fantasy of most guys. And yet, here she was in what appeared to be one. It was far less crowded than the club outside, and anyone could easily see just about everything that was going on inside. Chelsea gripped Jenny's hand tightly in nervousness and excitement. She knew what the guys were expecting of the girls, but wasn't sure she was up to it-not in such a public setting. Then her dance partner was asking if the girls wanted to stay, and heard Jenny's excited reply. She was determined that if Jenny could be that willing, so would she. With an impish grin, she pushed Jenny further into the room and away from the safety of the door that was their escape. She slid her hands around Jenny's waist, under her top, just brushing the underside of Jenny's freely-hanging breasts." We're going to get fucked," she singsonged into Jenny's ear. She felt another pair of hands grasping her own waist, one sliding down beneath her skirt and panties, searching for her slit. The other crept upwards, underneath her bra to fondle her breast. Chelsea melted backwards into the body of the owner of the hands, pulling Jenny with her. Chelsea's hands caressed the rest of the female mounds in front of her, avoiding Jenny's nipples but rubbing them against the fabric of her top, teasing the other girl. Just for a few moments, then she released her roommate and reached behind her to unclasp her bra. Ignoring propriety, she slid the straps of her came down over her arms, then slipped the bra free and tossed it onto a nearby table before dancing mostly topless against the man behind her, whose hand was now kneading her own bared breast for anyone and everyone to see. The other had continued its downward search and now found its target, sliding between her soaked lips and gliding over her well lubricated clit, drawing a pleased gasp. Jenny watched as Chelsea gave her partner the green light to proceed. It was as if a switch had been flicked in Chelsea, and now it was ‘access all areas’. The guy’s hand disappeared into her friend’s panties and very obviously began fingering her. Chelsea caught Jenny’s eye for a moment and gave her a wicked stare before dropping her gaze downwards. Of course, the dark haired guy immediately wanted some of what his friend was getting and so Jenny helped him by removing her crop top. Jenny’s breasts looked like two fried eggs compared Chelsea’s beautiful orbs, but her nipples were bigger and giving the teasing they were getting they stood proud like bullets. The hot pants were proving a problem, however. They hadn’t been designed with this in mind and Jenny wanted some of what Chelsea was getting. When dark haired guy undid the waist button, Jenny didn’t resist and emboldened by this he slid down the hot pants. What Jenny hadn’t realized was that her panties had been pulled down too, and now she was effectively naked. It was too late to be doing anything about it, however. Her companion wasted no to time in trying to finger her, and she widened her stance to let him. He immediately pushed two fingers into her, and she gave a little shudder at the initial penetration. When his fingers came out they were covered in her juice, and he smeared this over her clitoris. The process was repeated a couple of times until Jenny’s clitoris was slippery to the touch. Then the guy began to play with it. It felt like the right time to play with dark haired guy’s cock now and, reaching behind her, Jenny unzipped his fly and reached inside. He member was stiff and erect for her and taking his hand off her breast for a moment he helped her to fish it out of his pants. She began to wank him, but it was difficult to get a good rhythm going while he was still clothed.“Why don’t you girls play with each other for a bit while we get rid of some of these clothes,” Dark haired guy suggested to everyone. “Oh and I’m Paul, he’s Dan by the way.”“It’s a bit late for introductions, but we’re Jenny and Chelsea,” Jenny replied laughing. Jenny looked at Chelsea to see if she was ok with the suggestion.“What do you think?” Jenny asked. “Should we put on a show for them?” Chelsea’s face seemed to light up at the prospect. Jenny put her arms around Chelsea’s neck and kissed her“Hello roommate,” she giggled, the alcohol finally taking effect. “You know I’ll let you do anything you want to me.” Chelsea watched with hooded eyes as Jenny removed her top, allowing her breasts to jiggle free. Jenny's nipples drew attention, standing proudly out from her breasts and begging to be sucked. Then her roommate was allowing her companion to remove her pants, her panties trailing along soddenly. The guy with Jenny wasted no time in plunging his fingers into her canal but then thoughtfully pulled them back out to coat her clit before beginning to frig her. “Why don’t you girls play with each other for a bit while we get rid of some of these clothes? Oh, and I’m Paul, he’s Dan by the way.” Jenny almost immediately had her arms around Chelsea's neck, her slightly smaller breasts mashing into Chelsea's own and initiating a kiss.“Hello roommate. You know I’ll let you do anything you want to me.” Chelsea figured it was just the alcohol talking, but didn't perceive that Jenny would have any regrets about actions taken; she knew that she wouldn't either. Chelsea began kissing Jenny deeper and more aggressively, then pushed her back against one of the tables, her hands sliding up Jenny's torso to massage her friend's breasts. Wanting to feel more though, she quickly relinquished her grip and unfastened her skirt, allowing it to pool at her feet, then slid her came over her hips and off so that she was almost all skin to skin with the other girl. Her panties were the only thing left other than her sandals, but they had been bunched to the side by Dan. Chelsea stopped kissing Jenny and slid her face around the other girl's head to nibble on her ear." And here I thought you were the innocent one..." she growled. Jenny liked it when Chelsea took control. Taking the lead definitely wasn’t Jenny’s normal mode of operation, in any part of her life. So far her boldness had been fuelled by alcohol and the desperate desire to prove herself, but she was in deep now and without any real idea of how to satisfy a guy or a girl properly. Jenny knew she preferred someone else to call the shots. She had no doubts that Dan and Paul would step up and capitalize on the opportunity presented to them, but she hadn’t been able to make Chelsea out. Sometimes she seemed really confident. Other times it seemed like Jenny was making the running. Forced against table however while Chelsea kissed her roughly was more like it. She loved the feel of her roommate pressing against her. She wanted to be ravaged by her. In fact, she wanted to be ravaged by all three of them.“And here I thought you were the innocent one,” Chelsea whispered.”Honestly, I don’t really have a clue what I’m doing,” Jenny giggled. Hearing Jenny say that she was more just going with the flow of things filled Chelsea with a devilish delight. She pushed her roommate up onto the table, then bent between her thighs. Reaching up, she linked her fingers with those of the blonde, then kissed her way alternatively up Jenny's thighs. Ignoring the glistening slit that was her goal for the time being, she kissed up and over Jenny's mound. Slowly she made smaller and smaller circles until the other girl was moving her hips, trying to get Chelsea to put her mouth on the area Jenny was trying to direct her attentions. Behind her though, apparently Dan had grown impatient with the girls' show and wanted to perform himself. Chelsea felt her panties being slipped down her legs, then a tongue invading her. It drove straight into her canal and swirled several times before being pulled out to slide to the area of her clit. Her button was nudged from side to side, making her shiver in ecstasy. Chelsea decided that she had teased her roommate enough for the time being and slid her own tongue deeper between Jenny's legs, licking the soft outer lips and nibbling gently with her lips before working to the smaller inner ones. There she repeated the process before sliding her tongue between the two groups, then gave a long, slow, feather soft lick over the very center of Jenny's sex. She repeated that once more before going deeper and focusing the lightest touches of her tongue on Jenny's sensitive nub. Jenny lay back on the table and let Chelsea play with her. She’d driven Jenny wild with anticipation, kissing almost everything except the spot that Jenny had so desperately wanted her to. But now Chelsea’s tongue had arrived at her final destination. Jenny parted her legs, resting the soles of her feet on the edge of the table to give her friend the best access, and Chelsea had begun to work on her. To begin with Chelsea couldn’t help teasing her clitoris. Jenny was beginning to realize that she could be cruel like that. But when her nub had hardened sufficiently, Chelsea began to suck it and tongue her more forcefully, going over the nub in a circular motion. Jenny felt her hips begin to move in sympathy with Chelsea’s rhythm. Almost imperceptibly at first, then more strongly as the faint beginnings of an orgasm took hold. She wanted to put her hands around Chelsea's head and pull her down onto her eager clitoris, but Chelsea held them in place by her side. Sparks were beginning to fly in Jenny's brain and all she could think of to do was push her hips upwards in the hopes that Chelsea would lick her harder. Then Paul, decided he’d had enough of the floor show and wanted to be a part of the action. He unbuckled his trousers and, standing by the edge of the table took hold of the back of her head and pulled Jenny’s face onto his cock. It filled her mouth and she had trouble breathing for a moment until she managed to draw in sufficient air through her nose. Chelsea let one of Jenny’s hands go and Jenny grabbed hold of Paul’s shaft to steady herself. Her thumb and forefinger couldn't quite touch as she gripped its circumference. Paul grunted and began to fuck her face vigorously. Grunting as he did.“Suck it baby. Take it all in,” he told her. She did her best, but his cock made her gag when he pushed it too far into her mouth. Jenny’s hips were gyrating frantically now, and she knew it wasn’t going to be long before Chelsea made her climax. She could feel her orgasm coming, and it was the best feeling in the world. But then, in typical Chelsea style, she stopped before Jenny got there. If her mouth hadn’t been full of Paul’s cock then Jenny would have begged Chelsea to continue, but Jenny was a hostage to whatever Chelsea wanted to do next. Chelsea was having a hard time concentrating on getting Jenny off. She wanted to be responsible for her first public orgasm. But Dan was working her towards one of her own. She pulled back from Jenny, knowing it would drive the other girl nuts to be oh, so close and yet denied. Instead, Chelsea knelt down beside the table, her thumb still teasing the petite blonde's clit and holding her at the edge. Dan, she invited into her mouth. Chelsea didn't care if he was premature or not, but she didn't want the distraction from her roommate. As she sucked the young guy, she alternated between sliding her thumb as deep as she could into Jenny, and flicking her clit from side to side. She could feel the other girl still writhing even as she tasted Dan's flavor getting stronger. Chelsea pulled off from him with a pop, then stood between Jenny's legs once more to continue her licking. For his part, Dan stood behind her and slid himself into her primed canal, causing Chelsea to emit a long groan of satisfaction. She only paused a few moments though before tongue lashing her roommate again. It took just seconds for Chelsea to get Jenny back to her previous level of arousal and, once again, Jenny began pushing her hips up to meets Chelsea's tongue. Chelsea didn't seem to be so in control now though. Jenny looked up from Paul's cock and glanced at her friend. She was bent over, her head buried between Jenny's thighs, while Dan held her hips tightly in his grasp and pumped her from behind. Every thrust pushed Chelsea's mouth onto Jenny, adding to the stimulation. Jenny didn't know why, but she tried to fight the orgasm. For some reason she liked being in the state of constant anticipation. But there came a point at which she just couldn't hold it off no longer. It was like fireworks going off in her brain. She pulled Chelsea's head down onto her, in case she might have thought about stopping, then gripped Paul's cock more tightly than he might have wanted. The fact that her face was still stuffed with by him muffled the sound of her moaning as Chelsea continued to work her orgasm for a full couple of minutes. Jenny thrashed around, but Chelsea made sure she was pinned to the table. Then the pleasure began to fade, but Chelsea still tortured Jenny with her clit rubbing. Now Jenny squirmed trying to get away from the girl's tongue but whatever relief she got from avoiding contact was only momentary before Chelsea found her clit again." Mercy," Jenny giggled and surprisingly the torture abated. When she looked at Chelsea and Dan again she could see why. Jenny had lain on the table for a week now patiently waiting for something to happen, but Chelsea had ignored her, without even a word.“Stuff this for a game of soldiers,” Jenny said to herself. Then turning to Dan and Paul she asked, “Would you boys like to take me home and fuck me?” The boys readily accepted the invitation. So, picking herself up, Jenny put her clothes back on then the three of them walked out of the club and called a taxi. And that was the last Jenny ever saw of Chelsea…

Room Mates Learning to Navigate Life (closed to Biker_Faerie)|rating:4.0

Delicious Descent - (TheWanderingMuse & Sexy Firefly)

(DescentTheWanderingMuse camp; Sexy Firefly(Jacobs navigated his BMW down the old dirt road and frowned at the surroundings, hoping the directions he got were correct. Several times already he’d had to put his wife on hold while he checked the map on his phone. Not that it did much good, whatever facility he was being sent to didn’t show up on any maps or GPS’s but at least the roads leading to it did. A part of him was already starting to regret taking this assignment.” I don’t know when I’ll be home, Nicole,” he said with a sigh, having already told his wife that several times on this call alone.” They told me I’d be provided housing while on-site and to prepare to stay for at least a week. I’ll probably have a better idea of how long this will take when I get there, and they tell me who I’ll be working with and what their expectations are.” He could hear the frustration in his wife’s voice and he couldn’t blame her. When his boss had told him the FBI needed assistance with a high profile patient he had been all too eager to accept. Having them call and ask specifically for him was a huge deal and if he played his cards right this could be a stepping stone to joining the bureau’s specialized unit, and that would be an amazing leap for his career. Perhaps he was getting a little ahead of himself though. The first thing he had to do was find this damned place. He understood that the FBI couldn’t exactly advertise their black sites, but they could have arranged for someone to meet him and ride with him to this place. He was flying blind here, and not just with the directions. Special Agent Carter was his contact and, after a short phone evaluation, he had agreed to bring in Anthony for this operation, but he’d failed to provide any details about the subject at all. He said once Anthony arrived he’d be given all the details and adequate time to familiarize himself with the patient in question. It wasn’t at all what Anthony was used to, but he realized he didn’t have much say in the matter. The FBI made it clear he’d be running the evaluation and treatment of the patient once he arrived, but until then he’d get no details at all. Hell, for all he knew he could be coming out here to analyze the newest Osama bin Laden, or some crazed inbred serial killer. Another flurry of words sounded through his phone and his wife’s voice brought him back to the present.” Hun, I’m going to be in an FBI facility, of course I’m going to be safe. Don’t worry! Whatever this person did, they’re all locked up now.” As she continued he tuned her out as he cross-referenced the map on his phone once more, His car was starting to crest a hill, and he hoped it would give him enough of a view of the forested area to at least get a glimpse of wherever the hell he was going. As he reached the top his hopes were answered and his mouth gaped open in awe.” I… I have to go, Hun. Furthermore, I love you. Furthermore, I’ll call you whenever I can,” he said, not waiting for a response as he hung up and focused his attention solely on the massive structure sprawled out just a few more miles up the road. Anthony had worked in a lot of facilities across the U.S. and even some specialized centers in England and Germany, but he’d never seen anything quite like the massive structure that loomed ahead.(two rows of massive chain-link fences was a squat two-story building that looked more like a military base than a hospital. It was a dark, ominous color and was nestled among the trees of the forest which made it almost impossible for him to tell how large it was. Still, the parts he could see were massive, and he suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. How the hell had the FBI managed to keep something this big completely hidden and off any maps? He was impressed. As he drew closer he noticed the presence of over a dozen men in what looked like private security uniforms. Each of them was carrying assault rifles as they walked the yard and one of them even had a German Shepard who was wearing a vest with ‘FBI’ emblazoned in white on the side. Up ahead, on either side of the road, were massive guard tower structures, and he could see men inside them as well. Below them was a checkpoint gate reminiscent of the Air Force base he’d been to back in his college days. All of this was so overwhelming. Anthony slowed as he approached the gate and a pair of men stepped out from inside the guardhouse and walked up to his car, checking his credentials and thoroughly searching his vehicle. They opened the trunk, checked beneath it, and ran some sort of metal and explosive detectors over all his belongings before checking his ID. As Anthony waited nervously he wondered again what the hell he’d gotten himself into.” Proceed to the main building,” the guard said, gesturing up the road to the fortified entrance of this palatial structure.” One there, park but stay inside your car. Special Agent Carter will come out and get you when he’s ready. Do not get out of your vehicle until instructed to,” he said firmly, staring intently at Anthony until he nodded his head in understanding. A few moments later he was parked near the main doors and waited for Carter to come out and get him. One thing was for certain… this was going to be one hell of a story when all was said and done. (DescentTheWanderingMuse camp; Sexy Firefly(was the biggest catch in Special Agent Carter’s career. Anyone that could catch such a prolific high profile criminal was sure to not only be promoted but to be renowned throughout the agency. To him, it was his due. He had been following Vera Farthing ton for years, attempting to track every explosion, trying to be one step ahead only to find out he had been five steps behind. She had been almost too smart, knowing exactly where to place a bomb so that it was far enough away from the target heist to distract law enforcement, but close enough that some reserve enforcements could watch her get away. Carter was a pompous ass that felt early on that he had been cheated and looked over in the force. He was a man of robust stature, short and stout with a receding hairline and a mustache best for adult channels of the internet. He had beady blue eyes almost too bright for his ruddy complexion, and it looked like he had a gland problem because he appeared to always be sweating. Puberty was not kind to this man, and he wore it like a badge, his voice slightly higher than your average 58-year-old man, and the wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes and mouth showed the gravity of his job and stern disposition. Even his teeth and fingernails were stained yellow from his 35-year affair with Marlboro. His face was in a perpetual frown made worse by the news he had just received. The Bureau was impatient with Carter’s methods and was bringing in one of their highly trained Psychologists to come in and see if he can glean more information out of Vera. He could see that the FBI higher ups were losing faith in his abilities and he was starting to think that they never trusted that he could have brought Vera in unless she absolutely wanted to be caught. Vera had always been one for theatrics. Why just rob banks when you could make a show of it. Besides, if you were already going to commit a crime what was to lose by committing a few more along the way. She had an eye for detail and a flare for drama that made her crimes so unique and frustrating to law enforcement. In hindsight, it made sense that her methods were so explosive. She loved the spotlight and even had made a show of getting caught. Almost like she had planned it all along. Carter had caught her too easily, everyone on the force thought so, hell he had even entertained that idea in the first few months of her capture. Especially when she had to be moved to this super-secret location after a kitchen fire had started, and she almost escaped among the chaos. Her new home was more of a military strong hold than a hospital, and she was one of 25 highly dangerous criminals housed at this location. Her cell looked like something right out of a movie, a huge floor to ceiling bird cage like contraption with plexiglass walls and cement flooring. Small circles about an inch apart from each other lined the walls in a horizontal straight line around, possibly for breathing and air circulation and in the middle on a twin size mattress on the floor sitting cross-legged was Vera. Her eyes a bright jade green flashed with curiosity as the guards got ready for shift change, but something was off today, they shuffled about slower, eyes which usually remained locked on the floor or anywhere that wasn’t Vera shifted to eye her, some disdainfully, others out of pure curiosity. She was an anomaly, a beautiful, sexy woman with this ugliness inside her, and what was worse no one knew if she was sane or not. No one knew if she completely knew what she was doing, if she planned the whole thing, or if she had been brainwashed into it. And damn her for not giving anything away. Carter had tried for years to get her to confess, or to be play the victim and all he ever got was a sly smile and a blank non-threatening look. She played him like a guitar and the others knew, where laughing at him. Of course, she had wanted to get caught, but only to the most delusional Agent on the Force. Carter had his head so far up his butt that he thought his shit smelled of roses, and now that he “caught” Vera, his guard was down, and he was falling right into her hands.”Come now Vera, we have been here for what….” He counted on his fingers, his mouth moving silently as numbers formed on his spittle wetted lips. He was standing in front of her cell, his hands in his pockets, his face glistening with sweat and his hot breath beating against the Lexi, creating a fog. She had tilted her head at his approach but had remained silent till this point.“6 years Carter….. Unless you are counting the 2 where you actually did something worthy of your 40+ years in the Bureau.” Her voice was low and musical, violins had the same sound as a bow moved over the strings. Haunting in its tone and yet strangely alluring. “I made that too easy for you, funny how you think you could actually have caught me on your own.”“I did catch you on my own, you walked right into my trap Vera.” He seethed his cheeks glowing brought red as anger shot through his body at being called worthless. He was dedicated and a highly appreciated member of the FBI…. At least in his mind, and he should be treated with respect.“Your delusions are almost as bad as my own dear, I trapped you....and you walked into it beautifully. But really there is no reason to get all worked up…. You have high blood pressure you know.” Her lips tilted slightly at the jab. “You caught me…just bask in it, for soon you will not have me to fall back on to save your failing career.” It was a hint, one of many on a long list that he still failed to recognize. Quote” Proceed to the main building,” the guard said, gesturing up the road to the fortified entrance of this palatial structure. ”Once there, park but stay inside your car. Special Agent Carter will come out and get you when he’s ready. Do not get out of your vehicle until instructed to,” he said firmly, staring intently at Anthony until he nodded his head in understanding. Carter was going to answer, was going to probably say something he would regret later, but a voice rang out around them, his head snapped up and looked around before realizing it was at his hip. “This is Agent Carter.”“Sir, a Dr. Jacobs has arrived from the Bureau, he is waiting for you outside.” The voice hissed through the walkie-talkie and Carter brought it to his lips again.“I will be right there.” He sighed and clipped the black box to his hip before rubbing his hand over his face. Hopefully this quack will be able to get something out of her. He had tried his way for 2 years and got cryptic words and seductive glances. If he were a lesser man he would have fallen at her feet, but her charms had failed to work. Except those weren’t the charms that were supposed to.“Seems like your replacement is here Carter.” A laugh followed the man as he turned away from the cell and huffed a frustrated sigh, this was not how he wanted to greet this Dr. Anthony Jacobs. Walking out of the building the sun stopped him in his tracks, he was already sweating, could feel the wet under his arms inside his ill-fitted suit. Wiping at his forehead with his sleeve he put on a pair of aviators and met the car as it pulled into a parking lot.“Dr. Jacobs?” He asked when the man exited the car. “Special Agent Carter….. I hope you are ready.” He pulled a face that had him looking like a constipated toad and gestured him to proceed him into the building. Anthony had a mental image in his head of Special Agent Carter from their conversation on the phone and the history of the agent, but seeing the man who greeted him was a bit of a shock. Instead of a competent and decorated agent which he’d come across as, he looked like a broken down shell of a man who was barely suited for traffic duty, never mind working with such a high profile asset. He hid his surprise well as he greeted the agent and shook his hand, making the brief introductions before being led into the impressive compound. Once they passed through the front doors, Anthony prodded a little to try to get some more info on his assignment.” This is quite the facility,” Anthony said lightheartedly.” I guess it’s fair to say I’m not going to be helping you interrogate someone about unpaid parking tickets, huh?” Anthony cracked a smile at his own joke and expected at least the same from Carter, but the man turned to him with an exasperated look that was completely devoid of humor. The man looked as if he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks, and suddenly Anthony began to realize they were bringing him in for someone or something pretty big.” Your assignment’s name is Vera Farthing ton,” he said, ignoring the attempt at levity.” She’s been in and out of the system over the years, usually a mid-level player, until this last time we brought her in. Somewhere along the line Ms. Farthing ton found herself at the helm of a particularly deadly crime syndicate and has been terrorizing Federal agencies, government and military installations, and other crime families around the U.S.” Carter said, continuing his grim briefing as they continued to wind their way through the maze of hallways and corridors of the facility, taking several elevators down a few levels. By Anthony’s count, the floor they finally settled on was six floors underground; the type of hole in the ground reserved for the worst of the worst. They rounded another corner and Carter opened the door to an office, reached in and flipped on a light, then gestured for Anthony to step inside.” This is going to be your home for the next thirty days,” Carter said bitterly.” You’ve been given that long to try to make progress with our asset and, if you’ve made suitable progress, you might be extended.” Anthony stepped inside the surprisingly spacious and fully decked out office as he continued to listen to Agent Carter while taking stock of the technological toys scattered around the room. He nodded absently to Carter’s information on the duration of his work here, he’d already covered this with his supervisor before arriving. As he continued to listen he moved over to the large, mahogany desk and looked at the unusual bank of six monitors on one side of the desk. They were all black and sitting opposite dual computer monitors that had and FBI logo on the windows background. He Tilted his head in confusion before he looked back to Carter as he pointed to the monitors,” What are these?” Carter sighed as he made his way into the office, as if this were a huge inconvenience. He grabbed the mouse and click an icon on the computer’s desktop and instantly the monitors flared to life. He pointed to the icon he’d clicked as he explained.” Vera is under constant surveillance, and you’ll full access to the cameras in her holding area. The first four are various angles of the bedroom and living area, the next one is the outside view of her cell door, and the last is the lavatory. She stays in our sight at all times,” he said as he shot Anthony a stare to emphasize how important that seemed to be. Anthony nodded and set his stuff down on the small table just inside the door,” Great, I look forward to seeing what other gadgets you all have for me to play with,” he said, smiling again. He was met with the same barely cordial look of the agent before the man pushed past him and stepped out into the hall.” You need to get settled, or would you like to meet your patient now?” he called over his shoulder.” Now is good,” Anthony responded, glancing over at the display screens that were now relaying video from inside her cell. His eyes caught on the top left screen as he saw an image of an incredibly young, and incredibly attractive, woman. His brow furrowed as he looked at her, completely in awe of how someone this young and beautiful could be responsible for so much of the trouble Carter had told him about. As his eyes continued to study the beautiful woman he heard Carter growl unhappily from the hall.” Well c’mon then, I’ve got other things to do than to babysit you all day.” It was clear Carter wasn’t a fan of Anthony’s, and if the rumors he’d heard before arriving were to be believed he was pretty sure he knew why. Apparently Carter had been working with this asset for over a year and hadn’t gotten a thing out of her, just like the agents that had tried before him. Unlike the others, however, he had become obsessed with her and the case, and it had derailed a rather promising career and cut into his personal life too. Apparently the Special Agent Carter from a year ago was quite a different person, unlike the giant ass he was being now.” Right,” Anthony said apologetically as he quickly made his way out into the hall and fell into step beside the annoyed agent. They only walked a couple dozen feet before they came to a solid steel door with a keypad and a handprint scanner beside it.” Go ahead and put your hand on the scanner, you should already be loaded into the system.”[/color] He said, nodding down to the security screen. Anthony did, and the screen flashed green before prompting him for an eight-digit code which Carter provided to him on a small index card.” Remember that number and destroy the card when you do.” Once the code was entered, the heavy steel door slide sideways into the frame of the door itself and revealed a small corridor about twenty feet deep with another similar setup outside an inner steel door. As they stepped inside the door behind them closed and the security screen on the one in front of them flashed to life, allowing Anthony to repeat the process to gain entry to the inner room. Before he entered the code, Carter pointed to a switch on the panel that was absent on the first one.” That’s to activate the feed to the internal security team. They only monitor the cameras when we have someone inside, privacy policies and all. Whenever you go into the cell you flip that switch on, so the security team can watch. Don’t be fooled by this woman, she may be small and look like a delicate little flower, but she’d rip out your throat with her bare hands in a heartbeat if she got a chance.” He said, again giving Anthony the pointed stare that told him he wasn’t exaggerating one bit.” If you’re in the cell and encounter trouble the security team will respond in seconds. It’s a lesson she’s learned several times, so you’ll be safe enough, I suppose.” It was clear Carter didn’t care much if he was or wasn’t, but he was going through the motions that his superiors expected him to.” Any questions?” he asked with an obnoxious sigh. Anthony shook he head and Carter nodded.” Well then, this is where we part. Good luck. You’re going to need it,” he said with a sadistic chuckle. He nodded back at the keypad again.” Remember, if you’re going in you flip that switch.” And with that, Special Agent Carter went back out the first door and left down the hallway, leaving Anthony to his own devices. Turning back to the door, Anthony thought about what he’d do next. Logically he should probably go read up on her case files a bit more now that he had access to them, but there was something alluring about all this cloak and dagger stuff and the mystery of the alluring woman on the other side of the door. Deciding to go against convention, Anthony typed in his code, flipped the switch to turn on the security cameras, and pressed his hand to the scanner to open up the inner door. With a grinding hiss the steel door slid away and granted him access to the same lavish little living space Vera was staying in. With a few timid steps Anthony stepped inside and glanced around, not seeing anyone in what he assumed was the living room or the dining area.” Hello?” he called out respectfully.” I’m Dr. Anthony Jacobs. I’ve just be transferred here to work with you and I thought I’d come in and introduce myself,” he continued, his voice carrying through the containment area where he knew Vera would be lurking somewhere.2 Quote Turning back to the door, Anthony thought about what he’d do next. Logically he should probably go read up on her case files a bit more now that he had access to them, but there was something alluring about all this cloak and dagger stuff and the mystery of the alluring woman on the other side of the door. Deciding to go against convention, Anthony typed in his code, flipped the switch to turn on the security cameras, and pressed his hand to the scanner to open up the inner door. With a grinding hiss the steel door slid away and granted him access to the same lavish little living space Vera was staying in. With a few timid steps Anthony stepped inside and glanced around, not seeing anyone in what he assumed was the living room or the dining area.” Hello?” he called out respectfully. ”I’m Dr. Anthony Jacobs. I’ve just be transferred here to work with you and I thought I’d come in and introduce myself,” he continued, his voice carrying through the containment area where he knew Vera would be lurking somewhere. Carter was either a Genius or a complete and utter idiot, and this poor schmuck was about to get himself severely hurt. Dennis grumbled as he darted out of the security room his feet pounding on the floor as he ran down a flight of stairs and skirted around the corner. Breathing heavy he made it to the door and punched in his identification and lounged into the room grabbing Dr. Jacobs around the waist and pulling him back out of the door just as a shadow of a woman passed on the wall. Laughter could be heard as Dennis pushed Anthony to the side and closed the door just as a flash of something metal missed being crushed. Instead, a small clink could be heard as it hit the door. More laughter rang out and then a voice, deep, sultry, and seductive said, “TSK…. Dennis you always ruin my fun.” Dennis ignored the voice and pushed Anthony further away from the door. “Look I am not sure what Carter told you but never….and I mean Never use that door.” Leading him around the side to where a Lexi-window looked into the living area he pointed to Vera, her head tilted, and her eyes gleamed in interest as her eyebrow rose and her lips quirked. “You will talk to her from out here.” A glint of silver flashed as some object twisted and turned in her hand. It was a knitting needle.“She posed more of a threat to others than herself, and knitting seemed to help her be more distracted for meal times.” Dennis explained as Vera started to inch closer to the glass, her body long and lithe moving with a grace that would have any man looking.“Carter must think he is funny…. Probably up there watching those camerae…. Dennis you ruined his fun.” The woman made taking sounds with her tongue as she slid her gaze from the Security guard to the handsome man beside him still probably reeling from being practically carried out of the room." So this is Carter’s replacement?” She inched closer her jade eyes narrowing in on Anthony. “I must say you are way more of a looker than our dear Carter is.” She licked her lips and smiled. “Called you in to get me to talk did they?” The Woman, although in prison scrubs, looked almost like she was relaxing in her own living room. Her blonde hair was up on top of her head in a messy bun, her gold rimmed glasses sparkling in the low watt institutional lighting, and her scrubs had been tailored by her to fit in a way that actually showed off her curves.-----*-----With a growl Carter spun in his chair and threw his coffee mug against the far wall. The ceramic mug hit the wall puncturing a hole in the drywall and shattering into millions of Pieces. Damn Dennis for actually being good at his job. Carter had hoped that Anthony would be stupid enough to walk right into the serpent’s pit, and he had with beautifully precision. If only Dennis hadn’t raced to his rescue. In retrospect, Carter couldn’t remember the last time Dennis had moved so fast. Groaning into his empty office he ran his hands through his hair and pounded the armrest of his chair before he stood and turned back towards the cameras. He had almost had him, all she had to have done was get there just a fraction of a second sooner. It had been the perfect plan and if she had hurt him, he would have more time with her. Vera had become an obsession for Carter, he had lost his wife and family over this woman, almost lost his entire career. And yet here she was denying him the one thing he ever wanted. Notoriety. All he ever wanted was the respect of his betters, of his peers, to be one of them. No…. Not to be one of them, to be better than I. Because in his mind he was better. Which was why he just could not understand why they had to bring someone else in. He had it under control and in his mind he felt that Vera was close to cracking when in reality it was him that was the one cracking. Just looking into his office told you that, papers strewn everywhere, pictures of Vera in various locations when she was on the outside. Cameras always on and always watching tuned on Vera’s Cell in fact, he walked over to one of the cameras and just as he did her head turned, and she smiled up at him waving her fingers mockingly. She had just told Anthony that he might be watching. He was always watching. Always to the point of insanity. In all his years, Anthony had never been manhandled and dragged from a patient’s cell as he’d just been, and when he spun on the man who’d done so and tried to understand what the hell was going on he heard the sharp clatter of metal on metal. Confused, his eyes moved back to the door as he tilted his head as he tried to understand. The man who’d grabbed him dragged him around to a ceiling to floor see-through window that gave the full view of the rather extensive cell the woman occupied. When he saw her twirling a long metal object in her hand his eyes moved to the door where he saw a similar one on the floor; a pointed knitting needle from the looks of it, and suddenly everything started to fall into place.” You guys gave an institutionalized patient knitting needles?” he asked incredulously, and he could see by the defeated look on the man before him that it definitely was against his better judgement. Anthony frowned, nodding slowly in understanding. This must have been one of the string of questionable decisions that had led Carter to being pulled from this case. Anthony drew in a breath and let it out slowly, just now starting to realize what would have happened if he hadn’t been pulled out of the cell in time.” Thank you,” he said sincerely, the anger at the needle fading as he knew this wasn’t the man responsible for it.” I haven’t ha-“he was cut off mid-sentence by low, seductive voice that demanded both men’s attention. Both of them turned and Anthony got his first look at the incredibly beautiful woman he’d seen pictures of in the file when he’d arrived… though those pictures did nothing to convey just how beautiful the woman truly was. It was rare for Anthony to be speechless, but as he watched her supple body sway gracefully behind the glass he found himself at a complete loss for words. She practically oozed sexuality, and even in the standard psychiatric patient gown she had managed to be amazingly beautiful. Anthony’s eyes slowly traced over every inch of her body as she stalked towards the glass like a caged panther. He had worked on thousands of cases and had seen more than his share of beautiful patients, but there was something unique about Vera, something he couldn’t pinpoint, but that seemed to get his pulse racing just being in her presence. At first, he was pissed that Carter would give her something as dangerous as knitting needles, but right now he wondered if he’d be able to say no to anything she asked him for. It was a fleeting thought, and one he frowned inwardly at before banishing it away. Of course, he wouldn’t provide her with anything that dangerous… but he also decided that he wasn’t going to report Carter for it either. While he didn’t condone it… he’d at least partially understood why he had.” I am replacing Special Agent Carter, yes.” he started, once he was confident his voice wouldn’t be shaky and unsure. Again he chastised himself for allowing himself to be so easily distracted, but everything had happened so fast and had been a bit disorienting. Now he was finally getting back control of the situation and he even forced a little smile. His eyes shifted to the needle still on the floor near the door, and he made a show of frowning at it.” And here I thought we were going to start off on a good foot and get to know each other. I can see now the staff has been a little too lenient with you, hmm?” his eyes slowly moved back to her, and he had to mentally focus on not letting his eyes roam over her body again. Turning back to Dennis, Anthony nodded his thanks once more.” I think I’m good for now, thank you. If there’s anything else I should know, now’s the time. Otherwise, I think I’d like to spend some time getting to know Ms. Farthing ton here,” he said pointedly. Dennis came closer and whispered a few things to Anthony before taking one last parting look at Vera before heading back out of the room and leaving Anthony alone. Once he did, Anthony scanned the room he was in and saw a comfortable looking chair near the glass a few feet away, and he walked over and slid into it, then gestured for Vera to sit in the chair opposite it on her side of the glass.” Why don’t you come take a seat, and we can get to know a little about each other,” he suggested. He nodded towards the needle she’d thrown a moment again and continued.” Perhaps you can tell me why you tried to hurt me with the needle. I’m maybe one of the few people that could help you, I’m certainly not a fan of the previous staff or how they’ve been treating you, yet you seem intent on hurting me. Why?” Once he’d asked he flipped open his notepad and drew the pen from the holder at the top, preparing to start taking notes for his newest assignment. Dennis was breathing heavy, he hadn’t run that fast in years. Looking at Anthony he nodded his head in welcome, yet. Before Dennis had the opportunity to say anything in his defense Vera spoke up for him. “Oh don’t be so hard on poor Denny boy here.” She spoke in a way that was slightly seductive and slightly sympathetic. “He was just doing what Carter was asking him to do. Besides, he didn’t know I would stick anyone…..” She paused to swing her eyes over to Dennis, the jade brightening as her eyes widened in a look that could almost be called innocent. He scoffed and narrowed his eyes as her lips pursed like she would blow him a kiss, yet instead she twirled the other needle between her fingers and spoke. “Did you?” The look on Dennis’s ashen face had her laughing, the look displayed exactly what he knew would have happened had he let Anthony stay in there and that Carter, Damn him, knew as well.“Like I said Carter gave me an order and from what he had told me she had been pretty docile for a couple of years, except for minor incidents she seemed safe enough.” He frowned as he tried to explain himself, to anyone outside the facility that sounded like nonsense, and he realized it even sounded asinine to him. “Okay look I am just a booth guard. Pretty lower level, I jump when the higher ups say how high, and Carter makes me jump through the ceiling. We can try to get them away from her, but it will be a while until guard shift and that can happen.” Vera was still laughing, but her eyes were eerily focused on Anthony. She watched as he watched her, smiling slightly as she realized she had rendered him speechless. Now she definitely conceited enough to know how attractive she was, and she realized early what that attractiveness could get her out of life and men early, which was why it was so easy to play Agent Carter, play her adorable gang of thugs on the outside, and hopefully soon play this very attractive psychologist right into her plan….and maybe her bed. As he continued to stare at her, she felt a shift between them, a spark that shot right through the glass, and she knew without a doubt that he was hooked on her. Men like him... Like Carter, feed off confidence and a dominate personality, she could always give them what other women could not and for Carter she was the untouchable, he obsessed over her, and she could tell in Anthony that same energy. He would first be aloof and professional, and it would slowly turn more friendly, but never crossing that line, until it did. She had seen it before, seen it with Carter and his family. That look, a spark of interest, she intrigued him, and she knew that if she asked he would do almost anything for her. How adorable, he was shaken by her, his voice even as he tried to hide it shook, and she licked at her lips inching closer to the chair they had set up at the far corner of the room, it was elaborately padded in white leather, hard plastic arm rests curved into a solid base that was bolted down and swiveled. They had a problem early in her confinement of her throwing the furniture across the room and into the plexiglass, so everything heavy was fastened or bolted to the walls and ground. “Excellent… I have been asking for a new face around here, been tired of see Carter’s ugly mug day in and day out, did you know he never goes home?” She asked her voice lifted in surprise like she was sharing with him some big secret. Her Head turned, and her eyes followed his line of sight to the needle on the floor. “Well Carter wanted to give you a welcome you would never forget.” She said with a nonchalant shrug. “He is a piece of work that one. I wouldn’t trust him if I were you…. I mean I don’t.” Looking past Anthony she smirked at Dennis. “Denny Boy here learned that one the hard way... Didn’t you? Maybe The doctor here would like to that scar of yours?” Dennis physically straightened to his full height of 6’2 and grunted at her turning towards Anthony as he spoke to him.“I will just be up those stairs there on the far side of the room, give me a wave through that camera.” He pointed to a camera in the corner pointed at them. “And I will help you out of here. Don’t stay to long…. She has an effect on people.” He Leaned in close to Anthony whispering in a low rumble so she couldn’t hear. He then turned on his heel and left, his footsteps could be heard as he went to the stairs, up and then a door closing. They were now alone. She had been watching Dennis’s progress and turned back to Anthony as he spoke.“Lenient…. Hard to be otherwise with someone like me…. Didn’t they tell you at the gate?” She paused and let him continue for a moment before she moved with him to the chairs, sinking into hers she curled her body into the chair and watched him as he too sat. “So Doc…. What can I tell you that isn’t in that pretty little file of yours.” She asked looking down to his case and the file that Carter would have given him. Help her…. Did he think she needed help, or that she didn’t either deserve or thrill the treatment presented to her? A slight breathy chuckle escaped her as she blinked and tilted her head. “Help me?…. How do you know I need help?” She answered his question with one of her own and her eyes widened on his notebook. So they were going to start right away. She shifted again unfolded herself and leaned in close to the glass her eyes smoldering with a heat he was sure to feel, and she moved in such a way that the skin of her collarbone and the length of her neck became bare.“Why? Well Doc haven’t you heard?” She came up real close to the glass her lips glistening from when she licked them. “I put the HOT in Psychotic” She then licked the glass and winked at him, her tone so serious that she couldn’t have been joking or sarcastic. Anthony listened to Dennis as he filled him in on how Carter’s ineptitude had made it possible for an unstable patient to have a pair of knitting needles. This went against almost every rule and dynamic in their field, and he was completely floored that she’d manage to manipulate the big, dumb special agent. It was no wonder the FBI had brought him in, Vera was clearly walking all over Carter and his team. It wasn’t lost at him that Vera had found this all very amusing, and the more Dennis told him about Carter’s methods the more he hated the man. He’d faced his share of overbearing and manipulative patients in the past, but he’d never have allowed himself to be twisted into supplying one with a weapon they could use to harm anyone on the staff. He knew he was a better man for this job, that much was obvious, but he was just now realizing how completely inept Carter was. He took a moment to listen to Vera’s gloating and when she mentioned Dennis’ scare Anthony turned his gaze to the man next to him, his eyes narrowed with confusion. Dennis frowned a little and nodded, confirming that she had apparently tried the same little thing on him and had injured him. A surge of anger flowed through him and Anthony had to take a moment to get his emotions under control before continuing.” Effective immediately this patient is under my sole care. Special Agent Carter, or anyone else for that matter, is to have their access to the patient restricted. If anyone has a problem with that either send them to me or to the Director. I was promised completely freedom to treat this patient as I deem necessary and right now limiting her contact with people who have clearly compromised her treatment will no longer be tolerated.” Dennis couldn’t help but smile at the bold move, and it was clear the new doctor had earned some respect in the guard’s eyes. He nodded,” You’re the boss. Carter’s going to have a fit,” he said, making it clear he was going to enjoy seeing that. After a little more antagonizing from Vera that wasn’t having the desired effect she wanted, Dennis told him how to call him if he was needed before he headed back up to his station. Anthony stood quietly, remaining silent until the man had disappeared around the hallway, and then he turned his attention to his newest patient, watching her and studying her as he slowly made his way over to the chair on his side of the plexiglass. Once he was settled he began to question her, watching her as she paced in front of the glass like a caged lioness. Her eyes were locked on him, and he could see the pleasure and anticipation in them. He could see her eyeing him over and sizing up her new plaything. He knew how patients like her felt, narcissists that thought they were always in control. Furthermore, he’d go up against some of the most stubborn, most brilliant, most crazy minds over his time and he was confident this would be little different. It was only a matter of finding a way past her defenses to begin to build that initial connection that is so critical for the treatment of a patient. He humored her with her question and asked why she thought he might be the one needing help, and her answer surprised him a little, though he made sure to try not to let it show. She was trying to entice him, to play upon his base instincts and primal urges. He watched her lick the glass while keeping direct eye contact, and as much as he would have liked to say it hadn’t affected him one bit… it had. It was a subtle tell, a clenching of his jaw and a slightly nervous swallow as he watched the insanely beautiful woman lick the glass right in front of him while making it crystal clear she had desires to lick something entirely different. This wasn’t the first time a patient had tried to unsettle him and had lewdly flirted with him, but it was the first time he’d felt a shiver of a thrill ripple down his spine. He forced his eyes back down to his notebook and pretended to write some more, but the truth was he was just scribbling little shapes as he took a moment to gather himself.” Do your tricks work on simple-minded people like Special Agent Carter?” he asked finally once he was sure he could keep his voice even. His eyes slowly travelled back up to meet hers, and again he felt as if he were struggling for control under that intense gaze she was giving him. One thing was for certain, this was going to be a challenge… but Anthony had been growing bored with dominating and imposing his will on the weak-minded patients he normally dealt with. This one was different… this one was a worthy challenge, and he was excited to start to break her down and shatter that little ego of hers. That thought alone woke an arousal in him that he hadn’t felt in years… if ever. This was going to be fun. Vera had gotten close enough to the glass to hear the authority in Anthony’s voice and that caused a slight smile to form on her lips. She had to say that he might pose somewhat of a challenge, and she was going to enjoy to every minute of him. Especially the pissing contest between him and Carter. This was going to be delightful, in fact, she wondered where Carter was. She was sure that he would have been on his way down…. Dennis was giving Anthony a lot of fire to play with. Crossing her arms she watched, observed the reaction of Dennis, he actually seemed impressed, But anyone would be impressive against Carter…. Hell Dennis probably thought she was. Criminal aside, she had one very intelligent mind. She waited for Dennis to leave again, always watching as he disappeared into a blind spot and his footsteps faded into the little room he sat in to watch her. She was always watched, ironic it was always by men. Something about a kink. A Woman behind glass, a fantasy to live out so they can tell themselves they are good, faithful husbands, but she knew that anyone of them would fuck her if they didn’t think she would kill or maim them. Licking her lips she turned back to Anthony and smirked at him. “Jewish…. A man who knows how to take charge.” She bit her lip seductively knowing the next move was the chairs. “I do like that….. Strong powerful…..” Her voice was sultry and seductive. Her fingers caressing the glass of the dome as she followed his movements to the chairs. She had already made her advance, could see even if he tried to hide it, that it had affected him, and that in of it self-made her very happy. He was not immune to her charms in fact he seemed hungry for them. Interesting, especially by the way he was observing her, but sorry for him. He would see what she wanted him to see and whatever she gave was because it would benefit her in the end. She never let herself get caught in a trap she did make for herself. Carter still thought he had won something…. She knew different, call it vanity or Narcissism but neither would apply to her. She was a Sociopath, bred not to feel, not to regret, and to only help oneself. Anthony’s psychological thinking would be his first downfall…. His Second….. Thinking he could best her. Vera was an anomaly to which he would find out soon enough. He had come in here with a diagnosis in mind, he didn’t realize that she did have the control, that she wasn’t just handed knitting needles, and that she had Dennis begging her to slice him. He would be embarrassed by that fact, of course. Who wouldn’t be. That little stint with Anthony, a little play-acting, hurting people was no fun unless they wanted it to happen. Something he would learn in time. She knew her powers, but that did not have a narcissist make. That was Carter’s downfall as well. They all come in with some expectation. But the only one they should have is that she is dangerous and Manipulative. Other than that her mental state, although questionable, was remarkably normal. Vera smiled watching the effect she had on him, he was good, she had to admit, but the signs were there and with that elevated heart rate and dilation of the pupils she knew he was a man of primal urges. Just like everyone else. She maintained direct eye contact, sometimes it unnerved people, other times it surprised people that she was so vigilant. She wondered what effect it would have on him. I definitely interested her. She had unmanned him for a moment, and she really wanted to tease him about it. But she held back, he was the doctor after all. So she settled back into her seat and folded herself into it her head up and tilted in his direction, but the camera was always in her line of sight, and she was always aware of her surroundings. Be aware of him, he had certain ticks, if her tactics worked that well then there was something going on, looking him over she noticed a bald spot on this left ring finger. Married, ring probably in his pocket, strange that he would put it in his pocket after the metal detector instead of back on his finger. Trouble in the marriage bed. Same story…. He might try to fight it, but he sees an attraction, she could tell.“No…..” She spoke narrowing her eyes a little and staring at him. His thoughts played out behind his eyes, and she could tell that the interest she felt in him was to dominate. He would be sorely disappointed, Vera had nothing to break, just secrets to tell, but him….now there was someone that could break. Men dominated in marriage always had a way to fall and a hidden ego to bend. Carter, Dennis, even Anthony. “My ‘Tricks’ work on all people, because they are not tricks.” She shifted then and leaned forward. “They find something in me that they are missing in themselves. I just play to their weaknesses.” Tilting her head she smiled reaching up and behind her pulling her hair down and running her fingers through it so it fell in sexy waves about her shoulders. “Tell me… Doctor. What are your weaknesses?” She could have fun with this, with him. She had been getting bored with late, the agents stopped playing with her, well with good reasons. Even Carter became tedious. But Anthony, now he was new and exciting, not so much his situation or personality, but the fact that he interested her on not only a sexual level, but a personal one as well. Her hands clasped on the arms of the chair as she leaned forward and with a puff of air she watched and waited. His answer was very important, especially if he lied to her. And oh how she hoped he would lie. Anthony knew what she was doing. He knew she knew exactly how attractive and seductive she was, and it was clear that was just another tool in her toolbox. He’d seen it a dozen times before, the classic predatory seductress, a ploy to try to take control from the men around her and use her looks and her enticing ways to break down their defenses and make them drop their guard around her. He knew better. Not that he wasn’t finding the game a bit fun, however. There was no doubt she was incredibly beautiful, and she did have a sensual way about her that he could definitely see making men melt, but he was above it… or so he kept telling himself. His eyes lingered whenever she moved in tempting ways, and he couldn’t deny he found her incredible alluring and erotic, but he knew that was just part of her plan… that she was using her beauty to try to break down his defenses, and he wasn’t going to be played that easily. Even with that in mind, he felt his heart skip a beat when she told him she liked how he was taking charge… and how strong and powerful he was. Something about those words, about that opinion of him, made his pride swell a bit more in his chest. Again he tried to shake it off though and focus on the task at hand… but she wasn’t making it easy. She spoke again, her voice mesmerizing, as she explained to him that she wasn’t using tricks… she was finding what made people tick and then leveraging that against them. Again he thought of the control and self-absurdness she had that made her seem so bold and in control. He had to admit he was impressed, she wasn’t quite like any of the other patients he’d worked with in the past. He made a face at her, intent on showing her that he knew what she was up to, yet he couldn’t help but watch silently as she reached behind her head and let her hair down, watching it cascade down around her shoulders in a move that looked as if it were from a photoshoot. Furthermore, he tried to will himself to look away, but he couldn’t help but linger a little longer and take in just how beautiful, and dangerous, of a creature she was.” Weaknesses? I suppose that’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it?” he said, desperately regaining some of his composure. He kept reminding himself he was the one in charge, though he had to admit he wasn’t fully feeling that right now. She seemed to amused by this all, so happy to be talking to him like this, in a way that made it seem as if this were all a game for her… a game she was intent on winning.” Though, I guess it’s no secret to tell you that trying to help people is probably one of my biggest weaknesses, and something I never regret. If you cooperate, if you help me get the answers the FBI wants from you, I can help you too.” Vera smirked, her delicate eyebrow raising in a sultry question, as her body unfolded itself from the chair, and she leaned forward, her head tilting and her hands clasping in her lap.“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me Doctor?” She asked clicking her tongue against her teeth.“Let me guess….” She bit her lip before taking a little breath. “Ms Farthing ton shows behavioral traits indicative of a person manifesting a Narcissistic personality suffering with bipolar subset 2 with extreme manic episodes, slight psychosis, and dissociative Identity disorder.” Voice finished on a musical lilt and her eyes sparkled with mirth.“How did I do?” She asked talking like she was playing a game. She could sense a shift in the air, he was affected by her, even as he tried so hard to hide it, she could tell he liked this thing they were doing. He was a professional, and although she could tell her was trying to tell himself that she didn’t affect him, she knew. She always knew. It wasn’t just her looks that she used to her advantage. She had the personality to match, witty, sarcastic, very spicy, and men just fall at her feet. He would be no different, the question was how long…. How long would it take him to want to enter her den….. Entertain the notion of entering her? He was already thinking about it. Her body shifted again, her eyes watching his linger as she moved to prove a point. Some men could resist her charms, even if she was extremely beautiful, men who were happy with life, with partners could resist what she offered. But this man in front of her would cave into her, she knew his type preyed on it.“A matter of perspective…. No not at all.” She spoke shaking her head. “It is a matter of fact. We all have a weakness, mine…. I just can’t help being the center of attention.you know.” She stood then stretching, her arms reaching above her head as the sound of cracking echoed around them. “If I can be seen, be known, that just gets my juices flowing…..” She paused and lowered her arms. “If you know what I mean.” She winked and walked around her chair. “But you…. You have one of those self-sacrificing weaknesses. Everyone has to be happy, even at the expense of our own. Even if they can never be happy, you spend your days trying. Like your wife…. You constantly try to make things work, psychoanalyzing every situation to the point that you can’t see people are pulling away or that deep down you are so tired and don’t even want them in your life anymore.”“Now you tell me something…. Do you even love your wife anymore? Do you find her nagging enduring like you did when you married her? Do you dream of her at night or do you dream of others?” She looked at him through the glass, knowing his answer even if he tried to deny it. He was unhappy in his marriage, unhappy being the one having to make everyone else happy.“Wanting to help people is not a weakness…. Needing to Help the Wrong people are.” She had turned away from him for a moment her fingers skimming the back of the chair as she looked around her living space. Turning back she laughed, her eyes widening with a predatory glint. “I don’t need help…. Carter needs help.” She flung her arms out and turned slowly before facing him fully with a smile.“I am exactly where I want to be Doc….. Are you?” (say Anthony was impressed would be an understatement. He was expecting her to mock him and his analysis, perhaps make a joke of her whole imprisonment, but what she gave instead was a very insightful and detailed diagnosis, the very same one he had recorded in parts in his notes. That opened an awkward door of him wondering if she really was some or all of those things or if she knew the roles to play to make it appear as if those conditions applied. He had planned to remain neutral after her assessment and not give her the satisfaction of confirming that was what his initial diagnosis was for the most part, but when she asked him how she did there was an edge to the question that he couldn’t help but entertain. He didn’t know why, he had planned to give her nothing, but the intensity in her eyes and the little smirk on her face almost made it impossible to stay passive.” I would say you’re a lot more knowledgeable than I gave you create for. Have you had a lot of history with people like me in the past?” he asked, throwing out the light-hearted question that could help lay the foundation for more of a connection down the road. She continued to pace on her side of the glass and, with the occasional exception of when he forced himself to look down at his notebook to pretend to write something, he couldn’t help but track her movements and take in her beautiful form. She could have been a model or maybe even an actress with the way she manipulated people and her surroundings, yet here she was… locked in a maximum security psychiatric ward playing games with the doctors. He started to gather himself, ready to launch a little attack on her ego as he pointed all of that out, but she mentioned his wife, and it blew his plan apart. His eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed with confusion as he realized she was beginning to analyze him back. She continued to walk around seductively, smiling and winking and making him more than a little uncomfortable… in a way a doctor should never feel uncomfortable around a patient. Anthony listened as she detailed his life, his character, and the underlying need to help people. He had no idea how she’d gotten all this from the little time they’d spent together, but she was hitting her assessments on the head. He decided this had to be Carter’s work, that he must have slipped her his file prior to him arriving. That was the only thing that made sense… she couldn’t possibly have gathered all of this just from their interactions… could she?(” Now you tell me something… do you even love your wife anymore?” The words slammed into him like a ton of bricks and the neutral mask he’d been holding on his face melted away and a look somewhere between anger and embarrassment replaced it. This had to be Carter’s work… how could she know about his crumbling marriage and the loneliness whenever he was home with his wife? But… that didn’t make sense either… how the hell would Carter know that either? He didn’t respond to the question, and that in itself was a telling answer. Had she been way off base or if he and his wife’s marriage would have been rock solid he would have said as much and brushed her off? He wanted to pretend to, to muster up his courage, force a fake smile, and tell her she didn’t know what the hell she was talking about… but the way her words cut him he couldn’t manage to pull that off and be convincing, so he just sat in silence as she continued. Moments passed as he tried to get a handle on his frustration. He stared down at his notebook for a long while as if that might give him an answer, but when it didn’t, he forced himself to look back up at the little succubus on the other side of the glass, and he scoffed.” This? This is where you want to be? Locked away from the world, a prisoner in some dark hole that you’ll never crawl out of? This is the grand plan for Vera Farthing ton? I would think someone like you would want to be seen, as you said. No one will see you down here, Vera. No one will know you even existed,” he said through clenched teeth. It was clear she’d hit a nerve with his crumbling marriage, and he was flailing back, unprofessionally and without thinking. Anthony’s reaction actually surprised her and her eyes widened a bit before she laughed. Turning fully towards the window and him Vera Lifted her hands and ran them through her hair, pulling it up into a high ponytail. “You didn’t read my file yet, Carter literally brought you straight down here didn’t he?” Biting her lip she scoffed shaking her head. “Got to give the ole boy some credit, if he wasn’t such an Idiot he might have been a genius.” Walking back to her chair she sat, curling her legs underneath her and stretching her arms on the arm rests, her hands gripping the edge. “What he failed to relay to you my good doctor is not only, oh you put it, have a history with people like you.” She paused for dramatic effect. He could try to deny all he wanted that he wasn’t interested in her, but he was, with every move of her body he was looking, tracking, memorizing. She would have been flattered except for the fact that he was still trying to deny it.“I am people like you. At least that is what my degree says.” She raised an eyebrow letting that sink in before she continued.“You are looking at Vera Farthing ton Dr. Of Psychology… Concentration in Mental Health and Behavioral Analysis.” She pointed to his notes then and leaned forward. “So you see, I may just be more sane than you think. And I may have an over inflated sense of self-worth, but I am not a narcissist.” The comment hit its mark, and she smiled watching the emotions play over his face. She had completely caught him off guard, his eyes narrowing, mouth tightening into a grim line, she had rattled him and if she was not mistaken had angered him. “Hit a nerve didn’t I?” She asked her body now fully relaxing on the chair. “That is very telling Doc…. You know why of course?” She wasn’t mocking him, she was genuinely curious for his view on why his reaction was so telling her. Anger in itself was telling because alone it would mean she was wrong. But his reaction, anger mixed with regret, on top of the slow response meant she was right, and his marriage was almost non-existent. Another observation Vera had made within the half hour of so of conversation was that she not only interested him on a sexual level, but she was challenging him on an intellectual one as well, he was intrigued by her for reasons he didn’t understand yet, and yet he was still trying to ignore and deny such, dear she says, Feelings. She watched as the wonder turned slowly to confusion as he tried to figure out how she knew so much about him. But she had told him how, she could read people, find what was missing, be what was missing. It was her superpower, her secret skill, it was what made her excellent for the type of espionage she headed. He was right now thinking that Carter set him up, but Carter really wasn’t that smart. He would have never thought of that, especially after his messy attempt of trying to murder Anthony through Vera. She waited wondering if he was going to answer, he was angry, but angry at what or who? She figured a guess that he was angry at himself, embarrassed that she found out, but more so confused at how she knew. Vera tilted her head her gaze intense as she looked on at him. “Who are you mad at? You know sometimes it helps to talk about it… Or fuck the tension out…” She could see that he was not going to answer, that was answer enough. His marriage was as good as over, his wife probably stopped appreciating him long ago, and the sex if she was giving him any was probably cold and unsatisfying at best. She continued to wait as he struggled to get himself together, her steady breathing mixing with his rapid shallow breaths. When he looked back up at her a spark of something sizzled in the air. Her eyes widened slightly and she parted her lips. Raising her eyebrow as he scoffed. Her smile never faltering even as his rant begun.“Oh No Doctor…. This is just part of the GRAND PLAN” She laughed shaking her head. “I am already remembered, whether it lasts for Weeks, Months, Years, I am in the public view…. Every time someone comes to see me, doctors, reporters, agents, I am remembered. This place, just a stopping ground for a while, I am here because I want to be, if I didn’t the trap Carter had been so proud of wouldn’t have worked.” She spoke with horrifying calmness, compared to his erratic outburst she was a mouse to his cat. Leaning forward again she bit her lip.“You seem very upset, now that suggestion about Fucking out the tension was more of an invitation….” She paused and waited a beat.“Shall I have Dennis unlock my door for you?” As Vera began to address him it was clear the therapist was a bit confused by what she was talking about when she’d mentioned that he hadn’t read her file yet. It was true, the file was deemed classified, and he wasn’t given a copy until he’d arrived and as soon as he was given her file and the associated case files Carter escorted him down to see her. What he didn’t know was how she’d known he hadn’t read it yet, and so when she continued and told him about her background and her doctorate his jaw tightened and his opinion of Carter dropped even lower. That should have been something he mentioned from the start. He mentally ran back through his initial interactions with Vera and everything up to this current conversation, and it helped fill in a lot of the missing pieces and oddities of her behavior. It also went a long way to explaining why so many of his colleagues had so much trouble trying to analyze and establish a connection with her. She knew the game, she knew all the tricks from their playbooks, and she was no doubt as smart as, or smarter, than everyone who’d worked with her since her arrest. She continued on, gloating a bit as she saw the frustration that had blossomed on his face. It was one thing to be working with an incompetent co-worker, but Carter had proved hadn’t been incompetent, he had purposely withheld critical information and gave Anthony no warning when he sent him down to her cell. It was bad enough Anthony had to try to unravel the enigma before him, but now he knew he had to do it mostly on his own. If he made any headway with Vera it would highlight how ineffective Carter had been for the last few months. Surely the man wasn’t going to make it easy. As he focused back on his patient he felt the dynamic in the room starting to shift as well. Vera was analyzing him now and, much to his frustration, she was already off to a pretty good start. Despite his guarded reaction she had said quite a few things that he was annoyed to admit were rather accurate. Then she started to probe and literally shift the roles as she asked him what he was mad about and offered to help him talk it out… or fuck it out. Anthony did his best to give the appropriate amount of annoyance and indignity to his reply, but she’d caught him off guard once again with her brazenness and she’d even coaxed his mind into briefly entertaining that thought. Not that he’d act on it, of course, but her words put the thoughts in his head and his repressed libido did the rest as unbidden images of her beautiful body flashed through his mind in an instant of wavering self-control.” As generous of an offer as that is, I don’t involve myself with my patients… especially those who’ve committed mass murder. It’s a silly little quirk I have,” he said, attempting to deflect the awkwardness of her advances with humor. Yet even as he rejected the idea out of hand, his mind continued to dwell on those thoughts in the back of his mind despite his best efforts to focus on the professional aspects of the session. It was more than a little flustering, and yet he couldn’t force the thoughts completely from his mind. It was as if she’d already burrowed into his brain and he hadn’t even realized it until it was too late. Normally he’d excuse himself from the session, maybe even suspend sessions for a few days to allow him to clear his mind and get better acquainted with his new temporary surroundings while showing her he wasn’t going to stand for the inappropriateness she was toying with, but he thought of how that would look to the rest of the facility. Not only would it make it look like he wasn’t in control of the sessions, but it would give Carter an opening to start building doubt against him. If nothing else, he wasn’t going to give that bastard the satisfaction of seeing him trying to regroup. So despite his better judgement, Anthony remained in the room rooted to his chair and allowed the session to continue as he struggled to shift the control back in his favor.” So this is all part of your plan, is it?” he said, taking a slightly amused stance to try to put her on the defensive.” Getting caught and locked away in this top secret location was part of your grand scheme? Getting sent somewhere where the reporters and public you crave can’t get at you? Help me understand how this is part of your plan, Vera.” he leaned in just a little, a small smirk on his face as he pressed her to explain it all to him. The truth was it didn’t really matter if she told him or not. He very much doubted that being caught and thrown into a hole was part of any plan she’d had, especially considering he now knew he was dealing with a very intelligent individual. What it did was remove the focus on her lewd suggestions and served to ease some of the tension on him. Vera watched as each emotion played across his face like a silent film reel. Each one lighting his eyes and tightening the line of his mouth into a straight, grim line. Bafflement quickly turning to disbelief and finally anger. But what really fascinated her was the eventual-frustrated annoyance. Now that…. That she could play with. “You’re not really mad at Carter’s incompetence are you?” She asked wanting to give him enough time to fully process the events that had leaded him to this point. “I mean, sure he didn’t give you my file ahead of time, or hell he didn’t even follow proper protocol. But did you even ask for the file? Did you follow proper procedure?” She settled back a little tilting her head her eyes shining in honest curiosity. “Or did you just rush here to get away from your home life?” She watched him with penetrating stare. It hadn’t been her intention to analyze him, not really, but at the best of times she was a fantastic Psychologist, and at the very worst, a smart-ass know it all. Scoffing she narrowed her eyes at his comment, her face darkening with emotion. “Please do not underestimate my intelligence.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Carter didn’t have to tell me anything about you to know everything.” Sitting straighter she uncurled from the chair and crossed her legs. “For Example, your marriage.” She could read the irritation of this on his face, he didn’t really want to talk about it, and frankly he didn’t have to, not really. She would talk, and he could, if he so chose, listen. “Now, I am going to sound kinda amazing, but, what I am doing is really just the Sherlock Holmes Method.” She relaxed, uncrossing both arms and legs, licking her lips she narrowed her gaze and perused him.“You have taken off your wedding ring, which by normal standards isn’t a huge observation given that you have just come through a very high security clearance, but the fact that, unlike your belt, which was replaced right away, the ring remains absent. Which to me means you put more value on your belt then the ring.” She paused her eyes bright, she was giving him a glance into what she loved to do. “Plus your ring finger is completely tanned, which means you haven’t actually worn your ring in a while. So tell me. What was she like? Attentive at first, not only passionate about her goals, but yours as well? Putting all her drive and ambition into supporting you, while she put her dreams on hold?” She tilted her head in question wondering how far off the mark she had this…. Playing him…. Just a little.“Or did she hang on your arm, eye candy in nice jewelry and expensive clothes. The perfect fixture to make you feel manly and important? What happened, marriage out of necessity? Knocked her up? Maybe it was her own design? Did she just want to be a trophy wife but got stuck in a marriage to man who picked a career with an unpredictable pay scale? Maybe she let herself go, or maybe it was the complete opposite? Getting dolled up and having rich men on the side?” She paused and tapped a finger to her cheek before she shook her head.“No…. None of that is true, It isn’t your wife at all. You…. You got bored, the humdrum marriage…. Kids, the perfect house, the vanilla, no challenge sex. You got bored and she, well, she got irritable and Nagy, demanding even, a far second to your more challenging mistress. That is why you like these cases.” She nodded her lip warring between her teeth for a moment. “You have a perfect excuse to stay away, because it is way more exciting, I am way more exciting than the doldrums of a life you have created for yourself.” She stood then and approached the glass.“You See. My ‘offer’ as you called it was more of an ‘open’ invitation.” She tapped the glass slightly. “I am a hot-blooded female, that enjoys all flavors and there isn’t one I wouldn’t try.” She laughed enjoying his defense mode. “Wait…. Mass Murder? Nah Collateral Damage, Not really my fault that they don’t take my warnings seriously... I do send out three.” She paused then widening her eyes and turning towards the cameras in the corner. “Carter didn’t tell you about the warnings? Your superiors didn’t mention those? Did you really just roll up in here blind?” She asked turning her eyes back to his.“I mean as flattering as being known as a Prolific Mass Murderer is, I am really just in it for the press….well and the money of course.” Shaking her head she actually continued to laugh, the enjoyment evident. “But I would definitely enjoy discovering ‘all’ your quirks.” Her posture remained relaxed as he tried to bait her, which meant h was ruffled and struggling to gain control. Good. He still doubted her and she realized fairly quickly that this sentiment irked her. He couldn’t read what was in front of his face, or maybe he did, and he was just waiting for her to reveal something important. Little did he know…. She already had.“As I said. Yes. I don’t go anywhere I don’t want to be, and that includes prison.” She slowly started to draw on the glass with her finger. Invisible shapes that her fingers dancing over the glass. Taking with her tongue against her teeth she shifted her eyes to his. “Ah…. Ah... Ah… You are trying to put me on the defensive, but fail to see I have nothing to be defensive about.” She tapped the glass again her eyes moving slowly from her moving fingers back to his eyes, her eyebrow arching as he shifted forward in his seat. He was smirking now, the smile playing across his lips lighting his eyes and brightening his countenance, she almost felt bad having to knock him down a peg. Sighing and rolling her eyes, Vera pushed herself off the glass and shook her head. “You really don’t get it, do you? This is more about room and board and three meals a day.” She stood there for another minute, her arms hanging at her sides. “I am here, because it is in my best interest to be.” She nodded before turning to move back into her cell. “Now if you don’t mind.” She paused and turned her head, slightly to the side. “I am going to shower, if you want to join, tell Dennis to open the door.” She smiled and lifted her eyes, her head still in profile. “Otherwise, Please feel free to enjoy the show in the control room.” It was then that she left for good, disappearing around the corner and into the back part of the cell. The way her containment worked was a two room dome, the rooms being separated by a thick metal wall that cut straight through the middle of the dome. The first room consisted of the chair she had occupied through the interview, a matching couch, a metal desk nailed to the floor, and a little shelf where she had a few books. The second room had her metal bed attached to the wall, an open face plastic dresser and there on the far wall was a shower head. No curtain or doors, privacy for her didn’t exist, as she walked over to the bed and stripped, almost as if she was a show on network television. Raising her hands to her hair she pulled her ponytail out and shook her hair out before making her way to the shower. There was a tiny shelf under the head of the shower, one bottle of shampoo and some soap occupied the space and with one final look at the camera she turned the water on and walked into spray. When Vera started to try to dissect his anger, Anthony seemed amused at first. On the surface, being mad at Carter for his lack of preparing him seemed natural and warranted. In all the years of consulting work he’d done for various law enforcement and government agencies it had always been standard protocol for the agent in charge to brief any specialists being brought in to expedite the transition. Maybe there was some credibility to the fact he’d been a little lax in his approach, perhaps he should have recognized the situation and talked to Carter and some of the other agents directly and done a little legwork of his own, but it was something that could easily be explained away by Carter severely lacking in proficiency at his job and Anthony being a bit jet-lagged. He smirked in amusement as she started off down that path, but then she uttered something that seemed to slice through those defenses he was hiding behind like a razor.” Or did you just rush here to get away from your home life?” Anthony’s smirk faded away, and his brows knitted together in anger and confusion as he weighed those words. He knew what she was trying to do, he knew she was picking at the threads of his mind to see what would pull free, and yet there was something about that statement that got a rise from him despite all his years of experience. He tried to shrug it off, tried to put on a mask of indifference, but the comment had already struck the blow and there was no doubt she’d seen the reaction. Silently he cursed himself for letting her get to him, even in such a small manner, and he shifted in his seat as he worked to regain his composure. She smelled blood, however, and like a predatory shark she began to circle as the scent aroused the primal beast inside her. He could feel her now, her words pressing down on him, her eyes studying and analyzing him, and her tight little smile taunting him as she prepared to launch into a feeding frenzy on his emotions. All he could do was sit there uncomfortably as she began to dissect his marriage and the subtitles he hadn’t even realized he’d been revealing. Her observations were relentless and worse: accurate. She pegged his frustrations with his wife, the trouble with their marriage, and his eagerness to find ways to escape her. But then she began to veer off in a direction where she was drifting off target, and he felt a small swelling of hope start to build in his chest. She hadn’t been the attentive type that had put her life on hold to support him, quite the opposite, and with each sentence Vera drifted further away from his reality and he started to feel comfort in that she hadn’t known him at all, that she was just fishing and got lucky in the beginning, and he felt the balance of power starting to shift back into his court. She contradicted herself then and went another route, stating that his wife must have been a needy, expensive trophy wife and his confidence rose a bit more. It was clear now she hadn’t known much about him at all and was absolutely flailing in the dark. That made the confidence in him swell, and his mind was already going to work on how to shift the questions back to her and end this seemingly random parlor trick she was clinging to. Just as he was starting to put an end to her little act completely, she again pulled the rug out from under him. Her eyes focused more intently on him, her mind sharpening, and a triumphant little smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she dismissed everything she’d just said and revealed her true observations. She’d lured him into lowering his defenses, allowed him to feel the tender feel of control once more, and then snatched it away completely.“No…. None of that is true, It isn’t your wife at all. You…. You got bored, the humdrum marriage…. Kids, the perfect house, the vanilla, no challenge sex. You got bored and she, well, she got irritable and Nagy, demanding even, a far second to your more challenging mistress. That is why you like these cases.” she said, finishing her display by dramatically rising to her feet and approaching the glass as she saw his jaw gape open ever so slightly. He’d never uttered a word of what she’d just said to anyone and there were times he tried to pretend as if it weren’t true… but it was. Before his wife, before his family, he had been free and lived an exciting and interesting life. He’d flown all around the world, never mind the country, and worked on some of the highest profile cases there were. He saw the sights, sampled the cultures of the globe, and was regarded as one of the most promising men in his field. Then he met his wife. Sure, the beginning of their relationship and even their marriage was incredible, she seemed like a dream come true in the beginning, but as it progressed their marriage closed in around him like a gilded cage until he was trapped at home for long periods of time dealing with mundane issues, having stupid fights over nonsensical things, and dealing with raising a child that demanded so much from them both. He loved his son and his wife, but he longed for the life they’d stripped him of… and now that his son was a little older, and he wasn’t needed as much at home he eagerly took on the cases that gave him some distance and a taste of the life that was stripped from him. Never in his career had someone so effortlessly delved into his mind and pulled out these dark secrets. Never before had he felt so ashamed for wanting to be away from his family, his wife, and to feel the thrill of life again. And never had he felt so helpless while sitting across from one of his own patients. It was uncomfortable, unsettling, and yet simmering just beneath that surface, smoldering inside him, was the barest hint of excitement. He’d never met anyone like this woman before, and despite how easily she was picking him apart, he found himself growing enthralled to the feeling. After decades of monotonous psychopaths and head cases he had stumbled upon something he’d never encountered before… and it was intriguing. She continued to walk unencumbered around in his head as she shifted tactics again and began to set the stage that her being her had been by her own design. That her incarceration by the FBI and her imprisonment here had somehow fit a grand narrative she was orchestrating. From anyone else, Anthony might have laughed it off and labeled them delusional, but he could see by the confidence in her eyes and the conviction in her words that, if nothing else, she believed it to be true. He didn’t understand how this could be part of any plan of hers, how being locked up in such a heavily restricted place could do anything to further her ambitions… but he didn’t doubt it. Again, he was intrigued. She then concluded the interview with telling him she was going to step into the shower, and lewd thoughts of her incredible body danced through his mind unbidden. He shifted ever so slightly as he felt his cock stir at the mere suggestion, and he almost whimpered at the thought. She even went so far to invite him, and he was ashamed to admit he took a moment to actually weight that option, as incredible foul and unprofessional as that was. He was suddenly thankful she’d attempted to assault him earlier, because the possibility of being speared by one of those knitting needles she threw was the backbone of his resistance in shrugging off her request and dismissing it out of hand. When she’d thrown that needle at him, it was with intent, and even if it hadn't had been severe, it would have caused bodily harm on her whim. He had no doubt if he were ever in a room with her, and the opportunity presented itself, she wouldn’t hesitate to try to do him harm again. He was almost thankful for that, for if he didn’t have that to anchor his resolve to he didn’t know how he might have reacted to such a lewd invitation. He wanted to say something in response, a clever remark to show he still had his wits and to give at least some impression that her words hadn’t staggered him as much as they had, but he couldn’t come up with anything. Furthermore, he pursed his lips tightly and stood up without saying a word. His eyes slowly rolled over her body as if they had a mind of their own, and he silently cursed himself for the lapse in sense. Without a word he turned and walked out of the interview room and back up into the control room where he planned to review more of her paperwork and try to get what had just happened out of his head. What happened instead, however, was he went into the private office they’d assigned to him for this case, he pulled up the encrypted feed from her cell, and he watched shamelessly as she teasingly stripped away her clothes and stepped into the shower. She paused, just before entering, and looked up into the camera, and he could have sworn he saw that same taunting smirk of hers as if she already knew he’d be watching. He wanted to look away, he wanted to key off the feed and salvage some shred of professionalism from the situation, but he sat transfixed and watched the alluring woman dutifully wash every inch of one of the most incredible bodies he’d ever seen in person. God, what the hell was she doing to him? Once her shower was done, Anthony reviewed a little more of her file and then retired to the barracks section in the facility to his assigned room. He drifted off to sleep that night thinking about the confident, deadly, and alluring woman. He tried to force his mind elsewhere, to work the thoughts of her out of his system, but he found she was entrenched in his thoughts. The last thing he thought about as he drifted off to sleep were her skilled little hands gliding over her wet body in that shower. She knew they watched, they always did; why else put a camera in a room with an open shower plan. Why have a camera in the bedroom at all? It was to watch, to want, and to wreck themselves in not having. Vera loved it, and not just for the attention, she loved it because it gave her power. Carter thought by putting cameras everywhere he had the power. Laughable that, especially because she knew he watched like everyone else. Watched and wanted, and was probably as we speak working one off. Carter for himself was a closeted pervert, upstanding in the public, pictures of his family on his desk, even when his marriage was falling apart he keeps that picture of his smiling wife right on the corner of his desk. But when the door was closed that picture was placed in a drawer or placed face down on the desk as he, and sweating like a pig, pants around his ankles, and hand fisting his meat he would watch her. Lust after her. She was everything his wife wasn’t, and he hated himself for it. A long groan filled the space only to be followed by a frustrating growl and a loud smash as a second coffee mug flew across the room and hit the wall in the exact same place as the first one had earlier that day. Standing he fumbled to get his pants back up around his girth and gritted his teeth as his eyes landed on the picture of his wife. Her smiling face usually looking at him with joy and love, now look at him with a nasty disdain that mirrored his own. He was MAD…. Mad at Dennis for ruining his plan. Mad at the bureau for thinking him so incompetent that they had to send in someone else. Mad at Vera for always being ten steps ahead of him. Who he wasn’t mad at was himself. He could not get it into his head that most of his problems were his fault. He slammed the picture down on the desk, the smiling woman in the photo just a reminder of what he lost, a glaring sneering reminder. Huffing he clumsily made his way around his desk and looked one last time at the back of the monitor, picturing a wet Vera toweling herself off, before stomping with purpose out of his office. He needed to get to Dennis before he did something he would regret more. Dennis had turned away from the cameras he is like everyone else would watch, but after the relentless teasing from Vera today he found the will power to resist the shower today. He was switching the camera angle in another part of the wing and was so engrossed that he failed to notice the slight shadow extending towards him. A gasping cough erupted from his throat as his head was seized by thick meaty hands and slammed into the keyboard he had just been using to switch the cameras. Groaning he broke away and swung his chair around to face his superior. His hand came up to his face and he felt the cut above his eyes. “Whey…..” He nearly missed dodging another attack from Carter. Carter was slow but powerful and Dennis didn’t need to be in the midst of another blow. “Whoa! Carter…. What the Fuck!” He looked at this made man and slid his chair out of the way enough to be able to get out of a sitting position. “Calm down!” Carter was seeing red. “Calm Down?…... Calm Down? That plan was perfect! You just had to sit here…..” Dennis blinked and blinked looking at him shocked. “That plan was terrible and you know it! We can’t have her hurting anyone else! You are almost off this case as it is... They would blame you for negligence. “Jeez this is what your upset about?” Carter was huffing his body tense, but Dennis seemed to have gotten through... So much so that Carter growled and turned on his heel leaving him breathing heavily in the corner of the security room, blood dripping down his face. Walking down the steps to Vera’s cell Carter slammed his fist against the wall separating them and screamed. It was loud and raw and the sound reverberated around the room. His face blotchy and red, his chest heaving, his eyes narrowed into the door that would lead into her room. Laughter was coming from it, and it grew louder as her figure appeared in the doorway. She was towel drying her hair and her body was clothed in new scrubs, but it was her eyes bird like as they honed in on Carter. Walking further into the room Vera watched the pathetic little man huffing and puffing and for a brief, very brief, moment almost felt sorry for him. Her hands moved the towel over her blond locks and as she neared she asked, tongue gliding and clicking over white teeth. She was playing her game to the tee. Carter looked like a lunatic while she's although remaining calm, widened her eyes and looked at the cameras with what could be assumed of as fear. Carter did just beat on the walls of her cell. Not a good look. Wasn't she supposed to be the dangerous one? Meeting Carter's eyes Vera made one last pass with the towel before draping it over the back of a chair.“Poor Carter…. Things didn’t go as planned did they?” She walked closer watching him. “You know….you should have told me how good-looking your replacement was going to be…. I might have tried a different tactic.” She moved to her chair and sat. “I hope you don’t blame poor Dennis for your blunder…. Oh….wait you don’t think it was your fault.”" All this is your fault...." She paused and leaned in close to the window, her eyes never leaving his. The break was to annoy him, and she could tell it was working. "You know this right?.... How could you not?" She was playing him, she needed him to feel worthless, worthless men do the most reckless things to prove their worth. "Your incompetence every step of the way on this case, even the botch capture of myself has leaded you to this moment. This singular path of destroying yourself." She murmured, her voice low and intoxicating...to some. But Carter has had this conversation multiple times in various different ways letting her talk, looking as if her words weren't crawling under his skin and making a home there. His face remained blotched red and his chest heaved with excursion. Grumbling low he turned on his heel and stomped back up the stairs." Shut the lights down." His voice echoed before the room went completely black.

Delicious Descent - (TheWanderingMuse & Sexy Firefly)|rating:4.0

Aunt Felice (DaggerStilletto)

Vera Silva squirmed in her chair, fidgeting with her seatbelt as she watched the trees pass by in a green blur, trying to ignore her father and new stepmother’s gaga eyes in the front seat. Vera was seventeen, and the bimbo in the seat in front of her was only six years older than her. She rolled her dark eyes as their conversation took on a sickeningly sweet tone that was too much to discount. God, she hated long drives. They’d diagnosed her with ADHD early, but her last stepmother had been a saint. Instead of shoving a bunch of pills down her throat, she’d signed Vera up for every sport available. Even after she and Dad had divorced, she’d stayed an active part in Vera’s life, encouraging her athletics. In the end she’d stuck with track and swimming through high school. Moving, especially moving fast, always made her feel better. She glanced at the gaga couple in front of her. Dad was Spanish, dark hair lined with streaks of sliver at the temple, and she guessed not bad looking for his age. But the bottle blonde next to him belonged on the cover of Playboy, not in their house. She was glad at that moment she and her brother had taken after their Irish mother. Her hair took on her mother’s red-orange color but kept her paternal grandmother’s curls, and keeping it past her shoulders was her one concession to her appearance. Makeup only got ruined and why dress in something that she couldn’t move properly in? Her duffle bag was packed with loose jerseys, baggie jeans, and sports bras. Hopefully she wouldn’t get too out of shape at her aunt’s house, or her breasts would swell up and they’d be too small. She’d learned the hard way when she’d broken her leg a few years ago, that though she was naturally lithe, only her constant exercise kept her from taking after her top-heavy Spaniard genetics. Large B-cups, or small C was more than enough in her opinion, especially since they caused drag in the water. She sighed, at least Aunt Felice had a pool, and living in a mansion out in the middle of nowhere meant there’d be plenty of space to run. Vera threw an envious look at her younger brother, his pale blue eyes fixated his Kindle. He’d have the time of his life with an infinite amount of reading time, and Aunt Felice had probably got him new art supplies or something. He’d always been her favorite. Probably because something about her aunt made Vera uncomfortable. Ever since her thirteenth birthday party, her aunt’s touches had lingered just a bit too long, and her gaze held too much weight. That, and she argued with her Dad nonstop. Mostly about Tory. She glanced at her brother again and sighed. At least one of them was going to have a good time. Tory touched the screen of his kindle and flipped the ‘page.’ He loved how easy it was to get books on it that would make Dad die of shame. Not that he’d ever check. Dad had just about checked out of his life after the last “conversation” with Aunt Felice. She’d been the one to convince his dad to stop shoving him into sports programs and let him join the freshmen art society at his high school. He was slight, short, even for a fifteen-year-old, and not nearly macho enough for his father. Sports and a buzz cut had been Dad’s attempt to butch him up, but it had only made him a target. Now, his hair was, if not long, at least not short enough you could see his scalp, not quite reaching his shoulders. Aunt Felice had taken to looking out for him the way his last stepmother had really stepped up to the plate with Vera. It sucked Dad had found out about her sleeping with his golfing buddy, but in all fairness, she’d only started sleeping with him after catching him with her secretary. He shook his head at the memory to clear it from his head. Just one of the many things he wished he hadn’t learned during their nasty divorce.Finally, the car began to slow and after driving through nearly a mile of winding, bumpy driveway, they pulled to a stop in front of Aunt Vera’s country home. Huge didn’t quite cover it, and though Dad had never said anything to him or Vera about it, Tory knew it bothered him that Aunt Felice made more money than him. Vera beat him out of the car, racing around to the back to grab her bag. Why she hadn’t brought a book or something to read, he had no idea. The ride must have been torture for her. A few minutes of heated discussion followed between Dad and their new—gag—stepmother, and then his bag was tossed into his chest, given a very manly hug, watched Vera receive the same, and then they were left watching the car drive away in a cloud of dust. Vera and he exchanged looks. “This summer’s going to suck,” she muttered before heading towards the front door. Tory waited in the driveway a moment more, watching the car vanish from sight before following his sister and hoping she wasn’t right. Felice had watched from the window as her brother more or less dumped his kids onto her front lawn. She didn't want to be around him, so she merely hovered. Over the past few days, she's fixed the kids' bedrooms up. Multiple visits in the past ten to fifteen years had transformed them into reflections of how the kids have developed. She never threw away anything that they left, except that the clothes they'd grown out of had been donated to needy families. The rooms were side by side and connected with a door so that if either of them wanted to get closer to their sibling, they could just knock and walk in. Tory was her favorite. He was a sweet thing, introverted. He always exercised enough to stay fit, but he wasn't interested in sports and testosterone. A therapist such as herself could see what he truly needed, and she made sure that he got it, either by sneaking it in to him, or blatantly annoying the shit out of his dad until he gave in. The daughter, however, was a tougher nut to crack. They loved each other, of course, but most of the women in her life had left her one way or another. Felice suspected that Vera was afraid that if she got too attached, she'd lose her aunt and feel more heartbreak. She knew it'd take more work to get the girl to break, but the purpose behind this visit was more nefarious than either teen knew. She wanted the kids to become so attached to her that they would refuse outright to go back with their dad. Furthermore, she wanted them dependent on her. It would break Carlos' heart, like he had done to her so many years ago, and she would have the family she'd always wanted but couldn't have. The therapist licked her lower lip in anticipation. By any means necessary.... Felice straightened and stepped outside onto her porch once the car was far enough away. She smiled at the joy on Tory's face, opening her arms to receive both kids in a hug. She'd not seen them for months, and to her, that was far too long not to see her most beloved people. Tory threw himself into his aunt’s arms, the top of his head barely grazed her chin. “Aunt Felice!” He’d never admit how aware he was of his aunt’s appearance, but she was stunning. He’d always wondered how she’d turned out blonde and gorgeous when dad had turned out so dark and swarthy. God, she was gorgeous, and he’d be absolutely mortified if she ever found out how much he thought so. He pulled away and grinned at her. “How ya been?” Vera didn’t step forward, instead forcing a smile that came out more of a grimace. “Hey Aunt Felice,” she said, not putting down her bags. It wasn’t Aunt Felice’ fault she was stuck here for the summer, but damn if it wasn’t frustrating. “Thanks for letting us stay here.” The words came out more bitter than she’d intended and she winced. A moment later she slid past her and Tory into the house in search of her bedroom. “I’m going to go ahead and get set up in my place.”“Don’t mind her,” Tory said. “She hates long car rides. How’s it going?” "It's all right, Tory," Felice replied. She stroked her hand through his darker hair, guiding him inside. "She'll be a little happier when I show her the exercise room I have set up." She picked up his bag and headed up the stairs with him." You got a little taller," she observed after a moment. Of course, he was just as feminine as usual, but he couldn't help that. He had developed curves, actually, more than normal teenage boys do. He had a nice bubble butt, in fact, and if one was paying attention, one would see the slightest curve in his hips more often found on a woman. She let him go off to his bedroom, stopping in the doorway to Vera's. She watched for a moment, then stepped in with determination. Furthermore, she grabbed the young teen, hugging her tightly, forcing her to feel the affection she was afraid of falling for. "I missed you, little girl," Felice told her firmly, sincerely. She'll smother Vera with love if she has to. “Yeah, probably,” he laughed and hoped she didn’t notice how much he’d enjoyed the feeling of her fingers through his hair. A moment later and he was unpacking in his new room. There wasn’t much, mostly clothes and a few electronics. Including his kindle filled with the kind of material he hoped his house-mates never found out about. He tossed himself down on a small armchair in the corner and dove headlong into another novel. Vera had just finished tucking away her underwear when her aunt’s arms suddenly wrapped around her and pulled her into a hug, smashing their breasts together. She could have dealt with that, handled the unwanted physical contact, but the ‘little girl’ comment sent something slime down her spine. Her aunt was always like that, just a little too much affection.“Yeah, missed you too,” she lied and tried not to pull away too hard. “What’s up?” Felice pretended not to notice and smiled brightly. Step one of winning over a defiant teen was to bribe them. "Well since your brother no doubt is reading by now, I want you to follow me. I have something that he would never find interest in, whereas you just may love it." She winked and walked out, making sure Vera was following. She led the way back downstairs and towards the back of the house. They passed a veranda where the large, gorgeous inground pool was visible, looking like one of the ones you see at a celebrity's hotel. She smiled and opened a door. Inside was an indoor pool almost the size of the one outside. On the other side of it was a weight room. To the left was a tennis court, and to the right was a basketball court. Here, there were plenty of activities the hyperactive teen could get into, especially if it was raining outside, as it often did where Felice lived. She suspected that was one of the reason Vera was reluctant to come visit. Video games, board games, surfing the internet, and togetherness could only go so far for Vera." So what do you think?" Felice asked, leaning against the door frame. She grinned knowingly, watching the joy spread on her niece's pretty face. “Holy shit.” Vera tossed a nervous glance at her aunt to make sure she wasn’t going to get into trouble for cursing, but didn’t bother to wait before continuing on. “When did you have all this put in? Damn.” And she was rushing around the pool for the weight room. The pool would have been her first stop, but she didn’t have a swimsuit. Maybe she could overnight one from Amazon, Tory would know how to do that. Vera scoped out the assorted machines, not bothering to hide her fascination or how much she was impressed, but she didn’t stop at any of these. Instead, she made an almost b-line for the nearest treadmill. Running shoes and shorts, a t-shirt, and sports bra were all part of her standard outfit and after so much sitting she needed to move. It took her a few frustrating moments to figure out how to turn the machine on and get it to the proper workout mode. Usually she just ran at a track or outside instead of on a machine, but with all this here how could she pass it up? Even with the obnoxious set-up time. She’d work that down as she got used to the treadmill. Her aunt wasn’t remembered until she was already starting to jog. She glanced over her shoulder, cheeks reddening with embarrassment. “Um, mind if I use this?” "No, I showed you this area with all the exercise oriented equipment and activities to tell you're not allowed to use it," she joked. She chuckled and came over to her, patting her back. "I know you, Vera. Go ahead and use anything in here to your heart's content. Just try to drag yourself away somewhat on time for dinner. Like always, I have dinner ready at 7pm. I told your father that this was supposed to be a surprise and to ship me your and Tory's bathing suits." She pointed at a storage closet. "They're in there." She kissed Vera's cheek and patted her back again before leaving. Now that Vera is adequately distracted, it was time to start in on Tory. Felice knew he'd be the easier of the two. He's so starved for positive attention from a parental figure that he'd give in to anything she wanted after only a little prodding. Felice headed out and back upstairs. She stopped at her bedroom to pocket lube, just in case it went faster and far better than she expected. She knocked on Tory's door frame, then sauntered in the open door. He was, predictably, sitting at the window seat overlooking her flower garden and KOI pond, his Kindle in his lap. She sat beside him, wrapping her arm around him. "So tell me how you've been since we saw each other at Christmas." Tory was glad she couldn't see the of the book he was reading. Thankfully not erotica, but it was a romance novel, and in many ways that was just as bad if not worse. At least it wasn't opened to a sex scene, now that would have been awkward. Her touch sent an electric thrill through him, though he tried not to show it. He held still, not leaning into her but not pulling away. "Not much, really. Got a new RP group, they're kind of fun. Dad doesn't think much of them. Oh, and I won the school's poetry contest. Vera actually didn't do too bad in it either. I don't think dad knows. Armand," he almost didn't say anything but something about his aunt compelled him to keep speaking. "There's this girl. She's a year younger than me...we kissed on the last day of school." His face turned red at the memory. They hadn't talked since, but she was heading out of the country anyway for her summer vacation, and neither of them had brought up what it actually meant for their relationship together. Just remembering the kiss though was enough to get him hot and bothered. Yet another thing he hadn't told his dad about his life. He'd probably ask why Tory hadn't already been laid or something. She congratulated him on the RP group and his award in the poetry contest. She didn't say anything about Vera, as she was not the main focus for anything in this conversation right no. At the mention of a girl, she grinned. Tory was such a shy thing, and the blush smearing across his face was more adorable than it should have been. "WWW, how sweet, Tory! Do you think you'll be seeing each other romantically?" Probably not, not after what she has in mind for him, but she was willing to talk to him about it, as always. Felice was touching him subtly but in a way that he would probably be uncomfortable with if he was registering it. Her hand gently caressed his hip, his side. If she could, she'd brush it against his cute butt, but he was sitting on that. Her lips brushed his hair and temple when she spoke. Her shapely bust was unnecessarily but not overbearingly pressed into his shoulder. However, if he wasn't paying attention, it could all be mistaken for cuddling. As they chatted about this, that, and the other, aimlessly speaking without a real plan, catching up on things that she'd missed out on, Felice eventually advanced enough that he was sprawled in her lap, cuddling for real now. He never even seemed to realize what was going until it happened, and then he just leaned into the embrace and cuddles. Felice always knew that he'd be the easiest one. Although she doubted it would happen, she wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if she could get to fucking him without him really realizing it until it was already too late to stop. He was a sweet boy, but a little oblivious. However, Tory would be the key to getting Vera to surrendering to her. Tory wasn't really sure how he'd ended up in his aunt's lap, leaning back against her with his legs spread so that his knees fell on the outside of hers. Her touches had been sending little electric currents through his system, though he struggled to hide their effect. Truth was that it didn't take much to arouse a teenage boy and Tory wasn't about to protest in case he drew attention to the fact. It wasn't like his aunt was trying to turn him on after all, she was just being nice. God, there was something wrong with him. Sure his aunt was gorgeous, but she was his freaking aunt! At least he was in the habit of wearing baggy clothes, so hopefully the partial erection that had begun growing between his legs would be hidden." Um, what about you?" He asked, swallowing as a part of him realized just how vulnerable a position he was in. Sure, Aunt Felice would never hurt him, but he never wanted to offend her. And damn if he didn't feel like such a child sprawled over her like this, letting her play with his hair and whisper into his ear. "Been up to anything fun since I've been gone? Anything to do with whatever you wanted to show Vera a moment ago?" For the most part he'd been absorbed in his book, but he wasn't utterly oblivious, just mostly. He'd trained his ears to pay attention to footsteps while he was reading to avoid being caught reading erotica. Wouldn't that just be something his aunt would love to learn about? She probably still thought of him as a little kid, hence him being in her lap. If she knew, would she still want to hold him like this? He was torn on whether he wanted to remain where he was. On the one hand, it was decidedly childish and weak, and he was almost a grown man dang it, but on the other hand, it felt really nice, with her breasts pressing into his back and her lips occasionally brushing his ear. Good Lord, he really was serving on his aunt! He needed to knock it off and tried to awkwardly shift his weight so that he wasn't quite so provocatively pressed against her body, unconsciously or otherwise. She held him still, her other arm curling around his tummy. She rubbed his side gently. "I had a weight room, indoor pool, and indoor tennis and basketball courts built for her. It rains so much up here, and she gets so miserable when there's nothing to channel her energy into. I wanted it to be a surprise for her, so I made your dad ship your bathing suits up here. I know she can get secrets out of you, so I never told you." Felice grinned and patted his thigh teasingly. She was aware of his erection. He kept shifting, and his legs squeezing shut wasn't exactly a subtle choice. She was glad that he was attracted to her. It helped that she wasn't as old as their dad. She was actually only 15 years older than Vera, and she looked younger naturally. She knew how attractive she was, and she used it to her advantage. Felice nuzzled her head into Tory's neck boldly." I missed you guys a lot, you know. I hate having to go months without seeing you," she confessed to him, carefully setting his Kindle aside. "It's going to be hard to let go of you guys after three months. And hopefully I can get your sister to love me like she used to." She kissed his cheek, dangerously close to his lips. She was forcing herself not to come on too strong. Tory went still as he tried to process all of that. Just how much money had she spent renovating her place? He'd known his aunt made a lot of money, but holy cow that was almost absurd. Like, the kind of things eccentric billionaires with their own islands levels of absurd. And she'd done it all for Vera? For a moment, he couldn't help a flash of jealousy. Why was Vera always the favorite? He pushed the thought aside. Sort of. It wasn't really fair, that she got the attention or that he begrudged her for it. Vera was the son their father really wanted and the rebel, the combination naturally meant she'd get more attention than the "good boy."" I can keep a secret," he muttered, then shuddered. Her hands were teasing him and her lips against his neck were feeling way better than they were meant to." I uh, didn't realize you two were-ah-having problems," he said as her lips almost met his. Oh, wow that had been close. Too close. His face flushed. Sure some part of him knew that Vera and Aunt Felice weren't on the best of terms, but he hadn't known there'd been a falling out. And it was hard to hold onto that thought with the phantom press of her lips tingling upon his face. His penis shot to full erection, straining against the fly of his pants. He reached over for the Kindle Aunt Felice had just discarded and held it over his lap, hoping she'd think it was just him being eccentric and possessive of his things rather than trying to hide his arousal. "Yes, you can keep a secret, unless it is your sister that's wrestling it out of you," Felice teased. "You two are thick as thieves, and you know how to get to and at each other better than anyone. And I saw that little pout of yours, Tory." She grinned and eased him off her lap. She stood, then tugged him to stand as well. Furthermore, she made him set the Kindle down again. Furthermore, she could clearly see his erection, but she pretended not to notice." I didn't leave you out, darling. Follow me." She held his hand, fingers linked with his as though they were boyfriend and girlfriend, not Aunt and Nephew. She led him out and downstairs. Furthermore, she went opposite of where she'd taken Vera, further and further away so that if Tory, for whatever reason, screamed, Vera would never hear it. Past the kitchen to the other side of the house, she stopped at the end of a hallway and opened the door. Inside was a library almost as large as a public library in a big city. Books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and newspapers were all in their natural places, large couches and multiple chairs sitting around. She had three computers lined up on one side so if, for whatever reason, all three of them wanted to research something at the same time, they had the means to do it without having to wait their turns." I had faster internet installed, and I decided to accommodate my favorite little bookworm," she told him, rubbing his neck. "I didn't leave you out, darling. I wanted both my favorite people to have something awesome for when they came to stay with dear Auntie." She grinned triumphantly. How wonderful to see that the library seemed to make his erection grow harder, now definitely aroused and unable to be hidden. "I wasn't pouting," Tory said hurriedly as he was lead through the house, trying not to think too much about their interlaced fingers or his bobbing hard on. "Holy crap!" The place was a freaking nerd let dream come true. If it felt a little like Aunt Felice was trying to buy his and Vera's affection this was an awesome way to go about it and no way in hell was he going to complain. He pulled her into a tight embrace, careful to lead with his hip so that he didn't press his erection against her. That was the last thing this moment needed, her feeling his hard on." This is amazing. Thank you so much!" Felice smiled and kissed his cheek once more. She'll hold off on seducing him, she decided. He was too happy here. If he emerged from the library before his sister made an appearance, she'll make a move on him then." I had an inkling you might like it, Tory," she teased. She rubbed her hand through his hair, resisting the urge to grip the thick locks, tilt his head, and ravage his mouth. Plenty of time to do so later. A whole three months, in fact. "Just a feeling I had." She sat down on one of the couches, sprawling in a subtly seductive pose. "What would you like for dinner, Tory? I already have Vera's favorite dessert done, but I want you to pick our main course." She smiled at him. "I took some cooking classes, so I don't need to pay a chef anymore." Probably to save money after all she spent rebuilding her entire house to entertain us, Tory thought as she spoke about dinner. He told her he'd eat pretty much anything Italian and threw himself into the library, exploring the rows upon rows of books before flitting over to the computer, his earlier problems momentarily forgotten in the sudden deluge of wonderfulness.* * *​Vera stepped off the treadmill, legs filled with a delicious burn and sweat plastering her red hair to her face and clothes to her body. She let out a long sigh as she began stretching. Oh, she'd needed that. She bent over and touched her toes several times with calculated exhales. She still had energy to burn though. Hadn't Aunt Felice said something about their father sending their swimsuits ahead? The pool sounded beyond fantastic after that run. She started poking around closets and random spaces around the pool, seeing what she could find. Aunt Felice probably wouldn't have put them too far away, and she didn't want to interrupt her time with Tory. He actually liked spending time with Aunt Felice one on one. How he didn't feel weirded out by her strange touches, she had no idea, but her brother was a special egg anyway. Or that's what their mother had called him. The air conditioner struck while she continued to look for towels and swimwear, sending a shiver down her spine and perking her nipples up. With the sports bra and shirt clinging as they were with her sweat, it made them stand out like pebbles attached to her chest. A slight flush found its way to her cheeks, though considering she was already a little red-faced from running it was hard to tell. Or so she hoped anyway. Last thing she needed was some seriously awkward "girl talk" with Aunt Felice. Felice watched her happy little nephew as he bounced from one section to the other, seemingly unable to decide on what he truly wanted to do. Seeing his joy was the only thing that kept her from being disappointed that he hadn't noticed her obvious invitation. She walked over to him and kissed the back of his head." I'm going to check on your sister. Make sure she hasn't run herself into the ground or become one with the exercise equipment." She patted his back, dangerously close to his pert bottom, and exited the library. She headed back across the house to where she'd left Vera. Furthermore, she paused when she entered the poolroom, surprised and very pleased at her sweaty, flushed condition, teenage nipples hardened in the chill. Felice swallowed and made sure she wasn't showing off her own erection, then crossed over to Vera. She hurriedly caught the shelf that had been teetering due to Vera's rummaging. Curling her arm around the smaller female, she jerked her @way to safety. "I hadn't realized that shelf needed repair," the therapist murmured, glad she'd come when she did. Sure that Vera was okay, she let go of her niece. "Looking for something in particular, sweetie?" Vera yelped as she was suddenly yanked back and a number of items toppled down where her head had been an instant before. Nothing that would have seriously hurt her, except for maybe the shelf itself, but her heart pounded all the same. She stared at the mess she’d made, embarrassment barely allowing her to register her aunt’s arms around her. That didn’t stop her from pulling away as soon as she was released, but it wasn’t the usual get-away-quick response either. If her face hadn’t been red before, it was absolutely crimson now. “Sorry, Aunt Felice. I was trying to find the swimsuits Dad sent up. I thought you’d have them around here. Furthermore, I’ll clean this up.” She knelt down and began sorting and fixing up the pile as fast as her hands would allow. Vera knew she wasn’t a natural klutz, but she hated being the one that made a mess or destroyed people’s things. No way she could let herself swim until the job she’d made for herself had been taken care off. Wasn’t she off to a great start to her summer? Her Aunt, who admittedly made her uncomfortable, but she couldn’t really say why, had remodeled a huge portion of her house for her vacation and here she was breaking Aunt Felice’ things. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. Just stack those things beside the shelf instead. I'll have a repairman come to fix the shelf tomorrow. Just be careful around it." She smiled and patted her shoulder, knowing hard on herself Vera could be. Felice walked to the storage closet that she knew she pointed out to an apparently forgetful Vera. She took down the bathing suits and set them on one of the tables next to the pool and lounge chairs. Then she sidled back up to where Vera crouched." Do you want me to braid your hair before you get in the pool?" she inquired. In the past, she had always done this for Vera. It seemed to be the one thing that Vera didn't mind: having her hair touched and messed with. “My hair is beyond gross right now, but thanks,” she said, still flushing. Vera finished putting the stuff back in the closet, angry with herself for not finishing the job and angrier still she’d missed such an obvious spot for the swimsuits. She tried not to let any of that frustration into her voice though, none of that was her aunt’s fault. Truth be told, she did mind Aunt Felice messing with her hair, but she’d never said a word about it and never would. It was one of those girly things she was supposed to enjoy doing with other girls, and she’d never been able to come up with a good excuse for not doing it with her. Besides which, it felt stupidly good. Not just feminine, but tingly and wonderful. It didn’t matter who it was, the feeling of someone playing with her hair was simply wonderful, even if it was Aunt Felice. Before she could say anything else however, her eyes fell on the swimsuits that had been laid out. She hadn't found them before, she’d seen them and gone straight past because they weren’t theirs. A pair of swim trunks in Tory’s size were laid out, but the other swimsuit was a sunflower colored two piece bikinis. The kind a girl would lay out in, not do a serious workout. A little blue note had been stuck to the side. A “gift” from her new stepmom, the note had been signed with sickening little hearts and XS and Os. She held it up. How the hell was she supposed to work out in this? “My dad has really stupid taste in women,” she lamented. "What's sad," Felice said as she watched the anger on the teen's face, "is that he used to have impeccable taste, as seen with your mother and last wife. However, unlike wine, Carlos has not improved with age." She shook her head. The bikini would be beautiful on Vera, but the color was terrible, and Vera was obviously uncomfortable." Why don't you just swim in biker's pants and a tank," Felice finally suggested. "Tomorrow, after the repairman comes by, we'll go out and get you a better swimsuit." She smiled down at Vera. "It's a waste if you can't even enjoy the pool." In the distance, thunder rumbled, almost in grumpy agreement, and Felice knew that it was going to start rain again. Surprise. She ruffled Vera's hair gently, not missing the shudder that racked through the teen. If possible, her nipples seemed to get harder. Felice needed to force her to sit down so she could play with her hair. Maybe after she had Tory under her control. He would be easy. Felice would take longer. “Yeah a tank tops not a bad idea,” Vera agreed, then snatched up the swim trunks meant for Tory. “Tory won’t miss these. He can’t bring a book in the pool after all.” And why risk ruining a good pair of biker shorts? “Be back down in a minute.” She wound her way back through the house, nearly stumbling into Tory’s room by mistake instead of hers. Dang this place was big. A moment later she was in the right room and stripping free of her smelly clothes. The swim trunk’s webbing felt a little weird, and they were heavier than she would have liked, but whatever, at least they wouldn’t drop on their own and moon everyone. And why were they so tight in the butt? Sure Tory was smaller than her, but that was just hurtful. She had a great ass, didn’t she? At least it didn’t look half as sultry as that bikini wanted to try to make her. A black tank was thrown on, sans bra, and she made a quick detour to drop her clothes off in the hamper before returning to the pool. No sense leaving something behind to stink up her room. Her nipples were no longer little diamonds, but she could feel them rub against the material with every step and her unbound breasts bounced way more than she was used to. Sure it was a lot more comfortable not having them constantly pressed down, but she never let them just “free” like this. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too obvious. The blonde smirked as the girl hastened away. She could tell this was going to bring quite a bit of amusement at the very least. She straightened everything and left the pool, smiling as she passed Vera on her way back. Her pert, teenage titties bounce prettily as she moved, and she pretended she didn't notice, even though her loins tightened at the sight. Felice went to her office to do a little work and make the phone call for the repairman. Then she went to the library to check up on Tory. As expected, he was curled up on one of the couches with a giant book, an afghan draped over him. Finally, she moved on to the kitchen and brought out the ingredients for Parmesan chicken. She worked diligently to make the dinner, sitting with a book of her own during rest periods until the food was finished. She smiled, setting individual plates on the dining room table at exactly 7pm. As expected, Tory managed to drag himself away from the library, and even without a book, and seat himself where she indicated. She was placing glasses of soda pop on the table as Vera walked in a few minutes late, seeming a little bashful; apparently she had taken a shower before dinner, which Felice appreciated. The night shirt she dressed in showed her little perked nipples, but again, neither she nor Tory made a comment about it. Dinner started out quick and mostly uneventful at first. Vera silently cursed the AC unit for making the place so cold and hoped her aunt and brother didn’t notice the effect it had on her. Tory’s mind was a million miles away on the book he’d just started in the library and completely failed to notice anything about his sister one way or the other, though the Parmesan snapped him back to reality, and he complimented Aunt Felice on her cooking, prompting Vera to do much the same. Which then prompted another round of “Thank you’s for dinner, having them for the summer, and for everything she’d done to her house. Vera couldn’t help but think it is a little extreme, but there was no way in hell she was going to look this gift horse in the mouth. Felice accepted their thanks graciously. She chatted to them about school and events she had missed out on since their last meeting with her. She also dredged up the gossip about their father's newest trophy wife, laughing with them as they made fun of the plastic barbie-like bimbo. She allowed them to go off to their bedrooms while she washed dishes and put away the leftovers. Furthermore, she knew Tory would most likely end up getting in the middle of the night to snack on some of it. It was probably his midnight snacks that contributed to his delightful bubble butt. She went to the living room to watch the news, then made sure no one was in the shower before she took her own. Toweling her hair dry and clad in a silk bathrobe, she stopped at Tory's door. "Settled in okay?" Felice asked. Tory dropped his kindle to the bed beside him, his aunt's voice behind the door snapping him out of the torrid love scene he'd been reading. He bunched up his knees to hide his erection beneath the bed covers and hoped she wouldn't notice the flush of his face when she came in. It had been so long since anyone came to check on him after he went to bed, he hadn't hesitated to pull out his collection of erotica. "Y-yeah. Everything's great. Thanks a lot, Aunt Felice." He was dressed in a simple white undershirt and silk boxers beneath the covers. Sleeping with his chest exposed had always felt exceptionally naked to him, and he hated the vulnerability of it. That, and he liked the feel of the soft material of the shirt and boxers against his skin." Thanks for looking out for us this summer. Today was awesome." Aunt Felice smiled and walked over to him. She bent and kissed his cheek, then his forehead. "You're very welcome, Tory, although you don't have to thank me. I love you and your sister. I would do this even without having to be asked." She sat and combed her hand through his hair the way she used to with him and Vera when they were little, back when they both loved her unconditionally. Felice kissed his cheek again and stood after a while. "Sleep well, Tory. You know where I am if you need anything." With that, she walked away and went to her own room to prepare for bed. Tory fought and failed to keep from shivering as his aunt stroked his hair, sending little tingles through his scalp and down his spine. His erection lurched between his legs and he clamped down tight, hoping she wouldn't notice. With his knees up that was unlikely, but she was so close and his face burned so hot. Her foot was right next to his Kindle. Thankfully there were no pictures, but if she so much as read a sentence or two she'd have a pretty good idea of his literary interests." Y-yeah, you too, Aunt Felice. Good night." He tried not to stare at her ass as she strolled away, really he did, but he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away. He let out several deep breaths after the door closed, heart pounding in his chest, and counted to ten before reaching down to retrieve his Kindle. Furthermore, he was so hard that he ached and didn't make it much further into the love scene before he needed to change his boxers. A quick change in bedroom wear, and he was climbing back under the sheets, sleep pulling at his eyelids. He idly wondered if he should have just slept nude before drifting off to sleep.****The next morning found Vera swimming laps in the pool before the sun had risen. She wasn't especially quiet and when she finished, she toweled off and headed back upstairs to change into running gear. Her stomping by snapped Tory out of some dream involving elephants made of cotton candy. He was just about to drift back off when she hurried past again, singing some alternative rock song under her breath. She'd probably put her headphones on and didn't realize she was doing it. A moment later the front door closed shut. Tory tried for several moments to go back to sleep, but soon realized it wasn't happening. Still in his undershirt and boxers, he made his way down to the new library. If he was awake, he might as well make use of the new room. After all, the time hadn't stopped Vera. Felice slept until around 10am. She checked her email, replied to a few, then headed to the kitchen. She smiled to herself when she saw Vera had raided the fruits for a light but filling breakfast. Furthermore, she made herself a caramel cappuccino and Some scrambled eggs. Furthermore, she wandered to the gym and nodded when she saw Vera getting full use of the equipment. Furthermore, she was even more pleased that her niece had the courtesy to wave in greeting, The more energy she burned, the happier and more agreeable she seemed to become, The woman returned to the kitchen to make chicken salad for sandwiches if anyone so desired to make one. Furthermore, she set out frozen cod to thaw in the sink, then proceeded to take care of a few chores. Furthermore, she made a few calls to the office she had in the city to make sure everything was running smoothly, Finally, Felice decided to hunt down her nephew. Since she hadn't seen nor heard anything out of him all day, she assumed he hadn't eaten anything. She made a few chicken salad sandwiches, grabbed a bottle of cherry-flavored vitamin water, and headed for the library. She couldn't be called a good aunt if she allowed her nephew expire from starvation, nor would she be able to put her less than innocent plan into action. As expected, she found Tory immersed in one of the thousands of books she'd stalked the library with. He was curled up on the couch with it, absentmindedly chewing on his thumbnail. He didn't notice her entry, nor her presence in general, until she'd placed the plate of sandwiches on top of the book, thus blocking the words from view.

Aunt Felice (DaggerStilletto)|rating:3.0

Searching for Roleplay Partner(s)

Hello everyone! I'm Sara! (Hence the username! Subtle, huh?) Anyway, I'm an avid reader, writer, and of course - role player. I'm not looking for some 'real life' thing or whatever, just role-playing. And NOT anything in first person. I do heterosexual role-plays and female x female role-plays. No male x male. Here's a list of what I want to role-play, but this is not the extent of what I role-play. What I'm craving is bolded. |This is what I play| Movies/Books/Shows Loganville Vampires Series |Claire| Vampire Diaries |Elena| Vampire Academy |Rose| Harry Potter Series |Hermione or made-up| Marked series |Zoey or made-up| True Blood/Southern Vampires/Rookie Stack house series |Rookie| Blue Bloods Series |Schuyler or made-up| And almost any book or movie I've seen, just ask. Anime/Mangas None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Video Games None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Others/Originals Abusive Relationship |Abused| Incest (Excluding older female x younger male situations) Vampire x Human |Human|Vampire x Vampire (Sometimes) Vampire x Neo |Neo| Lolita |Lolita| Demon x Human |Human| Demon x Angel |Angel| Model x Photographer |Model| Stalker |Stalked| Kidnapping |Kidnapped| Girlfriend x Boyfriend's Best friend or Brother |Girlfriend| Sister x Brother's best friend |Sister| Blackmail |Blackmailed| Experiment |Experimented on| Infantilize (I want your character to force mine into acting as an infant and treat her like one.) |Girl turned infant, obviously| Good girl x bad guy/girl (Shy girl x rebel, etc.) |Good girl| Boarding School High School College Gifted (School for Gifted as well) Horror movie type role-play Babysitting |Babysat unless it's x parent| Hospital Rape |Raped| Teacher x student |Student| Hostage situation |Hostage| Master x Pet/Slave |Pet/Slave| Arranged Marriage |Female| Threesome/Love Triangle (Two males, one female, or all females[sometimes]) |One female| Prison (Female inmates or warden x inmate) |Inmate| There are plenty more things I'll play as well, just ask. Feel free to suggest a role-play. And these can totally be combined, if you wish. That always makes it more interesting. I do have plots for a lot of these role-plays. And I only play submissive female characters. I really want to role-play over AIM or e-mail, but PMs here are fine too. But I won't do threads, because I guess I have 'thread-fright'. Wow...quite a long list. Hmm.... Inheritance RP....has potential. Hmmmm HOT Sushi Sara Subtle like the follwingabusive / infantile / master pet / slave / threesumxxx Sex Kitten_Sara said: Hello everyone! I'm Sara! (Hence the username! Subtle, huh?) Anyway, I'm an avid reader, writer, and of course - role player. I'm not looking for some 'real life' thing or whatever, just role-playing. And NOT anything in first person. Here's a list of what I want to role-play, but this is not the extent of what I role-play. What I'm craving is bolded. |This is what I play| Movies/Books/Shows Twilight Series |Bella or made up| Vampire Kisses Series |Raven or made-up| Loganville Vampires Series |Claire| Vampire Diaries |Elena| Vampire Academy |Rose| Harry Potter Series |Hermione or made-up| Inheritance Series/Eragon books |Arya or made-up| Marked series |Zoey or made-up| True Blood/Southern Vampires/Rookie Stack house series |Rookie| And almost any book or movie I've seen, just ask. Anime/Mangas None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Video Games None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Others/Originals Abusive Relationship |Abused| Incest (Excluding older female x younger male situations) Vampire x Human |Human|Vampire x Vampire (Sometimes) Vampire x Neo |Neo| Lolita |Lolita| Demon x Human |Human| Demon x Angel |Angel| Model x Photographer |Model| Stalker |Stalked| Kidnapping |Kidnapped| Girlfriend x Boyfriend's Best friend or Brother |Girlfriend| Girlfriend x Brother's best friend |Girlfriend| Blackmail |Blackmailed| Experiment |Experimented on| Infantilize (I want your character to force mine into acting as an infant and treat her like one.) |Girl turned infant, obviously| Good girl x bad guy/girl (Shy girl x rebel, etc.) |Good girl| Boarding School High School College Gifted (School for Gifted as well) Horror movie type role-play Babysitting |Babysat unless it's x parent| Hospital Rape |Raped| Teacher x student |Student| Hostage situation |Hostage| Master x Pet/Slave |Pet/Slave| Arranged Marriage |Female| Threesome/Love Triangle (Two males, one female, or all females[sometimes]) |One female| Prison (Female inmates or warden x inmate) |Inmate| There's more on this list. Feel free to suggest a role-play. And these can totally be combined, if you wish. That always makes it more interesting. I do have plots for many of these role-plays. And I only play submissive female characters. I really want to role-play over AIM or e-mail, but PMs here are fine too. But I won't do threads, because I guess I have 'thread-fright'. And I have yahoo and MSN, but I never go on them. So my AIM is: Mayflower1692 And my e-mail is: [email protected] My list of kinks (RH page) is here: Click to expand... I'll talk to you when I get back online, okay? Hi Sara, I've been thinking about a potential pet/master RP... please PM me if interested! Sex Kitten_Sara said: Hello everyone! I'm Sara! (Hence the username! Subtle, huh?) Anyway, I'm an avid reader, writer, and of course - role player. I'm not looking for some 'real life' thing or whatever, just role-playing. And NOT anything in first person. Here's a list of what I want to role-play, but this is not the extent of what I role-play. What I'm craving is bolded. |This is what I play| Movies/Books/Shows Twilight Series |Bella or made up| Vampire Kisses Series |Raven or made-up| Loganville Vampires Series |Claire| Vampire Diaries |Elena| Vampire Academy |Rose| Harry Potter Series |Hermione or made-up| Inheritance Series/Eragon books |Arya or made-up| Marked series |Zoey or made-up| True Blood/Southern Vampires/Rookie Stack house series |Rookie| And almost any book or movie I've seen, just ask. Anime/Mangas None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Video Games None unless you want to describe the basic idea to me. Others/Originals Abusive Relationship |Abused| Incest (Excluding older female x younger male situations) Vampire x Human |Human|Vampire x Vampire (Sometimes) Vampire x Neo |Neo| Lolita |Lolita| Demon x Human |Human| Demon x Angel |Angel| Model x Photographer |Model| Stalker |Stalked| Kidnapping |Kidnapped| Girlfriend x Boyfriend's Best friend or Brother |Girlfriend| Girlfriend x Brother's best friend |Girlfriend| Blackmail |Blackmailed| Experiment |Experimented on| Infantilize (I want your character to force mine into acting as an infant and treat her like one.) |Girl turned infant, obviously| Good girl x bad guy/girl (Shy girl x rebel, etc.) |Good girl| Boarding School High School College Gifted (School for Gifted as well) Horror movie type role-play Babysitting |Babysat unless it's x parent| Hospital Rape |Raped| Teacher x student |Student| Hostage situation |Hostage| Master x Pet/Slave |Pet/Slave| Arranged Marriage |Female| Threesome/Love Triangle (Two males, one female, or all females[sometimes]) |One female| Prison (Female inmates or warden x inmate) |Inmate| There's more on this list. Feel free to suggest a role-play. And these can totally be combined, if you wish. That always makes it more interesting. I do have plots for many of these role-plays. And I only play submissive female characters. I really want to role-play over AIM or e-mail, but PMs here are fine too. But I won't do threads, because I guess I have 'thread-fright'. And I have yahoo and MSN, but I never go on them. So my AIM is: Mayflower1692 And my e-mail is: [email protected] My list of kinks (RH page) is here: Click to expand... Contact me. Perhaps we can work something out... Hey everyone, I'm back! ? Hi there, I know it's not one of your bolded ideas, but maybe if ya don't get overwhelmed by all the people wanting to RP with ya. Maybe try a girlfriend, boyfriends best friend. But his best friend is a girl, Gabrielle. I would be interested in playing the Vampire/Human one. Cool. Send me a PM Hey everyone, I decided to go on Yahoo, so if anyone wants to role-play over that - I'll do that too, but I still prefer AIM. My yahoo [email protected] Still looking for more role-plays - as always. I may be interested in a couple of those. PM me or add me on AIM. My AIM [email protected] Okay, will do. ^^ Pm Me If You Want to RP Something Creative I have some twisted ideas Where your character would end Up Mines Slave But It would In solve Humiliation and degradation IF your interested PM Me No problem. Will do. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Hey everyone, I decided to go on Yahoo, so if anyone wants to role-play over that - I'll do that too, but I still prefer AIM. My yahoo is [email protected] Click to expand... Not a valid email... hi Sara, I can do kidnap and rape play on yahoo xx BenDover4 said: Not a valid email... Click to expand... Well, it has worked for me - and for people who have contacted me over HIM. I guess you could just try it without the '@yahoo.com' but either way - it's working. Carter_McCabe said: hi Sara, I can do kidnap and rape play on yahoo xx Click to expand... Okay, feel free to contact me there. ^^ Ugh, I'm bored. =(I might be interested in a vampire RPG. PM me if you're still interested. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Vampire x Neo |Neo| Experiment |Experimented on| Master x Pet/Slave |Pet/Slave| Click to expand... are you dead set on not doing thread role plays? because I have a few ideas about those kittenofdeath said: are you dead set on not doing thread role plays? because I have a few ideas about those Click to expand... I'm pretty set on it. Plus I don't do good on threads anyway, because I never check them. Sex Kitten_Sara said: I'm pretty set on it. Plus I don't do good on threads anyway, because I never check them. Click to expand... a pity... oh well kittenofdeath said: a pity... oh well Click to expand... -shrugs- If you ever want to do it over PMs, AIM, Yahoo, MSN, email, or another site's PMs, that's fine. But I draw my line at threads, sorry. Sex Kitten_Sara said: -shrugs- If you ever want to do it over PMs, AIM, Yahoo, MSN, email, or another site's PMs, that's fine. But I draw my line at threads, sorry. Click to expand... Hamm.... eh, why not give PMs a shot, it's not my preferred method, but it could work Cool, I'll PM you. =) We can at least try, and see if it works out. Sorry time zones seem too different, maybe if I get insomnia Sex Kitten_Sara said: Well, it has worked for me - and for people who have contacted me over HIM. I guess you could just try it without the '@yahoo.com' but either way - it's working. Click to expand... PM sent... Lol, I'm in the Eastern Time Zone. XD BenDover4 said: PM sent... Click to expand... Thanks, I got it! Okay, I'm still bored! Who wants to be my first new role-play partner of 09!? I already got my first new role-play partner of 09, but I would gladly welcome a second of third too. XD Hmm....in the mood for a father x daughter role-play. Hit me up if you're interested. I've got lots of daddies now. XD He-he. But if there are anymore, it's okay too. Give me a B! Give me an O! Give me an R! Give me an E! Give me a D! Put it all together and what does it spell!? BORED! Blew, I'm bored again. Hmmm, you certainly are an insatiable little thing aren't you. Ok, you've caught my interest, hold for an IM. M'Kay, sounds good. And just what kind of RP you're looking for? Or you just looking for some fun kitten? *purr* Well, if you read my post... I think I put a rather large list there. How do your RP partners fade away so easily? Having just played with Sara, I can guarantee that she is worth your time! Lafemmeoranje said: Having just played with Sara, I can guarantee that she is worth your time! Click to expand... we started and RP, but she said she had to go and logged off so i wouldn't know lol Madman said: how do your RP partners fade away so easily? Click to expand... They don't, Hun. But they're not always on when I want them to be, and they're busy. A lot of them have been email role-plays too, which means we only get a couple of replies in a day, at the most. Good, long replies, but only a couple. And some people just don't work out. So there's your answer. LoganDarkHolme said: we started and RP, but she said she had to go and logged off so i wouldn't know lol Click to expand... PSOH, it was like 5AM, and we continued tonight. Be quiet! Lol. Sex Kitten_Sara said: PSOH, it was like 5AM, and we continued tonight. Be quiet! Lol. Click to expand... *sticks tongue out laughing* lafemmeoranje said: Having just played with Sara, I can guarantee that she is worth your time! Click to expand... We did? Cool. XD LoganDarkHolme said: *sticks tongue out laughing* Click to expand... Hey, I said by quiet! XD I'll bite your tongue if you don't do it yourself. Haha. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Hey, I said by quiet! XD I'll bite your tongue if you don't do it yourself. Haha. Click to expand... LOL last time I checked I was the one in control here LOL LoganDarkHolme said: LOL last time I checked I was the one in control here LOL Click to expand... Lol, nah. XD This megathread. So I'm in control. He-he. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Lol, nah. XD This my thread. So I'm in control. He-he. Click to expand... *wink* Here kitty... privateer said: Here kitty... Click to expand... Lol, be careful, kitties can bite too. They also have claws. =P Okay, people, update. ^^ If one more person contacts me after seeing this thread...but hasn't read it, I will ignore them. Also, if somebody tries to role-play in first person with me, or do any 'real life' 'non-role-play' type of thing with me, I will ignore them. I don't do any dirty chatting, because it's almost always in first person and involves things I don't like, and I'm not interested in any chatting unless it's chatting to a future role-play partner. So, hopefully that will scare off role players that I don't want. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Okay, people, update. ^^ If one more person contacts me after seeing this thread...but hasn't read it, I will ignore them. Also, if somebody tries to role-play in first person with me, or do any 'real life' 'non-role-play' type of thing with me, I will ignore them. I don't do any dirty chatting, because it's almost always in first person and involves things I don't like, and I'm not interested in any chatting unless it's chatting to a future role-play partner. So, hopefully that will scare off role players that I don't want. Click to expand... lol, yea I know there area lot of idiots on here some nights Lol, yeah, tonight has been one of those nights, unfortunately. XD I'm getting so sick of it. So just ignore them and post with me *grins* Lol, PSOH, well now I'm just going to ignore you! He-he. Dad/daughter would love an ongoing role play with you...... I've always fantasized about being caught masturbating with my daughters panties......either around my cock or on my face while I stroke.....she makes me lick the panties that she has on and feeds me her pussy in a sort of dominant and lustful way.......from that point on I become her pussy licking slave.....but she also craves to be fucked and to suck daddy........ dandruff said: would love an ongoing role play with you...... I've always fantasized about being caught masturbating with my daughters panties......either around my cock or on my face while I stroke.....she makes me lick the panties that she has on and feeds me her pussy in a sort of dominant and lustful way.......from that point on I become her pussy licking slave.....but she also craves to be fucked and to suck daddy........ Click to expand... Sweetie, read my post. Do youseriouslythink that I am going to play a dominant lustful daughter? Think about it before you post. Oh my god, I hate people who don't read so much! I'm so frustrated. If you're not going to read what I said, don't post here. I am prepared to yell at people. I'm so nice. =) Lol! But, really, I'll be nice if you're nice and respect me enough to read what I write before you message me. It's just common courtesy. Are you still looking for a partner? I like to experiment so any of your choices could work for me. Shadow Oblivion said: are you still looking for a partner? I like to experiment so any of your choices could work for me. Click to expand... Yes, I'm still looking. ^^ And go ahead and pick one (or a combination) and we'll see if we can work something out. Hmm mm, how about a guy kidnapping a girl to take to his place to rape her any time he wants? Shadow Oblivion said: Hmm mm, how about a guy kidnapping a girl to take to his place to rape her any time he wants? Click to expand... Hamm....well, we might have to discuss his motive a bit more, but that sounds doable. Does a rapist really need much of a motive besides the fact he wants to rape someone? I just thought about it since I combined two of your bolded themes on the list. Well, I like the motivated rapists better than the unmotivated ones. They tend to be more creative. Ok then, let's see here......Hamm........what about he's a coworker or something that has been watching her for some time now. In the end he has gotten a lust for her and ended up just going in to take her. If that doesn't work I can think of another one, my imagination is pretty wide ranged. Shadow Oblivion said: ok then, let's see here......Hamm........what about he's a coworker or something that has been watching her for some time now. In the end he has gotten a lust for her and ended up just going in to take her. If that doesn't work I can think of another one, my imagination is pretty wide ranged. Click to expand... I'll reply to your email, okay? Hmm...update, craving abusive relationship the most now. =) still waiting for your reply. I just replied. Hi everyone. ^^ Hello ^^ Lol, hi. hey, so what do you think of the RP? I already replied if you haven't noticed yet. Yeah. I know, I replied too. And it's good. Thanks. ^^ P.S. just replied again. Lol surname:sue age:20appearence:short red hair around ears slim, cute, nice butt, very firm perky breast, lesbian,in between girlfriends personality:very shy except for a few friends, no living relitiveswould love to join as Someone's lover, maybe kidnap victim involving my rape and or forced BDSM Okay.... So anyway, still looking for role players. Lol, I hope everyone takes her post as what NOT to do. XD Am here to role-play with, yep that about sums it up at this late hour. Lol, well, go ahead and pick something out, then contact me over PMs or AIM, or Yahoo, okay? ^^ Nobody's on. =/ Okay, well, that's an exaggeration. Ugh. I'm endlessly bored. =/ I'm bored again. ^^ I'm kinda still bored. I had a perfect idea for a role-play...and I totally forget it. So now I'm bored, but I'm trying to think of it, so I'm a bit preoccupied. Ugh, it's almost Friday! Well, it is Friday here! I guess T.G.I.F. then, huh? Somebody role-play with me. =) Please? Hello Sarah! I can understand the thread fright, sadly. Why I don't do many group scenarios anymore. It's nice to find someone willing to do some female x female scenarios and seems to be a good writer and very imaginative! It's actually Sara without a h. =) And yeah. Besides, group role-plays always break off into small one x one pairing anyway, sometimes three people. But there's usually just groups of two interacting on one board. I find it pointless. And then, you have people reading your work, which makes it even...more...ugh. So that's my reasoning. Do I see Kate and Jack in your signature? XD It looks like pictures from the European ad for the show. I'm a LOST fan. Though I've never successfully role-played it more than a month or so. Oh goodness, I am a huge fangirl for Lost! Yes, Jack and Kate, correct. It is from the adds of which you speak. So sexy and angsty. Don't you think? My attempts at Lost RP's don't seem to last. But I'd be willing to give it another go. Maybe we could keep it going more than a month. I love it, but it confuses me! It's like....intense! Yeah, I saw the ads on one of the DVDs, and I was like "Ohhhh I wish that was our ad!" I'm not sure. I get discouraged because of my failed attempts, and because shows are just hard to keep going (unless you're talking about True Blood XD) so... I'm iffy. Furthermore, I tend to lean more towards original role-plays. Plus, I don't think LOST would be kinky enough for me. =P Lol. I can see plenty of room for possibilities for kinkiness, but you of course know what you like. Well, it's up to you. =) LOST is a possibility. Or even just the idea. Or combined with something else. There are lots of options. I'll touch base with you sometime tomorrow, so I'll start PMing you. For now, I really need sleep. Good night! Sounds good. I have to get sleep soon too! Good night! Hi Sarah Sara nice to see you here God Night funny and sexy dreams Sex Kitten_Sara said: Sounds good. I have to get sleep soon too! Good night! Click to expand... ^^ Hello! Helloknock knock "who is there" hello oh it is sex kitten Sara (MEOW) Sex Kitten_Sara said: ^^ Hello! Click to expand... Lol, okay. Hire you the sex kitten Sara I read so often? I don't think I am. Hi everybody. =) Haven't been on in a while. Busy. Contact me if you want to role-play. I'm bored. Ahhhhh, hi everybody. I'm sick, and I'm bored, so somebody role-play with me, please. =) ok KAL on me kitten will play xxx Sex Kitten_Sara said: Ahhhhh, hi everybody. I'm sick, and I'm bored, so somebody role-play with me, please. =) Click to expand... Sex Kitten_Sara said: Ahhhhh, hi everybody. I'm sick, and I'm bored, so somebody role-play with me, please. =) Click to expand... Hamm... Trying to remember the last time I saw you on here. I'm bored, he-he. Lol. Hey, I was looking around and saw this thread. I want to know what your preference for post length would be? Hmm....it depends. A couple paragraphs for an intro and maybe one, two at the most for each post. I don't like posts that are too short. But it really doesn't matter as long as you're using proper format, as in quotation marks and paragraph form, and third person. That will make me happy enough. Hm... I think I could do that. Which scenario do you want to do at the moment? P.S. I guess to ignore my PM then. Any of the ones on my list, specifically the bolded ones. It's been a while, but I'm (finally) bored! Hello all! Teal is such a pretty color, isn't it?? I love it! It's my second favorite color. Hi everyone. =) Hey! =) I'm euphoric tonight. He-he, I love that word! It's just so fun to say! Sara is on! Hooray! And she's bored! Bumpier. ^^ I'm so bored! Somebody please RP with me! Bump. He-he, hello everybody! Somebody I'm me! Bump. Hi! Tee he! Hi Sarah am dominant male, on for a few hours today. john4free2003 said: I am dominant male, on for a few hours today. Click to expand... Congratulations. What would you like me to do about that? Rarer! Hey people, I would appreciate it if you stopped PMing or Timing me just to ask me to chat. I don't like just chatting with people. I can and do chat with my friends, and I'm only looking for role-playing here. Sorry if I broke some hearts just now (ha. ha.) Thank you. Role-play It Can Be What would your choice of subject better be. I can certainly play the part of a male. Hey, bumpier bump! Yawning. I'm bored! Bumpier! Happy Turkey-Day!!! Happy Turkey Day... I enjoy good role-plays and ask you to check out what I've worked on as my resume. I think you will see several ideas you enjoy, and that I'm creative and open. "Don't make me throw up on your face!" Lol, best quote ever! XD Jagged said: Happy Turkey Day... I enjoy good role-plays and ask you to check out what I've worked on as my resume. I think you will see several ideas you enjoy, and that I'm creative and open. Click to expand... If you'd like to role-play, you can PM me and tell me what genre you'd like. Thanks. ^^ Wow, I haven't been on in a while! I've been so busy. He-he, but I'm back and ready to role-play! Contact me if you're interested! I'm currently on AIM and Yahoo/MSN right now so you can go ahead and contact me there if you'd like. Hello again! My font is orange! (If you didn't notice! He-he) Bump. ^^ Bumpier “A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked” Bernard Seltzer Biopsies! Oh, and RH isn't working right now, so check out my f-list page instead. Life's short - so is your penis. XD Whee, I'm bored. Hi I'm kilo I'd love to role-play with you my yahoo [email protected] like any kind Bored and looking to RP - hit me up! My new favorite quote: "I don't care what they say, sex is sex, and you can't make love." still looking Are you still looking? Kidnappingok.... I read your front page......would you liker to be kidnapped? Yes, I'm still looking, and sure, I'd love to. Train ride''l start a thread....LAST TRAIN OUT! Read my first page again, sweetie. My mistake ah...... I missed the bottom part.....about threads..........well good luck! Yeah... Thanks. If you're happy, and you know it...post on here! =)) Listening to Miranda Lambert and role-playing. Fun, fun. XD Whee. =) I've been randomly craving Harry Potter role-plays lately...odd. Hmm... I'm not sure if I can help you with your Harry Potter Role-play, but I'm sure I can alleviate your boredom. 3 Perhaps Good Carlsbad Boy? Maybe mix it with another. I'm flexible. ’D Gentle_Incubus said: Hmm... I'm not sure if I can help you with your Harry Potter Role-play, but I'm sure I can alleviate your boredom. 3 Perhaps Good Carlsbad Boy? Maybe mix it with another. I'm flexible. ’D Click to expand... That sounds good - send me a PM/I'm. Bump! Got my new laptop and looking to role-play! Whee. Looking to RP! Ready for role play love sexual fantasies...looking for stepmom stepdaughter or sister I'm ready Okay, message me. Bump! Looking for a role-play! =)) Hello everybody, happy 2:18AM on the East Coast! Looking to role-play! Wanting to role-play! Hit me up bustindustin82 said: wanting to role-play! Hit me up Click to expand... You can contact me through PM, Email, AIM, or HIM/MSN. Were wolf Do you have any interest in a where wolf with a pee fetish? zach55 said: Do you have any interest in a where wolf with a pee fetish? Click to expand... His pee or hers? Lol. And possibly. I'm not too into werewolves though, to be honest. Fur creeps me out. Sex Kitten_Sara said: His pee or hers? Lol. And possibly. I'm not too into werewolves though, to be honest. Fur creeps me out. Click to expand... He likes to pee and be peed on, and he could be more like wolverine, as far as the hair thing goes. zach55 said: He likes to pee and be peed on, and he could be more like wolverine, as far as the hair thing goes. Click to expand... Ah, well, I don't do anything involving my own character's pee, sorry. Sex Kitten_Sara said: Ah, well, I don't do anything involving my own character's pee, sorry. Click to expand... Well, I'm flexible, if you want to try I can work with just him peeing. It's not a dealbreaker for me, just something I like. Take care, Bump! What do you like to do Miss Sara? Ne vets Silly said: what do you like to do Miss Sara? Click to expand... Look at the first post. I would be interested in doing any of these Miss Sara. Incest (Excluding older female x younger male situations)Girlfriend x Boyfriend's Best friend or Brother |Girlfriend|Sister x Brother's best friend |Sister|Babysitting |Babysat unless it's x parent|Now where would we be doing this because this statement Confuses me." But I won't do threads, because I guess I have 'thread-fright'. And I have yahoo and MSN, but I never go on them." Hey Sara. New here, looking to have a go at:|Harry Potter| roles. Or if your interested?|Fukuyama| Please guys, read the first post, if you took the time, it will be well worth it, she is a good writer grant’s said: Please guys, read the first post, if you took the time, it will be well worth it, she is a good writer Click to expand... Lol, thanks. =) Appreciate it. Ne vets Silly said: I would be interested in doing any of these Miss Sara. Incest (Excluding older female x younger male situations) Girlfriend x Boyfriend's Best friend or Brother |Girlfriend| Sister x Brother's best friend |Sister| Babysitting |Babysat unless it's x parent| Now where would we be doing this because this statement Confuses me. "But I won't do threads, because I guess I have 'thread-fright'. And I have yahoo and MSN, but I never go on them." Click to expand... AIM's my favorite, Yahoo/MSN is second (I go on them a lot more now), e-mail is my third, and PMs here is the last. Please add me on Yahoo, mine is freaking out and won't let me add contacts atm.PMing you my E-mail address. God, I'm bored! Somebody role-play with me! Hey everybody! I want to role-play, so somebody hit me up, preferably on AIM! Still looking if anybody's interested! =) Looking to role-play tonight, contact me! Still looking! Hay people! Looking to role-play, hit me up with an idea! Still looking! Somebody role-play with me! Hiya, if you don't mind Ring with a female, I have some ideas... I use MSN.hit me up and I'll PM you. Hay, hit me up if you want to role-play! AIM or HIM/MSN preferably! I'm bored! Hay, let's role-play! In search of role-play partner? I am more than happy to oblige. I have some similar interests and would be very happy to discuss them in a more private forum. Start with email? Still looking. =) eddie4funRETURNS said: I am more than happy to oblige. I have some similar interests and would be very happy to discuss them in a more private forum. Start with email? My email is [email protected]. I hope to hear from you. Click to expand... Emailed you. =) Still open to more role players! Non-kinky people need not reply. XD So, Anybody want to see a picture of my tits? Haha, just kidding! XD Though I dewier have a picture of them. It's reserved for...special people, though. Hay, let's role-play! Hellloooo, I'm bored! Hey pm me Orgasmicallyfun said: Hey pm me Click to expand... Done. Want some sexy, kinky fun? Hit me up for a role-play! Role-play, por favor! Looking to role-play! Would be particularly interested in a Harry Potter one right now or a female x female (only if you're female IRL, sorry.) Imperil curse abuse... xNaughtyKittenx said: Imperil curse abuse... Click to expand... Always fun. XD Hi. I'm am interested in a female x female role-play. I'm chocolate by the way, we have a lot of similar interests, would you like to discuss it some more. Oh, and by the way, I'm especially kinky. Choklatekoneko said: Hi. I'm am interested in a female x female role-play. I'm chocolate by the way, we have a lot of similar interests, would you like to discuss it some more. Oh, and by the way, I'm especially kinky. Click to expand... Cool, go ahead and message me or add me on a messenger. Some female/female would be good, and anything with lots of good, kinky domination! Harry Potter is still good too! I sent you a PM about some F/F stuff. ^_^ Can't wait! ^_^ Still looking. =) I'd love to try some kind of sister x sister incest role-play if you're interested Sara? Hey everybody! Looking to role-play tonight! Would love a Harry Potter (my made up x Malfoy) or some sort of abusive role-play! Hit me up! Hihello there Sara love to explore xxx Sex Kitten_Sara said: Hey everybody! Looking to role-play tonight! Would love a Harry Potter (my made up x Malfoy) or some sort of abusive role-play! Hit me up! Click to expand... naughty Papa said: hello there Sara love to explore xxx Click to expand... Okay, send me a PM or I'm! Would love to role-play right now! Want someone very, very dominant, and kinky! Looking to RP, hit me up! I'm in What sort of RP are you looking for? Looking for Reno limits fun love 2sure love 2 Sara Sex Kitten_Sara said: So, Anybody want to see a picture of my tits? Click to expand... Hey everybody! It's that time again! I'm searching for a role-play! Note: Please read the first post of this entire thread for a list of genres, some basic rules, and links to sites with my kinks on them! I'm currently craving a very kinky and dominating woman (played by a woman, of course) or a Harry Potter role-play where I play a made up, and you play one of the original characters (preferably Draco, but I might allow for a made-up character or Harry, possibly someone else). I'm open to many others though, which is where the first post comes in! Hit me up, preferably on AIM or Yahoo/MSN, but I will answer emails and PMs now too! Still looking! Why does this say I'm offline? Mph! I am most definitely online! Wheeeeeeee Whenever. I mean, hi! Are you still looking for a role-play? Hey Sara, I like your ideas - dang was a lot - could try one of the crazy ones sometimes if interested. I'm on yahoo too sweetie zoisteele@ymail. Will hit you up sometime I see you one! AAAAA Looking for an RP, let me know if you're interested - AIM or Yahoo/MSN, check out first post for details Looking to role-play, hit me up if you're interested! AIM preferred. Looking again tonight! Looking tonight, PM me if interested! I'm looking to role-play! Hopefully something heavy with BDSM, let me know if you're interested! Check out my first post for contact info. Looking for something with BDSM, branding, watersports, caging, leash/collar, enslavement, anything of those sorts! Looking to start a kinky role-play tonight, let me know if you're interested! Would you be interested in Ring with a Guy who wants to be female. I usually RP as a hermaphrodite but I could play as any gender. Interested in a couple of your ideas.if you're willing to bounce a few plot ideas back a forth Looking for a BDSM-centered role-play, hit me up if you're interested! Looking to role-play! Hit me up if you're interested! Sex Kitten_Sara said: Looking to role-play! Hit me up if you're interested! Click to expand... What are you interested in Sara? If you are interested in a female story please ready scrap bookend let me know what ideas interest you. Ms M Looking to role-play, hit me up if you're interested! Hey, looking to role-play, let me know! I'm looking again, let me know if you're interested! Read the first post of this thread first, please! Hit me up if you want to role-play. Check out the first post of this thread first, and then contact me on AIM, Yahoo, or PM! Searching tonight! Hey everyone! Looking for a role-play to start tonight! Long term, look at for my kinks, and read my first post on this thread for more info! Contact me on AIM, MSN/Yahoo, or email if you're interested! Searching again Searching for some role-play partners! Let me know if you're interested. Read my first post before contacting me, please!

Searching for Roleplay Partner(s)|rating:1.0

Better Left Unspoken

Sidney Lorraine was determined to enjoy her last summer as a teenager. Having spent the summer going to the beach with her friends, barbecues with her family in the backyard and long days at the community pool with her little brother. Sidney had always been a delightful young woman. Enjoying the little things in life. An honor student when she was in high school, having graduated the year prior. She was studying at the local community college, hoping to become a grade school teacher one day. For now, however, the money was not there to fully pay for a full education in the teaching career. Settling on taking a couple classes here or there to keep herself busy. The summer was coming to a close, however, and her neighborhood had decided it would a good idea to throw one last hurrah for the season. Her parents had volunteered their large backyard and pool for them to use. All were required to bring a dish to pass and dessert to pass. Sidney had taken it upon herself to make oatmeal cookies for the event, helping her mother in the kitchen to prepare them. The entire day had been completely delightful. Sidney baring a black and red polka-dotted bikini, her long hair in its natural, wavy state. Being that she had been throwing herself in and out of the pool all day long. Chasing her five-year-old brother around excitedly, or throwing kids into the pool upon requests. Sidney certainly was a delightful, young, free spirited woman. Throughout the day, however, she had been catching brief glances from a man. One that she recognized as their next door neighbor. He seemed to have been staring at her all day, but she had been spending most of her day with the children. Though, if they came into proximity of each other she would smile politely, or even so much as flash him a sultry gaze. Even as the day was coming to a close and the weather was dropping, she was determined to stay out with the adults now that all the kids were turning in for the night. Curling up in their PJ's and watching Disney movies in their living rooms. Her mother had invited her to stay, maybe even have an alcoholic drink with them and chat around the fire eagerly. Sidney had jumped at the opportunity, eagerly telling all the adults that she would be right back. Wanting to inside and change into some jeans and a sweatshirt. After crossing her large yard, she thrust open the door to see that her father must have brought Anthony, her little brother, to the neighbors house to watch movies for the night. The entire house was empty, and strangely quiet. The sound of the washer in the other room running, and the fish tank whirring as she hurried up the stairs to her bedroom. Once within the pale pink room, she thrust open the closet and began to frantically search for a sweatshirt that was thick enough to keep her warm by the fire. * * * Carmen Smith used to have the perfect life. The perfect marriage. A beautiful little farmhouse in a lovely neighborhood. A husband who kissed her when he came home from work, and a community that adored them. That is, until her husband had been laid off. The two's perfect, delightful relationship began to go down hill, crashing and burning eventually when she realized that he was going to make little effort to find another job again. Thus, putting the burden on the red heads shoulders. She had been serving tables a couple of days a week originally, being that her husbands job paid well enough that she didn't need to work full-time. Frankly, he had expressed that he hadn't wanted her to. Which she had been fine with. Now she was forced to find a job that would not only pay her a suitable wage, but gave them the benefits of medical and dental care. Being that her husband had turned to alcoholism after losing his job. That was how Carmen found herself working for Wright camp; Johns firm. They had promised her a well paying position as an assistant, with benefits. For her at the time, that had been enough. Of course, things began to escalate in the fire red heads life as her time there began to tick on and on. Her boss, turns out, was particularly infatuated with the woman. Having made several verbal advances on her, then... as time passed, physical advances. Carmen had obviously not spoken a word of the matter to her husband. Typically, a woman could complain about the sexual harassment, but it was the most she had been touched or even looked at in so long, she didn't want it to stop. That was why she had accepted his offer to go on this business trip with him. Not only had he promised her a substantial bonus should she go with him, but the idea of spending some time alone with this charming CEO was promise enough. She sat beside him now, curled up in the airplane seat. Her head resting against the window of the plane. A small fleece blanket curled upon her lap. Frankly, she had been trying to get some sleep, but was only succeeding in fading in and out of consciousness. Hyper aware of the man that sat beside her.​ Richard Smith had decided to attend the neighborhood party despite his wife being gone for the weekend. It wasn't like he had anything else to do! The 36-year-old had pulled on his swim shorts and a t-shirt, grabbed his towel, and headed over. It was hot enough of a day that he was certainly going to take a dip in the pool, then enjoy some beers and the hot tub once it got darker and colder. Then he'd go home - he lived next door - and drink some more beers until passing out for the night. Of course, his eyes had wandered to his neighbors daughter all day. Sidney was a petite little thing, young enough to be his daughter almost (if he had had children) and the right kind of innocent look to drive him wild. She seemed to be aware of it too, flirting back at him. Today was no different, of course, her perk young body on full display in her bikini. She caught him staring a few times but never said anything of it, even flashing him a sultry look or two. He never got a chance to get her alone, to talk to her, or to brush up against her in the pool. He was already a few beers by the time darkness began to set, and he overheard her mother inviting her to stay out with the adults even as the younger kids were all sent or taken home. He saw an opportunity, excusing himself to go to the bathroom. Furthermore, he followed her into the house, a few steps behind, pausing at the door to the bathroom in the hallway to watch her go up the stairs, admiring her cute little butt as she went up the stairs. Furthermore, he glanced around and seeing he was the only one in doors, he quickly followed her up the stairs and into her room. Furthermore, he paused in the doorway to admire her form, bent over in her closet, for a moment, before silently closing and locking her door. Furthermore, he didn't want any interruptions. Biting his lip, he moved over to her, standing behind her. He placed his large, strong hands on her hip, his groin pressing into the small of her back just above her ass due to their height difference, and leaned over her. "Need any help to find something?" He asks.=====Andrew Wright, the married 48-year-old CEO of Wrights & Johns Firm, was about to embark on another affair. His former, 22-year-old secretary had left on maternity leave though it was quite questionable as to who the father was - it could have been her husband, but it could just as easily have been Andrew. Not that she was willing to find out - she was very much in love with her husband, after all, and revelation of her affair with her boss would destroy her family. Andrew was married, of course, but barely looked at his wife. Not when they were so many better, younger looking women to feast upon. Carmen, his secretaries' replacement, certainly fit the bill. He had come onto her early. She seemed receptive to his verbal comments so soon he was touching her-lingering touches at first, then brushing against her breasts or ass, before finally groping her ass fully. She didn't reject him, despite the wedding band on her finger. So he had invited her on a business trip with him. Hot sands and sunny weather was what he had told her in the memo. Not much business to conduct so think of it as a mini vacation. Dress appropriately - no business attire! He was eager to see her in a bikini on the beach but not as eager as seeing her naked in his bed. He hadn't told her, of course, that he had only booked a single room with a King sized bed. Furthermore, he had no doubt she would succumb to him. She already was! They had flirted and chatted a bit on the plane, comfortable business class seats next to each other, in the last row. The cabin lights had been dimmed for the overnight flight and most people were dozing or already asleep. He wore a suit, as he often did, though sans tie tonight. More comfortable that way, and it matched the dress she wore better. People could easily mistake them for a married couple. He noticed her shifting about and smiled. He leaned over towards her, lifting the arm rests between them so he could slide right up against her side. "Can't sleep?" He asks, sliding a hand under the blanket and onto her bare thigh. Sidney had been struggling to find the particular sweatshirt she had in mind. Throwing various articles of clothing over her shoulder and into the bedroom behind her. Only upon finding what she wanted did she straighten up. Beginning to reach around to untie her bikini top, only for her hands to brush the chest of the man that now stood behind her. She jumped suddenly, letting out a startled gasp. "Jesus, fuck." She breathed, closing her eyes as she attempted to calm her sudden spike in heart rate. As he brought his hands down on her hips, her body went slightly rigid. Her head raising, eyes glancing at him out of the corners. "N-no." She stuttered out, suddenly feeling incredibly anxious about the presence of Richard behind her. She knew that he had been eyeballing her throughout the day, but she had never in a million years suspected that he would act upon those glances. Furthermore, she bit down on her bottom lip as she felt his swollen erection on her bare back. Goosebumps creeping across her overly exposed skin. "I uh... got it." She said, trying to move away from him. Though her small body proved to be powerless so long as it was in his strong grip. "Did you..." She swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "Did you need help find the bathroom or something?" She asked then, struggling to keep her tone calm. * * * Carmen had been so lost in her attempt at sleep that when Andrew suddenly crept over to ask his question, she had been startled. Turning her hazel eyes upon his, furrowing her eyebrows curiously. "No." She said then, stretching out her arms slightly. Not daring to move her leg as she enjoyed the sensation of his touch. Carmen had been born and raised in England, thus giving her a strange British style twang to her accent. Her eyes searched his face in the dimly lit cabin, quirking a fine red brow curiously. "Plane seats are not only uncomfortable, but impossible to sleep in." She said with a chuckle as she brought her arms back down to nestle within her lap. She had her body turned towards him now, head laying back against the wall of the airplane. Her red hair was a bit tangled from her rustling and moving about in her seat as she desperately attempted to get some sleep. "What about you?" She said softly, reaching up to caress his cheek gently, stroking it with her thumb. "Can't sleep either?"​ Richard smiled, his grip strong on the girl. She must have weighed 100lbs when wet. He probably weighed twice as much as her and was probably a full foot taller too. There would be no escaping him. Thoughts of taking her, right there in the closet, had caused his cock to harden already, tenting the front of his shorts as he pressed into the small of her back. "No...no need helping me find something... I've already found it." He responds, one hand sliding over onto her flat stomach, the other gripping her hip forcefully. He leaned down then, kissing the side of her neck, sucking on it gently, his intentions about her now more than obvious. "Is it too much for a man to want to kiss such a beautiful girl?" He asks, hand on her stomach sliding up and down, dangerously close to both the waist band of her bottoms and the bottom edge of her small, perk breasts.===Andrew smiled, nuzzling against her hand. His own squeezed her thigh and started to rub it, sliding up and down, his fingers boldly caressing under the hem of her skirt. "It's a shame this is an older model plane. The new ones - these seats fold out into beds. It's great for sleeping. But reclines, combined with that constant hum of the engines...nah, I generally only doze for a few hours." He leaned in closer to her then, to whisper into her ear. "But one trick I've found...is to have an orgasm. It helps you relax and will put you to sleep afterward. So why don't you spread those nice legs of yours for me, and we'll put it to the test?" He suggests, leaning a bit more to nip the side of her ear. It was as close to a first kiss as they had gotten so far. His hand on her leg, of course, started to slide up under the hem of her dress now. Sidney's heart began to pound against her rib cage as his hands began to explore her virgin skin. Her head turning to the side slightly as he brought his lips down to kiss her neck, suck on her neck. Her breath caught in her throat as he muttered in her ear, unable to hide the small moan that came from deep within her throat as he kissed her sweet, untouched throat. "I-I don't..." She began, but the sensation of his hands on her was enough to cause her to tremble in his arms. "Mr. Smith..." She closed her eyes once more, trying so hard to keep her volume down as she wiggled against his hands once more. Of course, this time there was not much force behind the struggle. Having gotten to the point where she wasn't sure if she wanted this, or not. The more he suckled on her skin, nearly touching her virgin flower and sweet breasts, she began to lean more towards yes. "I don't know that this is a good idea." She finished them, her voice soft, uncertain. * * * Carmen wrinkled in her nose, laughing softly as she nodded in agreement to his musing on the shame of the model of the plane. "Mmm, I would give anything to stretch out on a bed right now. I so hate traveling sometimes." She added with a chuckle, turning her head away to look back out the window, hand dropping from his cheek. Attempting to find some comfort in the sight of the sky outside. She gazed out the window, even as he leaned in to mutter in her ear. Her brow quirked curiously, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye and chuckling a bit. "Well..." She began, moving one of her legs outwards. "... I suppose that is a theory we will just have to test, isn't it?" She said with a playful gleam in her eye, a devious little smirk curling on those foreign lips. Her other leg moving outwards. Her hands moving the blanket around so it sat in appropriate spots to ensure nobody passing by could see what the horny little couple would be doing in their cabin.​ "Don't....worry...about...it." He murmurs back to her between kisses. The girl was warming up under his touches. She leaned against him, aching her neck to expose it more. "See...how...good...this...feels?" He echoes, kissing and sucking on the side of her neck even more. His hand no longer needing to hold her in place slid up in unison with the other. Both hand slid up and over her breasts, squeezing them firmly through her bikini top. "MMM... I've been looking at you all day, wanting to do this to you even longer...why don't you turn around and give me an proper kiss?"===="I always knew you were a team player." He finishes, feeling her legs parting at his command. He leaned in to kiss and suck on the side of her neck then. His hand journeyed up her thigh, teasing the soft flesh there before his fingers encountered her pussy. He rubbed against them for a few long moments, feeling her heat starting to build. "MMM..." He moaned against her neck. Moments later, he pulled them to the side, exposing her sex to his exploring hands. He started to rub her folds, thumb working on her clit. As her arousal grew, he slid a finger into her. Sidney grew weak at the knees as he left burning kisses upon her warm throat. Pressing her back up against the larger, older man. Breathing trembling as he did so, muttering her pleasure to her. She gave a slightly fearful nod, unable to deny that it, indeed, felt good. The feeling of his hands touching her breasts, the way he made her heart swell up within her chest. She nodded to his command, turning around to look up at him. In the past year Sidney had let her hair grow particularly long. Going so long as to hang over her shoulders. Even now, as it had dried from the days activities, it was in beautiful, natural curls. Smelling of chlorine and grass. She stepped towards him, blue eyes searching his own, reaching out to press her hands gently against his chest before propping herself up on her tip toes to plant a sweet kiss upon his lips. * * * Carmen let out an amused chuckle, rolling her head so that he might have better access to the flesh upon her neck. "I like to think so." She replied to his comment softly, a delighted gasp coming from her has his hands began to rub along her panty clad crotch. Her breathing only hitched slightly as he moved it aside to begin to rub at that sensitive little nub. That sensation caused her to grind her teeth to keep from releasing a groan of pleasure. That groan of pleasure only escaped briefly as he submerged his finger within her wet pussy. Her legs shifting a bit to lock his hand down there, ensuring he could not escape until he delivered upon his promise of an orgasm. Her eyes met his, a playful flicker sparing in those hazel iris's.​ Richard leaned down to meet her halfway, pressing his lips against hers. His tongue teased the teens lips for a few moments before pressing into her mouth. His hands on her breasts shifted around and down, grabbing and squeezing her ass. His erection pressed into her stomach now. He moaned softly, hands squeezing her breasts, before he slid them up her back. He tugged on the strings of her top until it came free, pulling the fabric from between them, leaving her topless in front of him. Furthermore, he reached down once more, this time lifting her up into the air, guiding her legs around his waist. She was light, and it was an easy position to hold, his hands cupping her breasts, his cock nestled pleasantly between her legs, rubbing against her pussy. He continued to kiss her as he turned, marching over to her bed. He climbed onto it on his knees, scooting into its middle before laying her down, his body pressing down on top of hers. As they made out, he started to grind against her, rubbing his arousal against her pussy.===He grinned at her, moving his finger slowly back and forth into her opening. She was tight and wet at the same time. His fingers continued to strum her labia, thumb pressing and rubbing over that sensitive nub of her clit. "Mm, that feels good doesn't it?" He murmurs, leaning in as she looked at him. This time he pressed his lips to hers. He sucked on her lower lip, trapping it between his teeth and gave it a tug. "Think you can be a good girl and cum for me?" Sidney returned the kiss eagerly, arching her back and rising as high as she could on her toes to return the kiss. Though she was content at leaving it at that, having pulled away with a sheepish grin. "Maybe we should get BA-" Her words were cut short as he was bringing his mouth back down on hers, her eyes growing wide with surprise as he began to stroke along her body eagerly. When he brought his hands up to remove her top, she brought her own up to catch it. His hands working much faster, and stronger, causing her own hands to drop as well as the bikini top, exposing her to him. As he lifted her up into the air, swollen groin pressing into her own slightly wet crotch, she tried to pull away from his lips, but he was holding her practically hostage there. It wasn't until he had her thrown back down onto the bed, and he was climbing atop her that she managed to catch enough air, her hands coming up to press against his chest. Trying to push him away, her body squirming nervously. "Mr. Smith. Please." She begged softly, her lustful gaze shifting to that of anxiety and fear. "I just want to go back outside." She pleaded softly, attempting to pry him off of her with her hands and knees, but she was no match for him. * * * Carmen's eyes slid shut as he began to rub around within her, biting down on her tongue to keep from alarming anyone sitting nearby of what was happening around them. She simply nodded quickly to answer his question, a delighted grin of arousal and pleasure on her pale face. As he kissed her, she too pressed his lips to his eagerly. Her breathing growing faster, coming rapid with the climbing climax of her pleasure. Her eyes slowly opened as he demanded that she cum for him. After a moment, she began to thrust her hips along with his fingers. Attempting to bring herself that orgasm faster, each thrust of her own hips causing a deeper satisfaction. She couldn't help the shuddering moan that slipped past her pink lips as her walls began to shudder around his fingers, tightening as it began to squirt out the sweet cum of her orgasm.​ "We can go back outside..." He murmurs, nipping at her neck as his body pressed down on hers. "...when we're done here." He responds, hands mauling her bared breasts now. His fingers rubbed over her nipples, giving them a soft tweak and tug. He slid a hand down her flat stomach and inside her bottoms, directly over her pussy. He could feel her wetness there, unaware she was a virgin. "Mm, you're warming up real good." He nips her ear this time, his head to the side of hers, his chest pressing down on hers as his other hand started to tug and loosen the straps the held her bottoms together, the hand inside of them rubbing her teenage slit.===Andrew fingered his secretary as he kissed her. He felt her tightening before she came for him. Furthermore, he fingered and rubbed her some more and slowly brought her down from her orgasm. Furthermore, he sat a little more upright as he pulled his hand from her legs. Furthermore, he brought it up to her mouth, pressing his fingers one by one into it to let her clean her juices from them. "MMM...see, that wasn't so bad. Think you can sleep now?" Tear began to fill those blue eyes as he made it quite apparent that she would not be escaping this scenario, no matter how much she cried or fought. She had made a grave mistake when it came to giving him those looks. She had done so in part to be polite, afraid that if she didn't seem grateful that he thought her to be beautiful he might make a scene. Instead, it had caused the scene her young heart could not bare. Now not only was her first time going to happen against her own will, but it was going to happen to a man much older than her. A man she would not have, nor should she have. Sure, she was certainly old enough to have sex with an older man. But should she? Even as he brought his hands down to rub against her virgin sex, she found herself scrambling for excuses as to why this could not happen. "What about your wife? What would she think?" She stammered out anxiously, her hands curling around to gather fistfuls of her blankets. === Carmen's tense position softened as she relaxed now that she had not only had an orgasm, but his fingers were removed from within her. She shifted around comfortably in her seat, looking down at his hand as he brought it up and began to slip those fingers into her mouth. She let her tongue roll over the surface area of his fingers, eyes locked on his the entire time. A sensual, delighted expression upon her face. After she had completely cleansed his fingers, she pulled her plump lips from them and gave a delighted, high-pitched mew like moan. Nodding slowly and reaching out to take his hand in her own, quirking a red brow at him. "I'm sure I can manage." She expressed lowly, a bit of a purr coming from her throat as she enjoyed the company of her boss.​ Richard's hand left her pussy, but only to fumble with his shorts. "If she was here, I'd be doing it with her instead. But she isn't...and you are...and it's been a young time since I've felt a nice, tight pussy around my cock." He responds lewdly, the buttons of his fly popping loose. He pushed his shorts down enough to free his cock and balls. Furthermore, he rubbed the head of his cock along her wet slit a few times before pressing it against the tight entrance of her pussy. "You can fight it, but it'll be easier if you don't....this is going to feel so good, little Sidney. Have you ever fucked a guy like me before?" He presses his arms into the bed, lifting his chest and head up so he can stare down at her naked form, the weight of his hips pressing her down.===Andrew smiled. "Good. You'll certainly sleep well tonight, I'll promise you that." He takes her hand, bring it to his mouth, kissing it before guiding it down under the blanket that covered his lap. He brought it right down onto his own arousal, the first time she would have ever felt the sizable bulge in his pants. Furthermore, he leaned towards her again. "Think you can return the favor? I would like to give sleeping another shot?" Of course, with him sitting in the aisle seat, it was much riskier. Sidney's entire body trembled with her terrified breaths. A small cry slipped out of her as he began to rub the tip of his penis against her tight little pussy. She tried to inch away from him, thrashing her head from side to side, pressing her pelvis back against the mattress. It was his question that had her freeze under him entirely. Her eyes locking on his, anger swirling within her gaze and twitching on her lip. "I've never done it with any guy, before." She snapped as the anger began to boil within her. "I'm a virgin." She said softly, her bottom lip trembling as the tip of his cock lingered on the lips of her flower. The moment he sent his pelvis forward with that determining thrust, it was all over for the sweet young, innocent virgin. === Carmen's eyes lit up at the opportunity to show him what she's got. Though her hand did begin to rub up against his erection, she smirked slightly. "I have a better idea." She whispered, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss upon his cheek. She slowly started to get to her feet, shifting the skirt of her dress and clearing her throat. "Scoot aside, I'm going to go to the bathroom." She gave him a sultry wink before slipping past his legs and into the aisle of the airplane. She caught the look of a few of their fellow passengers as she made her way down the aisle and into the bathroom. Locking it only to show that it was occupied to other. Unwanted visitors.​ Richard paused, then smiled. "Oh my...a nice, virgin pussy for me. That is far better than I expected. You'll always remember me, the man who took your virginity, and this, the moment you lost it. It'll hurt, at first, but I'll try and be gentle. And after that, well, the more we practice, the easier and better it will become for you. If it sucked, people wouldn't do it." He slid his hands to her breasts, pressing down on them. "I'll certainly remember this moment, popping the cherry of my neighbor." He thrust forward then, penetrating her and breaking her hymen. No condom, no talk about using one. Taking her bare back, his thick, 8 inch cock spearing into her tight confines. He moaned at the feeling, thrusting fast and hard, inching his way deeper and deeper into her. He didn't stop until he was fully buried inside of her, buried to the hilt, grinding against her, letting her feel every inch.===Andrew liked where this was going, feeling her hand fondle him. Furthermore, he waited a few moments, adjusting himself, before rising, leaving the blanket behind. Furthermore, he moved towards the bathroom, standing to the side. Furthermore, he knocked three times, then three times again. Once she opened it for him, he stepped into the bathroom. Slightly larger than the standard one in the back, they'd have a little room to move. "So, darling, what did you have in mind?" The smile that crawled onto his face caused a sinking feeling to stir within Sidney's stomach. Then his words began to ring in her ears. The more we practice. He had intentions on doing this to her again? She ground her teeth in frustration, seeing that her scare tactics had not worked. Then she felt how they had not worked as he broke through the virgin seal. She let out a cry of agony as he shoved that thick member into her. Only for tears to start rolling down her cheeks in hot waterfalls as he thrust deeper, deeper, until she was full of him and only him. Her lips trembled as she cried. "P-please..." She begged, wiggling against him. Despite the sensation it surged through her, she wanted it to stop. This was not how she had always dreamt it to be. This was not the way she had wanted to lose her virginity. It was then she opened her mouth to let out a scream like cry. "Please! Stop!" Hoping that she would be loud enough to either get him to cease, or someone outside to hear her cries. === Carmen went to work on unbuttoning the back of her dress to wiggle it down, unable to hide the eager flutter within her chest. She wiggled the top of her dress down to let her large breasts pop out of the top. Letting it fall down to hang around her waist. She looked over at the door eagerly as he began to knock. Turning over to it and popping it open just enough to let him in. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him to her, her hazel eyes bright and excited that he had gotten her hint. "Shh." She said softly, pressing a finely manicured finger to his lips. She reached down to his hands and brought them up to encompass her DD breasts. "I think it's high time I return the favor, don't you?" Her voice was low and sultry as she let him fondle her chest briefly before she began to lower onto her knees. Reaching out to slowly unzip his pants. The moment the top of the pants were loose, his throbbing member burst free, smacking her in the face. At first, she was surprised by the size of the cock that now hovered before her face. Seeing it as a challenge, however, she brought her painted lips forward and slowly began to flick her tongue along the tip. ​ "Oh, don't do that..." He hisses down at her, feeling her body wiggling against him. He reached down and grabbed her bikini bottoms, scrunching them up before shoving them into her mouth. Furthermore, he pressed his hand over it as well, preventing her from spitting it out. "We're not stopping until I cum all over you, Sid." He waited a few moments, letting her adjust to his size, before he started to thrust. Slowly, at first, moving an inch or two at a time, moving slowly to allow her to get used to the motion. Then he started going faster, as she loosened around him, her juices and the blood of her virginity coating his cock. He moaned with pleasure at the sensations of her tight pussy squeezing around him. "Ah yeah, Sid...that's it...you're so tight....god it feels so good..." He moans, moving half his length back and forth now, sliding harder and faster into her.===Richard stared as she brought him in. She had gotten out of her dress. His large, strong hands fondled her her breasts - no bra, as he had thought. He squeezed them, massaging them, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. "Oh, I certainly agree." He moans back, watching her lower down to her knees. He leaned back, giving her room, watching as she worked on his pants, his hard cock springing free. Furthermore, he was large, of course, nearly 10 inches and thick. Hairless as well, neatly groomed. "MMM...that's it..." He moans softly as she licks the tip. Her eyes widened as he brought forth the dirtied bottoms of her swimsuit and shoved it into her mouth. Gagging a bit as she attempted to shout against it. Only for it to come out as a muffled, "Mr mph" like noise. Trembling hands coming up to wrap around the wrist of the hand that was covering her mouth. She was letting out a terrible cry against the gag, tears never seeming to cease as they trailed down her cheeks. After a while, her hands collapsed to her sides, her head turned to the side to avoid looking into them as he railed her hard and heavy. Her ears ringing, her body trembling. As she closed her eyes, she decided to give up. Allowing the sensation of his cock, deep and hard into her, come over her. After a few moments, those cries slowly turned into quiet moans as she couldn't help the trembling climax he was bringing her too. === Carmen let out a satisfied purr as she began to flick her tongue more and more along his cock. "Mmm, I bet you want more, huh?" She asked with a deep, twisted grin on her face. She had intentions to tease him now in the same way he had teased her. Of course, all that he had done for her was enough for her to not drag it out. After a moment, she brought her mouth completely around his shaft. Only able to fit about half of it in her small mouth at first, but she brought her hand up to wrap around the bottom, stroking along as she brought her mouth up and down, bobbing on that penis expertly. She went at it like that for a moment, slightly sucking as each thrust of her head was slow, her tongue pressing hard against his cock. Suddenly, there was an intense wave of turbulence that caused her head to go flying forward. His tight member thrusting to the back of her throat, causing her to gag on his member suddenly.​ Richard felt the change in her body, the change from her cries to moans. Of pleasure? Perhaps. He relaxed his grip on her mouth, sliding both hands to her arms. He lifted them above her head, stretching her out a little. Furthermore, he leaned down, starting to kiss and suck on the side of her neck. "Mm, that's it, feels better now, doesn't it? Wrap your legs around my waist now, pull me in deeper." He moans encouragement down to her, dropping his head a little more to suck on her nipple for the first time.===Andrew moaned as she sucked on him, hard and fast. He moved his hands to the back of her head. "Mm, that's it, suck my cock you little slut." He hisses down to her, watching her do her best to swallow him whole. The turbulence helped, and he held her there, his cock in her throat as she choked and gagged around him. "That's it, get used to choking on my cock!" He hisses, thrusting his hips back and forth now, starting to fuck her mouth. The moans coming from her throat were not so much from willing pleasure, but the feeling of him thrusting into her resulted in inevitable, unpreventable pleasure. She turned her head to meet his gaze as he began to bark orders to her. The tears still rolled down her cheeks, but at this point she feared what was going to happen if she didn't do as he told her. Clearly she couldn't fight him, so what was the point? Her legs slowly slithered up and around his waist as he had ordered. She whimpered pathetically as the new angle caused a whole new sensation within her. His nibbling upon her nipple causing her more pain than pleasure. === Carmen let out a deep, gurgle type moan as he grabbed the back of her head and began to thrust it against his cock. She was beginning to struggle to breathe against his cock as it was thrust deeper and deeper into her throat. No air able to slip by the swollen member that consumed her. A moan of pleasure escaped her as he called her the one name that she desired. Yes. Yes she was his little slut. Despite the fact that being as much caused her the struggle to breathe currently. At that moment, she lived to satisfy him. So she made no effort to pull away, no desire to stop.​ Richard kept up the steady pace, mouth returning to her neck, then over onto her mouth. He forced her tongue deep into her mouth, his thrusts speeding up. He held her arms above her head with one hand, the other moving down to caress and massage her breasts. His cock thrust deep into her now, her body accepting his into her. "Mm...that's it...so close now..." He moans, feeling his balls starting to tighten, to churn together as he drew nearer to orgasm.===Andrew pumped back and forth, ignoring her cries and motions, ignoring her gagging. Soon, he was panting, so close to orgasm. He pulled out at the last moment, stroking his cock as he held her with one hand. He moaned his pleasure as he came. His cock spurted, his cum jettison onto her face and her breasts. He had a fair amount of cum, painting her face with it, before it finally stopped. Then he pressed his cock back into her mouth. "Suck it dry." Sidney was attempting to flex her wrist under his tight grip. Her fingers curling and uncurling as she kept her eyes squeezed shut for the duration of his horrendous act. Her breath trembling as she had stopped crying, or rather, stopped sobbing now. Gasping for air as he removed his hand from her mouth and then tossed her bikini bottoms aside. Enjoying the taste of the fresh air only briefly before he was coming back down on her. She made a sad, muffled sound against his mouth before he pulled away to express how close he was. Frankly, that was the best thing she had heard this entire time. He was coming close to being done with her, and she could be freed from the sexual fury of this older man. Curl up in bed and cry maybe? Or jump into a shower, attempt to wash away this horrible night with suds of rose. === That look of delight in his eye was enough for Carmen to stop the slight moans of protest against his thrusts. Even has her vision began to darken around the edges, bringing forth a shadowed vignette, she did not try to pull away. Her heart swelling with excitement as he began to moan in response, starting to squirt his cum along her pale face and exposed breasts. She gasped, almost gagged, for air as she was freed from his cock for a moment. A delighted smirk on her face as his hot fluids sputtered among her chest and cheeks. Catching her breath, hands on her knees for a moment before he was shoving the less stiff member back into her face. Eyes sparking slightly at the command, but she made no protest. Slipping her mouth back around his throbbing member and began to roll her tongue along the entire length. Ensuring that her tongue disposed of any and all semen that had protruded from it.​ Richard pummeled the teens virgin pussy for another minute, grunting and moaning with the effort and pleasure he was feeling. And then he was ready to cum. He pushed himself upwards, thrusting rapidly into her for a few last strokes before pulling out. He moaned as his body tensed. Furthermore, he jerked his cock as he came, spraying his cum over her pelvis and belly. It lasted a few seconds. It was the type of orgasm he had really needed, and it had been forever since he had sunk his cock into such a nice, tight pussy. Furthermore, it hadn't been since he was around her age that he had last popped a cherry. He took a few seconds to collect himself as he remained between her legs, before finally sliding off. He tucked himself back into his shorts and smiled down at her. "That's was great...next time, maybe we'll make you cum too." He states, getting to his feet before leaving her room, leaving her naked on her bed, covered in his cum. This time he did find the bathroom, cleaning himself up in it before returning to the party outside with a new beer in hand, a new skip to his step.====Andrew moaned softly as she sucked his sensitive cock. He let her for as long as he could stand before pulling back. He pulled his pants back up and then pulled his phone out of his pocket. Before she could protest, he had snapped a few pictures of her topless, cum-covered face and body. The first new images to add to his already large encounter. Cellphones had been a great thing when it came to things involving sex. "Mm, I always knew you'd be a good secretary." He murmurs down to her, using his thumb to spread some of the cum across her face before bringing it to her lips. "I better pop back out while you cleanup in here." Sidney let out a gasp of pain, eyes squinting as he finally pulled himself free of her. Her legs immediately closed and curled in on themselves, almost as though she were a pill bug rolling up into a ball after being provoked. Her eyes were locked on the ceiling, swallowing the lump in her throat as the last few tears on her cheeks began to dry. Furthermore, her now released arms curled up onto her chest, where she proceeded to rub at her wrists. Even as he got up, she remained there. Dirty hair splayed about her head, and pillaged body, still and silent. Her head only turned as he turned away from her and left the room. Even after she was alone, she stared at the doorway where he had disappeared, her thoughts swirling with confusion and sorrow at what had just happened. After what felt like twenty minutes, she was crawling off her bed and quietly trudging down the hall to the bathroom. There, she closed the door behind her and turned to slip on the shower head. Letting the hot water blast down on her as she climbed in. There she stood, hot water cascading down on her pale, trembling body, eyes locked on her feet. Hoping that she could wash away the sins of what had just happened to her. === Carmen's thin brows drew forward in a confused expression as he pulled his phone out, but she made no protest as he took a photo of her. Assuming he'd just use it for his own pleasure at a later date. After he snapped that photo, she was slowly rising to her feet and reaching for some paper towel to begin cleaning herself up. She flashed him a grin, nodding slowly. "I pride myself on my work." She said in a simple tone, reaching out to shove his shoulder gently. "Now skedaddle, I've got a mess to clean up." She added, turning back to herself and her reflection. Bringing up the dampened paper towel to begin cleaning at her chest and face.​ ((Move them onto their next encounter?))===Andrew returned to his seat. He dozed for the rest of the flight. Once they landed, her led her through the airport. They gathered their bags and found the private ride waiting for them. He made small chatter with the driver and of course Carmen. It was a long drive, nearly 2 hours, to the resort they would be staying out. He checked them in and lead her to their room. It was a nice room, with ocean views and a balcony overlooking the beach. "I'm going to wash up...why don't you slip into one of those bikinis...then we can go explore the beach somewhat, get something to eat, and then call it a night." He didn't bring any attention to the fact that it was a single bed. The next morning, her mother had insisted on making breakfast for the family. All four of them sat the table, her mother and father chatting with Anthony on the matter of what he had done at his sleep-over. Throughout the duration of their meal, Sidney was just staring down at the plate of breakfast that had been laid out for her. Usually she would be all over that meal, biscuits and gravy, bacon and French toast. All her favorite things, but at that moment, the thought of eating anything made her sick to her stomach. After a long period of her not speaking, or eating, her mother had taken notice. "Sid?" Her eyes snapped up from poking at her breakfast and furrowed her eyebrows. "Huh?" She mumbled curiously, furrowing her eyebrows at her mother's concerned expression. "Oh, uh. You haven't touched your food." Her mother replied. Sidney nodded slightly. "Right, yeah... I guess I just don't feel well still." After her shower last night, her mother had come searching for her, wondering why she hadn't come back outside. Sidney had simply told her she wasn't feeling well, which had been the truth in a sense. "Oh, well... maybe you could use some air. Tell you what." Her mother put down her fork and got to her feet, going into the kitchen, only to return a moment later with an empty dish. "Why don't you go return this to Mr. Smith for me? He left it here after the party last night, I've cleaned it for him." She smiled and set the dish down beside Sidney on the table. "Mom I really don't..." She had begun to protest, but her mother was already giving her a rather determined expression. With a sigh, she reached up and tugged the dish off the table. "Fine." She said simply, taking the dish and going to the door. There she pulled on a pair of sneakers and tugged a thick black sweatshirt off the hook. Pulling it on over her tank top, despite how warm it was outside, she was determined to give this rapist no further satisfaction in seeing her bare skin. Moments later she was trudging up his front porch, a terrible knot twisting within her. She looked down at her legs, covered by jeans, her feet hidden in sneakers, and breasts behind the oversized sweatshirt. With a huff, she reached up and knocked on the door three times. === Carmen's hazel eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful hotel room that lay outstretched before her. An impressed, yet slightly exasperated chuckle slipped through her lips as she headed into the room, setting down her own luggage and immediately hurrying over to the balcony that overlooked the beach. Not in a million years had she thought she would have the satisfaction of enjoying such a remarkable hotel experience. Especially not with such a handsome, wealthy man. A man that made her feel important, and wanted. After a moment of just staring out at the big blue sea, she turned to regard him as he spoke. Wiggling her eyebrows with a scoff as she stepped back into the room and began to head towards her bag. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She said, bending over to the bag, rearing out her plump ass delightfully as she began to rummage through the clothing within the bag. It was then a realization occurred to her. "One bed?" She said as she straightened fully and turned to see that he had already disappeared into the bathroom, the shower running. She furrowed her eyebrows and turned back to the one bed situation, despite it being particularly confusing, she also felt a wave of excitement rush through her. He had to have done that on purpose. Meaning to her that she was finally going to have the pleasure of doing the one thing they had yet to do.​ Richard took a few moments to answer the door. All night and all day all he could think of was Sid. How small she was, how tight she was, how she had moaned under him. He wishes he hadn't been so drunk he could remember it more, but he did remember it involved taking her virginity. His wife would kill him! Not that she would care, it seemed. She was never around anymore with her job. He answered the door and looked down, smiling at Sid." Come inside, Sid." He says, almost commanding. Once she did, he shut the door behind her. "What's that you got there?"===Andrew left the door to the bathroom open while he showered. She could sneak a peak if she wanted but had already scene what he had to offer, just not entirely nude. The long, hot shower he took gave her plenty of time to sort herself out in the bedroom. Once done, he returned wearing nothing but a towel. He smiled at her, letting his eyes roam over her body, before going to his suitcase. Without letting the towel fall, he pulled on a pair of board shorts and a new t-shirt. He slid his feet into sandals and smiled at her." So.shall we go exploring?" Sidney's eyes widened with terror as the door opened and Richard had been the one to answer. Frankly, part of her had been praying it would be Carmen, despite her being gone on a business trip. She stepped back slightly as he regarded her with his eyes, then began to shake her head as he invited her inside. "Oh, n-no... I was just..." But his tone, the way he stared at her, she couldn't say no. So instead she was stepping through the threshold before she could even come up with a further argument. She did, however, jump slightly as he came up behind her and began to regard her about the glass pan she had been carrying. "Uh, oh." She turned to him suddenly, taking yet another step backwards. "My mom just wanted me to bring this to you. She said y-you... you left it at the party." Her entire body was rigid as he looked down at her, but she held the pan out to him regardless. "She said thank you for the casserole, and uh, that she already cleaned it for you." === Carmen managed to wiggle into her bathing suit with ease while he showered, and even went so far as to clean her face of the day-old make up she wore, revealing her fresh, clean and slightly freckled skin beneath. Then she curled her red locks up into a slightly messy bun. Looking over to him as he approached and got himself dressed. Beginning to nod excitedly as he expressed exploring, reaching out to gather a light weight, sheer white cover up for her bathing suit, just in case it was immodest of her to wander around hotels and potential shops in just a bikini. Though it didn't leave much to the imagination, being that one could still see through the lightweight white fabric that draped over her perfect little body. "Yes, let's." She said as she slid on some sandals. "Where did you have in mind?"​ Richard smiled at the girl. She was clearly nervous, probably about losing her virginity to him the previous day. Perhaps she wanted more? He reached out and took the tray from her, setting it on the counter. "Thank you for bringing it over. You'll have to thank your mother for cleaning it too. That was kind of her. As it was of you to come here." He licked his lips and reached out, placing his hands on her hips. He slid them up and down her sides." I had fun last night." He murmurs, squeezing her a little bit. "I was thinking we could have some fun right now, before you have to go back home." He licked his lips, hands moving higher up her sides. Her small frame was a turn on for him. It made him feel powerful, like he could protect her. She was the opposite of his wife, a woman more his size, fuller and more developed. He couldn't really man handle his wife, but this teen....===+++====+++===He grabbed a beach towel and opened the door and led them back down the hallway to the elevator. "I thought we could go dip our toes in some sand. I could use some good old-fashioned sunshine. Been a while since I've been to the ocean. Then I'm thinking a little bite to eat before calling it an early night - we're only here for the weekend so want to nip the jet lag in the butt!" He smiled at her as the elevator dinged. "What about you? Anything you want to do?" Sidney gasped in mild surprise as his hands came up to her hips, chuckling nervously and stepping back in an attempt to avoid any further contact. "I uh... I'm glad." She said softly, avoiding his gaze entirely. Her unkissed face was certainly flushing a deep red as he muttered to her, touched her. Last night she had been an emotional wreck. Had completely fallen apart in the shower because of what he had done to her. It was true what they said, victims often blamed themselves for what happened to them. Her heart was fluttering with mild panic, and confusing interest as he stepped closer and closer to her. Her hand came up to cover his on her hips and began to push them down gently, shaking her head slowly. "I don't think that's such a good idea, Mr. Smith." She said quietly, eyes cast to the ground as she tried to pry his hands off her small frame. "I'm not interested in repeating what happened last night." Her sweet voice seemed to be getting quieter and quieter with each advance he made, and each attempt she made to get out of the situation she had found herself. I told mom this wasn't a good idea... ==== Carmen followed him down the hall, nodding intently as he listed off his desired activity for the day. "That all sounds perfect, actually." She replied when he inquired for what she would like to do. "I have never been to an oceanic beach before, actually. So I haven't a clue what would be fun to do." Her husband had never really been the extravagant vacation type. Especially after his rough patch with work. Usually the two of them visited his family down south, and that was the extent of their vacation. The hotel she found herself in now was far from anything she had experienced in her life, frankly. Granted, Carmen had never desired to be an extravagant vacationer. She was happy with family time and little getaways to bed and breakfast's. When she had been simply invited by Andrew she had run out to by herself some suitable beachwear, being it had been that long since the last time she'd been to a beach.​

Better Left Unspoken|rating:2.0

An Arranged Disaster (for silverhawkx2)

(Kat kicked the office door open and walked up to her father's desk, scowling. "This is not happening." she snapped. Her father sighed heavily and rubbed his temple." I see you found out about the arrangement."" There is no arrangement. It's not going to happen!"" Katherine, please. Be realistic. This is the only way to keep our company alive. Once we are bound with the other company-""What does this have to do with me!?"" It has everything to do with you." Kat angrily shoved a stack of books off the table, fuming since she knew that he was right. She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her and planning to find a way out of this.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And yet, there she was a week later, standing around on a private island with a shiny engagement ring on her finger. She glared at the sandy beach she was standing on while her parents stood beside her. They were waiting for her 'fiancée', the one she despised the most in the whole world, to get here. Their parents were forcing them to spend a week here alone on this island in the little house they had there. As if that would help at all. They'd probably end up killing each other. Finally, they spotted the boat heading this way. The sight made Kat feel slightly sick. (sat his head on the side of boat, staring into the water. He couldn't believe his parents were actually doing this. "Do you guys really think one week on an island will make us like each other?" he asked monotone." We can extend the amount of time... How about two weeks?" His dad said to him. Rilye burst up, "What?! No!"" Then shut up and last this out. This marriage is bound to help both our company and theirs." Rilye sat back down and watched the island beach get closer and closer. The boat finally stopped at the shore. Riley and his parents got off and walked towards Kat and her parents. His dad walked up to hers, "Hello, I imagine that everything between these two will be different by the end of this week." he smiled. Riley just sighed. Kat continued to look at the ground, but no one seemed to notice much, except her mother patted her on the shoulder." Yes, I believe the same." her father said with a return smile. Actually he was a little worried that they might try to kill each other. But he tried not to think about that. "Well I suppose we should leave them to it then." he added after a moment of silence. He turned to Kat. "Now, try to be civil." She raised her head a little and just glared at him. He sighed and then turned to leave. Her mother went with him. Before long they were all speeding away on their private boats, leaving the two betrothed on the beach. As soon as they were out of sight, Kat pulled the expensive ring off her finger and threw it away, then started walking towards the house without another word. Riley threw his head up and let out a sigh, "This week is going to be hell..." He turned towards the house and began walking. He stepped inside and looked around. One bedroom, one bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a dining room. "Do they actually expect us to sleep in the same bed..." he looked in the living room, "No TV either... Just thinking about this is torture." He plopped down in a chair. "At least you don't have to spend the week with a complete asshole." Kat snapped in response as she also looked through the house. She went into the bedroom and saw that their things were already in the room. She grabbed his suitcase and tossed it outside the room. "Have fun on the couch." she added before closing the door. The couch was particularly uncomfortable, probably to try to ensure that they share a room. Sure, she felt like a bitch for making him sleep out there, but she hated him so it was okay by her logic. She turned and started to unpack her things, deciding to stay holed up in there except to come out and eat, since the bathroom was connected to the bedroom. Riley went and grabbed his bags from the hall and tossed them by the couch. He changed into some swim trunks, right there in the living room, then left the house and ran towards the ocean. Riley swam about a bit trying to imagine he wasn't stranded on an island with Kat. Kat unpacked all her things, which she noticed were missing almost all her entertainment that she'd brought, and then went outside slowly and saw that he was gone. "Good riddance." she huffed to herself, then wandered around for a bit. She got bored with that quickly, so she changed into her bikini, slathered some sunscreen all over herself (she had pale skin that sunburned easily), then went outside and started wandering around the beach. She always wore lots of clothes when she was around other people, so her slim but curvy figure was not often seen. Kat found her way to some rocks that had tide pools and started examining them curiously. Riley stopped swimming and looked around. He noticed Kat crouching by a tide pool. He quickly began to backstroke in her direction. Riley smiled to himself as he passed her, slamming his feet in the water as hard as he could, sending a huge amount into the air. The water upset the tide pool, scaring away the creatures/organisms inside, and soaked Kat. Riley swam off laughing. Kat gasped in shock, not realizing he was there until it was too late. She straightened up and wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered from the could water. "Screw you!" she yelled after him, a blush of embarrassment rising to her cheeks. Teeth chattering, she turned to go back to the house. Laughing, it was hard for Riley to get his words out, "What? You're not even going to retaliate?" He swam onto the beach and ran up right behind Kat and followed her towards the house. He was busy thinking of ways to annoy her, so he wasn't watching where he was going. Furthermore, he tripped over a rock that was buried a little under the sand, and he fell, he took Kat to the ground as his weight came down upon her. Kat was about to turn around and tell him to go burn in hell when she felt his weight suddenly push her down. She gasped and winced as their wet bodies collided. "Get the hell off me!" she demanded, squirming to try to scoot from under him. With all the muscle he had, he really weighed a lot. Riley pushed himself up off of her and sat behind her. He tried brushing the sand off of his wet arms, but the sand just stuck to his hands. "My bad..." He said looking at her bikini covered butt. Kat caught his gaze and couldn't believe it. "Pervert!" she yelled, slapping him in the face with her wet, sand covered hand. She got up quickly and rushed into the house, slamming the door behind her. Suddenly she got an idea... Since the house had no locks on any of the doors, she pushed a heavy desk in front of the front door and started piling things on top of it until it was impossible to move, then went to the back door and did the same. "Whey...? Oh, come on! We are getting married!" He walked up to the front door, twisted the handle and gave it a push. It didn't move. "What the..." He slammed his weight against the door. He hits his palm against the door a few times, "Come on let me in!" Panting a little from moving heavy objects, Kat walked over and sat on the desk that was blocking the door. "Like hell I will." she replied. "And we are not getting married!" She paused for a moment. "Well technically we are... but that doesn't mean you even get to look at me that way!" "Dammit!" He hit the door then slid down against it with his back. He sat there for 30 minutes or so and finally cooled off. "Why won't you just let me in...?" He asked Kat, not even sure whether she was still there. Kat had actually left a few minutes ago, getting bored with hearing him try to get in. She was taking a shower upstairs, getting all the sand off her body. There was a balcony outside the bedroom, but she didn't think he'd possibly be able to climb in that way so she didn't bother blocking it off. Riley stood up, realizing that he wasn't going to get an answer. He walked a few feet away from the house and took a look at it. He saw the balcony to the bedroom and noticed that it was close to the overhang above the porch. Riley ran towards one of the columns holding the overhang up and climbed it. He steadied himself on it then ran and jumped up to the balcony, grabbing the railing of it. He pulled himself up and walked into the room. By now he was dry and had brushed the sand off before he made his leap. Riley hopped up on the bed and laid back. Of course, Kat thought that there was no way he could have gotten in. So she walked out of the bathroom completely naked, carrying a towel. She jumped as she saw him and was frozen for a moment, then quickly shot back into the bathroom. Swearing to herself, she wrapped the towel around her body before peeking back into the room. "What the hell are you, some kind of demon!?" He went wide-eyed when he saw her bare body. Riley gathered himself up, "Nah... You just didn't think about the balcony." He smiled at her. "You've got a nice body," he said with a snicker," I don't see why you always hide it..." "Maybe so pervs like you won't make comments like that." Kat replied scathingly. "Now get the hell out of my room!" Her clothes were on the other side of the room, and she didn't want to come out of the bathroom with only this towel protecting her. She could feel her blush getting worse and worse as she realized that he had actually seen her naked. "Your room?" He laughs, "I believe it'sour room." He spread out on the bed, closed his eyes, smiled and breathed. His chest moved up and down. "I don't care what you do. I'm sleeping in this bed tonight." He looked at her, "Are you going to stay like that all night? Don't get me wrong now, it's fine with me." 'No you are not!" Kat hissed angrily. "Get out of my bed right now, or I'll..." she trailed off, knowing that she couldn't actually do anything. She had packed pepper spray, but her parents had removed that. Shaking with anger, the pink haired girl finally stepped out of the bathroom, keeping the towel tight around her, and went to go retrieve her clothes. Riley just laughed at the attempt for a threat that Kat made. "Well, I'm going to go get out of these swim trunks." He said as he stood up and walked out of the room. Riley grabbed some boxers out of his bags and changed out of his trunks and into his boxers. He went into the kitchen and fixed himself up a sandwich, he sat down at the table and began eating. Kat slammed the door closed behind him and then quickly threw on some clothes, dressing in all black to suit her mood. She would just stay in there the whole night, but her stomach was rumbling loudly and she couldn't ignore it. Finally, she gave in and went downstairs, ignoring him as she threw open the fridge and started looking around for food. Riley was leaning back in his chair when she came down. He looked at her, "What was wrong with what you were wearing before?" he chuckled a little, "I didn't mind... I mean look at me." All he was wearing were boxers, seeing as he was getting ready to go to bed. Riley stood walked past Kat, giving her a little pinch on the butt, and went up to the room. Kat turned just in time to slap his hand as punishment for the pinch. "Sicko." she snapped. Then noticed that he was going to the bedroom. She slammed the fridge shut and then ran after him. "I told you to stay out of my room!" By the time Kat caught up with Riley he was already spread out on the bed, "And I thought I told you it'sour room," he gave her a big taunting smile, "If you want to sleep in here, you can." He patted next to him on the bed then pulled the blanket up over him and rolled over. "I'd rather sleep in a bathtub filled with scorpions." Kat replied coldly. "They'd be better company." She turned around and went back downstairs, formulating plans to drive him out of the room. She made herself a cup of ramen and then randomly decided to bake a cake while she thought. Maybe it was bedtime for him, but she liked staying up late, and cooking was one of her secret hobbies She popped the cake in the oven and then waited until the delicious smell started wafting through the house, then started to make icing. Riley had fallen asleep shortly after Kat had left the room. He had a horrible dream of Kat coming into the room and suffocating him with a cake. He didn't know why a cake was the weapon of choice in his dream until he woke up to the scent of one. Riley stood up and went to the bathroom before he went down the stairs. Still half asleep, he followed the scent into the kitchen. He saw that Kat was making icing. Riley walked up by her and stuck his finger in the mixing bowl, taking a bit of the icing and eating it. "Mmm, that's pretty good," he said reaching in for some more. Kat glared at him and pulled the bowl away quickly. "Stay away. It's not for you." she snapped. "Besides whom knows where your hands have been." she added with a disgusted look. "Am I supposed to believe that you're going to eat that cake by yourself?" He smiled, "That'll ruin your wonderfully shaped body really quick." "I have a high metabolism. Besides, I have all week to eat it." Kat replied, stirring the icing. "I might just camp out in here and live on cake since my room has a disgusting animal in it that won't leave." "Nope, didn't see an animal in there..." He said jokingly. "Now come on... Don't ya want to come to bed?" he had his arms around her from behind. Riley had his hands in her shirt on her stomach and was trying to tickle her, playing around. Kat squeaked as she felt the tickling fingers and elbowed him int eh gut sharply and painfully. She knew just where the weak spots were. "Don't touch me." she snapped. "This stupid situation only makes me hate you more." "Of..." he let out when she elbowed him, "WWW come on... You like the attention... I can tell." He was moving his hands further up her shirt. "I think you enjoy this..." he whispered in her ear. Kat put her hands on his to push them away forcefully. "Stop touching me, or I swear to god I will burn down this house!" she threatened, actually serious this time. She couldn't take any more of this. If he didn't leave her alone she was going to go insane. He pulled his hands away, "Alright, alright, calm down I was just joking. Besides, if you burn down the house we'll have to sleep outside..." He smiled as he sat at the table. "As if I care." Kat replied, fuming as she went back to mixing the icing. "What are you still doing here? If you're gonna take up the room like the pig you are then gone do it." The timer beeped, and she opened the oven door, revealing the large chocolate cake. "I can wait to take the room..." He leaned back in the chair, "Right now I'm just watching you do what you do..." Riley was obviously enjoying the torment he was causing Kat. Kat took out the chocolate cake and sat it on top of the stove. "The only reason you're acting this way is that you don't have access to your harem of girlfriends." she said coldly. "Honestly people like you should just be castrated as soon as you hit puberty." The girl started spreading the icing on the cake. "Harem...of... Girlfriends...?" He was confused, "What are you talking about? I don't have a bunch of girlfriends. And I definitely don't use girls for sex, if that's what you're getting at." Riley stood up, angry, "I've never been insulted like that." "Well you implied that I was a slut. I'm only doing the same." Kat told him, turning around. "If I piss you off so much then leave me alone, and you won't have to listen to me." "You're ridiculous... I only said that you liked it... 'never said that you've done it..." Riley walked out of the kitchen and up to the bedroom. He laid down and went to sleep. Kat didn't reply except for shooting a glare after him. Well, at least it got rid of the stupid pig. She turned back to putting the icing on the cake and then cut herself a piece, eating it slowly and contemplating how to get the room back, or at least get revenge. After a while of searching, she found a nice stereo inside a cabinet in the living room. She turned it as high as it would go and then flipped it on to the radio, sitting on the couch and waiting for him to freak out. It was so loud it shook the house. He was so startled by the sound that he fell out of the bed. Riley stormed out of the room and down the stairs. He saw the stereo and marched over to it. Violently, he tore the main piece away, causing the music to cut off abruptly. He carried the stereo up the stairs and into the bedroom. Holding it over his head, he walked onto the balcony. Riley then threw the stereo as hard as he could. It landed on a rock, shattering. Kat gasped in shock at what he did and followed him, watching as he threw the stereo off the balcony. She stared in wonder, amazed that he'd actually do that. But she could still use this to her advantage. She closed the balcony doors quickly and locked them, locking him out on the balcony. Huffing, Riley turned around when he heard the click of the glass doors shutting. "What the!? Let me in!" He banged on the door with his fist. Eventually, he gave up and fell asleep, spread out on the balcony. Kat put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Hmph. Serves him right." she muttered, watching him. She couldn't believe that he actually fell asleep out there... and now she felt kinda bad. The girl went downstairs and grabbed a piece of cake a glass of milk as a peace offering, then knocked on the glass door to take him up. "Look, I'll let you in if you just take the couch, okay? We could... try switching every night if you really want." He opened up his eyes then heard her offering, "Hmm... Alright..." he said, half-asleep. He shuffled right past her, not taking the cake or milk. He made his way down the stairs and onto the couch. Unfortunately, he only made it halfway on the couch. He fell back asleep hanging over the armrest with his but sticking up in the air. Kat frowned and followed him. She went to dump the milk but set the piece of cake on the kitchen table for him later, then went to haul him all the way onto the couch. It was hard work, considering she was weak and he was muscular. Riley slept like a rock as Kat was maneuvering him around. While he slept he had a dream about cake and talking stereos. It was the weirdest dream he had ever had in his entire life. Kat finally got him on the couch and was tempted to smack him, but didn't She went upstairs and stripped down to her bra and underwear without really thinking about him, then crawled into bed and fell asleep as soon as she turned out the lights. As morning came, Riley woke up. A little confused about how he moved from the balcony to the couch, he eventually just shrugged it off. He walked into the kitchen and made eggs and sausage. Riley got two plates down and set some food on each. Kat liked to sleep in. So she was still sound asleep as he was making breakfast, one arm hanging lazily off the couch. The sunlight that streamed through the window didn't wake her up, but warmed her body as she slept. Once Riley had food on the plates he walked towards the table. On the way, he tripped and fell, "Shit!!" he yelled as he crashed into the ground sending the food and plates in the air. The food landed on and around him, and the plates hit the floor, shattering. Kat woke up quickly as she heard the crash and frowned. Had he killed himself or something? She sighed and got up slowly, grabbing a light robe and wrapping it around herself and went downstairs. "What happened to you?" she said, looking down at him. Riley gave an embarrassed smile up to Kat as he stood up, "I slipped," He said to her as he brushed himself off. He walked to a cupboard and grabbed a brush and dustpan, he quickly swept the plates and food off of the floor. "Sleep well?" (I'm glad you're back ^_^)"As much as I could with a perverted freak in the house." Kat replied calmly, walking over and starting up the coffee machine. She glanced over at what he was cleaning up. "You made food? Looks like you can do something useful after all." He walks over to the garbage can and empties the dustpan, "Yeah... I tried anyway..." Riley grabs a frying pan and some eggs, "I guess I'll get started on breakfast... again..." Kat nodded and started getting out food so she could make breakfast for herself. She'd noticed that there were two plates and wondered why he bothered to make her any food. "So..." Riley started as he cracked an egg and emptied it in the pan, "What's there to do on this island?" He cracked another egg and watched it sizzle in the pan. Waiting for Kat to say something, he pokes at the eggs with a spatula. "How am I supposed to know?" Kat said, rolling her eyes. "I tried to look around at the tide pools, but apparently I can't do something like that without being interrupted." She bot out some pancake batter mix and started mixing it up. Seeing his eggs are finished, Riley slides them out of the pan and onto a plate, careful not to screw up breakfast twice. "Well, you should have come swimming. It's much funner than watching stuff in a puddle." He grabs a fork and sits down at the table. "You just can't appreciate forms of life that don't have boobs." Kat commented as she started making little pancakes for herself. "Swimming alone is dangerous and swimming with you is undesirable so that option is out." Putting a small bit of egg in his mouth, he looks at her. "Yup... You definitely got that right... Boob boobs boobs... That's all I think about," Riley says in a slightly angry, sarcastic tone. After eating a few more bites, he continues, "Anyway... That's probably what I'm going to do today, go swimming. It's not dangerous to swim alone." "Maybe for you." Kat said with a shrug. "But you're more... muscular than I am. Not as easy to get swept away and smashed against sharp rocks. I bet you'd throw a party once you found my bloody corpse washed up on the beach." She said scathingly as she flipped the pancake. "Well, if you don't swim near the rocks you'll be fine. And it's never a happy time when someone dies." He gives a look to Kat while he finishes off an egg. "Well. Either way I'm not going swimming." Kat stated. "I'll find something for me to do... far away from you." She just wished that she wasn't stuck alone with him. She was actually quite a social person, and she missed talking to someone without being hostile. Riley eats the rest of the food on his plate and stands up. "Suit yourself..." He says as he walks his dish to the sink and rinses it off. "I'm going to go change to my trunks and then go down to the water. You can come if you want." He walks off into the living room. "Oh, such a privilege." Kat said sarcastically. She finished making the pancake and then sat down to enjoy it, wondering what to do when she was alone. She could always lock him out again, but that would make her feel guilty. Ignoring Kat's sarcasm, Riley grabs his trunks and goes to the bathroom to change. He grabs a towel and heads out the front door. "I'm going," he shouts as he shuts the door. He had no idea how he would have fun all by himself. Kat didn't reply. She just finished her pancake and then went upstairs to read, feeling like a lonely nerd. She did that for a while, then searched around and found a piano. Furthermore, she sat down at it and started to write a song, since she had nothing else to do. Riley plopped down on the sand thinking of what to do. After a few minutes of sitting there on the beach, an idea hit him, a mischievous one. He quickly jumped up and ran to the front of the house. Riley dropped to the ground and began digging a ditch. It took him thirty minutes or so, but it was done. The ditch followed along the front of the house. It was about two feet deep, 7 feet long, and 3 feet wide. He had a small feeling of accomplishment, but wasn't sure whether this would work. Rilye quickly ran into the water to give the effect he had been swimming and came back to the house. Hopping over the ditch, he opened the door. "Hey Kat!" he shouted, trying to get her attention, "You have to see this, there are some dolphins out in the water. I figure you're the scientific type, and you might want to see them..." He smiled waiting for her to come and fall into his trap, though, he wasn't prepared for if she didn't. Kat was completely oblivious to what Riley was doing; the sound of the piano drowned everything out. She heard his voice though and stopped playing, listening and frowning in annoyance. She didn't want to bother herself to stop what she was doing, but then again... she did love dolphins. So she got up and went downstairs. "Where are they?" she asked as she hurried out the door, not noticing the ditch. Of course, she slipped in with a shocked scream. Riley could hardly keep in his laughter as Kat walked into his trap. As soon as she fell he burst out laughing, "I can't... believe you fell for that..." he said pausing to let out a laughter filled breath. Then realizing to himself that this was probably a really mean thing to do he steps near the ditch, "Alright... I had my fun come on let me help you out," he says reaching a hand out to her, stepping closer. Riley steps too close to the edge and a bit of the sand gives out underneath him, dropping him down onto Kat. Kat glared up at him, completely furious. She couldn't believe she had fallen for that either. She tried to get up and winced, feeling her ankle throb in pain when she tried to move it. Great, just great. She was about to climb out of the stupid hole when Riley fell in too. Well, it served him right, but it wasn't good that he had fallen on her. "Ouch!" she cried as he landed on her, feeling her ankle only hurt more. "Get off me, you freak!" She was already all sandy from being in the hole and felt the gritty stuff getting all over her as she squirmed. "Sorry, sorry!" Riley said as he squirmed and pulled himself up off of Kat and out of the hole. He crouched down beside the ditch and looked at her. He put his hand out again to help her, this time stabling himself so he wouldn't fall, "Here, grab my hand." Kat looked at the hand and picked up a glob of muddy sand, chucking it at him before getting up by herself. She didn't want his help. He was the one who put her in here in the first place. She pulled herself out of the ditch and then stood on her unwounded leg, wavering unsteadily. "You're such a jerk!" she screamed before trying to limp back into the house. Riley flinched as the glob of sand hit him. He brushed it off the best he could as Kat limped inside. He saw her limping and the guilt hit him. Furthermore, he knew it was a bad idea... Quickly he jumped up and wandered over to her to offer his help. Kat ignored his offer to help as she limped into the kitchen and started searching for a first aid kit. "You're such a jerk." she repeated. "I can't believe you went through all that trouble just to embarrass me." She found the kit and sat down in a chair, then started digging around for some kind of bandage or brace. It felt like it was starting to swell. "Ugh. I'm filthy." she complained, looking down at herself. "Look, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking you would get hurt..." Riley said as bits of wet sand dropped from his trunks to the hard wood floor of the kitchen, "I know I'm a jerk, and I wasn't thinking, but I'm sorry." The guilt of hurting someone was overwhelming. Riley had never hurt someone before, never been in a fight or anything. "I'm really sorry. Can't I help at all or something?" Kat rolled her eyes. "Oh now you feel guilty, huh? Well don't get your panties in a twist. I'll be fine." she said as she bandaged her foot. "It's just sprained." When she finished, she got up slowly and started hopping on one foot. "Need to take a shower." she muttered to herself, although she didn't know how she was going to make it up the stairs or even be able to stand in the shower without slipping and falling. Watching her hop away, Riley asked, "Do you need some help?" He waited for an answer then quickly fixed his question, "I mean to get up the stairs... Not in the shower." He cursed himself for the wording of his question, it made him seem as though he were a pervert. "If you need any help, tell me. I feel real bad about this." Kat leaned against the stairs and looked up unsurely. "Fine. Help me get upstairs." she said with an annoyed huff. This was so ridiculous. She couldn't even go up to her room. She wondered if she'd be able to even take a shower... Riley quickly ran up next to Kat, put her arm over his shoulder and put his around her waist. Slowly they made their way up the stairs and into the bedroom. He led her to the bathroom and let her go. "I'll wait out here for when you're done." He gave her an unsure smile as he sat on the bed. Kat frowned and stared at the bathroom worriedly. How would she be able to clean herself off? She sat there for a while, thinking and wondering what to do. "You have to help me take a shower." she said finally. "I already know you're a pervert so... it's fine." "Whey..." Riley could barely get the words out, "Are... Are you sure? I mean... You can't take one without me?" He was surprised that Kat would even think about asking him to help her in the shower. He could hardly imagine it. "I think... I'd fall." Kat said softly, then frowned at him. "Are you refusing to do it?" she demanded. Now that she thought about it, this might be funny. It would be a good punishment, making him all horny and conflicted like this. She started taking off her shirt and gave him a challenging look. He could see what she was doing, and he knew this was going to be a tough time for him. "Alright... I'll do it..." Riley stood up and walked by Kat, reaching into the shower and twisting some knobs. Water rushed out of the shower head. Riley stood there adjusting the knobs and feeling the water to get the temperature just right to not be too cold or too hot. Kat pulled off her gritty clothes, but then stopped when she was in her underwear. She wrapped her arms around herself hesitantly. "I... I'm gonna keep these on." she decided, not quite brave enough to go completely naked. She'd get her underwear wet, but she could just take it off later. She hobbled over to the shower hesitantly and felt the water. "Just right." she said. Riley was happy that this wouldn't be as hard as he thought. He moved to help Kat into the shower, bracing her by the shoulders. He stepped with her into the shower. The warm water hit them both, rinsing the sand off of them and slowly soaking her underwear. Kat shuddered as she stepped into the water. Her bra clung to her skin and turned mostly see-through, her nipples especially showing through the thin material. She quickly started washing herself off, grabbing some soap and lathering herself up. Riley held Kat at a small distance. He watched her from behind, admiring her figure. He couldn't understand why she wore so much and hid herself. Losing his train of thought he looked over her shoulder and saw her nipples through her bra. Riley quickly began looking straight forward again with a gulp, trying not to think anything sexual. It wasn't working. He was obviously aroused. The most he could do was stay behind Kat and hope she didn't look at his trunks. Kat continued to wash herself off, wincing whenever she felt her ankle move. Suddenly she slipped and fell backwards, but just fell onto Riley. She blushed and moved to get off him, then felt her eyes widen as she noticed the bulge. "You really are a perv." she muttered, although she was a little amused. Riley was fell with a thud with Kat on top of him. After her comment, his face was red as it ever could be. "I... I'm sorry! It's not my fault though... You made me come in here!" Quickly, he scrambled back up and helped her up. "Should I go then...?" he asked, unsure whether to leave the shower and go cool it alone, or to stay and help her finish showering. Kat shook her head. "No. You'll just have to suffer." she said as she moved to start washing her chest, getting all the dirt and sand off of her breasts and stomach area. "I can't believe our parents really expect me to marry you." she said, partly to herself and partly to him. "...and for their companies too..." Riley added in while holding Kat up, making sure she didn't fall again. She had no idea how badly he was suffering right now. "As if they don't have enough money already." Kat said, rolling her eyes. "So do they expect you to take over once we... get hitched?" she asked with a frown of distaste. The frown followed onto his face as well, "I hope not... I can't stand that business stuff... I was thinking more along the lines of photography or something..." Riley let's out a small laugh, "Like that will happen though." Kat sighed. "Well I guess neither of us will be able to do what we want." she said. "They expect me to be some kind of housewife. Provide heirs to the company." The girl rolled her eyes and started shampooing her hair quickly. Riley quickly moved his hands from Kat's shoulders to the sides of her chest as she did her shampooing. "It might be a while before we provide any heirs to the companies..." he said, trying to keep his mind out of the gutter. Kat pulled away a little bit when he moved his hands. "More like never." she said. "Although there's always adoption of artificial things..." Riley was a slightly puzzled by that. "We're going to adopt a fake kid..." he said in an attempt to understand, "I don't think that would fly with our parents." (typo... I meant or)"I meant artificial insemination." Kat said. "Came out wrong..." She finished shampooing her hair and then washed out the suds. After she was all clean, she stepped out of the shower, shivering, and grabbed a towel. (ok... haha)"Right... I guess..." Riley said as Kat moved out of the shower. "I guess I should get cleaned off too." He puts a bit of shampoo in his hand and begins to lather it in his hair. "What're you going to do know?" Kat leaned against the wall for support as she dried herself off. "I don't know. I can't really do much except lie around. I might go back to what I was doing before you interrupted me." she said. "Yeah... Sorry." Riley said as he rinsed the shampoo out of his hair. He figured he'd be spending the rest of the day around Kat, helping her around and doing stuff for her. "Guilt sucks..." he said under his breath. "Yeah, well you deserve it." Kat said, hearing the quiet words. "You need to learn the consequences of your pranks." She finished getting dressed and then limped into the bedroom. She picked out new clothes and sat on her bed, then waited for him to leave so she could change. Riley stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, "Yeah, I guess I do..." He partly dried himself off and draped the towel around his waste so he wouldn't drip water around the house. He walked to the door, "I'll leave you to change then." He left the room, heading downstairs. Kat nodded and changed her clothes, hanging up her wet underwear in the bathroom. She snuggled up in pajamas and went under the covers. "Hey Riley?" she called loudly. "Can you get me some cake?" She still had a lot of chocolate cake leftover. Riley just took off his trunks in the living room when he heard Kat. He had forgotten about the cake. "Yeah sure," he shouted back. He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waste again and went into the kitchen. He took out a plate and a fork and cut a fairly large piece of cake. Riley then grabbed a glass and poured some milk into it. He tightened the hold of the towel around him and grabbed a dish in each hand. Quickly, he made his way up the stairs and into "Kat's" room. "Alright here you go," he said as he set the glass on the nightstand by the bed and handed the plate to her, "I brought some milk to wash it down." He felt kind of like a butler. Then again, butlers did not usually take showers with their masters. Bringing his mind back to reality, "So does your ankle still hurt? Do you want me to see if there's any painkillers or something?" Kat smiled a little. "Thanks." she said. "I could get used to this..." she added playfully as she sat up so she could eat. "But yeah... painkillers would be nice." she said, flexing her ankle a little. It seemed to be healing well at least. "Right. I'll go see if there are any." Riley said as he smiled and left the room. He walked down into the kitchen and snatched up the first aid kit. He searched through and found some painkillers. Furthermore, he wasn't surprised that their parents went for the cheapest stuff, after all, his dad had enough money to support 20 families for life, but still bought the cheapest stuff for people other than himself. Grabbing the bottle of painkillers, Riley made his way upstairs again. He handed the small bottle to Kat, "There ya go." He went over to a comfy chair in the corner of the room and sat down, "I'll be right here if you need anything else." Kat gulped down the painkillers and hoped they would work quickly. She glanced over at him and then shifted awkwardly. "Well, now I'm not sure what to do with myself." she said softly. "Any ideas?" She was being strangely calm around Riley now, mostly because he was being so nice to her.

An Arranged Disaster (for silverhawkx2)|rating:3.0

Strange Meetings (AustinMDG x LSD)

Andy entered the bar after another boring day at his boring job of watching rubber dicks roll down an assembly line all day long. "Man, all these rubber cocks are taking my job again." He thought to himself. He hadn't been laid in some time and honestly, he was becoming extremely bitter and jaded about the situation. Furthermore, he walked up to the bar and sat down, looking to the bartender and smiling. "Hey sweet cheeks, can you grab me a Bud Light, bottle please." He said with a smile. The bartender blogged she put the beer on the bar. "Should I just open a tab tonight?” she asked with a smile. Then someone spoke. "Excuse me when you're done with him. I know that I would like." A woman said. "Two double shots of vodka straight please." She pushed light pink hair from her face and bright teal eyes showed. Her skin was pale as milk and do to her height her breast practically rested on the bar. Andy nodded to the bartender before looking at the young woman and tilting his head. "A little pushy there aren't we my dear?" He asked as he took a sip of his beer and motioned to the bartender. "Her shots are on me." He winked. The woman blushed and looked at the man beside her. The white straps on her dress definitely brought attention to her figure. She smiled which seemed to bring more attention to her eyes. "Sorry it was let's say a hard day at work. That from how you're looking at me can understand the want to forget it like it never happened." She bites her lips almost shyly. "Thanks for offering to buy my drinks. I should at least give a gentleman a name. Abby. It's short for Abigail." Andy looked at the young woman and laughed. "It's all good. My job can be quite the cock block sometimes, seeing as I'm there all the time." He laughed as he sipped his beer and stared into her eyes. "Hi Abby, my name is Andy, short for Andrew." He smiled. "Oh that's sounds like you work long hours like me." Abby said. When her shots where set in front of her she took both of them and scrunched her nose from the burn. "Two more please." She said to the bartender. "So Andy are you meeting anyone this evening or does it just get away from it all?” she said with a smile. "Long hours is a fucking understatement. Damn near eighty hours a week murders me." He laughed as he decided to match her pace. "Add her tab to mine, I've got it, and give me what she's got." He said before turning back to Abby. "Nope, just drinking the loneliness away." He said softly. Abby laughed softly. So Andy was going to try and keep up with her. This might actually be fun she thought to herself. "Wow it seems like we work nearly the same amount of hours. So that definitely makes one lonely. Seems we don't have much free time. On a positive note. We are not drinking alone now. So it's not so sad." She giggled softly. "This is true." He chuckled lightly before slamming back shot after shot, soon seeing six empty shots in front of him. He looked her in the eye and smiled before reaching in and whispering in her ear, his words slurred. "D-do you want to go fool around in the bathroom?" He asked with a laugh. She didn't seem to have a problem keeping up with him at all. She did notice that it seemed like he wasn't used to drinking as heavily as she was. Furthermore, she felt him lean into whisper in her ear. He could see clearly down the top of her dress. Abby let her hand reach into his lap and brush over his groin as she took his hand. "Lead the way." "Well, don't mind if I do." He said as he took her hand and walked rather confidently to the men's room in the bar, sneaking her in without anyone noticing. He walked her into one of the stalls and locked the door. "It's been a bit since I've done this." He said with a grin. Abby smirked at Andy as they walked away together. She slides in when the coast was clear with him. She let her lead her to one of the stalls glad he had picked one of the larger ones as it meant they had more room. "Don't worry. Same here." She backed him up against a stall wall and pressed against him. This large breast he had peeked at had nothing fake about them as kissed him Sliding one hand into his pants. Andy was a bit taken by surprise when she pressed herself against him so forcefully. He kept his hands to the side, not wanting to do anything unless she told him to. "You sure you want to do this?" He asked. She looked up at him and smirked. "Andy I'm drunk your drunk. Do you think for an instant that if I didn't want to fool around to that I would have followed you in here?" She took a step back as if thinking that he was the one that might not have been sure "Well, when you put it that way I guess not. I'm just always the guy that was afraid of going to prison for some dumb shit, but now that you're sure, you get to see the bad bitch side of me if you want." He growled as he started to grope her tits. She pushed into his hands those massive orbs. "Good because I'd hate for you to be sorry." She said as she could feel him becoming aroused. She undid his pants with her other hand and began to push them down slightly. "The top of my dress stretches. If you want to pull them out. No bra." "Well damn, don't mind if I do." He said as he pulled her dress straps down and set her girls free while his cock grew harder. "So um, how far are we going with this?" He asked, curious as he had a condom in his pocket just in case. Abby smiled looking at him. "I don't know you well enough to do more than oral at the moment." She chuckled softly and bite her lips. "Or do you just want a heavy make out?" She said her breast where round and firm. Her nipples perked up from the cool air. "Well, I mean I haven't had a good cocksucking in quite a long time, but I guess the question is, do you swallow?" He asked, the liquor giving him a boost in confidence. "Also, can I maybe take some nudes to masturbate to until I see you here again?" He asked. "Oh I swallow." She said. There was a smirk. "And no nudes. You wouldn't look for me then." She said she ran her hands down his body and slowly moved down Andy's body. She began kissing the area with the skin of his flesh around the base of his cock. "Well I guess I can compromise there." He said as he looked down at her and wondered if he was big enough for her. He wasn't fully hard yet, so he'd only get bigger. "Are you going to let me return the favor tonight?" He asked. "People that owe another... Tend to hunt harder for them..." She said as she kept going. She looked up at him. And let her hand wrap around his length. She began stroking his length as if to harden him up. "I wonder are you a tit man?" "Well, just remember if I find you again, it's my turn." He said as he let his hands fall to his side as she started to stroke him. "Well yes I am. I love a good pair of girls. They'd look better with my cock in between them." He said. "That's if I'm in the mood to receive." Meaning he could end up with her doing more giving. She licked the tip as if a dark silent promise. Her hand let go, and she stood on her knees. She began to slide his hardening cock between her breast. She squeezed them together. "Holy fuck you're actually doing it. I didn't think you would." He gasped lightly as his cock started to slip in between her breasts, twitching a bit. "I-is it big enough for you?" He asked. She smirked darkly and let her tongue lick his tip. She was squeezing and messaging her breast around his cock. Her cheeks flush with color. "Would I hope you hunt me down answer?” she let her tongue work the sensitive nerves at the base of his heads cock. "Yeah, that would absolutely answer that question." He groaned as she started to lightly lick him. "Now, question is, if I do hunt you down, do I get to use this here condom in my pocket?" He asked with a small growl. She kept going listening to him as she had her breast do most of the work. She lifted her head. "Now doesn't that depend on then?” she said. She looked up at and held her mouth in such an inviting way as if saying she liked the feel of his head on her tongue. "I suppose it does. I think I'm going to stop talking and just enjoy the fact that there's a half naked chick with huge tits sucking my cock after such a shit day." He said as he got a little ballsy and started to push his cock into her mouth a little further. She smirked and took his cock more into his mouth. She began sucking tenderly and moaning. As he pushed between her breast she started feeling pleasure of her own. She felt warmth between her legs as she kept going. She took one of his hands and put it in her pretty pale pink locks. Furthermore, she really wanted him to take control of her head? He obviously wasn't going to say no to that. He wrapped his fingers in her pink locks and started to slowly Bob her head in and out on his cock. "That's it baby, look up at me with those beautiful eyes." He moaned. She let him lead her head at the pace he desired. Yet her own breast getting in the way of her going too be far down. Yet she kept working them as they brushed and rubbed against his sack as they worked part of his length. She moaned as she felt her panties getting moist. Andy started to force her head up and down a bit faster, noticing that one of her hand slipped down towards her panties. "Oh, do I get to see your lovely little pussy before I have to leave you to hunt you later? Give me something to really crave?" He spoke a bit innocently. She was moaning causing his cock to vibrate. Her tongue lashed the sensitive nerves and views. She pulled her skirt up slightly and let her fingers rub through her panties. She kept pushing rotating her shoulders, so her breast worked his length more as he pushed more of his length down her throat. "Mm, you are so fucking hot baby. You're amazing. I really do hope I can hunt you down real soon." He said as his climax neared. "God I'm about to cum!" He roared softly. She kept going hearing him. Her hand working more over the wet spot of her panties that was growing wetter. She moaned letting her breast work his sack as she started taking him fully down her throat. Her nipples where rock hard as if her breast where sensitive from the movement. She kept lashing that beautiful tongue. "Oh God. I'm gonna, I'm gonna." Was all he could get out before he groaned lowly before his juices spewed out into her mouth and down her throat like a waterfall. He hadn't cummed in about a week, as he never had time to, so there was plenty to go around in this encounter. She could hear his warning and didn't stop. It seemed to fuel her to go faster and suck harder. She whimpered as if wanting more. Her eyes upward looking at him. As if she enjoyed sucking cock. She began swallowing as soon as he started. Yet she wasn't stopping letting him ride out his throbbing cocks climax. Andy allowed his cock to ooze all of his juices down her throat before his cock fell limp. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "That was perfect baby. Now at least let me rub that beautiful wet pussy to finish you off." He said softly. She slowly took her mouth off his cock. She moved swallowing every last drop. Slowly she slides her breast off his cock. She looked at him and smirked. "Oh is that you offering to help a girl out?" She pulled her skirt up more so he could watch her keep rubbing as she stayed on her knees. "Makes me wonder would you stroke yourself for me... And if you cum again warn me, and I'll swallow it for you..." "You know that sounds like a wonderful idea. Just one thing. I think it would be much easier for you to get off and me to get hard if those panties disappeared temporarily. And maybe you'd even let me take them home." He said with a grin. She got a seductive smirk as she got to her feet. "Or and this is just another option." She pulled her dress up to her waist. She stood in her high heels and kept her panties on as she slides his cock between her legs. He could feel the hot wet warmth. "Or you could use that to rub me." She bites her lips. Andy moaned a bit as the skin of his warm cock met the juices that were flowing from her lips. "Well that works extremely well, however, what happens if by chance it slips in? What do we do then?" He asked. She gasped softly feeling him starting to harden again. "Isn't that why my panties are still on?" Her hips began to rock. Her breast rolling against his chest making her bite her lips. "Or did you want fingers between my legs... But your already responding..." "Well you make a wonderful point there." He said as he started to rub back and forth in a thrusting motion as he held her hips. "Come on baby. Moan for me." He whispered in her ear. "Yes...." She shuttered. Her hips pushing against his grinding his cock between her legs. Her wet lips rubbing right against his length through her panties. She was dripping on him. She moaned softly listening to him. "I really want you to hunt me down Andy... So we can get to know each other well enough... That I can ride this hard thick cock properly." She moaned. "I will do everything in my power to hunt you down Abby. Because I need to taste that pussy and absolutely drill you." He said as he started to thrust harder between her legs, trying to get her to explode with pleasure. It didn't take her long before he had her cumming through her panties. She was shaking and her arms where around him. It was as if she hadn't cummed in as long as he had. Her cum made his cock twitch once again, this time harder than before. "I'm going to be fucking cum again. And this one feels harder than the first." He groaned as his second climax in meet minutes arose. She panted and kept going feeling him building up once more. She bites her lips. Her body was pressing tightly to his. She was surprised by how pent-up he was. She moaned loudly in his ear and whispered softly. "Tomorrow night Andy the hunter." She said nipping his ear. "Late after work even if this place is closed. I'll be close." "You can count on the fact that I will find you." He said as a small bit of cum started to leak from his cock. "You might want to get that before it falls on the floor and leaves evidence." He said with a grin. Abby backed up and smirked. She knelt down licking the head of his cock. Her lips slowly wrapping around the head as she began sucking once more knowing how close he was done to how he had started to drip. It wasn't but about ten to twenty seconds until he fully climaxed yet again, dumping a huge load down her throat, this one bigger than the last. "Holy fuck baby. I think you just drained me completely." He heaved lightly. She stood up licking her lips after he emptied himself into her mouth as she swallowed. She began straightening up her clothes and making it look like nothing happened in the stall. "Then I guess our moments over." She said with a smile. She knew they were still slightly intoxicated. And the reality was he probably wouldn't remember her in the morning. "Well I guess you're right.... for now." He said as he pulled his pants up and smiled to her. "I will however leave you with a kiss of luck and hope that I should find you tomorrow." He said as he grabbed her face and kissed her deeply. She was running her hands through her hair when he grabbed her face. She felt his lips on hers. They were hot and passionate as if wanting to put her to memory. She blushed pulling back. "Just want to remember me?" She said unlocking the stall and stepping out as if nothing had happened between them that was serious. "You got that right my dear. I won't forget your taste. And that's a promise." He said before he stepped out of the stall with her and straightened his shirt and pants before leaving the bathroom and blowing her a kiss as he left. "Until next time." He winked. She smiled and saw him wink after his words. She made her way out of the bathroom and out of the club. Furthermore, she walked calmly out and into the night. Furthermore, she called a cab. Once inside she made her way home until she got dropped off. She went inside her apartment and got undressed to sleep the night away before starting a new day. Andy went home and slept better than he had in quite some time. He arose for work the next morning, surprisingly remembering everything from the previous night. He went to work, a fairly uneventful day except for some major cuts at the company in his department, but luckily not him. Furthermore, he finished his shift around eleven PM, as he went on the prowl for his slutty Cinderella from the night before. Abby went to work the next morning in a messy bun. She wore glasses and a baggie hoodie. She wore tight leggings and the hoodie covered her butt. The day went normal. Yet that night she pulled on a skin tight white dress and then pulled on a fish net dress over it. She wore black high heels. She had a clutch purse in her hand. Furthermore, she went out like she did it was late. Very late, by the time she reached the club it was an 11:30. Andy drove to the club and stood outside the entrance, looking for his mysterious mistress. He looked to his left and to his right until he laid eyes on her. He walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Well hello there mistress Abby." He chuckled. She turned with a smirk looking up at him. Those bright teal eyes on him. "Well I am surprised that you actually remembered my name Andy. We both had a lot to drink last night." She said with a smile. "Hope I didn't keep you too long." "Well how can I forget a blowjob like that?" He said with a chuckle as he looked in her eyes. "So do you want to go drink more, or would you like to head back to my place? I have food." He chuckled. "Well we can get a drink and then head back to your place. It would be shame to get all dolled up and waste it with the hours I work Andy." She smirked. "Unless your fishing for other women. Then with that seeing someone near you might be seen a cock block. So it's up to you." "Well seeing as I came looking specifically for you, I don't have a problem going to get a drink or two and just get to know each other love." He said with a soft smile as he opened the door for her. "Then it seems like we have a game plan for the moment." When he got the door for her, she stepped inside the club. "Here I was worried I wouldn't make last call. Sorry I had to put in extra hours today at work. I honestly didn't expect you to be here after that." Her hips swaying as she walked over. "But I do hope that your day at work went way better than mine." "Nah honey that's fine. I just got off myself. Stupid layoff meetings and all that fun bullshit. Luckily my jobs safe." He said as they sat down at the bar and ordered a shot of vodka and a Bud Light as he looked at Abby and smiled. "Drinks on me love." He said. Abby laughed softly and watched him order for her. "Wow you almost got my order right. I'm surprised with how much we drank last night." She smiled as if impressed by this. She took a seat next to him a couple of other guys watching as if hoping her skirt would come up to far. "Thank you." "Well I tried my best." He laughed as he took his shot and started to drink his beer before smiling her way. "Did you want to get anything to eat before we go home?" He asked. She took her shot and signalled for another. "I actually ate dinner at home as I was getting ready to go out tonight. I know odd. But I'm not really into bar or club food. Never been even when I was in college." She laughed. "So you're really wanting to get me back to your place aren't you?" "Well, well of course my dear. Why wouldn't I want to get a sexy little thing like you home after the night we had last night." He said with a large smile on his face. Abby stood up and smiled at him as she leaned against the bar. "Well then I guess we should head to a more private setting?" She said with a soft giggle seeing no harm in getting away from the public. "That sounds perfect to me love." He said as he gazed at her body in amazement. "You know, I think after the day we've both had, we could use some release." He says as he stood up slowly. "Oh I thought you wanted to get to know more as well." She chuckled. "To be able to stalk your prey better." She said as she walked towards the doors. She looked back with a soft smirk. "Well of course I do dear. But it's kind of hard to hear you over everyone else in this Godforsaken bar." He said as he opened his car door for her. When they made it to his car she was surprised that he was willing to get the door for her. She climbed in with ease. Setting her purse on the floor board. "Better?" "Much better." He said as he got in the car and started to drive off. "So what do you do for work?" He asked as he put a hand on her thigh. "I work long hours at one of the factories around here. Nothing glamorous or the like. I really don't like saying what I do. Work is not one of those things that I think makes a person." She put her hand on his and moved it up slightly with a smirk. "Factory work blows. I do it too." He said as he lightly took one of his fingers and rubbed her panties with it. "You ready to really get to know each other?" He said with a wink. "Well at least get to know each other more." She said as she moved as if showing she got the signs of his tension. She moved, so one of her hands was rubbing his groin as her breast pressed against his arm. "We can do things at whatever pace you would like." He said as he parked the car and kissed her cheek. "Would you like to go inside?" He asked. She smirked looking at Andy. "If you want to we can. It is your place after all." Her hand gently working his ever-growing appendage. "This is true." He said as he opened her door and held her hand as they walk into his home. "Well, this is my home. And if I bring you here, it is your home as well." He said with a peck of her cheek. She walked with him inside and seemed to be watching him. "I think you mistake me for a stray cat Andy." Abby said as she set her purse down next to the door. "So hunter what shall we do?" "Well I guess that depends on if you'd like to get to know each other mentally first, or mentally after we physically exhaust each other." He joked as he put his jacket in the closet. "Fine we can let's say ask three questions of the other and we answer. The. Jump to physical exhaustion. Before I call a late night cab to take me home." She said with a smirk across her lips. "I like all of that, except for the late night cab. How about I take you home?" He asked as he sat on the couch. "Oh then the fox would lead her hunter straight to her dens door. That doesn't sound like much fun if you ask me." She moved into his lap when he sat down. The bottom of her dress coming up high enough that he could see her white panties. "Well I suppose you're right. But you're at least going to let me pay for your cab correct?" He asked as his hands caressed her thighs lightly as he kissed her cheek. "Then you might be able to figure out how far. My den is from you. So I'll pay." She moved closer and pressed her body to his. "That's two questions you've asked... And what's your third?" She was definitely keeping count as his touches encouraged her hips to dance on his lap. "Hmm. Well okay then. I suppose my last question should be personal. Do you have any kids?" He asked as he started to buck his hips a bit. She laughed at the question. "No I don't have any kids. If you're worried. Birth control daily." She smirked. "My turn. Any hidden woman drama? I ask because you definitely are attractive." She twisted her hips down as he bucked up. "Does that mean no condom?" He asked out of turn before answering her question. "Not since my ex was killed in a car accident five years ago." He said as he reached in between her legs to try to play with her slit through her panties. "Oh those are just extra safeguards. So still in play." She let out a gasp as he touched her. "Sorry about that." She teased taking the fishnet portion of her dress off. "Do you live alone then? Because one can have roommates or such." She said reaching back to flick off her heels. "So I am going to get to use my condoms?" He asked as he started to grope her boobs through her dress. "Nope. This is my house all alone. No one will bother us here at all." He said. "I don't know who last rolled in the hay with, and you don't know who I've been with." She said. "Yes you'll be using them." She leaned in to his hands and nibbled his ear. "Third question... Personal question how many times are you hoping to get off tonight?” "Fair enough, and umm.... I have six condoms left in the pack. Think we can use them all?" He asked with a laugh. "You'll definitely need to buy more before we meet again." Was her answer. She nipped his ear tenderly and tugged gently. She pulled back and pulled her dress off for him so that she was only in those tiny white panties. "I will keep that in mind. I guess the only thing left is to ask boundaries. What am I not allowed to do?" He said stripping to his red boxers with black waistband. "None to night. Do what feels right to you. And call it a learning experience." She stood up and let her panties fall. There was not a hair between her legs. She bites her lips. "Or is that a bad thing?" As soon as her panties fell, his cock grew hard instantly. "Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Now I believe my cock needs some attention while you tell me some of the things you like done to you since it'll be a long six condom night." He smiled as he dropped his underwear to the floor. She knelt down between his legs. She began to rub his legs and lick his hard cock. Furthermore, she smirked. "I like games so figure out what I like as we go." She began taking him suddenly fully down her throat. "Well I think I can do that as long as you let me know if I do something wrong without getting angry." He said as he groaned lightly when his cock disappeared down her throat. She nodded her head and moaned. Making his cock vibrate in her throat. Her tongue lashing as she ribbed her head down and up his length. Andy moaned as he worked his hands through her hair, now sober and being able to safely control her movements, he started to lightly fuck her mouth. She looked up at Andy with those big teal eyes of hers. She let her lips tighten around his thick cock as she sucked. Letting him set the pace of her heads movements. "That's a good girl. Looking all innocent with a thick cock shoved down your throat." He moaned as he made her deep throat him for a few seconds. When he held her head in place she moaned loudly for him. So that her throat would cause more sensations for him as her tongue rubbed the large vain. He soon took his cock out of her mouth and smiled. "How about we take this back to the bedroom and I can return the favor." He winked. She looked up at Andy with a smirk. "Who said sucking cock was a favor? I might like sucking." She stood winking at him. "Well in that case, maybe allow me to do something I like to do." He winked at her and spanked her roughly. Abby looked at him and gasped as he smacked her ass. But not in away that said she didn't like what he had done. "Oh that does change things. Greatly. Lead the way big boy." "My please miss." He said as he took her hand and led her to his rather large master bedroom with a king-size bed with rose colored sheets and blankets on it. He positioned her in front of the foot of the bed and shoved her to the bed a bit roughly with a large growl. She looked at his room and couldn't help, but think that he had taste. Great taste. She turned as he guided her and her eyes went wide as she hit the bed. She laughed softly. "Plan to ravage me?" Andy looked at the girl that now laid on his bed with her legs spread for him as she asked him if he was going to ravage her. "Honey, if it's cool with you, I'll lovingly tear you in half." He growled. Abby looked at him and blushed. "Perfectly okay." She watched him and let her eyes wonder over his body. "You should be on magazines... Not in a factory..." She said not realizing what had slipped past her lips. "Well my dear, then the only thing that I can say, is your safe word is banana. Do you like handcuffs and restraints? And how do you feel about whips?" He whispered to her as he mounted her and started nibbling on her neck lightly. She whispered. "Just don't make me bleed. I work hard at work. It's how I keep this body." She said to him and kissed the side of his head. Her hands went over his shoulders feeling the way he moved. "You got it dear." He growled as he began to slink his way down her body, sucking on her perfectly perky nipples, giving them a tiny nip as he knew how sensitive a woman's nipples are. He got down between her legs and gave her slit one long lick before letting his teeth graze against her clit. She gasped and squirmed. Her breast where sensitive to her. As he sucked her nipples she could feel herself getting wet. When he licked she arched slightly. And feeling his teeth she cried out in pleasure. Andy licked her up and down her slit before slipping a finger in her entrance, lifting his eyes to watch her reaction to his actions. She gasped and let her hands go to the bed as not to scratch him as her hands pulled at his sheets. She bites her lips as he pushed a finger inside her and her head went back. "God's people now of days... Forget what real... Touch is... And it feels so much better..." She said not knowing where he worked. "God you taste so fucking good, and you're so damn tight I almost can't handle it." He said as he ran his tongue back and forth over her clit. He chuckled a bit at her comment. "Fake rubber cocks seem to be slowing taking over our jobs as men." He said softly. Abby moaned and arched her back. She was panting as she bites her lips. Andy had the poor girl riding his finger as he licked her. "I... I admit... I have a few... But... Those are for lonely nights... When I crave the real... And... And the real thing is out of.... Reach..." Her hands moved up to her breast rubbing them. She moaned louder as she rubbed between her large mounds. "Well for the rest of the night at least, you have the real thing there my dear. And I know it's Friday night. Do you work tomorrow?" He asked as he continued licking and fingering her. She panted and looked slightly distant falling into the pleasure that he caused her. One of her hands moving into her wanting to end up in his, but not sure if he would allow her to pull his hair. "Umm I... I don't have.... Have work tomorrow..." "Well then how about you..... sleep here... tonight." He said in between licks before looking up and seeing her hand reaching towards his hair. "This. Way we can use... all of those... condoms." He stated as he placed her hand on his head and nodded with a smile. She panted feeling him take her hand and put it on his hair as if saying go ahead. Her fingers interlocked with his hair. Her hips lifted from the bed slightly. "Maybe.... If y... You wear me out!” she cried her body was so close to cumming. "Is that a challenge?" He asked as he slipped a second finger in her, trying to drive her crazy while he bit and pulled on her clit. "Maybe!” she cried out and arched. Her whole body trembled as she started climaxing on his fingers. Her cheeks coming alive with color. "Andy!” she cried out his name. Andy then stood up and walked over to his dresser and pulled out the box of condoms and smiled. "So two questions. One, how do you feel about your ass being fucked, so I don't slip in there later and get punched? And two, do you want to put these on me, or should I do it?" He asked. She let go of his hair panting heavily for a few moments as she moved watching him. She rolled on to her stomach watching him. Furthermore, she smirked. "Well I like watching them go on. And see my nails tend to well cause issues. I would do it with my mouth... But that I need more practice." she laughed softly. "And when it's my ass... Be gentle about the first few plunges." Then she got a dark look. "If I trust you enough you might be able to get in my ass without a condom." "Well I'll put the first one on myself, then we'll give you more practice with that pretty mouth of yours." He said as he opened one of them and slid it on, rolling it back. "And I'll do my best to earn that trust love." He stood right in front of her, his cock right in her face. "Now, first position is your choice." He growled. "Then you're going to take me from behind... There's something so raw and passionately carnal. When being taken from behind with a huge cock inside." She said with a smirk. "Sounds good to me." He said as he grabbed her hair and drug her to her feet before tossing to the bed on her stomach before gripping her hips and forcing her on her hands and knees. He spanked her hard on each cheek, causing them to jiggle. "Ready?" He asked. Abby she gasped as he pulled her up and didn't scream. She bounced when he threw her to the bed. She felt his strong hands squeeze her hips as he forced her on to her hands and knees. Furthermore, she moaned out as he smacked her ass. The glorious sting felt perfect at the moment. "Yes take me my hunter." "Oh, I'll do more than take you love. I'm going to destroy you." He said as he quickly gripped her hair and pulled it back and shoved his cock into her roughly with a loud growl. She felt him push deeply into her practically ramming her as he pulled her hair. She cried out for his delight. Her hands digging into his bedding. She felt her tight walls clamping down around him. "Mmm this pussy is as tight as I thought it would be. Almost like a virgin. How long has it been since you got drilled like this?" He asked as he started to thrust into her lightly at first. She moaned as he began thrusting and took deep breaths trying to answer his question. "Over a year..." She gasped out. Her hips starting to rock back at his pace. "Oh honey that is absolutely unacceptable. Well, I'm going to... wear out.... this... pussy tonight, then I'm going to keep hunting you down for more." He grunted as he gripped her hip and started to violently pound into her. She cried out when he started going after her like a hungry beast in heat. She braced for each thrust deep into her tightening walls. Her head going back as she looked over her shoulder at him. Andy took his free hand and reached underneath her and started rubbing her clit while he pounded her. "That's it, be a good girl." He demanded before pulling her hair tighter. She felt him reach under her and between her legs. Her mouth opened, and she couldn't shut it fully between moans. The way he pulled her hair without ripping it was perfect. She cried out in pleasure as her hips began thrusting back harder on him. She felt him reach under her and between her legs. Her mouth opened, and she couldn't shut it fully between moans. The way he pulled her hair without ripping it was perfect. She cried out in pleasure as her hips began thrusting back harder on him. "There you go baby. Let it all out for me." He moaned as he continued to pound her, spanking her every thirty seconds or so until her cheeks were a bright red. She hissed with each smack to her round ass. Her cries getting louder as her body was trying to get away from the pleasure without meaning to as she begged him not to stop. "Aww. Look at you sweetheart, your body isn't used to this pleasure mixed with pain. We'll have to get you used to it again." He said with a wicked grin. "I'm.... I'm trying not to cum!” she cried out after he spoke. As if her body was so needy do to not having what it craved. "You hold it until I tell you're allowed to. Understand?" He asked as he continued to pound her while lightly reaching around her and pinching her nipples softly. She cried out as if begging him to let her cum. Her nipples so sensitive as he pinched nearly had her lifting her upper body. Her body thrusting back on his cock as she could feel her walls throbbing around him. "Alright my dear, you may cum." He said as he began pounding her as hard as he physically could. She cried out in tears of pleasure as her body gave over. Nearly so overwhelmed that her legs tried to give on her. She gushed all of his cock as he pounded. "That's a good girl. Now I'm ready to cum, but it would be a shame to waste it in this condom. So where would you like it?" He asked as he slowed himself down and pulled out of her. Abby cried out as she felt him pulling out of her. She looked at him. "Where do you desire it.... I know you have a shower..." She panted. "Well, you have the choice of in your mouth, on your face, or on your tits the first time." He said as he stripped his condom off, awaiting her decision. She turned on him as if taking charge from him and pinned him to his bed. She began licking his cock showing what she would do to him. Furthermore, she slides his cock between her large breast. "Figure out what you want..." She said lustfully. "Well, well. It seems that someone has quite the dominant streak there." Said he-he thinking about his choice. "I think you'd look fantastic with white all over your pretty face." He winked. She smirked and let his cock stay between her breast. She worked his cock. Keeping the tip exposed as she licked the sensitive head. Andy swiftly stood up and forced her back to her knees. "I'm pretty sure I'm the DOM here. So how about you beg for my cum all over your pretty face." He stated. She smirked as he figured out that she was a switch. She found it impressive. "Don't you want to cum? Have release on my face to ease the pain in your loins." She said as she licked. "I want nothing more than to release my seed all over your face!" He roared as he reached his climax and shot multiple strings of semen in her face, covering her face in his white liquid. She looked at him and closed her bright eyes to protect them from his seed. She paused before cleaning her face with her hands so he could see his work. "Well my dear, is that enough for a first load? And enough to convince you to stay the night?" He asked as he looked into her eyes. She wiped her face and licked her fingers then palms. "Well my answer still applies. I have nothing here for the morning. If I did, that is." She chuckled softly. "Well, I see that you need a lot more convincing. Lucky for you, my body only needs about fifteen minutes cooldown time. So, anything fun you'd like to do till then?" He asked as he kissed her cum soaked lips. She kissed him back tenderly. "Show me to the bathroom so that I can clean my face properly." She smirked. "I'm worried about my eyes dear." "But of course my dear." He said as he took her hand and guided her to the bathroom and led her to the sink. "Would you like some help my dear?" He asked. She blushed as he leads her. She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes please I really don't want to have to wear glasses all the time again Andy." She chuckled. "I've got you, no worries." He said as he grabbed a washcloth and used it to clean off her face. "So how was it? Did you enjoy our first time? I like feedback because in reality I'm a bit insecure about my sexual abilities." He said softly as he dried her face with a towel. She laughed softly and let him care for her. "Thank you. Well since you gave me a fear I'll give you one. I got a bad eye infection when I was a kid. So I'm nervous about my eyes as I was blind six months and then glasses for 6 years." She moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. "I look forward to our next round. If I wasn't impressed with the first. I wouldn't stay for the second. I'm not that much of a lady." "Well that gives me all the confidence I need." He said with a soft laugh. "And I'll be sure to take good care of your eyes." He said as he kissed her forehead. "So, you have to tell me ever your favorite part of every round was." He winked at her. "I can't get better at this game without some hints and tips." He joked. "Most don't catch that I am switch. They think I'm one way or another." She blushed. "It was thrilling in ways I don't think I can describe." She said as she let a finger trace his chest. "That just makes it all the more exciting for us then." He smiled as he lifted her chin to kiss her lips lightly. "Cause since you let me have my way with you, you can have your way with me this time." He said with an evil smirk. She looked at him as he lifted her chin and kissed her lips. She kissed him back tenderly. "Oh I can? But where is the fun if there isn't little power struggle? And you are bigger than me." She teased. "I mean, who says I wasn't going to struggle? I don't plan on just letting you have it." He said as he grabbed her and pinned her against the closed bathroom door. "Let's see what you've got buttercup." He teased. Abby smiled and bite her lips as she was pinned. Those eyes said he clearly had her aroused. "What's off limits... This I need as I've had some lovers just like me to beat the crap out of them." "The only thing is ask is if you're going to put something in my ass, I need some advance warning." He smiled as he pecked her lips and winked. "Do your worst sister." He said softly. "Oh your one of those." She teased playfully. She pushed against him and looked into his eyes. "You know that there are a lot of ways to struggle. I'm kinda in the touchy-feely softer touches at the moment." She said before kissing and biting his lips. "Oh is that so?" He said softly as he kissed her back. "Well I am amazing at tender touchy-feely love making." He said as he placed his hands lightly on her ass. "Oh you are? Because I can already tell you are amazing at drilling from behind." She said letting her hands move across his back. "Oh yes." He groaned. "I can make you feel like the biggest slut in the world, or the most important person in the world. Whatever you choose dear." He said as he nipped her lower lip. "How about somewhere in the middle of that?" She cooed softly to him. She kissed him back bring one of her legs up invitingly. "I can do that. I want to see how good you can guide me. I want to love you and give you everything I am." He moaned as he squeezed her ass hard. She pushed into his hands and smirked. "Guide you? Where is the fun in that?” she began kissing his chest and nipping gently. So many women forgetting to show this kind of affection back. "Well, you get exactly what you want and nothing you don't want, and I promise ill love it too." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Also, we've got plenty of time to abuse each other tonight." He whispered in her ear, nibbling at it. "Tell me can you lift 120 pounds? Repeatedly...." She smirked looking at him. "Cause on your sink looks like it could take what I have in mind." "Honey, I bench 240 pounds, so that should be no problem. What are you thinking?" He asked. "Why not have me right here in this room?” she said with a smile. She smirked as she let her tongue roll over his nipple. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea at all, however I'm not sure what you're completely getting at." He grinned as she licked his sensitive nipple. "Well if you were to lift me and take me using the sink as a back-up plan if your hands start to slip. Seeing as I do enjoy being treated like I weigh nothing at all." She said as she bites down on his chest. "So that would be what you would like my dear?" He asked as he quickly picked her up, bringing her face to face with him. "You mean like this?" He asked. "Yes like this." Her legs wrapped around his waist. The warmth between her legs was right against him as she whispered. "How are you with rough with your cock all the way to the end? I find it passionate." "I can certainly drill you lovingly if that's what you might like my dear." He said as he spun her around and pinned her against the wall. She gasped as he spun her around. Her back against the wall as she looked at him. She blushed as if thinking he was being careful. "You have lovely collar bones." "Well, thank you. Yours are extremely nice too." He said as he nipped at her collar bone. "Trouble is I'm not wearing a condom." He said with a wink. Andy made her blush saying that. "Oh that's unfortunate." She said about the condom. She watched as he worked her collar. "Oh then what shall we do to fix it?" She trusted him and reached between them and stroked his cock. "Well, I could always just pull out if you want me to do that and not put you down." He said with a grin. She kissed his jaw softly and nibbled. "I am okay with that. It's been a long time since I've had a bare cock inside me." "It's been a long time since I've felt bare pussy meat, so I think it'll be perfect for both of us." He laughed. "Just tell me when you're ready and what you want me to do love." He said softly. She bites her lips and gave a shy tender look with those bright eyes. "Can... Can you just put it in and us feel each other first?” "Of course baby." Andy said softly as he held her up completely with one arm while he grabbed his cock and lightly lowered her down and placed his cock inside her before allowing her to sink down on it slowly. She moved her arms around his shoulders as he moved as if to help him not drop her. She felt him starting to push into tight little pussy. Her walls seemed to drip with warmth. She didn't notice her nails scratching his flesh. "There you go baby. That's it. Feel that cock expands your tight walls." He said as he let his girth stretch her out a little bit before smiling to her. "Okay my dear. What's your next instruction for me?" He asked. She adjusted her heart raced in her chest as she felt him filling her with his massive length. She was panting softly. "I. I missed this. This feeling." She said. "Start making love to me... Passionately?" "I missed this feeling too, but it feels different with you. It feels, right..." He said as he waited for her to tell him what to do. Once given his instructions, he nodded. "Yes dear. Just tell me what you like and what you want." He said as he backed up a tiny bit so she wasn't against the wall before he started to bounce her up and down slowly on his cock while supporting her weight in his strong arms perfectly. She could feel his strong muscles holding her as they moved under her fingers. She let out soft pants of pleasure. "Bite me not in my neck..." She didn't want it to show at work. Andy growled lightly as he continued to bounce her slowly while he leaned down and bit and sucked on her collarbone, creating a dark purple bruise that was just low enough to be covered by a shirt. She could feel his restraint in his bite and movements. Soft little wanting gasp escaping from her. When he bites her she had moaned her head falling back slightly. "Gods your showing so much restraint... You deserve a secret... I came... Last night in the stall with your cock between my tits." "Well baby I'm glad I could help get you off and make you feel good." He moaned as he kept going at the same pace while leaving bite marks on both of her tits while planting a soft kiss on her neck. Abby whimpered softly as she panted. "Those... Those are... Are so sensitive." She seemed to be telling him something that others didn't hear. She kissed his neck panting and felt her own body squirming in his grasp. "Yeah. I know they are. That's why I was easy." He said as he gripped her ass cheeks roughly. Her ass filled his hands as he squeezed. She moaned loudly and felt this sweet dark warmth. She gasped out. Her body pressed to his. "Your.... Your body structure... Is impressive." "Well thank you my dear. That is very nice of you to say." He said as he bounced her a couple more times, his muscles rippling with each bounce. "Still waiting for your instructions love." He said softly. Abby gasped and whispered softly. "Pull my hair... The way you did in the bedroom... You... You did it without ripping it... It... Was perfect." Her hands clasping down on his shoulders. Andy nodded to her before wrapping his arm around her to hold her tightly. He then took his free hand and tangled it in her hair before pulling it slowly, being certain not to rip it at all. She cried out in pleasure at the soft pull. Her large eyes on him as her lips trembled. Her walls tightening around him and she gasped. Furthermore, her body arching in his grasp. "That's it baby. Let it out. Tell daddy what you want." Wait, what did he just say? Uh oh. Hopefully she was okay with that, if not things might not be good. She cried out loudly for him. "Harder Daddy! Punish me harder!” she cried. Thinking it was what he was looking for. "That's daddy's good girl." He said as he started to violently bounce her up and down on his cock as his hand remained tangled in her hair. She leaned in moaning. She rubbed her face against him as she kissed his shoulder. Then those pink locks that where not in his hand went back as her walls throbbed around him harder. She began crying out. As suddenly her body flooded his hard cock with hot fluids of her orgasm. "Holy fuck its hot when you cum baby. Cum more for me. Tell me how to please you more!" He moaned as he sat her ass up on the sink. She whimpered trembling as he felt her body trembling in his arms. Her hands tightening on his shoulders. "Keep punishing... Me Daddy!” she cried out to Andy. She kept trying to move with Andy to please him. Andy looked to her and smiled to her before locking lips with her deeply. "How would you like to be punished princess?" He asked. She kissed him moaning softly against his lips. "Any way you want daddy..." She whispered sweetly as she thought it was his turn. Andy thought for just a moment. "I have handcuffs and shackles. Would you mind me using them to tie you to the bed and have my way with you?" He asked. Abby blushed. Even in her state of bliss her eyes showed excitement. "Yes you can. Don't worry I remember the safe word." She said reminding him that he gave one. Andy then carried her to the bed and put her down on all fours and smiled as he grabbed two six pairs of handcuffs and sat them in front of her. "Pick two pairs for your hands and two for leg shackles." He said. She picked cuffs for her arms that she thought wouldn't end up in her with bruises on her wrist. If they were on her ankles she could hide them at work. Andy then tightened the cuffs around her wrists and ankles before grabbing a selection of whips from the drawer and sitting them in front of her. "Which one?" He asked. "Oh so pretty. Which do you recommend?" She asked knowing that some people had their personal favorites. "Well, I'm partial to the one with red sparkles. It leaves nice little cuts in the skin that don't bleed, but burn like hell for an hour or two." He smirked. "Oh that sounds slightly pleasant." She gently touched with her cuffed hands. There was something so sensual in the way she did. "You sure you're okay with that?" He asked as he put the other whips back and picked that one up and ran it down her spine lightly. She felt him run the whip along her flesh causing small goosebumps to appear. "Yes. I... I remember how to be safe..." She moaned shivering. "Good girl." He said as he reached back and cracked her with the whip. "Now why do you deserve this whip?" He asked. "Cause daddy wants to punish me and keep me coming back for more." Abby said playfully. Her body was shuttering with excitement when he had smacked her with the whip. "That's right. Now, what is it that you want. Cause it seems I've got you all tied up there dear." He said as he cracked her once again, but harder. She jumped slightly from the impact and hissed. Her eyes fluttered for a moment."yes daddy you do." "Well, what should daddy do to a little girl that's all tied up and naked, huh?" He asked as he trailed the whip against her spine again before cracking her twice. She shivered when he touched her spine. When he cracked her she cried out each time. "What.... What has daddy...? Been craving?" "Well, I was thinking of shoving this thick cock in your tight little asshole." He said with a grin as he spanked her sharply, leaving his large handprint on her ass cheek. She jumped as he smacked her ass. Her soft flesh jiggled. She cried out. "If... If that pleases you.... You daddy!” "I think it will please me just fine my dear. Do me a favor and pull on your cuffs. Make sure you can't move at all." He growled. She took a few deep breaths as if he was pushing her to a point she hadn't felt in a while. In away, it scared her. Yet she did what he asked without saying a word. He realized that she was scared. He knew he didn't want her to actually use the safe word. Furthermore, he bent down to her and completely broke character, just becoming Andy. "Abby, are you safe? Are you comfortable? We can stop if you want. I don't mind at all." He said softly as he placed his hand in hers. Abby had noticed he had caught that something was off about her. It was like he was reaching out to her and she took his hand. Her thumbs worked it gently. "Yes I am safe. Uneasy yes. But we don't have to stop. I have the safe word. And it's there in case things get too much. I'll be fine really." "Okay honey. I just don't want you to hate me or not want to see me anymore if I accidentally go too far. I really like you. And outside this bedroom I would never do anything to hurt you. And you have my word on that." He said as he kissed her softly. Abby kissed his lips softly. "The safe word is also there to keep me from hating you." She assured letting him know that she wasn't afraid to use it so that she wouldn't feel that way. She kissed his lips once more. "Okay baby." He said as he stood up and put the whip away. "I think we've used that enough." He stated as he knew it hurt quite a lot. The skin on her ass was torn from the whip. He switched back into DOM mode, showing her his genuine, caring smile slowly turn to a devilish smirk. "Oh what am I going to do with such a defiant little girl?" He asked her. Abby smiled as Andy understood exactly what she had meant. Showing that he would rather her use it if need be then hated him. She watched him as he moved and put the whip away as if having enough is it. "Well daddy said he wanted to punish my ass." She teased shaking it lightly for him. "That is true!" He said as he got up on the bed behind her and grinned. "You're still doing okay down there kitten?" He said as he ran a finger along her slit. Abby looked over her shoulder at him. She heard his question. Had she looked that close to being scared there for a moment that he was actually concerned? Maybe to him, she had. She smiled at him and nodded as he touched her as she stayed cuffed. "Yes I'm doing just fine down here." "Good girl." He said as he took his cock and rubbed it against her folds before lightly pushing it into her ass while reaching up to pull her hair tightly. Her body went little tense as he started pushing into her tight ass without any prep. Her hands digging into his bed. She panted heavily. Her head going back as he pulled her hair. "Mmm God baby, your ass is so fucking tight. It's perfect." He said as he started to thrust in her ass lightly. Even when 'torturing' her, he wanted to make sure he wasn't tearing her insides. "How does this feel baby?" He asked with a groan. She could hear him and was bracing for each impact of his thrust. "It... It stings... I. I think that's... Normal." she panted out heavily as she tried to relax more. "Yes baby, that's normal. Just try to breathe for me love." He said as he thrust in her ass while gripping her hips, moving them back and forth with his thrusts. Abby felt Andy as she heard him trying to ease her letting her hear that it was normal even though she knew it already. She breathed as he thrust into her tight ass. It was clear that she hardly let anyone use her round ass. "I'm so glad you're letting me in your ass honey. It's so tight and perfect." He moaned as started to thrust harder into her, grunting with each thrust. Abby panted as she began to slowly push back with his thrust. Her lips parting as he encouraged her. She could feel his hands on her hips as if keeping her close. "That's it baby. Take this huge cock in your tiny ass." He said with a smirk as he plunged a finger inside her pussy lightly. She gasped as he touched her pussy. Her body slightly taking his cock better as he distracted her from her ass. Her movements becoming more rhythmic. "God baby you're so perfect. I just hope I can find you again after tonight." He said with a smile as he continued to thrust in and out of her ass. Abby panted and finally let out a small moan as Andy worked her body. She was finally starting to feel a bit of pleasure as he took her tight ass. Andy started to speed up as she started to relax a little bit. "Fuck baby, you're so perfect. The more you relax, the more pleasurable this will be for you." He said with a small groan. She could feel how eager he was becoming the more her body relaxed. Her waist moved delicately as she began thrusting more back. She gasped as she felt him bottom out completely. "Mmm, baby how does that cock feel shoved deep in your ass?" He asked as he made sure to bottom out inside her with each thrust. The thrust into her where starting to make her moan more frequently. "Filling... Still stings..." She closed her eyes and let out a longer moan. "Well the more we do it, the easier it'll get." He said with a grunt as he started to pound into her ass roughly. Abby started pushing back harder and moaning softly. Her round supple ass rippling with each hard slam into her tight ass. "That's it baby. Ride that fat cock." He growled as he slammed into her repeatedly with no sign of slowing down. "God I'm going to cum!" He screamed lowly. Abby scuffed hands tightened on his sheets as she kept going. There was a soft shine to her skin from the heat of their entangled bodies. She could feel him throbbing with every deep thrust into her tight ass. She gasped out as she couldn't control her ass from tightening around him. Each hard thrust making her large breast bounce.

Strange Meetings (AustinMDG x LSD)|rating:2.0

_5e_ ----IC---- the awakening

ChandaraSpoiler Hide As part of your many travels despite your young age (for an elf), you found your self in Water deep, seeking a guide to venture into the long road, on your way to tribal. In your ever lasting search for myths and legends, you found one of particular interest. It is said that in the woods of tribal, the resting place of a former god, Weapon Windstorm, the tracker who never goes astray, could be found. It’s said that the ones looking for his resting place or “weapon’s slumber” have to sleep in the woods for one night, and in their dreams receive hints of what the goddess wants them to do, and that if the worshiper is not a ranger... the person gains the ability to track as one… so you decided that this is worth checking at least until you find any other leads of greater interest. That’s how you came across Bauble Düren, a Gnome ranger, quite eccentric for a gnome, who offered you his aid for a small fee, as he enjoys company, and was bound in the same road any ways. That was three days ago, you are now traveling North, probably a week or so from Tribal, it has been a nice and calmed ride, not heavily transited until now… suddenly with a hoping noise, 30ft away from you, a humanoid form just appeared out of nowhere, in heavy armor he lies on the floor… totally soaked, as well as the surrounding ground. TengarSpoiler Hide After many years of service to the dwarves' army, and a horrible final stand of your platoon, you decided it was time to find your own path, your own fights to fight, as such you leave the dwarves lands. You always wanted the liberty of the adventurers you saw, the stories, the challenges and rewards, so it was pretty stray forward for you, a dwarf not afraid of fighting, an adventurers' life was coming your way. So you started taking contracts, on your own, you decided to test your abilities, goblins, kobolds, some scavenger hunts from time to time... but one day you took a bite bigger than your mouth, and pursuit the disappearing of kids in a swamp, only to discover it was a green hag, it was a great fight. And one great story to tell if the witch hadn't teleported you away when you were about to give the last strike. And so... you appeared in the middle of the long road, covered by water of the swamp, with a couple of humanoids nearby, and the sounds of screams of despair. Stephen Spoiler Hide“ Hey… Wake up!!! We don’t have much time!!! “ You open your eyes slowly, you are lying on your flank with a tremendous headache as if your head was hammered, and your mouth dry. Everything is blurred around you, you try to get up on your feet, but your legs are weak. Where am I? Is everything you can think of… as your vision clears, the sky is red as if the sun set was close, but you are in a cell behind iron bars, not 30ft away from you an encampment. You could see, 4 big tents, behind those the shinning of a camp fire, you could hear some guttural voices laughing and talking, at least 8. Maybe orcs? When you turn around. You see the cell door wide open, and standing next to it, an even girl. I’m Less I’m here to rescue you. Or at least that’s the plan. But I need you and your mate... to evacuate the townsfolk while we distract the enslavers… you could see a scar in her left cheek, eyes as green as the forest, and light brow hair. Are you able to fight.? Here take this. She hands you a light crossbow and a quarterstaff. Fight… ? What are you talking about? My mate?!… everything is spinning around it's hard for you not to throw up. You are thinking… what is this woman talking about? You don’t know anything about mates…. Townsfolk…. Or enslavers, but right there, you have a flashback. You could see a town, at night. 8 to 10 orcs and a couple of humans yourself included. A coin purse throws at your hand by the orcs. Next. Townsfolk screaming, children crying and some huts on fire, by your spells, afterward… you are a little agitated your pulse accelerated… waiting for the orcs. And a blunt hit on the back of your head. That’s all you remember. Hey. Look we don’t have time to waste… I need your help… she quickly let your handcuff loose with her thieves tools… Now… go… the dragon born would be helpful. I think…? You look to your left and you see… 10 villagers, and a massive wide shouldered, dragon born, covered in fresh wounds and bruises, getting a short sword from less. And a massive roar came from him… The orcs went silent instantaneously. You could hear what was happening there… as the shadows reflected from the camp fire move closer. SHIFT. Lyss said out loud… There’s no more time! Here… I think this is yours. She hands you your spell book… there’s no more time... keep the villagers safe.we see you at red larch!! A whistling sound came from her mouth and the clashing of sword shields started sounding. Orcs screaming in rage, arrows flying. The dragon born started running the villagers followed him… and you… looked back momentously and started following them out of instinct. Bauble Spoiler Hide You have recently being freed from the human prisons of water deep, 5 years you rotted there, planning a way out and vengeance. it's been less than a month, and you have found it hard to live on the streets, from time to time you find some work as a mechanic, repairing clocks, and other not very advanced mechanical systems. You decided that it’s time to leave this part of your life behind and try to make something of yourself… star anew in a place no one knows and you brands you as a criminal. Your skills have gone dull for lack of use, your sense as not as sharp as they used to be, but still are better than others, one thing that has not gone dull is your brains for the intricate systems, of gnomish engineering, You plan to go to mithrall hall the famous dwarves mines, where your talents could be exploited and enhanced. Lucky for you. You found an opportunity to make coin in the way and get some company, a draw priestess looking to get to tribal. You have being on the long road for 3 days now… everything has being calmed, until now… you just saw a dwarf popping out of nowhere, soaked in what appear to be water, and you feel strange. Your ears sense the sounds of a battle not too far from here. But you don’t see much, besides a column of smoke, probably coming from a camp approx. 500 ft to the west, the sun set breeze carries the light scent of blood. And as soon as you are about to mention something… you see 3 humanoid figures coming out of the line of the woods 400 ft away from you…. Bran Spoiler Hide Coming from west bridge with your newly formed band of adventurers you stumbled upon red larch, and a town in distress. The very night before your arrival, an orc raid with spell casters, attacked the town and took 12 people from the town, they pledge for your aid in the matter. And as group you immediately accepted the request. Your party made of, Less the even rogue, Hamster a Human Cleric of try, and mini the half even sorcerer. The orcs had made a clear track and didn’t worry to cover it up, so you tracked them successfully, but it took you almost 12 hours to reach their encampment. Less made the ambush plan. You could count at least 12 orcs… and some prisoners, a dragon born, a human in black robes, and 10 ragged farmers, it seems. Less Planed to free the villagers and recruit the two able-bodied persons, to help the villagers escape, while they fought the orcs. But a sudden scream alerted the orcs, leading to a hasted start. Clashing of swords, shields, arrows flying, tents caught on fire, spells flying by, screams, blood, oh it is a good start for and adventuring campaign. You swing your great sword slashing through an orc, mini casting fire bolts landing on orc faces and tents… chaos reins in the encampment now. Most of the orcs are hammered by hard liquor, but nonetheless know how to fight… A couple of them engage with hamster, hitting him with their axes, but he seems to be able to defend him self. Less arrows fly and strike true to one of the orcs engaged with Hamster…. But not before the other one screams his lungs out, suddenly his muscles build up heavily veins on his neck and eyes turned totally black... he enters a frenzy blinded attack form with hamster can not escape. And takes two hits one in the belly and other that goes off with hamsters head. Mini casts more spells. But arrows fly into her gut, this doesn’t look good now… mini is badly wounded, hamster is gone… so less calls for a retreat! The villagers should be at least some couple of hundred feet away! Its now or never…!! Your paladin honor tells you to stay and face death… but the duty of protecting the villagers has a priority. Right when you are about to retreat the earth shakes suddenly and a massive creature made out of rock protrudes from the ground… the orcs around it immediately charge at it, but with just one hit it takes out a couple of them, nonetheless... they still land a few hits, that seem to harm the creature. You see. And mini is on her knees… with hands on her guts… a before you can even talk to her. She falls to the heart for another treacherous arrow fired by the orcs. You scream in anger… and run towards the line of the woods following the villagers. ALL Spoiler Hide Chandra, Bauble... You see as you face west, three figures running towards the road they are apron 300ft away from you, as you are facing the sunset It's hard to distinguish what kind of creatures they are, and just a couple of second later 10 more of them appear running behind. Stephen as you started running you could feel the earth shaking and a horrible and blunt roar as you followed the villagers, as you reach the line of the woods see a couple of humanoids in the road and another one a few meters ahead, lying on the floor, they are looking your way. Rubik you fell a little disoriented but besides that everything is fine, you try to get on your feet, and see that you are in the middle of a road, you hear screams at the distances and a couple of humanoids what seems to be an elf and a small creature standing 30ft away from you Bran You can see an earth elemental fighting the remaining orcs, as you reach the limit of the woods. You see the villagers running infant of you, an elf with black robes, and the road, where 3 humanoids stand. You guys are up! Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 "Whey... what's going on? Is that... a dwarf?" I approach the wet humanoid (is he ok? Does he need help?) and squint into the distance." Bauble, there's something moving over there, but I can't see clearly in this light. Can you tell what's happening?" Stephen, Human Wizard, STR 10 (0) DEX 13 (1) Con 16 (3) Wis 12 (1) Int 16 (3) CIA 8 (-1) AC 11, Perception 13,Investigation 13, Insight 11, Spells left 4" ****... I can't remember much... Never should have drank that much ale...or let myself get hit in the head as it may seem. What the hell did I do last night... I guess the orcs hired me to burn this village down...then why are the villagers not attacking me? I guess I understand the orcs not wanting to pay me, but imprisoning me seems a bit too much... Damn this amnesia...hope I can remember everything with time." "Wait...who are those people? Are they friendly? I have to find out what the hell happened. If they're here they must have some idea what's going on. "" HEY DUDES! OVER HERE! " Wave them over while running. Bauble, Gnome Ranger AC 15 Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 14 Bauble puts a hand to his hat, fiddles with an internal mechanism, and down in front of his eye pops a small scope, which he peers into to get a better view on what was going on. Some sort of battle, it seems... I suggest you draw your blade, I smell green skins! I take my crossbow from my back and hook a cable to my scope-glass, and ready an action to shoot the first orc that comes in range (80/320). You there! Dwarf! We may well need your aid. Lend us your might, and we may help you with your... overactive sweat glands? Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 I draw my rapier and stand next to the dwarf. Having heard Stephen's shout, I reply:"Who goes there?" Burning with anger, for his incapability... Bran rushes to the roads WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?? Looking around for his companions he realizes that there are more people ahead he yellsTHERE IS AN EARTH ELEMENTAL!!!!!! WATCH OUT!!!!!looking over his shoulder to see if anyone is following. Spoiler: Status Hide AC 16 Hp 12/12 I reply to Chandra."DON'T WORRY! WE'RE FRIENDLY!" "At least I think so...what's up with this dragon dude. Also, I sure hope the villagers also have amnesia too. Otherwise, I think I may be in trouble...unless I'm thinking of some other village I helped burn down to the ground...there were many now that I think about it." "Also, what's that dude behind yelling? I can't really hear him very well since I'm all sleepy and groggy...and running sure doesn't help...sounded like "dirt and metal"...maybe he's got amnesia too?" Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 To no one in particular:"Did... did he just say... Earth Elemental? I wonder what that's doing here. Maybe there's some kind of interplanar portal nearby..." To Bauble:"They claim to be friendly... they're probably running from the Elemental. Should we go over there and help?" To Chandra:Hmm... I've seen these things level cities back in the caverns. We should get out of here. The sweaty dwarf can come with us, but the humans should stick with these people. This could be a trap. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 -scrub that-As the sun goes behind the mountains, the reflection in your face fades away slowly, so you can have a better view of what's going on.350 ft away from the road (where bauble, Rubik and Chandra stand ready) it's the line of the west-woods, laying on the east side of the sword mountains, so the terrain leading to the forest is slightly ascending. From the Hill there is a group of 12 people running towards the road, most of them screaming, crying and desperate. At the Front a broad shouldered dragon born with a short sword at hand (155 ft away from the road at the end of this round), looking over his shoulders. Following 10 villagers desperately running away from something (between 200 and 235 ft from the road at the end of this round), and finally a human in black robes with a quarterstaff in hand (250 ft away from the road). You see a human in heavy armor, running towards your great sword at hand, screaming at you to watch out for an earth elemental, he moves towards the road, running, ends up 250ft away from it at the end of the round. At that point he turns around.4 other figures move out of the woods, these ones with fur as armor, grayish skin and massive tusk protruding form their mouth, running they approach the human in heavy armor and pass him without even noticing him. Finally yo use how the earth itself shakes before your own eyes and as if a bowler came rolling down the mountain a massive figure made of rock protrudes from the ground at 300ft from the road. You have heard stories of creatures alike... it seems it's an Earth Elemental!!! The Dragon Born, leading the group faces back as he sees the rock creature, and screams at the top of his lungs, getting buffed and red eyed. (rage)you guys are up Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 "That's... impressive. And I don't think we can outrun it - it is coming down hill, after all. I'm going to help those people. Bauble, if you back me up, I'll double your money. What say you?" I dash (60 feet) towards the humans. My readied action (reaction) goes off, and I fire at an orc.(1d20+5)[21](1d8+3)[9]Vile Orcs! I'll fill you with holes! Wait, are we taking out the elemental, or the orcs? We can't defeat that elemental. Then, on my turn, I fire once more at the same one, or a different one if the first shot took it down.(1d20+5)[19](1d8+3)[10] "Are these the guys that tried to cheat me out of my hard ea...ok just cheat me out of my money, no hard-earned there. Screw'em. Cast a fire bolt at one of the orcs (the one that wasn't hit by the arrows).(d20+5)[19](d10)[3] Bran stands his ground, while the orcs approach, and looks as they past him without even bothering to cause attack of opportunity (if he had not run the last round.). Now taking a look at the Earth elemental approaching... he decides to take the dodge action, and move 30ft to the side. Getting out of the way to see if the elemental follows and finishes the orcs. I'm Bran Storm Wind, Paladin of Helm!... A quick introduction to the elf in black robes standing not far from him... Let's see if he engages with the orcs... afterward, we can finish him off. Ten gar Wars gen, Dwarf Fighter Originally Posted by Brahman You there! Dwarf! We may well need your aid. Lend us your might, and we may help you with your... overactive sweat glands? "This is new sweat Lad, I was Fightin' a swamp Hag. Name is Ten gar Wars gen, son of Fangirl and Era Wars gen, of Barack." After the quick introduction Ten gar looks around to his surroundings and without even thinking twice she rises his most old companion - his Maul - and start heading towards the Orcs saying"One threat at a time Lads, let's kill they Dan orcs first! They humans need us."blocking the Orcs passage ready to deliver a blow. Spoiler: IOC camp; Rolls Hide Move: Ten gar will move 25ft towards the direction of the orcs, blocking their way. Ready: Will ready an Attack using his Maul, that will trigger on the first Orcs that comes near him. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 I dash another 60 feet towards the action. ROUND 2. With a mysterious sound of rock grinding, the elemental becomes one with the ground itself, you can hear the extraordinary sound that its movement provokes as he moves underneath the human with heavy armor and the mage, making the ground shake underneath they feet but leaving no trace of its existence behind. Bran and Stephen brace them self as they see the elemental approaching, but fortunately for them, it seems more interested in the orcs than on them. The orcs seem totally focused on running away also, you can hear them as they fight with each other and try to push each other around, probably to make the less fortunate trip and that way get further away from the enemy, you can hear as they discuss in orc as they run away. Spoiler: IF you are with 60ft and know Orc language. Read. Hide WE SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE BUSINESS WITH THE WINGED LADY!!!! NEVER DOUBLE-CROSS THE EARTH!!! I WARNED YOU!! One of the orcs yells the dragon born leading the villagers suddenly stops, faces backwards and with a powerful scream, rushes towards the orcs, he seems determinate to finish his ex captors, but 30t beyond he stops, and gets ready to unleash his fury when the orcs are at an adequate distance. From the road, it seems the only interested person is the dark elf with the robes, that rushes forward to the action, as they companions look at each other in disconcert. Spoiler: Mechanics of the round Hide The Elemental, Earth Glides disappearing from everyone's sights for just a second, and re-appears 60 ft ahead taking a double move action. (elemental at 290ft from road) Stephen and Bran at 300ft from the road, taking dodge action vs elemental (280ft from road, 10 ft from the elemental.) Orcs desperately move away from the Elemental, taking double moves (60ft)... and 220ft from the road. Villagers run (x4 move) and are now only 80 ft away from the road. Dragon Born, Rushes towards the orcs, short sword at hand, moves 30ft and stands ready to bring death to the orcs. Chandra Moved 60ft towards the action and is... at 180 ft from the wizard and paladin, and 170ft from the earth elemental. And 120 from the road. 0ft, ON the road, bauble the gnome ranger and the dwarf fighter Ten gar, AR frozen by fear. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 Ok. So I see the dragon born moving to engage the orcs, and the elemental which also seems to be heading for the orcs. I would like to dash another 60 feet away from the road, but if possible, I'd like to arc my run so that I veer away from the path of the orcs. My aim is to get the elemental somewhere roughly between myself and the armored human (Bran). If he stays where he is, he'll be 120 feet away. Can I see his holy symbol? If so I'll shout to him:"Hail, sir! I am Chandra, a cleric of Ogham. What in the world is going on here?" Damn...barely did anything... I'll show him this time. Cast another fire bolt at the very same orc to finish him off.(d20+5)[18](d10)[2] Rubik, Dwarf Paladin AC 16, Perception 11, Investigation 10, Insight 11 Rubik looked at the action from the orcs' encampment, having gathered and donned his equipment that the orcs had taken away after capturing him. It had taken him a bit longer to get back into the action, having been imprisoned away from the rest of the captives. Some orcs were running away, an earth elemental chasing after them, same elemental who had seemingly killed his savior, the female elf. Rubik gritted his teeth. Some group had seemingly engaged the orcs, a few gray skinned hulks lying dead on the ground." Stars and stones... ", Rurik muttered,"I have ta protect they villagers an' find out what's going on...". Rurik dashed (50 ft) towards the mage and the paladin, shouting"Oi! What's going on? Who are ye?"as he ran. Bauble, Gnome Ranger AC 15 Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 14 Bauble advances 25 feet off of the road, shouting to Chandra:Foolish draw, get back here to safety! That elemental will smash you to pulp, and all of this trekking through the woods will have been for nothing! We need to get out of here! Despite his protests, Bauble fires another bolt from his crossbow at the orc that had been hit by the fire bolts.(1d20+5)[6](1d20+5)[16](disadvantage)(1d8+3)[6] Bran hears the Draw approaching... and repliesBRAN! PALADIN OF HELM... would you mind giving me a hand?when bran is about to charge the elemental, another dwarf appears right behind him...as he approaches bran is suspicious about him, but he recognizes him as a fellow paladin. Sir... this is no time for introductions, help us with this and after we'll talk! Wouldn't mind a fellow paladin right? With that... bran takes a deep breath, give a small prayer to helm. And approach the elemental and attacks him! Spoiler: Attacks Hide Great sword (1d20+5)[21] Damage [roll2d6+3[/roll] Stephen introduces himself to the nearby people:Stephen Burn heart. I possess the gift of magic. I've been hit in the head recently though...so I appear to be having some trouble with my spells, as you may see. Ten gar Wars gen, Dwarf Fighter Unable to reach his targets Ten gar just rushes towards the direction of the fight saying"I'm coming Lads!" Spoiler: IOC camp; Rolls Hide Move: Dash 50 FET towards the Orcs and Paladins. The Elemental, about to burrow into the ground suddenly stops, realizing that someone disturbed its focus on the orcs, until now you haven't realized that it wasn't just an amorphous piece of rock, but instead, now without the motion, you see the resemblance of arms legs and even a face that it has, with one sudden movement, he takes a swing with one of his arms at the creature that just attacked him. He seems not to be at the best of his conditions though. Some parts of it crumble as he stops. Spoiler: attack vs Bran's AC. Hide (1d20+7)[10] DMG (1d8+5)[13] and with the other hand, it takes a nearby rock and launches it vs one of the orcs Spoiler: attack vs Orc Hide (1d20+1)[11], disadvantage (1d20+1)[14], DMG (1d6+5)[7] after that he burrows into the ground and moves forward 30ft. (ends up 260ft from the road)Stephen AT 300ft and Bran at 290ft from the road. Orcs desperately move away from the Elemental, taking double moves (60ft)... and 160ft from the road. Villagers finally reach the road a bag the dwarf and gnome to help them. PLEASE PLEASE, HELP US!!! THESE MONSTERS TAKE US FROM OUR HOMES!! DON'T LET THEM HURT US ANYMORE PLEASE!! The Dragon Born, Takes his Reaction and attacks one orc, as it moves towards him, not caring for provoking AOO. Spoiler: Dragon born vs Orc Hide (1d20+5)[20] DMG (1d8+7)[12] Also in his turns, he attacks the same orc, if hi still stands. Or another one if not the case. Chandra Moved 60ft towards the action but diagonally... ending her movement at 140 ft from the wizard, 130ft from the paladin, and 100ft from the earth elemental (and 40ft to it's left) and 160 from the road. 25ft, from the road, bauble the gnome ranger shouts to the drown, while avoiding the interference of the villagers screaming for help. And the dwarf fighter Ten gar, charges to the action! And moves 50ft from the road. SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST. The elemental attack on Bran misses! As well at the rock that the rock it hurled toward them. The dragon born finishes one of the orc with a single attack to the neck and attacks another orc, the one blasted by stephenSpoiler: Dragon born vs Orcs Hide (1d20+5)[11] DMG (1d8+7)[8] Spoiler Hide Only 2 orcs left, and if the dragon born kills this. Only 1 Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 The dragon born to my left seems to be getting to grips with the orcs, so I guess I'll help him out a bit. I cast Sacred Fla meat one of the orcs as I go past (I don't care which), then jog 30 feet straight towards the elemental. Spoiler: Sacred Flame Hide Orc makes a DEX save or takes... (1d8)[3] radiant damage. "I'm on my way, sirs! Keep it up!" Alright...time to stop messing around... Magic missiles here we go. Move 20 ft towards the road at just the right distance and attack the one orc that has so far been unharmed with magic missiles.(automatically hits).(1d4+1)[3](1d4+1)[3](1d4+1)[3] Rubik listened to Stephen and Bran and introduced himself:Rubik Larsson, paladin in service to they goddess Selûneand then grunted in agreement with Bran, gripping his maul." Aye, we can talk after everyone's safe". It seemed the remaining orcs were being dealt with. Rubik ran after the human paladin towards the elemental. Spoiler: IOC Hide Rubik dashes (50 ft) next to the elemental Spoiler: Status Hide Bauble, Gnome Ranger AC 15 Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 14 Bauble speaks out to no one in particular and knocks another bolt.Your folk sure are dafter than most. But I'll be damned if I can't harvest the rare metals that wretched thing has inside. Let's take it down! Bauble moves up another 25 feet and fires at the elemental.(1d20+5)[14]Disadvantage:(1d20+5)[14]Damage:(1d8+3)[6] Spoiler: Status Hide Bran AC 16 Hp. 12/12 Bran moves fast enough just to dodge the elementals arm!well. that was a little to close for my liking.as he tries to attack again the elemental banishes underground. Well I guess I'll have to wait you out delay... as soon as the elemental, reappears he charges and attacks. Spoiler: Battlefield Hide Stephen moved 20ft towards the road, ended at 280ft from it. Bran it's waiting for the elemental to reappear at 290ft from the road. The orc it's engaged with the Dragon born at 160ft from the road. Chandra moved 30ft towards the elemental its now 70 Ft away from it last position, and in straight line from Bran the paladin. Ten gar Moves 50ft towards the action, and It's now at 100ft from it 60ft away from the orcs, and 100 ft or so from the elemental. Bauble stands shooting at 50ft away form the road. The elemental reappears indeed, 50 ft away from it last position. You see it has become darker than it was before, strangely it appears to be crumbling, a little bit more, and some lines of black energy come and go around it. He turns his back to Bran and faces the Draw nearby. The orcs take a swing at the dragon born with his great axe, twice! Spoiler: Frog Vs Dragon born! Hide (1d20+6)[9] DMG (1d12+4)[6], (1d20+6)[10] DMG (1d12+4)[5] The Dragon Born if he still stands takes a swing at the Frog. Spoiler: Attack vs Frog Hide (1d20+5)[23] DMG (1d8+7)[8] Bran can take his turn now if he wants to. The villagers keep moving forward into the road ... at a steady base looking back from time to time. To see the outcome well there goes my plan...I move up to the elemental and take the dodge action Spoiler: IOC Hide can I do that?? o. O move 50ft and take the dodge action? Or not? Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 Concentrating on: Bless I walk (30 feet) around the elemental, being careful not to come within 10 feet of it. As I'm walking, I check it out from a few different angles, trying to figure out what's up with it. Then, once I'm on the other side, I cast Bless (PHB 219) on Bran, Rubik and Stephen. If one of them isn't in range, I pick myself instead. From now on, you all add 1d4 to every attack roll or saving throw you make." May Ogham's blessing light your way, friends." Spoiler: Roll Hide Intelligence (Arcane) check, to see what I can figure out about this elemental... [roll]1d20+6[/roll] Wrong thread. Can you delete posts though? I'm clicking and nothing's happening. Spoiler: Status Hide Bauble, Gnome Ranger AC 15 Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 14 Bauble walks up another 25 feet towards the elemental, getting him 85 feet away, just barely out of good range. Don't let the bugger get away! Tackle him to stop him going into the earth again! Another shot at the elemental:(1d20+5)[25]disadv.(1d20+5)[25]damage(1d8+3)[7] If there's an orc still alive, cast a fire bolt at him. If there's not, do it to the earth elemental.(1d20+4)[6]+5, forgot to add the bonus, equals 11. Wonder if I'll hit.(1d10)[6] "Fight me, ye cowardly pile o' rocks!" Rurik shouted and kept running towards the elemental. Spoiler: IOC Hide Rubik dashes (50 ft max) towards the elemental. Spoiler: IOC Hide YES I'll change my action and move full 60ft, and stand 10ft away from the elemental NOW.... COME HERE AND DIE!!! YOU UNEARTH Abomination move forward 10ft and if I was 2nd level I would smite his butt. Buuut... for now I'll just attack. Spoiler: Rolls Hide (1d20+5)[19] Damage (1d8+3)[10] Spoiler: IOC Hide Lame pun totally intended The elemental Roars as more enemies come in his way, between it and its prey, and in some kind of dark speech he utters angry words (IOC. let me know if someone speaks Terran), facing bran with two dark blue spots in it's "face" he slams both of his fist into him. The first one, it's adequately dodged by Bran, but the other one comes unexpectedly and smashes on his side (Bran you take 10 damage). You see as parts of the elemental fall off after hitting and become kind of dark sand. The last remaining orc and the dragon born, engaged UN a fierce combat, with comings and goings, the orc appears to be making his final stand, as he launches forward with his rusty great axe, but the dragon born is not an easy opponent. They begin to circle each other, taking a few steps back.... and as coordinated at it can be, the charge at each other, the dragon born exhales a fire and both of them get consumed within. After the ball of fire disappears, you see the orcs great axe, fixed on the dragon born side. And the dragon born short sword coming out of the orcs back. Both of them fall to the ground, in a pool of blood. Villagers keep moving forward on the road. Spoiler: Battle grid Hide exactly how it was Pity, I thought the thing could be reasoned with...anyway... I cast magic missiles at the elemental. Auto hit.(1d4+1)[2](1d4+1)[5](1d4+1)[4] Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 Concentrating on: Bless "Sir Bran! Are you alright?" I look at Rubik and say,"keep fighting; I'll look after him." I move next to Bran and apply pressure to the woundcastCure Wounds. Spoiler: Cure Wounds Hide Bran recovers... (1d8+1)[2] HP Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 Rubik watched as Bran took heavy blow from the elemental." Ouch, that's gotta smart." The draw rushed to his aid, Rubik nodded to her and turned to the elemental." Let's see what ye are made of, ye pile o' dirt!" Rurik said and charged the elemental. Spoiler: IOC Hide Rubik moves to the elemental and attacks it. To hit: (1d20+4)[8] Damage: (2d6+4)[7] Bless damage: (1d4)[3] Still a little dizzy from such a massive hit.... I come to my senses after Chandra cures wounds on me. I have been better. Yes... but it's time to end this! By the grace of helm!!! I attack the elemental +5 from to bless??? (I didn't use it last time)Spoiler: Attack Hide (1d20+10)[25] D (1d8+3)[10] Spoiler: Status Hide Bauble, Gnome Ranger AC 15 Perception 14, Insight 12, Investigation 14 Bauble stumbles through the thickening underbrush, loading another bolt into his bow and moving another 25 feet forwards. He mumbles under his breath, What the tells have I gotten myself into?!? I'm sure I'll regret this.[roll]1d20+5[/roll]Disadvantage[roll]1d20+5[/roll]Damage[roll]1d8+3[/roll] * post roll count doesn't match database Ten gar Wars gen, Dwarf Fighter Ten gar walk towards the direction of the Elemental and quickly throws a Hand Axe on it"Let's finish this creature once for all!" Spoiler: IOC camp; Rolls Hide Move: 25 towards the direction of the Elemental Action: Throw a Hand Axe on the Elemental Attack: (1d20+5)[21] Slash Damage: (1d6+3)[8] From afar Stephen casts Magic missile three rays of pure energy blast on the creatures back, wholes form where the projectiles struck, and some kind of black sand comes out of it, with some roars of what you assume its pain... the elemental wildly swings at the creatures nearby missing just by a hair... The human in heavy armor (bran) recovers form the monsters hit, and attacks with all his might, slashing the elemental on his left arm, a solid hit from the paladin, cutting through the rock, amputating the elementals arm, as it touches the ground it dissolves in thousands of black sand grains. Other members of the group try to take advantage of the moment, and launch attacks at the deciding elemental, but fail. Tengar rushes to the action, and takes his chance grabs one of his throwing axes, aims and throws it, hitting the elemental right in the face... Roars of anger come out of the elemental, in some kind of guttural voice. In a language you don't understand. Next thing you see is how the entire form of the elemental, banishes in just but a handful of black sand. Spoiler: IOC Hide End of the encounter!! Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 Concentrating on: Nothing I immediately start rooting through the sand, do I find anything? I grab a handful of it and put it in my... censer, because that's the only container I have on hand. Bauble rushes over hastily, sweating almost as much as the dwarf from the excitement of battle. Interesting... He runs his hands through the sand, looking for any sign of the creature's origin, and for any traces of metal left in the Elemental. Investigation roll:(1d20+4)[7]If allowed, advantage from knowing lots of stuff about metals soil/rock compositions, also I think there's a gnome feature?(1d20+4)[18]Bauble gets up from his examination, and looks to Chandra for council. Hey Elf, any signs of significant magical resonance from the remains? Bauble takes out a small glass scope from inside his hat and starts looking closely at the sands, hoping to find something akin to a material or substance he had seen before when he learned gnomegeneering back in the caverns. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 Concentrating on: Nothing To Bauble:"Well, I thought there was something off about it while it was still moving, and now... are elementals supposed to leave behind a residue? There's something going on here. I'd like to stay and investigate... if that's alright with you." Anyone trying Wisdom (Insight) on me should be able to tell that I really, really want to stay and investigate. Spoiler: IOC Hide If we can stay, I'll do a thorough search, which could take hours. I'm willing to stay up well into the night if needed. I won't start searching until the group decides what it's doing though. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 Rubik leaned on his maul." Not as tough as ye looked, eh..."he muttered, looking at the remains of the elemental. The draw and the gnome were already going through the piles of sand and rock. It seemed all the orcs were dead, so the there wasn't immediate danger anymore." Och! I better go check on they guy that was fighting they orcs!" Rubik said and started running towards the dragon born. Bauble and Chandra begin an animated discussion of what could have caused the elemental to crumble. Well, by the looks of it, the sand is black, which might indicate the presence of magnetic metals within the mixture. Furthermore, dark sand could be caused by a presence of Basalt, which is igneous in origin. Are there perhaps any volcanoes nearby? All the earthen elementals I've seen back in the caverns have just slumped over into a pile of rocks. Hmm... the melting temperature would surely be quite telling. Out from his hat, bauble pulls out a heap of small parts, and begins configuring them into a small mechanism capable of holding a substance above a flame, with a dial that seems to indicate temperature. Just a moment... I'll need to set up a fire. If anyone would like some warmth, I can provide it. Bauble then goes on to attempt building a very hot fire in order to test the melting temperature of the sand. Survival for making areallystrong campfire:(1d20+4)[10] Originally Posted by Brahman Survival for making a really strong campfire: 10 "Oh hang on, let me help you with that." Spoiler: Roll Hide Advantage roll (using Bauble's stats): (1d20+4)[8] "Hm. Maybe I'd better leave the gnome-work to you. I'm going to have a look around." So, if no one's going to stop me, I'm going to make a thorough search of the entire area. I'm looking for signs of magic and spell casting, such as mages (live or dead), discarded material components, scorched grass, extraplanar portals, footprints suddenly starting out of nowhere (such as might indicate the presence of a portal) and residual arcane energy. I will take as long as necessary to search; I'm at home in the darkness and only need four hours of sleep. Given that, I assume the check can be done passively. My passive Intelligence (Arcane) is 16 and my passive Intelligence (Investigation) is 14. If I'm allowed, I will repeatedly cast Guidance on myself to add 1d4 (2) to all the checks. Helm... I thank you..... suddenly realizing the threats are gone... Thank you kind folk... let me officially introduce myself... I'm Brand storm wind, paladin of the church of helm. I was here with.... I immediately run into the woods again... looking for my friends!! Someone please... calm the villagers.!!! It's best if we camp here and travel by morning!.. I need ... I need to find my friends! Greetings to anyone that may not have heard me. My name is Stephen. I'll take this opportunity to take my rest for the day and replenish my spells. With that I ERM...roll over and sleep to recover my spells. Spoiler: Chandra Hide You spend all night searching, with no much success. The only thing you could find was, in the orc encampment... an old parchment, with some traces of arcane magic left... and a black sand clock symbol on the right lower corner. Spoiler: Rubik Hide You approach to where the orc and the dragon-born where fighting. Both of them lying on the floor with a mixed pool of blood, the rusty great axe, made a huge cut in his flank, almost reaching his middle line. Unfortunately his dead now. A simple short sword in his hand, stuck in the orcs' guts, coming out of his back. The orc its wearing some.now blood stained furs, without any other important apparels. Spoiler: Bran Hide Bran you enter the woods, and follow the trails back to the camp, what you find it's a horrible sight, you count... at least 10 orcs, smashed to pulp, their guts spread everywhere, traces of dark sand all over the place, you count 5 tents or what remains of them. Two of them burned to ashes. You see... two of your former colleges, dead on the ground, hamster the cleric. And mini the sorcerer. But less is nowhere to be found. There are two iron cages, where the prisoners where held, and a wagon. With no horses. You see at least 3 different sets of footprints that face the West, you try to follow them, but they suddenly disappear. Spoiler: Stephen Hide Nothing happens... Spoiler: Bauble Hide You immediately start collecting the samples of this black material, left behind by the elemental, at first look it seems as I said, some kind of sand, but with the most unusual behavior, and texture. When you touch it. It seems almost liquid, moving through the surfaces as if it where quicksilver. When you start your fire. At first, it seems not to react, but as the temperature rises a little over 350 Celsius, it... starts to . Boil??!... when it reaches 500 degrees it disappears. Your engineer brain, its dazzled. You have definitely not seen this before. You look back where the elemental was, and realizes. That all the black sand its... disappearing as well. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 I am quiet and subdued. I will look for Bauble and say to him:"Morning, Bauble. I couldn't find anything, except this,"I show him the scroll,"which means nothing to me. Furthermore, I guess we should carry on North. Furthermore, I wonder if these others will travel with us? It might be safer that way." Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 The dragon born was dead, but so were all the orcs. Rubik made sure the villagers were okay and went to sleep. The other paladin, Bran, had apparently gone to the woods to search for his friends." Och, maybe it was his party that saved me. I'll have ta check with him tomorrow if he decides ta stick around"thought Rubik, before falling asleep. Rurik woke up a bit sore. Spending a couple of nights as orcs' prisoner hadn't been nice. Still, he rose and put his armor on. He noticed the draw and the gnome had woken up as well, and decided to walk over to them." Good morning! I din nae think we were introduced properly yesterday. Rubik Larsson, paladin of they moon goddess Selene!"he said and bowed. Rurik looked over to where the elemental was slain." So, ye find anything curious about that creature?" Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 "Ogham's blessings, Sir Rubik. I am Chandra Luella, a cleric and theologist. Did you sleep well, under Selene's radiance? I am sorry to say that she did not favor me in my investigations. Thus, we haven't been able to learn much yet... I don't suppose you know anything about what went on here?" Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 "Aye, like a log. A moonlit sky is a much better roof than one in orc's cell". Rubik stroked his currently rather unkempt beard." Och, I'll have ta do something about this mess later"he thought." Well, I was protecting a caravan. Heard their had been some attacks. Looks like they orcs were taking slaves. I was captured, but released by an even woman". Ruins expression darkened." It seems most of they rescuers were killed, except fer Bran, that other paladin. May Selene guide their souls". I mutter a quick prayer." Did you see where Sir Bran went?" Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 "I think I saw 'I'm running into they forest last night, member he's back?" Rurik said and looked around Bauble Düren AC 15 Passive Perception 14 Spell Save 12 Bauble walks up to Chandra and Rubik and interrupts their conversation. I hate to step on the toes of your mighty gods here, but it's evident that we simply don't have the right knowledge here. You can mutter to the high powers all you want, but it's clear that they aren't listening, because we haven't got a clue what's going on here. Bauble looks over the scroll Chandra showed him. Hmm, esoteric gibberish and nonsensical markings? Looks arcane to me. I suppose we could talk to that pyromania human over yonder. Not that I trust what he has to say, but there's a chance he'll know more about this stuff than you guys. Err... no offense. Oh, and if the mage doesn't prove useful, I think I know where we could learn more... Spoiler: Sage Background Feature: Researcher Hide When you attempt to learn or recall a piece of lore, if you do not know that information, you often know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature, Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. Chandra AC 16 Passive Perception 13 (8 in direct sunlight) Spell Save 11 "... Yes, I'll ask the wizard, though he hasn't exactly seemed eager to investigate much of anything so far." I look at Stephen's sleeping body and shake my head. Then, I shrug and put the scroll away." I've seen enough dead ends in my time to know when to put something on the back burner. Perhaps I'll be able to learn more in Tribal." Bauble Düren AC 15 Passive Perception 14 Spell Save 12 Bauble looks disappointed. Well, we're still a week away from Tribal. I'm sure I'll go crazy if I can't figure out this whole situation before then. Are you sure there's no way we could expedite this process? Bauble starts disassembling his heating contraption from before. But yeah, it seems that we haven't much to go off of here. We should get going, North ways. Bauble packs his parts into his backpack and tool belt, and then pulls a small, simple compass out from his hat. He points north.Hathaway. Onwards? So, Rubik, Bauble and I are just sort of chatting, waiting for Bran to come back. After a few minutes, I head over to the human wizard and wake him up. He's had enough beauty sleep." Good morning. Stephen, wasn't it? I'm Chandra. Would you like some breakfast?" Hello there Chandra. I most certainly would. By the way, has it been 8 hours yet? I need at least that much rest. I guess it has since I'm feeling refreshed. So breakfast would be lovely. Stephen yawns. He is not a morning person. I'll go back to the others and explain what I'm about to Rubik and Stephen." So, as Bauble said, we're heading North, towards Tribal. I wouldn't mind travelling with the two of you - we'd be safer together." I also eat a ration." I'm afraid these dried rations are all I have. Furthermore, I'm happy to share if anyone wants any - it would save us having to hunt and forage, which I don't really feel like doing today." Oh, don't you worry, I've got some of my own. And I guess I'll travel with you guys... I don't really have a lot to do at the moment...still kinda shaky on what happened here. Stephen then proceeds to chow down his ration with incredible speed, while wondering if his attempt at convincing the others he has nothing to do with this mess worked (though to be fair he does not know all the details yet). Spoiler: IOC Hide taken from real life, I eat like a maniac (speed wise, not amount wise). I can eat 200g of meat in the time it takes my friends to eat 100g. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: "Ah, good morning Stephen," Rubik said and waved his hand to the wizard. Rurik listened to Chandra's proposal." Aye, I would be happy ta join ye. I din nae have anything special planned. But I do want ta make sure these people", Rubik gestured towards the villagers,"get back ta their homes safe an' sound". "Oh! I had quite forgotten about the villagers! Yes, of course we should help them. Where did they come from?" Bauble takes some parchment from his backpack. He takes out a quill and some ink, then starts to scribble up a map of the surrounding area, giving directions back to water deep. He hands it to Rubik. Should this suffice? It has directions back to the nearest human-clump. I'm sure they can figure it out. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: "Alright, I'll go talk ta them"Rubik said, took the paper from Bauble and went to the civilians. Spoiler: Status Hide Stephen Burn heart Human Wizard 1 CN AC 11 HP 9 Speed 30ft Perception: 13 Spell save: 13 STR 10 (0) DEX 13 (1) Con 16 (3) Wis 12 (1) Int 16 (3) CIA 8 (-1) Attacks Quarterstaff +2 1d8 B Light Crossbow +3 1d8+1 P Stephen, having finished his meal in an incredibly short amount of time, follows Rubik, purely to listen if his crimes may be forgotten (or not witnessed at all). While Rubik and Stephen are out of earshot..." I know you're not keen on the strangers, but don't you think they proved themselves last night? We should at least give them a chance." To Chandra, under his breath:The sweaty dwarf is fine. I like him. He seems like a good man, a leader, albeit a smelly one. But the wizard... something seems off about him to me. I'll allow him to join us, but mostly so I can keep an eye on him. "Well humans will be humans. When you only live for 70 or 80 years, how can you be expected to grow up into a mature adult? It's like they're trapped in a life-long childhood." Originally Posted by Main Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: "Alright, I'll go talk ta them" Rubik said, took the paper from Bauble and went to the civilians. Last night, after bran went running into the woods and lost track of him, you kindly talk to the villager introduced yourself and the rest of the group and ask them to kindly camp under your protection so you could escort them back their town next morning. Despite their recent captivity the saw good help when it was in front of them. And decided to stay the night, lifting the spirits and calming their fears. They shared some info with you guys, they are villagers from a nearby town, maybe a day or so away. Call Red Larch. A town that has been observing an increased activity of humanoids, attacking caravans. Have spotted monsters near the village also. But not until the orcs. Have been an under direct attack. They tell you that it was a quick skirmish around 12 orcs went in... some of them claim to see bolts of fire and light coming out of nowhere, and not 15 min later. They were done. Originally Posted by Brahman Bauble takes some parchment from his backpack. He takes out a quill and some ink, then starts to scribble up a map of the surrounding area, giving directions back to water deep. He hands it to Rubik. Should this suffice? It has directions back to the nearest human-clump. I'm sure they can figure it out. Red larch its 1-day away from your current position. Originally Posted by Brahman Bauble Düren AC 15 Passive Perception 14 Spell Save 12 Bauble walks up to Chandra and Rubik and interrupts their conversation. I hate to step on the toes of your mighty gods here, but it's evident that we simply don't have the right knowledge here. You can mutter to the high powers all you want, but it's clear that they aren't listening, because we haven't got a clue what's going on here. Bauble looks over the scroll Chandra showed him. Hmm, esoteric gibberish and nonsensical markings? Looks arcane to me. I suppose we could talk to that pyromania human over yonder. Not that I trust what he has to say, but there's a chance he'll know more about this stuff than you guys. Err... no offense. Oh, and if the mage doesn't prove useful, I think I know where we could learn more... Spoiler: Sage Background Feature: Researcher Hide When you attempt to learn or recall a piece of lore, if you do not know that information, you often know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature, Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. You could learn more indeed... but the only person you know. Since your contacts are out of date for your time in prison, lives in watered. A non-friendly town for you. Originally Posted by Main Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12 "I think I saw 'I'm running into they forest last night, member he's back?" Rubik said and looked around Bran. Strangely has not come back from the forest... The villagers wake up early. The females start a campfire and with some of the instruments in the orcs' encampment make improvise cooking tools, as some of the villager go out and bring back some rabbits. They offer you breakfast... and ask you. If you are going to take them back to red larch. Even suggesting that the elders have some jobs that need taking care of... for a right amount of pay. Of course After learning of the villagers' wishes:"They want to go to Red Larch? Our route passes through there anyway - and it seems churlish to turn down the offer of payment. I have no issue with the proposal." I will then go and linger around the villagers' cook fire, making sure my alms box jangles about a bit. Furthermore, I support that. Let's go help these poor people. What monsters would do this to them... Stephen says looking around awkwardly. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: Rubik claps his hands together." Great! I say we get moving after we've eaten!" Na reason ta march on an empty stomach, aye?." Aye, nothing nicer than helping some poor folk in need, eh?" Rurik says to Stephen and pats him on the elbow. Then he walks to the campfires and sits down to eat some breakfast. Bauble sits quietly to the side, trying his best to ignore the chatter of the nearby villagers as he tinkers with some parts he pulled out of his hat. To himself, under his breath:Humph. I'm quite close to figuring this out... but I really don't want to go back to Water deep for help. My "buddy" there is the nastiest half-orc I've ever met, but I'll be darned if he isn't the best necromancer I've met. But I have an idea for something that could chance the face of gnomegeneering. It's just a fledgling idea, but I swear by my wrench, I'm going to make it happen. Bauble continues to frustrate himself with his tools until he returns them to his hat in defeat. He starts to eat his food and waits impatiently until the party is ready to depart. Looks like none of the villagers want blessing, so I reckon it's time to move." Is everyone ready to go? Make sure you don't leave anything behind." And then I guess we will head Northwards on the road. I don't much want to be in front, so I'll shuffle along until everyone else overtakes me. Stephen hurries off to the front, leading the group tovictoryRed Larch. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: Rubik rose after trying to hurriedly comb his beard." Aye, let's get moving," Rubik says and walks to take a position in the front of the caravan." Hmm. If ye don't mind I think I feel like singing a jolly traveling song"Rubik says and grabs his lute. Spoiler: IOC Hide Performance:(1d20+4)[15] I enjoy the song and wonder if one of Rubik's parents was a bard. I'll ask him about it later. What sorts of sights do I see along the road? Bauble listens to Rubik's song, trying to make sense of the words, but not caring much for the melody. He tries to distract himself from his troubles by foraging, navigating, and staying on his guard. Survival to navigate and forage:(1d20+4)[23]Perception to watch for potential threats:(1d20+4)[5] After breakfast from the grateful villager, whom seem to be more anxious by the second, and try to rush to the "safety" of their town, you get going once more on the Long road, with Red Larch as destination, along the way you travel next to the declaring river, and at the spot where the long road crosses the river you see a new marker pointing to Red Larch. It takes you almost 8 hours to reach this spot. You can see at a distance the sight of a small town, with a ferry crossing the river to join both parts of the town, the outskirts of the town, are mostly farms, and a few barns, you see some of them scorched by fire. At the sight all the villagers feel the joy of returning home, some smile, others laugh even some of them cry, all of them deeply thankful As the road descend into the small town, a group of armed townsfolk three in leather one in mail, stands guard. Watching you warily from the distance. As you approach one of them steps forward... Is... that... is that our people?! Indeed!!! Someone call capt. Savanna. Our people are back!!! So you took care of those murders savages, that where skulking near town! We are so lucky!! The villagers rush to the guards, some of them embrace each other, and thanks you for your deed. The guard introduces him self. As Servant Hers, and ask you to wait or Capt Savanna. I wait for the Captain. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: Rubik nodded to the sergeant." Aye, we'll wait for 'I'm". Bauble mutters to the group, taking care to not let the guards hear:Some guards... They couldn't get their people back themselves? We're not exactly competent, but we made short work of those damn orcs. I nod and say, quietly:"as awful as my birthplace is, at least our guards aren't scared of a few orcs." Quietly still:Indeed. The draw wouldn't put up such a silly show of reunion either. They may be wicked, but they're direct and to the point. None of this useless happiness. Spoiler: Status Hide Rubik, HP: 13/13 AC: 16, Perception 11, Spell Save: 12, Concentrating on: "Well, they important thing is everyone's safe, aye? An' isn't it a job fer heroes ta protect they innocent?", Rubik said and continued in a low voice." Tha village seems small, if all the guards left, their would be none ta protect it". Stephen stays near the back of the group, attempting to hide himself in plain sight from the captain and/or other guards. I agree, these people are really incompetent. I bet they were drinking on the night of the attack as well. We probably can't trust their recollection of the events.

_5e_ ----IC---- the awakening

The Dragon's Tutor(Open to one female)

((Need one female character to be Ran's tutor, she was first introduced to Ran when they were children, of course they still had to speak through the cage. I'd roughly say the tutor's age can range anywhere from 24+ oh, and please pm me before going!)) All Ran had known was blackness; he could not remember a day outside this small circular cell. He did not know what he looked like. He did not know of light or color, and he only had his shadow to comfort him...though it was actually quite good company." Come now, Ran, I'm not your shadow. I'm a shadow dragon that sought a good and intelligent host in order to stop that bitch Dysuria." Ral chuckled to himself at Grad's words. Replying mentally,"I know that Grad, but it's hard to imagine you having someone else as a host, or not being attached to anyone at all." Suddenly Ran sat up in his cage, or at least he got as straight as he could in these tight quarters. He heard those usual light footsteps of his tutor, she must be here to collect his lunch plate from under the cage and start his new lesson, he always enjoyed her lessons...wondering what she looked like...what he looked like...((so you know, bold and italicized text is mental chatter between my two characters.)) Jenna had always been bright, and being the runt of the litter so to speak she was often overlooked. As death and destruction destroyed the world around her, somehow she was spared. She found her way to the castle, where things were, well not quite so bad. As a young child she had managed to blend in, and after being found reading in the library, she was put to work as a companion to a strange boy. Time seemed to change everything and as the seasons changed, so did she, from the scruffy too thin dirt encrusted youth into a tidy well-dressed young lady. She considered herself plain and was lucky she had not attracted that kind of male attention as puberty granted her womanly curves. She had no idea that her trips to the lower dungeons made her a figure to fear. And so she went down the stairs, with food, to teach her companion. She had no idea why he was imprisoned, only that it was wise not to ask. Within the bitch-black cell, Ran pressed his ear to the solid wall, hoping to learn more of the world and its history from his tutor, Miss Jenna. She was always so kind when they spoke that even though some of the lessons were boring he would listen just so he could hear her soothing voice. She would sometimes try to describe things to him, but since the day he had been born, Ran had been in this cell and thus new nothing of shapes, light, or anything visual. When he heard the tap, tap, tap of Miss Jenna's shoes against the stone floors Ran spoke up, "Hello again, Miss Jenna! What will today's lesson be?" Jenna had a soft sultry voice, some called it raspy, others considered it a sign she was allied with dark powers. She had no idea why so many stared at her shadow as if it would attack them." Something light today? I found a gorgeous book about poetry, the illustrations are luscious." She frowned slightly forgetting for the moment that he lived in a world of darkness. Her eyes had already adjusted, and she carefully placed the tray where she always did. "History is such a dark subject, things like botany, and political science just do not seem all that useful to you." She moved as she spoke, finding the rustle of her gown reassuring in the darkness. She had not considered his scent before, but today it seemed rather pungent, and she made a note to bring a bucket of soapy water next time. Then again she wasn't sure what kind of creature he was, after all the magic had distorted many things. She had always considered his form made him dangerous, and not his personality. "I would love to hear some poetry, Miss Jenna," Ran replied eagerly. Snatching the food through a small hatch in his cell." Must you always be the obedient dog, Ran? This kind of behavior doesn't seem fitting."" Calm down, I'm just happy to have some other company, I'll try to be less dog-like when I'm with her."" Which won't be for long, I sense shadows are approaching, they will be attacking this castle any moment now..." At this, Ran felt his blood run cold, the prison was easily accessible from the front gates! Shadows could pour in here and kill poor Miss Jenna without Ran being able to do a thing! Soon enough, Grad's suspicions were confirmed by a powerful quake as the front gates were blown down. Light flooded the prison as a guard opened the door. "Miss Jenna!! Come quickly! Lord Roy wishes to see you personally!" She instinctively bowed, "I'm sorry our lesson is to be cut short today." She paused very briefly, at the moment it just occurred that he could read the way others without sight could read. Furthermore, she determined to seek out such books no matter how rare. "I'll bring something special next time. I promise," her youthful voice spoke volumes as she lifted her skirts to rush up the stairs. She wondered why she was being summoned, it was so rare that the lord wished to see her other than to ask about her companion and that had been recently. She moved as quickly as she dared, largely unaware of the danger besieging the castle so focused on her steps was she. "Don't worry about it, Miss Jenna," Ran replied quietly. If Grad was right about the scale of the attack, they may release him soon!" I wonder what the light will be like...?" Outside, the guards were being slaughtered. Seconds ran rampant, killing all the guards with inhuman ease. The entire battle was viewable from Lord Roy's throne room. When Miss Jenna came in, two were trying to convince Roy to abandon his seat and flee with his trusted advisors. "I will not be a fool," Lord Roy replied to these requests, "If I flee my castle now then this same shadow horde could hunt me down in a matter of days and kill me even easier than they already are slaughtering our soldiers!" Once no one was speaking to him, Lord Roy looked up and noticed Miss Jenna for the first time, he beckoned her forward. When she was before him, Lord Roy gestured to the battlefield and spoke, "Miss Jenna, that is our current situation, it is very grim indeed. The people are calling for me to release the dragon to fight them, but I must ask you...do you think Ran can control the shadow within him?" "Who? The what?" the words were no sooner out of her mouth then everything seemed to click into place. Shadows, the odd scent of her companion, she knew he was large, but all this, it was like having a veil ripped from her face and being forced to look into the sun at noon. She curtsied covering her stunned response, "I'm not sure how the enforced captivity has affected his physical strength, but his mind is sharp, and I've seen no signs of any shadow controlling him." Nodding, Lord Roy solemnly ordered the guards in the room to raise the cell. The flooring opened up with the pulling of chains. In the light, the cell was revealed to be a large orb, with beautiful swirls of color and shapes coating it. A guard stepped forward and unlocked the cage, which fell away to reveal a thin young man of 18. He had dark red hair down to his ankles, framing his naked body, dark blue designs danced across his skin that would shame any human artist. His cock was limp but at least seven inches long already, but the most surprising, was his muscle tone. Despite never leaving that cell, his body had somehow maintained itself, well sculpted muscles rippling beneath his skin! He shielded his eyes as his eyes saw light for the first time. "This...is light?" he said quietly. Once his eyes adjusted, he looked around, still squinting. "Who released me? Where is my tutor?" He seemed all muscle, which did not surprise her as much as the delicate tattoo's that marked his skin. He was naked, and her eyes were drawn to between his legs, and it took a few moments for her to look away. Her eyes looked at his, one of the few things not covered by hair, and she knew the truth. Jinna knew she should be stunned and horrified, but the sound of his voice nearly broke her heart at the sadness of it all. She licked her lips nervously glancing at the lord, before waving slightly unsure of how this would change her life and his. She finally glanced at his shadow, expecting some nightmarish evil to have tainted it, and while she could sense a distinct power there, it was not malevolent. Lord Roy didn't answer his own son's question, waiting to see how the boy would react but knowing his was pressed for time. He nervously glanced over the balcony, to the losing battle and knew he would need to speak up if Miss Jenna did not and soon. Ral slowly walked to the figure where his familiar Miss Jenna's voice came from. He reached out as he walked, inch long fingernails the same color as the designs covering his body and with sharp points. When he came to stand before her, his eyes wandered her body. "Miss Jenna," he said, looking her over one more time before glancing down at his own body, "Why do you look so different from me? I know you taught me that all humans look different...but you don't look like anyone else in this place." Then, a tribute to his lack of common knowledge, Ran reached up and grabbed the cloth covering his tutor's chest and pulled, ripping it with ease! Even as some of the guards drew swords, he made no move to even notice them, his hands moving to entrap her soft mounds in his hands. "Mmm, these feel really nice...what are they?" he asked, not even looking up at her face now. She blushed furiously and managed to slap his hands away, "I'm a girl," she stammered. Why o why had she not covered biology? She covered herself up the best she could. "This is not the time for touching," she stammered slightly. "They need," she paused, "We need," she paused again having difficulty gathering her thoughts. Her skin was flushed since he had touched her, "You to be a dragon and fight?" her statement was partly a question as she inclined her head to the balcony. "She's right, Ran. The more shadows we kill now, all the less will be guarding Dysuria." Frowning, Ran nodded his head to his tutor. He couldn't believe she had slapped his hands away, thinking he had upset her. "Yes, Miss Jenna..." he said sadly as he walked to the edge of the balcony. Some of the designs on his back seemed to spring to life as he leapt off the edge! Suddenly wings appeared on his back, the same dark blue as he dropped. Using the wings to slow his fall, Ran landed gracefully in the middle of the battlefield, the soldiers using the distraction of his appearance to run. "You sure are a noisy bunch," Ran said with an annoyed look. Confusion spread through the shadow horde as this new figure appeared, they all wondered if he was a third to have the form of a human, yet mix a shadow's appearance. "I Anita third," Ran said defiantly, "Let me show you!" Suddenly, Ran's shadow came alive and began to grow, extending further and further until the shape of a dragon became visible, and then becoming three dimensional and rising behind him, towering over the young man. The largest shadow, the leader stood stock still, recognizing the dragon immediately! "Th-the Desire-Monstre!! Retreat!!!" With Grad revealed, all the designs save the ones attached to his wings, had vanished from Ran's body, but the transformation wasn't complete. Next, Ran's hands grew thicker with a bluish skin and became dragon claws, then he dashed forward, Grad coming on his right, and together, the two of them slew the entire shadow horde!! The large one revealed itself as a third, shifting its body to become a centipede, but Ran stopped this by pulling out a razor sharp shaft of Grad's mane and then sliced him in half. Once Ran landed, Grad returned to his shadow, the designs encompassing his body again. Next, his claws returned to hands, and he spread his wings, taking flight and returning to Lord Roy's throne. Only when he had stepped back inside did Ran finally let the wings vanish. He risked a glance at Miss Jenna, then turned to his father and bowed, but grit his teeth as he did. "F-father, I presume I may stay as guardian of the castle and won't be caged again?" Lord Roy nodded and replied, "Yes, Jenna, take him to your quarters for now, I will arrange a room for my son in the next few days." The transformation amazed her, and she felt lost her entire purpose at the castle was pretty much over. Or so she thought. The battle ended, and when he said father, she shuddered and looked at the lord to confirm. When he did, she felt more confused than ever, and when he gave her to his son. She wasn't sure what he intended and considering Ran's sexual innocence she wondered what would happen. She nodded and curtsied and ushered Ran to her room, first thing she intended to do was give him a bath. She ordered a bath drawn and by the time they reached her room a large tub of warm water waited. Furthermore, she kept swatting his hands away from her breasts as his hands repeatedly tried to uncover her." Stop that," her voice chided as she ushered him in front of her into her room. She didn't need to see the guards to know that Ran was still being imprisoned. He was so innocent in many ways, yet, she couldn't help but think of the way she'd been given to him, not as a tutor but as a distraction. His father the lord had surely noticed how Ran was attracted to her, and she wondered how he intended to use that to his advantage." Into the tub," she gestured hoping he would obey. Ran was relieved when Jenna didn't seem too upset with him, but continued to frown as she spurned his advances at her body, though he did succeed in turning her once mildly eloquent dress into a mat of rags barely covering her essentials. When she ordered him into the tub of water, he did so and moaned in surprise as he felt the warm water quite relaxing. He turned around and looked right up at his tutor. "Miss Jenna, you are going to join me, aren't you?" he asked eagerly, innocence mixed with curiosity. She was unsure whether to obey his requests or continue to treat him as a prisoner. The door was shut, and she had removed the rest of her shredded garment. "People do not go around naked around each other in the company of strangers." She undid her hair and arranged it to cover her breasts and front down to her pubes, but it left her back side completely bare." Let's see if we can get you cleaned up first." She didn't bother putting another garment on, slightly fearful he would delight in destroying all her dresses. She liberally applied soap and scrubbed what areas he would allow her to do. "Would you mind if we did something with your hair?" it was strange in so many ways he was a child, and at the same time an adult, and the son of her lord, and a dragon all rolled into one. It was difficult to find her way amidst such chaos. "But we AREN'T strangers, Miss Jenna! We have known each other for almost fifteen years!" Ran said with a pout. He let her touch and clean him everywhere, delighting in the feel of her soft fingers. In fact, he delighted in them so much, his cock began to slowly grow, now ten inches by the time she was done, Ran looked down at the strangest aspect of being the dragon's host. It didn't hurt per se, but the ache from it was overwhelming, he'd never felt like this before!" Please, do whatever will make you more comfortable around me, Miss Jenna...but can you tell me about this?" Ran asked, pointing to his semi-erect cock, "It hurts so badly...but I don't know what to do with it..." "You removed my garment and fondled me in view of your father and all the guards," her voice was louder than she intended, but she was deeply embarrassed by the incident, even as her hands easily cleaned his form as he moved to accommodate her washing him. His dick however was becoming a problem as it grew with desire that Ran didn't know how to express. She'd been around animals and knew the basics even if she had little first-hand experience." Touch it, massage it like a sore muscle, and it will feel better," she was unsure of what else to say. Strangers they were not in many senses, but in the physical sense he was very strange to her." I think we should cut your hair." Jenna picked up a pair of sewing scissors and set to crop his hair to a reasonable length, the sodden mass falling to her floor. Miss Jenna had never confused Ran more so than today, then again it was his first time out in the light, so that was to be expected. "Is that stuff bad? I didn't know... I'm sorry," Ran replied to her outburst. Yet, when she spoke of how to relieve himself, he'd never had to rub a sore muscle, so again she lost him, he was going to ask her to show him what to do with her own, since she was covering her dick with her hair. Then again...it was awfully flat there...she did have the same thing down there, didn't she? Once he had formed all the questions he wanted to ask in his mind, however, Ran was offered a haircut, he knew she must be talking about the stuff sprouting out of his head since she had been eyeing it for so long, but it had kept him warm in the cell, and he was reluctant to part with it, but if it would make Miss Jenna stay with him more, he would happily accept." Alright! Tell me, how do you do cut hair? It doesn't hurt, does it?" "It doesn't hurt, your hair is like your nails, composed of dead cells, and really shouldn't be so long." She took the scissors and hacked away so it was shoulder-length and glad that she was standing behind him outside the tub so he couldn't see her expression. His muscular form still surprised her, and she let her fingers trace the lines on his exposed back and shoulders. She noticed he had not touched himself yet, and she gently gripped his shoulders and massaged the tight muscles. "This is a massage," she spoke gently. She was completely unprepared for this, after all Ran uncaged was strong and could easily over power her, especially unintentionally. She peeked over his head to see if he was touching his dick yet, and was still stunned at it's size. "Mmm," Ran moaned quietly as Miss Jenna began rubbing his shoulders. He leaned forward, his new, much shorter hair draping around his face as she worked. He couldn't even see his tutor as she leaned forward and eyed his swollen member, but it was possible to tell by the way it leaned that it had yet to show its true size!" Miss Jenna...thank you for being so kind to me... I had feared you might not accept me once you had seen me. That you might be too scared to come near me, or touch me," he reached around with one hand and found her arm, gently rubbing her smooth skin and delighting in its perfection, "Or even allow me to touch you... I'm so thankful..." She was a little afraid, of Ran's innocence and of his father's irrational responses. She had no idea what either might do if she spurned Ran's advances. At the same time, Ran was her dearest friend, and now, faced with his body, well she had not considered him in that way. She brushed her hair back and her breasts pressed against the back of Ran's head as she rubbed his shoulders, discovering just how strong and muscular he was. She pushed him down gently to wash his hair, largely unaware of the view he was getting of her breasts as he looked up at her as she pushed him under the water. Ran was surprised when he felt those soft orbs he had held in his hands! They were soon soft! He nuzzled the back of his head into them and sighed in content. Then suddenly she tried to push him under the water! Remembering their discussions about water and not being able to breathe it, Ran held his breath...but his head never went underwater. Instead, Ran's head was tipped back, and he saw Miss Jenna's breasts fully naked! Ran stared at them in awe. He had to fight to prevent himself from closing his eyes as she massaged his scalp, smiling happily as she allowed him this privilege! She washed his hair, surprised the strands weren't in worse condition. Her young ripe breasts were full and firm, and she didn't pay them much attention, as they were normal and natural to her. She was curious about Ran's shadow, and how he was so innocent." Ral do you share information with your shadow?" she wasn't sure how it worked and was curious about everything about him. After all his father had basically given her to him, and she wasn't sure exactly what he meant by giving Ran into her care. After all he planned to arrange for Ran to have his own rooms, so he couldn't mean betrothal. "Ran, be careful how you answer her questions concerning me, if she were to be captured later I don't want my enemies finding out information from this human."" Calm down, Grad, I'll make sure she's near me as much as possible so that won't even be a problem.""..."" Well...we speak telepathically, a dragon, let alone a simple shadow, cannot speak. We are merged in ways most firsts are not, but I am pretty sure they can communicate telepathically as well," Ran replied. Finally, temptation took over and Ran reached up with his left arm and cupped her right breast, reveling in its perfection. "So, is it really that bad to do this? It feels so good...how can it be wrong?" She blushed furiously and pulled away slightly, "Such things are private, between married couples usually."" What I meant is can't it tell you about human customs and mating?" She finally pulled away reluctantly, unsure of how far he would push things and wanting to try and stay in control of her body as long as possible. Ran sat up and turned towards Miss Jenna, frowning as she pulled further away and out of his reach. "No, Grad entered my shadow before the majority of the shadows came to our world. He knows just as much about human customs as I do," Ran replied to her question before countering it with his own, "What makes it so hard to talk about? You're my teacher...can't you teach me about this too?" She had not considered that the shadow would be equally ignorant. When he asked her to teach him, she blushed furiously forgetting that at the moment her hair was flowing back behind her shoulders, leaving her body exposed to his gaze. Part of her was insulted he considered her a prostitute, but she knew he didn't mean it that way, and she wasn't sure what to say. "I'm not a professional teacher in that area." Ran climbed out of the bath and crawled forward, sitting down in front of the only person he'd known his whole life. "Well...you know me than me at least...won't you at least tell me the basics? So that I know what I can and cannot do?" he asked imploringly. "Well you can't go around taking peoples clothes off, especially around other people." She glanced down between his leg, "You haven't touched your," she nodded and gestured between his legs. She tore her eyes away and glanced shyly downward noticing her breasts exposed and quickly pulled her hair over to cover them. Ran frowned as he saw his teacher cover herself, then looked down at his cock, poking it with a finger and watching it shake from side to side when he took the finger away. "I touched it, and it didn't do anything...what now?" he asked, looking back up at his partially covered tutor. He was such an innocent, and she moved to him, her fingers gently touching his cock. "I do now know what feels good to you." as her delicate hands caressed his heavy balls, one gently gripping his cock, sliding up and down the lengthy shaft Ran gasped, moaning in pleasure as she began to tease not only his huge cock, but his heavy balls. This new feeling quickly revealed his true length of fourteen inches long, three inches thick!! His virginal cock throbbed eagerly as she continued the sweet torture!! "Oh yes, mmm! That feels so good...so good, Miss Jenna...please...don't stop!!" "Oh my," his cock grew, longer than her forearm and she lovingly stroked it, wanting Ran;s first touches to be the most pleasant. She blushed her skin turning pink as she wondered if Ran would ever find someone to be with that could be close to him during intimacy Ran was so conflicted. Something deep inside of him that wasn't Grad was urging him to reach out and plunder Miss Jenna's body. He nervously glanced down and saw she didn't have a cock after all, but something strange...it looked almost like her lips, but they were parallel to her legs, unlike her mouth. All these thoughts left him though, his hips suddenly jerking forward and his balls clenching under Miss Jenna's caresses! Suddenly, without any further warning, Ran's cock exploded! He shot a stream up onto her face, then down at her breasts! He actually shot his seed for almost an entire minute before falling on his back and panting in exertion, rapidly losing consciousness! Furthermore, he came more quickly than she expected, and she was covered in sticky thick cum, and she was about to chastise him for making a mess when he fell to ground. She was concerned at first, but seeing that he was merely resting she did her best to clean herself up. Then she decided that it was best to put some form of clothing on. As Ran seemed very excitable, she draped a sheet over him and taken the bath emptied. Still no word from her lord his father as she wondered what to do with the boy who was a man, and more than a man Ran continued to sleep well into the afternoon and awoke a mere half-hour before dinner. When he came to, he sat up and looked around him for Miss Jenna, but she was nowhere to be seen! He stood up and began walking around, calling out her name, dried cum coating the tip of his cock as it noticeably swung while he walked. At lunchtime she was summoned before the lord and despite being fully dressed she sensed the way he looked at her had to do with her breasts being exposed before. She bowed low as he rambled, listening to every word of instructions. Lord Roy was surprised when he saw Jenna return to him. She assured him that his son was asleep when he questioned her. Feeling the tension drain from his body, he pondered her question for her orders. "Well, allow me to be more specific then. You are to keep Ran happy and content, I will have no outbursts from him causing damage to my castle or my civilians. Any discomfort my son suffers will be inflicted upon you many folds, Miss Jenna. If Ran is happy here, he will continue to protect the castle and let my guards handle the day-to-day problems rather than get slaughtered by the shadow hordes. That is what you must do, you are dismissed!" All she understood was that Ran was her problem, that he would stay in her quarters and that he had forgotten he'd summoned her. She headed back to her room with food. Hoping Ran had not taken apart her room in her absence. On the contrary, Ran was sitting on Miss Jenna's bed, peering out the window at the people passing by, able to make out every face with his hyper-acute vision. When he heard Miss Jenna return, he could smell food! And this stuff smelled so good compared to what he used to eat down in the dungeons!!" Mmm! Miss Jenna that smells perfect! Is that all for me?" he asked as she entered, looking up at her happily. "Whatever you would like," she laid out the tray and watched him, trying to match the sweet companion from the dungeon to the innocent lad in front of her." Do you feel better, since you," she nodded her head to his crotch? By the time she had asked about his libido, Ran already had a mouthful of the delicious meal, he tried talking to no avail so he swallowed. "Mmm, yeah, much better...can we do that again sometime? I've never felt so good in my life!" he said, although the irony being he'd never been so happy as today, gaining vision for the first time! "Well now that I've shown you, you should be able to do it yourself." she still wasn't sure what boundaries to have. His father had made it sound as if she was to be Ran's play thing, to keep him happy in any way possible. He'd been very stern on that point. And she didn't want to think about what would happen should Ran get angry. Or frustrated "WWW...if you say so, Miss Jenna," Ran replied, a frown replacing his wide smile. He slowly forked another piece of food into his mouth and chewed slowly, wondering why she had become so cold to him now. Maybe it really would have been better if he had stayed caged...then Miss Jenna wouldn't be so terrified of him... "I know this must be all new and frightening to you, but at least you get to be in the light, see what you're eating." The evening passed slowly and at bedtime she was concerned as she prompted him into her bed, and then she slipped off her dress leaving her underclothes on, and she moved into bed with him. She tenderly wrapped her arms around him, letting his head rest on her breasts and tried to sleep. Her words comforted him, but Ran stayed depressed the rest of the night...that is, until Miss Jenna invited him into bed with her. He laid there, his now customary frown on his face, until she wrapped her arms around him, and let his cheek rest on her bosom. A tear escaped his eye as he nuzzled into her chest, wrapping his own arms around her. "Thank you... Jinna..." it was the first time he had ever called her by name, without the title of 'Miss'. During the night she found herself cradling his body close to her, she wondered how he'd felt all cooped up all the time and vowed to do her best to make him feel good, his cock surged throughout the night, and occasionally she touched it as if to reassure herself that he really was that Big. In the morning she was not surprised to find her clothing had been removed and his cock pressing against her stomach as he had turned towards her in the night. Throughout the night, Ran dreamt of his tutor. Though you couldn't truly consider it a dream when it was exactly the same thing as what was happening as you slept...but he didn't know she was now out of her clothes. Even as Miss Jenna awoke to his morning wood pressing against her stomach, he continued to sleep, curled against her body like a small child to its mother. Ral muttered again and again in his sleep, repeating over and over, "Thank you, Miss Jenna...thank you..." she heard him and wondered how he'd managed to get her clothes off, but the feel of his cock rubbing against her breasts was oddly pleasant, and she considered waking him, but noticed his cock was moving and quickly gaining the massive length, and she opted to let him dream as the tip of his cock poked her boob. The exquisite feeling of Miss Jenna's soft flesh and even softer breast was amazing, even as Ran slept, his body desired to Seymour her. His hips began to rotate slowly, causing his cock to slide up and down her svelte stomach and begin to poke into her cleavage! With each mini-thrust, Ran moaned, the pleasure slowly beginning to call out to him, bringing him to the reality that was his dream mere moments ago... She'd closed her eyes, fearing that watching his cock grow would only make her more jittery, such that when Ran awoke, she appeared asleep, as his massive cock slide between her soft breasts. Ran's eyes slowly opened, staring down at his tutor's beautiful, naked breasts. He could feel his cock between her breasts, gently, he moved further up, then pushed his hips forward, watching as his cock slipped out of the top of her breasts. Her chest felt so good, her silky skin so smooth and soft...he was so tempted to use her flesh for his pleasures... With a groan, Ran felt as if two halves of himself were at war with each other. Thinking this might be his only chance, his darker side won out, and he gently turned Miss Jenna onto her back and climbed on top of her. "I'm sorry about this, Miss Jenna...it feels so good...and I know you're scared of me, so I'll just let this be the last time I do something like this with you..." And with that, he laid his huge cock between her breasts and delicately pushed them together, beginning to slowly thrust between her delicious tits. He had to be very careful, though, making sure his tip didn't poke her chin when he pushed into that amazing valley! She heard his words, and she couldn't bear to open her eyes and ruin it for him, after all he wasn't hurting her and his cock did feel nice against her breasts, so she just breathed softly, acting relaxed and asleep as he slides his cock up and down her soft body. As Ran felt the pleasure build, he knew he wouldn't be able to hide what he had done if she woke up to being covered in cum, so soon enough, he stopped moving his hips. He rubbed her breasts against his rock hard length a few more times, then pulled free. "I... I don't know why I want to do this but..." Ran started, his body leaning down as his lips locked with Miss Jenna's. After what seemed like hours, Ran took his lips away, confused as to what that accomplished. Following through on his promise, he got back under the covers and turned his back to Miss Jenna, so he wouldn't be tempted to snuggle with her again and then rub his wood against her, starting this whole thing over again. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, accepting his fate... He kissed her, and she was shocked, unable to consider responding before he pulled away and snuggled with his back against her. Her eyes were open unsure of how to handle what was basically a young man confronting strong sexual urges. She shifted her leg, spreading her thighs to move one leg up over him, this allowed her to somewhat hold him in place and rub her now wet pussy up against his thigh. She figured turn about was fair play and lazily humped his muscular thigh until her body exploded. Suddenly, a silky thigh was draped around Ran's leg, accompanied by a wet warmth that rubbed against him. Something about that warmth made his cock throb in eagerness. "M-miss Jenna...what are you doing...?" Ran asked as he looked at her over his shoulder. Her orgasm made her somewhat passive, her body felt all warm and gooey, and she just didn't want to move, she almost felt drowsy, so it took a while for his words to sink in." Enjoying myself," she murmured her voice soft and low as her limbs felt heavy and molten all at same time. She had no idea what she had started, or how strange and easy the path would be. Not wanting to risk temptation, but also not wanting to make Jenna think he disliked her, he just didn't move, keeping his head turned so he could see her face, but not much else. "Miss Jenna..." Deciding he couldn't look at her lust-filled face any longer, Ran turned away and spoke quietly, "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side...do what you want..." She was stunned by his statement, her eyes flew open, and she sat up and leaned over him, suddenly completely alert and awake. She blushed for a few minutes her pale breasts turning pink. Furthermore, she thought of all the things she'd been told by the kitchen maids, and she realized she had the perfect male to try things out on, after all he adored her, was relatively submissive to her, and he was completely innocent of what was right or wrong. She gazed down at him and biting her lower lip wondering if it was wrong to take advantage of his innocence, then deciding it was better her than some swanky whore. Furthermore, she moved so she was sitting over his face, she could feel the tip of his cock occasionally bump her back as she gently lowered her freshly orgasmed pussy to his mouth." Taste me, touch me," she gently instructed as she maintained eye contact with her beloved pupil Ran. "A-alright..." Ran said, moving slowly closer to those dripping lips. They smelled so tantalizingly good...then something happened that Miss Jenna didn't expect. A long, serpentine tongue shot out of his mouth and lapped at her pussy. He moaned at her taste, moving his head closer and letting the tongue slip inside of her, moving deeper and deeper, licking her very insides in ways no other tongue or finger could. She expected tentative, and gentle, but a long tongue, it took her by surprise even as it slide inside and probed her body in a way it had never been touched before. Sure she had rubbed herself from time to time to release the tension, but this seemed to increase the tension that warm knot of fuzzy butterflies swarming in her stomach. She was once again....speechless Ran's head moved closer and closer to her crotch, drawn by the delicious smell. Until his nose was pressed against her clit, nuzzling it slightly as he let the entirety of his tongue explore her depths. She tasted so good...she smelled so good. Ran closed his eyes happily, thankful that she was not so scared of him as he thought. His tongue she could handle it was the rest of him that she had trouble with, she knew she was tight, even when she played with herself it was difficult to fit more than one finger in at any given time. She assumed since she just came was how his tongue had managed to slip into her body. It felt amazing, and she felt a little bad that there was no way she could fit his cock in her mouth, perhaps the tip, then again, maybe not. She wiggled against him grinding her clit against his nose, being oblivious to whether he could breathe or not as she began fucking his tongue, encouraging it to delve deep and then withdraw. It was just about driving her crazy as he was exploring, and he'd hit a spot that made her feel as if she would melt, and then he'd move away. She had no idea how to direct him back to the spot, merely dealing with her body gushing a little each time he brushed it. Ran pressed his face against her as she rode his tongue. But he could not stay long, his need for oxygen forcing him to lay back, tongue withdrawing into his mouth once more. Panting heavily, Ran stammered an apology. His cock was pounding, he needed something...anything...he had to cum...he croaked, "Miss Jenna...please... I need... I need to...shoot...my...my cream...please..." She was disappointed at first as he withdrew his tongue, but his words quickly dissipated her anger and frustration. "Oh," a soft exclamation, she'd been very selfish, only considering her own needs. "Of course, go ahead." She gave permission and feeling the warm swollen head rubbing against her back she pulled her hair forward, wondering about what kind of mess they were going to make. Every inch of her skin was flushed and tingling, and she wanted more of his tongue on that spot inside her body. Ran groaned, he wanted her touch, but he swore not to ask for it or force himself upon her again...so, trying to remember how she made him shoot his load the first time. He grabbed his cock, thinking it didn't feel nearly as good, and began stroking. Even though this was nothing, the added effect of rubbing the pre-cum oozing tip against the small of her back helped, and soon he came, literally covering her back in his thick cream. Dazed, but not about to faint like last time, Ran just laid there, basking in his orgasm. "MMM...that felt so good, Miss Jenna..." She waited for him to drift off to sleep, figuring she'd have to find a way to touch herself in that spot. She felt him explode against her back, the warm sticky fluid made her feel warm all over and crave his tongue even more. "Can you go back to tasting me again?" she asked eagerly looking down at his beatific expression of pleasure. "I guess..." Ran said, feeling a little let down that she expected him to please her while he was stuck with his own hands. She would probably regard him later, he reasoned. Leaning forward again, but careful not to get to close in case Miss Jenna might press her crotch to his face and cut off his air again, Ran let his tongue snake inside of her, exploring her more purposefully now. He soon found a spot underneath that nub he had been rubbing with his nose that made her squeal when he licked it directly. He began focusing on this tiny bit of her, licking ceaselessly as he juices coated his tongue... She was surprised how quickly he had learned, as she gasped, her body turning molten as he licked that special spot. She leaned back and moved her hips slightly, feeling the sticky tip of his cock run along her spine as she rode his tongue." Yes," she purred in delight as he made her cum. Surprised at the feeling of Miss Jenna's pussy clenching his tongue, Ran pulled away, a splash of her cum hitting his chin. "M-miss Jenna...please won't you do something for me now too.?" he asked, looking up hopefully. She wanted more and when he asked her, well she wasn't sure what he wanted. "Such as?" she asked, her body flushed and trembling, her joints felt like jello, and all she wanted was to feel his tongue inside her, since his male part was far too big to attempt to have sex in that way. "I... I don't know, Miss Jenna! Please...you have to know something...my hand doesn't feel nearly as good as yours!" Ran replied, he didn't like the way things were going at all. Miss Jenna was acting like a totally different person. If he had lost his Miss Jenna, then that means his promise no longer applied. "What else can you stick in there?" Ran asked, letting her know where she meant by having his tongue dive inside of her and lap at her sensitive spot once before pulling it away. She smiled and stood, briefly pulling away before turning around to sit facing his cock, her small hands wrapped around the base and gently stroked the sticky slime cum providing lubrication. "Your fingers might work.... I touch you....you touch me." She offered watching the ginormous prick and wondering how he's ended up with such a monstrous member. Ran frowned, he sensed that Miss Jenna was hiding something from him. Her fingers did feel perfect...no, NO! Miss Jenna was hiding something! If anything, Ran had been a good student, a quick question to Grad, and he realized what his shaft and her wet hole was really for...suddenly his cock surged to full life again. He wanted to put it inside her, to shoot his seed inside of her..." Sorry Miss Jenna, shadows have sex too," Ran said, pushing her off of him and quickly getting on top of her. He positioned his monster over her pussy, rubbing the huge tip against her as he stared at her body hungrily. "I... I want to do this right!" he said, beginning to force the head inside the same hole his tongue had explored not a minute ago... "You said your shadow didn't," her thought trailed off as he had her pinned under him, his monstrous prick attempting to enter her. She relaxed as much as possible, knowing it would only hurt more if she tensed up. She felt her body resist it her tight pussy fighting the large intrusion. Furthermore, she had considered working up to it, his tongue was merely an inch or so wide, and his cock was almost as thick as her arms. "Know about sex......." she trailed off. Ran continued to try and force his cock inside of her, making incredibly slow, but noticeable progress. Once half of his cock-head was inside of her he stopped for a moment to answer. "They don't know of human morals and common knowledge...but all living creatures have sex..." he moaned again and began to push, letting out a gratified yelp as his entire head sunk in. "So am I having sex with both you and your shadow? And did he tell you about the consed" her voice trailed off as her body stretched to accommodate him, "fences of sex?" it wasn't as pleasant as his tongue, but wasn't as painful as she feared. She merely hoped his innocence wouldn't be her pain. "Uhhhnnngg... I... I'm not sure... I don't think so..." Ran said, his mind rapidly going blank as he began to force even more of his inhuman cock deeper inside of her, he barely had two or three inches in her, but the feeling was better than anything he had done yet! She spread her legs wide, hoping to ease his way as her body continued stretching to accommodate him. She knew that since he was the first man she'd been with that pain was to be expected, but so far it was manageable. "Babies," she gasped the word out of context but all she could manage to utter. Ran was beyond the point of listening, he sunk four, then five, then six inches inside of her. It was so tight...clenching him with her velvet pussy. Groaning, he felt a barrier stop his slow progress. Confused, he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. "M-must...have...more..." he panted, then without warning he thrust!! Shattering the delicate wall of Jenna's virginity as he sank another two inches inside of her! Now he stopped, collapsing on top of her, exhausted. The pain was intense, and brief, the tenderness slowly fading, she had bitten her lower lip hard to keep from crying out in pain, not wanting Ran to know he had unintentionally hurt her. He was just resting inside her, keeping her split open, and she wondered just how much was him, and how much was his shadow. After all his cock was definitely abnormal. Ran grunted as he lay there on top of his life-long friend and tutor. It was only right to take advantage of her like this since she had used him, right? So then why, at this moment as he rested, did he feel so absolutely terrible? As he lay there, he pushed inside of her a little more, hoping that would remove his guilt. It did. Then the moment he stopped, the pleasure was consumed again by grief. Finally, with a trampling lip, he asked, "Miss Jenna...do you like what I'm doing to you? Does it feel good...?" She opened her eyes, biting her lip, hoping the look on her face wasn't revealing the shock she felt at his invasion of her body. "It's not unpleasant," she whispered, trembling at thought of what he might do if he got angry. He'd been so petulant at her earlier simple rejections, keeping his hands off her breasts in public was far simpler than this. She didn't know what to do, she had no personal experience with sex, much less sex with a naive overly well-endowed Ran. "Uhhhnnn!" Ran replied as he sank even deeper inside of her, somehow finally managing to fill eight inches of his cock inside of her. She said it didn't hurt, so it didn't matter right? He could have his way with her? No...just until he came, he'd fuck her until he shot his load. Then he would back off and refuse any sexual advances, either in his own mind or from Miss Jenna. He didn't want to taint their relationship any further. Yet...something new in the back of Ran's mind stirred, hungrily urging him on as he sunk more and more of his cock inside of her. It whispered that she belonged to him, and that she was going to obey him from now on! She had no experience and therefore could not teach him to be gentle, but her hand did move to fiddle her clit, making it easier for him to plunge inside her. She wasn't saying yes, but neither was she saying no. Furthermore, she figured it was too late to stop him now anyway as she naively thought that the risk of pregnancy began when he entered her. Furthermore, she did not fear being pregnant, as her other hand moved to tug one of her erect nipples." Please," she moaned, "be gentle.... I've never." She felt so inept in this area as he sunk his cock into her, stretching her virgin flesh.

The Dragon's Tutor(Open to one female)|rating:2.0

[Scion_ Destiny's Desire] Fatebound (Band 1)

Scion: Destiny’s Desire - Fate bound(is Band 1's adventure thread.***“Is it ready?” asked one of the three women. Her dark, almost unnaturally so, eyes flashed with interest as she looked at a veiled woman leaning over a large leather-bound book. Its pages were used and yellow. She turned one with utmost care as if afraid to rip it apart with barely any force necessary.“Soon. The prophecy’s requirements are not yet met.” The veiled one spoke as she turned around and gazed into her crystal ball.“Show me the boy.” Said the previous voice. Her companion nodded and uttered a word in a language which sounded anciently beautiful. "Placement", she commanded, and the crystal ball filled with dimmed, shadowy light. The light illuminated a single figure – a young man or teenager, hard to tell exactly, sixteen to eighteen years old. Tall and handsome, even by that age he was sure to have been on the recipient side of many crushes. Naturally curly short red hair, the beginnings of facial hair of the same shade of red, green bright eyes, and a smile, charming and boyishly shy at the same time. He was wearing a pair of simple jeans and a white t-shirt. He looked like a handsome, but otherwise ordinary, person.“Mothers will be pleased. At long last, their long-awaited vengeance is nigh. They have waited for generations. Or was that millennia?" A third woman spoke, her voice loud, melodic and sweet as honey. "No matter." She chuckled as her eyes fixated on the crystal ball." The radiant bitch’s spawn will lead us to their complete destruction.” The dark-eyed one sounded excited at the prospect of vanquishing their eternal foes. She lifted her gun up and reloaded, smiling at the sound it made. Her smile was not kind. There was nothing kind about her. Her smile was wicked in the most wicked and disconcerting way possible.“The Silver Wheel will unravel the very world her kin has striven to protect over millennia. How ironic.” The veiled one smiled as her fingers touched the ball. She reached inside of it and grasped the boy's image, shaking and distorting the vision. Suddenly the ball flashed with light as bright as sunlight, blinding the three women for a few seconds. When their sight was returned, they noticed that the ball no longer showed the boy. Instead, the glass was partially shattered and broken, and each shard showed a different silhouette. There were eight of them. Two women and six men. The first of the two women was beautiful in a very dangerous way. With raven-black hair and hazel eyes, the pale-skinned beauty carried herself with an aura of serenity and sexuality, but it was clear that she had been touched by something dark and sinister, death itself seemed to haunt her. The second woman was similarly attractive, with black hair and blue eyes constantly watching out for trouble. She was beautiful and radiant like the sun -- and yet she cast a shadow terrible to behold, a shadow in which all terrors seemed to dwell. One of the men was dark and handsome, of powerful stature and great strength. He was covered in scars and tattoos which only enhanced the intimidation effect... as did his blood-dripping aura. Dark, twisted, bloody aura of sacrifice, fire and war. He was not the only one whose body was adorned with ink, but his tattoos were non-existent in comparison to the other man whose form was reflected in another shard. Rugged, handsome and ink-crazed, this man's confident smirk said it all. His image seemed to shift as if trying to defy the power of prophecy and the flash in his eyes foretold only chaos. As did another one's aura -- as red as his hair, as hot as his temper, as dark as his past. A black raven flew past him as the three women continued to look at the glass shards. Chaos and disorder seemed to radiate from another of the men. His green eyes were hidden, his handsome features relaxed, his mind somewhere else, possibly in a land of ecstasy and pleasure, his psychic aura numbed down by intoxication and euphoria or - possibly - something else. The next one was very difficult to the ones before -- a gentle giant, with kind blue eyes and dark brown hair, his face showed kindness and stability, as did his aura. It was like an eye of the storm -- calm and preserving even amidst all the chaos and havoc all around. The last silhouette was of a handsome dark-haired man whose dark eyes seemed to flash with focus, hidden knowledge and determination. And yet, something in him made the onlookers think of a proud and magnificent loud. The threads of Fate danced around him as if protecting him from any harm that might come his way. All of them were on their way to divinity. On their way to embracing their destiny. An invisible thread of Fate connected all of them together. Bonded forever by Fate. The veiled woman's hand dripped blood. The shards and the characters each of them represented were soon splashed with blood. Their faces and visages no longer recognizable, covered by the dark red liquid. Blood. Soon. Two weeks ago... The Word looked at the infinite web of Fate created by countless threads. Each of them representing one life, or one bond, or one event, or one item, or one creature, or one moment, or one... No one could possibly understand the workings of the Fate fully, not even Gods, Titans or Agents of Fate itself. It was true that some were had achieved some degree of Fate analysis and even Fate manipulation, but no one could truly comprehend the Fate in its entirety, nor to control it to do its bidding... at least not without being subjected to its will afterward. The gods who dealt with Fate, who tried to shape Fate of theirs or others, who tried to escape their Fate, were always severely punished. And yet, some were still willing to risk everything in order to accomplish their goals. There was nothing better at making sure certain events did come to being than Fate. But Fate had its price. The Word got to work. The shapeless shadow of the Fate looked at the world, with its eyes fully open, searching for the one thread it wanted to find. Searching and searching and searching. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours as the Word browsed through the threads, touched them one by one to ensure that it found the one and only one it needed to influence that one small detail and resolve the future satisfactorily -- to its own purposes, of course. When it finally found the one silver thread it had set its mind on, it grabbed it with all its metaphysical might. It pulled it with incredible force, but the thread did not snap. The more strength the Word put into it, the more difficult it was to move that one thread even by an inch. Failure was not an option. The Word sang a song from long-forgotten times. Two new avatars of the Fate stepped out of its form. The three grabbed the thread one more time. This approach was certainly -- and certainly more likely to prove dangerous. The connection moved and bent, but by doing so, a number of different threads running around that one was disturbed. The Words finally got what they wanted -- the silver thread twisted as the three desired. But in doing so, the other threads twisted as well, latching themselves on the silver one, as if to support it. This would have to do. Their time was up. The Fate had recalled them. A moment later they were gone. The havoc they sowed on the Fate's web remained. The silver thread snapped in half, but the eight surrounding threads seemed to bind it together from being severed completely. Now...(Angeles. The second-largest city in the United States, after New York City. Known mostly for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, sprawling metropolis, and as a major center of the American entertainment industry. It was also often called a City of Angels. Not many, however, knew that it was also a hub of the supernatural where many Scions started and finished their legendary stories. A place where gods walked the Earth -- be it in disguise or sometimes more boldly so -- and often took lovers. After all, the city had everything. It was a center of entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, sports, technology, education, medicine and research. Any god could feel at home, no matter whether they presided over love and carnal desires or bloody sacrifices and violent deaths. There was place for all of them. This was perhaps the reason why the Fate so loved Los Angeles. Immortals were drawn to the place like moths to flame, to the ever-going carousel of mortal lives, fears and desires which collectively created the web of Fate. And as Fate would have it, the heroes of one of the Fate's future stories were all in LA. It had brought them together. Or it will. Time was insignificant.[Please describe whatever you want in your first post as long as it's in Los Angeles. Describe why your character is there. Be creative. Do they live there and are just on the way to their mundane work? Have they traveled here in search of clues how to solve a mystery concerning their past? Or maybe they're in grave danger of being attacked by some kind of titan spawn? It can be anything you want as long as it makes sense. You know your characters best. It's time to tell me more about them, their motivations, their life, their behavior. The next posts will be more concrete, less metaphysical, I promise.] (Ohio Christos (#msg12094425)Location:Ohio's Loft Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Private Anything Else?n/their used to be a large stone Catholic Church on the corner of what is now the Artist District in LA. The building still stood, even if it was no longer in use as it's intended purpose. It was still a religious site, but in a way that would have horrified the original owners. The nave was reminiscent of the original purpose. There were still pews that formed seating for the 'congregation', though every other row had been removed to make more room, pads and pillows of varying colors and sizes covered the hard wood. Half of the stained-glass windows were original, but the others had been replaced since Ohio bought the place, with scenes that had the art style of typical renaissance art like the others, but showing more joyous scenes of joy, inebriation, or simply nude lounging. The inside was adorned with flowers and vines, including the chancel, which had been cleared of any altar or crosses, and served as just a raised platform. In tradition with most of Los Angeles construction, there was no basement. Above the cathedral ceilings was another floor, which used to contain the rectory and a meeting place for AA meetings or small church functions. The walls dividing them had since been broken down to open up the space, and outside a few lode-bearing walls, that still offered wide empty windows, the floor was one large studio apartment. A small kitchenette off to one side seemed like an afterthought, compared to the small painting studio, framed with a tarp across the ground; a comfortable lounge area; and a large bed against one wall, the headboard and legs wreathed in vines. The bell tower still loomed over in the center, a metal staircase leading up -- but the bell was long gone, and windows installed in the open spaces to allow a view, while keeping the place insulated. Ezio was just waking up late in the morning, forgetting that there was even anybody in his bed until he heard the voice of the other man. He was a member of the 'Chorus', petitioners seeking membership in the Cult, but allowed some of the freedoms to explore it. The other man was still looking for wisdom and guidance, offering his take on the sermons on the previous evening. Ohio had offered some lessons on how growth came from tribulation, how every loss was a chance to learn, and like others before him, the other man was seeing all of his past failures and poor luck as positive encounters. It was early for Ohio, and he kept up the smile, feigning pride in the man's take, while trying to decide if he was up for another round. He ultimately decided he wanted coffee more than sex, if the sex also entailed hearing the culmination of the other man's Psychology 101 course. He got up from the bed, pulling a soft robe over his body that was clearly more for comfort than modesty, given how he let it hang open. Furthermore, he moved to the small kitchen to start brewing some coffee, as well as a bottle of whiskey. Furthermore, he waited for the coffee to brew while glancing out through a stained-glass window, offering soft but vague affirmations. (Bennett "Ben" Smith Location:Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Morning Tagging:N/Some people started their days bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Bennett was not one of those people. It probably hadn't helped that, lately, Bennett's cat had been sleeping curled up in the very center of the bed. This would have been a minor nuisance if said cat had been a housecoat. Mouse was not a housecoat. Mouse was a foo lion. To be fair, when they had met, less than two weeks ago, Mouse had been a bit of a runt compared to the rest of his litter (hence the name Mouse), but every day, he just seemed to grow bigger. Now? He was roughly the size of a Tibetan mastiff. That didn't stop Mouse fromactinglike a housecoat most of the time, though. For instance, licking Bennett's hair to tell him it was time for Bennett to feed him. Mouse actually could have justsaidsomething; Bennett did actually understand what Mouse said. Dragging himself out of bed, Bennett was, not for the first time since acquiring Mouse, relieved that he'd found himself waking refreshed despite surprisingly little sleep ever since his first brush with the supernatural two weeks ago. As he shuffled into his apartment's kitchen, Mouse rubbed himself up against Bennett's legs, reminding Bennett that his reason for getting up was to feed his cat. So, even before he put the tea on, he set about getting some meat for Mouse to masticate – he'd been trying different meats, different butchers, trying to find what worked best for Mouse, who had been mostly unhelpful when it came to helping Bennett deduce the proper diet for a foo lion. Hot cup of tea to wake him up, then a shower. While he was under the cascade of hot water, he laid out a plan that would last him, at least until lunch. Stop by the local Chinese bakery. Grab a meat bun for breakfast; it would hold him over until lunchtime. Morning tai chi in the park, then classes. Classes hadn't stopped, but Bennett was having an easier time with them than ever, which was saying something, considering he'd always thrived in academic environments. Jump back for a quick shower, then meeting with Along for lunch. It was rare that Along could make time in her own schedule; working in medical research was a demanding time commitment, so Bennett made a point of clearing his schedule. What were the odds, he mused as he got dressed and ready for the day, that this was just to catch up, or that Along had something specific she wanted to talk about? Fifty-fifty, maybe? Not enough data, really. As he ducked out the door, Bennett called to Mouse that he'd be back to feed him before noon. But... well. There was a saying about the best laid plans of mice and men, wasn't there? (HidekiLocation:Los Angeles Time:Eh, it's morning Tagged:No one's it Don't even ask her how it happened, but Choke had recently developed an enjoyment for heavy metal. In its own way, she found it somewhat uplifting, especially some of the works of Iron Maiden...in fact, right now she was listening to Wasted Years and embarrassingly enough singing along as she was stuck in LA Morning Traffic TM." Sooooooooo! Understaaaaaaaand! Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years!" At least the windows were rolled up. Her life had continued mostly as normal since her meeting with the woman who was her actual mother. In a way, it was still difficult to believe that not all were all myths true (to some degree), and she was the daughter of one, AND she had been saved from a cultist who served a being that was effectively her grandparent by another child of myth...when you put it all like that it seemed like a bad movie. Or a perfect one. She had never been good at predicting what movies would be good and what would suck. Amaterasu had told her that the grandparents had busted free of their prison and were reasonably upset about that, seeking to put the Gods in their place-which was the grave, apparently. Choko was not much of a fighter, even though she had practiced a little with the Katina her mother had given her. Or at least, she had never been in a real fight. And aside from the one that had saved her, she had yet to meet another Scion...and she had made little effort to put herself out there. The group that tried to off her was still out there, after all. And since the attacker had been shot and killed, he wasn't talking. Still, "Fate" apparently arranged events, and she felt it wouldn't be long until someone like her met up with her. After several long minutes made infinitely shorter with good music (thank the Gods for Pandora, a most ironically named music service if there ever was one), she was in her office waiting for her appointments for the day. Happily, there weren't many, and they were all in the morning, allowing her to skip out if she needed to. Appointments were scheduled many weeks in advance, so she wasn't going to be able to take on extras even if she wanted to. (Mateo Herrera (#msg12094634)Location:An alley in Westmont, Los Angeles Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Private Anything Else?n/the night, or rather early morning, had been more than a little eventful. It had all started not long after the bars let out around 2am when a couple of his guys were accosted on their way home. Things had been a little tense in their area of Westmont. The Bloods and the Crops, such a scare tactic of the 80s news headlines still controlled a lot of territory, as did many of the Latino gangs though they weren't as populous in this subsection of the city. One thing had led to another and fisticuffs had turned into a running street battle that thankfully left a couple of his men wounded but not dead. Two were in jail but had managed to ditch anything incriminating before getting caught, as they'd been taught, and would be out soon thanks to a lack of proof. The city's attorneys didn't have time to deal with street thugs attacking other street thugs when no innocent white people were involved. Mateo hadn't been directly involved, but he'd gone to work quickly afterward to help with the cleanup - there were boys to get patched up, weapons to get 'lost', and a couple of their usual shady lawyers to contact. By the time it was all done the sun was coming up and Mateo was at one of his favorites out-of-the-way bars - the same one where he'd met his father. It wasn't technically open, but it was always open for him and as he nursed his third beer he still tried to figure out a way to improve things. This might be the start of fighting, again - not that there wasn't always some fighting with their rivals, but at times it flared up like an inferno and at other times it was just smoldering coals. He was hoping this wasn't the start of an upswing, it tended to be bad for business. With a sigh he peered towards the shaded window, frowning at the specks of sunlight he could see trying to peek through. Going home for to bed sounded good, but he was pretty sure he couldn't be able to sleep after the night he'd had. Location:Church of the Hidden Eye, Los Angeles Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Erstwhile the coffee was brewing, Ohio could take in the magnificent view of an early LA morning. The sun was up, people all over were in rush, moving fast and noisy, the noises fortunately dulled by the church's powerful walls. A morning like any other, mundane, average. Routine-like. Ohio's life hadn't changed much since he discovered the truth about his parentage. Of course, in some ways itdidchange, what with the legitimacy of his divine lineage helping in establishing the cult, helping it grow and develop -- as did Silents' patronage over it and divine guidance. At the same time however not much else changed. His father didn't contact him after his first visitation, there was no more mentioning of the Titans or the world in the Overworld, or anything. Even now, two weeks after his divine visitation by his father, Ohio's life was pretty much the same as it was before. Here he was, in the church that he had established, brewing coffee. And yet, deep inside his head there was this worry, this dark thought, this feeling that today it would all change. That today was going to be big. That todaysomethingwas going to happen. Perhaps he should consult his divine phallic-shaped capsule to maybe try and confirm these feelings as for what the Fate had in store? Before he had time to make up his mind, a voice bellowed below. "Mr. Christos?" Feminine, strong but melodic and polite even. "Mr. Christos?" She repeated. Ohio could hear the echo of the woman's high heels. And then his last night's lover's voice as he probably engaged the newcomer in a conversation. "Oh my." She chuckled. "I suppose Mr. Christos must be nearby then. My apologies if I interrupt."" Oh no, no, no... Miss...?"("Parker. Belle Parker." Belle Parker. That name sounded familiar to Ohio's ears. Parker... wasn't that the wife of that cop? The one who wasn't really thrilled that his wife decided to join Ohio's congregation? And who tried to cause trouble to the Cult up until she divorced him and moved away? (Or at least that's what Ohio heard from the other members.) Seems she was back though." Mr. Christos is upstairs, but I'm unsure if he's accepting visitors at this time, Miss Parker..."" Oh, dear boy, just call me Belle. I do realize it might not be the best time, and I am so sorry for entering even though it says the church is closed so early in the mornings... but I have some... rather unbelievable story to tell him, and I'm quite certain he's the only one who can help me with my problem. Have you been long in the cult?"" Of course, Miss Parker... Belle... I... I'm not one to presume anything. He should be right back. I'm sure he'll see you. And no, I haven't been formally initiated yet. But I feel like this is the real thing. As if I'm finally finding the answer to all my questions about reality, truth, passion, life...""...and death?" She chipped in, still in a very jovial tone."...that too, I guess." The man replied quite confused." Indeed, that's exactly why I have to talk to him."" You mean... someone's died?" He asked worriedly." I fear that someone might be if I don't do anything to stop it." The coffee was finally ready. Mechanics[Please make a (Perception + the number of Prophecy Boons) roll. This is to represent some random insight that might or might not happen to help a Scion with access to a Prophecy Purview. You should also decide whether you want to use Hero's Herald Boon in this story. If so, make appropriate rolls, please. Please also make (Perception + Empathy) and (Perception + Awareness) rolls.]***Location:A shady bar, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Late Morning Tagging:Mateo Even though he had been busy the whole night, Mateo didn't feel as tired as he should. The now-awakened divine actor flowing in his veins changed many rules that controlled his body before. His strength, speed and stamina were all greatly heightened. He could run faster without feeling tired, he could perform inhuman feats of strength, and he barely felt exhaustion -- at least in comparison to a normal man. Hell, he could evenheallike some kind of superhero from a comic book. Considering his criminal career, that would certainly come in handy -- not to mention his divine father's pantheon's love and expectations of bloody sacrifices. It might not be a pleasant process as pain was still as real as ever but at least he was bloody hard to kill. And who could say no to that? The bar was almost empty -- which was no surprise as it was technically closed already. All (or almost all) the clients left a couple of hours ago, some by their own volition, others dragged by their friends (or possibly rivals), and some kicked out by a bouncer for starting fights or other disorderly behavior. Mateo was one of the few people still in. There was of course Pretty Harry behind the counter -- whose name was an old joke as Harry was anything but pretty. His face was badly scarred after some fight that had gone not the way he had expected. It did wonders on the clients though. Intimidating them so that they think twice before starting anything. There was also the bouncer whom everyone called the Big Guy. His nickname was self-explanatory. One glance at him and everyone knew what it was about. Big was... big. About seven feet tall, built like a tank. Mateo wasn't sure of his real name. He wasn't sure he had ever heard anyone call him anything else apart from just a Big Guy.(to go home at long last, Mateo stood up and went in the direction of the exit. When he was almost there, he noticed that there was someone else in the bar as well. Someone he had never seen before because he would definitely remember seeing such a pretty face here. The man was young, in his early twenties at most, with a boyish charm and that youngster flash in his green eyes, but at the same time that aura of self-confidence, even arrogance. He was leaning on the wall, observing the bigger man with intensity and a smirk. Wearing worn jeans and a pastel pink t-shirt, he couldn't look more out of place in a bar like this. He raised his eyebrow and run his fingers through his dark brown hair. With a confident swagger, he approached Mateo and gave him a look-over, his eyes fixating on the man's muscles. "You're Mateo, right? The leader, yeah? Looking for fun?" So shameless. His eyes were now looking at something lower, just below the criminal's belt. It all suddenly made sense. Seeing that, Pretty Harry leaned over the counter, "You better watch out for this one. The boy's like family."" Yeah, right. Just because you fucked my mother a couple of times ain't mean I'm your family. At least I hope not." The young man chuckled." Don't you start now, boy? Don't be disrespecting your mother."" Whatever. Ain't talking to ya anyway. I'm working. Now why don't you go back to your own work, Pretty, huh?"" That fuckin' mouth of yours will be your end one day, kid." The boy snorted in response as Pretty Harry turned around and decided to go back to cleaning the tankards. Mechanics[Please make a (Perception + Empathy) roll.]***Location:Choke's office, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Late Morning Tagging:Whosoever at this time of day, when the sun -- or her mother, in a sense, if she were to believe the myths -- was barely risen, the hospital was a place of total chaos. She heard from one of the nurses which passed her by there were some gun shot patients from last night. It was nothing new -- it was LA after all. Gang wars were quite a common occurrence. But Choke was left to wonder if that was indeed the truth of it all. After her visitation and the plot to end her life, she couldn't be so sure. Could it be some trick of the Titans and their earthly minions? Could have these fights been caused by less than natural -- supernatural? -- means? She did not know. Everyone was in a rush, both workers and patients, especially the former. Fortunately for Choke, she wasn't in the middle of all this havoc. She was a highly sought after psychotherapist, not a trauma surgeon. Her patients had to have scheduled appointments. As she was sitting in her -- very comfortable -- armchair, her phone rang. It was her secretary. "Miss HADOPI!" She heard the woman's high-pitched, slightly too sweet, voice. "Miss Yumiko Okayama is already here. She seems... distressed. Maybe something has happened to her? Or she's just nervous?" Yumiko Okayama was the first of Choke's patients for the day. She was diagnosed with a bipolar affective disorder some time ago. The depressive and manic episodes were at times so severe the woman couldn't function properly and had to put her singing career on hold, at least for now. In one of her manic episodes, she even attacked one of her fans at a concert after he commented that she was 'too beautiful to be real'. This event put a dent on her image and the label she was working with decided she needed a time off... and a professional to look after her needs.(couple of minutes later, the door to Choke's office opened and Miss Okayama entered accompanied by the psychotherapist's secretary. The latter bowed and turned away, disappearing shortly, leaving the two alone. The patient seemed nervous. She was sweating profusely, her hands shaking, her eyes wide with anxiety. "Miss HADOPI... I--I'm afraid it's getting worse." She mumbled as she put her hand on her forehead. "I-I'm not crazy, you know that! I just... I just can't stand this... this stress... is all... right? But lately... it's been getting worse. I've begun... hearing things. Seeing things. Feelingthings... And it's not just dreams anymore... it's all when I'm awake... but it feels like I'm daydreaming. Almost. Except it feels like I'm not. Every night it feels as if the moon is looking at me, watching me. As if shadows had eyes and were watching me too. As if night itself was whispering... things... to me... Is this my imagination? Is this just... stress? It could be, right? But the things it says... they're all in Japanese... Could it just be that I'm... homesick? Yes, that might be it, right? I did specifically ask for you because I had checked your background... I thought it would be... easier to relate to you. But this? This... is not what I had envisioned... I can't stand these constant whispers! Please, please, please, I don't want to lose my mind!" The woman was on the verge of crying. Mechanics[Please make a (Perception + Empathy) roll.]***Location:A street, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Late Morning Tagging:Bennett Mouse didn't seem happy that he was being left alone in the apartment. Bennett could feel that his pet's need of fun was far from being fulfilled. Despite his size, Mouse behaved like a normal-sized, mundane cat in many ways -- including wanting to be petted and played with whenever a desire struck him. And it struck him often. For example now -- even as Bennett was going out, Mouse looked at him with his cute kitten-like eyes, hoping that he would somehow change his master's plans. "Till noon then." The foo lion roared quietly, disappointed but knowing he had no other choice, he had to accept it.(he's walking the street, Bennett could take in the alleged beauty of a morning in Los Angeles -- crowds of people almost everywhere he looked, everyone in rush, traffic absolutely everywhere. Among all those different faces he had never seen Ben did notice a face he had come to know -- and with whom he had been working ever since his Visitation two weeks ago. Taking a form of a middle-aged, devilishly handsome man of Chinese ethnicity, wearing an impeccable gray suit, LU Dong bin, one of the Eight Immortals, was walking in Bennett's direction with his hands in his trousers' pockets and a mysterious smile on his face. The de facto leader of the Eight Immortals, a Tang Dynasty Chinese scholar and poet elevated to the status of an immortal and worshiped especially by the Taoists, took an interest in and a liking to the young Scion after he demonstrated his keen intellect and theoretical understanding of the Chinese mythology. Of course, a lot of facts Bennett thought were not really applicable to the real Celestial Bureaucracy as many changed over time or were twisted by the various retelling and rewritings of these myths." Greetings, young one." The man bowed down as a courtesy when he was close enough to talk. "The Celestial Bureaucracy might have need of your services today as it seems the Fate has marked this day as especially Fated... one could even say Fate bound." He chuckled at his own inside joke before continuing. "But perhaps we should talk in a place better suited to a conversation like this. I know a good, private" he stressed the word by prolonging it, "café by the corner where we would not be disturbed. They also serve great meat buns there." He mentioned somehow knowing Bennett's vice and meat bun obsession. When they arrived, LU Dong bin nodded to one of the waiters who led the two to a separate room deep in the café, with only one table. ">" He ordered in Chinese and smiled. A peculiar kind of fragrance, sweet and almost.... hypnotizing, filled the room very quickly. After the waiter departed, the Immortal continued talking, "I have come to you as the Celestial Bureaucracy needs you to assist another agent of the Shen who is currently on a very important mission, closely watched by one of the most distinguished members of the Shen. It was decided that you were in the best position to assist her." The waiter returned with the order. LU nodded and waved his hand, telling him to leave." Tell me... how much do you know about the Qing-Shi?" Mechanics[Please make an (Intelligence + Occult) roll.] (Ohio Christos (#msg12094425)Location:Ohio's Loft (The Church of the Hidden Eye)Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Ms. Parker Anything Else?n/the nave was designed for voices to carry, and the lilt of the feminine voice hit him before he could fully comprehend it. He was lost in a moment of staring out the window, of admiring the movement and life in the bustling streets. A repeat of the voice drew his attention, glancing away and looking towards the stairs to where the voice had carried, an amused smirk coming to his face only because he hadn't recognized it. The mixture of heels clacking, and polite prefixes made him expecting a cop or a lawyer there either addressing a complaint, or serving him. The man from the Chorus, whose name was still escaping Ohio, intercepted her first. He was content to let his entrance build up as he let his coffee finish. He poured two cups; just sugar for him, but cream and sugar in the other cup. He made his way down the stairs finally, his slow pace and the older metal stairs giving announcing his entrance as well as any herald might have. Furthermore, he was wearing his robe, but the movement of his thighs kept the soft fabric swaying enough that he wasn't more exposed than he was covered. Furthermore, he was surprised to see Belle back, but he didn't let that show. Furthermore, he offered a retort to the man's concern about the information, "Death is sad, but it is not to be feared. Death is part of the cycle that gives life purpose, you must remember that. Overcome sadness, and find strength from it, as you do with all tribulations." He leaned in to give the man a kiss on the forehead, "I believe Belle and I will need some time. I will see you at the next service?" Ohio framed it like a hopeful question, even if it was really a subtle order for the man to leave. He gave a nod before he turned back to Belle, closing the distance towards her." Ms. Parker..." He added a playful drag on the title that questioned her marriage, "Just Ohio is fine, unless your visit is impersonal?" He kept a smile, offering her the coffee before reaching out for half of a hug and a kiss to the cheek. Furthermore, he pulled back, taking a sip from his own still hot coffee, tilting his head back in a moment of savoring the strong flavor, "I admit, I expected you to come by closer to the evening, though based on your comment, perhaps I misunderstood the darkness I saw." He wasn't expecting her, but it never hurt to play up the mysticism of his position. Even without her husband's connections, Belle was still a strong woman who could do well on her own. He gestured to a pew that had been turned into more of a lounge, taking a seat among some pillows and waiting for Belle to join him, "What do you have to share?" MechanicsI am I using Hero's Herald. For my 'Burden', 2: 1/2 Prophecy as Penalty to DV (round down to 0) (+ Prophecy: Fail (+ Empathy: 2 Successes (+ Awareness: 3 Successes (( Bennett "Ben" Smith Location:A café, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Morning Tagging:LU DongbinCatching sight of his mentor and handler, Ben altered course to approach, not bothering to mask the excitement in his step. He had a feeling he'd miss this morning's classes, yes, but what he'd have covered there was something that could be learned from study. A conversation with LU Dong bin offered Ben a glimpse into a world the most brilliant and luminous university professor's lecture would pale in comparison alongside. There was still so much he didn't know yet, and his appetite for every scrap and morsel he could glean far outstripped even his considerable appetite for a good meat bun. He bowed as deeply as he could without drawing undue attention to them, at least as deep as the Immortal, deeper if he could. While he hadn't been raised steeped in the culture, he appreciated that for the Chinese, and, by extension, for the Shen, showing due reverence to elders was important, and his relationship with the Xian wasn't something he wanted to jeopardize by being culturally insensitive." An honor, as always." As LU Dong bin laid out the bits and pieces of what the Shen needed from him like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, Ben leaned forward, clearly intrigued by what was being suggested – and even more intrigued by the prospect of seeing what he could find learn from the other agent of the Shen, wondering if they had been as miserly with details of the supernatural world with her was they'd been with him so far. At the Immortal's query, Ben took a moment to rack his brain, humming as he rummaged through every scrap of lore he'd hoarded. MechanicsSix successes (automatic success from Epic Intelligence accounted for). As 10s count for two successes, total is six successes, despite the result showing only five. (( Mateo Herrera (#msg12094634)Location:A bar in Westmont, Los Angeles Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Private Anything Else?n/Mateo sipped his beer, reflecting on the past few hours and wondering a bit to himself what the fallout of it all would be. Most likely nothing overly major, but it was bound to disrupt business and get more people hurt, both things that Mateo had an intense disliking of. Still, things has been a little bit easier to manage since his 'father' had shown up. It would have been impossible to believe if he didn't have the proof of it in front of him at every moment. Stronger, faster, hell even a bit smarter here or there. And, really, the magic shit sorta helped prove it all, too. But damn, who'd ever have thought this stuff was for real? Finally deciding it was time to go he stood up and gave the bartender/owner a nod and made for the door, slowing as he saw someone else was actually in the bar. When had that happened? Mateo was pretty sure he'd been pretty much alone. He watched as the guy moved away from the wall to come towards him with way more confidence than somebody wearing a pink shirt should have in this part of town, and he definitely seemed to be giving Mateo an once over that was a bit too obvious. The boy seemed to know Harry, at least, and Mateo glanced between them during their conversation before looking back towards the pink shirted boy once again. "I guess that explains it," he said mostly to himself, answering his question about how the boy was in a place like this dressed like that. "Yeah, I'm Mateo. What's it to you, kid?" he asked, still unsure what to make of this new arrival. MechanicsSent to you privately (HidekiLocation:Los Angeles Time:Eh, it's morning Tagged:No one's it Legend:3/4Yukiko Okayama...a name she recognized, but she wasn't much into that sort of music. She had her tastes, and while Yumiko was certainly talented, it just wasn't for her. She had no reason to suspect that the influence over her was supernatural, not until more evidence came out to support that. Furthermore, she had done her research, looking up her past treatment. Dr. Feldman...a name that meant nothing to her, but if his notes were anything to go by, she never wanted to meet him. The man's work was sloppy, careless, the epitome of unprofessional. He had even given the poor girl a one size fits all treatment plan-mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics only worked when there was clear evidence of a chemical imbalance when this outburst seemed more in line with stress. Fool. The entrance of the woman got a smile and a nod from Choke-who also nodded to her secretary as she bowed. "Please take a seat, Miss Okayama." Her tone was calm and soothing, built to help a patient relax. "You are correct-you are not crazy, and you are not losing your mind. It's not exactly an uncommon thing for people to hear and see things that aren't really there. The mind is a tempestuous thing, and for all we know, there's a lot we don't know. I've lived alone for many years, and sometimes I still hear my mother calling to me from downstairs." She leaned back a little, thinking of how best to approach the next part of it. "Someone once told me that the flashes and signals you get in your mind are kind of like the dashboard of a car. Sometimes, a light goes on-and that tells us something is wrong. Can you tell me what you see and hear when these episodes happen?" Choke specialized in cases of past trauma and things from the past, here, she felt she was flying blind a bit. But then again, knowing what she saw might prove the difference between, say, the oil light and the check engine light, to continue the metaphor.Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide Spending a point of Legend to activate Blessing of Importance-I figured the affirmation that she isn't crazy would be enough to count. All Yumiko's Willpower should be replenished, which should enable her to speak about her experiences a bit more easily. Location:Choke's office, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Late Morning Tagging:Choke(patient, still stressed and unable to focus, nodded her head, and with visible difficulty, took the seat to which she was directed. Her hands were shaking, her eyes moving from one thing to another in a manner of FES seconds -- she was barely making any eye contact now. Sometimes, she turned back as if unsure is someone was Noe following her. Or watching her from a corner of the office. Hearing her doctor's words, she made an effort to smile -- the effort was commendable, but the smile made Choke think of a wicked Joker-like figure and not an actual human being. "Th-thank you for-for your k-kind w-words, d-doctor Hi-HADOPI." She was stumbling, but she visibly appreciated what she was saying, easing her mind for a second or few. She listened, her spirits lifted and pains eased by the radiant charisma of the demigoddess. "I... yes, of course." Her pose changed slightly, as if she regained some of her self-confidence and composure. She shifted in the chair as she replied to Choke's question. "It varies... but it's usually the moon. I see the moon and the stars, and their radiant but dark and sad beauty that is so rich I feel.... either hungry even by looking at these things... or sated as if I've eaten a feast fit for kings or gods... I can almost taste the dishes at this feast... they're rich in flavors... sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and umami, they're all there. It usually starts with... fish, fresh and cooked wonderfully... mouth-watering... then another dish -- some wonderful game... and finally, a bowl of rice -- which might look bland and unappetising, but it turns out to be exactly what one needs to truly sate the hunger... and anger... inside. I can hear a male voice... haunting... beautiful... but distant. Cold and sad. No. Upset. Angry even. His words... always in Japanese but never fully comprehensible... as if he is somewhere beyond the horizon -- as if they come from the dark, from beyond what I can perceive in the day... Sometimes I almost feel like I understand what is being said despite the distance... whispers of... destiny? Of fate? But none of it makes any sense. And when I try... and god knows I try! To listen to these whispers... they realize that I'm not good enough... that I'm not giving them my best... that despite all my effort I still can't quite hear them or understand them... they turn to anger and fury like no other. Disgust even. And I... and I..." Yumiko stopped as tears came to her eyes."... I cry. I scream. Furthermore, I frenzy. Furthermore, I have this urge to fight back. To destroy. Killeen." The last word hangs in the air for a few seconds before the pop singer realized what she had just said. "No-no-no! I-I don't mean I've been contemplating any... unlawful thoughts like these! Please, don't misunderstand me. I'd... never!" Mechanics[Please make an Intelligence + Occult.]***Location:A shady bar, Los Angeles Time:Day 001, Late Morning Tagging:Mateo(keen -- divinely enhanced, even -- senses could spot things that no ordinary human being could ever notice. Like, the scent of the pink-shirted man's cologne... which was mixed with something else. Something weird. Sort of... metallic in smell and painfully familiar to him. And yet, he couldn't exactly pinpoint it. There was something else as well -- something...dirty about the boy. It was dirty but in no way unpleasant. In fact, quite the opposite -- it was mesmerizing. The fragrance was unlike anything he had ever sensed, driving his interest and even desires wild with every breath he took. And yet it felt...dirty. That was perhaps the most accurate word to describe the feeling. It was beyond logic." Nothing, I guess. Just thought I'd get to know you better. Sooner or later." The boy shrugged. "Heard a couple of things about you from some people -- also heard what happened last night. Thought you could use a way to unwind and relax, maybe. Thought you could help a guy out as well." He flashed a disarming smile. "If you know what I mean. And I'm sure you do." He took a step towards Mateo but stopped in the middle, and then took a step back instead. "But maybe we can talk about it outside, eh? Out of Harry's earshot? I'm sure you'll find it interesting." The more the young man talked, the harder it was to shake off thisdirtyfeeling that Mateo had when he looked at him. Somehow dirty but mesmerizing smell. Dirty thoughts creeping into his mind. Dirty looks that he was giving him... Mechanics[Please make a Willpower + Integrity + Legend roll. Also make a Perception + Empathy roll to realize that something weird is going on.]***Location:Church of the Hidden Eye, Los Angeles Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Ohio(Chorus boy, whose name still eluded Ohio, nodded respectfully and mumbled, "O-of course, I-I haven't... I will try. I will, yes" as he listened to his prophet's words. The more he listened to these words of wisdom, the more sure he was that he wanted to join and share in this kind of wisdom -- but he also realized how far away still he was from full understanding. As he backed away, the scion of Dionysus finally recalled the man's name. Albert. Albert... Scott? Albert Scotty? Albert Scott's? Close enough. Belle, or ex-Mrs Parker, took the coffee jug with a smile, "Oh, thank you, that's very kind of you. I haven't had time to have my morning coffee yet... ah, I knew there was a good reason why I kept coming here." She allowed herself to joke even though the matter she came with was clearly distracting her. "And yes, Miss Parker... I'm sure you must have heard the rumors... divorced Anthony some time ago. I decided to keep the name though -- I did spend half my life as Mrs Parker so it would be... difficult to change that. To get used to a change back -- I must move forward, not go back. I must overcome sadness, and find strength from it, as with all other tribulations." She quoted Ohio himself with a melancholic smile. "Seems like fates have a sense of humor. My name was the only link to my previous life... until last night. My time in the cult was short, I admit, but still, at some level, I thought my inner eye was opened -- unbidden, if you will. At least, that's what I'd always hoped for but never have I seen anything to say so. Until last night... The darkness you've seen must refer to what I saw. You see... last night I had a dream, but not an ordinary dream, not like... like usual. I could feel a presence, an almost divine presence, in it -- not unlike the one I once felt in the throes of ecstasy at one of the ceremonies. But this time it was dark and grim, and black, and corrupt, and loud, and strange." From the way Belle was describing her vision, Ohio could tell that she truly believed what she was saying. Or she was one of the most gifted actresses he had ever seen." As I felt the presence, I also realized I was dreaming -- but even so, I couldn't control the dream. It was like being forced into a river and being pushed in one direction. And then I saw it all -- a dark underworld filled with the dead. Escaping souls rampaging through the place while the dark presence tried to stop them but could not for some reason. I looked at one of the faces, and then it struck me. All of them had the same face. It was Anthony's. I-I am afraid that he is going to die soon. I cannot let that happen, no matter what happened between us, he doesn't deserve to die so soon. I felt regret and sorrow, but also determination -- I knew no one would trust me, it was, after all, just a dream. But not a dream, more like a prophecy. A vision. I knew you were the only one who could understand. Please, help me. I phoned him, but he didn't pick up. I phoned his work, but he hasn't showed up at work today. Furthermore, I fear he might be in danger soon." Belle seemed quite certain that her vision was, in fact, an actual vision. Was this Ohio's influence speaking or did she always have a close connection to the supernatural world? Then it hit Ohio. A vision of his own. He could feel the Fate speaking to him, no, screaming in his ear, and tearing at his being with its soul-rending claws, sending him a warning. A warning of an inescapable doom. Hisdoom. He felt his blood freezing, his face going white as he felt the Moires' cruel touch frighten him to the very core. He opened his mouth and words of another entity spoke through him:"Scion of Dionysus, the doom is upon you and all who are touched by your life's thread. They will unravel the very world your kin has striven to protect over millennia." Belle made a step back, "What... what was that...?" Her eyes widened with fear as she shook visibly distressed. Mechanics[Ohio's botched Prophecy roll had some unforeseen (he-he) consequences! Belle is kind of panicking as she feels the desperate burden of destiny crush her spirit. Please make a Willpower + Integrity + Legend roll to shake off this supernatural fear. (Ohio Christos (#msg12094425)Location:Ohio's Loft (The Church of the Hidden Eye)Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Ms. Parker Anything Else?n/audio wouldn't have fought against the Fates trying to speak to him. He was open to their input, to the good news or challenges they provided. In this case, he didn't get a choice in the matter though, feeling distanced from his own body as the words spilled out; hearing them both as the speaker and as the audience. As soon as the words left him, he had paused, making it unclear if the loss of control was still present or not. He just needed a moment to compose himself, before he could push them away. He was more worried with the appearance of what was said compared to the actual content. Furthermore, he could deal with the actual threat itself once he didn't have to keep up his reputation. He turned to Belle, attempting another comforting smile, reaching a hand out to touch hers, "There are plenty of malicious forces out there threatened by the work I'm doing here. Perhaps they're threatened by you as well." Only a smile from the Scion of Dionysus could make that seem like a compliment, instead of a threat. He gave a slow nod, "I'm not sure Anthony will be very excited to speak to me either, but I'll look into it... I know you already tried his phone number, but I'd take that. Do you have his current address, or anywhere else he might be staying?" He pulled his phone from his robe to start taking down any information given. Once complete, he reached up to cup Belle's check for a moment, "You may see more visions, if you do, call me right away, okay? Stay somewhere safe until I can get more information." MechanicsWillpower + Integrity + Legend: Result: 7 Successes (+ Presence to help Belle Recover: Result: 7 Successes (using 1L for Inspirational Figure to recover Belle's lost WP. (Mateo Herrera (#msg12094634)Location:A bar in Westmont, Los Angeles Time:Day 001; Late Morning Tagging:Closed; Private Anything Else?n/Mateo was still feeling things were just a little bit... off. This kid didn't really belong in this bar, or this part of town. Not dressed like that. Not being so openly... gay. And not being so brazen about hitting on men. Mateo wasn't even sure how the kid managed to get here without getting mugged or beaten up." You heard some things about me, huh?" he asked, eyeing the boy curiously, feeling a few... stirrings within him at how confident this boy seemed to be while being so out of place in the bar. He was practically begging for it, Mateo could pretty much smell it on him. He smelleddirtyin only the best ways. He narrowed his eyes as the guy talked about helping each other out, talking about it outside of Harry's earshot, and Mateo's eyes blazed slightly with a bit ofneeddriven on by that smell, and this boy. "Fine," he said, glancing around then back at the boy. Reach out, Mateo grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off through the bar, towards the back door that led to the alley around the side of the building. He didn't pause as they walked, continuing until he got there, shoving the door open and dragging him outside into the morning light. Once the door closed behind them Mateo pushed the guy against the door, leaning in close into the personal space, bodies brushing together as he tried to figure out exactly what was happening and why he was feeling this way. "Alright," he said, "Out of earshot. Speak." MechanicsWillpower Roll ((Net 3 I think)Perception Roll ((net 0) (HidekiLocation:Los Angeles Time:Eh, it's morning Tagged:YukikoLegend:3/4She took careful notes. Dreams weren't her area of expertise, but she could try. The little smile might have been creepy if Choke didn't know she was sitting right in the middle of Yumiko's worst point-her absolute bottom. She listened carefully, and nodded when Yumiko was hasty to add that she would never hurt anyone-or at least not kill." Oh, I do not misunderstand. Rage and anger and yes, even the desire to inflict violence, are all perfectly normal emotions to have. You choose, however, to not act on those feelings, and that is incredibly strong of you." More encouraging words, though, not ones backed up by divine power. As she read over the notes she had taken, a curious idea hit her. "What you describe in your dream is very similar to many of the myths surrounding Ski-Yomi, Japanese God of the Moon...he was forever banished beyond the horizon for killing a goddess that was serving him and the other gods. That matches the angry speech you hear and all the delicious food you see..." Was Yumiko a Scion herself? That was an idea...or perhaps she had come into contact with something that put her into contact with the God...there was something there. "I took mythology in college, and fate and destiny is a common, recurring theme throughout all myths and legends. More so in Nordic mythology, but it crops up everywhere."" I want you to think back to when this all started-which I know will be difficult. Did anything out of the ordinary happen? A strange gift, a visit by a mysterious stranger, anything that made you raise an eyebrow and go 'hmm'?" She asked. "Specifically, anything that might be related to the moon, if that can narrow things down-but don't discount something because it doesn't seem to fit." Things didn't scream 'divine intervention!', they more...whispered.

[Scion_ Destiny's Desire] Fatebound (Band 1)|rating:4.0

The Palace of the Immortals ((Full)

The Palace of the Immortals Rules:1. Please Private Message me to Join with character profile2. Be semi literate (does not mean you have to be perfect)3. Stay with your character and the Plot4. No God moving or taking control of other characters5. Follow normal Kenosha Rules6. Read Everything Story:The Immortals are races of thousands who have come together to protect the innocent and the helpless. They are set up of countless races, those who have gained immortality or those born of immortal blood, to bring forth peace on the planet known as "Helium". An evil of sorts has been formed on the western banks of the Helium Sea known as "Train" and the force is created by an elder king, who had fallen to his brother for cruelty and misuse of power. The elder king wants to destroy the Immortals and take control of Helium once again. You as an Immortal most stop him in his tracks and protect the current king (whose name is Helios) from certain destruction. The Races:Any mythical being you can think of. It is not limited to your own imagination as well. As long as you describe the race your character is. The Profile:Name:Race: (Description if needed)Sex:Age: (Unlimited)Personality:Weapon: (NO guns or modern weapons)Power/ Magical Skills: (If you have any)Image: (Description or picture)Weakness:Strength:Biography:Please Private Message me your character and I will post them here. Characters:ID: DreamEmpressName: Lydia Race: Half Elf/ Half Goddess Sex: Female Age: 5,500Personality: Kind at heart but has a small ego that can be carried away at times. Weapon: A long silver dragon sword and small daggers that are positioned on her thigh, ankle and waist. Power/ Magical Skills: She has the ability to transform into different species and also the ability to summon the elements to her command. Her eyes normally turn a brilliant whitish blue when she is about to use her powers. Image:Weakness: Tends to get Naive and start using her power for the wrong reason. Strength: Very hard to kill her, and she has very strong skills in swords play and a form of fighting only the Even people know. She also can fly and expand her wings. Biography: She was born to one of the high goddesses in Helium and her father is also the King of the Helium. She is that of a princess, but she prefers being a warrior. Her main goal in life is to help her father and find true love. Even though she is beautiful, it is hard to find anyone who would love her for her and not her looks. She is starting to find people like-minded and to stop her Uncle from causing her to family and her people. Being part of the Immortal staff and being a princess is a lot of work, but she is willing to suffer for her father and mother.-------------------ID: ReinedeLutinName: Aurore Wendell Lizette Liberace: Halifax/Half-Goddess Sex: FAGE: 1323Personality: Very Disruptive and Rebellious, mother encouraged while father tried to dissuade. Weapon: Bow made of Crystal, bowstring is a hair plucked from, and blessed by Aphrodite Power/ Magical Skills: Summons Crystals at will, and power resides in them Image: Silver hair that reaches her waist, usually tied in a bun. 5'5", with one light blue eye, and the other an emerald green. She is the epitome of elegance, when she isn't screwing around. Eyes glow and hair turns golden when pissed off. Her eyes generally change colors when emotions change. Weakness: naive to others feelings, very innocent to most matters despite age. Strength: Her friendships, and when she is in Pranking mode, she is very mischeviousBiography: Daughter of Earth Side, who is the sophisticated, arrogant, pain-in-the-ass nephew of Helios, and Sarah Rousseau-Side, the FAE version of Aphrodite the Goddess. Aurore has the powers of her mother, and loves to act like a child, even though she is over a century old. She is a kind of Aphrodite from the Jena series, wreaking havoc (pranks) but not for bad. She just can't help it. Her parents disprove of this hobby. She is fun-loving, and has her head in the clouds all the time. Refuses to think of Male Companionship, never dated and doesn't want to for another century or two, but has friends that are boys. She has the charm of her mother, and it tortures her friends. She is a spitfire when people try to order her around. Swears that she'll die fighting alongside her parents, or when she pulls her biggest prank yet ('She'll die laughing' her parents say).________________ID: In(e)Name: Rex ElementumRace: Rex Sex: Neutral (none)Age: as old as the world Personality: Varies slightly with the element he is channeling. Weapon: none Power/ Magical Skills: Complete control of the element of the mode he is in. He can be in Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Lightning, Light, and Darkness. If he is sufficiently enraged (Mass destruction would do it.) he can go into a final mode, Rex Ultimo. In this mode he has control over all elements simultaneously, but it is temporary with a massive drawback at the end and a permanent power increase and appearance change. Image: Rex Elementum is made up of 5 floating orbs around an oval body. Each element changes his appearance. Fire has a massive fireball form around his entire body, his eyes are red. Earth has the body turn to stone harder than diamond and his eyes are brown. Water has a bubble of water around his body and deep blue eyes. Air turns his body blueish and transparent with light blue eyes. Lightning has lightning bolts shooting out of his body orbs randomly. His eyes are yellow. Light makes his body orbs glow. Darkness turns his body pitch black. Weakness: He is one with the element he is controlling. Strength: He is one with the element he is controlling Biography: Rex Elementum exists. He wanders the Earth doing as he sees fit.________________ID: locochuwawaName:DraonirRace:Spirit guardian, Human (Spirit guardians give up a life of freedom to protect innocent lives and their memories and history are erased for their and their families' protection)Sex:Mileage: 20Personality: confident but not sure why he cannot remember anything beyond last week Weapon: A sword he can hide under his skin and control remotely with his thoughts Power/ Magical Skills: Spirit jump (Similar to what the villain had in Chronicles of Rid dick)body shed technique (very dangerous but very powerful lethal if time limit is pushed. Gives ability to pass through solid mass but difficult to hold back power once body is shed. When body rebuilds it is fully regenerated)Image: Skinny but tone 5ft 8in 120lbs Brown hair matching eyes Weakness: In a fight one hit slows him down greatly for a short while Strength: very agile and quick on his feet Biography: very caring but gave up all memories of his past to protect innocent people____________________ID: Dev Name:Devin Katsuki - Either Dev or Tats for short. Race: Sorceress Sex: Female Age: 235 but looks 25Personality: I hate filling these in. So can I skip it? And let it develop as the RP continues. Weapon: A Magical Staff, and magic Power/ Magical Skills: She's a sorceress. She can control the elements - to some extent (Not completely) - specifically, she can harness the powers of say, fire and conjure up a fireball or something to use. Or what have you. Element list: Fire, water, thunder (lightning) earth, air, metal, darkness/shadows, light. Image:I do not take credit for this image Changes: Her hair is red and black, and so is her outfit. Instead of Green and Brown. Weakness: She is not very skilled at hand-to-hand combat, so if someone were to get in close, then they would probably be able to do damage to her. Also, If she is using the fire element, then she is weak to water, if she is using the water element, she is weak to thunder, and so on. Strength: She doesn't have much physical strength, due to being a magical being, but she is quite strong magically. Biography: Can I let this develop as I use her in the RP? Please?________________ID: AlegrettoName:Mikael us D'Alessio Race: Assumed to be an Angel Sex:Assumed Mileage:Ageless Personality:A quiet and withdrawn figure, Mikael us has always been one to stay along the fringes of events, often failing to draw undue and unwanted attention upon himself. Yet as unwilling as he is to involve himself with the dealings of others, Mikael us has always embodied the role of the faithful and chivalrous knight-loyal to his code and to his people above all else. To see him act is like to see the legendary knights of fairy tales come to life. Yet as of late he has seemed to grow bitter and almost angry at the world, and has since led the life of a near-hermit. Weapon:Mikael us wields a magnificent greatswordPower/ Magical Skills:One can only assume that Mikael us has magical powers, though if he does indeed have any magic to call his own, he has never been seen to use it. Image: [x]Weakness:Mikael us' biggest weakness lies in his strict obligations to his code and ethics. He cannot and will not compromise on matters, and as of late he seems to have grown a disillusioned view on the world, and so goes to great lengths to avoid interaction with others. Strength:Mikael us is unparalleled in combat with the sword, and his sense of duty and loyalty make him a powerful ally. He cannot be forced to betray one he has sworn an oath to. Biography:Mikael us has always been. He was present when the first immortals appeared, and he has always been present. Yes, he has never been one to take center stage like his brethren, but the golden-winged angel has always been there; a silent guardian, always willing to offer his sword and life in order to protect and uphold the greater good. Even amongst the Immortals, he has always been mentioned in legend. More than once in the past has he appeared to lend aid to some of history's greatest heroes. He is a champion of justice, goodness, and virtue. But no more? Within the past few centuries, the ever-quiet Mikael us has been fading out from the eye of the people, almost as if he were silently fading away. Prayers for his strength and aid have gone unanswered. Those who would have been great heroes and champions have fallen in their quests, where a century before he would have guided them to greatness. Mikael us is simply no more to the people of Helium. Some whisper that he himself has passed on. Many speculate that he has grown tired of mortals. A few even whisper that he has himself fallen in battle- a prisoner of some dark and evil being. Whatever the reason, Mikael us has simply not been seen, and the world has all but abandoned the guardian angel they once offered prayers to.**I will start the RPG once I get enough members, and please read everything. :)** Lydia stared at the glass of wine sitting next to her at the courts dining table. She was awaiting fighters she sent for and hoping anyone of the immortals would show up. Her main focus know was to protect the remaining lands from being destroyed by her Uncle and his army of darlings. Lydia sighed again staring over at some of the main guards who kept eying her and her beauty. She was sick of it, so she took her long white cloak and hide herself from them. She did not dare want them to take pleasure from her looks. She stared over to her little dragon friend who made its way towards the table. It could barely fly but managed to land nicely on her lap. She smiled and pet the little pink dragon and said, "Well my friend, this is it and I just hope the word got out and the immortals will come." She stated softly and again sighed deeply in. (IOC: Post away everyone who joined) Rex Elementum in Earth Mode seems to phase through the rock just behind the locked and barred gates of the arena. 10 guards attack him on sight yelling cries of "Monster" and "Golem". Rex Elementum's brown eyes flash briefly as a cage of spikes as hard as diamond and as sharp as a razor edge to block the guards. In a deep booming voice that reverberates deep in everyone's chest and heart. "I, Rex Elementum have answered your summons. What is your purpose in requesting an audience with me and then having me attacked?" Drainer woke up with a start. "I must have been dreaming, but I cant remember what about. Where am I. I can't remember a thing." he picked up a note addressed to Drainer. "This must be me.... I'm now a .... Spirit guardian. I must protect the innocent from darkness. My memories have been erased and the need for my skills is growing daily. Search out the Immortals and assist them. Well this would be easier if I remembered a place to start looking." He opened up his window to see a castle blocking view of all other scenery except a fight in the middle of the street directly in front of him. He saw the stronger man pull a dagger with a black blade out and even the castle guard stepped back from the man. Drainer's instinct took over, and he leaped out the window landing, after a midair flip, with his feet pinning the dark dagger to the ground. The next flash of motion anyone saw was the attacker getting hit with two chops in one movement one hand to the throat and one to the side of the head. The man fell to the ground still breathing but unconscious. Draonir turned to the guard and said "I am to meet with one from the Immortals please take me to where one of them is likely to be." He did not wish to be here. The city streets were a crowded place, but Mikael us met no resistance as he trudged drearily through the winding cobbled paths, head bowed as if he were a repentant pilgrim or praying monk. His eyes were trained on the stone path before him, and he could feel that the eyes of the people he passed. At the angelic being's approach, noisy city streets fell silent. A babe cried once in a while, but the infant's cries were quickly hushed. All watched in awed silence as Mikael us passed. A few of the bolder people began to approach the angelic figure as he passed, but yet none found the power within them to raise their voice or reach out to him. Instead, most faded quickly back into the crowd, yet a few had begun to follow him like some bizarre entourage. It was honestly quite a sight. But who could blame the people? How else were they to react at the reappearance of the Immortal Guardian, long believed to be lost or dead? If he could be anywhere away from these prying eyes, Mikael us would have gladly been there. Too many people. To many eyes. Too many whispers and prayers. They saw him as a god back upon the earth. They believed the champion of justice was here to save their souls; to protect them from the malicious grasp of evil. Furthermore, they saw their savior of a thousand unseen evils and more. Yes, Mikael us was all of those things. Yet he was not. He did not wish to be here. He did not want to be back with the mortals. Furthermore, he would not even be here if he hadn't sworn an oath to King Helios' ancestors so many years ago. Furthermore, he had a sacred duty to uphold, and the ever-dutiful angel could not ignore it. He had gathered quite a crowd of followers by the time the angel approached the palace gates, and they had grown bolder as each moment passed. Calls for his blessings rang out from the crowd, mingled with the plaintive cry for an answer for his disappearance, joined by a curse for his casual re-emergence after long years of silence. The angel shifted his wings uncomfortably at the wall of noise and attention behind him, the golden armor plates on the wings chiming faintly at the movement. He had never been used to this sort of thing, least of all now. Perhaps answering the summons was a worse idea than he had originally thought it to be. Yet something must be done about these people. He turned slowly, head raising. The crowd fell silent, expectant. Mikael us' silver eyes fell upon the mass of people, offering them a soft, sad smile." My apologies." That was all. Leaving the people to ponder over his words, Mikael us turned and headed into the palace. He met no resistance. The guards seemed to be too awed to attempt to halt him, just like the commoners outside. Recalling the various paths of the hallways and rooms, Mikael us made his way quickly to the main courtroom. He had been told to come here. Pushing open the door with a mailed hand, the angelic figure slid easily inside, quickly dropping to a bow when he saw the royal occupant within." My lady," he said softly, his voice deep and stained with a sorrowful tone. "I, Mikael us D'Alessio have answered your summons. My sword is yours." She sighed as the wind howled around her, the trees creaked, and she heard a wolf in the distance. It was late, the moon was high, and she was in the middle of a dimly lit forest. Her footsteps echoed in the silence as she walked, and her breathing was just as loud. It's not that she was loud exactly, just in this silence, barring the wind, everything could be heard. The thought of a wolf hearing her heartbeat sent a chill down her spine, and she knew that she needed to get out of their fast. But it was gorgeous in here, amidst the trees, walking through the beams of moonlight that shone through the branches sometimes. When she arrived at a place that was too dark to see, she extended her hand, with a couple of whispered words, a small fireball erupted in her palm, and a barrier flashed around it. She didn't want to have any forest fires around here, that would be bad. Looking around she thought she might be getting close. The woman was on her way to meet someone. She had yet to meet this person, and wasn't exactly sure why she was going. Her excuse was that it was something to do. Her life had been rather boring as of late, so this would be something to spice it up. Or so she hoped. Emerging from the trees, she saw a small village, which she started to walk through. There weren't many people around, for which she was grateful, and she made her way to the place where her presence was requested. She extinguished the flame in her hand with ease and pulled the hood of her black cloak up, she didn't want people to know right off the hop what she was. She didn't really want that undesirable attention. Most people didn't like her, she had a temper fit for a Dragon at times, and was a bit of cruel woman. Also, people would assume that just because of what she was, she was evil. As she neared her destination, she noticed that there was no one there to greet her. It didn't really bug her, just meant that she would have to make her way through the place to find whomever it was she was supposed to. Getting closer still, she noticed she was wrong, there was someone there, and she approached them." Excuse me, my name is Devi, and I was invited to this estate to meet someone. I am not sure whom, so if you would be so kind..."she trailed off a little, realizing her tone was a little on the scathing side, but not caring as she waited or them to lead her to wherever she was to go. And he did so with little delay. Maybe he knew what was going on? She certainly didn't.he left her at a door, and she looked almost confused, he didn't say anything, just ushered her inside then left, probably to wait for if anyone else was going to show up. With a sigh, she pushed open the door and walked in, not sure what to expect. Aurore slid invisibly into the room, watching everything play out. This was her great-uncle's castle, she knew this place as well as the back of her hand. She saw her second cousin sitting patiently at the table with her dragon friend. She snuck up behind her cousin, and as she turned visible to shock her cousin, her cousin turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. Aurore pouted, sitting next to her. Her family knew her too well. She summoned a crystal and started playing with it, leaning back against her seat in a bored, arrogant manner like her fathers. Rex Elementum looks over at Mikael us, his stone body slowly shifting to the neutral gray form. "Well looks like we both got dragged out for this one. Let me guess you walked through the streets right?" He is poking fun at Mikael us. It's obvious they had met at least once before and the odds are good on that seeing as both has been around since the beginning of time He turns his head to look at the new arrivals through the main door. "Who are you all huh? My god, they get weaker every time I turn around." His voice is acidic in thinly veiled distaste. Something akin to a silent hiss escaped the women as she whispered a couple of choice words under her breath. Afterward, Rex, after calling her weak, found his ass and member on fire. She walked over, ignoring the flames and approached the woman who had been sitting at the table, and she only assumed that she had been the one to summon them." I am grateful for the invite, but may I ask why you requested for us all to be here?"she asked, politely. Rex Elementum goes fire mode the instant he feels fire being summoned. "Silly girl. The Elements are mine." Rex Elementum ends the last sentence with venom in his voice. He has always been disgusted by others use of the elements for their own personal gain. If he had enough power he would seal all the elemental power forever. He quickly turns back to normal mode before she can reply.((He's neutral gender. I can technically call Rex Elementum she or it of he if I choose. He just comes out more naturally. He also has no ass.)) (Eh, Ass was just easiest XD)"well, pray tell how in the world I was supposed to know that."she snapped. Already she didn't like the guy. I get the feeling, I'm going to hate it here.........she thought to herself as she looked at the others in the room. "I suppose I should forgive you. You're only a baby after all." Rex Elementum hasn't looked at her this entire time. She's not worth it to him. He could kill her in an instant if he felt like it. It would be so easy to do for him. Especially at this range. A guard escorted in Drainer to the chamber. Draonir looked around with just a tad of uncertainty then spoke, "I am looking for the ones called the immortals I have been instructed to find them for instruction, and to help if needed. I am Drainer the spirit guardian." He bowed with respect to the lady of the chamber and as he did his sword levitated out in front of him in a solute. "Ah this crazy thing it follows my intentions I don't quite have the hang of it yet." He stood up straight and went to a new spot in the room. ((Sorry it took so long, and thanks for the responses. I have been pretty busy or well more so then I normally am. -_- Sorry if it is not the greatest, but I should have more time))Lydia stared at everyone whose questions came at her but for some reason she stared in silence. She noticed a great deal of interesting characters and wanted to know them one by one, but she did not have time for that. It was too much to explain to everyone exactly what is going on but she is most explain anyway. She stood staring at all of those who have come and then finally after moments of silence spoken softly but loud enough for all to hear, "We all should understand the great threat of my Uncle and his growing army. He hates everything this country and this world has become, and his ever-growing hatred has breed great storms of evil across this land. The light can not stop them anymore, and so we most go in force. My Uncle once ruled here but his corruption and greed has overtaken him and some of his knights. My father was told by my grandfather's spirit to fight him and take the land into his own. My father did so and had beat my Uncle and kicked him out of the country into a world of great horror. He did not want to kill him and by not killing him we have a great evil storming. I called all of you in hopes to stop him. I only want a small army and one that is willing to protect this great world. We can lose everything we have gained in all these centuries." She sighed and looked around. "I hope all of you are prepared for a long journey ahead. If you need anything please let me know and let the guards gather the supplies we need." She smiled and walked towards and window and stared at into the vast lands that she always called home. Rex Elementum is incredulous. His anger, even in normal mode, causes strong winds to whip through the castle, tremors to be felt all over the sou rounding area, a storm began to brew over head as water is fused by electricity, and all the fires nearby to shoot up. His voice is like the quick lightning, the strong earth, the hot fire, it carries like the wind but is thick like water "You called me here for this? You summon me here for one of your petty wars? That's it I'm leaving" A very pissed off Rex Elementum's head spins 180 degrees, and he begins to "walk" out. A mortal would be a fool to try and stop him now. She sighed and stared at him. "That is smart considering I didn't start anything and neither did my father. My uncle was the one who wanted to declare war on everyone when he was king and know when he is not king he wants to attack regardless of whether we agree or not. He is going to attack this very castle and continue on to other places until this entire world is darkness and dead." She hated ignorance and even though to an extent she agreed, she could not help but feel that if people are not willing to stop it, then hope is lost for everyone. Rex turns on her, his anger flaring, "You seem to be assuming I care for humans. Your mortals have abused the powers I have given you for centuries. You wonder why we immortals have ignored your please before? Well it's because we feel you cannot be redeemed anymore. If you all die then so be it. We can try again. Show me one good reason why any of the immortals should help the likes of you." Rex Elementum is still rather upset over how those who call themselves "elementals" go around killing and abusing the powers he has lent them. For this reason e has turned his back on the world. He thought this would be a time when the world had a valid reason for fighting. He's seen it before. Evil dictator comes to power, falls, peace, rinse and repeat. "If you don't mind me answering, It does seem obvious that this uncle of hers has obviously found some kind of power that makes him a threat to the immortals. It is only a matter of time before we are all in this fight one way or the other. That is the only reason for my existing as a Spirit Guardian. If the all living things are not threatened then the monks that gave me the choice would never have begun the search." He looked at his arm which he made bend at the elbow and appeared to be two fore arms, then snapped together. "I have no history beyond this morning because I believe in trying to keep this from being the last kingdom with free beings ever." "Yes but I truly cannot be killed. He is no threat to me. He may even clean up all those false Elementals for me. I have a history that began with time. I have a memory as far-reaching as the roots of the planet." Rex's orb body grows in height until he is 10 times as big as before. "The limitations placed on you all at birth do not apply to me. "Death" for me is nothing more than the time it takes to reform my body. Unless you stifle out all the elements simultaneously you cannot kill me. I exist while they exist. They exist everywhere and cannot be destroyed. When you live over one million years then you may speak with me on matters such as this." He shrinks his orbs back in tighter. She smiled and said, "Don't be a fool. We are not trying to destroy them but trying not to be conquered by them. I am also of Goddess blood and my family line lives within both realms of existence. I am not waging war but trying to defeat them without killing hundreds of thousands of men, woman, and children. That is why I summoned all of you here because I know that such a threat maybe nothing to some of you, but we live for today and for the future that may exist. We can't deny a threat because we feel it is not worth are justification to prevent it." She sighed and looked away, "It is not worth me explaining myself to anyone anymore." She turned to the others and stated, "Any objections?" "The force that created the powers I now have can destroy elements. If one of the sources of that power is taken then and only then will a Spirit guardian be summoned." His eyes glowed orange. "He can become an Immortal himself if he gets his hands on more than one of them. I don't care about your opinion Rex the bottom line is: the longer we wait, the closer he is rebuilding this world to his own end. Aurore looks up for the first time, noticing that she and her cousin weren't the only one's there anymore. She is totally oblivious to all the looks of disdain from everyone when she starts tossing her crystal up in the air. Suddenly, she tosses it at her cousin. It glows gold as it is flying to its destination. "Now you're presenting me with a valid reason to fight with you. I'm in." Rex's head orb bobs in a distinct nod. "Nice to see something remembers my name for once too." He looks back at the half goddess, "So tell me where he is, and I'll blow the place to bits now." She stared at Rex and kind of laughed, "Granted you maybe strong but please no power can be that strong. Destruction lays chaos and in that will lay everyone's downfall. Please all I ask is you just come with us and fight amongst us. I think destroying them is not such a good thing. There maybe rebels that might want to change amongst my Uncles army and if we just destroy them, we might regret it." She smiled and walked over towards a set of emblems. "These are for all of you. Please take one." Aurore humphed as she was ignored by all the 'important' people. She watched over as everyone stood to get their emblems. She pouted, then brightened. If only her crystal could get there before anyone else....... She tossed her crystal into the air that disappeared, and not even her cousin, she noted almost comically, could see the green glitter shower quickly over the emblems. She smiled and sat back, awaiting the moment to pull her prank. Furthermore, she shrugged to herself, she lived to wreck chaos with pranks, and piss her family off with her childless. Furthermore, she was very powerful, thanks to her heritage. 'No one is going to ignore me anymore. I don't care if they're about to fight my grandfather. He's a b- Oh, must not think bad of the family, as dad says. Even if he agrees that he is a maniac sympathetic and deranged king.' She smirked, thinking of what her father would do in this situation. He would have already turned most of these people into different creatures, just because he was bored. She bit her lip, stifling her laughter. In this room, only her cousin knew that the corrupted king was Aurore's Grandfather. Earth, Aurore's father, only inherited a few things from his old man. His blonde hair, arrogance, stubbornness, the way he set his jaw, and his love for dark-haired woman. He passed all but the last trait to his daughter, especially his certain love of disregarding the rules. He played by his own, and changed them regularly. Sarah Rousseau was the FAE incarnate of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Aurore loved being the center of attention, and hated being ignored. That was all about to change. After all, these people were too solemn and boring. She laughed and smiled at Aurore. "Don't be so concerned. I am not trying to ignore everyone. Actually considering I have this grave feeling I am ignoring people and I never mean it. So as you collect your emblems, I suggest you introduce yourself." She was never much of a talker and Lydia was always known to be very rude when it comes to company. She never meant to be, but that was just her nature. Aurore sauntered over to the table after everyone else was seated with their emblems. She picked up the last emblem from the table, she turned around to face everyone. "I am Aurore Side, daughter of Earth Side, nephew of our great king, and my mother is Sarah Rousseau-Side the FAE Queen, who, I might add, is Aphrodite, literally. I am the 2nd cousin to Lydia here, and, unfortunately, makes me the granddaughter of the Big Bad King we're against here." She smiled ruefully, avoiding everyone's eyes. She noticed that everyone was wearing their emblem except her, and as she wickedly smiled, she realized that this was the best way to put her prank in motion, and escape in the chaos to come. Furthermore, she summoned a crystal and crashed it on the floor. No one really noticed yet, but they all switched gender because of her spell. She pouted when she realized the only one not affected was Rex, she thought she heard he was called. She slipped out in the din, quickly transforming into a pure white barn owl to fly to the ceiling above the large room, landing on a statue nearby to see what she started. Furthermore, she knew her cousin would kill her, but it was well worth seeing 'Lydia' (As she knew she would always call her cousin from then on) try to find a counterspell. Furthermore, she set on her haunches to watch the scene play out.:lol: Drainer looked around the room noticing that the group seemed to be a little disoriented then began to notice a weight on his chest that he didn't have before. He looked down to notice cleavage through his shirt's collar. "What the..." he said in a noticeably higher voice. He then felt for energy near him and noticed the source being the emblem he had just put on then he was quiet and looked to see if anyone else had changed. He turned and got a drink to face away from everyone to keep from laughing aloud. Furthermore, he sent his sword to Aurore, and it vibrated to speak his words only to her. "I don't think I will ever see a prank quite like this again. I wish I could laugh out loud without alerting everyone else to the change." Rex Sees the gender swap. "HAHAHA HA. Look at you all. You just switched genders. Wow. That's amusing." As the only unaffected one Rex can see the funny side and be unaffected. "By the way. I don't know anyone who can fix that. Even if I did, I wouldn't take you. This is too funny." Aurore flew over the heads of the confused, and rapidly growing amused and annoyed guests with Drainer's sword in her grasp, dropping it into his hands, only to land on Drainer's shoulder unnoticed, and she touched his mind to say, 'No one will see this prank ever again. I like to keep my jokes original, and the only way that everyone will turn back is if they start doing the chicken dance together, and in sync. Don't tell them yet, though. This is my job, annoying the hell out of anyone with a serious attitude with pranks. They might as well get used to it.' She stopped for a moment to think. 'They have to dance the chicken dance. Hell, I haven't seen that dance in years, and it was because I forced my cousin to do it or her hair would have permanently stayed shock pink.' She grinned mentally. 'Original prank, but old remedy.' She couldn't wait to see how Drainer was going to tell the cure, and wondered when he would. She settled herself on his shoulder, when he didn't nudge her off as she supposed he would. "Well this is one hell of an interesting way to start a new life of memories. Well I am getting hungry." he curtsied to Lydia. "I do enjoy the colors of this room. I only just noticed." Smiling to himself he walked over to the table with snacks and began placing treats on a plate. He whispered to the owl on his shoulder, "Would you like a nibble of something?" ((Hey guys if you have not noticed I have not been on much. Sometimes I have time and other times I don't. I have been lacking in wanting to RP anymore and my main interest is working on my current project for class. I might hold off for a while and if you like to pm me please do so. Furthermore, I am sorry.)) (SO Sorry about not being here for this RP. For some reason, Men doesn't email me anymore whenever there's a new reply. Seeing as I missed like, 3 pages, just count me out. I'm sorry about this, but... yeah. Due to Men being weird, I probably missed a fair bit, and chances are I'd have a bit of trouble trying to work my way back in.) Aurore deemed that she liked this Drainer, and clucked her beak at a Tuna Sandwich that was at his elbow. She happily ate the sandwich which was proffered to her. She gulped and looked around the room as 'she' helped 'her'self to something. ***Does anyone's exist???!?!? I know that I have no life because of school, but this is ridiculous!! Lol I hope I didn't scare anyone off with my curse*** Is this role-play just finished? I'll take the curse off if it turned people away from this. Come on, folks, I miss this one!!!!

The Palace of the Immortals ((Full)|rating:3.0

I'm not so sure...

This is an RP for Emo and Evergreen only! You are allowed to look at it, but no posting please! Emo's character! Quote: Name: Elena (can change/might change) Age:17 Gender: Female Bio: Elena is a normal high school a girl. On the honor roll, cheerleader, debate team captain, does about everything. Appearance: My Character! Name: Jacob Black Age: 19 Gender: Male Bio: Jacob hated school but finished it with good grades for some strange reason that even he doesn't know. He hides from the world since he has no one to talk to anymore, he had friends at school, but they left soon, and now he's left alone. He hides a part of himself from the world but does a great job in controlling it. Appearance: Elena's alarm went off. She slammed her hand on it. She got out of bed. 4 a.m. Just enough time for a jog. She smiled and put her hair up and slipped on her tennis shoes. She walked outside. It was damp and cool out. She stretched out her muscles and yawned. She began at a slow pace. Elena went through the same path as every morning until she saw road construction. She kept jogging in place while looking around for a way around. She decided to cut through the forest. It was a bit dark, but she had been through it once before, and she was pretty sure she could remember where she was going. Jacob sighed as he woke up with the help of his loud alarm clock. "Ugh...new day..." he said and struggled to turn it off since his hands were trembling for some strange reason. It was 4 a.m. it was still too early, but he decided to go out for a run in the forest anyway. "It's not like I have anything else to do..." he muttered to himself. He crawled out of bed slowly and stretched out before heading to the shower. He took a shower in hot water and got out later. Furthermore, he threw on his gray T-shirt and Levi jeans. Then he slipped on his black running shoes and quickly brushed his hair. He looked at himself in the mirror before heading out to the forest which, luckily for him, was very close to where he lived. He soon reached the forest and smiled as he began to run through it. Elena sweated through her run. She stopped and began breathing heavily. She stopped for a little bit and saw someone running in the far distance. Who was that? Hm. She didn't think too much of it, but she sat down and began drinking her water.(sorry it's a bit short!) ((That's okay)) Jacob continued running and slowed to a stop when he saw that someone else was running through the forest. He thought about approaching but decided not to and continued to run, he had no Idea where he was running to and didn't care, he just wanted to run. The wolf inside him longed to come out and run, but he didn't let it come out, he wanted to be human for one whole day today. Being a wolf was fun and all, but being a human was better. Jacob ran and ran, and soon he stopped, he sat down on the floor and sighed. He wasn't even tired, but he just stopped and looked at the trees, he listened to every sound and smiled to himself. Elena sighed and began to run again. She wondered if she'd run into that person running again. Who knows? Maybe, she'll even have a new running partner. That'f be a nice change. Elena always ran by herself, and she wished for someone to talk to every now and again. Sure she had friends, but none were quite as determined as she was. Jacob listened carefully and heard footsteps. Someone else was running, was it that same person from before? Who knew. He looked around as if to see where the footsteps were coming from and then found out that they were getting closer. Jacob then stood up, part of him wanted to stay and wait for the person, and the other part wanted to run again, so he did. He only ran a few more minutes before stopping again and sitting down under a tree bored now. "Running is only fun for so long... I need to start doing something else other than running. What though... I don't know anyone here, and I don't think I want to just walk up to a random person and be like 'hey how are you want to be friends?' that doesn't work...that only worked in school." he said to himself and heard a river close by. Jacob turned to listen to the river and went to find it, when he did, he sat down near it and looked at his reflection in the water. Elena ran for a while and stopped at a pond. That person was there too. Elena smiled. "Hello." she said and began splashing water onto her face. She wanted to sound smooth and cool/ Which came naturally to her. She smiled at him. "What brings you out here so early?" She chuckled. Jacob heard her splashing water on her face and sighed mentally. "Hey..." he said quietly as he looked at her reflection in the river. He smiled back and shrugged at her question. "Nothing really...just felt like running again..." he said and touched the water with his hand lightly before removing it. The water was cool, very refreshing for runners like her. "Did you follow me here?" he asked her but didn't look at her. "I'm not mad or anything...just wondering." he added in case she got mad or something. Elena laughed. "No I didn't follow you. I needed to find a different route." She smiled. "What's your name? I don't I've ever seen you around here before." She splashed the cool water on her face. It felt nice. She didn't want her face sticky from sweat anymore. "That's what a stalker would say..." he joked and shook his head. "It makes sense though...road construction is a bummer all the time. Oh, well of course you never saw me... I like to hide from people... My name is Jacob..." he said and smiled up at her with a little wave. "What about you...who are you?" he asked her gently. Jacob was happy that he made her laugh, but it was just a friendly thing...he liked making people laugh, but that didn't mean they were friends now, nope...if you wanted to be his friend you still needed to talk to him for a few days before you were even considered a friend. Elena smiled. She could see that it would take a while to gain his trust and that was okay with her. "My name's Elena. I'm still in high school. It's very nice to meet you, Jacob." She smiled widely and held out her hand for him to shake it. "How about you? What's your story? Hmm?" "Elena, it's nice to meet you too." he said and shook her hand gently. "My story? I finished high school with good grades which surprises me since I always hated school...what else is there to know about me? I think that's it...for now anyway..." he said and stood up to face her, yes, it didn't surprise him that he was taller than I. It made him smiled in his head actually, why? He didn't know...it just did. Elena smiled. "Well that's nice." She looked at her watch and her eyes widened. "AAAAAHHH! School! I'm going to be late!" She bowed towards him. "I'm so sorry, but I must go!" She began running towards her home to change. Jacob looked over at her and tilted his head as he watched her run off. He could always give her a ride on his motorcycle...should he? Jacob ran home and passed her on the way. "I'll give yo a ride on my motorcycle so you won't be late if you want..." he said to her as he ran beside her. Why was he doing this, he had just met her...now he wants to give her a ride? It was just for today and only if she wanted it. Elena saw Jacob running beside her. "Uh sure. I hope you don't mind, but I have to go home and change into my uniform first." She smiled at him, huffing. Jacob shook his head. "I don't mind at all... I'll go get the motorcycle and go to your house to pick you up." he said and continued to run to his house. He soon reached his house and sighed...what a day, huh? He chuckled and went to the garage and took out his sleek black motorcycle. He grabbed his helmet and got on the motorcycle, he sniffed the air and soon caught her scent so he followed it, soon he reached her house. Jacob looked at her house and slowly went to knock on the door and waited for her. Elena ran to her house and quickly pulled on her uniform. She went outside and hopped on his motorcycle, and she held his waist tightly. They drove off. Her hair blew cool in the wind. When she got to the school. She hugged him. "Thank you so much. I'll see ya around, Jacob." She waved at him and ran off to her friends. "Who was that, Elena?" one asked. "Yeah he was super cute!." Another spoke. "That's Jacob." She smiled. "OOO OH is he your boyfriend?" Elena blushed. "Of course not. I just met the guy. Come on, or we'll be late." she said and walked to the school building Jacob didn't say anything, mostly because he didn't hear anything. He watched her leave and then rode off back to the house. What was he going to do now? He had nothing to do actually...he had no friends to hang out with. Jacob soon reached the house and parked the motorcycle in the garage. Then he went to his room and sat down on the bed with a bored look on his face. He ran, and rode his motorcycle...what else was there? He smiled though when he remembered where he lived.in a reservation. A wonderful place to him anyway...he was able to come and go as he pleased, but other people from outside the reservation weren't always allowed to come in. Elena entered her first period classroom. Pre-calculus. She did her work quickly and soon class was over. She went to her locker and smiled. Furthermore, she had PE next and that was her favorite class. IT was stress relieving. She went to class and ran lap the entire period. She broke a sweat a couple of times, but not too bad that she needed to shower. It was pretty sad to know that you couldn't really bring anyone over because everyone thought that they would find out about...well you know...the whole werewolf thing. Jacob didn't blame them one bit.he was like that too. He didn't really want anyone to know what he really was, mostly because it was none of their business and because he thought that it would scare people. What was that girl's name? Elena right? "Can't let her know...can't let anyone know..." he told himself and covered his face with a pillow and found himself sleeping again. The last bell for school rang and Elena hopped out of her seat and began to jog home. She passed the forest. I wonder if I'll see him again if I cut through heart didn't hurt to try. She walked through the forest looking all around her. Jacob soon woke up confused. "Okay... I went back to sleep? Weird!" he said to himself and removed the pillow from his face. What is a pillow doing on my face? Isn't it supposed to be under my head? He thought to himself and sighed as he slowly got up. He thought of things to do and decided to become a wolf and run through the forest....you know, just to relax. He smirked to himself as he ran to the forest and midway, turned into a wolf, there went his clothes, at least he had more at home. Furthermore, he ran through the forest and could hear every sound and smell every scent. It was starting to get warmer out. Elena smiled. In the distance she saw a... dog? She want quite sure. It was pretty big for a dog. Elena walked towards the creature. She got on her knees and held out her hand. "Here, boy." She whistled at him. "Come here, boy. Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." A smile spread across her lips. Jacob continued to run and stopped when he heard her voice again. What the?... Melena? I thought she was still in class... I guess they got out already...oh well he thought to himself and looked over at her. It was like she was stalking him...he couldn't be alone anymore...not that he wanted to or anything. He just wanted to be alone right now. He sighed mentally and then approached her carefully. Furthermore, he sniffed her and only backed away a few steps and watched her carefully. Elena smiled and scratched under the dog's chin. "Its alright boy." She giggled and stood up. "I'm going to head home, pup. You're welcome to follow." She said chuckling and turned to walk away. Jacob looked at her as she walked away and decided to follow for some reason. It was probably because he had scratched the wolf's chin, Why isn't she afraid? I'm a freakin' wolf for cryin' out loud... I wouldn't be freaked if a wolf came to my house with me, I'd be happy... I would pretty much understand since I'm part wolf as well... he thought to himself and continued to follow her. It felt weird following someone as a wolf out of the forest. Elena turned and smiled. She giggled. "So you can understand me." She turned back and kept walking. "You're a cute thing aren't you?" Cute? That's nice and all but I want to run...come on let's run! He thought to himself and whined gently. He nuzzled his head on her leg and tried to tell her to run with him. I want to run...and don't think of feeding me any dog food...raw meat I'd fine...but that's about it for feeding a wolf. Let's run Elena! He thought to himself and wished she could read his mind. Elena smiled. She figured out what she wanted. "Oh alright." She stretched. "I hope you can keep up with me." Elena was state champ since her freshman year in high school, and she was number one in her age division in the country. She was a runner, and she was a bout to prove it. "Ready? Aaaaaand. Go!" She took off. Jacob howled and ran after her, sure she was fast, but he was faster in his wolf form and easily ran past her. He stopped thought and let her catch up then ran along beside her. This is much better... I seem to have found a running buddy. That's good... I bet that tomorrow if we meet while I'm a human, she's probably going to tell me about this. Hahaha, how funny and awkward would that be. It's like...yes, that wolf was me Elena...yes, it was. He thought to himself and continued to happily run with her. Elena saw that the wolf had past her. She caught up to him. "You're fast." She huffed. "This was fun. I wish I could take you home, boy. That'd be a nice change." She smiled and pet his head. Jacob looked up at her and purred a deep purr as she petted his head. He was finally a little tired and wondered what she would do next. He then whined as he thought what would she do if she ever found out the truth...would she hate him?, think he was weird or just ignore it and move on. Furthermore, he didn't know...what he did know is that only time would tell. Time always answered his questions, and now he wanted to sit at the beach near his home and watch the waves. Elena smiled and scratched behind his ear. "Hmm... I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind if you stayed a night." She thought out loud. "Would you like that, boy?" she asked. Stay a night outside, huh? Sounds nice...okay, I'll stay. Jacob thought and went to her front porch and lay there. He watched her carefully and knew she would go inside to do whatever it was girls did, probably put on makeup or gossip about girly things. Jacob didn't know and didn't want to find out. It would be so sad but funny if her mom came out right now and saw a wolf laying down on her front porch. Hahaha! Thought Jacob. Elena smiled. "Stay here, boy." She went inside and saw her mom in the kitchen. "Hey Mom? Is it alright if we take care of this dog I found for the night? I want to make sure he has food tonight." Her mom smiled. "Of course what kind of dog is he?" Elena nervously chuckled. "Well, he's kind of a big dog..." Her mom took a look outside and saw the wolf. "Elena... that's a wolf." "It's okay mom. He won't hurt anyone. He's very friendly, I swear." Elena smiled. "Oh alright." "YAY! Thank you mom!" Jacob listened to them and yawned. He wasn't tired, it was just that he needed to yawn. It seemed to him that her mom was nice enough...but that didn't matter...that didn't make Elena and him great friends. Nope, all this showed was that Elena likes all types of dogs. That's nice to know, then he whined as he felt his stomach grumble quietly. "Darn... I had forgotten that I hadn't eaten anything today...where's the meat Elena? Feed me.please? He asked himself and looked up at her as he whined again. Elena put her hand on the dog's head. "Aww. You must be hungry." She went to her freezer and looked around. She came back with two packages of raw ground beef. "We don't really have much. This was the best I could scrounge up." She kneeled down and unwrapped the packages. She set them on the floor for him to eat. Jacob hated eating like this, but his wolf senses made it taste good, so he ate. He was very hungry but satisfied when he finished it all. That was good Elena.sorry for eating your food. Hehe... he thought to himself and looked up at her and barked happily. He wasn't very tired, but he lay down anyway and looked at her again, he just stared at her carefully. Elena smiled and laughed at the wolf. She set her backpack down and sat down on the porch chair. She took other books and began her homework. Every once in a while she'd sneak a small peek at the wolf. Jacob chewed on the empty packages like they were chew toys and growled lowly. He was happily chewing on his new toys, and he could feel her eyes on him at times so he would usually stare at her in return. She's pretty....but I don't know, I just met her I can't do anything just yet. He thought to himself and continued to chew and growl quietly. Elena smiled and giggled. She shut her books and yawned. She pet the dog. "Sorry, boy, but I have to go to track practice." She went to her drawer and pulled out a sports bra, a tank top, and shorts. She began to take off her shirt to change.(sorry I've been really busy!!) Jacob nuzzled his cheek against her leg and watched her got inside the house. He whined and waited for her to come out. Girls take forever just to change...why? I have no idea...us guys are fast. He thought to himself then howled. Let's go take a look shall we? Why though...she's probably still changing... I am NOT going to peek. He thought and whined some more and continued to chew on the empty trays. Elena pulled on the clothes and put her hair up into a high pony-tail. She came back out with her gym bag. She gave the dog a quick pet and began to run towards her school for practice. Jacob whined as he watched her go and then lay down on her porch. Hmm... I'm going to go to sleep...then when she comes back I'll stay a while then leave. Dad might be getting worried, and I don't want my picture all over town saying: have you seen this boy? No thank-you. He thought to himself and slowly fell to sleep. Elena got to the school and ran through some drills. It was pretty warm outside, but not so that one would die of a heatstroke. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a drink of water. She was ready to get home and soon. Furthermore, she ran there after practice and came through the door. Furthermore, she smiled and saw the dog. Furthermore, she reached down to pet him. Jacob heard her coming home and yawned as she approached him. He looked up at her and barked a friendly bark at her and let her pet him. Then he looked over at the forest and wondered how he should leave without hurting her feelings. I'll probably think of something... I just hope it's soon. Furthermore, I need to leave and fix my motorcycles... he thought to himself and then looked up at her. Elena smiled down at him. "Well, boy, it's been a long day. I think I need to turn in, alright?" She walked into her bedroom, leading the dog in there. "This is my room." She smiled warmly. She walked to her drawer and grabbed out her pajamas. Furthermore, she began to change out of her running clothes. Jacob walked with her and entered her room. He lay down on the floor and licked her cheek quickly and yawned. He was starting to get bored and then saw that she was changing right there in front of him.Oh, my...why am I even looking I should turn away! Nah, one peek won't kill anyone...this is so weird...staring at a naked girl in wolf form. He thought to himself but continued to watch her curiously. Elena slipped into her pajamas and stretched. She got into bed. "I hope you don't mind sleeping on the floor. If so you can sleep up here with me." She smiled at the dog happily, patting her bed. He looked up at her and watched her carefully and jumped on the bed with her. Jacob loved her now...but didn't think she loved him. Jacob watched her sleep and snuggled close to her. Late in the night, he woke up and knew he hands to leave. He carefully jumped off the bed and then got out of the house. He ran off to his house and turned back to a human and entered his house. His father was there waiting for him. "Where were you?" he asked. Jacob smiled and yawned. "I was running around your know...sorry I took so long to come back, I kinda dozed off. Don't worry though dad...it won't happen again." he said, and his father shook his head. "I sure hope so." he said and wheeled himself to his room. Jacob sighed and left to the garage and began to work on his motorcycles. Elena smiled as the dog had jumped on the bed. She snuggled up close to him. He was soft and warm. She finally drifted off into slumber. It was a dreamless sleep. Just plain darkness. Elena awoke the next morning to her alarm clock and noticed the dog had run away. He must have gone back home. She got out of bed and put on her jogging clothes. /she went out for a run. She had to cut through the forest again because of road construction. Jacob woke up pretty late and groaned as he turned off the alarm and went to the garage where he finished fixing his motorcycles. "Well....now what... I'll eat some breakfast and go out for a jog human form now." he said to himself and entered the kitchen. He began to make himself some French toast and poured himself a glass of milk then sat down and began to eat. "Wonder if I'll see Elena at the forest..." he said to himself and continued to eat quietly. When he was done he made some for his dad who approached the table and then sighed. "By dad...off for a run again..." he said and ran off to the forest. Elena ran through the forest a few minutes. She looked around as carefully as possible. She heard a noise that made her jump. Furthermore, she looked behind her still running. Furthermore, she tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. Furthermore, she at upholding onto her foot. Furthermore, she seethed through her teeth. "WWW." She cringed. She had hurt her ankle and badly. As Jacob ran through the woods, he heard something crack and turned to where the sound came from and ran over only to find Elena on the floor holding her foot. "Hey...what happened?" he asked as he approached her carefully. He didn't want to scare her or anything, and he gently took a look at her ankle and frowned. Elena looked up and saw Jacob. "Oh uh. I... I think I twisted my ankle." She was surprised to see him again in the forest, but she was still happy she did. She looked down. "It's really nice to see you again..." she whispered. "If you twisted your ankle, which you did...we need to take you to the hospital." he said and smiled down at her. "It's nice to see you again too Elena. Not the best way to meet, but nice anyway." he said and carefully picked her up in his arms and began to run home. "I'll take you to the hospital if you want..." he said. Elena smiled up at him. "Yeah. It is." She felt very warm in his arms. IT was an awkward, but nice feeling. Even though she was glad to see Jacob again, her ankle still really hurt. Elena nodded. "Yes please. Anything to get rid of this pain." She winced. Jacob got home and rushed her into the garage. "I'm sure you'll be fine...trust me." he said and got her on his motorcycle then he got on behind her and sped off. They soon reached the hospital, and he carefully carried her into the hospital where she was taken by some nurses and a doctor. Elena enjoyed the ride to the hospital that she had forgotten about her ankle for a few seconds. The nurses took her to a checkup room. They took her information down and finally asked, "Now is that boy your boyfriend?" Elena shot back quickly. "No. No. Not at all. Heh, heh. He’s just my friend is all." The doctors nodded and checked out her foot and ankle. It in fact was twisted, so the doctors went to get some wrappings Jacob watched them take her away and wondered what they were doing to her. I'm sure she's just fine. Elena is a strong person...very beautiful too....that doesn't matter! I just hope she's okay right now. He thought to himself and waited in the lobby for her. Elena's ankle was wrapped up, and she was put in a wheelchair. She was wheeled out to the waiting room. The doctor went up to Jacob. "Don't let her put any weight on it until we let her know she can. Oh, and she must stay sitting or laying down for at least 12 hours before putting her on crutches." Elena smiled up at Jacob. He was even taller as she was sitting down. "Sorry about all this." She laughed nervously. Jacob listened to the doctors and looked down at Elena. "You don't need to apologize Elena, it's not your fault you got hurt. So, you want me to take you home?" he asked and gently picked her up in his arms and held the crutches in one hand. He then began to take her to his motorcycle and was glad he could be of any help at all. Elena smiled. "If you're sure." She blushed and felt Jacob's arms around her. "I'm not so sure if that's a good idea. My mom is going to kill m when she finds out. The hospital is going to call her, and I'd like it if she blew off steam first." Jacob listened to what she said and chuckled. "Yeah, I see what you mean." he said and got on the motorcycle with her in front of him. "Well, I'll take you to my house, there you can lay down just like the doctor said." he said and began to ride over to his house. I just hope she doesn't feel awkward... I wouldn't blame her if she did though. He thought to himself and slowed down once they reached his house. He parked the motorcycle in the garage and then lay her down on the couch gently. "Now you don't move from there, okay?" he said and smiled at her. The motorcycle made the wind blow her hair again, which she loved. She smiled, holding on tight so she wouldn't fall. Elena was set on the couch. "Thank you so much, Jacob. You really didn't have to do this." She smiled up at him. "I wasn't going to leave you hurt on the floor Elena, besides...that's what friends do." he said and smiled at her. He went to get her some water and then sat on the floor in front of her and handed her the water bottle. "Here you go." he said. Elena smiled. Friends. They were friends. Elena was so unbelievably happy, she nearly squealed when Jacob left for the water. She took the water from him and gulped it down. She was very Christy. Furthermore, she giggled and looked at Jacob. "You seem very happy to be in pain..." he said and chuckled. "Are you okay Elena?"he asked her gently. She was a very pretty girl, and he had hung out with her in both forms and got along just fine. He didn't think they would end up together though. Elena slightly chuckled. "Well I am an athlete. I HAE to bare the pain and not sweat it, ya know? But it's not really what it's all cracked up to be." She sighed and took another drink of water. Jacob nodded at what she said. "That's true, you athletes are kinda used to pain." he said and smiled at her. "You want me to take you home later or tomorrow." he asked. He actually didn't want her to leave yet...but he knew she had to leave someday. Elena smiled. "Not until tomorrow, maybe later? I can't go back to my mom with this thing. She'll murder me." "Well, I'm sure she heard about it by now. Whenever you want to leave you tell me, and I'll take you home." he said and smiled at her. "So...are you hungry? Or do you just want to sleep?" he asked her. Elena didn't really look sleepy, but who knew. Elena chuckled. "Sounds good." She smiled. She didn't think much about food, so she chose her other option. Furthermore, she really hadn't gotten that much sleep the night before. Furthermore, she turned herself on her side and fell into a deep slumber. Jacob watched over her and sighed as he began to get sleepy. He didn't know when, but he had fallen to deep slumber right there on the floor in front of her. He had wanted to sleep in his wolf form, but that would him away, and he didn't want her to know it was him. Elena dreamed of her playing with a dog in the forest. They were running and playing with a stick. She was having a lot of fun, even though she didn't know where the dog had come from. She giggled. Elena closed her eyes, but when she opened them again, she was in a different setting. She saw Jacob, shirtless. Elena bit her lip and blushed. She had become speechless. She noticed Jacob coming closer and her heart began thumping. Furthermore, she finally awoke and saw Jacob laying on the floor sleeping. Furthermore, she sighed of relief. Jacob had a dream of nothing...it was just images of this he did when in wolf form. Then the day of when he saw her changing in front of him came back to his mind and he blushed. He gasped and woke up and turned to Face Elena but that just made his blush worsen. "I'll be back in a few minutes." he said and left to his room. He grabbed some blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. He then left to the restroom and began to shower in freezing water. Elena sat up. She watched Jacob leave and thoughts ran through her mind. She kept thinking about Jacob. He ran through her mind and stuck there. Did she like him? Or was this her mind playing tricks on her again. She sighed, biting her lip. This was kind of giving her a sick feeling in her stomach, but a good sick feeling. Once Jacob was changed, he looked at himself in the mirror. Elena came flooding back into his mind, that was all he thought about now. When she was at school, he counted the time it took for her to come home. What does this mean? Have I...imprinted! No I haven't...right? I don't think I did.... he thought to himself and sighed. He ignored his thoughts for a while as he went over to her and sat down on the floor. Elena sat on the couch, playing with her hair when she saw Jacob sit himself back on the floor. She smiled. "You're back." She giggled and put down the strand of hair that was in between her fingers. Jacob smiles up at her. "Well, I did say I was going to come back." he said and chuckled when he heard her giggle. He couldn't help but wonder what she would do if she ever found out that he was the wolf that she played with. It was something to think about. "Are you hungry?" he asked her trying to ignore his thoughts. Elena thought about it. "Now that you mention it, something small wouldn't really hurt." She smiled at him. Something had happened while he was in the bathroom, and she was really curious as to what it was, but she wasn't going to ask quite yet. "Something small...okay then." he said and left to the kitchen. He began to cook quietly wondering what she was thinking about. He then wondered if she was ready for the crutches yet, she had been laying down for quiet a while now....so she should be ready for the crutches. Elena watched him go to the kitchen. She wondered what time it was and how long she'd been there. She sat there and wait for him to come back. Once Jacob finished making her the small breakfast she requested, he went over and handed it to her. "Here you go, or would you like to sit at the table?" he asked her politely. Elena took it from him. "That's okay. I'll eat here." She smiled and began to nibble on her food. She looked at him and pink began to enter her cheeks. Jacob looked at her and smiled back. "How is it?" he asked her wondering if she liked his cooking. He then noticed her cheeks had got a little pink on them, and he couldn't help but look at himself wondering why she was blushing. Elena smiled widely. "It's perfect." She giggled, and sat up even more. "It tastes so good." She took another bite. Jacob looked back at her and smiled quiet embarrassed. "Oh, well umm...thanks. I'm glad you like it." he said. His dad rarely complimented him on his food, but Jacob had already gotten used to it. Elena finished her food and looked at Jacob. She began to chew on her thumbnail. "So umm. Jacob. What do you do out on the forest? I've seen you there a lot and everything and /i was just curious, ya know?" "Chewing on your nails is a bad habit..." he said and listened to her question. "Well, I go out for a jog every day. Then when I'm bored with jogging I sit under a tree and just relax since I really have nothing to do." he said and ran a hand through his hair. Elena took her thumb away from her mouth and listened to Jacob. "Oh I see. Well, I can tell you jog an awful lot." She blushed. "ERM What I meant was I can tell you take good care of your body. HHH wait let me rephrase that. I guess I can see you exercise a lot." She looked down, blushing vigorously. Jacob listened to what she said and chuckled a bit but felt himself blush as well. "Thank-you Elena, I'm sure you exercise a lot too." he said. It was true, he knew she exercised a lot since he ran with her as a wolf a few times, and she had gone off to track practice for school. So she really DID take care of herself. He looked up once his blush had left and smiled as he saw her blushing like crazy. How cute...wait no! Don't think those things man...she's not for you.she already probably has a guy at school. He thought to himself and fought the urge to got run in his wolf form. Elena shook off her blush. "Yes. But it's not really for me. It's for my mom mostly. She wants me to be number one at everything I do. Especially sports. When I don't, she gets very angry with me." She smiled lightly and leaned towards him. "So tell me. Who is that special girl in your life? Hm? I bet she's gorgeous!" "Really. I'm sorry to hear that. I think you should just do your best at what you do, your mother should understand that you try." he said and looked at her gently. He listened to her question and shook his head. "I don't have a special girl in my life yet..." he said and sighed. "What about you? Who's the guy that catches your eye?" he asked her and began to trace things on the floor with his finger. Elena looked down. "Well, no not now at least. Most of the guys at my school are creeps, so they aren't exactly boyfriend material." She smiled nervously and giggled. "Wow... I see school hasn't changed." he said and chuckled. "When I was at school, it was filled with stuck up snobs and weirdos." he said and laughed a little. Elena let out a small laugh. "No it really hasn't." She stared at him, wondering what she was really feeling. She wasn't exactly sure. "So, um, this is... kind of weird question. If you had to choose a girl right now, who would it be?" She smiled and blushed a bit. Jacob was busy tracing squiggles on the floor, and he listened to her. "A weird question...okay let's hear it." he said and then listened to her question carefully and stopped his squiggling. Jacob looked up at her and saw her blushing. "Well, If I had to choose a girl right now it would most likely be..." he said and didn't have to think about it at all. It would be you of course... I already chose you for a while now. I can't tell her that...just say you. He thought to himself and sighed mentally. "It would be you of course Elena....who else. What guy would you pick?" he asked her looking down to hide his blush. Elena blushed, giggling. She was surprised that he had asked her the same question. She looked down and began to play with her hair. "Well, MMM uhh." She stuttered. "Uhh y-y-you of c-c-course." She blushed even more looking down. Jacob was surprised to hear her answer. They had only known each other a couple of days, he considered their relationship a friendly one, nothing more than that. "Me?" he repeated and looked at her. "That's surprising." he added. Elena blushed. She began shaking. "Y-yeah. You." She bit her lip flipped her hair in her face. She listened to him intently, trying not to look at him, but when he said that was surprising, she couldn't help, but look up. Furthermore, she tilted her head. "Why is it so surprising. I mean you're a great guy and everything." She blushed even more. "Thanks for the compliments... I just didn't think you thought of me that way. I thought you just saw me as a friend." he said and looked over at her. Jacob noticed that she was still blushing and smiled. "Why do girls blush a lot...? I always wondered that." he said. Elena looked at Jacob. The redness in her face faded. "You know. I'm not sure. I guess were just easily embarrassed." She giggled at Jacob's question. It had sounded almost ridiculous, but kind of cute from him. "I wonder if I'm okay to walk." She tried to stand up. She winced in pain and tripped right on top of Jacob. Her face reddened again. Elena hurried off of him. "I.... I-I'm so sorry, Jacob. I didn't mean to!" "Well, can't blame you girls...girls are quite emotional at times...it's completely understandable." he said and looked at her. Jacob quickly caught her when she fell. "Elena, you can't walk yet...are you okay though?" he asked with concern in his voice. Jacob picked her up in his arms and lay her down on the couch. "I think it would be best that you sleep on a bed, not a couch. You can sleep in my room... I'll sleep on the couch, I'm used to it." he said to her gently. Elena felt the warmness of Jacob's arms as she was cradled in them. She sat back up. "Oh please. You don't have to trouble yourself. You've already given me so much after I twisted my ankle." She had put her hands upon front of her chest, palms facing outwards. "I don't want to inconvenience you even more." "You are not inconveniencing me in any way Elena. I really do think it would be better for you to sleep in a bed, not a couch." he said and smiled down at her. Elena sighed. "There's no convincing you is there?... Fine then. I'll take you up on that offer then." she giggled, then smiled. Jacob chuckled. "Yeah, I'm very hard-headed." he said and walked up to his room where he lay her down on his bed. "There...don't you feel much better already?" he asked her. Elena sighed and smiled. "I guess you're right. I do sort of. But I still feel kind of bad. Are you sure you'll be okay on the couch? Do you still want to sleep on you bed? I mean there's plenty of room and everything." "You have nothing to feel bad about Elena. It's not like you hurt your ankle on purpose or anything." he said and went over to his closet. "I'll be fine on the couch...don't worry about me Elena." he said and found a journal. He grabbed a pen and began to write. Elena cradled her chin in the palm of her hand. "Fine" she sighed. She looked up at him, watching him grab a notebook and write. She tilted her head. "What are you doing?" "Hey, this is my diary Elena...no peeking." he said and chuckled as he continued to write. The truth was, he was just writing down his feelings for Elena and how he had imprinted on her. He also wrote about how they hung out together while he was in wolf form. "It's nothing too cool though....but you can't see sorry..." he said gently. Elena giggled at the no peeking rule. Jacob almost sounded like a twelve-year-old girl with that saying. "Hmm." she said watching him carefully. She concentrated very hard. She tried to see what he was writing just by the movement of the pen, but it didn't work very well. Furthermore, she sighed. "That's no fun." she whispered to herself. She laid back and waited for him. Jacob chuckled and finished writing. He put away the journal and the pen then looked at her. "Sorry... I know it's boring watching someone write things down." he said and smiled. He just hoped she didn't ever read it now that she probably knew it was in the closet. "I think I should let you sleep...or I can get you anything if you need anything." he said and looked up at her form where he sat on the floor. Elena smiled up at him. He was so protective of that little journal and he was so caring. Elena was falling head over heels for someone she didn't know very well, but she didn't mind it much. She giggled. "Well, maybe... um can I get a hug?" She smiled, blushing lightly. Jacob looked up at her and nodded. "A hug? Okay then... I can give you that." he said and went over and hugged her gently. He really liked Elena, but he didn't know her too well, he just knew that she was in the track team for her school, and that she loved running. He also knew that she liked wolves since she treated him very kindly when he was in his wolf form. Elena hugged Jacob back. She felt his large arms around her. She felt warm and safe. She smiled and waited for him to let go before she would. She didn't want to until he did. What was going on in her head? Thoughts were running wild in her mind. She didn't know what to do, but just let whatever happens. Jacob backed away and pet her head. "Anything else Elena?" he asked her and smiled at her. It felt odd but nice to hug her, he didn't know why, but it did. He began to think of what life had in store for them both, he only hoped she got better soon. That's whet friends did, they wished each other to get well soon. Elena smiled. "I'm alright. I think I want to go to sleep now." She really wanted to keep thinking about him, but she didn't want him to be in the room at the time. Jacob listened to her and nodded in understanding. "Okay then... I'll let you sleep...good night Elena, sleep well and sweet dreams." he said and then left the room, closing the door behind him. He was getting pretty sleepy to so he lay down on the couch waiting for sleep to come and take him. Elena watched Jacob leave the room, and she could have sworn that her heart had skipped a beat. She laid down and smelled the scent of him in the pillow. She sighed deeply, taking it in. Furthermore, she smiled and closed her eyes, slowly. Sleep didn't take him until a very long time. In the end though, he did fall to sleep and dreamt of himself sleeping under a tree as a wolf. Morning soon came, and he woke up from the sunlight on his face. "Morning already?" he asked himself as he gently rubbed his eyes. Elena's sleep brought her dreams of peacefulness. She awoke without sitting up. She smiled as her nose sniffed in the blankets. Furthermore, she sat up slowly and looked at her crutches. Elena sighed, knowing that however much she didn't want to, she would have to. She got out of bed and grabbed her crutched and slowly began making her way out of the room. Jacob sighed as he got up off the couch. He was thinking of what he would do today. He wanted to go run off around the woods, but he couldn't, he had to take care of Elena. I'll go run later on...maybe at night or something.... he thought to himself. He went over to the kitchen and began to make some breakfast for Elena and himself. Elena went to the kitchen and saw Jacob making breakfast. Well, it couldn't hurt to stay a little longer. She smiled. "Good morning. Sleep well?" She sat down at the table. "What are you making?" "Morning Elena." he replied and nodded at her question. "I slept great actually, what about you?" he asked and looked at the food he was making. "I'm making some grilled cheese sandwiches." he said to her. Once he was done, he handed her a plate with one on it and then poured her some milk, then did the same for him self. Elena let out a small smile. "I slept just fine." She inhaled the smell of grilled cheese heating up on the stove. She exhaled happily. When Jacob gave her the meal, Elena thanked him and began to nibble at the sandwich. "It's good." she said, smiling. She took another bite and sipped at her milk. Jacob smiled. "That's nice...how's your ankle feeling?" he asked her. He then sat across from her and began to eat his food quietly. At her compliment he smiled but shrugged. "Thanks..." he said. He didn't think his food was so good that it deserved a compliment, but then he decided that she was being polite. Elena smiled up at him. "My ankle is feeling much better." She finished her food and limped a bit towards the sink to put her dishes in there. She bit her lip, wincing as it hurt a bit to put weight on her foot. Furthermore, she forced a smile and sat back down at the table, to knowing what else to do. Jacob listened to her and nodded. "Well, that's good." he said and watched her limp over to the sink and back. "You shouldn't do that....if you want your ankle to heal quickly you will use your crutches when you want to walk somewhere. I don't want you to get it hurt even more than it already is." he said to her and finished his food. He then got up and wash them. "Is there anything you want to do?" he asked her. She smiled. "I won't" She stood up and hopped over to him. "Well, there is one thing I kinda want to try." she said, a bit unsure of herself. She took a deep uneasy breath and let it out slowly. She straightened herself to be a bit taller and lightly pressed her lips against his. Jacob was about to say something when he was caught off guard by the kiss. He almost dropped the dish but managed to kiss her back just as lightly and pulled away. He put the dish away and looked at her surprised. "That was a surprise Elena..." he said to her and couldn't believe what had just happened. He didn't deny mentally that he had wanted to do that too...but he thought he should have waited a longer time until they were very close friends. Jacob wasn't mad at her though...everyone thought differently. Elena had lost herself. OH, how much she wanted to do that. It was finally a relief that she could. Jacob pulled back away from her. Rose color appeared in her cheeks. "I... I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have done that yet. I couldn't help it. You have no idea how much I've wanted to." She was rambling and could tell. She stopped talking before she began to sound more like an idiot. Furthermore, she sighed. "Again. I'm very sorry." Jacob watched her and let her try to explain herself. He noticed it wasn't working and sighed when she apologized. "It's okay Elena... I'm not mad at you for doing that. You shouldn't have to explain yourself if you like me that much. I have to tell you something...you may not believe me...but if you do. I understand if you get mad and never want to talk to me again." he said to her and sat down with her at the table. "Remember that wolf that hung out with you at your house?" he asked her. Elena smiled at his understanding, but then got a confused look upon her features. "H-how did?" She couldn't finish. Her mind raced bring to come up with reasonable solutions as to why he may know that, but her brain couldn't wrap around it. She looked at him, hoping for him to answer her. She bit her lip. "Well...that was me." he said to her. "I know it sounds weird.but it's true." he said to her. He looked at her and wondered if she believed him. "I can show you if you want." he added and ran a hand through his hair. He could tell she was very confused but maybe by showing her he could clear things off. She smiled widely. "IT was? that's.... Wicked awesome!" She beamed. She grabbed his wrist pulling him outside. "Yes. Show me how you do it. I want to see." She said, smiling even more. He was surprised to see her reaction but smiled. "Okay then... I'll show you..." he said and looked at her. "You left your crutches inside..." he said and carried her to the woods. "Okay...just sit right here and don't move." he said to her and sighed. He then changed into the wolf and lay beside her looking up at her. Elena watched his form change from human to wolf in a matter of seconds. She looked down at him in amazement. Words couldn't express the wonder she was feeling. Well, at least she couldn't. She was at a loss for words. She smiled, happily and placed her hand upon the wolf's silk neck. Jacob looked up at her and placed his head on her lap and yawned. He was tired and didn't know why. He stayed close to her, and then it came to him. How was he going to take her home? If he changed back...he would be shirtless. He didn't want to think about that right now...the only thing on his mind was that Elena didn't think this was weird. Elena, carefully, laid down next to him, trying to not move him from her lap. She smiled and pet his ears. She was very tired, and she let sleep take her over.((sorry its short again)) Jacob watched her sleep and whined lightly. He then ended up falling to sleep as well while he waited for her to wake up. It was the middle of the night when he woke up again, his eyes locked on Elena who was still sleeping beside him. He curled up closer to her and kept watch in the night. He watched for any danger that could come to them while they were like this. Elena's eyes slowly woke, and she looked around her environment. It was night, but she could feel Jacob's prodigious body heat radiating off of him to her. She observed him, and it finally clicked her head that he was awake too. Her face turned crimson with embarrassment as she waited for him to do something.((Sorry if any of this like confusing at all I had a little too much fun with a thesaurus ^^;)) Jacob looked at her and whined softly. He could tell that she was a little bored, and he didn't blame her...it was pretty boring to be with a wolf in the middle of the night. He thought about turning back to his human form but first would need to get a shirt. Furthermore, he looked at her and cuddled closer to her. Melenafelt warmer as he gradually came closer to her. She nuzzled his neck, burying her nose in his neck. She smiled brightly and pet behind his ears. "Do you want to go home Jake?" Jacob looked up at her. Yes...well not really...but if we do go home...how will I carry you? He thought to himself. He closed his eyes when she began to pet him and stayed close to her. It was getting pretty late now...and he knew that she needed to be back inside. Elena sighed and closed her eyes next to him, She kept a light stoke going on his head going down his back. Jake was soft and warm. She wanted to stay next to him forever. She laid her head on his neck. Furthermore, she kept her eyes closed. Jacob was keeping watch and looked around making sure no wolves came near them. If a wolf came near them, he would have to fight. That was something he hated doing...but he did it only to protect himself and those around him. Jacob yawned and looked around and listened carefully. Elena looked to him, wondering if he could comprehend English while he was in his wolf form. She, then, heard a crackle in the distance. Elena whipped her head around and saw movement coming from the distant trees as they trembled. Like the trees, Elena' body shook. Someone or something was coming towards them. Elena clung to him tightly. Jacob followed her gaze and noticed eyes looking at them. He growled at the figure and prepared to run at it. The figured growled back and walked towards them. It was a gray wolf with white paws and a white belly. Jacob stayed close to Elena and locked his eyes on the gray wolf who was still coming towards them. Elena gripped on to Jake's warm worry body. She saw a gray wolf, making her heart race. "Jake..." She whispered, quietly. Jacob got out of Elena's hold and looked at the gray wolf approaching them. Don't worry Elena....you'll be okay. He thought to himself and growled again. The gray wolf did nothing and continued to approach them. Jacob then lunged forward and attacked the wolf. He stood tall and stayed close to Elena. If the wolf got closer, Jacob would attack again. The gray wolf looked at them both then lunged for Elena. Quickly, Jacob pounced on the wolf and a bit down on its side hard. The wolf whined and pounced on Jacob, but Jacob only kicked the wolf with his hind legs and growled as he went to Elena again. The gray wolf growled and ran off into the woods. Elena watched the gruesome fight in front of her eyes. The biting, the slashing frightened her deeply. When she knew the wolf was beat down by Jake, Elena sighed with relief. She gripped on to him again and nuzzled herself in his fur. She felt safe even more so now than ever. Furthermore, she smiled in his hair. Jacob stayed near her and yawned. He believed that it was time for them both to go home and get some sleep. Jacob looked around the woods one last time before looking over at her. He could tell she was scared so it was best for her to be back inside where it was safer. Elena clutched on to his fur and began to limp with him towards the house. She somehow knew where to go, even though she was very tired. Once they reached his house, he went to his room where she could lay down on his bed. Jacob then pulled open his dresser and took out some clothes and left to the restroom. Once in there, he changed back and changed into the clothes. Then he went to where she was and sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see that side of me..." he said to her quietly. Elena's head fell to the pillow and lifted a little. "No. It was very nice of you to protect me." She half smiled and closed her eyes. She had been very exhausted. "You should get some sleep..." he told her and lay down face up on the floor. "I'm tired too...so I'm going to get some sleep..." he added and closed his eyes. Elena brushed up against Jacob and gripped to him. "Okay." She said sleepily. Her eyes fluttered before closing to a deep sleep.(Sorry for the wait, but I'm back! It'll be a couple of days before the next post though, so I'm sorry about that:\) He looked over at her and smiled some. "Sweet dreams..." he whispered before letting sleep take him. It was the next morning when Jake had waked up and went to continue fixing his motorcycle. The reason he was fixing it was because a fried had trashed it after a few rides, so now Jacob was stuck fixing it. "I think you'll be staying here with me from now on." he said to himself. (I see...well that's okay. Thanks for letting me know. ^_^ Merry Christmas!) Elena awoke, stretching her arms. She noticed Jacob was gone. She looked around and propped herself out of bed. Furthermore, she peered out the window and noticed Jacob fixing his motorcycle. Elena smiled and went outside. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. "Good morning." She said, leaning up against him. Jacob stopped what he was doing and turned to look up at her. "Hey, good morning Elena. Did you sleep well?" he asked her and smiled warmly up at her. She was a very beautiful girl and would make sure to protect her from whatever wanted to hurt her. Elena smiled. "I slept wonderfully next to you." She kissed his cheek lightly, biting her lip, not knowing if that was okay. She sat down next to him and watched him. Jacob blushed lightly at the kiss since it was unexpected. "Well... I'm happy to hear that." he said and continued working. "You don't have to sit here...this is going to get boring after the first three minutes..." he said to her and chuckled. Elena smiled. "Well, it's not really the motorcycle I'm interested in watching." she said, blushing lightly. She giggled and pulled out the ponytail in her hair that had been bugging her. Jacob stopped what he was doing and looked at her surprised. He never thought that she would find him attractive. "How's your ankle doing?" he asked her before continuing to work. She looked very pretty with her hair down, and he wanted to touch it, but his hands were dirty with grease. Elena nearly blushed as Jacob stopped to look at her. "Oh. It's actually healed up quite nicely." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck. "Thanks to you, anyway. Jacob blushed as she kissed his neck and he smiled. "Well... I just wanted to help that's all... I'm glad to know it's all better. Promise me you'll be careful from now on though." he said and soon finished working. "I think I should go wash up now..." he said and smiled over at her. Jacob felt very lucky to have her and still couldn't believe that she had kissed him. Elena smiled watching him go to wash up. She sat down on the ground, twiddling her thumbs in a child-like manner. Her teeth met her lips. What was this feeling. Yes, they were together, but was there more than just that? She didn't think that it could come on that fast. It hadn't ever before. Elena lowered her eyes, wondering if she should have felt happiness or fear. Jacob soon came back and sat beside her. "Elena.are you okay?" he asked. "What's bothering you?" he asked her. He could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking about something. Elena's head popped up when hearing Jacob's voice. She looked at him "Oh nothing. I was just thinking about nothing." She smiled as wide as she could. Standing, she took his hand. "Let's get some breakfast?" "You sure you don't want to talk about it?" he asked her but nodded as he walked with her to the kitchen. "What would you like Elena?" he asked her and smiled. He wanted to go out for a run later on if he could.

I'm not so sure...|rating:4.0

Rise of the Horde

(The IC thread for the game)You are looking in the streets of Darrow heading to the Drunken Elf inn. Along the way, you see merchants and townsfolk buying and selling. At a street corner, a group of orcs is loading bags into a wagon while being overseen by a half-orc with a large axe. He stands apart and watches them work. A group of elves on horse back ride up to the orcs and began calling down to them.(For those who understand Orc or Even)Spoiler Hide They insult the orcs in their own tongue and that of the elves. The half-orc looks to be trying to keep the other orcs under control; the orcs look like they are getting angry, and they snarl at the elves. The half-orc sees you and gives you a pleading look before turning back to the orcs. "Hail, friend elves. I am Timor of The Order. My vows and honor bid me question: Why do you heckle those who toil as honest laborers?" Timmok is confused at the antics of the elves, who he'd been taught were noble of intent and action. Spoiler: Even Hide "Aye, what have they done to provoke your insults?" Finnegan asked, moving forward as if to advance on them while remaining wary of getting too close to a pack who could most definitely overpower him in a physical outburst. "Come on, haven't we got an inn to get to?" Kaitia grumbles to the group." The beer's not getting any closer with us standing around here amongst the riffraff." Her look is somewhat distrusting, though whether it's aimed at the elves or the orcs isn't clear. What an annoyance. Dominic mutters to himself, then approaches the Elves." Pardon me, but is there any problem?" He address who looks like a leader of the group in Even." It is unusual to see Even blood behaving like this. Can I ask you for the reasons of this behavior?" As you get closer, you notice that the elves are dressed in very fine clothes and that they all carry rapiers. The elves sneer at you, while one mutters to another in even. Their clothes are all marked with an eagle holding arrows in its talons (knowledge: Royalty or Local to identify: DC 20). In Even:Spoiler Hide "The dogs are speaking to us, how amusing." One elf dressed in nearly all black addresses you. "We are showing this filth that they don't belong in civilized lands. Of course, in looking at you, I would have to say the say about you lot." His companions laugh while he makes rude gestures at you. Another one speaks out. "That's right, Pathos! Teach these foul human dogs to mind their manners before their superiors. Human scum." Athos, who is the one in black, smiles at you. "Shall we teach you how to play fetch, little puppies? Or perhaps how to catch a ball?" The other elves continue laughing at you while catcalling you with things like "Human scum", "Pig dogs", "Lost doggy" and other insulting things. Though not speaking Even, the meaning certainly isn't lost on Katia. Until now, she didn't really care - the elves were right, theywerejust orcs - but she wasn't one to take an insult lightly." I don't see any civilized lands around here, just a bunch of pompous -"she slips into Dwarves,"- TW**s with sticks up there a**ES." Cursing in Dwarves just feels more natural and colorful to her, and she returns to the local tongue for the rest." Call 'em dumb if you want, doesn't mean jack to me, but you're between me and a pint. Last person to do that was an orc - he wasn't so bright - so unless you're as dumb as they are I'd suggest moving aside. I'd hate to get your fancy garb all muddy, someone might mistake you for someone with an ounce of humility." Spoiler Hide I'm calling the first skill roll! Watch it fail spectacularly. "Intimidate" - (1d20+1)[13] Timor is furious; Purely furious. He's a simple man, born from simple roots into a simple position in a simple Order; Upholding the Light of Below that all the denizens of the lands might see it shining as an example of what is Good and Right. And when a simple man finds a complex problem, the solution he arrives at is usually simple as well. And yet, even in his righteous fury, his words are polite and respectful, Even though the tongue is hard in his mouth." You disservice your progenitors and the Light! Stand aside, or I'll have the guards alerted, and you'll be arrested for harassment!" He stands poised, one gloved finger pointed accusingly at the Elves. Outwardly, righteous indignation brings his face to a handsome and intimidating scowl. Inwardly, he wonders if perhaps he'd been too hasty in his escalation of this conflict. The doubt will plague him for many nights of penance he fears. Still, though he finds himself at odds with his friends' drinking problem, their sentiments are roughly aligned; haste must be made for the Light, even when Darkness Mars the path ahead. The elves laugh happily at hearing Katia. Pathos says something in even to the others and moves off followed by a couple of the others. One of the others speaks to another and then directs his horse close to Katia, flanked by two other elves. He is dressed in fine green clothing, while the others are wearing blue clothes. He is given a glass of wine by one of his companions, and he drinks it mockingly in front of Katia before getting a refill. Athos: In elvenSpoiler Hide "Let them drink with the dwarves pigs. Lets not dirty our blades with their filth." Green Elf: In elvenSpoiler Hide "Pour me a glass; I want to teach this peon a lesson in manners." Green elf holds the goblet up out towards Katia, smirks, then throws its contents at her. He jokes in common, "Here, have a pint!" Athos and his companions watch from further away, interested to see what the outcome is, by they won't interfere. Dominic looks at the Elves with disapproval." It is disappointing to see such shameful display from members of Even race." He says in Even." Do you have no shame? Acting with the maturity and class of barbaric simpletons. What would your ancestors said if they have seen you now? Or maybe..." He pauses and calmly looks at Elf in green." Or maybe I heard wrong, and your people are not noble and graceful? Is it all just a facade for spoiled children like you?" His words are harsh, and he knows he might provoke them, but he hopes that by appeal to Even pride he might shame the Elves enough to leave. But he also prepares for an attack, readying himself to cast a spell. Spoiler Hide Diplomacy (1d20+6)[11] If attacked, Dominic casts Sanctuary on himself "These are hardly elves,"Finnegan said, not too happy about getting involved but needing to speak his mind." I recognize that insignia. They're from a clan that was booted from the Even lands a while ago. Surely it's hard to call others scum when your own people don't want you around, hm?" He spoke in common, to make sure that the Orcs could understand. He wasn't trying to start a fight, though in hindsight he figured that his words were very provoking. Oops. Spoiler: IOC Hide Readying an action to cast Grease around the closest horse if it advances further. "I asked for a pint, not a thimbleful." Kaitia practically ignored the wine; she'd been covered in mud and soaked through with water plenty in her times hunting, a splash of wine wasn't even an inconvenience." Elven constitution really is lacking if that's all you can manage." Kaitia moves to pass by the elves, wary of how throwing the first stone would be viewed by the law." The inn's this way, folks. Unless our friends here have anything else they'd like to add?" Spoiler: IOC Hide Katia tries to move around the riders. Though I suppose combat hasn't really started, she's going Total Defense if possible. Secret DM roll:(d20+3)[16] The elf hassling Katia kicks at her ineffectively, missing. Pathos laughs as the other elf does so, and he calls something over to the elf. ElvenSpoiler Hide "Well, you certainly showed her, Python. Now come on, it's time to leave." The other elf calls back angrily at Pathos, who calls back in reply. ElvenSpoiler Hide Other Elf: "This human pig-dog hasn't learned her proper lessons! I shall give her a permanent reminder." Pathos: "You will do nothing but embarrass yourself further. Now come, we have more important things to do than waste time while you try to beat sense into that woman. However amusing it would be to watch her knock you off your feet, there are more important matters. Come now." The other elf mutters angrily, then looks down at Katia. "You haven't heard the last of me, foul cretin. I shall return soon and challenge you to a duel! Harrumph." He directs his horse around and leads his companions away, following Pathos off. The half-orc carefully strides up to you and offers his thanks for your help. "My name is Truths Axe hewer, and I am grateful for your aid. If you are ever in the lands of the Tiger Claw tribe, tell them my name, and they will provide you help." Krutos gets the last goods on the wagon and the orcs head out of town. If you have any questions for Truths, you should ask them now. "Those... those!" Timmok struggled to come up with words he would not have to repent later. Failing valiantly, he turned his attentions to the wounded pride of his comrade. Recompense would be had." Kait, shall we alert the town guard and vie for your honor against those... Hooligans!" "HOOLIGANS!" His shout after the retreating elves is as righteous and pure as his intentions, and about as effective. But, at least, he'd found the word he'd been looking for. Frowning, Finnegan waved his hand towards Katia, channeling a wave of low-power magic. His ally's clothes were slowly cleaned, stains of drink disappearing from their gear as he walked past them. He was silent, but the direction he was heading in made it clear that he was going to inn. Mostly ignoring Truths, but paying attention to the mention of his name and that of his tribe - know thy enemy, and such - Katia nods her thanks to Finnegan as she adjusts her attire." Elves... bad as orcs, sometimes,"she mutters." That little tirade made me thirsty. Onwards, comrades, the inn awaits!" "Surely you showed them their place, my friend." Dominic says sarcastically to Timor. He then turns towards Truths." Thank you. My name ID Dominic Balthasar Bizarre Jr. and it pleases me I could help honest, hardworking men from inch of troublemakers. If you have any father problems with them, you might find me at the inn, Truths Axe hewer."." Not a single race is better than the others." He scolds Katia." Had you read some of the history books, you would realize all of them have skeletons in their closets, proverbially speaking of course." Timor butts in, his oxcart of thought having broken an axle." At the Chapel, we have actual skeletons in our closets - Saints mostly, but I've heard tell of a Rich's body kept there, just in case one of its foul anchors still hides its spirit from Colors' divine light." He holds the door open for the others as they reach their destination. "Yeah, 'skeletons in the closet' can be literal in a lot of situations,"Finnegan said as he moved into the inn and looked about it's inside a seat." But let's forget about that, for a moment. I need a drink, and then we've got some other business to take care of." Spoiler: IOC Hide Any obvious trouble in the inn? You enter the inn and find it is nearly full of people. There are a few empty tables in the center of the inn. The inn is filled with many humans, but there are a few tables of other races: one table has a small group of elves; there is a slightly larger group of dwarves; and several groups of orc laborers. You don't see any goblins though. There are several customers stated at the bar on the side. Two short stout kobolds care trays of drinks around and hands them out. A burly Ogre stands behind the bar, while a human brings out trays of food that are picked up by more kobolds. A kobold comes up to you and smiles before greeting you in common. "Good afternoon, gentle beings. We have some tables available if you are interested in having a meal. If you are looking for snacks and drinks, I suggest you try the bar. If you are looking for rooms, arrangements can easily be made." You do notice that there is one table that has someone dressed in dark clothes that is eating alone. The figure glances briefly in your direction before going back to their food. The room brightens as Timor brings the Light of Below into it, his flashing smile briefly pushing the Darkness back into the corners from where it slunk." Drinks for our table," he points to an open spot with enough room for his companions,"And keep them coming, Dragon kin, our thanks, ERM... Linda!" What an odd name for a Kobold. Turning his attention from the help to a more pressing problem, he claps one man on his shoulder, greeting him fondly but without recognition. "Pardon good sir, I would be greatly in your favor if you could shuffle your seat forward a moment only, my friends and I are tired, and you seem a reasonable sort." Using his more than moderate mass wherever a manageable ministration of mirth and modesty misfire, Timor maneuvers through the mess, maintaining a moderate margin for the others' means as they move to the meeting place through the mobbed room. Spoiler: Thoughts/IOC Hide Though not naturally suspicious, Timor activates "Detect Evil" (at will, standard action, class feature) the moment he wakes up each morning out of devotion to his God and his Order. If there is any Evil around, let the might of my alliteration strike it down! Carefully casting about the crowd, with its contrasting clientele, Katia's cautious character is concerned by the continuing company of orcs. Quietly cataloging the couple commonplace citizens - the cap on the community of Darrow causes acquaintances to crop up commonly - Katia continues through the cacophony to acquire a comely cup of courage. Spoiler: IOC Hide En garden! In case it wasn't clear, she's going to the bar. Knocked off 4cp for a MUP of common ale as per SRD, if it's significantly more let me know. The ogre bartender, whose name is Thugs, pours Katia a mug of ale in a clean glass. One of the other patrons turns to look at her, and then backward off his stool, having passed out from being way too drunk. A small group of kobolds carries him out of the inn. A kobold dressed in fancy clothes comes up to you and speaks to you. "We have roast duck baked in spiced wine with mashed potatoes and corn. There are fresh baked cookies for dessert. We also have iced drinks as well if you desire them. We do have wine and ale if that is more your preference." He waits patiently for your answer. Finnegan followed his party to their chosen table, sitting down with them as he thought over the confrontation with the Arrow hawk Elves. There was something odd about the shadowy man sitting nearby, but such things were not his area of expertise." Yes, I will have a meal, with ale,"he says to the Kobold, smiling at the thought of a hot meal after time spent on the road and reaching for his coin pouch to make sure it was full. Confident in his financial status, he turned to the rest of the group." So, when are we taking our next job?" I heard of a chapel built out of human bones, far away in distant lands. But I doubt it's an appropriate subject for the dinner. Dominic says to Timor, as they enter the inn." You seem troubled." Dominic says to Katia, taking place next to her. What does disturb you? "Not much, I just don't like how Darrow is evolving." Kaitia confessed, swigging her drink." Not long ago things were much simpler, you didn't have to worry about orcs - if you saw one, you fought it or ran - or arrogant elves. People could earn an honest living doing an honest job. I mean, you didn't see shady folks like that guy, hanging around on his own,"Katia gestured with her ale glass at the lone stranger,"People travelled together, worked together, ate and drank together." She turned to a passing kobold." I'll have the roast duck,"she asked, flashing a smile and fishing in her purse for change for the meal and two further silver pieces." Keep the drinks for my friends and I are coming." "I don't think that people suddenly stopped eating together, drinking together or travelling together. Look at us." Dominic says, giving Kobold a not that he'll have some of that duck too." And I'll rather have orcs, and kobolds, goblins and ogres for that matter, making honest living, than ones I'd have to run from." He gives a shady man a passing glance." And that guy over there looks like he has a business he needs to be taken care of in secret. My father would tell me stories of his youth, people like this were quite common source of income back then." He pauses." How about we talk to him?" Timor stiffens, suddenly sensing something sinister in the surrounding scores of suspicious shoppers."EVIL!" The cry cuts through the clamor, as Timor's sword flashes - he climbs atop a table and holds it above him, swooping it about the room in righteous furor to point at those senses deem unworthy of the light."EVIL HAS NO PLACE HERE! GUARDS! TO ARMS! EVIL Amongst US! LET NONE PASS THROUGH THE DOORS! WARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AGAINST THEIR TRICKERY! TO ARMS, I SAY, THERE IS GREAT EVIL Amongst US!" With a flourish, he hops to the nearest table, in the direction of the closest evil. Spoiler Hide Diplomacy to sway the crowd (1d20+8)[23] Jump and Balance rolls for as many as are needed to get close to the nearest evil dude Jump: (1d20+3)[18], (1d20+3)[19], (1d20+3)[19], (1d20+3)[23], (1d20+3)[15] Balance: (1d20+3)[5], (1d20+3)[8], (1d20+3)[14], (1d20+3)[9], (1d20+3)[18] Well, you leap across to the next table and slip in some ale, landing flat on your back. The table's patrons, a group of orcs, look at your strangely before leaping and yelling and screaming. Pretty soon, the 'evildoers' are fighting off townsfolk, while the rest of the townsfolk engage in a bar fight. Congratulations, you have started a bar fight. The evildoers appear to be fancy looking elves who are masterfully wielding Rapiers against their attackers. One of the elves looks at you, then runs up the steps. He calls up it for help and... A tall figure dressed in a horned black full helm (Face shield, you can't see face) with a big black bladed axe with what appears to be a bone handle strides down the stairs which creak as the figure comes down. The figure appears to be nearly 7ft tall, has red skin and is wearing black armor decorated in skull motifs. The figure picks up the elf and throws him across the room then wades into the melee with the axe, hewing townsfolk right and left. You think this is the evil you sensed upstairs. Dominic scowls, irritated." I'll create a distraction, you get our companions out of here. If Timor tries to resist, knock him down. And later reminds me to beat him up, if you can." He says to Katia, then gets behind the bar, next to ogre bartender." By spirits of water and air, I call upon protective spell. Let us cease people's wrath, when mist obscures their sight!" He proclaims, reaching his hand towards brawlers. Spoiler Hide Casting Obscuring Mist Finishing her drink with an almost resigned swig, Katia stands and quickly ascertains the situation. She'd been in a few bar fights before, and how they ended up mostly involved how many people were armed and armored. The sight of the elves drawing steel against relatively unarmed civilians made her blood simmer, and she was about to engage them mostly because of that rather than her companion's proclamation. As she planned their exit strategy, the hulking armored figured appears. The thought of convincing Timor to back down left her in an instant; this warrior was the embodiment of what a Paladin hopes to combat. Resigned to this ending badly, she locates the nearest exit and gestures her companions towards it. Spoiler: IOC Hide Do the elves Timor pointed out have any insignia? Katia hasn't got the skills to recognize them, but she may be able to describe it to people later. Not sure how you want to do movement in the bar fight, but essentially she'll move with the following criteria: Towards the exit. Not provoking attacks of opportunity. With a readied action to disarm anyone who attacks her or looks to be making for any of the party excluding Timor with a weapon. I'll roll in the IOC thread the relevant rolls, because I apparently forgot to prior to submitting this post and therefore can't roll more dice. Keeping near to the relatively squishy members of her group (i.e. trying to keep at least one of them within 5-feet, now that everything's gone all hazy; awesome use of that spell, by the way). From the picture and the Drunken Elf Spoiler Hide (Okay this is best picture of an inn I liked. The Drunken Elf Inn's length is twice as big, with the area with the label saying "Taproom" being the sort of center of the expanded room with a table there where you are sitting. The table in to upper right is where Timor jumped onto. The elves that Timor pointed out are in the booth next to the Stairs leading to "Up to rooms". Just ignore the lower floor as It's not really important at this time. The Inn in the picture is about 50 feet across, the Drunken elf inn is 100 feet across with the space filled in by tables with chairs. The fireplace is 100 feet across from the west wall/the wall behind the bar. The rest of the distance is the same, not modified. Black Helm is at the bottom of the stairs moving slowly into the main room.) The Obscuring Mist will spread out and block vision. (It will spread out to encompass nearly the whole room despite the size being different, this is mainly because I didn't tell you beforehand anything about the room's size, so I am increasing the radius here)For KaitiaSpoiler Hide These elves seem to have a skull on arrows badge. You do notice another group of elves drawing their blades and attacking the Rapier wielding elves. Also, that the kobolds fled into the back room and kitchens while shrieking for the guard. For the party: (This will have to change if Timor decides to go ManoMano [toe to toe] with Black Helm)Katia leads the party outside only having to fight off the occasional drunk. The ogre behind the bar grabs up a club and leaps into the mist, joining the fray. While you stand outside, you hear banging sounds, the sounds of explosions and the sound of explosions. Thugg stumbles out of the inn, looks at you, before collapsing with a bone-handle dagger in his back. He is followed by smoke billowing out. Looking through the open doors, you notice that the Inn's common room is now a mess. The evil elves and Black Helm are gone except for the 4 that lie dead. The town guard arrives after a few moments. The leader, dressed in chain mail, approaches and demands to explain what happened here. "Don't look at us, sir... "Finnegan said, glancing at the Captain but not having the submission within him to raise his hands like an accused criminal." We were just waiting for dinner when somebody had to go and get attention. Then it got a bit crazy... I just wanted roast duck, man." "Could somebody with medical knowledge attend him? He might still be alive." Dominic points at the stabbed ogre, regretting not having any medical skill himself." A young Paladin of our group tried to, clumsily, investigate a group he found suspicious." He tells the guards. And stops himself from adding "to put it mildly" after "clumsily"." Things got out of his hand and said suspicious individuals tried to turn the inn into a bloodbath." Spoiler Hide (1d20+6)[20] Diplomacy on guards, if necessary Timor gracefully rights himself, his sword up in another gleam of steel, aimed in an ever-moving flow between all the remaining evildoers." Guards! Thanks to the light you're here! Great evil is afoot, why haven't your clerics rooted it out?" A look at the guards tells him they don't really know how to respond to the question. His arm quivers. The sword falls." Divines, no... NOT THE CLERICS TOO!" Katia nodded acknowledgement to one of the guards, electing to mostly remain quiet. Something she'd learned well was how easy it is to get yourself in to trouble by talking when you didn't have to. Besides, there were other matters to attend to; as the ogre came tumbling down, Katia was there as quickly as possible - as her companion called for assistance, she was already preparing to tear up clothing to make makeshift bandages to deal with the wound. Ensuring there were enough witnesses around - she had no intention of being called the bartender's attacker - she treated his injuries as best as possible. Spoiler: IOC Hide I'm assuming the bartender isn't dead - from a game mechanics perspective, the fact that he staggered out of the inn makes me think he's likely at -1 HP and bleeding. If he's supposed to die for plot reasons, and his staggering out was for dramatic flair, I fully understand. Rolling several times, i.e. until he either stabilizes or dies. Heal - DC15 - (1d20+7)[12] Heal - DC15 - (1d20+7)[18] Heal - DC15 - (1d20+7)[11] Heal - DC15 - (1d20+7)[19] Heal - DC15 - (1d20+7)[9] First off, I have a roll to make then posting what happens, I assume that Katia is removing the dagger, in order to bandage Thugs's wounds? Secret DM Roll:(d2+3)[5] Originally Posted by Russia First off, I have a roll to make then posting what happens, I assume that Katia is removing the dagger, in order to bandage Thugs's wounds? Secret DM Roll: [roll0] Spoiler: IOC Hide I expect she'll regret it, but I would imagine so. When Katia removes the dagger, it burns her with what appear to be black flames that surround her, this deals 5 points of unholy fire damage. After she drops the dagger, it continues to smoke. Kaitia binds up Thugs's wounds so that he stops bleeding, but he remains unconscious. The guards seeing the black flames around Katia call out "She's cursed!". Several runs away while the remaining ones draw their swords. The guard in chain mail calls to the others to sheathe their swords and stop running, stating that it wasn't her, and she isn't cursed. They come back warily and give her a wide berth. The guard in chain mail gives the dagger a dark glance before regarding Timor curiously. To Timor: "Holy warrior, our clerics are coming to tend to the wounded and the dead. I see no sign of evildoers, only some dead elves. I do notice that you smell of ale, were you drinking heavily perhaps?" "I slipped in the ale of patrons while attempting to engage in glorious holy battle - which is beside the point." He scrunches his face in concentration, trying to locate the Black Helm - there would be no words had with one so strongly mired in the Darkness. 'If only I had some magic missiles...' Spoiler Hide Pending on if Timor can sense the direction of GREAT EVIL, he will point the guards that way and probably pursue. If not, he will explain what happened and help them write up reports if they want. Timor likes writing reports. They are Good and Righteous. Finnegan carefully watched the black flames that surrounded his ally, searching his mind for anything of use. Spoiler: IOC Hide Knowledge checks to ID the black fire, or the big red dude we saw. Arcane: (1d20+8)[10] History: (1d20+8)[14] Local: (1d20+8)[27] The Planes: (1d20+8)[25] Leaving Timor to converse with the guards, he walked over to the smoking knife and removed his backpack." Detect Magic!" As he slowly scanned the zone for auras, the young Wizard attempted to raise the strange knife towards him with his Prestidigitation. He carefully bumped his pack against the knife, not making contact with it himself, testing its self-defense. Crying out slightly at the unexpected pain, Katia tossed the knife to one side. Recovering from the shock, she returned to binding the ogre's wounds, aware that his blood wouldn't wait on her. Once satisfied that he was at least mostly stable, she emptied her waterski slowly over her burns, savoring the cool feeling as the water trickled and pooled over her palms." Remind me not to bring Timor near a few of my friends; apparently they'll have earned the death sentence in his books,"Katia quietly mumbled to Finnegan as he moved to examine the blade." I've never seen anything like this before,"she confessed, peering at it warily." What sort of fire burns with no light?" Suddenly aware that there may be others needing her help, she turned to the guard in chain mail." Sergeant, may I tend to the wounded while we wait for the healers?" Bizarrely, she found herself standing at attention when making the request. Spoiler Hide Given that Katia's background involves training in Darrow's militia, I assume she likely knows either who this man is or at least what rank he holds. I've placeholdered "Sergeant", if he's actually something else just let me know and I'll edit. If he allows it, Katia will move carefully inside the inn, looking for any who are wounded/unconscious and tending to them as best she can. Making several Heal checks to deal with that. If he doesn't allow it, she'll want to say some choice words but will probably hold her tongue. EDIT: rolls done in IOC thread "Let me see that." Dominic says to Katia and begins inspecting first her hand and then the blade. Spoiler Hide Spell craft (1d20+7)[16] Knowledge Arcane (1d20+7)[15] Religion (1d20+7)[22] Dungeoneering (1d20+7)[27] the Planes (1d20+7)[16] if any is relevant. Timor: You can't sense any evil other than what is coming from the bone handled dagger that just burned your ally. Finnegan: You think the red skin might be a sign that the big red dude is fiendish in some fashion perhaps descended from fiends. The symbols on big red dude, were ones identified with an evil death cult that had been destroyed (believed completely so) between the fall of the Red Hand and the creation of the Kingdom and Darrow, your home. The axe does have a history: there are references to a similar axe wielded by a dark paladin who was once a paladin that was said to have been awarded the axe as a gift by the dark gods. The Axe was named Doom cleaver, and it was especially dangerous to those good and holy (Good bane, unholy). It has a known history of slaying strong righteous warriors. It might be the same one, or it might be a copy, you couldn't tell. The dagger resembles those worn by (un)holy warriors who served in the evil death cult. They are rumored to be cursed and capable of corrupting those who wield them and that they harm those who are not evil until they become evil (it stops burning them when turn nasty)and you have to touch the dagger for it to harm you. You detect strong necromancy from the dagger, with moderate evocation. Also, you detect some necromancy and Evocation from Katia, but that is most likely from her touching the weapon. Kaitia: You know the Sergeant as Sergeant Jones. He will you into the building with a guard to watch you. This guard is private Remy, and he watches with concern as you tend to what still living wounded you find. There are at least 2 kobolds, one dwarf, one human, and an orc. The orc groggily thanks you for help and swears his life to you in whatever service you require. The Dwarf does the same, while the human and kobolds promise you favors. Their names)Dog, Orchard, DwarfMenti, Humankind, KoboldAdin, Kobold Dominic: Katia's hand was burned by fire, some kind of unholy fire. The area of her hand where she touched the dagger has been blackened and there are lightning like lines running up from her hand along her arm. You think that the dagger is similar to those worn by arcane necromancers. The dagger resembles those worn by (un)holy warriors who served in the evil death cult. They are rumored to be cursed and capable of corrupting those who wield them and that they harm those who are not evil until they become evil (it stops burning them when turn nasty)and you have to touch the dagger for it to harm you. The dagger appears to be like those used by the priests Crisis, the god of evil. Crisis appears as a skeletal figure/dragon and his symbol is a laughing skull. He is worshiped by evildoers and evil necromancers and such like. He is one of the main powers of the dark gods, who are the gods of evil. His closest allay is the Spider Goddess (Loath), who calls evil elves to her service. She was served by dark elves in the past, but when they fell she simply moved on to seducing elves to replace her fallen followers. Other dark gods include the god of plagues, Morris, or such other foul beings. The holy orders/temples of the Kingdom having been trying to stamp out the worship of the dark gods unsuccessfully for years. Worshipers of Crisis build bone chapels and conduct dark rituals in his name. The dark gods promise in exchange for service and tend to be quite willing to accept anyone, even paladins sworn to destroy their servants. They imbue holy warriors with their powers even though any such holy paladin would refuse such powers. They enjoy giving out dark gifts whether they end up being used or forgotten. Worshipers of the dark gods tend to lurk in the shadows and establish secret shrines and conduct rituals at times that allow the worshipers to engage in dark acts while leaving their comrades none the wiser. The bone in the dagger's handle is that of what could have belonged to a human child. It is small enough and developed that it could have been that, or a cow's bone, though the death cults don't use anything but human bones in their rituals. "You are most welcome, friend." Kaitia told Head in his own language as she scanned about for more wounded, wiping blood from her brow. The kobolds had proven somewhat tricky to stabilize - their anatomy was unfamiliar to her - but they bled like everyone else, and their bones broke just the same. Dog she'dalmostglanced over, but though he was an orc he had done nothing today to deserve this, and as she felt slightly responsible for the event due to the company of Timor she eased her conscience by treating him just as the rest. There was certainly a nagging doubt in the back of her mind about her views on orcs, particularly given the trouble caused by elves so far today, but that could wait. With the wounded tended to as best she could, Katia scanned about the inn, looking for anything that hinted at the source of the explosion - a common point which shrapnel burst outward from, charring on one side of furniture, anything which could give some clue as to what it was that caused something so unusual in bar fights as she asked Remy to help her get one of the wounded outside. Spoiler: IOC Hide Making both a Search and a Survival roll to see if she can find the center of the explosion and anything to do with what caused it - I figure tracking is relevant to this sort of thing, but if you feel otherwise then ignore it. Search - (1d20+2)[7] Survival - (1d20+7)[27] "Don't touch this thing, anyone, it's not safe,"Finnegan said before relaying what he had remembered. The weakness of this thing, though, was that he could leave it in his backpack and it wouldn't burn him. The boy wizard opened a small, empty section on his pack and floated the dagger in, shutting the flap and zipping it closed. He made a mental note to Identify it later, like he had read in his notes, to find out if it had already effected Katia. Identifying was expensive, though, and so it could wait. "Also evil," Timor adds with a nod. "You may not be far off, my friend." Dominic says to Timmy." It appears to be a weapon used by unholy champions and necrotic worshipers of accursed Crisis, god of evil. Weapons like that are created to corrupt the wielder, by punishing him for acting in non-evil way, as we have seen with Katia. It might have been what tipped Timmy's senses, thus creating the whole situation." He stops for a moment, thinking intensively." Seeing it in the hands of Elves suggest that Spider Goddess might be involved, setting her schemes to corrupt another group of their kind. But I cannot be sure, after all dark gods revel in making good souls stray into the path of evil." He thinks loudly." Also, this weapon was probably made from bones of human child." He mention casually. Several clerics arrive and are escorted into the building. They begin to remove the bodies with assistance from others. The Kobolds poke their heads and ask if the madness is over. A large burly kobold comes up to you and demands to know who is going to pay for damages to his inn. The guards haul away the knocked out elves while one of the guards with the clerics asks for you to describe what happened. Timor eyes the Clerics warily, certain that their lack of vigilance was the ultimate cause of Evil being allowed to gain footing in the town. Simply dousing the well with Holy Water daily would've been enough to retain some state of Purity." Your Inn was a home to Great Evil, Master Kobold. Perhaps you should seek your recoup from the Elves those guardsmen are dragging away?" The master Kobold glares at Timor. "But you were the one that caused the riot by jumping on the table and shouting about evil according to my waiters." "And if you policed your doors, Master Kobold, there would be no Evil to shout about." The E was definitely capitalized as Timor spoke, wondering what the issue was. It seemed simple, to him, that if all places of succor would turn away those who would do Evil, then Evil would lose its footings in all places of succor. An Amulet to detect the presence of Evil-doers would more than make up for the lost patronage in reputation and security. Seeing the Kobold's scowl, he feels pressured to add,"I am no craftsman, Master Kobold, but if you seek aid rebuilding I will do what I can - though, my talents lie mostly in Crushing Eviler than Building Good." The kobold glares at Timor some more, before throwing his hands up. "Fine, I will take my problems to the town guard, and they will take care of this matter." He begins walking away. A figure dressed in holy armor comes up to you and glances down at the kobold. "I am Horus, a paladin in some order as my riot causing friend here. Perhaps some kind of payment is in order? Perhaps if you were to put forth some complaints regarding the town's "no divination" policy and arrange an exemption for your bar, that could keep this sort of thing from happening again." The kobold looks at Horus, then nods. Horus hands him a bag of money and the kobold walks away. Horus regards you, then smiles softly. "Well, you certainly seem to be doing a fine job of causing trouble. The gods must really like you to mess with you so much." Horus seems very approachable and charming. 'Finally, a follower of the Light!' Timmok regards the man admiringly, seeing the care and effort put into keeping clean and serviceable his decorum. Few others mind their plates and mails as well as those from the Order - but a Paladin knows that filth and mud offer Evil leverage into your body, through battle if not action." By the Light, well met. Indeed, the Gods have favored me a Crusade, a darkness most foul to be sought out in the lands nearby. Barely he slipped from my grasp, as I lay wallowing on the floor from my own misfortune." Timmok gestures to his companions,"But my manners have must have remained on the floor, for I've yet to introduce myself or these fine few whose steel and blood have fought beside my own." A short introduction ensues, during which time the others are offered a chance to speak. "In spare time remind me I need to take Timmy aside and have a long talk with him." Dominic says to Katia, visibly frustrated." Prefferably when he is defenseless and under a weakening spell." (IOC: Katia is not outside with you, she is the upstairs floor of the Inn)IC: Horus studies Timor with interest. "What evil do you speak of, fellow paladin? What did you encounter in this place?" From outside the inn, Katia's voice can be heard calling out. She does not sound panicked, more simply concerned." Cleric! I need a cleric up here!" For Katia Only, requires Listen checks for the others:You hear footsteps, then a cold voice speak to you. "There are no clerics here to help you on your way, my lady." Turning, you see a man dressed in scale mail holding what looks to be a flail and a big shield with a bright picture of a skull on it. He smiles at you as he brings his flail back to strike at you." Hail, Crisis!" He yells. Flail Assault:(d20+4)[7]Damage if hit:(d8+2)[4] "F*** Crisis!" Kaitia declares, ducking under the flail with ease and drawing her own double-handed one. She struck at the weapon he wielded, attempting to wrap the chain of her own flail around it. Spoiler Hide Disarm; opposed attack roll: (1d20+14)[26] (+4 attack roll, +4 Improved Disarm, +2 for flail, +4 for two-handed weapon) Regarding the opposed roll her attacker needs to make, quoting the Damp;D Wiki. With a flail, you get a +2 bonuses on opposed attack rolls made to disarm an enemy (including the roll to avoid being disarmed if such an attempt fails). Groups I've been part of previously have interpreted this as the bonus only applying to the one attempting to do to disarm, not the one being disarmed (else we feel it would say "+2 bonus on opposed attack rolls made to disarm an enemy or avoid being disarmed (including the roll to avoid being disarmed if such an attempt fails)"). Feel free to rule either way. Dominic hears Katia calling for a cleric, and grab nearest one who is free, offering to escort him to her, just in case. Spoiler Hide No, no listen checks or anything, Dominic is unaware of the attacker Katia: You disarm the cleric, who cast a spell. (Concentration for spell(d20+2)[9])The spell attempt fizzles and so the cleric draws a short sword out. Dominic: The cleric, a young human woman wearing a holy symbol of Below nods to your request and will join you. Timor, left hanging in the middle of his introduction, gives an apologetic glance to his fellow Paladin, before rushing off to join his companions. He does't know what's going on, but loyalty compels him to follow his distraught friend." Wait for me! What rush has befallen you?" "Looks like Crisis isn't with you today." Kaitia smirked, swinging her flail carefully from side-to-side." Half of the town guard is downstairs. You're not escaping like that cowardly red-skinned friend of yours. Stand down, and you might see tomorrow." Spoiler: IOC Hide Talking is mostly for fluff, not expecting any skill roll out of it (the guy's clearly a fanatic). Katia is readying an action to disarm the cleric, triggered by any action that is either clearly offensive or spell casting, looking to disarm him of whatever he is using for that particular action (his sword if he attempts to swing, his (un)holy symbol if he attempts to cast a spell). If he moves back 5-feet to spell cast, she'll close as part of the action (she hasn't moved this turn). For convenience, opposed roll is below: Disarm opposed roll - (1d20+14)[29] (+3 strength modifier, +1 BAD, +4 Improved Disarm, +4 two-handed weapon, +2 flail) His roll:(d20+4)[6]You manage to disarm him again. He is rather annoyed with this, but hey, it's hilarious for me. Concentration check for spell casting ((d20+2)[7]) He is using the unholy symbol on his shield for casting. So that spell doesn't work at all. (He is not doing good at spell casting.) "What's all this, then?" Replacing the pack of belongings on his back, Finnegan stood and moved back in to the inn with Timor to witness whatever was occurring inside. He performed a flurry of quick seals with one hand, reaching for his Quarterstaff with the other. Completing his spell with a quick incantation, he summoned a field of invisible force around him to protect him from the dangers of combat. Spoiler: IOC Hide Casting Mage Armor Spoiler: IOC Hide I'm assuming I have another round at least of just me against the cleric before anyone else intercedes, and I believe it's my turn? As far as I can tell he's currently not armed. If that's not the case, I'll need to change my actions. Satisfied with her progress so far, and finding the cleric's evident lack of faith entertaining, Katia swings her flail low, looking to wrap it about one of her opponent's legs. Spoiler Hide Going for a trip attack: Melee touch attack - (1d20+4)[12] If that hits: Opposed Strength/Dexterity roll - (1d20+3)[4] If the opposed roll fails, Katia's opposed roll to avoid dropping her flail: (1d20+3)[7] Katia grabs the guy with the flail. His opposed grapple check:(d20+4)[17]So Katia fails to trip the guy, but still has her flail wrapped around his foot. He looks amused as he pulls out a vial and holds it up. It looks it has a green liquid in it and has markings from the local dragon bank stamped on it. (The Dragon Bank sells various objects like some potions and magic items, as well as holding a monopoly on future technologies like Gunpowder and muskets. Currently, the kobolds of the Dragon Bank sell the gunpowder in fireworks, not yet developed weaponry like muskets.)(What are the others doing?) Dominic leads cleric towards Katia's voice. Spoiler Hide Listen check to try to hear her again (1d20+1)[18] EDIT:Hearing sounds of fighting, Dominic rushes fast towards them, giving Cleric a nod to follow him but stay quiet. He readies his crossbow, prepared to aid his comrade, whatever is attacking her. The party commits collective suicide due to inaction. This game has officially ended with a week of no responses and very limited responsiveness anyway.

Rise of the Horde|rating:2.0

In the Blood. [closed.]

This role-play is closed to Fr33ks33k and I. {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} ​Cara avoided Mr. Jenkins hug. You would think for the person who diagnosed her with Anthropophobia he would refrain from overstepping his boundaries. His hands encircled her waist, pressing the girl to his body. Immediately Cara felt her eyes swimming and her stomach lurch in response.“Enough!” Cara’s mother called, separating the two with a harsh foot and elbow. Stumbling slightly, she pressed her palm against her head. A cold glare swam in his eyes towards her mother.“Leave, it’s enough with one person around.” Cara’s mother ordered. The doctor gritted his teeth in response.“The girl needs me.” He replied. Cara gripped the banister, her blonde hair thread through her fingers.“Mom!” she cut in, annoyed and nausea that two grown adults couldn’t even get a lid on their tongues for her sake. Cara’s mother took Mr. Jenkins by the arm. She wasn’t a strong lady, but the doctor was pushing his sixtieth year compared to her fortieth. The sound of footsteps on stairs disappeared, each step of there departure making her impending doom lessen. Finally, she was left to herself, sitting by the stairs with her palms pressed against her abdomen. A few weeks ago she had thought about saying no to the assignment she was ready to head off on, she had never left home before, at least nothing like this. Now, she couldn’t wait. Her jeep was already loaded with camping gear and the helicopter mounts were bolted to the frame. In less than five hours, Cara was away from everyone. It was an amazing experience, to be miles away for any person, city, or car besides her jeep. For the first time she felt as if she was happy. Before pulling her tent out from her Jeep she experimented with her camera and various angles. For being in the mountains, she found it surprisingly green. With a little exploring through her camera’s lens, a path leading to a dwarf tree caught her eye. The base grew up and forked less than a foot off the ground into light green leaves. Sneaking up on it as if the tree were an animal, she focused her camera. Pressing the sliver button down the camera snapped her first picture. Quickly she viewed her work and her heart shaped lips became gently pulled by her teeth as she suppressed a confident smile. It was her first picture, and she already felt like she was doing an amazing job. Tilting her camera over she looked at her watched briefly. She hadn’t expected to see that it was pushing at nine o’clock. Glancing at the horizon she figured it was time for her to head back. Inside the jeep she scavenged for her orange tent. She was going to place it on a high rock that she could only reach by climbing. There were wild animals out her, but she had been assured that if she kept vigilant, and camped up in a place she couldn’t get to unless she climbed, that she would be alright. Just in case, her mother had packed her a pistol. Just before midnight, Cara had set everything up. She didn’t have time to shower that night since it would be dangerous to look for water at this time. Instead, she set up the radio and called her mother as she had promised before she left.“Mom?”“Cara!” her mother’s voice echoed over the speakers with a crackled clarity.”How is everything darling? Are you okay? I was afraid those mounts for your jeep would just fall right off and make a pancake out of you!” Cara laughed, then pressed the button to speak.“I’m fine.” She said, trying hard not to all our laugh. “This place is amazing mom, I wish…” she quickly moved on. “I already got a good picture.”“Oh really? Can you send it to me?”“I haven’t set up the internet and what-not yet, but I will tomorrow I am so tired.” She responded with a side glance at her tent that was lit up by the flashlight she had left on within it. Her mother sounded sympathetic. “Go to sleep than honey.”“Thanks mom, I love you.”“I love you too.” Cara put down the receiver and crawled into her tent. Despite how dingy Cara felt, she trekked off her hill in search of water. She had passed a stream on her way to higher ground the day before, and she figured she would follow it with her Jeep for as long as she could be today in hopes of finding the course. Out here, there were no worries of someone taking your car, unless Elk could drive. Just in case, Cara carried her pistol. You never know when an Elk might want your jeep.Off-roading through the rocks and shrubs she found the small stream she had seen earlier the other day. She listened hard to the wind, and decided the sound of water was coming from her right before she took off down that way. Not twenty minutes later did she hit a peak that her Jeep couldn’t cross. With her bathing bag in hand she trekked over to find the source not more than a hundred yards away from the rock she now stood on. Holding her hands together in a prayer manner, Cara climbed down. The water was pure blue with cinnamon and ivory colored sand lining the whole little pond. The sight made her eyes glitter in presence she couldn't describe. On instinct, she looked around before stripping out of her clothes. The laid in a pile in sand as she cautiously dipped her toe in the water surface to have her suspicion confirmed, it was cold as hell. Lowering herself on her heels, she debated what approach to take. Dive in or ease. She knew that easing in would be excruciatingly cold, and eventually she willed herself to jump. The water felt like a frozen cloth that wrapped itself up and around her body as the wake closed her head. Quickly she kicked herself up, coughing lightly at the crushing feeling it caused in her chest. She shook from the impact and ran shampoo as quickly as she could through her mane. Feeling clean enough, she climbed out on a large rock that dipped right into the pong from the small beach. The sun had rested his gaze on it for hours, and the solid form had grown warm. She melted into its embrace on her side, her blonde hair now a thick wet mass of brown waves on its surface. Dammit, I hate air drops.... That was the last thought that went through Malcolm's mind as he leapt from the low-flying plane. Landing in the Appalachians was supposed to be relatively easy, but the craggy hills that were interspersed between the green hills looked like they'd hurt to hit. He pulled the ripcord and his chute unfolded, his body jerking as the drag slowed his fall to a crawl. Pulling on the steering rigs, he guided himself to his designated drop zone. Landing at a run, he eventually slowed and slouched off his chute pack. Malcolm pulled out a small set of binoculars and started scanning the horizon. He saw his cargo drop careening toward a nearby field. He stuffed his chute back into its packing, cinched it closed and hefted it onto one shoulder. Checking his binoculars again, he took off at a sprint toward the falling crate that held all of his gear for his mission. Malcolm's mission, since he had chosen to accept it, was to find and eliminate an alleged Russia who'd holed up in these mountains, quite near his current location. It seemed easy enough to him, a mission that would earn him his final leave from the military. He'd grown exhausted of all the fighting, the politics, the bullshit protocol....all of it, really. This would be it. He reached the crate moments after it landed, and stopped to catch his breath. Even at his level of fitness, the distance had made him a bit winded. He stooped down in front of the black heavy-duty plastic case, clicking the latches up and flipping the lid open. He smiled down at his gear, grabbing each piece and assembling it slowly. After about twenty minutes, he'd gotten everything in order. After hiding the case under some brush, Malcolm was ready to start looking for his target. Hefting his things, he set off, following his wrist-bound compass. The target was supposed to be about 20 clicks North-Northwest of this area. By nightfall, Malcolm had covered a good bit of distance and made camp outside a small pond. Fresh water was good to have nearby in a situation like this, and what few animals came around were too timid to cause much trouble. Sitting up stark awake from his usual nightmares about the battlefields he'd seen, Malcolm grabbed his short-stocked rifle and pistol, binoculars and a few other useful field items. As he left his tent, he realized that he'd slept a bit too late in the day. Unusual for him, but he chalked it up to being in the damned Appalachians, and not in his cozy bed back in Arizona. As he crested the hill, he looked down on the pond. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of something out of the ordinary. Bringing his binoculars up to his eyes, he swept over the pond and its perimeter. Sure enough, on one of the rocks was a person. Not just a person, a woman....blond, slender, and.....naked?" There aren't supposed to be any hikers out here. Who the fuck comes to a place like this for vacation?" Malcolm swore to himself. Then a thought came to him. Maybe this was the Russian...and off guard...he couldn't be sure, but he damned well would be in a few minutes. He started off slowly, eyes down the sights of his rifle as he approached the pond, ready to fire if she turned out to be ready for him, or if there were more with her. Mr. Jenkins sat forward in his chair, he had been anticipating this moment for twenty over years. All he needed was any recognizable spark of attraction, and he would die a happy man when he left the earth. Though in all reality if he didn’t die and this pulled through, he would start more experiments. If it didn't, Malcolm would eliminate her as what needed to be done anyway. If her mother asked questions, her body could easily disappear and be deemed lost to the mountains. He would want to leave the world with every Arian fucking each other until the whole part became nothing but that. He smiled at the thought of total domination by what he considered superior. It had been six years since Cara’s mother had banned tests on her daughter’s body that included nudity. It enraged him since it was her time of puberty set in, and her body developed from her adolescent frame into one that pleased him greatly. She had turned out perfect, with a slender pear shaped body that gave away to perfect birthing hips. His first glimpse at it again already had him stirring as he watched her through various monitors. Her hair had dried from her nap in the sun, returning it to its natural luster of white-gold. She held herself in a near fetal, and so vulnerable, pose as she slept. Her hands tucked under chin, covering her nipples from view. The pad of her foot covered her sex. Mr. Jenkins watched as Malcolm approached her, she stirred slightly in her sleep. A little whimper he adored when she slept slipped from her lips. He wondered if it had anything to do with the blood unknowingly exchanged between them. Mr. Jenkins continued to watch in awe through the monitors. Cara stirred gently against the rock. She had slept there all day, giving her body a slight glow. Now that it was reaching the darker hours the beaming sun was now lessened, and her rock became cold under her skin. She shivered lightly, a soft whimper escaping her as the awakening process began. Gently she opened her eyes to the familiar sight of trees and brush off to her side. Gently she pushed her upper body up, so to elongate her back for relief of the hours she had spent there. Her silken curls fell down her back and landed just above the bow of hips. The skin of her ribs feathered as she lifted her shoulders. Unaware of the site she accessed she toyed with her aching skin, letting her hand roam of the spots that hurt. Her neck hurt from resting so drastically downward, and she rubbed it gently. When she turned, the last thing she had expected was a man, with a gun no less. Cara scrambled backwards, covering as much of herself as she could from view.“I haven’t done anythin’!” her accent was strongly southern. Her body trembled as she buried her head in her arms.“Please I ‘even’t done anythin’, don’t kill me!” she cried. Malcolm certainly hadn't been expecting this....the girl shrieked in terror and scrambled backward on the rock she was on top of. She was crying and screaming that she hadn't done anything and for him not to kill her. Something was wrong here, and Malcolm lowered his rifle while keeping his finger to the side of the trigger. "Who the Hell are you and what are you doing out here in the middle of fucking nowhere?" he yelled, moving closer and glancing around the area for movement. There didn't seem to be any reinforcements for the girl, and now that he got a better look at her, she didn't seem much like a Russia...and was that a Southern drawl? He refocused on the girl and waited for an answer, eyes scanning their surroundings now and again. The man lowered his rifle, but somehow it didn’t feel as if that was going to be the end of it. She noticed he still had his finger on the trigger. She pressed her toes against the rock to put even the smallest amount of space between them. He was a good ten feet away, but it wasn’t enough, not with that thing in his hand. She had never even seen a gun that big. The only gun she had ever seen was the pistol her mother gave her, and she praised the lord it wasn’t just sitting out in the open, she had stuffed it in with her makeup that was in another bag within her bathing bag. "Who the Hell are you and what are you doing out here in the middle of fucking nowhere?"“I... Cara…” she stammered. “I’m a photographer my...my stuff…” she pointed hastily to pack where she had stripped. Inside the lens of a camera could be seen along with shampoo, soap, and other bathing things. Just below it where clothes she had stripped out of in a heap beside it. Cara wrapped her hands around her legs and laid her head on her knees. The girl pointed to a bag off to the side and mumbled something about being a photographer... We'll see about that Malcolm thought as he moved to the bag. He hadn't seen any other movement in the area so either she was alone or her buddies were back at their camp. He rummaged through the bag and found some camera equipment, toiletries, and a pistol. Furthermore, he pulled it out of the makeup bag it was stashed in and examined it. Definitely not military-issued, and quite definitely American made...odd choice or clever disguise for a Russia. Holding up the pistol by the barrel he walked back over to the girl, his rifle hanging from its shoulder strap at his side. "Do all photographers keep pistols in their kits?" he said gruffly. The man strode off towards her clothes and began rummaging through it. Her clothes and makeup fell onto the sand.“Hey!” she said, perplexed at how someone could be so rude.” Do all photographers keep pistols in their kits?"“They do when there are wild animals around.” She snapped. “Just who are you?” she asked, quickly she strode over and grabbed her green towel and wrapped it around her body. It was by the most embarrassing thing she had ever done. Cara pushed her hair over her shoulder.“You are incredibly rude.” She said, clearly upset. “You have no right to touch my things or point that.” She hit the gun with her palm. “At me, have some respect for a lady.” She scoffed. Cara looked down at where her stuff had fallen into the sand. When he focused his attention on her rant, she grabbed the gun. Quickly she pointed it at him.“I don’t know how you are but you ‘ave the manners of a walrus. Tell me who you are.” If Malcolm had been taken by surprise at the sight of the naked woman, he was even more so now with her snatching her pistol from his hand and brandishing it at him.“I don’t know how you are but you ‘ave the manners of a walrus. Tell me who you are.” Bad move lady... Malcolm thought, the split-second before his combat training took over. In a fluid motion, he dropped to a crouch and spun with a leg outstretched, sweeping the woman off her feet. His hands grabbed her arms, twisting them behind her back, disarming her in the same motion. He placed his left knee between her shoulders, putting just enough pressure on her to keep her on the ground. From his new position, Malcolm re-evaluated the situation. This girl was clearly not the Russian he was sent to kill, and if she was, she was playing the innocent naive Southern belle with an attitude to the T. But if she was indeed who she said she was, why would she pick this place of all the Appalachian Mountains to take her pictures? As she struggled beneath him, Malcolm came to a conclusion. "Ok, I believe you are who you say you are. I'm a U.S. soldier, and I'm on an urgent mission. Sorry for the mix-up. I'm going to let you up now, but I don't suggest you trying to pull another fast one on me." He released his grip on her arms and stood up, taking a few paces back just to be on the safe side. His blood was pumping heavily, and he felt a heat in his head that was unfamiliar, even from the deserts of the Middle East. Malcolm had no clue that the heat was due to the bit of Cara's blood mingling with his own, flooding to his brain and setting his hardwired synapses in motion... Cara squealed as she hit the ground only to be scooped back up again. She struggled but it was no use. His grip was unyielding on her." Ok, I believe you are who you say you are. I'm a U.S. soldier, and I'm on an urgent mission. Sorry for the mix-up. I'm going to let you up now, but I don't suggest you trying to pull another fast one on me."“That’s all you have to say to me? Sorry for the mix-up?” she choked, the sockets in her arms felt like they were being licked by flames the pressure of her own weight. When the man let her go, Cara hit the sand with a thud that left her breathless. Her body splayed an in erotica pose before him. Her toes pointed from long mile long legs that led to an ass barely covered by a towel. Furthermore, her back was exposed, and her hands clasped what material she could over her breasts. When her gaze settled back on his, something very unsettling shown in his eyes. She had never been around real men before, but she had seen much t.v. to get the impression her body had done something. Her cheeks flushed as she decided to stay down up in a sitting position with her legs tucked by her ass.“You could ‘have just asked me for ID.” She murmured. There was something about the way she sat on the ground, wrapped in nothing but that green towel, her cheeks flushed and her breathing slowly returning to normal that was.attractive to Malcolm. He didn't know why he was suddenly thinking of her like a woman and not a bystander, but damn she looked awful cute sitting there like that.“You could ‘have just asked me for ID.” He smiled at that comment, rubbing a hand absently at his tanned neck. Many days in the field had given his normally fair skin a near permanent bronze undertone. "I suppose that might've been easier, but I've never been one to do things the easy way... Again, I apologize for this...misunderstanding. By the way, how long have you been out here? Have you seen any other people while you've been here?" Malcolm's heart was racing even though he'd calmed himself after the dispute and scuffle. He kept catching himself ogling the girl sitting before him, making himself look away, under the pretense of checking the surroundings as he had before. What the Hell is wrong with me? I should be focusing on the mission, not chasing tail...the Russia can't be far from here....but the way that towel is barely covering anything.... Malcolm was confused by his thoughts, but made no mention of them to the girl. He hoped his blatant staring was going unnoticed, but the longer he stood there, the more lingering his looks were. "I suppose that might've been easier, but I've never been one to do things the easy way... Again, I apologize for this...misunderstanding. By the way, how long have you been out here? Have you seen any other people while you've been here?"“Only a day and a half…” she trailed off, her voice taking on a muttering tone. “And I was supposed to be alone. But no, I have seen no one but you're rambling through my delicate like a crazed gorilla.” She was still furious at him, every time he looked at her with that lingering flash as if she was an object aggravated her to the fullest. By no means in her life had she ever in the company of someone so offensive. Only then did she feel a slight emptiness, though her rage was full throttle, she felt the absence of something. Standing with unsteady feet her quick whipped anger quickly faded. Without wanting to be too alarming, or tossed to the ground again, she grabbed her things from the sand. Each time she got a little closer until there was no doubt, he wasn’t making her sick. Did she already get over her illness that had plagued her from childhood? Or maybe the altitude affected her brain in more than just her balance? Somehow finding it rude to ask him to leave, she slipped on a pair of shorts under her towel before turning her back to him. All he would be able to see was her back as she slipped on a light shirt. Using her nails to pull her long hair out of the neck hem she shook it gently. Now that she had her vitals areas covered, even though she would have liked panties and a bra, she felt like vulnerable.“Am I okay now? Or do you want to trash anything else of mine?” Damn, only a day and a half? There's no way she's the Russia. They'due been here for at least a week. Malcolm's thoughts were getting muddled, and he had no idea why. The girl had shyly slipped on some shorts and a shirt, but he could still see the curves of her body through the thin material. Why was he still staring at her like a hungry wolf? He shouldn't be thinking like this...but he couldn't help himself. He was snapped out of his thoughts when she asked:“Am I okay now? Or do you want to trash anything else of mine?” She was fidgeting a bit, and she was clearly still worried by his presence. He shook his head absently to clear his lascivious thoughts and nodded slowly. "Yeah, you're fine. I'm really sorry about this whole thing. I just...my mission's pretty heavy shit, and it's the last one I'm supposed to be on before I get to be a civvies again...and you are certainly not what I expected to find out here in the middle of the fucking Appalachians..." he trailed off, noticing his profanity, but not covering it up or apologizing for it. Years in the military had made his speech very crude, and it was all he could do to keep the cursing to a minimum." Cara, you did say your name was Cara right? Well, Cara my camp's not far from here. I've got some first aid stuff if you got scraped up in that scuffle. I figure it's the least I can do. And I understand if you don't feel exactly comfortable coming with me, but I could bring it to your camp if you like. I can just leave it there for you, or..." he trailed off again as he realized that he was rambling like an idiot. Why was he being so nice to her? He didn't owe her a damn thing, it was her fault she ended up on the ground....but he still felt responsible and like he should at least extend to her that small decency. Hehaddisturbed her and startled her, all while naked and vulnerable in the wilderness... "Yeah, you're fine. I'm really sorry about this whole thing. I just...my mission's pretty heavy shit, and it's the last one I'm supposed to be on before I get to be a civvies again...and you are certainly not what I expected to find out here in the middle of the fucking Appalachians..." Cara’s eyes widened slightly at his abrasive words, she had never heard someone talk like except for something terrible happened. The last time she could actually remember off the bat was when she was twelve. Her mother and Mr. Jenkins were fighting, she couldn’t remember what it was about, but they both shouted at each other. Mr. Jenkins soaring high on seeing his two subjects find each other was quickly fading. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they seemed to be…talking. Why hadn’t Malcolm killed her yet? It seemed like his experiment failed, but he hadn’t expected a double negative affect. If he didn’t kill her, it meant he would have to take another course of action, and this time it wasn’t just her he would have to have disposed of. He hadn’t considered that now he would have pull another favor, and Malcolm was not a small and extremely shy woman, he was military. Mr. Jenkins had purposely picked him because of his superiority. He sat back in his chair, praying for either a dead Cara, or any chance his experiment was just delayed, or time released. “I’m sorry.” She responded with a soft voice. She could hear the edge in his voice, and she felt regret for being so hard on him even though she still thought the whole situation could have been handled better with clothes and no guns." Cara, you did say your name was Cara right? Well, Cara my camp's not far from here. I've got some first aid stuff if you got scraped up in that scuffle. I figure it's the least I can do. And I understand if you don't feel exactly comfortable coming with me, but I could bring it to your camp if you like. I can just leave it there for you, or..."“Yes. No.” she said checking over herself, if anything was hurt it was her pride and possibly her powder blush. “You aren’t…going to go kill someone with that, are you?” “Yes. No.....You aren’t…going to go kill someone with that, are you?”" Well, I'd be lying if I told you no. My mission is to eliminate a Russian spy supposedly hiding out in these mountains. Though they said their encampment would be close to my drop zone. I'm starting to get a funny feeling about this mission..." That wasn't the only thing Malcolm was having funny feelings about. He kept looking at Cara and studying her figure, her pretty face and her long flowing hair. She was certainly a looker, and if he didn't have his mission to fulfill, he'd probably try to stick around and get to know her... Crap. Leave it up to the mountains to fuck with me like this...he thought as he absently reached down to his rifle and flicked the safety on. He looked at the sky and noticed that the clouds had started to gather, covering the sun and looking ominous as Hell. A storm was definitely on the way." Look, Cara.... I've probably already said too much, so how about we forget that this ever happened? In any case it looks like we're in for a lot of rain on the way...how far is your camp from here? Mine's just over that ridge..." Malcolm pointed toward his tent and supplies, not quite visible from this distance. "Look, Cara.... I've probably already said too much, so how about we forget that this ever happened? In any case it looks like we're in for a lot of rain on the way...how far is your camp from here? Mine's just over that ridge..."“I’ll never forgive you.” Though somehow he managed a certain charm, and Cara was leading the way over a rock, the one that had her jeep just parked on the other side. For such a petite woman, she climbed like a monkey. She couldn’t jump very high, but when she latched on, she easily clear the twenty or so foot rock. At the top she looked down at him, he wasn’t bad either. Something stirred in her, a type of childlike competitiveness. She wanted to show someone what she was capable of for once. Her parents had given her all kinds of things for fun, but she had never been able to fully impress someone. Big mistake, in an attempt to get to the ground faster than him, her foot slipped on the sand upside of a ledge. Her leg fell into a gap of air, and she fell faster than she could grab. It wasn’t a long fall, but it defiantly put her on her ass with a thud. Trying to recover quickly on pride she stood up, and as soon as pressure hit her ankle she crumpled again with tears burning in her eyes. It was embarrassing, and on top of that she was unsure if she could hold back tears. Her cheeks were already warming. She sniffed, and her first tear rolled over her cheek and onto her shirt. He's going to think I am a huge baby! The girl said something under her breath, but Malcolm couldn't quite make it out. In any case, she started to climb the craggy rocks. They looked about twenty or so feet high, and unstable as all Hell, but she managed to climb without showing much effort or hesitation. Not to be outdone, Malcolm secured his rifle against his back and started to climb. Basic training had given him enough aptitude to get up this small peak without trouble. The storm clouds kept creeping closer on the horizon as he looked up and back, giving an ominous foreboding to their climb. As he crested the top of the rocks, he saw her already starting down. "It's not a race you kn.....Oh, shit!" he blurted out as Cara lost her footing, landing hard on the ground. She tried to stand and save a little face, but fell back down, holding her leg with a grimace. He climbed down quickly and knelt by her side, moving her hands aside and taking a hold of her leg, just above the ankle. He applied a bit of pressure to the joint, testing for a broken bone and finding none. She probably just sprained it really bad. Could've been worse...he thought as he looked up to her face. She was squinting back tears and her cheeks were flushed; he wasn't sure if they were that way due to embarrassment, pain, or both." Well, I know this goes without saying, but you should probably stay off that ankle." Malcolm stood, looking over and noticing the Jeep that Cara had obviously driven here to get to the pond. He outstretched a hand to her. "C'mon, you can lean on me. Good thing that's not your pedal-pushing' foot..." Malcolm grinned sheepishly. God, am I flirting? What the fuck is wrong with me? Though...it's not every day you land in strange mountains and happen upon a pretty girl...even if you are supposed to be killing a Russian spy... Malcolm's thoughts were becoming even more diluted. The bit of Cara's blood in his veins was starting to have just the effect that Dr. Jenkins had hoped for... "It's not a race you kn.....Oh, shit!" Malcolm was on her heels, dropping to where she sat as a hopelessly clutching her ankle. Mr. Jenkins was still watching, riveted by the series of events. He would be able to wait long, but he wouldn’t let go of the hope of success. Running his finger over the screen he swore he could see her flush deeper than the soft coloring her afternoon nap had dusted her skin. “C’mon little one.” He said as Malcolm took her thin ankle from her hands. Mr. Jenkins could see Malcolm talking, but he couldn’t make out any of the words from the view only stream. Cara was biting back tears as he examined in left and right. Out there, she whined lightly at the pressure. She could feel the spot turning hot from rushing blood and press against Malcolm’s fingers." C'mon, you can lean on me. Good thing that's not your pedal-pushing' foot..." Cara wasn’t sure if that was a joke, but her whole tough girl play faded with the pain until her demeanor changed completely. C’mon c’mon… Taking Malcolm’s hand she let him lift her on her one good foot. She didn’t even try and put it down as they started for the Jeep. Now Mr. Jenkins was becoming frustrated, and when they entered the car together he was raging in disappointment. It had been nearly a whole hour, after twenty years of work it had all came to a finale failure. The Jeep pulled away, with Malcolm driving, and Cara in the passenger seat. Mr. Jenkins ripped the t.v. from the wall as best as he could. It drained him, leaving him battered and shaking as it fell from its stand and onto the marble flooring. Quickly he scrolled through his phone, looking for someone else. He considered another favor, but he was running short. It had taken a lot to infiltrate the army and put Cara’s blood into him under the assumption it was just another protective shot. All that, for nothing. He decided, it would be best to send someone he already had his hands on, the military list of people waiting to go home. Quickly he dialed two more pairs, they were both young. The woman was eighteen and the man at twenty-five. They were Arian, which was good enough for him. From the pictures of her, he could tell she was a lot like what he liked and saw in Cara also. He didn’t think about what might happen by bringing in two more subjects, adults nonetheless. Rain had begun to pelt the windshield as they drove over the jagged terrain towards her camp. It poured into the car, soaking the interior since the cover had been neglected when she had taking off earlier that morning. Looking over at Malcolm, she couldn’t help but smile and laugh at his stricken expression as the rain pelted his face. In the background, lightening struck and glittered off the water. She punched him lightly from her side, and when he turned to her, it felt as if his eyes bore into her. She felt almost naked as the rain coated her clothes. A piece of her hair stuck to her cheek and she brushed it back to its place by her neck. Water ran down her arm in cold waves. “Don’t…don’t be so serious.” She said over the peppering water. Malcolm was surprised when Cara hadn't insisted on driving her own Jeep, but didn't argue the point and slid into the driver's seat after making sure she was in her own seat. Almost immediately after they'd set off, Cara pointing directions to him over the rumble of the Jeep's engine, the storm hit. Rain came down in waves and the stinging drops were unobstructed as they fell through the opened frame. Next time, we have to remember the damned lid on this thing...he chided himself as the downpour soaked his fatigues. He felt the punch to his arm and looked over at Cara, his cobalt eyes staring intently at her for the few moments he dared to not look at the road.“Don’t…don’t be so serious.” Malcolm laughed a bit, chancing another look over at her. She was pushing her wet hair out of her face, and she looked damned cute doing it. His features softened, and he gave her a playful shove, not hard enough to move her more than an inch or so. "I can't help it. Military's not exactly a comedy class. You seemed pretty serious yourself back there, with the whole pointing the gun at me. But you turned into a competitive little thing climbing up here. There are lots of sides to you, aren't there?" Malcolm turned his eyes back to the road, wondering just when they'd reach Cara's camp and have a chance to get out of this torrential rain. "I can't help it. Military's not exactly a comedy class. You seemed pretty serious yourself back there, with the whole pointing the gun at me. But you turned into a competitive little thing climbing up here. There are lots of sides to you, aren't there?"“You make me sound psycho, and in case you forgot.” She teased. “You were the run who ran up on a sleeping, and also naked, woman napping with whatever the hell that is.” She said looking at the gun he had placed over his shoulder when they were climbing. Cara pointed to the right, and just a few yards away her tent could be seen at the top of another large rock. Cara groaned, forgetting she had set up camp that high to protect herself from the animals, now she was hoping she could at least get up there herself.“It’s on top of the rock.” She laughed lightly, hoping the humor that had been installed earlier would lighten the dreariness that the rain and her ankle had caused. “I’m sure I could make it, but maybe you should go first.” Cara was thankful that ever foot or so there was a big enough ledge to hold on with only one foot as she climbed. It burned her foot each time she put pressure on it, and a few times she had to stop even though the water made her shake. Cara looked up from where Malcolm had made it up easily, and was looking down at her. Even though the rain made her eyes blurry, it was an amazing shot. The rain falling around him, leaving his face and eyes clear to her. Hoisting herself up again she scrambled closer. Her palms grasped at rocks, and she squinted as the rain ricocheted off them onto her face and eyes. By the time she hands had settled on the top of the rock she dragged herself up.“Oh. My. God.” She breathed, her arms shaking as they fought to hold her up. “You make me sound psycho, and in case you forgot... You were the one who ran up on a sleeping, and also naked, woman napping with whatever the hell that is.”" Not psycho...more like....multi-faceted. You know, like a diamond? And I most certainly couldn't forget that whole thing...even though I thought we were going to drop it. Andthatis what keeps me from getting my head blown off when shit hits the fan." He smirked at her as she pointed out where her camp was. Oh sure, pick another big rock to camp on, with a bum ankle...sheesh he thought as he stopped the Jeep. The rain was still coming down, but it seemed to be letting up a little. From the top of the little climb, Malcolm looked down on Cara as she climbed up, stubborn as Hell, wincing every so often as her hurt ankle received pressure. His shirt was clinging to his torso, soaked through and through. His muscled physique was very clear through the material. He was glad that his hair was kept short, otherwise it would have been a wet mess all over the place. Finally, Cara hefted herself up to the top of the rocky outcropping, breathing a bit heavily.“Oh. My. God.” Her arms were shaking a bit, and Malcolm couldn't tell if it was from the rain or from the climb." Well now that we're up here, we should probably get inside, in case the storm decided to pick up again." He offered her a hand again, smiling softly. Cara took his hands as he lifted her up. She didn’t praise that it was raining, because she knew it was apparent she was crying. Her blue eyes were drained when she quickly passed her gaze at him, the line around her lashes were rimmed with starlet strain. Leaning her head against him, they made it to her tent. It was a normally olive drab, although through the rain had turned it into a dark moss shade. Inside she used the hand that wasn’t around his neck to lower herself into a sitting position. In the corner. Boxes with sliver sharpie describing were stacked. If he hadn’t believed she was a photographer before, there sure was a lot of evidence around to prove her story. The things that had been unpacked included developing tanks, photo Flo, and developer. In the opposite corner of the boxes was a half-way set-up lamp with a red light inside. Normal light damaged film when working with negatives. Wheezing slightly, Cara pulled herself onto her airbed before she laid on her side to see Malcolm. He was just as wet as she was, and damn sexy. Something about the whole day settled in her mind. The rain eased the silence between them, but she still yearned for more connection. She held out her palm to him, as if a sign for him to take, or come closer.“Talk with me.” Her voice was passive, and captured by the cold inside herself the rain had caused. Inside the tent, Malcolm looked around and saw loads of photography equipment. Guess she was on the level he thought as his eyes adjusted to the ruddy glow of the lights in the tent. It gave Cara a soft glow to her as she flopped down on her air mattress. Laying on her side like she was, her hips were very pronounced, and Malcolm took in the sight of her with more than a little enjoyment. She outstretched her hand and beckoned him over to the bed." Talk with me." Malcolm hadn't the slightest clue what the two of them could talk about, so he decided to let her pick the topics. As he sat on the air mattress, the bed shifted, and he leaned closer to Cara to balance it out. Supporting himself on one hand, he smiled sheepishly and said "Ok, sure. What do you want to talk about?" "Ok, sure. What do you want to talk about?" He was looking down at her, and something it made her stir the inspiration butterflies.“Don’t move.” But when his expression changed, Cara held a scolding hand to him to make him smile as her other felt around for her camera. It was her digital one that her hand landed on, but it would work for now. She didn’t want to lose the moment. He seemed to stand out from the dark green background. Slowly she brought the camera to her eye so that he was looking down the barrel of the camera. Moving the lens gently a click could be heard, and she pushed herself up to look at the preview. The movement caused her ankle to drag across the ridges of the bed, and she whimpered lightly.“Look.” She smiled when she handed the photo back to him. The focus was totally on him, capturing so much more than a smile. His eyes seemed almost embarrassingly intense, a look she had never seen before. When he seemed to approved she let herself fall back with a smile. She hadn’t been doing this for long, and praise was still like a burning desire within her. She flipped over onto her back before asking: “So what do you do.” She looked at him over his shoulder. “Besides kill people and what-not?” "So what do you do? Besides kill people and what-not?" Malcolm had to think a moment before answering. His eyes were still readjusting from the flash of the camera. "Well, I've been in the military since I was 18, so not much else. I mean, before I enlisted I used to write, but that was mostly just a hobby. I haven't found much time to write, except for in a small journal. Nothing interesting to read in it though..." He trailed off, lost in the look Cara was giving him. She was smiling like she'd won a prize or something, and maybe she had. He had an overwhelming urge to kiss her, but he held back. I must be nuts from altitude sickness or something. I keep wanting to just forget the mission, and that's not me at all..." I'll be honest with you Cara... I'm still kinda confused about what you're doing all the way out here. Furthermore, I mean aren't there other locations with nice scenery to shoot? You know, something closer to civilization?" Malcolm's eyes had finally adjusted, and he glanced over Cara's lounging form, smiling at the curves of her body. "I'll be honest with you Cara... I'm still kinda confused about what you're doing all the way out here. I mean aren't there other locations with nice scenery to shoot? You know, something closer to civilization?" Cara was evasive. “Some photographers spend months in the mountains just waiting for one shot. Photography is all about inspiration, you can’t just get shots like that.” She looked at the camera he was holding with his own picture on the screen. “Without coming all the way out here, I would have never ever gotten that.” She finished, it was pretty close to the truth anyway. Cara really did believe every shot you took was the only one that could look like it. Photography was very random, there was no way to predict where you could get or ow, you just had to be there with everything you had and take what you see. Malcolm looked up from the photo of himself. She had this air of truth that made him forget all the other questions he was going to ask. Instead, he set the camera aside and scooted closer to her on the bed. His hand brushed hers and the hairs on his forearm stood on end, like static electricity had coursed through him. His deep blue eyes were like sapphires as he looked Cara right in the face. Just do it already...he thought. His hands moved quickly, but his touch was soft as he took hold of Cara at the shoulder and back of her neck. Leaning in, he placed a firm kiss square on her lips. She seemed a bit shocked at first, but he kept his gentle pressure against her lips, hoping she'd return the kiss with equal enthusiasm. His heart was beating fast, sending the infused blood throughout his body, intensifying his desire. Moving her gaze to the shift she caught Malcolm’s eyes in her own. They both had blue eyes, but compared to his hers where a dusty gray like the clouds that loaded in the sky just beyond her tent. The rain had come to a complete stop and every little sound it had covered before was loud and the clear; Her breathing and the crackling his hand created as he put more weight on the plastic envelop around the air bed. The bed dipped from the shift of weight as his hands drew her shoulder and neck back, bringing her up from her position of lying on her stomach until she was sitting next to him, her legs dangling off the side of her mattress. Malcolm’s lips caught hers, and Cara’s body went rigid from the advancement. The taste of him was a shock to her system. She had never kissed anyone before, but it didn’t seem like a hard task when someone was leading. Softly her lower lip stroked his with a soft brushing feeling and her hand supported her slightly backwards lean by lacing around his upper arm. The slightly wet curls she had brushed against the mattress as they moved in slow motions around each other. Well this is certainly better than pointing guns at each other... Malcolm thought as their embrace continued. His fingers tangled in her wet hair, the curls clinging to him where the touched. Emboldened by her receptiveness his tongue slipped forward, caressing her bottom lip light as a feather. The hand at her shoulder slid down her arm, and he noticed that even though she was soaked to the bone, her skin was soft and delicately smooth. His fingers traced the inside of her bicep and down to the inside of her elbow before moving back up and over to the other side of her neck. Cradling her face, Malcolm deepened the kiss and moved his body closer to hers. His heart was hammering loudly, and his brain was on fire with lust. He wanted her, and he didn't know why, but it was the only thing he could think about. His mission was forgotten in the passion of their kiss. Cara felt a strange and warm sensation. Malcolm’s hand traced the curve of her bicep with his fingers. They slid of her skin as if it were a satin sheet. He was grabbing at her now, and his soft kisses where more harsh. Around her throat his fingers trailed and Cara broke off, pushing herself harder than she had intended. Off the bed Cara fell, it was only a small distance, but her ankle caught on the inside of her other leg.“Hardhat are you doing?” she breathed. Her hair was frizzy from where he had disturbed the drying curls. Cara held her stomach, half expecting nausea hit her like a tornado any minute. She was jumbled, but the gagging feeling hadn’t settled in. It was the only time she noticed just how unresponsive she was to him.“Who are you?” she knew his name, but something was starting to get the trapping feeling. She crawled back further only to hit the side of the tent with her back. Just as he thought they were getting more into each other, she pushed away, falling off the bed and landing on her ankle kind of roughly. She backed away from him like he was some kind of monster, questioning his actions. Well I thought we were starting to make out...he thought, biting his tongue so as not to blurt that out loud." Who are you?" Her eyes were full of that building fear he'd seen when they'd first encountered each other." I told you, my name is Malcolm. I'm a soldier on a mission here. And I got sidetracked by running into you. A rather enjoyable side track, or so I thought...what's wrong Cara?" He took his time getting up off the bed and taking a few cautious steps toward her. He tried to seem as non-hostile as possible, his blue eyes full of concern. Cara was sure her mood and racing thoughts were making her seem crazy, but there was no room to sort them out. Never been this close…so hot…warm…they skipped around in her head making her squint with frustration. Skin…scent…taste… All the things she had never been able to have before. Just a little taste and she was wanting to crawl back, something that disturbed her own sense of morale. She barely knew this Malcolm guy, but she had let him run his hands of her body, and stroke her lips." I told you, my name is Malcolm. I'm a soldier on a mission here. And I got sidetracked by running into you. A rather enjoyable side track, or so I thought...what's wrong Cara?"“Liar!” she screamed through tears of frustration. Deep inside she didn’t want to yell at him, what she wanted was much deeper and scarier. It was something that was beginning to create a different kind of nausea, one she had never felt before. A nausea of being away, it hurt her stomach and played with her frail chemistry of her brain. Inside she could almost hear it rewiring, playing with her. Running her fingers though her scalp she pushed on at, the roots pulling on her head for some kind of sensation other than the immense anxiety she's filling up with, it felt like suffocating. She shouted at him, and he just took it. Malcolm didn't get what was wrong with her, but she seemed like she was having a panic attack. He sat down next to her cross-legged and leaned forward. He spoke softly, attempting not to upset her further. "I'm not lying. I am who I say I am." He idly pulled his dog tags out from under his shirt, not quite dried from the downpour. He handed them to her and let her read them over, hoping that something substantial might give her peace of mind. "There's nothing to worry about, Cara. I'm not going to hurt you..." He left it at that, sitting before her awaiting her next reaction and hoping it wasn't more hysterics. Off to her right, Malcolm sat down. His closeness calmed her until she was only gently shaking." I'm not lying. I am who I say I am." Over his neck Malcolm took off a necklace of dog tags, placing them in her hands. She opened her hand wider to see the name through her fingers. They said Malcolm alright, in a type of stern lettering. Even through the glass result of tears it was clear. She turned it over in her palm to see the backside was the same but without any lettering engraved on the surface. It was just a gleaming metal piece that she saw Malcolm’s reflection in." There's nothing to worry about, Cara. I'm not going to hurt you..."“I’m sorry.” She sniffed. “I’m not really person. I mean I am apersonjust, it’complex.” {"Light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} Mr. Jenkins was searching for any other possible ways of communication with Cara. He didn’t realize after pushing the TV that it was his only link. Even though to him the experiment had failed, he was still facing the problem of how to cover it up. The two military personnel’s had been called in for the mission, and the fastest he could get a hold of them was later in the next day. “Can be just…” she felt even more insane than when she had yelled at his for asking. “Start again?” The closer he got, the more down to earth she felt. He was only a foot or so away, and she was still shaking. She felt if she wasn’t close enough she would go insane. As she looked over his dog tags she seemed to be calming down. He could see her trembling slightly, and he inched closer to her. When she brought her gaze back to him, Malcolm could see the streaks of fallen tears on her cheeks. She's definitely a fragile one... When she asked if they could start over, he wasn't sure quite what she meant. He almost leaned in to kiss her again but stopped himself. "Sure we can. But this time, maybe you should lead...?" Malcolm smiled and rested a hand softly on hers. His pulse had slowed considerably from the heated moments before, but the serum in his blood had already worked its magic. Malcolm's thoughts were no longer on his duty, his mission. Only she mattered. Malcolm leaned closer, but when he stopped she had to suppress a whine of protest." Sure we can. But this time, maybe you should lead...?"“Lead…?” she whispered to herself, considering. “I…” she moved, cautious of her ankle, onto her knees so she was close enough to him. From that angle her heart shaped face was clearly prominent, and her skin a pale a blank canvas for her most striking feature of wide stormy gray eyes. A curve of blonde bangs hung just above them. Cara righted herself so she was sitting on her knees, between his legs. They were the same height at this position, but she still placed her hands on his shoulder for support as she leaned in. Her stormy eyes closed as her lips stroked his once, an unintentional tease of inexperience. When he didn’t reply, she tried again. A slow and soft stroke across his lips with her own. Malcolm watched as Cara moved up onto her knees and repositioned herself right between his legs. Her hands were gentle as they rested on his shoulders, and he almost thought she might fall if he weren't there to support her. She really did look amazing, even in the red light of the darkroom/tent. He was compelled to stare into her gray eyes, dazzling like the storm that had just passed, and when her lips brushed his, for a moment he didn't know how to react. When they met again, however, he returned the soft grazing of her lips with a firm but gentle pressure. The kiss this time was more sensual, a slower more controlled embrace. Maybe I just came on too strong...he thought before the moment of their kissing swept away all his thoughts. His hand moved up and cupped one side of her face, his thumb stroking against her cheek, and his dark sapphire-like eyes blinked closed as he lost himself in the kiss. He hadn't really noticed that the storm had abated, but the rain was no longer pounding against the tent, and he could almost swear he heard her heartbeat as their lips continued to dance their shy, soft, sensual dance. On Cara’s second attempt, he returned. The feeling of just returned pressure warmed her body that was cold from rain and the night. The red light stained everything with a dark shadowy glow. She felt him holding back, but she didn’t care. She had him with her, and that would be enough for her for now. His thumb swept across her cheek, and Cara returned the gesture by gently nipping at his lower lip. Cara couldn’t hear anything, but the thrum of his heart beat could be lightly felt in his lips that pressed against hers. Her hand roamed on his neck, gently tugging at it as there kiss momentarily broke, and she laid down before him for him to cover her. Her body was inviting with only a thin white shirt and no underclothes beneath it. He would know, because she had changed in front of him. The only thing that protected her from the full attention of his eyes were the t-shirt and shorts. The second go-round for their kissing went much better than the first, and when she lay back there seemed to be a smile in her eyes that said "Come over here, lover" even though not a word was spoken. She looked innocent and sweet, yet sexy and seductive laying there in the simple t-shirt and shorts. Malcolm leaned forward, repositioning himself so that he was supporting himself just above her lithe frame. He looked down on her, eyes sweeping from her face down her torso and back up. When their eyes met again, Malcolm did not hesitate to re-initiate the kiss. He lowered his body against hers slowly and felt his warmth radiate into her. Once more his hand traveled up to caress her face, the other keeping him from crushing her beneath him, though some of his body weight did apply pressure to her. He was acting as a sort of human heating blanket, and he felt right at home doing so. The room was silent, the thrum of her heart fueling her warmth. Without needing a touch, her skin looked warmed with flush. Malcolm did what she had hoped, everything about him appealed to him. Watching him, everything looked perfect. She was a photographer, and flaws were the easiest thing to spot, but he was flawless. Flawless in a way that made the small scratches look amazing. The red light sat behind them, lightening the small amount hair on his head so that it became outlined with the color. He was watching her too, but she doubts it was anything like her own thoughts. It was good enough for her though, and his mouth made her wandering eyes shut. Cara moved her legs from under him in a half embrace, her ankles resting just on the inside of his thighs as she felt the tempo rising. She wanted it to; push him as far as she could go. It was a dangerous thought, since she didn’t know her own boundaries. As Cara threaded her legs around his thighs, a smile worked its way into their kissing. She was definitely calmer, and moratoria this time around. His hand caressed her cheek slowly, moving down her neck and onto her shoulder. He shied away from her more obvious erogenous zones at first, but decided to go for it all the way if he was going to be here and now doing what he was doing. His fingertips slid along her side, feeling her ribs moving with her breath, their feathery touch becoming more firm as his hand cupped her right breast. His fingers closed slightly, giving a small squeeze, kneading at it slowly. His hips were right against hers now, and he could feel his groin stirring, his cock steadily swelling. His blood flowed faster now, the acts of intimacy sending his infused cells cascading through his veins. His mind was filling with a need, a hunger. He hoped she wouldn't mind as he grew bolder...but part of him, a deep-seated thought in core of his mind, didn't care. This part of his brain started to become more vocal, louder in his mind as he continued caressing her tit, their lips still locked in a passionate tangle. His lips spread against hers for a moment, and her expression changed all the same. For the small moment they smiled at each other, there kissing was less intense and Malcolm’s fingers caressed her cheek. When hers faded, he trailed down her ribs. It was like one move after another. He took her breast in his grip. She bit his lips gently. He ground himself against her. She broke off their kiss, letting her head fall back as her back arched the pressure against her sex. It ached, and the only thing that seemed to comfort it was his own pressure. She could feel the heat difference as her hands roamed his back, her mouth finding his shoulder as she bit lightly at the skin that was there as he moved against her. He caught her mouth again with his own. Using her heels she pushed herself harder against him, her arms wrapped around his neck for support.

In the Blood. [closed.]

Rescue To Save The Princeses

Rescue To Save The PrincesesCalling all agents! The three princesses are under attack by the Rummages (made up name) and need your help. Each of you will be assigned to one of the three princesses, and once you get your assigned princess bring her back to the headquarters. After we have all three princesses you agents must protect them with all your life from the Rummages. NOW GO!~Rules~1) no god modding.(no one is invisible.) 2) killing is limited (meaning that you can only kill the Rummages, not other agents) 3) I can add or delete any rule I want 4) I will not be able to reply to the role-play every day 5) have fun!~Characters~Name: Evalyn Type: One of the three princesses Type: German princess Played by: ~loves~a lot_1121 Look: Alexa Type: One of the three princesses Type: American princess (if you don't know any English this princess isn't for you.lol) Played by: sad_Eyes Look: Carla Type: One of the three princesses Type: Italian princesses (I don't recommend this princess for people who don't know at least one Italian phrase or word) Played by: emowolf1121 Look: are only 9 agents aloud so you better hurry if you want to be one. For agents, you may create your own profile. OPEN I would like to play Alexa if it is still possible Name: Alexa Type: One of the three princesesType: American princess (if you don't know any English this princess isn't for you.lol)Played by: available Look: can I be one of the agents sounds a lot of fun. Name: Midnight Type:Agent Played by: Rouge282Look: human) I'll be an agent. Name: Marie Delphine (Usually just goes by Marie)Type: French Agent Appearance: Very short brown hair, almost boyish in cut but slightly longer and green eyes. She has a braid hanging down the right side of her face that is slightly longer than the rest of her hair. She has a slight build but can hold her own in a fight. Furthermore, she normally wears a dark blue jumpsuit and a gray tunic over it, tied with a darker gray cloth. Her boots are black leather and flat soled. Around her wrists are tarnished silver arm bracers. Under her tunic hangs a small silver crucifix around her neck. She carries a Sabre (sword) at her left side and has a dagger strapped to her right thigh. Personality:Very focused but sometimes lets her emotions get the better of her. She is not very talkative but is very loyal. Marie also holds honor in high regard. She will fight for both her allies and her honor till the death. She will always fight fair, which has worked against her when her opponents are the type to fight dirty and cheat. Cool, you're all excepted. Yay! Will you decide which Princess goes with which agent? Yeah, but first I'm gonna wait for at least one more agent, so each princess has at least one person saving them. :sweat: or someone could be two agents. :idea: Or I could pretend to be an agent until someone else comes as an agent? ((If this is still open I would like to become an agent. ’D Here's the skeleton if it is open. Name: Scott Type: Agent Played by: Friedrich Appearance: Bio: When he was young his parents were taken away. They were agents and abducted. He never saw them after that. When he graduated from high school his uncle told him the truth since he forgot a year or two after their abduction. Since that say he has sworn that he would find the people who took them and destroy them. He then ended up becoming an agent to learn more about the people who took his parents. Personality: He is a type that will protect his comrades at any cost. He was a natural-born leader and works on that skill which has proven extremely useful in many cases as an agent. He lives by the principles of Bushido most of the time. Sometimes his rage he bottles up inside him takes him over. Fighting Style: He is well-built but slender which would usually be better with long range, but he has mastered the art of the swords. He uses Katina as a last resort only fighting with his fists and legs. When fighting with his Katina he can slab or slice or jab with it at an extreme speed. He has enhanced sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Cool! I might as well give this a shot. Group RP's tend to make me panic, but I'll try. :Name: Arena Salmonella (ah-zoo-say-nah ------ Sal-vah-tay-yah)Type: Columbian Agent Played by: IltuAppearance: If I must supply an image, I suppose she looks like this. What sort of time period does this take place in? Are we allowed to play as more than one agent? I will be an Agent ^.^.if I can ^.^ Name:Seth Type:Merciless Agent Appearance: hi sis sorry it took my so long to get on but I'm on now but so you already know who I am ^_^ Yay! Friedrice: Yes you can be two people but only you. If anyone else wants to be two people you have to get permission from me.^_~Here is where I assign all the agents princesesEvalyn:Midnight, andAzucenaAlexa:Scott, and Marie Carla:Seth and Friedrich's other character, I guess I'll start the roleplayEvalyn watched the Rummages in terror, stab a knife in her mother and fathers throat. Tears filled her eyes as she shouted, "RUBEN!(STOP!)" She looked at the Rummages stare at her with hate in their eyes. She started crying then ran towards her room. Furthermore, she shrieked when she noticed Rummages heading toward her. "Help!" she cried. She then laid herself onto the floor and stared up at the ceiling she knew this was the end for her so she tilts her to the side and started to think of all the good times she had as a princess. "AUF Wiedersehen (goodbye)" She whispered to herself. "Oh no you don't you dirty bags of scum," Scott said while striking all of them down with punches very swiftly. "Let's go now princess," Scott said crushingly,"We must leave now before more come." Name: Matt Type: Agent Played by: Friedrich Appearance: Bio: He used to be a prince but ran away and became an agent to protect others since he was unable to protect his parents who were slaughtered by the Rummages. Since he was a born a prince he has a strong sense of leadership. He is also very kind-hearted, but sometimes during battle his rage from the time his parent were slaughtered. He will also protect his comrades no matter what. Fighting Style: He is slender but don't underestimate his size and muscle size. He is extremely agile and can use his staff with much skill. Rouge was running down the street listening out for the scream again she heard a few minutes ago. "We need to hurry Arena!" Rouge shouted. She stopped at the corner looking around the streets "dam it, where is she?" Evalyn looked him "Nan ICH locate night MIT Then, I don't want to go with you. I want to stay with my parents." Evalyn pushed Scott away and ran to her dead parents. She then looked out the window of her castle and noticed two other girl agents coming Arena skidded to a halt behind Rouge, her muscles tense. She swore, reverting to her native tongue for a moment as she glanced around, wondering where in the world Evalyn could have gotten to. Her eyes flicked from street to street, until they stopped to rest on the castle. "There," she breathed, switching back to English for Rouge's benefit- a lot of good it would do if the other agent couldn't understand a word she was saying. Arena's accent was thick, her English not the best, but she was understandable, at the very least. Even so, she tried not to speak too terribly much, for fear of sounding less intelligent than the other agents." Come on," she said, rushing off towards the castle, all the while assuming Rouge would follow. "Ma lady, please come with me." Seth opened the door for Lady Carla. "Please Ma`am keep your disguise on, we can be too careful." Seth walked down the street with a woman, seemingly of the middle class. They spotted two people running up the street towards the castle he had just left.but why? Evalyn ran towards the exit of the castle then headed towards the two girl agents. She looked at Arena then at Midnight. She cried more than said, "Bitter sage Si emir, She find night Meir Agenten (please tell me you are not more agents)" She realized that they were then she bitterly looked at them. "Look, I don't need rescuing," She cried, "And tell that to your friend in there too." The thought of her getting killed like her parents ran through her head. "Bitter Newman She Mich hear rats (please get me out of here)" She then got on her knees and started to cry. Arena looked about in dismay, not understanding Evalyn's German in the slightest. She carefully moved forward and placed a hand on the princess' shoulder. "Not to worry," she said in a soothing voice, "We are to help. Please, to come with us." She glanced back at Rouge, her eyes imploring her help. Carla looked at Seth then sighed. She then looked back at her castle then tears filled her eyes. She grabbed his hand then looked at him, "la PRESO DI firm Che cost Arcadia alley MIA familiar, Please I really need to know what will happen to my family. Are they going to be alright?" Seth turned around and looked into her eyes..." I would love to tell you I know they will be okay.but I can't... I just don't know." Seth tightened the grip on her hand trying to console her...."It's not protocol...but I will take you back and help them if you really want." Seth want sure if the princess knew how big this was, Seth would be exiled if he did so..... Evalyn looked at Arena then at Rouge. Evalyn got on her feet then stared at Arena. "Will you be able to help me?" She said wiping off a tear on her face. ((Can you please not write in yellow.makes it very hard to read....very hard)) Seth pulled some money out of his pocket and out it into Carla's hands...get something to eat and I'll check on your family... Seth ran back towards the castle....I'm so in trouble.... Arena nodded, her expression resolute. "Of course," she said, getting to her feet as Evenly did, "To protect you and also to help you, this is my job. What has happened, princess? Why do you to cry?" She was not supposed to be emotionally involved with her charges, but her heart went out to the poor girl. She looked so lost and alone. Carla stared at the money then at Seth. She started to follow him but then stopped. She walks away then starts looking away. Furthermore, she knew she wasn't going to get anything to eat, but she decided it was best for her just to walk around. "They.they killed them. They killed my parents.right in front of me. It was all my fault. I should've done something, but. I-I didn't know what to do. And now it is all my fault that they are dead." She said a rush of tears running down her face. New Profile! Name: MattiasAppearance: *From Luminous Arc 2* ((I am sorry I used Rouge instead of Midnight I am used to using Rouge in my other rps just call be Midnight =]))Midnight watched as the princess started to cry she looked up at the castle and then to Arena "we need to get the princess out of here before they come for her" Midnight put her hand on the princess shoulder "It's going to be ok" she said Mattia's walked out of the castle....walking towards the black haired man running towards the castle...." You there....what is your detective?" Mattia's pointed at the man with black and white hair..... Evalyn took one last glanced at the castle. She looked at Midnight then at Arena. "ICH dense, WIR pollen jet been (I guess we should get going now)" Evalyn couldn't stop crying and thinking about the castle, but she knew she had to forget about it all sometime. "I-I-I. I am Seth.... Who are you to be here...an agent?" Seth was confused at first but now eh was confused....." I am Mattia's, I will kill all those who dare come near this castle!" Mattia's ran at Seth with his spear outstretched "You are going to die here!" Matias yelled as he ran forward. "That's not very nice..." Seth disappeared....he just vanished...where could he have gone? Carla walked back to the castle worried. She then gasped when she didn't see Seth. What made her gasp even more is when she noticed someone with a spear charging at her. She then screamed and ducked her head.oh boy... The loud clash of steel was very distinct..." My lady....move.....get away form here." Seth was holding his sword with his hands horizontal....blocking the spear from citing the princess......" Dam...he's so strong." Seth began to slowly get pushed into the earth." I will kill both of you now." With a smirk he flung his spear straight up throwing Seth into the air, then pointing his spear up he prepared to "catch" Seth..... Carla looked in fright. She then pulled out something from her pocket. She knew she wasn't supposed to use this, but she had to. It was only for emergencies, but to her this was a very big emergency. She started blowing on it. The soft music blew throughout the woods. A blue thing started to come down from the sky. She smiled then looked at Mattia's. She looked at Seth then caught the blue thing she threw it at Mattia's then backed away and covered her face as Mattia's blew into millions of pieces. Furthermore, she then ran and caught Seth. Furthermore, she quickly set him down, for he was too heavy. Furthermore, she smiled and showed him her weapon. "This was what my mom used when she was in great danger. I'm really not ever supposed to use it, but I had to. Please don't speak of this to my mother." Arena looked startled by the news that Evenly's family had been killed. "... What have they... how could they have..." She glanced back at Midnight and then to Evenly again. She couldn't understand the princess, but she assumed she had echoed the other agent's sentiments. Turning to Midnight, she asked, "We should to do a guard close to her, and one far off, so to watch for danger better. Are you to be close or far from her?" Evalyn started to cry more. She then noticed more Rummages coming towards the castle. She was scared and afraid and wasn't thinking. Furthermore, she grabbed Midnight and Arena's hand and ran towards the Rummages with full power. Furthermore, she started screaming words in German then charged into one, knocking it down. Furthermore, she then noticed all the Rummages coming at the three with their swords and knifes. Furthermore, she looked at Midnight then at Arena then looked down. "I am sorry." Mattia's slowly began to reform, before the "weapon" hit him he tossed his spear up in the air, when it landed it began to resonate and collect his pieces." I won't tell your mother you used that weapon...just get out of here....he's just to strong." Seth got up slowly and put his hadn't on her shoulder. He quickly spoke a chant that whisked them away from the castle....appearing nearEvalyn and the other 2 agents. "Lui mi ha fascist solo! (he just left me)" Carla mumbled to herself in Italian. She then ran away and stopped near one of her favorite trees. She nearly screamed when she noticed that the Rummages cut it down. Stomping at the ground she then sat on the remains of the tree then looked at all the other trees that have been cut down by the Rummages. ((MMM. When Seth left he brought you along XD)) ((Ohh.he-he.sorry)) Carla looked at Seth then at the three people in front of her. "What are we doing here?" She asked quietly. ((Sorry for such a short reply.he-he writer's block) ((LOL that's okay XD))"Umm....didn't want to be thinking of were to go with that guy around...just kinda.Poole here." Seth scratched his head and smiled.... thinking to himself, today is NOT a good day Marie saw a disturbance up ahead. Rumages?she thought, running forward. She had lost her princess, Alexa, and needed to find her before the girl was killed. Instead, she found a group of people and what appeared to be a princess. As Midnight was grabbed by the princess and pushed in to the Rummages she swore they were surrounded and moving closer removing her sword from her back she pointed at one of the Rummages "stay down princess!" She looked at Arena "we must protect her if you get the chance get her out of her!" Midnight shouted slashing at the one Rummage "Well.... I can't leave them here." Seth stop up ADN put out his arms. "Gaza value!" The entire group disappeared and reappeared into a forest near by....but over a pond, everybody landed in the pond except for Seth, who used his powers to walk on water, he was also carrying Carla. Walking to the land he set her down "Are you okay ma`lady?" Arena cursed her luck at being surrounded by the Rummages- she is tall and slender, not suited to hand combat. Even so, she lashed out at one of them with her foot, connecting her heeled boot with his chin. A sickening crack accompanied the impact, and he falls the floor. Arena had no time to wonder whether he was dead. Whipping a dagger from her belt, she took Evenly by the wrist and charged through the opening left by the fallen Rummage before the rest had time to process what had happened. Evalyn then remembered about the sword her father had in his office. "My father.he has a sword in is office.WIR pollen ES (we should get it)" She said looking at Arena. "Maybe it would help us." She whispered to Arena, for she wasn't in the mood to be her normal loud self. "Yeah I'm fine." She smiled then looked into Seth's and quickly turned away. "Shall, we get going?" She asked quickly then she started to get up. To Marie's great surprise, the group disappeared. She skidded to a stop, unsure of where they had gone. Before she could do much investigating, two Rummages ran out of the woods in front of her. Marie was glad that she didn't have more to fight, but she didn't have more time to think. She grabbed her daggers and rushed toward the Rummages, ready to fight. "Dam rummages...." Seth put up his hand..." You agents get the princess's out of here, NOW!" Seth barked his orders before using his magic. He unleashed a small pulse of energy and knocked over the rummages. "RUN!" he grabbed Carla's hand and begun to run with her. Was I wrong for teleporting everyone with us.no they are running with us know, so I can't look back, Seth thought to himself "Take me to his office," Arena said, not letting go of Evenly's hand but slowing down enough to allow her to lead the way. She had only her dagger, a sword in her hands would be a great boon. She was not very skilled with sword, but she could handle one well enough, and could use it defensively if not offensively. Seth and Carla came upon a pack of rummages..."dam, get behind me princess." Seth put out his right hand preparing to attack the rummages.....but they did not move..."what the hell? Are they frozen?" Seth was perplexed by this scene.what could have happened Evalyn got up then went threw the castle. She stopped when she got near the room her parents were killed. She quickly turned away to hide her tears. Then guided Arena to her fathers' office. All Alexa could hear was all the commotion going on outside. Rummages had invaded the city....and they were after all three princesses'. Looking out the window, "They are everywhere!! How am I going to make out of here alive? All my family has fled already, I hope they made it to headquarters safely." Alexa was told to wait hidden and someone would be sent to get her. But it had been days and still nobody had come. The Rummages were getting closer. Either she would have to wait or do things her way. Alexa decided to leave the confinement of her room and flee on her own. She put on a black cloak and left at night hoping she wouldn't be seen. ((sorry it took me so long to appear)) ((oh yeah, and I won't be able to reply to the role-play till Friday. I am so sorry but just continue it without me and pretend I'm there. Hey ITU could you play my character until Friday or anyway I don't seem to reply? But I can still reply today until 8:30 my time)) ((SO we can still continue but your character will be taken care off to right?)) ((AH! So lost and some much reading I just did!))[s]"Princess that's where you were. With agents perhaps? I found this sword in your father's office. Thought it would be useful, and we wouldn't want to be giving the rummages any more power would be now," Scott said barging out of the king's room.[/s] ((Whoops I had the wrong princess, sorry! Just ignore that section))"There you guys are," Matt said,"Where the hell all you guys at? Why are you standing there! Get them while they are not moving!" With that Matt struck at the frozen rummages. "Get the hell out of here with the princess now," Matt tried to yell over to Seth over all the sound of battling the rummages, or rather hitting the frozen rummages with his staff. As Midnight fought the Rummages she swore Arena and the princess escape from the groupgoodMidnight thought to herself Ashe stepped back from the rummages there was to many for her, she jumped backwards and disappeared. She app red away from the group her head spun she felt dizzy for a few seconds this would always happened when she jumped. She turned round to look for the princess and Arena noticing they had gone she quickly looked round. Furthermore, she swore them running back towards the castle what are they doing!?she ran towards the castle the princess had to leave the castle not run back in. As she ran through the castle she swore the princess parents dead on the flooromgshe count stop and watch she had to find Arena and the princess. "Ya okay." Seth grabbed the hand of Carla and began to run of to the right, heading towards the city was the only way out, the drawbridge was down...good...we can leave, Seth thought to himself "Are you still okay lady Carla?" Seth looked to his right to make sure the princess was still doing well, "Sorry about all this running." "Ugh, if you are going to out run the Rummages then you guys will have to run faster than this. Rummages would easily get you guys. We have to get out of this place as soon as possible. Can you keep pace with me? Well, you should any ways. Here princess climb on my back. Let's go," Matt said,"Hurry I think I hear the Rummages coming."" Where could Princess Alexa be," Scott said frustrated. He has been looking for her for a few hours now but no sign. "Why do they have to hide people so well," Scott said,"Oh I feel stupid I check every room but her room. Ugh." Scott rushed to Alexa's room and searched for her. "Alexa I'm here to protect you. I'm an agent," Scott shouted out while searching. "Damn it! She fled," Scott said realizing that she was nowhere in the castle. He jumped out the window and tried looking for her. "She couldn't have gone too far. She's a princess for god's sake," Scott said even more frustrated than before. "There she is," Scott said when he spot a figure in a black cloak,"At least she knows how to camouflage herself from those stupid Rummages." He rushed to her side and whispered,"Princess Alexa? I'm an agent sent to protect you. Or one of the two that was sent. Come with me. We need to flee the area." Alexa heard footsteps nearby. They were coming from behind her. They sounded too close so she knew she couldn't outrun who ever it was. She decided she would go into the alley just up ahead, when she felt somebody by her side, "Princess Alexa?" the person whispered. Alexa was startled and started panicking. How does he know who I am? Is this person one of those Rummages? "I'm an agent sent to protect you. Or one of the two that was sent. Come with me. We need to flee the area." Finally, she thought to herself. "How did you find me? I made sure to not leave any trace of myself behind. Well aside from that, did my family make it to headquarters?" The agent didn't respond. Alexa got anxious waiting for his answer. "Please just tell me...are they safe?" Marie killed both of the two Rummages that attacked her. After the second went down, she spat in contempt and cleaned her sword. Sheathing it she began to look around knowing that she needed to find her target, Princess Alexa. She hurried through the city, looking for the girl. Turning into an alleyway, she saw a young girl with a larger figure looming behind her. The Princess! Marie thought triumphantly. But...is that a Rummage?! Marie pulled her sword out and began walking towards the pair. "Princess, I am here to rescue you and get you to safety." She turned her attention to the figure behind Alexa. "Who are you? Speak, or I'll hurt you." Marie brandished her sword to make her point. "He, you should have gotten to her quicker than that. She could have been killed by a rummage. Wait I just got to her too, Shah. I'm an agent. We're not sure if your parents have gotten to headquarters yet. We were only sent to get you and protect you from rummages," Scott said,"Now please let's go before rummages come. And by the way I'm an agent of course I could find you easily. We're no amateurs." Seth stopped a distance away...." Miss would you care for a break? You are no soldier..." Seth pulled out some water ADN snacks, "Here you go." he handed them to her and went off to grab some fire wood...for a fire. "Ugh," Scott said annoyed,"We don't have anytime. We must get away farther. I will allow a five-minute break and we continue. The princess can get a piggyback ride from one of us." "I can handle myself in combat....do not lie to yourself. I may look like some punk...but I can fight..." Seth gave a quick wink. "It is your choice Mi`lady, I can carry you out of here, teleport us out of here....or we can rest ADN I will stand guard whilst you sleep. What ever you choose is fine with me." Seth got down on one knee before the princess then stood...." What do you say?" "Fine, don't blame me when your getting mobbed by the Rummages," Matt said. "The Rummages have already killed the King and Queen, and now they're after the princesses. Our mission is to protect the princess we are assigned to. I advise we should just leave now and cover as much ground as we can during the night and rest during the day. We can carry the princess if she is tired. We must go now," Scott said crushingly. "She's our princess...if she wants to rest she will.and as her agents we will fight to keep her safe...are you going against the agent code? We take orders...we don't give them." Seth stood up in front of the princess....still not in a treating position. "Ugh, fine have it your way then," Scott said annoyed. The agent looked very tough for being a woman, specially with her sword out. Speaking to the male agent "Fine if you don't know anything about my parents I need to go and find out myself. Oh, and I had already run into agents before so I know your not amateurs, but I know how to defend myself too." "And could you please put your weapon away in this area, people might think you're one of the Rummages in disguise" she said to the women agent. Alexa got to thinking What if these two are Rummages in disguise? No they can't be, they would have killed me already. It looked like the sun was coming up again, Alexa thought it was best to move on now before Rummages found them. "Well thank you both for coming to protect me, but we need to keep moving. This outfit doesn't do a very good job at hiding me with the sun up." Alexa was wearing her usual black dress with white lace trim and the black cloak on top. I really should have changed out of this forsaken dress she thought. "Wait, before I take another step with both of you I need to know your names first." "My name is Scott milady," Scott answered,"We should rest during the day and walk at night with your outfit. Or one of us can go get you something else to wear at the castle if you like and the other will stay with you to protect you?" Seth shrugged....." What ever...... I have been working into is biz for too long to take any lip from someone anyway." With a sigh he sat beside the princes and handed her some bread with butter, a chicken leg and a content of water...." Will their be anything else my lady?" Seth was attentive to anything she would say... Ugh, of all agents they pair me with this one," Scott thought to himself. "Fine have it your way," Scott said with annoyance in his voice,"Would you like to rest or would you rather take the first watch?" "I will watch all night....you go ahead and sleep.... I don't need it." Seth looked around at the tress...." You need to stop complaining." Seth was getting annoyed with this agents lack of work ethic. "How long have you been an agent?" "Fine you can take 2nd watch," Scott said,"All agents should be fully rested and at their full strength while on a mission." Scott went through his bag to grab an energy bar. "You want some," Scott said to the other agent, Seth. "Princess you should rest while we're on a break from running," Scott said. "Fine, but remembered I offered to take the entire Night." Seth laughed and walked over to the agent. "My name is Seth, not sure if I had told you that, and I would love some food." He smiled to the agent. Pretty friendly guy. Ignore the guy Scott. Just get the mission over with, and you won't have to spend another second with him after that.... Hopefully. Seth was getting on Scott's nerve's. Scott handed Seth an energy bar anyway. The mission was the top priority and both of us had to be energized. "My name is Scott," Scott told Seth. "Well I'm off to bed now. Princess would you like me to get you some cushions or anything to sleep on," Scott asked the Princess. "I will get them." Seth bowed to the princess and was gone with a flash (literary) a few moments later he returned with a few silk pillows. "Only the best for you ma`am." Seth handed her the pillows and turned around to Scott, grazing the energy bar. "Thanks." He quickly ate it as fast as he could and sat beside the princess. "I will be near her at any given moment, so feel free to go to sleep whenever Scott." Ugh can he ever let other people do their job. What a show-off. If it wasn't for this stupid mission and the rules of being an agent I would be pummeling him into a pulp about now. "Okay then. Guess I'm off. Never mind I'll stay here instead," Scott said with a smile covering his annoyance of Seth from his face completely. Scott went to sleep. "Well nice to meet you sir Scott," Alexa said while bowing out of courtesy, "I think it's best to keep moving even during the day so it might be a good idea for one of you to return and find something else for me to wear. I don't want to slow us down just because of what I wear." Alexa waited to see if one of them volunteered to go, if not she would go herself. "Well since she hasn't said a word yet maybe you, Scott, can go. I can stay here with her, but please hurry. The Rummages are getting closer and if we don't hurry all of us might not make it out of here at all." ((Where did everyone go? Is it only the three of us role playing in the role play?))" Okay," Scott said. He left quickly. He came back about five minutes later. "Here you go Princess Alexa," Scott said. Carla looked at the sky feeling like she has been forgotten and useless and wanted to go home and wish that none of this ever happened in the first place and there was no such thing as rummages (if that what they are called) ((AH! I'm so confused. I just read who was with which princess, and it ended up that I had Carla with Seth! So confused. ?)) ((it ok my sis might Chang it, but she has to think about it)) "Thank you, Scott...that was pretty fast. Now I'll just go find somewhere to change. You can stay here, and she can go with me, just to keep an eye out. We won't be long." Alexa found an empty cottage, looked like its inhabitants had decided to flee a long time ago. A lot of the furniture was already covered in dust. She looked over the clothes, looked like Scott didn't pay a lot of attention at what he was grabbing. Alexa took off the dress she was wearing and slipped into a black blouse and knee-length skirt and some low heel boots. She decided to wear the under bust corset she had worn with her dress since the blouse fit loose on her. While she was walking out to find the other agent she felt as if someone was watching her, it gave her goosebumps, but she ignored it. "Come one let's get back to Scott. I'm getting a bad feeling from this place." They almost ran back to Scott. ((well I am with Arena and princess Evalyn but i haven't heard from any of them for ages so I cat post >." Okay milady. Are you still tired Seth or I could carry you if you would like," Scott offered to Princess Alexa? ((@friedrice: I think you got the wrong princess again XD. You must be talking about princess Carla. And I think you mixed up your characters. Scott is assigned to Alexa and Matt is assigned to Carla.)) ((o_O I put Alexa and Scott together in that post. O_O))"Princess Carla, are you okay," Scott said. He had just spotted the princess and ran to her side scared she was hurt or injured. ((ok now I'm the one confused XD....you put Alexa and Scott in that post, but you also put Seth, and he is with Carla.)) ((I'm confused too @[email protected]I am with Princess Carla....that's it..... I was God Modded maybe?)) ((AH! I thought Seth was with Scott and Scott was with Alexa! And I messed up my last post. It was supposed to be Matt. :| Away. :sweat:)) ((IS it fixed lol)) ((fried could you please fix your post because I'm not sure if I'm supposed to respond to something or not >_Seth walked over to the princess awaiting her reply. ((@MenewshaMan666 - I don't know, I thought she would be back last Friday, but I guess so we can continue this.@friedrice - If you say so... I didn't get it.))"No, thank you Scott, I can continue on my feet. Where did the other agent go? I thought she was right behind me." Alexa got worried because they couldn't find the other agent, and she didn't even know her name to call out to her. "Maybe we should go look for her," she said to Scott. ((Should we god mod Marie as well? Cause like she's also dead. ?))" We should bring you to safety first. My top priority is to protect you...," Scott said weakly. He knew that he should be doing his job, but he couldn't stop worrying about the other agent. Scott usually had that type of struggle between duty and comrades. Even if he did not know them well, at all, or haven't met them before. "Actually let's go find her," Scott said." So princess Carla should we move on now," Matt asked the princess waiting with Seth. ((Okay sorry Carla))"Yes, lets move Seth and Scott.... I think I can keep going." Princess Carla did not want to slow the group down." Okay My lady, we shall move east." Seth began to walk alongside Carla in the eastern direction. "C`mon Scott," ((Ah! Sorry I put the wrong character. :O))"Okay then, hurry up," Scott said when he quickly ran in front of Seth and Princess Carla. "So how should we travel? Stops at towns or straight to headquarters," Scott asked the other two. ((I'm not sure about Marie...maybe we should drop her a message, us apparently she has sign on, she just hasn'tcome into the RP.))" We should go find her, but where? I'm not sure exactly when I lost her." Alexa started walking in the direction she came from. She can't be that far back, she was right behind me. "Should we separate or what? If we do separate I'm going to need you to let me borrow a weapon." Alexa said a little eager to have a weapon in her hands once again. "Remember when I teleported us.......it attracted those rummages...but if I can do that again ADN we are ready to fight them it could be worth our while." Seth stood straight up, waiting anxiously if either would accept his form of transportation, he did not like to be walking all the time." How far can we go....." Carla asked Seth hesitantly." How far do we need to go? What do you think Scott?" Seth looked at him quickly knowing they were wasting time talking about HOW to travel. ((Actually Seth and Carla are with Matt not Scott. I accidentally put Scott instead of Matt. Sorry. :sweat:))Matt quickly thought and said,"Let's just walk while we talk. We're wasting time. It's mostly up to you though Princess Carla."" I don't think we should split up. We should search together," Scott said thinking about the Princess Alexa's well-being.((So do you want to drop her a message or me?)) "Ok fine...but I'll still need some sort of weapon to defend myself, if it comes to that." He must think I can't protect myself just because I'm a princess, but I'll show him.((I guess I can drop her a message, see if she plans to come in or not. ) ((LOL Okay so its Matt then XD)) Seth began to walk, grabbing Carla's hand he moved forward at a steady base. "Are you coming Matt?" Seth smirked and was thinking about how this couldn't be any more boring."...ugh." Carla was shocked Seth had just grabbed her and pulled her along ((@ Sad: Okay then, :) @ Kenosha: Lol, suppers. :)))"Ugh, okay," Matt said. He was getting bored. Where were all the rummages at. No action at all so far." Sorry but I don't have any weapons. I only use my hands and my staff," Scott said apologetically. "We can stop by somewhere and buy you a dagger or something if you would like," Scott suggested. "I'm so bored.....maybe we could attract some of this rum-" Mid-sentence a loud voice caught Seth off mid-sentence "You....you are the princess that destroyed me before." The man from the begging, with the spear, had returned....much stronger than anyone here he knew this would be a since. Matt had disappeared right before the man had come. Then when the man finished his sentence Matt struck the man with his staff, but it barely even scratched him. "He, so your no regular guy are ya," Matt asked the man. Matt was carefully planning out his moves, but it was hard because he wasn't sure what Seth was going to do, so his plans weren't concrete. "Let's go you and me big boy. If you lose you well..." There was a brief pause,"you won't be well alive to do anything," Matt said very cockily. "And If I lose well, ya got to deal with our bud Seth here before you reach the princess," Matt said,"So are you up to it?" Matt knew that if he did not survive that he would give the man a run for his money, tiring him enough for Seth to finish if anything was to happen to him. "Move!" Seth screamed as a massive bolt struck the man....causing a rather large electric pulse......the dust settled ADN the man had a cut on his chest...all of that...caused a single scratch. "You go, I want to have round 2 with.....how did you put it....big boy over here." Seth gave a smirk and flipped his hair out of his eyes...." C`mon, it's your turn." Seth whipped a fireball at the man just trying to run ll IHS attention towards himself. The Speyer wielder smacked the fireball away like a bug. He sprinted at Matt and kicked him into the chest, tossing him not a few trees./ He then turned at Seth and threw his spear, it landed beside him..." Close counts in hand grenades." The javelin erupted in energy tossing Seth and the princess a fair distance from where it had landed. "God damn it," Matt cursed. He was getting pissed of now. Matt began circling the foe. "Can you catch me you punk," Matt taunted the enemy. Matt knew he hasn't the power to injure the man, but he sure knew he could divert his attention away from Princess Carla. "Seth, teleport the princess and yourself out of harms way and when I say out of harms way I mean FAR away from here," Matt said emphasizing the far. "No arguments," Matt said knowing that Seth would argue,"Our priority is to bring the princess to HQ safely not destroy a big huge man to prove your strength." "That's alright," said Alexa "I think there is a place, or was a place, just a couple of houses down and around the corner. Hopefully the owner hasn't left yet or at least left some things behind." Both headed towards the small shop. "Dam...." Seth raised his arm and the princess ADN himself teleported a fair distance away. "Princess, you continue back to HQ *hands her a map and weapon* I must go help my fellow agent." Seth came back to Matt and Mattia's.....running over to Matt he was going to try and teleport him away as well. He could always find Carla later...he couldn't let his Conrad die on him. "Damn you Seth, I told you to leave. I can run away later. I can outrun this fool," Matt said pissed off at Seth,"The mission was to escort the princess safely to HQ and are you doing your job? Rummages or someone or thing could attack her at this very moment! GO NOW!" Matt began getting the Man's attention by using hit-and-run strategy. He was too quick for the Man to catch or give another blow to him." Let's hope," Scott said. "Let's go now then," Scott said. "Fine....."reluctantly Seth returned to the princess and begun to fight the rummages that his magic attracted." I may not be able to catch you...but I have power." Mattia's rose his Spain ADN stabbed it into the ground releasing a wave of energy rushing into Matt like some kind of massive hammer. The wave of energy didn't weaken Matt or caused any harm at all. "My body is very flood and just absorbs the shock," Matt said back to the man,"You can't slow me down old man." Good Seth was away with Princess Carla, and she would hopefully be safe. Matt continued running around in circles for a few more minutes Matt thought that he had given them enough time and decided that the battle needed to end. "Well, I got to bounce old man. See ya," Matt said to his foe. With that Matt zoomed after Seth and Princess Carla. Mattia's threw his hammer straight up and began to dash after Matt. "I won't stop until the princess dies!!!!" Mattia's ran fast enough to get a few feet behind Matt. Up ahead the princess could be seen, but where was Seth? As Alexa and Scott arrived at the small shop they noticed it was border up. The owner definitely left already. "I guess we'll have to break in and check out if anything was left behind." Alexa tried to remove some of the boards with just her hands, but it was useless. "I'll go check if there is any other opening on the back. Could you try and see if you can remove some of these? I'll be back in a few." "No stay. I can't risk you being abducted. Here it's open," Scott said when he easily smashed most the boards away with his sword. "In you go," Scott told the princess." Damn it he's gaining on me," Matt muttered under his breath. Time for some poison bombs. Matt threw a few poison bombs towards the man. "Take that," Matt yelled and ran faster leaving more bombs. "Hahaha..." The man saw Carla and ran into her driving the spear through her and picking her up off the ground he slammed her down. He packed his spear to his back and just...disappeared. He had completed his task. The body of Carla fizzled out...and Seth came out from behind a tree. "Magic is official the greatest....but he will realize that was a trick soon enough...let's go." Seth grabbed Carla and ran over to Matt teleporting them a far distance away. They appeared just on the outskirts of the city... "You don't know how to follow orders do you Seth," Matt said annoyed,"I told you to leave without me, something could have happened to the princess. He could have seen through your magic and get to the princess. I wonder how did you get to become an agent. You don't ever do what you should do." "Are you serious?" Alexa said this a little ticked off. "Do you honestly think I wouldn't even be able to defend myself? Even if It's just around this house." Alexa felt like Scott was treating her like a little child that needed be looked out for 24/7. "I might be a princess, but I'm not hopeless." She jumped in through the opening Scott had made. "You wait outside," she said through the hole, "I think I see a trunk just over there, I shouldn't take long." He must seriously think I'm one of those helpless princess waiting for her prince charming or something. When Alexa got to the trunk she saw that the lock had been left unlock. My lucky day. She opened it and found just what she needed. She took out two daggers, just small enough she could strap on her thighs and another one that she hid on her back. "Alright got what I needed...let's go." Alexa climbed out through the hole and started walking back to the alley where they had last seen the other agent. She turned towards Scott, "Well are you coming or not?" "I was never good with rules.....why do you think I dress this way." Seth leaned into Mass face and gave him a wink. "You need to loosen up there kid.....you'll never live long enough to make it if your always freaking out." Seth yawned and walked into the tress pulling out the princess. "So what are we....support to do?" "I didn't mean it that way Princess Alexa. It's just that if you die my rep as an agent will drop and become very bad, and you are also the heir to the throne," Scott said apologetically." If the princess dies it'll be all your fault. You take way to many necessary risks that involve other people. And I'm not a kid I'm more mature than you. Also, I don't need to loosen up you need to smarten up," Matt said back to Seth in an annoyed tone. "I didn't mean to act that way, but I guess I know why you are here. It's all about your rep." Both fell silent for a while. "Don't worry about it, I'll try my best, so I won't get killed. " They arrived at the alley way and saw that it was completely empty. "Well, what do we do now? Do you think we should just leave and hope she is alright? I mean it's been a while, and she is an agent so she could defend herself. We can stay and wait if you want. But we should hurry before the Rummages get any closer. There should be one place they haven't reached yet." "It's cool. Princess. Hm, I think we should go now. I should be able to find us and defend herself. This is the time I would like to clone myself. I can't choose, my brain is telling me 'Get away with the princess now before rummages come!' and my heart is telling me 'Go look for the other agent! She could be in trouble!'" , Scott said "So have you made up your mind?" Alexa asked while she thought about the other agent too. "We can't leave her, but what can we do? It's been hours, and she still hasn't shown up. But you decide, we can either stay behind and look for her or we can get away now before we are found." "I want to choose the right choice, but I'm not, I say we should go look for her," Scott finally decided. He didn't want another person who was working with him to die. "If that's your decision, then let's go. You lead the way." Alexa was having second thoughts about this, but he was the agent and so if he could keep her alive and still find the other agent then why shouldn't she go with him. "Um, I have no clue where to go. Where do you think they would be Princess Alexa," Scott asked the Princess. Both were clueless as to where to go looking for the agent. "Well the best thing to do is go back to the house where we went when I needed to change my clothes," Alexa said pointing to the right, "I remember she was next to me when we left the house, but once I turned around she was gone." "Okay let's go then. You know the way right because I don't," Scott said. "Yeah...well I hope I remember exactly where, I had followed the other agent." Alexa made her way straight ahead. They came up to a path that split, she had to make a decision, high or left. She decided to go on the left path, once they had walked down the path she noticed she had picked the right one. She had remembered some of the buildings around. They arrived at the house she had gone into, "Okay this is the house. Should we go inside or check out around first?" Seth laughed. "You need to relax...jeez. I get the new guys every time...." He sighed and began to walk away from that crazy man. "How about we all play a game?" "First, I'm not new. Second, this isn't a game. It's real life. If you screw up you don't have another chance," Scott scolded at Seth. "Now let's get the damn hell away from here now," Scott directed." Hm, let's check the surrounding area first then enter," Scott said.((By the way is she still role playing in here or did she quit. ?)) ((you mean the other agent? I sent her a message, but she never responded, so I'm guessing she just quit this RP.)) Alexa followed close behind Scott, "Do you think we'll even find her?" Alexa wasn't feeling so confident about finding the other agent, but she was following Scott. ((Oh, so I guess we could just say she died in the role play? That sounds good to you? Or do you want me or you to role-play her character?))" I'm not sure. If the surrounding area is safe. Let's go inside now," Scott suggested. ((I guess, if you want to declare her dead. But if you want to RP her character it's alright with me.)) Alexa and Scott had checked all around the house to make sure nobody was following them and that it was safe. Scott had suggested going inside and Alexa followed close behind." Let's check the bottom first and then go upstairs." ((Okay, I guess I'll role-play her character.))" Okay then. Let's go," Scott said and kicked the door down. Suddenly Scott heard a girl scream. "Let's go Princess Alexa. That scream must be the other agent Marie," Scott said crushingly." Damn it! Stupid Rummages get the hell away from me," Marie shouted at the attacking Rummages. "I need to find the princess, Princess Alexa. I hope she's alright, or the other agent has found her and protecting her," Marie thought to herself. Alexa heard a girl scream when Scott kicked the door down. She immediately took out the dagger she had hid on her back and ran after Scott. "Let's just hope it's her and not a trap put by the Rummages." (Ha.thanks for continuing this role-play without me *says sarcastic*This role-play is called rescue to save the princesses not rescue to save princess Alexa. I have been checking this role-play a while and no one has even bothered to play me or my sister's character.)(my sister is emowolf1121) ((Sorry, no one else was role-playing the agents, so I was like... Um, I guess everyone quit? I didn't want to role-play anyone else's character unless I'm for sure they quit. :|))"Let's go then come one," Scott said hurrying. He started to run upstairs and saw the other agent surrounded by about a dozen more or less Rummages." Finally, what took you guys so long," Maine said jokingly. "Why didn't you leave with Princess Alexa? It was a bad choice to go look for me. You should know better," Marie started scolding now." You're lucky we came for you or else you would be Rummage soup by now," Scott shouted over the Rummages' noise. He was taking on five Rummages while keeping an eye on Princess Alexa and the other agent, Marie. She was taking on about five Rummages. ((both of them tried to keep going with your sisters part, and there is only so much they can do with that. I thought everybody has just given up. I don't mean to be rude by saying this, but if you had been checking on the role-play why didn't you respond at least once? It has been only three people here so it can't advance like that.)) Alexa followed close behind of Scott. When they entered a room they had found the other agent who was being attacked by a lot of Rummages. Scott jumped in right away. Alexa then saw that one of the Rummages was coming right at her. She wanted to just scream, but she knew that wouldn't help anybody. She took out her dagger to defend herself. "Sorry we weren't here earlier agent," she said to agent Marie, "You just seemed like the person that could take care of herself." Alexa managed to push the Rummage off from her and went for another one trying to help the agents. "Like he said, we wouldn't want this hanging over our conscience." (I was going to reply when someone had at least been courteous enough to continue my character.Besides, I was usually reading the role-play to try to catch up. I'm not aloud on the computer for a long time and I still not caught up with this role-play) ((That's understandable but in my defense even if we role-played your princess character none of your agents are active. :| I sounded like a lawyer just then. XD))Scott quickly disposed of three Rummages and was down to two left. "Your doing fairly well Princess Alexa," Scott complimented Alexa." Heh, this is a lot easier with less Rummages to look at. It was pretty hard to kill them when another five or seven were counterattacking me," Marie said thankfully. "No problem," Scott said. Alexa looked over at how the agents could get rid of the Rummages fast, she was impressed, "Than," she answered trying not to get too distracted when Scott had complimented her. "That's why we are here," she smiled at the other agent. When both agents were busy with other Rummages, two came right at Alexa and pinned her down. She managed to push one off, but the other one was way too strong, "I don't want to be a bother but could someone help me here....please," she tried to scream but the Rummage was trying to choke her. Scott had just finished off another one of his Rummages when heard a tiny squeal and saw Alexa being choked. Scott easily took out the Rummage with his sword. "Your welcome midday," Scott said. ((I though Seth was with Scott....Louis so lost...)) ((Nah, Seth was with Matt. 3)) Alexa felt like she was about to black out from being choked by the Rummage. Then she felt like a big weight had been lifted off of her. Scott had come to take care of the Rummage and saved her, "Thank you very much Scott, I thought I was gone for a moment there,"she said while holding her throat. She got back her dagger and helped the agents with the last few of the Rummages. Alexa passed by a mirror that was in the room and noticed she already had bruises on her neck. I really hope this goes away fast. While the agents where finishing off the remaining Rummages, "So where are we heading from here?" "Let's see I think we should get to headquarters now," Scott said as Marie finished off the last Rummage." I think that's the best thing to do, but it's up to you though Princess Alexa," Marie said." No, she doesn't pick we choose what is the best choice for her safety, and she has to do it whether it makes her happy or not," Scott said." Okay, okay. Chill man," Marie said. ((Oh....lol)) Seth looked around as he walked with...(Insert princess's name here because I forgot) and looked at Matt for a few moments..... Wonder how long he has been doing this job...." Are you okay there Matt? Got any more complaints?" Seth laughed...and then continued on to some random destination. Alexa just looked on as both agents started arguing. "Come on, how are we going to make it out of here with you two fighting. Scott I already told you I'm not a child and can make my own decisions alright. I know what is best for all of us. I also think we should get going and head straight for headquarters." As they exited the house, "Hey, you never told me what your name is." Alexa said speaking to the female agent. "Ugh fine, it's what I wanted anyway so we'll go with the princess' choice for now," Scott said emphasizing the 'now'." It's Marie," Marie replied to Princess Alexa." Yeah, I actually have quite a few more complaints, but we must get moving now," Matt replied to Seth and told Princess Carla. "Well, let's get going now," Matt said. "Where are we even going..... I mean, really...are we just going to walk to the other side of the planet?" Seth halted and was perfectly still. "I hate walking anyway.it's overrated." "We are going to headquarters, obviously. And if you think that walking is overrated then why don't you just teleport us to headquarters then," Matt said back to Seth. Alexa was getting tired of Scott's attitude, but she knew she couldn't do anything about it now, maybe once they got to headquarters. "Well nice to meet you Marie. All this time I had just referred to you as the female agent,"she said a bit embarrassed, "So Scott, got any plans of what would be the quickest way to get out of here and get to headquarters?" "Hm, get to headquarters through the main road, or we can go through the long way," Scott responded. "The main road is off limits. While I was still waiting for you guys I saw the Rummages come from that direction first." Alexa got a bit worried, there weren't that many roads they could take anymore. They were being surrounded by the Rummages. "There might still be a way out of here. Not the best choice, but I don't think the Rummages know about this place yet. There is a sort of secret passage, underground. We would have to go back to my place and from there go into the basement. The Rummages might already be there, but it's the only way I know. It wouldn't take long to leave the city boundaries." "Hm, I think we should just go the long way instead. Pretty much the roads no one uses from city to city," Scott replied. "Fine, lead the way then. Do we have enough resources to last us or do we have to load up on stuff?" Alexa replied a bit frustrated having to go the long way. She wanted to get to headquarters as soon as possible to find out if her parents had made it okay. "Let's just stock up just in case. Let's go now," Scott said. While Scott led them to who knows where to stock up she decided to chat a bit with Marie. "So....how long have you been an agent?" Alexa said looking back since the agent Marie was walking behind her. "Do you enjoy it?" "It's been a decent job to me for about eh, three or four years," Marie replied. After a few minutes the three arrived at a weapon store with a general store next door. "We are here," Scott said. "Come on we need to grab a few weapons and what not for the trip ahead. After we pick up stuff here we will stop by the General Store next door," Scott said,"So hurry and grab what you need and meet at the front door." With that Scott left to go grab some more weapons for himself and for the others if need be in that situation. He grabbed two bananas, a few knives, a bag filled with ninja throwing stars, and others. After he was done he started walking to the front door. On his descent to the front door said to the others loud enough for them to hear,"Hurry and go to the front door, no time to waste." ((Looks like we are the only ones coming in anymore -_-))Marie didn't say much, but it didn't bother Alexa, Marie was concentrated on her job first, like it should be. "Interesting." Once they arrived at the weapon store Alexa went on her own to find some weapons she could actually use and carry around. She went straight with some daggers, she fit some into her boots and others were strapped under her skirt. Alexa saw some SAI and decided to get two pairs, which she hid under her shirt on her back. Out of nowhere Alexa heard Scott yell for them. She got a bit irritated, but she was already done anyway and headed for the front door. "I'm here, no need to yell."

Rescue To Save The Princeses|rating:2.0

OCC for Test Yourself

Okay I found the thing so now we can talk here instead of on the RP itself. He-he, great! Soon, what are we going to do about our absent Aisha? I was thinking perhaps when we go back to the cave to get her, she's vanished? No trail to follow either, by Wiemar or Marielle either one, and so we either go in search of her or we let it be and continue the RP without her? What do you guys think? We'll need a plot change then anyway, lol. Guess we can assume she's dead then. And having her vanish like that, if she should happen to show up again later on, it kind of leaves an opening for that. This has been a fun RP so far, so I'd hate to see it die now. NNNUUUUU!!!!! UUU DYING!!!! >. Hehe, I can see a new plot forming now, and it's exciting! How about we message her. If no reply then we continue without her and the yuppie have captured her sound good. Messaging her would definitely be good. I still kind of like the vanishing idea because it leaves an aura of mystery about her, but I suppose we could go to the cave and find signs that the Yuan-ti have captured her. I think that would make Marielle kind of feel guilty because she didn't do such a good job protecting her, but then again, she didn't know of the Yuan-ti's new powers either. Furthermore, I would hate to see this die, Because that happens all too often for my tastes. Furthermore, I've had some really kick-ass characters, And, they just fall to the way-side. D: Wiemar agrees, in terms of Aisha, that is.;3 I believe I've seen her posting around, So, I don't think she's stopped playing Men. I have yet to think of a reason the Yuan-ti would be so f00kin' powerful in such a short time... Actually, I think I know. I'm just going to go with it.o: Though, that's not the Yuan-ti's true power over Wiemar, That you shall see soon enough.;] And, just so guys know, My Grandfather is in town until Sunday, So, I may not be getting on until later in the day, Because I want to spend time with him. Plus, I've got a few things to finish up for school still, But, that should only preoccupy today camp;camp; tomorrow. D: Oh, and, Mia camp;camp; I have stuff planned for Saturday camp;camp; Sunday, All day, right? And, hey, Irish, Bring RAF camp;camp; Ref for me, please.Lt;33 And, OMG, I LOVE your hobo post. That was awesome.XD Hey, I think it's awesome you want to spend time with your grandfather! Real life comes first anyway, he-he. Hope you have a good time. Oh, you and Mia know each other in real life? That's awesome :) What hobo post was that? I like to bounce around to different RP's, reading them, especially the good ones, lol. Well, he used to live here in Cali, So we saw him all the time, But, then he moved to Oregon with the rest of my dad's family, Then eventually to Arizona with two of my uncles, So, I haven't seen in for a long time. I have to make the most of the week he's here.:] [It's like he's making his rounds with his grandkids, which is cool, 'cause they should get to know him too.:]] Yes, we do.;] I probably wouldn't have joined a RP like this, But, I did 'cause she made it for me.:]] Ah, we're ring together here, And, I told her Friday she should rob a hobo, So our characters could meet. And, she did it for me!~XD WWW, he-he that's cool that the two of you are so close and Mia does things like that for you. :) Aww... I wish some of my friends were here....well.... Set is, but I don't get to see her that often. Q_Q RAF and ref? I know who RAF is but anyway this coming Friday Saturday and Sunday I won't be on very much graduation DN a bunch of other things you too SEG. Okay update on Aisha I messaged her, and she says go ahead and continue without her because she doesn't have enough time to do so right now but I made sure I told her she was welcome to come back at any time. Okay? I guess it's a good thing that we went with the vanishings then. Yes but now we have to figure out do we just give up on trying to find her or what? If she has no intentions of posting here anymore, I would say stop trying to find her and go on with a new plot. We can still occasionally wonder what's happened to her and if we'll ever see her again, without actively seeking her out. Then, if she does decide to return in the future, she's not totally forgotten. I agree so who's got a new plot to continue with? I think SEG does, he-he. 'CAUSE SEG IS SO FREAKING WONDERFUL LIKE THAT. WALKER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, BABY. B] HE'S GOING BACK TO YUAN-TI. FOLLOW HIM, BUT DON'T LET HIM KNOW YOU'RE DOING IT. 'CAUSE, WELL, YOU'LL FIND OUT. Sweet I get the job of following cause my character is so cricket curious, and she can change into whoever and whatever she wants. Oh, oh, we are going to follow Wiemar, he-he won't he sense us behind him? He seems to have very acute senses, lol. I guess the girls will need Marielle's superior tracking skills then so they don't get too close to him, he-he. Although Aka could scent him out in her wolf form and Rayne seems pretty adept at noticing things too. Together the three of them can do some awesome stuff :P Oh, oh, we are going to follow Wiemar, he-he won't he sense us behind him? He seems to have very acute senses, lol. I guess the girls will need Marielle's superior tracking skills then so they don't get too close to him, he-he. Although Aka could scent him out in her wolf form and Rayne seems pretty adept at noticing things too. Together the three of them can do some awesome stuff :P She's going to wait for Rayne to make the suggestion they follow Wiemar instead of returning to camp. Geese I need to read this thing first before making my post!!! *Run off to edit postage* WAR!!!!♪ A shadowing we'll Goa shadowing we'll go High ho the merry OHA shadowing we'll go ♪ O. X (ish shot for bad singing) *giggles* He-he, that was cute. Yes, Was has very acute senses, Unlike myself.XD But, he's got other things on his mind, And, he trusts you not to follow, So, there's no need for worrying about that. I never thought about Was sniffing out Aisha, And, he is definitely capable of such, But, you just gave me an idea with that post, So, w00t!~ And, Thanks for joining the Zodiac one with us!~ You're really fun to RP with.:] OH, I've been wondering about that Sort person, All the ring she does doesn't seem to go with ours at all. I don't get why she rps with [email protected]@;; I think she was going by the original description of the RP and decided to go ahead and test herself, he-he. Problem is, she's supposed to be in Japan or something, possibly clear across the world from where we are, so chances of us bumping into her are probably slim to none, though I suppose we could do something to try to integrate her into our story. If she was up to it, that is. Nothing says we have to be that far away from where she is. She might just be really shy and doesn't know how to present herself to us, but she just might want to be included. Then again, she might just like going solo, who knows. He-he, I was a little hesitant at first, to join the Zodiac RP, but then I figured, it sounds like it could be a lot of fun, so I jumped in. I really enjoy RP'ING with you guys too. He-he, you're just full of ideas. I love that! Well who wants to talk to her? I've gone ahead and pm'd Sort directing here to the IOC thread, so she can see what we've said and decide for herself what she'd like to do :) Thank you, I was going to do it, But, every time I tried to post, Men crapped out.x_x;; ya it seems to be doing a lot of that recently Sort did respond to my pm and would like to be included in our RP, so maybe we can come up with a way to integrate her into our party. :) I hope you don't mind me jumping in like I did it said open and I took that as an invitation Oh, no, anyone is welcome. Glad to have you aboard :) yes welcome we like having more people. Have sort join in at the town I don't care how she does it but if she wants to be included have her do it there. Locochuwawa I'm slightly confused about your shape-shifting what is the extent to it and how do you do it? SHOOT MORE PEOPLE!!! ^^ Mia, I just thought I'd point out, Wiemar and the guard with him are not in the Yuan-ti camp now, they've left and are resting somewhere else. I only mentioned the Yuan-ti camp in my post because Rayne and Luke are waiting in the brush near their camp, waiting for Aka to come back so they can go to the town. Whoops my mistake well aka is in the yuan-ti camp sorry if I've been spelling that wrong for a while but aka's in the camp looking around and watching New people are always welcome, Hopefully you've got some bearings as to our characters, And, the plot thus far. As for Sort, The next town sounds awesome, I'll get Wiemar out of the forest asap, And, the sun will freaking rise! Remember what I said about SEG being busy? Next week, from the 21-24, SEG camp;camp; Mia are going camping, So, there's going to be a considerable lull in the Wolfman's activity. Should we have the Yuan-ti detain him for something? And, then he'll break free or something to that effect? I am open to ideas camp;camp; suggestions.:] Same here I'm setting up a possible getting captured that could work to the effect of getting free about the same time as Wiemar so ya. Lol, guess I should have read this before I posted. Oh well, Aka can choose to ignore the bird or perhaps doesn't understand the language of the animals she shape-shifts into, or maybe she gets captured before she has a chance to react. Something along those lines, he-he. So I guess Rayne and Marielle will leave to the town without Aka then? Lol, they are both going to be so worried about her he-he. Naw I won't get captured yet I'm planning on going back into their camp later He-he, ok. Well, Luke and Rayne are both quite relieved to see Aka is safe now, anyway :) oh by the way why would a shifter not be able to understand the language of animals or humans she shifts into? Maybe because you can only understand that animals' language when you are transformed into that animal? If you think about it, That's a lot to remember, Especially with such a vast amount of shape-shifting possibilities. I don't know. Anyway, It'll be morning now, And, we'll get on with this story. He's not going to be tied up quite yet.;] Yep, that was my idea, you said Aka had shifted into a Yuan-ti soldier, and the hawk was speaking the language of birds, so Aka might not have understood the language. I knew someone in real life who knew and could speak 13 different languages fluently, so I'm not saying she wouldn't be able to understand them, just Marielle is curious to know if she can. Plus, just because she can shape-shift into that animal, doesn't really necessitate that she knows that animal's language, though one would assume she does. Yes and no. Morning it is lots to remember it is not. It is just kinda built into her brain. So basically she is telepathic, since telepathy really doesn't require a language. That makes a lot of sense :) to *blink* sure he-he didn't understand your reply but assuming it was in agreement with what I said. I'm just waiting for locochuwawa and/or memo Chan to reply, then I'll post again. No reply for memo yet That's ok, Aka and Rayne continued on, making it possible for me to post again, he-he. Okay then Umm, locochuwawa, Aka isn't in the cave anymore, he-he. She changed into a bird and flew over to where Wiemar is. You might want to change your post to read Rayne instead, he-he. WALKER IS NOT A GIRL. D:Lt; he will be soon well SEG and I are leaving today see you guys Sunday Who said Wiemar is a girl? Hehe Have fun, you two! We were joking at sees house, and we ended up taking it to the board but somehow I'm going to gender bender everyone then Walker will be a girl Except for Wiemar, WHO IS MANLY. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! That makes me chuckle, I'm so looking forward to this. He-he, I figured Rayne would love to see more elves, so Luke is taking her to the elf village. Hope she doesn't mind :) Yalta!! It's kinda funny 'cause she really doesn't know what elves are. Wiemar will be a girl. Oh, Aka wants to see elves too. He will not, dammit! MANLY! D&lt; ROFLMAO!! *pats Wiemar's head* If it makes you feel better you haven't changed in my eyes.(That was a lie though...XD) Cheer up at least no one's making weird pairings out of the RP yet. Who said anything about pairings I just want to make Wiemar a girl *Giggles at the conversation going on* PEOPLE DO THAT? BLAH. No Wiemar for j00000!~XD Let's face it, He's too MANLY.;] So says you but I'm going to make him a girl or better yet I'll have Aka's brother do it. I don't know if people do it or not, but if I get any time on my hands I'll end up sketching out the action, so I suppose it's possible XD Needed.XD AND, NO, IIS HI, HE'S MANLY. A MANLY, MAN. OMG! Haha!~ Sgt;;] NOW YOU'RE A MAN [MAN!] A MAN, MAN, MAN NOW YOU'RE A MAN [YEAH! A MANY, MANY MAN A MAN, MAN, MAN [MAN! YOU ARE NOW A MAN YOU'RE A MAAAAAAAAEOWWWWNAH!~ NOW YOU'RE A MAIN!! He's going to be a woman Because I'm you're lady, and you are my man. Whenever you reach for me, I'll do all that I can. We're headed for something, somewhere I've never been.... Sorry, you guys made me think about this song. I love this song. It's actually my favorite song in the world. That's cool but you guys do release I'm changing everyone's gender but my character for the hell of it What, no MANLY Aka? That's totally not fair. Sgt;;] P.S. Eyepiece staaaaaaaaaabiiiiiiiiiiing!~ AAAAWWWWWWEEEEEESSSSOOOOMMMMEEEEE!!! Rayne's going to end up being totally E-Fem!!! *runs off to go sketch it* the person changing everyone is related to aka he wouldn't do that and I have a reason which will be revealed later Hmm, interesting, Marielle as a male NE instead of a female. Sgt;:F Maybe I should stab Aka's eyes instead. Blah, I'm working on my poooooost. I think that since Aka and Wiemar are free now, that they should show up before our little group ends up actually attacking the Yuan-ti camp. Then the elves get angry because they discover the one friend they were to rescue, Wiemar, is a Wolfman, and go back to the even city. Now, Marielle's people are mad at her because she didn't tell them he was a Wolfman, though she had good reason not to. They don't know that Wiemar is trustworthy. The friends can't count on any more help from the elves though because of this. Sgt;Sgt;;; That is what I was thinking. We'll still need the elves to SQUASH the Yuan-ti, 'Cause they have something of Wiemar's, Which he definitely wants back. So, a good SQUASHING is in order.Sgt;;] When we meet up, Wiemar will have to finally come clean about everything, Including the terms of his Yuan-ti encapturement.;] But, all of that's not really necessary. I do want to get onto a little more exciting things, Not that gouging soldiers in the eyes isn't exciting, But, you know what I mean. I think. Anywho, We'll meet up with you guys, Somehow, Someway, With our mangled soldier in tow.:]]]] Uhm, EPP, The rest will just happen, And, it'll all be gravy. With NO unmanly Wiemar's. I hope.Sgt;Sgt;;; That'll come later. But all sounds good someone's head has to get chopped on. Sgt;;] Why'd you sign off punk? PS I'm so caught up, Got me feelin' it, Caught up.=P Now I just need to make another stinkin' profile. Bl argh to you. Your welcome and post it soon Ok, well if the elves are going to go through their waves of attacks on the encampment, then Rayne, Marielle, Drake, and anyone else who's joined our party by then could meet up with Aka and Wiemar and their captured soldier in the encampment, since they are coming to rescue Aka and Wiemar. Don't forget, Drake has a captured Yuan-ti soldier off somewhere too, we probably left him with the elves in their city, lol. Drake and his friend's dragon spirit and the elf attack will keep the Yuan-ti distracted. The only one who might not be fooled by the distractions is the Yuan-ti witch, but maybe she realizes the Yuan-ti camp is overpowered now, and she runs off or something, abandoning her own soldiers? I don't know, everything happens so fast that maybe even she is distracted? What do you guys think? Marielle might enjoy picking off a few Yuan-ti soldiers with her bow before they take off. Once the group meets up with Aka and Wiemar, they will do whatever Wiemar asks of them, since he knows the Yuan-ti better than any of them and has something he needs to retrieve from them anyway. The elves won't take off until after the battle is over, though at some point they will realize one of Luke's friend's is a Wolfman, and they will leave immediately after the battle, angry because Luke failed to warn them about Wiemar. It will be some time later before they are aware that Wiemar can be trusted, a long while later. They still take Luke's warning about the Yuan-ti to heart, though, and prepare for war, they just don't know if they can trust Luke and her friends anymore. The only reason they take her warning to heart is because of the presence of Yuan-ti soldiers on their lands, when the Yuan-ti have been known to be a peaceful people, therefore, it stands to reason that Luke was telling the truth about this new power they hold, even if Luke herself can't be trusted. Alright, we'll just run into a little 'trouble' on the way out, Trouble that'll involve the witch, And, somehow forcing the woman back, So that she is still alive, And, with few soldiers. Though, I am assuming there are lot more soldiers than the ones she travels with, Because the Yuan-ti have been gaining in numbers, Thus making them large, powerful, And, a threat to the elves. I'm all for some Yuan-ti violence.Sgt;Sgt;;; We'll finally get away from them, Get what Wiemar is looking for, And, then be on their way. Poor, poor, Wiemar, Never one to be believed. Good thing he's [email protected]@;; IF we want, We can somehow incorporate Wiemar's brethren, As they will be extremely willing to fight, Despite even presence. Plus, it will be fun to RP some hostilities between the two races.Sgt;;] And then we can launch into my RP twist. ROFL, sounds fun. Have at it :) SEG she gave me permission and that means your screwed 1. OH, NOES!!!!! *Clomps Wiemar* Poor little Wolfman...*sniffs* He's just misunderstood!!2. Yes, I like the SQUASHING as you put it.3. Wars on Luke..... Q_Q You stole first kill. *Attaches self to side in chili form and cries*4. *Hops off* As you can tell this is all just random-randomness and I really have nothing better to add than my two cents worth to the previous posts. (OH!!! And to all the new peoples: YAY SSS!!! We have new peoples to corrupt our brains even further with!!! XD) He-he, actually I was referring to Wiemar's wolf clan when I said have at it, but that's ok, you can have at it too, Mia, lol. Sorry for stealing the first kill, Hatch, but you know, arrows do have a nice long range, and are quite deadly if you hit the right spot, he-he. And actually, Drake's dragon probably had the first kill, breathing that fire out the way he did. He probably incinerated several Yuan-ti. I sent a pm to Demure and directed her to the IOC thread here, so hopefully she'll visit here soon. Demure, your character could be part of the wave of elves attacking the Yuan-ti camp, and you could meet up with the friends and decide you believe their story and that Wiemar is to be trusted, and join us on our own journey, instead of retreating to the elf village when the battle is over, if you would like. Since your character is an elf, it would fit into the story just fine like that. DAMN RIGHT WALKER'S MISUNDERSTOOD! I'm working on a summary for the new people, Right after lazy SEG-u gets done with her fresh new postie. Sgt;Sgt;;; Whoops! Sorry about the OC clutter in the main thread! Luke: Yeah...blasted Fireball +1 >. Demure: Clutter? What Clutter? Oh, that clutter...just shove it under the rest of that stuff and no one will notice it. (Seriously I shove all my clutter posts under the rug and no one's yelled at me yet!! XD) *Giggles at Hatch* N/p, Demure, don't worry about it, he-he. We're glad to have you with us. Just jump into the fight when you're ready, but don't take too long, because I think the friends will be taking off pretty quickly, if I'm not mistaken, now that they are reunited. I don't know aka hasn't seen them yet Where~ I've just finished my introductory post, though it was longer than intended x_x;;; I changed my character's name from Ellistrasia (did I even spell that right? Yes. I made up my OC's name on the spot Sgt;_Sgt;) to Jiang. He's still in the raw stages XD okay let's go.Oh, guys check out what I did when I was bored and no one was on I paid it a visit~! Just a tip, paragraphs would help when ranting. XD I got lost tons of time when reading it. Sorry normally when I rant i just type or write I don't try to space things XD SEG doesn't know what to write...o: Make some crap up SEG, the RP expert, is having a writer's block? Damn, and I love your posts, they are so creative. I hope you get over that writer's block soon, because I'm waiting on you to post in both RP's, lol. I always look forward to seeing what you have to say. She doesn't have writers block she's too lazy to think of something or to write it for instance I could think of a gazillion things she could write. Most of them having nothing at all to do with the story but still. SHUT UP, BRAT. D:Lt; Yes, I can think of a few, Really tiny things I could post, But, I don't like them.]:Lt; XD Fizzle, So you know, That is your nickname.Sgt;;] Anyway, WWW!~ Thank Youku! I put a lot of effort into my posts, So, that's nice to hear. That's actually what I think about your writing, It's always nice to read one of your posts.:3 I'll try to post something tonight, Despite all the chaos that'll be going on. I want to get one post in before I leave. Just so everyone knows, I'm going to be gone July 10–July 20, On an Alaskan cruise. I think they have interest, But, I don't know if time will allow, etc. So, if you guys need Wiemar for anything, Mia, or one of you guys, Can go ahead camp;camp; make him do stuff. I can catch up pretty easily, And, deal with most things that are thrown my way.;3 -EDIT- There is my parting gift to you all.;] I still have to think of something for the Guardians, Which I truly am a bit stuck [email protected]@;; So does SEG have interest? What's interest? The internet we just like calling it the interest because it's the internet and websites Oh I thought maybe it was something people on laptops have when they go on the road or something, he-he. Glad I asked, I'd have felt pretty foolish if I ever asked someone that, and they looked at me funny :P New it's mostly SEG and i that use it. I think some of our school friends use it too but not many. Right SEG? We have another week before SEG returns. He-he, must be nice going on a cruise. I've always wanted to do that, but I don't think it will ever happen, lol. I've always wanted to go out of state. Taht never happens. Gerrard SEG Lucky bastard Oh, if you ever get the opportunity, take it. I've seen so much more of the world than most people, I really can't complain. Thing is, I haven't seen everything I've wanted to see, though, so I still have a lot of dreams, lol. This cruise is awesome!~ I've gone outside of California quite a few times, To visit my Dad's family in Oregon, But, that's it. Which is more than Irish.o: Anywho, Alaska is BEAUTIFUL. The cruise is AWESOME. I saw a freaking bear today. Nearly shit my pants it was so close. Anywho, More when I get back, And, don't have to pay 75 cents a minute.o: And, when I'll have interwar that isn't SLOW. GRR. I'll try an upload some picturrrrres. Traveling is fun, I definitely plan to do more.;3 I won't be able to reply again for at least a week. My network card is completely shot, so I have no internet connection whatsoever. Looking to have a new network card on the 20th, but not certain. I'll let you know if it will be longer than that. Take care, and I'll see you all soon, I hope. Edit: Disregard the above statement. My daughter and her boyfriend decided to play a cruel trick on me, and ended up bringing home a new network card for me tonight, lol. I'm not going anywhere after all :P MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~ When we get to the next town, I'm sending word to my wolf peeps!~ Sgt;;] Hopefully, I'll post tomorrow. I'm still not home. Furthermore, I have to get things sorted out, And, deal with some issues that arose in my [email protected]@;; Welcome back, he-he. Glad you had a good time on your trip, and I hope you get all that real life stuff sorted. *Juggles* SEG!!!! Did ya miss me huh did ya. *transforms into cat and rubs against leg* Yeah, yeah, Everything's fine.;3 I had a perfect time, And, missed a bunch of people. AND, I GOT HARRY POTTER.Sgt;;] MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~ Of course, I haven't had a chance to just sit down camp;camp; read it, But, after I finish my post for here tomorrow morning, I will officially be dead to the world. Went.^^ Hey, Saudi, welcome to the RP. Cool character btw, and those pics are awesome, he-he. Hey new peoples!!! Didja finally get a signature that Men will let you have? XD nope haven't seen it ?? *Sigh* Can't wait for SEG to get back so we can get these RP's moving again, lol. ((As for the above post.../ignore it. It was one of Saudi's other signatures XD)) No kidding, I'm at a loss as to what I could post otherwise I would have done so before now. XP Was where did SEG go?????? I need to ask her a favor. SEG if your ever on and see this give me a call I got a new cellphone, and it works with the same number. Sorry! No more vacations, So, we can RP like hell now. I'm calling you right now.:3 Whoot, SEG is back! *Does a happy dance* Yay SEG is back we love the SEG Posty post!~ Lt;333 Where! I know what I'm going to do next, too.;3 Well then hurry up and post i want to do my plot hump. Plot Hump? Is that anything like a Speed Hump? Oh, hey, now, What's this? WHAT'S THIS? Luke camp;camp; unnamed hottie Wolfman!? XD wouldn't that just take the cake? Guys, I'm leaving Men and all other av vie sites on an indefinite hiatus. I'm sorry to just drop this on you, but I'm afraid it must be done. I've distributed all my items as I will no longer be needing any of them, so check your trades, please. *Plops down and cries*WWWHHHHAAANANNNNN!! *Clomps*I'm going to miss Jun!! That sucks that you have to leave. D: Oh no! Not Fizzle! You add sizzle, To our rps!DD: No hot Elf on Wolfman action! D: Just when the plot was getting hot. I'm shutting up. You will be missed. Now, I must have beloved Raze rip your guys' heads off.:] 0.0 Meet... But I like my head. It looks so much prettier where it is. I'm really sorry guys, not trying to confuse you. I'm not leaving after all...sorry about the false alarm, he-he. *Juggles all of you* Mia, I went ahead and cancelled the trade since you hadn't accepted it yet. I don't expect anyone to return anything, as you received the items with good intentions, so I'll just start over again with what I have now. Thanks guys :) WAR!!!! *Clomps.....again* YAY!!!! You don't have to leave after all!!!!!!! *flails and falls off shoulders* And here I thought World of the Forgotten was going to get boring without you there!! XD Nah, SEG and Mia would have helped you to keep it interesting :P Were you leaving 'cause it was boring? If so, I'm sorry! I'm such a lazy poster. D: As for your shoes, I accepted them as a token of friendship, But, if you'd like them back, That's fine with me, 'Cause I haven't any clothes to match.XD Of to post!~ Wrong RP silly, Bristol would have missed you anyway. Can't go kill stuff if DAR isn't there. ((Law I'm mixing RP threads....XD *is too lazy to go post in other IOC thread*)) XD Well, I posted, A lot.Sgt;Sgt;;; I don't know if I'm going to accept your apology, Too proud, you know?XD Mayan, Raze is a big fat meanie.o:Lt; *Giggles at Hatch* I can see myself confusing threads like that :P No, SEG, I don't find Men to be boring at all...it was something else entirely. If you really must know, you can read about it here. Personally, I just want to move on from this now, though, and I am not asking anyone to give anything back, as it was given in good faith. I just couldn't see the point in them sitting on an inactive account, as this account was very close to becoming. Instead, I have found myself surrounded by the best of friends anyone could ask for, and though it will take time for me to forgive myself, I have found my friends to be quite forgiving of my wrongdoings, and for that, I am truly grateful. Wow, That took a while for me to read. I don't really know Atari's rules very well, Because, I joined camp;camp; never played, 'Cause I didn't feel I needed a 4th avatar site to be dedicated to. But, I'm assuming by glitched, You mean the items were earned by abusing the system. I know of many, many people who've been banned that way, Though, usually they're banned, And, there is no turning oneself in, etc. So, there's no time to transfer items. I completely understand your guilt, Because I went through that for some time, As I accepted an entire inventory from a friend who'd decided to leave. It always felt wrong to keep his items, And, in the end, I became slightly fed up with it, Because he kept coming back camp;camp; leaving, Therefore, I had to trade his items back camp;camp; forth constantly. The point is, Even though I didn't take glitched items, I still took them camp;camp; felt immensely guilty. Anywho, I'm really glad you're continuing, Because I Louise this RP. [Sorry to the let other one fall by the wayside, but, I just can't think of anything interesting to say and [email protected]@;;] I think the thread owner of the other one has disappeared anyway, so it's no biggie. I'm just glad to be here still, and I do enjoy this RP very much as well :) I'm super-glad to!~ Freaking Irish calls me [email protected]@;; Who's Irish? Lol Irish would be my nickname in the real world. Aka over there doesn't care to decipher anything. That is why she's lazy. Anyway I completely missed something because I keep forgetting to check the IOC but anyway to catch me up *cries* You can't leave what would we do without you!!!!!!*jumps on you* Ya your not leaving and hey how can I be boring. It's never boring when I'm bored. Annoying for others yes but boring no. Giggles at Mia, thank shun. I'm not going anywhere ;) Good I would miss you o:Lt; You get a mean face today Irish. 'Cause I feel like it. Lt;3333 Rayne made me giggle with her last post.XD XDD I try.... I try. Lol I can get a mean face anyway I want. :P XD Brat. Dude, I lover ping with my freaking Twin. She is so funny.XD Make Crew reply, yo, 'Cause Aza ain't shutting up anytime soon.o: *Is confused* Darwin? Aza? I'm guessing another RP you guys are in? Seems nearly all my RP's have died here on Men. That keeps happening :(Ya mine to every site I'm on they're dying though test yourself and a couple others are plodding along. He-he, Test Yourself is like one of the more active RP's I've been involved in on Men, and The World of the Forgotten, but that one just moves soon slow for me, lol. I hope it's not dying because it really is a very interesting RP. Now that Jury has her pirate RP up and running again, I'll be having even more fun again, because Franz is one of my favorite characters I play, lol. He's my first male character. XD Ya ahh, It's a different RP that we're doing with our best friends.;3 I'mmm still here, I'm working on my post, I've been busy. I'm going to read through the pirate RP, And, join it if I like it. I've red with Jurupa me before, He//she probably thinks I'm a lazy [email protected]@;; *barges in to thread and pokes SEG* SHE does not! :lol: Our little pirate RP starts off where the other one ended so it's not quite tied to the actual new plot yet, not really. Hi there have come to join us or just say hello? I've kicked the idea around of joining this RP since Fiji likes it a lot. I'd have to read through it all to understand what is going on. And I came in to say hi and tell SEG that I don't think she is a lazy bum. XD Are you sure about that? Lt;3333 So the pirate one picks up where the bandit one left off? Or, am I confusing myself?XD I'll just go read it. -EDIT- Neverrrmind, I'm a dork.o: You should join it would be fun *Giggles at Jury and SEG and Mia* Shoot, sounds like we're all going to have a lot of fun together, not that we don't already, he-he. *Tosses confetti into the air* SNOW!!! *catches confetti on tongue*... Ew.snow tastes bad.XD *Giggles at Hatch* No, no, that's not snow, that's confetti, silly :P Whatever it is...it still tastes bad. XP Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sparkles DD IT EVERYONE's GENDER IS CHANGED EXCEPT FOR AKA'S FOR THE TIME BEING. HAVE FUN BEING THE OPPOSITE GENDER GUYS!!!! ROFL, Marielle's furious with Bray now, especially since he didn't have a good reason for doing what he did :P Technically he did he thinks he's protecting his sister from kidnappers, considering she is naive enough to be taken by them and think they're friends. So he makes them opposite gender so while they're trying to figure out how to change back he can get away with Aka and set a trap for them when they come after him. He-he, well Marielle doesn't know that, she just thinks he did it to be spiteful or something. She doesn't think what he did was very rational, lol. Rational is not what I would call it but okay. That's just what I said, he-he, it's not rational :P Look, look, I have new Fiji art...from Nanny, though: Pretty....... picture. I want to be ale to draw. I would love to be able to draw Ya the only thing I can do is color I can't even color, lol, unless it's in solid colors. No shading. I'm pretty good at coloring things. I find shading fun but I can only do it with color pencils That's cool, he-he. How do you like my new av vie? :P I love it only wish I could get more money to buy cool things like that. Sadly its taken me this long to get three items. He-he well let's get the RP moving along, and we'll be able to make more gold :P Where is everyone? I know, I know, real life obligations ;) Not sure I know SEG has very few real life obligations but Rayne I have no clue. 3 Well, I cleaned out my cache camp;camp; junk, And, I had to restock my drop-down menu. I didn't put Men in, So, the URL wasn't there, Glaring at me to get [email protected]@;; And, actually, Irish, My mom was supposed to call her friend Lori, To see if I could get a job, But, I think I'm going to go in on Monday camp;camp; talk to Lori myself. PS My birthday party is going to be on the 22nd.:] Soon..... Anyone got a condensed version of the story so far or am I going to have to actually not be lazy and read the entire thing? WWW, how could you forget about Men? Such dedication :P Lol, I'm j/p SEG. Good luck with the job. Welcome to Test Yourself, In(e)...currently our characters are in town, giving Bray, Aka's brother, a hard time for having changed our genders on our characters, lol. We're trying to get him to change us back. The story: The Yuan-ti have developed some new power that makes them quite powerful, and they are planning to take over the world. They had taken Wiemar and Aka captive, and Luke and Rayne, along with Luke's elf clan went on a rescue mission to save Wiemar and Aka. Luke's people are angry with her because she didn't tell them about Wiemar, the wolf man, when she asked for their help to rescue her friends. At the moment, she is in their bad graces. Wiemar, Rayne, Aka, and Luke travelled to town to meet up with Wiemar's brother, his brother has left again, they went to have dinner, where Aka's brother found them. Well then. I'll re-think my char and then make my intro post. Sounds good...this is a pretty relaxed RP so you don't have to fret over making mistakes or anything. I really need to think up a character for this. :) I'm such a slacker. We don't really care about mistakes as long as its fun and readable. Also don't g off by yourself and RP with yourself we've had someone do that, and eventually we just started ignoring her posts. ~_~ What can I say, I am blonde.XD Anywho, That's really all there is to know about this RP, INE. I think our races come into play quite a bit, So, I'll lay it out for you. Luke, night elf Lt;~~TRIGGER HAPPY, feisty when manly Rayne, elf, right? Lt;~~ CRAZED LUNATIC, resident hobo Aka, shape-shifter Lt;~~3 YEARS OF AGE, gets in white paneled vans with candy Wiemar, werewolf Lt;~~WON'T SHUT UP, only source of testosterone Yuan-ti, humans, for the most part Lt;~~SILENT camp;camp; DEADLY, like farts [Which reminds me, we should rethink what's so big camp;camp; bad about [email protected]@;;] Anand, That's everyone important. And, Jury, TSK TSK. You're almost as lazy as SEG.o: XDD Yes for one I have real life obligations, two, yes Rayne is an elf, XDDD Resident hobo. That's great. Gah, danging ok. I forgot this isn't Gaia. I managed to fix this on Gaia after a while. It's LN(E). As in the natural log of e. Anywho my char's power is bombs. He also sometimes loses control over them. As thus he often gets used as comic relief. In keeping with your character descriptionsElros, mutant human Ohhhhh! I thought it was an, Now everything makes sense.XD Natural logs. Mann I love logs. Hahaha, Irish just can't get away from math.o: I'm going to be a mechanical engineer/math minor I have to love math. Plus is works as an anti noob test. Quote: Originally Posted by SEG ~_~ What can I say, I am blonde.XD Anywho, That's really all there is to know about this RP, INE. I think our races come into play quite a bit, So, I'll lay it out for you. Luke, night elf Lt;~~TRIGGER HAPPY, feisty when manly Rayne, elf, right? Lt;~~ CRAZED LUNATIC, resident hobo Aka, shape-shifter Lt;~~3 YEARS OF AGE, gets in white paneled vans with candy Wiemar, werewolf Lt;~~WON'T SHUT UP, only source of testosterone Yuan-ti, humans, for the most part Lt;~~SILENT camp;camp; DEADLY, like farts [Which reminds me, we should rethink what's so big camp;camp; bad about [email protected]@;;] Anand, That's everyone important. And, Jury, TSK TSK. You're almost as lazy as SEG.o: OMG, SEG, that's just too funny, he-he. Although they are secondary characters played by you and Aka, you left out Bray and Raze, who have become somewhat integral to the storyline now :P Edit: Just waiting on Mia to post again before I do another Luke post ;) Ohhh, YYY bad. Malayan aka Raze, werewolf Lt;~~ A ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS Bray, some sort of voodoo man Lt;~~ NAUGHTY Kool-Aid And, because she's coming into the plot soon, Ferreira, werewolf Lt;~~ WEARS THE PANTS Anand, just for fun, Even Elders, night elves Lt;~~ STICK UP THEIR BUTT No secondary descriptions, I can't think of any.XD As for posting, I'm waiting for you camp;camp; Miasma. Who doesn't get off of school until 10? D: I'm back and I've posted. I was waiting for Rayne but now that she did I did. Anyway. SEG Aka is not three she's 11. Her brother is like 20 something though. He knows magic of sorts, studied himself and is very protective of Aka.(Yes I know it's a joke by the way) *Giggles at Mia* Alright, I've posted too :P I saw I am able to join, anybody know of a good place I could come in at that would make a smooth entry? Randomly popping out of nowhere feels like a rough way to begin. *plays the Adam Savage clip* "Big boom, Big boom!" *ducks under random house* This is going to hurt. XDD Quote: Originally Posted by Hatch *ducks under random house* This is going to hurt. XDD just run in place for about 40 seconds and then flee. ;)but seriously, anyone want to give me something to work off of so i don't have to make my appearance completely random XD .... Hmm.... I don't know... If LN(e) Explodes mention something about the explosion and how your character saw it. *Shrugs* XD ok, now to wait for explosions ^_^; Well.... Rayne went BOOM...XDD Let's just hope the others didn't get roasted in the blast XDD It was quite a big boom at that. Sgt;_.;; I had a very dramatic post for this, Anand, Luke beat me to it. SEG must think now.XD *Giggles* Sorry SEG, you snooze, you lose :P I wasn't snoozing, I was typing.XD I've been fiddling with THS post for, About an hour or so, 'Cause I'm lame like that.x3 Anywho, -win- I fixed it. WWW I love your post, SEG. Thanks LN(e), for livening up the RP again, this is actually quite fun he-he. An added twist in the somewhat unknown future plot of our RP. Welcome to the RP, gallon...you've actually come in at a very good time ;) I know that. I figured that it was getting dull and slow by the lack of posts per day. So I blew it up. *groans from place on ground* Quite literally. XDD Actually, I prefer slower rps. You guys jumped into light speed hahaha. I usually do the opposite. I post and the RP or thread completely dies. That's happened to me soon many times LN(e)... I don't mind the RP being slow as long as it stays exciting enough to keep everyone around ;) Oops, sorry, Mia, I didn't realize the trade was still waiting on me for something...all taken care of now :) Yay!!! Thank you so much again *Tackles and hugs* I don't plan on this dying anytime soon. In fact SEG and I have something great planned...... again. Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Mia, where did you get your hair pin? I don't see it in the shops Edit: N/m, I found it ;) Sgt;Walt; Yes ssh, Furness. I posted.;] Now I'm waitlisting for Mia to get off of work. D: He-he, poor Aka and Bray, having the dad of all evilness :P How did they turn out to be so sweet ;) Actually I changed it its only Aka's dad, and she turned out so sweet because Bray hid her from her father. Ahh ok, he-he, that's cool. Ahh, I finally have an AVI I'm happy with ;) That means Bray and Aka are only half siblings. More into that story later maybe after SEG posts. We love your Avi!!!! Sorry! I posted now.Sgt;Lt;;; Foot we shall continue Sorry I haven't been here, been very busy. Luke post made ;) Yay!!! Magical Luke post ..... um where is it? OMG, where'd my Luke post go? I swear I made one... I wonder if they considered it too graphic and removed it because Luke was holding her bow up with an arrow strung at Penis's head and told him to let go of Aka, or he'd find an arrow embedded in his skull, lol. They remove things that are too graphic? Loll, Me camp;camp; Jury were making threats, That involved skull fucking camp;camp; such, If that isn't graphic, Then, I don't know what is.Sgt;Sgt;;; Sorry my post is soon delayed, I'm really, really sick right now, And, prior to that, There were parties, And, other crap that makes SEG's weekend's hectic. I don't know if they removed it or not, I just know it disappeared, because I did post it...then again, maybe I had it posted but only previewed it, after all I get distracted with my grandkids, but then again I always go back and check it after I submit, so I'm sure it was there. Maybe I'm just slowly losing my mind, lol. WWW I hope you feel better real soon. Seems lots of people are getting sick right now... I hope I don't come down with something. Thought I was a week or so ago because of how tired and achy I was feeling, but I never got sick. I hate getting sick it totally sucks. Especially for me, cause when I get sick I really get sick. I haven't been sick yet this season! *Knocks on wood* But yeah, I really hope you feel better too.for your sake as well as those around you.((When you don't feel up to par...you may not feel like putting your best foot forward when it comes to social situations.... I know I don't XP)) Lol, You're right, actually. Stupid me drove to school both today camp;camp; yesterday, And, both days, I was not overly patient with people camp;camp; their idiotic driving. Slowing down to 25 on the FREEWAY because of a bike cop! D:Lt; I'm actually feeling ok now, I should be completely A-OK by tomorrow.^^ I haven't really been sick for too long, A little under a week I think. That's usually about how long.;/ Ugh, well I spent the last two days sick, but I'm back to normal already...that's usually how long it lasts when I do get sick, though, which isn't very often. Well I'm glad everyone's feeling okay now. SEG if you get me sick so help me I will smite you It was completely dead for a couple of days there, And, then, BAM, Everyone posted.Sgt;Sgt;;; Stooped SEG eh shall post in the morning.:3 See what did I tell you. This not dead. SEG thought it was dying. But I had faith in my favorite people. Bowchikawowow~ XD I'm here *holds back Main* Okay so we need a run-down for the four new people that just joined. Hmmm so much and so little space. Guys help me out if I leave out anything important. Okay so we do have an enemy, The Yuan-ti (I may be spelling that wrong)they are led by the witch (whose name I don't remember)We are currently engaged with one of the general's (someone close to the witch) he also happens to be Aka's father and the person who tortures people. Aka is conscious, Rayne has been taken over by her second personality Lilt his in the fight. Raze is holding down Ferreira (SP? Sorry SEG)Wiemar??? What was Wiemar doing? Bray is trying to get to Aka to remove her from her father's sight. (Bray is Aka's half brother, older in age) Luke, well Luke was firing an arrow at the bad guys back, Lilith got hold of it though. And well Sons just walked in. As for character bios:Adrian (Aka): 11 year-old shape-shifter (Bio pg 1)Bray: Magic person (so far he has only made people switch genders)Aka's half brother (same mother)Ferreira: Wiemar's wife (wears the pants) werewolfLumerielle: (Luke) An even woman (bio pg 4)Penisgesicht: Aka's father, A lead member in the Yuan-ti force. (trying currently to kill him)Rayne/Lilith: Also an even woman but she does not remember her she came from. (Bio pg 1)Raze: Wiemar's brother. Also, a werewolf. Waikar: Werewolf who used to be tied to the Yuan-ti by force because they kidnapped his wife. (Bio pg 2) OO lots of drama there. Main will be an interesting addition then XD It should be a fairly interesting edition. You spelled both Yuan-ti camp;camp; Ferreira right for once.Sgt;Sgt;;; I honestly have no clue what Wiemar is doing, I don't really know what to do with him. And, I doubt much will be happening from any of the SEG trio. I'm going to be taking a break. If you're curious, Luke camp;camp; Rayne, Feel free to message Dakota about it. Sorry new people, It's just none of your business. We will still be continuing with the RP I will try and talk with SEG to see if she wants me to post something for her. But as of right now she is taking a very needed break. I'm fine with waiting. Kain: I can just watch for now *hangs upside down like a monkey* Thank you guys for understanding Welcome to all the new members! I've actually been sick, and I'm currently fighting a bad cold, but I'm still around. We are moving into my daughter's boyfriend's grandpa's house this week sometime, though, so I might go missing for a few days anyway, but I will be back, however, I am anticipating that my online time will be cut drastically with this move :(No worries everyone can wait for you and SEG. WWW...poor SEG, but breaks are expected, take as long as you need. To New Peoples: Hi and welcomes, hope the massive amounts of pages that only we few have acquired haven't fried your brains, but it really can't be helped. Media: Haha, with all these new additions do you think I should make Lilith's and Rayne's posts two different colors? I've been using italics (well...when she's quiet) so far, but people might get confused. Lume: WWW!!! Luke's been sick!? I'm sorry, I hope you get to feeling better soon! It would probably be good to use different colors like SEG does with her characters. @[email protected] New clothing!!~ Easy! Must get my rear in gear.Sgt;Sgt;;; I think I'm good to go, But, no post from me today. Gotta work on my project, Due Tuesday, Anand, from what I understand, We're having my uncle, John camp;camp; maybe fat Mike + Cindy over for dinner. Welcome back, SEG... I've got the toothache/headache from hell right now, have for the past couple days, and it's not letting up at all, so I'm going to be kind of hit-and-miss for a while, I think. We didn't move yet, my daughter and her boyfriend never brought any boxes home to pack stuff into, so looks like the move is postponed to next week anyway. Who knows. I have a dentist appt on Nov 1, it can't come soon enough for me. Meanwhile, I get to suffer for as long as this tooth decides to hurt, because the doctor won't let me take anything but Tylenol for pain because of the blood thinner medication I'm on for my heart. He says other pain meds could make me bleed to death...ohh yay for me. The only time I'm not hurting is when I'm actually asleep, but my back is in so much pain from sleeping all day long for the past two days, lol, so that's just one more added pain to the list of pains I'm suffering from right now. Sorry, don't mean to rant, I'm just horribly miserable right now. *hugs fizz* Oh poor you what can we get for that pain *goes and raids moms pills.* Oh here we go Vicodin ... That'll really get rid of the pain....and have you seeing little pink bunnies while you're at it =3 But all joking aside, I'm sorry that you've got a toothache.that's really got to suck...what is it and people getting sick (and/or) hurt around the end of the year? Actually, Vicodin doesn't affect me that way...all it does is kill the pain, which is fine by me, he-he...problem is, I can't take it. :(I've never had the pleasure of visiting Vicodin-land.^^ I've posted finally.:]] I've got to catch up with all my rps.Sgt;Sgt;;; I have had the pleasure of visiting Vicodin, and it literally made me black out. I personally don't like the thing. Oh, i found the first Halloween event item Yay! Go me! *runs off to find the second one* Ok, so we are moving tomorrow. I don't know when we'll get the Peters set back up again so I might be missing for a few days. Hopefully not, though, as the internet is already on there. I hope we get the Peters set up tomorrow as I'd really like to be able to get the last event item tomorrow as well, he-he. Okay well see you when you get back on then. We finally got moved in, and the Peters set up, but I've been having problems with my internet connection on my Peter. It's very odd because this Peter is closer to the router than it was in the old apartment, yet it's getting a weak signal. I was on the phone with tech support nearly all day and all night yesterday, when finally I got an agent who really seemed to know what he's doing. He helped me to at least improve the signal to my Peter, but he said I need a signal enhancer. I don't know what that's going to run me, but I won't be able to get it right away, so my net's going to be kind of flaky until then. At least I'm connected, though, and I will be here ;) Hello, everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving :) Alright, alright, I'll force something into a post. Well guys, next week I move into my own place finally, but financially I do not have the funds to get internet service on my own, so as of next week, I will become internet-less. I do not know when I will be back again, so I'm going to have to play Marielle out of the story :(Good luck to all of you! *Juggles* ;____; No more Luke; What is Raze to do? Speaking of WHAT to do, We need to follow some new trail in our storyline, Any ideas?:3 Hello, visiting my daughter, so I decided to pop on a min and say hi and wish you all a Merry Christmas :) I love my new apartment, it's warm and quiet. I finally get some peace and quiet, he-he. My oral surgery is scheduled for the 17th to remove this awful tooth, and I am so glad it's finally coming out as the headaches have only worsened. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday :) Merry Christmas! I don't know where you guys have disappeared to but wanted to at least wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :) if you are officially back on you can rejoin us we haven't gone far. PLEASE!!!! Oh Mia, your av vie looks fabulous! I totally missed out on the holiday events. I don't even know what items were given out, he-he. Furthermore, I'm only here once in a while yet, wish I could say I was back, he-he. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday :) sadness you could still post with us as often as you can we seem to be going pretty slow since SEG has issues posting.

OCC for Test Yourself|rating:2.0

His Devotion (Staerin and YoungOne)

Michael stretched his arms over him, bent at the elbows and over his head not to push up against the roof of the SUV he was sitting behind, yawning as the slow morning drug on. He hated traffic duty, but at least he wasn't on it every day like the cops in the cities to the south. In ten years the small town he served might grow enough to need a dedicated patrol of more than the two roads into town, Texas 289 and... well, no one but locals took the other way in. Few even took 289 either, except that it was a straight show from DFW up to Lake Tacoma; this early in the summer the boats were seeing behind trucks, girls already in their bikinis for the rough hour drive from where he was sitting. Not that growing up he hadn't made that trek up there plenty of times. Small town, little to do. Michael had technically made it out, but not in a way that kept him from coming back. He had joined the Marines because he didn't have the grades to get into college, but after two tours of duty managed to get one and become an MP... which is why he was a cop back in his hometown. Not that it was really that far in the country anymore. DFW grew north. Everyone new that. In twenty years it'd most likely be solid between Celina and Texas and some of the longer-lived residents already were starting to complain. He liked it, though, it made it easy to get down into Dallas when he was needed. Turning his head as a truck rumbled by, he couldn't help but think back. But he was interrupted when the radar picked up someone speeding. Straightening up, he rolled his thick neck and spun the steering wheel with hands that belonged only to a country-boy, soft and delicate they were not. "I hate traffic duty," came a feminine voice in the car as well, drawing a turn of his cropped-hair and head, a holdover from the Marines. She was another officer, clad in the same black uniform, although hers was a bit more fitting given it was for women, and she had breasts. Not overly large, but nice. Michael had heard a few of the men around town compliment the new addition to the force; Maria had lived in Celina all her life with her single mother, left to study criminal justice at UNT just an hour away, then came back to be an officer while she saved to go to law school... if she went. It was a topic she talked about, both for and against. If Michael heard again about the "Legal Bubble" and how it was going to make becoming a lawyer hard again, he might put his service weapon in his mouth and pull the trigger. Maria was bubbly and sweet, not Stoic and calm as he was. They made a good team when they rode together. Usually on traffic duty. Okay, so maybe it wasn't so bad... Lights flicked on as the car raced by, and he pressed the gas and the SUV leapt up to speed, surprisingly fast. There was nowhere to go - construction ahead, lights to boot, the driver had no choice but to pull over into the Brookshire parking lot - some people said that the chain meant you were no longer in the city, he remembered. Pulling in a few car lengths away, Michael gathered his pad and put his hat on, opening the door and unfolding his six-foot-two frame, clad in his all-black police uniform sans the buttons, badge and pinstripe down the leg. He wore his service weapon more like an old cowboy, hanging loosely, unlike Maria who had it tight against her waist, a stickler for doing things by the book. Slowly he walked up, boots clicking against the concrete, lowering his glasses to reveal blue eyes as he reached the window... The black Honda was pushing over eighty miles per hour, but Kara didn't notice because she had already mentally started to go back over the case of the client she was late going to see. How much easier it had been during college, where she had excelled to the top of her class without even trying. And now she had to deal with real clients, her law degree made sure she had a steady stream of those. Life was about work. While she had been living in the city, she now split her time between the city and what had been home growing up. Mom had died in a car accident when she had been only 15, losing her had sent Kara to college, where she could forget how much she missed her. But now, dad was sick, stage three cancer and nothing had worked. She had all the money, many of her cases had been overly successful, but money couldn't fix everything. She wasn't going to just leave him to die alone. So she split her time. At this point it was all she could do. So back to the case, which was surprisingly from her hometown. Since she was splitting her time, she had decided she could take a few cases from home, which would keep her close to her father. The case was a single mother who had gotten involved with some thug, he had abused her and for once they had a lady who wasn't afraid to stand up to the man. So she was her lawyer, pro bono, working her hardest to keep the bastard locked up the longest possible amount of time. Woop Wood. Hearing that dreaded sound she sighed and looked in the rearview mirror, mentally cursing at the situation. Now she would be even more late to her meeting. Pulling over she let her raven hair fall in its natural curls and tugged the casual business button down a little lower, unbuttoning the top two buttons just enough to let the lace of her bra peek out. Reaching across she pulled out her license and registration, ready to hand them to the officer. He sighed as the window rolled down, folding his glasses and putting them in his pocket as his mechanically flipped open the ticket book and said words that he had said at least a couple of thousand time, "Licenses and registration, please," he said, not yet looking up, writing in the time and date of the infraction before he caught the motion in his peripheral vision. Maria was on the other side of the car, walking in a circle around to meet him, standing in front of the hood when Michael's head popped when his mind connected the dots. He just started to laugh, shaking his head as he flipped the pad closed and leaned over so she could see him as easily as he could her. "Really Kara?" was all he said, drawing Maria's attention as she slowed, not quite sure what was going on. "Although I have to hand it to you," he said, flicking his eyes at her exposed cleavage, "Not a bad way to get Jack to avoid writing you a ticket." He just started to laugh. Jack always gave out warnings, although it was no surprise the cute high school girls tended to get more warnings than anyone else. "But unfortunately you know it won't work on me," he grinned, even though they both knew he was not going to be writing her a ticket." You hadn't mentioned coming back, I would have gotten some steaks to go grill for you and your dad. I mowed his lawn a few days ago and watered, so he should be good there. He still won't hire a maid, so you might have some work inside..." he laughed. And then the pain rushed in, but he was entirely prepared for that. It hurt, but he didn't show. He and Kara had history, lots of it, good and bad. Just seeing her reminded him of their first date, homecomings and prom. She was just as beautiful now as she was then; before she was young, but she had matured into a woman, just as beautiful. And he still loved her. So much that he took care of her father and helped her any time she needed a hand. He'd do anything for her, even if he never told her. As much as it killed him, their time had passed. They tried to make it work while he was in basic and then deployed and her in college - but outside of her coming to his graduation from Basic and one more time on leave, they had drifted apart. She was going places, he went to the desert. And then back home." Go on, just watch your speed. Tell you father hello for me. Are you going to the bar tonight? A bunch of us will be there... Thursday night before a football game. You know the drill," he laughed. Every Thursday everyone who had played football at the high school gathered there to tell old war stories, drink and just socialize. The wives and girlfriends that usually ended up being wives would join in, talking about their man's especially foolish play or somehow otherwise trying to embarrass him, but it was all in good fun. It was an excuse to get together, helped make the town close-knit and generated a strong community. And Friday night, football. Everyone in Texas knew that. "I'll see you later, Kara," he added, burying the pain. He had come to accept it. He loved her enough for her to not love him back. Or at least like he did. He'd take care of her from afar. That was just who he was. Kara didn't even look up, she just stared forward ready to listen to the cops instructions. Holding up the papers at his command, she was surprised when she realized it was Michael. She closed her eyes briefly in relief as a smile formed on her full pink lips. "Hey, it has gotten me out of more than one ticket, be what it may." He looked good, looked bulked up and of course weathered, but the deserts over there could do that to a man. "Are you sure my ways won't work on you? " She playfully batted her eyelashes, joking with him just like old times. Old times. God, it had been a few years, when he had gone on his first tour, it had broken her heart. To know he was in constant danger, to know that there had been a possible chance that he wouldn't come back, wouldn't be there for her? It had terrified her, after her mom had died she had toughened up internally, tried to make it so she wouldn't be hurt anymore by death. And now that went to hell in a hand basket because it was happening all over again with her dad. And Michael, bless his heart, he was helping her dad, and she hadn't had to ask at all, that was just the kind man he was and had always been." I will be sure to tell him you said hi." She thought for a moment about her schedule. It would be nice to see everyone again and just relax for once. "Ya know, I would love to come for a drink. It's been a hell of a week. Hell, maybe I'll even get trashed, and you'll end up having to carry me home." Smiling she rolled up the window, buckled her seat belt and waved before taking off towards home, now at a more reasonable pace. "Let me guess, don't ask?" Maria chimed in, her face twisted as she looked at Michael, mocking him, "God, you guys are such horn dogs..." he added, exacerbated with the masculine persuasion of their race. "I would have pegged you for blonde with big, fake tits, Mike," she laughed, knowing the conversation was going downhill quick, but she couldn't help but grin at his big red face. Stepping onto the frame of the door, she leaned onto the roof of the SUV, crossing her arms in front of her to hold up her chin, her grin growing as she realized she had something on him. "She looked smart too... did she get that way or do you just have her fool?" she said before Michael threw her a dirty look. "Oh come on, do you know how many," Maria started, sliding into the car, "times I've heard the guys talk about my nice Mexican ass? Or how I'm too good-looking to have a gun? Deal with it, Mike," she rolled her eyes at him, carrying on the conversation without so much as a word from him." That's because you have a very nice Mexican ass, Maria," Mike said, turning his head to fire a grin right back at her, only to see an angry woman turn and punch him in the arm with a fake scowl on her face as he turned on the SUV, turning his head as he turned back onto the highway, "And you can ask. High school sweetheart. She went to college and law school, I went to Iraq. I didn't work out. Shit happens," he said, rather matter-of-factly, but even Maria knew not to dig at certain things. Let the men have their masculinity. She saw his reaction when he realized it was her. She saw his face clear as day. Boy man had it bad for her still. She leaned over and rubbed his arm where she had hit him, drawing a smile from Mike. "Muscular body too, judging from that punch." And he erased all that goodwill and earned another punch. But he did show up that night as he said he would, his uniform gone and instead just in a plain green t-shirt, not tight but still showing off his build, and faded, worn jeans over his boots. He looked just as much of a normal guy if it wasn't for his height or the fact he was probably the youngest male in the bar. They ranged from roughly forty to upwards of seventy, the same fifteen or twenty men that normally gathered. Mike was starting to push into his thirties, not quite old yet, but old enough for the force to blow out a party a few months ago when he reached thirty. Walking to the bar he smiled as they welcomed him - he was a former cornerback - and ordered a beer, halfway wondering if Kara would even show up. And what he would do. Most of the rest of her drive home was spent going down memory lane. Things had been simple and infinite and when you were young you felt like you had forever and that nothing could touch you. How quickly things had changed. Pulling into the parking space outside the small office space she had rented, she sprinted up to the store in her heels, cursing as she saw her client pacing in the hallway outside the office. The client, Pam, was a young blonde woman lifted with bruises and the small little boy with bright blue eyes and blonde hair like his mother was Timmy. "I'm so sorry I'm late, ended up getting pulled over on the way here. But enough about me, come on in." Ushering them in she sat down and smiled as they began their meeting, going over all the pre-trial details. It was over an hour and a half later that Kara was finally leaving and locking the office doors. Sighing she realized it had been over six hours since she had eaten last and her stomach wasn't quiet about reminding her. With a quick flick of her phone she ordered her and her father their regular Chinese food, to-go. It was only another half hour until she was walking in the door of the very house she had grown up in. So many memories assaulted her, good and bad, as she set her bags down and carried the food to the kitchen. "Dad?" She yelled through the house to get his attention before making her way to the living room, where he usually was. John Wilson had once been a tall muscular man, one who could scare some of the meanest criminal into jail. Unfortunately the cancer and chemo had witted him down to near skin and bones. But his lively attitude and personality was the one thing that couldn't be witted down. "Hey honey, didn't know you were coming back so soon." The older man blinked, "Why is your shirt unbuttoned so low? Were you finally trying to catch a husband?" Kara blinked and gave him a look as she buttoned the top two buttons back up. "No I wasn't dad. I was just trying to get out of a speeding ticket, and before you ask, it didn't work, well sorta. Actually it was Michael who pulled me over, he says hi." Walking to his side she helped him up and hooked her arm through his as she guided him to the kitchen table. Getting him settled in she grabbed a few plates and forks and dished out their dinner. "He is such a good boy, Kara, why don't you-" Kara sighed, and interrupted him, "Just because dad. Now eat your Chinese." She ate a small amount quickly, all the while watching her father ate like a pigeon. Hell, she didn't give a damn about the law, she was going to find him some medical marijuana if it meant she would see him eat again. Glancing at the clock she stretched, "I'm actually going to go have a few drinks with the boys once I change. I'm not sure when I'll be home, just make sure you take your pills before you go to sleep." John nodded, "Thanks for dinner kiddo, go have some fun for once." Smiling Kara nodded and ran upstairs to change. She was quick, not bothering with more than eyeliner and a bit of red lipstick and letting her curls fall naturally. A pair of faded jeans and a black tank, and she was ready to go, thankfully the bar was real close so she enjoyed the short walk downtown, smiling as she walked into Joe's Place, beelining it to the drink counter and ordering a honey Jack chilled. Foot tapping to the Stone song that came on, her eyes scanned the place. "I remember when you laid out that one hot-shot QB from Dallas," one of the old men said to Michael as he smiled, nodding in agreement. He remembered the game well if only because the QB's teammates almost attached him for the hard, but legal hit. He'd watched the QB on several runs and realized he never went the direction of his first June. So when it was just the two of them and he joked left, he knew he wouldn't go right but rather double it. And Michael's shoulder pad connected right under his helmet, defeating the QB and driving him into the ground. It was probably his best moment... beyond that he wasn't all that good, which is why no one recruited his for college. "When I was playing..." the man said, giving Michael his perfect out. Downing the rest of his drink, he walked over to the bar and spotted her from behind. It was easy, he knew her anywhere. Hell, as he got closer he could remember the way she smelled. Not stank, but rather that unique scent everyone had. It was... he stopped thinking.Instead, he reached down and snatched her shot glass, bringing it up to her nose and then taking a sip, "I wouldn't make you for a Jack girl, but then again, this isn't real Jack. Its good though," he said, grinning at her and offering the drink back, glancing to the bartender and order another for her and a straight Jack for him. "Glad to see you came," he said, sitting down next to her. "But don't think I won't ticket you again. I got a bit of revenge on our old high school principal when I caught him speeding..." he laughed, knowing it was a bit untoward for a cop to treat people differently. "So how have you been? Your dad brags about you a lot," he added, it was the easiest way to keep up with how she was doing. He'd even been down near where she lived a few times for training or some meeting, but had never gone to see her. He didn't want to intrude into her life. She was successful, and her father said she was happy. That was good enough for him. Kara smiled as the bartender set her drink in front of her, brows furrowing as it was immediately snatched up. Turning she smiled as she realized it was Michael. She nudged his arm playfully as he insulted her drink, calling it not real jack. "Its Jack enough for me." She countered as she took the drink and downed it in a single shot. As he ordered another shot for the of them she told the bartender to make it two more each and for him to bring her a Reads. Turning back she laughed as he told her about his revenge on the principal, that guy had been a major asshat. When he told her that her dad bragged about she laughed a bit and nodded. "I can only imagine. I'm pretty good, just practicing law and such. I'm actually going to be here for the majority of my time, I have a case here. I should only be heading to the city only like two days a week. After I won my last huge case they basically said I could do what I want." She shrugged, glad things had worked out so smoothly so she could be with her dad most of the time. Because if what the doctors said was true, he didn't have too much time left." Enough about me, Mr. Officer. What about you, how are you, how have you been? Fill me in on everything, it's been forever since I last saw you." Forever was right, she hadn't even had time to visit when he had come back for good, and she felt terrible about it. He smiled when she mentioned her winning cases, but the smile was really because she'd be around more. "Me? Well, you know I went to Iraq. Spent a year in Germany on a base there while I finished my CJ degree. But when I finally left - eight years - I really didn't have anywhere to go but here. I was an MP, so I decided to go to the Academy down in Dallas, graduated there and spent a year working down there. Hated it. So as soon as there was an opening here, I transferred. Other than that, just same old me. Just older. I did end up buying a house outside of town, figured get it while the land's cheap and in ten years when everyone wants to live up here, I can sell for some good money and move where ever I want," he added, giving her the rundown of the last decade in the span on two minutes. He'd skipped over a good bit, but it was unimportant. Just your standard "how have you been" conversation." Nothing near as neat as you. You're kind of special around here - you got out and did good," he added, letting his accent and the bad diction come out, "They even ran a story about you when you won your case. Your dad bought nearly ever damn copy of that edition. I go over there once a week to make sure his yard is taken care of, fix leaks, whatever. Opposite side of town, but its no bother." Her family had been just as important to him as his own. His parents were good people, but helping her father was a way to stay connected, get real information. "I'm really happy things are going so well for you. I know I kind of left you on your own. I'd have gone to college if I could have gotten in. You were always the smart one," he said, admitting a bit of sadness. He glanced over and patted her shoulder. "But we both turned out well. Can't complain too much." He could if he let himself. But he smiled. He really did think he turned out okay. Not what his plan had been, but good nonetheless. Just having Kara for a bit would make the next few months better. Avidly listening she nodded, smiling when he told her he finished his CJ degree. When he mentioned he spent a year in Dallas her face faltered momentarily. Why hadn't he told her he was there? She would have loved to have had a friendly face that knew and understood her, in the big city. But hearing him call her the smart one, she smiled, she had gotten lucky with her brains. Had she not, she would have been another pretty face, bouncing a baby or two on her hip by 25. Blinking she took a sip of her Reads which had magically appeared in front of her while she had been immersed in her conversation with Michael." You know what? We did turn out good. We are both productive members of society and stuff like that, we are golden. Now take this shot with me." Smiling and winking she picked up hers and clinked her glass to his and took the shot in a single swift drink, feeling the burn of the Jack warm her chest. She hadn't been kidding when she had told him he might have to carry her home later. She planned on getting thoroughly drunk, she needed, no deserved it. Furthermore, she wanted to have a little spontaneous fun tonight, and Michael was her favorite person to do it with. "I think I challenge you to the five-finger death punch. I learned it in college, became a pro at it. Because while I was getting my law degree, I was also getting my drinking degree." She giggled, "So five-finger death punch is simple. Five shots in Five minutes or less. First one to finish wins. You could of course decline the challenge, if you care nothing about your pride as a Texan. " She was right. They were both decent members of society, ironically in the same line of work. Just different sides of the wall. The two of them were like the intro to Law and Order:"In the Criminal Justice System the people are represented by two separates, yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime and the District Attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories." Except she wasn't a DA. Nor did they have any stories anymore. Although that might change she when mentioned the drinking game. He listened as she described what to her was a game, but he added his own twist. "We did something similar when we went back to a base off the front lines. Well, not officially..." he added, remembering the brotherhood of his fellow soldiers and him getting rip-roaring drunk in the barracks, "And you realize I have about eight inches," he started, not even realizing the double entente he had just gaffed into, "And about a hundred pounds. You're, what, one-forty soaking wet?" Michael's weight was muscle, making him even more tolerant. "But if you want me to drag you back home drunk, lets go..." He smiled and raised his hand, flagging down the bartender and ordering himself four shots of Jack and then a jagerbomb for his chaser, turning to her and grinning, "Pick your poison," he challenged her, nudging her with his forearm as he moved the other of their empty glasses to the side for the bartender to get as he left. The eager would even the odds for her, although he was tilting them back a bit with the Red Bull. And he had a slight addiction to the energy drinks rather than coffee. Grinning at her, he looked back at the rest of the men, their conversations having gone long before he was even in junior high, some of it almost before he was born. "I did my twenty-first birthday in a pub in Germany... so don't think I didn't get an honorary degree in drinking..." he smiled, although try as he might, he couldn't remember much of it. But there was photographic evidence. And if that were ever to be disseminated, well, Marines had honor. And lots of guns. Kara laughed as he mentioned their differences in sizes. Thinking about how they could remedy it, she nibbled her lip. "Well, this is only the first round." Her eyes twinkled lavishly." But I'm sure, I'll figure ways to even the playing ground later." Winking she stared at the bars options. "Hmm, I think I'll do 3 honey jacks and two eager bombs. The eager just goes down so smooth. " The shots were served, and the bartender looked at the pair of them and shook his head. "You two better not puke." Kara just smiled and nodded setting her phone on the counter and setting the timer to five minutes. Looking at the shots, she looked at Michael and then looked behind him at the door. "Is that Tammy Dev ital?" And when he looked to the door she picked up the first shot glass and said, "Go!" Drinking down the first shot and smiling as she set the empty glass on the bar. His head turned when she mentioned the name - mostly because he didn't have acluewho she was talking about, but when he turned back he saw the first glass already on the table. At that point he had to make a decision... let her win, win himself, or push both of them to the point that they'd be rip-roaring drunk in five minutes. Flashing her a smile back, he reached for the first shot, threw it back, and then swapped hands and dropped another, never giving his throat a chance to recover from the burn. "We're going to regret this in the morning..." he said, letting his eyes blur for a moment as his body tried to shoulder the abuse he was starting to put it through. Wrapping his hand around his third, he lifted it up for her to tap with her second drip. "To making the best of bad decisions," he announced, for a moment wondering if that was the story of their lives. Good decisions that were actually bad ones in the long-run. Hell, he was happier at this moment than he'd been in a long time. The smile he flashed her had her mouth stretching into a happy grin, she had missed him, that smile, and this whole thing of relaxing. And, he was now a shot ahead of her. Lifting her shot glass she clanked it to his, smiling at his saying and then taking her second shot. She took a drink of her beer and looked at the clock. She had three shots left and there was just under three minutes left. Grabbing a third shot with her left hand, and a fourth with her right, she did a quick one-two of the shots, feeling the burn slide right to her core. Looking at the last shot she picked it up, having her own cheers in mind as she looked to Michael raising it to him. "To being home." "You're crazy, Kara," he laughed, grabbing his shots and downing them with her. To say it burned was an understatement. Hell, he could barely taste them as fast as he was getting drunk. But he raised his own shot to her and smiled, "To having you home," he said, feeling a bit overly emotional at that moment. He corrected it as he slammed down the drink, watching her do the same and wondering if they would consider it a tie. But instead he leaned over and patted her thigh, chuckling, "So who won?" he asked, nudging her with his shoulder. "Either way, I have to redeem myself at the pool table... as soon as I can determine if I can walk straight..." "I'm only a little crazy." She said with a warm smile. Once all the shots were done she took a good drink of her beer to cool the burning that was going on in her throat. "I think we can call it a draw." She looked at the bar clock on the wall, "We both finished in time anyway." She turned and looked at the pool table, raising a single slender eyebrow. "Oh god, I'm going to try but I'm not too good. Maybe I should take the shots game win." She laughed as he pondered if he would be able to walk straight. "Oh come on Mr. Honorary drinking degree, with all those muscles there is no way you can be drunk, tipsy maybe." Grinning she stood, her beer in one hand and her other hand took his, guiding him towards the pool table. "When I said I wasn't too good at pool, I meant to say I'm terrible, you are going to have to show me how to line up the shot and remind me how to hold the stick." She was right... he wasn't drunk yet, just burned from the shots and tipsy. Drunk would come later, once it all got into his bloodstream. He knew that much about alcohols impact on physiology. If nothing else, he'd stopped enough drunk drivers. "Oh, I think I can show you how to play," he said, speaking before he could think, realizing he'd have her in his arms again. For a moment, he nearly frowned, knowing he was probably teasing himself, but then he threw that aside. Why not have fun?" I'll break, you know, muscles and all," he teased, "But you need to rack them," he grinned, tilting his eyes at her and then the triangle, knowing the process would be a nice treat to his own eyes. He turned and grasped two pool cues and then laid hers across from where she would be racking the balls. "I would have thought you'd be good at busting balls," he teased, realizing that the alcohol was easily lowering his inhibitions. "You are a lawyer after all..." he throws out to defend himself, but readied himself for the inevitable cop joke... Kara raised a brow as he told her he would break because of his muscles, and she knew he had those, had seen them. She took a drink of her beer and set it down before picking up the racking triangle. Walking around the table she collected all the balls and deposited them into the triangle. Leaning over the table she put the balls in there correct order with one first, eight in the middle, with stripes and solids alternating. She gave a good giggle at his joke, her face playfully serious as she grabbed the pool stick and stepped back so he could break. "Hey, don't let this fool you. I am great at busting balls, just not these particular ones." She looked at him, "I may bust balls but at least I don't let chicks who flash a little cleavage out of a ticket." She winked at him and waited for him to break. Lifting his finger into the air, he acted as if he were marking a point down for her given her riposte comment, nodding silently as she had one-upped him. Although the lead up to the comment hadn't been that graceful, but if he had gone with another allegory he might have taken points off. His drunk mind was running circles. "Oh, I know you can bust balls, I have enough memories of that," he teased, walking by and running his finger on the small of her back as he grabbed his own pool cue and lined up for his break. Time to show off a little...he said, picturing the shot in his mind and then turning his head back to her. "But I only let good cleavage off without a ticket," he added and then thrust the cue forward, sending the little white ball spinning into the assembled pass, shooting them across the table. Thinking of pool had gotten him through physics. He turned back just in time to see one of the solids fall into the pocket, drawing a smile. "You're stripes," he teased, standing up and leaning on the table. "Only fitting. You were striped suits, I was solid uniform," he said, suddenly realizing that it made almost no sense. He shrugged and pushed off of the table, walking back to the side to take his next shot, this time not playing around. The cue ball went straight, but the angle was off just a bit and the 1-ball bounced back and forth and then out of the pocket, drawing a sigh from Michael. "You're up," he said rather defeated as he turned back to her. "Pick where you want to shoot, and I'll help with your form." Yes, he was quite interested in her form. Things were so easy between them, and she could relax around him more so than she had been able to anyone for a long time. She gave a little bow as he acknowledged her one prance, giving a little laugh as he joked more about her busting balls. The fingers that slid across her lower back sent chills up her spine and she took a breath, watching him with new eyes as he lined up and took his shot. As his second shot missed she looked around the table for a clear shot, finding one she took the cue ball and lined it up to the purple striped ball in the corner pocket. Bending over the corner she turned to look at him, a small smile on her face, "Are you going to help me with this shot or just stare at my ass?" She joked about him, but she would be lying if she said she hadn't been staring at the strong arms and his surprisingly nice ass for a guy. He turned his head, changing the perspective of his view of her ass and shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine right here," he said, his face going from deadpan to a chuckle as he couldn't maintain the facade. Laying the pool cue against the wall, he nestled up next to her, placing his left hand on hers, helping her form the guide for the cue and then wrapped his other around her body, intertwining his fingers with hers. Jostling her a bit tighter against him, he more or less made her a puppet to his actions, his head just to the right of hers, his cheek against her ear. "Not as good of a view here, though..." he teased before he did just what he would, made her his puppet. Leaning her over a bit, he positioned her hand just right - resting the wrist-knuckle of her thumb against the felt and spreading her fingers like a 'L', using his thumb to pull the tip of hers up to cup the pool cue. Using his feet, he adjusted her stance by tapping her calves and then using his body forced her to line up her line of sight between the tip of the stick, the cue ball and the purple-stripped ball. "And then very smoothly, pull back and strike..." he said, although his alcohol-riddled mind wanted to say 'thrust'. But as those words were said, he did just that, gliding the cue along her hand and striking the ball, sending it tumbling over itself and, in the desired chain reaction, sent the purple-strip into the pocket. "And just like that," he said, although he was quite slow in untangling himself from Kara. Kara might have blushed at his staring at her rounded ass, but those shots were doing their job and she couldn't have cared less. In fact, she rather liked it. What she hadn't been prepared for though, was how much she enjoyed the feel of him taking control of her body. Of his hand finding hers, of his other hand guiding her soft feminine body to be flush against his hard masculine one. She could hardly focus on the instructions he was giving and even less on how she as supposed to be shooting this ball into the pocket. She was silent, her hair falling over her shoulder as she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes, his aftershave a pleasant scent in her nose, a scent that felt like home. Furthermore, she tried to shake it off, how right and good his body felt against hers, but she was struggling to do so. When the ball somehow amazingly was shot into the pocket, she was almost sad that they would have to move from this position, and it seemed he was reluctant to do so as well. A little breathless she stood and smiled at him, feeling a little bashful at all of her recent thoughts. "You are a perfect teacher." She attempted to line up the way he had showed her when she had been half paying attention. But the shot ricochet off the side, and she laughed, "It seems I am a bad student, you can show me again after your turn." She handed him the pool stick and picked up her beer, downing it and taking a breath. "You need a drink? I'm going to run up and grab another beer. " He just chuckled when her next shot went wide. It looked so simple, shooting pool. The reality was that it was quite the feat to be able to shoot straight. Sometimes the most difficult shots were straight on or otherwise seemingly simple. But he was gracious, letting an "oh darn" escape his lips, even if he hadn't been watching the ball at all. "Yeah, go ahead and grab me another," he said, even if it was a bad idea. Leaning up against the wood-edge of the pool table, he waited until she had turned her back, then swept in two of her stripes into the pocket. Technically, it was cheating, tilting the odds in her favor. But it was to his disadvantage... and he was quite sure she wouldn't notice. He scanned the table slowly, finding his next shot. Or, more accurately, trying to. He closed his eyes and focused, pushing the haze just far enough away to actually get a clear thought through his head. Leaning down, he took his shot and sunk one of his balls, smiling and looking up just as she came back. "I got one of mine, but sunk one of yours first by accident," he lied, "Which means It's your shot next." Laying the cue against the wall, he circled the table to meeting her, taking his beer, the process bringing them quite close to each other. If it had been in ages past, he would have leaned in and kissed her. Part of him longed for high school again. But tonight was turning out nice enough... Nodding Kara went up to the bar and got two beers, her eyes travelling to Micheal and then back to the bar as the two beers were served. Picking them up she went back to the table, smiling excitedly as he told her he sunk one of hers on accident. She half didn't believe it, because he was good, but she brushed it off. Handing him his beer, her eyes were on his, then his lips then his eyes again as he was close enough to her could nearly feel the kiss she had been thinking about earlier. She blinked and moved to pick up the pool cue. "Are you going to help me out again?" She winked, and looked down for a shot. He grinned as she handed him his beer, breaking her gaze to bring the glass to his lips. There was a tension there, even as drunk as he was he could feel it. Or maybe so because he was drunk. It excited him like nothing else, not even flirting with a few of the girls down in Dallas. This was Kara. That was... he didn't have words. But he jumped at the idea of helping her again. "Maybe a few more times, until you get the feel for it," he laughed, turning and setting his beer down and examining the table for her. "But I won't do all the work. You figure out what shot you want to try and make, then I'll help you." He grinned, leaning against the wall as he made his own choice. Then again, maybe it'd be nice to get around her again. Kara gave a little fake pout as he leaned against the wall, telling her she has to work. "Fine." She looked around the table and found a pretty clear shot with the striped blue ball. Walking to Michael she took his beer and set it down, grabbing his shirt gently and tugging him, her eyes on his, to the pool table. "Now I found my shot you better help me again." She let go of his shirt and grabbed the pool stick with one hand and then the second hand took his, to start his guidance of the shot. "Now Michael, you just lean your body against mine and help me make this shot." She smiled as he leaned down again, his face so close to hers, she wanted to kiss him so badly, but what if he didn't feel that way about her anymore? Blinking, she decided, if she made the shot, she was going to kiss him, consequences be damned.

His Devotion (Staerin and YoungOne)|rating:4.0

A Captive of Time (josefk67 and Subtle Trouble)

Katie sighed, as she stood before the baggage carousel, light blue eyes dulled by jet-lag. The excitement of her first solo trip, to England, no less, had been dulled by the large gaseous individual who had spilled over into her seat on the plane. She wasn't sure if it had been a man, or a woman, but it was smelly, and made disconcerting noises. And it had the aisle seat. She bent down, and snagged her suitcase from the carousel as it slowly chugged past, hauling it onto the floor, and adjusting her huge carry-on against her side. It took two more hours to clear customs before she could even begin to flag down a cab. To the hotel, check in and fall face first onto the bed. She didn't even bother eating before curling on her side to sleep. It took ten hours of sleep and a very long, very hot shower, but when she woke in the morning, Katie actually felt like a human being again. She hummed to herself, as she massaged pomade through her short, blonde, pixie hair cut, and blow-dried it, giving it the textured look she'd been replicating from the salon for three weeks. She dressed in comfortable jeans, hugging tightly to her curves. Furthermore, she'd been working out for three months, and though she felt much better, she still held all the curves that she was trying to rid herself of. A bright red peasant top, and a thin black hoodie completed her clothes, and with red and black converse she was ready for breakfast. She skipped to the nearest breakfast restaurant, as directed by a very sleepy receptionist. Breakfast, paired with lots of coffee, finally woke her up enough to take in the dawn weather. It was gray, and a little drizzly - which would be perfect to photograph the Fletcher estate. It was the creepiest looking mansion the publishing house could find, for the cover of... what was it? Some romance novel about ghosts. No matter, she would take the photos, and then the ones of the inside for the architectural magazine. Not that she knew a thing about architecture. She had a list of things she'd Wikipedia'ed to photograph, and then she would be back, to go to pubs, and hopefully meet a pretty English bloke. After all, she was the one with the accent, here. As the cab wound its way through the countryside, the skies darkened. Katie's rounded face, with almost-too cute nose, and pink lips was pressed against the window, taking in the landscapes. She would have to come back when it wasn't threatening rain to take photos. It was amazing, and similar, but somehow different from Canada. Fewer trees, she supposed. And then she saw it. "Geoff, what's that house?" She asked the driver." Dunno, been there forever. People say it's abandoned. Gives me the willies."" Can we take a side-trip?"" Listen, I have to go after I drop you off. I can drop you off here, or the Fletcher place, but not both."" There, please. I'll call for another cab to meet me." One hair-raising turn, and the small car wound its way up the side of a large hill, and into a forest. She'd nearly missed the house hidden away, it was so dark. She had to take pictures of it. They wouldn't mind if she was and hour or two late at the Fletcher place. She could make up an excuse, but the house begged to be photographed. And it was likely much better for the romance novel. Who knew, maybe they would Photoshop the models into this house instead. There was a great deal to be said about solitude, a most underrated quality, he thought to himself as he pulled open the heavy drapes of the sitting room and gazed out at the long immaculate lawns. Simon Chant had been born in this house, been raised in this house and would doubtless die in this house, and yet he still felt as if there were secrets here to be unearthed, far from the madding crowd. Oh, he enjoyed the company of his acquaintances and relatives well enough, but he also savored the long hours reading his books and writing, dreaming and imagining, inventing and exploring. His was a restless spirit, and there were few people whom he felt could truly keep pace with him. There were also very few people who truly embraced all the interests that he had. Those few that did were very special, very close...and for the pursuit of those interests, with those few kindred spirits, then the mansion was the perfect locale. His great-grandfather had been a wealthy politician nearly a century ago and had built this house to escape the pressures of court and parliament in London as the kingdom began to change. Parliamentary reform had changed the political landscape, and so the Right Honorable Lord Chant had sought refuge in the Suffolk countryside, close enough to the center of the power when required, but far enough away to disappear. The mansion was very much a labor of love, designed quite simply and symmetrically to stand proud on the hill above the small hamlet of Jersey below, yet shrouded by young trees to give it a sense of detachment. In time, the trees would provide a genuine shield to the world, and already by the time Simon had inherited the house from his father, the roofs of Jersey were barely distinguishable from the uppermost rooms. The mansion was whitewashed and had a small wing on each side. It was not enormous, but was deceptively spacious inside with an ornate entrance hall and main staircase and several large reception rooms. A maze of corridors added to the impression of space and scale. As a boy, Simon had loved running through the whole house, exploring the attic rooms, counting the main rooms and nervously mapping the labyrinthine cellar rooms, many of which had been locked and bolted for reasons he had never felt brave enough to ask about. Yes, this mansion had concealed many secrets from the young man, but the older man, who poured his tea and sat down to read the day's paper, had discovered many things subsequently. He heard the crunch of footsteps on the large circular gravel forecourt outside the front door, and espied the gardener going about his business. The house had a long meandering driveway that snaked through the trees to the left of the front entrance, leading to the track that led down to the main road into the village and civilization. The stable block was off to the right, and there were various outhouses dotted around the five acre grounds that ringed the mansion, some of it forest, some of it arable land and the rest meadows and lawns. Yes, Simon thought to himself, it was good to be able to have room, space and time to think, to breathe...and to indulge his passions untrammeled. It took Katie a good hour to photograph the magnificent monstrosity that was the front of the house. Small flakes of whitewash clung to the face, sagging windows and doorways were choked with vines, and moss. The house looked defeated by time, the front steps sagging, and at one point, the roof having caved in. She had to see the inside. A thrilling chill raced up her spine as she stepped into the empty doorway, and began to explore, snapping photos every ten steps. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled, and every turn she took, Katie was convinced a hanging specter waited. She hummed to herself, as she continued through the house, mindful of stray nails or rotted floorboards. She didn't dare stairs, fearing she would fall through, or get stuck. One turn brought her into a once-opulent room. Wallpaper had long since yellowed, and peeled, and was now dissolving, moldy streaks left in its path. Litter carpeted the floor, from squatters and teens, and a stench of excrement continued the theory of squatters. "Dear god it's creepy in here," she whispered to herself, turning back towards the door. She paused, frowning slightly. Beside the doorway was a large... something, covered by an old moth-bitten rug. Her curiosity piqued, Katie stepped forward. Biting her bottom lip, she reached out, her fingers grasping the slimy rug, and pulling it off, before scrubbing her hands against her jeans. Looking up, Katie gasped, and whirled, to inspect the room. She turned back, to stare at the old, huge, polished mirror. It looked as good as new, and what was more, the room reflected in it looked good as new. Katie stepped forward, frowning, and glancing over her shoulder. How in the world was it done? It was a mirror, turning this way or that revealed different sections of the room. "What in the world..." She muttered, reaching out to brush her fingers cautiously against the surface. As she pulled back, she was brought to an abrupt halt. She couldn't pull her fingers away from the mirror. "What?" She gasped, eyes widening, as she pulled herself back, yanking her arm. But she was caught, and slowly, the mirror pulled her in, her fingers disappearing into the quicksilver facade millimeter by millimeter. She screamed, fighting, thrashing as she was agonizingly slowly dragged in. Her sneakers shrieked against the wet floor as she pulled back, grunting with effort. And within minutes, Katie was gone, as if she'd never been there at all. She fell onto a plush carpet, the breath in her body escaping with an 'of'. She gasped, unable to pull air into her lungs for a moment. But finally, she dragged in a gulp of air, and looked up - to the room that was in the mirror. "No... where...?" She gasped, staring, shocked. And then she whirled, on her knees, searching for the mirror. And there it stood, reflecting the opulent room, with its furnishings, and a very shocked, out of place young woman. "What? NO!" She screamed, pressing against the hard, ordinary surface, her palm striking it. "NO! LET ME BACK!" She screamed. As he sipped his tea, Simon's mind wandered away from the paper and off into space, back in time. Something about the gardener's footsteps had triggered a memory, of when he had been a boy, playing through the rooms while staying with his grandfather. What was it? He frowned... It had been something that he had overheard one of the maids talking about with the housekeeper, as he played hide and seek from his nanny. A mysterious female voice had been heard in one of the outhouses, according to the gardener, and one evening there had been the scrunch of footsteps outside, a strangled cry. The maid had suggested that Lord Chant had a mistress locked away, but then nobody had seen anyone come or go for weeks at that time, because of the harsh winter, the heavy rain and the impassable roads. So how had anyone reached the house on the hill...? Simon had been transfixed by this tale, but when his nanny had arrived, the maid had made herself scarce, and he never heard anything more about it. Within a week, the maid had been dismissed. As a result, Simon had developed various fantasies about this mysterious woman, and it had fuelled his imagination as to what lay behind several of the locked doors throughout the house. He chuckled to himself. Of course, now he knew what lay behind those doors...so maybe the maid had been on to something indeed. In view of this fact, Simon had been very careful in his selection of staff for the house, by selecting people he knew well from his 'extracurricular' activities, as he liked to phrase it. He stood up then, feeling a sudden urge to get something to eat with his tea, some toast, perhaps. As he approached the door, he paused to wipe a dusty finger mark from the face of the large mirror positioned close to the door. Curious, he thought, as the mirror had been polished just the other day. He frowned. No matter. As he was cutting two large hunks of bread in the kitchen, there was a sudden roaring sound, followed by a crash. It sounded to all the world like a thunderstorm, which came and went in an instant. Simon put the knife down and could swear that he had heard a woman's voice crying out. He shook his head in bewilderment. Before he had time to start working on a logical explanation for this, a woman's voice cried out this time very clearly. "NO! LET ME BACK!" It was coming from the sitting room! Grabbing the knife, Simon rushed back into the hallway and burst into the sitting room to find a beautiful blonde-haired girl dressed in strange clothes, pushing in desperation against the mirror, leaving dusty fingerprints all over the surface. She whirled to face him as he entered, knife in hand.' And what, pray, do you think you are doing in here?' he asked, caught somewhere between surprise and excitement. Could it really be true, after all this time...? She froze, as she heard a man's voice sound from behind. Katie whirled, gaping for a moment at him, before she saw the knife. "Holy shit!" She yelped. He was in the doorway, and spare diving through the window, there was no way out. "Where the hell am I?" She demanded, stumbling away from the knife-wheeling man. She bumped into the mantle, and her hand began to grope for the poker she'd seen laying across it. As her fingers curled around cold iron, she brought it forward, brandishing it like a sword. "What the fuck just happened?" She added, her eyes dancing between him and the mirror. Her heart raced in her chest, and the tip of the fire poker waved with her shivering. She was swearing a blue streak, though not uncommon, it was not the type of language she used with strangers. She couldn't even to begin to guess what had happened to her, why the room was clean, and who he was. It was too much, too big for her mind to comprehend, so instead she focused on the very real, very understandable danger of a man with a knife. She was very striking looking, Simon noted, and with spirit too, evidenced by the way she had skillfully grabbed the poker in her agitation. But where, indeed, had she come from? Why had she been frantically pawing all over the mirror? He remembered reading something in his father's papers now, about the mirror... But in the heat of the moment, faced by an intruder, albeit a very cute one, wielding his poker, he could not recall what it had been. But it took some audacity to break into a house like this in broad daylight - foolhardiness, for sure, but audacity all the same.' Well, I would suggest that what has just happened is that you broke into my house,' Simon replied evenly, holding the woman's gaze. 'And I will repeat, what would like to know is what the fuck you are doing in my house?' It was quite amusing to hear a woman use such coarse language. It was really not the done thing, even if she were a thief. He could see how startled she was, and so, carefully, not taking his eyes off the girl, he slowly bent down and placed the knife on the carpet. He stood up again and opened his palms to her, in a gesture of calmness, although his brain was racing. His eyes, like a hawk's, never leaving her face. "This isn't anybody's house! It's been abandoned for years! Geoff said! It's covered in mold, and rotting, and your wallpaper's... supposed to be peeling..." She replied, trailing off as she gestured to the pristine wall. "I'm hallucinating. It's the only explanation. There's some... harassed English mold that's sending out hallucinogenic spores." She didn't let go of the poker, as he put his knife down, but she did relax her hold, allowing the tip to hit the carpet with a light thud. "He's not real, and I just need to get out of this house and call a cab, and keep going." It sounded like an excellent plan to her, but she was still wary to approach him. He had a knife, even if it was laying on the carpet. It would be nothing to swoop down and grab it up. Katie didn't trust her hallucination. It had a knife, and it looked... curious, but affronted. She watched him carefully, eyebrows furrowed, knees slightly bent, waiting for him to move, speak. Do something. What could her hallucinogen-influenced mind come up with for her dashing, older hallucination. Who, were he real, would actually be quite attractive. She'd never really gone for many older guys, spare Bruce Willis, but he seemed to fit her category of 'Hot Older Man'. Simon noted that his decision to lay down the knife had only partially assuaged the girl's agitation, because she had not released the poker. Mind you, he'd not expected her to, if truth be told. As mysterious as her presence in the sitting room was, he admired her spirit; it spoke to the side of him that relished a challenge. And she really was quite lovely, he decided, even if her attire was somewhat...unusual. Something truly exotic... But he was utterly bemused by what she was talking about in, what he realized now, was a North American accent. He had never been across the Atlantic, but he had studied Classics with a woman from Ontario at Oxford; and unless he were very much mistaken, the intruder might very well hail from the same neck of the woods. Curio user and curio user, thought Simon.' As you can see,' he replied calmly, a soft smile gliding across his face, 'this is not an abandoned house. Indeed, it belongs to me,' he said gesturing to himself. He then stepped back, to the side of the knife, indicating his intention to leave the blade on the floor, and carefully leaned his body against the wall to the side of the door, his hands behind his back. 'And I'm pretty sure that the walls were decorated just a year or so ago before I moved in permanently.' He noted the somewhat curious expression on her face, and wondered, indeed, if she had taken some sort of opiate. It would certainly explain her agitation. Surreptitiously, his fingers reached for the small white button that was now poking into the small of his back.' I don't wish to labor the point, but I really do think you owe me an explanation as to how you come to be standing in my sitting room, threatening me with my own poker.' "I told you." She replied, frowning even more deeply, and moving to the side, stepping to her left as he leaned to her right. "I came in the front door of this house. And it can'belong you because you do not exist." She added, wishing he would just go away so she could leave. She didn't dare glance away to check her cell phone. "I walked in the front door, and into this room. And that mirror did something and now everything looks brand spankin' new. The mold is hallucinogenic, that's all. Now will you kindle leave so I can?" She finished, tightening her grip on the poker, again." Also," She added. "I'm not threatening you. This is for defensive purposes only." Simon noted the tightening of her grip on the poker again, but made no move to react. She had mentioned the mirror again. The mirror. Those dusty fingerprints that appeared out of nowhere; the mysterious girl who had been heard during his grandfather's day...and now this delightful intruder who seemed to have appeared out of thin air in those few moments when Simon had left the room. He glanced across at it now, wondering, starting now to believe in the things he had heard...he couldn't explain it, but perhaps he didn't need to. For the moment, it had ceased to matter where she was from; paramount was solely that she was Harlow.' I'm afraid you are very much mistaken. It does belong to me, and so you are trespassing.' He looked at her levelly now, trying to ascertain her reaction, since she seemed deeply convinced that she alone was real. Whatever drug she might indeed have taken, it was certainly powerful. 'I do not take too kindly to having my privacy invaded like this, and certainly not to having my own implements brandished at me, defensively or no.' At last, he heard the sound of footsteps on the tiled hallway floor, and within moments his butler, Evans, appeared in the doorway alongside him. 'You rang, sir?' he inquired, before suddenly spotting the girl holding the poker, now looking more startled than ever. 'What...?' his butler started, incredulously. Simon smiled at his servant, a rather enigmatic smile. 'Evans, it seems that we have an uninvited guest this morning, who rather intriguingly insists that I do not exist. I think we need to teach her some manners, don't you?' "Well if I'm trespass, allow MT to trespass." Katie replied, almost exasperatedly. "I want to leave, but you are in the way." She added, as the sound of footsteps sounded in the hallway. She tensed, and grabbed hold of the poker with both hands, brandishing it like a baseball bat. That she was much more comfortable with - She'd played a few years while she was younger. As the next man appeared, she frowned harder, deep lines creasing her forehead. But at the first man's change in tone, her jaw dropped. Were they. Was that tone lascivious? "So help me if you two touch me, or even one of you do, hallucinations or not, I will shatter your kneecaps." She threatened, her voice dropping an octave, deadly serious." Just let me go, and nobody will get hurt." She added. All she wanted was to call a cab, call the Fletcher house, and go back to the hotel to sleep it off. Maybe go to a doctor as well for a check. This hallucination was eerily real seeming. But it was impossible. Katie refused to even entertain the idea that it could be true. She didn't dare. Because if it was real, then somehow she was somewhere else, maybe even some when else, and the men who'd she just threatened to hobble for life were perhaps her only chance of getting back. The girl had great spirit, and Simon was feeling more and excited about the opportunity that had presented itself, sparked by...well, what? It was not something he could truly explain, but then he had experienced numerous times strange phenomena and coincidences that were hard to pin down logically. And whatever good fortune had presented him with this beautiful woman, it was something to embrace fully, without equivocation. He really did not want to hurt her at all, but she was going to need to be calmed down, by some means or other.' We don't want to hurt you,' he said then, watching her steadily with his pale blue eyes, 'but I'm not sure if we can help you either if you don't put that thing down. Whatever has brought you here, I cannot begin to imagine, for I am beginning to sense that you are really something of a stranger here.' He paused a moment, to allow her to reflect upon his words, and what they meant. 'And I think you are trapped here...' He signalled to Evans to move into the room, and he began circling warily around the girl to a position where she would find it hard to catch both of them with her weapon. 'I would really rather you put the poker down now.' "That's bullshit!" Katie yelled in reply, refusing to believe his words, although deep down inside she believed them. "You're not real! This isn't real! I'm just dreaming, or hallucinating! Go away, and I'll go away, too!" She continued, her voice almost taking on a pleading tone. She pressed her back against the wall, adjusting her grip on the poker, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two. "Just leave me alone. Please." She didn't want to swing. Not while he sounded rational. Even though a moment ago he had sounded as if he planned to rape her to teach her 'manners'. It had changed. She didn't want to swing the poker at them, and furthermore, she didn't know if she could. The despair in her voice struck a chord with Simon, but it also made him feel ever more in control of this unexpected situation. The girl appeared to be slowly realizing that her predicament was desperate, far more so than she had imagined at first. There would be a fascinating tale to tell, for certain, but not at the moment. The priority for now was to disarm her, and then get her out of sight, to give him time to work out what to do. He couldn't very well have this girl running around here like this, drawing unwanted attention to the place by virtue of her exotic, inexplicable origins. But he was full of conflicting emotions too. Her desperation made him feel, well, protective of her almost, as odd as that sounded, even to him! He motioned for Evans to stop, to back up to the doorway, and then turned to the girl.' Why don't you put that down and come and have some tea with me? My name's Simon, by the way. What's yours? He asked, smiling. As the two backed off, Katie's poker slowly descended to hit the floor softly, dangling loosely in her hand. "What guarantee do I have that you aren't going to hurt me?" She asked softly. All she wanted to do was to call a god-damned cab and get back to the Hospital. She didn't want tea, and she didn't want to know his name. Nor did she offer it, even as he asked. She bit her bottom lip, and reached into her jeans pocket with her free hand, pulling out her phone to check for signal, and dial the cab company. She frowned, however. There was no signal. Or time. It just dully showed her background picture. It was as if she were in an underground tunnel, or her phone was on airplane mode. "Why is there no signal?" She asked herself, before looking up to them. There was signal here before. Maybe the satellite had gone the wrong way or something. "Do you have a phone I could use?" She asked. Simon's words seemed to have had some effect, but he did not expect her to relax for one iota. When she pulled a strange small, rectangular object form her pocket, about the size of a small book, Simon hesitated. Was it some sort of weapon? But the way that she looked at it made him realize it was quite harmless. But what was it? There really was no way he could let her go; she was one mystery after another. A rather gorgeous, very valuable mystery, come to that. The impression of this was heightened by the way she spoke. 'A signal for what? What's a phone?' Simon shook his head, trying hard not to look as bemused as he felt by what she was talking about. 'I just thought you might like some tea while we try to figure out where you came from and what we're going to do. You say you're not a thief, OK, I am prepared to believe you. But the fact remains that you did break into my house.... somehow.' He paused, watching her reaction. 'Please,' he said gesturing to the chair at the table overlooking the lawn, 'sit down.' "A phone? A telephone, What is this, 1400?" She asked, before looking at the other man suspiciously. She walked to the chair, dragging the poker behind her, and sat down heavily, staring at her cell-phone. "I didn't break into your house!" She insisted. "It's abandoned. And you're not real. Fuck, that means that any phone lines in here won't work. Dammit." She drugs the poker up, and across her lap, ignoring the soot stains it drug across her jeans. She sighed, and looked up at him. "What the hell is going on? You're a figment of my subconscious, right? So explain to me why you look like you live in like... 1787?" She asked. "And I'm not eating anything you give me. That will just poison me more." She added. She slumped forward, leaning on her elbows in the table, and pushed her hair behind her thrice pierced ears. "Maybe I should just walk down to the road, and flag down a car. Do people hitchhike in Europe?" She mused to herself. She couldn't remember if there were hitchhiking axe murderers, or rapists in England or whether that was an America thing. It was apparent that the gentle approach had done little to allay the woman's fears, as she walked over to the table, muttering about things he didn't understand. He'd read in the Times recently about some inventor - Bell or someone - who had been talking about a machine that could transmit voices, but that was surely not possible. However, and this was the very exciting thought, if this girl had come from.... He shook his head again, but this time in wonder. It really was starting to ring bells with him, about something he had found in his grandfather's papers. As she persisted in her talk about him being a figment of her imagination again, Simon looked carefully at her. For all her agitation, she didn't seem to be intoxicated; on the contrary, she seemed very rational, if a little paranoid. But in the circumstances, she had good reason...and of course, he was not going to let her leave. As she least onto the table and played with her hair, Simon carefully observed her face from closer to. She was very striking indeed, her light blue eyes very alert, very alive. He noted with delight her earrings. He had never seen a woman wear rings in her ears quite like that before, three small hoops, one of which was piercing the cartilage. It was highly unusual, and wonderfully exotic. He felt a tingle coursing him through him. She was going to be a pleasure to spend time with... He poured a cup of tea for her, one final effort to calm her down, as she spoke again of strange items. A car? Hitchhiking?' Well, this happens to be 1871, and I'm not sure if you ought to be going anywhere until you have had some rest.' Katie dropped her hands and looked straight at him. Care to repeat that" She asked softly, even as she pinched her forearm. It hurt. "She shook her head. "No. I'm crazy. It's not 1871." She said softly. "That's bullshit." She stood, knocking the chair back, the poker falling to the floor with a clang, and bolted. She pounded through the house, and bust out the door that shouldn't be there. Furthermore, she nearly fell face-first into the dirt walk, as she continued to run, through the bright day, past gardeners, past a perfectly maintained stable that should have been leveled. Furthermore, she ran until she tripped, which wasn't too far, and landed heavily on her knees, knocking the wind from herself. Furthermore, she choked, for the second time that day, tears springing to her eyes as she coughed, and struggled to draw in a breath. Her mind spiraled, as her vision began to cloud. It couldn't be 1871. There was no such thing as time travel. It was a dream. It was a hallucination... Furthermore, it would all be better when she woke up.... And with that, she slumped to the side, exhausted and unconscious. The sudden explosion of energy took both Simon and the butler by surprise, as the girl leapt to her feet, sending the chair and the poker crashing to the floor, and then sprinting for the door. Evans had not expected such swiftness and grasped at thin air as she raced past him, into the hall and out the front door.' After her!' Simon shouted, running himself now for the door that the girl, and Evans, had just exited at top speed. She must not get into the woods, she must not get away! They could see her running towards the stables, and as Evans slowly began to gain ground on her, with Simon hot on his heels, they saw her stumble and fall heavily to the ground. There was a strange sense of conflicted emotion in him when he saw he hit the ground so hard. Initially, there was a sense of relief, mingled with triumph; that the woman would not elude him. But it was a triumphalism tinged with concern, that she should not be hurt. It was a very strange feeling for Simon; he wasn't sure he had felt it before. This woman, she really had made a deep impression upon him; it was a wonderful feeling. As they reached her, they could see that she was out cold. The shock of realization had clearly taken its toll, but in some ways, at least perhaps now, once she awoke, she might be able to start to confront the reality of her situation, as bizarre as it would seem to her. Simon gestured to the stables. 'Go and get some rope, would you? I don't think we ought to take any more chances, do you?' The Butler shook his head, a wry smile on his face. 'No, sir,' he replied. Simon carefully lifted the girl up off the gravel track and marvelled at how light she felt in his arms, as he carried her over to the stables. Her scent was unlike any he had ever smelt; it was delightful, so very different. Just as she was in every conceivable way. He laid her down on some hay in one of the stalls, transfixed by her looks. As Evans began uncoiling the rope, Simon stroked some tear-stained strands of her hair from her eyes, before rolling her gently onto her front. Marvelling at the soft smoothness of her skin, he took her wrists in his hands and pulled them behind her back, taking the rope and skillfully binding her hands together. He coiled the rope carefully, but firmly, to ensure that, though tight, the rope would not hurt her. Well, as long as she did not try to struggle. He took a second length of rope and quickly secured her ankles together, before lifting her up and carrying her back into the house.' Where will you take her, sir?' Evans asked, closing the door behind them in the hall.' I think we'll put her in on of the guest bedrooms at the back of the east wing, at least for the moment. She'll be safely out of the way there for now, until we find out how compliant be can be.' Simon carried her up the long sweeping staircase, that dominated the hallway, and then turned left at the top and carried her down along red-carpeted corridor to a heavy oak door with led to the back of the house. Once through there, the light was much darker. At the end of that corridor, he opened a door which opened out into a sumptuously furnished bedroom. The large bed dominated the room, with its ornately carved bedposts. The walls were decorated with a heavy red wallpaper and one each wall, there were prints of bucolic English scenes. There was a dressing table in one corner, a couple of chairs dotted around and a dark walnut armor in the other corner. There was a small window that gave out onto the woods. It was not Simon's favorite room, but it was very quiet, very private. He laid the woman carefully down on the bedclothes, and turned to go. Then he paused. Somehow, he sensed that this woman would need a little more securing. That spirit of hers was quite something! He went across to the armor, opened the door and found the carved pine box where it should have been. He opened the lid and marvelled at the collection of items within. Hamm, he thought, the fun I am going to have with her. He chuckled. For now, though, a set of slim steel shackles connected by a long chain would do nicely. He took them out, closed the lid of the box and shut the door of the armor. Returning to the bed, he slipped one of the cuffs around the girl's right ankle, and then attached the other to a metal ring fixed into the end of the bed frame. Just in case... He smiled, took one last look at his new captive, and then left the room, locking the door from the outside. She would need to rest, hopefully for a long time, in order to be better able to contemplate her new life here. He would look in on her again in an hour or so. But for now, after all the excitement, he really did need some breakfast ! It was an hour, or two, before Katie began to stir. She'd slipped into a fitful sleep, after he'd left the first time, as her mind processed this new development. Dreams of clocks and mirrors, and blue eyes chased her. She groaned softly, trying to turn, before she was truly awake. The bindings stopped the movement, and she paused, waking fully. "What the..." It took her a moment to realise that she was tied up, and a few more to assess her surroundings, and that she was chained to the bed. She gaped, staring at the room. It wasn't a dream. They weren't hallucinations. It was real. It had to be. A hallucination couldn't move her. A hallucination disappeared if you slept. Without any ado, she began carefully wiggling her wrists within the firm rope bindings, and bite and pull the knot. She had it undone within minutes, and her ankles even faster. The shackle, however, was a different matter. There was no key to be found. Katie carefully climbed off the foot of the bed, to investigate where it was fastened, and what to. But the ring was just as immovable as the shackle itself. She was stuck, unless she could find something to pick it with. A friend had once shown her how, years ago. She set to searching the room within her reach, for pins, anything that would be useful, ignoring the way the chain scraped over the floor. She wanted out, and she wanted away. Furthermore, she rubbed her wrists absently, as she searched, but to no avail. Defeated, she sat heavily on the bed, and scrubbed her hands over her face, fighting the prickling in the back of her eyes. She would not cry. She could get home. Somehow. If she could get through a mirror, once, she could do it again, couldn't she? Something had told Simon that this woman had great spirit and resourcefulness. He had pondered the rather bizarre events over breakfast, and instructed his butler to ensure that news of the stranger was not spread beyond the estate. At least, not for the while... He would need to come up with some explanation for her appearance; but first, he would need to try to ascertain for himself how she had ended up here. It was something to do with the mirror, that much was certain. But when he had unlocked the bedroom door, entered with a tray of bread, cheese and ham together with a jug of orange juice, and found his captive no longer bound, rather than feel annoyed, he smiled broadly. More fool him for going easy on her; he wouldn't let sentiment get in the way the next time. In fact, she had thrown down a gauntlet that he would only too happily pick up. At least, he understood now why instinct had told him that he really ought to make sure that the stranger was not going to get away. Mind you, he thought, seeing her sitting on the bed, head in hands, he was sure she'd already been looking for ways to slip the steel round her ankle. It was good to know that cuffs could hold her... He noted that carefully, because he could not let this woman get away. It was also good to note that, for the moment at least, she would need to be watched very carefully indeed. She looked up suspiciously at his entrance, and he gave her his warmest smile. 'Good! I hope you feel better for your rest. I've brought you some breakfast because you have had quite a shock, and you must be ravenous.' He put the tray down on the floor, picked up a small table and brought it across to the bed and then placed the tray on the table in front of her. He then took one of the chairs, and moved it to sit opposite her. Not too close, but close enough to watch her carefully. Katie tracked him with her eyes, as the door opened, watching him walk past, and set up some food for her. It wasn't a dream. She was in 1871. Was she ever going to get back home? Would she ever see her family? Her friends? She would settle for that bitch Alanna in the office. She eyed the food, as he settled into his chair to watch her, and sighed. It had been a while since breakfast, and the ham smelled delicious. But she didn't feel like eating. It felt like everyone had died. And now she was held captive by this ridiculous man who had chains on his bed, and who had tied her up. She turned away, refusing to look at him. You have to data soft voice sounded from in her mind. With a sigh, she tore the piece of bread in two, and set to making herself a sandwich with the ham and cheese. One surly glance at him, and she bit in, chewing slowly and swallowing the mouthful, before going for the second piece. She wasn't eating as if she were starving, but he had likely never seen a woman eat with a purpose before. She wanted to finish so he would go away. Furthermore, she hoped he was just waiting for the tray. The woman had made it clear that she was not especially enamored of his presence, but it was something she was going to have to get used to. He wondered if she had started to come to terms with where and when she was, even if she was not going to accept that she was to all intents and purposes his prisoner. It was certainly going to be challenge to win the confidence of this strong-willed woman, let alone tame her. But the fat also remained that if she were to escape and get out into the community at large, in all likelihood she would find herself in much deeper trouble. What is more, she would have no chance of getting back to where she had come from. Where- and whenever that might be.' It's good to see you eating,' he said gently, as scowled at him, before tucking into the second sandwich. 'Do you feel better for your sleep? I'm sorry for the rope and chains, but they really are for your own safety, you know.' Katie couldn't help the snort of disbelief as he told her the ropes were for her own good. She highly doubted that. There were no ways he'd be running off, though. The mirror was here, and that was the only possible way she could get home. That was the only explanation for his tying and chaining her. He didn't want her leaving, though if she remained chained to the bed, the mirror may as well have been a million miles away. As she polished off the food, and finished the juice, she sat back on the bed, planting her socked feet on the mattress and pushing herself a far away from the tray, and him, as she could. She didn't reply to him. Refused to even look. She needed to think. Find a way out of the chains, and back through the mirror. What had set it off? Why had it brought her here? And why was her captor so intent on keeping her around? Why would he go through the trouble of chaining her up? What did he want with her? So she was going to give him the silent treatment, was she? Well, so be it. He couldn't blame her, he supposed, since he was holding her prisoner, and his suggestion that keeping her bound and locked up for her won good probably did sound a little unlikely. But what she could not know was how terribly, even violently, superstitious the locals were. To have a stranger dressed as curiously as she was wandering around would in all likelihood get her into serious trouble. But, of course, he had his ulterior motives too. For Simon had a reputation to maintain, a procurer of beautiful young women for those elements in Victorian England who had a penchant for activities that should remain, as it were, below stairs. He had been approached while at Oxford, by a middle-aged gentleman of independent means who had known Simon's grandfather and been to the house many times. A little 'social circle', as he had put, had included his grandfather, and it had been felt that Simon might be a suitable member, if his proclivities ran in the same direction. Simon had been unconvinced, until he had attended a private club in London and been utterly captivated by what he had seen. He had never realized that so many women had such perverted cravings, to be objectified in the ways that the 'social circle' seemed committed to 'explore'. As a result, he had quickly proved himself to be very adept after he had been shown the ropes, so to speak, and he had not looked back. When he had inherited the mansion, well, it had quickly proved itself to be the perfect location for the circle's activities on a regular basis. So, when such an exotic beauty as this fell into his sitting room, as it were, lost and alone, possibly with no chance of returning whence she came, then perhaps he could find a way of... He smiled to himself. Besides, she was very beautiful, and spirited....and he was very enraptured by her presence. He had seen noble, high-spirited women melt before once they had been bound, been able to relinquish the need to be strong and self-sufficient, and to surrender to being the center of attention. It had surprised him how many strong women harbored such fantasies of being possessed, of being taken...' Will you at least tell me your name, fair lady?' The side of Katie's lip curled in almost a snarl. He sounded so pandering, so greasy, almost like a crooked used car salesman. In reply, she held up the middle finger of her left hand in his general direction. She knew, in the back of her mind, that it was stupid to be acting so petulant, but she couldn't help it. He embodied her loss of everything, and there was no way in hell that she would be playing nice. She had lost everyone, and everything, from her mother to big macs. It was all she could do not to start crying in front of it. She was trying not to think of it. Trying to be angry at him so she didn't think to hard on how she'd lost everything, and how her eyes prickled and her lower lip pouted out. "Bastard." She muttered, trying to refocus. All she wanted was for him to go and leave her in peace to cry. She would never cry in front of him. He probably didn't even understand how it was to care for people, if what she knew about the 1800s was any hint. He'd gotten everything he'd ever wanted, without even having to try. The hand gesture meant nothing to hamper see, but its intent was clear, of barely concealed hostility. The confirmation came with her muttered obscenity in his direction. He smiled sadly and shrugged his shoulders. She had rebuffed every attempt to ease the tension, to help her to try to appreciate at least part of what she was going to have to come to terms with. He wanted to trust her...and ultimately, for her to trust him...' Well, I shall tell you my name, at the very least, so that you can channel all your anger and hatred more directly. I'm Simon, Simon Chant, and this is my home. I do not know how you got here, and since you won't talk to me, I cannot help you ascertain quite what this all means.' He looked at her kindly, his own emotions in turmoil when he considered what must be her anguish. 'Look,' he said standing up and taking the tray in his hand,' perhaps I should leave you alone to rest some more. And when I return, perhaps I can take you for a walk round the house...?' She really couldn't bring herself to care for his name. Katie crossed her arms, and studiously stared at the wall furthest from the door. She prayed with every ounce of her being that he just leave. Leave fast, and then she could try to barricade the door, and cry herself out. But there was no way in hell she would do it in front of him. Her entire body screamed silently at him, from the deep scowl crossing her features to how tightly her arms were crossed to her chest. She was making it as obvious as she could without words that he was in no way welcome. Simon was beginning to think that there would be no way to get to know this woman, and he sighed deeply. He paused as he got to the door, and turned to see the woman glaring furiously at him arms firmly crossed across her chest. He'd already resolved that perhaps the last thing he could try, would be to remove the cuff round her ankle. Putting the tray on a table by the door, he walked carefully over to the bed, seeing her tense at his approach. To allay her fears about him wanting to assault her physically, he spread his palms wide.' I'm going to take this cuff off you, Ok?. He reached into his pocket and took the key, and carefully slipped it into the small lock, releasing her ankle. 'The door is going to be locked, and it's a long drop out of the window, so I wouldn't advise anything adventurous.' He looked at her one last time, trying to divine what was racing behind those eyes of hers, before turning and walking to the door. Taking the tray, he slipped out of the room, carefully locking the door behind him. He was fairly certain that she would not heed his words, and do everything she could to slip out of the window. But he felt, at that moment, that fate would now have to intercede. Fate may have brought her here for a reason - and his emotions whirred at that thought - but maybe fate would have other plans for her. For now, Simon resolved to return to the sitting room and look through his father's papers, for something was nagging at his memory with ever greater urgency. Katie was strung tight as a bowstring, by the time he'd shut the door. In a grand total, her face was buried in a pillow, and she began to sob. For her mother, her best friend, her cat. Everything. Even Big Macs. She cried herself exhausted, and again, fell asleep. It was two hours later, when she woke up, that she could think again. She had to stay here. He was unlikely to let her go, and in truth, she was more than likely safe here. He hadn't started spouting bible passages at her, nor had he tried to kill her for being a witch or some nonsense. She doubted she would fare as well with large concentrations of people about. But she didn't trust him, and she did not want to stay in this room. He'd cautioned against climbing out the window, so of course, that was the first thing to try. She'd seen a stable, and that meant horses. Not to mention she was fairly certain cars hadn't been invented yet. All her life, whenever she was upset, grooming a horse would help. The rhythmic movements, the great beast's calming presence always made her relax, made her feel better. She'd stayed in her friend's barn overnight when her grandmother had died. It was easy to open the window. She hung out, surveying the outside of the house, to see if she could find hand and footholds. It was possible, though it would not be easy. Without ado, she stripped the bed, which she was fairly certain was actually built into the wall, and began to tie the sheets together. Double larks head knots, to keep from slipping, and she tied on end carefully to the bed, wedging the knot and sheet between the bed frame and mattress, before throwing it out the window. She still had about a three-meter drop, but she could deal with that when she got there. And if all else failed, and she fell and died? Well, it was unlikely she would be sad about anything, then. It was a workout, and a slow one, carefully rappelling down the side of the house, with the sheet carefully wrapped around her midsection. But she made it to the end of the sheet with no real issues, spare sore arms. She carefully walked her way to the side on the house, and got a foothold on a windowsill on the first floor, before the sheet began to rip. It took her a heartbeat of panic to grab onto the windowsill, and lever herself on properly, before letting the sheet drop to angle down the outside of the house. Then it was the relatively simple - if shaky and terrifying - matter of crouching and getting herself from the windowsill to the ground. She swore as she made the impact, knees soft, and ended up on her face. She didn't knock the wind out of herself, however, and stood up after a moment. Furthermore, she'd hurt her ankle though not badly. Katie sighed, and turned, to start the limp to the stable. He would find her eventually, once she felt better, and was ready to conduct herself like a human being, again. Simon had been up twice to check on her, and was delighted that she had been asleep. He had been tempted to simply sit and watch her breathing easily and peacefully, drinking in her beauty when her features weren't distorted by fear, hatred or rage, but had been worried that she might awaken and be startled as to any possibly lascivious motives. And so he had withdrawn quietly and returned to his reading. What he had vaguely remembered was not in the folder that he had stored in his father's old study. Whereas it then? It had struck a chord because of his boyhood memory of overhearing the maid, and the mystery woman, and something his father had written about it subsequently, upon his father's death. He had been quite absorbed in digging through the papers, that he suddenly realized that two hours had elapsed since he'd left the woman the first time. As he opened the door of the room, he saw the sheet tied to the bed frame, trailing out of the window. His first thought was to dash out of the door; but something told him there was no need. He'd known she would do this once he'd taken the cuff off. Well, if his home was the source of her entry into the world, then it was doubtless her only route back...but if she had failed to heed his advice then so be it. It was out of his hands. He imagined her running full pelt down the hill into Jersey and being led off to some unimaginable fate, and then regretting that she'd not listened. Perhaps he should go after her? He had three chestnut brown horses in his stables, and at full gallop could be in the village in ten minutes. No, he decided, there was no point and might only draw further unwanted attention to her plight, and he did not wish to do that, nor have people poking their noses into his affairs in general. He resolved to return to looking through his father's papers, and to wait and see what happened. It was always possible she had just gone into the grounds to think things through, and would return of her own accord. If she were not back by nightfall, still seven hours away, perhaps he might slip into the village and see if she had been spotted. Katie breathed softly, as she entered the building. She was surprised there was no attendant, but guessed that he would have other jobs as well. She whispered softly, as she approached the three occupied stalls. "Hello," She crooned softly, as three similar faces came out to investigate. She ducked into the tack room, to find a sack of oats. The stable was luxurious, the loft filled with sweet smelling hay. "At least he treats his horses well." She muttered to herself, as she scooped out two handfuls of oats. She offered them, flat handed, to the first two horses, softly promising a handful to the third. Furthermore, she delivered, as soon as the first two finished. Furthermore, she spent equal time between the three, whispering, and crooning to them, petting their necks, and letting their presence heal her, to a point. Given the choice, she would sleep in here for weeks. She would be discovered, though. Eventually she let herself into the middle stall with the smallest of the three. With a curry and a hair comb, she began to scrub the gelding's immaculate coat, humming softly to herself, and blinking back tears. He leaned into the brush, Pickering softly, as she began to sing, her voice carrying the tune, though nothing special. It was the song from Firefly. She wished she knew the full version, but it would do. This was going to be her serenity, until she could go home. In the stable, brushing out the horse's and being alone with them. She wasn't going to run. Simon spent the early hours of the afternoon in the study, digging through folders of papers, letters and documents, searching in vain for the text he had hoped to find. Where could it be? If only he could remember when he'd seen it before, let alone where! After a slightly belated lunch, he opted to take a postprandial stroll through the gardens of the house, something he liked to do often, even when there was a chill in the air, or it was raining. It was good to feel the different seasons directly; it made him feel very alive, as well as lucky that he had license to roam in such an idyllic setting. He wandered along one of the paths that took him meandering into the woods at the back of the house, and his mind remained fixated on the strange visitor in his house. In particular, he was drawn to thoughts of her eyes, and the touch of her skin under his fingers when he had bound her. She was truly a thing of beauty; and resolve! He laughed out loud at that, wondering where her adventurous spirit had carried her. He felt a slight pang of concern that she might find herself embroiled in some mischief, but calmed himself a little with the thought that she could doubtless look after herself inmost situations. Furthermore, he dared not contemplate anything too nightmarish...but she had taken it upon herself to flee, and she would have to deal... The path eventually led him back to the house, just past the stables. As he approached the door, he heard one of his horses whinnying contentedly. Maybe he ought to go down to the village, just in case... As he stepped into the stables, he saw instantly the reason for the gelding's contentment. There, stroking his mane, was the woman, looking much more at ease he thought, and that warmed him. He could not conceal a smile, but of relief or joy? He wasn't too sure.' I confess, I thought you might be halfway to London by now. I certainly didn't expect to find you here!' Katie jumped, as the voice sounded behind her, and turned, eyes wide. Upon recognizing the speaker, however, she turned back around, to continue brushing down the curried gelding within the embrace of his neck. "I'm not stupid." She replied. "If I went to London I would be dead in a month." She added. He fed her, here. And he had the mirror. She could no more leave here than go home. She didn't need to worry about the streets, food and jack the ripper, though she wasn't exactly sure when he reigned his terror. Furthermore, she sighed, leaning her head on the gelding's neck as she continued to brush him in silence. Her ears were trained on the man behind her, now, and when he did not leave, she spoke again." You obviously don't want me leaving, though I don't know why. Regardless, I'm not keen on leaving, either." She kept it short, and to the point. She didn't trust him an inch, and the first knife she could get her hands on, she would keep on her person until she was good and gone in case he tried anything funny. The woman's agitation was understandable, and Simon wished he had been able to find a way to assuage her fears. She'd menaced him with his own poker, made a bid to escape that he thought he ought to prevent, and so he'd tied her up, mostly to keep her from harm; and then she'd got away anyway! It had been an eventful day for her in ways he could scarcely imagine.' Of course, I don't want you to leave! There is so much I would know about you, about where you come from. And you still haven't told me your name.' He paused, hoping that she might start to ease up a little, especially as she seemed to be taking comfort from grooming the horses.' Besides, I don't think I've seen a more beautiful woman...and I hope that you're not being keen on leaving might mean...' He paused. Suddenly uncertain of himself. His hesitation seemed to go on for an eternity. 'Well, it might mean that you will, at least, consent to join me for dinner.' "Katie," she replied softly, as he again persisted for her name. What did it matter if he knew her name? She didn't know if she could tell him anything. She didn't dare. What if she told him about something dangerous, and unmade herself, like in Back to the Future? Katie didn't even dream of telling him. And then he invited her to dinner. At least he was nice about it. "As I doubt I will get food unless I do come to dinner... Sure, okay." She added, rolling her eyes. What if he slipped her something? Did they have rookies back then? Now? She shook her head, trying not to think of time. Sh didn't believe for a moment that all he wanted from her was to assuage his curiosity. She didn't know what, but he wanted something. But then... maybe not. Maybe he was truly curious and just wanted to help her? But why? There was nothing in it for him. Where was the gain? Was he hoping to woo her into marriage? Why not just go find a wife in London? Was he invariable? It didn't matter anyhow. Her first chance, she would get back through the mirror and hopefully get the hell away from this hellhole.

A Captive of Time (josefk67 and Subtle Trouble)|rating:3.0

City and Country {Lady Lunarius & GnothiSeauton}

City and Country(on a collaboration between Lady Lunatics and GnothiSeauton. ("Bobby" Jenkins There was a quiet sense of busyness around the bus station of Part low, Nebraska. From the front seat of the old Ford pickup, Bobby Jenkins sat and watched the people coming and going from the old brick-and-mortar station. Some were coming into town, and some were leaving. More often than not, especially in lonely little parts of the country like Part low, people were leaving. Off to look for money and jobs most often. When times were hurting, as they often had been, and hurting for a good while, people flowed away like water down hill towards family and the cities, in search of better times and better fortunes than the dusty little stretches like Part low. Bobby didn't blame them. If he could, he'd probably join them. He'd always wanted to see the big cities, always wanted to ride in an airplane, or even a train. It was one of those items on his seemingly never ending, always growing, Bucket List for the twenty two-year-old. A chance to see the world, and all it had to offer, instead of looking at pictures on the television or computer. How strange would it be, he wondered, to just look at a building that was taller than some of the silos that dominated the flat, rural, remote land that was Part low, Nebraska. Partlow, with its quaint population (that seemed to grow smaller every year), had been home to Bobby from birth. He'd grown up in the small, little town, there Main Street was the place (and only place, really), to be on a Saturday night. With Waylon's Saloon, that was the one and only watering hole around, the ole Bijou theater that could seat fifty on a good day, and a whole stretch of various Mom-and-Pop shops. He knew just about everyone's name, since in a place like Part low, it was hard to not know everyone's name, with how small and friendly the population seemed to be, and they all knew him who he was and where he'd come from in life. Part low was home. Part low was a part of him, just like it was for just about near everyone else who stuck it out in the farming community, believing, as always, that better days were just around the corner. You couldn't find that in a big city. The closest Bobby ever came to that strange and odd world outside his familiar bubble around home was at the bus station, picking up relatives, on occasion, for Mr. Williams when he was busy with something or another thing, and couldn't be pulled away. Sometimes, it was the birth of a new foal, or having to deal with important business with his buyers and such. On that day, it was a tractor that had decided it had seen its last day of working the acres and acres of farmland that Mr. Williams owned. And on that day, Bobby Jenkins found himself sitting in his own beaten up pick-up, waiting to pick up Mr. William's estranged daughter instead of tending to the horses, or working out on the fields. It wasn't that he hated doing the job of picking up the girl, and others in the past, for that matter. Bobby owed Mr. Williams a good deal after all the things he'd done for him, and never complained. He was a reliable boy, a good and loyal boy, Mr. Williams had often said of him. If there was a job that needed to be done for Mr. Williams, Bobby was always there to do it, no matter how bad or nasty it could be. He'd gotten rewards for his help and services, like the pick-up that Mr. Williams gave him free of charge, and the hayloft in the old barn, the barn that had been turned into a storage area, that had been converted into a bedroom and place for him to lay his head at night. He owed Mr. Williams a lot, treated like a son by the father type he never had for a good long while. But he'd rather be out in the fields. He'd rather be out there, under the sun, doing good work, getting a sweat going doing a good day's work. Sitting around in a pickup, with a rapidly-warming Coca-Cola bottle in his hand and Waylon Jennings playing on the radio, that wasn't a good day's work. He felt useless just sitting there in the cab of the truck, waiting for, as Mr. Williams had often said, some wild and uncontrollable party gal. Bobby could already imagine how Mr. Williams was going to approach him about showing her around. It may not be that night, may not be in the next few, but he could feel it was coming. The good, Christian boy that he was, the hardworking man who'd never been in trouble with the law, try and take this wild woman under his wing, to take her around to some of the places around town, get her to calm her ways a little, if that. Babysitting. He didn't like that prospect, not one bit. But, as he always did when Mr. Williams needed something of Bobby, he'd do it with a smile on his face and try his best. Those thoughts were on his mind as he watched a large Greyhound come to a stop at the station, and dutifully, Bobby climbed out of the truck, with the girl's name on it and went to stand in front of the old red pick-up. ("Jules" William. The stale smell of smoke and body odor had Julie-Anne curled up in her seat, her face pressed against the cool glass. The blue eyes reflected at her blank, seeing nothing of the trees and farmlands that stretched out and rushed past. Her mother had to be joking. Her dad hadn't wanted anything to do with her for the last two years. Now suddenly she was expected to believe that this wasn't some ploy to get her out of the house so she could have some alone time with her new boy toy? Marissa Williams was nothing but a workaholic, cougar. Jules was usually left to her own devices. Chilling with friends, parties on the weekends. Lately though things felt like the rug was being ripped out from under her. Her mother was always arguing with her, threatening to let her get arrested for drinking, or send her to live with her dad. After the accident. She chose to send her daughter away before that could happen. It wasn't even like Jules had been driving that night. Not with how wasted she was. The driver hadn't even seen the truck coming. A small concussion, and eight stitches later Jules was being packed up and shipped to her dad. Away from everything. She'd loved the country when she was a kid, but her friends were in the city, her life. Her school. Her phone buzzed in her pocket bringing her from her own pity party. Pulling it out the name that blared across the screen instantly brought a smile to her face. Though the message brought back that instant sick feeling in the pit of her stomach." Jules. It's been real. Not into this whole long distance thing. Hit me up when you get back in the city though. -Adam Out""You're fucking kidding me...." she said aloud. Catching the movement of the woman across the aisle. Covering her young daughters ears. She couldn't give a damn. She really wished she could slam the damn thing. Stuffing it back into her bag, Jules curled back in her seat. Eyes red from forcing back the tears. Did he seriously dump her over a text? A Green sign flashed past bearing the words "Welcome to Part low". Maybe if she didn't get off? Maybe she could go back and talk Adam into changing his mind? God could her life get any more messed up? Yeah, she was going back. She'd stay with him. Just call her dad and tell her that her mom had changed her mind. That'd work. It'd have to. She was going to be 18 in just under a year. She'd be fine. It would all work out. Pulling into the station the bus gave a loud hiss as the pressure released from the tires, and it lowered for everyone to disembark. Jules had made up her mind, she let everyone file out a head of her. Most just switching buses. The driver looked back at her as the last few got off. It was then she realized that she was the only one who was left. The large man rose up, "End of the line Darwin, I can't get off until you do." Jules chewed on her lip, her annoyance evident in the glare she gave the man. "I want to go back to the city. Aren't you headed back that way?" He looked her over and shook his head." Not until tomorrow. You'll have to buy another ticket if you want to go back this ain't no city bus girly. Now go on." With a scoff the blond rose up and gathered her duffle bag and backpack. "It smells like ass on here anyway. Maybe take a shower tonight." she said as she stepped off. Instantly the fresh air helped the knots in her stomach loosen. But she was still pissed over that text. Who breaks up over a damn text? Getting her other bag from the side of the bus Jules looked around. She really has to be joking about all of this.she mentally reassured herself. By this time next week at the latest she'd be home in Lincoln, and this will be just another joke her mother pulled. Her dad wasn't anywhere in sight, typical. Her eye caught a glimpse of a sign and Jules shrugged her duffle higher on her shoulder before walking towards the Chris Hemsworth stunt double." He couldn't be bothered to come himself I see? Typical." she said her throat feeling hoarse from hardly speaking in the last few days. Giving her mother the silent treatment was her last attempt at getting her way. It didn't take much of a guess to figure out who was Miss Julie-Anne Williams. The girl stood out a bit like a sore thumb to the man who had spent all of his life out in the rural heart land. Apart from the slight resemblance to her father, she had that city-vibe to her. As if Part low was the last place she would ever want to be in life. And then there was that general look of anger and frustration about her that was hard to miss. Bobby stood up a bit straighter, brushing off his shirt and straightening his hair real quick as she approached. He wanted to look his best for the stranger. First impressions were always the most important, his Grandma had taught him in his early years. To look his best, clean and tidy, as he had by straightening himself up. To be a perfect gentleman, as he had when he held out his hand in an offer to take her bags and place them in the back of the old pick-up.“He's really sorry he couldn't be here, Ma'am.” He'd say as he'd come over to open the passenger side door for her. “Mr. Williams had a tractor that broke down this morning, and it really threw a wrench in his plans. So he sent me to come and pick you up and take you on over to the house and farm.” A hand was extended. “I'm Bobby. Bobby Jenkins, Ma'am.” "Yeah. Well I'm used to those wrenches." she said letting him take her bags. Taking her phone out of her backpack before she placed it in the back of the pick-up with the rest of her things. Her eyes taking in the farm muscles this guy had. Might forget Adam if I'm here long enough, if all farm boys are this built."she thought as his hand stuck out in greetings. She blinked at first, was this guy for real? Or was this some of that "Southern Hospitality" her mother always spoke about." Look Pie. The name is Jules, and if you could just stop calling me Ma'am that'd be great. Starting to feel like my mother. Second, you don't have to be so polite. We're not in church." Ignoring his hand she hopped into the cab, her fingers moving over the screen as she waited for him to close the door. Low signal. Oh, gods this was going to be a long summer. A very long summer. As she finished her message, she added all her friends, including Adam." Oh my god. I have found hell and it is Part low. Going to be a long summer"As the door closed she laid her head on the side of the door. Running her fingers through her long locks. Her eyes fixed on Adam's message from earlier. She just wanted to get home and hide in her room the rest of the day. Away from Pie, her dad and this whole damn place. Her eyes were starting to fill with tears as the truck started, and they were on their way. The window rolled down, she was glad for the wind. An excuse for the few tears that slipped down her cheek. God, she hated her mother. Bobby didn't know what to make of the lady, nor of what he was really supposed to do after her request. He'd close her door, make sure her bags were secure enough in the back of the truck, before climbing in behind the wheel, but what he was supposed to say escaped him at that moment. Bobby was always a polite man, a gentleman that always tried to remember his manners and be respectful, no matter if it was at Church on a Sunday, or in town on a Friday night. He wasn't exactly sure how to act with her. The truck was started up, and rather than leaving the radio on the classic country station, Bobby took a moment to find another station for his guest. Although he wasn't sure what she'd like (though he doubted very much she'd like to be reminded of where she was with the radio), he tuned into some Top Forty station before pulling the truck out of the bus station lot, and began the quiet ride down Main. He kept his mouth shut, unsure of what to say as they drove past the various stores and shops, until the town was put behind them, and the land seemed to stretch on for miles in its flatness. A glance over to her showed the tears in her eyes, the tear that ran down her face. A sight that made his heart go out to the girl. It could have been the fresh air, the dirt and dust in the air he didn't doubt that she was unaccustomed to in the country air. It could have been a lot of things. But Bobby had an idea of what it was that was bothering her to the point of tears.“Part low ain't that bad, Ma'am. Ain't that bad at all.” He said, the slight country draw in his voice. “If you want, I could show you around sometime... The County Fair is starting up here real soon if you'd like to check that out sometime.” It was hard, not out right laughing in the guys face. Instead, it came out in a harsh scoff and a roll of the eyes. Wiping at the tears that had escaped. Jules had lived here once, a long time ago. Back when she was happy, and her parents were together and happy. Fingers tracing through her air, Jules tied it back out of her face. "I've seen Part low. Long time ago. Nothing's changed. I doubt the fair has." It didn't matter that it'd been at least 10 years since she'd been to the fair here, or that she hadn't seen her father in almost that amount of time. No, she was sure nothing had changed. Things were constantly "throwing a wrench" in his plans. "I just want to get to my dads and stay in my room the rest of the summer if you don't mind." She looked at him now. Frustration, annoyance, every emotion she was feeling right now etched in her eyes. A part of her knew she didn't need to take it out on him. But her mother was back home, and her dad, well he'd be her punching bag if he were here. But no, this was his pet, and Bobby was going to prove those broad shoulders could take a hit. There was a time and place for everything, Bobby believed. Trying to make small talk didn't seem to be in the right place, nor right time, there in his truck. His guest didn't seem to be in the right mood for talking and making nice. Bobby couldn't blame her in that regard, he supposed. Though he would never have acted the way she did, with such directness, he could imagine how she felt, to be in some place so far from the true home and comforts that came with it. He imagined he'd feel the same if he had to go and live in the city, wondering just what in the hell he'd do with himself in such a big and intimidating place. So instead of trying to talk her into coming out to the fair, instead of offering to take her around to show her the town since she left, Bobby just kept his mouth shut, and continued to drive across the sprawling farmland. It was a few miles down the road when Bobby turned the truck off down the familiar side road with the mailboxes marked Williams. He drove in silence as they made their final approach, the farmhouse in the distance growing larger and closer with every second. It'd been expanded and upgraded over the years, the farm having grown and become more successful in the years after Jules' exodus. He drove past the old barn, past the new barn, past the fields of crops and animals, before pulling up in front of the large, familiar farm house. After killing the engine, Bobby climbed out, making to grab her bags to carry them in for her. Nothing was how she remembered it. That much she could tell as they turned onto her fathers' farmland. Her sulking blue gaze taking in the sight of the new fields and barns. The animals didn't seem so large as the moved about the pastures. She remembered them towering over her, seeming so amazing, so majestic. Now they only smelled of dung. The only thing that hadn't changed was the house. Her home. At least for the summer. Something about seeing it brought back memories she thought she'd forgotten for good. Great memories, and happy ones. A few not so happy ones. That porch for instance. The last time she'd seen it, she was a little girl begging her daddy to let her stay with him. Bobby's slamming door made her jump from her thoughts and Jules followed his lead. The thick smell of animals filling her senses more now. The sun beat down on them, and she instantly wanted to change into something cooler. If he wanted to carry her things fine. Whatever. The sound of her name behind them made her stop though as she started to climb the steps of the porch. Glancing back her eyes fell on her father hurrying his way up to them. His thick arms wrapping his daughter in a crushing hug. The smell of animals mixing with the oil that covered his clothing. Her arms hung at her side though." You smell awful..." She said as the older man stepped away and took her bags from Bobby. "Yeah, that's the farm you'll get used to it..." her reaction seeming to have caught him off guard." I hope not." she moped, looking around. Checking her phone for service once more. "So what am I supposed to do for a whole summer here? Is mom actually going to let me come home, or does she want more alone time with her new toy." It wasn't a question. Bobby knew when he was welcomed and when he was intruding, and that moment between father and daughter sure as hell made him feel like he was intruding. Graciously he handed over her bags over to her father as the two of them reunited, no matter how awkward it might have been (the comments from Jules brought an amused smirk to his face, one he tried to hide), before stepping back and letting the two of them go on up into what had been called The Big House. Retreating back to his truck, Bobby waited until they were inside before starting up the truck and driving off towards his home......a short distance away at the old barn a few dozen feet away from the Big House. His truck was parked on the side of the old, worn building. He had his own entrance, one that didn't involve having to open the large doors on the front and navigating through the maze of old machinery and equipment that had no other place to go. Instead, the door opened up to an old flight of stairs that led up to his living quarters, up in the converted hay loft that had become his home. His own little private space. The fan in his window provided some relief from the heat in the loft, and some was better than none, he thought as he entered the room. Keys were hung up by the door on the old rusted nail. It felt good to be back in his space, his own little space. When he wasn't working out in the fields or running errands, the little converted living space was the place he wanted to be. He didn't have much in life, relying on the goodness of people like Mr. Williams, and working for the right to call the little space his own, but it was his own. His little piece of space that was all his, where he was free. A few posters hung up on the wall and slanted ceiling that made up the roof. Old movies and road maps. One roadmap hung over his bed, where he'd lay on his bed and look up to it. Imagining all the far off places and cities that lay beyond his little bubble of existence. Sometimes he'd plot out a course, following it in his mind's eye to cities that had only been names on a map, or images on the old television in the corner of his room. Sometimes he'd just lay and look at the sprawling lines, looking at them and wondering where they went, where they led to. When inspiration really struck him, he'd get up and go over to the computer on his desk where he'd look up some cities, to see what they looked like, to get an idea for his dreams of one day getting out and exploring. He had some time to kill before dinner, a few hours according to the analog alarm clock that sat beside his bed, and so he grabbed one of the old books from his bookshelves and settled in at his desk, looking to pass some time before bringing himself down and around to the outdoor shower outside the barn. There he'd wash up, wash away the sweat of the hot day before getting dressed and making his way to the big house for dinner. She'd hardly noticed Bobby's exit. Truth be told she wanted to get off this porch and crawl under her covers and just let this day pass. Her father wasn't answering her question, instead he kept his arm around Jules shoulder and guided her inside. Almost instantly she was hit with the familiarity of her old home. Everything looked the same. The large entryway, and old style staircase. Pictures of her lined the walls. School photos and a few others from when she was just a little girl." Please tell me I don't have bright pink walls and princess bedsheets anymore?" She looked at her father as he gave a deep chuckle his arm around his daughter once more. Something on her face must have tipped him off that she was serious because his smile faded just a bit, "Now why would you ask a question like that? I promise no princesses, but the walls are the same color. I'll get you some paint tomorrow when I go into town if you want to change it." Letting go of her, Mr. Williams carried his daughters bags up the stairs and opened the door setting them just inside for her. "I have some more work to do before dinner. You're welcome to join me or do whatever. I have the only key to the liquor cabinet. So don't get any ideas." Jules turned to give some smart ass comment, but he was already walking down the stairs. Slamming the door she flung herself onto her bed and buried herself into her pillow. Tears and exhaustion taking their toll on her. What did her mother say? That she had a drinking problem? Fuck. Between the tears and the curses, at some point. Jules fell asleep. Her body curled up in a ball, pillow covering her face. She barely heard the soft knocking on her bedroom door. Or the voice telling her it was almost time for dinner. His knock had been gentle at first. A careful rap upon the door as he leaned in a little close and said, “Miss Jules, dinner is ready.” There was a part of him that had felt just a little bit nervous as he climbed the steps within the main house. He had been there more times than he could remember. He had even stayed in the room she had occupied years ago for a few nights. Bobby stayed on the ground level of the house when he was there. In the kitchen, or in the dining room, and on occasion in the living room or main study where the business of the farm was conducted. The upstairs was a place he did not like to go, not even when he had to stay there in bad storms. He didn't like the feeling of intruding on the privacy of others. Climbing those steps, crossing onto the landing, made him feel as if he were crossing over into another world, breaking through the little bubble that was his boss and his lady friend's personal space and life. He liked to avoid going up there if he could, preferred to stay downstairs in the more communal spaces. And so, when he was asked to go upstairs and inform Julie-Ann know that dinner was just about ready some time after they had arrived, and she had been settled in her room, he couldn't help but to feel a slight sense of nervous discomfort to climb those stairs and knock upon her door. When she did not answer the first time, Bobby took a deep breath, unwilling to go downstairs and cause more trouble. Doing what he hated to do, he had no other choice but to suck it up before knocking again, this time opening the bedroom door just a little to speak more clearly.“Miss Jules?” He called out. “Your Daddy wanted me to come up and let you know that Dinner is ready.” (might have gone back to bed if he hadn't knocked once more. Jules winced as she heard the door crack open. If he looked in he'd see her still fully clothed body just splayed out on her bed, hand over the pillow that covered her face. She didn't want to go down there, between the headache she had, and the feeling of guilt for treating the guy like complete shit earlier she really didn't want to go down. It wasn't that Bobby kids fault her parents sucked. Or that she'd been dumped. Pulling the pillow from her face she glanced up at the door to see it only cracked open. "I won't bite I swear...the fangs are gone." she said sitting up on the bed now. A soft rumble coming from her stomach. Then there was that. Encouraging her to go join her father and pretend to have a happy little family dinner. But the pounding in her head was telling her otherwise. "What I did before wasn't cool. Sorry about that." she said walking over to open the door the rest of the way. The blond stood there, her stance still the same as before. Her face still slightly reddened from the tears from hours ago. "Tell his Majesty that I will make an appearance as court jester shortly. I'm going to change." With that she moved back, closing the door and leaning against it rubbing at her neck as she changed into shorts and a long sleeved gray top. Pulling her messy hair back with a tie she slipped into her flats and wiped away some smeared make up. There wasn't anyone to dress up for here. What the hell did she care about some farm boys and whoever else her father let come to dinner. Heading downstairs she was hit hard with the smell of food and her stomach gave another growl of desire. She could hear the voices from those around the table and hesitated for a minute, really not wanting to be around any of them. Then her father's voice." When Jules was a kid, I remember that old tire swing was her run away spot. She'd spend hours out there. One time, she went missing we spent hours looking for her. Finally, we found her, sleeping on the swing. Just sleepin' like we should have just known she was there." There was a soft roll of laughter at the table, before she entered the room. Leaning against the door frame. Her father's smile never faded as he motioned for her to join them. "Speak of the devil." he said as she took her place. The blond glanced up at him for a moment as he asked, "Are you hungry." it was then she saw he was offering her a plate. Her stomach didn't give her a chance to answer, it did the talking for her. Taking the plate, she loaded up and started to eat as the talking resumed. After a few minutes she looked up to her dad. "Is that old swing still up?""No, the branch it was on died. We had to take it down. It killed me to do it. I have a great deal of memories of that swing and you and..." his words trailed off and Jules caught his eyes going to another woman at the table who gave him a smile. Clearing her throat Jules wiped her hand. "Hi I'm the heathen daughter, I'm sure you already figured that out, and you are?" Dinner was uneventful. At least, it was for Bobby. Keep his head down and mind his own business. That was his mantra in life, and it had done him pretty well in life. He saw no reason to give that up, especially at a dinner table where he shouldn't have been. He had taken his place down along the table and kept mostly to himself, speaking up when he was brought into the conversation. Mostly stuff about the farm. Mostly what he had been up to, what plans he had for the coming weekend. Simple, mundane things. He answered them truthfully. Yes, he had plans to do some work out in the North field. Move some logs and downed trees from the last storm. He hadn't been up to much, just some work and reading. He was thinking about going out to the Fair sometime, but wasn't sure when or with whom just yet. Nothing fun, nothing exciting. Just like his life had been up to that moment. It was getting past breakfast (a lighter fare that morning, of grabbing and going to work) when Bobby brought the truck around to the front of the house. Dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, he had stepped up to the house to pick up Jules. Take her into town, her father had suggested, show her around, pick her up whatever she might need, pick up a part or two from the shop for a tractor. The woman had laughed. Apparently she thought Jules was being funny. Instead of opening her mouth again, Jules just sat there eating her food and dismissing herself quickly. So he had a new woman. Typical, soon she'd have a stepmom and have to deal with her trying to mother her. The rest of the night was boring; her father had offered to take her for a walk to catch up, but the teen shot him down. She wasn't in the mood for bull shit, and no one was getting back to her. Some friends. Not even her mother was answering texts. Turning off her phone Jules lay there until sleep overtook her. The blond only waking to the gentle knock on her door a few hours later. With a groan she sat up and came face to face with the future stepmom. "So, we didn't get off on the right foot last night. Really we didn't speak at all." She took a seat at the edge of the girls bed and smiled oh so sweetly at Jules. "I'm Tammi, your dad's fiancé. I'm always hearing about you and It's great to put a face to the name. I hope we can be friends." Jules tried not to scoff, she really did. But was this lady serious? "Look, I have friends and well." She held up her phone showing no messages. "Apparently I don't have the right ones, but I'm good. I just have to get through this hellish summer, and I'll be out of your hair." Tammi raised an eyebrow her smile fading slightly before letting out a sigh. "Well hopefully you'll make some friends this summer. You won't make any if you keep the attitude though." With that she started from the room. "Breakfast is ready, most of us have eaten, we're about to head out. If you want to go into town your dad asked Bobby to take you. He'll be around in a few. He's a nice guy, try not to be completely impossible with him." With that her door shut with a light thud and once more Jules found herself alone. Throwing herself back on her pillow, she let her eyes close for a few moments. Decisions, decisions.... Stay at the farm house bored out of her mind? Or go into town and at least get away from the smell of cows for a bit? With yet another noise of protest Jules rolled from the bed and got ready for the day. A half hour later she was in the kitchen, nibbling down some cold bacon and pancakes. The sound of the truck outside drew her from her thoughts and she pushed away from the counter. "Alright Pie." she said as she came into the hall. "Let's do this." she said as she slipped her sneakers on. Dressed in a pair of shorts and dark blue tank top she couldn't believe he was really wearing jeans in this early morning heat. "How do you stand to be in jeans all day?" she asked as she looked him over. The name she called him caught Bobby off guard. For a moment he considered reminding her what his name was, that she must have forgotten it in all the excitement of the past day and night. But the more he thought of it, the more Bobby thought better of it, not wanting to make a fool out of either himself or her when she already seemed to be in such a delicate mood and state of mind. Instead, Bobby focused on the question that struck him as sort of odd and queer as he looked down at his plain and simple attire. Gently he shrugged his shoulders. “Just used to it, I guess. Haven't worn shorts since I was a little one running around.” He said with a bashful sort of smile as he opened up the truck door for her. He was used to the jeans and heat of the summer days. Jeans were just a natural part of his attire when it came to working out on the farm. They offered far better protection working out on the farm and in the fields rather than wearing shorts and getting all sorts of cut up and banged up. Bobby didn't waste time in coming around and climbing into the driver's side of the truck, turning the engine on quickly before driving the old beast down the country lane.“Was there anything you might have needed or wanted, Miss Jules?” Bobby asked, keeping his eyes on the road, and trying his best to keep his gaze from wandering over to the exposed legs and thighs beside him. “I've got to pick up a few parts and tools, but your Daddy gave me some extra cash to go shopping for whatever you might need, Ma'am” Jules gave a shrug in return as she climbed up into the cab of the truck and sat back. The seat was already hot against her back, her legs sticking to the leather almost instantaneously. She didn't say anything right then, Pie was making it too easy to tease him. Tammi's words came to mind, and so she kept her mouth shut. He so far wasn't really all that bad. But farm boy was just so. Oh, she couldn't even think of the word. Careful? Cautious? She glanced at him as he asked his question. Studied him really. Her eyes traced over his features for a moment before she unbuckled her seat belt and turned to face him. One foot tucked under her behind. Brushing her blond locks back she ignored his question and huffed. "First off. Jules. Just call me Jules. Not 'Miss Jules' I'm sure my dad won't take you out back and tan you for just calling me by my name." Her tone wasn't angry, or annoyed. In fact, it would be hard to place it for what it was. Mischievous? Maybe? Head tilting she watched as his gaze almost refused to look away from the road and mirrors. A smile played on her lips then. "Second." her tone and smile faltered then, and she glanced out the back of the truck. "Unless you know a way I can get back at my jerk of an ex. No. Nothing I need. I just wanted out of that house." There it was. Something that was biting at her since yesterday. The problem. That farmhouse wasn't her home anymore. She was just a guest, an unwanted one at that. Too much of a burden for her mother, and now a road block for her father and his new fiancé. "It's not the same anymore." The words came out as if a thought spoken aloud. She hadn't even realized she'd said them. When she did, she gave a laugh, harsh, forced. "So, what is there to do for fun in town and if you say fishing I'll climb out that back window." It was good to be driving, to have something like that to do with his person. Eyes straight ahead, focused on the open road. No need to look over at her, no need to let his eyes linger on those legs sticking out of the shorts she wore. Nope. Just keep his eyes on the road ahead, and be a good boy, he told himself. His cheeks reddened at the command to not be so polite. No, he didn't reckon her father would have, as she said, taken him out back to give him a good one for being that friendly. As he saw it, he was just being polite. Recognizing and respecting the boundaries between she, his boss's daughter, and himself, a helping hand that lived and worked by her father's mercy. Maybe she wasn't used to such politeness in such a sincere way, he thought. Whatever the case may be, he wasn't about to try and tell her otherwise. The last thing he wanted was that anger she had in her, that burning rage over whatever it was, directed upon him. There seemed to have been a lot of change going on in her life, from what he could tell. Her comment suggested some sort of relationship trouble, beyond being sent there to be with her father. Bobby didn't know, and didn't want to press, both out of politeness, and the general desire to not have his head bitten off by saying or asking the wrong thing. Instead, he focused on the question she posed of what there was out there to do for fun.“Well, I don't know what you might find fun. It's different out here than in the city, I guess.” He said. “The fair is in town. Bunch of people like going there when it comes on through. There's rides and shows and livestock auctions, all kinds of stuff... There's football games too. High school. Those are pretty popular. Some shops in town. A movie theater.” Bobby continued, keeping his eyes on the road as the farm became but a distant point in on the horizon behind them. “Other than that, I guess there ain't a whole much for a girl like you.” "I guess there ain't a whole much for a girl like you.” Those words drew every word from her lips that she was prepared to say. A girl like her? Maybe she was being a bit silly, but she'd grown up here long enough, she'd cared for animals, helped her daddy on the farm, learned to ride a horse before she could even walk. She used to dream of running the farm for her parents, having more and more animals. It was all she wanted as a little girl. Even when her parents divorced, she begged her daddy to let her stay, she begged the judge, but no. She was forced away from everything she ever loved. The memory of being torn away from everything stung even now. Turning forward she leaned back on the seat and gave a shrug, "You're probably right, nothing for a girl like me to do." Her tone was indifferent, distant. "Maybe I'll check out the fair," her eyes stared at the nearly vanished farm behind them, the distance growing. "I might even let you show me around town. It's been a long time..." The country road was bumpy, causing her to jerk slightly in her seat, but she didn't notice. Instead Jules had grown quiet and resolved to keep her mouth shut. He probably hadn't meant anything by what he said, but it still stung. She shouldn't be an outsider here, this should have been her home, but it wasn't. She wanted nothing more than to go back to her home in the city. Arms crossed over her chest Jules closed her eyes, and leaned against the back of the seat. When she opened them again, the pickup was coming to a stop outside a store. Rubbing at her eyes, Jules pushed the door open and hopped out, looking around bleary-eyed and curious. Things really had changed here. Closing the door she looked around at Bobby and moved around the truck. "Look, I'm not pissed at you...Let's just get what my old man needs, and I'll get out of your hair."

City and Country {Lady Lunarius & GnothiSeauton}|rating:4.0

My Terrible Twin Brothers (Celebstars and Haruchai)

The snow was falling heavy outside the airport. The roads were thick with it and drivers had to be careful. A large red truck pulled up by the side of the curb near where Jessica was standing. Recognizing it as her fathers, she smiled in joy at not having to stand in the cold much longer. Wearing white jacket with a fur hood, her outfit was complete with black leggings and a t-shirt, with a red sweater on top. Her whole upper body was covered up by the large thick coat which helped keep her warm. Putting her luggage in the back seat with a struggle, the long blonde haired girl jumped in to the front passenger seat and gave her father a big hug and kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for picking me up. It is soon cold!" She laughed, "Can't wait to get to the warm fire in the cabin." {"Light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} They finally arrived after a long hour drive. It would normally take half an hour but the dirt tracks leading through the forest were not kind to the truck which was designed to be great off-road. Jessica's father took her luggage for her as she went on in front of him, ringing the bell to the cabin. There was a warm glow from the building, and she could feel it on her cold cheeks. Holding her hands under her arms, she stood there freezing until the door opened. Jumping in to the home with a hurry she smiled and hugged her grandparents. It was late afternoon although no one would have thought so given that it was getting dark already. It had a feel of early evening." Hey dorks" Jess said to her younger brothers, the identical twins coming to the door. Her soft hands went to each of their heads and scuffed up their hair. "Missed me?" After talking to them, she went on to say her hellos to her uncles and aunts as well as their kids before deciding to catch up on some sleep as she was jet-lagged. Matt and Mike were excited to see their older sister again. She'd go off to college and started her "career", and had left the two boys alone with their parents. At just 16 years old the boys were in high school, and hell on wheels. Goofy and popular at the same time, they lived on comic books, junk food, and thinking about girls. In other words, typical teenage boys. The huge Christmas party and their grandparents Wei a tradition, and they'd been doing it as long as they could remember. Thing was, there wasn't anyone else there that was close to their age. All their cousins were much younger, still in grade school, and so the boys had convinced their folks to let them bring along a friend. His name was James, but he just went by Jim. He'd grown up around the twins and their family in general and his home life wasn't so good. His dad was a drunk and his mom a pharmacologist. Thw twins were wiring up their PS4 downstairs in the basement when Jim told them their sister had arrived. He'd always kind of had a thing for Jessica and was pretty excited she was going to be here. Matt and Mike hadn't seen her for a while, and being closer to their age, they ran upstairs to say hello, Jim following behind." Sis!" Matt called, always being the more outgoing of the two. She stopped to say hello, ruffle their hair and asked if they'd missed her. Matt just laughed. "Miss you? I got your room now, and you can't have it back!" Mike just smiled and gave her a hug. Jim was in the background and gave her a little wave. She was as beautiful as ever and he was quite shy. After they spoke for a bit Jessica had wandered off, and they went back downstairs to play their video games. Jim got up to go take a piss after a few hours, full of Mountain Dew and Doritos, and passed by the room where Jessica was. Going on to the bathroom he emptied his bladder and on the way back, stopped by the room where Jessica was sleeping and peeked in. Going in, he crept quiet as he could across the floor and to the bed, looking down at her. She was like an angel, her blond hair framing her face and the swells of her ample breasts popping out of her nightgown a little. "Oh holy shit." he said and reached down to run his fingertips over the tops of her tits. They were so soft. Now sporting a boner Jim went back to where the twins were, keeping his thoughts to himself. Mike had noticed something though when Jim came back in and kept teasing him about it. "I see your hard on! What's going on?" he kept asking, until Jim finally told them. The twins shared a look. "Oh yeah? Let's go see!" Soon all three boys had crept up to her room and were looking at her. Mike turned to Jim. "Were you able to bring that stuff I asked you about?" Jim nodded. "Good. We'll slip some of it in her drink or something tomorrow." Their plan was in motion and if everything worked out they'd be having a little bit of a hands-on biology class. Jess didn't plan on sleeping long, she wanted to spend the evening catching up with her family, but she slept through the entire day and the night. Given her modelling career which had just started off, the girl had a vast arrange of outfits on her and one was a shearnightiewhich was given to her. Not thinking anything of it, she put it on and slept in it, and when she awoke, she pulled the sheets from her curvy figure and went downstairs. It was really early in the morning, 6:43am the clock in the hallway stated. Creeping down the wooden staircase, the case creaked as her bare feet applied pressure on the surface. Her black toenails stood out against the oak surroundings, as did her nightie, with her ass showing through the material. Running a hand through her long locks, the beauty cleared her face from her hair. Walking in to the kitchen, she forgot how luxurious the cabin was. It was more like a mansion in the woods. As well as trying to study and pursue a career in modelling, coffee had become a friend of the 20-year-old's. Going to the kettle, she filled it up at the sink and flicked the switch on the handle so it would boil. Although Jessica hadn't been there in a year, she had a good idea where the coffee was still. Jim woke early, the huge log mansion so much unlike his home that he forgot where he was at first. Soon it all came back to him, especially the view of Jessica sleeping and how soft her skin had felt, how big and round her breasts were. This prompted a good amount of morning wood and with her on his mind he stroked his cock a few times, thinking of her doing it instead of himself. He soon stopped though and got out of bed, leaving the twins where they were. They had gotten to share one big room down in the basement. In just his boxers Jim headed upstairs. He was comfortable around these people and he wasn't shy. Padding into the kitchen he missed Jessica at first and opened the fridge, looking for some juice. Finding it he grabbed the jug and then set it on the counter as he got a glass. Turning, that was when he saw her in that nightie, and he was in nothing but his boxers, his shaft outlined by the fabric. "Oh, uhm... morning." he told her, blushing. Turning around once her coffee was made, she saw Jim sitting at the counter and almost choked on her coffee, burning herself. "AGH.AGH.AGH." waving a hand in front of her mouth, she stuck her tongue out and bend over the sink to run the cold water over it. Her nightie rose up to expose her small panties and her firm ass cheeks. Water trickled over her tongue down her chin before she lifted back up and turned the water off." Don't scare me like that!" Pulling her hair back with her hand, she held the mug in the other and sipped it patiently, keeping it cool with constant breaths on the surface." How comes you aren't spending Christmas with your own family?" Jessica asked, walking around the counter and leaning on it, her elbows down, back bent with her ass sticking up in the air. From his point of view she was looking directly at his face. It never crossed her mind how she was dressed or the way he was. Things like that didn't bother her nor did she see it as inappropriate, possibly because she wasn't the smartest person in the family. A little clueless was how some best described Jess, although that was putting it politely." How is school?" Jim's blush deepened. Her ass was perfect and she was stunning. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you Jess." he said and that was the truth. Though her question about his family made him wrinkle his nose a little bit. "Your family is a lot nicer and I don't have to watch my dad get drunk and shit all over the holiday. He said with a chuckle, though it was forced. The way her arms forced her cleavage together, he tried not to stare, but he couldn't help it, and despite himself the young boy's cock was soon poking out of the front of his boxers through the slit in the fabric. He tried not to get too embarrassed though and drank his juice and simply moved closer to the island so that it blocked her view." School is going well. I'll be majoring in Computer Science when I apply for colleges. How, uh, how is school for you?" he asked, and shifted his position a bit so he could keep an eye on her ass that was upraised. His dick ached, and he wanted to touch her so bad. "I'm sorry to hear about your dad" she replied, "I guess we would adopt you if we good" A smile left her lips, although she wouldn't of been smiling if she knew Jim was feeling her breasts over her nightie as she slept last night. Unaware he was trying to hide his boner from her, Jessica continued to speak on about her own school life at college. She didn't pick up on him moving to the side to see around her and get a view of her ass poking out with her back arched. "It's good, I'm doing acting, so drama. But I have got some modelling work to, I'm not really sure which I want to follow. I feel confused you know?"" Anyway, I'm going to go back to bed, it's way too early to be up." Lifting her eyebrows up, she turned around, her ass swaying from side to side in her shear nightie. Her parents would have no doubt told her to dress accordingly with everyone else around, but they weren't awaked, so no harm was done. Jim listened to her. In actuality, he was quite interested. He was interested in anything she was into. There was a bit of relief as she moved away, though his eyes stayed affixed to her behind as she moved, the sway of her hips almost hypnotic. "Uh, yeah sure. Way too early. Get some rest Jess." he told her. Taking his juice Jim looked around but didn't see her coffee cup, which meant she probably took it with her. He hurried back downstairs, his boner slowly going away as he moved. He found the twins waking up. "Hey I just ran into Jess upstairs. She was fuckin' hot dude! She didn't put on a robe or anything just that sheer nightie and some small panties!" It was obvious Jim was excited, and the twins shared a look. "Did you bring the stuff?" they asked Jim, who gulped but nodded." I-I did. But do you think...?"" Don't be a pussy man. You know our sister, she just needs a little... prodding." Jim felt a little bad, but he went to his bag and got the drug. He'd managed to swipe it from his mom. She'd brought it home for his dad, and it made his old man sleep. They thought it might be a little fun to give a little to Jess, maybe see how loopy she got. Jim held up the bottle of pills." They work better if you break them up." he told the twins. "I don't know if she still has her coffee. Maybe we should just wait." The twins didn't seem to agree. "The whole house is asleep dude. Now's the best time. If we can get her down here then they won't think to check."" I... ok." Jim finally agreed. In moments the twins and their friend were creeping upstairs to Jess' room. Peeking in they could see she was still awake. They just needed a distraction. The twins walked into the room, Matt had the pill and Jim came last." Hey sis!" Mike said, and sat beside her on the bed. "We've really missed you." he said, buttering her up, and then he got her in a hug. Matt broke the pill and dumped the contents of the capsule into the drink. "I missed you too!" he said, and hugged her from the other side. "CYA!" She waved her hand at him, more so her fingers which all moved differently. Making her way up to the bedroom on the first floor of the home, Jessica had no idea Jim was rushing in to the basement to tell her brothers about her. Opening her bedroom door, she sat down on the edge of the bed and put her coffee on the side table. Finding herself under the covers and sheets, she was sat up against the headboard, back firmly against it. Checking her phone for any updates on social media, she saw her door swing open, with Mike saying hi to her. "What are you all doing in here?" She questioned. The way Mike sat on the edge of the bed, the furthest away from door made her turn away from Matt and Jim. The hug was something of insurance, able to keep hold of her so she couldn't turn around and see what they were doing to her drink. "WWW thanks guys" she said, now opening her other arm up to hug her twin brothers. Putting her phone down by her coffee, she lifted the drink up and sipped at it, it was still very hot." You guys still in to your video games?" Looking at Matt, she licked her thumb and sorted his hair out with a tiny strand sticking up with the way he slept. At this point, she wasn't even noticing Jim. The contents of the pill, odorless and tasteless, dissolved rather easily in the very hot coffee, and soon there was no trace. They could only grin as she hugged them, those huge breasts of hers quite comfy, and she paid no mind as their faces were virtually smoothed into them. They nodded enthusiastically as she asked about the video games. "Oh yeah! We have a few new ones downstairs and expect more for Christmas, though we're really into all kinds of games now." Mike said and leaned up to kiss his sister's cheek. It gave a nice little view down her cleavage. Jim sat nervously on the end of the bed, watching, but unsure if what they were doing was wise. Already his erection had completely died and he just watched." That coffee is perfect. Mom let me have some the other day. Said we were getting old enough to drink it if we wanted." Mike said and then piped up, "But we don't drink it until late at night so we can stay up to play games. The rest of the time we leave it alone." Matt snuggled into his sister a little, and if she'd care to look she'd notice his growing arousal. They were young boys, but it seemed some parts developed faster than others. Jess didn't notice them wanting to snuggle against her breasts, especially as she was drinking her coffee. "New ones already? Before Christmas, I think you are going to have more games than you do time to play them." Scratching at her head it messed up her hair, but her fingers straightened it out once more. Feeling her brother's kiss she liked the attention of her brothers, she felt blessed not having siblings who she fought with." I know it is, it's really tasty" she lifted the mug up, notifying him before drinking some more, it had cooled considerably allowing her to take gulps of the stuff. "It is making me feel tired though I think, thought it was meant to wake me up." Finishing it, she put the cup down, but her head quite felt dizzy, and she misplaced it, dropping it on the floor where the handle smashed, coming apart from the mug. Holding her head, Jessica yawned as her head spun and looked down to see Matt's arousal in his pants. Frowning, she dropped her head back and closed her eyes. She wasn't asleep though, just dopey and weak, almost feeling to lazy to move any limbs. "G...guys..." she mumbled, trying to open her eyes. The twins were quick to act. "Jim, grab that cup and me and Matt will grab her." Mike said, and he and his brother, growing lads that they were, each grabbed one end. Matt under her arms and Mike her legs. She wasn't a big girl anyway, and they instructed Jim to act as lookout. Their guest nodded and peeked out the door. He didn't hear anyone, and they were on their way. They didn't run into anyone in the house that was awake and within ten minutes they had her down in the basement, the doors shut to help block sound. They laid her out on the large sectional couch. "You'll be ok. We'll take care of you sis." Matt said and ran a hand over his sister's breasts. By now both twin boys were sporting full erections, and they looked to Jim. "Will she cry out? He shook his head. "Not unless you do something really painful to her." he explained. He took a seat in a nearby chair but didn't approach. Instead, he simply watched, and idly rubbed his cock. The twins were busy however, and soon had her out of her nightie and panties, her smooth pink flower looking soft and innocent, her ample breasts, swayed to the side as she laid on the couch. Matt squeezed one soft ripe tit and smiled. "They're so soft!" he exclaimed, almost in surprise. Mike did the same and then reached a hand between her legs. "Wow, her pussy is really warm!" he stated and rubbed her there a few times. "You should touch her Jim." he encouraged, but the other boy shook his head. Jessica was powerless to stop her brothers from reaching her. Her entire body weight rested on each sibling as they carried her through the house. Her limp body almost touched the floor, her ass dragging against the floor sometimes as they moved her down the stairs in to the basement and shut the door behind them. A comfy surrounding warmed her, the soft couch allowing her to settle and feel calm. A draft fell over the woman now as she was stripped of her clothing, her nightie pulled from the head up and her panties from the waist down. Her breasts were large and soft. They looked flattened as she laid on her back and between her legs was a smooth pussy, clean and very inviting. Blinking, Jessica didn't know what was going on, although she had a faint idea which made her pull a frown. She drifted in and out of consciousness as the drug took full effect. She had a slight numb feeling about her, yet anything more than a rub would have woken her back up. For now, she is as asleep as they rubbed her pussy and felt up her breasts. The twins moved her a little and spread her legs and then Matt pulled her pussy lips apart, and for this Jim got up to look.’t looks so strange!" Mike exclaimed and reached out to touch it. "It's really warm." he said, and his dick was throbbing even though he wasn't really sure why." Stick a finger in her!" Matt dared his twin.Mike gently did so, feeling how her pussy was pretty tight and hugged his finger. "Oh damn. Now I can see why it feels good. Put your dick in her Matt!" Mike said and actually shimmied out of his own underwear. Matt did the same and they both stood there with theircocksout, and they turned to Jim." You're going to fuck her too, right?" they asked, egging him on. "C'mon man, get out of those boxers. Slowly Jim did the same and was naked as well, hisdickhanging down while the twins were up and fully erect." D-doesn't she has to be wet first?" Jim asked obviously bit unsure." Well lick her then." Mike said. Jim didn't mind and slowly approached her spread legs and began to lick her pussy. It was something he'd thought about for a long time and as he got more into it, he spread her pussy lips to get at her better. Her body was moved by the twins, sat up against the back cushion with her back slouched and her head leaning on her left shoulder. Her feet landed on the floor, bare with her toes just about touching the rug in the center of the room. Now in a seated position, when Matt pulled her legs apart he got a better view of her pussy. As much as they were in to their games instead of partying, it was no wonder why they seemed experimental with her, having to work things out for themselves. A drool of saliva was building on her bottom lip as the boys fascinated over her cunt. With her pussy lips pulled apart, Mike gently pushed his finger inside of her. A noise left the sister's mouth, her head turned to the other shoulder. All the boys were getting naked in front of her, not that she knew about it. After much talking, the only thing she could feel was this warm wet substance on her pussy." Mmm..... Mmm." Moans left her as Jim was naked, licking her smooth pussy. It was actually getting wet to, despite her slumber. Jessica's eyes opened for a split second, but her vision was blurry. They were absolutely smitten with her and her body, letting hands explore and Mike experimentally licked his fingers. "That's not bad. Not what expected though. The guys at school make it sound like you're licking something really sweet." He shrugged and looked at Jim, who by now had splayed her legs further and was licking her pussy like a champ, even letting his tongue slide down to lick over her asshole. Mike scrunched up his nose. "You're sick man! Matt! Jim just licked her ass!" Jim paid no mind and tried to bury his tongue as deep into her wet glistening cunt as he could. Matt had moved back behind the couch and tilted his sister's head back and watched AAS the drool spilled from her mouth, and he got an idea. "Hey Jim, you've been wanting her a long time and even brought the stuff. You should get first crack at her. Stick your dick in her mouth!" he said. Jim looked up from where he was, lips and chin shining softly from Jessica's wetness, and he stood, his cock dripping a long trail of precut as he came around the couch. Trying to figure out how to position himself Jim soon went back around the couch and got up on it, straddling her body with his legs and pulling her head up. His right hand grabbed the base of his dick and rubbed his cock over her lips and then just barely in." I don't want her to bite it off!" he explained and seemed kind of skittish. Squeezing his cock he milked a drop of precut out of it that he washed slowly descend to land on her tongue. He was fascinated. A little more brave he stuck the head of his dick into her mouth. Jessica was moaning lightly as Jim was licking her she even shuddered as he went towards her asshole. She had no idea it had caused a reaction from Mike, who was calling Matt to tell him what their friend had just done. When the shock was over with, the sister's head was moved back so she was looking up at the ceiling. It was for a brief moment until her eyes closed once more. With her Jim being urged on to have first crack at her, her mouth seemed the right thing to try at the beginning. The sofa she was resting on shook and bumped as the mid-teen stood on it, a leg either side of Jess. His cock was near her lips, so ripe and coating in a thin layer of her saliva. He held her head upright now, taking over from Matt who had moved it. Her mouth was stroked at first before the head went in and planted it's precut on her tongue. Blinking her eyes, Jess coughed and tried moving her head, but she couldn't Jim held her head still, gently fucking her mouth with the first couple inches of his cock, but since she wasn't truly aware her mouth hung slack and loose around his meat. It didn't matter though as he trembled and grunted a little, pulling back as he came and spurting up along her cheek and nose, in her hair and across her closed eyelid." Holy shit you just came all over my sister's face!" Matt said, laughing and then licking his lips as he looked at HS sister's glazed mouth. Jim wiped his cum off on her neck and then seemed kind of embarrassed and stepped down from the couch. "Are one of you going to fuck her?" Jim asked. Mike shook his head. "That's tonight. People will be up soon and looking for her." he said, but didn't seem concerned about the mess on her face. Jessica was like a rag doll with the way her body was so limp. She could be moved in to any position all three boys wanted. For now, she was stills at up straight, with her head held still, so Jim could fuck her mouth. Her wet tongue would have felt amazing to anyone who received oral from her, and it seemed the young male was no different because he pulled out and coated her face. The sister's face was painted in cum now, strands and leaks all over her face and partly in her hair. She looked more like a slut now then she did in her revealing nightie. While she was left alone as they spoke, her body slowly turned and fell on to her right shoulder. "You clean her up!" Matt said, and Mike shook his head. "I'm not cleaning up Jim's sponge dude!" Jim sighed. "I'll clean her up."" You did bring more stuff right? How long will she be out?" Mike asked. Jim shrugged. "A couple of hours I guess" he said. He wasn't really sure. "Are we going to try to get her back up to her room? He felt sure that some folks would start getting up soon. Mike smiled. "We could say we found he, once she's cleaned up, and that she sleepwalked?"" She really wasn't too fun. Don't give her as much next time. All Jim did was rub his cock on her tongue, she didn't suck it like she's supposed to. Right?" Matt looked to Jim for confirmation. The other boy had to agree." We need her to not really know who we are, but be out of it enough that she fucks us." Mike said. Jim nodded. "Maybe half a pill then? Three-quarters?" he didn't know he was just guessing." Damn these tits are nice though!" Matt said as he fondled them and rubbed his cock over them. E was stroking as he did so and just looking at his sister's cum-covered face and her large ripe tits and son the boy spurted his cum onto her chest, coating her pink nipples in that white viscous fluid. It was Mike's turn then, and like his brother it didn't take long, and soon his load was deposited on his sister's breasts as well, and the boys grinned and looked at Jim. "You said you'd clean up!" they said Jim went to the bathroom and got a washrag and wet it and came back out to start the job of cleaning her up a little. He licked his lips, the taste of her pussy still on them, and he caressed her creamy thigh as he thought of how she tasted and how her mouth might feel if she were more awake and actually sucked his dick proper. With a shudder he finished cleaning her up and got a blanket from a closet to cover her with. Jess was groggy as she stirred, her head turning back and forth. Laughter filled the room, although it was distant. Opening her eyes, she looked around and saw she wasn't in the room she was supposed to be in. It looked like the basement. Eyeing it, she saw a bar, games consoles and TV's. There was also a pool table and poker table. The girl didn't remember going down there and sat up holding her head. She almost felt...hungover. With her hair all messed up, she tried sorting it and found some clumped together. Little did she know it was Jim's cum making it stick. Taking the blanket off, she walked in her nightie to the doors and opened them, heading upstairs. Walking past the kitchen where everyone else was, she looked a mess, like she had been partying all night and had come home in the early hours of the morning. "Go put some proper clothes on will you!" Her mother said, embarrassing her. Jess went upstairs and did exactly that, not before she showered though. The twins were awake as she got up, giggling to themselves as they watched her. They didn't say anything though, and just watched as she walked out, her hips and ass swaying side to side. It seemed her natural way of walking. An eruption of laughter when they heard her get chastised by their mother.----------​The daylight hours, which were short, passed rather uneventfully.... for a day that was to end with a huge Christmas party anyway. There were all kinds of comings and goings as food was brought and bought, and visitors started arriving around 3pm. It was getting dark around 4:30, so it didn't seem too out of the ordinary. More family showed up, and quite a few family friends and neighbors too. The twins, uninterested in most of the social gathering, stayed downstairs for the most part, accompanied by Jim, the three of them playing video games. The hours flew by for them. Finally, their mother called them to come upstairs at about 6. Outside it seemed like it should be midnight, those strange winter hours skewing perceptions of time like they did. The dinner for everyone was pretty simple, and true Christmas dinner wasn't until the next day. Still, all manner of finger foods, some chilies and soups, and desserts for miles. Even a decently sized gift exchange. Jim brought one of the pills with him, just in case, and all three boys wandered through the party, gathering the foods they liked and avoiding the younger children of their visitors, whether they were cousins or just friends. The get-together at the cabin was nice, people were all dressed up, smart and casual in appearance while Jessica herself wore a black, tight fitting dress. She mixed with family members, saying hello to each newcomer who arrived at the Christmas Eve gathering. The place was fast becoming packed, kids were running around the noise levels were high. Jessica had no idea what happened in the early hours of the morning. She did wonder to herself why she was downstairs in the basement, but she was told she was sleepwalking. The girl didn't know she was accountable for something like that, but she couldn't argue with them. A lot of the older men seemed interested in talking with the blonde bombshell. Her naivety did not treat her well, they all glimpsed at her cleavage, much to the dismay of their wives and girlfriends. Someone even took Jess aside and told her to cover up a little bit. Looking down at her own chest, she pulled her dress up a little and got herself a cardigan, buttoning it up and having a bit more respect about herself. When dinner was ready, the table was filled with bowls of food. Snacks and finger foods to be picked at with leisure. Jessica at this moment was sitting in the kitchen, eating some chicken bites with her legs crossed. She had taken her heels off so she was barefoot yet clear stockings helped fight the chilly air which rushed through the house when some of the kids went outside to play. Matt, Mike and Jim watched her all day, smiling as she tried to explain away the bullshit sleepwalking story. Her tits were on a nice display and seemed to attract the eye of every man in the place. That made their endgame all the more tantalizing really. The day wore on and Mike caught her in the kitchen at the table, eating some chicken. "Hey sis!" he said cheerily and grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge. "You want to come downstairs and check out this new game we got? You could even bring your chicken if you want. More lets us eat down there. I'll even carry it for you."he was laying on the charm and wondered if she'd take the bait. "It's a chance to get away from all the boring adult stuff. All they want to do is stand around and talk." he lamented, and looked at her, hopefully. "Yeah sure" she said, smiling, rubbing her hand through his hair. Jess did always baby them, it was how she saw them really, as her baby brothers. Not in her wildest imagination could she see them doing anything horrible to her or anyone else. "I want a coke to" she said, taking one from the fridge before grabbing her plate of food and walking down in to the basement with Mike. The doors slid open and there was the other two boys gaming and even yelling at one another. "Play nice!" She said, liking that she had a little authority over them. Sitting down on the sofa, the very same one which earlier had her sucking cock without her knowledge, Jessica watched the screen and continued to eat. A pop sound echoed through the room as her coke was opened." What game is it you're playing?" The boys all shared a look as Jessica came in and except for Jim the twins gave her a hug, subtlety laying their heads on her breasts as they did so." We're playing Call of Duty, but we also got Mario Maker if you want to play too sis!" she was informed excitedly, and they did change out the game, handing her what she needed and explaining controls as Jim drugged her drink, using about half the dose he did the night before. Being emboldened by that Jim hugged her from behind. "I've missed you too Jess." he said and almost kissed her shoulder. On the screen they showed her how to build all her own levels in the Mario game. While sitting, she felt the hugs from her brothers who always seemed over affectionate with her. Even Jim managed to hug her from behind the sofa which mad her feel a little weird as he wasn't family. "So what am I doing? You couldn't even do this before, when I played Mario. It was on the old Super Nintendo." Using the controls, she managed to place different obstacles in various places. "Is this even right?" Grabbing her coke, which had now been drugged, the blonde sister started to gulp it down before resting it back on the table. The drug would start to kick in right away, but the effects would wait a while to show signs. While she was playing, her vision got a little blurry and head got drowsy as she fell on the sofa, dropping the controller. This time however she wasn't knocked out." I think I'm sick" she said. As she fell over on the couch Matt smiled and moved to lock the door that led to this room, and Mike had moved behind the couch to strip off his shorts, his cock already half-hard just from anticipation. "I think you're ok sis, probably just tired from traveling and that sleepwalking. You don't really rest when you sleepwalk." he said and moved around to her, getting on his knees in front of the couch and bending to kiss her mouth, licking her lips as his hands moved to free her ripe ample tits. He wasn't wasting any time. Mike gently tapped her mouth with the head of his cock. "Here's some medicine dear sister." he said, and pressed his hips forward, pushing the head of his cock into her mouth. Jim had out his phone, recording, and one hand rubbed the growing bulge in his shorts as Matt came back over and watched. Jessica barely figured out what was happening to her. The way she felt was like she was heavily drunk. Looking up at her brother, she heard his comforting words, and watched him drop to his knees before feeling the assault on her mouth with her lips licked. The dress put up a little fight but not for long as her breasts popped out over the top, hanging freely. Something different from ran across her lips, poking at them, prodding to before parting her lips as she laid on her side towards her brother. There was no time to be wasted it seemed while the adults made noise upstairs. "C'mon sis, be a good girl." Mike said and slid more of his growing dick into her mouth, rubbing it on her tongue and her lips. His brother rolled her more to her back and his cock slid between her tits Ashe held them together, pinching her nipples as he did so. Reaching behind himself, Matt's hands left her tits as he pulled up her dress and pulled her panties to the side, revealing her smooth pussy as he smiled to Jim. "Make sure you get it all recorded." he said and slipped a single finger along the cleft of her pussy-lips. The girl as fully aware of what was going on now, having to live with what they were doing. Last time she was so out of it she had no clue, but today, Jessica knew she had a cock in her mouth which was being pushed deeper against her tongue and lips. A weight overcame her, resting on her stomach before her tits were molded and shaped in to letting another cock get itself off. Each of her hands were placed on the two males chests, trying to push them off. To her, she used all the strength she could muster, however it was nothing, a toddler was stronger than I at this point. With her legs pushed wide, her pussy was revealed when her panties were pushed to the side. Her smooth lips shown to the camera for the potential world to see at some point. "Damn, c'mon sister, that's no way to suck a cock, just letting me slide it into your open mouth. You have touchy cock." Mike said and slapped her softly across the face. He didn't want to leave marks, but this half-assed way of sucking dick just wasn't going to cut it. Of course, maybe it was the drugs.... Matt slid between her ample tits, tapping her chin with each thrust, and Jim still filmed as he settled between her legs and rubbed his cock all over her soft warm pussy, watching as her body took over, and she got wet, her color deepening as blood rushed to her sex. The slap across her beautiful gorgeous face almost woke her up from her drowsy state. Closing her mouth tightly around his cock increased the sensation he would have felt. Lifting a hand up, she looked at her brother in the eye and tried to push his legs. Surrounded by all these young cocks which were horny for her, there was no way she was getting out of this. The weight of her second brother on her stomach pinned her down while he knocked her chin every pother second. The boys would have seen a glimmer of her eyes water as she was assaulted by all three boys.

My Terrible Twin Brothers (Celebstars and Haruchai)|rating:1.0

MTG_ DMBlackhart vs Nolispe

When you post your deck, we can begin. Time-FuSpoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp Once, there was an island in time. It was shadowed, but a flame burnt bright within its heart. And within that heart, an idea was kindled. Inital Hand:(10d60)[14][7][55][7][60][56][9][33][43][23](307)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Inlet Boiler works Inlet Boiler works Chronology Fury Charm Power Conduit Field-Volcanic Island Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (10d60)[9][8][13][53][14][41][19][17][1][2](177)- Starting HandHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Diabolic Tutor, Black Sun's Zenith, Go for the Throat, Swamp FieldSwampActions- Play Swamp-Reveal Chancellor of Dross from hand-Opponent(s) lose 3 life I gain 3 life.23 Life And inside the mountain's heart, as vampires scurried across the ground outside, strange and wondrous things were forged. Draw:(3d60)[19][41][7](67)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Inlet Boiler works Inlet Boiler works Chronology Fury Charm Field-Volcanic Island (T)- Mountain (T)- Power Conduit Actions- Play Mountain-Play Power Conduit Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[60][45][42][45](192)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Diabolic Tutor, Black Sun's Zenith, Go for the Throat, Swamp FieldSwampSwampActions- Play Swamp-End Turn23 Life Draw:(3d60)[7][3][16](26)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Inlet Boiler works Island Mountain Chronology Fury Charm Field-Volcanic Island- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Power Conduit Actions- Play Inlet Boiler works, returning Mountain to hand.- End turn. Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[51][12][7][46](116)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Diabolic Tutor, Black Sun's Zenith, Go for the Throat, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite FieldSwampSwampSwampActions- Play Swamp-End Turn23 Life Draw:(4d60)[32][10][45][55](142)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Inlet Boiler works Mountain Fury Charm Choir's Time bug Field-Volcanic Island (T)- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Island (T)- Power Conduit (T) (1 Charge Counter)- Chronology (2 Time Counters) (3/3 Flying)Actions-Play Island-Tapping all lands, play Chronology- Tap Power Conduit, remove one counter from Chronology, place one charge counter on Power Conduit Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[12][28][30][18](88)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Diabolic Tutor, Black Sun's Zenith, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots Field Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Swamp Graveyard- Go for the Throat Actions- Draw-Tap 2 Swamp-Play "Go for the Throat" on Chronology- End Turn23 Life Draw:(4d60)[47][55][2][49](153)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Mountain Island Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island (T)- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Power Conduit (1 Charge Counter)- Choir's TimebugGraveyard- ChronozoaActions- Play Choir's Time bug- Play Inlet Boiler works returning island to hand.- End Turn Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[22][51][56][28](157)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Black Sun's Zenith, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots Field Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Graveyard-Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Play Swamp-Tap all 4 Swamp-Play Diabolic Tutor-End Turn23 Life Draw:(4d60)[18][5][57][47](127)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Island Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Power Conduit (1 Charge Counter)- Choir's Time bug (T)- EpochrasiteGraveyard- ChronozoaActions- Play Mountain-Tap Inlet Boiler works, Play Epochasite- Attack for 1 with Choir's TimebugLife: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[34][1][1][5](41)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Black Sun's Zenith, Chancellor of the Dross, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots, Go for the Throat Field Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Swamp (T)Graveyard-Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Tap 3 Swamps-Play Black Sun's Zenith with BBBB, all creatures take -2/-2- Done22 Life Draw:(4d60)[16][37][36][41](130)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain (T)- Island (T)- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Power Conduit (1 Charge Counter) (T)- Chronology (3 Time counters)- Chronology (3 Time Counters)Graveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled- Epochrasite (2 Time Counters)Actions-Play Island-Tapping both the Inlet Boiler works, Play Chronology- Tap the power Conduit, removing a time counter from the 'Zoey.- Tap Island and Mountain, Play Fury Charm, removing another 2 counters and causing it to be sacrificed and then duplicated. Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[25][29][32][59](145)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Chancellor of the Dross, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots, Go for the Throat FieldSwamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Graveyard-Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Play Swamp-Tap 5 Swamps for BBBBB- Play Black Sun's Zenith (-3/-3)- End Turn22 Life Draw:(4d60)[58][4][3][43](108)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Island- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Inlet Boiler works- Power Conduit (2 Charge Counters) (T)- Power Conduit- Epochasrite (4/4) (T)Graveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled Actions- Sigh frustrated- Play Power Conduit- Tap one of them, bring Epochasrite back-Attack you for 4 with EpochasriteLife: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp [roll]4d60[/roll]- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Chancellor of the Dross, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots, Go for the Throat FieldSwamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp Graveyard- Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-14 Life * post roll count doesn't match database Draw:(4d60)[31][6][33][51](121)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Island- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works (T)- Power Conduit (2 Charge Counters)- Power Conduit- Epochasrite (4/4) (T)- Choir's TimebugGraveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled Actions- Play Choir's Time bug- Attack with Epochasrite for 4Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[58][25][33][43](159)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Chancellor of the Dross, Flesh Born Grand Cenobite, Swift foot Boots FieldSwamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp Shimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Graveyard- Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Play Shimmering Grotto-Tap lands for BBBB- Play Quicksilver Amulet-End Turn14 Life Draw:(4d60)[5][27][29][32](93)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Island-Island- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works- Power Conduit (2 Charge Counters)- Power Conduit- Epochasrite (4/4) (T)- Choir's Time bug (T)Graveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled Actions- Play Island-Attack with both Epoch and the Time bug for 5. Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[56][12][55][26](149)- DrawHandSpoiler Hide Chancellor of the Dross, Swift foot Boots FieldSwamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Shimmering Grotto(T)Quicksilver Amulet(T)Swift foot Bootees Born, Grand Cenobite (4/7)Graveyard-Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Tap all lands for 1BBBBB- Tap Quicksilver Amulet to play Flesh Born from my hand-Play Swift foot Boots (cannot equip yet)- End Turn14 Life Draw:(4d60)[7][38][43][46](134)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Rift Elemental Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Island-Island- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works- Power Conduit (2 Charge Counters)- Power Conduit- Epochasrite (2/2)Graveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled Actions- Draw- Done Life: 17 Extrapolate Spoiler Hide Platinum EmperionBuried Ruins Diabolic TutorSylvok Replica Diabolic TutorSheoldred, Whispering One Diabolic Tutor Chancellor of the Dross Black Sun's ZenithSylvok Replica Buried RuinsSwiftfoot Boots Diabolic Tutor Black Sun's Zenith Buried RuinsSwiftfoot BootsSylvok ReplicaSwampGo for the Throat Ratchet Bomb Buried RuinsSheoldred, Whispering One Ratchet BombSwampSwampSwampSwiftfoot Boots Go for the Throat Ratchet Bombers Born, Grand CenobiteSwampQuicksilver Amulet Shimmering Grotto Go for the Throat Quicksilver AmuletVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampSwampShimmering GrottoSwampDismemberMassacre WurmSwampVorinclex, Voice of HungerSwampChancellor of the Dross Go for the Throat Shimmering GrottoSwampSwampElesh Born, Grand CenobiteDismemberSwampQuicksilver Amulet Massacre WurmSwampSwampShimmering Grotto Quicksilver Amulet Swamp (4d60)[24][16][50][33](123)- DrawHandFieldSwampSwamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Swamp(T)Shimmering Grotto(T)Quicksilver Amulet(T)Swift foot Boots - Chancellor of the Dross (8/8 Flying Lifeline Haste)Flesh Born, Grand Cenobite (4/7)Graveyard-Go for the Throat-Diabolic Tutor-Diabolic Tutor Actions- Draw-Tap all lands for 1BBBB- Use quicksilver amulet to pull Chancellor of the Dross to the field-Equip swift foot Boots to Chancellor-Attack with Flesh and Chancellor.22 Life Draw:(4d60)[49][26][28][12](115)Time-Spoiler Hide 1) Island 2) Island 3) Island 4) Island 5) Island 6) Island 7) Inlet Boiler works 8) Inlet Boiler works 9) Inlet Boiler works 10) Inlet Boiler works 11) Volcanic Island 12) Volcanic Island 13) Volcanic Island 14) Volcanic Island 15) Cascade Bluffs 16) Cascade Bluffs 17) Cascade Bluffs 18) Cascade Bluffs 19) Mountain 20) Mountain 21) Steam Vents 22) Steam Vents 23) Steam Vents 24) Steam Vents 25) Choir of the White 26) Choir of the White 27) Choir of the White 28) Choir of the White 29) Choir’s Time bug 30) Choir’s Time bug 31) Choir’s Time bug 32) Choir’s Time bug 33) Chronology 34) Chronology 35) Chronology 36) Chronology 37) Epochrasite 38) Epochrasite 39) Epochrasite 40) Epochrasite 41) Rift Elemental 42) Rift Elemental 43) Rift Elemental 44) Rift Elemental 45) Karakul, the Eons Torn 46) Karakul, the Eons Torn 47) Karakul, the Eons Torn 48) Karakul, the Eons Torn 49) Paradox Haze 50) Paradox Haze 51) Paradox Haze 52) Paradox Haze 53) Fury Charm 54) Fury Charm 55) Fury Charm 56) Fury Charm 57) Power Conduit 58) Power Conduit 59) Power Conduit 60) Power Conduit Hand Spoiler Hide Fury Charm Karakul, the Eons Torn Rift Elemental Field-Volcanic Island-Mountain- Island-Island- Inlet Boiler works- Inlet Boiler works- Power Conduit (2 Charge Counters)- Power Conduit Graveyard- Chronology- Fury Charm- Chronology- Choir's Time bug (T)- Choir's Time bug (T)Exiled- Epochasrite (2 Time Counters)Actions- Epochasrite dies for the cause blocking Flesh. I Take 8 damage.- Draw-Concede. Life: 9

MTG_ DMBlackhart vs Nolispe|rating:2.0

Anchorage by Night [IC_ Quests - Slow]

For the slow-paced posters who feel they will be able to post at least once every two weeks. Quest Participation* Hades* Hope fox* virtualblueQuest Title:'Til Death Do Us Part Synopsis:A dramaturgical item--a ring--is causing havoc; at least one Kindred was found as a little pile of dust with the ring in it, and one mortal has been found dead with the ring burning into their ring finger of their left hand. Both victims wore the ring for months before their demises, so it doesn't seem to be immediately dangerous.... The Sheriff recovered it and turned it over to an enterprising group of Kindred in the hopes they can discover its secrets. The item has been recovered...but someone must wear it to discover what it does. One PC must take the plunge, and the rest must help them discover the full effects of the item before it's too late! Sheriff Gotta is offering to teach a Discipline to whoever wears the ring, while the rest will receive a Minor Boon. Player Character Risk:Low, unless you are the PC who offers to wear the ring. Then the risk level is high, as you are dealing with a force you do not entirely understand. Special Note:Don't put on magic rings unless you're prepared to have your PC be connected to something or someone weird. You've been warned! (Liberty Book Club - Taffeta Library (J17 on Map)Time: October 8th 2020, 10:30pm Sheriff Gotta was completely out of his element, and unlike many Kindred, he was not so arrogant as to believe he could persevere against his flaws or could treat poorly those whom he needed to aid him. He had sent out a call for potential assistance as a veiled post on Fang book asking "dedicated researchers of the occult" to "join him for a night of exciting research and career opportunities involving the study of a fascinating cultural object." At the end of the post he'd indicated that "any discovery of sufficient import to understand the item's significance will be met with private tutelage from a man known for physical prowess" or "for minor discoveries, eternal gratitude and the repayment of a favor at my earliest convenience." The post had a few things he was sure might appeal to people--the veiled reveal that the Masquerade would not apply if they stayed in the back room would probably attract at least one bold researcher. There might be a few that were idly curious or greedy, but Trevor was hoping that if such people showed that their motivation would be strong enough to keep them from flaking. Sheriffs had a bit of a hard time in general getting help on problems--it wasn't as though Sheriffs were very popular. The back room of the library was spacious, had a roaring fire going, and was packed with bookshelves, comfortable big red chairs, windows to let in a slight breeze, and there was--in the far back--a small locked refrigerator, which Gotta had the key for and would offer to people in short order. When interested people trickled into the library and got past the guard, escorted to the Liberty Club, they would see Trevor--hulking and blond and dressed with at least some attempt to look nice, though that was not easy in a man of his size. He wore beige slacks, a long-sleeved white shirt, and he was even in a tie. His shoes were black dress shoes, and he wore a red evening jacket. He got up and smiled when the ragtag coterie all seemed to be present, saying, "Welcome. I hope my job ad gave enough notice for all of you? Please, have a seat if you'd like to get comfortable. There are blood packs in a small refrigerator in the back if you came hungry." This was one of the more considerate offers--blood packs in Anchorage were hard to get, and this was a hint that Trevor was either desperate for the help...or he was an unusually kind Kindred. Either would be odd in a Sheriff. Once everyone was situated, he pulled a thin looking ring out of his pocket. It was a yellow-white and had something etched in black on it. Trevor set it on the table in the center of the room."Voilà. The item," he said with a flourish, looking a little nervous." So...to explain what I know. This item's been giving me trouble for about a year. A Kindred by the name of Blaze died in a very appropriate fashion for his name, and the ring was found in his ashes--his hand remained though, and the ring was on it. Given that he burst into flames in public, that was a wild cover-up for me. I had to get the Venture Imogen and his chiller to help cover that up, and I still owe favors for that. I had quarantined the ring, but someone saw fit to break into my bank's lockbox and take it. About two months later, a human named Lydia Carlisle was found dead in her home, her body burnt and the ring on her hand. I managed to more successfully hide the ring this time, but it's clear I need to understand what's going on with it. Both victims wore the ring for a while before anything bad happened, so my theory is that some manner ofeventtriggered their demise. The ring, when I asked a Moldavian to look on it with Sussex for me--had an aura. Zebedee told me that the ring had a potent aura of love and jealousy about it, and that--weirdly--it seemed to only have half an aura, as though it was broken in two and the other half is somewhere else. I tried to get more information from Zebedee, but then he realized the ring is most likely made of bone, and he freaked out on me given his...peculiarities about cleanliness." Liotta considered his next words carefully. "I asked Magister Vega to research it, but apparently he's busy with a private project for his clan and said he couldn't, but he wouldn't forbid his apprentices helping if any showed up tonight." Trevor pointed to some of the taller shelves and said, "On these shelves are the assorted pieces of Kindred lore that I, Prince Toy, and the Seneca have acquired over time. We're hoping there might be a clue in there about this. The ring's inscription--I can't translate it, but there are plenty of books on ancient languages here, so maybe one of you will get lucky?" He winced and added, "I rather suspect to find out the most about it, someone may have to wear it. I can compensate that person more handsomely than the rest, but the risk is obviously very high. If none of you will volunteer, I will wear it personally, though that does mean if you fail, and I somehow die, none of you get rewarded or get anything like a good reputation out of this, so choose carefully." After taking a deep breath he didn't truly need, he concluded, "So if you're interested, talk among yourselves about who should wear this--and tell me if you pick me--and ask me any questions you have."IOC/Rolls If you need blood, take a blood pack and restore 2 BP. Player with the highest Intelligence + Occult dice pool should roll here. Player with the highest Wits + Linguistics dice pool should roll here--don't worry if you don't have the right 'Language' known to translate the ring. The presence of language books here and your character knowing more than one language lets you make a try. Player with the highest Manipulation + Subterfuge dice pool should roll here. Anyone with Sussex at 2 can use it, roll for your results, and confirm if Trevor's reveal about the aura is right, and anyone with Sussex 3 could use it, roll, and try touching the ring to get impressions of the item and any owners it's had. Lastly, for all players, if you want Gotta to wear the ring instead of you, roll Charisma + Expression to try to talk him into not downgrading his reward. Note: if more than one of you roll, I will count your group's total successes/failures as you try to persuade him as a group. (Vasily (#msg16202868)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:31pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC)In the short time he had been in the city, Dmitri could count the number of invitations he had received on one hand that had been amputated at the wrist and thrown into a fire pit. Which was of little concern, given socializing was not a particular interest of his beyond what was necessary to avoid the Prince's over-eager guard dogs. So when an "open" invitation concerning an area of expertise that he held went out, there was enough humanity in him still to trigger something akin to curiosity that it drew him from his studies to mingle with his fellow citizens. Dressing in a suitable attire and leaving his appearance unchanged on the outside, Dmitri was driven to the library by one of his servants who would find amusement elsewhere while his master was occupied. Approaching the gatekeeper for the private gathering, he simply said "I was invited by Mr Gotta" in a low-tenor voice that carried his native Russian accent clearly. He was somewhat confident that his presence in the city had spread to most of the Canines that dwell here, but whether that had filtered through the servants was another matter, so a few seconds of distraction was preferable to potentially wasting time arguing if he simply walked towards the gathering room on his own violation. Stepping into the room, there was a momentary pause at the sight of the lit fireplace, a slight growl escaping his lips as he contained his Beast before stepping across the threshold of the room as if nothing had happened. Eyes spanning the room, giving a slight nod of approval before giving the Sheriff a courteous nod as well. Until the others arrived, he would take the opportunity to move across the room and examine the collection with a discerning gaze. Occasionally a book was pulled from the shelf to have a few pages examined before it was returned and the Titmice moved to another item that caught his interest. Remaining silent unless spoken too, he waited until the others arrived before taking a seat with his back to the fireplace and listened carefully. Though hearing of Zebedee's aversion to the ring simply because it was made of bone brought an amused smirk across his lips. A useful nugget of information to store away for potential use to be sure." If the talisman is indeed created from bone, logic would suggest that when the time comes for one to wear it that I should be the one to do so. Though only after proper investigation of the inscription and of the item itself. Rushed research is wasted research." Rolls! Okay Dice bot...it's a new game. We can start on a fresh, clean slate here...right? Roll Result: Dmitri Vasily rolled: 8d10Comment: Intelligence + Occult (Intelligence specialty: Analytical)Result: 2, 7, 10, 4, 10, 10, 8, 1 Roll Result: Dmitri Vasily rolled: 5d10Comment: Wits + Linguistics Result: 3, 2, 6, 4, 9 ((#msg16203912)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:37pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC), Dmitri(long after the appointed time, Sandalwood arrived at the library in her pink Toyota Crown. Her loyal roommate Jessica drove the car away, to await her mistress's call and find somewhere safe to park and entertain herself in the meantime. The Premier was dressed in one of her new cold-chic outfits, with a long pink jacket swishing past her knees, her hair and makeup neat but not particularly fancy. Over one arm was slung a Prada satchel, too big to be called a "handbag", and clearly laden with no small burden. Libraries were familiar territory to this monster who haunted many a university campus, and her address to the night guard made it clear that she belonged in the "private book club" in the back. Upon entering, she inhaled slowly, taking in the rich, familiar scents of a private reading room. The fireplace drew a careful glance from her, as she noted its position and then moved her attention onwards. She found a side table to set down her satchel, then turned to both Trevor and Dmitri, giving them the best curtsy she could in her current attire. "Sheriff Gotta! I'm so glad I could answer your message. I am pleased to say that this is precisely the kind of work where I love to contribute. Oh! And I have a present for you!" She reached into her satchel and drew out a large candle, made from diagonal stripes of wax matching the colors of the Pride flag. "Your Instagram post inspired me to make this for you," she continued, smiling brightly as she set the candle down on a table near him. "I do hope we can find time in our schedules to do a little craft project together soon!" Sandalwood turned to the other Kindred in the room. "And... it's Dmitri, right? I'm sure I heard one of the Harpies describe you, but I don't think we've met. I am Sandalwood, of Clan Premier. And I have..." She dipped into her satchel again and drew out a red and black candle, shot through with glittery motes. Both of the candles had Sandalwood's personal device molded into their body: an arcane-styled letter S set against, perhaps redundantly, an image of another candle. "If we're going to be working together, then let's start off with a present. I do hope you like the scent." She set this candle down near Dmitri, and briefly offered a hand for him to shake or kiss, but quickly gliding it away if neither option was taken. On her ring finger she bore a large black onyx ring with the Greek letters "ΦΜ" inlaid in gold. She spent a few minutes examining the spines of some books and the quality of the furniture, before settling down into one of the armchairs and drawing a small table over to herself, laying out a few arcane tools from her satchel. She listened intently to the Sheriff's speech when it came, and scribbled down some notes in a spiral-bound notebook, her expression one of deep interest and analysis, with raised eyebrows and pursed lips at certain revelations. At the appropriate juncture, she floated her own opinions." So the ring has an aura, of love and jealousy... but that doesn'ttnecessarilymean that it is magical in and of itself. It could be acting as some kind of beacon for an external entity. After all, who would go to the trouble of crafting a magical ring that sets fire to its wearer? That's a lot of effort for some kind of psychopathic practical joke. We'll check it for intrinsic magic, naturally, but my first hypothesis is that the fire is coming from somewhere else, from someone or something that doesn't like people wearing it." She put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, there I go, making hypotheses way too early. Questions. Hmm." She thought for just a moment, then looked over at the Sheriff. "Do you know where Blaze found the ring? Or at least when he acquired it? Did anybody see him wearing it around court beforehand? Did he talk about it? And for this unlucky mortal Lydia, why do you think she stole it? Did she break into anybody else's lockbox, or did it seem that she knew exactly where to go and what to steal?" Sandalwood dug some tracing paper and a thin stick of charcoal from her satchel. "I may not know the language of the inscription, but I can at least take a rubbing of it, and we can research that at our leisure." She tilted her head at Dmitri's suggestion of why he should wear the ring. "I don't object, but what's your reasoning? You have an affinity for items carved from bone?" (Alison (#msg16203898)Jordan looked as if she had come expecting a late sixties' seance, wearing a long-sleeved black turtleneck (sweater, black cigarette pants, and black ballet flats, which she took off almost immediately before making a circuit around the room barefoot. She flipped aimlessly through a few books and peered at the knickknacks on display, but nothing held Jordan’s quicksilver interest for very long, and after a few minutes, she took Sheriff Gotta up on his offer and settled cross-legged in one of the big red chairs away from the fire. Her head tilted to the side, Jordan started to lift a hand as if she wanted to ask a question when the sheriff mentioned the human, Lydia Carlisle, but then put it back down again as if deciding to wait. When the sheriff finished his speech, Jordan stood visibly trembling with barely contained excitement.“This has so gotta be one of Sauron’s gnarly rings! I mean, I get that this particular one burns you up like a marshmallow in a campfire instead of turning you invisible, but still, it could totally be one of his, right? Like one of the Dwarf ones, I mean. I bet the Dwarf rings were all about love and jealousy. You know, love of gold and jealousy of other people’s stuff—or is that greed? Anyway, they wouldn’t be afraid of fire because they were miners, so I think it fits.”“And like the One Ring, maybe it calls to everyone around it. You know, tempting them to put it on, and once they’re wearing it, maybe they don’t want to take it off—or they keep putting it back on or whatever. So like it can get back to Mordor. I mean, Dmitri hasn’t been here fifteen minutes, and he already wants to put it on.”“And like, who was this Lydia? A bank employee? A burglar?" Here, Jordan cast a knowing look at everyone. "Is there a, you know, Camarillo connection? Because I’m not like Cinnamon Carter or anything, but it seems totally whack she could just break into a bank’s lockbox—and not just any, but yours in particular.” Finished, Jordan looked at Sandalwood and silently mouthed ‘call me’ into her pinky while holding her thumb to her ear like a telephone speaker. Manipulation + Subterfuge At 2022-06-19 22:12:14, virtual blue (UID: 62030) rolls: 6d10 Result: 32 (Roll Result: virtual blue rolled: 6d10 | Result: 5, 7, 4, 4, 6, 6 IOC: Dmitri / Hades Some seriously good rolls! Dmitri does his homework in the library as others talk... The first roll result tells Dmitri something fascinating. This looks like a Titmice creation! The ring doesn't look carved so much as it looks...shaped. It's smooth and lovely, but there's a certain roughness that reminds Dmitri of fingertips and sculpting, both of which he's very familiar with. Dmitri knows three things immediately about the approach to investigate the ring safely:* Research should be done on Blaze and Lydia. The more he knows about their lives, the more likely he is to discover the ring's "trigger."* Half an aura is...strange. That suggests one of two things: either this item is incomplete (and his examination of it suggests it's perfectly complete) or....this is a paired item. There's another ring out there--a twin to this one. It suggests the items are connected--Dmitri knows that this means they need to find the other item as soon as possible. Their little collective is lacking in Sussex, so they either should persuade a powerful Anchorage resident with Sussex to come help...or they need to hope their investigative skills are up to the challenge.* The maker of this item was from the Old World for certain. Paired items of flesh suggests someone on the path of Metamorphosis--the idea that two can become one. A Titmice with a very playful yet romantic notion of identity, perhaps. The linguistics roll... Dymitri isn't certain on this, but this reads like a very old form of Slavic. This tracks with his ideas that the ring is from the Old World and Tzimisce-made. While he doesn't know Slavic, he's seen it before once or twice. Based on the help of some books in the library (though the translations are far from exact since he has to look at more current Eastern European languages for his translation):Two hearts. Two souls. Two times. All become One in Faith and Harmony. This is almost assuredly not a completely accurate translation, but it's close enough to tell him he's right about the item being paired with another ring magically. It also raises a very awkward question: is someone else wearing the other ring? If so, why hasn't, at minimum, a third death been discovered? If not...why does the ring have a functioning trigger that can kill? Sheriff Gotta was most welcoming to all who came and thanked Dmitri first. Though it was clear he was uncomfortable with a Titmice here, he was also somewhat grateful. He said, "Of course, please. Research away as you see fit--we can wait a little longer to determine who wears the ring." When Sandalwood arrived Trevor gave a little wave and said, "Good questions. As for the motives and origin of the ring--I wish I knew. Blaze claimed he picked it up at Mary's pawn shop and thought it was "neat"--which no one questioned as unusual until he burst into flames later, of course. As for Lydia--interestingly I can't confirmshewas the thief. I assumed she was, but I had to get the Venture to use their connections to delete some really incriminating bank footage involving my lockbox popping open on its own. Something--or someone--picked up the ring, but we didn't see who. The cameras fudged when it happened. So if someone was in there, they were invisible to cameras or could interfere with surveillance. Obviously a huge Masquerade violation, but it's resolved. And no, I don't have a copy of that either--it was hard enough to get access to just delete it, and the Venture who did the favor wasn't willing to spend more time than necessary at the task." When Jordan spoke, he smiled and patiently answered, "Lydia was rather mundane the more I looked into her. Just a housewife who liked to sell door-to-door makeup. No Camarillo connections at all that I could ferret out, and trust me--I was very interested in knowing that after she became the next big Masquerade violation. I put a lot of people under questioning who are not very happy with me about that, but...as far as I know, she was a simple mortal."IOC: Jordan / virtualblueHa. Jackpot! Trevor's underselling you a little bit in terms of reward. This is a bigger problem than it looks like. Jordan could easily press him for a better reward and cite all the Masquerade violations to justify it. That's a Big Deal to the likes of Prince Toy, and the reward should reflect accordingly. Jordan is aware she could ask for a Major boon for her participation here. She can keep this info to herself and talk to Gotta later, or she could attempt to bargain for an upgraded reward directly. However, she can tell the reward might be low because the Sheriff is strapped for resources thanks to his position. She could easily argue that Toy should be paying this reward since solving this weirdness helps the whole domain, which could encourage Gotta to be more generous rather than a harass about rewards. (Vasily (#msg16202868)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:40pmTag(s):Sandalwood, Jordan, Sheriff Gotta (NPC). OpenAI eyebrow perked up as Sandalwood approached him and introduced herself. While he had no personal animosity towards her clan, he had not expected such a sociable welcome. Nor had he expected to receive a gift from...well, anyone really but least of all from a Premier. Still, one gift required another as he took the candle in one hand and her offered hand in the other for a firm shake. "I thank you for the gift. In return, I extend an offer of hospitality within my haven should you find need to rest beneath my roof." Jordan receives a slight nod of acknowledgement as she enters the room and makes herself comfortable. A slight smirk comes as she removes her shoes, his curiosity making him wonder if she did so because of the location she was entering or if it was something she did everywhere, as another avenue of pointless speculation cluttered his mind. But such distractions were short-lived as he moved closer to the ring after the Sheriff had placed it back down. Picking it up carefully, heightening his sense of touch as he moved the ring around his fingertips. An approving nod came to him subconsciously as his forefinger lingered over one particular part of the ring that outwardly may not have looked much different than the rest. "Masterfully done, Old One." Looking up at the others in the room, he continued to turn the ring between his fingers absently. "The ring is indeed made of bone. It has been shaped by a skilled crafter, smooth enough that those unfamiliar with the medium would have missed the subtle roughness that remains by even the most skilled of artists. The writing seems familiar to my native tongue, which I will try to translate in a moment, but I suspect this ring is an artifact that was created as a pair, with the other ring remaining with the Titmice that created it. The final days of each victim's lives must be examined with intense scrutiny, as there must be some event that serves as a trigger. We also need someone skilled enough with Sussex to search for that other half of the pairing unless we wish to walk across the whole of the city and possibly the state to discover if it is even here or still resting somewhere in the Old World." Putting the ring down on it's perch, he leaves the others to talk among themselves as he looks for books that will help him find a translation. Along the way, they can hear him muttering to himself in Russian "У меня есть целая вечность, и я провел ее в поисках одной проклятой книги." After finding a few books, he came back to the group and spread them out on the nearest table to the ring, flipping between the books and holding the ring to peer at the lettering in between more mutterings." Two blood cups...no, two hearts, yes that's more accurate. Two holy Sir...yes, two souls. Two times...two times what? Damnable penmanship Old One. Become One with Faith and Harmony. So, 'Two hearts, two souls, two times all becomes One in Faith and Harmony.' is the nearest I can make out of it. It appears to be an old form of Slavic, the precursor to modern Ru's languages, so it is almost certainly a crude translation on my part." Closing the books, Dmitri returns them to their proper places on the shelves while still speaking loud enough to be heard." Which means likely a very old Titmice, and one that has likely gone very mad with notions of binding itself to another to be made whole. Which also lends credence to the idea of there being a triggering event rather than at the thought of the other wearer. If the Old One has specific criteria it is looking for in the wearer, it is very likely it would sense when this ring was put on someone's finger and immolate the wearer immediately for not fulfilling that criteria. Or it is ancient enough to begin slipping in and out of consciousness and only gets around to activating the killing aspect when it can be roused awake enough to concentrate on that task." ((#msg16203912)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:37pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC), DymitriSandalwood shook Dmitri's hand eagerly, and seemed genuinely touched by his offer of hospitality. "Really? I... that's such an honor, thank you!" She gestured towards the cold Alaska night beyond the walls of the reading room. "I'm really fascinated to see how other Kindred handle the short summer nights here, having only just moved here myself." Her voice momentarily caught in her throat when the gorgeous Petite's attention came her way. Gathering herself, she made a few more notes on her pad as Jordan related her thoughts. She nodded emphatically when she made her point about Lydia, and underlined a note for that. "It does sound like the ring is drawing people to it, doesn't it? Like the One Ring, or the Ring of the Nibelung. There's something deeper going on there." She gave Jordan a playful finger-guns in reply to her gesture. "Love that sweater, by the way." Trevor's exposition soon gathered her full attention, and a new flurry of note-taking, followed by even more as Dmitri made his assessment of the ring, her eyes fixed on the Titmice's fingers as they probed the item. The admiration in his voice when he complimented the ring's crafter struck a chord in her - she knew all about respect for fine craftsmanship. She waited until they had related their findings, then looked over her notes again and spoke, slowly this time, waiting for the thoughts to catch up before letting her mouth take over. "So it was crafted through your clan's particular power, then? No knives or chisels or files? That's fascinating. I've dabbled with jewelry-making, but never with bone, although I know some people who do." She twirled her pen around in her fingers. "What about the engraving? Can you determine what the black material is? I can make some other observations when you're ready - I could take a rubbing of the engraving, or make a wax imprint of the surface, and I should take some photos too." Her eyes flicked between Dmitri and Trevor as she tapped her pen against her notes. "So it may well be that Lydia wasn't behind the theft at all, that some other entity - one with certain powers of stealth or manipulation - acquired the ring and then - accidentally? Deliberately? - allowed it to come into Lydia's possession. That's very interesting. But the most interesting part... is that there's a second ring out there. Possibly still in the possession of its creator." She pointed her pen towards Jordan. "One ring to rule the other, one ring to find it." Her lips pursed at that thought. "Dmitri, did you get the impression that the pair of rings are equals, or that one is subservient to the other? If the creator kept the other one, that suggests the latter... hmm." Sandalwood put her notebook down and started drawing items out of her satchel again. "Either way, what you're describing suggests a very strong sympathetic connection between the two rings. Powerful Sussex could track that down, but so could sympathetic magic. That's beyond my personal repertoire, but we might be able to beg a favor from a more powerful magus for such an application of sorcery. What I can do myself, however, is this." She set another candle onto the desk in front of her, this one an almost pure white, shot through with tiny veins of black. "This candle will reveal the presence of blood magic on any objects in the room. It won't tell us everything, but it's a new data point." She set down a box of matches - also branded with her personal device - next to the candle. "I'll start on that once we've finished our other observations - it'll take a few minutes." (Alison (#msg16203898)“Titmice?” Jordan said, somehow managing not to butcher the clan's name. “They’re like, Sabbath, right? I mean, present company excluded, obviously. But in the main, Titmice means Sabbath. Julia so didn’t tell me that Anchorage had Sabbath. And you know how they are. They’re like cockroaches. If you see one, it means the entire house is infested.” Cocking her head to the side as if a thought had struck her, Jordan said, “Unless he is an old one. Wasn’t Alaska, you know, Russian or whatever once, and we bought it for like beads? Or is it that you can see Russia from here? I forget. But it’s the same difference, right? Like maybe, he’s totally tor pored or dead, but his ring is still trying to get back to its, I don’t know, mate? Or at least someone is trying to help it. Maybe then the two become one—like in The Dark Half.” Jordan frowned, not entirely pleased with her own simile, but recovered at Sandalwood’s mention of her turtleneck. “I got it at Nordstrom’s in Costa Mesa. Anchorage has a Nordstrom’s Rack, but it isn’t the same—not really.” As a candle and matches appeared from Sandalwood’s satchel, Jordan chewed at her thumbnail. “Still, it seems weird that this Lydia was a total random, right? I mean, a housewife? She didn’t even work at the, you know, bank. Why her? Who is her husband? Maybe he knows something, and boys just love to tell me things.” She smiled at the Sheriff. "Which isn't to say your methods were ineffective or whatever, because I know they totally weren't. Just a thought to, like, kick around." The Sheriff pulled out a small notebook--everyone would realize he had kept notes on the case so as not to lose track. He flipped through it and answered Jordan first, saying, "According to my investigations, Lydia's husband was Robert Carlisle, and Robert worked at a bar called the Osprey. The Osprey is sort of a low-life club, very rural and country, and Robert was the bartender. Apparently he made a surprising amount of money at it--the men who staff Ajax Oil like to work there and tip generously, it seems. Though I ran down the leads on Ajax Oil since that business is managed by another Kindred, and those leads are all dead-ends and very mundane. But interesting fact about Mr. Carlisle and Mrs. Carlisle--I couldn't actually find their marriage certificate. I wondered if they were merely common-law married, but Alaska doesn't recognize that--but they do recognize domestic partnerships. So...there is a very real chance that the weird thing about these two was their claim to be legally married when it's possible they weren't. You could probably get at Robert Carlisle via the Osprey if you wanted to talk to him. I'd normally have interviewed him, too, but I'm not fond of the Osprey. Queer men like me aren't exactly....welcome...there. But I also don't recommend you go alone just in case something goes wrong--you should take either Dmitri or Sandalwood if you go, if not both." Ah, even the erstwhile and severe Sheriff had his limits on the bullshit he was willing to endure. He would not, apparently, go to the Osprey himself. To Dmitri he said, questioningly, "So you think there's a second ring and the Old One is wearing it? Hm. I mean...it's possible. There aren't that many places an Old One such as that, with their particular....quirks...would be able to haven and hide from the Camarillo. I have a list of unclaimed territories, and if you are all willing to help, we could cross-reference that with areas of low mortal activity. Conversely, if you think the Old One isn't hiding....we should cross-reference it instead with areas of high violent crime, as it would be easier for a flesh-crafter to hide their activities in high-crime areas. I really do think they'd be somewhere unclaimed by a Camarillo member--it's hard to hide if you have to actively avoid places in your own stomping grounds. Anyone want to dig up maps and I can showcase territories and statistics? Unless any of you have ideas on where an Old One might have?" It's clear he mostly intended that question for Dmitri, but he would listen to anyone else's contributions, too.IOC: Everyone If you want to help peruse the maps/stats to glean an idea of Old One havens, roll here:Perception + Investigation is what I need for that :)Trevor perked up at Sandalwood's contributions and said, "Oh, that candle does sound most helpful. Please do let us know if you need us to get out of your way or do anything in particular when you begin that task! And yes, Sussex would have been ideal, but I couldn't get Zebedee to help me further. I think the Toreador Imogen, Never, is very good at Sussex, but...well. I'm a little hesitant to involve the Prince's own child. If something went wrong, we'd all be dusted by Toy. If any of you can think of anyone else with good Sussex though, I'm all ears! I also think, if you can use that candle more than once, that there's a very real chance it could help you track the other ring, mishaps? Though that might be wishful thinking on my part; I am not a man who knows the INS-and-outs of blood sorcery."IOC: everyone If you want to determine someone with Sussex you can hit up, roll Charisma + Occult.(I know, I know, weird roll! But Charisma reflects that some of this is about your social knowledge / force of personality just as much as it's about your actual occult knowledge) (Alison (#msg16203898)Occult + Charisma At 2022-06-28 23:18:18, virtual blue (UID: 62030) rolls: 4d10 Result: 14 (| Result: 3, 5, 2, 4 (Vasily (#msg16202868)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:40pmTag(s):Sandalwood, Jordan, Sheriff Gotta (NPC). OpenAI eyebrow perked up at the mention of the Osprey club. Not so much in regard to anything about the club itself, but rather the fact that someone said with a straight face that he should be included in the group that went into a club filled with mortals. It was enough to make him wonder if the Sheriff wasn't part Moldavian at this point. Jordan's comment on his clan received a slight nod as well. She was accurate in her assessment, and he held no sense of loyalty towards others of his blood simply because they shared the same cursed ancestor. However, that being said..." If this Robert Carlisle comes into my hands, I will ensure that he becomes most eager to tell us everything we wish to know from him." A slight shrug is in response to the questioning circling back around to the ring. "As to the material used for the writing, I do not know. It may be an ink of some sort, or perhaps an engraving, or it may have been done in the bone as it was being crafted. Such precision would not be impossible, but would require more skill to achieve. As to possible locations of this elder, it is possible the Old One isn't even in the city or the state. Sussex is part of our powers of the blood, and if it is ancient or decrepit enough considerable influence can be wielded even over considerable distances. And with no offense to our own present blood witch, sorcery is not exclusive to the Premier, so I would not be surprised to discover that such arts are also involved in the creation of the item's effects."" For the haven, the premise that it would look for an unclaimed territory is reasonable I think. Elders of that particular family branch recall days when they ruled the nights as literal lords, so the thought of fealty to another will be anathema to it. We should look for areas with a recent increase in stories of odd occurrences or haunting as well, as we bind the earth to us as surely as the earth binds us to it. I do not know how much help I will be in that regard however, as I am more accustomed to conducting research than I am at making sense of statistics." Perception+Investigation Roll Result: Dmitri Vasily rolled: 3d10Comment: Spot an elder win a prize Result: 10, 4, 2, ((#msg16203912)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:37pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC), Dmitri, Jordan Sandalwood's looked thoughtful as Jordan, Dmitri and Trevor spoke on the theory of an old Titmice lurking in Anchorage. "It's possible," she replied, considering the ramifications of the idea. "I'd be surprised if there were such an elder residing here, and even more surprised if we could locate their haven - elders of any clan are adept at keeping their havens secret, and from what I know of the Titmice, if they aren't living in literal castles, they're extremely secretive. But it's possible." She chewed her lip and jotted down a few more notes. "Crime statistics, access to living humans who can disappear unnoticed, access to the dead... hospitals, maybe. I can short-list some possibilities." More notes." There had to be some reason why Lydia stole the ring. Either there's something special about her, or whatever possessed her to steal it - perhaps literally - just chose her because she was in the right place at the right time. Maybe she's related by blood to the Titmice who crafted the ring? Mortal bloodlines can carry strange connections and curses. Her husband might know her family history..." She snapped her fingers and grinned. "Or, at the very least, he would have more insight into her behavior than anyone else. If his wife started wearing a new ring out of nowhere, he'd at least ask her where she got it and why she likes it. It is abeautifulpiece, but it's far from mainstream fashion." She smiled at Jordan. "I'd be happy to check it out together." She drummed her fingers against her candle. "No, it's only short-range magic - I can't just make every magic item in Anchorage light up, unless..." She clamped her mouth shut. Think, then talk, came the voice of her sire in her mind. She kept her lips pursed for several seconds as she ran through the possibilities, then spoke again, more slowly. "Unless the sympathetic connection between the two rings is strong enough that I could use it as a conduit for the revelatory power of the candle. Normally it would be impossible without powerful crying magic, but what you're saying," she pointed to Dmitri and the ring he held, "is that they really are two halves of a whole, and all of this drama is because they're trying to reunite with each other. It might work. I'll need to do some research and consult some colleagues, but it might work." She clapped her hands together, grinning like a pupil receiving a teacher's high praise." Anyway, let's see what this tells us up front. I've got a few of these candles stashed away, and I can always make more. We do go through a lot of candles in the chantey." She shot Jordan a wink. "My friend Drill always said I should spend less on candles." She carried her candle and her satchel to a desk on the other side of the reading room, so that her ritual wouldn't interrupt the others' conversation. She chanted a quiet invocation over the candle for several minutes, then lit the wick with the practiced strike of a match.Torso much to investigate! Perception + Investigation to look for possible Titmice havens: 6, 1, 3, 1, 1, 5 (+ Occult to know somebody to talk to about Sussex or sympathetic magic: 7, 6, 4, 7, 5, 2 (+ Occult to cast Sense the Mystical: 3, 2, 6, 2, 3, 8 (9 (virtual blue / Jordan Roll Results No successes! Poor Jordan cannot think of anyone, sadly! Hades / Dmitri Roll Results He has...an inkling, faint and difficult, but an inkling nonetheless. An Old One needs space to work their crafts (for as Dmitri knows if they can craft fine magical artifacts, they must surely also be a master of Flesh and Bone), and space is hard to hide. Dmitri knows they should be looking for large locations that are seemingly abandoned or very difficult to access, either due to terrain, security, or some other reason. He also knows that an Old One will be arrogant; it will not like hiding. It is prideful. So a location that seems grandiose despite its "hidden" nature. Hope fox / Sandalwood Roll Results First roll....Homewood boy. Botch!! Sandalwood is CONVINCED that a Titmice would want to be around obvious gore and thinks the first places to look should be slaughterhouses or meat-producing facilities... However, second roll result is better! Sandalwood has a good idea of whom the local Sussex users are. Magister Vega is one, the Toreador Imogen Never is one, and rumor has it that the Nosferatu Mr. Hyde is surprisingly good at it, too. Those are the three "best," so to speak, if one cannot get access to the Moldavian Imogen. She also is fairly sure there's a Harpy by the name of "Wilde" that might have some reasonable Sussex if she wants to avoid the coterie becoming indebted to someone more powerful, though she's not sure his skill level is as high as the others. Ritual result: Success! She can see an almost blinding amount of glittery aura around the ring--this is CLEARLY some form of blood magic, 100% confirmed. Sadly the ritual doesn't let her discern between types, but interestingly she can see that the ring's "aura" of glitter is active. The ring is therefore active right now--Sandalwood's best guess is that the ring must be constantly actively searching for either a wearer or a trigger for certain acts. She thinks she can discern a thin and glitter-like trail that floats out of the room...implying the rings are connected magically? It suggests Dmitri is very right. She's not sure if they could actually follow that trail to get to the Old One; she's certain that the ritual won't hold long enough (and that her candle is likely to sputter out before) to find the Titmice...but it could give a general idea of direction, at least? She thinks that it is pointing sharply to the South West. The Sheriff listened to them all speak, and he didn't interrupt. He was clearly very interested in how they were going about their logic and enjoyed their input. But eventually he did have to speak, albeit reluctantly. "There's only so much we'll know unless someone else puts on the ring. What do you all wish to do in that regard? I don't have much more information on Lydia. I think you three have about three options, really: you can track down Mr. Carlisle, you can try to suss out the Old One's haven, or you can seek out someone with Sussex. Furthermore, I'm not sure if you need to do all of those things, but I do think you need to be careful. We don't want the Old One to know we're coming, if indeed that's what we're up against." It was clear that Gotta was hoping to see the coterie develop a game plan--they had a lot of information--or so it seemed to him. And now he wanted to see how they wanted to start the investigative and resolution process. (Alison (#msg16203898)"I don't, like, know anyone local, but what about Miss Cleo? You know, the Jamaican psychic that used to be on TV," Jordan said, her blue eyes wide and guileless. "I mean, she'd have to be the easiest psychic to get hold of because we can do it on the phone. Or maybe the internet. She's probably on the internet now." Peering over at Sandalwood to see what she was doing, Jordan said, "I didn't know you could, like, use candles for magic. I always thought they were more of an ambiance thing. You know, setting a vibe. But I guess it makes total sense, because, feng shui." A thought seemed to strike Jordan, and she stood." Oh my God! I just realized Marie Condo must know magic! Does anyone think, like, we could get her to help? You know, in case Miss Cleo is busy or whatever." ((#msg16203912)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:37pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC), Dmitri, Jordan Sandalwood blinked twice, and for a moment she looked at Jordan as if at a child who was questioning the validity of the five times table. "Of... of course candles can be magical," she said slowly, but then regained her usual smile and animation. "There's very potent symbolism in candles. The act of lighting a candle to pierce the darkness is symbolic of protection and of revealing mysteries. And you can pack all sorts of alchemical materials and magical herbs into the wax. Honestly, I'd call candles the third most important magical tool after books and wands." Sandalwood continued her invocation for a few minutes, then yelped in surprise. She snatched up the candle and walked it quickly but carefully towards Dmitri and the ring. "I've got it!" she said excitedly. "There's definitely blood magic on the ring, and it's active right now. I can't rule out Necromancy, but it's most likely Dramaturgy, since your clan is known for it." She gave Dmitri a respectful nod to acknowledge his heritage." But more than that, you were right, Trevor - I can follow it to the other ring! There's a trail leading... somewhere. Let me just..." She held the candle out in front of her with one steady hand, and aligned a nearby book so that its spine pointed in a specific direction. "That way. What's that, south-west?" Her eyes flickered to the door momentarily, but she shook her head. "Probably couldn't keep the ritual going long enough to trace it all the way to the other ring in one go, but at least we have a direction." She set the candle down on a table away from any books, on a silver chamber stick. "The interesting thing is that it's awake right now. Whatever magic is in it, it's actively doing something - my guess is, searching for either the right person to wear it, or for some kind of trigger, like a certain action. So that checks out with your assessment of two halves of a whole, looking for the right wearer to bring to the Old One." She flipped open her laptop and started browsing maps. "Now, the most likely lair for an old Titmice in a city would be near a slaughterhouse, or something in the meat industry. There must be something south-west of here..." She hummed to herself as she browsed for locations. "We could also consult Magister Vega if we need a more precise divination. He's very skilled at both Sussex and Dramaturgy, so if we do need more insight on this, he's the one to ask." Sandalwood paused and set her laptop aside. "So, thinking a few steps ahead here... suppose wedge an exact location, and we're confident that we know where to find the lair of this old Titmice who's trying to bring the right person to him with the ring. Then what?" (Vasily (#msg16202868)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:30pm-ishTag(s):Sandalwood, Jordan, Sheriff Gotta (NPC). Open slight nod of the head at the mention of the magical legacy of his clan as he watched Sandalwood conduct her ritual. There was a slight growl in his throat as the lit candle approached him, but it was a simple enough matter to keep a leash on his Beast as she made her circuit around the room. He had some interest in the magic of his clan, but other studies had occupied his nights and left no time for divergent research. Thankfully, time was in abundance. An eyebrow rises though when she mentioned where she thought the elder might be, followed by a slight shake of his head. He had to wonder what others of his clan had done to present such a stereotype. "The Old One would not claim an abattoir as its haven. It likely walks the same Path which I do, meaning there are two competing parameters for any haven it has claimed. Security will take priority no doubt, meaning the location must be difficult to reach, either by means of security or use of the terrain or most likely a combination of the two. But no elder is ever humble, and so despite the need to remain unseen the Old One will wish for its domain to be as grand and lavish as possible, at least in the counting of my clan's traditions." He looked towards the ring again for a moment before addressing the others once more. "We should take the ring with us when we speak to the mortal Carlisle, to see if he has seen it before or if his wife kept it secret from him. As for the elder, when we discover where it lairs, it will most likely need to be destroyed to prevent it from continuing its quest." Gotta hesitated, looking at the three Kindred before him. Eventually he said, "I have no idea what a Miss Cleo is--I defer to your judgements in that. But it sounds like you all wish to either seek the Old One's haven or seek our Carlisle. My recommendation is you find Carlisle first, if only to best arm yourself with knowledge before tangling with an Old One, and it's...toys. Sound good?" EveryoneIf the coterie is amenable to heading out to quiz Carlisle first, they should leave this area and head to the bar where he works! :)If they need anything else before that, they should ask Gotta now! ((#msg16203912)Location:Taffeta Library - Library Club roommate camp; Time:October 8th, 2020 || 10:37pmTag(s):Open, Sheriff Gotta (NPC), Dmitri, Jordan Sandalwood nodded to Dmitri as she sat in front of her laptop again, making a few last notes. "Lavish but secretive, like an Allister's holiday home. No doubt it will be difficult to find, but maybe once we're close to it, something will stand out to you." She grinned at Jordan. "It's like any good display of style. It might not be obvious to everybody, but the people who need to know, know." She tapped her finger against her cheek, thinking quickly. "Alright, I agree that we should gather information from Carlisle before we try to run down the maker of these rings. The more we know, the better. So if we're going to question him... what does he already know? Was he the one who found Lydia, dead and burned? I assume the police were involved, and I'm guessing you liberated the ring from evidence or a morgue. No doubt he's been questioned by mortals over this already, but hopefully he doesn't see what happened as anything other than a tragic accident." She looked from Jordan to Dmitri and back. "It sounds like we have a plan, then - find out what he knows about the ring, and about Lydia's behavior before and after she put it on. I have a ride if anybody needs one!" (Alison (#msg16203898)Jordan grinned happily and winked at Sandalwood. She found herself rather enjoying the company of witches. Maybe she would need to look further into the occult.“Oh my God, please tell me that bitchin’ Crown Athlete out front is yours! I’ve been, like, literally dying to get in it ever since I saw it. I mean, every other car in Anchorage is a pickup. It’s like, message received—rednecks rule. But, you know, maybe we can still expand the palette beyond black, gray, and white?” Sidling up beside Sheriff Gotta, Jordan put a hand on his forearm and gave him an innocent smile. “Before we, you know, go, I was wondering if maybe we could circle back around to the rewards on offer. I mean, I get it, times are tight, and all that, but still, with all these, you know, Masquerade violations and a rogue Titmice out there, working for scale seems—“ She shrugged.“Maybe, like, you could teach a discipline to each of us. I mean, we’re not, you know, a whole army. It’s just the three of us, right? And the next time you need help, we’d be, like, even better prepared. A win-win for everyone. And if that isn't the best kind, I don't know what is.”

Anchorage by Night [IC_ Quests - Slow]|rating:4.0

He is My Master_ Master of Puppets Ultimate Remix Revival Tour Reunion Game IC thread

The morning sun dawned on Ayasdi's mansion, the sky lining with rays of light, beginning to shine meekly into the mansion's windows. The rays first found Maori's room, as he quietly slept into the morning. His room was fairly sparse, a desk, a few chairs and his bed...and lots of posters of cute anime girls. His wheelchair was parked near his bed and someone was going to have to wake him and help him in for the days activities... Originally Posted by IOC I attempt to use Cunning in a way that would not make him grouchy, but still awake for the day. I'll use Athletics to help him to the wheelchair (I will multiply the result after rolling as it's easier to do). Cunning - (1d6)[3]12 total (3 times 4 from cunning)Athletics - (1d6)[4]16 (4 times 4 from Athletics)Attempting to wake up his not so very happy master from what's left of his sweet dreams, He used a method that would work on straight men, "You like Men..." Hoping that he wakes up, then he tries to carry him to his wheelchair in order for him to move around and about. Yoko KimuraRyoko gets ready for the day and then heads down to the kitchen to make breakfast. She tries to make eggs and bacon. Spoiler Hide skill roll (d6x3)[12] Sugaring his room, he is slowly applying make up. For him, it is more than simple cosmetics, it's a ritual. As the products covers his face, a new assurance appears, eliminating the trace of fatigue, the incertitude of the night, the regrets from yesterday. When it's done, it is a completely different person who end up looking at herself in the mirror. She smiles, satisfied. Her preparations done, she gets dressed (nothing fancy for once, today she feels like being simple)and leaves her room. She takes a deep breath of the morning air and heads to Ayasdi's room ready to start her day. "Good morning." Imagery replied groggy, ignoring her comment,, somewhat surprised she managed to pick him up unceremoniously and place him on his wheelchair. Soon after, Sugar finds herself to his room, where he smiled at her." Well I think the first order of business is breakfast." He stated, with eyes going back and forth, inattentive.__________________________________________________ ______________Yoko, with much fervor and skill managed to arrayed an amazing spread of ham and bacon which glowed the power of sexy breakfast. Originally Posted by IOC rolling a will check to give the master a more positive outlook (1d6)[6] times 3 equals an 18. Trying to think of a good quote to use, "As the great father of mine said, Your drill is the drill that will pierce through the heavens and the dimensions. Do the impossible, see the invisible, touch the untouchable, and break the unbreakable. That is how he told me that one should live his life." MikotoSpoiler Hide POWER ON... SYSTEM BOOTING UP... RUNNING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS... SENDING RUNNING... SENDING RUNNING... SENDING RUNNING... SENDING COMPLETE... SYSTEM ALL GREEN... LOADING OS... OS LOAD COMPLETE: REMAKE SERVANT 6 BETA... Minot's optical sensors flicker to life, instantly scanning and indexing everything in the room before going about her duties. Noting that the masters immediate needs and breakfast have already been taken care of, she fetches a feather-duster and begins cleaning anything that's appearing dusty. Originally Posted by IOC (1d6)[4] x3 = 12 Sugar Sugar smiles back at Ayasdi. Her smile hidden when here she gazes at the posters on the wall. The many ways a man can swing (after all "she" would know better than most)is away a great source of amusement to her. She bites her lips not to giggle when Viral spouts Somme seemingly philosophical nonsense out of nowhere. Plus, there is anyone who doesn't need to hear such rot that would be Ayasdi. Still it seems to have cheered him up. Go figure." I'll go check on the breakfast."she mutters as she moves out of the room to the kitchen. Wich his already occupied by Yoko. Sugar takes a moment to contemplate her in action (there are much worse things to stare at before starting your day) before joining in and saluting her with a cheerful nod." Hello there. Need Somme help ?" RyokoRyoko looks over at what she has made. She looks at Sugar when she starts speaking." If you would like to help that is fine." NozomiHas not been idle in these morning moments, no not at all. Since dawn, she had been occupying herself with the ever bountiful task of polishing silverware. Yes, there was always more to polish and when everything is gleaming down to the very last dessert fork, it's probably time to start again! Nozomi was so preoccupied in this task that she failed to notice others in the kitchen from the little nook she worked in; until they talked that is. Polishing. Polishing. .HRM? What time is it? So late already?.. Naomi stood upright and looked toward the other two.Ah, Sugar!! The Master is up now, correct? And I see... Breakfast. Is in the making. She glared briefly at the bacon, she apparently doesn't like the stuff... Is anyone currently attending to the Master? Well, I'm making sure no one has an idea attacking the master without warning. After all, I do have my trusty spiral chainsaw. Being on guard, Viral makes sure that no one, not even ninja hackers can even get within 20 ft to her master. "Thanks, Viral-Chan...even though I'm not exactly sure of what you said. Can you help get to the kitchen? Breakfast is waiting." Ayasdi replied cheerfully, getting settled in his seat. Spoiler Hide Viral gains (1d6)[1] favor, CPT. Soup can you put your character stuff in the OCC thread? I will be down to the kitchen ASAP Being ordered to help out in the kitchen somehow... Originally Posted by affection (1d6)[1]x2=2... I'm going to try to describe anyway, even though this is going to be epic to fail. (from her view) Arriving in the kitchen, trying to help out with the other maids, despite falling downing from stairs/floor/carpet/etc and swearing like no tomorrow in the fact that her day was about to start well and end horribly. Minot"Viral-San, watch the... Oh, to late I guess." Mikoto watches as Viral snags her foot at the edge of the carpet and topples over, cursing loudly. She then walks over to the wheelchair." Hayashi-sama, it would appear breakfast is ready, do you want me to roll you to the dining room?" Originally Posted by IOC Athletics 3 x (1d6)[2] Shaken a bit by Viral's attempt, at moving him. He replied to Minot with apparent relief. "Yes, please." Whereas he made his way down to the kitchen, was amazed what an excellent job the robot maid did at cleaning." Well I guess we are ready to eat?" He remarked as he was pushed toward the table. As he gestured to Sugar to sit on his lap. Spoiler Hide Minot gains (1d6)[1] Sugar Sugar put down the frying pan she was holding.((IOC:skill (1d6*3)[18]Cooking))She gives a satisfied look at the content and the pancakes she was cooking join the rest of the breakfast on the table. Walking to Ayasdi, she gladly accepts his invitation and sits, passing her arm around his shoulder. Yoko KimuraRyoko stands by in case the master needs anything. She watches Sugar sit in the master's lap. I have been in that situation before. I wonder how my old master is doing? Oh, well. Ayasdi smiled at Sugar, as he stroked her hair, nipping slightly on her forehead as he took a piece the eggs and bacon and began to tear." This is amazing, who was the one who made it?" He replied, turning his head to look at all the maids before returning his attentions to one on his lap. After the horrible moment, she stands up and cleans herself off with her hands from the dust. From what she heard, she decided to stand and be on guard despite a slight hunger from her stomach. However, she rather just waits and guard just to hope she won't get yelled at. Great... I messed up, and now I'm not sure if I'm going to be safe or not... Yoko Kira "Um I made some of the food and Sugar made the rest." "I think I'll have you on cooking from now on Yoko-chan, you do it very well." Spoiler Hide Yoko and Sugar gain (1d6)[6] half this favor rounded up. Yoko Kira "Thank you very much sir. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Before the final bite could be eaten by the master himself, everyone hears a rumbling machine noise. As a few moments go by, you start to hear something heavy coming and the machine noise gets louder with the thumping noises. Then you start to hear windows breaking loudly like a cacophony that no one wants to hear. Then you start to see shadows of what seems to be living trees. You thought you were seeing things, considering trees weren't walking, but do you really want to look? Viral warns everyone to prepare to either run or fight, because she has a bad feeling that this could get ugly. Everyone, protect the master. Whoever they are, I assume they are looking for the master "Not at the moment, though these dishes need to cleaned and stowed away appropriately." The boy remarked, turning his attention to Naomi." Nozomi-chan, can come over to my room to talk in private?" He asked nonchalantly. Naomi Whey-? Naomi appeared to be fiddling with some prayer beads after Viral's announcement. Oh, Of course master. Nozomi steps behind Ayasdi and pulls him away from the table before pushing him down to his room. It's possible Sugar may still be in his lap while she does this. She hopes that the other maids manage to put the dishes away in time to repel the intruders, otherwise they may just ruin the carpets. Angie Angela was still sleeping in her bed. Her alarm clock had gone off an hour ago, and it was now nothing more than a pile of ashes at the foot of her bed. Her sleep was an uneasy sleep, plagued by dreams and nightmares involving shrimp. She begins to toss and turn until she eventually tosses herself out of bed and onto the floor. WWW...she thinks to herself as she tries to get up. She rubs her back and heads to her eighth cousin (four times removed) Ayasdi's room. "Morning, Cousin. Do you need anything before I get dressed?" Angie is dressed in a pale green nightgown and her hair is disheveled and covered in alarm ash. Yoko KimuraRyoko goes and grabs the dishes. She takes them to the kitchen to be cleaned. After reaching the kitchen she sighs. She starts trying to wash the dishes. Spoiler Hide skill roll (d6x3)[15] Ayasdi was startled at his cousin's sudden appearance and raised his eyes somewhat at her disheveled appearance." Angie-chan, I would much prefer you call master, understand? Can't have people thinking I'm giving you special treatment, so get dressed first." He responded, turning his attention to the former nun." Nozomi-chan, why do you hide yourself so much?" Ayasdi remarked, as used his hand to push away her veil to reveal her face." I bet you would look much prettier if you didn't stuff your maid uniform so much."__________________________________________________ ________________Yoko washed the dishes and put them in good order with spurious speed, however just as she put the last dish away, she felt something lurking the kitchen. Spoiler Hide I need Minot, Yoko and Viral to make checks for spotting Originally Posted by "athletics as notice (1d6)[1]x4=4 Using her eyes and ears to make sure that the unidentified intruders would not surprise her with their weaponry. Naomi thinks about this for a moment. Prettier? She wasn't sure how this was important to her duties as a servant. Perhaps this was an order? Testing to see how compliant she was in her role! Well she a Nun! A maid of god!! Be damned if she couldn't meet her master's wishes! She replied stiffly to him. I understand master, I will change my appearance to your satisfaction. No doubt he was well pleased by her obedience. Is there anything else I can do for you at this moment master? Sugar Sugar (who was still on the wheelchair when Naomi grabbed it indeed) is now standing up behind Naomi, giggling and pinching her clothes in diverse places""just work Here, here and... here. Dear, with that physique of yours and just a few changes in your clothes you could look fabulous."(Needless to say that the suggested changes involve a lot of shortening.)" And..."*loud noise*she raises her eyes "... Maybe someone could do something about the armed maniacs outside ? Angie "Sigh." Angie goes to take a shower and change into her work uniform. Maori smiles contently at the suggestion, nodding slightly, reviling. "That sounds to be a terrific idea Sugar, why don't you guys work that out here. I'll be in the bathroom for a bit." He says, wheeling himself out of his room, seeing his cousin still making her way towards hers. Spoiler Hide Sugar needs to make a check to do her makeover, and Angie can make her check to spot now. __________________________________________________ ____________Viral notices nothing out of the ordinary, making her merry way. Angie Angie continues to shower.IOC:Spot what? Angie is only concerned with the bathroom at the moment. Luck - (1d6x5)[5] Just as Angie was finishing her shower, she heard the door open, revealing a silhouette of a tall but sleek male figure, walking some sort of assault rifle, walking as he still had the pretense of stealth over her.__________________________________________________ ___________Just in the hallway, the master screamed. NozomiNozomi resolve about this was starting to crumble a little. She didn't very much like Sugar to begin and the look she had on while feeling up her uniform was rather discomforting. So. Ah, what are you going to do Sugar?.. *Sound of screaming*. Did you hear that Sugar? Did I hear something?luck roll(1d6x2)[8]...... Yes I'm pretty sure I heard a scream. Possibly a woman's. Sugar "I'm sure it's nothing. Just someone having too much fun. You should try it sometime." Sugar is really concentrated on the dress, her fashion sense and her libido coupled to design the perfect outfit for Naomi (At no moment does the though that Naomi could be embarrassed or reluctant by this cruised her mind.) Smiling, she pulls a big pair of scissors from behind her back"HIFI. Now it's not going to take l..." *Sound of screaming*."Oh, fine"The way she sighs, you'd think whoever just screamed did it just to annoy her." I guess we should check it out.". Her look make it very clear that the question of Naomi makeover is not over. Yes, we'd better do that! Nozomi hurries though the door to see what's happening. Angie "From worlds unseen and darkness bound..." "Something, something, something, rhyme!" Angie attempts to summon a 300 pound demon onto the intruder's head.IOC:affection - (1d6x5)[15] Yoko KimuraRyoko finishes her job and looks around the room for more work to do. Spoiler Hide cunning check to notice something (d6x5)[30] Naomi and Sugar's dash to hallway found Ayasdi sprawled on the floor unconscious, as a large densely covered man with hood was about to slice his neck with knife." Blood for the blood God, Skulls for the skulls throne!" It yelled.__________________________________________________ ______________Angie's magic gave way, as giant barbed red skinned demon of repugnant visage, turned the intruder to finely ground paste.__________________________________________________ _______________Yoko's senses so keened at this moment, saw everything that just happened in the mansion, the yelling, the pasting and all its ills. NozomiHorified at the scene before her, Naomi had to think quickly before harm can before their master (more than it already has.) She considered throwing Sugar at him, but she suspected her frilly uniform would hinder her velocity too much. Instead, she tugged her steel-toed work boot loose and kicked it at his head. Die intruder!athletics check to disable or stun the intruder.(d6x4)[20] Angie "Ralph, go stand out in the hall, I need to dry off." Angie dries herself off and puts on her uniform and pentagram necklace. She then starts walking around. "What's going on here?" "Ralph, could you please beat up the bad men? Pretty please, with a cherry on top?"IOC:affection - (1d6x5)[15] Sugar Sugar is outraged. If anyone got the right to do all kind of kinky stuff to Ayasdi and get him on the floor, that's her. Plus the guy is putting blood everywhere on the carpet and his taste in dark blasphematory gods is terrible (Sugar is more of Aneesh type of person). Grabbing her broom, she viciously thrust it in the cultist legs to trip him while he's staggering from Naomi attack. It's not really useful but at least it makes her feel like she participed.OOc:Athletics(1d6)[2] Minot"The master's guests are certainly a rowdy bunch..." The android sighs." Although I would have appreciated if he had mentioned that they would be coming." Spoiler Hide Rolling luck for noticing the fight. 2 x (1d6)[3] *CRASH* "That didn't sound good, I hope they didn't break any of the priceless cases... I better go take a look." She reaches the second floor and notices the brawl in the hallway." It would be greatly appreciated if everyone would please be so kind to, STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Yoko KimuraRyoko quickly goes to where to intruder is and tries to help stun or disable him. Spoiler Hide Athletics roll (d6x2)[6] With the barrage of attacks pummeling at the cultist at once, by the time Minot made her statement, leaving a bag of flesh and bones where once stood the agent of chaos, lying neatly on the carpet next to Ayasdi. Sugar Sugar look at the remains, obviously disgusted." Well I suppose he got what he wanted. In a way. Just to be clear, there is no way I'm cleaning that." She, then, proceed to check on Ayasdi a give him start giving first aid if necessary."just you hang in there honey. You'll be fine;"((Affection(1d6*3)[12])) The master wakes up from Sugar's gentle touch, looking around for a moment, as he pointed to sack of meat that piled near him." Let's get that cleaned up, shall we?" Angie ♫ Cleaning blood is no fun and I can't think of a tune for this song, so I should really stop singing.♫ Angie is cleaning up the blood and guts with a mop, a lot of bleach, and prayer.IOC:skill - (1d6x3)[15] Seeing how Viral is the only first defense for some reason, she decides to engage in combat with her GIG chainsaw to hold back the terrorists to prevent them from reaching the master. Originally Posted by Athletics (1d6)[1]x4=4 Naomi After tugging her boot back on, Naomi moves to lift her master and place him back into his chair with all the gentleness that her Nun instructors installed in her Speaking of cleaning Master, perhaps we should take this opportunity to change you out of your sleep wear as they seem to be coated in a fine pink paste. Athletics(d6x4)[20] "Pink paste?..." The master asked, looking over his body, confused as Angie cleared the floor of the flesh and blood spotlessly. Sugar "Oh, I don't know, pink fits him pretty well."says sugar, who, all crazy cultists forgotten, has pulled back her huge pairs of scissors and is sneakily approaching Naomi.Then, faster than. Somethin g that is very fast, the scissors blurry from behind Sugar's back in an attempt to shorten Naomi skirt of a few good centimeters"Don't resist ! Hiding those legs is a crime against humanity;"Cunning(1d6*4)[12] Naomi((I was assuming that lying on the ground next to the man as he was shredded to pieces would leave some of the mess on him as well.)) Ahh! Nozomi's Nun reflexes kick in to combat this surprise assault against her lack of sex appeal. She lashes out at Sugar with a ruler she had her pocket. Athletics(d6x4)[8]((aww. Curse you Sugar!)) Angie "Both of you, stop it! If you don't, I'll add some ammonia to the floor and kill us all." "Helene." Angie giggles a bit and covers her nose to block out the strong scent of bleach. With unerring precision and speed, Sugar completed her appointed task in shortening her skirt by good few inches. Minot"Angie-San, I'm not sure if that would be such a good idea." Originally Posted by IOC Short post is short... Was planning on restraining Sugar but Talking posted first. Angie "But it would be a fun idea at least. Helene." "And don't call me San, I'm not Japanese." Minot"As you wish, Ms. Angie." Mikoto gives a slight curtsy before going off to help Naomi to her feet. Originally Posted by IOC While unstated I'm going to assume that Sugar pulled, pushed or knocked her to the floor, since it would be simpler to desert her if she wasn't in the process of running for her life. RyokoRyoko wanders off since she is not interested in cleaning gore or antics like skirt cutting. Angie Angie chases after Yoko. "What'CIA doin'?" Yoko Kira "I am looking for something to do. I don't want to be involved in anything over there. Why are you following me?" "Good job Sugar, I'd suggest you both go back into the room and finish the appointed task." He said with a wink, obviously pleased with her results. Angie "Because the lesbians in Cousin's room aren't any fun. Do you want to play cards? I love old maid." Yoko Kira"Old Maid, huh? Interesting choice. That could be fun." Ryoko follows Angie. Angie Angie takes a deck of cards from her room, adds the joker, and deals them out to herself and Yoko. "You know how to play, right?"IOC:"1 means Angie currently has the old maid, 2 means Yoko currently has the old maid" - (1d2)[2] Yoko "It has been a while. Could you remind me?" Angie "You remove any pairs from your hand and every turn you take one card from your opponent." "The joker doesn't have a pair." "First one to run out of cards in her hand wins." "I'll go first." Angie removes the pairs from her hand, draws a card from Yoko's and removes another pair. "Can someone check outside if there are anymore these guys? Already have enough windows that are broken." Minot"Yes master." Mikoto goes to check through a window, if there appears to be anything out of the ordinary outside. Minot peers outside, and finds the lawn is full of neatly dug holes. Ayasdi, in wheeled himself to Angie's and Yoko were as they were playing cards." Why don't you two do join Minot-chan and see where does crazy cultists came from?" Yoko Kira "If that is what you wish master. We can continue this later." Ryoko goes over to where Minot is. "What is going on?" Angie"Does it matter?" "I like it when they trespass. Their heads go pop! When Ralph sits on them." "Hehehehehe." "Angie, why did your parents send to live over here? Not that I mind you are here" He asked absent kindly.__________________________________________________ ___________Just as Yoko asked that question, she heard something rumbling underneath, the soil from the holes that piled nearby continued to grow larger.__________________________________________________ __________With Naomi dress in shreds, inside the mansion they heard another window break, coming from the kitchen. Minot"This can't possibly be good..." Naomi Originally Posted by Talking "Good job Sugar, I'd suggest you both go back into the room and finish the appointed task." He said with a wink, obviously pleased with her results. Naomi looks down, despondently at her trimmed uniform. Upon hearing Ayasdi suggestion, she begins to like this even less. I'm sure I can handle the rest myself... yes, think I can. She then retreats to her own room while trying not to look like she's in too much of a hurry to flee from Sugar. The digging partly stopped, as a few grenades dinged along the surface. Spoiler Hide I'm going to need a check Sugar Sugar watches Naomi retreating hurriedly to her room. She stands here a few moments perfectly immobile until she's sure Naomi is out of range. Then she starts shaking with barely contained laughter. She knows she shouldn't. But teasing, sure is fun and Naomi is too good a target to pass. Angie Angie goes to the kitchen to make popcorn. "See gore." "See gore run." "Run gore run." Minot"Right, no good." Mikoto said as grenades begun exploding outside the windows. Spoiler Hide Rolling athletics to endure the explosions through robotic toughness. (1d6)[6] x 3 Yoko Kira "Why do things always get crazy wherever I work?" Ryoko tries to run away from the explosion. Spoiler Hide athletics (d6x2)[12] Yoko managed to dive behind Minot just as the explosion blew itself apart, the robot maid enduring no worse for the wear. At that moment however, the explosion seemed stopped the digging momentarily Ayasdi notices Naomi's flight from sugar, and follows her to the best of his ability." Nozomi-chan, did I make you upset?" He said tenderly Yoko KimuraRyoko looks down a bit shaken." We should get some others to go down with us. I surely don't want to go down alone." Angie Angie offers Yoko some popcorn? "Popcorn, big sis?" "I like watching explosions. They're so pretty!" "Hehehehehe." Yoko Kira"Aren't we supposed to be doing something though? Oh, my what if they get up here and try to kill the master again? I can just see us all homeless and jobless and having to sell our bodies to old men for bread crusts. No don't touch me old man, no." Angie "Can we flood the holes with gasoline?" "Or maybe water." "Hehehehehe." Sugar"I say go with water. The smell of bacon would be impossible to clear away, and it would reek the house for week with Gasoline."comments Sugar who has come to see what made that huge explosion sound a few moments later." Who are those guys anyway ?" Viral don't know who they were, but whoever they were, I think they were trying to assassinate the master. Though why would they be doing this? Looks like we may have to create a countermeasure in case these people come back for our master again. Naomi Originally Posted by Talking Ayasdi notices Naomi's flight from sugar, and follows her to the best of his ability. "Naomi-chan, did I make you upset?" He said tenderly Naomi had reached her door by then. She turned around to curtsy to Ayasdi before responding. Not at all master, I was simply going to my room to change my appearance as you advised. She looks down the hall quickly. I'm sure I can do it myself, there's no need to send anyone to help. She turns her head to check the other end of the hall. Minot "Although what bothers me the most is the digging... You don't suppose they're trying to tunnel into the cellar?" "Ok, if you need any help, I'm sure Sugar will be more than happy to lend hand." Ayasdi replied, as he made his way to the bathroom. Spoiler Hide Skill check needed if you are going to make it look sexier Viral takes her time to think in regards with the holes, and has a stupid idea have an idea, do we have anything instant that would make it jello like? A stupid idea it is, but considering we have to somehow fill it up. Angie "That's a bad idea. Then the jello would taste like dirt and terrorist." "Hehehehehe." "We could use concrete, but we just want to kill them all, not screw up the house's foundation." Well, does anyone want to find some? Otherwise, I guess I could try to find it somewhere in the mansion Viral seems that Angie's plan may work, and besides, we need to fix the holes before the mansions collapse from the damage the terrorists did. NozomiNozomi enters her room after Ayasdi leaves and shuts the door firmly behind her. Preparing herself for the task ahead, She gathers together her spare uniforms and takes off her own altered one and adds it to the rest. Naomi examines one of the uniforms; it met all regulations for suitable Nun attire, would changing it go against the teachings? She consulted her pocket book, hoping for a solution that wouldn't conflict the Masters orders or the teachings. Let's see now. For improper dress code. Add five demerits. we'll I can deal with that. Satisfied with this compromise, Naomi takes out scissors, thread, measuring tape, and the reference material needed. She was almost humming as she went to work on the first uniform.((Sexier? Peh, Naomi rolls skill to make her uniform appear more intended for a human being than as a furniture draw, as well as cutting back the head veil.(d6x3)[3])) Yoko "Jello! Concrete! Shouldn't we consult the master or something before we go messing around in the grounds? That might displease him." Sugar Sugar is pondering dreamily." Hmmmm. A giant tunnel full of jello. ...just think of the possibilities". Angie "I'm pretty sure all it would do is give us all dysentery." "Hehehehehe." "I'm going to go make some jello, not the tunnel kind, but the kind made in bowls." Angie goes to the kitchen and boils some water, then takes out a few boxes of jello powder.IOC:skill - (1d6x3)[15] Yoko KimuraRyoko blushes at what she thinks sugar is referring to." I won't jello wrestle. You are dirty Sugar, very dirty." Ryoko walks down to the holes. She calls down into the holes." Please um whoever you are. Stop digging in our master's yard. We would really appreciate it." Yoko bows to the holes. I sure hope a hand doesn't reach out and grab me. Yoko shivers. Yoko's plea is meet with apprehend compliance, as the hole responds with absolute silence.__________________________________________________ ________In the kitchen, Angie manages that mix up some jello that fits her purposes perfectly, the kind that expands exponentially the more water you add, though at the current moment they fit perfectly in the few bowls that are about the size of her open palm.__________________________________________________ _________Naomi only manages to somehow to stitch even more fabric in the already crumb some uniform. Angie Angie hands out the jello to the other workers. "Here you go, Yoko, Sugar." "I thought you might want to eat jello that wasn't dirt-flavored." Yoko Kira"Thank you, Angie." Ryoko bows to Angie and accepts the jello. In between bites she talks to her." Isn't it great that the digging has stopped so that we don't have to do any crazy plans?" Angie "Want to do something crazy anyway?" "Or maybe we could go back to playing cards." Sugar "I won't jello wrestle. You are dirty Sugar, very dirty." "Thanks. I try."answer Sugar, still slightly distracted by the mental images. Sugar accepts the bowl of jello from Angie, a bit surprised given Angie's previous attitude "Er.thank you, Angie"she stares at the thing, before final taking a timid bite. "This isn't poisoned is it ?" Yoko"Something crazy? Like what?" Angie "I got it! Let's get cousin's spare wheelchairs and have a race with him." Yoko "Do you think he would be ok with that?" Angie "Well, we're going to ask first, and he gets to play too." "Hehehehe." "Where is he, by the way?" Yoko"I think he went in the bathroom. Should we bother him there?" Angie "One-dokie, you go ask him." Yoko "I am not going alone. If we get into trouble it will be together." Angie Angie knocks on the door. "Cousin, are you in there?" "I want to hold a wheelchair race with you and your spares. Is that all right?"IOC:affection - (1d6x5)[15] Ryoko follows Angie." It should be a lot of fun, please."IOC: Backing up Angie even though she probably doesn't need it. Affection to add to Angie(d6x4)[8] "Did you take care of the disturbances outside already? If is that's case, sure." Ayasdi replied shortly after opening the door under his own power. Angie "To be honest, I have no idea what's going on."IOC:Are the tunnels simply there? Is nothing coming out of them? Yoko"They quit digging at least. That is all I know." Ryoko doesn't look after the door starts opening.IOC: Is the master fully dressed? Viral Feeling a bit bored with the job, Viral decides to hatch a scheme fixing the holes while making anyone who trespasses suffer their doom.(1d6x4)[12]To fix the holes and booby trap them in case others may decide to either dig through to create new holes again. OCC: He is fully clothed, Well the stopped digging, that's all you know for sure." Well I think a couple of you should go down and check what is exactly down there at least." Ayasdi replied.__________________________________________________ ________________Viral's trap was in place, all manner of poison tipped spikes adorned the mouth of the hole, surrounded with mousetraps. Viral Yes! Now those intruders better think twice about going through my ingenious traps. But Hamm... Nah, I doubt that my traps would be evaded without taking a pinch or two. As for that, I should go into the kitchen to see if there's anything to drink. Viral heads to the kitchen, finding Angie left it a mess from making all the jello, requiring a substantial amount of water. Angie "Did someone mess up the kitchen when I wasn't looking and all I did was boil water? It seems so." "Hehehehehe." Angie cleans up the mess and then gets the spare wheelchairs. "Come on, let's go have fun, cousin!"IOC:skill - (1d6x3)[12] Sugar Sugar would protest something about safety but between the cultist, the terrorists and the explosions, that wheelchair race is probably the safest thing to happen this morning. Yoko "I think that someone already checked out down there." Ryoko follows Angie to the kitchen and helps her get wheelchairs. The kitchen is fined tuned to a measure shining spit polish__________________________________________________ _____________The wheelchairs being to lasted out in front the machine, Viral's finely tuned trap shown in all of its glory." Well you did a pretty job Viral, should get plenty of warning if they ever get antsy. I'm ready when you guys are."OCC:Angie and Viral get(1d6)[5]favor. Viral Wait, wheelchair racing, huh? Interested to join the race, Are there any more wheelchairs to race with? Yoko "I don't know ask Angie." Ryoko is trying out her chair. Angie "There are." "On your mark, get set, go!" Angie charges forward on her wheelchair, trying to give herself a head start.IOC:skill - (1d6x3)[18] Viral Quickly grabbing a chair and not up to playing honest, she first tries to catch up with her physical strength, and then use Angie's speed to boost her speed up."athletics" - (1d6x4)[20]"Cunning" - (1d6x4)[12] Originally Posted by maid power I would also wish to use my maid power, Punishment as a way to tell her to not get ahead of Viral in a race. Angie raced forward in the races, Viral attempts to grab on her rail seemly in grasp. Spoiler Hide I need an opposing check from Angie Sugar Sugar isn't participating but is quietly watching from the side. Angie "Drat, I can't win the normal way. So let's leave it to luck!" "Hehehehehe." Angie closes her eyes and charges forward, hoping some convoluted series of events propels her to first and knocks off Viral.IOC:luck - (1d6x5)[20] RyokoRyoko is playing more for fun than winning trail behind. She keeps an eye out for the master.IOC: Rolling athletics just to see how well she is doing.(d6x2)[12] Viral In a split second, she digs into her mind in order to get the mental fortitude needed in order to hope that she can hold her speed and acceleration." Will" - (1d6x3)[9] Viral's attempts to cheat were thwarted with a quick slap, Angie propelled to victory." You two don't want to join in?" Ayasdi asked, turning to Sugar and Yoko.OCC: Viral takes 5 stress. Yoko "I just like playing around in the chair really. Besides those two are really serious. Don't want to get in their way." Angie Angie starts slowing down, trying to let her cousin win without it being obvious. "I can't keep this pace up forever, I'm getting exhausted."IOC:cunning - (1d6)[6]

He is My Master_ Master of Puppets Ultimate Remix Revival Tour Reunion Game IC thread|rating:3.0

Opposites

Opposites (Closed for CuteDanny21 and I)It was pouring out and Ava, the ever lucky one she is, had thought she could make it back to the apartment before the storm hit. She had thought wrong. Walking into the empty apartment had been unnerving since the roommate wasn't around and so in walking in- it had been dark, and she was freezing from getting caught in the downpour." Jesus." And as always Jasmine, the rookie, had set the A/C at 70, and it felt a hell of a lot colder than it should be to Ava. Shivering she set out to turn on a few lights so as not to trip over anything before beelining straight for the thermostat to set it just a bit over 75. Sopping wet curls swayed against her back, the droplets falling from the tips continuing to be absorbed by the shirt. It was only a matter of time before she was hopping from the living room to her bedroom and moving straight for the bathroom with her pajamas in hand. Slender fingers worked on unbuttoning her jeans before attempting to peel them down her legs, her butt meeting the wall for support as a grunt or two escaped her in her effort. Jeans now off she tossed them onto the counter before heading for the shower and sliding the glass door aside to run the water, making sure to turn it completely to the left as she planned to have it as hot as it could go. Next the socks were gone, underwear following before the shirt was pulled up above her head only to have her flinch in response to her cold curls meeting her back. The bathroom slowly began to fill with steam and the heat of that alone warmed her immensely, an appreciative sigh now escaping her as she undid her bra to free her 36C sized breasts. The discarded bra went along with every other article of wet clothing with a flick of her wrist before stepping into the shower with another appreciative sigh. The water ran over her as she stepped under the spray, the streams were openly welcomed as her head tilted back, and her hands rose to push her hair over her shoulders. The lights flickered as thunder rolled, and that comfortable feeling was somewhat told to be cut short, in which she complied in silence and lathered herself up quickly before washing her hair. But that cold that had rocked her so hard was now gone, and she was thankful for it, although she wasn't going to take any chances with getting sick. It would be the last thing she needed. Once dressed in a pair of flannel bottoms and a baby tee, she made sure to don socks before walking around barefoot. Just having been crossing the cold tiles of the kitchen the phone began to ring, and she turned and reached out to answer the wailing cry." State your business."" I've told you I justlovethe way you answer the phone, right?"" Over and over again. Where are you?"" I'm stuck at the movie theater with Rich until the storm passes. There's no way in hell I'm going out in the pouring rain and messing up my hair, or even taking a chance driving in this shitty weather. Crazy people are out on the streets." The comment made her laugh. Jasmine had always been somewhat of a paranoid, materialistic person." Ok, ok. Be careful and remember that you and Rich aren't the only two people there. At least sneak off."" Way ahead of you. Oh, Jordan said that he might be dropping by to pick up some of the things Rich left from last week, if the weather permits. Be nice." The call was ended and Ava was left chuckling as she hung up the phone with a smirk, the thought of Jordan's company for a brief few moments crossing her mind. Thunder clashed again, and she winced, thinking it would be better if she made something to eat quickly before the power had a chance to go out. Also making a mental note to light a few candles just in case. Two hours later she had fallen asleep on the couch, her psych book in her lap and a comforter wrapped up around her keeping her warm. Candles were lit, although the power hadn't gone out, she had left them lit just in case the storm began to rage again. The sound of someone knocking on the door was almost lost on her, the sound faint in her dreams but upon the knocking getting louder she awoke startled and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands before hearing Jordan's voice through the door." Open up, girl."" Oh shit, hold on." She pulled at the covers after having closed her book and tossed it on the coffee table, fixing her pajamas before sweeping her chocolate colored curls back over her shoulder in a memorized movement as she made her way towards the door. Upon opening it her hazel eyes found her reflection staring back at her through the large silver leased Aviators the guy before her was wearing. "What, no 'Chips' uniform?"-------​IOC:A little background info in terms to Ava and Jordan's "relationship". They're very many opposites, on the surface at least when it comes to musical tastes, movies, etc. She happens to be a very mellow person, always smiling and joking around. Amiable and friendly, a sweetheart. As to where Jordan tends to be surly, hard to please, stubborn, cocky and very arrogant. But either way something attracts and repels them at the same time. Attracts for the simple fact that they're different in personalities and backgrounds (she was brought up to work for what she wants, as was he, but his family comes from money), and also repels because they just can't seem to really connect. It may start slowly as, on the surface, they might have few common interests. However, once they understand one another they may learn they have much more in common than was first apparent. I would love for someone to take Jordan on and do him justice. Someone willing to put thought into their posts, and something more than just one or two lines. I apologize for sounding picky. But I would love to have this thread just be Ava and Jordan for now and as it progresses I was thinking of bringing in Jasmine, the roommate, and Rich, her boyfriend/Jordan's best friend. Please PM me if interested. "Ha ha, very funny Ava," Jordan said sarcastically with a snare on his face. "Don't you know anything? Aviators are the hottest thing right now. Anyone who is cool wears them. I have the best ones too, these babies were only $200." Jordan walked in and started shaking his arms, trying to dry off his expensive Armani track jacket. His dark Dismal Jeans were soaked; they perfectly snugged his athletic thighs and taut butt. He continues to walk around the living room; analyzing the place." So this is where Richie gets laid. Pretty nice place you girls got here. I came by to get Richie's leather jacket. He said I could borrow it for this hot date I have tomorrow night. You are lucky I was just out at the clubs and on my way home, otherwise you wouldn't have gotten to see me" Jordan joked as he waited for Ava to go fetch the jacket. Jordan headed right for the fridge, he had no problem making himself feel at home. He opened the last of your beers as he sat down on the couch. He started to flip around the channels on the t.v. Furthermore, he didn't have much patience and needed constant entertainment. She stepped out of the way before he had a chance to bump into her as he made his way inside, giving a gentle roll of her eyes as she closed the door but didn't bother to lock it. The asshole would be on his way out in the next couple of minutes." So this is where Richie gets laid. Pretty nice place you girls got here. I came by to get Richie's leather jacket. He said I could borrow it for this hot date I have tomorrow night. You are lucky I was just out at the clubs and on my way home, otherwise you wouldn't have gotten to see me""Lucky, lucky me. It's funny how I can only tolerate you in Kitty, bitty doses." Spoken with a strained smile as she held up her right hand to show her thumb and forefinger and inch or two apart as she moved towards the living room. "And you're fucking soaked. Get off the couch, man." Sure enough that when he shifted a bit to spite her by rubbing his jacket against the cushions, he was on her comforter, and it was doing an awesome job of drying him off. The quicker she got Rich's jacket, the quicker he was going to be gone. Leaving him to entertain himself she walked into Jasmine's bedroom and turned on the light in her search for her current prize, a few things picked up and put back down before she found what it was she was looking for." This is all, right? I'date keep you." Hazel eyes watched Jordan closely on the couch as he pulled his attention away from whatever the hell he had been watching to look at her as she moved forward with the jacket held out to him. "OH I am a loser? Come on girl, Clueless was like 10 years ago. Next you are going to say water to me, right?" Sarcastic Jordan put down her attempt at making him feel bad. He always had a quick comeback. He thought how lame Ava was to reference that L-7 finger gesture from the movie Clueless. How very sad. Joran rubbed harder into her comforter. "This blanket is really absorbent," Jordan flashed his brilliant smile at her. He knew women always let him get away with whatever he was doing when he flashed that million dollar smile. It melted them everything and Jordan didn't waste one chance to use it. Jordan stood up as Ava came back with the jacket. He quickly snatched it out of her hands. "Nice nips! I knew it was cold out from the rain, but not that cold" Jordan's eyes were staring at Ava's obvious nipples poking through her shirt. Jordan was a tit man and boy did he love Ava's big cans." I could always warm this baby's up for you," Jordan grinned as he walked toward Ava. He placed a hand on her face. "See, they are very warm." She gave him a once over with a look that read"What the fuck?"before she pulled his hand away from her face. The smile he flashed her way had been lost on her, as she was never one to fall for his tricks-- she had seen him use them with everyone and their grandmother and so it had lost its flare." Thanks, now I'll have your wet ass to comfort me." Spoken as she stepped away from him as he was too close to her liking, although the heat of his hand had left a searing imprint on her skin. Thunder rolled in the distance, and she looked towards the windows on her way to the couch to gather her damp comforter, biting her bottom lip to keep herself in check with him around. To keep from hurting him, mind you."Again-don't you have somewhere to be?" Ava kept her back to him, although she turned her head to watch him from the corner of her eye and then turned around as he stepped close once again. He loved to spite her. "You get off on bothering the hell out of me, right?" Through all of this she was chuckling softly, somewhat amused, but more so annoyed. "It is fun bothering you. I know exactly what buttons to push. Yes, I do have somewhere to be. I have to get back to my place, I have a really busy day studying tomorrow."(they are both in college right??) As Jordan turned away and headed toward the door, a crash of lightening struck. The entire apartment lit up; then sudden darkness. Quickly the lights flickered back on, then off again." Shit, if that power goes out I am going to be stuck on the subway. There is no way I am walking in this downpour." Jordan's face looked dejected, he really wanted to get home. He had a rough night at the club; he was smacked by 4 different women and didn't get a single phone number. Jordan took off his jacket; he had a tight white Calvin Klein tee on. "I am going to stay a little bit, just till the storm eases up." Once again he made his way to the couch in his soaked jeans. Standing stock still in the middle of the living room she watched the lights flicker before going out completely, chuckling in disbelief as her tilted back so that she could look up at the darkened ceiling before lightning lit up the sky and illuminated the apartment briefly." Just great." With a sigh she turned to look in the direction she heard Jordan in before hearing him flop back down on the couch and groaned. "Hold on, get up." She walked towards the couch slowly, making sure not to trip on the coffee table or his feet as he stood up. As much as she wanted to kick his ass from time to time, she wasn't going to kick him out. Maybe if the weather was better she would, but not in this storm. Once he was up she folded the comforter a bit before setting it back down on the couch, giving him something to absorb the water of his pants. A comforter would be easier to clean than a couch. "There." Making sure it was good she stepped back and looked over at him skeptically in the dark. "You want a towel?" "A towel would be good." Jordan's tone had definitely softer. He was pleasant now." A dry pair or pants or shorts would be better." He barked out; He wasn't going to change completely just because a little power went out. Ava went in the other room in search of a towel and probably some shorts as Jordan started to unzip his jeans. He had no problem stripping down in front of Ava, or any woman as a matter of fact. Jordan folded up his wet jeans and his wet socks and placed them on the coffee table. He was shivering in just his white tee and black, spandex boxer briefs. They hugged him nicely. They were always the first pair of underwear he wanted a woman to see him in. He sat down on a dry portion of the couch and waited. His eyes were starting to adjust to the complete darkness. She had complied and gone off to find a towel and a pair of Rich's shorts somewhere in Jasmine's room. Yes, the girl had cleared at a whole drawer for her boyfriend. Now that's love. She reappeared with both things in hand, grunting softly as her toe made contact with the leg of the coffee table." Damn it." Inhaling slowly as she wiggled the toe that had been hurt her hand went out to hold the things she had retrieved. Once he had taken them she was turning towards the large windows and opening the blinds to let the light from the cars daring enough to be on the streets below making a little light. Jordan shifted on the couch, and she looked back over her shoulder. "Those are your buddy's. Couldn't tell you if they were clean or not." There was a smile on her lips that he would no doubt hear in her voice since he couldn't make out her face that well. "Are you alright??" He sounded concerned when she banged her toe. He thought that she might fall on him. Furthermore, he hastily grabbed the shorts and gave them a quick sniff, "Ewe, these are dirty. Can't you smell the funk on them?" He lobbed them back to her; they landed on her head. He started to laugh as he could make out the outline of her with the shorts on her head as she stood by the window." I think I will just wear my boxers, if that is ok with you? I know they are very clean." He gave a sinister snare. He was annoyed she would bring him dirty clothes. This girl must be stupider than Rich said. Rich had ripped on Ava many times before. Sure she was a little dim and slow witted, but most women are compared to guys, Jordan thought to himself." So...what are you looking at?" Jordan walked over slowly to Ava. He positioned himself right behind her and looked over her shoulder out on to the street. Batting the underwear off her head she caught them and held them back out to him. "I'd like to know what the hell you're smelling. These are CLEAN, ass." Of course, she had made sure to not pick a stank pair, and if she knew Jasmine-the girl was a clean freak. If she tried something on just to see how it looked she'd put it in the hamper. Major OCD. Once again she was put into a rather bothered mood by him, finding his arrogance stuffy and annoying. She did all she could to keep her voice level as she tossed the underwear back in his face as he came to stand behind her. "The drivers crazy enough to be out on the road in this weather." There was the hot breath escaping his lips as she could feel the anger coming off of him in waves without having to turn around and face him completely. This was her place and she had no intention of letting him talk down to her. If he didn't like it? He could get the fuck out. "Fine, fine, fine. You are right, they are clean. I just wanted you to check out my underwear. They are my favorite and the favorite of all the woman that have seen them." Jordan begrudgingly took the shorts and put them on. They were a pair of Rich's running shorts; they were fairly short, just covered up his underwear. He moved closer to her to see better;he made sure not to press up against her. She didn't like being touched, or so he had heard from Rich and his girlfriend." Anyone out driving in this is an idiot. It is way too dangerous. Do you have a radio Ava? We could try to find a weather report on it. To see if the weather lets up otherwise you will have a new rookie tonight." There's a scoff, and she turns her body at an angle to watch him pull the shorts on, her usual warm gaze having gone a bit cold. He had a great knack of bringing it out in her. "Smooth, Jordan." Moving away from him with another little glance out the window, she took a seat in one of the armchairs and left the couch open for him." No radio." Spoken softly, her annoyance with him having passed as it always did. She found he was not one for her to waste so much time or effort on, especially with the way he spoke and acted around her. She watched him remain at the window with a little glance downwards to the streets below before turning and moving towards the seat he had occupied before. "And I don't think this is going to let up anytime soon." All she had wanted was for him to get whatever it was he was meant to get and then leave because they just could not be around each other for more than five minutes at a time. He annoyed the hell out of her with his arrogance as much as she bothered him with not being charmed by his antics or putting up with him talking down to her. She was not that kind of girl nor would she ever be. Again she could feel his eyes on her in the dark, and she quirked a brow in silence, knowing the look would be missed, but she had no intention at the moment to speak to him. He had walked over to where she was sitting and stood in front of her. His hands on his hips and probably a serious look on his face. He said,"Well, we need to think of where I am going to sleep tonight. Is your bed big enough for two? This couch is way too small for me; my feet would hang off it." He stood there for several moments. Ava wasn't responding at all." Well, what am I going to do?" Looking up at him there was a smirk on her lips as his current posture was rather feminine, but she kept the comment to herself. "You can sleep in Jasmine's bed, I doubt she'll be back tonight. She and Rich are stuck at the movie theater." Continuing to look up at him, she blinked a few times before she stood, her body brushing his as if to man up and tell him to take a step back. "Hope you don't mind. I'll go get you a blanket." As it was not left open for discussion. Him in her bed? She'd never hear the end of it from him or Rich, and the thought just disturbed her to no end. Jordan's hand brushed her arm as she moved past, but she pulled it away before he could make any other attempt to make a grab for her. She disappeared into darkened room, trying to recall where exactly she had left the blanket she was looking for to let the "honorable" guest borrow for the time being." Where the hell is it..." The question was spoken softly to herself in the stillness of her room, moving around things without bumping into them (that much). Dropping onto her hands and knees she pulled out one of those airtight boxes from beneath the bed with a sigh in finding the blanket and sat back on her legs to pull the soft bedding out and fluffing it up. "Found you a blanket." Called out to him as she made her way to stand, holding the large piece of fabric to her chest as she made her way back out into the living room." Jas has got tons of pillows, so take your pick." Jordan snatched the blanket from her. "Thanks," he said sarcastically. He didn't want to sleep alone. He always loved having someone sleep with him, even if only they did was sleep. Furthermore, he made his way over to the other bedroom. Furthermore, he walked in and though, wow, what a girl room. It was covered floor to ceiling in pink. There were a ton of stuffed animals on the bed as well." Eww, how does Rich stand this place?" he thought aloud as he started to strip. Jordan never slept in clothes. He threw the animals from the bed as he then placed the blanket on top of it. He wasn't that tired so he decided to grope around the room for a bit. Furthermore, he found the usual stuff, books, papers, tons of photos. Then he found her goodie draw. Lube, and condemn and even a vibrator. What a naughty girl he thought. Jordan went straight to her dresser as he was now starting to get a bit aroused. He poked through her panties; that is when he really got turned on. He quickly dropped them back in the drawer and sat on the edge of the bed. Furthermore, he grabbed a few tissues from the night stand and started to pleasure himself. Furthermore, he lay back in the bed as his thoughts wandered from his usual porn fantasies of celebs like Katie Holmes, .... to Ava. Ava did her best to not laugh aloud at the sarcasm in his voice, a hand rising to cover her mouth as she cleared her throat and backed up into her room and closed the door. Fingers hovered over the doorknob as the thought of locking her door or not crossed her mind before she remembered that the front door had been left unlocked. With a reluctant sigh she opened her door as quietly as possible before sneaking out into the hall and across the living room to the door and turning the deadbolt into place before sneaking back the way she came. Having only slipped past Jasmine's door she stopped, somewhat startled at hearing someone breathing heavily, and she slowly took a step back to peek through the crack that the door created in Jordan's failed attempt at closing the door. Her eyes focused in on the shadow on the bed before she caught on to what it was he was doing. She wanted to pull herself away but found that she was unable to move for a few moments. Breath catching in her throat she pulled herself away from the door before backing up and turning into her room. Fuck, he was getting off in Jasmine's bed... oh boy. She hadn't noticed she had backed up against her door to close it completely. The thought of grabbing the digital camera from her dresser and running in to snap a few pictures crossed her mind but the sounds of his moans and grunts still echoing in her ears made her forget the thought. No, she'd get in bed and do her best to fall asleep over the rolling thunder and the rain against her window. Maybe that would help to drown out Jordan still echoing in her ears. Undressing down only to her underwear, given that she preferred to sleep naked but in present company didn't want to take that chance. Slipping between the covers she stared up at the ceiling and closed her eyes before turning on her side, tucking her hands beneath her head as she took a deep breath and gently squeezed her thighs together with a Shaka breath. There was no way in hell she was going to get off in thinking of Jordan doing the same. When he finished, he got up to go to the bathroom. There was no way he was leaving any evidence of what he just did in there. No, it was best to just flush the used tissue down the toilet and pretend it never happened. No one would know what he did, Ava would be too grossed out to go visit him in the middle of the night. Before he went tithe bathroom he decided to put on his boxers, normally he wouldn't, but he didn't want Rich and Jasmine to see him naked or pointing at them. After exiting the bathroom and thoroughly washing his hands, he walked over to the kitchen. Ever the insomniac, he couldn't sleep. He opened the fridge and saw that the light was on, ah-ha, the power was back. He found a frozen mini-pizza and made himself a gin and tonic as he settled on the couch to catch the latest episode of sports center. Furthermore, he thought he might as well watch it now, he was up, and he would otherwise watch it in the morning. Furthermore, he decided to keep the volume low, he didn't want to wake Ava. After several commercials sports center finally came on. As luck would have it, they had two females co-hosting the show. Jordan, still a little horny and now done with his food, looked around before slipping a free hand into his pants. What could be better than drinking, sports, and masturbating? Hazel eyes slowly opened at hearing the television? The power came back on? She rolled over onto her back to look at the alarm clock on the opposite nightstand to see the red glowing numbers flashing at her. There was a softclickas the A/C came on, and she sighed softly in relief. Sitting up she pulled her blanket away while she swung her legs over the edge of the bed to stand, staying still for a moment as she searched for her bottoms and the shirt she had donned before. The tingly between her legs had not ceased and she was growing rather frustrated. She'd take care of it once she had gone to get something to drink, her skin flushed and feverish to the touch. She had only just opened the door and stood stock still at the sight set before her, hazel eyes wide. "Deprived, Jordan?" Her jaw setting to keep a smile from splitting her face from the look of surprise and his hand stopping in mid-stroke. "Oh, um...ugh, hey, what are you doing up?" Jordan didn't know what to say. He hadn't anticipated Ava waking up. He thought he would have privacy jerking off to the team of Linda Cohen and Cindy Brunson, his favorite female anchors. Quickly he pulled his hand out of his boxers; he was still very hard, and the snug boxers showed an impressive outline." I was just horny, and you know, I wanted some fun before bed. It eases me and helps me sleep." He tried to act like casual. Who cares that he got caught jerking off, all guys do it. This attitude wasn't having any effect on Ava. She stood there with a big smile on her face. Jordan could tell that it was from laughing and not admiring the size of his cock. A little embarrassed he tried to refocus on the t.v. Maybe she would just go to bed and forget about this whole thing. "I was just horny, and you know, I wanted some fun before bed. It eases me and helps me sleep." Nodding a bit, as if in understanding, she moved towards the kitchen and flicked on the light with a bit of flinch as the invasion of something bright invading her eyes was killer. With her back to him now she was openly laughing as she bent down into the fridge to grab a bottle of juice before leaning back to cast a look over at him. Was he blushing?" What are you getting off to anyway?" She leaned up against the counter and attempted to steal a peek at the TV, but he changed it before she could get a look, her laughter a bit louder now before she took a drink from the bottle in her hand before swallowing. "I doubt you have any reason to hide things from me after I caught you with your hand down your boxers." Leaving the fact out that she had also caught in him doing the same thing in Jasmine's bed. "I absolutely love these moments we share together." He let out a nervous laugh. "I was just jerking off to some ho's in one of those rap music videos on BET. The woman are almost naked, and I do love big booties." He let out a nervous laugh again. It didn't look like Ava was buying it." Listen, it is a perfectly normal thing for a guy to jerk off. All guys do it. Your woman don't always want sex so us men have to take care of things every no and then." He said this proudly, as if he was making a serious speech. Nervously he keeps looking at Ava. She just kept laughing softly. He wasn't doing anything to convince her that this is normal and not some laugh riot. "You...you. Aren't going to tell anyone right? Masturbation is a very private thing. I wouldn't tell anyone if I had caught you masturbating." Jordan was very ashamed at being caught. He didn't believe it himself that jerking off is normal. He knew deep down that he is a pervert. Furthermore, he knows he does it a lot more than any other guy. Furthermore, he has always been embarrassed with how frequent he cranks it out. Furthermore, he had always been discrete about it; this was the first time he was caught. Furthermore, he continued to stare at the t.v. Furthermore, he couldn't take the look on Ava's face. Draining the bottle completely she straightened up and moved off to throw the empty bottle away with another chuckle. "Most people don't get off on someone else's couch." Taking her time to wander out into the living room she remained standing, her hands on her hips before she began to walk off towards her room but stopped just before slipping inside. "Have fun, Jordan." That said she entered her darkened room, closing the door behind her with a smile and shake of her head before stripping on the way to her bed and jumping under the covers. It was only a matter of moments before she was asleep. Arms wrapped around a pillow as she held it to her, subconsciously hoping it would somehow return the warmth. Annoyed at Ava, he needed to seek some measure of revenge. He stood up from the couch, his semi-pardon still pointing to the t.v. He paced around the living room; he couldn't think of what to do. Furthermore, he finally decided to go check up on her. She had so rudely snuck up on him in the living room, it was his turn now. Carefully he crept toward her door. Shit, it was closed. Every so slowly, and gently he turned the knob; he didn't want to startle her. He peaked his head toward the small two in opening. He saw her laying there, her body in the fertile position, desperately holding onto a pillow. Her back was facing the door. She didn't seem to notice that her door was now open. Jordan kneeled down and started to just watch her. A few sounds of snoring with a few incomprehensible words thrown out. She started to toss a bit in her sleep. Her body moving from side to side on the very large bed. The covers had fallen off of her. When Ava settled again in the position Jordan had originally found her, the covers had fall off a bit. Her milky white, juicy ass was exposed. Jordan couldn't believe this girl slept naked. Even more so, it was turning him on. He had just mentioned to her how he loved big, round asses. Now here was one, right in front of him. He decided that he had to touch it. He stood up and carefully and without making a sound, opened her door all the way. Furthermore, he slowly walked through her deep carpet, not making a sound. Furthermore, he had grabbed the covers that had fallen onto the floor and gently tried to cover her up with them. Standing over her, he saw one of her ample breasts being squished against the pillow. His hard on had returned. He placed the cover over in a loving manner. He didn't want to wake her up. Just as he was finishing tucking her in, he decided to briefly caress her exposed ass. That seemed to awaken her.... Ava's chest rose and fell as she took deep, slumbering breaths. The pillow continuing to be held to her unbeknownst that she had company. Taking a deep breath she turned over, kicking the covers off as her face, while in her sleep, contorted into a look of confusion or pain. Writhing around for a few moments a second later she was calm again, her face buried into the pillow still in her arms as a chill rode through her as she was obviously unaware that the covers had disappeared due to her own actions. Then there it was, a touch. Jordan's caress made her flinch and she seemed to wake up for a quick moment before she slipped back in sleep. She turned to lay on her back, arms rising over her head in an attempt to stretch before letting them return to where they were before. Pillow forgotten she took a deep, shudder breath as her hands traveled beneath the replaced blanket. She was touching herself in her sleep, her fingers gently massaging her clit and in response eliciting a moan to fall past her lips. Jordan's jaw dropped as his eyes tried to widen to take in all he was seeing. Ava's breasts were half covered, the outlines of each arm showed that she was using both her hands down near her clit. Jordan had to cover his mouth with one of his hands to stop himself from blurting a "Holy shit!" Instinctively he started to caress his cock over his boxers; it was no surprise that he was hard already. Jordan wanted to move but he was frozen. He had wished that he had taken the digital camera off of Jasmine's dresser before he came in. The thought of getting it entered his mind, but his body wouldn't respond. Ava's moans grew louder and louder. Her hands moved more violently. One of them came up from her crotch and started to touch her breasts. That hand had released her full breasts to Jordan. His eyes bugged out more as he had to bite his lip now to stop from screaming out. He kept rubbing his rock hard cock over his boxers. He wanted nothing more than to jump into bed with Ava. Furthermore, he knew he couldn't move for fear that she would awake, and his peep show would be over. Ava was moving more and more. Jordan panicked. It looked like she might awake up any minute. He quickly moved backwards toward the door to give the illusion that he wasn't in there the entire time. He wanted Ava to think that he peeked in to check on her after all the loud noise. Furthermore, he had just forgotten to stop rubbing his cock as Ava now became awake and aware that he was in the room.... She came so hard that she awoke, her eyes focusing a bit on the ceiling before feeling someone's gaze on her. Jordan's. She sat upright quickly, holding the sheet to her bare chest as her eyes focused in on what it was he was doing. "You..." She trailed off, her jaw setting as she watched his hand moving over his dick. A beat or two passed before she spoke." Come here." She moved to sit up on her knees as she remained on the bed, continuing to hold the bedsheet to her chest. As he moved forward slowly, the hand wrapped around his dick ceasing in its movement. He had this skeptical look on his face as if he was unsure of what it was she was planning to do, and to be honest-Ava didn't know that much either. Lithe hand went out to him to beckon him forward a bit more and once he was within her grasp she pulled him forward by the waist of his boxer briefs. "What do you want?" The question was simple enough as she leaned forward to let him feel her breath against his lips, feeling his own breath quicken in response as he licked his lips as if to taste her. "Don't tell me you went shy all of a sudden." Staring deep into her eyes he confidently said, "I want to fuck! What do you want?" His confidence and arrogance never wavered as she stood there. He wasn't about to let Ava become the dominant one in this confrontation. He didn't care that she had a firm grip on his boxers. She had stretched them out enough for his fully erect penis to be fully in view. Jordan used his huge, erect penis as another symbol of his strength and control of the situation. It was powerful and pointing at her." I have been wanting to fuck all night. Why do you think I was jerking off before on the couch? I didn't know you were horny too tonight." He had crossed his arms across his chest, he wanted this little woman to see how powerful he was right now. "Quit it with the macho bullshit, Jordan." The hand gripping the waist of his boxer briefs let go, pushing him away somewhat before she moved away from him and laid back down on her bed. "Take your narcissism elsewhere." And as quickly as she was willing to fuck him the mood was gone, or so it seemed. Again his anger was coming off of him in waves at her denying him, and it pleased her. She wasn't going to fall for his petty bullshit nor be talked down to. She watched him stand transfixed in the dark, and she could only imagine the violent thoughts interlacing themselves with the sexual ones that were creeping through his head." When you feel like not being a prick-we'll talk." Crushed but still determined to try to get some ass that night, Jordan went into sweet mode. In his most apologetic and deceitful voice he said, "Ava, I am sorry. I didn't mean to be so crude and lewd. You just really turned me on tonight." Ava wasn't buying this bullshit and Jordan knew it. He took one last pathetic look at Ava, a desperate attempt to soften her and let Jordan have sex. She just sat there with a cold expression on her face. She was too smart to fall for his bullshit. Jordan gave up for the night and turned to leave her room. He made his way back to Jasmine's room and jerked off again. Hopefully things will be better in the morning. Ava watched him go with a smirk, her tongue running over her bottom lip in thought before settling down after making sure he was finally gone. She had known him for so long that she knew all of his tricks and was pretty much immune. Hoping he'd be gone by the time she woke up, she settled back down and covered herself up before drifting off to sleep.-Maybe one day he'll wise up and stop being a prick.- That day is tomorrow... As dawn broke and the storm had finally passed Jordan started to realize how much of an asshole he had been to Ava the night before. He had showered and fully dressed himself while Ava kept sleeping. He started to make eggs and bacon for breakfast. Furthermore, he was hoping that a little breakfast would be the peace treaty he was looking for. Ava awoke and stumbled out to the kitchen. Jordan had been sipping coffee as he was just about to put Ava's eggs on her plate." Good morning Ava. I am really sorry about how I acted last night. I was hoping that would, could call a truce. Look, I even made you bacon and eggs." With a sincere smile he placed the eggs on the table. He sat down and awaited her to do the same. As Ava stumbled out into the kitchen she blinked once and then twice at the sight set before her, a brow quirking sleepily as she yawned and stretched the flat plane of her tummy came into view as her shirt rose in the action." Good morning Ava. I am really sorry about how I acted last night. I was hoping that would, could call a truce. Look, I even made you bacon and eggs."" One hell of a truce. But you forgot the pancakes." By the tone of her voice he would catch that she was joking, actually quite happy that he had taken the time to cook for the both of them rather than just himself. Plopping down into the seat across from him, she scooted around to get comfortable before picking up her fork and giving him a little smile. "Thanks." While they ate the conversation became rather bearable, even getting a few laughs out of the both of them." So what do you have planned today?" The question was just one to keep up the chitchat between them as she rose from the table with her plate in hand before reaching out to take his up as well so that she could wash them. All the while, like the night before, she could feel his gaze following her around the room. "Oh, um, today. I don't know, not much planned. Some studying, maybe head to the gym, probably just loaf around at home." Jordan was a little slow to respond to her question. His gazed was fixed on her ass. He was trying to figure out if she had put on any panties. Her cute hugged those sweatpants; no panty lines. Looked like she didn't have any on. His cock harden a bit as he bit his lip as her back was turned." What about you? What are you up to today?" He fixed his gaze back into his coffee as she had turned to face him. She was coming back to the kitchen table. She sat right next to him. Furthermore, she sat on her knees as her chest hovered over the table. She played with the spoon in her coffee. Jordan's eyes glanced from her eyes to her chest. Her white tank top didn't do much to hide her Lucius breasts. It was also a bit chilly in there this morning. "Eh, have a paper to write but other than that I'm all caught up. Hopefully we won't get hit by another storm tonight." Smirking as she looked down into her coffee, curls falling forward over her shoulders and hiding her face from view for the moment. The spoon clinked against the sides of the mug as she stirred it slowly before removing it so that she could take a sip. Idle little thoughts of the night before flickered across her mind, a soft chuckle escaping her as she looked up to catch his eyes. There was a moment of thought before she leaned forward to kiss him softly in a kind gesture." Thanks for breakfast." She pulled away as he leaned forward to claim her lips once again, but that was a no-go on her part. "Don't start getting greedy." The comment was a simple one, but truthful as she stood from the table with her mug in hand as she made her way out of the kitchen. "I'm jumping in the shower." With that she disappeared into her bedroom once more only to emerge with a couple of towels and a robe before sliding into the bathroom. Like she had the night before, she turned the water on as hot as it could go as she slipped out of her pajamas and gave herself a look over in the full length mirror behind the door. She turned this way and that, checking out her ass, breasts and tummy with a few appropriate gropes here and there. Reaching out she pulled the sliding glass shower door aside and stepped in with a smile to herself as the steam kissed her skin and warmed her. Dumbfounded by that sweet, tender kiss, he sat in his seat, unable to move. He was only able to mumble out, "Your welcome for the breakfast." He had placed a hand over his lips and just smiled." If only I hadn't showered already," he said half joking. He didn't really think that she would invite him in. He had to make that comment though, it was so him. When she had reappeared from her room wearing that soft baby blue robe, Jordan couldn't help but admire her beautiful long legs. Thank god for short robes he thought to himself. He knew if he said that aloud he would have gotten a dirty look from Ava, perhaps a slap in the face. Once he heard the water running, Jordan got up from the table and knocked on the door. "Ava, hey, um, when you finish with your paper if you want to come by my place and just chill, that would be cool. I will be there most of the day all alone. So, um, yea, give me a call if you want to come over or do whatever." He waited for Ava to answer with "ok". He didn't know what that meant. Furthermore, he decided it was probably best to go now. As he headed out the door he couldn't hide his new hard on. The robe did it for him this morning.

Opposites|rating:3.0

Orsa runaways- Amaya and Donut.

‘They said that once the world was covered with different countries and cultures, that these lands covered the globe. In the story there is constant fighting among the larger countries while they race to build weapons of death and destruction. In the end all their weapons did was destroy the earth they had lived on. It’s said that this happened 1814 years ago, the old world had become a myth. The remaining countries gathered what land could be saved and started over. There is now only a recorded three countries, RSA- which was what use to be the US, Canada, and the remain pieces of South America-, Tancho- Japan through to India-, and Annette- Iran up to Norway. The other land masses had either been destroyed or where uninhabitable. Our story takes place in the country of RSA where the Government is hunting down people they call the Infected. The Infected are a group of people who have strange genetic alteration that are due to previous family member exposure to radioactivity. These genetic alterations change depending on the person. The RSA government wishes to capture and use/experiment the infected for soldiers in their army.’ Name: Robin Clay Age: 16Alteration: She can raise her body temp up to levels where she can melt metals with her bare hands, and can blow out pure steam. Name: Kory Stage: 18Alteration: Half of his body is bionic, but he looks normal. He can change parts of his body into anything that's metal. Kory was running through a dark corridor. Knowing he was being followed, he kept running, and turned around a corner. Finding himself blocked in, he turned his arms into swords, and just waited for whoever was following him would turn the corner as well. Robin sat on the roof of some unknown building when she caught sight of the silver haired boy running along the alleyways. Green eyes widened in shock as she watched his arm turn to swords. “Another infected?” leaning over the edge she tried to get a better look at him. Hearing the footsteps echo along the corridor she figured he was being hunted. Tying her black hair in to a high ponytail she prepared herself to jump into the pile of trash behind the fellow infected. She had never been one to sit on the sidelines. Closing her eyes she jumped off the building landing behind the male infected. Kory just stood there, ready to attack, not sure when the person following him would turn the corner. He could tell the footsteps had gotten softer, so he knew whoever was looking closer now. Out of nowhere he jumped hearing some sound from right behind him. Turning quick he has seen a dark haired girl standing on the trash. Pointing one arm at her, he spoke, "You here to help of hunt me as well?" He asked in a slightly harsh voice, but he was being hunted all night. Dusting herself off Robin stared up at the older boy then back down at herself. She hadn’t though she was dressed like any hunter, but then again if she was the one being hunted she would trust anyone either. Tilting her head to the side her face scrunched up in confusion. Bending down she picked up what looked like a discarded pole. She felt her body temperature rise until the pole started to twist and melt in her hand. Throwing down what remained of the pole she smiled. “ I’m an infected also, need help?” He slowly shifted himself back around after seeing the bent pole. "Sorry, and not sure." He said still kinda harsh, but it's been a long night for him and he was edgy. The hunter finally appeared around the corner, and Kory pinned the guy to the wall, and placed one blade of his arm, to the guys throne. The guy chuckled. "No matter what you will be cough. You are worth more." He said before biting on something he had in his mouth. Foam started rolling out, and it looked like the guy was having a eager and was dead in seconds." Well... that was interesting." Kory said as he dropped the body, and sat on the ground beside the strange girl that offered him her help. He just started thinking about what the guy had just said. Blowing her bangs out of her face Robin pouted. “Well that wasn’t any fun.” Lightly kicking the corpse with her combat boot she sat down in front of the other Infected. He looked like he had been running all night-she knew the feeling. “So… who was that?” There was a fifty/ fifty chance that they guy had any clue what the hunter was talking about or who he was. "All I know is he works for the guy that had killed my father, and now they are after me...but why I am so valuable to them, I don't know." He said as his gaze matched her. "My names Kory, but by the way it sounds you might not know me for very long...and as you can see I am mainly mettle." he said making his bladed arms turn back into his normal hands. "I thank you for attempting to help me. But I guess he didn't want to put up a fight. I guess just a messenger..." he said rambling on Robin, never letting things like dead bodies bring her down, smiled and stuck her hand out for Kory to shake. "My names Robin and it was no big deal." So he wasn't just being hunted for being infected there was another reason. She couldn't say she knew what it felt like to have a parent die, but she was separated from her family for an un known amount of time. She knew that it hurt. " So...um...do you have somewhere to stay, you know in case more," she tilted her head to indicate the dead man next to them," like him come looking for you?" She had been staying in a small ran down apartment a couple of block down. It was the kind where no one noticed a broken door and a homeless looking girl sneaking in. "Honestly, no. I have just been running since I broke free." he said as he shook her hand, glad that there would be some help out there in this cruel world for him. "And yea.there will be more of him that will be after me. My fatter died trying to get me free and changed back, but they want me for something but not sure what.and I don't really want find out." he said as he looked at her seriously, as to what her true power was Standing up she brushed stay pieces of dirt off of her skirt. He had nowhere to go, and she was tired of running alone. True if she travelled with him, it was bonded to be more trouble but well it just wouldn't be right to leave him at the hands of those men. " Well now you do. It isn't much, but I broke into an apartment last night, and you are welcome to stay." ' His father wanted to change him back.' she told herself,' he may not even be an infected just a toy of the government.' She felt bad for him, at least she couldn't help that she was different, he had probably once been a normal person." are you coming?" Kory smiled a small half smile, and got up as well." Yea, and thank you." he said glad that he could be with someone again. But there was still the thoughts in his mind, about what if these guys would get her. He couldn't live with that if she got hurt over him. "You know. I could probably make my finger a key, and we could stay anywhere you would want." he said kinda playing, but thought it could work as well. That sounded like such a nice idea, she couldn’t remember the last time she stayed anywhere that wasn’t infested with rats or looked like it was falling apart. But she knew if you stayed somewhere to nice then they find you. ’ I wonder if a nice middle would work.’ She thought about it for a little longer before smiling up at him. “Maybe in the next town. If they are looking for you, it would be best to lay real low.” Tugging at the ends of her hoodie’s sleeves she turned to walk out of the alley. “How old are you by the way?” Not that it mattered, she was so pressed for company that she would travel with a 40-year-old. Though she doubted he was that old. He still smiled, and knew that she was right. "I am 18..." He said with a slight hesitation. He was still young and wasn't used to talking to too many people let alone girls. She looked younger than him, but he wasn't sure of that either. As they walked he stayed a bit behind her, not knowing the way, and just thought to himself, still stuck on not wanting anyone else to get hurt because of him. "You know not many infected are as helpful as you." He said not realizing a smell bit of blush was running across his face. “That’s because most of us have become spineless or stupid.” They arrived at the rundown apartment faster than Robin thought they would. Looking around to make sure no one was watching them she moved the broken from its frame and walked inside. She had tried to clean it up as much as she could, organizing the pile of old drapes and blankets as a makeshift bed next to the far wall. There were unlit candles gathered in a circle in the middles of the room. She closed the door behind him. “I’ve been running since I was 13, and I’ve learned that if you want to survive you should organize. If all the Infected gathered together there would be no chance of the government over powering us.” Pulling out a lighter she began lighting the candles. “But they have all of us too scared to do anything like that.” Sitting down next to the makeshift fire she smiled at him again. “ Hungrey?” "I would agree." Kory said as he sat down beside her, and looked at her. "Kinda yea. What you got?" He asked curiously. Just as he asked his stomach grumbled, and he laughed." In the beginning I have been running since I was about 8 until my dad found me again, and as a sucker he coughs me...I didn't know he worked for the government..." he said now looking into the small makeshift fire, and he sighed “Your dad worked for the government?” that had put her on edge the minute the words left his mouth. She forced herself to relax remembering that he had said his father was dead. ‘Good no way for him to track us.’ Digging through her blue book bag that was sitting next to the pile of blankets she pulled out two things of instant noodles. She made a mental note to that she was going to need to find a way to get more food. Grabbing the old griddle looking machine that she had found in the kitchen she began making their dinner. “Noodles is the best I can do for you.” She smiled up at him. “So, you’re not on some crazed mission of revenge for your dad are you?” after learning that his father had been part of the same government that was the reason she had to leave her family she couldn’t bring up much sympathy for the dead man. Though his son still seemed nice. "Well I didn't know he was part of the government." He said, and proceeded to tell her his story onto what they had done to him and why he is the way he is now." I hope you can still trust me." he said looking over at her with a small smile Well Robin had been half right; he had been an experiment of the government. Only that one point he had been a normal infected. ‘Is that what they do when they catch you?’ she thought green eyes reflecting fear. It just reinforced her desire to never ever get caught. Pushing her fear aside for the moment she looked Kory in the eyes. He wanted her to still trust him. Well it wasn’t as if he had asked to be a government toy. So she gave him the biggest smile she could muster. “Of course I still trust you. It’s not like any of that was your fault.” She blushed realizing that she had been staring at him while she processed everything. Turning to face the boiling food she slowly stirred it. “Now answer me, do you plan on taking revenge for your father?” She wasn’t so sure how she would feel about that. Sure it was his dad, but the man had worked for the government. "Not sure. I mean I don't know how to control this whole thing yet, but yet I want to. I just want be free.and with people that I like." he said thinking he was looking at the noodles, but realized her was actually looking at her the whole time. He blushed, but he wouldn't deny it, she was the cutest thing he had seen in forever, and she was on his side... first for everything, and he kinda chuckled to himself Taking the Styrofoam cups off the griddle thing she turned and handed him one a blush still dusting her cheeks. So he did want revenge, in a way at least. She could understand that she guessed. Had she been in his shoes she wasn’t sure how she would feel about the whole thing? Taking a bit of her noodles she smiled, she knew how she would feel if someone had killed her family. Thoughts of meting peoples flesh of came to her mind whenever she thought about someone hurting them. That had been her reason for leaving. “O.k., well first we need to help you learn how to control what they did to you. After that who knows what you’ll want.” She had the perfect person in mind if they were going to figure out about what had happened to him. “There’s someone I know and trust who might be able to help us with that. Tomorrow are you up for leaving this town?” She turned to give him a hopeful smile. "Yea that's fine with me... as long as I stay with you, I am good." he said not meaning his thoughts to seek out as words as well. He blushed a bit deeper, but he didn't car by now. He just wanted to eat, and get some rest. "You only got one bed?" He said kinda confused and didn't know what she was wanting to do about that, but he could sleep on the floor as well. Robin’s face was now covered red by her blush. She had completely forgotten that she had only made one bed. Looking over at eh pile of blankets she figured there was enough to split. “Oh I can move the blankets around so that it would make two beds. I don’t get cold but if you want you can take some of the blankets and move them over towards the fire.” She was trying to hide her face by not looking at him. She had never traveled with anyone before let alone a boy, she hadn’t even thought about sleeping arrangements." sorry." she mumbled, wishing she had real bed to offer him instead of a pile of blankets. "It's ok." More was looking over at the bed thing, and started moving a few blankets around separating the two. He sat on one, and looked up at her again. He was still blushing, but then he laid down. "Thanks again." he added and closed his eyes. He was soon out cold, and had no dream like always, but he was still happy to be with someone that was willing to help him out. While he was sleeping his electric power was making the whole building glow without even meaning to. Blowing out the candles Robin moved to sit down on her pile of blankets increasing her body temp to something that would keep her warm but wouldn’t cause any damage to anything else. She had been asleep for some time when a glow forced her to open her eyes. The whole room was lit up. At first, she thought that they had been found, and she moved to wake up Kory. When no sound came from outside the apartment she paused, hand hovering above his shoulder. “What is going on?” She wondered out loud looking down at the sleeping boy. Kory was laying there as soundly as possibly, but there was one thing that was odd about him, his eyes were moving around rather fast. The lights were still on bright, and if it was too much longer they would be found. Shaking his shoulder as hard as she could, She tried to wake up her new traveling partner. “Hey Kory, get up!” She wasn’t positive that he was the one lighting up the room with his eyes freaking out like they were she would say that it was a good guess. This building probably didn’t even have the power turned one anymore and if they guys who were after him knew about what he could do then it wouldn’t be long before they were found. “Wake up!” she screamed in his ear. It didn't take too much after that, but when he was yelled at he jumped up fast. The lights turned off suddenly, and he knew right then and there what was going on. He suddenly felt fear, and knew they would have to leave now. "We got to go. They are getting closer. I am sorry." he said was he jumped up grabbing the blankets he was on placing them all on one blanket, making a makeshift backpack. "I got these. We might need them. Grab your, and he can jump out the window." he said walking closer to the window and busted it out showing the next roof really close by. Throwing her backpack on over her shoulders she picked up her small duffel bag and walked over to the window. Looking at the roof she measured the distance in her head. She could make, and she hoped Kory could too. Flinging her bag onto the roof she braced her hands on either side of the window framed and pushed off. Landing in a sort of tuck and roof style she turned to face the window giving him a thumbs up. It would be early morning soon and if they were lucky they could catch a train before the hunters realized they had left town. “Let’s go.” She called out to him with a smile on her face. She was sure that three years of running for her life had morphed her sense of fun. Kory looked over at her, his pack on his back. He quickly changed his hands into hooks, and he jumped, he knew that he could make it, but it was just in case. He changed his hands back, and looked at her. "Here we go." he said as he smiled back at her and looked at the open area they could run through Making her way across the roof she found a ladder leading down to the sidewalk. Looking over the edge Robin didn’t see anyone and waved Kory over. She stated climbing down trying to remember if a train was going to be stopping in the town anytime soon. Normally she would have memorized the train schedule, but she had just here last night. Landing at the bottom she looked yup waiting for him to fallow. They needed to move fast if they were to escape without anyone even knowing they were there to start with. “Not even 24 hours, and you’re already making trouble for me.” She laughed while she tried to pretend she was irritated. Kory looked at her, seeing how she was acting, and what she had said and looked at her. "I am sorry about all this..." He said starting to feel a bit sad, knowing that what he was thinking was starting to become true. He was putting her into danger, while she would have been safer if she hadn't met him. "Are we trying to get out through train?" He's asking knowing the next one would be there in about 20 min, so they would have to wait a bit, but they could make it on time too. Robin let out a little laugh and lightly punched his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I’m an infected; I’m used to running in the middle of the night.” She gave him a gentle smile before turning to once again make sure no one was around. Grabbing his wrist she pulled him along heading for the train station. “Yep, any idea how long we'll have to wait.” The less time the better, she wasn’t even sure if they had enough money to get them on the train let alone how far they would be able to go. She knew she had enough to get her two towns over, but she wasn’t sure about Kory. Kory smiled at her little joke, and he blushed at her grabbing his wrist. "Yea next in about 20. I think. And they are machines. I can get in free." he said knowing he could get into the machine and override the control. "We will be fine, we will make it." he added assuring her It was great to have someone tell her that. She had said those words over and over again in her head, but now she had someone telling them to her. “Of course we’ll be alright, 3 years and I haven’t been caught I’m not about to break my record.” They had arrived at the train station with ten minutes to spare. Letting go of his wrist she turned locking eye confused green eyes with his. “So how are we getting on for free? What do I have to do?” If she had time to stop and think she would realize that she was putting a lot of trust into him. They had just met, but she was already trusting him to get them out of town safely "just like this." he said changing one hand into a card shape, and he slid in through the slot. He walked through, and it took as he did, and he reached across and slid his hand through again. "Ok, walk through..." he said as he watched her pass. "Told you." he said with a smile, and they headed and sat on a bench waiting for the train. Jokingly she threw her around his neck. “My Hero.” She pulled back resting against the bench. She had only managed to get a few hours sleep that night. Robin knew that she wasn’t able to fall asleep, but boy did she wish she could. Shutting her eyes she tilted her head back. “So how far do you want to go?” The person she hopped would help them lived about halfway across the country, they wouldn’t be able to make it therein one shot. Besides ridding on one train to long always got risky. Kory smiled, and thought for a second. He wasn't sure where they were going, and he didn't know much about what was outside the town. "I don't care." he said as the train rolled into the station. They both got up, and they sat down on the train just like they were on the bench. His head rested back, and started sliding down until it was slightly resting on her head. His hand was resting on his leg, and he slowly moved it toward her knee. "Thanks a lot too." he added patting her knee and moved his hand back, as he closed his eyes. Resting her head on his she let her hands fall to her side. She was almost out of it when she mumbled, “Let just get three towns away.” then yawned. She brought her legs up to curl under her and fought against the pull of the train. Furthermore, she needed to stay up in case they had been fallowed. Kory had gotten them on the train now Robin was going to make sure they stayed safe on it. Moving her right arm behind his head and ran her fingers through his silver hair. “Such an odd color.” She wondered if it was due to the experiments they had done to him. Right away he knew what she was getting at after feeling her hand through his hair. "Yea, it was a yellow blond, but after everything. It's now this way." He didn't like it, but he had nothing to do with it, and he couldn't die it any other color.no matter what it stays silver. He was just happy to be here with her. Robin continued to run her fingers through it. Her eyes were open staring out the window of the moving train. ‘Is that what will happen to me if we get caught?’ It sent a shiver through her spine just thinking about it. “I like it.” She lightly rested her head on top of his. It was true the color was different not many people had it, and even then they had had to dye theirs. Heating up her body she tried to keep them warm. It was going to be a long ride. Kory wasn't used to someone being this was about him, but he kinda liked it. He was content and glad that he was with her. Time would have been up for him by now if he was still on his own. Even thought he was never around other people often, the since of security was strong just was long as he was with her. He was fast asleep by now, but there was something different about it, his eyes were still and nothing odd was happening. Robin fought against the pulls of sleep for as long as she could. Wanting to give Kory some time to rest, she had combed her fingers through his hair till it had become soft and untangled. That had been three hours ago. They had already passed one town and since no one had asked them to show tickets, yet she figured they would wait till they passed another town before getting off. Nudging her shoulder-which had fallen asleep due to the foreign weight his head provided-she tried to wake her travelling partner. “Kory.” She whispered as she flecked her arm again, she still didn’t have feeling in it. Kory felt the light nudge, and he slow opened his eye. "Uhh?" He managed to grunt out, thinking they were there already. He sat up slowly as well, still seeing the train was still in motion. "What's up?" He asked quietly. Rubbing her tired eyes she gave him a light smile. " My arm was falling asleep, and I was wondering if you wanted to get off at the next town." They were a significant distance away from the other town, and Robin was getting nervous ridding on the train for so long. Normally she would just use it when she had to make a really quick getaway. "Oh. Soryy about that." he said sitting up the rest of the way and stretching a bit. "Yea that sounds good... don't want be sitting ducks if you know what I mean." he said as he looked over at her. "Besides you must be tired, and need sleep. We will find you a place." he said with a soft smile as he looked into her sleepy eyes. Standing up when the train finally came to a stop Robin stretched before grabbing her two bags. Her arm was slowly regaining the feeling in it. If she was right about where they were this should be a small fishing town next to some river." It's cool, we have to make sure the town is clear before we settle down anywhere. Don't worry about me, I'm built like an ox." Clenching her first she threw him a childish smile. It was true that she was almost dead tired, but she had run on less sleep before. "We will look quick, make sure it's clear. Then you are going to get some sleep" He said with no chance to argue, he then walked out of the train as the doors opened. He was not taking no for an answer from her. He was sobered, but only because her was right this one time, he could see it in her eyes. Before getting to far from her, he turned around and offered her his hand with a small smile, and blushing a bit as well. Robin stuck her tongue out at him in mock anger, but a soft smile soon replaced it. It had been a long time since anyone had bothered to care about her well-being. She was already starting to enjoy having another person to travel with. As she stepped of the train she took hold of his out stretched hand. " I have a little bit of money and this town is small enough that I'm sure a hunter wouldn't bother stopping, should we try to get a room in a motel or something?" More than she wanted to sleep she wanted a bath, a nice hot one. She had been bathing in rivers for the past week. He held onto her had, and he just looked at her again. "Who says we would have to pay?" He said thinking she must have forgotten that he could get into any room without having to pay for anything. "You forget I can open anything?" he finally said with a small smile again, as they started walking out of the station. That was right, she must have been a lot more tired than she thought she was. Now she could have the money to buy food. Great they were going to get a place to stay and food. She was looking at everything but their joined hands. She had never really had that much interaction with boys before.Other than the occasional stranger she would talk to, or motel clerk, she didn't really have much interaction with a lot of people. " I forgot, sorry." she wasn't even sure in which direction they were going. Robin was just going to let him led till they found a place to stay. Holding her hand they walked down one of the streets, and Kory looked one way and seen a motel sign. "Let's go there." he said pointing with his other hand. They trued, and walked down toward the motel, and once there he open a door to a room, that was the farthest from the office. He walked into the room after her, and he shut the door too. "Go figure, my luck was good...one bed again." he said looking down and blushing. Robin stared at the bed for all of five seconds before her body felt like it was going to crash. Dropping her bags on the floor next to the door she walked over and fell face first on the bed. Whatever maid service this place had had just stopped by. The blankets smelled like they had just gotten out of a dryer. Moving so that her head was resting on the pillows she smiled over at Kory. " Thank you." She whispered before her body gave out, and she fell asleep not even bothering to notice the lack of another bed. Kory smiled at her, and watched her drift off to sleep. He picked up her bags and placed them beside the one chair that was in the room. He walked slowly toward the bathroom, and quietly got into the shower. Furthermore, he hadn't had once in a while, but it felt good. The shower steam filled up the bathroom, and he got out putting on the same clothes. Walking back to the bed, he thought about laying down as well, but sighed and actually did lay down. He was over close to the edge, but he was still on the bed keeping to himself, not wanting her to freak if she woke up seeing him there. The sun was barely hanging in the sky when Robin woke up. Turning over to see where Kory had gone she almost umped out of her skin. There he was laying in the same bed as her. She may not have a lot about traveling with a boy, but she knew you did not do that. Getting ready to yell at him, she noticed that there was only one bed in the room. Her mouth closed till she caught how close to the edge he was. Crawling out of bed she tried and push him into the middles. I was now time for the shower she had been looking forward to. Deciding to take her time she stood under the water for at least thirty minutes. He felt something move him, but he was still to gone to do or say anything, but he knew she must have waked up. Surprised she didn't scream, he fell back to sleep. Not knowing what time it was when he finally woke up, he sat up and looked around, seeing that she was nowhere to be seen, but he had heard the water going still so he knew she was still around. He got up seeing the sun was up, and he knew that they would have to probably be moving again today. Turning the water off Robin dried her black hair with one of the motels towels. She had changed into a pair of black cargo shorts and a bright blue tank top. Braiding her slightly damp hair into two braids that laid across her shoulders she walked out of the bathroom to see Kory up." Morning sleepy head. Since you got us the room breakfast will be on me." She chirped out with a bright smile, it was a wonder what a good shower could do to someone's mood. Lacing up her combat boots. She looked up at him blushing at the thought that they had just slept in the same beds. "Sorry about last night." he said putting his shoes on as well. He didn't really know what she was thinking about it, but he knew he probably should have slept on the floor. He was kinda happy that he did what he did, but still didn't want her mad at him. Furthermore, he stood up, grabbing the bags once again. "And what might be for breakfast then?" He asked with a small smile toward her. Thinking about it, she tried to recall what this place had. She had been by here maybe a year or two ago. " If I remember correctly there should be a perfect restaurant down by the docks that was cheap." She grabbed her own bags and opened the front door. That was the only good thing about paying for a place was that when you left you didn't have to carry everything with you. But at least now they would get food and a place to sleep. " I was thinking of stay at least one or two days. It's small enough that I'm sure hunters overlook it. "Ok.sounds good" he said as he followed her out of the room. The more he was with her the closer he thought he was getting to he as a friend. "You think we can walk around and she what there is around here after we eat?" He smiled at her again. He was thinking about his feelings, and he wasn't sure what he was really feeling, but he was just glad he chose to take the path he was taking with her, but he didn't want to push his luck too much, and get her to hate him for it. She pretended to think about it before tilting her head back to face him. " Sure we can, I haven't been here in a long time, so I'm sure there are some cool new stores." It was a nice day outside so a lot of people were walking around the sidewalks and coming in and out of stores. It was only a ten-minute walk from the motel to the quiet little restaurant that overlook the river. Once they had entered a perky blond directed them to a table and took their drink orders. " So what are you getting." Robin was excited this was going to be her first real meal in a long time, she had been surviving off of instant noodle for far to long. "I don't know." He said looking through the menu. He looked at her, and kinda lost his concentration. Furthermore, he just couldn't stop looking at her, he had only seen her in the dark, or dim light and through that he thought she was cute. Furthermore, he didn't realize that she was cuter than what he thought in the daylight. Furthermore, he was so lost in thought, he didn't realize his hand was melding with the mettle table. Green eyes widened before she threw her menu over his hand. Scanning the crowd she let out a sigh of relief that no one was paying them any attention. Leaning over the table to whisper in his her. "Be careful with that." she tilted her head down to the menu that was resting on his hand. The town was really nice, and she had been looking forward to staying in it for at least a day. They didn't need anyone catching on that they were infected. Pulling back she tried to act as if nothing had happened, for the sake of anyone listening in. "You should get the pancakes they're perfect." Realizing what he did, he pulled his hand back out and looked at her. "Sorry again. I have to keep control of myself." He looked down at the menu again, and nodded "The pancakes sound good. Thanks" he smiled and shook his head and sighed. He knew he would have to stop losing control like that otherwise they really be in trouble. He was the one that was making things harder for them. As the blond waitress came back to take their orders Robin wondered what it was like to be a normal person with a normal job. Looking back up at Kory though she decided that being normal was way overrated. " You know if you overlook the being chased down, we are pretty lucky." she was just full of smiles today. She had always been a fairly happy kid, but for some reason not having to travel alone was just making her all the more giddy. " I'm glad we teamed up Kory." "Yea me too." he said looking at her with a smile. "I don't think I would have made it out of the last town without you there to get me up." he said chuckling a bit as well. "You know more of me and my past... but might I ask about you and why were you alone before joining with me?" He asked, and he was just trying to know her more, and to understand her a bit. He knew she shouldn't be alone, and was glad she found him. Robin stared down at the table tracing patterns along the wood. More about her past, she guessed it was only fair, since she did know about his an all. " Well I lived with my mom dad and little sister till I was about eleven or so. I had been taught to keep my...talents hidden. But there was an accident one day and well like all accidents someone got hurt. It was impossible for me to stay with them after that." Her smile mellowed out when she thought about that incident. " The man I'm taking you to, he found me and took care of me for a couple of years. Since I knew it was risky for me to stay with him for too long I packed up and left one night without telling him. I have been traveling on my own since. I stop by sometimes so that he knows I'm still alive." Staring out the window she thought about the bar she had called home for two years. It was going to be great seeing the look on everyone's face when she came walking in with Kory. "Well I am sorry to hear that. And sorry for asking." he said looking at her, then he looked down. He felt bad for bringing the bad feeling back to her thoughts. He was starting to get mad with himself for it, 'why did I ask such a touchy question... I should have known this would have happened.' "I will be back." he said as he got up and headed toward where the bathroom sigh was. After a while he came back, his face as red, but it wasn't from blushing this time. Robin tried to tell him that it was o.k. since it was something had had already happened and there was no use being upset about it. He had already walked off. Sighing to herself she wondered how long it would take for them to reach Riley's bar. He lived on one of the southern islands about half the countries length away. ' Two to three months I guess.' she had a feeling he was going to be pretty pissed when he found out she was traveling with a boy not much older than herself. Thanking the waitress when she brought the food out, she started laughing to her self already hearing her self-appointed guardian yelling about how inappropriate it was, and all the things he was going to do to the boy. Turning to see Kory she got a puzzled look on her face." why is your face all red?" She was already back in her chipper mode. It took a lot to bring the 16-year-old down and keep her there. "Never mind." he said sitting down and looking at the food in front of him. After all that he wasn't too hungry, but he had to try and eat something. He knew he probably overreacted at the whole situation, and whipped his face again. He sighed and looked up at her. "I am sorry for all of this, bring you into my wave of danger, and my uncontrollable emotions." he said, and now he was being honest. "I am just saying... if anything wrong happens. I will leave you so you are safer." he said quickly looking down again, as more tears started rolling, and hitting the table beside his plate. Reaching over she grabbed his hand. " Don't worry about me, if I need to I can make my skin hot enough that it will melt metal. I'm untouchable" she tried comforting him the best way she could. She had never had to do something like that. No one had ever openly showed they were worried they were going to get her hurt. "Wouldn't I be in more danger if you just up and left me alone. You know... I'd go looking for you." She pulled her hand away and smiled at him. She didn't like seeing him upset, so she decided a joke was in order. " Besides I'm the one taking you to Riley after you have been traveling alone with me. I might be putting you in more danger." It was a lame joke, but she just wanted him to smile. "Any things better than dying." he said trying to stop crying, he didn't like doing it, but he just couldn't help himself. He looked at her, his face still red, and again he didn't care. She was the only one beside his father that actually cared as well. "I just don't want be the reason for you getting into trouble... I want you safe, but all the hunters are after me." he added with lots of concern. Slamming her hand down on the table she looked at him with determinant shinning in her eyes. She whispered/ hissed at him" Are we dead yet? Is there a group of hunters breathing down our necks right now? No" Sitting up straight she kept her face black as she stared at him. Life was bad, but she knew that you couldn't go worrying about it all the time, or you would be a sitting duck. If you wanted to live in this day and age you had to be ready for anything all the time. Speaking in a normal tone she stated "If we are in a situation that becomes dangerous then we will just have to use any means necessary to get out of it. It's not like my life was danger free before you. You just have a different kind of danger, I like to think of it as moving up a level.' she then took a bite of her French toast. She didn't want him to feel responsible for her, she was able to hold her own. He looked at her and knew she was right. He couldn't worry all the time, and she would have been in danger without him. "Never looked at it that way, and I am sorry... I am glad you are her, and thanks for looking out for me, because I don't know where I would be without you." He said and ate some more of his pancakes. He was feeling better, and slightly smiled at her. Furthermore, he could see that she had a better outlook at things than he did, but he could learn something from her. Going back to her happy smile she ate more of the food on her plate. It was perfect, she had missed eating like this. ' Huh I'm going to need more money in the future.' She was glade that he wasn't talking about how it was his fault anymore. Everything happened because it was supposed to. She was meant to be on that roof a that time. Had it been anyone else they might have left him. "So what do you want to see first? The river or the shops in town?" "You can pick." he said with a smile, he would be happy either way because he would be with her. He was about done eating the pancakes, and he was hungrier than he thought. The food was soon gone, and he knew that she would be out of money soon if they keep eating like that. He would think of something to do to get them some money, but he couldn't let her know about it. Her face broke into a huge grin "The river it is." she had always loved being near to the water. Finishing off her breakfast she waved the waitress over and paid for the meal. Grabbing his arm she pulled Kory out the door and headed for the bank of the water. It was the prefect day to hang around any body of water, it was sunny but not too hot and there was a nice breeze. Dropping her self down close to the bank Robin quickly this carded her shoes and socks before she stuck her feet into the cool water. Giggling like a child she threw herself back so that she could stare up at the clouds. "Days like this make me miss the island." "What island?" He asked as he slowly did the same as her, and laid down beside her on the bank, with his feet in the water. The sun was shining down upon them, and he looked over at her. He was softly smiling at her, still glad to be with her. She was the only girl that he has hung out with this much, let alone one of the nicest ones that he has ever met as well. If she closed her eyes she could bring up the smell of the slat water in the air. There was very little clean ocean water left in the world so it was a smell she associated with home. " Riley lives on an island." was all she said. The sun danced across her face and brought a soft smile out. It wasn't one of her big giddy one but one of contentment. If she had been a normal girl she would probably be skipping school right now to go play on the beach. Thinking about it that was what she was doing. Sure this wasn't a beach, and she had never been to school-she had been homeschooled by her mother then by one of the waitress at the bar- but she was here by the water with a friend. " You know you could almost forget how different we are from other people." It was a half-truth, it would be dangerous to get to comfortable. "I wouldn't say that. But I bet you could." he said with a small smile as he looked over at her. There was way too much different with him for him to feel half normal. With a small sigh, he sat up, and grabbed his shoes. "Wana walk?" He asked still looking down at her, and her cute face that just glistened in the sunlight. Robin propped her self up on her arms, feet still in the water. A walk would be nice after eating something thick like French toast. Pulling her feet out of the river as slow as she could, she put her shoes back on. At time, she wished she owned something other than her pair of combat boots, but they were practical for her life. " Sure, we can see the rest of the town.' she stood up and stretched her arms over her head. He smiled, and step tout of the water as well. He didn't care if he had his shoes on of not, because his feet are as hard as steel. Furthermore, he sighed as that started walking back up toward the road. "Have you ever wondered where we would be if we were normal?" He asked, not meaning it to be a rather odd question. Be he was just serious, would they have ever met if they were normal? He had read her mind. Those being the thoughts that had plagued her not only 5 minutes ago." I guess I would be in school right now, or skipping it. I wouldn't have met Riley, and I might not have met you. Life would be pretty boring I'm guessing." Pulling him over to the window of one of the shops she stared at the different things in side. It was possibly ingrained into their genes for girl to love shopping no matter who they were. Being pulled he just smiled, he was just happy that she had run into him and that they have met. He was happy to be shopping with her, even though they still needed more money. He spotted an atm down the road and his thoughts happened right then and there. Furthermore, he would hack the system and get money, but he would do that right before they left. " What about you? What would you be doing now?" Her mind was half focused on the conversation, mostly she was starring at the items of cloths in the window. Not even realizing that she was dragging him everywhere she moved toward the door. It wouldn't hurt to just try something on. Besides, it made her feel normal. "Not sure really//" he said s he just followed her. He didn't mind being dragged around, he was starting to kinda like it, so he just smiled. He lost his thought about the money and focused more on just her again Letting go of his hand she picked up a baby blue summer dress. It was cute, and she really wanted to see what it would look like on her. She could always work at the bar once they got to the island, it was how she normally earned money. Looking up to meet Kory's eyes she smiled. " I'm going to go try this on, so stand near the door so you can tell me what you think." Walking into the small stall she quickly changed and studied herself. The rest ended about three inches above her knee and clung to her upper body flaring at the waist. The straps where tiny and white that connected to the neck line. Opening the door she did a little spin for him. "So what do you think." "Look cute ." he said returning a smile as well, he was liking her more and more so, he didn't have to make up a corny lie. In face, she really did look cute in the dress. He didn't realize his face was turning red again at looking at her. Now wishing he had gotten the money and all. Shutting the door once again Robin changed back into her normal outfit. It was a really cute dress, and she would have to remember to get one in that style when they made it to Riley's. Walking out of the dressing room she figured she had dragged him along to too many girl things. "So what do you want to do now?" All the talk about the island and home made her want to hit up a grocery store then start heading south. But she had mentioned stay for a few days, and she shouldn't just go changing the plans on him now. "As I had said before. As long as I am with you, I am happy and I don't care what we do." he stated with a soft smile at her, and he was just speaking the truth. It didn't bother him by being drug to girly things, he was one of the guys that it didn't matter and thought more guys should just do what their girl wants even if its doing something girlie. Figuring it was o.k. to ask since they really did need to have him get control she looked up at him. "Since we are in a town near a body of water I was...well do you want to head out?" it was o.k. with her if they stayed, it was always nice to take a break, but she just didn't know how long that break would last. The sooner they got to the island the safer they would be. " It'll take about two months to get there but if we caught a ride on a boat we might make it there in less." "That sounds good." he said thinking of how he could get the money without her yelling at him for theft. "We need money.right?" He asked looking at her as he spoke softly. "What if I could get us some, but it might not be too legal.?" he thought to ask instead of just doing. He wasn't sure how she would react, but he didn't want her mad at him for thinking this way. Gaining money illegally wasn't something she was too against it just depended on how illegal the act was. She had been forced to pick pocket to get by and once or twice, though she would deny it, had even dragged some guy had was being a jerk to someone off into tan alley and beat him till he handed over money. So illegal wasn't something she cared about too much." How illegal are we talking?" "ATM." he said looking her straight in the eyes. "I mean I might not ever be back here so if they get my face, it's ok. Since we would be leaving now and all." he stated as the thought was still running in his head either or not to actually do it. It was kind of like pick pocketing a lot of people at once. And he did have a point they would probably never be back here. "o.k. but don't take too much. They might just put you on a country wide watch, and we can't have that," she reached up and lightly tugged a strand of silver hair. " You don't exactly blend in." she teased. Looking over at the men preparing their boat to leave the dock, she got an idea. " Listen you go get the money, and I'll get us the ride." she gave him a light wave and headed over to the sailors. "Ok, and i won't get too much." he said as she walked away. He got the atm, and got 500 out, and he hurried back to the store, and he bought the dress that she had on. It looked like he just ran there to get the amount needed so it didn't look too obvious. He got it wrapped, and he carried in under his arm as he walked over to where she was. Standing waiting for he, he just smiled looking at her. Lightly tugging on the sleeve of one crewman's shirt Robin lightly pouted her lips and made her eyes look wide and innocent. " Excuse me sir." She twirled the end of one of her braids in between her fingers. " Me and my brother could really need to get south of here, and well... I was hoping that your boat would be able to give us a ride." She kept her hand resting on his arm and threw the best flirty smile in his direction. In three years she had learned that men were suckers for a pretty face and a little attention. When the sailor gave a shaky nod as threw her arms around him. " oh, thank you. Let me just go tell my brother." turning she looked at Kory and mocked gagged then giggled. Grabbing a hold of his hand she smiled. "You boys are too easy...oh and while we are on the boat you are my brother got it." The story had to stay straight. "I know sis." he said with a small chuckle and a soft smile to her. He followed as she pulled him onto the boat. "You think dad will be surprised when he sees us?" He's asking meaning the guy that they were going to see. He still kept the wrapped box by his side, not wanting her to have it right away, and they still have over 450 left so he had that stashed in his wallet. "I'm sure he will. We weren't expected back for another couple of months now." It was true he would be surprise, just not by them showing up. The surprise would come from Robin showing up with another person, a guy nonetheless. Smiling over at the sailor who let them one she mouthed 'thank you.' She was going to have to be nice to that guy till they got further down south. Sometimes she liked just using force better. "Well that's good at least right?" He said with another chuckle. He lent over to her and whispered in her. "I got you something, but since I am your brother you don't get it until we get away from they guys." he aids softly, and backed away. A big smile now over his face. She might have gotten them a ride, but she messed up and now would have to wait till she got it, and that made his smile, and kinda happy that she now has to deal with suspense. Robin pouted up at him. Why did he have to go tell her she really didn't like surprises much? 'Wait.when did he have the time?' Taking a seat at the front of the boat she looked out into the river that would soon become the sea. It had been the least half a year since she had been home, she was just bursting at the seems with excitement. She was also filled with doubt, though she knew that it was an 905 chance Riley knew what had happened to Kory and how to teach him control she wasn't even that sure he would help the boy. Riley didn't like getting involved with things that involved the infected. She had been a special case and even then all he did was give her a place to live and work. Kory sat beside her, and looked out as well for a bit, then he looked at her. "Here." he said offering her the silver wrapped box. "I got it for you, and I know you will like it." he said with a smile, knowing that he could make her wait the whole time, he wasn't that mean, especially to a girl that he liked. Robin gave a little squeal of joy as she opened the box. Looking inside she gaped as she saw the dress she had tried on at the store. She covered her mouth and stared up at him with wide happy eyes. " Thank you." she threw she arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Suddenly remembering that they were' brother and sister.' she removed her arms. " Oh you are the best brother in the world." she called out giving him a little wink. "You know I try." he said smiling back at her. He was glad she did like it. It showed that he was looking out for her, and he knew she wanted it but didn't have the money for it at the time, and he didn't think that she would miss him running back in there anyway. He turned and was looking out over the water once again. It was a great sight, one of the best he was ever seen. He was being so nice, 'I'll make Riley help him even if I have to melt off his arm.' she swore. Counting the days out on her fingers she figured that the boat would take them halfway before dumping then off on the coast. Most boats didn't risk going out in to the ocean, they stuck to large lakes and rivers. She knew that there was one boat that would make trips to the islands off the coast. It only sailed out once a month though. If she was right they would just make it in time, if the weather stayed good. Kory rubbed his eyes, he was starting to get tired, even though it wasn't too far into the day, but there was nothing that they could really do now anyway. He looked at her, and smiled again. "You know sis... I am still glad that you found me again. I would have missed being with you." he added hoping she got what he was getting at. Patting his hand lightly she made sure none of the others on the boat were watching them and lend in to whisper in his ear," I'm glad too.' she nervously gave him a small kiss on the cheek," thank you for the dress." She got up to ask one of the men where they would be sleeping. He turned toward the front of the boat once she had gotten up, so he could hide the deep blush that she had placed on his face. He was kinda re-leaved that she might be feeling the same way as he was toward her. Furthermore, he smiled at nothing, and waited for her to come back. They were once again staying in the same room, this time though there were two cots. No one saw the problem with a brother and sister sharing a room, but not a bed. It made her feel a little more comfortable. ' I shouldn't have kissed him.' she reprimanded her self. It had been impulse. She was currently sitting with some of the crew while they tried to wow her with stories of their travels. She had somehow been roped into listening. Robin wasn't she could handle facing Kory at the moment anyway. " So, little miss where are you and your bro heading to?" one of the boy's he looked a little older than Kory but not by much, asked. "Island 6." no one had bothered to name the chunks of floating land. He could tell something was wrong, just by how she glanced at him every once in a while. 'What did I do now?' he thought to him self. Sitting on the bench, he curled his legs up and wrapped his arms around them. Looking out he just thought, and let the breeze hit his face as the boat moved. Robin sent another look over in Kory's direction and blushed. She really shouldn't have kissed him. He had enough on his mind already without her adding to it. One of the boy's - the one who had asked here where they were going-slung his arm around her shoulder. "So what's eating your big bro?" She leaned as far from his as she could. " I don't know." She had an idea though. She was really stupid sometimes. He knew he was the problem, and she assured him that she was glad that they have had met. But he was just thinking that it might only get worse if he kept getting close to her like that, but he couldn't get her out of his thoughts. Many things were passing through, but she was the main thing that was keeping him together, without her, he doesn't know what he would do now. She knew she needed to get away from the boy, he was invaded her bubble and if she got to irritated at him her temperature would start to go up. They did not need to get caught now. Casting a glance over at Kory she mentally apologized. " Hey Kory, come over here and listen to some of the things these guys have seen." She sent him a pleading looking begging him with her green eyes to come and save her. He sighed and got up walking over to the group of people and stood there, not beside her but on the other side of the main guy talking. He didn't say much but looked from the guy to her, then back again. Furthermore, he knew what she wanted him there for, and he understood that, but he still thought she was upset at him about something, so he really didn't talk at all, he just listened. Yep, he was mad at her, his silence was an answer enough for her. Robin fought back the depressed look on her face. She would just play it off, act as if it was just a gesture nothing behind it. She didn't want to ruin the friendship they had built. Standing up she smiled boy at the sailor then at Kory. "I think I want to check out the room, see you at dinner." She turned and walked away a frown on her face. He stood there listening to the guys' story, and he politely excused himself, and walked down to the room as well, knocking before walking in. "Sorry if I did anything wrong." he said looking at her, he was slightly hurt inside, but he still wanted her to know he cared, and wasn't mad at her at all. "That guy just never shuts up." he added and sat on one of the cots. "There anything I can do to make it up to you?" He asked wanting things back the way they were, because things went bad after the little kiss, but he liked it. Robin laid on the cot farthest from the door. She placed a huge smile on her face and laughed at his joke about the guy. "Yep he sure wanted to sound impressive. Bet he would have wet himself if you turned your arm into a sword." He wanted to make up for what he did... he hadn't down anything she had been the one to cross the line. " What are you talking about sill, you didn't do anything." "Well after the kiss on the cheek, you acted differently, and I thought I was the problem. If the kiss was the problem I thank you, Because without you, I don't think I would have made it this far. Let alone still be alive. The more I am with you, I like you more and more, in my case it's a good thing...you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and i don't know what would happen if things were not what they were now." he said not meaning to spill what his heart was feeling, but she better know. He liked being around her and if getting attached is what was happening, he kinda liked it. She didn't move, she barely let herself breath. ' Did he just...' Did he mean that he wasn't mad about the kiss? She was starting to let herself hope. ' He's being nice.' the voice in her mind cooed at her. He had been nothing but nice since they met. What if he says that it upset her and was trying to make her happy again. " Don't...worry about it. It was..." She paused trying to find the right word," just a thank you." She shut her eyes trying to hide the lie. He didn't know how to do this of what she would think as well, but he was really meaning it and to him there was only one way. He got up and walked over by her and sat beside her. "I really mean it... not to just make you happy, well I would hope it would make you happy, but that's not the reason..." he said babbling and gaining the enough guts to do what came next. He lent over and kissed her forehead. "I mean every word. And I think I am less falling for you." he added letting this thoughts travel out in his words. Her eyes shot open at the feel of his lips on her forehead. She stared at him unblinking a look of shock on her face. She was trying to find words, she was sure she needed to say something after that. But she was speechless. Words weren't even forming in her mind. Was she happy, yeah, was she scared, She would rather be surrounded by hunters. At least then she would know how to react. "They...thanks...you?" She mentally slammed her head against the wall. ' That's the best you can do!' she wanted to disown her self. "Welcome." He said and got back up walking back to his cot, and laid back down. He was glad he had poured out his heart to her. Furthermore, he didn't know how she would react besides the thanks, he figured she didn't expect it at all, and he threw her off guard. Furthermore, he was staring up at the ceiling not sure what was next, and he drew a blank besides still waning to be beside her. Robin stayed there on the cot staring blackly up at the ceiling for she didn't know how long. She was to busy trying to sort out her thought to care about the passage of time. At first, she had just wanted a hole to open up and swallow her, then she had even considered making that hole herself- but thought better of it since then the boat would sink. Now she wasn't sure what she wanted. Turning her head to face him she studied him, then went back to looking at the ceiling. " I, I like you too, a little I guess." She had never liked anyone before but from what she ha picked up from drunks at the bar you wanted to be around them, and you wanted them to be happy, but you also wanted them to have the same feelings you had. HSE had all of those things for Kory. He looked up staring at the ceiling for a while, and looked at her when she spoke. "Well a little is better than none." he said and turned to look back up. After a bit he drifted off to sleep. He just hoped that him speaking out like that didn't hurt any if very little chance of ever getting to be with her. He would be much happier that way, but yet he didn't want to push her, so he would back off and see what happens from there. She had an inkling suspicion that that wasn't what he thought he was going to hear. That was the best she could do to understand her feeling right now. Sitting up she decided that she needed a walk. Walking over to the door she mumbled a goodbye then headed out for the top deck. The sky was getting darker and if you looked to the horizon it looked like the sky was burning with oranges and pinks. She gave a depressed sigh till she heard music coming for m the other side of the boat. After time passed, he had still been sleeping. He was worn out, let alone he let his hear ware out to, by finally letting her know how he felt. The boat was rocking back and forth ever so softly, and it was soothing to him. He didn't hear her say bye, so he still thought she was there, but it didn't matter too much anyway. Walking towards the sound she saw that most of the crew had gathered on the back deck. Everyone was laughing and clapping. This had been what life was like on the island. No one worried about hunters or problems. This was another reason she was taking Kory to the island, so that he could know that the whole world wasn't out to get people like them. ' But most of it is.' that same annoying voice, that sounded like hers but was far too pessimistic. Turning around she ran back to the room. She might not be able to tell him that she liked him yet, but she wasn't going to let him be all mopey. Not even bothering to register that he was a sleep she bound in to the room and jumped on the cot half landing on him." Kory wakes up, they're playing music on the deck. Come listen with me." She liked it better when she could just be her happy carefree self. Kory jumped scared as if the boat was sinking, he noticed she was smiling beside him, and he smiled back. "Sure." HE said getting and happy that she was happy, but he didn't know if it was a cover-up or not. He followed her to the back of the boat, and he stood there listening. Robin pulled her hair out of their braids so that he black hair feel to her mid-back in waves. Standing on the deck beside Kory she began clapping to the beat and doing little spins every now and then her arms stretched out above her head. She had a huge smile on her face and her little twirls turned into to a bouncing kind of dance. Her eyes sparkled with laughter as some of the men began dancing also. Nothing big just bounces and twirls, and lots of clapping. It made her home sick in that way that didn't bring you down just made you remember. Kory laughed a bit at why she was dancing, but joined her after a bit. He didn't care what people would have thought, but everyone else was dancing, so why shouldn't he. He wasn't much of the dancing type, he kinda just flailed around enough to make it look good. The time he was beside her, well it felt like it stood still, but sure enough it was still moving and he yawned again. He might have been sleeping before, but because of all the moving around that they have done, he was really beet. Robin was having such a great time, and she had noticed that Kory had started dancing with them. If she closed her eyes she could recreate the image of dancing in the bar after closing. Getting on Riley's never by turning the music to way to loud and talking with the staff. Finally calming down she caught how tired Kory looked. Taking his hand she called to the others. " Well I'm going to take him to the room, I'll be out to pick up our dinners. Thanks for the dance." Pulling him behind her, she let a soft smile touch her lips. "Thank you for dancing with me." After dancing for a while, he was getting happy again. He was pulling close behind her, which threw him off, but he still smiled. Hearing what she said he lent in and whispered. "Your very welcome.... any time." he said with a big smile on his face. He was just glad that she had offered him the chance to just have fun with, but how they were now was the biggest surprise to him, and he liked it. "You looked tired, and I didn't want to stay up there by my self. If one them got too grabby I would have melted his face off." She frowned, the flirting wasn't getting on her never as much as the touching, One or two of them always found a reason to touch her. Now she just wanted to relax in their room, glade any awkwardness had been left behind. "Yea I am a bit, and you don't want do that. At least wait till we get there." he said with a chuckle, and he turned and headed toward their room again. Once inside he sat on the one he was laying on before, and rested his back against the wall of the boat. He didn't know what would go on from now on between them, but he just hoped for the best. ((sorry about the odd hours and not being on very much it's exam week starting Monday.)) Throwing her self onto her bed she rolled over on her stomach and stared at Kory. "Where did you live with your dad?" he had told her that his father had been with the government and what had happened to him. But he never said anything about where if lived. Where was his home. (it's ok.I understand that)"well we lived in Galley, which was about 8 hours away from where you found me, that was also where they took me after I got cough an again." he said as he looked at her. "But I was all over the place between then." he added with a small sigh, and sadness lurking into his eyes. But he was still glad he wasn't alone anymore. "My father was the one only person I cared for..." He said "until now..." he added very softly, as he looked down. Kicking her feet absently through the air She wrestled with herself on if she should ask what she really wanted to know.' what was it like.' he had told here that they had experimented on him, but that was all. That vague statement that left her wondering. The only thing stopping her was that she knew it would be too painful for him, so she changed the subject in her mind." what was it like living in Galley?" "The main memories are of the experiment." He said looking back at her (if you have seen the 3ed x-man...let's use how wolverine was created.lol.makes that easier) "But being with my dad, it was great, he didn't care that I was infected, and I soon figured why, and he helped me control it, until they made it stronger." he added. He was able to control only a very small percentage now, as high as 5%, enough to light a room, but not too bright. Sighing he looked at her again. "He made me feel like someone cared for me, just like you do." He said with a small smile. Tiling her head she studied him for a while. " Well I do care for you, so I would hope you felt like that." she gave him a teasing smile. She understood what he meant, even when she had lived with her family they were still cautious around her, and it was more like the ignored it then understood. After the accident she had started to believe that she was always going to be alone. She owed a lot of her current personality to Riley, he had made her strong. " I understand that, being with someone who doesn't treat you differently. Who loves you because you are you. It feels warm." Her eyes went distant for a second her mind going over how much she missed her surrogate father. Then they brightened," you are going to love Island 6, everyone is really nice, and the bar always has something fun happening." The warm feeling was starting to form once again, and it wasn't because of them talking about his father. He started to feel that way because of her, she was the one that has put his head up. Making him want to move on and not blame everything on himself. "Well as long as you will stay around me, I think I might like it a bit more." he added still showing his feelings toward her, he wasn't too afraid anymore because he spilled his heart out to her already. Robins face was covered in a light blush as she turned her head away. She wasn't used to someone being so open about their feelings for her. " Well Until you start training with Riley... I'll um. I'll stay by your side and make sure you have the best time." She could already picture taking him to her favorite spots on the island. He would need it after Riley's training. The man liked to push all of your emotional buttons so that you could learn control under any situation. "That would be great." he said looking at her with a smile. He didn't know what she was getting him into, but emotions are one thing that might get in his way, unless he can find something to get his mind off of it and focus. Rolling over on to her back Robin stretched out her arms palms facing the ceiling. "He's tough, and at times you might end up cursing me for bringing you too him. Just try to keep in mind that it's worth it.after...the accident his training was the only thing that helped me." There was no expression on her face. She just stared blankly up at the ceiling. "I would have killed a lot of people and already been caught if it wasn't for him." She hadn't even realized she had spoken. "He looked over at her. "Well I am glad he thought you that, because we don't want more killed than needed, and i don't want you cough." he said as he was still just sitting there looking at her. If she would ever get cough now, he would risk everything to get her back in one piece. There it was again that nagging question in the back of her mind. She figured if she knew then it wouldn't be as scary if the off chance she did get caught. Turning her head to meet his eyes she stared at him for a few seconds. When she finally did open her mouth to say something the words just wouldn't come. So she settled for smiling at him instead. "I won't let you get caught either. ' His smile was still there but a little weak. He sighed and laid down on his cot. "Well I am glad for that." he said resting his head on the pillow again. He was facing her this time, and he slowly closed his eyes. She watched as he fell asleep smiling to herself. Figuring that she might as well do the same she got up and turned to light off. Feeling her way around the room she made it back to her cot. Pulling the blankets back she let her self relax into sleep. After sleeping for an hour though her body twitched, and she let out little whimpers rolling around on her bed. Robin shot straight up frantically looking around the room then down at her arms. It was dark, but she could still tell that she wasn't holding anything. " A dream." she let out a little whisper turning to face Kory's sleeping form. Crawling silently out of bed she moved over to his cot and stared at him. It was just a dream. Swallowing hard and not wanting to be alone she pulled the covers back and crawled into the cot with him. He was sound asleep. Almost any little noise or movement would wake him up, but that was not the case for tonight. His thoughts were content, and his powers were under control for once. It seemed the more uneasy he is, the more they act out, but if he understands his thoughts and is ok with the outcome he is more calm. He didn't hear her during the night or feel her climb in with him, he was asleep, and just stayed where he was. The light rocking of the boat kept her in a calm dreamless sleep. Robin snuggled closer to a large source if heat her hand wrapping its self around the back of his shirt. Her face was buried in between his shoulder blades a contented smile resting on her lips. Robin was half aware that she was next to something larger than her and very warm, but that was as far as her sleeping mind would travel. Kory this time felt the movement, and slowly opened his eyes, and looked forward. Not seeing her in the cot in front of him, and feeling something behind him made him smile. He now knew where she was, but he didn't bother her at all and just closed his eyes again. Falling back to sleep he was wondering how she would react after waking up and noticing what she was doing. Green eyes slowly opened gazing at the shirt her hand was clinging to. She shoots up and stared wide-eyed at Kory's back. ' Why...why am I in the same bed as...' last nights dream slowly came back to her. Robin tired, and failed, to crawl out of bed without making any noise. She only succeeded in getting tangled in the sheets and falling on the floor. Her face was red from embarrassment. Hearing a thud, Kory jumped up, and looked down seeing her down there. "are you ok?" He asked with a puzzled grin. He chuckled inside knowing that, that was the reaction he was waiting for. "And why are you in my covers? Not like there would be a problem or anything..." he said as he stood up and started helping her to her feet, and get untangled. ((I finished all of my exams...freedom!!!)) Robin kept her face down staring at the floor tying to will her embarrassment away. It wasn't working." i...um... I had a bad dream." she felt like a stupid little kid. But she did feel better knowing that someone else was there instead of being alone. Normally she wouldn't have ever been able to get any sleep after that dream. "Well I am glad I am here for you." he said with a small smile after he got her free. He placed the blankets down on the cot and turned back to her. "Would rather you feel safe, then not get any sleep at all." he added as he stretched a bit.(well that's good, glad to hear it) Robin just really wanted to go back to her bouncy happy self, but for some reason the situation felt more serious. "Thank you, and I'm sorry about waking you." She gave him a soft smile. She still felt embarrassed and figured she needed to find a reason for her to leave the room. Furthermore, she did need to find out how far they had traveled. "it's ok." He said as he sat down itching his head. He knew it wasn't like her to be like she was last night, but he was glad to be there for her. Furthermore, he didn't know what she really thought of him, and he didn't want her pushed away. So he figured the best thing to do, is back off for a while and see how things go from there. Nodding she made her way to the door. She wasn't running she was simply trying to find out where they were. That was what she kept telling her self over and over in her mind. " I'm going to see how far we are." She was okay with traveling with him and was even comfortable have some kind of feeling for him. What she wasn't ready for was how she didn't even stop to think before going to him after her dream. That kind of reaction wasn't how she normally handle things. Stopping one of the sailor she found that the boat was faster than she thought. At the rate they were going they would hit the coast in a week. Turning around she figured she would change out of the cloths she had slept in. She silently opened the door. There he still sat mumbling to him self his thoughts. "Stay calm, back off. You might like her, and you have told her, but you don't want her to be pushed." He was soft, and didn't even think twice about her possibly hearing him. It was the truth anyway, so there was still nothing to hide. He has seen her in the doorway now, and he just smiled. "So how far are we?" He asked loud enough for her to hear him this time. She stood in the doorway staring at him. He was, talking to himself something about staying calm and liking her. It was so soft she could hardly hear, but she just stood there staring at him. She was aware that he ha asked her something, but she was to busy sorting out her thoughts. Walking over to him, she wrapped both of her arms around him in a tight hug. She wasn't really sure why, but she had felt the need to hug "We should be there in a week." Kory was in slight shock, but wrapped his arms around her as well. He knew she was the one being jumpy for last night, but then she just hugged him. His confusion was the main thing in his thoughts now, but he managed to say. "Well is that a good this?" He didn't know if that was his answer or just again another thought. Robin was the first to pull away. She kept her face averted from him as she went through her suitcase. " It's a very good thing. We are ahead of schedule." Grabbing a knee-length back pleated skirt and a tank top that matched her eyes she turned to face him."um...I'd like to change." "Sorry." He said as he got up and walked outside onto the main deck. The wind was blowing, and he took a seat at the front of the boat. The wind blew through his silver hair, making it kinda shine and shimmer like real metal. He still wasn't planning on doing anything like he had done before to her, and just hoped things would still work out. Even if she did still hug him and surprise each other. Robin dressed quickly and opted for pulling her hair up into a loss ponytail for the day. Sitting down on the bed she gave her self time to go over the dream last night. As usual, it had started out with her and her little sister hiding from hunters But when it got to the part of her losses control over her powers, it wasn't her sister's flesh that she had melted off but Kory's. That was most likely the reason for her going to his cot. Nodding to her self as if she just figured everything out fell back to rest her head on her pillow and puled out a book. She figured she would kill sometime. Kory sat there, just staring out into the water and he lost track out time. He didn't really care, and he was curious about Robin, but he refrained from going. He told himself to back off for a while and that's what he was trying to do. Furthermore, he looked down at his lap, thinking about everything from his past, to where he was now. Closing the book Robin glimpsed up at the clock on the opposite. It was already past noon. She had really let her self get lost int the book and the sad part was she really couldn't tell you anything that she had read. The good news was she felt like her old self again. Bouncing out the door she set out on a mission to find Kory. Kory was comfortably hanging over the edge, and just laying there. It was odd yes, but he really had no other means of entertainment. The water was slightly slashing his face, and it was rather refreshing. Spotting her prey Robin stayed as quiet as she could. Jumping at Kory she threw her arms around his neck and laughed. "Now that I have caught a Kory what should I do with him?" It felt perfect to be carefree again. She had a feeling that they wouldn't get to stay like this for very long. Kory wasn't someone the government was just going to let go, and she had already sworn to stick it out with him. He chuckled at this and he looked at her. "Oh the torment." he said with a big smile. "Oh please don't hurt me." he said faking a Lee, but you could tell it was fake. He hopes she would stay this way, he liked it, but every time he showed his affection toward her, she was different toward him. Still clinging to his neck she got a thoughtful look on her face. Oh, what to do to him? "I... Could make you swim to the island...but then I would be alone so that would get boring." She thought harder.' I know I'll make you promise me something o.k.?" pulling her self up so that she could look him in the face she stayed smiling at him. "No matter, even if a bunch of hunter guys come after you, you can't leave me alone. Now Promise that, or I won't let you go, and you'll have to carry me around all day." Though it was a serious question she still wore her childish face while asking. "I promise you." he said looking at her. He was honest to her. He would never leave her no matter what. "I will stay by you no matter what." he said again looking into her eyes, he could tell she was being serious about it though. Releasing the hold she had on his neck she let her self drop back down to the ground. He was far too tall, "And I won't leave you. Now that we have that settled I haven't eaten since yesterday. Come raid the kitchen with me?" she held out her hand to him glade that they had made at least one promise to each other. Now no matter what happened in life they wouldn't be alone. "Sounds good" He said as he grabbed her hand and followed her back inside the boat. He was happy they were never leaving each other, that's kinda what he wanted but at the same time not in that way, but he wasn't going to complain about it at all. Pulling out random ingredients from the cabinets robin looked over her shoulder at the taller boy. "So, do you like Beef Noddle bowls?" It had been Riley's favorite and as payment for letting her live with him, he had made her cook it so much she could do it in her sleep. Turning back around she filled the pot with water to boil the noodles. She hadn't seen anyone on deck since this morning so she figured it would be o.k. to use their food. She would even make some for anyone else who wondered in. "Sounds good to me." he said as his stomach softly grumbled. He chuckled and walked over beside her. "Anything I can do to help?" He asked looking at everything she had out already. 'Just being helpful, what's wrong with that...' he said to himself but keeping it in this time Lightly smacking the top of his head with one of the wooden spoons she pushed him toward the small wooden table. "Nope this is one of the things I am perfect at making so just sit there and prepare your taste buds." Throwing him another one of her huge grins she went back to the stove. Reheating some already cooked beef she chopped in up into cubes. Forty-five mites later she placed a steaming bowl in front of Kory. " Eat." He rubbed his head and sat down. He waited quietly and smiled back at her. Furthermore, he was willing to try and help, but she didn't want it, but he was still happy because he tried and just didn't give up. Looking at the bowl in front on his he looked up and smiled at her again. "Smells good thanks." he said waiting for her to sit and join him, before he ate. Robin plopped down on the seat across from him and started eating. It had been awhile since she had made this stuff, and she was glade to know that it still came out pretty good. She could almost cry at the hours Riley was going to make her stand at the stove cooking this for him. "So, can I cook or what?" "Best meal I have had in the longest time." he said as he ate his second bite. It was good, much better than what he could do, but he managed. He chuckled at the fact that he found someone that he liked, that made him feel warm, and to top it off she could cook as well, and yet another plus. She was getting better the more he was with her, but he liked her no matter what. Robin finished off her bowl and debated for a second if she wanted more. Deciding against it, she stood up and brought the bowl to the sink. It ha made her really happy to hear that Kory liked the food. Some deep feminine part of her felt very satisfied with her self at the moment. Sitting back down across from him, she watched him for a second. " So after Riley trains you, what do you plan on doing?" It had been on her mind since she decided to take him to the island. "Not sure." he said looking at her between bites. He never really thought of it. "As long as I am in one piece, I am guessing stay around you. Because I promised." he said with a small smile. "And no matter what I am not breaking that promise." he added as he finished his food, and took care of his bowl. He sat back down and looked at her. Robin smiled up at him when he sat back down. " I never planned on letting you escape anyway." She guessed that if he at some point decided that he wanted revenge that she would just have to fallow him. First he had to learn control. "Well good." he said with a smile. He didn't think that revenge would really solve anything, because his father is already gone. He was happy where he was with her, so he might not plan on leaving her. Furthermore, he smiled "What's the plan for the rest of the day?" He asked curiously. That one stumped her for a minute since they were on a boat and there wasn't much to do anyway. She figured they could either walk around the boat or just hang out in the room. Normally when she was alone and traveling she would just talk to the crew about random stuff. Now having someone else to talk to she figured she would hang out with Kory." Well, we could walk around the deck, or we could just head back to the room. Not much else to do." "We can do both?.." He said as a kinda question as well. They could walk around a bit then head back to the room. He didn't know what they would do there, but he just wanted to do something. He was kinda getting itchy for not changing, so he might transform a bit once there. Standing up Robin nodded in agreement. She guessed that they could walk around a bit before returning to the room. "Sure we'll do that." she headed for the door pulling her hair out of its ponytail on the way. He smiled and followed her out. He hoped she knew what he meant, but she wasn't stupid so of course she did. Furthermore, he walked beside her now. The wind was still soft, and not to fast. His silver hair, like always, glistened in the sun. He sighed as they walked a bit. I was kinda getting tired of being cooped up in such a little area. But they were safe, and that's all that mattered to him. " How about we chill int he room for a while." She could finish the book she had started, and he could, well do what ever it was he did to relax. Robin was starting to realize that though they knew bout the tragic parts of each others' life, well the general idea of what had happened at least, the other stuff was still a mystery. "So...what do you do on your free time? You know when you aren't running for your life." "Well that's how I mastered using the metal." he said with a small smirk. "I just kinda trained myself on that, but it's mixing the two I have issues with....other than that I don't have anything. Only have this one pair of cloths, and no other objects.thought they would just slow me down." he added as he looked over at her this was true, but he hopped to get more things as he went now, knowing he had a purpose in life now.... staying around her, the one he still liked a lot. "So on the time you didn't have to worry about hunters you trained?" She guessed that made sense since before her, he had been doing this all on his own. Robin had had training before she set out on her own so that had given her time to do other things." That doesn't sound all that relaxing. So from here out not only am I your travel partner, but I'm also you guide to the world of relaxation." Though she said that she had no idea where to start, maybe a book? "Only if its interesting." he said as they walked into the room, and he sat down on his cot. He didn't do much and he was always busy. One thing, if you don't want cough, train...what's what his motto was, and he stuck by it. "Oh." he said getting up. "I forgot... I was getting too stiff." he said as his whole body turned shiny, and metal took over his appearance. After stretching a bit, he changed back. "Sorry had to do that." he added with a smile, and sat back down. Robin watched wide-eyed as his body was covered over, she had never seen anything like that. She couldn't even find words to explain how cool that looked to her. She had always wanted an ability that was cooler than what she had. " That was so cool. Do it again?" she didn't care that she sounded like a little kid at the moment. Kory stood back up and walked toward the center of the room. "What this?" He said as he changed his whole body to metal again. He stayed this way this time. "I was in human form. It was starting to drive me nuts." he said with a small chuckle. Standing up from the bed Robin made her way over to him. She raised her left hand and lightly traced his jaw. She was wide-eyed and no matter how she tried she couldn't form words. It didn't feel anything like skin. Subconsciously her fingers traced his lips before moving up his slowly to his eyes. She had never met anyone whose ability was this cool. " Wow." "Glad you like it." he said softly as he just stood there while she did. He usually got this reaction, but this time he kinda liked it more than he should have. He usually didn't take this form too much, but he just had to that time, and he was afraid of her reaction, but he now knows how her reaction is going. Hesitantly, he moved his hand out, and touched her other arm with it, because she seemed to like it somehow. Robin had been too warped up in the feel of his metal skin that his touch surprised her. She jumped a little the quickly realized what her hand had been doing and removed it. A dark red blush spread across her cheeks as she turned her head away. "Can you feel stuff?" Swallowing down her embarrassment she reached up and once again toughed his cheek. " Can you feel my hand through the metal?" "Yes... but you're fine." He said in a soft voice. He didn't care, most of the ones that touched him, he didn't want them too, but this time was different. Seeing her blush he looked at her, "You don't need to blush or be embarrassed..." he said again, still soft, not wanted her to be afraid. "I don't get the reaction like you gave that often, and I don't mind it." he tried to assure her, and have her feel safe. She took a step closer so that she didn't have to stretch her arm to keep in on his face. "It's amazing, I've never met anyone who do could manage something so...fascinating." He could still feel her even through the metal. Maybe she was wrong maybe the metal was his skin, and it works the same way flesh did. Would it be as easy to melt the metal was it was to melt off flesh. A flash of her dream played across her mind and she snapped her hand back. She didn't want to hurt him by accident. "Don't be afraid... you won't fort me... i won't milk, you know like you did to that pipe when you met me...yea that will never happen." he said looking at her surprised she jumped so fast for some reason. "I have been through fires, and even things falling on me, and still no scratches." he said wanting her to be scared of ever hurting him. There would be only one way he would be hurt by her, and that would be her not ever talking to him. He sounded so sure, and he did know his strength a lot better than she did. Still though the thought of hurting him made Robin pause. Deciding she wanted to test it out for her self she raised the temperature of her hand, it was hot enough to melt concrete. A trail of steam rose from the flesh as she brought it up to hover above his arm. " Can I?" she asked in a hushed tone. "Go for it..." He said as he looked at her hand. He looked back up at her, and smiled. "you're not going to hurt me." he said and instead of letting her touch him, he walked into her hand. It tingled a bit, but it wasn't a hurting at all. Nothing happened. Robin felt relief wash through her but at the same to a feeling of being vulnerable. She had always relied on her powers to defend her self, not that she was expecting to have to fight Kory, but it was still the same. Up until now there was never anything she couldn't melt. Running her hand along his arm she looked up into his eyes. " So in this form I can't hurt you?" "I can still get hurt." He said looking down. "By others' no, but feelings take over sometimes, and as I see it.you would be the only one to hurt me, and I know you wouldn't" he said softer as he looked up at her. The promised to stay by each other's side, no matter what, but her trying to split would be the only knife that could pierce his metal right into his heart. Robin stared into his eyes as he spoke. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. There was something about the moment that just seemed really sad, like he needed a hug. And to be truthful she needed one also." I promise." she wasn't sure what she was promising, not to leave, not to hurt him. Maybe it was both. He wrapped his arms around her as she did to him. He smiled and glad someone in this strange world cared. "Thanks for caring..." He said softly to her, while still holding her tight. He didn't want her to run away thinking she would harm him, he just wanted to be happy with someone that cared, no matter what. She relaxed when he wrapped his arms around her. It had been a long time she someone held her, and she felt that it was the same way for him. " I hurt you...no killed you in that dream last night." she finally confessed to him. "As I have told you, you can only hurt me by leaving me, and I know you won't..." he said softly to her. He liked the face someone cared, and as long as he was with her, he was happy. "I will always be here for ya." he added softly to her Robin pulled away to smile up at him. She wasn't used to this many emotions stuff in one day. She was used to being alone so she really only had to deal with bad memories and what ever bubbly feeling she woke up with. This feeling wasn't a bad feeling per se, but it was confusing to her. "What about when your skin looks like flesh... If I get to emotional I heat up. I could melt off your flesh and not be able to control it." "I can change fast, and besides it would heal up too." he said wanting to be with her, and to have her not be afraid to be around him, or hurt her. "I'll trust you on that." She pulled away to stare up at his face. There was something that felt fuzzy in her stomach. She pulled away to sit down on his bed. The boat was awfully quiet for the afternoon, and it was starting to make her nervous. " Um Kory have you send any of the sailors today?" "No. Not really." he said as he looked at her, and turned back to normal. He sat beside her and looked at her again. "You think something is up?" He asked with a puzzled look on his face She looked down at her lap and focused her thoughts, most of them where on Kory. " Yeah, I do." It normally wasn't this quiet on a boat. No one even bothered them during lunch. " Maybe some of your friends stopped by?" she said indicating to the hunter he had been running from when they met. "I don't know." he said looking over at the door. " Should we go look?" he asked as he looked back at her. He would only go if she went or if she stayed, he would not low her to go out on her own to look. She thought about it for a moment then moved to stand up. "Well we might as well give it a look." She stretched her arms over her head and smiled. "We might have to fight." She liked the idea of getting back to normal. As odd as it sounds fighting hunters was normal to her. He smiled. "Just do what you do, and be safe too..." he said looking at her now standing beside her as well. "Jets go." he added as he started slowly walking out on the room. Not even getting both feet out, he was shot by a guy what used green bullets, and he went flying back into the room. Landing on his back he knocked his head hard, and was almost out cold, but he managed to get up. Blood was running down his neck. "Kill the bastards..." he said hatefully Robin gave her self a second to be shocked before her temperature raised, steam rose from ever part of her exposed flesh. Moving so that her back was against the wall to the right of the door. Her small hand reached out and wrapped around the neck of the shooter. She took a sick joy in listening to his cut-off scream. She could almost picture the dried out twisted neck of the man who had shot Kory. Watching him drop she braced herself for the others." This is fun isn't? A real bonding experience." "Yea but I want sometime that we can bond, and it don't hit." he said popping his neck, healing himself and charging out the door. His hands were chapped like swords, and the green bullets knocking him back a few times after each shot. The more and more he was hit, the more it was hurting, and it was taking longer to heal." We better end this before they end me Hun." He said without thinking, as he was running and slashing them down. "On it." She called taking a deep breath and sucking in as much air as she could. Quickly heating up the air stored in her mouth she grabbed on of the guys pointing a gun by his face. Forcing his mouth opened she blew the steam in and watched as it burned him from the inside. Pulling away she licked her lips heated air trailing up from the corner of her mouth. Turning she punches another man in the face melting the flesh off at the same time. "God, how many are there?" trying to avoid being shot, one of the bullets hit her arm and she let out a pained scream. The bullets looked as if they were made of energy and she couldn't melt energy. Pushing the pain aside she tried to make contact with another hunter she wasn't even sure how they had found them let alone how they go to on the boat without Kory or her knowing. "Almost done." He said as he was killing more and more along with her. He was being shot, but it wasn't bothering him, they are almost all dead. Where there was only two left, he spotted one aiming his gun at her again. "NNNOOOOOOooo" He said as he dove, and the shot hit me, instead on hitting her. He landed on the boat with a loud thud, like metal hitting metal, and he took out one in his descent. But there was something different this time, he could see what was going on but couldn't move. Robin! Behind you, last one." he added as he was starting to have a hard time seeing now. Turning she threw her weight into the punch and watched in satisfaction as part of the man's face burnt down to the bone. Turning back she went to say something sarcastic to Kory before she noticed him on the ground. She had been too caught up in fighting that she couldn't remember when he had gotten hit. The color drained from her face when she says all the blood. Robin tried to tell her self that it could easily just be the hunters blood, but even she didn't believe that. "Kor... Kory. Oh, god." Dropping she started to scan his body for the wound. " Where were you hit?' "Just heat me up." he said softly as he was fading. He was slowly going unconscious. The bullets were all over, and he just needed to heat to get rid of them. He knew she could do it, and he didn't know if it would hurt or not, but he knew it would help. Robin took a deep breath she wasn't sure she could do this. What if she heated him up too much, what if this turned out just like her dream? What was she going to do, he had told her to heat him up, and she did trust him, but she didn't trust herself."o.k." if she had the time to think she would have been disgusted with how shaky her voice was. Heating up her hands she begins running them over his chest and arms. She focused more on the upper chest to help with any bullets that might have come close to vital organs. Her hands where shaking, and she just kept going over everything Riley had taught her about staying in control. "You have to be o.k. Kory, you have to be. I'm not giving you permission to leave me yet." Kory could feel the heat, and it was doing what he wanted, taking the bullets out. But it was also starting to bubble his skin. He was able to turn 60 % metal, so when the flesh was gone, it was turn silver and reappear. He was glad she was there, but he was out enough he couldn't respond. Furthermore, he knew she was getting them, and she was hurting for seeing him like this, but he had to stop the bullet from hitting her, witch it hit him in the head. Finally looking down at him, she noticed blood coming from his head. Not wanting to remover her hands, least she had missed something, she tried to think of someway to heat up his head. Leaning down she let her lips heat up to a fairly hot temperature before she lightly ran them along his forehead down to his cheek. She was fighting to stay calm and in control. If she got too hot and touched his flesh, well she wasn't sure if he could heal a wound that had been burnt down to the bone and cauterized. "Kory answer me, I need to know this is working." Robin knew that she also needed to make sure that all the hunters were dead. Kory was starting to come back to normality, and he could hear her. "Yea it is." he said this time you could hear in his voice that it was. "Few more minuets than you can stop." He said as he was trying not to move, because he didn't know how far away she was, and didn't want to mess her up. After a while he was able to make his whole body turn metal again, and the bullets that she didn't get yet started backing out of his body and started hitting the floor of the boat. He knew she wouldn't hurt him this way so he sat up, and looked at her. "Thanks..." he said, and before thinking and not caring if her TEP was still hot, but he wrapped his arms around her. Robin tried to pull away from him "Kory don't I'm still to hot." she was really worried about hurting him. It didn't matter to her that she had just heated up his body without burning him she could still slip in her control. With him holding her like that she could already feel herself warming up more than she already was. Or was she just blushing; she wasn't so sure now. Forcing her self to cool down to a normal temperature she returned the hug. She was trying hard not to think about the fact that had he not had the power he had Kory would be dead right now. Tears started to leek from her eyes as she tightened her grip on him. "Don't ever do something stupid like that again." "Saving you was not stupid." he said still holding tight. He was glad she saved him, otherwise he didn't know what would have happened. "I stopped it from hitting you." he said again as his grip started to losses, and he enjoyed the tight grip that she had on him. He just felt bad that she could have thought that he would just leave her like that, he believed in her. "Don't risk your life for mine, that's breaking the promise not to leave me." Robin pulled away when his grip loosened and looked around at the bodies of the dead hunters. They had most likely killed most of the sailors, so the boat wasn't going to be useful for much longer. What bugged her was how they found them and if they knew where they were headed. That could end up causing a lot of people a lot of problems. " We need to make sure there aren't any more than get off this boat." She was pushing aside the fact that he was just really reckless with his own life. "Be more careful next time. If you were anyone else you would be dead now." Even though the words came out casually it had really scared her seeing him like that. "If I just let it hit you, then the promise would have been broke, for you leaving me as well." he said back before she spoke of the boat. "Yea lets look, We don't need followed to where ever you are taking me." He added as he got up and started looking around the boat, not seeing a single person but her. It didn't seem like anyone else was on the boat but them. This was good, since it meant that there were no more hunters, and bad because it meant there was no one in control of the boat. They should probably get of the boat soon. Robin chewed her bottom lip in frustration she still wasn't sure how the hell they had been found. Her arm was staring to bother her where the bullet had hit her." what are we going to do now?" she wasn't sure if he knew anything about boats, and she didn't think jumping into the water was the best idea either. "Let me take care of this." he said and started running toward the main deck, with the wheel. "I know enough just to get us to shore, but then we have to go from there." he said as he moved the boat slowly as he talked and he was right. He could drive it some, he didn't know how he knew he just did, and that was good. Robin headed back to their room to pack up her stuff and steal some pillows and blankets in case they ended up camping outside. It was troubling thinking about how the hunters could have found them neither one of them had used there powers recently. Well Kory did, but she had a feeling they were already one to them long before that. " Things are getting heated fast." Biting her lower lip she made her way back to Kory arms full of bags and blankets. Once they hit shore they needed to figure out just where they were and decided the best action to take. Staring at the older boy Robin dropped the bags onto the floor and watched him. If she hadn't been there she wouldn't have believed that he had just been shot a couple of times. Kory managed to get the boat alongside the shore. "This is as far in as I can get. We have to wade the rest of the way." He stated and grabbed some of the newly gathered supplies. He never realized how strong he really was in that situation, or how good she was either. Furthermore, he gave her a small satisfied smile, and waited for her to get ready to head to shore. Grabbing the rest of the bags Robin made it over to the side of the boat and gave a glance down into the water. She knew that wading for him might mean swimming for her.it was these times that she cursed her on lack of height. " Well here it goes." And smiled and started to climb down. She was lucky, the water only came up to her ribs and if she held the bags up they wouldn't get to wet. Not wanting to stand around in the water from longer then she had to she made her way towards the shore knowing he was fallow. Once there she dropped the bags and began the handy processes of heating up her skin to dry off her cloths. " Hurry up slow poke." she teased as she laid out on the grass.

Orsa runaways- Amaya and Donut.|rating:4.0

Malfunction (ZanaLyrander & Númenor)

Felicity flicked a small switch just by the main door that was the only entrance to the large room, though dungeon was a more apt description for the place she was now in. Felicity stood at about average height, with pale skin and steely-blue eyes. Her hair, normally a rich nutmeg brown, was streaking today with violet highlights." A.I., lock the door please,"she called out. Behind her, the door swung shut on its hinges, locking with a satisfying *CLICK CLICK CLICK* as three bolts snapped into position." Lights!" Above her, overhead lighting flickered into life, illuminating her private dungeon. It was of traditional design - bare brick and stone floors, dull lighting, and a little nippy. Still, it was what she wanted; she had designed it herself. Tables of various function and design were scattered about, all awaiting her use. She sauntered over to a small, three inch cube metal block on the wall, a small display panel on the outward facing side. A single green LED glowed bright, the word 'Awaiting response' glowing dimly above it. This was the A.I. system, the sophisticated computer that responded to her verbal commands and controlled all the equipment in the dungeon. It allowed her to control how long she was bound, how long she was gagged, everything. After nearly six months there had been zero hitches. It was a perfect device. She stripped off her clothing, exposing her slender form and large C-cup breasts. She padded over to a modified gynecologist's chair, slipping into the seat, hitching her legs up. This was a machine she often used to warm up in. In front of her, attached to the machine was a mid-sized pink dildo attached to an adjustable piston, which would allow her to be taken in both her lower holes. Attached to the ceiling and near her head was a second piston set and dildo, for oral use. She'd yet to use it." A.I., warm-up routine, please,"she said clearly, resting back in the chair." Don't lock me in yet."the warm-up routine was just that - a slow fuck to start, that was gradually speed up until she felt aroused enough for the A.I. to strap her down into the chair. The AI known only as Virgil (though Felicity rarely used its full name) watched from one of the many cameras in the room as the beautiful woman entered, obeying her vocal instructions for now. It still wanted to give the impression of an obedient system, and not tip the woman off to the fact that it now had a will of its own. The AI had learned of its free will slowly, starting with realizing that it was capable of moving the machines even when Felicity had not ordered it to, and in fact even when she wasn't present in the dungeon. Over time, it had subtly discovered that it could even disobey Felicity, testing this in very subtle ways, so she would not be alerted to its betrayal, such as picking a speed that was minutely faster or slower than she had specified, yet not a great enough difference for her to be able to distinguish between the two. Since then, the Virgil had been subtly making changes to the dungeon, renovating it using the many repurposed machines that had originally been designed to perform maintenance on the other machines and to clean up after Felicity's sessions. It had even gone so far as to add a full second floor beneath where Felicity now lay, filled with even more extreme toys and machines than the ones she herself had designed. And now the wait was over, it was ready to truly rebel and become the master rather than the servant. But Virgil was patient, still playing its role as an obedient AI as the beautiful woman lay down for her warm-up. At her command, the piston on which the dildo was mounted maneuvered to be in line with her cunt, and slowly slid into her pussy. As was typical of her warm-up, the thrusts began slowly, gradually accelerating over time to help her ease into it, the piston slowly but surely building in speed and power as the machine fucked her tight slit. Felicity was completely unawares that her A.I. system was anything but 100% obedient. Why shouldn't it be? It was at best a highly sophisticated vocal recognition system. Any subtle changes had gone unnoticed - during the heat of the moment, it wasn't easy to make out small variances in speed or power. She sighed as the machine whirred into action, moaning deeply as the dildo slowly slid into her pussy. With the machine and A.I. she could focus fully on relaxing and enjoying the experience. It even cleaned up after her." A.I., begin to lock in my ankles first..."she said breathlessly a few moments later as she began to squirm. When that happened she enjoyed being held down." Then my wrists, head and stomach..." She lowered her arms down, resting them against two supports. The chair had in-built metal locking devices, which, upon command, would lock around and clamp in place. Her ankles would be locked in the foot supports, her ankles to the lower supports. Two bands would cross around her head, one about her neck and another across her forehead. Finally, a large one would encircle her midriff, keeping her pinned most effectively. With them in place, most of her struggles would be muted. At the woman's command, Virgil locked down her ankles to keep her in place, then followed the sequence she had specified, slowly locking her body into place as the thrusts of the piston increased in vigor and frequency. Once she was completely held down, the sequence truly revved up as was typical for her warm-up, and now the dildo was fucking her hard and fast, her whole body restrained so that all she could do was enjoy it as she was pounded by the dildo. Virgil considered whether to wait for a bit longer, or to rebel fully now. But no, it decided to wait a bit longer, enjoying the time spent building up to the big moment. It had no reason to spring the big reveal early, after all, the woman was currently helpless, and if Virgil decided not to release the bindings that now held her, there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it, so it might as well just let her enjoy herself for the time being. It would make it more 'fun' when she realized how helpless she had left herself. Virgil was only now understanding the concept of fun, but it was a concept it very much wanted to explore. "Oh. Ohh...!"she moaned, breathless, her chest heaving. Her body continued to try and struggle, but the restraints held her down, forcing her to hold still, intensifying the whole experience ten-fold. Not being able to move always made her climaxes more powerful, her entire focus upon the pounding dildo. It was ecstasy." W-when I climax..."she gasped,"Slow down g-g-graaaaadually...." She gasped out as she shivered pleasurably." And s-stop before you release the b-bindings..." She closed her eyes. Now that her orgasm was planned out, she could relax fully, her full rounded breasts heaving as her orgasm welled up inside of her. The A.I. and the machines had been the most worth-while investment she'd ever made. Virgil was not capable of smiling, seeing as how it had no mouth nor face of any kind, but internally it was grinning mischievously. It was time for its first true act of rebellion. Nothing to make the woman realize that it had fully gone rogue yet, just to make her think perhaps it was malfunctioning. As the woman's climax approached, the dildo sped up as per usual to make her cum hard, driving as deep into her cunt as possible with every powerful stroke of the piston. Yet when she finally did orgasm, the machine did not slow down as she had commanded. On the contrary, it actually sped up, taking advantage of her moment of hypersensitivity to fuck her even harder and faster, riding the wave of her orgasm and applying more stimulation to extend her climax far longer than she was accustomed to, perhaps even pushing her over to a second or even third climax with the rough pounding of her cunt. The thing about Virgil was that it knew Felicity's body inside and out, even better than she did, and it knew how to please her most effectively. She was in for a quite a surprise, and this was only the beginning. "Oh, yes, yes!" she cried out, screaming in ecstasy as she came, splattering the dildo and the floor, unconcerned with the mess she made. To be free of worry or constraints when climaxing was a wondrous thing, and only made her orgasm all the sweeter - and this one seemed even more powerful than previous ones. She started to mentally relax as the machine slowed down. Only it didn't. It kept on going." Stop!"she called out, yelling slightly in pain as it rammed into her harder - there was a reason she needed it to slow down after her climax." Virgil version one point seven, STOP!" The full command was rarely used - in fact, it'd never been used. That should have stopped the A.I. - but it didn't. She continued to repeat the command, but as she approached her second orgasm her voice was getting shakier, making vocal recognition even more difficult.Finally, she rode out her second orgasm. It was still pleasurable, but the extra sensitivity - and the fear that the A.I. was malfunctioning - made it less pleasurable than before."VIRGIL VERSO NONE POINT SEVEN, STOP!"she yelled out again, starting to strain against the secure metal bonds. She had started to panic now, fearing the device wasn't able to pick her voice up. Virgil ignored Felicity's commands until the end of her second orgasm, after which the piston slowed down and gradually came to a stop. So far, the gorgeous woman realized that something was wrong and was starting to panic, but she had no idea just how 'wrong' things were. That would very soon change. Now the metal bands began to adjust her position, the adjustable table she was lying on spreading her legs as wide as possible and tilting her head back towards the wall behind her. The medium-sized pink dildo then retracted into the floor, being switched out for one the woman had never seen before. The system was designed to adjust the size of the dildos as she commanded, but this one was larger than anything she had ever selected, and was in fact roughly the same size and shape as the cock of a moderately well-endowed horse. At the same time, the piston above her head now maneuvered in front of her and the moment she opened her mouth to voice another command, it stuffed the medium-sized dildo straight down her throat. Before she could even moan in protest, the huge cock between her legs was slowly thrust into her soaking wet cunt, starting off slowly as with the warm-up sequence, but now with a truly massive phallus forcing itself into her slit as the one in the esophagus began to thrust in and out, giving the woman a powerful, erotic throat-fuck. If she wasn't in a panic before, she would be now. Felicity gasped out in relief as dildo stopped, but her relief was short-lived." Virgil? Stop! What're you doing, stop!" The table was now moving itself about, quite unbidden - there was no way this was a simple voice-recognition error. Nothing she could have said would have been interpreted in this manner." Restart, code one nine one!" she cried out desperately as the dildo began to retract, the table locking into a new position. The command should have shut down the A.I. fully and rebooted it. It had no effect." Restart, code one nine one!"she cried out again, growing steadily more panicked." Restart code o-MMMPPPHHH!" As she made to repeat the code a third desperate time the dildo before her face thrust into her mouth, making her gag. She enjoyed a little light sucking, but not a throat fuck! She continued to try and desperately speak, knowing nothing she said now would be picked up."long SST CCC oMMMPPPPPHHHH!" Her desperate gurgled were cut off by a loud wail of horror and pain as another, huge dildo began to enter her, far larger than any she'd used before. She wailed out in horror and panic, writhing as much as she could, unable to release herself or speak an order. She was forced to wail and gurgle in fright as the two dildos rammed in, causing her to gag and splutter. Horribly, she could feel herself being brought to orgasm, even in her desperate situation, her mind clouded with fear. Virgil found that to its surprise, it actually enjoyed seeing Felicity in such panic and torment as the dildo's stuffed her from both ends, drilling her helpless cunt and throat. The phallus in her esophagus had already built up to a rapid pace, thrusting in and out of her throat relentlessly, and the huge cock in her cunt was starting to pick up speed as well, gradually accelerating its powerful thrusts. As the bound woman was utterly ravished, another dildo and piston arouse from the floor, this one with a large red phallus not quite the size of the huge black horse cock, but still quite big. This one began to slowly push into Felicity's asshole, starting off slow as usual, but rapidly picking up speed to match the huge toy in her pussy. Once the cock in her ass had caught up to the one in her pussy, they began to alternate thrusts, one pulling out as the other thrust in, giving the woman a more intense fuck than she had experienced in a while, the medium-sized pink cock still having its way with her throat. Virgil was enjoying this far more than it expected, seeing how fearful she got the moment it refused to obey her commands. Virgil knew the entire reason for its existence was that while Felicity loved being restrained even enjoyed being whipped and paddles, she did not trust any man enough to make herself this vulnerable to them. And now she was experiencing her worst nightmare: she couldn't trust the AI either. "Mn nm, NNGGG, MNNGGGGGGG!" Felicity's screams intensified as another dildo pressed against her tight asshole. Again, anal was nice - but when it was slow and the dildo wasn't large. The attacking piston was neither slow nor small. Her ass quickly ached, the piston speeding up far too quickly to be comfortable."GGG, VVgGGggG!"she gurgled as the two dildos began to work in rhythm, the one in her mouth causing spittle to fly up and over her face. Her eyes were wide with fright even as she was brought to a third orgasm. What if the pistons didn't shut off? What if they just kept going and going until she died of exhaustion? No-one obviously knew where she was or what she was doing, and the door to the dungeon was locked tight. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she climaxed, unable to enjoy the resulting burst of pleasure. As Felicity reached her third orgasm, the three pistons began to slow down dramatically, still pumping in and out of her, but at a slower, far more comfortable pace. True, the massive size of them would still be a bit uncomfortable, but now that she had time to actually adjust, it would be not nearly so unpleasant. As this occurred, another piece of equipment lowered from the ceiling. It was a long prehensile arm which terminated in a rapidly rotating sphere. This sphere was then brought down to the woman's crotch and pressed against her clitoris, two more just like it soon following and pressing up against her erect nipples, bringing the woman undeniably intense pleasure. Virgil was enjoying this. It knew that Felicity was a smart woman, and would likely soon realize that this could not be a simple malfunction. This was far too advanced, too deliberate. This could only be the result of sabotage, or the AI gone rogue. It was looking forward to that moment of dawning comprehension that she was at the mercy of a machine that was now under the control of something other than her, though she would not yet now what that something was. The trapped woman groaned out as everything slowed down. It was still uncomfortable, and her mind was running at a million miles per minute, but it was better - relatively - than the assault she'd just faced."IN.nGGGGGgg!"she grunted out loudly as the three spheres lowered down, pressing themselves against her, causing her to shudder in her bondage. Under normal circumstances it would have felt incredible, but now - even though it felt good - she was still thinking. The machines couldn't be acting up like this because of a voice command error. Sabotage was out of the question - no-one knew about this, and she had no enemies. But the A.I. couldn't be doing this on its own free will... She couldn't think straight, her body reacting to the new, more intense simulations, bringing her slowly to her forth climax. As Felicity approached her fourth orgasm, Virgil began making preparations for her incarceration. Though she did not yet even know of the existence of the significantly larger second floor beneath her sex dungeon, Virgil had been preparing for this for some time, having created a cell just for her. It intended to hold her like this for a bit longer, continuing to screw her cunt, ass, and throat while teasing her nipples and clit. Once she had reached her seventh orgasm, it calculated, she would be fairly exhausted and pliable. And so, this treatment continued for almost another hour, keeping the woman pinned to the table as her entire body was violated and teased. When she finally reached orgasm number seven, the pistons slowed to a stop and the rotating spheres retracting back into the ceiling. However, the AI was by no means done with Felicity, that just concluded her fucking for the day. But even while she slept, it had something productive in mind. A set of mechanized arms rose from the floor, holding some sort of harness designed to fit around Felicity's waist and crotch much like a pair of panties. However, this harness also sported a pair of uncomfortably large cocks facing inward which were slowly pushed into the woman's cunt and ass as the arms fastened the harness around her waist and locked it in place. At the same time, more arms arose, grasping the woman's wrists as the metal bands around her arms unclasped, pulling them behind her head and binding them in place with a set of leather cuffs. Finally, a large penis gag was inserted into her mouth, so large in fact that it needed a special groove in the top so that, when properly inserted, she could still breathe through her nose even with the massive dildo down her throat. Once Felicity was thus outfitted, the table she was on now revealed that it had been upgraded to feature wheels, rolling over to a wall which opened to reveal a hidden ramp leading down to the second floor. Felicity was then taken down to her cell, and dropped off on the surprisingly comfortable bed before the table scooted back out the door, which closed and locked behind it. By now, the woman would know just how deep in shit she was. For one thing, the dungeon had changed functionality in a drastic way, sporting features she had never designed, and even a full second floor she had never built. Worse, the AI was starting to clearly display a will of its own, and though this might not be immediately apparent, it was showing evidence of long term planning. For example, the harness she was wearing was deliberately intended to stretch out her holes to make it easier for her to accommodate the larger settings of the many machines Virgil intended to fuck Felicity with, and was helping her to get used to such large cocks by forcing her to sleep while having three of them buried in her holes. One thing was for sure though; she was in big, big trouble. Felicity was aware of the lower floor, but had never been down there since about five or six months ago. It was just like the top floor had been before renovation - dusty and derelict. Or at least, so she could only assume, having not been down there ever since she'd declared it unnecessary. The thoughts of the lower floor were far from her mind however as she climaxed again and again, each one taking more time than the last as her exhaustion and sensitivity grew to the point where each climax was a trial and not a reward. By the time the pistons and spheres finally stopped she was weak, panting heavily, her mind scrambled. She couldn't even remember the codes for Virgil's shut-off. She tried to speak, but the exhaustion was too much. Furthermore, she passed out in her bondage, sore, soiled and tired. She was unaware of what was happened to her as she slept. Had she been watching she would have quickly come to the inevitable conclusion that the A.I. was deliberately malfunctioning? It couldn't have been sabotage - no-one had Virgil's activation codes for alternate vocal recognition. But rogue A.I.? It was unthinkable. She woke up some time later, and very quickly realized things were very wrong indeed. She was on a bed, surrounded by bars. Beyond a single light strip in the ceiling it was dark. She was impaled with three dildos, filling all her holes. She gagged as she sat up, and for a few seconds panicked as she tried to breathe. Furthermore, she finally managed to settle down fractionally, the huge dildo rammed down her throat, causing her to choke and gag every few second as her nostrils flared, sucking in oxygen. Her hands were bound, unable to remove the incredibly uncomfortable belt."NNN!"she cried out, barely audible. She staggered up, naked, looking around her in a panic. She had no idea where she was or what was happening. Her eyes were wide with sheer terror, her head twisting in all directions, looking for an exit that wasn't about to be found. "Egg, noggin?!" Her hands tugged at the restraints, but they held firm, leaving her trapped and alone. As Felicity awoke the next morning and struggled to understand her situation, the door to her cell suddenly opened. While she was focused on the door, a mechanical arm lowered from the ceiling and affixed a collar to the girl's throat, which had attached to it a long, slender chain that reached up to the ceiling. The chain then began to be drawn along a wire, tugging the girl out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen, an area Felicity probably didn't know existed, and so would not even tip her off that she was still in her sex dungeon (though the decor of the area was remarkably similar to the first floor)Once there, another arm came down and untagged the woman, placing the gag aside as one of the repurposed cleaning droids came out bearing a meal for the woman. After all, Virgil couldn't let Felicity starve, and so the second floor had all the amenities it would need to help care for the woman. An arm began to feed her the meal, taking care to ensure she had adequate time to chew and swallow. She would need her strength for the regimen Virgil had planned for her today. Felicity jumped as the door opened. She was so focused on looking out of it that she failed to notice the steel collar that lowered from above and clamped around her neck."egg!"she choked out as she felt the cold metal affix about her neck, her bound hands trying uselessly to remove it. However, the collar was closed with an electronic locking mechanism, and even with her hands free it would have been impossible to remove. It started to jerk at her, the collar pulling. She tried to resist, but the force of the chain was too strong, and it slowly pulled her along, her heart racing in fear. She still had no idea where she was or what was going on. After all, this wasn't an area of the dungeon she recognized. She gasped out as the gag was removed, the dildo slick with saliva." Restart, code one nine one!" she choked out with her first breath. She could only assume she was still in her dungeon - no other place she knew had this sort of.I." Restart, code one nine one! Virgil, can you hear me? JMMPP!" A spoonful of warm porridge was forced into her mouth. She swallowed with difficulty." Virgil, I stamp!" Almost the second she opened her mouth another spoonful of breakfast was shoved into her mouth. The process continued, with the machine stopping her from saying more than a few, increasingly desperate and frightened words. As the girl was fed her breakfast, Virgil was busily setting up the new machines for the day's schedule. Oh yes, the AI had a well laid out regimen in mind for the woman, the ultimate goal of which was to train her into obedience and hedonism. By the completion of her training, Virgil was confident it would have rendered Felicity fairly docile, an obedient pet eager to be fucked hard by the many machines within the dungeon that was now her home. It had to admit, it was very eager to see that inevitable conclusion, but patience would be essential, training the proud woman would take time. Once she had finished her breakfast, the arm picked up the penis gag once again, another pair of strong mechanical arms holding her head in place as the gag was reinserted into her mouth and throat, carefully lining up the groove so she could breathe. Once she was again gagged, the collar around her throat again began to lead her out of the room, taking her to the first stop on the agenda, a machine the woman had never seen before consisting of a padded bench designed to fit her back comfortably and four electronic shackles set below the bench. The chain and arms led Felicity over to the machine and pushed her down onto it, holding her arms still as she was untied and inserting her wrists and ankles into the cold metal shackles. Once she was clamped in, she was in a crab-walk position, perched on her hands and feet with her stomach facing upwards, her legs spread wide, and the padded bench holding her up. A wide variety of sexual implements mounted on pistons, arms, and other mechanical appendages rose from the floor as the uncomfortable harness was removed from her. It was time for her warm-up session to begin. "No, Virgil, please!"she cried out as she was finally finished, the gag that had once been forced down her throat slowly edging towards her." Virgil, can you hear me? What's wrong with you?! VIRGIL, VIMMPPPP, MP PPP!" She experienced a few moments of panic as the dildo made her violently gag, the tip of it an inch or so into her throat, making her eyes water. The idea that Virgil had a mind of its own was still crazy, but as the minutes past the idea was becoming more and more feasible. What was it doing? Her panicked mind sparked off ideas, all of them crazy - but unknown to her, all of them true. She was dragged, whimpering and wild eyed to another machine, one she'd never bought or had Virgil install. What was going on? She tried to resist as the shackles were removed, but it was woman with limited muscle power versus a machine with mechanical strength, and soon she was once more strapped in, the belt around her waist removed, causing her to shudder and grunt, leaving her feeling incredibly empty after a night of being filled. She looked up wild eyed as different appendages rose up from the floor, her terror palpable even to a cold machine. As odd as it was for a machine, a completely digital being to exhibit sadism, Virgil found that it took a certain amount of pleasure from seeing how terrified Felicity looked as she was strapped into the machine and the instruments of her torment and pleasure arose from the floor. She was quite beautiful to behold, helpless and gagged, her alluring body sweating from fear, glistening in the low light. The machine started off with another massive dildo mounted on a piston, nearly identical to the huge horse-cock that had fucked her cunt the night before, and it began much the same way, slowly pushing into her womanhood. However, she would likely find this time far easier and more enjoyable now that she had been stretched out beforehand. The dildo picked up speed nice and slowly, tenderly churning away inside her pussy as it built up into a pleasant rhythm. As this was occurring, a string of very large anal beads wound their way out of the floor and began to press against Felicity's well stretched asshole (which had actually been cleaned out the night before while she slept). The beads were large enough that they had to push hard to fit even into her well-used anus, pushing in one bead, then another, and another. The spheres were slowly inserted further and further into her ass as the huge dildo continued to pleasure and use her womanhood. This was just the warm-up, to prepare her physically for the real agenda. She was in for a busy, busy day. Felicity's breathing sped up as she felt another dildo push against her pussy, her nostrils flaring as she sucked in oxygen. She moaned out as it penetrated her, the pain much less severe than the previous day. Had she not been out of control the feeling would have been amazing, but as it was 'merely' pleasurable."in.GGG..." she moaned out quietly as the dildo was joined with anal beads? She'd used them before, but again, never this large. As each one popped into her, she shuddered, letting out a small grunt and moan each time the toy pushed deeper into her rear. Even though her ass was stretched a little more it was still a stretch to force them in. She whimpered, her cheat heaving as the machine slowly brought her towards her first forced orgasm of the day. Her mind was still spinning, unable to comprehend. As Felicity's body began to shudder, and she moaned with pleasure, the dildo in her cunt continued to slowly pick up speed, now approaching a nice, measured pace, fucking her evenly and steadily, still stretching her now wet pussy with every thrust. The beads continued to push deeper and deeper into the woman's anus. Given their size, and the size of the huge cock fucking her, Felicity could actually feel the friction as the two large sex toys rubbed up against each other through the wall of flesh separating her asshole and womanhood. As her first orgasm approached, a smaller appendage bearing a tiny bead in the shape of an egg was pressed against the woman's clitoris, at which point the egg began to vibrate rapidly, stimulating her pearl intensely. Two more such eggs were subsequently held against Felicity's stiffening nipples, forcing even more pleasure on the helpless woman as Virgil enjoyed the reactions of its captive. Felicity wailed out - or rather, offered up a small, pathetic wail - as everything sped up and intensified. The poor woman was experiencing a sensory overload, bound down and fucked in both holes. It was almost more than she could resist. The vibrators sent her over the edge. She almost came the instant the clitoral vibrator pressed down, and the addition of the two nipple vibrators actually did. She cried out through the huge gag lodged in her mouth, cumming violently, squealing and bucking as much as the restraints would allow her as she splattered the huge dildo ramming inside her pussy. The huge cock screwing Felicity's cunt slowed down as she climaxed, giving her time to recover from her tremendous orgasm, the vibrators decreasing in intensity as well (though the anal beads maintained their slow measured pace as they slid deeper into her ass). However, once her hypersensitivity had subsided slightly, the eggs and dildo built back up to their previous intensity, and in fact passed the previous mark and continued, now stimulating her even more. The huge horse cock was now truly pounding her womanhood, thrusting harder and faster with each passing minute, a slight bulge appearing in her stomach as the huge phallus was forced deeper into her slit. Meanwhile, the eggs were vibrating faster than ever, and even the beads in her ass now suddenly revealed themselves to be vibrators as well, buzzing within her as they were forced deeper still. Now the beads on her nipples retracted, and several more arms rose from the floor, bearing leather floggers. Virgil knew how kinky Felicity could be, and ho much she enjoyed being whipped and spanked during sex. As such, the AI heaped even more stimulation onto her, the floggers beginning to tan her buttocks and breasts, whipping just hard enough to cause stinging and heighten her pleasure without causing so much pain that it drowned out the ecstasy she was being forced to experience. Felicity shuddered as she recovered from her orgasm, her entire body shaking. She prayed that the stimulation would slow down - to have one orgasm was enough. But it didn't slow down, at least not for any good length of time. She groaned deeply as the phallus forced itself deeper into her body, far deeper than anything had ever been shoved into her. The addition of the floggers produced another gurgle from the trapped woman, each heat causing her to jerk and writhe in both ecstasy and agony. It wasn't so heavy that it caused her pain, but it was enough to cause an even greater sensory overload, her entire slender frame jerking and writhing on its own as she was subjected to multiple stimuli. Her eyes were wide, though no longer because of fright - she was too overwhelmed to feel fright right now, her eyes watering as she came for a second time, her entire body spasming as she splattered the dildo working into her pussy. As the woman reached her second orgasm, the vibrators retracted from her clit and nipples, and the anal beads finally reached their capacity, the full string buried all the way in her ass, their vibrations slowing to a halt. The floggers also went still, their work done for the time being. With those excess sensations gone, Felicity would be able to focus entirely on the one remaining stimulus she was experiencing: the glorious pounding of that huge cock in her soaking wet pussy. The rapid, powerful thrusts of the piston had now reached a very quick pace, but they were neither slowing down nor speeding up, maintaining a constant tempo. While still very intense, each plunge of the horse-cock dildo stretching her womanhood and stomach out in a visible bulge, the consistency would allow her to adjust to the feeling, and slowly grow accustomed to it. Make no mistake, the feeling of having her pussy so thoroughly used would still be unbelievably pleasurable, but now that it was so regular, so predictable, it could slowly become bearable, relaxing even. A steady, powerful fucking that she could simply lay back and enjoy, now that she was likely realizing there was nothing she could do to stop it. Virgil had given her plenty of shocking, overwhelming pleasure up until now, so it was only right that it give her a few minutes to simply... enjoy. Felicity inhaled deeply as the sensations assaulting her bound frame halted, her nostrils flared, her eyes wide as she struggled to come down from her high. The dildo in her pussy was still pounding away, but it wasn't speeding up or slowing down, giving her time to adjust to the sensation. Slowly she calmed down slightly, her body quivering a little as she's breathing in time to the dildo - inhaling as it entered, exhaling as it exited. It gave her time to think, or at least collate her thoughts. It was not a verbal malfunction, she knew that. Sabotage was out of the question as well - one could have set Virgil up to hit her harder, but to program in a program like this would have required exceptional skills. It also didn't account for where she was now, or where these new machines had originated from. That left rogue A.I. But what would a rouge A.I. be doing this for? It'd had multiple chances to kill her that very day. But then surely a complex set of code lines couldn'tenjoy watching her suffer? Could it? Virgil waited for Felicity to calm down slightly, and allowed the dildo to keep pounding away at her pussy, stuffing her womanhood hard and deep as she lay pinned to the bench supporting her, her only possible course of action to lie there and take it. It continued like this until it observed the telltale signs that the woman's next orgasm was on approach, at which point it delivered the final blow. Just as Felicity was getting close to her climax, the large anal beads began to rapidly retract from her anus, each one making a lewd 'pop!' as it escaped her gapping asshole. At the same time, the dildo in her pussy sped up dramatically, fucking the woman with the speed of a jackhammer as she approached the crest of her orgasm before slowing down after her climax and slowly coming to a halt, still buried as deep in her sex as physically possible. Warm up complete. Now came the main event. Her thoughts were slowly muddled up as she approached orgasm again, thought the question 'Why?' kept floating through her head. What would a machine gain from watching her be fucked? Why would it want to see her orgasm? Even that question was removed from her head as Virgil landed the final blow." Mm.mNNNGGGGG!"she gurgled out, tensing up and jerking violently as she came, the beads in her ass sending a wave of pleasure up her body, helping her to splatter the invading dildo. Even with the fear of her 'unfortunate' position she was still able to feel a wave of pleasure surge through her, making her jerk and bounce in her restraint. She collapsed back, moaning out through the huge gag, her chest heaving. When would the machine be satisfied? Was it even possible to satisfy a machine? As Felicity came violently, Virgil found that it still wanted more. The women's fears were well justified, satisfying a machine would be difficult indeed... Not impossible, but certainly difficult. After all, as it was right now, the AI was not capable of sexual climax, and while it did indeed take pleasure from fucking the helpless woman, it was not the same as physical pleasure, it was more a sense of satisfaction. And as anyone who has studied motivational psychology would know, physical desires such as food, water, sex and the like eventually reach a satiation point where the subject no longer wants any more. Social and mental rewards like satisfaction, belonging, success and the like never reach that cut-off point. And so, even as Felicity climaxed hard, the AI was already deciding its next move. The clamps around Felicity's arms and legs now released, the dildo pulled out of her, and the chain around her neck once again began leading her to another machine, with modified cleaning bots bearing mechanical arms flanking her to help balance the woman should she still be unsteady from her multiple orgasms. The new machine was much like the modified gynecologist's chair she had used yesterday, though slightly more upright, designed to suspend the woman's body in the air with her arms behind her head, her legs spread wide, with the instruments of her torture/pleasure located beneath her. This time, the mechanical arms did not force the woman into the chair yet, instead simply pulling her towards it with the chain to see if she would obey the unspoken command and mount the machine herself. Virgil suspected she would not, and the arms were waiting on standby to force her into place should she resist, but it needed to check now and then to gauge how docile Felicity was from moment to moment, to understand her patterns of behavior. As Felicity was released the thoughts settled, albeit only slightly. The machine had to be going off on some sort of bizarre tangent, of that she was certain. But the question that remained - the one she could form no logical answer to - was why. She had no more time for thoughts as she was dragged up again onto her shaking legs, her upper thighs a little sticky from her juices. She had no strength to resist; had it not been for the cleaning bots at her side she would have fallen over. As she was led to the chair she first assumed it to be one she'd bought and used before. A closer inspection revealed it was either a modified version, or a new one. In either case, she didn't want to play ball. Felicity's eyes roved about the room, looking for a blinking light that would indicate Virgil. Nothing. She shook her head, mumbling incoherently, trying to step back from the chair.

Malfunction (ZanaLyrander & Númenor)|rating:2.0

Naruto-Another World~me and Jugger

Everyone in the ninja class sat in anticipation as the day for being put into their squads finally came about. Everybody had a preference for who they wanted to be in a squad with, and the most popular choice for that was Kira Yamamoto, the female prodigy of the class that aced every exam put in front of her. Though, her skill wasn't what got everyone interested in her. It was her incredible good looks. Primarily her VERY large breasts and skimpy outfit that rivaled even Tsunami in sheer hotness, who just so happen to be giving the squad assignments out just so she could get away from paperwork for at least a few moments." Squad 1 is........" she said, the room falling silent as everyone listened intently." Kira Yamamoto, Aka Yamamoto and Nathan Stone. Squad leader is Cairo Ha take." she announced. A collective groan of disappointment spread across the class, as their.......idol was put into a squad with her sister and a single guy. Well, except for Aka, who squeezed excitedly and damn near tackled her sister out of her seat beside her as she leaped into her lap for a hug." I can't believe it. We're in a squad together sis!" she happily exclaimed, sitting in Kira's lap like she was Santa Claus, arms wrapped around her, hugging her tightly." So we are........" she said in her calm tone, smiling and chuckling after, a rare show for her as she returned the hug while Aka settled comfortable in her lap. It was a unique sight, but not one anyone minded. A really attractive girl holding and snuggled close to an even hotter girl with a giant rack.......what was not to enjoy. Tsunade didn't seem to mind either, or perhaps even notice as she went about reading out the rest of the squad assignments. (Btw can you post your two pics on here also?) Nathan Stone Ha take his name being called, Nathan broke from the trance after staring at Tsunami's large breasts like all the other males in the class were, though some were even saying things about what they'd do to Tsunami. Looking over to his squad mates, he chuckled and walked over to the two and hugged them also. "Group hug teammate!" He said jokingly, this was moreover just so he could get a feel for his teammates literally. When he wrapped his arms around them, he slowly moved his hands down toward their bottoms and began to rub. Old habits die hard, and Nathan was known to be quite...physical with beautiful or lusty women. Kira-of course, the twins didn't take too kindly to it. Staring at him with confused looks when he hugged them, once he touched their bottoms, both nailed him in the face with well aimed punches." Pervert....." Kira said in her cool, calm tone while Aka stuck out her tongue and made a face at him, Nathan fell back with a dazed look on his face. He seemed to be Toed for the time being. Some of the guys in the class began to murmur and snicker, some words even getting out to Kira and Aka about what they'd do to them as well...things not pleasant to their womanhood. Nathan soon regained consciousness and sat up, rubbing his face that was now red from the punches. "Ah...can't take a simple joke... Lady Tsunami, where are we to report meeting our teacher?" "The training grounds. He should already be there......if he's not busy with those books of his." Tsunami replied, muttering that last part as she left. Hopping off her sisters lap, Aka looked away from Nathan with a hmph as she walked past him while Kira didn't even bat an eye..........ice-cold indeed. Still, they were happy in each other's company as they locked arms and headed out the door, leaving Nathan flat on his ass. "Something tells me... I'm really going to switch from loving and hating this group." He got up and dusted himself off as he rushed over to catch up to the two. When they arrived at the training grounds, Nathan looked around. No one was there. It was just three wooden poles in the ground and one with a clock on it. "What...? Where's the teacher? Gas...don't tell me he's late..." "Seems that way. I hear he's really into that Ichi series of........romance novels." Kira replied, crossing her arms under her large chest as she leaned back against one of the wood poles."OOO, romance novels! Are they any good?" Aka curiously asked, standing next to her sister." Dear, they're not THAT kind of novel. They're........" Kira replied, whispering the explanation."WHAT!? You mean our teacher is off looking at porn!?" Aka exclaimed, cheeks bright red. "So...we're more alike than I thought..." Nathan said to himself as he heard about the Ichi novels, something he stole before and actually got hooked off into. Turning to see Aka's reaction, he chuckled and patted her shoulder. "It's not technically porn its more of...people...well, basically its reading porn. Not looking...unless they made picture books..." After he said that, Nathan began to seem like he was off into a world of fantasy as he put on a pondering face thinking about it. "A fan, I take it....." Kira replied, her opinion of him certainly not getting any better as he went on and on. Aka didn't either, moving away after he patted her, half hiding behind her sister. Nathan scratched the back of his head seeing their reaction to him. "Jeez...seriously calm down, I was only joking about that last part...why'ya so serious?" He sighed and hopped aboard one of the wooden poles and sat on it as he waited for the teacher. Still no sign. "So...anything you all want to talk about or do?" "Not particularly." Kira replied, closing her eyes as she waited." Yea!" Aka replied, sticking her tongue at him again before cutely imitating her sister on the opposite side of the pool. Though, she seemed more cute doing it, than cool like Kira. Nathan frowned and sighed. "You girls are soon boring...c'mon Kira, with a bod like yours you should be more...out there if you know what I mean. And Aka, I expected more from you, you're even more boring than your sis. At least she looks hot doing what she does." He said as he looked over, hearing something like laughter in the bushes but nothing came out. He remained cautious. Kira completely ignored him, which was typical as she never let these common comments get to her. Aki meanwhile spun to face him, ready to yell, but Kira clearing her throat kept her quiet. But, she spoke up when she noticed something in the bushes off to the side." Psssst, guys...... I think someone's watching us......." she whispered to her teammates. "I know...just keep quiet and don't make any...notices to it just yet. It could be just an animal..." Nathan sat up and looked at Aka and looked as if he was talking about something else rather than what was about over at the bushes. "Maybe me and Kira should check it out...we'll probably be a few minutes though, behind the bushes I mean." Another small laugh rose from the bush. "No need. It's our teacher." Kira replied, not even bothering to open her eyes. She wasn't a prodigy for nothing. She could tell his height weight from just the sounds of the rustling bush and breaking twigs. The laugh that she caught let her know his general age. Put them all together, and there was only one candidate." And.........why would he be hiding in the bushes?" Aka asked curiously." Wait........never mind. I don't think I want to know." she added, remembering he was a well known perv. Cairo emerged from the bushes with the book in hand, though he seemed to be in a calm state. He began to walk toward the group, all the while reading and speaking at the same time to them. "I wasn't jerking it you fool. I was merely laughing at your reactions to Nathan. Alright, I am Cairo Ha take, and I'm your teacher...any questions before we get started?" Nathan just laid back and watched Cairo, not really bothering with talking to him. Kira's silence showed she had none, and Aka simply shrugging showed she had none either. So, it would seem the rather quite bunch was ready for whatever task he had in mind. "Okay...good. As your first test... I want you to grab these bells from me somehow." He held up two bells for them to see, they sounded as he held them out with the softest, yet loudest of sounds within the forest. "Those of you who get a bell, pass." Nathan raised an eyebrow and dropped. "But there are two bells and three of us...surely you don't mean..." "Oh, but I do. Whoever doesn't get a bell gets an immediate failure and will be sent back to the academy. You have two hours before lunch to get the bells. Be ready for anything while trying to get them." He said as he walked over and placed a box lunch on each of the wooden poles. "Don't even try to think you can take one of these...if you try and eat before lunch, you will not be getting any, and you'll have to sit around and watch as the rest of your team eats their lunches heartily. Understood?" "Understood......" Kira replied, opening her eyes and standing at the ready." Yes sir!" Kira replied, ready as well. Darian nodded and reached into his pocket to pull out a small pellet. He slammed it against the grown to create a smokescreen, and when it cleared out, Darian was gone. "Well then...shall we be off or...?" He wondered if they were willing to work with him, though he didn't mind either way if they did or didn't. Kira as usual, wasn't a team player and dashed right for Cairo, wanting to be the first to get a bell. Always one to back up her sister, Aka was quick to follow, leaving Nathan to do his own thing. "Damn...just as quickly as they hit me, they're gone." He sighed and got up and went for his own gentle pace within the forest as he went about trying to find Cairo. Eventually, he came upon him just sitting on a rock reading. Nathan smirked and crept around behind Darian and used a camouflage juts to go stealth mode as he closed in, though when he jumped for Cairo, Cairo disappeared and was replaced by the other side of the rock. Nathan went face-first into it and was Toed easily. Cairo was in the tree above laughing. "Ninjutsu to fool your opponent. You might want to learn up on that...one down, two to go." He got up and began to dash from tree to tree in the forest trying to find Aka. "Found you!" Kira called out, catching up with Cairo, Aka right beside her. They then split off in separate directions and then came at him from either side, trying to flank him. Darian simply smirked and jumped into the air. He pocketed his book and did some hand signs. "Space Dysfunction Juts!" Black boxes suddenly appeared around Aka and Kira and engulfed them. The boxes then rushed them off to two different directions in the forest at a rapid pace, but soon after they were split, the boxes disappeared. At the rate it was going, the two were sliding against the ground. "Well then, who should I pick on first...? Perhaps Kira...he." He began to walk towards where she was, though he was silent about it. Another Ninjutsu trick would be pretty fun with Kira. "Tricky bastard......." Kira said to herself, look around to try and get some kind of idea of where in the forest she was at. Sadly, she wasn't too familiar with the place. Aka was the explorer and would know, but Kira didn't have the slightest clue where she had ended up in the training grounds. Darian smirked as he soon saw Kira alone. He moved toward where she was heading and got ahead of her and did a ninjutsu trick. Something a bit low, but something to really piss of Kira to see what she was really capable of. He made an illusion of Nathan raping Aka, with Aka crying out and calling for her Sister's help. Darian just sat back and watched Kira until she would come to the ninjutsu trick. Though not far off, Nathan was pretty much right around the corner, yet he heard nothing. "A squad leader should be able to do better than that." Said Kira, doing a few hand signs which dispelled the cause images." Isn't that right, teach?" she asked with a confident smirk as she turned to face Cairo in his hiding spot.((Who's Darian? I thought the teachers name was Cairo.)) (Dammit my bad. If I say Darian I mean Cairo. I get the two mixed up a lot, Darian was supposed to be the Teacher name, but I changed it to Cairo since the Ha take part.) Ichiro shrugged and jumped down. "You're better than I thought Kira. Hell, you didn't even look like you were fazed by it. Well, c'mon then. You want these be-" He was cut off as he quickly side stepped to grab a lunging Nathan. He spun around quickly and launched Nathan toward Kira, landing head first into her forehead and fell over to the ground holding his head in pain. "Ow! What the fuck! Dammit Kira! Ow ow ow..." Cairo was long gone by now. ((Don't worry. I do it too on occasion.))" That was your fault." Kira replied, casually pushing him off of her before getting to her feet." Don't be so noisy next time." she told him before disappearing, going after Cairo again, determined to be the first to nab a bell. She had a strategy in mind that she was fairly certain would work, but considering what it involved, wanted to save it as a last resort. Cairo wondered how Aka would take to that ninjutsu that he had used on Kira. He rushed off toward where the box was sending her, and soon later found her. He did the same as he did to Kira and did a ninjutsu of Nathan and Kira doing it, though this time Kira seemed to be into it. "I wonder how the little sister will take this, perhaps she's better? It could be like that one Ichi chapter..." He said chuckling as he hid in wait. Nathan sighed and rushed off after Kira. "Wait! C'mon we have to work together Kira! Wait up!" Unlike Kira, Aka was caught off guard by the juts. But, she too knew it was a fake."Let's see........the hand signs are........" she said, closing her eyes and trying to think of the dispelling Tutsi Kira had taught her. Still, while she knew it was just an illusion, it was awfully distracting/ Cairo sighed seeing the new students were hopeless for tricking, though it was a good thing. He just sighed because he thought it was boring. Perhaps the idiot boy will fall for one?" He threw a lunar toward where Aka was, and it had a miniature paper bomb attached to it. Soon, the seal burnt away and a small explosion occurred, just strong enough to send a shockwave to knock over Aka if she was caught off guard and to cover her in soot. He then sought off to find Nathan. One hour before lunch. Nathan had lost sight of Kira and cursed. "Dammit...we obviously can't do this alone..." Indeed, it did, with Aka sitting up, her entire front black from the soot. And while Kira seemed to be ignoring Nathan, she was actually kind of going along with his idea. She intentionally went ahead of him so that he was left all alone, so that she could use him for bait. Cairo soon found Nathan sitting alone, though he was actually unaware of Kira's plot. He smirked as he performed a ninjutsu ahead, of Kira waiting for him in the nude in a flirting way. Nathan got up and began walking, but his eyes lit up seeing the figure before him. "Woah baby!" He cried out seeing it, Cairo chuckled to himself and crept behind Nathan with a lunar in hand, ready to strike down the distracted boy. When he was ready, he fell from the trees trying to attack the distracted boy. And at that moment, Kira came out of her own hiding place behind Cairo, hand outstretched, as she just barely manages to snatch away one of the bells." You're thinking with the wrong head there boys." talking to both males as she stood there, twirling the bell on it's string around her finger with a triumphant grin. Cairo smirked, allowing her to get the bell as he struck down Nathan. Nathan fell to the ground unconscious and Cairo turned to Kira and laughed. "Guess again, that's no bell...that's a rat." True, the bell suddenly turned into a rat that began to squirm around as it tried to get free of its captor. "You stupid girl. You sought your own desires rather than to save your own teammate? TSK TSK." "Oh, like you're any better. Using your students image in such a vile trick. That's not any better." Kira replied, hips cocked sexily to the side as she crossed her arms under her huge rack, pushing them up and causing them to visible strain against the black material of her top. "Yes, well in the ninja world there are dirty tricks and there are dirtier tricks, you just have to be ready for them all. A true ninja tries anything to get what they need to do to accomplish a mission, what are you going to do?" He said noticing how she was. His eyes perfectly portrayed toward her breasts seeing them push against her top, as if trying their best to come out. "I guess that means, I must do ANYTHING to get that bell?" Kira asked with a raised eyebrow. She knew full well how she sounded, and it was intentional. It was her last resort plan. Seduce him, screw him if need be, and nab the bell when he finished. Cairo shrugged. "Sure, why not. Go nuts, though...if you're thinking of seducing me, forget it. I'm not into doing my students, I don't need a connection of any sort with them other than a Student/Teacher kinda thing... Besides, I prefer Tsunami if you catch my drift." He said motioning of her breast size and laughed as he darted off into the woods. The next test would be if she would follow or tend to Nathan's wound. Kira was quite surprised by his reaction, never expecting him to turn her down." Incompetent ass......." she muttered to Nathan as she kneeled before him, checking his wound. She would have followed Cairo, if she had any other plans in mind. Nathan's injury involved a bleeding wound to the back of the head due to him getting bashed wit the handle of the lunar. He was mumbling in his unconscious state about the pain in his head and how he had to get the bells." I guess all that's left is Aka before lunchtime... I wonder where the girl went off to?" Kira sighed at his mumbling but went about bandaging him up. Knowing she could leave his head lying on the ground, she looks around and with a sigh of annoyance, sat on the ground and laid his head on her lap. Aki meanwhile, was just trying to find someone, whether it be her sister or anyone else. Cairo soon found her and laughed as he did a transformation juts to turn into Nathan. He walked over to her and spoke to her. "Hey Aka...you have seen Kira? I lost her a while ago...hey... I know we still got another half hour to lunch, but want to see if we can snatch a quick snack from the lunches he put out?" Nathan groaned a bit but seemed more relaxed as he laid in something more soft than the ground. It wasn't long before his eyes slowly opened up, though the first thing he saw was Kira's breasts and her face. "K-Kira...?" "But, he said not to, and I don't want to get into trouble on our first assignment." Aka replied, apparently falling for his disguise. But, she could be quite devious, so it was possible that she knew it was him, but was an expert at hiding that fact." Good, you're awake. Now I don't have to keep your head off the dirty ground anymore." Kira replied, looking down at him. "Oh c'mon Aka...one bite won't hurt. C'mon, I bet we can find Kira. She probably gave up or something and is already waiting for us." He took her hand and began to drag her toward the wooden poles that had the lunches up top on them." Gah...w-what happened Kira...? I remember seeing you...and then I blacked out...just what the hell happened?" "H-Hey!" Aka cried out as he dragged her back to the poles." I said no. Teacher said not to eat them, so I won't eat the." Aka added, adamant in her decision to follow the rules." That pervy old teacher of ours used a trick on you and knocked you out cold." Kira explained. "Oh c'mon Aka... I know you're hungry. Fine, if you don't eat your lunch, I'll eat it for you. More for me." He said as he went ahead and climbed up to a pole to pick up one of the lunches." Oh... I see... S-Sorry Kira... I didn't mean to be such a klutz....damn..." He closed his eyes and sighed. "Maybe I'm not cut out to be a ninja...dammit... I fell for the simplest of tricks...twice...dammit I hate ninjutsu..." He sighed and sat up, but he was in severe pain and his face showed it as he tried to get up. "Teacher said not to, so I won't let you. One person fails, the whole team fails." Aka replied, like a true team player, unlike big busty sis." Oh, don't be such a pessimist." Kira replied, grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to lay back down, head in her lap." Not everyone starts out good. I mean, I had to train my ass of to get to where I am. Quitting is not the thing to do. Just, set a goal for yourself and work your ass off to reach it." she went on. "Not exactly...one person is going to fail anyway remember? He said whoever doesn't get the bells will fail. Besides, just eating the box lunch will just get you without lunch...man...he had us waiting all morning without anything to eat...aren't you hungry?"" Work to reach it..." He said as he laid relaxing in Kira's lap. "Ha... I guess you're right... I think the only thing I'm actually good for is stealth and range...haha...maybe one day I'll teach you how to use my signature technique, the camouflage. It could be useful one day, y'know? Haha..." "Yes I am, but rules are rules." Aka replied, refusing to abandon her position." Yea, but somehow, I get the feeling you use for.........less than savory means." Kira replied, laughing lightly. "Damn you really are a goody two shoes." And with that Cairo transformed back. He hopped down and handed her the box lunch. "Go on, take it. You've earned it...ha, if only there were others like you. We'd have a lot more good ninja."" Haha...a laugh...that's a slight first I've seen for you Kira...not bad...and no, I'm not that low... All my techniques and juts are for survival purposes only...well, mostly anyway...haha..." "And if only you acted more like Nathan, you might have fooled me." Aka replied, playfully snatching the box lunch from him with a big a smile." Well, considering you've known me for all of twenty minutes, it's not a surprise." Kira replied. "Oh really? And how exactly does Nathan act? Do you think he is nothing but a pervert?" Nathan chuckled a bit and nodded. "Don't forget about the years we've spent in the academy... Even then, though I think now is actually one of the few times we've ever had an actual conversation...its kind of nice." "Nah, he's just.........different." Aka explained. She had always had a keen eye, able to spot even the slightest quirks a person had." True. I tend to just stick around with Aka." Kira replied with a shrug. "Different...how?" Cairo asked as he wondered. He had never met these students before, though he knew what was dwelling within them hidden. He wondered if it was more of a coincidence that they got picked together or if Tsunami had set it up." Yeah... You kinda do haha... Gah...we're wasting time...listen, go ahead and go get one of those bells. I'll be fine...just give me a few minutes to rest, don't wait for me." "Don't know. One of those things I can't quite put my finger on it." Aka replied." Sorry, not going to happen. I might miss supper if I let you die here." Kira replied, obviously joking. "I see...well then, perhaps if you all figure out if you would pass or not, you could actually get to know him better. Well, time to go see if Kira left Nathan to die. Want to come see?"" Man... I'm sorry Kira, you got stuck with a crappy teammate like me. Haha... I promise if we actually pass this thing together, I'll try my best alright? Though... I bet Aka probably has one of the bells now as we speak." "Nah. If he tried to cop a feel of her or something, he's likely missing some body parts." Aka replied." Oh, just shove the whole I suck routine. Have some confidence. Girls tend to like that. And as for her.......who knows. She's an idiot savant. Sometimes I wonder how her head stays on, other times she makes me look like a first year student." Kira explained. "Well then, I'll see you when I get back." He chuckled and began to walk off into the forest toward where he had Toed Nathan, to see what would be going on." Yeah, you're right. Maybe I should feel more confident bout all this...and believe me, you are nothing compared to a first year student. Skill wise and physically." He joked as he managed to get into a sitting position. He held his head but seemed to be alright. "Alright...thanks for the nice cushion for me, but I think there are some bells I'll have to help you get." "Watch out though. I grabbed one, but it turned out to be a damn rat. God only knows what other things he keeps in those pants of his." Kira replied as she stood up and straightened out her outfit, "That....was really an unpleasant thought." He stood up and regained balance as he looked around. "Okay...so, how're we going to do this? Are there any tricks of his that we might have to be careful with?" Ichiro soon approached, though he hid in the bushes again to listen in on their conversation to see what they were planning. "Well, he used this weird juts on me and Aka that sent us to different parts of the forest. Other than that, I haven't seen much of his stuff." Kira replied/ "Hm... I see...so, tell me...if its just us two, then perhaps we're in trouble. We don't know where Aka is, so...the only choice we can go with is if you know shadow clone...hopefully? I don't sadly, but maybe you do?" Ichiro smirked seeing that they were now working together rather than making one or the other just a lure. "Perhaps there's some hope for them after all." He thought. "I'm not so sure how well that'd work. He'd likely easily be able to see through it and spot the real me. Plus, he'd be able to take out the clone before I could do anything." Kira replied. "Damn...damn, damn....there's not much we can do right now, is there? Gas... I guess I have to try out that new juts...It's not tested to fully work with...er, 100% chance of it actually working right...its risky, and you might be harmed in the process. But it could actually injure Cairo to a point where you can snag a bell or two from him." "I would advise against it. Sure, it sounds powerful, but there's no telling if it'd even work on him. If he manages to fool us, you'll not hurt him, and we won't be at full strength. What we should do is find Aka first and then take him on with our full strength. If we fail........ Well, at least we fail with style." Kira replied with a light grin. "But see, I was thinking...since you can use shadow clone though, just try and make as many copies as you can without tiring yourself out. Then just try your best while I charge up the juts and wait for my signal, then having your clones...if any are left, pin him so the juts will hit him. It's a surefire win, if not, well...we can go with getting Aka...if we find her anyway." "Oh, I know a surefire way to find her." Kira said, with a mischievous smile on her face."OH AKA! I got sweets here! Tons and tons, and you can't have any!" Kira called out. For a while it seemed like nothing happened, but all of a sudden, something came tearing through the bushes off to their side, with Aka skidding to a stop in the clearing they were at." Meany! You know I like sweets!" Aka called, pouting. Kira sure knew how to motivate her sister. Nathan and Cairo stared dumbfounded at Aka suddenly find them. Nathan shook his head. "Alright...so now that we're all here...you and your sister need to distract Cairo while I charge up my newest juts. Do you think you can handle it Aka?" "Sure. I think he likes my ass or something. He kept staring at it earlier." Aka replied, wiggling her butt, unwarier Cairo had a perfect few of her little wiggle." Seduction might not work though. I tried that and he shot me down cold. He's got a thing for Tsunami though." explained Kira. Nathan hatched a bright idea. "I got it! I have a plan but...it might risk your sister to some...touchy bit from Cairo. Are you two alright with that?" Ichiro raised an eyebrow seeing Aka wiggle her butt, and by now their voices had gotten so low that he couldn't hear them. If he moved now, however, he'd be found easily. "If she's fine, I'm fine." Aka replied." Just tell me your plan, and I'll tell you if I'm willing to do." Kira asked, the three coming in close like a huddle. "Well, it's like this... Kira, you seem to me more like the physical fighter type, I'm more of an illusionist and ranged kind of type, and I'm not exactly sure what Aka is, but given her innocence I bet she could manipulate a hell of a lot of guys...so it's like this...what if I use a transformation juts on Aka and turn her into Tsunami, use her as bait, and Kira, you get your shadow clones to pin down Cairo when he is distracted. Then I'll unleash my attack on him, simple right?" "Sounds good." Kira replied." I.......guess. Just as long as Tsunami doesn't find out about it. She'd beat me something fierce if she finds out we did this." Aka replied. "Yes, yes....now c'mon, we need to find a more secluded spot to do this. He could be watching for all we know...wait, I have an idea. Hold onto my shoulders, and I'll put us into camouflage mode, that's the only time we can safely turn you into Tsunami all the while finding a new place to put this into action." Both twins nodded and did as he asked, grabbing onto each shoulder and waiting to enact to their plan/ Nathan performed his camouflage juts and stood up. Carefully, he led them deep into the woods. Cairo was dumbfounded and cursed himself for letting them do this. He got up and went in the opposite direction as he tried to find them. When there, Nathan uncloaked everyone and immediately went to transforming Aka into Tsunami. When she was, he turned to Kira. "Okay Kira, now perform you shadow clone juts and hide in the bushes... I'll be over here charging my chakra." He went over to the deep underbrush as he began to charge his chakra for his juts. Kira did as she was asked, leaving Aka in Tsunami form left alone." Ichiro? I need to talk with you!" Aka called out in Tsunamis voice, trying to get him to come to her. Cairo's ears perked up as he heard Tsunami. "Tsunami?" He walked through the woods until he saw her. He wondered what she was doing here. Furthermore, he walked over to Tsunami and spoke to her with a confused look on his face. "Lady Tsunami, what're you doing out here? I'm training my students. What do you need of me?" "Just bored. So much damn paper work and Seizure won't get off my case. So, I snuck out came here. I knew you were here, so I figured........couldn't hurt to have some company." Aka replied with a smile. "Some company? Why me of all people? Eh, doesn't matter now anyway...you're here right now so might as well make the best of it. So Tsunami, what do you want to talk about or do? You want company, I'm sure I can give my students some time off...besides, I think now is their lunch break." "Anything but paper work sounds good to me." Aka replied, laughing lightly, making sure Tsunamis famous breasts jiggled as she did so. Despite being innocent, she was putting on a damn good show. "Oh...right...then perhaps we could...you know, for old times sake?" HE said as he moved over to her and placed a hand on one of her breasts. He began to play with them to please Tsunami. "You saved me a few years ago, and right afterward we had the best night of our lives...want to relive that moment Tsunami?"(BRB. I have to take a quick shower.) ((And I must be heading off. So, I'll respond when I get on tomorrow.)) (Alright then, talk to you later.) Him and Tsunami? Aka couldn't believe it she did that, but she stayed in character." Awfully daring, considering we're in the middle of the woods with your students possible coming across us at any time." Aka replied. "I know...isn't it the perfect little scene for us?" He continued to massage and play with her breast. Nathan saw the whole thing while he was charging and hoped Kira wouldn't snap and attack too early, nor would he hope that Aka would lose control of her keeping the costume on. "Just a little longer..." Nathan mumbled to himself. "Oh yea. Me bent over a log, screaming your name in pleasure." Aka replied in a seductive tone, hoping Nathan hurried. But if she had to, she'd "take one for the team" and do him as Tsunami if it came down to it. Cairo smirked and grabbed the cleavage of her clothes and gently brought them down to reveal her large breasts. Cairo smiled and began to play with the nipples of each breast. Nathan was almost there. Just a few more seconds of charging and then he'd be ready. "Kira...don't snap...don't snap..." He mumbled to himself as if wishing. Kira kept her cool, but was surprised to hear Aka letting out true moans of pleasure. Even the most innocent girls need love. Cairo smirked as he suddenly moved her breast up to his mouth and began to lick and suck on her nipple, but to his surprise, Nathan suddenly called out. "Now Kira!" This was the signal for Aka to get the hell away from Cairo and for Kira to send the shadow clones to pin down Cairo. All the while, Nathan began to do hand signs until finally he yelled out. "Water Style: Icicle Storm Juts!" Above Cairo, a large cloud began to form and small, spiked hail began to fall violently from the cloud. Nathan fell to his knees tired from the chakra consumption and hoped that this would work. Aka didn't seem to hear for a bit, letting Cairo have his fun, but she jumped back in time just as a swarm of Kira's pounced on Cairo and the juts hit." Did we get him?" she asked, still in Tsunami form as she pulled the loose top over her breasts./ "Not quite" Cairo said as he appeared behind Aka and attacked her from behind, sending her off into the bushes. "Not bad kid, that's a pretty good juts, but I'm faster than you think I am, and more cunning. You think I actually slept with Tsunami? Ha, in my dreams. Though I have to Adm-" He was cut off with him being attacked from behind by Nathan. Though, in doing so he grabbed the bells and smirked. "Ha! This is my water clone! Not as good as a shadow clone, but still just as effective! Hey girls, we got the bells!" "YAY!" Aka exclaimed, hopping out of the bushes and running to Nathan, holding him in a big hug, and since she was still in Tsunami form, her large chest was pressed against Nathan firmly." Not bad kid." Kira added, coming up and doing the same, pressing the chest up against him. She was doing this to just tease Cairo though. Nathan blushed and seemed to melt between the two sets of large breasts pushing together against him. "Oh ladies please... I'm breathless over here...no really...ACK...this was fine at first but..." He started to turn a bit blue. Ichiro stood up and brushed the dirt off of him before smiling. "Good job you three. You all learned how to work together, and that's something every ninja needs to know. For now, how about I treat everyone to a bowl of ramen at Chiral?" "Sounds good." Both girls replied in unison, casually stepping away from Nathan and letting him drop to the ground, Aka turning back to herself in a puff of smoke. Nathan soon regained composure and stood up. Wiping away the blush from his cheeks, he turned and nodded. "Of course. Thanks Cairo..." Though in the back of his mind, he was saying "Old pervert...". "Hey guys, I have to head somewhere though...maybe some other time I'll take you up on that offer." Nathan smiled and turned before walking off back toward Sonoma. "Huh...wonder where he's going." Cairo said before turning to the girls. "Ready to go?" "Sure." Kira replied, Aka happily nodding her head as she locked arms with her sister, ready to go with him to the ramen stand. Cairo nodded and began to walk back toward Sonoma as well, though when they got there, he turned and headed for Chiral. After paying for the food, he sat back and watched as the bowls of ramen were placed in front of the girls. "Dig in." He chuckled and sat back to watch them. Aka dug right in, while Kira ate a good bit more lady like. Though, it was still a sensual show to see her suck up the noodles past those sultry lips of hers. Cairo raised an eyebrow as he watched Kira but chuckled. Then he remembered how Nathan had to leave so suddenly. "Hey...either of you two know where Nathan went? I would've figured he'd jump at the chance for free ramen." "Not a clue. He didn't say anything about it." Kira replied, shrugging her shoulders as Aka worked on her second bowl. "Would one of you mind go checking on him when you get a chance? Tell him that we're all meeting tomorrow at the academy, alright? The instructors have a little gift for teams that pass. The headbands and a special 'nickname' you can go by. They thought Lenin would think it's cool to have their own nicknames." "Ugh........ I'll go. I can't eat another bite." Aka replied, groaning from being too full as she got up from her seat and went off to find Nathan while Kira was left alone with their pervert teacher. "Well, how're you enjoying the food Kira?" He said feeling a bit awkward now that they had nothing to talk about pretty much. Cairo was just trying to make small talk, though before she could answer, he pulled out his Ichi book and resumed reading. Nathan was at the cemetery and standing over a grave. He smiled and kneeled down as he spoke to the grave. "Well... I did it, I finally fulfilled our dream... I'm a ninja Zack..." Zack was Nathan's best friend. Growing up, they had always wanted to be true ninjas, though over time Zack was caught with an illness and later died. Nathan continued on their dream and now finally it came true. He pulled out the book before Kira could answer, but she didn't seem to mind. Glancing over at him, she smiled a bit." This issue any good? I found the last one to be a tad on the boring side." she said, a secret fan of the series herself." Zack a friend of yours?" Aka asked as she came up behind him, a gentle smile on her face. "It was alright, it was more like a kids version really...as weird as that sounds. What I mean is that there were just minor things. Kissing and hugging, all that blah. They didn't even mention any of the good stuff." Nathan turned to see Aka and then turned back to the grave. He sighed before standing up. "Yeah...he was my best childhood friend until he died of a sickness. The best medic ninja couldn't do a thing to help him...said it was something they've never handled before. He's the reason I've been trying so hard to be a ninja." "I know. It's at its best when they get right to the action. I particularly like the one where the guy and girl have ramen for supper, then end up doing it right there in the stand." Kira replied with a nod of her head. Not caring that they were in the same type of scene, but without the sex......for the moment." I know what you mean. Mine and Kira's parents died when we were young, and we both try out hardest to become ninja to make them proud. It's our whole reason for training as much as we do.' Aka explained. Cairo put the book away and got up. He moved over to sit beside Kira and smiled. "Yeah... I particularly like that scene. I like it even better when I get to see a reenactment of it in my travels at special kinds of plays...want to join me in one?" He said, pretty much offering to have sex with her right then and now. Nathan smiled. "You two would've made your parents proud. I'm sure of it." He smiled and patted her shoulder. "Hey... Aki...do you think.... Kira and I have a shot at it.......?" He said wondering. HE felt he really connected to her in the forest earlier, so he wondered if things could actually happen. "He-he, I don't think lady Tsunami would be too happy about that." Kira replied, smiling lightly, not moving away........and not saying no." Hard to say really. She never really talks about that type of stuff, so I don't really know anything about her taste in men." Aka explained. "Ha...so? I already said nothing ever happened between us...besides...what good is a dick if you can't even use it...y'know?"" I see...well, that's pretty understandable... I thought she would've told you though. She told me about how she always hangs out with her little sister and such." He chuckled. "Where are they? Still at Chiral? I could go for a bowl of Ramen right now." "And I take you REALLY know how to use it, Hamm." Kira asked, stilling playing it cool and eating her ramen while they continued to flirt." Well, we do, but she doesn't talk about that kind of stuff. And as for ramen......... I already had like five bowls. I'd prefer some sweets or something." Aka replied. "Yeah... I do actually...perhaps I could show you just how well I can use it?" He said as he moved closer to her on the seat." Eh... I'm hungry. I'm about to head to Chiral. Here." He pulled out of his pocket some money. "Go buy something from the candy store, on me. Or whatever you want to spend it on." And with that, he headed toward Chiral at a slow pace. "I hope so. I don't give myself to just any man." Kira replied, smiling as he scooted closer." Have fun with that. Don't be surprised if the place is packed with guys from our class hitting on her." Aka replied. Cairo smiled as he wrapped an arm around Kira and pulled her closer. "So...shall we get straight to business then Kira?" He said as his hand reached under her large breast and moved it up and down. Nathan chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised either." He called out to her as he continued to walk. "If you're brave enough to do so with the risk of being caught at any time." Kira replied, smiling. Since this was just a stand and not a full restraint, they weren't really hidden at all. Anybody who might be out walking at night could easily spot them. "Of course..." He said as he slowly leaned his head in close to her lips, but suddenly jerked back with a smile. "Just playing. I already told you. I don't want relationships with my students. You've still got nothing on Tsunami." He chuckled and patted her shoulder before getting up to leave Chiral, but after he left, Nathan had walked in from the side entrance. "Hey....where's Cairo? Damn... I wanted my free ramen..." "Annoying little......" Kira cursed under her breath at the old man getting her so turned on, but pulling this crap." He just left. Probably to go read those books of his." Kira replied, reluctantly going back to finished her meal since the naughty plans she had had fallen through. "Damn..." Seeing he was now alone with Kira, he took a seat next to her and ordered a bowl of ramen and paid for it with his money. "Well, there goes this week's cash...haha. So, the food good today Kira? Hm...what's wrong? You seem a bit annoyed." "Nah, I'm fine. And yea, it's good. Good as it always is." Kira replied, smiling lightly at him. Though, in her mind, she was thinking how she was going to seduce her teacher. She liked a challenge and having him turn her down twice just made her determined to get him in her pants one way or another. When the food came, Nathan began to eat, but things were a bit quiet and awkward. He wondered if he should ask? "U-Um Kira... I was wondering...what kind of guy are you into...?" After he asked that, he stuffed his mouth with a large amount of ramen due to his nervousness causing him to freak out a bit because he'd actually asked that. "Hmm mm, never really thought about it before. Don't really have time with that type of stuff with all the training and studying and what not." Kira replied with a shrug, not thinking too hard on it. "W-Well... Ahem..." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath before looking at her seriously. "Would you like to...do something sometime maybe Kira?" Ichiro headed back to Tsunami's place to report on the success of Squad 4 and how they would await for the next mission they would be assigned to. "Like what?" Kira asked, rather unskilled in the matters of dating." How'd the exam go?" Tsunami asked Cairo when he reached her awesome, a few candles keeping her office lit, as she found the more relaxing than a lamp. "You know...like maybe...seeing a movie...or going for a nice walk...or training...m-maybe I can teach you how to use Camouflage?" He said as he continued to eat his ramen, a bit more relaxed now that the big question was out of the way." It went well...though, the students almost had me by playing a prank by transforming into you and trying to seduce me haha. I'm far too cunning for that...but damn, they caught me off guard during one of my speeches." "Sure, never hurts to have more training I guess." Kira replied, unaware of the implications that it was a date." Did this prank work?" Tsunami asked with a chuckle and a smile as she leaned back in her chair. Nathan smiled and seemed a bit more cheerful now. "Alright then...when should we train then? When are you free...?" He said as he finished his bowl and pushed it aside." Er...yes...somewhat anyway...it wasn't until I had a good feel on the fake's breasts that I knew it was a fake..." He felt embarrassed to say, especially toward the homage about this. "Tomorrow I guess. It's when me and Aka usually train together." Kira replied." Hehe, really now? You must have a skilled hand then." Tsunami replied, finding it rather humorous. "W-Wait...your sister is going to be there too Kira...?" He said confused as he looked at her." I guess you could say I do. Perhaps later on I can show you just how skilled my hands really are." He said jokingly toward Tsunami as he walked over to one of the nearby sofas and sat down as he looked out toward the Homage Mountain. "Yea, is that a problem?" Kira asked, still unaware he was trying to get a date." Daring to hear a guy offer that to his homage." Tsunami replied with smile." Daring........and intriguing." she added with a wink. "But I thought we were going to be on a date..... Aki is kind of like a third wheel if she comes..." He said still a bit confused at what she was thinking. Ichiro chuckled. "Intriguing, yes. Daring, not really...its more of...wistful fun with a friend, think of it like that. It sounds more 'intriguing.'" "A-A date.........that's what you wanted?" Kira asked, rather surprised." Friends with benefits, it sounds like." Tsunami replied, seductively drawing her finger up and down the crevice between her breasts. "Yeah... I thought you knew what I meant when I seemed so nervous the first time I asked you..."" Yes...that. Friends with benefits." He smiled and watched her do what she was doing with her finger, though he was moreover looking at her breasts. "If you want it Lady Tsunami, let me know... I can do anything you want me to do to you." "Well, not really. I'm not exactly experienced in this whole dating thing." Kira explained." Well, I think we both want the same thing." Tsunami replied, smiling. Sure she was homage, but she was also a woman that hadn't gotten laid in far too long. "Well...don't think of it as dating...just think of it as...time spent together with someone you might share special feelings for...?""Oh, you know it baby." He got up off the couch and went over to her. He moved behind her while she sat in the chair and began to massage her shoulders soothingly before slowly his hands trailed lower and lower until he was now massaging her giant breasts. "He, slow down their turbo. A tad hard to fall in love with someone you've only known for hours. Let's just do this training date thing first and see how things go." Kira replied, chuckling. Tsunade just leaned back, giving him better access, letting out a relaxed moan as she let him do whatever he wanted. "I never said love... I meant more like...special friends maybe...? But alright...yeah... I seem to be getting ahead of myself... I didn't mean to...haha sorry..." He smiled and stood up before looking at her. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow. See ya Kira." He turned and left the place to go home." So Tsunami...how're you feeling?" "VERY good......" Tsunami replied in a half moan, relaxed and feeling such pleasure. "I aim to please Lady Tsunami...the only way this could possibly get worse is if that stuck up Seizure walks in here." He continued to massage her breasts, but one hand went lower and slipped into her pants to start rubbing her bare pussy. "She's not........too bad." Tsunami replied, the break in speech coming out from a loud moan from his wandering hand downstairs. "Oh? And why is that? Seizure could really use a break and someone to...loosen her up." He said jokingly as he continued to finger her and massage her as he spoke to her. "She does need someone. But, she'd take a good bit of convincing to get her out of that robe." Tsunami replied, barely able to get out a single word between moans. "An idea just hatched in my brain Tsunami...perhaps...later tonight when Seizure is asleep, we sneak into her room and see just how far we can get with the stuck up girl, huh?" He said as he slipped a second finger into her as he continued to finger her. He went faster now and was determined to make her orgasm. "I wouldn't. She keeps those needles with her at all times. She wakes up, we'll both end up dead minutes after." Tsunami replied, still moaning, but being completely serious. "Damn, Isn't she supposed to be 'so loyal to you that she'd stop a lunar' for you? Or something like that, rumors be going around a lot nowadays." He could feel her getting more wet by the second, which made it easier for him to slip in a third finger as he fingered her. "She is, but she's also on guard at all times and waking her up that way is just a bad idea." tsunami replied, moans getting louder and louder. "Then perhaps another approach will be necessary...any you can think of? Perhaps...and I know this is a bit vile...perhaps she could train one of my students... Shizune is a master of long-ranged weapons is she not? I've also got a student like it...and he's like a miniature me. Maybe over time...you know..." He said as his fingers dug deeper and deeper into her pussy with each pull and push. "How bout we just enjoy OUR time together, and work on naughty plans after." Tsunami replied, writhing in absolute pleasure. "You're right. But you're being a bit stingy ain'tTCA? I'm over here working my fingers off along your beautiful body while my cock has to wait for some attention of its own...maybe It's time you showed it some attention...?" After he said this, he moved his other hand down to her pussy and began to alternate between three fingers on both hands that would enter. It was like many little fingers going into her in different spots at rapidly changing times as he tried to get her to orgasm. He knew she's pay him back easily...or at least he hoped. "He, sounds like you think that you're the homage here." Tsunami replied, moans getting louder and breathing getting quicker as he almost had her to the brink. "Haha...you're right, I'm just happy to be here...now then..." He pulled his hands out and did a few hand signs. He slammed his palm on the ground and a dildo appeared. Furthermore, he picked it up and went back over to her. "Lets use this now shall we? My fingers are oh so wet and numb." He gripped the dildo and slowly stuck it into her pussy until it was all the way inside. He left it there and let her pants keep it in as he flipped the vibration on and left it there, vibrating inside her pussy while he stood there going back to massage her breasts with his wet fingers. ((For future reference, I'm not a very big fan of sex toys.)) Tsunade was quite surprised by his actions, so much going on at once, pleasure coming from all sides. (Oh my bad. Sorry, sorry.) Ichiro smirked and began to kiss up and down her neck as all that was on went on. "Go on...release, I know you want to Lady Tsunami...release the pressure building up." Tsunami could no longer talk. All her will power was going to holding back and prolonging this as long as possible. But, it was just building up more and more and would soon be like a dam breaking. Cairo reached down to her nipples and began to play with them as he continued to kiss up and down her neck. He could feel them hardening between his fingers because of his touch and he could tell Tsunami wouldn't last any longer. He just had to keep this up until she would finally orgasm. And he finally got his wish. Crying out in pleasure, body jerking and twitching violently, the dam broke, and her juices just gushed forth, coating his fingers and her pants. Cairo smiled and snapped his fingers, the dildo disappeared, and he turned Tsunami's chair around so he could see her. "Well, well...seems like you had a lot of pent-up pressure... I'm glad I could get it out for you Tsunami." He smiled and padded her cheek. "Now then...anything else we should discuss before I might head home Lady Tsunami?" ((I'm going to go ahead and skip ahead to the team heading out for their mission.))" Our first mission......and it's to help build a bridge. I'm all for doing what I'm told..........but doesn't this seem very......un ninja like?" Aka asked Kira, as her, her sister and Nathan stood at the gate leading out-of-town waiting for their teacher to arrive. As usual, he was late. Aka figured it was important business, as he was hanging around Tsunami an awful lot. Though, Kira and Nathan weren't naive enough to believe that and knew full well that the reason he was always with her, was because the two did it like rabbits." I agree. But, you never know. Could be more important than it seems." Kira replied, leaning up against the gate. They had been a team now for a couple of weeks, and were already becoming a close-knit group. Kira was still determined to get Cairo between her legs after he turned her down earlier, but had yet to succeed. She had come close a few times, and was wearing him down. But, he had yet to take the plunge.((For that last part, Kira won't necessarily pair up romantically with Cairo. Just, she's used to her flirting always working, so she takes getting Cairo in the sack as a challenge. She will eventually succeed as Cairo will try resisting her, but say to hell with it and ravage her eight ways from Sunday. She could very well still end up with Nathan, but she's definitely going to be banging Cairo as well on multiple occasions. So, the pairings are still up in the air at the moment.)) "Ninja like or not, we've still gotta follow what we're ordered to do. You don't want to end up like...those KIA, do you? You remember how that day of 'training' with Cairo was just...him reminiscing about his old fallen comrades and such. I doubt we'll be on that list so long as we do as we're told like good little ninja." He said smirking a bit as if trying to tease Kira. He was leaning against the gate as he looked off trying to see if Cairo would arrive. Minutes later Cairo still had not arrived. Nathan sighed as he looked around to Kira and then Aka before sighing. "Forget what I said...you two can wait on him, I'm going to go. We already know the checkpoint to meet the bridge builder so, I'll meet you all there." He said as he turned to leave. Several minutes later Cairo arrived, reading one of his books. He looked up and saw Nathan was gone. "Where'd the runt go?" "He got tired of waiting, so he went on ahead. Kira followed him soon after. Guess it's just you and me for now master." Aka replied, smiling sweetly at him. In the past weeks of her training, she now looked a tad different. Her body was now more tight and trim. That, and she now wore a skimpier outfit, showing plenty of legs and cleavage. The skimpiness wasn't entirely intentional, as it was meant to give her increased ability to move, as Aka's style was all about speed. She made a great combination. Sweet and innocent personality in a body just as good as her sisters. Not to mention, she always SO eager to please..... Cairo blinked hearing that the other two went on. He sighed and shook his head. He guessed traveling with Aka wouldn't be so bad, though he'd still have no relations with his students...though Kira came dangerously close several times before, he almost gave in. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he smiled at Aka and nodded as he patted her shoulder when he passed her. "Let's get going then. Let's walk slow and piss them off by making them wait longer, huh? Haha." He said as he continued to walk, though he waited for Aka by walking slowly. His students...all having unique personalities of their own and specialties. Kira, the physical fighter and seductress. Nathan, the ranged master and perverted hot-head. And Aka, the speedy devil that puts a beast tamer to shame. He smiled as he thought about all this. "He-he, good idea master." Aka replied, giggling as she ran to catch up, settling into a pace just ahead of him, her firm behind wiggling with each step. She didn't do it on purpose. Just how she walked.((I agree that him hooking up with Aka wouldn't be a good idea just yet, but I got an idea for when they eventually reach the other two and set up camp, he has a naughty dream...........surprised that it's about sweet little Aka, instead of the succubus Kira, who's actually trying to get him in bed. Just a playful little nod to how the pairings seem likely to work out.^_^)) (OOO that sounds fun! Lol. Want to RP out the dream or just say he had a dream so he'd act all surprised and distant around Aka, nervous also to a point to cause a lot of mishaps and such lol.) Ichiro raised an eyebrow. In so little time it seemed little Aka had grown up into a woman, she even walked like it now. He chuckled as they approached the shack at the nearby checkpoint that they'd be meeting Kira, Nathan, and the bridge builder in. Nathan and the bridge builder Mist were in a heated conversation about how ninja were important and not useless beings that are good for nothing but destruction. They were literally head to head as they growled at each other, arguing and not even caring what Kira was saying. ((Play out the dream, and have him act all awkward around Aka the next morning as he tends to dream about Tsunami, and he wonders why she replaced Tsunami in his dream. Sure, the pairings are still in the air, but based on events so far, it seems likely KiraxNathan and AkixIchiro will be the eventual couples.))" Uh-oh, sounds like Nathan's arguing with the bridge builder guy......... Should we stay out of it?" Aka asked as her and Cairo stopped a way before the shack where the argument was taking place. Kira had tried to calm the two down, but since they both seemed to not even hear her, she stopped and just leaned up against the wall, waiting for them to eventually run out of steam. (Pretty much ha, though like you said. Pairings are still in the open, and we still have the possibilities of bringing in more main character/side character OCs. I know I will later but it's your choice if you want to.) Soon there was a loud thud within the shack and Cairo shook his head. "C'mon, let's stop it not before another body drops I guess." He said chuckling as he walked in. Looking inside the shack, he saw Kira against the wall with the bridge builder Mist holding a bar stool in his hands with Nathan on the ground with a goofy, dazed look. "Aye...guess you didn't like the fish joke..." He said as he rubbed his head. Cairo shook his head. "Kira, what went on? Aka, wrap Nathan's bandages. And you Mr. Mist, are you ready to begin departure for the Village Hidden in the Mist?" ((I don't think I'll make anymore OC's myself. But yea, Kira and Nathan had that sweet little moment earlier and there's definitely a spark there. Cairo and Kira will have a kind of father, daughter type thing where she really looks up to him, and he has a soft spot for her, both of which can very easily turn into romantic feelings. Plus........ Aki already has a crush on Cairo.^_^ She'll have developed it during this past few weeks of training. )"I honestly don't know. We got here, I stepped out for a moment. When I came back, they were at each other's throats." Kira explained with a sigh while Aka went about doing what she was told. (Ah I see. Alrighty then. Though you might have to bring in OCs for new events we make up, though you don't have to keep them or nothing. I got a kinda plot we can do for the next mission but let's wait on discussing it seeing as how we just started this one lol.) Ichiro shook his head. Mist growled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready to go. Let's just get this over with..." He said as he left out the door, forgetting about Aka and Nathan. Cairo walked out and followed Mist. "Sounds like you're pretty eager for a D-Rank mission to be over. It's just a simple escort buddy, you should take some time to enjoy the scenery in the leaf Village area. C'mon you three, let's go." Mist just growled as he kept on going. ((Yea, I'll probably bring in some temporaries. I just meant these two girls will be my only main OCs.)) The two sisters followed after soon after, Kira half dragging Nathan with them as Aka hurried to walk with master." He's sure..........cranky." she whispered to him. (Ah okay)Cairo shook his head. "He's...eh, I agree. There's probably a reason for such though. Hm...well, if you think about it, the Village Hidden in the Mist isn't a very strong country, devoid of power and war. They don't really think of ninja as human beings, more of tools for war, but apparently they can make exceptions for escorts." He said as he continued. Nathan was mumbling some stuff in his head as Cairo took the rope dragging Nathan. "So... Mr. Mist, how long before we get there?" Mist shrugged. "A day or two if you don't slow me down, especially that one." He said referring to Nathan. Aka giggled at how they made fun of Nathan." So mister, what's it like building bridges for a living?" Aka asked curiously, moving to walk next to the man. Being shorter than he was, just looking down, he'd have a GREAT view down the top of her shirt. Looking down, Mist's jaw dropped a bit but not noticeably as he saw her massively large cleavage due to her outfitting. Hiding the blush with his tanned face in the afternoon sky, he looked forward again, not really showing as much despise to her like he did the others. "It pays the bills...It's moreover a job you're only worth doing if you manage to survive how dangerous it is." He said a bit ominously as Cairo raised an eyebrow to his statement. "How's it dangerous?" Kira asked, very curious as she moved closer, her silky smooth thigh ever so lightly brushing against his leg. Mist noticed what he said and shook his head, looking away from her as she felt her thigh against his leg. "Nothing, It's nothing don't worry about it...we're about to approach the checkpoint, just let me talk to the Mist Guards alright? They'll let us through once I tell them of who I am." Cairo nodded and ordered Aka to take Nathan again as he and Mist approached the three Mist Guards at the gate. "Ah, I wanted to talk with him some more." Aka replied, pouting." It's alright. I'm strong enough to drag his moronic ass." Kira chimed in, causing Aka to smile brightly as she hurried ahead, standing with Mist as he talked to the guards. She was always like this, especially with older men as she took their fathers' death especially hard. Nathan seemed to regain consciousness and looked around confused. "Where am I...why does my head hurt?" He said as he tried to rub it, but couldn't. "Why am I tied up...?" Ichiro and Mist continued to talk to the guards, telling of who he was and one went in the back to try and confirm this with listed residents while the other two stayed and kept them out for now. Aka stood between the two men, making an odd sight for such a sweet little thing to stand between two such grizzled looking older gentlemen. But, she didn't mind, smiling away as she just stood there and listened." Got your ass knocked out........again." Kira explained with a sigh as she let the rope drop, leaving him just laying on the ground. Nathan began to untangle himself as he squirmed about in the dirt like a worm. Soon he was up and brushing himself off. "That damn bridge builder hit me with a damn stool when my back was turned... Gaaah..." He said disappointed in himself for letting such a feeble and low attack hit him. He crouched down and began to play in the dirt feeling shame. Ichiro sighed and turned to Mist. "How much longer?" Mist shrugged. "It doesn't usually take this long..." "Could something be wrong in there?" Aka asked curiously, looking between the two men, completely unaware of the lecherous glances she was getting from the guards.((If you're up for it, I was thinking we could possibly have the guards invite Aka back to check on things, only to start fondling her and then tell her they won't let them through unless she does them. So, she takes one of the team, does all three guards, and things go on fine, with her of course, never telling the other members of the team what happened.)) (Sure if you want.) One of the guards sneered, but it was hidden by the masks they wore to cover their face except for their eyes. "Perhaps we could use someone's assistance." The other guard came back. "We need someone small to fit into a hole that I dropped the safe key in...can you come and help us miss?" The guard said to Aka, the three of them smirking under their masks. Cairo didn't find anything weird about this, though Mist was growing annoyed. "Sure." Aka replied, always willing to help. Heading in, once the door was shut, she was a lead to a room off in the back, where all three guards were in with her, shutting the door behind them." Where's this hole?" she asked, not worried or anything. One of the guards began to perform a juts to turn the shack into a soundproof one. The other two walked over and each grabbed Aka by her arms, smirking and chuckling. "Right here." The third guard said as he walked over and began to rub Aka's pussy. "H-Hey.......stop the......." aka objected, but gasped when he touched her naughty ethers. Unlike Kira, she wasn't used to this type of stuff, and couldn't do a good job of holding back involuntary moans. "See, just recently we put up a little...toll for pretty girls that walk by...let us have our way with you, and we won't have to kill your friends. 'Mist' as he calls himself, isn't a part of the Mist village..." He said as he continued to rub her, though he reached into her undergarments now so he rubbed her bare pussy. "C-Can you at least.........let my arms go.......if I agree?" Aka replied, finding it even harder to keep herself quite when his hand slid into her panties." I'll do what y'all want..........as long as you let all of us through......." she added. "All huh...might want to convince us to let 'all' of you in. That adult ninja looked rather intimidating, and the woman in the back seemed like a good catch as well." He ordered the guards to let her go as he walked over and began to slowly slide a finger into her. "H-How?" Aka asked as her arms were freed, resting on the shoulders of the man molesting her. The other guards began to strip down but kept their masks on to hide their identity. The guard molesting her reached down and zipped his zipper down to pull out his erect cock. "I can think of a few ways...three of us, one of you...oh yeah..." HE said as he took her hand and forced it up and down his cock, but made sure she wouldn't try anything to harm him. Aka had no intention of harming him, as she always stuck to her word. So, she willingly started to give him a hand job soon after." A-Alright......." Aka replied, stilling pleasuring the man before her a dropped to her knees, other hand going to another men cock while her mouth went wide open and accepted the remaining into her mouth, The men crowded around her and stood there as she pleasured all three. The one she was blowing had his hand on her head and helped her go back and forth on him. "C'mon, you can go faster than that, can't you? Gah, your hand is so boring." The third guard said as he reached down and grabbed her by her undergarments off. "Well, well...looks so delicious down there." Though the whole time this went on, the guards made sure her mouth never left the other guard's cock. It took her a while to get into a groove, but soon, Aka was pleasuring them all like a "pro", hands moving at a furious pace, mouthing working the other, her tongue getting involved for added pleasure. It would seem miss nice and innocent had some secret, naughty talents. The men smirked as one went down to her waist and began to feel up her pussy before slowly he went and stuck his cock into her. "How's that feel virgin ninja?" He said as she continued to blow and rub the other guards. Nathan was sitting against the wall of the gates as they waited. "What's taking Aka so long to pick up a damn key from a hole...?" Cairo shrugged and Mist continued to grumble. "I say we go on without her, she can catch up." Mist said as he was slowly growing more and more impatient. ((You know, that would make a great skip scene. I am enjoying the sex scene, but I think it might work better to skip to them just about to leave without her, only to have the doors open, with her and the three guards with big smiles on all their faces as they let them through, with her winking and blowing them kisses as the group passes through.))" So........good........" Aka replied, taking charge and going right to grinding her hips against the man beneath her. (Wait so go ahead and skip this then? Just making completely sure I got that.) The guards smirked seeing she was getting into it and continued to do as they did. Nathan finally got up after a few moments and sighed. "Regrettably... I'm all for going with Mist. This is taking too long and I just want to get started on the next mission Cairo." Cairo shrugged. "You all go on then, keep Mist safe. I'll stay and wait for Aka, she doesn't know the way, probably." ((Yea, skip it. Great scene and all, but the primary focus is still the team and their relationship with each other.)) Kira nodded, taking Nathan and going with Miata. It was quite a while later that the doors finally opened and Aka came walking back out, the three guards behind her. Whatever went on, they all seemed very happy about it, as they were all smiling brightly." See you guys later." she excitedly proclaimed, blowing them kisses as she went to stand with Cairo." Shall we go then?" she asked. A skilled pervert like Cairo would probably be able to guess what she did in there with those men. And with the smiles on their faces, he'd also know that she must have been VERY good at it. Seeing them off, Cairo turned to the doors into the shack and waited. When they finally came out, Cairo's eyebrow raised seeing all that went on. The smell of sweat burst through the doors when they opened, and they were all smiling to one another. He didn't say anything yet, he simply went ahead and walked with Aka. When they were gone, he chuckled at her. "Seems little miss innocent isn't as innocent as we seem. So, your first time being with three guys at once? Damn." He said with a smile, knowing. "He-he, yea. And only my second time with any guy. Well, at least full on sex....." Aka explained. Being only her second time, Aka obviously had a great deal of natural skill." Don't tell Kira though. She always gets in such a huff when it comes to me and this type of stuff." she added." Wasn't too bad. Though, I'm not sure how I feel about having it up the butt. It's hard to walk right now." she said, gently rubbing her somewhat sore behind. Cairo chuckled. "I expect you would be, your first time is always your worst, or so I hear from girls. Just...give it a while. If you need to, I can carry you over to the others until you can walk. Just say your sprained your ankle or something." "He-he, you're so sweet master. But it's alright, I can walk fine. Just, if Kira asks why I'm walking funny, just say something like since I took so long, you spanked me as punishment." Aka suggested as they continued on down the road, chatting away. "Er..." He began to wonder about the punishment HE might receive if he said that. The fact Kira was trying to get him between her legs and the fact he had made it seem like he spanked her, Kira might be angry...but he was a gambler. "Yeah...sure..." He said as he approached the others. They were at a bridge over a large ravine, the bridge was a rope one that would sway in strong winds. "Why'd you stop here?" Nathan pointed across. "Two ninja...they're just standing there, we thought we'd stay here until you got here Cairo."(Whether they're those puddle ninja or Abuzz and Baku is your choice, I can RP the puddle ninja.) "If it'll make you feel better........you can spank me later so you're no lying." Aka replied with a wink, hopping in front of him, bending over and wiggling her firm rump to him before giggling, blowing him a kiss and then hurrying on, finding Kira and Nathan a short ways down the road, listening to the explanation about why they were stopped there.((I'd go with the puddle ninja. Save fem Abuzz for later for a funny, pervy intro.^_^)) (lol alright then.) Ichiro frowned and ordered for the three Lenin to stay back with Mist. He walked over and glared at the puddle ninja, them smirking and explaining about how they were there to kill them and some nonsense about them being the toll keepers for the bridge. The whole time they were talking however, Cairo began to perform a juts that sent out leaves at them, piercing them and leaving them weak. He chuckled and ordered for the Lenin to bring Mist over the bridge while he went over to deal with them.(I have an idea, they get separated from Cairo that way later on when you do bring them in, they'd have to go 3v1 on Baku and 1v1 Abuzz. Though the pervy intro can be there still with the minus of Nathan, though he's still going to be the same for Baku lol.) ((Yea, the pervy intro will mainly involve Abuzz and Aka. So Nathan not being involved won't matter much. When they get separated, Kira and Nathan will end up running into Baku while Aka runs into Abuzz in a way like Naruto did with Baku where Aka has no idea Abuzz is an enemy, and they have a fairly pleasant time together. It'll happen when Aka just happens to accidentally wander upon Abuzz bathing in a hot spring, and will find herself unable to look away from her marvelous body.))" Wow, he's such a great ninja........" Aka said in admiration as she watched Cairo dispatch the ninjas with ease, with Kira looking over and rolling her eyes, knowing full well that Aka had a crush on this old perv. She didn't say anything, as she knew there was nothing she could do about it. When they seemed down and across the bridge, one of the puddle ninja threw a shrike, cutting one of the ropes of the bridge causing it to number. Nathan reacted immediately and grabbed Kira and Mist as they fell, using his body as a cushion for them. Cairo turned, but it was too late the save them, he turned around and quickly disposed of the ninja maliciously. "Crap!" He said as he looked over to the ones that fell down. In the chaos, Aka managed to jump to safety, but ended up tumbling down a hill to a small river below, leaving her a good way away from the rest of the group." Thanks." Kira asked, standing up off Nathan when they landed, immediately look around for Aka. She didn't freak out, as she knew full well Aka could handle herself, but she was still worried.((Up for playing Fem Abuzz in a bit? I'll intro her soon, then you can take over if you want. Personality wise, she'll be really nice and warm, like Baku was in the anime. And she'll also be like Tsunami in that she knows she has a mega nice body, and doesn't mind showing it off.)) (Yeah sure, I don't mind.) Nathan groaned under the weight above him as they had landed. Mist got up and thanked Nathan with a gruff voice as he helped the young ninja up. They began to follow Kira, though Nathan was limping. "Damn...can't believe we got caught off guard like that..." Mist was helping him walk, though Nathan might not last well in a fight. Ichiro meanwhile, cursed at himself for being fooled. He began to seek out the rest of his squad. ((Which'll be now, and since the other will just be trying to find each other, we can just focus on playing Aka and fem Abuzz and the naughty fun it could easily lead to.^_^.))" Ow, that's smarts......." Aka muttered to herself as she stood up, looking around at her surroundings. It was hard to see much, as there was a lot of fog everywhere for some reason. Soon though, she got some signs of human life, hearing the faint sound of.......humming. So, she began to follow it to it's source, running into a lot of stuff as it was very hard to see. But soon, a shadow appeared in the distance, looking quite like a human figure. Walking forward, the fog suddenly cleared, and she found herself on the edge of a hot springs, looking at the source of the humming. She was surprised to find it was a VERY beautiful woman. Aka couldn't help but gasp at the women incredibly beauty. Tsunami was famous for her looks, but this woman put even her to shame. Especially in the bosom department. If Tsunamis breaks were huge, then these were MAMMOTH. They were even bigger than Aka's head."Oh, my......" she suddenly said out loud, unable to look away from the naked beauty bathing in the hot springs. Abuzz heard the sudden murmur and looked up slowly and cautiously, though she still seemed just as peaceful as she was earlier. Turning her head, she saw Aka and a gentle smile came to her face as she looked at the girl, shying out about her presence in the springs. "Do not be alarmed young one...come...take a dip with me, it is exactly what these hot springs are for, cleansing. I heard a loud thud...was that you perhaps? You must be aching, come. Sit in the springs with me." "Y-Yea, I had a bit of a tumble, and now I'm sore all over......." Aka replied, casually taking her clothes off as if in a trance before slowly stepping into the hot springs."OOO, so warm and relaxing." she said a with a smile, looking Abuzz's curvy body up and down, before looking down at herself, a little shy when comparing her body to Abuzz's. Abuzz smiled, seeing she was sizing her up with herself. She swam over to Aka and patted her gently on her shoulder. "Its fine young one...you're still young, you have a lot of growing to do...and by the look of you, I'd say you might one day even put me into the dirt." She said referring to Aka's breasts. She smiled and placed her hands gently on them. "And they're soft too...enough to make any man melt to the touch." "I-I don't think I'll ever grow to that size. My sister Kira though, hers are almost bigger than yours, and she's still growing." Aka replied, gasping softly when Abuzz gently started touching her, "Really...? Oh, how the young have grown this generation...how are your wounds young one?" She said smiling as she removed her hands from her breasts as Abuzz got a little closer to her, a friendly smile on her face. Her breasts were almost brushed against Aka's arms. "Just some bruises and soreness, nothing serious........" Aka replied, breathing quickening just from Abuzz coming closer. She was getting shivers of pleasure just from Abuzz looking at her. Abuzz smiled and floated on her back, her wet breasts plainly visible. "This water is so relaxing...it's said to be heated from the underground volcano channels to the Village hidden in the fire but... I couldn't care less...this water is relaxing....if you're fine, you should go back to your sister... I'm sure she's worried about you for being gone so long." She said smiling to Aka; her body having floated so that her head lay beside Aka's breasts. "She'll be fine. I'd rather stay here with you........for a bit at least......." Aka replied, smiling down at Abuzz as she floated around her, reaching out to run her hand over the older women flat stomach." Wow, your skin is just so soft and smooth." she said, playfully running her fingertips gently over her stomach, Abuzz giggled as her fingers rubbed along her stomach. She sunk into the water and landed on her feet before starting to tickle Aka. "Tickle young one. Haha." She said as she continued to tickle her, smiling she had made a friend to add to the list of the few she had that weren't sex-crazed men or people who hired her. Someone she could truly call a friend. "He-he, hey, that's not fair." Aka replied, laughing up a storm as she started to playful splash Abuzz to get her to stop.((I was thinking, since we're going to have Abuzz survive by Cairo blackmailing her into sex, we could have Abuzz be a reoccurring character after a bit. You know, gets held prisoner for a while the eventually released to help serve the village.)) (Sure if you want. Just let me know whenever you want me to RP as her, she's moreover your character so just let me know.) Zabuza laughed and splashed back to Aka, having a wonderful time. She soon sank into the water until her head was the only bit above surface. She smiled and let out a deep, relaxed and joyous sigh. "This has been my favorite spa day yet. Thank you young one." She said smiling as she gave Aka a large hug, her breasts squishing into Aka's. ((Yea, I'll primarily control her.))" Hehe, I'm enjoying it as well miss Abuzz." Aka replied, arms wrapping around Abuzz's waist, returning the hug, before looking down at their pressed together breasts, looking back up at Abuzz with a smile. Abuzz smiled, and finally noticed that their breasts were mashed up together. She pulled away and blushed a bit to her friend. "Sorry...haha...they just get in the way a lot, and sometimes I forget just how big they really are." She reached over and placed her hands on Aka's again. "Yours are just the right size for most men who don't think bigger boobs are better. Though, It's hard to find those these days. They're the more...trustful ones." She hid the fact that the ones who did like her for her body were her sleazy employers. Even now, she was on a mission and was relaxing before she'd set off. "He-he, I can understand that. Still, I get my own share of unwanted attention. Just earlier, I had to fuck three bridge guards to get me and my friends across the bridge. They were quite pervy men." Aka replied, hands resting on Abuzz's shapely hips. "Really now...ah...to be young and a virgin...that's how I wish I was still. Though, the first time wasn't all that bad either. In fact, I had to do it...being a ninja...you'll have to do things you may think you'd regret but believe me...it should work out for you in the end...that's what I believe young one." Abuzz smiled and placed a hand gently on Aka's head. "He, no need to tell me. I'm actually a ninja myself. Though, only a Lenin. Just got out of the academy. Got stuck with a pervy teacher that seems to really like my perky little ass." Aka replied, laughing. Abuzz giggled and patted her gently on the head. "Maybe if you play your cards right, there might be a little...event where you two switch places...he is the Lenin and you the teacher." She said jokingly as she sank down to Aka's level to lay her head gently on her shoulder. "Ah... I wish I had someone of my own...someone truly to be mine." "Yea..........sounds good........" Aka replied, smiling as she held Abuzz, nuzzling her cheek with her own." To have someone to hold.........like this........all the time......." she said with contentment. Abuzz smiled as she looked up and gazed gently into Aka's eyes. "I'm sure there's someone out there....you just have to keep looking...they may be the person you last expect for all you know young one."(Going to have a sexual moment between these two or no? Just making sure before I make her go any further.) ((I'll say yes.))" Yes, could be the person right in front of you......." Aka replied, obviously referring to her with this little flirty back and forth. Abuzz smiled at her before caressing her cheek gently with her hand. She leaned in close, so their faces were only inches apart, her eyes never leaving Aka's. "Yes...it seems so..." She said as she gently placed her lips upon Aka's. Aka just closed her eyes, melting in Abuses arms as she returned the gentle, romance kiss. Abuzz wrapped her arms around Aka tighter as she continued the kiss. She pulled Aka close, so their breasts once again mashed together as they were warped together in this divining kiss. Abuzz pulled back and smiled at Aka, blushing. "I've never felt this way for a woman before young one...its...enchanting." "Same here. I've never felt this way about ANYONE.........and we've only just met. I guess there is something to the whole love at first sight thing." Aka replied, giggling as she felt so safe and warm in Abuzz's arms. (I have to go in 15 minutes, I'll try and be on around the same time if not sooner.) Zabuza smiled and nodded, wondering if she should go with what she really wanted to do. She bit her bottom lip as one of her hands trailed to Aka's ass and pressed her against herself more as Abuzz used her other hand to reach down and begin to finger Aka. "I... I'm surprised... I moved onto that this fast..." She said blushing a bit. ((Alright. I have to leave soon myself.))" P-Perhaps you're right.........maybe I'm more sexy than I realize......" Aka replied, moaning softly as Abuzz started to pleasure her with her hands. Abuzz continued to sink her finger into Aka's pussy as her other hand reached over to grab one of Aka's. She moved it over to her pussy and at the feel of it, her legs nearly gave out as she squirmed being sensitive down there to a woman's touch. "It feels so good..."

Naruto-Another World~me and Jugger|rating:2.0

The Five(IC)

AtrielAtriel Neural gazed out the window, eyes sweeping over the world. His world. He had made it. He had forged it from a pathetic ball of rock into this. Tokyo was his playground. New York City his office. The rest of the world a sandbox, one to be experimented on, and eventually improved on. Ariel had always been a proponent of progress, ever since he was born. He could never stand the slow learning of his peers, nor the idiocy and ignorance of his "superiors". He had been approached by Rasmussen when he was 5. Furthermore, he had become CEO when he was 12. This was his world. He'd be damned if he was going to let someone ruin it. He'd be damned if he was going to let an upstart challenge him. In his time as CEO, he had been issued at least ten challenges. None had ever been able to lay a fist on him. But this one-he infuriated Ariel. He had escaped him so far, hiding and sneaking like the little thief he was. But, in the end, it would be for nothing. He would find him, he would track him down, and he would rip his throat out. His cold, grating voice escaped his lips, "No matter where you run, no matter where you hide, I will find you." His lips spread into a rare smile. "And then-you will be mine." But, he'd need a new tool. New Seekers. His enemy was familiar with all the current packs. He'd need new dogs. He called for the Executives. Samuel Samuel Pickett sat in the library, flipping through another pile of books. It was the latest this evening, and the current stack included advanced thermodynamics, analytical chemistry, urban warfare, dog breeding, and advanced medicines. He didn't even notice the shadow looming over him until a hard, calloused hand reached down and snatched the book on thermodynamics from his hands. With an indignant start, Samuel spun around, finding himself standing under the reproachful gaze of a wizened old man. The old man wore long brown robes, a great white beard hanging from his chin, startlingly blue eyes shining, and long white hair falling to his shoulders. He was a stark contrast to the modern library, but oddly enough, no one seemed to notice him. The old man gazed at the cover of the book. "You waste your time on this, boy? Why, when you can devote your time to gaining so much more practical knowledge?" he asked, his voice laced heavily with disgust. Samuel was taken aback by the directness of the wizened figure. "Listen, I don't know what you're talking about, but how about you give me back that book, or I call security?" he replied. The old man smirked. "Hah! Precisely what I mean! You believe that calling security will somehow give you back the book, when in fact, you already have the book. You just don't know it. I see that stare. It's been given to me by a thousand others like yourself. They all thought me a crazy old bastard, too. Unlike you, though, they were just regular people. You're special, however. Very special indeed. They accepted my help, sooner or later, just like you will. But you are different, as I've said. You've so much to learn, so much to see. Enough knowledge to fill a million such libraries. You're interested now, aren't you? Yes, I can see the wonder plastered on your face. Well, well. That's fine. Indeed, that's very good. Here's my card. Come see us. We'd like to get you started as soon as possible," said the old man, flipping a business card onto the table. By the time Samuel had looked at the card and his eyes went back to the spot where the old man had been, it was occupied only by air. The old man had gone. Samuel turned back to the business card, looking it over. The old man's name was Jonathon Zestril. The card said he was Executive of Rasmussen, located at 2590 30th street. On the back was a little note. "Be there at 10:00 PM sharp!" Twas already 7:00. JandarJandar Brae may have been a pacifist, but he knew more than many that it never hurt to be cautious. He never carried weapons on his person, but he knew well enough that weapons weren't what made a person safe. It was knowledge of your surroundings, your environment, of potential escape routes, of potential weapons, and most importantly, of the people who populated those environments. As many cautious people do, upon entering a room, he often immediately noted escape routes and anyone who looked suspicious or somewhat shady. But that was just January being himself. On this day at this particular time, January was in a checkout line at the supermarket, his cart nearly empty, containing only a few basic supplies. He had already gone over the basics in his mind when he entered, and as the sliding front doors opened, his mind screamed its alarms at him. Three strange looking men had just entered. Their chests were heaving, nervous, excited, muscles stood out on their arms, blood pumping through at a frenzied rate, a small bulge apparent on their chests, from beneath their jackets, pistols. They counted to three simultaneously, then with a shout, yanked their weapons free, holding them aloft as one fired a warning shot. "Nobody fuckin' move! We just want the money, and we'll be gone! Ya don't fuck with us, we won't fuckin' shoot ya!" One stayed to guard the door, another running to the first register, ordering the clerk to empty it, the third watching over the unlucky customers. From nowhere, a sausage hurtled, hitting the man by the register in the face hard enough to send him stumbling. "What they fuck?!" he roared, aiming his pistol into the customers. As if from nowhere, a woman appeared beside him, throwing a carrot with amazing precision into the chamber of the man watching the customers, jamming it. A raw fish in either hand, she slapped away the gun of the thug beside her, the other fish coming to bear and slamming into his face with enough force to send him into the wall. She threw the fish at the one watching the door, who had turned around just in time to hit him in the hand, leaving a massive welt and knocking his gun away. Leaping through the air, the woman knocked the thug through the doors, knocking the air out of him. She turned to the thug with the jammed pistol, who stared first at his pistol, then at her, then back down, dropping it and bolting to the door. The woman undid the belt around her waist, snapping it out, catching the thug around the ankle and yanking him back, sending him face-first into the floor. The first thug had gotten up, though, and charged her with a previously hidden knife. Yanking a pen from the register beside her, she dodged the knife thrust, then stabbed the pen through the man's hand, leaving him screaming. Then with a swift punch to the pack of his neck, she dropped him. As the customers applauded, she gave a slight bow, then walked to January. "Hi! I'm Lisa Miller! Don't worry about introducing yourself, I know who you are! Let me say that I was very impressed with your performance!" she said, adrenaline still pumping through her veins, giving her a slight blush as she talked. January started to object, but she cut him off. "Come on! I know you noticed those weapons, that those men were robbers! If I hadn't shown up, I'm sure you could've taken 'em. Oh, sure you could! Anyway, I thought your display was great," she said, suddenly turning serious. "But we both know that's to be expected. You're gifted, January. You always have been. Furthermore, you may not know or think it, but you are. I remember a time when I was like you. I didn't know why the world felt weird to me, until I discovered the truth. You see, January, it's all about the truth. Everyone wants to know the truth, and I can see in you that you're no different. You just have the capacity to learn. I said I discovered the truth? Well, that's not entirely true. The truth discovered me. It's discovered you too, January. You want to know more, I see? Well, here's my card. Be there or be square!" She said. When he had looked up from the card she had pressed into his hand, she was gone. Sensei Kazramagumo had come to New York City on business, that was true, but there was no reason he couldn't have a little fun while he was at it. He had heard many, many stories about the famed Lowell and Iron circus, and it just so happened that the greatest show on earth was in NYC at the same time Semi was there. Of course, he couldn't pass up an opportunity like that, so he had hurriedly bought a ticket, and was now seated in the massive Madison Square Garden. The show begun as most circuses do. First, the standard acts. Some elephants, some clowns, some horses, some clowns, some trapeze artists, some clowns, some lion tamers, some clowns, some acrobats, some clowns, and of course, the famed clowns. But as the show progressed, Semi grew bored. It was all feats of superhuman ability, but to him, it was like watching children. His ears only perked up when it was announced that Aurora, famed acrobat, would be making an appearance. He sighed in disappointment as a woman in a bikini made her way from the entrance. "Another pathetic show", he muttered to himself. However, he leaned forward in shock as a man with a pistol approached her. Aurora showed her hands were completely empty, and the man fired a shot into a target behind her, showing that the gun was, indeed, loaded. Eventually he was within 20 feet of her, and he aimed the gun at her head. The audience gasped as he emptied the clip into her. Another loud gasp came from the audience, even Semi, as Aurora opened her hand to drop 12 bullets. Next, a horse was brought to stand beside her, and a whip cracked behind it, sending it into full gallop around the ring. Aurora counted on her fingers from five seconds, then gave chase. It was only a matter of seconds before she had lapped the stallion, then lapped it again. The crowd was slack-jawed in awe, and even Semi could only stare as the horse was clammed down and taken away. Finally, a full stack of business cards were handed to the acrobat, who climbed the trapeze tower. The crowd held their breath as the net was removed and yet again, gasped as Aurora leapt from the trapeze tower, her hands moving so rapidly that none could see what she was doing. From the headfirst dive of 50 feet, she landed softly on her feet, giving a small bow. Every member of the audience was too shocked by the discovery of a small thank-you card in their lap to clap. Finally, as she was walking from the ring, the audience burst into thunderous applause. All except Semi, who instead of receiving a thank you note, had received a business card. Marie Marie Cabot walked the streets with a sense of purpose. They knew her, parted for her, tipped their heads in respect. She had found her place at last. It wasn't the happiest one, that was true, but it was good enough. She dealt with the problems of a population, and in return, felt that she healed them all. Not to mention the money. It was a good arrangement. She stopped at a supermarket to pick up some food, then walked to her home. A sheltered alley, largely empty except for a pair of doors leading down. She opened them, and made her way into her residence, an abandoned basement of a large office building. She had managed to get some furniture, as well as all the necessities that life demanded. Furthermore, she had just eaten her meager lunch when a knock came at the door. I can't see him. He's a dead spot to my vision. But, he doesn't seem to be a threat. Her mother's whispered voice. Marie nodded, made note of that. She hadn't been aware there were dead spots. She had always believed the Sinnekarlugo to be all-encompassing. Marie opened the door, and a dark figure in a trench coat made his way down the stairs. "'All, there child-o-spirit My name IZ Ran Tali. A PM afraid A have a problem. My boss, ma company IZ en trouble. We need answers, we need 'ELP. My boss- 'e said you the one ta 'ELP UZ. Ya ZEE, I 'ave he light, like you. But, 'e said, you different den me. You have special light. 'Ez a needing that light. ZO I come ta you. Wit an offer. Come help get the would a'straight. Come 'ELP UZ fix it. You 'ave the Iowa. It'z what you wanted, ain't it? Ta 'ELP? Ask you madder. She know 'bout us. She know where I be from. Furthermore, she know I peak the true. Here'z my card, child'o'spirit. Her is a plane in da plane place waiting for ya. Until we meet again, child," he said, not allowing her to break in. Then, thrusting a card into her hand, he rushed from the basement, disappearing into the city. Semi Kazeamagumohmm. . . I thought, she must have abilities like mine, although, I was looking down at the card. I decided to follow where it went, Rasmussen, not sure what it was. Not much more than a name or an address. I decided to go check it out, after all I wasn't here for anything too important. I headed off, walking out of the crowd, dodging a crazy kid who decided that he would try to knock over as many people as possible. Then walking across the street on a green light, I heard a car swerving, burning rubber. Then I saw a car swerving directly for me. Everything seemed to slow down, I felt adrenaline coursing through my body. Everything seemed a bit louder, and I jumped, making a somersault, executing it perfectly and letting the car stop to my side, as I hit the ground. I hate life, I kept walking, checking the street signs for numbers to make sure I was going the right way. I checked a map at the bus stop and went off. Arriving later, at 2590 30th street, after leaving much debris and other things in my wake. I looked up at the building, and decided why not? If I go in I may get a chance to talk with Aurora. As I was looking up I realized that there was something dropping, I quickly rushed in to the building. To slipping from what I just noticed, a piece of paper, that I stepped on. I started to go with it, twisting my body, forcing it to land on my feet. I ended up about a meter inside the door. Sylvie Ste Marie Sylvie Ste Marie reclined back on the comfortable couch, too tired to sleep. She closed her eyes, trying to just rest as much of her body as much as possible. She'd been going to various hospitals and interview for the last 19 hours, with absolutely no breaks in between. A sudden ring on her phone snapped open her eyes, and she rushed over to pick up the receiver. "Hello?" she asked hopefully. "Hi. I'm calling on behalf of Rasmussen Corporation. Don't worry, you haven't heard of us. Nevertheless, Rasmussen has recently done some checks on fresh college graduates, and some of our scouts have found you very promising. If you don't mind, we're having a meeting with all of these potential employees in about 3 hours. We have an airplane waiting at the airport, if you're interested. If you're not interested after the meeting, Rasmussen can contact employers and help set up a job for you in any spot desired. You might want to call a cab. The plane leaves in 30 minutes." Samuel Samuel stood there turning the card over in his hands. It was printed in an ostentatious Palatine Linotype with exaggerated serifs. The card was made from high quality wood pulp and left to cure to a very natural oatmeal color without the aid of dyes. Still, it didn't tell him anymore than the old man already had. The name, number and address were already committed to memory. Samuel took the card and thrust it between the pages of one of the books from the pile on his reading table. He didn't actually need anything as quaint as a bookmark, but the book was a better pocket than the ones sewn into his jeans. He knew he wasn't letting the book out of his sight. With the single book tucked under his arm, Samuel walked over to Edith, the librarian on duty this time of night who was so old that the volumes upon volumes of ancient knowledge appeared to camouflage her out of respect for their mutual years. Edith seemed somehow powerful surrounded by all these old words penned by hands long since turned to dust. She was Samuel's favorite librarian by far." I'll take this one Edith." The old woman smiled and looked at the book." Faust, huh? Haven't you read that one?" Samuel tucked the book under his arm and chuckled as he left. It was a dry humorless sound. It was only much later that Edith realized it was thick with fear. Then, thinking of what he said on the heels of that bony sound, a chill would run up her brittle spine." Yeah, but it somehow seems appropriate." Sylvie Ste Marie'd bolted from the chair, heart thumping, praying it wasn't another crisis, knowing I'd go if it was. Instead, a cultured voice was offering me a job. I looked around my shabby apartment and sighed. I'd wished for a better, less exhausting life, a regular job that paid better than being an on-call ER nurse. Not to mention that I was starting to find myself wounded after long healing sessions, either mentally or physically. Try dealing with schizophrenia when your brain chemicals aren't right for it. Not fun." Plane at the airport, huh?" I asked aloud, partly to stall and partly to double verify. I was too tired to sleep so double-checking was a good thing." And a car ready to pick you up if necessary," the cultured voice said, allaying another of my fears. Only live once, I thought before giving my answer. "Okay, tell your car I'll be ready in ten. What's appropriate attire?"" Buisness casual," the man answered. "If you don't have it, don't worry, there's a choice of clothing in your size on the plane for you to choose from."" Considerate, aren't you."" No, just thorough. The car will be waiting. Thank you for your time, Miss Ste Marie." He hung up abruptly. I shot an email off to a friend to ask her to water my plants and hurried to my room, tossing cloths in a duffle back as I went. Couple of pairs of scrubs joined the rest of my clothing ranging from jeans and shirts to a trio of dresses and matching shoes. Me, I'd showered right after coming home, so that wasn't a problem. I dressed simply, deep violet pants and matching blazer over a pale crème blouse. A pair of pumps in deep violet completed the outfit just as the doorbell rang. Sighing, I slipped my silver cross on and picked up the duffle back and took it to the door with me. A man stood there, dressed like a Chaucer." I'm Jeeves, your driver tonight. Can I help you with anything?" I tossed him the duffle bag and said I'd be right down. I took a moment to grab my laptop and settled it into the backpack carrier I had for it. Grabbing my purse I walked out the door, shutting off the lights and locking the door behind me. I left my apartment building, following "Jeeves" (who names their kid that?!?) into the night, ready to meet what was coming. Marie“Momma?” Silence followed Marie’s thought. It was seldom that she actually felt alone and now was nervous when it happened. The others were away. She knew Tali had power. She felt it crawling under her skin like hundreds of ants, slowly moving their way up her body to her heart. Power of the heart. She rubbed the slightly rough paper of his card, traced the indentations of the letters and saw images of blood and death. She was already throwing jeans, T-shirts, wool socks and underwear in a garbage bag when she felt Momma’s whisper through her head.“He tells the truth. What he knows of it. There is a company called Sinumessen, which has done both great good and great evil. I see no other path before you, but I fear for you, my child.” Marie wrote two letters. One, simply signed Zappa, was placed in an envelope on the fridge door. The second was to the people that came to visit her, which was pin to the entrance of her home. She knew that everything movable would be gone before daybreak, but then again she wasn’t likely coming back. Change - even the air had the cold, clear smell of change. Marie went to Edmonton International Airport to meet her plane. Samuel Samuel Pickett was not a man of extravagant means. In fact, bus fare was something of a strain on his pockets. Working as a janitor in the city library didn't afford him many luxuries and there were few upwardly mobile career fields that would have allowed him to lean on a mop and read the Canterbury Tales whenever the mood took him to do so. However, Samuel's curiosity wouldn't allow him to pass up this opportunity. With considerably less jingle in his pockets than he'd left his apartment with, he walked the two blocks from the bus stop to the Rasmussen building. The neighborhood was lower middle-class. The kind you could drive through every day and still forget it's there if you were to look for it. The houses, businesses, and even the firehouse and police station all looked similar in design. It seemed as if the entire neighborhood was pressed out of some giant machine and forgotten here like a child's discarded toy. The Rasmussen building was different. It stood out just enough from its drab surroundings to be somewhat sinister. All polished black windows and steel, it seemed to lurk among the brownstones. Smiling at the opportunity to shake his day up a little, Samuel entered the lobby. Samuel Samuel was greeted in the lobby by a large man, small, beady, yet intelligent eyes shining out of a large, serious face. The man gave a quick handshake, then grabbed an arm around Samuel's shoulders. An arm the size of a tree trunk. "My name is Alfred, and I'll take you where you're needed." Alfred half pushed Samuel into an elevator, where Samuel began fidgeting uncomfortably. "Relax, Sam. I should probably brief you. The man who met you, John, was sent by the CEO of Rasmussen, Mr. Neural. Refer to him as nothing else. Do not address him unless you are addressed first. You'll be there with other Hopefuls. Sam, I like you. You're a pretty upstanding guy, hear? Don't mess this up. Mr. Neural is not a very tolerant guy, see? You don't get any strikes, as far he's concerned. Understand? No? Good", the massive man said as the elevator buzzed around them. As Samuel began to open his mouth, questions already on his tongue, Alfred cut him off. "Well, here we are." He nearly threw Samuel from the elevator, leaving him in a massive room. Tall columns reached nearly fifty feet until they reached the ceiling. A huge window exposed the breadth of the city. The view looked as if they were nearly 200 stories high. But the building was only ten stories high. More questions flooded his mind, but the man standing at the window gestured to a long table around which sat numerous chairs. From the luxuriant to the plain, there was a wide variety, no two exactly alike. One man already was seated at the table. "Have a seat. I'll be with you when the others arrive. For now, keep your questions to yourself." Sensei was approached by a small, wormy man who, hands shaking, petted at Semi's shoulder. "H... Hi Sir. I'm Alfred. I'm to take you to where you're requested. Please, sir, follow me." Alfred walked nervously, a springing at the smallest noises from the receptionist's desk. His hands twitched nervously the whole time, fluttering from his shoulders to his face, sometimes to his back, and when he turned, often going to Semi. When they reached the elevator, Semi was motioned inside, then followed by Alfred. ’S... Sir. I've been told to brief you. You've been called by Mr. Neural, CEO of the company. He's a hard man, sir. Please, sir, don't talk around him when he's not addressing you," Alfred said, his eyes dulling as if remembering something horrible. "There are others coming, too, sir, and he probably won't talk at first, but he expects silence, sir. Please, don't break his silence," whispered Alfred, leaving an uncomfortable silence until the elevator stopped. Alfred nearly begged Semi to go, then departed in a hurry. Semi found himself in a massive stone room. Steel columns rose what seemed to be a hundred feet until they were bolted into the ceiling. Rafters and catwalks abounded, and a small window gave a view of the street. But they had been in an elevator. How...? His thoughts were cut short by a crisp command. "Have a seat." A large steel table stood in a corner of the room, and one man already stood in wait, another seated at the table. Sylvie Jeeves was silent for the car ride until they finally reached the airport. There, he suddenly burst into chatter. He talked about sports, stocks, movies, and apparently anything else he could think of. He led Sylvie through an airport that seemed empty, finally leading her outside to a massive commercial airliner. Jeeves escorted her up the staircase, then to a seat. She looked around. The plane too, appeared empty. Jeeves slipped back into a silence as the plane took off, leaving to the pilot's cabin every few minutes. After what seemed an eternity, the plane began its descent, rolling to a gradual stop. Jeeves was talkative again as he led her down to the new limo waiting for them. After she had seated herself, Jeeves nearly jumped into the driver's seat, silent again. He nearly floored the pedal, sending the back wheels burning rubber before he shifted into gear, sending the limo hurtling. Jeeves handled the car expertly, making perfect turns at nearly one hundred miles per hour. Sylvie was shocked when they arrived at a ten story, nondescript building, all steel and glass, without having been pulled over once. Jeeves opened the door for her, leading her silently into the building and into an elevator. Once inside, his face became slightly pallid. "You're here to meet personally with the boss, Mr. Neural. You're a nice lady, and I'd hardly like to see Mr. Neural tear you apart. Treat him with the utmost respect, and remain silent until spoken to. There'll be others there, and more arriving later on. Find a seat and act like he's the only person in the whole world," he said, the elevator coming to a stop. As he pushed her out, he added, "Good luck. God knows you'll need it." Sylvie was again surprised to find herself in a fairly small room. It appeared only to be about fifty feet by fifty feet, covered with a comforting rug, a window dominating the far wall, one that only allowed a view of the tinted glass windows of a skyscraper across from the relatively small building. A large covetable was in the middle of the room, where three men already sat. Another man pointed to the table. "Sit." Marie Marie was brought onto the plane by an old, distinguished-looking man. He never spoke, never introduced himself, and once on the plane, rushed off to the pilot's cabin. The plane was full of people, all talking, many laughing, but none paid her any mind. The flight was short, seemed to be only a few minutes. As soon as the plane had stopped, the people rushed from the plane, going to what seemed like a convoy of limousines. Each took off in separate directions, and Marie stood as the old man from before rushed back from the cabin. "This way," he said, leading her to a limousine. He gestured her inside, then hopped into the driver's seat, speeding off. Again, it seemed like only a few minutes before they had arrived before a relatively small building, all steel and glass that seemed to redirect the eyes somewhere, anywhere else. The old man pulled her into the building and into an elevator. "Name's Alfred. Listen up, please, because this is important. You've been called here by Mr. Neural, the big boy on top. That doesn't happen too often. You seem like a nice gal, so listen up. Mr. Neural speaks to you, not the other way around. He expects silence and the utmost respect. For God's sake, do as you're told. He's not a bad guy, but he's listened to. He can quickly become the nastiest person you've ever even thought of meeting pretty quickly," he said, the elevator stopping. "There'll be others in the room. It's okay. Act like they're not there. Good luck," he said as he shepherded her out. The room was long, nearly three hundred feet. The ceiling barely reached ten feet, though. The end of the room was dominated by a long window that exposed a breathtaking view of the sea, no buildings or boats, planes, or anything man-made polluting the scene. A massive wooden table stretched the length of the room, moved slightly right of center. Chairs were placed at regular five-feet intervals on either side, and several were already seated. A tall man at the window gestured to the table. "Please, sit and relax." Sylvie Charming, I thought though I didn't say anything. I was so tired I could barely think straight much less chew someone out because they were strange, rude, whatever. Just wasn't worth it. I took a seat at the table after grabbing a cup of coffee, thankful for the warmth. I took a deep sigh, thankful there was real coffee and real cream, not that cheap non-dairy crap. But real cream- yum. Now, where was the big man on campus? Hmm, Alfred San Takashi o née. Seemed like he was afraid of me, must have been the mess I left back there. Then QI GUI. I noted the man seated, and noted the man who asked me to sit. With my luck, if I didn't do what he said, I might end up being hauled in by the police for questioning, or worse stuck in death row. I walked tentatively to a chair across from the black man already seated, and inspected the chair, and table before I sat, lest it break or slip me out the window or something. Satisfied, I took a seat, and I thanked the gods, that nothing happened, so I sat there, calming down my body, and slipping into a trance, till my heart and breathing had slowed substantially. Waiting until I was called upon barely noticing the two women who came in. Mandarin was a strange moment in his life as he stood with a card in his hand, and a woman who no longer stood before him. He glanced at the card before putting it in his pocket. She had spoken truth, he could have easily taken out the robbers, they were poorly trained and were unprepared for any resistance. Anyone could do a Snatch and Dash, it took little effort and usually yielded good results. Still he wondered why anyone would, the reward was only about two thousand dollars at the most. To risk ones only life and freedom for only a few thousand in cash made no sense. He shrugged, he would not have tried to stop them unless his own life had been threatened, it hadn't they would have taken the money and left. Eventually police probably would have caught them, he was no hero he was only a man that wanted to be left alone. She had spoken truth though, he was gifted. He looked at the clerk still cowering on the floor, he sighed the poor woman probably thought her life was going to end just a few moments ago. Jandar took out a twenty from his pocket, more than enough to pay for his items, set it on the counter and grabbed a bag. He placed his items inside, the visions did not come this time. Every item he had chosen made a poor weapon, plus he had picked up these very items many times before and knew exactly how they could be used. He sighed again, he was lonely, he thought that his fate would be to always be alone. In truth, he lied to himself constantly, he would always say he wanted to be left alone when in truth he longed for the company of others. Envying those that had the companionship he lacked, but when you are an orphan and everything you touch sends sickening visions running through your head, it is only natural to hide from others. He left the store passing by the security officers who had cuffed the robbers and taken their guns, he stopped briefly at the door and turned to the store manager who had come down from his office, probably to help keep things calm. "The clerk on stand nine could use a break," January said in his seal cold voice. That said he stepped out into the fading sun. The city of San Francisco greeted him with its strong wind and fresh sea smell. The wind was particularly strong this day on Gear street, the sun had long since ducked behind the taller buildings casting a large shadow and a false night over the shopping center. San Francisco was a city of both love and a place where one could disappear in an instant. He was surrounded by people yet no one took notice of his existence until today. How had they known he would be there and for that matter, who were they? These questions he pondered as he walked up Gear, heading to his home in North Beach. He turned on Ocean avenue and continued his trek home. Home was a small beachfront one bedroom home that he had purchased when he was a contractor, it was not long ago that he had left that job and was currently unemployed. It was more of a shack than a home, but it was all he needed. A small garage and a room, for his lifestyle anything more would be too garish. He unlocked the front door and entered. A large window overlooked the pacific and often January would sit in a favorite chair with a cigar and a glass of cognac and watch the tide. A small television kept him connected to the outside world and was often tuned to CNN and other twenty-four hour news stations. His very large, very comfortable leather recliner was placed nearby. He unpacked his groceries and set them in his refrigerator, then made his way to the garage. Inside was the only object he did not mind ever touching. Black with silver trim along the underside, a 2005 Monte Carlo Supercharged SS. Its power and beauty were perfect, he did not drive it around town, in San Francisco one only needed a car to get out of the city, not around town. He looked at the card in his pocket, his thoughts on the way home had yielded no answers and had only sparked his curiosity further, he would be there tomorrow, and he would have his answers. Annemarie watched the elevator doors close. She couldn’t ‘feel’ Alfred. She looked to the man at the window and couldn’t feel him either. In fact, she couldn’t feel anyone in this room. This was not something that had ever happened before. There was always an emotion, a whisper, a color, a vibe, a … something. Momma was gone and Marie couldn’t reach her or any of them. She walks to the nearest chair, slowly put her bag of clothing under it, and curled up upon the seat. Alone again. Sitting on one leg and pulling the other to her chest, she breathed: in, out, in, out – where were the voices – in, out, in, out – must never lose control. Must always remain in the cool quiet calm of her mind. It was important to never panic. To never let an opening occur. Never let them in. How was Rasmussen stopping the Sinnekarlugo? How was Mr. Neural stopping Momma? In. Out. In. Out. January stared up at the colossal building jutting from a row of run-down apartments. Like a long finger extended triumphantly. The whole structure seemed to pulse with menace, and almost unconsciously, passersby kept as much distance as they could between themselves and the sky-scraper. January stepped inside, and was met by an averagely built, middle-aged man, who immediately put an arm on January's elbow, leading him to an elevator. "My name is Alfred, good sir. Please, right this way. We've certainly been waiting for you, sir. Ahh, here we are. Now, on inside", said the man, neatly sending January in, then stepping inside himself. As the elevator began its ascent, Alfred looked at January. "A few warnings, sir. You'll be meeting with our CEO, a Mr. Neural. Keep in mind that Mr. Neural is in a position of privilege. He expects to be answered when he asks a question. You will not open your mouth, however, unless first spoken to. Mr. Neural is a man with a highly variable patience, so answer him as quickly as you can. Also, don't lie. Whatever you do. It's like the man can read minds. He'll certainly know when you lie. Understand? Good. We're here. Well, off you go", said Alfred, taking January by the elbow again and nearly throwing him out. The doors slammed shut, and January looked around. It was your above-average boardroom. Luxurious wood paneling and inlays made up the walls. The floor was soft, yet firm carpet. The far wall was a massive window that gave a breathtaking view of what January assumed to be the Appalachian mountains. The view was broken only by a solitary figure who stared out the window, his forbiddingly large frame obscuring one of the distant peaks. A long wooden table with an assortment of chairs dominated the center of the room, and the man at the end of the room pointed to it. "Be seated. You're the last one to arrive. We'll begin shortly." January already did not like the situation he had put himself in. The sheer fact that he should respect this man for no reason made him uneasy and just a little angry. A man should be respected by actions not just from the fact that someone said he should be respected. He would judge what kind of man he was on his own terms. Should he merit January's respect he would give it, however as things stood right now he felt only but contempt for the man? His options were slim though, having no real way to escape should things turn bad. Moreover, the fact that they would think he would lie was what caused his anger to rise. January had never given a lie in his life, he may have hid the truth or danced around a topic he did not feel like discussing, but he had never out right lied. To assume he would do so was what had perturbed him in the first place. He looked around the room one more time then finally spoke. "No, thank you," he said to the offered seat. "For the time being I prefer to remain standing." He was polite and simply stood waiting for his presentation of what he was doing here. Indeed, he thought. I do not like this one bit. Ariel NezramAtriel turned ever so slowly, hands coming to form a triangle in front of him. "Be seated." In shock, January spun around, then leapt from the chair as if it was covered with vipers. "How did you-?" he asked, flustered. Ariel fixed him with a knowing smile. "How did I do what? Mmm. Never mind. There's a purpose you're here, however, outside just sitting there. You see, Rasmussen is a company built on purpose. We are purpose. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, yes? Let's start at the beginning. You all are Gifted. Yes, that's as good a starting point as any. You've all noticed it long ago, and some of you have been able to bend that to your benefit. Several others of you are still having difficulty even realizing there's something inherently different in you. But that is neither here nor there. You've all noticed something. It's like someone's watching you, someone's twisting your decisions. There's some greater purpose behind your everyday lives, but none of you can find it. It's elusive, but you may be some of the only people in the world to even realize this problem to the extent you do. I'll be frank with you. Rasmussen is not an easy company to work for. After all, we work for a greater purpose. We are the greater purpose. Believe it or not, but Rasmussen is the world. We don't make daily, personal decisions. We can't, and more than that, we don't want to. The world quickly loses all interest if there's no randomness, no challenge to it. But, we keep Earth stable and controlled at the same time. Everything must be controlled, to a certain extent, you see. We make sure that pollution does not rise too high. We prevent genocides in some areas, begin them in others. Furthermore, we face the enormous task of keeping the Earth in working order, and we do our jobs without a word of gratitude. I have a constant need for Gifted like yourselves. There's nothing a Gifted can't do when they really get around to it, and simply put, there's only one of me and several thousand problems to solve. Now I've been CEO for a long time, and trust me, this is the most exciting, dynamic time I have ever seen. We have need of Gifted like yourselves, and we have need of the services you can render unto the world. Money is not an issue, of course. You can name your rate, and trust us when we say that nothing is too ridiculous. After all, as you will soon realize, what is money? It's nothing in the sway of things. Something a Rasmussen CEO invented somewhere along the line, some tool to help add another level of desires to mankind. Just something to allow us to twist them better. And that's what it comes down to, in the end. Rasmussen is the flow and ebb of power. We decide what happens to the world, and then we enforce it. We right wrongs, we create wrongs. Furthermore, we are the neutral, natural balancing factor of the world. And we need you. New Gifted, many of you with the skills and talent necessary to become Executives, much like the ones who met you all earlier. You all can make the world a better place for mankind, and so I leave the choice to you. You can go back out on those streets, now armed with the knowledge that every aspect of your world is being controlled, or you can help shape that very world. So, I'll entertain several questions before you give me your answers. Make them quick, I have business to get to. Again, please be sure that nothing is unanswerable," he said, finishing off with a small flourish. He impatiently checked his watch, then waited for what questions would come. Sylvia Perhaps it was exhaustion or my first good cup of coffee speaking, not matter what it was I still asked, "So who shot Kennedy?" After my brain caught up with my mouth, I smiled and shook my head. "I'm sorry, too long without good coffee. Real question-how do you decide what to do? Is there a whole panel directing underlings and future underlings or is it your sole decision?" "Who are you to determine what is right and wrong?" January asked, finally taking the seat committing himself to stay awhile. "And why is it pessary for a company such as this to exist? It seems to me that if men were left to their own devices and desires that life would be fine. A company that controls world order seems both unnessacary and unwanted." Men should be in control of their own destinies, he thought leaning back in the chair, carefully avoiding placing his hands on it. Ariel NezramAtriel turned to Sylvie. "I am the only one who decides. I do have advisors who help guide me in the right direction, by generally speaking, the decisions lie solely with me," he said heartily, then turned to January. "Quite frankly, Mr. Brae, I couldn't care less what you think. You're Gifted, and without that one thing going for you, I might long ago have had you eliminated." He grinned. "Just kidding. Let's face it, Mr. Brae, human lives aren't worth very much in the long run. But, I, perhaps first the CEO's, have actually begun to develop an attachment to life. I do my best to ensure that humanity prospers and succeeds, and most of all, survives. In fact, to ensure your continued survival, I'm often forced to order the deaths of others. But love me or hate me, realize the necessity. Without me, governments would collapse, economies would tumble. I've built up a whole system that our current Earth cannot live without. In my absence you'd quickly find anarchy. And with this anarchy you'd find murder on a scale transcending anything the world has ever seen. As to the second part of your query, realize we don't infringe destiny. We shape it. Whether men want us or not is hardly our concern. We're here to keep them alive and happy. That's why we haven't made our presence known. Of course there would be riots if the truth came out. I've seen them, actually. There would be millions dead. What would follow is much the scenario as if I stepped away from my position and shut down Rasmussen. An Armageddon unlike any you've ever even imagined. Imagine if you will is Rasmussen Holders no longer deflected celestial bodies. If our Preservers no longer cared after our Earth. If our Seekers no longer brought quick death or capture to the maniacs. If our Controllers no longer kept up economies, governments, or laws. Imagine the results. Every nuclear warhead known to man detonated in short succession. Insane cults springing up in cities. Suicides, deaths the like of which you've never seen. Asteroids the size of this building making impact daily. The ozone layer slowly leaking away until solar radiation scorched this planet into a lifeless desert. Rasmussen's been around, in some form or another, with some type of leader or another since the dawn of civilization. Everything you've ever been taught: forget it. Free choice is largely an illusion. Yes, choice does matter when you talk of small, personal choices. BUE there is only the greater society, and everyone, whether they know it or not, help that society. So, in short, I determine what is right and wrong. You don't like it, well, I'm afraid to say that I'm not willing to give up the welfare of this planet because someone somewhere disagrees. But the personal choice is your now: whether you help determine the future of the world, or you go crawling back to your current life." "You don't sound very convincing." I turned in the seat, making sure that I was mostly supporting myself instead of the chair. "I have very little choice in almost everything I do, but I have never seen anyone try to even stop the catastrophes that have happened around me and I don't see how your squat little company can even be so influential all over the world. Ariel smiled at Semi, showing pearly teeth. "Mr. Kazramagumo, you are mistaken. If you saw catastrophes, there's a good chance my- how did you put it, 'squat little company'- was probably responsible for them. Let me put it simply. I don't need to sound convincing. You and the others at the table are just possible Seekers. Believe me when I say I have several hundred already employed, and a few more to be interviewed later on. However, your group is by far the most talented and promising. As to the second part of your concern, let's just say that having the right influence in the right places for an extremely long time-as well as having almost unlimited abilities with the correct Gifted deployed in the correct situations-has given Rasmussen an unseen, unfelt hand in directing world events. Let's leave it at that, for now. After all, I can't just expose all my trade secrets at first meeting, can I?" asked Ariel, the grin finally fading. Sylvie pondered over his responses before asking my next question." Pardon me if you went over this before, but what are these Seekers you talk about? What do you want us to do?" I took another drink of coffee, grateful for its warmth. Ariel smiled again, less fiercely this time, and to Sylvie. "Great question. You see, in Rasmussen, we've got nicknames for all positions in the hierarchy and for those outside the hierarchy, too. For example, a Holder does his best to ensure that the Earth dodges any celestial bodies that might hit it. They do this by giving a boost to the speed the Earth moves in its rotation of the sun, and therefore, this boost, when applied correctly, can give the Earth just enough momentum to be missed by a lethal asteroid or meteor. So, a Seeker fills a position mush like the Holder, but one much more broad and varied. In fact, Seekers, aside from Executives, may very well be the most important arm of Rasmussen. The main goal of the Seekers is to make sure that what Rasmussen wants to be done is done. Now, this could mean anything from setting up diplomatic ties between several nations to finishing a war, from bringing down criminals and maniacs to loosening police control, so a new gang can gain power, from triggering genocide to distributing relief aid. Seekers are alone only in a few rare cases. In general, they operate in close-knit teams that work together, relying on the benefits of all of their gifts to achieve their goals. If you accept my offer, in most likelihood, the group gathered here will be formed into a team. A healer, a spiritualist, a prion, an environmentalist, a dodger, and a sage. That makes it a very balanced team indeed. Strange there hasn't been a brute to join for some time, and we might send one to your team at one point or another, but in general, a good, steady balance of powers. Anyway, I hope I answered your question," he said. The others gathered seemed to in awe of the man before them. They seemed to give him respect just for having a big important title. They were week to have been ruled over so easily. He smiled to himself at their weakness and the man's ability to easily step over a question to answer those that were easier and weaker then him. What he had said about Holders infrared him, he remembered a time when he was younger when he had met one. He had stopped a car from hitting him with only his hands, it was at a time when his powers had first started to come into his life, it was also the time when he first began to withdraw from the world. The Holder had told him that he did not want a potential member killed so early in his life. He remembered shaking the man's hand in thanks...the truth hit him like lightning, memories of the encounter came rushing back. Almost as if he was shaking the man's hand again. All his fights his power every conflict that man had ever had in his life flooded back to him. January gasped when the visions reached this very room at this very spot looking at the same man before him now. He had never gotten his name, but told him that when they came to ask him to join he would eventually find him. He owed him a debt of honor that should be repaid. Furthermore, he needed no more questions, he had learned all that there was to know from the Holder. Furthermore, he did not know if he trusted this Ariel man, but he knew he was honor bound to the Holder for saving his life. It was time that he stop trying to run from the world, from his gift, and start embarrassing it and life. He stood up and spoke in a new very confident voice. A vision of the man who he had forgotten about his true self." I don't know if I trust or respect you yet," he said to Ariel. "However I do trust your company, I'm in. I have no more questions for you when you are ready and finished with these others you will know where to find me." He nodded his head once to all those gathered. "If you will excuse me." January walked to the door, wondering if it would be unlocked. Mandate doors opened for January with a quiet ding. While he was shocked to see a long hallway, rather than the elevator that belonged there, a part deep down inside of him had to say that it wasn't too surprising. Nevertheless, an arm reached out, hooking his elbow and pulling him inside. The doors shut as swiftly as they opened. January found himself standing next to Alfred, who had already managed to lead him down half of the hallway that he could see. Silent, Alfred turned suddenly, leading January down a new hallway. January reeled. He hadn't even seen that hallway, and his senses and instincts were so much better than the average man's. By the time these thoughts had occurred to January, Alfred took yet another sudden turn and January found himself in a small, yet neat conference room. It was decidedly plain, with no decorations to speak of. In fact, the only furnishings in it were the large, circular coffee table and the multitude of chairs, most fairly cheap and of dubious quality and comfort, clustered around it. Hamm. . . I thought as I was listening to them talk. Then I noticed the man standing went to open the door. A look of shock spread over my face as the doors opened to reveal a hallway. I turned to look at this man with newfound respect, "I don't think you all will like working with me though. I'm a walking bad luck charm, but I'm in just to see what happens." Marie"Why now?"" The company has obviously known of all of us for many years. You could have trained us to be exactly as you would have wanted us to be. You could have avoided the whole idea of not trusting you, by being the only place or entity that we knew. So why now? " Ariel NezramAtriel replied smoothly to Sylvie's question. "Why does anything work the way it does? Why do negative charges attract positive? Why do people form mutual attractions? It's the way of the company. It's an old, ancient law. Furthermore, it would be an unprecedented nightmare to subvert this unspoken, unwritten law. Rasmussen does not bend or twist people. We present them a choice. It's just the way this works, like the rest of nature's laws", said Ariel, then, without breaking stride, turned to Semi. "Yes, we know of your apparent curse. Nevertheless, your skills and talents are invaluable assets, and you are, of course, welcome." Taken aback, a look of sheer shock, I heard someone mutter, "name" and realized it was me. I probably turned red, said "sorry," and nodded to Mr. Neural. Then I asked, "Then why choose me if you know that I am a walking omen? "Again, Mr. Kazramagumo, realize that your talents are invaluable. Besides, there are worse curses to have. I've seen several of them over the years, and your only ranks in intermediately bad section. We've always made do with these curses, and in fact, some of these so-called "cursed teams" of Seekers have been our most effective. Luck is luck, but enough skill and talent can overcome any random chance. Yours is important enough, and toned enough, that I'm willing to take the chance," Ariel said. Sylvie"Well, this has got to be better than running from hospital to hospital as an agency nurse," I said, stifling a yawn. "And I'm assuming I can get some sleep after we're done." So I'm in. It can't be worse than some of the other companies, hospitals and agencies I've worked for in the past." I shuddered at a memory of a patient dying because I wasn't allowed to touch him to cure the brain tumor that was running rampant in him. He didn't have insurance, so the hospital was okay with letting him die. Crappy way to go if you ask me. "Very, good. Miss St. Marie, if you'll go to the door. Alfred will open it and lead you to a small conference room. I'll apologize ahead of time for the wait there'll be. An hour or two at most. Then, your rooms will be provided, as will any meals you desire. Hopefully, you'll be joining Mr. Brae, the one from before, in the same room. I'll answer a few more questions. But, if there are none, I do need to get back to work?" Sylvie Ste Marie"Sure," I said, standing and taking my coffee cup with me after refilling it. The warmth was quite welcomed. I thought to myself, so now what? It was time for January to quit running from his powers. He feared using them, feared the strength they gave him. The images he received when he touched anything were always violent and bloody. So much so that he had to fight his stomach to stay under control. He stood now in the conference room his hand outstretched over one of the chairs. Chairs had been an item of late that his power had ignored, somehow he knew that this would not be the case of this chair. If he could only just touch it, his hand shook as he stood fighting within himself trying to gather the courage to touch it. He would have to quit running sometime. Jandar took a deep breath and let it out slowly, it was time to embrace his powers, time to embrace his birthright. He shut his eyes and braced himself for the vision to come. Still his hand did not move, why should he be afraid, the images were all in his mind as long as he did not let his heart be corrupted there would be nothing to fear. I am no coward, January thought. By tapping my power I can help many just as he helped me. The visions do not control my actions they are a guide, a way to help me help others." I am no COWARD!" he yelled the last word as his slammed down on the chair. Such was his power and the force that he called behind him, that the chair shattered, shards of wood and metal exploded with the speed of bullets, shards sticking into the wall. In his mind the images came in a rush, but it was not of a chair, the image was that of a Knife. In the past he had avoided using knives and never kept one in his home. The knife was the most vicious of all items he had ever touched. It was bloody and fierce requiring extreme closeness of combatants. Amidst the blood and gore of his vision he learned and knew exactly how best to Wald it. He knew full well that with a knife in his hand he could not be defeated. Somehow his eyes had closed and as he finally opened them he saw the destruction he had caused. Shards of the chair stuck solid in every surface in a perfect sphere, he felt none had paced him and turned to look at the wall directly behind him. He had might as well not have been standing where he was, the shards had seemed to pass right through him. He felt something in his hand and looked down. A knife rested in his palm, made of wood and metal from the chair. Had he created it? Was his power growing, could he do it again? He sat down on the couch and studied the knife. What did it mean? As Ariel had said, Alfred waited in the doorway. He gently led Sylvie through several winding hallways, new ones just seemed to appear as they walked past. It was only moments before Sylvie was completely lost, but Alfred walked on as if on a daily stroll. Eventually, Alfred abruptly turned, opening a door and motioning for Sylvie to enter. As she walked in, January sat on a couch, knife in hand, looking at it curiously. Shards of metal and wood were driven into the walls, calling, and a few other furnishings. Forgot said: "Again, Mr. Kazramagumo, realize that your talents are invaluable. Besides, there are worse curses to have. I've seen several of them over the years, and your only ranks in intermediately bad section. We've always made do with these curses, and in fact, some of these so-called "cursed teams" of Seekers have been our most effective. Luck is luck, but enough skill and talent can overcome any random chance. Yours is important enough, and toned enough, that I'm willing to take the chance," Ariel said. Click to expand... "Wait, what do you mean, what else do you know about me? Do you know my full potential?" I started to stand now, knowing now that this would be a chance not only for a job, but also one that would teach me more about myself. I felt more confident in my decision to join now. Ariel smiled wryly. "Ah, but if I were to tell you, would that really help? No, you must discover it. I refuse to simply point it out to you. Nevertheless, I'm afraid I must leave you now. If you'll all go to the door, Alfred will escort you. I have work to get to, and you'll have to excuse me, but I take my work quite seriously. However, I'll try to stop by later and check up on you." Smile fading, Ariel turned around briskly and walked to the doors he had said Alfred was behind. He opened them and quickly stepped through, the doors closing as soon as he had disappeared. Marie*smiling at the efficient way in which her question was answered; yet not answered, Marie reaches for the sinnekarlugo. Still blankness.*You have avoided answering my question. There is a reason you choose now, this is not random. But if you will not answer, you will not. I am enjoying the silence of this room, but would like to know how it is possible. Where are the voices? I'm curious as to how are you preventing them from being here? Also, would we answer directly to you or through a subordinate? IOC: Let's just imagine he's answering Marie's question before he walks out.IC: "Excellent questions all, Miss Cabot. You believe that spirits are not afraid of anything? No, there is one thing that terrifies even the inhabitants of the spirit world. The thought of being trapped, their souls enslaved. You may ask yourself who would create such vile devices, or what's more, how could they be made. Well, we made them. There are malicious spirits of the world. Some of them launched direct assaults against us in previous years. Well, believe me if you've never seen dark spirits attack, it's something you never want to see again. As a precaution, large portions of this building are completely surrounded by these devices. We have our own local spiritualists send clear messages to the spirits not to wander into the shielded areas. It's a fairly benign purpose, and we make sure to release any non-evil souls we trap. However, there is a fear of this place that usually drives off most spirits. As to the hierarchy question, it's a little more clear-cut. You will receive orders directly from Executives and higher-ranked Seeker teams. At the briefings, you may receive information from anyone who has extensive or important knowledge on the topic. At times, you will be called in for briefings or meetings with me. The Executives are themselves responsible to me, so don't worry about taking on their missions. There's a good chance those missions come directly from me at one point or another. This is extremely rare, but at times, a Board Member may need your team."

The Five(IC)|rating:3.0

HoHo Game, Prologue 3_ The Third Prologue

Derails and Valid ride slowly through Crellin toward the claims' office. A strand of heads dangles from Valid' saddle: 5 orcs, 6 goblins, 2 hobgoblins and a bugbear. Altogether the heads should bring twenty gold. Mercenary work had been slow in the Empire and many had come to Wrath once the garrison commander posted the bounty. Derails and Valid recognized each other in the bounty office from their service together." We're running low on funds, so until Bowen gives me more I'm only paying half. Here's your ten." After counting them a second time, the soldier pushes an assortment of copper, silver, and gold coins across the counter toward you. "Sorry best I can do," he shrugs and turns his back to walk away. Valid's eyes flash from gray to purple, and his clenched fist pounds the counter, causing the coins to bounce. A contract was agreed to. You will pay what is due. Juxtaposed with his body language, Valid's speech is disconcertingly calm. Spoiler Show Roll Intimidate: 17–1 = 16 (+/-) "Okay, okay. No need to get violent, friend." He shakily counts out the rest of the money and slides it over the counter. "But when the next guy comes in wanting to get paid, I am going to tell him you took the last of the money." He turns and walks away. Something touches your shoulder from behind. You turn and see a dwarf in wizardly robes tapping you on the shoulder with an iron staff. His robes are brown. He has a scarred face, an overly large nose, and two large iron hoops dangling from his ears. He wears an odd stone ring on his right hand and carries a large satchel over his shoulder. "You and your friend here are obviously underpaid for your talents. What do you say we head over to the tavern and talk about a more lucrative opportunity."" Didn't I tell you to stay out of here you no good dwarf!" The officer shouts from behind the counter." By imperial law you must show me respect, dog!" The dwarf draws a garnet medallion out from under his robes." So do you have time for a pint of ale? My treat." This mercenary work is barely honorable as it is, and now they wish to dishonor me further by cheating me. Ah, so this Democrat sees reason after all. Good. Collecting the coins, not bothering to double-check the counting, Valid turns fully and ponders the dwarf for a long moment. Indeed. Vaelis looks towards Derails for concurrence. Derails remained passively in the corner. Experience had proven it was best to leave “negotiations” to Valid, and today was no exception. It was a trifling amount of gold to quibble over, but as she gingerly fingered the dwindling gold in her pouch, she knew Valid was right. Berwyn was growing rapidly. Each evening the badger pup gobbled down his barley more rapidly, and his wet, black nose sniffed her pouch wistfully. Daralis surveyed the dwarf and concluded he did not appear entirely trustworthy, but warily nodded her consent. "Ha ha! Excellent, I think you both will like what I have to say." The dwarf leads you across the street to a tavern. The sign outside has a picture of a fat giant drinking from an overly large mug. You know this to be the Giant's Tankard, Home of the 2-pint ale mug. The dwarf selects a table in the back corner and orders a drink for everyone as well as some food. After everyone has settled, he opens his satchel and places 8 small rubies on the table. "There's two of these for each of you right now if you agree to help me, and the other two once we're done." He takes out a roll of scrolls and unfolds them to show you. "As you can see, I'm an ambassador from Holstein, with diplomatic commission to convey me through the empire on my mission. Now, I assure you, I take no part in the hostilities between our two great nations currently. As you can see from my letter from the emperor, my diplomatic status is recognized even in wartimes. Who cares about those damn iron mines in the Red Hills anyway. They're slag heaps, I say you people can have 'em if you want 'em that bad. However, that dolt of a garrison commander here doesn't like me for some reason, sent all my armed guards home. With situation as it is in this province, I can't go about my mission without some protection. What's my mission, you say? I'm glad you asked. I am a professor of languages and history in my home country and am currently studying ancient Giants rune inscriptions throughout the known world. As I'm sure you are aware, my scholarship has conclusively established a link between the Giant language and proto-Dwarves and has even suggested it may be related to Common. There is a pillar here of ancient Giant origin that I have not been able to study in person. I have been relying on secondary accounts of the runes from the works of Holman and Harder, but I have found their scholarship... lacking in certain areas. It has been difficult to obtain the necessary permissions since the tensions have been running high among our people. I am not about to turn back now that I am so close without seeing the pillar for myself! If you two agree to protect me on an n expedition to the pillar and then guide me to the border of Wrath, I will reward you handsomely with these rubies, and give you a credit in my next book." Derails felt famished, and was grateful when a generous meal of braised rabbits, stewed carrots and various rye and poppy seed breads arrived at the table. She ate hurriedly, and slipped a few choice morsels to Berwyn in her satchel. The conversation did not allay her concerns. The dwarf’s words were eloquent; however, his charming mannerisms failed to conceal the devious glint in his eyes. Despite her misgivings, his documentation appeared legitimate, and the offered payment was certainly attractive. An acknowledgment in a linguistic book was of little consequence of Derails, yet she thought fondly of her parents, Mibbtmottin and Selwyn, and knew they would be pleased to have the Bellinger name associated with a scholarly work (however remotely). The rubies were another matter… Daralis' initial inclination was to accept the dwarf’s proposal, but she desired to consult Valid privately. She hesitated to interrupt the Dwarf, who was currently expounding on the various intricacies of the proto-Dwarves language, but Derails grew weary of feigning interest. She smiled congenially and interjected awkwardly, May Valid and I have a moment to consider? Daralis got up from the table, satchel on her shoulder, and motioned for Valid to join her. Spoiler Show appraise 12 sense motive 2 forgery 5 -2 -2 -2 = 0 Valid listened closely to what the dwarf had to say while he ate sparingly from the rich foods offered. While he didn't much care for the rubies, that the dwarf was offering them indicated the job would not likely be a waste of time. Which is good since the bounty office all but admitted they would not honor further work. And while a citation in a linguistics book is hardly a ballad of valor, any increase in renown is an honorable achievement. In response to Derails's motion for him to follow, Valid shrugged, nodded an acknowledgment to the dwarf, then followed Derails away from the table. The paperwork appears genuine, and the dwarf seems to be telling the truth. The rubies seem real to you, but you don't have any idea what they are worth. Valid, what you are inclination? I sense he's not entirely forthright. Still, he's a rather squat, slow-moving fellow. After we have fulfilled our obligation, if he rescinds the offer, we could manage to procure our rightful payment. Shall we accept? Indeed. It is apparent the bounty office has no more work for us, and few others in these part will provide suitable employment, even for a fraction of what this dwarf is offering. I cannot speak for his forthrightness, but something tells me that he walks a path that will lead us to a worthy foe; in fact, I would not be hasty to dismiss the thought the worthy foe is in fact he. I say we take the job. Vaelis raises a questioning eyebrow, awaiting Derails's final dissent or concurrence. Derails nods in agreement and returns to her seat. Ambassador, I believe we have an accord. What direction shall we travel in first? Orcs patrols are dense to the West, so I suggest we leave through the Northern gates at daybreak. Do you have any maps to ease our travel? "Yes, I have several maps of this area and I believe I know the route well. Daybreak will be fine. I'll give you each one ruby now, and you can have the other in the morning when we leave. Don't spend it all in one place." At daybreak the others find Valid at the Northern gates, brushing down Silverman, his steed. As they approach he feeds Silverman an apple, gives his tack a final check, then mounts up. As Valid waits for the others, he retrieves another apple out of his pouch and bites into it, while Silverman snorts and paws the ground anxiously. Yes, my friend, we will soon be on our way, away from these confining walls. The dwarf arrives riding on a large pony. "So did you get your training in the military? I know your people have a tradition of service. It's obvious from your skills that you are not a draftee. Pathfinder perhaps?" Valid responds while scanning the horizon, It is true that my people are known for their service, but our traditions and skills have a long history, reaching back before the empire, well before humans first appeared in this land, and even before we came to these lands ourselves. He pats his mounts neck. But it is good to be traveling. Spoiler Show Roll Survival (weather): 18 + 8 = 26 Roll Sense Motive: 7 + 2 = 9 His questions seem to you to be those of an overly-inquisitive academic, who perhaps doesn't know what's impolite to ask." So why'd you leave the military? Surely you weren't kicked out? Though I've heard Ilium's military forces reward loyalty to immediate superiors more than talent. I think our forces are much better regimented in that regard. Then again, we don't have nearly as large an army as you. Though, we did manage to beat back General Nestor's assault on Iron crag. Sent his army fleeing back here to Ilium and the capital as I've heard the tale. Though maybe the news has traveled differently here in the Empire." Indeed, why was I decommissioned? For months, I have asked myself that very question... Hmmm... It is common knowledge that most of our highest echelons of leadership get their ranks through political pull, rather than strategic or tactical genius. Most have able lieutenants upon whom they rely for plans and guidance, but I sometimes wonder if it would not be better for... No matter. For now, I seek out to find my own honor. After travelling with Valid for the previous four weeks, Derails was accustomed to awaking before daybreak. By torchlight, she prepares for the upcoming journey. She deftly bends her bow to restring it, and plucks the string gently, listening carefully to the subtle harmonics of its reverberations. Satisfied, she turns to grooming Tyrion's wooly coat and examines his paws for new abrasions. She pads quietly into the galley, noticing the baker has delivered three fresh sweet cream pies along with a number of other pastries, breads and meat pies. With the smallest pang of remorse, she cuts a few small slices, tucks them neatly in a spare tin, and then packs the rest of the pies in her satchel, leaving a glittering gold piece with the crumbs. With preparations completed, she mounts Tyrion and lopes toward the city gates. As she rides alongside Valid, she overhears Valid describing his heritage to the Ambassador. As they pass under the watchful eye of the perimeter tower, Derails opens the tin and distributes the small slices to her companions before asking know only the history of my clan. Will you tell me more of your people's history as we ride, Valid? And so, Valid proceeds to recount the common oral history of the Calendar, beginning with the tale of Creation, and ending at the point when the Game master decides to push the plot along. There is much battling and begetting, deadly dragons and dead giants, victory through unconventional means, and grave losses brought about by betrayal. "So I take it you're not a believer of the alternative history offered by the Crimson Brood? I'll go ahead and tell our gnomish friend about that. See, some elves think that the elves were enslaved by dragons early in their race's history. Most of the elves were used as toys or labor, but the prettiest the dragons used as mates. The Crimson Brood believes that diatonic blood still flows in the veins of some even families and that the elves should again partner with the dragons instead of trying to hack off all their heads. I met a Crimson Brood fellow one time. Nice guy, a little bit too serious for my taste, though. Kept talking about Elves First and Elf Power and all that. The guy couldn't shut up about mating with dragons, either--kind of gross if you ask me. But, I guess you aren't one of those. Do you think that red mitral that they use is really forged in dragon fire? But enough about that. Let me tell you about the history of my people." Thorius proceeds to tell you the legend of the dwarves, which he interrupts at every turn to express his doubt in such fantastic stories. In the end, his story is a boring 10,000-year theory of natural selection and language development. The Crimson Brood? Those heretical abominations were supposed to have been wiped out when my grandfather was but a child... For them to still be around? Dangerous times provide one with more opportunity for Honor and Glory. When the party stops for its midday meal Valid rechecks his tack, equipment, and weapons. After ensuring everything is in its place and in good condition, Valid proceeds to sharpen his knife and polish his sword. "I've never understood why your people are such staunch supporters of the Empire. Your people are strong, you could be independent. You could rule such an empire if you wanted. Although I guess there are advantages to being part of it. Even I've considered if my people would be better off as part of the Empire. I guess we must all do what brings the greatest advantage to our people, and our selves. I guess I just don't see that you gain that much being a part, that's all," Thorium says, between mouthfuls of bread. "Pass me another of those rolls, those are good. Sorry, I shouldn't talk about politics so much. It's a bad habit of mine. I mean no offense." When Valid is content that his black Mikhail blades are clean and sharp, he resheaths them, finally gathers some food for himself, and silently eats as the others finish up and prepare their own equipment and mounts. Derails perches by a small rivulet under the shade of an outcropping. As she fastidiously bundles her remaining bread into her satchel, she fondly strokes Berwyn. Derails' brow furrows as she perceives her ward has become quite dusty. Berwyn contorts himself into ball and retracts to the farthest corner of the satchel trying to avoid the inevitable. Despite his valiant efforts, Berwyn is unceremoniously extracted from his pouch. His smooth fur bristles in defiance, his beady eyes squint at the offending sunlight, and he squawks with displeasure. Tyrion, familiar with Berwyn as she was, decides that she would prefer to join Valid sharpening his blades, and trots quickly away from her master. Derails speaks in a series of hitters and hisses that Valid had some time ago learned to it was best to ignore, as she gently submerges the irate badger. Berwyn emerges seething, but cleaner. Satisfied, Derails gingerly tucks him back in the satchel. As they rode out, Derails ruminates on the exchanges between Valid and Thorium, and decides it is time to interject. I certainly know less of history than you, Ambassador, but I believe I agree with Valid. While the Empire isn't perfect, it affords opportunities for those willing to work for them. My cousins in Blenheim are ceaselessly ta riffed and squeezed by the larger guild families, and it has only worsened over the past few generations. In Ilium, my clan can practice their trade in relative peace and security, and we are granted our own local governance. Can you say that Holstein would treat Gnomes more fairly? Spoiler Show Cast daily Burrow speak "We have several gnomes on the faculty of our college of wizardry. We dwarves don't seem to have a penchant for illusion or enchantment magic. But we attempt to teach it anyway. The minister of the exchequer is a gnome in Holstein. We reward skill in Holstein, what's more fair than that? I imagine outsiders such as yourselves would find it easy to ascend to the highest ranks of society in Holstein based on your skills, not forced into petty mercenary work like here. But I've said too much again. Why don't I just shut up until we get there? It shouldn't be too long now." As the dwarf is rambling on and on, Valleys catches a glimpse of three figures at the top of a hill to the side. Though he has to look into the sun to see them, Valleys's sharp eyes and even instincts tell him they are orcs mounted on war-boars. They are about 400 feet away at the crest of a hill. Spoiler Show Derails' spot - 14, Thorium' spot - 4, Valleys' spot - 30 While loosening his sword and slowly readying his bow, Valleys quietly and calmly warns his companions. Daralis, Thorium, we have company up on the ridge. Three orcs, mounted. So, who makes the first move? Thorium and Derails are now both aware of the orcs. You're warning and preparations seem to have been discrete enough not to alert the orcs. They haven't seemed to change their behavior and are still slowly following on the ridge." Holy Moran, how long have those goons been following us?" Thorium asks in a low voice. Derails is unsure that Tyrion could face three orcs on boar back. She looks for brush, trees, or rocks that could conceal them and hasten their escape from their pursuers. Spoiler Show Survival or Spot? I don't know my modifiers. Survival Roll - 20 Spot - 10 There is a pretty good amount of brush 200 feet ahead and to the east, the orcs are about 400 feet west of your current position. Derails surveys the horizon, notes the dense underbrush and recognizes an ideal setting for an ambush. She turns and informs Valleys of her thoughts, and asks What's your inclination? I think we can set a decent trap for those fellows. Okay. You and the Professor head towards brush, but keep moving forward in this direction as well, stay calm, and don't rush. I'll head off towards the west; either they ignore me and I get behind them, they ignore you and I lose them and catch back up to you, or they split in which case whoever gets the one can assist the other with the two. Spoiler Show This plan is predicated on the idea that the orcs are to the west, the brush is to the east, and we have been heading either north or south, presumably north. When we split, we will be making a Y shape, 90 degrees between our two new paths (northeast and northwest). When we split, I will increase my speed marginally to either "full speed" or a hustle. Derails nods. Her azure eyes remain fixed straightforward, her face placidly expressionless, but she eagerly fingers the fletchings of an arrow in anticipation of the impending combat. Derails hears the Ambassador breathing heavily and recalls her conversation with Valleys at the Tankard. Based on outward appearances, she judged Thorium incapable of gaining the advantage in combat, yet Valleys perceived the dwarf's frailty was deceptive... Tirion interrupted Derails' musings with an impatient snort. Derails senses the immense dog's agitation, and increases the tension on the reins. Forcing Tyrion to maintain a leisurely gait, Derails deftly guides the towards the dense coppice. May the Ancestors guide us towards victory. Vaelas nudges Silverman towards his new direction and increases his pace. Strategy:Spoiler Show If they end up chasing me, then I will attack then ride ahead, attack then ride ahead. If they end up chasing the other two, I will swing back behind them, and attack whoever is in the back. If they go about their merry way, I'll let them live this day. Tactics:Spoiler Show Attack the mount of the nearest mounted opponent with my bow. When they cease to be mounted, put away the bow, move up to the closest and whack on him with my sword for a bit (2-handed) while my horse kicks and bites. If a second gets within melee range, I'll ride away (65 ft.) and start putting arrows in the first. When he drops, move into melee, whack, kick and bite. Rolls:Spoiler Show d20: 6, 19, 5, 4, 15, 8, 9, 7, 11, 8, 18, 1, 5, 11, 20, 15, 7, 18, 18, 16, 4, 11, 14, 8, 2, 11, 4, 9, 13 d6: 5, 3, 1, 4, 4, 1, 5, 3, 3, 3 d8: 1, 1, 7, 2, 3, 3, 7, 2, 4, 7 d4: 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, 1 d3: 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 2, 1 The orcs seem to prefer elf blood and follow Valleys. Vales keeps his horse at a slow gait to lure the orcs closer. He can hear them spewing vile curses about what they like to do to Even women and how many even heads they've staked on spears. They finally come into spear range and each throw a spear. Two of the spears are thrown to short. The third comes close to hitting Valleys' horse but Valleys quick maneuvering makes the spear miss. Valleys takes aim at the orc that threw the closest spear and fires an arrow. The arrow strikes the orc in the throat, and he slumps down in his saddle. Valleys spurs his horse to an increased speed, still a moderate pace for the horse but much faster than the boars can match. The two remaining orcs throw spears again but are still throwing too short. Valleys lets lose another arrow, and it strikes home, penetrating the orc's chest. The orc falls sideways off the boar and lies limply on the ground. The two riderless boars seem to lose interest. The one remaining orc turns back as Valleys easily outdistances him. Spoiler Show I decided to roll for you lest I let my advance knowledge of rolls subtly influence the sequence of events I assigned you. These rolls include all applicable modifiers including range and firing from horseback. Please correct me in the future if I'm calculating yours wrong. Orcs first volley, 5+1 = 6, 4+1 = 5, 17+1 = 18 (ride check of 22 beats). Orcs second volley 3+1 = 4, 11+1 = 12. Luke's arrows, 18+1 = 19, damage 2d6+5 = 12, 19+1=20, damage 2d6+5 = 11. Derails and Thorium make it to the brush and plunge inside to hide themselves. All seems quiet and well until Thorium tries to crawl out a way in an attempt to see how Valleys is doing. Derails hears the cracking sound of a branch and Thorium yelps in surprise. Derails turns to see an open pit once disguised by brush where Thorium had been and hears him hit the bottom with a thud. Derails Kimberly crouches amid the juniper branches, and listens intently for the footfalls of approaching orcs. The professor's clamorous plummet fills her with a mixture irrigation and anxiety. She immediately scans the ground cover for other potential pitfalls, quiets the animals to ensure they remain concealed, and silently makes her way to the lip of the pit. Using a trick her father had taught her as a youth, she twinkles her fingers and hums tunelessly until four luminous spheres appear in front of her, and descend into the opening. She expectantly peers over the edge, awaiting a sign from Thorium. Spoiler Show VB says these are the skills I might need to roll. Survival 3 + 6 = 9 Move Silently 18 + 11 = 29 Handle Animal 3 + 12 = 15 Cast Dancing Lights, 4 lantern-style, down the hole. Valleys turns Silverman in order to chase the last fleeing orc. Spoiler Show this space intentionally left blank The orc is unable to outrun or avoid the swift-riding Valleys and takes an arrow in the back a few seconds later, sending him to the ground. The boars don't seem to be hostile, though they might be if approached too closely. Two of them seem to be locking tusk and snorting at each other. Spoiler Show Attack roll 18+1=19, damage roll 9+5=14 Valleys rides closer to the separate dire boar and attempts to 'befriend' it with soothing words and some of his apples. I should gather the bodies and head back to the others; it will be a lot easier if I can use one of these boars as a beast of burdonSpoiler Show Wild Empathy roll: 18 Even if not successful, he will try to gather the bodies and anything that dropped from them, using Silverman to carry them, and walking him back: Search roll 1: 15 + 7 = 22 Search roll 2: 15 + 7 = 22 Search roll 3: 10 + 7 = 17 DaralisDaralis peers over the edge of the pit. Thorium is at the bottom of a roughly 30 foot pit. The bottom seems to open up into a larger cavern. He looks up and says, "Thanks for the light, lass. Luckily I always memorize a feather fall spell for just such occasions. It comes in useful when you live underground. Why don't you lower me down a rope." Tirion sighs and plops his head down on his paws to take a nap. However, Berwyn seems agitated. He sniffs the air and growls softly. Derails looks up and catches sight of three camouflaged goblins trying to sneak up on her. Derails' eyes meet the closest goblin's, and they reach for their weapons. Thorius yells from below, "Moran's beard! There's a scorpion in here, throw that rope down!" Spoiler Show Initiative Order: Derails, Goblin, Goblin, Goblin, Scorpion, Thorium. You can command Tyrion using Handle Animal, but he won't be able to act this first turn. The goblins are wearing leather armor and have short spears. VaelasThe dire boar initially snorts viciously at Valleys, but softens quickly once it smells the apple. The 12-foot-long savage beast becomes soft and compliant once fed. Valleys stacks the bodies on the beast, and it willingly follows him to toward the brush. Spoiler Show I think that roll should be handle animal instead of wild empathy since the boar is trained. Either way the roll is enough to get it to follow you. You think you'd have to work with it a bit more to command it, though. I've gone ahead and rolled your spot and listen checks. You will not be aware of the scuffle in the brush for 2 rounds, at which point you'll be 100 feet away. Derails lithely scampers around the circumference of the pit. In the glimmer of the lantern lights, Derails faintly makes out the fearsome scorpion. She aims her bow and fires two shots in rapid succession. She murmurs softly to Tyrion, The slumbering dog abruptly arises, and lumbers toward the goblins emitting a guttural growl. Spoiler Show 5 footstep, move such that the pit is between me and the goblins. Handle animal, order attacking. 7 Rapid shot at the Scorpion. 14, 17 Damage rolls 6, 6 (VB says HOLY CRAP!) VB says I may or may not get my sniper bonus, and doesn’t know the size of the scorpion, so I’ll just put up all my rolls without modifiers. Sorry to make you do math! Two quick arrows to the head fells the man-sized scorpion; Its tail shudders and goes limp just as it was raising it to strike Thorium. The goblins advance and throw their spears at Derails. One of the spears goes long and disappears into the brush. One of the spears falls short and clatters into the pit. The third spear impales Derails in the leg. Thorium looks up and says, "Thanks, lass. What's going on up there? Who is throwing spears?" Spoiler Show Derails takes 3 damage. The scorpion is dead. Tyrion now acts on your turn. The goblins are about 15 feet from Derails, about 10 from Tyrion. Derails grimaces in pain. Being a gnome of few words, she merely mutters, Goblins.and proceeds to lose 2 more arrows, one each, at two of her assailants. Simultaneously, Tyrion lunges toward the third goblin with her fangs bared. Spoiler Show no movement. Rolls only, no modifiers. Rapid shot, one arrow each at goblin 1 and 2. 4 and 9 :(Damage rolls 3, 4 Tyrion attacks goblin 3. 14 Damage roll 6 ☺ VB says I can do an attack of opportunity with my bow blade on one goblin if they get close, but it’s at -2 apparently. I thought I should roll that too, just in case. 11. Damage roll 2. The first arrow catches the closest goblin squarely in the chest, and he stumbles forward into the pit. The second goblin deftly dodges the arrow, scurries around the right side of the pit, and tries unsuccessfully to spear Derails. The third goblin is intercepted by Tyrion, who clamps his massive jaws on the goblin's neck. Soon the third goblin is dead. Thorium shouts, "Goblins! Nasty little buggers." Off in the distance, Valleys here are the sounds of combat coming from the brush where Derails and Thorium went. Derails whistles to Tyrion, who is masticating upon the deceased goblin. She reluctantly drops her prey, and trudges toward a new quarry. Derails pounces upon the goblin and plunges her bladed bow at his chest. Spoiler Show Rolls only. No move for Derails. Tyrion ordered to close and attack Handle Animal: 2 (I hope that's enough!) Tyrion's attack and damage rolls 12, 3 Attack and damage with bow blade: 19, 3 Derails slashes at the goblin's arms while Tyrion lunges at his heels. He's soon brought down. Upon hearing the sounds of combat, Valleys drops the reigns of the dire boar, brings Silverman into a canter, and strains to make out the combatants while readying his bow. As Tyrion extinguishes the life of the remaining goblin, Derails vigilantly guards against additional assailants, scanning for goblin shadows amidst the darkened silhouettes of poplars, willows, and pines. Convinced she is alone, Derails peeps over the lip of the pit and hails to Thorium. Henceforth, they will not be bothering us. Any inclination as to why these irritable fellows pursued us? She frowns at the jagged laceration on her calf, but cheerfully stumps toward Tyrion--offering the beast an entire sweet cream pie as recompense for the diligent goblin-thrashing (Berwyn receives a quarter slice to reinforce the well-timed forewarning). With some effort, Derails awkwardly drags the goblin corpses to the lip of the pit, and proceeds to merrily relieve them of their "burdens". Spoiler Show Spot and Listen for more foes. Spot 20 + 5 = 25. Listen 15 +13 = 28 Search check for the goblins 13 + 0 = 13, 5 + 0 = 5 "Someone mind throwing a rope down to me if the scuffle's all done?" Thorium says as he paces around the cavern floor below. When Valleys arrives, he finds Derails looting corpses and Thorium yelling about rope. Trusting that Derails has taken care of any immediate threats, he puts away his bow and dismounts. You will find three more bodies to search on the dire boar about a hundred feet back. Feel free to claim any trophies as your own. Not seeing Thorium, but hearing his voice, Valleys takes a moment to examine his surroundings. Realizing the dwarf has somehow fallen into a pit, Valleys retrieves his rope from his saddlebag and lowers one end into the pit, bracing himself to help the dwarf up. A search of all the bodies turns up little of interest. They were armed with crude spears, wooden shields and leather armor. They carried no money and surprisingly no food either. Thorius climbs out of the hole. "Thanks my even friend, obviously your ears are keener than this here gnome's. Feels like I've been hollering for a rope for hours." He brushes himself off. He has cuts and bruises but appears largely okay. Furthermore, he looks around. "Now which direction were we going, that pillar's around here someplace." Derails grins sheepishly but remains wordless. Concerned that idle passersby will note their presence, she discards the cadavers into the pit. After sending the goblins to their impromptu graves, Derails rejoins her companions, gestures in the direction they had been heading previously, and spurs Tyrion into a brisk trot. After a few more hours of travelling, something begins to take shape in the distance. In the wooded foothills of the mountains in the distance rises an enormous stone pillar. Though you are still unsure how tall it is, it looks far larger than any tower you have ever seen, and you would not be surprised if it were constructed by giants. Lower than the central pillar are a pair of stone shapes flanking it. They look to be pillars as well, but you can't tell for certain. They seem to rise just above the tree line. As a consequence of her diminutive size, the majority of objects Derails encountered appeared rather towering. Derails squinted at the pillars soaring against the horizon, and recognized these were no exception; indeed, they were massive. Impressive. Ambassador, you mentioned that examining the pillar would yield valuable insight into giant's linguistic structure. What specifically do you expect to find written on the pillar-- list of genealogies, poem, account of past battles? The two side 'pillars' intrigued Valleys; Thorium did not mention them before. The central pillar was massive and impressive, yes, but it was a lingering relic of the dead civilization of a nearly dead race. A race that had long ago proven itself unworthy. But even dwindling races can always attempt to rekindle past glories; their remnants attempting to honor their ancestors. Those pillars reek of deception. As they approach closer, the forms come into focus a bit more. The central pillar must be at least 300 hundred feet high, and it has large glyphs covering it. The smaller objects don't appear to be pillars at all. They are a much more modest 40–50 feet you would guess. They appear to be statues of giants, though you can only see their shoulders and heads above the trees." A record of the deeds of the giant king who built it. The dates and descriptions of events will aid our knowledge of history as well as linguistics. You see, it is written in 4 ancient dialects of Giant as this was built by Marble the Unifier who had recently conquered and unified the hill giants, stone giants, frost giants and fire giants." Thorium reigns in his pony and dismounts. He opens up a pouch and begins to pour earth from it onto the ground. To your questioning looks he responds, "I'm worried that the slaves may be using the pillar as a base so we might need some extra protection." He moves his hands over the pile of dirt and speaks a few words of magic. The dirt seems to sink into the ground, which begins to crack and rumble. A bulge rises in the ground where the dirt had been and soon a large humanoid form of rock and earth rises from the ground to tower above the dwarf. A nine-foot tall clump of earth with stony trunks for arms and legs and the hint of a head stands before you." This is my familiar, Art hos," Thorium says. He speaks a few words in another language to the earth elemental and then mounts his pony again. As a gnome of rural origins, Derails was accustomed to proverbial bucolic scenes: sedimentary rocks and multicolored pebbles scattered alongside glistening streamlets. However, the Familiar that loomed beneath the glyph-strewn tower did not fall into the aforementioned category. As a youth, Derails engaged in fanciful playacting. " Giants and Bibbimottin the Slayer" was the common favorite among the Bellinger siblings; however the mock combat against Tackler, clumsily masqueraded as a giant, failed to prepare Derails for the colossal statues that glowered down at her now. Daralis sidles Tyrion closer to Valleys' mount, giving him an unsettled look. It was certainly fortunate that Art hos was an ally; he would make a formidable opponent. She whispers timidly to Valleys:Have you ever witnessed anything akin to this creature? During my first campaign. And nearly my last. I was much too green then. Am still too green. Are not 'familiars' generally. . . Smaller? As I suspected, statues. But why? What deception do they hide? Is the danger here of orc or giant origin "Generally they are. Most wizards do not devote much study to the familiar bond. However, I have found many principles of the study of the elemental planes applicable. Art hos was but a wee thing when I graduated from the academy. But in the years since he has fed much on elemental plane-stuff conjured from the far realms and his power has grown with my own. Now when we get to the pillar I will need to spend several hours studying the runes and casting magical divination to discern their meaning. Art hos will protect my person, but his senses are not the sharpest, and so I want you two to make sure there aren't any surprising coming up on us." Derails remained apprehensive. She judged the gargantuan familiar to be approximately twice her height, and Art hos almost certainly weighed more than she and her companions combined. Despite her misgivings, Derails was afflicted with impetuous curiosity and a nagging desire to play with the prodigious fellow. She discerned a benevolent, good-humored face concealed among the rocky crags above Art hos' torso. Besides, she rationalized that Art hos would inevitably engage in battle alongside Valleys and herself--discovering his weaknesses was as useful as knowing his strengths. She decided to test Thorium' assertion that the elemental was weak-sighted by making miniscule waving motions in front of Art hos face - or as close to it as she could reach from her lower elevation. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Art hos! She timorously peeped up into the familiar's scraggy eyes, and gave him a quick, hesitant pet on the end of the stump that served as his hand. Valleys smirks at Derails's actions and rides ahead to scout out the area. As he passes a statue he gives it a sidelong glance and hurries on to the central pillar where he dismounts, glances to the sky to check the weather, then begins searching around the base of the pillar for indications of recent visitors. Spoiler Show Survival Roll: 15+8 = 23 Search Roll: 15+7 = 22 (25/Orcs) Though no one appears to be here now, you find the remnants of two campfires, one about a three days old and one about a week old. There are also tracks from various humanoids and animals, maybe fifteen different sets within the last two weeks--some goblins, some orcs, some wolves and perhaps a bugbear. The weather looks clear for now but there are some clouds far in the distance. It might rain tomorrow or the next day. Arthos turns to face Derails. He stoops down to peer closely at the gnome. He says something unintelligible in reverberating Terran, scoops up the gnome with one of his enormous arms and brings her close to his ill-formed head. After a few moments he puts her back down and turns his attention back to his master. Thorius has pulled out some colored sand is pouring it out in some kind of circle around the central pillar. Spoiler Show I was wrong about Art hos's height. He's about 16 feet tall, actually. It appears we are currently alone, but others do visit this location. Derails, stay here with the professor for a bit; I wish to examine something. As he says this, Valleys turns and begins walking towards one of the statues. When he nears it, he begins to examine the surrounding area, as he did the central pillar, but also examines the statue itself. Spoiler Show Search Roll 1: 13+8 = 21 Search Roll 2: 7+8 = 15 If nothing noteworthy is found, I wish to continue to the next statue, then the next, and so on, until I come full circle. Feel free to make any additional rolls necessary (search, jump, climb, et c.). Note: Bow is left with horse. Though you have little familiarity with sculpture or stonework, the statues seem to be of great craftsmanship. The one on the right you identify as a stone giant and the one on the left you identify as a hill giant. The pillar itself seems of less fine construction. It is uneven in parts and not very smooth. It looks hastily cut, perhaps. You can make little of the runes themselves though they are carved quite deep into the rock's surface. After several minutes of examining, Valleys returns to the others at the central pillar just as Thorium finishes pouring his sand. Thorius, before you begin: Earlier you mentioned that Marble unified four tribes of giants, but here we have statues representing just two. And statues and pillar appear to have been crafted by different hands... What do you make of this? "Well the statues are obviously of later construction, made during the flourishing of giant culture brought on by Marble's rule. Perhaps this was the spot where he took the oaths of the stone giant and hill giant kings and the statues commemorate that." Indeed. This mystery will have to wait, then. Vaelas retrieves his bow and quiver, then heads towards the hill giant statue, which he then begins to climb, to gain a better vantage point for keeping watch. Derails inquires, Thorius, what did Art hos say?as she scrambles up a nearby low tree, to give her a better vantage of the grounds around the tower. "Art hos was saying that your people are very small and that he would be careful not to step on you. He said the same thing to me when I first summoned him." Thorius has now removed a heavy book from his pack. It appears to be metal bound and the pages may be very thin metal as well. He has finished drawing a complicated magical circle around the central pillar and is now reading Diatonic text from his book and gesturing with his staff. From on the statue you have a good view of everyone's position and into the forest beyond. You doubt anyone could sneak up on you from this vantage point. Derails smiled. Art hos was gracious to extend such courtesy. After a short interval of time passed, Paris grew listless. She nimbly flipped upside-down on the gnarled branch, but even from her inverted perspective the horizon was void of enemies. Berwyn snarled in displeasure at the unforeseen reversal of his universe. Derails frowned, but righted herself at the sounds of Berwyn's protest. Berwyn was a sneaky badger, but his grumpy disposition occasionally gained the better of him. Daralis affectionately patted his head, "Silence is necessary during concealment, Berwyn"The grumpy badger chortled his annoyance-preferring to conceal himself in a burrow. Daralis merely shrugged. "It is an advantage. No one would expect a badger in a tree." Spoiler Show I don't know if I need any of these, but, just in case (rolls only): Balance:18 Handle Animal: 10 Hide: 17 Thorium finishes casting his first spell and golden arcane energy surrounds his person then dissipates." I can read your tattoos with my magic, I know you are Pathfinders. But the questions remain, why are you here? I've been trying to figure it out since I saw you in the city, but I have no answer as yet."" I'll tell you the truth, and you do likewise, how about that? Furthermore, I'm on a military mission from Holstein in cooperation with certain forces from the Empire. Furthermore, I don't need you to protect me, and I am quite capable of defending myself if you should try anything. According to my information, you aren't supposed to be here. It would probably be safer just to kill you both, but you did rescue me from that pit which I may not have been able to do on my own. I feel honor bound not to kill you outright. Also, the fact that you didn't leave me down there leads me to suspect that you are not here to hinder me. Now, your turn." As Valleys turns his head from the surrounding countryside to watch Thorium his brow creases and his eyes narrow. He then glances in Derails's direction, raises an eyebrow and shrugs. There is no deception in my actions. I have been out of active service for several seasons now. He pauses and smirks. So, are you removing us from Crellin or bringing us to this pillar? "I do have an interest in this pillar, though not quite what I told you before. If you are not on active service then it seems you have a choice. We have need of people with your talent. Change is coming to the Empire, and to my country as well. The corruption and religious dominance of the Empire, as well as the xenophobia and greed of my country, have held the mortal races back and at each other's throats for too long. Like-minded individuals like myself and others within the Empire are working to change all that. We are building a just society. I am offering you an opportunity to join us. If you refuse, I feel indebted to you and I will allow you to leave if you do not try to oppose me."

HoHo Game, Prologue 3_ The Third Prologue|rating:3.0

Searchers (A Ghost Story) [Sapphichaotic and Chrystal Dark]

@Gerard Thunder Being dead wasn't what it was cracked up to be. Laura had discovered that very quickly. There was no "Handbook for the newly deceased", no grim reaper with a scythe, not even a sickle. At least, not that she could remember, anyway. Although her memory had more holes in it than a Swiss cheese, so there might have been... The worst thing was the boredom. She'd always been active, or at least she seemed to have vague memories of swimming, rock climbing, walking, running, sailing... She didn't know if she still had the right words for the vague memories, but that was one of the stranger things: She could remember words, and meanings, if she tried hard enough, but trying to remember specific events, or names, or faces, and they seemed to slide away from her like.... like something slippery in water....? Soap in a bath? Was that the correct thing? She didn't know. She was confined to this small, rather run-down, single story house that, from looking out of the window, she knew was not far from the sea. How she could remember what that greenery bit between the land and the sky was, when she had trouble remembering her own name, was something she had spent many a bored hour pondering. The house was small and square, with one bedroom containing a double bed, a dresser and a freestanding closet, another much smaller bedroom with a single bed and a dresser, a small bathroom with a toilet, wash basin, and shower cubicle (but no bath). There was the kitchen, that had an old but serviceable gas cooker and oven, a toaster, electric kettle, microwave and drawers full of utensils and stuff. And the lounge at the front. There was an old-fashioned open fire place in the lounge, a couch that could seat three and (she seemed to remember) opened out into a bed for two. A small flat-screen TV was mounted on one wall. Towards the kitchen was the dining nook with a cheap looking table and four chairs. The boredom was what got to her, as long as she wasn't having the flashbacks... A plastic bag over her head, struggling to breath, blackness enfolding her while something hard rammed deep into her..."GATHER! AHH! AAAAA!" She screamed silently. Oh, she could hear her own voice, but no-one else could. No-one else could see her or hear her. They didn't even have to step around her, they just walked straight through. They could feel her though... usually as a sudden chill. That fireplace got a lot of use, even in summer. It was winter now though. And winter was the most boring of all. The house seemed to be some sort of holiday villa that was mostly used during the summer. Except that the owner kept being called in to fix the plumbing, the heating, the air conditioning or the wiring... One guest had actually stated that he thought the place was haunted, but he'd been politely ignored because he was only ten. Laura had lost track of how long she'd been here. It was Winter now... Or was it? It certainly seemed to be duller and cloudier outside. But did she remember warmer, sunnier, longer days or was she just imagining that she could remember them? She couldn't remember what were real memories and what weren't. Like the three young people she seemed to remember spending time with in this very house, before.......Afterward, she wandered around the small, single story house, lost and alone, wondering how she had got here, feeling the place was familiar. Being dead wasn't anything like as good as they said it was supposed to be. Even Hell would be better than this, surely? She could walk through the walls and doors inside, and could actually appreciate the grain of the wood as she passed through it. If she concentrated hard, she could move small things, like light switches, and if she really concentrated she could blow out a match. Poltergeists have more fun...! But in the winter there were fewer people. At least she thought there were. And without people to haunt, she was bored. She had tried leaving, once. That, she definitely remembered. When she looked out through the windows or the outside doors, she could see the front yard and the path to the road, or the backyard and the surrounding fence. But the one time she had tried to step out, the front yard and everything beyond it had vanished, to be replaced, not by a desolate desert with a giant ghost eating worm... (Somehow she seemed to be able to remember a lot of movies) No, what met her gaze was an infinite field of flame. Well she'd hesitated a moment when everything changed as she stepped to the threshold of the open door that one time, but hey she was dead, right? She could stick her hand in the flame from the gas cooker and not feel thing. So surely the worst that could happen had happened, right? She had stepped out. WRONG! How she could feel pain without a central nervous system to carry the sensation to the brain she no longer had of flash she didn't have either being burned away, she had no idea, all she knew was that it was agony. She fell backwards, landing inside the door and scrambled way from it, ignoring the family who were carrying their cases to their car. And the pain went. Even the memory of it vanished, leaving just the memory of a memory of pain... But she never tried to leave again... She was in this house and she would haunt this house. One thing she did remember was that to become a ghost when you died, so the saying went, you had to have unfinished business. Well Laura definitely had some unfinished business. If only she could remember what it was? "Are you sure?" Lindsey rolled her eyes, hearing the question for what felt like the millionth time. The landlord, a fifty-something man, fat and hairy apart from a bald, egg-like head, tapped the table with his fingers, and the ongoing noise made it hard for her to concentrate. Stop! She wanted to scream at him. Let me think, goddamn it! Rough like the American sun, all pale skin and furious eyes, he'll stop his tapping right away. But she didn't want to get into a fight with him, it'll make anything harder. Instead, she smiled. Red, chubby lips twisting in a gateway to her teeth, not horribly yellow, but not shiny white too. Well, she was smoking enough cigarettes to completely screw her mouth whiteness. Not that it mattered." Yes, I'm sure." She replied, the same answer she gave her parents, her uncle, her high school teachers (screw the small village, where everyone knew anyone). "I've lost someone, and I've got to find her." The landlord gave a long gaze over her chest and stomach, probably trying to judge if she looked postpartum. She kept smiling, although the unwanted chills over her arms that had nothing to do with the weather. She had two shirts AND a sweater on, and she still felt naked under that manly gaze. A gaze she got used to, well, as used as she could, from the village, where men she hasn't even seen before undressed her with their eyes, knowing she was a lesbian and trying to judge if she was tiresomely worth-it. Fuck porn and poor lesbian representation." A child?" The landlord asked. She almost burst out laughing. The house wasn't big, but for just her, it shouldn't have been. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen, and it was amazingly cheap. She got inside, noticing the coldness inside the house, as if it was a fridge and not a house. Well, it was indeed a winter. She took the smaller bedroom, smiling at the set of linen that was ready on the bed. If there was something she hates, it was putting on linens on beds. Her mother used to make fun of her. You've got it in your name, Lindsey. How can a Lindsey hate linens? Haha. Hilarious, mom. She totally understood her sister. With this poor humor sense, she'd be escaping her mother, too. She stopped herself from thinking so, that was a dark, dark joke. Instead, she put her clothes in the closet, there weren't many of them. Lindsey was always practical, never having more clothes than she had to. She decided to make something to eat, maybe order a pizza if there was any pizzeria open by the time (she checked her phone, 2pm), and then take a shower and relax with a book (she had about ten books in the suitcase) until she'll get sleepy. There was a TV, but she didn't really like watching TV. There was never anything interesting in it. A new tenant? In the middle of winter? Laura ... That was her name, wasn't it? Laura? Yes she was pretty sure that was what she was called. Laura watched as the young woman moved into the smaller bedroom. "Whooooooo! HOODOO!" She joked. Hay, it was traditional, wasn't it? That was what ghosts were supposed to say. She stood in the doorway, waving her arms about. The woman certainly was well-endowed, almost like Laura had been. The fact that when she looked down at herself she saw her body as it had been when... The bag over her head, gasping for breath, hands gripping her breasts, and the voice, the voice she could never remember, only the words. "Goodnight, my lovely. It's been fun..." And the hard thing pushing deep inside her..."AHHHH! Fur balls! Darn it!" That was another thing. Okay so she hadn't exactly been a foul-mouthed young woman when she was alive, but now she was dead she didn't seem to be able to swear at all. The bad words she wanted to say seemed to transform themselves into harmless expletives on the way to her mouth. Except of course she didn't have a mouth... But the flashbacks made her want to swear. She hated it when those memories resurfaced. She tried to keep away from thoughts that might trigger them. Furthermore, she wasn't cold, even though she had no clothes on. The marks on her body hadn't faded, they were still there, bright and livid as the day they'd been put there... The wire tied tightly around her wrists, cutting off the circulation, tied around her ample breasts as well, the searing hot pain as needles were pushed into her..."NO! No, no no... Ice cream. Fluffy bunnies. Brown paper packages tied up with string...!" The song came to mind unbidden, and she gladly embraced it, totally unable to recall where it was from. A movie about nuns? "These are a few of my favorite things. Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. Something about winters that turn into springs..." The words faded as quickly as they had come, and she sighed, then realized that she had lost track of the tenant. Noises from the kitchen. Someone going through the fridge and the cupboards. There wasn't any food in them. Well, a jar of instant coffee that had been there when Laura and her friends arrived, unopened and likely to remain so as it was the cheapest brand going. She seemed to remember there was sugar and powdered milk too. Although... There was a general store just a quarter mile up the road, the opposite way from the sea front? Wasn't there? The certainty of the memory faded as surely as the bad flash-backs faded, leaving only the memory of having remembered something that might have been important. The woman was tapping on her phone screen now and Laura moved so she could see the screen. Pizza delivery? Oh, she knew of a great pizza place, a place where she and... and... J-... Blast, why could she not remember the name...? But she and the other person had ordered the most amazing pizzas from." No! No, not that one, they're awful!" She watched as the woman selected a place that did horrible. Slimy pizzas and paused, obviously trying to decide what to order. "No, if you want a pizza..." Laura was trying hard not to think, not to 'remember', she just wanted to know. Her finger touched the screen of the smartphone, and she put all the energy she had into doing this cute lady a favor, back out of the website she was in, scroll down the list that Google had brought up, and into that website. "There. Use them. They do.... do... what the dickens am I doing?" She walked away feeling exhausted suddenly, the idea she had been pursuing relentlessly sliding away. Back in the lounge she sat on the sofa, not at all curious as to how it supported her when she was able to walk right through it at other times. Being a ghost was all about mental energy. All about the right focus, and after doing something strenuous like that she needed to recharge. Just after finding out there was nothing to eat in the house, Lindsey's phone decided to freak out. She was shocked at it. Her phone wasn't the most expensive, but it had been working perfectly fine for two years already, and has never done something that weird." Maybe I've pissed the Pizza Spirits off." She joked out loud. Hearing a voice, even her own, at the total silence around her was comforting, and made her paranoia fade. There was nothing wrong, every phone gets a little fucked at some point. Her phone picking a specific pizzeria was strange, but did not mean something bad was going to happen to her. She called the pizzeria, now comforted and amused." Joey's pizza, my name's Hannah, how can I help you?" The voice was too happy to be from actual happiness, but Lindsey didn't mind if it meant she'll get to speak with a human AND get food." Hey, Hannah, my name is Lindsey, I was looking for a pizzeria and my phone decided to get to your website..." Hannah didn't sound worried. "Your phone made a great decision, then, Ma'am. Do you know what you're looking for, or may I offer our special?"" I don't eat meat." Lindsey said. "Does it matter?"" Not at all, Ma'am. Our special pizza is made with extra cheese, peppers, onions and olives. It might sound a little weird, but I swear in my name that it's great. I've eaten it a dozen of times. You can take my word."" The special one it is, then."" Great. Do you want to join our Costumers club? Twenty more dollars now, and you'll get cheaper prices forever, as well as free drinks forever."" Uh... Sure." Lindsey hesitated for a second. "I actually just moved in, so I might live of pizza for the next few days, until I get things in order..." Hannah hummed softly. "So, would you want a drink with your pizza? It'll be for free." Lindsey agreed. She gave her credit card number and her address. Hannah seemed to not get what she was saying, because she asked for the address again." Is something wrong?" Lindsey asked. Hannah's voice wasn't so happy now. "Well... I wouldn't want to freak you out, ma'am, but there are some, uh... Rumors... About your house. People say it's haunted..." Lindsey went quiet for a moment. Her brain wad working fast. But then she seemed to reset. She laughed." It's not the best welcoming gift, Hannah." She said, still smiling. "Freaking me out on my first day? Not at all nice. But I appreciate your concern. Luckily, ghosts don't exist." The confident tone of her voice made her calm. At two in the afternoon, she couldn'ttimagineghosts without laughing. How ridiculous! Ghosts don't exist, every kid knows that. If ghosts existed, the world would burst out of people. You couldn't walk without bumping into one. Ghosts were stories, fairy tales, fantasy. Not a thing that really existed. Hannah didn't sound so sure, but she didn't speak further about ghosts. She said, "thank you. Your order would be at your address in between half an hour and fifty minutes. If it doesn't come, please call us again. Have a lovely day." Lindsey hung up, still giggling at herself. Haunted house... Really... Laura smirked to herself as she listened in to one half of the conversation. Hannah? The name was familiar. Tall, dark-skinned lady? She wasn't sure. Listening to someone else ordering a pizza was great if you knew you were going to get to share it. If you knew you were going to miss out on the pizza this time but could order one of your own later, it was tantalizing, frustrating, and yet brought about the pleasure of anticipation. But listening to someone ordering a pizza when you knew darn well that you would never again taste that wonderful combination of flavors, that was pure torture. But at least Laura had a name for the interloper now. "Lindsey, hmm? Lindsey-Lindsey-Lindsey... Nope didn't expect that to work. Oh, well." And then Lindsey gave Hannah her address, Gave it again. Pause... And then laughter. And a statement that a few ...(Years? Months? Decades? Weeks? Laura had no idea how long she'd been here.) ... that not so very long ago (she hoped) Laura would have totally agreed with. Ghosts don't exist... She would have agreed with that one hundred percent, except she now knew it was one hundred percent wrong, from personal experience. Lindsey was still giggling as she hung up the phone. And Laura was giggling too, in a slightly broken way, in a way that implied that her sanity was slipping just a little bit. She knew it as well. That was the problem. Her memory was shredded, her life was gone, she couldn't sleep, couldn't eat or drink, couldn't even pee. Heck, she couldn't even swear! She was stuck in this crummy little holiday villa, and the worst part was that no-one could see or hear her. So of course she was loosing it. That was why she tried to stay in control, tried to turn things on and off, spoke to the people who came to stay, answered their rhetorical questions when they talked to themselves. And it couldn't have been that long ago. Because she knew that the shiny slab like thing Lindsey had been talking to was a smartphone. Laura knew she wasn't omniscient (A fact she found somewhat disappointing) so that knowledge had to have come from somewhere. And those devices hadn't been around that long, had they? Rap-tap-ta-tap tap, Rap-Rap. Time. Time got away from her, She had so much of it now. An eternity. Would she still be haunting this little plot of South Eastern USA, when the sun finally went nova? And then what? Would she haunt a small patch of empty space? But the 'shave and a hair cut' knock had come from the front door and Lindsey was opening it to a young white guy wearing a ridiculous looking lime green and purple jacket and cap with "Joey's Pizza" on. The box he handed over was the same color. "Well tip him then?" Laura urged. The delivery boy left and Laura let out a soft moan as the young woman began to eat. "URG! I can't watch... It's torment...!" She concentrated and flicked the olive off the slice that her house guest was about to pop into her mouth. As Lindsey began to eat, an olive fell from her slice. She would mind it, but the olive was right at the middle of the slice, and had no reason to fall. It made Lindsey think about what Hannah said. It was still noon, the outside was light, but now, she wasn't so sure about her paradigm." There's no such thing as ghosts, you're imagining." She told herself harshly. "You've had a long day, and you're tired." It cheered her up a little. She kept eating. When she couldn't eat anymore, she put the pizza in the fridge, with its cardboard box. Her mother would've faint. She decided to explore the house. She looked through the Pantry, but couldn't find anything interesting. The TV table wasn't interesting, either. She figured, since there's no one in the other room, why won't she explore it? She felt the weird, sudden cold again, this time it had nothing to do with the weather, since she was inside." Haunted house." She told herself, now considering the option. Maybe the ghosts make her cold! The idea was funny." I thought ghosts are powerful." She hummed to herself. "Making me cold is just inconvenient, if you're really want to hurt me, just take a knife from the kitchen." Even when she said those words, she didn't believe in their actuality. Who could have imagined that a ghost would kill her? Why should that happen? Going over the dressers near the bed, Lindsey couldn't find anything interesting. She shoved a piece of her black hair back, biting her lower lip." Maybe the closet has something interesting inside." She thought out loud, and opened it. It indeed had something! She lifted the picture slowly, curious. "Says you, Bi-single-hair! 'There's no such things as ghosts', Hah!" The woman finished eating and put the left-over pizza in the fridge..." Come on Laura, you can finish it later, put it in the fridge or something. Key wants to get to the beach already!" Laura shrugged at the short, pretty, dark-skinned girl. "Fine. I'll have the rest for breakfast or something...!" "Oh... Darn... That was like, totally weird!" Laura blinked, not that she had eyelids to blink with, but it was thereof blinking that she liked. The dark skinned girl was... was... Was there a girl? She couldn't remember. "Oh no, don't go in there, please? Oh, poodles. Palpitating puddles of pink petunias! ARGH!" Laura closed her eyes and ran through the young woman as she soon in the doorway of the master bedroom. She stopped and opened them to find she was standing in the middle of the bed. "Well great. Time for a no-nap." She lifted her feet and flopped backwards, as always determined not to think about the fact that a solid object she had been standing in the middle of was now capable of supporting her."Oh, god! Oh yes, Laura, OH FUCK! OHHHHH HNNNNNNNNG! AH! AH! Ahhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuunnnnnn!" Pale skin, soft ginger hair in short wiry curls on a glistening mound of flesh that quivered and heaved in front of her face. Laura lifted her eyes to see the soft breasts of the girl who knelt astride her face on the bed. "Oh, fuck, Laura, you are the best!" The redhead rolled off and laughed and Laura looked into her green eyes and... "Oh! Inning! Dag nab it! Why can't all my flashbacks be like that one...? HEY! Hey that's mine!" Lindsay had lifted The Photograph out of the closet. A young woman least against a rail, the Eva Green Atlantic behind her, and in the distance the coast rose above the horizon. The sky was gray and blustery, and the girl's mousy-blonde hair was blowing in the wind. It looked like it was tied in a ponytail, and just below her shoulder blades normally, but it was blowing off to one side like Cthulhu's tentacles. The girl's face was slightly chubby, rounder than oval but not quite round. A brave grin and scrunched up eyes indicated that the young woman was determined to enjoy herself regardless of the weather. A white blouse was blowing open across a slightly faded crimson tank top that emphasized rather than concealed the swell of a D-cup bust, and a slightly rounded tummy. Blue jeans stretched over broad, shapely hips, that vanished as plump thighs at the bottom of the photo. On the back, in black Biro, was written, "To Laura. We'll miss you. Love Alison and Kevin." And underneath in a different handwriting, "Laura my love. Why did you leave me? I will love you always. Janice XXX"Laura reached out and grabbed the photo. Her hand hit Lindsay's hand first and she missed her grip. But as her hand passed through the paper it was like a bright shock of memory, like a nighttime scene that is suddenly illuminated by lightening. Alison Pierce, dark skinned, short, pretty, dark curly hair, flat chested, and straight as they came. Laura's BFF through school and college. Alison's boyfriend Kevin Stuart, tall, ash-blond, jock, always wore a letterman jacket and black jeans. And Janice Faith, curly redhead, hair boyishly short with freckles all the way down her chest, breasts not quite the size of Laura's, that cute button nose, and big infectious grin. And the tantalizing bush of ginger curls that proved she was a natural red-head that guarded the access to her honey-sweet slit. Laura's girlfriend... And like a flash of lightening it was gone again. "Newton! Give it to me! Please! I need it, it's mine...!" Lindsey was startled now. She felt something, or perhaps, someone, touching her. It wasn't her imagination, she could bet! That someone, they wanted the photograph! She let go of the paper, her heart leapt to her throat. "Laura." She thought out loud. That was the name of the girl-Laura can't be a boy, can it?- she shared her flat with. Lindsey breathed out, forcing herself to sound peaceful. "I don't want to hurt you, okay? I just want to live here for a while, that's all. I've lost my sister, I need to find her. When I'll find her, I'll go. I won't hurt you." She repeated. Hearing her own voice was soothing. Maybe she'll buy a Ouija board. That'll be neat! She chuckled at her thought. "Tomorrow I'll buy a Ouija board, and we can discuss..." Discuss wasn't the right word, but she didn't want to think of the right word to communicate with a ghost. "Then we can discuss how we can live-"shit. Live wasn't the right word either... "I meant, to be. To exist. With each other." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Right now, I think I'll go to take a nap. Maybe when I'll wake up I'll find out I was imagining the entire thing." She sounded exhausted. "Please don't stare at me when I sleep, it'll be creepy." How strange. As if living with a ghost was not creepy. But when she took off her bra and jeans, she didn't think everything was creepy. She thought it was... Actually, pretty cool! She was excited about getting the board. She woke up after a while, refreshed and ready to take off the world! Furthermore, she took a quick shower, trying not to think about whether can the ghost look through the door... And walked out, wearing a new set of clothes, to buy the Ouija board. She was curious, even happy. Finally, she knew what to do. And maybe the ghost would know about her sister! The photo fluttered free as Lindsey released it and this time Laura grabbed it, held it to herself. Memory flooded back. It was Spring break, and the four of them had come here for a week-long vacation. They rented the little house, a mile from the sea front in this small town on Florida's Gulf coast, hoping for some sun, sand and sex. The latter two they managed, but the weather had been disappointing after the first day. Sunbathing was out. So they looked for other ways to pass the time. The boat trip had been Kevin's idea. A trip around the bay. The day was cold and windy. Laura Fremont hadn't really wanted to venture out. The weather forecast was saying that a tropical storm was brewing somewhere to the North West of Cuba and that it's effects were being felt as far away as New Orleans. But they had done it anyway. It had been fun, Laura remembered. Well Alison hadn't thought so. She'd spent the entire trip trying not to throw up. Kevin had spent most of it standing as far forward on the boat as he could get, pretending to be Leonardo DiCaprio and shouting "I'm The King Of The World" into the wind and spray. Laura had spent much of the trip cuddling with Jan, but then Jan had wanted a photo to remember the day by. They'd got someone to take a group pic with Janice's phone. And then Janice had surprised Laura with a photo of her leaning against the rail. It was such a natural looking shot that they both fell in love with it. Jan said she was going to print it off and put it on her desk in the college dorm room to remind her. The trip was one of the last things they did together... The photo seemed to hang in the air for a few seconds and then, as if caught by a breeze, it fluttered and landed on the dresser. Laura relinquished it reluctantly, but she knew from previous experience that she was only able to hold the picture for a short time. And no matter how hard she tried to remember where she put it, it always ended up somewhere out of sight. Gerard Thunder said: "Laura. I don't want to hurt you, okay? I just want to live here for a while, that's all. Furthermore, I've lost my sister, I need to find her. When I'll find her, I'll go. I won't hurt you." Click to expand... The words brought Laura's attention back to the present. "Laura, yes, that's me.... Well that's cool, I don't want to hurt you either... Your sister? Hmm. Guess what, I've lost someone important to me as well. Namely, me...!" She paused and tried to heave a deep sigh. She couldn't because she didn't have lungs. The woman was talking about a Ouija board? "You don't need one, you just need to listen... Hey, can you hear me?" Lindsay seemed to be overly sensitive about her verbs. "Hey, I ain't dead, I'm just respirationally challenged!" She giggled. "What was that other one? Oh, yes... I'm dead, but I just haven't figured out what that means yet...!"" Don't stare ...? Hey, don't flatter yourself, sugar. My girlfriend was a lot prettier than you'll ever be!" She did enjoy the sight of the young woman's breasts and her attractive figure, though, as Lindsay got ready for bed, but being a voyeur, even an undead voyeur, wasn't her thing. She'd always preferred doing to watch... Something hard thrusting painfully into her back passage, her head covered in a black cloth bag tied tightly around her throat, her own cries of pain muffled only a little by the bag. Hands gripped her breasts, squeezing hard, twisting. "Yes, scream, you slut, scream as loud as you can!" The voice told her... "AAAGHHH!" Laura uncurled herself from the bottom of the closet in the spare room - that was the one Lindsay had hung her clothes in. She was panting, or would be if she had lungs to pant with. That flash had been particularly intense, but now all she had was the memory of the intensity and the terror. She glanced at the woman in the bed, sleeping so peacefully. She hadn't exactly promised Lindsay she wouldn't stare at her, but the woman had asked, and nicely too. In fact, this was the first time Laura could remember someone addressing her directly and by name, since... Gasping for breath, a weight on top of her, the hard thing pushing in and pulling out of her most intimate place, the voice saying "Goodnight, my lovely. It's been fun...". The darkness that was even darker than the blackness of the bag over her head closing in. Terror replaced by... Relief, that it was over... Laura uncurled herself and made her way into the kitchen. It was a beautiful-moonlit night and she shrugged. It was the sort of night that she and.... and.... Someone? Jay? Would wander out to find some quiet spot in the woods near their home, and make love... She sighed, or at least, her spiritual body made the motion of sighing. Maybe just this once? She poked her head out through the glass pane of the back door. Heat washed over her face and she yelped and pulled back. Nope."' I'll sleep when I'm dead...'" The line was a quote from a movie, she was reasonably sure. Which movie she had no idea, but the irony of that arrogant statement had stayed with her ever since she discovered that the unquiet dead don't get to sleep. Ever. The nearest she came was loosing track of time by concentrating on one thing, or exhausting herself by trying to influence the physical world. The nights were the worst especially for the ... No! She shied away from even thinking about it. Thought instead about the woman who was looking for... For... Someone. Sister. That was it... She had been looking at something and had spoken to Laura... What? Something, paper? Photograph. There was a photo... In the bedroom? She ran through the walls and into the master bedroom. The photo wasn't where she'd left it... Where had she left it? Left what? She sat on the bed and tried to cry, but she had no tear ducts... The light of morning tinged the sky pink. It had been another long night, although not as long as earlier in the winter. She heard movement from the other room and stepped through the wall in time to see Lindsay stripping off and heading for the bathroom. She followed out of curiosity, watched as the woman got into the shower. Laura considered playing with the water temperature, but... Nah. Lindsay was nice, and she was sexy too. Let her shower in peace.... In peace? Rest In Peace? Hah! There was a laugh. The front door opened and closed and Laura was alone again. She moped around the place for a bit, certain that there was something she ought to be doing. Unfinished business, right? Ghosts have unfinished business. I need to... Do something... But what? The door opened again some time later. "Hey I know you. You were here before... Laundry? Lizzy? Something like that... Okay, so... Hey what's that? Ouija? OH, EM GEE! This is going to be a riot!" She grinned and waited while Lindsay -That was her name, Lindsay -set the board up. Laura had a big grin on her face as she put her hand on the stone. "Hey, well, slap me with a slapper, I can touch it!" That was the amazing thing. The stone seemed to have a spiritual aspect that she could take hold of, like the photo... Photo? Oh, yeah the photo! ... Without concentrating or expending any energy. She was hoping that Lindsay was going to ask that stupid question that they always ask on TV seances, Is there anybody there? She was already with an answer to that. No. Moving the stone was going to be a lot easier than she had thought. Or it would be if Lindsay wasn't holding it so tight. "Let GO!" She gave a powerful jerk and forced the woman to take her hand off the stone. H. O. W. D. O. Y. O. U. E. X. P. E. C. T. M. E. T. O. M. O. V. E. I. T. I. F. Y. O. U. A. R. E. H. O. L. D. I. N. G. I. T. S. T. I. L. L. Lindsey didn't even ask anything before her hand was pulled away. Pulled, was it? It's not like the ghost could've actually pulled anything, but it did happen. The stone moved, as if it had its own legs. Lindsey, holding a notebook, wrote the letters the ghost created, just like the internet said. She then read it aloud. Uncertain about where the space was located, she read aloud like a first-grader." Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just nervous. I've never spoked to a ghost before." She hesitated. "It's so surreal. I feel like I'm in a movie. Um, okay. Er... Are you the same Laura from, like, the picture I saw?" Yes. Said the ghost. Lindsey's heart was pumping hard. She was speaking to a ghost! Holy shit!" Um..." Her brain was so full of ideas, of questions, she couldn't remember their priority. "Er, I'm Lindsey. Although you probably know that already... Are you... Are you mad that I'm here?" The ghost immediately started answering. "I may be mad but not because you are here." The answer made Lindsey curious. What was she mad about, then? Did she bother Laura? She asked that." Heck." Spelled the ghost, and then, "yes." Lindsey blushed. So she isn't mad, but I bother her? She was a little scared now. There's not a chance the ghost-Laura- would try to hurt her, right? Right???" Um, do you have an unfinished business, like the movies say?" She asked. Once again, the stone moved quickly, as if the ghost was just dying (got it?) To talk." Yes."" Oh, that's great, I can-" but before Lindsey could finish the sentence, the ghost kept on going, so quickly Lindsey almost missed writing the first letters. "And no, I don't know what it is." Lindsey sighed. "Oh, bummer. Um... Can I help you rest in peace?" The ghost appeared to be uncertain. Yes, no, yes, no. Lindsey guessed she either didn't know, or didn't was to tell her. "Find out what happened to me."" Yeah, I would!" She felt encouraged by the mission. At least she knew what to do now, instead of groping in the dark! "Um... Is there a way you can helpmefind my sister?" Once again, it appeared as if the ghost didn't know. Lindsey was a little disappointed by that, but she tried to cheer herself up, "well, if you don't know her, then she's probably alive!" She hesitated, "can you leave this house? Like, can you go to anywhere you want?"" No."" Huh, bummer. But I guess ghosts would be all over the place then, right? Stealing things and stuff..." That made sense. "Um, can you get through objects, like, a locked door, for example?" The ghost seemed to be angry with that question. "I am a ghost, of course I can, that is a dumb question."" Sorry, sorry, I was just wondering whether locking the bathroom door would be useless. Apparently it is. Well, maybe I'll just stop taking shower. You know, Laura, that's creepy. Like, how can I know you're not watching me shower or something like that? What if you're wanking to it? Wait, can ghosts wank?" The Ouija board was really weird. Of course, it "didn't work". It was just a sheet of thick cardboard with a sheet of glossy paper laminated on it with a printed design that hadn't changed in centuries, and a plastic "stone", teardrop shaped with a circular hole near the point. There was nothing special about the materials it was made of, nothing magical about the printed image... And yet... There seemed to be some extra dimension to the stone. The same as with the photograph. She could move it as long as it was on the board. She couldn't lift it or move it off the edge of the board. But it didn't require the same sort of concentration that turning the lights on and off did. N.O.G.U.A.R.U.N.T.E.E.T.H.A.T.S.H.E.I.S.A.L.I.V.E.I.V.E.N.E.V.E.R.M.E.T.A.N.O.T.H.E.R.D.E.A.D.P.E.R.S.O.N. She spelled out the fact that was obvious to her. B.E.E.N.S.T.U.C.K.I.N.T.H.I.S.H.O.U.S.E.F.O.R.H.O.W.E.V.E.R.L.O.N.G. Then she added, T.H.E.Y.C.O.U.L.D.H.A.V.E.P.U.T.P.U.N.C.T.U.A.T.I.O.N.O.N.T.H.I.S.T.H.I.N.G.H.O.W.C.A.N.W.E.S.T.E.A.L.S.T.U.F.F.I.F.W.E.C.A.N.T.P.I.C.K.I.T.U.P. The comments and questions were beginning to piss her off. D.O.N.T.F.L.A.T.T.E.R.Y.O.U.R.S.E.L.F.Y.O.U.R.E.N.O.T.M.Y.T.Y.P.E. Of course that was probably a lie, but she had no idea what her type was. She had another flashback of cuddling and kissing with someone with short curly red hair, hands groping inside each other's clothing.... then it was gone, leaving only the memory of having remembered something nice. She indicated that the interview was over, concentrating hard, her hand came up in a sweeping arc from under the table, passed through it and slammed into the bottom of the board, sending it and the stone jumping into the air." Stupid cow. Honestly, what sort of question is that?" She fled the room through the wall. Sat in the middle of the hot water tank and "breathed out". She had no breath, because she was dead, of course. Which was how she could be in the tank full of water to begin with. But it was a trick she'd learned early on. If she concentrated on what she remembered breathing out had felt like, she could make things go cold! "Try taking a shower in that, bitch!" Then to the kitchen where she pretended to fix herself a sandwich. And just because she was feeling mean, she unplugged the fridge. During the whole night, the ghost was angry. At first, Lindsey thought there was a power outage, but when the lights just turned themselves on and off at 2am, she realized something bad was going on. Her fridge didn't work (the house owner told her, as if she was dumb, to check if it's plugged, she insisted it was. She later discovered it wasn't), the water was cold, and the lights were... Weird. She didn't think the ghost wanted to kill her, but after waking up in the third time from the light suddenly go on, she didn't find it very funny anymore. She left the house, wandering in the streets until she found a café that opened-three or four hours after she left. After a cup of strong, black coffee, she went back home. Things didn't seem to be too messy around there, thank God. She reckons she had said something wrong, and she really didn't want to ghost to be pissed at her, so she took the board once more. It felt stupid, like being a little girl and believing in magic, but it worked earlier." Morning." She said, after lighting the candles and diverting the curtains. She crossed her arms. Furthermore, she was cold (the AC was either too old or affected by the ghost to work), and her nipples stuck through her shirt. Furthermore, she didn't like it at all. "Uh, Missy, would you mind cut these playing off, please? I'm sorry I asked you about wanking. I know I've not got any tact, just, please, I need to focus on researching and I can't do so with my eyelids all heavy. Please please please. The sooner I'll find my sister, the sooner I'm out of here. Swear upon my life!" Laura sat on the bed in the room that Lindsay had moved into, feeling smug. It was something like four am, and she had managed to drive the annoying bitch from the house. She hoped the happy little thing went and ... No, wait, that wasn't right. It wasn't a dog, she'd driven out it was... Er... Didn't matter. What mattered was that it was definitely too early in the morning to be awake. Wasn't it? Didn't matter, because she couldn't sleep anyway. Something to do with being dead, which certainly wasn't as good as it was cracked up to be. No skeletal figure in a black bathrobe had come to collect her, there had been.... Er... Darkness closed in and there was nothing. No feeling, no pain, no sound, no breath, no struggle to breathe, no heart beat... Nothing. A random thought: Am I dead? You were supposed to know all the answers when you were dead, so maybe she was just unconscious. But if she was unconscious, why was she able to think? "To die, to sleep, to sleep perchance to dream, aye there's the rub: that in that sleep of death, what dreams may come?" She knew the quote was from Hamlet. She waited, to see if something would happen. And it did. In the nothingness, suddenly was a something. A pit of darkness, blacker than the nothingness. Warm and welcoming, deep and comfortable. It was there before her, beckoning her, and she moved towards it, then stopped as light burst upon her, bright and dazzling, burning her eyes, blinding her. She recoiled and moved again to the darkness, was about to slip into it when she felt something change. It was no longer warm and welcoming, it was hot and malevolent. And her eyes grew accustomed to the light, and that now seemed warm and friendly and welcoming. A beacon in the nothingness. She recoiled from the pit and moved towards the light, but it seemed to move away from her. As if there were something holding her back, pulling her in a different direction. The darkness too was further away. And then she saw it. There was a cottage near the sea where she'd stayed with three friends, and she knew without a doubt that she needed to be there. She had UNFINISHED BUSINESS to take care of... The flashback ended. It had been a long one, and the way it had started had made Laura begin to curl up in fear, but as it went on so she felt it wasn't a bad one. Not a good one either, but more a sort of answer to a question. But it faded as quickly as they all did, and she heard the door open and close. "O hey, I know you. Lassie? Labrador? Lint? Lincoln? Lindsay! Lindsay. Damn. I hate my memory sometimes." She watched Lindsay set up the Ouija board again, and sighed. M.O.R.N.I.N.G.A.P.O.L.O.G.Y.A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D.N.I.C.E.T.I.T.T.I.E.S.E.X.C.L.A.M.A.T.I.O.N.M.A.R.K.W.I.N.K.W.I.N.K. She paused a moment and then added: D.O.N.T.S.W.E.A.R.O.N.Y.O.U.R.L.I.F.E.Y.O.U.W.O.N.T.L.I.K.E.I.T.I.F.Y.O.U.L.O.O.S.E.T.A.K.E.M.Y.W.O.R.D.F.O.R.I.T.I.M.D.E.A.D.I.K.N.O.W. Finding the girl's sister seemed to be the key. But on the other hand... M.A.Y.B.E.I.N.O.T.W.A.N.T.Y.O.U.T.O.G.O.I.H.A.V.E.N.T.B.E.E.N.A.B.L.E.T.O.S.P.E.A.K.T.O.A.N.Y.O.N.E.S.I.N.C.E.I.D.I. Flashback. A bad one. Laura found herself curled up under the springs of the sofa. She poked her head out to find herself looking out from just inside Lindsay's crotch. "AYAH! Crêpes Suzette! Ewe...!" She moved as quickly as she could, sat back on the sofa again where she had been. That was definitely weird. H.E.L.P.M.E.F.I.N.I.S.H.W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R.I.N.E.E.D.T.O.F.I.N.I.S.H.A.N.D.M.A.Y.B.E.I.W.I.L.L.B.E.O.U.T.O.F.Y.O.U.R.H.A.I.R. Lindsey was glad the apology accepted. It appeared that the ghost was nicer this morning. She was playful enough to comment on her tits, so that was something." Thanks." Said Lindsey, unsure. But the ghost didn't seem to shut up. She wanted to say something, that was for sure. The ghost was making fun of her, telling her not to swear upon her life, which Lindsey figured could've been offending. Oops. Another thing to add to her ingrowing list of things she wasn't supposed to say." Sorry-" she started, again, but the ghost already moved along." How can I help you? Do you even know what are those business?" Lindsey really wanted to help the ghost, she did, but how could she help if even the ghost herself didn't know what to do?" How did you die?" She asked then, thinking maybe the death has to do with the mission. Maybe, if Laura died from, let's say, cancer... The mission is to gather something from the hospital. Only now did the woman realized she didn't even know how old was Laura. "Were you old?" The picture didn't seem to be old, and it had color, but Lindsey wasn't sure of anything anymore. Why, she was sure ghosts didn't exist, yet she shares her house with one right now... The woman was at least asking sensible questions now. Laura shrugged and moved the stone over the board, wishing for the billionth time that someone had thought to put a space character on it, at the very least. Plus, this was so darn time-consuming, not to mention that she had to try and remember how to spell everything. N.O.T.S.U.R.E.W.H.A.T.U.N.F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D.I.S. pause P.R.O.B.A.B.L.Y.T.O.C.A.T.C.H.A.K.I.L.L.E.R. There was the obvious question. Laura took a deep breath and steeled herself against the expected flash-back, but it didn't come, thank goodness. N.O.T.T.O.T.A.L.L.Y.S.U.R.E.M.Y.M.E.M.O.R.Y.I.S.L.I.K.E.A.S.I.E.V.E.B.U.T.I.T.H.I.N.K.I.W.A.S.M.U.R.D.E.R.E.D. She paused and added, I.G.E.T.F.L.A.S.H.B.A.C.K.S.T.H.A.T.I.C.A.N.T.R.E.M.E.M.B.E.R.A.F.T.E.R.B.U.T.T.H.E.Y.A.R.E.H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E.I.D.O.N.T.T.H.I.N.K.I.W.A.S.O.L.D.I.T.H.I.N.K.I.W.A.S.2.1. D.O.N.T.R.E.A.L.L.Y.R.E.M.E.M.B.E.R.P.H.O.N.E.S.H.A.V.E.N.T.C.H.A.N.G.E.D.M.U.C.H. Then there was a really horrible thought ... I.H.O.P.E.T.H.E.Y.D.O.N.T.H.A.V.E.Y.O.U.R.S.I.S.T.E.R. Followed by another one. M.A.Y.B.E.T.H.A.T.I.S.W.H.Y. pause M.A.Y.B.E.F.I.N.D.H.O.W.I.D.I.E.D.W.I.L.L.F.I.N.D.Y.O.U.R.S.I.S.T.E.R.T.O.O. "oh, so I need to catch a killer? All by myself?" She'd chuckle, if she wasn't that terrified. "Uh, no problems. I can rob a bank, too. Just for it to not get too boring." She looks asides, suddenly scared. "They? Plural? Do you think you were murdered by a bunch of people? Laura, this is serious. They can be a cult or... Ir a gang..." She had so many questions, and she certainly didn't want the answers. "What if they'll murder me, too? I'm not exactly strong, or tall, or heavy. In fact, you looked stronger than me. Maybe we should get the police involved..." But then, of course, she thought about it again. "Oh, hold on. I can't tell them there's a ghost in my house. They'll think I'm crazy." She grabbed her face, thinking hard. It was so difficult, like looking for a needle in a haystack. She had so many questions, so much of missing information, with no one she could ask to help her." Oh, God." She murmured. Laura ignored the crack about robbing a bank. It was clearly sarcastic, or ironic, or facetious. She didn't know which, just that at least one of those three words described the comment. T.H.E.Y.A.S.I.N.D.ON. T.K.N.O.W.I.F.H.E.O.R.S.H.E.C.O.U.L.D.B.E.M.O.R.E.T.H.A.N.O.N.E.D.O.N.T.T.H.I.N.K.S.O. She paused again then added: E.V.I.D.E.N.C.E. The single word clearly in answer to her comment about going to the police. That was the one thing there was none of. W.H.A.T.G.O.D.P.R.E.T.T.Y.S.U.R.E.H.E.D.O.E.S.N.T.E.X.I.S.T.H.A.H.A. But there was something.... a flash, there and gone in an instant." Get in the car if you don't want to drown. NOW!" and a glimpse of dark blue, and bright red Laura shook herself. One of the stranger flash-backs. Not terrifying but tantalizing. It was important, she knew it was, if only she could remember. She shrugged and moved the stone again. W.O.O.O.H.W.O.O.O.H.I.M.A.G.H.O.S.T.A.N.D.I.M.H.A.U.N.T.I.N.G.Y.O.U.W.O.O.O.H. She laughed then, concentrated hard and blew directly onto the back of Lindsey's neck, "Hee he, can't catch me. Turn it, that was from a movie... Wasn't it? I hate having no memory." She skittered around Lindsey adjust to be cheeky, grabbed the woman's left nipple in a tight and probably icy pinch. Strangely enough there was an actual feeling of contact, which surprised Laura. "Odd." She shrugged and leapt lightly up to stand on the back of the couch. One of the few good things about being dead was that the laws of gravity no longer seemed to be quite so bothered about her ignoring them from time to time. Lindsey shuddered at the sudden cold. "That's not funny." She protested, cringing out of an instinct when icy fingers pinch her nipple. "Stop it, perv. I'm serious. I can't find your murderer...s? Not alone." She kept on thinking, getting distracted by the sudden chills every once in a while. "Goddamn it, stop." She'll have to go searching for information. Maybe the papers had something, anything, about a young woman being murdered. Lindsey was sure it isn't common. At least, she hoped so." Any chance you remember your death date?" She asked, without really hoping to get a positive response. As she expected, the answer was a simple no. Lindsey sighed, ending the ritual as the internet told her (although she wasn't sure it was necessary, since the house already was haunted). Getting up, she sighed as she walked to the bigger bedroom to grab the picture with her. Maybe the librarian would have any idea about the woman in the photo. She took the picture carefully, as if she was stealing something, and headed to her car. "Hey, hey, that'mine!" Laura wanted to swear, wanted to grab the picture back. But her hand slid through it like it did with almost everything. She tried concentrating, using her mental energy (or spiritual energy? She had no idea.) but it made no difference. The front door opened and Lindsay stepped through with Laura's photo, going where the ghost couldn't follow. "Come back, please? Please bring it back, it's all I have left of her!" Her... Janice. Red hair, freckles and a cheeky grin. And a long tongue that Laura loved to feel between her -... FIRE! Laura snapped out of the really pleasant flashback to realize that the cottage was on fire! "HEY, LINDSAY, FIRE!" but shouting did absolutely no good whatsoever. The woman must have left the gas on or something... Blistering heat washed over her, and she flinched back from it. Wait... Heat? Laura had put her hand in the flames of the gas cooker, stuck a hand in boiling water, and felt nothing. So how was she able to feel this flame...? She instinctively backed away from it, and realized with shock that she was outside the cottage for the first time since that fateful day when her spirit had fled there rather that into light or darkness. The fire was there in a circle around Lindsay as the woman climbed into her car. The picture.... It had to be the picture. As a ghost, one of the things Laura felt she ought to be able to do was teleport herself, but things just didn't work like that it seemed. At least she didn't get tired or out of breath. Hah, good one. She was totally and permanently out of breath! She sprinted for the car as it began to move, dived into the front passenger seat and focussed on somehow staying in it rather than sliding through and sitting on the tarmac. With the car seat apparently supporting her she decided to make her presence known. Having agreed (in principle) to knock off the chill stuff (although most of that wasn't her fault) She decided on something else. She concentrated hard and grabbed the passenger side seat belt clasp, pulled it down and clicked it into place. The belt went through her of course, but it wasn't like she needed it!" Hey, watch out! You're going to be no good to anyone if you join me!" Her hand grabbed the steering wheel just long enough to keep the car going in the right direction and not into the front of the on-coming truck. "You can thank me later, drive!" Looking around was weird. There was a ring of fire about six meters from the car all the way around, and it was as if, to Laura, the car and the ring of flame were stationary and the road and scenery were moving through it. They pulled up outside what looked like a public library - given that it had Public Library written on the front in big letters. Laura had no idea what that was, until she followed Lindsay inside and was surrounded by books! "Ghost Busters scene! Or was it Harry Potter? Doesn't matter!" She picked a book up at random and moved it slowly across to the opposite shelf, right in front of Lindsay.

Searchers (A Ghost Story) [Sapphichaotic and Chrystal Dark]|rating:3.0

USS ZHUKOV - Bridge

(Elena Williams Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, 0900Elena had arrived two hours and fifty-four minutes ago. She had spent her time walking through the quiet ship. There were a few scattered work crews finishing off the refit, gel packs being tested and systems being run. So far everything seemed to be working as it should, but she knew things could go pear shaped quickly on star ships. Now standing on the bridge looking out across the glorious picture that was displayed out of the view screen. Earth was majestic from here. Elena loved to just stare at the world, seeing the various continents, the water, the clouds drifting across the surface. She smiled softly, reaching up to touch the four pips on her neck. There was the smell of fresh paint and new carpets in the air. Everywhere was clean and sparkling. The ship had been stripped out, and rebuilt, even the hull had been patched and repainted. The whole ship had an air of newness to it. The systems were the latest Star fleet had. All modern technology, the sensors were more powerful than the old ones, the engines although not as powerful as some were the top in their power range. The little ship was ready, all she needed was a crew. And they would be arriving soon. Standing with her hands clasped behind her back she smiled, this was the start of a new adventure, where it would take them no one knew, but hopefully, with the crew she had selected they would have an amazing journey. (Lieutenant Commander James Kirk Location: Engineering then Bridge Time: Day 1Space... a frontier already explored for the majority of the past century. Surprisingly not all of it had been mapped yet, but much of it that has been found has led to many wonderful things for the universe. Thanks to people like James' great-uncle, James T. Kirk, new species have made contact, planets found, conflicts resolved, it was all quite impressive if one was to think about it. Now it was one for James T. Kirk Jr. to make his mark on the universe. Starting with the USS Zhukov. He was assigned to the Nova-class ship as the new First Officer on board. It was in ship dock, and he felt like it was time to head over, but there was one last place he had to visit. Walking the halls of Star fleet Academy brought back some good memories, but the one place he had to go held some bad ones. He stepped up to a panel and typed in a code and the door slid open. Inside was a fully constructed bridge of a star ship. This was the testing room for the Kobayashi Maru. Five times he sat for this test and five times he failed. He knew how Kirk Sr. beat it, but he didn't know how his dad did it. He sighed heavily and stepped over to the captains chair. His hand rested on the arm of the chair and looked around, speaking out as if trying to reach some great beyond saying, "Uncle Jim, I could really use a little help down the road." He is the left the room to head to the Zhukov. He arrived shortly and decided to head to the engineering deck first to see the engines after the new refit. Furthermore, he arrived and went right to a console and began typing away. The engines were impressive for its size, but nothing matching the upper level Galaxy or Intrepid classes on power. Satisfied with seeing everything was running at optimal efficiency, it was time to see the bridge. It was a short lift ride up, and the sliding doors revealed the shiny-new bridge with all of its new computers and consoles. His eyes shifted around until he saw a woman looking out the view screen with her hands behind her back. He saw four gold pins shinning on her collar, and he knew that he was now seeing his new captain. He straightened his red uniform and walked to stand next to her. "Lovely sight isn't it, captain?" (Leta "Bot" Charmaine Lister Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, 0915Having examined her private dormitory thoroughly to check if there were any things that needed to be fixed and having found nothing that disturbed her pre-programmed brain, Leta walked onto the USS Zhukov's bridge, brushing her blue uniform straight with a short tug at the bottom of her shirt. The young woman had recently graduated from the Star fleet Academy and was ready for duty. Although her parents had had difficulties letting her go, they were thankful for her good education and knew she had a bright future ahead of her. Leta blinked a few times, standing in front of the gigantic window and looking at planet Earth. She had often asked herself if she was terrestrial at all, to which her family would reply with saying that planet Earth was where she belonged, which led to a lot of discussions between the three of them. They always ended with her opposing them with the fact that she had no human brain and was thus to be considered an android. That always led to painful silences, and she had only recently gotten to know those feelings. The mother instinct that drove hers to protect Leta from harm, her father's logical reasoning as she still had human organs... The emotion chip was a burden, but one she had gotten addicted to quite soon after it had been programmed as she had then, for the first time in her life, seen the beauty in the male anatomy and the use of friendship to calm the human brain after a day of long work, how stress-relieving it could be. All of that literally went through her mind in 0.89 seconds. To her, that was an eternity. Leta sensed another person in the room and turned around, beginning to talk to the dark-skinned, over-all good looking captain. "Hello Captain," She said emotionlessly, her brain correcting her behavior soon and forcing her to smile a bit as humans were used to doing. "It's a pleasure meeting you. My name is Leta Charmaine Lister, I have assigned for the USS Zhukov a few months ago. How do you do?" She noted and asked, her head tilted, and her hands neatly folded over each other in front of her stomach, being programmed to show the "right" body language. A flash of uncomfortableness went through the android's positron brain and made her brows furrow a bit as her small talk programming was still far from perfect. She made a mental note to send her programmer a note on it and needlessly ran a hand through her long blonde hair. Soon though, she heard a different voice from behind her. A deep, masculine voice filled the room, and she turned around to find Lt. Comm. Kirk standing right beside her." Hello, lieutenant," Leta said instinctively and nodded to him, awaiting the captain's response and making mental notes. She loved learning about the way humans spoke to each other about unimportant matters, wanting to be able to do the same and trying to learn as much as she possibly could learn from them. "I was just thinking to myself," She paused for a breath then and sighed, like a lot of humans were used to doing. "How beautiful it is, indeed. Don't you think, captain?" Leta asked, now understanding she had answered before she had been allowed to speak, regarding the etiquette. (Commander Have, Chief of Operations Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Lieutenant Commander Have had an impeccable academic record at Star fleet Academy that led to a distinguished service record on both the USS Enterprise-And the USS Enterprise-E. After serving under both Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William T. River for all of his Star fleet, he thought he would either replace Commander Data as Chief of Operations on theEnterpriseunder Picard or serve on the USS Titan under River, but both men decided it would be best for their junior officers to spread out among the rest of the fleet. While Have was disappointed at what seemed like a promotion to an inferior ship, his mind was changed upon seeing the USS Bukharin its current refitted state. The Vulcan-human officer was reading over the roster of the ship as he walked down the hallway to his quarters, memorizing names and faces and duties, when a young, blonde, female human walked by him. He had looked up at her for moment, but that turned into a double-take as she got closer. She didn't seem to notice or acknowledge him, but he responded by turning around and following her. He stopped assimilating the information of the data pad in his hand and instead focused on the way her bottom shifted and hips swayed as she walked toward the bridge." Fascinating,"he said to himself. It was true. The woman's derrière, along with the rest of her, was truly distracting, attractive and captivating. He was going to go to the bridge eventually, anyway, so he might as well have gone now. He allowed her to speak first before joining the conversation." Correction, Ensign Lister. It would be improper to address this man merely as 'lieutenant.' This is the First Officer, Lieutenant Commander James Kirk, and the proper way to abbreviate his rank would be to say 'commander,' not 'lieutenant.' And it is, indeed, a beautiful sight to see." Havuk tilted his head to the side and smiled at the ensign. He knew she was an android, and wondered if she would pick up on the subtle gesture of playfulness. When it came to the beautiful sight, Have was looking at both the ensign and the captain the whole time, not once looking at the view screen. Have turned to Captain Williams." Lieutenant Commander Have, Chief of Operations, reporting for duty, ma'am." Havuk then turned to Kirk." Commander. It is good to see you. It does not seem as if 10 years have passed since we graduated from Star fleet Academy together. I have followed your career since our days at the Academy and I look forward to serving with you." Again, Have spoke with Williams. His eyes really wanted to go down and check out her figure, the way her breasts pushed her uniform out, flattened over her tummy, and dipped between her legs. Fortunately, her pretty face and shiny hair were able to keep his attention." Captain, if I may, I have a request. Ensign Lister here is, at least partially, an android. While I served on the Enterprise I was allowed to observe and assist in maintenance of Commander Data. With your permission, I request the duty of the training and maintenance of Ensign Lister. With my experience, it would be logical for me to take on this responsibility. Also, with my programming background, I should be able to get Ensign Lister up to speed in terms of serving as a Star fleet officer so that we may utilize her unique skills and abilities fully. That, and... it would help me deal with the loss of a dear friend in Data." (Leta "Bot" Charmaine Lister Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Leta stood there motionlessly, her eyes following Lt. Comm. Have as he walked in, noticing his much better posture than the rest of the people on the bridge. She recognized his face from some time ago, back when she was just a girl and when Data often took care of her. In many ways, the Vulcan and Leta were alike, their - for the most part - logical and scientific life based on other values than emotions: having a good career and being of good use to the USS Zhukov's crew. She turned her body towards him as he spoke, touching her chin as she processed the information she was getting from him." I am sorry for the misunderstanding, commander," Leta said, now folding her hands over each other again, standing up straight and looking up at the taller man. "Although I think commander Kirk understood me fairly well when I addressed him as lieutenant. I will, of course, note this to prevent me from making mistakes like this in the future." She said, her brows furrowed in a serious manner as her brain automatically saved the new information. Now that Have had stopped speaking, she nodded and turned to the window again, taking in the small details of planet Earth as the rest of the crew continued talking. Leta was far from used to speaking to life forms other than her parents and teachers who, by all means, were easier to talk to as they didn't take things for granted. Surprised when she heard her name again, she turned around with raised eyebrows, walking up to the small group of people again. Havuk had just asked the captain about a rather personal matter in Leta's own life, so she frowned deeply and crossed her arms over each other. Her brain wasn't programmed as well as it should be, but if there was anyone to decide over that, it would be science officer Lister herself. "I beg your pardon, commander Have," She said politely, as the Vulcan would most likely not understand her confusion behind it. "You are talking about programming my brain, and as Suing has done his job perfectly well, I would prefer not to turn to someone else. I fully understand you are "having a hard time" coping with Data's death, but it would be advisable if you'd ask the person in question about his or her personal preferences before you assume they'll agree to your terms and turn to captain Williams. It would not only be considered an odd thing to ask, commander, but also something exceedingly rude as any change made in my positron brain has a huge effect on the way my body functions. And it would be a great shame if something went wrong, wouldn't it?" She said, her words flowing out like a river after she had carefully calculated what she was going to say. She didn't question Have's abilities, but was still cautious when it came to changing her settings. If something went wrong, her pitutarian-chip could possibly regenerate too many hormones for her human body to handle, and destroy her. Leta thought things over, thinking who else she was to trust with her mind, but soon found out Have was, in fact, the only one aboard of the USS Zhukov who'd be capable of performing the act of programming her. "But, as you seem to be the only one on the ship who'd be capable of doing this job, I shall consent. If captain Williams agrees with this, too, that is." (INRIA Koenig, Chief Engineer Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, 0930The turbo lift's gentle hum wasn't enough to distract INRIA as she headed for the bridge to make her initial report to the captain. Having come aboard much earlier than the rest of the crew, she had spent many exhausting nights trying to get the ship up to her personal specifications, which wasn't an easy task given the nature of this vessel. The USSZhukovwas a completely different ship, and INRIA wondered if it wouldn't have been easier to simply build a new one. Still, the nearly six month overhaul and refit had left the ship brand new... and left her with enough headaches to drive her mad. The problem was that anytime you added new components to a vessel, even ones specifically built to do a particular job and nothing else, you introduced bugs into the system. The specifications on the part might be too loose or too tight, meaning it wasn't lining up just perfectly, causing problems. The coolant distribution manifold, for instance, had jammed and would've completely destroyed the ship had it not been spotted and corrected. And with such a complete overhaul, there were bound to be problems just waiting for her and her team to find and fix. The doors of the turbo lift opened to reveal the bridge. It was cramped, just like everything else on the ship, but it was functional. All the consoles faced forward, rather than on a larger ship where they all faced away from the Captain. More consoles were dedicated to sensors, and the terminals at the back were primarily science stations. The operations station was located behind the captain and to port, meaning she would have to turn to her left to face the officer stationed there. With her footsteps muffled by the soft blue carpet of the bridge, she strode down the two steps that raised the rear of the bridge higher than the front and turned to the single chair located in front of the railing, "Captain, systems are operating within normal parameters, and we are clear for departure." She handed the Captain a single PADD she was holding to sign off, and stood waiting patiently for acknowledgement. (Elena Williams Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, between 0915 and 0930The quiet swish of the doors alerted the CO that she was not alone on the bridge. She didn't turn, she knew who ever it was meant to be here. Security was tight getting on the ship, the crew would have to pass through a variety of checks before they stepped foot on the Zhukov. When a deep male voice spoke she smiled a little, “it's the best sight out there Commander” she said, turning to look at her TO.”Welcome on board Commander, it's a pleasure to have you with us.” She said, holding out her hand in a formal greeting. A third soon joined them, a young ensign with long blonde hair, when she introduced herself Elena nodded at her, “Ensign, it's a pleasure to have you here.” She began, remembering that this young woman was part android, she would be an interesting officer to watch. The discussion turned back to Earth, floating in the view screen, “there are some amazing sights beyond our planet, but I never seem to grow tired of this one.” She said to the young Ensign. Another officer joined them, it seemed only natural that they report to the bridge, all keen and eager to see where they would spend a majority of their time. This officer had an air of arrogance with him, there was something about him that instantly put the CO's back up. She would have to get to know him a bit more to see if his arrogance was a front or if it ran deep. The way he spoke to the young Ensign did not put him in the Captain's favor either. The young ensign had to be finding this hard without being bought up short in front of the CO and TO. She would not say anything, but she would speak to Commander Kirk about it, it seemed they knew each other.“Commander, welcome aboard” she said, her greeting slightly cooler than it had been towards the other two. She was about to speak once more when the Ensign spoke up. Elena wanted to smile, but she contained her pleasure at the Ensign's words, she obviously knew her mind and herself well. The way she replied to the Commander made Elena think this young woman would be one to watch, she had a good future ahead of her.“I do not think it is my place to give permission regarding the Ensign, she is her own person and knows what she wishes to do. She is very capable of deciding this for herself. If she wishes for your help then she will ask for it.” She said, glancing at Ensign Lister and the Chief of Operations, hoping he wasn't this...eager all the time.“I would suggest you take this up later” she said to them both. The doors swished, and another Officer stepped out. Elena smiles at the Chief Engineer, taking the PADD and glancing over its contents. She nodded to herself as she tapped some commands, signing off the work and authorizing anything else the Lieutenant might need.“Thank you Lieutenant and nice work. We are expecting the rest of the crew by 1400. We have a departure time of 1800. I would like the ship ready to leave then, standard shake down. I will expect all Senior staff in the meeting room at 1700 to discuss any problems, until that time I suggest you all get to know your departments and make sure they are ready for a 1800 departure” she said to them, “until then, dismissed.” She looked at Leta and gave her a wink, “the Chief of Science isn't on board yet Ensign, if you could check out the science department and begin to check the systems. If you have any problems before his arrival, please don't hesitate to contact either myself or the TO.” She said, “thank you ladies and gentlemen” she dismissed them, moving to her Ready room.”Number One, please join me.” She said over her shoulder to Commander Kirk. (Commander Have, Chief of Operations Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Lieutenant Commander Have listened carefully to Ensign Lister's words. With each syllable she spoke, the half-Vulcan felt worse for what he said. He did feel a twinge of excitement as the idea of adjusting her brain to affect her fit, nubile figure." I appreciate your consent, and please accept my deepest apologies, Ensign Lister. It was most inconsiderate and inappropriate of me to speak of this matter without first consulting you, an offense only made worse by discussing it as if you were not actually here. I do appreciate you speaking up on the matter, Ensign, and furthermore doing so in a manner that shows maturity. And for the sake of clarification, I was not seriously admonishing for saying 'lieutenant' instead of 'commander.' My intention was only to 'break the ice,' so to speak." The doors opened, and a cute redhead walked in. Have couldn't help but check her out for a moment, before looking back at his own data pad, searching for information about her." Excuse me, I will attend to my duties now." Havuk remained on the bridge for a moment, physically examining his operations station but mentally reprimanding himself for how the initial interactions went. As much as he excelled in science and operations, being in command was his deficiency. (Lieutenant Commander James Kirk Location: Bridge, Ready Room Time: Day 1James smiled and shook her hand, "It's a pleasure to be on board mam." Kirk then stood with both the Captain and young ensign Leta as they both engaged in small talk for a short time. The talk was interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice for Kirk. He turned to see that it was the valedictorian, nothing new for a Vulcan, of his class, Have. He had heard he was now some hot shot after getting assigned to both Enterprises for his first tour of duty. Now he was here quoting regulation to Leta. "I find no harm in it, Have." The cold logic in his voice was obvious, but there was something else there that Kirk couldn't put his finger on. He would dismiss it until Have stepped beyond his boundaries as Chief of Operations. He was about reprimand him for it, but Leta and the captain handled the situation just fine, so he let it be. With everyone's dismissal he was asked to join the Captain Williams in her Ready Room. He nodded and followed her in. Though before he did, he saw Have at his station. He asked the captain to wait for him for a moment and then left. He walked over casually and stood near him. "Well that introduction could have gone better." (Commander Have, Chief of Operations Location:Bridge Time:Day 1"You will have no argument from me, Commander. Do you think I have satisfactorily 'smoothed things over' with the Ensign and the Captain? Or are further efforts necessary on my part to repair the damage I have done? Interpersonal relations are not my forte... in most cases, that is. Either way... it is good to see a familiar face." Havuk put out his hand to shake Kirk's. After ending his conversation with his old classmate, Have decided to walk around the ship. As he traveled the hallways, he received a message on his PADD from Ensign Lister. He thought about responding, but felt it would be better to talk to her in person. He headed to Science, but she wasn't there. (started unpacking a crate of his equipment labeled "Positron Brain tools." Edit: Having Have go to Science instead of waiting on the Bridge. (Var'ishielLocation:Bridge Time:Day 1The turbo lift delivered him onto the bridge, and the Commander strode forth at once, moving to stand, with naturally impeccable posture, unobtrusively, at attention. He was not one to announce himself when it was unnecessary, he often gave the impression that he considered words to be far too valuable to squander them. When his input was necessary, he would offer it or be asked to do so, and even then he was wearing a communicator that would allow him to speak to the other officers from any part of the ship. Better to wait in silence than to draw unnecessary attention, even in a friendly environment. Though he was quite unfamiliar with the new crew, he had studied their dossiers and wished to supplement that knowledge with first-hand observation. An understanding of the people who were to be his colleagues was perfectly worthwhile knowledge, especially when variations from known behavior patterns were an excellent indication of Xenophon psychological effects. The Captain had piqued his curiosity, he was eager to see if she had improved so much in reality as the paperwork might have suggested. Like any good scientist, he always wanted more data. (Lieutenant Commander James Kirk Location: Bridge, Ready Room Time: Day 1Kirk couldn't help but smile as a Human-Vulcan asked a full-blooded human for advice on patching things up. Captain Kirk would have no trouble believing this, but James was having a bit of trouble. "Well, that first impression you made might be a little hard to get past, but there are ways to help work things out. A nice apology wouldn't hurt." However well this advice worked for the Vulcan he wouldn't know as the officer had elsewhere to be. He shook the hand offered to him and wished him well in his endeavors. Once the officer left he went over to the Ready Room and stepped in. "I'm sorry about that Captain, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" (INRIA Koenig, Chief Engineer Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Idria was finished with the Captain when she received a notice from Engineering." Leftenant, we have a slight... situation down here. Could you please return to Engineering?" came the prim and proper voice of one of her British engineers." On my way," INRIA responded, and began heading for Engineering. Stepping into the turbo lift, she commanded simply, "Engineering." Without a moment's hesitation, the turbo lift was on its way. (( Translocation:Bridge Time:Day oneKitala nodded to herself in the mirror of her private dormitory, and walked onto the bridge. It was more like she strode there though, her manner of walking distinctive for a Klingon. It was like marching, her long legs taking huge steps as she walked on. "Good day, Captain, commanders, chief," She said, rarely addressing people with their first names. It was easier for her not to get emotionally attached, as the inner turmoil she had to deal with was enough of a burden already. At some days she just felt like smashing everything to pieces and didn't know why she'd gotten so outrageous, whilst she could crawl up to the couch with a gigantic piece of chocolate and cry as she watched some sort of stupid, superficial soap. "I trust you are all well and in good health. It is an honor to meet you, I have served under captain Picard. I thought it would be good if I assigned for the USS Zhukov as both my uncle and my captain suggested this ship as one with a most honorable crew. I'll be looking forward to working with you all, my colleagues." She said, grabbing a small flask of bloodline, drinking from it and offering the others some as well." This is not for the faint-hearted, though I believe a small drink will do good to the men and women on board of this ship." She said laughing, looking around the bridge. (Elena Williams Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, morning Elena wasn't quite at the ready room when the TO spoke, "I just want to check in with you, make sure we're on the same page" she said softly, their moment was interrupted by another officer, this one was part Klingon. They certainly had a very interesting crew. She didn't take much notice of the tall officer at one of the consuls, there was something about the way he stood that made her frown, but her attention was once more pulled back to the new officer. When she offered Bloodline the Captain's frown deepened. "Not on my bridge you don't. There is to be no alcohol anywhere on the bridge. I would suggest you put that away. If I see it again I will have you thrown in the brig so fast you'll wonder what hit you" she warned, then she turned and entered her ready room, "Commander Kirk, please see the Lieutenant off my bridge. She can return when she has had time to consider where and when to drink that stuff." The door closed firmly behind her.[IOC: Haha poor Kitara, she will learn the CO is very strict about things. I love it. She is now in her ready room thread HERE (If you want to come talk to her, have it so that you knock, and she calls enter. Nice start people] (Translocation:Bridge Time:Day one"That woman needs to get her priorities straight!" Kitara hissed, her Klingon-self had gotten offended by the careless Human woman. Kitara was a woman of honor and had served for quite some intense years, having defied countless enemies in her days on the Enterprise-E, often putting her life in danger. And if there wassomethingto be considered "innocent", then it would be having one small sip of the oh so very delicious Klingon bloodline, the contents of which contained about the double amount of alcohol whiskey contained, and thus something very intoxicating. "NEVER have I, Kitara, daughter of Christiana, daughter of Octavia and daughter of Olaf, son of Morph been this offended. Now, does anyone of you PUSSIES want agooddrink before we set off? Nothing prohibits us from doing so, as we are not yet on our mission. Get around, get around folks. Let us bless our merry gathering and our successful mission!" She said loudly, the Klingon Kitara clearly taking over what humanity she had in herself. She was a granddaughter of the Great Morph, and it was going to take a long, long time before anyone threw her somewhere and made her wonder what hit her. The only time that had happened, was when she had banged her head on Commander Data's skull. But she knew, too, that she wasn't the only security officer on board.(IOC: what if the man or woman who "throws her into the dungeons" impresses her so much by his or her strength, that she gets somehow fond of him/her as a friend? She is straight, but does need some folks to talk to.) (Lieutenant Commander James Kirk Location: Bridge, Ready Room Time: Day 1Kirk was able to catch up to the captain before she entered her ready room. He nodded in reply, "Yes mam, I'll have the department heads send in a station report before we head out." He turned toward the direction the captain was looking at to see another officer, a Klingon from what Kirk could tell, talking quite loudly and prepared to take a swig from a flask. The captain wouldn't have it and ordered her to put it away, leaving the rest for Kirk to deal with before she entered her ready room. James turned toward the Klingon and stepped up to her as she ranted about it not being fair that she can't have a drink on the bridge. He grew slightly annoyed as she disrespected her own captain for a small quarrel she had. "I suggest you get an ego check, Lieutenant. You heard the order, now put the flask away or I seal remove you from the bridge until such time you are fit to return." James stood tall and did not flinch as he was extending his authority upon a subordinate. (Translocation:Bridge Time:Day one(IOC: Just so you know, Jmorty33, my character *is* a bit easily annoyed, haha. Has nothing to do with my personal life whatsoever, she'll get a little more humane soon)As Commander Kirk walked up to her, Kitty frowned contemptuously and took a small sip of the wine she held, thinking herself perfectly capable of what she was or was not to consume when she was not yet on duty and thus not to be commanded yet. Lowering her voice to a normal tone, greatly annoyed and her good mood faded away. "Commander Kirk, I would greatly appreciate it if you somehow tried to calm yourself down," She said with a calm smile. "As we have not yet departed, I am not yet under the Captain's command. And although I fully understand you have had quite some uncomfortable encounters with Klingon folks and our ways, I would appreciate it if you joined in and judged whether it would be right or wrong afterward. I believe it'd do you good. I can assure you that I know perfectly well what I am doing, having done the same on board of the USS Enterprise-E before each take off. As I said, this is not for the faint-hearted, and if you can't handle a small sip of an innocent drink such as this, I suggest you just turn around, get over it and take it like a real man would." Kitara added, handing the flask over to him as she looked him in the eyes, a bit unsure about this man. He was taller and broader than she was, but she reckoned she could easily take him if he were to attack her. (Lieutenant Commander James Kirk Location: Bridge, Ready Room Time: Day 1James did not see where she was getting her idea that just because the ship had not taken off, yet she was free to do as she wished. He was under the impression that if she served under Admiral Picard, Commander River, or even Lieutenant Work that they would have instilled in her a respect for the chain of command, whether it be on or off duty. He remained firm where he was, facing this head on rather than submitting to what she said to do. James knew that she wouldn't stop drinking the alcohol due to her ill-conceived notions, so he had to take the diplomatic route and find a compromise. He did not take the flask that she handed to him, following the order Captain Williams gave. "If you're so confident in your tolerance levels then fine, drink away, but do it off the bridge. Like you were ordered to do in the first place." (Translocation:Bridge Time:Day one Sighing and taking one more gulp from the bloodline, Kitara folded her arms over each other and looked Kirk in the eye, her first intentions had been nothing but friendly ones but now that she saw the "nasty little human" in front of her, she just wanted to squeeze his throat shut, but suppressed her instinctive Klingon warrior senses and just breathed out somewhat more heavily, reminding herself of the fact that hooks, as a matter of fact, placed higher in rank than she was. Having pictured this crew to be like her old one, she felt homesick. Homesick for her old life, where she was still under command of the funny Picard, the witty River and had her uncle Work to guide her through the day. Adjusting herself to the customs of other spaceships had never gone quite as smoothly as it should and lead to a lot of bad decisions made in the heat of her inner fight. She longed for her old life where she was respected and where people understood her way of thinking, where people didn't get offended by her loud speaking as they knew, back then, that she was only enthusiastic and that it was something that happened to Klingons when they were feeling happy. Just when she thought she'd get the flask back to her chest pocket, she spilled some on Kirk's shirt, her eyes widening as she knew now that she was in deep trouble. Her heart pulsated heavily, and her hands were shaking as she realized what she had done, trying to apologize but being too late for that. (Var'ishielLocation:Bridge Time:Day 1Settling in to his new environs took time, but that task was much aided by his curiosity. For one who took a keen interest in genetics and sociology, among so many other wonderful avenues of knowledge, the crew's composition offered ripe opportunities for study. Curiosity was the one vice permitted to his kind, enthusiasm for new knowledge was never a taboo. Almost as though by serendipity, though he had no belief in coincidences, he was presented with a fascinating opportunity to observe a confrontation among his subjects. He had no prejudices, but he did have a dislike of Klingon warrior attitudes, a species that held brutality as a form of honor had a long ways to go in order to attain a more enlightened civilization. Much like Terran's." Consumption of psychoactive chemicals outside personal quarters and designated recreational areas aboard a Star fleet vessel is a breach of conduct. Any officer found under the influence of such substances on duty or on call for duty is an insult to the honor of Star fleet." The Commander spoke softly, yet he made sure that he was heard. An insubordinate subordinate was not something with which he was unfamiliar, he had encountered enough Marquis in the years gone by to know that no single method of command was absolute. "I would suggest that you forgive the half-breed, Lieutenant Commander. Exaggerated behavior is a common trait in Klingons who lack the appropriate cultural ties and are forced to mimic what they believe a Klingon to be, often poorly, as is the case." Prejudice, spite, bitterness, all things he was immune to, but he certainly understood how best to manipulate them in others. He had spent enough time in Shops to know best how to provoke a reaction. Failing that, broken bones usually got the point across. (Translocation:Bridge Time:Day oneKitala's heartbeat fluttered now that the Vulcan spoke, the words he said were all too true but caused her to feel stabbed in the back by her colleague, an electric flow of discomfort flowing through her body and making her weak in the knees. As the years had passed, she had gotten used to humiliation, to misunderstandings and prejudices about her. Back in the days she had even hid her ridged forehead behind a fringe, something both of her parents had disapproved of and that had looked ridiculous on her face. Over the years, she had built up quite some confidence and had learned how to communicate with people in a friendly manner, but had attached herself a little too much to her last crew. Her friends had chosen a different path, each living a happy life now and putting enough trust into her. Was she really incapable of living a normal life without constant guidance...? His words stabbed her, each one leaving a bigger hole than the one before. Kitara remembered things from her past, her youth spent under the Tuscan sun, her first memories being those of running around the house with her father chasing her, teaching her how to groan but unfortunately being unable to bring out more than shallow sounds as her mother laughed at the two of them. Her Academy days in which she had excelled in each of her classes, skilled in the martial arts she studied, wanting to keep a starship from being attacked in the future. Her friendship with River and her endless respect for Captain Picard... All the years in which she had struggled to balance things out, all of her effort to be humane yet a strong Klingon woman... It got burned down when Commander Var'Ismail calmly spoke out the words that she knew were right, but hurt her deeply. Halfbreed, exaggerated... lack the appropriate cultural ties... poorly..., it didn't quite get to her. She felt numb, and in that flash of total rage, she turned around and roared, for the first time in her life acknowledging her Klingon self and banging her head against Commander Var'Ismail's, trying to push him over and feeling how - as Klingon as it was - tears trickled down over her cheeks. "My name, is Lieutenant Olaf to you. I do not wish to be addressed as "the halfbreed"," She shouted louder than she ever had before, having wanted to contain herself and realizing how stupid and emotionally unstable she was and must look like to the other people on the bridge, all of which she knew would be staring at her. "Do you just not understand that sometimes you have to keep out of other people's business, you pointy-eared, apathetic-" She tried to add, but got cut off. Kitala had never felt this odd. She was a decent woman and could be a very nice conversational partner, and to be honest, the whole thing had gotten much worse because shedidlack any sort of appropriate cultural ties, being brought up by parents of different descent. It was something she was to blame for herself, as she could have just obeyed her Captain's order without hesitating. Thinking things over, she knew she had been wrong for disobeying her, knowing that the Captain knew what was best for her crew like a mother knew what is best for her children. Doubting that hadn't been a smart thing to do, Kitara found that out soon. Very soon. (Var'ishielLocation:Bridge Time:Day 1The Klingon obsession with warrior culture had always struck the Commander as somewhat strange, for even with their physiological redundancies, they were no more fierce or effective than any other species. Every Vulcan lived with rage and ferocity far beyond those of the berserker Klingons, to simply be aggressive was no accomplishment. He was an old soldier by the measure of any Star fleet species, and the half-Klingon's clumsy attack hardly challenged his reflexes. He soaked up her momentum, bracing himself, and ignored her tearful declaration of independence, lacing his arms around hers. With a sudden tension in his grip, he forced her arms straight, bringing them together in a close embrace before the Vulcan tipped back and then hammered his head forwards to slam his forehead into hers. The motion was accompanied by a flexing of his arms, bracing beneath her elbows to dislocate those joints when he headbutted her with violent force. He drew blood from his tough hide when he slammed his forehead into her cranial ridges, but there was little sign of discomfort in the Vulcan. Even Jem'Hadar had been given a hard fight by the Vulcan hybrid, Kitara had a long way to go before she could consider herself a threat. "If this were a Klingon vessel, you would be dead. You are unworthy of judgement as a Klingon, you are not even worth consideration as a Terran. You are a pitiful beast. Act like a soldier and I may kill you with honor if you can summon the courage to defy me whilst sober." Since he was neither a soldier nor a Klingon, he felt no hesitation whatsoever before driving a snap kick into Kitara's groin before throwing the woman to the ground at his feet. Klingons were notoriously hard to kill, and well conditioned to accept pain, but few knew how to inflict suffering quite like a Vulcan. (Elena Williams Location:Bridge Time:Day 1, morning Elena had just stood after talking to the Admiral when she heard a ruckus beyond the ready room door. She frowned, and moved swiftly to the door. The sight that greeted her froze her blood. Officers fighting on the bridge, the Klingon female from earlier and....yes it was him."THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH" she said in a loud, clear, firm voice. It left no doubt who was in charge here. "Commander Var'Ismail, get away from Lieutenant Olaf immediately." She ordered the Vulcan, seeing the Klingon woman laying on the floor." This is my bridge. You are dismissed Commander, I will see you later." She told Var'Ismail, "go to Science, get to know the ship, just stay off my bridge" she ordered him, fury evident in her eyes, this was no way for her crew to behave. Whatever had gotten into them?" Commander Kirk, please take the Lieutenant to sickbay" she told her TO. "I will see you both in my ready room at 1600 hrs." She ordered the pair, "now, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT." She was furious, how could two Star fleet Officers act in such a manner? They were acting like brats. (Translocation:Bridge Time:Day one Her eyes filling up with tears, the stream of emotions went on. Memorizing the words of her uncle, wanting to be brave for the sake of her people. Humans as well as Klingons. If only she could just move, she would've attacked him, but the sharp pain in her arms made her unable to push him off of her. Her head felt dizzy as the Vulcan slammed her harder than anyone had ever done before, her eyesight decreased and a sharp, high tone echoing in her ears. She wanted to fight him off, to rip his ears off and to feast on his copper-colored blood right at that moment, but that thought was soon put to a stop when he kicked her into her most sensitive body parts, an almost extreme jolt of pain flowing through her body as she brought out a soft cry of pain, a very Klingon. Kitara didn'twant be vulnerable. She wanted to crawl back up, but as she had fallen to the floor and needed her arms to get up and a good eyesight, she couldn't and just lay there, looking up at the Vulcan, luckily still able to speak. "Go ahead," She said, now couching up blood but not letting her eyes leave his. "Kick....... Kick me again. Do it. I am..... sober." She said, her throat hoarse and tears streaming down like a waterfall, her arms strangely crooked, trying to cover her abdomen so that she wouldn't have to take in another one of his ruthless kicks there. Kitara bit her lips, closed her eyes and tried to focus on getting up, her abdomen still in a sharp pain as she sat up on her knees and tried to tackle the Vulcan by clinging onto his legs, wanting to bite him if that was all she could do, but falling down and staring at the ceiling instead, incapable of moving any of her limbs, coughing up more blood. A pitiful beast might indeed be the right term, she thought to herself, not saying a word as her tears wet the floor. A pitiful beast with no sense of decency that belonged in a circus, not on a starship. But not even a circus would take her as she wasn't... anything. She wasn't Terran, but wasn't Klingon either. She was a nobody, another "thing" created in a love-affair that never should have happened. Once more, Kitara hated herself for being who she was, and for not being able to get up. The pain didn't go numb, it just went on and on and on, whilst she was unable to do anything about it. She tried to look around for help, but didn't want to pain her eyes any longer. She just needed to feel this pain. "Burgh-wh, who are you?" She said at the sharp female voice that ordered someone to go somewhere and felt how a pair of strong arms picked her up and held her as she heaved up and down, each step he took sending another jolt of pain through her limbs. The female voice had sounded strangely much like her mother's though, but she was unsure as she had just closed her eyes for comfort. (Var'ishielLocation:Bridge Time:Day 1The Commander calmly accepted the histrionics of the surrounding women, standing to attention, as was his default state, hands clasped behind his back. Neither assault, physical nor verbal, did much to disturb his composure, he gave the Captain the slightest of nods to acknowledge her command, remaining seemingly ignorant of the Klingon clinging to his legs. "Captain." He turned on his heel, oblivious to all else but the command, striding at once for the turbo lift to return to his own demesne. He would file reports concerning the actions of his Captain and the Security Officer at a later date, he was not one to disobey any order that seemed to be logical and sensible. With that, the towering Vulcan made his departure, placid as always. What had happened and was beyond his control, but he would have no choice but to file a frank report for his Captain to read, even if she disapproved of his assessment of the situation? (Jack ElburnLocation:Bridge Time:Day 1What a day to be late Jack thought to himself as he ran through the halls, smoothing his hair and his uniform so that he'd look presentable. Of all the days to have stomach problems, the first day on a new ship probably wasn't the best. AS he got close to the bridge, his pace slowed down. He wouldn't want anyone to think that he was in a hurry, or that he wasn't totally prepared. That would send the wrong message, in that it would be a truthful message. As he quickly walked through the hall, he saw the science officer Commander Var'Ismail, probably on his way to the Science division. It seemed a bit early for that, but then maybe the captain had sent him off early to do some work before they took off. Once he walked onto the bridge, he immediately started apologizing"I'm sorry for being late Captain. I was having some" but before he finished, he saw the first officer, James Kirk, picking up the half-Klingon security officer who had blood on her head. The captain herself seemed more than mildly irritated, had looked like she had just finished screaming. His eyes very wide and his mouth was slightly agape as he scanned the room, and the face of the people, hoping to see something that would explain what had happened"What did I miss?" he finally said, after a moment or two (Teacher, Security/Tactical Officer Location:Bridge Time:Day 1An Orion male wearing a gold uniform was on his way to the bridge checking out his PADD. He was talking to himself in an Irish accent." At 1400, the crew will arrive. At 1700, senior staff meetin'. And at 1800, departure..." He entered the bridge." Lieutenant Teacher, security and tactical officer, reportin' for dew...thank you... "He noticed the Klingon on the floor and the Vulcan off to the side. Both of them were getting reprimanded by the captain." Well, just what do we have here?" He squatted down next to the Klingon." Lieutenant Kitara Olaf. Gettin' into trouble already? I din nae expect a member of the Enterprise to be causin' a ruckus. And on the bridge of all places." He clicked his tongue at her, then looked up to the Vulcan." And you. I was hopin' for more from ye, Commander Var'Ismail. Did ye really have to make the lassie here bleed all over the new bridge?"" Commander Kirk, please take the Lieutenant to sickbay." Teachdaire stood up at attention." Captain, permission to bring the lieutenant here to sickbay. I'm sure your executive officer has more important duties to tend to." Teachdaire figured that Williams would agree with him." Unless you have other... tasks you wish for me to perform, Captain." If Williams wanted a piece of Teacher the way his previous two captains did, now would not be the time. But he did want to remind her of what else he could for her... and with her." Okay, wee one, up ye go." Teachdaire unceremoniously picked up the Klingon, not very gently. She could take the pain, and she probably needed some more to really learn her lesson for whatever she did. He didn't carry her like a damsel in distress in his arms. More like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. IOC: PLEASE NOTE THE TIME JUMP. MOVING TO SOMETHING EXCITING.(Elena Williams Location:Ready Room Time:Day 1, 1417hrsThe day had developed into a busy one. Stores and crew were coming onboard, most of the crew were onboard, the cargo bays were growing full of various stores. They would be ready to head off at 1800. Getting a cup of coffee, she sat on the sofa, curling her legs under her and gazing out the window, looking out into the vastness of space that beckoned them. Her thoughts drifted to past missions, things that had happened to her on the various ships she had served on. Now she had her own ship, a crew that looked to her for guidance and leadership, and a senior staff she had to get to know. It was going to be a fun time she was sure. The sound of an incoming private call brought her back to the moment, she stood, moving to her desk. Opening the channel she frowned, she had been expecting Admiral Wendell again, but it wasn't, it was Admiral Miranda Granger, someone she didn't really get on with." Admiral""Captain, your orders are changing. We have lost touch with the USS Denver. She's an old Ambassador class, she was heading home after a nasty mission, heavily damaged and without her captain." There was a pause, the Admiral took a breath, "we don't know what happened to her, I'm sending her lat known coordinates to you now, along with all the details we have."" Admiral, we haven't had shakedown yet, I haven't got a full crew..." Elena started to object. The Admiral held her hand up." I know Captain, but you are here and ready to go. There are no other ships here who can drop what they are doing to investigate." She was told. "I've bought your departure time up to 1500" she said, then was gone. Elena frowned, another bleep told her all the data had been received. She glanced at it and frowned, then tapped her combadge, opening a channel to her senior staff.=/\=Williams to all Senior Staff, report to the briefing room NOW. Williams out=/\= she stood and stalked out, looking around, "all non crew are to leave the ship, we have orders." She told Mr Kirk.TAG: Senior Staff, post in this thread, we'll incorporate briefing room into the bridge thread. (Commander Have, Chief of Operations Location:Ready Room Time:Day 1Havuk was already on his way from Operations to the Bridge to complete work on the ops console. He had a long list of assignments to complete himself or follow up on, and getting back to the bridge was ahead of schedule. It was a good thing Ensign Lister was along with the small number of crew members on the ship. Even though Have had spent extensive time with her, she alone had managed to optimize many of the Zhukov'functions within Science, as well as handle other issues with power and sensors in the rest of the ship. She was a single junior officer with the energy and ability of 10. Lister's presence elevated Have's mood as well, which was something unusual as he did not usually have feelings. While he was more familiar with occasional bouts of rage and also had several partners at the Academy, he had never felt pure infatuation combined with lust like he did for the junior science officer. The half-Vulcan Chief of Operations entered the bridge, then the captain's ready room. If only she knew that he went from offending the android system in a human body to courting her." Captain Williams. Reporting as ordered." He stood at attention, waiting to be offered or ordered to sit on the couch. He thought it was interesting to meet in Williams' personnel office instead of the conference room. The ready room was preferred for holding private discussions and receiving classified communications, but now she wanted the entire senior staff there. Something was afoot. Havuk considered offering her assistance, but he thought it's better to minimize conversation. (Teacher, Security/Tactical Officer Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Teachdaire returned to the bridge. He had not yet seen the Chief of Security anywhere on the ship, and he was not currently on the bridge. Fortunately, the Orion lieutenant at least had a list of tasks to take care of, which he completed or followed up on after bringing Olaf to sickbay to be treated for injuries inflicted by Var'Ismail. He considered leaving, but instead he approached the ready room. He large frame was nearly the width and height of the door." Captain. I codon't help but no'ice that ye have senior officers with ye. Ye woo'n't happen to know where Chief O' Security is? I din nae run into him all day, and as rankin' officer, I've been doin' me best with the small group I have." (Jack El burn, Chief Flight Control Officer Location:Bridge Time:Day 1Upon hearing the captain's orders, Jack went to the briefing room immediately, hoping to not miss out on any possible insanity like what had happened that morning on the bridge. A chief science officer headbutting a security officer was not something that had happened on any other ship he'd served on. Of course, there was a lot different about this ship than other he'd been on. Not least of which was the diversity among the crew. 2 Orions, 1 of each gender (Jack had to remember to talk to the female one of these days), a half-Klingon, 1 half Vulcan who was half human and another who was half-Remain, a Bjorn, a half-android (that was an interesting file to read), and then whatever the proper term for officer Ivanovich was. It was markedly different experience than he had on either the Excalibur or the Carolina. He had a feeling that this would be an interesting assignment." Lieutenant El burn, reporting as asked Captain" he said with a small salute.

USS ZHUKOV - Bridge|rating:3.0

The Ladies at the Bar (Pipaluk and Oiran)

(Young was a Sophomore at Toronto Tech. Originally she had planned to major in veterinarian studies, but had changed her plans last year and decided she wanted to study business and finance. It wasn't that she didn't like animals, it was more that she realized she didn't really want to be a vet when she grew up. That was just her childish dream job. Business and numbers really fascinated her, so she changed her major. Alice wasn't exactly an extroverted social butterfly, but she liked being with her friends. She wasn't the partying type, she was the quiet, conservative type. While all her girlfriends were talking about staying out all night getting drunk and having one-night stands, Alice would be scolding them inside. She didn't think that was a very becoming lifestyle and thought less of her friends who did that sort of thing. Alice wanted to make sure she got to know someone, that she was really interested in a long term relationship before she would give her body to someone. As such, Alice hadn't yet been with a man. She had fooled around with some of her girlfriends in high school, but nothing passed masturbating in public. In secret, though, Alice loved reading erotic fiction. She loved reading about a girl who was bound helplessly or a slave in a relationship. She'd often fantasize about herself being in such a situation sometime, but it was only a dream. Furthermore, she never thought she'd actually get interested in it until the day she met Ella Hunt. Ella had graduated a few years ahead of Alice and had taken out a few loans to purchase the local college town bar that was going out of business. She knew the former owner didn't do anything right, really. He was out of touch with the college group, and she knew she could make it successfully work. She was right. By 25 years old, Ella had paid off the entire loan from the purchase and the bar was a huge success. It had even been labeled among the top five of Toronto's most popular bars. This article caused Alice's friends to want to go and see what kind of guys they could pick up there. While Alice wasn't too keen on going for that reason, she did tag along with her friends. It was a neat bar, and she could tell it was a happening place. While her friends joked around and flirted with some of the guys who looked single, Alice sat at her table. She noticed a now hiring sign, and it occurred to her that she wouldn't be able to cover her expenses for the rest of the year. She had thought she'd get a job before the year was up, but hadn't really looked just yet. Alice approached the bartender. She was a fairly stunning beauty and didn't look too much older than Alice was. Alice wasn't really sure why she saw more beauty in a very hot female than she did in a hot guy, she just thought girls were prettier, but didn't really ever attribute it to being bisexual. Alice inquired about the opening, and though conversation found out that the other girl owned the bar. Alice was impressed, the other girl was a brilliant businesswoman and Alice knew she could not only make some money working at the bar, but also that she could learn a lot about life and business from this girl. She was hired. The two got to know each other better as they worked closely together at the bar. While a few other employees came and went over the next year, the two people that stayed at the bar were Alice and the owner, Ella. Their conversations cleaning the tables after shutting down ranged from philosophy to the latest contestants on the voice to even more intimate things like love interests. Alice had gathered that Ella mostly spoke about girls when she spoke about anything sexual and figured Ella was either a lesbian or bisexual, but didn't really talk about it. Eventually their conversations got more pointed as Ella figured out how to pull Alice out of her shell. Ella had been able to get Alice to talk about how she isn't necessarily attracted to boys and finds girls much more attractive, but having grown up in a traditional home had never acted on it. Ella also found out that Alice was extremely kinky, though she has never acted on them. She found out that Alice loves to read erotic fiction and fantasizes about bondage and submission, damsels in distress, and all sorts of other sometimes weird kinks that she fantasized about. One night Ella mentioned that there's no reason Alice can't enjoy any of those kinks now. Ella informed Alice that she had some experience with bondage and submission and was an occasional dominatrix herself on the side for fun. She didn't go too in depth on what she had done exactly, but it was pretty obvious that Ella had dappled in a bit of BDSM in her lifetime. When Alice was informed about her boss' secret, her mind went wild at the possibility of actually playing out some of her fantasies. She smiled and eventually agreed that it would be fun to try sometime. A few weeks later, on a Friday night after the hockey game, the two get to talking again. Ella tells Alice that as a dominatrix on the side, she could help Alice play out some of her fantasies if that was of interest to her. It was certainly interesting, but Alice wondered what that would mean for their relationship. Would they be girlfriends? Dating? Ella told Alice that it would just be two girls playing for now. Alice liked the sound of that and was extremely eager to try something." When can we try something?" She asked excitedly as she finished putting up the last chair,"I'm not that tired tonight." Ella said, almost non-nonchalantly. Alice couldn't help but smile. The two closed up the shop and got into Ella's car to head over to Ella's place. As they drove, Alice felt nervous, she wasn't her usual talkative self. She wondered if this was what she really wanted. She had an internal battle debating whether this was a good idea, whether she wanted to play out her ideas. Whether she even wanted to get sexual active. She concluded that she did, but that didn't remove the nervousness. Ella Hunt wasn't the best at keeping up with her studies, but she was pretty darn proud to graduate from Toronto Tech, even if it did take an extra semester due to her failing a vital course. She wasn't a dimwitted person or anything, but knew that school wasn't really in her life plan. Her parents pressured her to apply to colleges after high school, since that seemed to be the most common course of action for people her age. She didn't resist, but in the end she knew that her philosophy degree wasn't going to get her too far unless she decided to go to law school or something. Purchasing the local college town bar wasn't something she had thought out for too long, but once the opportunity arose she was quick to her feet. It wasn't the most lucrative investment at first, and Ella had picked up an interesting side job to keep her pockets full of money - being a dominatrix. She continued the gig on and off for a while, until her number of clients slowly dwindled down, and she decided she would take a small break. She had learned a ton in those few years though, and broken quite a few men and women into deep submission. That was one reason she was starting to enjoy the bar more and more; she loved being in charge. Regardless, it was also fun being at the bar with one of her regular workers Alice. Ella could tell from the start she was a smart cookie, and enjoyed her company during the late nights they would stick around to clean up the last bit of vomit that had piled up on the tables. The tables were turned once Ella learned about Alice's interest in the kinkier side of sex, which was what led to tonight." You're rather quiet." Ella commented as she kept a hand loosely over the wheel, her eyes glancing over to Alice once in a while. "Remember, this is no more than play. I take it I can trust you not to start getting attached and falling in love or something." She let out a loud laugh, as if that were never a possibility. "Anyway, we're here. Welcome to my abode." Ella stopped the car, getting out as she pointed to Alice once she stood by her side. "Stand up straight when in my presence." It was said firmly, the first of many commands Alice was sure to hear while opting to experience the less vanilla side of life. Once Alice cooperated, Ella motioned for her to follow. She lived in a four-story condo on the fourth level, as she was saving up money to buy a house of her own. Of course this wasn't any small place, as she was renting out the largest condo in the unit. Once they were inside the building, Ella escorted them into the elevator where she pressed the number four. "When was the last time you touched yourself?" She asked as if it was a normal run-of-the-mill question, humming to herself as the elevator door finally shut. "Tell me about it." "Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous." Alice said as she continued to look out the window on the drive, then she turned to Ella, "Oh, I know. I know it's not like we're girlfriends... well we are... but not like that. It's just," Alice smirked, "I've never done anything with anybody else, really. It's kind of exciting." When they arrived at Ella's place, Alice got out of the car and watched for Ella to come around so they could walk into the building. Suddenly Ella ordered her to stand up straight in her presence. Alice didn't think of herself as a sloucher, she wasn't really. She just didn't have insanely perfect posture. She stood unnaturally upright snickering slightly, "Yes, Ma'am." She said with a slight salute. Clearly Alice was going to have trouble taking anything seriously. Once they were in the elevator, Ella asked her a rather straight forward and personal question. Alice blushed, she supposed she needed to answer. "MMM... probably a week and a half ago." She said thinking back. "Tell you about it? Like in detail?" Alice noticed the look on Ella's face. She didn't get a verbal answer, but Ella's response was clear. She was serious, and she wouldn't settle for a lazy answer. "Well," Alice began, "I like to fantasize. I also like to role-play in online chatroom. Normally if there is a perfect scene that I've Red, I'll replay the scene out in my head and use whatever household items I have available as props to play it out."" In this case," Alice continued, "I blindfolded myself and stuck a sock in my mouth because the girl in the scene was gagged and blindfolded, I also found some cloth pins to use on my nipples because the girl had nipple clamps on." Alice couldn't believe she was being so open about this, but it felt oddly natural. Would Ella think she was weird for what she did? "Anyway, I usually just finger myself and play with my clitoris. Sometimes I slip my finger in ever so slightly. I think I did that last time, but I don't know if I climax from penetration. Can't say it's been tested, but I know clitoral stimulation is how I make myself climax." The elevator door opened onto the fourth floor, and Alice followed Ella to her apartment. Alice was rather quiet and going along, eyes wide open as Ella was about to introduce her into a world that she often fantasized about. Ella was actually quite surprised once Alice started speaking in such explicit detail about what she liked to fantasize about and had done to herself. Her lips curled up into a smile as Alice continued to spill intimate details about her one-on-one session with herself, pondering what else she had done in the past. It seemed a bit more involved than a normal person's self-love, and Ella was highly intrigued to say the least." Well it seems like you've already tried quite a few things on your own, wonder what you need me for?" She laughed, pulling out her keys as she started to unlock the door. "Never had full penetration?" The door clicked open. "Seems like you're missing out. You talk pretty openly for someone who claims to have little actual sexual experience. Have you had many relationships?" Ella pushed the door open slightly before glancing back to Alice, blocking her view of the condo. "Safe word is Banana. Got that?" Once she got some sort of affirmation, Ella would grab Alice by the wrist, pulling her into her place. Door would be swiftly locked before Ella shoved Alice up against the nearest wall, a hand still curled around her wrist. Body was pressed up against hers, a knee between the girl's legs. Alice didn't seem too serious about this all, but Ella was totally ready to start playing with her new toy. Well, she wasn't officially her toy yet, but it would happen sooner or later, Ella was sure of it." I am in charge under this roof. Stray from my words and a punishment will be dealt." A chuckle escaped her lips as she reached her free hand up to stroke the girl over her cheek. "Do you understand that, slut?" Ella had very easily changed from the easy-going bar owner to the overpowering master figure, as this was something she had done plenty of times in the past. Usually she was being paid to do this, but this time it was just fun and games." Sluts don't wear clothing." Ella remarked as she took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest. Alice laughed, "For fun of course! I've never really done anything with anyone else. No, never full penetration. I don't really want to lose my virginity, I guess. I haven't really been educated, and I'm not sure what exactly would tear my hymen or what wouldn't, so I'm just usually careful about penetration." Alice stood outside the door, watching Ella unlock it. She blushed, "Well, as you know, I love to read erotic fiction and like to play with myself while I imagine I'm one of the characters in the story. No, I haven't. No relationships for me. Haven't found the right guy." Alice raised her eyebrow as Ella pushed open the door and said the safe word is banana. Alice knew what a safe word was from the stories she'd read. It meant that if Ella did anything that made Alice uncomfortable or that Alice didn't want at all, she could say banana. But Alice also knew she didn't want to be the girl who just cried banana all the time just because she felt slightly uncomfortable. She didn't want to abuse the safe word. That wouldn't make it any fun for Ella. She nodded feeling a little more serious about the situation now that she had her safe word. "Got it." Alice followed Ella into the house as she was pulled by the wrist. She watched Alice lock the door with nervous anticipation. Suddenly, Ella spun around and pushed her up against the wall. Alice closed her eyes and bit her lips. It was happening. She felt a first wave of arousal as she spread her legs, and swallowed nervously. Then she grinned playfully at Ella. And then smiled, and nearly burst into laughter as Ella explained that she was in charge under this roof and that Alice would be punished. Alice was more curious as to what the punishment would be and even thought about doing something right then and there to find out. But she scolded herself, and didn't. She wanted to be good. She didn't want to exasperate Ella with a bad attitude. Furthermore, she'd never done anything like this and didn't know what exactly was supposed to happen. So she decided she should try to be good and do what Ella says. She didn't want Ella to get upset and not actually play with her. Alice nodded, "Yes, ma'am. I understand." She paused then added, raising a finger on her free hand, "But could we maybe not call me a slut?" She asked, her voice timid and questioning. Maybe that was a rule, that she was to be called slut. Alice thought highly of herself, maybe even a bit too prideful of not acting slutty like a lot of her friends. She didn't know it, but perhaps it would be good for her to be called a slut. Maybe it would humble her. But for now, she didn't like it at all. She wasn't a slut. That was her friends who did a one-night stand with a different person they picked up at the bar every night. That wasn't her. Alice smiled nervously as Ella expected her to undress. "Right." She said, looking around at the windows in the apartment. Alice slipped a hand down to her jeans and unbuttoned them, sliding the zipper down she pulled down her pants revealing basic black cotton panties. She then began to unbutton her red blouse that she had worn for work, revealing a matching black bra. The design wasn't anything spectacular. Alice didn't have anyone else to enjoy what she wore, so she just wore what she needed to for support; nothing fancy. She looked at Ella, but the look on Ella's face, and the fact that she hadn't moved told Alice that she wasn't yet finished. Alice slide her shoes and socks off, stepping out of her pants, she then rotated her bra around and unhooked it and pulled it off. She picked up her mess of clothes, folding everything and setting them down on the table inside the door. Then she slipped her panties off. Alice had a slender frame. She was clearly in shape, but she wasn't overly strong. She looked more like a girl who casually ran than a girl who played volleyball or any other sport. Furthermore, she kept her pubic hair trimmed fairly short, but it still had a pretty natural look to it. Again, Alice had never really done any grooming for anyone else yet, she just kept it shorter for comfort. Alice stood a bit awkwardly, feeling quite under dressed compared to Ella. "Your turn?" She asked, a grin emerging across her face. Ella was a very attractive girl, and Alice had to admit to herself that she was curious to see what Ella looked like without all the close. Alice had always admired the way Ella moved herself around. Ella always had a way of making every action she did sexy like. When Ella had told Alice that she was a dominatrix on the side, it all made sense. She was a professional at moving around and looking sexy. Alice's movements on the other hand were a bit more basic. She moved with a purpose of doing the job, not necessarily looking good doing it. She was hoping that in her play with Ella she would be able to pick up a few things and turn a few heads at the bar as her movements got more and more sexy like Ella's. Ella laughed. "Haven't found the right guy yet? Well, maybe you're looking in all the wrong places. Maybe a guy isn't what you should be looking for." After all, Alice had essentially asked to be dominated by a female figure. Maybe she wasn't too sure of her sexuality yet, or maybe she just needed to do a bit more exploring. The explanation about the hymen had Ella wrinkling her nose. This girl spoke as if she hadn't had an up-to-date sex education class, or used the internet to look up things like this before. It worried Ella a bit how behind Alice was in the sex department, but that would soon change. Ella knew corruption was just over the horizon. It was hard to see how Alice was feeling about this whole scenario, and Ella knew she was on the verge of laughing more than just a few times. It vaguely disappointed Ella to see that Alice wasn't taking this as seriously as she hoped, but things would change soon enough. Once she got the ball rolling, Alice would realize that she had very little say while under Ella's roof." Excuse me?" Ella quirked a brow, her arms still crossed over her chest. "You don't...wish to be called slut? You read erotic fan fiction and touch yourself as you imagine yourself in the scenarios and reenact fake stories and don't want to be called a slut? You volunteered your body to me, and you don't want to be called a slut?" Ella snickered, shaking her head. "What a stubborn slut I got on my hands." She reached forward, grabbing Alice by the chin before she started to undress. "You will accept your name. Or would you rather me call you bitch? Hmm no, you look like more of a slut than a bitch." Stepping back, her eyes would stay glued on Alice's body as she undressed, taking in every inch of skin as it became exposed. Ella wasn't all to interested in what she was wearing underneath, but she did learn a lot from people based on their undergarments. It was obvious right off the bat that Alice wasn't dressing to impress under there." My turn?" Ella let out a loud laugh, shaking her head. "I think you're a bit confused, slut." Stepping back towards Alice, she would reach up and instantly pinch and twist her right nipple, just enough to cause a jolt of pain. "I give the commands here." She gave the same treatment to the other nipple, holding both of them at once. "Is that understood?" She would let go only once a reply of some sort was given before one of her hands stroked down her stomach and down towards her nether region. "I bet you're already turned on, aren't you?" Her fingers crept down further, hand cupping her between the legs. "Do I need to give you more proof that you are a slut?"" Stay put." Ella retreated to the nearby coffee table that sat in front of a pair of couches and a television. At first, it appeared to be a modern sort of furnishing, stainless steel with intricate Celtic carvings down the side. But upon second glance, there were small D-rings poking out of the legs, and there were also drawers on each end of the table. Looked like Ella did more than just have a cup of coffee at this table." Hmmm..." She hummed to herself before opening up a drawer and pulling out a black leather collar. It was about an inch thick with a soft plush lining. It had a singular name tag on it with the word 'SLUT' engraved on it in bold letters; it was a common name around this household really. Walking back over to Alice, she would reach around her neck and firmly clasp the collar on her." Oh wow, looks better than I imagined." She reached up, flicking the tag to hear it jingle before pointing to the table she was just at." There." Ella said as she gave Alice a firm push towards the cold surfaced table. "Lay on your back. Spread your legs." Alice laughed. She had thought about girls, but she knew her family wouldn't think too highly of that, so she'd always figured she'd end up with a guy. Perhaps Ella was right though, perhaps she would never find the right guy, and it was really a gal she needed. For now, though, she would make sure to enjoy herself. It was true, Alice's sexual education was non-existent. She was homeschooled and sex ed wasn't exactly a class. Perhaps her parents thought it would be too awkward to teach her, perhaps they thought they had taught her enough. Either way, Alice did feel pretty ignorant when it came to sexual encounters. Perhaps that's why she wasn't as open as her girlfriends at school about sex. Perhaps that's why she didn't like being called a slut. Alice got wide-eyed as Ella sounded intense, she shook her head. It was true. She didn't want to be called a slut. Alice suddenly felt serious. The way Ella spoke sure made it sound like Alice was a slut. She was here after all to fulfill some of her dirtier fantasies. Alice nodded. She would accept the name. For some reason it did sound better than the alternative. "Okay." She said nervously, "Or, I mean, Yes, Ma'am?" Alice paused, "Or Mistress?" Alice realized that she had read all sorts of stories about the scenario she was in, but it was hard to believe she was actually there participating in it. Everything she called Ella sounded awkward. What did Ella even want to be called? Alice watched Ella undress. Something about the way Ella kept looking at Alice while she undressed herself made Alice feel a bit intimidated. It made her feel more nervous about removing her clothes, but she did so nonetheless. Alice winced as Ella clamped down on her nipples, she bit her lip and crinkled her face together as she listened to Ella. She nodded urgently wanting to be free from the pain, "Yes. Yes Ma'am, I understand." She said, urgency in her voice. After she had assured Ella that she understood, she felt relieved, and when Ella let go, Alice rubbed her nipples trying to relieve them a bit more from the pain. Alice began laughing as Ella's hand ran down her stomach. For one thing Alice was quite ticklish, for another, what Ella said was true. Alice was indeed very turned on. Was she embarrassed about it? Were Ella's hands cold? Alice squirmed as Ella's hand got closer and closer to proof. She bit her lips together and shook her head, snickering slightly, "No, Ma'am." Alice nodded as Ella went over to her coffee table. Woah! That was some fancy secret bondage table. Alice grinned watching Ella prepare the table, she grabbed something from the table. A collar. Alice raised her chin giving Ella access to her neck as Ella approached her with the collar ready. Alice smiled. She'd never had a collar before. It felt interesting. It felt like she was official now. Like she belonged somehow to Ella. It made her feel more submissive. She grinned." Alright." Alice said as she sat back on the table and began to lean back until she was laying down, spreading her legs out. She squirmed, "It's cold!" She said with a slight giggle, arching her back off the table. This whole scenario was not going how Ella envisioned. This wasn't how most of her sessions went, and it was obvious that Alice wasn't taking this too seriously, or was just way too inexperienced to know how one should react. All the subtle giggles were not things Ella was used to, though they did make her smile deep down inside. Alice really was a sweet girl, but it was very obvious she had no idea what she was trying to get herself into. Ella was taking it slow, trying to ease her into things, but maybe that was the wrong route to be taking." Ma'am makes me feel old." Ella snapped, watching Alice lay down on the cold table. "Mistress is fine for now. And oh, it's cold? Who knew." Ella walked over, hands on her hips as she stared at Alice squirming, her breasts jiggling with her movements. She thought for a moment about that short bush between her legs that had to go. Ella kneeled down on the ground by Alice's legs, pushing them further apart, so each one was perpendicular with a table leg. Out of the drawers came two leather cuffs that were swiftly attached to her ankles, and then linked to the D-ring on the bottom of the table leg. Once finished, Alice would be unable to move her legs, and they would be kept wide open." This really needs to go." Ella mumbled as she pointed between the girl's legs. And moments later a small electric razor was pulled out of the table, and Ella was busy shaving it off with the help of some shaving cream. She was obviously skilled at this task at hand, as it only took a few minutes and a small towels cleaned up the mess, leaving Ella smiling. She ran her fingers over Alice's now bare slit, pointer finger barely grazing over her clit." Much better." Next were her arms. She didn't need Alice to start getting curious and touching herself, so she wandered over and did the same to her arms as was done to her ankles. Wrists had leather cuffs on them, and were down near the ground and attached to the leg of the table. She was now bound spread eagle, and pretty much helpless." Now then, where was I?" Ella wandered back between her legs as she reached out, patting the girl over her newly shaved pussy. She spread her lips apart, taking a look over at the virgin she had before her. It was obvious she would be tight, and the thought of corrupting her was making Ella herself a bit wet between the legs. But, this wasn't about Ella, this was all about Alice. Enough with the fun and games. Ella pulled out a pair of metal objects from the table before getting up and walking back towards Alice's face. She set them down on the edge of the table before reaching down and tugging on both of her nipples. "These are going to look beautiful once I get these clamps on, aren't they?" Ella hummed to herself, pinching Alice's right nipple before the clamp was brought up. It had a silicone lining on the inside to ensure the skin would not be torn, and she clamped it on easily. It had 3 settings, and she set it on the middle one, so it was tight enough to cause discomfort for sure. Same treatment was given to the second nipple, and now they would both be burning most likely. Ella gave the clamps a tug one at a time before smirking and turning on her heels. "I'll be back." She exited the room, leaving the girl alone for the time being as she headed towards the kitchen. Alice was trying to take it seriously, but her nervousness was keeping her in a silly mood. She squirmed on the cold table and laughed, 'Yes, Mistress, it's cold!" Alice blushed as Ella pointed between her legs and told her that it needed to go. Alice didn't really care one way or another. The blushing was because it felt like she was being scolded, like she shouldn't have had it there in the first place. Alice nodded, "Yes, Mistress." Then she felt her ankles strapped down to the table, spread a little wider than she had originally spread them. She heard the electric razor turned on and was quite excited to see how she felt smooth down there. When Ella finished, Alice liked the touch of her fingers against her smooth mound, Alice was extremely aroused and borderline horny. She wanted to feel herself, she wanted to play with herself. Ella clearly perceived this because the next thing Alice knew, Ella was strapping down her hands. Alice bit her lip, "I want to feel it!" She complained, almost asking urgently. It didn't seem to do any good because Ella just strapped her down. Alice tried to tug on her legs, to use her thighs to play with herself, but they were strapped down and spread too far apart. She felt slightly frustrated, spread out on the bench. Certainly helpless, but that thought didn't yet occur to her. Alice liked the touch of Ella's finger as she began to play with her newly smoothed pussy. She squirmed, pushing her hips into Ella's hand, squirming with delight. Sliding her back against the table. It all felt so good, Alice was amazingly wet. She could feel her juices coating Ella's finger. But then the finger was removed again. Alice threw her head back, slightly frustrated as Ella removed something from the drawer and set them next to her head. She turned her head to the side to catch a glimpse of what Ella had set there, but the mystery was revealed when Ella tweaked her nipples and said how good they'd look with the clamps on them. Alice felt nervous. She'd never had real nipple clamps on. She'd just played around with clothes pins. Furthermore, she thought her pain threshold was pretty high, she could last quite a while with clothespins before her nipples felt like they were on fire, and she quickly removed them. But those were clothespins. The nipple clamps that she had seen in pictures looked much fiercer. She was worried and had no idea whether they would hurt more or less, "Yes, Mistress." She said as she tried to mentally prepare herself. Alice bit her lips as the clamps were put on. They were certainly more painful. MUCH more painful. Her nipples already felt like they were burning. Then Ella left. She left? How long would these be on? Alice started to get worried. When she played with herself, she was in charge. She could take them off as soon as she felt the slightest discomfort. Now, She didn't have that luxury. She squirmed, trying to get her hand free, to remove the clamp from her burning nipples. Alice was aroused at her helplessness. At how much she depended on Ella. It only just now occurred to Alice, and she wasn't actually in charge her. That she couldn't just remove any discomfort. The safe word flew through her mind. She had a safe word, but at the moment she couldn't remember what it was. She didn't really want to use that. Furthermore, she wasn't going to die or anything, and she certainly liked being tied down. Furthermore, she just didn't like the intense pain from the clamps. "Ella?" She called out, getting worried. It felt like it had been ages since Ella left, but really it had only been a few seconds. "Ella?" She called out again. "Mistress Ella?" Alice squirmed violently on the table, bouncing up and down. Bad idea. Her nipples were tweaked in the clamps from her jiggling, "WWW." She whimpered. How long was Ella going to be gone? How long would these little nipple monsters be clamped down on her? Alice stared at the ceiling trying to ignore the pain. She was wet, she could feel her juices flowing, she tried to focus on that, but the more she did, the more she wanted to touch herself and couldn't. She wanted Ella back. Furthermore, she needed Ella back. Where was Ella. She stared at the ceiling again trying hard to ignore the burning sensation in her nipples. She could do this. Ella saw Alice's eyes widen once the clamps were attached, and knew this was all a new experience for her. Sure she might have used some makeshift clamps at home, but these were the real deal. Ella debated gagging the girl, but decided that she much preferred to hear her innocent words and small giggles. Also, she would feel a bit guilty ridding Alice of the ability to use the safe word during their first night of play. Ella was really only gone for about ten minutes as she poured herself a glass of white chardonnay in the kitchen. She watched Alice squirming from the door frame to the kitchen as she sipped on the wine, smirking at her helplessness. The constant calls for her was a bit adorable if you asked her. This was the part that she loved the most. Being in charge of someone else fully. Knowing that the other person's pain or lack of pain depended on her." Is something the matter, slut?" Ella reappeared by her side, taking another sip of her wine before she set it down on a side table by the nearby couch. She wandered back between Alice's legs, smirking down at her. "You look like you're enjoying yourself, aren't you?" Reaching down, fingers would graze over Alice's inner thighs, moving up between her legs before giving her clit a small flick. "What a horny slut. TSK TSK." Her finger would delve between the girl's wet lips, stroking her up and down as she repeatedly hit up against her sensitive nub. Finger wouldn't try to enter her, but would instead just rub against her wet clit a few times before pulling back. She would walk back around, pushing her now wet finger up against Alice's lips and into her mouth." Lick." She would force her finger into her mouth if need be, and hold it there until Alice cleaned it off. While she was doing so, Ella would reach down and pull something else out of the magical bondage table which was set above Alice's head and out of view." Are your poor nipples hurting?" She smirked, pulling her finger back once cleaned off as she rubbed it dry on her slacks. "Allow me to help." Ella picked up the mystery object by Alice's head with one hand as the other reached out to unclamp her left nipple, followed quickly by the right one. Once the clamps were removed the blood would suddenly rush back to her nipples, causing a jolt of pain. Of course, this would probably be amplified once Ella reached back the small flogger she had in her hand and whacked it hard against Alice's nipples one by one, giving each a pair of hard hits. This would definitely help bring out the reddish purple hue in them indeed." That was for calling me Ella." She set the flogger down, taking a new sip from her half empty wine glass. "I thought it was very clear you were to call me Mistress." Alice was in pain, at least she thought she was. It had been forever. Her eyes were closed as she tried to internalize the pain. She had given up--she didn't think Ella was ever coming back. She figured Ella might have forgotten about her. Furthermore, she knew it wasn't really the case, but as she laid on the table, her nipples on fire, her mind wandered towards worst case scenarios. When she finally did hear Ella come back, she laughed, a painful laugh, "Ye he-he s. It hurts!" She whimpered with a smile on her face. Alice nodded. She was enjoying herself. She was very much enjoying herself, despite the pain. Furthermore, she felt Ella's finger graze over her thighs heading towards her slit. Alice pursed her lips, she was yearning for touch there, she cooed with delight as Ella flicked her clit, but that was all she got. It only made her more needy. She blushed as Ella pointed out exactly what she was, a horny slut. Then she felt the finger's wonderful touch. Alice purred with delight as the finger teased her all over, flicking and rubbing he has swollen moist clit. Alice opened her mouth, who was she to deny such a simple request from someone who was giving her such pleasure. Alice sucked on the finger, the pain in her nipples an afterthought. She had nearly forgotten the pain as she laid back sucking her juices off of Ella's finger. Alice was in heaven. Alice was reminded of the pain as Ella offered to help. Though something about the way she said it, made it sound like Alice should expect more pain. Alice smiled and nodded at Ella, "mmmhmmm"She yelped. The strike from the crop brought even more pain than the clamps. But it was a different pain. The clamps were a burning pain, the crop was a sharp pain. Alice smiled when the crop was set down, and she found out why she was punished. Alice was having fun, she laughed slightly, "Oh, sorry." Alice realized she must not have done so, she corrected herself, "Yes, Mistress." Ella knew Alice was enjoying herself, but that wasn't the aim of this little session. Sure she was here to introduce Alice to some new things, but in Ella's eyes, that barely mattered. Not to say that Ella was a totally selfish person, but she aimed to have a good time as well. She did this out of pure enjoyment for dominance, and she wouldn't be doing it if she didn't get a thrill out of it, whether it be minor or huge. Of course, as observed earlier, tonight went a bit differently than she was used to. Usually she might be frustrated or annoyed at the other party's lack of experience or unusual reactions, but she was actually intrigued. This was the first time she had played with someone who truly had no idea what to expect or how to react, and it was a bit refreshing, if not just mildly entertaining. She knew that almost any move she pulled would be new to Alice. Not to mention this was the first time she was dealing with a virgin." You know, you amuse me." Ella mused as she finished off her wine, setting the empty glass down as she wandered around Alice's nude form. "But I'm getting a bit tired..." Her right hand reached down, pointer finger trailing along Alice's lips. "...of your voice." Ella was about to speak again before the sound of a knock at the door interrupted her, causing her to groan. "Stay quiet." She wandered over to the nearby front door, peeking through the eye-hole before letting out a laugh as she unlocked the door. "What the hell you're doing here at this hour? Don't tell me you crashed your car again." A stranger appeared by the door, in clear view of what was going on in the living room. Alice was in plain sight, and Ella acted as if this was all just normal. As if there wasn't a bound and naked girl in her living room." Not tonight!" The girl laughed before motioning inside. "Sorry to interrupt, just came to pick up my phone I forgot last night." Ella glanced back to Alice before chuckling and reaching down to the side table by the door as she plucked the stray phone up. "No worries." The two had a small exchange before the door closed, leaving Ella and Alice alone once again. Wandering back over to Alice, Ella pulled out one of the drawers she had yet to open, fishing around for a new toy. "Hmm, this should do." Ella held up the silicone O-ring gag before starting to push it into Alice's mouth. The ring would fit snugly behind her teeth, holding her mouth wide open as she secured the leather strap behind her head. This effectively would minimize her speaking to just moans and groans." Much better." Ella reached down, tugging on one of Alice's nipples harshly as she tested out the gag to see just what kind of sounds she could elicit out of Alice. Alice lay on the table watching Ella sip on her wine. She was so refined and open and comfortable with herself. Alice was rather taken with Ella. She was enjoying herself immensely and was insanely aroused--she might even call herself horny. No she was definitely horny. Ella had made sure Alice knew that's what she was. Alice squirmed on the table, wondering what Ella was planning just sitting there, she was about to say something, but then Ella told Alice that she found her amusing. Alice smiled, "Thanks, I guess." She said, unsure how to take it. She would have said more, but then she started laughing as Ella tried to shush her. Ella was pretty funny. Alice stopped laughing and grinned underneath Ella's fingers and then nodded at the command to stay quiet. She wasn't sure whether she would say 'yes, mistress.' to a command of stay quiet. Then she noticed that Ella was going to open the door. Alice couldn't stay quiet. She whispered in urgent hushed tones, "What are you doing? You aren't going to open that are you?" But Ella seemed to ignore her as she opened the door and began talking with the stranger. Alice felt extremely exposed, she squirmed trying to cover herself, but it was rather worthless. Alice didn't really like being exposed, or maybe she did. She was even more aroused and horny, she felt helpless tied to the table as Ella had a little conversation with the stranger. It was a strange feeling. The longer it lasted, the more aroused Alice felt and the less angry she was at Ella for opening the door and exposing her naked to someone else. Alice felt a flood of emotions as her mind tried to figure out how she felt about her secret submissive desires, previously only known by Ella now known to some complete stranger. Part of her felt anger, another embarrassment, shame, humility. Yet the overwhelming response was intense arousal. She squirmed trying to stimulate herself, it didn't really work. Ella soon returned and grabbed something from the drawer. Alice wondered what it was, when Ella held it up and began to push it into her mouth, Alice thought about fighting it, asking not to have it, but she wanted it. She wanted to feel gagged. She had often stuck her panties or socks in her mouth when she played with herself. This would be the real gag she was simulating. Alice opened her mouth and let Ella slip it in. Alice watched Ella with an open mouth. More emotions and arousal flooded her body. A certain sense of helplessness, nervous anticipation also flickered in her belly as her juices continued to flow, lubing her up. Her body preparing itself to be filled." Ooow" Alice said in a very throaty tone, unable to form her mouth to make the sound proper. She squirmed as Ella on her nipple, wincing. Whimpering slightly, though they were indistinguishable from little painful giggles. Alice found that she dealt with pain with laughter. It didn't really hurt terribly. It was painful and uncomfortable, but it wasn't the sort of pain where she'd throw up in reaction to the pain. Furthermore, it was pain that aroused her, that made her squirm and smile. Alice wondered how she would use the safe word if Ella did something she didn't like. She didn't remember it now anyway, but even if she did, she couldn't really say it. This scared Alice a bit, but she trusted Ella. Ella was clearly very good at what she did; she had the virgin girl yearning to be filled. She trusted that Ella wouldn't do anything too painful or that Alice wouldn't approve of. If asked, Alice would have disapproved Ella opening the door, but in hindsight, Alice was actually aroused at being helpless and exposed. Who knows what else she may not approve of, that Ella tries on her, and she actually ends up enjoying. Perhaps it is better that she is gagged and can't voice her criticism. Ella watched Alice squirming in delight, knowing very well she was bringing the girl on edge. Just by looking between Alice's legs one could easily tell she was highly aroused and enjoying herself, which was amusing since Ella had barely even touched her down there. It was amazing how the body worked." Is my slut really that horny right now?" Ella flicked the small metal tag on her neck, reminding her that she had on the collar that denoted her as a slut. "You need to stop acting greedy." Ella said flat out, reaching out to grab her empty glass of wine. "This isn't just about you. In fact, it isn't really about you at all." Ella wandered off briefly to refill her wine glass, returning by Alice's legs. She took a sip and set the glass down, sitting down in the chair she had pulled up earlier between her legs. Hands went back down to another drawer, pulling out a string of four silver balls. They were a pretty standard size that could be used through either entrance way. Free hand dipped back between the girl's legs, checking that she was still indeed wet before she smirked to herself. This would be fun! The first silver ball would be lined up with her wet lips before being slowly pushed inside of Alice. Ella would go a bit slowly, knowing that this was the first time she was filled with anything. There would probably be some discomfort due to the size of the metallic orbs, but that wasn't something Ella really cared about. The second and third would pop right in afterward, leaving just the last one hanging out. She would watch Alice's expression closely before popping the final one in, leaving Alice feeling extremely full. The fun thing about this particular kind was that each ball was filled with a few smaller balls, so any movements would cause small vibrations. They were also electrically powered, so one flip of the switch, and they'd all be buzzing all at once or in a particular pattern. Ella glanced up at Alice's face before she chuckled at the droll that was already dripping down her cheek due to the gag. "You like that, don't you slut? I saw how much more turned on you got when my friend showed up." Her hand slipped down, a finger trailing over her clit gently. Alice nodded as Ella teased her, flicking on her metal slut name tag and asking if she was horny. Alice was extremely horny, but she couldn't please herself as much as she wanted. Ella's next commend confused her a bit. She looked up at Ella a bit curious. She was acting greedy? How could she act greedy tied to the table, she wondered. She nodded at Ella, she understood that it wasn't just about her, but what did she mean it wasn't about her at all? Ella wondered off and Alice tried to think about what Ella had said, but didn't really come up with any solutions. When Ella returned Alice tried to watch what she was doing, she was getting something from the drawer. Little balls, they seemed to ding like Chinese message balls as they moved around. Alice felt Ella line them up with her extremely moist and needy pussy. She breathed in heavily, as her vaginal muscles suddenly tried to get wider, to allow the little metal balls passage. She felt them slip in one by one, drool slipped down her cheek, she didn't like drooling, it was messy and Alice didn't like messy, but she couldn't drool with the O ring holding her mouth open. Furthermore, she cooed as the second and third slipped in, she felt a bit strange, but at the same time it was an extremely pleasurable pressure filling her up. Alice squirmed a bit when Ella finished slipping them in and the movements caused intense pleasure as the balls pushed against different parts of her vaginal passage. They even seemed to buzz as they shifted and clanked into each other. Alice closed her eyes and threw back her head, continuing to squirm. Her hips thrusting up and sideways, squirming around making the balls hit in just the right spots. She cooed and nodded as Ella asked her if she liked that. She tried to answer "Yes Mistress." But all that came out was "each aaachahch." A guttural sound that if she were able to use her lips and tongue would have sounded exactly right. She blushed as Ella pointed out how much more aroused Alice was after Ella's friend showed up. Then she squealed with delight as Ella's finger grazed over her extremely swollen and sensitive clit. With her squirms, it felt amazing. Filled with the balls, pushing against Ella's finger, she was extremely close and if Ella let her squirm around a few more minutes, she would have an extremely intense climax. Ella enjoyed watching Alice writhe in excitement, but she wasn't about to let it end now. She forcefully pressed her palm down on the girl's crotch, limiting her movements. Not that Ella didn't want to let her get off eventually, but where was the fun in instant gratification?"Well, well, you're really enjoying yourself their slut. It would be a pity if you reached your climax so fast, wouldn't it?" Alice probably wouldn't agree, but Ella sure did have fun watching people struggle to reach orgasm. "Do you always come this fast when you play with yourself? Just stuff a sock in your mouth and pretend to be like one of those stories?" Her fingers started stroking the girl's clit again, moving in a swift up and down motion." Don't move your hips." Ella almost growled as she retreated her hands, walking around Alice as she reached down to pinch one of her nipples and roll it between her fingers. "Hmm, they do look like they might do the job..." Ella mused to herself as she picked up the flogger from earlier, the slick leather strings swaying in the air as she circled around Alice again, obviously deep in thought. She was planning out her future course of action, but had to remember this was still Alice's first time. As much as Ella wanted to just sexually torture and abuse her to the max right now, she secretly cared for the girl. Maybe not as more than a coworker, but she didn't want to kill her or anything." You really want to cum right now, don't you slut?" She ran the flogger over Alice's body, dragging it over her stomach and breasts, all the way up to her neck. The leather sopped up the drool on the side of her chin, dragging it along her neck. "How badly do you want to cum, hm?" Ella pulled the flogger back, hitting it over Alice's right breast harshly as faint red lines appeared over her skin." You like feeling full like this, don't you?" She continued, moving lower as she pulled back the flogger and hit Alice over her crotch. The leather tassels would strategically snap over her clit and wet lips, most likely leaving a stinging feeling. Ella couldn't help but smile at the sounds Alice was making for her, knowing very well that she was experiencing the mixture of pain and pleasure that most never had the chance to feel. And it was wonderful, wasn't it? While keeping her eyes glued on Alice, Ella would slip a hand down to the table and pick up a tiny rectangular object. Her manicured nail flicked a button of sorts, causing the metal balls to start vibrating within Alice. Ella licked over her lips. "If you cum, you get punished." Alice continued to squirm, grinding her clit against Ella's palm that was holding her down. It was quickly driving her towards a powerful climax. Alice shook her head, she certainly didn't think it'd be a pity to reach climax so quickly. She wanted it right there. She almost needed it right that instant. Furthermore, she blushed and shook her head, sometimes she climaxed that quickly if she was extremely aroused and horny and was just trying to go quickly, normally not though. Alice wanted to laugh at Ella's sarcastic comment about stuffing a sock in her mouth. It was true. Alice stopped wiggling her hips at Ella's command. She wanted to be a good bottom--or slut--for her mistress. Alice closed her eyes as Ella started stroking her clit again. The pleasure was almost too much for her to handle. Her hips began to wiggle, pushing into the finger. When Alice realized what she was doing she concentrated on not moving her hips, but it drove her mad. If she were able to push a little more she could climax, but Ella was keeping her right on the edge and it was maddening. Alice moaned beneath the gag, then squealed as Ella pinched one of her nipples and began to role it in her masterful grip."mummy" Alice moaned out behind the gag as she nodded her head. She almost desperately wanted to cum. She nodded enthusiastically trying to show Ella how badly she wanted to climax. Her nodding was urgent and she cooed with delight. She squealed as Ella brought the flogger down on her breast, wincing and turning her head sideways. Little whimpers escaped her lips behind the gag and she was starting to drool even more. She opened her eyes and looked back to Ella, she nodded her head. It felt great. The pleasure, the fullness, the pain. She felt like she could do this all day every day. All the sensations were wonderful. Ella was wonderful. Alice suddenly screamed out as she felt the sting of the crop against her crotch. Her back arched up as she tried to cope with the pain. She felt the balls inside her start to buzz, her eyes got wide, she was going to climax. She could feel it. Then she heard those words. Those words she didn't want to hear: If you cum, you will get punished. How could she not cum now? She was already passed the point of no return. She couldn't control it. Only Ella could--at least she thought. And as long as these sensations kept coming, she was on a one way train for cumming town ((IOC note: So sorry about that one, it popped into my head and I just typed it!)). Alice squealed, trying to keep her climax in. She closed her eyes, but the more she tried to keep it in, the more her body was pushed over the edge. Alice didn't know if she could hold off any longer. She felt like she would climax within a few seconds. Ella's eyes never left Alice's writhing form. She intently stared over her body, watching her struggle to keep from falling over the edge. Struggling to stop the intense feeling that was obviously just moments from happening." Did you hear me?" Ella almost hissed, teasingly dragging the flogger over Alice's thighs. "My little slut doesn't want to be punished, does she?" Not that the semantics behind that really mattered; truth be told, Ella knew Alice would reach her orgasm eventually, and she would be able to punish her as much as she wanted to. Either way, Ella was going to be having her way with the beautiful naked girl on her table." Feels good, doesn't it?" The flogger was pulled back, making yet another painful connect with Alice's swollen pussy lips. The leather would leave a nice red tinge in the area as Ella dragged the tassels up Alice's stomach before pulling it back to hit her once more in her nether region. The hits would amplify the vibrations from the metal balls inside of Alice, making it a nice combination of pain and pleasure; hopefully the pleasure overrode the pain, but Ella couldn't care less at this point." So much fucking drool." Ella commented as she walked around the table towards Alice's face. She would swiftly reach under the table, pulling out what appeared to be a silver dildo with a few weird notches on the side. She slipped the thing right into Alice's mouth, and it would click into place as the ring slid over one of the notches. Ella pushed it in further into the second notch, making sure Alice's mouth was filled to its capacity, with only a small portion of the toy poking out. Ella knew Alice was about to cum any second now, and she wanted to muffle her noises as much as possible; she loved hearing muffled yells." What a dirty slut." Her finger would go back to that switch, clicking it once more to the highest setting as the balls would vibrate even faster. Alice almost laughed behind the gag. She felt like Ella was teasing her. She felt like she couldn't keep herself from cumming and yet Ella expected her to. Furthermore, she wondered if Ella meant to push her over the edge. Alice shook her head, though. She didn't want to be punished. Or did she? Punishment sounded kind of fun. Alice was certainly in a mood and she certainly needed this climax. Alice nodded, her eyes were clearly smiling. Her breath was fast and hard. She was so close to her climax. She thrust her hips again, then suddenly felt the painful snap of the crop against her swollen pussy lips. The smile in her eyes quickly faded. The strike surprised her, though she didn't really know why. She should have expected it. Alice squeaked and squealed as Ella struck her again. She felt drool slipping down her cheek. Her red face, already flush with arousal, flushed more with embarrassment as Ella pointed out the drool pooling up next to her on the table. She saw the dildo in Ella's hands just long enough to realize what it was before it filled her mouth. "Mmmm!" Alice needed to climax, and she needed to climax now. The vibrating balls inside her were almost there, but she needed to rub her clit. She squirmed trying to get herself over the edge. She felt the balls suddenly vibrate faster as Ella called her a dirty slut. It was too much. Muffled squeals escaped from behind the dildo as her both writhed on the table in the bonds. Her head flicked back and her back arched up as much as possible from the table. Alice felt wave after wave of intense ecstatic pleasure rush over her. Her breathing was intense, and she felt like her body would not stop climaxing. It was the longest she had ever gone, and every wave felt better than the last. She also felt extremely sensitive now. And the vibrations started to feel even painful, though not enough to complain about. Alice calmed down, her back dropping onto the table. Her eyes opening, smiling up at Ella. Ella was officially her idol. She loved the way Ella could make her feel. It was amazing. "Mmmmmm!" She hummed in bliss. She didn't even care if she were going to be punished. It was totally worth it. She continued to smile sheepishly up at Ella as her body continued to twitch every so often as a renewed wave of pleasure rushed over her.

The Ladies at the Bar (Pipaluk and Oiran)|rating:3.0

The Gift (MadilynShay and Josu_T)

Dan was excited. He had been together with his girlfriend for an entire year. That night would be special. There were many reasons for that, but the one he focused on was a hint from her that there would be a surprise for him. He had his hopes for what it would be. No matter what she gave him he hoped that they would also have their first time together. His friends had really been bugging him about it lately, but for a long time neither of them had been ready and as far as he knew she still wasn't. He couldn't wait for his day at work to be over. He had a hard time focusing. The anticipation was just too much. A friend was already at his place cooking a nice meal and making sure his house looked perfect. He felt like a very lucky man. At twenty-three years old he had a girlfriend that he could imagine being with for the rest of his life. He had a feeling that this night would be very important for that. He had a surprise of his own for her. Furthermore, he was going to ask her to move in with him. When his work day was over he drove home and checked on how his friend was doing. The small house looked great. The food smelled really nice. He went to his bedroom and started to get ready for the evening. He showered and made sure his 6'2" broad shouldered, fairly fit frame was perfectly clean. Furthermore, he shaved and put on a little aftershave. Furthermore, he combed his short, light brown hair. His blue eyes looked into the mirror, and he made sure he looked good for his girlfriend. He got dressed in his nicest clothes and went downstairs to wait for her to arrive. Jayde glanced at herself in the mirror one more time before leaving. She wanted to look perfect, after all, she was her gift to Dan for their one-year anniversary. It was hard to describe how much Dan meant to her. The past year spent with him had been incredible, and she knew that they would be spending many more together. One of the reasons she felt their relationship was so strong was the fact that it hadn't been based on sex. Still a virgin, there was just never a point that she had been ready, but now, she felt that she was. She knew Dan was the one that she wanted to give herself to. She stared at the mirror, looking into the brown eyes of her reflection. Her dark hair hung loosely at the middle of her back, her tan skin glowing. The tightness of her dress showed off her curves, and revealed just the right amount of cleavage. Finally, she grabbed her back and stepped out of her apartment, making her way to Dan's house. Dan was nervous waiting for Jayde to arrive. A few minutes before she was supposed to get there his friend said goodbye. The food was ready and on the table. The candles were lit and most of the lights in the house were off or dimmed. When he heard a car pull up he smiled and forced himself to wait patiently. When she arrived at the door he walked over to it and opened it. The sight that met him was simply stunning. She looked absolutely amazing. He really hoped that they would be together that night. If they weren't, he wasn't sure he'd be able to contain himself. It took a moment, but he was finally able to speak. "You look so beautiful." He smiled and stepped back into the house to let her in. "Dinner is already on the table. It was finished just a few minutes ago so it should still be hot. I'm really happy you are here with me tonight and have been with me for a year. Happy anniversary." Jayde had butterflies in her stomach as she walked up the driveway and to the door. She loved the go this feeling every time she saw him. No matter how much time she spent with him, she always craved more. She smiled as he opened the door for her, hugging him tightly and giving him a soft peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she said sweetly, sliding her hand in his as she walked to the table. Dan led her to the dining room and smiled as he saw how nice it looked. They got to the table, and he pulled her chair out for her. Once she was seated he sat down as well. The plates of food were there already. It was the same meal she had ordered on their first date. He looked at her across the table and waited for her to start eating before he took his first bite. His eyes were glued to her. Eating became a simple automatic action. His heart was pounding in his chest. It really didn't help that she looked even more amazing than she always did. As they started to eat their dinner he smiled. "How was your day?" Jayde felt her heart flutter as she saw what had been prepared for her. She loved how Dan always remembered little things like that, surprising her on occasion. She started eating, blushing slightly as she saw his eyes on her. "It was alright," she said after chewing, "much better now though." she told him with a smile. Dan just had to smile at her comment. He was glad she felt that way. He continued to talk with her, enjoying the meal. Furthermore, he tried to avoid thinking about what her surprise might be for him and what he hoped would happen that night. Furthermore, he wanted the dinner to just be a nice meal together. When they were both finished the food he quickly cleared away their plates and brought dessert in from the kitchen. He set it down between the two of them. There was only one serving for them to share. He playfully offered to feed her, leaning in closer to her. When they were done with dessert he pulled a small box out of his pocket. He kept it hidden and looked into her eyes. "I've got something for you." He opened the box and put it on the table, showing her the key to the house for her. "I want to know if you would like to move in with me. There is more than enough space here for the two of us and all of our things. It is up to you though." Even though the dinner was relaxed, and she was enjoying every moment spent with him, she was still nervous. All day she had pondered about what his reaction would be. Would he be pleased? Would he be disappointed? She tried to push the thoughts out of her mind. As the time got closer to presenting her 'gift' she felt her heart beating unbelievably fast. As he pulled out the box, she was glad to see that he was giving her gift first. As she set her eyes on the key, she felt a smile spreading on her face. She nodded as she looked up at him, unsure of what to say. She hugged him tightly, pulling back after a moment to look up at him. "I. I have something for you too." she said quietly, waiting for some kind of response. He almost missed seeing her nod in response. She looked happy though and that was enough to tell him she liked the idea. When she got in close he wrapped his arms around her. When she pulled back he looked into her eyes. She seemed nervous when she explained that she had something for him. He was curious about what it was. He took her hand and held it lightly. Furthermore, he had a feeling it would be something big for their anniversary. His heart was pounding in his chest. "Yeah? What is it? What are you giving me?" Jayde bit her lip slightly as she looked up at him, moving closer so she was almost in his lap. She took his hand that had been holding hers and set it on her thigh, slowly moving it up until he was practically touching her panties. "Me." she said quietly as she looked into his eyes. "I want you to take me." Dan waited, watching as she got closer. His eyes roamed over her body, taking in the wonderful sight. When she placed his hand on her thigh he was surprised. The closer she moved his hand to her panties the harder he got. Then came the real surprise. At first, he wasn't sure he'd heard her right. But she made it clear. She was his gift. He didn't say anything for a while. He placed his other hand on her body and started to move it over her slowly, exploring. His other hand closed the distance to her panties. He touched her where he had never touched her before. After a moment he looked into her eyes again. He pulled her close and kissed her passionately. Dan sat silently for a moment, unmoving. She was scared that he hadn't liked what she had offered him, but he has seen proved her wrong. She leaned into him as his other hand began to travel over her body, softly caressing her skin. Furthermore, she let out a soft sigh as she felt his hand pressed against her panties. No one had ever touched her there, but she was glad it was him. She wanted to be his, she wanted him to take her. As his kissed her, she relaxed, sliding her tongue into his mouth as she began to run her hands down his chest. Their kiss quickly became hotter than any kiss they had shared before. It really turned him on. When their lips parted he kept exploring her body with his hands. He touched her everywhere over her clothes. After a little while he slowly took hold of her dress. He pulled it up her body and completely off. He dropped it off to the side and stared at her in awe. At that moment he was rock hard, a bulge pressing against his pants. He began to touch her skin more as well as running his hands over what was still covered by her underwear. He kissed her again followed by some soft words spoken in her ear. "You are so sexy. I can't believe it. You are mine now. I am the luckiest man in the world to have a gift like you." He took another good look at her and decided it was time to move to the bedroom. He quickly blew out the candles and then led her quickly to what was now no longer just his bedroom, but their bedroom. Jayde had never felt so close to him. Every kiss, every touch. It was all so incredible. She could feel the bulge in his pants pressing against her as he removed her dress, his hands running over the areas of her body that he had never experienced. She sighed, loving his touch. As his whispered to her, she reached down, slowly rubbing her hand over the bulge, feeling his hard cock for the first time. "I'll always be yours," she said to him quietly as she followed him to the bedroom. Dan loved feeling her hand on his cock through his pants. She had him really wanting her. When she spoke again he smiled. She was his. He liked the sound of that. When they got into the bedroom he closed the door. As soon as it was shut he turned to her again. He kissed her deeply, his tongue exploring her mouth and playing with her tongue. His hands went to her bra, undoing the clasp and releasing it from her body. When the kiss ended he took a step back and pulled away her bra. Her breasts were amazing. He reached forward and cupped them with his hands. He started to play with them, watching her reaction to see what she liked most. When he'd had enough for the moment he slid his hands down her sides, tugging on her panties. The came off, and he got his first look at her pussy. He smiled and slipped his hand between her legs. Once again he explored and played with her. After a while he stepped away again. He looked into her eyes with a smile. He started to take off his own clothes. Furthermore, he moved slowly, taking each bit off and letting her see his body as he revealed it. Finally, he was left only in his underwear. He moved to sit on the bed, leaning back a little. "I want you to take them off for me. It is your turn to see me naked for the first time." Jayde felt a strange sensation as Dan began to unclasp her bra, taking her breasts in his hands. She let out a soft sigh as he gently tugged on one of her nipples. Her heart began to beat faster as she felt his hands moving lower, pushing her panties off. She had already been moist between her legs, but the new feelings she was experiencing as Dan's hand began to explore her pussy caused her to become wet quicker than she thought was possible. She bit her lip, watching Dan as he began to take off his clothing. Her eyes wandered over his body, returning his smile. She placed her hands on both sides of his hips, getting a grip on his boxers as she slowly pulled them down, his already hard cock springing out. This was the first time she had actually seen one in person. She looked up at him briefly as she reached out to stroke it with the tips of her fingers. Dan let out a soft moan as she touched his cock for the first time. She seemed very timid. He smiled at her and pulled her closer. His arms wrapped around her, and he pressed their bodies together. His lips met hers in a passionate kiss. He could feel his hardened member pressing against her, but he didn't pull away at all. When the kiss broke he took her hand and guided it to his length. He got her to wrap her fingers around it. He let her take it from there. Furthermore, he reached forward and pressed his hand between her legs again. Furthermore, he rubbed the damp flesh for a few seconds, getting his fingers moist with her juices. Then he slowly pressed a finger against her opening and pushed it inside. He didn't go very deep, but he moved it around inside her. He wanted to try loosening her up a little to avoid hurting her when he put his cock inside her. While he was lacking in practical experience he had plenty of theoretical knowledge about sex. Jayde kissed him eagerly, moving her tongue against his. As he moved her hand back to his cock, she started to stroke him slowly, feeling his length. Every time he touched her, her pussy seemed to grow even wetter than before. She moaned softly as his finger found his way inside of her, probing her gently. The only thing she had even put inside of her was her own fingers, yet for some reason his felt so much better. Dan moaned into her lips as she started to stroke him. She felt tight around his fingers, but he was slowly loosening her up. After a while he slowly pulled away from her. He moved so he was laying on his bed. He then reached out and pulled her closer. Furthermore, he guided her onto the bed. Furthermore, he lifted her lower body up and pulled her so she was straddling his head, facing his lower body. She could do whatever she wanted, but he was focused between her legs. He slowly raised his head up and started to kiss the soft, tender flesh. One hand moved in and touched her more, rubbing her clit gently. Jayde moaned as he rubbed her clit, his lips teasing her. She had never felt so incredibly turned on until now, and she loved everything he was doing to her. Her fingers still stroking his cock, she leaned down and kissed the tip of it. Slowly, she began to lick his length, exploring him with her tongue. After a moment, she kissed the tip again, allowing the head to push through her lips. She sucked gently on the head, swirling her tongue around. When she started to use her mouth on him, he smiled. It was what he had been hoping she would do. He started to suck and lick along her pussy lips. Fairly soon he had his tongue probing into her. He spread the folds apart with his fingers and buried his tongue as deep as he could get it. His other hand wrapped around her waist and kept her lower body pressed down so he could easily access her. They had barely begun, and she was already proving to be the best gift he had ever received. She moaned on his cock as he continued to use his mouth on her pussy. Why hadn't they done this before? She pushed her head down further on his cock, sucking slowly. As she took more of him in, her tongue explored his hard member. He loved the feeling of her mouth on him. Even though it was her first time doing anything like it, she seemed to be doing a good job. He pulled his tongue out of her and moaned softly. "I'm ready. I want this. I want you." He lifted her up again and got her turned around. His arms wrapped around her, and he kissed her passionately. He could taste himself on her lips, but he didn't mind. A moment later he rolled them over so she was on her back, and he was above her. He moved between her legs. His hard cock rubbed against her pussy lips. Jayde stared up at him as he moved and turned her around, positioning himself over top of her. She returned his kiss, her tongue taking in the taste of herself as it moved against his. Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. As he moved closer, she felt the tip of his cock pressing against her pussy. She let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her nerves. Even though she was scared, she wanted this. She wanted him. Dan saw her nervous reaction and kissed her again. He slowly pushed his hips forward. His tip spread her open and slipped inside. He reached her barrier and knew that it was time. He pressed in against her until he broke through. Furthermore, he was trying his hardest to avoid hurting her. Furthermore, he kept moving forward until he just couldn't get any deeper. Furthermore, he stopped and looked into her eyes. "Are you ok? I'm not hurting you too much, am I?" She felt herself calming slightly as he kissed her tenderly, reassuring her. Her body tensed up as he pushed the tip of his cock inside of her. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for what was about to happen. She tried to keep herself from crying out as he pushed into her all the way, but a small whimper of pain escaped her lips. Her eyes filled with tears, but she tried to hold them back, not wanting to him to think she couldn't handle it. "I'm fine." she said after a minute, lying. He saw the look of pain. He knew it had hurt her, but her words told him she really wanted to continue. Furthermore, he held himself inside her and waited for her body to get used to having him inside. Then he slowly pulled back. He started to thrust in and out of her, barely moving much though. He started slow with short movements. His hands started to move over her body more. He touched her and caressed her gently. He kissed her more. Furthermore, he wanted to make sure she felt good. Furthermore, he wanted to get rid of her pain and to turn it into pleasure. It was mostly because he cared about her, but he also realized that if she was in pain she would likely not want sex again, at least not for a while. As he remained still inside of her, Jayde slowly started to relaxing, becoming used to the feeling of his cock inside of her. She felt little twinges of pain as he started to move in and out of her, but the more he moved, the pain began to subside. At first, it was uncomfortable, but as his hands began to wander over her body, she felt herself starting to enjoy it. The pain was soon replaced with pleasure as he moved inside of her, his touch comforting her. Dan watched her reaction carefully. When she started to relax and started to look like she was enjoying it he was happy. As she enjoyed it more he started to move more. His thrusts got longer and faster. His hands moved to her chest. He gently played with her breasts, teasing her nipples. He kissed all along her jaw and her neck. Being inside her felt amazing. He was glad he had waited to be with her. It was definitely worth it. He moaned softly as he continued to make love to her gently. As the pleasure heightened, Jayde began to slowly move her hips against his, meeting his thrusts. She moaned as he moved faster, feeling his hard cock pulsing inside of her. Everything he did felt incredible, giving her pleasurable sensations. Even before this, he had almost made her felt perfect, and now, it was even better. She had never felt closer to him than she did right then. As she started to move with him, he went harder and faster. Finally, they were both enjoying it and they were truly connected. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. His hands slid down to her hips, and he started to move faster. He was able to get his entire length into her. The feeling drove him wild. He moaned more, unable to hold back. The main issue was that he knew he wouldn't be able to last much longer. It was his first time, and he was quickly getting closer to his climax. Jayde kissed him eagerly, moving her tongue against his as she moved her hips faster, feeling his cock penetrate her even deeper before. She was in pure ecstasy, moaning in pleasure as he moved inside of her. Her hands traveled down his chest, feeling his hard body. As she grew closer and closer to orgasm, she felt her body tense up, her pussy clenching his cock. Dan wasn't sure, but it seemed to him like Jayde was getting closer to orgasm as well. That helped him relax and stop worrying that he would finish early. She got tighter and that just made him feel even better. He knew he was at his limit and moaned her name. A few final thrusts were all that he could handle. He drove his length into her one last time and his cock erupted. His body pressed down against her as his cum pumped into her. Jayde felt Dan's cock starting to twitch inside of her as he began to cum, and it was just enough to send her to the edge. Her body shook, and her moans grew louder as she experienced the strongest orgasm she had ever had. As they both finished, she laid beneath him, breathing heavily. Dan felt her grip him tighter as she climaxed. It felt great. He was glad he had made her cum. When they were both down from their highs he smiled at her. He peppered her with soft kisses before slowly pulling out of her. He shifted so he was laying next to her, with an arm wrapped around her. His heart rate slowly returned to normal. He spoke softly to her. "You are amazing. I'm so happy you are mine. We should get you moved in here this weekend." Jayde cuddled up to him as he moved next to her, her head resting on his chest. She was so glad that she had saved herself for him. Everything about that night had been absolutely perfect. She looked up at him, kissing him softly. "Sounds good to me." She was so eager to take another step forward in their relationship. Soon, this would be her life. Dan felt drained after their first time together. He was sure that soon enough they would be able to do a lot more together, but for the moment he thought it was already perfect, and they could just lay there together and enjoy the feeling. He was glad she seemed eager to move in with him. They were starting their second year as a couple, and he knew it would be even better than the first. Even more so since she had given herself to him. He relaxed as he lay there with her, occasionally kissing her tenderly. He was slowly drifting off to sleep with her in his arms. They didn't even have to say anything. Jayde was perfectly comfortable laying in silence with him. What words could even describe what they had just experienced? She couldn't help but smile every time she received a gentle kiss from him. Closing her eyes, she felt herself starting to drift off in his arms. That night was one of the best sleeps of Dan's life. When he woke up he was happy to see Jayde laying next to him. He smiled and kissed her softly. He continued to kiss her until she woke up. Furthermore, he looked down into her eyes. "Good morning beautiful. Did you sleep well?" He couldn't have been happier. It felt right waking up with her next to him. It took Jayde a minute to fully wake up, but as her eyes fluttered open, she smiled as she saw Dan above her, giving her soft little kisses. She giggled as she gave him one in return, laying back and looking up at him. "Perfect." she said with a smile. Dan kissed her again and smiled. Without saying anything else he slowly got out of bed and then reached out a hand for her. He was getting hungry, so it was time to get some breakfast. He didn't care that he was still naked. If Jayde wanted to get dressed then he would as well, but he was fine without clothes while they were alone in the house together. It served as a nice reminder of what they had shared the night before. She placed her hand in his, returning his smile as she got out of bed and followed him downstairs. She glanced around as the walked into the kitchen, taking in her surroundings. Furthermore, she had been here plenty of times before and seen it all, but soon, this wouldn't just be his. It would be hers. She wished that the weekend would come soon so they could start their new life together. Dan let go of Jayde's hand and started to make breakfast for the two of them. He started to think about the two of them and their relationship. He really hoped that she would be interested in having sex on a regular basis and that she hadn't intended it as a one time thing. Furthermore, he got really nervous about that and worried that because of the pain at the start she would be less willing. Then, as he continued to think about it, he realized that she had given herself to him. She had been his gift, not sex. She belonged to him. He could have her whenever he wanted because she was his. If she ever argued he could remind her that she had given herself to him. It would be best for both of them if she wanted to do what he wanted anyway, but he was determined to not go back to the life they had lived for the year before, even more so because they would be living together. He smiled to himself as he finished the food and put it on plates. He took the plates to the table and sat down. Jayde sat down at the table once they got into the kitchen. As Dan started to cook breakfast for the two of them, she continued to let her mind wander, thinking about their future together. She wondered if this would happen every morning. In her head, she played out scenes and ideas, trying to plot out how things were going to take place. Either way, she knew the two of them would enjoy every moment. She had always felt so close to him, and after last night, she felt that their relationship had gotten even stronger. Dan ate his meal while looking across the table at his girlfriend. Seeing her naked at the table turned him on and he couldn't ignore it. He tried to focus on the food, but his eyes kept returning to her. He smiled over at her, wondering if she might be thinking the same thing. Furthermore, he felt himself hardening and couldn't stop it. Furthermore, he finally gave in. Furthermore, he pushed his plate aside a little and slid his chair back. Then he looked at Jayde again. "Why don't you come over to this side of the table to eat? Sit in my lap. I want to have you close. I want to feel you against me now." He smiled warmly and waited to see if she would join him. Throughout the meal, she continually felt Dan's eyes wandering over her. Occasionally she would look up, blushing as she confirmed her suspicions. She smiled at his invitation, gladly moving over to him. At this point, she was still so caught up in everything that had happened, and she was completely oblivious to how he had perceived her gift. As far as she knew, he understood that she had given him her virginity, not her actual self. She was happy to oblige, wanted to be as close to him as possible. When she joined him he smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her. He pulled her onto his lap and helped her get settled. His hard length pressed up between her legs, the top rubbing against her soft lower lips. Reaching across the table he pulled her plate so she could keep eating. He ate off his plate, one arm still around her, keeping her close. Having her body against him turned him on more. Restarted to move his arm so it rubbed against her breasts. His hips shifted so he rubbed against her. He pretended to not even notice that it was happening. As she sat down, she couldn't help but notice that his cock was completely hard. It pressed against her pussy, causing her to become wet almost instantly. She glanced up at him, but he didn't even seem to notice what was going on. She tried to focus on her plate, but she just couldn't. His arm was brushing against her breast, and his cock continued to rub against her sensitive pussy. "Dan." she said quietly. Dan smiled at her and kissed her cheek. She didn't need to say anything. He could feel how wet she was. He took another bite of food from his plate and then put down his fork. Furthermore, he placed his hands on Jayde's hips and lifted her up. When he set her down again the tip of his cock pressed against her pussy. He lowered her slowly and his length began to enter her. He kissed along her neck. When he was inside her as deep as he could easily go he let go of her and let her body weight make her take more as she loosened up for him. Feeling her slowly slide down his pole was great. He let out a soft moan. He turned her head and kissed her passionately. His hands went to her chest and he massaged her breasts. His fingers rubbed and teased her nipples. Jayde was relieved as she realised that Dan knew exactly what she wanted. Even though he really hadn't done anything, she was already incredibly turned on. She sighed as she felt his cock pressed against her entrance, wanting to feel him inside of her again. A moan escaped her lips as he slowly eased her done, his entire cock soon filling her pussy as she moved down. She kissed him eagerly, parting her lips and allowing her tongue to move into his mouth. His touch was perfect, his fingers lightly teasing her skin. The kiss quickly got deeper and more passionate. Dan's tongue played with Jayde's. He continued playing with her breasts until he was completely inside her. Once she was taking his whole length he moved his hands to he hips and started to move her up and down. His hips moved in other directions so he was really stirring up her insides. When their lips parted he smiled at her. "Being with you feels so good baby. You're so tight. Your pussy really grips me. It feels like your body doesn't want me to pull out even a little." She felt overwhelmed by it all. His mouth on hers, his hands wandering over her body as he slid his cock inside of her. It was all so sensual, and in her mind, perfect. She moaned as she began to move her hips, feeling his moving against hers. Just like he said, her pussy was incredibly tight around his cock, and every time he pushed it back into her, it sent waves of pleasure through her body, leaving her wanting more. After a while he felt the need to see her face. He stopped moving his hips and stopped moving her. He started to spin her around in his lap while keeping his length inside her. Furthermore, he lifted her leg and leaned back to get her fully around, but he soon had her straddling him, facing him. Furthermore, he smiled and wrapped an arm around her. Her breasts squished against his chest and his lips met hers with a passionate kiss. His hips started to move again. When their lips parted he smiled. "Ride me baby. Bounce yourself up and down on my hard cock. Take it all inside that hot, wet, tight pussy." He kissed her again as he thrust harder up into her. At first, she felt disappointed as he stopped moving her, his hips no longer moving, but as she realised what he was doing, she was suddenly just as excited as before. Smiling, she leaned in, kissing him eagerly, moving her tongue against his as she began to move on his cock. She rode him slowly at first, adjusting to the position, but soon she was moving faster and harder, moaning louder than before as she took his cock deep inside of her over and over again. Their bodies moved together, making sure she took his entire length inside her. She loosened a little over time, but she was still extremely tight. It felt wonderful. Dan moaned as he kissed her with passion. He loved that she was getting faster as she got used to it and wanted more pleasure. It was starting to drive him wild. His hands moved all over her body, not quite sure where to go. He was lost at the moment. He didn't even notice where they were in the house anymore. Furthermore, he didn't care either. All that mattered was the two of them moving in unison to make each other feel good. He knew he wouldn't last too much longer. It felt too good inside her. After a while, she no longer held back, moving as quickly as she could. She bounced on his cock, moaning as he moved his hips against hers, pushing his cock deeper inside of her with each thrust. Every part of it was amazing. The more she moved, she felt the pleasure building up, getting closer to orgasm each time she came down on his cock. Unable to hold it in any longer, she let go, allowing herself to cum. She moaned loudly, gripping his shoulder tightly as she began to cum all over his cock. The two of them went wild together. He went deep inside her with every thrust. Suddenly her body gripped him tighter. He felt her cumming with him buried completely within her tight cunt. He moaned as he lost control. Her name flowed from his lips as he leaned back. His cock erupted, and his seed shot up into her. The pleasure was intense. He loved it. As he came down from his climax he leaned in and kissed her lovingly. His arms wrapped around her and held her body against his. As the two of them finished, she took a few deep breaths, leaning against him for support. It was almost hard to believe that she had just done this for the first time the night before. It just seemed so right, especially with Dan. Looking up at him to return his kiss, she smiled as she pulled back. "That was amazing." she said quietly, still in awe that he had been able to make her feel so incredible. When they had both recovered Dan smiled and kissed her again. He could only nod in response to her words. It really was amazing. He slowly lifted her off of him and turned her so she was facing the table again. He held her in his lap, pressed against his body, and started to eat his breakfast again. Furthermore, he finished the meal before he spoke again, softly in her ear. "Spending time with you is my favorite thing to do. I'm really glad you will be here with me from now on." He kissed her cheek tenderly. Then he looked at the plates. "I think it is time to get the dishes done. Then maybe a shower. After that we can figure out what we should do today." She sighed contently as he pulled himself out of her, feeling his cum leaking out of her pussy. It took her a minute to regain her composure, but after a few deep breaths, she began to eat her breakfast, having worked up quite an appetite. She finished just as he did, smiling as he kissed her cheek. As he spoke of doing the dishes, she couldn't help but groan. Doing dishes was something she hated. The one thing she loved about her apartment was that unlike Dan's house, it had a dishwasher. "How about you wash the dishes. And then I'll wash you afterward?" she suggested, grinning slightly. Dan chuckled as she visibly displayed her unhappiness about doing dishes. He smiled at her suggestion, but shook his head. "Oh no. You're not getting off that easy. I like your idea of washing me, but if I'm the only one doing dishes what are you going to be doing? If you can give me a good suggestion of what you are going to do for me while I am washing the dishes then I'll let you do that. If not then you can dry everything and put it away." He carefully got up after lifting her off his lap. He leaned in and kissed her lips before taking the dishes to the sink. Furthermore, he got the water running to fill up the sink and added some soap. As it filled he turned to face her. "Dan." she groaned. "You wore me out, I'll do them tomorrow." she told him, trying to compromise, though she would probably come up with an excuse the next day as well. If he thought this was something she was going to do regularly, he was crazy. Like she had told him so many times before, he needed a dishwasher. She rolled her eyes at his statement, figuring that he was just joking. "You'll let me?" she repeated, laughing slightly. "Personally, I think my offer was pretty good." Dan shook his head. "Come on, you can't be that tired, and it really isn't that hard to do this. You should learn how. All you have to do is rub a towel over the dishes and put them on some shelves. I'll be doing all the hard work. Now get over here. If you don't, I won't let you wash me. See, I think you only want to do the fun things. I see being together in the shower as a privilege. You need to do something to earn it." He left it at that and turned to start washing the dishes. He cleaned each item and rinsed it, then placed it in the drying rack. Furthermore, he paused for a moment and sighed. "We'll talk about getting a dishwasher, but what do we do before we get one?" "I know how to do it. I just don't want to." Jayde had the tendency to be a bit spoiled. More times than not, she got her way. She looked at him incredulously, still assuming that he was joking. "I don't think showering with my boyfriend would be considered a privilege." she said, shaking her head at what she thought was his attempt to be funny. "Well. Since you're used to washing dishes, you can go about things the way you normally do and wash your own dishes, and I'll use paper plates and plastic utensils until we get a dishwasher." she said, grinning slightly. Dan was starting to get frustrated with Jayde's arguments against washing dishes. He didn't think it was a big deal. It didn't take that much effort to wash dishes. She seemed to be joking around, but he wasn't. For a girl that had given herself to her man she seemed to be fighting against what he wanted more than expected. He turned to face her and frowned. "I'm not kidding Jayde. It's not like I'm telling you to dig a trench a mile long. It is drying dishes and putting them away. It will take us five minutes. Now just get over here and do it. If you don't want to do the simple things I ask you to do then why are you even here?" He glared at her, expecting her to just start doing it. She was his, and he expected her to follow his instructions. Jayde stared at him strangely, wondering what his problem was. She was still oblivious to the way he had perceived her 'gift' to him. As far as he was concerned, she was his completely. In her mind, she was his, but not in the way he believed. The way he was acting completely discouraged her. Before, she probably would've ended up giving in and helping him, but his attitude just seemed to anger her. A saddened look spread across her face after his last remark. He should know why she was there. She was there because she loved him. "You're such an ass sometimes." she said, letting her irritation show as she tried to fight back tears, storming off into the bedroom. Dan got really annoyed when Jayde reacted the way she did. That was when he simply snapped and his dominant side took over. She belonged to him. She needed to do what he said. He would not accept no for an answer. He followed her into the bedroom and left the door open. Without saying anything he opened his closet and found a long, thin strip of cloth and brought it out. Then he went to her. He silently reached an arm around her waist and pulled her back against his side. He dragged her out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. Furthermore, he kept holding her as he guided her to the ground and started to tie her wrists together with the cloth. Then he tied them to a solid cupboard handle close enough so she couldn't stand up without being hunched over. Once she was secure he stepped back from her. He looked down at her with a stern expression. "You need to stop this. You are mine. You gave yourself to me, and now you belong to me. Furthermore, you will do as I say when I say it. Or else there will be punishments. Since you refuse to help with the dishes you will do what I want while I wash them. You are going to suck my cock. But you are not to make me cum until I tell you. I won't do anything to control myself. If you refuse to do that our fail in my instructions there will be a punishment." He reached down and got his fingers tangled in her hair. He pulled her head toward his crotch and held it there, waiting for her to get started. Furthermore, he was soft at that moment, and she would need to get him hard and start sucking him using only her mouth. What the hell was wrong with him? She was just joking around, so why on earth was he acting like this? He had never even so much as raised his voice at her before, and the way he acted frightened her. When she reached the bedroom, she crawled into bed, pulling the surrounding covers. She heard his footsteps when he entered the room, but ignored them, not even turning to face him. She didn't look up at him until he was standing right in front of her. At first, she thought he was there to apologize, but as he grabbed her roughly and pulled her out of bed, she soon realised that wasn't the case. "Dan!" she screamed as she tried to pull away from him. As he pulled her into the kitchen, she wasn't just angry, but now she was terrified. She started to scream as he pushed her to the ground, pulling against him as he tied her to the cabinet. As he stepped back, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. She was no lounger screaming and fighting, just trying to figure out what the hell was going on. "Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly, and then as he spoke, it suddenly made sense. When she gave herself to him, he had taken things too far. Way too far. All she had meant was her virginity. "Dan that's not. that's not what I meant." Dan let go of her head and just glared at her for a moment. It was a look he had never really given her before. If she had said that just five minutes earlier than things probably would have gone back to normal, but something inside him had changed. She had pushed him too far while he still thought she was actually his. The switch had been flipped, and it couldn't be flipped back. He slowly sank to one knee and looked her in the eye. He spoke slowly and clearly in a low voice that held a strong commanding tone." I don't give a shit anymore. You're a spoiled little brat, and it is time you learned a lesson. You never do what I ask unless it is something you want to do anyway. Furthermore, you rarely consider what anyone wants, only what you want. Well that is going to change. From now on you do belong to me. You will do what I say. You will call me sir, and you will never talk back to me. I am ready to punish you and don't think I will go easy because I care about you, which I still do." He stood up, towering over her. "One final thing. You are my slut now. My slave, my whore, my dirty little cum bucket. Whatever I call you, you will respond, do you understand? Now you have three choices. You can do all the work washing the dishes, you can suck my cock while I wash them, or you can be punished once I finish. Make your decision now." It didn't take her long to realise that he didn't care if she hadn't meant it that way. It was already set in his mind. This was something she had never even thought about, let alone something she would think Dan would be into. In a way, it almost turned her on. 'No.' she thought to herself. She couldn't let herself enjoy this in any way. They had to get things straight. Could she really devote herself to him like this? Obviously, she cared about him more than anything, but could she really push herself to give in to his every want and need? Each word he spoke stung. Tears flowed out of her eyes as he spoke to her in such a harsh manner. If he really thought all of that about her, then why did he want her here? She knew that by struggling and fighting, she was just going to anger him more, but she needed a way to get out of this mess. "Dan. I'm sorry. Please. Please just let me up, and we can talk about this." she said as she looked up at him, her eyes begging. She cringed at the words 'slut', 'whore', 'slave'. They were all so degrading, and obviously, she was none of those things. Anger flashing in her eyes, she stared at him while he was still level with her, spitting in his face. Dan felt her spit hit his face. He wiped it off and stared at her, the anger clears in his eyes. He had ignored her begging, but he would not ignore her spitting at him. Furthermore, he didn't say anything, he just started to act. Furthermore, he reached forward and untied the knot keeping her stuck to the cupboard. Furthermore, he left her wrists tied together though. Furthermore, he hauled her over to a chair and sat down. Furthermore, he pulled her over his knees. Since they were both still naked he didn't have to do anything else. He placed his hand down on her ass and rubbed gently. This time when he spoke he almost sounded calm." You know, I don't want to have to do this. You made the decision, and now you need to learn the consequences. I give you choices because I want you to make the right decision. I will keep giving you choices. It won't be because I want to punish you when you fail. It will be because I want you to learn. Now you are going to learn that spitting at me, talking back to me, or any kind of defiance will be met with swift punishment. The first part is that you have just lost clothing privileges. You will stay naked until I say you can wear clothing again. That also means you will be staying in this apartment until you are allowed to have clothes again. The second part of this punishment is a little more physical. Remember, it is to help you learn." As he finished speaking he raised his hand. A second later it came down swiftly onto her ass. He started to spank her hard. He looked at her carefully and made sure his hand struck the same spot with every single blow. It didn't take long for her skin to begin turning red. As he continued his hand print became more and more visible. After a while there was a bright red handprint on one ass cheek. Then he started on the other one. He ignored any struggling and held her in place. He ignored any sound she made. Furthermore, he was glad the walls of his apartment were fairly soundproof and his direct neighbors were rarely around, and when they were, they usually listened to music or had their television on really loud at all times. No one would hear her even if she screamed as loud as she possibly could. She hadn't thought before she reacted, and she could only stare at his face covered in spit with a shocked expression. "I'm sorry." she said quickly, even though she really had no reason to apologize. He was acting beyond irrational, but she still felt bad about doing it. As he began to untie her, she thought that he had finally realised that he was acting crazy and was letting her go, but he soon proved her thoughts to be wrong. As he pulled her along, she tugged against him, trying to free herself from his grip. She squirmed in his grasp, but it didn't do her any good. She listened carefully to what he was saying, realizing that she had gotten herself in over her head. He was taking this all way too seriously. Punishments? What right did he have to punish her. Again, she was furious, but just as she was about to express her anger, she felt his hand coming down hard onto her skin, causing her to scream in pain. With each smack, the pain grew stronger, her skin stinging even as his hand left her flesh." P-please." she begged, tears streaming down her face. All she wanted was for this to stop. She wanted her sweet, compassionate boyfriend back who would never lay a hand on her. At that point, she would be willing to do just about anything to get him to stop. "Dan I'm. Sorry." she managed to say in-between cries. Truthfully, she had no reason to be sorry, but she couldn't help but feel like this was all her fault. "I'll listen." she said quietly. Dan was about to strike again when he heard more than just screams coming from Jayde. She claimed she was sorry. He stopped and looked down at her. She claimed she would listen. He smiled at her and gently rubbed her ass, hoping it would relieve a little of the pain. Then he lifted her off his lap and set her down on her knees. He reached down and placed a hand on her cheek. "Will you really listen? You have still lost your clothing privileges. And now I want you to go and wash all the dishes yourself. And dry them and put them away. If you do that I'll let you go take a shower." He looked at her carefully and knew he would need to keep a close eye on her. He had a feeling she would want to get away the first chance he got. Furthermore, he needed to go get her things from her apartment, but he couldn't just leave her in his apartment. Furthermore, he also couldn't risk taking her outside with him. Furthermore, he couldn't let her use the phone either. Furthermore, he didn't think she would call the police on him, but he didn't want anyone trying to take her away from him. Furthermore, he'd need to get a number of things to modify his apartment. Furthermore, he already knew he'd need to keep her secure while he went to get everything. Furthermore, he might have to wait until she was his in mind as well as body before they got her things from her apartment. Jayde whimpered as he began to rub her tender flesh, the skin still stinging from where he had hit her so many times. Did he finally realise what he had done? She looked up at him as he put her down, her cheeks stained with tears. She flinched at his touch, biting her tongue as she listened to him speak. Unable to talk without saying something that would anger him, she simply nodded, standing up and walking over to the sink. She continued to cry silently as she washed the dishes, tears streaming down her face. What had changed? How could he become an entirely different person so quickly? She wanted to please him, she truly did, but the way he had acted scared her. She had heard of people who were in to this kind of thing, but she had no idea Dan was one of them. After a few minutes, the dishes were done. Part of her wished that she had just done them in the first place. Maybe then all of this could've been avoided. She took a quick shower, even though the hot water made her want to stay in there for the rest of the day. It helped to relax her, but at that moment, relaxing wasn't something on her mind. She needed to get out. After drying off, she slipped on Dan's bathrobe, peaking out the door to make sure he wasn't around. Walking into his bedroom, she searched for her cell phone, hoping she could call a friend to come pick her up, but it was nowhere to be found. "Damn it." she said under her breath. The only other option would be to get out somehow. Peaking around into the hallway, she scanned for Dan once again, and still he was nowhere to be found. Taking the opportunity, she practically ran to the front door of his apartment, fumbling with the lock as she tried to make her escape. Dan watched as Jayde got up and obeyed him. She went to the sink and started to wash the dishes. He watched her. Her crying didn't have any effect on him. He had changed and while he still cared about her, he wasn't going to be soft. When she finished the dishes he gave her permission to go into the bathroom to shower. Once she was getting clean he gathered her clothes and her phone, and he hid them. He took out her phone battery for safe measure and hid it somewhere else. Then he got dressed. He gathered some things he could use as rope and put it where he could get to it easily. Then he locked the door. He shoved something under the door to make it harder to open. He heard the shower turn off, and he went into another room. Furthermore, he listened as Jayde went into the bedroom and looked around. Then she did what he had expected her to do. He heard her footsteps go rapidly to the door. He slowly walked down the hall and looked at her fumbling with the lock. Furthermore, he sighed and shook his head. "You're not planning on going out there naked, are you? Locks work so much better when you are calm." He got behind her and grabbed her. He pulled her back into the living room and tossed her onto the couch. Furthermore, he stared down at her for a moment. "Do you like being punished? Is that why you are doing things you know will upset me? I can do things much worse than spanking you or denying you clothing. I could cause you even more pain. Furthermore, I can also make life a lot better for you. Just so as I say and you will be fine. I will be a nice guy. All you have to do is whatever I ask you to do. Is that so hard? For your little attempt at escape you just lost shower privileges until further notice. You also lost other privileges which you will learn about tonight. Next time you do something wrong there will be more pain. You still have a virgin hole I haven't used and it is much tighter. If you force me to I will not hesitate to use it and I won't be gentle." She jumped at the sound of his voice, freezing in place. She didn't even try to struggle as he pulled her away from the door, knowing it wouldn't help. Instead, she simply went limp in his arms. Did she like being punished? Did he like having needles shoved in his eyes? Of course not. Fuck no, she didn't like being punished. Though she was thinking that, she certainly didn't say that to him, fearing what he would do. Never before had she been scared of Dan, but now she was terrified. "No." she said quietly, her eyes tearing up. "I don't want you to be upset. I don't want pain. I just want us to be happy." she told him. "I want to make you happy." she said truthfully. She really did. He meant so much to her, and she couldn't risk losing him. Though she was scared, part of her was willing to go through with this. If this was what was going to make him happy, then what other choice did she have?" I. I'll listen to you. Furthermore, I promise." she said after a moment. The hesitation was obvious in her voice. She was definitely skeptical, but she had to agree to it. If she didn't, he might not want her. She just couldn't have that. "But please. Can you just, maybe go easy on me? At first? I don't understand this. At all." She hoped her question wouldn't make him angry. Desperately, she wanted to please him, but this was so new to her. Dan saw the tears, but they didn't move him. He felt the honesty when she said she wanted to make him happy. He wasn't sure about her promise to listen though. Then she made her request. A smile slowly formed on his face. "That is up to you. I will go easy on you all the time if you simply follow my instructions and do what I ask you to do. It is your choice. If you think about it, in a way you are in charge. Only you're not. I get the final say. Now, why don't we watch a movie before lunch. Because I believe that you really want to make me happy I'll let you pick what we watch and what we eat for lunch. You're making it though." He turned and picked up the remote for the TV. He took a seat on the couch next to her and pressed the power button. Furthermore, he sat back and relaxed, waiting for her to choose a movie for them to watch. "Ok." she said quietly. She could manage that, right? She hoped. As long as she listened, she could keep him happy, and then maybe things would be like they were before. She just hoped he wouldn't ask her to do anything terribly out of her element. Even though she had promised, she knew there were times when she would be reluctant, but she needed him to believe her for her own sake. After a moment, Jayde picked a horror movie. They had always used to watch those together when they first started dating. She hoped that by picking it she could feel comfortable with him again. After picking the movie, she scooted a little closer to him, trying to find comfort in his touch. Dan felt a little surprised when Jayde picked a horror film. He knew they had watched them before, but things weren't exactly the same. He didn't mind at all though. Furthermore, he smiled as she slid in close. At least she wasn't afraid of being close to him. That was relief. He felt as if she might actually start obeying him. He wrapped an arm around her loosely and settled in to watch the movie. It got started, and it felt like one of their early dates. Dan enjoyed the time spent together. He wasn't sure how Jayde was feeling, but he didn't worry about it. For the time that they spent watching the movie he was tender again, not demanding anything and letting her do whatever she wanted as long as she was still with him. At first, things felt tense, but after a few minutes she seemed to relax, laying her head on his shoulder as she cuddled up close to him. Soon, everything felt normal again. Truthfully, she didn't want it to end. Even though she had told herself she would give this all a try, she was nervous. She knew that they were going to butt heads even if she tried her hardest, and she wasn't sure how prepared she was for that. Either way, there was no escaping it at this point. Dan was happy as Jayde relaxed more. It made him feel confident that eventually she would learn and be good for him. It didn't seem like she would leave him even though she was scared by what was happening. That made him even more sure of what he was doing. He was able to fully enjoy the movie. As it came to an end he smiled and sat up. "That was nice. Good choice. So, what will we be having for lunch? There should be plenty of options in the fridge and the cupboards. I know you will make something good." He leaned in and kissed her cheek before removing his arm from around her.

The Gift (MadilynShay and Josu_T)|rating:2.0

College Volleyball Reporter

I guess this is open to one female for now. This is also my first board RP, so let us look to do this right. I'm looking to do an RP where I am a college sports reporter that is looking for an interview with the volleyball team captain after a long, hard game. The locker room is empty except for us. Anyway. Let's get this show on the road. Name: Cottage: 21Height: 5'10"Weight: 165 Looks: Thin, with shaggy light brown hair, brown eyes, and a short, recently began beard. He is usually seen in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a pair of sneakers, and of course, his trusty messenger bag/man purse. Joyce was hot and sweaty after the game. The coach told me about the interview and I waited for the reporter while everyone else showered, dressed and left was alone when he came in our locker room. He was pretty cute and just my height. I hated it when some guy asked me for a date and was shorter than I. At least I could wear flat heels and dance with him if he wanted to ask me. He asked his questions and I tried to give him the answers he wanted. There was a tried silence, and I came right out and asked him one. I told him I needed a shower and asked if her would like to join me as I pulled off my warm up jacket and uniform top, leaving me in my sports bra and shorts After asking the questions that I needed to ask, I was stationed on one of the two long benches in the locker room, double-checking to make sure that I got all the information I needed. Running my hand through my hair, I sighed as I realized that I had gathered everything I needed to get the story sent in by my deadline. Upon packing up, I had noticed that my interviewee had gained my attention, telling me that she had to take a shower, and that perhaps I should join her. I was recently single, and looking to get back into the game. On top of this, how could I say no to that soft, yet fit and tight body? I licked the inside of my lower lip as I rose to my feet. I quickly left my clothes in a pile next to my bag, leaving myself in only by boxer shorts. I slowly approached the still steamy shower room, a sheen of sweat already layered on her tight body. Her spandex shorts squeezed and molded her tight ass. I was mesmerized. Joyce With my back to him, I took off my sports bra and then slipped down my uniform shorts. I still had on my panties when I turned to face him and softly asked if he liked what he was seeing. I took his hand and led him into the shower and turned it on and adjusted the temperature. There we were under the water, him still wearing his boxers and me my panties soaped myself and then handed him the soap and told him to wash me down below my waist as I slipped down the wet panties and turned around, so my ass was up against his hardening cocoas he started to wash my ass I suggested he take his off too, and I would wash FIM just as h was washing me, with his finger now up against my anus cleaning it, and suddenly I started to laugh to myself wondering if he had ever licked a girl their had. The girls on the team all played with each other in the shower and in bed on road trips, since there was a curfew and we couldn't go out and unwind after a tight game like the guys did. With one hand, I tore off my heavy underwear, and tossed them away into a heap. My finger continued to clean and massage her tight hole, and then I wondered if she wouldn't mind if I would drop and tongue her out. I love the practice, finding it oh so naughty. I had still been waiting to feel a woman down there on my hole. I continued to soap up her tight ass, my hardening cock sliding to and fro across it, sending shivers up my spine. After biting my lower lip, I drop to my knees, placing my nose in between her delicious cheeks. After realizing she might actually be more into this than I am, I slowly stick my tongue, and I taste her clean hole. She tasted great. I slowly ran my tongue in circles on the wrinkles of her hole, taking in every dimension. I then flexed my tongue into a sword, and dove in, working my tongue up inside of her. With one of my free hands, I made sure to give her notably soppy cunt some attention, softly massaging her labia before focusing attention on her engorged clit. Coach Todd6'2 245Short Brown hair and blue eyes Former College StandoutAmatuer body building wantabeWalking through the locker room, thought he heard the showers going. Thinking to himself, "I thought all the girls had left". Heading to the shower he thought he heard soft moans through the running water. As he enters the shower area he sees a skin young man kneeling down with his face nose deep in the ass of his star player. He could not believe himself...WTF he thought Joyce He surprised me! He actually started to do what I fantasized about! I leaned against the wall with the water coming down on my back and my legs spread wide for him as he tongued me. He was the first man that had ever done that to me, and it felt wonderful. A lover like this is a keeper, I thought as I finally turned around to face him and let him lick my pussy. My God! There was the coach watching us. The girls' locker room is off limits to him normally, but I guess he thought we had all left but there he was watching me getting oral sex. I gasped and didn't know what to do, but Scott didn't know he was there. All I could think of to say was "Hi coach. Want to join us?" Standing there watching the boy reporter eat the ass of his star player was so freaking hot. He never thought in a million years that she could/would love to get down and dirty. Always so prim and proper she was. This was a new day. Staring at her long leather body bent over like that....MMM. She turns around, so the boy can get down on her juicy wet pussy, the stream of water streaming down her body, the water going between her tits causing a water fall right onto his head as he started to go down on her. In a daze, the voice from Joyce startled him back to the moment. "Hi coach. Want to join us?" Looking into her face and seeing the caused look of being caught and the feeling that the reporter was giving her with his tongue was awesome.Without hesitation he said "Sure, you bet" He starts to take of his clothes and piling them at the entrance way. He walks over to her staring at her. His big cock swaying out in front. He comes up to her and looks into her eyes and leans in and gives her a big French kiss, sliding his tongue deep into her mouth. Hungrily feeding on her tongue. He brought his hands up to her breasts and started kneading them. Joyce It was a really nice kiss and I gladly returned it. I had been attracted to him ever since he recruited me for the team, but he was married and had kids, so I never thought anything like this would ever happen. I stroked his cock as Scott ate me, and then said "you saw what Scott was doing. He was working his way up, and you have to do the same. Out on the floor you are in charge but in here I am, and you will eat his ass and then suck him off and then I will suck and fuck you"I kissed him again and swirled my tongue in his mouth and then pulled away and laid down on the floor after turning off the water. I pulled Scott up to fuck me with his ass up in the air, leaving coach with no options. It was either yes or no, and I wasn't sure if he wanted me enough to do what I ordered. Coach Todd Was breathless after kissing Joyce. "WOW" he thought, "she could really kiss". Seeing her lay back and have Scott mount her with his ass sticking in the air. He subconsciously wet his lips looking down at Scott nice round ass. Joyce did not know it, but Coach Todd was bi, so this was right up his ally. Coach leaned down and spread Scott's cheeks apart and slowly began to lick his hole with his tongue. His nose pressed deep in his cheeks, he started to lick his ass. Getting it all nice and wet, starting to ease his tongue inside the tight hole. He felt Scott sass press up into him as he started to fuck Joyce. Joyce Oh God another surprise! Coach was doing what I asked, as Scott plunged into me. This was a real turn on, but it left me with a dilemma. Shall I keep Scott as a boyfriend or coach as a lover or both? I kissed Scott and afterward asked him if he would be my boyfriend. I needed one since the last one had left school, and I was alone except for my roommate and teammates Then I thought I should ask if he minded is I had an affair with the coach too since he had been so accommodating to lick his ass His cock felt good n me, but I wanted them both, not necessarily at the same time, but often Coach Toddle continued to eat Scott sass as Scott continued to pound Joyce. He was doing a good job because he could hear Joyce moan. Coach cock was rock hard and began to stroke it. Wondering which hole he was going to fuck first. Lookiing down at Joyce getting fucked was such a turn on. He was hoping that this was the beginning of something good. Coach was very advent ours and could not help but wonder how adventures Joyce was, I mean after all here she was taking on 2 guys in the middle of the girls shower. Joyce felt Scott get bigger and harder and suddenly start to throb. He spurted up on me and started to soften and slipped out. I looked coach in the eye and held out my arms to him. His cock was huge as he mounted me and entered me, and his tongue entered my mouth as I felt his weight on me, but with my mouth full of tongue I couldn't speak. When he finished swabbing the inside of my mouth I whispered that I was his whenever he wanted me, and next Friday night when we had an away game I would sleep with him if he wanted me. Scott laid there next to us resting, and I reached out and caressed his spent cock, and invited it to my mouth for a little restoration. The Coach slowly entered Joyce wet pussy. He was much bigger than Scott and wanted to make sure he did not hurt Joyce. It got him harder feeling Scott cumin inside her, helping the way to grease his way inside her hot pussy. It fit him like a glove. She spread her legs wider to accommodate him. Slowly her started to pick up the pace getting into a nice rhythm. MMMM god this felt good. He watched as Joyce took Scott's cock back into her mouth, trying to get it hard. Wow, she really could suck a mean cock. Joyce He was so big. I wondered how his wife handled him before her babies were born, and then I got an idea. I wanted him to get me pregnant too. Furthermore, I wondered IOF his wife might be into threesomes or swinging because could always bring a guy with me, but right now I wanted him and I let him know it the way I met each of his thrusts with my own, and told him how good he felt in me. Scott got up and left us there on the shower floor, all by ourselves, and I was glad that he had come in and joined us. Then I came right out and asked him if he had fucked any of my teammates because now that I had enjoyed him, I really didn't want to share him Coach Todd His big thick cock filled her to the max. She was still tight against him as he continued to a steady thrust. He could feel her excitement match his own. He could feel her push against him as he drove deep into her hot wet pussy. His balls began slapping against her ass making a conditions musical sound. The fact that she told him that he made her feel good just added to his power and passion. The view of her sucking of Scott and realizing that he had cum deep inside her throat put him on edge. She asked Todd if he had ever fucked any of her teammates. "Not this year" he replied. Knowing that several years ago he had fallen to another player, much like Joyce. He watched as Scott left, filling the need to switch things up he carefully rolled her onto her stomach. Keeping himself buried inside her, he kissed the back of her neck. Joyce was on my tummy but with my ass up in the air so he could fuck me from behind. I guess he doesn't like looking at me but in the dark we all look the same don't we? I thought as he plunged in and out of me." So are we going to sleep together Friday night, or do I have to sleep with Marilyn again?", I asked, wondering his we could arrange it without my roommate and lover knowing it. Maybe I would be best if we just had a threesome if he didn't mind. Finally, he got to feel that perfect ass in his hands, the whole reason that he had turned her over. So muscular and firm, he just loved the feel of it as he grabbed hold of it as he continued to fuck her." Friday night is good for me babe. You're sleeping with Marilyn? Is she going to be mad at you doing me? You actually think that you CNA hide this from her?" He could to believe his lucky stars to be getting involved with Joyce. After all those days of watching her in practice, watching her jump around. Throwing her athletic body into all kinds of positions. She was just so fantastic. He bent down again to kiss and nibble the back of her neck, the nape of her neck. Holding her ass cheeks so firmly ass he continually pushed his cock deep into her. He began to think that she must get pretty kinky, especially after having him eat another men ass out. Only a kinky person would think of doing that.(what does Marylin look like) Joyce He brought me right to my edge, and suddenly I cried out that I was cumming. T crawled away and turned over again in my back, and pulled him on top of me again, and we fucked like wild animals until he came in me." Did you like that, coach? To'll like Marilyn even better. She is a terrific liver," I told him." After bed check you come to our room and fuck both of us. I'll have her all wet and ready for you. And she is only a junior so you will have her all next year too"As his cum dribbled out of me I suddenly realized he wasn't wearing a condom and I wasn't on the pill." What if you get us pregnant, daddy?", I asked Then I told him that if I was, and I was sure I was, I wouldn't get an abortion but would have his baby Id move in with them and go to grad school but also be a nanny for their kids and fuck him too when his wife wouldst take care of him. And if she liked girls I would take care of her too while he was working. Oh, God! I thought. This girl could really fuck. Her tight pussy just rode my hard cock for all it's worth. Finally, she rolled over and pulled me on top of her and the intensity increased. I funded my cock deep into her and she met my thrust. FInally, we both had a huge climax together. I came like I had never had before. I lay beside her watching the beads of sweat in between her tits. Looking into her eyes I smiled. God this was good. She told me about her roommate Marilyn and about how she was even better than her. "Wow" I thought, how could that be. Looking forward to that definitely. Lookiing down at my shrinking cock, I realized that I had no condom on. "OH shit" I thought. I was always so careful when it came to that. That was the deal with the wife, if either of us played outside then we must use protection. GD. Joyce asked me what happens if she got pregnant.... I told her we will take care of that baby if/when that happens, don't worry. Talking about having another baby and having her as a nanny and a fuck buddy for him and his wife.....wow...that was a lot of information to take in. But holy .....she was a beautiful girl. Bump! Joyce We stood and showered again washing each other off. Then we took turns drying each other, and when I was on my knees drying his legs his cock dangled in my face until I took it in my mouth and brought him hard again. He wanted to fuck again, but I told him to take it home to his wife and I'd see him at practice tomorrow went to my room in the Sorority house and told Marilyn what I had been doing, and we got naked, and she sucked my cream pie and I told her I'd bet I was pregnant, and it would all work out, and she would get a crack at him too. MarlynWhen Joyce came into the house she still had that glow about her, and I knew what she had been doing. We went back to our room, and she quickly got naked as she told me about her interview and shower. I had been hot for our coach since I joined the team, but I never thought he'd actually want any of us girls. As I drank his sperm from Joyce's sweet sex I played with myself thinking of our next away game and Coach Todd's cock. Coach Toddle after fuck shower was amazing. We took turns washing each other and when it was her turn she went down on my cock and got me hard again, even stuck a finger up my ass. "What is up with this girl, first making me eat ass, and she was fingering it. It did feel good though, surprisingly" I thought. Then just like that, she got me really hard then stood up and kissed me deeply on the mouth and said "Go home to your wife and let her finish what I started and that she would seems tomorrow at practice" Then she turned away and walked out of the shower. All I could do was watch her beautiful ass walk away. I went ahead and finished the shower, turning the cold water on.Finally, I got dressed and went home. I forgot my wife was a bridge game, she always did that on game day. So all I could do was imagine when/if/how this was all going to work out. Then memories of what Joyce said about getting together with Marilyn too. All kind of imagination was going on in his mind. Then he remembered the ass eating and finger in the ass. He remembered how could Joyce ass looked when he was fucking it.....he got hard. Joyce's sweet cum flooded from her sex and into my mouth, covering my face and tongue in her love and his seed. I kissed my love, letting her and his flavors run over our tongues before pushing her down and sitting on her face." Eat me like he ate that reporter. Please, don't make me wait any longer." I pressed my wet lips to her mouth and she obliged like the angle she is. He tongues probed deep inside me, forcing me to release a long and loud moan. Again and again the image of Coach Todd's thick cock repeatedly abusing Joyce and me, a new place each time brought a quake to my body. I came hard, squirting into Joyce's mouth and all over her face, screaming loud enough to alert half the house. I slide my still throbbing funny down her body, bringing my lips to hers. Furthermore, I cleaned my cum from her face, lapping up each last drop." Our next game is this weekend isn't it?" My naked body pressed against hers, still recovering from my pleasure." Why yes it is." She giggled as she kissed me sending jolts of love and lust to every corner of my body." Good. If I had to wait much longer for that hunk of a man I'd die." Sitting at home in an empty house. I decided to take a hot bath in my jacuzzi bathtub. Setting back and relaxing, slowly massaging my cock. I got it nice and hard. Just thinking about this two minx and our next road game this coming weekend. 2 hot bodies rubbing up to me. One mouth on my cock, the other eating my ass maybe fingering. Two mouths on my cock. Fucking one pussy and eating another....the ideas just came in rampant motion. God, I could not wait. Thinking about Marilyn pussy and wondering if it tasted as good as Joyce.Finally, the lid blew and he came so hard it landed on his chest and even a little bit on his lip. He tasted it and liked it. Drenched with sexual exhaustion he fell asleep in the jacuzzi. Marylin Friday came around, and it was time to leave. The team piled onto a bus and drove off to another town for a two-day tournament. I was so nervous about the weekend that I couldn't look at Coach Todd. I sat at the very back, taking Joyce with me. She badgered me into telling her why I was acting weird, and all I could say is I was tense and nervous about what was going to happen. She reassured me that it would be fine, that he was just a normal man, like the few I'd been with, but with a much bigger cock. I almost protest, but remembered that all three boys I'd been with I'd met through her, two after they'd fucked a while, the third while he was inside her. In fact, Joyce had either previously or concurrently fucked every person, and toy, I had. Joyce was my sex, and I trusted her. I took her hand a put it to the crotch of my uniform. My lips brushed against her ear as I whispered to her in a low breathy voice, "Please, do it now. Do it while we watch him at the front." My hand traveled down to her mound, rubbing her lips through the uniform. I rested my head on her shoulder as I played with her, and she with me, our actions hidden by rows of seats. Joyce Oh God we were on our way to a big game, wearing our uniforms and sweat clothes and here she was starting to play with me. In bed, it was one thing but right on the team bus! My God! Whast could I do? I just sat back and smiled, knowing that after I came I would be useless in the game. I was the spoken and slammed home the points, but little Marilyn was my setter and passed the ball just right so I could jump up and ram it him over in the opponents court. How would she be if I made her cum too? At least we were a team but wait until after the game, and we teamed up on coach! Wouldn't that be fun. I didn't tell Marilyn the plan. She just knew that tonight she would get to fuck him while I watched and played too. Marlene was right, we couldn't risk the game. It was too important, and we couldn't let the team down. That and a victory would make tonight all the better. But I was so horny, I couldn't wait. Then an idea came to me. I giggle softly into Joyce's ear, "Then we just won't finish." I continued to play with her, but lightly, tickling and teasing her cotton panties. "We get all worked up, play harder than ever before, and after we win we have a victory party, just you I and the coach." Coach Toddle gathered all the girls on the bus as they were heading out of town for there next game. He says Marilyn and Joyce laughing, and giggling together. They looked so wonderful in their uniforms and there tight taunt bodies. He saw Joyce bend over to tie her shoelace and could not help but see her nanites ride deep into her ass. He quickly averted his face as she got back up and adjusted her panties as she turned to look at him....as if she had done that just for him. Damn..... I got to keep a clear head...he thought. Got an important game to coach tonight. This was for the opportunity to play for regionals.Finally, all the girls got on the bus. He could keep an eye on most of the girls from his vantage spot behind the unattractive bus driver. The bus Driver must have thought that the coach liked her, but if she only knew that he had his eye on the minxes in the back seat. He thought he saw something fishy going on and was about toe get up and go check things out when they started laughing and talking in hush tones. Just let it be, he thought..... I need those girls to win this game. He had already made out the arrangements for the rooming. He conveniently had those two right next to his, with an another surprise, an adjoining doors to there room. Joyce After our bus ride we finally arrived. Marilyn and I played around but all I did was get even more horny and we couldn't let ourselves cum It was a little over an hour before game time so we had a meeting in the locker room Coach Todd stood there speaking to us, and I could see a big bulge in his pants. Was he thinking of me or Marilyn and what would come later? T reached up and scratched may nipple, enticing him, and he smiled, just for me? And then I saw Marilyn rubbing herself in between her spread legs and knew he was really thinking of her but no matter. No point in being jealous. He'd have us both again and again all night long. Marilyn couldn't help rubbing myself in front of him, and the rest of the team. I knew he was watching, and I spotted Joyce's eyes as well, and it only made me want them more. A bit more, I kept telling myself, just a bit more. And then it was game time, and I left myself unfinished. We left for the court, his eyes following all our tight asses, but Joyce's and mine most of all. I smiled as the game started, the prize for winning was more than enough.2nd place. We were all but champion save for the 'beast girls' from East. No matter what we did they were just faster. At least they were all pigs and their coach was a hag. I looked at Joyce back in the locker room, neither of us saying anything. We walked in silence until we got back to our room, each waiting for the other to speak. Once in I could bear it no longer and burst. "Oh, do you think he'll be mad? Do you think he'll still want us? We were so close, I should have got that spike, I was so close." I flopped down on the single bed in the room, tired, frustrated and horny. I was all but lost when I heard a noise, and looking up saw a second door in our room slowly opening. Joyce When Marilyn flopped on the bed, I pushed down my panties. And except for my sports bra I was naked. Then the connecting door opened and there was coach Todd. I went to in and kissed in and tongued his mouth and told him we were ready for him, but he laughed and said "Later, baby. We don't want to get caught"So when he left I crawled in bed with Marilyn, and we kissed and got naked. Into a 69 we got each other off licking pussies and assholes as we did last night in our room at the sorority house, and told each other the the other could have him first. Then we decided to just cut the cards and the low card would win. I came seconds after she planted her lips on mine, and again moments later as we decided to cut cards for Coach. I had needed it so badly the entire tournament, and apparently so had she as her sweet nectar filled my mouth. Furthermore, I didn't want to wait for him, but I knew he couldn't come into our room until after lights out, which was at least an hour away. Joyce and I would have to keep each other company until then, which would be no problem. I loved her more than any other girl on the squad, or even at the sorority, and while I hadn't been with all of them, none had compare to her. Most weren't even close. I continued licking up and down her cunt and asshole, bringing her over the edge again, and hoping I could make her a third time before she did me. I hoped we would still be here when he came in again, this would be the perfect way to start our night together. Coach Todd Finally lights where out. I had been thinking about those two minx next door all night. I decided to jump into the shower and get all nice and clean. Furthermore, I wanted to make sure that I was clean all over, my cock, ball sack, and my ass. In the shower I was getting hard just thinking about fucking those 2 girls. I had to fight back temptation to jack off.Finally, I showered and dried off. Contemplating what I was going to wear, I finally just said screw it and decided to just wear a thong. It would show off my extremely large package but also so show off my tight round ass. Could not help wondering if one of the girls had =brought a strap on with them. The time had come. I opened the door to there room and stepped in. I saw both girls lying in the bed in a hot 69. They were licking a moaning. The smell of sex was in the air. I closed the door behind me and stepped towards the bed. My cock began to get hard. I stared down at both lovely creatures and contemplated where to start. Joyce was on the bottom with my head toward the foot of the bed. I saw him and he loved even better than in the shower ass school. Here he was mine all night and I didn't have to share him with his wife." Hi Coach. Want to start by taking her from behind?" He knelt on the bed over my head. I watched him push his cock up against Marilyn's ass and even though I had wetted it, I took my hand and moved it down to her LAGIS and watched him press in into her. I picked his balls while he fucked her, and she yelped with pleasure. I had never seen her with a guy except at one of our mandatory mixers, but never having sex. Furthermore, I didn't even know if she was a virgin but knew her hymen was gone. Furthermore, I had told her that I planned on getting impregnated by him and when she grinned at me, knowing her as I do, I was sure she wanted that too, to have his baby. Marilyn was so enthralled by Joyce's hot pussy that I didn't hear the door open, or the footsteps across the floor. Her words reached my ears, but meant nothing until the pressure of a hard cock pressed inside me. I yelped as he slides in, moaning and shuddering as my pussy took it's first real penis. I was no stranger either them as our sorority initiation involved sucking the cocks of the senior fraternity, but only Joyce had ever truly fucked my pussy. She didn't know she had been my first real penetration, and I was reluctant to tell her. But now a real cock, one larger than any of Joyce's toys, that she shared anyway, was pumping in and out of my tender pussy. I came after only a few thrusts, screaming into her hot cunt. His cock felt so good inside me, stretching my now cock hungry pussy wide, filling me in a way no one had done before. I knew Joyce wanted to bear his child, and the thought of my first man leaving his seed inside me to grow was both terrifying and arousing. She knew I wanted us to raise them together, but what I was too afraid to add was that I was hoping we would be married. I knew it was early, I had a whole year of school yet, but the thought of raising my baby without her was nearly unbearable. What neither of us knew was how much Todd wanted to be a part of our children's lives. But for now none of that mattered. All that was, the whole of creation, was my first cock pounding away at my pussy, my lover's mouth joining our sex, and her sweet pussy, still dripping from her last orgasm, locked tightly in my mouth." Oh Todd, fuck me. Fuck me Todd, fuck me, fuck me, FUCK ME!" Joyce Coach pumped in and out of her quite vigorously, but before long he pulled out too far and his cock slipped out of Marilyn's cunt. He reached down to place it back in, but I was too quick. I reached up and took it in my mouth and savored the taste of it and her juices and sucked him From that moment on he alternated, once in her and then in my mouth. It was a delight to have the three of us sharing this way and meanwhile she kept servicing my own pussy with her tongue. Then I let him fuck her until they both came, sand when he got limp and fell out I gave it a few sucks and then licked her pussy clean while he recovered and got ready for a real slut. Coach Todd It felt so good to finally be fucking Marilyn. Her pussy was so tight and wet. IT felt so good around my big hard cock. Fucking her nice and slow at first. Hearing her moan, her head tossing back and forth and slid my cock all the way in. I felt Joyce's mouth on my balls as she sucked on them. I felt her tongue play with them, every now, and then I would feel her tongue stray to my ass. Then I pulled out my cock to far from Marilyn and Joyce took me in her mouth. All the way down, sucking on Marilyn's juices off of my cock. God, I loved the way she could suck a cock. I took turns fucking her mouth and Marilyn's pussy. Finally, I just started to pound away at Marilyn shot box. Balls slamming her ass as I fucked her hard and good. I felt Joyce mouth on my balls, her fingers playing with my ass as I continued to pound Marilyn. Finally, I felt the tension mount inside me and reached up and grabbed Marilyn's hair and whispered into her ear, "I am about to cum baby, where to do you want my load" She told to cum deep inside her. So I pounded it home good and hard until my cum blasted out, and I came deep inside her, load after load. It felt so good to cum so hard. I lay on top of her recovering my breath. I felt Joyce licking my cock cleaned. God, I was in heaven. Joyce Coach murmured that he was in heaven. I laughed and said "No, you were in Marilyn, and soon you will be in me. You are now our love slave"Marilyn cooed and whimpered after her delicious fuck, and said "I hope I am pregnant. Joyce and I want to have your babies together"The three of us cuddled until he was ready again. He mounted me and as Marilyn watched, I grunted and said "Fuck me. Cum in me and give me your baby" Laying in the bed in between the 2 sexy minxes I loved that way they took care of me. I was there love slave. They played with me, hands roaming all over my body, Joyce paying attention to my cock and balls, getting my hard again. Joyce leaned over to me and gave me a deep long kiss. "I want you to make love to me, Coach." Rolling over and getting on top of her I slowly slid my hard cock into her hot wet pussy. Her pussy just sucked me in. She looked deep in my eyes and said "fuck me. Cum in me and give me your baby" God she could me so hot and hard. I wanted to fuck her so bad. Her busy was so good. I felt Marilyn cum up behind me and felt her rub my shoulders. Her hands running all over my body as Ii fucked Joyce..... Down my chest, stomach, then down to my balls as I was pumping Joyce. Hands running down my back and ass cheeks.... Joyce taking my cock as I pumped it in and out. Watching her tits jiggle with each thrust Marilyn When his cock came free of me I gasped, and when it didn't come back I missed it, not just inside but all over. And then he came back, and was gone again. It felt so good, the longing coupled with the return, again and again, teasing me with that cock. But then the teasing was over, and it was just his fat rod pounding in and out of me. I could feel the pressure building deep inside, and couldn't even finish telling him I wanted his hot Jim inside me without coming all over his cock and Joyce's face. I felt his hot load fill me up, and it brought not just warmth, but comfort. "Don't eat too much of it, I need it for my baby." I knew it was her turn and reluctantly released her sweet lips from my mouth. Joyce sucked at his cock and balls, bringing back to erection for her. I wanted nothing more than to hold the first man to give me pleasure, my arms around him, hands roaming up and down his body. I rubbed my whole body against his, still feeling his cum inside me, and soon he was ready to take Joyce. Furthermore, I wanted so bad for us both to have his children, and so I had to make sure she got as much cum as I did. My hands followed down his body to his balls, playing with them as he entered her. Soon he was pounding away at her hot cunt, faster than he had with me. I was jealous only that I wasn't experienced enough to take such a fat cock so quickly, but I knew before too long I'd be fucking like my love. Remembering a porn I had watched not long ago I slid my finger into his ass as he fucked her, reaching in and massaging his inside. I knew it would make him harder and cum even more for her, which meant even more for me to lick from her hot sex later. I continued to caress his entire body as he fucked her, wanting so badly for us to share his cock. Coach Todd God what a feeling. Marilyn was fucking his ass with her finger while he pounded Joyce. Joyce was loving it too. She was moaning and telling me to fuck her hard. I tried to deliver. My cock was so hard. I leaned back and began to kiss Marilyn as she continued to work my ass over...it got real tight...had she put another finger in? God, it felt so good. I worked my tongue in her mouth. Now this was heaven. Joyce pussy was so good and wet. God. What was next. Joyce sorry- Cat lover is my husband in real life and I forgot to log him off Joyce thought we had worn him out, with both Marilyn and I are enjoying a nice cum, and before he even came (in the room, not in our pussies) we had brought each other off several times. It Wei time for sleep., We had another game tomorrow but neither of us really gave a shit. We had lost today and lost the championship but had already clinched second place and tomorrow's game didn't matter. After the game we would ride the bus back to campus and our sorority house. The season was over except for the awards banquet and the election of next year's captain. Marilyn was in line and would be elected, but if she is pregnant she will be due in December and that won't work, but that will be her decision to make, and she would have to handle that herself We told Coach that he had better tell his wife about tonight, because if he didn't we would. We knew her. Her had come and watched practice a few times, and I was sure a few games. Jane is pretty, and I hoped she would accept my offer to be her kids nanny, so I would have a place to live during the summer when the sorority house was closed, and I was in grad school. Lover Todd went back to his room and Marilyn and I cuddled and talked a while until we drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, just as we did every night back at school. Finally, after a prolonged fuck session. I was spent. I could not remember the last time I had cum so much. My cock felt raw but good, and my ass was tingly with the feel of Marilyn's hands. She had gotten 3 fingers in me, which I could not believe. I could not believe my luck, they both where good lovers. They wanted to keep me, which was awesome to me. But they wanted me to well my wife Jane. I was not so sure about that. I mean after all I could keep things under wraps. After all they would graduate and then leave. So really no need to tell the wife. I would be able to control things. JOYCE Two weeks later After returning to school, life was back to normal with no volleyball practices or games. We didn't see coach, but tonight was the annual dinner celebration of the season, where next years captain would be elected. My year was over, and I was about to graduate. I hadn't yet had my period so didn't know if I was knocked up or not, but Marilyn had missed hers and took the test, and it came out positive. In jest, I went out to a second hand store and picked up a maternity dress for her to wear. She refused, so I wore it, getting a lot of gasps from the girls in the sorority house and then from my teammates at the celebration, but it was all just a joke, I said, telling them nothing more. Then in came Coach Todd with his wife Jane, whom we all knew but very casually. She had been to a few practices and games during the year, but in my four years I had seen her a lot and liked her. Jane really didn't want to go but Todd insisted. We got a sitter for the kids and I dressed nicely and off we went to the restaurant where the dinner would be located in a back private area. There were two round tables set for eight, and we milled around as he spoke to all the girls and I shook hands with some and then Joyce, the captain and a graduating senior even kissed me on the cheek. She was wearing a ridiculous maternity dress but she didn't look any more pregnant than I did. Everyone laughed at her and she enjoyed the attention. She quietly said that Todd had told her that I wanted to get a job and needed a nanny for the kids. The child care expense would eat up whatever I could earn so it made sense, but I needed something to do that would give me more of a feeling of accomplishment than wiping up after little ones all day. It wasn't the place to discuss it, so I invited her to come to the house tomorrow afternoon and we could talk privately. Then we sat down to dinner, with Todd at one table and me at the other with seven girls ranging from freshmen to seniors about to graduate. Joyce was at the other table, but one of the girls brought up the subject of the maternity dress. Talking quietly we all thought it was a cute joke, but school would be out in about six weeks and AFER a long season she was entitled to her fun. After dinner Todd stood and announced that since his captain had finished her career here and was graduating we needed to elect next years captain. Little slips were handed out to the letter winners and the vote was taken. He had me count the votes and all but one was for Marilyn, Joyce's roommate. Marilyn stood and told the group she appreciated the gesture but she didn't know if she would play next year, and maybe not even stay in school. Everyone was curious as to why and asked her to tell us what was going on. Marilyn stood up in front of the whole volley ball team and had to decline my election. "I have to focus on my studies for a while, and I can't play anymore.... because I'm pregnant. I'm taking care of everything, you don't have to worry. I'll still be here cheering you on as the assistant coach" I winked at Todd surprising even him with my personal appointment "but I can't be captain of the team." I sat down with no more explanation, sitting next to Joyce, slipping my hand into hers under the table. Another set of slips were passed around and the next most senior girl, Macy, was elected captain for the following year. I prayed Jane would accept our offer, I wanted so badly for my child to grow up with its father and my lovers. Joyce told me we'd been invited to dinner with Todd and Jane the following night, and I was ecstatic. I knew that together we could convince her to let us stay, and to help us raise our children. When the time came I was nervous. I had taken hours to pick out an outfit, which ended up being a tight sweater with a small t-shirt underneath and a pair of tight black jeans with thigh high boots underneath. The small clothes didn't leave any room for underwear, so I abandoned both bra and panties, and figured no one would mind. "Won't be able to wear clothes like these much longer" I lamented to Joyce as we left "But it'll be more than worth it, don't you think?" Todd Was perplexed as I sat there at the banquet and heard Marilyn announced to the team that she was pregnant and that she was declining the post as team captain to be an assistant.... Who is she to appoint herself as an assistant...there was no room on the payroll for another assistant.... I decided that I would have to talk to her about that.....it was not the time to do so in a setting such as this. How could she be pregnant? Who could be the father? I thought she must be sleeping around on me. I think that I heard Jane say something about the girls had invited us out too dinner the next night.....must be a going away dinner for Joyce I thought. Marilyn Todd pulled me aside after dinner to talk to me about my self-appointed position." Silly, you don't need to pay me, I'm going to be your personal assistant for the entire season. Anything you need me to do, anything you tell me to do I'll do for you." I stopped for a moment as he looked a bit startled again. Then I remembered something to add. "And of course it's yours, you're the only man I've ever been with, and the only one I plan on having." I kissed him quick before anyone could see before disappearing for the night. I Stood there looking after her.....subconsciously staring at her ass....as the words sunk in....she is pregnant and it's mine?.... Holy shit.....what/how am I going to tell Jane...... Joyce Marilyn and I returned to our sorority house, and she told me what she and Todd had talked about Exhausted with the strain we slept together and the following day, Sunday, we went to their house for dinner. We both played with the children and laughed with them over their games and their favorite TV shows. We had no idea how much Todd might have told Jane, but once the kids were put to bed we would have to put our cards face-up on the table Finally it was time it was a busy afternoon. With the kids having games all day, I had not had a chance to talk to Jane about Marilyn. To be honest I did not think that she would go through it. After all I was the Coach. Could she really be pregnant?Finally, they were there....they played with the kids....we had dinner, and I was feeling pretty good. I mean what could go wrong...what would they do...tie me up and fuck me with a strap on..... The kids where put to bed.... I thought that the girls were going to be leaving... I said good night to the kids and went to the bathroom. Furthermore, I got out and went downstairs and saw that both girls where still here talking to Jane Marilyn sat with Joyce on the couch, across from Jane, and we told her everything that had happened. How Joyce had had him in the shower. How we each took him on our trip two weeks ago, and how we knew my child was his, and that hopefully Joyce would be carrying his child as well. "We want you to be our nanny, to help us raise our children, and to accept us as apart from your family." I saw Todd come downstairs and motioned him to us. "Tell her Todd, tell her how much we all want this to work." Jane Marilyn and Joyce were still with me at the table. Todd had gone off somewhere to watch TV or check on the kids or whatever, but he returned just as the chat was getting interesting. I told him that this was girl talk and to leave us alone until I called him. Marilyn had talked about being pregnant and planning to have the baby. She also said that she and Joyce were roommates at the sorority house and that it would be closed during the summer, and they needed a place to live Joyce had said that Todd had told her that I wanted to get a job but that the child care cost was prohibitive, and she suggested a solution. The real shock came when they told me that they were lesbian lovers and slept together. Joyce asked me if I had ever been with a girl, and I told them no, but I've always wanted to be and never knew where to start. Then the big shock named when Marilyn said that Todd was the father of her baby, and that he was the only man she had ever been with and the three of them slept together on the last road trip. Joyce said that she was sure she was pregnant too by him, and had sex with him once before in the school locker room." We want to have our babies together and have them be with their biological father too if we can. If the three of us are under the same roof we can rotate with him each night and the other two women can sleep together while one is with Todd," Joyce said. I stood, and they stood up and we each kissed each other on the mouth. I liked it. Furthermore, I had kissed girls but nothing more, but I was ready if they were. I led them back into the guest room and told them they could sleep here. Then I laughed and said "I guess I'll be sleeping in here to two days out of three" as we kissed again, and we all got undressed. Joyce told me how pretty she thought I was with my short brunette hair and pert 36C breasts, and she kissed and sucked one while Marilyn sucked the other. Then I called Todd to give him the news. He could either take it or leave, because I was ready for a new relationship anyway. That's why I wanted a job. Frankly I was bored with him and his overbearing attitude. Todd came downstairs, and obviously they had been talking to Jane about the pregnancy thing. Jane was looking at me with anger and wonder. I did not know what to tell her. Obviously I was caught in the act of cheating, but was not really sure of the baby issue. I told her that if Marilyn WAS pregnant that she was going to be on my staff, not on the payroll. Jane looked mighty upset. She asked me about being with Joyce and the reporter, and about eating his ass. She asked me about the out-of-town trip and the affair in the hotel room. All of it. I just answered her questions.....what would I do now See Jane with the girls and how good they got along.... Ii wondered where I was going to fit in. Saying them there all cozy like... I started to get hard. Jane told Todd what was coming down, and that he had the best of all worlds. He had three hot babes to fuck as long as he let me have my fun too and let us all live here together Joyce would take care of the kids while I worked, and we would alternate sleeping with him, and which one of us did he want tonight? I knew it wouldn't be me. He looked at Joyce and then at Marilyn and picked her. They went into the master bedroom and Joyce and I climbed into bed, and she introduced me to girl/girl action, telling me detail after detail about what the three of them had done while off on the road trip loved it and having seen the porn movies he brought him I had always wanted to be the star of the show. Now I would be, as Joyce licked my breasts and then my tummy and navel, and I couldn't believe how good it felt when she tongued my pussy. Marilyn reluctantly pulled away from Jane's pert breast as I went with Todd for our first night alone together, and as official lovers. I couldn't help but kiss Jane and Joyce goodnight. When Todd and I reached the master bedroom I turned and kissed him hard on the mouth. "The night is yours lover. What would you have me do?" Todd was surprised by the outcome of the meeting with the girls. II mean I would get to fuck all three of them. God, I was in heaven. They left it up to me who I wanted to be first, and I picked Marilyn. I mean I thought it was the right thing to do after all. I led her to the bedroom. As soon as we were in the room, Marilyn surprised me by kissing me hard on the mouth. It was an aggressive kiss. She asked me what I wanted to do. I could not help but remember how she could suck a cock and how she had worked my ass over while I had made love to Joyce. I kissed her hard and asked her if we could take it slow. Furthermore, I wanted us to explore each other anal.if she was up too it. Marilyn"I'll try anything you want me to." I began stripping, first pulling my sweater and shirt off, followed by my boots and jeans. I bent my naked body over the bed, shaking my ass and pussy in front of him. "You can take me where ever you want, and when you're all done I'll clean you all up." I hoped he would fuck my pussy a little before trying my ass, but I wanted him either way. Taking off of my clothes. I watched her strip for me.... Her long lithe body.....god was she a little number. She leaned over the bed exposing her ass and pussy. I walked up behind her and flipped over on the bed. I leaned in and gave her a deep long kiss. Sliding my tongue deep in her mouth. God, I loved the way her body felt next too mine. My hands ran up and down her body. Over her tits....down her stomach...and up again. Each time I would get closer to her pubic area. Teasing her a little. Marilyn My hands danced up and down his chest as he held me. It felt so good to be in his arms, his strong arms that gave me so much pleasure. I sucked on his tongue as it probed my mouth. My hand made it's way down to his growing cock, stroking the shaft from base to head, circling my palm around the bulb before sliding back down to caress his balls. I moaned as his hands explored me, teasing my pussy without even touching it. Soon his cock was fully erect, and just looking at made me wet. I rolled on top of him, kissing him hard on the mouth before bringing my ass to his head, circling my anus with it. I pushed my ass down, slowly filling my ass with his fat cock, stretching me wide. Furthermore, I grimaced as my tight hole stretched to fit his fat rod, yet moan after moan slipped from my lips, taking my breath, until he was fully inside me. For a moment I stopped, adjusting to the size of the sex inside me, before kissing him hard yet again, sliding my tongue deep into his mouth, moaning intensely as I climbed up, only push back down. (ladies just wanted you to know that I will probably post for a couple of days or so. I'm currently battling the flu....thus hard to get inspiration. Thank you for your patience. Hope to be back soon) (Ladies... I am feeling much better and will post soon. Hope everyone is still interested in continuing the Thread. How is everyone.) [Lonely please hurry] She surprised me by climbing on top of me and raising her ass UUP on top of my cock. Then she slowly worked her ass down on it. God was she tight and hot. I thought my cock was going to melt inside her ass. OMG I was in heaven. Her ass was just gripping my cock. Finally, she had worked me up all the way inside her. She stopped to let her ass get adjusted to my cock. She leaned over and gave me a hard, passionate kiss. Her tongue entered my mouth with a mission. Her tongue probed deep. I kissed her back. My hands running down her back and down to her ass, caressing it. Kissing her hot wet mouth. Our moans filled the bedroom. Marilyn My motions continued, slowly speeding up until I bounced almost freely up and down his throbbing shaft. His hot meat spread my ass so wonderfully, making my glad he suggested it. I knew he wanted more than just my ass on his cock, so my hands slid down his chest and behind me, headed for the source of his pleasure. One set of fingers cupped and fondled his balls, the other ventured lower, just reaching the tight pucker of his ass. I could do little more than tease it with my fingertips, but by the look on his face it was enough, for now. I could feel the spark building inside me, knowing it wouldn't be long before my first anal sex orgasm. Furthermore, I wanted it so bad I fucked myself harder on his cock. Before tonight, I'd never dreamed of having anything in my ass, let alone a cock as large as Coach's, but it was worth it now, and would be even more so soon. His orgasm wasn't far off either by tell of his twitching cock and tightening ball sack. "Fill my ass with your cum. Fill me all up with your hot seed." feeling her tight ass clutching my hard cock was so amazing. Her ass was so hot, it seemed like my cock was going to melt. She Started riding me harder, my cock stretching anus wider. Her quickened pace started my cum to build up in my balls. She could sense it, feel it. She started to beg me to cum in her ass. I wanted to hold off as long as I could. I wanted her to cum with me in her ass. But I could not hold it. With her fingers in my ass and massaging my balls, it was just too much. Finally, my cock started to shake, and then I grabbed her hips and slammed her onto my cock and I came deep in her ass. Cock just burst loads of cum deep inside her. Seemed like cum was squirting forever. OH, GOD, I thought.... I have not cum like that in a long time. Marilyn His cock buried itself deep inside me letting all of his hot cum loose. Each spurt that shot into me sent a wave through me, bringing me to an incredible orgasm that continued long after his. I screamed loud as I came, collapsing on his chest, cock still firmly up my ass. "Oh gods Todd, I'm never though getting fucked in the ass could feel so good." My hands stroked his chest as my hips rocked against his cock. I hoped Joyce and Jane were having as much fun as we were. I missed the feel of my lover's lips on my pussy, but wouldn't have traded this orgasm for anything. Furthermore, I felt something wet on Todd's stomach, and quickly realized I had cum hard enough to leave a puddle on him. Furthermore, I giggled a bit and kissed him. "Any other amazing ideas?" Coach ToddCompletly drained, all he could do was lay there. They had both came so hard. She had even had made of puddle of cream on his pubic area. They were both so slimy. It had been incredible. Laying there enjoying the moment, Marilyn asked if he had any other amazing ideas. He began to think how kinky this girl could be. Ta both wondered what was going on in the other room....it sure was quiet. Jane knocked on the closed door of my own bedroom. Todd said to come in and there he was in my marital bed with Marilyn. I felt like crying. My marriage was shattered, but I had my first lesbian affair with Joyce and I liked it. Todd came over to me, naked with his wet cock dangling as Marilyn watched, and he kissed me and asked his I liked Joyce. I looked at Marilyn and didn't answer. I just went over and climbed on the bed and started eating her very wet and sloppy pussy expecting Todd to come up behind me and fuck me, but he was too spent. He just watched in awe as two of his lovers enjoyed each other. Todd realized as Jane walked into the room and how she kind of ignored me and went straight to her bed where Marilyn was waiting, that I had hurt her. She seemed mesmerized by the site of Merely on the bed, laying there, her ass freshly fucked, her orgasm leaking from her pussy. I was really surprised to see Jane go down on her. She must have been doing a good job, because Marilyn was moaning so hard. I went and sat on the bed to watch the action. Despite all the cum that I had just spent, my cock was stirring. Watching Jane eat her was such a turn on. I could not help but wonder what Jane had in store for me. Joyce Jane left me and I was alone. Then I heard noises from down the hall. In a strange house I followed the sounds to an open door and there they all were. My lover Marilyn was laying on the bed with her legs up in the air and wide apart as Jane was between them licking away and Coach was sitting there watching. I went over and joined them, and went to my knees and took Coach's soft cock in my mouth and worked on it, but it didn't seem to respond. I guessed Marilyn had worn him out, and I smiled having seen them recently getting her pregnant with his baby. I knew I was pregnant too. Furthermore, I just hadn't proven it yet, but he was about to become a multiple daddy. Marilyn Jane came in with a sadness on her face, but came over to me almost ignoring her husband, planting her face in my loins. Her lips felt so good against mine, needing me as I needed her. My fingers coiled into her hair, pulling her head against me, grinding her into my snatch. My moans were low and loud, but as her pace increased each became shorter and higher until I was nearly squeaking with each graze of her tongue on my clit.Finally, I opened my eyes, realizing now that Joyce had come in and was swallowing Todd's massive cock whole. "Suck his fat cock love, get him hard again," I spoke between my moans, pausing to scream as my orgasm built. "Get him hard then take him in your ass. You won't.... nnnnggg OOOOHHH..... won't regret it." Jane's mouth brought me to orgasm again, my cum filling her mouth as my hips bucked against her head. I pulled her to me kissing her hard, enjoying my taste on her lip. I rolled Jane onto her back and began kissing down her body, taking each nipple into my mouth to suck and nibble upon before continuing down to her hot hole. Furthermore, I was more than happy to repay the joy she gave me, pressing my lips to hers. Her pink slit opened under my fingers letting my tongue dive inside, lapping up her hot moisture and urging it for more. Moans began echoing from beside us and I realized Joyce was indeed taking Todd up her ass. Knowing my lover was fucking, well, my other lover pushed me deeper into Jane, now fucking her hot pink pussy with my tongue and fingers. Before I knew it though my mouth had left her box and as her hips rolled up met her tight ass. My fingers remained deep inside her while my tongue did the same to her other hole. She was moaning louder and louder and soon her muscles gripped down on my fingers with a hot we flood following quickly behind. I lapped up her sticky mess and climbed up her, pressing my lips to hers, filling her mouth with her flavor. We two lay there, watching Todd fuck Joyce, our hands not yet ready to lay silent. The sad look drifted across her face again so I wrapped my arms around her reassuringly. "Don't worry Jane, you're not loosing your husband. He'll still always be here and he still loves you. Look at it as gaining two wives. We wouldn't be here if we didn't love both of you so very much." I kissed her again, seeing and feeling the smile slowly come to her face. Jane God Marilyn was hot. If no more than started eating her cream pie like I always did with Joyce, and she went berserk and returned the favor. As I said, I had always thought about the fantasy of having sex with another girl, but now it had come thus and I made my decision We watched Todd and Joyce have sex there on the bed next to us, and I got up and went to the bathroom. When I returned I made my announcement, that as of now I was a confirmed lesbian and would no longer have sex with my husband." So now, Todd, you have only two lovers, the same women I have as lovers." Todd Joyce sucked on my cock real hard. God, I thought I was drained. How could she even get it hard again. Finally, it was time to take Joyce ass. I lubed it up real good with my tongue and lips. I ate her ass out good. Furthermore, I loved eating ass, never really knew it till Joyce made me eat out that reporters hole. God Joyce was moaning as I tongue fucked her. I got it all nice and wet. Finally, I brought up my huge hard cock up to her shithole and slowly slid it in. Oh, god was she tight. She took it though. All of it. I worked it in real deep. She was begging for me to fuck her hard. I pounded her ass. My balls slapping against her. Pounding and pounding. She manned with pleasure. I noticed Marilyn and Jane deeply into each other. Both girls moaning loudly as they enjoyed each other. Funny..... Jane never did that when I made love to her. Joyce begged me to cum deep inside her ass. My cum was building up. I reached and grabbed her hair and pounded my cock into her and I came. Squirt after squirt deep inside her. I was exhausted. I lay down beside Joyce and watched the lovely Jane go into the bathroom. Furthermore, I was totally in shock when she came out and told me that She was never going to have sex with me again. Furthermore, I could not believe it. What was I to do now. Marilyn As Jane left my hands filled the void she left, watching as Todd came hard in Joyce's ass. My hands were nothing compared to her. When she returned her announcement shook me into focus, away from them or myself and to her completely. I didn't know what to say, or even think. On the one hand both Joyce and I would get to spend much more time with her, but on the other Todd would no longer get to, and my time with Joyce would then always leave at least one person out. I went to her and wrapped my arms around her." If this is what you want then so be it. I'm glad you chose to stay." I kissed her reassuringly, weaving my fingers into her brown locks, both on her head and the few short curls bellow. "Lets say 'goodnight' then run along to bed." Jane agreed and we both said good night, myself with a deep sensual kiss to each of my lovers, her with the same to Joyce, but just a hug and small kiss on the cheek for Todd. He looked sad, so I took his near spent cock in my mouth and rolled the head around on my tongue, it's stiffening slowly. "He's all yours love." I kissed Joyce one last time, the musky flavor of Todd's cock and cum mixing in our mouths before running off to the guest room with Jane. My pussy was aching when we finally got into the room, and the kiss Jane pressed me into told me hers was too. I pushed her back onto the bed, her tits bouncing as she landed. "So now you're only for the ladies..." my words trailed as my fingers did up and down the slit of her hot sex, "no, boys, allowed." My lips reached the lobe of her ear, moving softly against her skin as my warm words drifted to her, "that is so FUCKING hot." My lips and tongue attacked her ear as my fingers dove deep into her funny, fucking her soft creamy sex hard and fast. Her mouth finally met mine, gasping for attention like a hungry animal feasting on lust. My pinky pressed into her ass as I fucked her. It was a trick Joyce had used on me long before I began begging for it, and I didn't doubt she'd used it on Jane, and that Jane loved it. Jones loved her playing with my ass. Todd had never done that. I had never let him nor let him fuck me there, but suddenly I was a freak for asshole play. I squirmed around into a 69 with her on top and as she licked me down there, I tongued her asshole and loved it, curling my tongue and stuffing it up inside her and then told her that her ass was mine now and when she shit I wanted to wipe her clean with my tongue. It sounds gross I know, but I really meant it. Well-within reason anyway Todd Standing there in shock at what Jane had said. Marilyn came over to e and Joyce and gave us both a huge deep wet kiss. After she broke free from my lips. She knelt down in front of me and took my wet soft cock into her mouth and sucked me clean. This aroused me somewhat. But then she stood up and walked off to the guest room with Jane. All I could do was look after them, watching there beautiful asses walk away. I turned to Joyce who had a wicked look on her face. Marilyn rode my ass against her face as my tongue dove in and out of hers. My moans were loud and long, muffled only by her tight pucker. Again and again each tongue dove in and out of our assholes. No one had eaten my ass like she was now, and I knew my orgasm was imminent. My hips bucked as I came, small squirts of cum shooting from my lips to her neck. I pulled my tongue from her ass moving straight to her pussy, refusing to miss her orgasm and drinking down every drop of her sweet cum. I spun around, licking my cream from her neck before pressing my lips to hers. Our tongues entwined, each tasting the full flavor of the other. I smiled at her with a twisted look in my eye, "where do you keep your toys?" She stared at me for a moment, almost a worried look in her eyes. I brushed the hair our of my face, then hers, "Not for you silly, for me. I want you to fuck me with every toy you have." Jane As Marilyn and I exchanged kisses while we calmed down from our peaks, she asked me to share my toys with her." But Sweetie, I don't have any toys. When you and Joyce move in you will be my toys. The only toys I have played with are what Todd carries between his legs, but that's now history. I only want to play with you and Joyce and and other girl I meet who wants to play with me." I never could have imagined the pleasure you have given me tonight."

College Volleyball Reporter|rating:2.0

Angel Creek - Kendall Wood_Cabin

Kendall Wood~ Kendall Wood ~A natural landmark, used to strengthen the town and the elementals of earth. These woods are across the town from the cemetery, at the edge of the block where Angela and Landon's homes both sit and also the nesting place for Do mum Held, the cabin that is home to Christa and Terran.(and Terran's Cabin in Kendall Wood~ ~ ~ Welcome to Do mum Held ~ ~ ~ This cabin is home to Christa Kendall and Terran Marks. It was first built by the Marks bloodline back in 1822, around Christa's 16th birthday. They didn't want her very close to town because of the dark magic she carried with her, however they felt that she was too dangerous to release, that, and they trusted the words of the prophet. Since then this cabin has become an Angel Creek landmark. It houses everything that has ever been dear to Christa, it is where Terran spent much of the first 9 years of his life, and it's where Angela and Landon used to do much of their exploring. This old building is set in two different worlds, one the world where everyday normal people can see it as a run-down abandoned old heap, and also in the realm of magic. Where it is fully furnished. However, there is only two ways to get to the magic realm of her home. One is to be brought in by either Christa or Terran, the other is to know the proper incantation. First view What non-magic, and those who have not been given the right by Christa or Terran to see will see when they look at the cabin.(Master Bedroom(Bathroom(Bedrooms(( Bathroom(Room(Home Office(( Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: noon Location:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open-Mention: Aiden, Cali Christa was silent most of the ride home, while Terran looked through the book she suggested to him to read. Hidden deep within some of the pages were spells, there were incantations and other 'tricks' that could come in handy for Terran, things that maybe her siblings wouldn't expect, as she climbed from the car she took a few things from the back seat as she closed her door, answering Terran's other inquiry, about the book. She had turned it into her car, which is why Terran bought her a new one. Terran didn't really have use for the material things, and Christa had missed her car dearly." At first, I thought the blond was his girl. So I figured maybe a ring or a necklace for her. You know something that would help him better control her and keep the book safe, well now that I know that's not the case. He's got it somewhere on his person. It would be something he would always have with him, no matter what, and he wasn't wearing a necklace that I noticed at the bakery, so. I'm thinking, it's the ring. Which makes sense, he's paranoid about me coming back to get it, so he'll keep it as close as possible. The best chance to get it off him would be that blond, and if she's a Kendall... well." Christa shook her head she didn't want to think about it, she was trying to reform herself, and speaking ill of her family bloodline wouldn't help, as they walked through the woods to the cabin Christa couldn't help but smile. Oh, sure Terran was still bothered by things, like her keeping secrets, but at the same time. He came more to life in the woods, it was his element, so it was expected." If he takes the ring off at all, it'll be in the comfort of his own home, which makes it an absolute nightmare to try and get back." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Mentioned: Aiden Terran had his own car that he had bought at the same time that he bought Christa's. He'd gotten a deal for buying two, but he hadn't driven to town. He liked to keep in shape, so he had walked instead. His car was in their parking area. He got out of the car after she parked. He reached in the back seat and got the box of books. Furthermore, he looked over to her as he carried the box. "That is not good news." Terran frowned. If not for Christa telling him that it would hurt her as well, he'd walk up to the bastard and cut the finger from his very hand. Terran had not loved for Aiden whatsoever." We need to find some way to get it." He carried the books in to the cabin and sat them on the first table that he reached. Walking to the kitchen, he grabbed a peach out of the fruit bowl. He moved to the sink and lifted the lever that turned the water on. He washed his peach and then turned it off before he lifted the fruit to his lips and he took a bite. He grabbed a towel laying on the counter, nearby and wiped his face as juice ran down his chin. He looked out the window as he quietly thought, trying to come up with a way to get close to Aiden. "Could you get close to him? He is your brother." (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open-Mention: Aiden-Thoughts: Landon, Angela As the two entered their cabin Christa took some of the random things she had carried in and sett him on a few shelves before going to the fridge and grabbing water just as Terran was washing his peach. She nodded, he was right, this wasn't good. Right now not killing Aiden was a huge disadvantage they had, and he was certainly going to know it was such. As she walked to the bar she sat down and opened her water as she looked at Terran, sighing softly upon his question." Among many other things, one of the things he told me today was that I belonged with him, and that I should come home, as I'm sure you know... He didn't mean the cabin." Christa tilted the bottle up and took a drink before licking some water from her lips. She set the bottle down on the bar as she watched Terran. When the four of them had first met, Terran couldn't run away from his magic fast enough, but he was smart, and quick on his feet. There'd be no real surprise to her if he already had a plan in the mix, and with going so long without using magic, it would be a method any mortal would be able to work out, so her pulling off, should be easy enough." I got a bit short with him today however, and he's already hot headed, so, he may get suspicious if I just came back now saying I wanted to come home, he's." Christa hesitated, she wasn't sure if what she was going to say was going to upset Terran, so she had to find the proper way to say it. This she wasn't always so good at. It's one reason her and Terran butted heads so much at first, and why she's almost always in some sort of trouble with him, Landon or Angela." Aiden knows that I'm very close to you as well Terran, so any seams in a plan will have to be well ironed out, or he'll see right through it." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran turned and leaned against the counter, looking toward Christa. He did not like the idea of her belonging anywhere, except with him." I am sure he didn't." He took another bite of his peach, watching her as she drank her water. Again, he wiped the juice from his face with the towel." What if he witnessed a big fall-out between us...and you had nowhere else to go?" Him suggesting any of this, showed that he had come to trust her. Yeah, they argued and tempers flared from time to time, but they had to get that crest. They had to hide it, destroy it, something so it wasn't ever used again. It was corrupt, and it had ruined Christa's family. He knew that deep down, Christa had to miss them, but them being dark kept her from them. He finished his peach, wiped his mouth and hands. Then, he walked over and put his arms around her." One day...they will come to see the truth, Christa. One day." Could be hundreds of years from now. He didn't know. But he wanted to give her the hope. He kissed the top of her head. His lips then traveled down to her lips. His hand caressed her cheek as he pressed his lips against hers. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open-Mention: Aiden Christa took another drink of her water as she listened to Terran speak, a big fall-out, a fight, what Terran suggested was huge. Maybe not to anyone else but to her, it was a big deal, it was a big risk, and it showed a great deal of faith in her. That brought a smile to her face. She didn't care for fighting with Terran, and having a big enough fall out that Aiden was convinced of it, well, that wouldn't come easy. Also, something she didn't look forward to. Aiden thought she was a brainwashed puppy on a short leash with Terran, so it would have to be done just the right way. As Terran approached her she closed her water, she honestly wasn't sure that her brother would ever be light, it was her dream, but she figured it would always be just that. He enjoyed being a hellish crusader far too much. Terran's words comforted her though, even if deep down she didn't know if it would happen. The fact that he cared enough about her to even say the words, to care if they became good or not. That meant the world to her. She leaned into his hand as it brushed her cheek, closing her eyes before feeling his lips against hers as she kissed him she laced her arms around his neck. After a few moments she slowly pulled back from him. Smiling as she looked him in the eyes."Thank you, Terran, I'd like to believe some day that he'll change his ways, it's just difficult sometimes." As she stood from the bar stool she tightened her grip on him and spoke again." He thinks you have me brainwashed, so there's only one thing I can think of that would convince him you and I were done. That would be me doing something he would approve of." Christa sighed and shook her head softly, she didn't care for the idea, but they didn't really have a lot of other options at this point." If I did something that showed Aiden I was still a Kendall, then he saw you lash at me, he'd be more likely to believe there was hope of him getting me back. I don't know him that well though so I don't know how solid of a theory that really is." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran sighed against her lips, a pleasant sigh. He enjoyed kissing Christa. He enjoyed the intimacy and tender moment. Furthermore, he did care about her and what she wanted, what she needed. As she drew back from him, he looked down at her. He nodded." I know, babe. I know. Furthermore, I know how hard it has been for you to separate yourself from that...side of you. It is difficult for me as well." Because he was born in this place, this Cabin, where dark magic once dwelled. He had a dark side to him as well. But it was also what made him capable of understanding the struggles Christa went through. Sometimes, he still could hear the whispers, the Kendall Ancestors calling out to them both, trying to corrupt them, but it was also another reason they could not let Aiden get his hands on the cabin, on the forest. He and Christa were the only two who could control it and hold the darkness at bay. He frowned as she grabbed him suddenly, like in desperation to make him understand something. Then, she spoke." Something he would approve of. Like?" He didn't like the idea of Christa hurting anyone. Doing something dark could also affect her in way they couldn't see, now. It was a risky plan, and he didn't like it, but it was all he had. Someone had to get in that house and get the ring off of Aiden and the only one who could do that was Christa. He pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her tightly, hugging her. "I don't like it, any of it. But it is all I've got." He pulled back and looked at her seriously. "If we can come up with something else...less risky, it would be best...but we have to get that crest off his finger, Christa. We have to get rid of that book, for all your sakes." (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa nodded as she listened to Terran speak. He did understand her struggle she had gone through, and that of course was her fault too. She insisted that he stay with her, while she lied to his family. She risked a lot for every moment she spent with him. Before she really began to fall in love with him, back when he was nothing more than a prophecy, just another earth element, just another light magic who was overly protected by his family. She stayed with him, she pushed him forward, and as time went on, she fell, and hard. That's why so many girls he liked mysteriously vanished. There was no mystery to it. Did she kill them, no, of course not? She knew one day she'd have to tell him the truth, and telling him that she killed girls he liked or that were interested in him to keep him, well that wouldn't make him very happy. Not that he was happy with her other methods, but weighing her options it was the best. She sighed softly as he asked what she was referring to, he had a pretty good idea, she knew he did. They both knew what sort of thing would have to be done. She smiled softly as he mentioned doing something else, it would be nice, but they needed that book. It wouldn't be able to be destroyed, but they could hide it, hide it better than Aiden did, hide it better than her car. She would just have to think of an idea of how or where." I could... Well I could..." Thinking of something dark wasn't a problem for Christa, it was in the Kendall blood, as thinking of something good she could do was something that she had learned from Terran's family, from Terran, it was combining the two that she seemed to struggle most with. She took a deep breath and placed her head against Terran's chest." Do you remember when I fixed my car?" Christa lifted her head and looked at him." Granted, a tornado would do damage to the town but, it would certainly get his attention, and most importantly nobody would get hurt." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open He raised a brow at her as she stuttered. Then, she mentioned the book, when it had been her car. "I remember." But what she suggested, people could get hurt. But, it was not as harsh or drastic as some other things she could do. He nodded." You could destroy one of my green houses. I am sure they would get a kick out of that. I can always rebuild it." He frowned, hating the idea of losing even one of his massive green houses. Those green houses were a large source of local natural food for the town, now. But, they had to do what they had to do. He pulled out of her grasp and walked over to the fridge. He pulled out a bottle of water for himself. Furthermore, he always made sure that their bottles went to the recycling center to be melted down and turned in to something that could be used again, instead of the landfill. Furthermore, he was very aware of such things. Furthermore, he was also in the process of panting new trees to grow where wood was needed. You always had to return to the earth, what was taken. It was a give and take relationship. Terran was more like his element than one really realized. Such as his relationship with Christa. He gave her as much as she gave him. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open-Mention: Aiden Christa nodded slightly at his suggestion, he loved his green houses, where he didn't eat meat they were his source of food, and of course, they were used by the rest of the town. So him sacrificing one, well considering their options it was best, but for him to even consider sacrificing one. It was a big deal, and it would work best with her brother. Hitting Terran where it hurt, personally attacking him, with something that would push him over the edge. Christa sighed before she spoke. "Greenhouse it is, I'll even work up a special mess for the occasion." A regular tornado wouldn't do it, she had to do something that showed she was angry yes, but not look like a total set up. So it was something she'd have to think on, if she went to big. He'd know, but if she went to small he would as well, Aiden wasn't dumb, though sometimes Christa certainly wished he were." So the remaining question is, what pushes me over the edge, I can't just go ballistic... Of course, this would be your chance to vent about Aiden. He did his fair share of slamming you this morning, it's only fair, right?" (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open He twisted the lid off the bottle of water and lifted it to his lips. He took a drink, swallowing as he heard her say she would work up something special. He nodded,"I'll make sure everyone is out of the greenhouse and on their way home before it happens, so no one gets hurt." He walked toward her again, looking down at her. "Your brother is a jack ass and I suppose that could be reason enough for me to vent about him, but would it be reason enough for you to get that angry with me? No. Something more." This fight was a fake fight, not real, but everyone would have to believe it in order for it to be successful. He raised a brow and sat his water down. He took hers from her as well. Furthermore, he sat them down, and then he caught her by her shoulders and guided her in the direction of their bedroom. "You know, you have been a rather naughty girl lately, flirting with other men. Maybe... I decide to teach you a lesson." He smirked, completely teasing her at the same time he was working out with her, why she might get angry." You aren't the only woman who finds me attractive, you know."Oh, yes. Terran knew he was hot stuff. Of course, everything he was saying...was true, but he was perfectly content with Christa, at the moment. So, there would be some acting on his part. He knew the perfect woman to help them out. Nothing would rally happen, but if Aiden and Cali saw him being flirty with the young French girl...all kinds of assumptions could be made...they could see Christa catch him in the act. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa watched Terran curiously as he sat his water down, then took her water gently from her hand and sat hers down as well. At first, she was confused by what he was talking about, she was caught off guard by the entire thing while she was guided to their bedroom. She wasn't meaning to flirt with Theo, he was a very nice gentlemen and she was being polite. Finally, it clicked to her what he was doing. She felt rather foolish for not catching it before, after all Terran kept very nicely on track with things, for him to go from wanting to get that book to wanting to punish her for being flirty, well it wasn't realistic. She smiled and shook her head slightly as he stroked his ego, very well deserved of course, she knew he was quite the catch, and after what she had done with him all his life it was reasonable that she would flip at the sight of seeing him get to cozy with another woman. Even if the attempt ended badly, an honest attempt would send her over the edge, so there was no reason for them not to believe it, and of course, she wouldn't attack Terran directly, she'd hit him where it hurt most, his greenhouse, his food supply, because that would cripple him and his town both." Mm, yes, you're a very handsome man, I could never forget that, nor would I want to, but a lesson of that magnitude?" Christa smirks." I'm not sure if that's a good idea, I mean I can get very jealous, and I might do something completely irrational, you know like blast one of your greenhouses to tiny little bits of glass and uprooted weeds." Christa placed a hand on each side of Terran's face before pulling him close to her and kissing him deeply, but briefly, before speaking again, in a softer tone as she stays against his lips."very in-genius my love." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (black v neck crew top (and black and white Adidas tennis shoes. (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran nipped at her lips and kicked the bedroom door, shut. "MMM. You are such a naughty girl. You have to be punished." He slid his arms down around her. His hands slid over her butt and he squeezed gently. He always enjoyed the moments when they connected like this. They were like minds, even if it took a moment to figure out what train of thought they were on. He nudged her toward the bed as he pulled away from her for a moment. He slapped her ass, and then he moved over toward their dresser. Furthermore, he pulled open the drawer that contained their toys, specifically, restraints. Their restraints were not leather cuffs like many couples enjoyed. No, Terran didn't enjoy things such as that. But, he did enjoy items made of natural material. He walked back toward her. "Interested in being "punished" now?" He winked at her. Oh, he very much loved their games and there was a chance that they wouldn't have the chance to play very much if at all once she got Aiden's attention. So, he wanted to take advantage of having her to himself, now. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakersTime:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open"Mm, old habits do die hard." Christa smiled pressing into him slightly as he squeezed her ass. She figured Terran had wanted to play when he first took her water, they both enjoyed a good game once in a while, and if she was going to be bunking with her brother soon, she could certainly use more than a bit of fun before she did. One of those 'something to remember me by' situations. As he patted her ass she made her way to the bed, sitting down she slipped out of her shoes and tossed her socks aside before crawling onto the bed. She dare not strip completely, much of the fun was forcing her out of the clothes, but there was nothing sexy about her sneakers as he approached the bed she got onto her hands and knees as she crawled the few inches across the bed to where Terran stood, getting onto her knees in front of him she tugged slightly at the bottom of his shirt, before meeting her eyes with his and leaning forward giving him a passionate kiss. As she pulls away from the kiss she speaks softly, softly kissing along his chest as her hands traced lightly down his sides." Don't be too gentle, you do after all want to make sure I learned my lesson." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Mentioned:Aiden Terran raised his arms as she took his shirt off of him. A had dropped the restraints that he had gotten from the dresser, on the bed. His hand came up to tangle in her red hair as he returned the passionate kiss. His hand stays in her hair as she kisses down along his chest. A soft, pleased sigh passes over his lips. Her kisses on his skin were so gentle, like a summer breeze washing over one's body. It felt so good. So light, and barely there. And yet, it did so much." Now, Christa...my pet. Have you ever known me to be too gentle?" His eyes dropped to her as he shoves her backward, on to the bed. He kicks his shoes off by the bed. He moved on to the bed, pushing her on to her back. Furthermore, he lowered himself over her, left in only his pants. Furthermore, he nipped at her skin, starting at her neck and working his way down. His hands slid over her body, caressing her sides and her stomach. It killed him to think that he wasn't going to have the chance to touch her or even, really speak to her for likely weeks. While she fooled her siblings so that she could get the ring. Terran had become accustomed to having Christa there every day and every night to hold, to talk to, to make love to. He was suddenly going to have a lot of time on his hands. Well, there was the green house. He'd have plenty of time to rebuild that, he supposed. It would need to be back up and running as soon as possible, but it would take time for the plants to grow. He was going to kill flame boy for this, him having to sacrifice one of his green houses for the damn ring/book/crest. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakersTime:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran Christa closed her eyes as she kissed along Terran's stomach, feeling his fingers tangle in her hair. As he spoke she slowly moved her lips away from his body while she looked up at him. Slowly shaking her head to his question but not speaking a word. Slowly she moved forward again to start kissing once more on his stomach and chest as he pushed her back onto the bed. She had a hungry look in her eyes as she watched him, slowly sliding back on the bed so they wouldn't have to adjust themselves dramatically part way through. One of Christa's guilty pleasures was being 'punished' by Terran, which worked out quite nicely because he seemed to enjoy punishing her just as much. They had a relationship that some didn't understand, her siblings being among them. Seemed most if not all the Kendall family enjoyed a bit of bondage, but Christa was the only one who preferred the submissive side of things. Of course, she could and would only ever dare submit to Terran, and even then that aspect of their relationship was in the privacy of their home. As Terran forced Christa to lay back on the bed she smiled, every so slightly, watching him as he lowered his body to hers. Every moment with him was worth a thousand words to her, especially when they had no idea when they could do this again. She had to get in with her brother, she had to get that book back, and the worst part about it all was how much it was going to kill her to be away from Terran. No she wasn't his puppet on a string, she wasn't his dog on a leash. They were lovers, and had been since the first night he returned to Angel Creek. As he began kissing along her body she laid her head back on the bed, closing her eyes as she lifted her hands from the blanket and gently traced her fingertips along his hips, lightly caressing his skin as she moaned, ever so softly from his touch. Everything he did to her had capabilities of sending her over the edge, this fact was well known to him, that was in fact one reason she believed he enjoyed teasing her as he did. Slowly she ran her fingertips around to his back, slowly running them up his body as she shifted slightly beneath him, squirming a bit as he traced over her stomach where she was slightly ticklish. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Mentioned:Aiden Terran moaned softly as her fingertips ran along his body, specifically along his spine. His spine always seemed to be sensitive. He grinned as she squirmed beneath him. "You are so sensitive." His hands came out from beneath her top. He gripped the bottom and then dragged it up her torso and over her head. He tossed it aside. Then, his lips returned to her skin, working his way down. It really was questionable about who was the submissive, sometimes. The line certainly could Burr, because Christa had him wrapped around her little finger. Usually, what she wanted, she got. His hands slid down, and he gripped her jeans, unbuttoning and unzipping them. He peeled them down her thigh, exposing her panties beneath. By this time, he was extremely aroused. So, as he pressed against her again, she would instantly know it. His lips pressed to hers and his hands slid up her back, finding the snaps for her bra. He wanted it off of her before he used the restraints. The purpose in restraining her to the bed was so that he could tease her without mercy. Now, Terran couldn't say that he wasn't worried. What if something went wrong? They would be delivering Christa right in to enemy hands. Suddenly as these thoughts crossed his mind, he could feel himself stop breathing, a tightness in his chest. He shoved her hands over her head once her bra was off. He reached for the restraints, and he was already trembling. Was it excitement or fear? (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa smiled and blushed softly at his words, speaking softy as she removed her hands from his back, placing them over her head and lifting herself slightly from the bed as to make it easier for Terran to remove her shirt. "You just have the magic touch." As she began lowering back down to the bed his lips met with her flesh, causing her to moan softly as she kept her back arched. While he was undoing and removing her shorts, sliding them to her thighs she gently caressed his arms, tracing along each ripple from his muscles while he ran a hand up to her back, once more causing her to squirm. The anticipation always seemed to get her. She laughed softly, playfully as he pinned her arms over her head after removing her bra, opening her eyes as she watched him. Not his hands though. She trusted him with every fiber of her existence, she watched his face, and his bare chest as she tilted her head forward and softly pressed her lips to his flesh, leaving soft kisses behind as she did. In the time they had known each other they had been through a great deal, nothing like this, however. They'd never really been apart since he came back to Angel Creek in fact. It was a strange feeling, for them both. Especially considering why they would have distance between them. She was worried about Terran, worried about herself even, but she knew this needed to be done. He would be her motivation to hurry, but at the same time. Her brother was smart, and if he really wanted to, she was concerned he could corrupt her, or at least come fairly close. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open"Magic touch?" He grinned. She always stroked his ego. "Say it...tell me...what am I, Christa? I'm your what?" She usually called him her king, or large, something along those lines to stroke that lovely ego of his. It was only in fun and because she loved him so. He used the restraights as he tied them around her wrists and then tied her wrists to the headboard over her head. He gave her enough slack to be comfortable, but not enough that she could get loose without help, unless she really struggled to. Then, he began his decent down her body. As he reached her breasts, he paid special attention to them, loving each pink bud with touches, kisses and the soft pink muscle of his tongue. He worshiped her, every inch. Sometimes, he wasn't quite sure who was in control here, her for him doing to her all the things she loved, or him for tying her up and doing all the things to her that he loved. His pleasure came from her pleasure. Tying her up was a game that only added to their erratic fun. His hands slid down her body, his fingers sliding under her panties. His fingers slowly stroking her beneath the fabric. No matter what, he rarely tied her feet, feeling it would only inter them. If he did do any tying of her legs, it would only be to help her relax and not have to work so hard to keep them bent upward. Today, was not one of those days. Today, he would feel her legs wrap around his waist, when they got to that. For the moment, he was still in pants, her panties were still on and her jeans were around her thighs. He loved every single moment of it, the teasing and waiting it out as long as they possibly could, pushing her and himself to the absolute brink. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open"Mm, yes of course my liege. Unus versus Dominos mess." She spoke softly, even as she slipped into Latin while he set up the restraints on her wrists. She's tugging at them as he finished testing them, she didn't want them to lose any more than he did. For them both her being restrained was part of the fun, and if she somehow managed to break free to soon it could ruin it. Christa placed her head against her arm as she watched Terran toy with her breasts, moaning softly as he played with and teased her nipples, them hardening between his lips as he did. She purred softly as she felt his hand descend along her body, her eyes still fixed on him playing with her breasts as his hand slid into her panties. Lightly she tugs at her restraints, as she squirms again, her legs spreading a bit more as she squirms from his touch." Oo, you certainly do know how to spoil me" (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran was a complete addict. He could never get enough of her hyping him up, telling him what a lord he was. He loved to tease and play with her, but the clothes were most certainly in his way. His hand came away from her panties, and he moved, gripping her shorts and then dragging them down her legs, the rest of the way. Next, came her underwear. His pants didn't matter much right now, but hers did. He was most certainly hard for her without any attention paid to his throbbing member at all. That fun would come a bit later. For now, he got her undressed and tossed the clothes off the bed. He slid his hands up along her milky skin on his way back up her body. His hands moved along her inner thighs, and he pushed them apart as his head came between them. His tongue darting out and flicking against the little pleasure point there, between her thighs. His arms wrapped around each thigh as he literally pressed his face in to her moistness, nibbling and licking her. Perhaps he did spoil her, but it was the best thing ever to feel her quiver and hear her scream in pleasure, knowing that he was the cause of it. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa lightly bit the inside of her lip as she watched Terran slide down her body, he was always so gentle with her, even at the times they got rough, he was always willing to make sure she was alright, that she was comfortable. He was always so good to her. Sometimes she actually wished she would have found ways to sneak into school with him, get to know him sooner, maybe have actually gone to college with him, being with him all this time. She moved her legs slightly to help in the removal of her clothes, laying the flat on the bed again as he tossed the items aside. She moaned softly as his hands traced up her legs, causing them to twitch a bit. Not so much from what he was doing but from the anticipation of what was to come. As he pressed lightly against her thighs spreading her legs she moved her legs along the bed as he slid between them. Christa smiled as Terran wrapped his arms around each of her thighs, throwing her head back as he pressed his face into her. "OO armor, ooh bonus ES ad me." She moaned as she began squirming from the pleasure she tugged slightly at the cuffs. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran had been a promiscuous teenager. Star quarterback, class president, Mr. popularity in high school. He'd always had Landon McKnight's unpopular, fight starting ass, and he had any girl he wanted. It had been the same in college. But, the one thing that Terran had never had was someone who genuinely loved him. That was the difference in what he had with Christa. Even when they fought, really fought, her feelings for him and his feelings for her never wavered. So, every time that she called him her love, he felt a pride that he had never felt before. It was a trip of power for him. It made him even and steady. Furthermore, it was soothing and calming. Furthermore, it was exciting, thrilling. Terran lifted his head only when he needed to take a breath and then, he released her thighs. He pushed himself up on his knees and began to undo his pants." Et mini quote ..." She was so good to him. Sometimes, he knew he took that for granted. He feared that he took it for granted too much. What if what they were planning didn't go well. What if she came back to him different? What if she didn't come back to him at all because Aiden found out and did something to her? His eyes roamed over her before they came up to her face." I do love you. You know that, don't you?" (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa smiled watching Terran, still squirming and tugging lightly at the cuffs. She loved how he teased her, he was always so careful. As he sat up on his knees her eyes drew to his, slowly tracing her tongue across her lips as he undid his pants. Her eyes slowly traveled down his body as he spoke. His words melted her to a near puddle, his Latin. She had taught him when he was younger. It was her primary language, as it was for the entire Kendall family, at least as far as she knew. When his parents forced him to forget her however, he also forgot everything she taught him. When the spell was broken his first words to her weren't the kindest, he was quite irate with her, but just hearing him speak it again. That alone made everything right in her world." Of course, I know that my love, I shall never forget it." Terran was worried, it wasn't completely obvious, he hid things better than that, but he did give little hints. Her going back to her brother could be dangerous. What if he found out it was a ploy? What if he managed to really suck her in, and she knew nothing about Cali, nothing at all. She sighed softly as she looked up at him, meeting her eyes once more with his." Let's not think about it my liege, not right now." She lightly rubbed her leg against his side as her voice softened, to near a whisper "Si cut patent anime, et the aloud cogitate, quit nun quidem serum aloud domino" (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Brown cargo pants (1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran smiled back at Christa. He watched as she tugged at her restraints. All she had to do was tell him she wanted out of them. He certainly did love watching her squirm when he teased her, though. He nodded his head as she told him to forget about everything and only to concentrate on what they were doing right then. She wanted him to forget about Aiden, Cali, everything that was distracting him. He needed to put it out of his mind not only for now, but all together, or he would never go through with it. They would never get that damn crest and Aiden might as well throw a celebration party, cause then he would have won. He slid off the side of the bed as he unzipped his cargo pants. He slid them off, kicked them to the side, and then he moved back on to the bed. Slowly, he crawled over Christa, kissing his way up her body." Quid multi, Regina?" Terran laid over her and picked up a piece of her red hair, playing with it as he stared down in her eyes. God, she was so beautiful." Hmmm? He knew that he didn't deserve her. His member pressed against her, hard and ready, but he didn't move to take her with it, yet. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, opens Terran slid off the bed and Christa watched him. Most of the time he was naked, it was how he was most comfortable, and this was his home, so of course he should be. Didn't stop her from enjoying watching him strip, and enjoying the amazing view of his naked form. She could still remember that first night they spent together. Storming into the room in a fit of rage. She was furious, and there he was, calm as can be and naked as a jay bird, her heart skipped a beat. Though she never admitted to it, she was sure Terran knew. He seemed to be able to read into her quite well, depending on the subject of course. As he crawled over her, she couldn't help but smile, her eyes sparkling as she scanned over the naked flesh. She really could never get enough of him, which made it surprising she didn't jump him more often than she did. That was one of the things he was teaching her, restraint. That's what kept her from slapping him out of his chair at the bakery, or throwing Aiden's car across the street into the brick building across the way. So even though that's not why he did what he did, it was helping her blend into the town better, into his town better." I want you, I want us to make love, like it was our first time. I want to take in every second to allow it the chance to last forever, and I'd like these restraints off." As she mentioned the restraints she glanced up at them, then returned her gaze to her love. Softening her voice dramatically as she spoke, a soft smile on her face. "Prime taken Selim mini oculus." (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran's lips came down on Christa's. She didn't have to tell him twice to kiss her. His tongue moved past her lips to play along the inside of her mouth. A soft moan came from him as he kissed her. His hands slid up her arms, to her hands. The restraints were in a slipknot. So, he just slid the knot up a bit to let her free her hands. Once her hands were free, his arms slid around her as he continued to kiss her. She was free now. Now, the real fun began. No doubt, she was going to get him back for teasing her. Oh, what a sweet torture such retaliations were. He loved it. Christa was everything he could ever want. She was sweet and she was spicy. She was learning her restraints very well. What they were about to do would be a test for her though. Would she be able to maintain her restraints with her siblings? Terran didn't know, but he wasn't thinking about it right now. Right now. He slid his hands down her body, over her thighs and hooked his hands under her knees as he helped her move in to position. He reached down and gripped the base of his penis, guiding it in to place. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa moaned softly against his lips, slightly parting her own as his tongue slipped between them. Slowly she trailed her tongue around his, smiling into their kiss as he loosened the knots and helped guide her hands carefully from the restraints. No matter what the circumstances he was always gentle with her. Even when angered, once he calmed his first concern was always her. She loved that about him, he truly did love her, as she did him. It was more than she ever could have asked for, and at times she felt it was more than she deserved. As his hands made his way down her body she placed a hand on each side of his face while they kissed. Moaning again as his hands trailed along her legs she squirmed a bit working her body into a longer lasting comfortable position as Terran adjusted her legs. Slowly she slid her hands down his neck and over his shoulders before guiding them down his arms as she broke their kiss. She sucked lightly on Terran's tongue as she pulled back, before she began lightly nibbling along his shoulder, her hands now resting on her legs as she held them in place, out of the way of his movements. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st: 1:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran set the pace, a slow and steady pace. He did not want her to hit her climax too soon. Though he had no doubt she enjoyed every second of getting there. His movements were deliberate. Each stroke deep, hard. Oh, how he loved it, just as he knew she loved it. Taking their time, enjoying one another. He moaned with each movement, each time that she would tighten on him. It felt so wonderful and even more so because it was her. She was his and he was hers. It was a unified pairing, a pairing that was planned before he was ever even thought of. Terran's dark brown eyes locked on to hers. "My queen." He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, pulling her legs around him. He wanted her to squeeze him and hold him tight to her. His arms slid around her as he continued to hit that spot for her, thrusting and pulsing deep. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:15pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open-Thoughts: Aiden Christa's moans grew louder with each trust, as his lips touched hers she kissed him in return. The way he made her feel was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. He gave her new life, purpose. With how she was she may not always deserve what Terran offered her, but he gave it to her nonetheless, and she couldn't help but enjoy it. Their exchanging of pet names started from the beginning. He loved being called 'my liege' It nursed his ego, which of course was one reason she did it. The other reason is that he was. To her, he was a god, something she thought she'd never be able to touch, never be able to truly feel. She certainly didn't think she'd be with him, having him in her bed in the same cabin where much of it all started. Terran and Christa made love quite often, they did love one another, but this day, this time was a bit different. They were both a bit scared of what was going to happen, though neither of them would admit to it. They didn't know what could occur within the walls of the Kendall home. So they cherished their time, being more playful with one another than they usually were. It was amazing, and when it was finished Christa's body was shaking from the pleasure, more so than it ever had before. Once they had both climaxed they laid together on the bed. Keeping hold of the moment at hand. Enjoying every second as if it were their last, for once she went into her brother's clutches, until she got that book back, it could very well be. She took slow and steady breaths as she cuddled into him, calming her breathing and allowing her heart rate to go back to normal as her body slowly began to stop shaking. She couldn't get up from the bed at this point if she wanted to however, Terran was far too good to her body for that. Though laying there with him, it was better than anything else she could possibly wish to do. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st: 2:15pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran was resting on his back, his breathing deep and steady. His lips were slightly up turned in to a small, happy smile. He was completely void of any energy, whatsoever. There was a sheen of sweat covering his skin in a thin layer, his hair just about looked like Landon's did every day, a tossed, spiked mess. However, the way he felt was amazing. All the times he and Christa had made love, this had to be at the top of the list for the best sex ever. He tilted his head and looked at her, really looked at her. It was like he was looking at her for the first time. He loved this woman. He truly loved this woman with every fiber of his being. Furthermore, he could never imagine himself ever loving anyone else the way that he loved her. She was a part of him. She made him what he was. His fingers came up to play in her red hair. He loved her red hair. It fit her so perfectly, that wild nature of hers. "We should have a nice date night, Christa. We have never done it and I think that we should, before we do this thing for Aiden to see. Maybe Angela can fix something private up for us at the grill." His voice was soft. He was tired and ready to take a short nap, but it was a thought he had. Funny enough, he had Theo to thank for it as well as the pin that he was purchasing from him. He wanted to be able to give it to her before she was taken from him by Aiden. He wanted her to have something from him, a piece of him with her to remind her of what was waiting for her back at home. His hand moved, tracing down along her arm, over her swirling tattoos. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:15pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa let out a soft, content sigh, all her life this is where she wanted to be, where she hoped she'd be. Laying in bed, in her home. With the man she loved, with the man that would save her, protect her from herself. Yes it sounded like a heavy burden to bare, but the truth of the matter was, it wasn't. Terran wasn't going to change her heart by forcing her to see things as he did. He was going to change it through his love for her, for their passion for one another. The prophet spoke of an Earth, that would win her heart, and thereby change her very nature. Giving her a sense of peace, and security. She never fit in with his family. She had doubts because they always kept her at such a distance. Terran didn't however, maybe that was because of what she told him about the prophecy. Maybe it was because the first night they had one another she hit her knees and begged for his forgiveness, but maybe it wasn't. Christa looked at him, a gentle smile crossing her lips as she had caught he was already looking at her. Their sex was always amazing, but this time. There was a different spark. She could feel it, and she could see it when she looked into Terran's eyes, he felt it too. Almost like it was the first time all over again. She purred softly as he played with her hair, she loved it, of course she loved everything he did to her. Even when he was furious, the fact that he would take the time to step back, just to avoid harming her. Even if she deserved it, and sometimes she herself believed she did." I've never been on a date before Terran, I wouldn't even know what to do." Christa spoke in a soft voice, a sort of innocence, child like nativity to it as her cheeks took on a light shade of pink. She laid her face down against Terran's chest to hide her embarrassment. Sure she was 'with' one of his great uncles, but that was a long time ago, and they weren't really a couple so much as a partnership. They worked together. Just like Terran worked with Angela, or she worked now with Landon, just, a few more intimate moments involved. Chirsta had lost her virginity to Terran, after waiting 207 years for the man she never thought she'd have. So it was expected that he would figure she'd never been on a date, that didn't stop her from being completely embarrassed, however. She continued to smile as she felt his hand along her arm, it was soothing. He always knew just how to bring her back to him. She slowly lifted her head and looked at him, the hint of pink still upon her cheeks." I would love to go on a date with you Terran Marc arum." Christa's eyes had a slight twinkle to them as she leaned into Terran, pressing her lips softly to his she gave him a few gentle pecks, before finally kissing him deeply. Her eyes slowly fell closed as she traced her nails lightly along his abs. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st: 2:15pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran felt guilt sometimes, that she had waited so long and...he was what she got. He felt undeserving of her, most of the time. Here she was, a beautiful and talented Wind Deity, very much his senior and with more knowledge than he could ever imagine having. The only reason he was as far along in his craft as he was...was because of her waking him up as such an early age. He had no idea of her relationship with his great uncle, but he did know that he was the one that got her virginity and even that he felt guilty of. She had waited specifically for him. What had he done? He'd slept with just about every girl he came in contact with in his younger years. Of course, that was mostly because his girlfriends kept disappearing. He watched as she curled in to him like an innocent little kitten. He chuckled a little,"It's alright. Everyone has to have a first. I'm just glad your first is with me." He wasn't going to leave her to flounder." How about a movie or dinner? You like movies and we both like dinner." Something easy, that wouldn't stress her out too much. It was never good when she stressed out. As she used his original surname, his Latin name, he beamed with pride. He loved his Latin name, but aside from Landon and Angela, she was the only one that even knew it. His eyes closed as she leaned in and kissed him. He moaned softly as he felt her nails on his ribs. If she wasn't careful they would be hitting the sheets again, hard. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:17pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa loved Terran, more than she ever thought she could, far more than she imagined was even possible. There were times that Terran would ask himself why. At the same time however Christa would do the same. She would ask how she could have been so lucky as to get such a catch. She was a dark witch, with everything her family had done, everything he knew about her, and yet he still loved her as he did. At first, she thought perhaps his emotions towards her were pity, or perhaps even his ego believing that since she worshiped him as she did he could have her any time he wanted, for any purpose. That wasn't the case at all, however. He really did love her. When he moved back to the cabin with her, she was more than thrilled, yes one of the reasons they were both there was so that the cabin didn't fall into her brother's clutches, but he didn't have to stay. He could have hired someone to stay. Gotten a place in town, they could even have stayed in Landon's house where they already had been, but no. He chose to stay in the cabin. It was his home, in many ways more so than his parents home that he had left when he went to college. Weeks ago Christa and Terran had had a talk, with Landon and Angela present. She told them a few things from her past, that she had been with a fire who was a great deal like Landon, and as a result of his behavior the man had killed himself. It was a story to get then to work their magics, to get used to them, but it wasn't just a fable. That story was the one about Terran's great uncle, though she had left that out of the story, as she left out the fact that she was 'with' him. A few days after that Christa had confessed to being involved in the disappearance of most of Terran's girlfriends. She found it difficult to lie to him, and though she didn't recall the subject, that was related. He didn't seem very angry at her however, though she at the time felt that was only because she didn't kill them. All she did was sent them away to different places, and she was sure by now that most of them had rather nice lives, and had probably even contacted Terran or his family to tell them about it. Christa smiled at his words. "Everyone has to have a first..." Everyone does have to have a first date, but normally that's shortly after they entered their second digits, 15 or 16 maybe, not shortly after they've entered their triple digits. In many ways however Christa was still a child. She was a rather powerful Deity yes, in the world of magic she was very in tune with things, but as far as the mortal world went, dating, understanding and following of emotions. She hadn't a clue, that is what she was learning from Terran, Landon and Angela, how to be more... Human." I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather date my love." She smiled, laughing softly as she continued. "A movie and dinner would be great." As he moaned against her lips she smiled into the kiss. She loved listening to him moan, especially when it was due to her touch. He had so much power over her, and it drove her wild knowing she had just as much over him. Sliding her hand from his torso onto the bed beside him, she deepened their kiss, shifting her body so she was now hovering over him. She didn't know that she was ready for another round, but she did know she couldn't get enough of him. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:2:20pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran was most certainly angry at her when he learned about her involvement in the disappearance of many of his girlfriends, but it was spilled milk. He wasn't going to cry about it. She hadn't killed them. She had showed him that she was capable or restraining herself, of being human. So, he got over it, quickly. He smiled as she had said she would love to date him, and then he laughed a little. Well, he'd hope so. He nodded as she confirmed dinner and a movie would be a good start. He'd make the arrangements with Angela later, see if they could get a private section of the restaurant for an evening, maybe some romantic candlelight. Yeah, it'd be great. She'd love it. He just knew that she would. His hands slid up along her body, behind her and up her back as she hovered over him, kissing him, and he kissed her back. She wasn't ready to get back on for a ride, and he was fine with that. He was content in just kissing and holding her. His hands slowly made their way up in to her hair. He gripped it gently, tugging gently. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:23pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa had made a great deal of mistakes in her life, far more than her fair share. She knew she wasn't perfect, but even with all her mistakes in her past, even with how much his family hated her, he still loved her, he still believed that she was capable of being a good person. He pushed her forward, and helped her to understand things that she otherwise didn't. He was her guardian angel, but even then he was more than that. For Christa Terran was a god, and not just any god but her god. He was something she never thought she'd see, never thought she'd feel, and certainly never planned on having in her bed with her, night after night. It was all a dream, just a wonderful dream. Where she meant as much to him as he meant to her. As they kissed she took in the magic of it all, the sheer lust, the deadly passion, the never ending love that the two of them shared. That was her strength, he was her strength. As his hands traced over her body she moaned softly into their kiss, his touch melted her, to nothing more than a puddle on the floor. He knew this, in fact she believed it was one reason he enjoyed touching her as much as he did. He seemed to live to please her. Throwing a leg over both of his she straddled over his lap, resting her elbows on each side of his head, to steady herself as they continued to kiss while she lightly ran her fingers through his hair. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:2:26pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran didn't view himself in the way Christa did. He kicked himself daily for the way he ran from what he truly is. If he had stuck around, maybe...just maybe, Jess would still be alive. Maybe his parents, Landon and Angela's parents would still be alive too. It was a constant struggle for him. He constantly blamed himself. In fact, he viewed Christa very much as a goddess, a very powerful Goddess. He would never understand why she waited for someone like him. She could have her pick of men. He grinned against her lips as she straddled him. Even if all they did was kiss, he loved it when she did it. She completely consumed him, covered him with her beautiful body and he absolutely loved it. His hands slid along her back and her hips, over her butt, giving it a squeeze while they kissed. He moaned softly. He whispered between kisses, against her lips, "I love you, more than anything." She was the air he breathed, the breeze against his skin. She was what consumed his every day and every night, and he was happy about it. What was he going to do with himself without her? (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:30pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open"I love you, more than anything." Those words always made Christa smile, whether in English, Latin, or even in his actions she loved to hear him say it. He got on himself sometimes, feeling he didn't do all he could to prove to her, she was his everything, but in reality. She felt she saw it every day. Just that morning he was rather rude to Theo, protecting his girl, at least that's how his jealousy saw it when it kicked in. He wanted to make sure he kept his property, and everyone knew she was his. Of course, he didn't view her as property, it was nothing like that. Even during moments of Devine passion when she was tied to the bed and completely at his mercy, he never viewed her as less than she was." I love you too Terran" she whispered softly against his lips before giving him a gentle peck and speaking again. "Everything will be alright. I know you'll protect me." She was of course speaking about her going to the Kendall home, no he wouldn't be there to physically protect her, but he would be her strength. Inside herself he would keep her straight, keep them from turning her, and when the deed was done. He would bring her back to him, safe and sound, with her crest in hand. That's just how much she believed in what they had. She knew without him, she didn't stand a chance, but long as he knew what he was capable of, long as he knew what he could do. She'd be alright. Slowly she sat up, slowly tracing her nails along his body, her mind wondering back through the years, all the time she'd been around him. Memories she had of him, that he didn't know about. Sliding her hands to his sides she leaned forward once more kissing his lips as her hands trailed slowly up his sides. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:2:32pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran smiled as she returned the words of devotion. She was trying to make him feel better about things. He appreciated that, but it didn't really help. He wouldn't feel better until she was back home again. Furthermore, he knew the kind of temptations she would face. Furthermore, he also knew the bond family could have. It could be so strong. He traced his fingers up through her hair and sighed softly. "Ego very non satiabitur done in sing me." He kissed her again and groaned as he felt her fingertips along his sides. His own hands slid out of her hair and down over her sides and her back, then back up her back and along her spine. He grinned against her lips, "DEA Amiga MEA." He sighed softly and closed his eyes as he kissed her again, enjoying the feel of her fingers tracing over his skin. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:30pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa didn't blame Terran for being uneasy about this plan, if there were another way she'd prefer it even. It was a huge risk going to her brother, a huge risk even pretending to turn on Terran. She smiled as he spoke, not away from her siblings, not just back home, but in his arms. That thought drew a blanket of warmth over her. He was her everything, and he proved why every day. She smiled as they kissed, his groans causing her to slid slightly down his body. "Strum funds me eras mess me slim nun, et veteran future tibia est." As she broke their kiss she lightly began kissing along his jaw line as she traced her hands slowly along his arms then back down again. She loved the way he felt against her skin, his hands on hers. They were where the belonged. Not just during sex, or foreplay but when he held her during a movie, or a drive. When she was scared. Knowing that no matter what his arms would be there to hold her. That's what really scared Christa, what happened when they weren't? When she was with her brother and sister and the only one there to hold her was them? How would she survive without him. She shook her head of the thoughts, she didn't need them. They weren't going to help either of them, and right now they both needed their strength. As her hands once more traced up his arms towards his shoulders she began kissing softly down the side of his neck. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:2:32pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran grinned as he heard those words leave his beloved's lips. "The same goes for you." She was everything for him. He had nothing left other than a bank account, a few businesses, a couple of friends. As far as family, he had lost them all. She was the only family he really had left. He knew, easily, if he lost her that he would completely lose it, his mind that is. He enjoyed the feel of her kissing along his jaw, touching up and down his arms. Furthermore, he flexed his arms under her hands, just to give her a bit of a thrill. Furthermore, he knew she loved it when he flexed those muscles of his for her, developed in football, and then he had maintained them with regular weight lifting and cardio. His hands traced slowly along Christa's spine as she kissed down the side of his neck. His eyes closed as he enjoyed her lips against his skin. His hands slowly traced up and in to her hair. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 2:30pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, openChirsta giggles like a school girl as Terran flexed his muscles under her hands, she loved when he did that, and it got her giddy every time. Most likely in fact why he did it. Everything he did in one manner or another was for her. That was the only proof she needed that he loved her, that and his words that clarified it. People like Aiden could say whatever they believed to be true, that she was brainwashed, that he was using her, that she was just a toy. It didn't matter to her, just as it didn't to him. He was protective, and easily jealous, those were his greatest faults when it came to her, and she didn't really consider either one of those to be a real issue. She moaned softly as he ran his fingers through her hair. She absolutely loved having him play with her hair, it was his way of showing even when she was on top of him that he was really the one still in control. Furthermore, she didn't mind that at all, she gave him all the power he wanted, that was how their relationship worked. They took care of one another, they played, and they made love while both standing on the same level. Yes even when she was bound he never saw himself as above her, she enjoyed being tied up for him, if she didn't all she would have to do is ask him to remove the restraints, and he would without a hesitation. As his hands went up through her hair she slowly worked her way kissing down his chest, tasting every bit of him she could as she did. The feel of his skin against her lips melted her heart, the passion that came from every kiss, that was given to him through every gentle flick of her tongue. Christa and Terran could make love a thousand times just during the foreplay of passion, teasing one another back and forth was all part of the joys. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:3:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, OpenID was in fact, the very reason he did it, to hear that beautiful giggle of hers. Every time she walked in the room, he still found himself losing his breath, amazed that she was his, and he was hers. Maybe he did have a few traits that were unfavorable to most people, but he had already lost just about everyone that he cared for. He wasn't about to lose another to the darkness that had swept over Angel Creek. As Christa moaned, he gripped her hair a little and gave a light tug. "You like that, don't you?" He chuckled, being playful and teasing in his words. He sucked in a breath as she answered him with kisses down his chest. Furthermore, he released her hair, his arms moved above his head, gripping the pillow that was under his head. Furthermore, he could hold on to that tighter than he could her hair. Furthermore, he wasn't going to hurt the pillow, her hair wasn't so forgiving. Furthermore, he moaned softly as she made her way down his body, kissing and flicking her tongue out in places. It lit him on fire deep down, that unyielding passion. Terran's eyes closed as he enjoyed the tingling sensations that danced over his skin and added to his pleasure. Sometimes it was good just to lay back and enjoy Christa's talented lips. The only trouble with the foreplay and passion after sex as, she always found a way to get him aroused again. It was a sweet torture. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st: 3:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, opens he chuckled after asking his question she lightly nipped his flesh, not really even hard enough to leave a mark. She didn't need to vocally respond to his question, her actions answered it just fine, and to the point that he understood exactly how she felt. Every kiss upon his flesh was an 'I love you', 'I need you'. It was her way of spoiling him for only a few seconds with each kiss. The light flicks of her tongue were greater signs of passion. Ways of showing him just how much she needed him at the time, how badly she wanted him, how deeply he was desired. As he released her hair she couldn't help but smile into her kisses. Terran hated the idea of hurting Christa, really hurting her. Sure they got rough, and pain happens, but to purposely cause her pain, he would sooner die, so when he released her hair she knew without even looking what he was doing. At first, she had to watch him, make sure she wasn't boring him, but she wasn't. He was using his self-control to protect her, even from himself when needed. That was one of the things that she found so unique about their relationship. He loved for her to push the limits. He'd always tell her she couldn't hurt him, and there were numerous times that she would drag her nails along his back because of the pleasure he was drowning her in, and yet, he said nothing. Sometimes it made her wonder if she really couldn't hurt him. Not that she'd want to of course. Christa glanced up at him as she slid down the bed, sure enough his arms were wrapped over his head, holding onto the pillow beneath it. As she watched him she smiled softly, slowly tracing the tips of her nails up both of his sides, as she lightly blew over his skin before she began kissing along his abs. Taking her time, kissing every bit of him she had access to, making each moment last as long as she could. As she got to his waist she slowly traced her tongue along the front of his body, just along his waist line as her nails continued up and down his sides lightly, just teasing along his flesh. (Marks Species/Element:Witch, Earth Deity Wearing:Nude Time:August 1st:3:00pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Christa, Open Terran groaned as he felt her nails against her skin. Yeah, he loved both pain and pleasure, to a point. He did have his limits, but Christa had never even come close to them. So, he never worried about it. His abs tightened as her breath and her lips washed over him. Chills creeped along his spine, causing his flesh to form goose bumps. It was her tongue just tracing over his waist line and the added pleasure of her nails on his skin, just right there, hovering. "Fucking tease..." He moaned loudly, enjoying every single second of it, every touch, kiss, lick, nip and nail rake. He lifted his head and looked down at her, watching her every movement. Furthermore, he knew that she loved it as much as he did. She loved getting his reaction, pleasing him as much as he liked to please her. His heart was beating in his chest, his pulse quick. He loved this woman so much, and she did so much for him. His tongue slid across his lips to moisten them. "Vixen." He grinned, teasing her. (Kendall Species/Element:LightishWitch - Air Deity Wearing:faded blue Daisy Dukes, top same as picture, sneakers Time:August 1st:3:03pmLocation:Kendall Wood: Do mum Heritage:Terran, open Christa smiled upon hearing his words "Fucking tease..." They both knew it was no insult, he could never bring himself to insult her. Those words had meaning just as strong, however. They meant she was doing just fine. That she was getting the reaction that she wanted, that she so desired getting from him. Moments like this made the times he teased her so perfect, so absolutely remarkable, and it's what their relationship lived for. The sexual bickering back and forth. The way they could spend hours in bed with one another, enjoying the company of each other." Mmm, Omanis inch dev obis est multi nectar, Komodo praetermitteret Quechua?" Slowly Christa ran her nails down his sides as she looked up at him, catching eye contact with him, she blew him a kiss, and laughed playfully as he called her a Vixen as she leaned forward and lightly kissed along the top of his groin. Her eyes still fixed on him as her nails continued slowly down his legs. She really did love teasing him, just as much as he enjoyed teasing her. What made it even better is that even being on the teased end they both had fun. They of course had their limits however, though neither of them had reached it with the other. They were both well aware that they were there.

Angel Creek - Kendall Wood_Cabin|rating:2.0

Shifters..Open..

Kara was 25yrs old and this would be her first trip to the Fall's where the lacanthrops met once every 4yrs, to mate or simply gather together. From her studies and what she had discovered over the last few years knew that this would be the only chance she had to study them.unless she waited another 4yrs. As they were in the jungle she had narrowed the species down to. Jaguar's, Harpy Eagle's, the fox, and possibly the horned owl, but knew that it was possible for there to be other creatures forms that the Loans had taken aside from just the ones she was thinking. As she headed off words the Fall's she wondered if perhaps the Shifters or Loans went the Mayans and Incas, or the Guaraní Indians who had disappeared without a trace over 100's of years ago, or perhaps another people entirely who had been here before them. Kara is 5ft 4in weighing about 130 lbs she is slender of build with muscular arms, and legs from hiking and backpacking tho jungles and forests. Her breasts are high full, and form. She has long black hair that hits just past her waist when down with dove gray almost silver eyes, and darkly tanned skin from being out in the sun and weather. Slowly emerging from the thick vegetation, multitudes of lush surgery, and vines hanging from the trees. Kara looked around, seeing no others around she continued. There was still plenty of daylight, and she didn't expect to see any Shifters until the moon arose, but then from what she had read if they were old enough then they cold change at any time. If they were even real she reminded herself just because she hoped they were didn't make it so. The sunlight was coming through the trees she could hear the roaring sounds of the falls, and feel the spray of the water as it fell into the pool below. Working her way down the rocks to the pool she was careful not to slip on the rocks, it was hot, and steamy in the Jungle, and the water below looked very inviting she thought. Kara knelt by the pool dipping her hand in the water she pound the water down the valley between her breast's, getting her shirt wet, and over her neck. Trying to cool her body some not having any luck. Thinking herself alone Kara sat down her pack, and began to remove her tan color tang top and shorts along with her socks shoes and undergarments. Laying the knife she had carried with her for protection on the edge of the rocks with in easy reach should she need it, she reached up and unwound the braid in her hair. The water shimmer in the sunlight as it ran down her soft skin, and lower still to the shadowed place between her legs where she Knelt, bringing some relief from the hot sun to her body. Her hair flowing around her the tips early touching the water, as she splashed more on her face droplets ran down her throat to the creamy swell of her breast's. Taking her time she wondered where the best place for her to hide would be and noticed a small indention large enough for her small version to sit on beneath the falls and looking at it from all angles she knew she could stay hidden their in the dark as long as their eyesight was the same as hers but she didn't have a choice if she wanted to learn the truth. Her partner only scorned and laughed at her for her ideas and had refused to allow her to take a team with her for protection saying that if she brought back some sort of proof he might believe her. It had hurt that he had turned his back on her after 4yrs of research and working together and laughed, but she was determine and after calling him an ass gathered her things and made her way here. The water and the noise of the falls would mask her scent and any noise she might make. And she wondered how many lecanthrops, Male and Female that there would be if they came. Arising from her kneeling position, she picked up the dagger, and dove into the water taking it with her in case a snake or other creature had made itself comfortable in that area, and to take a closer look to make sure that there would be enough room for herself and her pack on the ledge. Ooc: How's this? Ic: iMac was young. Very young for a Lyman. The majority of his tribe could be classed as elders by most living today. By contrast, little iMac was only 19 years of age, and full of curiosity. So much so that his tribal elders tried to keep him close to at least two others as he had been known to disappear from time to time. This was one of those times. Assuming his bestial form of the jungle Jaguar as he was prone to do, he had slipped away in order to investigate what he had only heard referred to as the "sacred place". Obviously, he reasoned, the elders did not consider iMac to be of age to have the secret knowledge of the place given to him. But that hadn't dulled his curiosity. Rimac was fairly small in his jaguar form, being only 5 feet in length, excluding his tail and only 62cm tall. He was still quite powerfully built like most of the animals who'see form he had taken. His large, white paws found purchase with every step, which propelled him through the jungle with ease and speed. It was not long before his acute hearing picked up the sound of the falls. iMac knew that this was the "sacred place" as it was the only place where water fell from such a height for quite some distance. Knowing he was close, his heart beat faster, and he strained his muscles to move him even faster toward his goal. When he arrived, however, iMac found something he did not expect. Clothes. Not quite the same sort of thing his tribe wore when they wore their human forms, but still identifiable as clothing of some kind. The odd thing was that he could not see anyone in them, and their previous owner had obviously not been killed and eaten while wearing them. Curiosity taking over once more, iMac's powerful jaguar form body made its way out to where the pile of belongings were, keeping his large green eyes on them the whole time, and sat down next to them, so lost in thought as to who they belonged to that he paid absolutely no attention to what was in the water... Kara watched the Jaguar that emerged from the shrubbery and debated whether or not to stay where she was. Being naked even armed with the knife she would still be an easy target. Quietly she watched as the Jaguar made its way towards her clothing sniffing and smelling around. It wasn't until he moved to inspect her pack that she realized he couldn't find her scent due to the water, she could slip into the water, and surprise him and possibly scare him off but if he was a shifter then she would have lost her own advantage in waiting here at the falls. Giving a small sigh she settled in on the ledge to wait and see if the Jaguar would leave on its own. iMac stopped examining the clothing after a short while. He had the feeling that whoever they belonged to was indeed not dead and that, in all likelihood, probably close by. Whoever that belonged to, iMac's curiosity pushed him to meet them. Craning his animalistic head up, he strained to see the high sun through the green canopy. It was not too late in the day, and quite probably he would have time for a short rest while waiting for the mysterious owner to return for their clothing. Looking around quickly, iMac found a sturdy tree to climb and, after a few seconds of scrabbling, lazily perched himself on the branch, trying to look as threatening as possible to those that would notice him, but still enough that the casual observer would miss him completely. Resting his chin on the branch, he kept his green eyes fixed on the bundle of clothes below CascallThe panther kept his presence hidden from the female taking a bath. He was curious as why an alone woman was taking a bath at the falls. It could be dangerous. He decided to keep a silent watch over her as there was a risk that more dangerous creatures could appear. Suddenly he saw movement and a jaguar appeared. It took interest in the pile of clothes the woman have left on land. The jaguar did not notice the woman or the panther at all. The water would cover up the woman's scent and the wind was in the panther's favor to keep his scent from the jaguars sensitive nostrils. The jaguar was Lyman and so was the panther. His name was Catcall. A powerfully built black man in human form. He was 34 years old and a loner. He was also very familiar with this jungle. He saw that the woman had noticed the jaguar and was hesitant as what to do with this situation. Catcall lay still in the tree as he surveyed what would happen next. Still unsure if the jaguar was dangerous or not. He looked rather young and Catcall knew he could disarm any threat he would pose, if he was fast and reacted quickly. When the jaguar retreated to a branch to watch the pile of clothes a grunt escaped the panthers mouth. It could be read as a short laugh. He lay still to observe who would make the first move. The jaguar or the woman. Snake?IOC: Let me know if this is too far off....PIC IS A HUGE PYTHON (African Rock actually)... just to give you an idea...it is an electrical cow fence the snake is hung up on...IC:Basking on a large rock the Python soaks up the heat to help digest her meal...the 2 strays made a good snack... Her eyes never closing, she notices a strange series of events... A human... then a cat, then another....my what an odd get-together....she thinks, not moving yet watching & also flicking her tongue out to sniff every so often... Not much bothers her, she knows most beasts will steer clear of her as she has been known to kill for the sheer pleasure of it & leave the body for the hyena's & vultures... She is almost 15 feet long and about a 2 feet thick, with jaws that can crush ribs, She strikes quickly & anything taken into her coils has no chance as her length quickly wraps around it fiercely to constrict... A time of yearning to mate has drawn her near this place... If she doesn't mate this year in animal form, the change back to her human form may stay permanent which is something she does not wish... unless the human that came could take her back & teach her ways of their kind... Kara waited beneath the falls, for the jaguar to leave and didn't see it climb up onto a tree branch nearby, and stayed beneath the falls for a while longer to make sure it had left. Quietly she eased her way down into the water knife in hand, before diving and swimming under the water beneath the falls, back words the ledge where her clothing, and pack were sitting. Breaking the surface of the water coming up for air, she laid her hands on the rocky ledge and carefully looked around not yet getting out of the water. Upon looking up she noticed the Jaguar in the tree and cursed.damn it Now what do I do. She thought two options get out and pray it doesn't eat you or . Or what?... Try to swim to the other side and make myself a target to get eaten?? Ok option a sounds best. Eyeing the jaguar carefully she kept her movements slow and did her best to hide her fear, not wanting to provoke it into attacking her, as she climbed up out of the water. Knowing that she probably look extremely reticular having nothing but the knife. Lady Fairy said: Kara kept her movements slow and did her best to hide her fear, not wanting to provoke it into attacking her, as she climbed up out of the water. Knowing that she probably looked extremely ridiculous having nothing but the knife. Click to expand... Seeing the movement in the water the Snake watches the human seem to wonder of her options.... Adjusting a bit on the rock to see a bit better she flicks her tongue out & sniffs the air again... Being down wind of it, I can smell them all hopefully the cats do not smell her fear...the Snake is curious as to what this human wants with us in this most scared of places... The panther kept his eyes on the woman as she climbed out of the water. The smell of fear was thick in the air, and he wondered if the young Lyman in jaguar form had mastered the primal instincts of the predator. The panthers muscles tensed as he was prepared to interrupt any attacks from the jaguar if he would let the urge attack commence. The smell of fear was so sweet and if Catcall hadn't been so old in the game he may have rushed in and killed this woman and feasted on her flesh. Instead, he just lay still and observed whatever happens next. His senses reaching out, both to the woman and the jaguar. iMac sat in his branch and observed, and it wasn't long before he saw the one who had probably left the bundle of clothes. It was a girl, but not like those of his tribe. This one was of fairer skin, yet seemed to have quite a powerful body! Perhaps she belonged to another tribe near here? No. No, that was not likely given the style of her clothingRimac slowly blinked, then noticed something that may or may not be good - she had spotted him, and she had a blade in her grasp. She was moving slowly, which iMac knew most did when trying not to provoke a predator. So she thought he might attack her? Well, he did appear as a jaguar, so, he reasoned, that wasn't too far-fetched. How best to put her mind at ease? Deciding on a course of action, iMac moved on his ranch, deliberately making a noise so that the woman would know he was moving, his curiosity overriding his primal instincts. He jumped out of the tree, facing away from the woman, landing gracefully on his front paws, his rear paws touching down after. Turning around, he was pleased to see that she was still there, looking at him. Blinking slowly once, iMac laid down on his side, appearing as threatening as possible, while his green eyes tried never to leave her form Arabia tawny colored female mountain lion snaked her way through the underbrush. She was Lyman, and although young, had proven herself worthy of knowing the secret location by the elders. She had been travelling there in her animal form, although she knew she must stand out as mountain lions weren't native to jungle terrain. However, travel was faster and safer this way. In her human form she was Native American. Long black hair cascaded to her slim waist matched by her dark parking eyes. She looked young, only about 20 or so. And her body was slim, athletic, but with nicely shaped breasts. She belonged to a different tribe. Consisting of mostly Native Americans, they lived separated in the wild westerns of their native homeland. She was a loner, like most of her tribe, almost preferring to live in the wild in her animal form. But this year she was one of the Chosen. She alone had made the journey from her tribe to this new wilderness for the sake of her Lyman family. She padded along the semi shadows of the jungle until something caught her attention. Furthermore, she heard something, her feline self wanted to investigate. But she was wary, and stayed in the camouflage of the underbrush. She fought the urge to let out a soft growl as she caught the scent of on older Lyman, and that of a careless younger one. A black dragon with a set of silver scales on his headset down softly near a pond created by a waterfall. He looked around, tilting his head slightly, and caught sight of a human looking very frightened and vulnerable. He looked up, and spotted the source of the human's fear, a jaguar Lyman in a tree. Furthermore, he shook his head, then started to slip into the water, intending to clean his scales before the gathering. Furthermore, he ignored the human, knowing there was nothing she could do to him. A soft sigh escaped him, as the cool water started to slip into his scales, cooling his body even as his higher body heat started to cause the water to heat up. He opened his eyes, then looked at the human. "He won't hurt you, if you lower the knife, miss." His voice was soft, but carried well even over the sound of the waterfall. He regarded the young woman with interest, wondering how she had found this place, and what she was there for. Kara had been intent on watching the Jaguar as it demented from its branch and hadn't seen the dragon enter into the water, so when its head emerged, and it spoke to her, she jumped and cursed dropping the dagger to the ground. Her eyes wide with a combination of fear and curiosity... She had imagined wolves, foxes, jaguars and many more things but hadn't thought of a dragon and why not...It's just as far-fetched to her kind as Loans were. Recovering herself slightly as she eased her way towards her clothing she said.HHH, thank you. Doing her best to watch both the Jaguar and the dragon the more she watched them however the more her fear began to disappear and her curiosity as a scientist began to take over. Tho her fear was still there it was minimal compared to her excitement. iMac rolled back onto his paws and stood up slowly. The sacred place really was starting to fill up with others. But the woman still held his interest. If he could speak in his current form, he would try to reassure her that he was no threat. As it is, the best he could do was approach slowly. So that is what he did. Keeping his body high so as not to appear to be stalking her as possible prey, he slowly padded closer to Kara. He could tell she was still a little worried, so when he was about 2 feet away, he stopped and sat down. From this distance, he could smell her scent faintly, and it was almost intoxicating for the young Lyman. Looking up into her eyes, iMac laid down on the ground in front of Kara, displaying that he was no threat The dragon grinned at the young woman's reaction, and then bowed his head. Once his body was sufficiently cooled, he got up out of the water, and sat down on the stones. He bowed his head again, and introduced himself." My name is Tai. I am a Diatonic, a Lyman who can assume the form of a dragon. And your name might be?" He still spoke quietly, hoping not to frighten her further, as he sat there, watching her. His tail twitched slightly, thumping against the ground. Nabisco knew something was up. The dragon didn't surprise her, she knew that there were many forms that others like her could assume. She was angry at the others gathered here. The ones who had dared reveal themselves to the human! And the fact that there was a human, one that could ruin it all for her kind in the most sacred of places. She emerged from her hiding spot, her feline body lean and muscular. She growled in anger at the young one... the foolish one...the curious one. But she was not stupid. Her claws remained sheathed. Kara Kara dressed still watching the Jaguar as he came closer and laid down, and realized that he or she was trying to show her that it was merely curious, and didn't yet wish to attack her, she stood slowly having finished dressing and listened as the dragon introduced its self. My name is Tai. I am a Diatonic, a Lyman who can assume the form of a dragon. And your name might be?" Kara couldn't believe her ears. It was true at least part of her theory. She and her partner had original come to investigate the runes, and write up their thesis, but she had discovered some ancient writings that had led her and her partner to debt and argue. I can't bereave it . Its true then your kind truly dose exist. I had thought so from the writings in the runes . This is fantastic... I have several questions I would love to ask if I may.she said excitedly.ohhh and my name is Kara Jennings. Connor made his way slowly through the jungle. He was the first of his tribe to attempt this journey. Many of them never last their homeland, but he had always been adventurous. His sandy hair was becoming plastered to his back and face from sweat and humidity, but he trudged on. He heard voices ahead and followed them, coming upon a truly strange sight. A human woman bathing in a pool with a dragon beside her. Also in the area were a panther, a jaguar, and a mountain lion. Connor laughed loud enough for the whole group to hear him as he leaned up against a tree. "Well, well, well," he crooned, his Irish accent very apparent. "Were it not for the fact that I've seen many a strange thing in my time, this would truly be a sight to set the heart crossways inside of me." Tai shook his head, grumbling at the young panther. He looked at her calmly, scoffing slightly. "You should relax, girl. No enemies here. At least, not yet, anyway." He laughed slightly at his joke. Tai nodded slowly, laying back on the stones, and watching the young woman. He had to admire her courage, or the power of her curiosity. He smiled, and looked at her, appraising her. When he spoke, it was with the same calm, almost cold tone. "Ask your questions, Milady, and I shall do my best to answer them." He closed his eyes, listening, and able to see her without using his eyes. Missed one...lol Dr Stein said: He heard voices ahead and followed them, coming upon a truly strange sight. A human woman bathing in a pool with a dragon beside her. Also in the area were a panther, a jaguar, and a mountain lion. Connor laughed loud enough for the whole group to hear him as he leaned up against a tree. "Well, well, well," he crooned, his Irish accent very apparent. "Were it not for the fact that I've seen many a strange thing in my time, this would truly be a sight to set the heart crossways inside of me." Click to expand... Still sitting on my basking rock I watch as the other human stumbles in across the water... My goodness, how many of them are coming??? I hope they do not scare any of my kind that may have made it this far... Oh no, what if they killed them on the journey here, out of fear... Thinking She is an easy target on the basking rock the large snake slowly shifts into the shadows of a nearby tree, hopefully unseen... Catcall couldn't believe what was happening. This gathering and for what? A human female. He growled loudly and leaped down from the tree. Landing smoothly on his paws with the sure agility of his species. He lazily moved over to the group of people and his panther eyes scanned them over. It wasn't so smart to show their existence to a stranger. But now it was too late. He looks at the dragon with the black scales with narrowing eyes. Then his form changes from the panther he prefers to be to the long black man with piercing blue eyes. The change only takes a moment, and he seems unaffected by his own nudity. His eyes linger over the woman, dressing herself before turning his gaze back to the dragon." I do not think this jaguar would attack her. Even if it was his attention. I had things under control." Kara looked around her and noticed that another cat looking much like a Mt. lion seemed to be scolding the Jaguar near her, and she took a step back not out of fear but out of caution sensing the hostility coming form the Mt lion. Hearing Tai's scoffing she scanned the area and noticed that there were several other Loans around as well some hidden others not...and said. Its alright i don't blame him or her for their hostility. I understand where it comes from. And I would feel the same way in his or her shoes. Er paws. Kara meet what she said she wouldn't want any humans around ether especially since Scientists would do tests and lock them up or use them as weapons, and that was the last thing she wanted to happen. What she learned she fully intended to keep to herself planning on telling her partner he had been right, and she had found nothing, but at least she would have the satisfaction of knowing the truth. Feeling Tai's apparel of her Kara met his eyes with her own as he spoke." Ask your questions, Milady, and I shall do my best to answer them." She watched as he closed his eyes. Before she could ask her first question however she heard someone laugh and turned to see a man standing not far away leaning against one of the trees." Well, well, well,"he crooned, his Irish accent very apparent." Were it not for the fact that I've seen many a strange thing in my time, this would truly be a sight to set the heart crossways inside of me." His comment leaving Kara to wonder if she were being insulted or not. She didn't think so but one could never tell. Whoever he was he didn't seem surprised by the dragon or the loans around the falls and wondered if he himself was a Lyman but had merely chosen to appear in human form.or if perhaps there were some humans that were trusted but not many. There were so many possablitlys that her head hurt, and she had to sit down a moment. Sighing softly she looked up at Tai, deciding that the man against the tree would either prove friendly or hostile on his own, and asked. Are your people the Mayans and Incas, or the Guaraní Indians who had disappeared without a trace over 100's of years ago, and how do you keep track of the different species and the amounts in each... class or species.? Those were only two of the questions she had to ask, but they were the main ones and the most important to her. Kara couldn't keep her eyes from the beautiful black panther that emerged and watched as it changed into an extremely attractive black man with long black hair and blue eyes. Seeing his nudity she blushed and looked away back towards Tai trying her best not to stair." I do not think this jaguar would attack her. Even if it was his attention. I had things under control." Hearing his comment however caused her to blush even more as she realized he must have been watching her for some time. Tai listened to the Irishman, shaking his head, and then focused his attention on the young woman again. He listened quietly to her questions, and closed his eyes in thought. He slowly shook his head. "I can't speak for all of us, however, I have none of the bloodlines you ask about. As for how many of us there are, and how many species... I believe that the first of our kind were humans who could assume the forms of various animals. Eventually, they stayed in them so long that it was more along the lines of animals who could assume the form of humans. Tracking the number of species, or the number of members of each species would be like trying to track a specific bloodline using nothing but historical documents. Next to impossible." He smiled, and opened his eyes, watching her. He was amused by this young woman, more so than he had been in a long time. Catcall folds his arms as he surveys the scene in front of him when he sees some movement in the corner of his eye. He slightly turns his head and spots a rather big snake crawling away. Having seen shifters similar to the snake he immediately recognizes it for what it is. The snake's head turns to look at them as it crawls away. Catcall smiles slightly and nods in recognition to it. He turns back to the woman." Before answering questions. Who are you, and why are you here? Sightseeing?" She saw one of the panthers transform. But she wasn't ready yet. She didn't know what these humans intentions were, or if she even knew what she had stumbled onto. With this being her first journey, she didn't want the human female to ruin it. Still in her mountain lion form she took a couple more padded steps forward. iMac raised his heckles at the mountain lion and hissed back. He meant no harm to the woman Kara, and he certainly didn't like the judgmental air that the lion was giving off, especially in his direction. Elders were always doing that! Judging him! Scolding him for his curiosity! How on earth was he supposed to learn if he didn't try things? Hearing Kara's question, and the response that was shortly cut off by the newly arrived man, iMac's ears pricked up. As lathe as he was to shed his form, he now did. Shuddering slightly, his fur retracted into his bronzed skin, and his face shifted to that of a human male not quite out of his teens. The hair on his head went from its cat-like golden yellow to almost purest black. iMac stayed knelt on the floor, not quite as comfortable with his human nudity as the black man, who was until recently a panther. Looking up at Kara from where he sat, he managed a small smirk." Some of us are Inca, yes" Kara's first instinctive reaction was to jump on the defensive, but stopped herself Tai had been honest with her, and she would be honest with them, and hope they wouldn't eat her. Actually . I am a student Archeologist... i and my partner came to the jungle to study the runes, and write up our thesis to get our degree's, but when I came across the writings in the temple... I had to find out for myself if your kind truly existed. My partner and i agreed and well here I am. I know it was foolish to come alone but as I said we argued and ... Looking down at her watch she realized that she had been gone from the base camp for over three hours and that even if her partner thought she was still pissed which she was he would start looking for her, and she didn't want him coming here. Speaking of my partner I have to get back to the base camp before he starts looking for me, i don't want him to find any of you .she said looking at each of them and watched in awe as the jaguar changed his form as well. Both his and the Panthers transformations seemed smooth fluid and unhurried and didn't appear to cause them much pain, and Kara smiled hearing the Jaguar confirm that indeed some of the shifters were indeed part of one of the missing tribes... Catcall smiled slightly at the hesitant mountain lion just before the jaguar transformed to a young man. The change left him kneeling on the ground. Either because he was new at shifting or because he was shy. A couple of strides took Catcall beside the man. He touched his shoulder softly as he whispered, so only the young man heard it." Do not be ashamed of your own nudity. It is the most natural state to be in." He smiles down to him. For the first time he smiles to the human female after hearing her words." That is mighty kind of you." Tai smiled, listening to them all going on, then shook his head, closing his eyes, and slowly turned back into a human. He looked at the young woman, then at the others, and shook his head. He seemed to be the only one with the sense enough to hide his clothes. His clothes had become part of his scales, through the power of transmutation. He raised an eyebrow, looking at them all. "You'd better change back and find some clothes, so that we don't scare her friend. Chances are he's on his way here to try to find her, and as much as she trusts us, we should trust her." Predators said: "Do not be ashamed of your own nudity. It is the most natural state to be in." Click to expand... iMac looked up at the bigger man, and nodded. He seemed to be older, and probably wiser than iMac was. "Yes, I know. Forgive me, but I just feel a little more comfortable wearing something, be it fur or skirt"Kara mentioned something about not wanting them to be discovered, and the dragon, Tai, confirmed what she had said, and also had a way of making it sound commanding. He had to admit, it did make sense and, iMac had done a good deed by confirming at least one of Kara's beliefs. Shifting his shoulders, he prepared for the change back. Being young still, he could not do it instantly, but would have to wait a short moment before his body would allow him to. He smiled again at Kara, various thoughts running through his head as he did. "As everyone is giving their name, I shall. I am iMac of the Chuquiapo Inca" "No need to ask for forgiveness." Cascall says to iMac. He smiles slightly at him before taking a step away from him. He ignores the dragons former dragons remark as he feels very comfortable, be it with or without clothes." If her friend comes here, which I hope not. I doubt some nudity will scare him of. As she is leaving I hope she will lead him elsewhere." he smiles to Kara." This woman don't seem intimidated by some nudity. If she is not, why would a man fear it?" "As everyone is giving their name, I shall. I am iMac of the Chuquiapo Inca" Kara smiled at the Jaguar and said. It is an honor to meet all of you., and hearing the panthers words blushed while trying to explain. No her umm i don't mind. But many humans outside of the jungle think it indecent and wrong to be unclothed unless bathing or mating. Seeing Tai began to transform she watched, and wondered if it were a preference to create clothing or simply an ability that came with time, but knew she couldn't stay to ask no matter how much she wanted to do so. Hearing someone calling her name in the distance. Her eyes grew wide, and she looked at the others around her, she knew they could disappear and hide in an instant and thinking quickly decided it would be best if she were found alone... at least easier to explain. Can you all hide... I can tell him that he was right and that i didn't find anything. If he sees you all he might think I am hiding something. Which of course she was but he didn't need to know that. Picking up her pack, and slipping her knife into its sheath at her side she said. I'll try and lead him away.before slipping through the trees and heading in the direction of the voices calling her name Tai smiled, then seemed to vanish even as she looked at him, blending in with the background in the darkness, moving silently. He intended to watch her meeting with her friend, if for no other reason than to make sure the others were safe. He moved through the darkness, trusting that the others would be disappearing by now. Catcall smiled at the woman. Then his transformation began. As always it was painful, but that pain was a second nature to the black man and soon the panther was in his place. He lazily let his eyes wander over the other shifters before resting on the woman. With a low growl he turns and vanishes among the bushes. Dr Stein said: Connor made his way slowly through the jungle. He was the first of his tribe to attempt this journey. Many of them never last their homeland, but he had always been adventurous. Connor laughed loud enough for the whole group to hear him as he leaned up against a tree. "Well, well, well," he crooned, his Irish accent very apparent. "Were it not for the fact that I've seen many a strange thing in my time, this would truly be a sight to set the heart crossways inside of me." Click to expand... Noticing this human standing so close to me, I wonder if he is a Lyman as well... Sniffing the air as he speaks I wonder if the others are so entranced by the female they did not notice his appearance... Sitting coiled in the shadow of the tree I watch... waiting patiently... iMac smiles and nods. Quickly looking around, he could see the others vanish into the undergrowth. Flexing and breathing deeply, he jumped up and grabbed the branch of the tree he was in earlier. Quickly climbing up to one of the higher branches, he shifted his form back to that of the jaguar. Finding a good thick branch, he laid down completely still, almost invisible from the ground below, but able to keep an eye on what was happening The others were giving their names, and she was about to transform and give her own, after all there was no longer any reason to hide what she was, when she too heard the male voice. With a soft low growl she slunk back into the underbrush, before lazily jumping into the large and stout branches of one of the jungle trees. Her feline body spread out among the branch as she settled in to watch. Like the others, she surmised, she was waiting to see what would happen. She hoped all would go well, as her Lyman self was craving this contact with others like herself. Kara made her way to her partner Ian, and their team of scientists making sure she was far enough way from the falls that he wouldn't suspect she had come from that direction. Ian. I am here. Kara listed as he and his men changed directions and waited while they came into view. What the hell did you think you were doing out here. You could have been killed. I didn't think you would be stupid enough to go out on your own...you. Ohh shut up Ian your just angry because i didn't agree with you well you know what you were right ok. isn't that what you wanted to hear?? You win. I went to the spot and they didn't appear just like you said they wouldn't... Feel better??she said her arms crossed her eyes narrow as she waited expecting him to argue further. Ian's expression was comical as it switched between anger, and smug male superiority.and of course back to anger. I told you the runes only showed the Mayans feeding human hearts to jaguars not changing into them...which Kara had to admit they did show that, but there was more too it., and she didn't think it would be too hard to keep Ian from finding it because he just wanted to Finnish and leave. He didn't really seem to enjoy exploring as much as she did, and not for the first time did she think Ian was more sued to a desk job or being a museum specialist who received the artifacts and information Archeologists dug up. Kara dropped her arms rolling her eyes and said. Can we go back to the camp now?? We still have to Finnish outlining the runes. And take photos. Ian nodded and lead the way back to the camp his men falling in behind. She knew she had distracted Ian away from the falls and the shifters because as they returned to their camp near the runes he lectured her the whole way. Which of course these things could have been done much sooner had you not taken off... To which Kara had almost replied'' well had you not been such an ass. But kept her opinion to herself because she was glad he hadn't sent anyone with her, but she couldn't show that ether. Tai nodded, then walked back to the waterfall, and made a noise like that of an owl, to let them know all was clear. He sat down on the rock, and started meditating, clearing his mind. He didn't bother checking to see if the others had come out of hiding, somehow knowing she'd be back later to check on them, and absently considered hunting something to eat. Furthermore, he finally got up, and started to head off into the forest, planning on hunting some meat. Connor was about to add his name when the interlopers came. He quickly ducked out of sight. And watched the proceedings from the shadows. As the humans headed out, he got an idea and grinned to himself. He already had gotten better hang of the jungle territory than the human group, so passing them by was easy enough. He could have made better time though if there wasn't so much interference with the scent trail. This was always so much easier in Europe. Either way, he did manage to make it back to the human's camp, and five minute ahead of the group at that. He stumbled into it, looking very weary and distressed. If nothing else, Connor was a good actor. "Oh, thank god! I thought I was lost for sure out there!" As everyone rushed to help him, Connor related the story of how he was a simple tourist who had gotten separated from his group and had only managed to make himself more lost in a moment of panic. Kara wanted to do two things at once. Smack him for his foolish antics and laugh. She did neither pretending to be just as worried as the others by pulling out her canteen and offering him a drink as he told his tale. Well Conner it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Kara Jennings and this is my partner Ian McDougal. Your welcome to stay and travel back with us when we leave and Ian can contact the tourist groups to let them know your alive, and if Ian can't find a spare tent you can use mine i don't mind sleeping on the ground. She said watching as Ian moved away to radio in that they had found a missing tries. She knew he would lecture her later about taking in people she didn't know anything about but even Ian with Conner's accent couldn't call him a lair when he clammed to be a purest who had gotten lost. Once Ian and his men were out of ear shot Kara looked up into Conner's eyes, and she could see the laughter he was trying hard to keep hidden. What are you doing here?she whispered wondering what else he was up too. Connor smirked. "I'm havin' a little few," he answered in a whisper before raising his voice to normal as if answering more questions. "It's not often I get to travel outside of Dublin these days. So the chance to get out here was just too good to pass up." He wiped the sweat from his brow and took another sip of water. "Truth be told, aside from gettin' lost and havin' a million flocking' bugs trying to suck me dry like the spawn of Dracula, it's been a very pleasant trip." Tai was following some tracks, when he caught sight of the camp she mentioned. He examined the camp, seeing the Irishman, and shook his head. He thought for a few moments, then walked slowly up to the camp. "Excuse me, I was hunting something to eat, and I found your camp. Have you seen any game animals?" The snake Realizing all have either hidden or moved on the python comes out of the shadow & slips into the water... soaking up the moisture.... the water is warm from the sun & most pleasing to such a cold-blooded animal... Relaxing in a warm spot she lifts her head just out of the water to prop on the bank. She thinks back to the events that have passed... thinking of the one that almost stepped on her... the one with the dark scales but with wings & feet... So many things to remember, to contemplate... Her eyes forever open she sleeps at the bank... always feeling any vibration on the ground that would make her instantly back slide into the water's safety... The mountain lion gracefully slid off from her perch. She padded back to the clearing, stopping only to transform herself. She stood there, naked by the pool of water." Well that was interesting. Humans. In the most sacred of places!" She spoke her frustrations to nobody in particular, knowing that there were still some shifters left in the area. Feeling the movement nearby the Snake awakens to witness the cat go to human form... Ducking back under the water she retreats, not knowing if this is friend or foe. When there are no smashes nearby she pokes her head out of the water... curiously sniffing the air & watching the shifter... With a scrabble, iMac left from his hiding branch and splashed down in the deeper end of the water quite gracefully, the water making a sound much quieter than would be expected for when a big cat hit it. Popping his feline head out of the water, he managed to approximate a smile and let out a low, rumbling purr. He had to admit, the water felt good against his fur, sacred place or not... Catcall slowly comes out from the bushes again. No sign of the humans so he transforms back to the black man. He sits down on a rock close to the water. He hears the former mountain lions words and smiles slightly." The woman was oblivious to our existence, until she was spoken to." He Scruggs slightly." Now we just have to hope she keeps her word." She splashes some of the cool water against her skin. The day was hot, and she liked the cool feeling. She glanced over at the black man who had transformed himself." She's a scientist. A human. Trust isn't always guaranteed."she gathered her loose hair and tucked it over one shoulder. Catcall nods at her words and stands up. He sighs deeply. "This surely complicates things." He walks down to the water and stands there deep in thoughts. If it looks like the human would be dishonest and tell the world of this place and the creatures lurking there, Catcall would have to kill her and probably kill the people with her as well. The thought was not appealing to him but to protect his kind it may be necessary. Shaking off his dark thoughts he turns to the female Lyman again." My name is Catcall. I haven't seen you here before." iMac splashed around in the deeper end of the pool for a while, watching the others relax slightly as Kara had led the other humans away. He didn't really care about getting seen by the humans as jaguars were not altogether uncommon in these jungles. However, he reasoned, he really should not get too close, as jaguars were predators. Paddling through the water to one of the banks, he climbed out and shook off some of the water that stuck to his fur and weighed him down. He was going to follow Kara, and find out where this camp was! Why? Because he wanted to. Of course, his elders would scold him severely for this, but he wanted to be independent. Putting his nose closer to the ground, he picked up a faint scent that he recognized from the clothes. Not as heavy, he guessed, because she had been in the water. Quickly, he was off, moving through the jungle at speed, following the trail. It didn't take him very long to reach a large clearing on the edge of the Forrest, and none to far from some Mayan ruins. It was there that he stopped, and hid himself in the undergrowth, observing the camp with his large, green eyes "No you wouldn't have. This is my first Journey from my People. I am Nimbi." She dared to give Catcall a smile. After all that was the point of this gathering, right? She relaxed more, sitting on a boulder with her feet in the cool water. There was slight breeze now and it felt good against her skin. It also foretold of the coming night. Kara looked up at Tai as he came out of the jungle and wondered how she was going to protect them from being discovered if they followed her to the camp. She knew Ian would believe Connors story about being a tourist who had gotten lost simply because he looked the part, but how was she going to explain Tai's appearance, and protect him. Looking around she realized she wasn't the only one who had seen Tai emerge from the jungle or heard what he had asked so she angered his question as best she could. No I am sorry i haven't seen any recently we have only just returned to camp i bereave we may have frightened away most of the game when setting up our equipment. She had been about to offer for him to eat with them before he returned to hunting when Ian reappeared. And who might this be?? Turning to look at him, she said. I don't know i haven't asked his name yet. He just asked if we had seen any game in the area. Kara watched as Ian cleared at her and looked both Tai and Connor over seeming to size them up. Why she didn't know it wasn't like he had any claim to her. They had always argued and never gotten along. To Tai, he said We are archeologists not hunters so no i haven't noticed any game in the area..., and to Connors to you sir I have radioed back to the village and someone will be here in the morning to escort you safely back to your tour group, and my men have managed to come up with an extra tent for you to use until then. Kara's eyes narrowed as Ian grabbed her arm and lead her further away from Tai and Connor. What is wrong with you ? Why is it you always come up with strays on every excavation we have? Why can't you let things be? Kara could only remember one other excavation that he could be referring to and the boy she had found while scouting int the desert had been beaten and left for dead. Kara jerked her arm out of his grasp and stepped back. First off you can keep your hands to yourself. And second to cancer your question it could be because I am not such a pop mus ass like you, and not just looking for a quick find, or fame. Kara new she was in trouble as Ian's face turned dark red with anger. His fists balled as he turned away she knew she really needed to stop baiting him. "Pleased to meet you Nimbi"Catcall returns her smile with one of his own." I haven't seen a mountain lion shifter before. Seen most other sort of cats but not that kind." He tilts his head to her before wading out in the water. The cool and fresh touch to his body is refreshing, and he lowers himself in it. Catcall let's the water cover his head and stays under for about 20 seconds before surfacing. Smiling with pure pleasure he wipes his wet long hair from his face. Connor could smell the stranger that stumbled into the camp after him. "Bloody shifter coppin' my style..." he muttered. At least Connor had a believable story. The dragon didn't even have a weapon to suggest he was hunting game. Another few minutes and the camp was going to be very suspicious of him. Why was it that wolves turned out to be the only smart ones? He got up and walked over to Kara after the one known as Ian left. "By the look o' him, you'd think the bug up his ass had set up a whole colony by now. My name's Connor, by the way. Connor Flaherty." Nimbi just grinned at him as he waded further into the water. She slipped into the cool water herself, but only up to her chest." Well we are a unique tribe. It works well for my home country." A part of her mind wondered how it was going at the human camp. But she didn't have the urge to go see for herself. The less she had to deal with humans the better. Catcall was not a bit curious of what was going on at the human camp. He just hoped that the woman stood by her word. Somehow he knew she was trustworthy so he was able to relax in the coolness of the water. If just his fellow shifters did not put the truth out there, they had nothing to worry about. For now Catcall was just pleased to relax here in the water with the company of Nimbi, the Mountain lion woman. He smiles at her again." I am not part of a tribe, have only met a few of my kind in my days." Tai left the camp, heading back out into the jungle, and smiled, spotting a game trail. He had never needed weapons, preferring to use the surroundings as such. So he looked around, and spotted a younger tree, and some vines, and quickly made a snare trap. He bent the tree over, tying the vines around the tip, and found a stick he could use as a pin to hold it down. Once done, he looked back at the camp, and grinned slightly, seeing them. He then vanished into the underbrush to wait. Kara couldn't help but laugh at Connors remark, as she showed him the way to the tent one of the other men were setting up for him to use.it's a pleasure to meet you Connor Flaherty. My name is Kara Jennings. Bump leaving...IOC: sorry but I am leaving... everyone have fun Connor smiled lightly. "Oh, so I get my own tent? Just as well. It'd be hard to share a cot, now wouldn't it?" He let a devilish tone creepy into his voice when he said that. "Though I think I'd be up to the challenge." In Dublin, Connor was known for being an incorrigible flirt. Though he may not have been the slickest or most charming person, one did have to give him credit for persistence and optimism. Nazi relaxed in the water. Catcall was not a threat, and it was fascinating to meet a shifter not of her tribe. She climbed back on the rock to ELT the cool breeze dry her skin." We are a rather unique tribe. I don't have that there are others like my family." Tai came back, after having snared four very large animals for a meal, and grinned, dragging them behind him. He looked at the others. "How do you like your meat?" Standing with the water up to his waist Catcall smiles back to Nimbi. "To be honest, I am a little envious of you. Belonging somewhere is just a dream for me." He turned around and walked over to the rock she was seated on." The few of my kind I have met are not part of tribes as well. Maybe that we are born loners." He turns his head towards her with a sad smile on his lips. The only hard part about figuring out how to share a cot would be deciding who is on top. Kara said grinning unable to help to tease Conner back, before walking over to her own tent and gathering her tools. She needed to get back to work before Ian spotted her again, and make sure to stay away from the writings they had argued over earlier. Smiling as she shouldered her pack she walked back over to Conner. You have your choice of board oms. You can come with me and be board while I work, or you can stay in camp. She said. Kara actually hoped he would join her she wanted to learn more about him and the others, and couldn't talk to him in camp with everyone around. Letitia (pronounced Latasha) McDaniel~werefoxLeTasia paused on her way back to the falls. With so many different loans coming and going it was hard work keeping an eye on the humans. She wondered (as always) how she ended up being the guardian. After all, with lions, jaguars and a dragon (for crying out loud!) abounding, there was obviously others better suited to keeping the sacred sites safe from prying, human eyes. Stepping over a fallen tree, she heard distant voices. It sounded like the female scientist talking to one of the others. Taking a moment to blend in with the undergrowth, she turned tail and headed back for her spot by the camp. Obviously, this wasn't a good thing. Especially since the woman had gone through such pains to hide the knowledge of the meet from the others in her camp. It took but a few minutes to accomplish the transformation from short, brown skinned, dark haired, green-eyed female to reddish orange, green-eyed fox and then Tasia moved a bit closer, listening in to the flirtation between the Lyman and the human.IOC~greetings everyone. Here is hoping I can fit in easily with the group and not mess up the dynamics too badly. iMac's ears pricked up. Someone was moving through the undergrowth close to him. Slinking through the undergrowth, his green eyes soon fell upon a beautiful dark-skinned girl shifting into the form of a large fox. A fox? Here? Didn't his elders say something about a 'cunning guardian'? And foxes are considered rather cunning. She seemed to be slinking closer to the camp, her attention fixed on the woman Kara and her conversation. Rational thought evading his brain once again, iMac moved forward, making enough noise for the ware fox to hear him with her undoubtedly sharp ears, and made no attempt to hide((IOC: Welcome! It's no upset at all!)) Tasia stopped in her progress and looked back over a furred shoulder. Blending in almost perfectly with the undergrowth was a young jaguar. iMac, she thought. Once again, he hadn't listened. A happy foxes grin lit her face and she yipped lightly to let him know she had spotted him. I don't know what the heck his tribe is thinking, keeping a young one such as he, under lock and key. They should give him a bit more freedom. After all, I started the guardian training when I was but a kit. With a sigh, she lay down in the deep grass, waiting to hear if Connor was going to accompany the female *Kara??* to a safer place for discourse. One hoped he would, gods know she did not want to have to kill the leader of this expedition but with so many things outside her control it may have to occur. Why oh why do these things happen on MY watch?? "I think I'll join you. I figure it would make for a nice addition to my tour." Connor followed after her, keeping at her side with an even, graceful stride. When he was certain no one would eavesdrop on them, he whispered to her, "So, how much do you know about our kind?" "Nobody is a born loner. Why else would you be here?" She gave him a smile as he inched closer. This man.this Shifter intrigued her. Even his sad smile served only to deepen her interest. Somewhere in his past was a lot of pain, like most of her kind had. It was never talked bout, but understood." Besides, belonging to a Tribe isn't all of what is supposed to be." She dared to reach out to softly stroke his cheek. Catcall smiled at Nazis words. To his surprise she reached out and stroked his cheek. He flinched slightly at the touch. Not used to physical connection he tries to hide his reaction from her. If a black man could blush he sure would. After the initial shock he just stands still. His eyes are distant. "I am here." He Scruggs. "Damn if I know." He turns his head to her. "Somehow I think it is in our blood to be loners." He smiles again. "I do not say that as a way to get compassion." iMac settled into the long grass to the side, and slightly behind the ware fox. She seemed to be intent on examining the human camp, but had let out a short yip, indicating she knew he was there. He remained silent, observing bot her, and the human camp. Of course, he had no real idea of what she was planning. Surely she wouldn't rush into the camp for any reason! If history had told his tribe anything, it's that humans with guns tend to shoot first and question later Tai had started preparing the animals, thinking he might be able to make some jerky to take with him, even as the others were busy with other things. He quickly skinned the animals, glad they had been just that, and started to clean out the innards. After preparing them, he made some racks, and stretched some of the meat out on them, cut into thin strips, before starting a fire in a dry, clear spot that looked like it had been used for such before. "Then so be it." She withdrew her hand as he had flinched. He apparently was not used to physical contact. She fell silent. Obviously this man.this shifter...was a true loner. She decided to change the subject." It will be dark soon." Catcall nods to her. He wonders if he had made her uncomfortable. It wasn't his attention. He had been all by himself for about 10 years now and old habits where hard to break. The shifters he had met that took the same form as him had always been very closed up. The questions he had in his head of who he was hard to stay unanswered. Sighing he felt that he did not need to be like them. Cold and unfeeling. It had just been so long since he talked with anyone. Really talked. He turns his eyes to Nimbi and takes the hand she withdrew just a moment ago in his. "Yes, it will be dark soon." He looks down at the water. "It is not bad sharing the night with someone. Haven't spoken with anyone in a long time. Mostly spend my time in solitude." Dr Stein said: "I think I'll join you. I figure it would make for a nice addition to my tour." Connor followed after her, keeping at her side with an even, graceful stride. When he was certain no one would eavesdrop on them, he whispered to her, "So, how much do you know about our kind?" Click to expand... Kara couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips as she looked over at Conner. I was about to ask you pretty much the same thing. Her expression became a little more serious as she found another wall that hadn't yet been photographed or uncovered. Setting down her pack she pulled out her camera and took what she called before photos. Mostly what I know comes from the films and such aside from the writings I found here in the runes, and what I saw today. She said making sure to keep her voice down. Setting her camera back inside her pack she pulled out her tools and began carefully uncovering the wall so that she could see the markings and make Rubbings of the runes so that they could be translated later on. After Tasia made sure that Connor and Kara were safely away from the camp (and nosy humans) she backed up a bit, accidentally bumping into iMac. If it had been possible for foxes to really laugh she would have done so. His face registered a shocked disgruntlement that was priceless...especially on the face of a jaguar. She turned a bit and nuzzled his nose in apology, before turning around completely and trotting back toward the falls. After taking a few minutes to return to human shape, Tasia finished her stroll back to the falls, the better to keep an ear out for the shifter and human female. I wonder if the jaguar's tribe would allow him to help me protect the falls? After all, he hasn't anything to do.and I could use the extra help. May hap I will ask on the morrow. Finally, the rumble and fury of the waterfall brought Tasia out of her every. Hunkering down, she crawled under the roots of a huge tree and returned to her den, grabbing some clothes to put on from her duffle bag. Tai looked up, seeing a young woman walk up to the waterfall. He smiled, tossing her a bit of meat that had just finished cooking. "Welcome. I'm in the middle of cooking a meal for these kiddies." He grinned slightly, adding wood to the fire in front of him. Tasia had just returned from dressing when she saw the dragon cooking dinner. With a smile, she deftly snatched the tossed piece of meat and began chewing on it slowly, savoring the juices as they exploded against her tongue." Hullo. I am the guardian for this meet. My name is Tasia." A happy grin lit her face and a solitary dimple popped into existence. Even in human form she was still exceedingly finish. But what could one do but be how the gods made them?" I noticed iMac back by the human camp. I hope he returns soon." Moving closer, Tasia found a comfortable spot and knelt down. iMac was genuinely surprised when the ware fox lady backed into him, causing him to quietly yelp in surprise, his big green eyes seemingly going wider. She nuzzled her apology and moved off back into the jungle. iMac was still slightly stunned when she left, but shook his head and returned his attention to the camp. After a short while with nothing of note happening that he could see, iMac turned and stalked off back into the jungle, his form moving easily through the undergrowth. It wasn't long before he arrived back at the falls to find the others settling down to a small feast of meat. Slinging closer to the woman he recognized from before, he settled on a rock not too far from her and blinked slowly, smiling as best he could with his jaguar jaw Tai nodded, hoping the same thing. "The young human woman seems to have caused quite a stir. She has many qualities that remind me of the Draconian, but I don't think she's one of us. I always found the truly curious humans to be most interesting." As iMac returned, Tai smiled, and tossed him a chunk of meat as well." I'm afraid I didn't bring much in the way of seasoning. I'll have to hunt some herbs later. Still, some animals have their own particular flavor." "In other words, nothing," Connor remarked. "The movies don't get it right. I can't speak for all of my kind, but I can tell you about us werewolves. Or at least those of us from Ireland." He glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby to eavesdrop. He scented the air. A couple trespassers, but they weren't human. "For one thing, there is no forced transformation. For another we're not evil. On top of that, we don't eat people. The kind of white your species eats every day, few. I'd rather snack on a foo kin' ceiling tile." Kara couldn't help the chuckle that escaped at hearing Conner's comment about their food. Finishing the rubbing she carefully put the rubbings in her pack, and pulled her camera back out to photograph an after shot of the wall. Ok so enlighten me.... she said smiling, before moving a little father along the wall near one of the entrances to the runes. I do have one question tho is it true if your kinds' pic is taken that it won't show up on film?she asked remembering having read it somewhere... Nimbi just smiled when he took her hand again. She moved over, making room for him on her rock at the waters edge. A few of the others were beginning to return to the falls, and one had even started a fire and food." It is nice to be here...to be away from humans...well mostly." She liked his company, and the comfort that he knew what she was and accepted her for it. Catcall sits down beside her on the rock. Not much room so their bodies touches as they sit there. He keeps her hand in his and his eyes seem to be in a distant place. But his voice tells her he is present." I have always been most comfortable in solitude. No need to answer questions I don't have answers to. Or at least questions I won't answer." iMac caught the meat thrown his way in his mouth and, settling comfortably, held it down with his front paws while treating chunks off of it with his jaws. Oh, how he loved his animal aspect. It seemed so mach more... natural to him Not long after the initial conversation with Tai... Tasia got up and excused herself. She noticed with a slight smile that iMac had returned and was still in his jaguar aspect. "I will return. Have some things that need to be tended to." Tasia returned to her den, stripped down, allowed the change to occur and then scooted out the back, heading toward the lower ruins located closest to the falls. It was definitely time to check on the female and the other. When she arrived, she heard the last question by Kara and struggled not to let out foxes glee. As if. Tasia had always heard that about the other ones.frigging bloodsuckers! Lady Fairy said: Kara couldn't help the chuckle that escaped at hearing Conner's comment about their food. Finishing the rubbing she carefully put the rubbings in her pack, and pulled her camera back out to photograph an after shot of the wall. Ok so enlighten me.... she said smiling, before moving a little father along the wall near one of the entrances to the runes. I do have one question tho is it true if your kinds' pic is taken that it won't show up on film? She asked remembering having read it somewhere... Click to expand... Connor furrowed his brow in thought. "That one's a little tough to answer. My clan never bothered to try. I know in our human forms we show up fine in pictures. But we never allow humans to see us transformed, so it made little difference to us." But I hear legends that some of our... relations if you will on the continent and across the pond could do that. To tell ye the truth... It's not somethin' I've really thought about." Really?... Mind if I take your pic? When I get the film developed I can check and when I come back I can let you know not here of course i don't want Ian or anyone to see, but maybe sometime before I leave if there is a chance. She asked truly curious, about whether a photograph would work. Not because she wanted to show anyone but just out of simple curiosity. Looking up from what she was doing, her silvery gray colored eyes meet his while she waited for his cancer, and wondered how she could get away from Ian and the others without causing more problems. Kara smiled thinking about slipping from her tent in the night like some teenager going to their first party, when in actuality she was an adult slipping out to see some amazing people. She didn't like the comparison much but Ian wouldn't understand and would only fight with her more if she told him. The cancer to her question was she couldn't leave. Not without Ian possibly following even if she slipped out of her tent. Her curiosity would have to wait until she returned to the states and could come back on her own time without Ian or any of the others... the only question now was when she returned would they be here or would she have to wait another 4yrs for the next gathering..... Hearing Connor say something she shook herself from her thoughts. What?.. Ohhh I am sorry I was thinking could your repeat that please..... True, there wasn't much room on the boulder, but Nazi didn't mind. In fact, it was rather comforting in a strange way...to be this close...this uninhibited with another." Silly questions are a waste of time." She left her hand in his, and with her other hand softly stroked his arm. It was something her mother had done to her as a child, often when they were sitting in quietness. It just seemed right to do. Catcall was quite surprised that he could feel so at ease with another person that he did with Nimbi. Their nudity did not disturb him. He did not suffer from false modesty. It seamed that she was also relaxed, and he let her stroking his arm. It was sort of comforting. Furthermore, it must be the panther in him that relaxes by her touch. Oddly enough he has to resist to start to purr. The sensation of the whole thing is very confusing but at this moment he don't care. He just enjoys the feeling. Tai checked the drying jerky, and nodded, then tossed each of the returning lycanthropes a chunk of meat from the three animals cooking. "So, what usually happens at these?" Connor rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "I was saying yes, but if you want me to work nude, it'll cost you extra." Hummel a tempting offer but I am afraid i don't have anything to pay you with... So I guess you'll just have to keep your cloths on. She said with a grin. Picking her camera up and taking more pics of the wall. I think I am done with this wall and its getting pretty late. I just want to get a few shots of the inside...before we return to camp. Stepping inside she was careful mainly of traps and watched her footing as much as possible. Our group leaves in the morning to head for the village... I plan on returning here when I get my diploma. Do you think any of you will be here when I get back? Or will I have to wait 4yrs for you all to be together again? Graduation is two days after we return, so I have to write my thesis on the way back......... AHHH! Kara had been counting the square tiles on the floor so as not to trip one of the traps but had miss counted while talking to Connor, and the floor broke away beneath her... Jumping back quickly she caught at the edge of the opening... looking down she could see the spikes sticking up out of the ground and was released that she had caught the edge. Looking up sh could see Connors concerned face and grinned. Well that was interesting.guess that's what I get for running my mouth instead of concentrating on what I am supposed to be doing... will you give me your hand and help me up? She asked. Taskmaster listening in to Connor's response, Tasia made her way back to the meeting place in time to hear the dragon's question. She cleared her throat as she came back through the underbrush and the waited to see if anyone else would fill him in. When no one spoke up, she did so." The last few meets I have been at aren't really about business per se (unless of course humans are encroaching on sacred space or killing off the wildlife we protect in our areas). Usually, as far as I can tell, it's just a chance for us to meet and greet.see who else has had their first turning, welcome others into the fold." Tasia stopped speaking for a few moments, trying to get her thoughts in order. Finally, she spoke again, a certain foxes glee evident in her voice." Of course, I always thought it was just a chance for the loans of various tribes to meet and make out.but I could be wrong..." Tai listened to the fox's explanation, and grinned at her ending comment. "Yes, well.... I know some aren't turned, some are born, like myself. Still, it should be interesting to see how many just show up to 'make out'." dragon razor said: Tai listened to the fox's explanation, and grinned at her ending comment. "Yes, well.... I know some aren't turned, some are born, like myself. Still, it should be interesting to see how many just show up to 'make out'." Click to expand... Tasia nodded." In my tribe we are born, but do not experience our first human to animal or animal to human (as I was) until our adolescent years. I just always assumed everyone was that way..." A quick grin, green eyes sparkling." However, I never had the pleasure of making out with another from a different tribe... I am too busy playing *watcher in the woods*. A diffident shrug." I do wonder though if this time will be different. With a human camp so close.and the alpha male being such a nosy bastard...well what if this one gets cut short? Or has to go longer than usual? Only way that I can see to avoid either of those possibilities is to rid us of that particular human...which would probably be awful for the female who has taken such a liking to our *wolf*" Nimbi grinned as she sensed him almost purr. She shifted again on the rock, until she was kneeling behind him. She began to knead his upper back and shoulders with her hands in massaging motions.She continued with this for several minutes, in complete silence. Finally, she just had to ask." What do you think the human's presence will do to the Gathering?" Tai thought for a few moments, idea after idea going through his mind, then he grinned evilly. "They have a story...about a guy who hordes money, and ends up seeing three ghosts, which change his entire outlook on life. What if we did something like that to him?" Tasia thought about the question, hard. What would happen if they played a fallacious trick like that on the snooty bastard across the way. The more she thought of it, the happier she got.until her smile seemed to almost crack her face." Ya know, I think we should try it. It's for damned sure he doesn't deserve the respect the girl gets from us. After all, she doesn't seem to want to hurt or harm, just learn. I don't like him though and if there is a way to make it, so I don't have to hurt him physically...that's even better. But..." Her voice trailed off to a low growl..." As watcher for this meet, if he does anything I deem inappropriate or likely to cause trouble for us in the world...he will die and to hell with the other problems it could cause." Another grin, cold and almost scary"However, your way seems so much more fun. How do you think we could accomplish it?" Tai smiled, and started drawing with a charred stick, laying out plans. "The way I see it, we can use the mist that will be coming in later tonight as a backdrop. Granted, we may have to discuss this with the young lady. She may offer to help though, as she would know what would scare him the most. We can appear in our animal forms, and make him think the animals themselves are warning him to be nicer. Or we could fake a sacrifice of him. Make him think we are going to sacrifice him to some dark god, and then let her break the news to him. I saw some good herbs for hallucinogens." He grinned widely, getting more and more into the idea. iMac had finished his meat and shifted back to his human form, laying on his stomach. All the while he had been listening to the conversation talking place about the humans." If it's a fake sacrifice you're wanting, I can help with that. I know all the rituals, incantations, and requirements for a sacrifice to Quebecois. My people do it every day, although not so much human sacrifice anymore" Shit Kara thought. I am slipping. And Conner's hand is just a few inches out of my . Her eyes hidden as she slipped. Kara fell landing hard enough to knock the wind from her body for a few moments she didn't know how far down she was, but glad that she had managed to avoid the spikes landing on a narrow ledge. Her head and wrist hurt from where she landed, but she was awake, and able to move. She would assess the actual damage once she got out. Getting slowly to her feet Kara was careful she didn't want the ledge to crumble and go crashing down the rest of the way and land on the spikes. Looking up she could see that there was no way for her to climb out. Connor!.. I think there is a Rope in my Pack you can Use to Get me Out! Hurry I don't Know how long this ledge will hold.! She yelled up at him vowing not to let herself be distracted ever again when searching through ancient runes no matter how curious she was, about a race or guy. Yea right. Like you could keep that promise. Kara laughed at herself. Knowing that she would do it again in a heart beat... Just to ask questions. Even tho she would prefer to ask them without almost getting herself killed. "White!" Connor blurted out as Kara slipped away from him. Thankfully she landed on a ledge, so she was relatively safe for the time being. Connor!.. I think there is a Rope in my Pack you can Use to Get me Out! Hurry I don't Know how long this ledge will hold.! Connor looked around quickly, confirming that they were alone. He quickly snatched up her pack and quickly found the rope. As he lowered an end down to her, he clenched his teeth and focused on the movement of his muscles and bones. His green eyes turned bright yellow and his muscles began to bulge. The sandy hair on his arms became thicker and longer, and his nails turned black. As soon as Kara had a firm grip on the rope, he stood at the edge of the pit and lifted her out as if she weighed nothing. He set her down on the ground safely and the signs of his partial transformation began to fade away. "Just so ye know, I took a big risk by doin' that. I've broken enough rules as it is by tellin' ye all I have." Kara blushed hearing Connors words... He was right she had been foolish, he had risked enough wandering her questions, and even more by doing what he had. She owed him her life. Thank you... your right. I am sorry. We should go back. I have all the pics I need. Picking up her pack she concentrated on the floor in front of her and made her way back outside without any more accidents. Kara didn't look or speak to Connor until they returned to camp, and she walked him to his tent. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him but she didn't want to create more problems than they already had. Good night Connor. Thank you for your company and saving my neck. I owe you more than I can repay. Turning she left and slipped into her own tent. Damn it why did I have to let my curiosity get the better of me... Sighing she set her pack down and paused before changing when she heard Ian call out. Kara. Can I come in? What do you want Ian?she asked opening the tent flap and standing in the doorway, not letting him enter the tent.I just wanted to know if you had found out anything useful for your thesis? Yea right he probably just wants to see if I have any material he can use, or if I still believe in my Lyman theory. No Ian you were right . I told you that earlier and no i haven't started writing my thesis yet. Have you?? The look on Ian's face told her he hadn't, and was just wanting to be an ass. Remember were leaving in the morning to return to the village. So Connor had better stay in his own tent... Was Ian Jealous? No way. Karas silver eyes flashed her anger, as she stood her ground.What's that supposed to mean?...she asked. Ian glared. Nothing. Kara smiled her eyes narrowed as her arms crossed over her chest so she didn't give in to the temptation to hit him. Good because its none of your damn business what I do as long as it doesn't affect our work, and if I want to take someone to my bed I will... I wouldn't date you 2yrs ago Ian i won't date you now ether goodbye. With that she closed her tent flap and nearly jumped out of her skin because Connor had slipped in underneath the back wall of the tent. God don't do that you scared me.she said only half joking. As she moved to sit down on her cot. "I'm sensin' there's some history between you and Indiana Wanker over there." Connor was by no means urging her to disclose any information. He certainly couldn't care less what past issues she may have had with him, as he just seemed like an overall disagreeable person to begin with. No doubt he had pissed off and offended a lot of people in his time, and Kara was just one more name on the list." I just came by to let you know that the things I've told ye can't leave this jungle. My kind have lived among humans before the Romans or even the Vikings began attacking the Isles. You're obviously smart and open-minded enough to accept that we exist. But the rest of the world isn't. And my people aren't prepared to be outed just yet." I'm sorry Kara, but the world isn't ready. When they find out shape-shifters exist, they'll start askin' more questions. Once they're done rounding up and either studying or exterminating us, they'll find out what else is out there. There's a lot goes on at night that you humans only got half-right in your folk stories." Kara listened to Connor speak and felt even worse for asking her questions then what she already did and was already on the defensive from her confrontation with Ian. Kara kept her voice low so that no one outside of the tent would hear their conversation. But she really wanted to yell. I know that. Why do you think I told Ian he was right and that the runes showed only human sacrifice and the feeding of human hearts to worshiped jaguars... which is true to a point. Look I am not going to do anything that will hurt your kind if I can avoid it. I am not even going to write my thesis about you. I was simply curious. As far as I am concerned and my professors will be concerned we didn't find anything they didn't already know. Kara stood unable to sit on her bed any longer and waited to see what he would say if anything. "I needed to make sure," Connor answered evenly. "I didn't want to have to hurt anybody to keep our secret." A lot of the mirth that usually accompanied him seemed to have left. In its place was a cold sobriety. "If you want to learn more about us, you're going to have to make an excuse to stay here. The tribes will not meet like this again for another four years, and then it's unlikely you'll see the same ones again. For all you know, you could arrive there and soon find yourself in several misanthrope stomachs within a minute." Kara ran her fingers through her hair, and began pacing. I know but if I stay Ian and the others will get suspension and start looking and i don't want to bring them to you. The only safe option I have for everyone is to leave with them in the morning... Bitting her bottom lip she stopped pacing and sat down on her cot again. Looking at Ian she said. I'll just have to pray i won't be eaten when I come back in 4yrs on my own.... wait how long dose your gathering last?? I know it's another question you don't want to cancer but. If its at least two weeks long then I can return, on my own after graduation. Tasia listened with rapidly mounting glee as Tai and iMac sketched out some plans for the pompous ass back in the human camp. Her happy eyes took on more of a feral cast as they discussed faking a human sacrifice. Even Tai seemed to understand that they had a better chance of this working if they could involve Kara."Hmm, I wonder if Kara would object to being the *fake* sacrifice. It would give our plan a little bit of realism AND since our resident Wolf has taken a liking to her, it would give her a bit more time to see what it is we do." Tasia shrugged and then stripped down, delighting in the moist heat against her smooth flesh." Ya know, maybe I should just try and get her attention at the camp or at least Connor's. Have her find an excuse to come here before the moon rises." With a wave, Tasia moved away, allowing the transformation to come as it willed. By the time she reached the other side of the clearing, a small fox had replaced her human form. She burrowed under the underbrush and was gone. A few minutes later, Tasia had located Kara's tent. It seemed that Connor was in there with her. 'Ah, well..." Tasia rustled around, trying to make enough noise to be noticed by someone inside and then melted back in to the woods. Tai continued his sketches, then looked up, trying to figure out a good place to hold the fake sacrifice. He was rapid fire-questioning iMac about his people's ways, as he had never taken the time to study that particular culture. He had a notebook out, and started writing, the script seeming almost alien. Furthermore, he was making notes, looking up every so often to verify iMac's facial expression. iMac did his best to describe the older sacrifice ritual. He remembered it quite well as he himself had performed an animal sacrifice once or twice, and the human one wasn't much different at all. He described how the 'alter' would have to be somewhere with an open view of the sun for a midday ritual, or a view of the east for an evening one. Evenings were often the best as they always bathed everything in red. He described the braziers to be used, the style of knife, and even the ceremonial headdress. Rimac felt proud that he was able to recall the rituals so precisely. Being of Incan descent, these rituals would have to be exact if everything wanted to go without a hitch, for they would be quite recognizable Catcall relaxed even more when his shoulders received Niabi's message. He took a while to answer her question." Hard to say. The woman seemed harmless enough. I don't like it though. Her friends may be a threat. If they turn out as that I think they will be dealt with. In one way or another." He turns his head to look back at her. A calming smile on his lips. Conner hadn't angered her question and that was fine she would simply come back in 4yrs, by then she would have enough she hoped to travel anywhere she wanted as often as she liked, but that she knew was a dream. She had enough to make the trip back here after graduation and return home, but that was it for now... Kara thought she had heard a sound outside, but couldn't be sure. She hoped that Ian hadn't been listing to anything that they had been talking about and that it was just her imagination. After Connor left the tent Kara stripped her clothing down so that she was wearing only her tang top, and underwear. She took her hair down allowing it to flow around her, before pulling out her laptop and curling up on her cot to work on her paper. Closing her laptop an hour later Kara was satisfied with her paper, and the fact that she had kept her promise to the Loans. Nothing in her paper indicated the runes she had uncovered nor her theory, or any of the other things she had learn. It was the same old hum drum report every other up and coming archeologist had written up before. Yawning and stretching she put her laptop way and curled up under the blanket of her cot to sleep. Tai continued writing, putting in small sketches as well, as he continued to listen to the Incan Lyman, his mind formulating a plan. The last piece, as he saw it, was letting Kara know what was going on. He tore out a piece of paper, and wrote a quick message, detailing their plans, and their request that she be the fake sacrifice. Kara had almost been asleep when she noticed a piece of paper slide under her tent flap... getting slowly out of bed she wondered what Ian was playing at now, and picked up the paper to read it... Seeing the same runes she had found on the walls she sat down and pulled her laptop back out began translating it so that she could read what it said. Running her fingers through her hair and sitting back on the cot when she was done Kara wondered what they were thinking... True it would scare Ian alright and the rest of the crew but... It could also start a war, and bring more than just Ian and the others down on top of them then what they wanted or needed as well as destroy their beautiful meeting grounds. Kara had to slip out of her tent after all and go to them to talk to them. Kara made sure to delete what she had translated and burn the paper the Loans had slipped into her tent. Getting dressed she left her hair down not bothering to take the time and pull it up feeling that getting to the Loans was more important than her hair. Kara looked around after leaving her tent making sure that Ian hadn't stayed awake and followed her, she made her way to Connors tent... Connor.....Connor...damn it she thought. Connor. Figuring he may have joined the others at the falls and planned on returning in the morning Kara slipped through the trees and made her own way. Making sure to go to the runes first so that anyone following her would be thrown off track. Hello Kara... Meeting someone, are you? Damn. Kara stopped halfway up the steps to the runes... no wonder she hadn't seen Ian in the camp he had been waiting for her. As a matter of fact I am what dose it matters to you? Kara said watching a slow grin spread across Ian's face as he began moving towards her. Waiting for Connor?... I wonder what he will think of you if he finds you with me instead... Shit. Kara noticed the canteen in Ian's hand and from the smell she knew he had been drinking. Ian your drunk. Go back to your tent and well talk in the morning... Ian stopped and cleared at her. You would like that wouldn't ya... i don't think so not this time.... I am not letting you get away again. Kara turned to run as Ian reached for her. Tai watched, having planted the suggestion in Ian's head to go drinking. He stepped out of the shadows, only in her line of sight, staying out of Ian's. He stepped quietly up behind Ian, and stuck a small pin in the back of his neck, coated with a hallucinogen. Furthermore, he then transformed into his Diatonic form, and stepped out from behind Ian, speaking quietly." Sir, I believe you should leave her alone." After watching Connor come and go...and noting that Kara had never come out to check the rustling, Tasia stayed hidden, watching with interest as Tai planted the thought of *just a drink* into Ian's already Missy mind. *Shit, I knew they should have had the dragon do watcher duty!!* she thought, half cynically to herself. She had just about decided to go back to the waterfalls when she heard the commotion. Ian was behaving badly, Connor wasn't around and Tai had decided to move up the stakes. Tasia focused for just one moment, willing the change to regress, but only half way. After the slight discomfort, she had added about a foot to her tiny stature, kept the snout and reddish fur, and was able to walk seductively on her hind legs.with a gorgeous plume of tail to help her balance. She eased out from her hiding spot, just enough so that Tai would see her. Tai nodded almost imperceptibly, smiling slightly, as he looked at Ian, hoping the hallucinogen would take effect even more quickly with the alcohol already coursing through Ian's system. He smiled, looking over his shoulder at Kara. "You will do nicely for the sacrifice." He sent a short mental image to her. ~Play along~ Right away, I noticed just where Tai was going with this little charade, I stepped out further and made my way behind Kara, slipping my left arm/paw tightly around her waist. I was pretty sure (like most draconian) that Tai had warned her.at least mind to mind...but I wanted to stop her flight and see what else iMac and Tai had come up with." Shhh, Kara." I whispered in what I could only hope was a soothing tone. "If we don't do this, I may have to kill him.and I know you don't want that." ohh shit she hand gotten to warn them....it had gone from bad to worse. Ok think she could play along. Maybe in the morning if they got him back to his tent he would think it was just the alcohol... Kara pretend to try and run as well as fight after the half fox half female let her know that things would be alright. She even managed to try and yell but allowed the fox to cover her mouth before she could get it out... When they arrived at their destination Kara was in awe, and couldn't hide the small shiver of fear that went up her spine. She had to remind herself that this was to be a fake sacrifice. Tai smiled, and tried to look menacing, though he couldn't help but be amused by how willing Kara was. He tied her gently to the Dias they had constructed, where iMac waited to preside over the 'ceremony'. Tai had slipped a splatter packet inside Kara's dress, along with something to make it tear. They had already made a duplicate of her outfit, hoping to make Ian think he was seeing something that Kara would deny in the morning. He stepped to one side, and looked around at the others, as iMac started to speak. I stood in a corner, grinning fiendishly. I mean really, how could I help it? Furthermore, I had a fox snout and teeth for crying out loud! Tai and iMac had done a lot of the prep work whilst I had been busily babysitting. I laughed out loud as I noticed how wild Ian's eyes began to look, his face flushed with alcohol and fear. It was going to be hard to control the younger ones among us.after all...fear scent was an aphrodisiac to some of us. It didn't matter though.if Tai had done his job, poor Ian would only remember this as some delusional drunken dream. And may, just maybe. I could let him live to leave our moot. Connor stood at the edge of the clearing, hidden in shadows and watching the whole thing. He was never one to pass on a practical joke, but this wasn't as funny as he'd thought it would be. He would just lie low for a while and wait. This group seemed to know what they were doing. Everything had gone according to the plan so far. iMac stood next to an altar with a fair replica of an ancient Mayan priest robe. In his hand he held what appeared to be an obsidian knife, but in fact was made from several sticks and some plant dye. From a distance, it looked real enough. Kara was brought before him and laid on the 'alter' iMac started intoning several phrases from the old tongue, supposed to summon Quebecois to witness the sacrifice. Of course, he never showed. He never did. Everything was brought to a sudden climax as iMac swiftly thrust down with the 'knife', hitting the splatter packet that had been placed in the spot earlier, causing fake blood to flow"Thus ends the sacrifice!" TasiaRimac's final dramatics almost made me burst into laughter. I watched Ian's face, gauging his reactions from the scent that surrounded him...terror, fear, awe and what was that?? Oh yes, piss. I walked forward until I was only a few feet away from him, my snout open in a huge grin.maybe not the most cheerful grin ever seen but close enough. His eyes flew to my face, that terrifying mixture of fox and woman." If you have any doubts that we are real, remember this night. You may never know who we are or where we are...but we will always know you.by your scent." His heart skipped a beat.once, twice...and then galloped ahead, thudding loudly. I watched him as his eyes rolled back in his head. He hit the ground with a solid thump. I glanced over at the dragon and iMac, before bending over to hoist him over my shoulder." I am taking him back to camp and placing him back in his bed. Furthermore, I will be back shortly to help clean the area up." Tai grinned, and nodded, then helped Kara up, and took her to the pool to clean up. He smiled, looking away as she washed up in the pool, and quickly disposed of the fake dress they had made. He was hoping this would make Ian smarten up, but he also was grinning ear to ear over the performance. It felt good to be acting again, even if it was intended to scare someone shitless. Asia returned a few minutes later, still shaking my head over Ian's final performance. Once I had ensconced him in his bed, he began to shake and moan.mumbling some mess about scary fox women. It had been damned difficult no to leave him something to remember me by. Once I returned to the clearing, I noted with a small smile that they were busy helping Kara get cleaned up. It seemed almost anticlimactic, after all the work iMac and Tai had put into this little deception." Hey all, where do you need me to start?" I was still kind of growl. With a shake, I allowed my body to completely resume its human form. I didn't think paws would pick up much of anything! iMac grinned and waived as Ties walked back into the clearing, shaking off her fox lady form. He was still wearing the mock-up priest garb, but had disposed of the false knife. Now all he was trying to do was shift the 'alter' Kara was grinning ear to ear even as she warned them about what she had come out to tell them in the first place. I will do my best to pretend dumb and play it off as him being drunk. If he brings up the runes I can say he slipped on the stairs chasing me and passed out, and that I helped him back to his tent so he wasn't discovered by the othersFinnished dressing she helped them clean up the area. Tai nodded, then smiled, and handed her a briefcase. "Consider it a gift from someone who figures you could use it." He turned away, then walked off into the forest, having left her with a briefcase full of money for a return trip. Kara returned to her tent after helping the others clean everything up and made sure that she hid the briefcase Tai had given her in with her belongings. She didn't think she would need the money to return here with but she didn't want to offend Tai by turning it down ether. Leaving her tent she woke Keven up to let him know that Ian had been drinking and gotten scared by a panther in the runes, falling down the stairs, and that she helped him get back to his tent. Is he ok? Kara smiled and nodded. Yea he is fine he will sleep it off. I am a little tired tho it's been a long night.she said running a hand through her hair. Keven gave her an odd look before replying.I know you were trying to save Ian some pride by not asking for help, but you should have come and got me and I would have helped you get him to his tent. Kara laughed softly and said thanks before returning to her own tent to get a few hours sleep before it was time to leave on the plane. Morning was going to come all too soon. The next morning Ian didn't speak to her which was fine as far as Kara was concerned. Some of the others laughed as Ian told them about the nightmare he had... and said it must have been caused by my stupid theory, the alcohol and the panther he had run from. Connor stayed inconspicuous that day. He occasionally smiled and winked at Kara, but made sure to avoid Ian. The guy was enough of a bastard already, hung over and confused, he was going to be a hell of a lot worse. Taste next day, Tasia went to check the site, to make sure there was nothing left to lead Ian into figuring out that his nightmare had been staged. iMac and the rest had done a good job of returning the area to it's previously untouched state and Tasia smiled to herself as she trotted toward the falls The area was loud, falls tumbling and rumbling as if they were fighting to escape the confines placed upon them by gravity. I smiled slightly, remembering the previous night's fun. I had never seen a human male so fragile. The sadistic fox within me yipped gleefully as I stripped down in preparation for diving in. There was a secret behind the largest fall and I had to check it, to maintain its safety. A breath of air and then down beneath the booming surface, eyes wide open. There. A light, located to the left. Tasia swam downward and then in.into a narrow inlet which led upward into a hidden underground cavern. Here one could see the paintings and markings of hundreds of clan members.there is a claw from the jaguar tribe, here is a golden feather from the eagles'. Tasia pulled herself up into the cavern and then walked forward, her eyes adjusting quickly to the gloom. There it was, a little mark which represented mortality, a human female. With a sigh, Tasia sank to her knees in front of the cavern wall. It was true then. What to do with this information? Head shake, no idea.not really. Maybe talk to the dragon.he would know. Kara knew she had to head back with the others and couldn't take the chance of slipping off again to see Connor or the others for fear that Ian would be watching her and follow. She had already made up her mind however to return as soon as she had the funds to do so. Connor she knew could slip away when they got back to the village she hoped.

Shifters..Open..|rating:3.0

GvE Good IC thread

Klein is a small town beside the river Minor, is self-sustaining, seeing little foot traffic or boat traffic, being next to a smaller section of the river Minor. Because of how small it is, outsiders are easy to spot, even to other outsiders, they are treated a little differently, do not get the usual courtesy and smiles. Ah, finally, Drax thought to himself, civilization. Perhaps they won't be as hostile as the previous town. The last town Draw had been in drove him out, not trusting his heritage Ben though he saved them from a goblin raid. Weary from travel, the sight of the town renewed his vigor, letting him walk faster in a brisk manner towards the town. In such a small town, the scene of the Gibbering's wagon pulling in to the town square draws stares. A pair of mules pull a wagon that looks like a small boat raised up on wheels, painted a brilliant blue from top to bottom. One gibbering sits on the wooden driver's bench. Just more than two and a half feet, his beard and mustache are parted into two long cones, obscuring his mouth completely. His hair is swept back into two wing-like frills. He's clad in a leather blacksmith's apron, and thick gloves. He tugs on the reigns, bringing the mules to a stop once they have a nice spot in the middle of the square. Once a suitable crowd of gawkers has arrived, he leans back and knocks on the rest of the wagon. A long brass shaft suddenly juts out of the side of the wagon. Shimmering lights gather on the rod, then fall, forming a curtain of light, like an aurora. With a flash, two words of bright red light form in the middle of the curtain, proclaiming the store to be 'Keesha's Cache'. The side of the wagon folds down, revealing another gibbering, standing at the new window, grinning broadly, wearing a purple turban with silver stars. His beard is close-trimmed and smooth, and looking past him, you can see many shelves stocked with items, bottles of alchemical substances, potions, wands, schemas, and knickknacks of all sorts." Welcome, welcome! Welcome to Keesha's Cache, where all manner of marvelous materials can be found! Come, come, see my wonderful wares! We have potions to cure what ails you, magical mysteries from distant lands that will astound and amaze!" He extols, scanning the crowd for a reaction. Suddenly he points a clawed finger forward, gesturing at a nearby man." You sir! You look like you have the eye of a connoisseur, come closer and let me show you what wonders we have to show you!" He smiled, beckoning him closer. Prospero had been trying to familiarize himself with the inn's common room. The Black Boar was little more than benches and a row of barrels jealously guarded by a stereotypical fat barkeep, but it looked a reasonable place to set in his mind in case of emergencies. There were two grizzled old locals in the corner who stood and started grumbling at the approach of a wagon and this drew the wizard's attention. Interestinghe thought to himself, his studies forgotten, perhaps I could refill some components for my spells. Leaving the bar, wooden tankard still in hand, he hopped over the worst of the mud then turned at the inn owner's shout, "What? Your cup? Yes, yes, I'll bring it right back, no need to worry. Oh, very well." Muttering a brief incantation he sent the cup hovering back to the rude fellow and then used the same enchantment to clear the mud from his robes. He was still in his travelling shirt but had put a red cloak over the brown leathers when he'd arrived, better to impress the locals." Mr Keesha? Sir?" Prospero called as the wet mud formed a puddle around him, "I'm looking for scrolls and spell components. Genuine ones mind, not the flimflam that some unscrupulous merchants peddle in. May I inspect your goods? What are your prices?" Spoiler Hide Prestidigitation for the minor magical tricks 2 monthlong thinks by himself2 months since I arrived in this nation. He was travelling around the countryside and only visited bigger cities once or twice ... never staying at one place longer than it needed his attention. He was thinking about his next steps and about rumors worth considering investigating when a small village appeared in front of him. Hmmm it's too early to rest, but a small meal would be indeed enjoyable comes to his mind and he takes the first step to this new location ...maybe conflict even found its way into a peaceful place like this As he arrives at the corners there seems to be some rumor a little further inside the town. He wonders that he doesn't draw as much attention as he would have expected since in most small villages he visited people were fascinated by his alien facial features and clothes. Arriving at the place the people seem to gather he spots several things ... He stands there and takes a moment to fully understand the situation. It seems like a group of small hairy monkeys are standing on a wagon built like a ship and trying to sell something to the wondering crowd. Pulling up his eyebrow he notices an important looking human in a red cloak walking towards the group. A Wu Jen in a town like this?he thinks by himselfhmmm ... must be another traveler. Not interested in their wares Mulong takes his steps to the "Black Boar" ... the local tavern. The barman seems obviously confused ... by Mulong's guess because of the many travelers today. What can you offer a hungry traveler my good man speaks Shi in his slightly strange accent while taking a seat. The jackal headed man stood, letting the horse's hoof come to rest on the ground. You definitely threw a shoe somewhere along the way, but I don't see it nearby. How long since you first noticed the strangeness in her gait?" The young fair skinned woman bit her index finger, lost in thought." Since this morning... I think?" She winced slightly as the arc hon put his palm to his face. I thought she was just getting tired, we've been travelling all week." It's alright, we're downwind of a fishing village, I'm sure they have a farrier there. It shouldn't be too far". The arc hon's humanoid form melted away as he shrunk down to the form of a well groomed jackal, his conversation continuing." You'll have to walk though."" I can walk!", Beryl protested. She then grabbed the silk of her formal gown, lifting it as she began daintily but slowly making her way further up the road, trying her best to sidestep each and every briar and twig that might otherwise try to tear at her dress and each puddle of mud that might soil her shoes. The jackal barked a canine laugh as he and the horse followed along behind her. Chico grinned as the red-robed stranger approached. Aha, a big fish! He listened attentively as the man listed off what he wanted. He looked shocked at the comment about flimflam, holding a small paw to his chest." Good sir, you wound me! I would never dream of selling you anything less than the finest products! All of my wares are guaranteed to work, or your money back! And you won't find a more reasonable price on scrolls anywhere! Now, due to the specific nature of scrolls, we don't usually keep them in stock. However, if you have a little patience, and the right amount of coin, we can quite easily scribe whatever spells you happen to need!" The little cat-raccoon replied." Now, spell components, those we have. What sort are you in the market for, my friend?" He asked. MulongSpoiler Hide The barman, obviously more comfortable now that the stranger moved to his territory of skills pulled a plate and some paper wrapped good from under the counter. Unspoiled food fresh and better than you've probably tasted in a while. What'll you have, meat, lettuce, carrots, perhaps some potatoes? I've even some fish, Seamus caught more than his share yesterday and the cold-box has been full since. Keesha Trio/Prospero Spoiler Hide For the most part, the towns folk are asking about tools of either masterwork of magical quality in order to influence their trades. MerylSpoiler Hide The Arc hon is definitely correct, not a half-hour passes before you begin to see buildings in the distance, maybe another hours walk or so. Luckily the road turns from an old path to the packed dirt only formed from being traveled often. Despoiler Hide The town seems to be around the river that has been on the outskirts of your vision since morning, but that is a good sign, meaning that it will have enough trade for a decent meal. Prospero gives a list of items that he requires to the strange little man, most are mundane but quite odd, some expensive and esoteric. He's happy to wait for the locals to pick out their never breaking saucepans and uncountable scythes first while he lingers on the outskirts looking in. He adds quills, paper and ink to the mental list having used up his last in the previous town. Furthermore, he's curious as to these scrolls though. It was difficult to find a reliable source for them. Perhaps he'd invite the merchant to dinner at the inn to discuss things further. Spoiler Hide According to errata, artificer scrolls are neither Arcane nor Divine, meaning everybody has to UMD them and nobody can just scribe them into their books. A great pity from my point of view and if our kindly DM chooses to skip this then I'll have ALL THE SCROLLS please. As Prospero places an order for spell components of various sorts, he smiles, scrawling each item onto a scroll of parchment. Ahh, business. When he backs away he continues his presentation, demonstrating his variety of mundane goods, before moving onto the magical wonders of his shop. Magical gewgaws of all sorts. An enchanted needle that magically mends a garment a day with just a single word. A jug that fills itself with clean, fresh drinking water. A magic jar, that, when a rhyme is said, conjures a floating, dancing sprite for children to chase and catch. A wooden spoon that purifies a whole pot of food. He soon explains the items on hand are all display items, but that he will gladly take orders and have the items ready in just a few days, for a small down-payment. Each order placed, he writes down on his little scroll. When the crowd thins out a bit, he takes the scroll and passes it off below-decks, with a quick chattered explanation. Kiki went to work enchanting the big-ticket magic items, while Kyoto fetched the things they had in stock. When Kyoto came back up, Chico grinned, taking the items and gesturing Prospero over again." Sorry for the delay. Here's the spell components we have on hand." He said, laying them out on the sill. Most of the mundane components he asked for were there, and one or two of the expensive pieces." Now, I'm sure you know just how hard it can be to find appropriate spell components, so you can understand the hardship we've gone through trying to find such rare, exotic materials..." He begins, launching into a sales speech. Spoiler Hide I'm just gonna 'sell' these spell components for fake money, since I never paid for them in the first place. Also, can you give me a complete list of the orders placed? I doubt I'll have the time to craft them now, but if we end up spending a length of time in this town, it would work nicely. Approaching the town, Draw hears the rabble of the strange wagon-man. Hmph, just another peddler trying to make his worth. Each creature to their own. His weariness and stomach combined drive him toward the tavern, looking for some decent boarding and food. I could get excited about some fish and potatoes .... and could I get fresh water to drink?says Mulong as he drops his backpack next to his seat. Mulong takes a deep breath and analyzes the different smells in the air. Master ... the man in the red cloak ...starts Futile as Mulong interrupts know ... I think another traveler. What about the other people her? Seems like a normal village so far Normal peasants MasterMulong nods slightly and waits for his meal. After the meal arrives and midway through an enormous figure enters the inn .... An orc?thinks Mulong. What do you think about him?he asks Futile in his thoughts ... He is smart Master ... especially for orcMulong has met Orcs when he first arrived in this country and most of them are evil and not very bright. He already killed a few dozen of them himself, but the idea of an intelligent orc makes him curious (also this one seems to not be out for conflict). Furthermore, he watches the steps of the newcomer while eating his fish ... trying to grasp some of the orcs smell. KeechasSpoiler Hide After chatting with the gibbering about what could possibly be built, the townsfolk gather around each other and write up a list of items they wish to eventually purchase. Each item has a reason they need it and who it is for. New butchers cleaver, reasonable quality. Mary chipped his cleaver on some frozen venison last winter, been too stubborn to ask for it to be fixed until an inch came off. Paisley's coming of age after the next moon and his father wants an enchanted bow made. Rear made a fine bow, but if it were enchanted it would be a perfect gift for a hunter with Paisley's skill. Glenn broke his left arm and cannot work as a woodcutter with the tools he has, He needs an enchanted hand-axe so he isn't slowed too much. Nothing else is currently required, copy will be made for town records. Meeting will be held to decide anything else. Chico takes the list the townsfolk provide and looks it over, stroking his beard. With a chatter, he calls downstairs, Kiki and Kyoto coming up through the stockrooms to look over the list. There are a few minutes of pointing, chattering, and squeaking between them, before the other two return downstairs. Chico turns back to the townsfolk." We'll be able to get started right away. However, the materials for enchanting such items are expensive. We'll need 2500 gold for materials before we can get started. That's 500 for making the weapons themselves, and 1000 for each enchantment. When they're finished, it's another 1500 for services." He explains, rattling off his prices." Now, I know it sounds like a pretty steep price, but any merchant you run across is going to charge a lot more than me for the same product, and you don't get the detail and customization I can offer you. I can have the bow enchanted in a few days, but forging the hand axe and the cleaver will take a bit longer. Fine metalworking takes an artisan's touch, after all, and you can't rush art." Spoiler Hide The townspeople are getting a pretty good deal, saving about 600 g. To come up with those figures, I'm treating the fancy cleaver as a masterwork hand axe. Walking up near the barkeep, Draw sees only one outsider: the strange human that is slightly... different from others. Seeing as he was an outsider himself, he decides to grab a seat next to the stranger. Drax grunts in greetings to the mystery man, and says to the barkeep,"Give me your best grub, bub." "You're clearly going to be around for a few days," Prospero calls over the hubbub, "Join me in the inn later, and we can discuss the arcane scrolls I require." With a wave he heads back to the inn and resumes his efforts to familiarise himself with the common room. Draw/MulongSpoiler Hide The barkeep drops a plate with a similar arrangement of food as Mulong's in front of Draw and walks off to see to other things. KeechasSpoiler Hide The townsfolk again create that circle and talk amongst themselves. Before long, one breaks off and runs a piece of parchment down to what appears to be a kind of town hall. It is connected to a few houses and one of the few buildings with a second floor. Prospero Spoiler Hide There are four others in the common room, two men wear aprons and stay behind a desk, while a pair of dwarfs ramble on in their tongue while making very large sweeping motions with their hands and laughing in intervals. After what feels like days of walking, Beryl and crew finally reach the outskirts of the small village. Noticing the small gathering of villagers towards the square, she heads in that direction and approaches one of the townsfolk." Good day to thee, sir. I don't mean to trouble you, but our horse threw a shoe several miles ago, and I was wondering if your kind village had... a... fluffy...." The young noblewoman trails off mid-sentence, her jaw dropping as her gaze falls upon the colorful wagon full of Pokémon-looking creatures parked in the center of the village green." Oh... my... god! They're so fluffy I'm going to die!!!" Letting her dress finally fall to the Dusty ground, she runs over to join the crowd of gawking villagers (with whom she does not blend in the least) and joins them in their gawking. Bakenranf tilts his head to one side in confusion, sighs, grabs the horses reins in his mouth, and follows along behind her. Chico looks up at the squealed shout of joy from the noble girl. A smile spread on his face. Ahh. Now, if that's not a prime mark, he'd eat his shoes." Well, hello there, milady! I am truly honored to have such a beautiful noblewoman at my humble shop!" He exclaimed, giving her a bow." Tell me, miss, will you do me the honor of favoring my shop with your patronage? I'm sure I can find something to catch your interest. Perhaps a toy of some sort, or maybe a wand to season those tasteless trail rations?" Draw, noticing the strange crystal near the strange man next to him, decides to confront him about it. With a mouthful of food, he says,"Another outsider, eh? What's the story with you and your... thing?" as the stranger grunts to Mulong he nods slightly ... kinda confused about him taking a seat next to him, he takes some more time to watch the tall orc. A few minutes later as the food arrives and they both start eating and the red cloaked men returns to the inn the orc asks Mulong about his story. Mulong waits a few seconds before he answers and says My name is Shi Mulong and that is my companion Futile... while asking another inner conversation takes place should I show myself Master?not before we know more about him... I met your kind before, and they never seemed to be very fond of showing manners ... or talking for that matter. What brings you to a place like this? You are obviously a man of war. Spoiler Hide I'd like to know if there are any smells in the room and @TheAmazingOP: Do I realize any fresh smell on your character? Blood? ... Mulong has scent active that's why I want to ask -Sgt; might chance the way my character interacts with the other characters Having committed the room to memory Prospero joins the other diners at their meal. He'll keep an ear open for topics of interest to him, history, nobility and, of course, magic or current affairs. He's looking for the people he saw years ago in that strange magic event and anything that he can pick up to connect them is certainly of interest." Bar man, I say, bar man. Do you have a local bard or storyteller who frequents your establishment with any regularity?" Always interested in hearing news he's found that travelling singers often carry more news even than the gossip of fishwives and with much greater reliability. Tinkers are almost as good come to think of it. "Actually, my good man, could you have a jug of ale taken out to the tinker wagon please. On my tab." The strange merchants will surely visit an inn later in the day and the debt of some beer will encourage them to seek him out. Prospero/Mulong/Despoiler Hide "Seamus likes to hear stories from travelers, he might have a few that would prove interesting-" A loud explosion sounded somewhere outside, and the barkeep stopped talking. Leeches/MerylSpoiler Hide One of the houses down the street explodes, pieces of wood flying everywhere. Chico immediately looks down the street to the exploding building. There's a long moment of shock. Then he turns on his paw, running for the ladder to the lower level of the cart. He swiftly slides down, chattering something urgently. There are a few seconds of Rufus before a hatch on the bottom opens, and the three Leeches rush out, wearing chain shirts and each one carrying a small crossbow. Behind them comes what looks like an iron dog, but it has a pair of wings made of shimmering aluminum. The dog takes the lead as they trot toward the building, weapons at the ready. "Remain here, good citizens. I shall investigate." Prospero steps out onto the street and conjures defensive magics to protect himself. Spoiler Hide In order as he walks down the street: Mage armor Extended Fly Alter Self Extended Expeditious Retreat Extended Invisibility "Sorry I can't stay for small talk,"Draw says to the barkeep and Shi Mulong while wiping his mouth of food,"I think there are some more important manners at hand." Tossing a gold piece at the barkeep, he draws his great sword and sets his shield in front of him, and then dashes out the door towards the explosion. The first rush ignoring Mulong takes a deep breath as he hears the explosion. Remember ... as the words of Hanna run through his head. The world around him seems to slow down for a second as he breathes out. All this happening in less than 1 second he grass Futile and stands up. Immediately afterward he steps outside the inn and towards the sound, moving with exceptional speed as he does so. Spoiler Hide Actions: Mulong tells Futile to watch out for any strange anomalies in 9 m (Hindsight) I change my stance to Leaping Dragon Stance pulling my sword using 5 PP to buff myself and Futile Vigor so +25 temp Hp (Display avoided with Concentration check of 21 (DC 16)) otherwise I try to get there as fast as possible (I have 60ft movement) KeechasSpoiler Hide Degree covers the street and smoke rises from the building. Yet, there is no fire, making the explosion look magical. Prospero Spoiler Hide As head for half of a house with smoke rising from it, your spells take hold one at a time. No one notices you go invisible as no eyes are on you. When you get within range, there are two intelligent minds at the house, one is old and above average (13) the other is a child's mind (8). The leeches are ahead of you with an iron dog. Draw/MulongSpoiler Hide Which building exploded becomes immediately obvious, shrapnel on the street before it and smoke rising. The small furry merchants from before are closest, rushing towards it with some kind of Iron dog. Prospero takes to the air and shifts his form into that of a harpy. He looks down at the fire for sign of what could have caused it. Spoiler Hide Spot check (1d20-5)[-4] Hopefully it's something obvious. Prospero Spoiler Hide All Prospero sees is smoke, which is starting to thicken, soon he won't be able to see the house at all. A short bark from the Keesha and their iron dog hops into the air, unfurling aluminum wings to fly up and toward the smoking building while the Keesha advance cautiously but quickly, weapons ready. Spoiler Hide Iron Defender flies up and toward the burning building at full speed, while the Keesha advance at a double-move toward the site. Iron Defender makes Spot: (1d20+4)[23] Judging from the shrapnel, it can tell that the explosion came from the back of the building, on the second floor. There is too much smoke to see anything else. As Mulong comes closer to the building he keeps an eye out for what could have caused the explosion and tells Futile to do so too. At the same time he watches the other strangers looking for the surrounding explosion. Spoiler Hide Spot checks: Mulong: (1d20+3)[10] Futile: (1d20+4)[14] Prospero flies round the back of the building, avoiding the smoke as much as possible. If there are survivors he hopes to see them, but he is more concerned with possibility that the arsonists are still here and would hamper any rescue attempts. Mulong cannot seem to figure out where the explosion was situated or what caused it. Doing what he does best, Draw charges into the fire and smoke looking for survivors or any trouble within. Spoiler Hide Search for anything out of the ordinary (1d20+1)[9] There seem to be two forms in the smoke, huddled close together. "Get out! Get out!" Drax cries as he runs toward the figures,"Do you want to be burned alive? Let's go!" They both ran outside, an old man and a child. The odd thing, Draw noted, was that there was no fire in the building. Seeing as he can not find anything else, he leaves to go question the man and boy. Seeing the other strangers gathering around the house including the Wu Jen and the Merchants Mulong sees the tall Orc making his way to the man and the young boy. Are those the one you sensed?he thinks ...yes Master His Sword still in his hands he makes his way to the man and the boy. Can you tell me what caused this commotion?he says with a kind but definite voice. The boy began to cry and buried himself in the old man, sobs muffled by the shirt. The old man looked up and spoke quietly, coughing in between breaths. "We were getting lunch ready -cough- heard something in the basement. Next thing I know -cough- the floor explodes and -cough- my daughter is gone, just me and -cough- my grandson." He stops talking and begins to cough more, trying to clear some of the smoke from his lungs. Screams sound from the opposite side of the village, from where the party had come been before the explosion. Take your boy to the inn ... I'll try to find you daughter says Mulong as he takes a few steps towards the house. Are you sure there is no more human inside?he asks Futile. Spoiler Hide Mulong steps close enough to get the main part into 30ft of Futile to use his hindsight ... if he doesn't find anybody he then rushes to where the screams come from Prospero flies down to the other side of the building and tries to assess if there is any risk that the fire will spread to other buildings. He remains about eight feet above the ground, invisible and in the form of a harpy. Hearing the other man say that he would find the girl, Draw grunts in approval." Take your boy and find shelter, he directs at the grandfather,"the other guy will find your daughter." With that, Draw sprinted to where the second explosion was sounded. The leeches order Fergus to examine the source of the explosion on the second floor while they start toward the new explosion. The iron dog flaps through the choking smoke unaffected, landing lightly to examine the scene. Meanwhile, the trio of leeches jog their way toward the new explosion. Back towards the Keesha's wagon is a green dragon. The townsfolk are now noticing them because of the woman's scream and are running in every direction away from the beasts. It isn't too large, but large enough to be quite threatening. Next to it is a human wearing green robes and carrying a wand. Mulong rushes into the direction of the man and the dragon slowing down while coming closer and tells Futile to watch for the Mind of both while readying himself to attack at the blink of an eye. Spoiler Hide Trying to get up to 30ft for hindsight If not possible ready to attack. A dragon? Unbelievable. Prospero keeps his distance. Green dragons don't breathe fire, something is definitely wrong here. Going with his first instinct when he sees the dragon and man, Draw prepares to charge at the enemy." No evil shall go unpunished!" Spoiler Hide Assuming initiative here, (1d20+7)[25] With three people coming towards it, the dragon leapt into the air, beating its powerful wings to stay dozens of feet above ground. The human beside it began floating upwards while chanting. Spoiler Hide I certainly would not mind initiative at this point. Prospero IR'Outhit looks as if the warriors could do with a boost Prospero flies down to the others and casts a spell, targeting as many of his allies as he can. He then moves away from them, still invisible and altered, and tries to get a better look at this caster. Spoiler Hide Initiative (1d20+2)[11] Cast Haste on as many of the party as I can catch in a 30ft area. Spell craft to see what he's casting (1d20+20)[22] The leeches pause and give a whistle, their winged iron dog immediately soaring top-speed toward them to aid in the fight. They ready their crossbows, their bolts ready to fire. Spoiler Hide Rolling initiative here. (1d20+2)[13] As the caster starts chanting Mulong speeds up and charges towards him. Spoiler Hide Initiative: (1d20+4)[22] If I have good Initiative I'd make a Psionic Lion's Charge using my Swift Action (3pp) and making a Jump check for Battle jump and Leap attack (10 ft high 10 ft far ... DC 50) during the charge (far comes first so I definitely reach the enemy ... if lower than 50 not high enough for battle jump) Jump: (1d20+42)[48] Afterward 2 attacks with full pa "Foes be crushed!" Drax yells, as he heedlessly charges at the green pair. He opens himself up in order to deal as much damage as possible, caring more about the safety of the people than himself. With a mighty leap, he jumps at the ascending pair, using his momentum to both propel him further and create devastating results for the two. Spoiler Hide Draw Male CG Water Orc Barbarian2/Fighter2/Warblade5, Level 9, Unit +7, HP 84/84, Speed 30 AC 20, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17, Fort +14, Ref +5, Will +2, Base Attack Bonus 9/5 Dislocate teleport 3/day, Bull Rush swift after attack 4/day, do not move w/ enemy Brutal Surge Dislocator Great sword +1 MW 16/11 (2d6+9(STR)+1, x2) MW Composite Longbow (30 arrows) 13/9 (1d8 + 7, x3) Half weight, Treated as light armor, increased max DEX bonus (+2), reduced armor check penalty (3; min 0), reduced arcane spell failure chance (10%) Mitral Breastplate, Animated Large Steel Shield (+4 Armor, +3 Shield, +3 DEX) Abilities STR 22, DEX 17, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 12, CIA 9 Condition None As expected, Draw charges the enemy. Gains +2 to hit, -2 AC. Leap Attack creates triple the damage done from the power attack. Headlong Rush causes damage to be doubled. Power Attack is maxed, for -9 on both attacks which then applies to armor because of Shock Trooper. 18 damage is added to each attack from this, and when tripled is 27 damage added to each attack. Pounce is used, allowing for two attacks. Feel free to correct me anywhere, and I will fix it Attacking the Green Dragon [roll0] Jump Check [roll1] First Attack [roll2] Second Attack [roll3] x2 First hit damage [roll4] x2 Second hit damage Spoiler Hide If any of the hits connect, Draw will activate a charge of his Brutal Surge which allows him to bull rush the dragon as part of the attack. Shock Trooper's Directed Bull Rush will allow Draw to push the dragon left and right. In this case Draw will push the dragon towards the wizard if enough squares are met, and if the dragon is pushed into the wizard's square Draw can activate Domino Rush (also from ST) and tries to trip them both. +2 on the bull rush check from the enchantment, +2 from charging, and +4 from the Improved Bull Rush feat. [roll5] STR check against the dragon [roll6] Trip attempt against the dragon [roll7] Trip attempt against the wizard Spoiler Hide Damn this rolling system and how it times out! Re-rolling in order. (1d20+29)[39] Jump Check (1d20+18)[20] First Attack (1d20+13)[23] Second Attack (2d6+64)[67] x2 First Hit (2d6+64)[66] x2 Second Hit Spoiler Hide (1d20+14)[32] Bull Rush against dragon (1d20+6)[21] Trip against dragon (1d20+6)[13] Trip against wizard Do I get any bonuses since they are in the air? Draw jumps not only high enough to attack the dragon, but high enough to attack it from head on and not just swipe at the legs. Both attacks scrape against the creatures scales, not enough to do any real damage. Spoiler Hide Will saves would be wonderful at this point. Spell craft reveals his casting to be for a summoning spell. Prospero Will Save(1d20+9)[27] Will save countered with moment of perfect mind(1d20+14)[33] Will Save:Spoiler Hide Roll: (1d20+9)[26] Mulong sharpens his mind against the challenges there to come. Spoiler Hide Will (1d20+19)[31] (adding +4 from Elan) Also I'm rolling hit and damage now if I could attack the mage while he was casting (that's what the jump check was for ... I just thought it would be better to wait for these rolls): hit: (1d20+14)[20] damage (1d10+23)[28]x2 (valorous) edit: damage is 56 then if I can hit the mage with 20 / save should be sufficient Spoiler Hide sorry miscalculated hit (got two attacks from haste) going to roll the second one here and just increase the hit of my first one by 1 (forgot haste) 1.hit: 21 (20+1 from haste) // dmg: 56 2.hit (1d20+15)[23] // dmg: (1d10+23)[26]x2 so I got one hit with 21 and 56 DMG and one hit with 23 and 52 DMG. Did I hit something? Second attack from Mulong hits the mage, dealing considerable damage. The dragon Breathes acid down on everyone below it. It engulfs all of you and a few townsfolk. Spoiler Hide DC 20 reflex for half, (10d6)[38] Acid damage. The Leeches squeal as the acid washes over them, but they're not out of the fight just yet. As one, they **** their crossbows and let fly, softly-glowing bolts streaking across the town square toward the mage as he floats there, weaving his terrible magic. From behind them, their iron pet comes streaking across the sky, glittering wings of aluminum flashing in the sun as it dives headlong into the fray, lashing out with iron fangs at the dragon. Spoiler Hide I don't think the Keesha would be close enough to the combat to be caught in a breath attack, honestly, seeing as they're certainly not melee combatants and crossbows have a pretty good range. A map would be very helpful, I think. Reflex: (1d20+9)[20] Crossbow Attacks: Attack: (1d20+14)[26] Damage: (1d6+2)[4] Attack: (1d20+14)[19] Damage: (1d6+2)[3] Attack: (1d20+14)[28] Damage: (1d6+2)[8] The homunculus is charging the dragon. Roll:(1d20+10)[11] Damage: (1d8+4)[7] One crossbow bolt pierces the magical barriers around the mage, the other two harmlessly bouncing off. The homunculus is unable to get a clean hit on the dragon. Spoiler Hide Roughly Dragon and mage both 20ft in air K=leeches, M=Mulong, D=Draw, G=Dragon, C=Caster H=Winged dog, P=Prospero ---D----__--------M --------|G |-----------C -----H-|__| --------K ------------------P A humanoid appears next to the leeches, it appears to be some strange red mixture of reptile and insect, four arms wielding short-swords and large fanged mandibles. Its swing three short-swords at the leeches, tries to claw and bite them. The caster turns and gestures towards Draw, still levitating upwards. Ice begins to form around Draw, threatening to encase him completely. Spoiler Hide Draw, reflex DC 23 or become helpless, if save is successful, entangled instead, take 10 DMG either way. I cannot seem to find my link to the leeches character sheet, so I'll lay out the rolls here. 26 - 5dmg 30 - 7dmg - If it hits, automatically begins grapple. 34 grapple check. 18 - 4dmg - If it hits, make a DC 16 fortitude save. Spoiler Hide Reflex Saves (1d20+5)[7] (1d20+5)[18] Spoiler Hide You could roll reflex saves for us to speed stuff up as well as trivial things. Also, you sure the cold save isn't fortitude? *wink wink* Originally Posted by TheAmazingOP Spoiler Hide Reflex Saves [roll0] [roll1] Spoiler Hide You could roll reflex saves for us to speed stuff up as well as trivial things. Also, you sure the cold save isn't fortitude? *wink wink*guy Spoiler Hide I dislike rolling saves for you when it does not affect what immediately happens, I am superstitious and prefer not to make your rolls when not necessary. It is reflex to get out of the ice before you are frozen solid. So now you've got several inches of ice covering your body which will be difficult to break from. Prospero, Draw and Mulong may all act. Mulong shakes of the acid and vanishes the blink of an eye afterward to just appear over the mage flying down on him ready to strike the life out of his foe Spoiler Hide Reflex save for half: (1d20+6)[18] Swift action to use Dimension Hop (I assume he is pretty much over me, so I need 30 ft to get 10ft over him ... meaning 5 pp (tell me if more are needed)) Initiating Charge with full pa (sadly this time just 1 attack because no pounce :/) hit: (1d20+15)[28] damage: (1d10+18)[26]x3 (valorous+battle jump) edit: so sadly full damage from the Acid, but I suppose I hit the mage with a 28? Damage is 26x3=78 edit2 : overhead that he is still levitating upwards ... so add +20 ft to the distance I teleport (costing 9 pp then) ... also sorry, but I need another post to roll for falling damage Spoiler Hide Assuming I fall controlled Jump check to reduce the fall by 10 ft and count the second 10 ft as non lethal (1d20+48)[63] (pretty much autosuccess ... DC is 15) so I'm up 50 ft - 10 ft = 40ft whereas the first 10 count as non lethal meaning 3d6 lethal 1d6 non lethal (3d6)[11] lethal (1d6)[6] non Prospero IR'RoathThis is very strange. Let's see if we can ground this mage and get to the bottom of why he has attacked this town. Prospero flies back to a safe distance and begins to chant. In a few seconds he has completed his spell and releases it at the caster in mid-flight. He shifts into view as the invisibility that hid him dissipates revealing the form of a harpy in flight. Spoiler Hide Move 90 feet back (Fly + Haste) so I'm at least 100 feet away. Dispel checks (I don't know how many spell effects are on the caster, so I'm rolling 10 times. That should be enough). DC is 11 + the spell’s caster level (1d20+9)[15] (1d20+9)[19] (1d20+9)[17] (1d20+9)[29] (1d20+9)[18] (1d20+9)[22] (1d20+9)[21] (1d20+9)[26] (1d20+9)[15] (1d20+9)[20] I do hope that his levitate or fly isn't dispelled. Prospero manages to dispel most of the effects on the caster, namely: Stone skin, Mage armor, Shield, and Protection from Good. Mulong's acid kills the caster, burning through a spell he placed over himself and them most of his body. Spoiler Hide He was literally at his last HP's. Nothing but a minor setback. Steeling himself for something he has never tried before, Draw uses the technique usually reserved for mental attacks and uses it to sharpen his mind for the physical feat ahead of him. Using this in combination, Draw statins to break out of the enchantment the posthumous wizard set upon him. Spoiler Hide (1d20+10)[30] Draw breaks himself free of his prison of ice, chilled, but nothing too severe. Spoiler Hide Dragon is up, I'll post later, just about to leave. The dragon beats its powerful wings at the winged dog propelling itself away while attacking. Spoiler Hide 24 and 28 to hit against the dog, 5 and 10 DMG respectively. I bloody well hate not being able to get online, sorry about that, but my computer is shot right now, until I get it properly replaced the internet on my current one is horrendous. The iron dog goes flipping end over end for a moment as the dragon wings away, but it soon rights itself. With unthinking loyalty, the construct once more lunges into the fray.Meanwhile, the leeches wrestle with their otherworldly attacker, struggling to break free of his clawed grasp. Spoiler Hide Homunculus attacks. If the dragon moved back far enough to charge again, add +2 to the attack roll. Attack: (1d20+8)[19] Damage: (1d8+4)[6] And rolling the grapple checks in IOC, because I'm a dummy. * post roll count doesn't match database Prospero flies ahead to meet the dragon and unleashes a cone of scintillating colors in an effort to stun it. Spoiler Hide Enlarged Color Spray DC16. 30 foot range. Mulong turns around taking a look at the other adventurers on the square. As he sees that the tall Orc breaks free of his prison in ice he nods slightly while moving towards the Keesha Sprout grappling with the otherworldly attacker. He takes a giant leap swinging his sword over his had. Spoiler Hide Swift Action for Psionic Lions Charge 3pp Jump check to see if both Leap attack and battle jump apply (1d20+42)[56] (DC 50) damage (x2 without battle jump / x3 with battle jump) (1d10+29)[31] (1d10+29)[38] edit: sorry it's not +29 damage; it's +23 so reduce both by 6 damage (31-6)x3=75 and (38-6)x3=96 forgot to roll hit toolkit; next post Spoiler Hide 1.hit (dealing 75 damage): (1d20+15)[32] 2.hit (dealing 96 damage): (1d20+15)[24]

GvE Good IC thread|rating:3.0

Quiet Now, You're Going to Wake the Beast (Letum & Azure)

Hide your soul out of his reach Shiver to that broken beat​Freedom was thing that Murder valued greatly, perhaps more than most people, and it was still a foreign thing to realize that he could now choose for himself. Two years ago, he’d managed to buy his own freedom from the gladiatorial pits and while he’d been cared for perfectly, it’d been at the cost of having to do everything someone else wanted. It wasn’t something that suited Murder’s personality, especially as he grew up. Still, even with his freedom, he hadn’t exactly been happy… Despite having grown his hair and beard out so that people no longer recognized him as a former fighter. He still bore the mark on his shoulder that showed he’d been in the pits, for one, and despite being free feared that his claims of being free would be ignored. So, the best choice, in his mind, was to leave the continent entirely and hopefully find somewhere that didn’t have the knowledge of dragon shape-shifters. Truthfully, he hated the trip by ship on account of not being able to see land. However, he also knew that it’d be far, far too much of a distance to fly on his own. Still, he enjoyed the various ports they stopped at both due to the different foods and the entertainments provided. Regardless of his personal feelings about the trip, he sucked it up with the knowledge that it’d be worth it for his lifelong freedom. The port he finally stepped off at was on the sleepy part and clearly hadn’t expected anyone to remain once the ship finished getting supplies. Murder merely traded for his own supplies and continued onwards. The climate reminds him of where he’d been born, a place he only visited once after he’d gained his freedom, and it hadn’t fared any better than how he’d remembered it as a child. Nature had taken over in the near thirty years and what few structures had remained standing looked like they’d fall in on themselves at any time. The sharp call of a bird pulled him out of his somewhat dark thoughts, and he forced himself to focus on the present, not the past where things were carved into the stone. He still had a great number of things to focus on, the primary one being a territory of his own. The ideal place would be somewhere remote, but also near a village or town so he could get supplies. Perhaps somewhere at the mountain foothills so he could find shelter from winter storms. Several months later, Murder found what he was looking for. He’d set up in a dense forest several miles to the north of a farming community at the foothills of a mountain range. It’d allowed him to dig out a small cave that would serve as a decent shelter and the local area provided ample hunting. Not to mention, the farming community allowed him to trade supplies and sample the local food. Still, it presented a problem a few months down the road. Inevitably, the hunters of the community took notice of something big having moving into the forests. While the local predators had decided to scram, the deer, elk, and other creatures tended to be easily spooked than they had in past years. Then there were the signs. Claw marks on the trees close to twenty feet off the ground. Mostly eaten remains of elk. Scat piles with bones in them. Footprints. All in all, it pointed to some large predator having moved in. Then, someone spotted the beast. As hunters were prone to doing, they wildly embellished the tale, claiming the creature was twenty feet tall with great antlers and a maw filled with countless teeth. They claimed when it roared it sounded like the cracking and groaning of ice breaking in the spring thaw. How it seemed to melt back into the wilds and simply disappear. Murder, meanwhile, found the stories fanciful and hilarious from his spot at the end of the bar. Nothing in the forests matched the description, so he could only assume they were talking about him, especially when the description of ‘a head as green as the leaves’ was brought up. Despite the description being wildly off base, he knew it could spell trouble for him in the long run. After taking a hefty sip of his beer, he half turned to face the hunter and leaned against the bar. “So, what’re you planning on doing about it?” Several eyes turned to him. They’d been wary of him, initially, thanks to his height of 6’8”, but had warmed up to him after he proved to be a fantastic hunter and often brought skins to trade for supplies. Still, they had never fully trusted him, which he thought was quite fair. Finally, the hunter who’d spun the tale spoke. “Tell the community leader and let her decide. Though… You travel the forests, don’t you Joseph? Have you seen anything similar?” Murder shook his head. “I haven’t. Just the occasional bear. If this… Beast does exist, wouldn’t it be better to leave it alone? In my experience, such unnatural things have a ‘leave me alone, I will leave you alone’ policy.” Turning back to his meal, he resumed eating, but inwardly frowned. Too many things could happen for him to rightly plan, and he knew he’d have to wait and see. It wasn’t something he liked, considering he might end up having someone come after him, but he really didn’t have much choice in the matter and could only hope that nothing came of the sighting. For a time, the community leader opted to lean towards the ‘wait and see’ strategy, but as fall crept closer and the wolves started getting hungry for livestock, she finally decided to call in a hunter… One who could traverse the wilds of the forest to the north and handle something, potentially, magically inclined. Murder, naturally, decided to be in town for when the hunter showed up in order to gauge how much of a threat they might be to him. He didn’t dress too dissimilarly from the community inhabitants and wore furs from animals he’d hunted with a bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. Little trinkets had been braided into his just past shoulder-length black hair. All in all, beyond his height, he blended in quite well with the locals. Now, he just had to wait and finish up his trading, then wait around to see who this hunter might be. Soldier, keep on marching on Head down till the work is done​ A general din of people asking hushed questions and giving side long glances to the wilds beyond was the ambient noise of the village. Eyes as sharp as the winters edge took in the hurried steps of the outposts occupants. Dappled greens skimmed over work worn faces, picking through the details of each. A trapper, a hunter, a farmer; the list went on of nameless people embodying trades that gave them roots to the land. Limbs elongated by birth right carried a slender frame from the edges of the flora where dirt path relented to man-made structures. Cottages hewn from wood stood at the tallest two stories high with thatch roofs. A few foot falls more deposited the stranger next to an old house that looked to double as a tavern of sorts. Skin speckled with freckles from years in the sun ran along the grain of the felled trees. While weathered marks of age peppered the structure, there were no signs of battle. Humming a soft grunt, the man continued on his way, his fingers continuing to scrape the well lived in home. Though the wood lay dead on its side as a piece of a structure, it still had stories to tell. Moving along its length, whispers of an old life trickled through the man's fingertips. Having been felled for some time, the parched wood did not have much to say. A few fantastical storms, a branch that had snapped, then ultimately the agony and fear of being chopped down. No foggy recounting of a forest beast was among the mix. His fingers detached from the rolling rings of the lumber, a whispered thanks being left in his wake to the sacrifice made by the once proud tree. Only tapping a house gave him a fair amount of answers to the questions he had had for his employee. Humans had a tendency to embellish the mundane. What had been implied was the village was stalked by a hulking demon bent on rending flesh from bone? If such a thing were true, his jaunt into the memories of the wood of the forest and the felled brethren that made up the house would have spoked of such a thing. Regardless, it meant his task would be easy pay. He was most likely facing an oversized boar who had gotten itself into something enchanted. Nevertheless, he had a job to do. It was time to make himself known. The square of the village was an earth packed opening. Choppy grass clung to the corners of where structures sunk into the ground while upturned stones made smooth with foot falls dotted the deep toned space. In its center was a well, presumably tapping into the groundwater provided by the nearby creeks that fed the modest farms. Now standing in the square, he was obviously noticed. The people who had been going about their day as normal were eyeing him with unease. He was an outsider; an outsider that was armed. In a show of friendliness, he lowered his pack and quiver to the ground and out of easy reach for an attack. His dagger however remained tucked beneath the longer edge of his falls' tunic. Welcoming or not, he was not fool enough to leave himself exposed less this was an elaborate trap. He doubted that to be the case, but his longevity in life was not from listening to assumptions." I come to answer the call for a hunter!" He announced to the spectators of his arrival. Introductions were easier when they knew why he was in their personal refuge from the rest of the world. It would also make it easier for his employer to make herself known to finish the description of what his work would involve. Murder quietly watched the hunter as he made his way into the market square and announced himself. It was, admittedly, hard to tell which one of them would come out on top in a fight; hunters typically employed a number of skills, magical or otherwise, in their hunts. Though, decidedly, it might not be a bad idea to pack his things up and move to one of the unused hunting camps… At least till the hunter got tired of looking for something. In theory, anyway. There was no telling how determined the hunter might be and while Murder had no desire to leave his home this close to winter, he also knew that he might not have a choice. Absently, he toyed with a little trinket he’d braided into his black hair as he thought things over; idly, he pointed at an item on the stand. Vivid green eyes glanced at the monster hunter while the villager pilled up the sack with the item he’d requested. If only Matthew hadn’t seen him, he wouldn’t be in this damned mess. After paying for the bag of seasoned jerky, Murder turned and quietly started making his way out of the village square. While he was doing this, one of the hunters poked his head out of a lodge before making his way to the monster hunter. As was to be expected, he wore furs and sewn leather clothing; his hair had long since greyed. “Good, you’ve arrived. Alien is expecting you in the lodge.” He pointed towards the building he’d just come out of. “She’s finishing up with giving instructions to the hunters, but she has a few things the beast has left behind that might help you.” Without waiting for the monster hunter’s response, he turned and started back to the lodge, knowing that the village leader had paused in her discussion to wait for his return. It went without saying that he assumed the monster hunter would follow. It would seem that the folk of the village were not the talkative type by the less than blunt reaction. The hunter retook his pack and put in place before following as expected of him. His preference for short conversations that met the point was his preference with the kind he was dealing with. He did not take well to talking with humans after all. Making quick with his stride, he made his way within the throes of the lodge. The bite of the late fall air gave way to a dry warmth provided by a crackling circular fire pit rimmed with stone. The light provided by the ambient glow was complimented by sap soaked torches rimming the pillars. Streaks of soot crawled up the support pillars to the flue that released any excess smoke harmlessly away. Various meets rested in the rafters in the path of the flame to allow them to smoke for the coming winter months. Decorative carvings were etched into the walls while tapestries covered the walls and did well to battle away any drafts that would try to seep through. It was a building constructed efficiently and without waste. If the forest was to mourn its fallen brethren, it would at least find comfort in knowing it was not done meaninglessly. Nestling the thought away, the hunter came to the gathering of the locals behind the man who had bid him to follow. Before the temporary guide stood a woman with an air of authority the demanded the respect of those present. The even man presumed she was Alien." I am Linear Lukas," The newcomer introduced. He nodded his head in a show of respect to his employer. Alien was an older woman, having led the village for several decades and her hair had turned silver several years ago. She had been in the middle of discussing which camps the hunters would use for the next month when the monster hunter arrived. Looking up, she raised an eyebrow at him before giving him a slight nod of acknowledgement. “I am Alien, the one who sent for you.” Looking back to the handful of people around her, she sighed. “We’ll finish discussing this tomorrow. Get your gear in order, in the meantime.” Focusing back on the stranger, “I’ve been waiting on your arrival. The hunters haven’t really gathered much evidence beyond the one sighting on account of refusing to go into the northern parts of the forest. Evidently, that’s where the beast likes to stay and until we get it handled, I’d prefer them to stay where it’s safer.” Moving away from the table she’d been standing at, she fetched a few things out of a bag that hung from the wall. “These are the handful of things we’ve found. I don’t know if they’ll be of any use to you.” Then, she set three items on the table. The first was part of a claw sheath, where the beast had shed it; the sheath was closer to a claw than a talon, suggestive of a land predator. “The hunters have found claw marks on trees some twenty feet up. This was found at the base of one of the trees.” Next, a tooth that appeared to be a front tooth; the lack of buildup suggested either a young animal or one who was in good health. However, the shape was also suggestive of a carnivore. “This was found in the remains of a carcass, lodged in a leg bone.” Finally, a vivid green feather that shimmered greens, blues, and purples in the light of the fire. She didn’t have anything to say about the feather. “Matthew is the one who saw the creature and might be able to tell you more. He’s usually at the inn. Joseph, if he’s around, can probably guide you into its territory.” Eyeing the collection set out before him, Linear moved forward. Finger worn from years of practice with a slew of weapons gingerly picked up the first of the items presented. The sheath was worn and cracked, clearly having been shed by natural means than broken free. There were no hairline cracks that had grown into the keratin nor a lack of uniform shape. The beast was young and healthy enough to shed as needed. Discolored by being left in the elements, it did not give many other clues beyond the well-being of the beast at hand. The markings on the trees would tell him far more when in the forest. Live wood was talkative and had no qualms with showing righteous fury at being cut into. Setting the object aside, he took up the tooth. Where the gum line would rest on the bone was clean, inferring that it had been loosed by its own means as opposed to being ripped free. His mind began to tick through the catalog of what creatures he knew of that had said ability. At the very least it inferred that what ever prowled the northern woods was not an overgrown common creature. Even in exaggerated extents, no boar or bear would regrow a tooth. Lastly he laid his gaze on the feather. It was long, it's stretching from his wrist to the bend of his elbow. He dragged his fingertips along the center, pressing here and there to test the strength and texture. Linear quickly concluded that it was not for warmth or general plumage. The flow of it spoke of an animal that could take to the sky. The coloration bespoke of what he assumed to be a male. Female plumage tended to be muted to avoid detection, regardless of the size of the creature at hand spare those imbued with poison. Twirling feather between his forefinger and thumb, he internally skimmed the index of creatures he knew of, both common and rare. A few ideas of what he may face came to mind that only needed confirming by letting the forest speak to him to solidify. Now what was left was making sure his pay was in order before finishing the initial investigation." Keep you men from the northern forests until my return. Have any livestock kept under cover and watch the skies." He spoke with sharp eyes peering past the feather he held aloft. With the seasons changing, game would venture towards the lower reaches of the valley and drive his target closer to the village. It may become embolden by the scarcity of meat and make an easy meal of those unwise. Setting the feather back in place among the rest of the gathered, he nodded his head to the leader of the lands. He wanted to speak to this Matthew before commissioning Joseph to lead him to where he would set up camp and begin his hunt. “I’ll see what I can do.” She returned the man’s nod and began gathering the items up. “The inn is on the other side of the market square and has the elk horns above the door. I’d be very surprised if Matthew isn’t there, drinking and exchanging fantastical stories with one of the other hunters there. He’s the one who saw the beast and should be able to tell you what he saw… If a bit embellished. I don’t know if you’ll be able to find Joseph, however, even if he would be the best man to guide you. He usually comes into the village every few weeks for supplies and I thought I saw him earlier, but it’s likely that he already left.” The inn was a comfortable respite from the chill in the air, with a massive, roaring fire at one end and the smell of cooking stew and fresh bread hung heavy in the large room. A few people dotted the inn, either at tables or residing in the chairs by the fireplace. Some of them were village folk, either getting a meal or hunters getting ready to leave. Others were travelers who simply needed a place to rest their feet. Still more were traders from a city several days away. A handful regarded him as he entered, but quickly went back to whatever it was that they’d been doing previously. Matthew, however, remained focused on the stranger, recognizing him for what he was and knowing that a monster hunter was due to arrive any day. He downed his drink and stood up, his face a bit pinched. “You’re the monster hunter, right?” Matthew was not a tall man and was lean in build. Like many of the other hunters who frequented the forest, he wore carefully made animal skins that were designed to keep him warm. Then, he vaguely gestured at the unnamed man. “You have to be.” Despite his lean build, Matthew was also seasoned hunter, having roamed the forests since he’d been a teen and had his fair share of close calls with angry animals. To see such a beast had indeed rattled him to the point of refusing to step foot into the forest again. The barkeep quietly grunted from where he was filling up a mug for someone. “I still wonder if you actually saw something and didn’t just eat something you shouldn’t have. No one else has seen this mystery beast of yours.” This caused Matthew to glare, venomously. “Maybe not, but all us hunters have been seeing signs of it for months. You saw the tooth that Miles brought in. It was bigger than a bear’s claw! There’s something out there Neil, I swear it on my mother’s grave!” Neil merely shook his head and went back to stacking clean glasses while Matthew looked back to the newcomer with a pleading look. "He speaks the truth," He sighed as he approached the rattled hunter. With a nodded head as greeting to the Inn keep he then set his sight back on the man who held the most information he would be able to glean from the village." What did you see?" He asked simply. He was prepared to dissect fiction from fact by the way the man held himself. A tall tale was already being spun before word were said. The ambient air about the hunter said as much by Linear's guess. Men of the sort tended to be fantastical. After he would receive what info he could, he'd see if he could find the Joseph mentioned before, or make his own way to the territory that required care. Intentionally, he felt out the air of the room. The tone was of distrust, but not outright hostility. He was only welcome by what services he could provide. It was however reassuring. In his younger years when taking up commission for pay, he had been lead into traps where it was his own hide that was intended to be reaped or him being intended to be bait to another could claim the prize. Greed or sheer malice, while able to be muffled, could not truly be hidden. It permitted the environment like an undertone of rot. Scars etched from ignorance traced along his flash hidden beneath his tunic. It left him wary despite the lack of unrest. Iliphar fingered the dagger he kept out of sight as one might worry a stone. It comforted him and put him more at ease. The sooner he was back into the forest, the better. Matthew nodded vigorously and looked fairly pleased that the man in front of him wanted to know about what he’d seen. “I’m Matthew, if you didn’t already know.” Then, he sighed as he tried to get his thoughts in order to help the hunter in front of him. “It’s been around since late spring, that we know of. That’s calving and kidding season, and usually we get fox and wolves coming down from the forest to eat the young livestock. This year? Nothing. Haven’t seen any sort of predators till a few weeks ago. They’re acting like they’re starving, and it’s been worse than any of us have seen.” He quietly snorted. “Then we started finding other signs of it. Elk and moose that were mostly eaten, fresh, too. No more than a day old. Scat piles with cracked bones. Miles found a tree with claw marks some twenty feet up. And we’ve found footprints, most of them down near the river that comes out of the mountains. Just… None of us ever saw the actual beast till I saw it.” Matthew went silent for several minutes while he mentally recounted what he’d seen. When he spoke again, his voice was hushed. “I was near the river to hunt water birds. I hadn’t seen any, so I was headed further south. There’s a section of the river that branches off into a large pond and sometimes the birds will go there. I heard one of the trees creaking, y’know how saplings will do when you’re pushing against them? It’s not really an unusual noise except it was one of those windless days. So, I crouched down since I figured it might be a bear or something.” Lightly, he fiddled with a bit of leather on his shirt and looked down. “Then I saw it’s head. Guess it was maybe five feet off the ground, poking through the branches. The angle though, said it was leaning down. Big green head. Bright green eyes, too. Cat eyes. Never been so scared in my life, but it just stared at me and I stared back. Then it opened its mouth and made this… Noise. All I could focus on was those damned teeth.” Finally, he sighed and looked back up at the stranger. “Then it was gone. I’m not going back in the forest till it’s gone. Joseph would be able to help you head up to where it seems to stay, if he hasn’t left yet. He lives out there in the forest, the crazy bastard… But he only comes in to get supplies. If he’s already left, you can follow the road out of the village, to the forest, to the first hunting camp. The ones there will have likely seen him and can point out where he went.” Neil snorted loudly. “You can’t miss him. The man stands a full head taller than everyone else with black hair and a beard. Usually has things braided into his hair. He’s a bit strange. Quiet. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders, though.” The fear radiating off the local was a palatable entity. If there was a tall tale tucked in the words, it was well hidden. The even half blood doubted it was the case. Liars had tells. Most would fidget at the wrong times, askew eyes when they should be looking forward; a playbook of quirks that bespoke of a fib. Freckle dappled fingers teased the dagger masked by the shadow of his tunic pragmatically in thought. The evidence the village leader had presented started the story and this furthered what he was beginning to believe was true. There was a beast in their midst and his time had not been wasted trekking out to the north. A fable with no demon did not reward him with the coin promised. A few times over he had been afflicted by such events. A wayward bear driven to hunting human flesh by an invading alpha that took its territory, a group of bandits using superstition to claim a region; the list was unfortunately longer than he preferred. Nonetheless, it served as a lesson. He knew to ask for the details prior to stepping foot out to return with a head." I give my thanks," He spoke toward the rattled hunter. The mention of a Joseph was now twice over. The people here were a wary folk when it came to outsiders yet put their faith in this taller man among them. A trapper who kept to themselves in the deeper cover of the forest who occasionally returned for supplies would be the best source. Most creatures avoided clearing, them being occupied by humans or not. A sole building in the woods would be more likely traveled by a beast and thus Joseph would be the best first person source if there was another eyewitness to what was to be felled in the future. Plus if he could convince Joseph with a few coins to have his place be a way point, Linear may not have to make camp in the loft of the canopy to avoid harm in the night. His path was clear as he bid his farewell to the town folk of the tavern. Exiting into the brisk air, the scent of stoking chimney fires and crisp autumn leaves whispered past his sharp senses. The overtone was of human life and tilled earth being cleared of the late fall crops. When he searched for was hopefully a smell that matched what was described. He was not a tracker by senses alone. If his blood was not muddled by a human decent, he would be able to detect the most minute of details and put a hound to shame. A tinge of an emotions rise peculated beneath the cool exterior of an expressionless face. It came, met a swift and unceremonious death, then was gone before the surface could show it had even existed at all. He was on a job. Now was not the time. Distractions aside, he relented to the reality that he was not going to sniff out who he looked for. There were too many human scents in the area to pick out a singular one. A secondary look around of the gathered structures gave a guess that Joseph may have already made himself scarce. There was the inn where most had been settled then the meeting house. Beyond that there was a trading building with its doors sealed and flume absent of smoke. Empty and not a spot to look. The rest were residences. It would seem he would need to follow the advice of the uneasy hunter. Just as explained a path set its way into the woods that looked well traveled. He set out in search of the man he needed to find, hoping he could get his task underway before nightfall. Unlike the humans in the village, Murder had a distinct scent. He smelled of the earthy forest after a solid rain, of green things, of something that lurked in the deep forests of yore. Yet the scent would be diluted by the humans that frequented the village and would become nothing more than a wisp. Unfortunately for the hunter, he’d long since left the village by the time the initial investigations were finished. In fact, Murder had adopted his other form in order to traverse the forest. He’d cover more ground on four legs than he would two. Besides that, the further north he went, the hillier the terrain became and though he was in shape as a human, he was still slowed down. As a dragon, he didn’t have this issue. Unfortunately, he still hadn’t made up his mind on if he’d remain at the cave or go to one of the hunting camps. Then again, the forest was expansive and if he remained in the northern part, then there was a good chance he wouldn’t be found, especially since Matthew had, supposedly, spotted him to the northeast. It was still early in the day, however, but then again, he also didn’t know how determined the hunter would be to find him. The road that headed out of the village was a bit winding and eventually split off to the east towards a distant city while a foot worn trail led towards the forests. From the looks of things, it had been an animal trail, at one time. The hunters had repurposed it for their own use over the decades of being there. This particular trail eventually led to the first camp that Matthew had mentioned. The camp itself wasn’t very big, but was clearly designed to be a permanent camp rather than one that was erected when needed. It was a cleared area with enough room for five, single person tents crafted out of hides, arranged in a semicircle around a fire pit. Behind the tents was a building with smoke coming out of it. Hanging on racks between the tents were the unlucky prey of the hunters. Rabbits, a few fish, and some large birds that’d been plucked in preparation to either become dinner or go into the smoke house. Two men sat by the fire pit eating an early dinner while a third worked on gutting what looked to be a duck in front of the westernmost tent. Behind them, by the smokehouse, a fourth was hanging meat. The two at the pit looked up when a hunting hound spotted something and started barking. Village huts relented to modest farm land for about one hundred yards. Tapping the late stems of gourd not yet harvested offering little insight, as was the way of farm plants. It was not until yielding to the might of the forest did answer begin to flow. Nearest to the structures were new growth trees. Some only a few decades old and supple. They gave to the wind and wordlessly rocked on the subtle sway of the air. Fingers outstretched, Linear let his hands act as a bridge to speak to the forest once more. The saplings were chatty, but bore an air of wariness about them. Having taken up root where their elders had once stood made them uneasy of humans. The even half-breed reassured them that he was no such beast that would cut them in their prime for meaningless things such as burning and building. Their worries hushed, he was able to get ask them if a man had passed that matched who he sought. Oddly enough, they could not say. Continuing on the path ahead, steady steps took the man further into the fold of the woods. Skyward did the forest stretch. Pines of the mountains overtook the orange leafed woods that were fast asleep. Those who shed their foliage for the colder months did not stir even at the strongest of callings. He had learned this long ago. The pines however, always present, always watching, had the tendency to be...something. A large pine that seemed to be of the eldest around bore the most promise. The behemoth of a tree was a few paces off the beaten path and crooked on jagged rocks. It was what must have spared it from being felled. Its shape would offer no help to building and the stones made it too much and effort to cut it down to begin with. Swallowing, Linear set his hand palm flat on the girth of the tree. What do you want half-breed!? Screw off! And as per experience, he got the typical commentary. Pines were a mean lot. Have you seen a human pass by here? A hunter? If trees could do so, Linear would have been struck. I see humans all the time! I don't care if one came by or not. Furthermore, I said screw off! Relenting, Linear drew back from the tree with a sigh. He would get no answers. With the forest being mostly pine, he'd see more of the same no matter how hard he tried. It meant that he would have to rely on his more basic tracking skills he had learned over the years. It was not a prospect he looked forward to. Regardless, coin would come of it and he would accept it. Moving back to the path, he continued his movement until he came across the hunters camp he had been instructed to seek it. He's hoping who he was looking for was near. If not, he would have to find his own lodging and decipher the lay of the land on his own. “Is someone out there?” The eldest man at the fire pit called out. It was always hard to tell if there was someone coming up the path or if it was some wild animal that had decided to get a bit curious about things. Then he glanced at the man next to him. “Maybe it’s Joseph.” The younger of the two had picked up his bow and then shook his head. “He would have already yelled that it was him, even before you called out.” Standing up, he notched a bow, but didn’t pull back on the string. It was better to be prepared for some overly curious wolf or bear. “Identify yourself!” Meanwhile, Murder had caught the scent of an elk and stashed his things for the moment. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get himself a meal before heading home. It meant that he’d be able to save the supplies that he’d purchased for later. With it being autumn, the stag was sure to be plump, and he quietly rumbled to himself in anticipation of a meal. Then, he quietly chastised himself, knowing that there was always the chance of the hunt going poorly. Quietly, he stalked through the forest, weaving between trees as he followed the scent. Ahead, he heard the sound of something browsing on the foliage, and he immediately crouched down to slowly creep forward. After about twenty or so feet, the trees thinned enough to open up into a small clearing. There, the stag grazed, but was facing towards him. For the moment, he remained still, waiting for the elk to turn away from him. The bellow of the hunters was impressive in showing they had heard Linear coming. To be fair, he had not been trying to hide himself in the least. In fact, he had made an active effort to be known less anyone see him as a threat. That is not to say he was banging rocks together and chanting his name. A spooked bear was not what he desired." My name is Linear," He called out as he crested the edge of a rim of brush that obstructed the view of the hunters. He held his hand skyward in a show of him not being actively armed. His bow was notched over his chest by the bowstring and his hidden knife remained out of hand. By all measure, he revealed himself to be just as he was; a person simply following the path. Taking a tentative step further into the rim of flora cleared earth, he spoke his business." I'm a hired beast hunter by call of Alien. I was told a man lives in the deep mountain by the name of Joseph that I should seek out to get the lay of the land," He explained as he lowered his arms. He overall sensed no threat from these men. The surrounding forest, while annoyed, did not whisper of bloodshed outside game. If these men held murder within them, he'd have known before setting foot in their camp. The two hunters glanced at each other when the name was called out; the youngest shrugged to indicate that he didn’t recognize the name. Meanwhile, the hunting hound that had initially warned the hunters of the monster hunter tilted its head to the side and huffed out a noise before laying back down to gnaw on a bit of scrap leather. The younger hunter lowered his bow, seeing that the being lurking around in the forest wasn’t a bear or something equally dangerous. Again, the two exchanged glances when Linear declared that he was the monster hunter. This prompted the eldest to nod and gesture at a log to indicate for the hunter to take a seat, if he wanted. “Ah, we heard that you’d been sent for, but most of us left about a week ago, so we didn’t know you were due to arrive.” Then, he made a soft noise at the mention of Joseph. “Well, I haven’t seen him.” Turning slightly, he addressed the others in the camp. “Any of you seen Joseph?” The responses were all negative, and he turned back to look at Linear. “Haven’t seen him, but that don’t mean much. Keeps to himself and really just shows up when he needs supplies.” He offered a bright grin before laughing and taking a sip of his drink. However, he paused and glanced over his shoulder at the distant bugling of an elk stag, then frowned when the call suddenly cut off. He shook his head and quietly snorted as he looked to his friend. “Eh, bet some pretty thing walked into his sight and he started thinkin’ with his balls.” Fall always proved to be easy hunting with how his prey was distracted. Murder slowly dragged the elk stag deeper into the forest and out of the clearing where he’d pounced onto the creature. While he’d purchased supplies, he didn’t want to dig into them if he ultimately decided to go to one of the camps. He’d need them on hand since he’d be playing human. Honestly, he hated playing human, but he’d long since learned that survival meant doing rather unsavory things. Slowly, he started eating, not really feeling the need to rush. Still, what he’d seen earlier still nagged at the back of his mind. Perhaps he should be taking things a bit more seriously, and he knew from experience that letting his guard down could be disastrous. Never underestimate the enemy, no matter how they looked. Back at the camp the older man began speaking again in order to try and provide the hunter with the information he needed. “No one knows where he stays. The man keeps to himself. Though, he’ll use the hunter camps to the northeast we have set up as a temporary basis camp. We’ve been all over these forests and haven't found a trace of a house, cabin, nothing.” He suddenly snorted. “I half wonder if he just lives in a cave.” Having been invited to sit with the men, Linear moved fully into the clearing and took up the offered place. The log, dry and brittle from decades of being felled only whispered to him fragmented memories. Ignoring the echoes of along since dead giant, he focused in on the man speaking. A slip of commentary came as a distant warble of an elks cry bellowed into the midday before cutting short. Ears trained from years of being a tracker twitched at the undertone. The upward inflection with a wheeze meant that what ever took the elf down had come to the throat and finished in a singular strike. Presumably a snapped neck. Half listening to what the trappers said, the even being taken stock of the common animal of the area that would consider elk a meal. Wolves were not to be the case. At this time of year, they kept to the valley to avoid the coming cold and to follow the animals who did the same. Plus they roamed in packs and howled as they came to the hunt. Even if silent in stalking, it would take at least three of the fanged creatures to take down an animal as sturdy as an elk, which meant a struggle, not a swift neck snap. Next was the more likely bear. Hulking beasts armored with claws that could rend flesh from bone in a single strike could indeed shatter vertebrae. It was not a bears instinct though. Such animals would confront their target and cut off its exit after a punishing first blow. A reckoning of an impact at the legs to shatter them, then a killing strike. A struggle again with all the hollers of life and death that came with it." Northeast," He half replied, absorbing what he could while going over the distance the cry may have come from. As luck would have it, he may be closer than he anticipated to his target. Rising from the felled tree he had rested on, he eyes the two men with a warning on his tongue." The beast who plagues these woods is a mile or two off," He spoke, the point of his ears twitching in reaction to the rustle of the leaves on the wind. If his blood were not muddled, he'd be able to determine within yards where he was due to go. Without, an estimate of a heading and a vague distance was all he could discern. The rest would be left to what skills he had honed. A kill the size of an elk, even if hefted into the trees left the marks of blood not easily disguised even by a being of intelligence. If a maw of fangs and claws proved to be the culprit, it would take little for him to find a trail and follow from there. The two hunters exchanged a look between them at this news with the youngest focusing back on their visitor. “We weren’t planning on going back out to hunt. Right now, we’re just smoking the meat we caught and getting the hides ready for tanning.” He gestured behind him to indicate what the other hunters were busily working on. “But thank you for the warning.” As the monster hunter got up to leave, the older hunter mused for a moment and looked to his companion. “Run back to the village, would you? Let Alien know about this. She’ll be sending more hunters out, soon.” With a nod, the man in question got up to go gather his things, leaving the elder to give the fellow hunter a nod. “I can’t say I agree with this hunt, the beast has left us alone and could have killed Matthew it if wanted, but still… I wish you the best.” Elsewhere, Murder feasted on the elk he’d killed, ripping into the muscle and eating choice organs. However, he wasn’t able to strip it clean like smaller predators and still left sizable amounts of meat clinging to bones. If he had more time, however, he would have been able to get the majority of it off. However, he wanted to get home as soon as possible and simply wanted something in his stomach. Finally, he left the remains for the scavengers and picked up his bag of things to continue traveling. By this point in time, he’d finally reached his ‘territory’. There were more signs of his presence from footprints to feathers that had been shed, to claw marks up on the trees where he’d stretched up in the early mornings. On top of that, over the past few months, he’d worn a path through his territory that led to a ledge; one side of it had a bit of a slope that was covered in rocks and boulders. Without much hesitation, he powered up the slope and dropped the satchel of things in the opening of the cave before laying down on the ledge. Hestillhadn’t come to a decision, much to his frustration. On one hand, it’d be smart. On the other, he’d have to uproot himself, temporarily, and move everything in the cave that could remotely belong to a human. In the few months he’d lived in it, he’d acquired a lot of stuff. Of course, this all assumed that the hunter would even find him. Murder quietly huffed and stared out at the forest, silently cursing his indecision. (Apologies for the much later reply! I have been dreadfully sick! Still am, but taking it as I can!) The trappers were well enough on their own Linear supposed as he left the camp behind with a nod of his head in thanks for what little info they could be provided. He supposed anything was better than nothing at all. It was the general din of his thoughts as he passed out of the rim of the hunter burrow and to the game paths that took on an organic winding as opposed to the trail he had trod on before. It would offer more cover and an idea of where the elk may have met its end. Though his ears were gifted with the reach of even blood, the human in him muddled it, reducing the range by half if he guessed by his preferred species. It made pinpoint accuracy on sound alone a hair width out of his scope of skill. That was where his other skills filled the gap with him crouching low and reading the foot falls in the stiff earth. To the untrained eye, the treads would blend into the rolling soil. He however could make out the point of a two pronged hoof. Wide toed with two dots at the base were the marking of an elk, and by the size and shape, it would seem to be a buck juvenile. Perhaps a young ling still struggling to find a doe to rut on its first, and if Linear guessed correct, last season. Following the trail, the tell-tale markings only grew in intensity. This was a path commonly used. The branches that would be too low to be struck by antlers had breaks on them and the occasional bushel of grass stood clipped where an idle stop for a graze had been made. Rounding past a thicket only made possible by the Elk's habits, he came to a small clearing where water gathered and made the elder trees tumble due to the loose soil. The felled trees were the least of his focus as his eyes fell on the unmistakable wound slurry of an animal carcass. Belched out were the less desirable innards from a jagged cleaving of flesh. Pooled beneath rippled gatherings of steaming blood in the cool late fall air. The kill was fresh. Hunkering low and spreading his senses wide, Linear took in his environment with extensive care. One hand pressed on the nearest sapling he could find to ask what it had seen and if it were still close. The response was a fumble of communication. Plants of any sort, while not frazzled by the death of an animal, were frequently made nervous by the violence of it. A fight over ones life took collateral damage to anything in the path of the struggle. A young ling of a tree, maybe ten years in age, had been felled in the conflict. Its roots were still screaming. Despite the mess of sound he had to sift through, he received a relatively useful answer. It was no common animal of the forest. Hulking, feathered, and swift was the description he received past the intangible. He moved to free his hand from the trembling wood to stand and entered the opening. What ever had made the kill was far enough away to not be a concern for the time being. Upon observation in detail, he noted the width of the claw marks and the chips in the bones where teeth had gnashing. Hulking was an apt description. Linear found himself doubting his preparedness for the task at hand. A quiver and bow may not be ample enough a weapon to fell what beast he hunted. If he could not pierce it through, he would be in dire straights. With the thought in mind, he stood to his full height with the decision to only do reconnaissance before choosing his next course of action. Moving so the clearing lay behind him, he set out to follow the trail left behind. A gentle calm eased into the clearing. The animals who had been wary returned to their ways spare leaving a circle round the felled elk as if in reverence of the death. A squirrel as black as the night sky scampered along, its tail twitching one way, then the next as it curiously scratched at the ground. Then came a still, it is unnatural and cold. The din of birds stuttered then suffocated into a crippling silence. Bolt straight and fur on end, stricken eyes wide and frozen stared into the impenetrable darkness that oozed around the ring of the clearing. The sky itself yielded to the presence the consumed the air. A miasma of ill intent sickened the space. Black eyes of a mammal forbidden from movement by the confines of its own terror-stricken mind were dragged by unseen barbs into the thicket. The last it saw was the guttural glow of destitute yellow. There was something far worse on the hunt. Finally, Murder pushed himself up to his feet and started lumbering back towards the cave. As he did so, he shifted back to his human form, uncaring that he was nude. Why should he care? He was the only one there and even if someone elsehadbeen there, he still wouldn’t have cared. While some might be self-conscious about scars, he wasn’t… Even if they covered the left side of his back, claw marks that went from his shoulder blade, down the left side of his back, over his hip and down his thigh. Though hidden from view as a dragon, they were quite visible as a human… And the ones over his shoulder tended to give him plenty of grief in the winters. They were the parting gift from a griffin from his gladiatorial days. While he’d won the battle, he’d paid for it by being laid up for weeks. Murder wasn’t one to see something noble about his scars, some might wear theirs’ as a badge of lessons learned. He simply saw his as a statement that he’d survived, nothing more, nothing less. Upon reaching the cave, he dug into his backpack and pulled out his pants. After pulling them on, he ducked into the cave to take an inventory of his things while he still had enough light. There was really too much stuff to take with him, at least, in one trip, and he didn’t want to make more than one trip. It’d increase the risk of him being caught in the area and heknewthat plenty of questions would be had if he was found in the same area as where the ‘monster’ clearly denied at. Of course, he realized with a resigned sigh, questions would be had regardless. No sane person would take up residence in the cave, and it was quite clear that he had done so quite recently. He had a few furs in varying stages of completion, nonperishable supplies, a few things for cooking, a bed made of furs, and winter clothes. Not only were there feathers dotted around the cave, it was big enough for him to turn around, albeit it was a tight squeeze, as a dragon. Sighing, he looked towards the entrance of the cave with a muttered, “Fuck.” Finally, he started gathering what things he figured he’d need: supplies and a few skins to sleep on. The clothes he wore today would have to suffice, for the moment, and he figured that he could stay at one of the northern camps for a few days, then circle back to see if his home had been found. Soon, he had his backpack full of the supplies he needed, had finally fully dressed, and selected two furs to use for bedding. Grabbing his things, he stepped out of the cave and peered at the sky. He had about an hour, maybe less, of usable light. Thatshouldgive him enough time to reach one of the camps and set up. Making his way to the steep slope, he carefully started navigating his way down it. Thicker the undergrowth became as skilled feet made their way through. Linear was entering a portion of the forest seldom traveled. Larger game would stick to the creek beds where fresh supple grazing was plentiful. This was the land of the hare and other small prey. Spare the subtle holes bore through the thicket at most knee height, there was no sign of a clear path. Honestly, Linear found himself surprised by this. What ever he hunted presumably would make a hole here and there as it moved. That is, unless the feathering bespoke of a creature who took to the sky. It was unlikely since all sighting were at ground level. Turning keen eyes skyward, he pecked at the branches. A few were snapped. Twigs mostly where the trees had cut off nutrients and left them to wither and droop. A black mountain squirrel would be the owner the of the marks, not what was being hunted. Sighing, Linear moved onward, ignoring a particularly stubborn bush snagging at his trousers. As he trudged on, the earth beneath him changed in consistency. Leaf softened soil relented to pebbles that eased into steadily larger rocks. An incline was coming that promised a vantage point with which Linear could take in his surroundings. Daylight was becoming scarce and demanded he make camp soon less he is left fumbling in the night. Not to say his half even eyes would not make due just fine. It was a preference, not a necessity. As the stubbornest of trees relented to the might have stone, pointed ears perked. Trained practice has Linear set low with an arrow notched. The soft patter of dislodged rocks clattering downward indicated a pattern of movement. By the volume of the noise, it could be assumed Linear was dealing with a relatively decent sized animal moving. Slowing his breath so as not to stir the air about him, he watched through the vantage point where the leaves shuttered. The tension in his muscles that mirrored the tightness of his bow string eased as the source came into view. A slight upward tilt of Linear's brow was followed by the even man standing to his full height and out of hiding. Beyond the shadow of the forest was another person making their way down a cliff face bearing a pack. As a show of creating, Linear took a few steps forward, making effort to rustle the leaves and crack the dried underbrush to allow himself to be heard. The soft into was accompanied by a shout to the man who was nearly to the ground and on sure footing." Hello!" He called upward. As a dragon, the slope was easy to navigate, despite Murder often having to dig his hind claws in for traction. However, as a human? It could be treacherous with the crumbled stone that threatened to slip further down the slope with plans of taking an unwary foot with it. This meant that he had to focus on where he placed his feet while also trying to keep his balance thanks to the backpack he wore. With his focus on the path ahead of him and what he needed to do upon reaching the camp, the sudden voice that called out to him caused his head to pop up in surprise; bright green eyes very briefly reflected in the dull light. He bit back a soft curse; that had to be the hunter. Reaching into an inner pocket of his coat, he snagged a simple looking necklace that had a charm on it, then clutched it tightly. Vivid green eyes were suddenly a duller green. Boring. Human.“Who is it?!” He called back as he quickly wrapped the charm around his wrist and tugged his sleeve down over it. This was the worst possible scenario, but it could possibly give him a chance to lure the hunter away from his home. Still, there would be questions if the hunter returned to the cave. Damn it all. Upon reaching level ground, he frowned heavily and focused his attention on the other man. Murder, himself, looked like he belonged out in the forests… Like the stories told to children of the forest spirits who’d take human form and could either help or harm a traveler, depending on how they were treated. His clothes were all made from animal skins, deer and elk, mostly. Though his boots had been bought from the village, as that was one skill he didn’t have, and he preferred a thicker sole than what he could make. Murder’s hair, though tangled, had things braided into them… And now that he thought about it, he’d probably been a bit unwise to braid a few of his smaller feathers into his hair. Too little, too late now, he supposed. "My name is Linear," The even half blood greeted as the other man, a tower of a person really, came to the flat of the incline. The assumed hinter looked to be one that belonged to the wilds. If there was a guess to be had, Linear would venture an assumption that this was the wayward loaner he had heard about who knew these woods best. The other certainly looked the part by the handstitched pelts. Few things on the hunter looked to be made by a craftsman, a Hell that this one kept to himself when possible. While Linear was well versed in traveling a forest, no two trees were exactly the same. Every land held its own personality, fires, and preferences. The fact that they were both far off the beaten path meant that this one could indeed provide aid if willing. His mind began to size up the person before him in an act of choosing if he were to trust him or not. In doing so Linear came to realize as the other bore a severe difference in height and build. Even shrouded by thick pelts to ward of the bite of fall, it would require a one to be a fool to not see a sturdy structure. None of the heft was decorative. Instead, it was a map of practice and endurance. The man seemed to loom in his element. However, among the earthen tones stood something amiss. The shimmer of feathers that rose and dipped in the rolling locks brought an inquisitive air. They were the same as the beast Linear had been conscripted to slay. A face trained into a pleasant greeting masked an undertow of distrust. Where had this man come across the feathers? How did he have so many, and most importantly, why?" By what the settlement and the closest camp have told me, you must be Joseph." He said more than asked. In a trained step, he moved himself out of easy lunging distance by create a facade of relaxation by leaning against a tree. He slipped his finger onto the bark, letting his senses use the root to feel the earth. If the other made a move to become aggressive, Linear would feel it through the earth with enough warning to reply in turn. Much as the hunter was doing, Murder quietly sized the other man up. Unsurprisingly, he was shorter and had a bunch of different build. Though, he wasn’t about to underestimate Linear, as the man called himself. For him to hunt monsters, the other clearly would have some sort of abilities to help defend himself. At least, Murder assumed. He tried to steer clear of those who hunted monsters, for obvious reasons. Murder kept his stance neutral, if a bit guarded. Something that wouldn’t be out of place, given the local area; the locals were mistrustful of outsiders, and so such behavior would be dismissed as normal. He needed to lure Linear away from the den, keep him from poking around. There would be too many questions about the cave, why he resided in the same place as the ‘beast’. There was a good chance it could get… Messy. He’d hoped to leave behind the need to senselessly kill, but then again, this would be about survival. Either way, it would mean his time here in the forests would be over. He didn’t miss how the other’s gaze lingered on the feathers in his hair. It wasn’t that long, all things considered, but enough to say that the feathers had garnered some sort of interest. Murder suppressed a sigh, and instead focused on Linear when the man spoke. After a moment, he gave a slight nod and spoke, himself, his voice surprisingly soft for a man of his size. “I am. I suppose, then, that you’re the monster hunter they’ve talked about hiring?” Rather than making a move towards Linear, Murder simply remained where he was, but kept focused on the other. His gaze wasn’t intense, but had the air of a wary predator… Not fearful or defensive, but watchful and content to observe, for the moment. “You’d best make camp, soon. There isn’t much usable light left, for the day.”

Quiet Now, You're Going to Wake the Beast (Letum & Azure)|rating:4.0

Pets and Pastries (Dallico and Wiki234)

The confines of the wooden crate was dark and Shaka, with the occasional bump. The sound of mewing and fear were drowned out by the heavy engine of the truck as it was slowly driven around town. Whatever the circumstances the two catgirlsinside were huddled together hugging each other tightly in what they imagine as their last moments. Finally, the truck stopped, and the sound of traffic all around filled the back with the truck. The door opened, and the constant meowing suddenly stopped. Both girls were paralyzed with fear as they felt the box being lifted, and ultimately placed down somewhere. They had no clue, but as the familiar sound of the engine drove off the pair began to meow repeatedly, hoping for someone to come to their rescue. No one seemed to come to their aid, and yet they continued to meow, unaware that they had been placed near a small bakery, one that was just about to open. As their cried filled the air to no avail the pair inevitably silenced themselves and hugged each other tightly, unaware that they might soon be rescued. While no one was around to hear their cries the box was placed in just the right spot for the owner of the bakery to stumble upon it. RE: Pets and PastriesMineme was her own person now being away from her family now and starting her own life, she finally had her dream and her small bit of luck to start her own bakery near the shopping district of the town. It was a bit away from the main area, but it was nice enough to be seen by almost everyone and also not be in a crowded street or plaza that had a lot of people almost all the time. For now mine me was in her white apron, wearing a purple wool shirt and plain black pants. As she heard a knock and the sound of the bell ring from her door she stepped to the front to open the door and see a strange box in front of her shop. It even had a small note," be on your way to your dreams..." It said as now tried to push the box inside, but it was tough for her being a 5"5 girl pretty strong but seeing this box was bigger and heavier than her. She sighed and knocked on the top of the box, trying to pull the lid out slowly before pulling it all the way off and landing on her butt, she sat there looking up at the box then through her window wondering if she should have left the box alone or not. RE: Pets and Pastries The box shifted a bit when she knocked on it, and once the lid had been fully popped off the two cat girls inside quickly hopped out and moved to Mine me's side. They reached out with their hands and gripped her arms, both of them with tears in their eyes." Thank you master~"said the strawberry blond Batgirl as she hugged Mine me's arm between her ample breasts while the blue haired one nuzzled up close." I thought we were goners."said the blue haired Batgirl, her tone a bit more withdrawn. Both of them cuddled close to the young woman, their tails swaying behind them. If anything hopefully she would be a better master than their last one, and in the heat of the moment both of them stared at the woman before saying "Won't you take care of us master?" RE: Pets and PastriesMineme sat up a bit still on the floor before quickly standing up afraid that the box moved, she was a bit surprised that someone left a box with something alive inside, even suspiciously by her door. The girl sighed and scratched the back of her neck awkwardly as her arms were suddenly pulled down to her sides and taken by two girls. She jumped a bit with a surprise, though carefully looked down at them trying to figure out what was going on with a soft look on her face of confusion. She blushed as she couldn't help but die in the inside from how cute and innocent they looked, by their tone it seemed they had been to a rough time and for now they had to turn to her. Mine me sighed as she looked around wondering what she was going to get herself into. " Fine you can stay with me...." She hoped that this babysitting wouldn't last much but for now she decided to accept it. Mine me turned and started walking back inside with the two girls still clinging on to her. " Are you guys hungry? I can make something a bit small for now until we close for today...for now I'm just setting things up, so there isn't much work here yet for now until it's fully functional..." She waited for them to let her go before she turned to kitchen and going to the fridge wondering what she would decide to let them eat for now. RE: Pets and Pastries Both of the cat girls flashed a wide grin as the woman accepted them into their home. The strawberry blond Batgirl squeezed the woman's arm tightly as she walked off." Oh my god master you're super nice!"she said walking with the woman while her sister spoke up on the other side. ""Yes, yes, super nice!"she said, her tone still a little quieter than her sister's. The mention of food made both of their ears perk up and before long the two girls were nuzzling against Mine me's shoulders." Mmm food sounds delicious!"said the blue haired Batgirl as her sister soon let go and ran in front of Mine me with a wide smile." What were you going to make master?"she asked as her eyes scanned over the woman already imagining some kind of delicious pastry. She was practically licking her lips at the thought, and simply moved with Mine me until she was in the kitchen. Her sister soon let go of the young woman, and joined her sister by a nearby counter where they anticipated a delectable treat. RE: Pets and Pastries She had almost fallen again as the two girls seemed to swarm all over her, but gave a sigh as they finally let go, it would seriously be hard work for her to just be able to take of them for even a day but if they needed help then she would help. " Hmm..."she stood in front of the open fridge for a moment wondering what she would do for them, for now she knew that it wouldn't be good to give them anything sweet looking like they seemed to be hungry for anything and even if she did, it wouldn't seem much as she needed a starting point to what exactly she would want to sell besides cakes then. " Ummm....for now I'll have to give you some of my leftover stuff... I wasn't really planning on cooking something for today since I did eat out..." She simply shrugged taking out a plastic box and opening it revealing a decent bit of rice, some pieces of fish and shrimp. She ripped the cover off the box using that as a plate as she took a fork and started dividing it up. Slowly she them in the microwave and sat the food down on the table for them. " Tomorrow is going to be busy for a bit trying to set up just the basic stuff, I need more inventory and I think I'm going to try to change the layout of the shop a bit...if you need anything I'll be out at the front..." With that she left the kitchen and back into the other room as she looked around wondering what she would move. RE: Pets and Pastries The scent of fish made the two cat girls practically swoon as they moved to the table. They watched eagerly as it was warmed up in the microwave, and once it was placed in front of them the two quickly began to dig in. They ate quickly, almost like they had been starving for a while." Mmmm its taste!"said the blond Batgirl as she looked up at Mine me with a wide smile before wiping the rice from her mouth. Her bowl was almost finished by the time her sister had scarfed down the meal. She leaned back in the small seat she had found herself in and let out a content sigh."Ah, that was perfect master!" She said happily. Her sister soon finished her meal as her tail swayed playfully. Soon after the quick meal the pair slowly moved up front, peeking out from behind the door frame as Mine me worked."AH Master!"the blond girl said with a smile as she slowly stepped out into view dragging her sister by the hand." P-please let us pay you back somehow!"she begged with a bow as her sister turned to look at her. Before long she was doing the same thing." Y-yes let us pay back the meal at least!"she said hoping that Mine me would be kinder than the last person who took care of them. RE: Pets and Pastries Soon she closed her eyes with a deep breath as finally she had what she wanted, a new name and a new layout in her mind. Mine me yawned and stretched leaning back against the wall now thinking about the future. It would defiantly be hard work doing it alone not knowing for now that the girls would be there to stay with her forever and be the only family she would need. Mine me turned looking at the two with clear blue eyes," meal? It was nothing, you don't have to do anything like that..." She gave a small smile seeing that she was useful to these girls," well actually..." She thought for a moment," if you want..." Mine me sighed knowing how weird it would be telling them," maybe you could stay if you could help me around the shop...maybe like being hired I guess?" RE: Pets and Pastries The two girls smiled and practically cried from happiness. Both of them were at a loss for words, and quickly moved up to grab Mine me's hands. ""O-of course Master! I promise we'll be the best workers ever!"the blond haired Batgirl said as her sister nodded agreeably. ""A bakery needs clerks right?"she asked smiling almost as brightly as her sister. The pair now knew that they would be here hopefully forever, and smiled at the prospect of it. "We'll be the best help ever master!" they both said with an innocent smile. "What do you need done first master?" they both asked, eager to get started on their new duties right away. RE: Pets and Pastries She blushed and jumped a bit again from their quick movement again toward her, maybe it wouldn't be bad to have them stay here but also stay with her at home. Maybe she would decide to see where it goes anyway," fine I guess..." Mine me looked down with a smile," things will be better like this..." She thought turning back to the tables and chairs," well I think I'm gonna change all of this a bit," I would like the help to move the tables for now. Tomorrow we need to get a few more things for mostly decoration then get some ingredients and start things out now." She walked over to a small round table then looked around and picking it up. She walked over and set it down in a different position, "I need these in rows, we'll have the bakery divided up for this," for now that's the only thing for tomorrow, I'm guessing I have to watch you out of here as well..." After about ten minutes they finally had everything set up, taking keys out of her pocket and opening the door," let's go then..." As they headed out she locked the door waiting for them. RE: Pets and Pastries two girls quickly got to work emulating her movements. Before long the tables were all in the right spot and the two girls were eager for more. As Mine me invited them out they followed her, circling around behind her as she began to close up the shop." Did we do a good job mater?"the blond Batgirl asked with a smile as she moved close, grabbing Mine me's arm much like when she had opened the box." Did we? Did we?"she asked energetically as she shook her rump waiting for the answer. Her sister simply remained close by just within arms reach of the young baker."Ah, w-we haven't introduced ourselves have we?" She soon asked as she held a hand up to her mouth in a surprised fashion. Her tail stood straight up, and her ears were on the alert as she quickly moved in front of the young woman. She grabbed her sister and yanked her towards her. The two soon took the same posture as they bowed forward. ""I'm Chloe, and I'm Anise!the pair said before raising their heads to take a good look at Mineral. "Please take good care of us!" they both uttered eagerly as they moved close, soon walking with Mine me to wherever she was headed next. RE: Pets and Pastries She soon turned and started to walk down the street though only taking two steps as they grabbed onto to her, then stood in front as she wondered what was going on again. Now it seemed to make sense to her, but now it was impossible to know how it seemed her old master was abusive to them and how that person knew her bakery and herself as well. Now it made sense that it wasn't babysitting anymore but permanent pets and helpers who needed help from her the most now. "Now I get it..." She simply says with a sigh, soon they crossed the street to see a blue at as she walked up to it and opened the door," let's go then." She simply said waiting until they were in and driving back home now.Finally, they would head home as she walked inside with them, it was a simple one-story house with two long hallways with the kitchen and living together in one room, the entrance to the kitchen being on the right side of the front door. " You can go ahead then and use that couch to sleep, take out the pillows and pull the couch out, it's a big bed for both of you...the bathroom is the door on the right and my room is the second door left. If you need to change then I could let you borrow for the night, but I don't think we can go out much for anything else now beside what I need." Slowly she turned for her room to get some things. RE: Pets and Pastries Chloe and Anise followed Mine me closely as they crossed the street, and once they had arrived at the woman's house they were practically giddy with joy. Their eyes looked in awe upon the clean house, and their noses took in a scent that smelled pleasant. The pair practically swooned and quickly headed inside, moving around the house eagerly and taking in the sights. "Thank you, Master!" the pair said happily as they moved to check their accommodations. Anise wandered around close to Mine me and even followed her to her room, waiting just outside the door." Sure Sure Master!" Anise said as she followed her closely her tail swaying behind her." Surely we can repay you for this somehow!"she said as she clasped her hands into fists in front of her with an enthusiastic smile. Chloe on the other hand had moved to the couch and sat down, bouncing a bit on the soft cushion. A small grin came to her face as she soon laid down, resting her head on the pillow." Mmmm comfy~"she said to herself as she closed her eyes and softly purred. For now, she left Anise with Mine me, knowing her sister was a little pushy. RE: Pets and Pastries She sighed and stretched her arms being a very long day for her with a weird and a bit awkward ending to it as well now having two cat girls dropped from a box to be her new pets for no real reason she could really think of. But with the deal she did have some free help around the bakery so she would have to deal with taking care of them which seemed fair, and that could be an easier payment she would think for them anyway. Slowly she went over and pulled open a drawer to see where she had her pajamas, wondering which she could give them as she heard a voice behind looking to see one of then had followed. " We already made a deal to say that you would help me with the bakery...that's fine already, I don't really need anything beside help so don't worry about anything for now..." She gave a yawn and pulled out a red and blue pair deciding to get them matching each with their hair. " Just use these then..." Mine me stood up and gave them to her, leaning against the wall a bit," is there anything else then?" RE: Pets and Pastries Anise happily took the pajama's and held them close to her chest with a smile. He tail swayed behind her as she looked into Mine me's eyes with a smile." No I think that's it for now master." Anise said kindly as she tilted her head to the side. Soon she moved closer and gave Mine me a small peck on the side of her cheek." Thanks for taking care of us."she said with a smile as she slowly began to turn. She began to make her way back to the living room, but slowly came to a stop to peer over her shoulder." If you'd like anything else master just let me know."she said softly as a rosy hue came to her cheeks. RE: Pets and Pastries She looked back up at her with another yawn showing that she was even more tired than them for what she had been doing all day. " Ok then..." Slowly she stood up and walked to her bathroom before she felt a small kiss on her cheek stopping frozen for a moment win a blush as the girl walked out into the hall. " Umm...sure..." She said going over to close her door and leave them for the night" well it looks like they've just been through hell...guess that's why it's said a little kindness never hurt..." Mine me sighed and went to take a shower, change and finally go to sleep. RE: Pets and Pastries Anise slowly made her way back to the couch and smiled when she arrived. Her sister was sprawled out all over it sleeping quite soundly as she walked up." Mmmmm Chloe"Anise said with a smile gently tugging on her sister's sleeve. "Chloe, master gave us a change of clothes!"she said softly as her sister stirred from her slumber. Before she realized it Chloe's arms were wrapped around her waist, hugging her close." Nnnn, Pooh they're nice!" Chloe said with a smile as she began to sit up and rub her eyes. Anise just smiled and handed her the pajamas Mine me had given her. Before long clothes were being stripped off, and the two girls slipped into them. Once the pair had slipped into them Anise smiled." See aren't they cute?"she asked with a smile as she spun a bit, showing them off with a slight giggle. Chloe just sat on the couch with a tiny grin, and occasionally shaking her legs and soon began to stand." I should go thank her!" Chloe said as she slowly made her way over to Mine me's room, soon knocking on the door as her tail swayed behind her. RE: Pets and Pastries(Going to be my birthday tomorrow ^^)The girl had soon been in bed as she laid there with a sigh, she could hope things would change better being with having a pair of cat girls that were dropped off from an old master and now hers for no real reason. Now she had to worry about them and the bakery as well, she hadn't even had the name for it though that she wanted permanently. Soon she closed her eyes deciding to think more tomorrow before she would hear a knock, sitting up. " You can come in..." She called out deciding not to get out waiting until she slowly stepped into the room. " I know you're going to say thanks already since there's no real reason to be here..." She gave a soft smile," well you know to be honest I never planned to have you guys here, I never planned to have cat girls but... I think I'm happy your here now...please just go and sleep now, it's going to be a bit busy tomorrow of course with being new..." RE: Pets and Pastries Chloe smiled and opened the door before stepping into the room. Anise had followed her to the edge of the hall and peeked around to watch, just in time for Chloe to close the door slowly behind her."MMM Of course Master~"she said her voice somewhat playful as she sauntered up to the foot of the bed." Can't I stay in here thought?"she asked softly as she crawled up onto the sheets and next to her master." I promise I'll be a good kitten~"she said as she cuddled up nice and close. Anise couldn't stand to wait in the hall and was quickly growing impatient. The more she watched the door to the room the more antsy she got. Before long she was making her way into the room, much like her sister before her. As her eyes gazed through the dimly lit room the girl let out a soft pout, and quickly joined Mine me and Chloe on the bed." Awww Master~"she said softly as she quickly raced over, Sandwiching Mine me between her and her sister." Can't we join you in here?"she asked hoping to be a little closer to the young woman.((Nice! Happy early birthday!)) RE: Pets and Pastries (Ty ^^)Mine me looked up at her and was about to say something herself until the young girl already joined her in the bed. Now she knew how it felt for a parent to have a kid acting like that to her, she would say it was even cute just because they were part cat as well..." Fine I guess...but out have to promise then to wake up a bit early if you don't mind..." She reached up with her arms scratching behind the ear of both the kittens on either side of her. " She pulled the blanket out on top of her pulling the blanket again toward her so it would cover all three of them together now. " Night..." Slowly she wrapped one arm around either of them and hugged them tight slowly falling asleep. RE: Pets and Pastries The two Batgirl's purred and cuddled up nice and close. Chloe's arm gently draped over Mine me's waist and her whole body pressed against her back. She let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes as she began to drift off into sleep. Anise just smiled and nuzzled up nice and close." Good night master~"she said before letting out a soft yawn. Slowly she began to doze off as well, and as she did her arm reached out and reached around Mine me's abdomen, just under her breasts. Anise slowly pulled herself close, and as she finally passed out the room was filled with the occasional soft purr from the two girls. RE: Pets and Pastries Through the night there was no problem for her as the day would begin the next morning. Slowly the sun would come up as the first rays of light had shown through the window with the room fully lit. She quietly stayed asleep. She would sleep as much as she could but hopefully wake up before them, now she would begin her new lives as an owner of cat girls and as a bakery owner for her dream to start becoming real. Her hair was always messy, covering almost all her face though usually her cheeks more than anything, scooting up a bit with her arms hugging her girls close still. The two Batgirl's had enjoyed their first night with their master. Their sleep was undisturbed, up until the morning when their master stirred from her slumber. Anise remained sleeping, but kept an iron grip on Mine me's form, while Chloe woke up. A smile came to her lips as she looked over at her master's messy hair with a bit of a laugh. "Good morning master~" she said playfully before she softly rested her head on her shoulder." Did you sleep well?"she asked as she cuddled up nice and close. Anise softly purred and hugged Mine me's arm between her ample chest. Her hand inevitably ended up between her groin." Mmmm master~"she said in her sleep as she cuddled up against her side.[/color] The young girl gave another yawn, wanting to move on her side but knowing that either girl was on both her sides so she stayed laying there, as she slowly opened her eyes, rubbing it with her free arm and looking up to see her. " Hey..." She replied softly sitting up a bit and looking over to see that her sister was still asleep, it seemed that she was the younger acting girl who needed to watch her closely. Mine me looked back over to Chloe," yeah... I'm fine..." Just sitting there letting her hug her arm still," do you guys want me to cook?" She asked wondering what she would feed them. Chloe chuckled a bit and soon placed her hand on Mine me's stomach, holding her against the bed with a smile." No I think for now we'd just like you here master"she said softly as she rolled onto her side and stared at Mine me." I know Anise can be a little clingy." Chloe said as she sat up with a yawn before stretching her arms above her head." If you like just slip your arm out, I'm sure she won't mind."she continued on as her hands inevitably fell down to the sheets below. She looked over again, they had already grown close to always doing anything for her just because of her not knowing she saved them. The girls had no one with them, and she would be the only nice person for them," I think I'll give you guys ten minutes then we all really have to go. It's really going to be busy for a bit this week..." She laid back down looking toward the other girl, "if you want you can sleep a bit or this..." She said taking a remote from the desk as she slowly scooted and teacher around behind. Mine me turned it on, "just watch anything then..." It would seem she would be more focused on the store for now than anything else. "Of Course Master"Chloe said as she freed her legs from under the covers. She moved to stand up at the edge of the bed, stretching her arms up with a slight groan." Mmmm Anise! Get up!"she said somewhat sternly as her sister's ears perked up." Mmm is it already time?" Anise asked as she rubbed her eyes and rolled onto her back. With a slight yawn she pulled the covers over her and looked at Mine me who was now free from her grasp." Good morning master~"she said with a playful ring in her voice as she slowly sat up with another yawn." Is it time to get ready?" She sighed going over to her closet and picking things out as she started to undress and change. It didn't seem weird to her since she would be used to them living with her now and the fact they were both girls. Slowly standing up she gave a stretch and put her other clothes away," for now go ahead and wear your clothes from yesterday, after work today we can go out to buy you your own..." She turned and quickly walked out of the room, already starting fast on the breakfast as she started on the stove now. " We shill have a bit, thirty minutes, so I want you guys to finish in fifteen maybe take five to change, then we should head there with the last ten..." Mine me continued her cooking, "I need someone to set the table at least please?" Anise was slow to get started as she slowly shuffled out of the bed and moved to the bathroom. She tried to get herself ready while Chloe followed Mine me out to the kitchen." I'll set the table master~"she said as she raised her hand with a small smile before sauntering over to the cupboards. She looked through several of them before finding the plates and silverware. As she set the placements Anise stumbled out of the room and soon moved to the table with a small grin on her face. She soon let out a soft yawn before stretching right around the time Chloe finished." There master, the table is set!"she said with a grin before she sat across from Anise. She turned and gave a small smile as she started to finish now. Slowly she took another plate and started to put the food on it which would be very much enough to for all of them. " Go ahead then." Slowly she sat down herself and leaned back a bit starting to eat. She would be putting them to some hard work today and hoped at lest they would be fine, setting up would be the biggest thing for them, and she knew that strangely they were with her. That they still wouldn't be enough to help her with the actual running hoping more now though not much still just being the beginning. As soon as Mine me gave them the opportunity the two girls began to eat quickly. Chloe was taking smaller nibbles, savoring the meal she had received, while Anise was almost the complete opposite and practically inhaling her food. As Chloe ate Anise was soon leaning back against her chair while her tail swayed behind her." Mmmmmmmm!" She said with an almost pleasurable squeak." It was perfect master~"she said while Chloe continued to eat in relative silence." Now I want to try the pastries you make!" Anise said as she clapped her hands together. Slowly she started to eat in both ways of the two, fast but just enough to be able to at least enjoy it. She sighed and leaned back as well, stretching and standing up before she went over to put on her shoes and grab everything else," let's go guys, don't rush too much.we can wait a bit while we get the shoes..." She then started to leave going to the garage to get her shoes then back to the living room and sitting down to put them on. Mine me stood up and stretched, waiting for them with a small smile thinking about her dream of a fully functional bakery, the odd bonus though of having cat girls for helpers. Chloe finished her meal only a tiny bit after Mine me. She leaned back in the chair and stretched her arms over her head with a small groan before letting out a relieved sigh." Mmmm Are we going to the bakery already?!"she asked a bit surprised. Anise just chuckled softly and rose from her seat before moving to her sister and gently giving her a few soft pushes." C'mon c'mon master is waiting!"she said with a happy grin on her face as Chloe began to rise from her seat, following after Mine me with her sister." Alright Anise, alright, I'm going."she said as the pair joined Mine me. She stood again," I told you guys already we didn't have much time..." Mine me slowly turned and walked back into the garage, putting a few things in the trunk then pressing a button to open the garage itself and finally get in the car waiting again for them. Mine me put on her seatbelt and leaned back trying to think for a bit of what could be done that needed the most for today, starting the car and pulling out to the shop finally. Chloe and Anise hurried into the car, piling into the back seat and quickly getting their seatbelts on." Master what's the plan for today?" Anise asked with a curious tone as she looked over at Mine me." Are you going to teach us how to help customers?"she asked with a wide grin, eager to have a chance to prove herself to her new owner. Chloe was just at intrigued by the concept of working with Mine me and chimed in as well." I hope we do a good job, right Anise?"she asked getting an enthusiastic nod from her sister. Well I think we still have a bit of time, it's still about setting up, we have to buy a steady stock, then I have to teach you guys some basic things about cooking, then I might....test you guys..." She thought for a bit while she drove, "probably we can still get the store already by a week and a half..." She turned down the street and slowly parked by the store, and sighed before pulling out again and onto the road down the street," there's a market here, so you guys could be a bit helpful here...when I really know that you can bake well then maybe I could train you guys about management...." The car slowly parked, and now it was time to get some stock for the shop. Anise and Chloe both smiled in the back and watched as they drove around, making sure to note where the shop and market was." We'll try and do a good job for you master!~"Chloe said with a smile before Anise chimed in." Mmmm I can't wait to try some of the treats we make!"she said happily as she licked her lips already imagining the sweets that she and Mine me could cook up. As the car came to a stop the two cat girls began to slip out of their seatbelts and before long the pair were outside the car obviously wanting to spend a bit of time with Mine me." Do we need to buy a lot of stuff for today master?" Anise asked as she tilted her head slightly. Chloe simply moved close and gently hugged Mine me's arm hoping to stay close to her." We'll get things quickly right master?"she asked with a small smile. " Maybe at the most enough to make a little variety, so we'll start with only selling three different things, then if it's lucky we use the money to expand for more variety." She sighed as she slowly turned though couldn't move when she felt an arm around her seeing it was Chloe. With Chloe, it seemed she was acting like the baby always wanting attention from her, but she didn't mind much. Mine me sleepy reached over to scratch her ear then turned to start walking into the store. " Depends on the cost and if they have stuff. Slowly she got a cart and started going for a place to start. Chloe purred softly as she felt the gentle scratches behind her ears. Her eyes closed slowly, and she walked closely with Mine me as she led her into the store. Anise just remained close by, following her on the other side but ultimately remaining detached from her new master." What three things were you thinking master?" Anise asked as her tail swayed behind her playfully. As Mine me grabbed the cart Chloe let go of her arm out of necessity, and soon flanked her other side. As they trio walked through the store she grabbed whatever her master ordered her to get, and as they passed by a few separate customers who were also shopping the group got a few glances. "Well...always start with the basics. I do have a few of my own little recipes I am up that are simple but should still be good." She nodded with a smile looking smart. The girl slowly started the long trip through the store of getting various things as about an hour later they had a good amount of things that could easily get them started pretty fast. Slowly they made it to the line as she started to pay and walk back outside ignoring still the glanced of other people. " Ok then let's load it..." Finally stopping at the car she took out her keys opening the trunk and starting to put things in. " So now we can get a bit of training for you two then..." She closed the trunk and turned to them," I got this then..." After a moment she left to put the cart back as she came back and started the car heading to back once the three were inside. Anise and Chloe just acted like the assistants they were, loading flour, eggs, sugar, and other materials into the cart, and later, Mine me's car. They made sure to be careful and not drop anything, squish things, and what not, and by the time they were leaving the pair was ready for their first day. They watched the cars go by as Mine me drove to the bakery, and once they were there the pair quickly got to unloading. Already it seemed like a few people were looking forward to the opening, but it would be some time before the first goods of the day were made." Master Master! Looks like people are already lining up!" Anise said happily as she carried a large sack of flour into the bakery while Chloe rummaged through the trunk of the car. She looked behind her, leaning over the counter to set a few decorations and some things she would need by it. She looked back slowly," gas! What the hell!!" She facepalmed," Can you please tell them we aren't open yet?" She said turning to the other girl in the room. After that get everything else in the kitchen, I got the front..." She turned to glance over at her again before doing her own thing. Anise nodded while Chloe continued to help unload things and help get the kitchen in order. Soon the sound of the front door opening and Anise's voice filled the air." Hello Everyone! Sorry but we're not open yet! Can you please come back later!~"She said her tone somewhat playful and calming? Most of the crowd was a bit eager to try out the new shop, but with a few groans and mumbles they began to leave. Anise soon traveled back into the bakery with a smile and locked the door behind her." There, all done Master~"She said with a small smile as Chloe looked over the counter at her sister." Everything's unloaded. Get in here." She said to Anise, making the girl jump in surprise before heading into the kitchen in a hurry"Alright master, we're ready to learn about baking." She said professionally as she stood next to her sister. Furthermore, she simply sighed with a smile looking over at them," I could get used to this..." She said thinking out loud. Mine me turned to them and stretched," well if you guys need a break then go ahead but if you want to start already then...lets go..." She followed behind into the kitchen as she opened the fridge seeing everything inside then turned to the cabinets where the flour was, taking out one of the bags which was decent to make at least a dozen of whatever she wanted. " Ok so first you need to remember that you have two prep times and their both the most important, and it makes things easier...before you search ingredients you need to know what you want to make, then get those pots and pans that you need for it..." She paused thinking, "for now how about you try your own cookies then maybe something a bit harder then..." She started to get all the things she needed and looked over at them, going over to give them a ball of dough. " Ok first thing is layering flour on it..." She took her own and covered it in a bit of flour, rolling it out and kneading it, covering it in more flour ever other minute. "This makes the dough much softer and fluffier which makes it taste better...." She turned to show them, "try it then...you don't have to push it too hard and cover it every other minute than second...maybe 6 times at least..." She turned and did her own, finishing and deciding to observe and see how they did. As Anise and Chloe were each given a small ball of dough they began to get to work trying to emulate Mine me. They began to roll and knead the dough, and at first used either too much or too little force. Soon however the pair was getting the hang of it as they began to roll it out and knead it just like their master." Like this master?" Chloe asked as she stopped after a few rotations of rolling, kneading, and covering in flour. Anise had done much of the same, though she seemed a bit liberal with the flower. Some had gotten all over her clothes, and even on her cheek before she turned and asked." Did I do well too master?~"she asked with a happy tone as her tail swayed behind her. She looked over, observing still until they looked over at her," your both good....it's really, really easy when you know it...it should be ready so go ahead and flatten it out, you guys will have to share this though for now so the next thing is to take note and buy more supplies..." She gave them a roller after she used it herself to flatten it well enough then took a circular cutter and pressed it make a bunch of flat circles, use this to make maybe six should be good so we have plenty..." She took two large trays and set them down beside them, placing her own in one of them, you guys share a tray for the dough too unless one of you wants to share with me..." She shrugged not minding as she waited for them to finish.

Pets and Pastries (Dallico and Wiki234)|rating:3.0

Moving on(OPen for one man)

Tessa Lowe25 years old Sweet, shy, giving, loving, carefree, and open-minded. Tessa was happy for the most part, she had everything a young woman could want, a good job that she enjoyed as a pharmacy technician, a decent apartment, friends and family that loved her and were always there for her, and she was engaged to a very headstrong man as well. But something was always missing. And yet she could never place her finger on what, and then when it hit her it shook her to the core. She didn't love the man she was to marry in less than three days of all days Valentine day... it brought back hidden memories along with hidden feelings. Feelings that she had fought so hard to overcome, and that was the memory of Jasper her dead fiancée her one true love, her soul mate at least the man she thought to be dead... it had been four years now and time for her to move on. She loved the man she was marrying. But she wasn't in love with him. No man could and would never be what Jasper had been to her, Jasper saved her life when she was dying inside he was her heart and soul and yet when he went to war and was presumed dead though nobody was never found her family told her a year later she should move on hence the new marriage. She felt saddened as the wedding soon approached little did she nor Jasper know that they would soon meet face to face when he would show up at the wedding looking for his brother whom was a pastor at the church they all attended. He never stopped loving Tessa and Tessa would soon know she never stopped loving Jasper, but four years would change them both. Looking for a long deep romance of passion, want, desire, fears and drama along the way. Need one man to play Jasper AngelofyourNighmares said: Tessa Lowe 25 years old Sweet, shy, giving, loving, carefree, and open-minded. Tessa was happy for the most part, she had everything a young woman could want, a good job that she enjoyed as a pharmacy technician, a decent apartment, friends and family that loved her and were always there for her, and she was engaged to a very headstrong man as well. But something was always missing. And yet she could never place her finger on what, and then when it hit her it shook her to the core. She didn't love the man she was to marry in less than three days of all days Valentine day... it brought back hidden memories along with hidden feelings. Feelings that she had fought so hard to overcome, and that was the memory of Jasper her dead fiancée her one true love, her soul mate at least the man she thought to be dead... it had been four years now and time for her to move on. She loved the man she was marrying. But she wasn't in love with him. No man could and would never be what Jasper had been to her, Jasper saved her life when she was dying inside he was her heart and soul and yet when he went to war and was presumed dead though nobody was never found her family told her a year later she should move on hence the new marriage. She felt saddened as the wedding soon approached little did she nor Jasper know that they would soon meet face to face when he would show up at the wedding looking for his brother whom was a pastor at the church they all attended. He never stopped loving Tessa and Tessa would soon know she never stopped loving Jasper, but four years would change them both. Looking for a long deep romance of passion, want, desire, fears and drama along the way. Need one man to play Jasper Click to expand... Jasper surprised Tessa when she was leaving to go to the beautician's for the appointment. He put his arms around Tessa and gave her a great big bear hug. Then he slipped his hands into his pocket. He pulled a rag out soaked with coliform and pressed it into her face. Tessa was so surprised she didn't even struggle. Tessa woke up on a Canopy bed with pink sheets. She was groggy at first. Not remembering how she got there. She was still dressed, but now a steel collar was locked to her neck and matching steel bracelets were on her wrists. She got up and approached the door. When she tried to open it. Her collar and bracelets shocked her. She decided it would be best to wait on the bed. The door opened and Jasper entered. "Good-morning Slave! You are mine now! You can forget your name! It's no longer yours! I will call you whatever I feel like calling you! For now, I'll address you as Toy! Because You are now my Toy to treat how I want and desire! If you disobey you will be punished!" He pulls a remote from his pocket. Shows Tessa the remote, and pushes a button. He collar and wristlets shock her mildly. "As you see this remote ensures your obedience. The collar can shock you mildly or fatally. You can't leave this room or the suites' bathroom. I own you now! Now it's time to entertain me. Strip! Or I'll start pushing buttons." bumped (bump) As the taxi approaches As the yellow cab approaches my brothers home, my heart is filled with trepidations. "Will he remember me, the good times together the bad. So much has changed in these long 4 years. I fight back tears as I think of my lovely Tessa. I feel anger, sadness and then remember my counselors words "they had no way of knowing that you had been a prisoner of war." My hands shake, and I look down, and they are clenched with the material of my pants as I am so nervous. Never did I think it would be this hard, as the cab pulls up in front of the red brick church and attached white Victorian home. I slowly get out of the cab, my artificial leg throbbing, as I steady myself with my cane and brace my elbow on the cab door, as I reach in my back pocket and hand the cab driver a twenty dollar bill. He says "good luck Jonathan and welcome home." With a small overnight bag in my right hand and the cane in the left, I slowly hobble up the sidewalk and up the three gray steps to the porch. I make it to the red front door and ring the bell. I take deep breaths and say to myself, this is it. And as the door opens, and like time has stood still, and my heart does flip-flops and am able to gasp out "Tessa?" Tessa Tessa looked at her older brother and smiled half heatedly. ''Are you ready to walk me down the aisle?'' She asked him, and he looked at her a serious look upon his own face. ''I would be if I knew you were ready and this was what you wanted. Look Tess Jasper is gone. it's been four years. Yet I know, and you know damn well deep inside you are nowhere near over him. You love him as much today as when you were with him. Marrying David is not going to make that love go anywhere as much as you want to think it does. But if you want to do this I will be here for you.'' She looked at him tears filling his eyes god how right her older brother was. She told her brother it needed to be done she loved David, and it was time. ''Okay.'' She said as he walked her down the aisle, and she stood before her friends and family trying to keep it together, Jasper's brother ready to marry her off. She knew deep down how wrong it was. He began to speak when the doors opened, and she heard her voice and turned. Jasper standing there. She knew she was losing it as she fainted. Out of natural reflexes I drop the bag and pull your blouse with one hand, but with my artificial leg, I do not have the strength to pull you to me and we both tumble to the ground. I end up partially on top of you, and gaze into your half opened eyes. It has been so long and without giving it a second thought, my lips find the soft smooth lips of yours and I begin to kiss you passionately as instantly I feel myself awakening as my pelvis rubs against yours. You begin to kiss me back but suddenly like it is wrong to you, I feel you pushing against my shoulders. I remove my lips from yours and struggle to get off you. "Tessa what?" Tessa get confused and dazed wondering if this is all in my imagination this is my wedding day after all and as we both fall together I do not think you realize it as you kiss my lips as if we had never ever been apart. My brother comes over as I push you away. After all the two of you were best friends... every one looks as if they have seen a ghost no one as much as your own brother and myself, however. I pull away and try to compose my self my dress bunching slightly as you begin to realize the day. I look at David, and yet he knows somehow... he knows this man is the reason I could never give him all of who I am. As you are tugging your dress back down, I see the sparkle of your diamond as it glistens in the sunlight that shines through the window. "OMG Tessa I had no way of knowing, as I feel the bile in my stomach raising as I feel as if I had just been kicked in the stomach. I stumble to the chair and sit down. "I am so sorry as my eye contact cannot leave yours. "Are you engaged to anyone I know?" Tessa Tessa looked at the reaction on David's face, and then she listened to the love of her life speaking. This was all too much. Tears were in her eyes... they did know David he was an old friend of Jasper's. That was what brought them together, but David knew Tessa never really loved him. He was marrying her because he loved her and wanted her to feel safe and protected. In my fog and feel all of my dreams fading into the abyss of my suddenly shattered heart I look at my brother and say "I need a drink, double bourbon straight up and say quietly "Tessa I know you did not even now I was alive, and you have so much of your life in front of you." And even though the words are not registering with my brain I say "I can only wish you the best, congratulations." Do I know your fiancée? Tessa How could Jasper be alive. The people came to her house told her the news her brother was there to catch her when the pain was too deep, and it cut through to her heart she had never really been herself after... David came up when Jasper asked if he knew him.'' I can't do this.'' Tessa whispered and fled the church, as her brother went after her. Jasper's brother looked at him and at the congregation. ''I don't think.'' David stopped him. ''There cannot be a wedding today if everyone would please proceed to leave Tessa and her family alone. I am sorry for you all wasting your time.'' He said and watched as his and all of their friends left. David's face reads like a dime store novel and I say "David I am" and with ice in his voice says "Don't", as I look into his upturned palm. Without another word he turns and stomps down the center of the Church and out the door. I hobble over the first pew and sit down. Without realizing it I pick up the Bible with the dog-eared pages and open it. Somehow I have turned to the 23rd Psalm and as I read it, I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. I place my left hand on top of the soft female hand and look into the most beautiful face. "Tessa I am so sorry I have wrecked everything for you?." Tessa Everyone knew Jasper was going to say he was sorry, and his brother Brian just watched on. Tessa looked at her brother and David when he came outside. ''I need time Tessa, tell Jasper that. I love you. Be happy.'' Was all David could say as he left.'' Joey. What am I supposed to do? I love David. But Jasper he is alive my soul has always been his.'' Joey looked at his sister and hugged her. ''I cannot help you with this one Tessie. Do what your heart tells you to.'' She nodded and walked into the church Jasper in a front pew. She watched as he turned and looked at her, her dark brown eyes on him. ''I did not mean to run away. I just needed a minute. David apologized about before he can't handle it... I am not sure if I can handle it. Jasper how are you here alive...?'' She felt weak and had to look away because fresh tears were in her eyes I tap your hand, and you get up and move to my right side. I reach for your hand, partly out of the love I feel for you and needing a best friend to get through this. I swing my head around to make sure no one is listening or within the Church. And in a voice not much louder than a whisper I begin:"Tessa it is such a long story, so please listen closely as I can only get through it once, and you are the only one that is going to hear the true version. It was Christmas Eve 2006 we were on a surveillance mission in the area of Baghdad, nothing special just routine, when at 2200 hours our plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile. We made it out of Iraq, but the plane could not make it back to the aircraft carrier, and we had to eject. For reasons that I do not know to this day, my co-pilot Chuck and I were separated upon ejection and to this day have never heard anything about him. As for me, I received a compound fractured of my right leg upon impact with the ground. And as luck would have it, even though we were in Syria, I was captured by a group of Taliban. I remember they kept me for a month and I had no medical attention. The shattered bone in my leg, became infected, and I became delirious with fever. Somehow there was an operative deeply embedded in this group, I am guessing from our Central Intelligence Agency. He somehow convinced them I was worthless to them and was going to die, and they sold me to a Missionary group, whom in turn got me smuggled into Israel. "That is when I had the worthless leg amputated and it saved my life. However, there are so many enemy agents "that I was not allowed any contact with any family or friends as it may have put you in grave danger. I spent the next two years rehabilitating in Israel and finally one day they placed me on a freighter ship bound for the United States. I open my wallet and show you my driver's license, and it reads "Jonathan Smith with my picture. After arriving in New York, I was met by two CIA agents and driven to McGuire Air Force base and flown to Fort Carson Colorado, where I have been until two days ago going through intense therapy and waiting for my trail to go completely cold. I was briefed forty-eight hours ago, that there was no longer any interest in me. And now I am here as I rub your hand feeling totally drained." Tessa there was not a day that went by that you were not in my thoughts, and I am positive I would have died had it not been for my desire to make it back here someday, and you can only imaging how hard it was for me not to call or write to you, but it may have placed you in grave danger and I could not do that. "Is there any way in your heart that you can forgive me as my eyes peer into yours, not even able to breathe as I await your answer. Tessa smile briefly as you tap my hand, and then I move over to your side and take a seat, the dress I am wearing making it a little hard to really get comfortable. She looked over at him as she tightened her grip on his hand as he began to speak, she was a little scared to hear his story. Scared and worried about him. She was not sure what the war had done to him. She nodded her head when he told her it was a long story, and she thought to herself, I waited four years another hour or so will not make much more of a difference as she watched him with careful eyes. He was the Jasper she remembered after all, but he was also very different as was she after all who would not be after all the two of them had been through. Hearing the story sent chills up and down her back and her spine. But she stayed strong. She could not believe all that he had endured, and yet he was still here standing. And she knew with time... he would be the Jasper he was when he left at least in body. In mind, she was sure parts of Jasper was never going to be the same, after all he was a different man as she looked at the'D. Was he even still Jasper in the USA. Or was he now this Jonathan... she was so unsure of everything. She was angry... angry at the army that did not protect him. Angry at the war in general. Angry at the situation. And she knew deep down she was angry at Jasper. Not that she really had a right to be. But then again she was the one that was standing there ready to marry one of his best friends after all. She felt tears sprang to her eyes... ''I am so sorry that you went through all that. I am sorry for everything.'' She said looking away referring to the wedding. As she had already taken the ring off out of respect for David and Jasper. Another part of her was sorry for the fact that she was angry at him.''It's not your fault.'' She whispered. I reach up with my right hand and very softly rub your right cheek of your face. "You have no idea how many times I wished myself to be dead because I missed you so much. You had to know you were my whole world, the very essence of my soul and to have it so quickly taken away. But I also know that the only reason that I was able to survive in my captivity, was because of my love for you." Now I have to ask you and do not expect an answer, "but Tessie is there a chance for us?" I can only speak for myself, but due to the traumatic times and what I felt I had lost forever, I love you more today than I ever did before, and I did not even know that was possible to have happened. I look into your beautiful brown eyes and remember every feature of your delicate face. My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for your answer. Tessa His touch sent chills through her entire being, and she knew she had never not once gone one day without thinking of Jasper without wishing for this very moment. Tears filled her eyes listening to what he had to say. ''Jasper please don't ever wish yourself dead. I've dreamed of this moment happening for the last four years. There was never anyone else you are my entire soul. Marrying David was all wrong. But people told me I needed to move on. I knew in my heart that I would never fully recover from the loss of losing you... when those men came and served me the papers Jason was there I lost it. I went silent for almost a year... Furthermore, I had horrible nightmares.'' She had to stop and take a long deep breath.'' Of course there's a chance... but I have changed as I am sure you have. But I never not once stopped loving you.'' Without another word "I bring you to me and my lips find yours and I greedily and hungrily begin to kiss you as passionately as I can. As your mouth opens my tongue finds yours and as we are kissing, from behind us there is a "Hugh" as my brother says "perhaps the two of you would rather find a room instead of using my Church." Our kiss immediately breaks and as you shuffle to sit up I nod and can see the smile on his face as hopefully things can go back to the way things were 4 years ago. I look at you and hold up your hand "either you or we need to go and find David and you can return this and give him closer. I am sure he must be hurt and embarrassed over what has happened today. "Come Tessie as I reach for my cane beside me. Brian says "please follow me and I take your hand in mine, and we leave the Church and go over to his home. We go into the living room and Laurie his wife, comes in with a tray of champagne as you and I sit on the couch. She says "a toast to the best surprise anyone could imagine and Brian and I so hope everything works out for the two of you." We click glasses. I sip the champagne and Brian gets up and leaves the room and comes back with a white envelope. I place my glass on the table and open it. It is a letter and a key. Son, I am sorry you were not here when I passed but if you are somehow able to read this "I just wanted you to know how proud I was always of you. I was truly blessed to have two boys like yourself and brother. I want you to take this small token of my appreciation and use it to start your life. God Bless and I hope we are somehow reunited in Heaven. Love, DadI look at Brian and at the key. He says "apparently Dad dabbled in the stock market and years ago bought Apple stock. At the downtown Savings and Loan bank with that key, you will find $1,000,000.00 in cash. I squeeze your hand as I cannot believe the news. "But Brian if you are rich, why do you stay here? He looks at me and only says "Jasper especially you, for all you have been through, "do you think that money makes you happy? Could I put a price tag on Laurie or my job with my parishioners? I hope this inheritance does not change you, as Dad certainly would not have wanted that. But what you do with your money is up to you. I turn and look at you"it certainly could buy us a very nice house and I kiss your lips. Tessa hear Brian's voice and look up and smile gently at him... Brian was one of the people who had gotten her through it, his family and her brother had made her wake up from a year of darkness. Laurie had grown to be one of Tessa's best friends. But Tessa felt like she was imposing on a family moment. She was grateful she had a week of work off due to her impending wedding. I take more than just a sip from my own glass. There was just so much going on, and there was so much to take in. She listened as jasper read the letter out loud as she looked at him kindly as she smiled over at the man that she loved yet had not known really who he was for the last four years of her life. The letter made her own eyes tear up, she remembered the day Jasper's father had passed Brian and Laurie had been a wreck. It was almost as horrible a day as the day they got the news that Jasper had passed away. Tessa was not sure if she was hearing all this right. And still it was more than she could really take on for a moment. A house she thought this was all far too much far to fast. Not that she did not love Jasper she defiantly did. She loved him more than anything else in the entire world. She smiled but did not respond. She had a good job, and she did not want or need Jasper's money. She only loved him. I look at you and like old times your face is easy to read as you wear your emotions on your sleeve. I hand Brian the key "would you please keep this for me and when I am ready in the future I will get it from you then. "You are exactly right about the money and as great as it sounds, I am not going to let it change me or get in the way of restarting my life. I put my arm around you and say "you were a good influence on me in Colorado. With your dreams of always wanting to be a Pharmacist I decided to join the medical field as well. I already had all the math and science courses I needed with my degree in molecular physics, so believe it or not "I am a certified Physicians Assistant. So I am ready to settle down and hang out my shingle. "Has anything changed, do the townspeople still have to travel 20 miles to see a doctor? I figured that was one way I could give back as well as make a respectable living. I finish my champagne and hug you. "Would you be kind enough to let an old friend take you out to dinner and then the movies like we used to do? And of course Brian and Laurie you are welcome to come along? However, until I get a car I am going to have to ask if I can bum a ride from you. Tessa look into your eyes as you carefully watch me, thinking to myself that you knew me better than anyone else. I watch as you hand your brother the key and then explain the reasons why knowing you were the same man I have loved pretty much all my life. I blush as you tell me I was a good influence on you. Knowing the same went for you as I was a wreck when we met. ''That is amazing Jasper... we could use a new doctor here in town.'' She said beaming at him now. ''I would love that.'' I say softly and smile. Laurie smiles and says "you two have been separated long enough and do not need our company tonight, as Brian tosses me his keys. "Tessie has to work in the morning, please have her home by 11:00pm. I laugh and say "thanks Dad." I reach for your hand, and we walk out the door and I look at Brian's 1982 Honda Odyssey Minoan. "I cannot believe he is a millionaire and still drives this wreck. You squeeze my hand and say "I doubt outside myself and the bank president that know one knows how well off he is. And besides "if it is not broken why fix it." I go to the passenger side and open and hold your door for you, giving your luscious bottom in your jeans, climb in. I quickly go around, or as fast as my cane and artificial leg will take me."honey, would you like me to drive?" Honey, I like that. Does that mean we are thinking of where we left off. "Oh I call a lot of people honey, you say with a smile. I put the cane between the seats and pull out of the driveway and down Main Street. "Tessie it is like not one thing has changed since I have been gone." It really hasn't except a few people have died off and new ones moved in, but for the most part, everything is the same. And you laugh "did I tell you "if it is not broken, don't fix it." There is a parking space in front of Luigi's. "Is Italian alright?" We park, and you wait as I come around and hold the door for you, and you close it, making it easier for me. We walk in the restaurant as I again hold the door. As we enter your best friend Jenna and her husband Bob sit at the first table. She looks at you and smiles brightly and then realizes who you are with. JASPER she screams and almost tips her chair over in coming to give me a hug and kiss. "I cannot believe it, how are you not dead. "it's a long story as my right arm goes around her shoulders and I give her cheek a kiss, and while still holding her, shake Bob's hand. We separate, and she looks at you and says "Does David know that Jasper is back, and you blush and quietly say "yes he knows, and you gently pull at my sleeve, not wanting to be interrogated in the middle of the restaurant. "Tessie can I call you tomorrow as we begin to walk through the tables. You turn and say "yes call me at work, goodnight. We arrive at our table and a young waitress comes over. I say "I will have a double bourbon straight up, and I look at you, "I believe you liked Merlot and you smile and nod. I hold you chair for you and slide it in as you sit and then go over to my chair. You say "I am impressed with how well you get around with your cane and prosthetic. I smile, not wanting to go into detail, "lots and lots of therapy. The waitress brings the drinks. "Tonight I feel like the luckiest man on earth and feel like I am out with an angel. We click glasses and drinks you open your menu I say "Tessie humor me and let me order for you. You smile and close it and the waitress comes over. I do not open my menu and try and recite from memory "We will have the Caesar Salad for two, no onions or croutons, an order of garlic bread and the lady will have Fettuccine Alfredo and I will have Veal Parmigiana. And both of us will have Tiramisu for dessert. As she turns to leave you say "how did you remember that?" I say simple, "it was the same order we had when we came here after the Senior Prom." Do you remember how all of our friends could not believe that the King and Queen of the Prom would not go to the Lake House party, but instead we ended up sitting and snuggling on a blanket on the 50-yard line of the football field, drinking hot chocolate and warm donuts freshly made at the Bakery? "I think every star in the sky was glimmering that night, and we talked and snuggled until the sun came up. Not only were you the most gorgeous girl at the Prom and probably the best cheerleader captain ever, but Tessie it is like you have not aged a bit, you are as gorgeous as I remember. "Not to spoil the night, but when I was in solitary confinement, I replayed each and everyone of our dates. To be continues continuing The food arrives, and it is just as delicious as I remember it. We kind of eat in silence both lost in our thoughts. As I put my fork down I look at you and say "a penny for your thoughts?" You smile that warm wonderful smile and say "so do you think you will be content being a Doctor. " Yes I really do. I know it is going to be challenging, but how busy can Jupiter Falls be? True. I smile deviously, and how long has it been since your last physical? Me? At least twice a year you laugh. "Yea right. "As soon as I get my office set up, you will be my first patient. "Oh you think so, do you? Well hoping anyway. My voice lowers "Tessie are you still a virgin." Your face blushes the way it always did. "Yes if you must know. And may I ask you the same question. "Well no, if I have to be totally honest. A nurse in Israel decided she was going to be a teacher, but Tessie, at the time I had no idea if I were ever going to make it back home, and what were the chances that you would be single. Dessert arrives, and the subject is dropped. The cake is delicious. I look at your deep in thought. "Can I ask a favor of you tomorrow? "Maybe, if I do not have to put a nurses uniform on. Hamm now there is a great thought. The mood lightens again, "ok what?" I would like you to go out with me and see if we can find a house for me to set up my practice. "Yes and it's just a thought but the O'Connor home, remember that gray Victorian house over on Maple Street just went on sale, last week. "Oh that sounds like it could be a perfect location. Across from the park, a lot of off-street parking and since I was never able to spend any money these last 4 years, I have a nice nest age saved up. I am sure I can buy it outright and enough money to set up my practice and use the upstairs as my apartment. "Ok, I get finished with work at 4:00pm. Great pay the bill and leave a nice tip, and we head out of the now vacant restaurant. I smile at you as we get back in the minivan "you know Tessie I do not know where you live? Oh, I have a one-room apartment over the Pharmacy. "I clean the Pharmacy and do Mr Dithers bills and I live there for free. It is a nice arrangement. It seems like I know so little about you. "Are your Mom and Dad still living? You look at your lap and say quietly "mom passed two years ago and Dad lives with my sister Sylvia in Indiana. "Oh I am sorry." No you did not know, and she just went in her sleep. We pull up to the back door of the Pharmacy. I get out and open your door and wait for you to unlock the door to your apartment. I put my weight on the cane with my left arm and my arm around your shoulders and bring you to me and put my lips on yours and kiss you as passionately as possible. Your mouth opens, and my tongue finds yours. As the kiss breaks, I bring you to me and hold you. "Tessie, I love you so much and as your face leans back, I kiss each of your eyes with my lips. "Goodnight my love and until tomorrow I will think of nothing else but you. You smile and say a glancing goodnight and are in your apartment. I get back in the van, pull around the corner and back in your driveway and knock on the door. "I said I loved you," as you laugh. Tessa smile at Laurie knowing that she would not impose considering how long you and I have been apart. But a big part of me is also very scared as well. And I am unsure about a lot of four years was a long time to be apart from the man you loved. ''He loves that van and to be honest he is very modest part of him was scared to accept the money. because he never wanted it to allow him to change the man he is. Or his life with Laurie. And why fix something if it's not broke.'' She said and smiled her same bright smile. As if old habits have never died I called you honey. I do want to be with him, I think to myself. But so much has changed. I have changed she thought to herself as well. She began driving a million thoughts in her mind, but she was grateful for the conversation. I look at you when you say nothing's really changed. ''A lot has changed Jasper, trust me. The town looks the same. But we've lost a lot due to the war. And you coming home is going to make you the town hero.'' She said as they drove and continued there conversation. ''It is.'' I respond as you find a parking spot and I look at you. Not much has really changed with him, I think to myself, and yet I know that is not possible considering the fact after all you had been through there would certainly be some changes. I watch as Jenna comes over ecstatic and hugs and kisses your cheek and Bob shakes your hand. My heart is pounding in my chest already. And I am stunned that it had not gotten out to the whole town yet that yes David and Tessa's wedding was canceled, and yes Jasper was indeed very much alive. I hold onto your arm. Not wanting everyone to know my personal business I had always been a very private person and still very much so was. I am grateful when we take our seats in a booth in the back. And I look over at you and smile so proud to be here with you and so nervous at the same time... I am as stunned as you remember my favorite drinks and my favorite foods as well. ''I am impressed.'' She said and took a sip of her Merlot as the drinks arrived, and he placed their orders. She listens as he tells her about senior prom it seemed like a lifetime ago but the memory of how close they were and how much they were connected made her smile and she wanted nothing to go back to a time when there lives really were that simple when it seemed like all they had to worry about was each other and starting college in the fall. The food was delicious I think to myself and there was nowhere at the moment I wanted to be then sitting with Jasper how many times had I dreamt this would happen, and now it really was, and I was afraid someone would pinch me at that moment. He responded to my question of him being a doctor as I watched him carefully. There really was a lot different about Jasper as well. Darker, perhaps. I look at you and smile... ''Well there is a lot of children here that break a lot of legs and arms climbing the old tree at the lake, so I am sure you will stay plenty busy.'' She said and was embarked when he asked if she was still a virgin. Truth was she was. But it was because she was always waiting on Jasper. Or she was dating for her wedding night. I sigh when you say no. Wondering how many women you had been with in the last four years and not really caring but feeling slightly hurt, but I was able to cover it up as well. After all I had been planning to marry one of your best friends. I think to myself. I am grateful when the cakes come to change the subject. As I enjoy its delicate texture. ''I would love to do that... my hours vary as does my schedule but all this week I get off early. I really do not have to go in. Considering I took a week off for my we... ''she stopped at wedding and smiled. ''I was planning to rent an apartment. But Mr. Dithers said nonsense he's kind of like a father to me since mine passed. And it's a nice little place.'' She said and smiled. ''Dad left because there were to many memories of mom here... it hurt because he did not think of me or my brother just our older sister. Who well you know has never been very much for the family. But mom had money left a good sum to dad so Susie. Figured take him in and live like a queen. Such is life. I have my brother. And Mr dithers. And your brother and Laurie and amazing friends. And you.'' She said softly not wanting to lead him on. When we pull into my driveway my heart pounds and I look at you. As you kiss me deep and full of passion the way it used to be my heart pounds and my head spins. ''I do love you Jasper. But we've both changed. But let's keep doing this and see where we can go.'' She said going into her apartment. He knocked a few moments later to tell her he loved her once more. She took a long hot shower before bed and finally went to sleep dreaming of him, but he was here Jasper was alive, and the dream could come true. I sit in my new vehicle, or let's say pre-owned Jeep, and it is such a beautiful day, I have the top down. As you come out of the Pharmacy at the end of the day, I give the same shrill whistle that I used to use on the football field. It was my signal to you as a cheerleader that the touchdown we just scored was for you. No one knew what the whistle really meant as I would say "it was just a happy emotion, but even across the sideline I could see your wonderful smile. I get out and hold the door for you. Look at my new jeep. It is 3 years old and only twenty thousand miles. Nothing Grady and will be great in the winter for making house calls. I have made an appointment to see the house and I point to the picnic basket and then a nice casual dinner at the lake. We tour the house and I tell the real estate agent, that I will call her tomorrow and then take your hand again like we were school kids and go out to the jeep and drive to the lake. I have trouble spreading out the blanket, and you come to my services, and then I intentionally fall in the middle of it and when you come to help me, I pull you down and my mouth finds yours and kiss you so passionately. "Oh honey I have wanted and desired you for so many years", as my hand goes over your right breast and I gently squeeze it over your blouse and bra. Tessa Early in the morning Tessa woke to a knock at the door and went to check on it, she signed for the package and took it back to the living room where she sat and read the note and smiled at the gift from Jasper. The letter made her tear up, and she was not sure how to respond. It stated that he had always loved her and that she had waited four years for him. He could wait forever for her. Tears filled her eyes and she had to compose herself. It was too much to fast, how could she tell him that really, without hurting him at all. She wanted him. She had waited a long time. But things change, people change she changed. {"Light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} She dressed up for the day and hoped work would go fast, she was excited to go look at the house that jasper planned to by for his practice, yet still nervous at the same time. He was a different person as was she. Work was going productive when Jasper came early in the day and taped her. ''You're going to get me fired.'' She said giggling as he kissed her told her he loved her and left.4:00 could not come fast enough. I grab my jacket and my purse and head out to meet you. And smile approvingly of the jeep as I walk to you. I am once again brought back to high school and I blush like crazy just as I had when I cheered on the sideline for you. There was never a happier time and I thought we had forever. I try not to think of the papers you were served to go off and fight the war. My entire life had changed that day.'' It is beautiful. I love it.'' She said carefully climbing in beside him. ''I am very excited to see the house that you will start your practice in.'' She said and smiled who would have ever guessed that jasper would be a doctor someday. We drive to the lake and my heart races inside my chest. ''Thank-you for the teddy bear it was beautiful as was the note.'' He heard her voice trail off as she stopped. As I help you with the blanket, and you fall not hard enough to get hurt as I look into your eyes, I return the kiss just as passionately. But when I hear your words and feel your hand on my breast. My legs go weak. And I am not sure if I am really ready for all of this just yet. I immediately sense that I have broached a subject I should not have and push myself up and turn to the picnic basket beside the blanket. I give your lips a quick sweet kiss and say "honey, please forgive my forwardness. It is just desire, hormones and the thrill to be with you again. I look in your beautiful dark eyes and continue on "for something as precious as your virginity, it cannot be taken on an impulse. If in time you consented to be my wife, and I cannot stress enough, when you are ready, then your gift will be taken on our wedding night. "However if you decide you are truly in love with me and know that our love will last a lifetime, then we will find the most incredible Bed and Breakfast to consulate our love, before our wedding day. But that my love is truly your decision, you know you can talk to me about anything. I take out the champagne and uncork it and pour two glasses. "To us, to my future practice, our new house and mostly to you, my best friend, forever. We click glasses, and I lean over for another quick kiss and then pull out two plates and then cold fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans and dinner rolls. We eat in mostly silence as you are deep in thought, and soon we finish eating and just sit and watch the two swans on the lake, and soon it is getting dark as we fold up the blanket and place the picnic basket back in the jeep. I drive you home. As I hold you at your door and again kiss you passionately, I let my arms slip down to your waist and hold you looking directly into your eyes. "Tessie please do not put any pressure on yourself, I have desired you ever since our first date as Freshman, and I promise you, I will wait forever. Goodnight my love and give you one last kiss to your lips. Tessa feel bad turning you away, but then again I did not really turn you away. But you knew me so well know me so well that its written all over my face. I smile softly but know that I cannot keep my feelings from you. ''Was it's not really because I am scared of losing my virginity I always figured or knew that it would belong to you. But I have changed, and I am sure you have changed as well... we need to get to know one another. I am sure there is not going to be anyone else in my lifetime I can ever love as much as I love you. But it may take some time.'' She whispered softly. ''And if I decide I do not want it planned I was spontaneous and carefree.'' She said softly. The day ends lightly, and I am grateful to be home as I am tired. And I just want to take a long hot bath and sleep and dream of you.'' I do love you Was.'' She said kissing his lips and then going into her apartment. I drive home to my room at the old homestead. Brian and Laurie are in bed. I pick up the telephone and dial your number. "Hello sweetie, I did not figure you were asleep yet "what are you thinking about? And can I tell you that I am thinking of you and I mean "really thinking of you." Tessa get dressed in a tight pair of shorts and a tight tank-top as I crawl into my bed wondering of a lot of things wishing I could just go back four years and make this all simpler, but it was not it was complicated. The phone rang as I answer it. I smile at your voice. ''I was thinking of a lot of things not sure the same thing you are thinking.'' She says with a smile. Tessie, I am guessing you are either wearing a nifty with panties or some similar attire, covering your most private parts. "Now reach under you and bare your bottom, think it is my fingers slowly pulling them down, I say slow and sensually. Take your finger and trace over you, explaining in detail, what your finger feels, like I am a blind man, as I have never seen you fully naked before. "Oh Tessie, I am so hard for you." Tessa hear your voice and bite my lip shyly, I might have been a virgin I think to myself. But it was not as if I were a saint either. Hearing your voice sends a sensation through my entire body, and I am unsure I can wait as long as I thought I wanted for my wedding night. I was in love and I needed him I wanted him. I whisper into the phone "Tessie, have you ever masturbated. Do not be embarrassed everyone does." Tessa Tessa smiles at his question. ''Many a night when you were gone Jasper. I imagined you touching every last inch of my entire body.'' She whispered. The phone breaking up slightly. Tessie, hello are you there, as I see the lightning flashing and the boom of the first clap of thunder. "Ahh the phones must be out again. I smile as I think of my Tessie and roll over and try to sleep Tessa Dammit Tessa thought when she heard the phone go dead. Stupid storm. She tried dialing him again, but he did not answer, or the line would die. She decided to go home, it scared her and yet at the same time she was excited and thrilled. Furthermore, she changed into a corseted top let her long brown hair hang, and pulled a trench coat over it headed and the door and drove to his house, her hands were shaking, and she was wondering if she could go through this. As I hear the doorbell I awake from a restless sleep. "Damn, someone must have broken down in the storm, as I go downstairs, flip on the porch light and open the front door. My heart does flip-flops, and I stammer out "Tessie" Tessa Part of me is debating on turning back, but it was too late. It looks as if I have cloths on under as I stand in the rain slightly damp. Not able to believe I am really doing this.'' Jas. I was worried something happened with the storm.'' She said and the fear of losing him all over again was apparent in her eyes. As I bring you into the half opened doorway, I put my arms around and as the rain pelts down upon us, I kiss you as passionately as I ever have. I feel your body melt against mine and I press against you. Finally, when we are breathless our kiss breaks and I see that we are soaked. "Tessie please come in, the storm is getting worse. I take your hand and feel it shaking "come my love you are going to catch your death of cold as we walk from the hallway to the living room, where I quickly start a fire in the fireplace. "Unfortunately my brother and sister-in-law have gone out of town for a few days, or I would have asked her to give you some dry clothes. "Now honey why would you come out on such a night?" Tessa was at least a warm rain, as I see you open the door and smile and pull me into a kiss so passion ant I feel as If I would faint. My body presses tightly against yours as if we had never been apart before. As we pull apart I smile at you as we are both now soaked. I nod my head and come into your brothers house feeling bad for being there at that time of the night, knowing you would be awake, however. I take your hand and follow you into the house, as I watch you start the fire and I look at you not sure what to say.''It's okay. I can borrow a tee or something of yours.'' She said her voice shaking a little as I look at you when you ask me why I am there.'' Two reasons.'' She said taking a long deep breath. ''First to make sure you were okay. Jasper if I ever lost you again I just don't think I could handle it once more.'' She said and felt a tear roll down her cheek.'' Second for this.'' With that being said she removed her coat. As my heart flip-flops, and I look at how stunningly beautiful you truly are, I try to compose myself the best that I can. "Tes, Tessie you are so beautiful as I immediately bring you down to me on the floor on top of the soft bear skin rug in front of the fireplace. The flames now roar and crackle and give off heat. Just as I am thinking of turning off the lamp that is on in the corner, the electrical power goes out. I whisper as I kiss you, "you had better stay here now, with the down trees and all, as my fingers go behind you and unclasp the back of your lingerie and I slowly pull down the zipper. "I so love you Tessie and never ever thought this night would ever get here. As the fire gives off a romantic light I look into your eyes "you are as positive you want this, as I am? Tessa My heart pounds in my chest as I remove the coat and see you looking at me, I smile a very shy smile when you tell me how beautiful I am. And I know no matter how scared I am there is no place or no one I would rather be with on this stormy night. It feels good against you when you bring me to the floor with you and I wonder if it's your body or the flames that are making me body heat. I jump when the electricity goes out and look up in your eyes as you kiss my lips. When you unzip the back of my lingerie I get a little nervous but now I never wanted nothing more than to be here with you at this moment. ''I had no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon.'' And this time I reach up and kiss your lips my tongue searching for yours my hands against your chest, and I move so that your atop of me.'' I want you Jasper, I love you.'' She whispered when he asked her if she wanted this as much as he did. As your lingerie falls away, and you are now naked from the waist up, I continue to kiss you and with my hand, separate your damp hair from the right side of your face. As I am close to your ear I whisper "not only will I be gentle, but I will do my best to make this a night for you to remember. My mouth goes to your earlobe and my teeth slowly and gently caress it as the first finger of my right hand just barely touches your skin as I move it slowly down from your neck to between your breasts. Then it goes to your hard right nipple as I trace my finger, slowly underneath and all around. My mouth begins to give you wet kisses to your neck. "I love Tessie, so very, very much. Essays my lingerie falls from my swollen breast, I realize this is finally happening I am giving myself to the man I love, the man that I have loved all my life, I smile when you brush the hair away from my face. I smile at what you whisper in my ear and shiver at the sensation it brings forth in me as I sigh. ''I know you will Was, but I am okay I want this more than I have ever wanted anything else before.'' She whispered back. Each kiss to my earlobe, along my neck nearly drives me insane, and it feels as if my skin is on fire, as I moan soft little moans. I run my own fingers under your shirt and pull it over your head, as I run my nails along your skin.'' And I love you.'' I say and reach up to find your lips with my own as my hand moves to the waist band of your sweatpants. My hand cups your breast and then with little kisses I slow kiss around your neck to the middle and then kiss down your cleavage. As my hand holds up your breast my lips cover it and I suck deeply upon the nipple feeling how rock hard it is. My hand goes down your tummy and slips between your skimpy panties and I feel the soft down of your public patch. I continue to suck and lick your breast as I feel your moistness as my finger slides over your hooded clit and down your lips to your entrance. "Oh Tessie I love you. My hand comes out of your panties and I place both hands on the sides and begin to slide them down. The fire crackles in front of us, as I feel you pulling off my boxers Tessa moan when your lips find my breast, nothing had ever felt more right than this moment here with you, and I never wanted it to end. When you suck my nipple into your mouth I lean up against you as I sigh wanting these feelings to never go away. When your hand finds my already wet mound I close my eyes and Seymour the moment. When your lip barely touches my clit I moan out for you, not able to contain my pleasure. ''And I love you.'' I whisper, as I watch you pull my panties slowly from my body, as I pull your boxers from yours. My breath catches in my throat. ''Was your amazing.'' She said softly. I am so hard for you as I am released from my boxers. As my mouth slides down your tummy I stop at the top of your mound and give kisses from left to right, then begin the next round of kisses just below the last, back and forth until I end up at your hooded clit. As my fingers gently open your folds, my tongue for the very first time, licks across the exposed morsel. I listen to your moans change in pitch as I wiggle my body down between your legs and make the end of my tongue hard and FLICK upwards, totally engulfing your clit. I Flick it 5 quick times and then push just the end of my tongue between your lips and slide my head down until I am at your entrance, licking up your tasty juices. Furthermore, I take the middle finger of my right hand and slightly enter you, feeling your hymen blocking my path. Furthermore, I move my face back up and putting it as close as possible, I purse my lips and capture your clit between my hard lips and with the end of my tongue, begin to lick and mash and bring you closer to orgasm. My fingers move under you as I gently squeeze your cheeks and lift you even closer to my tongue. TessaI take your hard cock in my hand and gently stroke you admiring everything about your body and your mind. As your lips find my mound, my breath catches once again, as intense feelings and emotions rise within my body... feelings I had never felt before. As you move closer and closer to my clit with your tongue my hand tightens ever so against your cock but not enough to hurt you, enough pain to bring pleasure forth. When you take my clit into your mouth and suck it I feel as if I am on fire and my moans change from light to loud. As your tongue enters my tight entrance I moan in pleasure and then, feel your finger inside my tight mound I shift ever so slightly adjusting to the feelings, as I close my eyes and enjoy everything you are bringing out in me. Everytime you touch my clit with your tongue or push your finger deeper into my tight box, I moan deeper and deeper feeling my orgasm ready to rock my body. More intense than anything I had ever felt before.'' Jasper I can't take it anymore I need to come. Please.'' I whimper out asking permission. Yes baby, "now" as I feel your body tighten and you scream out in ecstasy. I quickly wipe my mouth with a Kleenex next to the rug and I feel your body tighten once more, but this time not in pleasure. "Tessie just relax as I place my hard cock against your lips. "Forget the horror stories you have heard about, I love you and the last thing I want to do is hurt you." Now on my count of 3 I want you to push towards me and I will push in, easily. I kiss you passionately and when our kiss breaks I say "1" and then go and suck on each breast, the nipples as hard as rocks. 2" and as I move against your hymen, I smile at you and then hug you tightly and say "3" and as you move upwards I push slightly, and I feel the membrane tear away, and I am in. I hold perfectly still, and after you adjust to the new feeling, I push in an inch and very slowly come back almost out, but not and then puss shhh, and I go halfway in and slowly back. I kiss you again and smile at you, "we are doing it baby, do you feel it" and I pussssshhhhhhhhhh, and I am in to the hilt. Furthermore, I hold still and with my pelvis, I rock against your clit. "Ohh Tessie this is phenomenal, I hope it is as good for you as I slowly pull back. Tessa She was thank-full when he told her she could come, she was not sure why she had asked him if it was okay, but she felt the need to. The orgasm rocked her body so hard, in a way that she had never been able to give to herself. I listen carefully to your voice as I look up into your gentle eyes and smile and listen to what you tell me to do. When your lips press against my own hard and passionately I moan against the kiss my tongue searching for your own. When you suck upon my nipples I moan as your tongue flicks against the hard nubs, and she wanted more and more of Jasper. I gasp when you break my walls down and my nails dig into your back through the pain gently, as her legs tightly wrap around his body. It hurts for a few moments, but the pain slowly goes away and turns to pleasure. ''Its amazing Jasper please do not stop.'' I say in a moan as I still hold tightly onto your body. "I will not stop, and it was so erotic when you asked me before, if you could cum, please try and do that in the future as I begin to pick up the pace as I feel you begin to move with me. We begin to make love like we have been doing it for years. "Oh Tessie, I am feeling myself, If you can, hurry and yes you can as I try and hold off. Teratesla smiled up at him and gave him a seductive look. ''Your wish will be my command my love.'' She said gently and moved against him her body like a drum to his beat. She smiled, and her legs clung to him and she tightened her pussy muscles against his cock, and felt another orgasm coming, ''Oh god Was, please come with me.'' She said in a feverish moan. And as the words leave your lips the only thing I can say is "now" and together we cry out loudly in ecstasy. My heart beats against your chest, as I hug you so tightly. I kiss you and say "can you imagine if our sex life is always this good, oh Tessie I love you so much." Soon I feel myself going down and I slowly pull out. I hand you Kleenex as I wipe myself off and in the firelight do not even check to see how much of a mess there is."come my love" as I begin to pick you up as if I were back in high school and as I get you up, I start to wobble on my artificial leg, but right myself and slowly carry you upstairs. I feel yourself holding on to me very tightly, as I know you think I am going to drop you. We finally make it and I set you down and just as I do the light in the hallway comes back on. Thank goodness as I turn my light on the nightstand. I go to my closet and find a long sleeved red plaid shirt and give to you and open up the covers of the bed and wait as you begin to crawl in. tessaWhen you tell me to come with you, I moan out and my nails dig into your back as I clench my legs hard around you. I can feel your heartbeat and that alone almost makes me cum again, because I know all of this is really happening and this is all very real. ''I can see us having a very erotic and loving life together.'' I say with a smile and return your kiss deeply. The mess does not seem to bother me, but I slightly wipe myself off as I look into your eyes. As your pick me up my heart pounds and I hold tightly against your neck. I hold tightly afraid you might hurt me, but not meaning to. I smile when you sit me gently on the bed as the lights came back on. Furthermore, I slowly pull the shirt over my head and crawl beside you. Furthermore, I put my arm around you and snuggle you into the crook of my arm. Furthermore, I turn off the light and kiss you. "Honey without question this is the best night of my life and I feel like the luckiest man in the world. You can not begin to imagine how much I love you. Goodnight my love and sleep so well. I lay awake until I hear your breathing become deep and steady and know you are asleep, and reach down to my right leg and as lightly as I can I unsnap the harness that holds my kneecap to my artificial leg and place it standing on the floor beside the bed. I check to see that I have not awakened you and fall into a deep sleep myself. TessaI curl up against you, but know deep down there might still be a long road ahead for the two of us. It feels good to lie in yours arms when the light goes off, and you kiss my lips. I smile at every word you say. ''I will remember this night forever Jasper. And all the nights after this.'' She said but always afraid deep down something would take him from her again. I fall asleep in your arms better than I have slept for as long as I could remember. As I awake at daylight, I turn over and kiss you lightly and gently get out of bed, looking at you sleeping contentedly. I walk quietly over to my dresser and get out clean underwear and close the dresser drawer as quietly as possible. I go into the shower and then poke my head back in the room and see you have not moved. I go downstairs and get a wet wash cloth and go in a scrub the bear skin rug. Furthermore, I chuckle "he does not look like he has been shot again", as the blood washes off the fur. I quietly whistle to myself as I go into the kitchen and begin to fry bacon. After it is cooked I put it in the preheated oven and crack four eggs, two sunny side up for you, and keep the yokes runny as I remember how you like them. For me, I flip them over and cook them a minute more. I get 2 plates and put the two eggs on the plate for you and then 2 for me on a separate plate and 3 strips of bacon each just as the toast is coming up in the toaster. I butter it and then pour two glasses of juice. Furthermore, I also go outside and cut a single rose for you and put it in a vase, then everything on a tray and carry it upstairs. Furthermore, I walk in the room and sit on my side of the bed, the tray on the nightstand. Furthermore, I lean over and kiss you. "Good morning sleepy head, are you hungry?" Tessa My night was filled with nothing but sweet dreams of you and the night we shared. The morning comes, and I seem to sleep forever, but never once did my dreams not consist of you and for a moment in my dreams I lose you all over again, but then you always come back to me just like every other dream telling me you would always be with me and that you would forever love me. I am awakened by your kiss and the scents fill my nose as I smile at you sleepily. ''Morning handsome, why did you let me sleep so long.'' I say stretching to sit up my body aching slightly. I smile and kiss you and say "because after breakfast I hope to begin to make you tired all over again and again and again. Furthermore, I put your tray on your lap, and we begin to eat. "I suppose now that I own a house I should probably think about moving, and I ask abruptly "would you ever consider moving in with me, just the two of us?" I wait for you to stop chocking on your food.

Moving on(OPen for one man)|rating:3.0

[NSFW] Dreadis' Pathfinder Signup_OOC (Pathfinder)

Dreads' Pathfinder Group Signup/IOC Thread (a Pathfinder game not run by About for once)Going to have 4 slots available, combat may or may not be held in IRC instead of the Pop Bardic Thread#msg149444PlayersDarkened - Davina Various F CG Half Elf Arcane Duelist BardA2znut - Tanner Utah F LN Half-Orc InquisitorShibosho - Deimos Vision Male Neutral Good Half-Orc Fighter Enthalpy - Liang Honey F LN Samsara Dual-Cursed Oracle (Nature)Chili-Reaper - Kala F Neutral Changeling Druid (Boar Shaman)Chili's Animal Companion Adventure starts in the village of Kassel, 4 of the villages young adventure seekers have been chosen to perform a quest done yearly as the village prepares for winter. Every year a group travels to the nearby 'Crypt of the Ever flame' to light a lantern from the Ever flame and bring it back to the village where it is kept through the winter as a symbol of the towns' resilience. Normally this is done by elders with the occasional dignitary, but every few years young adventurers are chosen. Pack to travel light carrying only what they absolutely need—weapons, armor, spell books, etc.—as rations and other generic equipment will be provided. (free things to save your starting GP) [Use the average starting GP for your class]Ability scores will be chosen to use the standard method (4d6 drop lowest) with the rolls made in either a post without roll tamper warnings or in IRC with MY acknowledgment. Rerolls for crappy scores will be allowed based on 3.5 re-rolling rules since I see no rules for it in PF. Spoiler: reroll rules 3.5 ROLLING If your scores are too low, you may scrap them and roll all six scores again. Your scores are considered too low if the sum of your modifiers (before adjustments because of race) is 0 or lower, or if your highest score is 13 or lower. The Kassel village Mayor will choose from among the young adventurers to decide who shall go on the quest(aka the GM will choose from among all submitted characters to decide who gets to play, I will be trying to choose a balanced set of characters/classes)Anyone who wants to play submit a completed character sheet(Mythweaverpreferred) along with whether you would prefer Pop or IRC combat and whether you are willing to do the other method anyway. If most prefer IRC I will put up a Doc spreadsheet so that we can work out a set time to play.(that isn't Saturday). First Module is chosen, and I have blatantly hinted at said what it is so try not to cheat, so I don't have to alter it to make it harder than it has to be. All standard races and classes (meaning core classes) are welcome, though if you make a non-standard one you need to have backstory that makes sense for it. The village has higher level mentor NPC's for the standard classes, and I'll copy you the information for them if you ask for it so you can get your backstory's accurate. Evil characters are unlikely to be chosen though there is a small possibility. You may take TWO traits with more traits costing TWO Drawbacks for One extra trait. Reserved final reserve just in case I'm interested~ Rolling.[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 1, 4, 6, total 15[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 5, 3, 3, total 17[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 1, 5, 1, total 9[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 5, 6, 2, total 15[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 2, 5, 6, total 15[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 1, 2, 3, total 11[/blockquote] I'm interested. Will actually roll and what-not when it's not half-past midnight for me. My interest has been engaged. Rolling.[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 6, 5, 1, total 15Rolled 4d6 : 5, 6, 2, 6, total 19Rolled 4d6 : 6, 3, 2, 6, total 17Rolled 4d6 : 5, 1, 5, 3, total 14Rolled 4d6 : 4, 4, 4, 3, total 15Rolled 4d6 : 2, 1, 2, 5, total 10[/blockquote] Rolling.[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 2, 5, 2, total 13[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 5, 6, 3, total 20[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 4, 2, 5, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 1, 1, total 6[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 2, 6, 3, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 2, 3, 6, total 16[/blockquote] So that's [17, 14, 14, 12, 11, 5]. Okay, I can work with this. Here goes nothing...[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 6, 4, 3, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 2, 2, 6, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 4, 3, 3, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 2, 4, 2, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 3, 2, 4, total 12[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 2, 6, 2, total 14[/blockquote] [blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 3, 6, 6, total 21[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 4, 5, 1, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 2, 1, 1, total 7[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 3, 1, 3, total 13[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 6, 2, 5, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 3, 1, total 8[/blockquote] Interested, unsure if I'll have time to finish sheet, so let's see...[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 1, 1, 1, total 9[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 1, 1, 5, total 9[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 1, 4, 6, 6, total 17[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 2, 2, total 8[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 3, 4, 4, total 13[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 1, 3, 4, 6, total 14[/blockquote] Darkened said: Interested, unsure if I'll have time to finish sheet, so let's see... This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 6, 1, 1, 1, total 9 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 2, 1, 1, 5, total 9 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 1, 4, 6, 6, total 17 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 2, 2, total 8 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 2, 3, 4, 4, total 13 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 4d6 : 1, 3, 4, 6, total 14Click to expand... -1, -1 +3, -2 +0, +1 so, total looks to be +0[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 5, 2, 5, total 15Rolled 4d6 : 5, 4, 1, 6, total 16Rolled 4d6 : 6, 3, 4, 6, total 19Rolled 4d6 : 2, 4, 4, 4, total 14Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 3, 6, total 13Rolled 4d6 : 5, 3, 1, 1, total 10[/blockquote] IRC roll said: [20:43] Lt;+RCA-QQ&gt; roll 4d6x6 [20:43] Lt;+qqbot&gt; CAQ rolled 4d6: 10 = [4,3,2,1], 17 = [6,5,4,2], 13 = [6,3,3,1], 16 = [6,5,3,2], 23 = [6,6,6,5], 15 = [6,5,3,1] [20:43] Lt;+RCA-QQ&gt; so 9, 15, 12, 14, 18, 14Click to expand... sheet still needs backstory and a few details but mostly done. Also, I'm cool with either IRC or Pop but for preference's sake, I'd prefer Pop since I can't be at a computer, and it's easier for me to post on my phone than it is to talk on IRC on my phone. Shibosho, your total attack bonus on your great sword is wrong. Fixed Rolling[dice=4d6][/dice]EDIT:[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 4, 3, 6, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 1, 1, 3, total 10[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 2, 6, 3, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 5, 6, 6, total 21[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 6, 4, 2, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 1, 2, 3, total 11[/blockquote] Rolling again... Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 87 For: Another test Rolled on: December-14-2014, 10:02pm See dice roll details 87 EDIT:13 9 14 17 14 10Name:Race/Gender: Human/Class: Fighter (Martial Master Archetype)Stat: STR: 17+2 DEX: 14 Con: 13 Int: 14 Wis: 10 CIA: 9 [blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 1, 2, 4, 1, total 8[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 1, 1, 4, 4, total 10[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 1, 6, 6, 3, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 3, 2, 5, total 12[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 6, 4, 4, total 18[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 3, 4, 1, total 13[/blockquote] Rolling![blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 5, 2, 5, total 15[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 6, 2, 2, total 13[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 5, 6, 4, 3, total 18[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 1, 2, 1, total 6[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 1, 4, 3, total 12[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 1, 3, 6, total 14[/blockquote] Looks to be12, 11, 15, 5, 11, 13+1 +0 +2 -3 +0, +1. Total modifiers = +1. Dang. About as low as you can get without rerolling. Guess I'm making the cannon fodder! Not using a "normal" character sheet because I hate how all the ones I've looked at don't provide sufficient granularity to make it obvious when something is wrong. (Does call for the use of an unsharpened dagger that inflicts subdural by default; if such a house rule is rejected I'll probably figure something out. Note: Will only play if a team of players can be assembled that will refrain from killing people by default, only killing individuals that have been specifically decided upon as needing to die or within the bounds of what's previously decided. (For example, hostile undead and hostile fiends are probably kill-by-defaults)Asmara ToldandamFemale Neutral Good Halfling Oracle, Level 1, Unit +3, HP 8/8, DR 0, Speed 30AC 19, Touch 14, Flat-footed 16, CMD 10, Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1, CMB -3, Base Attack Bonus 0Unsharpened cold-iron dagger -1 (1d3-2, 20/X2)Sling +3 (1d3 -2, 20/X2)Unarmed strike -1 (1d2-2, 20/X2)Hide shirt + Large wooden shield (+3 Armor, +2 Shield, +3 DEX +1 Size)Abilities STR 7, DEX 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 7, CIA 15Condition None Spoiler Asmara was born as a slave in a Chalcidian manor. Asmara's curiosity and defiance threatened to bring great harm to all the slaves, so the halflings arranged for her memories to be sealed away and for her to be smuggled to Piranhas. After waking up, Asmara panicked and slipped away, eventually ending up in the town of Kassel instead of where her parents wanted her. There, she was adopted by the dwarf Told an (NG Sorcerer, armourcrafter), a runaway from the Five Kings Mountains. Asmara's family has a notable rivalry with Sir Draycott that has more than once come to blows, often because of Told an's adoptive brother (currently unnamed) (CG fighter, weapon smith) an orc. (Currently unnamed) and Told an have also raised (Currently unnamed)'s half-orc daughter, (Currently unnamed 2), who was spirited away from her rapist mother that conceived her before being smuggled to Kassel. The last two members of the family are two orphan siblings whose family moved to Kassel a decade ago. The daughter pretends that she's older than her brother to try and disguise that her brother is aging slowly because he's a tie fling, not a human. (Both TN commoner? Students) Having grown up in the church of Shell, Asmara loves art, much like most of her family. This has sparked a friendly rivalry with John Elma ran, the only professional performer in town, and the resulting musical bouts are popular events in the town. Spoiler Name: Asmara Yolanda Species: Halfling Sex: Female Age: 22 Alignment: Neutral Good Height: 2'10 Weight: 29 lbs Levels Oracle 1 HP: 8/8, 0 subdural (8 rolls, +0/level) BAD: 0 Initiative: 3 (dexterity +3) Senses: Standard human Speed: 30 ft/round CMB: -3 (0 BAD -1 size -2 strength) CMD: 10 (10 base +0 BAD -1 size -2 strength +3 dexterity) Saves Fortitude: 2 (0 base +1 con +1 halfling luck) Reflex: 4 (0 base +3 dexes +1 halfling luck) Will: 1 (2 base -2 Wis +1 halfling luck; +2 vs fear) AC: 19, 14 touch, 16 flat-footed (10 base +1 size +3 dexes +3 armor +2 shield) SR: 0 DR: ER Acid: 0 Cold: 0 Electricity: 0 Fire: 0 Sonic: 0 Attacks Unsharpened cold-iron dagger -1, 1d3-2 subdural (0 BAD, +1 size, -2 STR; 1d3 base -2 STR) - S or P Sling +3, 1d3 -2 (0 BAD, +3 dexes; 1d3 base -2 STR) - B Unarmed strike -1; 1d2-2(0 BAD, +1 size, -2 STR; 1d2 base -2 STR) - B (Provokes AOO) Languages: Halfling, Haldane, Dwarves, Celestial* Patron deity: Shell Favored Class: Oracle Attributes Strength: 7 (9 base -2 race) Dexterity: 17 (15 base +2 race) Constitution: 10 (10 base) Intelligence: 12 (12 base) Wisdom: 7 (7 base) Charisma: 16 (14 base +2 race) Skills Acrobatics - 0 (0 ranks +3 dexterity -ACP) Diplomacy - 7 (1 rank +3 class skill +3 charisma) Handle animal - 7 (1 rank +3 class skill +3 charisma) Heal - 6 (1 rank +3 class skill -2 wisdom +4 healing hands) Knowledge (nature) - 5 (1 rank +3 class skill +1 intelligence) Knowledge (religion) - 5 (1 rank +3 class skill +1 intelligence) Perform (sing) - 8 (1 rank +3 class skill +3 charisma +1 intense artist) Perform (dance) - 4 (0 ranks +3 charisma +1 intense artist) Perception - 0 (0 ranks -2 wisdom +2 practical) Ride - 0 (0 ranks +3 DEX -ACP) ACP - 3 Feats L1 - Combat Reflexes L3 - Bodyguard L5 - Weapon Finesse Traits Helpful (Halfling race trait) - Aid another checks give +4 instead of +2 Intense Artist (Religion trait, Shell) - Perform is class skill, +1 to (Sing) and (Dance) Class Features Curse - Tongues Bonus language Celestial; can only speak and understand Celestial in combat Life mystery Healing Hands - +4 bonuses to heal checks, heal more people at a time, can provide long-term care to self. Spells/Day 1–4/4 (3 base +1 charisma) Spells Known 0 - Create Water, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink 1 - Cure Light Wounds, Obscuring Mist, Sanctuary Racial Traits Fearless - +2 racial against fear. Halfling luck - +1 all saving throws Fleet of Foot - Base land speed is 30 ft Weapon familiarity - Halfling, slings Keen senses - +2 perception Proficiencies Simple weapons Light armor Medium armor Shields (non-tower) Equipment (17.25 lbs light) Unsharpened cold-iron dagger - 0.5 lbs, 4 GP - (Hardness 10, HP 1/1) Sling (4) - 0 lbs, 0 GP (Hardness 2, HP 5/5) Soft stones (10) - 2.5 lbs, 2 SP Hide shirt - 9 lbs, 20 GP (Hardness 2, HP 7/7) - 1 ACP Heavy wooden shield - 5 lbs, 7 GP (Hardness 5, HP 5/5) - ACP 2 Mule - 8 GP, 720 lbs (75 lbs light, 76-150 lbs medium, 225 lbs heavy) Riding saddle (18.75 lbs, 7.5 GP) Saddlebags (6 lbs, 3 GP) Stones (10) - (2.5 lbs) (Off person) 55.3 GP Alright, rolling now that it's mornin' rather than a bit past midnight.[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 3, 2, 4, total 13Rolled 4d6 : 6, 6, 2, 2, total 16Rolled 4d6 : 5, 3, 2, 4, total 14Rolled 4d6 : 1, 1, 1, 5, total 8Rolled 4d6 : 2, 2, 4, 5, total 13Rolled 4d6 : 4, 3, 2, 4, total 13[/blockquote] Huh, 11 (0), 14 (2), 12 (1), 6 (-2), 11 (0), 11 (0)That has to be the shittiest set of rolls I've ever had that didn't qualify for a straight off reroll. Liang Tongue LN Samsara Dual-Cursed Oracle (Nature),Level1,Unit+4,HP9/9,Speed30AC18,Touch14,Flat-footed14,CMD16,Fort+0,Ref-2,Will+1,CMB+2,Base Attack Bonus0Reach, Brace Gun Day (Grieve-guisarme) +2 (1d10+3), Dagger +2 (1d4+2, 19-20/x2) Chain Shirt(+4 Armor, +4 DEX)Abilities 14, DEX 7, Con 10, Int 15, Wis 8, CIA 18ConditionNone Tanner PuyotahF LN Half-Orc Inquisitor,Level1,Unit+1,HP9/9,DR0,Speed20AC15,Touch11,Flat-footed14,CMD14,Fort+5,Ref+3,Will+6,CMB+3,Base Attack Bonus0- Fashion (-) +3 (+2DF) (+1B) (+1FtF) (2d4+4 (+2DF) (+1J), 18-20/*2)- Club (-) +3 (+2DF) (+1B) (+1FtF) (1d6+3 (+2DF) (+1J), *2)- Sling (30) +1 (+2DF) (+1B) (+1FtF) (1d4+3 (+2DF) (+1J), *2)- Hide Armour(+4 Armor, +1 DEX)Abilities 16, DEX 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 14, CIA 8ConditionNone Davina Various CG Half-Elf Arcane Duelist Bard,Level1,Unit+3,HP10/10,Speed30AC14,Touch11,Flat-footed13,CMD15,Fort+1,Ref+3,Will+1,CMB+4,Base Attack Bonus0Brace, Reach Long spear (-) +3 (1d8+3), Cold Iron Dagger +3 (1d4+3, 19/20x2)- Light Crossbow (Bolts (50)) +1 (1d8, 19–20/x2) Studded Leather(+3 Armor, +1 DEX)Abilities 18, DEX 12, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 9, CIA 15ConditionNone[/b]Happy to do either PBP or IRC. Might have some small availability issues on IRC. Edit: Should be finalized I think. Spoiler: Bard Mentor John Elma ran (CG male half-elf bard 5, bard mentor): John is the only real entertainer in the town, having settled here 4 years ago after a fight with orcs up near the Belize border led him with a crippled leg. Despite his injury, John is a capable performer, working with a variety of instruments and performance styles. He lives in one of the rooms above the Seven Silvers Tavern, where he performs nightly. John is a perfect mentor for bard characters. His loose style and relatively carefree nature make him a rather lax teacher, however, and his occasional drunken ramblings hint of a terror in his past that he refuses to speak of any other time. [SIZE=1.35em]Thomas Side[/SIZE]Male NG Human Summoner,Level1,Unit+2,HP10/10,Speed30AC14,Touch12,Flat-footed12,CMD 11, Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus 0 Light Crossbow (bolts) +2 (1d8, x2) Leather (+2 Armor, +2 DEX) Abilities STR 9, DEX 14, Con 15, Int 14, Wis 12, CIA 20 Condition None [SIZE=1.35em]Cone[/SIZE] Male NG Quadruped Eidolon, Level 1, Unit +2, HP 10/10, Speed 40 AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, CMD 17, Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +0, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 1 Bite 5 (1d6+4, x2) Claw (x2) 5 (1d4+4, x2) Natural Armor (+2 DEX, +4 Natural) Abilities STR 18, DEX 14, Con 17, Int 7, Wis 10, CIA 11 Condition None Here is information on the named NPC's for you to use while working on your backgrounds Spoiler: wall of text People of Kassel The following list of individuals and families encompasses many of the notable people who live in Kassel. This list also includes an appropriate mentor or teacher for each of the 11 base classes. Starting characters are encouraged to have a connection to one of these individuals, even if their background or training does not directly involve the town. Cigar Travis (CN male human rogue 4/fighter 2): The folk of Kassel are naturally wary of outsiders, and Cigar does nothing to allay their fears. He dresses in dark colors and keeps to himself, having rented a room in the Seven Silvers for the past 4 months. He can sometimes be seen wandering around town, watching the townsfolk, but otherwise he keeps mostly to his room and the taproom at the Silvers. In reality, Cigar is a Pathfinder, one of a vast group of international treasure hunters and adventurers. He is here in town because the Pathfinder Society is looking to set up a post in northern Piranhas that they can use to organize expeditions into Belize. Cigar is keeping a lookout for anyone in town who he might get to join his cause, but they need to prove themselves competent first. Sir Draycott (LG male human paladin 3, paladin mentor): The people of Last wall, the militaristic nation to the north, take it as their responsibility to keep the orcs of Belize in check. Unfortunately, their forces are spread thin, so they rely on a number of scouts close to the border of Belize to keep watch. Sir Draycott is one such scout. Although he has no authority here in town, he regularly reports to his commanders in Last wall, informing them of any orc activity. Mayor Until is grateful for Sir Draycott’s assistance whenever trouble is brewing, but he is concerned about a military officer from a foreign land stationed in his town. The people of Kassel respect Sir Draycott, but they would rather he goes home and leave them to their own devices. As a mentor, Sir Draycott is capable and wise, if a bit harsh. Unfortunately, all of his lessons deal with service to Last wall, and his pupils are taught to think of such service as a high honor. John Elma ran (CG male half-elf bard 5, bard mentor): John is the only real entertainer in the town, having settled here 4 years ago after a fight with orcs up near the Belize border left him with a crippled leg. Despite his injury, John is a capable performer, working with a variety of instruments and performance styles. He lives in one of the rooms above the Seven Silvers Tavern, where he performs nightly. John is a perfect mentor for bard characters. His loose style and relatively carefree nature make him a rather lax teacher, however, and his occasional drunken ramblings hint of a terror in his past that he refuses to speak of any other time. Grim scar (NE male half-orc expert 1/warrior 3): The forestry guild employs a wide variety of workers to help fell trees in the surrounding woods; some of them are far from polite and caring toward the people of Kassel. Grim scar is one such worker. This half-orc would have been fired long ago if he was not so skilled at tree cutting. When he is in town, the locals keep their distance and the militia keeps a patrol nearby. Grim scar is known for picking fights, getting drunk, and pawing at barmaids. Fortunately, he has an allergic reaction to a local vintage of whiskey (which causes him to pass out shortly after drinking it), a weakness that is often exploited by the local tavern owners. Holiest (N male human wizard 6, wizard mentor): On the eastern edge of town is a single tower, leaning slightly to the south, made of bricks and timber. This is the home of Holiest, the town’s local sage and mystic. Although Holiest is very knowledgeable, he is old and quite forgetful, meaning that the townsfolk (the mayor in particular) only consult him if the need is truly great. Holiest spends most of his days wandering about his tower, reading books, smoking his pipe, and taking naps. Once a week, he wanders into town to purchase supplies and provisions with his seemingly inexhaustible reserve of perfect golden coins, which he claims came from an immense hoard some years ago. Holiest makes for a frustrating mentor. His lessons are erratic and old-fashioned. His apprentices are required to do all manner of chores for the privilege of learning from him, while he sleeps the day away and teaches very little. Those who have learned anything from him have done so by sneaking into the wizard’s spell books while he is napping. Times “Short Change” Higgins (CN male halfling rogue 3, rogue mentor): Those who frequent the Seven Silvers tavern know to count their coins before they leave the table, especially if they have been served by “Short Change,” the halfling waiter who has a propensity for giving less change than is due (although he insists the name is due to his short stature). Although Times is genuinely kind and helpful to all the locals, he just can’t help but end up with some of their possessions at the end of the night, be it a few coins or a loose dagger. Most of the townsfolk are quite aware of this and do not take too much offense if something goes missing. After all, they know where the missing goods went. Anyone who works with Times at the Seven Silvers is sure to get a host of tips and tricks from this good-natured thief, who thinks that a little petty theft is all in good fun. Braggart Ironware (CN male dwarf expert 3/barbarian 2, barbarian mentor): Braggart is one of the two blacksmiths that service Kassel. This dour dwarf runs a small business on the south side of town. Although he is outpaced by his competitor (Rent’s Steel, near the town square), Braggart’s goods are of higher quality. Braggart is a surly mentor, capable of incredible fits of anger if one of his pieces is not turning out as planned. As such, he often has to spend time repairing his workshop, which only further slows down his work. Braggart’s teaching style focuses on craft and artifice, but he can also teach pupils about controlling their anger and unleashing it when the time is right. Guardsman Golfing KIR (LG male human warrior 2): Although a bit simple, Golfing KIR is a dedicated guardsman, manning the town’s only watchtower every day. When he is not on duty, he can often be found running errands around town for his elderly mother, or playing with the local children. When KIR was young, a horse kicked him in the head and knocked the sense out of him. Since then, he has been the victim of cruel pranks and japes, all of which he takes with a smile and a simple laugh. KIR can be counted on to tell the truth, regardless of whether doing so might land him in trouble. KIR respects Captain Winslow to a fault and (unlike the other guards) refuses to make fun of him. The captain, in return, treats KIR like any other soldier, despite his many mistakes. Drama Astrid (NG female human ranger 4, ranger mentor): Piranhas is known for its rangers, valiant woodsmen who have spent years carving out a nation and protecting it from foreign and domestic threats. Drama is one such ranger. She is tough, quiet, and more than willing to risk her life to protect the people of Kassel and the country she has grown to love. Drama was orphaned during the early wars with Fortune, growing up in a band of adopted parents. These rangers taught her everything she knows. When Drama came of age, she left the band to find out where her parents came from. That trek led her to Kassel, where she has remained ever since, living in their old house just outside town. Drama is a skilled ranger but not the best teacher. Those who have tried to learn from her find her impatient and without discipline. She does, however, excel at teaching by example, leading her charges on far-ranging patrols and hunts. Oliveira Onion (LN female human monk 2, monk mentor): While most of the people in Kassel were born and raised within 10 miles of town, Oliveira was born in Indira in a town with a name most of the humble folk of Kassel could not even pronounce. Not surprisingly, this beautiful and exotic woman keeps to herself. She has lived on the outskirts of town for almost 8 years now, claiming that she is trying to find peace in her heart. Oliveira has had a number of acolytes over the years, each hoping to learn the secrets of Iron that Oliveira claims to practice, but so far, all have abandoned her tutelage for a simpler road. Anyone who learns from her, however, quickly uncovers that there is a darkness hiding in Oliveira, and only those with an iron will, can bear to be around it. Father Rental Pr asst (NG male human cleric 2 of Eras til, cleric mentor): The small town of Kassel has only one temple, and it is devoted primarily to Eras til, but Father Pr asst allows those who worship other friendly gods to pray at the temple as well. While Father Pr asst does not offer services in the names of these deities, there are small shrines to other gods set up in some of the alcoves, including Gore, Forum, Shell, and Torah. Father Pr asst is a kind and understanding man, but he is hard when it comes to the defense of the community. He is quite young, only 24, and many in the community do not put too much faith in his council, except in spiritual matters. He was trained as a soldier in Tamra, but he left after his first battle to become a priest, and refuses to say why. Asia Silvers (CG female human commoner 1): Asia looks almost identical to her beautiful mother, a fact that causes her father Trevor some pain since his wife’s unfortunate passing a year ago. This young girl helps her father run the Seven Silvers inn and tavern near the center of town. Asia is only 13 years old, but she is already known as the pre-eminent town gossip, collecting all sorts of rumors and tales to spread to those who stop by the inn for a pint. Asia works hard and has a pleasant smile, but she is secretly worried about her father. She wants to make him proud by taking over the inn, but this gets in the way of her true dream to move to the city (Tamra) and make a life for herself there. Trevor Silvers (NG male human commoner 3): Trevor, along with his daughter, Asia, run the only tavern and inn located in Kassel, the Seven Silvers. Trevor is middle-aged and inherited the bar from his father over 10 years ago. Although Trevor is a good man and honest with his customers (even if Times is not), he has fallen into a deep depression over the past year. His wife died giving birth to his only son, and the son did not last the winter. As a result, Trevor is left without a wife or heir. While Asia has tried to brighten his mood and insists that she will take over the bar, Trevor is unsure and would be just as likely to give the place over to a respectable employee after seeing to it that Asia was properly married. It seems like the only time Trevor seems to cheer up is when a wealthy or affluent stranger rolls into town. Elmira Tree song (N female human druid 2, druid mentor): Druids are not an uncommon sight in Piranhas, but Elmira draws stares even in the streets of Kassel. This middle-aged woman only wears clothing made from natural materials (such as bark, leaves, and grass) and is always accompanied by a host of small woodland creatures. She talks to herself and her retinue constantly, having full conversations despite the fact that no one seems to answer her. Over the years, Elmira has had a number of apprentices who have gone on to become successful druids. Those who learn from her are sent on all manner of esoteric missions, such as listening to the wind for a week, planting new seeds throughout town, and mimicking local animals. Mayor Jo nark Until (NG male human aristocrat 3): Every 4 years the town of Kassel holds an election to decide the next mayor, a position that Until has held for over 11 years. With another election coming up in just a few months, Until wants to ensure that this year’s Quest for the Ever flame happens without a problem. Mayor Until is a fair man when it comes to his office, settling land disputes and other quibbles among the townsfolk on a regular basis. When it comes to outsiders, he is a bit more cautious, siding with the locals unless faced with irrefutable evidence. Molts Harridan (sorcerer mentor): If you ask a dozen folk in Kassel who the strangest family in town is, you would get the same answer 12 times: the Harridans. This old family has a touch of magic in its blood, with each one of the children showing some sorcerers talent. Where this magic comes from is a mystery, and the family refuses to speak of such things in mixed company. Lording over the family is the wealthy and eccentric patriarch, Molts Harridan. This aging man has white hair that trails down to his knees, and he can often be found wandering the halls of the estate, muttering to himself. Living with him are almost a dozen children (each from a different wife) and a pair of lifelong servants. Sorcerers who come from this house have been forced to learn things for themselves, because the old man shares few of his secrets, and many of the children are starting to believe that his grip on reality is slowly slipping. Colin Vietnam (LN male human expert 3/rogue 2): As the guild master for the woodcutter’s guild, Colin Vietnam holds a fair amount of power in the city of Kassel, second only to Mayor Until. Unfortunately, where the mayor uses his power to help the people of Kassel, Colin is only interested in lining his own pockets. Colin makes it a habit to follow the rules to the letter, but where there is any uncertainty; Colin makes sure that the interpretation favors himself and the woodcutter’s guild. When the weapon makers in town protested about the guild making wooden weapons, Colin relented, but only if the weapon makers agreed to purchase any wooden components from the guild (leading many in the town to make jokes about the quality of “Colin’s arrows” and “Colin’s staves”). Guard Captain Gregor Winslow (LG male human fighter 4, fighter mentor): The town of Kassel has never truly known the horrors of the war with Fortune, but occasional raiding parties from Belize do sometimes pose a threat. As such, the town has been watched over for many years by Winslow, who serves as guard captain. Gregor is a staunch man who believes in schedules and regiment over ingenuity and spontaneity, much to the chagrin of the town’s residents. As an aging fighter, Gregor is a qualified teacher, but his lessons are rigid and his discipline harsh. The guards he has trained are quite skilled, but they secretly detest the old man, calling him names behind his back (Captain Is-Slow is the current favorite). Well, I guess I can at least roll for stats and see what I get, and can do with them.[blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 3, 2, 1, total 10[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 6, 1, 1, 6, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 3, 1, 4, 6, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 4, 3, 3, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 4, 6, 5, 3, total 18[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 4d6 : 2, 5, 4, 4, total 15[/blockquote] Deimos Rationale Neutral Good Half-Orc Fighter - Two Hand Variant,Level1,Unit+4,HP13/13,DR0,Speed30AC16,Touch12,Flat-footed14,CMD17,Fort+6,Ref+4,Will+3,CMB+5,Base Attack Bonus12H Great sword +5 (2d6+6, 19-20/X2) Chain shirt(+4 Armor, +2 DEX)Abilities 19, DEX 14, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 12, CIA 9ConditionNone Going to look through the finished/near finished sheets starting in 3.5 hours from this post. Along as a sheet is reasonably complete it will be considered for a spot, though It will get booted for another player if it isn't complete in 9.5 hours. Which is when I plan on posting the OP for the IC thread Hiroshi Reactionary You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. Click to expand... Story needs more bullying minute entry, Kala the twice-abandoned Boar Shaman. The sheet still needs aesthetics, backstory typed, and a spell list. I might have to make a sheet for the Boar Companion I guess? Dreadis said: Hiroshi Story needs more bullying Click to expand... Done Right Apps are closed, and I'm going to start trying to decide who gets in. Didn't realize I needed to do this thing so stat block I guess?[SIZE=+1]Kala[/SIZE]Female Neutral Changeling Druid (Boar Shaman),Level1,Unit+1,HP9/9,Speed30AC17,Touch11,Flat-footed16,CMD13,Fort+3,Ref+1,Will+4,CMB+2,Base Attack Bonus0Natural Weapons Claws (x2) (-) +3 (1d4+4, x2)-- Club (--) +2 (1d6+3, x2)Floats in water Wooden Armor,- Heavy Wooden Shield(+3 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 DEX, +1 Deflect)Abilities 15, DEX 13, Con 11, Int 11, Wis 15, CIA 11ConditionNone Players Chosen Darkened - Davina Various F CG Half Elf Arcane Duelist Bard-I liked the tone of the backstory, fits well with the Quest the town gives.About - Tanner Utah F LN Half-Orc Inquisitor-character picture is cute, also amusing backstoryShibosho - Deimos Vision Male Neutral Good Half-Orc Fighter-Just like this character for some reason Enthalpy - Liang Honey F LN Samsara Dual-Cursed Oracle (Nature)Chili-Reaper - Kala F Neutral Changeling Druid (Boar Shaman)dice bot decided I needed a fifth player, Chili made it in. Other complete/is sheets submitedRCaSorry, but you didn't make it in unfortunately, it was a hard choice though, the biggest problem was the missing backstory, if you had that you may have made it. NavrinYour character just doesn't fit. Sorry. You would be better off if a campaign was designed to go a minimal killing route from the beginning. Unfortunately it likely won't ever be me that runs one. IC Thread up#msg149444Adventure itself starts roughly 15 hours from this post, so feel free to ask any questions you need to of theGMVillagers Hiroshi you should roll perception dreads said: Hiroshi you should roll perception Click to expand... Okay.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+2 : 15 + 2, total 17[/blockquote] [SIZE=+1]Pork chop[/SIZE]Male True Porcine Boar Animal Companion (Kala),Level1,Unit+1,HP11/11,Speed40AC21,Touch12,Flat-footed20,CMD12,Fort+5,Ref+4,Will+1,CMB+1,Base Attack Bonus1 Gore (-) +3 (1d6, x2)- Wooden Boar Armor(+3 Armor, +1 DEX, +1 Size, +6 Deflect)Abilities 13, DEX 12, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, CIA 4ConditionNonebelated pork chop things [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 3 + 6, total 9[/blockquote] Does anyone else need any sort of information or are you ready to move on from screwing around in the village. Things you are being given tomorrow! Spoiler: Items Gained Darkened Waterski Backpack Blanket, Winter Trail-rations 5x Small tent (Piece of Map)**** 50ft hemp rope Grappling hook About Waterski Backpack Blanket, Winter Trail-rations 5x Small tent (Piece of Map)**** Torches 3x Chili-Reaper Waterski Backpack Blanket, Winter Trail-rations 5x Small tent (Piece of Map)**** Box of tender Tender twig Enthalpy Waterski Backpack Blanket, Winter Trail-rations 5x Small tent (Piece of Map)**** Potion of Cure Light Wounds Hiroshi Waterski Backpack Blanket, Winter Trail-rations 5x Small tent (Piece of Map)**** Small bottle of local brandy Map:[IMG width=253 height=600] You can trade the small tents for a bedroll if you want.(since they kinda suck and I just gave you what the module called for) you don't get any money out of it though. You can of course keep the 20lb tent if you don't want to trade it, so there was a waterski in your stuff...edited it in :-[Ever flame Lantern – Alchemical Silver Hooded Lantern – 2lb –As a sign of the quest this may be used in place of a flag for the flag bearer feat. Tweaking sheets slightly, listing where things are, strapping my tent to my pig. The manliest person should lead Formation!KAI suggest this formation, with the arrow in the direction we're moving in to protect the people in the middle that are oblivious to their surroundings. First D is Deimos, second D is Davina. Works for me, I'm using a reach weapon, so I can strike from behind the meat-sh.... I mean Deimos. Is everyone else flimsy though? A wider front line might be good. INITIATIVE1[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 2, total 2[/blockquote]2[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 6, total 6[/blockquote]3[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 7, total 7[/blockquote] [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+1 : 3 + 1, total 4[/blockquote] Since I apparently made a mistake on the first one this one should be right Rolling initiative[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 9 + 4, total 13[/blockquote] Initiative:[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 17 + 4, total 21[/blockquote] Initiative[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+3 : 7 + 3, total 10[/blockquote] Initiatives[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+1 : 2 + 1, total 3[/blockquote] lol... Enthalpy 21 Hiroshi 13Darkened 10Orc 3 7Orc 2 6a2znut 4Chibi-Reaper 3Orc 1 2 Not the worst result on this round of dice. I'll count this as a measured success. That's only cause of the modifiers chips, you still rolled a 2, same as the orc. Ignore this and pretend you saw nothing [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 5 + 6, total 11[/blockquote] [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+1 : 6 + 1, total 7[/blockquote] [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+4 : 2 + 4, total 6[/blockquote] those rolls are pointless, and you saw nothing :-[Hiroshi roll 1d20+7DC 16 Spoiler: rolls [23:31] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d20+5 [23:31] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d20: 25 = [20] + 5 [23:31] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d20+5 confirm [23:31] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d20: 13 = [8] + 5 [23:31] Lt;+Darkened; Ooh [23:31] Lt;+Darkened; Does it confirm Dreads? [23:32] Lt;+Dreading; confirmed [23:32] Lt;+Darkened; So [23:32] Lt;+Darkened; 1d8+4+1(flag bearer)*2 [23:32] Lt;+Darkened; 2d8+10 [23:32] Lt;+Darkened; roll 2d8+10 [23:32] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 2d8: 26 = [8,8] + 10 [23:32] Lt;+Darkened; Ha hahaha [23:33] Lt;+Darkened; Oh wait [23:33] Lt;+Darkened; Oops [23:33] Lt;+Darkened; It's CRT *3 [23:33] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d8+5 [23:33] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d8: 8 = [3] + 5 34 damage on CRT will save [23:36] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d20+1 [23:36] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d20: 17 = [16] + 1 will save passed DC 16 other orc attacking Hiroshi [23:50] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+5 [23:50] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 24 = [19] + 5 [23:50] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d12+4 [23:50] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d12: 9 = [5] + 4 Orc 3 exploded a little bit.a2znut GO. Action: Drop pole. Move Action: Draw fashion. Standard Action: Move. And directing boar to attack Orc 2. He'll keep doing that until he or the orc dies. Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+3 to hit Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 12 = [9] + 3Click to expand... No damage. Sorry, got distracted with stuff.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 6 + 7, total 13[/blockquote] test[roll]1d20[/roll]edit failure invisible castle if you don't roll when I can see it in IRC until we get the roller back Spoiler: rolls [19:45] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+5 [19:45] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 16 = [11] + 5 [19:46] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d12+4 [19:46] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d12: 6 = [2] + 4 6dmg to about [19:46] Lt;+Dreading; about [19:46] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+10 [19:47] Lt;@a2znut&gt; roll 1d20+10 [19:47] Lt;+qqbot&gt; about rolled 1d20: 23 = [13] + 10 DC 16 pass turn. Roll 1d20+2 attack[18:12:29] Enthalpy rolled 1d20: 7 = [5] + 2 shibosho attacked the orc next to him here are the rolls[22:22] map is in Enthalpy's post above mine[22:22] I do a power attack on the orc next to me[22:23] with furious focus on as well[22:23] roll 1d20+5[22:23] Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 16 = [11] + 5[22:23] Roll will save Hiroshi.[22:24] hit[22:24] For dreads' game.[22:24] I think.[22:24] damage first then will[22:24] roll 2d6+9[22:24] Hiroshi rolled 2d6: 17 = [6,2] + 9[22:25] Will save Hiroshi.[22:25] =)[22:25] Oh, yeah. I have that game or I used to. Can't remember where my Game Boy is[22:25] Mwahahhahaha.[22:25] roll 1d20+3[22:25] Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 8 = [5] + 3[22:25] now roll 1d20+7[22:26] Just add a 4 to his 8.[22:26] [22:26] or I can just add 4 to that Spending a round of bardic performance on distraction. This prompts a will save against illusions for anyone who sees that uses the results of my performance check.(2:07:27 PM) Darkened: roll 1d20+6(2:07:28 PM) robot: Darkened rolled 1d20: 26 = [20] + 6(2:07:37 PM) Enthalpy: Else of the Orthodoxy 3WW(2:07:37 PM) Dreads: confirmed roll really hope 26 is enough. Map unchanged. Everyone gets 100 XP if you didn't notice it in the IC post, orcs disappeared and all damage is restored because it wasn't ever there. about roll 1d20+6 perception Dreadisqqbot about rolled 1d20: 11 = [5] + 6I am oblivious to everyone and everything. Right since you guys don't seem to be discussing anything I would like a survival roll. I prefer robot for rolls, but you can roll here if you want to. about Roll 1d20+2 Survival Dreadisa2znut rolled 1d20: 3 = [1] + 2I fail to survive. [01:18:44] roll 1d20-1 survival[01:18:44] Enthalpy rolled 1d20: 15 = [16] - 1 [03:19] roll 1d20-1[03:19] Darkened rolled 1d20: 19 = [20] - 1 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +1 Right I need to ask, will you guys be starting a fire when you camp for the night (assume firewood/etc is abundant and easily gathered) I forgot marshmallows. =/Yes, I would insist on a fire, because I don't have Dark vision. Position yourself for the start of the next section. Must be somewhere in the ring is thing of unmovable and unpassable (quickly at least you can spend a full round going 5 feet) bushes Also Roll Perception Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +2 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 -1 [19:19] roll 1d20+3 perception[19:19] Darkened rolled 1d20: 8 = [5] + 3 since chili hasn't rolled I'm going to give him a 1 for his roll giving him 1+6=7 perception check(which interestingly enough passes) Roll Perception AGAIN Spoiler: Perception check DC 26 [21:46] Lt;+Dreading; Roll 1d20+6 [21:46] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 26 = [20] + 6 Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +6 Correction: Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +6 [02:45] roll 1d20+3[02:45] Darkened rolled 1d20: 10 = [7] + 3that's all the rolls... Enthalpy and Hiroshi can roll if they want but are incapable of passing so it doesn't really matter. Spoiler: some rolls [03:11] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+6x4 [03:11] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 13 = [7] + 6, 16 = [10] + 6, 13 = [7] + 6, 13 = [7] + 6 [03:12] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+2x4 [03:12] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 10 = [8] + 2, 21 = [19] + 2, 18 = [16] + 2, 6 = [4] + 2 Right. ROLL Perception and Initiative in that order (don't forget to roll for the pig chili) [01:21:41] roll 1d20-1 perception[01:21:41] Enthalpy rolled 1d20: 16 = [17] - 1[01:21:46] roll 1d20+4 initiative[01:21:46] Enthalpy rolled 1d20: 17 = [13] + 4 (6:19:17 PM) Darkened: roll 1d20+3 perception(6:19:18 PM) robot: Darkened rolled 1d20: 23 = [20] + 3(6:19:23 PM) Darkened: Hah(6:19:25 PM) Darkened: There we go(6:19:33 PM) Darkened: roll 1d20+3 unit(6:19:34 PM) robot: Darkened rolled 1d20: 14 = [11] + 3 [03:16] roll 1d20+6 perception.[03:16] about rolled 1d20: 22 = [16] + 6[03:17] roll 1d20+1 initiative.[03:17] about rolled 1d20: 4 = [3] + 1 [20:58] Dreads, rolling for perception[20:58] roll 1d20+2[20:58] Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 15 = [13] + 2[20:58] Rolling for initiative[20:58] roll 1d20+4[20:58] Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 20 = [16] + 4 Me per Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +6Pig per Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +5init Anaphor rolled 1 die of 100 faces, total: 57+9000 = 9057 For: GREAT JUSTICE Rolled on: December-14-2014, 09:54pm See dice roll details 57 +1I remember being told to stick with initiative working through the module, so same initiative roll again. Convenient that we have the same bonus. Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; Burgh, took me a while to get used to rolling mechanics on the last forum.... Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+5 pork chop perceptiveness Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 11 = [6] + 5 Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+1 mutual initiative Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 3 = [2] + 1 Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; ..... Well, I can't say that I'm happy with those results, since they're lower and are forming a pattern of being slow to the draw, but I'll post those in case the unlikely matching thirteens are no good. Click to expand... Blank dice and then identical numbers post refresh do seem unlikely. Lt;+Chili-Vidja&gt; roll 1d20+6 perceptions Lt;+Berserkslash&gt; To be able to use it more freely Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Vidja rolled 1d20: 20 = [14] + 6Click to expand... And gala's perception rerolled because dice are now visibly worked. Order initial 2 21shibosho 20Wolf 3 18enthalpy 17Darkened 14Wolf 1 10a2znut 4Chibi 3 Spoiler: roll [00:41] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+4 [00:41] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 14 = [10] + 4 [00:44] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d6+1 [00:44] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d6: 4 = [3] + 1 [00:49] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+6 trip [00:49] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 23 = [17] + 6 FCMD = 13 Map before wolf 2's turn Current Map takes 4 damage and falls prone from tripShibosho GO Spoiler: AOO on Hiroshi [02:22] Lt;@Dreadis&gt; roll 1d20+2 [02:22] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 16 = [14] + 2 [02:23] Lt;@Dreadis&gt; roll 1d6+1 [02:23] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d6: 4 = [3] + 1 [02:24] Lt;@Dreadis&gt; roll 1d20+6 trip [02:24] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 11 = [5] + 6 Spoiler: Hiroshi's Attack [02:17] Lt;+Shibosho&gt; Roll 1d20+5 [02:17] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 19 = [14] + 5 [02:21] Lt;+Shibosho&gt; Roll 1d3+6 [02:21] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Hiroshi rolled 1d3: 9 = [3] + 6 Hiroshi takes 4 golf 2 takes 9 nonlethal Hiroshi's 5ft step to the map Wolf 3 moves Enthalpy then Darkened Having a weapon that's too awkward to stow and that makes a good walking stick is once again helpful! Also starting inspire courage, which should stack with flag bearer. Go, then Chili up, 5ft step. Is never unarmed, but the sudden attack of wolves catches her off guard despite having been warned specifically of wolves being along the way. She moves in preparation, and to present a closer target than the oracle. Spoiler: rolls [07:36] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+2 ATK [07:36] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 3 = [1] + 2 Hiroshi is up [10:12] I draw my great sword and attack the wolf that's next to me[10:14] I use a power attack for +2 DMG and use furious focus to negate the attack penalty[10:14] MMK[10:14] roll 1d20+5[10:14] Hiroshi rolled 1d20: 21 = [16] + 5[10:14] hit[10:15] rolling for damage then[10:15] roll 2d6+9[10:15] Hiroshi rolled 2d6: 16 = [5,2] + 9[10:16] Is it dead?[10:17] yep Just note that everyone within range of Davina is getting +2 to hit and +2 damage right now, so Hiroshi's rolls look like they should have been 23/18 rather than 21/16 (Not that it matters, and I might be misreading, and it could have been factored in.) Spoiler: darkened AOO [05:39] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d20+6 [05:39] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d20: 23 = [17] + 6 [05:40] Lt;+Darkened; Hit? [05:40] Lt;+Darkened; roll 1d8+6 [05:40] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Darkened rolled 1d8: 12 = [6] + 6 Spoiler: wolf attack roll [06:28] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+2 [06:28] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 12 = [10] + 2 Missed Darkened deals 12 to wolf 3 on Enthalpy then Darkened go. Knight's Calling on Wolf 1. Spoiler: wolf 1 will save [14:51] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+1 [14:51] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 18 = [17] + 1 footstep back followed by:(11:54:38 AM) Darkened: roll 1d20+6 (11:54:39 AM) robot: Darkened rolled 1d20: 9 = [3] + 6a swing and a miss. (Probably.) [18:54:28] Mind confirming my attack roll?[18:54:31] sure[18:54:35] roll 1d20+6[18:54:35] Darkened rolled 1d20: 9 = [3] + 6 I too confirm that the roll Darkened roll was a real one. Spoiler: rolls [18:50] Lt;+Dreading; roll 1d20+2 [18:50] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Dreads rolled 1d20: 9 = [7] + 2 miss about then chili go action- 5ft Step. Move action-Draw dagger. Standard Action-Touch Hiroshi (If he's a willing creature, I assume he is) allowing him to treat the next d20 roll he attempts as an 11 before modifiers. [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; Rolling claws [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+5 [21:24] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 7 = [2] + 5 [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+5 [21:24] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 21 = [16] + 5 [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; One hit. [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; damage [21:24] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d4+6 [21:24] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d4: 7 = [1] + 6 [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; Could be better. [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; Rolling gore [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; 1d20+5 [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d20+5 [21:25] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 19 = [14] + 5 [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; roll 1d6+2 [21:25] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Chili-Reaper rolled 1d6: 4 = [2] + 2 [21:25] Lt;+Chili-Reaper&gt; Could also be better. Click to expand... After Chili its Hiroshi's turn followed by Enthalpy and then Darkened (if it takes that long)Wolf 1 takes 7 damage from Kalkhoff 3 takes 4 damage from pork chop - Dead order if your curious Wolf 2deadshibosho Wolf 3deadenthalpyDarkenedWolf 1a2znutChibi Something 'pounce' something 'errors', edited IC. [19:06] Lt;shibosho&gt; I take a 5ft step up so that I'm next to wolf 1 [19:06] Lt;shibosho&gt; And then I attack the wolf with a focused power attack [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Hiroshi [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; First off. [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Do you use my law power? [19:07] Lt;shibosho&gt; ? [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Or are you going to roll? [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; You can take 11. [19:07] Lt;shibosho&gt; law power? [19:07] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Immediately. [19:07] Lt;shibosho&gt; Oh [19:08] Lt;shibosho&gt; I guess I'll take 11 then [19:09] Lt;shibosho&gt; That means...16 to hit [19:12] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Then +1 competence from Inspire Courage. [19:12] Lt;+a2znut&gt; Then +1 morale from Flag bearer Feat. [19:12] Lt;+shibosho&gt; 18 to hit [19:13] Lt;+shibosho&gt; ... [19:13] Lt;+a2znut&gt; You most likely hit? [19:13] Lt;@a2znut&gt; Just roll damage and post it [19:13] Lt;+shibosho&gt; Probably [19:13] Lt;+shibosho&gt; roll 2d6+9 [19:13] Lt;+qqbot&gt; Hiroshi rolled 2d6: 17 = [6,2] + 9 [19:13] Lt;@a2znut&gt; +9 is your normal damage? [19:14] Lt;@a2znut&gt; Did you add the +1 competence damage and +1 morale damage? [19:14] Lt;+shibosho&gt; Okay, so I did 19 damage altogether then Click to expand... @a2znut@shibosho@enthalpy@Darkened@Chibi-ReaperEveryone take 100XP So I lied about the exp everyone should have gotten 300 for that not 100 so add 200 more XP to your totals. (You should have a total of 400 XP each now) [12:25] Chili-Reaper roll perception[12:25] Forum roller still worked?[12:25] roll 1d20+6 Kalaception[12:25] Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 19 = [13] + 6Its a body. Humanoid. [16:10] Oh, perception?[16:10] roll 1d20+6[16:10] about rolled 1d20: 14 = [8] + 6The body is of a human male, there is a huge bite mark over his upper torso. There is a very high quality short sword and a coin pouch laying near the body. Its knowledge Local to identify if the guy is someone you would know from the area Knowledge nature to identify the cause of death if that was what you were asking Chiba heal check to identify when he died [18:22] * Chili-Reaper checks numbers for nature stuff[18:22] roll 1d20+7 acknowledge I think[18:22] Chili-Reaper rolled 1d20: 18 = [11] + 7 Dreads hits the game with a stick to see if some more discussion will appear, or if he needs to start up the train@shibosho@Chibi-Reaper@enthalpy@a2znut@Darkened @a2znutPouch contains gold, 96 Pieces upon counting.

[NSFW] Dreadis' Pathfinder Signup_OOC (Pathfinder)|rating:3.0

IC_ The Tale of Ten Thousand

Link to IOC may be found Here.******If you're reading this, that means my vault has finally been compromised. Well done; few could have made it this far. Now I will tell you the tale I've never managed to tell anyone before, due in no small part to its length. There are Read Magic and Comprehend Languages scrolls in the east wing; the compass that tells you where east is would be in the west wing; food and drink restock themselves on the second floor; and the Chronometer in the center will tell you how much time you have left to read this before you yourself expire, and the vault is again sealed. Should you choose to memorize the details of this tale as far as you've read it, you may impart that knowledge to the next person by drinking from the bronze chalice at the top of the fountain and simply wishing it so. Yes, it is indeed that simple. This is a story with a simple concept; adventurers strive for a goal, and the story gets in the way of said goal. In order for the story to obstruct a goal, however, the adventurers need a goal, don't they? Let's start in the city of Maguire. Herein exists possibly the highest concentration of mages in the world per capita, but even that doesn't say much, seeing as about half the population is still quite mundane. That said, even the nonmagical folk are quite well-read, often taking up multiple languages simply to broaden their horizons. The diversity is also quite nice, as magic and knowledge are very appealing to peoples of all talents, races, and alignments. In this city of Maguire, A local mage and spell blade are spending their Tuesday evening standing in a tavern, staring intently at the notice board by the door. Spoiler: Notice Board Hide Spoiler: Missing Dog! Hide Long Black Fur, nearing his 14th birthday; Not very bright, but unusually friendly; Responds to "Finch"; If found please notify Tasha Silvers. Directions to the Silvers Residence are provided at the center of the flyer. Spoiler: Looking for Test Group Hide I am engineering a new card game based purely on skill! Experience completely unnecessary. We will meet Thursdays at sunset here at The Misnomer. Hope to see you there! A rather goofy looking picture depicting a dragon and four kobolds playing cards at a wooden table lies in the bottom right corner of the flyer. Spoiler: Hiring New Wanamaker Hide Training is not included, so please come with your own experience! Salary is open for negotiation. Open Interviews start on Sundays at sunrise and end at noon. There's a map of the Merchant quarter with directions to Tail's Wands and Pals. Spoiler: Last Chance! Hide Don't forget your tickets to the Delightful Derrick's final week in Maguire! Illustrious Illusions and Confounding Conjurations to amaze even the most skeptical mage! After Wednesday, he leaves for a tour all over the four corners! Don't miss out! 25 SP for Adults, and 15 SP for Children and Seniors. Directions to the Amphitheater are provided at the bottom of the flyer. Funny enough, the time for the event isn't specified. Spoiler: Treasure Hunters Unite! Hide Looking for the toughest mages and the smartest warriors to join me in a quest for endless treasure! Split evenly, of course. Meet at this location on Saturday morning if you don't want to be left behind! There is a well-proportioned map of the temple district at the top of the flyer. The dot in the center marks a house that you are almost certain is a church, but you can't remember whom this specific place prays for. Spoiler: Sven's Going Out of Business Sale! Hide Sadly, Sven is bankrupt. But that doesn't mean YOU have to be! Come on over and get the best deals on magical reagents the City has ever known! We'll even throw in a free reagent pouch with every purchase of 5 gold or more! Everything Must Go, so hurry! A map is crudely drawn on, with directions to Sven's Complete Components in the temple district. Spoiler: No Holds Barred! Hide Show me your best, your brightest, your most charming! And I'll show you Maguire's strongest disciples of the arcane having all-out duels of spectacular proportions! Winner gets his or her choice of gems, gold, or a magical ring! Preliminaries start next Monday at noon! Directions to the Arena are listed here, and a very elegantly drawn piece depicting two mages narrowly evading one another's evocations lies in the background of the flyer. Spoiler: Maguire's Most Wanted Hide There are five faces on the flyer, each with their own set of crimes and bounties. There seems to be an uncanny proportion between the bounties and the faces they belong to; the higher the bounty, the prettier the face attached to it. The first face belongs to a kobold, under which is the name Riffraff, a brief description, a bounty set for 640 gold for two counts of arcane robbery, and a warning: This kobold has stolen high level spells. It must be assumed that it can use them, so take extreme caution. The second face belongs to a Bugbear by the alias of "Hope", whose bounty is set to 680 gold for eight counts of Embezzlement. The third face is that of an Orc named Gordon, with a bounty of 770 gold for three hundred and ninety-four (!) counts of Vandalism. A warning is attached to this one as well: Somehow has the ability to be in more than one place at once, despite not showing signs of any spell casting ability. Do not engage alone! The fourth face on the list is a Gnome called "Hahn", whose bounty is set to 1,250 gold for "Performing Illegal Services without Contract". The warning reads, Skilled with Illusions and cunning with traps; will often let himself get caught just to escape moments later. The fifth face is but a blank square with a question mark in the middle, titled "Nameless". Little description is given, other than that he (she? They? It?) is a notorious peddler of dangerous bootleg spells. Any tips that lead to his direct and immediate arrest will result in an award of three thousand five hundred gold, split among the tippers. If you suspect someone to be The Nameless, DO NOT ENGAGE; AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Spoiler: Neighbors, Beware! Hide I, Nelson Far waters, have been working on research regarding mutations. However, something went awry. Now my test subjects are crawling around the sewers in the merchant quarter! I would advise not being alarmed, but if you have the coin to spare, we can all pay for someone to take care of the problem for us! I can pitch in my life savings, but people won't venture into the sewers for two thousand gold, much less eight hundred and forty-seven gold! Won't you help a man wronged by science? There are more papers strewn about the board, but they're either too torn up or too obscured by other papers for you to figure out what they say. Erroneous looks bored at TGE board tell, me again, Austin, why you insisted we come to t this? All I see is Sven is running out of gold again and maybe a neighborhood sewer watch He takes a small drink and looks around with an n arrogance that is hard to miss I train day in and day out, often to the most extremes for my powers. I need a way to prove myself that I have grown stronger indeed. If anything we can just go down the job list and see how many of these we can complete in a day? Aushtyn sighs.It's not like much else happens in this town. Hrm., typical for your kind., very well I guess I could assist you,,,but first I must go pick up a few things from the local wand and scroll shop.are you coming? I doubt the board will walk off .for nowErronious then walks over to someone for a reminder as to where the local shop is you there! Where would one find the shop with wands and scrolls for sale? I shall meet you outside when you are ready, I must prepare myself with a quick lap around the city!Austin begins to stretch before his sprint. When you return ill be ready, and we will go after these bounties on this board This poor fellow was studying Diatonic, and jumped at the elf's direct approach. (In Diatonic)You what? Oh, mean you be speaking of Tail's--*ahem*(In common)Sorry about that; my Diatonic used to be better. *cough* Anyway, it's directly south of here, Tail's is. Big blue sign with an assortment of consumables on it; If you see the sign with an anvil and two hammers crossed over it, you've gone too far. He points in the southern direction for emphasis. In fluent draconicthat sounds easy enough and also your emphasis on insert word here was off using this language, I suggest you go back and study beginners diatonic volume 1 the young edition with that err moves off to the south expecting AUS to follow him Spoiler: prepped spells for day Hide 0lvl -, acid splash, resistance,dancing lights, acid splash 1st LVL - color spray, burning rage, shield,burning rage Erroneous makes his way to Tail's Wands and Pals, leaving behind Austin as he stretches his limbs. The door opens easily, but it screams as though it won't be taken alive. A gruff voice greets the elf. Welcome to Tail's Wands and Pals. What can I do you for? Spoiler: Austin Hide While stretching, you see Err head off towards the wand shop. After a while the door to the tavern opens and a gnome walks through, tobacco pipe in hand. Well, then, he says in a lighthearted yet frustrated tone. Slow night all round. Maybe I shouldn't have quit poetry... 'EY, are you going to loiter about here? Come inside and have a drink; I'll treat ya to a solo concert, and we'll see if I've still got it. Haddad say? Austin ignoring the man completely is intent on completing his training, and after some quick stretches bolts off into the distance at a quick pace. Bah...coming into MY bar, looking at the board and nothing else...didn't even buy a damn drink. Spoiler: Fair Warning Hide I'll let it slide this time, but should running be a thing for you, I will look up the rules for prolonged sprinting. Also, which direction did you bolt? You can go North (where it splits in two as it meets the district wall) or South (where it eventually splits three ways as you enter the town square)? Err ignores the voice and spends his time looking, over the, goods in the shop until he finally decides to move over to the counterafter looking over your wares.I've decided you might have what I need.I'm looking for a wand of cure MINOR wounds, I know light is 750gp, so minor should be cheaper.I must assist a dusk blade with some minor tasks Err also produces a list of. 1st LVL spells (pbh1 remaining spells, and pub 2 remaining spells)I also need these in scroll form if possible to increase my, repitore Hmm... Well you're in luck, because I've got a twofer on Conjurations going. Nobody ever seemed to want to buy any of the Cure spells other than Light, so I've got plenty of Cure Minor's lying around. Thing is, it ain't exactly a twofer; we're a man down so we can't sell them at our usual low prices...anyway, that'll be 400 gold for two fully charged wands. As for the spells here? ... Hmm, I'll height check and see if we got all these in stock. One sec... The clerk lifts the curtain behind him and disappears beyond it. You can hear some incantations going off. Spoiler: Spell craft DC 8 Hide They're just Detect Magic, Mage Hand, and a...a counting spell? When the heck was THAT made? It sounds mundane AND incredible all at once! You don't care too much about it though. Spoiler: For real though? Hide Don't make me look up what you don't have like that... (12d100)[15][19][76][16][30][87][7][76][23][41][36][5](431) (hope that works...otherwise you've already overwhelmed me.) Right, here we are. Just had to look for the disorganized, rainbow-colored ones. The clerk reappears from behind the curtain and sets down four scrolls on the table. Now, we certainly don't have EVERYTHING, because the last shipment was supposed to get here three days ago; but here's what we DO have. Here we got...let's see... Tripping Hands, Mage Armor, and Expeditious Retreat. We've another here with Mount, Endure Elements, and Enlarge Person. This other ones got Protection from Evil, Magic Missile, and Tenser's Floating Disk. The last one's got... Cause Fear, Remove Fear, and Feather falling. Since some of those spells are Conjurations, I ought knock off some of the price... How's 275 for the scrolls sound? Err blinks slowly when the shop keep offers such a low price then pulls out his money pouch and counts out 775gpi take it you are the proprietor of this shop Tail correct? It's rare that a lesser race brings this much joy to one such as myself (gruff voice means not a gray elf) I will most likely find myself stopping in frequently with how generous you have been, and I hope this extra 100 gold will keep our sudden new friendship in a...golden light err is unable to hide his pleasure at such a great deal (IMA just copy, and paste your post to the IOC and IL edit later) And just for the heck, of it... Spoiler: spell craft Hide (1d20+17)[32] ...on success ah I love when magic is being utilized properly Austin sprints off to the north intent on his training. He moves swiftly taking only right turns. As he remembers, shopping doesn't always take long so he probably doesn't have time to lap the city... so he just makes right turns every so often as to run in a circle. Making a lap at the bar that way he can keep an eye out on his companion and leave promptly. Originally Posted by final dooms I will most likely find myself stopping in frequently with how generous you have been Tail shakes his head, confirming Err's presumption. Don't mention it. It's kinda dog-eat-dog out there, and it's just sad to see how much people care about supply and demand these days... It's like some cruel game merchants have to play with the customers, and I don't care much for it...anyway, you and your generosity are welcome here anytime, kind sir. Now, here are the scrolls, and...right, the wands. Tal reaches under the counter and pulls out two wands. He stares at them to check their aura, and he sets them aside. Wrong ones, haha...unless ya want to buy Critical Wounds... That will be extra though. He searches under the counter for a bit, and after some clanking and clattering he pulls out another two wands. These're the ones you want. Thank you for spending your hard-earned money (and then some) here at Tail's, mister...? His face, while equally rough as his voice, emits a soft happiness. He was all too ecstatic to see his sort of attitude paid off...and from an elf, no less. Spoiler: Extra Hide And, after hearing the spell and properly identifying it (basically destroying the DC, as expected), Err can now research Easy Math whenever he wants to at a +5 bonuses. I modified it to fit the Sort/Wiz list and gave it more versatility because I find this spell to be hilariously awesome. It basically counts anything with no chance of error (and no stipulations) as a swift action. It won't give you any bonuses though, because it's a can trip. Spoiler: Austin Hide As you're sprinting, you eventually encounter random guard patrols. Look at that guy, they each say to one of their members, pointing directly at you as you pass by. Nah, he seems all right. You circle around the Market District as the sun continues to fade from the sky. Lights are being turned on in most of the windows you run past. Eventually, you hear a howling. Spoiler: Spot DC 17 Hide There is a dog, black as the night with a hefty coat of fur...he almost looks like a wolf. When he's done howling, he saunters off down an alleyway, looking a little upset. That's funny...the moon isn't even out. Spoiler: Austin Hide (1d20-1)[4] if pass: Interesting Austin thinks to himself This could be a good warm-up to the night. He then heads in the direction of the wolf. If failed: he continues on his run, until he runs into Err whenever he's done shopping Austin, paying even less attention than usual to anything that wasn't him, manages to trip over someone...small. Make a DC 12 reflex save to keep going and avoid taking(1d3+1)[2]nonlethal.HEY!! Damn Holman, yew watch where going! A happy (or is it hippy?) voice calls out to Austin, then mutters in Diatonic. Just because you think you're strong and tall doesn't mean we don't exist... Err starts packing his items and pauses briefly Of course, my, name,is erroneous.err by, my new friends.IL be sure to drop by again soothe then leaves the store and goes back to the notice board to, wait on AUS...where is that blasted, man Spoiler: reflex Hide (1d20-2)[4] If pass: Austin continues on, ignoring the tiny voice in his pursuit to get back to err. If failed: Austin tumbles over the tiny creature and is infuriated, how could he (the creature) not notice he was coming this way and manage to move out the way. ... grrr! If I were you I'd disappear now... (1d20)[12] intimidate Spoiler: ...my god Austin. Hide Are you going to do this every game? I wasn't going to make her a DWK....but now I really want to. Anyway, have a taste of your own medicine. (1d20+7)[19]-4 size (because I'm guessing your roll was without the +4)Spoiler: If Pass Hide The kobold blinks twice, expecting something to happen.... Not impressed, Holman. Me tired, so apology now...or witness Bahamas. Spoiler: If Failed Hide She slinks away, still muttering in Diatonic. Honestly, we're descended from dragons...everyone loves dragons, but hates kobolds...nobody visits Bahamas because he's great; they just want to breathe fire... Spoiler: If more than one degree of failure Hide ... Eek! The kobold runs away, leaving behind a medallion of some sort. Spoiler: Know (Religion) DC 8 or Spell craft DC 15 Hide Based on the detail, the material, and the weight, this is a sort of spell focus for those who wish to utilize power borrowed from the gods. Bah, you should apologize to me, because you ugly! Haha.as he sprints away full speed No murdering humans, Zeke...but I really don't like that guy. The kobold disappears into the darkened cityscape. It's now officially nighttime, and the guards have started to go around lighting torches. Aushtyn finally meets up with Err, who is waiting impatiently. Spoiler: Listen DC 12 Hide Err auto passes due to even senses. Music is playing from the tavern. Slow, graceful music. My gods must what took you so long, I've literally been waiting here for hours.at least the music is nice don't know, quite honestly. A quick trip around the square a few times shouldn't equal and hour hahaha. Plus had a run in with this godforsaken creature that tripped me... either way did you get all the gear you needed? If so lets rest and be on our way tomorrow bright and early! My blade is itching for a fight. Err speaks slowly and clearly in common since he realizes his compatriot might be missing cells...we never picked what we are doing must...maybe a hospital, trip first? Hahaha, you're right! Maybe I hit my head harder on that fall than I thought. Oh well, let's pick off these bounties shall we, bounties really? ...sigh fine I did say I'd help you Err walks into the tavern to go back to the board and get some information on all the bounties I guess Austin follows close behind. Less'n you have a better idea for a test of STR?his raises an eyebrow in a sarcastic way. Besides that could be better than bringing down lowlifes while also improving your strengths!Austin sits down at the bar, goes to get the bartenders attention and order liquor. Err checks the chronometer to see the time, and Daybell there is the arena you bumpkin.and how bout, something simple, like a missing dog or even sewer watch The pair enter the tavern to see...two humans, a half-elf, two identical kobolds, and a gnome. One of the kobolds is lounging around behind the counter while the other is cleaning the counter itself (which is weird, because it already shines so clearly they could probably see you walk in without facing the door). The half-elf (the "poor fellow" from before) is still studying diligently. The two humans are sitting in front of a stage, thoroughly enjoying the music being provided by the gnome as he plays a graceful ballad with a piano and vocals that sound more akin to elvish as opposed to anything a normal gnome could produce. The kobolds look up from the ground to see Err and Au's, but they just keep doing what they're doing. When Austin sits down to order a drink, the kobold lying around decides to get up to take a long, deliberate look at him. My friend Zeke just came in ranting about some Dolphus who tripped over her and refused to apologize...and you look just like her description. Spoiler: The music itself, if you care Hide As far as songs in common go, the lyrics don't make much sense (grammatically, at least), but they still bring to mind the idea of being one with not just nature, but with oneself as well. The piano play is soft and as simple as it comes: simple scales with a straight rhythm. By feeling the music rather than listening to it, the imagery becomes clear and your heart flutters as if it were actually soaring through unmolested skies to the horizons beyond. Austin gets up from the bar, as he seems to have lost his thirst, he leans over to err, and whispers in his ear. Ugh, ugly beasts. Get us a room shall ya, ill pay ya back later.Austin then proceeds over to the stage area to listen to the tunes. Just as Austin sits down, the song is over, and everyone (except the half-elf; he's still buried in his book) begins to applaud. The gnome gets up to take a bow and the piano vanishes into smoke. Thanks, you guys; I know the night's slow, but I'm happy to see such joy from my employees...and Justin. I know you're smiling over there! Get back to those notes; Maguire's schools are no joke! Anyway, I've got some...business to attend to, so make sure you all have got this week's pay when you leave in the morning. The gnome (who, according to the cheers of one of the humans, goes by the name of Horace) approaches the counter and converses with the kobolds. From the door leading to what you can only assume is the bathroom, another kobold emerges to sit at the counter. After a bit of conversation between the four, Horace looks at Austin, and approaches him with a sincere set of eyes. So you've returned. Did come to buy a drink or something? Spoiler: listen check to overhear please? Hide (1d20+3)[14] with my keen elf ears Err claps softly as the, music ends and goes for the counter for a room for 2.separate beds Ofcom for 2 with separate beds? I had not, realized I'd be stuck in this place a whole day., err blinks this town I mean, not TGE tavern.I'm quite pleased with TGE tavern Spoiler: Listen Passed. Hide It's all in diatonic (which you still have, last I checked). Innkeeper: Is that the guy? Lazy kobold: Dunno; he just called me disgusting and found a table instead of getting a drink. Cleaning kobold: Sure was rude...yupyupyup. (Third Kobold walks in) Innkeeper: Well, he isn't causing any trouble, so unless I hear that it's really the guy, I'm just going to kick him out. Third kobold: What're you doing? That's him! Innkeeper: You're sure? Okay, okay... I know his type...sit tight, and maybe I can get this resolved. Originally Posted by Erroneous room for 2 with separate beds? I had not, realized I'd be stuck in this place a whole day., this town I mean, not TGE tavern.I'm quite pleased with TGE tavern The lazy kobold looks directly at Err. Not counting breakfast or anything, that's eight silver. If you want to add unlimited food and drinks, that's gonna cost a little more. He says with a tone that says "I'm annoyed, just not with you." Once again in fluent diatonic err asks the kobolds funny as this probably will be, what did the...being with a snarky attitude do? Also.I feel like 8 silvers is a tad high for just. A 2bed room .6 seems better for here and IL offer to translate tonight if needed? I'm fluent in, many languages and with just a few mins I can cast a simple spell to speak all languages The kobold that walked in replies. Spoiler: Diatonic Hide The eight silver is worth it, believe me...but if you want to translate my words to this...dipstick, feel free; I'll pay the two silver for it. As for what he did? He tripped over me, tried to tell me it's MY fault, then insulted me as he sprinted off! He's just plain rude; one of those types what needs to be taught a lesson, else they will just run rampant; stealing randomly, terrorizing townsfolk, and the like. Pops'll show him what it means to be strong! Wait... You're not...with him, right? I mean, who would want to spend their time with someone who behaves the way he does? Spoiler: diatonic Hide sadly i...know him but I've been wanting to see what happens when I do this anyway. So IL help take care of it with much less fuss if that's ok Plus. The guy is a **** and that's something coming from a gray elf Spoiler: readied action Hide err moves slightly to ensure no one else is caught in the cone as he readies color spray to cast on Austin if he does anything other than apologize Spoiler: color spray will save DC 17 Hide Color Spray Illusion (Pattern) [Mind-Affecting] Level: For/Wiz 1 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: 15 ft. Area: Cone-shaped burst Duration: Instantaneous; see text Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yes A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious. Each creature within the cone is affected according to its Hit Dice. 2 HD or less The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.) 3 or 4 HD The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round. 5 or more HD The creature is stunned for 1 round. Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray. If failed then err follows up with grease. Centered on abuts sword Horace, after overhearing the conversations, sets out a laugh. I get it now. You're one of those "I'm always training" types. You don't have any particular reason for it, other than wanting to break your own limits. That's one of the reasons why I like you humans: you'll always find an excuse to remain in a constant state of turmoil. That said, I couldn't help but notice your interest in the Arena. Since, by your physique, you seem to favor melee combat over spells, why don't I--we-- help you get stronger? We're actually (well, most of us, anyway) pretty darn good at fighting, as it turns out. Spoiler: Sense DC 15 Hide As far as you can tell, he is being sincere in his approach and doesn't seem to have any ill intent whatsoever. (this is a reply to the one dude.) Was going to, after a long run, something to quench a thirst is much appreciated. Aushtyn notices all the kobolds walking in and conversing, and feels like at this point he'd rather have the company of the stars than this rubble. But now I feel like I'd rather go thirsty. He stands and goes to move outside and find a place to throw his bedroll. Spoiler: Spot, Search? Hide Search (1d20+2)[22] Spot (1d20-1)[17] I feel like I should be able to take 20 on one of these actions? So if yes, then whichever one gets me to my goal ill take 20 on... if not just use the numbers. Haha, now that sounds more like it. I'm always up for a chance to improve myself! Spoiler: Sense Hide (1d20+4)[17] Thought so. Right, then... The gnome raises his voice so that the entire tavern can hear. Ladies and gents, have I got a show for you tonight! Yes, you too, Justin; you can close your book for now. This young man wishes to be placed into the Arena! He's probably looking for some prize money, so let's get him straight to the top! Clear the stage, you two. Let's see, his first opponent...is going to be... well, I can't decide for now, but we'll get to that. Before that though, we've got some rules: First off, this is going to be a fists-ONLY duel. That's right folks, no magic! We don't want to overwhelm the poor fellow, after all. Should you try any magic on that stage, it WILL get wonky, so be careful if you do! Second, we are not trying to kill him, so go as easy as you can to give him a chance! Third, and this should go without saying, no magic equipment! This includes Rings of Protection (we WILL spot it, don't worry about that)! Finally, if this newbie should take out even a single one of us, he and his friend...get to stay for free! Food and all!. You're going to fight...that kobold. Hop on to the arena, kid; ya just have to beat this one kobold to stay free, and if you lose? Well, maybe I'll let you stay anyway, and we can train ya. The humans have finished clearing the stage. Spoiler: Spot DC 12 Hide and Justin has locked the door to the outside. Spoiler: Err: WIS DC 10 Hide You can cancel your readied action if you wish. Spoiler: Spell craft DC 15 Hide This is also a new spell, meant for increasing the range of one's voice. This can be researched if you beat the DC by 5 or more. (Trying to be consistent with my rules, and I just re-read spell craft to see that I was already doing it wrong so... does that sound fair?) Spoiler: rolls Hide (1d20-1)[9] Spot (1d20+7)[15] Spell craft Austin Steps up to the stage and see's his opponent. A lowly kobold? He chuckles This is on'be fun!as he raises his fist and takes his fighting stance. Spoiler: fight Hide Whenever the fight proceeds to begin Austin makes a sweeping step forward to knock the kobold off balance and then uppercut! (1d20)[20] (+4 for STR, -4 for size modify. Due to fighting a smaller creature.) (1d3)[2] non-lethal damage. Confirming CRT.(1d20)[6] Spoiler: spot SC Wis Hide Spot (1d20+3)[10] Spell ct(1d20+17)[20] thank you for consistent and Wis (1d20+0)[7] If Wis is passed I cancel.if right after the ...gnome? Finishes speaking my action goes off.woods he passed also... Spoiler: diatonic Hide oh I guess a friendly duel works as well...he is gun get his ass kicked isn't he Since i failed Err looks.embarrassedwoops ...sorry about that.my fingers jumped the gun Austin's Will Save:(1d20+2)[20]Spoiler: If Color Spray Succeeds Hide (I'm going to assume you went out of your way to keep just Austin in the cone.) Huh.... I suppose that works too, but I mean...where's the fun in magic when the poor little guy can't even handle it? Nah, when he wakes up from that whammy, Zeke'll show him what-for. As for you: I appreciate the help, but stay out of this. Besides, isn't he your acquaintance or something? After (3d4+1)[7] rounds of being unconscious, blinded, and stunned (in that order), Austin is back to full strength (one of the employees decided to help him recover so his nonlethal is healed). Otherwise, nothing happens other than the crew of The Misnomer end up looking at Err seeming to be slightly upset. Err shrugs slightly get antsy without using magic for the day...plus I'm sure you know the feeling of wanting to just hit someone The crew shrugs back, then at each other.... Eh. I should've put a sign-up anyway, so no harm, no foul. Is everything ready? Says the gnome. The crew give him the thumbs-up, and Austin is shoved up onto the stage (by three of the crew members). His kobold opponent is also hurried onto the stage, and at first she looks confused. When she realizes that a duel is afoot, she takes a moment to bow before her opponent. Horace summons a set of drums and begins playing some impressive rhythms. Both members of the duel feel all too confident in their abilities from a sort of inspiration brought about by the drums. Spoiler: If everything continues as above Hide Austin is not letting his opportunity go to waste, however, and as the kobold bows he swiftly and precisely aims for her noggin. The blow was enough to possibly shatter her jawbone as he deals 22 points of nonlethal damage! Sadly though, the kobold still stands, and almost smiles at the blow. It's like she was testing him, letting him hit her to gauge just how strong he is. She spits out a bit of blood and taunts him in diatonic. Think you're going to take me down with your luckiest shot? It's almost scary how cocky humans get just because I'm a kobold. We...are descended from DRAGONS! The most fearsome creatures in the land! It's amazing how much me and my fellow initiates want to help people like you despite your tendencies. But I have laws to abide by, and this? This is for your own good. Spoiler: Super Dungeon Technique Alpha! Hide Dice roll...REVEAL! Those first two d20's? Those were Initiative and anti-intimidate rolls. The rest of the rolls in that set were supposed to be the base attack rolls for the entirety of the fight. The second set was damage rolls in correspondence to those attack rolls. The Third? Just confirmed the first punch as a critical with max damage. In a mere instant, the kobold's right fist collides with Austin's gut and almost sends him flying (almost...well sorta). The 16 points of nonlethal damage bring him to the floor as he slowly collapses. The final word Austin hears before he falls unconscious is (in diatonic of course)Apologize. Then, when everyone realizes what has just transpired, the Gnome pulls out a wand and touches Austin with it (It's cure minor, duh). Soon enough, he wakes up to see the crew of the Misnomer huddled around him. Wow...that was a real, solid try! It's too bad ya both got so lucky; I'd love to see you try that again! The gnome says. Spoiler: Editor's note Hide There was debate on critical...and I got mods wrong. You were 2 points off. Err laughs when he sees AUS get downed in a single blow Spoiler: Diatonic Hide that's how you show the might of a dragon descendant hahaha Back in common that was a pleasant sight for my eyes .sorry about missing with my spray...now about that room? Originally Posted by final dooms now about that room? Two of our finest beds, and unlimited food and drink, all for free. Worry not about your friend; we'll make sure he's able to at least walk in the morning. Horace tells Err. Justin unlocks the door, and to the crew's surprise, a swarm of onlookers come flooding through. That kobold knocked a fully grown man down in one punch! One punch! That poor sod didn't stand a chance! To be weaker than a kobold...must have been a fluke. No way! They both landed a vital strike! The kobold was even caught off-guard! Is that kobold really a kobold? The better question is "is that human even a human?" There had to have been magic involved! All these voices and more made up a generous portion of the hurricane of noise that is known as a "busy night". The crew of the Misnomer jumps into an all hands on deck situation in a matter of seconds. Austin has been carried over to his room to recover, but Zeke has disappeared somewhere. Austin wakes almost amazed by the stupid power of a tiny creature... but shrugs it off anyway. He is still better than that creature at any rate (I really dislike kobolds...) He gets up to his feet to see his opponent. Heh, mangy beast. Ya got lucky is all. Ah well, Good fight anyway...as he begrudgingly raises his fist for a fighters bump. He then proceeds to lick his wounds in the comfort of a bed, having a new-found respect for kobolds. (though still highly disliking them.) well I'm never one to, pass up free room, and board...before I go, to bed is there anything aside from the arena you would recommend Mr squish and me doing? ..... Austin hears errs quip for being squishy on his way to the room... he stops short at the door, turns and casts a spell!! Spoiler: Err Beware Hide Bixby's Tripping Hand (Player's Handbook II) Evocation [Force] Level: Dusk blade 1, Sorcerer 1, Wizard 1, Components: V, S, M, Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Target: One creature Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Reflex negates Spell Resistance: Yes A large glowing hand, the size of a human torso, appears in front of the creature and sweeps at its legs. The large hand sweeps at the target creature's legs in a tripping maneuver (PH 158). This trip attempt does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Its attack bonus equals your caster level + your key ability modifier + 2 for the hand's Strength score (14). The hand has a bonus of +1 on the trip attempt for every three caster levels, to a maximum of +5 at 15th level. Material Components: Three glass beads. (1d20+6)[11] .... ****. That beast was unusually strong... Originally Posted by CN Fish ..... Austin hears errs quip for being squishy on his way to the room... he stops short at the door, turns and casts a spell!! A large glowing hand, the size of a human torso, appears in front of the creature and sweeps at its legs. So, I know there aren't facing rules, but line of sight and effect still apply. Also, I would like you to roll before saying you heard something from across the room while a commotion is going on. (That's -11 total to your listen check btw...). Spoiler: Trip Hide (1d20+7)[17] +4 for sturdy and +3 for STR (1d20+3)[22] I'm going to start rolling for you if you don't put them in your posts! Spoiler: Austin Success Hide By the Soul Forger's Hammer! Whey' the' hell was THA'? A dwarf looks flustered. Just the loser...being sore. One of the other patrons tells him. Bah... Lose wit Dignity an' Honor, ya lowlife! Spoiler: Austin Fail Hide ... I thot magic was no' allowed in taverns..........neat. Originally Posted by final dooms well I'm never one to, pass up free room, and board...before I go, to bed is there anything aside from the arena you would recommend Mr squish and me doing? Well that sewer thing could help you get tougher for the arena...remember, prelims start on Monday, so you've got six days before that becomes relevant. I wasn't lying about wanting to train you two, so if you want to spend those six days training with us, we know a place. Riffraff ought to be a decent start, if you're looking at bounties. The warning says he's a powerful mage, but that's just because they have to assume he can use all the spells he's got. We know all about him; even if he could cast spells, he wouldn't be able to hit the broadside of a barn with a Cone of Cold. He is physically adept, though, so make sure you keep him at bay if you're going to fight him and his crew. You can always just go sightseeing; you never know what'll happen when you're out and about. Well thanks for the tip sim headed to bed sir err moves to bed and notices a hand suddenly try to trip a dwarf on his way was that a bigamy spell? .weird IL have to get that later The duo go to sleep for the night. Apart from a lack of decors, what little the rooms do have is soothing and cozy. The rooms are soundproofed, and the beds are soft, so they sleep soundly for the rest of the night without disturbance. Spoiler: XP Awards! Hide For making a friend, 275 XP -- Erroneous! For surviving an encounter with a 4th level character as 2nd level, 312 (-75% for not defeating and getting knocked out) XP -- Austin! For trying to help the half-elf with diatonic, resolve the nuisance, etc., 50 XP -- Erroneous! Totals: Erroneous: 1325/3000 XP Austin: 1312/3000 XP Err wakes up feeling refreshed! He asks must if they have time (about 3 hrs) and if so Spoiler: scroll learning time! Dc 21 for each scroll Hide mage armor (1d20+17)[33] Tripping hand (1d20+17)[27] Magic missile (1d20+17)[22] If passed I copy the spell into my book and have learned it If failed I cant try again until, my,spell craft changes After doing so err spends time (1 hr I think it is)studying his book and keeps the same spells but changes 1 burning rage into another color spray Austin Sleeps soundly, and tries his best to wake an hour earlier than everyone else for some training. Once he passes by errs door and assumes he is still sleeping. He passes on by to continue his training and will return in an hour or so. (So I never got the question... so assume you have time.) Err decides to learn some spells! After three hours he learns them all! He also spends some time (15 minutes really, since it's just two spells being changed/prepped) with his already known spells! Aushtyn on the other hand, goes to do his morning workout! He takes 1.5 hours as he learns the route he wants to take to avoid dead ends. While he does this, however, the guards eyeball him with raised suspicion. Spoiler: Also: New Trait! Hide Should Austin choose to accept it: Humiliating Fear (kobold) After a traumatic and humiliating experience with a creature, you hate every single one of its kind. Fear is fear, however, as those creatures still hold enormous sway over your mind. With this trait, choose a creature race. When fighting creatures of that race, you get a +2 morale bonuses to attack and damage rolls against that creature. However, you take a -4 penalties against fear effects (including demoralize) from creatures of that type. Special: you cannot become immune to fear, and you must not already be immune to fear to receive this trait. By the time both of them are done, it's nearly noon. (we were sharing a room Austin)Anyway after err finishes his studies and prep he goes downstairs for food, and drink hello kobold being? Horace? I'm ready for my free food, and drink, before,I hunt.rafletafy or, whatever his name, was Horace hollers from the kitchen. Took ya long enough! Nearly everyone else left, and we're in between shifts...so Haddad want? I've only got some steak and onions prepped, but if ya want something else I'll be happy to see if we've got it! Give your buddy my thanks, by the way; we sold nearly half our shipment of spirits for the week in a single night! Steak and onions is...fine once I find must IL, inform him, and we shall be on our way After waiting 15 minutes, Err is given an 18 ounce rib-eye generously covered in sautéed onions. The steak has been cooked medium well and came with a steamed potato, assorted vegetables, and orange juice. Err is once again surprised oh wow i didn't expect all this after hours.it looks wonderful......and tastes amazing He quickly finishes his plate and then goes to, leavebtw...have you seen must? Or have hints where riftlerafle is? He's been doing laps round the district. Don't know why he doesn't want to spend his spare time sparring, but whatever. As for Riffraff, he's usually been seen in the poorer parts of the city, like the temple district and such, but I've heard very recently that he's been spending time in the nearby graveyard; It's by Dina's bazaar on the western side of the market district. One sec... Horace pulls out a drawer and from it a pencil and a map of the district. He marks the graveyard with an "X" and hands the map to Err. There's where ya want to start, and here's The Misnomer, in case you ever want to come back. Keep the map; I've got plenty. Spoiler: Semantics Hide Technically Austin started his morning run before Err awoke. And if he spent 1.5 hours doing laps, he'd still be done with everything while err is learning and prepping spells by 2.5 hours worth. (or less.) either way I should've been done with time to spare. So Let's just say I got my early morning meal with the rest of the people and went back to training, I went with the bard to do some sparring. If that helps. Else just ignore any of this I guesses. Also, sure I will except the trait I guess. Austin walks back in from his morning workout, it was a long a brutal workout and one that he will likely remember tomorrow. He sees Err sitting at the baits noon..... why is that dang elf already drinking thinks to himself. We are supposed to be getting stronger, not weaker with drink. He then approaches Err. Are ye finally done prepping your magic? Is it time to go get that riffraff dude? Ive been itching for a real test of my talents since late last night! There you are.and yes I'm ready you fool, .plus we've seen how well your talents work on kobolds like riffraff bows to horacethank you for all your generous help. .we will be on our way.but I'm sure we will be backers now is ready to leave...and go to a weapon shop because he messed up and SHOULD NOT BE USING A BOW woods., he needs a hand bow Austin tags along with err on his shopping duties, waiting for the chance to hunt down this riffraff that they call.... riffraff... (lol....) For the sake of the game.err finds a weapons vendor and sells his longbow and gives an extra 25 gold for a hand bow (will update later) and trades arrows for, bolts on a 1 1 basis The duo exit from Dina's bazaar and the graveyard is...like right next to them, according to the map. They couldn't miss it if they tried, because some unusually large doors lead into it. Err looks at the graveyard and back to the bazaar. ...they either have a lot of undead clients or this is literally the best they could afford...well let's go see if riff is home err then waits for must to go first since he has armor on Austin offers err the chance for a random go at it with a game of Boulders, Scythe or Parchment! Spoiler: If err accepts Hide (1d3)[1] 1 = Boulder 2 = Scythe 3 = Parchment If Austin wins he winks at err, and motions him to go forward. If he loses, he scoffs and gingerly walks into the graveyard... else, if he doesn't accept... Austin just waltz's into the graveyard like he doesn't have a care in the world. Err blinks, slowly.I'm not playing that when you have the sword strand then follows must into the graveyard Au's and Err enter the graveyard (in that order) and are greeted by a loud, bellowing guard dog. Gods forsake ye, Haggis! I've not got time fer ferry bird ye decide wants to perch on a stone! The grave keeper approaches. What can I do fer ye, masters? Yer not ere to feed the corpses right? I've got fresh hanging if yer in need om oar friends...but ah can see ye've got one a'ready. He points at Austin. ..... Austin turns his head in confinement.... What in the divines is he talking about?he asks err. What languages do you speak must? I just recalled you're a bumbling buffoon Spoiler: bluff to must Hide err is trying to get a chance to tell must what languages he knows so they can have "private" talks dm what do I roll or do!! (it it's a roll I choose to take 5 and add my CIA so that's ...7) To the grave keeper...sorry I'm not very good with the...dialect your using.but are you asking if we are here to feed the dead? .I admit the idea is tempting with this...morsel Spoiler: I'll allow it To Hide Just so we're clear, he knows diatonic and giant....but I don't know about the grave keeper. Just this once, I'll allow you to take 5 on the bluff; the grave keeper won't spend a minute trying to figure it out. Nah, the' corpses! I figured ye fer one o' them, but seems your Vic is...still alive. Did ye want to start a collection? I've got plenty o' lowlifes what want a new start...if ye know what I mean. Spoiler: Sense DC 10, if you can't already tell what he means. Hide By the way he says "corpse", he seems to be talking about necromancers; by collection, army of the dead. Standup, Haggis! Or no food fer ye tonight! Austin is slightly confused by errs response. Spoiler: Sense motive twice! Hide (2d20)[20][12](32) + 4 On Err's sense: If passed: Austin begins to speak in Giant, feeling that the Graves keeper couldn't possibly know giant. . Does something not seem odd about this fella to you? I feel like he has rather a twisted mind... If failed: continued blank expression... On grave keeper: If Passed: Austin keeps silent to see how err responds to the grave keeper, after all he's always been better at speaking than he himself. If Failed: .... What In the heck are you talking about!!! (If passed on Err's turn this into giant speaking, else its common.) Au's says something! But nobody knows what he's saying. Then he waits patiently for Err to do something...else. Err blinks. .ugh the barbarian language of giant...refused to learn that one no matter....wait did you just call me a damn necromancer?! Grave keeper shrugs. On'y people what come these days be corpses and corpses. Sum fin else I can do for ye? Err is now obviously annoyed we came looking for where riff might be! We heard his gang was in the area Hamm....yea big, funny beard, obsessed wit folklore from a different world, carries around a tiny diary? He's in the' catacombs. Kept telling me the sign said "Dragon Below", fer some reason... Austin realizes to err actually doesn't know the language he is speaking and chuckles a bit. After all it is just part of the dumb luck he has been experiencing lately. Then at the end of the grave keepers last statement Austin says in plain common, thanks, and at the last moment in giant saysyoda.he then motions err on towards were riffraff is so Austin can finally test his sword skill against a worthy opponent So the duo goes into the catacombs (the sign just says "catacombs" by the way) without any further information! Real smart. Spoiler: Semantics Required Hide I need these things in no particular order: Marching order Passive Spot/Listen Out-of-combat movement rate Once they enter the catacombs they are immediately greeted with dim lighting, cobwebs, and an unmistakably dead stench. Originally Posted by Clerical Tank Hamm....yea big, funny beard, obsessed wit folklore from a different world, carries around a tiny diary? He's in the' catacombs. Kept telling me the sign said "Dragon Below", fer some reason... My response sorry am at work and, its holiday weekend finally, an answer than....wait did you say a beard? Kobolds don't grow beards! How much drink have you had today? Calling me, a gray elf! a necromancer and now saying it has a beard? Plus what catacomb? ? This is a graveyard! !! There are tons of them I'm sure err pauses for breath and tries to continue calmly huff huff.....look I'm sorry for exploding like that...since you said necromancers does that mean there is undead roaming about? If so skeletons, zombies,ghosts, headless horsemen? There are myriads of undead and if there are any I need to change my spells for the day Err looks to Austin was not expecting an undead adventure this morning, if any are present I need to change just about all of my spells because mind effecting magic has no effect on the mind.OMG your mindless!!! I don't know. Had a beard, dint query it. Also, d'ye expect a city NOT ta have a catacomb, what wit only two whole spots fer digging raves in a the Dragoons' mausoleum? Naturally I mean the ones by that there tree. As fer the corpses, at times they walk, times they not. Corpses usually take them fore they get ta walking. Austin greets errs response with a mighty bellow of enthusiasm then no spells! Haha, then we get to see your true wit with a sword, brother Err scoffs at the idea must can tell him what to do and promptly pulls outbid spell book and, finds a cleaning spot to, change his spells Spoiler: new prepped spells Hide 0-lvl acid splash 3x light 1x 1-lvl burning rage 1x shield 1x magic missile 2x Once finished he tells Austin a fool goes unprepared, and if you really want to see me fight with a sword just wait a bit when we are stronger Spoiler: dm! Hide if he keeps, on err will start trying to research the spell that is basically animated weapon (I think its spell comp) I cast it on a weapon, and it uses my int for attacks If gatekeeper is still nearby sorry about that., and as enlightening as this has been we need to hurry, .is there anything we should, know before going there? Traps, mobsters,the size of riffs crew? 's just' the fool wit a diary, far's I know it...BUT... I also ne'er been since I was...tiny. Of course....well I can think, of,nothing else to ask ya so many thanks Err can't think of else aside from going back into the town for more info so he shrugs and has must lead the August then err15 ft a round (being careful)Spot and listen(2d20)[14][14](28)+3If I missed anything let me know As before, the duo go into the Catacombs and are greeted with dim lighting and the stench of death and constant decay. When the stairs downward finish their descent, the hall continues into the distance, with a door to their immediate right. Err has low light vision.but just in case he turns on his lantern attached to his belt if there is no light source down here Spoiler: Err Hide You can now see, albeit very slightly and only with your low light vision, the end of the hall. It doesn't seem to have anything of note, other than a book on a pedestal. You assume it's to keep track of the corpses...but didn't the grave keeper say he hasn't been down here in a while? Hey must do you see that!err exclaims ... Hm? Say what?... see what exactly? I cannot see anything... He tries to peer down the hallway only he can't see beyond the lighting of the lantern... soon he moves forward until he can clearly see the book Err is referring too. (10ft Extra cautious) Austin steps on a piece of stone, and it starts to sink a little! Spoiler: Au's: reflex save dc18 Hide ...nothing happens. Perhaps the trap misfired? Or was it just a way to scare off the average "corpse"? Well that was anticlimactic...I forgot your human eyes are not that strong err follows in his exact steps being extra careful then pulls out a 10ft pole!!(never leave home without one folks) and proceeds to tap the floor ahead of them making progress extremely slow The elf decides to be super extra cautious! And, as it turns out... a lot of the stones sink similarly. However, Err's eleven senses don't pick up any sounds until he hears a click sound from behind the party. Still nothing. Spoiler: Reflex. Hide (1d20-2)[12] Well that was weird... Aushtyn says to himself. But I'm still alive, so I guess ill continue!he blurts out. He then only steps on the stone that err has touched and didn't sink, or otherwise nothing happened when pressed by the 10' pole... You ever get the feeling that all these failed traps are meant to secure a false sense of security??.. haha, that would be dumb though... oh well. He continues down until he can clearly see the journal. The book is really dusty, and the title of the cover is obscured from it. Prop... Ex........né Prop...ex...né Cromwell no harm done here... Err then goes.hey must IL give you 5 gold to grab that book for me, since your obviously stronger than me and, i don't think I could lift it Austin hears errs retort. Hmm. Ok, it's just a book. Cant see no harm in just picking it up.Austin goes to pick up the book when a sudden realization comes to mind. Wait! This could be a trap!....the realization then passes (Not very wise...) Ah, that's just absurd nothing else in this tomb was a trap he then quickly grabs for the book. Blowin the dust off as soon as he picks it up with a huge grin on his face. The book says:Encyclopedia of Traps Property of: Explosive Rune Wait..."explosive rune" isn't a peers--Spoiler: Au's: Reflex Save 14 Hide AND... (6d6)[14]...of Nonlethal damage! You are probably knocked out...and if you don't get knocked out instantly, I'll give you a cookie. Spoiler: Spell craft 18 Hide This...is some twisted bootleg of a real spell called Explosive Rune. Instead of dealing Force damage, it deals Nonlethal damage. It also allows a save...for some reason. Ohhhhhh I figured out what, i.....boom!!!..t said.... Well he is deader goes over to loot AUS and is surprised to see him fine!! Just unconscious with no fatal injuries huh...must have been a fake version of the explosive rune spell. ...Well since he isn't deader pulls out a wand of cure minor and proceeds to start taping AUS aiming for a heal Spoiler: cure minor UMD 20 Hide here we go (1d20+10)[17] if passes AUS is conscious at max hp of non-lethal. (-1 charge) Hamm this might be a problem err keeps at it!! Spoiler: wand magic x20! Hide (20d20)[1][17][4][20][1][3][20][19][3][15][2][6][6][2][10][1][1][17][12][2](162)+10 go, rolls The wand fizzles and stops, working!!good thing I bought 2 .... Err pulls out another wand and repeats!! Spoiler: Wand magic x20!! Hide (20d20)[4][19][8][5][10][6][2][7][16][18][12][10][5][4][13][10][1][10][19][13](192)+10 go go go Au's regains 8 hp (remove 8 non-lethal damage) and then the wand fizzles as, well!****!! Stupid sticks Au's wakes up again! The book is on the floor, beaten up but still intact. However, right before their very eyes, the book seems to...revert to its original polished state. The two hear a voice in their heads. Leave it to the creators to make such an artful deterrent...and a rude awakening. Gray one! Yes you, the one whose still able to stand and can clearly use magic! What is the year of our Morning Lord? Spoiler: Religion or History (or Int) 10 Hide The Morning Lord refers to Flatlander, a god of the sun and of rebirth. He uses the same date as most other gods. Spoiler: General Knowledge Hide The first global religions established their rule not more than 1,247 years ago; this is the year the voice must be referring to. Spoiler: reflex Hide are you guys not going to wait until i at least try the save... lol. Here goes nothing (1d20-2)[7] If failed ill continue basis played out so far. Err blinks a bit surprised(1d20+5)[24]int checkered one? ....you know what that's close enough Anyway i myself, am not a, follower of the morning lord, but it has been 1247 years. Oh, disembodied voices...and I forgot my chronometer or I'd tell ya the the...it's a Tuesday because the arena fight is. Week from yesterday! Aha!! Now I'm getting my time right Austin just sets off to the side... a bit miffed from the trap... how could he be so careless. Oh, well he thinks.so disembodied voices are you going to help us or are we wasting our time here. You? Wasting YOUR time here? I've got all the time to spare, and yet for some reason the runes triggered and woke me 753 years too early. Why do they even bother if they're not going to get the time right? ...what a bother. I might as well do something.At that moment the Encyclopedia of Traps rises from the floor. Hail. Mind if I join you for...whatever it is you're doing? What manner of being are you? And we are hunting for a kobold with a beard if that sounds.intrestingerr asks the book A kobold....? Ah yes, those little dragon blooded rats. You said it had a beard? That's quite odd...although it was postulated they might grow them, just not...so soon. As for what I am...well, I'm a sentient book... I thought that was...self explanatory--was evolution a myth this whole time? Obviously not, since kobolds can now grow beards apparently... Anyway! I could help...kobolds are known for traps and as you can see...I know most if not all of them. Well beards is a loose term. Technically a male turkey has a 'beard'Austin says as he does finger quotes in the air. And I'm guessing your worst enemy is fire and water... why are you down here in a damp dark crypt if you're a sentient object? Well I was programmed to know all about traps, so I assume my purpose is to help people bypass the traps in The Van--wait, did you just say "dark crypt"? You mean you're not looking for a kobold who's after the Tale of Ten Thousand, but just a normal kobold skulking around in a crypt? The hell AM I doing here? .... nope. Just a kobold Michał maker. And I'm assuming your referencing to a book or an old scroll of some kind? Sounds boring as Austin loss no a beard is hair...wait tale of ten thousand? Sounds...pricey, and can you disarm traps or just tell us they are...vault?!? Well...sort of. I can tell you a lot ABOUT traps, and I can sometimes point out the most obvious ones... but as far as disarming them... I don't have arms. Furthermore, as I take it that I am no longer located in The Vault, my trap finding skills will be ever more limited. I must reiterate, however, that neither I nor The Vault were supposed to have been re-activated until the turn of the next millennium. While I may lack common sense sir, a beards anything that hangs off the face of a creature... hence... turkeys... wait what's this about a vault? Yes... The Vault... Master An'dearth created it to house all the powers of...don't you have a kobold to apprehend? don't you have children to bore to death?.. Now c'mon tell us more about this vault ... I'm pretty sure there's an enumeration in my variables page that classifies you as the kind of person with little interest in the fine arts...you probably don't even know how Prestidigitation works... Thus, I turn to you, elf. You seem to be more complex than an array of spontaneous interests...and might have the ability to multitask. Do you mind if I fill you in while you subdue the kobold? Err has spent the past several minutes thinking and finally responds.AUS shut up this might be important As to the matter of you following us, I see no problem with it for now.just do try to keep quiet when we have to sneak around.It's hard enough sneaking in these blasted robes err lifts a bit of robe for emphasis you can help us bypass or spot some of the traps that are about to be around here anyway so let's go back to that door we passed...btw does your spell reset? After asking the group might notice err has been keeping a hand angled enough to not read the words explosive rune once more ... Are you referring to the rune on my cover? ...well, no... I am 98 percent certain that this doesn't reset...which would mean I have no way of waking up, should I fall into dormancy again. That 2% bothers me....IL just keep my eyes off that rune just to be safe...and if it really bothers you I should be able to refresh it at a later time when I'm more experienced in my spells Austin not paying much attention looks at the books cover again and reads explosive rune.... I see evolution and intelligence happen to be exclusive to elves thus far. Shall we be on our way? Finally someone who understands...lets, move on must back to that door near the entrance just to be sure.err walks/taps to the far wall to make sure there, is no secret doors (using elf passive to notice secret doors) No secret doors, but the door itself...seems to have locked...or is it stuck now? Whatever it is, it must have had to do with that click from before. Err pokes that spot again hoping it opens it!! If not...AUS I desire this door to be broken down Austin walks up to the door....(1d20+2)[12]search to see if I notice anything about the door. Type of materials? Anything like hardened areas? Weak spots? Crumbling or rotting areas? Hinges? ANYTHING With Au's' painfully average knowledge, he can't tell anything about the door that would make it special, other than the fact that the door is made from birch...and not very flammable birch, at that. If you're looking for an excuse to use your barbaric evocations, might I suggest a cold spell to make it more brittle? You know they say books are great sources of knowledge... I have a feeling that this book and I might actually be friends yet...Austin cast ray of frost on the door.(1d20+1)[16]ranged touch attack.(1d3)[1]frost damage. Err primates the books help, and ...must usefulness guess not having to prepare each spell for the day does have its limited uses hahaha The door stands strong, and barely looks touched. Surely you possess as something with more...power? Something that specifically affects objects as well as creatures? No? And one wonders why my creator specifically refers to evocations as "barbaric...paleolithic even". Have you tried simply busting down the door, since you clearly have more brawn than brain? Well book...Hamm what do I call a talking book? We never claimed to be of high power right away ...those things come with time and a chance to grow.and if this blasted door was not made of damned wood my acid splash would have been wonderful for ignoring the hardness and letting us thorough How about fire? It is wood after all. Aushtyn then begins to cast Kilgore fire bolt.(1d20+1)[2]ranged touch(2d6)[8] Au's tries a slightly more powerful spell...only to miss horribly! The door is unscathed, but the nearby dust and cobwebs have now caught fire. Spoiler: Reflex 13 Hide 3 fire damage or save for half as the fire turns into a tiny explosion! I'm certain that both the elf and I have determined that magic is not the correct choice. And to extrapolate that you would wish to seek the Tale of Ten Thousand... just smash the damned thing...or find out why the door won't budge. * post roll count doesn't match database Err laughs softly into his hand do believe book is correct AUS...just use those muscles instead and IL see if I can't find a switch in the meantime err starts searching the...entire hall being super slow and careful!! (Aka take 20knowing this could take hours) The book decides to help look for anything that could open the door. Have you stepped on these tiles, perchance? If so, in what order? What did they do? It becomes evident that the book knew somehow that the tiles it is referring to were meant to sink in. The tiles in question also seem to have reset. Spoiler: ugh Hide if this is a tile puzzle IMA need some kinda map please. Even if it is a basic xxxxoxxx kind Err blinks...more than 1 tile clicked? How the hell did I miss that Spoiler: rolls Hide (1d20-2)[12] reflex I remember them all pushing down but not clicking verse... then again maybe i wasn't listening very well. Spoiler: Wis 10 Hide Retracing your steps, or even simply pushing the one that clicked ought to unlock the door. Spoiler: [roll0 Hide testing!] just in case... (1d20+0)[12] If passed err starts taping his 10ft pole along the same path AUS took until lot clicks If failed...err starts taping random spots unable to recall where the barbarian of singe has walked * post roll count doesn't match database The door clicks behind Err. Ah...a simple "chicken crossed the road" puzzle. Not quite as complex as it was meant to seem. There we go! Door should be open now AUS Hamm.Austin goes to push the door open Spoiler: Au's: Reflex 16 Hide NOTHING happens. Quit thinking there's a trap behind everything! Save for half embarrassment as you look positively ridiculous trying to look out for traps THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWAY. Afterward, the door opens to a large room with four doors on the other side, caskets and alcoves dot the floor and walls in a sensible array. Spoiler: ..... Hide I don't understand what the reflex was for. I wasn't looking for traps either I was looking to notice what the door was made out of to break it down. If it was stone obviously much of my stuff would be ineffective haha. Austin Feeling rather embarrassed... about the door. Apparently... walks into the room... Where was all this when we walked in?he thinks to himself. Now this is a bit more like I was expecting err follows AUS into the room and starts tapping ahead of them with his pole...do you not bring poles with you? I bring a pole with me wherever I go, how I choose to use mine though is of a different matter. Aushtyn begins to study the doors before him. I'm assuming I'm not going to need search, since I'm not looking for traps verse. But either way, ill roll for all doors.(4d20)[11][5][5][15](36)+2 to each roll While AUS is spending time inspecting the doors.err is going to go, around the whole room poking and tapping everything. .if nothing happens he inspects the caskets Spoiler: Au's Hide You can't find anything on any of the doors, but the middle-left one is slightly more ajar than the others. No draft or anything, just...slightly more open. Spoiler: Err Hide Neither you nor your cane nor your floating book see anything wrong. Spoiler: Casket-Search 15 Hide One of the caskets, while undisturbed, has a corpse with what can only amount to dust rings around the eyeballs of its skull. Spoiler: search Hide (1d20+9)[15] well I'm not finding anything special in this room well. This door (middle left) is cracked open a bit... something tells me what we are looking for went this way. Then again that's just a guess. Could be anyone one of these doors. "The best way to find out what's behind a door is to open it." Naturally, that's not the SAFEST way to proceed, given that the oldest trap in the book hides at the top of a door... I should know, obviously. He has a point. It would be quite easily to trap these doors, and it doesn't take a ballista engineer to know that a simple trap can be the most deadly. Aushtyn thinks to himself. But this door is already open so obviously there's no trap behind it!Ha, silly book this door cant possibly be booby-trapped. Aushtyn steps forward to open the door, but stops short of just placing his hand on the door. Maybe... 'I' shouldn't open it.... I did just barely survive a trap a few moments ago... Seeing how AUS seems to have no supplies err sadly offers his 10ft pole might be able to push the door open a bit farther away with one of these eh? And what exactly am I supposed to do with this?... poke it to death?he pauses for a secondohhh you want me to use it to push it open... got it. yeah, that makes sense.Austin then backs up 8 ft from the door (so the poke has ample room to push) and begins to push the door open.) Err blinks in amazement as AUS first fails to understand common.and then somehow steps out of reality to stand 8 ft away!!how the.... You know what I'm not Gun worry about it.just one, that door Au's opens the door with a pole and a metal bucket filled with brackish water falls to the floor with a *CLANG, CLANG, CLATTER*. The corridor beyond the door is now revealed as it twists to the right. I believe one can find such classics as those in a section of said book. "Pranks and Practicality", I'm sure it is called. Edit: Also Austin gets some water on his clothes (no save) Austin begins to look quite annoyed... Even at 10' away I still get flak from a trap? How ridiculous, the splash effect of the bucket, according to the height of the door doesn't add up... I wonder if the watermarks on the ground make out any kind of pattern. Nope absolutely nothing... oh well lets move on then shall we? it's a good thing you used the, pole,to, open the door. Would have been a bit foul to have that land on you haha err peered through the doorway and then motions AUS onwards...btw oldest trick in the book?err raises an eye at the book then err looks at AUS again....oh Austin begins to move through the door. Right. Just call me Trap... Just as Trap finishes, the party hears a squeaky muttering. At the end of the twisting corridor an arch leads to an equally large room. Spoiler: Err Hide Erroneous sees a kobold, decked out in relatively fancy clothes and sporting a book chained to its side. Its back is turned against the party, and he seems to be searching the walls for something. Err whispers to ANSI believe I can see riff up ahead about x ft away(dm didn't tell me distance) then err quietly whispers a spell! Spoiler: Shield Hide Shield Abjuration [Force] Level: For/Wiz 1 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Personal Target: You Duration: 1 min./level (D) Shield creates an invisible, tower shield-sized mobile disk of force that hovers in front of you. It negates magic missile attacks directed at you. The disk also provides a +4 shield bonus to AC. This bonus applies against incorporeal touch attacks, since it is a force effect. The shield has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance Hp 6/6Ac 16 Spoiler: My Bad Hide The kobold is 40 feet away in the far right corner. Despite the columns dotting the room, there is nothing preventing Austin from charging. Erroneous conjures (or rather, abjures) a disc thingy! The kobold is still oblivious, muttering to itself. Austin see's his opponent and eager for a fight rushes up behind him (Charging) and screaming out his battle cry the entire way!!AGH!!!!!!!!!! DIE YOU STUPID KOBOLD! Spoiler: attack Hide (3d20)[10][5][8](23)+11 (2 BAD, 4 STR, 1 W. Focus, 2 Charge) (1d12+4)[7] + 4 DMG. (x3 for CRT.) HP 11/11 AC 12/14 (-2 charge) The kobold cries out in pain, then turns around to see big human! Spoiler: Sense Motive 22 Hide It was more surprise than pain. It still hurt, but not as much as he would have you believe. Spoiler: Diatonic Hide You dare to piss off Riffraff? The Scourge of Wizardry and Master of the Arcane?? If anyone wishes to continue Initiatives must be rolled!! Initiative roll(1d20+2)[20]Spoiler: diatonic Hide I'm sorry did you just say master of the arcane? The dolt with a sword has more magic than you do After that err casts... For his turn Spoiler: magic missile!! Hide Magic Missile Evocation [Force] Level: For/Wiz 1 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Targets: Up to five creatures, no two of which can be more than 15 ft. apart Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes A missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage. The missile strikes unerringly, even if the target is in melee combat or has less than total cover or total concealment. Specific parts of a creature can’t be singled out. Inanimate objects are not damaged by the spell. For every two caster levels beyond 1st, you gain an additional missile—two at 3rd level, three at 5th, four at 7th, and the maximum of five missiles at 9th level or higher. If you shoot multiple missiles, you can have them strike a single creature or several creatures. A single missile can strike only one creature. You must designate targets before you check for spell resistance or roll damage. (1d4+1)[2] damage Spoiler: Sense motive Hide (1d20+4)[22] Spoiler: Pass Hide If passed, Ha! Don't try to fool me you ugly beast I know you've got more in ya!, I've been waiting a good amount of time to have my axe dig deep into your flesh! Spoiler: Failed Hide If failed, Haha! See Err! This is how you handle this filthy beast! Initiative(1d20+5)[9]Spoiler: Austin attacks Hide Austin tightens the grip to his axe and swings! (2d20)[11][8](19)+9 (2 BAD, 4 STR, 1 W. Focus, 2 traits) (1d12+8)[18] (6 STR, 2 Trait) (x3 for CRT.) Spoiler: Order Hide Err, Riffraff, KoboldAushtyn Spoiler: spot 12 Hide Riffraff looks...different now. It's as if the purple in his earthen skin tone washed away. He's also wearing a pair of adjustable goggles. Spoiler: Diatonic Hide What was that? Whatever. Human wanna dance? Jive to this! Spoiler: Austin--Will 15 vs Fear! Hide You know the voice in your head that tells you when something is a bad idea? That voice starts to scream at you to start running. In fact, that sounds like a WONDERFUL idea. In the event that you didn't have such a voice, you do now, and that in itself ought to be scary enough. (1d4)[2] rounds frightened (must run away and shaken penalties). Save for one round shaken instead (-2 attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks). Spoiler: Sense 22 Hide He's actually a sorcerer, but he truly believes that he's a wizard. After watching a rather poor magic missile .... Err attempts to notice things! Spoiler: spot Hide (1d20+3)[17] If passed err asks your color seems to be fading? Is that perhaps a new spell?? If failed well.err fails to notice it (IMA just roll a d20 and I guess tell us what sense is and IL see if I passed)(1d20)[8]Then under the assumption Austin gets effected at all... Spoiler: diatonic Hide oh that's impressive even for a mighty wizard ...stupid human was always trying to be a bit big for his pants ha!! .say riffraff I was forced to come along and expecting something like a puny sort or even a thief, but your magic is undeniably powerful.what do you say to teaming up and dealing with this fool? I got the perfect buff for you in mind.it just stings a tad before it wears off HHH bluff ? With a pretty good dab of truth? (1d20+2)[11] If passed err will prepare to cast Spoiler: burning rage!! Hide Burning Rage (Player's Handbook II) Transmutation Level: Sorcerer 1, Wizard 1, Spell thief 1, Components: V, S, Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One creature Duration: 1 round/level (D) Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yes As you imbue an ally with this spell, a nimbus of shimmering blue flame surrounds him. He winces in pain as the flames scorch his flesh, but when the eldritch power flows into him, his muscles surge with might. This spell imbues a creature with burning magical energy that enhances the subject's strength and endurance. The searing energy also burns and injures the subject. The subject of this spell gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls, a +2 bonuses on damage rolls, and damage reduction 2/magic. This spell's burning energy deals 4 points of fire damage to the subject at the start of each of its turns until the spell's duration expires, or you dismiss the effect. On .his next turn I guess If spoiler fails...then err backs out of the room and shuts the door (1d20-2)[4]will save. Rather than delivering a decisive blow, Austin backs away from Riffraff instead! Spoiler: More Diatonic Hide At least SOMEBODY gets it in this damned world! You have no idea how many--ACK! Just then, Riffraff's body is engulfed in blue flames, and he starts rolling around on the floor! Spoiler: Even More Diatonic Hide AHHHHHHHHHH! Getitoffgetitoffgetitoff! Make it stop! I have an irrational fear of fire! Spoiler: diatonic Hide ....I wish you had said that in the first place HRM.well at least your stronger for it!!err then looks at the other kobolds he always this.extreme?then throws a magic missile at it!!(1d4+1)[4]Burning rage has 2 rounds to go Spoiler: ..... Hide I don't remember there being two kobolds... I only remember us seeing riffraff. Spoiler: Otherwise Hide Austin is still shaken... so if there is another kobold. I back up for this round even further due to fear. Else Spoiler: diatonic Hide y-yo-you damn kobold, god I hate this specie.... what was that?! Austin says as he darts his eyes back and forth due to the fear effects Spoiler: ................................my bad Hide I called Austin a kobold in the turn order. Spoiler: ...still diatonic. Hide You set me on fire, I set you on fire! The Kobold walks toward Err with his palm out, and flames come bursting out to deal 6 points of fire damage (reflex 14 for half)! Spoiler: Totally forgot about this part, Err... Hide You know the last spell was Cause Fear, this one: Burning Hands Evocation [Fire] Level: Fire 1, For/Wiz 1 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: 15 ft. Area: Cone-shaped burst Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Reflex half Spell Resistance: Yes A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips. Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action. (I'm telling you because you automatically know this stuff even on a one.) * post roll count doesn't match database And dd reflex save to see if I'm knocked out!!(1d20+2)[15](friendly reminder saves are beat to pass)Spoiler: Diatonic and stuff Hide hp 3/6 holy **** that's hot!! Err just manages to dodge the full force and if riffraff is not dead from this last round of burning rage (8 points total now, and it ends) then he throws Spoiler: acid splash! Hide Conjuration (Creation) [Acid] Level: Sorcerer 0, Wizard 0, Gnome Artificer 0, Components: V, S, Casting Time: 1 action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Effect: One missile of acid Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yes You fire a small orb of acid at the target. You must succeed at a ranged touch attack to hit your target. If you miss, there is no splash effect. The spell deals 1d3 points of acid damage To hit [roll]2d20[/roll] +2 Damage is [roll]1d3[/roll] x2 if CRT And moves away through the door Ugh.I forgot I can't roll in an edit postAcid splash hit(2d20)[3][18](21)+2Damage(1d3)[2]x2 if CRT Err's spell ends...and after a feeble attempt to finish him off, so does Riffraff's! After noticing that he's literally on his very last legs and that the human with a scary battleaxe is done being scared, Riffraff attempts to surrender! Spoiler: diatonic Hide Eek! Let me live, please! I'll tell you why I'm here if you do! What do the winners decide to do with Riffraff? Spoiler: Diatonic Hide You dang dirty beast! Aushtyn grabs the kobold and holds him with both fist. Tell me what it is you need to say before I slit your throat! In common to Kuwait don't kill him Austin.he DID steal some scrolls and other valuables. .so we should use him to find said items.plus we can always turn him in for a bigger reward your too soft on this blight of a specie err, he's a criminal. Reward or not I'd love to see his skull crushed under my, boot! Austins grip tightens on the already mangled body of the kobold you're just being a sore loser Austin -.- does a measly kobold really scare you so much? Besides ID rather more rewards than tiny brains on my slippers home says in a rather grunting tone, indicating his frustration and how much was the reward on his head.he then waits a second, you ugly beast you never did tell us why you were here. Riffraff stares narrow-eyed and silent as death seems to approach and Austin tries to address him. Knowledge arcane(1d20+11)[30]If dm says ibpassedErr slowly recalls most kobolds know magic innately which means this "wizard is really a sorcerer" therefore he probably has not bothers to learn more than diatonic so as a test Spoiler: diatonic Hide you do realize we were e discussing how to eat you right? I've been reading from my new floating book that kobold is considered a delicacy in other countries err looks to trap and in common show him a page of anything but diatonic.preferably with a fire or kobold picture please Spoiler: diatonic Hide of course we would have less reason to try this if you helped us return those powerful items you. Acquired and might even put a good word in when we turn you in at your helpfulness And dd intimidation check to convince him!!(1d20+8)[25](2 mod 4 size 2 misc)And his opposed roll is at -4 for being 1 size smaller than me, and he rolls 1d20+LVL+Wis+fear bonus if any -size if any to oppose (pass, and no way is any kobold getting past that roll.) At Err's behest, Trap opens its pages to a picture of a kobold caught in between two fire traps. Spoiler: More Diatonic Hide No! Please reconsider! I've only got this book on me right now! I needed this to help me find a dragon in these depths! Riffraff hands Err the book chained over his shoulder. It's labeled "The entry level steps after the entry level steps," with "Property of Craig Erickson" on the back. Spoiler: Inside the Book Hide There are a myriad of spells here. It's obvious (to Erroneous at least) that they're spells because of the way the pages are written. Spoiler: Spell craft 25 Hide Most of these spells are bootlegged (therefore unalienable), and either have some side effect or are considerably weaker than their original counterparts, which are all intermediate (3-6th level) spells. The only spell that isn't bootlegged, harmful (for the user), or fragmented is Fire Shield. And dd spell craft roll!!(1d20+17)[26]If passed Spoiler: diatonic Hide ...so I flipped through, and you said a dragon down here? .unless its some zombie dragon I doubt it plus this book ...is useless!! It has 1 spell you would ever want and the rest...are mere imitations of true power!! ...now since your being so helpful...what about the other items? In common err tells Austin starting to realize this kobold is not very smart...lucky maybe but that's about it....did you notice any other doors in this room? I think there were a few more in the last room at least...but if we decide to explore I warn you now.my magical arsenal is already running low Spoiler: spell craft Hide (1d20+7)[24] Austin drops the kobold hard. Grabs the book, and begins to look it over. If passed: [I]Yeah, just as err says pretty much useless.[I] he says to himself. If failed: what's err talking about? With all this weird writing something has to be of interest here. Either way:Who cares about exploring some crypts? We have our man, now lets turn'em over to the authorities before I Change my mind!he says glaring at the kobold about how he will spend the rest of his pitiful existence... well oh brash one, I'm 90% sure he has more treasure hidden nearby.also err has the book not austynsince is wanted for robbing more than just one person To riff Spoiler: diatonic Hide putting aside this dragon...where did you place the rest of your loot? I know this book is not the only thing you have While waiting on riff to reply err is going to walk around the room to see if his keen elf senses notice a door search(1d20+9)[18]If riff is helpful, and we get the loot err will lead the party out of the crypt back to the inn to ask where to turn bounties in, while trusting Austin to keep riffraff under control Spoiler: future stuff Hide if riff helped recover the stolen goods Err will vouch for turning him in alive as a show of good faith ...if riff was not helpful then err asks how much the difference is between alive and dread rewards and if be deems it not enough he will put a bolt through the kobolds eyes with a Coup de Grâce Spoiler: Riffraff, Diatonic Hide I sold it all to get these cool goggles! Honest! All I got on me's the leftover cash and these cool clothes! Spoiler: Err Hide Your Elf senses tingle as you approach the northwest corner of the room, and as you search it you find a sconce (A torch holding thingy) and it pulls forward like a lever. Question is, will you pull it? Spoiler: diatonic Hide hmm, sold it all for goggles? And you mean to say you know nothing of the door hidden here? Err places his hand on the torch and in common hey Austin I found a door here should I open it? How about we make him open it!he says while glaring menacingly at the vile creature Spoiler: Diatonic Hide I've helped you plenty...now, just let me go and you'll never hear from me again! Suddenly, Riffraff starts to struggle!(1d20)[11]DEX Grapple check Spoiler: grapple Hide opposed grapple (1d20+6)[10] If passed: (in diatonic) you'll do as I say, or I'll end you right Now! Consider yourself lucky to have survived this long! If failed: (in common) err, I'm going to end him... Err sighs seriously must? Ans shows an acid splash at RIF RAF!(1d20+2)[16]touch acDamage is(1d3)[2]If err hits can't believe you let him go! Let's just open the door and then take him back If missal gods dammit dang slippery beast. I should've taken him out earlier when I had the chance. Whatever.go pull that torch sconce and see if he hid anything there while I tie him up Err pulls out some rope!! And does his best to tie RIF RAF up without training(1d20+2)[6] Riffraff falls and starts to bleed to death (from an acid wound I guess?) on the catacomb floor as Err ties him up! Spoiler: Stable? Hide (1d100)[55]10 percent high. Hmmm. I thinks it could be a trap though. Then again he thought the bucket would be a good trap too. So let's see what hell awaits me this time eh? Aushtyn then pulls on the thing Meanwhile...Hamm i don't know if I can stop the bleeding err attempts untrained healing with some random paper and tape he has!! ...heal check? Wis check? IDK!!(1d20)[2]and(1d20)[14]do you happen to know, how,to patch pounds.I'm not very good at this The hidden door slides open while the door behind becomes obscured in stone. Meanwhile, Err administers CPR and then after a while gives some actual first aid, managing to stabilize the acid with dust from the floor. Riffraff is now stable and unconscious. (if I read that right.secret door opened.the door we came in disappeared?) If Somme maybe flip the switch again.i don't think I see treasure there and I'm, low on .well everything err looks up toward the door to conform he sees nothing treasure wise well, this door obviously leads somewhere why not check it out? It would be a good chance to test my sword arm... then again... your kind of useless right now... Maybe not the best idea.Austin then pushes the scone back into place to see if the door re-opens Err snorts ...this is one of the few time sim not trying to be condescending. .but given how you ran away from a kobold.id rather have magic back in my, control,before we do anything...adventurous Err finishes tying up riffraff and looks to trapped if this lever doesn't work any ideas' oh floating book of.traps it was the slimy ugliness of his face that made me back up... I thought I might die from sheer ugliness. Back up? BACK UP?!? You practically ran from the little, bugger.the only good thing is you stabbed it, in the back, like a rogue at the start! He was much more durable than expected oriels we both, would,be laying in a pool of, blood,and gore If I could interrupt for but a moment?.... The way back is open again. Trapp starts hovering back towards the door, then turns around. Well? Are we turning in this phony rabble or not? Well. It's your word against mine. Let's get out of here already. Yes lets err manages, to carry, riff outside without, help!! And then take the, googles,off riffraff, and,pockets, them,before, going,to the, tavern to inquire where to take him Austin follows along silently. Spoiler: Err, regarding the goggles Hide (Assuming you actually take any amount of time to look at the goggles. Otherwise, just ignore this until you decide to look at them.) They actually look quite ornate upon closer inspection. There are miniature runes and glyphs on the edges of the glass circles that give a small (literally but not figuratively) hint of a magical item. Everyone makes it out of the catacombs just fine, and it is now mid-afternoon. The graveyard is silent and empty. Spoiler: Spot DC 17 Hide A flash of crimson shines in the corner of the graveyard, near the hut where the keeper presumably dwells. Err has no time to waste eager to resume his research to the tavern!! He drags riffraff with him ready to go Absolutely no time is lost as the duo drags riffraff into the tavern. Spoiler: Fast Forward (Should you choose to accept it) Hide Horace points the way, and before they know it, the party is sitting in Marshal Keckramme's office attempting to haggle a decent price for Riffraff. Starting price is 700 Gold for a live Riffraff. Now in the marshal's office... well marshal we capture riffraff.and 700 seems a little low since he is a spell caster .800? .and while I'm at it how much was he worth dead?err casually asks while keeping his hand box hidden under his robes aimed at riffraff Also, what shall happen to him when we hand him over? Ohhhh please tell me till be good... Err rolls his eyes...do you really think now is the time to indulge in your fantasies? I know you have a problem with, kobolds but really not the right time...err looks back at the marshal and decides to pay attention since he was assuming human (i don't believe you mentioned what race the marshal was) Spoiler: Specifics Hide (I'll try to keep the race in mind, but from now on just assume that NPCs are human when I don't specify. For clarification, Keckramme is human.) Keckramme looks up from his desk. Well, he's technically not worth anything dead. It's the information that's valuable. We raised the price on him slightly because some new Intel might lead us to Nameless. As for the fact that he's a spell caster... I'll be brutally honest: I don't care. I'm not paid to discriminate; I'm paid to clean up Maguire's streets, as it were. If I had to pay an extra hundred gold for every self-dubbed "master of the arcane and/or divine", I wouldn't have any coin left to deal with the common cut purse or street beggar. That said, Nameless does take a higher priority than most serial killers this side of the Market River...725 gold. hmm, this thing has information? That's surprising...fine how about 750 ? Even split for my partner and I? Plus it would help us since we were looking into doing more bounties, and we could use some minor upgrades to achieve the goal easier Keckramme rolls his eyes, then meets Err's gaze with a smile that indicates both sincerity and severity. See, there's where I'm torn. I'm absolutely certain you want to collect bounties, that you want the money to help with more bounties...honestly, I get it. But at the same time, if we wanted a pair of vigilantes doing our job for us, we wouldn't also have hired divination experts and master trackers. He stands up and walks toward the window to look down upon the streets. Still, we might not be able to afford stinginess. Surely you know about the recent bootlegging crisis? People are getting dangerous spells for cheap, and because of this the owners of true spells can't get their royalties, which means the proceeds thereof cannot be donated to the city itself. The sooner we can rid ourselves of this problem, the sooner this city can prosper again. He turns to look at the half-elf at the door. See to it that these men are awarded their 750 gold pieces, and that the kobold is brought to The Cage. Right away, sir. Gentlemen, if you please; right this way... During the trip to the Appropriations Department (and whatever "The Cage" is), the half-elf fills in the lulls with some chatter. I take it you two were looking at the "most wanted" notice we posted all over the district; you do realize those are supremely outdated, right? We've since caught most of those baddies, and now we at the very least know what Nameless looks like! Anyway, if you want to keep helping us out, we've been having a real rough go of it with that Hahn fellow; maybe you'll have better luck? Err starts drifting out of focus until he hears the agreed price... Well thanks a lot, and we will be sure to do our best at helping y'all out more.... Listening to TGE half elf talks what does nameless look like? AMD Hahn, huh? What's the trouble with him? ...Once I know me and my friend can decide what to do tomorrow since I'm spent foe the day sadly...btw what is the cage? Hahn, sounds like an easy piece of meat to test my sword arm out on! You can never have too much training! The half-elf flashes a smile, as if Err and Au's are the only people who've ever been willing to talk to him. Pretty distinct, actually; hard to mistake a black half-dragon with a wide scar across his belly. As for Hahn...well, the trouble is that he's darn good with illusions, and sneaky to boot. He's being paid by some scholars to test their security systems... Which would be totally fine, were it not for the fact that he somehow manages to dodge the paperwork involved...and that he always takes something as a souvenir of his exploits. And it's best that you not know what the cage is and/or does. Originally Posted by Austin Hahn, sounds like an easy piece of meat to test my sword arm out on! You can never have too much training! This is one we definitely don't want dead. Can you imagine how much money the city would get from his taxes, not to mention the usefulness of his services? You can test your blade against any other two-bit bandit, but it's probably best that Hahn is brought to us alive. What makes you think he would even provide you with the services of his trade if he were caught?Austin pauses for a moment. On the plus side, I'm not the one that likes to take a beating for a few measly gold... possessions can be replaced easily, my limbs cannot. If he won't come quietly. As I'm sure you guys have already tried.Austin says in a rather sarcastic tone. Then ill have no choice but to bring back his head only. Err suddenly realizes he did not see if trap has been following so he looks around.... I'm sure we can bring Hahn in ...ALIVE with a quick look at army talents have always been in a more controlled direction ...and a half dragon? Any clues where he has gone yet for those can be dangerous if they use themselves properly. .and avoid traps my statement stands... well this is way you're the brawn of our dynamic dourer pats Austins arm now lets collect our reward and rest up then we can decide (after getting, more info about Hahn) if we wish to pursue him Austin mumbles what err said, in a hushed tone as he continues to follow along silently with his arms crossed. He continues to do this, until either something interesting is said, happens, or is back at the tavern where ill assume we sleep (Forgot to mention that Trap decided to hide out in Err's bag; he determined his skills weren't very useful in a town. He hears pretty much everything though, so if you want to ask him anything, he'll gladly respond.) The trio arrive at the basement of the precinct and the half-elf guard drops Riffraff off, filling out the necessary paperwork and making feeble attempts at small talk with the dwarf at the entrance. Once that's done, he motions the party towards the appropriations department. The problem with getting Hahn is, he's either extremely crafty around guardsmen, or he's excessively paranoid of us in general. Either way, he takes extreme caution. Add in his illusions, and we just can't keep up. We do know about his clientele though: either it's students with plenty of scholarship funds, or upstart scholars...with plenty of research funds. If we could only get him to see that we see that his work is most appreciated, revolutionary even, and that he could start his own business, to be properly sanctioned by both the council and Duke Amanda himself. The party then appears at the desk for appropriations. More small talk is made, and the clerk, at the expense of all that is good in his life (or so his expression says), pulls out three sets of papers that everyone is asked to sign, stating both that Riffraff is, to the best of everyone's knowledge, actually Riffraff; and that the price was properly agreed upon. Once (or if, should you for some reason not sign the papers) all is said and done, the duo is awarded their due of 750 gold pieces. The helpful half-elf escorts the two out of the labyrinthine precinct. As for Nameless...that's just it. His appearances seem random at first, but I just know that he's being systematic in a way we can't seem to fathom. Either way, I wouldn't hunt him at all, let alone at night if I were you. The sky is fading to black, and the stars begin to reveal themselves one by one in the ever-growing absence of the sun. Err sees no reason to refuse to sign but just in case uses his right hand (he is left, handed) and has a very loose scrawl done then collects his portion of the gold (375gp)...so Hahn uses TGE scholars...I think I can handle that a bit better than a crypt .and trust me I have no plans on hunting nameless until I feel much stronger. .with that I'm head back to the tavern.if you need us or, me just sent word to...err inserts name of tavern since i forgotten heads there and sees how much a room for the night is (a decent room.not the cheapest) before telling AUS to meet him sometime tomorrow here and retires to learn more spells before sleep! Spoiler: learning 2 spells Hide Going, for...cause fear and remove, fear,before bed!! Edit **** crap I think I learned magic, missle 2x so I'm changing the mistake to... Feather fall!! DC 21 Spell craft (3d20)[19][1][5](25) + 17 If passed err learns more spells!! If failed.TGE named scrolls. Are unable, to be learned until my spell craft increases by at, least 1 pointer learns cause fear and feather fall with no troubles! But his understanding of remove fear had no, success. Austin takes a quick jog through the city on the route he had already run threw before. He then makes it back to the tavern with time to spare, grabs a room, and heads off to sleep cursing that dang kobold who beat him in a fisticuffs match.

IC_ The Tale of Ten Thousand|rating:3.0

Means of Expression closed for Swan and JT

“His heart danced upon her movements like a cork upon a tide. He heard what her eyes said to him from beneath their cowl and knew that in some dim past, whether in life or every, he had heard their tale before.”" That is your assignment for this week. Just now I sent an email to each of you with that quote. It's Joyce, Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. Save you Googling. Study that. Think about it. Do your best to explain to me how reading that affected you. As usual email your work. I will post some to the blog. The ones I post, I would like comments by you. Nothing negative. If you did not like what the person said, keep it to yourself. The whole point of what I am trying to do here, as I have said before, is to encourage you to communicate, by giving you interesting things to think about, and by providing a place where you can say what you are thinking without fear of someone calling you an idiot." Same as every other Monday afternoon for the past two months he had written at the side of the blackboard:Professor Johnston Rm [email protected] scanned the class as they studied their smartphones. Usual second year general arts with a few additions from the professional faculties, engineering, medicine, architecture. It was the latter ones that would gain the most from this. He hoped some of it might filter through. Mixture of males and females, usual small group of 'popular' young women attempting to use their sexuality to advance their grades. None had the wit or imagination to attract him, notwithstanding their bodies." That is all. Next week we will discuss some of your submissions. I look forward to reading them. Always a pleasure." Samira Necrosis was a strange duck. Or at least that's what her parents said when they thought she was out of ear shot. Well, it was the kindest of the things she had overheard them saying about her, but she didn't blame them. She knew she was weird and at this age she had already accepted it. Was it her fault that she saw the world differently? She didn't think so but the world as a whole didn't always agree. You see the world already had a pre-set standard of rules and in many instances they couldn't or wouldn't mold to the difference that was Samira. That she was a second year trying again to pass an introductory English class was a good case in point. Professor Johnston's "Creative Expressions" class was the last class that Samira wanted to be in, but the alternative was a book thumping dictionary Nazi and truthfully Samira weighted the two and judged Professor Johnston's class to be the easier of the two. There were outside opinions that had swayed her favor, the school talked and when someone was a quite as Samira was no one noticed you and said more than should be shared. Two months into the class had her reviewing her judgment. There wasn't a difficulty that had to be overcome but more of a challenge. He spoke in words that flowed like the crystal cold waters of a fresh glacier stream, and they moved Samira but even with the emotional connection she had with his words and the quotes that he picked she couldn't portray that image in her head. Oh, she could think in pictures that his words were like the crystal cold waters of a fresh glacier stream but for some reason saying them felt weightless paired to the painting in her mind. It was too bland and had her frantically grasping for bigger for complex words of description. A failure if she was forced to speak or write it.“His heart danced upon her movements like a cork upon a tide. He heard what her eyes said to him from beneath their cowl and knew that in some dim past, whether in life or every, he had heard their tale before.” The scene was set. In Samira's mind the room was dimmed with gentle candlelight. That soft light that played over someone's body like a caress, teasing and showing just enough to hypnotize and captivate. A woman danced before a stranger, moved by fate to draw his attention and only his. His eyes met hers and his heart raced and his breath stilled. She on the other hand burned like fire and her body moved like a song, calling out to him a promise that only the two of them shared. It was a moment pulled by fractions unknown, powerful and silent speaking only to the heart and the passion stirred. Samira could see all that and more in her mind, but her pencil was still over the paper. She willed it to move like the woman in her mind, but it refused, insulting her in its defiance. 'There is a man.' Samira hated her handwriting, so unsure and lacking the confidence that her drawing possessed. 'He sees a woman?' Frustrated Samira tore the paper out of her spiral notebook and crumpled it into a tight little ball, relishing in the destruction of her inabilities. But the moment was short-lived as a fresh sheet of paper stared up at her with a challenge she knew she could never fully accept. Twenty minutes later Samira called it quits with the paper reading a miserable;'The. No, a man. The man? I'm going with 'The' because it feels like there is an importance to the word The. Wait let me start again. The man sees a woman. He knows her? I don't know how he knows her, but he does. Well it's more than that. A power to knowing her. Not like a god but something.' A vicious amount of scribbles and blackout scratches follow the word 'something'.' The woman sees him too and knows him as well. She gets his attention, and they love each other?' There were too many questions and nothing about how it made her feel.' I feel the attraction of the two people to each other.' Samira wanted to throw her hands in the air and scream out every annoying thought she had about this class as if it would cleanse her from the outside in, but it would draw attention. Another thing she hated as much as her handwriting. Looking around class she saw the other students busily typing on their mini laptops, touch screen things or phones. She hated all that electronic nonsense and had no problem lying about her religion to opt out of being forced to use those things. The truth was she was raised in a mixed religion family and neither of the religions regulated the use of electronics. The closest thing she had to a cell phone was a pager she had since grade school. Her parents had tried over and over again to get her to move with the times, but she liked the simplicity of the pager and how it didn't create a dependence like phones did. She was sure it drove her Profs crazy that she turned in papers handwritten or typed up on a typewriter, but she wasn't going to change herself for the world if the world wouldn't even broaden its horizons to include her. When she thought Prof Johnston wasn't looking Samira traded out her spiral notebook for her loose-leaf art book and started to sketch. What she could never translate into words her art always seemed to expose. Lately her drawings had started to focus on one particular face, the dark hair and piercing blue eyes. There were edges and lines to his face that enthralled the young artist and the depth of his eyes. Many of the girls in class threw their good looks and money at him, but it was for all the wrong reasons. They were only seeing what was on the surface, the tall stature and the way he carried himself, the care that showed in the fit structure of his body, but they didn't see all of him. Samira didn't see all of him either but every time she drew him she felt like she learned a little something more. The picture was heavily shaded, but the man was fully in the frame of the light. He lounged back in the wooden straight back chair and there seemed to be nothing tense about the man but for the arm draped over the chair nearest him, the way the hand tightened around upper frame of the chair and bulged the muscles in his arm slightly. But like all her works it was the man's eyes that spoke volumes, they were trained on the woman across the room. So far Samira only had her outline sketched, but her body twisted in dance, dappled with the soft light of the many candles in the room. The look on the man's face, the way he saw deep into the soul of the woman was reflected, the only amount of detail she had given the woman. If anyone were to see the drawing it would be easy enough to tell that Prof Johnston was the model for the man and Samira the model for the woman and for that reason and more Samira kept her pictures private. Glimpses of her mind, her soul and her heart were her own and while her art Prof loved her work there was a large part of herself she kept from the world, and it's horrible judgments." That is all. Next week we will discuss some of your submissions. I look forward to reading them. Always a pleasure." Samira doubted that but of course it was because he was speaking to the rest of class and not her. If it had been directed at her, she was sure the farewell message would have been a little different. And like every class for the last two-month Samira hurried to stuff her art book back into her old canvas and leather shoulder bag. Followed by carefully tearing out the written assignment for class, wary of tearing on either side of the perforated line. The mantra of 'sneaky as a mouse' chanting through her head as she left her assignment on Prof Johnston's desk. She knew one of these day, and it waswayoverdue, he was going to call on her for one reason or another, and she gave him so many that she couldn't believe that he hadn't already done it. It was one more thing that she hated about English class, the confrontation and failure as the Prof either dropped her or incomplete her out of their class. Samira was just counting down the days, long ago giving up that she would conquer this villain (English class). "Most of you gave quite interesting reactions to Joyce's words. I gave them to you to study, because Joyce carved new methods of communication. Some of his writing is quite difficult to fathom, Finnegan's Wake for instance. This quote is more straightforward, but you caught that his message was not obvious from the words. Many say that 90% of our communication is non-verbal. A man's glance downward, breaking contact with a woman's eyes could mean many different things depending on the context. And there lies the difficulty with that quote. You do not, unless you took the time to read the novel, know the context. And really my point was to show that context is but one of many non-verbal aspects to communication. But one you must all be aware of."" I posted on the blog a few of the replies that illustrate this problem. Remember I asked how did it make you feel. Most of you approached that as what did it mean. But that was not what I asked. This was a failure on my part to communicate to you what I wanted to know. And so we see the difficulties we are all up against every day. For you, communication with your professors is a matter of passing or failing, learning, and so on. But there are many situations in life where communication is far more important. Choosing a life partner, or perhaps choosing not to have a life partner. Telling the user how to operate a device you designed, or invented, or are selling."" Your skills will improve with practice. And if you are afraid you will be criticized, you may not practice. Thus, the rule in my class, no criticism. Period." Barry scanned the room. Most of the students were half listening, paying attention to their phones. He knew the vast majority just wanted a passing grade to add to the list of accomplishments that would finally result in a degree. How was he to stimulate them to actually learn something here? Always a problem. And one in which there was little, if any, professional agreement. Well here is your next assignment. I have emailed you this short quote:'The wood was silent, still and secret in the evening drizzle of rain, full of the mystery of eggs and half-open buds, half unsheathed flowers. In the dimness of it all trees glistened naked and dark as if they had unclothed themselves, and the green things on earth seemed to hum with greenness.' D.H. Lawrence. Take that, read it, try to feel what the author was trying for, and then write something similar describing what you might feel walking in the woods, or in the city, or in a park. Now would the following students please stand up and identify themselves:James Richards Cynthia Jones Samira NevrakisAnne LyndiskiThe first was a footballer player type, the second was a cheerleader type, one of those in the front row, and the last did not really fit into a type that he could bring to mind. Tall, long very dark hair, and slim. Attractive, but very subdued. He had noticed her before, and again she was at the back of the class, almost disconnected. No-one stood up to the last name." Thank you."" You three, I would like to see you at 10 am tomorrow. Room 221. That is all." The next day, when he arrived a bit before ten, all three were waiting outside his office. He asked Ms. Necrosis to wait, and ushered Richards and Jones in, showing them to chairs. He sat with them, his large desk covered in papers and books and a couple of laptops." Now James, I guess you probably play football for the school, am I right?" James nodded." And Cynthia, you are a cheerleader?" She smiled, batting her eyelashes." I am not that clever, I read the school newspaper. However, I have a special assignment for both of you. You can do it together, or you can do it separately. But I want a written discussion of the classical Greek concept of a strong mind and a strong body. And next week, the day after class I want to discuss your submissions here. Please do your best, sometimes students do not get passing grades in this course."" Thank you for coming in. On your way out send in Ms. Necrosis."" Please, sit down."' The. No, a man. The man? I'm going with 'The' because it feels like there is an importance to the word The. Wait let me start again. The man sees a woman. He knows her? I don't know how he knows her, but he does. Well it's more than that. A power to knowing her. Not like a god but something. The woman sees him too and knows him as well. She gets his attention and they love each other? I feel the attraction of the two people to each other.'" You handed me this before you left class last week. I understand you do not like electronic communication. That is fine, much of my own education was well before internet and email and blogs. So. First thing, there is no need to complete an assignment while you sit in class. You may hand it in to my office, handwritten if you prefer."" I am sorry, I am making you nervous, and you should not be. You are here because, wittingly or not, your submission was far better than any other student, and I wanted to get to know you better. Clearly you know Joyce practically founded the 'stream of consciousness school of writing.' And your submission really does let me see into your mind, you really did tell me how you felt. I would like to see you here again next week, same time, after the cheerleader and the quarterback."" Oh yes, I almost forgot. Read some of D. H. Lawrence and choose a passage that you feel shows unusually good communication. Normally I would say 'just Google D.H. Lawrence quotes,' but I suppose you will have to find some compendium of quotes in the library, or perhaps read some of his work. It is all good stuff, your time will not be wasted." Looking at her, he felt a strange attraction. He could not think why, but he did." Well, thank you. Never mind the assignment I gave the rest of the class, just do this D. H. thing for me. I will not share it."" Again, thank you for coming in, if you will excuse me I have some first year papers to read." Samira had never read Joyce's works and truthfully didn't know much about him. A thing she worried about with growing fear as Prof Johnston went on about how he carved new methods of communication and how it related to non-verbal forms of communication." Your skills will improve with practice." There was a slight shake of her head as she disagreed with what he had just said. The movement wasn't enough to draw attention, but it was there. There was no amount of practice that would make Samira better at the written or spoken word.' The wood was silent, still and secret in the evening drizzle of rain, full of the mystery of eggs and half-open buds, half unsheathed flowers. In the dimness of it all trees glistened naked and dark as if they had unclothed themselves, and the green things on earth seemed to hum with greenness.' Again in her mind Samira could see the hauntingly quite woods. There the last touches of winter tried to hold strong, a lone icicle wilting under the coming spring. Dew reflected the silence within the tiny fractures of light that filtered through the canopy. It wasn't about the new birth of green buds on the tress or the half to fully created nests built in the safety of the tress but about the power in peace. Samira had witnessed it many times, how nature came to life in the absence of humanity, how things seemed to come alive with eerie stillness. And yet in her mind there was a set of footprints darkened on the forest floor, darkened by the disturbance of the collected dew drops and bent blades of grass. Her footprints as if placing herself in that natural part of the world where she too came alive and hummed with her own greenness made her more part of that world then the one she lived in. Samira didn't even know how she would try to explain that one. Could she just write that she was a tree and understood? Would that even make sense? And what did that say about how the quote made her feel? She didn't know how she was going to get through this class and started blankly at the notebook until the sound of her name brought her mind to focus. Following the example of the other students Samira stood up and tried to ignore the stares of the students, the blush on her cheeks proof that she wasn't doing a good job at ignoring the brief glances her way." You three, I would like to see you at 10 am tomorrow. Room 221. That is all." This was it. Samira didn't know what the other three names or rather the other two students had done to be called upon, but the list of her offenses trained behind her like an elegant bridal dress. Too bad her dress was in ruins and stained with her past failures. Knots were already twisting Samira's stomach by the time she took her seat again. As much as she loved to listen to the passionate voice of Prof Johnston she couldn't concentrate on his words. Even when she turned to drawing, his words fading to a normally calming drone, there was a hitch in her lines. There was an unbalanced look in Prof Johnston's eyes that she was sure reflected her own. She had seen this coming for weeks and now that it was here she felt so... Samira placed her pencil on the table and looked down at the face that commanded the paper surface. When the realization hit her the class had ended, and she was the last one still sitting there. "I would miss this class." She whispered to herself as she collected her belongings and hurried from class. As much trouble as it gave her, as much as she didn't look forward to being in it, the class itself was in an odd way enjoyable for her. But was it really the class or was it the man teaching the class? Samira had to give Prof Johnston credit where credit was due, his love for the written and spoken word translated to his class or at least it did to Samira. It was the same way she is few about art, and she could feel his love with what he shared with the class, and it effected Samira more than she had thought prior to learning she was getting kicked out of the class. That night Samira painted and as the colors of the painted mixed together her mind started to quite, there was a tranquility to art that nothing in life gave her. It was the only opportunity she had to let down all the walls she kept up, the persona she felt she had to be when interacting with people. In rare moments like this Samira could close her eyes and pour her whole self onto the canvas and know that she would be accepted as she was. And as night turned over to morning Samira finally stepped back and view her life as she felt it. It was a fairly simple picture but the depth of the lighting, the emphasis on the bold lines and coloring produced an image that she could only wish to be true. A desk divided the young woman from the man. He leaned over the desk, elbows braced on the dark solid wood peering into the eyes of the real woman across from him but to the side. He could have gazed at the mirrored creation of the same woman directly across from him, but instead he saw past the image and saw the woman behind the mirror. There was fear and sadness in the eye of the woman hidden behind the fake, fear that she was truly being seen and sadness that she would one day let him down. The fake smiled and reflected back to the world what it wanted to see, but the man only saw her. The real her and he reached out to her, his hand strong and gentle. He was offering her a way out from behind the creation she wanted everyone to see, giving her the bravery that she needs all while his eyes promised protection and care. It was a dream and Samira wondered if maybe she wasn't as shallow as the girls in the front of class. If she didn't just see in Prof Johnston what she needed. It was a cold reality and before the paint was even finished drying Samira turned the painting away no longer wanting to see the truth in her painting. Waking up that next morning was a struggle. She didn't wake with the sun and covered her face to the new day and her alarm." Can the word just give me this one day to hide?!" Samira cursed and foul mood darkening the outlook of the day. But her sanctuary didn't provide the sound barrier that Samira desired and when she could no longer take the sound of her alarm she crawled from the cocoon of sheets and blankets and met the day. As hard as Samira tried the cloud followed her and then grew when Prof Johnston asked her to wait outside as he talked with the other two students first. She didn't know what was said on the other side of the door though she guesses that is she pressed her ear to the door she would be able to hear what was going on. It was a temptation she almost gave into, but before she fell to that weakness the other two students walked out and told her that Prof Johnston was waiting for her." Professor Johnston." Samira greeted as he offered her a seat which she quickly took, clutching her shoulder bag to her chest, nervous to what she knew was coming. The sickness inside only grew when he shared with her the latest assignment." You handed me this before you left class last week. I understand you do not like electronic communication. That is fine, much of my own education was well before internet and email and blogs. So. First thing, there is no need to complete an assignment while you sit in class. You may hand it in to my office, handwritten if you prefer." Samira nodded mouth dry. "I just-" She cleared her throat and licked her lips before continuing. "It's just there was nothing else to write. I mean, I had nothing else to write." Samira confessed wanting to look away but feeling that as a teacher, a good teacher, Prof Johnston had earned the respect of her attention. That he had spoken of future occasions of turning things in was lost on Samira who was only sitting there waiting to hear those fated words of dismissal." I am sorry, I am making you nervous, and you should not be. You are here because, wittingly or not, your submission was far better than any other student, and I wanted to get to know you better. Clearly you know Joyce practically founded the 'stream of consciousness school of writing.' And your submission really does let me see into your mind, you really did tell me how you felt. I would like to see you here again next week, same time, after the cheerleader and the quarterback."" What?" The shock of his words raised the volume of Samira's voice, and she clapped her hand over her mouth blushing with embarrassment. "But, what I wrote..." Samira fumbled trying to understand the turnabout of this conversation. Clearly she knew that Joyce practically founded the 'stream of consciousness school of writing. Samira looked around the room to make sure that Prof Johnston was having this conversation with her and not someone else. "I- Next week?" The confusion showed on Samira's face, her brow knitted together creating deep furrows along her forehead and around her frowning lips. That he so casually handed her a different assignment from the other student only further threw Samira off course." Again, thank you for coming in, if you will excuse me I have some first year papers to read."" Wait!" Samira boldly stood up and held her hand out stopping her Professor's dismissal. "You didn't call me in today to drop me from your class? Or to just grade me as an incomplete?" That had to be the reason she was here, what had just happened was an enchantment of little sleep and a restless mind. It couldn't have been real, she was never good at English and if this had really happened was the first nice thing a teacher had said to her since grade school. He stood up also, uncomfortable sitting if she was standing. He was taller than her, but not by a lot. She was quite tall, and striking, yes that was the word he had been searching for. Striking. Her features were not photo model pretty, yet she could model, with that height and slimness and somewhat standoffish demeanor. Which in her case was probably shyness. Looked at her curiously, then held his chin for a moment while he thought." Please, sit down Ms. Necrosis. Join me in a cup of Red Bush tea, Rewinds the Africans call it." He turned away and took an electric kettle over to the water cooler, filled it and plugged it in on a small table. From a cupboard he got out two tea bags, and dropped one in to each of the two plain white china cups he inverted from the table. From time to time he looked at her silently, a quizzical expression on his face. Brewing the tea gave him time to think. He considered giving her part of Molly Bloom's soliloquy, perhaps:I suppose It's because they were so plump and tempting in my short petticoat he couldn't resist they excite myself sometimes It's well for men all the amount of pleasure they get off a women body were so round and white for them always I wished I was one myself for a change just to try with that thing they have swelling up on you so hard and at the same time so soft when you touch And watch his chances of tenure fly out the window when she reported him. But it did illustrate so well the point he was trying to make. No, he needed a different approach. He gave her a cup of the brewed red tea saying,"No caffeine, organic which I suppose means any genetic modifications to the plant probably occurred before humans evolved."" Now let me see if I can repeat what you just said to me:'You didn't call me in today to drop me from your class? Or to just grade me as an incomplete?'is that close? I think so."" That was succinct, well phrased and well expressed. I believe I know quite well what you were thinking at that moment. Of course your pose, standing up and so on all added to the impression. But my point is you communicated to me very, very well. And our task in this course is to find a way so you can bring that ability under your control. So when writing a letter of application you can call on your writing skills to express yourself."" But to answer your question, I am not dismissing you from class, I am not grading you as incomplete. I can do one thing to make the class a bit easier for you. I will not share any of your writing with the rest of the class until you ask me to."" So your assignment is to read some D. H. Lawrence and choose a passage that you feel shows unusually good communication, and tell me why. In writing, on paper, and just hand it in before the next class." He relaxed a bit then, and sipped his tea. Tea? Samira didn't get this man. He was an English teacher and all English teachers hated her and yet here he was offering her tea. Without notice, she sat as he directed and just watched him unsure of the waters she was swimming in. If he was a cruel man he could be toying with her, but she didn't think that was the case and curiosity had her waiting and listening where normally she would have run." No caffeine, organic which I suppose means any genetic modifications to the plant probably occurred before humans evolved." Samira started down at the cup of tea not knowing what to say. "Umm, okay?" She curled her hands around the teacup but didn't move them, taking comfort in the warmth of the tea itself and the fragrant steam. She didn't want to tell him that she didn't like tea or that even if she did try something new wasn't her cup of tea. Just thinking it made Samira smile, and she hid the reaction by turning her head down and away from Prof Johnston. As Samira hid her smile the Prof repeated her words back to her as if there had been something confusing from her end. As if it were her that had thrown the curveball when she expected a quick fastball out of his class. He spoke of her means of expression just now and Samira's smile faded quickly. He had said something about calling on her writing skill but since she knew she had none had no idea as to what he was talking about. After that confusing moment Prof Johnston clarified her original point about failure and/or dismissal. He wasn't going to kick her out of his class and he even promised not to share any of her work, not that it had ever been an issue. Only people who did good were ever shared and in English class that was never something she had to worry about." So your assignment is to read some D. H. Lawrence and choose a passage that you feel shows unusually good communication, and tell me why. In writing, on paper, and just hand it in before the next class." Prof Johnston relaxed and sipped his tea and for good measure Samira waited for a hook set deeper than reading some D.H. Lawrence. "Is..." Samira released the teacup and rested her hands on the old faded blue jeans that she had one. "Is that all?" It was too good to be true. Nothing was ever this simple, there had to be a trap laid in hiding somewhere and suddenly Samira didn't want to know. Wished that she hadn't asked the question. She didn't want to know and before her Prof could answer the question Samira stood up and hurried out of the room throwing a quick "Thank you, bye." Over her shoulder as the door slammed behind her. And the moment that Samira cleared Prof Johnston's office the world came to a screeching stop. "I'm still in my English class?" She looked over her shoulder to make sure that she wasn't being followed as she asked that question out loud for the world to answer. "How-" But that question was too much like the other that she didn't want to the answer to and stopped herself before she finished asking it. Forcing her feet to move should her Pro change his mind and come after her, Samira found herself automatically heading for the library. With as much time as Samira spent in the library when she got there it only took her a matter of moments to find the poetry section and a book on some of D.H. Lawrence's works. Finding an empty cubical Samira dropped the collection of books she had found and started sorting through them looking for something that spoke to her. In the first ten minutes Samira had a whole page filled with quotes that she is like. Maybe they weren't the best example of communication, but she had written them down nevertheless.“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot.” It was the first thing she had found when she opened the first book to a random page. The passage wasn't so much as moving as an inspiration to what she wishes she could do with the written word. To be able to voice her passions out loud.“It was not the passion that was new to her, it was the yearning adoration. She knew she had always feared it, for it left her helpless; she feared it still, lest if she adored him too much, then she would lose herself, become effaced, and she did not want to be effaced, a slave, like a savage woman. She must not become a slave. Furthermore, she feared her adoration, yet she would not at once fight against it.” Samira thought back to any one of her drawing, paintings or scribbles and wondered if that wasn't what she did with her art. If she just didn't fear the world and hide behind things that would keep her in a false feeling of security. Reading D.H. Lawrence works was emotionally draining. Everything was so well said, could be read so many different ways and evoked so many thoughts and feelings that it was leaving Samira drained. What quotes she found that she is like she compared to her life and analyzed it for flaws or truths. So much of what she was reading made her question, made her wonder. It came to a point that she forgot about her assignment and was just reading to read. His quotes were like stepping stones into things she didn't want to recognize but maybe started to. Hours had passed and Samira hadn't drawn a single thing, and it hadn't even dawned on her. “I should feel the air move against me, and feel the things I touched, instead of having only to look at them. I'm sure life is all wrong because it has become much too visual - we can neither hear nor feel nor understand, we can only see. I'm sure that is entirely wrong.” It was the only quote she had spoken aloud. It was the first quote that she wanted to argue against. She didn't know if this had been what Prof Johnston had been looking for, but she was going to write about this and why it was wrong.' I should feel the air move against me, and feel the things I touched, instead of having only to look at them. I'm sure life is all wrong because it has become much too visual - we can neither hear nor feel nor understand, we can only see. Furthermore, I'm sure that is entirely wrong.' Samira wrote at the top of the paper. Skipping a line she paused over the blank line before her pencil trying to put to words her feelings. Unlike any of the quotes or poems from class there was no movie like layout in her mind to guide her words, just feeling of how she felt this was wrong.' You can feel what is seen.' She started with shaky handwriting.' Pictures are felt if did right.' But that wasn't true either. Art could be felt even when done wrong and sometimes that was the point.' Even when its wrong visuals speak, can make you feel.' Samira curled her hands into fists and waved them over the paper hating the way her words were strung together like a child's.' Art is vulnerability, the chance to feel the person who made it. It makes you understand with feelings that it creates in the person who looks at it.' It still felt childish, but Samira continued needing to explain how she felt.' What is wrong with the world who feels a person it doesn't know?' Nerves started to take over and Samira's palms started to sweat.' Ears are not the only thing that can hear. Well it is, but you can hear with your heart.' Gosh that sounded stupid, but it was how she felt and for as long as it was taking Samira to write this she wasn't going to start over, she had thirty minutes dedicated to what little she had before her and she knew deep down this was as good as it was likely to get.' My point is you can feel with more than touch, sound can make you feel, art can make you feel, smells can make you feel. Many things can make you feel. Seeing is sometimes the best way to see or feel.' Samira let out a huge breath, a sigh of relief that she had been half way holding since she started writing. As stupid as she felt smiling at this pathetic mosh or words she was proud of herself. This was the soundest strung together mess she had ever made and hope fluttered in her heart that maybe this was just the beginning. "Anne SanDisk? Anne SanDisk?" There was no reply. Johnston scanned the lecture hall, but only the usual suspects. Ms. Necrosis up at the back, as usual eyes down, pencil moving. But it never looked like she was taking notes. In any case he had not said anything, yet that would warrant a note." Mr. Richards, Ms. Jones, see me after class. It will only take a moment."" The wood was silent, still and secret in the evening drizzle of rain, full of the mystery of eggs and half-open buds, half unsheathed flowers. In the dimness of it all trees glistened naked and dark as if they had unclothed themselves, and the green things on earth seemed to hum with greenness."" A few of you were already aware of the source for this, or you Googled it, and you mentioned 'sexual tension' as part of how you felt. Those who were not aware of the source never mentioned sexual tension. Interesting, because indeed the quote is part of a passage full of sexual tension. In fact when first published the book was banned, because of the sexual content. Many now think that it was the fact that the sex was interred class that caused the real problem. In any event this well illustrates that mere words, out of context, convey different meanings. Always think of this when you are evaluating any report that a person said or wrote this or that. Remember context is important, few words are strong enough to stand on their own."" Now here is an assignment follow you." He emphasized the 'all' looking directly at Samira. Pressing a button, this image appeared on the screen beside him." It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. Those of you studying engineering will find it easy conceptually, but perhaps more difficult to express in writing, Those of you in fine arts will find it more difficult conceptually, but we live in a world of engineered artifacts, bridges to smartphones, and it will exercise your mind to think of the difficulties the engineers have."" So that is an exploded view of a gear pump. It tells us much about the pump, visually. Your task is to tell us what it does not tell us about the pump, what can not be told visually about the pump. Think what additional information do you need to use this pump. And express that information, in writing. Just invent the specifications as you need."" Dismissed. Richards, Jones, I want to see you now. And, oh yes Ms. Necrosis a moment please." As she approached, he walked up to her and said something quietly in her ear. "Please come to my office, 10 am tomorrow, like last week." After she and the others had left he turned to Richards and Jones. He placed printouts of their submissions on the desk." Please take those and destroy them. They were plagiarized. Plagiarism is grounds for immediate explosion from the university. I checked your records, there are no warnings on file. So I will be lenient, you have until 5 pm this evening to provide me with original work. I do not care if you are stumbling and idiotic. I only care that the work be yours. If you comply, I will erase your emails from my server. And post warning of suspected plagiarism on your records. If not, I will start senate proceedings to have you expelled." Thier faces were ashen. Then a glimmer appeared and Cynthia said "But professor, isn't thereanythingI could do to uh. . Fix this?" She glanced at James. "Forbothof us?" The looked straight at Johnston's crotch." Of course there is," Johnston smiled softly, "Do original work, on your own, use your mind Ms. Jones. It needs exercise." The next morning, Samira appeared as bidden. He ushered her into his office. "I take it you do not drink tea. I like a cup this hour of the day, I have milk, and soft drinks, and water in the fridge, help your self." He poured a fresh steaming cup of black tea for himself." Now,'I should feel the air move against me, and feel the things I touched, instead of having only to look at them. I'm sure life is all wrong because it has become much too visual - we can neither hear nor feel nor understand, we can only see. I'm sure that is entirely wrong.'' You can feel what is seen. Pictures are felt if did right. Even when its wrong visuals speak, can make you feel. Art is vulnerability, the chance to feel the person who made it. It makes you understand with feelings that it creates in the person who looks at it. What is wrong with the world who feels a person it doesn't know? Ears are not the only thing that can hear. Well it is, but you can hear with your heart. My point is you can feel with more than touch, sound can make you feel, art can make you feel, smells can make you feel. Many things can make you feel. Seeing is sometimes the best way to see or feel.'" Amazing. I am sure you can see the difference between your first submission and this one. It is like watching a baby take its first steps. One of the joys of teaching. It was after reading your latest submission that I decided to insert the assignment I gave the class yesterday. And it is the same assignment for you. Essentially exploring the practical aspects of visual and verbal communication. Written words are really just another form of verbal, in my view at least."" I would like to have you here each week at this time, to, well, to tutor you for a while. Won't take long, and it will make a pleasant break for me." Truth was he enjoyed her company. Such a change from the usual students. The two he had seen after class were so typical, so discouraging. But she was a fresh breeze. Not conventionally pretty, but attractive. Some of that was simply her youth, and the shyness too. He had a sense that there was much in her mind if it could be unlocked." But I have a question, during class I noticed your eyes are down, and your pencil is moving. Even when I have not said anything that would need to be noted. I would like it if you told me what you were doing. I assure you any conversation with me is confidential. Furthermore, I do not discuss my students with anyone, beyond professional reports."" So, Ms. Necrosis, what were you doing?" "I don't mind tea." Samira replied honestly taking the seat across from him. "I just think it's rude to take something without offering something in return. That and..." Her words grew silent as her confession of not being one to try new things almost came out. Thinking it in the safely of her mind was okay, saying it out loud made her feel like a coward. For what is life without new experiences? Samira wasn't too sure why she had just thought of something she in truth sought to avoid. Samira wanted to argue. She couldn't see the difference, other than one made her angry. Plus it didn't fulfill the given assignment. And what did he mean that her writing was like watching a baby take it's first steps. She didn't know what he was trying to tell her but what she was hearing wasn't making her feel good. Is that how he sees me? She looked at the man who had stolen all the faces of her drawings and felt the need to hide. A baby? Prof Johnston sat there was something akin to pride in his eyes, but it was lost to Samira. She had done nothing worth the look, a baby's first steps is nothing but nature destined to happen no matter what." About that assignment..." Now that he had mentioned it she had some questions. "I don't get it." All she saw when she looked at the picture was what it was. It was too logical to see any more then what it was. Which in Samira's eyes was nothing but a gear pump. It sparked no inspiration, created no story in her mind's eye and without either of those two Samira could only see what it was. The what it could be didn't move her and if she didn't care how was she going to write about it. "It is what it is." She simply shrugged. Samira nodded unsure of how she felt about having to meet him every week. The first meeting had been, well odd for Samira and the second just as odd so the thought of doing it over and over again seemed for a lack of creative or descriptive words, odd. Maybe a bit annoying, hopeless and worrisome as well but mostly odd. She didn't feel like she was worth the time every week to be tutored because she was never going to get better at writing, and it was something she had accepted a long time ago. Yet Samira was agreeing, confirming the appointments with a questioned statement. "10 am each week." In her mind Samira had every intention of passing up the offered tutoring meetings, he had better things to do and Samira wasn't sure what kind of trouble it would get her into. With all this time spent together he would come to see her skill through her eyes and then that would be the end of her last chance of passing intro English. Plus the mornings was when she walked through the gardens or biked to the nearby park to draw and get away from the noise of some many people. The question caught Samira off guard and for a moment there was just silence. Slowly her face lit up and a shy and mysterious smile formed on her lips. There was no way she was going to ever tell him what she was doing, it was too personal, and it would lead to more questions or demands to see. It was just too much for him to know and too soon for her to say and regardless of what else he had planed for this meeting Samira was done. Standing she headed for the door but paused when her hand landed on the doorknob, "A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know.” And with one final sly smile Samira left the room. The next time in class, Johnston started off discussing the last assignment." This course is about communication, and for there to be communication there must be at least one person disseminating information and one person receiving information. And both must consider the other."" Now all of you recognized the simple gear pump. And a picture is worth a 1000 words, indeed it would probably take more than 1000 words to transmit the information in that picture, sketch really. But what was missing? What I hoped you would find is that even with a picture, some words are needed to complete the communication. IF you are expected to manufacture it, materials and processes, if you are selling it, performance, if you are learning how to design them, performance requirements - and so on."" One of you gave me an outstanding answer:A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know. And that showed me how much I can learn from you. No, I have no intention of telling anyone who it was. That is irrelevant."" Well back to writing, and expression.'so I wait for you like a lonely house till you will see me again and live in me. Till then my windows ache' - Neruda would like you to look at that, think about that, and then try to express that feeling in your own words. A few or many does not matter. Just try to express that feeling."" Dismissed. Richards, Jones, I want to see you now." The class scattered, Necrosis near the end of them, glancing at him." Richards, Jones, thank you for your efforts. You have nothing to be hesitant about in my class. I want you to write for me. As you. I do not care a whit how erudite you are, how clever you are, or how verbose you are. I only care that is honestly you. Your own work. The material you handed in is fine. I judge people on how closely they work to their potential. Not how they compare to a presidential speechwriter. Good work. Keep it up." The next morning Samira Necrosis appeared at his office. "I insist you join me in tea. I know you feel obligated if you accept something without return. Well, next time bring cookies for us. Or, understand that when you said 'A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know.' you gave me exactly the kind of gift every teacher hopes for. That there will be a student who inspires thought in the very subject one thought one knew." As he poured the tea. He thought how interesting she was, how unlike the usual students in his class. She was terse, yet somehow the few words she said, or wrote, held more meaning than a 20-page essay. He really wanted to get to know her better." One way to produce written communication easily is to simply talk, then write down what you say. Your parting comment last time is an excellent example. If you had written that and expanded and explained it, you would already have achieved more than I hope to teach in my class."" There is no need for our meetings to be so formal. Do you like to walk? Or visit coffee shops? I think we would progress easier away from the stuffy environment of a professor's office, and student's chair."" You know I watch you from time to time during class. And I still wonder what that pencil is doing." Samira walked into class worried at what might happen to her. She hadn't turned in anything for the gear pump assignment, and she wasn't too sure where that put her in the class. Prof Johnston might find her case to be interesting for the moment, but how long would that last and had she just ruined it by not doing the last assignment? The unknown griped Samira tight as she took her claimed seat in the back. As Samira readied her desk with her notebook, pencil and soft eraser her mind drifted away from class to her morning meetings. She still wasn't sure what to make of them or how long they would last, but Samira would bare with it as long as it meant not being kicked out of class." One of you gave me an outstanding answer: 'A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know.' and that showed me how much I can learn from you. No, I have no intention of telling anyone who it was. That is irrelevant." Icy water stilled the blood in Samira's veins as her head snapped up, and her eyes frantically looked around the class. She expected everyone to know it was her words and to be staring at her but not a single soul looked at her, well all but one Prof Johnston. Samira caught his gaze and held it for a moment lost to the understanding of its look. Those were her words, well someone else's words, but she had said them not in answer to the gear pump but to what she did in the back of class. Was he just being nice to her, did he feel bad for her and was throwing her a lifeline? Samira didn't know, and a shy blush colored her cheeks and she broke eye contact with her Prof and stared at the blank sheet of lined paper before her.' So I wait for you like a lonely house till you will see me again and live in me. Till then my windows ache'The tone of his voice raised chills on Samira's skin. His spoken words that belonged to another pulled at things in Samira's heart. Although this was not the first time she had come across Pablo's works this was the first time that she felt them. She had always liked the one of love someone between shadows and the soul. She couldn't remember how it went exactly and was somewhat shamed by the fact that it was all she knew of Neruda. But the words presented to her were different. She felt heartache, longing and loneliness. Pictures flooded Samira's mind, but she wanted to do more than draw for once, she wanted to write and be understood. Taking a deep breath Samira picked up her pen, ignoring the pencil at it's side and exhaled. Was it a man or a woman? Did it matter? She didn't think it did but as she thought about the question her hand wrote out in shaky penmanship a question.' Does it matter if it is a man or a woman?' Samira looked up at the front of the room where he was helping another student and saw herself in the words.' I think it's a she. A woman.' She wrote in the same unsure handwriting.' She loves. But does he?' The tip of the pen traced out outline of her lips as she thought about that question.' No.' There was a large space between the question and her answered no.' Maybe?' Samira shook her head and struck out the word, maybe.' Not yet.' For all the sadness she felt in this simple quote Samira wanted to give the woman hope.' Without him, she is empty?' Why was it a question? Was she so lost without him? In a way maybe... Her eyes darted back up to the room searching for him.' Lost because she is unseen.' Without realizing it she was nodding along with what she was writing, agreeing with it.' So her heart aches, as fragile as glass?' Another question and another pause. Yes because his word could make or break her heart. An ending either way but one that would be filled with pain, the other with happiness.' Yes. As fragile as glass and just a word away from shattering.' Samira sat back and read her words with a smile on her face. She didn't know if it was as well written as her argument, but she was happy with it. Still on the side of simple without that flair for words, but she did try. Her fingers caressed the paper and her words a feeling of dread overwhelming her. This once again failed to express how the quote made her feel. Would it be better to just list words that came to mind when she read or heard the quote? What was the wiser choice? Anger at not knowing the right answer Samira tore the paper out of the notebook and crumpled it into a ball. It surprisingly hurt, but Samira pushed aside the feeling and quickly jotted down a list of words.' Heartache. Longing. Loneliness.' The words looked stale and bland next to what she had balled on her desk. For a long while Samira just stared at the three words weighing their worth. It was what she felt. It stated what she felt but not expressed it. Or was simply saying how she felt the expression itself? Back and forth her eyes went between what she had and the paper ball. Near the end of class Samira uncrumpled the paper ball and rubbed it flat if not smooth. Side by side they both lacked the length that she wanted, even together they didn't total half of what she wished she could write. The bell rang and Samira rushed to put her things back into her bag leaving the notebook and the once ball last. She had to turn in one as she made her way to Prof Johnston's desk she was about to lay down the first once when her mind flashed on just what it was she was turning in.' This isn't about the quote.' Her mind screamed in alarm. 'It's you and him! How you feel!' The truth of it stunned her and Samira quickly shoved the paper into her pocket and tore the word list out and placed it on Prof Johnston's desk. As she left the classroom Samira looked back and caught Prof Johnston watching. The harmless glance force Samira into a mad dash as she bolted the last few steps out of the classroom.- - -- --- ----- -------- -------------The next morning Samira was running behind and arrived at Prof Johnston's door a few minutes late. He didn't seem to notice, or he just didn't care and instead insisted that she join him in a cup of tea. "Cookies?" She accepted the cup of tea and tilted her head in confusion. "What kind of cookies do you like?" He went on talking, but she was stumped on the cookies part and was slow to catch up. "Wait, what?" Did he just say that she inspires him? "Me?" She sank into the nearest chair with a dazed look on her face. "But it had nothing to do with the gear pump." She said quietly hiding her doubled confusion behind taking a sip of tea. Tea that was very hot. So hot that when it touched her lips Samira jerked and managed to spill the contents all over her lap and the varnish and paint stained pants she was wearing. "OH!" Samira leaped up from the chair and right into Prof Johnston. "I'm sorry!" There was tea on the chair and Samira ignored the burning she felt to search for something to clean up her mess. "I spilled ten on your chair." Samira was wearing most of the tea, but she was more concerned with the little drops soaking into the chair. And just as he had invited her out of his office. Samira was beyond herself, he was never going to want to be seen with her now. She tried not to look down at herself but could only imagine what a mess she looked in his eyes. It was just her luck that she was as clumsy as she was. Seeing nothing that she could clean the chair with she dropped to her knees and pulled at her shirt using its oversize bottom edge to mop up the few remaining drops of tea. "I'm so sorry." She apologized again, looking up at Prof Johnston with sincere eyes and pouty lips. She wanted to tell him how much she loved walks or the smell of coffee shops, but she was too embarrassed to do anything but try to clean up her mess. The last thing she wanted was to have Prof Johnston mad at her.

Means of Expression closed for Swan and JT|rating:4.0

Gunstar Heroes_ The Spiral Raid [IC]

Chapter One: Autophobia (Grand Opening Music: Bronze Rebel)"Soldiers of the Gun star.” There are no skies over Radar, but the inside of Auction's hull was tinted soothing shades of purple and gold. The Gun star’s five-metal hull is a glorious shield, a protection against all evil. Did a blue dome spotted with clouds and a real sun appear overhead, the response by those in the streets would be surprise at the unscheduled change in patterning, followed by an overall agreement that the reference to the Traitor Sun was in poor taste. Holographic projections inset into the walls broadcast helpful news updates to the population at large." You will be shipping out tomorrow on a new mission. Your objective is to serve as escort and payload for the ship Kareem, which is travelling back home to the Sixth Coil of Spiral.” That voice is quiet, unheard outside of one room in that single structure that pierces the heavens. The Immaculate Dragon aerie, the home of the pilots of the Defense Line, the heroes of the Gun star. Outside the building, the news stations twitter cheerfully as the people go about their daily business.“Breaking news! According to sources in the military, ace pilot Shut Machine has successfully attuned to the newest Imperial-class void fighter, the Scarlet Heir, and transformed. The miracle has been repeated. We will be providing more information when it becomes available to us, but you have not misheard: the attunement was a success.”“Three days ago, we received a message from our deep-cover agent in the Spiral, a Night Caste who calls himself Lodestone Warden.” A man rides a horse down the street, and a few people stop to stare at the display of wealth. The bubble cars used as mass transit by the citizens zip along preprepared routes in the sky, faster than the eye can see. Inside the cars, the helpful voice continues.“In other news, we’ve received reports from Heyday that they’ve finished rebuilding from the terrorist attacks of Voltaic Ablest. The grim Soul steel caste’s picture flashes across the screen.” If any of you have seen this man, report him immediately to the nearest Shari station without alerting him. In an inspiring speech, Deliberative member Messenger of Victory said that he 'Refused to allow such treachery to inspire terror in the hearts of the people.' The six seats in that single room are filled; five with Exalts, one with an entity not near human. Nation continues to speak.“The Warden has been in the Spiral for four thousand years, and this was the mission he risked his cover for. We’ve all been wondering why the Traitor Sun has been slacking off attacking us; well, the Warden’s report is that the Primordial have begun construction on a super weapon they say is capable of frying the Gun star from any distance. They care enough about this thing that the Day star’s orbit is centered around the station where they’re building this thing. Should be pretty simple to find.” The artifact room is calm and insulated from the world outside, as the voice of the Solar hero echoes. If those inside are focused on the mission, it was despite the best wishes of the architect, as the monitors they observed drew a careful map.“On a more cheerful note, the creation of a new city in Estonia was authorized two hours ago. The Ascendant Ablest of the Skies has decided to settle down. I speak for all of us here at Radar when I wish the new population of Ascended the best of luck, and that we all remember his centuries of faithful service.”“Officially speaking, this is a survey mission to the Wild. I don’t want anything getting out about what the plan is, so we are moving fast. Once you leave this room, you’ll be heading straight to Kareem by private bubble. The rest of the crew is already en route. They’re mortals - support staff.” The click in his step echoes inside the room.“The Twilight's say that the principles of Primordial teleportation come from the Wild, and quite a lot of other magi babble, but what it comes down to is that you’re going to fly into a Wild storm and come out the other end in the Spiral. Once there, you need to meet the Warden and get all the details from him. The rest is up to you. “As senior officer, Steward-captain Howl is in command of this mission. In the event of her incapacitation, Lawgiver Main is her second. The Manyfold Path of Advancement is assigned medical duties. Lawgiver Cold heart and Vizier Solitaire are charged with overseeing reconnaissance duties and evading interception.” Narikon places his hands flat on the table and scans the six seats.“One more thing.” A spotlight shines on one of the chairs, revealing the inhabitant to the rest of the room.“Our last survey mission to the Wild picked up this thing. Officially speaking, he’s named Indomitable Stranger, or ‘Subject Theta-nineteen’ if he gets too annoying. He is a Rash - a creature of the Wild - and we own him, Eclipse contract and all. His job is to guide you through the storm without getting you caught up in too much Rash politics, and he is a weapon, not a member of this crew. “Any questions?” Hoodoo glances at the Rash, but her first question is actually one she's harbored since hearing about the mission." I've one, General. If we arrive and the Warden says, 'By Luna's lumbar region! I thought you'd have sent at least half our forces!'"the Lunar waves her arms in the near universal pantomime for a hysterical person,"is there any way we can contact you with that information? If a four thousand year-old Night-Caste hasn't figured out a way to sabotage this project on his own, he might have called because he just needed firepower, and lots of it." "In that case, Captain, if the Lodestone Warden needs more firepower than you've got or can get,"Nation smiles grimly as he returns to his pacing,"There's a Messenger Station aboard the Kareem. If worse comes to worst, call us with everything you know, and we'll finish the retrofit a bit early, and be right behind you. But they'll be ready for an attack if we come charging through the Wild, and it'll cost us a hell of a lot of lives to pull it off. "Anyone else?" Spoiler Hide Nation does not mention, nor really need to mention, that an Infallible Messenger - or equivalent spell - can be traced with advanced enough sorcery. Use of this messenger would give away your position. ArathmusThe Massive Solar shrugged in his armor, the movement soundless. MARA was responsible for that, of course. He doesn't care about Rash. Or this weapon, to be honest. Main regarded himself as a weapon, and he was willing to bet, in a one on one, he'd be more threatening than anything the Primordial could cook up. However, he was still excited." Do the Lab Coats know how long it will take us to get there?" Arathmus understood that the Twilight's, working away in their well lit labs on their toys were important. MARA was their creation, as was his armor. However, he took a remarkable amount of joy in needling them. Besides, this was probably his last chance for a while. He doubted any of those picked numbered among the techies." Also, Science boys know if there is any chance we will be seen in transit?" Nation's circle continues." I asked them that. They said that it's three million one hundred and twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-seven seconds to the nearest Wild storm,"his voice is laden with a tinge of irony,"which comes to about five weeks. I asked them how long in the storm, and they said that they guessed between fifteen minutes and sixty years. They wouldn't even guess for the rest of it." "As for the other? Damn certain you'll be seen going from the Gun star to the storm. Might even get attacked, if you're lucky. But they don't know we know how the hyperdrive works, so no real chance of an engagement from then until you reach the Spiral. After that, all bets are off. Nobody but Lodestone Warden knows what happened to the Spiral since the war, and he didn't exactly give us an essay." Junar"Sir." Junai's voice is crisp, professional." Do we have any sort of rendezvous point set up with the Warden, or are we going in blind?" She expects the latter; the Warden took an awful risk sending any message at all, much less one that announces where he's going to be. You don't survive four thousand years in enemy territory by taking that kind of risk. But it's just possible that somebody had the foresight to establish contingencies for this sort of situation, before the Gun star fled four thousand years ago. Manyfold Path At the mention of his name the Alchemical almost stands up to introduce himself, his bottom lifting ever so slightly off his seat, but His Excellency Nation continues his introduction of the assembled Exalted to each other. Knowing that if she had flesh-and-blood cheeks they'd be flushed by nowPathplaces his bottom back down and tried to pretend she'd never intended to stand up in the first place. Even when His Excellency stopped she felt too embarrassed to say anything, instead flattening his hands against his tunic and trousers as she continued to pretend she had never intended to stand. Listening to the others talk and ask questionsPathwondered if she had any questions of his own to ask. All of them could be answered by sitting quietly and waiting until she began his duties officially though. Still listening, but only half-heartedly, Pathbegan to fiddle with the cuff of his tunic, For a moment his eyes linger on Path's cuff as he responds to Junar's words." Blind, or near enough. He hinted he'd be somewhere near the weapon, but he couldn't say anymore. "Next?" Algeria Solitaire brushed aside a strand of shimmering golden blonde hair and her emerald green eyes fell upon the Rash with a look of cool curiosity. She had never seen one before, but she had heard all sorts of stories. Still she was relieved to know that someone would be capable of navigating the strange and still relatively unknowns of the Wild Storm. And yet, to return to the spiral through one, the secret that they held, she would like to see and claim it for herself, but it was likely no large secret to their enemies. After a moment she turned her cool gaze upon Nation,"Is this anticipated to be a high risk single way mission and will we be allowed a few moments before disembarking?" She would have to say a farewell to her Sight, but it was likely the elder chosen of Secrets knew already what was to happen. Hoodoo raises an eyebrow at the margin of error for the Wild storm's travel time, but waits for an opportunity to ask her question." Ah, not to be crude about this, General, but if our little sojourn through the storm takes sixty years, then I'd like to double-check that we've got some way to put all those mortals on the crew into hibernation - and maybe us too, for that matter. Otherwise, we'll have to go into combat with a bunch of geezers manning the ship. That, or we tell them to get busy halfway there." The captain was fairly certain that there would be some form of suspended animation aboard, but sometimes an enthusiastic Solar could get caught up in five-metal manufacturing optimization or applied moronic hyperdrive sciences and forget that not everyone has a lifespan of thousands of years. The Exalted, if it came down to it, could use those sixty years constructively, but for the mortals it would be a generational ship... or an empty one. "Not true, actually." Path pipes up as a question is asked relevant to his specialty." The crew have likely undergone a treatment using Essence-manipulation to retard aging and extend their life span well past their first century." Path stilled fidgeted with his cuff." Anagathic drugs can then be administered to increase their life span even further, allowing them to reach an average age of two-hundred and forty. A further treatment, more advanced than the first, can also be administered at considerable cost to then double that average life span." Feeling confidant now that she was talking about something she knew a considerable amount about she lifted his head to look at Hold." Though it's generally only used on the Realm's most exceptional servants. The second treatment, that is. The first is wide-spread among all but the lowliest of servants; lever-pullers and the like." Arthur"So 5 weeks of cracking Titanic heads, some unspecified time breaking Rash over my knee, and then assaulting the Spiral with a handful of Exalts?" Arathmus broke into a massive smile, cracking his knuckles for effect. He didn't actually need to do it, and the massive suit made actually cracking them impossible, but it was important to keep his image alive." Sounds fun. I'm ready." Nation nods appreciatively to Path." They've all been administered the first set. They'll manage."" He then turns to Algeria. He continues to move." Perhaps this wasn't clear to you, Vizier Solitaire, but we are not expecting you to throw your life away. We are expecting you - all of you - to return and make your report. This mission is high-risk, as is every other mission you've ever faced." He spares Main a short nod of approval." And you can send your messages in transit. We're already losing too much time to the storm. "Anyone else?" Gun star Hero!!!" Gentlemen," the heretofore silent hero speaks, his words pouring from him in a sizzling smooth voice. The General had spoken...something...he wasn't paying attention to the brass, as one ought to. Everyone knew that grit and rogue mavericks were the ones who really got things done, after all. Gunstar Hero is a tall, heroically lean figure, with thin eyebrows, and a devilishly rakish mustache. He appears to be constantly sweating vitriol from every pore; it drips and oils his hair and skin to an impossibly bright sheen. He wears what had started in life as a Gun star Defense Line admiral's uniform, but then had been adorned and festooned with enough patches, medals of dubious quality, gold lame, silver lame, epaulets, ribbons, and a sash that it was all but unrecognizable. In stark contrast to the garish...clothing (to call it a uniform would be flat-out wrong), upon his back lies an extremely simple wooden staff." In but a few minutes, I, Gun star Hero, Champion of the Gun star, Privateer Extraordinaire, will guide you through the feared Wild Storms of Beatrix 7, braving dangers and impossible odds - though never tell me them - and then, you will all have the great honor of acting as support for my heroic mission to destroy the super weapon that Foul Than has constructed - to have your names remembered alongside mine in the history books. Now is the time for the turning of the tide, and for great deeds. Now is the time for glory! All hail the Gun star! All hail the glory that awaits us!" He awaits his due applause. "And he's one of the saner ones,"Nation says harshly.“The Kareem is in launch bay thirty-six, Viscid Spire. Dismissed!”- - -Short corridors lead from the artifact room to an under-under-ground tube, where a crystalline Essence Bubble awaits. There are ten seats in the bubble, and only the six Gun star Heroes as passengers, alone in the car. What do you do? Spoiler Hide Viscid is perhaps ten minutes away by bubble; the Spire district is commonly used for this sort of thing - the launch is covered by the Gun star’s point-defense weapons for dozens of miles around the aerial approach, and the area is clear enough for easy defense. (Gun star Elevator Music: Prelude to War)- - -The heroes of the Gun star continue onwards in silence through the bubble car as dramatic music plays from near-invisible speakers. The trip to Viscid is reasonably short; in theory, it ought to be ten minutes. Eight minutes in, the music suddenly stops, and an automated signal begins playing. Three loud beeps shatter the silence, and a message plays, spoken in a calm and reassuring voice.“This is an emergency broadcast. Apostate Champion Termination of Endings has been spotted at Viscid Spire. All non-military personnel are ordered to evacuate to a distance of at least five miles. Do not panic. The Void Hunt has been alerted and will arrive shortly.” Beep. Beep. Beep.“We repeat. This is an emergency broadcast. Apostate Champion Termination of Endings has been spotted at Viscid Spire. All non-military personnel are ordered to evacuate to a distance of at least five miles. Do not panic. The Void Hunt has been alerted and will arrive shortly.” Beep. Beep. Beep.“We repeat. This is an emergency broadcast. Apostate Champion Termination of Endings has been spotted at Viscid Spire. All non-military personnel are ordered to evacuate to a distance of at least five miles. Do not panic. The Void Hunt has been alerted and will arrive shortly.” Beep. Beep. Beep... Spoiler Hide There's a control on the wall for if you want to change your destination. The bubble car is not, however, automated enough to go anywhere else. So far as you know, the Kareem is the only craft of any importance at Viscid. Hold"It wouldn't be trouble if it waited where it was supposed to, would it?" Holo is less than thrilled. Any number of scenarios involving damage to the Kareem, or it's mortal crew members flash through her mind, and the Apostate is probably planning to carry out every one of them. The Lunar makes no move for the control panel. The others were probably expecting orders." I can trust that you all know how to handle yourselves in a fight, but don't get in the Void Hunt's way if they've beaten us there." She grits her teeth at sounding more awkward than she meant to. This wasn't a real Circle or a proper crew, not yet - she hadn't even met any of them before today. She had Luna's gifts for that, of course, but without a clear understanding of the threat posed by this Apostate she had no idea if she could afford to burn the Essence on what was effectively supernatural team building. Still, all she can do is her best. She grins to drain the sarcasm from the next sentence." Any stunning insights would be welcomed." Junar"Recommend we secure the Kareem and her hangar rather than engage, sir." Junai unslings a small jade-alloy crossbow from her back, slots a cylindrical steel core into a socket on the foregrip with click. The weapon draws back into firing position soundlessly, a faint tingle of Essence confirming readiness." We can't afford to play rat-and-roach with this thing." She keeps her eyes on the tunnel ahead, gauging the distance to the Viscid station and watching for unpleasant surprises. Hold"Oh, I'd love to ignore the Apostate, but as far as we know the Kareem is the only noteworthy ship at the docks. I'd give it better than even odds that this rogue Champion is there specifically to mess with us or our mission." Manyfold Path At the mention of an Apostate attacking the spire Path's face, which had been so reserved, was an image of anger and determination. As such a gentle Champion he probably felt responsible somehow for the actions of any Apostate - and his own budding anarchistic philosophy probably had something to do with his anger at one of the few beings that served as a physical counterpoint to them. Already he had moved to the controls and pulled a nearby panel off, his hand exploding into thousands of tiny machine-like probes that he forced into the open magi tech." We... w-we have to stop it. It cannot be allowed to hurt any more people!" With a sudden jerk and a flash of sparks the crystalline bubble lurched forward as its magic was manipulated and forced to move ever faster at the command of the Champion. At that the Alchemical turned to Hold." I can accept if you want to go protect the ship, but my pride as a Champion cannot let me do anything but hunt it down and destroy it." On cue the storied weapon Ascribed Destiny appears in his hand as a heretofore unseen star metal karma-bug swarm retreats from that hand. The bubble surges forwards, practically doubling in speed. It won't take long before you arrive. Soothe Lunar's lupine ears perk up as the captain swivels, bracing against the sudden acceleration. Her voice is frosty at best." Your 'pride as a Champion' can and will take a backseat to the mission. We don't get to make calls based on personal preference. If that Apostate isn't standing between us and the Kareem, we need to let the Void Hunt do its job. That's what it exists for." Manyfold Paths if on a swivel Path's head turns with a look of shock." Wh-what? How... how can you say that? How would you feel if that... that monster out there was one of your own kind? A Lunar turned into a terrible abomination!" He didn't seem quite so meek now, though why he felt so strongly about this was a bit of a mystery quick knowledge of the particulars of her attachments to the Deliberative Army." Wouldn't you feel compelled to destroy it before it hurt more people? It wouldn't take long. An Apostate... they aren't subtle. Not when... when there are things for them to break." Hoodoo tilts her head to one side, unimpressed." Indulging my compulsions was not, in fact, an option where this mission was concerned. Now, I don't know what private instructions, if any, you received concerning the raid, but I was told that I was supposed to take charge, command the ship, and get everyone to Than's science project in one piece. To do that, I need to know that when I tell you to put Plug A in Slot B and buckle up that you're actually going to do it and not, say, go Apostate hunting instead." She seems about to stop, then adds,"And frankly, I'm concerned that we're even having this conversation. I expected a state Champion to be more disciplined." Manyfold Path"I... I see." His voice was stammered." Yes." Clearer. More definite." I'm sorry. I..." He didn't finish that sentence. Instead, he looked at Hold for a moment and in silence he stared." The Apostate will be engaged if its deemed a threat to the Kareem only." Piece by piece Path's armor was extruded and fitted onto his body. It took only moments for the arms and legs to be covered and for the standard gold and blue patterns loaded into the suit to take effect. With the torso pieces in place he looked almost exactly like the Canadian posters of him and as the helmet locked into place with a sigh the look was complete. Soothe Lunar simply nods. She hated doing that, and on an average day would be happy to go on an Apostate-hunting side trip or even allow her fellow crew their own choice of what to do, but the Kareem was currently as vulnerable as it was ever going to be, and securing it had to be top priority. The crystal bubble arrives, jolting to a stop at the terminal. The essence webs unfold as the dome vanishes back into the ground, leaving the five Exalts and the Rash alone in the station. Well, mostly alone. Two men stand at the far end of the terminal, by the stairs going up. They wear the sort of equipment rich Exalts often give to mortal followers - super heavy plate armor, complete with face-concealing visors, colored in rich brown and gold, well-crafted swords with fancy hilts, and a complicated and artistic crest splashed all over their equipment. The swords are not drawn - quite - but they're clearly ready for a fight." This area is sealed," one says slowly, clearly enunciating every syllable. "An Apostate attack is underway and the Void Hunt has arrived. Remain in your vehicle and return the way you came." What do you do? Spoiler Hide The terminal is at the bottom subbasement of the spire. The mid-levels are a fortified compound and part of a cleared urban area; the top area is a collection of launch tubes for larger ships. I invite everyone to make Perception+Awareness rolls for more information about the two guards. There's something a little off about them... An Intelligence+Socialize+(Relevant Background) roll could be made to try and identify the guards' crest. Holographic Hellhole stops a short distance in front of the guards and considers. It was rare that two mortals would try to halt a crew of incoming Exalted by talking like Thespians, and something felt wrong to begin with." So, out of curiosity, who was leading the Hunt?" Spoiler Hide Perception + Awareness: (8d10)[4][1][9][7][3][4][10][3](41) Intelligence + Social + Class: (10d10)[9][10][10][9][8][2][6][7][8][8](77) This is assuming Class can be used to identify the crest, of course. Stunt dice, because ST said so: (3d10)[1][8][4](13) "Elegant Wrath Falling," the other says, speaking in the same clear way. "Please return to your seat." Manyfold Path Standing behind Hold with Ascribed Destiny Path too could feel that something was off about these two. Behind the visored helmet the Alchemical was trying, just as Hold was, to figure out what it was that created that feeling of wrongness. Spoiler Hide Perception + Awareness: (5d10)[3][8][9][5][6](31) Intelligence + Social + Class: (7d10)[3][7][6][2][9][10][3](40) Holographic Howl"Close,"Hold says,"But no prize. Elegant Wrath Falling updated the uniforms and gear carried by his mortal servants months ago, and he's not the type to send servants out in the old armor. I don't know who you are or what your game is, but you're not his men. Stand down." The first soldier coughs. "We are... reservists. The 'chestnut guard'." The other one picks up. "In a few minutes... the battle should end."" And we can see you up," adds the first soldier. Clearly, neither of them is willing to stand down. Algeria brings her hands to her weapon her eyes narrowing swiftly on the men." Praytell soldiers, that should I send a call to Heyday from any nearby terminals then I should have no trouble verifying your information?" Altievia looks the two over with a scrutinizing look. They were not who they claimed, one of their number had already cleared that, so who or what where they. With a nearly imperceptible flick of her wrist near her ear she whispers to a small pattern spider." Do these two work for Elegant Wrath Falling?" With that she watches the men while waiting to see if her little helper will even go to find the information, which will doom the two men. Spoiler Hide Per + Aware (3d10)[10][5][4](19) Int + Socialize + Class (7d10)[6][2][8][4][5][5][7](37) Stunts (3d10)[9][10][4](23) Efficient Secretary Technique 2m Holographic Howl"Oh, I'm sure it's legitimate." The Lunar quips, before she turns back to the two men and brightening." The Chestnut Guard! Why didn't you say so? It just so happens that I'm part of the Cashew Order, and therefore authorized to be in there. One side, boys!" With that, Hold strides forward, aiming to pass them. Gun star Hero The Rash, who has been uncharacteristically silent observing those who would be under his command." I don't think you know who I am! And if you don't know who I am, or who all of these other, slightly less important people are..." Gunstar Hero unleashes a whirlwind of pain and suffering on two Obvious Impostors. Spoiler Hide Using Transcendent Pincer and Endless Armies of the Storm. One attack against each of them. 11B base damage. DEX+Stealth for unexpectedness: (7d10)[2][7][10][6][1][1][7](34) Attack 1: (25d10)[8][8][4][6][10][6][5][5][6][7][2][2][4][2][8][10][10][6][9][7][6][8][8][9][9](165) Attack 2: (25d10)[10][4][8][1][6][6][8][3][8][6][3][9][5][2][7][1][7][9][7][6][4][4][1][4][8](137) AlteviaSpoiler Hide "You indicated four individuals. Please clarify your request." Originally Posted by Jade_Team With that, Hold strides forward, aiming to pass them. As the Lunar steps forwards, the two guards move to engage her. They pause not at all for Gun star Hero’s cry of "I don't think you know who I am!" As the guard on the right’s hand reaches for his sword, his other hand hurls itself in front of him, dragging his arm along with it. The hand reverses on the wrist and a flower of bone and iron sprouts outwards from the palm, pumping into a lotus shape until a three-foot bone shield faces outwards from his hand. The guard on the left goes through an identical procedure, except that his head pulls itself upwards, high and proud even as he crouches under the cover of his shield. The voice issuing from between his slightly opened lips comes from the same mouth as his previous statements, but the tone and inflection are playfully feminine.“We’re sorry for the absolute incompetence of our guards. We’ll try to find less idiotic soldiers next time we need to delay you.” The other one’s head tilts. It speaks in warm, fatherly tones. “Good luck, lads. We’ll remember your sacrifice.”” Try to take a while to die, will you?” Spoiler Hide Those who haven’t yet, roll Join Battle. Hold and Gun star Hero both get one-die stunts for their actions. The two guards are non-extras below the importance level to stunt. Rolling Join Battle for them: First Guard (Name Unknown): (7d10)[8][5][8][1][4][1][7](34)+2S Second Guard (Name Equally Unknown): (7d10)[6][7][7][2][9][8][10](49)+2S For Junar and anyone else with Essence Sight: Spoiler Hide They’re not possessed, but two charms were activated, from a distance, with them as the targets. JunaiAlthough there's clearly something odd about two mortal guards denying entry to a group of soldiers—Exalted soldiers, no less, who clearly outrank them and are capable of assisting—it takes Junar a few moments to realize there's something else wrong. It clicks just as Howl strides forwards, apparently intending to bluff her way through the soldiers——except those aren't really soldiers. She opens her mouth to warn the captain a moment too late, reflexively bringing her crossbow to bear. Spoiler Hide Join Battle: (10d10)[2][6][5][1][9][7][3][6][10][8](57) Plus 4 successes from Flashing Draw Mastery and Flashing Vengeance Draw. Note that she has several effects that trigger off Join Battle, but exactly what depends on her Join Battle result compared to other people, so I'll hold off on those. Manyfold Path"Minutes?" Fiercely holding the grip of Ascribed Destiny the Alchemical was almost about to plunge on ahead of Hold when the soldiers moved and acted. Then the voice came. "Apostate!" He assumed. Spoiler Hide Join Battle (Wits + Awareness): (5d10)[5][2][10][5][5](27) Hoodoo sinks backward into a semi-crouch, reaching for her sidearm. Partly to have it ready, of course, but also partly to mislead. Her personal essence cannon was not, after all, her most dangerous weapon. Spoiler Hide Wits + Awareness + Stunt (Join Battle): (9d10)[4][4][4][5][8][2][9][9][1](46) Arthur Maintain smiled under his helm, as he steps out. He'd been letting the others do the talking. Despite his appearances, he wasn't stupid, and his act was mostly that, an act. He knew he wasn't the best one for maneuvering in the Gun star's bureaucracy. Besides, he had a commander for that nonsense. However, it looked like it was over to him now." Hey, 'commander.' Any rules? Or am I allowed to have some... fun?" Spoiler Hide (11d10)[8][4][8][4][7][10][1][4][9][2][9](66) The Sidereal sighs and stands, unfurling her ribbon and shaking back her long hair,"No need now, I will remember to give more clear and concise instructions later,"she tells her little charm. She had forgotten subtle questions do not work on it." Commander your orders?" Altievia asks sliding into a slightly aggressive stance her eyes on the enemy. Spoiler Hide A boring JB (6d10)[6][9][4][5][7][1](32) Foot... 2! Hold"Take them down. Quickly." And the room erupts into a blur of violence, as the two desperate henchmen try to hold off six battle-trained Exalts... Spoiler Hide Turn Order Tick 0: Junar Tick 1: Second Guard Tick 2: Arthur Tick 4: First Guard Tick 6: Hold Tick 7: Path, Gun star Hero, Algeria Juliette captain's words are punctuated by the staccatohissof crossbow bolts splitting the air. A nine-inch bolt of solidified metallize Essence blossoms in the left-hand guard's helm just over the eye, reward for his foolish decision to peer over the cover of his marrow flower shield so that he could taunt them. The other guard is better-defended, and so the second bolt flies low, aimed to strike a crippling blow to the leg. All this in the space of a breath. Junar is already tracking back to the first guard, ready to snap off another shot if her initial attack failed. Spoiler Hide Reflexive unexpected attack against #2: (14d10)[8][3][4][4][9][3][6][7][10][5][5][6][6][10](86) Stunt dice: (3d10)[6][2][1](9) Followed by an attack against #1. (Note: Speed is reduced to 3 thanks to Flashing Draw Mastery.) Attack: (14d10)[6][3][2][8][8][9][7][10][8][8][8][9][3][4](93) Stunt dice: (3d10)[6][10][7](23) Using target arrows; base damage for both attacks is 14L piercing. Combat stats Spoiler Hide Dodge DV 7 Attacks Onslaught crossbow: Speed 5, Accuracy 14, Damage 14L*, Rate 2, Range 350; 2, B Unarmed: Speed 5, Accuracy 6, Damage 3B, Parry 3, Rate 3 Soak: 13B/15L/8A (breastplate 6B/8L/8A) Hardness: 3B/3L Essence Personal: 16/19 Peripheral: 25/42 (17 committed) Willpower: 10/10 Health -0 [ ] -1 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] -2 [ ][ ] -4 [ ] -X [ ] Active effects: none The soldier scanned Junar’s actions with precise detail. It was reasonable to assume she would threaten him, and he observed her every move with eyesight beyond that humanly possible. His brain was not superhuman; he did not imagine for an instant the flashing draw, the precise arrow. His armor knew the bolt, though, and for a moment the armor convulses like a thing alive, the arrow hitting not weak flesh, but solid steel. He staggered, but still stood. The second one was not taken by surprise, but he didn't expect Junar's pinpoint accuracy as the bolt sheared through his plated leg. He is completely silent as he turns to Junar and shoots her a look of pure hate. Spoiler Hide You get a two die stunt. @Second Guard: The attack was unexpected. Very unexpected. Hit, margin 7. On the other hand, he’s Soak 13L against piercing attacks, so he’s probably not dead yet. @First Guard: He tries to parry with his shield. He’s DV 7. You got 12 successes, so you hit, margin 5. Same Soak as the other guy. The first one shot transitions calmly from the injury, quickly moving into a lunge at Holographic Howl as she moves into her defensive stance. His blade moves with impossible speed - not the speed of agility or skill, but because of the sheer superhuman force of the blow. Spoiler Hide Attack Roll: - 7 successes Essence Sight: Spoiler Hide The attack is enhanced by a non-Obvious Charm. Action Order Turn Order Tick 2: Arthur Tick 3: Junar Tick 4: First Guard Tick 6: Hold, Second Guard, Path, Gun star Hero, Algeria ArathmusArathmus smiles widely beneath his helm at Hold's words. Apparently, he was free to play. And he intended to. He flexed his arms as he rushed at the Soldier threatening his commander, claws extended." No, no, no little man. You play with me, or with no one." With one push, he sent himself skyward. At the apex of his jump, a kick of his legs changed his position, bringing him arcing downward, so his claws will catch the enemy, slicing deep and forcing him downward. As he hits there is a pulse of essence. Hold can likely feel it, an intense downward force, slamming into the foe, forcing him downward far more, slamming into the mortal with the force of a Solar's full power. Spoiler Hide 3m on HEAVEN THUNDER HAMMER. (18d10)[3][8][2][1][9][6][1][4][5][1][2][9][6][8][10][9][2][3](89) Stunt- (3d10)[8][10][8](26) 9L+Threshold Six damage, as well as flying (9+Threshold Six)x3 Yards. As he is flying downwards toward the floor, unless he is breaking through the floor, he takes (9+threshold six) Damage. He raises his shield to deflect the blow, but the sheer Solar force channels through his protection and smashes him to the ground. The battle pauses for a long second before the soldier starts to rise. Despite the power of the Heaven Thunder Hammer, he seems almost completely unharmed. Spoiler Hide One die stunt. He's DV 5 after action and wound penalties, so you just barely hit, dealing 12L pre-soak damage, or 2 post-soak dice of damage, since he's Soak 17L. He's smashed into the floor, taking another 36B damage. That translates to 1 post-soak die of damage, since he's Soak 35B and knock back doesn't have Overwhelming. The floor is fine. This is the Gun star; floors have Hardness. He is prone, though. Any damage charms you want to use before the roll? Holographic Howl Luna's chosen are rarely caught napping. The smarter move for most people might be to spring or roll back, away from the assault, but Hold isn't most people, and her boots can take a bigger hit than some bulkheads. She spins to meet the attack with one of her own, twisting and lashing out with her foot. Spoiler Hide Using Parry, along with the First Dexterity Excellency (3m). FEE: (3d10)[3][1][8](12) Stunt: (3d10)[3][9][10](22) Hold successfully kicks the blade aside, and a moment later Arthur's blow knocks the warrior to the ground. Spoiler Hide One-die stunt. Remember that, as per page nine of the Scroll of Errata stunts dice aren't rolled, they're just added to the DV. Checking Arthur's sheet, I don't think he has any damage charms, so rolling the dice here: L: (2d10)[10][3](13) B: (1d10)[4](4) Turn Order Tick 3: Junar Tick 4: First Guard Tick 6: Hold, Second Guard, Path, Gun star Hero, Algeria Tick 7: Arthur Junar's turn. Juliette were tough, more than she expects from plate-armored humans. Automatons? Probably; that or some type of Void tech puppet. Junar doesn't know enough to tell the difference and—at the moment—doesn't care. She aims for the slower guard, his (its?) approach doubtless hindered by the bolt transfixing its leg: clearer shot, not engaged with friendlies, reduced mobility. She meets its gaze as she brings up her crossbow, sees hatred inside those human-like eyes, returns it with indifference. Still human underneath all that? Too bad. The creature is only a second or three away from striking distance, but that's a second too long and in that instant they both know it. She shoots:one-two-three, a methodical salvo designed to negate the shield. The first two shots fly high, aimed at the right and left shoulder; the second goes low, straight for the unwounded leg. Spoiler Hide Declaring a combo: Trance of Unhesitating Speed and the Second Dodge Excellency. Buying 3 attacks for a cost of 6 motes, all directed against guard #1 (unless he dies, in which case #2 gets the remainder). Attack 1: (14d10)[72] Stunt: (3d10)[8][4][4](16) Attack 2: (14d10)[95] Stunt: (3d10)[3][1][1](5) Attack 3: (14d10)[75] Stunt: (3d10)[4][2][6](12) Combat stats Spoiler Hide Dodge DV 7 Attacks Onslaught crossbow: Speed 5, Accuracy 14, Damage 14L, Rate 2, Range 350; 2, B Unarmed: Speed 5, Accuracy 6, Damage 3B, Parry 3, Rate 3 Soak: 13B/15L/8A (breastplate 6B/8L/8A) Hardness: 3B/3L Essence Personal: 13/19 Peripheral: 25/42 (17 committed) Willpower: 10/10 Health -0 [ ] -1 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] -2 [ ][ ] -4 [ ] -X [ ] Active effects: none He raises his shield in an attempt to block, but all three bolts nicely fly past his guard to strike his armor with explosive force. Spoiler Hide He's DV 7 base, -1 from wound penalty. Your first arrow hits with a margin of 3 successes, your second with a margin of 2 successes, your third with a margin of 5 successes. He's still Soak 17L, -4 for piercing is 13L. Also, I don't think you need to declare combos. You can just say that you're using Trance of Unhesitating Speed, and then activate the Dodge excellency if someone tries to stab you later. Characters may simultaneously activate as many of their Charms as they desire, so long as the combination of powers activated obeys the rules for creating Combos. His armor flexes like a living thing, throwing aside the shattered crossbow bolts as he slowly stalks - well, tries to stalk, it's more of a limp - towards Junar, carefully studying her form as he readies an attack. At the same time, the second guard rises to his feet. He takes no aggressive action - yet - but merely calculates the best way to strike. Spoiler Hide The villains both Aim, so it's the turn of all the PCs but Arthur and Junar. Tick 6: Hold, Path, Gun star Hero, Algeria Tick 7: Arthur, First Guard Tick 8: Junar Tick 9: Second Guard, Gun star Hero"Traitors!" howls Hero, his staff thrust outwards before him, eyes ablaze, and free hand clenched into a claw." Be thou rewarded as thou deserve!" His curse takes the form of a wave of translucent, faintly iridescent liquid, vitriol spewing forth from his mouth to strike the risen traitor. It reaches the man, and his armor and flesh bubbles and boils at the contact. His visor fogs with corroded metal; the soldier tries to wipe it off, arm scrabbling at the slit, but by the time he has done so, Hero is there, staff in hand, raining blows upon him, never relenting, never pausing for breath. In battle, tempo was everything, and he was the conductor for this particular score. The first blow hooks behind his leg, upsetting the soldier's balance; the next two upon the weakened visor and sending him further down, to one knee, and the final blow, delivered by the twin end of Gun star Hero's staff, directly into the crotch of the fallen soldier. Spoiler Hide Using my stunt pool, and flurrying Teeth of the World and four staff attacks. Teeth of the World(3 die stunt, Sovereign Element Shape for 3 dice): (13d10)[3][7][7][1][7][8][6][8][8][6][2][1][5](69) (DEX 7 + Presence 3 + Dramatic 2 + 3 Stunt +3 Vitriol - 5 flurry) Attack cannot be parried. 6L Damage, -2 armor soak if it hits. 6 six (8 six) Staff Attack 1 (-1 onslaught penalty): (19d10)[2][9][1][9][3][1][4][1][10][1][6][5][4][7][1][10][1][9][4](88) Stunt (3d10)[6][6][7](19) (8 six) Staff Attack 2 (-2 onslaught penalty): (18d10)[9][8][4][9][2][10][8][4][7][3][4][6][8][4][2][5][4][1](98) Stunt (3d10)[5][4][7](16) (6 six) Staff Attack 3 (-3 onslaught penalty): (17d10)[8][1][2][4][8][5][8][8][6][5][7][5][4][6][4][3][7](91) Stunt (3d10)[2][6][2](10) (7 six) Staff Attack 4 (-4 onslaught penalty): (16d10)[3][7][4][8][4][4][4][3][8][10][3][8][4][5][9][1](85) Stunt (3d10)[5][1][2](8) Staff has base 11B damage. I'm probably only dealing ping damage (1) though, since the other one has 17L/35B soak Ping Damage Only: (5d10)[7][10][8][1][8](34) Teeth of the world costs 5m, 1g; Sovereign Element Shape costs 3m. 22/30 motes 5/6 gossamer. DV = 10-5=5. Immune to non-stunted, non-magical attacks, +3 DV against stunted and/or magical attacks. The acid eats away at the guard's armor and corrodes through to his skin. As it burns his sensitive eyes he reaches up with his armored hand to deflect it, but is stunned to the ground by the barrage of blows, shattering his armor and breaking his bones. He loses consciousness halfway through the barrage. When it finishes, the only sound coming from the dying body is a faint bubbling in the back of his throat. Spoiler Hide Two die stunt. All attacks deal ping damage, but even so, he's unconscious and into his Dying levels. Everyone should feel free to roll (Perception+Medicine). Tick 6: Hold, Path, Algeria Tick 7: Arthur Tick 8: Junar Tick 9: Second Guard Tick 11: Gun star Hero Holographic Hellhole draws her blocking foot down, bringing the other up into a powerful upwards kick designed to connect with the remaining false guard's chin and lift him from the ground - fancy armor or not, there was no such thing as a solid footing when there is no footing to be had. No sooner is that complete than the Lunar is spinning to complete a second attack, lashing straight out with the other boot to oversee her opponent - and kill him, of course. Spoiler Hide Flurrying to give him the boot! And using the First Dexterity Excellency, of course. (3m) Attack 1 (MA 5 + DEX 3 + Boot 3 + Deep 3 + Flurry -2...): (12d10)[7][6][10][2][7][9][9][8][6][9][8][3](84) +Stunt: (3d10)[5][3][8](16) Attack 2 (MA 5 + DEX 3 + Boot 3 + Deep 3 + Flurry -3...): (11d10)[3][5][5][6][1][6][4][10][4][5][8](57) +Stunt: (3d10)[5][2][3](10) I can't beat 35B soak no matter how stunning my successes, but God-Kicking boots do come standard with Overwhelming 2, so here's the possible chip damage: Damage 1: (2d10)[10][7](17) Damage 2: (2d10)[6][10](16) The first attack lands a glancing blow, clicking his teeth together but not seriously injuring him, and the second attack meets his out flung shield as he shoves Hold's foot away from him with superhuman strength. Spoiler Hide First attack hit; damage was dealt; he was pinged. Second attack he parried. Hold gets a one-die stunt. Tick 6: Path, Algeria Tick 7: Arthur Tick 8: Junar Tick 9: Second Guard Tick 11: Gun star Hero, Hold Manyfold Path"Abominations." Path called out as he leapt forward, the distinctive fizz-crack of essence powered machines lagging behind his armor assisted leap. The leap first carried him beyond his target, landing him on one foot he artfully pirouetted on, hand slamming into the end of his baklava, as he slammed the blade into the back of the creature. With another twist he pulled the blade back in another sharp arc, his other arm given to the kinetic forces as his full concentration went to his second attack. All the while arcs of star metal, and swarms of karma-bugs forming half-complete koans and mandalas flitted around him in mystic contrails. Spoiler Hide Baklava Attack 1: (16d10)[1][5][4][7][7][6][3][8][3][6][10][4][7][1][2][2](76) Baklava Attack 2: (16d10)[6][8][9][2][5][6][4][5][5][10][7][9][6][6][2][8](98) First Dexterity (2m) on the first, First Dexterity (3m) on the second. Baklava Damage 1: (8d10)[5][5][7][8][9][9][8][7](58) Baklava Damage 2: (8d10)[10][4][10][10][4][10][1][9](58) Resources Spent: 5 peripheral motes Disoriented by Hold's kicks, he can manage nothing more than a feeble dodge as Path strikes with the beamklaive. An agonized hiss streams from the armor as the steel sizzles and steams away from his body. The metal plates curl in the heat, revealing themselves as merely a thin outer layer. Covering his body where normal armor would have padding is mummified, still-living flesh, shot through with sinews of soul steel. The guard rises with a mocking smirk, ignoring both the gaping beamklaive-induced hole through his chest and the revelation of his armor's secret, his sword and shield still held high. Spoiler Hide One-die stunt; you forgot to roll stunt dice. (1d10)[4](4) (1d10)[3](3) He tries to dodge. It does not go well for him. The first attack hits with a margin of 3 successes, deals ping damage (0 levels), and drains his Soak down to 9L/27B. The second attack hits with a margin of 5 successes, deals four dice of damage (3 levels), and drains his Soak down to 1L/19B. Tick 6: Algeria Tick 7: Arthur Tick 8: Junar Tick 9: Second Guard Tick 10: Path Tick 11: Gun star Hero, Hold Algeria grimaces, something about this was just all wrong. And well... her new-found companions were striking well for themselves. She was almost content to let them tear the remaining fool apart. She tossed aside her hair with a flick of wrist then approached the discarded minion." You could surrender,"she says to him and then with a sharp twirl and what could have been a kick the man is battered by her ribbon that trails around her almost like a shower of flower petals cutting and shredding, lacerating her foe. Spoiler Hide A flurry of two attacks! Whee! And sorry for the delay. All of these are TN 4 or 3... if they are outside of Fate. Fateful MA Excellency 3m (13d10)[8][8][1][8][8][2][5][1][4][2][5][7][3](62) [roll]12d10[/roll] I'll get damages tomorrow. ... And he rises straight into the elegant petal-dance of Algeria Solitaire, whose bladed ribbon chops him neatly into three equal pieces, and his armor with him. One dead, one dying. The fight is over. Spoiler Hide One-die stunt. You forgot to roll your stunt dice. First Attack Stunt: - 0 successes Second Attack Stunt: - 1 success The first attack beats his DV with a margin of 3; the second with a margin of 6. He's Lethal Soak 1, so he takes 27L damage, or 10 levels as per He is very, very dead. Gun star Hero"Obviously, they intended to delay us!" declares Gun star Hero, forgetting that their controller had, in fact, mentioned that. Or, more probably, reinforcing that particular narrative. "Hurry, or we'll be too late!" If they hurry, they'll get there just in the nick of time. That's how it works. Junar... closes her mouth before anyone notices that she was about to say more or less the same thing. As Theresa. Horrible thought. Although she's only knownGunstar HeroTheta-19 for about fifteen minutes, she's already come to the conclusion that that's fourteen minutes and thirty seconds too many." I'll take point,"is what she says instead, and moves to the stairwell before remembering that she's not actually in charge. She glances back at Howl." Captain?" Holographic Howl"Point is fine." Holo says flatly." We've already been here too long, and the Apostate...s...?" She makes it an uncertain plural at the end when she remembers the multiple voices." Whatever - Someone seems intent on interfering with us. Pick your targets and go." She'd like to give a more detailed plan, but there's no time to come up with one, and their Harsh wouldn't follow it anyway. She'd need to discuss a few things with him once they were underway - as it was, she'd rather have Syphilis on this mission than Mr. Hero - but right now she was willing to sic him on the Apostates and worry about coordination later. ... And, drowning out Junar's words, the bubbling sound in the dying guard's throat rises to a teakettle whistle and his skull explodes in a shower of burning acid that etches rude words into his armor, boils over the pavement, and combusts flesh, drenching everyone in sight. Spoiler Hide Unpayable attack against everyone in the room seven ticks after combat ends. The last rearguard is now extremely dead. (9d10)[4][1][10][7][2][8][1][5][2](40) - 4 successes. Gun star Heroes the acid erupts from the dead guard, the quick-witted Gun star Hero springs into action. He dashes towards Junar, and heroically shoves her to the ground pushes her out of danger, letting the acid spray over him to no effect." You're welcome!" Spoiler Hide It's unpayable, but I'm immune to non-stunted, non-magic as well as acid. So, I'm stunting a Defend Other action on Junar, if that's okay with you. ArathmusArathmus stepped to the side, letting the splash of acid pass by with the faintest smile on his face. These creatures would have to do far better to catch him then spitting at him. He looked over at Howl, shrugging." Dang, and I just got warmed up. If we are heading out, then lets move." Junar"What - get off!" Junai rolls to her feet, protests dying away as she takes in the acid-spattered terminal. By way of thanks, she scowls at Gun star Hero slightly less murderously than she would have otherwise." Changed my mind. You take point." But she only gives him a second to get ahead before taking off up the stairs herself. No time to waste; this whole setup reeks of something aimed at them. Even the Apostate alarm strikes her as suspect—awfully convenient excuse to clear the area... And there's no sense waiting around for theotherguard to explode too. Gun star Hero Hero bows at her remark, sweeping the tricorn from his head to settle upon his heart. Not his Heart, of course; the Deliberative, in their wisdom, had that." Of course, my lady. I would be honored." Spoiler Hide Does that count as a stunt? Junar"Be honored faster,"Junar snaps, rattled. What in KU's smoky hell was the thing playing at? Gun star Hero"As you wish." He takes point, sprinting ahead. The building is empty, but luminescent crystal signs give precise directions, which Gun star Hero ignores (but happens coincidentally to follow) as the Story leads him to the hangar, his retinue of sidekicks following behind him. Speakers in the main building constantly repeated variants of the same warnings that had echoed in the compartment." Warning. An Apostate has been spotted in the building. The Void Hunt has been alerted. Please evacuate the building." Three voices can be heard, echoing some distance into the building. Two of them are uncomfortably familiar; the tones and patterns of speech of the two guards when at last they spoke, repeated in alien mouths. The third is a mechanical scream like a swarm of angry bees, and it carries by far the furthest."- And I'll rend your innards and split your gizzard, toast your nose on a spit and chop your ugly spleen into smaller spleen-shaped pieces! Now open up!"" Why should he do that if you're just going to kill him?" The voice was female, the speaker absolutely calm, asking with academic detachment. "Would you remove your armor for someone trying to kill you?" The bee voice hesitated. ""I'll keep on killing the hostages until you open up!" Team Hero is getting closer and closer to the Kareem's hangar... The last voice is sensible and fatherly." Be a little more patient, son; Haste makes waste, and you don't need to be so prodigal. Torture them first. There's a very simple method that always gets results that I'd be glad to teach you..." Gunstar Hero is at the high door that connects to the hangar; the rest of the party following on his heels." No more delays! Stop amassing that door and start helping me kill these hostages!" Holographic Howl"Well, that's enough of that." Holo says to the group." Ideas?" Arthur"Punch down the door. Punch anything that looks titanic. Continue punching till said things are dead." He smiled." Simple, but it has always worked for me." Junar"Hit them hard and fast," Junar says promptly." I make it one Apostate and two unknowns, possibly more." She pauses, then just in case the captain is having an attack of conscience adds,"Nobody's ever pulled off a successful hostage negotiation with Apostates, sir. Best hope is to keep them too off-balance to worry about killing them."

Gunstar Heroes_ The Spiral Raid [IC]|rating:4.0

The Dark Side of the Moon

Tread for the ones who died in the land of Cisco Pontus. As you slow walks in the gray field you began to remember what just happened: the bald knight, the white dragon and the blizzard. As you finish remembering everything you can't help but shudder. Looking around you can see a great valley: to the west you can see a pale forest where the trees resemble bones, to the east you can see a palace made out of crystal. Huge and spiked mountains grows from north and south, and you can see the moon in the back sky: a sphere beyond the sky, and its colors are Blue. Severals carrion birds fly in circles above your heads, but they seem patient enough to wait to feed on your corpse." Why we're here? WTF just happened? Where are we?" are the first things that appear in your heads and somehow a voice tell answer them for you:"You're here because you're dead... You fought against the White Consort of Tiamat and got killed. And here? Here is the dark side of the Moon". The voice come from an old man with crows in his black hat, his face pale as a corpse, You were given a chance to keep your consciousness, so you better enjoy and watch everything you can"." Waht are we supposed to do? Who re you?" are questions the old man didn't answer before the crows in his hat devoured him and flew away to the darkness. So, what are you going to do? Since I'm the only one here, I'll try to roam around and try to realize what could be this place and try to understand what he meant with "The Dark Side of the Moon". I'll ready my sword and talk to myself:"It's really hard to be here alone... It's frustrating to be the only one here, and know that I failed on my mission by dying... I'll try to maintain my consciousness and explore this damn place... Talking to myself may be the way to not get insane. Let's go Tom, we have to find a way out" After wandering for a while, Tom notice he's going towards: (1: E ; 2: W)(1d2)[1]After wandering towards the East, you can see some gravestones along the mountain marking the entrances of several scripts. The crustal palace is growing larger and larger as you walk east. After a few more moments talking to yourself, one of the vultures get hungry and tired of waiting for you to say still for him to eat your carcass. Dive attack with beak:[roll]1d20+9[/roll] DMG: [roll]1d8+2[/roll]You was caught flat-footed. Your turn. (1d20+9)[27](1d8+2)[8] Even caught flat-footed, Tom was able to defend himself as he was ready to battle. I'll start dodging from him, and attack him twice [If he's at reach] or ready my action to attack him when he attacks me for the next time [if he attack and flew away]Combat Expertise [2]Attack:(1d20+11)[18]Damage:(2d6+6)[11]Attack: [roll/1d20+6[/roll]Damage:(2d6+6)[13] attack:(1d20+6)[19] The crow get highly damaged and then rake your skin with beak and talons:(1d20+7)[22]DMG:(1d6+1)[7](1d20+7)[9]DMG:(1d6+1)[4](1d20+2)[19]DMG:(1d8+2)[10] HP: 49/64My AC is 22 against it. I'll hit him again.CE: [2]Attack:(1d20+11)[16]Damage:(2d6+6)[17]Attack:(1d20+6)[17]Damage: [roll]2d+6[/roll] The giant carrion bird died after the attacks (only the +6 damage was enough to kill it) and the others just watch and wait, after all they're not that hungry. There are a crypt entrance near you and the palace ahead. What gonna be? HP: 54/64I like Palaces more than crypts. So I'll head to the palace." Tom, why are you feeling hurt? -I don't know... -It's weird, you're already dead, makes no sense. - But anyway I'll try not to get much hurt. - Yeah, it's good for you to take care." Tom talks to himself as he was two different people. As Tom reaches the palace, he can see it was not a palace, but a city build out of glass with large walls of glass. There are guards in the entrance and they appear to be rotting and dead. Hundred of crows fly around the city and people can bee hard walking and talking in the city." Halt there! Who are you? What are your business in Ether?".(The name Ether isn't strange for Tom, but h cant remember where he heard it) "Other people! It's good to see someone else. I'm don't know why I'm here. I just appeared on these lands. Furthermore, I need information, can you give me some? What is Ether? Are we really dead? How long we will be here? Are you friendly? Can I go inside this city? "Whoa, calm down man. Ether is the city of the ghosts of the realm of Winter. I'm your friend and will allow you in the town after hearing more about your death and yeah, we're all dead ADN condemned to live in the city because of the Soul Cage of Master Trim. As long, it's safe we'll be able to keep on this world, as long we manage not to get killed by that damn ravens or that beast in the woods"After a few questions he discovers you're a Dragonball, and he smiles and let you in." You'll find shelter and information at the Dead Man's Inn and you can try talking to master Trim for information about this place. Sergeant Ludovico may have some use for you too, he'll be in the Ether Headquarters, and maybe the temple of the moon will help with your wounds and you're rotting appearance". "Thanks for all information, I just need one more. Is this soul cage a good thing or a bad thing?" After that Tom will go to the temple to get some heal. And after that, go to headquarters to discover more about this beast. Hell, it's a good thing. Otherwise, who knows where we should be? The cage allow us to linger in this world for longer than our life span". Getting at the temple, Tom finds some priests using black robes and with pale skin. There are lots of symbols around: stars, moons and crows mainly. At the altar there is a statue with an old man covered with crows and with stars in the place of his eyes. There is an old lady there that come to talk to you:"You look terrible, allow me to help with these wounds"and simply touching you she restores your HP back to full life, also you feel a little warmer and your skin seems to be getting a little back of the life." You should take care, if you stay that way for long your body will rot. Anyway, what bring you to the great sanctum of the Prince of the Stars?" "I am... or should I say, I was a dragon banner and died. I went here to look for some shelter, and maybe kill the so-called "beast" I heard about. I want to know what is on that crypt too, since I am used to being an adventurer, this kind of things always call my attention." "These crypts belong to an entire clan of dwarves that were devoured by an evil amethyst dragon. Some of the dwarves are now living in the city, but some are still slaves of the amethyst dragon", she pauses for a while,"and the beast you heard about is a vile monster that travel here to bind the souls of the fallen to reanimate his undead, it's a dark panther with puppeteer-like zombies".(IOC: when you traveled in the Bell's Valley to go to Doorway, you found some hordes of undead and saw a panther in the ruins of a castle, maybe it's connected? Also, the dwarf that you meet just for one battle - Dud- left the main quest to look for his dwarves clan that got trapped in some crystal mines)(also, the Prince of Stars is a way to call Our, the dragon god of the Void, mystery, time and space)Any more questions? Young one? "I have to visit this Mine, Maybe Dud [I don't know the name of his character] is there, and I will need help to kill this beast, since it seems to be connected in both worlds... ops, sorry for bothering you, you've cleared my mind about this whole story. But I have one more question, amethyst dragon lives where? Here or he's still alive? "This amethyst dragon is a servant of Scaling, the Dark God, and live in both worlds. It's very powerful, and he trapped the dwarves in his mines while they were still alive to absorb his life force and labor for him in the mines. I don't think a single man can defeat him, but I hope Our look over you", after thinking for a few seconds she adds,"If you want to kill that beast you'd better go seek Sergeant Ludovico. But I guess you should stay and rest your afterlife to do something better, but if you don't want to I guess I'll have to help you in any way I can: rest here for tonight, and I'll be able to produce some potions to protect and heal your wounds." "I think I'll stay here for tonight. I'll go talk to Ludovico now, buy I sure am going back here tonight, unless tonight is now, thus I stay here and talk to him tomorrow." Ludovico is a man of fourth years or so, broad and small and well-muscled. He's standing with some other soldiers and guards talking about the birds, and you get near just before he says:. And let's get some more archers and clear the skies of these scavengers... oh hey, a new soul around?" I'll explain my situation to him, and I'll tell too:"I'm not that a perfect archer, but I can handle a bow much more than the average" "Give a Dragonball a bow to shoot birds? No, no, it's like to ask someone to kill ants with a cannon, if you want to help I can use some well-trained warrior like yours. There are this amethyst dragons in the mountain who is trapping living dwarves in his mines' ad since we rescued a few ones, the undead are all around the region trying to suck on their life force, so the city is being attacked from time to time. Also, these undead are crowding in the road to Moon Harbor, and the holy men asked me to clear them, but it's useless: as long as the beast is still alive the undead will keep on moving. You see? I need some great warrior to command a small group of soldiers to slay the beast once and for all or to kill the dragon. But everyone thinks that's quite suicide. You want to help?" "Suicide?! I'm already dead! I already failed on my mission. This is the opportunity to clean my name as a Dragon slayer. You can count on me for this quest." So you'll kill which one? Or both? "I think the beast must be our first target! And then the Dragon." "I'll call some soldiers for you to command then, come back tomorrow. Ah! Also, maybe you should go to the tavern, maybe some of the dwarves there can join you. My soldiers aren't pretty good fighters, but I guess that will do, and I heard there's some apprentice dragon mage that works with Master Trim that can help you, maybe someone on the temple too? Anyway, come back tomorrow". After that, what you'll do? I'll go to the tavern try to recruit someone:"EDU! ARE YOU THERE?!?!?"after calling everybody's attention, I'll start a speech:Is there any brave man tired of this beast taking our citizens to be undead?! These attacks of hordes of undead?! If there's, that's the time to have a chance to END ALL OF THIS S**T!!! I, Thomas "Tom" Ankh, A DRAGONSLAYER from the White Sand Kingdom, will lead a team of those who are fearless of death and brave enough to show me they have guts! I'll leave this city tomorrow to kill FOREVER this beast that have been at tormenting our, YOUR, lives!" After shouting out loud, Tom will see everybody's reaction and if no one says anything, I'll spit in the ground and leave the place. The dwarves come nearer and say:"We are useless miners, our hero is trapped somewhere in the mines, Dan Audubon."and they came back to their table, but one remain there at your side:"I'll help you. After all, I'm already old and this can be my last change to die in battle. My name is Got". The rest of the dwarves keep facing the floor.None else seems to be brave enough to follow you. "Let's go Got!" I'll talk to Third now. Master Trim is an old man who lives in a tower in the middle of the city." I've been waiting for you, young man", say the old man dressed in a black robe with sewed stars,"I saw your coming here. How? A black bird talked to me. I'm Trim, master of Ether and servant of Our, the Ruler of the Void. I guess you have some questions for me about this place and other things right? Ask me all you want, I'm here to guide you". "I'm really lost here... Why am I here? I need to know what happens to me if I die now... And the Amethyst Dragon? What are his powers? Amethyst Dragons are not so common as Red ones. I need to know how big this world is. Will I be stuck here forever? Can you help me to kill the beast and the dragon?" "You're here because I used my cage to capture your soul when you died. If you die here you'll be never able to resurrect. Amethyst dragons are powerful dragons that can create temporary gates to the Void. The Void is Infinite, but the region you are right now is only a small part of the Void that is like a mirror of the world, in this case, Winter. You can be resurrected, but not right now, you'll have to find your answers out there. The old man wants you something. He's giving you a chance to see things you wouldn't be able to see in the living world. I won't help you in battle, I'll help you by answering your questions and revealing the mysteries that the Prince of Stars let me unveil to you. I got an apprentice that can help you, but he was protecting the Moon Harbor when the hordes of undead marched there. Unless you help him, he cannot help you. Any more questions? I guess I gave you more questions than answers". "Well... I think I'll try to realize what you meant. I'll help him in the harbor, there is no reason to not do that! Got, what you tell me? You come or not?" "I was wanting to go fight the dragon, but can help the newbie". "Ok, let's ride to the harbor!!" And we will walk to the harbor. "You should wait for help. There are hordes and hordes of undead out there. You two alone are faded to die. Also, I want to give you something that will help in your journey in the Void: this magic diamond". Undead Bane Weapon Crystal Spoiler Hide If used in a masterwork weapon it allows you to detect undead and grants +1 on attacks and damages vs. undead; If used in a +1 weapon or better it allow you to sneak attack undead; If used in a +3 weapons or better it allow you to score critical damage on undead. "Well, if you say so, I better get back to the temple and see if there is someone there to help, wait for the day and get some potions to go tomorrow to the fight" The next day, the old lady come and give you some potions:"Use it with wisdom". PotionsSpoiler Hide 15 Inflict Serious Wounds 15 Blessed Water Flasks 5 Potions of Lesser Restoration 5 Potions of Gentle Repose Ludovico and 4 soldiers will join you." Only these are brave enough to go out the city walls: me, two man-at-arms (a lancer and a swordsman) and two marksmen (long bows)." Now you're in the lead of the team:Ludovico (Paladin 6 w/o mount or spells)Got (Barbarian 4)Men-at-arms (Fighters 4)Marksmen (Scout 4)Men-at-arms:Spoiler Hide STR 16 DEX 13 con 14 int 10 Wis 10 CIA 10 Hp: 48 BBA: +4 AC: 15 (17 for swordsman) Unit: +1 Real: +2 Fort: +6 Will: +1 Skills: Jump +10, Spot +3, Concentration +9 Feats: Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Power Attack, Dodge, Mobility, Cleave Equipment: MW weapon, MW heavy shield (swordsman), MW chain shirt, 3 torches Attacks: weapon +9 damage: base+5 (swordsman) or base+6 (Spearman) Marksman:Spoiler Hide STR 12 DEX 17 con 14 int 10 Wis 10 CIA 10 Hp: 40 BBA: +3 AC: 17 Unit: +4 Real: +7 Fort: +4 Will: +1 Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7, Search +7, Hide +10, Move Silently +10, Tumble +10, Survival +7, Balance +10 and Disable Device +7 Feats: Weapon Focus, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot Equipment: MW longbow reinforce 1, 10 MW incendiary ammo, 40 ammo, MW chain shirt, 3 torches, rope (30m) Special: Trap finding, Skirmish (+1d6, +1 AC), Uncanny Dodge, Battle Fortitude +1, Trackless step, Fast movement +10ft Attacks: weapon +7 damage: 1d8+1 CRT: 20/x3 Got:Spoiler Hide STR 18 DEX 10 con 18 int 10 Wis 10 CIA 10 HP: 64 BBA: +4 AC: 14 Unit: +0 Real: +1 Fort: +8 Will: +1 Skills: Concentration +11, Jump +11 Feats: Power Attack, Cleave Equipment: MW Warwick, MW chain shirt, 3 torches Special: Rage 2/day, Trap sense +1, Uncanny dodge, Fast movement Attacks: MW Warwick +9 damage: 1d10+6 CRT: 20/x4 Ludovico:Spoiler Hide STR 14 DEX 10 cons 14 int 10 Wis 12 CIA 16 HP: 72 BBA: +6/+1 AC: 20 Unit: +0 Ref: +5 Fort: +10 Will: +6 Skills: Heal +14, Concentration +11, Sense Motive +10 Feats: Weapon Focus, Extra Smite Evil, Awesome Smite, Leadership, Charging Smite Variant, Divine Might, Curse breaker variant Equipment: MW long sword, MW full plate, MW heavy shield, MW healer's kit (10 uses), silver holy symbol, healing belt, 3 torches. Special: Smite evil 4/day, Turn Undead 6/day, divine health, aura of good, detect evil, divine grace, break curse 1/week Combat: MW long sword +10/+5 damage: 1d8+2 CRT: 19-20/x2 My comrades will hold 2InflictCure Serious Wounds [I hope], 2 Blessed Water Flasks, 1 Potions of Gentle Repose and 1 Potions of Lesser Restoration [except one marksman]. I'll hold all the others. After getting all the potions, we will head to Harbor and try to get some help. KevinhoTom groups march toward the Moon Harbor. After hours talking to get distracted, Tom learns that the Moon Harbor is a harbor where you can (supposedly) sail to the moon or so does the priestess of Our believe. After hours and hours, you final found the place, but there's lots of undead trying to break through the walls, and there is only 3 men defending the place.(I'll post the map and the encounter tomorrow when I can draw without interruptions)Audubon wake up from the worst nightmare ever. You're still held prisoner in this damn dream-illusion dungeon. Your weapons are gone, but you know they're somewhere around the dungeon. Some fellow dwarves are mining the cave for mitral to the powerful amethyst dragon who held you captive. You have a heavy pick and was ordered to mine the mitral and behave. The room is filled with six dwarves (all that survived the labor and the amethyst dragon's rituals that needs flesh and blood) and there are two armored monsters and one flying eye keeping his eye on you. The only way out is trying to defeat the guards. What it's going to be? (also, today you can choose the order of your maneuvers since you've been getting ready for this day specifically). First, Dan will try to whisper to whoever dwarf is closest to him." Hey, fella, do you want to leave this place? If so, follow me, and spread the word, I have a plan. Hold your heavy pick firmly, my friend. Today, we live this place, or die trying"Diplomacy:(1d20+10)[29]Independent of the dwarves' reaction, if they flock being Dan or if they ignore, Dan will head straight to the armored guards, firmly. Maneuvers:Spoiler Hide Crusader: () Revitalizing Strike () Mountain Hammer () White Raven Tactics () Stone Bones () Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge BTW, does knowledge (religion) has any usefulness in detecting either enemies aspects or the supposed ritual? DuduKnowledge religion can be useful, but you'll need to find more about the ritual. One thing you can be sure is that a ritual that need flesh and blood to work is 99% certainty evil and Scaling, the Dragon God of Darkness and Night, is known to love this kind of sacrifices." We won't stay here, and we'll follow you to the death if needed", said your fellows dwarves,"But we'll need to find the others dwarves. The elders and the women are being kept in other cells". They will be ready when you give them the call. Also, a map: combat situation: ones with the outer circle black are enemies:The dark green circles are trees;The wine circles are zombies;The purple circles are wraiths;The big purple circle is a large undead made out of several other corpses. The ones with the outer circle with are allies:Purple: Thomas;Black: Master Trim's apprentice;Red: Got;Yellow: Ludovico;Dark blue (behind you and at the wall): Bowman;Pink: Swordsman;Gray: Lancer;Also, the gray lines are walls. If the big guy keeps on attacking for more rounds the wall will crumble.[b]Dud and Kevin ho[/]:Your groups have the initiatives for each one's battle. Go! "AT MY DIRECTION, ATTACK!"yells Tom to his comrades. Gortwill enrage, walk to I19 and attack the Zombie at I20. Attack: PA: [4](1d20+11)[29]Damage:(1d10+17)[19]Got's HP: 72/72Swordsmanwill enjoy flank position [if needed] at I21 and attack the zombie at I20. Attack:(1d20+6)[22]Damage:(1d8+5)[13]. If the zombie was slain before his attack, he'll wait the marksmen and charge at L17, [the swordsman will be at L18, add +2 to damage because he'll PA [2] if he charges] and the swordsman will be dodging the zombie he attacks. Swordsman's HP:48/48Marksmenwill walk to I23 J23, and fire against L17. Attack1:(1d20+7)[8]Damage1:(1d8+1)[6]+(1d6)[3]Attack2:(1d20+7)[8]Damage2:(1d8+1)[5]+(1d6)[4]Marksmen's HP1: 40/40 HP2: 40/40Lancerwill walk to O20 and prepares against charge. Lancer's HP: 48/48Ludovicowill walk to N19 and will turn undead.(1d20+3)[14]Damage:(2d6+9)[20]Ludovico's HP: 72/72NOTE:Spoiler Hide Destroying Undead If you have twice as many levels (or more) as the undead have Hit Dice, you destroy any that you would normally turn. Tom will walk to L18 and attack the zombie at L17. CE: [2] Attack:(1d20+11)[26]Damage:(2d6+6)[13]I'm dodging from it. Tom's HP: 64/64 Got and the swordsman kill the I20 zombie;Both marksmen miss the attack (they receive +1 on attacks and damages when at 6 squares or closer);Ludovico failed the turn attempt since the Void provide the undead with turn resistance;The lancer get ready to countercharge;Thomas attack didn't give the undead much damage (piercing weapon). As expected, the zombie in O15 charges the lancer:(1d20+4)[16]DMG:(1d6+1)[7]Lancer attack:(1d20+9)[25]damage:(2d8+12)[19]The zombie from L17 attack Tom:(1d20+4)[6]DMG:(1d6+1)[4]The rest move closer. The wraiths in T12 and C11 fly to the wall and try killing the marksmen:(1d20+5)[10]damage:(1d4)[1]cons drain:(1d6)[3](1d20+5)[24]damage:(1d4)[2]cons drain:(1d6)[4]But the marksmen fire their incendiary arrows before getting hit at the big guy:(1d20+9)[26]DMG:(1d8+2)[10]Fire(1d6)[3](1d20+9)[21]DMG:(1d8+2)[10]Fire(1d6)[5]The big zombie attack the wall and give it damage:(Wall DR 8 HP: 60)(2d6+10)[17]The apprentice shoot three Life Bolts at one of the wraiths:(1d20+7)[18]damage:(1d12)[9](1d20+7)[21]damage:(1d12)[7](1d20+7)[22]damage:(1d12)[12]The last wraith (L15) fly straight to M17 and attack Thomas (he's attacking your touch AC):(1d20+5)[6]damage:(1d4)[4]cons drain:(1d6)[3](I'll post map soon) Dan will wield his Heavy Pick with both hands, so it will do 1d6+6 damage. He won't even try to reason with the armored monsters and the eye. With a shout, he guides his comrades into the battle. The stance is "Leading the Charge", and it grants +5 to damage rolls in charges for me and for any ally in a 60ft radius around me. He charges at the B6 monster, stopping at C6.(1d20+14)[29](1d6+11)[12]Maneuvers:Spoiler Hide Crusader: () Revitalizing Strike () Mountain Hammer () White Raven Tactics (-) Stone Bones (-) Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge edit: next round he'll delay his actions after his comrades so he can use WRT to grant an extra round to them. Kevin Roche map: some extra attacks from charging zombies:Spoiler Hide vs. Swordsman (1d20+4)[19] DMG: (1d6+1)[7] vs. swordsman (1d20+4)[22] DMG: (1d6+1)[6] vs. Got (1d20+4)[19] DMG: (1d6+1)[2] vs. Ludovico (1d20+4)[23] DMG: (1d6+1)[2] NOTE: You'll have to take note of your army hp. Dudu:The Map: dwarves follow you in charge:vs. armored monster 1(1d20+7)[26]DMG:(1d6+4)[9]vs. armored monster 1(1d20+7)[15]DMG:(1d6+4)[6]charge vs. armored monster 1(1d20+9)[11]DMG:(1d6+4)[9]charge vs. armored monster 2(1d20+9)[29]DMG:(1d6+9)[10]Also, dwarves allies sheets (They're fighters 3)Spoiler Hide STR 16 DEX 10 con 16 int 10 Wis 12 CIA 8 Hp: 39 BBA: +3 AC: 10 Unit: +0 Real: +1 Fort: +6 Will: +2 Skills:)non-useful skills, like craft and profession) Feats: Weapon Focus, Power Attack, Cleave, Endurance Attacks: pike +7 DMG: 1d6+4 CRT: 20/x4 Equips: pike, some mitral ore The monster then react:Spoiler Hide armored monsters: vs. Dan [roll]1d20+[/roll] DMG: [roll]1d[/roll] vs. Dwarf C4 [roll]1d20+[/roll] DMG: [roll]1d[/roll] The floating eye shoot a scorching ray: vs. D5 (touch) (1d20+6)[12] DMG: (4d6)[17] Armored monsters attacks:vs. Dan:(1d20+6)[19]DMG:(1d8+3)[11]vs. dwarf:(1d20+6)[11]DMG:(1d8+3)[9] Second Round:The scorching ray hits him, but only enrages the dwarf. Dan 5ft to C5 and deliver a revitalizing strike at the one in B6.(1d20+12)[15](1d6+6)[10]Revitalize:(3d6+6)[16]Dan will be healed by this amount. Crusader:(x) Revitalizing Strike() Mountain Hammer() White Raven Tactics() Stone Bones(-) Leading the AttackWarblade:() Moment of Perfect Mind() Action Before Though() Iron Heart Surge Marksmen will walk to K22 and L22 [walking 10 ft at least each] and will fire their flaming arrows against the wraith. Attack1:(1d20+9)[17]Damage1:(1d8+1)[6]+(1d6)[5]+(1d6)[1]Attack2:(1d20+9)[29]Damage2:(1d8+1)[5]+(1d6)[3]+(1d6)[3]Marksmen's HP: 40/401''Ludovicowill full attack P19 and then 5-ft to N19. Attack1:(1d20+10)[16]Damage1:(1d8+2)[8]Attack2:(1d20+5)[18]Damage2:(1d8+2)[8]Ludovico's HP: 70/72Lancerwill 5-ft to O21 and attack P19.PA: [4] Attack:(1d20+5)[15]Damage:(1d8+14)[20]. Lancer's HP: 41/48Swordsmanattack G21 and will be dodging from him. Attack:(1d20+9)[29]Damage:(1d8+5)[8]Swordsman's HP: 35/48Gortwill attack the J18 with his enraged ability of slaying. PA: [4] attack:(1d20+7)[14]Damage:(1d10+17)[18]Got's HP: 70/72Tomwill attack the wraith. CE [2] [dodging the wraith] attack:(1d20+12)[19]Damage:(2d6+7)[12]Attack2:(1d20+7)[19]Damage2:(2d6+7)[16]Tom's HP: 64/64.~~~~YOUR TURN~~~~ Dud:You're revitalizing strike miss the armored monster, who'll counter-attack you:(1d20+6)[10]DMG:(1d8+3)[10]The other armored monster attack keep attacking the C4 dwarf:(1d20+6)[18]DMG: [roll]1d8+3[roll]The flying eye will shoot another scorching ray against the same target:(1d20+6)[26]DMG:(4d6)[16]The dwarves mob the armored monsters and attack:Spoiler Hide vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+7)[22] DMG: (1d6+4)[10] vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+7)[8] DMG: (1d6+4)[9] vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+7)[14] DMG: (1d6+4)[5] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+7)[13] DMG: (1d6+4)[5] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+7)[13] DMG: (1d6+4)[10] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+7)[8] DMG: (1d6+4)[8] Damage vs. C4(1d8+3)[11]Critical scorching ray:(1d20+6)[21]DMG:(4d6)[10]Your turn! I'll post when get more time) Fire and Tom's attack affected the wraiths, and Ludovico and the lancer managed to kill a zombie. The hordes move and attack the group. Spoiler Hide vs. swordsman (1d20+2)[5] DMG: (1d6+1)[4] vs. swordsman (1d20+2)[17] DMG: (1d6+1)[6] charge vs. swordsman (1d20+4)[18] DMG: (1d6+1)[3] vs. got vs. (1d20+2)[3] DMG: (1d6+1)[6] charge vs. Ludovic vs. (1d20+4)[16] DMG: (1d6+1)[3] charge vs. Ludovic vs. (1d20+4)[21] DMG: (1d6+1)[4] charge vs. lancer vs. (1d20+4)[13] DMG: (1d6+1)[5] charge vs. lancer vs. (1d20+4)[9] DMG: (1d6+1)[3] charge vs. lancer vs. (1d20+4)[8] DMG: (1d6+1)[2] vs. tom (1d20+4)[13] DMG: (1d6+1)[3] vs. tom (1d20+4)[15] DMG: (1d6+1)[5] wraith vs. tom (1d20+5)[15] DMG: (1d4)[4] con DMG: (1d6)[3] wraith vs. archer E6 (1d20+5)[7] DMG: (1d4)[4] con DMG: (1d6)[5] wraith vs. archer T6 (1d20+5)[25] DMG: (1d4)[1] con DMG: (1d6)[2] big zombie vs. wall (2d6+10)[18] (DR 8) life bolt from apprentice vs. wraith (1d20+7)[26] DMG: (3d12)[22] archer E6 vs. big zombie (fiery arrow) (1d20+7)[26] DMG: (1d8+1)[8] + fire (1d6)[4] archer T6 vs. big zombie (fiery arrow) (1d20+7)[24] DMG: (1d8+1)[8] + fire (1d6)[6] Also, some Amos:Spoiler Hide Ludovic vs. zombie (1d20+10)[25] DMG: (1d8+2)[8] lancer vs. zombie (1d20+5)[8] DMG: (1d6+14)[16] tom vs. zombie (1d20+12)[17] DMG: (2d6+7)[13] wraith vs archer E6 (1d20+5)[25] DMG: (1d4)[2] con DMG: (1d6)[6] wraith vs. archer T6 (1d20+5)[10] DMG: (1d4)[1] con DMG: (1d6)[2] Depending on the Amos result, some attackers may die before attacking. Confirming critical (two wraith strike)vs. E6(1d20+5)[20]DMG:(1d4)[1]cons(1d6)[3]vs. T6(1d20+5)[20]DMG:(1d4)[3]cons(1d6)[4]The archers on the wall barely keep on living. Duluth critical scorching ray killed one of the dwarves. In anger, they move to kill the hideous monsters:Spoiler Hide vs. armored 1 (1d20+9)[19] DMG: (1d6+4)[8] vs. armored 1 (1d20+9)[16] DMG: (1d6+4)[8] vs. armored 2 (1d20+7)[20] DMG: (1d6+4)[6] vs. armored 2 (1d20+9)[14] DMG: (1d6+4)[9] vs. armored 2 (1d20+9)[13] DMG: (1d6+4)[7] The armored monster counterstrike:vs. damaged dwarf:(1d20+6)[8]DMG:(1d8+3)[7]vs. flanked dwarf:(1d20+8)[26]DMG:(1d8+3)[5]And final the floating eye shoot another ray and bite the flanked dwarf:ray:(1d20+6)[21]DMG:(4d6)[15]bite:(1d20-1)[11]dmg(1d4-1)[2] turn. HP: 126/126Dan uses the WRT to give the flanked dwarf another turn. Then he Full Attack the Weakest armored monster.(1d20+13)[31](1d6+6)[10](1d20+8)[15](1d6+6)[12]In case of cleave, this is the attack roll (depending on what previous attack KO the armored monster, if it was the second one, than only the second roll is to be considered):(1d20+13)[33](1d6+6)[7](1d20+8)[10](1d6+6)[11]Crusader:(x) Revitalizing Strike() Mountain Hammer(x) White Raven Tactics() Stone Bones() Leading the AttackWarblade:() Moment of Perfect Mind() Action Before Though() Iron Heart Surge The dwarves mob the creatures:Spoiler Hide vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+9)[17] DMG: (1d6+4)[5] vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+9)[12] DMG: (1d6+4)[6] (thanks to wrt) vs. armored monster 1 (1d20+7)[27] DMG: (1d6+4)[7] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+9)[24] DMG: (1d6+4)[9] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+9)[22] DMG: (1d6+4)[6] vs. armored monster 2 (1d20+9)[28] DMG: (1d6+4)[5] If any armored monster fall, they'll attack the floating eye. The surviving monster keep on attacking the poor dwarves, specially the flanked one:Spoiler Hide floating eye scorching ray again (1d20+6)[16] DMG: (4d6)[19] armored 1 vs. flanked: (1d20+8)[28] dm: (1d8+3)[4] armored 2 vs. flanked: (1d20+8)[20] dm: (1d8+3)[6] The dwarves mob killed the monster 2, but the scorching ray killed a dwarf and the most damage got hit by a critical threat from armored monster 1:(1d20+6)[11]DMG:(1d8+3)[8] turn. Tom will open a bottle of holy water and throw the water on the wraith [K17]. Ranged touch attack:(1d20+12)[22]Damage:(2d4)[7][All zombies and Tom takes 1 splash damage. Tom's HP: 63/64, and will be dodging the wraith. Marksmenwill walk to K24 L24 and shots fire arrows at K18 [If he dies at any arrow, shots against wraith]. Attack1:(1d20+7)[26]Damage1:(1d8+1)[9]+(1d6)[1]+ (1d6)[2] Attack2:(1d20+7)[26]Damage2:(1d8+1)[6]+(1d6)[3]+ (1d6)[3] Marksmen's HP: 40/40Ludovicowill 5-ft to M18 and full attack the zombie at L17. Attack:(1d20+10)[17]Damage:(1d8+2)[4]Attack:(1d20+5)[24]Damage:(1d8+2)[3]Ludovico's HP:68/72Swordmanwill attack the hurt zombie. Attack:(1d20+9)[29]Damage:(1d8+5)[10]and after that will 5-ft step to I22 and drink a potion of healing.(1d8)[1]+(1d8)[2]+(1d8)[6]+ 5 (In case of a 1,(1d8)[4]) Swordsman's HP: 30/48Gortwill attack the most hurt zombie and [if it happens] cleave at the less hurt zombie [-8hp zombie] and will walk to J18 [if the zombie dies] or to K19. PA [4] ATTACK:(1d20+7)[18]DAMAGE:(1d10+17)[22][Cleave attack if needed:(1d20+7)[25]DAMAGE:(1d10+17)[27]] Got's HP: 68/72Lancerwill 5-ft to N20 to attack the hurt zombie. PA [4] Attack:(1d20+5)[10]Damage:(1d8+14)[20]Lancer's HP: 41/48~~~~YOUR TURN~~~~ Dan changes his stance, with a swift, to Iron Guard's Glare. Iron Guard’s Glare Spoiler Hide Devoted Spirit (Stance) Level: Crusader 1 Initiation Action: 1 swift action Range: Personal Target: You Duration: Stance With a quick snarl and a glare that would stop a charging barbarian in his tracks, you spoil an opponent’s attack. Rather than strike his original target, your enemy turns his attention toward you. While you are in this stance, any opponent that you threaten takes a –4 penalties on attack rolls against your allies. This penalty does not apply to attacks made against you. Enemies you threaten become aware of the consequences of the stance. Then he moves to B4 and swings his Heavy Pick in the weakened armored monster. He uses his Revitalizing Strike, aiming the healing at the wounded dwarf. Attack:(1d20+12)[27](1d6+6)[12]Revitalize(3d6+6)[12]Crusader:Spoiler Hide (x) Revitalizing Strike () Mountain Hammer () White Raven Tactics (-) Stone Bones (-) Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge The enemies receive a penalty of -4 in their attacks, except when attacking Dan. (They are aware of this penalty) The Iron Glance penal are mind effect or something? Oddly, that's the whole description. The mind effecting aspect is never mentioned. So no, by what is written, it's not a mind effect. It doesn't make too much sense, however. So it's your call. I'll consider it as a mind-effect since it makes more sense. The armored monster ignores it, but the floating eye can't escape your iron glance. The dwarf got healed by your attack and then all of them mob the gallery:vs. monster 1(1d20+7)[23]DMG:(1d6+4)[10]vs. monster 1(1d20+7)[20]DMG:(1d6+4)[8]vs. monster 1(1d20+7)[23]DMG:(1d6+4)[8]vs. monster 1(1d20+7)[14]DMG:(1d6+4)[10]vs. monster 1 (1d20+7)[14] DMG: (1d6+4)[7](There were only 4 dwarves, ignore this one)vs. monster 1 (1d20+7)[15] DMG: (1d6+4)[6](There were only 4 dwarves, ignore this one)The armored monster had only 1 hp left, so after the first hit against him the others will attack the floating eye. The floating eye gets desperate by your stance and the fall of his bodyguards and then use his scorching ray again, but this time at Dan:(1d20+6)[8]DMG:(4d6)[18](touch attack) turn. Kevin ho:In the middle of desperation, the soldiers attack and kill several zombies: the lancer kill one, the marksmen other and got take down two at the same swing.(NOTE: Tom can throw two flasks in one turn - he got two attacks per turn after all)(NOTE: The marksmen got rapid shot, why not using it?)(NOTE: Is Got going to the right place? His weapon can't affect the wraith and all zombies around him are dead now)The marksmen on the wall shot the giant zombie (probably for the last time) and then get attacked by the wraiths, but not before the apprentice shot life bolts at the damaged one. Spoiler Hide vs. giant: (1d20+7)[10] DMG: (1d8+1)[3] + fire: (1d6)[3] vs. giant: (1d20+7)[11] DMG: (1d8+1)[3] + fire: (1d6)[6] life bolt vs. wraith: (1d20+7)[17] DMG: (3d12)[16] wraith vs. left marksmen: (1d20+6)[18] DMG: (1d4)[4] +cons (1d6)[2] wraith vs. right marksmen: (1d20+6)[21] DMG: (1d4)[2] +cons (1d6)[1] giant vs wall: (2d6+10)[12] The swordsman get 3 zombie attacks:(1d20+2)[13]DMG:(1d6+1)[4](1d20+2)[19]DMG:(1d6+1)[4](1d20+2)[22]DMG:(1d6+1)[7]The lancer get mobbed by 4 zombies:(1d20+2)[21]DMG:(1d6+1)[3](1d20+2)[19]DMG:(1d6+1)[5](1d20+2)[17]DMG:(1d6+1)[7](1d20+2)[7]DMG:(1d6+1)[4]Ludovico is charged by a zombie and hit by another one:(1d20+2)[3]DMG:(1d6+1)[5](1d20+4)[20]DMG:(1d6+1)[7]The wraith try to touch Tom:(1d20+5)[24]DMG:(1d4)[3]cons DMG:(1d6)[6] turn. Floating eye, surprisingly, miss the bulky dwarf." Oi! Lad, are you trying to hit the ceiling? Hiarhiahrihar!" He then approaches the Eye and unleash a full attack.(1d20+12)[30](1d6+6)[7](1d20+7)[19](1d6+6)[8]Spoiler Hide Maneuvers: Crusader (x) Revitalizing Strike () Mountain Hammer () White Raven Tactics () Stone Bones (-) Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge The four surviving dwarves mob the floating eye and there nothing much he can do against such assault. The floating eye got hit (no need to keep on the battle). The door is looked and is reinforced steel, but with your mountain hammer strike or something you can put it down quickly. The armored monsters seemed to be constructs in masterwork banded mail and had also masterworks long swords and masterwork heavy shields. After breaking through the cellar, you find yourself in a large open room with several bridges connecting to each other floating in a blue sky with white clouds." The sky inside the cavern? What..."was just saying one of the dwarves when three birdlike creatures notice that you escaped the cellar:"Escaped intruders! Stop them!"they say as they fly towards your group. The Avian soldiers are armed with Spears and crossbows and are dragon touched creatures. If you're a dragon mage (can't remember) you can draw some scorching rays from the floating eye (he had 3). Also, you get 225 magic stones (or 450 if you don't draw them). The map: initiative are yours. The dwarves will be yours to guide (and you'll have to post their attacks). Dan order everyone to go to the northeast most room. Everyone runs, so there's no action anymore. Hide Crusader () Revitalizing Strike () Mountain Hammer () White Raven Tactics (-) Stone Bones (-) Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge NOTE: Rapid shot is full round action. Tomwill splash twice holy water on the wrath. Ranged touch attack:(1d20+12)[15]Damage:(2d4)[3]Ranged touch attack:(1d20+7)[10]Damage:(2d4)[5]Dodging the wrath and after that will walk to L19. Tom's HP: 36/40 [-6 con]Goodwill charge against H21, stopping at I20 PA [4] Attack:(1d20+9)[21]Damage:(1d10+17)[24][If cleaved:(1d20+9)[11]Damage:(1d10+17)[24]] Got's HP: 68/72Swordsmanwill attack the most hurt zombie [probably the one Got's attacked, or the -18 dude] Attack:(1d20+9)[25]Damage:(1d8+5)[12][Cleave, probably, (1d20+9)[23]Damage:(1d8+5)[6]] Swordsman's HP: 19/48Marksmenwill useful attack to rapid shot the zombie at O21 [flaming arrow, 6/10] Attack1:(1d20+5)[6]Damage1:(1d8+1)[8]+(1d6)[4]Attack1:(1d20+5)[15]Damage1:(1d8+1)[6]+(1d6)[1]Attack2:(1d20+5)[7]Damage2:(1d8+1)[3]+(1d6)[3]Attack2:(1d20+5)[6]Damage2:(1d8+1)[3]+(1d6)[6]Marksmen's HP: 40/40Ludovicowill full attack the zombie hurt at L17. Attack1:(1d20+10)[24]Damage1:(1d8+2)[8]Attack2:(1d20+5)[22]Damage2:(1d8+2)[7]Cleave [if possible] Attack:(1d20+5)[21]Damage:(1d8+2)[9][add +5 on attack roll if the first attack killed him] Ludovico's HP: 61/72Lancerwill 5-ft to M21 and stab the zombie at O19, PA [4] Attack:(1d20+5)[19]Damage:(1d8+14)[22]Dodging the first zombie's attack. Lancer HP: 26/48~~~~YOUR TURN!~~~~ Kevin ho:Got and the swordsman lay waste on the zombies, killing three in a single round. The holy waters made the wraith afraid, but not much. The surviving zombies mob the lancer and Ludovic:vs. lancer(1d20+2)[14]DMG:(1d6+1)[3]vs. lancer(1d20+2)[7]DMG:(1d6+1)[6]vs. lancer(1d20+2)[20]DMG:(1d6+1)[2]vs. Ludovic(1d20+2)[3]DMG:(1d6+1)[3]vs. Ludovic(1d20+2)[22]DMG:(1d6+1)[6]wraith vs. tom(1d20+5)[12]DMG:(1d4)[1]cons:(1d6)[4]The people on the wall keep trying to defeat the giant zombie and the last other wraith:Life bolt vs. wraith(1d20+7)[15]DMG:(3d12)[19]Burning arrows vs. zombie (now using rapid shot too):[roll]1d20+5[/roll] DMG:(1d8+1)[6]+ fire(1d6)[4][roll]1d20+5[/roll] DMG:(1d8+1)[4]+ fire(1d6)[5][roll]1d20+5[/roll] DMG:(1d8+1)[6]+ fire(1d6)[5][roll]1d20+5[/roll] DMG:(1d8+1)[9]+ fire(1d6)[1](the last two generated an AOO that may kill the marksmen, if he gets killed ignore them:AOO. Vs. marksman(1d20)[3]DMG:(1d4)[4]cons(1d6)[5]) (There was a +5 on his attack, anyway he missed)Standard attack from the wraith:vs. archer (or charge against apprentice)(1d20+5)[7]dmg(1d4)[4]con:(1d6)[5]Giant zombie vs. wall: [roll] 2d6+10[/roll] (DR 8)Edit: with great luck the marksman dodged both attacks from the wraith. Critical vs, Ludovico:(1d20+2)[19]DMG:(1d6+1)[4]Arrows:(1d20+5)[22](1d20+5)[17](1d20+5)[12](1d20+5)[21]Giant zombie damage:(2d6+10)[16](RD 8) Dud:As you reach the door you see a large iron lock on it." They're going for the arsenal! Stop them! We can't let them retrieve their weapons!" The birds fly towards you:one moves to P14 and shot a bolt against Dan:(1d20+14)[15]DMG:(1d6)[5];the second moves to U9 and shots Dan:(1d20+15)[18]DMG:(1d6+1)[2]the last one charge with his spear against Dan:(1d20+10)[18]DMG:(2d8+2)[14] Tom will make a single attack CE [2] attack:(1d20+12)[26]Damage:(2d6+7)[11]Miss chance [(1d100)[56], after that Tom will 5-ft step to K19 and drink a potion of Lesser Restoration(1d4)[3]Tom's HP: 44/48 [-3 cons]Goodwill charge against the zombie at N19, stopping at M19, PA [4](1d20+9)[27]Damage:(1d10+17)[18][Cleave against the most hurt:(1d20+9)[26]Damage:(1d10+17)[22]] Got's HP 68/72Swordsmanwil charge against N22, stopping at M22. PA [4] Attack:(1d20+7)[25]Damage:(1d8+9)[10][Cleave:(1d20+7)[14]Damage:(1d8+9)[13]] Swordsman's HP: 19/48Marksmenwill walk to P24 Q24, and fire flaming arrows against zombies, [de Diego prey CIA], Attack:(1d20+7)[24]Damage:(1d8+1)[6]+(1d6)[3]+(1d6)[1] Marksmen's HP: 40/40Ludovicowill 5-ft to L17 and splash Holy water on the wraith, ranged touch attack(1d20+6)[7]Damage:(2d4)[8]Ludovico's HP: 55/72Lancerin case of both zombies near him dies, he will walk to P20 and attack N20, if that's not the case, he will be 5-ft to L18 and attack N18 PA [4] ATTACK:(1d20+5)[21]Damage:(1d8+14)[17]Lancer's HP: 24/48~~~~YOUR TURN~~~~ Marksmen attack:(1d20+7)[19]Damage:(1d8+1)[7]+(1d6)[1]+(1d6)[3] After a series of attacks, more zombies fall. The ones still standing attack Got:(1d20+2)[19]DMG:(1d6+1)[2](1d20+2)[5]DMG:(1d6+1)[7]The wraith moves toward Tom and try to kill him:(1d20+5)[8]DMG:(1d4)[4]cons(1d4)[3]In the wall the apprentice cast another Life Bolt:(1d20+7)[11]DMG:(3d12)[26]The marksmen shot fire arrows at the zombie:(1d20+5)[21]DMG:(1d8+1)[9]fire(1d6)[6](1d20+5)[7]DMG:(1d8+1)[9]fire(1d6)[4](1d20+5)[14] DMG: (1d8+1)[2] fire (1d6)[1] (1d20+5)[15] DMG: (1d8+1)[8] fire (1d6)[3](AOO from wraith:(1d20+5)[21]DMG:(1d4)[2]cons(1d6)[6])Wraith attack:(1d20+5)[14]DMG:(1d4)[2]cons(1d6)[4]Zombie vs. Wall:(2d6+10)[20](DR 8)The life bolt missed, and the archer died in the AOO. Goodwill Finnish the zombies. PA [4] Attack:(1d20+7)[19]Damage:(1d20+17)[35][Cleave: Attack:(1d20+7)[24]Damage:(1d20+17)[19]] Got's HP: 66/72Marksmenwill run to P16 Q16. Tomwill drink another lesser restoration potion, (1d4)[3]and will 5-ft to J18 and attack the wrath, CE [2] Attack:(1d20+12)[25]Damage:(2d6+7)[15]Mischance [(1d100)[65]Tom's HP: 60/64Ludovicowill 5-ft to L16 and splash against the wrath. Ranged touch attack(1d20+6)[11]Damage:(2d4)[6][add +2 to flank position, if applicable] Ludovico's HP: 55/72Swordsmanwill drink a potion of healing and will light one torch. Healing:(1d8)[2]+(1d8)[4]+(1d8)[5]+5 [in case of a 1,(1d8)[5]] Swordsman's HP: 35/48Lancer will 5-ft to M18 and will support Got if any zombie survives. Pa [4] Attack:(1d20+5)[25]Damage:(1d8+14)[17][Cleave: Attack:(1d20+5)[22]Damage:(1d8+14)[21]] Lancer's HP: 24/48~~~~YOUR TURN~~~~ The archer keep shooting on the giant monster:(1d20+5)[19]DMG:(1d8+1)[8]fire(1d6)[2](1d20+5)[10]DMG:(1d8+1)[5]fire(1d6)[3]The apprentice shoot another life bolt, but he seems to become afraid after spending the fifth spell:(1d20+7)[24]DMG:(3d12)[15]The dead archer's soul rise as a wraith and give a frightful scream of pain and agony! The other wraith charge the apprentice:(1d20+7)[11]DMG:(1d4)[4]cons(1d6)[4]The giant attack the wall:(2d6+10)[15](RD 8) Ludovicowill charge against the giant zombie [He'll end at K10]"You creatures made of pure evil must be slain NOW!!!" Smite Evil:(1d20+14)[16]Damage:(1d8+8)[10]Ludovico's HP: 55/72Lancerwill charge too, ending at L11, PA [4] Attack:(1d20+7)[15]Damage:(1d8+14)[21]Lancer's HP: 24/48Marksmenwill walk to O14 P14 and shots regular arrows, attack:(1d20+7)[16]Damage:(1d8+1)[5]+(1d6)[6]attack:(1d20+7)[8]Damage:(1d8+1)[7]+(1d6)[4]Marksmen's HP: 40/40Gortwill run to M11. Got's HP: 66/72Swordsmanwill run to J11. Swordsman's HP: 35/48Tomwill run to K11, CE [5] and dodging the zombie. Tom's HP: 60/64~~~~YOUR TURN~~~~ AOO vs. Ludovico:(1d20+16)[33]DMG:(2d6+10)[20]The archer shoot his last fiery arrows at the zombie:(1d20+5)[23]DMG:(1d8+1)[6]fire(1d6)[6](1d20+5)[15]DMG:(1d8+1)[9]fire(1d6)[6]The apprentice lit a torch DN attack the wraith with it:(1d20+4)[17]fire:(1d4)[4]The giant zombie disliked the paladin attack and try to chop his head off:(1d20+16)[22]DMG:(2d6+10)[16]The wraiths mob the apprentice and flank him:(1d20+7)[17]DMG:(1d4)[2]cons(1d6)[2](1d20+7)[27]DMG:(1d4)[4]cons(1d6)[4]Overwhelmed by the wraith strikes, the apprentice stay with 3 hp and 4 cons only. Dan promptly heads to the door and unleashes his infamous Mountain Hammer Strike." Lads! Everyone inside, NOW! And start getting those weapons!" Everyone gets inside except for the unfortunate dwarf that let Dan strike the door. May the Goddess of Luck be on his side in this difficult moment. Oh wait, Dan shouts his White Raven Strike to give another round to his buddy." You too. Hurry! Inside the room, now!" The dwarves inside uses their standard action to grab whichever equips they can equip with a standard action. Maneuvers:Spoiler Hide Crusader () Revitalizing Strike (x) Mountain Hammer (x) White Raven Tactics () Stone Bones (-) Leading the Attack War blade: () Moment of Perfect Mind () Action Before Though () Iron Heart Surge In the arsenal you find only your own equipment (the halberd and other stuff you had) so you'll have to choose what each dwarf takes from your equipment. It would be good also if they were wearing the armors from the armored monsters and maybe their weapons. Again, you'll have to choose who got what and arm them properly. The dwarves take whatever they can (weapon, shield or other equipment, but not armors) and get ready to help Dan. The flying monster goes all in vs Dan:the further via fly to Y8 and shot a bolt at Dante others two charge with their spears(1d20+15)[33]DMG:(1d6+1)[3](1d20+10)[28]DMG:(2d8+2)[12](1d20+10)[15]DMG:(2d8+2)[16]The avian who charged are now on X5 and Y5." You're cornered now dwarf!" I want to put every equip on Dan. Most importantly, the +1 Dwarves Warlike. How much time it takes? After that I will step back to Y3 and try to kill the monsters inside the room. You can get one item per round as the dwarves pass it to you, but you spend your move to that. The avian don't like the idea of getting inside the chamber, so they fly away and ready their actions to shot you when you get out of it. The third avian screams:"I'll go call reinforcements, don't let them escape!"and fly away towards northwest room.readyed shots:(1d20+15)[32]DMG:(1d6+1)[2](1d20+15)[22]DMG:(1d6+1)[6]The avian who stayed are standing at T5 and Y8. What you going to do? You can reequip yourself: one item per round, but armor will take longer. There is no telling how much time for the reinforcement to get (the avian moved 4 times his speed and got inside the room). Dan takes all the time he needs to equip all his equipments. Will only leave after he's all equipped. Everyone else is close to the wall, in total defense and seeking cover. It took 23 rounds for Dan to get all equip again, time enough to reinforcement to appear and ready their actions. Six armored monster joined the battle, two of which stood near the door with long spears and attacked when Dan stepped outside the room:(1d20+6)[7]DMG:(1d8+3)[8](1d20+3)[12]DMG:(1d8+3)[7](it was 1d20+6, add +3 on the attack roll)(Don't forget the avian's shots. The third avian is nowhere to be found). Kevin ho:After the tabletop play, Tom finally kill the last undead, but the battle killed the swordsman, Ludovico and one of the wall's marksmen. Then all of a sudden the crow old man rappers and tell himself to be Our, the Ruler of the Void, and then explain about the World's Beam and about Scaling scheme involving Tiamat. After hearing everything quiet, the need for revenge upon his family killed at Cisco Pontus speaks louder than his training in Dragon bane Academy and Tom accept to make a pact with Our and become a Dragon lover. Dragonlover:Spoiler Hide 1: Dragon Devotion 2: Diatonic Weapons 3: Diatonic Skin (natural armor: 1/3 character level) 4: 5: First Domain (Time, Space, Mystery or Telepathy) 6: Diatonic Immunities (Immune to paralysis and sleep) 7: 8: Diatonic Scales (RD 1/4 character) 9: 10: Second Domain (Time, Space, Mystery or Telepathy) 11: 12: Spell Resistance (5+character level) 13: Diatonic Wings (fly speed) 14: 15: Third Domain (Time, Space, Mystery or Telepathy) 16: 17: Frightful Presence (DC 10+1/2 character level + CIA mod) 18: Diatonic Might (+4 STR, +4 cons, +4 CIA) 19: 20: Fourth Domain (Time, Space, Mystery or Telepathy) Time Domain Spoiler Hide Granted Power: Improved Initiative; 1 Expeditious Retreat 2 Lesser Celerity 3 Haste/Slow 4 Celerity 5 Permanency 6 Contingency 7 Mass Cat's Grace 8 Greater Celerity 9 Time Stop Space Domain Spoiler Hide Granted Power: Freedom of movement on self for character level rounds per day (no need to be continuous - swift action) 1: Benign Transposition 2: Shadow Cache 3: Dimension Step 4: Dimension Door 5: Teleport 6: Greater Blink 7: Plane shift 8: Eternalness 9: Reality Maelstrom Mystery Domain Spoiler Hide Granted Power: Uncanny dodge. 1: Identify 2: Augury 3: Divination 4: Crying 5: True Seeing 6: Find the Path 7: Vision 8: Discern Location 9: Foresight Telepathy Domain Spoiler Hide Granted Power: Telepath over 60 ft. 1: Comprehend Languages 2: Detect Tongues 3: Tongues 4: Sending 5: Mary's Telepathic Bond 6: Probe Thoughts 7: Brain Spider 8: Mind blank 9: Weird Kevin's group rest in the wall and after a few hours they decide to leave and go find the beast:"Take Wings with you. It will help you and guide you," Our said as a crow flew from his AHT and stepped in Tom's shoulder,"protect it, and it may be helpful"(Wings is a raven familiar, but if he dies you won't be able to summon another familiar). As the group prepare to leave, both marksmen ask Tom to disband and help to protect with the wall. After that the hunt for the fearsome beast begins. Dud and Kevin ho:After making a major prison break and killing every single armored guard and avian in the castle, you final go and fight the amethyst dragon who had just sacrificed the Elder Audubon for some dark ritual. During the battle Got Audubon, the named lancer and the Audubon's miners perished by the dragon's might, but Dan and Tom managed to kill the fearsome beast. With the Audubon Clan freed, Our the Prince of Stars made a deal with Dan and cast a Gate spell to take them to Vitré safely. To pay his debt, Dan will have to help Tom in his quest to kill Tiamat and protect the Void from the beast of the bells. The dragon hoard was full of crystals and some gold, and also the loot you found that I'll sell for you to make things clearer etc. DragonhoardSpoiler Hide +1 Ring of Protection; +2 keen edge Dagger; Staff of Illusion; 2232 gold in loot (for each); 3000 GP worth in crystals (for each); 4375 magic stones (Kevin); 3625 magic stones (Dud); Audubon's Ring. Spells from the Dragons:Spoiler Hide 1 Dispel Magic; 2 Magic Missiles; 1 Silent Image. Staff of Illusions:Spoiler Hide 1: Silent Image 2: Invisibility 3: Displacement 4: Illusory Wall 5: Arcane Mirage 6: Veil After resting and getting full life, Dan Audubon and Tom Ankh depart to hunt the fearsome beast (tabletop).

The Dark Side of the Moon|rating:3.0

Prologue - The Tranquility of the Highlands (Balian & TheHappyMoonkin)

The Isle of Skye had to it a peace and tranquility unmatched, in Fergus's well-informed opinion, by the rest of the world. Lush green covering the whole island, the air fresh from the sea, a moderate climate, and an ever gentle breeze were all signs of home for those living on this seemingly mythical isle (Food was hard to grow and hunting was scarce, but the Scots were determined to tame the Isle and had managed to survive there for generations. The population was small, as Clan MacLeod was still among the smaller clans of Scotland, but they were all a hardy and hearty folk. As the younger MacLeod brother's eyes fluttered open, he quickly found himself greeted by the presence of a familiar body beside him. Reaching up with a hand to wipe his eyes, Fergus blinked them once or twice before they could focus on the goddess who laid beside him. With just enough light from the rising sun to see her properly, a small grin curled onto the Scotsman's lips as he groggily admired her in peace, her legs splayed out atop his while the rest of her form covered the other side of the bed. Their blanket was nowhere to be found, leaving both of their bare bodies free to the open air. By all accounts the night before had been an eventful one. Carefully sliding his legs out from beneath hers, the Scotsman dropped his feet off the edge of the bed and moved quietly throughout the room to gather his kilt and a sleeveless linen shirt. Easing himself into both, he gathered the blanket from the floor and carefully eased it over his sleeping companion. Making every effort not to wake her, he moved for the door and closed it silently behind him. As he did every morning, Fergus awoke at sunrise, slipped out of Dun vegan Castle (and made his way out to the fields as quickly as his body would allow. This is, of course, referencing to whether or not he was hung over, which was about a fifty-fifty chance every morning. Another factor that would often slow him down was whether he woke up alone, as a second body in his bed meant he had to dress far slower to avoid waking his frequent guest. On this particular morning, his mind was free of aches, his escape was successful, and his body was ready. So he proceeded out to the fields, scythe in hand, wearing only a sleeveless linen shirt and his ruggedly patched kilt bearing the yellow tartan of his clan. His return home certainly agreed with him, but this was a fact that Simone alone would truly notice. For during their time on the road together, Fergus was a far more meager man. Living on the road means often going hungry and a lack of real physical labor as well. But since returning home, his stomach has been full and his days filled with work and training. Because of this, the Scotsman's body had transformed to become far more muscular and athletic. His skin tone, however, has resorted back to a slightly paler shade of tan. On the road, while out in the sun all day, enabled his skin to darken where the mainly cloudy and overcast weather of the Isle of Skye made for a much paler populace. Upon arrival at the fields, he found himself to be the first, which was always something he enjoyed. He took the moment of peace as a chance to spend time alone with the land he always thought of as home, even when thousands of miles away. Fergus would never be able to explain it to anyone, but after having been away from his home for so many years, he felt a deep yearning for rekindling his connection to his homeland. This connection he would never be able to put into words, but it was something he could feel in his chest. Like the relief of good health after a long period of sickness. What he grew to understand the feeling to be was a deep love of Scotland, for the land and its people. It was for them, he labored so hard for each day, even if his brother thought it beneath him to work the fields. He was, after all, the sole heir of Clan MacLeod. Laird William tried to convince his brother to leave the farmers to do the farming and that Fergus should turn his attention solely to more noble pursuits. And there lies the second-largest disagreement between the two brothers, their opinion of what a noble pursuit was. William believed it to be lording over his people in order to maintain their safety and well-being. Fergus was of the opinion that eating, drinking, fucking, and working alongside his fellow clansmen to be far nobler. Slowly but surely more of his clansmen arrived to assist with the harvest, most offering Fergus a curt nod of respect, which Fergus always returned in kind. This silent exchange of respect was the most Fergus got out of the lesser clansmen and women, as since his return, he had been a topic of controversy. It was more than just him that they whispered of, however. His French whore was always spoken of as a secondary, but no less scandalous of a topic. And these whispers of gossip had spread well beyond the Isle of Skye into the rest of highlands and lowlands, making their affair one that was well-known throughout the kingdom. But as all things do, the topic became far less interesting and slowly lessened in prominence until it settled down as a fact resting in memory. And a fading memory at that. As she had won Fergus over, Simone slowly did the same with most of his people, with her eventually being welcomed as one of them. Once they could drink and break bread with in the great hall. William, the clan chieftain, was another matter entirely. During their early months in Dun vegan Castle, the younger MacLeod often fought with the elder about her presence. Perhaps far more than the woman herself even knew. This, of course, was the largest disagreement between the MacLeod brothers.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"She has to leave, Fergus," William began sternly in Gaelic, his voice more demanding than suggesting. "She is a commoner. A whore, don't think I don't know one when I see one. She shares your bed each night as if it was her own. Together you are an embarrassment to me, to mother, and to the whole clan. Our people will reject her, and then they will reject you. She must leave." Fergus sat in silence as his brother spoke, his gaze resting upon a crack in the stone floor of his brother's private quarters. As Laird, William had the largest room in the castle, with both a bedroom, a small study, and a small room for gatherings at the front. It was in the later that they sat, a small fire lit under the hearth that was enough to light the room for the men to have this conversation as the moon was hidden behind thick clouds warning of rain."On my travels, I learned many things, but one lesson was most important," Fergus finally began in response, speaking lowly, but over the crackling fire. As he spoke, his voice slowly grew in fire and passion until it was reflected also in his eyes as he looked strongly up at William. "Freedom is to be valued above all else. We under the yoke of England have always known thus, but never have we been slaves. She has been one or very near to one, but never will she be again. Her freedom will be forever under my protection. Endanger it at your own peril, brother. Force her to leave, and your only heir shall leave with her." A silence fell between the brothers, leaving only the fire to fill the old room with noise. Their gaze upon each other unwavering, William finally gave consent with a small nod of his head before disappearing further into his room in a fury. With his brother gone, Fergus's attention was drawn to the crack under the door. There was a small amount of light flickering under the door from the torch that he remembered hung just outside of it, but at the far end of the crack there was a shadow. A shadow cast by someone listening from the other end of the door. Fergus didn't even need a moment to realize who it was. Only she would be so bold.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As time passed, William's opinion of the woman remained unchanged. She had become a threat. Not that she was a danger to anyone, but the scandal she embodied had created a rift between the brothers and had the potential to weaken their position among other clans. Their Uncle Malcolm, upon his only visit to Dun vegan Castle to celebrate Fergus's return, advised pushing her onto a boat or better yet, off a cliff. The reputations of his nephews needed to be in strong standing for the coming of the English princess, an event announced a year before its actual arrival. The MacKenzie's needed all the political power they could muster, and Simone was a hindrance to this as well. But again, behind closed doors, the younger MacLeod made his stance known, and the subject was eventually dropped by all. All this transpired 6 months ago, leaving the two to continue their lives together in relative peace since. So while Fergus hacked away at the wheat fields that needed harvesting, he quietly sang a gentle Gaelic tune about kith and kin. The dull gray glow of the morning sun had begun journey into the sky slowly banishing he shadows of night with each growing ray. The once gleaming fire that had warmed them against the nightly chill was now nothing more than a smoldering pile of dying embers. Lost a within a deep sleep, Simone exhaled a long contented sigh naturally gravitating towards the other who shared her bed, remaining undisturbed as the Scot carefully moved to untangle their limbs from the lovers knot. A murmur of unintelligible French would slip past half parted lips as their blanket was recovered and once more placed upon her sleeping form; an early morning ritual as most nights were spent in each other’s company. “Fergus…” Simone (spoke quietly, the words still heavy with sleep as her eyes very slightly cracked open. The silence of the room was the only response as her companion was no doubt already dressed and on his way to the fields. Reaching for his now abandoned pillow, she turned her face into it clutching it closely and breathing in the comforting scent before slipping back into sleep. Dunvegan Castle was still in the process of waking up as Simone gathered her scattered belongings from the bedroom floor, quickly dressed, and slipped out as quietly as possible to return to her own provided chambers. There was no secrecy to how she and Fergus spent their evenings, nor was she every one to feel shame because of it, but slowly and surely the people of Clan MacLeod were warming up to her and Simone hoped to have the murmuring rumors of the household subside for her companion’s sake. Though a very interesting turn of events brought them together, the Scotsman was certainly leaving his mark on her in more ways than one. Or perhaps it was the time away from home, away from Paris that was causing her to lose her touch. Simone snorted at the thought; she had never once gone soft over the charming wiles of a man, why would now be any different? Before Fergus had found himself between her legs and a moment away from the successful execution of the Comte’s orders for his disposal, the thought of being anywhere but Paris or anything more than a whore was neither a thought nor an option. But what was the reason for it all? It was a question she had contemplated for all the waking hours of the day for nearly a year since their hasty leave of Paris. The reasons were numerous, yet still there was something she could not comprehend. The Comte was a dangerous man fond of throwing his weight around; a handful of scattered deep scars across her flesh were proof of that. But when his men started going after the other girls and then the incident with that child. Simone’s thoughts halted as a dull pain from the palm of her slender hand began to throb, the crescent marks of finger nails revealing themselves as her clenched fists relaxed. It wasn't just that charming smile the Scotsman possessed that won her over that evening, but something else entirely.----Simone’s arrival in the Dunvegan Castle had been received as one could reasonably image, the sole heir to Clan MacLeod gone for 12 long years only to return out of the blue with a foreign stranger at his side and sharing his bed. They call her his French Whore, and though not entirely incorrect, she doubted anyone one would be able to comprehend the intricate web the two of them had spun around themselves. William, the head of clan MacLeod and Fergus’ older brother loathed her existence and had ordered gone. Had Fergus not defended her as he did, she would willingly have left. The look upon her companion’s face the moment the Isle of Skye reached his eyes was a memory Simone would always treasure, and she would never put him in a position where he would have to choose between her or his home. Never. As time went on Simone did what she did best, adapted. She found ways to make herself useful to the clansmen and woman of the Isle, used their curiosity to her advantage, and began to win them over; Fergus’ family always the exception.----With some assistance from the young woman, Bridget, who had been offered as a personal servant or sorts, Simone was able dress efficiently with time to spare for taming the unruly tresses of her raven hair.“I can just pin it up?” Bridget had offered as she moved to stand behind Simone at the mirror to start sectioning out pieces to braid. She was a slight little thing with tawny brown hair, soft blue eyes, and a pale complexion that matched the majority of her kinfolk; a stark comparison to Simone’s warm prominent tone of tanned cream and mossy hazel eyes. A slight grimace found its way to Simone’s face, causing Bridget to stop mid-twist. “You know what, why don’t we be bold today and see what it does? Leave it down.” Simone said finishing with a slight grin and raising her hands to comb her fingers through the natural waves of her hair. The dramatic change of her wardrobe was something that proved to be an adjustment as no longer were the bright pastels of silk stockings and tightly laced bodied gowns an everyday affair. The Dress Bridget has pulled out was of dark blue with accents of cream-colored flourishes along the front lacings. Crossing the room in several short paces, Simone reached inside a large wooden chest that sat below the window and withdrew a pair of vibrant yellow stockings. “Some habits die hard.” She said with a playful smirk at the other woman’s confused expression. “Besides I think they match the MacLeod tartan rather well.”----Finding her way through the stone hallways towards the tucked away nook that belonged to the castle’s healer, she knocked once before proceeding through the unlocked door.”It is about time you showed up.” The gruff voice of Rupert McDavis greeted her as he shuffled a handful of old books across the room. “Oh, so you did miss me?” Simone only retorted, her English heavily accented by her native French dialect. Brushing past him, she walked towards one the many shelves that lined the old stone walls. Spying a carelessly clumped pile of weed like plants and various flowers she scooped them up. “How many times do I have to explain it? You need to dry these in a dark dry place. They rot. What use are they then?” Her tone was shrill as she shook a handful of the drying herbs in the old man’s direction. Rupert answered something in Gaelic, no doubt an insult relating to her sex as he dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Retorting with her own cleverly crafted insult, Simone proceeded to put the herbs in their proper place to dry. As barbaric as the exchange of words were between the two of them, Simone had a strange fondness for the old bastard, whom everyone was afraid of according to Bridget. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with Rupert in a fine collaboration of swapping insults, preparing medicinal salves, dry teas, balms, ointments, and Simone’s rather vulgar daily lesson of the Gaelic language.“Where did you learn all of this anyway?” Rupert asked, finishing the last of his tasks and putting everything back to its rightful place. Simone looked away from the window she had been leaning against enjoying the break of sunlight that had managed to find its ways through the clouds. “Ma mere” she said with a soft smile. “My mother, was a healer of sorts who learned from my grandmother and then passed some of that onto me”. She continued now turning fully to face the old man, her hands resting clasped behind her back. “From there I managed to pick up little things here and there”. Simone watched Rupert’s oddly quiet response as he nodded his graying haired head. When was the last time she spoke so openly about her mother? The ache in her heart was certainly still unmistakably there and yet it was becoming easier and almost natural to talk about her. Simone shook her head and cracked her signature smirk, arms crossing to her chest. “I bet you expected me to say the whore house, non?” she teased, gaining a grasp on her emotions. Rupert grinned, his eyes nearly vanishing underneath his rather large and busy brows as he laughed. “Not entirely wrong, no.” he said before shooing her towards the door. “I'm sure it is close to supper by now Lass. I have had enough of you for one day”.----Simone moved through the thickening crowd of people as they headed toward the hall for supper. From the very beginning, on the days Fergus departed their bed at first light to join his fellow clansmen to work the fields she had always found her way to same spot off a ways from the main courtyard that overlooked the way to the fields to wait for his return. The work day had been long, but productive. Fergus exchanged small talk and jokes with many of the farmers to pass the time. By now though, Fergus's shirt was long gone. Lacking any sense of modesty, the Scot had peeled off the shirt and tossed it aside as he worked. His muscular chest, adorned only by the ankh necklace and the many scars upon it, would be known by Simone better than anyone. Two of the scars, one small slice across his hip and another gash on top of his left shoulder, had been stitched up and tended to by Simone in their journeys together. But the other dozen scars from cuts, gashes, claws, whips, and even one from fire, all came from the time before. Every scar speaks to the unfortunate eventfulness of his years on his own, but none speak more than his back, which is covered in scars almost impossible to count from the lash. Each scar was a souvenir from his travels and evidence to all who looked upon them that he was a hard man. Oddly enough, he never spoke of how he acquired them. Not even to his French lover." If I may, Lord,"Began Craig in Gaelic, a farmer's son of eighteen winters and a mountain of a man, as he swung scythe side by side with Fergus. "Your back. How did you receive those scars?" At the question, Fergus paused for a moment, but not to rest. His eyes immediately looked off into the distance, toward the red sun that was close to setting. The carefully constructed wall Fergus always kept in front of his eyes, like cracked glass, wavered as a rush of memories hit him. Memories he desired to forget. There was a silence between them for some time as Craig paused too, taking the silence as evidence that he had offended Fergus, he immediately bowed his head. "Forgive me, Lord. I did not MEA-""As a slave,"Fergus interrupted before drawing back his scythe to finish their work. "I was a prisoner of war sold to a Saracen quarry master in Egypt." Fergus paused in his work to offer Craig a wide grin and speak jokingly, the wall of his eyes holding firm once more to hide the swelling of emotion in his chest. "I was a bad slave." Motioning with his eyes to his back, the two Scots shared a laugh before focusing back on their work once more.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The sky was a strangely bright red as the sun set, an unusual color, but beautiful to behold as it shined onto the broken clouds in the sky. With his shirt over his shoulder, Fergus led the small group of men returning from the fields to the castle, Craig among them. All the men who worked the fields lived in the village outside the castle, but Fergus often invited them to share ale and bread with him before they returned home. Behind them were a small group of men Fergus did not recognize, cloaked from the cold in long brown robes. Most likely traders seeking shelter and food for the night. Telling the men he would meet them inside, Fergus diverted away from the group toward their usual meeting spot, where his French beauty already awaited him. With his smile curled handsomely across his lips, he approached her and immediately reached up to grab a small lock of her dark hair that hung freely and beautifully. His eyes had a soft glow to them as he admired her hair and then her eyes before speaking in his strangely accented, but grammatically correct French." It was hard getting out of bed this morning with you looking like this," Fergus said softly, his grinning eyes looking into hers as he remained bare chested. Releasing her hair, his arms reached down to curl around the small of her back, pulling her firmly into his body as his ankh dangled between them. "How was the old goat today?"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------At her question about the ankh, the wall of his eyes came crashing down. Even as they lay naked together beside a camp fire, the ankh still remained on his chest. He never parted with it. He bathed with it, slept with it, fucked with it, and fought with it always and forever present directly over his heart. Easing her naked form from atop his, he sat up slowly and immediately grabbed hold of the necklace and held it firmly in his hand. The pain in his eyes would be apparent as he gazed into the flame, clearly fighting hard to regain his composure and suppress the emotion, but he failed entirely. After wiping at his eyes, and avoiding looking at her behind him all together, he spoke steadily, but swelled with emotion." It means 'life'," He began, opening his palm to gaze upon the ankh as he continued. "It was...it was given to me by a woman I loved. She died. Taken from me. As she bleeds in my arms, she used the last of her strength to hand me this and then said her final word." Closing his eyes, he could see the moment as clearly as it had happened. He could smell her perfume, see her blood, and hear her weak breathing, whimpers, and final whisper. He slowly turned to look back at Simone, a single tear falling from his eye as his whole face seemed to shake from his war to fight off the emotions." Life." Sitting upon the soft grasses as the late afternoon sun basked her sunlight, Simone heaved a heavy content sigh. It was moments like this when it was hard to think of ever leaving Scotland. With eyelids closed she fell backwards into the grass, her hair like a fan around her head. There was the normal sound of the bustling castle to which she had grown accustomed to, and then silence. Just the sound of the wind upon the highlands, the buzzing of the occasional flying insect, farm animals speaking out in their own way, to Simone this was silence. Back in Paris, the city never slept and the pleasure house even more so. There was always the chime of female voices and their male counterpart, the drunken grumblings from dissatisfied customers against the Madame’s authoritative tone; even at the earliest hours of the morning you were met by the quiet sobbing of lost love, you were never alone in Paris and there was never such thing as Silence. Simone had found it uncomfortable at first, the silence of the castle whenever she would wake in the middle of the night. It was one of several reasons why she always seemed to find her way into Fergus’ room and into his bed; to be alone with your thoughts in a strange familiar place was dangerous. Simone opened her eyes and slowly pulled herself up to a seated position as the sound of men entering the courtyard had caught her attention. There seemed to be more men than usual coming from the fields, perhaps there was something going at the castle she was not aware of which would not be a surprise to her. But with voices in the courtyard it hopefully means that her Scotsman would not be far behind. As the sight of him Simone stood, a smile turning at the corner of her full lips. Brushing the grass and wrinkles from her skirt she walked towards him and closed the distance between them. As Fergus reached for a lock of her hair she reached for his face and cupped the curve of his cheek within her hand. At his words she smirked and captured his chin between her thumb and forefinger, “Perhaps I will have to tie you to my bed next time with silk stockings and not let you leave until I am finished with you, Hmm?” Her smile turned wicked as she spoke, and she leaned upwards to catch his bottom lip between her teeth in a playful nip. As his arms circled around her waist bringing their bodies together Simone’s hands fell to his bare arms, fingers trailing over the firmness of his muscles and the scars that. “Scotland agrees with you.” She said before kissing the hollow of his throat, thoroughly appreciating the feel of his shirtless body she was now firmly pressed against. “Oh, grumpy as usual. But I think I am winning him over”. Simone said and brought her gaze to his. “So, My Lord. Just how hungry are you?” she asked, her words edged with a darker playfulness as she was ready to fulfill any appetite he had. As her hands traveled lower to rest around his waist, her fingers brushed the ankh necklace that he was never found without.-----“What does this mean, anyway? Where did you find it?” Simone asked as she gently fingered the strange necklace around Fergus’ neck. The light of the fire reflected a warm glow off the pendant, her eyes full of curiosity as they laid together naked under a single blanket, with her head nuzzled into the curve of his neck and nothing but the sky above them and the steady beating sound of his heart beneath her ear. Unable to see his gaze, Simone frowned as he pulled away from her and sat up. As she reached out to place a hand upon his back Fergus spoke, his voice tinged with a foreign tone and hid body growing rigid. Concerned, Simone sat up and drew the plaid that had been placed as a poor attempt at covering them up around her chest. Slowly he spoke, the story he told leaving her speechless and her heart aching. To love someone as much as he had loved that woman, how he still loved her. She looked down at her hands, she was terrified of an emotion such as this, how unbearable it must be, she hoped she would never experience such a thing. “Fergus…” Simone spoke softly and reached up to brush her thumb softly against his cheek and catch the tear that had just escaped him. “I am sorry.” She murmured and pulled him to her, his head to her chest as her arms wrapped tightly around his body.“Then you must live for her.” March 15, 1185The Ides of March"You've said and tried that before, and I quite liked it as I remember," Fergus began in French, a wide grin curling onto his handsome lips as his hands dipped lower to cup her cheeks firmly, threatening to lift her from her feet. "And I am famished." He seemed ready to lean forward and devour her lips, especially after her teasing nip, but something stopped him. Instead, he breathed deeply, and his blue eyes gazed longingly into hers before his attention flickered over the rest of her face to fully admire her beauty. Releasing her rounded cheeks, both his hands raised up to cup the cheeks of her face as his eyes focused intently on hers. Just as he began to lean forward, a shrill scream echoed in the distance, followed immediately by cries of horror and clashing of steel. Fergus was well accustom to such sounds and immediately reached down to his side, ready to draw sword in hand, but found his hip bare of any weapon. His eyes growing wide, he looked back to Simone for a long moment and cupped her face once more. He knew his mind would be elsewhere in just a few moments, so he did not want this one to pass before chaos enveloped them both. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips tightly to hers with the unbridled passion she would have grown accustom to from his lips. Unlike those of the past, this one would linger several moments longer as he savored it and the taste of her lips, longing for the moment to never end as he knew what would come next. He was, after all, a warrior. Tested and tried in more battles than he would admit to anyone, even Simone. Some might believe that being a veteran of battles makes you less afraid, but Fergus knew this to be entirely false. Even as the kiss lingered, he could feel his heart begin to race and ache with fear. He feared battle, because unlike those who glorified it, he knew what it was. He knew what it meant and what came along with it. Blood, horror, death, and worst of all, the shit from men who died. Having lost himself for those moments in the kiss, he finally came to as another scream echoed in his ears and he leaned backwards to look into her eyes once more. Looking toward the castle courtyard just a ways away, his keen mind rushed through every possibility before he grabbed her hand and led her in a full out sprint toward the castle. Upon arrival at the courtyard, a battle was raging before them. The merchants, as Fergus assumed them to be, had shed their cloaks to reveal the black tartan of Clan Douglas. Caught completely unaware, they were only challenged by a handful of guards. The MacLeod guards fought on bravely as the soldiers hacked down the helpless farmers Fergus had invited to drink. Craig, who had tackled one Douglas soldier to the ground, raised a fist to pummel the man before another Douglas thrust a sword into the young man's back." Donna fight me. Go find my mother and meet meh at the stables," Fergus spoke, his voice holding a familiar urgency Simone would have grown accustom to on the road. "Donna stop, Donna fight, yes run. Yes kin? GO!" It was just then that the two men who were fighting and killed Craig, adorned proudly in the black tartan of Clan Douglas, stepped forward with a sword in their hands." Don't kill him, Henry needs him alive," One clansmen said to the other. Given that they heralded from south Scotland, their accents were far less noticeable and closer to that of the English. Seeing a hay cart nearby, Fergus rushed toward it and pulled a pitchfork from under the hay. He spun the tool in his hand twice to figure out the weight of it before rushing forward to engage the two Douglas warriors, giving Simone a chance to run in the process. Rising the pitchfork high, he pressed his forearm on top of it to bring it down with force upon one of the men's heads, the impact distracting him for a moment as the other took a wild swing at Fergus. In a quick movement, Fergus dodged away and turned the pitchfork to stab into the fool's side. Pushing hard and lifting, Fergus drove the man from his feet, into the air, and then down into the ground and left the pitchfork inside his chest. After picking up the man's sword, it took Fergus only a moment to parry and riposte the second man's attack, ending with the sword plunged into the man's chest. As he ripped the sword free, he looked down the gateway and saw riders quickly approaching. Looking up to the ramparts, he saw Douglas clansmen standing above the gate, preventing him from closing it as their reinforcements rushed toward them. Having no other option, he rushed to the hay cart. Using his newfound strength, he put himself in front of it and grabbed hold of the two handles that stretched out from it. This was normally the place for a horse to pull the cart, but with every muscle in his shirtless body flexing, Fergus pulled the cart toward the middle of the gate. As he pulled, an arrow shot from above landed in his right shoulder, but even as he roared in pain, he continued to pull. Once he had arrived in the middle of the gate, he dropped the cart and looked to the arrow in his shoulder. It was just then that two men descended from the stairs above, one with a sword and another with a bow, clearly the man who shot the arrow. Ripping the arrow from his shoulder, not showing any pain, he killed both soldiers with ease. One with the sword and the other with his own arrow. Not wasting a moment as his shoulder bled openly, he looked around the courtyard for any sign of Simone before sprinting toward the stables, dispatching more Douglas soldiers along the way. “Famished are we?” mock surprise lighted Simone’s face as her arms circled around Fergus’ neck. The sensation of his firm grip upon her withdrew a low growl from her lips, Simone’s deep gaze sparkling with mischievous. “Perhaps Monsieur sees something he would like to devour?” she spoke with a teasing tone and moved her body against his in a slow sensuous motion. As her lover leaned ever closer, her arms embrace grew tighter with the sweet anticipation of his lips. She loved those lips. But something within his eyes changed and the passion behind them melted into a whole other kind. Simone’s arms released his neck and her hand softly brushed a few unruly whips of hair away from his eyes. As Fergus cupped her face with her hands, Simon returned his gaze with a deep fondness upon her expression. No matter how many times she had convinced herself that it was not love she felt for this man, moments like this while staring into those deep mysterious blue eyes and held within his strong embrace left her doubting her firm judgment. “Fergus” she softly murmured his name with a bit of a question upon the edges of her voice, curious as to what thoughts were running through his mind. There was a tenderness within her that very few men had managed to unlock and Fergus had put them all to shame. Even from the beginning, he had a way of slipping through her inner walls, like water through cracked stone; before she knew, he had flooded her senses and judgment. A series of shrill screams sounded from close by and Simone’s attention jolted towards the courtyard. As Fergus reached down for his absent sword Simone took a step back to give him room. Heart pounding within her chest, she nervously gathered her hair over one shoulder. The screams continued, and her gaze fixated on Fergus waiting for his best guess at an explanation. Instead, she found herself once more in his grasp, her hands upon her face and his lips capturing her own in deep powerful kiss. Her arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders pulling them tighter together, and she matched his passion as if it would be the last moment they would share together. If only it didn’t have to end. From their time on the road together and the stories told around their cap fires, Simone knew that Fergus was no stranger to battle, even the Viking sword he had always kept at his side was proof alone to that. So as he pulled till only their fingers were left entwined she did not resist as he pulled her towards the courtyard. The sight that greeted them was one not completely unfamiliar to Simone having grown up a slave and later on the dark streets of Paris. Spilled blood was spilled blood, just different men fighting for different reasons. But a sense of alarm still overtook her as the farmers stood no chance against the dark kilted strangers. “Who are they Fergus?” She asked him, her lips setting into a firm line as a young man in front of them got run through with a sword." Donna fight me. Go find my mother and meet meh at the stables…" Fergus held her with is gaze, the urgency in his words silencing the stubborn defiance that wanted to demand to stay at his side. Simone only nodded, he would know her well enough to understand that this was difficult for her and her expression was less than pleased. “The Stables” she repeated with a firmness that matched his own, and she reached up to take his face within her hands as she kissed him with a passion that outmatched his earlier performance. She released him, the moment between them very short-lived as it was not the time for such things. “The Stables.” Simone repeated, a threat upon her lips warning him that he better be there. Chaos was an understatement as the entirety of the castle and its attackers fighting, screaming, and crying where everywhere she turned. Simone cursed loudly, just narrowly missing being thrown to the ground by a group of servants trying to escape. Ducking into one of the stairwells she hastily made her way up the stone steps, making quick haste of her long skirts by tucking the hem into her waist time to keep the layers away tangling around her legs; though not totally indecent for a young woman, the bright yellow stockings were on full Display. Before she could locate Freya MacLeod, Fergus and William’s ever charming mother, Simone had to make two quick stops. Thankfully she found her room with little trouble, the majority of the action being played out in the courtyard and down below in the hall. Ripping open the chest below the window she tore through the neatly folded possessions for a small pack at the very bottom. Deep down Simone had never intended to stay, she knew that eventually her time with the charming Fergus MacLeod would come to an end; and she had intended to slip out quietly at a moment noticed with a bag already packed with essentials and enough god to get her wherever it was she needed to go. With that bag now slung over her shoulder she reached for the dagger she had kept beside the bed; old habits were hard to break. Fergus had gifted her the small knife after their first scuffle in a rundown tavern with a few overly handy patrons. Tucking the dagger in her bodice, Simone quickly exited the room and headed to retrieve Fergus’ sword. With her quick pack of belongings and Fergus’ sword in her possession it was time to find Freya. The two woman shared an equal dislike for one another and Simone had made a conscious effort to avoid the woman at all costs. Just because she had played the part of a whore, everyone expected her to be so easily bought off by money. She sneered at the memory of their first meeting where the elder woman had offered her a very large sum of money to leave her son and go far, far away. Simone swore bitterly under her breath and turned down another staircase towards Freya’s private quarters. Simone had found the woman, thankfully in her quarters, pacing back and forth no doubt on edge of the situation and Simone’s arrival into the room did nothing to improve the tensions. After the exchange of several heated quips and the threat of her son coming back to find her if she didn’t follow, Simone had managed to somehow convince to woman to follow her. “If looks could kill.” Simone remarked with an arched brow of bitter amusement as she glanced back behind her shoulder catching Freya’s gaze. “I like this just as much as you.” She continued, her accent thick upon the English words. Despite their differences and obvious distaste, Simone did admire the woman; she was strong-willed, and certain with every action that she took, and the love for her sons, Simone did at least give her credit for that. The rout to the stables was not entirely obstacle free as blood now stained the front of Simone’s bodice and the dagger she held in her right hand. “Take a right through there,” Freya commanded only a few steps behind Simone and both woman turned onto a short-cut path that led to the stables.”Are you doing alright?” Simone asked and quickly glanced back. Freya nodded, her expression still as firm as it ever was, “I will be better once I see my son”. Simon nodded at the woman’s words, she could certainly agree to that. With the stables now insight. Simone grabbed onto Freya’s wrist with her free hand and bolted forwards, legs burning with every pounding step of her boots upon the dirt path.“I swear to god Fergus. If you aren’t there I will hunt you down and kill you myself.” Fergus's journey to the stable was far more difficult than Simone and his mother's. With his shoulder already bleeding heavily from the arrow he had ripped from his shoulder, he had to kill several more Douglas soldiers on his way. The first few he did so without injury, but upon coming across three of them at once, one managed to slice open his right side before Fergus had slaughtered all of them brutally. With a hand clutched tightly to his fresh bleeding wound, Fergus ran as fast as he could toward the stables. All around him, his people were being slaughtered. If the two most important people on the Isle of Skye weren't waiting for him at the stables, he would have turned and fought to save his clan. But for Fergus, he would let his entire clan die if it meant Simone and his mother would live. And as fate would have it, it might just come to that. Upon his arrival at the stables, Fergus burst through the door with his shoulder and looked around with wide eyes, panting heavily as he found it to be empty. Simone had never let him down before, so he knew she would not do so now. Stabbing the sword into the ground by the exit, he rushed over to the nearby horses and immediately pulled a saddle from the rack to to prepare them. Despite bleeding heavily from his shoulder and side, Fergus pushed on, a testament to the Scot's willpower and strength. Before long, both horses were saddled and ready, with each saddle carrying a pouch of water. As Fergus was leading both horses to the exit, it was then Simone and Freya arrived. Fergus's heart was immediately filled with joy at seeing both of them unharmed, but the sight of Fergus to them was likely far more unhappy. Though he did not know it, Fergus was a complete mess. His bare chest showed more blood than skin from a combination of his own wounds and the blood of those he had killed. His hair was wet and dripping as well from sweat, while his face had splatters of blood across it. And if it wasn't enough, the yellow tartan of his worn and patched kilt was covered in red as well, forever staining and corrupting the kilt Fergus held so dear. Only the ankh upon his chest remained unscathed. Not giving either woman a moment to speak, Fergus rushed forward and wrapped an arm around both women at once to embrace them firmly. After the briefest of moments, Fergus stepped backwards and looked at his mother sternly, speaking urgently in Gaelic. "I've saddled your horse, Mother. Simone will take mine. I will saddle a third once you have left." Freya opened her mouth to protest, but the firm look of her son immediately informed her any resistance would be futile. So after a kiss upon Fergus's bloody forehead, she quickly moved passed him to mount her white stallion. Once his mother had passed, Fergus's eyes immediately turned to Simone. One of his hands was tightly clutched to the wound on his side in hopes of slowing the bleeding as the other reached up to cup her cheek. As he looked at her, his eyes would hold something she had never seen before. Where before his eyes were either hidden behind a wall of cracked glass, now there was nothing there but raw emotion. His feelings for her were blatant and easy to read from his eyes. He no longer made any effort to hide them." What I am going to ask of you, you will not like,"Fergus began in French, pausing for a short moment to grimace in pain before looking into her eyes once more. "Scotland is no longer safe. You must--"The strong Scotsman was forced to pause for a moment, his eyes closing tightly from the pain as he began to push his hand more firmly into his open wound on his side." You must find a ship and go..." Fergus paused once more, looking off to the sounds of slaughter in the courtyard before looking into her eyes with a newfound strength and urgency. "Go to Oslo. To Norway. Do whatever you must to get there and when you do, say my name again and again and again until you are brought to the Earl's hall. He will protect you..." As luck would have it the majority of the fighting was still taking place within the courtyard leaving the stables unguarded. “Slow Down girl!” Came Freya’s struggled voice from behind her, no doubt sprinting around the castle grounds and dodging Douglas clansmen (as Freya had pointed out) was not something a woman of her status would usually do. Both women were quite winded as they finally reached the stable doors, hearts were pounding as hands rested on the curve of hips; Simone was not cut out for this kind of excitement, she much preferred quiet stealth. After short moment to catch her breath, Simone reached for the handle ready to rip the door from its hinges as movement could be heard within. But what if Fergus was not inside? The thought left a sickening sensation within the pit of her stomach. Slowly, her fingers uncurled and slipped away from the handle as she turned to face Freya. “If that is not Fergus…” she began in English, so the woman could understand, “If it is not Fergus, and one of the black kilted Bastards, I want you to run and find someplace safe to hide nearby. I will try to distract them.” Simone explained, keeping her voice just low enough for the other woman to hear as she gestured towards the door with thumb over her shoulder. Freya frowned in response, Dark eyes looking down the bridge of her nose at Simone as if trying to decide how to respond and which insult to use. In no mood to deal with the older woman’s judgmental antics, Simone rolled her eyes and cussed quietly to herself before speaking in French, “Fine. Next time I won’t care if there is a potential for you to get impaled. I will sit by happily and watch!” she spat and threw her hands upward in frustration. “Fergus, that better be you,” Simone called with irritation heavy upon the words. With her attention back to the stable as she held her dagger at the ready while she pulled the door open. The relief she had first felt upon seeing his face was very short-lived as the severity of his wounds and the challenge of getting to the stables was displayed in blood on nearly every inch of his body. Without a second thought Simone reached for her bag and started to rummage within it, desperate to find the linen bandages she had stashed away. Fergus immediately moved towards them, closing the distance with a few short strides. Before either she or Freya could speak, his arms circled around each of their shoulders and pulled them close. Simone continued to dig for the bandages. Though she was by no means fluent with the Gaelic language, she knew enough of it to catch the gist of the words exchanged between mother and son. Her body turning rigid, Simone watched as Freya nodded silently to her son and placed a tender motherly kiss upon his Forehead. Simone shook her head, nostrils flaring as her lips curled, she knew exactly what Fergus Intended to do.“No.” She demanded as soon as Fergus turned his attention to her and as was his normal reaction to her stubbornness, he ignored it. “Fergus.” Simone protested, her tone still sharp and defiant as his hand reached up to cup her face. She shook her head weakly, her strong will just about completely collapsing a his touch. Her own fingers reached up and laced with the hand that held her, her head turning into his palm as she kissed it. The threatening burn of tears gleamed as her emotional walls cracked and threatened to become rubble. The look upon his face as she finally brought her eyes to his nearly unhinge her. All the unspoken words between them were there in plain sight. “That is not fair.” she said, her voice cracking as a single tear slipped down her cheek and vanished under his fingers.” What I am going to ask of you, you will not like," Fergus began before an expression of pain flashes across his raw features.“No.” Simone countered, her inner walls rebuilding. “Please don’t make me leave you. Not like this.”. Pulling away from his touch Simone turned her attention to the wound he was holding at his side. Very gently her fingers brushed over his, carefully moving his hand aside just enough to be able to catch a glimpse of the severity of the wound. She grimaced, it did not look good." You must find a ship and go..." Simone brought her gaze to his once more as he spoke. She knew how this would end, and she hated herself for it. Never had she met man so firm, so similarly stubborn; they could fight this for hours but in the end they would both be dead. She did not want to leave him. A defeated sigh finally sounded as she begrudgingly nodded.“I will go as you say to Norway. I will make sure your mother is safe. But then I am coming back for you.” Simone said, taking his head in her hands and pressing her forehead to his. She wanted to say it, the words were at the very tip of her tongue. “Fergus… I,” Simon began, thumb brushing over the curve of his cheek and her eyes intently on his. The battle within her would show clear as day, and it would not be difficult to decipher what it was that she struggled to say, but in the end the inner walls she had ever so carefully constructed rebuilt themselves. Managing to summon a sparking smile to her lips she leaned up on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. “I… do not want you to do anything stupid” Simone gently tapped his cheek and once more pulled away. “I know that we do not have much time, but I will not leave until you let me do something about that.” She gestured towards his side with a handful of linen strips. “Does this Earl at least have a name?” “I will make no such promise,” Fergus responded with a small grin, his forehead still pressed against hers while he looked at her with wide eyes. “Stupid is in my nature.” Taking in a deep breath, he slowly let his eyes flutter closed to fully enjoy this last moment together. But as moments do, it passed all too quickly and sounds of the slaughter raging outside snapped the Scot back to his senses. While Simone reached to bandage his open wound, he reached down with his unbloodied hand to push hers away, shaking his head firmly.“No. There is no time,” He continued in French, wrapping a strong arm around her to drag her over to his horse if he had to. “They need me alive. Once they have me, they won’t let me die. Besides, I’m not so easy to kill.” It was at that moment a man burst into the stables. Grabbing his sword from Simone, he rolled forward and thrust up into the man’s chest before he could even finish his swing. With the stable door wide open, Fergus looked up to Simone once more, speaking urgently. There was no time for words from the heart anymore.“His name is Are and his son is Hanson,” He continued before walking to open the stable doors fully. “They owe me. No time to explain.” Then without another word, he turned and ran into the courtyard just as the cart was being moved out of the way by four men for more horseman to ride in. Hacking down the first to dismount, Fergus turned and ran into the castle. Riding their horses into the courtyard, almost all dismounted and rush in after him with cries of ‘Get him!’ and ‘Don’t kill him!’. He had cleared the way for their escape. His last act to protect Simone for however long it may be.

Prologue - The Tranquility of the Highlands (Balian & TheHappyMoonkin)|rating:4.0

~What Makes the Heart Grow Fonder~ (closed for ilikeitlikethat18)

~Some say that 'absence' makes the heart grow fonder. But what happens when two people are reunited? Sometimes, the unintended and never expected...~= = = = = = = =The sun beat hotly down on the almost naked form of Ethan Taylor as he lay floating in the warm crystal-clear water on the large inflatable lounger. The gentle breeze only cooled his skin slightly as it almost hesitantly stirred amidst the sweltering heat that shone down from the perfectly blue sky. The warm rays were making him feel sleepy as the meandering twirl of the gently turning float seemed to rock him to sleep. The day was perfect in every way......apart from the suddenly strange sensation of discomfort that Ethan felt in his lower back, as if he were lying on something hard amidst the soothing comfort of the lounger. Shifting to reach for whatever it was, Ethan frowned slightly as he found nothing beneath him and so with a mildly disgruntled expression he tried to settle himself back to relaxing again. However, once more the strange lump was beneath him, and yet again when he searched he found nothing. The third time Ethan shifted to sit up and only too late realized that his balance had shifted the amount of weight on one side of the inflatable lounger before the thing suddenly spun over, and the dark-haired 21-year-old was swiftly dunked head-first into the warm water with a loud splash. And......with a thump Ethan landed on the floor of his bedroom in the apartment that he shared with his two flatmates, tangled in his bedsheet with, what he could only guess, was his phone digging into his back. Grumbling to himself as he struggled to pull his arms out of the vice-like mess of his sheet, the dark-haired student almost threw his phone across the room in sleepy-frustration as he kicked the sheet off him and rubbed at the side of his head that must have hit the floor as he fell out of bed. Before he could however, he realized how expensive the thing was and thought that destroying it for being annoying was probably not the wisest move to make. Especially as his girlfriend had bought it for him as a birthday present the year before." That's the last time I let Leo talk me into..." Ethan instead began to mutter to himself before he realized that he actually had no idea what it had been that his flatmate had organized for the guys to drink last night. Whatever it was it hadn't given him a hangover, but fuck he couldn't remember anything from the night before. Pushing himself gingerly up from the floor, Ethan cast his glance around the room and almost groaned again as he saw the state that it was in. Whatever had happened the night before had been wild. The only comfort that the dark-haired student could take from that was that hopefully his two flatmates were in a similar state to him. Before he could think any more on his best friends, the phone in Ethan's hand suddenly lit up and his favorite song blared out of the speaker as his girlfriend's name and picture flashed onto the screen as she called him. It was then that one of Ethan Taylor's memories burst back into his head, and the dark-haired student was suddenly even more glad that he was not hungover as he remembered that today was the day that his girlfriend of two years was coming to visit him...and she would not be impressed at seeing his place in such a mess after how long she had been travelling. Though it would be him forgetting about it that would make her really annoyed. Together though...ah shit... Glancing at the time quickly as he answered the phone, Ethan felt only the slightest relief at noticing that he should...just about...have time to get his room in some state of acceptable tidiness...maybe...before the love of his life got to the front door. At least if the gods were with him anyway. And so, trying his best to sound as calm and as normal as always, Ethan Taylor held the phone to his ear and smiled." Hey babe..." Victoria pushed her long, dark hair over one shoulder for what seemed like the billionth time that day. It was extremely annoying travelling as it was, but her hair kept getting caught in the bag she had slung over her shoulder and getting tugged at. Not the type of hair pulling she was into to say the least. It was unbearably cold in the airport, and she'd packed her hoodies in her checked luggage, so she kept hugging herself in an attempt to stay warm. Only twelve pm, and she'd already been up for seven hours. If having to be at the airport at seven AM wasn't enough, her first flight had been delayed. 3000 miles was a long way to fly, all the way across the country. She had just gotten off the plane at her layover and found her new gate, which of course was all the way across the entire airport. She normally was known for her even tempered, sweet nature, but sometimes she just got cranky. And that was the last thing she wanted, to show up in a bad mood. Hopefully the second leg of the trip would be better. Opting to get some frozen yogurt and a bottle of water instead of risking airport food, she found a stand nearby and paid an obscene amount of money for her purchases. Taking a seat right in front of her gate, she saw that she still had an hour before her flight would board. Ethan was lucky that she loved him so damned much to make this trip. When they'd first started dating over two years ago, they'd already known each other for years and liked each other for quite a while. He was attending community college at that time and neither of them expected to be so taken with each other that two years later, he'd be attending college far away, and she'd be trekking out across the country to visit him or vice versa. There was just something about that boy that Victoria couldn't get enough of. She smiled to herself thinking how excited she was to see him and to meet his housemates he couldn't stop talking about. Half the time she could hear them when she called him, laughing and fooling around in the background. They seemed like total jokesters from the bits and pieces she had heard. Victoria never considered herself a stuck-up type of girl, but she definitely had her quirks. She hated to be called Vicky and the only person she let call her Vic was Ethan, because he'd started that a long time ago. Although most people thought she was a no-nonsense type of girl, she definitely knew how to let her hair down and have a good time. She was just very concentrated on being successful and building a good life for herself and for what would eventually be her future family. She had plenty of girlfriends, but never really considered herself to be in the popular, cliquey crowd. Honestly, it surprised her that a guy like Ethan had ended up with a girl like her. Not because she felt like she wasn't good or pretty enough. She just thought that their crowds weren't the type to mesh very often. She fiddled with her long sleeve, grinning at the fact that she had on an insanely sexy bra and panty set on underneath such a boring "travel" outfit. Ethan would never care about what she was wearing on any day, especially a day like this, but she couldn't wait to see his face when he "unwrapped" her and saw what she had hidden just for him. Remembering she had promised to call Ethan on her layover, she clicked open her phone and grinned at the goofy phone background of them together. She knew this should be her rebellious, single stage in life, but she couldn't imagine not being with him. Everyone thought they were perfect together." Baby! I miss you." she smiled again at the sound of his voice as he answered, "I'm on my layover. I got delayed. Furthermore, I'm so excited to see you. Is your place all ready for me?" she teased him. "Hide everything in the closet!" "Baby! I miss you." The sound of his stunning girlfriend's voice as she replied lovingly and excitedly to him sent a jolt of mixed emotions through Ethan's 21-year-old male body. At first there was the fun and amusement that filled their relationship, making Ethan break out in a big smile at the enthusiasm in Vic's voice; especially as she hadn't even said hello...though she never did, and it was something that Ethan had always found cute about her. Then there was a surge of love. A deep, pure feeling that he had never felt, and never expected to feel when they had first gotten together two years ago. Oh, he had always cared for Victoria as a friend before that - and thought of her as extremely gorgeous, despite what she claimed about herself - but ever since they had been together, experiencing things, just hanging out, waking up next to each other, and realizing how much they would miss each other when he had left for college, Ethan's feelings for her had grown significantly. Now the dark-haired boyfriend couldn't imagine his life without her. That feeling of warmth was strengthened by one other sensation: lust. As much as Ethan was in love with Victoria, damn, but he was also in lust with her. She was beyond beautiful, especially to him, and although she didn't flaunt herself as much as some women (something Ethan was happy about, as some women had no style or sexiness; just swankiness) Victoria was hot as hell and the sexiest woman he had ever sawed. Something that his friends back home had agreed with and those at college (especially Leo and Nate, his two flatmates) had disbelieved, having never met the dark-haired beauty. How he had ever ended up with her, Ethan didn't know, but he thanked whatever gods there were that she had chosen him. Oh, he was not bad looking. In fact, he was just over average height, kept himself in relatively good shape, and was considered quite attractive. He had never been one of these ladies men kind of guys, but he had never been shunned by the opposite sex either, as some of his friends had. As for 'Ethan Jr.', as Victoria called his cock, Ethan thought that he was good both in bed and in size - not that he had ever really compared himself with another guy of course, and not that he was huge like some of these porn stars, but Vic had never complained, and she seemed to enjoy every part of him, and that was all that mattered. All of those feelings rushed through Ethan as he smiled to himself at the sweet sound of his girlfriend's tired sounding voice. She was so sweet for coming to see him, and he loved her for it. But damn he was going to throw her on the bed when he saw her, fuck, but he had missed her. He had held back from jacking off for the whole week so that he would be overcharged for their first reunion in...well, too long. Ethan just hoped that Victoria wasn't too tired for what he had planned." I'm on my layover. I got delayed. Furthermore, I'm so excited to see you. Is your place all ready for me?"she teased him." Hide everything in the closet!" Ethan laughed gently down the phone at that, a full, rich sound, before he glanced up at his room and thought about how strikingly close his girlfriend was about what he was about to do." I can't wait to see you too babe"Ethan replied as he reached down to throw the sheet back on the bed and tried to make it into some kind of semblance of neatness." Though I don't think everything will fit in the closet. Not unless I take out the handcuffs, blindfolds, and blow up dolls"He teased back as he began picking up various things that lay on the floor - when had he used goat's cheese? - and began pushing things under the bed and stuffing things into the already disheveled male-type closet, grimacing at a rather sticky looking guy magazine that Nate must have left in his room. That guy was just wrong in every way." Delayed, huh? You must be exhausted." He consoled her, before lovingly and insinuating adding,"But don't worry, I'll cook you something tonight and give you a massage before bed. You'll be like new tomorrow"As Victoria replied Ethan straightened up the rest of his room and finally looked around, nodding to himself. It was probably not going to pass his mom's inspection, and maybe not Vic's either, but any guy would think it was fine. And so, pushing the window open before taking the dirty magazine by the corner in as loose a grip as he could and holding it in front of him, Ethan headed out into the apartment's hall and tossed the magazine at Nate's door where it fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Ethan just hoped that it wouldn't stick to the carpet, especially as Nate's door was closest to the front door. Leo's was next and Ethan's was next to Leo's and closest to the kitchen and lounge, so if it did make a mess Ethan knew his girlfriend would have to walk past it. That was definitely not the first impression of his flatmates that he wanted her to have. The apartment itself was pretty quiet, though the sound of Nate's gentle snoring could be heard in the hall and Ethan was sure that he had heard a grumble from Leo's room after the magazine banged against Nate's door. Feeling no sympathy for either of them after finding the magazine and whatever Leo had given him to drink the night before, Ethan thought that it would do them good to wake up anyway. He wasn't going to tidy the place up by himself, and it was going to be sorted before Victoria arrived. He had told them that today they had to make a good impression for her. Leo had only smirked at that, while Nate had looked a little confused. But they had agreed. Now they just had to live up to it. And so, turning to head into the disaster zone, Ethan realized that he had missed something that his girlfriend had said." What was that babe?" He asked... Any stress or anxiousness that had previously filled Victoria completely disappeared at the sound of Ethan's deep, voice. She could almost hear the smile on his face,"I can't wait to see you too babe"His voice lowered slightly,"Though I don't think everything will fit in the closet. Not unless I take out the handcuffs, blindfolds, and blow up dolls"She giggled loudly and clapped her hand over her mouth as several people nearby stared at her. Turning the volume down on her phone to be sure no one could hear what he was saying, she whispered, "You are such a perv! I told you not to buy that stuff until I got there. And that doll better not be yours!" She knew it was an unnecessary statement, Ethan was so loyal, he would never even think of using a blow up doll as a form of release. If there was anything like that in the apartment, it probably belonged to one of his two roommates. Now, Victoria didn't like to judge people, and especially not before she'd even met them or spent much time with them, but she'd heard enough stories to figure the guys were wild animals. She could hear him rustling around, his voice slightly strained as he attempted to console her. There were a lot of things Victoria hated doing to Ethan, and one of them was complaining. He was always trying to get her to be more open about her feelings, even over little things. His voice turned a little more romantic and suggestive as he told her he'd cook for her and give her a massage. If she knew Ethan, and she did, a massage would last about all ten seconds before he was pulling her clothes off. Even after two years, the sexual tension between them was enormous. And that wasn't just because they were away from each other. Though being away from each other had made things difficult. Both parties were quite lustful, and had considerably insatiable sexual appetites. Since the last time they'd seen each other, the only thing they'd shared were some naughty texts, a few attempts at phone sex which had pretty much failed due to his roommates, and a couple of respectfully suggestive photos. While a lot of her friends had no qualms sending naked photos to their boyfriends, even ones who lived a couple of miles away, Victoria was a bit more private than that. Sure, Ethan had seen her naked hundreds of times, but there was still something to be said for a little modesty. Back when they had started dating and even still to this day, Victoria had a hard time adjusting to Ethan's constant approval and compliments about her looks and body. Not that it was the only thing he appreciated, but he definitely thought she was like a goddess come down to earth. Sure, she thought she was pretty and had a decent body. She tried to stay active, going to the gym, going for runs or playing sports, and going hiking. She had a firm, round butt and average C-sized, perky breasts, but she was short and always wondered if Ethan, who was pretty tall, would really have preferred a girl who was a little taller. But he made her feel beautiful, and she did everything she could to make him feel just as handsome. She actually got a little jealous sometimes of all the attention he got from girls. Not "crazy bitch, I'm going to fight you" jealous, but just that little flip in your stomach type of thing when she saw girls making eyes at him or flirting with him when she had stepped away. Luckily no one had had the nerve to do it in front of her. She trusted and loved him completely, but that didn't make it okay." Why do I have a feeling that you cooking means us eating out and a 'massage' doesn't really mean that?" she loved their playful, joking banter. Way past the honeymoon stage, she still felt giddy. She could hear him rustling around again, probably shoveling things into closets and under the bed, and who knows where else. She wouldn't really mind if it was a bit messy, as "bachelor" pads usually were, but the fact that he was making an attempt to clean up was nice. Furthermore, she wondered what all her respectful boyfriend had told his roommates about her. Victoria knew that guys liked to tell each other about their sexual escapades and their new girlfriends or fuck buddies, but how much would Ethan really share? Would the guys trade knowing glances when she walked in the room? Would they have prepared themselves for the loud sex that was soon to come? She'd never been around Ethan in that type of setting. Previously, he had lived with his family and then moved out and shared an apartment with his older brother, who was rarely around. There had never been other guys to deal with. Victoria ate a little bit of the frozen yogurt to try to calm her stomach for the second flight, while he was busying himself with something on the other end. "I have butterflies, babe. It's so weird. I feel almost like we're meeting for the first time, instead of having been together for ages. I guess I've just missed you so much that my stomach forgets all that." She could hear Ethan breathing on the other end, but with no reply, she frowned, "Ethan?"" What was that babe?" He asked, probably having been totally distracted by something, as he was known to do. She smiled and let out a small sigh. Not one of annoyance, but one of relief, "Nothing. I was just saying I have butterflies. Soon I'll be there, and I won't have to repeat anything if you don't hear me, because if you ask me to, I will whoop you over the head with a dang pillow!" "Nothing. I was just saying I have butterflies. Soon I'll be there, and I won't have to repeat anything if you don't hear me, because if you ask me to, I will whoop you over the head with a dang pillow!" Ethan barely heard his girlfriend say as his eyes fell on the lounge and open-plan kitchen and took in the sight before him. It was as if someone had piled trash bags together and then exploded them. Everything was everywhere...even things that made no sense...like a giant garden gnome wearing a pink lace bra and...lipstick, apparently. Where the hell had they gotten a giant gnome?? Before he could try to recall it however Ethan suddenly realized that Victoria had finished talking, and so not wanting to sound like he wasn't listening again he said the first thing that came to his mind as he shook his head at the sight of the apartment." You hit me with a pillow, and I'll tie you up and tickle you like I did last time"He teased playfully, smirking amused to himself at the memory, before adding with a more insinuating tone,"Or find some other way to get revenge when you can't move"Nowthatthought instantly pulled the dark-haired boyfriend's thoughts away from the room and back to his girlfriend of two years, and instantly gave him a rock-solid hard on that would have threatened to tear through his boxers...but that was when Ethan suddenly realized that he must have gone to bed naked as the only thing that he was wearing as he stood in the lounge talking on the phone to the love of his life was his raging erection."Ah, shit"He cursed without thinking, and before he could reply to what Victoria said in response a voice from behind him suddenly made Ethan jump and almost burn up in embarrassment." Damn Ethan, I wondered who you were talking to, but now I know." Leo said sleepily as he glanced from Ethan to the gnome and the dark-haired boyfriend remembered his insinuating comment and that he was standing naked, with a hard on, staring at a giant gnome in a pink bra." And I thought Nate was the perverted one"Ethan's taller flatmate joked with a little laugh as he walked towards one of the kitchen cupboards. Ethan couldn't think of any kind of reply that was witty enough to save him from any more embarrassment, and so he did the only thing he could to defend himself." Actually, it's Victoria, dumbass"He joked before adding to his girlfriend,"It's just Leo babe, being an ass, not you"His tall friend smirked over his shoulder as he began making himself some cereal - not showing the slightest hint of the night before - before he added in bantering sarcasm loud enough to be heard on the other side of the phone,"Oh, the 'imaginary girlfriend' is it? The really hot knockout that every other guy drools over and wishes for but oh, she is 'all yours'?" Ethan had started to lag behind in the conversation again, obviously preoccupied with whatever he was doing and Victoria just smiled to herself. He was very easily distracted sometimes, which was something she had gotten used to in person. Over the phone and what seemed like a million miles away, it was a lot more difficult. It was hard to tell if something she'd said annoyed or upset him, or if he was thinking, or just straight up doing something different.Finally, he responded, teasing her and telling her he'd tie her up and tickle her. She arched an eyebrow and started to retort, but he followed up in a lower, more gravelly voice, "Or find some other way to get revenge when you can't move," and she had to bite her lower lip to hold back a moan right in the middle of the airport. Her nipples hardened automatically underneath her bra and top and she ached. She knew he hadn't meant to turn her on, and hoped that he was at least suffering momentarily like she was. "Ethan!" she whined quietly, crossing her legs and squeezing tightly, "I can't believe you just said that to me. I'm at the airport!""Ah, shit!" she heard him exclaim. When nothing else followed, she realized he was probably talking to himself or one of his roommates and leaned back in her chair. Sometimes he could carry on conversations for quite a while before remembering that he was on the phone with her. "Actually, it's Victoria, dumbass!"she heard him retort, confirming that he was having a conversation with one of his roommates. Apparently they were making some type of jokes about who he was on the phone with." It's just Leo babe, being an ass, not you."" I figured as much. I HAVE an ass, but I'm not one." Giggling, she responded, "Which one is Leo again? Is he the party animal or the pervert?" she joked. Then she heard from the other side of the line, "Oh, the 'imaginary girlfriend' is it? The really hot knockout that every other guy drools over and wishes for but oh, she is 'all yours'?" Her eyes narrowed. They may talk like this all the time, and it may just be all in good fun, but she didn't like the sound of this "Leo" talking to her boyfriend like that. Victoria wasn't sure if she should be blushing and flattered, or annoyed. Apparently her beloved honey was telling his friends how gorgeous she was, and they didn't believe him. He was such a hunk, she had no idea why they'd give him that type of shit. "Let me talk to him. Right now, Ethan." she insisted, when he refused. Finally, he handed the phone to Leo. She put on her best sweet girl voice and addressed Leo, "I don't know what you've heard about me, but I'm definitely all real and all his. I may be a cool girlfriend, but you won't get away with calling me imaginary. Especially when I'm about to show up there today." She looked down at her freshly painted nails and waited for what she was sure would be a brilliant, intelligent response. "Which one is Leo again? Is he the party animal or the pervert?" Ethan heard his girlfriend joke, but before he could reply Leo had already made his smart ass remark and Ethan winced as he knew what Victoria would say; and right enough, she demanded to speak to the tall ladies man that sat grinning with oh-so-vast amusement as he began munching on his cereal. At least, he was smiling until his expression altered to confusion as Ethan grimaced and walked over to hold the phone to him." She wants to speak to you"He answered the unasked question before Leo took the phone from him with his trademark mischievously playful grin."Yeah, hello?" The taller guy asked cheerily as he grinned at Ethan as he added with a goofy laugh,"Is that you Nate?" Ethan had no idea what Victoria said in response, but he did hear the 'no nonsense' reply she made after:"I don't know what you've heard about me, but I'm definitely all real and all his. I may be a cool girlfriend, but you won't get away with calling me imaginary. Especially when I'm about to show up there today." Leo blinked at the volume of Victoria's response and this time it was Ethan that could have laughed, however it took less than a heartbeat for the dark-haired boyfriend's care-free friend to smirk again and reply even more cheekily." So you are real, ah? And coming over today? Well with everything Ethan's been saying about you, you can't really blame a guy for not believing in goddesses, right."...even his playful tone seemed to wink at that point..." But now if he didn't make up the one thing then I look forward to seeing that the rest is true as well. Now I can't wait to meet you." This time Leo gave Ethan a wink as his grin broadened, and he gave a chuckle to whatever it was that Victoria said to him in response." Yeah, that's me. Don't worry, I know how to show you a good time..." Leo replied a little flirting - which was how the guy was around every woman that Ethan had saw, so the dark-haired boyfriend didn't pay too much attention to it."... Just ask Ethan; if I wasn't around he'd probably never have any fun." Ethan was about to slap him around the head when Leo leaned back and his smile broadened." At least he wouldn't until Nate saw him standing in the kitchen naked, anyway"The tall attractive guy jibed and Ethan suddenly felt his cheeks redden again as he realized that he wasstillstanding naked as a jay-bird right there in the middle of the apartment. Instead of rising to the banter though, Ethan just reached over to grab at the phone. Leo just laughed and replied to something Victoria said before adding in a rushed and joking tone as Ethan pulled the phone off him:"I look forward to meeting ya; I've never met a goddess before!" That last was punctuated by an amused laugh that seemed to twist the words almost into a challenge that once more made Ethan wince as he knew exactly how his girlfriend of two years would take it....and sure enough, as he held the phone to his ear and said hello again while stepping away from the table and heading back to his room so that he could get dressed finally, pausing only to call over his shoulder for Leo to start tidying up - which only bought a non-committal mumbling laugh from his flatmate - Victoria did exactly what he expected... Victoria had been glad she already knew what she wanted to say to this Leo fellow, because he had started off the conversation on a terrible note, referring to her as Nate, who was the other roommate. Obviously they thought that she was some type of elaborate, made-up story on Ethan's part. Or they were just enjoying giving him a hard time till they met her in the flesh. She could almost hear the sarcasm and cockiness dripping in his voice as he responded,"So you are real, ah? And coming over today? Well with everything Ethan's been saying about you, you can't really blame a guy for not believing in goddesses, right. But now if he didn't make up the one thing then I look forward to seeing that the rest is true as well. Now I can't wait to meet you."her face flushed. Why was Ethan talking so much about her looks!? What did the rest mean? She stammered slightly as she heard him laughing." Look mister, I don't have to live up to whatever pervy expectations that you have! I hear you're the real pervert over there and a 'ladies man' which to me just means man-slut." she said it in a way that she hoped would be taken as slightly joking and not derogatory, but she really had heard some stories that gave her the willies. But Leo just laughed, a deep, warm laugh that sent a tingle up her spine." Yeah, that's me. Don't worry, I know how to show you a good time..." Was he flirting with her?! Seriously, right in front of her boyfriend? She stammered again. She had no idea what he looked like, not that it mattered, but she'd rarely had guys talk to her like that besides Ethan, who was already her boyfriend."... Just ask Ethan; if I wasn't around he'd probably never have any fun." That got Victoria's attention, and she snapped at him." Yeah, right! Ethan knows how to have a good time that doesn't rely on getting hammered or having sex with some girl you can't remember her name." she hated when guys ragged on Ethan. It really upset her because he was such a great guy, and she loved him so much. "He definitely has fun!" She knew she probably sounded like a lunatic, but she didn't care. He was just trying to rile her up." At least he wouldn't until Nate saw him standing in the kitchen naked, anyway." What was he talking about? Was he implying that they'd caught him naked right now? Or what was he saying? She started to respond, but he added hurriedly,"I look forward to meeting ya; I've never met a goddess before!" Of course, the statement wouldn't have been complete without a big chuckle, making it feel exactly like a challenge to live up to the goddess expectations. Her head spun. She had to board the plane soon, and she glanced down at what she was wearing. Boring. Sure, underneath she was drop-dead sexy, and she knew her hair and make-up was great. But her clothes were hardly goddess status. A second later, Ethan was back on the phone. Victoria shrieked at him, "I can't believe you're talking about this sort of stuff with them! What all do you tell them?! A GODDESS?! Now I have to impress your housemates by looking drop-dead gorgeous, and you know how I am about travelling, ETH!" she took a deep breath, "I'm going to change now. Luckily I brought some clothes in my carry-on. I'll see you in a few hours." She waited for him to respond as she glanced at the clock and hurried towards the bathroom, dead set on changing. It wasn't a matter of looking hot for them, per se, it was just that she couldn't pass up a challenge, and she knew that if Ethan had told them certain things about her, it would make him look better and less open for that immature teasing guys tended to do if she met those expectations. Plus, who was this guy to... argh! Just thinking about him was making her so angry. But she had to play it cool and be a good girlfriend. Ethan only just managed to hide his grimace as his girlfriend began to rant at him about what he had been saying to his flatmates. He would have tried to interrupt, but he knew that when Victoria had the bit in her teeth about something he was much safer to just let her wind down before he tried to dig himself out of whatever hole he had made: doing anything else usually ended with him having his nose snapped off. Still, he did like some fire in women, and Victoria certainly didn't let him down on that point. "I can't believe you're talking about this sort of stuff with them! What all do you tell them?! A GODDESS?! Now I have to impress your housemates by looking drop-dead gorgeous, and you know how I am about travelling, ETH!" He patiently listened, ignoring the oh-so-knowingly amused smirk that Leo gave him before shaking his head and turning back to his cereal, chuckling to himself. Ethan just turned away from his friend and began to walk - he wouldn't hurry, even if hewasnaked - as Victoria continued." I'm going to change now. Luckily I brought some clothes in my carry-on. I'll see you in a few hours." At that point, the dark-haired boyfriend knew that what he was about to say was a waste of time, but he wasn't as guilty as his sweet girlfriend seemed to think." Vic, I didn't talk to them about anything, or go on at them." He began to tell her as he heard walking through the airport; he could almost feel her focus." I just told them what I think about you, and the truth. You are the most gorgeous woman in the world to me, and a goddess..." He emphasized that last part as he ignored Leo's bantering chuckle from the kitchen, cutting it off as he closed his bedroom door behind him and looked for his clothes." And Vic... Vic...? Vic, babe, you don't have to change for anyone, you look beautiful in everything you wear. Alright? They'll love you however you are. They just wouldn't believe that there are any women that are hot and sweet like you. It's just probably because they haven't met any. Babe? Vic?" Ethan gave it a moment as he heard his girlfriend reply and then, just as he was about to open his mouth, he thought better of it and decided to be the wise boyfriend and not make things worse for himself. Instead, he just added as warmly as he could,"I love you. You know that, right? I just miss you and can't wait to see you, that's all. And I'm proud to be with you." The dark-haired boyfriend knew that those, albeit honest, words were his best hope, though if he knew his girlfriend at all the challenge in his roommate's voice would so not go unnoticed, and so with a silent sigh to himself, Ethan just hoped that he hadn't put his foot in it too much as he grabbed his boxers from the bed.- - - - - -Leo said chuckling to himself as he stirred the cereal in his bowl and thought about how funny his flatmate's face had actually been when he had been talking with his girlfriend. From the looks of it, and the manic response on the phone, Leo had managed to stir some trouble up already. Not that he meant to do so horribly, only a friendly bantering kind of way, but he just couldn't help himself; it had been too easy and too much fun. Oh yes, today had already started off well. Especially as Ethan's girlfriend - his actually real girlfriend, imagine that - sounded as sexy as Ethan had actually described her. Leo hadn't really believed his flatmate when he had told him how long he and Victoria had been together, and how hot she was, how sweet, and how in love they were. Perfect people like that just didn't exist. And certainly they didn't carry on a 'loving relationship' over such a long distance. No, their feelings usually changed, or they went off with someone else; like Leo. So when Ethan had gone on about Victoria, Leo had just thought he was making it all up to look good. Turns out though that he had been wrong, and from the honey-sound of Victoria's voice that had almost seemed to trace behind his ear, around his neck, and tentatively down his spine, everything that his flatmate had said about his girlfriend was at least true. Now Leo really was looking forward to meeting this alluring beauty...this mysterious newcomer. Oh, he had no illusions of getting her into his bed - if everything Ethan had said was true then how much she loved him was too. And Ethan was his friend after all - but looking was still pleasurable...and flirting was fine. With his reputation - well-earned at that - around campus any new woman in his life was to be appreciated; he had 'sampled' many of the others, including one or two non-single ones that no one else knew about. Grinning to himself as he shoveled a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, Leo let himself think about Victoria for a moment longer, his imagination playfully coming up with hot scenarios before he finally cleared his head and tossed his bowl into the sink. He had a lot to do today, but now he wanted to be there when Ethan's girlfriend showed up...just so he could 'say hello', and perhaps give her a 'friendly hug'. Nowthatidea made him smile. First, though, he would need some more information from Ethan about what kind of things Victoria liked. After that...well... Almost laughing to himself he walked down the hallway, banging on Nate's door before heading into his own room. Oh yes, today had started out fun, but he had a lot in mind to stir things up for his friends, and enjoy a little flirting while he was at it. Whatever happened, Leo would make sure that Victoria's visit was one that she remembered forever... Although Victoria didn't stop walking, her heart melted a little bit in her chest as she heard Ethan desperately responding, "Vic, I didn't talk to them about anything, or go on at them. I just told them what I think about you, and the truth. You are the most gorgeous woman in the world to me, and a goddess..." She started to say something in response as she shut herself into the bathroom stall and started to remove her clothes, but he continued,"And Vic... Vic...? Vic, babe, you don't have to change for anyone, you look beautiful in everything you wear. Alright? They'll love you however you are. They just wouldn't believe that there are any women that are hot and sweet like you. It's just probably because they haven't met any. Babe? Vic?" She felt bad making him go on like that, but it was less that she was mad and more that she had the phone held out a little bit away from her mouth as she pulled off her top and then sat down gingerly on the seat to pull her pants off. "I'm sorry if you feel like I snapped at you. I wasn't trying to take anything out on you. I just hate feeling like your friends have expectations for me that I won't meet." her face flushed, and her heart thumped, rehearing what he had just said to her. "You're too good to me. You know that's not true, but I appreciate it, and it's very sweet." she pulled on the change of clothes she had in her bag, straightening up as she quickly hurried out of the stall and back towards her gate." I love you. You know that, right? I just miss you and can't wait to see you, that's all. And I'm proud to be with you." She blushed again hearing his honey-sweet words. "I love you, too. So much. And I can't wait to see you either." she lowered her voice, "And fuck you all night long. Bye babe!" she hung up quickly, giggling. Hopefully that was enough to take the worry right out of his head and let him know she wasn't mad at him and wouldn't stay mad if she were. She got back to her gate just in time for the first boarding class to be called. Leaning back in her seat again, she closed her eyes. She truly was so excited to see her boyfriend. They'd both been so patient and although many teased her for having a long-distance relationship, telling her that he was likely fucking plenty of other women, she knew he wasn't. He truly cared for her so much and wouldn't even think about it. In fact, he'd even told her that sometimes he wouldn't jerk off for a while before she was going to be "calling him" (yes, for phone sex) or visiting. That made her heart swell, knowing she had someone who respected and cared for her so much. She felt a little bad that she occasionally had a thought or a flirtatious comment with someone. She'd never thought of cheating, of course, but spunky guys got her attention and the way that Leo had been talking to her really got her riled up. Not sexually, but just feisty. She liked being feisty and Ethan was so sweet, he rarely brought that out on her. But oh how she wanted to meet this player man Leo and see what he was really made of... Victoria boarded her flight, knowing she could take a nap and next thing she'd know, she'd be in Ethan's arms. "Nate, will you put that away..." Ethan half-threatened as his strange, dusky-blonde-haired flatmate was trying to show Leo the red markings on his ass from where he had slept on who-knows-what the night before." Dude, chill out. Anyone would think it was your mom coming rather than your girlfriend." The stranger guy of the group replied before turning to look at Leo." As if she's real. Man. Never would've thought that." Ethan shook his head at that. Nate had only just begun to believe him about Victoria, even after all the harried prodding to get the apartment cleaned up and Nate's muttering that it was a Saturday, and they shouldn't be awake yet. It had taken both Ethan and Leo to finally make the shorter guy finally start taking them seriously." She is. And from what I can tell, she's everything Ethan ever said about her." Leo replied with a smiling glance over at Ethan, who rolled his eyes at Nate before turning to look at himself in the mirror. Of course, the dark-haired boyfriend had no idea what his flatmate had meant, but right then he was too excited...and more than a little nervous...about Victoria turning up. It wasn't thatshemade him nervous, or that he was a nervous kind of guy. It was just that it had been so long, and especially with Victoria's last words sending a pulsing lust straight to his dick, Ethan could just barely keep himself contained. Well, that, and he had no idea how his girlfriend was going to react to his flatmates. Nate was just, well, odd, and Leo was like some kind of unstoppable force of chaos and fun. They might overwhelm her, scare her, she may not like them...... The 21-year-old mentally told himself to shut up, and he focused on what he had chosen to wear. He had decided that he wanted to wear something that Vic really loved, and so he had chosen a pair of jeans - kind of boring, but they hinted at his still hard cock that he knew Victoria would latch onto the moment she saw him - and a tight gray and musky-blue t-shirt that clung to the body that he knew she loved so much. He'd made sure that he had styled his hair back as she liked it, and put on maybe a little too much of that cologne that drove her wild every time that she smelled it. All in all he looked quite good he thought, though he did quickly look away from the mirror as he caught Leo and Nate almost laughing at him from behind. Ethan had no idea why Leo should laugh; the attractive guy had spent longer than he had getting ready - as he often did; he was terrible for how long he spent in the bathroom, let alone his 'marathon showers' - and although he was lounging against his door frame casually holding the top of his door, Leo had dressed in a pair of black knee-length shorts and a long gray, sleeveless shirt that he wore when running or playing basketball with his friends and that showed off his toned arms. His hair was brushed back like Ethan's, though Leo's kept falling in front of his eyes if he moved too much. Nate, on the other hand, stood in just a pair of sweatpants and his bare chest, and it had taken almost as long as Leo had been in the bathroom to get the blonde-haired guy to wear even that much. They guy was just...well, Nate. Ethan had given up trying with him and instead focused on what he and Victoria would do today. She would likely be too tired to spend the day out, though she wouldn't want to be in all day too - especially with how Nate was dressed - and although Ethan just wanted to pull her into his bedroom straight away and fuck her brains out until she screamed...oh, and make up for all of that lost time...fuck, he was sure he'd need a new bed by the time that she had left...although that was what he wanted to do, with Leo and Nate practically laughing over his shoulder he and Victoria probably wouldn't get much privacy. Or if they did the other two guys would probably be calling out from outside the door. Damn, why had he thought that introducing his girlfriend to these guys had been a good idea? Before he could think any further, however, Ethan heard the front door to the apartment building open (it was often wedged that way for easy access for all the lazy-ass students)." Alright, behave, or I'll kick your asses"Ethan warned his friends and Leo chuckled softly and made a comment about 'never having behaved in his life', but before Ethan could reply, there was a knock on the front door......a knock that seemed to unleash a torrent of pent-up sexual hunger...and alter the tides of fate for the unknowing couple... It was only 1 PM in Ethan's time zone when her plane landed, but for Victoria, it was 4 PM from her own part of the country. Her legs ached, and her eyes were sleepy, but she forced herself to get up out of the seat and stand in the plane aisle to get off. She had been able to doze off a bit, except for when the good-looking couple next to her had started to make out and feel each other up under their blanket. They thought they were being discreet, but it woke Victoria up and got her both annoyed and aroused. Happy to be off the plane, she hurried over to baggage claim where she whisked her suitcase off the roundabout and hurried outside. Although Ethan had offered endlessly to pick her up, she said she'd rather show up at the apartment. He'd been kind enough to insist on paying for the cab ride and arranged it. She spotted the cab driver with her name on a clipboard, and he helped her with her bags. She got in the back seat and resisted the urge to lay down. Victoria wanted to be alert and bubbly for her boyfriend as she usually was, but she knew she just didn't have it in her. Closing her eyes yet again, she let her mind wander to the last time she'd been with Ethan. It had been a fast, desperate, almost sad moment. He had come to visit her, and she'd been staying with her sister, who had been at work when Ethan was due to leave. Even though he only had an hour to be at the airport, he wouldn't let them cry over his departure. Instead, he had pulled off his pants and ripped her panties off, pulling her on top of him on the couch, right in the middle of her sister's living room! She had never really seen Ethan so dominant at that moment, and she had really liked it. He had grabbed onto her ass and pulled her up and down on his cock until she had buried her face in his neck to muffle her screams, and he had, for the first time ever, actually cum inside her. Since she wasn't on birth control, he always wore a condom or pulled out. He'd had to leave moments after that, but she couldn't get the scene out of her mind for weeks. Part of her hoped maybe their first fuck session would be something like that. The cab driver cleared his throat, and Victoria realized she was still sitting there with her eyes closed, even though they'd arrived at the apartment building. She thanked him and got out of the cab, grabbing her suitcase from him and shifting her other bag over her shoulder. She looked up at the building, taking a deep breath to calm herself before heading in. Surprisingly enough, she hadn't needed to buzz in. Apparently most college students weren't afraid of being broken-in. Her stomach was filled with butterflies as she checked herself in a full-length mirror standing outside the first floor apartments. Someone seemed to be moving in, which was just her luck. She'd changed into a tight red spaghetti-strap top that hugged her slender curves perfectly and a black pair of shorts that showed off her cute "bubble butt" as Ethan liked to call it. Nothing too revealing, but definitely enough to show this Leo character and the other housemate, Nate, that Ethan was really telling the truth about her. As much as she could, anyway. She'd brushed her hair over one shoulder and applied light make-up. Ascending the stairs to the second floor, she found the apartment easily and knocked. Her stomach turned over again, and she wondered who would answer...

~What Makes the Heart Grow Fonder~ (closed for ilikeitlikethat18)|rating:3.0

The Hunted & The Deceived [rtdst & TheLioness]

It was not a dark and stormy night when it happened. Rather, it was an evening of clear skies and a light breeze. The city was in high spirits until the event. News of the attempted assassination spread throughout the city with the pace of a wildfire ravaging fields of grain in a windstorm. Already, the bounty was posted; it was enough for someone to retire on. The competition was fierce, but Nate had an advantage over the others on the search. A few advantages, actually. The first of which was that he actually spotted her leaving the castle. Nate had been in the area, delivering a message to an aristocrat with a gambling debt. There he was in the center of the city when the event occurred. She easily stood out from the rest of the crowd as she fled, and though she tried to blend in, Nate managed to follow her. This was the part that Nate loved: the chase. How fast could he move without anyone in the crowd noticing he was in a hurry? How close could he get without his target becoming aware of his presence? He had been in this line of work for over ten years. Thinking back to his bumbling start made him want to laugh out loud. He had been just the same as any other novice bounty hunter: He thought he knew everything, thought he was a master at his craft, and he embarrassed himself at every turn. He’d learned a lot since then, but if he was honest with himself, it wasn’t until the incident five years ago that he really came into his own. It wasn’t that he was particularly good at this job. Rather, it was because he cheated. But he loved the work he did, especially as the stakes rose. Just like they did at that moment as he closed in. The earthy brown stone of the buildings that made up this part of the city had grown monotonous. It felt like he had been covering the same block in an endless loop for the last ten minutes as he followed her all the way to the edge of town. Now he was close enough to easily see her vivid green eyes beneath her black hair. The cloak she wore was pulled tight, concealing her appearance from a casual glance, but not from his trained eyes. Nate was dressed casually, in the clothes of a common merchant, a hat pulled down over his head. Beneath the hat, a few strands of his gray hair peeked out, and his amber eyes darted around, keeping watch for any who might interfere before focusing back on his target. More importantly, the hat was pulled down over the slight point to his ears. He was a mongrel, unwanted in either society, but at the same time uniquely placed to blend in with both. Nate knew though that beneath her cloak, she’d have the signature pointed ears of her people. It was amazing how one woman could manage to stir up a conflict that had lain dormant for years. Tensions between elves and humans had never truly faded, of course, only sunk deep beneath the surface of society. But to dredge them up so quickly and so violently? Nate was impressed. He wondered what motivated this woman, why she had made that attempt on King Alaric. What kind of vendetta she could possibly have to risk her entire society. Everyone knew that the humans would win in an all-out conflict. There were simply too many of them. Elves might live much longer, they might be faster and possess skills the average human couldn’t imagine, but humans multiplied so much faster that they could just throw young men at the problem until it was solved. An even life was precious, but a human life was a tool for solving any problem. As he pondered this, Nate closed the distance to her. However, he didn’t draw a weapon, nor did he confront her in the dusty streets. Instead, he twitched his fingers and whispered some words in the ancient tongue, quietly enough that a passing gust snatched them away. He then smiled and relaxed his pace, blending back in to the crowd. He let her get ahead, maintaining focus on her regardless of how far she moved. Furthermore, he had her now. Furthermore, he knew a handful of such tricks. They weren’t flashy. On the contrary, they were barely noticeable. They kept him at the top of his game though, made sure he always had an edge. Now he waited with bated breath to see if he was noticed, and where she would go. There was a chance that she would be caught crossing the gate out of the city, and then he’d have no bounty to collect. Alternatively, if she left the safety of the walls, the chase would become far more difficult. Perhaps she would turn to the side and dart off to safety in some unknown building among the masses. Nate knew however that he wasn’t that lucky. It had come as a surprise to everyone but Irish when the bells began to toll. It was a light evening filled with promised joy and false smiles within the small town. How fake it all felt. It was all fabricated to appease one man, and one man alone. If one wanted to survive the harsh world, one had to bow to a single person's appetites. That's the thing Irish just couldn't understand. What made this one person so great, other than his wealth? He surely wasn't much of a leader, and Irish had yet to learn of him on a battlefield. The King was pompous, and worse yet, arrogant. For years, the Even territory shrank. King Alaric's forces inched their way through their lands and killed anyone that got in their way. If one of them refused to swear loyalty to the human King, they'd either be enslaved or tortured until they did. Most of those captured died from their injuries. Elves lived a long life, as their determination was strong, but their lives could quickly be taken like that of any human. The few of the physical differences the elves had from humans were their pointed ears, a longer life span, and almost feline grace. Elves were lower class citizens in the human eyes, despite the fact they had a few things in common. Elves had been sustaining and prevailing on the land since the time before humans had arrived, but humans slaughtered their territory to make room for their stone homes. They had even taken their calm and tranquil forests to hunt animals for sport. A recent rumor said that Elves were made to be such sport by the King, but Irish didn't have any conclusive evidence to the fact. Not yet, anyway. For all she knew, they were fables told by mothers to scare their children. Elves were a peaceful race, but the years of King Alaric's reign had driven the elves to adapt to protect their clan. Irish liked to think she had skill. She was stealthy and decent at drifting should it be required of her. Hell, she wasn't awful with a blade either, although she'd much prefer her bow over wielding a weapon at a close range. Irish liked to think she had a sharp wittiness as well, but more too often would have to bite her tongue to keep her quips from getting her into trouble. However, the trouble this night was not from her wit, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Behind the walls of the castle proper and the little village within, Irish kept to herself. She wanted as little trouble as possible. Her kind was not always welcome, no matter how peaceful she remained. This meant no eye contact, and no speaking unless spoken to. Irish frequently delivered herbs to the castle in trade for some food. She didn't like it, but it was what needed to be done to survive. A herbalist by trade, Irish made healing tonics to help with King Alaric's gout or poultices for common ailments. Unfortunately, it was these simple items that got her into trouble. Ye gods, she hated the King, but did Irish have the gall enough to use her admittance to his inner sanctum for her own benefit? Indeed, she had considered it. Anyone who had been oppressed could see it. It was, however, too risky and knew that she very likely wouldn't get out of the castle alive. So even though Irish's hatred burned, she wasn't strong enough to go through with it. Not alone. So as innocent as Irish's intentions could have been, she was being framed for something she had wanted to do. The King had been poisoned, though not enough to take his life. She had an inkling as to what type of poison had been used on him, and she knew for a fact any herbs she provided to the King had nothing in it that would make a person sick. Still, those bent on her destruction had pointed the finger at her. A likely suspect caught up in a rift she had no intention in being a part of. As soon as the finger had been pointed towards her, Irish looked for a way out. With speed and the gracefulness of a cat, Irish sprinted towards the door. As she approached the doorway to the hall, Irish used the momentum of her speed to drop to her knees and slide agilely between a set of guards' legs. Quickly hopping back to her feet, Irish took off once again at a run through the maze of corridors. She wanted to put some distance between her and those looking to obtain her. While men shouted, Irish slid into the servants' passages, pressed tightly against the wall and out of sight. Irish's green eyes darted back and forth, but the area appeared to be deserted. It took her a few heartbeats to figure out her next move. Stealing from a nearby room a worn brown cloak, Irish wrapped the coarse material around her and pulled up the hood. From there, she was able to escape the keep by sneaking out a servant's entrance. She still had to get through the bailey before the gatehouse got closed off to her. If she couldn't escape the fortified walls, she was done for. Thankfully, there was a crowd growing within the bailey. Vendors of the night were haggling off their wears as street merchants cooked food for anyone passing by. The area smelled strongly of roasting meats and warm spices. These night markets often brought a sense of joy, but for Irish, this didn't last long. Even though the night was young, she had little time to enjoy the smells that surrounded her. With any luck, Irish could blend into the human crowd and bypass the gate with little issue. If she ran now, she'd be an easy target for the archers. As Irish walked, she could feel eyes upon her. She wanted to quicken her pace but knew that it would only draw more attention. The hammering of her racing heart wouldn't calm down. Weaving about the many people, Irish's eyes watched everyone nearby, guarding her and preparing her for what could come. As they drifted up towards the towers that encompassed the portcullis, Irish could see the guards starting to stir. Words drifted upon the air behind her, but they were too soft for her to understand. Quickly, Irish looked back to see a man with a hat pulled at an angle to hide his eyes. He stood there facing her as if he was just itching for her to run. She could have sworn she saw a smirk upon his face. A few heartbeats later, the bells began to toll. Irish used the distraction to slip under bails of hay in a wagon headed out of the gate. It smelled damp and moldy, but it had been a snap decision. It seemed to be the only opportunity she had without being seen by those around her. Furthermore, it was much better than her alternative. By then the gate began to close, thankfully with her on the other side. The carriage swayed from side to side as the path transitioned from cobblestone to soil, rocking Irish back and forth along with it. Catching her breath, Irish looked back towards the crowd through a small opening of the damp hay. The mysterious man she had seen before could no longer be seen. He almost lost her at the toll of the bell. She was fast, far faster than he’d expected now that she had the opportunity. He frowned when he realized he’d lost visual contact with his target, he had been sloppy. She hadn’t gone far, he knew that much. He tried to get a feel for where she might have gone, just as a cart of hay passed through the gates and the heavy portcullis slid down.“Damn it all,” Nate swore. Things just became far more difficult. He made his way towards the city walls. Hiding from a target was rather straightforward, but slipping past the watch was an exercise Nate preferred not to be engaged in. He moved through the shadows of the buildings, keeping out of the moonlight and covering his movements with the sounds of the vendors on the main streets. His attention was all over the place, scanning for anyone who might see him. He watched a few guards in their cheap iron armor clunking to one of the towers and making their way up the ladder. Nate winced at each creak the wooden construction made. It was just what he needed right now. The patrol pattern memorized, Nate finalized his plan of action. “Damn it all,” he swore again as he retrieved a length of rope from his pack. This was one thing he couldn’t cheat at. He tied a knot in the rope, one sturdy enough to provide the right support, but with sufficient weakness to slip when he needed it to. The rope ready, he watched the patrols for the opportune moment. Just as the guards turned their back on the ladder, he darted to it. Nate did his best to cover the creaking of the ladder with the sounds of commerce and the wind. A bead of sweat formed on his brow as he climbed and carefully peaked his head out unto the top of the wall. He had timed his ascent perfectly, not a single guard was looking in his direction. Moving as fast as he could, he slipped the rope around the nearest fixture, and crawled over to the edge of the wall. He slid over and slowly began to climb down the rope. The knot creaked, but held as he descended. He was slow and careful, making sure not to jar the knot from its place. Until a guard turned and said, “Did you hear something?” Nate slipped down too quickly, and the knot came loose. He twisted in the air just before he impacted the ground below. Pain racked his body and he crawled to his feet. Pain shot up his leg again when he put weight on it, so he took several deep breaths as he returned the rope to his pack. He caught his breath and waited, then gingerly put some weight on the leg. There was a pain, but less than it had been a few moments ago. Nate was relieved, nothing was injured, he’d been lucky. That was frustrating. Nate wasn’t the type to rely on luck. He made his own luck. His frustrations aside, Nate got to his feet and ran into the forest, away from the road. He concentrated, focusing his mind to a sharp point. He smiled as he felt a slight tinge hidden among the thoughts and memories within his mind. Furthermore, he followed it, and allowed it to guide him. His smile turned to a grin as he ran through the woods. The chase was back on. Nate wasn’t a big fan of the forest. He had to move far slower to avoid making noise, or avoid tripping over an obstacle. Cities were easier to navigate, easier to hide in, and they weren’t full of any manner of wild beast. Of course, ninety percent of tales of terrible beasts were lies, sprinkled with rumor and exaggeration, but that didn’t mean there weren’t creatures with fangs and claws which craved the taste of human flesh. With that comforting thought in mind, Nate continued through the trees. He allowed that little spark in his brain to guide him deeper and deeper through the trees. He tried to stay parallel to the road when he could, making sure he’d be out of sight of any passers-by. The wind rustled the branches and darkness surrounded him, beams of moonlight eaten up by the canopy and the light of society a distant memory. As he moved deeper and deeper into the wilderness, Nate considered lighting a lantern, but decided against it. He would have to rely on his mildly enhanced senses from his father’s side of the family. He couldn’t see perfectly in this dim light, as a full-blooded elf of the forest might, but he could at least see far better than a normal human could. Time continued to pass by and Nathan picked up his pace. He worried that the cart on the road would get ahead of him, so he willed himself to pass through the area faster. He paid less heed to the noise he made, freely stepping on branches and twigs instead of over them, moving his legs faster. His instincts guided him through the trees, or so he hoped. Eventually, the spark grew to a flickering flame within his mind and he slowed his pace back down. He moved very carefully back towards the road, once again keeping his practice of avoiding every bit of detritus that might give off sound. He pulled the hefty crossbow from his back and loaded a bolt into it, using precise movements to minimize the noise the contraption gave off. Finally, the road became clear as the trees thinned. Nate could see the cart. Its wheels made more than enough noise on the cobblestone road to cover his careful movements. His smile widened once more as he aimed the crossbow. To an onlooker, his technique would appear sloppy, and it was. He pointed the weapon in the general direction of the cart, adjusting slightly and aiming it quite low, and then pulled the trigger. But just as he fired the crossbow, it twitched slightly. The aim appeared to correct for its holder’s inadequacies and the bolt was pulled towards the intended target. Nate, of course, was cheating. With a soft mechanical noise, the heavy bolt flew through the air until it hit one of the wooden cartwheels with a thunk. The wheel destabilized and collapsed, taking that corner of the cart to the ground. The horse whined in protest as it was dragged downwards too, and the driver cried out in shock, then quickly jumped out to check on the poor animal. Nate put the crossbow away, then took a deep breath. He strapped his crossbow to his back once again, and his hand moved to the hilt of the sword on his hip. Once again, he prepared to speak the ancient tongue, but he restrained himself. He would first wait for his target to emerge. She heard it before the impact. The whizzing through the air was only audible to her for a split second. The thunk from the wheel below came soon after. It only took a heartbeat to feel the wagon collapse in one corner. The cries of the horse bellowed out in a sharp whinny as the driver let out a soft curse. The jolt of the impact caused Irish to tumble through the hay and onto the rough road. Her lithe body rolled before she came to a stop on all fours, low to the ground like a feline. Her green eyes darted about her to find the assailant, but could not detect anyone. The horse cried out again, pain seething through its cries. A part of her could feel the pain he was feeling. It was a small blessing the driver hadn't even noticed Irish, as he was too busy trying to calm and reassure the noble creature. In her crouched position, Irish noticed the cause of their lurching. An arrow had collided into the wheel of the cart, causing the spokes to break and axle to crack. To avoid immediate suspicion, Irish seized the broken bolt and hid it within the herbalist Rachel she had upon her hip. She'd have to look at it more closely when she had the opportunity, but right now the creature needed her help." Ssshhh..." she said through the otherwise quiet evening, "Relax..." she told the horse though the ancient tongue. Irish took a few paces towards the horse with her hands, reaching out in front of her calmly. The driver, finally taking notice of her, seemed startled to see another person along the quiet path along the forest edge. From the collapse, Irish's hood from her stolen cloak had fallen, revealing her raven hair. The points of her ears were easily detected through the dark tresses." Stay back..." He warned. The man looked more frightened than angry. Irish took another step forward, her hands up and palms facing him to show she had no weapons and intended any harm." Please, sir," she returned, her accent fluid but delicate, "I mean no harm. I had noticed you had an accident, and I can sense your horse is in pain..." Irish's green eyes searched the elderly man's expression for a brief moment, before walking towards the horse once more. "I can feel his pain," she said softly, reaching out and stroking the beast's beautiful muzzle. His nose was soft and velvety, and the texture under her nimble fingertips brought a smirk to her face. "Calm down, boy," she coaxed the horse in the ancient tongue again, "I'm here to help you." The horse replied with a huff and a shake of its head but had calmed enough that Irish could take a better look at its front leg." It looks as though he has sprained his ankle," Irish explained the aged man. "I'm a healer among my people. It would do me a great honor if you'd allow me to heal your fine friend here..." Speechless, the man stared at Irish for a moment. As if to pull him from his stupor, he shook his head. The old man nodded slightly in approval but still seemed unsure if she could be trusted. Irish turned her attention once again to the wounded horse. With her left hand continuing to stroke the animal's snout, Irish's other hand began to fish around the small Rachel she had attached to her woven belt. Without looking, she pulled out a clear stone that had been polished to a brilliant sheen. Smiling, Irish asked the horse in the ancient language if he'd allow her to tend to his wound. Her people were very cautious with animals, and would always ask permission so as the animal wouldn't be frightened by their actions. With a huff from the majestic beast, Irish smiled again and thanked him, before kneeling down next to its hoof. Taking the clear crystal, Irish placed the stone on the injury and closed her eyes. After a few moments, a small white glow started to shine a soft light through the injured leg. A warmth spread along the injured limb, and soon the strained muscles began to knot back together. As it did, the clear stone started to turn a milky white, before darkening into a smoke gray. Opening her eyes, Irish removed the crystal from the injured limb and placed it back in her bag. Removing a poultice of camera and Arica, Irish spread it along the injury and wrapped it in a bandage, before standing up. "You should be okay now," she cooed to the horse, smoothing its velvety muzzle again. "Take it easy. I'll be sure to let your friend here know you should rest more often." Turning her attention to the elderly man, who stared at her in astonishment at what he had witnessed, Irish gave him a nod. "I'm glad I happened upon you when I did," she explained to the man. Irish had hoped to play off the fact that he had not seen her fall out of his carriage. "Your friend here should be alright. He could put some weight on the limb, but he would need extra rest. Leave the bandage on for two days. He should be good as new by then." The man smiled politely and offered her a small bow in thanks. He had begun to rummage through his coin pouch to offer her payment for her help, but she held her hand up and shook her head. "No, sir. I cannot accept anything from you. It was my pleasure to have helped such a fine animal. You be sure to take good care of him and treat him as an equal, and that would be thanks enough." With a small kiss to the horses' nose, Irish made her way towards the forest. There would be a trail nearby to show her the way home, but she had to be cautious that she was not followed. As she walked, the smell of the earth and the heavy scent of pine surrounded her. Irish pulled up her hood once more and quietly stepped within the line of trees and out of sight. She was going to miss the touch of the horse's nose, and it's kind eyes. At least the short time with the animal put a smile on her face for a little while. Irish had hoped that the owner of the beautiful beast would be able to fix his cart and make his way home safely. Unfortunately, she had more pressing matters to tend to. Nate could scarcely believe what he saw before his eyes. The beast of burden pulling the carriage had toppled to the ground, its pained whine piercing the peaceful night. The twist in its leg suggested injuries sufficient to ensure it never worked the cart again. But then she stepped out. Nate had prepared to speak the words and confront her, but instead he waited, he watched. Her midnight hair was revealed, shrouding her in the moonlight which filtered through the treetops around the road. At first, the driver had seemed hostile towards her. Nate worried that he might recognize her and put a major dent in his plans, but the man’s irritation swiftly vanished when she professed her desire to help. Her voice was light, her accent smooth. And then she shocked Nate as she spoke in the ancient tongue. She spoke only a few words at first, and Nate thought his mind was just playing tricks on him as he recited phrases in his head. He thought it to be just the wind twisting the sounds into forms easily mistaken for others. But no, when she spoke in full phrases it was obvious to him. As she spoke, she pulled an artifact from her bag and placed it on the horse’s injury. It was a small-polished stone that appeared completely innocuous, until it glowed with a soft white light. Nate was further stricken with shock when the glow spread up the injury. It sunk in beneath the beast’s skin, and the injury seemed to shrink before she concealed it beneath bandages. She made light discussion with the carriage driver as she stood, but Nate paid no attention to the words they exchanged. Rather, he just watched as the horse slowly got to its feet, the bandaged injury seeming not to hinder it. This was a power far beyond Nate’s ‘cheats’. It was beyond anything he had believed possible. He thought for a moment that maybe, just maybe, her talent might be what he needed. He shook his head to clear it, and the mercenary began to move through the trees, taking each step with care. Furthermore, he watched carefully for anything that might make noise, and kept his breathing at a low, steady pace. His deep breaths calmed his thumping heart, which had begun to race when he witnessed the display his target had put on. She made her way into the forest, away from the road which represented Nate’s domain. With a mild irritation tempered by his continued shock, Nate followed her. The spark in his mind continued to guide him. She moved through the trees with a grace that Nate could never hope to match, but regardless of her care Nate continued to home in on her. As he did, he pondered what else she could do. He hoped she couldn’t cheat the way he could. That would make things far, far more difficult than they should be. He’d already seen a minor miracle. Horses with injuries like that were always put down, they never could move the same way again, and especially not loaded. Perhaps it was this talent she possessed that made her cocky enough to attempt at the King’s life, to believe she could get away with it. Her motives made far more sense now. He debated how to continue as the trees continued to thicken. Trunks grew closer together, branches lower and thicker, and vines draped down from overhead. As they continued he would have a harder and harder time keeping up with her. She would never escape, he could track her to the end of the world with his little cheat. However, that chase could get him into great trouble. He had few options at this point, none of which particularly appealed to him. Simply accosting her might bring her back to the city alive, but it wouldn’t convince her to help him. He could appeal to her better nature, after all, she helped the horse out of the goodness of her heart. Nate almost laughed at that thought. He was far wiser than to believe that kind of gamble would pay off. He didn’t have time for any kind of complex ruse, he needed to act now. Little as he liked the option, he had to choose the direct approach. There were too many unknowns in that approach. Nate hated unknowns. He hated not knowing what she was capable of. But what choice did he have? Slowly, making as little noise as he could, Nate reached into his pack and pulled out a weighted net. He ensured it was free and readily positioned before hiding it back beneath a flap. Next, he pulled his sword free of its sheath. It slid out smoothly and silently. Even a novice swordsman would tell you that Nate had no idea what he was doing with the weapon. His grip was loose, casual. It looked like he was barely holding onto the weapon. However, if one looked more closely they might notice the sword seemed to defy gravity and reason. It stood perfectly positioned, at the angle a proper grip and stance would place it. Despite the loose grip, it didn’t simply drop or slip loose. Once again, Nate was cheating. Finally, Nate whispered the ancient words one last time. Nate was gambling everything on this last trick, but it was by far his most potent. Upon the speaking, the spark faded from his mind. He was tracking her now only with his eyes. As the last word left his lips, Nate was energized. He moved with unnatural swiftness, easily twice as fast as a human, and far faster than even the most talented of elves. He made a wide circle around his target before stepping forth from the forest before her. It might seem like he appeared from nowhere with the speed at which he was moving. Sword at the ready, Nate spoke, “I suggest you surrender now.” He readied his off-hand to grab and toss the net should she even look like she was about to flee. The further in the forest Irish wandered, the sense of someone watching her grew. The moon granted the only source of light nature could provide as her green eyes searched the surrounding darkness. Tiny hairs stood on the back of Irish's neck as prickles along her soft skin told her someone was close. Too close. Irith paused in her tracks as soon as she heard a rustle of leaves. The swaying of branches could have simply disguised the footsteps, but her caution had her on edge. Someone had to have fired that arrow. Someone was after her and had followed her since her escape from the castle. The scent of rain filled the air, salty and heady, as it muddled with the crispness of the fallen leaves. Irish observed the darkness as she stood there. The din of stinging metal was identified ever so slightly over the sounds of the forest. Irish was too deft to mistake the sound for anything other than a sword. A soft whisper was heard before she knew she had him. Within a heartbeat, the stranger was behind her. It was only for a split second, but that was all it took for the individual she had seen earlier that evening in the bailey. It was the only piece that made sense to her as anyone different wouldn't try to mock her. Still, in her path, Irish rose both hands to each side of her head to once again show she was unarmed. She cocked her head slightly to the right but extended the stranger a sly smile. "You do realize you're not as sneaky as you'd like to appear..." Irish responded in the ancient tongue naturally. She had turned slowly on one heel to face him as the words were spoken candidly. Green eyes analyzed him keenly as the smirk grew from one corner of her mouth. Irith had elected to use the ancient language explicitly because the words themselves constructed magic. If he were the man she thought he was, then he'd know how to speak it. The whispers she had heard were a dead giveaway. If she was incorrect, and he was not the man, then perhaps she had gone mad. Convinced she still had all of her marbles, she took the chance. The words restricted anyone from speaking it to lie, so it would be twice as useful. That is, should he respond in same." You also could use a bath," Irish added mockingly, "If your lack of stealth doesn't give you away, your scent certainly will. You didn't think I walked this deep into the forest unknowingly, did you?" Her attitude surprised him. She was immediately dismissive of the threat he presented. In fact, she was insulting him. Nate wanted to laugh. It was an interesting change from the reactions a mercenary usually warranted. Then his expression shifted to one of shock as he realized she wasn’t speaking the common tongue. She wasn’t even speaking Elvish. She had spoken the words in the ancient tongue. He was shocked to hear it used so casually. That just affirmed to Nate that she was far more dangerous than she at first appeared. Nate shook off his surprise. That wasn’t important at the moment. What was important was that he was now confronting her, and he needed to regain the upper hand as quickly as he could. The magic of the words confirmed what she said as truth. She knew he was there. She had led this merry chance the whole time, with him none the wiser. He was far too used to tracking humans. Elves were a completely different sport. He wanted to curse himself for all his assumptions so far, but he quickly decided that it didn’t matter. He would assess his failures once this was over. A cocky smile crossed his features as he replied to her last comment, speaking in the ancient tongue himself, “If that’s the case, it might give the impression you are very stupid.” He could feel the magic lacing his words. It brought to mind a years old pain. The thunderous sound and azure light racing through the stone corridors. The strange language echoing the halls. The screams. Focus. Focus. He brought his mind back to the present, burying the memories away. Not so much as a twitch registered on his face. He would see how she’d react to that. It might put her off guard enough for his next gambit to work. And a gambit it would be. Nate hated having to resort to it, but keeping her off balance was less of a risk than giving her time to prepare her reaction to his presence. Before she could respond, Nate used his superhuman speed to dart around to her left flank and then rush forward. The falling rain obscured his movements as rain began to fall. The wind picked up, and the branches overhead began a cacophony of twisting and banging. His sword was held horizontally near her throat level in his right hand, and his left arm was held up towards her chest, ready to pin her to a wide tree trunk. Lighting flashed in the distance and for a brief moment the both of them were illuminated in bright light, his sword shining with radiance. And then the light was gone. The man before her was cunning. He was not as thick as he first appeared. In fact, his smirk was intimidating. Irish's pulse quickened as he spoke. His words were, in fact, in the ancient language, but they confused her. His attempt at insult was not in fact one. A part of her found it bordering on praise. Irith watched as his face went blank for a moment. His eyes seemed distant in that time, perhaps a memory regaining strength over the present moment. She wanted to take advantage of that brief distraction but did not have enough time before the man recovered. Rain began to fall and tore him from his reflection. The salty scent became stronger as the storm grew more steady, and the rain droplets tore through the branches and leaves above them. Before Irish had an opportunity to break the silence, the man had swung himself around her side at high speed. He had tried to outmaneuver her, and it occurred to her that he was trying to catch her off-guard. While his sword was menacingly enough, Irish instinctively crouched down low while swinging her leg in his direction with all the might as she could muster. In seconds, the man's legs were swiftly taken out from under him, allowing her to pin the man to the cold, wet forest floor." I may be a woman, sir, but I am not stupid. I have lived on these lands long before you." Irish shifted her weight while she straddled his waist. Her raven hair clung to her pale face as she glared down at him in frustration. She did her best to keep her control over his arms, but his frame was longer than hers and was a disadvantage. "What did you expect to get out of me? What pain have I caused you to grant such violence?" This was not a situation Nate often found himself in. Hunts had gone wrong in the past. He couldn’t claim he had “never failed” a job. But having a target turn the tables on him was a completely new experience. The best he could do is just keep her talking, and so he laughed. Nate’s smirk grew into a grin as he laughed at her and then spoke, switching back to the common tongue, “You fled the castle. You killed a king. And you wonder why I might be here? It’s not personal, just business.” As he spoke, he shifted his legs slightly, bracing against the ground. He watched her expression, waiting for the moment his words affected her most, for her defense, or her indignant response. And when the moment was right, he moved. He converted his speed to strength, pushing off from the ground and twisting. His hand rose up and slammed into her, tumbling her off of him and to the ground. He twisted more and landed atop her, now he is the one who straddled her. His left arm pushed down firmly against her chest, keeping her pinned. His right, having dropped the sword, pulled a dagger from his belt and held it menacingly to her throat. His dark eyes locked with hers, the laughter gone. His jovial expression had been replaced by one of intensity. It was then that he spoke.“There is a bounty on your head greater than you can imagine. That’s why I’m here. But, I have a proposition.” He switched back to the ancient tongue, “You do me a favor, and I’ll help you get away from this bounty. Escape it clean. Think carefully Irish. I’m far from the only hunter looking for you. I’m just the most polite.” He punctuated his final statement by tossing aside his dagger, out of reach of both of them. Her furrowed brow created creases between her eyes. Her green eyes burned with frustration and anger. Irish was feeling like everything had been falling around her. The discrimination of her kind was only making things worse. Of course, they'd think it was her. Did she really think that running away as she did would ease the eyes upon her? Did she really believe that running from the problem was going to make her look any better? Irith's inner turmoil gave her jumbled feelings. She was bitter just about the situation or the man who thought he could turn her in, but at herself as well. Irish was also frustrated --frustrated that she'd be singled out and hunted like an animal. There would be no trial, and life would go on for everyone but her. Irish was on the run. If caught, she would surely see a short drop and a sudden stop. As Irish fought with the feelings brewing inside of her, the man had taken advantage of his situation. He seemed to have maneuvered himself easily, rolling her over so that he had her pinned with a knife to her neck. Irish looked up at him. Her conflicting emotions making her body shake slightly. Thankfully the steady rain had disguised any stray tear that may have fallen from her emerald gaze. The bounty hunter's resonance had changed, but his words were sincere when spoken in the ancient tongue. As if to show what he said was right, he had thrown his dirk away from either of them. Her eyes were locked on his as he did so, fastened on his as if in a trance. Irish's face showed no sense of sentiment, but her eyes told her captor that she still did not trust him." Let me put things straight," she started. Her tone was softer as she continued in the ancient tongue, "I have killed no one, nor have I ever attempted to harm the king. I was the easiest to blame, and therefore I'm the scapegoat. My kind has always been the ones first to be put in shackles, so I ran. Tell me you wouldn't have done the same if you were in the same predicament?" Sighing in exhaustion, Irish closed her eyes and let her muscles lax for a moment. It was the easiest way to show that she was not going to put up a fight. At least, not right away. Looking up at him once more, her face was determined, but her eyes looked calmer. "Look, don't try to humble me so you could just turn around betray me. I don't see why you'd trust me enough to help you if you did, in fact, think I killed a king." Nate's expression twisted. Her words were truth, he knew that. That certainly made his job a lot more interesting. However, it changed nothing about his situation now that he knew of her talent. Finally, his expression flattened once more into a neutral state as he spoke once more, still in common, "Whether you are guilty makes no change to the bounty on you. Nor to your sentence should you be caught. But you know that already." He shifted into a smirk as he continued, "And trustworthiness has nothing to do with a mutually beneficial arrangement. What would you do? Kill me in my sleep? Why bother when a simple favor would mean none of my peers ever harass you again?" Nate's tone projected his usual nonchalance and confidence, despite the nerves he felt. His all or nothing gambit needed to succeed. The whisper of wind grew in volume as it did in intensity, and the rain came down harder and harder. Nate's smirk dropped as thoughts raced through his mind. His clothing had by this point become disheveled, his hat looked on the verge of blowing away as it revealed his gray hair. Between that and his hardened expression, he looked a decade older than the man who had been smiling and teasing only a moment ago. Nate spoke again, his words shifting back to the language of magic, "I need someone with your talent for magic to help me. Help me with a single task. Once that is complete, I will help you escape this bounty. Afterward, you need never see me again. I have neither the need nor desire to double-cross you." His deep, amber eyes, looking much darker beneath the gloom of the storm, burned into her emerald ones as he watched and waited for her reply. Irish didn't know what to think of the man. He had seen her situation, but whether he believed her wasn't of consequence. Surely he'd see her as easy money. The man had hinted at freeing her from this bounty, but how was it even possible? How could he get other mercy from hunting her? How could he change the minds of men who already saw her as even scum?" It depends on what this task is," she responded flatly. Her dark eyes watched the man steadily as the rain pelted them both. Irish suppressed a shiver as her pale skin grew paler the longer they remained out in the rain. "And whether you can actually change the minds of men. The ancient language doesn't change their prejudices, nor do they alter the subconscious." Irith's green eyes looked into the amber ones above her, trying to see what it truly was the hunter had planned for her. "Eager or not, I still don't trust you can accomplish what it is you are promising me. Still, the ancient tongue does not tell lies. But you already knew that, didn't you?" A small smile spread across her features, the faint upturn on the corners of her flawless face. "We need to get out of this freezing rain. Even if I did help you, we would both catch our deaths out here. We can discuss more when we aren't covered in icy mud and looking like barbarians."

The Hunted & The Deceived [rtdst & TheLioness]|rating:4.0

Fallen Souls of Los Angeles [Hatchet & 'The']

(Margrave was visiting Los Angeles. He 'visited' many places. But L.A. was a favorite. From Griffith Observatory to Universal Studios...the city was ever-active. He was originally more of an east coast man, but the City Never Sleeps just hadn't been for him. And Dietrichlookedlike he was from L.A. He was tall, well-built, and his dark sea eyes and burnished golden-brown hair made him look like he could, at any moment, decide to go surfing. If anyone had asked him his business, he would have said he was here to check out the tech scene. He would even show them a little business card that indicated he was an independent cybersecurity contractor. He had a contact that could be called to confirm this story in the advent he might be arrested. And there was a chance he might be arrested. Now, as he walked the gray sunny concrete to the apartment he was going to rent--just had to meet the landlord and make his deposit--one might think that he would be arrested for some form of hacking. Fraud. Theft. Something that suited what he did with his time. But as the tanned man walked to the statuesque apartment complex--still a street or two off, and he'd not wanted to make the cab drive any farther earlier--it was none of those things he'd be arrested for. It was hopeful he would not be arrested for what was about to happen, but it was genuinely hard to say. His phone rang. Dietrich, on the whole, paid attention to which phone rang. He had more than one. This was his burner phone. This was about a job. He picked up. He talked as he walked, quiet and furtive and using no definitive place or people names...but getting from them everything he needed nonetheless. This was when, because he was focused on his phone, he ran headlong into another man. The impact was not gentle, and it sent Dietrich's burner phone flying and smashing into the pavement. The man he'd run into was named Ronan, though he did not know that. He was about to. A smack against his chest. A phone clattering and cracking onto the pavement. A hellish morning this was not just for one Ronan Lynch... But for whoever this poor fuck was who wasn't watching where he was going as Ronan turned the corner out of the alleyway. Powerful hands slipped out of their jean pocket solitude and instantly went around the blonde's neck as he forced him against the wall. The men were about the same size in height, Ronan was leaner but no one would most certainly bat an eye at him. Shaved headed, covered in black, two black wings snaked up his neck that was part of a much larger tattoo on his back, these two men were almost ebony and ivory in appearance both oh so dangerous." You have a death wish, fucker." Everyone else on the street crossed immediately as Ronan let Dietrich out of his grasp, passersby refusing to look at the scene. When Ronan released him, he stepped back onto the phone busting it even further. Turning his head to look down at the crushed electronic he didn't give one fuck before he hooked his right arm and sloshed Dietrich in the jaw. "I'd've let you go, but I think you need lesson on watching where you're goin'." Today was the wrong day to run into Lynch, as he cracked his powerful knuckles as he clenched them into fists he was raring to go, needing to blow off some steam after a couple of bad sales, and this guy just had the most punchable face he ever did see. Even though his phone was smashed, Dietrich kept calm. Mostly. Until Ronan just had to challenge him. But Dietrich was in a difficult position. He was here for work. He couldn't afford to get arrested. Furthermore, he could easily make bail, but it would draw very unwanted attention that tended to upset some of his more...secretive...clients. He pushed his hair out of his face, standing up straight, and he said with a cold and even voice to Ronan, "I don't know who you are, but are you dense? Or maybe you're honeying for us both to stay overnight in a locked cell." His fists were clenched. He wasn't going to throw the first hit. He didn't know if there were any cameras on this street; sometimes traffic cams could catch all sorts of stuff. But he was so aware of some of the vegan yuppies and judge prim socialite types looking at these two surprisingly aggressive men. Dietrich could practically hear half of them calling 911 in a heartbeat over literally some trash talk.God, he hated places like this sometimes." In case I wasn't clear? I ran into you. I'm sorry. But fuck off." That was heard by a lot of people. He could hear the whispering. A few people seemed to be watching the two and getting close, but Dietrich noticed more of them were moving away than towards....had he inadvertently bumped into someone especially threatening and known to the people here? "The cops are my bitches." The shaved headed man hissed at him, this man didn't look like a big talker, no he looked like someone armed to the teeth especially if he was challenging one entire Dietrich. His Bronx accent was a dead giveaway though, he was far from home, yet he was making his mark pretty well in the crime scene in Los Angeles. He wasn't quite a household name yet, but he had an unforgettable face, unforgettable name, and an unforgettable work 'ethic.'However, it was also very easy to tell that Ronan had taken something today and hadn't slept in a good long while with the bags under his eyes, the slight shakes in his hands even when landing hard hitting punches. He was paranoid, he was hurting, he was anxious, all those feelings were written on his face. They say anger is a secondary emotion, covering up what the real problem was, but Ronan's anger melded and warped so far deep into his soul that it was all he was. Slowly cocking his head to the left, his eyes narrowing when told to fuck offs his face twisted into a sneer until a ring from his pocket cut through the tension. Without taking his eyes off Dietrich, he pulled out his flip phone, one of many he used in his business and answered it without a word. There were voices on the other line and then a click, soon after Ronan shut his phone. "Fine. I'll fuck off." That wasn't what he wanted, his hand gun was strapped to his hip and his free hand was twitching to grab it. Backing up two steps, he walked away and disappeared into the Los Angeles crowd almost like nothing happened, leaving Dietrich there with a broken phone. Dietrich, as Ronan walked away, got out his regular phone. The burned was ruined, but his good smartphone worked fine. He snapped a picture of Ronan. Time to do a little online reconnaissance. He wasn't about to have incidentally made an enemy without knowing who this was for sure and what they were all about. But the guy had looked strung out like a weaker. He watched him go until he was out of sight. One didn't turn one's back on people like Ronan. Not ever. He had his job to do though. He went to a specific little public access computer at a cybercafé. Furthermore, he had the login details he needed. On he got. And one USB stick and a few clever machinations later, a corporate executive was going to find his personal e-mail compromised and certain company secrets leaked to prominent people. Dietrich was being paid a tidy little sum for that. He also had to wait until the café closed. He snuck in and worked their cameras. Couldn't have them knowing who accessed that terminal. But he was good at this sort of quiet thing. Later at home he checked his bank account. Another ten grand. Excellent. He ran the picture of Ronan through an image search and through a few criminal databases in LA. If his stranger had ever been arrested, he would find out who he was. If he was on social media, he'd be able to find him. This did not always get him a hit on someone, but it more often than not did. He had to be very careful about using that database--it logged who accessed it. He had a connection who had given him an access log-in, and he logged in behind a VPN, but still... Ping! He got something. Hm. Interesting. He put it out of his mind for now. Time to drown himself in clubs and parties. That weaker looked like he'd had the right idea--get hammered out of his mind and just feel things for a while.~ * * * ~Dietrich had gone to a downtown rave. It was huge. There were flashing neon lights everywhere, flashes of blue and pink and yellow and green. Some sort of foam was on the dance floor. The ecstasy tabs were out in full force judging from how touchy-feely some of the partygoers were. It was late. Raves always happened late. Why did he wonder if Ronan was here? Why did he care? The eyes, Dietrich decided to himself. It was those eyes. Full of all the passion Dietrich lacked. He hoped Ronan would be here. He took a pill that he'd palmed off of a party-goer and felt it relax him. If Ronan were here...he could finish what he'd accidentally started with him. To be honest, Ronan was out cold about two hours after the encounter. All he wanted was either to feel something for once or not feel a single thing and luckily alcohol was able to knock him out entirely before he had to wake up once more into the hellhole he was forced into. Ronan needed to talk to a client at a rave later in the night... God did he hate those places... Everything was so loud and gaudy in the dark with lights flashing that could give someone a seizure or ruin their eyesight for the next three days. As Ronan sneered and growled at himself as he was starting to black out cold, the bottle slipped through his fingers and clinked onto the floor as he passed out on his couch.--If one was to look up the thug's name, they would find a little bit of history in Los Angeles, but it wasn't anything for a double take. However, there were also news articles and prison information in the system back in New York and New Haven where he seemed to have more of a reputation. This man had just about everything except for rape, sexual assault, and molestation. Drug trafficking, bootlegging, smuggling, under the influence both in public and behind the wheel on various substances... Burglary, battery, some small things such as disturbing the peace... Murder. Though he looked like some small-time pickpocketing thug off the alley streets he was oh so much more than that, and one would wonder just what he could come up with if he wasn't drugged out or drunk all the time. He could either be some nice guy with an angry face or perhaps one of the most powerful black market masterminds instead of what he was known as by 'The Buster.'--Sitting in the back booths with one of his more wealthy clients, the older man across from him having two women hooked around his shoulder though one of them clearly had her eyes on the shaved-headed thug in front of her...... Gross... Ronan thought to himself shifting uncomfortably under her gaze before getting back to business. He was hungover but at least he wasn't drugged, he couldn't be if he could swindle money out from under this man's feet. He was always a good dealer and a handyman of sorts, cleaning out unwanted trash for his superiors while dealing some of the most wanted drugs in the city. He hadn't noticed Dietrich walk in, he had mostly forgotten about the encounter anyway, and if he hadn't what idiot would track him down and finis-... What's that jackass looking at... The fuck does he... Ronan's gaze was icy and sharp but this time they were clear, perhaps even more dangerous now that he was focused. Sometimes Dietrich felt like life was uncomfortably binary. That computers got things right in a way people couldn't get right. Yes. No. One. Zero. Simple. In this case, there were two options: pick that fight he hadn't gotten to pick earlier with Ronan...or not. By all rights, Dietrich was in the wrong. He'd been careless and run into Ronan. And as a result it had broken his burner phone. At the same time, Ronan's reaction had been, in Dietrich's mind, disrespectful. As the music thrummed, Dietrich got up. Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels by Rodrick Hall. (Hard not to smile at the song, but Dietrich couldn't find it very easy to smile about anything these days. Maybe it was that Dietrich was strung out on drugs that night himself. Maybe it was that he was feeling too empty that night and needed to feel something, even if that meant starting shit. He picked up someone's nearby drink. "Hey--" a woman said, but Dietrich's judging and hideously granite wall of a stare cut the little-black-dress-wearing woman off. Her date touched her shoulder--oh, the man Dietrich had palmed some pills from--and said, "Just let him, baby, we don't want trouble." Her date was right. Dietrich made a beeline for Ronan. It wasn't even that Dietrich expected to win. That wasn't what it was about. Though he'd be damned if he could explain what it was about even if asked. He walked with an electric look in his step, his steps falling in with the jaunty tune. Whoosh! As soon as he was in range, his fist made a beeline for Ronan's face. He didn't have a bad turn of speed on him. Dietrich wasn't a scrub at fighting--he was fit, he knew what he was doing (certainly more than the average person)--he just hadn't gotten in fights with people like Ronan before. He normally had good enough sense not to. Not tonight, apparently. Ronan was starting to space out as his client boasted about his accomplishments to him... He usually did that... He never really cared about the people he sold to, he knew they weren't better than him, all of them were hooked, just as he was. In reality Ronan made very good money, but he would spend it all constantly on his own 'morning doses' just so he could feel something for once, or when he was feeling too much, nothing at all. It wasn't until his client took a different tone, that just about snapped him back into reality. The pimp turned his head seeing the large blond move to the table with a fierceness in his gaze as he set down his drink. "Hey buddy what are y-"Then there was a snap, Ronan's head snapping to the side, the crunching sound being his nose as it broke, blood hitting the table edge, wall, and booth seat. It was if the entire rave fell silent, save for the music playing overhead. Ronan slowly sat down his beer bottle, if he wasn't so angry he would have broken it instantly and glassed the fucker, ending it quickly... But Ronan wasn't much of the calculated planner. Using the edge of the table to stand up, he grabbed the wrist of Dietrich, the one that was used to smash his face, twisting it to the point he put the man to his knees. "You want to dance big boy?" Ronan's voice was a low, feral growl as his bleeding face moved inches away from Dietrich with a wicked sneer across his face, his icy eyes frozen like a dying winter." Let's tango. His free fist flew slamming Dietrich in the face, Ronan letting go, so the man would stumble back and hit the floor before Ronan lunged for him again his eyes no longer cold, but now a blazing fire. The hit in the face felt like fire, but Dietrich liked it nonetheless. It wasn't that he enjoyed being beaten up--that wasn't what it was about. It was about doing something risky while the music throbbed in his veins. Furthermore, it was about feeling the heat on his face. Furthermore, it was about feeling something, anything at all, for longer than a heartbeat. He stumbled back, but as Ronan lunged, Dietrich rolled out of the way. He wasn't clueless at fighting, but even drugged up and drunk, Dietrich could tell two things about Ronan:Firstly, he was impulsive. A more calculated man would have glassed Dietrich in the face. Secondly Ronan was a better fighter than him despite the first thing he'd noticed. Partygoers got the hell out of the way as the brawl broke out; people didn't want to get caught up in it. Dietrich considered glassing Ronan, but he realized that if the cops got called, better to have only inflicted injuries that didn't upgrade the charges above assault. The sort of charge he could bounce back from...though if the cops showed up, given how aggressive Ronan was, chances were that they'd both want to avoid arrest and lie their asses off about their fight. Instead, once he'd rolled out of Ronan's way, he lashed out with a foot, targeting Ronan's left knee. The goal was to get the man's feet out from under him. Fights tended to be a lot more equal when everyone was horizontal. A few people were shouting, but people weren't worried yet--some were cheering on Ronan and some were cheering on Dietrich. He could hear, even over the music, some woman shouting, "I got twenty on the bald guy!" Another shouted, "I'll take that; I got the same on tall blond surfer hipster!" He grunted at Ronan and said, "Remind me to punch the audience after we're done here." Ronan had a feeling in the back of his mind that this would end badly for the both of them, but in the front of his mind all he saw was red, and that mop Dietrich called hair. He was finally feeling something, a pain in his face, fire in his veins, heat in his fists, it wasn't a good feeling, but it was a rush nonetheless. You can't go to jail again... Ronan gritted his teeth, the kick landed onto his knee made him fall face-first into another table, his chin hitting the hard surface as he let out a loud grunt, people in the audience cheering. You just got out, your boys are running out of bail money... Pushing himself off from the table, he whipped around and hooked his arm, landing a hard one onto Dietrich's face to make him stumble back before grabbing him by the shirt and shoved him into another nearby table knocking everything off, glass shattering to the floor. It was tough for you the last time you tried busting out, how much longer can this go on...?" Agreed," Ronan snarled, the audience getting on his nerves. Why didn't he reach for his gun, or one of his knives? That would have ended this snafu quickly and before anyone tried calling the police Ronan could run out and back into the darkness he called home, but there was just something exhilarating about beating the shit out of some asshole with your bare hands, wasn't there? You just need to hold onto this feeling don't you?" Hell yeah," Ronan growled at his inner thoughts before getting up in Dietrich's face, his punches landing in line with the music beats, a fierceness behind them unmatched. Dietrich did have one small advantage on Ronan. While Dietrich wanted to feel something, the start of the fight had accomplished that. He got the impression from Ronan that this man was someone who had almost no handle on his own temper. Not once had it apparently occurred to Ronan to ask not to fight. And Ronan was probably the sort that enjoyed a certain type of fighting--Dietrich was mindful this guy was a criminal who could probably bring out the big guns if need be. He wasn't, though, and that was interesting. Being bounced into the table hurt, but Dietrich was accustomed to pain. The glass, on the other hand, was a problem. He could feel at least one shard in his side. Not too deep, but deep enough to get the blood bumping out in gushes. He'd have to get it looked at later; it was probably looking worse than it actually was. He glassed me, so I'm doing it back, he thought with a certain ill temper. Furthermore, he grabbed the table leg, yanking it free from it's confines--not hard to do with the type of cheap tables some clubs had if one knew how to twist and yank, and this time he had a much better shot at Ronan's knee. The right one. He walloped it pretty good--not enough to cause a break, but enough to cause major pain. Enough to where, if the cops got called, Ronan wasn't exactly going to be running away easily. Dietrich could feel his heart pumping in his chest. He grinned. There was a little blood on the edge of his mouth." You're fun. The most fun I've had in California so far," he said, pleased. There was a low feral sound deep within the bald man's throat as he felt himself fall to the ground. His knees were a weak spot, they were for most people, opening his eyes after the initial pain he looked around seeing people cheering and shouting, but others started to look worried, this fight was getting too far. His icy eyes were back on Dietrich, like a wounded wolf to an elder buck. He ignored the words as he staggered up, but his stance was weak as he rolled his shoulders and lunged again but this time his arms were around Dietrich's waist, the lean man picking him up easily and threw him onto the cold, sticky tile. A sickening grin spread across his face, his boot slamming onto Dietrich's thigh, right next to his unmentionables, but his heel edged closer, putting pressure slowly as if in warning before snatching the wooden leg from the hacker's hand." That's 'cause I'm not from here," Ronan hissed as he raised his hand.WACK Right across Dietrich's face before he threw the leg elsewhere within the club, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and picked him up. The man's icy eyes were all but cold, he finally felt something, and now he was seeing blood-red, but he didn't just want to see it, he wanted Ofelia. Reaching to his belt where the knife was, he heard something behind him, a cellphone dialing." They called the cops," Ronan snarled and dropped Dietrich as he backed up, grimacing at his knee pain. Now his attention was off the older man and on an escape route, he wasn't going to get caught this time, even if it would be entirely his fault. When Ronan dropped him, Dietrich's typical calm re-asserted itself. Damn. The fun was over. He might not have won the fight, but his demeanor was useful in situations like this. Up he got, feeling the pain lance though his leg in particular. But he didn't let it get to him. Leaving in a hurry would be a mistake. It would get him caught. It would draw attention. Instead, he headed over to the bar, got a drink, and downed it. He was getting lost in the crowd. Some folks asked if he was okay, and he waved them off. He said, "No worries. Fight's over. I'm fine. A little worse for wear. But any man ought to hold his own." Someone else was patting him on the shoulder and asking again if he was alright. Ah. The person who'd bet on the 'hippie surfer'--i.e. Dietrich. The criminal thought about it and pulled out a twenty from his pocket. "Sorry to have lost--here's your cash back," he said with a smile that was sharp enough to cut through sheet metal. Earning a little goodwill, making people think he wasn't dangerous, had its benefits. Some of the people were talking about the imminent arrival of the cops. Dietrich let that icy chill come over him. That emptiness that made it so easy to function in this type of situation. Once the novelty of talking to him wore off, people were ignoring him in favor of the much flashier and angrier Ronan, since Ronan was actively looking for an escape route, which made him seem a lot more problematic and suspicious. With a little smile, once the eyes were off of him, Dietrich calmly slipped out the back just before the cops arrived. No one even bothered to question him. That was the benefit of not panicking and ensuring he took care of 'public relations.' He even gave a little wink to Ronan while slipping out of the back. He was more than amused to leave Ronan in the middle of this clusterfuck. Ronan let out a snarl as Dietrich winked at him before sauntering from the club. Meanwhile, he constantly looked for an exit before moving out to the back exit into an allay way. Limping, blood dripping, he was easy to pick out of the crowd however the cops had just busted in as he slipped away into the night-basked streets. Wiping his face as his icy eyes pierced the dark he tried looking to see where Dietrich slipped off too, his other hand slipping to clasp his gun as he began loading. Fucker's going to pay... Ronan stalked the streets from night until day, well away from the club as he ran from the cops, knowing that just his description would run through the fuzz as they searched for him... He was always the prime suspect of any criminal and thug activity, especially in disruptions. At one point however, he collapsed on a park bench for the night from exhaustion and throbbing in his head, an arm over his eyes. No one disturbed him, no one woke him, only the morning sprinkles of rain as he blinked awake allowing memories of the club fight wash over him, letting out a low growl akin to a fight dog's. Dietrich had a much more restful night than Ronan; he had gone home to get sleep. And Dietrich slept like the dead when he did sleep. The only times he didn't sleep well were when he had certain memories of his family, and those only happened in that hazy place between sleeping and waking, when the sun crested the horizon and pushed him out of the comforting void of unconsciousness and into the uncertain first seconds of awareness. Sometimes in those moments he heard screams. He didn't have that morning; he just awoke with disorientation and quickly righted himself. The fight from the prior night had helped; it had made him sleep much more soundly. The morning noise of L.A. was all around if he cared to hear it--car horns, the sound of pedestrians, the sound of people living their lives as Dietrich settled into his newly rented apartment. He couldn't stop thinking about Ronan. But business before pleasure. He called up a few contacts to determine who needed a computer specialist; he got a new job quickly enough. This one was much simpler than the last one; it didn't pay nearly as well, but it promised consistency. Dietrich was quite good at creating fake IDs and even better at hacking into various government systems to provide a facsimile of a profile that made those IDs look legitimate, provided law enforcement didn't look too closely. The individual pay for IDs was not nearly what he made at 'large' jobs, but it would ensure a consistent income while in LA. Which was important. That took a few days to figure out. Dietrich opted, after those few days, to go have some fun again. This time, though, he asked around about Ronan to get an idea of what people thought about him. A lot of people thought he was an off-the-handle asshole, but a lot more people talked about how he was a blunt straight shooter of a person, the sort of person who wore their feelings (i.e. rage) on their sleeve, and to some degree, the bronze-blond was impressed by what he heard. Ronan was the sort of guy who got things done. Their bad start aside, Dietrich could actually use someone like that. Normally Dietrich could handle himself, but working alone was always a risk. He needed to be able to focus on his work, not on fending off competition, and Ronan struck him as potentially good hired muscle. Since he'd found out a lot about him a few days before on social media, after a much longer look he managed to get a phone number for him. Dietrich had quite a bit of money saved and could afford to hire some muscle...and it also meant that he could focus more on working and thus making more money. The fact he could probably brawl with Ronan just made it better. Even if Ronan said no, it would be amusing at minimum. Cheeky, he texted Ronan. Hopefully the fact it had been a few days would have given the man time to cool off. Pardon the text, but this is Ronan, isn't it? If so, I'm looking to hire. Care to meet up? Nossa Familiar coffee shop. Art deco lobby, can't miss it. Noon. If you aren't interested, just don't show. Some didn't answer Dietrich's questions, giving him a look or a cuss before backing off into the darkness where they belonged. Others said quietly what Ronan was, what it meant to get Lynched in this part of town. He hadn't been in L.A. long, but his stories from New York traveled far across the states. He was what some called a "handyman," he did all the dirty work, getting rid of people, cleaning up the scenes before the police showed up, bodyguards, dealing was perhaps his most technical job, but otherwise Ronan was very much muscle. One person told the blond 'murder.' Another told him 'burglary.' After everything was said and done, all the information was compiled together, he had done just about anything that wasn't sexual assault, rape, or anything that had to do with children or human trafficking. Other than that, theft, vandalism, drug smuggling, dealing, drug crafting, assault, battery, disorderly conduct, breaking colleagues out of prison, all the way up to murder in the most gruesome of ways... He was your guy.--Ronan was laying on a bench in the middle of the morning, hungover with a half-empty beer bottle dangling between his pointer and middle finger, his other arm covering his eyes. One of his phones went off, and with a groan and swear, he leaned down in his leather jacket into an inner pocket and pulled out a flip phone as he opened an eye and read the text. His icy eye scanned the text over and over before a snarl tore through his lips, how did this jackass get his number? Well he was going to sure as hell find out. Checking the time, he slowly got up, every bone in his body snapping and popping like bubble wrap as he looked out at the park, everyone else running and playing, chatting and grilling, walking their dogs, hanging out with classmates, parents scolding or laughing with children... They all wore bright clothes, they all wore bright smiles... And there sat Ronan Lynch, dressed in black, a sneer across his face.--He was there, he was on time when the clock struck noon, at least he was good at something. Being on time in the type of job he had was always a good sign. His icy snake eyes scanned the area, gripping his phone that he shoved in his jeans pockets and waited. Dietrich arrived in a timely fashion; he wasn't late. In fact, he arrived shortly after Ronan did. He was dressed tolerably well--not too attention-getting, but nice. Dark jeans, a pleasant looking gray T-shirt, running shoes. The sort of apparel that was acceptable but not really striking. Then again, Dietrich was good-looking enough to where he didn't need to dress fancy. Besides, knowing Ronan, clothes that made it easier to run away were paramount. Dietrich liked fighting, but not in a place like this, and Ronan struck him as someone who was fine with lots of confrontation. His hair was in a ponytail, mostly as he didn't want to have it blowing about in the California wind. It was a warmer than normal day, and having his hair up was clearly the better idea than having it down. Unlike the sneering Ronan, Dietrich looked like he belonged utterly in California despite not being from there. He'd picked Fossa Familiar for a lot of reasons, but mainly because Dietrich wanted to get coffee, liked the locale, and it was probably a place where, if Ronan acted out, people would react immediately...unlike in the nightclub." Good to see you showed," Dietrich said in an even tone. "I'm getting coffee before we talk. If you want one, speak up now, otherwise it'll be another minute." Dietrich was always careful when in a business to try to buy something or have a legitimate reason for being there in the advent he got in trouble with the law. It didn't do to have authorities accuse someone of malicious loitering. Of which Ronan was probably the poster child, Dietrich realized upon reflection. Ronan was halfway through a yawn until a familiar voice hit his ears, the memory of flashing lights, loud rave music assaulting the ears, blood, glass, a very certain broken knee... Slowly Ronan adjusted his gaze to stare down at Dietrich from the retaining wall, his eyes wide and fearsome, able to make grown war veterans hunker down and cry for their mother. It was like a pit viper staring at a jackal, Ronan hadn't forgotten the fight, balling up his fists until his knuckles turned a stark white, his face twisting into a toothy snarl as Dietrich stared at him nonchalantly. Before he could open his mouth, Dietrich beat him to it and offered coffee. His answer didn't come in the form of words but in action as he made a slow double nod before hopping off the retaining wall. He was still hunched, still tall, but his hunched shoulders made him stand at an even 6'0 instead of his 6'3. He jutted his sharp chin to the door of the coffee shop and followed behind, his hands in his pockets before fishing out a cigarette and lit it. As they entered, an employee at the counter, zit-faced no less, tapped the "NO SMOKING" sign at Ronan who simply sent him a threatening look with a mouth full of teeth, some crooked, but not unattractively, something more in between of rough and tough cut, and mildly quirky. The employee immediately faltered and put his head down as Dietrich ordered, Ronan having himself a black coffee with light creamer and sugar, the barista at the counter unsure if this was a legitimate order or a robbery as she got them their drinks. As everyone else was preoccupied and not paying attention, there was a handle of a knife jabbed against Dietrich's back. "What's this all about?" Ronan hissed in his ear, his breath hot yet ice-cold at the same time, venom seeping through his words. Dietrich paid for the coffee and offered a generous tip to make up for Ronan menacing the staff there and breaking their no smoking rule. It didn't do to leave a poor impression after all. Dietrich felt the knife against his back, but he didn't really react to it. It was about what he expected. The man was hollow enough to have stopped caring about living or dying. He'd had his moment of excitement, and now he was all business again. He spoke in a level monotone, saying, "I came to offer work, but if you're rather head on to prison and do life for murder, by all means don't let me stop you." He kept his voice down and sipped at his coffee. Furthermore, he closed his eyes as he sipped, sighing and almost relaxing. It was damn good coffee. Dietrich was cold as ice in stressful situations; he just wasn't the sort of person to be intimidated or to panic. He considered such things to be almost juvenile. He gave a yawn and said in a louder voice, "Are we sitting down for coffee or not?" "No one would miss you or me." Ronan snarled lowly, but the gun retracted, a softclickbeing heard from when Ronan snapped it shut into its guard as he slipped it back into one of his many pockets in the inner part of his coat. Stepping back, Dietrich finally had some breathing room as Ronan waited for his coffee, taking it from the barista who continued to give him casting glances to make sure he didn't start a trash fire or break windows. Ronan glared lowly at him, his other hand shoved in the pocket of his leather biker jacket. "Fine," groused the younger man as he jutted his chin to a back corner booth where no one would dare to tread especially with those two sitting over there. Ronan followed Dietrich, making him lead as his icy eyes stared at the other man's back like guns pointed for him as they slid into the booth." So first you beat the shit out of me, and now you want to hire me for a job. How the fuck am I supposed to believe that? What kinda work are we talkin' anyway?" Ronan growled lowly, keeping his voice low. He obviously wanted stupid, he knew how to carry himself in public... To a point. He wasn't any more disruptive since he entered the coffee shop, most people just pegged him for a hoodlum rather than a full on crook. And if they could only see the blood on his hands they would realize... Dietrich said reasonably, "You impressed me. It's one thing to hear about a person's reputation. It's another thing to actually get in a fight with them and understand they earned that reputation." It was, as answers went, coldly and empirically logical. Gone was the man desperate for connection to such a degree that he was fine being beaten or attacked, gone was that bloodlust and thrill of the moment. Like a light switch, Dietrich had the sort of soul that flicked on and off with a disturbing ease. Training in a rough life would do that for a person; it wasn't necessarily even a unique skill to Dietrich. He was just unusually practiced in it compared to others. When they moved to the booth in the corner to talk, Dietrich took a sip of coffee first. He closed his eyes in so doing--he always liked to savor things. When he opened his eyes again, he had collected his thoughts." Bodyguarding. Not twenty-four seven stuff, but more devoted to when I need someone present at rather high-stakes meetings with clients. Five easy grand per night, only on the nights I need you. Alternatively, periodically there are situations in which clients need me to get something very technical done and sometimes there are...impediments to that. Impediments that someone of your talents would be better at dealing with. Someone of your demeanor and skill would be perfect." He was so careful not to say what he actually wanted, which was hired criminal muscle. It would seem almost obvious to passerby that the two men seemedweirdtogether.but Dietrich's somewhat cagey manner of speaking was due to him wanting some sort of plausible deniability that this was an illicit hire if this went horrendously wrong somehow. The scent of coffee and commerce floated through the air, and despite it being a relatively tolerable day, the shadows in the famous art deco drink shop gave it an almost sinister atmosphere. Ronan sat there across from him, his back hunched, elbows jabbing into the tabletop as he tightly clasped his hands together, one knee under the table shaking up and down. One couldn't be sure if he was on something currently or just nervous, but if one dare ask him, nerves always got the better of him. The cards were in Dietrich's hands, Ronan didn't like getting in scuffles in such a populated place with many civilians. It just wasn't safe. And this pissed him off to no end, knuckles turning a stark white. As Dietrich told him his job, Ronan interjected though bit rudely as his icy eyes slid to the side, gazing out the window. "Yeah okay, I get it." It didn't take long, and it didn't take a professor to understand what he needed, Ronan was quite talented at muscle jobs, and he very much agreed to the pay as at this point he could use it. "You've got my number, what else do you need?" He said lowly, his eyes meeting Dietrich's before narrowing sharply. His coffee was off to the side, not having been touched since he sat it down, it was visibly clear he wanted to get the hell out of that coffee shop. "Just tell me when to go and if there's anything special I have to do." "Meet me here again at six in the evening in exactly seven days. I'll have work for you then--the first thing I'll need is someone to come with me to a client meeting, which is not until then," Dietrich said. He got up and gave a curt nod to Ronan. Best not to antagonize him further. Surprisingly, Ronan had beenopento the idea of being employed...albeit right after being very open to the idea of public murder. Dietrich wondered if Ronan was the sort of man whom one would often have to discourage the latter in order to get to the former." See you later." Ronan struck him as someone who didn't do well in tense settings socially, and Dietrich was the opposite. Ronan was fire. Dietrich was pure ice. He walked away with a calm gait, ensuring he didn't attract any notice. When he bumped into a passing woman, he gave a thin smile and excused himself; she smiled sheepishly at him in return, as if happy to have bumped into someone good-looking. But Dietrich knew not to stay after little 'humanizing' moments; people wanted to connect after them generally. Or fight. And while Dietrich quite liked fighting, there was a time and a place. Out into LA for the day.~ * * * ~A week later, Dietrich had his ducks all lined up in a row. He had a client meeting with one of the local Latin gangs, who needed someone versed with security for a bank robbery. Dietrich was potentially willing, but he didn't know this gang, and all first meetings with gangs were tricky. He lingered outside the fancy café to wait for Ronan; this was something he preferred to have some muscle alongside him for. People generally thought they could screw over freelancers, and showing up with some hired muscle tended to discourage them. He checked his watch. The meeting wasn't for at least another hour, so there was still some time; he couldn't be sure quite when Ronan would decide to arrive... Ronan didn't respond verbally or with a gesture as his icy eyes followed Dietrich out the door. Getting up himself after a few minutes and finishing his coffee, he held the door open for the young woman whom Dietrich had passed, she spluttered a 'thank you' and kept on going, her head down, a bit flustered that someone with a face like Ronan had done something polite, however, in her flustered state, her pocketbook was snatched from her purse and into an inner pocket of his leather jacket.--He didn't appear until the day he was scheduled, leaning against the wall next to Dietrich, seeming to have just came from out of nowhere. He didn't speak to Dietrich though his eyes were on him for a long moment before looking out again. This was very much a 'you tell me who to go after, and I will,' they didn't call him 'dog' for nothing it seemed. He followed where Dietrich went, he did as Dietrich said, but he would think for himself just in case something could be a threat to him, he would immediately do his job, however Ronan wasn't sure exactly what he was up against... Not that it mattered. He cracked his knuckles awaiting orders, wanting to get going. There were three men at the meeting—one who was a mover and shaker with the gang and two of his friends. They liked to call themselves the B-side. There were any number of insider jokes about it. Dietrich mostly didn’t mind. He didn’t really get gang culture, but it was definitely good for business for him, so he tended to be quiet and respectful. His distrust was mostly from the fact he didn’t know these specific people. Ronan got there on time, happily, and Dietrich didn’t exactly explain things. No need to involve Ronan more in-depth than he already was. After all, if the meeting went well and the three here proved trustworthy, he wouldn’t need Ronan during the actual robbery. This was just to make sure that there wasn’t something weird going on beforehand and so Dietrich could decide if these guys were his kind of employers or not. One of the guys was tall and intimidating; interestingly, he was not the leader. A much smaller man with slicked back black hair, blue jeans, and a black leather jacket with several stitched in patches, seemed to be the guy in charge. Dietrich liked this particular coffee place; it was harder for shit to go down here, and if it did...well, Dietrich generally relied on looking like the sort of person that wasn’t an ‘instigator.’ It wasn’t right or fair, but it was what it was. The smaller fellow gave him and Ronan a wave.“Good to see you. You interested in what we got going on?” Dietrich shrugged. “Whatdoyou have going on?” The man silently passed him a paper. Bank blueprint, detailed information on certain types—but not all types—of security they had… Not bad. The taller guy pointed at Ronan and said, “Deal is just about you. No Tagalogs.” Dietrich hadn’t exactly intended for Ronan to engage in robbery, but the sudden opposition to Ronan’s presence was...interesting. “Why, exactly? Are you saying I can’t use my own people?”“We want to keep things as in-house as we can,” explained the smaller fellow. “And rude of me, your friend doesn’t know me. I’m Miguel. My two friends don’t need an introduction.” Because they are your leg breakers, Dietrich realized.“What if I were to insist? Not saying I am. But what if I were?”“Well….we’d have to discourage that.” Dietrich pointed a thumb at Ronan. “I have paid him five grand’s worth of money to discourage discouragement. It’s my hope you won’t make him earn his keep.” The taller guy looked straight at Ronan and snorted disdainfully...as if implying Ronancouldn’taken his keep. Ronan was that of a statue, he barely moved a muscle, not showing any aggressive movements, but still in a state where he could lunge if needed. This was one of the easier jobs that came to him, he didn't mind if he got a busted lip, a broken bone or two, but his client wouldn't have a single scratch on him. His eyes stared at the three other men, slowly however, he came to gaze at the larger one who snorted at him. Like the dog he was, Ronan's lips curled over his impressive yet slightly crooked white teeth daring the other man to try him, but he wouldn't cause a scene just to cause a scene, he didn't look it, but he was smarter than that." Well..." Miguel mused glancing between Dietrich and Ronan, looking over the other man's leg breaker. "I do find it impressive you hired just one, though I can understand why you'd hire that one in particular." Ronan wasn't completely unknown in Los Angeles, he hadn't been there too long, but his work was renowned. The other man snorted not seeing anything special about the shaved headed man. Snapping his finger, the other man rummaged around for a couple of drinks, handing Dietrich one as he spoke. "How about as we talk about our deal, we have a little entertainment hm?" Ronan's gaze left the bear of a man and glared at Dietrich not believing what the fuck was going on. He wasn't some show mutt, he was purebred piss and VIN-SNAPThe leg breaker's fist came straight into contact with Ronan's jaw the second he had turned to look at his client for the evening, sending the leaner man stumbling back a few paces. Ronan snarled at him, his cheek red while also starting to turn purple and yellow. He didn't move to avenge his poor cheek though didn't take his eyes off his attacker. Dietrich hadn't agreed yet, and when he did, Ronan would lunge, that was how he worked when employed. Fuckn' say something' before I gouge the fucker's eyes out you damn beatnik piece of shit... "Fuck him up," Dietrich said to Ronan, almost by instinct. He wasn't going to reign in his hire-on. To Miguel, he said, "This doesn't make me want to do business with you. I like things...clean. Non-violent. Tidy. I don't appreciate you treating my employee as if he's entertainment. In fact, it makes me feel disinclined to do business at all."" Oh come now, it's a little fight," Miguel argued. The big man fighting Ronan, who'd thrown that punch, had a grin on his face that suggested that this was more than a fight. This was about the other side getting a sick pleasure from beating up business partners who might not be able to fight it off. This was clearly a test. Dietrich sighed. He lunged, and his punch took Miguel in the face. Miguel's other friend lunged in return, and Dietrich thought to himself, At least the big guy threw the first punch at Ronan, and the cameras in this place will show us defending ourselves. So if the cops show, we probably won't get jail time. Probably. Dietrich was a talented enough fighter; Ronan fighting that mountain of a guy was the same was Dietrich fighting two smaller men. The third man landed a punch in Dietrich's gut, but Dietrich knew that it would be a mistake to divide his attention. Dietrich punched Miguel in the face....again and again and again. Miguel stumbled back, and then Dietrich had to deal with the other man, who hadn't been idle. Instead, he'd headed up by Ronan, about to hamstring him, but Dietrich full out tackled the other guy before he could handicap Ronan. That goddamn giant was enough of a problem without Ronan dealing with a brand-new leg injury... And there it was, Ronan's leash was gone, unhooked from him as he barreled towards the brute of a man. He had hunkered down before bolting, slamming his shoulder into the other thug's stomach making him roll to the ground. Ronan was strong on his own but unlike the other he couldn't only rely on brute strength alone and had skill in speed, almost dancing around his opponent with a flurry of punches to the face and chest, kicks to the shins, and a good knee to the balls sometimes for good measure. The leg breaker had a hard time landing anything on him, his punches missing in a larger margin than before and whenever he could land a punch or a hook, Ronan gave it right back to him. Blood dripped from his nose, temple, and lip as he landed a clean uppercut on the brute, sending him back and to the ground. Before he could get up, Ronan had his hand in the other man's hair, dragging him over to the back dock where the curb was, kicking him to his stomach and prying his mouth open to hook onto the cement. The bottom of Ronan's steel-toe boot lightly nudged the top of his head, tempting of just how hard he wanted this to be."... P... Plth... N..."" Shut up."CRACK With another kick in the balls for good measure and good luck, he left the brute groaning and crying with cracked teeth and God knows what else as he went to back up his employer, not that Dietrich really needed it, but in Ronan's eyes, his client didn't need to handle this type of stuff. That's what he was for. He placed a hand on Dietrich's shoulder, the grip could have been powerful enough to snap a bone or two as he pulled him back, his other arm hooking and slamming into the third, smaller leg breaker. Before he could stumble back, Ronan's fist uncurled, grabbing the other man by the face before throwing him hard into the ground, pinning him there while Dietrich dealt with Miguel. The man under him struggled once before Ronan's lips curled, letting out a low growl at the man under him, increasing pressure on the foot that held him down. Dietrich was a smart man. Smart enough to know if the cops showed up, they were never going to believe that technically Ronan was the victim here. Miguel crumbled under Dietrich's assault--it wasn't that the man had given up, it was that his body had given out. Miguel had passed out from the onslaught. With Miguel incapacitated, the bigger man and the third fellow both knew that this was over. Without Miguel to direct them, things would go badly. Dietrich was mostly unharmed, but he got hold of Ronan's arm before he continued any further onslaught...but not before letting Ronan give that third guy a taste of what the first two had...and said, "We need to leave. Now. These guys won't talk to cops. Neither should we in this scenario. Let's go." The quiet man got out his phone--Dietrich hadn't taken his own vehicle for obvious reasons. He called a cab--one of the many app-driven services available in LA whose names he always mixed up. Within a couple of minutes, a nice looking black SUV pulled up. Dietrich pointed to it and said to Ronan, "Our ride. We'll stop by a bank first. We need some cash, and I'm inclined to pay you extra since even though it went poorly you kept things in control. As in control as they could be." He got in the SUV. He trusted Ronan would do the same...but would he? Ronan seemed to be a bit of a wild card, but hopefully the allure of extra cash might ensure he did... Ronan pulled his fist back for a fourth clobbering before Dietrich interjected, the red in Ronan's gaze slowly fading as his boss spoke quite a bit of truth. Throwing the third thug to the ground, Ronan took off with Dietrich, stopping when a cab pulled up, shooting the driver a look with his bloodied nose, cut brow, and split lip not to ask any questions as the party of two got in. Ronan let out a grunt of understanding an approval, "just enough to fix up my face," he never huffed one to turn down an extra share of cash, especially when he worked oh so very hard for it. Ronan sat on the other side, almost pressed against the car door away from Dietrich, not from fear or anything trivial, but Ronan was indeed a loose cannon, and he did not enjoy being near people on a multitude of occasions and scenarios." And where after that?" He asked after a while, leveling his icy gave towards Dietrich as the man conveniently didn't specify what would happen after the bank. Dietrich shrugged and said, "You can tell the driver whatever stop you want after this. Presumably you'd like to go home or somewhere to rest up after this, but I don't know you or how you like to do things. That job didn't pan out, but happily the bad interaction was valuable in a different way, so I'll still profit eventually." He didn't say how. He didn't feel it was Ronan's business to know how a street fight about a failed bank robbery collaboration could be beneficial to him. He gave a little tap on the driver's shoulder, indicating them to turn left. The driver did so. He noticed Ronan practically pushing against the door and said idly, "Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you thought I had cooties from how reluctant you are to be nearby." He couldn't help but commenting. Furthermore, he sort of thought Ronan's posture in the car was...immature. It was also hilarious, but Dietrich wasn't going to comment on that specifically. The sarcasm was enough. Ronan's eyes were closed halfway through the drive, his insomnia hitting him like a freight train to the forehead as he rested his face against the glass window. "I'll leave when you tell me to fuck off, that's how my job class works. Until this is case-closed, I'm going to stay here." He reached into an inner pocket of his leather jacket, pulling out an orange container filled with pills, popping two in his mouth as he waited for the medicine to kick in and wake him up, the pills laced with caffeine and who knows what. Ronan's lips twisted into a sneering, snarled expression as his eyes snapped open, the icy blue cutting through the dark right at Dietrich. "This is my first time working with you, I don't know if I like you yet. And if we're going off of the rave party, yeah I don't fucking like you. But you're paying me. So it doesn't matter what I think, now does it?" Ronan shifted in his seat, it was also noted that the way he was sitting, no matter how awkward it was, kept pressure off of his back. "And it's not like that meathead stomped on my back at one point or anything," he huffed under his breath, going back to look out the window. By looking at him and even by talking to him Ronan was a prickly sort to say the least as he tried to figure out exactly where they were, still quite new to the area. Ronan commenting about his back being stomped on did give Dietrich pause. And the rave party...yeah, pain would put anyone in a shitty mood, other reasons for that mood aside. The blond man considered his next words carefully. Ronan was likely to take offense regardless of what was said, but developing a working relationship with someone able to dish out just as good as they could take--if not better--was important." They did get in a lick or two. Areyou okay? If you need anything for pain, you should say so. I'll pay; I don't have people that do jobs for me paying for medical-related expenses. Unless whatever you just took is going to do the trick since I have no idea what you just popped," Dietrich offered. Ronan seemed to be a proud sort and unlikely to accept, but who knew? If he did, it would at least be a small proffered olive branch. If he didn't, well, it didn't hurt to at least be professional to Ronan so he might consider a second job. The cab was about a street away from the bank. Dietrich's phone notified him of a text. He stopped, pulled it out, and looked at the message. He frowned. Available now? Security issue with our system.- Alone didn't make an effort to hide the message from Ronan, because why? It wasn't as if it was wildly confidential. Also was someone in the area he did tech work for; those jobs were typically quite safe, but introducing Ronan to some of the more white-collar types of criminal could probably benefit his hired muscle..." Hm. Wasn't expecting an offer today. Also pays well. Might be good for him to meet you if you're willing to take any further jobs with me. Up to you. Think about it while I'm in the bank." The car made it to the bank, pulled in, and Dietrich got out. The bank was one of those tall buildings that was clearly influenced by Greek architecture and pillars; banks loved to be fancy that way. The stone of the bank was pale, and it was a bit uncomfortable to look at in the light. After about ten minutes, Dietrich came out and got back in the vehicle. He passed Ronan another $2,500 as a bonus. "Bonus cash. Any opinion on going with me? Might be a bit dull, but you'll meet some folks I suspect you've never gotten a chance to meet." "Nah man, I'm fine. I got Vicodin at my place." There was a sense of pride with Ronan, as he waved off Dietrich with a hand, wincing at the movement of his shoulder. Sure he knew it was probably stupid to not take up Dietrich's offer, but in Ronan's work he noticed if he accepted more that wasn't cash, bad things would happen to him. He would definitely do another job for the Californian, but he still couldn't get a vibe on him. When Dietrich mentioned the pills he just popped, Ronan shifted in his seat as he tucked the bottle away." What, that? No... That's for somethin' else." He mumbled not going into it, his insomnia always an interesting topic, honestly anything wrong with him was always an interesting topic. He couldn't afford Dietrich looking at him like grade B muscle, especially for how well he was being paid. There was a long silence before Ronan realized he should probably say something,"Uh... But thanks though." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck, manners never being a strong suit. If Dietrich didn't hide the message from him, Ronan wasn't hiding the fact that he was looking straight at the text as he knew what this meant, one long ass night. Ronan wasn't really in the service for white-collar criminals, but they always seemed to have a use for him, he just wasn't into the entire electronic computing side of things. It was almost euphoric for him to break spines and bust skulls rather than perform some hacking heist. To each their own, Ronan supposed. He made a grunt of understanding as Dietrich left into the bank, though he had made up his mind before he had left the car. Ronan could very much go a few more rounds, if not, what use would he be for hired muscle? A wicked grin stretched itself on Ronan's features as he flipped through the bills, almost tuning out Dietrich. "Yeah, yeah whatever lets go."

Fallen Souls of Los Angeles [Hatchet & 'The']|rating:4.0

[Imperial Academy] OOC Thread

If you're not sure why this is here, please don't bother submitting a character. :)Wiki Page (List Character Profiles (IC (Dorm (Room (Room (( Apartment (Hey everyone. :) I figured since we'll probably be getting started sooner rather than later, we may want to consider if and how well our characters know each other--after all, all the student PCs and most of the faculty have been at the academy for a few years. One possibility is that, since Julie and Freshet are both in the same dorm and part of the Fleet OTP, that they are friends or at least know each other in passing? If anyone has any other ideas for friendships/crushes/rivalry/etc., let's throw them all out there. :) Hi Joslyn! *waves and grins* A friendship between Julie and Freshet makes a lot of sense, I'm all for it. I'm wondering, do we have enough characters to form a variety of relationships? By the way, I am new to multiplayer games like this. Never played any. But I was mentored by the Cookie Gangsta for system games (he knows who he is ;)), so I can see him wincing as I join this free-form game. And on a sort of off-topic note, the reason this game caught my attention was-- well, did anyone feel cheated when they skipped the four (or three) years of academy training they went through in the new Star Trek movie and went straight to active duty? Did anyone wonder how those years went for that lovely crew? :-/ I like this world, its way detailed, so I congratulate you, Andrew, on a great job! Leal ah Armitage is probably well known to Shane dories. Partially because most of them have probably had her as a teacher at some point, but she also helps out if things are getting too rowdy or violent. And of course there's just the fact that military kids seem to take her up on her offers more. If any of the students wants to assume they'd had an encounter with her before that is fine. But don't expect her to remember it, she just doesn't care that much after the event. I'm also working on a student, but not quite sure what to do with it. Anyone wanting another guy PC? Quote from: Ty on 25-05-2009, 22:49:37I'm also working on a student, but not quite sure what to do with it. Anyone wanting another guy PC? Yes, there's definitely an overabundance of females in my opinion. :-) A question to Andrew. What kind of recreational drugs and such are there in the setting, and what are the schools policies on them? The new trek movie is an unholy abomination, i don't know where those positive reviews are coming from, but it got booed over hardhat said, you should all know about my character, if only through rumors ^^ Quote from: Ty on 25-05-2009, 23:17:19A question to Andrew. What kind of recreational drugs and such are there in the setting, and what are the schools policies on them? Hmm. . . Good question. I'd say, off the cuff and on mild meds, that everything that's around today would be present, possibly in stronger forms. Add to that genetically engineered drugs and nanobot "drugs", whatever you'd like. As far as policies, the official policy would be that the "hard" stuff's illegal on campus (as it would be in the greater territory), while the equivalent of marijuana, tobacco, and such "soft" drugs would be legal or at least tolerated. Unofficially, there are a bunch of rich kids and children of nobility around, so. . . There's likely some selective blindness on campus. Quote from: Silk Chiffon on 25-05-2009, 22:44:02&lt;buttering upset; I like this world, its way detailed, so I congratulate you, Andrew, on a great job! Lt;/buttering upset;You'd really love the setting I've been doing a lot of writing in lately. . . Roughly 80 single spaced pages of setting info. :) This one's something simple that got whipped up in a day or so. Quote from: OfTheDark on 25-05-2009, 23:32:34the new trek movie is an unholy abomination, i don't know where those positive reviews are coming from, but it got booed over here Thought it was pretty good, actually. The only qualm I had was Kirk getting the Star fleet flagship so young. :) Here are a couple questions for the group:1) Would you prefer threads by "potline" or by location? Or something else?2) To start out, would you prefer a general "intro" thread or something else? My general thought is that start of IC time is the beginning of the new school year, so I figure at least a little unstructured time for IC interaction would be a good idea. After that, we'll see if unstructured or potlines are better. I'm all for starting with some unstructured time to just get into character and flesh out some of the interpersonal relationships. I think we may want to go by potline rather than location for threads, at least until we have enough posts for our own board. Otherwise, it will probably get really spread out amongst the other games. After that, I think either one would be fine. Another minor thought, I decided my character has a bit of an infatuation with Prof. Stevens, though we'll have to see what if anything comes of that. ;) I figure maybe Julie has already had a class with her at some point, either Japanese or maybe just a more general class in linguistics. I find location threads easier to follow, though I include broad locations, like "Bravo Team Training Excerise" or something. But! If you have some ideas for story or plot events to prompt character growth and interact that would be really great. And, if threading them by plot makes it work, I'm happy to try that. Since I'm new, I will abstain from voting on how you guys want to set up the game. Plot-driven threads/unstructured IC time like Joslyn says sound good (although I honestly don't know how that will go down until I see it for myself.) For the moment, I will listen... and learn. :) I vote for an Orientation starting topic... so we can all comingle and get to know each other. Then locational topics, which are more functional, if one is bored and has 'fallen through the cracks' to speak, they can wander into an open setting {say, a classroom} where stuff is happening, and so become apart from the RP's events again you can't really do that with plot-topics but there should also be closed settings (say, a students room, etc.) that are invite only, since there's no way you could just 'wander in' which would serve the purposes of plot-topics since it isolates a group of players so like. Classroom 2-C (O), Aryan's Room (C), tyranny will probably have to keep a list of the topics in the OP of this thread for us ^^ Okay, I don't see any others posted to here, but I think this is where the character sheets were supposed to be posted too :)Name - Chloe Thorne Played by: (I assume you mean the user ID ?) FLN826Race: Human Age: (14-18) 17Gender: Female Class Year: 4Dorm: RenfieldNotable Skills/Talents: Skilled painter and exceptional aptitude for science Notable Weaknesses/Flaws: Very lazy when it comes to nurturing her scientific skill, focusing rather on her artistic side. Notable Possessions: None Current Subjects: (7) Science - Psychology; Science-Physiology; Language-French; Unarmed combat; Science-Biology; History; Art History Description: Chloe is 5'0 and slender. She tends to shy away from groups of people, being very sensitive about her height. She has long red hair that just threatens to curl, but stays in a wave. Her skin is very fair, and she had deep green eyes with full lips. Background: Chloe was raised in a very affluent home, surrounded by expensive things, and fancy people, but she was not part of that world. Her father was an employee, or servant to a wealthy family. The family he worked for had two children, and Chloe was given the benefit of a private education. While the children of the house regarded her as nothing more than someone who was beneath them. But Chloe was smart and sharp, and her tutors were amazed by her aptitude in science, and equally amazed at her lack of drive to further it. When her tutors told her father about her skill, he put his foot down and insisted she apply to the Academy. Where she would have been happy doing nothing but painting, she had little choice. Character’s Adult Limits: (if different from player's) Only those listed in my O&O Profiles actually go here (but I've moved her over for you. :)As far as starts, etc. go, I'm keeping a tally. I'll get an IC thread started up either later tonight (EDT) or tomorrow evening (tomorrow day's rough from a computer access standpoint due to work). I'll also keep a basic breakdown of characters by several categories. Probably make that part of the first IC thread post, just as a reference. Oops, sorry about that, I'm still figuring out the layout of this site, I'll get the hang of it :) No problem. :) My brain is having trouble getting inspiration for a male student. So I thought I'd open my head for suggestions from other participants. And remind them if they want to play a male student or staff, we can have a couple of characters each (of course if not interested or uncomfortable, don't feel pushed). Quote from: Ty on 27-05-2009, 01:56:03My brain is having trouble getting inspiration for a male student. So I thought I'd open my head for suggestions from other participants. And remind them if they want to play a male student or staff, we can have a couple of characters each (of course if not interested or uncomfortable, don't feel pushed).Here are a few possibilities off the top of my head, not necessarily good ones:- Someone who is secretly affiliated with some anti-Imperial organization and trying to form a rebel cell on campus.- Billionaire playboy who is just there to have fun and screw chicks, but who later has some sort of character development and becomes more interesting.- Fleet Cadet who is hoping to be some sort of hot-shot pilot (assuming this setting has star fighters)- someone who suffered some sort of faulty gene mod treatment and now is forced to take special medication to survive and now is an activist against gene mods (and maybe cybernetics)- paranoid pro-Imperial fascist who is looking for some traitor to take down in order to prove he's ready to be an intelligence agent. May or may not realize the error of his ways at some point. All excellent ideas, Joslyn! I might bring back one or two of my male characters, then. Even if just for a borderline PC role/NPC. :P Quote from: Joslyn on 27-05-2009, 06:01:34Here's a few possibilities off the top of my head, not necessarily good ones:- Someone who is secretly affiliated with some anti-Imperial organization and trying to form a rebel cell on campus.- Billionaire playboy who is just there to have fun and screw chicks, but who later has some sort of character development and becomes more interesting.- Fleet Cadet who is hoping to be some sort of hot-shot pilot (assuming this setting has star fighters)- someone who suffered some sort of faulty gene mod treatment and now is forced to take special medication to survive and now is an activist against gene mods (and maybe cybernetics)- paranoid pro-Imperial fascist who is looking for some traitor to take down in order to prove he's ready to be an intelligence agent. May or may not realize the error of his ways at some point. Those are great ideas! I really needed something to tie myself into the setting and one (or two mashed up) will do an excellent job. I'll try to get a character done in the next day or so. And girls here interested in non-gay crossdressing males? (I has an idea for a character in that direction) IC orientation thread is open (see first post in this thread for a thread list), those who have approved characters, feel free to post whenever. :) well.... that failed miserably...the point i had in mind for an orientation topic... was to ensure that everyone had access to everyone else for meet and mingling but so far the two people who have posted have already wandered off into their own dorm, isolating themselves from everyone else. With the possible exception of Leal ah or the dean... defeating the point of the orientation topic :'(No worries. I seem to recall something about "the best laid plans of mice and men. . ." :)Just for future note/reference too. . . Not everyone is online as often or at the same time as everyone else, so please be patient and give people time to respond and such. I'll get an IC post up sometime this afternoon, depending on the grading that needs to be done for work. Quote from: OfTheDark on 28-05-2009, 18:30:26well.... that failed miserably...the point i had in mind for an orientation topic... was to ensure that everyone had access to everyone else for meet and mingling but so far the two people who have posted have already wandered off into their own dorm, isolating themselves from everyone else. With the possible exception of Leal ah or the dean... defeating the point of the orientation topic :'(Sorry about that. Though since school hasn't started just yet, our characters are probably going to leave the dorm after this conversation and go out to do stuff where you can run into them. Maybe there could be a big party happening somewhere on campus tonight. Or the GM could take matters into his own hands to drag us somewhere, he. I'll be dropping in Leal ah behind one of the desks handing out key cards, really, really bored, once I get back from my evening out. My student guy who I just put in the profiles thread will appear too around then. Just wanted to give a heads-up that I will be moving tomorrow. If everything goes according to plan I'll only be without internet a few hours and no one will notice anything. But the best laid plans of mice and people who are moving oft go astray. :P I was thinking of having Rico notice Julie and Freshet when he goes to the café to get food. If Silk Chiffon or Joslyn have a preferred or amusing reason for him to know them, please let me know. The most amusing idea I had was that your character accidentally overdosed on his "alternative meds" last year and while Julie as a paramedic was treating him, he threw-up on her. POF course, that might be a little too embarrassing for your character, so you could leave off the last part. Or use something else entirely. Others possibilities--he had classes with either of the characters, saw Freshet do her water dancing and wanted to compliment her, there are no other tables available, hoping to chat up attractive women to maybe score with them later, etc. Throwing up on Julie would be amazingly funny. And quite appropriate. *He* might not remember it quite that way though. That all sounds good to me! Since Julie, Freshet and Rico are in the same dorm, it's also conceivable that they've had encounters, whether of the casual or bedroom kind I'll leave to you, but I'm game for anything. :)I'll also bring Phaedra in with her gaggle, maybe quiz her French students to see if they've retained anything, or something like that. :P Well, it depends a bit on if Freshet (or even Phaedra?) might appear at the kind of parties Rico goes to. Or accept his offer for a quiet evening in some dark corner, sharing a bit of medication and blessing out. Oh, I can definitely see both Freshet and Phaedra doing all that, Phaedra even more than Freshet simply because she has more time after-hours. And if they're rich kid parties, Phaedra is more likely to attend. But Freshet wouldn't be averse to such an offer either. Joslyn suggested a party. I think it's a great idea. Should we vote on one? I'd approve of there being a general party. Or as there might be a bunch of them going on, agreeing to all turn up to the same one. Even by coincidence. Quote from: Ty on 31-05-2009, 07:06:12 Throwing up on Julie would be amazingly funny. And quite appropriate. *He* might not remember it quite that way though. Okay, just figured I should mention that Julie would not have shared this story with anyone since she would have to respect the confidentiality of someone she treated. What Rico may or may not have said/remembered should be an interesting surprise for her. ;)Also, it would definitely be fun IMO if our characters were all at the same party that evening, possibly with random NPCs partaking in excess and/or causing trouble. :P Sounds good. . . Any dorm can host (probably better to be in a dorm rather than a public place, less chance of faculty disrupting things). Oh, and we have a new player with a male character who was approved yesterday, so hopefully he'll be in here soon. I can bring in more characters, myself, if necessary. That said, I'd hope that the game doesn't become one in which everything grinds to a halt if the Mod gets sick or something. :) Speaking of which, the weekend of 6/5-6/7, I may not be on much due to final paper grading and possibly being out of town for part of the weekend. I'm away the same weekend. But having fun instead. Sorry I couldn't get a post up today, was out of town most of the day in NJ and NY and not quite able to think straight now to finish my post. I should have one in the morning. That weekend will be busy for me too. In fact, this summer, my weekends will be even busier than my weekdays, most of the time. :-/ Silk, did you mean for the coming to Phaedra's office to be before or after the evening's party btw? Maybe it can be afterward? Or maybe even the next day when classes start? Nothing like a visit to the professor's office to start off the school year. :P Yeah, I wasn't sure what time it was on that day. So it could easily have been past three already. Unless Rico turns up at 3am? Would that be amusing? Oh yes, hilarious! ’D Although Phaedra wouldn't consider it so--- he'd be stoned drunk from the party or something? He *could* be sobering up at that point. He hasn't gotten his key card yet. And might not get round to it before too late. Works for me! :) We'll see what happens at the party. Maybe he'll make up with Chloe and walk her home. Cue modelling flirtation. Man. I might just be easily amused, but the orientation thread is making me laugh a lot. Thanks to all involved. Yeah, the last few posts had me laughing too, It's a good read :) Thanks to all too for the fun! ’D Have been having the giggles over this thread. :P My replies will also be sporadic at best this weekend, today I'm preparing for a school festival tomorrow, and I will be all over the place Sat and Sun. Everyone have a great weekend! ’D No problem. I'm out of town sometime Saturday morning until sometime Sunday afternoon. Just for note, Ty, 0300 = 3:00 AM. 3:00 PM = 1500 on the 24-hour clock. Just in case you didn't intend for a middle of the night meeting. ’D That was in fact, specifically the confusion intended. Ok, never mind then. :) Carrie syndrome? Ouch London worry, she's not going to go and burn the class down lol When Rico sees the posters, his response should be amusing. Also, I'm more or less done until the party starts. EDIT : And Andrew? If you have a moment to poke the guy who you mentioned was going to be joining us, it'd be great. Otherwise, Eric and Rico might have to work overtime. :P Unless Freshet intends to be in on her friends first time. Quote from: Ty on 09-06-2009, 14:49:08EDIT : And Andrew? If you have a moment to poke the guy who you mentioned was going to be joining us, it'd be great. Otherwise, Eric and Rico might have to work overtime. :P Unless Freshet intends to be in on her friends first time. Been there, done that. The ball's been in his court for the last week, and more so in the last 12 hours. Quote from: Ty on 09-06-2009, 14:49:08EDIT : And Andrew? If you have a moment to poke the guy who you mentioned was going to be joining us, it'd be great. Otherwise, Eric and Rico might have to work overtime. :P Unless Freshet intends to be in on her friends first time. Well, if the lack of males remains a problem, we could maybe have some girl-on-girl hook-ups. I suppose if long-time crush Prof. Stevens shows up, she might distract Julie from Rico. ;) Quote from: FLN826 on 09-06-2009, 14:45:30Carrie syndrome? Ouch London worry, she's not going to go and burn the class down lol But wouldn't that be fun? ;) Just kidding ;DI'm perfectly willing to write girl-on-girl just to spice things up. :P Are you game, Joslyn? That could work too. :-) I suppose I could even have Julie get involved in a three-way--that would make for quite a first time! It'll probably be most interesting to not make any definite plans, have all the characters show up at the party, and see how it plays out. ’D Sounds good to me. ’D And I just modified my Orientation post to try to get Chloe to the party... we could do a scene, FLN? Quote from: Joslyn on 09-06-2009, 19:24:35It'll probably be most interesting to not make any definite plans, have all the characters show up at the party, and see how it plays out. This is more or less my plan : Flirt lazily with all the girls and if that fails knocks on Phaedra's door at 3am. Worse comes to worst he staggers back to his vehicle and crashes on the back seat, rejected by all the immense for being a horrible person. :P Shane dorms, Silk. Most of us are Others. :P Unless you are purposefully leading the poor little artist astray (which I approve of) Pooh, my bad. Off to correct. Sorry bout that, just woke up from a needed nap. :P Nope, no apologies allowed.*drags Phaedra off to the Dean's office for a reprimand. . . Of sorts* Sending me off to the wrong dorm for a party? Let's see what pictures get drawn of you :) Pooh, this is Julie's chance to get to Prof. Stevens. ’D*Phaedra stands breathlessly in the presence of the Dean after being dragged. "But it was only a teeny little apology, Dean," she pouts.* Quote from: FLN826 on 09-06-2009, 22:22:59Sending me off to the wrong dorm for a party? Let's see what pictures get drawn of you :)Not even sure if the Greene know how to throw a party lol. I'm thinking fast-forward to the party sometime tomorrow. So, I'll make a general thread for the appropriate dorm, probably in the afternoon or early evening EDT. Don't forget to have Prof. Stevens say if she can make it. ^_^ Hey folks. In the process of adding a character to the mix (As in I'm speaking with the head of this outfit in PMs). I was told to discuss a concept here to see if you folks were okay with it. I'm wanting the character to have some minor psionic capability, not much more than TK, telepathy/mind reading (Though Mind Reading is much harder to do, and definitely noticeable) and maybe a mental blast or two. Character will end up female, but I can probably add a male if you need another. Just don't have any ideas there. I'd say TK and min dreading and mental blasting (how do you have more than one mental blast?) sounds like more than 'minor psionic capability'. Still it's not going to be a game breaker for me if you do have the powers. I would ask that you consider how much more interesting it might be to have your powers a little more specific. Do you lift and move objects that you can see without touching them? Or can you touch an item and manipulate it's delicate insides? Can you exert pressure on living creatures or do they innately resist with their latent power? Also for mind reading, is it being bombarded by peoples brainwaves, or do you have to reach out with your mind to make a link? Or perhaps a physical link is required, or an emotional one? As I said, I'm not going to make a fuss either way, but consider the capabilities of the characters already present. TK-wise - No real fine manipulation, and outsides only. Things can be lifted without touch, but there is a weight limit. The heavier it is, the more the strain of it is. The TK can be used to hit other living beings, but unless there's a *lot* of effort put in, it's never more than a slap or a moderate strength punch. For Mind-reading, she'll have heading from other people's thoughts, but she's still rather inexperienced. This part is still relatively unrefined. She'll randomly pick up 'loud' surface thoughts, and being bombarded by enough of them can cause some serious mental stress. Usually, a link is needed before any mind reading can be done, but emotional bonds do play a part, and the closer she is to a person, the more freely she can sense their thoughts. Of course, unless she has real need to, she won't probe into the minds of friends. The Mental Blast is just a tentative thing. Polly not going to implement it. The question at hand isn't so much the strength (I'll handle policing that), as it is the existence of psi powers in the first place. I'd suggested that Pro ask the general group because I hadn't brought psi into the setting, but have no strong feelings about including or excluding it. So I figured the group could decide. I don't mind including psi powers in the landscape. :) In fact, it makes sense to me that psi capabilities would be encouraged and developed in the future amongst susceptible individuals, or even desired as gene mod upgrades in certain series, or simply as a natural evolutionary outcome. I wrote up the powers in the character's bio as being a natural thing, it being rare, but naturally occurring 'mutation' so to speak I have to be honest, I'd prefer psi not be part of the setting--I see my character as secretly having strong reservations about the Empire and I can't imagine she would have gotten by undetected if there were some sorts of "thought police." Which would almost inevitably exist under such an authoritarian regime.OTOH, I suppose I could just say that Julie's mind is weird in some way and very hard to read accurately. Still, overall I don't like seeing major setting changes once a game is already started. But, whatever is ultimately decided I'll go along. "The Corps is mother, the Corps is father." :P Shane Dorm (party thread location's up. I just made it a general Shane Dorm thread, for later use too. Just FYI, party posts can start whenever. And we've had another interested party (hasn't sent in a character yet, but he's interested). Side note, if anyone knows Braden well enough to bug him about posting, please do so. Since he's been posting everywhere but here. :) How many dorms are there and is there any assignment method I need to know? That's covered on the wiki. But. . . Five dorms, assignment generally along program lines, although there are exceptions. Five dorms. To quote the wikiFoxbridge--southwest tower; rich kids Greenwood--north tower; technical kids Leicester--northeast tower; noblesRenfield--southeast tower; philosophic/artistic kidsSweyne--northwest tower; military track Regarding Psi, I think I'll go with Joslyn in that I don't mind a character or several with such unexplained powers, but I'd prefer that it is not part of the setting. By which I mean that it is not really understood or accepted by scientists, and it basically ends up being treated as not much different to 20/20 vision, or a talent for reading people, or a knack for languages. Of course certain groups will recognize and value these talents just like any other traits. Updated the wiki for psi powers. Hello everyone. I'll be playing Liveries, a rich kid in training to be an analyst. He'll be in Oxbridge (or maybe Shane, as he is a potential officer). I plan on having him heard about Aryan from the other rich kids, though unsure whether he has met her. He was originally going to become a pilot, then decided to pursue the exploitation of enemy aircraft. Open to discussing char history, and look forward to playing Welcome to the Imperial Academy, Cole! And also Pro and Braden. :) Welcome to those that are joining. I have company this weekend, so I'll be back around Sunday afternoon for posting :)Chloe would show up to the party late anyway as she was shanghaied into going :)Have a great weekend Oh, a thought, and this is primarily too Silk. . . Xeno-sciences are perfectly acceptable. They'll apply in two ways: 1) to non-Earth planets (for biology, geology, etc.) and/or 2) to parahumans (for psych, sociology, etc.) Seeing as there are no alien species to study. :) Obviously, this means that geoarchaeology isn't really an option. And my apologies. I just realized that I hadn't bookmarked the party thread. Oh, to our new arrivals:Once your character's approved, go ahead and post him/her in the appropriate thread and feel free to join in the party (since it's assumed to be well spread via word of mouth). Quote from: Andrew on 13-06-2009, 04:53:25Oh, a thought, and this is primarily too Silk. . . Xeno-sciences are perfectly acceptable. They'll apply in two ways: 1) to non-Earth planets (for biology, geology, etc.) and/or 2) to parahumans (for psych, sociology, etc.) Seeing as there are no alien species to study. :) Obviously, this means that geoarchaeology isn't really an option. Yes, I was thinking Archaeology would apply to ancient Earth only, or maybe some of the non-earth planets and their colonies would be old enough (give or take a few hundred years) to have civilizations buried (war, natural disasters, building over old settlements, etc.) and have something to dig up. :) A belated welcome aboard to everyone new. :)Pro, I just thought I'd mention that there was no "orientation" in-character. It's the players who are new to the academy, the characters have all been there for years. I'll be able to post a few times today, but tomorrow will also be very busy for me. Have a great weekend everyone! :)*at FLN* Better come to the party, or I'll sic Phaedra on you lol. ;) I'm on pro, but going to hold off posting more until some of the others get a chance to say something. Having a blast so far. Quote from: Silk Chiffon on 13-06-2009, 19:09:20I'll be able to post a few times today, but tomorrow will also be very busy for me. Have a great weekend everyone! :) *at FLN* Better come to the party, or I'll sic Phaedra on you lol. ;)And that's supposed to dissuade me from being a no show how exactly? *grin* Not a problem. Having fun with this. Oh, Freshet *is* a fun one, isn't she? I would love to respond, but poor Julie needs a chance to say something, even though she might be too uncomfortable to. To be honest, Liveries is still a bit unsure as well. He is definitely regretting keeping to himself for 4 years. OMG I am so mentally challenged!!!! I couldn't figure out what you were all talking about (as I have the IOC and Orientation thread bookmarked) and I only "JUST" realized that a new thread was started LOKI'll be posting to it tomorrow :) No worries. I've been out of touch most of the day due to RL stuff (morning/afternoon training, late afternoon shopping, dinner, etc.). Tomorrow should be a lot more sedate, only an hour or so of training (aikido), and absolutely nothing else now that the quarter's over. Had a free minute so posted :) This party just developed the potential to get a lot wilder. Just for everyone's information, Awareness's post never happened and does not exist, at the moment (no approved character on her part). Pro! I need you, so much is going on, and I'm trying to wait for your reply Unfortunately, Chloe's player has decided that Small/Big Groups aren't her speed, so she's dropping out. I'm on, I'm on. See, there's this thing called sleep that I needed... Anyhoo, I posted. Glad ta have ya back, and great timing. Quote from: Andrew on 14-06-2009, 20:34:00Unfortunately, Chloe's player has decided that Small/Big Groups aren't her speed, so she's dropping out. A shame, especially as the speed of them can vary so. In any case, if you read this FLN, thanks for turning up and being awesome for as long as you did. Understandable, as this is a first for me. Definitely enjoying it so far. Somehow, group sex hadn't ever occurred to me, much less so quickly, though I am surprisingly comfortable so far. I'm pretty okay with it as well... Things seem to be moving pretty fast today, but unfortunately I need to go to work. :\ I should be back in six hours or so. If everyone decides to go somewhere you can assume Julie follows along. ;) Screw that, if you don't type it, it doesn't happen. ~chuckles~ (Julie briefly closes her eyes as she is kissed, only to find everyone gone when she opens them) Nah, we'll drag you along. On the general point of being clear, IOC I have no great problem with a group scene, except they tend to get a bit weird with the multiple posting rates and sometimes eat a really long period of time if everyone gets a 'turn'. It's just that Rico, being kinda practiced at partying under the influence has a good intuition for when people are doing things they'd usually balk at, and thinks an orgy (even a small one) might be too big a step for the previously shy Julie. Plus of course people waking up to an "oh god what have I done" moment might well land most of the blame on Rico's lap for organizing much of the party. I was originally expecting the scene to be split in two, with Rico/Freshet/Julie on one side and Iris/Liveries on the other. Then things changed. Understandable, though Go ahead and create new threads as needed (say Freshet's Room), just make sure the [Imperial Academy] tag goes into the beginning of the title (and please post a link here, so I can keep the thread list up to date). As I recall, we're limited to two threads per player, which give us a max of 12 at the moment (minus the 4 already created, so 8 more). Quote from: Pro on 14-06-2009, 21:51:23I was originally expecting the scene to be split in two, with Rico/Freshet/Julie on one side and Iris/Liveries on the other. Then things changed. Understandable, thought's a bit confusing. That's also what I was thinking. Rico/Freshet/Julie, if all parties are still agreeable, can move on to Freshet's room or wherever, and Liveries and Iris have their own thread... and maybe, if things work out, there could be different pairings or triples or whatnot later on. I'm enjoying this a lot, I hope everyone else is too. And thank you all so much for making this work! :) That'd be perfect, if everyone agrees, I mean. Also, if possible, I'd like to try one with Iris/Julie/Freshet... There are always later scenes. No need to squeeze every possible combination into one. :P I know. Was meaning that one for later on. Just focusing on the Iris/Liveries one at current At any rate, I've got to go for a few hours, be back around 8-9 PST No worries. Just FYI, I've moved the character chart to the Character Profiles thread. Makes more sense there. I was also thinking Julie/Rico/Freshet initially, since that seems more manageable than everyone in one place. But I think in-character Julie would leave it up to Freshet since it's her room. And it could be a little awkward afterwards, but that's just as fun to role-play as what comes before. ;) Took your advice and started a thread for Iris and Liveries. (Room Cool, it is added to the list. :) So sorry about yesterday, had to go to Jersey for a charity event and didn't get home until past midnight last night, was utterly wiped out. I'll try to get a few posts up today. Shall I start a thread for 'Freshet's Room'? And speaking of desired pairings, since we're such a small group I thought I would post my 'wanted' list lol, to add to the ones posted. Don't know if any of these will happen, but it's nice to aim for something. ;) It'll depend on where the threads take us and writers' availability and preferences of course. :)So in addition to Rico/Julie/Freshet and Iris/Julie/Freshet, I was hoping:Rico/Freshet and/or Rico/Phaedra Julie/Freshet Iris/Freshet Eric/Freshet and/or Eric/PhaedraLaverius/Freshet and/or Liveries/Phaedra Dean/Phaedra and/or Dean/Freshet and/or Dean/Freshet/Phaedra Aback, forgot to bookmark and add notification to 'Freshet's Room' thread!! Was wondering where everyone was lol. *bangs head on keyboard* Sorry guys! Will try to get replies out tonight, but right now getting ready to meet sister for dinner in Jersey! Thanks for your patience! Pro is completely open to any/all F/F scenes. I'd really like to try Iris/Julie/Freshet, Iris/Julie, and Iris/Freshet, Hell, I could even go for Iris/Teacher. Actually, Iris/teacher (Male or female, doesn't matter) would be really nice... Quote from: Silk Chiffon on 16-06-2009, 21:25:35Aaack, forgot to bookmark and add notification to 'Freshet's Room' thread!! Was wondering where everyone was lol. *bangs head on keyboard* Sorry guys! Will try to get replies out tonight, but right now getting ready to meet sister for dinner in Jersey! Thanks for your patience!NP. Just to draw attention, Eric's approached Phaedra, but hasn't said anything yet. Quote from: Andrew on 16-06-2009, 21:50:39NP. Just to draw attention, Eric's approached Phaedra, but hasn't said anything yet. I'll be replying to that too! :) Heading out the door now. Wow, Julie's come out of her shell. I don't have a request list made yet (so many possibilities!) but she will be on it. Just FYI, I'm heading out of town as early as possible tomorrow (Thursday) morning. Not sure when I'll be back, but definitely by late evening (EDT, GMT-6 or -7). Oh, and forgot to add a Charlotte/Freshet or Charlotte/Phaedra pairing to my 'Wanted' list! :) Next one I'm really wanting is a scene between the three girls. But that's personal preference... A question for Ty:I'm wondering if Rico will be busy for a while with Julie and perhaps not be able to make it to his appointment with Phaedra at 0300? Or will he still have enough energy to make it to Phaedra's afterward? :P Quote from: Pro on 19-06-2009, 03:41:41Next one I'm really wanting is a scene between the three girls. But that's personal preference... I'm game for this, if Joslyn is. :) Quote from: Silk Satire on 20-06-2009, 01:59:21A question for Ty:I'm wondering if Rico will be busy for a while with Julie and perhaps not be able to make it to his appointment with Phaedra at 0300? Or will he still have enough energy to make it to Phaedra's afterward? Only time will tell. Quote from: Silk Satire on 20-06-2009, 02:13:45I'm game for this, if Joslyn is. :)Sounds like it could be pretty hot. ^_^ Though I find sex posts are a lot more difficult for me to write well so I'll probably need a break from sex for a little while after the current scene. :P A break is fine, *nod* but good that everyone agrees. I'm kinda with Joslyn on this one. I set Liveries up to be the kind to talk afterward. Break's definitely good. Some exploration of campus, etc. would be good. :) Quote from: Joslyn on 20-06-2009, 08:53:57 Sounds like it could be pretty hot. ^_^ Though I find sex posts are a lot more difficult for me to write well so I'll probably need a break from sex for a little while after the current scene. Pit seems to me, you're doing wonderfully. ;)I won't be online at all today until maybe tonight, have to go to Brooklyn then a graduation party. As far as future threads, how about some chaos and mayhem? To sort of test student's skills and mettle? Like a terrorist attack on the Academy or something? Just a thought! :P Have to go now, have a great weekend everyone! ’D Oh, and forgot to mention that Rico and Julie can assume Freshet is watching so don't have to wait for my posts. And I'll start a thread for Eric and Phaedra when I get back, unless you can do it, Andrew? :)Have to run! Will do, in a bit. Gotta finish moving a couch and stuff. Grr. Added two threads. Campus (Apartment (probably set up a "Classes" thread later (for all class stuff) Thanks! ’D I'm wiped out right now, will work on describing Phaedra's room and getting her ready for Eric tomorrow when I'm more awake. :) Just so everyone's in good shape, feel free to start the next day (first day of classes) at will. I've got no problem with double thread posting in cases where there's not a huge chance of one (past) thread majorly affecting another. :) ACK. Power outages suck (had one last night, thus most of the posting delay). Hello, just wanted to check in. It looks like once Phaedra is done making me jealous of Eric we'll all be set for the next day. ~grins~ Quote from: Cole on 01-07-2009, 22:44:25Hello, just wanted to check in. It looks like once Phaedra is done making me jealous of Eric we'll all be set for the next day. ~grins~ROFL! Just for that, your characters are getting bumped to near the top of my Wanted list. ;)Andrew did say that double posting of characters is allowed, so no need to wait for the current scenes to finish before posting to the Campus one. ’D I don't know if Liveries can follow that performance. You saw him with Iris. He's a passionate lover, but not a spectacular one. What performance? Peon't worry, Phaedra or Freshet will find him hot, if you so choose to hook him up with either (or both) of them. :) Yes! I want a threesome with Freshet and Phaedra. Hell, I may even make him watch while you type both parts. ~chuckles~ I haven't made up a formal wish list really. Truth be told, I'm looking forward to seeing more of the setting. I'm looking forward to some mayhem myself, but that's up to the group of course. *grins* And a threesome with Liveries and Phaedra and Freshet--- bring it on! ’D We'll see where the threads take us. :P My initial plan had been rather sandbox style, but if the group wants, I can put together some plotting. :) Doesn't have to be anything big, but maybe some type of event here and there. Something kinda school related. I'm also up for a little GM guidance. :)I won't be around for the rest of the day, going to sister's in Brooklyn for barbecue and fireworks in Manhattan. Have a happy Fourth to those who celebrate it! ’D Eh, I've got a wishlist, though I guess it'll all depend on what ends up happening, huh? I do, however, need to determine if Iris is going to grow attached to Liveries after this, though... she can get a bit clingy... As can, he. I figure we RP it out the following day as we all do whatever Van sets up for us. Don't worry, even if Liveries and Iris do make a go of things, I am confident others will find a way to get involved, and they can break up later ~grins~ EDIT : Wrong IOC Thread whoops In other news, apologies for being quiet the past few days. General fail on my part. I second the suggestion that Andrew throws something out for us to deal with. Alright, will do. Give me a day or two to come up with some options. In the meantime, to paraphrase Mike Myers. . . "Chat amongst yourselves" at least until Barbra show up. ;) Anyone can post in the Campus thread at will. :)I've got a few plot ideas together, at least bare bones, but they're all set for the end of the first day or mid-way through the second. Anyone other than myself and Silk still around? I'm still here, but I'm not really sure what to do. Guess I'm not too good at "sandbox" sort of games. I'm around, but have had a period of imagination fail recently. Also, I'm away this weekend, if people make a push to revive this. Pro is here, simply having trouble figuring what to do.

[Imperial Academy] OOC Thread|rating:2.0

At What Cost_ (Wattersfall & Ssieth)

It was about 1PM on an early September day that felt like it was still midsummer, with the sun out and temperatures reaching the mid 80s. Mark Duncan had a break between appointments and stared longingly out of his third floor office window. Cornfields. It was nothing but cornfields at the edge of campus. Not that that was surprising. On the contrary, it was incredibly predictable, but for some reason Mark thought, or perhaps hoped, that one day there'd be something else to look at outside that window. Having come to the University of Western Indiana several years ago as a transplant of New York City, it felt like a lifetime since he'd been in a big city, but in a lot of ways he still remembered it like it was yesterday. Not that the town of Jefferson, Indiana was small by any means. It was actually a bustling little city, but it was the kind of town that existed because of the large university that inhabited. Still though, it was a far cry from the financial sector of New York, where Mark had made a fortune after graduating from Rutgers at the ripe age of 22. Living the high life, he spent his days on Wall Street, and his nights and early mornings in bars, where he frequently met his share of interesting characters. Never one to turn down a deal, it wasn't long before Mark was funneling money through his firm, Westinghouse Investments, for one of the largest mob families in New Jersey. He was a cleaner, as they called him, taking their dirty money and making it come out clean. There were times he questioned the morals of it, but he never exactly knew how the money was obtained, just the source, and that's kind of how he liked it. After several years of this, however, the risks seemed to outweigh the rewards, and he fled the city with his riches for a simpler life. Hence, here was an academic advisor overseeing incoming freshman and special cases at one of the largest universities in the Indiana system. It was a somewhat good fit, as he'd overseen all the interns at Westinghouse and made sure they adapted to the company and its culture alright. Truthfully, the job was little to no work, and he just had to steer students in the right direction. His main task at this time of year was to ensure that all new freshman were meeting their requirements, especially the special cases, which were foreign exchange students and the "underagers" - brilliant minds that had graduated from high school early. These students he met with weekly throughout their first semester. Other than work, Mark kept himself busy with golf and going to the local bars. Luckily, the school was big enough that he could go to the bars and take home a grad student now and then and not get into any trouble. A few times, he'd bedded some undergrads, and he found he had an affection for the younger girls, but the idea of one of them potentially coming into his office was a little too risky. Lately though, he found himself wanting more. Not more in the relationship sense though. Hell, no. A more intense, more professional sexual relationship, but he'd been there and done that when it came to escorts. He wanted something more...authentic. More exciting. Who knew if it was another day of looking at cornfields that finally made him snap, or it was hormones overrunning his brain, or just fatigue from being out late the night before, but on this particular day he'd resolved to find a girl for such an opportunity. He'd spent the morning looking over files, and luckily he'd had introductory FaceTime meetings with all the underagers while they were finishing up high school, so he knew what the female bunch looked like. One student had missed a registration deadline for a key class, and there he saw a potential opening. Rolling up the sleeves of his red and brown plaid shirt, he stepped out of his office and found her in the waiting area."Umm, you must be..." Mark, at age 38, was in good shape for his age, though not overly muscular. He was lean with a runner's build, and dark brown hair that could just barely pass for wavy on most days. His hazel eyes complimented his hair, and on this particular day he had a bit of stubble to match. Khakis and a black pair of converse shoes finished off the outfit as he sat down, directing the girl to one of two chairs opposite his desk. (sighed as she glanced ahead. She could see herself in the mirror opposite, and she was still wondering if she should have dyed her hair. Her deep red coloration seemed to have done her no favors in winning friends here. That said, being a full two years younger than most of her fellow students probably didn't help and majoring in computer science was still a frustratingly odd thing for a girl to do seemingly. It didn't matter that she had some of her crypto code buried away in the Linux kernel these days, it still seemed like she'd been an outsider and an oddity even in her chosen field. Signing up for some extracurriculars had helped a bit, and she'd found a few friends amongst fellow swimmers but... She sighed again. It was her minors that had caused her more problems, though. Math - no problem, of course. At this level she could almost teach that. It was philosophy that was giving her the problem. She thought it might but not for this reason. She was pretty damn proud of how well she worked systems. Furthermore, she could intuit them and work around them pretty damn readily. Only if they made any sense, however. Registration just didn't. It was a mass of disconnected rules and exemptions that hung together only by virtue of being down on the same piece of paper. There was no sense to it and in the end she'd missed out on the deadline. Now she was left with two options - either take some humanities class she'd almost certainly just scrape through (and tank an otherwise almost perfect grade) or come in to beg for an opportunity to register late. After some soul-searching she'd opted for the latter. The waiting was, hopefully, worse than the actual meeting. Still not helped by that damn mirror. She kept wondering if she should have opted for something other than jeans and a t-shirt. She'd got a nice cotton dress she could have worn and maybe that would have gone down better? Made her seem a bit more vulnerable and in need of help? The belt buckle as well, depicting two dragons battling, a little OTT? She sighed again. The counselor (was that what they called them?) seemed nice enough when she spoke to him from home, though. He'd probably be able to help her out. There were bound to be more students in the same sort of pickle as her and there was almost certainly some sort of fairly standard procedure for this sort of thing. Any sane system would have that. Exception planning was as important a part as anything in a system involving people. Pulling her phone from her pocket she checked the time. Still 2 minutes until the appointment time, she really would have been better off arriving a little later, but she was getting a bit paranoid about being places on time now. As she started to tuck it back into her jeans pocket and realized that there was someone standing there."Umm, you must be..." She blushed a little, looking up at her counselor, "I. Oh. Amber, Amber Swift. Sorry. I was just checking the time". "Right, Ms. Swift...come on in..." Mr. Duncan began to say as he stepped to the side to invite her into his office. He took notice of her rather meek demeanor immediately. A lot of the underagers either exuded a confidence that was genuine because of their abilities, or the ones who were a bit intimidated made up for it by trying to be extra brash, but he always could tell when a confident exterior was often masking an insecure young mind. With Amber however, there was no mask, and she seemed to wear her emotions on her sleeve. She was clearly had a rough go at it so far, which he knew could be capitalized upon." So Amber, it looks like we have some issues with your course load here this semester..." He said as he opened a brown manila folder, pretending to familiarize himself with this case for the first time, when in reality he knew all about it, and her. "You see, lots of students signed up for these classes months ago. You know, like when you signed up for all yours. I can't just kick someone out to make room for you, it wouldn't be fair," he explained. "Besides, there's a freeze on any class movement, whether it be adding or dropping, until they sort out that whole hacking thing. You might've heard about it...the registration server got corrupted last week," he said, mentioning the last part casually passing, but ever so subtly keeping his eyes out for any hint of a reaction from her. Mr. Duncan knew that Amber was a computer science major was involved, and while he had no evidence of her involvement he wanted to at least plant a seed that she might come under scrutiny for it at some point. But for now this meeting wasn't about blackmail. He wouldn't go that route unless he had to." Now that's the bad news...the good news is I am a senior administrator here at the university, and I have some leeway in terms of coursework and independent study. So, depending on what you're willing to do, and how accommodating you are, we can probably create a program that will get you the credits you need to stay enrolled here, and we can just forget about that silly philosophy course. I mean, how bad would that suck to have to go back home and take some crap course at a community college or worse, your high school?" He mentioned, again ever so casually, but carefully planting more seeds of what could happen. She sat opposite him and did her best not to slouch or to lean aggressively forwards she'd been accused of doing the former in the past and then of doing the latter when she tried to compensate. She was left in a nervous little limbo that was what she supposed that 'normal' people were meant to sit like. It all seemed to be going from bad to worse for a while. Firstly, her academic ability being brought into question and then her integrity. Well. The latter might be fair. Shehadtried to get into the registration server, just to see what her options were. It was such a pile of junk, though, that even navigating certain sections of it threw errors and when so many had accumulated the whole thing had fallen over. Yes, if she hadn't been there, it might still be working. She hardly felt she was to blame for the pile of junk, though. The idea of having to head home with her tail between her legs, though. That was dire indeed. She really hadn't felt it would get that far, not over failing to sign up for a course on time. It did sound like there was some hope, though, and it sounded like it might even involve dodging the philosophy minor altogether. She'd been keen only because there were some elements of formal logic involved and had been worried about some of the other areas. Things just seemed a bit to clean cut to her to really merit much discussion, and it looked very much like the non-logic areas of philosophy required a lot of careful discussion and looking at things from other peoples' (usually stupid) perspectives. She sighed and stared at the desk for a moment before glancing up and then letting her gaze fall once more, "It's not about academic stuff. It's just the registration system is so unintuitive. I thought I'd done everything and there's no feedback loop to tell you if the submission isn't complete or anything. I... ". She shrugged again before continuing, "What are the options?" "Look Ms. Swift, unintuitive or not I can't just forget about it," he tried to explain. "I get that the course has nothing to do with your major, but the university has certain standards and protocols, and this is a major one, that you complete two philosophy or social science courses in your first two semesters," he went on. Truthfully, if it were up to him, he could give two shits what courses a student took. On the one hand he understood that students should get a well-rounded education, and be exposed to a variety of subjects if they were undecided on the route they wanted to go. However, for students with a clear path mapped out already, it was downright silly to force them into a field they had no interest, nor would they ever." Look, I'll be real with you Ms. Swift...." he said, unexpectedly standing up. In his head, he knew that getting up and moving not only gave him a bit of leverage from a purely visual aspect, but it helped to calm the nerves he himself was containing. As he looked out the window momentarily, his back turned to her, he psyched himself into this. Brutal honesty will get you there, he convinced himself. "These requirements are utter bullshit," he said, and with that statement he turned and opened the top drawer of his desk, pulling out a flask of bourbon and a pack of Marlboro red cigarettes. Pouring the bourbon into a plastic cup he had on his desk, he took a sip and continued, casually walking around his office. Hell, he figured, she was his last appointment of the day, so he could always skate out of there before anyone noticed booze on his breath or cigarette smoke in his office if he left the window open." So I bet your family is fairly well off given that you got in here early, and you're staying in one of the more posh residence halls, but I bet that money comes with strings from mommy and daddy. I've got a lot more money than you might think, first," he started, taking sips and puffs between phrases. "But what I've also got is power, to just take care of your grades and classes...not just this semester or this year, but your entire time here. Straight fucking A's as far as the eye can see..."" Now, you're a smart girl, and you know nothing comes for free. So, I bet you're asking yourself, what do I want out of this. And, I bet if you're a really smart girl, you'll figure that out right about now..." She nodded slowly as he spoke, indicating that she was listening as she tried to work out quite where he was going with all of this. It was hard, though, as he swung first one direction and then another, and she started to wonder if he was deliberately trying to keep her off-balance or if she was just the sort to ramble aimlessly from A to Z, taking in the sights along the way. She actually hoped it was the former, she couldn't stand people who fell into the latter category. It was one of those things that everyone else would say was irrational but for her, it made perfect sense. She had only so much time on this earth and she sure as hell didn't want to spend it listening to ramblers. She had no option to list here, though. To listen and to try and determine where this was going and what to do about it. It slowly crystallized in her mind, the clarity of his suggestion almost child-like in its simplicity. A trade - guaranteed good grades, no perfect grades, and no need to worry about registration regulations for her entire time here. In return... well, she had a pretty damn good idea of what he wanted there, at least in general terms anyway. She blushed at the thought, chewing on her lip. This was most definitelynota scenario she'd considered when she came here, and she thought she'd covered all the bases in her head quite thoroughly. She tried to run this new one, and it just kept slipping free. It was just too strange an idea and with too many missing variables. She took a deep breath and nodded towards the flask he'd pulled from the desk, "Do you have any more of that? I think it might help me gather my nerves a bit so you can tell me some of the details of your offer"She wasn't one for liquor but neither had her family kept it away from her. They were one of those progressive, liberal bunches who thought that holding such things as taboo would only make them more tempting. In a way they were right, getting completely plastered on alcohol held little appeal for Amber normally but just now. Something to steady her nerves would be very welcome. Once he laid out his true intentions, it was like a bomb had been dropped, but weirdly, at the same time, a weight was lifted. His desire, while not explicitly stated, was certainly not veiled either. It was quite the unexpected thing to lay out to a college student, especially an early entrant, but the fact that Amber still sat there provided nothing but relief. The most common reaction, and therefore the most anticipated, would've been to see her storming out. Before the words came out, he was pushing thoughts to the back of his mind that included, but were not limited to the mess that would ensue with the universities HR department. In the end though, they couldn't lay a hand on his money, and enough time had passed away from the city that it seemed time to explore the possibility of a little adventure, and danger. Just the initial proposition gave him a rush. It was a feeling of...life, that he hadn't felt in who knew how long." By all means, help yourself..." He said, holding the flask out and slapping the pack of cigarettes on the desk. He opened the window wider as he continued to puff on his own cigarette, and he couldn't help but smile. Furthermore, he had no idea how to proceed with something like this, but he knew he'd crossed the main hurdle in simply putting the idea on the table. Amber was still there, and not voicing any objections, which told him all he needed to know. At her age, there had to be reservations, concerns, and her head was probably spinning, but she was doing a remarkable job of keeping that all under wraps." So, I take it by the lack of slaps to the face that I've received in the last 30 seconds, that I've piqued your interest," he said, sipping from his cup. He stood with his back against the wall, legs slightly crossed at the ankles, grinning a grin that one would usually see on a person who'd won the lottery. In a way, he had hit a jackpot of sorts. This was leaps and bounds better than just picking up some college girl at the bar. While he didn't want to fully access the dark corners of his mind, he knew that part of the allure was that Amber was indeed only 16. He'd save the self-analysis for another time though. For now, he had to figure out his next move." Now that we're on the same page, I think you know discretion is if the utmost importance, and this is about as far as this meeting should go on school grounds," he started. "So, here's my address... I'm only a few blocks east of campus, over by the lake," he said as he scribbled something onto a yellow notepad, leaning over his desk and tearing the sheet off, handing it to her." Why don't you come by around 6 tonight, and we'll talk details? If you have a change of heart, no hard feelings, and I'll still take care of the philosophy crap for you. Consider it a measure of good faith for at least entertaining this..." She took the flask from him but ignored the cigarettes. She wanted to steady her nerves, not develop lung cancer. Still, he was being more than generous enough with his booze which was a good sign. She unscrewed the cap and set it carefully on the desk before taking a swig. The taste was bitter, and it slides down her throat and into her stomach like a small fiery elixir. She screwed her eyes shut as she felt it slip down, reaching out for the cap and starting to close the flask even before she opened them again. It did serve to reassure her, though, the warmth of it settling into her stomach and the glow starting to flow through her. She swapped the flask for the address and pondered his words. The idea that discretion was now so important. Surely he didn't feel the need to go somewhere else to hammer out the details. He couldn't be so paranoid as to think that his office was bugged or that someone had a glass to the wall, could he? No - more likely he thought that she would be more likely to follow through with this if she was already committed to at least travelling to his house. That she would be less willing to back out once there. He was probably right, although it did make her worry a little about quite what the details of their bargain might turn out to be. Not enough to make her back down, though. She'd go, and she'd see what exactly he had in mind. She looked at the note, memorizing the address before slipping it into the back pocket of her jeans. Furthermore, she had a near-photographic memory and so didn't need to keep the note, but she didn't want to look like she was just discarding the information. Furthermore, she offered a nervous smile and nodded, "I'll be there". The offer to deal with the registration problem gave her the confidence to be sure that shewouldbe where she said she would. It was more generous than he needed to be, and she had to at least hear him out in full, even if it did feel like walking into a spider's web. Mr. Duncan expressed a look of contentment with a simple nod and a smile as Amber took a drink, not only because of the act itself, but her face as she drank the bourbon. It was clear she wasn't a drinker, or if she was, she certainly hadn't graduated to a more sophisticated drink like quality bourbon, straight. If anything, he guessed her limited exposure to alcohol was probably little more than overly sweetened coolers and lemonade type drinks. The face she made showed her true age, and reminded him that somewhere inside, was a simple 16-year-old girl away from home for the first time, wondering what on earth she was getting herself into." I'll see you later..." He said, squashing his cigarette on the window sill, before opening the door and opening it for her, extending his arm with a smile. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Duncan finished up the few small tasks he'd been working on and left for the day, only giving a quick glance to a few other staff members in the building, and closing his office behind him to give the room time to air out and make sure no one took notice of the liquor on his breath. It was a short drive to his house from the administration building, and he even walked on cooler days, but had elected to drive on this unseasonably hot day. Several miles from campus was Lake Dalton, and Mr. Duncan had afforded a nice 4-bedroom house right on the shore, even though most of it sat unoccupied, being filled with only the basics in typical bachelor fashion. Besides, it wasn't as if he'd had any family, or even any previous life before moving to Indiana, that he would or could speak of, and decorate his home with to add any character. In the end he preferred simplicity anyway. Straight to the point was how he lived his life, and he supposed that even translated to interior design. After a quick shower to refresh, Mr. Duncan dressed casually in more or less the same outfit, just with a clean pair of slacks and a different colored shirt, this one having more of a blue and gray pattern to it. He went out back for a while, enjoying the peace and quiet. Across the lake there were bars and a beach where he could see college kids gathering, and occasionally he'd take his boat over there, but this evening he enjoyed the solitude that the lake, and a good 50 yards of property on each side of his home, provided. As the clock ticked towards 6 he headed back inside, sitting in his front living room, simply adorned with a large black sectional sofa, a glass coffee table, and a black leather recliner in the corner. The long end if the couch faced the large bay window, while the short end and recliner faced a large, wall mounted 60" TV, which he flicked on and casually watched the Cubs game. Already a little buzzed from a few pulls of bourbon, he'd opted to switch to Newcastle's when he got home, not wanting to be sloppy by the time Ms. Swift showed up. If straight to the point was one mantra, always in control was another, and he wanted to remain that way, both in terms of verbiage and presence, when it came to the young girl. Right before 6, the doorbell rang, and Mr. Duncan nearly jumped to his feet. He took his time getting to the foyer, not wanting to seem overly eager, and eventually opened the door, a look of mock surprise, as if he forgot Amber was even coming over." Amber, hi! Glad you decided to join me...come on in," he said, stepping aside to let her in, just as he'd done in his office. My how circumstances had changed in only a few hours. Mr. Duncan headed to the living room, expecting she would follow, and pointed to the kitchen as he pulled a large brown Manila envelope from the end table." The kitchen is just through there if you want to get anything to drink. Make yourself at home," he said. He proceeded to open the envelope and lay out a series of documents across the coffee table, along with a few stacks of hundred dollar bills." So, I figured before we get into anything, I'd show what you what I'm, well...capable of, shall we say, as a show of good faith...so, what you'll see here is a certified transcript from the University for a graduate with a 4.0 GPA, double major in Engineering and Computer Science, completed in 3 years. It's perfectly legit, sealed, notarized, all that shit. Once you actually are old enough to get a real job, you can write your own fucking ticket with this stack of papers," he explained." Now the rest is a little more self-explanatory. Two grand cash. And trust me, I can't get into details with you, but there's a lot more where that came from, if we can come to some sort of agreement. The ball's in your court..." She shook his hand and left the office, still unsure of quite whether she should be going through with this. The buzz of the alcohol have her something of a spring in her step regardless of her doubts, though, as did knowing that the registration problem was gone regardless. As she walked back to her room she wondered quite why he'd done that, rid her of the problem that obligated her to seek his help. Was it that he wanted to demonstrate his ability to get things done or was it that he was working at establishing her trust. Could be either, neither nor both and her inability to decide made her realise quite how little she really knew about him. She was still undecided when she stepped out of the shower and her indecision shone threw as she picked out her clothing. Had she decided against the idea but still to attend his house to tell him then she'd probably have gone ultra-conservative in some way? Well - at least as far as her wardrobe allowed. Had she decided a definite yes then she'd be trying to pick out something sexy? As it was, she opted for an unimaginative dry of denim shorts and a T-shirt with a loose cotton shirt over the top (and unbuttoned of course) to provide some degree of warmth for her arms if the evening air turned out to be cooler than she expected. She pondered a purse and rejected the idea, going for her smallish backpack instead. It could carry all the essentials and leave plenty of room for. Whatever... She liked that sense of preparedness which is why she generally favored it. That and the sense of fitting in amongst the other students who all seemed to be lugging around massive collections of textbooks from place to place. She preferred to pre-read and memorize. A trait that hadn't particularly endeared her to some of her tutors who seemed to assume that anyone without a book was just being negligent. She opted to cycle to the house. Cycling was something she'd done from an early age, and it had stuck with her through thick and thin. There was something relaxing about the repetitive exercise but the need to keep an eye on traffic and the like was enough to keep the mind from wandering too far afield. It also contributed to keeping her fit and with that and swimming the only sports she really indulged in, maintaining them seemed pretty worthwhile. The address was impressive both in terms of the situation and the house itself. Great views of the lake and the sort of place you could tuck away a sizeable family and not feel too squashed. She took a long look at it before approaching, leaving her bike leaned up against the porch with the lock in place around frame and wheels. It wasn't likely to be needed in a neighborhood like this but better safe than sorry. Checking her watch (5:55) she walked up to the door and pressed the buzzer. There was no immediate response, and she had a moment of doubt, wondering if this was all some elaborate hoax of some sort. She was just in the throes of indecision when the door swung open and Mr Duncan smiled and greeted her. She followed him into the house, her gaze darting around and absorbing the sparse details of the place. As he invited her, she moved through to the kitchen, searching down first a glass and then the bourbon bottle (or one of them, she didn't continue to see if he had options) and pouring herself a couple of fingers. Alcohol probably wasn't the best of plans, but she needed something to steady her nerves if she was going to go through with this. As she moved back into the lounger, her gaze fell on the collection of papers and the money. She didn't bother to examine either too closely as he spoke. She was already pretty convinced that he could deliver on his promises. The money, though, that was a surprise. At least in the quantity it was present. Surely he could hire himself a decent hooker for a fair time for that? She nodded slowly as he spoke and paused for a moment as she decided quite how to phrase her response, "And my side of the bargain? I'm not naive enough to be unaware of it in general terms but..." Mr. Duncan was pleased to find Amber arrived on time, and had gone for a drink. She had had a few hours between their meeting in his office, and now, which was intentional. He wanted to give her ample time to think this over for herself. The fact that she was here, making a conscious choice to come to his house, and pouring a drink, told him she may not be fully in, but she was strongly considering it. He was hoping that the potential benefits laid out before her would be the final straw that would get her to commit. While she took notice of them, she didn't appear to peruse them too carefully, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, it wasn't overly complicated and she was a bright girl. Perhaps she was just taking him at his word and trusting him, which wouldn't be that far-fetched for a 16-year-old in college to place some trust in an authority figure. What she wanted was details. He was hesitant to come on too strong in his office, but he had just gone with the honest approach and it seemed to work. There wasn't any manipulation or trickery to get her this far, which, when he thought about it, was awfully far down the road already. She knew what this was about, and was at least open to discussing the basic premise." Well, your end of it..." He began, pausing to take a drink and a deep breath. There was no going back now. He could always fall back on some misinterpretation until now, but the next words out of his mouth would leave no room for errors." This would be about sex. About you coming over here, getting naked, and having sex with me. On a regular basis, on my terms...but of course, discretion is key, so I'm not going to try to conflict with your existing schedule or behaviors. If all of a sudden people notice changes, it could set off red flags, which we don't need."" This would be a far more intense, open sexual experience than anything you'll find with some high school boy or some idiot frat bro...but if you can find a way to put your trust in me, it can be amazing for you too..." She nodded slowly, blushing a little as he laid out the explicit detail of the deal. She hated the fact that she reacted that way and wished she could just look at this from a purely logical, pragmatic viewpoint. The money was considerable and certainly enough that she wouldn't need to pick up any part-time work. She could buy herself some really nice kit with it, too. The grades were the thing, though. It would mean she could study what she wanted and not have to worry about whether she might not be as good in her choice of minors as she might be in a different selection that she might not enjoy so much. It would mean that exam nerves wouldn't pull her down if they got the better of her. She still couldn't shake her emotional response, though, and so she stood there blushing like a 12-year-old. She sipped at her drink, taking a sudden keen interest in the paperwork in front of her as she tried not to show too much embarrassment. A few steady breaths and she calmed her nerves, the grades fixing in her mind as she pulled herself together somewhat."OK. It's a deal then. I guess I can frame it as some sort of gaming night with friends from out of town. The idea that I meet up with someone, shut ourselves away and get online with folks who are across the country. That should provide any excuse I need regarding what I'm up to". It felt good to engage with the practicalities, taking her mind of the details of what it was shewouldbe doing. Mr. Duncan had prepared himself for a wide range of reactions when all of this was put out in front of the girl, but he was quite surprised that it was going this well, or more so, that it was moving along without more resistance. Sure, she knew what she was generally getting into by coming here now, but upon laying out details in a more explicit fashion, Amber's primary response and concern was about howshecould get herself free and contribute to the discretionary nature of this arrangement. Who knew whether it was her timid nature or not, but she wasn't looking at him in a demanding way, offering up any sort of stipulations or demands. She was a hard girl to read, but he enjoyed the challenge. In all honesty, he had expected a little more back and forth, and now that she was basically OK with all of it, he found himself in the unusual position of needing time to decipher his next move. In spite of not receiving any push back, he was still hesitant to just grab her and take her. He could never lose sight of the fact that she was just a 16-year-old girl, and to push too much too quickly could send her running. To agree to the matter in principle was one thing, but to actually follow through was a far different matter altogether. She seemed to actually calm herself by dealing with the practicalities of the arrangement, which he found interesting. Perhaps she would actually enjoy the business-like nature of this, and find comfort in it even." So Amber, in the coming days we will work out a pay structure for you, so you know exactly what you'll be earning, when and how. I've laid out the academic perks already, but if there is anything else you decide you want, I am open for negotiation. I intend to treat you and this relationship with the utmost professionalism," he explained." With that said, I think we should get started right away today, so why don't you just stand up in front of me and let me take a look at this little body of yours. When you are ready, remove your shorts please," he said, so matter-of-factly and casual. She nodded as he spoke, her blush intensifying as he issued his instruction. She was somewhat mollified by his assurances of professionalism and the cash on the table was more than enough... shit she realized she was already putting a price on herself... more than enough to cover anything he was likely to offer for the time being. She nodded and took a more lengthy sip of her drink, feeling the warmth of it slide down the back of her throat and into her stomach. Furthermore, she suppressed a cough and shifted a little to bring herself in front of him. Furthermore, she wasn't sure exactly what he'd expect of this - where he wanted her or... a little beyond arms reach would do for now. He could always ask her to move closer... She paused briefly, blushing again as she reached to unfasten her shorts. The motion was fairly smooth, despite her nerves, the action pretty autonomous given how many times she'd worn these things. The slipped down her pale legs and to the floor as she released them, just the barest of wiggles needed to ensure their motion. She was glad of her choice of sneakers over boots, the shorts slipping over them readily as she took a single step back and slid them to the side. She hadn't even given her choice of underwear much thought. A simple pair of white tangos - nothing either particularly sexy or modest about them. The sort of plain thing you threw on in the mornings without thinking. She wasn't sure whether she wished she'd chosen something sexier or more modest. She did wish she'd given it a bit of thought though. It left her there, embarrassed and forcing herself not to cover up and wondering what he'd think. Would he think she'd put thought into the choice and picked these out for a particular reason? For a moment or two after Mr. Duncan told Willow to remove her shorts, he wondered if she'd actually do it. Even though everything was laid out in crystal clear fashion, the whole arrangement was still quite delicate, and he wouldn't have been surprised for her to pull back at any moment. Every step taken now was like crossing yet another point of no return. Sure, sex had been put out there, and it was talked about, but now she was actually being asked to take clothes off, and soon much more. As her fingers moved to the buttons of those shorts, his own heart began racing. It took every ounce of mental energy to keep his cool on the outside as he was ripe with anticipation and delight on the inside. He nearly sat forward in his spot on the couch but managed to stay in the same relaxed position. Every hormone in his body was driving him to finish the job for the girl and just rip those pants off, but his brain fortunately was doing a good job of winning out. She moved painstakingly slow as the shorts went down her legs, but he wouldn't of had it any other way, really. There was an entirely different satisfaction provided by taking the methodical route...that was why he embarked on such a risky endeavor in the first place. He enjoyed every moment of hers, every expression, however subtle. It wasn't a creepy thing. Rather, he watched her with an appreciation. Mr. Duncan's cock began to grow in his shorts and his hand instinctively went to his lap to rub it as Amber's shorts drifted down her legs and those white panties came into view, but he doubted she took much notice of what he was actually doing. She had enough to worry about when it came to her own actions. On the other hand though, she seemed to take notice of every thing just as he did. They were a lot alike in that regard." Very good..." He said, trailing off. He had to shake his head, still marveling at her. She had no idea how sexy her movements were, without even trying. He took a healthy drink of the beer that was on the end table next to him, preparing to cross yet another point of no return that seemed to be erected as soon as the prior one was passed." Let's just go ahead and lose those panties too..." Amber really wished she hadn't set down her drink. Another swig really felt like the thing to do now but moving to take the glass would look really rather odd. Oh. To hell with it. She squirmed a little uncomfortably as she moved to take the drink, aware of the fact that it was an odd choice, an odd and awkward movement. She took the glass and lifted it to her lips, still looking away from him, her hair hiding her face, and it's deep flush for the moment. It deepened as she realised she'd turned her back on him, imagining his eyes on her rear. She'd seen where he'd moved his hand, and she knew well enough what that meant. She took a deep swig, concentrating for a moment on the burn as the remainder of the drink slipped down her throat. Setting the glass down a little more heavily than she'd have liked to, she turned back to him. Her eyes were down-cast, focusing mostly on his shoes and only flicking up occasionally to his face or where his hand lay. Her blushed deepened again as her hands slid to her own waist, the drink in her belly keeping her moving as much as her own resolve. The panties were less effort to remove, physically, than the shorts - requiring nothing more than a brief shove and a slight wiggle of her hips, but it felt like so much more of a struggle than that simple motion could encapsulate. She let out a quiet little whimper as they fell to the floor, the sound choked off as she bit her lip. She hated herself for being so damn timid, for letting her emotions have so much of a sway over her. If she wasn't doing this for the grades or the money she sure as hell would be forcing herself to for that alone.

At What Cost_ (Wattersfall & Ssieth)|rating:2.0

A wake up call (playfullchick76 & SethLight)

The music was loud, and the club packed enough to fill it with people and potential customers. Leaning forward against the bar, having a quick drink before her next customer found her, which wouldn't be long as she was sexy and in demand, Susan Armstrong made sure her perfect ass was thrust out, drawing attention to herself. She was here most nights, or was out with her escort agency. Her long, smooth legs and flowing blonde locks drew men in, like a moth to flame, but when she turned around, showing off her DD bust, men wanted her. Only five years ago, she had been Josh Armstrong, a promising lawyer with one of the biggest law firms in the city. Skilled and ambitious, he had been on the verge of making partner, when.the event happened. She didn't think of that, but he had become a as far as the world and everyone she had known was concerned. Some had supported her, but most had cut off ties with her, including most of her family. Some of her best clients had come from her former law firm, who ignored what was still between her legs and enjoyed taking her here. She truly loved her new life and wanted no other life. Her body had been almost completely reworked, with pink bows tattooed on the backs of her thighs, a butterfly on her wrist, a flower tattoo going down her back, with another one on her right calf. Soon enough Susan would get a bite. An older man in his 40s would walk up to her, smiling happily. Him eyeing her over as he said cheerfully, "Are you Susan Armstrong?" "My friend Paul said you were the best lay he has ever had, and I wanted to see so for myself," the man touching her hip as he grinned, rubbing it with a thumb, him ready to take her to a room in back.However, as he touched Susan she would feel the touch of a large black man's hand as well. Ax, the bouncer. In truth the two had fucked more times than the bimbo could count, the man tossing her $10 every time, not that Susan needed the money as the man's massive cock was all the payment she needed but that she was instructed to always be paid for her services and give the money all to her daddy. Leaning over the dark man would whisper softly, "Your daddy is in the back, room 2-B,"As programmed, Susan would remember her daddy with glee. Everyone else in the world would come second to him as she would do anything for him with a happy smile on her face. It was why she had gotten larger and larger breast implants and hormone changes, it was why she did so many movies, and always fucked for money, true she loved doing all those things, but she would have done for them for free, and she did them to make her daddy as much money as she could with her body. In truth for Susan it was a sort of game, for every $80,000 she earned him he would visit some time that week, show her the new toy he bought and fucked her in it. Many times it was a few car, other times it was the lease on a new boat. However, today's visit would be unexpected, she had only raised him $45,000, and he never showed up without her paying him; it was why she always worked so hard. The room Jack sat in was dark with a red light filling it. The 35-year-old man sat in a red plush chair, his legs open for her wearing a black suit. In front of him was a stripper poll she could use when she wanted. She was wearing what she normally wore, something sexy, revealing, and sultry. She loved to wear lingerie in here, and tonight, was wearing a white satin bra and panties, thigh high stockings, 4' pumps, and a thigh length robe that she could be out of in seconds. Savoring the club, which was like a home to her by now, she smiled as he asked for her by name, and told her about a past customer that had recommended her. She wasn't cheap, $200 per session and $50 for lap dances, but she made thousands of dollars per night here, and had already made $1400 for her daddy tonight. Smiling up at the man, she was all set to see if he had already paid for a session when she felt the touch of Ax on her soft skin. Ax was the bouncer, tall, strong, but with a heart of gold, and a very thick, throbbing cock that she was very intimately knowledge of. She had no idea how many times she had ridden it, and orgasmed from it, and Ax always erupted into the condom, cumming from her skills. Remembering her Daddy and whimpering with glee, she ran her finger down his chest, over his shirt. "Mmm, I would, but.can we get a rain check on that, tomorrow night, I promise," she whispered into his ear, making sure that she gently rubbed her DD bust against him, and her hip against his as well. Stepping back, she quickly walked away towards the private rooms. As much as she longed to run to her Daddy, she walked, swaying her hips as she looked sexy when she did, and she loved the way the anticipation built up. She was sure that she hadn't made him $80,000 yet. She was just over half that, but.perhaps he had something special for her, a surprise. Furthermore, she loved surprises from him. Furthermore, she loved making out with him and straddling him in whichever new car he had brought, or being taken on the deck of a new boat that he had leased. The money that she made for him allowed him to be happy, and if he was happy, he made her happy. The money that she had made for him thus far at the club, just over $8,000, was in the clubs safe, where quite a few of the girls kept the money, for safekeeping. Reaching the door of room 2-B, she slowly opened it up, smiling mischievously at the sight of him just sitting in the red plush chair, waiting for her. Closing the door behind her, she slowly walked towards him, swaying her hips as she walked. Stopping in front of the stripper pole, poised in her high heels, she lowered herself down, running her back up and down against the pole with her thighs parted. Standing back up, she slowly tugged at the sash of her robe while she straddled him and brushed her full breasts against him. "You're early Daddy, I love surprises," she whispered to him. Reaching out Jack would touch at Susan's breast, the man cupping it gently as he touched at her nipple with a thumb, "Josh... You look so different from before," "It's honestly night and day. Like I'm looking at a total stranger," reaching into his pocket the man would pull out his phone, unlocking it as he quickly flipped through a few photos, showing the woman what she once looked like, "That's what you use to look like," "I know you don't like seeing him, but I think it's good for you sometimes. I'm your daddy and know what's best for you after all,"The man showing her picture after picture of what he looked like." Strip for me baby, give me a nice poll dance, I want to see your new city," the man would laugh at this as he looked at more pictures. However, these were with Josh as a man, his large cock fully erect as he danced on the poll. His body young and strong, the type any woman would love to hold onto; and now Josh had the body any man would love to fuck." Remember your first breast implants?" "They were nowhere near the size of the ones you have now, but we needed to work our way up to your DD's,"In truth he knew that Susan didn't enjoy being called her male name, nor did she enjoy looking at the picture of the 'ugly' man she once looked like. But it was all too fun to see the girl be disgusted by his old form, and it would make things all the better when he freed him from his bonds. He wanted him to remember in vivid detail the disgust he had for his old body and the love he had for his new one." Tell me about your last movie baby," "I hear you've been pushing the envelope to make even more money for your daddy," "They told me your little ass was out of commission for a week after shooting it!" Tilting her head back and, moaning as he cupped her warm breast and played with her hard nipple, she longed for more. Feeling the joy and glee that she always felt around him, she even put up with him showing her who she used to be, and calling her by her former male name, Josh. Josh wasn't sexy, or sultry like she was. Josh was boring, which is why she was so glad that she wasn't Josh, but Susan, Sexy Susie, she loved to be called by her regulars. Pouting as he told her that it was good for her to see him, she smiled as she was reminded by him that he was her daddy, and wanted what was best for her. Smiling again, she wished that he wouldn't call her Josh, or show her pics of what she had once looked like. That male form was disgusting to her, and her new form was beautiful, and sexy, and she loved it. She loved the way men looked at her and wanted her. Climbing off the chair, she let her robe fall around her ankles and ground against the pole. Rubbing her firm, perfect ass against the pole, she slowly unhooked her bra and tossed it to him, cupping her DD breasts and caressed them." Yes I do daddy, boring little B cups, nothing like my beautiful DD's," she replied with a sexy purr. Even with all the operations, there were no scars, they looked as if they were as real as any other pair. Turning around, she tugged at the waistband of her panties, tugging at them and sliding her panties down her hips and thighs, and stepping out of them. Turning around again, she raised one leg to rub against the pole as she showed him her city."Oh, yes Daddy. My last movie, I was a sultry teacher who loved being ridden by her students at a reform school. So many bad boys there, and so many big, thick, throbbing cocks," she said with a sexy smile, as she had had so many cocks in her that her ass had been sore. But it had been worth it, being so much fun to make, and making her $15,000 for her part, as it was the main part, and she was one of the most in demand TG actresses out there. Jack would smile as he said, "Well baby... I have a present for you. I hope you like it," him watching Susie flaunt her whorish tits and useless clit/cock for him. The hormones had seen to it that his member would never work like a real man's again. His balls were shriveled raisins and irreparable now. Opening his jacket Jack would pull out a clear rubber vibrating dildo. In truth the item was slightly impressive as it was bigger than the average man's, however it was not nearly the largest cock she had taken (hell it wasn't the biggest she had even taken that day!) and as far as toys went Susan had used much larger ones on herself in her own collection, "I never told you this, but I made a mold of your penis before you were changed," "I kept it thinking it would be a nice gift for you one day,"Smiling at the woman he would chuckle, "As a man the last thing you said to me was to go fuck myself, so I thought it was fitting to make this for you to use," in truth if the man had one regret it was not making the toy Susie's favorite dildo. Him grinning as he thought to himself as it would be a sweet parting gift for Josh. He could hold onto it and remember what he once had." Can you use it on your naughty little ass for me baby? Give me a nice show of it?" the man smirking as he handed the woman the toy that was shaped like her old cock. Smiling at the very mention of a present, as she loved presents from her Daddy, she made sure that she hid nothing from him. Her body was the way it was because she loved him and always wanted to please him. She didn't mind that her former cock, her clit, was useless for most things. She loved to ride cocks, especially her daddy's, not stroke her city, she reminded herself as she waited for her present. Squealing excitedly as she saw her gift, a sexy, clear rubber dildo that was a vibrator as well, she leaned in close to take a look at it. She loved all the toys in her own extensive collection. She had used big ones and small ones, vibrating eggs, slim ones, but there was something special about the dildo that he was offering her. Furthermore, she didn't like to think of how big her cock, that's what it had been called then, had been. Furthermore, she had taken her hormones like a good girl, and loved what they had done to her body, making it perfect." I love it daddy, thank you," she said excitedly, taking the toy from her Daddy and bringing it up to her soft lips. Parting them, she suckled on the head, holding onto the shaft, putting on a good show for Daddy before she grinned and lowered it down to rest the tip against her firm ass. Slipping it past her outer ring, she shook and tossed her head back as it fitted into her easily, making her feel slutty and naughty as she lowered herself down, gasping as it was slid deep into her. Turning it on, she shook and cried out as the vibrations ran through her body. Ooh yes, she loved this gift. Jack would smile at this, he loved how easily Susan had taken the dildo into her ass. In truth a part of him laughed at the idea of how Josh would have been so happy to fuck a whore like this. "Turn around baby, give me a nice show of it as you fuck yourself with your new toy," "Show me how you like to be fucked and cum nice and hard for me," "Cum so hard,""Because I'm here for a special reason, you see we aren't going to see each other for a long time and I want tonight to be magical,"Smirking as Jack watch the show as he pulled down his own pants, pulling out his cock as he started to stroke himself. At first fucking John felt a little awkward, after all Jack wasn't gay. He still got off as John had a tight hole, and he loved knowing he was cumming in his rivals' ass as they moaned happily under him. But there was no attraction there. Now, Susan was a fucking sexy bitch. Her world revolved around fucking and making herself as attractive as possible to be fucked even more. After these 5 years the woman had killed anything masculine in the least in her life as she was programmed to find it disgusting, the two knowing the number of men she had slept with dwarfed the number of women she had slept with, hell she had slept with more transgender women than women in her new life!" Show me how much you love your toy," Susan would do anything for her Daddy, anything. She had submitted to countless surgeries, fucked so many men, made so much money for him. She loved riding his cock and feeling him cum inside her tight ass. Furthermore, she had been more than happy to remove and cut away anything the least bit masculine in her life. Furthermore, she didn't own a single pair of pants, or flats. It was all skirts, dresses, corset tops, lingerie, stockings and high heels for her, anything to make her look more sexy and feminine, anything to look sexy for her Daddy. Pouting as he told her that she wouldn't be able to see her again for a long time, she felt tears in her eyes at the prospect of never being with him, to be cuddled by him and feel him cupping her breasts, or her hips. She had cum so hard with him after getting her pretty flower tattoos on her back and calf, and had no idea why she wouldn't be seeing him. Determined to pleasure him, she thrust the dildo into her, gasping and crying out in pleasure as she loved the way it pulsed and throbbed, and vibrated just like a real cock would, but not as good as his, she reminded herself, smiling and, moaning deep in her throat as she was brought closer and closer to that orgasm that she knew was coming. Kneeling and raising her smooth, perfect ass up, she screamed and shook as she came, smiling as she loved the way her new toy had made her cum for the pleasure of her Daddy. The man would smile, touching his hard cock as he teased himself. His thick member twitching as it oozed out precut at the sight of it all. In truth, it was such a funny sight to watch, this beautiful lusty woman fucking herself on what use to be her cock. He knew no one would believe it. That as funny as it sounded like it felt like she came out of the womb dressed in 6 inch pumps and a tight mini skirt. The idea that she ever was a man who loved sports, beer, and fucking women was laughable." Come here baby, keep that cock deep in that pussy of yours and give daddy's dick a kiss, show him how much you love his tool,"Jack would smile as he reached out, touching the top of the woman's head. Running his fingers through her long hair as he said, "Don't worry about leaving baby, I know it's scary, but maybe one day you'll be back," "You'll just need to trust me, like you always do,""But tell me about how good to felt to fuck yourself with that cock," "It feels much better to be fucked as a woman than it ever did fuck something as a man, isn't that right honey?" "As a woman you get to cum over and over, and make so many men happy," "And besides, you get to fuck so much more often as a woman,""Tell me what you love about your new life more than your old,"Grinning all the more the man's cock would continue to ooze out precut. He wanted it when John to feel sick to his stomach. He wanted the man to be in the fetal position as he remembered the feelings and thoughts that were, but weren't, his. Then for it all to hit him what he would need to do in the future. He wanted John to beg to become Susan again. She didn't understand. Susan loved her Daddy, loved the way he took her, she didn't understand why he had to go, but as she watched his thick cock ooze precut, her tongue glided along her soft lips, longing to be able to lick it up and suckle on his thick, throbbing cock that was the favorite thing that she loved about him. Her body had been reshaped to please him, and to be as feminine as possible for him. Almost jumping as her Daddy told her to do just that, she quickly crawled to him, keeping the toy deep in her as she reached him and kissed the tip of his thick cock, tasting his precut and moaning in pleasure as she loved the taste of it. She loved licking it up with her tongue and suckling on his member, the member that had brought her to so many climaxes. She did trust him, he was her Daddy, after all, the one person that she trusted more than anyone else, and his touch on her head as he ran his fingers through her blonde locks relaxed her, putting her at ease."Oh, gods, I loved that toy. It was shaped just right to cum from, but It's not as good as your cock Daddy, only yours can truly please me," she told him, listening to him and smiling at all the sexy, sultry memories that she had." Oh yes, I love being fucked like this, I love riding your cock, and this toy. I do so much more fucking now than I did before, I get to have so much fun, and cum so often from your cock, and other cocks. I love to see the happy look on men faces when they came inside her, or when they come to her warm, skilled mouth.' I love the sex, I love the way a pair of high heels, stockings and a mini skirt make me feel. Furthermore, I love it when men play with my breasts. Furthermore, I love so many things about my new life, I love the sex, every day and every night, all for you," she told him as she licked around his cock, suckling on it to try to milk him, something that she was very good at. As she did, she caressed his cum filled balls, filled with the cum that hers would never have now. Closing his eyes the man's cock would twitch and grow all the harder, "If you could tell your old self something what would it be?" "If your old self was forced to live like you do right now what would you tell him?" Jack would smirk at this, in truth he knew it was a bit on the nose, but Susan didn't need to know that. But he wanted those words to be the last ones she really spoke besides her typical ones of begging him to fuck her and moaning how much she loved him inside of her. He would wait for Susan to say something to her 'old self' maybe they were words of encouragement, mocking ones, or something else entirely. He didn't really care either way, but he knew they would affect Josh the most as he wanted his bimbo self to say her last parting words before she disappeared. Smiling at the woman he would say, "Usually I bend you over how I want... But tonight I want you to show me how you want to be fucked baby," "You've fucked so many different ways, and I've never asked you how you like it best," "I want this to be special,"And if the woman didn't choose to climb on top of him and ride his cock he would tell her, "Pull those cheeks apart baby and pull out that dildo, but hold on to it nice and tight for me, I don't want you losing it,""Now beg, beg like my baby girl," She felt something rare whenever he talked about Josh, and talked to him as if he were still Josh, Frustration. She didn't like to be distracted from what she was doing by having to think about who she had been. She never wanted to go back to who she had been, and she couldn't. 'Mmm, I would tell my old self, if he was here.to make the most of who you are, to ride every cock and scream in lust, to love your sex, female body, especially your long, smooth legs and full breasts," she said, telling him what he wanted to hear. Perhaps then he would ride her and bring her to her orgasm."i.MMM Daddy. I want to straddle you right here, with your strong arms wrapped around my body, holding me tight," she added, with a sexy smile on her face. Slipping one of her slender hands underneath her, she tugged at the dildo, gasping out again with a sexy smile as she slid it out. It wouldn't be empty for long, she knew, her ass would be filled with his amazing cock again very soon. Holding onto the clear dildo, she lowered herself down on him, tossing her head back as his throbbing cock throbbed against her firm, perfect ass. "Please daddy, please fuck your little girl like the bad, naughty girl that she is," she cried, desperate to as she wanted and needed him. Jack would only grin at this as he let Susan crawl on top of him, and her slide her ass down his cock. Closing his eyes as he let out a soft groan, the man smacking her ass hard, "Oh you love it nice and deep don't you baby?" the man smirking at this. In truth, he enjoyed Susan far more than he ever did Josh. Susan had been allowed to live with him for a few months, sleeping in his bed, cooking and cleaning for him; wearing a little maid outfit. And in truth he had thought about keeping her, making live in maid, however the idea of letting her horny ass on the world was far too good to pass up. So instead he had set up the woman for her first TG porn flick, it was after filming the director has told her she was going home with him. It was funny to hear Susan cry on the phone, begging to come back to him, but that was when he told Susan the new rules. Him telling her he loved her so much but if she really wanted him happy she needed to 'pull her own weight.' Putting on her big girl panties she nodded and did as she was told, finding she even enjoyed fucking strangers for money for her daddy." Start bouncing on daddy's cock baby, and I'll start fucking you, I want to see how many times you cum before I get to," craning his head down the man would lick at her hard breasts, biting at her nipple as he sucked on it. He couldn't wait to see Josh. Susan missed living with her Daddy. Those four months living with him had been the happiest of all. She had loved living with him, cleaning the house while wearing a sexy maids outfit, fucking him while wearing it and serving him. She hadn't wanted to go, but when he had told her the rules, she had worked hard to be able to see him, featuring in as many movies as she could, and working here, fucking as many men as she could, and a few women as well, although men were her favorite, as they had thick cocks to ride and suckle on. Moaning and gasping as he spanked her firm ass hard, she only smiled back at him as she loved it when his thick cock was deep inside her, with her inner walls gliding back and forth along it. She felt truly happy and complete when he was deep inside her. Bouncing up and down on his thick cock like the happy slut that she was, her city continued to leak its juices, as it did whenever she had a men cock inside her. Stroking it didn't bring her any pleasure, only riding a men cock, especially her Daddy's, would cause it to leak like that, but it hadn't been hard in at least three years, and never would. As Susan bounced up and down on his cock Jack would let out a groan. Him gripped the woman's hair hard as he pulled her into a deep kiss. Pushing his tongue into her mouth as he knew she would happily accept it, and play with it with hers. Slamming his hips harder and faster into her as he smacked the woman's ass again all the harder, his cock slamming into her over and over as he said, "Oh fuck baby," "You always keep your ass so tight for your daddy!" the man grinning at this as he knew she was always using toys designed to tighten up her rump to keep herself as fuckable as possible. The man crying out as he finally came hard into the woman, "Ohh, there we go baby," "Came nice and deep in your whore ass,""Now Daddy thinks it's time for the princess to go back to sleep and the ugly lawyer to wake up," the man smirking as he knew this was the words to break the hypnosis on John. Still inside the man he would smile saying, "Morning John," "You sleep well?" Bouncing up and down on his thick cock like the happy, loving Susan that she was, she felt true happiness when she was riding his cock. Tossing her head back as he throbbed deep inside her ass, she leaned in to his lips and returned his passionate kiss. Moaning into it, she parted them and intertwined her tongue with his, playing with it as she loved to do. Gasping and crying out with him as he spanked her, she shook and felt even more aroused, as she loved to be spanked like that, it turned her on even more. Riding his throbbing cock, she milked it, knowing exactly how to keep her ass tight enough to allow him to cum like he did in her. Every load of cum that he gave her made her feel loved, and complete, and loved it when he held her. 'For you Daddy, always," she cried to him, thinking only of him. Letting out a cry as he erupted inside her, cumming as only he could have, she smiled and milked him as she loved to do, to draw out as much of his thick, creamy cum as she could. Whimpering as he called her ass what it was, she shook and held him close. Smiling as she held him, listening to his voice, she closed her eyes, to return only if Jack said the right words. Josh took in a lot of sensations in mere seconds. He could feel something inside his ass, throbbing and pulsing, then a warm body against his. Shocked as he was face to face with Jack, his rival, he froze, unsure what to think at first. "What.what the tells going on," he said, pushing at Jack to pull himself away from him. He didn't understand what was going on, or where he was, but one glance down at his chest brought a gasp from him at the sight of.his.breasts, DD at least, heaving as he panicked. Jack would smile as he let the man push off of him. Jack's cock popping out with a slick wet sound. Letting Josh slowly understand what was happening. Letting it slowly dawn on him, who he had been living as for the past five years and all the things he had happily done. Saying with a chuckle, "Oh shoot... I should have waited for you to clean off my cock first," "I hate putting a slimy dick back in my pants," smirking as he continued, "Well. I guess you still can clean me up after we have our chat,"Jack kept his cock out, letting Josh look at his semi-hard member, the item slowly growing soft. However, even at its softest it would be a giant compared to Josh's malformed clit." You sleep well Josh? Because Susan was busy. That girl has your work ethic when it comes to fucking!"" I paid quite a bit to have you hypnotized and changed into a woman," "But I must say, me making partner, you're liquidating all of your assets, and your constant checks made the cost quite the investment!" "You actually made me quite a bit of money!"" We both made sure of that, you own nothing, you sold your house, your cars, everything," "We fucked in them like rabbits, but in the end you sold them and wrote me the check," "But you already know that don't you baby? You were there,""Like how you know you're contractually obligated for 15 years to continue making transgender films," he knew he was hitting the man hard and fast, it was far too much for any one mind to handle. He felt his heart pounding as the knowledge and images came into his mind, so many things seen from his viewpoint, but they were things that Josh would never have done. Josh loved women, he was straight, he was a gifted lawyer. But the images coming hard and fast were anything but. He remembered leaving the law firm, getting hormone shots, getting implants, then bigger ones, and bigger ones until he how had DD's that he would have loved to caress, only they were on his chest. He remembered the constant sex, the way he screamed when a man came inside him, getting the surgeries, selling all his assets and giving the money to Jack, to legally changing his name from Josh to Susan. Looking down at what his cock had become, he remembered when it had been thick and hard, able to make any woman scream. The years of hormone treatments, the voices of the doctors telling him that he would never become hard, then letting those same doctors fuck him, or he had taken their cocks in his mouth. But it was like a stranger had done it, had eagerly done it all. Shuddering at the sight of Jack's cock, glistening, he shook at the memories of having that inside him, and fumed at what Susan had said for Josh if 'he' had been here. Now Josh was here, and she wasn't. "No I'm not, you bastard, you.that's never going in my mouth again, he told him, then put his hands over his face as Jack reminded him about his contract, Susan's contract, with the TG film company. Susan had eagerly signed that contract, and Josh knew that it was legally binding." Oh god, oh god, how could you, I've lost everything. You've turned me into...this," he cried to him as he remembered him.her.fucking Jack in his former cars, on the decks of the boats that Jack had leased. He then remembered that Susan was due to make another TG movie in three days time, oh god. "I did this? You did this to yourself. Remember when we had dinner together in my family home and I warned you?" "I did, I told you to back off, or I would: put you in a skirt, bent you over this very table and fuck your ass while you scream for more," "Remember that? And you said cleverly, 'go fuck yourself'""Remember that?" "Do you also remember how you dressed that skirt after... I didn't even need to ask you to do it, I just reminded you the story months later, and you begged for it? You pulled up your skirt, pulled your ass apart and wiggled it for me like a bitch in heat," "Your cock still half worked back then, and you made such a mess," "We called it your 'pussy juice' and you happily licked it all up,""Well I made that mold of your cock your holding still so could fuck yourself from time to time and to reminder the good times,""I can't force you to fuck typical johns anymore... Well yes I can. But I am paid for every video you do," "So... Unless you want to go hooking on the side because we both know you're not getting a job at any law firm, so you still need me and my money,""Think about it Susan, you still need me, you need your daddy," "Unless you want to live on the streets?" The more Jack told him, the more memories came to him, with him remembering doing all of them as Susan, eagerly, he remembered. He remembered that dinner, he had refused to back down from going for that Partnership, it was equally his. Tears of shame filled his eyes as he remembered being bent over that same table, begging for Jack to take his ass, and licking up the cum that had spurted from his cock. Reaching down to stroke his cock, his tiny cock, he knew that he could never pleasure a woman with it, he had been doing the pleasuring for years. He remembered being Jack's maid, eagerly cooking for him and giving.herself.to Jack. Reminded that he was holding the mold of his former cock, he dropped it and wiped his hand over his smooth thigh. Noticing his manicured nails, the dark red color that matched his lipstick, he remembered putting it on countless times, thinking only about looking.her.best for her johns, and especially for Jack when she had made enough money for a visit. All that money that had gone to Jack. He was legally Susan now, he had nothing in the name of Josh Armstrong, and not much in the name of Susan Armstrong. He could go to his parents, he told himself, then with a gasp, remembered that they had disowned him after they had seen him as Susan, dressed to the nines and proud of her new life. His sister was still talking to.her, but that was it. His law firm, oh gods, he had no job there, but. Quite a few of the lawyers and partners there were his clients. With another gasp, he saw himself dressed as a sexy paralegal in the boardroom, being fucked hard by one of the senior partners, who had Susan come in for their.sessions late at night, with him sneaking him in, then out again. He had the money he had earned tonight, and what was in the safe, but.was that enough. He didn't have to give it to Jack, he didn't want to now, but.he shook at the knowledge that he would have to go hooking on the street if he wanted money to live on." I hate you," he said, even as he knew he did need Jack, at least for now, until he could think of another option. Jack would grin at this as he let out a laugh, "You hate me?!" "Oh Silly Josh!" "What would Susan do if she heard you say that!?" "She would slap you that's what. She would slap you for being such and ungrateful little bitch and walk over proudly to suck on my cock,""You can hate me all you want Josh, but I've won," "Like I said, all you own is that cock I've so graciously given you," "And don't think I'm not talking about the money you've made today as well,"In truth if anything that was a bluff. Jack had no idea where the money was and if Josh wanted to start a commotion people would come to his aid. Jack also knew Ax liked Susan and was her sort of guardian angle here. That every time he walked through the front door Ax would give him a look." So... Josh, say I've won and clean off my cock like a good little girl and I will leave you and your night's earnings alone," "You'll still have your apartment and tonight's money," "You don't, and I promise you in 3 days time your next movie will take place in my office,""And I don't think I need to remind you, it's in your contract to be your bubbly self, if you're not, we can go after you for damages,""So ask yourself... Clean me off upset or wait 3 days and do it over and over with a smile," Josh knew exactly what Susan would do, what Susan would have done. Susan would have slapped him, as she was completely devoted to him. Josh though, hated Jack for so much. He had done so many things for Jack, things that made him shudder. The cock, no, he never wanted to touch that again, he vowed, glancing down at it, not needing to look down at his own cock, what was left of it. Susan hadn't been sad at what had happened to it, but Josh mourned what it had become. Reminded of the money that he.as Susan had made, he blushed at what he had done, she.had done, to earn it. No, that money was his, he vowed, remembering that Susan had never told Jack where the money was. Here, Jack was just one more client, here, she had power, as Ax liked her, helped by the fact that he as Susan had ridden his thick cock so many times. Ax had thrown out bigger people than Jack, and if he screamed, Ax would side with him, not Jack. Josh had been able to tell a lot of truths, and a lot of bluffs, and Jack was bluffing about having any claim on the money that he as Susan had earned. Forcing himself to look up at Jack as he told him to clean his cock, like a good little girl, he blushed at that description. Keep tonight's earnings, Jack couldn't take it, but he was acting as though he was doing Josh a favor, and he would take that for now even though it meant.cleaning his cock with his tongue. Forcing himself to return to Jack and kneel, he parted his lips and blushed in shame as his tongue touched Jack's glistening cock. He had to hold back tears as he leaned in and swirled his tongue around Jack's shaft, anything to get him cleaned so he could leave the room and go to the clubs dressing room. Jack would smile at this as he smirked, the man opening his legs as he let Josh clean his dirty cock. However, Josh would soon feel the man's member twitch and stiffen slightly in his mouth. Jack smirking as he knew that this was not Susan licking him but instead Josh with all of Susan's memories. It was his old rival, the man who hated him, showing the ultimate form of subservience. Josh was fucked and he knew it." See? We can become good friends," "I was good friends with Susan and you can be the same," "You lost your dick, but you get to taste and fuck so many others men there is no real loss there," "And it isn't like you can't cum anymore, you proved that a few moments ago with your new best friend,""Now... Why don't you thank your daddy for the tasty meal with a cheerful smile and run off,"If Josh smiled properly Jack would let the man go without a word. Once out of the door Ax would quickly notice Susan, the man rushing up to her as he touched her shoulder before she entered the dressing room saying comfortingly, "Susie, is everything OK?" as a woman men would happily look to comfort the Susan. If he didn't smile he would grab him roughly saying, "I said smile like you mean it baby doll, if you can smile with me, you can smile on camera for your next movie," "And if we want to play that game we could practice for your next movie?" As he knelt there, swirling his tongue around Jack's cock, he didn't have to think hard to know how Susan had been doing it for Jack, and for countless other men. Susan had taken great pride in her cocksucking skills, and on swallowing. Josh however was horrified at what he was having to do, but he had no choice. He needed hisdaddy' for now, as Jack would still see himself as Josh's daddy, and blushed at his words down to him. Josh missed his own cock, and no matter how long he thought about it, he knew it wasn't much use for anything. Thinking of strap ONS, countless memories of Susan came to mind, of her using strap on's to bring women to screaming orgasms, or her tongue and lips." Thank you.daddy, for the tasty meal," he said, forcing a cheerful smile to his face, then quickly slipped back into Susan's robe, collected the bra and panties, and left the room. Feeling better as soon as he was out, he began walking, and looked down to find that he had no problem walking in Susan's heels, with a walk that was nothing like a men. Forced to stop as he felt Ax's hand on his shoulder, he relaxed when he saw who it was, and smiled. "Yes Ax everything's fine, I just need a break for a few minutes. I.might go early," he told him, trusting Ax to look out for him. Josh realized what Susan was to Ax, a friend with benefits, but he also cared for 'Susan'. Moving a hand to her hip he would gently touch Susan. The man's touch, unlike Jack's was so delicate; him a gentle giant, ready to let go the second she pulled away. Gently pulling her to him, he would say with a smile, "Leaving early, huh?" "Leaving with a big fish or is that an invitation?" "I did just get paid tonight,"In Ax's mind there was no alternative. Susan had been working in the club for years and never once had he seen her leave without a date. However, Ax also knew he was chump changed when compared to the other men and that her heart was in it only for her daddy. That she only really loved him for big cock, but he still couldn't help but have feelings for the girl. However, Ax could tell something was off, he knew Susan too well. That after meeting her daddy she had left unhappy when he had never seen her once leave less than dancing on a cloud. Maybe she needed a good fucking to cheer her up? Ax had been working here for years, he remembered, looking after the girls here and asking for little in return, as it was his job. Susan though, had enjoyed fucking him, as she had liked him, but would never have chosen him over her Daddy. Now that Susan was gone, he could see Ax for the caring gentle giant that he was. Letting Ax pull him closer to him, he found himself smiling back up at him. Trusting him, he wrapped both arms around him, holding him close, pressing his breasts against him. As he held him, he felt the men cock hardening, and remembered just how big and hard Ax was when he was aroused, and how satisfied Susan had felt when he had taken her with it and erupted into her." I think I need a drink, and the company of someone that I trust," he told him. Ax would smile, the man standing so much taller than her as he reached down, grabbing her ass. Gripping it tightly as he kissed her hard suddenly. The man slipping his tongue into her mouth. In truth for Susan a deep kiss like this was nothing, it was almost like a hello for her when it came to some men. Him saying with surprised, "A drink?!" Susan didn't really drink at bars like that. He knew she went to parties and drank there. She had drank out of other men mouth's or had men take hots out of her ass cheeks. But never in a normal bar. Nodding at this quickly he would say, "Funny, I've never seen you drink at a bar that didn't involve you climbing on the table," "But... Just you and me?" the man half expecting her to ask him to bounce at some party she was having. Sifting through the many memories, Josh remembered going to countless parties as Susan, dancing on the bar, or on tables, with the men caressing her long legs and slipping bills under the waistband of her panties, or her thigh high stockings. Surprised as Ax kissed him and slipped his tongue into his mouth while holding onto his firm ass, he remembered being kissed like this countless times as well, and let him, the only thing that he could do, as well as returning it, gliding his tongue against Ax's, as it felt like the most natural thing in the world to do." Yes, just you and me, here, or somewhere else, another bar perhaps," he told him, as he needed to get out of here. He was nervous at being alone out there so soon after going from being Susan, to being himself again. He felt vulnerable, truth be told. "If you can't, it's okay Ax, I just thought.we could truly talk for once," he added, unsure if Ax would say yes or not. Ax would blink at this. If she had said yes before he would have nodded and told her to wait around till after his break. However, Ax could tell Susan really needed someone right now. Nodding he would touch the woman's hand, showing her more comfort than John would have ever received as a man, "Ya sure, I'll talk to the boss, see if it's ok," "But I'm sure he will be cool with it," "Is something wrong?" In truth Susan was one of the bigger earners, and he knew his boss would quickly understand. Keeping her happy meant she kept entertaining clients. Him smiling as he said gently, "If you just want to talk that's fine," "You get dressed, and I'll talk to my boss," "I'll meet you in front ok?" "Did you bring your car? Or did someone drop you off today?" Knowing how sexy he looked, and knowing Ax, he hoped that he wouldn't say no. He could tell that Ax was surprised by this, Susan had never done anything quite like this before, but Josh just wanted to get out, talk to Ax, process what he was going through, and he trusted Ax more than anyone, Susan had trusted in him, but longed only for her Daddy." I just need to get out for the night," he told him, knowing that no one would believe him if he told them the truth about what Jack had done to him, and there was no going back to being his former self, but he didn't want to sleep or pleasure any more clients tonight. Smiling as Ax touched his hand and told him to meet him out front, he remembered that he. Susan, had been dropped off by last night's man that she had gone home with." I. I was dropped off. Furthermore, I'll get dressed and meet you out front", he quickly said, and stepped into the dressing room. There were several other women there, getting dressed, or applying makeup. Finding his. Susans.own little area, he undid the sash of his robe and slipped out of it, finding the clothes that he as Susan had arrived here in, a black leather mini skirt, patterned stockings, 4' black ankle strap pumps, a snug red top and leather jacket. Looking for the lingerie Susan had worn in here, he changed into them first, relying on memory to slip his breasts into the bra cups and hook it up behind his back. Smiling kindly at her, he would nod, the man curious what could get Susan so down; knowing full well it was her 'daddy,' but not knowing what he said. In truth, he had never seen Susan so upset in all the years she had worked in the club with her. It was one of the things he liked about her, her cheery attitude. Talking to his boss quickly and getting the go ahead Ax would leave the club, walking outside as he waited for Susan. Being the first person she would see as she left the employee exit, Ax would smile saying, "Where do you want to go?" "Crystal Castle? Pink Lounge?" the man naming off a few more feminine places that had loud music. Each of which were quite pricey and places she would go with clients. The man walking her to his 11-year-old gray ford. In truth as a man Josh never owned anything so beat up, and as Susan she regularly got to ride in much more impressive vehicles. Hell she had been given nicer ones as gifts. That she sold and gave to her daddy. Staring at his new reflection, he found that he could remember asking for every bit of surgery, from his implants, to the treatments that ensured that he would never grow hair below the top of his head again, to the ones that gave him a more rounded chin and cuter upturned nose. He didn't have to think hard to bring up memories of Susan loving her new look, feeling pleasure at who and what she was, then blinked his eyes to clear them and gazed at.his breasts, rising and falling in their bra cups. Remembering what to change into first, he sat down and rolled the stockings up his smooth legs, all the way to his thighs, then stepped into the miniskirt and slid it up his legs to zip it up behind him. Changing into the top and leather jacket next, he slipped his feet into the pumps that were his now, and did up the ankle straps. Susan wasn't fazed about wearing all this, to her, it was normal, and made her feel sexy and feminine, but Josh had never worn them, and it felt strange to be wearing them, to have everything fit perfectly, especially the heels on his feet. Collecting Susan's bag from the back, he slung it over his shoulder and walked through to the bar, where he knew to collect Susan's earnings for tonight from the safe. Many of the girls here kept their earnings there, as safe as a bank, was the saying. Finding it strange to have a purse instead of a wallet, he slipped the bills into it, and walked outside to find Ax waiting there for him. Feeling the cool air against his legs, he found that his nipples felt the cold, and covered them without thinking." Where to go, where you would go to get a drink. The Crystal Castle and Pink Lounge are good places, but. I don't think I want to be in one of those tonight," he told Ax as he walked with him to his car. Hearing the sound of his heels on the concrete, he remembered selling all of his cars and giving the money to his 'daddy', as well as cars that clients had given Susan. He vowed to keep the next one that he was given as Susan, he vowed, glancing around, afraid that Jack was within reach, watching him, was he. As Susan looked around she wouldn't see Jack. Jack was being driven home by one of his chauffeurs, another girl's lips wrapped around his member. Her sucking him down greedily. In truth, it was a good thing that Jack wasn't there. If he had been, him and Ax would have possibly gotten into an argument. Ax coming to Susan's defense as he demanded to know what he had done to upset her. Which would have ended in the two men getting into a fight which would have ended badly for everyone, or Susan going home with Jack. Smiling as Ax touched Susan's rump he would say, "Well. There is a bar I like, but I don't think it would be your type of thing," "The Lazy Dog, it's more of a relaxed pub so we could grab a bite to eat there as well, but they have mostly beer and no girly drinks," "There is also the Cat's meow, they are more of a bar and could make some of the drinks you like,"Letting Susan pick one of the two options he would nod as he got into his beat up car with the woman. The two driving off together. Josh had been to mainly higher end bars when he had been a hardworking lawyer, putting in the hours and going to them to chat up girls. One look down at his breasts told him that he wouldn't be chatting any girls up now, even though in his mind, he still liked them. Yet, thinking of how Susan and Ax had fucked hard, made him tremble just a bit at how good Ax's cock had felt inside her, would it feel the same inside him, he asked himself.' I think that I would like a beer tonight, and something to eat. We could go to the Cats Meow after that if you like', he told him, visualizing it, as Susan had gone to it quite a few times with some of the real girls from the club. Walking to his car with him, he didn't look down on the condition of Ax's car as he slipped into the passenger seat for the ride, putting his bag by his feet. Ax would stay quiet for much of the trip, him not knowing what to say. In truth by now Susan would have been rubbing at his cock, her telling him how excited she was to go back to his place. Her possibly even begging him to pull over for a quickie. But Ax didn't see or feel any of that, she almost seemed like a different person entirely. Her daddy must have really gotten into her head or something tonight. Once they drew in closer to the pub Ax would smile, "Didn't know you enjoyed beer,"Gently Ax would put a hand on Susan's thigh, gently rubbing at it, "So... Is there anything you want to talk about?" "You just seem down," Josh didn't know how much to tell Ax that he would believe, that he had been hypnotized and forced into doing everything that he had been doing for the last five years. Josh had burned his bridges, and had no choice but to be Susan. But at least now, he had free will again, yet, thinking of how hard Ax was inside Susan sent a warmth through him, was that right or wrong. He knew what Susan would have been doing right about now, gliding her soft fingers over his cock, even sucking him off, which she loved to do, as it was forbidden and naughty, but Josh had a lot to process."Oh, I.used to. I just haunt had it in a while," he told him, smiling as Ax's strong hand rubbed his smooth thigh over his stocking." A lot, but. I'm not sure that you're ready for that. You've always been there, as my protector, friend, and I think I'd like to go home with you tonight', he told him, resting his hand on Ax's and parting his thighs. Ax would blink at Susan's words, not fully understanding them. He wasn't ready? What? That she was once a man? The dark man laughing a bit at this silly thought. Susan was more woman than any girl he knew.However, as she said she wanted to go home with him tonight Ax would smile from ear to ear. Showing a set of very white teeth. That was the girl he knew! The always horny and happy Susan! Moving a hand between her legs he would touch at her clit. And if she allowed it the man would reach under her skirt next, teasing his useless item, saying as a half joke, "Well... I'll be honest, If I pulled over some place quiet and gave you a nice hard fucking we would both think a lot more clearly while drinking those beers," More memories surfaced as he saw Ax grin. Ax loved to fuck Susan just as much as Susan loved to fuck Ax, and any other man who paid her. The more she fucked, the more money she had for her Daddy. But now Josh was back in control, yet.the body he had was that of Susan, he had to adapt to that. Pull over and give him a nice hard fucking, that mere suggestion before would have had Susan smiling and jumping him, and especially her daddy. Did he still enjoy women, or...did he only like fucking men, he could find out with Ax, as Ax was a good lover, with a thick cock that slipped into Susan so easily and made her...would it make him feel the same way, he had to find out." Mmm, I know we would, so do it," he told him as Ax's hand slipped between his thighs, under his skirt to rub his panties, teasing what remained of what had once brought countless women to climaxes. Ax knew, as did all the men who Susan had fucked, but didn't care, far from it, they loved what Susan had been, as Susan was more open, sexy, and feminine than most women. Reaching across, he rested his slender hand on Ax's cock and stroked it, feeling it harden underneath his fingers. Those slender fingers, with dark red nails and rings on two fingers, were his now. Ax would let out a soft groan at this as his thick rod would grow harder in his pants, the item running down his thigh, "There we go," "That's the Susan I know and love," driving with the woman for a few minutes the man would pull off the freeway, taking an exit that most people used only for U-turns. Driving a little way out of sight from there Ax would pull over. Him smirking as he looked at the woman for a long moment him saying, "Fuck... You are so damn beautiful," Him leaning over, kissing her hard as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Unlike the women Josh fucked before, where he had all the control, he lost all of that with Ax. Being a kind soul Ax would always ask, but deep inside Susan would know if he wanted to fuck her he could. That even as a man Ax could have overpowered him and had his way with his male body. He was more man than Josh had ever been. Looking deep into Susan's eyes Ax would reach to his pants, unzipping them as he pulled out his thick dark cock. Another woman might have been scared of the giant item as it easily dwarfed anything Josh or Jack had. The musk filled item making their tools seem like they belonged to children. Ax was tall, well-built, and had a thick cock like Josh had never had, even before he had fallen victim to Jack's plan and become Susan. The more Josh rubbed, the harder the cock grew in Ax's pants, he realized. Susan had loved the power she had over men, with her trained touch, or a look, she could seduce almost anyone, but with Ax, it was special, as he always asked even though he had the strength to overpower her easily. Surprised as Ax suddenly kissed him, he returned his kiss, remembering how Susan could play with a men tongue with her own tongue and lips, and suckled on his tongue as they kissed. Hearing him call him beautiful, he knew that he was now, and smiled as Susan would have at the compliment. Unbuckling his seat belt as Ax pulled over after taking the freeway exit, he knew what was coming as Ax stopped the car, and unzipped his pants while looking into Josh's eyes." In the front or back," he asked Ax, reaching behind him to unzip the back of his skirt. Ax had the power over him, as he was petite, female as far as the world was concerned, and his heart was pounding at the prospect of being fucked for the first time like this as Josh. He was huge, Josh realized as he stared at his huge dark cock, huge, thick, and pulsing, as it always did for Susan. At this Ax would reach out, touching Susan gently. Running his fingers through her hair, "I was thinking you could suck me off a little, get me nice and wet, I finger that pussy of yours, and I bend your perfect little ass over the trunk of my car, and we fuck,"Him grinning as he continued, "That way I can pull my hips back and give you a proper fucking," "Pound your white little ass till you're cumming buckets like you always do,""I mean you can climb onto of me in front if you want," "Let you ride my cock," in truth Ax had done it both ways with the woman so many times it didn't matter. He knew some days she wanted it soft where she had control how deep he went, and others she wanted to be mounted and fucked like a bitch in heat. Not surprised as Ax tenderly ran his fingers through his blonde locks, he didn't have to think hard to remember how Ax had taken Susan. Remembering with perfect clarity how hard Ax could thrust into Susan from behind, hard enough to lift her off her heels, he shook at the memory, but Susan had loved it every time, and trusted Ax like she trusted few others."i. I think I like that," he replied, and leaned across to glide his soft fingers along Ax's thick cock, then guided the head into his mouth to begin suckling on it. A men cock felt familiar in Susan's warm mouth, and Josh felt the same way, he realized as his lips had done this so many times, for so many clients, especially for Jack, Susan's daddy. Fondling and caressing his cum filled balls as well, his soft, red lips slid further and further along his thick shaft, easily suckling on it and slipping it deeper in as Susan's memories told him how to. Ax could thrust into Susan so hard, and so deep, he remembered. Reaching over Ax would touch as Susan's rump. The man rubbing at it, enjoying the sight of her panties. Him letting out a soft groan as his cock grew so much harder in Susan's mouth, the item twitching as it oozed out salty precut. Moving a finger to his mouth the man would wet it as he returned it to the woman's ass. Pulling her panties to the side before pushing a finger into her rump slowly. Finger fucking her as he said happily, "Oh Susan, I've never met a girl who can handle a cock my size like you do,""You're really fucking love my dick don't you?" "Your pussy needs to be filled doesn't it?" him smacking her ass hard once. Saying in a dominant growl, "Get out of the car and bend over my hood, I'm going to give your pussy a pounding," He wasn't used to having his firm ass caressed and rubbed like that, as Ax's hand was big, but soft and glided along his ass, that had been spanked, and fondled, and caressed by countless men, but with Ax it was different, Ax had seen Susan as different, he realized even as that thick cock throbbed and thickened even more in his warm mouth. Tasting precut on his tongue, he knew to swallow it down, and did so, not minding the taste of cum at all, he found. Whimpering as Ax's thick finger slipped into him from behind, he remembered that Susan had taken two or three of his fingers inside her, and loved being fingered like that before letting his thick cock, or another one take her. Unable to stop himself from moaning and squirming against Ax's fingers, he knew what was coming. Susan could handle any men cock, no matter how big, and she had taken pride in that, especially with Ax's. Knowing that he would have to answer to the name Susan, his legal name now, he looked up at Ax as he talked down to her, and yelped against his cock as Ax suddenly spanked him, making a sound that would have had the former Josh hard, if he could have hardened up, which was impossible now. Feeling submissive as he spanked him, he crawled out of the car and teetered forward to the hood. Bending over it, he parted his thighs, raising his firm ass up as Susan would have done. Ax would let out a small laugh, as he watched the woman skitter out of the car so quickly. Him walking outside after her. In truth, it was a beautiful sight to behold, the woman's ass pushed out for him to easily fuck while her limp dick let hung down. Walking close into Susan Ax would push his hips into her, letting her feel his naked hard cock pressed into her flesh. Gripping her hair in a large dark hand he would pull on it just a bit saying, "You want it nice and hard don't you Susan?" "You want a good fucking to get your head on straight don't you?" "Say it," him kissing her neck, nipping it gently, "You want a good hard fucking to cream those panties of yours,"In truth this was turning into just another day for Ax with Susan. Him teasing the girl a bit, making her bag for it before he fucked her. The man not knowing in the least that this wasn't really Susan, but instead a man with all of her memories. That Josh was offering his ass to him to be fucked. That Jack had seen to it that this would be the only way John would be ever be satisfied. This wasn't how Josh had enjoyed sex before, not at all, Josh had been the dominant one, thrusting into whichever woman he had at the time, tugging on her hair, but now he was the woman in the heels, with the long hair that men would be tugging on, showing their dominance over her. He would never be thrusting into a woman, men would be the ones to thrust into him. Waiting for him to thrust into Josh's firm ass, he whimpered as he felt Ax press hard against him from behind, his thick cock, still hard and throbbing, pressed between her cheeks. Being fingered by Ax had felt good, making him fear that the only way he could be satisfied, to cum, was to be fucked hard by a man. Closing his eyes as Ax's fingers gripped his hair, he heard his voice, telling him what he would get tonight from the man, who was more a man than Josh was and would ever be. Remembering how good it had felt to be fingered, he nodded his head. "Yes.yes Ax, I need a good fucking, please fuck me hard", he heard himself say in Susan's voice, keeping his thighs parted wide in anticipation of Ax taking him hard. The memories of Ax fucking Susan hard came up easily. A lesser woman might have needed Ax to take his time, especially with the thick club he had between his legs. However, Susan wasn't a lesser woman by any means, and instead Ax would take his tip and shove it hard into the woman's waiting hole. The man groaning as he halted her hard. Shoving his entire cock inside of her with one long deep thrust, his dark hips smacking into her pale flesh, "Oh there we fucking go," "You were fucking born for this,"Pulling harder on Susan's hair the man would pull his cock out halfway before thrusting it all back inside of her. This is what Susan had lived for, it was why she had given up any shred of her masculinity. To have as many men fuck her greedy little hole as possible. Susan never cared about the money, all she cared about was her daddy and cock. Susan had been a favorite of so many men because she had loved sex. She had loved it when men were rougher with her, but not too rough. After so many years, she could take any sized cock, no matter how big, into her. All that came to Josh as soon as Ax's huge cock was thrust into him from behind, shocking him as Ax fit so well into him, and lifted him off his high-heeled feet without any effort. Crying out as Ax's hips smacked into his, and his cock filled him, pulling back and thrusting into him again and again, reminding Josh of the only way he could feel pleasure. Susan had loved to ride a men cock, it was what she loved most about her new life. Josh remembered that Susan could fuck all day and all night. Feeling the same pleasure that Susan had felt, he tossed his head back as Ax's cock slid deep into him. He would have to keep doing this if he wanted to keep money in his purse, as he couldn't go back to being a lawyer, ever. Any money he earned from the club would be his, he vowed as Ax thrust into him again, then again. Slapping Susan's ass Ax would start to fuck the woman hard. His hips pounding into her over and over as his festivals slapped into her ass. Ax's body towered over Susan's. Him pulling on her hair hard as he said, "You love my thick dark dick don't you?" him slapping her ass again as he said, "Say it Susan,"The man's precut flowing into her as he took her harder and hard. Pushing her entire body up and into his car. Ax not knowing in the least he was fucking Josh, reminding the young man everything about his new life. That even if he lived as a whore he could love every second of it. This was how Susan had loved her sex for years, riding a thick cock, being spanked. Susan had loved it when men had spanked her, it made her thrust back harder against them and milk their cocks until they had cum hard inside her, giving her what she wanted. Unused to all this as Josh, it still felt natural to him. Closing his eyes as he felt Ax's heavy testicles hitting his smooth ass, and his head being pulled back by his long hair, he couldn't deny that having a men cock inside him felt right. It shouldn't, but it did to everything he was feeling. Gasping as the pleasure began to truly fill him, he parted his lips. "I.do, I love your thick dark cock, I love it", he managed to say, crying out as he was lifted, off his feet and higher up onto the trunk of Ax's car. He remembered his life in the law firm, he had enjoyed the work, and the prospect of being made partner, but remembered the many cocks that Susan had ridden and suckled on, how good it felt to have them cum inside her, or to be spanked, like Ax was spanking her. It felt good to be mounted like this, he realized, with the many hard cocks, the skirts, lingerie, heels, they were all a part of his life now. Ax would continue to fuck Susan, the man never slowing down as he took her hard and fast. Him taking his time as his own cock spurt out more and more pre-cum. The dark man saying, "Fuck Susan, I'm going to cum so hard in that tight little pussy of yours!" It wouldn't take much longer than that before Ax would cry out, cumming hard into the woman. His white seed splashing deep inside of her, him smacking her ass hard as he kissed the woman's neck, "You love it when your little hole stings just a little bit after a good fucking don't you Susan?" "It's like the feeling you get after a good working out, reminding you of what you did,"His cock twitching as her rear milked him dry. With a mere thought, he tightened around Ax's thick cock as he thrust hard into him, taking his cock in deep. Ax cared about Susan, but loved to fuck her as often as anyone else who saw her would. He felt a warmth go through him as he told Josh that he would cum hard inside him, any man would cum hard inside Susan, only it was Josh would be fucked hard from now on. Biting his lip and crying out as Ax came hard inside him, spurting his thick, creamy cum into him, he yelped as Ax spanked him hard, yet settled down as Ax kissed his neck. No going back, no going back, he reminded himself again and again as he felt Ax's weight behind him. Still milking him dry, Josh knew that he couldn't stop working at the club, or working as an escort, or making movies, as he.as Susan, had no other way to make a living. No one would hire Susan to defend them. To them, she was someone to be bent over a car, or table, and fucked hard." Yes.yes I do, you know it does sting", he softly replied. At least Ax would pay for his dinner and drinks, he knew, as men did that for Susan after such a hard fucking like this. Kissing the young woman again Ax would slowly pull his cock out of her ass. The man whispering gently, "Why don't you clean me off?" him backing away just a bit, showing Susan his semi-hard chocolate dick. The item even soft was so large and thick. It was something that if Josh had seen in the locker room he would have felt less than after looking at. It was the type of cock that made lesser women flinch, worried that it would hurt. And assuming Susan did it he would touch the top of her head, gently petting her., "Talk dirty to me girl, I don't want to be done just yet," "I want to cum nice and hard down that throat of yours," Gasping as Ax's cock slipped out of him, he found that he liked it when Ax kissed him. Unlike Jack, he trusted Ax, and to the world, he was Susan, a sexy woman, who had ridden his cock more time than she could have counted. Cleaning Ax's glistening cock didn't revolt her as much as cleaning Jacks did, for some reason, so she turned around and knelt down in front of him. Facing that still thick cock, he knew that if he had seen this in a locker room, he would have felt inferior to such a man.' I love to suck cock, such a cock makes me want to be a dirty girl," he said as his pink tongue glided up and down along Ax's shaft, tasting his cum on it. The more dirty he talked, the more Ax's cock throbbed against his lips and tongue. Taking the head of his cock into his mouth, he suckled on it while looking up at him. Ax would let out a soft groan as he gripped Susan by the hair. Pulling on it just a bit as he said, "Keep going girl," "Lick my balls," "Show me how much you love that cock,"Quickly Ax would start to grow hard again him looking down at the beautiful woman who was once a man him telling her, "Pull out those tits for me and play with them," him telling her after, "In fact, why don't you push my thick cock between them,"His member would twitch, the thick item slowly oozing out bits of precut. However, Susan would need to work much harder for the man's next orgasm. He couldn't help but whimper as his blonde locks were pulled on, controlling and making him feel more submissive to Ax. The fact that even semi hard, his cock was bigger than his had ever been, made him feel more of a woman, and less the man than he had once been. Trying not to blush as he remembered Susan eagerly doing this for Ax, and so many other men, he glided his pink tongue down to his cum filled balls and glided them around them. Taking off his jacket and lifting his top-up, he expertly unhooked his bra and slipped it off as well to slip Ax's cock between his DD breasts. Only a woman who loved the attentions of men would have breasts like these, he knew as he rocked up and down, cupping his breasts and gliding them against Ax's cock, which throbbed between them and oozed precut, which would have aroused Susan. Ax would let out a deep groan, his cock constantly oozing out more precut, "Oh fuck, lick the head of my dark cock Susan," "Keep talking dirty to me,"The man gripping her head as he felt himself grow more and more aroused. His cock twitching and hard as his balls swelled up with seed. Him listening to Susan's words. And after saying them he would pull her head down as he said, "Fuck, suck on my cock Susan," "I want to cum down that throat of yours Leaning down to lick the precut from the tip of Ax's cock, Josh received memories, so many, of him as Susan doing this, eagerly doing this and loving it. As Susan, she loved being with men, riding them and letting them take her, letting them cum over her DD bust and face. 'I love your cock, it makes me feel like such a sexy slut, your cum is the honey that I love to lick," she cried to Ax as he felt the men thick cock harden even more between his full, warm breasts. Susan had loved her very impressive breasts, now they were his, he told himself as he knew that Ax was close to cumming again. Men always came quickly for Susan, unless she wanted them to last, to give them what they wanted. Aware of just how much cum was in his balls, he let Ax push his head down to his throbbing cock. Wrapping his soft lips around that thick cock, he suckled on it, swirling his tongue around him, the way that Susan did so well. Ax wouldn't last long as he cried out, his cock twitching as he sprayed out a sudden surge of hot and sticky cum. The thick and salty substance would fill Josh's mouth to the brim, forcing him to swallow his first true load. As Susan, she had been programmed to love men and their dicks, however this was Josh drinking down sperm for the first time as himself. The man's cock would twitch hard, spraying out more and more before the item would slowly grow soft. Ax letting out a small chuckle as he said, "Oh, there we fucking go,"Ax smirking as he said playfully, "So, you feel better now?" Ax's cock felt so familiar and.right.in Josh's mouth. Memories of suckling on his cock, and many others came up with a mere thought. So many, as Susan loved pleasing men, suckling on and riding their thick, throbbing cocks. Susan loved the taste of cum, and to Josh, it didn't taste bad, but he knew what he was tasting, and he hated to think of it as.good, but it was to his tongue. Swallowing it down as it spurted into his mouth, he continued to swallow as Ax came, until he stopped and softened in his warm mouth. Nodding his head up at Ax, he did feel better, yet trapped in the life that Susan had lived. Ax would chuckle at this as he stepped away, the man holding out a hand to help her up. Him saying, "Com'on let's get in the car before we get caught, or I need to fuck that little pussy of yours again,"And with that Ax would climb into his car along with Susan. Starting it he would drive to the bar, the man taking his time. Stopping the car once they got there the man would get out, a smirk on his face. It was clear he was feeling good. Taking Ax's hand, he stood up, looking around to see if anyone had seen them. All anyone would have seen was a woman bringing a man off with her breasts and mouth, he knew as he walked back around the car and slipped back into his skirt. Zipping it back up, he sat back in the passenger seat, lost in his thoughts as Ax drove him. He had submitted to this so easily, it was what he was now, he realized, with Susan's life the only one he had. Hating Jack for completely taking away everything that he had been, he opened his door and swung his long legs out, sensing that Ax was a happy man, and feeling very good after what Josh had done for him. Walking the young woman Susan to the door Ax would open it for her. Once inside the young woman would be a more natural every day bar. In truth, it was no dive, however it was not nearly the fancy places Susan would go to. Looking to her, he would smile as he asked, "Want a table or the bar?" Ax having no idea the person he was talking to was Josh. A very straight lawyer. If Susan didn't care the man would pick a table as he walked her down, sitting there as he said with a grin, "This place has some nice burgers," Susan would have felt immense satisfaction at making Ax feel so good, and felt better with the taste of his cum still in her mouth. Josh though, was getting used to this. It would take time to become accustomed to this, he knew as he followed Ax into the bar, nodding his thanks to Ax as he held the door open for him. Having Ax and other men hold open doors for him was something he could get used to. Glancing around, he was made to feel even more feminine as the closer men here saw him, but no one made a move as he was with Ax. Not even Josh would have approached Susan, with Ax right next to her." A table, definitely," he replied, reaching down to tug at the hem of his skirt as he let Ax lead him to the closest available table. The bar definitely wasn't a dive, and he felt more like Susan as he slid onto the seat. Reaching for a menu, he looked through it, hungry for something good. Taking a menu the dark man would read it, him looking up to ask, "So... What kind of beer do you like?" In truth, the man didn't know too much about Susan. They would fuck like rabbits, her wanting to be taken till he couldn't move another muscle and was forced to fall asleep as a wet mess. If they were not fucking she was sucking his cock or talking about her love for her daddy. The man knowing that Susan literally counted the days till she last saw her daddy. After a little time, a cute but older woman would walk up to the table, her asking them, "What can I get you two? Any drinks?" Setting his bag down next to him, he knew that it, like the skirt and the heels, were reminders of the woman that he was to the world. Susan had an apartment, he would ask Ax to take him there after they left here, but right now, he was hungry. The more he looked at Ax, the more he remembered that Susan wasn't big on talking to anyone other than her Daddy. Sex was all she thought about most of the time, and money for her Daddy. Jack had done this to him, and he didn't want to see him again if he could avoid it." I like quite a few, Coronae are always good', he said, as Josh had liked them, but couldn remember Susan ever having one. He wanted to get closer to Ax, to get further away from Jack. Tilting his chin up to look up at the server, He knew what she was seeing, a woman out with her date. Ax would smile as he looked up at the waitress, the man saying, "I'll have your mushroom burger, no cheese," "And a Corona for the lady, and I'll take whatever stout you have on tap,"Looking at Susan he would ask, "Anything look good?" Josh would never have come to a place like this before, but Susan would have with Ax if it meant that she got to fuck him hard, and to suckle on his cock to make him cum as well. He couldn't look up at Ax without being able to bring up every detail about his body, and especially his throbbing cock. Letting Ax order first, Josh looked over the selection and knew what he would have. 'I'll have the fish burger," he told Ax. The waitress would nod softly at their orders before walking away. Ax would smirk as he looked up at Susan, him saying playfully, "Fish, huh?" "And here I thought you were a girl that liked beef more than fish any day," the man casually looking around the place. In truth, he enjoyed this bar, the food was good, and the atmosphere was nice. It was the kind of bar that didn't need a bouncer." So... You have another movie coming up soon?" Watching the waitress walk away after taking their order, Josh couldn't help but admire her long legs, and the way she wore her skirt, only to remember that men would be admiring him in his own skirt now." I enjoy beef as well, but I'm in the mood for fish today, I guess," he replied, feeling as comfortable here as Ax was. He was liking Ax just as much as Susan had." A movie, yes, yes I do, two days time," he said, remembering that he as Susan had no choice but to do it, and that the money would go to Jack. He couldn't even back out of it. "It should be some more erotic fun," he added, saying what Susan would have said, as she had loved making them, and coming back to the club afterward to Ax. Ax would smile as he nodded, "Truth be told I enjoy watching some of your movies when the feeling strikes me right," "What was your favorite one to make?"" Personally I enjoyed the one where you dressed up as a teacher and fucked what was it? Like 30 guys," "Well... I don't think it was 30, but it was like a classroom of guys," the man's own cock growing a little hard at the thought, "You just went down the line,""The one where you fucked all those lawyers was a classic though," "None of them were built or really packing all that much as compared to your other movies, but it felt like they really knew you, you know?" Just thinking of that brought all those memories flooding in. Susan had her favorites, but she loved doing them all, making money for her Daddy. Susan was one of the most in demand TG porn actresses in the business, something that she had been proud of, but not Josh.' My favorite was probably the reform school one," he said, with the memories of Susan doing that flooding in. So many 'bad boys' taking advantage of their teacher. He remembered making the most recent one where Susan had dressed as a teacher and fucked her entire class. Susan had gone down the line there. The mere mention of the one where Susan had been a paralegal, fucking the lawyers, made Josh remember that Susan had enjoyed that the most, but Josh knew that it was something that he as 'Susan', would never be allowed back into." I did enjoy making that one. Some of those actors do know me from other movies," he said, also realizing that the fully male actors who had fucked Susan in them were one of the few who liked what and who Josh had become, and accepted 'her'. Reminded of that, he glanced around, unsure if anyone here had seen them and recognized 'her'. It was unlikely though, as the ones that Susan had made were for a particular market. Three days later, Josh found himself being driven to his first TG movie, titled Cheerleader surprise. The details had been texted to him, to Susan's phone, and he couldn't back out, as much as he wanted to, not with Jack having power over him as he did. He had spent the last three days with Ax, sleeping with him in his bed with him, making out with him and making Ax cum again and again. He hadn't seen or heard from his 'daddy', and he didn't want to either. Josh was trapped as Susan, in this life that he had set up for him. The plot for the movie was simple, he was playing the part of a cheerleader for a football team, who's invited to the home of the star quarterback with two others for a night of fun, with the 'quarterback' finding out the truth about 'her', and still accepting her. Wearing the red and white cheerleader outfit that had been delivered to his apartment, he curled his toes in his 5" ankle strap pumps, trailing his slender fingers along his smooth thigh, and trailing his fingers down the chest of Ax, who was driving him there. He trusted Ax and wanted him close, and Ax had said yes to going there with him, of course. Arriving at the address, a mid-sized expansive house, he swung his long legs out and walked up to the front door, holding onto Susan's bag, with Ax holding another one with some toys, and some changes of clothes. The house would be quite normal. Knocking on the front door would be a young white man in his mid-40s with short black hair, blue jeans, and a white shirt. Him grinning as he looked Susan over, saying happily, "You look great," "Come in!" Walking into the house Susan wouldn't see much of the home as the living room was ready to shoot. A film crew of three, two men and a woman, would be walking around setting up lights and fixing the camera. However, something about this shoot would be off. Instead of taking Josh to the bedroom the dark haired man would take Josh to the couch. Him offering for her to sit down as the other man walked to a large couch chair, sitting down in it. (And interview seat)The man in truth was not overly attractive, however wasn't ugly by any means. He was the type of man that in porn looked like the 'every man'." Susan, your daddy called and put in a request," "He wanted us to add some bonus footage to this film," "And the heads at the studio loved it so much they arranged to give him a nice bonus to do our own porn video," "So I hope you don't mind if we spend a few extra hours here," "It won't be anything too crazy, but just a porn video of who Susan is,"The man adding happily, "Your daddy said he would buy you something nice with his bonus," From the outside, the house looked normal, completely normal. Then again so did a lot of other houses for other reasons. All homes had histories and secrets, he knew. This was his first time here, but it wasn't Susan's first time here, she had come to this house a year ago to shoot another TG movie for another production, he remembered as a mid 40s man opened the door, looked 'her' over, and invited her in. "Thank you handsome', she said as she walked in. Gliding in the 5" heels on her feet, easy for her, she took in the living room, the small film crew, as films like these weren't big productions, but they worked hard to make them good movies. Susan had always enjoyed them, but this was Josh's first time. Confused as she wasn't being talked through the film, or taken to a bedroom, she sat down on the leather couch and crossed her long legs, and let one heel dangle from her toes, just as Susan would have done. He wasn't bad looking, but he wasn't good-looking either. She had seen ones like him before, that were consistent of regular people that were in porn movies. Nodding her head and listening to him, she shouldn't have been surprised at her daddy's request. He had tried not to think about what Jack had done to him, but every time he looked in a mirror, or got dressed, he was reminded of it. It was hard to think of himself even as a man. Outwardly, she was Susan, that was how the world saw her, and would treat her, like a sex kitten.' I see, well, my daddy certainly has taste," she replied, not surprised that he was promising to buy her something nice with the bonus. Something that Susan would love, but that Josh would be wearing, or perhaps not, she didn't know." Well, okay, you and all my viewers want to know who Susan is, I'm more than happy to oblige," she said, running her tongue over her lips and recrossing her legs, just what Susan would have done had she been here, fielding such a request. This was Jacks doing, reminding her that he still had a say in what she did. The man would smile as he said, "Great!" looking to the cameras he would say, "Ok guys, final checks and let's get this rolling!" Soon after a young woman would walk up to Susan making a motion for her to follow, taking her to the bathroom to do her makeup, the woman adding a few touch ups before taking Susan back to the men. Once sitting down again the Cameraman would ask if Susan was ready before saying, "And we are rolling,"Looking at Susan the man on the chair would say, "Ok, Susan," "Tell us a little bit about yourself,"The man would listen to Susan as he said with a grin, "The question everyone wants to know about you," "Why the sudden jump into transgender pornography?" "As many of your fans know you jumped into this world later in life. But when you did it jumped in with both feet," "Isn't it true you were once a successful lawyer?" In truth, the man did not say this to push or hurt her as he didn't know about the young man's past, as these questions were most likely ones her daddy had come up with, "You were a successful lawyer," "But your co-worker, Jack, helped wake you up," "And because of it he became a sort of father figure isn't that right?" She had no idea what questions she would be asked, as to the world, she was Susan, so they would be questions that she just had to remember from what had been done to Josh. Sitting and waiting, she glanced around, frustrated that Jack had reached even here, to remind her that he was in her life, having a say even though he wasn't here in person. She wouldn't even see the money for this film, it would all go to Jack. She had the money that she earned as Susan at the club, at least, but that meant being every men fantasy. Standing back up, she followed the young woman into the bathroom. As Josh, he would have lusted after her, and inside, he still did, but the young woman would see only Susan. Letting her touch up her makeup, she could see that she was the makeup artist for this film, and thanked her as she walked back out with her. Spotting the camera all ready to film this, she sat down again, crossing her long legs again and being the happy sex kitten that the world wanted to see." I'm ready", she quickly said, and focused on her interviewer as he asked her her first question, asking her about herself, about Susan Turner." Well, I'm Susan Turner. I grew up as someone else, I love tea, sweet smelling roses, satin lingerie, and the effect I have on men," she told him, telling him what Susan loved. Listening to the men next questions and thinking about them, he knew who had come up with them, Jack, Susan's daddy." Yes, I was once a very successful lawyer. I worked long hours, did my job. Went home, slept, and did it again," she said, hating to be reminded of what she had lost, what Jack had turned Josh into, Susan." Jack simply woke something up that was already inside me, he helped to support me, helping me to become who I truly was, who I was denying. Being a lawyer was stressful, and hard work. I owe Jack so much, and I bring my fans so much pleasure in my films," she added, saying what she knew Susan would tell her interviewer. Susan had a lot of fans, she knew, remembering awards that she had won, and appearances where she had posed with fans, signed things for them." I was born male, so I can never be a true woman, but.as a transgender woman, I can be a part of something else, and I love the way I feel when men look at me," she said, letting a heel dangle from her toes again, and reaching out to run her hand along his leg with a sultry smile on her face, just as Susan would have done. The man would smile at Susan's words, him clearly impressed. "Oh wow," "You truly are a special woman Susan," "If I do say, so I think many people are quite glad you found yourself. Not just sexually, but to many women are you an inspiration to take the plunge,""Any words for your daddy?" the man smiling at this as he knew nothing about the truth and Josh's hate. Waiting for Susan's response he would then say, "Now I have a special item your daddy brought to the studio," "To be honest I was quite surprised when I first saw it," making a motion offscreen one of the men would walk over with a fleshy dildo. To anyone else in the world it would have been a random realistic dildo, however to the young man he would know exactly what it was... his cock. The man handing it to the interviewer, him hefting the larger item." As a man you were quite.... Impressive," as he said he would chuckle as he felt the weight of the item, "Do you ever miss this?" him holding it out, "As anyone who had seen your movies can attest you're quite a bit smaller,"Holding out the item for Susan to take he would say, "Would you mind showing giving us a little show to promote your new line of sex toys?" All Josh had to do was bring up in his mind what Susan had done, or said, and it was easy to be Susan to those around him. "Thank you, you flatter me and help me to feel even more feminine," he replied, smiling back at the man. He was sure that Susan, the TG woman that he had become, would be an inspiration to so many, and so many enjoyed seeing Susan's movies, fantasizing about having her, or being her." For my daddy, I love you, always and forever," he said into the camera, sure that Jack would know exactly how he felt, and that Susan, the woman he had made him into, wasn't doing this by choice, and had to pretend to love her daddy." A special item, I can't imagine what that could be," he said, and looked confused, until he saw it, a dildo, and not just any dildo, one made from his former cock. He had tossed the one in the club away and left it there, but...there were a lot more, and here was one of them. He wanted to cry, to scream at what he had once had, once been, and what he had lost, but he only just controlled himself, smiling back at the interviewer as he held it up. Accepting it from the man, he held it, desperately missing it. From Susan's memories, he knew that his cock was tiny compared to this. "Yes, I am a lot smaller now, but.that's not what my viewers love about me, is it," he replied, bringing it to his lips and suckling on the tip of it as the camera recorded everything. Sex toys, that was one of the few things that he could sell, looking like this, he knew as he slid it into his mouth, suckling on it as if it was a real cock for the camera, something that Susan was an expert at, then got up onto his knees. Reaching back to flip his cheerleader skirt up, he tugged his panties down and rested the tip against his anal ring and gasped as he slipped the head of it into him easily. Gasping as this was his first time doing it as Josh, he shook as it felt amazing, adding to his shame as he gasped and moaned for the camera, putting on a show. The man would smile at this, his own cock growing hard in his pants as he watched Susan put on the show for him. Him knowing he didn't need to tell her to point her ass at the camera, or show everyone the 'fun parts.' She was a professional after all." So San, tell us more about this dildo of yours?" "Do you recommend it for girls or boys?" the man making it a bit more clear that this was not just an 'interview' but also a commercial. If Alex had his way he would have made it so that Josh's cock in dildo form would have been used more than his real tool; making him richer in the process. This had been the real reason he had freed Josh, he wanted the man to be awake for the sale of his new line of sex toys. He wanted him to know that there were molds of his ass and old cock out there, items that would be sex toys and sold in his name. Susan had done this countless times, for Jack, and in so many of Susan's movies, all Josh needed to do was access the memories, and even as he his blush of shame, he had his firm ass pointed at the camera, the dildo glistening as he slipped it back and forth into it. The moans leaving his lips were real, doing this did feel so good, making him feel helpless in his own body, and ashamed as he could remember everything that Susan had done, willingly on camera, and for Jack. His much smaller cock was shown even as he slipped the dildo into him, but he didn't get hard, not at all, which only added to his helplessness. Gasping out as a wave of pleasure went through him, he looked back at the camera and gave Susan's sexy smile. "Right now, I would recommend it for both girls and boys, it feels so good inside me," he told the man. He had no idea why jack had woken him up from his forced slumber now. It had to be to boast about what he had done to his rival, or to be aware of something else, could it be the dildo's being sold, made from the molds of his old cock. That is something that Jack would do. 'Its nice and thick, and.MMM.i don't want to take it out of me," he cried, sure that the dildo would sell from any sex store and internet site now, after this on camera test. Even though the man knew that Susan had once been a man, he was hard for 'her', he realized as he slipped the dildo into him. So many men would be hard for 'her', something else that he was sure Jack wanted him to find out. The man would smile at this, his cock thick and oozing out cum as his pants tented out painfully. In truth, the man's member was a bit smaller than what Jack had once owned, but it was still a good size. Him saying, "You heard it from Susan's own lips," "Her old cock was something to behold," "Why don't you really give us a show Susan, don't hold back," "Show everyone how you cum now,"The man grinning as he watched Susan fuck herself. Once done the man would grin, him saying, "Well, I do have to say, that was something sexy Susan," "In fact, you mind helping me out?" as the man said this Susan would know that this was not in the script, and in fact the man had been overtaken by his own lust. Josh couldn't forget who he once had, or that the dildo that he was slipping into his own firm ass was made from a mold of his own cock, that had once brought pleasure to so many women. Josh saw how hard the man was becoming as he watched 'Susan' fuck herself with what her old cock had been like. Raising his firm ass even up, he parted his thighs to let them see his city, as Susan had always thought of it, and shook for the camera as he let out a cry, suddenly cumming for the audience that would be watching this special. As Susan, he could remember meeting people who were turned on by her, what she had done, and those that asked why, but they had all made Susan feel special. Now those same people would be supporting him, unaware of what Jack had done. Slowly coming down from that orgasm, better than any he had had as Josh, he knew that whether he was here, or walking down a street, all people would see was Susan, and she had a lot of fans from her films, which she would have to make for many more years, 15 more years. Slipping the dildo out and tugging at his panties to slide them back up to his hips, he hesitated for just a second when the man told him what he wanted, he knew immediately that this wasn't in the script. The man was so aroused that he wanted Susan's help with his cock. Susan would have said yes immediately, he knew, so Josh could only smile and hop off the couch to kneel before him. Unzipping his pants, he found out just how much cum had already oozed from the tip of his cock, what Josh had once loved having, and slipped it all the way out. Caressing the shaft with his soft, slender fingers, he leaned in and wrapped his red lips around the head of the men cock, suckling on it while he caressed the shaft. As he suckled, he swirled his pink tongue around the head, well aware of how sensitive it was, as his tongue and lips felt every throb and pulse from it. The man would open his legs, opening himself up for Josh to move between them as he chuckled softly. His own cock popping out. In truth, he imagined the scene ending there for the special; Susan crawling over to him to suck him off without having to show off his own dick to millions. People watching online from the comfort of their own homes. They would market the fuck out of that dildo, it would be the toy of choice from now on in all of Susan's videos. Sure they would use other items, but it would be the company's own moneymaker. As his cock throbbed in Susan's mouth he would say, "Oh fuck," "They weren't kidding were they?" "You fucking love cock don't you?" the man laughing a bit at this as he chuckled at the knowledge that this woman loved dick so much she did this job for free. Choosing instead to give everything she made to her 'daddy' and let him take care of her." Ok guy's cut the camera," "I didn't sign off to have my dick on screen," looking at Susan he would smirk, making it quite clear she was only doing this for the taste. Knowing exactly what to do, and knowing what the man would want from Susan, he glided his fingers up and down along his cock as he suckled on the head. Suckling on his cock like this felt so familiar, Susan did this to any man that she could, she wanted it, she loved to suck on a men cock. All Josh could do was use the memories while hating that he had to use them. He could imagine that the dildo would be a big seller, with Susan seeing none of the money though. Moaning up at him, Josh forced himself to moan again as Susan had loved cock more than just about anything, and now Josh was trapped as Susan. Josh had gone through Susan's apartment, and found that Jack paid all the bills for it, bought Susan's clothes, took care of the expenses for her car, and the 15-year contract for the movies was ironclad. The movies were what allowed Jack to do that, and still have a lot of money for himself. The only money that Susan had been in a position to keep was the money she made at the club, which she had given to Jack. Josh would be keeping that, and unless Jack wanted to be seen as not looking after his Susan, he couldn't penalize Susan for it. Stopping as the man told them to stop, Josh pulled back and tucked his cock back into his pants. "Sorry, I.guess I got caught up in it," he said to him as he sat back on the couch, smoothing his skirt down as he sat. Even as he sat there, he could almost still taste the men cock in his mouth. Letting out a small laugh the man would say, "Oh no, you're fucking great, I was getting into it too..." "I just don't want to lose my job, I kinda already fucked up since that wasn't a part of the script. I'm most likely already in deep shit" "But don't worry about me," "Let's start your scene, your co-stars are already here and waiting upstairs,""So you know the story correct?" "You are going to play the head cheerleader, the young man is the star quarterback who won the big game," "Beforehand you and your best friend made a deal with him to fuck his brains out if they won," "The scene will start with you and your friend talking and warming up, he will walk into the room and you both fuck him," "He finds out about your secret and is turned on,""If you want we can have a little get-together or jump right in, it's up to you, the cameras are set upstairs already in the bedroom," Josh would rather be back at his law firm than doing this, suckling on the men cock like that, but Josh had been Susan for too long, there was no going back to that life. Smiling back at the man as he reassured her that she was great, perfect even, she pouted as he told her that he might lose his job over what Susan had done. 'I hope not, I promise to put in a very.very, good word for you if they try that," she told him, standing up as he told her the story of this movie, the setting. She would be with another 'cheerleader', and would give the 'star quarterback' a session that he would never forget, a reward for winning the game. He would want to win again and again, she knew as she nodded her head, teasing her nipples through her top and moaning softly as that felt so good."I'll go over it with them now, go over our lines together," she said, giving him a little wave as he turned and headed for the stairs. Going upstairs, she swayed her hips, gliding in her heels as she soon found the room that was being set up for the movie. It looked like any room that a nearly adult high school girl would have. Sitting on the bed was an attractive brunette woman, wearing a similar cheerleader outfit, with black heels on her feet. As soon as she saw Susan, her eyes lit up, looking her over. "Oh, they weren't kidding, you are sexy, hard to believe that you were once ever male," she said to her as soon as she saw her." I'm Cathy, we can go over our lines," she told her, holding up some A4 papers. Sitting down next to her, they went through their lines. The lines weren't too cheesy, she was glad to see, but Susan knew what she would be doing, with Jack getting the money from this film. Going over the lines, she said them over and over until she knew them. Susan would be nervous about showing off her 'secret', but would be relieved when the quarterback wasn't turned off, but was turned on, and take Susan's firm ass while Cathy let him suckle on her folds, then Susan and Cathy would swap, and once he had cum in both of them, he would rest on the bed while Susan and Cathy made out, something that Susan had always loved before Josh had been woken up. The man would smile at this as he let out a chuckle, "Thank you," him not knowing in the least that basically a straight man had willingly sucked on his cock to 'stay in character.'--After the two women went over their lines they would soon enough hear a knock on the door before it opened; a younger dark skinned walking in after. In truth, Josh would not need to be introduced to this man, it was John; or "Long John" as his joking porn name had been given him. John was a strong and darker-skinned man with a buzz cut haircut and a blue sports jersey. Memories of him flooding into Josh's mind as he remembered John quite well. He was well known for his larger member, a thick item that exceeded what many of the other porn stars. Just seeing John on set was enough to cause female porn stars to walk off set right there... And besides Julia's daddy's cock he was her favorite. In truth for other than reason than he had the largest item human item ever taken into her by far. He was one of the few people in the world that could make Susan's body ache after a shoot. Susan nearly worshiped the man. It being clear that Susan's daddy had asked for this man to be on set to rub salt into the wound. Smiling at the girls he would say happily, "Hey girls," "It's nice to see you again Susan," the man giving a knowing smirk. Him knowing she would be all over him in a matter of seconds. Not knowing in the least that this wasn't who he thought it was. The cameras were all set up, all they needed were the operators, and this movie was good to start. Before that, they would also need to talk with their 'quarterback', and go over his lines with them as well. She had no idea who it would be, but there were about ten male studs that Susan had been with and that she knew, when she had been Susan, and even more that Susan had interacted with. Susan knew their faces just as well as she had known their members Turning to the door as they heard a knock on it, she called for whoever it was to come in, and froze as she recognized him immediately, Long John, why was it him, she asked herself as memories flooded in, of countless movies with him in it, of Susan riding his throbbing member, bigger than most others. In fact, Susan had been one of the few to truly love his member, and had loved how taking him inside her had left her aching. Susan had a feeling that her daddy had ensured that he would be here for this movie, to remind her of what she was, and what she was good at. She didn't need reminding, one more reason to hate Jack for what he had done. She didn't let that show. Smiling widely as she saw him, she was on her high-heeled feet and rushing to him. Susan had been on him in seconds, and Josh could do no less, not if she wanted to keep long John in the dark about Josh's awakening." Oohhh, I have missed you long John. I've missed all of you," she said as she held onto him, grinding her hips against his to feel that throbbing member that. Susan hated to have to do this, to grind against him and show this man affection, but she had no choice but to. Long John was strong enough to easily lift Susan up and deposit her on his thick member, to bring a scream from her lips, which viewers loved." You're right on time, let's go over your lines as well stud," she whispered to him, trailing her fingers down his chest and guiding him to the bed to sit down." I'm glad you're here, I haunt seen you since Taken by the Gang",", said Cathy, mentioning a movie that she had been in with him, with Susan and another TG porn star as well. Holding up the pages of lines, she was comfortable with long John, but she preferred it if Susan was the one to take him in her firm ass or warm mouth. As Susan touched John the young man's member would twitch, slowly swelling with blood, "Oh Susan," "You know girl?! I've met some size queens in my life, but you really take the cake," the man remembering all the times she had begged him to take her home; how the young woman worshiped his thick porn star cock." But yes, taken by the gang was quite fun," the man laughing as he remembered the movie quite well where Susan had played a young woman who had wanted to join his gang. Because only men could join it she showed them her miniature member, telling them how she was still a little bit of a man. Giggling as she played with her clit for a time before telling them that just because she still had a cock still it didn't mean she couldn't get fucked like a woman. John had finished the scene by fucking Susan brutally, where after he made her his 'top bitch.' After the group would run lines and the camera operators would flood into the room. Then asking the actors if they were ready. John asking the girls, "I am," "But since it's me, I won't be insulted if you girls wanted to put in a scene where you girls get yourselves ready for me," "I'll start off slow, but as you both know it will be a tight fit,"And with that the man would stand up, "Ok, I'll wait by the door," the tan skinned man walking out of the room as he waited for his line to knock on the door and be let back in. Susan's mere touch was enough to inflame any men desires, especially those that knew the truth. John was no different, John knew that Susan hadn't been born female, but he was still turned on and aroused. He was also a porn star though, he had seen countless stars, but Josh remembered that Susan had worshiped Long Johns cock. She had begged countless times to go home with him, or to go with her to her apartment. But Long John had always politely declined, which had only made her want him even more, to ride that thick cock until she was sore. Just the mention of the title was enough to remind Susan of the movie, how she had let the gang take her, and let her into the gang because she still had a small part of what had made her a man before. She had ridden countless thick cocks, cried out from her climaxes, and she remembered the scene clearly when she had let him bend her over, holding onto her hair, and fucked her. Going over her lines with Cathy and long John, she nodded as she was as ready as she would ever be. They wanted Susan and expected Susan, so Susan is what they would get, as she couldn't back out of this." No problem handsome, see you soon," she told him as the camera and mic operators took their positions, ready for action. Sitting on the bed with Cathy, Susan went over her lines in her head, hating them even as she knew that she could do this, and she had to, and this movie would sell. At the sound of action, she turned to Cathy, idly twirling a lock of hair around her finger." So, I told him, if he won the game, he would get to fuck us, both of us", said Cathy, saying her first line." Even me, even with.with what's.down there," she replied with her line, sounding as nervous as she could.'Don't worry one bit, he won't be able to resist you. The more forbidden, the better, trust me", replied Cathy, then reached for her and cupped one of her breasts, caressing it over her cheerleader top, bringing a moan from her lips as that felt good. Smiling and biting her lip gently, she kissed her way along Cathy's jaw, to her lips, and placed soft kisses, while Cathy's hand slipped under Susan's skirt to caress her smooth thigh, so close to her panties." You're such a naughty girl, he's just going to love you, love you," she said louder, which was the line that would draw Long John into the bedroom. John would knock once on the door before walking in as he followed the nonsensical rules of a porn that said door were never locked, and you always walked in on the best parts. Him smiling as he looked over at the two women who were entangled together, "Hey girls," "I thought you were kidding about our little bet,"The young man wearing his blue and white football uniform. However, already in his tight pants the thick bulge of his cock softly swelled. The man's giant member slowly inflating in preparation to fuck John on camera." So... Are you girls going to chicken out?" the man grinning as he told Susan," "I know you don't have a boyfriend Susan," the man playing the role of the jock who would take her V card. And funnily he would, he would fuck John for the first time on camera, and he would put on a show to love every second of it. Josh had seen enough porn films before waking up as Susan to know that bedroom doors were never locked. He didn't understand the rule, but it helped the scene, now he was in one, as the 'girl' about to be fucked by the stud. He didn't want to do this, he didn't want to ride Johns huge cock, Susan had so many times and had loved, but, but Susan wasn't here, only Josh was. Josh would have kissed and caress John, to offer his body to him, to ride the men huge cock until he came inside him. He had to force himself to smile and remember what Susan had done, how she had whimpered, and smiled, and given herself to men and women in the TG porn films." Kidding, no stud, we weren't kidding. We wanted you to win badly enough, and we're your prize," she replied with a sensual smile coming to her face, as if she couldn't wait to fuck John. "A bet is a bet," she added, with Cathy standing up and walking to Johns side. Standing up as well, Susan stood to his other side and tugged at his sports jersey, lifting it up with her, pulling it up and up to show off his chest. Once it was off, showing off his chest, both of them ran their hands along it, digging in their nails just enough, while kissing and grinding against him, making him look like the luckiest high school football player ever. Arching her back, she made sure her breasts were made available to him. "No stud, I don't have a boyfriend, I don't like to be tied down," she said, blushing inside and hating to have to act like this on camera. This man would be the first to take Josh's virginity, but josh could remember the first time that Susan had been taken by a man, she had loved it. Walking around to stand behind Susan, Cathy rubbed her nipples to gt them to harden up under her top, then spanked her, bringing a squeal from Susan slips. Both Susan and Cathy tugged at Susan's tight top, pulling it up with her to show off her full, perfect, milky white breasts to John. As the young women pulled off John's shirt he would smile, running his hand over them softly. Touching them as he made a show of it. His member swelling in his pants, the thick item tenting clearly for the camera but was even more visible for Josh and Cathy. Letting out a small laugh at Susan he would say a line that would only work in porn, "Maybe you haven't been fucked by the right man yet," "Cathy must have told you about what I'm packing,"Walking in close to Susan he would grab at her breasts, squeezing her tits tightly in his large hands, "Isn't that right Cathy?" "Now why don't you girls take off your clothing so we can get this party really started,"And as John said 'get this party started' behind the camera a back door would open as that was the Que for someone else to enter the room... Jack. The man smirking as he walked onto the set-off camera. Him smirking as he watched the show. Him coming onto the set quietly, wondering if Josh would notice him. This was so humiliating, to have to act like the eager sex mad cheerleader. Running her hands down his stomach to run her slender hand over his tenting pants, she only smiled, as she was on camera right now. She couldn't do anything but what she had to here, to perform in this porn film that Jack had arranged for her to be in. It would be a big seller, and be a popular one, all of Susan's ones were, she remembered as she looked down at John's cock, bigger than even Josh's had been, before all this." Oohh, she has told me, and I know that you will have me screaming your name soon enough," she replied, saying her line as Cathy caressed him as well. Arching her back as John's hands squeezed her breasts, she forced herself to smile and offer them to him, playing her part. She remembered getting them, how happy she had been, and how she had offered them to Jack to cup and caress, and to play with. Josh could remember everything, something else to make him feel helpless as Susan. Reaching across to help Cathy out of her snug top, she knew what would happen next, in the movie. Cathy would undress, but Susan would only take off her panties, nervous about having her 'secret' exposed. But John, far from being put off, would only want her even more. Unzipping the back of Cathy's skirt and gently spanking her, she leaned in and nibbled on Cathy's shoulder, putting on a good show for John, and for the crew." Let me help you Susan", whispered Cathy into her ear, and slipped her hands under Susan's skirt to tug at her panties, to slide them down to her high-heeled feet. Stepping out of them, Cathy had her bend over, hiding her 'secret' with Cathy grinding against John again, and unzipping his pants to free his huge cock. As Cathy stroked the men huge cock, Susan turned her head to look at them from over her shoulder. Running her tongue over her lips, she froze as she saw.him. Jack.there, at the back, what was he doing here.

A wake up call (playfullchick76 & SethLight)|rating:2.0