05-12-2006, 12:24 AM
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Drowning Sorrows in a Few Pints, Part 1
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 [ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ] 
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05-12-2006, 12:25 AM
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Drowning Sorrows in a Few Pints, Part 2
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[ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ]
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05-12-2006, 12:26 AM
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Drowning Sorrows in a Few Pints, Part 3
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[ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ]
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05-12-2006, 12:28 AM
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Drowning Sorrows in a Few Pints, Part 4
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[ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ]
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05-12-2006, 12:29 AM
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Drowning Sorrows in a Few Pints, Part 5
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[ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ]
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05-20-2006, 12:03 PM
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Zorlo and Nikudemon meets again
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05-26-2006, 09:24 PM
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Re: IM-U
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05-30-2006, 12:03 AM
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Re: IM-U
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05-31-2006, 12:18 PM
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Re: IM-U
This one took place a couple of months ago, and I happened upon it one fine morning while browsing my documents. I was going to FINALLY work on Heartless March and finish the three-part fic, but this little RP distracted me. I've edited the file for display in the IM RP thread. I left some of the fourth-wall-breaking OoC comments, but not enough to ruin the flow. Enjoy. ^^
WOTS: Yes. LEA: Hey, you wanna RP with me and Shade? WOTS: *points to the above comment* LEA: Oh. LEA: ^^;; WOTS: Psychic. WOTS: Nah, Shade told me. ^^; LEA: Ah, you wanna use this as the chat, then? WOTS: Might as well. SHADE: Here I is, bebby. LEA: *laughs* Alrighty, so how do we want to start this? WOTS: I really want to try out Giathra again. ^^ WOTS: That RP last night was fun. LEA: Hehe. Even though nothing really happened of consequence. Max: Giathra? Didn't he fight Godzilla at one point? WOTS: No, that was Ghidora. WOTS: ...Or Gidora. WOTS: I forget. Mari: Who? Max: Mothra. WOTS: ...Oh. WOTS: I was thinking the winged pterodactyl thing. Mari: What are you guys talking about? *is confused* Max: *calls for Giathra* Giathra: *does not appear* WOTS: *glares* Max: Homo sapien. *sneers* WOTS: *has introspective discussion with his imagination* WOTS: *attacks self* Giathra: *is forced out and lands face-first on the ground* WOTS: Hah. Mari: Oh. It's you again. Max: ....I've seen this movie, Mari. Don't get too close to it. It feeds on brains. Giathra: *sneers* I wouldn't dream of it, but I wouldn't mind squirting yours out through your ears. Mari: Souls is more like it. >> I found that out last night, apparently. Max: *prods Giathra with a stick* Giathra: *roars* Max: ..... *prods again* Mari: *laughs* Giathra: *causes the stick to fly from Max's hand, sticking the vampire in his eye* Max: OW! Giathra: Don't...touch...me. Mari: No! Not his beautiful eyes! >< Max: *the stick swivels with his eye's movement* WOTS: I just realized something. Max: Yes? WOTS: << Giathra's about to go one-on-two. WOTS: He's hardly good enough for one-on-one yet. WOTS: Very, very low defensive capability, and the two of you are both skilled in physical combat. Giathra: Stop making me look pathetic!! WOTS: Hey, you're the one who lost your skin. Max: Yes, arbitrarily talking bodiless narrator. WOTS: Yep, that's me. Mari: Well, we'll go easy on him, then. ...Maybe. WOTS: Where's the fun in that? Max: Nah, Mari, he poked my eye. This dude is mine. Mari: Oh, right. *glares* Max: *jerks out the stick* Mari: How dare you poke Maxy's eye? Giathra: -_-* Max: *puts on sunglasses to hide the open socket, with one red eye still glowing faintly like the terminator* Mari: *stares at Max* Oooo.... Giathra: Enough of this! Your souls will be mine--*poof!* Max: Now, Giathra, I challenge you to a bout to the....AW, C'MON! >_x Mari:  Kyros: *appears in a whiff of smoke and growls* That pitiful moron's babbling was growing tiresome anyway. Mari: o.o Who in the world are you? Max: STOP MOCKING ME-- Oh, look. Another famous movie franchise. Kyros: *scowls at Max, but ignores the taunt* Max: *throws popcorn at Kyros* Kyros: *fires a beam of darkness energy to shut him up* Max: *absorbs it into Sanguithan's Hades Edge* Kyros: I am Lord Kyros, the Dark Armor, God of Death and Destruction. Mari: Oh, really? K: Oh, certainly. Mari: You don't look very imposing to me. Max: Wow. Do you have your own restaurant? Kyros: *glares* Mari: *looks him up and down* Max: Do you have some sort of secret information about my past regarding my paternity? Kyros: *calls the Wraith's Claw to his hand, swathing the air and leaving a temporal distortion in the blade's wake* I bring word of your death. Mari: *glares* Max:  I can't do that.Kyros: *grins maliciously* Max: But, I can do this. Mari, Get VERY far away. Max: I'm going to melt this doofus. Kyros: Hah! Mari: ....Right. *teleports a good distance away* Kyros: Give it your best shot, vampire. *stands stock-still, undeterred by Max's taunts* Max: *focuses the power from the sun and generates a focused beam of solar wind at Kyros's rediron chest* Max: Hot enough for ya? Kyros: *whips his protective cape around to the front of his body, guarding against the beam and absorbing as much energy as possible from it in the process, rendering it all but potent* Kyros: *glows with the absorbed energy filling his body, a small orb of flames generating in the palm of his outstretched fist* Max: .....Dang. Kyros: A pitiful attempt. *launches the sunbomb directly at Max's feet* Max: *is blown into the air* Max: ......Uh.....Crap....*thinks* Kyros: *surges toward the flying body, sweeping the Wraith's Claw in an upward stroke* Max: *dissolves into smoke* Kyros: *grinds to an instant halt, rising to his full height and casting quickly about the area for his enemy* Kyros: *switches to thermal vision* Kyros: *sees nothing* Hmm...very clever, vampire. Leaving this world for another? Max: *takes form on Kyros's back and stabs him with the phantasmic sword* Kyros: *grunts in irritation, though the blade fails to penetrate his exoskeleton* Wretch! *swats at Max with his rediron claws* Max: *flips away from the claws, his eyes wide* Nice suit there, buddy. Max: Let's see you get out of it and fight me. *is oblivious* WOTS: So I noticed. ^^ LEA: ()* WOTS: I abandoned the parentheses idea. LEA: ()* WOTS: *tackles* SHADE: (*laughs*) LEA: (*side-steps*) WOTS: *flies into a bush which appeared mysteriously just then* LEA: (*ahem*) Kyros: You are speaking to the lifeless corpse within me, vampire. What you see is no suit. Max: There's a corpse inside you, eh? Kyros: Its heart still beats and its throat still draws air, but its mind and body belong to me. Kyros: I am, after all, a god. Kyros: Hmm...but you seem much stronger than this frail body I possess now. Perhaps I shall take you as my new host? Mari: Not if I have anything to say about it. Max: Well, I think it's about time it wakes up. *darts forward and stabs his blade's ectoform into the shell, forcing a temporary ghost into it* Kyros: *turns to her* Kyros: *quickly dives out of the way, leaving behind a jet of flames to set the ground ablaze* Max: *teleports behind the villain and tries again* Kyros: *whips around, the Wraith's Claw poised for a strike this time, and locks his blade against the vampire's with a thunderous ring* Mari: *sends holy energy straight into Kyros's back, while he's occupied elsewhere* Kyros: *shouts in fury and surprise as the energy sweeps across his frame, doing minimal damage but more than enough to throw him off-guard from shock* Max: *when he is struck by the holy energy, Max rolls between his legs and stabs the phantom form of the blade into him yet again* Max: AWAKEN, HOST! Kyros: *stumbles forward, dazed but unfazed, and dissolves the Wraith's Claw* Max: Wow, this guy is tough. Mari: No kidding. Kyros: *whips around, his face twisted in rage* You fool! This body is lifeless now! Max: I can barely hurt him at all. Kyros: *seethes* You've only seen the tip of the iceberg... Max: *his muscles quickly grow and his skin becomes black and leathery* Max: *looks at himself a little curiously* Mari: *looks at him curiously, too* Max: I feel like I've been this way before.... Mari: What do you mean? Kyros: Growing your muscles a few inches thicker won't protect you, vampire. Max: *his eyes shine over, completely red, and all that comes from his lips is an incoherent growl* Max: Muraiana.... Kyros: *suddenly wary, he encloses his fists, hiding a small orb of heat energy developing within* Mari: .....Max? *stares* Max: *charges at Kyros on all fours* Kyros: Feh...like some kind of animal. *hovers into the air, easily avoiding the charge* Max: *stops immediately and lunges onto the Dark Armor's back, squeezing him with awesome force that is far beyond what normal muscles could allow* Kyros: *growls and releases the sunbomb he'd created, igniting them both in an explosion* Mari: *shields herself and Max right before the explosion hits* Max: *roars but doesn't let go, and sinks his fangs into the Rediron, his tough new skin offering protection as well as the shield formed by Mariana* Kyros: *snarls loudly and calls forth a thunderbolt from the heavens to strike the vampire directly on his back* Max: *lunges away and the bolt hits Kyros squarely* Kyros: *growls at the impact, but receives no severe damage* Mari: *hits Kyros with more holy energy while he's distracted by the lightning bolt* Max: *a spherical translucent window forms on his stomach* Max: *peers down and grumbles* Kyros: *roars in fury, plummeting to the ground, but rising quickly* You'll regret that, wench! *surges toward Mariana with the protective cape wrapped in front of him* Max: *A long tentacle of crystal red surges out of his stomach and wraps around Kyros's leg* Max: *jerks back* Kyros: *grinds to a halt* A nice trick, vampire...but I can do that, too! *sends out tendrils of his own darkness energy to latch onto Max's arms and legs* Max: *uses the Hades edge to reverse the flow of the darkness* Max: *howls* Kyros: *the tendrils whirl around and head directly for Mariana* Max: *eyes grow wide with primal concern* Mari: *dissolves into thin air the instant before the tendrils reach her* Max: *hurls Sanguithan with awesome force at Kyros's back* Mari: *appears above Kyros and sends a beam of lunar energy straight down into him* LEA: (Brb.) Kyros: *unable to move for the bloody tendril ensnaring his leg, he raises his cape above, deflecting the magic harmlessly, and takes the blade full in the chest* Kyros: *looks down as the weapon bounces off of him, leaving a noticeable dent in his rediron shell* ... Max: *draws out a white Hanya Mask* Max: *slides it onto his face* ORION! I HAVE WHAT YOU DESIRE! Kyros: *calls upon the chi within the soil, turning it into raw gray magick, which then climbs up his metallic body and restores his frame to perfect condition* Max: ....God, I'm going to need some more he— Orion: HAHAHAHAHAA! Orion: *takes control of the body* Kyros: And what in blazes are you, demon? LEA: (Back.) WOTS: *glomps* LEA: (*side-steps again*) WOTS: *flies into a brick wall which appeared mysteriously just then* Orion: You may call me The End, for that's all I am to you. Kyros: ...I think I shall call you a blight on my world. Orion: *laughs and spins Dredgius wickedly* Kyros: Now...get off. Mari: *quivers a little while still hovering in the air* Orion: Is that what you want? Me to get off of this pitiful hunk of land? Kyros: This world will soon be mine, and all its resources will be at my disposal, as if my power itself were not enough. Now, do you truly want to be in my presence when that occurs? Orion: Go ahead, big shot. Destroy this body. It makes no difference to me. Kyros: Hardly worth the effort. *fires out tendrils of darkness energy to ensnare the demon* Orion: OH, GOD! NOOOO! Kyros: *whiplashes the tendrils, then releases, sending Orion hurtling across the sky* Kyros: There, that was much simpler. *turns to Mariana* Now to deal with you. Orion: *flies, screaming* Orion: THE BEAST! *a thousand tiny streams of blue light pass through Kyros harmlessly* Orion: HEHEHEHE.....*flies out of sight* Kyros: *gives the ghost a disdainful glance out of the corner of his eye, then surges toward the angel with his razor claws outstretched* Mari: No! *dodges then flies after Orion* SHADE: *the blue lines suddenly light up again and explode INSIDE of Kyros* Kyros: Grah! *cries out in rage, unsure whether he received damage or not* SHADE: *the lines continue to sweep around and within him like nimble snakes, continuing to explode rapidly* Orion: *appears behind Kyros, laughing* Kyros: *shouts in rage* Your petty tricks cannot defeat me, phantom! *a dark energy flows across his body, mixing with the lines and diluting them* Orion: *expands his hand and the lines glow brightly again, growing on the darkness and suddenly surging into Kyros's inner chest* Orion: IMPLODE. SHADE: *there is another massive explosion* Kyros: *the smoke clears slowly, and once it has, the Dark Armor is knelt on the ground in a pool of gray magick which now sweeps across his body to restore any damage dealt* SHADE: *a spear of holy light pierces the chest of the armor just before it closes, digging deeply* Kyros: Grah! *cries out in rage, emitting a dark pulse to counter the light* Ovirian: I noticed something was wrong around here. *walks onto the scene* Orion: *runs off, laughing* Kyros: ...Cowardly mongrel... Ovirian: *releases a wave of white, holy fire from his mouth* Kyros: *turns to face the newcomer, raising his cape to ward against the onslaught* Mari: *adds the power of the Argentsigna into the mix from the other side of Kyros* Kyros: *calls forth a bolt of wind and surges upward just in time to avoid the two magic attacks, seeing them collide in a massive explosion* Ovirian: *is unharmed by the explosion* Ovirian: *bounces lasers from his fingers off of the ground to hit Kyros from behind as well* Ovirian: Hm.....Shall we destroy it, Mariana? Mari: *is unharmed, as well* Yes, let's. Ovirian: *his tattoos generate an immensely intricate white armor that forms all over him* Kyros: *seethes in fury, bolts of darkness energy peeling off of the armor in waves* You...destroy me? *laughs condescendingly* Mari: *draws Ashriel, the holy crystal embedded in the hilt pulsing fiercely* Ovirian: That's right. *generates a holy aura* Kyros: Well, then...give it your best shot. *generates a spherical ward of sea-green as the full force of the dark tendrils emerge from him, looking almost like black wings* Ovirian: Revelation. *the pulse of the glow around him quickens, and he speeds at the Dark Armor with white flames spewing from his mouth* Kyros: *hovers aside effortlessly, a number of the tendrils reaching out to grasp Ovirian* Mari: *shoots upward, opposite from Ovirian, and slices clean through the tendrils that seek to ensnare him* Kyros: *fires a wave of darkness energy at her from one hand while letting a stream of crackling, electric energy surge toward Ovirian from the other* Ovirian: YOU ARE JUDGED. THROUGH FIRE, JUSTICE IS SERVED. *a giant tornado of holy fire engulfs all three of them, dissipating all darkness* Kyros: The shadows are not all that I command, angel. See for yourself what strength I possess! *his body becomes engulfed in a strange, dark glow as reality seems to fade away around the three* Mari: *suddenly wonders where Orion went* Orion: Would you like more tea, Mr. Teddykins? ^^ Orion: *is sitting at a tiny table with stuffed animals and little plastic pots* WOTS: *the air shimmers with an ethereal appeal, the land around them distorting and turning black, then becoming nothing at all* Kyros: Now you shall see that world which is already under my power... Kyros: This...is my home. WOTS: *reality completely fades away, and all that remains is an empty void without light* Arimas: GOD AGAINST GOD, KYROS! *forms, surrounded in a magificent red fire that serves as the only light here* Kyros: *snarls* Who are you that dares compare yourself to me?! Mari: *is relieved by the appearance of Arimas* Kyros: *summons up the power of the shadows around them, causing them to constrict around the deity* Arimas: You may be the God of Death, but my soul purpose is to negate Death. I am the God of Undeath, and you have crossed the line. Kyros: Cede defeat. You cannot hope to defeat me in my own court. Arimas: *breaks free of the darkness binds with an all-consuming radiance* Kyros: Of what line do you speak? I am a machine; life or death have no hold over me. *his body disappears into the darkness, completely unseen* Arimas: You hold both a servant of Jehovah, and another God of which I know not. Unless you wish to be exterminated, you will send them back, now. Arimas: Also, I hold Mariana as a dear daughter to me, and I could incinerate your useless carapace into nothingness if you don't comply. Mari: *smiles at Arimas gratefully* Kyros: They have offended my empire, and it is well within my right to destroy them. You know this. *scowls hatefully, though he knows none can perceive him in the darkness* Arimas: I could seal this void off forever. Kyros: It is mine alone to control. Should you attempt to seal it, I shall reopen the door. K: It is but a simple task. There are too many doorways here for even a deity as yourself to count. And I can create even more. Arimas: Think I'm bluffing? I could trap you in an endless cycle of false doorways for eternity. Arimas: As soon as you leave this realm, you'll be stuck in an endless cycle. Arimas: So, shall I take them myself, or shall you release them? Kyros: The doorways here are all my own creation. I know mine by their signature. Even were you to copy that signature, I can hold a single door open and step through before you could raise that gaudy hand of yours a millimeter. Arimas: Do you seek court with Mariana's father, then? Kyros: You can try, oh God. *he says this mockingly* But you cannot succeed in this world of my own conjuring. Arimas: I can call Him, you know. K: That He allows you to live is appalling. He shuns the undead, you no doubt realize. Arimas: We're quite good friends, actually. Mari: Then, how do you explain me? Arimas: That's right. Explain her, chrome dome. Kyros: *glares at Mariana* I care not how you became what you are. You are of no worth or value to me. Arimas: Fine, then. Prepare to be exterminated. Kyros: *a snapping sound echoes from everywhere and nowhere at once, and the darkness caves in on Mariana* Arimas: *a wave of red light encloses protectively around her* WOTS: *the dark world closes up around her, and in an instant, Kyros, Arimas and Ovirian are back in reality...but Mariana is nowhere in sight* Kyros: *hovers far above them as lightning bolts shower the ground from darkened skies* LEA: (You're a little late with that one.) WOTS: I just left her behind. She's basically stuck there till either Arimas or Kyros decides she'd best be outside. LEA: (Goody.) Mephiabep: *appears, holding Mariana in her willowy arms* LEA: (Ha!) Kyros: ...The Hell? WOTS: Or that guy. WOTS: Gah, too many god-moders. ^^;; Mari: Thank you. *smiles at her* Mephiabep: I am the Goddess of Magic and Knowledge, and you're welcome, Mariana. Mephiabep: Let me take care of this monster. Mari: *nods* Mephiabep: *sits her down gently* Kyros: *seethes, enraged that he might actually be outmatched* Mephiabep: *draws out a paintbrush* Kyros: ...You haven't seen the last of me! *disappears in a whiff of smoke* Mephiabep: Pity. I was going to strip him of his magical knowledge. LEA: (That's lame.) WOTS: Either that, or die. LEA: (Die.) WOTS: >> Okay, I know this is an alternate reality thing... WOTS: But seriously. Kill off a character? WOTS: (Maybe.) SHADE: We killed off Ned before. Didn't we Meagan? LEA: (Yep.) WOTS: I know, I know, Shade did it to...what's his, er, her, uh, its name. LEA: (So? How about it?) SHADE: Nediryo: FABULUSSSSSS! Oh-EM-GEE! WOTS: ...Uh? WOTS: Did it just use an...AIM acronym? LEA: (Yes, it did.) WOTS: I'm afraid to ask this next question, so let's just solve this in a logical way. WOTS: Kyros ain't comin' back, so you're going to have to find him. Nediryo: Ell-Oh-Ell. You guys are so teh hackzers. ^^ *prances* WOTS: ...Good God, that's scary. LEA: (Well, LEA's hungry, so she's gonna go eat. *yawns*) WOTS: Well, this isn't quite a bad stopping point. I'm almost out of CJs anyway, and I haven't finished my Innocence post. ^^ LEA: (*sighs* Yeah.) LEA: (I'll be back later.) WOTS: Bye. King Nediryo: Do I scare you, wielder? WOTS: *holds up a confused and frightened hippy in defense* King Nediryo Ignatius Pharxes: HOW CUTE! *squeezes the hippy's cheek* Hippy: *dies instantly* WOTS: *screams in fear and disappears* Ned: *chases Wielder gaily* WOTS: *twitches and disappears into a void* Ned: Come back! I just wanna talk! I mean it! >< WOTS: *from the void* No! Ned: *fills the void with his infinitely growing fingers, using his biokinesis for quick growth* Ned: I'll GET YOU! WOTS: *from another void* No! WOTS: *leaps from void to void rapidly* Ned: Omigod, how many voidzuh are there? WOTS: More than you can count! *leaps to another*
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[ "I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle." ]
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07-09-2006, 10:11 PM
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09-17-2006, 09:43 PM
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Re: IM-U
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 Set by Insaney. <3 [There is always music amongst the trees...]
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09-20-2006, 01:20 PM
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09-24-2006, 10:02 PM
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Re: IM-U
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Set by Insaney. <3 [There is always music amongst the trees...]
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11-03-2006, 03:01 AM
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Re: IM-U
Dun dun DUUUUUN!!! It's an RP between Drake and Sileya. :O Chronologically speaking, this takes places after the events that are currently being recorded in RIP. Please enjoy.
 ___________________________________________ The last rays of sunset filtered through dense leaves overhead, painting Drake's footsteps in soft red and gold. He stared calmly ahead, wandering toward no place in particular, with eagerness for nightfall. His cloak brushed against foliage as he passed through the forest, producing a noticeable whisper. Laying in a patch of particularly soft moss, Sileya stared upward, catching glimpses of the dying rays of the sun as it sank into the horizon. Here and there, she could pick out a faint star struggling to make itself known over the vibrant display of sunset. Smiling amusedly, she mentally played dot-to-dot with these few emerging stars, entertaining herself in her boredom. But then the sound of clothing brushing against leaves immediately caught her attention, causing her to prick up her ears and cast her gaze about her surroundings in order to determine where it had come from and what had produced it. The dragon-man paused briefly to survey his surroundings. Night was soon to fall. While most would not be able to see this forest in the faint moonlight, his sharp draconic eyes would make note of every shadow. Despite that, the forest always seemed different at night; a new world entirely veiled in soft darkness. It was then that Drake sensed an entity nearby and guardedly drew up a single arm, revealing razor claws. Whoever it was would show himself--or herself--if they were any threat. Sileya stood to her feet quietly. She was certain she had pinpointed exactly where the source of the noise was located. Deciding to keep Drageziel in its casing for now, the elf slipped silently through the trees, weaving closer and closer to whatever it was that had disturbed her relaxation. It wouldn't be long, she knew, until she'd find her quarry. Drake closed his eyes and focused carefully, relying solely on sensitive hearing to determine his stalker's location. Moments later, the sounds of crunching leaves met his ears. He turned swiftly and caught sight of her approaching through the trees. With a faint smile of amusement, the half-dragon bowed. "My Lady Sileya, it is a pleasure. I was not expecting you here." Halting abruptly, Sileya caught herself staring well in time to avoid any awkwardness. Drake had been the last person she'd expected to encounter out here. Deciding she had better say something in reply before he thought her rude, she blinked and regained her composure within mere moments, nodding in return to him. "It is nice to see you again, Drake. What brings you out here?" The dragon-man smiled invitingly at her. At least, that was his intention. Most feared even his smiles for their dark appeal, which was one reason he hid most signs of emotion. Better to be unnoticed than feared. "I wander often, My Lady. Confinement to the base does not suit my nature. We dragons are meant for more...open habitats." He gestured at the forest around them. "Yet, I could ask the same of you. I do not believe her ladyship is a forest elf." Sileya couldn't help but chuckle softly. His attempt to smile was quite amusing, and even if it didn't look all that benevolent, she could sense the intention behind it. "Oh, I wander often, myself. It's how I've lived most of my life, after all." She felt a bit strained trying to constantly look him in the eye, so she chose instead to let her eyes wander about the surrounding area every so often. Drake took note of her wandering gaze with disappointment, but brushed off the momentary feeling. It is merely my height burdening her neck, he told himself. The dragon-man felt an odd longing for someone close by; perhaps the loss of his brother was finally taking its toll. Drake managed another smile. "If that is so, will you not join me? Tonight, I crave companionship." The warrior-summoner blinked softly in mild surprise at his directness. Nevertheless, she did appreciate someone who knew exactly what he wanted right when he wanted it. Allowing a small smile to play across her face, she nodded gently. "Of course. It's not as though I have somewhere pressing to be." The dragon's smile was sincere this time. Few would accept such an offer from one of his likeness. He took a step closer to Sileya and knelt on one knee, though still high as the elf's chest, and gestured for her to climb onto his back. "You have not seen a sunset until you plunge toward it, Lady." The surprise was clearly evident on her face now. He wanted her to climb onto his back? Even as she thought it, a hint of red flushed her cheeks, but she quickly supressed it. Nothing like that, silly. Nothing like that. Clearing her throat to cover up her slight falter in composure, Sileya smoothly climbed onto Drake's back and found a comfortable position. "Oh, really? And am I to assume I'm about to see a sunset in such a manner?" Pretending not to see his companion's nervous blushing, more than obvious to his draconic eyes, Drake let out a "hm" of amusement. "If we hasten. Night draws ever nearer." As he spoke the words, leathery wings emerged with a groan from his black, folding into place as he crouched in preparation for liftoff. "When you give the word, Lady Sileya." "I'm ready whenever you are." She acquired a steady grip on his shoulders, practiced already in the art of dragon-riding, although not exactly familiar with the riding of half-dragons. The powerful muscles in Drake's thighs quivered while his wings flattened against his back. Then, with all the force he could muster, the dragon-man launched himself upward. In an instant the tree canopy was gone. Cool air whistled past as the two soared into the sky. When their ascent slowed, thick wings spread to their full width of twenty feet and beat to keep them aloft till they caught an updraft. "There." Drake pointed in fascination to the horizon as he corrected his flight path toward the sun's radiance. "Is it not a grand sight?" The sun's golden rays split the sky, now in shades of purple, red, and orange. The sight truly was breathtaking, and Sileya pushed a few strands of her hair out of her eyes as the wind caught them. "Yes, it is. Absolutely gorgeous." Watching the sun slowly sink beneath the earth, Drake smiled. "I am partial to moonlight myself, but my brother had a fondness for sunsets. This is my way of remembering." Suspended in a picturesque sky by warm updrafts, the half-dragon stilled his wings and floated lazily along. At the mention of Blitz, Sileya's ears drooped ever-so-slightly. "I'm sorry about your brother. He was probably the best student I ever had in my short time of teaching." She let her eyes wander sadly over the treetops as they rolled lazily by underneath the pair. Drake resisted the urge to sigh, and instead glanced over his shoulder at his elven companion. "Time and unforseen occurrence befall us all, My Lady. You have nothing to apologize for." He returned his gaze to the horizon. "We will all die one day. My brother knew the risks involved when he joined the Alliance. We all know. His end merely came from someplace we did not anticipate." Allowing the sigh to escape her, Sileya shifted slightly on Drake's back. "I know we all die. Sometimes, I just...wish I could prevent it. Not for me, necessarily... And not necessarily death of the body, either. The heart and mind are...so much more important." "Mm..." muttered the dragon-man in acknowledgement. "The elves are rightly praised for their wisdom. There are ways to cheat death, but with each you lose one of the three." He smirked a bit. "In return for immortality, I seem to have lost my mind." Sileya couldn't fully stop her slight flinch. Dropping her voice to a softer level, she drifted her gaze out toward the horizon to stare at nothing, tears threatening to brim in her eyes. "No...you can't say you've lost your mind. You still have the sanity to recognize your loved ones." "For the most part, yes." Failing to notice the tears in her eyes, for his were set ahead, Drake continued with a melancholy tone. "There are times when the feral beast in me takes over, and I become neither dragon nor human. It is inseparable of me, yet I loathe it so." "I see..." Blinking away any traces of tears, she reassured herself of her hold on his shoulders, not strictly out of necessity, though. "Do you fear that one day you may not be able to leave that state of being?" "Not only do I fear it, I believe with a certainty that it will occur." Drake closed his eyes as if to escape a vision, but was forced to open them again when images plagued his eyelids. "I shall have to keep my loved ones at bay for when the time comes." Sileya bit her lower lip and looked down to the side. "Just like Vahn..." The memories flooded her brain for the first time in so long, and she shook her head to chase them away. Sensing her movement on his back and hearing the heartbreak in her voice, Drake considered whether to ask her about the matter. Then, she would not have spoken aloud if she wanted to hide her secrets. "Vahn... Your lover?" The half-dragon's wings beat once more as he slowly descended toward a clearing in the forest. "Well...former lover, in a way. Heh..." She steadied herself as they descended. "We aren't...together anymore, you could say." The pain of the half-truth cut her deeply, and she fought to keep herself from losing emotional control. Now aware of her emotional state, Drake easily picked up on the subliminal meaning. "I see," he spoke in quiet sympathy, eyes set on the clearing. "I am sorry for your loss." Sileya fixed her eyes on the back of Drake's head, her voice in an even, almost monotone state, as she tried to keep the quiver out. "It was...my fault." She is certainly more stable than Amy, thought the dragon to himself. "Every moment in time builds on the previous moment. Things and people change continually. One could change the fate of the world with a single footstep. Whatever the circumstance, you do not bear the blame in its entirety. Brace yourself. We are about to land." Holding on more firmly, Sileya glanced at the rapidly approaching treeline, her silver, blue-streaked hair flying around her. "I bear most of it, though, if I was the one who..." She was almost glad to be interrupted by the landing. Perhaps if she never said it out loud, it would be as though it never occurred. Drake's legs swept underneath him, leaving Sileya dangling by his shoulders as he landed at a particularly high speed, crouching to absorb the shock. He turned as the elf once she slipped off, and looked firmly into her eyes. "What would the alternative have been?" Trying her hardest to avoid his gaze, Sileya gripped her upper left arm with her right hand. The memories had returned in every painful detail, and there was nothing she could do to stop them. Unable to prevent her voice from shaking, she lowered her eyes to the ground. "...Losing my life..." With a soft smile, Drake placed his comforting hand on her shoulder. "Do you think Vahn would want that?" Glancing up briefly at Drake's hand on her shoulder, Sileya tried to force a smile. "I don't think he knew what he wanted at the end, anyway. But I suppose if you're an idealist, no, he wouldn't want that." "Mm... By the way you speak of him, it seems he was not himself. By taking his life, you not only preserved the one he loved, but put him out of his misery as well." His eyes turned distant, and the smile faded for a moment. "If ever he regained his sanity, Vahn would not have forgiven himself for slaying you in madness." Staring up at him for a moment in silence, Sileya abruptly moved to one side of the clearing and leaned against a tree. The night sky held her attention, and she folded her arms behind her head and sighed softly. "Well, it doesn't matter now, I suppose. It's over. And the way I live my life right now, it wouldn't be practical of me to be tied down." Shaking off old memories, Drake allowed himself a chuckle. "In that, we are alike. It would not do for one to be dependant on me when any day the Great One could forsake his servant and release me to Dark Horizon. My strength comes from my master." He looked down at his raised hand and clenched it tightly. "If I outlive my usefulness, I can finally pass on and forget my sins." Sileya turned her head to look at him. "Your sins? We've all committed sins we'd like to forget, but why would you want to cease living when you could just put them behind you?" "It is not only my sins I wish to forget." The dragon relaxed his arm and let it fall to his side. Pitless eyes turned to meet the elf's. "The sins of all are heat-pressed in my mind; things to which no living thing should bear witness. That is why I struggle to keep my sanity." His eyes softened a bit as he gazed at Sileya. "Why, I can even see your sins..." Dropping her eyes immediately to the ground, the elf shifted uncomfortably beneath the dragon-man's eyes. "...You can?" "Yes." He continued watching her. If she looked, she would see pity in his eyes. "Yours are few, whereas I have seen children molested, women needlessly murdered in cold blood, brother turned against brother in heartless disputes. Evil lies not in the act, but the feeling behind it, Sileya." "That doesn't change the fact that I killed the drow I said I loved. Even if he had completely lost his sanity and didn't recognize me..." She clenched her fists and shook her head. "You have no idea what that did to me." His eyes focused intently on her face as he pushed down the urge to retaliate. "What makes you so certain of this?" Looking up abruptly, Sileya forced herself to fix her emerald eyes on his. "You can't tell me..." She trailed off as she caught the look behind his eyes. "You... What happened?" Her inquisitive eyes like needles burned into his own, forcing him to look away. "It is not something I speak of. Even my brother does not know the whole truth." Her eyes stayed fixed on him, although they softened somewhat. After a few moments of silence, she looked upward again and inhaled slowly. "I met him in the middle of battle. We decided to help each other out at least temporarily." She couldn't help but smile amusedly. Meeting her gaze, Drake took a few slow steps toward his elven companion. She was opening up to him. It would be impolite not to reciprocate. "It was different for me. Of all things, I can't seem to recall when we first met. It was peaceful...that much I remember." Her smile turned soft, and her eyes lost a bit of focus as she remembered all those long years ago. She might as well exchange every bit of her story for his. "I had been raised on the principle never to associate with the dark elves. They were trouble in the making and would only bring misfortune to those close to them." She chuckled. "But I was a young 200 years or so and stubborn to a fault." A faint smile flickered across her face. "Besides...he was incredibly handsome." Drake returned her smile as fond memories so rare surfaced from the recesses of his ancient consciousness. "You could call her an angel in more ways than one. A guardian, a servant of the gods of this world, every bit as enigmatic as her masters. Why she came to me, I do not know. Perhaps it truly was coincidence." Drake closed his eyes, forcing the smile to remain. "Or perhaps it was their conjuring all along." Sileya forced her questions to remain silent. They would only ruin the moment. "It wasn't long after that he and I became closer. He had a strength I could hold onto. Something that was real and physical rather than just ephemeral like the Dragons. I'd been alone for awhile then..." She smiled amusedly again. "There aren't many men willing to share their lover with eight other consciousnesses." Drake uttered a "hmph" of bemusement at the subtle jest before continuing. "Almost ten years, now... I could not let myself be close to anyone. The blackouts came often back then. Not even my brother was safe." He sighed and rested his back against the tree nearest Sileya. "But some unsatisfied need pushed me toward her. It was...exhilarating to experience someone's touch, someone's unconditional love so intense it could pierce even my thick head." He looked at his companion again. "I felt wholly sane for the first time." Sileya inhaled deliberately and looked heavenward. "We were...so happy together. It was wonderful having someone to share in my journeys with. But then..." She closed her eyes. "What do you know about the drow as a species?" Drake lowered his gaze and, as if preventing a headache, rubbed his forehead. "They are admittedly a mystery to me. Drows are a subspecies of elves, correct?" Sileya nodded slowly. "Yes, they are elves, and yet...they are not like elves. They have what some of my species refer to as...as disease. An inner dementia just waiting to be unlocked." The dragon's focus shifted as if toward something in the distance. "There are species of dragons with similar characteristics. By the rest of my kind, they are called cursed, but more for cultural reasons." His eyes refocused and fixed on Sileya. "But dementia, you say?" Staring at the ground, the warrior-summoner rubbed her fingers over the bark of the tree she was leaning against. "Yes...they will...unexpectedly and unpredictably go insane." Drake chuckled at a hidden thought, then pulled his cloak tighter around his body as a chill swept through the forest. "Mm... We share that in common, then." After a moment, he added: "Your fallen lover and I, that is." She seemed not to hear the comment, and her head lowered further as the slight wind picked her hair up. "It was worse for him, though. Drows in their demented states can usually be subdued with some concentrated effort on the parts of several semi-skilled elves. But...Vahn was different. He was part of a smaller, secret tribe of drows that worshipped a dragon god. Through their connections with this dragon god, these particular drows were able to achieve the Dark Dragon transformation, as they so called it. And...when he went insane...I was able to stave him off for a little while, but then he transformed..." The half-dragon cocked his head at the mention of a dragon god and stared at Sileya. Dark dragon... It couldn't be my Lord, could it? He shook the thought off, knowing the Great One would never condone such acts. Perhaps some false deity. "I see," he spoke softly in a sympathetic tone. "If I may make an observation, many things in your life seem centered around draconic culture." Sileya smirked. "Oh, really? I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out just now." Sighing, she raised her head up again, tears already formed in her eyes. In disgust, she swiped a hand to dry them. "I'm sorry. I'm not...normally like this." With a soft smile, Drake approached Sileya and pressed a gentle hand on each of her shoulders, gazing into the elven woman's watery eyes. "It is healthy to weep now and again. I can help you to do so. It is an ability I...acquired in my travels." Blinking away the remaining traces of tears, Sileya looked up at the dragon-man. "What do you mean?" "I mean," continued the half-dragon, "that I have limited abilities in the field of hypnosis. I can cause the tension you've built up to release, at least to an extent." She quickly looked away. "Maybe I don't want to release the tension. Maybe it's my reminder never to make the mistakes I made again." Drake continued staring into Sileya's gemlike eyes, squeezing her shoulders gently yet urgently. "Those lessons transcend the feeling behind their memories, My Lady. You need not burden yourself." "I...have to. It's the only way I can keep those sorts of feelings at bay. I'm not meant to dabble in such ideals as love. It's just the cold, hard truth." She continued to eye the ground, taking a deep, slow breath. "Listen to me, Sileya," said Drake more firmly this time, abandoning the title of Lady. "You and I are nothing alike. You have the freedom to live your life in a way of your choosing. Do not constrain yourself to meaningless superstitions of imminent failure." He released one shoulder and guided her chin up to eye level. "Use that elven wisdom. Such things are well within your reach." Smiling a little lopsidedly, Sileya shook her head. "I don't have total freedom, not like you think. I said before that there aren't many people willing to share a lover with eight other consciousnesses inside her head. I wasn't far off in that statement, either." "Should you find one, there is no reason for you to withhold." He released her chin and shoulder, gazing thoughtfully at her. "You will forget neither the memories nor the lessons they taught, but the pain of recalling them will ease. Shall I do this?" She inhaled slowly, then exhaled. "Alright. If you really think it'll help." Slowly grasping Sileya's shoulders to still her, Drake smiled. "Rest assured. Now, calm yourself..." His pitless eyes seemed to gloss over, swirling like pools of milk. Staring mesmerized in his eyes, Sileya felt herself slowly relax, those knots in the back of her neck loosening considerably. It's been a while since I've done this, thought the half-dragon to himself. In truth, he had never done this for any reason other than to utilize the ancient dragon's Wrath of Ages and paralyze victims. Nevertheless, he focused intently, suspending his companion in a state of unawareness and picked at the dark spots in her consciousness carefully. Dimly, Sileya felt one of the Dragons, probably either Pyria or Lithiuan, stir before she slipped into blissful near-unconsciousness. She knew hardly anything at all in this state other than the fact that she was still alive somehow. With Sileya's mind distracted by a hypnotic trance, Drake could sense one of the Dragons in her mind more strongly. He felt an urge to communicate with it, but restrained himself and focused instead on dispelling the binds of stress confining the elf's mind. The effect was increasing, and Sileya felt her body slowly going limp. Sleep would be good right now... That was the only thought she had before it slipped away from her again. But soon after that, another one chimed in almost on top of it. Or a bubble bath... I miss my room in the Dome... Still synced with his companion's mind, Drake sensed the intentions of her thoughts and chuckled inwardly. Her mental powers were not as strong as he expected, or she would feel rejuvenated as soon as she reemerged from this state. Taking his time with the last traces of tension, the half-dragon slowly relinquished his hold on her mind, and quickly caught her before she could fall. Landing softly in Drake's arms, Sileya shook her head lightly and blinked a few times. "Unh..." Checking to make sure everything was still okay inside her head, she briefly brushed the consciousnesses of all eight Dragons. Finding everything was in order, she struggled to keep her head up. "Well, I suppose I feel...a little better, at least." "I am not skilled in hypnotism, truthfully." He smiled a bit and shifted the elf in his arms, supporting her drained body. "There was the possibility that I could turn you into a vegetable." Chuckling softly, she leaned against him, still not quite totally coherent. "Oh, really? My, that would prove to be interesting." Drake allowed himself a very rare grin at her reply, then leaned Sileya against the tree for a moment to remove his cloak. "You are weary, My Lady, and the wind is cool this evening." He placed the cloak around her, somehow amused that it dragged on the ground, then took her in his arms again. It felt surprisingly natural to support his elven companion, whereas he would ordinarily be uncomfortable. She laughed softly when he placed his cloak around her shoulders. "You really are twice my size, almost." Grinning, Sileya couldn't help but release a soft yawn in her weariness. "Well. At least I don't have anywhere to be tomorrow morning." "Nor do I," thought Drake to himself, not quite realizing that he'd spoken aloud. "If that is the case, we may rest here for the night. The hour is late, and the hypnosis has sapped your strength. It would not do to wander off." The half-dragon secretly intended to watch over his companion as she slept, being nocturnal and requiring less sleep. His cloak was thick; a great makeshift sheet, especially for one of Sileya's size. "Oh, I should be alright, really. I've been more drowsy than this before." She wrapped the folds of his cloak tighter around herself to keep out the chill night air. "Besides, I wouldn't want to be a burden to you all night." Drake smiled to himself. "You will be no burden, My Lady. You are as much a legend as I among dragonkind." He bowed slightly. "It would be a pleasure to keep you company in your rest. After all, it is not often that I have companionship." Sileya wrinkled her nose a little in amusement. "Oh, there's no need for bowing, now. And you can just call me Sileya, instead of all that "Lady" business. I'm an easy-going person when it comes to that stuff." "My apologies, Lady..." he caught himself mid-sentence and chuckled, "Sileya. It is a learned behavior. My master expects great courtesy of his Emissary. Even so, it is late, and you should rest. Otherwise, you may negate the effects of hypnosis." "Well, if you insist, I suppose a little sleep wouldn't hurt. Too bad I can't follow through on that bubble bath, though." She smirked a little in half-disappointment. Drake chuckled once more and reclined against the tree, looking expectantly at her to do the same. "'Tis a shame." Exhaling another yawn, the elf leaned against the tree, her lids drooping slightly. "Maybe some other time, then..." "Perhaps," spoke the dragon softly with a serene smile. It had been a long time since Drake had a companion outside the Alliance. Perhaps, after so long, he would have a friend to accompany him through the hard times; one who wasn't restricted by regulations, constantly relocated and sent out on missions; one who could be there. Shifting into a more comfortable position, Sileya glanced up at the sky, breathing slowly and evenly. "So, you never finished telling me about your angel." Drake's smile faded, replaced with a thoughtful stare. "It is not much of a bedtime story, and certainly does not end in happily ever after. I will tell, but are you certain you wish to hear it?" "Only if you wish to tell it." She blinked once, slowly, and maintained her gaze on the heavens. Perhaps it will do some good. With a heavy sigh, Drake shifted against the tree and continued his story. "Though we met under peculiar circumstances, our connection was undeniable. We would meet in the night, far from the Alliance and its battlefields, and spend long hours, sometimes days, together. Before long, we became intimate. More than once. For the first time, I felt freedom. The shackles of the Alliance and my master were lifted. I was fully satisfied with my place in the world." His eyes turned downward a bit. "But our love soon suffered a swift deathblow." She sighed softly and lowered her ears. "What happened?" Drake paused for a long moment, choosing his words carefully. "I do not know why, but her masters commanded that she kill me. Given any choice, she would have resisted, but that would have cost her life." He closed his eyes and looked down. "I should have been the one to die... I resisted on impulse, for she came at me unexpectedly in the base. I shoved her against the wall, and a loose coat of arms fell. She was pierced through the heart with a steel sword and died slowly..." Drake's eyes sealed tightly. "There was nothing I could do." Turning her gaze on him, she raised a hand to place comfortingly on his arm. "I'm sorry..." He turned his head away and restrained himself from becoming emotional. It is not fit for an Emissary to weep. Still, the warmth of Sileya's hand on his arm brought some comfort, and so he made no effort to push her away. "It was a long time ago." Rubbing his arm lightly, Sileya sensed the emotion he was trying to hard to restrain. "If you need to let it out, there's nothing wrong with that. There's no one else here besides us. Well...in a sense." She tried to smile reassuringly. "Tears cannot bring her back." Drake slowly turned his head to face the elf. "Your kindness is too great for this good-for-nothing servant of the Great One." Sileya snorted softly. "'Good-for-nothing'? I think not. I don't want to hear that kind of talk out of you." "It is the truth. My life is not self-serving, nor for the sake of others, but for that one's will alone." His eyes stare coldly as the chill night air, unfeeling yet not insensitive. "Beyond that, I have no purpose. Thus, as far as others are concerned, I am good-for-nothing." She stared hard at him for a moment. "You serve the Alliance, don't you? You want to protect your family, don't you? That sounds like a purpose to me." "My master is concerned for the Tears. His interests merely happen to be in accordance with mine on that matter." He smirked faintly in amusement as if coming to some amusing conclusion. "If he forsook them, I would have no choice but to abandon my family. Would they understand, I wonder?" "If he made you abandon your family... That just doesn't sound like something he would do from the little I know about him through the Dragons." "The master's will is far greater than a handful of lives, Sileya." Listlessly, Drake lowered his gaze again. "Earth's collective population is more important." "That aside, I serve the Great One. Not the other way around." She fixed her gaze on him steadily. "So if he, say, told you to kill me right now, you would do it without question?" He met her gaze firmly. "I would question the act in my mind, but in the end, I have little impact on my master's will. His purpose is to safeguard this world as best it can be done." Dropping her gaze from his, she nodded gently. "I see." "Do you?" he quested, not parting his eyes from her. "I have no want for your end, Sileya. In truth, I am quite fond of you." A particularly chill wind blew past, but Drake's tough skin kept him warm. "I should like for us to travel together, since I have unbound myself from the Alliance." She looked up abruptly, pulling Drake's cloak more firmly around herself as the breeze swept through the trees. "You want me...to travel with you? I'd be honored." The dragon-man smiled faintly at her reaction. "Honored? I think it is I who receive the honor. You lead the life I would much rather possess." He paused and gave her a pensive look. "Would you be prepared to assist me in carrying out the master's will? Should you serve him, no harm will befall you." Sileya rolled the thought around in her head for a moment, listening as each of the Dragons gave her his or her opinion on the matter until finally, a consensus was reached. "I don't see why not. The Dragons all seem to hold the utmost respect for him, and most of them have urged me to agree to this." With a silent nod of approval, Drake spoke. "Then it is done. We shall be cohorts, children under the Great One's service and protective wing." He smiled then and reached out to place a hand on Sileya's. "It is long since I've had a companion. Know the depths of my gratitude." She smiled. "Well, you're a rather intriguing fellow, you know? Besides, we do have that whole dragon connection. It's been awhile since I've had anyone to share that with..." "I must admit to a great deal of curiosity as to the nature of your companions." He gestured toward her forehead, still smiling. The expression felt so natural somehow, though normally it was forced, and never backed with such feeling as at this moment. "Few find interest of any kind in one as imposing as myself. It is good fortune on my part that we have met." Chuckling, Sileya leaned more comfortably against her tree. "Hmm...even I don't know everything about the Dragons. Just bits and pieces here and there that they choose to reveal to me. But something tells me there's considerably more to them than being merely ancient elemental powerhouses that I can summon at need." "Secretive as always," muttered Drake to himself. "My kind are thought wise for their secrecy, though the truth is that they make mention only of what is necessary." "I know that all too well," she said with a soft chuckle. "The moment I start trying to ask for more information out of them, they grow silent and usually say something along the lines of 'In time.' or 'You must find that out for yourself.' or my personal favorite, 'That is not for one such as yourself to know.'" With a faint smile, the elf pushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes. "Sometimes, I wonder if they really trust me." The half-dragon gave her an amused smile, though she wasn't looking in his direction. "It is more a matter of natural growth of a species than of trust. Though great in wisdom, dragons prefer to let others develop at their own rate, giving a helpful push when necessary." With a soft "hmph," Sileya drew the cloak tighter about herself as a particularly chill breeze suddenly swept through the trees. "Yeah, I suppose. It's just hard for me, sometimes. I wish I had someone to compare myself to, you know? But I seem to be the only elf with Dragons living, in a way, inside her head. It makes a person feel lonely and isolated at times." Turning his head toward her, Drake caught the elf woman's eyes with his smile. "Well, then, you should enjoy traveling with me, Sileya. We are alike in that the Great One tells me only what is necessary. The rest, learn on my own, or..." he paused and tapped his forehead suggestively. Sileya caught the gesture and quirked an eyebrow quizzically at him. "Or...what?" Tilting his head in curiosity, Drake fixed his eyes on his new companion. "I hadn't mentioned...?" He smirked. "Well, then, I have some explaining to do. You see, My Lady, when my link to the master was first established, everything he had seen with his mind's eye was implanted in my brain. If there is anything you want to know, odds are that I can provide you with that information." Allowing Drake's use of the honorific to pass for the moment, Sileya couldn't stop her eyes from widening slightly in astonishment. "You have quite a bit of knowledge inside your head, then, I'll bet." He nodded solemnly, letting the smile disappear. The elf's reaction did not surprise him; it was common among new acquaintances. "It is painful at times. Cracking the mental dam sometimes results in seizures, or worse." Nodding gently, her expression returned to a more neutral state. "I see... So it is both a blessing and a curse, in a way." "The blessing is heavily outweighed by the curse," he said softly, holding her gaze with his own pitless eyes. "You see, the Great One has been on this Earth for as long as mankind has walked its surface. Thus, I know every sin committed by everyone who lives on this world." His eyes narrowed a bit, though not critically. "I even know your sins, and that is why I earlier said yours are few." Again, the elf shifted uncomfortably, turning her head to run her eyes over the forest floor, and whispered. "Few or not, they're still there, still plaguing my existence." Even though she was perfectly warm inside the borrowed cloak, Sileya shivered at the mental and emotional coldness that suddenly set in. "Everyone has things they'd rather forget, or even see erased completely." Watching her fidget, the dragon couldn't help feeling a strain of pity for Sileya. Ultimate knowledge was often a burden; this was one such instance. "I apologize. Some things come naturally, while others require drawing out. If I look someone in the eyes, I often see many things about them." "Are they always bad things?" Keeping her eyes fixed on the ground, she inhaled slowly, pressing her fingers into her own arms in an attempt to generate more warmth within the folds of Drake's cloak. "When you have seen as much ill in the world as I, it is difficult to focus on the good in the hearts of all." He released a soft sigh, drawing one leg closer to rest his arm on the knee. "But no, there are good things. For instance, I see that you are strong-willed and that you fight for the weak. Most bury their good deeds in sin, but you, Sileya, are not like them." "Heh...I try to fight for such noble causes as that, but there are times when...my continued well-being hangs in the balance. When food and shelter become scarce, one must do what one must do." Bringing her head up slowly to look at him, she softly exhaled the breath she'd taken earlier. "Even so...I still have my sense of honor and ethics. I've never killed anyone in cold-blood or for payment." With a knowing smile, Drake spoke calmly. "It is so. But you have never stolen more than was necessary, nor have you taken from the less fortunate. That is commendable." "There have been lies, though. They were...unavoidable..." "I cannot think of one who has not spoken the untruth." It was a particularly remarkable statement, considering the thought behind it. Smiling faintly, Sileya leaned further back into her tree trunk. "You know...these things really aren't as comfortable as all those adventure stories make them out to be." She ended in a chuckle. Drake mirrored the gesture and rested his chin upon his arm, which already reclined on his knee. "Truer words were never spoken. Heroes aren't what the picturebooks portray. We're often as dark-minded as our adversaries, in fact." "Mm...and that is the truth..." After fidgeting around a little more, Sileya finally gave up on the tree trunk. "Oh, forget it," she said in mild exasperation to the tree. Instead, she slid down to rest completely on the ground, her face to the heavens. "Well...it's an improvement, at least. Hehe. I don't have bark digging into my back anymore." Drake looked away and wrestled with a thought in his mind, considering whether to voice it aloud. After several moments of silence, those pitless eyes returned to her and he spoke. "If you are not opposed, I may provide more comfortable rest." Sileya turned her head in his direction, slight amusement sparkling in her eyes at his obvious awkwardness. "Well, how could I turn down such a big pillow?" Chuckling softly, she sat up. "Would you like your cloak back? It is getting rather cold out here." Waving a hand in dismissal, Drake sat up and straightened his legs to improve his usefulness as a "pillow". He found the phrase almost laughable. "It is not so much as an inconvenience to a black dragon's thick skin." Sileya smiled. "Well, alright. That's in my favor, then. I think I've grown rather attached to your cloak." Laughing softly, the elf moved over to Drake but paused for a moment, considering how best to arrange herself comfortably. Reaching a decision, she climbed into his lap, sitting herself with her shoulders perpendicular to his chest, and then hesitantly leaned to the side to rest against him. "Is...this alright?" She tried to ignore the berating of Lithiuan inside her head, insisting it wasn't proper for her to be sitting the Emissary's lap. If the question was a struggle, Drake now considered his black-as-night skin a boon. Blushing did not change the color of his cheeks. Still, there was something comfortable about it. Nights as chilly as this one did not have much effect on him, but as the night dragged on, its frigidness often caused him to toss and turn. Perhaps I could sleep easily like this. Looking down at his companion, he felt somehow protective of her. Very hesitantly, the dragon wrapped his arms around the elf. "It is fine." Allowing a small yawn to escape her, Sileya leaned a little closer than she had at first. "Mm...yeah, much better than that stupid tree..." She chuckled again. Though his expression remained calm and collected, Drake smiled inwardly. Suddenly, his mental defenses kicked in, and he almost panicked. It took everything the dragon-man could muster to shove down that natural fear of being close to others, and once it diminished, he released a heavy sigh. "It is late, Sileya, and you grow weary. Shall we rest this way?" Craning her neck to look up at him, she blinked her emerald eyes once. "Is something the matter?" She had almost sensed the tension that had released inside him with his exhalation. "If this makes you uncomfortable, you can just tell me. I won't mind." Looking down at his companion, Drake couldn't help noting how close their faces were. He might have bitten his lip if his teeth weren't so sharp. "It is fine. I have not been physically close to anyone but my sister-in-law for a...very long time." Despite the almost wooden assurance that all was well with her sitting in his lap, Sileya decided to let well enough alone for now, but couldn't suppress the small sigh of relief she felt at knowing he didn't want her to immediately remove herself, at least. "I understand. If I ever intrude on your boundaries, just let me know, alright?" "Avoid killing me, and we'll be on good terms," he muttered with a smirk and laughed quietly. Hiding the slight grimace from him, Sileya covered up the accompanying wince with a bit of laughter herself. "I don't think you have to worry about that." As if dispelling the last of his tension, Drake let out another soft sigh and gently squeezed Sileya on impulse. "Apologies if I have offended you." The discomfort of being close to her slowly was dissipating, though it would have been very different for any other. The elf's connection to draconic culture appealed to Drake somehow. Smiling sadly, Sileya let her eyes wander away from Drake to skim over the surrounding foliage. The squeeze had surprised her a bit, as well, and she merely needed time to collect herself. "It's alright. I know you didn't mean it like that." "Even so, I should not be so discourteous." The half-dragon followed her gaze, not quite expecting to find anything of interest. "My bitterness is no excuse." "You know, it's...been a while since I've talked this much with anyone. Not even the Dragons provide as much conversation." She lowered her gaze to her lap and allowed herself to relax again. Searching his old memories, Drake found that he could not remember the last time he spoke at such length with anyone. He voiced this to Sileya and let himself relax along with her. With a smile, Sileya let one of her hands trail over to one of his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thanks for listening, Drake. It feels good being able to vent to someone tangible every once in a while." Though surprised by her squeeze, the half-dragon smiled back. "I could say the same of you, Sileya. Even some of the Tears are unwilling to listen to this weary head of mine." Now with the discomfort gone, he felt calm. Finally, someone who isn't intimidated by my blood, thought Drake to himself as he wrapped his arms around his companion once more. "My offer to rest this way remains." "Hm...I think I'd like that..." Her eyelids drooped considerably, and she exhaled another yawn. Closing his own eyes and feeling weariness slowly overcome himself, Drake rested his chin atop Sileya's head. "I believe I would, also."
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Set by Insaney. <3 [There is always music amongst the trees...]
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11-29-2006, 11:23 PM
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12-02-2006, 12:12 PM
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12-24-2006, 06:30 PM
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Re: IM-U
Part 1 of an RP between Wielder and myself, using Drake and Bella respectively.
------------------------------------------- Rays pelted the earth in this barren wasteland. The ocean of sand stretched endlessly in all directions, heartless to weary travelers. Every now and again, animals skittered across high dunes, avoiding what they knew to be a natural predator. Even after ages of supposed extinction, their instincts were unchanged. "What the hell am I doing here?" asked Drake to no one in particular. He knew the answer but that made the desert sun no less frustrating. "If I weren't sheltered by his eyes, I'd have been dead days ago." He was, of course, referring to the Great Dragon, whose protection kept Drake from dying of thirst. A few moments later, the half-dragon caught sight of a flickering image in the hazy distance. Shading his eyes, he arched a quizzical eyebrow. "Why would someone else...?" he trailed off and started toward the other traveler. Anyone who could survive in this wasteland was curious indeed. Bella stumbled forward wearily, thinking only to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The heat made her vision swim, the mass of sand seeming to move almost like a real sea might. She had lost track of how long she had been walking across the desert. Food had been almost non-existant, and water even less available. The Hylian was now going on one meal a day... if you could call the small fare she allowed herself a meal. She had no clue how far the desert stretched on, and she didn't think she could survive out here on hunting skills alone. "If I ever find that guy..." she muttered to herself, seething. An image of a young man with a smile almost too sincere to be believed swam before her eyes. "Adventure of a lifetime indeed," she snorted, blinking the image away. However, an image stayed. A hazy figure, appearence masked by the distance and the heat. The tracker squinted, looking at it. Someone else out here? Strange... Going from a brisk walk to a trot, Drake kept his eye on the distant figure as it began to take shape in the obscuring haze. One hand rested near the hidden dagger at his belt, should self-defense be necessary. He hadn't gone far when, without warning, a howling gust swarmed the sky, turning the air to dust. Sandstorm! cursed Drake. The half-dragon shut his mouth tightly, trying not to breathe in the sands sharp as needles. Bella looked around in alarm as a sudden, severe gust of wind brought sand swirling up at her. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was. "A sandstorm!" she exclaimed. Or rather, attempted to. The instant she opened her mouth she was pelted with sand, making her cough fiercely. She covered her mouth with her tunic and bent her head against the sand. A SANDSTORM! She thought in frustration and alarm. What do I do? There's no shelter... this thing could swallow me up! Realizing she was on the edge of building up a first class panic, the redhead forced herself to calm down. Think, think... Okay, it can't bury a moving target. I'll keep going and hopefully I can ride it out. She struggled forward, fighting the winds. She could no longer see the figure she had spotted, other than in vague glimpses, but she went in the direction she thought she had seen him last. Well, at least there's some good to this, thought the Emissary. With the sun obscured by dark sands, Drake dispersed himself into the shadows now covering the ground. Seeing with unpresent eyes, he moved with unprecedented speed through the darkness. The figure he'd glanced was a woman, but he couldn't make out much of her in the storm. She'll never survive, he knew, emerging from the shadows behind the girl. Not willing to let her meet the fates in this heartless place, Drake lifted her up beneath the shoulders and then, spreading leathery wings, he took flight. Bella let out a cry of surprise as she was suddenly lifted from the ground. She was rewarded with yet another mouthful of sand, the tiny particles scoring her throat. D***! When will I learn? She thought in frustration, coughing into her sleeve. The Hylian realized she was still rising further upword, and looked down to see something large, black, and leathery. To either side of her large wings were flapping furiously through the winds. What on Earth...? She thought to herself. In a few moments, they burst out of the thick dust cloud and into open sky. The winds were strong here, but the sands could only travel so far. Beneath them the storm continued to rage, but Drake's wings carried he and his hapless companion safely across the airways. Glancing down, careful not to drop her, the dragon-man shouted over the roaring wind. "Are you alright?" Bella looked up, able to see her rescuer fully at last. ...Why do I always seem to meet the ones with wings? She laughed to herself. "Yeah... I'm alright, thanks." She glanced down at the furiously swirling winds below her, and flinched slightly. "Now I know why they say don't look down...." Even his sharp draconic ears couldn't pick out her last words, but it wasn't important. "Good. Now let's find someplace safe to land." Wind buffeted his thick frame, making flight hazardous, but he kept a steady course. The sandstorm had moved with incredible speed, already covering much of the horizon. Then we'll move upwind, decided Drake, and turned sharply to fight the harsh storm. "Hang on!" Almost immediately, the winds threw him off course. Drake fought to stay airborne, but his wings simply weren't strong enough. He couldn't transform without dropping the woman. The winged man turned sharply, facing the full brunt of the winds. Bella closed her eyes as a powerful gust twisted them around. Land soon... land soon... Gods I hate the desert. With a start, Drake realized he was gradually being forced downward. At this rate, he wouldn't be airborne long enough to escape the storm. He could survive in the harsh weather, but this woman was another story altogether. There was only one avenue remaining. Focusing intently, Drake suddenly slipped into the otherworld. The wind stopped, the sands faded, and the sky was a rainbow of colors. The danger was apparent to him; no normal being could survive long in this place where energy dominated matter. Elemental energies would slowly begin chipping away at his companion's physical makeup, but with no resistance, perhaps he could escape the storm in time. Without warning, the harsh winds were gone. For a moment, Bella was relieved, until she noticed a prickling feeling all over, as if she was being stung. Confused, she opened her eyes once more. What she saw took her breath away. The sands were gone, and the sky was a rainbow of color. Wha... what's happening? She thought. She suddenly remembered something from long before. Is this like one of those gateways Iya took me through back then? She wondered. No... it feels totally different. And what is with this horrible prickling?! The tracker looked around in confusion, her eyes wide as she took in this new world. She wanted desperately to ask about it, but for once, her words failed her. Which was likely for the best... it looked as though her rescuer was concentrating hard on something. Likely getting us away from here! Right... I'll leave him be for now. But once we're safe on the ground... he's got some serious explaining to do! Drake could sense the woman's discomfort. If he didn't get her out of the otherworld, then within minutes she would be another assortment of various elements splattering the face of this sister dimension. Beating his wings swiftly as possible, the half-dragon surged through the glowing elemental atmosphere. Soon, the thick collection of earth elemental energy beneath began to dissipate. Inwardly, Drake sighed in relief and passed back into the natural world. The sandstorm was behind them now, a thick wall of dust churning away through the desert. Relaxing the beat of his wings, Drake slowly descended and set his companion safely on the desert floor. Bella sighed with relief as her feet hit the sand. She entertained thoughts of kissing the ground in happiness, but she really had had enough sand in her mouth today. "Thank goodness THAT's over..." she said fervently. "Thank you very much for getting me out of that storm, Sir." Awfully exuberant for just having a near-death experience, mused the unamused half-dragon. "Count yourself fortunate I was in the area," he spoke coolly, looking down on her small frame; small, at least, in comparison to his own. Bella smiled. "Yes, it was a most fortunate chance." Her smile slipped a bit. "But... what was that place?" She shivered slightly, recalling the strange feeling she had gotten from it. Drake hesitated. The Alliance preferred to keep knowledge of the elements hidden, since the majority of the outside population were so superstitious about it. Then again, this girl was hardly normal to be traveling in a desert dressed like that. Perhaps it would be alright to tell her; not that she'd understand. "It is called the otherworld," Drake replied calmly, "the mirror of this world in which the elements dominate matter. That is why you saw rainbows; they were the physical manifestation of raw elemental energy." Bella nodded slowly, trying to grasp this concept. "So... in essence it's a world where magic, or whatever definition you wish to give it, dominates matter?" "Yes, that's the gist of it. Normal beings cannot survive in that world, which is why you felt pain." Now that he looked this girl over, Drake saw that she certainly wasn't unattractive. Flagrantly red hair, though mussed from the storm, was tied back in a thick tail while a few loose strands framed her childish face. Determining her age wasn't easy, but by the weapons hung at her belt, Drake estimated she was in her mid-twenties. Assuming she's human, that is. "Why are you here? This is hardly the place for one such as yourself to be bumbling about." A frown flitted across Bella's face. "I was tricked, that's what. I was supposed to get a ride across the desert, but my guide skipped out in the night with my money." It was a struggle to restrain the chuckle. "My condolences," said Drake, failing to halt slight traces of an amused grin on his face. "If we were heading in the same direction, I would guide you, but as it happens I've someplace to be. If you don't mind returning the way you came, I can take you as far as the northern edge of this desert." Bella thought for a moment. It didn't take her long to decide. "Alright, I'll come with you. I DEFINATELY don't want to be up against one of those sand storms again... and I'm doubting my ability to make it across this desert on my own. I'm more of a forest person, myself," she said with a wink. Part of the half-dragon wished she had rejected the offer, but setting those loner tendencies aside, Drake once more assumed the uncomfortable role of guardian. Cloak furling in the wind, he started through the windy dunes once more. She is fortunate. If she had minded going north, Drake would be unable to shelter her. Glancing over his shoulder for a moment, the half-dragon motioned. "Come. We have much ground to cover before nightfall. With luck, we can be free of this wasteland by morning." Bella nodded, quickening her pace to keep up with his long strides. Gone by nightfall! I never thought to get out of here so quickly! She thought happily. "By the way, Sir, I never caught your name. Mine's Bella. "I was about to ask. I am Drake Keir," said the dragon-man, casting his companion a brief glance without breaking stride. "As for why I'm here, I am the servant of a renowned lord who has instructed me to meet him far to the north." Bella grinned, eyeing his wings. His name's certainly fitting, isn't it? Aloud she said, "What, no transportation for his vistors? How rude." Her eyes twinkled, showing it was a joke. "And he certainly must like his privacy, if you have to cross an entire DESERT to get there." "My master knows that I am capable," said Drake, restraining a light twitch at her almost careless joviality. "It would be...inconvenient to more than just himself for my lord to relocate even seldom." "Oh?" This last comment sparked her curiousity. "And why exactly is that?" She realized that she might be crossing a line... but Bella had never been a very cautious one, and there was little that annoyed her as much as an unsolved riddle. "It is in your best interest if you do not know," he answered with a tone of finality. "Hmm... if you say so..." Bella replied. A slight note in her voice hinted that she had by no means forgotten about it, and would seize the first opportunity to learn more, if she could. What have I gotten myself into? wondered Drake. This is going to be a long trip... He quickened his pace a bit, leather boots sinking heavily into the soft sands, hoping to shorten the journey by any amount. Bella grinned, noting his increased pace. She sped her own up, coming close to a jog now. However, she'd not ask him to slow down, as he was being kind enough to look after her until the desert was behind them both. That doesn't mean I'll have any qualms about bugging him with questions and such as the come to me, however. She thought with a grin. My Lord, spoke the dragon silently, noting Bella's grin from the corner of his eye, do you mean to torment me? Have I displeased you in some way? It was unlikely. When the Great One was unsettled, he expressed it in more obvious ways, such as a brief mental message. Fortunately for Drake, he'd never dissatisfied the Great Dragon to the point of reprimand. Hopefully, this wasn't the first instance, and would pass shortly. The silence dragged on for a bit as they walked. For some reason, Bella got the impression that this Drake person wasn't the type for idle chit-chat. A thought came to her, and she sped up just a bit so that she was walking side by side with her companion. "Excuse me, Drake?" she said. "Are you hungry? I have a little bit of food in my pack... I can't offer you much, but you said we should likely be out of this place by nightfall, so I can restock then. And it's the least I can do, seeing as how the food wouldn't do a buried corpse all that much good." She grinned at him. The half-dragon looked down at her. It was a generous offer, and it would unpleasant to explain to her why food consumption was unnecessary for proficient elementalists. Drake also had the good fortune to be a devout omnivore. "Very well... I will appreciate it." His long, leathery wings emitted a sickening 'crunch' as they folded and retracted into his back, letting the hoodless cloak fall over his entire frame.
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  Panique made the sig, chibis by Andrea. The squee-inducing avy is by DQ. <3 BA Characters: Sarah Hamilton, Bella, Luna
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