wolves-of-etoile

[wolves-of-etoile]

David pulled his chair to be closer to her, somewhat diagonal. His voice was soft and he touched her arm almost hesitantly. "It's not selfish to want to be treated kindly." He was silent for a moment, hoping that the words had sunk in a little.

"Do you want to talk about it -- how you got to be here?" Now he was truly hesitant. He knew he was trodding on painful ground. Anyone who chose this life typically did not do it to make their loved ones proud -- they did it to avenge their loved ones. She could clam up and that would be the end of it, and she had every right to.

As an afterthought, he gestured up the couch, if she wanted to make herself comfortable. "Come, let's sit down. I'll bring the tea."

“It’s not that simple,” Cara replied with a shake of her head. “You think this is about me taking away decisions from you, but it’s not. It’s about... You’ve only had a taste of the supernatural world. You have no idea what it can do or what it can make....” What it could make people do. What it could turn them into. “And, yes, a huge part of why I don’t form connections is to protect people, but it’s also because I’ve never had to discuss how I... got from where I was to where I am. I know you’re not asking for that information, but if it gets out somehow, if I get backed into a corner, you have no idea, I can’t...” She set her fork down, and even though she did it gently, it sounded insanely loud to her ears to the point where she winced. “...I want to do this, too. You’re the kindest person that I’ve met outside of my family. But it feels wrong. Selfish.”

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David frowned. "Anyone can be dangerous. It's what you do with your autonomy that you will be remembered by. But I trust you. And I know you won't abuse your free will for personal gain. Perhaps in that, you're more trustworthy than the average person." The phrase 'we're only human' was a funny one when compared to Max. It highlighted that all humans had weaknesses, that they could be tempted... Maybe Max could be tempted. What a step in sentience that would be. "It's not a sin to be better. Use that betterness to inspire and help others."

He set down the pile of folded clothes and regarded his friend. "In a way, I envy you. You have an opportunity to be anyone and do anything. And you can presumably do it again and again, as long as you're careful. I almost want to accompany you, to see how you grow and develop, but it's probably for the best that we separate after we arrive at our destination."

He was going to miss his friend, but it truly was safer this way -- for both of them.

"How humans gain an education is different." Max noted softly, brows lifting a little as he looked back at David. He knew most humans likely didn't think about it much, that androids didn't really need to be shown things to learn, most could just be downloaded straight into their processors and they could be sent on their way. From day one, they were never entirely empty, so much knowledge stored away as soon as their eyes opened.

"I can download the necessary information in one go and remember every bit of it in more detail than any human can." It wasn't a boast, simply a truthful statement, perhaps softened by a small shrug of his shoulders to show that he wasn't prideful about the fact. "Everything else, I can manufacture for myself and integrate my qualifications and identity into online systems. It's all code and... I am code." He quickly realised how it sounded, even wincing a little as he seemed to slide down the couch, pulling his legs up close to his chest.

"I really am dangerous, aren't I?" Max realised as though the thought had hit him like a ton of bricks. The things he could do with his independence, the decisions he could make, able to navigate through the human world that had become so reliant on technology that one piece of it could now turn it against them. After all, who better to speak to technology than one of its own? An android with true sentience? It was terrifying.

[wolves-of-etoile]

David felt his facial muscles stiffening. This was not good. More doomsday scenarios and solutions played in his brain, and now people were dead. He quickly decided that notifying families was not his problem nor his priority. Let UC take care of their own dead. No, his main concern now was destroying his ship before someone else decided to get clever and transport this thing to a populated system.

"Caz, can you get off the ship safely? Even if you have to jump out an airlock?"

Bombs on the outside? Where would I get explosives?

Hijack a ship? Possible, but be prepared to run for the rest of your life.

Leak this to SSNN? Another possibility, but the reporter might want to get a first-hand look of the danger... Plus the time-factor of this getting back to civilization, nevermind appropriate action being taken

Ugh, hijack it is... Or hire. "I'm gonna try to find a ship. The Sentry needs to be destroyed."

He heard the Captain's voice coming through and he struggled to move, urged his circuitry to hurry and repair his systems from the temporary stasis he'd put put into while the nanobots in his system worked on getting him operational again. If he could focus them enough to one area then he could at least respond even if he was unable to move for a time. Just... focus... repair the right wires.... and... there! His fingers flexed and he slowly reached for the commlink to respond. "Captain, if you did not send the UC they've gone behind your back. They're here... were... here." He supposed it ought to be past tense now. "The situation has... ah-... magnified." As he spoke one of the creatures slowly approached him -any human might feel quite a level of intimidation- seemed to sense he wasn't a human, hissed and backed away. "The Queen's eggs have hatched. I'm afraid the UC crew didn't make it. The families will need to be n-n-notified."

[wolves-of-etoile]

"Certain areas are dealing with... guests." The word was said in such a way to imply that not all these guests were wholeheartedly welcome. Kay's people were quite capable of inflection and euphemism, it seemed. "It isn't anything we can't handle though. We haven't had violence down here -- yet -- but we should get this crisis resolved soon before something disastrous does happen." 1112 gave a curious glance to Yakuv, but the young Va'ruun just smiled. The synthetic gestured. "Follow me please."

David hiked the backpack higher up on his back and then followed. 1112 led them down a few more levels and around some turns that David had lost track of mentally mapping out. It would be quite inconvenient to get lost down here.

Along the way, the trio might have gotten sight of a small group of anthropomorphic cat people sitting around a conference table with an assigned synthetic... host... minder... babysitter. And there was another group of seemingly normal humans in unfamiliar uniforms. More extra-dimensional visitors, no doubt.

1112 finally stopped at a large secure-looking door. They pressed their hand to a palm-lock and the machinery-clad brightly-lit interior was open to them. "Kay's should be with you shortly."

"Awesome. Glad you two are okay! Either way, the offer stands if you guys need a trauma pack."

Pari stated with a thumbs up before the doors slid open. As familiar as the place seemed, there was still that.. sense of something being wildly different.

At least there wasn't anyone opening fire on them immediately. Even if the set up did seem that there had been some conflict.

Once she'd spotted 1112, she too let out a massive sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness you're okay too! And yeah. We liaised with another group who are just as stranded as us. Not the Ecliptic Mercenaries, of course. How have you all been holding up?"

She asked 1112, holstering her energy rifle.

[wolves-of-etoile]

"A jealous pilgrim. The guards say that he is awaiting trial and judgement." Though it hurt to see anything but love and joy and even temptation and lust on her face, Cressida had a right to her anger. Indeed, who would dare to harm another being, especially in this most holy temple. And though Markel was the principal victim of the crime and had every right to his anger as well, all his thoughts were for her. His spirit body squeezed her hand.

"Peace, my love. I will return to you -- in whole." He urged. "Remember that I promised you. I will never leave you."

The workings of magic could be mysterious at times; and though he was formless, he was grateful that he still had her. He cupped the side of Cressida's face and planted his kiss to her cheek, letting his magical energy spread against her skin.

"They cannot deprive you of my touch."

Letting out a gasp, Cressida frantically turned her head, trying to see where that oh so familiar touch had come from. She knew that gentle comforting caress anywhere. The energy flowing through her that belonged to no other than her dearest friend. Could tell it apart from anyone else. Tears continued to stream down her flushed cheeks as she brought her fingers to her lips to muffle the cries.

“Markel…” She cried. “Yes. Yes, I feel that. But-But where are you my love? I don’t see you.”

What was this magic? What had happened to him? A surge of anger suddenly then took hold of the Priestess.

“What has become of you?” She then demanded. “Who would dare?!”

@wolves-of-etoile

[wolves-of-etoile]

"I promise, my love, I will never leave you. For how can I live without you? You are the light of my life."

He pressed his palm flat against her own, fingers extended, and he let his magic flow to hers, sharing with her his innermost essence. "Let neither time nor distance separate us. Let no outside force tear us apart."

He continued to kiss her, gently at first, but then letting his love and his passion for her build as he breathed his promises into her. "I promise with my mind, my body, my soul, and my magic. Let the Goddess stand witness."

The Priestess leaned into his touch as he pressed close, kissing her long and slow on the lips. She couldn’t hide the smile that formed, pulling at the corners of her mouth. Cressida knew that Markel meant these words, and that fact warmed her heart, filling up her entire body, with a tingling sensation.

“Markel…” The Priestess breathed softly, returning the kiss as she clung to him. “Don’t ever leave me. Promise me…”

@wolves-of-etoile

[wolves-of-etoile]

"Thank you." David took the mug gratefully and watched with amusement as the cat claimed his sleeping space between them. "The kids? Oh, yeah. I got their text not too long ago. They're fine."

He held the mug with both hands, savoring both the aroma and the heat. "The girl, Cassie, got her number mixed up with yours. Good kid, well off, but not terribly close to her parents. They were out partying; she didn't know who else to call. She should be able to get the car fixed up though." Keyword: should. Of course, there was always the chance her parents could refuse, but then they would actually have to be responsible for her transportation.

David made a face of sympathy for his absent student. The life of a teacher -- even a substitute -- was sometimes more than academics.

Flauschi sat on the corner of the coffee table staring at the couch, as if looking for the opportunity to claim a new spot to sleep. A large cat yawn as he stretched, still waking up from the sleep he surely missed.

Cassandra eventually reemerged into the living room, two mugs with ample amounts of steam she sat on the coffee table, one in front of where David sat, "It's still hot, but it should warm you up even just to hold it," she said with a smile. Placing the other on her side as she once more took her seat, feet and legs tucking into her side in her usual sitting position.

Flauschi waiting until there was no movement, before finding his place on the blanket that lay between them, walking in circles multiple times before laying down.

With an idle hand petting her temperamental cat she looked over at David. "Did the kids make it back home okay after you got them all situated?" curiosity, plus her own general worry about kids she'd never met, always having been the type to want people to let her know they'd arrived during volatile weather conditions.

[wolves-of-etoile]

It wasn't entirely certain if the cultists understood what their prisoner was doing or if they even paid attention to him at all. What could he do? Breathing exercises. That's all it was... right? Besides, the cultists were likely preparing for the next step of their nefarious plan... whatever that was.

David, however, was feeling the energetic buildup of something else. Fear? It both tugged at a strange sense in him and held him down, smothering him like a fist being pressed into an open palm. This was outside himself, threatening to induce panic. He had never panicked before in his life, but simply being aware of the feeling seemed to make it worse -- sweat forming on his skin; his breathe deepening, becoming more frantic.

Just as the tension threatened to overwhelm him completely, a small team of cultists, armed with a myriad of conventional and magical weaponry, appeared in the doorway. One of them pointed directly at him. "Our Lord wants that one."

David shot Ashe a horrified look. Far from being able to provide a distraction, he froze. A small corner of his mind still clinging to rationality screamed. No, don't freeze! But the supernatural assault won out. Ashe! But the werewolf magician wasn't ready yet.

Weapons trained on both of them, David couldn't find it in himself to fight as the cultists roughly grabbed him and led him away, leaving Ashe to hang there -- alone.

(Reference: x)

" nothing's going to happen to us, right? " ( David to Ashe, tied up in a bad spot, modern verse, @wolves-of-etoile )

"...." Ashe was breathing. Slow, steady breaths in through his nose, and releasing them with equally slow-- practiced breaths. With every breath in, the world becomes part of you... with every breath out, you become a part of the world... It was the mantra his grandfathers-- and later his teacher had taught him for controlling his magic.

"...We'll be alright," Ashe murmured to David as he continued the slow, methodical breathing. His eyes glanced toward the door of the room they were being held it, before going back to focusing on the wall. Breath in. Let the natural energy of the world mix with physical energy. Convert it to magical energy...

"Just... if someone comes in, distract 'em for me will you? I'll get us out just... need t'concentrate." It was harder for him to cast magic without any mediums on hand. His runic tiles, vest, and jewelery were all taken from him when the cultists managed to catch them.

Now all he had was the sigils tattoo'd onto his body.

So in the meantime. He breathed. Pulling energy into his body. Letting it mingle, then releasing. Slowly building up energy for one potent magical effect.

[wolves-of-etoile]

David laughed once, uneasily, having no desire to put himself through that kind of pain, where the simple act of wearing clothes was torture. "By all means," he said gratefully, handing her the squeeze-bottle and sitting down in front of her in the blissful shade. "And I can do yours too, if you want."

He draped his arms over his knees and let his gaze sweep over the ocean; he was struck by the immense beauty of the water and the gentle sound of the waves. After the stresses of the previous school year, this was practically bliss. "Wow, what a view..." he breathed.

"I don't know about you, but it's certainly been an eventful year."

Typically Cassandra didn't enjoy the bright sun and summer. However, even she couldn't turn down the idea of enjoying a day at a beach. While she did have natural coloring to her skin, a profession in basements and sterile walls she tended to burn easily. She laid out the large blanket and the low beach chair as she wore sunglasses and was hiding under a large brimmed umbrella.

She couldn't help but notice as David worked on applying sunscreen as smiled just a bit as she relaxed in the chair. She was wearing a blank two-piece with decorative straps, all noticeable under a mesh black swim dress. "I don't think I've seen this much sun in years, I'll have enough vitamin D to last a lifetime," she jested in return.

Cassandra thought for a moment, "I may put some on just in case I'm tempted," an honest answer. She wasn't the strongest swimmer, but she could at least walk along the tides. "If you want me to apply the cream to your back, I can. Don't want to miss a spot and have a weirdly shaped sunburn."

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"It doesn't have to change it at all," Leofric said, "You can still continue your normal life and job. Nothing has to drastically change. The lessons would only be to make sure you can control it for your safety and others."

"And no one is going to force you to take the lessons either if you don't want to," Bill said, "It's just an option really if you decide you want to pursue it further."

Leofric nodded.

"Yes, we do," Leofric confirmed, "Most of us are here because we just want to co-exist peacefully with mundane people. And whether Jacob wants to pursue something magic-related or not, it seems like he's got a very supportive father behind him either way."

That was the impression Leofric got.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same," Bill agreed, "And you're welcome. Heh, it's funny how the world can work like that. One little decision, like you adopting these cute little cats got you realising that, and because you could hear them."

Bill sat down himself then, holding a hand out for Star to offer some more pets.

"You're clever little things, aren't you?" Bill added, "And I think you're going to be good friends to that boy growing up."

[wolves-of-etoile]

David hit the ground. With his hands bound so tightly behind him, there was no way he could somehow pull his bottom half through so his hands would be at his front. He did, however, push himself away from the sounds of gunshots and bloody screaming.

Even blindfolded, he knew what was happening. He knew it. He could see it in his mind's eye. That was Jain out there mauling a man to death... for him... because of him. Was there a difference? Perhaps he could've used the ground to scrape the blindfold upward. He wasn't sure if he wanted to. He had seen a human in pieces before, blown up by an improvised explosive device. Friend or foe, one never forgot the sight.

The screams became more desperate, high-pitched. The sounds of fabric and meat tearing. Hot wet droplets flecked against his exposed skin. David, now against the front bumper of the car, had grown still, and the screaming had grown still too.

Several terrified pants later, he remembered himself, and he pressed his face to the wall of the car, looking for an edge to remove the blindfold. He had to see. Terrified as he was, he had to see. Jain. Jain had been hit.

The hunters were ill-prepared for the likes of the massive beast even if it hadn't been driven to a state of near-hysterical madness at the threat of what it had deemed as its own. The likes of werewolves- debatable as they were to many- were based in their own nest of lore and superstition, one that Jain didn't have to clearly abide by.

With the two knife-armed men dispatched in a less than graceful manner, the beast'a burning eyes locked onto the form of the last offender. The one who roughly handled the bound and hooded man the beast readily recognized as HIS. That was HIS human. That was HIS to kill or let live as he saw fit. He hesitated a moment, able to recognize David by smell rather than sight- the smell of his humanity beneath soap and aftershave or whatever chemical smells he applied. He wanted the man to run away, but knew he would not be able to in his state.

The hesitation cost the beast a few precious seconds, feeling a few piercing rounds land into the flesh of his lower abdomen and upper chest, a few more errant shots nicking an ear and the thick neck of the beast. It bled, letting out a pained noise- but only focused its attack onto the offender.

The beast lept towards the last hunter, powerful legs launching with ease and knocking the man down- not seeming to care if it had knocked down David in the process. His focus was on the hunter, black talon hands already coated with slowly congealing blood and viscera from the man's accomplices gaining a fresh coat of gore as the beast tore into the man's chest and abdomen. Strong claws and muscles made quick work tearing through whatever pitiful armor the men wore, hardly stopping the beast as continued its assault.

[wolves-of-etoile]

Jacob's blinked up at the man. "I'm not looking for a payday--" he hissed then shut himself up as his gaze drew sharply toward the sound of shouting near the entrance. A group of three mean-looking men -- precisely the sort who looked like they would harass a homeless person -- tried to step into the room when the bouncer, who was somehow more mean-looking than all of them combined, stood in front of them and, without laying a hand on them, turned them around through the door through which they came. One of the meatheads turned at the last second and seemed to glance directly at Jacob, but there was no connection, no flash of recognition, no gesturing to his fellows to 'get him'. Jacob's eyes were half-lidded in concentration, and only when the group was completely out of sight again did he release a sigh of relief.

He finally climbed out to properly seat himself at the table. He looked at Raf. "I can take on three... maybe. I bloodied the nose of the fourth when they least expected it." He smiled, cat-like.

"If it's alright, I'll just sit here for a few. Though if you want me to buy something...?" He let the question linger in the air.

At the shushing, Raf's brows raised up with a delighted smirk. Shenanigans. Or at least a playful drunk. He hoped for shenanigans. They got enough college students in, it wasn't unusual for some ridiculous stunt to get pulled. He stood up but started to clean the table as he listened.

"If I thought you'd done any of that, I would've sent the bouncer over. I don't get paid enough to risk my ass." There were few inhuman beings he could clock for certain, but anything that felt familiar, that felt close enough to his sister, him, the colony, he could narrow it down to the family felidae at very lest.

As he sprayed down the surface, Raf glanced about, looking for anyone who wasn't a regular, or who'd just come in. "Did they follow you in, or did you follow them in?" He moved to wiping down the chairs, "If you're hiding, we've got a great scenic side exit that takes you out past the trash. But if you followed them?" After the chairs he went to the neighboring table, "Then I'm going to kindly request you keep the fully justified violence outside. But my humble recommendation would be to track them home, clean them out, and get yourself a payday while they lose everything."

[wolves-of-etoile]

"If I don't like what I hear, then let that be for me to judge. That should be my mistake to make. No one else should get to decide that for me -- or for you, either." David shook his head. "I somehow doubt, though, that someone who cares this much about people is someone I don't want to associate with."

When the water was finally hot enough, he brought it back to the table for more tea and gave her a pained smile. "If after tonight you never come back... then I will respect that. I won't bother you again... as if I could track you down and make you be my friend." Which defeated the purpose of a friendship anyway.

"I just... really want to do this, but I'm not going to force you."

That was it -- her way out -- if she wanted to take it.

While David looked at Cara as if everything they were discussing was obvious, she looked at him with the weight, and the complications, and the shades of grey that made up her existence. “I was. Now I’m the hunt. And I explained to you why I don’t form connections. I have enough blood on my hands, I can’t stand to have anymore. It’s already difficult enough when I fail on a job. But to connect with someone new, and then to fail them as well? ...It would destroy me.” As for him telling her that she’d given him so much tonight - her time, her stories, her enjoyment when it came to his cooking - it wasn’t what she was expecting to hear, a look of surprise appearing on her face. That surprise only grew when he insisted that he wanted to offer her a safe person to talk to, or to get a hot meal from, and to know that someone cared about her. It took her a beat to respond, “...What if you don’t like what you hear? What if the person you claim still exists is revealed to be someone you wish you never knew?”

[wolves-of-etoile]

Jacob made half-frantic 'shhh' motions at the person who had crouched beside him. Clearly he didn't want attention called to himself, especially by the way his eyes glanced sharply every few seconds at the door.

The man was clearly young, most likely early to mid-twenties. Short brown hair, cool gray eyes. He could've been 'just another white boy' but there was a certain scent of the supernatural -- or something feline -- hidden under the surface... if one were sensitive to such things. It was such that, though he was hiding under a table, albeit in a dark corner, most normal eyes didn't want to notice him.

A subtle magic at play.

"You didn't see me. But just so you know, I didn't hurt anyone, I didn't take anything. Some guys were pushing around a homeless..."

Open RP

Raf - Open to all - YM is a customer at the bar he works at, and for some reason, has decided to hide under a table.

"You know," Raf tapped the table top before he crouched down, "We usually asks customers to sit at tables, not under them." His voice stayed even and calm, until he knew what the situation was, he wasn't going to be pissing anyone off. A bad day, a bad trip, or just way too much to drink. He didn't know. "I get it, we keep this place pretty clean, and on average, probably less butts on the floor than the chairs. Fresher seat."

[wolves-of-etoile]

Continued from x. @7thd00r

The ex-Borg groaned, signaling a groggy ascent to consciousness. Trent tried to massage his pounding head but quickly found he was hampered by the restraints. The shock of this set him back to awareness just a little quicker.

"I am... unhurt." He felt unhurt and his cybernetics didn't seem damaged, at least. The whole attack had taken him unaware -- something he felt a little guilty for, being a security officer, but he firmly pushed the thought aside. He could run an after-action analysis later.

"Are you okay?"

Trent looked over his friend for injury then tugged experimentally on their shared handcuffs. He didn't think that even with enhanced servo-motor implants, which he didn't have anymore, that he could pull themselves free without injury first. The ladder that they were chained to seemed very solidly bolted into the wall. At least they were not being actively exposed to the elements. Yet.

"Who could have done this?" He wondered aloud. It was easy for him to keep calm. Even before his assimilation, he was not prone to excitability or panic. Analyze first, second. His mind ran through the possibilities. The Kerlisian government? Rebels? Raiders? Common criminals? Another outside party? Was the political situation here more fraught than initially reported?

[wolves-of-etoile]

OOC

Still here. Still engrossed in my books, still in Dune: Awakening. I took today off to do an errand but will try to catch up on posts.

[wolves-of-etoile]

"Unhurt here," David said, steeling himself for the final stretch. Yakuv nodded in agreement.

The elevator ride down to New Athens underground was thankfully uneventful, so the trio could take a much-needed breather, even if it was only a few minutes.

When the elevator finally slowed and the door opened, David braced himself for... anything. Anything could have happened in the interval that they were gone and the underground portions of Kay's city was not immune to the rifts' indiscriminate depositing of lost travelers. But again, thankfully, the now-trio were met with no immediate violence.

The New Athenian synthetics, however, did take some precautions to guard the underground against -- most-likely -- Ecliptic intrusion. Barricades were set up in the corridor. And though Kay mentioned that they were a peaceful people and had no weapons, they appeared to have other defensive technologies such as forcefields set up.

One of the lead synthetics popped up from behind a barricade. This one was number 1112. The expression on their flexible human-like face showed relief. "We saw you enter the elevator on the monitors. Thank Athena you're safe. Kay sent me to fetch you."

"Likewise, Yakuv. I'm Pari, Martian born and raised."

Pari said with a genuinely warm smile before she would check over her equipment. Making sure that the rifle she'd been given to by their associates was still in good condition.

"Okay, Yakuv. I've been providing cover fire for David, so you'll mostly be with me as David is carrying the tech. And honestly, seeing how you carried on? You're gonna be just fine, Yakuv."

Pari let out a sigh of relief as her sidearm was still safe to use.

"We all okay for aid? Just incase, I've got a couple of trauma packs. Need any before we get to the floor we want, lads?"