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Post by canace on Jun 4, 2016 7:41:46 GMT
Ah, yes, the 'right kind of danger'. That mythical level of 'danger' that women wanted where it seemed dangerous but was safe. The illusion of danger, perhaps. And she bought it! Hook, line, and sinker.
Esther was red, shocked, and at a loss for words.
Who was this man? No, seriously. Just who the hell was he? So sly, so slick with his words. She was left in silent awe as their lips broke contact and she was pinned against the column. She really didn't want to admit it but a crush had been born in that silent but passionate embrace. What a sad story this may very well end up but she didn't know. How could she know? She could only follow her heart like a good, naive girl would! N-Not that she was naive or anything! She always thought of herself as pretty genre savvy and smart but this man came on so fast, so thick that she wasn't prepared.
And now?
She was seriously considering going to meet this man if only to sate her curiosity and maybe see if it could go anywhere. Esther remained there after departed, as if he was still pinning her, in stunned silence. A hand came up gradually to touch her blushing cheek, which was of course as red as a tomato, before she realized he was already gone.
Gone.
Oh! She was at a ball, wasn't she. Waiting for friends to come along. But now she was alone in the wait, surrounded by monsters and other soon-to-be victims. Not that she knew.
"Esther. . !" A girl called out, running up to her while waving a gloved hand. "Where did you go? I thought you were--"
"I gotta go," Esther replied, slowly bringing her hand down.
"Go? Go where?"
"Fresh air. Now. I need it."
"Uh. . what? Esther, what happened?" Her friends looked concerned.
"I-I'll be right back." Maybe? Esther closed her eyes, forced a smile, and waved her hand as she slowly meandered off through the crowd. Eventually she realized her wings needed some adjustment, which she applied while walking nervously. Would she go unmolested? Only time would tell.
But her friends? They were left confused.
"What's got into her. . ?"
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Post by 1ring42 on Jun 4, 2016 15:35:49 GMT
Jackie smirked. "I suppose you don't. Though I am wondering what kind of drink you do prefer or even what you consider hard." As they arrived, Jackie noticed the man in the vaudeville style tux and wondered if perhaps she could get a picture of the two together.
"Well paint and photography. I also like experimenting with techniques to merge the two together." She chuckled along with Bek. "I suppose so, but she's been pretty hyperactive today. So many wonderful costumes." Jackie beamed at him. "Like that guy for instance." _______________________________________
Nathan stood and watched the pair's arrival to the refreshment bar as he sipped at his second drink. It had only been a minute and he was already getting company, of a sort. "That guy's name is Nathan." He murmured, his tone light and slightly sarcastic.
He didn't really want to but his head into a couple's business, but he hated being talked about like he wasn't right there. _____________________________
Artemis looked at Brand and rolled her eyes. "My you are an insistent one aren't you? Did I accidentally knock you on the head or something? I don't fit in girly girl princess settings."
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Post by Whitebrand on Jun 4, 2016 15:58:37 GMT
"I'm not asking you to fit," Brand said. "I'm asking you to enjoy the evening with me. A drink, a dance, perhaps give me a chance to ease the tension that weighs you down. No one is looking for a fight or a duel. I am looking for your company, a chance to learn more about the warrior who insists on standing alone."
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Post by thecountalucard on Jun 4, 2016 16:14:57 GMT
Truth be told, Bek had only partaken in alcohol a handful of times in his life; he only drank at places where people were drinking, and had never had enough to become more than slightly buzzed (four beers). "I'm sure it sounds weird to you, but I actually enjoy plain old water."
Even Bek turns his head to look at some of the monster-boys - for him, it's more a matter of sizing up the competition, but of course he can't share that with Jackie. "I think most of the boys are just really passionate. I guess we all have things we geek out about." When he reaches the bar, the river spirit bellies up and orders a water, no ice. He takes a sip and turns.
"And what'll it be for the cute redhead?"
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Post by 1ring42 on Jun 4, 2016 16:50:17 GMT
"And what do you plan on doing with such privileged knowledge?" Artemis asked suspiciously. However she was having a bit of a long tough day, with the exception of the time she spent out back with Kino and Saffy. She sighed, realizing he wouldn't really give up and though she didn't like the dragon knight she had a grudging respect for him. Plus she knew who her pred was so she was feeling relatively safe. "But I guess I could use a chance to cut loose, footloose." She smirked. ______________________
Nathan shrugged and continued his drinking as he watched the two people with him at the bar.
______________________
"Which is what makes them such great subjects for my artwork, not to mention how realistic the costumes look. But that's only a side effect of the passion." She smiled. "I think I'd like a lemonade please."
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Post by Whitebrand on Jun 4, 2016 18:02:06 GMT
"Satisfy my...curiosity," Brand said with a slightly teasing smile. "Besides...you can better protect whomever you are watching by joining me on the dance floor. Yes, I know that's what you are doing. I've worn the same expression of worry myself."
He offered the armored girl his big hand and gave her his best "trust me" smile.
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Post by thecountalucard on Jun 5, 2016 1:02:50 GMT
While Jackie is being served, Bek opens up his tuxedo jacket to let a little air in. "I don't suppose you've got a gallery anywhere I could study?" His hand flicks out an iPhone that's somewhat damp, but still manages to turn on.
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Post by 1ring42 on Jun 5, 2016 1:49:58 GMT
Artemis paused a few more seconds before she shrugged. "All right. But I swear to god I've never had any dancing lessons so don't expect me to do any ballroom shit." She cursed at herself a bit as she followed Brand into the ballroom. Though perhaps it would be a good time to kick off her Sunday shoes. Even if she didn't have a fun time, at least it'd be a good way to loosen up for the main event ahead. Kinda like a warm up.
"Lead the way then Sir Brand." ___________________________
Jackie had to hold in her chuckles, after all the tux was practically bursting at the seams. "Maybe next time go up a size or two?" She suggested, taking a sip of her lemonade.
When he asked if he could see her online gallery she blushed, a bit proud and embarrassed. However she took a piece of paper from the bar and wrote down the url for the site she used along with her username. "You might need an account to see the more, erm explicit pictures." She blushed harder and went back to eagerly drinking her lemonade.
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Post by thecountalucard on Jun 5, 2016 2:29:17 GMT
Bek practically has to peel the jacket off. "They didn't have a bigger size." His powerful arms are each bigger around than Jackie's thighs. Fingers with lacquered black nails undo two buttons on the undershirt, after which he breathes easier. Slightly visible beneath the undershirt is a dark gray T-shirt that reads "KILLER CROC."
He dutifully commits the redhead's username to memory; his hand types it into Safari's browser without his even having to look at it; in fact, he navigates the site itself without taking his eyes off her. "Yes, I've followed a few artists on this site, actually." Followed and eaten, but she doesn't need to know that.
When his eyes finally flick to the phone, he nods approvingly. "How long have you been doing this?"
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Post by Whitebrand on Jun 5, 2016 15:51:29 GMT
Brand led the way into the middle of the dance floor. He faced her and placed one hand on her side and took the other in his hand and began an old-style waltz.
"Just let me know where your ward is," Brand said. "And I'll guide us closer if you like. Relax. You'll enjoy it more if you relax a bit."
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Post by 1ring42 on Jun 5, 2016 20:34:35 GMT
Jackie laughed out loud at the t-shirt bleeding through the undershirt. Honestly, that image would definitely not make it to her picture. It pushed the picture way too far into the absurd to be useful and completely lost the air of sophistication that made the subject so interesting to her. "You're going to want to put those back on when it's picture time." She suggested as she watched him look through her gallery.
To be honest most of her pictures were natural settings turned into a fantasy scene and all were done in the late impressionist style. However there were a few racy scenes of monsters and humans engaged in carnal activity. One of which being a scene of a nearly nude priestess being ravished by a river god. ___________________________
Artemis fell into the waltz with the grace of a practiced martial artist. However she lacked the timing and inclination to follow his direction, this made her appear rather terrible at the waltz. "She was outside the bloody ball room." Artemis replied rather angrily. "And I'll relax if I want to be relaxed."
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Post by thecountalucard on Jun 5, 2016 23:28:39 GMT
The crocodilian monster quietly saves a couple of the erotic pieces to his phone. Particularly the river spirit one. Bek actually is of a similar mind to Jackie regarding his tux, but the tightness of the thing was almost unbearable; he would wait until his water was finished before donning his jacket again.
"If you don't mind my asking," he says quietly, "what was your inspiration for this one?" He shows her the river spirit picture as discreetly as possible. "What is this guy supposed to be?"
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Post by Whitebrand on Jun 6, 2016 17:08:23 GMT
Brand sighed.
"Fine," he said, guiding the girl gradually towards the exit. "Then perhaps I might ask why you are here at all. My impression during our little 'fight' was that you were having fun. But that's not the case, is it? Something's driving you. Hard. Perhaps I can help."
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Post by 1ring42 on Jun 6, 2016 20:03:07 GMT
Jackie watched him scroll through the gallery, feeling the same mixture of embarrassment and pride as she had when he asked her for the link in the first place. In fact she almost spat out her lemonade when he showed her the river scene. "Actually there's a funny story behind that one. Well I say funny but I mean interesting. So I was on vacation in South America visiting some ruins and the tour took us near the river. The tour guide told us that it was used as a sacrificial sight to a river god that was believed to live in its waters. Anyways I took a photo that became the background and did research on the god who was said to look like an anaconda, and well there you have it. I sexed it up a bit because that tends to draw more people."
She took a drink. "So what do you think?" __________________________________________________________
Artemis gladly moved closer to the exit, obviously becoming more relaxed the more she was able to look outside the confines of the ball room. "What makes you say that?" She asked suspiciously, wondering if her cover got blown and if it was because of Kino. Maybe she had read that catboy wrong after all. Well if he had than he would definitely taste her steel before he got a taste of her.
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Post by thecountalucard on Jun 6, 2016 22:11:31 GMT
The water energizes Bek a bit - concentrating, the monstrous man finds he is able to further condense into himself. He makes sure Jackie's eyes are locked on his phone, and then does so, compressing his wide chest and muscular arms. Overall both shrink by less than an inch, but the tuxedo jacket will be able to withstand a greater range of motion without tearing now… hopefully.
"South America," he says with awe. "I've never been that far away from my home. That must have been… wow." He wonders if the river of the site really had a spirit watching over it, if it really resembled an anaconda, if it was still alive today. Bek was admittedly the only one of his kind that he knew, and his condition made going to check other rivers an unlikely prospect.
"Maybe you should have interviewed the river-god," Bek muses teasingly.
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