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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:06:50 GMT
« Thread started on: Nov 12th, 2007, 11:58pm »
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November 13, 2007
Beth stepped out of the limo and sighed. She had managed to convince the bosses she hadn't been kidnapped and the sword had always been in her vault and never in danger. She hated coming back, but there had been no other way. Kojiro was absent that night and she was supposed to be at home. But the bosses had called at last minute and told her to come to this party to make an appearance. The tabloids had claimed she had been kidnapped, or worse, walked off with the biggest discover the company had. No one knew the discovery though. Excalibur was still a secret, but that never stopped the gossip. Her knee length black n silver hair was done in an intricate crown of braids and curls leaving the long line of her neck bare to show off the deep emeralds on tanned skin.
The green complimented the white of her gown and the green in earrings and arm band she wore that matched. Bracelets were cumbersome and got in the way. The armband, high on her left arm, allowed her to not seem bare. The dress was to the ground and whispered around her long legs as she clicked on the marble entranceway in her heels. The slit up the side of the body hugging dress occasionally allowed glimpses of ebony thigh highs. A taboo in polite society, but no one had ever accused her of being polite. She gave her name to the doorman and stepped in grabbing the first glass of stiff drinks that passed by. This was not a champagne night. Heading into the crowd, she took a deep breath, passed her white mink to the coat man with her small empty handbag and disappeared into the crowd.
Her deep emerald eyes making the spun jewel affect of her ensemble complete. She waved and mingled chatting here and there as she made her way to the back doors and the cool darkness that beckoned across the room to her.
Slouching slightly the brute steps in, having to duck his 6'6 frame to get through the door. Long, dark braids fall away from his face as he stands up straight, a hand fidgeting at the tie about his neck, attempting to fix the silly thing in a moment of discomfort. In fact, the whole thing was uncomfortable. Dropping the hand he unbuttons his suit to let it hang more naturally on his muscular frame. Every time he moved he worried something would rip, or the sleeves would slide up to far. Realizing his momentary lapse of intelligence he lifts a hand back up to his face to slide away the mirrored lenses(He thought they made him look cool and intimidating) from his dark face. His black eyes were creased slightly from being in the sun too long, giving a slight hardness to his already imposing figure, as he looked through the room. Moving through the entryway his boots clanked heavily upon the marble causing a few people to look at him like an oddity. Despite the polished and smooth leather it was clear they were not made for a tux. Ignoring the looks he continues through the crowd, bypassing the offered drinks to head away from the multitude of chattering.
She was stuck in conversation with some men from the competition. They wanted to know what the big bad secret was she had run off with. Her smile seemed so natural to most in the room, that only someone who knew how to read faces would know the skill she used to seem natural while wanting to do nothing more than scream. She excused herself, grabbed another drink and finally got to the double set of French doors. Sliding thru one of the open sets, she stepped onto the terrace and inhaled as if she had been holding her breath. She downed the third drink of the night and set it on a nearby tray before stepping out of the circle of light and leaning on the cement railing. She looked out over the gardens and hedge maze. Everyone seemed to have mazes in their yards. She absently wondered if anyone ever walked thru them? And if they did, did they ever get lost? She realized her stole was all the way back across the sea of tedious conversations. Sighing not wanting to go back in, but being chilled. She rubbed her arms. She closed her eyes willing her body to stop shuddering as she tried to calm herself. Cold was a matter of mind versus body. She had had decades to learn to ignore pain, heat and cold. But it had been so long. She shivered again and cursed under her breath. She tried again as she rubbed her arms, trying to will her body still and warm.
Continuing through the crowd he regrets having removed the shades. Maybe they would have thought him a bodyguard or something similar and ignored him. It wasn't exactly a hard stretch of the imagination. Attempting a smile at a passing woman, which only seemed to frighten her he slips to a wall. Glancing to either side he spots a door to freedom and attempts to calm his nerves. He killed people for a living, and usually enjoyed doing so, but for some reason the thought of being trapped into conversation was more than he could handle. Imagining the far end of the room exploding he takes a deep breath and moves back into the crowd, dodging people as if he carried a football to the end zone.
For just a second he thought of stiff-arming someone across the room but decided against it when the doors emerged before him. Stepping through the outer doors he breathes in the cool night air, enjoying the feel of it running down his throat. Seeing a woman across the way he walks over to the railing, though are enough away to hopefully not insult or offend. It was his job to hunt people down and with that came an ability to read people rather well. It didn't take an expert to tell when a woman was cold but he was not going to be the one to make a move.
She stiffened as she felt someone near by. Her elbows pressed closer to her body. She had a dagger in her garter and a stiletto in her hair. She then relaxed. They were at a party. No one here would hurt her. Taking a final breath and realizing it wasn't going to warm her. She finally opened her eyes. At least her teeth had stopped chattering. Years of reading people in board rooms, she knew the man beside her was no working yuppy like the boars behind her. She smiled softly at him. It was the smile of someone who understood. "Too noisy or too crowded for you?" Her voice was strong but calm. It was easy to imagine it stern and carrying across a meeting or convention, but there was also that tenderness underneath that women seemed to have. The one that could warm the coldest heart if given the chance. If he knew weapons, he would see the way her dress moved not so smoothly over her thigh as she moved. There was something under the satin material. She smiled at him and tilted her head to one side then the other. Not enough to pop it, but enough to stretch. Her body shuddered once more as she waited to see if he would respond.
He grinned uncomfortably at the woman, "A little of both" creaked a rough voice more used to shouting than idle conversation. Taking a glance at her now that she had spoken he was intrigued by what he saw, attempting to be as subtle as possible with his gaze. He failed miserably no doubt but it was unavoidable. His brow quirked, the only thing of more interest than the dress was what was under it. Seeing the lack of smoothness he slid his gaze back up to her face, judging her differently the second time around. One weapon in a woman such as she was highly unlikely, but then again he wore a few of his own. Her athletic build hinted at something other than a calorie-counting treadmill runner. Turning about he pulls slightly at his coat before leaning back against the rail to look towards the party.
She turned and mimicked him. Laughing softly, her voice chimed as the breath showed like a plume of smoke from her mouth. "I understand." Suddenly remembering her manners, she offered her hand. It was out to be shaken, not kissed as so many other women in the room were doing. She was not high society and never pretended to be. A glint touched her eyes at the thought. Well... almost never. Shaking her head as the musing memories made her smile a bit more slyly, she spoke again. "I am Elizabeth Rh..." She coughed then, but it was to cover her near slip. "I am Elizabeth. I am with Atrus." She smiled charmingly and shifted again. The bulge under her dress seemed to suddenly disappear.
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:07:42 GMT
« Reply #1 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 11:58pm »
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Grinning slightly, a bit less forced than the last, he extends his hand to shake hers. "It's uh..Krok.."Fumbling with the edges of his sleeves he looks away from her. "I know who you are."Coughing slightly he rubs his suddenly sweaty hands together. "Have a photo and a copy of your card, although I don't think it was issued by Atrus." Glancing back up at her again his grin fades, realizing his mistake. He was usually blunt but he tried to be slightly more subtle when someone gave him a job to do. Pushing off the railing he slides out of his coat, deciding it was far too hot out hear all of a sudden. The fabric was smooth but hung a bit too heavily from his hand before he lays it upon the railing, his thick hands grasping the edge tightly.
She shook his hand but as he spoke of her card, she suddenly wasn't smiling. Her body stopped shaking and she wasn't cold. She was on guard, now. "My card, huh? Something tells me you didn't come here to taste the caviar." She was known as Elizabeth Rh'Jod. But if he had her dossiere, he would know she was Elizabeth Rh'Jod de' Enverias of the Fae. ((only two people know... one is the man who once tried to kill her and failed. she doesn't remember him.. the other is Kojiro, the one who works for her now)). If he only had her public or even secret record, then he knew her as Beth the Lioness. Once the black widow of New Av'Lon, now the stored treasured 'pet' of Atrus Corp. She smiled again but it was forced. "So tell me why you DID come. I am sure it is more interesting than small talk."
She watched his coat settle looking to see if the weight was off center cause of a weapon. She also watched his body with equal casualty. She wanted to see what he had in store. Better to not call attention to themselves. One never knew when innocent people would get in the way.
Staring out across the gardens he mumbles uncomfortably. He was used to being in charge, but it usually involved shouting or killing someone. Not chit chatting. The last woman he had to chat with constantly attempted to seduce him and in the end disappeared. Sighing softly he remembers the beautiful Catya. "uh..no..I hear they are fish eggs or something." Watching the sway of plants in the distance he thought for a moment about what he'd say. Honesty was generally his way but most people found that uncomfortable and took his words for lies. "If you think I'm here to kill you you're mistaken. I'm here to do anything but..Besides, from the look of things you have more weapons than I do."Glancing up he grins rather calmly."If you don't believe me feel free to borrow my coat."
Now that he had given her the advantage he felt much more calm, the sense of his own danger soothing his nerves. If she were to take the coat it would be easy to feel the six knives stowed in the inner pockets and sleeves.
She hadn't lived this long being foolish. She lifted the coat and began to rifle thru the pockets. Squeezing the outside material till she found the one full of hardness. Smiling and raising one eyebrow, she pulls out a handful of custom blades. Setting the coat down neatly, she moved one blade to her right hand and balanced it. "Nice.." She spun it and let it roll over her fingers. She knew how to handle them and then she slid them back in the jacket pocket and shifted to coat so she was leaning on it. He would have to shove her away to reach them. "Yes... they are fish eggs. So tell me... if not here to kill me. Why are you here? Surely you didn't come to ask me to dance either. Something tells me you aren't the waltzing kind." She laughed softly. It was a bit easier than her earlier mood but still stiff with caution. She raised her chin and let the momentary breeze cool the sudden warmth on her neck before turning her gaze back to him.
Shrugging his heavy shoulders he stands up straight, sliding a toothpick from his pocket. She clearly knew knives, which wasn't a surprise considering what he knew of her. Gesturing slightly he answers her the best he can. "I can't dance for starters. Someone tried to get me started but...It turns out a ballerina has an unfair advantage when it comes to grace."Shaking his braided head for a moment he lets her laughter sink in. "You didn't seem surprised when you thought I was here to kill you. So, odds are you are in need of someone to assist you." Sliding the toothpick into his mouth he attempts to regain his earlier lack of charisma."That would be me"
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:08:21 GMT
« Reply #2 on: Nov 13th, 2007, 10:38pm »
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November 13, 2007
Beth smiled. "You mean you dressed up in this tux just to come see my reaction to someone big beside me? What if I had cowered in my shoes and begged you not to kill me?" She laughed and slid her hands into the pockets of the over sized jacket. His over six foot frame left the coat big enough she could have worn it as a dress. She played with the pocketful of daggers and smiled batting her eye lashes like a scared little woman and cooed like one of the rich brats inside. "No, please... don't hurt me..." She laughed then. "If I wasn't surprised, what makes you think I NEED protecting?" The last was spoken without any falsetto voice or batting eyes. Her body wasn't shivering anymore and she looked him straight in the eyes, which wasn't easy since he near towered over her.
Taking a step off the empty elevator his feet land quietly inside a vacant office. It struck him as odd as Beth was usually here around this time burning the midnight oil. Coiling a section of his long black coat he flung it swiftly onto a nearby coat hanger as he continued back into the also empty apartment. A note sat on a nearby coffee table; it seemed to have been addressed to him. Kojiro skimmed through the note and flung it away with a rather irritable look on his face- "Party..By herself?" He had noticed all the publicity she had been getting on the news, it wasn't exactly good for her or the Excalibur project. He couldn't help but think she had been attacked again while he had been away. Loud tapping pulsed the ground as he decided to go find her.
If she was where the note directed, he could rest easy; for a moment anyway. He had gathered from that little scuffle she had with his brother that her skill with the sword still left something to be desired, had she been training like he told her?
Standing up straight before her he looks down at her mocking face. "You got it, babe. If you had cowered I'd assume I had the wrong woman or someone lied. In which case I'd have to kill them when I finished here." Smiling slightly he lifts a hand to look at his watch. "However, since that's not the case, and they'll probably be sleeping by the time this party is over.." Shrugging he continues to stare down at her, dark eyes cold. "Everyone needs protecting. Even egotistical engineers with fiery tempers." Turning his back to her he takes a few steps away from her, almost as if she weren't even a threat. "Now, cut the act and let's get down to business. You need all the help you can get and I don't cost much since I've already been paid to guard you whether you like it or not."
She walked up behind him, the click click sticatto of her heels not masked. She didn't care. Grabbing his arm she jerked hard. She had more power in her pull than her frame would suggest. "Don't you DARE turn your back on me like I am some little 'strumpet' that matters not! The reason I wasn't worried is because no one IS out to kill me!" She growled letting go of his arm and stepping back out of his reach in case he swung on her. "Did THAT ever cross your Goliath mind? That I don't NNEEEDDD protecting?" She was almost shaking again. Her hands balled in fists. She bit her lip and took a couple more steps back. She had bluffed and won on the weapons before. And now she had his daggers. But if he was worth his salt, the reason his shirt was more loose than it should have been was because there was more there than his cumberbun. She stared back up at him awaiting a reply. She was shaking, but not from cold. Who thought she needed protecting. Did Kojiro send him? Surely not. He didn't even know she wasn't safe in the penthouse. Was it HIM? Did Rin send him? No, Rin was dead. She saw him killed in the lobby that night she met Kojiro. She had to know what was going on. And suddenly she wished she had practiced more than what she lied to Sho. She prayed wherever he was, he was all right. Suddenly she wondered how much she had missed, staying locked up in the penthouse the last month.
Pulling out a pack a cigarettes Kojiro touched the cancer stick with his left index finger as he inhaled slowly. It had gotten dark rather quickly and he didn't expect for there too be to much traffic at this time of night. He growled as he began walking from the ATRUS building, what the hell was she thinking? A squad of police cars ran a vacant red light as they sped down the city street toward the freeway. Kojiro levitated himself, deciding that walking wasn't exactly the smartest idea at this point. (for the sake of monotone story telling..) Soon after he landed silently just ahead of the company building where she took him last time, thought her note was vague, it seemed like he came to the correct location. He decided to walk in, any trouble that hadn't risen yet about his identity was surely rise this time. He was in a suit as a companion of beth anymore; he was the Muramasa. He hoped his appearance would start a riot, he didn't have those god awful contacts in as beth had advised. He stood at the entrance looking around for her, hopefully she was okay.
He let her pull upon his arm, although it did little good. Smiling to himself he listens to the ranting and raving, picking at his teeth with his free hand until she had finished. "You matter as much as the pay check. And I'll turn my back anytime I think there is something more important to look at..Which, given the enormity of said pay check is just about anything I can lay my eyes on."No..It never crossed my mind that you didn't need protecting. From what I understand there are numerous reasons to kill you. The simple fact the current bounty is less than I'm being paid, fractionally I might add, is reason enough to think you can't hold your own in a real fight. Turning about he looks to his watch again. "I know you're upset at the moment and probably going to be angrier in a second but I thought you might want to know that the interview part of our discussion is over." Extending an arm for his coat he watches her closely. "I'm going to need my coat in about two minutes. It's almost time for a demonstration."
Demonstration? What the hell did that mean? She shook her head. Sliding the jacket off her shoulders, she let it fall gracefully to the marbled floor with as much sex appeal as if it had been a silken robe revealing her naked body beneath. Smiling to him, she winked, "Whatever they are paying you..." She raised her eyebrows slightly making her look like the lioness she was named after. She stepped once towards him, "... isn't enough..." She turned and strode back towards the French doors. The din of the party thumping in her ear like a hornet's nest.
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:09:04 GMT
« Reply #3 on: Nov 13th, 2007, 10:38pm »
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As Kojiro stepped thru the doorway and glanced around, a long arm, far too skinny for the dozen bejeweled bracelets clinking on it rose above the crowd and the too familiar screech of Ms Monica pierced his ears. "MMARRCCUUSSSSS DDARRRLLING!" She moved thru the swiftly parting crowd and stepped up onto the entranceway beside him laughing like a maniacal hyena. "Oh love... Beth should charge to see your presence. Who are you here to kill, dahling?" She purred as she ran her fingers over his outfit. "This 'most wanted' phase is more lovely every time I see you. AAHHH and the contacts. You could almost pass for him." The final word was hissed as if it was a huge secret. Little did she realize he WAS the 'him' she spoke of. His persona of Marcus had been her first introduction to him, and a swift lie on Beth's part. Now it seemed even when NOT pretending, the shrew of a woman didn't know the difference. As if she were imparting some great wisdom to him, she leaned closer and whispered. "You need to raise your shoes up, dearest. The height is what ruins the image." She kissed her fingertips, patted his cheek and smiled to him. "Such a lovely man. Beth really MUST tell me if you have brothers." Without another word she turned and screeched to some other unlucky sop and disappeared into the crowd. Scanning the room, he would see Beth's outline outside the French doors as if she were speaking rather heatedly to someone who was just out of site to his right, hidden by the wall beside the doors.
As the all too familiar voice screeched into his ears he gained view of his discomfort. It was THAT woman, the Monica character she was so frail; why wasn't she dead yet? He growled listening to the womans blatant ignorance, if he killed her right now nobody would miss her. He kept his peace until she found another victim to irritate into oblivion and swiftly moved on. Further scrutiny of the room reveal Elizabeth standing across the room just outside a pair of doors. What was she doing? Kojiro decided to bide his time to chew her head off and wait until the place died down, hopefully she wouldn't notice him until later. He found a place inside a crowded room and sat down as he watched her talked to a figure just outside of his range.
Krok bent over slowly, retrieving his coat and averting his eyes from her sultry curves. Lifting the fabric he brushes it off for a moment before sliding it over his shoulders, pulling at the cuffs lightly to get the feel back into it."You'll have to get me a bonus then. He strolled, almost idly about the patio, the thought of entering the stifling crowd still unnerved him. Any second now there'd be men storming the building in search of her. Soon enough it'd be his world, and not hers. No more party and champagne, or whatever the hard stuff they were drinking was. Instead it'd be bullets and knives, and quite frankly he was getting antcey. Moving near the doors, his heavy boots still clanking across the cement, he leans against a wall, arms crossed and ready to slide the throwing knives from his cuffs. Eyes lowering as if he were half asleep he watches the second hand on his watch tic away. "You might want to duck."
"What?" She shook her head and stepped into the party pausing as he spoke. Duck? She frowned and searched the room. She spoke over her shoulder to him without looking at him. Shaking her head she smiled. "Nice try... your bonus is NOT going to be my ass in your face..." She murmured 'nice try' once more and strode into the room grasping a crown and coke from the nearby passing server and downing half in a single draw. She was starting to feel the buzz and wanted to feel more. She stopped the next server, downed the rest of the drink, grabbed another and set her empty glass on the tray before shooing him away. Taking another sip, she smiled and was about ten feet into the room, her back to the door, the right side of her profile to Kojiro and her vision on the old man before her asking about the secret project the media was buzzing over. She smiled and batted her eyes trying to flirt and wishing she was at home getting drunk. She folded her arms and smiled replying to questions with great detail, without revealing anything. The Company would be proud of her. She sighed. Kojiro would have been beside her snickering. She wished he was here. He would have at least seen how chilled she was and offered his jacket.
Kojiros ears twitched as he heard a repetitive clamoring outside of the residence. It sounded like footsteps, but far more than one person. His eyes shifted toward the window as a pair of silhouettes passed slowly. Kojiro stood up readying himself for any sudden changes in the environment. He stepped ghostly toward beth as his cold fingertips landed on her shoulder. "Your in danger." His eyes seemed to order her to get out of harms way as he sized up the imposing figure leaning against the wall. He didn't look familiar, who the hell was he? He gave Elizabeth a angry yet puzzled looked, perhaps he was getting the wrong idea about the situation; but he knew something was about to go down.
« Last Edit: Nov 13th, 2007, 10:55pm by Llewellynn »
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:09:45 GMT
« Reply #4 on: Nov 14th, 2007, 11:02pm »
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November 14, 2007
Rolling himself off the wall Krok turns to follow her, grunting slightly in time with the several bullet holes that appear in the wall by the door. Moving into into the room, he presents his back as a target in the doorway. His hands, having already been at his sleeves, slide away two of his knives. In a fluid movement both are flying through the air into the chests of her servers. Platters fell, causing all eyes to turn to the men upon the floor, weapons in their hands. Before they had hit the ground Krok is within a few feet of his new Charge, hands in pockets to collect another pair of knives. Grunting he turns about to face the door and anyone that came in after him, giving an easy view to the blood running down from his shoulderblade. Despite the chaos he noticed the main door opening.
She jumped as Kojiro touched her shoulder. "What are you do..." she never got the words out before breaking concrete rang in her ears as the wall where Krok had been explodes in small fragmented pieces. She jumps, blade from her thigh high, in her hand before she realizes it.
As Krok took out the servants coming towards them, she turned to face him in time to see the blood on his shoulderblade darkening his jacket. She gasped and turned stepping back. "You are bleeding..." It was then the main door opened, and her backstep exposed her fully to the open doors she had come in from a moment ago. Kojiro on one side, Krok on the other, Beth turned to face balcony, unaware the attack was also coming from within the room now, too.
The crowd, paniced by bullets and the two downed servants, became a stampede as body guards grappled with ladies in jewels fearing more about their hair than their lives. And men grumbled seeking weapons as their own protectors tried to rush them from the room by way of side doors and the kitchen exit. The jostle of the crowd happened so fast.
A well dressed, young looking man grabbed Beth's arm and dragged her with a sudden jerk, into the streaming crowd. "You have to get out of here." He said. Suddenly, Beth was several people away from Sho and Krok and her voice rang out as she tried to shove the man's vice like grip from her wrist. "No... my body guards.... SSHO..." She started to yell then realized she was giving him away. She swiftly covered it and hollered once more, this time hoping he would hear. "NOOO... MARRCCUSSS... KRROOKKKK" She stabbed her would-be rescuer in the hand with the dagger and he screamed at her cursing her as she tried to fight her way against the tide of the crowd back towards the men. But for every step forward, she was shoved towards the kitchen two steps.
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:10:22 GMT
« Reply #5 on: Nov 15th, 2007, 3:38pm » -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bullets whizzed between Sho's smoky black locks, a spare piece of lead grazing his upper cheek as he went back behind the door for cover. Reaching for his sheath, he slipped Akujiki from its holster and decided his course of action. One man completely wide open, another stabbed in the hand by Beth, and Beth, herself, being swamped by the outpour of frenzied bystanders. He sighed. "I'm not putting up with too much more of this shit." He would have to deal with this "Krok" later it seemed. Slipping under a volley of machine gun rounds he gripped four deadly fingers around a hit man; crushing his Adam's apple even under his armor. He took a sweeping leap into the crowd as he slid across a long dinner table, Kojiro grabbed Beth by the hand before she was carried off in the crowd and pulled her away to safety. He ran with her still in hand, full speed toward an abandoned car as he looked for a good vantage point to plot his counterattack. His anger spilled over has he regained his breath and looked toward Beth sneering, an evil fiery fit of rage lit his eyes. "Two weeks Elizabeth! Two fucking weeks and I come back to this, nice.". His wrath it seemed to would have to wait. He had matters to attend to, and getting her to safety was one of them. <<posted for Kojiro>> |
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:11:11 GMT
« Reply #6 on: Nov 18th, 2007, 2:53pm »
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November 18, 2007
Krok growled at the panicked party-goers that scurried about him. Watching the doors open to men coming into the room from either side he reaches out with both hands to grab a pair of men he had not had the misfortune of meeting during the party and lifted them by their collars. Glaring at both as they struggled, flailing at his arms he lifted the innocent men into the air and held them out at arms length to use as human shields. Turning towards the main door he could feel the body he held towards the patio opening vibrate and go limp in his hands, dampness running down his arm. Setting his shoulders he charges the main door of the room and chucks the dead man over his shoulder into the several people shooting at him, bullets grazing him and killing his second human shield.
Pulling the body in closer to his shoulder he slams into the armored assailants, sending them flying away back into the door. Just after contact he rolls over his shield, leaving the poor man upon the ground, and continues his run from the building, attempting his best sprint after Beth and Sho.
Beth leaned back against the door of the car that was shielding them and began to tear the bottom of her silken dress off at the slit. Standing up, the skirt would barely give her any sense of modesty, but it beat being killed cause she tripped on it. Kicking off her heels, she grabbed the dagger from her thigh and smiled almost sugar sweet to Kojiro. "You DID say you were leaving cause it had been a bit quiet lately. Didn't you?" She laughed and kissed his cheek and opened the car door and began rummaging around in it. Coming back out with a small modified 9mm from the glove box. Clicking out the clip, she had six rounds, she slammed it back in and pulled the slide back to set one round to the ready. "Mmmm and here I thought you liked parties." She aimed over the hood, saw Krok dash out the doors and let out a whistle hoping it would catch his attention just as she shot another armed man coming out behind him. She stood up just enough for her white dress to show to him before ducking back down. "I saw cocktails back at the house sounds good... your thoughts?" She laughed and rose once more to see if Krok needed anyone else taken out. As she rose up, her arms sliding over the hood of the car for balance and aim, a volley of shots rang in their direction tearing into the car, ground and air around them.
Kojiro shook his head not detoured at all as she kissed his cheek, he was genuinely angry and a simple witty remark and a kiss would not calm him down. His emotional state was so heightened that his eyes where emitting a red smoke from his pupils, it only happened when he was almost berserk. This was too much for him right now, all of this crap was going to push him over the limit. He yanked at Beth's hand as she tried to assist the man following them. "Okay look. Stop trying to get his attention woman; you don't know that he himself didn't cause this." He elected to pick beth up and tossed her on his shoulder as he heightened his speed and cut into a dark alley as he made his way to the Atrus building. She was really acting naive from what he was gathering from the situation. What the hell did she get him into?
Ducking as low as a man his size could he headed straight for the car, ignoring the bullets whizzing past him from either direction. Looking back wouldn't help at this point and odds are they would have a much better angle to shoot people than he would. Upon reaching the car he leaps, sliding belly first across the hood before falling onto the pavement on the other side in an undignified heap. Grunting, he sets his hands under him and pushes himself into a crouch, his back leaning against a tire as he attempts to catch his breath. "Well...that was f.."He cuts off, realizing that they were not longer at the car. Glancing over the hood he can see that there were still plenty of other people paying attention to him. Grumbling to himself he sets himself behind the car, knives at the ready.
Beth cried out as Sho slung her like a sack of flour over his shoulder. She pulled her hands close and shut her mouth, though, managing to keep still and not squirm as he ran. Him falling would do neither of them any good. As he set her down in front of the private entrance at Atrus, she glared at him and resheathed her dagger and slid the gun into the top of her other thigh high. Tugging the dress down, though it didn't help much, she let him use the keypad that let them into the private elevator. Once inside she relaxed a little.
As she watched the frenzy in his eyes, she looked straight at him, never flinching. Wouldn't matter anyway. If he wanted her dead, she was no match for him. Not like this. Her voice, calm and low, would reach thru that red hazed mind. "If he wanted me dead, Kojiro, he would have killed me when we were alone on the balcony before you showed up. He gave me his coat, filled with daggers, and claimed someone sent him to look after me." She broke the gaze then and leaned on the back wall crossing her arms as the adrenaline slowed and her body began to feel her bareness in the dark night's chilliness. "I'm sorry... I wanted to know what he knew about me, Sho. I figured talking to him and getting him WITH us was better than him being out there and not knowing when or how he will show." She was being contrite now, something that wasn't like her. Somehow, this firefight had caught her off guard and unprepared. Also not a good sign.
Kojiro laughed, she couldn't have been serious. "So your telling me all a person has to do to gain your trust is, talk to you about yourself; claim a little bit of intelligence about you and let you wear their coat?" Kojiro burst into laughter- "Thats Naive. Really Naive." He placed his fingers over his face as he ceased his laughter slowly and the malice in his eyes slightly faded. "I'm not going to do this with you every time i leave Rh'Jod." His voice was serious and unfaltering. "I'll leave before I'm turned back into chaos." This message was cryptic and not even she could comprehend yet what he meant, she was given a preview of how much power he kept secret from her when they visited his brother, but she still didn't know the gist of his power as a Muramasa. The elevator opened and he let her walk in front of him as he inspected her from afar to see if she had any injuries, she seemed to be fine. He sighed walking behind her slowly as he looked around the empty office.
She sighed. Stepping into the office and moving towards the elevator connecting the office to her apartment on the other side, she looked back over her shoulder pausing. "And what did it take you to trust me, Sho?" She locked eyes with him a moment in defiance, then the look fell and she pressed the buttons to open the back of the elevator and stepped into the living room. Tossing the gun on the couch, she tore the front of her dress off and let the final remnants fall to the living room floor as she never missed a step moving out of it and into the bedroom. Her bare body, save for the black thigh highs, torn from the running in the parking lot, was the last he saw before she spoke again. "If they are close, you can see them flinch before they draw on you. It's the only way I know." There was sadness in the voice and then silence. No walking, no doors, water, bed... just as if she had turned the corner and disappeared.
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Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2014 10:14:19 GMT
(((The writer for Sho is no longer in contact with me. From here out, Sho is written by the main author, Llewell (Melissa)
Should he choose to return, he will take up writing once more and add corrections to liberties I took with his character as I understood it upon his disappearance)))
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Post by Admin on Feb 10, 2015 21:33:07 GMT
Feb 9, 2015
0630
MHI MAIN
Norfolk, VA
ATRUS CORP (Beth and Sho)
Sho shook his head and murmured, “I hate it when you do that.”
She had disappeared like that in the past, only to walk out moments later as if nothing was wrong. He always suspected a false door or even a secret panel in the closet, but had never been able to find it.
This time he didn’t go to the guest room or back into the living room like he usually did. Kicking off his boot out of respect, he stretched out on her king size bed, crossed his ankles, laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes.
Alexa half growled under her breath. She’d given her girl the weekend off because she hadn’t planned on coming back home those couple days. And if she did come home, she would have had ‘company’. The up side to the secretary being gone was that there would be no witness to the assumed ‘dressing down’ she guessed was coming from Sho in the very near future. She HAD been reckless. But she had enjoyed it. Being stuck in her glass and steel penthouse cage was boring. Tonight had reminded her what the rush of blood felt like again.
At the thought of blood, she sighed again. The downside to her secretary choosing to jaunt off for the weekend meant she would have to find another source of sustenance before the dawn came.
She was lost in thought as she slid the closet panel back to allow herself access back into her room.
He heard her return. Despite the ingenious way the door panel had been installed, his overly keen hearing heard her nylon clad feet on the carpet, the soft sigh the door made as it opened and the barely audible click as she carefully closed it again. When she stepped out of the walk in closet, he was there to pounce.
One moment she was lost in thought about the closest place she could go to find some unsuspecting soul to love on and feed from… the next, she had been struck from the side and was pinned facing the bedroom wall with one arm thrown up to brace herself as the other got violently twisted up and back with a pain that made her cry out in surprise.
“Where were you? Where does that passage lead? Tell me now or I’ll break your arm. And Beth… you know I can tell if you are lying.” Sho’s voice growled with rage and a dominance that even the ancient Fae wouldn’t be able to ignore.
She had been about to cry out and fight back thinking whoever this was had solved her feeding dilemma. But as the deeply growled demand blew heatedly close to her ear, she paused. It was Sho! How DARE he! But even as she had been about to fight back with indignation, his growl brought her to heel. Her jaw clenched in rebellion even as she felt herself responding.
“To the secretary’s apartment next door. I WAS going to feed!” She had hoped her words would sound defensive and appropriately enraged. Instead, they fell from her lips like an apology from a child caught sneaking in hours after when they were supposed to be home.
He pulled her away from the wall while still holding her arm in a vice like grip. Without a word he threw her on the bed where she landed face down. Coming up behind her he used his knees to pin her legs to the bed before she could get up. One hand pressed down between her shoulder blades as he half leaned over her once more. “If you ever sneak off like that again, I will make you hurt. Do you understand?”
Beth bit back a growl of rage as she was thrown like a discarded doll onto the bed. She had managed to get her twisted arm back under her when once more she found herself pinned and berated. “Yes… I understand, Sho.” She hated herself for appearing weak. But there was something in his voice that made her realize that to disobey or challenge him would be a mistake. He had already proven in the arena that he could best her with a sword. When it came to him, wits and subterfuge may be the only weapons she could use against him. And it was hard to use those when she was pinned helpless to the mattress.
It was then that she realized that the mattress had a different smell to it. His smell. He had been laying there recently. But when? Had he been stretched out on her bed while awaiting her return? It would explain his sudden appearance when she had come back through the closet. She closed her eyes and inhaled slightly. The smell of leather, gun oil, sweat and animalistic tension sang through her like sweet wine. Opening her eyes she tried to glance over her shoulder into his gaze. Her voice choked, but she managed to speak. “And will you go with me while I hunt tonight as well? I have to go before the sun rises. So I don’t have much time. I spent too much of myself this evening. I had not planned on such ‘activities’ before bed.” She tried to make light of it, but knew she had just poked the hornet nest. She had brought up the party and now would not be able to be upset when he brought up what occurred there.
“I know what tonight took from you. I had to rescue you, remember?” He backed off as suddenly as he had pinned her. “You won’t be leaving again tonight. You can hunt tomorrow night. That’s final.” Without another word, he spun on his stocking feet and silently headed back towards the living room. Moving to the security panel, he tapped in his code, then tapped another.
She saw him back off and was about to gloat in her victory when he said she wouldn’t be leaving again. How could he say that? She had to feed, only had a couple hours left. She heard the soft beeps of the keypad in the other room and smiled. Setting the alarm wouldn’t stop her. She had given him the code in the first place. Then she frowned. He had typed in another set of digits. Rolling to her back and sitting up, she removed her torn stockings and padded barefooted into the living room. “What did you just do? That wasn’t just the alarm you set, was it?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she tried to look intimidating. But the fact she was in a slinky, slightly torn white chemise without even her heels to bring her close to Sho’s height, it didn’t work very well.
He heard her moan slightly from the injured arm as she rose from the bed and came into the front room. “No, it wasn’t just the alarm. I had the security company install a secondary alarm. I told them it was in case you were drunk and tried to get out. This one supersedes all other alarms. Only I can disarm it.” He moved towards the couch and began to unbuckle his gun rigging from around his chest and shoulders. His eyes never left hers as he spoke. “I have set it and you cannot get out save if you smash through the window and jump. In which case the alarm will sound and you will need to explain your little ‘break out’.” He sat in the middle of the couch and stretched his arms out wide across the expanse of its back. With the black shirt now unbuttoned, revealing a long line of nicely tanned chest, abs and stomach, he looked seductively dangerous. He put his feet up on the coffee table, crossed his ankles and watched her. “So, pray tell… what do you think will happen tonight?” He raised an eyebrow in teasing curiosity and awaited her response.
“You are an ass hole, Sho…” She turned as his sudden burst of laughter angered her even more and stalked into her bedroom. She tore the slip off in shreds in her rage and the expensive lace bra followed it to the floor in a similar demise. She crawled into bed in nothing but barely there black lace panties and covered herself. She was so mad at him. How could he come in here and do that to her. She needed to feed.
She felt the sun’s rising tugging her into slumber and her rage soon melted into sorrow. How could he do this to her? She closed her eyes and was about to succumb to the pull of daylight though she could have held it off a few more hours. But what would have been the point? Better to sleep and hope that time flies swiftly so she can feed in the morning.
Sho listened to the rending of material and the rustle of expensive sheets and even the low growl as she murmured one final insult to him before she settled into silence. It was only then that he stood up, removed his shirt and let it fall on the couch and walked into her room shutting off lights as he went. Moving to the far side of the bed, he settled the pillows against the padded headboard and sat down to lean back against them reclining beside her. Silently he reached out and moved a strand of hair from her face. When she looked up at him, he spoke softly and never let his eyes waver from hers. “Come…”
She felt him move closer and wanted to throttle him. First his demands, then his arrogance, and now this! She closed her eyes as he sat down and willed him to go away. But when she felt his fingers on her cheek brushing a wayward strand of hair back, she couldn’t help but look up at him. Suddenly she felt it. There was an inaudible click as his eyes locked to hers. When he spoke she felt a compulsion to obey she had never felt before. It wasn’t like when another kin tried to force dominance on her. This was almost like a lover’s caressing to her inner most self. To obey was a desire to revel in, not an order to bulk at.
When he spoke the single word, he never moved. Yet instinctually she knew what to do. Rising from under the sheets she half crawled up towards him, eyes never leaving his until she set to rest her head against his bare chest. She sighed then and closed her eyes as her hand came to rest on his abdomen near her chin.
“Why did you lock me in, Sho?” She asked in the barest of whispers.
“Because you are in no shape to hunt. You are high from the excitement tonight and I cannot risk you taking your blooding too far and taking a life.” He stroked her hair as he spoke. “I know it would not sit well with you tomorrow night if you lost control.”
Without a warning, he raised his right wrist to his mouth and let his canines elongate just enough to puncture the skin. Then he brought the pin pricks of blood towards her and rested his left hand encouragingly on her back. “Drink.”
She heard the pop of skin and smelled the blood before she saw it. Lifting her face, she gazed at the offering then suddenly sat up with her back to him and tried to draw the tucked in covers closer to her as if to cover up. “I can’t, Sho… if I lose control…”
He sat still and watched her. “I will not allow that. Come feed.” His voice was calm, as if merely asking her to come lay down once more.
She felt the slight tug of his words but managed to fight them. Giving up on the covers she merely crossed her arms over her chest. “I can’t… don’t you understand?” There was a lilt of fear in her voice this time and she was shaking her head back and forth ever so slightly.
What happened next was a blur to her. One moment she had her back to him and was about to rise from the bed with the intention of sleeping on the couch. Then next moment she is on her back, him straddling her hips and holding the wrist to her lips. “Drink, Beth… now…”
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Post by Admin on Feb 11, 2015 0:52:56 GMT
ATRUS
Sho and Beth
Feb 10, 2015
1930 Norfolk, VA
She hadn’t meant to, but as soon as she looked into his eyes, she lost her nerve. Unable to stop herself, though she managed to grip the sheets to keep her hands from rising to help, she slowly opened her mouth and felt her fangs come unbeckoned as the first drop of blood hit her lips. She felt herself unable to look away, unable to break whatever hold he had on her as her lips wrapped almost tenderly around his wrist and her throat slowly began to ripple as she swallowed the offered vitae.
As salty blood cascaded like ambrosia down her throat, she closed her eyes. Though she still knew the press of his mind would keep her from ceasing the feeding, she soon found herself lost in the euphoria of the moment. A soft groan of pleasure rolled up her throat and her hands loosed their grip in the silken bed sheets. Without realizing it, her right hand came to rest on his thigh where it pinned her down next to her hip, and her left hand came up to adjust the offering slightly so she could drink deeper.
While raising her head and tilting it slightly for better drinking, she didn’t notice his body shift to lay beside her and roll her into his embrace as she automatically followed and found herself cradled against his body.
He let her feed for some time and it was her who finally began to release him, licking the wound so it would heal as her head lowered the final inch to rest once more on his chest as if they had never moved at all. His touch to her mind slowly released her and she shook her head. She knew the fog and compulsion was now gone. She knew it had been that and not desire that had allowed her to feed as she had. What she didn’t know was why she wasn’t mad.
After several minutes of laying silent in the predawn darkness, she whispered to him. “Why did you do that?” The question was obviously about everything he had done… from the feeding, to the compulsion to forcing her.
“Because it was necessary.” He stroked her hair and the fog slowly seeped back into her mind. She tried to shake it off but it was no use. She was asleep before the first tint of heat crested the horizon.
Sho waited till she was soundly asleep before extricating himself from under her, replacing the covers tossed about from her little defiant fit and moved to his own room to shower. The water beat down on his body as he rested with his head under the hot water, hands braced on the wall, water caressing down his tightly muscled back and legs to swirl on the porcelain before its downward spiral into the drain while he watched.
She could be so stubborn sometimes. What in all the realms had compelled her to go to the party by herself? And who was the man she had been trying to hail at the end? He had made things more difficult by letting her feed from him. The blood he gave her would leave her punch drunk with strength and power that would fuel her own and fold it several times into something beyond what she was used to. He had put her to sleep to keep her from sensing that. Two things could come from her realization of it. A revulsion that could, in time, make his compulsion on her useless. The other was that she would become drunk and heady with the added power and become addicted. He knew others of his race who became bound to those like herself. They fed the vampyre for the power gave their masters and mistresses, and they stayed for the privileges the exalted place in their court they were given. Power given was power received. He still had plans to take the sword and leave her… but not tonight.
He stood up, soaped and rinsed off and stepped out of the shower still dripping wet and padded naked and wet to her room, his towel absently rubbing the dripping tendrils of hair as he moved. He stood in her doorway and watched her as he finished drying off. There was something in her, about her, which drew him in the way his commands did to her. But it wasn’t compulsion or even a bonding of any kind. He wanted her on a completely different level. His brow furrowed in anger as he spun on his heel and headed back to his room. He had put those desires and feelings away long ago. They disappeared decades before when he swore off all women. Yet as he stretched out on the bed and yanked his sheet over his midsection to at least cover the most erotic of his physique, he wondered how this woman… this vampire fae… had managed to eke out this small kink in his armour.
He closed his eyes and dreamt of blood and fire and desire.
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