"But once again, why would the caretakers bring us here? I doubt very much that they need our help! Did you know, this place is immaculate? I daresay it is in fact perfect. It is actually quite unsettling!"
Leitha stood up, tail wagging. "I suppose, then, that we have no option but to go and ask! Shall we go collect our war veterans?"
Cry for the moon!Asau said, "you people — the not-dog aside — are beginning to remind me of a man. Isaac." With a weary smile, suggesting both fondness and exasperation, she said, "Always trying to put things under a microscope, so full of silly questions, always wanting to dissect anything beautiful he finds..." eyeing the area around her, Asau declared, "if there is malevolence at work, we shall deal with it when it reveals itself. Until then, today is a good day, and I intend to simply enjoy it. If they need our help... well, these 'caretakers' can ask for it themselves." Then she turned away and said, "now, I don't think those two particularly enjoy my presence... and I'm beginning to feel the same way. So if you intend to try talking to them, have fun."
She returned to the shore of the pool, near where the rest of her clothes were, and spotted Harold and Wesley. "Not my problem," she muttered — Rachel's catch phrase, but it seemed applicable to those two right now. Shaking her head, she turned her back to them. She balanced herself effortlessly on one leg and took a curious stance, whistling a strange tune as she closed her eyes in meditation.
A newcomer has arrived!
A pair of golden eyes stared out from the underbrush. This place was new. New how, she was uncertain. The flowers looked like flowers. The tree leaves rustled like tree leaves. And yet, something was different. Was it the smell? She flared her nostrils and breathed in this new world. This place smelled...
Now that she thought about it, she didn't know what it smelled like. She couldn't find any of the usual odors here.This place was entirely detached from her world of sterilized steel and putrefaction. She sniffed again. What was that smell? It was nostalgic almost, but how so?
Then it hit her. Finally a smell she recognized. Human. Excellent. She rose from the underbrush, carefully picking her mane of grey hair from the plant. Time to meet the new meat.
I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serialHector furrowed his brow. "Freeports?" he said, his tongue rolling over the word. "The name sounds...somewhat suspicious, really."
People were always fond of using words like "freedom" and "liberty" when there was something a bit more unsavory needing to be hidden.
Behind him, something rustled in the underbrush. Hector almost looked back, but kept his eyes on Wesley.
"Are they an integral part to your world? You see, the different islands I talked about usually have one or several distinguishing characteristic separating them from the other islands. In fact, most of the islands have the exact same landmass configuration—"
Saying so, Hector traced out Earth's continents in the sand by the pool.
"—but there are always differences. Your world's strange in that it looks completely different from what I know of. These...freeports might have something to do with it, and they might not. Tell me about them."
Whatcha gonna do, little buckaroo? | i be pimpin' madoka ficsI think I mentioned earlier that Matt has a London accent, even though he lives in Manhattan.
"Miss September, I understand your reasoning.
"Being an artist and a performer, I believe that dissection and overanalysis have a tendency to... erode away at simple beauty. I could tell you lot that I am going to generate a succession of pitched waves in a practiced sequence.
"But... where's the beauty in that?
"In this fast-paced, cynical, rationalist world we live in today, we should be counting ourselves blessed to have gained the opportunity to visit here and escape the stresses of life, even if it's only for a short while. This garden was crafted by the hands of God. Why not simply enjoy His creation? Appreciate what He made for us, instead of attempting to make sense of it?
"Honestly... I can't understand it. I learned to treasure every moment and pleasure. Such small joys seem to be rare these days, yet when they do appear, most seem to be blind to something that my eyes can see."
Such speculation had its time and place, but this was not the place. In fact, Matt didn't find much use for it at all. He learned early on that he should care more about living for the moment instead of planning for the next. For most of his life, he knew naught how much time he had, let alone found time to contemplate his existence. For if that was what he would have done... he may not even be here with them.
edited 27th May '11 9:10:43 PM by CrystalGlacia
"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."Leah turned once again to the violinist, not trying very hard to hide her disbelief.
"You've just found yourself in a... magical park or something, you've met people from other worlds, a d-" Don't say it. "a person that has died, anyway, and you think you should just assume it's a gift from God and enjoy it? That's... that's just..."
Don't offend them.
"I don't know. It just doesn't make sense to me. And for what it's worth, I don't see how a succession of pitched waves detracts any beauty from your music."
Lena decided to pull herself out of her reverie and rejoin the conversation. "It has been my experience that gods are not so generous when it comes to their gifts," she finally said, addressing the violinist. "I'm not trying to offend you, as I know for a fact there are gods, and one of them may be the single deity you speak of, but few of them have the power to create such perfection, and those that do are not forthcoming with such gifts."
She ran her hand through her hair. "I think our best bet is to just enjoy what we've got here without worrying about how it got here or why we're here. We should be more interested in each other, anyways. We all come from different backgrounds, different places. Surely that would be more fulfilling conversation than speculation as to the nature of this place?"
No one believes me when I say angels can turn their panties into guns.Lena turned to Leah. She smirked, putting on her most devilish smile. Striding up to the girl, she cupped her cheek.
"I can sense your frustration," she said. "You wear it on your sleeve, placed like a trophy on the mantle in a place of prominence for all to see. You see people as mundane things, wanting only to delve into the mystery of why we are all here and what exactly here is, do you not?"
She turned away from the girl. Closing her eyes, she unfurled her wings and tail, which had been wrapped around her in a semblance of clothing. She spun back on the girl, grinning all the wider as her irises faded to their normal red.
"Very well, I will tell you who I am, and even why I am here. I am Lena Carmina, daughter of Lucien Carmina, born and raised in a place some call hell, bred to feed off the souls of mortals such as yourself. I rebelled against my father, and my race, because I no longer wish to harm those I come into contact with. I am here, mortal, to learn of a way to sustain myself without resorting to devouring the souls of those I choose to protect or even befriend."
Note to self; confident Lena is much more fun to write than shy Lena.
edited 28th May '11 5:00:32 AM by animemetalhead
No one believes me when I say angels can turn their panties into guns.For a moment, when Lena had cupped her face, Leah was sure she would bite her. Only she wasn't a vampire, no. She was a succubus. Where did you learn about succubi? That's important.
"I- I really do care about the people here. I don't think it's a coincidence that we were all drag- brought here, whatever. But I- why would you not care about the nature of this place? I don't understand."
Leah, was aware that she was confusing her words, but she kept talking anyway, distracting her attention from Carmina. How does one know about succubi? Because Carmina -Lena- was, in a way, more terrifying than Leitha. Her eyes changed colour. Despite what she had just said, she made Leah feel like a small animal- like a meal.
She had to keep talking.
"And nevermind that, just why do you have a problem with eating people's souls?" How many souls do you have?
edited 28th May '11 5:21:10 AM by Dealan
"Why don't I care?" Lena asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because, from where I come from, people are far more interesting than places. I've been in paradises before, granted, some not as well made as this, but quite honestly, seen one magic garden seen 'em all. But people? Each a unique, beautiful snowflake, ripe for the picking." She licked her lips slowly, never breaking eye contact.
Okay, she was laying it on a little thick, but melodrama was rarely this rewarding, watching Leah squirm under her gaze. "As for your second question: It's a long story, the moral of which is to never fall in love with something with a shorter lifespan than you. I've lost count of the number of souls I've claimed, I have been at it for the better part of four centuries. And I'm starving, dear. Haven't fed in weeks, not since I met up with Leo and Mordecai at the Dragon's Den pub in Litus."
She sniffed the air. "Your fear is... intoxicating."
edited 28th May '11 5:34:12 AM by animemetalhead
No one believes me when I say angels can turn their panties into guns.She's just kidding.
And Leah honestly believed that. Carmina was just kidding- she was playing with her. Being a bitch, basically, trying to scare her even more. And, despite her effort to hide it -and a first rate effort, in her opinion-, it was working.
She can feel your emotions anyway. But she's just kidding
...Why was everyone else just standing there and watching? She wanted to look behind her back, see how Leitha reacted to this, but she had at least enough self control to not do that.
She ran out of things to say. For a moment, she stood there, staring at Carmina's -her eyes changed colour- tail, feeling helpless. And tasty.
edited 28th May '11 5:58:03 AM by Dealan
Lena gave Leah one final smirk before turning towards the pool. "Your slight touch of relief proves you've realized my bluff. Though, I did practically tell you I wasn't going to eat you."
She twirled the tip of her pointed tail around a finger. "Although, you do seem as though you'd be absolutely delicious."
With that, she waded out into the pond, letting the cool water wash over her. In truth, she was probably more afraid than Leah had been, though for vastly different reasons. One didn't simply swear off of their source of power and then so brazenly tempt themselves with it without repercussions. No, she had been treading a fine line, a battle between self-preservation and self-control.
No one believes me when I say angels can turn their panties into guns.Asau slowly opened her eyes, satisfied that she'd calmed her mind enough to deal with any further trouble from the old veterans. She looked around, spying Lena's tail... a tail? And wings? Now she was curious. She exited her meditative stance, tossed her skirt with the rest of her clothes, and joined Lena in the pool. Taking a seat at a rock, she said, "well now, you're an interesting thing... a tail? And wings? Those could be useful... You had my interest before, but now..." she glanced over, noticing Leah's fear, and suddenly her expression and stance sharpened, as she demanded, "what, pray tell, did you do to her?"
edited 28th May '11 6:55:01 AM by KillerClowns
Leah was still staring at her tail, as the succubus was walking away, towards the pond. When Carmina got too far to hear her, even if her hearing was two times as strong as a humans, she allowed herself to let a sigh of relief.
When you get alone with the what's her name, remember to ask her how does one kill a succubus.
She turned to face the rest, trying to remain as unexpressive as an Eastern Island statue.
"What, don't you have a comment for this, Leitha?"
Lena smirked. "I simply told her the truth; I gave her my name and a tad bit of my history. Not my fault if she took it the wrong way. I did practically tell her I wasn't going to eat her, but..." She let the sentence dangle unfinished.
She sighed. "Okay, so I messed with her a little bit. Succubi are natural entrancers, it just kind of happens once we've dropped the guise and returned to our normal form." She gestured at her wings. "Granted, it's a lot weaker since I haven't fed in a while, so all it did was scare her when she felt like a meal."
She grinned again. "Then again," she began. "You seem to be the type that's hard to kill. What do you say? Care to help out a demon in need?"
No one believes me when I say angels can turn their panties into guns."Messed with her? I'm in no position to chide you for that... and, wait, you said your kind were 'natural entrancers?'" Asau said. "I can see that... our order wouldn't mind you... you could become a very wealthy, respected woman..." she stopped, shook her head and said, "ah, but I imagine you have other business to attend to. A shame. So, then, tell me what you need and, if it is within reason, I shall do my best to help you." As she spoke, Asau's eyes seemed drawn to Lena's tail — she wondered what would happen if she touched it, but eventually decided it would be incredibly forward to try it, or even ask to, even by her own standards.
edited 28th May '11 10:51:23 AM by KillerClowns
But... where's the beauty in that?
September sat down under the tree next to Matt.
"Let me tell you a little more about myself. In one of my past lives, I was a girl named Anne. Anne's father was a man of science, someone who constantly strove to make sense of the world around him. What do you suppose drives men and women like that to learn more about the world around them, to seek understanding, if all such learning does is destroy beauty? I can tell you from firsthand experience, his discoveries had the opposite effect. Indeed, it was the very appreciation for beauty that you speak of which drove him."
September didn't seem to be chiding Matt or trying to argue with him. She spoke with conviction, but seemed to want to understand Matt, not to correct him.
Leitha shrugged. The succubus was nothing out of the ordinary for him, and her display was no worse than anything he'd seen from Wasp.
Or maybe that was just because it wasn't directed at him.
"I think we have here someone who is actually exactly what she appears to be. I, personally, think it is quite refreshing!"
He stood up, walked over to Leah, and rest his head on her thigh. "You just overthought. I'm starting to notice that is a weakness of yours! You always must only think as much as is required.
I think you should try talking to her some more."
Cry for the moon!

"You know, Leitha, September has a point. About the caretakers. Magical or not, this park must have someone who collects the trash people throw around, for example. Wouldn't be that bad a job, actually." She let a nervous laugh, that lasted more than she expected. "If it pays well, I'd gladly leave my current job to work in here."