[$] The King and his Pawn

[Your Missing Period]

Liki looked down and failed at holding in a laugh, hitting his thigh and doubling over with laughter before picking up the strange creature which also had webbed feet. "This! This is a platypus!" and continued laughing. "He's! He's actually quite poisonous! And there's a female somewhere and she lays eggs! But they're warm blooded!" and continued laughing, having to sit down and hold his sides.

The platypus was looking at the man curiously, clicking its bill before squirming off and back into the water, leaving the man to die of laughter.  

[VampuricWerewolf]

"But that's-that's impossible." Niom wanted to go after the creature and study it more. he was half way to the water before stopping himself, "another one of your garbled creations, i assume. how strange it is, so very strange. from how hard you are laughing, i am guessing you plan to release it into the wild as soon as there are enough just to mess with people?"  

[Your Missing Period]

"Not so!" the man said after catching his breath. "The males have poisonous barbs on their hind legs. I'm immune to the poison since it's stabbed me enough times. Oh and their genitalia is that of a lizard. The females sweat milk and lay eggs, but the eggs hatch with the young still as partial-fetuses so they remain in the nest feeding off of her milk until they're fully grown." and sighed happily, watching the platypus swim. "They're the cutest beasts I've created." and nodded, dusting off his pants as he stood. "Oh yes. It shall be marveled at by all. I may die but my animals will live."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom looked at Liki, his eyes a little wide. Die? it had never really occurred to him before. Liki was mortal, human. no matter what tricks he might come up with, he couldn't change that fake. human, which meant he'd die some day. and that day would most likely come far sooner than Niom's own death. demons lived forever, until they were killed. half breeds had half that life span, they were easier to kill, but would live for hundreds of years. he'd outlive Liki, which meant that the day Liki died, he'd be free. "yes, yes they will." it was an epiphany, a spark of hope, of life, that gave Niom hope. this wasn't going to be the rest of his life. there would be something beyond Liki, he just had to endure until then  

[Your Missing Period]

"You sound excited about my subtle take over." he said with a raised eyebrow. "Come with me then and I shall show you a truly amazing creature." and walked out of the garden, walking around the small insect people who were greeting him and trying to make stabs at his guest. "It is going to get hotter, so I suggest removing some clothes." and easily removed his jacket and undoing the cuffs and collar of his shirt, opening a new door and suddenly entering dessert grassland. "They shouldn't be hard to miss, they're the spotted ones with the long necks." and bent down, scooping up some nearby ants. "These little devils are powerful, they can rip the flesh off a carcus in less than an hour. I named them after that warring ancient tribe, Siafu." and watched them crawl across his hand before placing them back down. "I have many lands in this castle with magic making it appear larger on the inside than out. How else would I study and create my creatures?" and smiled. "And you called me cruel. I have given them homes."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom shook his head a little, "you are cruel to humans, Liki. but to animals you are surprisingly kind." he held his cloak over an arm, his jacket loosened to let air flow better. his eyes took in the desert and he let out a soft 'wow'. he'd never seen the desert before, it was beautiful in it's own way. "those creatures, they are so tall! isn't it dangerous for them? if they went out into the wild, how would they drink?"  

[Your Missing Period]

"Humans are dull and boring creatures that cannot be changed. If they're changed their become depressed at dull." he said, waiving his hand. "And they drink by spreading their legs, bending their front ones and lowering their necks and heads. It is incredibly dangerous, since like humans their carotid artery is in their necks, but that's the safest I could create." he murmured. "I tried to prevent them from breeding but they found a way. It's incredibly awkward actually, their long limbs and long necks."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom glanced at Liki, "but humans can also be courageous, kind, amazing creatures. they can also be some of the cruelest, coldest being on the plant. i don't think them dull at all, and i don't think you do either. why else surround yourself with servants? if you really did think them as dull as you say, then you would live completely alone." he moved closer to watch the creature eating, fascinated by how it could reach the tallest leaves.  

[Your Missing Period]

"I use them because them doing their work gives me more time to do mine." he said simply. "And I've gotten rid of nearly all my servants because of you." The man gave a smile. "What else lives in these grasslands? Normal animals like the lion and the zebra and what not." he muttered, walking and beginning to think. "Perhaps that is the only creation, Oh! the Okapi! Hm, but they're in more jungled areas. Nevermind." and shrugged. "Its a shame. Oh well."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom shook his head a little, "you are a crazy man, Liki. maybe you should just focus on your animals and leave the outside world to itself." things would be so much better if he did, but that might mean he focuses on Niom as well and that was less appealing. "i'm going to head back, i need to finish dinner." he smiled a little and turned to go back to the kitchen, his discovery that one day he would be free still working it's full way through his system. if he wasn't to be imprisoned forever then there was still hope. and hope is what he needed to get through this next coming years.  

[Your Missing Period]

"I have tried, but I find you so much more interesting than my animals, and ten times as graceful and as beautiful." The warlock gave a smile to the mage before nodding. "All right. I might be in the jungles if I'm not here. Don't burn the roast, please." and continued his walk with a small smile, finding a spot and sitting down, listening to the chuffing of a lion in the distance somewhere.

Nymphet was in the kitchen, trying to hold back Griffon. "You can't eat it! Niom isn't done with it!"

The beast was clicking his beak lightly, trying to bite around Nymphet wh had her wings spread against the fireplace to prevent Griffon from taking a bite.  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom walked in and chuckled, "Griffon, down." he moved to where the meat was stored and threw three large chunks. one next to griffon, one a bit further away and one against the wall. "There you are, now leave my roast alone." he waited for the beast to move to the second one before hugging Nymphet, "thank you for protecting our dinner, dear." he pulled the roast out and put it into a pot, to which he started adding various ingredients, "how long were you there for?"  

[Your Missing Period]

Griffon gave a happy squawk and ran towards the thrown meat, happily pulling it apart with his beak and talons.

The girl smiled. "You're welcome!" And hugged back, "I wasn't here for very long. Well. I don't think I was. We were flapping our wings and then we smelled something really good but you weren't in here so I tried to stop him." she explained. "What did you do while you were gone?"  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom shrugged as he peeled some potatoes, "nothing much. learned of all the different creatures that Liki's made mostly. he's got quite the collection." he shook his head as he cut the potatoes into the pot and then added the drippings from the roast, mixing everything together and putting it onto the stove. he checked the fire and put a lid on the pot, "there we are. give it about another hour and dinner will be served. how about i make something to go with it? some fresh bread might be nice. and a salad. want to help, Nix?"  

[Your Missing Period]

"He does make a lot doesn't he?" and smiled before looking for fresh bread. "I'd love to help! But, I have a question." she turned to look at Niom. "I felt really weird today. Like. I looked up and the sun was really bright. I felt like today should have been a shady day." and shrugged. "Or maybe I'm just being weird. I found bread! I'm sure we can warm it up again but it's still squishy fresh!"