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 Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:40 am
As the putrid smoke cleared Mecca opened his eyes. He looked down, a mix of shock and disgust crossing his face as he looked down at the creature before him. He frowned watching it, speechless as it stared up at him, it's red eyes confused and curious.
"What on Shutensa?" He asked himself turning his head back to the command in the book. "You're supposed to be a hell hound!" The grim yelped and started to lick his boots. "You couldn't put the fear into that horrid ball of fluff Covet drags around."
The puppy looked up at him and sneezed a small flame shooting from its nose and lighting the end of Mecca's boot. It was Mecca's turn to yelp, jumping backwards and placing his foot into the bucket of water by the fire.
The grim yelped again and started to roll around as though the whole thing was a game.
"I would not play cute if I were you." He snorted taking his wet foot from the bucket and shaking it off. "It will do you no favours."
Sighing he flopped down into the leather chair and grabbed the book from the side. There must have been something he had recited wrong. The baby grim getting bored on the floor made a running leap for Mecca's lap, landing on his legs and keeping his balance by digging his claws in.
The pain was pushing even Mecca.
"Owch." He said flatly looking down at the creature. "Though if you can hurt that much small. You will be quite useful once grown." He said, a smirk crossing his lips as he made an attempt to pet the doglike creature. If anything it would keep the furball out of his shop. "I think I shall name you Scimitar." He continued as the puppy began to lick his finger.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:49 am
Covet had been walking past the shop door when she smelled and heard something strange. Pushing the door open a little, she glanced at Meepo on her shoulder and then peeked in to see what Mecca was up to. Covering her mouth, she managed to stifle her laughter when the tiny pup set his boot aflame and she pulled away from the door to pluck Meepo up off her shoulder.
"Remember what we talked about. Go stay in the kitchen until I come to get you," she told the little green ball of fluff as she set him down gently on the floor. She scratched him behind his tiny catlike ears and he gave a happy chirp before scurrying across the floor through the small hole she had made Mecca cut into the kitchen door for him. Straightening, she wiped the smirk off her face as she looked back into the shop at the adorable puppy who seemed to be much enamoured with his new master.
At first she thought to just walk in and ask him what was going on, but decided winding him up would be much more fun. "Puppy!" she exclaimed with an excited squeal as she swept into the room to kneel down by his seat and hold her hand out to the tiny pup.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:54 am
Mecca looked up and glared at her. She would have to walk in at that point.
"He's not a puppy, he's a Grim." He said with a note of irritation. Watching as Scimitar started to sniff her hand and place a small paw on her palm so he could lick her fingers.
"He's a demon, a hell hound, a death omen." He continued still rather annoyed that he couldn't manage to summon a full sized one. Scimitar gave a tiny bark and nudged Covet's hand with his nose.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:01 am
Covet laughed softly, ignoring Mecca's irritation as the small Grim played with her hand. When he barked, she laughed again and promptly plucked the little beast up off his master's lap to cradle it in her own. She scratched him under his chin and looked up at Mecca.
"Who knew you were capable of creating such an adorable beast," she smirked. "Is he here to stay?" she asked, looking up at him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:10 am
Mecca sighed and looked at the little thing. He certainly was more likable than the horrid ball of fluff.
"Yes." He said reaching out to touch Scimitar's fur. "Besides, he'll grow. And maybe he'll be loyal, if he grows up here where I can train him."
He smirked and watched Covet play with him.
"I would ask what you think but I can see you would want to keep him either way."
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:22 am
Covet laughed again at Mecca's assumption and hugged the little beast snugly in her arms.
"You know me well," she smirked as the pup lolled over on its back on her lap. Scratching the pup's tummy, she looked back up at Mecca.
"Let's take him to the beach Me-chan. Let him stretch his legs a bit. I'll bet there would be a lot of shu there that would love to coo over him," she smirked. She was getting way too much enjoyment out of teasing him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:26 am
"I don't want people cooing over him." He said watching her pet him. "He's supposed to grow up and be fear inducing." He frowned for a moment and looked down at Scimitar's little red eyes.
"I suppose we could take him to the beach for a bit." He said reluctantly. "He needs exercise if he is going to be strong."
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:35 am
"That's right, you're going to be a ferocious beast. You're going to lick all of Me-chan's enemies to death and smother them with love. The most painful of ways to go I would imagine," she smirked and cooed over the red eyed beast. At Mecca's reluctance, she smiled and set the Grim on all fours on the floor.
"Great! I'll go get Meeps. He could do with some fresh air too," she smiled and disappeared before Mecca could stop her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:09 am
Quote: Mecca shook his head as she left and looked down to Scimitar.
"She's bringing the furball." He said with distaste, looking for something he could use as a lead and collar. "We don't like the furball." He smirked and took a small chain and a rope from a drawer. Kneeling he fastened them to Scim and stood again. Pulling his coat on as Scim bounced around on the floor trying to chase his little tail.
"Covet, are you ready?" He called stepping out into the hallway with Scim pulling on the leash. Quote: “I’m coming,” she called back. She quickly scooped Meepo up into her arms and walked out into the hallway. Grabbing a brightly colored shawl, she walked forward and stopped short when Meepo caught sight of Scim and gave off a piercing screech.
“Meepo! Stop that!” she scolded him as she tried to straighten out her shawl with one hand. Quote: Mecca winced at the sound. It was horrible, and much like the one the creature gave him on occasion.
"Make it stop." He said glaring at the furball with extreme distaste. Scimitar had started to growl, flattening his ears to his head and straining on his chain with his teeth bared.
Mecca smiled.
"That's more like it." he said with a grin, opening the door and pulling on the lead to drag Scim outside.
"Come on beast." He laughed as Scim barked and chased off down the steps. It seemed he had found an ally against the green creature. Quote: Covet glared at Mecca as he encouraged Scim to be nasty towards Meepo. As he dragged the beast out, she clamped a hand over Meepo’s mouth.
“That’s enough of that,” she said curtly, glaring down at her little green friend. Meepo looked up at her with big, bright eyes and her expression softened. “You need to behave,” she said softer as she set him down to wrap her shawl around her shoulders and then picked him back up to perch him on her shoulder once more. Meepo curled up in her long hair and she stepped out into the cool day, stepping down to fall into step beside Mecca as they started towards the seafront. Quote: As they walked along the seafront, rather than cooing at the red eyed puppy, most people gave it a wide berth. A tamed death omen was not really what they wanted to see as they were out for a morning stroll.
"I like him." Mecca said proudly as they walked towards the market. "I think I underestimated him."
Scim padded along happily, not really concerned with the effect he was having on passers by as he sniffed the floor and barked happily at the birds.
"What do you think he eats?" he asked, turning to look at Covet. "He's a death omen ... so fresh meat or not so fresh? Maybe he likes to kill things himself." Quote: Covet watched the other shu with a smirk as they gave the odd group a wide berth. She really didn’t understand what so terrifying about either of the beasts walking beside her.
“You do tend to do that,” she smirked and looked out over the shipyard when he said that he rather liked Scim. She knew he would. When he asked her what she thought he might eat, she looked back down at the happy Grim and considered him for a moment.
“I’m not sure. I would feed him fresh meat first. I wouldn’t let him hunt on his own just yet. I would imagine that would take some proper training,” she said, reaching up idly to pet Meepo who was content on her shoulder for now. “Don’t you think?” she asked, glancing up at him. Quote: "Mmm, I think you are right." He said looking down at the little character. "You'll have to help me though. I do not know about meat." Turning to look at her he gave her his flat smile and held his arm out for her.
It was quite a good day, a slight chill to the air and nice and overcast.
"Have you thought any more about what you would like to do here in Cephei?" He asked as they walked. It would do her good to set up her own thing. He didn't want anymore of his gloom seeping behind her smile. Quote: “I’ll take care of his shopping for you,” she replied, returning his smile with a much brighter one. “I’ll just add it in with mine when I go,” she continued, slipping her arm through his. At his question, her smile slipped into a teasing smirk.
“Trying to get rid of me already?’ she smirked up at him before looking back out at the sea. “I have, but I am not sure I would be able to pull it off. Besides, I rather enjoy helping you with Taliesin,” she smiled and turned her bright green eyes back up to his. “Lune knows you need all the help you can get,” she smirked. Quote: Mecca smirked and shook his head.
"No, I just do not want you to grow bored helping me. You should be doing something you want to do." As they approached the larger groups of people Mecca shortened Scim's lead. He didn't want him causing any accidental trouble. "What is it you have in mind?" He asked, looking over to her again. "You must be able to pull it off. I will help you if I can." Quote: Covet continued to smirk up at him and again reached up to pet Meepo when he began nuzzling her neck. “I seriously doubt you will want to help me,” she smiled and tightened her hold on his arm a little. She glanced around for a moment then pulled him to a stop.
“There,” she said pointing to a small, vacant shop with large windows facing the sea. “I was thinking maybe something like the teahouse and Veronica, but not quite so elaborate. Something a little more intimate, but where other shu could come and enjoy themselves for a while. Somewhere where I or others could perform if we wanted,” she said a bit vaguely, certain she was going to get one of his infamous smirks and snorts of laughter. Quote: Mecca looked over to the shop as he was pulled to stop and led her over to it. Peering through the window he wiped his hand on the dusty glass to get a better look.
"Why would I not want to help you?" He asked, looking back to her. "If you need money I have plenty."
Scim yelped again and scratched his paw against the door.
"Scimitar likes it, it seems." He observed, trying to imagine the kind of place she wanted.
"If that is what you want to do you should do it." He said stepping back and giving Meepo a wary glance. "You will still live with me though?" Quote: Covet watched Mecca as he peered into the shop and smiled when he turned back to her with his offer.
“Because I know you think that things like that are silly and I don’t want your money, but thank you,” she said, reaching out to trace her name idly into the dust on the window. She smiled down at Scim as he gave his approval and smirked at the look Mecca gave to Meepo. A smirk that deepened at his question.
“I don’t know,” she replied, looking back up at the shop and on up to the second story windows where she knew a small living space was. “Maybe I shouldn’t. You seem to want me to branch out on my own,” she smirked, knowing full well she was going to stay with him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:16 am
Mecca turned to give her a sly smirk at her words.
"It gets very cold here in the winters you know." He said stepping back from the shop to look up at it. It would be a good place for what she wanted.
"I do think it is silly." He said looking back at her. "But that is my opinion and it is not my business. I'm sure it would be very profitable, right here on the seafront."
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:24 am
Returning his sly smirk, she looked back at her name and reached out to trace his name in the dust as well, laughing softly at his words.
"Then I suppose I'll just have to find some shu to warm my bed," she smirked and looked back at him. She smiled at his opinion, one she had known all along and then looked back out to the sea.
"You really think it would be? I think I would be heartbroken if I put so much love and energy into something only to watch it fail," she said, looking up at him. She knew firsthand how hard it was to keep a business like this going. She was really nervous about whether it would be a successful venture or not. She glanced back at the empty shop and a small smile teased the corners of her lips.
"Would you ever come?" she asked, staring through the dirty window.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:44 pm
"I'm sure you'll have no trouble." He said, watching her and leaning against the wall as she traced his name. Into the dust.
"I don't say things I don't mean." He smirked turning to lean his back against the wall and look out at the boats. "If I can make Taliesin a success then you can surely succeed with something more favourable."
He laughed at her next words and turned back to her.
"I shall come, though you shall have to have a dark corner for me to lurk in and a cup of spiced tea for me to drink."
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:06 pm
"I think I could manage that," Covet smirked and turned her eyes up to him, then down to Scim when his claws dug into her leg in a plea for attention.
"Ow... you and your master are well paired," she said, frowning a little at the sharp pain as she leaned down to scratch him behind his soft ears. Again Meepo started to screech as his well deserved attention was handed off to the other. Covet looked up at Mecca and then reached up to pluck Meepo from her shoulder and wrap him up in her shawl to hush him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:17 pm
Mecca smirked again and reached down to pick the dog up.
"Are you bleeding?" He asked inspecting the creature's claws and scratching his ears as he tried to lick his face.
At Meepo's screech he shook his head and placed Scim back on the floor.
"Have you expressed an offer for this property?" He asked offering her his arm so that they could continue on their walk.
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:26 pm
Bending down, Covet lifted her skirt a little and sighed at the small beads of red on her white leg.
"Nothing I can't handle," she smirked and dropped her skirt. She slipped her arm through his at his offer and smiled at his question as she glanced around at the other shu around them.
"You could say that I have," she replied and then turned her head to look up at him. "Shall we go to the market and I can teach you how to buy meat on the rare occasion I am unable?" she asked.
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