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 Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:16 pm
Axel blushed and laughed a little as he scratched the back of his head. "I keep try telling my parents that, but no dice." He sheepishly smiled as he spoke to the pretty elf. "I'm pretty sure its punishment for always causing them trouble when we were all younger. That, or they want to make more children, which I highly recommend against." He hoped to make Aura laugh, a girl's laugh was the prettiest thing next to her happy smile.
Leticia frowned, confused by Okami's explanation. It really didn't make sense to her. First, how can a town be created and still owned by two people? She saw some of the shops and houses in the town, it looked like it was built during the 1880s. s**t was crazy. Second, how did those two founders relate to Okami? Was she their great-great-great-great granddaughter or something? And third, did the townspeople actually own any land or did they rent it out? Leti decided not to ask those questions because she feared the answers would confuse her even more than the original answer did.
So, instead, Leticia opted for asking more about Wilde girl's name. "Your name is Okami, does that mean your folks were into Japanese stuff, or one of them were part or whole Japanese and really in touch with his or her heritage or some stuff like that? I don't think you look really Asian to me." The young woman stared at the blue-haired girl, trying to figure out her origins. It was better than thinking about the town's crazy history.
[Leti isn't trying to be offensive, it's just her personality.]
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:33 pm
Aura laughed a little awkwardly. "Elves have large families in their home towns or villages sometimes. But they are not so wild." She said softly. "You might, you should get them home."
Okami kinda laughed, "No, as far as I know I am not Asian by any means, and I didn't really know my parents but my father was somehow one of the founders, or perhaps he was like, the great great great grandson with the same name." she said, but, well.. She started grinning. "This town is full of shapeshifters, mortals, immortals, dragons, people with magic powers. Basically anything that should not or could not exist where you are from, exists here without having to hide under the radar. I myself can change into a younger me, change my hair at will, turn into a demon, or into a normal wolf."
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:12 pm
{Sorry I'm slow, too much to deal with}
Miko looked over at Malum in a sideways manner, trying to judge why in the world he would deem to tell her such information. Maybe he's only telling me such things to further discourage my actions. She mused. She sat silently for a time, not really wanting to speak for just a little longer. She watched the events down below passively, before taking a drink and whispering, "Thanks Malum, that's quite useful. May just have to move a few things around before they take my hard earned goods." Adding a wry smile at that. She shivered as a breeze blew by, which made her think of where Lucien might be. As "ambassador of the wind court", he could change into a breeze at will, so he was always somewhere and she never knew. She sighed, for a thief that could barely speak, she liked company far more than she should. It's probably why I'm here with Malum right now. "Ever feel like this life is getting a little boring?" She asked Malum. Taking a sip of from her bottle she elaborated, "I mean, when I came here, a dragon waking up would terrify me, now I merely worry about some bauble or bit I find." She paused to sip once again. "For all its oddity, the town is too... well, boring."
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 6:52 pm
Axel laughed, scratching the back of his head as he leaned toward the wall, then recoiled when he found it covered in slim. He didn't want to know what it was, so as he recovered from his repulsive experience, the shapeshifter said, "I gave Alexis the car keys, she's taking the little devils home." He knew Alexis would drive them home safely, she didn't want to ruin the only motor vehicle their family owned. How else was she supposed to go out of town to shop at all those specialty designer stores she liked? "Elves are more civilized than a bunch of shapeshifters, we're less human and more tiger, wolf, etc. I really prefer being a tiger than human, I have true freedom as a tiger." He gave her an easy half-smile as he saved himself from leaning against the slimy wall again.
Leticia listened, and listened, and listened, and it still didn't make sense to her, immortals weren't real, shapeshifters weren't real, freaking dragons weren't real, but s**t, it would be if they were, yet here she saw, having just seen a bunch of redheads shift back and forth between tiger and human and then an elf girl. And she couldn't forget Ookami, the girl could change her hair color at will—Leti thought it was a nifty trick, she'd like to do that when ditching an obsessive ex-boyfriend—change into different thing. It was crazy. "Then how the Hell am I here? I'm just a plain old babe. What kind of anomaly am I to wind up in this bat-crazy place?" It was a reasonable question in her mind. She wasn't anything special. Just a thief running away from obsessive, crazy ex-boyfriends who wanted to either control or kill her.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:07 pm
Malum stood up and shoved his hair out of his face. "They are not too likely to take it if it isn't grouped together or where they can easily see it." He pointed out. He wasn't trying to help her, rather keep her from bothering the dragons. His hand clutched the pendant around his neck. "I have a feeling things are going to get a little more exciting soon. But have you noticed that the number of thieves has increased lately? Perhaps you should look for a new line of work."
Aura smiled a bit. "Very well, so long as you have not ditched your cubs." She looked at his silently for a moment. "I can change into many things, but it is not a DNA thing with me. I change into things because of a pack my ancestors made with animals and creatures long ago. In a way, I have very small pieces of other souls trapped inside of me, and that gives me the ability to transform into a version of them that fits me." She blinked slowly. "I understand that freedom though. That is how I feel in my shifts."
Okami smiled a bit. "Well, sometimes people who are normal show up, and after a while they get abilities. Sometimes they do not, but this place speaks to something in your heart or you wouldn't be here."
She closed her eyes and from root to tip the brilliant blue hair darkened and turned the blackest of black. The darkness made her eyes pop, but also made her look a little more normal.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:17 pm
Miko looked over the square again, noting the amateur thief she had seen earlier she speaking with Ookami. She had indeed noticed the number of thieves that had been appearing lately, and had spoke of this with her brother. It was a difficult thing to place. On the one hand, it means there is more competition and more of a chance to actually feel like I'm stealing something. And, who knows maybe it could lead to a little guild of thieves right here in Kuro Shiro. She stopped herself at that, thinking about thieves and their guilds was still a painful subject. She rubbed her throat absentmindedly, but it would never stop me. This is all I am and will ever be. So she smiled wryly, took a drink and whispered over the breeze. "The moment those amateurs run me out of the good business is the day I die. And the more the merrier I say, keeps the authorities off me." She took another sip, massaging her throat a little as it was beginning to get sore. Definitely didn't expect to hold a conversation with Malum for this long, she shook the bottle, it was half full. "But I do hope it gets better."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:20 am
Axel listened, fascinated by Aura's explanation for her shapeshifting abilities and envious, just a little though. No way would he want to shapeshift into a wolf or coyote or something canine, they smelled. Maybe a lion, but he'd lose his agility and stealth...a leopard or jaguar would be best. As long as he wasn't slow, bulky, and dumb, he'd be content like house cat getting a back rub. He thought Aura was a stunning leopard and kind of wished he could be a leopard with her, but he liked being a tiger too much to truly wish for it. Still, the thought was interesting. "It's the magic of being pure of animal instinct that makes it so wonderful for me." The shapeshifter wistfully stared at the sky as he spoke, then glanced at Aura once more. "This will sound rude asking—and I won't obligate you to tell me since you don't and saying otherwise will make me a grade-A a*****e—but why are you here in Kuro Shiro alone, Aura? I mean, without some relatives or siblings. You said elves have large families." The thought only occurred to him after he thought about the "very small pieces of other souls trapped inside" her part really got through his thick skull.
Why was the beautiful elf traveling alone instead of with the safety of her family?
Leticia took two steps back when Okami's hair started changing color, it was freaky and sudden and she was uncomfortable with it. The African-American woman wasn't sure she wanted to stay in Kuro Shiro and gain any abilities—besides repelling clingy and overbearing men from her life—but this was the safest place for her. "Can you give me a warning next time, before you do that, please?" she asked, breathless as she stared at Okami's now black hair and felt the temptation to touch it to make sure it was actually real. It was not normal to change hair like that, but she couldn't deny it would come in handy at times.
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:34 pm
Appearing from no where on the various store windows and a few building walls, was a beautifully written invitation.
Greeting Residents of Kuro Shiro
The Twins of Kuro Shiro Manor cordially invite you to
a Grade Mystery Masquerade Ball
in honor of their return home after many years of travel.
Kuro and Shiro Wilde have spared no expense
providing the highest quality food and drink that money can buy
and request your presence at their home tonight
to mingle with the guests and residents of Kuro Shiro and celebrate a new chapter in the town.
After a brief dinner there will be unlimited access to a buffet of finger foods
and a large ballroom for dancing.
At the end of the night the masks of the guest will be removed and Ms. Kuro and Ms. Shiro will reveal themselves.
Due to the nature of the venue and the event the best attire
is required and can be found in shops around Kuro Shiro.
For your convenience the shops have been requested
to bring out their best gowns and tuxedos as half-price for this event.
The Kuro Shiro Twins request that you arrive alone
and do not disclose your dress or mask with your friends
before the Ball in order to keep the nights events exciting.
This is a high-security event,
no weapons, spell books, or trinkets
will be allowed in the building for the safety of the guests.
Your presence is awaited, no RSVP is necessary.
Signed,
Kuro Wilde
Shiro Wilde
Heiresses of Kuro Shiro
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:45 pm
Okami's nose twitched. "You gotta get used to it if you stick around here." She pointed to a bulletin board as something faded into existence. "See?" The now black-haired young lady walked over and plucked the seemingly old paper off the cork. The ink looked and smelled fresh, and the handwriting was beautiful.
"Hmm..." She walked back over to Leticia. "This would be a good way to get used to it. Masquerades and stuff so if you wanna slip out you can and-" Her rather friendly voice turned into silent gritting teeth.
"Who the hell?! Who do these people think they are saying that this is their town? I don't have any family to be above me in any sort of inheritance and-" She took a breath and handed her the sheet. "Guess I get to go buy a friggin' dress." She smiled hoping that she could calm down. She'd set these people straight before someone started trying to change laws and crap.
Malum Atrum looked down as he heard a very upset Okami shouted and quickly regained her composure. "Trouble in paradise. I had a feeling things would get better." A flick of his wrist and a little shadow-crow fetched the paper straight from Okami's hand. "Kuro and Shio Wilde, Heiresses of Kuro Shiro, throwing a huge ball. There will be lots of money to steal if you can get a nice outfit." He wondered if they made dresses that could fit someone so scrawny. "Maybe I can find something to do there too...." He would likely find out something about the dragons in the area, or the town itself. That could serve him some good.
Aura never noticed the invitations appear, she was busy thinking. "There really wasn't much cause to leave. Every family has a... I believe the term is 'black sheep'... in their family. That was me. I left to go travel and explore. My family pretty much wants nothing to do with me now so I stay here."
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:38 pm
Mikora took the paper tenderly from his hands, so as to not disturb him. She held it up to the sun, just in case there was something else on the paper she was missing. There wasn't, but her paranoia had some grounds. Who would send out an invitation to everyone, that's the upity-ups and the guttersnipes like me all in the same building? Stating that they're the heiresses of the town, when Ookami is the general known owner? This just doesn't smell right, Miko thought quietly. But Malum had very good points about the buffet of unguarded purses that was upcoming. She took a sip while eyeing the paper. "You got a point there about the money. People throwing balls like this around either have the top-tier security or care nothing about the money they have. Maybe both." Both was an exciting prospect for Miko. "Things have gotten better, but for something like this, I can't go solo. Care to make a little money?" she whispered slyly, giving Malum a genuine smile. She didn't trust him entirely, and she had back up plans already forming, but it would be nice to see if he was willing to assist. I definitely need to speak to Lucien... after I spend a little of the collection on a padded dress, she thought sourly.
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:50 pm
Axel thought for a moment about Aura being a black sheep and decided the term didn't suit her. The elf was just different and it was her family's loss for not going along with her adventurous spirit. "I'm glad you're here, black sheep or not. Besides, you now have me and the rest of Kuro Shiro as your family. You know we're a very tight-knit community of busybodies and jackasses, especially Malak Ahmad. Sorry about her, she's the one that yelled for us to kiss. I'm sure she's the devil's spawn." As he rambled, he noticed invitations appearing all over the place, sticking to the brick walls, probably with magic. He picked out one of the invitations and started to read it. "Ah-oh, spaghettio, Okami isn't going to like this. The town's namesakes, Kuro and Shiro Wilde, have returned, or so says the paper here. They should be a bag of bones by now, but I guess they're immortals if they're sending out masquerade ball invitations. At school, we learned about the town founders and how they named the town after their two daughters. Are you going to the ball, Aura? I know my family will, even the younger kids will." He wondered how he and his parents would keep the little kids from drinking alcohol, but figured a spell would be cast to either do a reverse-Jesus (turn the wine into water) or just have a barrier to keep them away from it.
Leticia blinked at the bulletin board, not having noticed it before and not noticing the new notice because of it. She only read the first five lines before a see-through crow—it was like a living shadow!—snatched the parchment from her hands after Okami gave it to her. Whatever, she wouldn't bother asking about the shadow-crow, it would give her a headache, though a masquerade ball wouldn't. She loved to dress up and be all sexy and taking home a sweet boo for the night. But she was afraid the ball wouldn't go well with how badly Okami took the news on the paper. "Didn't you say this town's filled with immortals and stuff? I don't think it's impossible that you have relatives. Sounds like the hostesses are the town's namesakes." Whatever, a party was a party, and she loved to party. Besides, this way, she could meet everyone in town and ask Okami who was "normal" (in terms of the town's normal) and who wasn't. It would save her time and energy when she pick-pocketed for a little bit of cash.
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Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 12:31 pm
"Perhaps, but it seems off to me. Why would the town say it's me if I have older immortal siblings?" She shrugged. "Oh well, guess I will go and get a dress and stuff. It will be nice to see everyone in one place, and I bet there will be lots of new faces about, too." Okami started thinking about which shop might pose the best choice for dresses, heels, and masks. She owned nothing that would be ball worthy at the moment. She took a deep breath and calmed down some.
"I don't really need your money, but I plan on going. But, technically, I can not see what you wear or I will know who you are." He pointed out. "I don't usually do formal." He didn't seem too eager, but he didn't have anything else to do.
Aura bit her lip thoughtfully. "I suppose it would be a good change of pace. Guess I shall go shopping some after all." She tucked her hair behind her pointy little ears. "I will have to hide my ears or everyone will know who I am. That defeats the purpose....right?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:07 pm
{Enter Ollor}
The town square suddenly filled with the smell of sea brine and the ozone of an ocean storm as Ollor rolled into the square, oddly enough carrying what looked to be a bedraggled kitten, with some difficulty. As such a large storm wind, finesse isn't something he normally has to call into effect. Leveling trees, ships, and the occasional house was easy as it was for humans to breathe for him, small things took more concentration, a hard thing for wind spirits to accomplish. He did the equivalent of glancing over at Malak. "Where would like me to put this little one?"
Miko shrugged nonchalantly at Malum's turn down, only slightly disappointed, but it was something she had already accepted. "Very well, I figured I'd ask. I had better find my brother to see what he knows about this little treat," she whispered, just as the smell of the tide came rolling in the square. Thanks to her brother, she had come to recognize the smell as the large wind storm, Ollor. "And I just smelled the perfect method of finding him." She searched the square for anything unusually windy, and immediately found the levitating kitten. Gotcha, she shifted into a crow and with a bow to Malum as a way of farewell she flew over to Ollor. She landed beside the feet of Malak and cawed for the wind's attention. "Ollor where is my brother?" She cawed in crowspeak.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 3:55 pm
[enter Mrs. Kitty]
Mrs. Kitty looked around from her backpack-chair on Silver's back. She had to admit, she liked the high vantage point from up here. She couldn't see nearly so well when on her own four paws without hoping up to a high location. "See any places you wish to stop?" She asked Silver.
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:24 pm
Axel rolled back and forth on his heels as Aura spoke and thought her lip-biting was cute, and he wouldn't mind shopping with Aura, but the notice said to arrive alone and to not disclose their outfits to each other. He wondered if that applied to families? Probably not, but he knew he wouldn't get to see Aura's dress and mask. "I was going to search for your cute ears at the ball to find you. I guess I better rely on my nose instead." He grinned and leaned closer to the forest elf, memorizing her scent so that he could find her later at the ball. Just because he wasn't allowed to see her dress and mask didn't mean he had to play the founders' game. "I'll make it easy for you to find me at the ball. We can hang out and maybe have a few cups of wine when no one's looking." He winked before returning to his personal space so Aura wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Leticia blinked at Okami for several heartbeats until she finally said, "The townspeople told you this town was yours, or did the town itself tell you?" The young woman wanted to leave no question unasked after learning about this weird town. "Anyways, I don't think I'll go to the ball. I got no money to spend on dresses and stuff. All I got is my regular clothes." As much as she'd love to party, she didn't have the cash on-hand. Maybe if she picked a few more pockets, she'd manage to afford a nice pair of heels, but she didn't think so.
[Enter Malak from the shore.]
To answer Ollor's question, Malak pointed to the two-headed dragon fountain in the middle of the town square. The kitten could drink water from the fountain and regain its strength if it was just dehydrated. Cats, in Malak's experience raising two rescue cats who were used as rewards for dogs in dog fighting rings, often bounced back from whatever life threw at them. For her two older cats, they don't let their scars or missing pieces get them down...unless they fall down the stairs when they should know better by now to mew for someone to carry them. Dumb cats never change. Flower, her eight-month-old kitten, was the only one with some sense, and she had brain damage from overheating after being trapped in her former owner's car for three hours with the windows up! The toms were just dumb. "Let her drink from the fountain. If she wanders away on her own, she'll be fine. Cats don't need people for anything, we're just convenient for them." She shrugged and ignored the crow that landed by her feet. The bird was noisy and obviously cawing at Ollor, so it wasn't a normal crow, which wouldn't have mattered because the witch knew crows were intelligent creatures and would attack people who were cruel to them or their friends and family. It was a general rule about blackbirds to never harm them.
[Enter Silver from Anything Is Fine.]
Silver smiled as he felt Kitty move around on his backpack while resisting the urge to pet her again. Cats were just so darn cute. Instead, the sorcerer let her look around the square while he scoped out which store they would be shopping from. That is, until he spotted Malak with the air spirit Ollor and an oddly-colored and sized kitten floating in the air. He decided to avoid them. "Aside from ordering a dress last minute from the city, our only option for clothing is Quirky's Clothing—Ooo, he looks downright depressing and like he's not attending the ball. Let's talk to him." said the seventeen-year-old as he watched a mixed Asian man with tousled black hair sit down on one of the benches and toss away the ball invitation that had been on it. The sorcerer knew the man was a visitor because this was his first time seeing the man, which meant this man knew nothing about him, so he couldn't suspect anything.
[Enter Aoi from Cross Roads Bar.]
After drinking so much, Aoi needed some air before returning to his hotel room, but he didn't want to walk far, so he settled for a bench in the square. It was empty save for another ball invitation, one he chose to toss to the ground. The invitations were a perfectly good waste of animal skin in this day and age of computer and phone technologies. The founders had no sense. "They probably care about ascetics," he said with a sigh before a young white Hispanic man with a cat in his backpack, approached him. The immortal wanted to pet the cat, it was cute and fluffy. "Yes? I'm a bit drunk, so I may not be the best company for someone your age." Or any age for that matter.
The young man didn't seem to care as he waved away the elemental's words. "I noticed you threw the invitation to the ground. Does that mean you're not attending the ball? Don't you want to know who Kuro and Shiro Wilde are? Okami, she's the girl talking with the black girl, is supposed to be their sister or something. Won't you be interested in knowing what will happen to this town?"
Aoi shrugged. "It's an invitation for the residents, I'm not a resident." It was true, the invitation said nothing about town visitors.
The young man thought otherwise as he said, "No, it's for everyone, if you're staying in town, even for a short time, you're invited. Besides, it's free food and drink, right Mrs. Kitty?" Aoi could see he wouldn't win against the young man who was now scratching his cat, Mrs. Kitty, behind the ears, and decided agreeing to attend the ball would get him off his case, though it didn't mean he'd attend. The boy would not know if he went unless he or his cat could track his scent. Then he would be in a pickle.
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