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 Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:58 pm
"Bickering because you won't move your a** through the door." Quipped the younger, meeting her gaze head on with his own, all fire and youthful pride.
The elder led the way down the corridor, past walls made from white stone and stained glass windows, each depicting a different Cobra in a pose of venomous glory. There were several other rooms on the floor, each with a locked door, and as one was passed a pleading voice seemed to bang on the door. With a flick of his tail, the elder naga quieted the voice.
He traversed down a solid spiral ramp that stood in place of a staircase into a large fore chamber. It's elegance was plastered from floor to vaulted ceiling. White stone shone like diamonds, and the fires in the chandeliers burned a brilliant shade of indigo, giving the room the feel of twilight.
The two stopped before a large set of double doors, and with their magic it was opened. A room far larger than any of it's kind was lined side to side by walls of glass, overlooking the large body of water to it's right and the gardens to it's left. Courtiers chatted and mused, snacked and drank, all at the expense of the satyrs that served as slaves.
At the end of the long room sat a dias made of glass, and upon it a throne made of diamonds. Though simple in shape, it was the brilliance of it's shine as the sun filtered through it that gave it's mistress the utmost pleasure. Even on the coolest of days the crowned ruler could relax in absolute warmth.
Furthermore, upon said throne sat the Queen, and in her eyes sparked an interest. Her stance had been one of resolute boredom as she sat looking over the garden, but now her attention was solely on Mei-Lin.
"Step forward so that I may see you." All at once the clamoring stopped, and all eyes turned to Mei-Lin.
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Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:40 pm
It would have been scary to the old Mei-Lin to even imagine the images which flashed through the unitaur’s mind, but now she was just numb. Nothing seemed to scare her anymore and the light that she normally radiated seemed dull, as if darkness was staining the edges. Looking around the corridor Mei-Lin’s gaze flickered, nagas weren’t vain at all were they? For a moment her hand wanted to reach out towards the locked door, but it never left her side. As they continued the unitaur just shook off the luxury of the castle. Something like this, she had never held any interest in. Just seeing a radiant sunset had once been plenty for her.
Could all this really warm a heart?
Mei just shook her head, her gaze emptying as she entered the crowded room. A satyr slave which reached out for her was instantly jerked back, her tears of shock marking her face at the image of the beautiful unitaur who was being led into the den of snakes. However, there was no fear on the unitaur’s face and instead she just seemed so dead to it all. As if she could easily accept death and had no care. What others might mistake as courage, Mei-Lin simply felt as a numbness inside of her chest.
“Are you blind?” Mei-Lin countered softly, “I’m standing right here and I would be surprised if you hadn’t seen your captive before. Obviously your servants have.” She gestured to the strange outfit she had woken up in, “What is it that you wish of me that I’m still breathing?” Her gaze dark as onyx stared up at the cobra naga as she stepped forward with each word.
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Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 6:06 pm
Xibalba leaned back in her chair and laughed. "Oh, but I do like you. You're not as dull as I thought you were going to be." Genuinely amused, she rolled her coils up around her on the dais as she shifted back to a more forward facing position. "I've been watching you for a while, Mei-Lin, far longer than the time you've spent in my castle, at least."
A satyr with a large serving tray approached her, bowed, and held it out for her. After searching it over she found a few grapes that appealed to her, munched on them and shooed the male away. "Do you think to frighten me, child? I have not underestimated you, nor should you think to do the same of me." Xibalba motioned to her with a grape, smiled slowly and popped in her mouth before squishing it in a sharp snap.
"I'll answer your question after you answer mine; In your personal opinion, how would you run an empire, Mei-Lin?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:31 pm
Mei-Lin just glared, “Glad that my presence amuses you.” Her arms crossed before her as she watched the cobra naga. This queen before her was supposed to be her bitter enemy? She could feel the power, but at the same time the unitaur just wanted to question it all. What was the point in those two sides wasting each other away so long ago? Was power such an important thing? Frowning she blinked towards Xibalba, “That would be considered highly creepy of you to do. Honestly I wouldn’t see why you would do such a thing either…I’m nothing unique, unless you sleep at night with the aid of my boring life?”
A smile flickered across her features with amusement as Mei shook her head, “Like I would be stupid enough to be so daring. Obviously if you feared me then I would not be standing here so openly.” Her gaze looked around the room, “What a better way to display power than having your species’ enemy not only before you but dressed up in your choice and free of chains?” Only those who feared would fight to subdue someone in such a public disgrace, but for her to do this…well it was unique. This cobra definitely had bravery, “Though your opponent is not much when she has no life to fight you.” Really all Mei wanted to do was curl up and sleep somewhere for a very long time. Maybe then the memories would fade along with the ache that was slashing into her heart? Just like jagged knives moving in deeper with every faint beat in her chest.
“An empire?” Mei frowned and crossed her arms, “I’ve never considered such a thing before.” Why should she? She preferred to roam freely without being tied down to anyone or anything…well used to that was. Avanis had her village and shrine they took care of her there while Mei’s shrine was only visited occasionally as if she were a real spirit. Why not let the lesser races live in their own ways? Fiddling with their affairs had only led to the Great War before, “As it was I would rule with neither fear nor love. One leads to rebellion, the other a knife in the back.” Or a broken heart…”An iron fist that could see into the deepest of shadows would be the best ruler.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:02 pm
Unlike some of her vassals, Xibalba felt no need to hide herself or her motives from the Unitaur before her. They were true equals; two sides of the same coin, and in fearing her she would be fearing herself as well. "I've been called worse," She shrugged with a teasing smile. Rising from her dais, the Queen trailed her arm across the class she'd sat on, claws leaving little lines on the clear surface.
"You're a quick study. Good." As she undulated closer, she neither puffed her hood, nor did she try to appear larger than she was. She met the other female as equally as she could given the circumstances, though her eyes remained strong, calm, and assertive. "It's not power I'm displaying, it's a warning. Not a threat, mind you, but a warning. If I was able to dress you and take you here, so very far from where you were, then what could I have done while you slept? Far more than style your hair, that's for sure."
A few snickers were heard throughout the room, and even a satyr or two had a grin upon their face. "I meant to catch your attention, and it looks like I have! No life, you say? No life, bah! You are a female grown, strong in power and in mind, if you are able to stand so boldly against me, in my own kingdom." Xibalba closed the distance between the two, standing so close they may have been friends, were it not for the tension in the air.
"Your views so closely resemble my own in ways of ruling that it would be a shame to see you without life. I wonder if that male you were fighting with, that Christian, would feel the same." Moving to the side, she motioned out one side of the large windows, showing a small village, the shipping yards, vast lands of forest, farms, and fields. "He would leave all of this behind, and see these taur fall to decay. They need a firm hand to lead them in the right direction, and a gentle touch to make them feel safe."
Xibalba clenched her fingers into a fist and brought them back to her side. "Let me give you back the life he took from you. Allow me to remove the memories of Christian that you hold tight, and let them go, so that you can be free once again. All that I ask in return is that you stay in my lands. You need not be my ally; Lo, you can be my enemy if you wish, but you will stay where I may know where the knife aimed at me is. It would seem only fair, since you would know where I am."
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