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 Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:53 pm
Paradox KB asked,
"Where are the brackets?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:17 pm
Faustina scowled at Vince's laugh, though it was really more of a childish, playful pout than any sort of serious ill-will. Taking a sip of her drink, she beamed, flashing a coy look at Cyrus. "It's my favorite, and not to mention...a classic~!" She giggled a bit, something she hadn't done in far too long, and continued to sip her drink, truly pleased she was able to relax in such jovial company.
And then the conversation turned, and a grave unease settled itself about Faustina, a sinking feeling descending through her stomach and panging her gut. Her head bowed, eyes focusing on her drink, and she remained quiet. The sorts of dealings Vince suggested didn't sit well with her, but perhaps what bothered her most was that she couldn't deny that they were the things her father involved himself in, nor, furthermore, that any of the men she'd been surrounded by this evening were as well. Her gut told her more of them were than she wished to admit, but they all seemed to be good, kind men--even her father, in all his negligence and all his arrogance, was good in her eyes, at the end of the day. So then she was forced to consider that such shady dealings were, perhaps, all right. Which wasn't really something she wanted to think about, so she kept to her apple juice, only very distantly listening to the exchange.
And when Vince spoke to her once more, all her discomfort swept briskly away, a youthful and smiling face turning to beam at him. "Oh, yes, Vince, it's quite nice to finally sit down and take refreshment!" Turning her head, she cast her gaze back towards where Omi was fighting, and she continued with the mildest of blushes, "Actually...I haven't gotten much chance to get to know Omi at all, really. What you witnessed earlier is pretty much the extent of our acquaintance." When her eyes returned to Vince, they were filled with all a kitten's curiosity, and she asked, "I presume you know him well?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:22 pm
The Crossed Fox "Wanna play rough, eh?!" He thought. Yasuo was in a very precarious position at the moment, and it was thoughts like those that would get him into trouble - perfect! The shinobi brought his right arm around and his palm opened for a temporarily crippling blow - right to the outside of Ansons left knee. 3/10
The boy internalized his response to Yasuo's taunting statement rather than trying to strain for the breath that had just been knocked out of him by the shinobi's left fist. The slam with his left arm had been enough to force the other fighter down to his knee and give Anson the high ground advantage; but it would be foolish of him to think that a tournament fighter would be stopped for more than a moment by something like that and the boy knew that his own action would be punished in return. So for the sake of holding the ground he had gained he would have to act without hesitation and without remorse.
Both of his arms went into motion as soon as Yasuo's knee touched ground; his right sweeping outwards on the inside of Yasuo's left arm to try and force it down and to the outside and his left sweeping in against the back of the shinobi's head to grab a firm hold on whatever he could - be it headband, hair, or just his arm braced against the back of Yasuo's neck - and then with a fierce downward pull the young paladin threw his right knee for the bridge of Yasuo's nose.
'Hard, but fair.'
It would have been a perfect display of hardcore laying-down-of-the-law if not for the fact that the moment Anson's right leg left the ground his left leg just kind of... stopped doing the primary thing that legs are meant to do: standing.
The impact of Yasuo's right hand had driven his left leg to the side, which sent his entire body a few degrees out of synch all of a sudden. The momentum and force he had put into introducing Yasuo's face to his bent leg should have been enough to ensure they would still give each other a passing hello, but in another second his own left knee would hit the ground and anything that happened between now and then was up in the air.
The only thing certain was that the boy finally pulled in a breath after taking that hit to the stomach, and he used it for:
"Cripes."
3/10
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:46 pm
Having finished his beer sometime in the midst of Faustina's questioning, he motioned for another, and the barkeep, being payed extremely well, moved quickly to fulfill the man's wishes, and out came another Draft, the bottle cap already removed. Vince nodded graciously towards the man and then turned his full attention back to Faustina, taking a sip of his new beer and listened intently to the explanation of what she and Omi had, or... didn't have in this case, and then came her question.
"A valiant warrior, that one. I don't know him too well, but I offered him a business proposition back in the Dark Tournament, a proposition that brought us into one another's company during the Heaven or Hell environment. We shared the stage on that one, and fought side by side; ah, how glorious a moment that was. As far as knowing him, though.. I only know of him as a valiant man with whom I'd trust my life. I'd like to believe that he feels the same in me." Indeed, in a life such as the one that Omi Barsait and Vincent Alaphare lived, it was important to have powerful allies and friends who could come to your aid as soon as you needed them.
With another soft smile, which seemed to be never-ending from the massive warrior, a coating of green-scales began to seep through his skin, covering his face and arms, revealing a bit of his true side, now that he was pretty sure it wouldn't absolutely freak Faustina out. Or maybe Vince was wrong, and the transformation would scare the piss out of her; either way, it was exactly because of the coating of scales and the apparent growth of his already bulging muscles that people sought to grab him as an ally. "Interesting, eh?" The half-dragon let out a chuckle and took another swig from the bottle-neck even as his face began to elongate into that of an alligator shaped mask.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:12 am
MerDefsGirl
"So, do you enjoy fighting?" she asked bluntly, "Are you good at it? By the way, my name's Ada.. err.. I go by Red, just call me Red."
He nodded lightly. Cyril stood for a moment, straightening out his clothing lightly. Looking her in the eye, making a small attempt at reading into her general disposition this time, as he set himself slowly back onto the stool before her.
"Then the pleasure is mine Red.. As to your question on my particular beliefs in fighting. That is quite a question to ask. Perhaps you are attempting to gain information that will allow you to read me in the field of battle, so that you can overcome me?
He laughed lightly, knowing that that was most likely not a game she would attempt to play, but nonetheless, he wasn't going to reveal anything without a proper reason to do so.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:17 pm
Faustina blinked, eyes widening at Vince's words. "The...The Dark Tournament...?" she murmured softly, and even as Vince's skin began to shift memories swept across her mind, flashes of scenes pulling her backward through time to the days just after her graduation to the Chuunin rank and concurrent death of her beloved sensei, whom had turned out to be none other than her very own mother. She faltered ever slightly, though not because of Vince's slight transformation in and of itself--indeed, this was by no means anything new to the girl, having once been a shape-shifter--but rather because of the emotional turmoil re-surfaced by the memories.
She had been in quite the depressed stupor at the time, her heart caught in a tug-of-war between every emotional height and depth possible, but a single memory still rang brilliant and truer than ever. It was the final round of the tournament, the day they announced the winning team, but something had gone terribly, terribly wrong. Monsters, ghouls, beasts, and demons were fleeing the stadium in a frenzied panic, and in the midst of it all was little Faustina Jaeger, scrambling through the chaos in the small and scrawny body of a 16-year-old. Back then, she still wore the eye-patch over her right eye, and her features were still reminiscent of her mother, and she still wore her Konohagakure hitai-ate with pride--indeed, she looked then nothing like she did now.
Someone was hurt...Snow! That was the day she met Snow...they had been attacked, and Faustina had fled in search of her father, convinced he would make everything right again. That's why she had gone back to the stadium...she knew he was there, but what met her was something beyond her wildest dreams...
"...You...you're..." she breathed, still caught in the awe from that day so long ago. Her eyes had softened in wonder, her breath caught in disbelief as she struggled to whisper, "...the dragon..." Just the scaled skin wasn't enough to make the connection, but with so many references back to the Dark Tournament, it had to be so! "But...but how...?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:51 pm
Vince was involved in a lot of things; that much was sure. However, she didn't give him enough information; he could tell she was onto something in the simple way that she stammered the words, the realization of what he indeed was. However, there was something more there; beyond that realization of his true identity, there was a realization of something more; something more sinister. Of course, Vince didn't know Faustina, hell, he hadn't even known that Roen Jaeger had a daughter, yet, she recognized him from somewhere, and so it took Vince a moment of contemplation, a grim look on his face.
Something struck Vince at that instant as the transformation took over, the wings sprouting from his back and folding against each other with a slight leather rustle. The massive tail sprouted from his lower back and slithered around the chair, wrapping around one of the legs. Vince's now altered face turned to Faustina, a question upon his lips, lips now rowed with jagged teeth. "What do you mean, exactly? I'm a dragon.. but you act as if.. I... In particular... catch your memories."
A gleam caught Vince's eyes, a gleam that registered something akin to wonder. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it was about him that she had remembered, or what she was thinking of, but he surely wished to find out.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:08 pm
As the transformation continued, the gleam in Faustina's eyes brightened, their gaze trailing about Vince to take in each and every majestic detail. Her hands subconsciously set her drink upon the counter beside her, and she slid gently from her stool to near Vince, a silk-bound hand lifting delicate fingertips towards the wings folded behind him. Before they got close enough to touch anything, though, her face turned to regard Vince's muzzle, his teeth a series of sharp points. Her hand receded, folding against her chest, and she beamed up at Vince, her excitement enough to wiggle her spaded tail.
"I was with Father at the Dark Tournament," she began, her eyes drifting to take in more of his features even as she spoke. "I had made a new friend...my first since leaving my previous home. His name was Snow...A crazed woman fully-clad in red attacked us, and I fled to get my father, but when I arrived at the stadium there was a huge, majestic dragon perched atop the roof..." The memory after that was foggy, and her eyes returned to focus intently on Vince's. "I got inside, and something was going on in the ring, I don't quite remember what..." A sudden blinking realization, and she murmured, eyes slipping to the side, "Mr. Barsait was there, I think..." And then, eyes back on Vince, "But that dragon. That was you, wasn't it?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:17 pm
Vince's eyes flickered at the mention of the Dark Tournament, and before she could ask again, the memories played back in the Dragon's mind, as vividly as when they had first happened. Vince's anger had brought upon a fit of rage after his gift had been denied by the woman who had put him out of the tournament; the final ceremony had been ruined, a disastrous event caused by more than one person, certainly. There was fighting, an argument over claims of who would take what prize home, and there was something that led Vince to a point beyond anger.
That something just happened to be Omi Barsait, in the midst of a struggle between a wizard, and at the time when Vince had sought to bring the entire stadium crashing down on everyone, Omi Barsait and Faustina's father included, the fit had subsided. Instead, the massive emerald green dragon was perched upon the roof busted through with his gigantic wedge-shaped head and blasted his breath weapon down on the man assailing Omi Barsait.
The weapon, even though it should have killed everyone, was controlled, magically altered to target only one person, and from there, the rest was pretty much standard. Omi Barsait was left to be alone, and Vince had taken off soon after, taking a while to rest in the forests near the stadium before he left that island for good, not looking back a second time. The dragon's emerald eyes curiously studied Faustina now, taking in her amazement, unfolding his wings for just a moment, reaching the one nearest to her out so that she could feel the soft leathery feel.
"Aye, that was me. My intention had been devious; I'd intended to bring ruin to that entire stadium and everyone in it. Instead, I ended up saving multiple people. Funny how the darker side of business works, eh?" Vince chuckled, his thoughts now back on the present.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:20 pm
Well, what a nice change. With Jace taking the lead and sweeping her around the floor, Miana had the time and attention to enjoy the music and slowly but surely fall happily into the rhythm. Letting herself depend on her partner to lead them around, she could embellish the simpler movements to give it a touch of her own, blithe flair.
The hypnotic reassurance, so singly meant for her as he leaned closer, did a fair amount to distract her from this newly acquired comfort within the dance. Ach, that he'd catch on so quickly and suavely transform it into an opportunity to try and sway her. The blue-haired rogue quickly gave him a sincere expression: a smile that was slightly defeated, resigning the touch of facade in an admittance to being a little less than normal.
Old habits die hard, however, her mind hissed. Silencing the thought, she found two other reasons of her own lingering behind the subtler smiles; she was surrounded by people that seemed volatile enough to earn wariness, and she was accompanying a man of similar enigma. There was a reason he joined these men and women of the tournament tonight.
But both of those sounded a little too suspicious, devious and ungrateful to the man who'd invited her. Conceding defeat, she used the first thought.
'An unfortunate penchant reaction to such finery and unfamiliar elegance. Tis good to know you appreciate my more blatant manners.' She chuckled good-humoredly at her own concession, the rolling sound of her voice complimenting his appropriately. The grin that matched it did seem much more like herself. But he barely gave her a chance to respond to that second tease. The touch at her waist gave way to a playful gesture of his and encouraged the impish grin on her features.xl a c e lx "T'ink you can keep up?" He smiled, giving her another appreciative once-over.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:42 pm
Vince's confirmation had brought a smile to her face, but almost as soon as it did it faded, the conversation turning back to "the darker side of business." Her gaze grew hesitant, but her head quickly turned to stare at his outstretched wing, the faintest of smiles re-painting her lips as a single hand extended to draw its fingers gently along its thing, leathery membrane.
She was quiet for a moment, her tail swaying gently to-and-fro behind her, and finally she murmured softly, "...I suppose even more thanks are due, then." Faustina didn't like being in such a soured mindset, and so, desperate for some way to bring cheer back into the air, she managed a small grin, which she turned to lift up to Vince, and she chuckled, "Seems to me like you get Mr. Barsait's hide out of trouble quite often!"
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:29 pm
Inus_Miana 'You'll be there to catch me if I stumble, won't you?'
He couldn't help but c**k a brow at this, a delighted humor showing plainly on his face. It thrilled the Cajun that his consort was relaxed enough at his side to liven up the evening's conversation with a bit of healthy flirting. "Aha, of course ma cher," Jace grinned, "I wou'dn't miss d'e opportunity to get you in my arms."
Miana wasn't the only one who took particular enjoyment out of the quicker dances. Though he could hold his own on the floor, dancing was not the Acadian's favorite of hobbies. When it couldn't be avoided, might as well pick a lively number to get one's blood pumping and bring a flush to your face. That was how it was done back home, even if all you had for music was a washboard and a pair of tarnished old spoons.
A bounce crept into his step, each footfall almost a light kick with the occasional heel-toe pivot to keep them within their own space on the floor. Even their hands seemed to pick up a rhythm that matched the notes of the brass section, first grasping each other by the right hand only and then both just before Jace swept his ravishing date into fast spin beneath his wrist. Already he could feel his heartbeat stepping up, though whether it was the tempo of the music or the way Miana's azure hair whipped about her and the glow of chandelier light on her skin he couldn't say for sure.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:38 pm
She liked this dance.
Truthfully, learning to dance had not been of her own volition originally. Not that the woman hadn't learned to love it, but her teacher's intentions behind immersing Miana in it were... showy, perhaps. So she hadn't the opportunity to further her repertoire beyond the traditional dances. The dance was light-hearted, allowing her to be light on her feet and to move her hips and body in a smooth sway, a natural reaction to the music. Improvisation. Fun.
Hell, why hadn't she learned this before?
Spinning at the lead of his hands, her dress whispered around her ankles in a rush of silk, her heels barely making noise over the floor as she rarely let them touch behind her.
xl a c e lx "Aha, of course ma cher," Jace grinned, "I wou'dn't miss d'e opportunity to get you in my arms."
She laughed. The sound tumbling from her lips was clearer; her blood was certainly moving now from the energizing activity, and her voice rang brighter as a result. 'I thought as much. Good to know I'm safe with you.' Er, in one sense, at least.
Honestly, one part of this dance she enjoyed was that she could dance sensually without being constantly pressed up against her companion. Gave her short moments brushing close, then moments where she was free to move without inhibitions. Grinning, her hair fell around her features at the end of a spin. More strands had come loose, but generally, she was glad to see that it was staying back. The better to see you with, my dear. And hey, now that his heart was racing a bit, she had to admit her playful partner was certainly easy on the eyes. She always liked her men outgoing.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:08 pm
Cael 0x That's when a rough, calloused hand would fall on the shoulder of the "dark elf" guy, spinning him around so that he could see the grizzled, windburnt face of a ballroom kitchen employee. On his grease-stained shirt a tag bore the name of "Steve" and the title of "Assistant Supervisor."
"Now hold on just a minute," ASSISTANT supervisor Steve said, and by now the supervisor that had questioned the "dark elf" guy previously caught back up with a quizzical look on his otherwise stupidly incompetent face.
"I been working this kinda gig for 43 years," ASSISTANT supervisor Steve said with hard, beady chunks of coal for eyes. "And I ain't never did see no surprise inspection durin' the main event, 'less o'course the inspector happened to be invited t' da shindig anyhow. Bad for business havin' you snoopin' around wheres someone might take a peek an' think we ain't up to code. We gone through every inspection anyhow before the event--that you can be sure. I made sure everything's workin' right my-damn-self, Mr. Inspector. The temperatures and bullshit are right as they should be, 'less you really wanna come question how I do my job. Now, maybe my esteemed supervisor neglected t' ask you a few things in return."
ASSISTANT supervisor Steve gave his bumbling supervisor a mean glare. It was clear his obviously younger supervisor did not have anywhere near the experience that Steve had when it came to this kind of business. But then, it was clear Steve more than likely did not have a degree, so he would always be passed up for a promotion for some young, fresh college graduate with a worthless degree who could not even land a real job. ASSISTANT supervisor Steve turned his attention back to the "dark elf" guy with a wolfish grin on his face.
"So, if you don't mind, why don't you give me your credentials and show me your license? Hell with that, give 'em to me whether you mind or not. What's your department? What's your inspector number? And don't gimme any of dat 'I'll have yo a** fired' jibe. Let them fire my old, tired a** for doing my job! 'Bout damn time I left this s**t behind for somethin' better anyhow. Til then I'll do my job, 'cause if you don't have the right information, I'll be going ahead and callin' security now, y'see?" As the "dark elf" guy look into assistant supervisor Steve's eyes, he seeks some sort of guidance from Jeffrey Donovin's disembodied voice: Sorry, you're on your own.Then, a little christmas light formed in his head, just now thingking of a last-ditch defense. "PffffAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAahahahahahahahahahahahaha! You acually thought I was a real inspector? AAAAAAAhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I got you good! Wow! Best prank I ever pulled! You'll believe anybody with a clipboard, won't you?" So that was his plan-b: play it like it's an immature prank. Might still earn him a good toss out the door like the six bouncers tossed Ron White out of that club in New York for wearing a hat, but Steve probably won't press any charges for impersonation of a city official. Of course, if plan-b fails, there's plans c-1 and c-2, both of which will cause the guy to commit major felonies.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 4:16 pm
Oh yeah, he was definitely a fan. Though there was something to be said for the kind of dance that kept a woman in close range at all times, so he could feel every sway of her hips, this modernized-swing gave him the rare opportunity to really observe. Jace never broke his gentle grasp on her hand though, keeping her, at most, at arms length while his own designer shoes maintained the basic step. It called for a fluid movement in his own legs that just vaguely mirrored hers; the woman's part was, of course, far more sensually exaggerated.
The band revved up to what could only be the high point of the song just before the final bar, and so the Cajun used the strength of his arm to pull Miana in close. He slipped his grip beneath her shoulder blades and sealed his arm around her waist for a secure hold. Jace lifted the beauty easily off of her feet and into a sweeping spin, her torso held in close to his own, and finished off with a gentle dip just as the melody drew to a close.
Laughing, the blue-eyed rogue drew her back to a comfortably standing position and took a half-step back, not wanting to crowd her, though his hand remained light at her wrist. His mouth split into a grin as he regarded his charming companion, catching her gaze. Already the evening was far surpassing his expectations. "Ca c'est bon! Where di' you learn t' dance so beautifully, ma belle Miana?"
There would be time for more revelry later that night. For now he gently laid the woman's slender hand over his forearm and guided her to a nearby table; give them both a chance to breathe and perhaps get to know each other a bit better. A waiter passed, carrying a tray of crystal goblets brimming with ice water, and Jace waved him down to take a pair of glasses for himself and his lady companion. He set hers down first, then took a deep draw from his as he awaited her answer with genuine curiosity.
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