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 Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 5:37 pm
Seán was genuinely surprised that West didn't tell the guards to send him away, to the dungeons perhaps, or just out of his palace. When he started to address him, Seán was even more surprised. He didn't expect someone of his stature to speak to him, let alone know his name. "My lord, if it pleases you I'll leave. I was just looking for someone to acquire a task from." The elf honestly didn't know what to do. Was he being too friendly? Should he be more formal? He honestly didn't know, this was the first time he had been within two meters within 'royalty'.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 9:25 pm
West definitely said a lot of words but the most interesting thing was how he magically shifted from an almost childlike appearance to that of a man. Akeem stared and did not care if he was caught doing so. In a totally straight manner he silently agreed with his own thought when he considered West sexy. Akeem did not roll that way but had no problem admitting when someone was nice to look at. He was sure he had that affect on many people himself. An image of himself and the Emperor rubbing their nudey booty bodies together in a totally not gay way passed in his brain, but Akeem chalked that up to this weird fourth wall breaking paragraph. Just envisioning such a thing was enough to make any type of break in the reality worth it. Dang Gurl.
Akeem respectfully remained silent when Isis arrived and gave West a report about one thing or another. It was technically not his business but the Djinn could not help but pay attention to the conversation. The children and education methods was certainly something all kings, queens, emperors, and parents should all take into consideration when making decisions affecting the lives of the young. Those were the people who would inherit the world of tomorrow. It would not be a good thing if those fresh faces of the future could not even read or comprehend the long term ramifications of their decisions. Akeem's jawline stiffened as he clenched his teeth. He had been looking forward to showing his own children the way of the Djinn. To teach them how to use their minds as a weapon alongside their body was always a thought that had brought him joy whenever he thought of the unborn brood of his. Now it only left an ashen feeling in his mouth, as if all those years of sleep and pain had left his throat as dry as a desert.
So when West addressed him Akeem fervently nodded his head. He had a very special place in his heart for kids, and any benefit the nation could give them was a victory in his eyes. "It is the duty of the current generation to show the younger ones that they have the ability to improve upon what we left them and create for themselves." Akeem himself never had been in an official state class. He had learned from his father, brother, and the Djinn around him. They taught him the essentials of life and the finer arts he sought for himself. It would not do to only know how to disarm a man in seven different ways. Akeem taught himself to read, write, count, and much more. He wanted to be a true warrior not only on the field, but off of it as well.
Akeem shrugged his shoulders. A mission was a mission. If it helped Aramil then he would do it, especially if ordered. "I did not lie when I said I would help this nation in anyway I can. If I need to go on one thousand mundane missions then I will do it." This peachy-keen Djinn could certainly be all business at times. He bristled with a bit of pride when West said he trusted him not to fail. That only made Akeem seriously want to prove that he would not. The Malek men had always taken their duties very seriously, any deviation from them was considered an act of laziness and that was looked down upon. Akeem enjoyed staying busy, it kept him fresh and quick of wit. So when West said Kaminae had to die a flash of joy passed through the Djinn's eyes. He crossed his arms over his immaculately chiseled chest and absorbed every word West said. The Sea Witch had been a problem that Akeem often thought of how to solve. Killing a god was no easy task and he had wondered what exactly one would need to do to accomplish that. Maybe the help of another god? West had that now, maybe thats what he meant. Akeem extended his own hand and accepted the paper, scanning over it quickly as West spoke to him. He briefly though upon how wondrous it was that his Emperor was capable of making moves that were not only beneficial in the sense that the Sea b***h would be out of the way but also they could possibly gain a new ally.
As Akeem was reading over the sheet another man approached, one was tantalizing as the Emperor. If things like this kept happening Akeem would probably have to reconsider his position on men. The thought of a group of Vampires starting a rebellion in the name of Kala made Akeem want to spit. Instead he gritted his teeth because he seriously thought that would be inappropriate of him. Even though he had only recently discovered a new truth he had a hard time seeing others as intelligent for following something that seeks only death and destruction. Even from a vampire stand point they needed a food source, without others they would perish right alongside them. Akeem almost opened his mouth to volunteer himself to lead the expedition but the mention of assassinations in the palace had him closing his mouth with an audible click. Akeem would see himself fall before West ever did. Much to his liking West chose the Djinn to guard him. Akeem nodded his head rapidly and watched Damon go. At West's last bit of speech Akeem actually cracked a smile. "I'd watch you till my eyes bleed if it would keep you from harm's way." Sometimes Djinn could be a bit too much about business. Akeem had been employed as a body guard before. Much of his work had entailed standing as still as a statue while his client went about their daily rituals. One time while his employer was resting Akeem heard a series of shouts from inside of the room. In a burst of speed and strength the Djinn had burst into the room and ripped off what he had taken as an assailant. It had been another sort of employee in actuality, and that put an end to Akeem's stint as a keeper. Shortly after he had joined the military, tired of doing odd jobs here and there for minimal pay. But in hindsight Akeem often felt like now he was merely acting as a body guard for the entire nation. This would be a nice change for a bit, being able to focus on a single person. At least West wasn't a boring guy. Akeem wasted no time in looking around and mentally noting all exits, entrances, passages, windows, and even the placement of the furniture of the room. He'd do this everywhere West went, and if anything was ever different Akeem's keen eyes would not miss it.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 11:43 pm
_____❜ g a l e ♕ MAYBURY ✩ ✭
_▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂
_▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂xxxx p r o t e c t i n g xxxx a l l xxxx t h a t ' s xxxx w r o n g xxxx a n d xxxx r i g h t xxxx
• SHAPESHIFTER XXXXX • ENERGY: 550/550 XXXXX • ROGUE XXXXX • BERSERKER XXXXX• EARTH XXXXX
Hunger clawed at the man. It easily made him look nauseous to the normal citizen. In terms of finding out what to eat, Gale had an issue: he was indecisive as all hell. Every time he went to a bar or a restaurant, he spent several minutes deciding on whether he even wanted to eat there or not. Then came the struggle of deciding what to eat. The main source of food here was fish, and Gale hated fish! What he needed was like a spit roasted chicken. Chicken was where it was at. But no, even if he could find chicken, it was either boiled into a stew or boiled in oil. "Maybe I should get like... some cake or something." Despite Isis being there, staring at him, he continued to mumble as he continued to decide on what to eat. But then the thought occurred to him: he had no money.As a soldier, everyone was entitled to a meal card to present at any local food joint, so that they didn't need to carry any cash with them.
It was only when he realized he had no money for food that he truly noticed the woman's presence. Of course, the first thing she did was question his presence. It was a good question, truly a valid one. To be quite honest the man didn't know what he was doing. He was winging it. Literally. Just winging out his plan. Wait! He had to review what he'd done so far. He...
1. Found a new body
2. Assumed a new identity
3. Went to the palace
Though he felt like he'd done more than just three things, he wasn't really too far into his plan, also he lost his train of thought...So... he did what he knew best. He acted like himself. He raised his eyebrow and winked at the woman. "I was obviously sent her to find you... who wouldn't be looking for someone as gorgeous as you are. Only flaw is that you're lacking something I thoroughly enjoy..." He wouldn't say it, but she was a few cup sizes small for his taste. Like... several cup sizes. There little hills on her chest look more like swollen abrasions than actual breast. "...Obviously it's humor." Though he lied, there was some truth to that. Isis looked extremely stoic. Annoyingly so. "The name's Maybury. Gale Maybury. I've come here to spread the gospel of our lord and savior Michael. Hold on,,, I have a few pamphlets for you, milady..." As he went into his bag to look for them, he pulled out nothing and grinned. "Just messing with ya. Shoulda saw the look on your face when I identified myself."
It wasn't like the boy was stalling or anything, he just saw a lot of openings to troll this chick. The Michael bit was priceless. Everyone's willing to beat up a heretic for Michael, but never willing to actually hear his gospel. Not even Michael would want to hear his gospel. Probably full of complete s**t, too. But perhaps standing around here made him look extremely suspicious. Maybe like a bomber or something. "But in all seriousness... I just want to enlist. Need the money, ya know?" That was as good as any excuse, really. But he had to explain why he looked a little shaky. "This place is kinda scary, huh? Lotsa rumors come from this place. I mean, I heard that murders happen here at least once a week. I also heard that the emperors has orgies daily." That last one was a lie. It just seemed feasible since the Emperor was an Incubus.
xxx▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
xxx N O xx WHERE xx TO xx RUN xx NO xx WHERE xx TO xx HIDE
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:22 am
nu███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████
numineIN THE END ` JUST LIKE SOLDIERS ♕》*WE MARCH ON!
bad apple
xxx
n×◞KING ⊰OF ( KEVAI ) *⇣EMPEROR OF ♕ARAMIL !
by numinex for the food chain do not steal! c:CHAMPION OF ANTONY
His eyebrows rose, his mouth shifting into an identity mixed between a grin and a rather curious smile. Sean must've not been very suited to his position. He, unlike Akeem, seemed timid about his job. Maybe that wasn't really the case, but it was the image that West had received from him. He shook his head as Sean mentioned leaving, and West's potential desire to make it so. No, he did not want that. Anyone who had a decent head propped up on their shoulders deserved to reside here. And if Sean was looking for tasks, then he'd come to the right place. "That sounds simple enough," he said. "For each and every citizen in Aramil, all a hundred million of us, there is a task. Some of them take priority however." He turned his head slightly, catching Sean's visage from the corner of his eye. "Have you heard of Val Delta? Waynonhall? Tenochlitus? These are three settlements of ours in Kevai. Val Delta is the one nearest to Val'Ghast. Waynonhall is the one nearest to Amaranthine. Tenochlitus is the one nearest to the sea. All of them are under threat." He kept his hands stationed near his waist, and continued to think of potential tasks that might be offered. There were a lot of issues that came to mind.
"Dathan needs a protector from an incoming vampire raid. Our envoy, or rather spy to Nocturne was killed and we need another. If a task is really what you want, then I am an infinite and generous resource." True enough. People would come to know very well the extent of West's... generosity when it came to missions and other things to preoccupy yourself with. He wasn't the lazy sort of leader. His awareness, or perhaps paranoia of his surroundings meant that there was always something. He refused to risk the welfare of himself or others simply because he decided to shake his head and say - "it probably won't come to pass." That was not good enough.
In response to Akeem, West lit up a bit when the Djinn agreed with him on the matter of education. The more he got to know this guy -- from what little of him he did know -- the more he took to him. They were two similar spirits, both devoted boundlessly to something. To West, it was his nation, to Akeem it was West. He was like the Isis that never was, a man of unflinching loyalty and a rationale similar to his liege. He could tell that they could quite easily become lifelong friends, which meant something for an Incubus and a Djinn. They were both children of Lukhan, both creatures obviously weighed down on by their former affiliations. He could see these things clearly, and he hoped Akeem could see things the same. It was a good sort of feeling to know that there were others like you. As for gayly-straightly rubbing against each other, that was best reserved for his dreams.
As for the mundane tasks, West didn't enjoy them himself. He especially didn't enjoy employing Akeem in those fields, considering he was more than just a foot soldier. He was the captain, the marshal, the commander. Even so he had to do his part, in whatever way he could, whenever he could. It was a difficult field to practice, especially if one had an immense amount of pride. West could remember the old human nobles of Fraxen, who refused their duties solely because they thought themselves better than the task, wiser than the notion. That sort of thinking had absolutely no place in government.
"I think Isis and I probably go on a thousand mundane missions daily," West briefly laughed, more of a 'ha' sound than anything. "Every time I have to pull out a vial and stamp that gooey substance with my seal, I die a little on the inside." He considered each piece of paperwork an E ranked mission. You had to be careful and wise about how you decided your response, and if you made a bad move, well there were repercussions. West wasn't exactly the paperwork kind of guy, anyway. He was raised to charm and raised to kill. Those two things came a lot easier to him than allocating funds for domestic violence shelters and making official statements on controversial court trials.
Moving beyond that, when Damon explained his thought process and what was best suited for the Emperor's survival, and to a further extent when he informed Akeem of his new-new mission, he couldn't help but feel a bit of a sentimental relief wash over him. This guy obviously had the heart of a romantic. Or maybe something completely unseen before. The Emperor here wasn't exactly a recipient of words like that. Somehow he felt it twist his perspective, even if in the slightest way. He realized for just a penny of a moment - that this wasn't just the forlorn road anymore. It wasn't just him and Isis. He had a new cog to spin the wheel with, and that made him happy. "My visage hasn't been known to make eyes bleed," he said. It was a weak reply to what was for the most part a daring and refreshing statement. But he didn't know what else to say.
"I'll be going to the lobby. My job's done for the day." He beckoned for Akeem to follow him, and also very briefly implied - from eye to eye - that Sean was welcome to follow. The man stood up and carried himself almost sluggishly to the red-silk room, with a bartender and a singer who seemed quite obviously to be an android stationed there for the Emperor's needs. It was probably an exceptionally boring job to bartend here, so West allowed the guy a bit of luxury - he could use his electronics however he wanted, write or read or do anything. It was free money, and occasionally he could engage in the exciting venues that made his job something to smile at in the first place, like the parties between the nobles or the soldiers with all of them having something to say. It was enviable to be the outsider looking in, rather than the insider looking out. West saw the affairs of the wealthy and prosperous to be far less exciting than a young and impressionable man might.
The Demon King took a seat at one of the stools, and leaned into the counter. "I'll have a gushing granny," he said. That was that special alcoholic version of some popular limeade brand. Totally not created as an internet meme. "Are you the drinking type, Akeem? I was never one for dulling the senses but sometimes that's what you need when you work a twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five shift." He did at least allow himself to sleep sometimes, but otherwise it felt like that. Probably for Akeem too. "Helps for conversation too. Most people are a lot more forthright when they don't have moral standards in place." He smirked. That was true for conversation, lovemaking and a lot of other, as he said earlier, 'venues'.
In the courtyard, Isis couldn't help but be extremely weirded out by this... specimen. He was awfully foul-mouthed, very presumptuous, not that funny and just flat-out odd. He also had the surname Maybury, which was a really strange coincidence considering West had just... oh, whatever. Isis wasn't all class, she was a bit of sass as well. She could handle some little twerp trying to enlist for some spare change without beating them up the nut-sack just for being a bit odd. Honestly, West liked odd, and Isis liked odd. Perhaps he'd be the best thing to happen to this palace in a while. "A d**k," she said, commenting on what she lacked. That was what Isis evidently and tragically lacked in order to exist in even the peripherals of this palace. "I have plenty of humor. For example, a woman, a dunce named Gale and an Emperor walk into the palace. The woman says, "it's time to be productive!" The Emperor says, "it's time to save the city!" Then, they both ignore the dunce named Gale because he just wanders around the courtyard rambling about cake. End joke. Ha."
As for the sermon about Michael, she was not stupid enough to believe that's what he was here for. Considering the recent change in religious structure in Aramil, no one in the right mind would suddenly decide that what West needed was the gospel of Michael.
As for enlistment, well, that was a different story. She was the steward -- essentially the treasurer -- so things like that were of obvious implication to her position. Every single elite militiaman required a large amount of funds, and she had to base them by their worth, not their enthusiasm. "You'll have to prove yourself by fulfilling a task, then. But first we'll need to get you acquainted with Aramil. And also you'll have to go through the proper fields to get paperwork done -- citizenship work, military inclinations, you'll need an ID and all of that in order to successfully be employed by our military. It's a real b***h but you know, it's bureaucracy." Isis wasn't a fan of that sort of thing, considering she had been raised believing that strength was above all, not credentials signed onto a paper slip. You couldn't run a nation with that tribal-like ideology however, so she had to adjust.
As for the murder and the orgies... "Just rumors. No one has died in this palace since... well, a long time ago. I don't even recall if West was Emperor back then. I believe it was when he and Jasper deposed the self-proclaimed overlord of the city." If she remembered correctly, that was it. That was the action that began it all, and ended it all. "As for orgies, we're sort of romantics here. Orgies are a little too soulless, and His Majesty has a lot of soul. Two of them to be precise. Perhaps a good excuse to engage in a bipedal polygamy." With Isis holding them up with her big strong, mannish arms of course.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 3:57 pm
Akeem Malek would have never been described as a man of many words, nor a poet. But he understood that not only had West positioned him as a guard, but he was actually looking for company. He could imagine that it got rather dull and lonely in this place. Despite the opulence and ever present servants at your beck and call, it wasn't like these people were West's friends. It often seemed to Akeem that Isis was his one and only friend, and even she just seemed like another employee or minion. West probably often found himself lacking when it cam to someone to talk to outside of running an empire. As West moved to another section of the place Akeem, in a subtle motion, positioned himself between Sean and the Emperor. When the walked to a bar and West questioned if he drank, the Djinn shook his head. He had never in his life polluted his body or mind with any substance that could alter his consciousness or his physical shape.
"I do not drink, and it probably would not be the very best idea. Considering I am to guard your well-being." Akeem said wryly. His face screwed up in a minor grimace at the name of West's beverage. It seemed there was no limit to what people could come up with. "There is little I have to hide. I have faced my darkness and here I stand. I am an open book." Even as those words left his mouth there was one thing the Djinn hoped West would not ask about. Perhaps if asked about his past he would skip over that section entirely. Akeem was debating on whether or not he should and tried to cover it up by taking in the names and colors of the liquids kept in bottles behind the bar.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:31 pm
Seán was intrigued when West mentioned protecting a village from Vampires. "What would I have to do for this vampire thing? Do you want them dead or do you want them contained?" He was genuinely interested about this...it would be an interesting chance to test out his abilities in combat. A small grin could be seen on his face at the thought of fighting something.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 10:49 pm
nu███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████
numineIN THE END ` JUST LIKE SOLDIERS ♕》*WE MARCH ON!
bad apple
xxx
n×◞KING ⊰OF ( KEVAI ) *⇣EMPEROR OF ♕ARAMIL !
by numinex for the food chain do not steal! c:CHAMPION OF ANTONY
"True to that. I suppose you're here so that I can get drunk and act a fool." Without the need for that, West could surely handle himself. Most people didn't realize just how strong he was; how strong he and Isis were, how much stronger still they were with Pride. Eventually he would like to see Akeem rise to their station. They could be a triumvirate plus one, and that would be something daring to challenge, even for a coalition of ten million devil-worshiping whores. Of course, for now he was instead content with just a glass of gushing granny and the slow jazz music coming from the cyborg against the wood that had been lined with wires.
When Akeem spoke again, he set his drink down - a beverage promptly handed to him - and laughed a little. He shook his head and said, "The open books are the ones exposed to the weather; the rain, the liquid from a careless child's cup. They're exposed to the mud and the disaster that exists as a constant downpour from society. The open books are used creatures that will continue to be used without liberation because they are undesirable. It's the liars, the secret-keepers, the enigmatic that we so desire. You're far too sweet a substance to be an 'open book'. I expect that there's a lot about you, Akeem, that you do not wish others to know. That you do not tell easily. Just like with me." He raised the beverage slightly above to meet his chin, then he brought himself lower to take just one sip. His eyes kept trained on his commander, whose wonder was greatly coveted by him. He would have to be sure to keep his book closed except for during the most opportune time.
"I'd like to at least flip a page however," he started, "and go back to what made Akeem, Akeem. Restrictions out the window. Taboo out the window. You're my Captain and I'm your King. I'd like this dynamic to exist equitably. Wouldn't you?" He asked, though it was rather rhetoric. He spun his stool slightly, coming face-to-face, fully, with Akeem. "What's your history, my friend? I'd like to know. You can answer that however you want, with one percent detail or a hundred. You can describe anything you want, and in any way you want. Either way I'd like to hear. Other people interest me. You especially."
When West was still Raphael, back in the era before the present, he had come across many people with interesting stories. He met people who could make the foundations of the world move from the slightest quiver to an all-consuming quake. These days however, he could not feel that anymore. From anyone. He had gone years without finding a single creature to make him feel the same way he used to, back then, when his blood was alive. When he met Akeem however, a spark returned to his blood. An interest, one entirely different from before. He wasn't afraid of him, just intrigued. And he would follow that little red thread until he found the place at which it could end.
As for Sean, he shrugged. "Vampire raiders from Nocturne have existed for hundreds of years. It's not some guise for a greater motive. It is just a quest for money and a way to fulfill their bloodlust while also weakening rival nations. Kill them." The days of Nocturne were long behind. Fronta and Aramil, they were the real powers. All other nations were stepping stones in the path of their narrative; Nocturne was just a far-off land with some songs to sing. It wasn't the bulwark that it used to be, and eventually it would cease to exist.
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 12:21 am
_____❜ g a l e ♕ MAYBURY ✩ ✭
_▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂
_▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂xxxx p r o t e c t i n g xxxx a l l xxxx t h a t ' s xxxx w r o n g xxxx a n d xxxx r i g h t xxxx
• SHAPESHIFTER XXXXX • ENERGY: 550/550 XXXXX • ROGUE XXXXX • BERSERKER XXXXX• EARTH XXXXX
This woman had issues. But then again, what woman didn't? Well, whatever the case was, this woman needed a good dicking... not that anyone would shove anything inside of her. The woman looked tired out, as if she was gangbanged just 2 minutes ago. But obviously that wouldn't happen even if all of the men in Aramil were given a choice between Max's mom or Isis. And Max's mom had a vaginal infection.
But when she brought up him having to bring up all of his credentials, he shrugged it off. He could just go break into the house of the boy whose form her stole and present those pesky forms of identification. "I'm too lazy for a demonstration. Perhaps I should be allowed in due to how rare it is to find a Shapeshifter, already talented at Skinwalking, walking around free. But perhaps not. In which case, I'll take my talents elsewhere. I'm not exactly one for staying in one place."
xxx▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
xxx N O xx WHERE xx TO xx RUN xx NO xx WHERE xx TO xx HIDE
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 4:55 am
The young lady stared at him, quietly, as he spoke and seemed to complain. Not willing to do paperwork, was he? The members of the military already had things so much more easy than others. They didn't have to pay more per the tune of the Aramilian Prerogative. They could skip years of hard-living in favor of becoming a citizen right away, with just a quick test of their ability. However it seemed some were entirely unwilling to do even that. Isis herself would've very quickly told him that he could, indeed, take his services elsewhere. However she knew West might be interested in him as he often was with... rare species. Buffoons. People who were generally unlikeable to essentially everyone else. She did not blame West, though. He had built a nation of misfits. Who minded more to maintain it?
"I'll do the paperwork for you. But I will do so under my terms, Mister Maybury. If you prove unworthy of the effort that I will put into you, then you'll find yourself back out on your a**. Also, I don't see how you walking around for free should be beneficial to your credentials. You don't see me asking people on the street to pay me for walking. That would be quite absurd." She knew that he quite obviously didn't mean it like that, and it was sort of a play around his words, but nonetheless. Isis liked to pick at people perhaps out of sheer desire to irritate them. Or maybe it was her motherly side trying to teach them proper Fraxon. No, probably not.
She sighed, and thought quietly about the way in which Gale could be used. In truth she had no idea what West might desire in his skills. She was less so the choice-maker here, more so the one who ensured that there were choices to make. "West will have to see you. I have no current uses for your talents. Except for perhaps entertaining the nobles at our zoo. Perhaps you could transform into a dragon. Our old one tragically died when it decided it would start trying to break through its exhibit. Scared the children." It was a fierce dragon from the start, and still more gentle than most. Some beasts however simply couldn't be tamed. They were too proud, too strong. It was like West, like Isis. Even Gale, it seemed. But the rarity of his blood made him no more useful than anyone else. Like everyone, he had specific talents that could apply to specific situations. That was all.
"Why don't you go to the Helicanth Academy Office? If West isn't there by now, then someone at least relevant to your duties will be. It would be an enlightening experience, as well, for an aspiring mercenary of Aramil. Free tickets to meet the Emperor too, if you're lucky." She handed him a slip that she just hastily scrawled the address onto, and then tied her hands together and walked away, elegantly, as she always did.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:32 am
The entire setting was making Akeem feel very uncomfortable. His pants kept bunching at the crotch and he really wanted to adjust but doubted that counted as an inappropriate action. The Djinn was currently eyeing the cyborg playing some sort of easy going music from its body. It always amazed Akeem that they have these machines that could play music, shoot flames, and even fly. Yet this particular Djinn had to walk all over the place instead of riding a fancy motor scooter.
West had the peach toned creature interested in what he was talking about. Even if Akeem had been alive for more than four times the length of West he was sure the demon had some secrets to tell. Those, of course, were not for Akeem to ask for. He would never presume to ask his emperor questions that West probably did not want to answer. On the other hand, any secrets that the King trusted him with would remain with Akeem, even through torture of the worst kind. He had not been lying when he said that as long as West worked for the good of the realm than Akeem would be on his side till the end. In order for him to build trust with West he was sure there would have to be some giving and taking when it came to these secrets. Maybe West should know about the darkest thing Akeem had ever done.
With a quick glance at Sean, Akeem sidled over closer to West. He began to speak in a tone that was low, a whisper. "You must know why I did this, before I tell you what exactly I did." There was a look in Akeem's eyes, a guilt of sorts. He seemed to almost be pleading with his emperor to understand what he means. A large part of Akeem felt that West would not understand his motivations, or why he felt so guilty for what he had done. It had taken over a century for the man to come to terms what he did, yet he was still absolutely ashamed of himself for his choice of selfishness over love. "I grew up in a land far from here, in a desert so unforgiving many babies did not see it through their early years. It was in a Djinn community, I am sure you've heard of such places." It was a cultural norm for Djinn's to stick together. Having an extended family of uncles, brothers, and grand fathers was nothing odd. "My father was Rajesh Malek, and he had nine children. I am the youngest of them all. My brothers and I were raised as warriors. We were taught that as Djinn we are nothing more than soldiers, fighters meant to defeat anyone and everyone in battle. " Akeem's face was at first nostalgic, but as he continued to speak that emotion changed. It gave way to sadness. "My father was a great fighter, but all things come to an end. Old age and slower reflexes caught up to him and eventually he lost a fight. Once he passed, my brothers were eager to prove themselves and show that the Malek family had not fallen. One by one, they passed away." Akeem turned his head down to the counter of the bar and followed the ruts of the wood with a finger. He had missed his brothers from the very day he was alone, over one hundred and seventeen years ago. "For awhile I was alone, the last Malek. I did not want my line to end so I sought a fix to that problem. There was this woman, the most beautiful I shall ever have seen, of that I am sure. I...I made her fall in love with a false version of myself. It was not long before she was pregnant." Akeem had to pause to clear his throat and keep his voice steady. His face all of the sudden became completely stoic. His eyes were hard and impassive, as if he was reading out of a book. "All Djinn are murderers at heart. I knew she wouldn't survive the pregnancy but it did not matter to me. I only wanted to see my name survive. She...she gave birth to seven. I had seven children." That part came out in a choking sound, and it took a second for Akeem to regain control of his voice. "My wife, she cursed my name, and my children. They died. One by one, just as my brothers did." Akeem fell into silence, ashamed of even having to tell such as story. He would not allow himself to keep this story in the shadows. It was his payment, his penance for such an evil deed. "After that life had very little meaning to me. There was nothing left for me. I slept for days and days and days." Akeem shrugged his shoulders and asked the bartender for a lemonade to quench his dry throat. He took a long drought and then began to speak again. "Once I awoke I knew I could not allow myself to pass away. It would not be fair to my father, brothers. To my wife, to my sons who never got to see even their first battles. So I lived. I moved from town to town, taking odd jobs and fighting forever would pay me. I eventually found my way to Aramil and the army requested my assistance. Since that day I have been a soldier for your nation." And with that Akeem's story was over. There was no other major parts of his life to discuss really. The Djinn did not question West as to what his past was. He would wait and see if the demon offered up his own story.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 2:04 am
nu███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████
numineIN THE END ` JUST LIKE SOLDIERS ♕》*WE MARCH ON!
bad apple
xxx
n×◞KING ⊰OF ( KEVAI ) *⇣EMPEROR OF ♕ARAMIL !
by numinex for the food chain do not steal! c:CHAMPION OF ANTONY
In this life, there were two hands that guided the universe. One was the hand of will, choice, freedom, liberty. One was the hand of fate, control, luck. From the second any creature was born, those two hands would latch onto them for all eternity, constantly tugging at them. Constantly they would be thrown into situations of good and ill, all based on the outcomes determined by will and fate. It was just how life was. Some had their futures handed to them; they were born into wealth, prestige, power. Akeem was born into a family that had quite epically been torn apart by a lust for blood and fame. And he had been born as a creature that killed for passion; he was of a race of black widows. In a way, he and West were very similar. They began in families that were epically torn apart. Then the choices they made resulted in, slowly, the ones they loved all being taken away. One by one by one. He could see the resemblance, and it made him feel very melancholy.
The Incubus, once he had heard Akeem's full story, leaned in and said: "Evil isn't real." He didn't elaborate for some time, though only several seconds really. He leaned back to a regular speaking distance, and stared into the shade of Akeem's iris. "There is only the survival of the fittest. There is predation. There is the divine right to fight and die, kill and be killed for what is yours." He supposed what he was saying might sound a little off-putting for Akeem, but he would say it anyway. If anything, he spoke to at least offer Akeem a new idea, one that could become a state of mind or at least something to look to in a moment of doubt. "You were biologically engineered to kill your mate. And we creatures are also engineered to pursue a life beyond ourselves; to procreate, to build a legacy. There is free will and then there is fate. What you did falls to the second hand."
Perhaps that was bullocks, but it was something to offer. Akeem, even though he was a good and honest man at heart, chose to kill rather than to resist his impulse. Because the impulse was strong. Because it had control over him. It wasn't of his own accord -- it was what he was meant to do. That was how West saw it. After watching how the Gods and their games tugged at the strings of mortals, he could only see it that way. Perhaps that was silly, but it was so.
He leaned back slightly, and brought his hands together over his lap, closing them into a fist, fingers locked. "If you're not willing to see it that way, then at least see it as a mistake that you have eagerly repented for. There is nothing you can do beyond that. There is mistake and then there is atonement. The good you do now is all that I can see in you. You're a good man. Maybe you weren't before. I wasn't before. We've changed." That was probably a lot more sentimental of an answer. Perhaps one more acceptable for Akeem. Though he didn't expect Akeem to require an answer from West. He had already dealt with this baggage for a very long time. He must've come to a conclusion of his own.
His own story was something that came to mind. He decided it was best to share it, considering Akeem had just done him the liberty of going deep into his own personal history and his mistakes. West would feel very rude and quite shallow if he didn't reciprocate. Thing was, it was difficult for him to explain his life without going into much detail. It was complicated how things happened the way they did. A lot more complicated than simply being born into a rosy and noble family. "I was born a b*****d from the second I was conceived," he began. "My mother was a noblewoman in the northern part of Fraxen City. She had inherited her father's fortune and was to lead a duchy near the border. However she didn't want any of that. She wanted love and lust, and she wanted a crown fit for a Queen. She had managed to gain the favor and adoration of many rich and powerful men in Fraxen, all in her quest to place herself in the sun before the King's eyes. One of the men who helped her gain ground happened to be an Incubus."
He couldn't recall his name, not even the name he proclaimed while he played as a wealthy human merchant. He was only a blur to West, all he knew was that he was "tall, dark and handsome" like his mother described. Not unlike other Incubi, really. He was just like them. The only difference between he and any demon-kin that West would see on the streets or screw in a motel was that he happened to be the Demon King's father. And so he was looked for. He searched for him his whole life. "He wanted her," he continued his story. "And what he wanted, he had. He put a child into her during one passionate night, then was never seen in Fraxen again. That child was me, and for my entire life I could see the traces of what he had done to her. It was like I had X-ray vision; she was marked, and I could feel it and it boiled my blood. I hated her."
Like with Akeem, he was engineered in a certain way. He was engineered to lust and to despise. He hated his own mother because he never had a choice but to. She felt like a walking corpse. She was claimed by his father and so West had defiled that bond every waking second of his life. When he was a baby and could not speak, that made him scream. All the time. Every second she was in his presence he screamed, cried. Wailed entirely. It was a dysfunctional relationship.
"My mother had gained the heart of the King before giving birth to me. For that reason, and because of the scandal if told otherwise, he proclaimed me his son and heir. At that point my life was set in stone. Never really wanted the crown though." He sighed. "I was always a very sensitive young man. Very virtuous. Pious even. It took a lot to make me into who I am today. I was killed once, then brought back by an exceptionally powerful nun who recognized my affliction; I was a walking corpse in the employ of a witch. When I was free, I became lost. I found a lover of my kind, Sabal. Then he died. I moved to Nocturne once it had been relieved of Fenrir. It was cold, though, and dark. And soulless. So I left. Then I found Jasper, and with him I pressed my claim on Aramil. Then he was overcome by evil and became my enemy. The Captain before you, Kirin, then also drifted away out of my grasp. My life wasn't quite as tragic as yours, but it was always exceptionally lonely. Every single person I'd ever enjoyed died or might as well have. All of the people from when I was young -- they're gone now. I imagine it's the same for you. It's very strange."
For a long time, West felt as if he was the only one in the world. It was just him, Isis -- who can't even feel -- and then people who didn't mean anything to him. People who changed and people who never cared for him in the first place. He watched in silence as the world flew past him, and he could do nothing. He could only stop and stare, wait, and remember back to the days when things were very exciting.
To be truthful it was probably because of the war and pain that he'd been through. He could never find anyone who experienced it similarly, who walked away taking that same all-consuming feeling as him. He'd ever since been detached from others, not like how he used to be.
His story probably seemed very dull, but in his mind, it explained everything. It was a story of vanishing. In the end, there was just West. Though he changed, his dream was eternal. It was to serve a task beyond himself. He did that now, though he couldn't help but wish there was more to life than this alone.
"You and I are similar, don't you think? We were left with just ourselves and dead dreams, and we made a choice; do nothing, give up, or march on." A fire ignited in his eyes, and he smiled bright like a flame. "To us, Akeem. The only ones to not give up on ourselves." He rose his glass, and sipped that gushing granny dry.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 2:11 am
The briney area known as Luhkan's Landing, or home to her, was a welcome one. She was glad to be so close to the water's again, and also safe in her home. She licked her lips, tasting sea salt from her dip into the ocean recently. She left Intet by the water and continued towards the Palace on foot. She was no longer wearing her armor, or carrying any weapons. She wore a sea green dress with red accents and a pearl necklace. Her military badge was pinned over her heart. She was barefoot. This was the rarely seen, but still exsistent casual Maria. The mer was on break from her expedition, and had recently returned from the mission to destroy the residential area of Pronta.
Now that she was back home, she took her time delivering the news to Isis. It was Isis who would probably have the most say in weather or not she became an expert, or a Royal Guardsmen. Even though she was off break, she was still on the clock. At least in her mind she was anyway. She finally found her way close to her destination. The Palace could be seen from Quite some ways away. She kept her stride even and casual as she approached it. The closer one got, the larger it seemed to be, especially to someone who had spent her formative years underwater, where there aren't very many buildings. She took in the last of her casual breaths and wandered into the Courtyard. There, she heard Isis's voice as she ended business with another. A man with an odd lack of scent. She quickened her pace and brushed past the man almost without seeing him. Once in earshot, she called out to Isis.
"Isis!" she called out to her as she caught up before she entered the building and Saluted. It would be odd, seeing the woman without her armor and in a dress, but still Saluting. "I've come to report my progress so far to you. As it stands, Haman and our team have recovered two pages, the last of our leads ending in a failure. In addition, I completed the mission I left on to destroy the residential district of Pronta. They didn't even know I was there, but the know who did it. I took the initiative, as the mission was posted among the others." she reported quickly before she took her hand down from her head. She moved some of her still damp hair from her face before looking into the eyes of her superior, awaiting her response.
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___youwillknownihilism Captain
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 9:34 pm
Akeem listened to West in silence, choosing to not even meet his eyes. Despite having gone through these thoughts so often, replaying the same nightmares again and again, he could never truly allow himself to think of them as only mistakes of an ignorant man. He had to own what he did, even if some wicked beast crafted him and the Djinn in such a way as to harm others with wonton disregard. What twisted and demented creature would ever create such a trait? Often times Akeem had sat up wondering why his people had been cursed so. Was it an equivalent exchange for their awe inspiring battle capabilitie? Akeem knew without a doubt he would trade that away if only he could have a family. Was it fair for Akeem to chalk this up to merely fate, when he in fact knew what would happen? Even if there was no other way to work past this horrendous hex the Djinn carried with thim Akeem knowingly inflicted a death sentence upon an innocent woman, and by extension his sons. "Even if I live for another one hundred and thirty seven years, I do not believe there will ever come a time when I have fully atoned for my sins." Akeem said solemnly, though not in a choked voice. He seemed to have resolved something in his mind. That seemed to be happening often around West. "I will continue to work at being a good soul. I have rid myself of my demonic beliefs, why not my actions as well?" The Djinn said in a stronger voice. A new task was in mind now, not just seeing Aramil succeed. When the silence had fallen Akeem did not look to West to fill it. He did not ask him to speek, nor trade a secret for a secret. So when West began to speak Akeem did him the courtesy of paying very close attention.
A piece of him actually wished West had not divulged that secret. West wasn't even a noble and didn't even have a legitimate claim to the throne. There were those who would see this as a heinous crime against tradition and ancient rules set forth. If the people knew the situation in Aramil could get evern worse. Akeem could not hide the surprise in his eyes, but he did not judge West at all. Born a b*****d or born a god, West had done good for this nation and its people. A person's origin did not matter, only their actions in life. In Akeem's eyes West was a better person than he ever was. Hearing the troubles West had faced in his life brought a frown to Akeem. He did not compare them to his own issues because that was a stupid thing to do. The Djinn would never truly know how it felt to be West, living his version of loneliness, and West would never truly know how it felt to be living Akeem's version of lonelines. There was no way to compare issues like that. Each person's problems were their own, and while they may seem small in comparison to others it does not diminish the feeling of pain a person may feel over them. He smiled and accepted the toast, sipping his own lemonade in place of an alcoholic beverage. When he licked his lips clean Akeem spoke again. "It is not like that any longer, West. I won't give up on you. It isn't going to be so lonely anymore." Akeem said maybe with a slight bit of ambition. He honestly felt like after taking away their positions and titles, West and Akeem could be actual friends.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 2:56 am
nu███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████ XXX ███████
numineIN THE END ` JUST LIKE SOLDIERS ♕》*WE MARCH ON!
bad apple
xxx
n×◞KING ⊰OF ( KEVAI ) *⇣EMPEROR OF ♕ARAMIL !
by numinex for the food chain do not steal! c:CHAMPION OF ANTONY
West could understand what Akeem was. He was not a man so much concerned for himself, as he was a man concerned for how he affected others. He was a man concerned with his own spirituality, one who feared for the illness of evil that surely existed within his body as much as anyone else. They were all children of both Michael and Kala. They were constantly battling between life and death, light and dark. They were thrown between those two forces, a rock and a hard place in all respects. Like with children who came from compromising backgrounds, they reacted and little nuances in their developments became creases and shaped their form. He supposed that perhaps the little nuances just aligned in the proper way for West and Akeem to make the same choice. And he had a feeling that if posed with their struggles again, they would make the same choice again, no matter what. They would choose to survive and thrive.
"Would it take an imperial decree blessed by the God-cow and sprinkled with pixie dust for you to feel you've atoned?" He asked, laughing lightly. The Incubus scooted his seat over slightly, and leaned starting from his shoulder against the bar. "As for disarming your inner Kala, we'll have to go through that one together. I'm sure the angels would be perfectly content to tell us that we can find ourselves by praying in a box for a thousand years and waiting for Michael to send us an email, but that's not the way for you or me. Don't know what is, but that's not the way." He shrugged, as well as he could at least.
He didn't know an answer to anything at all. He didn't know why the sky was blue other than that maybe Michael enjoyed the color. He didn't know the cure to evil or the source of goodness. He didn't know anything and in truth he doubted anyone did. They were all ignorant to everything around them. Even the Gods were just grasping at straws. People never knew, so they found the answers that suited them. That was how it had to be, right? That was how it would have to be for Akeem and West as well. They would find their own way.
As for the subject of... loneliness, and not giving up, the demon smiled at first. Akeem certainly didn't intend it so, but he sounded very romantic when he tried to be a friend. It almost made West feel like some southern princess to be whisked away on a horse, totally relieved of all worry for the rest of time. West knew stories like that were only stories, and there would be centuries of pain still in store. Even so, he couldn't help but feel a sense of joy to know that this dependable feeling could exist within that demonic instrument that he called a heart. It was something he had not seen since the days when he was young and the world seemed free, back when the only struggle in his life was searching for his dad and picking the proper shoes for the gala.
"You're quite right, Akeem. And I won't give up on you either." He moved closer at first, his smile being absorbed into his expression as he lulled back into a simple grin that climbed up his cheeks, revealing a certain brightness within him. Then he moved even closer, and that expression became washed away by just... nothing; he didn't smile, he only looked. His eyes looked into Akeem's eyes as they often did. It was usually just a cultural thing, he was showing respect by keeping keen on his expression. To show that he was paying attention, caring. This time it was by instinct, a reaction to a more superior force than culture; nature. "Never." And just like that, his lips parted slightly, he brought himself closer and he did as his instincts demanded, their lips meeting as everything else paused and integrated into the action. He knew that he was putting Akeem into a precarious position, but West felt that sizzle. That spark. He saw that moment and he acted. For ill or worse he didn't know. He lost his composure for that burst of time.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:08 am
Akeem was getting a queer feeling of warmth within him. It had been many days since he bonded with another being and his conversations with West as of late were beginning to formulate the start of something wondrous. At first Akeem had thought he stood at the precipice of a deep abyss once his king shattered the illusion of the demon gods. There was an empty feeling inside of him and a sense that he had wasted a large portion of his life fighting for the wrong side. But there was a sudden ray of hope, a light so bright that Akeem had no choice but to stare at it. West had redeemed himself, an actual demon now holding a mark of an actual angel. For the emperor to say this journey would be taken together heartened the Djinn. Now it wasn't so much that he was about to fall into a dark hole, but more that he was climbing out of one.
As West shifted his position and came closer Akeem met his eyes. His own molten gold ones peering deep into the brown ones of West. It was a sign of respect to pay attention, or at least appear to do so. What Akeem noticed was that West seemed particularly attentive, so much so that he had even managed to get closer. The Djinn was suddenly hyper aware of the situation. He could feel the heat given off from the desire demon, the feeling of his breath caressing Akeem's peach skin. The captain of the guard could not help but notice the curve of West's lips, the stubble on his chin nor stop envisioning the sentient mark upon his chest. A part of him knew these thoughts were inappropriate, that he should stiffen and play the good little body guard. But another part, one that Akeem had buried underneath the sands of time was beating like a drum. Each pump of his heart was like a pump of that yearning, the want to touch another and feel as physically close to them as possible. As their lips met Akeem at first hardened his gaze bore into West's eyes with his own. He shut them tight and returned the gesture. It was not full of fireworks nor as pretty as a picture. It was raw and maybe even a little rough. Akeem was more than out of practice and he was having a hard time reigning in the slew of literally queer emotions stirring about him. The Djinn sat forward to put more of himself into the kiss, but then it really hit him who he had just done this with. A look of surprise passed his face and Akeem disengaged. He slowly sat back in his chair, all the while looking at West.
Akeem knew it was in the emperor's nature, he had started out as an incubus and grew into something more. The Djinn understood that it was apart of who they were, it wasn't as if the moniker of Desire Demon came out of nowhere. These beings thrived off of sexual wants. They could be sensual, as enticing as a pie, and whatever you wanted. Akeem did not feel as if he was being manipulated in some way, maybe it was just that West really was what Akeem wanted. He had no idea. There had never been a time in all of his yeras of existance that he felt he wanted a man. It was not that he was against it, certainly not. Growing up in a Djinn community Akeem more than once witnessed men being with each other. It was only that he had never sought pleasures like that. The few times he had partaken in sex was to actually produce offspring. That wasn't something he could do with men. He had never been in a relationship solely for pleasure and frankly felt too new. "I am sorry. I have never... Not that I thought- I mean it would be presumptuous of me to believe you wanted-" Akeem grew frustrated with his lack of words and huffed out a breath, his face screwing up in thought as he tried to find his tongue.
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