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 Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:47 pm
Tenebrion really had to hand it to Asmodeus; he was doing quite well for himself. The Tempest may have been a fairly new establishment, but there was no questioning the amount of work that had been put into securing it. No doubt a pretty penny (or a portion of a demon prince's treasure) had been paid to deck out the place in the most elaborate of furnishings, glossy tabletops and high ceilings meant to instill a sense of grandeur in any patron. Somewhere, music was playing, but it was muffled by the chatter of humans just looking for a night of fun and an excuse to lose all their money. It was easy for demons to intermingle with the populace in such a place, an open invitation that the former Guard of the Queen chose to accept.
He was dressed to the nines, as seemed only appropriate in a place like this. His somewhat long, dark hair was brushed behind his ears in an ordered chaos, glossy under the low lights of the casino like polished onyx but he had left the scruff on his cheeks unhindered. The suit he was wearing was perfect for a place like this, suspenders and all beneath the jacket. 'I might not be rich enough to be tacky, but I've got money to spend,' said the quality of the threads, and the open collar at his throat echoed, 'Bring me a drink.'
Mastipal was in her serpent form, as was only right when Tenebrion decided it was his turn to roam the world in the flesh. As usual, she was complaining about the situations he put her through, but had come all the same. After the strange things that had been happening to them lately at the apartment and the way Tenebrion had just so petulantly disclosed the location of the Daemonologie shop to that prepubescent summoner-hunter, she was loathe to let him out of her sight. She had considerably downgraded her size for the occasion, the size of a healthy python that could easily be curled around Tenebrion's neck and one of his arms. He was the generous one, often wearing her around his shoulders while she mostly preferred to watch him writhe on the ground. The contrast was stark and eloquent, her ivory and sinuous form curled around his coal-clad body. She was about a fifth of the size they usually had to endure upon first transforming. Centuries of dealing with such a condition left room for mastery.
Tenebrion had come in with a cool two-hundred dollars and worked himself up at the blackjack section when the table was hot. Even the dealer had stared at him overlong as he doubled his money again and again. Of course, he paid back a small fortune overall, but when he decided to take a break at the poker tables, he was riding a sweet hundred grand. How long, he wondered, until someone took notice of him? There were halfling demons posted all along the area, a security system that no doubt worked as well as any camera. They would have seen the snake on his shoulders at the very least, but not a one had made mention to him of it yet. In the meantime, he made an amiable addition to any table he included himself in, smooth-talking anyone who would bend an ear to him and graciously paying a tip to the dealer after each pot he took in. Someone of interest was bound to come talk to them eventually.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:02 pm
The one of a kind dress she had chosen for the night was a black silk cocktail dress, just short enough to show her legs well, but not enough to be flaunting. Irridescent green glass beads were stitched across the length, giving just a bit of subtle glitter and movement and just enough color to make her eyes look even greener. Her red curls were tossed loosely back, an emerald and diamond clip in her hair holding them. Simple diamond earrings and a single diamond bracelet finished off her appearance for this night. She knew how to dress well and looked the owner of such an elegant establishment.
As she stepped from her private elevator, Theros approached her. "Mischa, there is one fellow who is up about 100 grand over at the poker table. Some minor winning in the slots and a couple thousand in the roulettes now."
"Alright, Theros. Just keep an eye on things. I'm going to say hello to some here tonight that I know." she replied, then smirked, "So is he wearing the prince tonight or being his own obtuse self?"
He turned back to watch her. A wide grin crossed his face. "Guess."
She laughed. "His normal self I guess. I'll check the poker tables and see what is going on there before I move towards the tables and dining room." Mischa slowly walked towards the poker tables stopping to talk to several rich patrons on the way. Ensuring they would be taken care of, she glanced around. Then she saw him, and the serpent around his neck. Interesting.
Moving towards him, she took two glasses from the waiter's tray as she passed by. Sitting it down beside him, she said softly, "I hope they are taking good care of you since you've managed to win so much of my money."
Asmodeus was in the security room watching the cameras and talking to some of the half demon guards when Theros entered. "Is Mischa on the floor yet?" A hound patrol was going through the area also and down into the vault.
"Of course. She's talking to... well, I think you should check this camera." Theros smirked as Mischa placed a glass down beside Tenebrion. "I'd venture a guess on who the snake is, but I've no proof."
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:58 pm
There was a flash of jet and emerald out of the corner of his eye before a red-headed woman chose to take the seat next to him at the table. He turned his head obligingly to acknowledge her, taking in her words even as his eyes slid over her ample form. She was a summoner, he noted, and more than likely the owner of the establishment by the way she spoke. Her money. She was cute.
"I guess it's just my lucky night," Tenebrion went for modesty, his lips quirking as in an apologetic gesture that did not reach his dark eyes. He picked up the drink she placed next to him, pausing as if to muse. In truth, he was waiting for any objections from his sister, who would be able to tell if the drink was drugged. It wasn't that he didn't trust her; he didn't trust anyone. Some beings could just be so touchy with their money.
"Five-card poker on Saturday night, church on Sunday morning, hm?" He lifted his glass to her as if toasting her, passing the woman a charming wink before he took a generous sip of the drink. It burned. It was good.
Mastipal lifted and turned her head to consider the summoner as well, noting the bare essentials of her looks. Was this Asmodeus' human, then? It seemed fair enough to assume it, if she was indeed the owner. No doubt Tenebrion realized this much as well, but her brother had a bad habit for playing with strangers. She couldn't blink, but if she could, she would have upon reaching the woman's face. Her eyes...
"You're not going to ask me to leave now, are you?" Tenebrion implored cheekily, his lips curling playfully. "This is a classy place you've got. I doubt a man like me is pulling too hard on your stores, Miss...?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:35 pm
Mischa laughed. She liked him already. "It's Mischa. Mischa Renaue`. And you both are? Besides no other is winning much tonight. The casino will make it back on the slots and roulettes before the hour is up." She indicated the people in other areas pushing chips on tables and quarters in slots.
"And not many around here go to church. Absolutely no intention of throwing you out either." she replied in amusement as she turned to watch him closely. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way. "I've worked hard on this place over the last year or so. It's nice to know it is appreciated. But it's not all my money that is behind it. I do have a silent partner. She's here part of the time, but I run the casino. And I expect everyone to enjoy themselves."
He growled and vanished causing Theros to break out into outright laughter. Asmodeus reappeared, taking control of the prince who was simply watching the show. He got to his feet leaving those he was with sitting, and stopped behind Mischa as the last of her words crossed her lips. "Hello, Ten." he smirked folding his arms. "Masti, old girl, you aren't looking quite yourself."
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:56 pm
He had listened with an easy manner as she went on about herself and none-too-subtly hinted to the hidden ace up her sleeve. As if they didn't know! But Tenebrion admired her, to be sure. She was a beautiful woman, for a human, and she was leading Asmodeus around by the bullring. What wasn't there to be impressed over? There seemed to be a small army of demons under this very roof, no doubt under Asmodeus' command, and by extension, Mischa's. If Tenebrion had paused to think it over, he just might have felt a little threatened being here.
And then Asmodeus himself was there, at least in spirit. The twins looked the human form the demon prince had chosen to assume, a dark-skinned pedigree with the monikers of nobility. Quite a prize Asmodeus collected for his own disposal. He couldn't quite walk around as freely as Tenebrion and Mastipal, whose only real discerning features were their dark eyes in human form. Even so, they could see him for what he truly was anyway, the human merely a veil clinging to his real form.
"Hey, man, you know we can still see those horns and hooves, right?" Tenebrion greeted in turn, giving an absolutely dastardly grin over his drink, "I was wondering how long it would take you to come out and see me. You did good- it's only been about an hour."
"Asmodeus, thou incorrigible knave, come closer so I might kiss thy cheek," Said Mastipal icily, lifting her ivory head to face the banished demon with her fangs unfolded for him to see. If she bit him, that human host of his would be writhing in agony within the next five minutes, bowed over with death in ten at most. She had no interest speaking to a mortal like Mischa, but the demon warranted a response, one which clearly translated to a sharp GO ******** YOURSELF.
"Mischa, what a pleasure to meet you," Ten decided it would be within his bounds to be kind to Asmodeus' summoner and let her in on what was going on, "I am Tenebrion and this is my sister, Mastipal. I suppose you could say we are old, old friends of your demon." Nearly as old as time itself, but who was counting?
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:44 pm
"Certainly you can, but most of them cannot." Asmodeus smirked. "It is good to see you too, but Masti, I think I will just accept your greeting from a distance. This poor prince deserves better than that." He knew precisely what she had been up to. They never had gotten along well though he and Tenebrion had and he was quite certain those fangs were deadly. She was still loyal after all this time. He had known she would be.
"We've known each other for a very long time, Mi. Friends. Rivals. Always something going on. We've just not seen one another in ages. Literally." the demon smirked. It was good to see him again. It was too bad that Ten's attempt had not worked so long ago. They would probably have had a great deal of fun as a result.
"It's very nice to meet you, Tenebrion, and you also, Mastipal. Too bad you had to have the irritation of his company. I'm sure you've probably been far happier without it all this time." Mischa replied to Tenebrion, without hesitation. "Maybe I should have contracted with Seere instead. I'm sure he would not have minded being shared by Sam and I." Her intent was to goad Asmodeus and she was constantly doing that more and more each day.
"I'd still have done it anyhow, Mischa." Asmodeus smirked. "You can't get rid of me that easily whether you know it or not. I'm here just for you, sweetie." The first contract preceded hers and it was even more binding than she knew.
"Bite me." she growled, her lips curving upwards, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe I'll ask Tenebrion to protect me instead. Especially after you nearly let me get killed."
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:55 am
"My name is Mastipal, Asmodeus. I am not one of thy petty harlots or poor Zuleika, whatever pit you may have thrown her into. Thou will do well to show me some respect as I do thou favor by extending the same, generous as it is of me. Traitor." Came the venomous, if measured reply. She was annoyed with him, but he would not get an ounce of her fury. Tenebrion topped the charts in that respect- if she could endure him, she certainly could handle this brutish fool of a demon. She turned her attention to Mischa, who was speaking to her by name. While Mastipal was a little iffy about responding to her, her opinion was steadily changing the more she conversed with Asmodeus until it became a grudging sort of approval.
Tenebrion chuckled good-naturedly at the exchange between demon and summoner, amused with playing the fly on the wall for the moment until Mischa unexpectedly turned her attention on him. He blinked with mild surprise, then grinned wryly. "Now, Mischa, you don't even know what I can do."
His eyes flitted to Asmodeus curiously, wondering if the other was truly possessive of the woman or just playing to keep her unnerved. It wasn't that he was seriously considering her ludicrous threat, as he preferred to be mostly without strings, but it would be worth noting if Asmodeus had a particular attachment to her that he didn't want to go toeing without preparation. He was almost reminded of the demon in a way, looking at her bright hair and that shape the prince kept his own in. "Actually, I rather missed old and horny here. We used to really get into some good trouble, didn't we, Az? Anyway, we heard you were out this way and we just happened to be in town... You know how it is. I get bored."
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:26 am
"So you do hear rumors after all. And as for Zuleika, " Asmodeus replied, a bit of fondness crossing his expression. "I am quite certain she will be showing up. Sooner or later. And traitor is only a point of view. I wanted more, Mastipal, my dear. So to you I am a traitor but to others I am perhaps a hero." His eyes gleamed wickedly at the comparison.
"And Mischa, my love, you have more than one binding to me upon you. One you cannot get free of." Asmodeus smirked again.
Mischa's eyes immediately narrowed as she turned to stare at him. "You think not? We'll see. Nothing is ever sure. Not even the fate you seem to think is sitting on my shoulders. I'm sure there are even things you fear." A faint smile on her face, she watched Tenebrion, "It cannot be worse than what he does. As I said before, a bull in a china shop."
"And such beautiful shoulders they are." Asmodeus smirked, reaching out to run a finger along her skin. She was getting very fun to torment and her attitude was far from the girl who had taken the beatings from her husband in silence.
Mischa reacted, hitting him hard in the ribs. He grunted, sucking a bit of air in. "I'm sure your prince will feel that in the morning." she smirked. "So keep his and your hands to yourself." She was not this arab's plaything any more than she was Asmo's and she would not have anyone thinking that.
"I must make my rounds though," she stated warmly to Tenebrion and Mastipal after glancing around the room. "Mastipal, Tenebrion, order what you like on me. It was very nice meeting you and you are both welcome here whenever you have the inclination to drop in. Unfortunately, he will most likely remain here to annoy you."
As Mischa left, Asmodeus turned very deliberately to watch her. She amused him so much more than in the beginning. He glanced over at the hound patrol tipping his head in indication that they follow her. Even in the casino, Mischa was seldom unprotected now. But then he turned to Tenebrion and Mastipal, knowing they could talk more freely now that Mi was gone. There were obviously things Asmodeus did not want her to know. "Hear anything good lately?" Then he smirked. "Mi's gotten alot more feisty over the last year. She's not one to take anything in silence anymore."
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:53 am
"Spare me thy reason, Asmodeus; there is not even a fool without one. Is it not so, Tenebrion?"
"Hey now..."
"A follower gleaned from enacting heresy is not worth having."
Tenebrion snorted a brief puff of air through his nostrils boredly, placing his chin delicately upon one palm and taking another generous sip of his drink. His eyes glittered faintly watching the further exchange, gathering his conclusions. When Mischa made to leave, he gave her a faint nod and a charming smile.
"Until next time, my dear." He purred. Mastipal would watch her silently from his shoulder. True, she had earned some consideration from the frigid demoness for the way she did not yield to Asmodeus, but she was still a hard sell. Only time would tell if she would be deemed worthy enough to speak to.
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Tenebrion smirked conspiratorially at his fellow demon once Mischa was out of view and earshot. He leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs out before him as he considered Asmodeus' question. "Well, my friend, it has been a good while since I've been out. I've heard a lot of things, and Masti probably more. I guess it really depends on what you're looking for. Is it safe to talk right here?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:31 pm
"That's where you are wrong, Mastipal. I have no intention making Zuleika a follower." Asmodeus replied, his lips curled upwards as he watched the serpent before turning back to watch Mischa a moment. "But that is between Zuleika and I. It will be settled one way or another."
He had not been toying with her. The demon prince did love her inspite of what the circumstances were. It was why he wanted her with him. But it would be a long fight before Zuleika understood that he had not merely been treacherous in his actions.
"As for Mischa, she's far more than just a summoner to me. And that is not what you think either, Mastipal. I've no interest in bedding her. But I honor contracts whether they are of my summoner's doing or not. And it's possible there's more to her than any know. I'm counting on it."
"Mischa seems to like this Edward Fauste who runs the Daemonologie shop or the sister and brother that work with him. But then Fauste is attached to the brother- Tae-yul. Both men are rather interesting." Asmodeus smirked. "It's hard telling whose arms she will end up in yet. Anyone is better than the husband who beat her and she's much stronger than she was a year ago from my pushing her. You'd not have recognized her in comparison to the girl who was just here. I do have plans for her though. Eventually."
He watched Tenebrion a few moments, shrugging. "This place is safe now. My place of power as well as Seere's. With the extra lights and no mirrors. More hounds. But this hunter nearly killed Mischa the other day. I'd have taken true exception to that as both contracts on her would have been broken. Although.." his grin turned sheepish. "She does not know of the second one. It was so much earlier and only fell to her because of circumstance."
His grin turned to a sudden scowl. "She's determined that this hunter will not kill Fauste. I don't have a choice but to protect her. And him. And the Butcher's daughter is not just a simple hunter. She's also a summoner which allows her to teleport and have information via the mirrors. Mischa was simply the first to leave the shop. I wish I knew who she had summoned. It would make it easier to know what unseen enemy we face."
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