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 Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:27 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:10 pm
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:01 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:34 am
She had been watching for over an hour, looking for something that she had yet to find. Either the gladiators this year were all badly trained slaves, or she had come at the wrong time.
She sighed, mentally evaluating each of the fighters she had seen, and dismissing them. That one didn't have good balance, too much weight, not enough muscle on that one, too weak... too weak... doesn't have the training... What IS that one, anyways? She almost laughed, her little smile playing on her lips as she gave up for the day.
"Forgive me, friends, but I think I'll get some shopping in." She said calmly, standing and heading for the stairs. She smiled at their protests, but ignored them, heading down the stairs and out the door. She would check out the market, see if they had any horses that came close to the beauties her father raised.
She paused at the sight of the crowd, looking thoughtful. So many people made for an interesting encounter no matter what! And if she was lucky she might be able to find her champion here. If not, well she was in need of a new pair of earrings, and one could never have enough shoes.
With that thought she walked into the crowd, smiling slightly in anticipation. Shopping was almost as good as gambling!
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 9:23 am
((Guild RP compilation))Silent Studies Miranda walked easily through the crowd, her steps light as she traveled from stall to stall, inspecting the goods with the same evaluating eye as she evaluated everything else. She gave a compliment once in a while, an easy smile, but only rarely did she buy. What she was more interested in were the males of the crowd. Not because she was looking for a lover, gods forbid, but because she was looking for a champion. The gladiators she had seen fighting just didn't live up to her standards. Of course, there wasn't much promise in the crowd so far, either. But she still smiled, heading for the fountain to take a little break. Alcion did not really hear or notice the girl, still concentred on his sketch. He was starting on the stalls now, tracing the outlines slopylly, then he would go back and precise the details down later. Spade had gotten up earlier and had managed to find a few things in some stalls that Brum might like. But she was determinded to get as many things from all over as she could. She wandered back to the fountain center and spotted a bit of plantlife growing near this one elf. Thankfully it was far enough away for her not to have to move him to inspect it, but she was close enough for him to see a armadillo beastial crouched down beside the fountain looking at something. Pulling out a magnifying glass and she shifted her weight so that light could pass around her large, crouched form to lluminate the plant so she could examine it. "Interesting..." She murmered, more to herself then anyone else. sketching elf, and a bestial... she looked tough, but by the way she was inspecting the shrubbary Miranda doubted she was a fighter. She sighed, making herself more comfortable on the edge of the fountain and looking over the crowds. She crossed her legs, wondering if there was a horse selling stall somewhere near. Zian had spent a good few hours people-watching, fascinated by the many varieties of elves, the tiny marvels that were their faeries, the types of bestials that he'd never seen in his tribe before. (He was particularly intrigued by Spade, a species of beast that he hadn't even heard about in the stories his father spun as easily as he wove thread.) Awkwardness kept him from approaching any of them, though. "I mean, what do I say?" he wrote in his journal at one point. "'Hi, you look weird, mind if I stare at you for a bit?' They probably wouldn't be flattered." He scans the merchant carts now, especially fascinated by the jewelry in all its finery; that kind of adornment was much more rare among the hunters of his tribe. If Zian catches Miranda's eye, she may very well notice muscles beneath his feathers and a lean, strong look to him - a warrior who's been training for two years straight now and knows how to use a spear. After collecting the sample by the base of the fountain, she sat back on the fountain again. Pulling out her log book, she made drawings of what it looked like and notes on the location she found it. Once everything was recorded, she took out a bottle and placed the sample away safely. She put away the book and then took out her diary to record her latest findings. "Hmm..." Miranda said quietly, her eyes falling on a bird bestial. Strong, but young. And with the delicate leanness of his build he would only be able to fight certain types effectively. And that would depend on his speed, as well as the strength of his opponent. He moved like a fighter, but oh so very young! Even for a bestial! She sighed, wishing he had a few years on him. She would approch him if she found no one else. Such potential, after all! But before she did she wished to observe him for a while, as well as the others. At his age he was no doubt still training. To send him into the ring with experienced brawlers at this time seemed a little premature. With a sigh, Miranda stood, heading once again into the chaotic order that made up the market. She paused as she caught sight of a cloth merchant, heading for the table and fingering the silk. It was smooth and quite lovely, but she had no idea what she would do with it. But she was confident she would win a bet, sooner or later, so she bought it, having it sent to her rooms with a slight smile. Confidence was one of the greatest traits in a winner, after all! And Miranda was, above all else, a winner. With that thought she went back to shopping, acting as if she had won already. It was just a matter of time.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:58 am
After her little shopping escapade she had gone back to the gladiator arena, sure that someone would provide money for her food and drinks. She had been right. Very right.
Miranda groaned, rolling over in her bed and idly wondering how she had gotten there. She looked up blearily, wondering if she was alone. Thankfully she was. The last thing she needed at the moment was some young stud thinking that he had claim to her because she had slept with him while drunk. It had happened a few times before, hadn't been a pretty sight.
"What time is it?" She asked as a servant came in to draw the curtains.
"Almost noon, Lady Miranda."
"Then come back at a decent hour, damn you. I need my sleep."
"Ye--yes ma'am."
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:49 pm
((Crossover Aleric/Miranda))
Aleric had found nothing out. But he wasn't worried... too much. There were still a few days left of the festival, and he planned on using his time to the best of his ability. Of course, he had yet to go to the gladiator stadium, he had been too busy trying to find out information. So when darkness started to set he headed towards the arena, planning on checking out the competition, perhaps even find out if a non-slave could get in.
He walked up the steps, heading through the doors, regardless of the weary looks people shot at him. He was a fighter, but no man's slave, he was thankful to say. And when asked he just gave the servants a look, and they backed down. If he wanted to fight, then let him, they said softly as he walked away. The more competetors, the more likely the high bidders were to spend their gold.
But he wasn't there to fight. Not yet. He sighed slightly heading to the area looking down at the fighting with a curious gaze. Two fighters, one a bestial, the other a halfbreed of some sorts. The halfbreed was losing, but he looked to be a decent fighter. The human blood weakened him, no doubt.
Aleric was so intent on his watching that he didn't even notice the slightly tipsy elven female heading down the stairs next to him. He blinked as she tilted, reaching out and grabbing her before she fell. She was small, as well. What was with all these tiny females? Honestly!
The first thing Miranda noticed was the large hands grasping her waist, making her look up in outrage that someone had been so bold as to touch without her permission. Then she stopped, her eyes widening slightly at the large bear bestial, taking in his muscle structure purely by instinct. He had strength. And a lot of it, if the fact she was still being held off of the floor meant anything.
"You can put me down, now." She said, smiling slightly. Aleric blushed, gently lowering her to the ground. "Thank you. Do you fight?"
"Yeah." He muttered, feeling uncomfortable beneath her evaluating gaze. Suddenly he felt as if he was on the auction block. But that was inconcievable. She was a female. Females didn't do such things! Besides, she was drunk. Who knew what was really going on in that elven head of hers.
"Such a... big... strong creature. And good breeding, no doubt. Your quite gorgeous, aren't you?"
He blinked, feeling the back of his neck heat slightly at her word choice. Then he blinked as he realized she was fingering the fur on his arm. "Ma'am?"
"Healthy coat, full sized and well nutritioned..." She said softly, as if speaking to herself. "Will you be fighting in the gladiator matches?"
"I... I think I should get going." He said, taking a step back. "And you should be sleeping it off." She reached up, playing with the fur on his neck.
"Tell me your name first." She asked, making him gulp for some reason as her bright green eyes focused on his. "Then I'll let you go."
"... Aleric."
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 4:14 pm
"And there she is, gentlemen!" Yet another offacious rich old b*****d said as Miranda made her way up the stairs to the high bidders platform. "So where's your champion?"
Miranda blinked, trying to remember what he was talking about. "Oh, the bear. He'll be here. Sooner or later." She said, casually waving a hand. "Until then, put... oh... twenty pounds of gold on the lizard bestial." She smirked at the response that got. Her arrogance made them outraged, but they also kept coming back for some reason.
"I found the most marvelous little mare while I was shopping yesterday. Perfect for breeding with my stallion. I'll have to see about buying her before someone else does." She said, standing abruptly.
"But Lady Miranda... don't you want to see if your fighter wins?"
"Oh, he will. You can send my winnings to the usual place." She said, standing and heading for the door.
"She can't be right."
"She's ALWAYS right."
"I'll put fifty on the lizard!"
Miranda paused by the servant in control of the betting, leaning down to whisper in his ear and slip him another piece of gold. Then she walked away, certain her cash was in the bag. Males were just so easy.
She headed down the stairs and out to the market, keeping an eye open for the large bear bestial. If he was there she would see him, she thought. But he was nowhere to be seen. Interesting.
With that she headed past the crowds to the livestock area on the outskirts, her eyes falling on the mare she had spoke about earlier. Not a creature she would choose to ride, but beautiful, nonetheless. Strong, well defined lines, delicate ankles, deep chest. Her smooth gray dappled coat gleamed with health, and a wild look shone in her eyes as she tossed her head with pride.
"She's beautiful." Miranda said, catching the attention of the breeder.
"She is, isn't she." He said, then sighed. "But most likely too much... horse for a delicate woman such as yourself."
"Oh, I don't want her for me. I want her for my stallion. You might have heard of him, Night's Flame?"
"You--" His mouth gaped, opening and closing as if shock had robbed him of his words.
"And I'll take her." She finished, smiling as if she didn't love the stupid look on his face. She had chosen the breeding line for Night's Flame. Her father had been proud of her interest. But she wasn't in it to make her father proud. She was in it for win.
"Y--yes mi'lady. Anything you say."
She smiled. "That's what I like to hear."
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:30 pm
"Your lizard didn't win." Was the first thing Miranda heard as she reached the platform. "I lost twenty pounds on that lizard."
"Oh... How sad." Miranda replied, walking past the glaring males to her regular table.
"Your record is now broken, you know."
"No it isn't."
"Wh--what?"
"I said my fighter would win. I never said the lizard was my fighter."
"But you bet on him!"
"Then I changed my bet. It's a woman's perrogative, you know." She sighed, smiling at the servant who brought her her drink without having to be asked. She did like that in a servant. "And I thank you all kindly for raising the odds for me." She raised her glass toasting them with a mocking smile, much to their irritation.
"Your champion still has yet to show." Another said, making an almost imperceptible twitch develop in her right eye.
"He'll show." She said calmly, taking another sip of her drink. "It's only a matter of time." She hoped. This waiting was starting to get under her skin. She was Miranda! An ELF! And a NOBLE! No backwoods bungler of a bear did this to her!
But other then the twitch none of this showed on her face as she turned back to the fighting. She forced herself to relax. It was simple, really. If he didn't come to her...
Well she would just have to go to him. She nodded, determined of her course of action, save for one little problem. She had no idea of where to find him. Idly she glanced up. "Twenty pounds on the wolf."
Almost as one the males there spoke. "Twenty pounds on the lizard!" They said, earning a nod from the collector and smirking widely. Miranda didn't even bother to hide her amusement. That was one bet she would stick with.
Twenty minutes later she was being glared at. "What? I said it was my perrogative, I never said I would do it all the time!" She smiled, waving her glass slightly and getting a refill. "I do SO love a good fight, don't you?"
She merely smiled at their groans of disgust.
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:42 am
"Lady Miranda?"
"Mmmm?" Miranda didn't even look up, she was still half asleep, buried in her covers.
"Your mare has been delivered."
"Oh..." She sat up, shoving her hair out of her face and looking at the servant. "And I care because..."
"The... man... he's a bestial, ma'am. But he said he needs to make sure you know something."
"What could I possibly--" She stopped, frowning slightly as the word bestial edged at her mind. It could be him... or someone that knew where to find him! She sat up. "Tell him I'll be out in a while."
"Yes ma'am."
*****************
Aleric scowled, fighting the urge to pace. She was still asleep? Who slept at this time of day? If he hadn't wanted to tell her about the bruise on the mare's foot he wouldn't have even bothered trying to talk to her. He was having a bad enough day as it was.
Finally he sat, looking at his hands and waiting, forcing his mind to clear of everything other than what he had come to do. Then the door to her room opened and she stepped out, making him go completely still. It was HER! The elf who had dragged him up to the platform!
"You!" She said. "I've been looking for you! We need to get you to the arena before the month is over!"
"Um... yeah." He muttered, not knowing what to do when she grabbed his arm. "Look, I need to tell you something about your new--"
"We'll get you signed up and fighting byt the end of the day. I might be able to recoup the losses I've gotten because of you being a no-show." She tugged again, then glared at him coldly. "You're supposed to stand now."
"I need to tell you about your new horse." He replied, going silently stubborn. "She's got a bruise."
"... Where?"
"Right front hoof. She'll be a little... testy."
"Fine. My lad can handle it. Now come! We have no time to waste!"
Aleric shrugged, getting to his feet. He had planned on entering the gladiator competitions, anyways. "I don't promise to win."
"Oh, you'll win. You had better." She replied, dismissing his comment as easily as that. "I chose you as my champion, after all. And I always win."
Aleric said nothing, merely made a note to pick up his pin sometime soon. This elf was rather... pushy, he thought, following her like a pet through the crowd and to the arena. It was... interesting.
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:38 pm
"There he is, boys. My champion." Miranda gloated as she leaned back slightly in her chair, sipping her drink slowly. She wanted to see every second of this fight.
"You've never seen him fight before?"
"Blood will tell." She replied, not sounding bothered in the least. The arena seemed even better now. She turned looking down into the arena, watching as the fighters entered the stadium, their weapons in their hands. The bear bestial had a staff, the fox bestial had a whip. It would be... interesting, she supposed. The size and strength differences were vast, but the speed of the fox promised to make things entertaining.
Aleric looked over his opponent with a slight nod. He knew the fox. They had never fought before, but they knew how each of them operated. Speed versus strength. Aleric could live with that.
They took their stances, Aleric twirling his staff with an experienced hand as he waited for the fox to make his first move. It came quickly, a "SNICK!" snapping through the air as the whip wrapped around the end of Aleric's staff. The fox jerked quickly, trying to disarm him before the fight really began. Aleric didn't let him, jerking the staff loose.
"Good move." Aleric called, earning a nod. "Just not good enough." He lunged forward, catching the fox off guard as he flipped the staff, extending the length by holding it by the very end. It slammed into the fox bestial's side, sending him flying a few feet.
The fox recovered, rubbing his ribs with a slight wince of pain. "I knew you were strong..." The fox muttered, snapping his whip again before starting a strange sort of dance, the whip snapping through the air quickly.
Aleric braced himself ready for the whip to come out of no where. The point of the dance was distraction, and it often worked. The only problem was that it tended to waste energy that was better used battling. But he wasn't about to mention that to the fox. Not until after he had beaten him, that was.
The whip came then, wrapping around his forearm, cutting in deeply enough to draw blood. Aleric cursed. "Loaded!" He muttered, earning a triumphant smile from the fox as he loosed the hold of the whip. Aleric didn't let him take the end back, but wrapped it around his hand, yanking hard.
The fox's weight wasn't enough to resist, and he came flying, right into Aleric's over-sized fist. He seemed to stick to the first for a second, then crumpled, falling to the ground unconscious. Finally Aleric let go of the razor blade "loaded" whip, letting it fall onto the fox bestial's unmoving body.
He winced slightly, examining his left arm, where the blood dripped slowly down his forearm. Then he turned, looking directly at Miranda. She nodded, raising her glass to him with a little smile.
With that he turned and left the arena, planning on finding a healer before he left to rejoin the festivities. He still had yet to get his pin. Much less find out what he had come to learn. But hell. At least he had gotten in a decent fight.
"That was too easy, Miranda."
Miranda turned, shrugging slightly. "He's just begun." she replied, holding up her glass for a refill. Inwardly she was almost dancing. She had been right in her choice. "Oh, and have my winnings sent to the usual place. "I've got a horse to feed, after all."
Mentally she made a note to get a small sign of appreciation for her champion... Incentive always encouraged people in her experience.
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:36 am
Morning was beautiful! Of course, it was nearly noon, but alas, that had no affect on Miranda as she climbed out of bed, getting ready for yet another day of winning. Gold WAS her favorite color, after all.
She brushed her hair after she had cleaned up, feeling quite ready to face the day. She had made a decent amount of gold already, but that wasn't what mattered. What mattered was the outrageous amount of gold she would make when her champion won the entire competition.
The sound of someone knocking on her door made her look up with a hint of irritation. The irritation turned to outrage as the door opened without her permission.
"Lady--Lady Miranda, it's your new horse--" The servant panted, making Miranda raise an eyebrow. "She bit the stable lad."
"... And I care because..."
"Then she kicked the stable manager."
"Hmm..."
"And broke the stable door."
"Oh?"
"She--she's run away, my lady. No one could get close enough to catch her. She was heading towards the bestial forest."
"...Damn. I spent good gold on that horse. I expect to see her returned." Miranda said, her curious expression going cold.
"But my Lady, the stable lad--"
"What do I look like, a healer? Wrap him up and give him a bonus. He'll be fine in the morning." She waved a hand as if that solved everything, then her expression went cold. "Now shouldn't you be arranging a search party now?"
"Y--yes. I'll um... do that." The servant said, turning and leaving. Miranda sighed, rubbing her temple and looking disturbed for a second. Then she turned, going back to brushing her hair. Catching a runaway horse was servant's work, after all.
She just hoped the servants found her before some random stranger decided to eat her... That would be a waste of a perfectly good breeding mare.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:02 am
Once again Miranda found herself in her usual spot, overlooking the arena, a glass in her hand. Her horse had been delivered earlier, the bear bestial giving a cold talking to to the stable manager. She hadn't been there. It was too bad, she would have liked to have seen it.
"He won't win, Miranda."
She looked up at yet another rich b*****d, raising one finely shaped eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I saw his arm yesterday. He'll be lucky to keep it."
"I think you underestimate his fighting spirit."
"I think you overestimate his size."
"We'll see." Was all she said in reply, turning to look down at the arena as the fighters entered the ring. The bear was on the left, a... "What is that, a halfbreed?"
"It appears to be half human half... what is that, a monkey?"
"He has the tail."
"Hmmm..." Miranda said, looking thoughtful as she watched the fight begin.
Aleric drew his bo, once again passing up on his blade. He knew the fighter he was facing, he didn't want to kill him. But it would be bo against bo this time, the monkey a long-time student of the staff. Even longer than Aleric himself. The only thing Aleric had going for him in this fight was his size and strength. Speed would be his weakness here.
He waited, holding his starting stance and watching as the cross-breed started moving. There was nothing more beautiful than a monkey-bestial in movement, for some reason. The moves were fluid and wild, with a hint of playfulness that proved deceptive. But it was the laugh that really messed with your head.
The monkey flipped, dancing playfully before striking out almost too fastly for Aleric to block. Then the blows and blocks came too quick for anyone other than the fighters to see. It was even fast enough to shut the laughing up for a while. Then a long tail whipped out, catching Aleric's legs and sweeping under him, sending him flying backwards.
Aleric cursed, hooking the monkey cross-breed's shirt with his bo and using the speed of his fall to send the monkey flying, slamming into the wall halfway across the stadium. The THUD of the body hitting the wall was the only sound in the room for a second. Then the cheering swept through the arena, deafening everyone around.
Aleric shoved himself to his feet, racing across the arena to drop down beside the fighter and check his pulse. It was weak, but steady. The monkey cross-breed was merely unconscious. He looked up, growling at nearby watchers. "Don't just stand there. Get a healer!"
"What do you care?"
"Yeah, he lost."
"Get a healer. NOW." Aleric replied, standing, his fists at his side. A fighter that fought bravely, with no tricks, deserved respect whether he won or lost.
Once the unconscious fighter was taken away he turned, looking at the elf that had brought him into this, nodding slightly. That was two. She nodded back and he turned, leaving the arena. His work there was done.
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