[Nexus] Riverside V

[Gullara]

Thanks to Darklord Bright.

Riverside, a small, modern city outside the reach of Remnant control. The city has always been known by one defining factor, it's status as a hive of scum and villainy. A number of factions vie for footholds in the city, though they are largely peaceful at the moment. No doubt some would jump at the opportunity to expand their influence. Being the hive and scum and villainy that it is, the police are corrupt, the streets can be dangerous, and shady deals and dark alleys are plenty. Welcome to Riverside.

Northside:

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Northside, the richer part of Riverside. If you have money then you can get just about anything in Northside. That is if you know the right people. There is something odd about this part of Riverside though. Hardly a beggar or street urchin to be seen. In fact for a place of scum and villainy this place is too clean. Northside is the one that wears the best mask in Riverside. The best at covering up deaths and drug deals. The best at making everyone think that there is nothing wrong because everybody pays their protectors and rulers of Northside with what they ask for. This is Northside. A rich mask that hides the dirty city for what it is.

Factions:

• The Followers of Scaal:
  
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  The followers of Scaal are spoken of in hushed tones. When a black robed figure goes by people stop talking and give him the space he needs. These are the followers of Scaal. Not much is known about them besides they possess great magic, they protect this part of the city and its inhabitants for the right price, and rumors have it that Scaal is some sort of god or demon perhaps.
  
  Played by ApeofLight.

Eastside:

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Coming Soon

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Westside:

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Westside, where vampires walk openly on the street. Mostly because said vampires govern this part of the city. The city has been cloaked in a field of eternal night allowing the vampires to walk freely. Furthermore, each mortal citizen is required to donate blood to sustain the vampires. In exchange, the streets are kept clean, for the most part. Of course, the cover of darkness does attract criminals as well as less beneficent creatures of the night.

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• Tenebras:
  
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  The vampires of Riverside came to the Nexus from the city of Gul-Thadar, a city where vampires and humans live in harmony. They took up the role of governing Westside after the city's leadership collapsed. Humans and vampires alike fill their ranks. They aren't above unsavory methods or shady deals, but they keep a good public face.
  
  Played by Gulaghar.
  
  ((All vampire NPCs associated with Tenebras should be assumed to be controlled by Gulaghar unless otherwise stated.))

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1
Places Within:

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Northside

• Moth Park:
  
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  About 100 acres, the moth park is approximately rectangular in shape, with a bandshell/performance stage at the north end, a soccer (football) field and softball diamond at the south and a forested area in the center.
  
  It also holds two playgrounds (swing sets, slides, monkey bars) several fountains (most of which are nonfunctional) various statues and a network of walking paths.
  
  Since the re-opening, Moth park is pretty popular with the local residents as well as those who come into the area to work or visit.
  
  The park have a park guard which keeps out most small-time criminals and drug-dealers which makes it considered safe, at least during day time.
• Police Station:
  
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  The police station is a large but simple brick building. All police activity is based out of this building. It's outfitted with interrogation rooms, a few offices, and other rooms that a police station would have.
• Sawyer's Inn:
  
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  The inside of Sawyer's is beautiful, though humble. Whoever keeps the place, keeps it in fine condition.
  
  The dark wooden floors are waxed and shiny. There are four wooden pillars that reach up to the ceiling. The four walls are painted in a brick red, with light grey accents.
  
  Along the left wall there is a large hearth fire burning, with a dog and cat sleeping together. The dog raises it's head slightly to observe the newcomers, but doesn't rush to sniff them out.
  
  Along the right wall is the customer service area, with a dining hall just past it. The smell of freshly baked bread and some kind of meat can be smelled eminating from beyond.
  
  And then there is the back wall. There is a set of stairs leading up and another leading down. Both sets are made of the same wood as the pillars and floor.
• Temple of Dalachrech:
  
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  This building closely resembles all the other semi-detached houses along this road. The temple takes up both halves of the house, however; although the building has been designed such that the halves don't match to maintain the illusion of seperate owners. It has a red tile roof and is constructed from red brick, although the left half has been painted white. There's a pair of garages and two front doors, both of which work.
  
  The temple is a private location. Please PM Earl of Purple before visiting.

Eastside

• Fallow’s Furry & Feathered Friends:
  
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  The shop is lit up with bright lights and neon advertising. Around the store is a secure, electrified fence and there's four watch towers in the corners. The gate is near a large, secure-looking building within which are three ogre guards. Inside lie four warehouses, a large collection of aquariums and gigantic tanks, a squat and ugly toilet block and three seperate bunkers for customers to evacuate into should something more dangerous escape, such as a smilodon from the Mammal House, a wyvern from the Reptile House, a giant carnivorous slug from the Invertebrate House or something worse. Patrolling the wide, open spaces are the occasional group of six uniformed humans armed with net-guns. Slaves can be bought here if one asks the right questions.
• Golden Flagon Tavern:
  
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  The Golden Flagon Tavern was the main hideout of the local mafia, when it was run by Johan.
  
  After a confrontation with Reinholdt, Johan was killed, and the Golden Flagon nearly destroyed. It's current owner is in the midst of restoration.
• Wellspring Tower:
  
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  The Walls: Made of thick glass and capped with walkways of stone, the walls and their five, short, twisted square towers are arranged in a perfect pentagon. Each wall has its own gate, which leads to one of the blue paths in the courtyard.
  
  Courtyard: The blue paths of the courtyard and the river form spiraling patterns that focus on the tower itself, and are edged with statues, fountains, and pools. From the courtyard, one can admire the strange design of the tower, a massive spire of twisting stone and glass that appears as a tree without leaves; further, one can listen to the tower's song, created by the flowing of water and air through the hollowed tubing on the tower.
  
  Library: Rather than books the library stores a vast array of unusual objects, from art pieces to weapons to plants. Each of these objects has a history, and many of them were created by Genesis. The library is kept by Sigrun, the lorekeeper, and it can usually be found on the lower floors of the tower.
  
  Armory: Usually positioned nearby the library, the armory is a relatively small but well guarded room in which most currently unusued weapons are stored and also kept ready for combat. Hilda the handler is in charge of the armory.
  
  Throne Room: Near the top of the tower is the throne room, a circular room with five levels, at the top of which is the throne of Genesis. It is only used for the most formal events. Ragna the scribe can always be found at the right hand of the throne when it is being used.
  
  Basement: Though easily seen from the lower floor of the tower, it is apparently inaccessible, the only opening to it cut off with magic and a curtain of water. Whatever is inside, it glows strangely.

Westside

• Club Pulse:
  
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  The club is quite easily noticed by the huge neon sign outside, Pulse was easily recognized as Riversides largest nightclub. Beyond the line and the bouncer outside is a classic club layout with a large dance floor with loud music and flashing lights.
  
  In a slightly more calm area of the club is the bar run by an one-eyed bartender called Ryo.
  
  There are two stairs leading up to the upper floor where it's easier to talk and drink.
  
  The atmosphere is pretty heavy as you walk inside with techno music playing very loud.
• Evolution Industries:
  
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  The Westside branch of EI. The main building is a fairly nondescript, tall (not a skyscraper or anything, but still with several floors) modern one, with a large Evolution Industries logo on it.
• Exbourne Manor:
  
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  Basement: The servant quarters, for dominated mortals, is set up neatly with a row of beds, as well as a relaxation section with comfy chairs and sofas. Plenty of plushies have been provided for the mortals to snuggle with, as well as some non-violent games and toys. There's no television or books though. Bathrooms have been installed for the mortals to use as well. It's all very comfortable and pleasant, except for the part about being eaten at any time.
  
  Ground floor: The ground floor is brightly decorated with colourful paints and vases of flowers. One might have a hard time believing it was the home of vampires. Important rooms include Ramiro's office, kitchen, living room, Aunt Riley's bedroom, Mateo's bedroom.
  
  2nd floor: The second floor is, like the ground floor, brightly decorated. It mostly contains bedrooms. Notable rooms include Gabriel and Tia's room.
  
  3rd floor: The third floor is also bright and cheery. Similar to0 the second floor, there are mostly bedrooms.
  
  Attic: The attic is the only floor of the house not painted brightly. It serves little purpose except as access to the tower. Ghar's room is also here, but there is no visible entrance.
  
  Tower: A small toward was added since the vampires moved in. It serves to house the spell that keeps Westside in perpetual darkness. At the top room of the tower, in the middle of the room is what appears to be a mass of unnatural darkness. It also functions as a watchtower of sorts, and a at least three vampires can be found patrolling it.

History: by Lex-kat

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Long, long ago, Riverside was a simple fishing village.

It was able to blossom into a city once trade begun, because of it's placement not only on the river, but between most of the other small villages within this area of the Nexus.

Of course, this means that the Merchants were able to take over the government of the city. But other than that, it remained quite peaceful.

Very few other cities attack Riverside, and it would remain neutral in conflicts. Though, due to the few that did try to attack it, the citizens of Riverside did develop a small military force. For protection purposes only, of course.

For years, Riverside grew in power, yet never exerted it over any of the other villages. That is, until a man named Johnny Duluth came to power.

At first, the people loved him. He was fair and just. And soon, he brought even more prosperity to Riverside.

Then a change. A small force of unknown marauders besieged the city. Mayor Johnny declared a state of emergency, reorganized the military, and with the help of some of his aides, transformed them into a offensive unit.

After a long 4 month battle, Riverside won a decisive victory. But they didn't stop there. Mayor Johnny declared that a nearby village was responsible for the attack.

He personally led the military and crushed the village with no resistance.

Some Merchants balked at this, and tried to warn the citizens of the dangers of allowing Mayor Johnny to take this power.

They were all silenced, one way or the other. Bought off, murdered, or their families kidnapped and held hostage.

By the time the residents realized what was happening, it was too late. They found themselves over run by the same marauders that they had "defeated" before.

Soon, the city was run by a Mafia-dictatorship, and Johnny Duluth was it's mayor.

What the citizens didn't know, was that Johnny Duluth was just a puppet. There was another man pulling his strings.

Ezekial Von Hookes, a prominent member of the Merchant class had employed Johnny for just this. He even arranged for his own daughter, Patricia, to be kidnapped, tortured, and finally returned to him a gibbering mess.

Mayor Johnny ruled Riverside for thirty years, before dying of a sudden heart attack at the age of 78.

A kinder, gentler man took his place, returning Riverside to a peaceful, defensive center of commerce it was before Johnny Duluth took over.

The citizens were happy. But deep within the dark corners, and under the city foundations, the Mafia still ruled. Ezekial passed his hidden empire to his son-in-law, Cameron.

Cameron and Patricia (yes that Patricia) had a son, Frederick Von Hookes. Cameron raised his son to be his successor. Slowly the citizens of Riverside became aware, yet intentionally ignorant, of the criminals that were truly in charge.

People would disappear, and the police did nothing. There were rumors of daughters from surrounding villages being kidnapped and sold to wealthy men, or held under the bar for the local prostitution ring.

By the time Frederick "retired", and Jonah took over, everyone in the city knew that the city was run by a mostly hidden group of men, maybe some women.

When Reinholdt came to town, and murdered Johan, and set the prostitutes free, business came to a screeching halt.

The Green Flagon Bar, where Johan ran his business out of, shut down for repairs. But has only just recently reopened.

There is rumors that Frederick has returned. ASnd people are afraid. Where Johan was cunning, Frederick was brutal.

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The police are owned by the Mafia. Unless you wish to die, you turn a blind eye to any crime you see.

For the most part, the citizens are protected. Only those who try to reform or change the current system find themselves on the wrong end of the "law".

Otherwise, the victims are from the more rural villages surrounding Riverside.

The Mafia has dealings with people in other large cities, including the Empire run Inside. Though most of those are in deep hiding since the Empire took over.

More recently, SAINT, the Assassins guild has sprung up in the cities underworld. Since there has been no fighting between the guild and the Mafia, it is assumed that they have a peaceful agreement with each other.

Of course, in the most recent happenings, the Golden Flagon has been shot up recently when a human female and some blue girl came asking questions.

Soon after they disappeared, an earthquake struck the twon, felling many buildings. A strange man named Riv is reported to have been to blame. How that can be, the citizens do not know.

They are currently rebuilding.

Previous Threads:

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Riverside IV: Offside, 10 Yard Penalty
Riverside III
Riverside II
Riverside I: The Beginning

[Zefir]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

Zefirs hans slides in his bag while spoting the change of Amil. His hate against such creatures rises again and his hand is clearly going to do something.

But he reminds himself of the other person onvolved. it's a knights only weapon that would breake when he enters the fight. His honour. So Zefir remains on his place just watchin, but with his hand in his bag ready to act if possible.

[BladeofObliviom]

[Suncrest Manor]

Jakob spontaneously phases out of reality due to a time paradox. Depending on the resolution here, he may spontaneously reappear at any time.

[Gullara]

[Suncrest Manor]

"Sometimes you just want things to be simple." Magister says, pulling out a bouncing ball, which she bounces off the floor at a trajectory that should make it hit Nabrius, or pass through him, one or the other. It appears to be, in all respects, a normal bouncing ball, and if it hits him or passes through him, it will in fact act quite normally as well.

((Actually, I think it's mine. Ghar and Vael have both gone. Let me know if it's not, please!))

[Suncrest Manor]

Adrin shakes his head at the fact that this person seems to not have prepared terribly well, then draws his sword.

On it, part of the maze from earlier can be seen, flowing into new patterns, and writhing all over the blade.

Rather than just let it pass through him, Nabrius tries to catch it in one hand. He'll hold it up to look at it, then turn a curious look on Magister.

[Wellspring Tower]

Reposts for Murkus.

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[Wellspring Tower]

"What if you couldn't have? Then what would we do?" Sakura asks pointedly as she gets back on her feet and steps away from Adir. It's really rather awkward for her. She's gained a foot and a half in height after all.

Sakura glances at Libra and gives her a frown. This is your fault too you know, so don't talk to me about being angry at him. She is quite clearly angry though.

[Wellspring Tower]

Ohh... are you angry at me now? Libra sounds strangely excited. What about I give you a stronger back? Would that make you less angry? What about if I change Adir? She asks innocently.

Sakura should be able to carry more weight about this point as Libra just improved her back.

"Are all men stupid?" She asks curiously to Adir.

[Evolution Industries]

And the rest of the discussion between DC and Ramiro is handwaved. Presumably the MACE unit will be installed in not too much time as well as the equipment delivered.

[The Bushranger]

Wellspring Tower

"Unlike ballroom dancing, I do not believe I would enjoy sword-dancing with you, Milady Nymriia." Defelent says it with a small smile.

"It might, indeed, prove rather hazardous to your health," 'Nymriia' agrees with a chuckle. "Although friendly sparring is, of course, always quite enjoyable..."

[Earl of Purple]

Wellspring Tower

"That would depend on both your familiarity to your weapon and your opponant's familiarity to theirs. I daresay I might win if we sparred with maces, yet I have little hope of success with any form of sword." He's confident of his skill with the mace, but he's never actually used a sword. He's held one, but never actually used it.

[The Bushranger]

Wellspring Tower

"An excellent point," the half-drowess agrees with a nod. "What if, however, we sparred with my two swords versus your mace?"

[AmberVael]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

With one arm out of commission, and being busy focusing on turning the weather into crazy swords, Vala doesn't really have time to move out of the way. There is a soft whump, and then the knight starts getting covered in tough strands, which she struggles against.

This might seem like a victory, until the swords start pulling from the ground in mass and swarming Amil, flinging themselves at her. They're not particularly sturdy, but they have good force behind them, and are quite sharp. None of them seem to aim for particularly lethal regions of her body though.


[Suncrest Manor]

The bouncing ball is caught! And right as Nabrius catches it, Magister kicks a book off the floor, neatly sweeping it towards his head, trying to time his catching of the ball and the potential hit of the book to occur quite close together.

[Earl of Purple]

Wellspring Tower

"That depends on whether or not I get a shield and possibly the other accoutrements I utilise when I am in a fight I know about." Other accoutrements including a full suit of scale-mail armour and a helmet.

Defelent definately looks interested.

[Rebonack]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

Oh yeah, caught Vala!

Oh no, swarmed by swords!

Amil hunkers down, raising her shield in front of her face and begins charging forward, weapons glancing off the thick carapace on her forearm and back. Though she'll be getting gouged up pretty well on her not nearly as well armored limbs.

No fear!

Press forward!

Finish the fight and figure out what the hell is going on!

Victory has been had, now she just has to grasp it! Question Vala. Get some answers. And then kill her prey and eat it. Eerr... Wait. No. Not that last one. No eating people.

By the time Amil reaches the knight she should be pretty banged up from the sword swarm, but she hasn't given up by any means. She'll lower her saber, holding the point at Vala's neck. "Do you yield?"

[AmberVael]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

"I yield." Vala says clearly, and surprisingly calmly. "Asks your questions, and they will be answered to the best of my ability- though that may not be as much as you like."

[Gullara]

[Suncrest Manor]

The book flies right at Nabrius and is about to contact him just as he catches the ball. It suddenly bursts into flame and disintegrated into ash before it can touch him. He proceeds with his earlier action, unfazed. "Nice try." He adds.

[UncleWolf]

Eastside Streets

Gus only pauses a moment, long enough to catch his breath, and then,

"**** later," he growls, and pushes her up against the nearest wall to continue what she started.

Eastside Streets

Vas doesn't flinch when she gets pushed back, but, instead of reacting favorably, even though she wants to, she locks eyes with him, giving him a look. "Gus, as much as I've come to like you, this isn't the time, or place." She warns. It really was the truth, but if she let him do this, it would undermine any control she had over him for now, and she couldn't allow it to happen.

[Lost_Deep]

Wellspring Courtyard

Kate arrived at the fight about the time that Vala summoned the ice swords.

And crazy stuff happened.

And now her jawdrop is hidden by her mask. She has nothing to say on the matter.

And now all may hear the story that Vala has to tell.

[Rebonack]

[Wellspring Tower]

Amil draws her sword away from Vala, holding it at her side now. "Alright. I was told that Genesis had her part cut and that you were responsible for this," the Tyranid begins. "What did that mean? I was told you could tell me where 'what's left' of Genesis can be found. So where is she?"

She might think of other questions!

But...

That will require a bit of thinking.

Amil has the feeling that this will be one of those situations where answers run you around in circles unless you ask just the right questions. Oh. And she's also thinking about how she's going to get Vala out of the thick bindings of silk. She hadn't really thought about designing a way to get if off someone...

[Mr. Moon]

Wellspring Tower

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If Magtok notices how close she's getting, he doesn't seem to be saying anything about it. It'd be terribly crass of the lady to start cutting into his neck right in front of everyone. She doesn't seem the sort of undignified parasite who'd indulge in that sort of vice with an audience as large as this one, anyway. "Private tutoring. Have you heard of Ms. Vasquez? She's a governess of sorts in the territories neighboring Riverside, and close associate of mine. Not too close of course, despite persistent claims to the contrary. The media being the scoundrels that they are..." Magtok makes a point of scowling when he mentions the media, forgetting that he's still wearing a mask and that doing that sort of thing is totally pointless. "Remarkably eccentric woman. Can never seem to make up her mind as to whether her place is one of nobility and sophistication, or if her true calling is down in the trenches with the lowest of society's dregs." Now technically, Magtok didn't lie. He said private tutoring, and then went on to talk about Vasquez. If the Lady in Red decides to connect the dots and assume Mag meant that he tangoed, waltzed, and jitterbugged with the most powerful woman in the Nexus, that's her problem, not the cyborg's.

"Ms. Vasquez?" The Lady in Red ponders the name for a moment, clearly wondering if this is a name it would be a faux pas for her to not know. "No, I can't say I do. You might just have to introduce me to some time. She sounds like a terrifically interesting individual, if not... entirely to my tastes." There is another lull in the conversation as the Lady in Red is swept up in the more intricate steps in the dance. At some point during it, the vampire has snaked her arm up to Magtok's shoulders and around the back of his neck. Despite the fact that she hasn't been showing any particular signs of hunger, it's still a quite disconcerting experience.
"You know," she purrs, her lips twisting into a sly smile. "There is no massive media where I'm from..." Her voice takes on a similar tone to when she had asked Magtok to dance, worming its way into the ears of all those listening and making whatever land the Lady in Red is from sound entirely pleasant. What a wonderful place, how fantastic would it be to live there...?

[Morty]

[Wellspring Tower]

Dorota begins to listen hungrily, eager to find out if she can hope to meet Genesis.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, begins to wander the hall again, having decided not to get involved in that affair. She's fine with not meeting Genesis; plenty of other people around.

[AmberVael]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

"Genesis not a person like you. She is, you might say, a guest at a masquerade. When you meet her, you do not see her, but a mask, a costume, and a role that she currently plays. There are, however, themes that she holds to, and a few set aspects of a more mutable entity that drift between the parts in her play."

Vala's painted eyes stare up at Amil, the smile on her lips fixed and lifeless. "And you see, you are an actor on her stage- playing out the part given to you, this evening. But today, Genesis will not join you, for today she wears no mask, and has no form to hide behind. All that she has left are a few gossamer aspects of a vague personality drifting on the wind."

"I will answer two more questions, but know this- a good play is in three parts, and we have only reached the second act so far. No matter what you ask me, I cannot bring an end to this, because that would end it before its time. There is one more act you must go through, before you reach the epilogue. So, choose your questions wisely, so they are not wasted on what I cannot answer."

[ApeofLight]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

Crissellea looks between all gathered looking quite confused. " I have no idea about what is going on right now... "

[happyturtle]

Eastside Streets

Vas doesn't flinch when she gets pushed back, but, instead of reacting favorably, even though she wants to, she locks eyes with him, giving him a look. "Gus, as much as I've come to like you, this isn't the time, or place." She warns. It really was the truth, but if she let him do this, it would undermine any control she had over him for now, and she couldn't allow it to happen.

Gus doesn't want to stop, but he's never forced himself on someone - less for reasons of morality than because it's not fun for him if his sexual partner is not as into it as he is. He can tell that Vasquez isn't unreceptive though. He's just approaching her in the wrong way. He steps to one side and runs the back of his fingers along her cheek, leaning down to gently kiss the bend where her neck and shoulders meet. "Then tell me when and where. You're so ****ing hot; I have to have you."

[UncleWolf]

Eastside Streets

Vasquez closes her eyes and accepts the kiss, giving a somewhat pleasant sigh. "Once we get back to my place maybe." She says before pulling her dress up just a bit, trying to fix it. "My dress got torn and my back is scraped up." She admits before trying to take his arm.

[happyturtle]

Eastside Streets

Gus gets a glimpse of her back and winces. Any sane woman would have pushed him away for being that rough with her. Vasquez... she'd only told him not now, with an implied promise of later. Maybe even later tonight.

And then he remembered what she'd said a moment ago. "As much as I've come to like you..."

He took off the wings from his costume - really just a cape with feathers sewn on - and draped it over her shoulders to help hide the scrapes and the torn part of the dress.

She actually likes me. He believes it implicitly, because he thinks he knows Vasquez well enough to know that she might lie about anything, but that she'd never see the point in lying to spare his feelings.

He puts his arms around her from behind and just holds her for a moment as he tries to ignore all the confusing feelings inside.

[Lost_Deep]

Wellspring Courtyard

Kate Kyland is not so easily confused by bending the rules of reality.

"So, Genesis is a spirit. The body she shows people is like a mask or puppet, she shows people what she wants them to see. She is a role-player in reality, playing whatever roles she wants to. But today, we are in her game. She is the game master, a force that works to set the stage for an adventure. The second act... we've finished the introduction. From here, things get tenser and more serious. A building action to a great revelation and climax."

"We are in a game, with someone else pulling the shots. And things only get weirder from here."

[The Bushranger]

Wellspring Tower

"That depends on whether or not I get a shield and possibly the other accoutrements I utilise when I am in a fight I know about." Other accoutrements including a full suit of scale-mail armour and a helmet.

Defelent definately looks interested.

"But of course," Naethalee says with a grin. "It wouldn't be fair if everyone involved was not as ready as they normally would be for a fight, would it?"

Dorota begins to listen hungrily, eager to find out if she can hope to meet Genesis.

Crissy listens as well, a worried look growing on her face as the situation gets (somewhat) explained. Valley Girl she might be, but she doesn't like being part of somebody else's game...

[Lady Serpentine]

[Wellspring Courtyard]

Karyana nods when Kate says this.

"Probably. If this is the second act, then the third will most certainly be interesting, though how that's defined depends on what happens..."

[Earl of Purple]

Wellspring Tower

"Indeed not, Milady Nymriia. Do you have your fighting equipment with you?" Defelent grins back at Naethalee.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Suncrest Manor]

The book flies right at Nabrius and is about to contact him just as he catches the ball. It suddenly bursts into flame and disintegrated into ash before it can touch him. He proceeds with his earlier action, unfazed. "Nice try." He adds.

Adrin sheathes his sword, removes a marker from his pocket, and starts drawing more warding symbols on himself.

[AmberVael]

[Suncrest Manor]

Magister nods to herself and pulls up a chair, sitting in it backwards as she glances at Adrin. "Got an idea?"

[Lord Magtok]

Wellspring Tower

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Wellspring Tower

"Ms. Vasquez?" The Lady in Red ponders the name for a moment, clearly wondering if this is a name it would be a faux pas for her to not know. "No, I can't say I do. You might just have to introduce me to some time. She sounds like a terrifically interesting individual, if not... entirely to my tastes." There is another lull in the conversation as the Lady in Red is swept up in the more intricate steps in the dance. At some point during it, the vampire has snaked her arm up to Magtok's shoulders and around the back of his neck. Despite the fact that she hasn't been showing any particular signs of hunger, it's still a quite disconcerting experience.
"You know," she purrs, her lips twisting into a sly smile. "There is no massive media where I'm from..." Her voice takes on a similar tone to when she had asked Magtok to dance, worming its way into the ears of all those listening and making whatever land the Lady in Red is from sound entirely pleasant. What a wonderful place, how fantastic would it be to live there...?

Her neighborhood does sound fairly nice, actually. All these modern 'conveniences' wear thin after a while, and the evolution of Inside from a city of filthy degenerate medieval folk into something somewhat respectable and technologically advanced means Maggy isn't quite the immaculate, disease-free god-wizard of cleanliness and crazy space-magic that the common folk used to think of him as. It'd be nice to go to a place where the masses would be gaping at him in awe again, like they're supposed to be doing.

"Not a single nosy, meddlesome reporter protected by law from the ol' guillotine? Really?"

If we're being perfectly honest though, all that nonsense about people bowing in reverence or shaking in terror as he walks by is entirely trivial. The other Nexus news stations do their best to belittle and besmirch his reputation with accusations of philandering with interns and eating babies, but even that's no big deal to him. His true motive for wanting to know more about this place is right here in front of him, wrapped around his shoulders behind him, and wherever else the Lady in Red might be. Normally he'd be halfway back to the MagCave by now, running away in terror, shouting something about disgusting parasite corpse people, but he seems to be entranced. A deadly combination of drink and that voice of hers have stomped all over his common sense, and rendered his better judgment entirely at the mercy of considerably less sophisticated impulses and desires.

"Please, tell me more about your...huge tracts of land."

I swear, it's not what it sounds like! She said she has a court, but wasn't any more specific than that! He doesn't know if she's got a country, county, province, or even just a large manor, so clearly 'tracts of land' is the only way to-

...Yeah, never mind. I don't think anyone even remotely familiar with Monty Python and the Holy Grail could ever fall for that one. Let's just hope they haven't invented British humor down in wherever the heck the Lady in Red is from.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Suncrest Manor]

Adrin shakes his head.

"Not really, other than trying to cut his head off with a Logrus-blade, or doing what I was earlier."