[User]
This was not supposed to be how it went. It was supposed to be a clean sweep, merc on merc warfare and she'd slip out amidst the firefight. Instead, one of the idiot mercenary bodyguards decided he wanted to really overachieve and he made her stay back. And, since it was an alleyway, there wasn't really anywhere she could go. All she could do was hope that the idiots she hired would perform better in a firefight than the idiots her father hired to protect her. It was such a precarious situation, given that she was being treated as ''delicate machinery'', even though she probably could take care of all of them by herself. She didn't like killing, though. It seemed like such a waste to her, especially since her father was more than willing to pick up her slack in that department. Which is one of the reasons she was trying this little stunt. Running away seemed like the only good solution to her father's apparent need to develop weapons technology. Psionics to be exact, which left her scarred with deep lines that glowed a dim purple. The resulting product was the ability to do amazing and wondrous things by utilizing the warp fields that she could generate. Things like shields, stasis fields, projectiles, weapons, and other things.

As a synthetic, Mila was much easier to experiment on, and thus she was used as a sort of lab rat for her father's experiments. Now that her primary function was completed, she was being transferred to an offword site so that the technology could be replicated so that it would be usable by humans. Mila, not wanting anybody remotely like her father to possess abilities like her own, set this little exchange up. The loss of a few mercenary lives would be more than a price to pay for making sure her father couldn't utilize psionics just a bit longer. Unfortunately, it seemed fate had other plans, one of her father's mercenaries had survived and finished the last of her own. Which meant now she had to take matters into her own hands. She knew his loyalty would likely only be to money, given that her father specifically went out of his way to hire mercenaries so that there would be as few connections to him as possible.

The man seemed to have been somewhat proud of his defense of the little ambush Mila had set up. It was rather easy for Mila to sneak up behind him. He would feel his body lock up and his vision go purple as his body was engulfed in a stasis field. He would be turned around to see the synthetic girl holding out her hand. She was dressed in such a way that people would not recognize her. A black hoodie and blue jeans with simple leather boots. The hood was up, and sunglasses set on her eyes. Even despite the jacket, the glow of her tattoos was visible, as the intensity of her usage correlated to how bright it shone. "You had to go and mess things up, huh?" She said to him, focusing her gaze on him, "This was supposed to be a simple ambush. But now look what happened. I want you to know, it wasn't anything personal. I just... I just need to get away from the family. Daddy is a bit insane, and I guess you go caught in the crossfire. So... what are we going to do about this?"

[Assistant]
This job was nothing new to Alexander. Take the synth from point A to point B the only difference was that the pay offered was much more than average. A little voice in his head was chastising him for taking the job with the threat of death if he failed, but the money had been too much to pass up. Not to mention the girl was not hard on the eyes, years earlier he might have been distracted by her but he had learned to avoid exposing that side of himself. His interest in Synthetics had gotten him drummed out of the forces which he supposed would be a walk in the part if he did anything to this woman whoever she was. His mind wandered to the other merch, most of who were Terran Novus natives or had spent enough time here that there German had lost any Earth accent. From what he had heard the other three where almost a decade his junior which Alexander had thought was an insult on him but the more he listened to the other talk the more he assumed it was ignorance on his employers part. In his experience, the Escort jobs were best performed by someone who wanted to avoid a fight which normally meant the older merchs who had seen enough combat to know it was not something to look forward too.

Alexander escorted his charge through an alleyway his compact rail rifle resting with half its weight on the sling and his arm taking the other half. His index finger tapped the body of the weapon with each step, but it never missed a beat even when the flash of a hard light bolt pulled his action back to the job and the point guard was knocked to the ground her torso smoking as she bled out. "Stay down," He only gave the girl a quick look as he pushed her towards a doorway. "This won't take long." Crouching down he pulled up his compact rail gun. The piece of hardware was a highly customized weapon which was why he was reluctant to give it up for one of the new HLR-AR1s. Alexander paid little attention as the other mechs fell beside him as he focused on clearing the alley as he rounded the corner. It only took a minute for the fight to be over. Alexander had walked over to one of the ambushers and he used his foot to open the man's coat looking for anything to identify him as the man bled out.

That was when he felt his joints stiffen and freeze up as his vision went purple. He was trying to figure out what who or what he had missed when he heard his charges voice from behind him. Having no option but to listen he didn't bother trying to answer her first question instead, he listened as she explained what had just happened. "Hun, nothing is personal in my business." He paused for a moment before he added. "Why don't you stop whatever this is and we can discuss our options." He waited hoping she would let him go. Alexander had so many questions, but he didn't like the idea of standing frozen in the middle of an alleyway just waiting for someone to walk in and see an easy target. "Mine telling me who your father is? I'd like to know who's goons and who not to take any more jobs from." He had a good idea who it would be, not many people would have the resources to test new weapons on a planet and keep it a secret and also afford to offer double the normal rate for an escort job.

[User]
Mila tilted her head to the side and bit her lip. Her stance did not falter. Instead, she used her free hand to pull the hood off her head to reveal more of her identity. Lines of violet shone through her thick raven locks, glowing from her scalp. "I can't trust that you won't try anything." She said, shaking her head, "Not yet anyway." A few turns of the head and she looked back at him before moving the stasis field upwards, lifting the mercenary up off his feet. Almost effortlessly, she started to walk forwards, carrying him along with her, away from the dying (or dead) mercenaries. "You've probably heard of my father, though likely not much about his organization," She said as she walked, "He manages his business and his camera time quite well, for a maniac. Through many false businesses and companies, he hides a lucrative business and organized, um... well, I suppose a mafia would be the best word for it, though it sounds rather silly. Jamus Renheiser, billionaire and Avonis' own Hugh Hefner." She chuckled at her rather dated reference. "I'm the product of his little transhumanist group, Synthasia. And with what I'm capable of, whatever he offered you is essentially robbing you blind." Mila wasn't trying to brag, but only hiring a few mercenaries to protect her was quite stupid.

"Daddy has a strange fixation on psychokinetics, and decided that he wanted to experiment on his daughter to achieve his own ability to manipulate things with his mind." She explained, "Essentially, the mission was to get me off Terran Novis to an ''uninhabited'' world so that he could copy the designs to a human-usable version. Which, he isn't comfortable doing human tests on a NATO world. I need to get away from him so he can't use my abilities to hurt more people. I already have transport lined up off Terran Novus. It isn't safe to stay. So... you can either help me out, or scurry off and be hunted down by Daddy anyway."

[Assistant]
His eyes lit up just a little as she pulled back her hood to reveal her raven locks that framed her perfectly symmetrical feature that he had come to admire in the Synthetics. The purple that shone through gave her an otherworldly edge that just made her look even more exotic to his eye. "True, but you could probably stop me if I tried to stop you." Alexander was still trying to figure out how the hell she was doing holding him prisoner. It was nothing he had ever encountered outside a few of the pulp stories he had been reading more most of his life. But those were never meant to be real, just escapism in this new age of exploration and colonization.

He had started to relax when his perspective shifted, and he glanced down to see his feet floating above the street. Alexander closed his eyes for a few seconds as he forced himself to calm down and try to stay as relaxed as possible. His eyes opened to thin slits as she described her fathers businesses which made it reasonably easy to guess who he was before she finished. He had to search his memory for her name though, while he was still part of the NATO forces Alexander had been briefed on her family a few times and he was sure her name was in there somewhere. Her mention of money brought his full attention back to the conversation but not before he remembered her name. "You're probably right but I can't exactly get paid for someone I can't sell."

Alexander was going to try and convince her to let him go again, but her mention of psychokinetics grabbed his attention. "Wait this is warp tech?" He felt a shiver go down his spine as he realized just what was holding him aloft. Running through a mental list of everything he had on him and what he had heard could happen to each in warp space ensured that he missed her explanation of what he had been hired to do. He checked back into the what she was saying as she mentioned she had a transport lined up to get off the planet. When he looked over at her, there was a hint of anger in them, but it was quickly snuffed out by a glint of curiosity. "We both know I wouldn't last a week on Terran Novis. So I will come with you off the planet, but if you want my help, we will need to settle on a price." He paused and took in their situation before he asked. "Do you think you are going to make it to your ship carrying me like this? Not that many people who can carry people in Warp fields...." He tried to keep his misgivings to himself but for once his nerves were getting the better of him, and he added. "not to mention I don't want to know if the water in a warp field burns like it does in the warp." He settled for looking pointedly down at his jacket that had absorbed a decent amount of water from the air in the city.

[User] "What else would it be?" Mila said rather sarcastically, "Any other things in our universe that people know is weird and can make things float?" She sighed and nodded, though she thought perhaps a demonstration was in order. With her other hand, she lazily motioned towards a steel garbage can and lifted it up so he could see. With a dramatic clench of her fist, the steel can crumpled like aluminum foil. She hadn't meant to make a lethal threat, more implying that she could potentially break a bone or something, but she realized what she had done almost immediately. "I er... should clarify that I don't mean to wound you fatally if you try something... that came out wrong. Fuck." Flummoxed, she sighed again and gently set him to his feet before tossing the can aside. She then used that same hand to pull the sidearm out of one of the merc's holsters and brought it to her hand. With a grimace, she held it almost like how one would hold a soiled diaper before putting the thing in a small handbag she had on her. The violet markings on her body faded and she motioned for him to keep going. "Walk and talk. We're on borrowed time. Daddy has everyone he hires update him periodically, and if he doesn't get one soon, he's going to send a search party out. We need to be gone before they even get dispatched, because I know that he'll eventually have them scour the spaceport."

[Assistant]
Her sarcasm did nothing to calm Alexander's nerves. Being so cavalier about the power she held just made him more nervous and her demonstration had him flinching as much as he was able to within the field. "You do realize that you could have walked out of half a dozen pulp stories." As she set him down, he reflexively started to raise his weapon but stopped almost right away and forced himself to let it drop to his side letting his coat cover it. "I give you my word for whatever it's worth. I will not try to fulfill my contract with your father." He watched her as she picked up a sidearm with disgust. "Just a minute. I need to do something." Walking over to one of the mercs who was about his height he picked up one of the hard light rifles and with four precise shots, he mangled the man's hands, then his face until he was unrecognizable. Pulling off his smartband he swapped it out for the dead man's band before grabbing a money clip from the man's pocket. Sliding the strap of the HLR-AR1 over his shoulder, he adjusted his coat to cover both weapons before he walked back over to his new client.

"Alright, let's move." He took the lead stepping out in front of her, but within a few steps he slowed and fell into step beside her. "I am used to knowing where I am going." His eyes scanned the streets around them as they walked. "By the look, you gave that sidearm I assume you don't have much experience with firearms?" Not that he was not being held in a warp field his suppressed curiosity about his charge was starting to reveal it's self.

[User]
"I would say that trying to make good on that contract would be bad for your health. Emphasis on ''try''." She grinned at him and started in the direction they needed to go. "I don't like guns. Daddy forced me to learn how to use them effectively, but I never saw the point. If I could just will someone's body to be crushed by the force of ten thousand pounds pressing them together, why should I bother with projectiles that I need to hone a skill to be effective with? Using my abilities is like eating or drinking. It just comes naturally, and it's far more efficient to use. My power is supplied by a quantum warp reactor that both generates the electricity that keeps me alive as well as being one of the sources of my ''magic'' abilities. That's the most difficult part of transferring my abilities to a human, is the fact that humans don't usually have a latent connection to the Warp like I do. There are some, and Daddy um... kidnapped a few who were born with a connection to the Warp, but... well, let's just say that it's a connection that forms as an embryo, not in a 50-year-old man. He's a little frustrated with the blockage in his research, but I'm guessing what he'll try is something like um... do you remember that old comic series about the man who built himself power armor and proceeded to play super-hero? He had a reactor installed into his chest. What my Daddy is proposing is that we try that with one of the human test subjects, and he needs my reactor design at the test facility to replicate it. He's kind of paranoid that someone will steal his designs, so he burned the only copy after my reactor was complete. It's a one of a kind, just like everything else about me." Mila was trying her best to make it sound like she wasn't gloating. In reality, she was just telling the truth. She was a custom built synthetic with almost nothing in her from a retail manufacturer. Everything from her chassis to her AI runtimes were custom built. Of course, when you program a highly advanced sentient AI that builds it's personality through experience, much like a human, it develops in unpredictable ways. It seemed that for Mila, rebellion came easy.

She lead Alexander along a few busy streets before getting to a public transit station. "We need to take a bus. It's too far, and a skycar rental has a paper trail. I have coins." She revealed enough change for a few bus rides from her purse. "We're going to the St. Clarence Memorial Spaceport and getting a public liner to the planet Arcadia. There's enough people there to disappear. Then we're getting another ride to the Frontier. I have a few worlds in mind, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Any questions?" It was obvious she had most things well thought out. This was the result of more than a year's worth of planning.

[Assistant]
Intrigued by his new client, Alexander returned the smile with a brief grin of his own as he listened to her explain how she did not like guns which he thought was perfectly clear by the distasteful way she handled one. "You're forgetting one reason you, in particular, should get used to using one before you reach for your..." He paused, not sure what to call her abilities. "...powers? Or abilities. Either way pulling a gun on someone is a lot more common than wrapping them in a purple warp field and lighting yourself up at the same time." He spoke low as they made their way through the city streets scanning the people around them in hopes of spotting an ambush before a weapon was pulled on them. "Let's try to keep your use of your abilities to a minimum. Otherwise, we will never lose the guys your father sends after us."

He couldn't help but smile as she told him about what her father had been doing with his experiments. It all sounded too much like the books he read on his off time. It was hard to believe that he was caught up in one of those stories now. "Um, ya not really my kind of story but I think his name was metal man or something. Anyway yes, I get the idea." He was silent for a few minutes as he thought about what she had told him before he asked. "Why a suit? Wouldn't it be easy to transfer himself into an Exo? I mean he must have the money and it seems easier than building a suit of armor to harness the warp while at the same time not killing a human inside it."

Alexander looked over at her with a little bit of surprise when she explained her plan. "Hu, ya I guess that will work." There was nothing wrong with her plan but he had just not thought he would be boarding a bus with weapons to make their escape. He waited until they were on the bus and had sat down and then as discreetly as he could he disassembled his rail gun. It was not hard since he had modified it so that when needed he could slip it through most security checkpoints by making the parts seem like other tools. "When you said you had transport off-world that usually means you have a private ship waiting at the port." He chuckled as he wiped a few drops of water off his forehead. "But then again that is probably what you dad will assume as well."


[User]
Anice stood on display in the window looking out onto the street and especially up at the little sliver of sky between the buildings. She was a custom made wolf/dog hybrid but her original owner hadn't been able to handle her and now she was in this shop. Being in the window was difficult sometimes, but it was better than the cage out back and increased her chances of getting out of here. She didn't mind the eyes roaming over her half naked body, in fact that heated her blood. No it was the other occupants of the window that made it difficult to keep her more predatory instincts in check. She wouldn't hurt any of them, but she was sure that little bunny girl would squeak and squeal so nicely if Anice pinned her down and started nibbling on her. Misbehaving would mean back inside to the cage though, so she focused on the space outside and the people walking by.

Standing 5'5'' Anice was taller than a lot of animal girls and drew the eye in the window. Her dark hair was short and wild looking around her prominent ears and yellow eyes that reminded one of a sharp gemstone. The shop owner had doubled down on the wild look with a faux fur top pulled tight against her firm breasts and a small leather wrap forming a skirt at her waist. Her body itself was lean and agile with a toned smooth stomach and strong legs made for running. She didn't seem to mind displaying herself in the window, shifting to give people a better view if they stopped to look at her.

The small sign lower down in the window that usually listed a price also had a note for her. ''Special breed. Needs space and experienced hand. Inquire within for details.''

[Assistant]
Jonah had not left the house on this Saturday intent on getting a pet. He was running errands, and the road in front of the shop was blocked by a big box truck backing up. It clogged traffic long enough for Jonah to see the window, the animals inside. Then he was moving. But the idea was planted. Having moved cross-country for work meant a new house, a new work site, a new everything. It was lonely. While a normal four legged dog could keep him company, they were poor conversation.

By the time his current errand was done, his third trip to Home Depo this week because new homes are never without a lot of issues, he had convinced himself to go by and simply look. Walking on front of the windows he looked at the signs. The rabbit had ''Good for kids!'' And the cat ''Independent!'' Neither looked interesting to him. And them there was the wild dog. He made eye contact with her through the glass, then went inside.

"Heya," he called into the store, as there wasn't anyone inside it seemed. When the woman came out of the back, dropping a big bag of birdseed, Jonah hooked a thumb towards the window. "The sign in front of the wolf says there's details?" He tried to get done more info, but not everything. When the phone rings and she goes to pick it up, Jonah walks to the front, to the inside of the window.

No doubt Anice could hear them talking about her, so it's easy for Jonah to get her attention. "So. Why should I take you home? There's other ones here, what makes you special?"

[User]
Anice's ear pricked up a little bit as she heard the man who had walked in ask about her. The store clerk smiled and went over a few important items. Did he have a large property or yard to provide space? Was he experienced in handling strong willed pets? When the phone rang she murmured that she'd be back with him in a moment before answering.

Meanwhile Anice turned to face him as he approached. He looked strong and wasn't determined to have her. The question caused her ears to twitch slightly as her yellow eyes looked at him from the window display.

"I'm not like them though. I'm stronger, tougher, more hungry." She turned in a slow circle in the display, letting him get a good look at her toned body before leaning towards him a bit with a slightly feral smile and a glint in her eyes. "I'll serve you, guard you, love you. If you can handle me."

[Assistant]
"Hungry? Hungry for what?" He eyed her, still not convinced. Confidence was good, but she had a too cocky attitude, like she wanted to defy just for the sake of defying. Jonah didn't want a fight. A little spine and spunk, certainly, but he didn't want a stubborn teenager with teeth that could put real holes in him. There was handling, and then there was tolerating, and he didn't have a lot of patience for bullshit. Trouble was, he wasn't sure just how to make her behave, how to punish her in a way that wasn't downright abusive or would make it worse.

This must not have been her first go-around. If she had this kind of attitude, and they were warning about it, then she must have been owned before. "How much trouble are you going to be?" More to the point, Jonah lowered his voice, made it a little firmer, "How much trouble can you afford to be?" What would happen if her next owner couldn't handle her. Or worse, she wound up on the street. Was she desperate? Did she have a shelf-life, a point where the store would give up on her?

Jonah let Anice answer, but didn't respond, only walking away after he'd heard her reply. So he could think on it, and not let her see his reaction one way or the other. The clerk happened to mention others, ones not on display. The cages were not... attractive, and didn't display those pets at their best. he was more curious what species were there, but also just to get out of earshot, since it also seemed noisier back there. There he asked the clerk, "I get that the wolf is a hand full, but is she... trained?" He wasn't quite sure what you trained them to do, exactly.

[User]
"For everything. Food, air, space, work. I don't like being cooped up with nothing to do. I like to run and move sometimes. I try to be good, but sometimes I have trouble keeping my emotions in check." When he asked her how much trouble she could afford to be her face turned red and she looked away.

"I know I can be difficult but..." Anice seemed to struggle with a good answer, not finding the words before he walked away. She hung her head slightly and turned back to the window.

Meanwhile the clerk was happy to show Jonah the rest of the merchandise and answer his questions. She sighed slightly when he asked.

"Quite well trained actually. She struggles when she's caged but since she's been up front she hasn't caused any issues. I didn't think I'd be able to display her next to other pets like that, but it hasn't been a problem. I think she just needs the right environment. Her original owner seemed to have more money than sense. Wanted a custom girl with wolf in her. To show off or something. Big business type that lives in an upper floor condo and only home a few hours a day. Not the right combination." The clerk said.

[Assistant]
"Ahh. What's she trained at then?" That was all Jonah needed to know. She was emotional, she was restless. Not a brat, not a troublemaker. He could deal with that.

Once he got that answer, he was ready to buy. There were other things he needed to know; if she'd had her shots, if being custom meant there was anything unique about her---she might be infertile and have no heat cycle, able to have a pure vegetarian diet, and any other host of extra genetic quirks that could get into the mix. There was a lot he didn't know, like if she couldn't eat the same thing dogs couldn't, and other small things, but That he could hold onto for the Internet. "Does she come with anything for free? Collar, brush, anything extra?" This he smiled when he asked; Jonah didn't expect there to be, but it didn't hurt to ask.

At some point in the process they had come back into the main room, and it was clear he was buying someone. When the clerk came with the key to the window display, smiling at Anice in both delight and relief, there was no denying it. Jonah watched her, waiting close by, studying her reaction, what she'd do once released.

Either she'd come to him, or he'd go to her, but either way, he held out his hand at cheek level, as if to pet her, but simply left it in the air. Would she muzzle it? Lick it? Shake? Or ignore it?

Once everything was sorted, he lead her to his truck. "What's your name?" That's one of those things that will tell a pet about an owner. If they accept whatever name you already had, or simply give you a new one. "Back there she said you'd been trained. What've you been taught to do?" While the clerk may have said one thing, Jonah wanted to see if it lined up. If the wolf would downplay it, or say more, things the store wasn't told.

[User]
The shopkeeper went over the details with him as they moved back towards the front. Medically she was fine, all of her shots were up to date and she had no health issues. The woman wasn't entirely sure about the future since she was a unique breed. Her fertility wasn't established one way or another but her diet was fairly open. She had a preference for meat and needed plenty of protein. The wolf and human DNA mixed in meant she could tolerate any human foods, but things like chocolate shouldn't be eaten in excess.

Nothing came free, but the woman offered him a 50% discount on anything he purchased as part of the sale, telling him to feel free to take his time and look around. Anice looked a little stiff as they approached and looked at him as the display was open. Suddenly a little shy, like a wild animal that might bolt at any moment, she stepped out and approached him.

When he held out his hand she sniffed it and looked up at him, but then stepped forward and nuzzled her soft cheek against his hand. After a few moments her warm tongue came out, licking his wrist in long slow strokes as her cheek remained against his hand.

On the way out, Anice gathered her thoughts to answer his questions. "My name is Anice, though you can give me a new one if you like. I received normal obedience training as a pup so I won't pee anywhere weird inside and know basic commands. My last owner mostly left me alone, but when he had company he liked to display me and have me do different tricks. So I'm pretty flexible and good at holding a pose for a long time, though it's hard when I have too much energy."

[Assistant]
"Tricks". The way she'd that, he'd thought of juggling, nothing lewd. Oh, people fucked their two-legend pets, but no one Talked about it. Like masturbation. He had to wonder if she had been used like that. But that wasn't something to talk about now.

There were things he needed to buy now, but Jonah didn't want to leave her sitting on the truck. All this talk of her energy, he figured the sooner Anice got to move around, the better. So it was straight home. Jonah has bought a house at the end of a cul de sac, giving him quite a yard. From the sound of barking, he wasn't the only one in the neighborhood letting a pet move about---said beighbor's dog was free to roam and though Jonah had no idea how a four-legged dog would act around her.

He climbed out and gestured, showing her which was his, and just let her ramble, betting she hadn't in a long time. Did the pet store ''walk'' her? While there was a front porch, he migrated around back, keeping her in sight as he settled on the back steps. Jonah spent about forty five minutes on his phone, doing research and making s list of things he'd need, then stood and called her over.

"You're only allowed outside while I'm home---until you and I build a fence. I trust you to not wander off, but I don't want strange dogs bothering you. And..." he gestured at her clothes. "If you want to run around naked, I want to let you without some busybody getting her tits in a twist." He figured helping him build the fence would work some of her energy out, too. And how eager she was to have it would make her work harder. "Speaking of naked. When I'm at work, you can wear what you want, but when I'm home I expect a dress code." He smirked knowingly. "When we have company or I take you somewhere, you have different clothes."

He started around the house, his tone changing from giving rules to being more sociable. "You hungry?"

[User]
Anice seemed to enjoy the ride, reveling in the fresh air and wind on her face and body. Her ears pricked up at the sound of dogs as they slowed down. She looked around curiously but didn't seem inclined to dash off or anything silly. In fact as she got out and stretched in the open air she seemed to calm down considerably. Her eyes widened as she realized how much spaces was actually his and she roamed around the front yard with a gleam in her eyes.

She followed him around back and continued exploring. She didn't run around, but her long legs gave her a stride that covered a lot of ground. She covered the yard quickly, then smiled and spun in a circle before opening her arms and laying down in the fresh grass. Her breasts rose and fell in easy breaths as he checked his phone and when he called her over she turned and just crawled up to him on her hands and knees. When she reached him she sat back on her heels, knees spread and slender arms in front of her with hands on the grass.

"Building a fence sounds fun. I don't really know how but I'm sure I can help. I prefer being naked anyway, but what kind of dress code do you want when you're home?" She tilted her head in curiosity, looking up at him from the grass. "Oh yeah. Food would be amazing. I try not to eat too much, but I love food."

[Assistant]
The pose on the ground, mimicking a normal dog on its haunches, surprised him, amused him. He hoped that wouldn't be her normal posture---Jonah had expected she'd walk and sit and act fairly human. Was she going to drink out of a bowl?

"I've never built one either, but I've put nails in boards before. Can't be too complicated." Famous last words there.

Grinning as he rounded the house, taking out his keys, he said, "I don't think I can trust anyone who doesn't love to eat." He let her inside. The house had one floor, it's living room and kitchen fairly open spaces, lots of sunlight coming on. The open layout was highlighted by the minimal furniture and a few boxes left unpacked. He was a bachelor and didn't need a lot of furniture anyhow, just stuff that would take up space.

The question was what would he feed her. Jonah didn't cook a lot, so he didn't have much in the way of meat for cooking. Though he had a bag of wings. That would do. He started the oven, and looked for something else to put together. As he did, he added, "You can take the clothes off if you like." The man didn't look directly at first, busting with a loaf of bread, but checked sidelong.

Anice got a tour of the house. There was a bathroom on the hall, the unused shower he said was hers. There was an office and a spare room with just boxes. The master bedroom was nicer, furnished, the bathroom bigger. In the bathroom he dragged the bath mat to the foot of the bed, dropping it and pointing at the floor. "For now, you sleep here. When you show you're a good girl, you can sleep in the bed with me." He watched to see how she'd take that.


[User]
The sweltering heat of the steamy Indian jungle bore down on Varad's bare back. At long last, the relief he had sought was within view. Jets of foamy, cool water cascaded over a rocky cliff to fill the shaded pool before him deep in the wilderness, far from humanity and its noise or so he thought. For the better part of a week a group of these pale invaders had stomped through the jungle. His jungle. They spoke in a tongue he couldn't understand, and his appearance hadn't frightened them away.

He slithered onto the far side of the pool and settled his coils beneath a shade giving frond. The very tip of the naga's tail lazily dipped in the cool waters. This place was known in the old legends as Heaven's Pearl, and the beauty of its blooming flowers stood as testament. Varad closed his slitted yellow eyes and allowed himself to forget the throbbing pain in his scaly tail brought by the loud fire-sticks of the outsiders. Mus-ket, he had heard them say. The wound was small, but refused to stop bleeding. Was this their magic?

Despite the blood seeping from his scales, he was the definition of majestic while at rest. At least seven feet of powerful serpentine flesh extended from his pelvis. Verdant scales glistened like emeralds in the afternoon sun, with a soft, cream-colored underbelly to match. At the waist, those scales became skin, though the soft yellow diamond pattern along the snake half's top continued up the length of his human back and down each arm. His skin was dark and rich, and were it not for his serpent lower body he might have passed for a local. When he yawned a pair of viper's fangs could be made out in place of his upper canines.

Rest was what he needed, or so he told himself. When he awoke from his little nap, the pain in his tail would be gone and he would chase the pale ones away for good. If only he knew he wasn't alone as sleep claimed him....

[Assistant]
Quinn was the youngest of three daughters and where her elder two had taken after her mother she had had taken after her father. A biologist by trade he taught her about the natural world around them and while her mother complained about how he taught the youngest she never stopped him. The curious girls childhood had been one catching frogs and dissecting fetal pigs. She was clever and learned everything her father had to teach her and when she was old enough she began her travels with him.

Until her father passed away when Quinn was merely on the cusp of 19. The young women went home for a year continuing her studies and assisting her mother and sisters. Than she made plans. Touching with her fathers old contacts and was now on the hunt for something she could never imagine.

She was not the only biologist in the party, her fathers old colleague the one who had brought her along was the main point. While Quinn would describe him as a kind man he a great mind and was proper enough company. Sensible company. Even so weeks with only the men for company, most of which were rather senseless brutes was wearing on the young women. As the days past so did their obvious looks. It lead her to a rather reckless but in her opinion necessary break. With yet another failed attempt at catching the thing so far she only got glimpse of, the group had made camp to regroup and rest.

The young biologist had went off one her own, a handgun at her side, doubling back to a landmark they had passed. A great waterfall, she wondered about the organisms there. Her long black hair was tied back, curls just tickling at her nape. She wore spectacles on her head, ones for only magnifying. Even in the humidity she wore sensible trousers, with wide legs and sturdy shoes, and a black blouse with rolled up sleeves. The trees blocked most of the sun and so what little tan she had gained on their way her had faded leaving her pale skin. She was a rather small women, short and seemingly fragile though her stamina was well formed and quickly shut up those who complained about having her along.

The trees started to break ahead and Quinn slipped from the thickest parts of the cover looking a the waterfall before her. Magnificent really. Adjusting the contain and small shoulder bag she carried Quinn advanced right up to the edge green eyes taking I everything around her not yet noticing the possible danger she was in.

[User]
Varad was snoring softly, having been soothed to sleep by the wonderful heat on his cold-blooded body and the exhaustion of the chase. Yet even as the great serpent rested in the cover of the underbrush, a new scent was carried upon the wind into his flaring nostrils. It was a sweet scent, one that called to his subconscious mind and conjured dreams of the village girls dancing at the ceremonies he had often watched from the shadows.

Reluctantly he stirred from his brief slumber as the scent grew stronger, closer. Slitted yellow eyes darted to and fro, and he pushed himself up on his tail to ''stand'' with his human upper body above the ground. "Who goes there?" He hissed in what she would recognize as an old Hindi dialect. "Come out where I can see you!"

[Assistant]
Quinn rounded the Falls, she had pulled a set of gloves from her bag, and a notebook and pencil. Pausing she took note of the foliage she recognized, she would sketch anything of interest she did not. Stepping closer to the waters edge she knelled down and reached into her bag again, using a small glass vile to take a sample. While she doubted there would anything but the standard occupants it always paid to take a look.

Just as she was lifting the vile she heard the voice. It surprised her, a voice of a man and yet the language deferred from that she would recognize from her companion. The vile dropped from her hand and Quinn shot up from her crouched position. While a strangers voice she recognized the language but it sounded different, older?

Back curls whipping she looked to her left and froze. Now standing she could see its source. The young scientist stopped breathing. So far all she had to go on was glimpses, what some of the men said and yet she knew this was it. Their query. She was struck by a sense of awe as she took in his form but it was quickly followed by a sense of dread.

She was alone. Her breath came back to her and Quinn took a careful step back, trying to gain some distance before the creature locked its sights on her.

[User]
Varad might have been considered handsome, at least without the addition of his more unearthly appearance. High cheekbones set beneath his piercing yellow eyes gave the impression of nobility. Long jet black hair hung freely over his shoulders as he turned this way and that in search of the source of the outsider's scent. His upper body was lithe, neither skinny nor overly muscular, though it was obvious most of his power laid in that massive tail of his. A pink forked tongue slid from between his full lips and lazily tasted the air.

There! His head snapped towards Quinn's hiding place thanks to the betrayal of a twig snapping beneath her boot. A pale woman! Pale like the ones who shot him! The impressive naga remained unnaturally still, reared up like a cobra preparing to strike, but he made no move to approach the strange woman. Were it not for the faint rise and fall of his bare chest he might have passed for a lifelike statue. The standoff continued for several tense moments before he spoke again in that exotic language. "Why are you here?"

[Assistant]
Quinn couldn't keep her eyes off him for more than on reason. Scientifically speaking he was a fine specimen, a male in his prime? Well-abled and from what she could tell by the chase intelligent, of course she didn't assume he was as advanced as to speak. As she continued to edge away lowering herself more the young women realized she could understand him... somewhat... the delicate was difficult but she had some understanding of what he had been saying. The other reason, more prominent in her mind was her immediate danger.

She had assume he was primly instinctual despite the communication. A male specimen who would be perhaps highly aggressive even recent events. Not to long ago they had been attempting capture, shots had been made despite her arguments of not harming the valuable creature going unheard after the first mans scream signaling its arrival.

A twig snapped, Quinn froze her breath watching again as those inhuman eyes settled on her hunched frame. His body language was instantly readable, the tension noticeable. A snakes version of a warning, rearing up. Would he strike? Quinn breathed a slight sigh of relief when she heard words flow from his mouth, not an attack. She swallowed and than did her best to reply.

"Water..." she told him in a more modern version of his language, her voice a squawk until she cleared it, wetting her lips. "I just come to get some water." She touched her canteen and watched him carefully. Despite her fear she couldn't help but fascinated her eyes ran the length of his tail, pausing when she saw the blood. "You're hurt"

[User]
Quinn hadn't been part of the group that shot him, at least not to his recollection. And on closer inspection, this fair-skinned beauty didn't appear to be carrying one of the fire-sticks that had caused the pain in his tail. Varad did not understand every word she spoke, but her tone was enough to fill in the gaps.

At the mention of his wound, the naga's eyes briefly flicked towards the injury. A crumpled bullet still laid half-lodged in his dazzling green scales, and though the flow of blood had slowed, the liquid crimson still seeped out of his body. Immediately his fierce eyes had returned to hers. Why wasn't she running or calling for the hunters? Was she not one of them? She was small and fragile like prey. Surely he could handle this one by herself. "Water," he repeated slowly and sunk back into the foliage though his eyes never blinked or turned away. "Take your water and leave."

[Assistant]
The creature didn't attack. Quinn watched as he sunk back down after telling her from what she could tell, to leave. She rose a little more from her crouched position spying him now in the underbrush. He remained her enough of a wounded animal. After a long pause she moved to the water and took another sample stuffing it into her bag as she considered her options.

The naga was wounded, if she brought the tam here they might have a chance at capturing him... but wasn't this a much better opportunity, to observe while the specimen was in a more natural setting. Quinn glanced back and took a deep breathe she very carefully started picking her way over to him, watching for any warning sighs, signs he might strike.

"I'm not going to hurt you." She told him calmly and pointed at his wound. "I can help."

[User]
Varad's body raised again, muscles visibly tensing at her approach. She said she could help. Hearing her speak his native tongue instead of the harsh gibberish of the hunters put him at ease somewhat. If she really could help him, could take the pain away, then perhaps he could let her come closer.

"Then help." When she approached the naga hissed again before speaking up once more. "Slowly."

[Assistant]
Quinn froze, keeping deathly still as the Naga raised himself to height. Her body mimicked his tension and she wondered if she had perhaps made the wrong choice. Her shoulders dropped in relief as he spoke his allowance. Still careful she approached, going even slower at his request. She cursed herself a little for not putting down her gun, still in her case on her hip. It was to late now, putting it down would only draw attention, hopefully he did not notice and deem her a threat.

Quinn knelled down on the soft earth now so close as to reach out and touch. Her eyes were wide and she was breathless, a giddy excitement welling up inside her despite the tension of the situation.

"This will hurt a little." She told him as she reached forward to the seeping wound. Her hands gentle touched the scales around the tear, a small grin slipping onto her features at the contact. They were warm not cool like she imagined Quickly she grew serious and slowly reached into her bag pulling out tongs and a first aid kit.

[User]
Fortunately for the curious scientist, the naga didn't recognize her pistol for a weapon. If he knew, he certainly wouldn't have let her get so close to him. She was so small against his heavy coils, and her hands were so... soft! He couldn't help but shiver in delight as her fingertips brushed along his warm scales. Though the torn flesh was still raw and tender, the naga hid his pain behind clenched teeth.

She told him it would hurt, and though he didn't give a sign of acknowledgment his fists tightened in anticipation. Varad eyed the tongs suspiciously, but allowed her to work. When the bullet was pulled free of the tissue, he gave a pained shriek and turned away from her. Yet... already the throbbing in his tail was lessened.

[Assistant]
Quinn was careful. She examined the wound making sure the entry as large enough before she took a deep breathe, she had been doing that a lot, and reached in with the tongs, securing the bullet with as much as care as she could manage extracting it. The shriek had her jumping, dropping the tongs and scurrying back, head whipping to look at the naga's torso turned away.

A moment passed before she was cursing and coming back grabbing gauze and putting pressure on the newly opened wound. Res coated the white but was relieved to see it was already slowing down. Did the naga have thick skin? The bullet while most likely irritating had not seemed to slow him down but without the removal would have certainly caused infection.

"You're okay." She muttered and with her free hand gave the creature a calming stroke, using the same calming sounds she had used on her mother's horses not thinking any better.


[User]
Benjamin Light had joined the royal guards when he was 15. It had not really been a job he would have sought after, but when the King came to his local village over 100 miles to the north and demanded all able young men join the army, what other choice did he have? He spent the next four years training in the North, fighting alongside his fellow recruits upon the icy walls and being told horror stories of the Orc armies that would await him on the battlefields to the East. The Human kingdom was one of the three largest empires on the continent. Power had been divided between the Humans, the Orcs, and the Elves, though of course not equally.

There were other species that roamed the continent as well, but races like the Goblins, Halfings, and Tauren were not populous enough in number to become a kingdom of their own. So they clung on to the heels of the kingdoms that would offer them the most protection. The Goblins were situated directly between the Human and Orc territories, and it was easy for them to split their allegiances between the two Kingdoms in order to attempt to get the best deal possible. Humans would normally look upon Goblins with distrust, but they were hard workers, and if the rumors that circled the army camps were true, the women were insatiable in the bedroom.

Benjamin Light had not intended to become a soldier, but he worked hard at his new profession simply because he was told that the best soldiers would be promoted to castle guards. It didn't make much sense. The strongest soldiers should have been sent to the front lines. Instead, they were sent back to the strong castles with impenetrable defenses in order to guard the nobility who would never die for the wars that they themselves began. So at the age of 19 he along with a handful of other promising recruits were sent down to the Eastern side of the Kingdom, sent to guard the King's Castle and all of the other nobles inside of it.

The group had been assigned to the Fourth Barracks on top of the wall. They were to be outer wall guards, the lowest ranking officers in the division who would have to work their way up. This was seen as a way of controlling the men, of tempting promotion after promotion in front of their faces to get them to be the best soldiers possible. To Benjamin, all that mattered was the hefty pay increase and the now full sack of leather tied to his right hip that jingled with coins with each step.

He was currently dressed in his guardsmen uniform. That meant dark brown pants and a brown leather vest. The army gave him leather shoulder guards and four or five leather belts to secure his swords and daggers to while he was on guard duty. Benjamineath the heavy leather vest he wore a crisp white linen shirt. The man had shaggy brown hair and a confident and playful smile on his face as he made his way down the walls of the castle after parting ways with his fellow soldiers. He had heard rumors of an establishment that hired Goblins as entertainers, and he was going to make sure he confirmed the truths behind those rumors with every last piece of gold he had on his person.

He walked into the ''The Queen's Demise'', that evening to see that the tavern was only just starting to fill up with customers. The barkeep spotted him and called him over, half expecting the man to just want a drink as his main form of entertainment. When Benjamin instead told him that he had other plans and showed him the leather pouch of gold the old barkeep gave him a broad and knowing grin, calling out into the backroom.

[Assistant]
Hula had been working the Queen's Demise stage for almost a year now, and she was proud to say she was the best goblin they had on retainer. That's not to say she didn't think she was better than the other girls. She definitely thought she was better than most of them.

She often found herself entertaining orcs that had defected to the kingdom, as it reminded them of home. A goblin with skilled dance moves was something of an oddity around the castle, and she milked that for all it was worth. Of course, she didn't do much to assuage the rumors that goblins were insatiable in bed. But she mostly danced the stage and did private strip teases in the club. That's all she signed up for, anyway. Occasionally she'd get a good date out of this gig, but it was rare. And they were always orcs.

But imagine her surprise when a human came to purchase a private strip dance from the Queen's Demise's best goblin dancer. She noted how hefty the coin sack was, and knew she'd definitely need to step it up for this client, lest he leave disappointed. But more than that, she was just interested in seeing what made a human want a goblin to dance for him.

"C'mere you," she said to him, taking him by the hand. She was clad in a black, low cut top with dangling golden tassels and an extremely high riding ruffled skirt. She led him to one of the stages and plopped him down in the chair before swinging herself onto the platform.

Dancing was a skill for her. A passion. Not just a thing she did to entertain these cock-ready soldiers. She stood at the edge of the platform and smiled down at him as she slowly shouldered one shoulder out of the top, letting it dangle at the elbow.

[User]
The goblin that came out from behind the bar blew all of Benjamin's expectations out of the water. She had a confident look on her face, as if she knew that she was better than any other woman in this entire kingdom, and when she made her way out from behind the counter she beckoned to him to let him know that she was not a woman to be kept waiting. That brought a smirk to his face, and he took her small hand in his as he let her guide him to the seat directly in front of the stage.

As soon as the woman made it onto the stage a musician in the background began to play an acoustic instrument he was not aware of to provide the beat for her to dance to. Benjamin found himself leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hand as he looked her over with clear hunger in his eyes.

When she removed the first strap of her top he found himself reaching down into his purse, pulling out a copper coin and placing it down at her feet. "God damn you are beautiful," it is a line he was sure she had heard a thousand times. Yet in his village there were only humans. He had fantasized about women of different species before, but he never assumed he would meet one as stunning as this woman.

"Please tell me you offer more intimate dances, for the right amount of coin of course." He fished out a silver coin next, wanting to see what that would get him before he even bothered to show her the stack of gold waiting for her if she kept this up.

[Assistant]
_This was going to be fun._ Hula thought. Hula could see this horndog of a human was flush with cash and eager to spend it. She knew how to play this game. Reveal too much right away and the mystery is gone and his purse still full. Better to keep him on the rope for a little despite how eager he was to toss out coppers.

She let the strap fall as she made a small circle around the stage. She reached her arms up behind her head and held her chest out proudly. Despite being small, she knew where here assets were. Her chest may be the size of one human woman's head, the look on his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

When the silver coin was fished out, she started to see a little more of him. In the light he really wasn't that half bad. Maybe even better than half. Just a kid, really, but one that probably never had the chance to be with someone of another culture or race like her. There was an innocence about that, that she enjoyed. If she kept up that mind of mentality, who knows if she'd actually make any money or if this would be something else entirely.

"Oh I do private dances. If you've got the coin." she said, leaning down over him to look into the purse. He certainly had the coin.

[User]
"And I would never dream of wasting your time without bringing the proper amount of coin to keep you satisfied." Benjamin got up from his chair then, standing so that his face brushed close to hers and he could lean in so that his lips brushed up against her long ear. At the same time he raised his hands up holding a gold piece in each hand as he slid his fingers up under the top of her shirt and pressed the cold coins up against her nipples. It was only then that he nipped at her earlobe.

"I can't wait to see where we can have our private dances." Giving her earlobe one more little bite he hummed against it and added in, "I think you can find ways to earn this entire pouch of gold, so long as your services involve more than dancing, and allow for me to show you that the men of the North can be just as fun as the Orcs of the East."

His hands gave both of her breasts a firm squeeze, leaving the two coins in her top before he reached over and slipped his hands under her arms to pick her up with ease off of the dance floor and bring her down to his level. Normally the customers were not allowed to do this, and the bar keep had his eyes on the pair, waiting for a signal to cut this man loose and send him on his way. But what was the point of coming here if not to be bold and take what he wanted?

[Assistant]
Oh this was certainly going to be fun. Hula was definitely going to enjoy this. She shivered at the touch of the cold coins to her nipples, but grinned. She saw a bouncer on their way to break them up after he had crossed the line, but she took him by the hand and led him to a nearby curtained area.

"In here," Hula said, quietly. "I'm not supposed to do this until you've paid more on the floor, but I'd like to see what you've got in that... purse of yours."

She opened the curtain to a darkly lit room of cushions. She grinned and with surprising strength, shoved him onto his back in the pile of cushions. She threw off her top, letting her voluminous green breasts be revealed. Despite their heft, they perked with life, as did the hard nipples.

[User]
The echoing footsteps that were quickly approaching them stopped the second that Hula took his hand. Benjamin snatched up the purse as she guided him away, flashing a grin back at the annoyed bouncer. As she told him that this was against protocol he laughed and said in an equally quiet voice, "Oh believe me, if things continue to go this way, your employer will have no qualms about you breaking the rules just this once."

Once they were behind the curtain he thought about stealing a quick kiss, only to find himself being flung back with a shove that could have leveled any human man. This woman had some strength, and that caused him to grin at her like a predator hungry for its prey. As soon as her top was off he reached for her arm, gripping her right wrist and pulling her back down on top of him.

That tug pulled her into his lap, letting her feel his hard member already pressing up against his pants as her breasts rested against his face. His free hand reached up and grasped her right breast, giving it a firm squeeze and pinching down on her nipple. All the while he leaned his head over to her left breast, licking up the pert mound before wrapping his lips around her nipple and sucking it into his mouth.

His tongue slid out, flicking over her nipple a few times before he pulled his head back and let her breast pop free from his grip.

"I like a girl who knows what she wants. But are you sure you can handle me my dear? Once I get started, we won't stop until the sun comes back up." He leaned up and nipped at the center of her neck. His other hand let go of her wrist at this point to give her ass a nice hard slap, pressing her hips hard up against his as he began to grind himself against her.

[Assistant]
Hula grinned as she was pulled onto his lap. She straddled him and before he knew it, she had already removed her nethers and was waving them over her head.

"Normally I have to dance more first, but I get the sense you're past that point." Straddling him, she moved to start unbuttoning his shirt and work her way down to his belt. "And if you're wondering if I can handle a human cock, yes. Yes I can. You won't be the first and I'm sure you won't be the last."

[User]
Now this was a woman who had skills beyond this guard's wildest imaginations. Here he thought he would have caught her off guard and made her realize that he was the one in control. Instead she managed to find the time to pull off the rest of her outfits despite his assault on her breasts and neck. As she slipped out of his grasp to start to unbutton his own shirt he reached for his pants, undoing the various belts and straps that kept his uniform in tact.

"Why is it that knowing how many men you have bedded and will bed is such a turn on for me?" He mused as he pushed his pants down past his knees, letting her see his impressive eight inch member standing tall right before her. She had undone his shirt and left his chest exposed, showing her that thanks to his training and youth he had a firm six pack and a broad, well defined chest.

His hands went to her hips. Thanks to her size he was able to lift her up, grinding her exposed sex against his length as he used her like his own personal sex toy. After a few teasing thrusts his member was coated in her nectar and he leaned in to steal a quick kiss.

"I am glad we get to skip the fated romance bit and get straight to the fun part. I doubt either of us believes in true love anyways." Why seduce when you could just have fun. Before she could answer him he pulled down on her hips just as the head of his cock brushed against her lower lips. His cock drove itself completely inside of her then, filling her up and producing a slight bulge in the smaller woman's frame.

He let out a loud and contented groan now as he began to bounce her in his lap.


[User]
Today was largely a day like any other. Not that there really was day and night in the abyss. Zurie simply sat, watching the whorls and eddies of pure chaos create and consume with equal indifference. In its own way it was quite a lovely sight. It was a distraction though, and it was not quite enough to take her mind off of the thoughts darkening her mood. It had been too long. Time did not flow in that place as it did on earth, but she was aware that it had been too long. Nathan had said his goodbyes already, he knew he was bearing the end, but it had become something of a routine. Him calling her, them being together, saying their final goodbyes all over again, and her departing. This last time it had truly been the last time.

Zurie idly wondered if Nathan had enacted his plan. It would not be the first time for her. The book Nathan had possessed was somewhat of a family heirloom. She had served Nathan's father and grandmother before him. They had all been very nice people, the memories of times shared brought a soft smile to her crimson lips. It was not what her kind was summoned to the mortal plane for. Well, mostly it was not. They had commanded her powers for personal gain, but not in access. Companionship was more often what she was called for. Conversation and confession were her most common functions. After all, there was no chance that she would spill any secrets.

It seemed that thoughts and actions coincided as she felt the pull of the summoning magic. It had the warm familiarity of when Nathan had summoned her, but there were subtle nuances to it that felt new and invigorating. Unlike most demons that found being summoned a nuisance at best, Zurie looked forward to it. Then again, her views were at odds with those of most of her kin.

Unlike the horror movies that she had seen, there was no glowing red light, inexplicable wind, trembling in the earth to signal her shift to the mortal plane. It was all rather boring if one discounted the fact that she existed in a space that was empty a second earlier. The shift was momentarily disorienting and slender fingers lifted to rub a throbbing point at her temple. There was a young woman in the room with her. The room was familiar, but the woman was not. A slight smirk curved her lips at the woman's muttered comment and Zurie's black eyes took a moment to simply enjoy the mortal before her.

"Now, now my dear, don't rush off back to reality just yet. I find it to be vastly overrated." The words were ordinary enough, but spoken for the demon they seemed to hold a dark promise and draw one in. Not that the woman needed help drawing those she chose. Even the pitch black eyes ringed in red did not warn off most people. A creature unnatural in her beauty, Zurie stood only barely over five feet tall, with flawless, milk white skin and the prefect blend of softness and tone. A fantasy come to life, she stood in the circle patiently while she took in her hostess. The soft smirk faded into a soft sigh and the teasing tone dropped from her voice. "I imagine that you could use an escape from reality right about now."

[Assistant]
Sarah had barely turned to the door leading back out into the hall when an impossible sight, and a voice reached her ears, greeted her chocolate brown eyes about the same time, leaving her completely stunned as she froze like a deer in headlights. Turning to regard the woman, if such a simple moniker could be used to describe the being now standing in the middle of the room, a room that had once been owned by her grandfather, Sarah could only blink as her mouth fell open in abject shock. While she was hardly unattractive despite her baggy clothes and her long sleeves and pants, at the start of the summer months if that said anything about her lack of confidence in herself, she might as well have been wearing a bag over her smooth, dark skinned face and her closely cut brown locks that adorned the top of her head, her face without a shred of makeup. What color was in her face though altogether disappeared as she fell to her ass, staring up at the pale skinned demon before her, those glowing red and abyssal black eyes quite the striking contrast to her own far more human orbs, let alone her unnaturally pale if very beautiful skin. She was... beyond beautiful, yet it was the fact she was in the middle of a summoning circle, her visage utterly inhuman, that had the young woman's attention as she backed away as best she could, accidentally bumping the open door so that it gently shut, making her jump as if she'd been shot.

"FUCKING HELL?! What?! How? Who?! Oh god oh god oh god I-you..." Clamping a hand over her mouth, she breathed while screaming into her clenched fist, taking a few moments to freak out before she quieted. A slow, shuddering breath was pulled in, then a second, before a third followed and she was able to look at the ''woman'' across from her without wanting to get to her feet, run out the door, and out of the house as fast as she could. She'd seen this movie, the last guy who'd gotten involved with a succubus, or whatever that Jennifer's Body demon gal had been, had had his insides ripped out with Jennifer's claws before she'd eaten what was left. Still, as much as she wanted to run from this particular demon, Sarah found she didn't have it in her to take off just yet. Maybe it was her depression from the recent loss of the only family she'd ever loved, maybe it was the fact that something about this... person, struck her as almost as lonely as she felt, whatever it was, Sarah didn't run. She didn't stand either, her legs were knocking together too much for that just yet, but she did her best to go over what she'd said before cocking her head to the side, "Huh?! I-I... what are you?! You can't be real, succubi, demons, all that ain't a thing last I checked. And yet here you are... god am I losing it finally?!" Shaking her head at that thought that sent cold terror running down her spine, Sarah ran a dark skinned hand down her face, she took another breath, her nerves slow to calm, but calm they did as she stared up towards Zurie. "W-what would you know about it? Did you know my grandfather, Nathan? Are you the big fucking secret he wanted me to find?!" Her voice was shrill, but it was a question bereft of any malice or ill intent. She was just hoping to understand, to make sense of this situation she had found herself a part of despite how impossible it all seemed.

[User]
Seeing the shocked look on those beautiful features hit Zurie hard. It was the same as any other first meeting but knowing the grief that the young beauty must be going through made her feel bad to be adding to her emotional roller coaster. She tried to reach out a slender, pale hand but came up short when her hand hit the edge of the summoning circle where it looked as if she was pressing her fingers against glass. "Oh... no, no, no! You don't need to fear me." Sarah could see the otherworldly woman pushing against the invisible barrier before giving up and letting her hands fall to sides with a huff.

Zurie leaned forward, making a strange sight as she seemed to defy gravity. "Ummm, I think in Nathan's book there might be a note about removing that loose stone," she pointed at the edge of the circle. "that will break the binding circle... when you are ready, of course. I believe Nathan worded it that way." With another sigh, Zurie seemed to practically flow into a sitting position, such was her unnatural grace. Those black eyes did not leave Sarah, and the concern was evident in her face even if it seemed odd with those obviously supernatural eyes.

The utter lack of aggression from Zurie seemed to aid the other woman in calming herself. The question was asked and a wistful smile, tinged with sadness, graced those perfect ruby lips. "Your grandfather asked that same question almost word for word when we first met." Her knees drew up to her chest and she wrapped her arms around them before resting her head on her knees. "If it's any help, you aren't losing your mind. I do suppose that I am your grandfather's secret... well more accurately yours now. I am a demon, a succubus to be specific, but please don't let our representation in popular culture inform your opinion. I'm not after your soul or anything like that. And contrary to that, succubi are comfort demons and not just of the sexual variety." Another soft sigh. "And you look as though you could use some comfort. I am sorry for your loss."

[Assistant]
She should've been afraid of the demon, a literal fucking demon, that squatted down after trying to push her hand through the circle's boundaries, yet as much as she wanted to keep Zurie trapped right where she was... she couldn't. She didn't know how she knew this 'thing' was telling the truth, that she wasn't dangerous, only that she knew her grandfather, she trusted his judgment, and he'd not led her astray before. True, he'd kept one HELL of a secret, if this was indeed not her mind losing its grip on reality, but given her reaction, and how he had likely responded in turn, Sarah found herself slowly standing before ever so slowly approaching the edge of the circle.

There was... something truly heartbreaking about the way the demon curled up into herself on the floor, and while it could've all been a pretty big act, Sarah didn't think so. She knew evil, if calling her mother evil was the right word, and she didn't get much of a vibe at all around the demon as she soon stood before the circle, glancing towards the stone that she'd indicated. "S-so you're supposed to be some kinda Companion or something? Is that all?" She asked, more to confirm what Zurie had said once already since she was having a hard time processing all this stuff. Still, she wasn't freaking out, not quite as bad at least, and she was actually listening now, so it was an improvement. That and Zurie had touched upon something that had annoyed and frustrated Sarah to no end, and that was having people being prejudiced against her simply because she was black.

Realizing her own mistake, the human sighed and ran a hand down her face in a little shame and embarrassment, before glancing down at the stone Zurie had pointed out. She hadn't noticed it before, because it'd been set perfectly into the floor, allowing the carpet to sit without giving away the magic circle underneath. No wonder she'd never noticed before today, someone had taken the time to conceal their handiwork. She didn't pull it out right away though, curious to see if that barrier worked both ways. Reaching her hand out, Sarah took a steadying breath when she felt her hand touch against an invisible wall, her eyes wide but no longer filled with all consuming fear as she pressed her dark skinned hand firmly against the barrier. It felt like she was touching a cold pane of glass, yet there was nothing there.

"Whoa... okay... okay yeah, this is real. And I'm staring at a demon. Okay... and you say you're not dangerous? I... don't want to be rude... more than I have been I mean, but what assurances do I have of that other than the fact I trust my grandfather. He wouldn't leave me something dangerous, not without a means to keep you from doing harm, if that's even necessary." Shaking her head at the ridiculous notion she was even considering, Sarah sighed but decided she was too tired and emotionally drained to give a damn at the moment.

"...I should be running out the door, leaving you stuck in there, but... I am so tired, drained, and just... and you say you knew Nathan. It seems I didn't know him as well as I thought, but... he was the only family I had that I gave a damn about." It's then that she reaches into the small hole where the stone is set, and pulls it free, hoping, praying she isn't making a fatal mistake, but she doesn't have it in her to care either. That and again, Zurie had not made any hostile movements, and she'd been nothing but supportive from the start. Surely she couldn't be that bad, right, demon or not? In any event, she tucked the stone into the pocket of her long shorts, and waited for Zurie to make the next move even as tears started to run down her face, her knees threatening to buckle as the full weight of the past couple of weeks caught up with her all at once.

[User]
Those pitch black orbs never left Sarah when the woman got to her feet and carefully moved toward the edge of the summoning circle. If Sarah paid close attention she might notice something that would potentially be unsettling. Zurie did not seem to blink. That gaze was on her steadily, not missing a thing during the beautiful woman's approach. At the other woman's question, those ruby red lips quirked into an amused smile. "You are so much like your grandfather. Even in the questions you ask. I will explain it to you as I did to him. All that I am is whatever you need. Companion, confidant, protector... anything you need." Whether it was deliberate or simply a strange inflection in the demon's speech, Sarah detected a hint of something unsaid.

For her part, Zurie had not moved other than to turn her head slightly to give Sarah her undivided attention. It seemed that she was still grappling with the idea that demons were real and that there was one trapped in her basement, but who could blame her. It was a lot to take in. Again those supple seductive lips curved into a smile at the sight of Sarah pushing at the barrier between them, looking like a mime doing the trapped in the box routine. "Caution is not being rude, nor is disbelief. Both are acceptable given the circumstances. And as much as I would like to offer a host of points as to my passivity and honest intentions, the truth is that you have no assurances that what I'm saying is true. You are flying blind, as Nathan used to say. Trust your instinct. I won't be offended." She gave a little chuckle. "It took Nathan almost a year before he let me out."

When the stone was removed, Zurie stayed seated, not making any sudden movements that may spook the young woman. She was shocked that Sarah had let her out so quickly. Either she had absolute faith in Nathan or she simply did not care about her own life. Perhaps it was both. In either case, it meant that her grandfather's death was hitting her hard. The second those tears started to fall, Zurie was there. It was so quick that one second the alabaster-skinned woman was sitting and the next her arms were around Sarah, drawing her into a tight embrace. Her body was warmer than a human's but in the most pleasant way the there was strength in the arms around her. "Shhh," Zurie cooed softly, "it's okay, I'm here now."

[Assistant]
If she'd not been on the verge of emotional collapse from burying her grandfather, dealing with her ''mother'' Mariah since she'd come sniffing around for whatever her father had left her, which unsurprisingly hadn't been a single penny, Nathan having left everything for Sarah alone, she might've noticed that her new... acquaintance didn't blink at all. She might've also noticed then something she hadn't elaborated on, but with everything that had happened since Nathan's passing, Sarah was far from alright. While Zurie's honesty, or what she figured was the demon's attempt at such, was appreciated, as was her assurances that her caution wasn't offensive, her observation that she was beyond caring much about her own life was pretty spot on. She didn't want to die, not really, but having the pain and anguish end would've been preferred as Sarah all but collapsed into Zurie's embrace once the barrier fell.

Later she'd wonder about all this and so much more, but feeling her literal and metaphorical warmth as those pale arms encompassed her was enough to break down whatever composure hadn't already shattered as Sarah clamped her brown eyes shut against the demon's chest. How long she sobbed, her voice muffled as her body shook with every ragged breath, Sarah couldn't ever say when asked later, but eventually, she slowly came back to herself. Blinking in monetary confusion when she realized she must've sat down on the edge of the large bed at some point, she pushed that aside as she slowly looked up into Zurie's face, her brown eyes red and puffy, her cheeks damp and wet from her tears while her throat felt sore. "I-I'm sorry... th-these last two weeks just... finally crashed down on me all at once." She choked out, before swallowing the lump that had begun to choke her up once more. "The day's still young, but that you haven't clawed open my insides yet says to me you ain't all bad." She chuckled weakly as she wiped at her eyes with the back of one long sleeve. Not that it helped much since her tears continues to flow a little.

"S-sorry, this is... on top of everything else, just a lot to process. I-I have so many questions, but I doubt I'd remember anything you might tell me right now. I just... need some time. And I'm talking to a demon... right." That she'd endured her emotional outpouring without a single complaint, let alone the fact Zurie hadn't done anything except hold her throughout it all, had garnered at least enough trust from Sarah which told her to at least keep her eyes open around the... the woman sitting next to her now. But despite what she'd just said, Sarah did have one thing she needed to know then and there, if Zurie was willing to tell her of course. "Does anyone else know about you? How long have you even been here? I'm... just trying to understand at least some of what this is." She'd ask a lot more questions of Zurie when her head wasn't spinning from all this, but what she'd inquired about was a good start she supposed.

Whatever the potential danger she had put herself in, that didn't stop her from keeping at least one hand clutching onto one of Zurie's own in her lap currently. The physical reminder and stability she offered, among other things, was just enough to keep her rooted to the bed without curling into a ball somewhere on the floor.

[User]
Zurie's lips curved into a soft frown and her brow furrowed with worry when Sarah seemed to very nearly collapse against her. It was as if the dam broke on the woman's grief and it all came flooding out. It was not surprising to the demon. Nathan had spoken at length of his granddaughter, his pride and his love for her had been obvious. It was clear that Sarah had felt the same way. The poor thing just cling to Zurie, and Zurie simply held her, gently stroking her back as all that she had been holding in came out. It was no strain to her, she was surprisingly strong and was happy to just be there as Nathan had wished.

After a time though, Zurie did slowly and carefully maneuver Sarah to sit on the edge of the bed for the sake of her own comfort. It was still some time before the poor thing managed to get herself under control. Again Zurie offered a soft smile. "Do not apologize, my dear. The is no shame in grieving one that you loved." For a moment, The demon stilled and her eyes drifted shut. Taking a deep breath, she forced back her own sadness. It could wait, Sarah was her priority now. Being there for her is how Zurie could honor Nathan's memory. Sarah's next comment had her failing to entirely stifle a giggle. "Oh, I have no intention of harming you. What purpose would that serve? I promise you that not only am I not bad, but in fact I can be very very good." There was a sultry purr in her voice that seemed to hold a note of promise in it. It was not intentional, just her way. Try as she might, she was still a demon after all. Besides, there was more than one way to process grief.

"Take all the time you need. Immortality comes with a high degree of patience. I know it is a lot to accept." With Sarah sitting up now, Zurie cautiously reached out to take one of her hands. It was not a romantic gesture, but just letting her feel another person close by, a subconscious reminder that she was not alone. Again, Sarah drew a melodic little giggle from her new friend. Apparently the wait time on asking questions was short. "Well, as far as I know only you know of my existence. I have been here, and I'm assuming by here you mean serving your family since the time of your great-great grandmother... I think that's correct. As to how many years that has been I'm not sure." Her head cocked to the side quizzically when Sarah explained why she was asking questions. "Has anyone ever told you that you apologize too much?" Her smile softened the words. "I understand that you have questions, I'd be more concerned if you did not. So whenever you do, ask. I promise to answer them honestly." With a wave of her hand, a silky handkerchief appeared from thin air and she handed it over to Sarah. "Just on case. And are you hungry? You should eat. Your grandfather taught me to cook a little."

[Assistant]
Having come back to some measure of herself, Sarah was just with it enough to see the sadness that appeared on the demon's beautiful face, but she didn't make any sign or said a word that she'd notice. She filed it away, finding it strange that a demon, now that she wasn't denying her very existence, could feel genuine sadness, but there it was. She knew what she'd seen, but Zurie's attempt to comfort her took priority since it was all she could focus on after having noted the shift in the other woman's expression. Just as quickly it was gone, but it left a mark since she felt... better, knowing she wasn't the only one that was so sorely missing Nathan. Still, she felt a small smile pulling at her face when Zurie tried very hard not to giggle out loud, glad she hadn't taken offense from her rather colorful reference to a stupid teen horror movie with a rampaging, more feral version of her new companion killing her way through most of her fellow high school male attendees.

If bodies started piling up or something, Sarah would start to worry, but for the moment she relaxed around the demon, and despite the very weird way that thought resounded in her head still, she didn't feel afraid of Zurie as she might've otherwise been if not for her very human like response to their shared pain. That and it felt nice to know she had a sense of humor, even as she shivered, a spike of warmth pooling in her guts at Zurie's response. "Uh... th-thanks for taking that so well. It's... it's getting easier, and... while you're... you're a lot to take in, and while I probably shouldn't take your promise as anything more than empty air, especially since I've... been hurt before by normal people, you've already been here like Nathan would've been if it'd been anyone else I held half as dearly as I did him. So that... that means something, despite having only just met you."

Taking another steadying breath, she gently squeezed the hand that had found hers, marveling at Zurie's warmth as she explained as best she could about what she had inquired about. Nodding slowly as she processed this new information as best she could, Sarah sighed and smiled shakily when the handkerchief was offered to her. Gently taking it, she dabbed at her eyes and sighed, about to say something up until food was offered. Her stomach, ever the violent protestor when it'd been ignored, decided to rumble loudly, making Sarah blush for an altogether different reason than Zurie's words had. "If you'd asked me that before my little breakdown, I'd have probably said no, but I could eat. Denying it at this point wouldn't work anyway probably." Slowly standing to her feet, a heavy, tired sigh escaped her, but Sarah's shaky smile warmed and widened a little as she wiped at her eyes again.

"And you wouldn't be the first person to tell me I apologize too much. It's a consequence of being raised by an abusive mother, which is something Nathan's probably told you if you're as close to him as you insinuate. Mariah was his daughter after all, and part of... part of all this," Sarah gestured to herself, "is because she decided to come sniffing around after an inheritance he didn't leave her for all the bullshit she'd put me through way back when." Balling up the handkerchief at the mere mention of all of that, she forced her hand to relax before turning to address Zurie more fully. "J-just don't ask... for more than that right now, please? I'm not in a good place to be revisiting my fucked up childhood, but know that Nathan... he's the reason why I'm half as put together as I am in the first place. So if you really do know him, then... just knowing he trusted you is enough for the moment, but that doesn't mean I won't be cautious for now. I... I hope you understand." She hedged, getting the feeling Zurie would understand all too well and wouldn't complain in the slightest, but she was willing to trust her to cook something, so it was something at least. Didn't mean she wouldn't keep an eye on the demon's cooking of course, but trust was built in small ways.

[User]
Zurie beamed brightly when Sarah said it meant something her that she was there. "I'm so glad. I mean I literally exist to serve. So I'm glad I'm passable at it."again she gave a melodious giggle. The giggle turned into a poorly stifled laugh when Sarah's stomach gave its opinion on the food situation. She was really happy that Sarah agreed to let her cook , and kept hold if her hand. With a thought she used her power to relax Sarah just a little, just enough that she might rest while Zurie cooked. She led the young woman to the living room and sat her in the big armchair that was Nathan's favorite spot. Grabbing the blanket off of the back of it, she draped it over Sarah. "Just in case." She said with a sweet smile.

Moving around the kitchen she grabbed pans and ingredients and started to get everything she needed for a full meal. Sarah probably had not eaten in days. Without even realizing, Zurie began to hum the same nameless tune that Nathan would when he was in the kitchen. It certainly added to her story that she knew the man which may have been some relief to Sarah, and hopefully some comfort as well. "You need not say anything, Sarah. Nathan was very opened to me about his daughter. There is a reason that I was passed to you and and not your mother. Nathan knew that passing that power to her would have ended badly. I will tell this to you as a sign of my good intentions. The summoning ritual that you performed is one of two versions. The other is in the back of the book, on the very last page. With that I do not come as I am now, not completely. It forces me to do your bidding. It strips my free will. Rather than your companion I am your slave... I mean it can be fun once in a while in the right context, but Nathan did not trust your mother to not abuse the power for her own ends."

"If you wish to talk about your mother further I will listen but I will not start that discussion." With that she went back to humming that tune and soon the room filled with delicious smells that were sure to get her stomach offering it's opinion once more. Soon, Zurie popped onto the living room with a plate stacked high with sausage, bacon, eggs, and potato hash. "Oh, almost forgot..." she returned a moment later with fresh biscuits and a dish with butter as well as a cup of coffee. "There. I was not sure how hungry you were so I erred on the side of excess." The demon with those unblinking eyes watched Sarah try the first few bites. Nervously she hoped it was actually good, and not that Nathan had just been polite enough to choke down her awful food.