Ye Olde S33k & Finde

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from a book bound in red velvet. Row 409, Bottom Shelf.

She is bound and waiting. She is blindfolded and writhing. She is expectant, she is anxious. She is hopeful, she is frightened. She knows the purpose of her bonds, but still she struggles. She knows the method of her punishment, but still she resists. In the end, the lash is kind and the rod is never spared; but she will learn her lesson and never, by the rain of crimson rivulets, will she be allowed to forget.

She is bound and waiting. She is blindfolded and writhing. She is terrified, she is aroused. She is lustful, she is ashamed. She knows the reason for her bondage, but still she questions her captor. She knows the extent of her penance, but still she begs for less and more. In the end, the hand is both steel and feather-soft; she will always learn her lesson and never, by the intimacy with which she is handled, will she be able to forget.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from a holo-disc file. Row 432, Second Shelf.

(Possible idea for a thread...who knows?)

He's been in that cell for a week. No food, no water. His lips are chapped, his skin is sallow, and his eyes would be sunken if they could be seen in the gloom of the dank cube that has been his home, his prison, his Hell.

Slowly the door to his penitentiary grinds open, the rusty bars screeching and grating against one another. He can smell the scent of lavender and lilacs; his captor must be effeminate if not female. The gentle caress of a palm against his chin lifts his darkened eyes toward the silhouette of a person bent at the waist before him, examining him and his wounds.

The next sensation is the sharp sting of a slap across his cheek. It is swift, calculated, and brutally efficient. The same hand that had held him so gently was now an iron rod used to beat him. He does not move from his kneeling position before whoever is holding him hostage. His eyes are cast at their legs, their feet, the floor, anywhere but up.

The voice that echoes into the dark cell is like a candy laced with cyanide. It promises pleasure but will grant only pain. It is a Siren's song, and he is utterly helpless to resist when it beckons.

"Get up, scum. I have plans for you."

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from High Cost Of Living. Row 129, Bottom Shelf.

They call them the winds of change and sands of time, but all I feel like is a drowning man on a sinking ship, or a flower withered and choked by vines. If things truly happen for a reason, then I'd like to know them in advance, maybe give some method to this madness of future colliding with past. I feel distant, distraught, disgraced, defaced, dejected and desolate. I feel fractured, fragile, and folded in half. I feel broken, and battered, and beaten near death. I feel lifeless, like ice chips floating face down in a glass. The end of the road, the silver lining on a storm, the light on the horizon....they all feel too far out of reach. The lessons I should have learned and have yet to see feel too complex for anyone to properly teach. I must leech what I can from what I have, or I'll shrivel up and die. But perhaps that fate is more appropriate for one such as I.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*It is amazing that the dust doesn't settle in a place this vast when it is left to its own devices. He smiles and turns the key easily in the lock to the massive oak door, pushing it open with only a few protestant creaks and groans from it.

As he approaches the counter, he spies one of the miscellaneous mechanical animals tugging and nudging at a small manila folder. He sat easily on his stool, scooping up the folder and the animal, a tiny monkey, in both hands. The animal lets out a tinny hoot, climbing up onto his shoulder as he opens the folder, reviewing the contents. He smiles several times, setting the folder onto the counter top when he's finished.

Afterward, its off into the stacks he goes; more exploring is necessary. Especially after seeing what was in the folder.*

 

[fr33ks33k]

*After what might have been weeks, he wanders back out of the aisles, hands full of various trinkets. He sets them on the counter, sorting through them. Several are holo-discs, which he plays as he picks them up, sliding them into the small player set up on his counter. The projector plays the images on a blank expanse of wall across from him. A small band of the mechanized animals joins him to watch, though he's not sure they will actually understand any of what is being shown...*

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from a holo-disc file. Row 382, Second Shelf.

There are two women in this room. It is devoid of any furniture, and the women themselves sit facing each other. One is pale, with long blonde hair. The other is of a darker complexion, her hair is cut severely. They seem to be captives, but they are either resigned to their fate or feel deserving. It is hard to tell which. Their purpose for sitting so close to one another becomes apparent as they shift in what must be an uncomfortable position. There are three thin silver chains attaching them at their most sensitive of areas. Their proximity must be to afford them a smaller measure of comfort than their seating arrangements allow.

From the darkness of the cell's outer walls, a bass voice rumbles against the stone and iron. It speaks of freedom, but only for one of them. The other must endure the pain of having the silver ringlets, anchored firmly in their flesh, torn out.

The blonde's icy blue eyes meet the feverish hazel of her counterpart, and in that single instant, the terror, fear, anger, anguish, and cold calculation passes through their stares like a conduit of high voltage current.

The viewpoint changes to a wall of the cell, and only silhouettes are seen. The two figures become one...and a cry of pain is joined harmoniously with a yelp of triumph. It is unclear which is the victor, but the cell door does indeed open, and the solitary figure strides out, breath still shaking uncertainly.

<End Transmission>

 

[fr33ks33k]

Excerpt from a holo-disc file. Row 9124, Second Shelf.

There is a legend of two men trapped in the same body. There are those who say he was simply a man with multiple personalities, and others who say he was simply letting the animal inside himself rear its ugly head. That it is only human nature to pretend the violence is not a part of them, that it is not an alien entity, but a buried segment of the whole.

The man standing before the mirror's name is Henry. His eyes are bloodshot, his hands are shaking, and his face holds a look that could be either a grin or a grimace. The hour is terribly late, and if one were to look down for a moment, they would see the stains of blood covering his knuckles and the sink. It is most certainly not his.

Henry's breathing is slowly returning to normal, but his mind is far from stable. Within, he sees the pretty young girl from the café, laughing and smiling with him. The image fades to her moaning and sighing beneath him. It is there that the image ceases coherency. Flashes of red, the glint of steel, the cracking of bones, the grating of teeth. Then he is simply standing before the mirror, confused and yet a deep-seated satisfaction tints his every action. Henry blinks.

And Edward smiles into the mirror. No more is the look ambiguous. He is joyful, empowered by the slaughter of innocence. The blood on his hands is a symbol of his conquest. He turns to his bedroom, vanishing behind the door. A deep chuckle is heard, growing into a rolling bellow of laughter, echoing into the night.

<End Transmission>

 

[Britwitch]

I approach the building with determination in my step.

I seek something rather specific and yet something I can't quite define. Rumour has it this may well be the place to find it...whatever it is that I desire.

Pushing the hood of my cloak back from my head, I step through the door and into the gloom inside.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*The creak of the door signals a visitor. It's been quite a long time. I smile and move from an adjoining aisle, the light level rising slightly.*

Hello there. How can I help you?

*Brisk steps take me to the counter, my back leaning casually against the sturdy surface*

 

[Britwitch]

I'm...looking for something...

I reply walking closer, my eyes scanning the shelves whilst my fingers toy with the fastening of my cloak.

...searching for something...

I know my words are enigmatic but they're the best I can offer. My eyes come to land on him and my lips curve into a smile.

...and I think I may have found it...

 

[fr33ks33k]

It's always wonderful to find something so quickly!

*My eyes follow hers around the room, holding her gaze as she lays it upon me. Her smile is infectious and I cannot help but to return one of my own. She's undoing her cloak, and I am suddenly curious what lies beneath. I can tell there is hidden meaning in her words, and so I wait to see what she reveals to me with her proximity*

 

[Britwitch]

My fingers undo the catch at my neck and my cloak falls open, revealing the long dress underneath. It's square neckline runs low across my cleavage and a seam under my bust only serves to emphasize my natural assets.

I move closer and lean against the counter, mimicking his position, with my elbows behind me resting upon it. Looking up into his face I smile again...letting my eyes dip over his figure as I continue...

...so, you'll have to help me, if I think I have found something I like, something that I want...how does one go about...trying it out...seeing if it matches my needs...

I am a little surprised at myself, I'm not usually this forward but something...maybe this shop...something is making me so...

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Her dress is lovely, and it draws my focus directly to its intent. Her bosom is on display, luscious mounds of flesh, seemingly eager to be freed. Her question is sultry, and her echoing of my posture only further emphasizes her curves.*

If something's caught your eye, feel free to pick it up, give it a once over. You may feel free to look and touch here.

*I find myself turning to face her entirely, pushing off the counter. My arms are at my sides now, but I feel an urge to put them...elsewhere.*

 

[ObscureInsanity]

Three Months... it's been THAT long since she was last here. It's a surprise, after all that her hectic life had brought her, that she actually had time off now, time for herself. She glanced over the exterior of the establishment, a coy smile played across her face. She'd remember this place for the rest of her life, it had its own little essence that drew her in every time she was even remotely near it.

Of course, it could be the proprietor that intrigued her so... but why would she admit that to herself? Coy, repressed little Hannah. She shook away the dangerous little thoughts from her head and strode to enter the place. The door creaked softly as she made her way in...

Déjà Vu. God, it was a glorious feeling.

She glanced at the two figures ahead of her, obstructing her view. It was him, Fr33k, and someone else. Their positions suggested some sort of secret non-verbal conversation between the two of them, and Hannah felt herself look down, blushing.

Would he even remember her? Surely he's had many a patron wander in and out of the shop. She was so plain. She didn't mean to be... she just was one of those faces that often got lost in a crowd, and she wasn't nearly as spectacularly dressed as the woman standing in front of him. No, she was in a rather boring outfit--a black pencil skirt that fell just past her knees, black stockings, a button down empire waist deep crimson shirt. She had hardly done anything particularly fantastic to her hair, it laid in tendrils this way and that, and her plain pallid face... No, there was nothing interesting about her today.

She smiled weakly at the man named Fr33k and gestured a small nod in a respective way before walking down a row of knick-knacks and nautical memorabilia. Her fingertips grazed a rather small anchor, perhaps created for decoration of the captains quarters and not so much for use on a boat.

Her mind was drifting. She had came in here for something, surely...? Was it just to see HIM again? Or... did she want something else to go with her collection of things retrieved from here? Maybe a task... perhaps she wanted something else so that she could do something for him. She felt a little dizzy pondering so many things at once, and knelt down, rubbing her temples. Curiously enough, this brought her level with a very old floor stand globe. She smiled a she spun the world, eying the countries like a child would with supremely innocent awe.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*It was my luck, really. Temptation always liked to overload me, try to make me balance the books, so to speak. Time was always a trickster, and now was no different. My eyes moved fractionally to take in the entering patron, my smile increasing just that much more. Hannah had returned after a long while away. She had a look in her eye that told of longing and joyful return, but in noticing my current company, she made her way off into the stacks. I hoped she would find something to hold her attention while I attempted to keep both ends of this seesaw equalized.

My eyes returned their focus to the woman before me, in her lovely dress, and immediately my eyes found her cleavage again, ample and inviting. I felt my lips dry suddenly and licked them in an effort to keep them moist. It might have seemed more like I was hungering for something, but that was for her to decide.*

 

[Britwitch]

If something's caught your eye, feel free to pick it up, give it a once over. You may feel free to look and touch here.

My eyebrow quirks, I couldn't have stopped it even if I'd wanted to...

Oh think something has definitely caught my eye...

I lift my chin so that my eyes can meet his, slowly standing so that we are face to face. Putting on an all too serious expression, I walk slowly around him. Making a show of trailing my eyes over his frame whenever I know he can see my face. I reach up and trail my palm over the back of his shoulders and then slowly down his arm as I return to stand before him.

...and looking and touching is definitely helping me...

My hand drifts to hover over his...not quite touching...but itching to take hold of it and place it on my skin, to extend him the same courtesy he's given me but I'm the one looking...for now...

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Typically, its the wares that the patrons peruse with such intensity. This time, I believe I have provided a different service, or perhaps I am yet to do so. The touch of her hand sends a small shock down my spine, spreading a tingling in the nerves of my shoulders and back. Her hands are near mine, and I manage only barely to remain still. Yet again my tongue has found my lips, their dryness seemingly caused by my urges seeking escape.*

I am always glad to help, in any way I can.

 

[ObscureInsanity]

She spun the globe again as she started to stand up; her dizziness had subsided, and as she stopped the world with one finger--which landed somewhere in Europe--she considered taking it to the proprietor for examination. This contemplation was weakly denied: to be fair her apartment was getting rather too crowded with some of the art supplies she had purchased for her job. No, perhaps not this time.

She glanced over her shoulder briefly--not for any specific or suspicious reason--and wandered onward, taking care to eye everything on the shelves that she hadn't seen. Of course this proved to be reckless, as she didn't see what appeared to be some sort of chain connected to a something-or-other on the floor. Without much bracing, she tripped over it: seemingly falling in slow motion. Down went the item connected to the chain, and everything within a small radius. A metallic bronze discus revolved around its center of gravity before noisely clattering to the ground. She cringed: not so much because she had hurt herself (truth be told she did scrape up her knee on the chain), but because the sound surely echoed throughout the entire shop.

'Way to go, klutz,' she bullied herself internally. 'You probably disturbed everyone.'

She stood slowly after a few moments, wobbling a little, and brushed herself off: little dust particles falling off of her skirt. That's when she saw it--there on her knee--blood oozing from a rather deep abrasion.

And that's all she remembered, just before it all went black.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*No sooner had the subject of my obvious staring answered her phone and apologized for having to leave without further perusal of her particular find, with the promise of a return visit to get a more hands-on demonstration, I heard a loud clatter off in the aisles. I waved as the woman departed before moving off toward the sound of falling items and what could've been a cymbal.

When I arrived at the epicenter of the disturbance, I saw Hannah on her back amidst the obvious pile of trinkets fallen in her stumble. There was a scrape on her knee, weeping blood in a few trickles. I knelt next to her, digging in one of the many pockets of my jacket, finding the alcohol wipes I kept for spot-cleaning. They'd work for disinfecting a wound as well. A few dabs and the bleeding was staunched, thankfully. With that taken care of, I moved to her head, cradling it with one hand while the other stroked her cheek*

Hannah, wake up. Are you alright?

 

[ObscureInsanity]

"What time is it?" she responded after a few moments, as if she were somewhere else entirely. If she didn't know any better she would think that she was lying in bed, within a dream, accompanied by some unknown, chivalrous lover. A small, peaceful smile played over her face.

As her eyes opened slowly and focused she made out a figure, a few blinks later and his face came crisply into her view. She looked around frantically, not moving, but appraising the damage she had caused.

"I'm sorry," she groaned, raising her hand towards the back of her head: a grimace abducting her serene smile; she'd obviously banged her head on the way down--if not on a shelf, perhaps the floor. A single tear fell out of her eye, flowing down the crease where eyelid met eyelid, sliding slowly down towards her ear.

"I tripped on that," she pointed obscurely, her eyes slowly followed her finger and she adjusted it to point at the chain nearby. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to faint too... and cause more damage."

 

[fr33ks33k]

*A small chuckle escaped me. I smiled down at her, groggily returning to consciousness.*

Don't worry about it. Nothing actually seems broken.

*My eyes moved to the chain she was pointing to. An inquisitive arch came to my brow, and I moved over to it after assuring myself that she was coherent enough to support herself. The chain was heavy iron, though the links were not massive. It was fastened to a stone about the size of a coconut, and at the opposite end was a single iron shackle*

Interesting...a literal ball and chain. I don't think I've noticed this thing before. Though this...

*My hands came upon the discus that had fallen and created such a clamor. It was etched with Grecian pictographs*

This is quite an ancient piece. If my studies are correct, it's from one of the first Olympic Games.

*Gingerly, I handed over the disc to Hannah, smiling still*

 

[ObscureInsanity]

She steadied herself after wiping away the tear that had lazily fallen across the left side of her face. She turned slightly, supporting her weight predominantly on her left arm so that her eyes and face could follow his movements. She subconsciously rubbed the back of her head where formed a goose egg from her skull's encounter with the ground, and let her hand fall free as he began to speak of the object that made her tumble.

A ball and chain... how odd. A small smirk drifted across her face before fading away into a more quizzical expression.

She took the discus into her hand and examined it, a great sense of joy overwhelmed her and she giggled a little. Why, she was holding a piece of ancient history!

"Its exquisite," she exclaimed after carefully examining the small pictographs; she tilted her face up towards him as she ran her fingertips across the cool metal's edge. "I'm sorry I caused such a commotion and stole your attention away from your other customer... I didn't mean to interrupt y'all."

Her hands lowered slowly to her lap where she rested the discus; her legs were still slightly askew, one firmly embedded underneath her, the other sprawled straight out, where he had tended to her. A twinge of self-consciousness overtook her and she nervously unfolded the other leg from beneath her and pulled at the hem of her skirt. She casually looked away, and bit nervously at the inside of her bottom lip.

'It's nice to see you again--is that so hard to say to him?!' she thought to herself, her cheeks reddening as she pretended to be interested in something off to her side.

"You've got a lot of different eras represented here," she managed to say--damn near in a whisper --before glancing up at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do you, perhaps, have anything that is from the time of the ancient Egyptians?"

A ruse. If she could manage to spend a little more time with him and not all her time by herself... she looked away again... her life was incredibly lonely, so much so that she never in her wildest dreams thought that she'd be where she was emotionally. Surely, by now, she'd be partnered with someone, betrothed, even. No, not her. Never her. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. She fluttered her eyes and made herself stand up. She brushed her legs and skirt off again and noted that one of her straps on her wedge sandal had broken.

"You don't have a 'no shoes' policy, do you?" she asked him softly, giggling as she gingerly took one off, then the other, allowing the remaining straps and soles to hang lazily from her index and middle fingers. In her other hand remained the discus which she set down gently atop a free space on the nearest shelf.

Her eyes darted across his chest--which was parallel to the shelf where the discus resided--then upwards towards his broad shoulders, only to suspend on his face: on his eyes. She smiled sheepishly and swayed a little--it was a nervous habit she hardly was receptive to until someone would mention to her that they were getting seasick. Another silly little quirk of hers.

 

[fr33ks33k]

No need for apologies, Hannah. Things have a tendency toward entropy, and beyond that they seek order. I'm sure she and I will have a chance to catch up later. For now, I do believe I have a few Egyptian artifacts around here somewhere....

*I saw the timidity, ever-familiar and still endearing. Out of her shoes, I was that much taller than her; a nice proportion, not too exaggerated. The cut of her skirt was modest, just as she was. Fitting in more than one way. I realized I was looking her over, much the same as I'd done my other patron, and averted my eyes for a moment while replacing the other few items that had ended up on the floor. Once I managed to drag my gaze back to her eyes, I had a friendly smile in place. Gesturing off down an aisle, I dipped a small bow*

This way madam, ancient wonders await!

*After a small chuckle I continued*

Apologies for the cheesiness, but it seemed appropriate.

*With that, I strode easily in the direction I'd indicated, knowing she'd follow*

 

[ObscureInsanity]

She smiled a little as he bowed slightly and took a couple steps to seal the gap between them.

"It wasn't THAT cheesy," she giggled, folding her hand within the other behind her back. She walked carefully through the aisle, taking great care to check her footing and the items around her.

It wasn't exactly too long of a walk because he stopped, quite abruptly, which resulted in her bumping into his back. She quickly took a step back and bowed her head a little.

"Sorry," she whispered. She moved her hands from behind her back and stood on her tip toes to see over his shoulder. Her hands gently ran up his shoulder blades and rested on his shoulders as if she were using him for leverage. Truth be told the physical contact gave her goose bumps, but she neglected to acknowledge them.

She saw a small black figurine of Anubis and wondered if it was actually a piece from way back when, and if it was, how in the world it survived in such pristine condition. There were other fascinating pieces there as well, yes, she'd be able to spend quite some time examine them. She lowered herself and removed her contact from his shoulders. A little giddy giggle escaped her and she quickly made to cover her mouth, blushing slightly.

 

[fr33ks33k]

*Once we'd reached the aisle with the proper items, I stopped and felt the jolt of her running into me. I smiled a bit; her eagerness seemed to have her getting ahead of herself. When her hands rested on my shoulders, I felt that familiar tingle one gets from intimate contact, even in such an innocent gesture. Following her eyes, I made note of the Anubis statuette and, once she'd stopped peering over my shoulder, made my way over to it.*

This one is quite special. Pure obsidian, with gold inlays. I'm sure it would fetch a pretty penny if I were in the business of making money. Though, it seems too lovely to part with if you ask me.

*I hefted the figurine in one hand, admiring the weight of the stone it was constructed of before I turned to Hannah, holding it out to her*

Do you fancy Egyptian art for any particular reason? Have you studied it, or is it simply aesthetically pleasing?