Loa Blood

[Morgoth]

The Crusher stared around in dumb shock at the visitors. The woman appeared to be the most immediately dangerous. If she had anything approaching the constitution of that spider monster, he was doomed. It was a miracle that the spider had decided to give birth at that exact time, and he could only pray that the babies weren't too hungry and didn't have cannons in their bellies. He didn't remember this place as being so varied or so dangerous. To be honest, he didn't remember much. He had been insane at the time, and although he is still insane, he is rational. Dan crouched there, mind rapidly cycling through his options. To flee? To fight? No. The second is not a good option. This place is too dangerous to fight in.
How do these creatures survive every day? It only stands to reason that the strongest would wipe the others out. But that doesn't appear to have happened. Indeed, they seem to coexist.

A sudden cough brought blood with it, and he stared in shock at his crimson-stained hand. It was the first time he had bled in this place.
"I must get free. I must get out of here", he groaned. "This is what the Ashlands must be. This is evil itself", he mused.

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: I took a seat on the balcony the chair was leather and made of rich wood. This show is attracting the richest of us isn't it? How wealthy was this man or was he just lucky? Oh well matters not. The last group of dancers cleared the stage and I began to wonder what the next act would be.

A single man walked out. He looked very familiar and yet I couldn't remember where I saw him, it was like he was from a chapter i had blocked from my mind. Some sort of dream or perhaps a night mare.

I looked on trying to decide when I felt a sudden kick from with in. I looked down at my belly and could feel the monster from inside. The creature was trying to escape his prison but fortunately he was safe for now. I simply watched it's vain struggle against my womb, it will die there if I can stop it. It will die and never be released.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

ooc:srry its taken so long for me to post,ive bene having an incredibly hectic timeX_X all Dec.)

Symphony
grinning a bit and turning his head to follow the pretty Dancer,He composed himself and stepped out onto the stage.
An interesting fact about the human mind is how the subconscious interprets sounds so that it can act on its own.A human mind can recognize hundreds of thousands of sounds,from the slight breath of a sleeping person to an explosion.
A ripple of invisible sound washe dove rthe crowd,as almost every person there turned as one to watch the stage.
It started wiht a low throbbing,much like a giant heartbeat.small sounds,sweeter and more lovely sounding then a trio of fluts played by world-renown musicians.they flitted past while the dull throbbing beat played just in the range of hearing.
Meanwhile small streaks of sound and peculiar melodies drifted into the air,the air trembling as if being played liek an instrument itself.
slowly,in a wave the standing section started to move or sway wiht the strange rythyms,and it then spreaded all across the lower levels and finally to the balconies.It was soothing yet intense,soft and gently moving yet also a Hard,Fast tempo.Already dancing was starting,Men and Women in the standing section shifting and moving as one wiht the rythym.
In a single note everything changed,sending a cooling balm of sound,the angry or indifferent suddenly quieting,going tranquil,for the rythym reminded those of a lovers voice,the sound of a Mother or Father comforting them at night,turning the whole crowd docile.

it picked up again and Dancing started again,this time ina slow,sensual beat,wapping the audience in tis grasp as dancers started sliding and gliding sensuasly against one another.bodies moved and twirled and shifted like waves in the ocean,the whole audience captivated completly and utterly.

3 hours later itstopped wiht one long last note,high and sweet and clear.people blinked and came too fully again,the spell broken

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

The crowd surges to their feet, the roar of their applause deafening after the sweetness of the strange, alien music. They remain standing for long minutes, clammoring for more, for Symphony to speak.

Backstage, journalists wait eagerly for a chance to talk to or photograph this new musical sensation. A pair of Sejealan men in dark suits step in front of the cluster of reporters. "Mr. Symphony. The owner of this hotel would like very much to meet you. Madame Hass requests your presence at a private party, and has a car waiting for you outside."

Dani watches from the door of the dancers' dressing room, even more fascinated by the young musican.

The men and women in Nia's balcony are dispersing, talking among themselves, taking more champagne from the hovering waiters trays. She overhears two women whispering, close by her ear. One woman is Argon, the other is Svetlan. Both look like high-priced call-girls.

"The Basilisk's Heart will be in the city in one month's time. The Cold Blood plan to steal the gem before it leaves here for Argopolis. I don't know why."

In the babble of the excited crowd, the two women must believe they can speak privately. Nia seems to be the only one who heard them.

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

The pack of winged dogs swoops closer to the brood of baby spider-things. A few dogs snatch up wriggling metal spiders in their jaws and devour them. Most of the spiders do not yet have active weaponry, but a few fire energy bolts from their belly-cannons at the circling dog pack. Some of the spiders have other mutations, including heat-seeking mini-missiles, or clouds of poisonous heavy-metal gas. Two of the dogs drop dead, and the rest of the pack take wing, returning to the north, towards the cities.

As the ground bursts, and the red, armoured limbs of antmen emerge and begin grabbing at the spiders, the brood scatters. The antmen are mostly human-sized, though some are smaller. Some have two arms, some have more. Some have monstrous mandibles dripping acid, and bulging red eyes. The most horrible have almost human faces. They swarm over the remains of the mother spider, and drag her underground. The baby spiders, already growing rapidly, seek cover in the ruins of Rufus' bunker.

The antmen spread across the hill, curiously crawling over every piece of wreckage and giant fungus. The unicorns watch for a while, and then retreat into the living forest, towards the giant crystal spire. The hole in the ground writhes and teems with antmen. There are only a few dozen on the surface, but it looks like there must be thousands underground.

A trio of red antmen crawls to where the Crusher lays bleeding. Their antenae click in insect communication, and they circle the metalic man-monster, acid dripping from their jaws.

On the other side of the hole, the dancer draws nearer, her six arms weaving complex patterns in the air around her. Antmen turn to ice, or mercury, or wood in her wake. One becomes an ugly red pig. The dancer stares blindly ahead, her eyes glazed with fear, her movements and her transformative power seemingly beyond her control.

 

[Mirad182]

Rufus awoke from his temperary insanity. Seeing the destruction that fell around him he imediatly stood up. He looked around and after a while found his bladed staff. He grabbed it and charged towards the antmen that were piling ontop of The Crusher. he swung at the nearest's head and atempted to draw their atention towards him. "HEY!!" He yelled into the carnage. He tried to keep them at bay. A few looked in his direction and began to attack. The acid dripping from their mouths.

Rufus' staff spun with amazing power and speed. He struck at all that aproached him. As they surounded him he only increased in speed. He jabbed at one of them as he swung the blade in circles atacking the rest. He quickly jumped outside of them and continued to drive into the red group...

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Symphony stepped down off the stage into the back area,his shirt soaked through with sweat,his silvery hang hanging limply around his head.
He stopped in front of the two men and nodded slightly."well if Madam requests how can i refuse?"he says softly."please allow me to freshen up and i will meet you shortly"
Walking briskly away,shrugging off the surge of reporters and their ilk he managed to get into his smallready room,alone.
With a deep sigh Symphony dropped into a chair,fatigue making his shoulders droop and his head lol back for a second.
He sighed and stood again,changing his shirt and brushing back his hair.
Downing an energy drink he sothe smaes temple before getting ready to leave.

 

[LadyRozes]

Rosa held her jacket to her... and paced the room that she had been given..It was a spacious room they had given her. They had told her that if she had wanted to stay the evening that they would give her a guest room. She had declined of course.. staying after a performance always tended to cause problems...

her money had run out and decided she needed to dance again.. hopefully this time she'll be able to slip out just like the last time...

a knock sounded the door..

"Enter" she said. She hadnt taken off her jacket yet so it didnt matter who was there..

A man dressed in a uniform said Madame Hass has asked that you be ready when we call... and was wondering if you needed anything set up..

Since she was to be dancing in the main hall and not on a stage .. she simply said " no just that when you want me to enter to play this tape I will be ready whenever it is that you want me to perform.. "

She handed the man the tape from her pocket and then as an after thought said.. "if you could dim the lights as well ... it will create the atmosphere... thank you."

The man put the tape in his pocket and said " if that is all .. then we will have someone escort you to the hall before we start "

"Thank you " she said in a small voice. The man turned to leave and closed the door after him. a distinct click was heard indicating that the door had been properly shut..

Rosa sighed and sat down on one of the sofas in the room and waited...

 

[SwampThing]

Dani struggles through the crowd to Nia's side. "Wow," she says, "Wasn't that mega! That music . . . or whatever . . . it was beautiful. And he wasn't bad either. Come on, I heard he's going to be at this after-party at Madam Hass' greenhouse. I'm sure they'll let a couple of well-dressed lovelies like us crash the place. Please, come with me?"
________________

The greenhouse occupies several floors of an old herritage building on the southern edge of the city, overlooking the wide river delta and the lush, green swamps beyond. The center of the building is a an open atrium, 4 storeys high and filled with flowering trees and fluttering birds. The surrounding greenhouse rooms hold the rows upon rows of orchids and other exotic plants that form the majority of Hass' legitimate business in Bridges. The upper levels of the old building contain private apartments, and the lower levels are sealed to all but security personnel.

The main atrium buzzes with excited voices, mostly patrons from Symphony's concert. The crowd is primarily Sejealan, with several young Argon, Svetlan and Draconian young women in slinky, revealing dresses, most likely prostitutes. Several guests recline on low couches, and smoke illegal opium from elaborate hookahs.

Hass herself strolls through the atrium, greeting her guests and allowing them to kiss her hand. Hass looks good for her mid thirties, her dark hair framing an elegant face. Her floor-length dress of shimmering green silk is open in the back, and a large snake is coiled around her shoulders. The snake surveys the room with cold malice in it's eyes.

 

[cats]

Nia in "A vision"

IC: The lights dimmed a bit more and a spot light fell upon this single dark man. He moved his hand and I could feel a low beat like the beat of a heart. The heart of a loved one, my father holding me gently as I sat in his lap on the swing in our garden it was a spring day and the flowers where blooming, gold and ivory petals, and silver leaves. The cool summer breeze brushing against my face. My sister came out from the house and simply smiled at me. My brother stood off in the rock garden preparing his mind for the training he would under take. I closed my eyes seeing all this and not what was really there. I could see something that wasn't visible I could see joy, and this was his opening act.

... latter in show...

My eyes where closed and I saw something I hadn't seen before since he started. My vision was simply black. I could see only the darkness and feel the cool air moving threw the room. A single figure emerged from the darkness, a single man. Wings flung out from his back and the creature soon turned into the monster that had cursed me. A second figure appeared a white figure of pure light. A woman, across from the crusher. The room began to turn and my vision moved around them circle slowly at first but then quickly as time went on. The light and the dark became a blur until they merged as one. They merged as the Grey*, and I couldn't tell if I was spinning any more.

From this Grey a familiar sound was heard. the sound of heart beating once more. That kind and gentle heart. I found myself in the daylight once more. In the garden with pure flowers, softly swinging, the heart on my lap. The heart in my child. The joy there once more, the purity, the innocence there once more.

The sound stopped and my eyes open. I could see all the people here at the party, how happy every one was. I moved my hand toward a waiters tray, setting down the glass of wine. Some thing weren't worth the risk.

OOC: I'll party in my next post. * Grey is there version of the yin and yang.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Hunger.
It clawed at him,making him stumble a bit.
The Queen hungered.
So hungry....A painful blast of Hunger sent him reeling,hands sliding along a wall.
Breath misted ina cloud of white,curling and fading in the air in front of him.
The Queen Hungered.
Legs moved of their own accord.Chitin skittered against pavement,lurching his body across a deserted cul-de-sac,most of the stores either boarded up or closed but for a single convenience store.
The Queen Hungered.
The sound of broken glass shattered the night and echoed against the walls of faceless,cold stone walls of brick or cement,their old surface defaced by graffiti years old.
The Queen Hungered.
stepping into the store through the main window,his eyes flitted side to side,chittin crushing the glass underfoot into sparkling powder without flinching.An elderly man came out of the back,holding a small handgun,his old,wrinkled hands shaking.
The Queen Hungered.......


A news report flickered on,the light throwing shadows across the huge warehouse floor.a Large red leather chair,sagging a bit with age and looking more patches then chair,sat in front of the Tv.a small figure layed in the chair,Large,eyes boring into the Tv screen intently.A newswoman stood in front of a destroyed shopfront,where police taped off the area and paramedics covered the body of the storeowner.

The skittering of something in the shadows caused HER to turn and lean over the arm of the chair and look there.

He stepped out from the shadows,chitin clicking agains the harder linoleum ground,and dropped a large pile of food from a number of bags.Chips and cookies and the like spilled out,their boxes,bags and containers a riot of color,each trying to seduce HER into choosing it to try first.
Without a word he reached down and selected a small box of sugar cookies and tore thetop off,laying it carefully on the chair's broad sagging arm.

The Queen had Hungered,and now SHE Fed.........

 

[Morgoth]

The Crusher stared in shock at the whirlwind of Rufus's blows. Then, standing, his mouth still wide open in shock, he began to scream. He screamed until his raw throat forbid him to anymore, then turned to the forest and began to run. He didn't stop running until silence had finally enclosed him, deep in the heart of this living forest. There, he collapsed to his knees, head falling to the ground before him. Visions clouded his fevered mind, and dreams and nightmares spun and whirled through it, melding together and transforming. He scrambled back, spittle beginning to drip from his mouth, until his back hit one of the crystal mountains. For several moments, he continued in his attempt to race backwards, until he finally realized he had gone as far as he could. Once he did realize this, another scream tore from his throat, sending blood from his wide mouth also. Tears, the first real tears he had cried since his changing, poured from his eyes, mingling with the blood stained on his face. At moments, blood would also emerge from his eyes, dripping to the hard ground and swirling together with the tears before being sucked into the earth. After unknown, unnumbered minutes like this, he stopped, standing. "I am powerless here. This place... There is no description for the horror of this place. Maybe... Maybe I should just give up? Just die? No! I refuse to! I will take this world, hold it in my grasp, and perfect it. I will not be destroyed by the insanity of this place. I will crush it and bend it to my will!" he said aloud to the forest. Voices spiralled up from inside.

You? Take the world? How can you be perfect when you can't even swat a spider? Just die. Let the pain and the nightmares and the horror end. Let it ALL end. Welcome the eternity of darkness. Or, cede this body to the others. Let them bear the terror while you embrace silence. Why not? What have you left?

"No! I must perfect the world. No one else can! Only I! I must! I must!" he exclaimed, tears beginning their flow once more.

Why? Who cares? Their pathetic, weak, insignificant. They deserve to die. Why bear the pain for them? Why love them? Why protect them?

"I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I must! I MUST!" he roared, shattering the tranquility.

Let them die. Let them burn. Let them kill one another and rape one another until nothing but the silence is left. Let the silence envelope the world. Let it wash away the fears, the pain, the dreams, the hopes. Let it cleanse this world of all of them. Let a darkness of peace regain this ball of rock. Why not?

Slowly, the Crusher nodded. Without a sound, he sat back against the crystal mountain. Silence enveloped him and the forest once more as his head dipped to his chest and the last spark of life went from his eyes.

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: Dani had taken me by the arm and I said sure. She virtuly dragged me trhew the crowds of poeple, behavior a bit agressive for her and very supriseing she odviously was thrilled to of been in this concert. Shortly after we had entered the party.

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Roza is escorted into the main atrium by a muscular young thug in a well-tailored suit. A small vial of Loa cells gleams at his throat. A low wooden stage has been errected on one side of the atrium, and the atrium lights dim for the performance. Starlight shines though the skylights above, and filters through the canopy of trees.

The gangsters and their call-girls gaze up from their couches, eyes clouded by opium. Hass stands near the center of the room, surrounded by handsome bodyguards. Her dark eyes shine with cold intelligence as she stares intently at the young dancer.

Dani grabs drinks for herself and Nia. She tosses her hair flirtatiously at a few of the younger gangsters and guards, scanning the room for Symphony. Nia is once again aware of the hidden presence of ninjas with blowguns in the shadows, and the combat-readiness of the guards all around them.

Nia spots the Sejealan man who invited her to his balcony at the concert. He raises his glass and gives her a slight smile.

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: It wasn't hard to get in and once there Dani returned to her normal self. She flirted a bit with her hair while I ended up checking the place out. A few of the gaurds were tense in there legs and arms, the quick draws of the group. The kind of people who want to show what they are worth. Others were simply relaxing but none I could see where off gaurd, they were a strong defense. I could here a few quite foot steps from around the area. Ninjas gaurded the place, the few I could her or spot weren't a big threat, after all a ninja is focused on stealth and tricks, the ones I didn't here and couldn't spot had me worried.

When Dani handed me the drink I simply turned it down. I had enough of that, this child deserved a chance and I was willing to give it to him. With some luck it would be human, sadly I doubt it with how fast it's growing, it already was twice as big as it should be. besides I didn't need to eat or drink, still that hasn';t been the case for a while, I simply want to eat every once in a while now. On the island I ahd all but forgoten what food tastes like. I didn't wish to forget again.

I spoted the wan from before. he was kind enough to invite me to the balcony and I respect him some for it. I supose I owe him a discusion for it aswell. I walked over to him and causlly began to converse. "So whats your name?"

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Symphony slipped inbetween the party-goers,having aluded Madam Hass after a minute or two of mindless banter.
Looking around wiht a small glass of a fizzing blue-colored drink,He scanned the room,easily allowing himself to catch any secret conversatons.He grinned and gave a sly wink suddenly at a woman walking away wiht a man from the party towards the apartments.
Madam Hass was stalking regally around,moving the tide of people there.He tuned her out into the background but sitll monitered her.He shut theat snake up though,its hiss stopping in the middle and dying into a silence/

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Symphony hears the gangsters speak of opium, of his show, of their deals in heroin, arms, and Loa cells, the tragedy of Bay City and the fear of contamination from Dracon Island refugees.

Hass glides around the atrium trailing her crowd of admirers and bodyguards. Her voice is low, her laugh quick and sharp. Occaisionally, she murmers something too quiet for anyone around her to hear, apparently to her snake. But really, she's speaking to Symphony.

"I'm quite certain you can hear me, Symphony. Your performance displayed beautifully your total control of sound. You are a force to be reckoned with in this city, and I sincerely hope that we can be friends. Quite apart from that, you are also a visionary artist. Your music deserves to be heared by all.

"I invite you to perform at my hotel every week, and to enjoy my famous hospitality in this city for as long as you wish. I will arrange for larger audiences, a stadium venue, as soon as possible. With national boadcast, of course. And your every need will be taken care of while you remain with us.

"Please think it over. And please take the time to speak with Roza, the dancer here tonight. I would like to see the two of you perform together sometime."

Symphony is distracted away from Hass' secret whisper by Dani approaching him. The dark-haired girl smiles and says "Fun town, isn't it?"
________________________________________

Nia's hand is taken is a cool hand, his touch firm but light. "I am Otto Ellis, my dear. I am an associate of Madam Hass', dealing mainly with our Svetlan interests. I have been absent from Bridges for some time, and it is good to be back. You have come recently from Bay City, yes? Where the first monster struck. 'It has begun', she said."

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

Rufus tears through the antmen, a whirlwind of spinning blades. Dozens of the creatures fall, black blood oozing through ragged holes torn in their armored exo-skeletons. But even as the antmen die, more swarm up through the hole in the ground.

The second wave of antmen surrounds Rufus, tearing with their claws and pincers, and snapping at him with giant mandibles or human teeth. The acidic bites burn Rufus' skin, but the mutative venom does not spread through his cold, dead body.

Rufus stands knee-deep in insectoid corpses, his own clothes and skin torn and bloody. The wave of antmen seems endless, but just as they seem about to overcome Rufus completely, they stop, and retreat into their tunnel underground.

As the mass of mutant insects retreats, Rufus notices another heap of bodies, similar to the one he's standing in. Except some of these antmen have been turned to stone, some to butterflies, one to milk and cookies. Some of them are still alive, bodies half-transformed into starfish or elk, dragging their strange bodies on the ground in mindless confusion, pain and fear. At the center of this mass, the dancer spins gracefully, her six arms waving like seaweed in a current.

The last of the surviving antmen disappears down the cavernous tunnel into the dark bowels of Dracon Island. The dancing woman stares across the battlefield at Rufus, her face contorted and her eyes streaming tears.

"Please . . . help me."
______________________________

Miles away, through the living forest, at the base of the violet crystal tower, the Crusher sits motionless. His heartbeat and breathing have stopped completely. The creature that was Dan Williams is dead. Orange puffball fungus slowly begins taking root in his organic metal body.

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: He took my hand in his and I half expected him to kiss it. His skin was soft and allowed me o feel the strong muscle under it. He certinly had grace and class, something that would be wasted by ascoaiteing with me. Still this wasn't Val and he wasn't Valin. My rules for class where difrent from his and sense he wasn't valin his class simply wasn't worth anything to those on Val.

Otto was his name, Otto Ellis, his name seemed to an entity in it's self. It added to his charm and grace. His short speech gave me nothing but his name and wonder of what he did. Who he truely was. Then he mentioned Bay city, and my desire for this conversation ended.

I took my hand back and grabed my arms. "Please lets talk about something else. Anything else." I wanted to forget that incident and yet I knew full well I couldn't.

 

[Floru]

Introduction

Meet Aijen Winters, a Party Magician that resided on Dracon Island where he made his living before the Loa testing turned the Island into a giant experiment. Currently where Aijen stands, he was rescued from Dracon Island by the UN awhile ago and was released with some cash that he got from trading some of his valuables that he took from his residence as he was rescued. Having a profession that he was consitered a 2-bit magician in and his pure black eyes, he was running low on luck finding a job. Even more unfortunate for him, he has wound up in Bridges and has spent his money on a hotel save one coin. "Stupid hotel, cost myself the last remaints of my money, but I needed the shower and the place to sleep comfortably. At least if I have to sleep on the streets, I can fantasize about my stay last night at the hotel to make me feel a little better." Aijen pulls out his last remaining coin which he then enjoys rolling about in the ridges of his fingers and tossing it into the air while calling the side the coin will land in his hand facing up to mildly entertain himself. He is unknowing of anything really happening in Bridges except all the lights and the casinos and the hotels like the one he spent in the previous night. With his only coin in his hand, he approaches a casino that seems to strike his facy and walks up to a flashy slot machine promising the winner money in Big Bold Green Dollar Signs. He reaches up to his magicians hat and rubs it while giving a sigh, "C'mon lucky hat, show me what you can do, all or nothing, please give me more money." He pauses before dropping the coin in and brings it to his lips to kiss it. "Last bit of my luck is in you coin." He says as he slowly lifts the coin to the slot, hand shaking in fear with the unknown outcome soon to be decided in a matter of moments. He then drops the coin into the slot and pulls the giant lever on the side of the great machine of promise and fortune. He bites his lower lip as the giant spinners in the machine begin to turn at a rapid rate.

 

[Morgoth]

Darkness, complete and absolute enveloped him. His own body, giving off a strange, red luminescence. Other lights, whirling by him. As vision returned to him, he opened his mouth to gasp, but no sound came forth. All around him, an army of lights! But these lights were not like any he had ever seen. They were all people, glowing. Many stared in open-mouthed terror at him, and when he looked down, he did as well. His was no longer the body of the Crusher, the great beast, but instead he was as he had once been, all but for two great horns that sprouted from his head and for the wings on his back. A metallic, bland man floted next to him, and Dan recognized him as the metallic suit. Another man, bright light flaring from him, hovered nearby as well, dan williams. A small, entirely black figure, that of the nameless entity, and a massive, monstrous form, red as well, hovered close. Once he looked again, he saw that not all was dark, but the strange lights him and all these other bodies gave off were providing light to this terrible void. A sudden tear rippled into existence far, far away. There, light poured through, banishing some of the darkness. Yet the darkness did not release its grip on this place, and the light only barely managed to find its way back to this floating mass. Suddenly, this horde began to move as one towards the tear, and Dan Williams fought this power, his mouth opening to scream but no sound emerging, fighting back against this movement. It was for naught. Even as he tried, he continued moving, as the darkness seemed to envelop him. He stared down, and like a screen had been there, a vision appeared. It showed him and his family, when he had still been human, sitting together and having a meal. As he moved past the point where he could see it, another vision appeared, this of him yelling at his wife during some argument they'd had. He moved past this as well. Another came, of the blast. It showed him flung to the wall, where he lay for days before his body mutated. Another, of his arrival in Bay City. And so they continued, ever more, showing both sides of him as he approached the great rift. He looked around him, trying to block out the visions, but always, his eyes were drawn back, unbidden. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he reached the great light. As he drifted into it, his body suddenly regained its senses, and peace swallowed him even as the light did.

 

[LadyRozes]

Roze

ooc: sorry about the late reply


Rozes enters the dimmed lighted room. She takes her shapeless jacket out to reveal the costume underneath. Its a blood red color.. the pants are made from sheer veils in the same color they are connected to solid panties and a solid cuff at the ankles when she stands you cant tell their seperate veils until she walks .. its the same whith the top is a sloid bra which is a little off the shoulder and the sleeves are long conected to at the wrist with cuffs the same as the ankles.. the whole top looks like its a shirt .. below the bra is sheer red fabric like the veils which splits in the center.. so when she moves you get glimpses of skin.. her hairs is knoted with veils in her hair and the last covers her head and hides face save for her eyes which is covered in khol.

Her middle fingers have a veil tied like a ring on each end.. and she slowly walks to the center of the room. (oO: lorena Mckennit: marco polo) she turns her back to the better part of the room. and as the music begins to start her movements flow with is. first one arm raises and then falls then other. Then in the third section she raises both and clasps them above her head. then she turns her head to face the audience.. a look flashes in her eyes that makes everyone in the audience feel as though she were just for their enticement. she begins her way around the room.

Her hips swaying as she walks within the beat of the music. Everyone in a while when the music changed she would stop and her body looked as though it was waves in water and she gracefully got to the floor in front random people.

On her knees she would arch her back and and as if she were falling all the way to the ground but not quite as she did the her arms would twist above her and the scarves created and intricate pattern that was almost mesmorizing. when she got back up che created circles with her upper body which of course inticed the man in front of her to make a grab for her. she of course having understood the effects of her dance was well out of his grasp. then she would stand the same way she fell to the floor like waves on water. In the end she made her way to the center of the room. and the music begins to fade and she begins to isolate movements in her body as though she just moved the part. First her head then her shoulder, then her chest, her waist and finally she fell to the floor and the scraves in her sliky dark hair, the veils within them and her hand veils created a curtain covering almost her entire body. As the music fades into silence...

 

[LadyRozes]

Roze

When she heard nothing, SHe looked up , still catching her breath. she looked around the room trying to gage the reaction. The better the reaction the bigger the pay was going to be. The whole dance had taken about twenty mins she used the same song and extended the middle part so she could make her way around.. In her mind she kept thinking its so quiet .. I wonder did they like it..

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Hass' guests, most of them deeply drugged, stare silently at Roza for long minutes after the music stops, wishing the performance to go on. Only after the lights go up does slow, lanquid applause eco through the high, green room.

Madam Hass takes Roza's hand, and gracefully lifts the dancer to her feet. The snake coiled silently around Hass' shoulders locks eyes with Roza, as does Hass herself. Both stares are cold, dispasionate, full of malice barely masked by glittering beauty.

"I am pleased, child. Come, walk with me. There is someone I would like you to meet. You see that man there? He is the mysterious artist, Symphony, who debuted tonight at my hotel. I feel you and he have much in common, and hope someday you may perform together."
__________________

Otto withdraws is hand. "I am sorry. We are gatherred to celebrate beauty, this is no place to discuss monsters and horror."
The Sejealan man falls silent while Roza is performing. When the dance is over he turns to Nia once again.

"Another magnificent performance, was it not? I must confess, I had noticed you at the concert not only for your comely features, but for your grace of bearing. You are Valin, are you not? Trained in the martial arts of your people. Your training shows in your movements, as surely as the training of others in this room must show itself to you.

"Of course, for now your training must be on hiatus. But if you wish, after your child is born, I would be honored to invite you to one of our Dojos in the city. I am sure our young students would have much to learn from you."
__________________________

Aijen pulls the crank on the one-chit slot machine, and watches symbols race by on the screen. One by one, the symbols settle into place. Lemon . . . Lemon . . . Cherries. Aijen won nothing, and now has only the clothes on his back and his plastic magician's hat.

The casino hostesses offer Aijen drinks, and the waiting call-girls offer much more. But they quickly realize he has nothing more to spend, and a large, solidly built Svetlan man offers to show him the door.

Outside, a chill fog has come up off the swamps to the south. Aijen hears haunting music coming from a 5-storey greenhouse. There are signs for performers wanted at the cheaper hotels. More signs for labourers in the restaurants and docklands. Homeless cluster in the alleys, sleeping in doorways or sitting around barrel fires. They are mostly Argon and Svetlan, with a few Draconians too mutated to find work in prejudiced Bridges. A man covered in pink scales looks up as Aijen passes, and Aijen sees sorrow, fear, and hunger in the man's eyes.

Far across town, somewhere a siren is wailing.

 

[LadyRozes]

Roze

Madam Hass takes Roza's hand, and gracefully lifts the dancer to her feet. The snake coiled silently around Hass' shoulders locks eyes with Roza, as does Hass herself. Both stares are cold, dispasionate, full of malice barely masked by glittering beauty.

Roza barely contained the shiver as Madame Hass took her hand. She locked her eyes onto to that of the snakes. Roza surpressed another shiver. Knowing full well it had been a risk comming here and performing, she still had done so due to the financial restraints that she was in. Seeing the reaction of the audience however, she knew she was not going to have to dance for a while.

"I am pleased, child. Come, walk with me. There is someone I would like you to meet. You see that man there? He is the mysterious artist, Symphony, who debuted tonight at my hotel. I feel you and he have much in common, and hope someday you may perform together."


thinking that her performance was over. That she did not have any other duties. she turned and looked longingly at the shapeless jacket that she shed in order to perform.

Her mind was in utter panic she wasnt suposed to have to do anything after her performance.. that was the deal... still too afraid of Madame Hass she figured it would be best to do as she asks then leave from the party. No sense in getting into more trouble..

She, not thinking about controling the inflections of her voice she slipped into her soft accented voice," I thank you Madame Hass for the compliment. If you could excuse me for a moment while I retrieve my tape and jacket .. I will meet your performer as you asked although I do not know what I could have in common from such a great performer as that."


She looked to madame Hass for approval to go retrieve her things..