Tales from th lost city

[Everyday_Man]

At a random poker club . . .
“Cowboy, you’re quite the gambler.”

“I do well enough to keep playing,” Ash told the gentleman to his right. An odd looking fellow with bright red hair that seemed to be made of wax, styled into curled, random waves atop his head. Clean shaven, his skinned glistened like oiled wood. “Why?”

“There are other games here worth trying,” the man told him, “if you know the right people.”

“And you are the right person?”

“Of course,” the man told him in conspiratorial manner, loud enough for the table to hear. “Since you’ve cleared out most of our stacks, would you care to have a look?”

“Well, I was going to go to this shop run by an orc named Blumpkin or something, I’ve heard strange things about that place,” Ash said, trying to read the faces at the table. They looked jealous at the invitation given his way. Higher stakes then, Ash could feel his blood begin to run at the possibility of a bigger game. “But that can wait for a little bit, alright, I’m in.”

 

[katalynn]

Mayna also treated the other two girls to a few drinks as well. The night turned into daylight before any of them realized it. yet none of them were tired so they stumbled and held each other up as they walked down the sidewalks towards Needful Things. Once they figured out what store it was through drunken eyes and lots laughing at various things, the three girls stumbled into the shop.

Mayna had a hard time keeping a hold of her back pack as it was full of books and it suddenly felt heavy as they walked. At one point she took off her shoes because they were a burden. But eventually she pulled out a book and flipped through the pages as one caught her attention. It had the description of the talisman she was looking for and showed it to the orc behind the desk.

"I... I am looking for this.. Do you have one by chance?"

Her words weren't slurred, but she did have to slow down a little to focus on what she wanted to say.

 

[grdybiwife]

Don stepped outside and belched before he lit up a smoke. His bag secure on his back, his bottle tucked neatly in his back pocket. Belly full he decided to take a nice walk to continue his people watching. He usually stayed close to home once he started drink, just in case things got weird but tonight he was feeling a little brave so he headed north instead of south. But still he didn't have a particular destination in mind. He simply walked and smoked, then took a long sip off his bottle before he walked some more.

Eventually he found himself meandering through times square, or at least what was left of it. He'd heard from some of his buddies of some kind of monster causing a disturbance the day before so he steered clear but now he found himself smakedab in the middle of the rubble. He'd heard that a group of inhumans took it out and by all accounts it sounded a little unreal to him but then again that was the world he lived in now.

And if for nothing else he drank to that.

 

[Everyday_Man]

At a random poker club . . .
The strange man with the wax hair led him to a door at the rear of the club, passed the bar and a large man whose face reminded Ash of cracked cement. New York wasn’t what it was and if a man was walking around with cement for skin, Ash would make sure to stay away from that man. Money was exchanged, a card shown and then they were walking through a hall and down a very quiet flight of stairs.

Wax Head—as Ash decided to call him—pushed open a black door to the roar of a crowd. They entered a room lit by a disturbing blue light. There were stands on three sides of a small square table, where two shirtless men sat, a gun between them. The far wall of the room was made of stone, covered with what looked like blood, old and new and quite possibly bits of brain. Old and new.

“What’s this?” Ash asked, intrigued by the scene before him.

“Other games,” Wax Head told him. “Don’t fear, those who play are either undead or were-creatures in need of silver for killing. They all heal, in time. Their pain is laughable, but since they eventually get back up, the fun is lessened. ”

“We’re going to bet on them?” Ash asked. He had won a lot of money at those tables tonight. His luck worked on chance games as well as those that needed some skill.

“We could,” Wax Head answered. “But, if a human puts himself in a chair opposite an unnatural creature, bets on the human are tripled. You’re lucky, aren’t you?”

Ash looked at the table, the two people spinning the cylinder and nearly empty chambers. The click, click, click, as it spun was deafening. The room was quiet, men in dark suits held fistful of cash, hushing each other as they waited for the hammer to be pulled. One of the men put the muzzle of the barrel to his temple and pulled the trigger.

Click.

The gamblers roared with anger and relief.

Ash’s heart was pumping. “Yes, I am lucky.”

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

Needfull Things

Blylock Sumkin smiles brightly. " Yes of course we don't. You have made a fine choice. Books like this are hard to find. With all the fires and such" He moves around the counter to the book case.

"Here is a fine book;If I had a dream." He walks around to the back side." Oh here is a book. A needful thing for sure I all most forgot I have it; Best Magic-Rocks and clocks & knots and locks."

He moves deeper into the store. " Then again, Needful Things are special. As is this book. It is special! I love a dragon, and he loves me!" Bylock lifts the book off the shelf. "Its a love story. A very soft and tender and most of all ,warm." He carries the book over to the counter.

"Come and feel it.....it warm." he continues holding it out to her.

 

[katalynn]

Mayna smiled brightly at the orc as he went through a few dragon books, a few had some really interesting titles. Though, they were not what she wanted, however, she wasn't entirely certain if the the talisman is what she wanted considering it was all in latin. But it did look like the one she was told about,

"No.. no.. Not a book. The item that is in the picture here.. This talisman, one that looks like this one."

She took the book that he was holding out to her out of respect more than anything as she tried to explain that it was the object in the picture she wanted. Not another book, hell, she didn't even like reading all that much!! Not to mention she has a back pack full of books from the other store, a book was the last thing she needed.

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

" OOHHH"he grunts loudly. He takes the book and lays it on the counter. "I begin to see. Its not the 'about magic'. That is where I did not get your going." He pauses and looks down at the floor.

"I find myself totally at fault!" He picks up the book and returns it to its place. He turns back to the woman. " Here at Needfull Things every thing is special to some one." He pauses and looks at her very seriously.

"This place is all about the magic, of what is, along with what it is not. The absence is some times more important then the here and now. When the future is the past and the present is the future." He pauses and puts his massive hands together.

"I have a better understanding of what you want, now." He leads her down a ramp to a small room with a locked room. He unlocks the door and with great reverence walks slowly to a china cabinet. "This is a shire to the higher holies I have."

From around his neck he pulls out a chain with a single key . He then slips the key into a lock in the door." I give you the magic of what is!" He swings open the door. The brightness of the items is at first blinding. They fill the room with luminescence. "Here 'is' the magic!" He moves away from the caninet.

"I do caution you! This is a place in the world, that the not, is greater then the is" He takes a step back so she can see all the items. And that is why I have rules. Ond while this is not a numbered rule it stands for times. Times just like these. No items have prices. No prices are real"

He watches her and continues. "Many do not understand. That when it comes to magic, the real world rules do not matter. And the rules of magic apply more then anything else. " He moves closer to her now. "I have tried to explain to the non-beleivers. The path is not there till you make the path. So what is not is also the what is or may yet to be!"

 

[silvertongue217]

“Well so much for recon only” Jack murmured hearing Quinn’s voice in the radio. He looked over at Dawson and shook his head scowling “Come on we better get in their before Quinn gets found and killed”

“I’m going to go to the trunk and get the sniper riffle” Edward said coming over the COM “I’ll provide over watch”

“Got it boss” Jack said going over to the penthouse and stepping inside “I’ll capture one for interrogation”

“Roger”

Jack smiled at the guard and whipped his revolver out. He didn’t know if this guy was a Templar or not so knocking him out cold with the but of his revolver. He tied him up and nodded at Dawson opening the elevator doors and stealing the access key for the penthouse floor.

“You ready to to do this?” He thought to him watching the elevator slide up.

Meanwhile across the street Edward opened the suit case revealing the bolt action sniper riffle with scope. He hefted the wooden gun and rested the stock against his shoulder. He peered into the scope and angled easily finding the window’s of the penthouse. He looked around making note of where every one was.

“Okay Quinn backup is on the way” He said breathing slowly “remember we want to capture at least one”

………………..

“And now you are mine” He breathed arching his hips beginning the process of sliding his big thick cock into her. He felt her protesting and trying to accommodate his length but ignored it instead grabbing her ass and messaging it which of course held her in place to continue pushing his cock inside of her. He grunted sweat running on the back of his neck as he took her virgin pussy. It was tight almost unbelievably so and wrapped around his length in such a delicious way. He knew she wouldn’t be able to take all of it not in her first time at least.

He reached her barrier and groaned pausing to stroke her hair and whisper a few words of prayer to her. He thrust in destroying it in one smooth motion and filling her completely. He moaned in pure pleasure and bottomed out his balls resting against her blood soaked lips as he delighted in the virgin pussy he had laid claim to.

“You are mine now” He murmured huskily “mine and god’s”

 

[katalynn]

Mayna followed the excited orc to the room listening to everything he was saying and for her it actually made perfect sense. After all, she is a kitsune and lived among dragons and fae, which are full of riddles themselves.

"Yes, I understand. The world of magic is always tricky one to understand, the rules are always changing to fit the situation."

The drunkenness was slowly fading the more she had to focus on her purpose here, though she smiled at the orc just before closing her eyes. She had a way of seeing the magical aura of items and this room was filled with a constant flow of tangled auras. Some were good auras, others not so good, even the vibes of a few of the items sent chills up her spine making her tails and ears flick.

Within moments she focused on untangling the auras of each item, finding the 'strings' that were attached to the items. Her tails had a steady constant glow to them as she focused a bit more, it took some work considering how muddled her mind was with booze. Mayna concentrated on blocking out the bad auras and worked on the ones that she knew were dragon related. This narrowed the items down to a handful and it was still very tricky to know what it was she truly searched for.

She followed each 'string' to each item and she studied the items carefully, comparing it to the picture in the book she held. The picture in the book was very old and didn't give her all the details she needed, but eventually she found one that came pretty damn close to what was in the book. Though it was difficult to tell if it was indeed the correct one, for all she knew it could everything into gold or something. But it did fit the description of the rumors she was told and it resembled the one in the book.

"What would you require for this one?"

She held up for him to see it and she hoped that she had what he wanted for it, oddly enough she had some pretty strange things hiding in her bag. Again, dragons and fae like payment with strange thing as well, she's only dealt with one or two orcs in her time here as well.

 

[Belladorma]

"Oh." She had actually forgotten about how much older Lam could have been while talking to her, and a shy smile appeared on her face. "Sorry, It's hard to remember you're older than i am." And she couldn't help but push Lam's shoulder lightly at her quip about Jack. "And yes, for the first time in 5 years, Bell got herself some tail and it was goooooood." She laughed heartily and linked her arm with the Vampire's and she couldn't help but muse allowed. "You know Lam, I've always had a hard time connecting with females, especially today." She made a face. "Usually there all prissy and girly and they just piss me off. But you're pretty damn awesome, even if you are a vampire." Doing her best to show she wasn't being condescending, but just meant it as a joke.

 

[Belladorma]

Emma had been poking around the shop drunkenly as her Kitsune friend worked with the ork. She followed behind quietly observing everything, touching something that would interest her, retreating if she felt a funny aura about another thing. The door he lead them to had a lot of magic surrounding it and she remembered a show with an imp. "Magic always comes with a price!" She quoted out loud to nobody before stepping though the door herself.

 

[grdybiwife]

Lem snorted at that and shook her head, and oddly enough didn't feel the need to pull away from Bell's friendly show of affection. "Yeah you seem like the type. That's sort of why I wanted to drag you along. We're like the same chick in different species and that can either be really a complete disaster if we don't get on the same page. I don't know if you noticed but I can be a bit of an asshole and I'd hate for my lack of social skills to be the reason this whole thing fell apart."

They walked along in comparable silence after that for a few blocks before something about what the shewolf said made her stop dead in her tracks. "Wait did you just say five years. I thought my pussy had cobwebs," she said with wide eyes.

It was then she noticed the guy walking ahead of them, tall big broad shouldered. He smelled human but there was something oddly off putting about his scent. Lem gave Bell a nudge with he elbow before picked up her pace to follow after her. From what she could see he was heavily tattooed but there was one in particular that drew her attention. The bar code on the back of his neck, just like the monster from times square.

"Follow my lead," she whispered to Bell as she took off after the man. "Hey...hey cutie!! Wait up," Lem called out to the man having taken Bell's hand in hers as she jogged a little to catch up to him.

 

[Belladorma]

"Cobwebs, bats and stalactites." She said before cominueing in silence her mind wandered through memories until Lam bumped her and started pulling her forward. She put on her best smile and ran after her.

 

[grdybiwife]

Don turned his head at the sound of a woman calling out behind him. When he looked behind him and saw two girls, he shook his head and capped his bottle. He looked closely at the bottle before he tucked it away, it wouldn't have been the first time he ended up with some trippy witch's brew instead of his usually whiskey.

It took him about a block and a half to realize they were not figments of his imaginations but still, Don Hugh wasn't the type of guy that girls stopped on the street for a chat. But still he stopped and the dark skinned one smiled as she looked him square in the eye and stuck out her hand. Don glanced down at it then back up at into her impossibly dark eyes. She was beautiful though, they both were but in their own way. And he had to admit he was a sucker for brunettes. The more dangerous looking the better.

He could tell right off the bat that both these chicks knew how to handle themselves. Their posture gave that away with their feet set in a way that their weight was distributed evenly. They were dressed attractively enough but there was a certain level of function to their outfits that Don couldn't ignore. There were lot of women around who used looks to mug guys on busy streets like the one they were on and Don didn't have the luxury of losing what little he had in his possession.

"If you ladies don't mind I'll keep my hands to myself," he said to them, but his eyes remained on the darker one. He wasn't racist but of the two she seemed like the most trouble. He'd seen those knives on her back and people who carried things like that on a stroll through the city usually knew well how to use them. And he thought he noticed the shortened fangs of a vampire in her mouth but that could have been his imagination. She was wearing a cross on her wrist.

The little one gave the dangerous one a nudge that made her roll her eyes before she said, "Now worries love, the city's gone to shit these days. Can't blame a man, even as capable as you seem for being cautious. Anyway I'm Lem, this here's Bell. I couldn't help but notice you have some amazing body art. I'm a particularly a fan of that little lady on your arm. I've been trying to convince this one to pose for me but she's too chicken shit to do it," she said as she slipped her arm around the other woman's waist and pulled her close.

For some reason that made Don relax a little, even smiled a little at the thought of getting between these two capable women. "Well she's fit enough," he said as he sized both women up this time. Whether it were possible or not Don wouldn't mind getting to know these two. "I have more if you wanted to see," he said as he began lifting his shirt. But the dark skinned one caught his hand and smiled. Her dark eyes locked with his a moment before he let go. "Maybe you guys know a place that's a little less crowded."

 

[Belladorma]

Bell looked at Lam, wondering what she was getting at but keeping her smile in place. She listened to the two of them talk, keeping quiet to play the role of the quiet friend. With the mention of her posing for a tattoo she felt her blush on her cheeks and closed her eyes in embarrassment. Hoping she was following the correct lead she tilted her head. "Well there are several places i can think of. What do you think Lam?"

 

[Belladorma]

Emma meandered through the store in her tipsy state, Poking at a funny looking monkey statue, staring at a pretty ornate mirror. She could feel the aura's of items with magic and left those alone. Funny that they were talking about magical items and prices.
"Magic always comes with a price." She said, Mimicking an imp she'd once had dealings with.

 

[Belladorma]

Dawson shifted to human form and adjusted the cuffs of his suit.
"Ready as i'll ever be. How are we going to handle this? Quiet or Quick?"
================

Jewel Gasped in pain, trying her best to adjust to his huge girth. As he pushed past her barrier she cried out in pain and her nails buried into his arms. She took deep breaths and felt the burning begin to ease. At his words she smiled, and felt pleasure at the knowledge that this was the sacrifice she had paid to be closer to God. With that the pain was gone and replaced by a new feeling. Something that clawed through her chest and had her reaching out to claw at his. She began to move against him the burning subsiding into pleasure and she felt her troublemaking nature getting the best of her.
"Come Gregor, I expected a man of your caliber to be rougher." The last word was whispered into his ear as she squeezed her muscles around his rod.

 

[grdybiwife]

Lem smiled and gave Bell a little kiss on the top of her head and watched as the big man's eyed widened a little. His heart started to beat a little faster and Lem had only given him a taste of her glamour, just enough to ease his suspicion of them. She could tell by his eyes that aside from his hard luck appearance, there was something good in this man. But still that good was buried beneath something very, very dark and Lem wanted nothing more than to know what that might be.

She took a chance and reached to touch his dog tags. When he didn't shy away she moved away from Bell and into his personal space, their bodies just barely touching.

"Donovan Vanderhugh," she read aloud then gave Bell a pointed look over her shoulder.

"Just Don Hugh, or Van...or whatever you like," he said and flashed a quick smile at them that was surprisingly disarming for someone whose knuckles looked like he'd punched through a brick wall or two. "I'd invite you to my place but..."

"Don't worry about that love," Lem said with a hand to his chest, knowing what he was going to say. He didn't smell, nor was he particularly dirty but she could tell by his slightly disheveled appearance that he was a man without home.

"You're going to come with us and you won't give us any trouble either. You're a nice guy and we're nice girls who want to get to know you so let us. It was only a precaution, Lem got the feeling as long as they were good to him this Don Hugh would be good to them. She stepped away from him and reached for Bell again, this time putting her arm around her neck so that she could whisper in her ear.

"I think he might know something about that thing that brought us together. There's something off about him though. He smells human but...I don't know. I don't want to bring him back to base without knowing more so we're going to take him back to my place so we can feel him out a little more. Now laugh like I'm said something dirty to you and push me away. Then I want you to call the boys and let them know what we've found," Lem said and ran her nose along the side of Bell's face at the last to further their rouse.

 

[Belladorma]

Bell did as told and pushed her away on a shy laugh before eyeing Don enticingly. Lam was right, this man carried a strange scent and instinct told her there was an interesting story to this man.
"Why don't you lead the way, Lam. I'm gonna make a phone call real quick." She gave him a wink before pulling out her cell and dialing in Dawson's earpiece.
===========
Dawson's earpiece buzzed and he answered.
"Go for B2."
"Emma baby!" Bell's voice said with a sweet tone. "Lam and i are going to be staying out tonight. Do you think you could just keep Donny overnight?" Dawson sighed as he remembered the code.
"What have you found?"
"Well we were on our way to the next bar and found this tall drink of water near central park."
"Interesting."
"Oh yeah he is. We're going to go compare tattoo's back at Lam's place."
"Alright, We've found a templar nest, going to take care of it then we're on our way."
"Oh thank you so much Hun!" Her Texas accent came out strong with hun. "Give Donny a good tummy rub for me would ya?" Dawson Smiled.
"I definitely deserve one for stickin with your boyfriend here."
"Alright hun, Chow!"
============
She came back over and wrapped her arm around Lam's hip and smiled at Don.
"Shall we, Don Juan?"

 

[grdybiwife]

Don felt a tug in his crotch as he watched Lem whisper in Bell's ear. Try as he might he couldn't hear any of what was said but judging by the reaction, it was something pleasant and by the way Bell looked at him it might have been pleasant for him too. At her suggestion Lem put her arm in his and pulled him around leading him in the direction that he was going in.

"How about you come back to our place and you can show me what else you have hiding under that t-shirt," she said with a wink as she looked up at him. "Don't mind her she's just a little shy."

"I find that hard to believe," he said with a smirk, after Bell came over to put her arm around Lem, pulling her away. He felt oddly at ease in their presence, more so than he ever remembered being in the company of others. There had to be a reason, other than them being hot, Don wasn't so ruled by his libido that he would ignore signs of danger. The fact was there didn't seem to be any. "So answer me this, how is it that a vampire can wear a cross as a bracelet and able to keep holes in her face," he asked with a raised eyebrow, expecting her to avoid it but she only laughed and slapped his arm.

"The holes I've had since I became a woman...almost 150 years ago..."

"So you're not getting a tattoo," he asked her, his eyes narrowed and again she smiled.

"How else would I have gotten you to stop," she said with a raised eyebrow and that seemed honest enough for Don. And he figured since she was being honest that'd he'd keep the questions going.

"So if your a sucker then is she like your pet..."

"God no," Lem said and seemed to put a tight grip on the other woman. "I'm not that kind of Vamp plus she's not pet material anyway. Has a nasty habit of thinking her own thoughts and that makes training rather difficult. We met through a mutual friend not too long ago and hit it off pretty well."

"So are you guys like together?"

"Something like that," Lem said with a chuckle.

"Wait, are you really taking me back to your place?" Lem smiled and nodded up at him. "Sounds good to me," he said with a shrug and dug the bottle out of his back pocket.

 

[Belladorma]

"I'm only shy until i get to know you." She said as she Brushed her hair over her shoulder.
"I've had all my ink done where people can't see them, so i don't get bitched out by the boss." With Lam's comment on on "Training" bell poked her right between two ribs to tickle her and stuck out her tongue. And when Don pulled out his flask, she took a sniff.
"Whatcha got there?"

 

[BRIGHTWELL]

"Magic always comes with a price'

Blylock turns toward the blond werewolf standing in the door way. "You know the golden rule! You must be a mystic master. I know what you need. Since you allready have a third eye. That is clear. What you need is clarity."

He turns and watches the female kitsune search the holy relics. She ick out a very old peice. "What would you require for this one?" Blylock stands up right. Who came in with whome. I will try to recall. There is a rule for this you know. For the werewolf the price will be half it is not. Then again, No items have prices. No prices are real.And most important of all...All items are for sale."

Blylock rubs his chin and considers. "The price is not, so then there is no price. but it is for sale that makes it real. The the price is not. That makes it not real. So the price is not real." Blylock smiles. The price is something you have that is not real!"

 

[Belladorma]

Emma looked at the ork with a perplexed face. The only thing that made any sense was that last part and she pondered something she had that wasn't real. She held her chin as she thought.
Something we have... that's Not real." She shook her head and then rubbed the bridge of her nose. For some reason, her mind had gone to some small trinket like a toy tank, or a cubic zirconian ring.

 

[grdybiwife]

Lem raised her eyebrow at that tattoo comment but she filed it away for later discussion.

"The bottle says whiskey but I'm not too sure," Don said with a laugh and offer the bottle over but Lem intercepted it and gave it a sniff then took a good tug before she passed it along to Bell.

By then they were at the place she used to call home and she led them around back to metal pull up cellar doors. There used to be a chain on it but she only locked it from the inside when she was asleep during the day, otherwise it was open. Being good to your neighbors was the best security, only an outsider would dare go into her place without invitation but no outsider ever came to this part of the city anymore.

"You don't lock your place," Don asked with furrowed brows as the climbed down into the basement and Lem pulled the chain that turned on the single bare bulb.

"Everybody knows Serkalem in Hell's Kitchen. They know better," she said with a note of pride as she moved around her meager dwelling. It was one long room. No windows. One way in and one way out. There was a bed on the floor at the far end, a card table and a few folding chairs in the center and a threadbare sectional against the wall perpendicular to the doorway. "Make yourselves at home. I just have to grab a few things."

Don flopped down on the sofa almost immediately and let out a long sigh like it had been years since he'd felt something so comfortable. At the sound of that Lem vowed to offer the place to him if decided not to join them in their fight with whatever was bubbling in their chaotic city.

 

[Belladorma]

"Cheers." She said as she gave one good pull and let the alcohol but down her throat. She gave a small cough before handing it back to Don. Upon learning Lam's full name, she gave a smile.
That's really pretty. she thought as she walked into the room and, like Don, took a seat on the couch. she kept one leg tucked under her facing more towards Don than the room.
"So let's see some ink." She said leaning forward. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."