Raiha

[color=darkorchid][font=times][i]She danced in her dreams, turning en pointe, flickering like a candle's flame, beautiful and elusive. Luyii reached out her insubstantial hands to grasp at her mother's fading form, and grasped nothing. The illusion was gone. Her eyes snapped open, returned to the real world, and she sat up in a flurry of tossed sheets, and flying hair. Luyii's fingers gripped the silken covers of her blankets, curling them up in her hands, her eyes full of tears. She hated waking up crying. But what choice did she have? Some dreams she could control, others were impossible to change. Dreams about her mother were always dreams that were inexorable. They usually meant something was wrong. She brushed a hand against her eyes, sighing and shaking. Forcing herself to speak aloud, she banished the remaining thoughts and regained herself.[/i] "Where's Doctor Freud when you need him?" [i]"Probably off doing crack with his nutty patients." Consoled, Luyii slid out of bed, noticing the time was just five a.m. and hardly the time she was usually up. Lai was still missing, or rather, she would've been missing if Luyii hadn't known exactly where she was, she might have started panicking. She stood in front of her mirror again, noting every feature, every angle, every line, and wondering why she was up this early. Instead, she raised her hands to her hair, running her fingers through messy hair, switching to brush and untangling the mess one lock at at time. Slowly easing herself into the chair, sighing once, twice, and reaching for her planner. Without Lai to read it, it was almost frightening. She noticed her first appointment with Dr. Xiao, and a lunch with her father. Meanwhile, Sai was probably sleeping in his flat, and wrapped up in business, not thinking about her. Luyii slammed angry hands into the table, and instantly relented. She jerked herself upright and swept towards the closet, picking her clothes silently. For the doctor, she supposed conservative and tasteful items would be in order. She slipped on white lingerie this time, adding a simple white button down blouse, khaki slacks, and a matching blazer. White heels, silver earrings and a feminine watch. Her hair quickly took the shape of a french knot, and she slid a silver and crystal comb into the ensemble. Luyii surveyed her reflection with some satisfaction, realizing that she'd spent an hour staring into her closet without noticing time tick by. She shrugged and turned to see her door open to admit one of the other servants in the house, holding a tray of breakfast for her.[/i] "Good morning Miss. I thought I'd bring this up since Lai's still out with Dead..." "Right, thank you." [i]Luyii motioned with her hand, and the girl set down the tray on one of her smaller tables and turned to smile prettily at the heir to the Sleepers.[/i] "Is there anything else you need me to do here?" "Please make the bed and tidy up a bit. There isn't much of a mess I could've made in less than 12 hours." [i]As Luyii ate quietly, reflecting on what she was doing eating rice gruel with sour plums at 6 in the morning, while a serving girl she barely knew was doing everything Lai used to do in her place. Shrugging off the feeling, she slipped downstairs, followed by her bodyguards, noticing the utter lack of life around the mansion. They, the bodyguards, figuring she simply wanted to be driven around the city until her appointment, opened the door of her Quattroporte and she slithered into the back, leaning against the soft leather, sighing yet again.[/i][/font][/color]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]The back room of the club was messy...full of women in nothing, women next to nothing, stoic bodyguards standing still at doorways... And then there were clothes, robes, boas, thongs, towels, draped over every flat or hooked surface. By comparison, Khali's table and mirror was relatively clean. She had hung some of her ropes over her table and chair, marking it off as her property, and then had added strands of purple fabric over everything else. At the table she stood, removing her sweat stained clothes, switching off for moderately less revealing Playboy jeans and a silk blouse. She slipped on a pair of slender black stilettos, while simultaneously flicking her hair out of her eyes. Staring into the mirror, she placed her fingers at the scalp, then fluffed it out furiously, and whipped it back for that lovely tousled look. Thus attired, she flipped her denim jacket over her shoulder, noticing that her room mate had left behind her clothes and jacket. "She probably made good her escape earlier... Lucky." Khali tripped down the hall towards the main bar, and sat between the man who had shouted down the mob and the pretty one, Lance. She caught the bartender's eye and he slid her a shot of Bombay Sapphire. Bracing herself, she tossed back the monstrously awful stuff and swallowed. The only good news was that it was both a perfectly effective painkiller and a really good pick me up. Lance raised an eyebrow.[/i] "Isn't that stuff awful?" "Oh absolutely. I hate gin." [i]Lance raised an eyebrow and Al chuckled audibly while Khali did a second. She flashed him a grin and held out a hand, flicking her fingers in the direction of his cigarette. He handed it over obligingly, and she took a long drag, exhaling slowly. The smoke danced around her face, curling up along her dark eyelashes and she locked eyes with him, sending out a tentative and controlled burst of pheromones.[/i] "Thanks for rescuing us. I could've taken out a few, but it's true what they say. ...humans really are like sheep. But I'm sure you knew that all along." [i]He jerked his head once in response and took another sip of his drink. Satisfied, Khali smirked and spun the empty glass in her hands. She leaned back against the bar to get both Lance and the cyborg in her view.[/i] "My name's Khali by the way. It's nice to meet you both." [i]Lance managed a sheepish grin. It might have been a little awkward to finally know the name of the stripper who had just swallowed his kids not fifteen minutes ago... ...but if she was relaxed, why shouldn't he be too?[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkOrchid]?Are they all like this too?? ?To the letter. They?re almost all Saiya-jin. What do you think they?d be like?? ?Maybe less loud? Less prone to the jokes?? ?Fat chance. Vicky?s just as bad as the rest of them. Maybe worse because she suckers you in with the innocent smile and stuff.? ?I?ll remember that later.? [i]I grinned and gently shoved Gavin on the shoulder a bit. Vicky had managed to half drown Connor, who was spluttering and begging for forgiveness as Neil exchanged the usual body blows with Warlock. I looked back out over the lake, taking note of the lack of wind, the full moon, the sounds of my friends shouting their lungs out. I smiled and stood up, nudging Gavin with my foot so he?d look up, if only for a great view. I took two steps back, then flung myself forward, and did a near perfect swan dive, resurfacing twenty feet out. Vicky finally decided that Connor?s face turning purple was sufficient punishment and came out to join me with a few quick strokes. I treaded water easily, kicking out my feet in a slow circle pattern. She matched my pattern and we floated, bobbing like two corks in the ocean.[/i] ?So, do you like him Rai? I saw you turning up the heat on Gavin.? ?I fucking love him, but it wouldn?t be very good to tell him so. And just so I know...? ?Why not?? ?He?s like every other guy out here. If I make it easy on him, it won?t be fun chasing.? ?I?d make some joke about a tail between someone?s teeth, but I don?t think it?d work.? ?Not with me, maybe with you.? [i]I jerked her tail playfully underwater, only to feel the inexorable hold of very strong Saiya-jin hands on my neck. They might not have had the surface grip of say...Warlock?s hands...but they were definitely powerful enough to crush my windpipe. Rolling my eyes, I choked out the meaningless incantation I?d decided on earlier and felt Vicky jerk away instantly, sinking into the water, where they steamed and made vapor with a hiss. I grinned at her and was going to shake a finger when I realized that we had a problem. Sometime in between making Vicky?s hands burn to stop her from throttling me, and me laughing at her pained expression, someone had managed to snatch both my panties and hers. I?d like to think I was more perceptive, but hey, I?ve been wrong before. ...of course I?ve also never been so pissed either. We both went out to deeper water while shouting threats, insults, the usual. Now I might be good at swearing, but Vicky is a professional. Don?t know where she picked it all up, but Vicky could make a hooker blush with the profanities that came ripping from her vocal chords. Connor?s face looked innocent enough, as he stood on the dock out of our reach. Gavin, Andrew and Warlock hid behind him, all three looking equally guileless. I mentally counted them up and then narrowed my eyes when I came to the sudden and quite definitely awful realization that Neil...spiky hair and all...was not standing there with them proclaiming innocence. I elbowed Vicky into silence, at least for the second, and took myself a little closer to where they were standing.[/i] ?Tell me now. Where are my pants?? ?I don?t see them anywhere.? ?Same here.? ?What pants?? [i]I?m sure that if there had been a microphone close to my mouth, you could?ve heard my teeth grinding. Vicky?s face had gone through several transformations and was currently hovering between homicidal and complete disbelief.[/i] ?You WILL give me MY pants or I WILL kill you ALL! Starting with you!? [i]Vicky had raised a shaking finger and pointed it straight at Connor?s head. Her eyes had snapped a bright green for half a second, then went back to brown. I casually began putting a little distance between myself and Vicky?s swiftly vanishing patience. It was only a matter of time before she began beating the snot out of every one of the hapless and embarrassed males that was standing shirtless and wet on the dock. I turned my head and narrowed my eyes again, bringing the beach into sharper focus. No Neil there. I switched to further into the forest. No Neil there either. I sighed in frustration, only to see Vicky fly, literally, towards a very surprised looking Connor. It almost looked like she was flickering, her body raised a good six feet off the water?s surface, creating the sound of displaced air. Her fist, which granted was only about half the size of his, buried itself in his gut and she slammed both hands down on his shoulders, bringing him rest at her feet. Odds were she?d finally cracked. I made my way to the other side of the dock where there was less beating going on and waited until both Warlock and Andrew turned around while Gavin held one hand over his eyes and the other gesturing with what was probably Neil?s shirt. I snatched it from him and jerked it over my head. It fell to my thighs and thus satisfied, pushed them so they could turn around again.[/i] ?Now, start talking, or I?ll refer you to my good friend over there.? ?What, you mean me?? [i]Connor?s face was wedged between Vicky?s arm and torso, while he flailed his arms and probably focused on sucking oxygen in through his rapidly narrowing windpipe. Vicky was smiling like a cat with a very dead mouse, and I figured she'd probably have used up most of her blood lust on him. Just as I was opening my mouth to say something witty and most likely very clever, we heard a crashing sound deeper into the woods. Six heads turned and looked towards the source of the sound, and we all made our way into the forest, Vicky deciding that hovering over the ground would in fact be cooler than just walking like the rest of us.[/i] ?Showoff...? [i]I?m sure people had heard me muttering, but it wasn?t like I minded really...[/i][/COLOR][/FONT]

[font=times][color=darkorchid][i]Khali Serhan laughed at his expression, arching back to press her body very close to his. He was almost aware enough to notice her flimsy lilac baby doll, with deeper purple lingerie underneath. Her hair had a streak of ribbon in it, and it bobbed with the rest of her dark hair as she moved smoothly around his body. She leaned forward and brought her lips close...so close...to his ear.[/i] "What's your name pretty boy?" "Uh...Lance." [i]He shrugged, or made an effort to. But it was so hard for him to move. His head felt like it usually did after a night of hard drinking. If Lance tried to move it, he felt disoriented and confused. Weak almost, and he didn't understand why. She smiled at him prettily while standing up and slipping her hands against the purple ropes that were hanging from the ceiling. Her muscles flexed in her arms and legs as she flipped around to let him see her better. The arch of her back made her shirt rise up, and he noticed several body piercings. Nothing deep industrial, but certainly enough to entice. The gleam of silver on her bare flesh was delicious. But it was almost frightening to see how she was moving while still appearing tied to the ceiling.[/i] "Shocked?" "A little. Isn't what I'm used to." "I find that people usually get into the spirit...soon enough." [i]She slipped down slowly from the silk ropes, almost slithering, her spine undulating almost as gracefully as her arms. Lance could feel her smooth flesh against his own, hear the sound of Trent Reznor music, but not the sound of anger and hatred. But Khali did. Her ears perked and she whipped her body close up against his. Her palms rubbed against his cheeks once, twice, and she turned to give him a kiss.[/i] "I hate to tell you this...but there's an angry mob outside who's probably going to beat down the door at any second." "Wha-?" [i]The door splintered open and for a moment, the only thing the the furious crowd could see was the back of Khali's head as she straddled a man who's face remained hidden. She turned around finally and clenched and unclenched her fists. Her eyes narrowed and she let the first man come closer.[/i][/font][/color]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]I followed close behind, not to be outdone by some over-muscled irritating son of a bitch. I caught him and he looked over my shoulder, powered up, and took off once more. Peeved as usual, I clenched my fists as I ran and inhaled sharply, very faint marks appearing on my skin that would?ve been seen as overkill tattoos by most, but were probably side effects of my dad?s genetic gift to me. My hair most likely burst into flame, that?d been happening a lot lately you see, and I passed him and stopped short just before the forest gave way to a large circle of trees surrounding our own personal hideout. Because of the remoteness, most people didn?t bother coming out here, and boats would?ve had to have been carried in by hand, so it was pretty much used by just us. At the dock, Connor and Warlock were already flipping off the dock into what was most likely still a very cold lake. Vicky had appeared sometime after apparently, because she was still not quite committed into jumping into what was definitely freezing water. Neil ran past me, whopping, striping to boxers and flung himself in. I?m sure it?s a total macho thing, because during his little fling, he grabbed an unsuspecting Gavin by the arm and went in with him not far behind.[/i] ?You can?t tell me he didn?t see that one coming.? ?Oh I?m sure he did.? [i]Vicky turned over to give me an amused look. Her eyes flickered a smooth brown color, and for once, she was showing her tail. I grinned back. Only other girl I know who has the same issues I have. Or at least similar ones. Vicky was a purebred Saiya-jin, complete with attitude, but she usually managed to keep it under an extremely tight control. She?d immersed herself in the sciences, in the strict laws of charcoal and inking studio arts, and I liked her. We got along well, even with that propensity for violence we both had, we?d never managed to erupt into full bitch fight mode. The past month, she?d been visiting her estranged father in England, but now she was back, and I pretty much figured she was back earlier than planned. Her dad?s temper had certainly chased away her mom, his wife, and I?m relatively sure she had stood all she could stand from him too. I?ve never met him, but my own mom swears she would?ve killed him ages ago if she?d been the one to marry him. I didn?t doubt that.[/i] ?Your eyes are green again? ?Why, weren?t they green before?? "Maybe?? [i]Earlier I?d switched contact colors from purple to green and was secretly wondering if anyone had noticed. Maybe Gavin would, but I think he had other things on his mind. Of course once he surfaced, spluttering and swearing, I figured the secret was out anyway. He heaved himself over the dock?s edge and Vicky and I exchanged glances. Tail. Brown, furry, definitely not standard human. He caught us staring and his eyes got big, only to see two female feet hurl toward him to push him back in. Vicky and I exchanged high fives only to be doused with ice water, compliments of Connor and Neil combined. I rose to my feet in an instant, ripping off both uselessly wet jeans and top, and took off at a dead run. Completely topless, and thus just as hardcore, if not more hardcore, as the boys, I dove in and surfaced, my hair steaming, one hand raised to knock that irritating smirk off of Connor?s face. Vicky joined soon after, only she kept on her shirt, and went for his ankles. Meanwhile Gavin had finally made good his escape and was sitting on the dock, shivering, lips turning blue. I suppose our shouting must have been loud, because soon after, Andrew joined us. He always had good hearing. Andrew was in the same grade, but different home room classes. We didn?t see him often. Unlike us poor idiots, he actually had a job. Construction mostly. Heavy lifting. Being one of the other purebreds always helped him do obscenely well at his job, and while I wouldn?t have minded such a job myself, I had prior commitments. Dance for one, and that took up more time than one might expect. Same with the guys who had made it onto the various sports teams out there. I?m pretty sure there was a game tomorrow night. But as usual, the guys were slacking off and throwing people into the water. Poor Gavin. I jumped out, and retreated to a very safe distance, and raised one eyebrow in thought. Gavin caught my eye, then looked down at my thong.[/i] ?Where?s your tail?? ?Dad?s not Saiya-jin. I take it both of yours are, or you wouldn?t have one.? ?Yeah, probably. They don?t talk about it much.? ?We don?t talk about it at school, usually just out here. Lately though, it?s like we?ve all been acting up, and not because we really wanted to.? ?How so?? ?Watch this.? [i]I reached over the side of the dock and trailed my fingers in the water. Right where they were at, the water began to bubble and soon after, began to evaporate at my touch. Probably killed about sixty or seventy small micro-organisms and possibly some minnows too.[/i] ?So you could make this lake into a kettle and fry everyone and everything in it.? ?Oh not yet. I can?t manage anything really good. Just the basics. I exploded a beer bottle earlier.? ?Why am I not surprised?? [i]Mischievous grin time. I somehow managed to pull it off without the usual snort of laughter that accompanies it and smiled at him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Gradually, his lips lost their blue tinge and the shivering stopped. He didn?t look too surprised, and to his credit, he didn?t say anything. Andrew meanwhile was caught in one of Neil?s headlocks, while Connor was probably getting the tickling of his life. I?m sure Vicky had already gotten a hold of one of his feet and was refusing to let go. It usually happened that way.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[color=darkorchid][font=times]Obviously, you'd be using your military issue gas mask. ....what an idiot... Anyway you can always do that before the Fight Club. Luyii has to go to the doctor's for a head exam and then to the "other" doctor for a fertility test. Ah the busy life of such a lady.[/font][/color]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]Good times baby.... .....for everyone interested, the club Khali and Anna dance at is open people with money. I hope you'll all decide to be our sexy public. In between the whole saving the world, bits. As a note, Khali usually makes the pheromones specific for who she decides to persuade into doing idiot things. At least at this stage. Mass spectrum affect isn't possible yet for her.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid]I think I need a cold shower. Lovely touch Sandy, I'm sure the dozens of people reading over my shoulder in this crowded cyber cafe are thinking the same thing. That or they're wondering why the filters on this computer didn't catch such adult content. Why complain?! I approve. Though... ...this kid really was stupid. Oh well.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][center][b]Act Two: The Cold War Scene Two: Complications ~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/b][/center] [i]And so ended the party, with the two members of the San Francisco Police Department returning to their precinct, the doctor returning to his patients, the Jade Forest returning to their territory, and the Sleepers retiring at last. Bouncers and enforcers locked up the mansion after the last guest had left. Dozens of cleaning drones wet to work as bar tenders restocked depleted stores. Boss Fai with his guards returned to his personal quarters while Yugo went down to the garages to presumably sit with the Dodge Fury for just a little while. Maybe even touch it. Luyii meanwhile was resting in her room while Sai Yuan wrapped up a few loose ends with Kwan. Odds are he'd be buried under a mountain of paperwork and she would too. Of course, witth the pressure her father would soon be putting on her, Sai would only be a horrible distraction. Without Lai, the room was so quiet and dull, Luyii was almost lonely. She was so used to talking about the things that troubled her to a listening ear, it was almost frightening. But being alone might be thereputic. The doctor would be proud. She stood and drew a bath for herself, with no one else to pick up after her, she did it herself, feeling odd and confused at the same time. "I suppose I shouldn't be that off kilter. It's not like I'm helpless here." Mentally fortified, Luyii laid out her own towel, robe, and lingerie and began the tedious process of removing the silver chi pao. The little toggle ties were very stubborn, but that never stopped a girl determined to take her bath. Luyii set her jaw and flicked each knotted piece of fabric out of each loop, then unzipped the hidden side and stepped out, hanging it up for the drycleaning later. At her vanity table, she undid the pins in her hair, the jewelry in her ears, and the bracelets she'd slipped on what seemed like days ago. Naked and nearly staggaring with effort, she sank herself into the bathtub, sighing in relaxation. No more noises from riotous laughter, no more boredom that comes from having nothing to say to anyone. No more diplomacy.[/i] "Yes!" [i]She tilted her head back, running a handful of water over her hair, smiling with relief. No more falsehood, no more pretending. It was so freeing. In her own room, without visitors, she didn't have to pretend for anyone. Her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head, even with them closed, she could still hear the White Prince's mocking voice. Hear Sai's voice challenging him openly. She remembered how Dr. Xing had tightened his grip on the files in front of him. Her father had shown no outward emotion, but he knew the value of his ability to not show such weaknesses, especially over something like that.[/i] "And with war, comes responsibility of the female blood heir. ...children. I'll have to make babies with Sai. Marry him in front of everyone. Pledge eternal devotion and loyalty. No more prizefighting while they're trying to breed me like a prize mare." [i]The thought of being used like brood stock was almost repellent, but the Willow Fairy knew that having her wings clipped was a small price to pay for safety and security. After all, what did it matter? Luyii stood up, water streaming off her body, and reached for her towel. As she did, a thin fold of paper fluttered to the floor like a maple seeed, avoiding the small puddle of water she'd created. It must have been slipped into the crease of the towel. She wrapped herself up in it and dried one hand, reaching down for the parchment. Her brow furrowed as she read the words, then she crushed it in her hand and tossed it into the bathtub. Pulling the plug with one toe, she stepped over to the corner and dressed herself after a vigorous rubdown. She sat alone at the table, brushing her own hair, plaiting it, and tying it back. Resting both hands in her lap, she stared quietly into the mirror, gazing very calmly at her own reflection.[/i] "I am a daughter of the Sleepers. I will do what is necessary to further the clan's existence. I will not be afraid of the consequences." [i]She turned and opened a small drawer on her vanity. Cuping her hand around the pad of paper she had stashed there, she could write without one of the cameras picking up what she was doing. Several lines in, she abruptly stopped, dropped the pad back into her drawer and slammed it shut. Then she turned, and crawled into bed. The covers around her heeks, she rolled into a ball and felt utterly miserable and alone.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkOrchid][i]Anyway, there I was, sitting on the roof above the attic that was my room with a plate full of food, eating with one hand and using the other to light mosquitoes on fire. They had that pleasant trick of making an almost audible shriek of agony when they lit up. I was like a bug zapper, without the glowing hypnotic lights. I was plowing through the rice, halfway done with the chicken when I heard what was probably Neil sneaking around the back to climb the trellis up to my room. Cell phone technology appears to have escaped even him. But whatever. It?s not nice to be judgmental I hear. Not that it?s ever stuck. Neil actually managed to get on the roof, how I didn?t ask, but he managed to skip over the terra cotta tile without cracking one, which was almost impressive. I handed him what I hadn?t finished, just to see it all disappear in under five seconds.[/i] ?You actually come here for a reason or just to eat my mom?s cooking?? ?My mom?s sucks, don?t blame me. And don?t tell her I said that. She?ll beat me.? [i]I didn?t doubt that. Neil?s mom was scary; really scary. She was even scarier than my mom, but not unfortunately as scary as the school principal. Oh whatever, best not to think about that. He finished the rest and I handed him the beer I already had waiting. Mini fridge wedged into the corner of my room. Mom?s not that serious about underage drinking, so long as I don?t overdo it, and since I don?t have the same personalities as Neil and Connor, it?s never really been a problem.[/i] ?We?re all going out to the dock tonight. Probably skinny dipping.? ?You wish. Gavin coming along?? ?Oh yeah, he lives right down the street from Connor, couldn?t be easier. Chances are he?ll get his pants pulled down and it?ll be gr-? ?I will set you on FIRE, you do realize this. And not the cute kind I got you with last week after the fire alarms went off.? ?Been practicing eh?? [i]I glared at him and flicked a finger at the beer he was holding. It exploded in a superheated mass, singing his eyebrows, and sending glass everywhere. He smirked and flexed the muscles in his exposed arms. The bits of glass that had embedded themselves in his skin popped back out and his cuts began to heal automatically.[/i] ?You could say that. Dad certainly gives me all the opportunities he can.? ?And the world will never be the same.? ?Well your jaw won?t, and not your eyebrows or your chest hair. Hell, I?ll burn off those pubes you?re always flashing in the locker room.? [i]I was lying actually. I didn?t know jack about his pubes, but it made him sit up straight. At least for a few seconds anyway. I stood, and reached over for my jacket and threw it over a bare shoulder. He gave me one of those cocky glares that usually happened right before he did something obscenely stupid. In this case, he took off at a sprint and leapt headfirst off the roof. I, a little concerned naturally, ran over to check, only to find him standing on both feet, smiling up at me with that irritating grin.[/i] ?Come on! Vicky's back from her trip, so she'll be there too.? [i]Curse him for being such a showoff, but that really did do the trick. I guess I am that easy. Doing an equally quick dash, I leapt off the roof, but instead of just muscling my way down, I did a back flip instead and landed on one foot.[/i] ?Where do you want all the come?? [i]Neil rolled his eyes and dashed into the pine woods that formed most of my backyard and the backyards of the rest of the sleepy suburban neighborhood.[/i][/COLOR][/FONT]

[color=darkorchid][font=times][i]After last period, Maise and I headed towards the parking lot, both of us loaded down with both duffel bags and backpacks stuffed with books and binders. We passed Principal Sella on the way down the hall, and she gave us a pleasant smile. Creepy isn't it? All of us are scared of her but we can't explain why. ..maybe it's the nice suits. Halfway to our cars, both beaters but hey they ran, Neil and Warlock caught up, Connor and Gavin behind. I?ll assume they were getting along well anyway. Warlock quickly relieved Maise of her dance bag and Neil made a pass at mine, only to get a savage kick to the kneecap. Naturally he jerked out of reach just in time for Gavin to take my backpack from me. I gave him one of those eye flicks while Neil swore and tripped over a car bumper to fall on his ass. I shook a finger at him while Connor snorted in a rather manly fashion. Maise and Warlock took off, while I opened my trunk and dropped in my bag, Gavin dropping my pack in as well.[/i] ?Thank you very much Gavin.? ?Wasn?t anything.? [i]You can say that again. He had been carrying a 30 pound bag with two fingers. Then again, he was a masculine type, probably had the same gym times as the other guys. Not that I was completely impressed. I was surrounded by a lot of muscle types. Except in dance! But anyway, I said my goodbyes and drove home to enjoy the weekend. The last thing they saw of me was the back end of my exceedingly lame Honda...but best not to dwell on that. Chances are mom was already making dinner, dad was fiddling around in the basement, and I had a message from Sephiroth on my computer about the next LAN party. Oh choices. Anyway, it wasn?t as bad as I thought. Or was it? [/i] ?I?m home people!? ?Dinner?s in an hour, go get your chores done!? ?Blah!? [i]I did my chores anyway. Didn?t pay to piss off mom. Probably because she was a pure blood Saiya-jin and could bend me over her knees and flay the skin off my behind with her right hand. Upstairs, I changed out of my leotard and tights, took a super hot shower, compliments of my ability to screw around with the plumbing, and switched to the outfit I'd laid out earlier. Black halter top. The usual low rise jeans. Black thong. God it was nice to be physically fit. After admiring my reflection for about two seconds, I decided that I should probably get back to the actual chores I had been assigned rather than face the consequences. Just one of them being me forced to clean up dad's ever cluttered study. I finished off the upstairs and headed down to the basement to collect dad?s trash when I smelled an odd, sickly sweet scent, almost like almonds. I flew down the steps and threw open the door to find dad singing an incantation to himself and standing in the middle of a very large silver magic circle. It looked like he?d been summoning creatures of air and smoke all afternoon, and I was relatively sure mom would kill him once she discovered the disaster he?d made. A particularly huge monster, the one emitting all the sweet smelling smoke made a pass at me. I threw up one hand, flicked forward my fingertips, and hissed about four nonsensical words just in time to watch it explode into blue and white flames and disintegrate.[/i] ?DAD! What are you doing?!? [i]I?m sure I sounded hysterical. Probably because the amount of monsters and dust particles in the room would choke a horse. Or at least get it very wheezy. His voice sounded raspy, hoarse even. Probably from inhaling all the disaster down here, and the candles, and the smoke caused by my burning time...[/i] ?Oh nothing, just a little summoning for fun.? ?Mom?s going to come down her, and she?s going to kick you in the-? ?DINNER TIME!? [i]I made my escape, completely forgetting his trash, and pounded up the stairs to go inform on him. ...unfortunately for me the smell of burning animal and that almost almond scent was picked up almost instantly by mom?s perfect sense of smell. Her tail flicked once, and her eyes snapped from green to blue in an instant, then back again.[/i] ?Honey!? [i]She stormed towards the basement, while I made a daring escape towards the kitchen to grab a plate full of food and head toward the attic I called bedroom. I think it?s because of all the high places, that I picked the airy, yet slightly cramped room at the top of a perfectly normal two story suburban house. That and I was slowly discovering that I could burn things up here, and the smoke would escape through the always open windows before mom was any wiser. Big bed, dresser, mirrors, contact lens case. I?ll admit being able to pick my eye color and change it every so often was great fun, but it was kind of inhibiting to have to always wear them. If people ever saw me without pupils, I?m sure they?d go loopy. Even loopier than if they found out about Neil and Warlock?s tails. I wondered if Gavin had one secretly. But I wasn?t sure exactly the best way to find out. Sticking one of the dance girls on him was a good idea. But the backlash wouldn?t be worth just knowing.[/i][/color][/font]

[font=times][color=darkorchid]I. It shall be that all Brotherhood members within the leadership be strictly of Chinese descent. Ancillary members may be of mixed origin, but must not be any less than one quarter Chinese. II. Leadership within the Brotherhood is to be done by direct blood descent, the most closely related living relative shall assume control immediately upon the death of the current leader. III. If the succession falls to a female, she will have three weeks to be married to a suitable man of standing and character. Thereupon, he shall be regent for the male blood heir that must be produced within one year. When the child has come of age, he shall be invested as new leader of the Brotherhood of Eternal Repose. IV. Any thief found to have embezzled more than one thousand dollars from the Brotherhood should have both of his thumbs removed. Any traitor to the Brotherhood shall be tortured until death. Any defectors will not be punished unless they violate these rules.[/font][/color]

[font=times][color=darkorchid][i]You?ll never guess how crazy it was growing up with not only a bunch of hot blooded Saiya-jins, but also discovering my own powers. I think I could say I had a lousy childhood, but my teenage years were worse. Developing strengths in weird and bizarre ways, discovering pyromancer abilities, and accidentally setting the house ablaze. All of these things pale when compared to how it was having Connor, Neil, and Warlock for friends. No no, not best friends forever or any of that stupid touchy feely nonsense. I?m talking about friends that you go out and get plastered with once you turn legal. Friends you leap off of bridges with. Yeah, the kind you set on fire when they piss you off. Perhaps you?d like to hear? Too bad, I?ll tell you anyway. Once there was a small town in the middle of somewhere with a few odd students. The high school yearbook photos were not very telling. And people were pretty close mouthed about it. There was Connor; a tall and handsome fellow with a lot of hair and one of those almost nice personalities. Then there was Warlock; yes, that?s what we called him, not what his mother called him. And of course, let?s not forget Neil. He was a problem child, a problem teenager, and as far as I know, is still a problem adult. Oh yes, there?s me too. I?m Raiha. I cause trouble, but the kind of trouble that doesn?t involve craters in the middle of grain fields. Sometimes there was Sephiroth too. He was always cool, quiet, calm, and a total gamer freak. There were a few others like us, but they were less open about it. I think it all started when I was sitting in class, junior year, relaxing with my hands behind my back. English, fourth period, and everyone was itching for the bell to ring so we could all escape campus and stuff our faces at lunch. Lately I?d been noticing that if I concentrated, I could make my soup steam and bubble a little. I was idly wondering if it would work on something that wasn?t food while the teacher droned on and on about Shakespeare, when it actually worked. Connor had been holding his book report, getting ready to turn it in, when I blinked once and the whole thing burst into blue flame. He yelped and dropped it while the sprinkler system went off. Amidst cheers and groans alike, everyone made a dash for the exit. I slunk towards the parking lot guiltily, only to be accosted by Sephiroth and Warlock, who were both laughing at a very irritated looking Connor.[/i] ?I?m sorry!? [i]I honestly meant it. While it had been a very convenient escape for the lot of us, it was kind of...unfortunate for him. Connor ground his teeth and I noticed his eyes were glowing a bit.[/i] ?You set it on fire! I worked hours on that!? ?I think you should be more worried about the fact that she managed to burn it in the first place.? [i]Neil had joined us and was laughing at me and probably the look on Connor?s face when I hissed at him and somehow managed to make him burst into flame too. He laughed and powered up slightly, dispelling the flames harmlessly. I growled once and turned back to Connor, who had sobered up almost instantly.[/i] ?I didn?t mean to, I?ll make it up to you.? ?I guess we can just date sometime, and I?ll call it even.? [i]I smiled at him and winked once while Warlock and Neil nudged each other and smirked.[/i] [center]~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center] [i]The next week was full of the same boring schoolwork. Connor and the boys went to wrestling, football, and soccer practice I think... But hey I was busy with my own work. I danced on the team, and was damn grateful that unlike the guys, I wasn?t born with a tail. Nothing of the sort on me thank you very much. Instead, I had no pupils in my eyes, but could see remarkably well, even better than Warlock or Sephiroth. Granted, I always wore contact lenses to hide the fact that I resembled one of those demons you saw in both Japanese and Celtic art... Anyway, I?m almost sure that myself and the other twelve girls on the team were spied on while we were in practice. After all, we practiced in the dance loft, which looked down and across the gymnasium to the other side, which had its own loft full of sweaty guys in Spandex groping each other while calling it a sport. Of course, we dancers were sweaty and also wearing Spandex, but if we groped each other, we did it artistically. Oh whatever, I don?t have to justify myself to you.[/i] ?You know, Rai, I think we?re being watched.? ?I don?t doubt it.? [i]My work out partner, Maise, and I were both doing complicated maneuver that mostly involved bending at the waist and flicking one leg up to hold about five and a half feet off the floor. At one point she?d drop her leg and we?d switch. A little lesbian I?ll admit, but that?s no excuse. But...perhaps it was after all. During class next period, I sat still in Geometry, while Neil fidgeted and made a nuisance of himself, Connor looked bored while flicking a pencil between his fingers, and I think warlock was pretending to do homework while giving the girl in front of him sideways looks. I was on the point of debating whether or not to set half of Neil?s hair on fire just for the fun of it when the teacher said something that broke me out of my mental struggle.[/i] ?Class, we have a new exchange student from Ireland. I?d like you all to meet Gavin.? ?Hi Gavin.? [i]Sure we sounded like drones, but I think that was the effect the teacher wanted, because he smiled like a crocodile while shooing Gavin towards the seat next to mine. I surveyed him casually, noting thick muscles, loose jeans, a mess of brown hair, and the smell of cologne. He caught my glance and gave me one of those awkward smiles, which I naturally returned, only with far less awkwardness. Neil rolled his eyes, I?m sure of it, and I was on the verge of pointing one finger at him and making the sign for fire when I saw Connor giving me a death look. I relented and decided that making small talk with Gavin would be more acceptable anyway. He looked cute, and I was almost positive he had one of those adorable accents that you only see in movies or hear on the BBC.[/i] ?Call me Raiha why don?t you?? ?Cute name, what is it?? [i]I was on the verge of saying it was Siyannan when I realized that revealing the origins of a name passed down through a family of alien magic users and necromancers was idiotic in the extreme. I caught myself in time and smoothly lied while simultaneously wondering if all his muscle mass was because he hit the gym every day or because he was also not human.[/i] ?Oh, it?s Japanese. My father was into the old names.? ?I like it.? [i]If I had been with Maise and the other girls, I would?ve squealed with glee over his adorable voice. I?m sure they were all jealous. First contact with a guy of this cuteness factor was rare. Connor and Warlock didn?t count.[/i][/font][/color]

[font=times][COLOR=MediumTurquoise]Save the firefight for after Athena's character is hit. We're going for a horrific murder and THEN firefights and spats. But you have time to develop things a bit so long as there is no violence that involves automatic weapons, cluster bombs, ICBMs... You get the idea.[/COLOR][/font]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]Name: Khali Serhan Power: Persuasion due to the enhanced pheromones found in her sweat. Personality and Description: Sweet and kind when confronted with children and polite people. Unfortunately, when crossed, she is as vicious as a striking viper. Her powers of persuasion are unrivaled. She can make a perfectly happy person turn a gun on themselves and blow their brains out . When she's truly provoked, she can make a club full of people kill themselves. Being an exotic dancer helps with that particular ambition of course. The sweat she produces from vigorous physical activity contains high concentrations of the chemical that attracts both males and females. However her ability has given her the power to alter the chemical signatures. She can repel, attract, and allure with simple conscious changes to her biochemistry. If Kahli manages to touch her skin to another person's, particularly an area heavy in sweat glands, like her palms for example, she can usually make that person do whatever she desires. Be afraid. Be very afraid. A mop of well conditioned, suitably messy black hair, alluring hazel eyes, soft tanned skin, skimpy attire, what more could you want?[/font][/COLOR]

[quote name='Sandy']Huh? There's still no names for who's playing who in the game thread...[/quote] [font=times][color=darkorchid]OOOH, I read that wrong. Sorry, I can fix that now. And also please note that I have also added the characters that are to be killed or soon be killed. Discuss contracts of death amongst yourselves. Of course I have to approve them, but as long as there's blood, I'll most likely give the A-OK stamp. One more thing; If it's not too much trouble for you to use html, could all people please shrink their text down a little so I spend less time scrolling and more time reading? Unless you all want big text. I don't feel very very strongly about this, just something for convenience. And one more thing. Wondershot: For the future, and now if you want to edit massively, please only post in [b]past[/b] tense. Present is a little awkward to me. Stay criminal people.[/color][/font] [COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]A New Project:[/i] Mostly involves me working on the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Brotherhood of Eternal Repose. I'll post the final working here, but I'd like input from people on what they think should be included. So far I've added rules about race, gender, and heirs, but I can always use more on methods of dealing with traitors and thieves and the like.[/font][/COLOR] [COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]Merged your posts due to deleting Freier Geist's spammy post. Also, one doesn't need html for resizing text, there's a perfectly working size tag for that. - Sandy[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[font=times][COLOR=DarkOrchid][i]Linett giggled to herself and smiled slightly at Helena's innocent looking face. She was thinking quietly that Helena was perhaps being more polite than usual. On the other hand, she wasn't being quite as polite as Virgil or Kai...but she couldn't expect that. After all, she was a baby by comparison. It was almost cute. Virgil turned his head slightly to get Linett in his periphrial vision. Linett was looking ahead, completely ignoring everyone around her as a matter of fact, probably because she'd seen everything she wanted to see and was done being curious. Her hood was pulled up over her face, and all he could see actually was one eye, and the usual braid tied with a red ribbon falling down to her shoulder.[/i] "Did you rest enough? [i]One of about six surviving vampires that had in fact been born by next to conventional means gave him a glare that would've iced over the thousand hells. Her eyes narrowed slightly and the pupils became vertical slits, but only for about half a second. They reverted back into their original shape. It was a testament to her thinly stretched willpower. Such a question was innocent in its meaning, but Linett's personality took it as an affront, until she reminded herself that Virgil meant well. She covered over smoothly with a polite response.[/i] "Of course I did. Don't worry about me. You should be more worried about her." [i]Helena shifted slightly, as Linett's eyes flickered over to caress over her body, perhaps not that sensually, but not exactly cooly either.. She smiled a tiny bit, but then frowned as the realization that Linett had just called her an infant. In an instant, Helena's face had morphed from an uncertain smile to a frown that nearly obscued her beauty. Her voice was harsh and cruel, and her fingers clenched into fists.[/i] "You shouldn't be worried about me. I can take care of myself." "Because you did so well the last time." [i]Her sarcasm was all the more funny because it appeared so rarely. Virgil was in fact surprised at how quickly it came from her.[/i] "And you did much better. Psycho." "Helena! Linett! Stop." [i]Both stared straight ahead and stopped speaking all together. A faint smile played about Linett's lips, as if she had been planning to needle Helena all together. In all honesty, she probably had. Helena pouted naturally, her perfect lips puckered and annoyed at the same time. The feral licked her lips, running the tip of her tongue along one of her fangs.[/i][/color][/font]

[font=times][color=darkorchid]Wish granted Sandy. Of course I thought I'd been good about keeping the cast member list updated. I guess I missed a couple in all the wild excitement. Yowtch. Now then, to everyone who's done the good thing and posted. Go goad everyone else into posting. [/color][/font]

[font=times][COLOR=DarkOrchid]It's now BK styles's chance to post, if he'd like....to wrap up the party. Anyone could technically. Just be sure to wrap it up. Then of course Kenneth and Joshi could go it at it, and we can go back into freefall posting mode. It's more fun that way.[/color][/font]

[color=darkorchid][font=times]Actually no. He wasn't invited to the meeting or the party, so his post could be happening the day of the meeting for all we know. It's more of an aside to introduce his character. Meanwhile the party goes on...[/font][/color]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]Name: Aivel Siyan Age: 22 Appearance: Dark brown hair and eyes, darkish skin, slender build, and slight form. She wears linen shirts mostly, skirts or wrap pants, and wool woven bracelets. Aivel also often wears cloaks in the cold, which she shuns when possible, and likes hooded clothing. Country of Origin: Bahrain Element and Starting Powers: Nature [b]Therimorph:[/b] Will change at will to the animal she touches with the slightest amount of her own skin. Favored forms include wild cat, bird of prey, and deer. [b]Earth Whisper:[/b] Placing her lips close to whatever it is she seeks to revive or grow, she can literally talk a plant or flower back into life. Personality: Quiet, calm, sophisticated even, but still very down to earth. She's into singing and dancing, and from these activities, she draws happiness. Anyone who looks at her face can see it coming off of her like a glow. Chances are, she'll befriend you based on the way you treat animals, plants, and yourself.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]The second act has begun, everyone can post, clean up, take care of things. Sidequest for Luyii: Considering her father's ultimatum that she get married, make babies, produce an heir. That sort of thing. Overarching plot for the Cold War: beginning with Athena's character's death at the hands of our rogue FBI agent. Ending with a spectacular mess of death and bombs and assassinations. Be afraid, be very afraid.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][b][center][i]Act Two: The Cold War Scene One: The Opening ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center][/b][/i] [i]Luyii sat still with Lai as ever near her side while Sai walked over to the bar casually to pick up another round and to exchange a few words with Detective Chang. The other serving women appeared to be occupied either with flirting or fetching. Luyii was sure Sai and Chang were talking business, probably about the fight club or something equally dull to her. Desperate for entertainment, Luyii stood and with Lai hovering like a shadow just to the side of her. Yugo and Dead straightened a bit as she approached, and Lai stifled a smile. It never paid to show disrespect to Luyii, who, of course had men who could fix things, but preferred herself to just bend them over her knee.[/i] "Good evening gentlemen. I hope you're not as bored as me and Lai." "We might be, but I didn't say it." "I did." [i]Dead's mutter didn't fall on deaf ears, oh no. Luyii flashed him what must have been a mischievous grin and let her gaze drift over to Lai. She fixed her gaze on the handmaiden specifically and spoke to Shi directly, even as she didn't look at him. Lai shifted slightly, being the object of Luyii's attention wasn't even easy for her and she'd grown up with it.[/i] "When I gave you the lighter, and Yugo the Dodge, I realized how unequal they really were. Of course, there is something else as a reward for the services you've paid to me and my father as well." [i]Her voice was smooth, like a piece of silk brushed against ice, and her tongue moved across her lips, perhaps as she thought of what might happen between her favorite enforcer and Lai. Dead raised an eyebrow and switched his focus from Luyii's perfect chest to Lai's.[/i] "Just be sure to return her unharmed. And at a decent hour." [i]If Luyii hadn't already gone over the topic with Lai, a cat fight would've most likely ensued, and while it would've been entertaining, it wouldn't have looked so good in front of the guests. Fortunately for everyone involved, Lai had already been crushing on Dead for some time. And standards be damned. Of course if the computer was accurate, he wasn't exactly poor...was he? Lai smiled up at Shi, all four foot six of her.[/i] "Well, my daring escape has apparently been made for me." [i]Luyii was positive she could hear Yugo mutter under his breath 'daring' and look back at his drink. Lai left at Dead's arm, and Luyii took his place, relieving a passing servant of one of the many champagne flutes on the tray. She took a reflective sip and leaned back slightly, surveying the crowd. Her glance passed over the Scarlet Mistress and Snowcat. Then flicked past Boss Shek Lu's. Yugo caught the almost unintentional curl of her upper lip and was about to say something to her when he caught her frosty glare.[/i] "Right. I saw nothing." "Absolutely nothing." [i]She resumed staring back over the crowd and Yugo went back to nursing his drink, both looking thoroughly bored.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Eventually, the deliberations ended. Boss Fai was satisfied, as was The White Prince. All present had gone through the snacks, more than a few cigarettes, and several pots of tea. As for the rest of the meeting, Luyii would present the gifts, and then the reception at the downstairs bar would be next. Lai entered the room, to assist Luyii with the presentations, and the daughter stood smoothly, her skirt creating a silver river across the room. The two glided to the credenza, and opened the drawers, to reveal a large assortment of gifts for everyone present. For Boss Shek Lu? A box of Cuban Cigars, most likely obtained in one of those deals that involved several automatic weapons and more than a few thousand dollars. For his various underlings, cigarettes, alcohol, the usual. The Scarlet Mistress received a set of porcelain hair sticks, and for Snowcat, coral pins, the kind that break apart in the presence of poison. For San Francisco's finest, a pack of imported Tiparillos. He immediately opened them to produce one of the long, slim cigarettes, lighting it and inhaling slowly.[/i] "Not bad at all." "I'd hope not, the tariffs were quite irritating." [i]For his own members, Boss Fai had arranged for Luyii to present Yugo with the keys to a fully restored Dodge Fury and for Dead a sterling silver lighter. Attached to the lighter of course was a small card with the number 1-800-QUIT-NOW printed in red ink. He snorted and shot a look at Luyii, who smiled sweetly and flicked her eyes towards her father.[/i] "Is my smoking really that much of a problem?" "Most definitely." [i]Yugo muttered under his breath, while Boss Fai composed his face in an entirely calm and innocent manner, devoid of guilt or amusement. Lai handed Sai a pair of Tiffany cuff links in a black velvet box, and Dr. Xing was given a gold watch on a chain. Meanwhile, the guests had begun to filter out towards the downstairs, directed by several body guards. Luyii soon followed, after everyone else had left the room besides Lai and the cleaning ladies. Lai was the only one of course, to hear Luyii's muffled sigh. She placed a hand at the Willow Fairy's elbow.[/i] "What's really wrong?" "I dislike diplomacy. It feels so...fake." "Well it's over for now. You heard them. We'll be rolling in blood soon enough." "Blood's good." [i]The two chuckled, and Luyii slipped out of the room to catch up with Sai, who quickly put his arm around her. She smiled back up at him and focused her attention back on the small crowd.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][font=times]Ah to hell with ordered posting then. Collaborations can take place here or through PMs. We'll have several new characters joining us soon, as you can see. That is, if you've been keeping up. Be sure to be aprised of this when posting. We'll have a psychologist that Luyii will be meeting with. A dirty FBI agent that anyone could deal with I suppose. And a couple others that are still working on sign ups.[/COLOR][/font]