Raiha

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][font=times]Oh Doctor! You're so naughty! Anyway.... let me summarize here. Good Kitty. Good Sandy. Poor Athena... Soooo, Sai is going to pick up Luyii and they'll be at the Fight Club tonight in which a few things can happen. But remember everyone, I'll give the signal when to start posting for the Meeting. No chomping at the bit. [/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Anne and Vicky, room mates, sirens of the streets, were only too happy to see me. Especially Kiff. Then again, most girls I knew were suckers for big happy Great Danes, even if he came up to Vicky's shoulders. I set my things down in Anne's room, she had the biggest bed after all, and we settled down after eating good old fashioned Chinese Take out from our favorite establishment, Panda's Palace. I sat on Anne's couch, holding a beer in one hand and shaking my head at the same time. Vicky was sprawled on the carpet in front of the fire with Kiff, and Anne was sitting next to me, holding my free hand. In a few minutes, both of them were up to speed. Vicky propped herself up on her elbows, and I turned to look at Anne. She knitted her brows together in thought, then looked up from the ever flickering fire.[/i] "So you're off the case, but you still want to find the dollmaster?" "Who wouldn't want to?" "Well you're the most vengeful of the three of us." [i]I shot a look at Vicky and she smirked, burying her face, smart mouth and all, in the scruff of Kiff's neck. Anne kissed my cheek chastely and looked at the beer in my hands and plucked it out. I sighed and flopped back on the couch, enjoying the squishiness of the multiple throw pillows, the warmth of the handmade quilts at my waist. I groped at the table for a clove cigarette and Anne flicked out her silver zippo. Two death sticks later, we were all feeling better.[/i] "Well you know we're with you all the way. Blood sisters and all that. Besides. I liked Rico too." "Everyone did. He was a good man and a fine agent." "Fine fine, we'll go out tomorrow night, definitely not tonight. I'm too tired to run around after today" [i]I stood up, stretching extravagantly, and we all went to bed. With Anne snuggled to my chest, I leaned back against the softness of the pillows and thought quietly to myself about the multiple facets of the case, then shook it off and closed my eyes. It was always easier to sleep when I was with her.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkorchid][font=times][i]I felt like something had exploded in my head. The entire time he was talking, it was like I was far away, hearing his words through a very long tunnel. Only instead of hearing them less, it was as if they were magnified like he was Zeus roaring on Mt. Olympus. And the bolt of lightning had struck. It was like a tiny condominium built by dwarves had suddenly been nuked in my frontal lobe. I blazed through the office, knocking over a chair, nearly sending an intern flying into the photocopy machine, grabbed my effects, and slammed the door on my way out. The man at the front desk didn't give me a look, instead he hunkered down behind his desk as if to say "I just work here, please don't kill me." I managed to ignore him, and headed for the basement. If I didn't let off a little steam, I would end up beating someone senseless, and I'd just as soon not get another demerit. I knew it wasn't Charles. He wanted me safe. And I didn't want to have to rip his life apart any more. His wife had gotten enough of that over the years. But the attitude of the captain. I could see how he really thought of me in his eyes, in the sneer in his mouth, the cocky sound of his voice. He was happy to kick me out of his office for the second time. I don't know why I kept going back. Maybe he was right.[/i] "I do hate myself. I've hated myself ever since I lost Rico." [i]My voice sounded very still in the empty concrete corridor. Several minutes later I was in the subterranean shooting range, loading my guns, and watching as the automatic targets began to move in and out of my vision. I flipped on my safety glasses and began pounding away. Several minutes in, I switched out for something a little more powerful. The Wather P-99 always managed to make me feel better. Of course what it did to my hands and wrists I always regretted the next morning. Five minutes in, I felt my anger exploding, and in the middle of me destroying a perfectly harmless dummy, I screamed.[/i] "Kick me off the case will you, you self righteous ass covering son of a bitch!" [i]An hour later I set down the weapon, the barrel warm enough to steam rice on, a small pool of shells surrounding my feet. I sighed and stripped off my gear, staggering towards the lounge only to collapse onto the sofa. I knew my own gun was still loaded and nearby, so I closed my eyes for a moment, arm flopped over my hair with my wrist resting on my forehead. The case jangled like an annoying alarm clock in the back of my mind. I felt drained, raw, exposed. Shrugging it off with a near superhuman wrench of will, I walked to my car, started the engine, noted that it hadn't exploded, and drove home. There was a message on my answering machine, but I didn't play it. The last thing I wanted to hear was any sound outside of death metal, or Kiff's joyful bark. At the end of the day, my dog still loved me. He nuzzled my feet, bathing them enthusiastically. I told myself it was because he knew how much I wanted attention, when I knew it was because he, like all animals, loved the salt flavoring.[/i] "Ah good boy. I know you'll always love me. Even if they fired me so to speak. Hows about we take a trip upstate for awhile? See Anne and Vicky for awhile?" [i]At the word "trip," Kiff's ears perked up and he dashed around the condo like a puppy. I sighed and looked up at the stark white ceiling. I should probably tell them I'm visiting. All I wanted to do was get Rico back too. Go back. Line up the pieces. But they wouldn't stack up. They wouldn't fall into place. And so it went. And I was gone.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]God, it's been bloody centuries since I've been to a prom. I've been to college dances though, but those mostly involved a boat, a lot of alcohol, and illegal substances. I'll confess to wearing the same dress I wore to my Senior prom [five years ago], to the college dance I just went to. Blue velvet, heavy beadwork up the front in an iridescent pattern, high heels that were lost sometime in the middle of the party, and a lot of nasty dancing. But that was mostly in high school. Me and two other girls. ....make the boys happy boys for the night.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][font=times]Perfectly accetpable. And yes, the price is an important factor. In that case, we'll just have to talk about war without help.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][b][center]Act One: Setting The Stage Scene Two: The Second Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center][/b] [i]Lai busied herself cleaning up the room, picking up the sheer golden dress that had slithered off the bed sometime during the night. She also managed to gather up the shoes, and the duffel bag before Luyii managed to roll out of bed. A few minutes later, she came back and ripped open the blinds at the window, letting sunlight stream in. Luyii moaned slightly and covered her head with the comforter.[/i] "Wild night or something?" [i]Her smile was hilariously suggestive, and Luyii managed to roll over to avoid her stare. She raised her head slightly off the bed, hair falling in her face.[/i] "Weren't you watching through one of the twenty hidden cameras meant to monitor my room?" "Well I might have glanced, but I was spending more time kicking the others away from the screens." "I will never know why Baba never thought of what might happen when his little girl finally got a mate for herself." "Well... .....I think I'll just go get your breakfast." [i]And she did. Ten minutes later, Luyii was sitting at a small table by the window, drinking English breakfast tea with milk and no sugar, and reading the morning news from her computer. She scrolled through the headlines quietly, flicking the pad downwards while simultaneously chewing a slice of apple and cheese. Lai finished airing and making the bed in short order, then picked up her files and started reading off Luyii's agenda.[/i] "First, you meet with your father about the negotiations next week, then he wants you to meet with a few Japanese business men about a sale. I hear they have a great gift for you. Then you meet with the staff to discuss the menus and then you and I go down to the business room to requisition gifts for the people who will be attending the meeting..." "Anything involving Sai?" "Well tonight's still open after you have dinner with Mr. Fai." "See if he's free. If he isn't, I'm going anyway." [i]Lai snorted to herself while Luyii finished up her breakfast and walked towards her closet, ripping off her robe in the process. Linen pants suit, silver jewelry, and a conservative French twist for her hair with Lai's aid. She always wanted to be presentable when working with the business ventures of her father. Lai put the finishing touches of her makeup, then shooed her out the door towards her father's office. While walking down the halls, Luyii and her bodyguards passed the enforcer known as Dead and his associate, Yugo. Luyii gave him one of her dazzling smiles and he winked roguishly. Luyii knew by experience, that as she laughed and walked on, his head turned and examined how the cut of her pants showed off her ass. Meanwhile, her father's personal bodyguards had thrown open the door for her. Boss Fai sat behind his enormous desk silently, and waited until her daughter had been seated. Then he smiled and commenced with the small talk.[/i] "Is Sai good to you?" "So far he's been a gentlemen." "I hear he's plenty of that. Anyway, I need you to garner favor with the White Prince at the meeting." "Are you sure? I hear his temper is quite something." "He knows better than to pick a fight with you I'm sure. You'll be the one to greet him when he arrives before the meeting begins. Additionally, I need you to be sure to choose the proper gifts for the guests. I won't have our hospitality questioned." "Never. It's already on my list for today, after the domestic items." [i]Secretly, Boss Fai was pleased with his daughter's diligence and skill. Outwardly, he pretended that he was satisfied, and that there was room for improvement. Either way, he nodded and dismissed her soon after. Luyii left with a bow and rushed on to her next appointment. It went well. The Japanese business men gave her plenty of respect, and even had a gift for her and Lai, who showed up to serve tea and snacks halfway through. After they left, Lai opened the packages to find a kimono for Luyii and hair ornaments for her. She raised her eyes once she saw the brocade embroidery on the obi.[/i] "We'll have to send them something in return because of this you realize." "No kidding. This kimono is an antique. At least Baba will be happy."[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]So now that you all know how lame I am...I do confess to making character sheets and flow charts and agenda lists during my History of Dance in Cuba discussion session in class. Lame, I know. So I am now going to tell you all something new. The Business of Diplomacy and Politics will begin soon. This means that there will be posting orders introduced as soon as the Brotherhood's Meeting begins. I'll post the list now, and you can hash out the details with group members or ask me questions thereafter. [i][center][b]Tentative[/b] Agenda ~~~~~~~~~~ Establish the beginning of the meeting: Dead Seraphim Discuss the First Order Of Business: Dragon's Tongue: DeathKnight Trouble with the Brotherhood of Infinite Longevity: Possible Cameo [or me]. Tension between Luyii and The White Prince: Possible Cameo [blah blah blah]. The Possibility of War: BKstyles a: tensions between Boss Kai Fen and everyone else: Athena/Sandy [collaboration required] Enter The Defector: Shy Positive Diplomatic Relations Established: Dead/Me/And/Or Cameo[/center][/i] As you can see, I've left out one or two people. They'll have to post here first to get a slot, or abstain, which is perfectly acceptable too.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][font=times]The drug is usually injected, sometimes swallowed in pill form. People take it as a performance enhancer, and to be honest, not everyone is aware of the drug's lethal side effects. Most often the person takes it, thinking it's simply steroid like, but get a nasty surprise in the end.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Luyii laughed to herself and sat up, stuffing two or three of the huge goose-down pillows from the foot of the bed behind her back and neck. She added another few for him, then sat back and took the bowl from his hands. No matter what the others in the house might like, Luyii had always been partial to wine marinated beef and rice. Picking up delicately pointed chopsticks, she ate with gusto. Fights always made her so hungry. And the taste? Out of this world. She eyed Sai, who was busy making quick work of his favorite soup, while giving the eye to the remaining fruit. She laughed and set down the bowl, picking up the tea and pouring them both a cup. With a slow look from under her lashes, Sai took the cup from her hands, letting his fingers brush against hers. She smiled and sipped hers, inhaling the sweet smell of jasmine and white tea. The two leaned back while Luyii flicked out her switchblade and idly began peeling them a starfruit. Sai watched transfixed as she expertly flicked the skin off and sliced it up without so much as scratching her skin. She presented the flat of the blade to him, balancing one slice delicately on on the point. He took it, nearly nicking his index finger.[/i] "Careful. Blood and starfruit don't mix." "I'll keep that in mind." [i]She leaned back and took another bite while reaching for the remote and turning on the plasma TV to obscenely old X-files re-runs. She laughed at Sai's expression and settled back, taking another sip of tea.[/i] "You still watch these? These are freaking ancient!" "So is my father, but who's counting?" [i]She threw a fake punch his way and concentrated once more, laughing at his pained expression. It was almost hard to imagine what it was like to be in a world one hundred years in the past.... Luyii sighed and leaned against Sai's broad shoulder, sneaking a plum from his plate and popping it into her mouth at the speed of light. When he looked down a few minutes later, she had already plowed through three more. He held up the empty plate and gave her a look.[/i] "No matter what they say, I swear you are spoiled." "Don't be a jerk." [i]She bashed him with the pillow, only to feel the stinging retaliation of his own swipe. The two exchanged body blows, and then settled for simple wrestling, with Luyii already hampered by the dress that left nothing to the imagination. He laughed and pinned her arms down with his own, and held her hips down with his own. She laughed and squirmed out from under him, trying to get away, only to give up in fake frustration.[/i] "Curse you for being stronger than me." "Let's face it. You're female. I'm not." "So now it's all about gender between us?" [i]Luyii smirked at him and pulled him down to her for a long kiss. No matter how much power she might have, she was still a woman within the Brotherhood of power hungry men. Men that still embraced Confucian ideals thousands of years old. Women were second, but that didn't bother Luyii. Pouring the tea for him first was second nature to her, and neither of them minded really.[/i] "I'm glad you're a woman." "And I'm glad you're a man. My man." [i]Sai placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her again, trailing one hand down her side to pull the strap of her dress off the left shoulder. He trailed a line of soft kisses down her neck to her naked chest, while she dug nails into his back in response.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Luyii rubbed her freshly bruised shoulder and gave him a wry grin. Lai came up with her bag and she took it with one hand, jerking her head at Lai with another exchanged nonverbal signal. Then she turned back and gave Sai a wry smile. Her voice lowered just to the point where only he could hear it. He and Lai, who had learned how to read lips long ago.[/i] "We should probably go to the back so we can both shower... ...and talk to my father, considering he and every other Sleeper just watched us tongue each other." "Good point." [i]She slid her arm around his hip and he put his arm around her. The two walked towards the back, while Lai picked up her jacket and walked off with the bodyguards. Meanwhile, the two walked to the back rooms, where most fighters prepared, and where some people died. Just as Luyii suspected, her father was waiting for them. She stopped and looked up at him. He stared back down.[/i] "So... ...this is your final choice? The reason you never asked a thing from me for all these years?" "Yes Baba. I never wanted to have anything but the freedom to choose." "...your mother would be proud." [i]He inclined his head stiffly to his fight club boss while Sai looked down in deference. Boss Fai Chou's eyes suddenly narrowed and Sai felt as if he was being pinned to a wall by his gaze.[/i] "Break her heart and I'll remove yours." "Yes sir." [i]Luyii smiled sweetly at her father. A blood spattered woman, with hands still taped and black bruises forming quickly on her skin. Quietly, the Tiger General left with his men, and left his daughter to her own devices. Once he had left the building, she began to relax, and turned to smile at Sai while simultaneously unwrapping her hands.[/i] "Fuck, I thought he was going to shoot me." "You maybe. He'd just send me to my room." "...you do realize the consequences of picking me and no the other six guys drooling at your feet." "I came here to fight you, didn't I?" [i]She winked at him, before stripping off her clothes and heading straight for the shower. A burst of ice water brought her back from the heady rush she always felt after kissing a bleeding man. Slowly, she scrubbed the sweat and dried blood from her body, while Sai did the same one stall over. Within five minutes, she was done, and began toweling herself off. With a free hand, she began rummaging through her bag and found the simple, orgy inspiring dress she'd asked Lai to pack earlier. While Sai busied himself with his suit, Luyii slithered into the form fitting golden dress she'd had commissioned specifically for this night. He turned and placed a hand on her cheek, brushing still damp hair from her cheek. She smiled and kissed his rough palm, then turned towards the exit and gave him a look.[/i] "Do you know how much power you've just gained?" "I don't think I know the full scope. But I'll tell you now the power wasn't the only motivation." "You beast!" [i]Sai barely dodged the duffel bag she hurled at his face in time. He turned back and caught her around the waist, drawing her close. She breathed into his ear.[/i] "Your place or mine?" "Still being driven around in that sweet Maserati?" "I wouldn't have anything else." "....your place. Definitely your place." [i]Sai put his arm around her slender shoulders and the two walked towards the garage, one triumphant, and one completely satisfied. Lai had already returned to prepare her bedroom, and her bodyguards drove them back without a single word. Not speaking more than two words at a time to her was part of the arrangement she had made with them. The two slipped into her living quarters, and she locked the door behind her.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][font=times]Play nice boys! Or I'll have you all destroyed on "accident." Anyway...It's time to brainstorm. I need an name for a new hybrid drug. Did I mention that science has created new and exciting ways to screw with people's bodies? Visualize a mix of steroids and opiate that kill the pain receptors in the brain and turn you into a rampaging monster for about 6 hours. I tell you all this so we know who to blame for distributing it on the streets. The Brotherhood of Infinite Longevity. This drug is on occasion ingested by people who show up to fight in the club. The drug kills 70% of those who ingest it and 30% suffer a great deal afterwards and remain somewhat damaged for the rest of their soon to be ended lives. Boss Fai Chou is upset by this turn of events, and so will the rest of us be...when it starts being bad for business.[/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][font=times]Honestly? There are aspects of both. For example; solar energy has been refined properly, and there are cleaner, more intelligent machines to do work for humans. Cars are just as powerful, but nothing hovering yet outside of military grade weapons and suchlike. There are semi intelligent work drones, androids and so on and so forth, but things are not as advanced as one might hope. Desalienation of the earth's waters has cut down drastically on the desperate need for potable water, wars are less common, and when they start, they're over quickly. However society is much the same as it was before, only with different selfish desires and needs. Human nature is human nature no matter how many comforts and achievements are made.[/font][/COLOR]

[color=darkorchid][font=times][b]The Brotherhood of Eternal Repose Members:[/b] NPC: Boss: Fai Chou the Tiger General/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] Neuvoxraiha as Boss Daughter: Luyii Chou the Willow Fairy DeathKnight as Doctor: Yi Xing, M.D. the Smiling Buddha BKstyles: Underground Fight Club Boss: Sai Yuan the War Dragon/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] DeadSeraphim as Enforcer: Shi "Dead" Aolie [b]The Brotherhood of Jade Forest Members:[/b] NPC: Boss: Shek Lu the White Prince Athena as Brothel Owner: Chi Zhu the Scarlet Mistress/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] Sandy as Pimp: Ten Wu the Snowcat Nintendo64 as Pusher/Bodyguard: Hui Dong the Dragonfly/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] [b]The Brotherhood of Infinite Longevity Members:[/b] NPC: Boss: Kai Fen "Blackstone" NPC: Personal Assistant: Genji Chao Wondershot as Medical Practitioner/Smuggler: Yan "Razorback" Chen Kitty as Fighter/Hitman: Hong-Fu Li the Wayward Hare/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] The Boss as Fighter/Enforcer: Fei Long the Sleeping Tiger [b]Officers of the "Law"[/b] Gavin as Agent "Raven" Flash as Special Detective Eric "Ji Qiang" Chang "Machine Gun" Chaos as Sergeant Neil Scruggs "Rave" [b]Loosely Affiliated or Unaffiliated[/b] Freier Geist as Dr. Sun Yi-Xiao the Resplendent Crane Shy the Magnificent as Assassin: Ghost Fox/[i][color=red]There is a Hit out on this character.[/color][/i] Note: Characters are listed in Hierarchical order. [center]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [b]Act One: Set The Stage Scene One: Before the Diplomacy[/b][/center] [I]The mob boss daughter smiled and leapt off her chair to greet her father, Fai. He doted on her, and everyone knew it. She was refused nothing, but for some reason, didn?t ask for a lot.[/I] ?Baba!? ?How?s my little girl?? [I]The Tiger General, the leader of the Sleepers, hugged his only child to his chest, while being followed by the entourage of bodyguards, lieutenants, and servants. He held her at arms length, looking at her face.[/I] ?I have a gift for you from Guangzhou.? ?You spoil me too much Baba.? [I]The venerable old man laughed at her, while gesturing to one of the servants, who came up to her, holding a package wrapped in silver rice paper. Luyii ripped it open with gusto to reveal a traditional Chinese dress, complete with silver embroidery on a white background. She held it up once, and twirled around, eliciting a faint smile from her father?s face. Then she handed it to her personal servant, Lai, who wrapped it back up again.[/I] ?I love it.? ?I thought you could wear it to the meeting next week.? ?Of course I will.? [I]He laughed and waved a hand to dismiss her. Taking the gentle cue before he ordered her to, Luyii walked down the hall followed by her two bodyguards. They stood to one side as her servant opened the door that led to her own set of rooms, and then stood still as the door slammed shut behind their mistress. Once inside, she began to remove several different articles of jade jewelry, clothing, and walked towards her bathroom while Lai began to draw a hot bath.[/I] ?I?m glad Father is back.? ?Me too, his trips are so long.? [I]Luyii didn?t doubt the truth to Lai?s words. She had been raised in the Brotherhood, assigned to Luyii as a present for her 10th birthday. The two had grown closer than most servants and master?s ever did, most likely due to the long hours they spent together. Master Fai had never allowed Luyii to be left alone for very long. Lai crushed lavender scent cubes in her fingers and sprinkled into the bathwater, then took Luyii?s robe and towel and folded them over the low table. As she did, Luyii stepped down into the marble bathtub, leaning back against the bubbles, submerging herself slowly. Underwater, the sounds were blocked out, and she was alone with her thoughts. She wouldn?t get much of a chance to relax for much longer. Now that her father was back, diplomatic relations with the other gangs would resume. Negotiations, endless meetings, functions, parties, and they would never end. Time to herself? Forget about it. Lai and her had enjoyed several weeks of quiet and calm. Her father?s lieutenants had managed to keep the business afloat and certainly were capable of keeping the penthouse standing. Only one way to deal with it. She resurfaced, her hair parting down her face.[/I] ?Lai?? [I]The young girl came back out from the main room, holding a tray of snacks.[/I] ?Yes Miss Luyii?? ?Tonight I want to go down to club for a fight.? ?Do you want Master Fai to be there?? ?Only if he wants to. I need a distraction.? ?I?ll send a message to Mr. Yuan so he?ll know to prepare a spot for you.? [I]Several hours later, Luyii sat in front of her dresser, brushing her hair while Lai laid out the tape, her jacket, pants, and bra. She zipped up her black stretch jeans, pulled the black sports bra over her head and straightened the straps. If you looked very closely, you could see a faint tattoo of the brotherhood sign in red going down her neck. With two hands, she twisted up her hair into a braid, then got dressed. Pulling the hood forward over her eyes, she slipped the tape into her right pocket and walked towards the door. Her two bodyguards opened the door for her and they headed down to the garage. Her Maserati, although she never drove it, was her absolute favorite, and she enjoyed every second she spent in it. Lai and Luyii sat down, and her bodyguards drove to the club. As they drove through the crowded streets, Luyii?s mood began to lift slightly. She would break a few faces, taste her own blood, and things would get better. At the door, she was led into the main ring. Lai set down her duffel bag and went to fetch a pot of tea. Luyii began to rip off strips of tape, wrapping her hands, up slightly past her wrist. She turned and looked across the main ring to stare directly at Sai Yuan, the boss of the club. He stared back and she narrowed her eyes once, then looked away. Luyii smiled slightly. He was handsome, tall, not a foolish dandy like the other men currently trying to get her to appreciate them. He had always been polite, Lai and her had exchanged many whispered secrets about him. That was the other nice part about Lai. She knew everything that went on. Gossip and strife...she was a perfect conduit straight to Luyii?s ear.[/I][/color][/font]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]The thread starts tomorrow morning, give or take a few hours. I'll post the first character cast and you'll all be very happy. The signups will remain open, although shoot me a PM just incase I miss it. It'll also be best if you post your sidequests in the underground thread. Enjoy![/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]The sight of such a simple doll, sitting on my table, with Kiff sniffing it once before I grabbed his leather collar and jerked him back, nearly paralyzed me. I stepped over his back and jerked my legs together so he couldn't give it the same treatment I received every night, then, with my free hand, I opened my cell phone and hit speed dial #9.[/i] "Charles...I know it's late, but I think that you coming to my condo would be the best move. In the meantime, I'll be calling the office. ...I think someone dusting for fingerprints might be a good move, before Kiff manages to destroy the rest of the forensic evidence." [i]My partner sounded stressed, and to be honest, if I were him, I'd be stressed too. Laura wasn't my favorite person, but I was morally obliged to be polite to her in every way possible. I'm almost positive she hated me too. But how could I blame her? I spent more time working with her husband then she had ever spent sharing a bed with him. I didn't want to hog him, or make her feel like that, but what could I do?[/i] "This isn't funny." "I am NOT exaggerating this time." [i]Somehow, he believed me. ...somehow he didn't accuse me of stretching the truth. I never wanted to really sound panicked, or let anyone know I was completely terrified, but the idea of someone making it into my room was terrifying. The forensic team made it before Charles, and I managed to guide them through the apartment just to have them tell me what I already knew. I hadn't left the door unlocked, or the window, or the balcony. Kiff hadn't been drugged or tampered with, and there were no new fingerprints. Charles arrived in time to hear the exact same thing, before looking at the doll, which had been released back to me at my insistence.[/i] "Looks like Sephiroth to me." "...it looks like my death staring me in the face." [i]I sighed to myself, and looked at it again, trying not to flinch. It held a masamune, a complete replica of the weapon that struck down my dearest friend. Its wing stretched out like it was in flight, and the same silver hair and eyes. It seemed to be moving, until I shook my head and Kiff barked at me once. I gave him the "shut up" nonverbal signal and he whined once and walked to his water bowl.[/i] "I'm going to beat myself up until we figure out this stupid case." [i]Charles sighed too, then gave me one of those looks.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][font=times][i]These are all perfectly acceptable quests. You who have posted in this thread are all automatically in.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[font=times][COLOR=DarkOrchid]Signups so far are not bad as a whole, and the RPG itself will start in one to two days, depending on if people continue signing up. What I'm looking for are characters who remain unique and original, and aren't all in the same gang. Two problems: Starwind: Your character upon closer inspection is too similar to BKstyles. Infatuation's with Luyii and fighting in the underground are acceptable, but don't give yourself too similar a function. Be creative. Shy: Jade Fox is also the name of one of the main characters in the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." This is bad.[/COLOR][/font]

[font=times][COLOR=DarkOrchid]Honestly? I'm not that picky, I feel it's just interesting enough on its own as a category. I'm also cross checking their characters personalities to their signs you know... Or at least I will when they start writing. Essentially, pick the age for your character in this year. It's easier for me to keep track. Post your wanted sidequests and business ventures here for me.[/COLOR][/font]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times]In order to give my new rpg "The Sleepers [M-SVL]" more publicity and generally a more upbeat and modern tone, I could use a banner or suchlike to add to its allure. This would be posted in my signature and also in the main thread when I eventually put it up after the choosing process. Ideas for it include a mostly Chinese character theme, something out of a Chinese gangster movie perhaps. Keep in mind that the year is 2099, so modernity isn't such a bad thing either. Anyway, if anyone of the talented artists here could help me out, I'd be more than grateful. [/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]This is where we meet before the meetings between gangs, discuss business ventures before they're discussed, and act like gods. Any questions can be directed here, and status of being accepted into the RPG will also be posted here ....most likely. First Order Of Business: The advancement of Brotherhood politics will be addressed here. Establishing diplomatic relations between the Brotherhood of Eternal Repose and the Brotherhood of the Jade Forest. Sidequests: These will be your personal issues that you'll resolve in your posts, such as Luyii's neverending search for a boyfriend that lives up to her father, the Tiger General's standards.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Let's start with an idea. A old idea in the new times. In the city of San Francisco, in the year 2099, where the old Chinese gangs still run rampant, prostitution, drugs, alcohol, and every other vice is indulged for a price. Everything in this city has its price. Happiness? Opium? Heroin? Cocaine? Pleasure? Fighting? You name it, and it's been turned into a business by any one of many gangs. Organized crime is a beautiful thing. And here it's even easier because this particular city has never had a larger collection of dirty cops. Now. There are several brotherhoods here...each with their own particular name, each with their own rules and regulations. They have their own codes of conduct you must follow, capable of fitting your various personality quirks. If you like, you can be one of the members that speaks to other organizations about business practices, permissions for various enterprises, and otherwise a diplomat. Expect there to be plot, but giving it all away now would just ruin the ride. Recommended reading/watching list: "Dragonwings" "Dragon's Gate" [b]The Brotherhood of Eternal Repose:[/b] Origin: Nickname for a powerful yaksha demon. These men with their various underling women have strict codes of conduct. Very dangerous, they control a portion of the drug business and an underground fighting ring. Their nickname: The Sleepers, implies that it is their enemies that enjoy eternal repose, not them. If you want to be a Sleeper, you'd best be harsh, violent, serious, and with a sarcastic sense of humor. [b]The Brotherhood of the Jade Forest:[/b] Origin: An Immortal court of Heaven. An organization for men who want to be brothel owners, the place where you go to find prostitutes. Best suited for men with loose morality, and those that like to profit off of the sufferings of others. Their nickname: The Jade Court, implies the beauty of their women, and their willingness to please for a price. To be a Jade Court member, it's best if you have no scruples and no sense of other's pain. [b]The Brotherhood of Infinite Longevity:[/b] Origin: The Star of Longevity; Chinese deity. A trafficking and drug running gang comprised of murderers, mercenaries, and thrill seekers. Widely considered more dangerous than the Sleepers, but more prone to making stupid mistakes due to their personality defects, this Brotherhood has attracted all the sorts of people that would otherwise grow up to be serial killers and mass murderers but now do it for wealth. [center]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/center][/i] Join us, and fight for personal gain. It's the best thing to do. [b]Name:[/b] Luyii Chou [Keep it Chinese. Or a mix. Mixes are allowed, but don't expect to be chosen as a leader if you're a "half-breed."] [b]Gender:[/b] Female [Looking for more males than females actually, so consider a sex change for yourself to up your odds of success.] [b]Organization nickname:[/b] Willow Fairy [This should follow asiatic themes, go wild. Examples: The Dragon General, Windrider, Black Ram. This is what everyone in every organization will know you as. Later on you'll be able to reveal to any significant others your secret names, known only within the organization you're a part of.] [b]Age: 21[/b] [Nothing 16 and under. This is a serious business here! 17-70] [b]Chinese Zodiac Sign:[/b] Tiger [You'll have to look this up for your character's age. Don't worry it's easy to do. Note that it will affect your personality.] [b]Organization of Choice:[/b] The Brotherhood of Eternal Repose [You can only be in one, but you can cite which brotherhood you have trouble with, or are in trouble with.] [b]Function:[/b] Daughter of organization boss, currently seeking a member of the Organization, often used for Diplomacy and a prize fighter in the ring. [Are you a drug runner, a salesman, an enforcer? Pick, but keep it sane.] [b]Appearance:[/b] Wears various styles of clothes, mostly Chinese modern, sometimes old school chi-pao. Black hair, brown eyes, perfect skin where there aren't scars. Good teeth, strong bone structure, generally not as tall as anyone else in any given room she's in, but that doesn't mean she isn't consistently underestimated. [b]Weapon of Choice:[/b] Fists; most often wrapped to protect her skin from slitting open on contact. Her bodyguards actually manage to keep her from having to carry more than a knife. How convenient for her. [If you want an arsenal, you can have one, but don't expect to have many chances to start all out wars.] [b]Biography:[/b] Since I'm the RPG creator, I really don't have to go into detail here. Your Function should also serve as your Biography, but if you want to go into detail about how you became a cold hearted gangster, let me know. [b]Personality:[/b] Smooth and cool, calm and organized. Perfectly happy being a second class citizen within the organization as [b]all women in this rpg will be.[/b] Also happens to have a thing for blood, hell, let's call it a fetish, so her mate will have to be equally bloodthirsty. [All character defects, fetishes, and quirks must be listed here.][/font][/COLOR]

[font=times][COLOR=DarkOrchid]Name: Arine Eiladeriel Kliclarien Age: 200 or thereabouts, it's hard to keep track. Gender: Female Race: Sphynx Appearance: I decided to draw the picture, albeit, from last year. She's a fire element Sphynx, so...body of the lion, face of a human, but long toes on her paws that allow her to function normally. She can stand on two legs perfectly well, uses her tail for balance like a primate oddly enough. Bio: [i]She joined the Company years ago. At first she was one of their conquests, probably because of her unpleasant feeding habits. However, Lefty made one helluva convincing pitch, and then again, who couldn't use an ancient Sphynx that could fly, breathe fire...pierce basic armor... ....Arine dozed peacefully in broad daylight, curled around the mainmast of the ship. She opened one eye to notice Rell talking to Lefty...and they noticed her at last. She yawned unconcernedly, giving the entire crew a pleasant view of huge teeth and a very pink tongue. The Sphynx rose to all fours and padded around Lefty and the others, retracting and extending her claws playfully, digging into the floorboards, leaving little splinter-marks where she walked, then she leapt upwards and splayed across several boxes of cargo.[/i] "Reluctance is a good thing you know..." [i]The men laughed. Her tone was wry, and playful even. Then again, Arine was often playful with them the way a cat was playful with a mouse. Her voice was hoarse and deep, but if anything, still very feminine.... Relaxing again, she flicked her tail again and yawned once more. The sunlight felt sooo good...[/i] Speciality: As a sentient creature comprised of mainly lion, she is capable of rending most plate mail armor off any hapless guard with one paw, and perfectly happy eviscerating an entire gang of bandits single...pawedly. Well-made armor presents more of a problem, but that won't really stop her from trampling you. She can also contact the fire that burns in the heart of every Sphynx and burn people from the inside out, although this takes time to prepare, and requires she makes eye contact for an extended period of time. Many cases of spontaneous human combustion are in fact the fault of particularly vengeful or well paid Sphynx. Her huge paws allow for silent travel on foot. When she flies, things are slightly more noisy, so stealth attacks by flight aren't really that possible. Personality: Like most Sphynx, Arine is aloof to the point of mysterious, calm when not in the presence of raw meat, and generally noble in bearing. As a chimera, she has a high capacity for logic and reasoning, but Arine herself prefers to fight with her body, maiming all in her way. A useful sort of powerhouse to have in any group. When she is in a battle, she usually reverts to a more animal order in her brain, becoming almost mindlessly savage. Most of her companions know to leave her a wide berth when she goes into a blood rage... of course there have been accidents before.[/COLOR][/font]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]Poor Sephiroth. Suffering alone, not even showing that he was suffering. Wait, what was I thinking? Bad guy. He was a bad guy. Then again, I don't think I should be classifying him as either good or bad anymore. Confessing is one thing, he never had done that before. Perhaps he was protecting someone. Just as I was opening my mouth to voice this opinion to my partner, I looked over and noticed he was fast asleep, leaning back with his mouth open, drooling slightly. If only his wife could see him now. I shouldn't be thinking of that should I? And waking him up when we were five minutes from my condo? Of course, muscling him into the elevator and unlocking the door with him hanging over my shoulder... ....just because I can carry a 200lb. man two miles doesn't mean I want to. I dropped him off at his rental, half dragging him to the door and propping him up against the frame while I fished in his pockets for the keys.[/i] "Thanks Sonders." "Welcome. Just don't drool on my shoulder the next time I try shaking you awake." "How bad was it?" "Like Hoover dam." [i]He rolled his eyes; or at least half rolled them. It's hard to when you're so tired you're weaving back and forth like a metronome.[/i] "I'll pick you up around lunch time. Don't forget." "I wouldn't." [i]He tripped into the door and as far as I can see went up the stairs on all fours. Inelegant. Oh well. It was time to go home, reunite myself with my dog...not think about anything for the next 12 hours. Probably take a bath with lavender scent, drink several alcoholic beverages, do a little paperwork mindlessly and then pass out on the couch with a warm furry beast.[/i] "Down boy." [i]My beloved pet, Kiff, a huge white Dane leapt up and slathered my face in saliva. He seemed overexcited, and I followed him to my miniscule kitchen and downed a beer while giving another to Kiff. It wasn't until I turned my eyes down to the table and noticed a card propped against my fruit bowl. ...How had someone managed to come into my apartment....without getting eviscerated by a dog that weighed nearly as much as me?[/i] "What the f-?" [i]I waited for a moment and whipped out my gun, side stepping across the ground to my bathroom, the bedroom, the adjacent living room, the spare, nothing. Kiff followed me, sniffing enthusiastically, and weaving through my legs like he was still a puppy.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]My eyes flickered once, I'm sure of it. A flash of red gold on normally amber eyes. I'd crossed Sephiroth once or twice. And since his incarceration at my hands, and, well, Agent Charles' too, he'd probably not be that cooperative.[/i] "He probably won't be that cooperative." [i]Charles was giving me the eye that usually meant I'd had said something moderately foolish. After all, Charles had once nearly gotten his shoulder sliced off by Sephiroth. I had a pretty cut down my back, and he'd taken out more than one of our friends in the struggle. Of course, I'm the one that shot him in the kneecap. I suppose I could always do it again. Wait. ....that kind of thinking got me in trouble the last time.[/i] "Too bad for him then. I'll just see what he'll say to enticement." "You aren't going to get naked again are you?" [i]My partner gave me one of those looks. The look of a man who has heard it all, seen it all, and sometimes thinks he knows it all. I gave him what I hoped was a properly withering look.[/i] "Oh get bent." [i]Without another word, I turned and flounced towards the exit, swearing in several different languages in my head. We drove at a moderate speed, then again, since when has a pre Nixon administration Buick ever managed to go anything past a moderate speed? Either way, we made it to the Otaku Detention Center for the Criminally Insane in good time, and breezed past the guards without so much as a by-your-leave. I followed behind Agent Charles to the point where an unsuspecting person would think he was alone. Hopefully, Sephiroth would think only one person had come to visit. Then again, he had never been stupid. Sephiroth was sitting alone in the darkened cell, dressed in white, with his back to us. Agent Charles went in first, sitting down across from Sephiroth, hand resting casually on his gun. I waited patiently behind the door, letting the man do his own work before I took over. While I waited, barely registering their voices, I studied him. Long hair, neatly trimmed, and the same features as before. It looked like he hadn't aged. Except for the way his eyes had clouded slightly, he was virtually unchanged. The long wait clearly hadn't done anything to him physically. I suspect he was allowed to exercise regularly. ...the others weren't sane enough to remember what they were doing in any exercise room. I suppose his lawyer was preening over how he'd managed to get Sephiroth here and not some place where he'd be getting shanked by someone named "Buck." Either way, he was off the streets. He couldn't get near anything that could possibly be used as a weapon. That was good enough for me. It would have to be good enough for me.[/i][/font][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][font=times][i]I should've refused them, I should've said no, but what can I say? An oppertunity to carry my gun around again and flash it from the hip? Damnit. I'm hopeless aren't I? They asked me to leave, and by asked, I know they were demanding I take myself out of the picture for more than just PR reasons. I think it was because I pistol whipped a confession out of a kidnapper/rapist. Honestly, we still got the confession, and the valuable information. But I guess I shouldn't have made him go permanently blind in one eye. Oh yeah, Special Agent Lace Sonders at your service. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, I was walking towards Agent Charles's desk, the one wedged in the subterranean corner cubicle, files in hand, wondering if I shouldn't have worn the red thong today, but the jeans should've obscured the cut.[/i] "Why are you wearing that thong again?" "I knew I shouldn't have bothered with it in the first place." "Nonsense, that would've been a violation of dress code." [i]I slapped the files down on his hand, which was resting conveniently on the desktop. He recoiled quickly, but not quickly enough, and I chuckled.[/i] "Nice to see you too Lace. I take it you're finished with these files." "Yeah. And I am going to [i]crucify[/i] whoever did this to Rico." [i]He raised an eyebrow and smiled halfheartedly.[/i] "Remember the last time you went overboard?" "The vacation did me good.[/font][/COLOR]