@SleepingSilence @Jewels

Terrence keenly listened to Cas, keeping silent and just letting her explain parts of her past he wasn't aware of though some of it he could piece together himself, his desire to receive more information was being fulfilled as he actually took a seat, leaning back in a recliner still being observant but also questioning things in his head. “My own demons...while fortunately for me I'm managing my demons through rigorous experimentation. Given the circumstances I've only gotten better at keeping the monster deep within, which one day I will kill with my own two hands...but this shadow is only seems to continue its reckless animosity for any life, including ones that aren't immediate threats. Makes me very nervous. I don't want to necessary get my hands dirty already, but if the demon makes another pass at me without provocation, I may kill it with my own two hands as well. Regardless of the consequences.” Terrence stopped his violent thoughts not wanting to accidentally give himself stress as he sat himself back up from the recliner after she took a break from speaking. “Well, I certainly appreciate you telling me. I know it's not always easy for people to talk about past tragic events.” He spoke in a courteous manner though from the described events he definitely wanted to get rid of the shadow. “I would like to discuss certain matters with you, but that can wait until some other time.” He added sounding nonchalant but trying to get her guessing exactly what it was hoping she'd come to a conclusion on her own, aware that she was bright for her age. Clearing his throat a little, he was curious exactly what took place while they were gone, going to discuss Mason figuring that he had to, but she starting speaking up again before he could speak.

Cas didn’t want to dwell on the story she’d just relayed, and was quick to change the topic. “On a different subject...Mason must have seen one of the ads I’ve posted. He made the connection to Castor Mallory. ...I hope he doesn’t tell anyone I’m a girl; I’ve worked hard to keep that quiet. Heh, I guess that means he and I are sort of in the same position, not wanting our secrets to get out.” Except from what Cas had seen of Mason, he was rash, and took greater risks than she was comfortable with. “I seem to be okay in his book, at least for now. Apparently he was impressed when I decided to tell him I’d be better off ratting him out. He might have even pretended to believe I had nothing to gain as a test, to see if I’d correct him.”

Relieved that at least one particular dilemma between Mason and her was resolved, at least temporarily. Unfortunately he was still too on edge to stop himself from pacing. “Well, I assume that I can trust you that if he, anyone troubles you again. That you'll come here, and please let me know. I don't want either of you getting hurt.” He said as a certain thought came across his mind. “Or have him know what I've become...” Terrence slipped out aloud as he realized he spoke it and let out a deep sigh. At this point hoping it would change the subject. “Are you hungry? It's around lunchtime, care for something to eat?” he offered to her smiling.

“Ah, no thank you, Terry. I had lunch -- well, half a lunch, anyhow. I still have the rest if I really want something to eat, but I don’t right now. Between the panic attack and what I was seeing, I’ve already been sick once. I’d like to stick around a bit, though, if you don’t mind?” Cas went with the change in topic without further comment, more than willing to return to everyday concerns -- or so she appeared. She was a little surprised that Mason didn’t know about Terry’s other form, but it really wasn’t her place to get involved in that matter.

“Oh, very well then. I've just been having lunch later and later since I've been so busy with experiments I've been doing,” he started to say hoping she wouldn't ask what kind. “I understand, as long as you don't mind me eating in front of you dear, oh and thank you for the candy.” He replied smiling as he walking into the kitchen. “You can stay as long you want,” he stated cheerfully, though in all honestly though he didn't mind her company, nor did he want to be rude. He did want to read more of his books and start making progress for Mason and his resistance and the other things he had planned to do tonight on his off day, which he needed as much time as possible for.

“No, of course I don’t mind.” She gave him half a smile and grabbed her clipboard from her bag before following after Terrence to the kitchen. “And you’re welcome -- I couldn’t pass it up when I saw it was discounted.” Cas settled at the table, discreetly checking where the shadows lay. “More experiments?” she asked, writing something on a piece of scrap paper and putting it where the doctor could see. “You’re always doing those -- I hope you’ll be careful. I worry you’ll go too far one of these days.”



Terrence decided to make something simple to eat. To quickly get back to the conversation at hand. Unaware he was actually getting pretty hungry, his mind was just too distracted at the moment to notice. Opening the fridge and getting out stuff to make a sandwich. As he made himself something quick as he walked back into living room taking a bite of his corned beef sandwich. He lets out a soft chuckle. “Well I find all the ones I do necessary, but don't worry about me. You know I'm always very careful,” he replied as he noticed what she wrote down as he smiled a little and gave her a small nod looking right at her to know he was responding to her.

The girl rolled her eyes. “I think you’re the only person in the city that would call injecting yourself with poisons ‘necessary’,” she retorted, though without venom. It was an old disagreement, and she’d resigned herself to the fact that the doctor had no intention of stopping. When she brought it up now, it was more a combination of teasing and concern.



Terrence spent a minute looking away to collect his thoughts. “Well I suppose you may be right, but for my line of work it’s required,” he replied knowing that she didn't exactly fancy his experiments though the feeling was mutual. The fact was it was crucial for his survival at least in his mindset. He grabbed a piece of paper and started to write back, as his writing was very professional and easy to read, being careful to avoid shadows in the room showing her his message.



The girl turned the topic of the discussion they were having aloud to something inconsequential, so they could focus more on the written one.



Terrence continued speaking about something unimportant, and he continued to write so they could have a quick conversation.







Cas nodded, and folded the paper in half before tearing it into small strips over the course of the next half hour. By then the doctor had been done with his meal for a while, and she knew she should be heading out. “Oh, I almost forgot. One of my clients wants me to purchase a few different medicines, but the pharmacies I know don’t carry some of them. Where would you recommend I go?” She riffled through her clipboard and slid a sheet of paper free, holding it out to Terrence. It had a list of various compounds, most of them checked off but a few less common ones circled.

“Well at least that has been taken care of...” Terrence thought to himself putting the notes he had written back in his pocket as he watched her tear up the pieces of paper, as he watched her approach handing him a piece of paper full of different medical compounds, he had all of them stored in his lab. He kept a ton of different medicine where it wasn't immediately noticeable, somewhere secret that he hadn't told anyone about, for safe keeping. “Hmm. The next time you visit me, I should be able to retrieve all those items for you,” he replied.

“Really? I don’t mind going to a shop, but...well, if you’re sure. The guy wants them in the next couple days, so I’ll come by tomorrow or the day after, if that’s alright with you? Probably about the same time as today.” The young woman smiled at Terrence. “Maybe I’ll bring my lunch with.”

He smiled at her. “It's not a problem, though I know I'll be pretty busy tomorrow. But just to drop off supplies, I might be able to reschedule or fit you in around the same time,” He replied trying to work it all out in his head. “Well, I have a lot of reading to do. You keep yourself safe alright?” he continued.

“If you’re busy tomorrow, I’ll come the day after,” Cas responded. “And don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I always am. Take care, Terry.” She went to grab her bag and gave him a wave. “Don’t work too hard, yeah?” she added, before heading out the door.

“Take care, dear,” were Terrence's parting words as he watched her leave, he closed the door and locked it, just in case. He let out a long sigh, as before he could get any reading done. He had one more thing to take care of, as he went to grab a broom and dustpan as he went to his bathroom and started to sweep up the glass. “I guess my mechanic is coming in tomorrow. I suppose I can get him to fix my bathroom too,” he mumbled to himself rubbing his head. As today was a lot more mentally exhausting than he thought it would be, but he felt as if it had only just begun.

As Mason made his way back to the slums with his repaired skin, he thought to himself about what the next step would be. His interaction with the young girl, Cas, was unsettling as he was still unsure if she was worthy of his trust, but she hadn’t given him a reason to believe her to be a traitor to his cause. It was also interesting to note how unsettling Terrence’s apartment was. It stunk like dried blood and had a noxious odor to the operating room… Terrence must have had to deal with some rather difficult times since moving to the West End. A skilled doctor was somewhat of a useful commodity to the monsters, and Terrence was more than just skilled… Mason considered him some sort of a prodigy… a Savant even.

He slowly made his way back to the tunnels and yawned as he rubbed his one still good eye, stretching a bit as thoughts of Alicia crossed his mind, curious as to how her mission went “She should be back by the time I get back to the base… I hope we didn’t lose anyone this time, it’d be nice to have people come back these days...” Mason spoke as he absentmindedly strolled through the tunnels and made his way back to the slums. The walk was long and took time, but he eventually made it to the tunnel exit and found that the sun was already beginning to set. The beautiful orange sky was, however, ruined by the dingy clouds and dark grey of the slums as he strolled the streets to get to an alleyway that was obscured by garbage bins and chain link fences. The base was well hidden amongst the depression and dirt of the slums, making the alleyways a perfect place to conduct business for the rebellion, and a great place to set a base that wouldn’t be easily found by random patrols.

Mason ducked through a hole in a fence and pushed aside a few boxes that blocked his path, moving them back in place to seal up the entrance. On the other side of the wall of boxes was a short hall that led to a wooden door that led into a long set of stairs, the way down into the base of the rebellion, into the heart of Chaos. Mason flicked a light switch on the wall at the top of the stairs, lighting a single, dim bulb at the bottom of the stairs, before he descended into the central chamber of the underground warehouse that was repurposed into the base of operations for Chaos. He grinned to himself as he nodded to a couple of agents on their way out the door, who nodded back to him. Mason knew this was going to be an interesting night just based on his meeting with Terrence and Casara.

((@Pree))

Cas set off to do the rest of what she needed to accomplish that day in the way of deliveries. First she stopped by her place to drop off her groceries, but shortly thereafter she was once again hitting the streets, heading across Enigma. She made sure to check her drop boxes for any notes from people wishing to employ her services in passing, as she did every day, even the ones she didn’t work. Everything was carefully recorded in her notebook -- client name, delivery, date, any relevant information. She kept detailed files, everything from the person hiring her, the package recipient, and parcel type to pick-up times, delivery receipts, and any relevant details about the people or job -- anything and everything she might want to recall later, or for future deliveries.

By the time she checked off all but the last two of her deliveries, it was several hours later in the afternoon. She’d saved these two for the end deliberately. Working with Ms. Susan was always rather tense, especially at the beginning. The woman was far more suspicious than the girl, and she’d had decades to refine her paranoia. But the encounter went as smoothly as might be hoped, and Cas left the Slums carrying a box she knew contained a number of children’s books. It didn’t take her too long to reach her destination. The courier shifted the package to one hand and knocked on the door of Kharlee’s bookstore.

Kharlee was staring at the new security shutters that ran up and down all the windows of the bookstore. There were four of them now, all working between two posts and marine grade materials that weren’t going to break apart at the sign of fire. The bookshelves were moving around with the slightest touch, Kharlee had seen The Mummy too many times to want anyone to knock all the book shelves down. Endre wouldn't clean that up. Kharlee definitely couldn't.

Endre had wrapped her wound up again, and she had promised not to fiddle with it. She didn't mind Endre not being there, knowing she would have to accept he wouldn't be there at every part of his life when her parents died. He would have to move on too, to other things if not to other worlds. She had her hands on her hips, her hair tied back into a pony and wearing a construction hat. The workers looked at her a couple of times between every movement that they had to do. Her eyes lit up bright blue as she asked, “Is me being here distracting your men?” she asked the foreman as he tried to keep his chin up looking at her face.

When she heard the door knock she growled, “THERE IS NO ONE IN THERE. DO YOU WANT TO CATCH ON FIRE?” It was not a threat that she would set someone on fire, she was after all putting in mechanisms to protect the building from fire. But her mannerism changed when she realised it wasn't a customer, but a courier. With the children’s books. “You,” she said, half flying to the girl. “You are the delivery girl,” she said, making an obvious statement. “Do you have more books?”

Cas was startled when the voice didn’t come from inside, as expected, and had to silently count her breathing to keep herself calm as she turned to face the harpy. “I do,” she answered, nodding at the box she carried. “But I’ve told you before, Ms. Kharlee, I’m not a girl.” She glanced in the direction from which the other had come. “What’s going on? Aren’t you normally inside at this hour?”

“Yes, yes, boy,” Kharlee replied, but pointed to the windows as she excitedly took the children’s books. “Making the place a little more ... fireproof,” she said, looking at the human girl. Boy. How did this one not fear for its life constantly, and dare to go out among the outer world. “You are human, yes?” she asked softly. Kindly almost.

“I...yes? I am.” The young woman regarded the shutters with polite interest. “You have reason to believe a fire might break out here?” She’d not heard of random fires breaking out anywhere in Enigma, save for that one time someone had left one unattended in the Slums. That had been a disaster. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, but pissed off fire mages or elementals didn’t really count as random, and the blazes were usually dealt with swiftly.

Kharlee sighed, petting the little girl. BOY. She had to remember to say that. She put her hand on the tall one’s head. A bit shorter than Cas when it came down to it. “If anything bad happens, come to me. I will try to help,” she told the little, yet big creature. Kharlee didn’t like seeing people get hurt. “I know people,” she just said, nodding. “Unless you kill someone. Or do something bad. Don’t come to me then, I would be in trouble with Endre.”

The courier danced backwards, moving herself out of petting range. The touch made her decidedly uncomfortable. She knew the harpy, yes, but didn’t think of the monster as a friend, and even from friends she was reluctant to allow much physical contact. But Kharlee’s words were surprising. While the woman was always eager for book deliveries, Cas would hardly have described her as nice, nor thought her to have much concern for the welfare of others. “Ah, that is kind of you…” she said, looking at the harpy with an odd expression.

Kharlee didn't mind the person moving away. She assumed if she were human she wouldn't be a big fan of monstrosities either. She really wished people would get along. Maybe she was staring too much, maybe her eyes were too blue. She shrugged and said, “Anything else, BOY?” She wanted to be nice to the little creature, let alone she get hurt while anything was happening.

“Yes, actually. Endre usually handles it, but there is the matter of payment for the books, and the courier fee.” Cas opened her bag to pull out her clipboard and a pen, making a few notes on the first sheet before pulling it free. “Here is your receipt, and I need your signature here,” she said, indicating the right place on the topmost of the papers still attached to her clipboard, holding out her pen. The girl glanced at the newly-installed shutters again, hesitating a moment before she followed with a question. “Is there...something going on that I should be aware of, when I bring the next set of books? Trouble in the neighborhood, problems you are anticipating…? I doubt it would change delivery fees, but I do prefer to be aware of what’s going on, so I can provide prompt service and avoid damage to parcels.”

“I wish I knew,” Kharlee said, taking the little docket and signing it with her initials. She frowned at it, and took some money out, having some lying about as she was paying the construction costs. She was making the entire place a lot more secure. She raised her head up at some priests who had come forth and just nodded to them, looking at the little girl. “I’d do my best to stay out of trouble if I were you,” she said a bit solemnly, paying the girl as she backed off.

The courier swiftly squirreled the money away. She’d separate it into her pay and what she needed to give back to Ms. Susan later, somewhere less open. “I always do, Ms. Kharlee. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, should you need my services before your next scheduled delivery. Have a nice day.” Cas tugged the brim of her cap and bobbed her head politely, before heading off. Privately she wondered what had happened, that the harpy was flameproofing her store, and acting so differently.

The Valdez Family home now only has two occupants in the home within the slums. The outside of the home looks the same as all the homes for the human population within the city. Inside of the house, Regina L. Valdez was sitting in the front room looking around and crying emotionally, she was a wreck. The front room brightened up, when Patricia walked into the room and looking at Regina. “Why are you crying dear?” Patricia asked. Regina looked up at Patricia and slowly tried to calm down but was still crying. “I cannot help it,” Regina said crying. Patricia sighed and sat down right next to Regina on the couch, she hugged Regina tightly. “In all my years alive, I have never seen a human such as yourself crying so much,” Patricia said, “But you are safe as long as you are with me.” Regina hugged Patricia tightly back and started crying on Patricia’s shoulder.

Patricia was somewhat lost in thought, while Regina was hugging her. “What would my parents think of me now? Would they hate me, or would they love me like they did back, when I was 14 years old…” thought Patricia, “But I finally done what I wanted to do by killing the Valdez Family completely after all these years and saving Regina from doing the same as her evil parents, which deserved what they got.” Patricia came back into reality when Regina was slightly a bit more relaxed and kissed Patricia on the cheek. Patricia gave Regina a kiss back on the cheek since she was happy to see Regina not crying anymore. “I will always love you, and care for you unlike what your parents have done for you up to this point,” Patricia said. Regina was quiet when Patricia spoke because she was not expecting what Patricia said to her. “I know you will, Patricia,” Regina said, “You did say I belong to you now and forever.” Patricia smiled at Regina in away with love and caring in the smile unlike her parents with a smile of a crazy person.

Regina got up from the couch and looked directly at Patricia. “I guess you want something a little bit more appropriate for your job,” Patricia said towards Regina. Regina blinks at Patricia wondering what she was meaning. “Would my sleeping clothes be reasonable?” Regina asked. Patricia giggles slightly with a funny look on her face. “No dear, I was thinking more of something slightly better,” Patricia said. Regina looks at Patricia a little bit weirdly and wonders what that means. Patricia snaps her fingers and Regina’s casual outfit changes slightly instead of pink cargo pants, it is a pink mini-skirt. “There you go, You still have your pink cargo pants but I gave you a change of an outfit for a bit,” Patricia said. Regina looked down and saw how short the mini-skirt is, she isn’t into wearing skirts, even though her sleeping shirt is a skirt in a sense. “Thanks Patricia I love the color but I am not really used to skirts,” Regina said slightly depressed. Regina slowly turned at the couch and saw her pink cargo pants and she brightens up slightly.

Patricia looks gently at Regina and smiles a gentle smile. “You were the one who called me with your wish, which you wanted your parents dead and you got that wish,” Patricia said, “I was waiting for a Valdez child to call me.” Regina looks shocked she only did that when she was seven years old. “I caused my parents death?” Regina asked slightly happy. Patricia nods, even though she sighed slightly. “I am sorry for not getting here sooner to kill your parents, so they couldn’t torture you any longer,” Patricia said, “But at least I got here before your father done something that he would have regretted.” Regina’s gray eyes got wide when Patricia said that and was not in the mood to know, what she knows. “Can we just drop the subject now?” Regina asked. Patricia nods and looks directly at the door. Patricia gently holds Regina’s hand and walks her to the door. Regina lets go of Patricia’s hand, since she probably needs to redecorate the house. “I’ll see you later, Patricia,” Regina said. Patricia smiles and walks into Regina’s home since it is hers now and not her evil parents. “I hope you have fun Regina, I will be waiting for you,” Patricia said. Patricia closes the door but sighs at the stupid looking house. Regina walks from her house slowly while putting her arms close to her, she isn't wearing the bandages on her back since she doesn't have to worry about being beaten by her parents anymore. "I am relieved I have a person to take care of me after the terrible beatings my parents gave me," thought Regina.

Regina was lost in thought and was stopped by a group of thugs looking for something to get rid of their tension. "Oh look, it is Ms. Valdez, what are you doing outside of your home?" ??? asked cracking his neck. Regina looked directly at the thugs and was terrified. "W-What do you want?" Regina asked slightly terrified. Regina's gray eyes slowly drifted to the ground. "It is quite simple, we heard from your father, when you were like 8 years old, you were going to be a sex worker," ??? asked looking at Regina. Regina's facial expression changed from a little bit of a scared look to terrified in matter of seconds. "I am that, which what you said, what's your name?" Regina asked kindly and somewhat naively since she has been left in the dark about most things. The leader walks up to Regina and holds her shoulders tightly. "My name is Greg and I was told by your father to help you learn the ropes of being a sex worker," Greg said with a grin on his face.

Regina was somewhat terrified of Greg but didn't want to call for help or Patricia would probably kill more humans in front of her. "What do you want me to do?" Regina asked kindly. Greg looked at his friends and laughed slightly. "That is simple all you have to do follow us and we will show where your kind usually hangs out," Greg said. Regina was not enjoying this one bit since she was usually tortured many times by her parents. "I am happy for your help I would be lost if I didn't have a guide I guess," Regina said tearing up a bit. Greg smiled with a grin ear to ear, like he wanted to do something horrible to Regina but all it was is training but he does not know that Beatrix or Carter are dead yet. "How are your parents?" Greg asked. Regina stopped and starts crying uncontrollably. Greg knew something was up, which probably means his friends are dead, he looks directly at Regina and lifts her up by her shirt and punches her in the face pretty hard. "They are dead aren't they, who killed my friends?" Greg asked angrily.

Greg throws Regina to the ground and was causing a scene in the Slums, pretty close to Regina's home. Regina cries while Greg and his friends are surrounding her. "W-Why are you being mean to me?" Regina asked on the ground looking up to Greg. Greg pops his knuckles and looks at Regina, he listens to her question and realizes she wasn't the one who murdered them. "Oh that's a relief, your parents told us to kill you if you were the one who killed them," Greg said, "Which means, there's a vigilante specifically targeting the Valdez Family." Greg remembers hearing stories from his friends saying there is a evil monster killing the Valdez Family one by one because they were guilty of torturing their kids. "Ah, shit not her," Greg said. Greg picks up Regina by grabbing her left hand tightly and picking her back up. "Y-You are hurting me stop it," Regina said trying to keep her tears from going down her face with her right hand.

Greg loosens his grip, looks at Regina and sighs slightly. Regina was looking directly at the ground since Greg is almost as cruel as her parents. Greg lets go of Regina's left hand. Greg looks at his friends and decided to do something a little bit more cruel to her. "Regina, are you a virgin?" Greg asked. Regina didn't like this question but she nodded, so she didn't have to talk. Greg smiles and laughs at Regina's unfortunate career choice, which her parents chosen for her. Greg slaps Regina really hard in the left cheek. Regina's reaction to that was to hold her face and tears started to go down it. "W-Why are you hitting me? I-I did nothing wrong," Regina said crying.

Greg looks at Regina and he grabs her left arm and starts pulling her away from her home, until he reached in front of his home, with his five friends behind him. "You are a naive punching bag, I needed to get my stress out of," Greg said, "Another thing you will need to learn the meaning behind why your parents picked this instead of what you wanted to become." Regina was crying since her arm is hurting from getting dragged from near her house towards Greg's house. "W-What is that?" asked Regina cautiously. Greg looks directly at Regina and lifts her face so his eyes meets hers. "Humans are looked down on in everything they do by the Hierarchy, your parents knew this and picked the worse job for you to do, which involves losing your virginity," Greg said meanly. He knows his place in the world since he does not care for going to back how Earth was in the past before the fall of humanity, he let go Regina again in his meanness.

Regina dropped on the ground and got into the fetal position and started rocking back and forth crying even though she remembers she has a shining beacon of hope, her girlfriend Patricia. "I will do my job proudly since I have someone who believes in me," Regina said. Greg picks up Regina and punches her in the face again. Regina starts holding her face and was crying much more than normal since Greg is being slightly more cruel than her parents. "Patricia? She is not here right now and why would she come and rescue you," Greg said meanly. Greg's friends were slightly terrified when he said her name. "Greg, you shouldn't have said her name," one of Greg's friends said. Greg looked at them and laughed. "I-I am in love with her, since she saved me from my parents," Regina said.

Greg looks at Regina and throws her back on the ground meanly and kicks her in the chest part pretty hard. Regina coughs up blood again but this time it was a little bit worse since another one of her ribs are broken. "You are really naive little girl, you probably still think you are 7 years old trapped in your parents basement," Greg said. Regina looks at Greg on the ground, however, she looked behind Greg's friends and saw Patricia smiling somewhat evilly towards the men. "So, you like beating a child, who was horribly beaten by a family, which was cursed?" Patricia asked, "Since that's why Regina has that birthmark in the first place." Greg's face slowly towards Patricia's voice. "When did you get here?" Greg asked. Patricia walks up towards Regina and slightly sighs towards Greg's thug group.

Patricia picks up Regina and kisses her on the lips and something strange happens, the injuries that Greg gave Regina slowly vanished but those said injuries appeared on Patricia. "R-Regina thank you for being strong for me," Patricia said kinda of reeling from the injuries, which she gave herself from Regina. Greg was shocked to see Patricia do this and was a little bit out of it. Patricia gives a dirty look directly towards Greg, more or less meaning, he is dead if he touches Regina again.

Patricia and Regina walks away from Greg's house in the slums and walks towards the Guard post to the other sections of the city, since Regina being a sex worker, she needs to go to the Entertainment part of the city. Patricia and Regina waits until a guard notices them at the Guard post. Patricia was somewhat leaning over but she stands completely straight and looks directly at Regina. "I will always love you, Regina," Patricia whispered in Regina's ear. Regina smiles at Patricia and slowly looks at the Guard post in between everything. "Thank you for saving me from those thugs," Regina whispered in Patricia's Ear.

Azura wasn't at all pleased with the talk she had had with Archivald pertaining to what Kharlee had done and found herself hoping that she wasn't aligned with the rebels. That was one mess she wouldn't let Archivald clean up, that would be her job because she had let it go on under her nose. Letting out a sigh, she took the fastest route to the bookshop and simply allowed herself in through Endre's window. Noticing how messy the bed was, she couldn't help the smirk that crossed her features as she maneuvered her way onto the bed and hid herself amongst the mess.

Endre sighed as he entered his own room, the heated discussion he just finished with Kharlee fresh in his mind as he shuffled towards the bed. He didn't even bother to turn on the lights, never needed to; one of the perks of having drow or night-elf blood in his viens was that he could see his room clearly... if he paid attention he may have even seen a tuft of blue fur on his bed.

Luckily for Azura's plans, he was too distracted and tired to notice, even as he pulled the sheets off and flung them back down to smooth it out... He did notice a large lump under the sheets though.

Looking under them to investigate why there seemed to be a huge lump of bedsheets he didn't catch on the first grab, his nose came dangerously close to Azura's.

Within seconds, Ended found himself on his back with Azure sitting on his chest. "Well hello there," she said with a smirk, "Archi has told me Kharlee thought it a good idea to get in the way of the apprehension of a known rebel member. Care to explain this to me? I rather not have to kill a child I've watched grow up because she chose the wrong side. I see her as a baby sister, as odd as it may seem."

With her position over Endre, there wasn't much the male could do and she was rather pleased with herself. "On top of that... You are losing your touch. I was in an easy to detect spot and you completely missed me."

"Funny you should mention that. I was just a bit distracted after having a discussion with her on what I'd do if you or your loyal lap-dog ever decided to start enslaving human half-breeds to cut-down on his competition." Endre confessed, as the idea of being forced into slavery again by default, simply because of his lineage made him uneasy, considering he presently had the attentions of Azura while Archivald did not, "The incident of how Archivald conducted himself may have come up in the conversation, but she seems more interested in fireproofing the store against any collateral-damage than assisting anyone."

Endre was in a bit of a tricky situation by this point, with no clear way to escape, or gain the upper-hand. He could try the same trick he had done back on the streets, but he knew she was expecting that. Instead, he bounced her slightly down his hips and pulled her chest up close against his as they hugged before continuing, quieter so Kharlee wouldn't overhear.

"We both know how hard it is for her to make friends, with her quirks. She's not a big fan of slavery, yes. But she's even less of a fan of indiscriminate killing, and that's what she thought she was seeing, so she acted without knowledge. Consider her informed on the subject."

Then he kissed her, just before relaxing his embrace.

"So anything else you want to talk to me about, 'lil pup?


Azura immediately thumped Endre on the chest, none-to gently either as her eyes narrowed on his face. "Who the hell are you calling a pup, elf?" she demanded, "And you know damn well I won't allow enslavement of half-breeds and I doubt he would like that either." Azura let out a huff and wiggled a bit in his hold before sitting back up. Despite all their time together, Endre's actions still confused her greatly, what had she done to earn such affections from the Half-Drow?

Endre's face went slightly cross-eyed when he had the wind suddenly expunged from his lungs, making his answer little more than a cough and a shrug as he listened to Azura continue on about how she was opposed to the idea of throwing half-breeds into the same lot as the rest of the humans, which likely went a long ways to preventing any stigma for human and elder relations.

"Yes then, if that's all you came here to discuss. But can the same be said about the attitudes of all the elders?" He asked, figuring the question she asked was either rhetorical, or better answered some other way as he watched the Aaenshi mistress push herself off from him in expectation of a better answer.

He looked down, then back at Azura's face, "Is something the matter?" He asked, placing a hand upon her thigh, she was behaving somewhat distant in her actions ever since that morning; as though trying to avoid him.

"It's been how many years and you know how many things about me? Most things you know would be enough to make anyone run off in the other direction, so why haven't you?" she demand of him, "I've changed plenty since my time in West End..." The Elder frowned and crossed her arms as she looked at him, clearly unsure as to what to think of their situation. Was he teasing her for a reason or was he doing it just because he wanted to? Because he found her reactions amusing? "I don't get you."

Shifting a bit so she was a bit more comfortable over him, she simply rested her hands on his chest and looked down at him. "Come on, tell me," she demanded, "What have I done to earn such affection from you despite what I've done over the past few years."

"You mean aside from helping me look after Kharlee?" He asked rhetorically, noticing that he could get away with rubbing her thigh as he continued speaking, "Other than stopping by every few weeks to check on us? Specificly ordering Archivald NOT to kill her?" He continued to ask, listing the many instances he admired her actions.

"If it wasn't for you, she'd be just as dead as those rebels. Right. Now." He stopped rubbing her leg, and let the wieght of his words sink in before answering Azura with something other than yet more questions.

"It's because no matter how much you've done, accomplished, or changed; you still care about others, and what they think of you." He then paused, as though he just realized something, "Were you avoiding me because you didn't know if you wanted to discover my reasons?"

Azura frowned, glad that her fur could cover any embarrassment that she felt as she let out a small sigh. "I guess..." she murmured, "I mean... your affection is something I am not used to, even if you have been going at it like this for the last couple of years. Anyway, if you already spoke with her, I guess it saves me the need to do so."

"What are your reasons? It's been going on well before what you found out yesterday." She was happy that they appreciated the fact that she told Archi to leave Kharlee and them alone, she really did care for them, even if she hadn't told them everything about herself. Some things were best left secret...

Endre blushed, feeling somewhat ashamed that she still was not used to his rather unique affections.

Eventually, he managed just enough courage to give her an answer. Not just any answer she would have liked to hear, but the truth: "Because I wanted you to get used to it." He said quietly.

"Why would you want me to get used to it?"

"Do you want me to stop?" Endre asked, teasing her.

She shifted around, a bit unsure of how to respond, "I don't know... it's kinda nice but if you are only doing it to get me used to it, and that's it... maybe you should stop?"

The half-elf stopped rubbing, again, "But, don't you think you've earned it?"

Azura made a face and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, I haven't done much of anything as First Elder other than try to secure our people's safety."

"No, not that. Someone you can call a loyal friend instead of servant." as his fingers began to glide up from Azura's thigh to her face, "Or, if you'll allow it, more than a friend?" Endre at this point was trying to read the finer points in her posture, and facial-expression.

Azura silently thanked the gods once again that Endre couldn't see her blushing in the dark, beneath her blue fur even as he touched her warm cheeks, "The fur doesn't bother you?

"Do my smooth hands bother you?" He asked, hoping she'd say they weren't, despite what he was doing with them.

"Well, we aren't exactly able to choose the way that we are born can we?" Azura replied as she leaned her face into his hand slightly.

"No, we can't." He answered as he drew Azura's face in closer to his and kissed it; "but we don't hold that against each other." he said as he kissed her a second time, under her muzzle, leading-up to a third one on her neck.

"Well... no..." she replied on a higher pitch, "Um... what are you... doing?"

Endre didn't say anything as he was too busy kissing as his deft left hand worked up from inside Azura's thigh around to her back, then suddenly stroked the base of her tail. His right hand left Azura's face and combed behind one of her ears as it inched dangerously close towards her bra-strap.

"I'm doing what I want." Endre stated quietly into Azura's ear as he took a soft breath of fresh air.

"H-hey! Not the tail! How many times do I need to tell you that?" Azura demanded, swatting at Endre's hand a little, "You... um... why are you..." Out of embarressment, she hid her face in the Elf's neck and bit into his shoulder, though not hard enough to hurt him.

Endre's hand went up to scratch the back of Azura' neck, and tugged her scarf loose until it fell off onto the floor as he noticed she was getting a little hot under the collar, his other hand obeyed Azura's wishes for the time being and his fingers danced and glided along her spine as he kicked his boots off.

But then as the elder bit into his shoulder, the half-elf wasn't sure of his actions, he felt as though she was on the verge of tears as it was quite possible she couldn"t handle all this attention, "You're awfully warm all of a sudden. Are you feeling alright?" He asked, showing for a brief moment geniune concern as he tried to soothe her nerves... by continuing to do exactly what he was already doing...

"You know damn well I am not used to all this affection," she murmured, releasing his shoulder and giving the area she bit a tentative lick, "I'm just nervous, and not at all sure what to do with this." Frowning, she simply rested her head on his shoulder and tilted her ears back, her tail wrapping around one of Endre's arms. She had no idea what the male was up to, nor had she expected to end up in the situation she was now considering she had only planned to have a conversation with him.

Endre gave Azura a slight squeeze, a tiny hug as she licked his shoulder, "Well, we could go at your pace. But then we'd have died of old age before getting this far." He began to suggest, before doubling-back on his helpfulness by making light of how much progress they'd made in one night.

He then noticed her tail enthralled around one of his arms, beckoning for his attention, "We could just lay here for the night, see what happens." He said, giving her majesty a kiss on the forhead as his fingers brshed the end of Azura's tail as it came within reach, figuring Azura's pace may not be so slow as to be intollerable after-all. Although to speed things up just a bit, his other hand did manage to unbutton the clasp on Azura's bra.

"No more articles of clothing are to be stolen tonight," she said as she gave him a playful glare, her arms moving up so she could cover herself, "Though I guess I could stay the night if you really want me to. It is kinda nice to be close to someone when I sleep, seems less lonely anyway." The tip of Azura's tail playfully smacked at Endre's hand after he had stroked it.

-This part of the roleplay intentionally left blank-

Endre woke-up late that morning, having long-since forgotten that he was to help Kharlee remodel the store earlier. Instead, more pressing matters drove him to act today. His talks had kept Kharlee from siding with the rebels, and they would stay in Azura's good graces -with benefits- for the time-being. But all it would take was for one associate to bring trouble into their lives...

So that afternoon he set-out, he set-out to check the backgrounds of everyone who worked with Kharlee, everyone she offered to help. Even despite her less than sociable demeanor, the list was quite extensive.

That afternoon he spied their normal delivery-person. Cass, was it? They were moving swiftly through the city as any good courier should, but Endre had a bit more experience in that field from his younger, far less prosperous days by making things meet in far less moral ways.

(Music)

Watching outside, right beside his window, his gloved left hand pressed against the glass. Head gently leaning forward trying to closely listen to the gentle sound of rain, just for the smallest moment to terminate his restless thoughts and keep himself peaceful even if only for a brief couple of minutes. Letting out a quiet sigh, knowing nothing could tame what's inside his head. He turned on all the lights in his room attempting to maybe brighten his mood but it remained perfectly darkened like the clouds currently devouring the skies.

Terrence lifted his arm, casually turning his head towards his television pressing the on button from the remote he was holding in his right, making absolutely sure he was pointing it straight toward it, knowing how finicky it was. Only to immediately start flipping through the channels, not possibly being able to tell what was even on, while simultaneously turning the volume up, higher and higher reaching deafening loud levels before turning the entire thing off. As he tossed his remote, flying into the air landing softly into the couch in his living room where he stood. Terrence started to mildly scratching the back of his neck, breathing up deeply through his nose letting out a long exhaled breathe. Another unsuccessful attempt to drown out what seemed to be his ocean of memories that kept pushing themselves forward into his mind, despite his strong desires to refrain recalling his past. They remained persistently eating away at his conscience making it so that was all that could be focused on. The voices were only getting louder every passing day. It was driving him insane.

“Nothing is working, but why am I even slightly surprised anymore. Seriously, when was the last time...” Terrance started to speak aloud rubbing his temples with his fingers, feeling like his was getting a migraine before slamming his fist into his window.

“I COULD GET ANY PEACE OF MIND!?” Terrence screamed out in exasperation, while waiting in silence like he expected something to answer back, only to met with never ending silence just standing there, almost like a statue barely making any movements. Looking around his large mostly empty house with suspicious eyes, as he could of sworn he heard a voice whispering nearby. Through realizing there was no intruder, not a single soul was here besides him. That didn't change his assumption that something omnipotent and malevolent was watching and torturing him.

“What has even become of everything I once lived for...Gone away, vanished right before my eyes...” Terrence reflected inside his head. Walking through his living room, stepping and moving slowly forward while looking down at the ground. Turning himself around being cautious and walking back towards the window staring at his reflection, seeing the monstrous manticore staring back at him.

“No matter how determined I am keeping this demon subdued, it always manages to take control.” Terrence conceded as he began to recall his recent collection of experiments.

---

As he was standing in the cold, harsh bitter winds blowing, able to feel it even going through his thick blanket of fur, wings spread out looking up at the full moon in the sky then far down into the ground, as he happened to be of the top of the tallest building's he could find, his tail twisted through the air as Terrance calculated several things in his mind as he inched himself closer to the edge, clutching the edge with his claws, breathing calmly for a moment with his eyes closed.

Using his strength to suddenly lift his entire body up in the air, standing solely on his front paws, leaning forward. Throwing himself off the building, purposefully plummeting downward to the ground, eyes still closed waiting until he heard the thunderous rumbling of the ground, as he gently opened his eyes. He looked up, he had already landed on the ground, pulling himself on the crater he made when he made contact, staring at the cracks.

“After third jump, seems to have repressed my pain receptors making me not even feel pain after colliding into the ground...however I also seem to be building strength as I was able to pull myself of the crater without any difficultly this time, it almost seems like something is protecting me from death or suffering pain. Making me unable to inflict pain upon myself. Has only increased endurance significantly since several days ago.” Terrance examined feeling himself with his paws and tail feeling nothing broken or out of place.

Making sure his wings were still functioning starting flying straight up quickly, heading back home to prepare the next experiment of the night before getting some rest, staying up nearly forty-eight hours was starting to effect how well he was able to fly. As he observed the entire city flying above it, it always looked like he was surrounded by nothing he could recognize despite living there for so long, he still couldn't quite get used to that his ordinary life and the world had changed as dramatically as his own body had.

“I promised myself to overcome this beast. That I will never let myself become this monster but until I find someway to achieve that goal. Cure myself of this damned curse. I will learn to survive in this world, by any means necessary...” Terrence told himself, as his memory of that moment suddenly stopped.

---

As he opened his eyes still seeing the monster looking back at him, as he tried to change himself back clenching his paws tightly. Focusing as he rather quickly changes back to human. Standing up from the ground, looking down at his hands.

“Yet, I haven't found anything. I haven't progressed in trying to find some kind of cure. I've already tried creating several dozens of different things. Nothing is working...it doesn't,” Terrence muttered to himself struggling to speak starting to feel a lump in his throat, immediately wiping a tear coming down his cheek, he sniffled slightly as he stopped to clear his throat stopping himself from finishing his sentence refusing to even acknowledge that he was feeling hopeless. He wandered into the kitchen and opened up the refrigerator, pulling out one of the beers Mason had been drinking.

Opening the tab and started to chug it down, some of it going down his lips as he drank down the entire can, before gently collapsing into his kitchen chair setting the empty can of beer upright on the table, wiping whatever missed his mouth on his sleeve. As Terrance reached for his book, before being interrupted once again by hearing something pounding upon his door. Quickly getting up and approaching his front door, unlocking his door curiously opening his door to discover who was on the other side.

(Music)

“What the fuck?” Shouted in a deep voice, knowing immediately he had made a grave mistake in his error of judgment opening the door without even thinking standing his front of his doorstep glaring his glowing green eyes directly at him. Being one of the several patients he had been seeing without revealing his human appearance. He was a behemoth like creature looking like he was about to impale him through the chest if he wasn't given a satisfactory explanation in the next couple of seconds.

Wasting no time to change himself into his manticore form once again, showing him exactly his true identity at least to keep him remaining as calm as possible knowing just how quickly on edge he could become, it seemed to work despite showing a look of utter disgust, clearly finding the very thing offensive. Quickly storming into his place with a slight limp and heading straight for his lab seemingly unconcerned for permission to continue. Terrence could see him leaving behind a nearly flowing trail of blood as his right side was bleeding profusely and glowing blue though he didn't need his power to understand the desperate situation his patient was in.

“Was that some kind of disguise? It looked repulsive, I was a moment away from peeling the flesh from your bones. Fucking humans disgust me. They would all be better off dead. That rebellion did this to me...I was able to escape but they hit my weak spot, I need to be fixed right away before I lose any more blood!” The behemoth states quickly sounding very demanding showing his urgency in his tone of voice. He clearly feared for his life. Terrence following behind unable to avoid stepping into his blood walking to the lab, hiding his reaction to the words he was saying, thinking to himself.

“Briefly examining patient, looks like he's on death's doorstep. Could probably use the healing gel with a mixture of various things to give him a much higher change of survival, but even then there is no exact guarantee, I think even it is fully aware of how desperate the situation is.” Terrence thought to himself as the creature bleed. Impulsively reacting like a doctor in any life or death scenario going to his table and grabbing everything he needed to attempt to safe it's life. But a little devil of an idea crossed his mind. As he turned around glaring down at the creature, who collapsed on his non wounded side, after struggling to stand upright.

“You weren't followed were you? You've been keeping to yourself that you see me as a patient correct?” Terrence asked pretending it was for confirmation sake as the creature nodded his head in response letting out heavy loud rapid breaths.

“Yes dammit, not a single individual even knows I see you. And no I wasn't followed either. Now hurry up and fix me, I'm not dying before unleashing my hell against the humans once again, I have been killing them since I stormed through their villages, and I plan and killing as many more as possible.” The behemoth angrily responded as everything he was saying seemed to slowly filling his mind, swarming like pests.

He could feel his skin crawling and himself become blind with anger, recalling the first time he saw his dead siblings laying there. They had been skinned, his mind twisted into thinking meticulously about those words the behemoth said. Peeling the very flesh off their bones...how many creatures would do such a thing to a human, to kill them? Was it merely a coincidence? No, his mind told him this was finally the time.

Mason, his old friend wanted him to become a part of the rebellion. The time to get his ever growing desire for revenge was now, he glared down at the behemoth's ugly face, he set all of items back onto the table. His tail twitching in the air while approaching him reaching up with his paw clutching on of its horns holding it tightly in his grip.

“What the hell are you-” The behemoth questioned looking at the doctor's blank emotionless stare as he could feel the grip slowly crushing his horn, unable to fully realize what happened until Terrence violently ripped one horns out of his head and violently stabbing it through his front right leg he tried to raise upwards in an attempt to stop his attack, as it growled but that was literally all it could even do. Terrance shoving his claws into the open wound and ripping through him only making the wound larger spewing blood all over his arms.

“You bastard...” Behemoth snarled weakly while Terrence as the behemoth was already laying in a pool of its own blood. Letting out a painful moaning, unable to stand up it legs becoming heavy and numb. Terrence raised his other claw and sank it right through the behemoths throats digging them deeper as it glares straight into the behemoths desperate and utterly confused eyes.

“Everything you say, your very existence kills me on the inside. I'm only returning the favor.” Terrence says as he smirks ever so slightly, exposing his fangs, only watching the eyes of the creature slowly faded and became hollow and dark, the body became totally limp. Terrence pulls out his claws stained with blood and walks casually back over to his table and walks over to him.

“I've been mixing this for quite a well, Been dying to test it out properly.” Terrence comments aloud pouring some of the large container of it on top of the behemoth as it starts melting the dissolving the body completely, watching as he poured it carefully as the entire body slowly disintegrated into nothing. Before putting the now empty container on the table. Changing himself to a human still drenched from head to toe in blood, putting his fingers on his neck to check his pulse, he could feel his adrenaline pumping and his heart racing.

“Patient terminated 9:37 pm...” Terrence muttered to himself calmly looking up at the clock to check the time going over the sink to begin washing his blood soaked hands.

“Looks like I some cleaning up to do before I can get any reading done.” He sighed.

(Music)

In the middle of washing his hands, he just now stopped with the abrupt realization of what he had just done, like he snapped out of a violent breakdown. The guilt and disgust he didn't have before came flowing into his head asking himself, Did he really just kill someone unable to even fight back in cold blood? Tears started swelling his eyes, his hands started to shake wildly.

“What have I done...” Terrence questioned to himself in disbelief that he just took the life of one his own patients, the very principals and morals he stood for. His very promise to not become the monster, he wasn't so sure that was a promise he could keep any longer, but who was he kidding despite every person he ever told that he would never break a promise his memories were a painful reminder of exactly how naive he was to make such an impossible statement. The dead corpses of all his siblings and friends he found them all, the ones he promised to keep safe from the dangers of the world. He already failed everyone else, now he even failed to keep the promise he made to himself.

But stopped with a rush of worry that if anyone came through his doors, they'd discover all the blood everywhere, immediately deciding he needed to clean. Beginning to immediately grabbing a mop bucket and mop and starting frantically washing every trace of blood clean from his entire laboratory and hallway leading all the way to the doorway, without taking a break until at least an hour had passed, going straight in his bathroom ignoring that it had been completely destroyed throwing all clothes on the ground and starting washing himself. Desperately trying the scrub the very sin off of his hands, washing his body and hair several times over. As the hot water washed the blood down the drain. After finishing, not even bother drying himself off throwing his clothes hamper and put on identical set of clothes, having his conscience already eating at him.

“Fine...if I'm going to become a murderous beast I'll finish this right now.” He without second thought quickly ran to the table where he kept his tools and grabbed a sharp scalpel tightly in left hand and went to jam it right through his throat, but suddenly right hand instantly grabbed his hand stopping himself as the blade was right up to his throat. His grip was tight and wouldn't let his other hand budge an inch like his survival instinct kicked in. Struggling for around a minute. Before giving in, slamming his hand back on the table letting go the scalpel, as he growled out in frustration. Starting to breathe in and out to calm himself down but it seemed to only get him more worked up. Starting pacing back and forth clutching his head and starting quietly cursing himself.

“No, I can't take a coward's way out. I've always wanted every monster just to leave...the only way be useful to the rebellion is if I fight back, set this town ablaze and watch the world burn beneath me...” He explained to himself while equally feeling justified and sick with his actions, clutching his fists still crying as he rushed over to his pile of book on the other side of the room as he started violently smashing through the book as they tumbled over as he knocking more than half of them all across the floor before angrily smashing the middle of the table literally breaking the table in half as he reminded that his monstrous strength clearly wasn't solely granted to him as a manticore.

“WHY DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!?” Terrence screamed out
.
“WHY DID ALL OF THEM HAVE TO DIE? WHY CAN'T THEY COME BACK!?” Terrence falling to his knees, sobbing and smashed his fists into the ground.

“I...I just want them back. Please...I can't do this alone anymore.” Terrence cried out weakly unable to scream anymore.

“I can't do this alone...I can't do this alone...I can't do this alone.” Terrence repeated clutching his head being completely hysterical, only with a single thought in his mind becoming overwhelming clear.

“I WILL MAKE THEM ALL PAY FOR THIS!” Terrence letting out one final roar.