Candy

Defiance

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"Oh my, little chill." Fauve giggled and stretched out the waist of her trousers to let the cold breeze circulate down there.

Once Jack did his little caveman-discovers-fire routine, she gives him a slap on the butt to send him on his way. "After you then I'm guessing. Unless you're look'n to get a better view of my ass?"

She gives Corcy a little wink and takes a few steps for the entrance. "Well, boys and girls - as the old expression goes; Those who hesitate are lost." As she then passes through the threshold, she glances back at Jack, and asks; "How does it look from back there?" She gives her butt cheek a good, teasing slap.

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Defiance

….

Fauve first had an Incline to steal herself one of them shiny gems, but the circumstances didn’t rightly boast a convincing measure of safety. Being honest with herself, stealing one would have been one of her dumbest moves in life. It wasn’t so much that Corc or Gabe or the others might be witnesses, she couldn’t have cared less if they saw her do it, although the unknown magic they were wielding was a definite put off. Beautiful shining gems exposed for any passer-by to the catacombs to see…. What’s wrong with this picture? Or should the question be; What’s not wrong with this picture?

Fair enough, there was very little right about any of the events taking place in Akripola lately, but gems set up in this fashion literally spelled the words SECURITY SYSTEM. Someone out there, and most likely that creepy presence watching them, didn’t want folks entering them there Catacombs, and hell only knows what these gems were capable of if anyone went ahead and tried to breach the threshold.

“Corc – Stop!” Fauve had her hand reaching out, grabbing the orc by his trouser pants as she spouted off these words, but she was just that split second too late to stop him - The mighty, sexy orc slammed his giant proverbial penis against the stone door.

As the sound of his weapon clashing with the door blasted out through the forest, Fauve gasped and prepared to dive for cover.

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Defiance

@ArkmageddonCat@Polaris North@Dartbored Fairy@Zyngard@Jensoman@Hokum@Valkon@Seraphin

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“Of course I am,” Fauve replied to Corc, “I wouldn’t let my main orc-man leave me behind for the world!”

Once Fauve answered Corcy’s question, the witch presented a challenge to Devlin, but she supposed it could have been directed at everyone who was interested in accepting. Fauve accepted the challenge with an “I’ll be in that!”

Thing about orc’s is, they not only don’t know their own strength, they aren’t really aware of other things too, like how much one of their chugs from a bottle actually consumes. After Corc took his drink, there was only a mouthful of beverage left. She swallowed down the last little bit and tossed the bottle to the side. It didn’t break but made a hollow pop sound when it hit the back of the giant skull then toppled away into the tree line.

As chance would have it, the bottle rolled beneath a small shrub, behind which was hiding a person (Darren). From Fauve’s angle, she could see the toe of the persons boot jotting out beside where the bottle came to rest. Her eyes followed the line their leg would have taken to their body and head where she then found their face. Their face was mostly covered in shadow, but it was clearly a man and a man she’d never seen before, all hunkered down and spying on the group.

“How ya do’n there, stranger?!” She said loud enough to give away his position to everyone there. “No need to hide – We’re all headed on over to risk our lives doing battle in the house of the dead for unknown reasons. If you’re interested in having a bit of fun with us freaks, feel free to tag along!”

Wanting to punctuate her comment with a demonstration of her own freakishness, Fauve laughed and extended the length of her lower legs a few feet. She was now eye level with Corc as she walked like a person on stilts towards him and Gabriel.

“So let’s get going then!” She said to them both.

As Fauve (still high on extended legs) along with Gabe and Corc headed out of the clearing in direction of the catacombs, she looked back and down over her shoulder at Ren, Jack, Lui and the others, and gave a little fling of her head to invite them all along and take part in the freak show too if they wanted.

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Defiance

@Jensoman@Polaris North@Dartbored Fairy@Seraphin@Hokum

….

Fauve was having herself a bit of fun and was glad when Gabe decided to join her and Corc, hiding like a bunch of infantile pervs spying on a couple of lovers doing it in the bushes. She couldn’t help but have herself a little laugh at the psycho ladies efforts. She had about as much charisma as a leper at a family picnic. God love the crazy bitch for that.

Next thing Fauve knew, herself, along with Gabe and Corcy, were picked up by a powerful gust of wind. Fauve was flailing about trying to grab hold of some branches to slow herself down but it wasn’t much use. She tumbled like a piece of rubbish blowing in the wind until she came down face first in the clearing. The event didn’t really shatter her mood at all though; still giggling and spluttering the leaves from her mouth as she stood and gave herself a dusting off.

She then watched on at the mute do his thing for a while. Now, Fauve didn’t know any sign, but it wasn’t half obvious what the guy was trying to say. Didn’t really matter at all though, the witchy nut job didn’t look like the type of girl to really give a right fuck, and Fauve just couldn’t help but feel the way one does when watching a nervous pimple-faced reject trying to hit on the hottest babe in town. It was just about painful to watch, and was a hell of a relief when the mute finally stopped doing his thing. But Fauve had to give it to the guy, he had balls of steel. That’s for damn sure.

Before the witch had time to reply, or that psycho bitch had a chance to open her mouth and undo any good that may have been done, Fauve figured she might as well give the mute a helping hand. Taking a few steps toward the witch on her throne, she gave a little 'hiya' solute and told her a few things she thought she ought to know.

“What our local mute here is trying to say, Your Gracious Fanged Highness, is that Psycho lady here didn’t mean any offense. And believe you me, I know how much I hate it myself to be woken up while having a good old snooze, so I, for one, understand where you’re coming from. But you see…” Fauve paused to seal one nostril with her thumb and blow out a chunk of snot from the other. “…thing is, a lot of people have lost their homes and lives today in that town just over there.” She points in the direction of Nadska. “And it’s not that our local psycho bitch here was trying to place blame on you for the madness that’s going on around here, she just figured you might have an answer. Now you’ve gotta admit….” She pauses another moment to eyeball the giant skull and the bone staff slung over the witches shoulder. “You do seem like a reasonable enough suspect. But that’s not all….”

Fauve now extends her foot to give Gabe a good kick in the leg (assuming he is now standing beside Fauve) and motions with a jerk of her head for him to show the witch something.

“…we were actually just following the directions on a map that led us to this location.” She concluded. “My friend Gabe here can show you what I mean. You know… it’s not like we just kinda stumbled upon you by random chance or anything like that.”

Fauve looks at Gabe and tells him to show the skull lady the map. She then retrieves a bottle from her bag and takes a swig before offering a drink to Corc, giving the big fella a wink as she does so.

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Defiance

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"I'm just following after that psycho bitch!" Fauve replied to Gabe. "She appears to know what she's doing as well. Sounds like a lot more fun than pinching my ass cheeks in fear of being boned by a forest dwelling skeleton."

Whether Gabe followed with them or not, she commenced to staying by Corc's side, who was right about one thing after entering the edge of the forest; distant wind chimes could be heard. Wind chimes on their own weren't anything to write home about, though, but the added darkness of the forest made them seem a little eerie. Fauve of course wasn't worried at all, just glad to have some excitement in her life for a change.

"They're just wind chimes, Bub." She told Corc, as she slipped her little hand in his. "I'm think'n you and I make a good team, am i right? Maybe you and I could have our own little party together later. How ya feel about that, you big sexy bastard?" Her actions and suggestion were meant to have been - more or less - a jesting way to help the big orc relax. After all, no sense in worrying about a fight that might not happen.

When Fauve finished saying her piece, she heard the psycho's voice calling out from up ahead. Devlin was too far ahead to see at this point, but her words were clear enough to make out: “I know you’re here!” ... “…I just need to talk with you! That’s all.”

At the hearing of these words - which sounded distinctly like Devlin was trying to coax someone out of hiding, or maybe trying not to scare someone off - it was understood by Fauve that the psycho lady could have done with a little more space.

"Probably best we don't rush in swinging our weapons." She suggested to Corc and whoever was close enough to hear her, like Gabe, Jack or Lui maybe. She gives Corc's hand a little tug back to emphasis her suggestion while slowing her pace a little more. "Sound's like she's playing hide and go seek with another frightened Myti or something like that. We don't wanna scare them off."

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Defiance

@Valkon@Seraphin@Polaris North@Jensoman@tex@Zyngard@Dartbored Fairy@Hokum@ArkmageddonCat

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“It’s not like I have anything better to do.” Fauve replies to Gabriel. She’s sneering a little to portray her usual unexciting life. “So you can count me in, Cutie.”

Right then The hooded murdered from the tavern the night before shows up and takes the map from Gabe without a word. Now Fauve didn’t mind the woman to be honest about it, and being that she killed the barman at what appeared to be random, kinda tickled Fauve’s funny bone.

“You sure are one psychotic piece of work.” She says to Devlin. Once she’d done taking a gander at the map, psycho lady commences to delivering a speech to everyone. She introduces herself as the Daughter of Despiun. Fauve knew about the massacre, hell, everyone did. Fauve however preferred to think of Daughter of Despiun as the Begotten of Death, which she was sometimes referred to as. Sounded much cooler in her opinion. At the end of her speech, Psycho lady went on to invite everyone to join her then headed on her way to the location the map. She also took a dig at anyone who was to frightened to go with her, a comment Fauve figured was directed specifically at the Pussycat.

Fauve then regards Lui who she can only just see hiding behind that Elf thing, and when the obvious-fooling-nobody construct finally shuts up, she looks at Dani, and says sharply; “Have you always been such a damn scaredy cat? You’ve gotta learn to live a little kid. Beside, god Damn it, the living wood is right, we’re safe in numbers and it looks right clear to me that everyone else is going to be following the psycho ladies lead on this. So what are you gonna do, go off on your own and expect a rosy picnic? Look around, fur ball, and grow some hairy balls for once in your life.”

“Let’s go then!” Fauve says to Gabe, then turned to Corc, giving the big bad bastard yet another slap on the butt, adding; “And how about you, my big sexy beast, you coming with us? Sure would hate to leave you behind!” She looks down into the town and gestures to the crowd of undead headed their way. “I’m getting tired of the undead around these parts anyhow.”

Fauve starts walking after Devlin, thinking that her big orc honey and Gabe would follow. She also gives Jack and tree man a jerk of her head, inviting them to come along. She also stops momentarily to say hello to the mute (assuming that he hasn't left after his girlfriend yet).

“Welcome to the motley crew, mutie! Names Fran. Saw you using sign language back there, so you must have a fun life, right?” She looks off in direction the psycho lady was heading. “Psycho lady a friend of yours?”

Whether Ren replies or not, and whether Gabe, Jack, Foeldar, Corc or any of the others follow, Fauve takes another swig from her bottle and starts walking in direction that the psycho lady had headed. It just so happened that Devlin was already out of sight at that point, gone into the woods. Fauve was walking casually though, no sense in rushing into possible death. Best the psycho lady takes a good long lead on this.

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Defiance

Mention @Jensoman@Hokum@Seraphin

Direct interaction @Valkon@ArkmageddonCat@tex@Polaris North

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Fauve exited the trees in her new clothes right when the Treeman ran into the wall by the gate. He disturbed her train of thought about Corc. She had been wondering what the big guy would be like to have a little private party with. By reputation, orc’s really knew how to let their hair down and have fun when they weren’t going around killing folks. Besides, she liked big guys, especially the rough brute type. They had a way of turning her on.

Since the tree ramming the wall had diverted the attention of the rest of the group, no one seemed to notice Fauve’s approach. She arrive just to the side behind Dannisus as he was finishing up with his ever growing list of concerns, and figured it was a good opportunity to have a little fun with him. With that in mind, Fauve’s tongue stretched from her mouth, extended a few feet in a coiling fashion, and then slapped him playfully up side the face, leaving a streak of saliva in his whiskers and fur. Her tongue flicked back in her mouth with a sharp whip-crack action.

“Still feeling a little skittish there, are ya, Kitty?” She laughed real hard, took another swig from her bottle and swiftly turned her attention to Jack. She placed a little peck on Jack’s cheek, and said; “Good to see ya again, Handsome!”

Fauve was just having herself a little fun at the expense of others self-preservation, not really caring how they might react. Continuing on her way, she gave a little nod and a wink to greet Gabriel who had also arrived, holding out the map she mentioned earlier.

Walking around the gate now, Fauve plucked a leaf from the ground while catching a glimpse of Devlin and Ren approaching, then gave a swift kick to the golem’s shin. Not too hard, just enough to draw his attention. She held the leaf up to him and gave it a teasing wag.

“I think you might have dropped this, Shrubby.”

Having another laugh, she flicked the leaf aside. Even though her butt cheek was no longer exposed, she gave it a good scratch while making her way over to take that second look at the map.

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Defiance

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Fauve slowed her pace when she arrived at the tree-line, as she had noticed a streak of blood on the leaf of a rubber-tree plant. Below the plant was a few more drops of darkening scarlet fluid leading a broken trail into the woods.

Well, that was easy

She pushed her way through the snapped twigs and blood smeared leaves for what must have been a good thirty yards before arriving at a clearing. The source of the blood was a human male, leaning with his back against a tree. As fortune would have it, he was about Fauve’s height and build. Unfortunate for him, he was damn near dead already. The horde had done a good job with this guy, numerous lacerations decorated his chest and right arm. His brown trousers were in a miraculously good condition, though, minus a few small spots of blood, and his boots were much fancier than her usual choice in footwear. But that didn’t matter, it’s not like she was about pay money for them or anything.

Despite being so close to death that he couldn’t even lift an arm to reach out, his eyes widened with that futile hope for salvation she’d seen so many times before. She knelt beside him and faked a reassuring smile.

“Ple… hel.. me….” His plead for mercy was so weak, Fauve could barely hear it, but the message was clear.

“There’s nothing I can do for you, Bub. You’re as good as dead.” She was candid about it, while tapping her index finger on the tip his nose in an oddly playful manner. “But not all is lost. I’m gonna go ahead and put you out of your misery.”

The young man gave a half shake of his head, apparently not liking the idea too much, and tried his best to form a few words of objection, but failed.

“Now – now.” She placed her finger on his lips to hush him. “There’s no point in fighting any more. You’re gonna die either way so we might as well make this quick, right? So, what I want you to do is say a little prayer to whatever God you might believe in – And if you don’t believe in any God, well, now might be a good time to start.” She took her finger from his lips to observe his response.

What energy he had left was present in the horrified look of his eyes. His upper lip trembled as well. That was all he managed to display of his obvious understanding on the matter, not that he was any keener on the idea than he was beforehand.

“Good. I’m glad we could reach an understanding.” She told him.

Providing him a few seconds to say whatever silent prayer he may or may not have had to say, she then reached out, faked another smile, and pinched his nostrils closed with finger and thumb, while smothering his mouth with her palm.

It sure didn’t take long. He barely had enough strength for one final struggle. With a few small jerks of his body and a sloppy flip of one hand it was over. Fauve watched with solemn regard at the life drain free of his terrified glare. That wasn’t the first time she looked someone in the eyes as their soul departed this world, and in a place like Akripola, it probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Sweet dreams, Bub.”

Another life gone.

Before too long, Fauve was wearing the dead man’s scuffed, black boots and trousers, and he was wearing her old shredded trousers. Not like she was so damn hardhearted that she’d leave his corpse naked from the waist down. She did have… uh, well, a few standards, at least. Turns out, though, that his boots were a very specific and custom design, and were perhaps the most comfortable footwear to ever meet her feet. Such was a pleasant surprise.

While fishing around in her new trouser pockets and finding two gold coins, one silver, she wondered what the dead guys name was; if he had any family left alive, or maybe a wife, friends perhaps, anyone out there who may have been looking for him.

“Nah.... They’re probably all dead as well. Hell, he was probably the only one left in completing an afterlife family reunion.”

Feeling half decent about her score, Fauve retrieved a fresh bottle of liquor from her shoulder bag and started making her way back to the gate. At that time, Corc could be heard calling out his own name in the distance, maybe some sort of battle cry. She laughed and took a swig from the bottle.

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Defiance

@Dartbored Fairy@Zyngard@Jensoman@tex

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Corc was adorable. Fauve laughed at his remark about the map.

At the gate, Fauve took a bottle of Spiced Potato Spirit from her shoulder bag and had few swigs from it while listening to the others state their piece. Her thoughts were leaning more towards the shoulder bag though, and how its pristine condition managed to be preserved through the fight. Everything inside was intact also. She then had a thoughtful scratch of her butt cheek while considering the other matters of conversation.

“Relax them whiskers there, kitty.” She spoke to Dannisus. “Corc and myself just did battle with a few legions of undead and came out relatively unscathed. Not bragging at all, but I’m doubting that a few bad guys reaching the gate is gonna present too much of a problem.” She gives the Orc a ‘well-done’ pat on his rear end. “My main man here won’t let any harm come to ya.”

She takes another swig of her wine to consider the series of recent events before addressing everyone: “The map I’m talking about isn’t what you mob might be think’n.” She has another scratch. “It’s a map of Nadska and immediate surrounding area. It was dropped by some running fool on his way out of town right before hell turned up. I’m guessing the fool knew what was about to happen, though, since the map he dropped had Nadska suspiciously marked off with a cross. I’ll give you one guess what that might mean.” She laughed and had another swig from the bottle. “It also had another section circled off in the nearby woods. I’m betting the circled area of the forest has some significance to the plight of this shithole town as well. I’m half inclined to go look’n for the circled area out of pure curiosity, but I was needing to make certain of the direction before I go.”

Feeling like she was talking too much and giving the false impression that she actually cared about anything other than her own self gain, her mind drifted from the moment. She really needed to find some shoes and new trousers.

“Now if you mob excuse me for the moment, I’ve gotta go searching for a change of clothes.” While walking off towards the tree-line, she gives her butt cheek a slap to highlight the reasons why. “I’ll be back momentarily! Try not to die while I’m gone.”

There had to be some Nadska residents hiding amidst the trees somewhere, perhaps injured, dying or already dead, who she could salvage some trousers and footwear from.

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Defiance

@Jensomanand@Valkon@Dartbored Fairy@tex

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Fauve liked that. Being caught in the orc’s hands and let down to the ground in such a gentle manner confirmed her trust in him, but more than that, it established that Corc had a variety of honor rarely found in the world lately. He was in her good books now, and that was also a rare thing.

“This is yours!” She confirmed, and slapped the leg of lamb against Corc’s rock hard abs. Assuming he then took the food off her hands, she commenced to following at his side in direction of the west gate, fighting off the random, tailing undead assailants along the way. In the near distance ahead, she could see the Myti and another couple from the tavern the night before. Ain’t it just a small world and all that.

She really wished she had of found the time to salvage replacement trousers and shoes, but shoes were more the issue. It’s not like running around barefoot was going to cause any major problems, and sure she usually presented herself as a feral bitch anyway, but shoes were much more comfortable to be traipsing around outdoors with. While she ran alongside her new friend, she kept an eye out for any dead bodies that might have been wearing her size footwear.

As for her butt cheek hanging out and the shredded condition of her pant legs, well, she doubted anyone really gave a damn anyway. Besides, Corc would have no doubt had a good feel of said butt cheek when she landed in his hand. In addition to the meal she provided him, maybe it provided him another reason to be happy. Nothing wrong with a little discrete joy on the side.

Pretty soon, the unlikely couple were drawing within comfortable calling distance of Lui over Aelih’s shoulder and Dannisus running on ahead:

“Have any of you three seen the guy with the kick-ass gauntlets and the other human I was talking with earlier in the Tavern? They have a certain map that, under the current circumstances, I feel inclined to take a second look at.”

….