After having punted another camera drone far into the sky, Rema felt she had made her message very clear to being harrassed by those hovering tin cans. She then realized she could do some poses and flex her muscles, which she eagerly began to do for the survivors. She had to make sure a proper image of beauty and power is presented to her upcoming fans.
Though, she could not waste time. The race was starting and she would not suffer being the last to the track. Following Lydia's example, she's arrived next to her with her war machine Belladonna with it's monstrous steeds. Castor and Pollux snort fire and brimstone with hot red fiery orbs in place of eyes. Their metal hooves dig up the track underneath and stomp through the material. They are hungry and thirsty for fame and blood and are not picky in what order it came in.
"Easy, easy boys. There's going to be plenty of fresh meat here. With their cute little star cruisers built for maximum comfort instead of victory." Rema would cast a smug smirk over at Warpstar, eager to make some new rivals already. She'd climb aboard the side of her chariot, checking the dashboard and making sure all of Belladona's systems were fully operational.
A small green amulet that was held over her neck held a gold medallion with an eagle imprinted on it. She'd pull the medallion from her neck and give it a kiss, whispering a battle prayer before putting it back into it's place.
"I will honor you all, as I promised. This triumph will be dedicated to you..."
Montag's lucky break continued as he dived into the workstation, finding it nearly empty. The staff were busy with the nearly ruined party and were working overtime to accompany the numerous guests that they were not prepared for. With all the shuffling around of human bodies, shouted orders over hot ovens and steaming food trays. Montag was nearly bumped into by several frantic passerby's. Montag's plan of blending in worked as he passed through the rooms. Guards would flank doors, and a pair were stationed near the staircase to prevent any entry. The second upstairs floor of Meropis is clearly off limits. Last obstacle before Montag managed to get to Marie, hopefully.
There is a poke on Montag's shoulder from behind, he's been spotted. "Hey, you look a little lost there. Any reason you're taking a steak to the laundry room?" A woman's voice came from behind, playful but with a threatening undertone to it.
The room Montag is pointed toward is indeed the laundry room, stashed away between the second kitchen and a broom closet. The staircase on the opposite side of them, so close but so far away. The grassy yard lay behind a door, no sign of anyone in sight but coated men with large hats like they were trying to hide in plain sight. They remind Montag of the mysterious man from earlier.
Cat like green eyes observe Montag up and down, a practiced but tense smile stretched over the woman's face. Like Montag, she stuck out and didn't seem to belong despite being dressed as a waitress. Her nametag said her name is Carol. Although she appeared attractive and charming, a sense of unease filled the air. She'd be the type of woman to hold a weapon behind her back.
"Care to explain what you're doing here? You trying to sneak around, look for jewels? Perhaps the mayor would like to hear about that, huh?" Her right hand twitched at her side with dangerous anxiety. The young woman continued to leer at Montag, getting closer and demanding his full attention. On the back of her neck is a small snake tattoo, the snake is coiled around the hilt of a small dagger, letting out a hiss.
Did she know something about their mission?
---
"Well of course my words are true! What you think I want beaten up homeless people on the front cover of the morning paper? I can kiss my reelection goodbye!" Thomas would speak loudly even though he's right in front of Abigail, by habit. Already the police are dispersing, being replaced instead by an attachment of waiters Thomas had summoned over. One police officer lingers, his eyes boring into the back of Abigail's skull. Thomas did not acknowledge it.
Once he had Abigail accompanying him, he's quick to move back to the front of the black iron gates of the Meropis. He is always looking around, conscious of the people around him, always weary of his image. Now that the two are properly pulled aside, Thomas can pull his mask off for a moment.
"Look little lady. Did Bob send ya? Be honest here. I know he's been gunning for the mayorship for decades but this has got to be the lowest trick he's ever pulled. Or are ya with the socialists? Communists? Ah they're all the same thing." A hint of weariness wore down his normal upbeat tone. He had many enemies.
He clapped his hands together, as if to shock himself and Abigail awake. "So what, you want a donation to your parish or something? How much? I don't really appreciate being extorted but I gotta say I've seen some slimy shit in the political world but this has got to be one of the best tricks in the book! Dredging up every junkie and deadbeat out onto a man's lawn, about to start a riot! Wow! I would've done it myself if I thought I could get away with it..." His arms moved about, emphasizing his every word. His eyes are wired and full of energy, it's easy to mistake him for being on drugs if it wasn't obviously pure adrenaline.
Even in this 'private' moment there is a horde of people begging for the politician's attention, lingering in the background and waiting with anticipation for Tom to end his talks with the priest so they may pester him for their own pet projects. Everything was in flux here, relationships constantly adapting and moving to the needs of the crowds. It is hard to say if Thomas is taking advantage of them or being taken advantage of himself in this situation.
"I don't have a lot of time. Alright? So just, tell me where to send the donation and just who the hell sent ya alright? And we'll keep this all to ourselves and we'll never have to deal with each other again. Priests and politicians are like oil and water."
Naturally Riku made an overture of asserting herself over her Serei, and Lola responded to this with all the concern it was due; Not a wink. With a put upon sigh she planted a hand on Riku's head and ruffled it, distracting from the swelling oration so she could better force a swig of beer down the princess' lips.
"Sheesh, you're really used to people listening to you. Think I'll have to call you Puppy on account of all the barking for attention, but that's okay, I'm used to siring litters and looking after them." Setting aside the beer she pulled the princess against her chest, an implacable strength to her limbs rendering any struggle moot.
"First off, I've been napping, so this Ami person? I don't know 'em. I'm not gonna just go off and pummel someone I don't know. So settle down and relax a little or I'll put you to bed for a nappy"
“Hey! I am talking to-ghhf!” Riku’s authority came crumbling down as Lola petted her head and had her reminded of just how disadvantaged she was by this powerful new companion. The smother that could maybe resemble a hug further humiliated the princess.
“N-now enough of this! I drew the card! I can...I can throw you back in there! However this works!” Riku attempted to pull herself free of that canine’s grip, but her strength came up to little in comparison to Lola’s.
“Ami is a warrior. A bloody one. She has a sword. She seemed to be like a berserker. Blonde hair, wore a lot of black. Her weapon had strange markings on it, like it was alive and breathing somehow. Anyways, yeah! I need your assistance to defeat her!.”
Riku managed to separate herself from Lola, hopping from her stool and dusting herself off from any fur.
“It’s very important. This tower is full of dangerous people, so I need a worthy ally in this journey. So far you appear more like a dog, than any sort of ally!” The princess had expected a great warrior, not the woman who seemed more interested in teasing Riku than anything else. The princess had her feats and failings, but she could not tolerate her pride being tarnished!
Letting the puppy princess squirm free, the wolf woman watched her rant with an indulgent smirk as she gulped her beer without a care. The hostility was clear and Lola wasn't really opposed to going and seeing this Ami person, frankly she sounded rather fun to Lola, but first she needed to set her summoner straight.
"Now now, no need to go making threats you can't fulfill. We can all be friends here, and now that I'm at your side, those dangerous people won't be a bother to you. Settle down and let's go chit chat in our room."
Sliding from the stool with a wink to the bar tender she didn't hesitate to throw Riku over her shoulder and marched up the stairs, idly questioning which one was Riku or if she should just start knocking for an unused one. Ultimately finding the appropriate room, she marched inside and dropped the princess onto her bed.
"Now are you going to be reasonable or do I need to start laying down the law?"
Riku is off in her head, thoughts of revenge and thoughts of how best to use her other cards are flying through her pretty head. Her consciousness is flung around with all her thoughts scrambled around as she’s yanked by the waist and slung over a big dog’s shoulder.She's right about to speak again before Lola had made her move.
“Let go of me! This is no way to treat a princess! I’m serious! I’ve been embarrassed enough already!” Her voice went into a high pitch, almost a squeak as she desperately tried to recapture whatever little dignity she could muster. Thankfully she didn’t have to endure this for long, being pulled into a bedroom and thrown onto a bed with a pomf.
Riku eyed around the room, realizing she was now in intimate quarters with this newcomer. She’d clear her throat and pull herself up to sit on her rear, glaring at Lola.
“Just who do you think you are? Why are you acting like you have a mind of your own? I summoned you! That makes me your commander!” She insisted, running with her assumptions on how the card arrangements worked in the tower.
"Hmm, no. When we listen to you, when we give you power? It's cause we like you, or you amuse us. If you wanted to take our powers by force, you'd need to hit a just a little bit harder then i can, princess."
Lola stressed the word, a hungry glint in her eye hearing that her summoner was some form of royalty. Such a pompous origin for a pompous girl, Lola thought with a lick of her lips. Ripe for conquest if she kept pushing it.
"I'm the Serei you didn't realize you could have summoned this entire time, and everytime you struggled, it was because you couldn't even lift the biggest sword in your arsenal." The wolf snorteed, stomping a foot down on the bed between Riku's spread legs, boot grinding in the bedsheets a hairsbreadth from the girl herself while she loomed over her. "I want to be friends, but I won't hesitate to remind you Serei have our own minds. Got that, Puppy?"
Riku began to understand the nature of their relationship, perhaps too late after she’s opened her big mouth. That glint in the wolf’s eye made the girl think twice, the lick across the lips...was she implying what the princess thought she was?
The boot stomp sent Riku up into the air only an inch, quickly falling back. The force spoke for itself, and the further grinding down brought images to Riku’s head that she would rather not entertain.
“Now. Er. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot here. I was just, misguided and under the wrong impression y’know? The people who hand out these cards don’t tell you all the rules after all.” Riku pulled her legs up against her chest, hugging around them with her arms to give a more innocuous appearance.
“I’m just a princess from a far away land, it really doesn’t matter much in a place like this. I was trying to figure out what was going on with Victorie’s mansion earlier, but it seems everything has changed again. I want to well...not die anymore, alright? Can you at least protect me, help me in battle? Um...do you want what...money or something? I wouldn’t know what you want, honestly.”
Riku had another idea of what Lola might want, but didn’t want to voice it.
There was a wag in Lola's tail as the princess seemed to gain some notion of the situation she was in, withdrawing upon herself and looking away as a dog would to show their submission to an alpha. It didn't make Lola back off in the least, but her expression did sweeten as she reached out to rub a lock of hair between her fingers, playing Riku without a care.
"Die anymore? Huh, I didn't think that was so common an occurence. Guess it's not as pleasant as I have it, though. Maybe I should ask Indra to be nicer to you. I could do quite a lot for you, keep you safe from just about anything..."
Her nail pressed to Riku's chin, tilting her upwards to meet Lola's now smoldering gaze. Her belt was close to Riku's face, an overpowering aroma wafting from behind it. "But I need more then your money. I need your body, and in exhcange, I'll move heaven and earth to keep you alive. In fact, I can even make you harder to kill, a little like me~"
The touch to her black locks made her focus on Lola's hand, but tellingly she did not move out of reach. Instead she'd calmly watch the wolf as she moved closer and closer. Lola is face to face, an imposing body with a sensual voice that kept the princess's attention locked onto her and hanging on her every word.
"My body..." Riku took a breath after repeating, breaking eye contact. She had never suspected this when she first summoned Lola, but the intent had been written in the wolf's actions since the beginning.
"Say I agree to this. Then...what happens? How are you going to make me harder to kill?" The princess would not be fooled, but she would not deny the offer either.
"Yes, your body. Funny thing is, I've fucked chieftains, goddesses, demons, and eldritch horrors, but I've yet to lay claim to a princess. So you'll be helping me complete a set as it were, and in turn, I'll share just a tiny bit of my power with you on a permanent basis." She said, lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth meant for rending meat from bone.
"After all, humans just can't compare to the strength of a wolf." A strength she demonstrated pushing the princess back against the mattress while stepping up to stand over Riku. "So turn around and show me your ass. Give it a nice wiggle and I'll consider keeping the biting to a minimum. Make me do all the work and I'll just have to chew a bit more thoroughly."
"I'd rather not just become another mark for your tally." Riku grumbled, not liking being lined up like the rest. Those sharp teeth catch her eye immediately, and she can't help but imagine her neck and skin being underneath them, nibbled on. The thought is exciting.
"I think humans are more capable than you portray them as." The princess felt her packaged up scythe, ready to be unsheathed at a moment's notice. Though still she hesitated, pushed back by Lola now instead. She bit her lip, her cheeks began to match her cloak.
"Show my backside? What!? Just...who do you think you are? That's not how you ask someone for lovemaking." Riku protested in a grumpy tone. "I don't have to do this, you know. I can go and talk to Victorie or someone who knows what they're doing around here to get a different card! How's that!" Again, she attempted to regain some authority in a situation where it was increasingly slipping away.
"Humans are fine enough, but give everything else the ability to use tools and suddenly they lag behind. I'm saying you can have the best of both worlds, unless you want to go even farther, though you seem like the type to not handle going full Hellhound very well." Lola remarked offhandedly, shrugging out of her jacket to leave her in nothing but a strained top exposing a generous amount of underboob.
Her tail displayed an alarming degree of dexterity as it came around, somehow managing to tug loose her belt, it's massive metal buckle dragging it down beside them to leave her in little more then micro shorts. "Now roll over so I can 'make love to you' till you whine for me to mark your body and soul. Come on, I never leave a lady unsatisfied."
"Best of both worlds..." Riku would repeat, the phrase andd the way it was said madde it seem inviting. Going farther...was sex just how these beings exchanged power with one another? Well, there was only going to be one way to truly find out.
"Alright...okay. Ugh. Just...please don't tell anyone I fear my reputation here has been ruined enough. It's not you. It's well, a very long story." With her decision made, the princess would pull up on the bed and begin disrobing her clothes. First to come off is her cloak, and the straps on her corset are soon to follow. She had seen how Lola did it, how she made sure to expose her nice chest and reveal more and more of what she had like taking layers off of a present. Riku wished she could look so confident so seamlessly. Instead she felt shy, and would take her top off over her head, pulling onto the floor. Her chest now bare except for a black bra that wound tightly across her chest. Her boots are next, falling to the ground with a thump and socks off too.
"I did not mean to be rude." The insecure girl said, looking at Lola directly again. "I truly apologize if you felt I was being dismissive of you. The honest truth is well, I have zero idea what I'm doing."
The intimate room and sweet words of Lola seemed to relax her nerves finally. For once she forgot about her loss to Ami.
"Don't fret, Puppy. I don't take it personal. Cornered animals...well, they tend to get vicious. It's a good trait, but it's better to know when to give in and enjoy a good thing." The vicious edge to Lola softened as settled on her knees, face pressed to her puppy's lithe stomach. She wet it with soft kisses while her hands ran along the princess' hips, steadying her as Lola tasted what was now on offer.
"I won't tell anyone about this, heck, I won't even tease you in public as long as you temper that pride. I can already feel the power inside you, so don't act defensive when you have nothing to prove. Especially not now~" She huskily intoned, tongue trailing between the valley of the princess' breasts, savoring the sweat stuck to her skin beneath the tight corset.
"Would you stop calling me puppy..." The princess gave a weak protest while those kisses were planted onto her. She' fall down underneath Lola's weight, feeling an urge to giggle at times as soft lips ran over with a wolf tongue across sensitive skin. Riku would peel down her leggings in the meanwhile, exposing black lingerie that seat nicely between vanilla white hips.
"Maybe you're the puppy here, the way you are licking me." Riku pressed her chest further into Lola's tongue, pushing up off the bed to pull her into a hug. The girl would lean in onto her neck to immerse herself in that inviting scent the wolf had, feeling the bits of fur on Lola's head with a curious hand.
"I still have a lot to prove to everyone. Including you. I have a lot of people who want me to fail, and who want me to succeed. I can't let them down." "And you won't let them down, even if you're a puppy." Lola replied, worming upwards through Riku's grasp to plant her lips to the princess' neck. She wanted it red and vibrant, pulsing with life and lathered with Lola's essence. A hand pressed into the small of Riku's back and pushed them together, letting them grind together while the other cradled Riku's head. Tilting it back so the wolf's tongue could streak from the base of her throat to the tip of her chin.
"Mmm, tasty. I can get used to this." She murmured, using the grinding to pull her tip upwards and let bare breasts rake against the diminutive girl's own. The temperature was already skyrocketing between them, Lola's body heat abnormally intense and rising even higher the more they remained in contact. A wonder then she wore all that leather.
"So, ready to give yourself to me~?"
Lola got what she wanted as the princess's neck took on a brighter hue from her soft lip work. The princess would look away and blush, the two pulled together with the bigger wolf leading the way. Some shocked moans and hums came from the relaxed princess, signaling that arousal was leaking through the cracks of Riku's insecurity.
"Tasty?" Briefly the possibility Lola ate humans crossed her mind, but is quickly kicked aside when those bare breasts come out to play. Riku cannot help herself and already had a hand lifted and cupped onto Lola's right breast, giving it a hard squeeze. She's astonished by the girl's voluptuous body.
"I don't know. Should I? Am I going to regret this later?" A nervous princess liked to be lead and told what to do by domineering personalities. Her lips would purse and she'd lean forward, face to face with her lips poised to kiss at Lola's neck and head.
"You do have a real charm in the way you move, you know."
Not that Lola couldn't eat people, but where was the fun in that? She was a hedonist, not a cannibal. That said, teasing the princess with a toothy smirk and lack of confirmation was more fun then a straight answer.
Snickering to herself that Riku seemed comfortable enough to venture out and explore her Serei's body, she leaned into the explorative touches, letting the fullness of her figure swell and expand past the confines of such limited hands with which to grasp them. "The way I see it, you have to maintain your pride in public. But in here, you can let your hair down and let me rule the roost in your stead. Think of it like....a vacation. From responsibility~"
In what might be a considered a shock to normal people, Lola's tail moved of it's own volition, the tip of her bushy extremity opening and a tongue trailing on the inside of Riku's leg. A maw opening from he tip. lapping and nuzzling their puppy's thighs. Using it as a distraction Lola subverted Riku's attempt to reciprocate and buried her face into her neck, aggressively suckling the hammering pulse point where blood ran red and hot so close to the surface.
"I'm always in charge...I swear it..." The princess grumbled as she began to submit herself over to this delightfully devious wolf. Her promises of fun are just too compelling to ignore, and the smell and heat were deeply intoxicating.
At least Riku would shut up Lola with a sudden pounce on her lips with the princess's own, snapping them up in a tight smooch where Riku's red tongue would poke inside to lick across the wolf's. Her arms are now wrapped across the Serei's torso, hands trailing down her back as their chests meet in the center. Humorously Riku's chest is dwarfed by Lola's.
In this position Riku can't see the tail opening up it's own tongue, streaking a mark of drool across her thigh. The girl made a surprised groan in Lola's mouth, which let her break away a moment to kiss and assault the princess's neck with many kisses and suckles. A squeaky 'ah!' burst out of Riku's mouth, and she quickly fell backward for Lola to pounce onto.
"You...you will speak of no one to this...especially Victorie or Ami...or Kanbaru...definitely not Kanbaru!"
The serei blinked, looking at Riku curiously as the princess was too dazed to try and kiss again. "Why would I tell Kanbaru? We're kinda enemies, silly."
Running her tongue across the princess' lip in a cheeky fashion as she brushed off such petty matters, her powerful hands pried loose the hug holding them together and flipped Riku beneath her. With her breasts now mashed to Riku's back, the Serei slipped a flaming hot hand beneath her summoner, wedging it between flesh and mattress as it brushing fertile lower lips in a teasing fashion.
"You might want to bite a pillow if you don't want anyone hearing us. I could sound proof the room, but there's just no fun without the possibility of discovery~" Her breath came hot and wet against Riku's neck, her teeth pinpricks to the flesh in preparation for a mighty bite.
Another ah! of surprise as the girl is flipped like a burger patty, with a very horny wolf mushed on top of her. Immediately her mind went to some pretty dirty places of what this Lola woman was capable of with the princess underneath her.
Riku's neck is thoroughly wet all over now, but the skin remained sensitive. Each new bite or kiss would make the princess's fingers and toes curl, her eyes shut, and a bite on her lips to keep embarrassing noises from bursting out. Sometimes yet, those noises would emerge anyways, much to her frustration.
The thought of being discovered in this position is a thrilling nightmare. It made Riku's heart skip a beat and feel an urge to scream. Her reputation among her new peers would be ruined, but yet excitement lingered. They could still get away with it, and have all sorts of naughty fun. As asked to, Riku leaned her head to face into the pillow, biting the surface hard to fill up her mouth. It's quickly coated in her puppy drool.
"Jjhhs hhhry hhppf..." The princess couldn't take more teasing in this very risky business. She'd make sure her head is lifted to keep her neck exposed. Her ass bumps Lola's waist as it raised into the air to say hello, covered in tight black leather.
It would have been easy to snap down and meet Riku's expectations, yet Lola needed to make certain her puppy Princess didn't get complacent. Her fingers spiked in temperature, glowing beneath before spearing through the tight back leather and spreading the walls of Riku's pussy with a disregard for any further teasing. Lola wanted her open, so she made her open with only teasing for a warm up.
The lack of any barrier had the wolf Serei smirking, knowing now Riku was far from pure. Both a shame and a boon, as Lola rather liked despoiling the pure ones, but experience was a blessing all its own. One she reveled in as her digits hooked inside Riku and pulled, jolting her whole body sharply against Lola's teeth till she sank deep.
Pain and pleasure meeting in a crash of flesh and teeth, all occurring beneath the broiling body of Lola who reveled in the slightest noise coming from her meal.
There is a loud yippy yell as Riku discovers through exposure that Lola is carrying weapons of deadly precision, her fingers. She can't even make sense of it as the physical stimulus overwhelms her, causing her to cry and moan and buck like an agitated horse as Lola marked her target and claimed what she wanted. Riku buckled and fell under the pressure, having to be kept aloft by Lola's body. She is screaming and crying into that pillow.
A lot of secrets were revealed here, most notably is Riku isn't as virginal as she liked to appear, giving Lola the ability to push further and further. The princess's fists are clenched tight as she bit the pillow and endured this painful and pleasurable sex, her back arching with every horny probe from the horniest wolf.
Riku vowed to learn just how the hell she was doing that...and why did it feel so good...
Naturally a bite wasn't just a bite from Lola, Riku's acceptance and her own conquest of the princess ensured the Serei left a lasting mark on her summoner. To Riku's benefit it was a purely pleasurable process, fluffy triangles springing from her hair and a thin tail elongating from her rear, trying to wag yet pinned between their bodies. It would feel like stretching out an arm after sleeping on it in your sleep, the state of having them more natural then not possessing them.
"Now you really are my puppy~" She crowed, licking the red from her lips and nibbling the newly formed ears as her fingers pumped and thrashed within the despoiled princess. Churning her loins to make sweet honey. "Bark and whine for me. Come on, just a few cute 'Wan wans'~!"
Pink lower lips would leak out pleasure liquids as a sign of Lola's impending triumph. The princess's delicate flower is inflamed and hungry for more probing, her hips jerking up and wanting to swallow those fingers hold. Riku is barely conscious of the changes happening to her body, only feeling the steady rhythm of lovemaking. Her mouth clutched tightly onto the fabric as her eyes remain shut, leaking tears of pained pleasure. The command to bark and whine made her blood run cold, her heart jumped again. It was so demeaning, it was so hot.
"Hhrf, hrhff!" Riku yipped into her pillow as she's further pushed into it, her ass even shaking from side to side to mimic the wag of a dog. Which now, with her tail's growth was becoming more real than just an eager tease.
The relief of the pillow was pulled from Riku, a hand on her chin making her look straight ahead where a transparent formed. It solidified into a mirror sheen, reflecting not just the perky ears but the princess' lust wrought visage panting in wanton lust.
"Good, puppy, good. Keep whining for your Queen. Every Princess needs a Queen to lead them by the hand and raise them up right. So cum and whine till you can't spill a drop more~" Lola demanded, a growl rumbling in her throat and her eyes darkened into pitch black pools of malice. "Do it."
The bitemarks on the pillow were fresh with wet drool and indentions from where the grip of Riku's teeth had nearly torn the fabric. The exhausted little puppy is whining and wriggling to Lola's commands, already feeling herself about to burst. Lola's reward is wetness splashing down her fingers and leaking down Riku's white thighs, her royal release pooling beneath her bottom in a puddle, a stain on the bed. Just as she had been ordered to.
The princess could not have asked for more, an eager dom that just loved tearing her down and making the royal princess do as she was told. This Serei card was no doubt specifically chosen for her.
Lola pulled her fingers free of the princess' and plopped them into Riku's open lips, expecting her to lick them clean while learning to savor her own flavors. She rubbed the puppy's chin to keep her eyes on the mirror while Lola nuzzled her neck, lapping at the wound that rapidly closed without a blemish to be seen.
"We're going to have a lot of fun like this, so you best get used to using your tongue. I expect great things from my first puppy of the Tower pack."
Riku would flop the card around in her hands, staring it down. The princess is completely oblivious to the giant dog that appeared behind her.
"Gah~!" Riku yelped as she's yanked away into the stranger's lap with powerful strength. Lola announced herself loudly and proudly. The princess appeared to shrivel up and grow meeker as this girl's presence dominated over Riku's own. She'd tried to get a word in but Lola would talk over her anyway, her hand coming to rub across the princess's now blushing cheeks.
Finally her pride and backbone spurred her on to make a move, she wouldn't just sit here like some pitiful doll.
"Now wait just a moment! I've no idea what I've just done, but I know I must be in charge of you, correct? I have a certain girl I want to go and beat up. Her name is Ami, and I must restore my honor against her." The princess cut through the friendly banter, right now she only had one thing on her mind. Revenge!
"So we can drink and be merry after we properly punish her, how does that sound?" The princess would cross her arms, and her voice took on an bossy tone as she commanded what she perceived as her new servant around.
Rema Tiberius is preoccupied with some very last minute adjustments on Belladonna. She is hunched over with a sonic wrench to adjust some bolts and screws that constantly fell out of tightness if not constantly updated. It caused endless irritation to the easily riled gladiator as she resorted to kicking the hulking metal chariot when a screw refused to cooperate. The gladiator hadn't bothered to sign herself in yet, deciding that was the work of pencil pushers and born losers.
"Curse that manufacturer. All his kin too! How dare this infernal thing fail in the moment of my impending triumph!?" The gladiator cursed, right as a flying drone came from above to get a shot of the frustrated Rema. All that rage immediately latched onto that annoying buzzing machine. In the moment the drone appeared to mock Rema during her troubles. It's high speaking pitch and shrill cheerfulness immediately made it a target.
"Oh you hope to make a fool of me!?" The woman lunged out a hand to snatch that drone right from the air. Her hands would squeeze onto it with extreme pressure, causing the pitiful robot to be crushed into dozens of tiny bits and pieces. Rema would clean her hands of the oil residue left from the machine, suddenly feeling much better.
"This race is mine to win and mine alone! I will tolerate no competition, and deliver a swift and quick death to any that oppose me! Rema Invicta!" Rema would shout into the dying light of the drone's smashed camera, uncaring if it still recorded her rant or not. She'd then kick it far and wide across the stage and into the sky.
"A good sacrifice to Jupiter." With a smirk, Rema would hop up onto the seat of her war chariot. Her mechanical horses would rise up and kick their front hooves up in a excited manner, their nostrils flared and bodies itching to move. Flames shoot up from the sides of the chariot as the super powered engine revved up to life.
"Carpe diem, et permitte divis cetera." She'd whisper to herself, in a quick prayer.
With the return the inn, Riku had a moment to breathe after her near-death or well, death experience. She'd stand herself up and observe over her body like she had just regained control over it, Technically it was all still her, throughout her journey between life and death and back again, but the sensation of being alien in one's own body never quite left. Her eyes are distant and her movements are sluggish as she slumped up against a wall, holding her head in her hands to recollect herself.
She was shy of the gathered crowd before her in the inn, dying after all is so embarrassing. Moreso with the context of a battle being lost. She felt so foolish and frustrated, her decision to fight Ami seemed very foolish in hindsight. What had she been trying to prove, she was worthy? To herself she thought she proved the exact opposite.
Something glimmered in her pockets, a strange force calling her and pulling her away from her mental anguish. She'd parse through her satchel, and recover a card she'd been given when her journey in the Tower started. The Serei had a passionate glow, calling out to her non verbally through light ad a small ringing noise. Something lived inside that card, and wanted to seek the princess out.
Once the serei is pulled out and held in the princess's hands, energy began to leak out from it. It would connect to Riku's soul, intertangling itself into her divinity and using it to unleash it's true power. The card's name made itself known to her, Lola. It'd activate the magic inside.
After all of this, Princess Riku was really going to need a drink.
Guards eye the approaching waiter with stern scowls. Half of their job is in their appearance, taking on the aspect of a grizzled and dangerous man that would deliver punishment if tested. Bags of meat to intimidate guests.
The guard Montag approached is a tall man, over six feet with broad shoulders and a shaved head. He waited after the waiter’s request, glancing at his fellow guard beside him. The opposite man looked Montag over, and then gave a quick nod. The third one is motionless like a statue.
“Make it quick and don’t linger.”
He reached over with an arm to yank the door open, the detective gaining entry. He’d be under close watch, and there would no doubt be further guards inside, but this is a start.
As the detective began to enter, someone appeared from within the villa to rush out past him. It is a tall male in a dirty trench coat. Obscured by the brown and baggy fedora on his face, a large face tattoo is etched onto his right cheek. It is that of a large snake swallowing what appeared to be a sun, though the sun in this case is the man’s right eye. He glanced a quick side eye at Montag, a deathly look that felt he was gazing right through Montag’s very being. Before anything can be discovered, the stranger is quickly off and on his way through the party. The guards paid him no mind as if he had not even been there.
All of the detective’s instincts demanded he tail and investigate that strange man, but the opportunity is lost for now. Instead he is now inside the villa kitchen, packed full of panicked kitchen staff struggling to deal with the unprecedented amount of guests the mayor’s party received. Waitresses brush past the dark haired boy shouting out orders at the pressured chefs in the back. Hot steam wafted throughout the kitchen, spreading out to other rooms. Animated and eye catching movement distracted any thought to the environment Montag had just stepped into.
This whole place felt like a pressure cooker with the lid barely latched on.
---
Silence fell over the standoff as the police processed Abigail’s words. Some muttering from the brass in charge as they huddled together and whispered plans. Tension remained steady, and time crawled like a snail. One of Abigail’s more impoverished protestors is fidgeting. He wanted his opium fix.
The priestess cannot understand much of what is happening on the other end. It is quiet as hard decisions are thought through. Abigail's brain screams at her, warning her. They will draw their guns and batons and that will be the last noise you ever hear! You will get them all killed!
Instead of the crack of a gunshot, there is instead a new voice on the loudspeaker. Much more friendly and warm than the harsh baritone of the police chief.
“Hey, hello? Test test! Ah, yes! Okay! Hello! This is your mayor speaking! You requested an audience with me? I’d be happy to have you! I care about the people of New Haven and being a religious man myself, I can never turn down a chat with a priest!” The politician broadcasted in the recently taken megaphone.
The police give away for the mayor to come to the forefront of their line. Thomas wore a navy blue three piece suit with dark slacks that were getting dirtied by the rough grass he was currently standing in. He had a loud voice like a showman but a fine pronunciation like a school teacher. He always seemed to smile, showing two big sets of white teeth that are radiantly bright.
“Now I really don’t like how this has been handled, fellas. In fact, to make amends. I’ll have the serving boys give ya all some meals, and a few drinks. All on me. How does that sound?”
His offer immediately got some of the more desperate among Abigail’s crew to come around to his side. Thomas knew the crowd he was appealing to.
The mayor confidently struts forward, a complete contrast to the exhausted and anguished before him. He’d extend a hand to Abigail, ignoring some of the dark stares he got from more riled up members. With no megaphone now, he used his raw voice.
“This is one helluva way to get a meeting, my dear. Care to introduce yourself? We can talk more in depth about your grievances in my office, once your people are taken care of.”
He had a youthful charasmia about him, regardless of his age and it is easy to get swept up in his energy. He already had Abigail pulled aside as the police line is broken up by his words alone.
The tensions vanish up into the wind, Thomas Arnault spoke and mountains moved.
Developed as a entertainment droid for an advanced race from the milky way, she served in the arena as a gladiator. She was designed deliberately to reference Roman history and culture, a throwback to draw attention as the ancient warrior went up against all the power of current technology. Her stint in the arena involved chariot racing, which she showed great talent with. Surprisingly she became one of the best fighters and racers in the known galaxy, and was only prevented from becoming a racing champion by the destruction of the race that created her by it's enemies. Tiberius fought in the war in defense of her civilization and was an able warrior, but the numerous enemies ensured her creator's defeat.
As a lone survivor of a long gone people both ancient and current, Rema wandered around for fame and fortune, determined to write her name across the stars in the honor of her old Roman gods. Rema is determined to destroy the assumption that the future is any more advanced than the past that came before it. Rema proudly enjoys her anachronism, and insists her war chariot style racing is still eternally unmatched by anything present racers can throw at her.
Ark Gear:
Her war chariot is fashioned and named after a roman goddess of war, Belladona. Two android horses named Castor and Pollux man the machine, painted in old bronze and with bright red eyes. Each horse is equipped with highly illegal nitro thrusters that can easily get thousands of miles clocked if the safety restraints are turned off. Being machines they do not want for any need and adjust themselves to any situation with advanced neural AIs. The war chariot's looks can be deceiving, as it's fitted with much of the latest hardware. Titanium steel to hit hard and take little damage, anti gravity pulse generators on the bottom to adjust and lift for any rough terrain. Tiers that are made with hard compact treads that can bear the brunt of any rough surface known to exist. The chariot is designed to be nimble, quick and aggressive. Spikes on either sides of the wheels that could puncture a spaceship hull with Rema herself able to use her javelin, spears, and sword and ancient weaponry to attack from each side of the driver's seat. It's bold, reckless, and created to decimate her opponents without mercy.
Developed as a entertainment droid for an advanced race from the milky way, she served in the arena as a gladiator. She was designed deliberately to reference Roman history and culture, a throwback to draw attention as the ancient warrior went up against all the power of current technology. Her stint in the arena involved chariot racing, which she showed great talent with. Surprisingly she became one of the best fighters and racers in the known galaxy, and was only prevented from becoming a racing champion by the destruction of the race that created her by it's enemies. Tiberius fought in the war in defense of her civilization and was an able warrior, but the numerous enemies ensured her creator's defeat.
As a lone survivor of a long gone people both ancient and current, Rema wandered around for fame and fortune, determined to write her name across the stars in the honor of her old Roman gods. Rema is determined to destroy the assumption that the future is any more advanced than the past that came before it. Rema proudly enjoys her anachronism, and insists her war chariot style racing is still eternally unmatched by anything present racers can throw at her.
Ark Gear:
Her war chariot is fashioned and named after a roman goddess of war, Belladona. Two android horses named Castor and Pollux man the machine, painted in old bronze and with bright red eyes. Each horse is equipped with highly illegal nitro thrusters that can easily get thousands of miles clocked if the safety restraints are turned off. Being machines they do not want for any need and adjust themselves to any situation with advanced neural AIs. The war chariot's looks can be deceiving, as it's fitted with much of the latest hardware. Titanium steel to hit hard and take little damage, anti gravity pulse generators on the bottom to adjust and lift for any rough terrain. Tiers that are made with hard compact treads that can bear the brunt of any rough surface known to exist. The chariot is designed to be nimble, quick and aggressive. Spikes on either sides of the wheels that could puncture a spaceship hull with Rema herself able to use her javelin, spears, and sword and ancient weaponry to attack from each side of the driver's seat. It's bold, reckless, and created to decimate her opponents without mercy.
Tensions build as Clancy and his police officers meet eye to eye with Abigail and her protestors. Morale for the mob was firm earlier, but continues to slip. The sight of batons, police dogs and revolvers at the hips of the officers was intense. It was easy to imagine how quickly this situation could deteriorate into them being used.
Abigail’s speech is powerful, and reached out beyond the material danger presented to them and to the spiritual malaise they had all been suffering under. Though some still deserted, Abigail could quickly tell who she was left with. The young and jobless, with everything to gain and nothing to lose. No families behind them for the youths to worry about. Then there were the old and weary, veterans of similar protests. They were used to the danger, and perhaps even invigorated by it. They’d stay by Abigail’s side, even as her numbers dwindled to only a dozen now against the over twenty heads of policemen she spotted by eyeball.
The pleading for the suffering of the poor goes unheeded and ignored by the officers largely. Since the depression had begun, the everyday suffering of the impoverished had become so widespread that the common man felt no longer moved by their plight. They just saw more sunken faces and exposed ribs, more signs of the need for an order according to them. The police seem steadfast, and unmoved.
“God’s mercy is not for one lone preacher to decide, miss. You’re putting at risk innocent bystanders for a very misguided crusade.” Clancy announced over his microphone, trying to drag down the heightened mood.
With a blow of the whistle, the police began to march forward roughly in a battle line. Since there were more of them, they began to envelop the protestors and put the squeeze on them. Batons out and ready, it was clear a move would be made to disperse them.
“On my order, I am going to detain and arrest anyone who has not left this gathering. This is your last chance to leave peacefully.” The large man would finish, putting aside his megaphone. The time for talk was over, as he had decided.
Abigail had her last moment here for action. Disperse peacefully? Stand her ground? Was this all worth it for a mere distraction? People’s lives could be at risk.
--
Tensions are much quieter in Thomas’s situation. The roar of the band and the promise of free drinks gave new life to the party. It was just as Thomas had arranged. The confrontation outside was out of sight and out of mind, and the guests were distracted with leisure and luxury with loud music to blare out noise.
As the mayor of New Haven, he’s had to use this tactic a few odd times in his career.
The two relaxed staff members give Eduard a simple look over before returning to their cigarettes. They were young and just here for a paycheck, not looking to rock the boat.
“Heh, buddy the bossman has new staff for each gathering he’s got about every new event. He don’t give anyone steady work but the secretaries who got cute faces.” A tall auburn haired boy who looked no older than 18 took another drag on his smoke.
“He says his uncle works for him. He must think he’s a big guy.” His companion, a black haired boy with an angular face jested.
“If you’re such a big guy then where’s your waistcoat then, eh?”
The association with Mr. Arnault did Montag more harm than good, as he didn’t seem very popular with the lower level staff.
“Whatever man. I’ll take your fucking cigs if that’s what you’re offering. I don’t give a damn anymore. My dad lost his job yesterday and our family is good as dead at this point.”
With a cynical flair and pure apathy, Auburn slung his waistcloth right at Montag’s face, colliding with it. The pair douse their cigarettes into the ground and rub them out into the finely cut grass with their shoes. Uncaring of the damage done to the furbished lawn.
“C’mon let’s go check outside and see if there’s a scrap. I wanna see someone get their fuckin skull kicked in.” Black suggested with a laugh, and the two part off without even listening to a word Montag had to offer.
Snowdrops
TheWendil
Damycles
BrokenPromise
Dreaming One
Noctis
