SkullsandSlippers

"Blood and Guns" (A Vampire Tale from the Wild Wild West)

The family went back to their meal. The others had turned their conversation to ranch and the baby. Lillian paused to take a sip of sherry and to look out the window again. Her gaze never made it to the window. The man, the new arrival was sitting in her line of vision. He had removed his hat now and was studying her.

Unconsciously her head tilted as if observing him as well. Soft, brown eyes moved over his features a moment before she blinked and looked away demurely.

She ate a little more of her meal as the others talked. At one point she looked up, watching the stranger through her lashes. To all who looked it seemed that Lillian was engrossed in looking at her meal but her attention was elsewhere.

This man was interesting. She watched him put a coin on the table.

Curious.

“Don’t you think so Lily?” Jenny’s voice startled her.

“I am sorry? I was lost in thought for a moment.” Lillian pulled her eyes to the woman.

“I said I think we should have a little party before the baby is born. A last gathering before we all tiptoe about trying not to wake a sleeping infant. Don’t you think so too? Wouldn’t it be fun?” Jenny was excited and wanted the woman on her side.

“Oh! I just had a wonderful idea! It would be the perfect time for you to change from your mourning clothes. Think of it a party and no more black. Perhaps you might even meet someone.” Jenny was practically bouncing in her seat.

Lillian paled and opened her mouth to respond but the waitress interrupted her.

“Here you are sir.” She put a new bottle of sherry by Benjamin.

“I didn’t order this.” Her uncle frowned.

“No sir, a gift. From the gentleman at the table over there.” The waitress gestured to where the stranger sat.

Lillian looked up to see his eyes on her once more though he nodded in the table’s direction. That had been what the coin was for. Now she wondered why and who he was. Curiosity pulled at her. She adjusted the lace that played at her throat. The action allowing her to keep her eyes up and watch the man without staring.

Benjamin gave a nod back. “Well, that was nice of him. Just leave it then.”

Johnathan, silverware in hand, looked over at the stranger. “Curious that. Why would he send that over?”

Benjamin took a bite of steak. “Perhaps he knows who we are. Maybe he is just a well mannered gentleman.”

Mabel dotted at her mouth. “Perhaps we should invite him to join us.”

“He doesn’t have his food yet and we are half done. We wouldn’t want to put the man on the spot while he eats.” Maxwell glanced back towards the man.

“I think we should invite him over.” The flush had returned to Jenny’s cheeks. “It is the only polite thing to do. We can take our time so he isn’t eating alone.” As if to emphasize her point she put her silverware down.

Benjamin was engrossed in his steak once more. “I will go and thank him, introduce myself. That is-”

“Invite him over.” The words came out without thinking. Lillian looked at her uncle. Benjamin was staring at her as if she had grown a second head.

“It would be more polite to invite him over and introduce him to the whole family uncle. He may have business here that might be good for you and the ranch.” Lillian felt her throat go dry. Her eyes shifted back to the stranger.

“Very well. It seems I am outnumbered by the women in this household. Anna, do you care to weigh in as well for good measure.” Benjamin stood up and placed his napkin on the table.

Anna leaned back in her chair a little, hand resting on her round stomach. “Never hurts to meet the new folks who come to town.”

Benjamin grunted and walked over to the man’s table.

“Evening sir. Thank you for the sherry. My family and I would like to know if you would care to join us at our table. It would only be polite since you so graciously purchased the bottle for us. I am Benjamin Stewart.”

He put his hand out to shake the man’s.

"Blood and Guns" (A Vampire Tale from the Wild Wild West)

“You cannot be serious Johnathan.” Anna was hissed under her breath at her husband. She had only been staying with them a month but Lillian had already learned to tune out her cousin and his wife’s bickering.

“Well, why shouldn’t I? You will just want to go home to rest and I am not tired.” Her cousin, Johnathan shrugged. “While I cannot wait for my son to be born, I do not wish to sit at home every night with you as you moan and groan about your ever growing stomach.

Lillian turned her chin a little, offering some sort of privacy as the two argued. It seemed Johnathan wanted to play cards after supper but a heavily pregnant Anna wanted him to stay in. They had not even ordered their meal yet and already this discussion had begun.

Johnathan’s poker habit seemed a constant source of strife and from what the maid said, it had gotten worse when Anna became pregnant.

Her eyes moved about the table. Her uncle and aunt sat, menus in hand and faces covered as if they could pretend the couple and their discussion did not exist. Her other cousin, Maxwell and his wife Jenny sat across from her. Jenny gave her a strained smile.

“I believe I will have the steak.” Her uncle Benjamin declared as he put his menu down. “And some sherry for us all to start. Yes, yes I think that is a good idea.”

Eventually, the table ordered, the sherry was poured and the men discussed the cattle. Lillian smoothed the black material of her skirt before looking off towards a far window. The setting sun had cast the sky into shades of rich blues and purples with splashing of orange.

Inside was warm, lit by oil lamps that cast shadows on the patterned walls. The Stewart family had a long table given the size of their party but also the table at the far side of the room. They were one of the more well off families in the area with a large cattle ranch that was prospering well.

Lillian picked up her sherry and took a sip. She missed the smell of the sea in Boston but there was something about this place that she found endearing. Maybe it was the normalcy of her family, away from the societal obligations of a city like Boston. Maybe it was the land. Or maybe it was that nothing here reminded her of her dead husband.

“Very good sherry. I should find out what it is and get some for the house.” Benjamin’s declaration pulled her from her thoughts.

“That would be lovely dear.” Her aunt interjected.

“Jenny, you should paint the sunset at some point. I have never seen such lovely hues in the sky.” Lillian’s eyes were on the window again.

“Oh yes, well it is lovely but you get used to it. I prefer to paint the flowers.”

Lillian nodded, “But of course, and your paintings are lovely.”

With that the conversation moved into its normal ebb and flow. The only difference between tonight and any other is they had chosen to go to the Golden Eagle Hotel and not at home.

The meals arrived and everyone was engrossed in their plates with the stranger walked in. Maxwell and Johnathan noticed right away. Eyes took in the man, landing on his weapon before looking to each other. Neither recognized him.

Jenny noticed but for a different reason. Colour rose in her cheeks as she muttered “oh my” just under her breath.

Lillian looked up and noticed the stranger as well.

“It is rude to stare and you were brought up better. As if you have never seen a new person before.” Mabel scolded the younger generation. “This town have plenty new who come in all the time. Put your peepers away, all of you and have some manners.”

The men chuckled at the scolding. Jenny’s blush deepened. Lillian pulled her eyes away and back to her meal.

"Blood and Guns" (A Vampire Tale from the Wild Wild West)

http://www.asset1.net/tv/pictures/movie/bram-stoker%27s-dracula-1992/di-Bram-Stokers-Dracula-3.jpg

Name: Lillian McGregor (nee Stewart)
Age: 22
Height: 5’4
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Brown

Basics:
Lillian Stewart married Bruce McGregor were married in Boston a year and six months before his death. He was trampled trying to tame a horse on his family’s estate in Massachusetts.

When he died Lillian went into mourning. At her family’s insistence she traveled out to visit her uncle, Benjamin Stewart, her aunt Mabel and her cousins. They have a prosperous cattle ranch in Willow Springs.

Family:
Benjamin (uncle)
Mabel (aunt)

Johnathan (cousin)
Anna (his wife, 7 months pregnant)

Maxwell (cousin)
Jenny (his wife)

Mabel and Benjamin
- married for love and mutual respect
- she is traditional, proper
- runs a tight household
- they make a good couple given their individual strengths

Johnathan and Anna
- married because she was in love and he knew it was a good match
- she has some traditional values but has grown a little bitter, sad as their marriage progressed and his love of cards became the main focus of his life outside the ranch
- she is excited to have the baby though worries it will drive them apart but knows that isn't uncommon (thinking her parents were similar, a marriage no longer about love but appearance)
- Johnathan is all business and cards. Not much of a man for whores or intimacy. Some conversation if he might prefer the company of men but is not the case. He just doesn't have the same level of desire that other men do for women
- he finds the idea of women who are not like his mother less than appealing. Very traditional ideas as to a woman's place

Maxwell and Jenny
- Maxwell is very different from his brother, as if making up for his lack of desire by having an overly heightened sexual interest
- Jenny was a socialite and they met at a party
- both enjoy more alternate ideas of sex (he likes to watch her with other men and then join, she doesn't enjoy him with other women however)
- she is flirtatious, has no interest in having children yet
- Maxwell is more like his father when it comes to business though he enjoys his fun and freedom more

Time of the Hunter (Skulls and Bing)

March 1983

Smoke filled the bar. She lifted the glass to her lips and let the whiskey flow over her tongue. She needed that burn, that warmth. Everything about this job felt wrong to her. It wasn't that she didn't understand why but the fact that it went against every code, every rule that they followed felt wrong to her.

Ella looked up, eyes focusing on her reflection in the mirror behind the bar.

Behind her a bar band was doing a bad cover of 'Hot Blooded' by Foreigner. She had picked this place because she figured it would be easy to hide away. She didn't realize when she first pulled in that it would get so crowded. For all the roughness of the songs this band seemed to attract a crowd.

Or maybe there is just nothing else to do in this town.... The thought rolled through her mind as another drink of whiskey moved over her tongue.

She wasn't here to party or dance like the rest. She was just passing through. Ella had a job to do, even if she didn't agree with it. Mark was sick. Cursed more than sick and it was her job to find the one thing that would help them. Her problem was, as s hunter she was supposed to destroy such items, not recover them. That was their sole purpose. Find and destroy, take down those supernatural things and people tied to them.

Of course that is what got Mark cursed to begin with.

Then again he was sloppy so.... She let the treasonous thought pass. Mark was in charge. Even if he had let his guard down and go caught was it right for her to criticize the one who tasked with keeping them all organized?

Ella couldn't help but wonder if it had been one of the other hunters if they would have been so quick to find and salvage this thing or if the hunter would have been left to die so that they didn't go against their code? Part of her felt Mark and the council were more concerned about saving his hide than the code.

"Another?"

Ella looked from her reflection to the bartender. A glance down found her whiskey gone.

"Double this time, please." She slid her glass away. The man picked it up, giving her a smile.

"Careful now hun, some of the men here might try and take advantage if you get too tipsy." He looked her over.

"I'll be fine. Promise." Even at 5'5 Ella was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Fighting and defense was part of what she spent her life training to do.

Some ideas - looking for small group or 1x1 mid-advanced writing/plot etc.

I have some ideas that are open to small groups or 1x1. I added 18+ because once you involve violence and more mature plot ideas it is best to be on the safe side.

Hoping at least one idea will catch someone's interest:
1-
They had burned them, drowned them. Killed their friends and family. Witchcraft fell away into the shadows for a time. New age, modern witchcraft isn't quite the same as what they once practiced but it is enough to tell them that the world was more willing to overlook those on the fringes.

Now it was time to find them. The grandchildren, great grand children of the ones they killed. Not the falsely accused, no the real witches. The men and women who once did what they could to help.

It was time to form the coven again.
---
So premise is the gathering of witches. They would be men and women who have no idea they hold any sort of real magic. Good or bad is up to the player. Those who are gathering the coven just want to bring them together but things will happen to cause tension...outside forces, etc. Plot points still being worked on and up for discussion with those involved.

2 -
"Adventurers wanted!"

One of so many postings on the town board. Why this one appealed to you is a mystery but you grabbed it and followed the directions to the meeting spot.

An odd group sat near the fire in the tavern and though it was crowded you knew they were who you were looking for.

A woman, dark haired and pale skinned dance to a song only she could hear while two men sat in chairs, talking. Another figure stood in the shadows near the chairs, you can see the glint of a small blade.

"I knew you would come!" The woman has stopped dancing and is looking at you with a dreamy, far away look in her eyes. "The stars whispered to me about you."

One man stands, "Welcome. Please come and sit. I think we have some things to discuss."

The other man watches you. He seems to be taking a measure of you.

You sit and hear what they have to offer.
---------
So fantasy, dungeon crawl, adventure. Pretty much the basics. The group is on the hunt for their next treasure, next adventure and willing to take on whatever comes their way.

3 - Road Trip

Maybe you are running from something, searching for something and decide to pick up a hitchhiker. Maybe you are the hitchhiker.

---
Few ideas for this one but really depends on who the other(s) involved are.

4 - An island needs exploring.
Think pirate, be it your standard or maybe steampunk. Genre is open but idea would be for a group on a ship charting unknown islands/lands.
---
I have other ideas but really just looking for a person or people to work on a story with.

Looking for a partner! :) (18+ // Casual Level // FxF)

Hello,

I saw your interest check. There was a lot of very interesting ideas there.

A bit about me:
-long time role player
-play female as my primary typically but double up as plot dictates.
-prefer good plot and interesting characters to quick one shots
-prefer small group or 1x1's
-enjoy in depth plots that can go on for a while
-no limit in terms of violence, sex, gore, etc however prefer them not to be gratuitous. More than happy to have characters have sex if it makes sense.
-prefer pm or email to forum but flexible in partners preferred choice
-reply as often as I can but I am good with any pace be it everyday or once a week.
-talker. I like to have OOC conversations as well as IC with my partners. Communication is a good thing.

Looking for a good long term plot with well developed characters. Longest partner was for over three years until they simply disappeared.

You have lots of ideas that intrigued me. I like a variety of genres/styles and willing to discuss pretty much any of your plot ideas or come up with a new one as well. I also have a few.

I am interested in all the things on your list so would love to start talking plot and character ideas with you.

Cheers,
Skulls

Nom De Guerre

Checking in to make sure I didn't miss an email for a shared doc. Been having spotty email at my hotel so making sure.

Nom De Guerre

[e-mail] if you want to do a google doc.

Nom De Guerre

I am. I love to collab. Google doc, write pad? How would you like to go about it?

Nom De Guerre

Slowly recovering. Can keep food down which is a major improvement.

I know what you mean about ideas. I keep a google doc for just a reason so I don't lose ideas as I go