Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 9, 2013 18:55:27 GMT
OPEN TO ALL
Dusk was quite possibly the prettiest time of day. It was also the most exciting. That was when all the night life started to buzz, the late night theater showing would be seating its ticket holders for a fantastical opera or play. The pubs were dimming the lights and the musicians were taking the stage. Even the gentleman's club and the casino were setting up shop and preparing to open their doors. It was all very Risque, and aside from the theater itself; no place for a lady. Not of the upper class variety anyway.
No matter, that had ceased to stop Caitlin from swapping out her Baroness frocks for pirateer's hitched skirts, strapped with her sword and scabbard, tall knee-high suede boots and a corset worn on the outside with ample amounts of bust. She was hardly recognizable as the same girl, and that of course was the point. She strolled with confidence through the entertainment district, past the lows and the highs in entertainment variety. Down one lane was a brothel, next to the casino and a pub frequented by thugs. Adjacent to that was a row of high class theater, the upper crust gentleman's club, and a nice little bar with live music. She walked the line between the two, looking for a familiar face.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
A dash of rouge there, a touch of lippy there... A young musician looked at herself in the broken shard of mirror she carried around with her. Not only did it work as an impromptu weapon, it gave her enough room to see her reflection. Ikuze decided to try and grab some extra coins tonight by going with some enhancing visuals. Looks draw in the crowds as much as the music does. And once they're in range, she's lay down a little Hypnosis, just enough to encourage some generosity from the audience.
Least that was the plan.
Ikuze picked up her instrument from where it had been laying against the alley wall, did a quick retuning and stepped out, heading for her usual gig at this bar she'd managed to somehow get steady gigs from when she almost bumped into someone. "Hey! Watch it!" she barked before blinking at who it was. "Oh... um... sorry miss..." apologised the young musician quietly, not wanting to risk her ire.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 9, 2013 23:38:03 GMT
Seeing who it was, Caitlin reached for her coin-purse tucked under her sword hilt, just to check and make sure it was still there. It was, but you never knew when someone was going to get some liquid courage in them and risk trying to rob the Queen of Rogues. She had no intention of making anyone a legend in that respect so she had to keep her mind ever vigilant against the prospect. She lifted a brow to Ikuze tone of voice before the girl went soft.
"You're looking rather prettily today, Storm," Caitlin noted, "have a ravishing date to attend to or... a gig perhaps by the looks of that weight on your back." She had yet to hear the little thief play, so the idea intrigued her. If the girl was half decent, she might invite her aboard on of her sea or sky vessel and pay her a steady wage. Not that she'd be relieved of her roguish responsibility but it would become much less demanding.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
The musical thief's eyes grew wide at the first prospect that Caitlin had offered, her cheeks going a little crimson. "No! Just... just a gig. I... I don't... don't date... Excuse me.." she said before heading back towards the bar. She went in through the front door and immediately made her way towards the barkeep. "Hey Joss... still got that slot open?" asked Ikuze. The large man looked at her and nodded. "Jes let Cindy there finish up first kay?" he asked pointing to the girl who was currently giving the patrons a saucy dance number whilst singing about something or other. Ikuze nodded and went around the back to prep, making sure her guitar was in working order and her throat was ready for the performance to come.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 10, 2013 21:51:33 GMT
Caitlin debated for a moment. She had been hoping to find Sarah out tonight in this part of the city, but she was curious to hear the new member flaunt her talents as an instrumentalist. She followed Ikuze, deciding it wouldn't hurt to saddle up to the bar and wait for the first song to be played. Afterwards, if Sarah didn't find her own way into the pub, Caitlin could return out of doors and try to find her elsewhere. From the barkeep she ordered a bit of rum before twirling on her stool to face the corner stage.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Ikuze took in a slow breath and stepped through the curtain that separated the backstage from the small podium that the performers used for the bars acts. She lay down the guitar case she’d picked up from backstage, open so that any of the patrons could toss in coins during the performance. No sense in just relying solely on what the bar was meagerly paying her for this. With a slight cough to clear her throat, and get a little attention from the closer members of the bar, the young musician began to move her fingers across the strings of her instrument, the deep notes resonating across the room as she filled the air with her chords. And then she began to sing. The song sounded as if it was meant for a male to sing it, but she didn’t give a crud.
“Head down on a pillow of concrete, I won't rest in peace either way, And I won't be forgiven, And I will never give in, I'll give you something if you wanna believe, Won't ever belong, Just wanna be free”
The thief noticed her audience were now paying attention to her, and decided to up her chances of some coin earlier than usual. She slowly began to use her Hypnosis magic, being careful to not miss a single beat or note even as she continued to sing and play. She infused the melody with the magic so that it filtered into everyone within hearing range of the music.
“I'm a wanted girl , Got blood on my hands, You keep tellin' me to back down, Won't do it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows, I'm a wanted girl, Never stood a chance, Renegade from the day that I knew it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows”
With every note, with every chord, she slowly ramped up the power, and with a nudge of her foot pushing the case closer to the audience, the Hypnosis took hold and some of the patrons started tossing small change into the case. Mostly coppers, maybe one or two silvers.
“Laid down in a garden of envy, Time is standin' still every day, And I won't be forgiven, And I will never give in, I'll save you something but I cannot be saved, Won't ever belong, Just wanna be free”
The bar was packed tonight, and feeling a little bit of a boost from seeing her new boss here, Ikuze figured to try her luck and ramped up the Hypnosis some more, resisting the urge to giggle as two or three people started tossing in gold coins into the case!
“I'm a wanted girl , Got blood on my hands, You keep tellin' me to back down, Won't do it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows, I'm a wanted girl, Never stood a chance, Renegade from the day that I knew it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows”
Ikuze stood up and launched into a series of almost maddening looking chords, her fingers flying across the neck of her instrument, planting one of her feet on the lid of the case her eyes alight with joy as some more coins went into it, the feel as the music brought to life the crowd around her. It was always a shame though… it was always only towards the end of her pieces that she truly began to lose herself in the music and the thrum of the crowd. Her heart was pounding like an accompanying drum, and it always surprised her that nobody else could hear it.
“And if I get out alive, I won't be on my knees (Yeah, yeah), And if I get out alive... I'm a wanted girl , Got blood on my hands, You keep tellin' me to back down, Won't do it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows, I'm a wanted girl, Never stood a chance, Renegade from the day that I knew it, Livin' on the wrong side of the gallows…”
Ikuze finished her song with a flourish of her guitar like it was some kind of battle-axe as the last chord faded into the air. She knelt down to collect the guitar case that had managed to catch the coins she’d managed to wring out from the crowd. Once she’d collected her earnings she gave the bar a little mock curtsey before heading backstage and blinking at the sight of the bar manager who seemed to be angry at her. Oh please don’t tell me… she inwardly moaned before she found herself being grabbed by the front of her blouse and pulled into his face.
“I don’t take kindly to magic being used on my customers… or on me.” He snarled, Ikuze’s blue eyes widening. Crap… he did… he felt it… She heard the faint snick of a knife being pulled and the cold press of metal against her side. “And I don’t take kindly to workers lying about what they are either, demon cleaver.” He growled. “I’m not a demon.” Ikuze growled back before she was backhanded across the face, the force of the blow sending her to the floor, and her earnings from the crowd spilling out from her case. She spat out a tooth, along with some blood.
Black blood.
The manager glared at her and began to advance on her, but the young thief snatched up her case minus the spilled coins, her guitar and legged it for the curtain. “Oi! Get back here filth!” She burst through the fabric and leaped onto the nearest table, jumping from table to table, ignoring the customers growing angry and confused till she reached the door and quickly made her exit heading for the nearest alleyway, all the while her lips spilling the tell-tale black blood of her heritage, mixing with the salty water that leaked from her swiftly blurring eyes.
I’m not a demon… I’m not… I’m not a monster… drat you mother…
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2013 22:03:35 GMT by Ikuze Storm
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 11, 2013 0:13:14 GMT
The music was good by itself, but the wave after wave of hypnosis made it impossible to tear one's thoughts from it. Cait cringed after the second wave. When Ikuze used her power a third time, the baroness sprung to her feet, her hand going for her coin-purse. She narrowed her eyes at the stage. Not only was the young lady giving herself away beyond the shadow of a doubt, but she was using up all her powers for the night in one sitting. Didn't she know how this was going to effect her?
"Looks like I might have to have a talk with our little sticky fingers," she muttered under her breath. The rum arrived, thunked down on the bar as the barkeep rushed to fill her order and return his ears and eyes to the music. When the song finally ended, she snatched up her glass and drained it. Experience warned her that trouble was neigh and forthcoming and if she wanted to enjoy her drink at all she'd better do so fast.
Lo and behold, there was a scuffle behind the curtains and next thing Cait saw the little musician was flying through the folds and hopping from table to table, trailing drops of black blood behind her. A few of the patrons scraped back their chairs and shouted in alarm as the offending substance hit their tables or plopped into their beers. Taking this as her cue to leave, she dropped her glass back on the bar and slipped out the front door past all the alarmed citizens.
After a quick dash across the street and into one of the seedier alleys Cait followed the blood trail to the shadows where the young woman hid. She slowed her steps and approached the younger woman with a fat grin on her face.
"Do all your gigs end thusly? If so I shall have to frequent them more often. Your little distraction saved me the trouble of paying for my drink, I thank you," she teased. In all seriousness though, she whipped out a hanky and passed it to the battered woman. "How ya' feelin?"
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Ikuze was curled up behind one of the piles of trash in the alley when she heard someone coming towards her. Her fingers fumbled for the shard of mirror, before she heard them speak. “Glad you enjoyed it miss. And no… sometimes they’re worse…” She said bitterly, flinching at first when Caitlin whipped out… a piece of cloth? The young thief tentatively accepted the cloth and just held it for a moment, feeling the soft smoothness of its features before scrunching it up in a ball and wiping her eyes with it. The blood had slowed down and was now just congealing, which she swiftly dealt with by spitting to the side.
“Why do you care? You’re a damned noble miss… I ain’t… I’m… I’m just a doxy’s chit…” replied Ikuze bitterly, muttering the last few words, not once looking up at the woman in front of her. A hand went to the side of her head as she grumbled. “Bloody headache… bastard must’ve hit harder than I thought…” Ikuze spat out some more of the congealed blood to clear her mouth, her tongue probing at where the back tooth had been knocked out from.
The young thief sat there despondently before looking up at Caitlin finally, her eyes nearly red from the earlier waterworks. “Really care how I feel? Stupid. The first time I get a repeating gig… and then I blow it. And now cus of my frakin’ mother’s blood, I doubt I’ll ever be able to get a damned gig again around here… won’t even be able to play in this part of town again, even on the streets… I ain’t no pain-lover…” she said before looking away from the older woman, her cloth still crumpled up in her hand.
“Well? Get on with it… Wouldn’t be the first drat time some nobles found out I’m a damned freak and beat me for it…” she said, a note of confusion as to why this noble woman hadn’t already done so. Maybe she doesn’t want to get my “demon” blood on her boots or something… sounds about right for a noble… The young woman braced her body for the blows she thought were going to come. She closed her eyes as well. Wouldn’t be polite to watch your new boss kick the living tar out of you… assuming the young thief still even worked for the noble now that her blood had given her away… Wouldn’t be the first time she got sacked from a job cus of the drat stuff. Probably wouldn’t be the last either…
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 11, 2013 14:44:32 GMT
Caitlin listened in silence as the girl ranted out her frustration. She lifted a brow every once in a while at the assumptions and accusations she threw this way and that. At long last the girl quieted and looked up at her.
"If you're quite done now," Caitlin said softly, "there is just more proof of your naivety." Her voice lacking judgement despite the obvious in her words. "First things first, I'm not going to beat you, not for this at any rate. You're a a member of a band of rogues, not a ladies book club or tea party. Pirates and thieves are made of sterner stuff, and sometimes that includes blood as black as coal. And regardless of how much you seem to despise the color of your own blood, that didn't stop you from using a good portion of the power it affords you." She held out her hand for the girl, offering to help her back to her feet. There were a few things she needed to learn starting right now, especially if the brotherhood was going to be responsible for watching her back.
"Speaking of power, you over did it with the hypnosis back there, subtlety is key and as a practitioner of hypnosis myself, I can teach you to better utilize that skill. As far as getting a new gig goes, I happen to know multiple places needing to fill their entertainment rosters - I just hope you don't get sea or air sick," she winked at Ikuze. "On top of that, if you insist on addressing me by rank, my title is not "Damned Noble" but rather Baroness Caitlin of Cockfoster. And for the record... the handkerchief was for your bloodied mouth not just your salty eyes." Not that Cait had any intention of just throwing her own secret out there for the chit, but her personal affects have already seen more than their fair share of Andersweltler blood. It didn't slip her notice that the young thief spat on just her mothers name and not that of her parents. She'd wager miss Storm was more human than she was.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
She looked up at Caitlin in confusion as she let the older woman help her up. "Um... sorry then... I've never... well, been in a group before..." she said quietly, looking at the noble for clarification. "My... blood? That's how I could do the magic? And... a good portion? There're limits?" asked Ikuze a little bewildered. She pouted a little when she got told she'd over did it. "Yeah... I figured when the manager turned up... wait... you can do this too?" the musical thief asked, blinking at Caitlin, her eyes widening at the prospect of new gigs, and someone who actually knew what they're doing. Up till now she'd been playing this magic thing by ear. Maybe this guild thing wasn't such a bad idea after all. "Never been on sea or sky so no clue.." Ikuze replied honestly, before trying and failing to suppress a chuckle at her bosses title.
"I'm.... I'm sorry... but... Cockfoster? Really?" she asked increduously before giggling some more. After a minute or so of giggling she slowly stopped and coughed, blushing slightly in embaressment. "Sorry miss... Um... Baroness... Um... begging your pardon but don't nobles kinda prefer getting called by their titles and all that?" she asked, before looking at the handkerchief. It was damp from her tears and crumpled, but she offered it back to Caitlin. "I couldn't. That's a ladies cloth... I ain't no lady Baroness..."
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 13, 2013 12:30:27 GMT
my my my... just what kind of tropical fish did Harold catch? and how had it come onto his radar in the first place not knowing itself? Caitlin scrutinized the girl carefully, trying to decide if she was simply playing dumb or genuinely had no idea how interconnected magic and Andersweltlers were. Surely it wasn't all coincidence that the two were unanimously hated among humans. She tsk'ed the girl, taking back the damp kerchief and tucking it into her sword-belt.
"Saying you ain't a lady is about as true and accurate as saying I'm not a pirate. We both know that's false now don't we?" She checked the alley to make sure there were no itching ears listening in before she said it. "But we'll work on your lady-likeness later. For now, lets focus on those gigs, aye? I expect you to report to the docks--" then she remembered Ikuze least favorite fan worked there and amended... "on second thought, report to the skylift first thing tomorrow morning. I'll have someone meet you there and lead you to one of our vessels. Bring what you can carry, you'll be lodging on board for how-ever long they intend to have you out at sea. The rotations vary. Do well at this, and I might let you have a station on my flagship."
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Ikuze blushed slightly. "You know what I mean miss..." she said when the older woman went on about her being a lady and all that. The young thief winced when Caitlin first suggested heading to the docks, and almost as if reading her mind she quickly changed it to the skylife. She frowned and shrugged slightly at a part of the instructions. "What you see is what I got, so not much problem there miss." said the young musician as she made a sweeping gesture to her clothes, guitar, even the shard of mirror in her back pocket. She gave a little mock curtsey when Caitlin finished. "I'll try not to let you down miss."
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Oct 17, 2013 1:41:28 GMT
"In the meantime, I suggest taking the rest of the night off, try to kick back and relax a little and forget about all this work. Once we get you set adrift, I'll see about fitting you in for some one on one hypnosis training and some history lessons," Caitlin had a bad habit of assuming everyone was raised by tutors like herself, and given the good, the bad and the biased forms of history in their education regarding the rift, the crossing, and the 100 year cohabitation. She just couldn't get started on that now, she still had a pirate wench to find (and she meant that endearingly) whom she hoped would be about town tonight. Cait sighed, realizing Sarah wasn't going to make this an easy find for her.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
"Umm..." Ikuze blushed as she tried to figure out how to best put this. "That... kinda sorta... was me relaxing... and taking the night off..." she said a little sheepishly, as she scratched her chin in her embaressment, her other fingers toying with the pendant around her throat absently before hearing her boss sigh. "What's wrong Baroness? Um.. if it's okay to ask? Eh.. anything... I can help with?" asked the thief hesitantly, not sure whether or not she was overstepping her bounds or not... whatever those bounds were to even begin with.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Nov 4, 2013 19:21:51 GMT
Caitlin looked at the girl, curiously before answering. "Well truth be told I'm a little at a loss for where to find one of our sisters," and she wasn't talking nuns either. "Her name is Sarah and I was hoping to discover her hang out somewhere around this district tonight. She's got super fine blond hair... some of it beaded in red behind her left ear... and she's always armed with her sword "blue shine" so maybe you could help me tonight. We just have to try and find her."
Well, that was a mouthful. She'd never had to describe Sarah to anyone before. Most people in the guild knew of her already, but Ikuze was new, and Sarah had gone amiss again. It was tiring at times, trying to keep track of her own best friend. Who knew relationships could be so much work.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
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