And YOU Missed It... - July, 1997
Subject: And YOU Missed It...
From: BldRedRose@aol.com (BldRedRose)
Date: Wed,23 Jul 97 13:44:58 EDT
::in the smoky recesses of the bar, Baghiira blinks, lifting her gaze briefly
to Kaelen at her side:: Hm?
::Kaelen pauses briefly.. th' squeak o PVC driftin t' 's ears.. a short smile
b'fore that hand slides further 'cross th' bar:: Somethin... p'raps t' calm
yerself with?
::Baghiira pauses... then nods, slowly:: Aye.. somethin' t' calm m'self wi'
would be.. good.
::rising from her crouch with an imperious lift of her chin, Rose lifts her
arms in an elegant arc to her sides, and as those ebon-clad limbs curl
upward, light glinting off the slick gloss-black surface, the very molecules
of her form seem to shimmer and wink… all at once, they collapse in on
themselves, contorting into a thin twist of raven smoke::
::a chaotic whirl brings the smoke into the shape of a bat, no more than two
hands' width wide… the slick black luster of the bat’s skin shimmers in
torchlight as tiny thrumming wings hold it hovering above the center beam::
::in a burst of amber fire the High Mistress of Hecate's Circle, Muerta
Scarre, also appears in the inn… she smiles she smiles and waves cheerily to
Baghiira and Tatyana, who has suddenly appeared in the rafters, and just as
suddenly proceeds to fall out of them… landing on her bum, she giggles::
Dang, its raining kindred in RhyDin.. hehehe
::but such a cheery greeting is lost on Baghiira as she again peruses the
bottles behind the bar:: What.. what d'ya suggest?
Now... would that be .... ::starts Kaelen, grasping a bottle with a familiar
heft an raised flutin on th' neck, drawin it down from from a shelf::
::Muerta walks over to her usual table by the fire as her chair appears, an
armchair upholstered in plush human skin… her hookah appears by her chair, as
does a snifter of Dragonfire brandy… she takes a pull off the Turkish water
pipe's smoking tube, then a sip of her brandy::
::meanwhile, overhead, the bat's wings tilt, and it swoops in an elegant arc
downward, buzzing the bar and sending a brisk breeze past Baghiira and
Kaelen's ears… Kaelen darts back outta th' way o th' little black bullet,
raisin a brow, and golden-green eyes pull their glare from the bartender,
tracking swiftly to follow the passage of the bat::
::another curl of her wings, and Rose’s flight path changes, bringing her
back towards the pair, where she hovers a moment, before the rapid
contortions bring serpentine curves back into place once more… alighting with
a delicate clink of silver chains, her form appears seated on the edge of the
bar, beside Baghiira and Kaelen::
::dusting off her jeans and sliding up to the bar, Tatyana reaches for the
first bottle she can find, and prays its her favorite ... bourbon… beside the
hearth, Muerta blows a smoke ring, the pungent smell of tobacco and opium
filling the air::
::swinging one leg playfully over the other, Rose wiggles gloved fingers at
Kaelen… he smirks, an nudges th' black clad one wi' an elbow, jus t' elicit
another squeak… tossing her head back with laughter, Rose’s startling inferno
of curls ripples over her back… shrugging at some idiotic comment made by the
bartender, Baghiira glances back to Rose, forcing her tensed neck muscles to
tug her head into a nod::
::Tatyana pours herself a glass of bourbon, and takes a sip… then decides,
"Hades, I don’t need a glass!", and downs half the bottle, while Muerta lifts
her brandy to Rose in salute::
::Baghiira starts a bit at the sudden laughter, and Rose stops immediately on
seeing the tension in her
friend's demeanor… gloved fingertips rise to her lips in a subtle, meaningful
kiss blown to Muerta, who catches the kiss and eats it between puffs on her
hookah::
::dragging her gaze back toward Kaelen, Baghiira watches as he shakes his
head, turning back t' her, still notin th' tension, and nods t' th' bottle…
gloved fingers clasped over the end of her knee, Rose tilts her head forward,
to study Baghiira’s expression over the rims of her cat's eye shades::
::a heavy fog of smoke wreathing her features, Muerta stretches, sipping her
brandy… she sighs, leaning back as the opium takes hold, listening to a
dragon sing above the clatter of the tavern… the acrid scent of hookah smoke
tickling her senses, Rose crinkles her nose and glances around, sliding
another wink to Muerta, who giggles softly, taking another sip of brandy,
draining the glass::
::Baghiira’s own gloved fingers curl around the bottle with no inquiries as
to content… the cork gripped between her teeth, she tugs it out and spits it
aside, then sips at the.. whatever::
::follows the path of the cork, a frown furrowing the sculpted ivory of her
brow… she leans to whisper to Kaelen:: <vqw> I don't suppose a cage dance
would help?
::Baghiira’s nose wrinkles slightly... she sips again, holding it in her
mouth, then swallows slowly, setting the bottle aside… Kaelen shakes his
head, throwin’ those ideas t' th' back o 's mind fer now.. and cocks his gaze
bck t' Baghiira… her response is to blink at him, and shrug:: … 's no' bad.
::the small glowing coals in the hookah's brazier die slowly out, and Muerta
tosses the cut crystal snifter over her shoulder with an almost languid
gesture::
::Kaelen shifts his gaze a bit, liftin’ a fingertip t' drag along Baghiira’s
shoulders:: Yer still too tense...
::Rose’s own shoulders begin writhing gently in spite of her concern, as the
urge to dance struggles to get out::
::a shiver shakes Baghiira at the soft gesture.. she shrugs:: Gee.. sorry.
I'll stop? ::the hard twist of self-mocking sarcasm underlying her words::
Uh huh.. Sure. ::Kaelen quirks a brow:: Need help?
::Baghiira sighs... loosing her grip on the bar to prop her head in her
hands:: No.. I jus' need him t' go away..
May happen sooner than y'think... ::is Kaelen’s reply::
::but Baghiira’s laughter is a sharp snap of sound, mirthless:: <m> He was
willin' t' make a deal...
An what was that deal? ::questions Kaelen::
::the most subtle of movements brings slender fingertips to Rose’s mouth once
more… with the mere pursing of her lips, she sends a silent kiss in
Baghiira's direction, hardly expecting it to be noticed, but hoping beyond
hopes that it will carry some sense of soothing with it::
::Baghiira shifts her gaze briefly to the vampiress on the bar, a forced
smile twisting wan features::
::a silky hush of a purr comes from Rose:: <sw> Yes, just what was that deal?
::Baghiira draws her gaze back to Kaelen.. then to the bartop:: If I fight
Yammal an' win, they'll both leave me alone… ::she drops a hand from its
cradling of her head, raising it in greeting toward Muerta::
::emerald eyes narrow with suspicion, their gloss gone hard and flat at the
words, Rose speaks up again:: <sw> Must it be you? Will they accept no other
in your place?
::Baghiira looks sharply to Rose:: I'm th' one they deal wi'…
::another brief furrowing of her brow is Rose’s only response, and with the
distant gaze of someone realizing they are clearly not wanted, she swivels
her chin, to glance over the populace of the inn once more::
If I fight Yammal an' lose... ::shudders again, her grip tightening around
her skull::
::Kaelen follows her gaze t' that obviously interestin’ spot on th' bartop::
<q> An if ya lose?
If I lose.. ::her shrug rolls her shoulders:: then th' question is if I live.
::at that Muerta’s pale eyes spring open, Baghiira's words sobering her
instantly::
Char.. Charrkoven says tha' he c'n have Grommsky make me.. recognizable..
after.. if I'm good. ::the last word choked from Baghiira’s throat::
::another velvet whisper carries the words to caress her friend’s ears:: All
you need do is say the word... and you'll have a force of slavers behind you
so furious that Yammal and Charrkoven will never dare to show their faces in
this town again...
::Muerta gets slowly to her feet and walks over to Baghiira, the ground
beneath her charring black:: That is, if they have any faces to show.
::Baghiira looks to Rose sharply once more, and a sculpted line of sable
rises in question on Rose’s features…Baghiira shifts her gaze from Rose to
Muerta… to Kaelen.. she pauses... breathes.. deciding it's easier to look at
the bar::
::again with that dispassionate whisper from Rose:: That's what colleagues..
and alliances.. are for.
::Muerta nods:: Say the word, my friend, and I'll have two new additions to
my sculpture garden. ::smiles sweetly, her most dangerous expression::
::lost in 's own musins, Kaelen still stares at that same blank place on th'
bartop::
<q> I dun.. I dun think that'll ... quite.. work.. ::Baghiira hesitates::
See.. cuz..neither o' them are.. quite.. alive.
::another brief lift of Rose’s brows, a heavy sigh:: <sw> The offer stands,
nonetheless.
::Baghiira glances to Rose and nods, and Rose returns the nod with a silence
that speaks volumes… lifting the bottle again, another sip taken by
Baghiira::
::emerald eyes reflecting her own knowledge of the reluctance of pride, Rose
ponders, and then, the moment is seemingly forgotten as yet another throbbing
beat calls to her from somewhere distant::
::the softness of a sigh escapes Baghiira’s lips, resigning to the fact that
none of them are actually going to.. listen::
::Muerta turns away, mumbling to herself about artistic poses, her grin
broadening with every step, and suddenly sauntering into the Inn,
RahvanSong’s gaze sweeps the crowd, as he moves toward the bar::
::Baghiira turns her gaze from the bottle towards the door, while Kaelen
sighs in echo, an speaks wi'out liftin 's eyes:: Baghiluv?
::Baghiira jerks her gaze back to Kae:: Aye?
Why d' they want you?
::slipping from her perch on the bar's edge, to leave her friend in peace,
Rose drops lightly to the floor, with the simultaneous clicking of spindly
heels on hard wood… and follows with measured, swaying steps, behind Muerta…
a glowing pentacle erupts beneath her feet; in a burst of light she vanishes,
and Rose is left standing there, lifting her gloved hands to her hips, and
giving a girlish pout as she is deserted::
::moving behind the counter, RahvanSong sets about making his usual, leaving
the tip in the till… taking the drink, he moves off, glancing about the hall,
looking for someone of interest to play with… Not wishing to intrude on
friends, and their business, he instead moves off to find a place to sit::
::Baghiira shakes her head:: 's not me he wants.. 's Thanatos. I'm jus'... a
go-between, a toy. An' a slaver... he hates slavers.
::shrugging lightly, Rose spins on her heel, the pendulous twitch of her hips
bringing her back to a spot beneath the rafters::
::Kaelen blinks, a slight catch in 's voice:: Thanatos? The... Thanatos?
::lifting her arms in a languid stretch above her head, her curves still
swaying in time to a rhythm only she can hear, Rose begins to shimmer all
over, her limbs contorting into the familiar black smoke that rises to the
rafters::
::Baghiira quirks a brow at him:: Thanatos Goree... th' slave I traded off.
::the shimmering catching his eye, RahvanSong glances to Rose, chuckles to
himself, and moves into a shaded stall::
::Kaelen shakes his head, wi a small shudder:: Ahh.. good... I.. ::shakes
again:: I thought ya meant someone else...
::one click, then another, as the shadowy smoke solidifies, and Rose’s heels
alight on the beam::
::it is Baghiira’s turn, now, to quirk a brow at him in a considering look::
Who'd ya think I meant?
::sipping his drink, RahvanSong removes one of his homemade cigerettes, and
lights it, inhaling deeply, his eyes closing slowly savoring the taste… then
exhaling, a column of smoke rising into the air, he again sips of the
fabulous nector, his thought drifting off, to the upcoming fight, and the
dread of wearing another collar::
Cause if y'think 'm jus gonna let her dance up there by herself.. yer nuts.
::Kaelen continues::
::a flush of heat rises to Rose’s cheeks, the flush of passionate exertion,
as she writhes snake-like from the top to the bottom of the post, sinking
into a crouch and then swaying to stand once more::
::Herculess walks across the inn, his eyes scanning the room, puffs of smoke
following him… even his critical eyes settle on Blood Red Rose… for just a
moment, and he walks beneath::
::Baghiira shrugs, pressing a booted foot to the stool opposite her..
climbing up to the bartop, as the innkeep calls up to the rafters, rudely
questioning her performance::
What are you doing? ::cries the tender, his arms lifted in frustration::
::and calling down from the rafters, her blissful smile unchanged, Rose
replies:: Cage dancing.. without a cage...
::and Herculess mutters to himself:: Nice bar..
::the fingers of one hand toy absently with the chain of his collar… at the
sound of the hated voice from the rafters, twilight shadows lifting, eyes
widening at the sight of Blood Red::
::quickly snatching the blade from the table, RahvanSong raises it, watching
as the dim light, dances across it's deadly surface, bringing the keen edge
weapon before his other hand, resting it in his palm::
:: smooth strides lead Baghiira in an undulating sway over the bartop, toward
Kae... awaiting his choice of music… Kaelen grins.. trippin along th' bar top
t' land a well placed kick t' th' rickety jukebox.... ::
::closing his eyes, RahvanSong takes a low deep breath, his body deathly
still, his mind focusing on the blade in his hand, the strength of razor
edge, compared to the weakness of flesh, and through his training, he
envisions the twisting of these theories,...making his skin as strong as
adamantine, and the crafted metal as weak as his flesh::
::her head, hips, arms, and shoulders swinging in harmony, Rose sends the
flame-red curls flying in all directions::
::Herculess’ gaze moves to Baghiira… watching her walk across the bar, he
puffs on his cigar, sucking a thick cloud of rich smoke into his mouth::
::the pulsating sounds of Orbital spew out from th' little used music
maker... th' less used disk takin a few false starts t' rise up t' th' decent
wall shakin volume::
::the surging rhythm of Rose’s curves pauses and changes pace, and with a
lazy wink to Kaelen, she settles into the undulating enjoyment of *his*
selection… Kaelen chuckles up t' th' one in th' rafters:: Some o us actually
need *music* t' dance by luv..
::with a slight shake of his head, Kieth he turns toward the bar, fingers
releasing the chain of his collar as his steps lead in that direction::
::the familiar heavy scent of cigar smoke tugs at Baghiira’s senses.. she
wrinkles her nose briefly glancing out across the room… golden-green settles
briefly on Herc... the quirk of a brow accompanies a nod::
::deftly balanced on the center beam, Rose’s gloss-black suit dazzles in time
to the beat as she stretches her arms before her, weaving them snake-like
above her head and back down again::
::clenching his fist about the blade of the magical dagger, RahvanSong
hisses, his knuckles turning white under the intense pressure applied… then
in a deft motion, he grabs the dagger, and rips it from his hand, growling,
his eyes still clenched shut, one hand drawn into a fist, tightly closed, the
other holding the mystical blade, shimmering, and glowing, but without a
speck of blood on it::
::the tip of Herculess’ cigar glows red as he stands idle, his eyes moving
from Baghiira to a new companion, a conspirator in the futile anti-slavery
movement::
::and Baghiira pivots, spinning smoothly on her heels to slide into the
sensuous sway of music, looking for Kaelen as he jumps from th' bartop t'
latch onta one o th' rafters... an flips about it as it groans under th'
added weight::
::bringing her arms back down to her sides, Rose swings them lightly in time
with the continued back-and-forth rocking of her hips::
::with a quirk of a grin... Baghiira tenses, crouching.. a smooth leap
leading her toward the rafters… flattened palms press to the rough-hewn
rafter, balancing as she pushes herself the rest of the way up::
::lifting her eyelids briefly, a wicked smile slides across Rose’s scarlet
lips, in greeting to her ascending friends… purring, as her chin bobs in time
to the music:: Welcome to the party...
::meanwhile, down below and seemingly unnoticed by the slavers, Herculess
takes another puff of his trademark cigar, then takes the chair offered by
his companion, stretching out his legs as he sits::: What is this....dancing
slavers night? ::his companion, Scafork, replies:: <w> Slavery is fun isn’t
it? ::Herculess looks at Scafork, his eyes darkening, the cigar smouldering::
No. It's not. ::Scafork’s reply is a dry:: <w> Good answer…
::slowly opening his eyes, he looks to his hand, RahvanSong uncurls his
fingers, looking upon unscarred hand, a brief flicker of relief, quickly
vanishing, under his proud, assassin's guise::
::lowering herself to a half-crouch along the rafter, Baghiira she stalks in
time after Kae, who grins.. feet pickin up th' beat againsst th' rafter..
each tappin out th' time against th' wood… a predatorial sway suffusing her
form, Baghiira moves along behind him, lean form undulating to the rhythm of
the pounding music by seeming coincidence::
::as the music tugs her in a winding ripple that moves from her ankles, up
her thighs, all the way to her hips and the languid swell of her chest and
shoulders, it occurs to Rose that the only way this night could get any
better would be if Kain Al'gareth were here, plinking beernuts at all of
them, to the accompanying tune of his wife’s lovely giggle… fingers curling
out and flexing at her sides, she shifts to the right, pausing to let the
light catch the slick surface of her suit, before bringing her
hips in a jaunty swivel back to the left::
::satisfied, RahvanSong glances up to the two ladies, parading themselves
across the rafter, and chuckles, lifting from his seat, and moving off toward
the door, slipping out of the Inn, moving upon silent feet, returning to his
home::
::Kaelen takes a twirl upon th' thin beam.. hips an legs twistin in time..
th' flash o sliver about 's wrist flashin in arcs… and that lowered, stalking
form slinks.. around.. Kae on the rafter, to meet Rose opposite the central
post::
::shoulders rolling in circular motion, echoing the swing of her hips, Rose
turns with a dark grin to Baghiira:: Now this is more like it, eh?
::Baghiira rises, movements still eerily mimicking the pantherine stalking as
her hands move up to the post…a purring chuckle is her own answer::
::and captured by the music once more, Rose writhes slowly into a fluid
crouch, her arms performing a sinuous dance before her… Baghiira clasps the
central post, moving always opposite Rose... leaning back, her hands holding
her form up in a loose curve... her hips dip, sway... as she draws herself up
along the pole::
::Kieth May, now settled comfortably into a chair near the hearth, tips back
his stetson, blue-black eyes lifting to watch the dancers in the rafters::
::by this time, the dancers have begun to attract the attention of virtually
all of the bar’s patrons… a good number of women have simply left sulking…
one of those who has remained cries up to the rafters with the sour complaint
that she is offended by the sultry, sinuous dancing… Baghiira glances
downward, towards the clearly bitter woman, finding it laughable that any
could be offending by a fully clothed, beautiful woman like Rose dancing::
::Rose rises languidly from her crouch, her hips still aglimmer with the
incessant swaying, and once again catchin’ hold o th' whirlin silver, Kaelen
dips an sways wi' a twist an a laugh… hands abruptly leaving go of the post,
Baghiira whirls, balancing precariously on her heels, the cock of a hip
leading her slow, sinuous step forward::
::with a lazy wink to Baghiira, Rose lifts her arms above her head, the
staccato report of her heels carrying her in a writhing pirouette on top of
the beam::
::Baghiira’s weight shifts, sending the opposite hip swaying out, another
step taken::
::and again comes the voice of envy from the bar floor:: I am offended by
her degrading herself for attention…
::another woman reluctantly stands, deciding that a nice girl doesn't have a
chance against a dancer::
::Baghiira blinks:: Rose.. 're y' degraded?
::laughing out loud as she whirls:: Not in the least.. in fact, I never felt
more free... ::punctuating that remark with a carefree toss of her fiery
curls over rolling shoulders::
::Baghiira chuckles:: 's wha' I thought.. ::another of those hypnotically
swaying steps leads toward Kaelen::
::Kaelen rolls his eyes.... and taps his feet along th' beam, a snap t' 's
hips as he steps slowly o'er toward th' two others enjoyin th' music… the
sideways slide of one foot twists Baghiira’s form.. arms lift in graceful
arcs, the motion continuing through the curving arch of her spine::
::another writhing circle, then a pause, but only for a moment, as Rose’s
hips arch in a different direction, and then in all directions, keeping pace
with the frantic rhythm of the throbbing techno::
::a new woman enters the room, her emerald eyes moving quickly over the
faces… she arches an eyebrow as she watches the entertainment, a snooty
upturn of her nose indicating that she thinks she can do it with more grace
and class… but oddly enough, she does not dare to try::
::a few words drift up to Rose’s ears, from the table down below… it would
appear that the stranger Scafork is trying to enlist Herculess, but the
hardened veteran anti-slaver will have none of it… in a gesture of
demonstration, he blows a smoke ring into the air:: Slavery is like that
ring… You can see it, but you can't grab it. Can't contain it. Because it's
shifting, moving... ...not organized... It won't work. ::and Herculess
looks at his table companion, sympathy in his eyes:: 'Tis a noble
cause, my friend, but it's not going to work....I tried once. Never again.
::Scafork persists:: We dont need to fight it, we just play along…
::but the would-be conspirator has already lost his attention, as the woman
with the prudish turn of her nose slides up, draping her arms possessively
over Herculess’ shoulders, and the whole of the conversation is swallowed up
in a miasma of smoke and cyber-electric music::
::back on the rafters, another slowly sliding, sinuous sideways step from
Baghiira... the dip and sway of her hips beckoning as she slinks toward
Kaelen… a sway in his step, a twirl t' 's hips an a slow writhe downward,
eyes locked wi a gleam on th' approachin figure… a matching gleam to
golden-green as she slinks closer, moving on her toes on the very edge of the
beam::
::the pistoning of Rose’s hips slows to a subtle, pendulous twitch as she
looks from the corner of her eye to watch the exchange on the other end of
the beam… Kaelen grins, one foot lifted in a long step... then slide wi a
beat right up t' press a shoulder inta th' leather vest, locking eyes wi her…
balance precariously kept, she leans into that press... writhing forward with
each dancing step::
::Rose’s serpentine roll catches the most subtle winking of torchlight
against the gloss-black of her suit as she slows further, her eyes locked now
on the exchange beside her, a slow grin forming on lush scarlet lips::
::both hands raised o'er Baghiira’s head as Kaelen turns t' face her.. then
let drag jus o'er her shoulders as minces a few steps back... only t' press
forward again as th' contact ends:
::resembling nothing so much as a swaying vine, Rose settles into a crouch,
then slides one sleek leg after the other, straddling the center beam and
tilting forward, to rest on her elbows and watch the pair::
::with a teasing grin.. Baghiira’s steps forward follow his back.. and her
backward steps lead him forward::
::shoes dangling playfully at the ends of her toes, her face all innocence
and light as she watches their dance, a glimmer of amusement light’s Rose’s
twin emeralds::
::Kaelen grins... an steps sideways in a quick gesture t' slip up against
her.. chest pressed inta hers… a hand eases forward, fingers brushing then
grasping a hip as she presses against him… the cock of a hip... a swift
undulation of her entire form.. and she dances back a step::
::a thought occurs to Rose, and suddenly, she is desperately wishing that
there were enough room on the beam for a decent tango::
::an Kaelen keeps th' contact, matchin her t' a step, 's hand slippin about
her waist… her hand briefly tightens on his hip, drawing him briefly forward,
to press tightly against him with the twist of hips... then sway slowly
away::
::Rose sits up... or more like rolls up... shoulders still subtly weaving as
her tender gaze, thankfully hidden behind the safety of dark cat's eye
shades, embraces the dancers::
::Kaelen slips farther forward.. until both o their hips sway not inches from
each others.. his other hand comin t' rest on her other hip.. eyes yet locked
as both pound out th' beat… leaning her head back in slow abandon,
golden-green flutter closed.. allowing the touch of his hands, the nearness
of his swaying form, to guide her own motion::
::Rose’s her shoulders swing carelessly from side to side now, as her
thoughts drift to a certain gentleman of Castilian descent, whose days' long
absence she notes with a hint of bittersweet disdain… her gaze drifts down to
a familiar movement near the door… Herculess has taken the hand of his lady
friend, and as he commands her to the door with a terse "Let’s go…", the
woman’s movements blend to his as she walks beside him and outside… and Rose
idly notes that there are collars of all kinds in this
world::
::now as th' pair undulate.. each becoming slower, headier, a more deliberate
beat chosen t' tip hips t'gether... a sway, a turn... jade yet let rest on
her chin::
::swinging her sleek legs up over the beam, Rose braces herself and rises
into a crouch… a moment's lingering gaze on the couple, a contemplative
flickering of emerald, and she rises fully, her spine straightening in regal
conformity, ignoring the music at last::
::the graceful arch of Baghiira’s neck carries through her spine, pressing
her against him as the sway of hips moves together invitingly and apart
teasingly::
::Rose ponders saying her goodbyes, then reconsiders, and simply shimmers
into smoky mist, twisting into a curl that wends its way once around the
beam, then froths towards the door, leaving the heady fragrance of roses in
her wake::
::an as all good things must.. th' music ends... wi'out another kick t' make
another selection... leaving Kaelen t' slow.. an stop, slightly pantin’::
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