004 - Redirection

[mech_and_mutt]

Okay, I've been thinkin about it

And I'm stumped

I mastered Cavalier first, got my wings from the Lancers, and just now finished up training to be a Treasure Hunter

And I've got no idea what to do next

What have you guys been doing with the whole guilds and classes and training thing and what do you think I should be doing next?

Comments

1/2

[songbird_slayer]

You know, if you stay long enough in the jungle, you unleash some...

2/2

[songbird_slayer]

...Wonderful potential.

[mech_and_mutt]

Why did you write in a conspicuous pause

[songbird_slayer]

That's your imagination.

Why don't you come out to Laourn? I can demonstrate what I mean.

[mech_and_mutt]

I already live in Laourn now Maddie

Home 14 in the cliffsides

Ayla's here too, along with Cecil and Adah

[songbird_slayer]

Oh, this makes it simpler, then!

Equip your strongest class then, if you'd please. I'll be there shortly.

Quicklog

[mech_and_mutt]

[Strongest class, huh...? Well, a comparison would make sense. He usually strolled around as a Lancer anyway, so might as well meet her like that too, right?

He'd put on some tea while he was at it. He had a lot to catch up on with her.]

[songbird_slayer]

[The cheerful burble of a tea kettle, and soft humming of a contented friend... wonderful sounds to soothe the soul. But rather than arriving with a smile and a wave, she found a suitable spot on high to get everything all set up. This boulder was nice. She ran her fingers over a horn, a smile blooming.]

Well. ...Hello. Did I see in the Libers that you missed me?

[mech_and_mutt]

[And he all but sprinted out onto the balcony the moment he so much as saw her shadow.]

Let's just say this place wasn't the same without all the trouble you cause, Maddie.

[But that big smile of his and the warmth behind it said everything, as well as the fact that even seeing her again had him subtly wagging.]

[songbird_slayer]

[Oh no. He was wagging. This was going to make her plan very, very awkward.]

Good. ...I'm about ready to cause some more.

[She eased out a breath, and it really was like breathing: Release all else, and breathe Her in. A blink, and her eyes darkened... then gleamed. Her blood sang almost immediately, and her muscles tightened. With an outcry that blended a scream of bliss with a roar, her clothes burned away as the patches of scales on her body twitched and shifted, forming hardly-modest armor to take the place of cloth and leather.

A pause, and the sigh that followed brought forth a ribbon of steam.]

Mmmm... now, then.

[Her body looked minutely taut. That was the one warning before she hurtled toward the balcony, blade-like claws extended.]

[mech_and_mutt]

[...oh Dog.

He'd seen Ayla as a blackfury before, sure-- but while Madhuri was hardly the definition of the world "restraint", this was still a bit of a sudden, jarring move on her part after so many months absence; and before he was even finished trying to process this strange new mix of fear and arousal he didn't typically associate with his horned former roommate, she--

well, she struck. And since he didn't exactly think he'd need his weapon when he stepped out, she had him at a disadvantage; but his dog-like reflexes were as good as ever, and he at least managed to get his hands up against her wrists before she bowled him over onto his back.

Now came the big gamble: Was this the fun kind of blackfury mood, or was it the angry kind of blackfury mood?...

Either way, he probably wanted to hold her back for at least a moment longer. And it seems Red had gotten a bit stronger since they'd last met, too.]

So it's gonna be like this, huh?

[songbird_slayer]

[He's gotten tougher ever since. She'd fallen behind... damn. Yet everything burned in her now, pumped through her body to call it a simple oversight and get over it.

The glowing irises burned as she added to the pressure, a soft chuckle leaving a thin ribbon of steam seething between her lips.]

Did you expect anything less...?

[She leaned until she was nose to nose with him, eyes heavy-lidded despite the gleaming would-be malice that chilled the blood of prey. Of course, it wasn't as if Red wasn't currently a target. She moved his arms up and over his head, shifted those clawed gauntlets to entwine fingers. Her smaller frame was flush against him.]

I desired a proper greeting, Ser Savarin. And offer an invitation to the delights of the Black Lady.

[mech_and_mutt]

[The scales, the driven confidence, the waves of heat and wisps of steam coming off of her... if he didn't know any better, he'd have assumed Madhuri had taken a few sips of the dragon juice on her way over. Granted, Maddie always walked with a certain sense of swagger and playful showiness... but this sort of forceful presence was a rare trick for her.

Clearly, she was in rare form today. And while he was no longer the sort to be intimidated by little things like having a raging she-devil pinning him to the ground... he was starting to breathe pretty fast. Even if he still had a grin on his face the whole time.]

Just that I'd be surprised one way or another.

[And- perhaps in an effort to return the favor- he leaned forward to catch her lips with his own; after all, she'd left on a kiss, so it was only suitable that she return to one. Besides, they had a lot of lost time to make up for.

Enough that he didn't even care about whether the pulsing, aching bulge in his pants that currently rested between her thighs told her a little too much about his current outlook on the delights of the black lady... though it didn't stop him from speaking a few thoughts on the matter once the kiss broke off.]

How far are ya gonna go to convince me?

[lizardtits]

I decided to take something a little more physical for now in order to work off the entirety of last month. So now I guess I'll be hunting monsters.

As for you? I'm surprised you haven't taken up any of the wilder disciplines, considering you live in Laourn.

[mech_and_mutt]

I just wanted to live as high up as I could. I used to live on an airship and this is as close as I'll get around here

Dunno if I'm opposed to the idea of doing some kinda Outlander thing but considering how much I love machines I wonder if I'd be bad at it

[lizardtits]

Nothing says you can't do both. Martial arts is just mechanical physics applied to punching, after all.

[mech_and_mutt]

Isn't that kind of like saying flying is just swimming but in the air?

[lizardtits]

Yes. Exactly.

Seriously, though. The body is just an organic machine. Learn how it works and you can get more out of it. Or how to hurt it better. I can speak from experience for that.

[mech_and_mutt]

That's true, you do know how to get more out of a body, Velo

[lizardtits]

I just know how to apply my knowledge creatively.

[mech_and_mutt]

I won't lie, knocking around monsters with my bare paws does sound pretty fun

Think I could pull off a good flying kick? Should I make a costume?

[air_raider]

Well, if you're feeling lost, you could always take up slayer. It's pretty close to treasure hunter, and if you're feeling aimless, beating up monsters is rarely a bad time.

How to start an argument 101

[mech_and_mutt]

You think it's better than monster hunter?

[air_raider]

Maybe it's because I haven't ventured into the Men-At-Arms yet, but I hear the slayers get even more resistance to magic powers. Plus they never miss. Like, eerie, unnatural accuracy. Even in the dark.

Just saying, with as much time as you've spent learning the blade and the lance and weapons in general, it might be good if you never missed with 'em. But if you want to cut monsters up for parts, who am I to stop you?

[mech_and_mutt]

They sound kind of like those weird comic book heroes when you put it that way.

Is that something you've been trying out? I hear you're a big hit over at the Masters of Means guild already

[air_raider]

Honestly, It's on my to-do list, but I've got a few things that are a higher priority. You know how it is.

Then again, it would be nice to have supernatural, unerring accuracy, given how often I use a gun.

[mech_and_mutt]

I'll think about it

You think I'd look good in a suit?

[air_raider]

Downright dapper. Just make sure you've got it cut for your tail.

Realistically though, I think it would look great on you. Or off you. You just look good in general.

[mech_and_mutt]

Adah you're just kissing my tail at this point

[air_raider]

Sure, I can do that, if you're into it.

[mech_and_mutt]

I

don't know?

[air_raider]

Well hey, we should find out. You might just like it~

1/2

[mech_and_mutt]

[There was a conspicuous pause in the writing, as if in thought...]

2/2

[mech_and_mutt]

HEY

We're gettin off topic and everyone's watching you write that you know!!

[air_raider]

Let them watch then. They know what I'm about.

[mech_and_mutt]

We'll talk later, when I get home!!

[boomchucka]

I've been training as a Monk lately!

When things got crazy last month, it helped me find my center so that I could focus on what needed to get done.

[mech_and_mutt]

Wasn't what needed to get done the entire cause of all the craziness?

[boomchucka]

You're not wrong!

Let me rephrase that. It was because of all the craziness that the monk training helped.

[mech_and_mutt]

They don't make you try and figure out those weird riddles and puzzles, do they?

About trees falling in the woods and nobody hearing them or that kind of thing

Those always make my head hurt...

[boomchucka]

I don't think so? At least... I haven't gotten anything like that.

Please don't give them any ideas.

[bladeofconquest]

Can't go wrong with Steward, as far as I'm concerned. You'd make a good Paladin, you know? I'm tempted to go back later on and get that training myself, haha.

Plus, those butler uniforms. I'm just saying.

[mech_and_mutt]

Paladin? What makes you say that?

I'm not THAT much of a goody two-shoes, am I?

(Bet I could pull off that suit though)

[lowercase_dragon]

Have you considered taking up religion?

[mech_and_mutt]

You mean a Seeker?

Isn't that a lot of reading and praying more than anything exciting?

[lowercase_dragon]

You haven't seen the warlocks, have you.

Let me show you something that'll change your mind about religion.

Eat lots of pineapple a few days before, too.

[mech_and_mutt]

I've only heard about them

But what's this about pineapple?

[lowercase_dragon]

Nothing for you to worry about! It's just something that makes it better. Anyway should I come to you or do you wanna come to me?

[mech_and_mutt]

Wait so do I need to get the pineapple first or no??

I just finished jumping down to Lower Laourn to hit up the market!