Vengeance or Reconciliation? (Termite)

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 8/50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Badly injured.

Rolls

Spoiler

Round 1
Attack (H1) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 5 + 4 + 3 + 18 - 8 = 22 damage.
Attack (H2) : Hit.
Damage: = 4 + 3 + 19 - 15 = 11 damage. Armor is at 43/50 TP.
Attack (H3) : Hit.
Damage: = 3 + 4 + 19 - 15 = 11 damage. Armor is at 36/50 TP.
Attack (H4) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 1 + 6 + 4 + 18 - 8 = 21 damage.

Round 2
Attack (H1) : Hit.
Damage: = 1 + 1 + 19 - 15 = 6 damage. Armor is at 31/50 TP.
Attack (H2) : Hit.
Damage: = 1 + 2 + 19 - 15 = 7 damage. Armor is at 25/50 TP.
Attack (H3) : Hit.
Damage: = 3 + 1 + 19 - 15 = 8 damage. Armor is at 19/50 TP.
Attack (H4) : = Hit.
Damage: = 3 + 2 + 19 - 15 = 9 damage. Armor is at 13/50 TP.
Lol.

Round 3
Attack (H1) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 4 + 4 + 2 + 18 - 8 = 20 damage.
Attack (H2) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 4 + 4 + 6 + 18 - 8 = 24 damage.
Attack (H3) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 5 + 6 + 6 + 18 - 8 = 27 damage.
Attack (H4) : Miss.
Counter: Hit.
Damage: 1 + 1 + 2 + 18 - 8 = 14 damage.

Gain 8 experience.

Alexandra danced among her reptilian opponents, her sword slashing, her shield smashing and perpetually interposed between herself and some foe, and her tail whipping about furiously. In the next few moments, all four monsters attacked her at once, and her shield whipped out to bash one in the face, while her sword reached out and jabbed another in the chest, forcing it to back away or impale itself. The other twos claws latched onto her, dragging against her armor and tearing into the skin along her sides. She quickly spun, hero sword out wide, and the two backed away before any real damage was dealt, and the one she had already hit was still out of range, but the one that had been against her shield took a slash across its throat, its vile blood pouring out. Neither of the more wounded creatures fell, however.

As she recovered, all of them came in at her again, and Alexandra winced in pain as four sets of claws began shredding into her body, still penetrating through her breastplate and the clothes she wore underneath it. She could feel her blood running down her skin, and her vision began to fog over, but she recovered enough to spin again, her sword outstretched and forcing all of her foes to back away from her. Badly injured and weakened nearly to collapse, Alexandra nonetheless still stood, and even as she could barely stand the pain, she prepared to defend herself from the incoming blows. One, maybe two more hits, and she would be down and out.

In the next rush, the creatures all surged forward as one, and she thought herself doomed. But, her shield went forward, into one of the creatures faces, and her blade went through its neck a second later. She spun, sword held straight out, and two others were decapitated cleanly, the three she'd hit slumping to the ground, one of them gurgling its last while the two headless ones remaining motionless on the ground. The last of them took a shield bash to its throat, and as it clutched at its crushed wind pipe, her sword cleaved through its skull, the dragoness issuing a cry of rage as the stroke fell, finishing the fight. Her foes defeated, Alexandra was left alone in the empty glade, the monsters dead, her friends unconscious, and herself barely able to stand.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Move. Her body refused. MOVE. Her feet stayed planted where they were, her legs trembling slightly as they tried to support her weight. Goddammit, I refuse to collapse on top of these things! MOVE! Even if she was the victor some measure of pride was refusing to let her body give in and fall on top one of the dead reptiles laying at her feet. If anyone were to ask her why she couldn't answer, but something inside Alex told her she needed to at least step away from that small scene of carnage before she could even think of resting. With one massive burst of will she finally got her legs to move and took a few steps closer to her companions, her body swaying unsteadily from side to side but somehow managing to stay upright.

When she finally closed that distance her left leg finally buckled, and she landed hard on her knee before the rest of her tipped forward and caused her to fall on her face. Her entire body started to burn as the impact jarred each and every claw mark running down her back and her sides. It almost felt like those talons were still there, tearing into her armor before they dug through her flesh and tore large gashes that would have probably left her scarred were it not for her father's heritage. She felt like she would pass out at any moment...

No... Not yet. Once again her will asserted itself, and she managed to bring a tired arm up and planted it on the ground so she could push herself onto her back. Her head rolled from side to side, and after a bit of her strength returned she managed to lift it slightly so she could see all around. As much as she wanted to simply lay back and rest she knew she couldn't. As battered as she was Alex was still the only one in her group still conscious. If any other abomination arrived she would be the only thing that stood between it and the other helpless women. She may lay down, she may lay still to recover, she may even close her eyes to conserve what little strength she had left, but she was their last defense. She couldn't drop her guard just yet.

As she kept watch her eyes eventually returned to the lifeless bodies just a few feet away. A passing thought suddenly crossed her mind. There was a merchant she'd dealt with in the past, one who appeared at a whim. He was an odd one, but his services were unlike any other, and he was willing to purchase various parts of defeated creatures. So what would he want from these reptiles? They seemed so intent on killing her earlier, so it was only fair that she put their bodies to good use.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 8/50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Badly injured.

The creatures had initially reminded Alex of stalkers, a type of demon with skin that shifted colors in order to blend in with their environment. They had exhibited a similar ability, and so it seemed likely that their skin was probably the most valuable part of their bodies. The idea didn't sit all that well for a moment with Alexandra, as her kin had oftentimes been hunted for their skins, the armor plating of a dragon a tempting draw for many a warrior, but then she finally decided that these creatures probably weren't any kin of hers. Their skins would likely take a bit of effort to remove, and the pain in her body from her numerous wounds wasn't getting any more manageable, but she knew that if she stopped to rest, she would probably fall unconscious, leaving her and her friends completely helpless to anything that happened by. She just had to work through the pain.

(If you skin the creatures, get 4 hunter skins.)

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

For a while she simply sat there, her mind wandering aimlessly from thought to thought. She remembered the stalkers and their own shifting skin, how her own people were hunted for their hides, and eventually she decided that she would claim her prize. After she was feeling better. But relief never came. She waited for her body to start knitting itself together, but it was taking longer than it should. Perhaps this was due to her earlier struggles with the behemoths. Did her ability to recover actually have a limit? Or is it easier to mend broken bones and bruised flesh than it is to treat cut and severed tissue? Maybe she could ask a healer if she ever remembered...

Alex's mind was drifting farther and farther into unconsciousness, and she caught herself just before her body finally relaxed. Her arms braced themselves and forced her to rise until she was sitting. The pain that had turned into a dull throb started to burn once more, and her mind suddenly snapped to attention. She almost let herself fall asleep. She promised herself she wouldn't, that she would protect her companions, so why the hell was she letting herself relax like that? Her fury turned inward as she cursed her own weakness, but even then she could still feel herself wanting to simply fall back down and surrender to her need to rest. It seemed willpower would not be enough. As she sat and thought it sounded absurd, but pain proved to be the only thing keeping her awake. If that was what she needed to stay conscious then so be it.

With one arm against the ground and the other bracing her knee Alex forced herself back to her feet. They spread in an effort to keep her from swaying to far to the side, and once she regained some steadiness she nearly dragged herself over to the bodies she was so desperate to escape just a few seconds earlier. Half of them looked like they landed on their sides, but thankfully none of them were on their back. It made kicking them onto their fronts a bit easier, and once all four had their backs exposed she tugged free one of her axes and painfully bent down to give herself an easier time. Her blade started chopping into the dead creature's flesh, and she kept hacking until a large patch of skin starting from just below the alien's neck to just above its waist was ready to be peeled. She then began the gruesome and grotesque task of digging into those cuts until she had a grip and yanked.

With all four skins removed she dragged those patches to a somewhat cleaner area away from the women and forced herself to stay standing. At this point she was probably covered in blood once again, and her weapons and armor were no better. At the very least she should clean off the blades before they begin to corrode and rust from all the fluid they've been bathed in this day, but unfortunately most of her possessions were left back at the village. All she had available as a cloth were the clothes underneath her armor, and she did not want to soil those after cleaning them just a few hours earlier. She'd just have to do with whatever was handy, so she began wiping her weapons with the grass and leaves that were handy. It probably wouldn't do all that much, but at least it was better than nothing.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Her fresh monster skins packed away and her weapons as clean as she was going to get them without some sort of cloth to wipe them on, Alex had little to do other than try to stay conscious through the pain. Her friends hadn't made a move while she'd gone through the arduous task of skinning their attackers, but the pain had been reduced to an insistent burning agony to a dull throb, and the bleeding had seemingly stopped. That, or her body was so coated in it that she simply didn't feel it running down her skin and scales any more.

As the dragoness settled back down to keep watch, no other options present for her to take, a light suddenly appeared up in the sky. It descended down toward her, the light it gave off easily outdoing that of the sun that Alexandra only now noticed was quickly setting, and shining brightly down upon her. Based on what she had last seen come from the sky, Alexandra was rightfully apprehensive, and forced herself to stand despite the pain, but even as she prepared to defend her unconscious friends, she felt a sense of peace washing over her. The ache of her wounds faded, and the pain of what had occurred that day briefly went to the back of her mind as the light slowly descended toward her.

After a few moments, the falling star touched the ground in front of Alexandra, and a humanoid figure form within slowly reached out a hand toward her. While she might normally have been apprehensive of such a thing, and warning bells sang in the back of her mind, the dragoness was still completely enraptured by the deep peace she was in, and as such, she allowed the figure to brush delicate fingers against her cheek. The effects were immediate and dramatic, as all of her wounds healed fully, her armor repairing itself as well, and she felt all of her fatigue suddenly washed away. The light slowly faded, revealing a woman, naked from head to toe, standing in front of her.

She was easily the most beautiful thing that Alex had ever seen, her skin flawless and her body that of a living goddess, and the perfectly white feathered wings that sprung from her back only added an exotic element to her gorgeous form. She had long raven hair and eyes of jade green, and she wore the kindest smile that Alex could have possibly imagined a person wearing. As she lowered the arm that had touched Alex and healed her wounds back to her side, several things happened at once. Firstly, all three of her friends began to stir, Kimi groaning, Creshnibon shuddering and shifting her sinuous tail about slightly, and Aescila simply opening her eyes and sitting straight up. The demons eyes glanced around in near panic, before they settled on the angel that had landed in their midst. Then, she panicked some more.

Aescila shot to her feet like a rocket and backed several steps away, open terror in her eyes, but the angel simply turned toward her and gave held her with a patient smile, before she turned back to Alexandra and began to speak. Her voice was like drinking honey, listening to the sound of the oceans waves softly beat against a beach while watching the sun set, and having the softest, most affectionate sex imaginable, all at the same time. "Well fought, Alexandra. Through your valor, some were spared an awful fate this day. Including all those with which you journeyed from your Hidden Village. Sadly, I was occupied elsewhere, else I would have arrived here much sooner, and possibly prevented the battle that so sorely wounded thee. The fey here, my kin, were driven from this grove by the beings you slew. The ones you encountered were left here to capture any stragglers, or to intercept those that escaped from the village and came here seeking safety.

"Fear not, for the fey you sought are not far, and drove back their foes quickly after the initial retreat. I shall escort you to them, when you are ready."

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Whosoever enters this topic be forewarned that a wall of text lies beneath. To continue is to do so at your own peril, especially since I wasted too much time thinking on this blasted post and feel I let my tendency to get wordy go far beyond my control.

Enter at your own risk.

~~~~~~~~~~​

Her work complete, her body starting to become to her own pain, and her legs nearly refusing to support her weight any longer, Alex had no choice but to sit and allow herself to rest. Even if she had the willpower to move her strength was still dwindling, and it would do no good to exhaust herself if she needed to fight once more. Hell, it hurt enough just bending down to take a seat on the forest floor. It took a moment for it to come, but eventually a sense of relief started to ease through her body while she sat still, and that was more than enough to make her roll her head back, close her eyes, and let out a rather lengthy sigh. Who knew it would feel so good to simply relax?

The dragon let her mind wander for a bit as she savored that moment, but once her eyes opened she jumped to her feet. Her body cried at the sudden movement, but she ignored the complaint and brought her weapons to bear as...something started to descend. She knew nothing of what she was about to face, but she was prepared to lash out with every last bit of her strength if it meant keeping her companions protected.

Her arms and legs tensed, her body preparing to jump forward and strike before this glowing thing had a chance to land, but...but it felt like it was filling her. That brilliance surrounded her. It washed over her exhausted body and bled into her veins, a sudden warmth enveloping her and forcing her to simply stand in awe. She swore she could feel a pair of arms crossing over her body as they wrapped around and embraced the woman from behind, that feeling reminding her of those few times when she and Mother were all alone and those arms held her tight and refused to let her go.

A part of her screamed. Her father's voice started to ring through her mind. He admonished her for leaving herself wide open, for dropping her guard in the face of a threat. It urged her to raise her arms, to have them ready, to strike at the form that could barely be seen within such radiance. But no matter how much it tried it couldn't break through. That light was now a part of her. It filled her being, soothed her pain, comforted her rattled nerves and left her staring in awe as a hand gently reached out to brush her cheek.

Once those delicate fingers finally landed Alex suddenly felt...whole. The pain and agony that filled her body simply melted away, and the sting from her open wounds was completely gone. She could finally stand straight and tall. she could breath easier now that her armor no longer held the dents and scars of battle. She could even feel her heart beating strongly. She had been repaired with nothing but a simple touch...but she didn't care. Her eyes had closed the moment her savior's hand had brushed her face, and she simply sat there basking in this being's light, her head slightly leaning into the embrace without a care in the world even as the light began to fade.

Eventually the woman slowly opened her eyes, and what she found made her heart skip a beat. Standing before her was something she had only heard of as legend. Not even Father had mentioned ever meeting one as he regaled his children with the tales of his youth, but there she was. An angel. A perfect being. Alex almost couldn't believe it. Her eyes lowered to take in the angel's features, and as she took in every minute detail she had to admit that this woman was perfection. A living miracle. Her hips flared from her waist, her stomach lay flat and toned, her bust swelled impressively without becoming obscenely large, and those eyes... Alex never thought she would find a creature whose eyes could outshine her own, but there they were, two dazzling gems glistening even under the setting sun. She couldn't help but compare herself to this woman, and once she did she found envy and disappointment creeping into her heart. Then shame. She never thought she could be so petty.

When the celestial finally lowered her arm Alex was surprised to find herself already longing for that touch. A hint of embarrassment graced her cheeks, a bit of her old self returning as she couldn't believe she had been reduced to a mere child longing for its mother. But the sounds of someone else moving caught her attention, and when she turned she found her companions starting to stir. Kimi's groan was a welcome distraction as was the light shifting of the Matriarch's tail, but when she finally found Aes suddenly bolting upright and backing away in abject horror Alex found herself wanting to rush over and hug the girl. She had never seen a demon so utterly terrified, and she needed her friend to understand that they were finally safe.

"Well fought, Alexandra. Through your valor, some were spared an awful fate this day."

The moment the angel started to speak Alex forced herself to look back. As much as she wanted to comfort her friend a degree of decorum was required, especially when in the presence of such a noble being. "I am honored to receive such praise. Thank you." She ignored the fact that the angel already knew her name and continued to listen, a bit of relief passing through her as she learned that the fey were near. Everyone would finally be free to lay down and relax, and maybe something could be done about Kimi and the Matriarch's 'affliction'.

When the angel said she would lead the group to safety once they were ready Alex quickly answered. "I believe we'll be ready at any moment. If you'll please excuse me, I need to gather my companions." With that said Alex finally turned, her head falling to the rousing Kimi and Creshnibon. For all intents and purposes they looked completely fine, perhaps a little groggy, and that would possibly change once they noticed who had arrived as an escort. So Alex chose to pass them for now, a nod given to either one if they appeared lucid enough before she started to approach a more pressing matter. As she neared she made sure her body acted as a shield and blocked their heavenly guest from the no doubt still terrified demon. "Aes." She waited for a response, and if she didn't get one she would call out again. "Aes." If she still received nothing she would resort to more drastic measures. Her shield and sword had been put to rest as she walked, and with her hands now free she would reach down and cup the succubus by her cheeks, a gentle but insistent pressure forcing the demon to look the dragon in the eyes. "Aes, are you all right?" She waited for a response, her emerald eyes gauging each and every reaction. "I won't pretend to know what you're going through, but I'm certain she won't do anything to bring you harm. Please trust me on this, okay?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila turned to face Alexandra at the first utterance of her name, and the demons face twists from fear into something Alexandra had never expected to see upon her friends face. Shame. A single tear rolled down the succubus cheek as she looked into Alexandras eyes, the usual hypnotic effect absent for some reason, and she spoke, her voice a hoarse whisper as she said; "I've... I've seen one... Like her.... Before...." Her eyes gradually became unfocused, and she slowly looked down as more tears poured down her face, and the demoness began to shake slightly.

A slight scrambling sound caught Alexandras attention from behind her, and she turned briefly to see Creshnibon rising to what might have been called a standing position among her kindred. The matriarch looked horrified, and she glanced between Aescila and the angel a couple of times before sighing and simply looking sad. Kimi rose with a huff of effort, and then stared around in utter confusion as to what exactly was going on. The dragoness didn't have time to voice whatever questions she might have been about to ask, however, because the angel spoke before she could, her captivating voice gaining the undivided attention of everyone save for Aescila; "We need to move, and quickly. I do not think that it will be safe here for very long." Creshnibon simply nodded, her expression now unreadable, and Kimizyrex just shrugged and nodded, her hands on her distended belly. Aescila was almost completely limp, and was shaking violently, her eyes unfocused. It seemed like, any second from now, the succubus would simply start sobbing and collapse.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Seen one? Alex raised an eyebrow as she pondered that only to be interrupted by Creshnibon finally pulling herself to her metaphorical feet. Then she saw it again. Horror. The Matriarch looked nearly as horrified as Aes, her gaze suddenly shifting from angel to demon and back before letting out a sigh and turning rather melancholy. This was strange. Alex felt like she had just stumbled onto something personal, something that went beyond the simple fear one would expect a denizen of Hell would possess when she faced an emissary from Heaven. There was some kind of history Aes and the Matriarch shared that involved a different celestial host, and the fact that they both looked so horrified and desperate meant that whatever had happened did not end well.

The dragon warrior was rightly confused, and when she saw that her cousin felt much the same way she decided that whatever unspoken history remained needed to be aired right now. But before she could turn and ask the angel stole everyone's attention and spoke her concerns. Alex found herself agreeing with Creshnibon and Kimi as they both prepared to move. But Aes was still floored, her entire being teetering on the edge of physical and mental collapse. Whatever was going on was turning into a giant hindrance, and Alex was now determined to get it out into the open so the demon could finally get up and...

...

No...

No, that wouldn't be right. Alex realized that she couldn't just force Aes to open up to her like that. Everyone had their own dark secrets to hide, and the dragoness was no exception. Whenever anyone asked her why she chose to walk the warrior's path she would become cold and distant, and the only emotion she showed was a slight tremble in her arm while her fists clenched in nearly uncontained rage. It did no good to press the issue with her, so why would it be any different for someone else?

With the direct approach discarded Alex was at a bit of a loss at what to do. There lay a woman tortured by her own past, and now it threatened to render her useless by plunging her into utter despair. Alex had never been one to show much compassion in the past, but she understood that Aescila was in need of some type of comfort. She racked her brain to think of some appropriate action, her memories pulling back until she recalled her childhood and what had happened that day. Mother had found her, and when she saw the look in little Alex's eye...

The warrior felt a bit awkward trying it, her arms weren't meant to be used as such. They had grown to become weapons, and the muscle underneath would prove hard and unyielding. Her armor would get in the way, the cold steel giving little to no comfort, but something within Alex compelled her to try. Her arms extended, the movement itself a bit clumsy and unsure, but they steadily reached out until they caught Aes around her head. Then they pulled inward, cradling the demon and gently forcing her closer until Alex held the woman to her armored chest. And there she stood waiting for Aes to let loose, seconds allowed to simply tick away as she waited for the demon to gain a bit of her composure. Once she had a question would finally be asked. "Ready to go?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila practically collapsed into Alexandras arms, and if the demoness minded the armor in between them, she didn't seem to. Weak, wracking sobs were the only sound that she made, and as all others remained silent, they were the only sounds within the glade for the next couple of minutes. Creshnibon knew of whatever was bothering the demoness, and Kimi apparently had the sense to remain quiet through the ordeal. The angel simply smiled softly, waiting, and it was impossible for Alexandra to tell whether she knew anything of the Aescilas secret. The succubus rubbed her head into Alex armored chest, and her warriors arms seemed to offer exactly the kind of comfort that Aescila needed, as she very gradually calmed down.

When Alexandra asked her question, Aescila, very shakily, nodded. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then shut it again without. She looked into Alexandras eyes, long enough that the dragoness was very nearly drawn into them again, before she nodded again, breaking the contact. She took a step back, out of Alexandras personal space. A glance around at the others revealed Kimi staring at the two of them in bewilderment, Creshnibon looking at Aescila, an emotionless mask on her face, and the angel smiling warmly at her.

They set off, the angel walking among them, but Creshnibon actually out in front. Aescila stayed as close as she could to Alexandra without seeming like she was clinging to her side, the gesture painfully obvious despite Aescila clear attempts to look indifferent. The occasional tearing falling from her bloodshot eyes was proof enough that the demoness was still distraught. The trip didn't take that long really, and they didn't stop, despite the darkness that was rather quickly descending now. The angels radiance took care of that quite admirably, and they reached a rampart of living vines just as the sun dipped fully behind the mountains to the West. The vines parted as the angel approached, and allowed their group to pass into a veritable fortress-city. Posts in the tallest trees held satyrs and gruffs, bows in their arms, as they stared off into the dark. More of the fey, as well as a dozen or so trolls, an army of kobolds, and plain soldiers of the more mortal-appearing fey busied about.

Naga and alruane and demons walked there as well, tending to yet more of the people that had come from the Hidden Village. There weren't many. Less than thirty, by Alexandras estimation. But, there were a number of tents, formed from the shaped earth itself and held up by roots that were probably older the any other thing that the dragoness had ever seen, judging by the size of the oaks around them. A man in armor formed of intricate wooden plates stepped forward to greet them, his silver hair and bright green eyes marking him as not completely human just as much as the pair of deer antlers growing from his temples. "Abariel, it is good that you found them and got them here when you did. Those.... Things, were about to try and get inside again. They're even more difficult to see in the dark." The two clasped hands, and smiled warmly to one another, before the angel responded; "Korulan. I hope that you have not destroyed all of them without me... I would hate to miss all of the fun all day. The dragoness with the green scales had killed all of the invaders hunters before I arrived. And skinned them too."

She turned toward Alexandra and smiled fiercely to her, a very different expression from the peaceful serenity Alexandra had seen before, and the angel continued; "Alexandra, you will find no shortage of battle here, if you so wish it, and the fey will not begrudge your aid. But, I would ask you to win the battles beyond the physical, before you do so. There will be opportunity to prove your valor again aplenty in the coming days. Particularly when it comes time to rescue our captured kin." she kept her eyes locked on Alexandras, but the cryptic statement was almost certainly directed toward Aescila.

The fey knight, apparently Korulan, stepped forward and spoke, his tone more authoritative than she'd have expected from one of the fey, and he addressed all of them; "Be welcome here. We have combed the forests for as many of your kin as we can, and our enclaves hold almost three hundred of you, altogether." There had only been about six hundred people living in the Hidden Village, all told. "You may rest here for as long as you need to, and as you can still fight, we will keep you appraised of the situation outside. We will be glad of more warriors in our midst, whether you fight with strength of arm or strength of spirit. Now, however, I must go. There is planning to be done, and many battles yet to fight. Rest while you can." He nodded to all of them, before turning away and walking away, leaving them with only the angel, Abariel, standing before them. The nude, winged woman eyed them all for a moment, before saying; "I must be away as well. I hope to see all of you again soon, in renewed and improved." She glanced significantly at Aescila, for some reason, before, with a single flap of her wings, she flew up into the darkened sky, and out of sight.

Creshnibon, her tone strained, said; "Lets go find someplace to rest, and then figure out how best to help." She started slithering forward, and many of the inhabitants greeted her with hopeful smiles as they saw the matriarch. Her returned smile seemed forced, and Alex doubted that many of the villagers bought it, as they looked more distraught after she passed than before. They found some empty tents, and she turned and stopped in front of them. "Kimi and I will probably be giving birth soon. We'll have to go stay among some others until we do, but you two can stay here. Get some rest. After you're settled in, then you can figure out how to help out." She turned, grabbed Kimizyrex by the arm, who flailed slightly in protest, but relented and shot over her shoulder; "I'll see you soon, cousin!" Before she was led off into the very busy and very large encampment. Aescila and Alexandra were, at least metaphorically, alone now.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Once Aescila had pulled herself together a bit and answered the question Alex found herself looking at those eyes once again. And there it was, that enchanting glow. She swore she could see the soft red light reaching out, those captivating tendrils inching forward bit by bit until they started to reach into her soul and brush away all of her worries or her cares. Thankfully Aes chose to broke that hold when she nodded, and a moment later she stepped away to show she was ready.

With everyone else starting to move forward Alex took a moment to close her eyes and clear her head of that hypnotic light. Then she was off, keeping step with the rest of the party yet painfully aware of how Aes was hovering nearby. The demon was obviously still a bit distraught, but if she wanted to at least keep up appearances then who was Alex to judge. She even went as far as to quicken or slow her pace, her own little ploy to allow Aes to stay near so she wouldn't have to break that image of indifference to close whatever gap may have built.

But that ended once they had finally arrived. The warrior was surprised to find such a stronghold built into the forest. Maybe built wasn't the proper word. Watching the vines pull back then wind themselves said that the forest had shaped itself into this fortress, and when she saw the small earthen tents dotting the interior she wondered just how expansive this place could be. There were far more fey than she could count, and sprinkled among them were refugees from the Hidden Village in various states of distress. How could so many beings fit in this space and stay well fortified?

Alex's pondering was interrupted by the appearance of a rather interesting man in intricate armor with antlers on his head. She wondered briefly whether he was a Fey Lord, and that was confirmed when the angel Abariel stepped forward to greet him. Even as friendly as the fey had been back in the village she had heard that the nobility would only show such affection with those they considered their equals, and for Korulan and Abariel to clasp hands as such was proof enough.

The conversation between the two as well as the welcome seemed like standard fare, but Abariel managed to give Alex a bit of a surprise when she complained of a lack of battle and gave the dragoness that fierce smile. Alex never would have guessed an angel could be so ferocious. It was almost intimidating, but she also had to admit that there was something enticing about a well-fought battle. "Then I shall offer whatever help I can." She wasn't the type of person to step out specifically looking for one, but if there was a fight to be had then she would welcome it.

With the lord and the angel departing and suggesting that the group rest for now Alex followed behind Creshnibon. She noticed the rather sour effect she had on the survivors from the Hidden Village, but something else was troubling her mind. Abariel had told her she needed to win the battles beyond the physical, and she had the distinct impression that those words were meant for someone else. Someone specific. She was so focused on those words that she nearly missed the Matriarch excusing herself and dragging Kimi with her. She nodded her head toward Creshnibon as she left, and at Kimi's farewell she actually smiled. "Take care, cousin!" This left the non-pregnant pair together, and as she looked over toward Aes Abariel's words returned. The battles beyond the physical... This sounded like a battle she was ill equipped to face, but face it she would. Her friend was hurting, and she had this weird feeling that it would be her duty to ease that pain. But how the hell was she going to do that?

"Come on." Alex entered the tent and beckoned her demonic friend to follow. Once inside she took a look around to see what lay inside before finding an appropriate place to stow her equipment. Her shield and weapons were placed in an appropriate place, either against a conveniently placed root or the wall of earth if none were available, and after removing the straps that held it in place her armor was placed nearby. Everything was set up so she could easily prepare herself at a moment's notice, and with that done she let herself stretch and relieve some of the tension the march to the fortress had brought.

Now that she stood in only her clothes she turned to what would serve as a bed and sat herself down. If Aes was already sitting there she would seat herself next to the succubus, and if Aes was not then she would pat the space next to her as an offer for some company. Once the two were side by side Alex would simply sit for a few seconds, her eyes focused on the tent's entrance as she watched the world go by. "You probably don't want to talk about it... Aes was probably expecting at least some word to be said about the obvious secret she held, but she probably wouldn't expect Alex to be so abrupt about it. She probably wouldn't expect what was coming next. "How about this: you show me yours and I'll show you mine." Alex let that float through the air, the double entendre obvious and intentional when she didn't make a move. "Something's bothering you, something painful, so I won't force you to drag it out. But I'll give you this offer: if you agree to share that with me I'll agree to tell you why I took up the sword. I'll even go first." Hopefully Aes would understand what had just been offered.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Within the tent were a pair of small bedrolls, rough and probably not the most comfortable arrangements, but better than sleeping on the ground at least. The tent was triangular, and lacked any sort of storage place for her to stow her things, though there was enough room to set her gear down on the edge of the tent without it getting in the way. As she went inside, Aescila followed her numbly, not saying anything as she'd apparently lapsed into a brooding silence. The tears had at least stopped rolling down her cheeks, it seemed, and the demoness quietly sat down on one of the bedrolls, her legs crossed and the rest of her almost totally rigid. She very slowly rotated her head toward Alexandra after the dragoness had sat down next to her, but she didn't say anything, a look of fear barely hidden in her features.

Aescila completely ignored the dragoness opportunity for a quip at her expense, and that was more than reason enough to keep worrying about the womans mental state. Her mask fractured rather quickly as Alexandra brought up the idea of talking about whatever was bothering her, horror and blind terror in her crimson eyes for a moment, but she suddenly swallowed loudly, and seemed to collect herself for a moment before she croaked out; "Alright...." The demoness waited, still seemingly gathering herself as she watched Alexandra tensely, clearly taking the dragoness up on her offer to go first.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

"Okay." That look of rigid numbness was worrisome, especially when Aes failed to respond to the golden opportunity she was given, but when that coldness broke and Alex heard the demon's reply it was a relief to see some life return. Now she just had to figure out where to start. "Okay... Who would have thought starting would be so hard...

For a couple of seconds the dragon threw her head back and simply collected her thoughts. "Father always says that a Dragon is nothing without their Dignity." Her eyes closed and hesitated for a second, but immediately after she turned herself to face Aescila as she finally began. "Well, when I was young and nowhere near as strong as I am now my dignity was constantly taking a hit. My brother and sister were born a few years before I, and even though we were family they loved to torment me, mostly because I bore more of my mother's blood then my father's. They were the opposite, elegant beings that bore the scales and wings of a noble and quickly developed into powerful beings. To them I was nothing more than a runt, a curiosity to be poked and prodded because I was so soft to the touch.

"Even if I so closely resemble Mother my personality quite clearly comes from Father, and I could only stand being constantly degraded for so long. So, one day after I'd been pushed to my limit I fought back. It had happened before, and usually I would end up hurting myself and make them laugh before they knocked me to the ground. But that day I truly fought, and my body responded. I sent the back of my fist flying into my sister's cheek and slammed my knuckles into my brother's temple. They didn't expect such a hit, and neither did I. I floored them and was the one left standing, and we all just sat where we were in shock.

"But a Dragon is nothing without their Dignity, and I, the weakling of a runt, had just stripped them of theirs. They were absolutely livid, and they both jumped up and struck me with the full force of their strength. I nearly passed out right then and there, but they would have none of that. They forced me to stay awake as they pummeled me without mercy, and it was only when I collapsed and couldn't even lift a finger that they finally let me fall.

"But even that wasn't enough. They were both going to strip every last shred of dignity I had, and that's when... That was when..." Alexandra's voice was strained by this point, and she stumbled as she tried to find the right words for what was coming next. But nothing came. It was frustrating. That memory was still so painful, and even after all these years she couldn't bring herself to speak of it even after promising to do so. Dammit, why the hell...!?

The dragoness became painfully aware of her tail when it whipped angrily into the wall of their tent and caused a tiny bit of it to collapse and land on the bedroll. As she willed herself to calm down a thought occurred to her. She wasn't able to speak of it directly, but maybe an indirect approach would work. "Do you see how my tail is nice and smooth and tapers to a point?" She brought it around her body to show Aes, even going so far as to offer a chance to hold and study it should it strike the demon's fancy. "Well my brother and sister's tails are different. Theirs are thicker and rougher, and the scales stick out at odd angles to give them natural barbs that can be quite painful. Those aren't the kind of tails that should ever be put to more intimate use, especially on a body that has yet to fully mature..."

She let those last few words hang in the air for a bit. That should have been more than enough to imply what had happened. "On that day I lost much more than my dignity. Once they were done they left me where I was, and I simply laid there until Mother eventually found me and took me in her arms. I didn't say or do anything. I was determined to show that I could be tough and strong and wouldn't be defeated by the likes of those two, but she just kept holding me and crying. I tried to hold back, tried my hardest to keep myself from breaking down, but she just kept holding me... No matter how cold I was she just kept... She just kept..." A sudden drip against the top of her hand was enough to make her look down. That's when she felt it rolling down her face. It fell and met its sister, and no matter what the dragon did she couldn't keep the tears from rolling down past her chin.

"I'm... I'm sorry." She took a few moments to compose herself, her eyes closing as she wiped her hands across her face to stop herself from crying any further. "It took me a while to calm down, and when I did she just took my hand and led me to her room so she could start patching me up. I never told her what happened, and she never asked, but I still think she knew. Once she was done she told me to rest, and that night I decided I wasn't just going to let that slide. I swore that I would make myself stronger, strong enough to finally face them one day. To repay them the indignity they forced me to suffer. No matter what I WILL reclaim my honor!"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila stared unblinkingly at Alexandra as the dragoness told her story, her face an impassive mask. Tears no longer fell down her cheeks, as she seemed to pay complete attention. She winced openly at some appropriate parts of Alexandras story of her early life, though not quite as much as she might have expected. Mostly, she was simply attentive, and she didn't interrupt the dragoness, even when she had to pause to regain control of herself after she spoke of her mothers reaction.

A moment after Alexandra gave her dramatic finish, allowing her vow to settle within the air, before Aescila finally blinked slightly, and began to speak. Her normally confident voice was a nervous croak, as she said; "We are.... From different worlds, Alexandra. What you just told me about.... I know that it's awful. I know that it should horrify me, should make me cringe that such a thing could happen to you, at the hands of your own siblings no less. But... From where I was born, such a thing is common. Even expected. My kindred often feed upon one another to establish dominance, rather than settle things with words or with violence. All six of my immediate siblings raped me, at one point or another, but there was never any love between us, and after a while, one simply gets used to it. I understand that, here, such things are not to be expected, that ones kin and parents are expected to be kind, but in Hell......" She trailed off uncomfortably, and couldn't meet Alexandras eyes. A mix of shame, not quite as severe as she'd seen before, and uncertainty were apparent on her face. She lamely continued; "I'm... Sorry. That I can't understand your pain. But... I don't know if you can understand mine, either. I... Don't know how to explain it to you, exactly."

She seemed determined to try anyway, however, and after an awkward ten seconds, she met Alexandra again, her natural hypnoses seemingly suppressed somehow. Had she been of a more academic sort, Alex might have found it more interesting, that emotion seemed to weaken the demons ability to mess with others minds. "When I said that I had seen a being like the winged woman we met earlier..... It was at Artmirst. When I came as one of the first to invade this world. As shock troops. Some of the first beings to respond were members of the fey, as you call them, and among them were the angels. They..... Were unstoppable. Each of them wiped out dozens of us, on their own, and my kin and I couldn't even touch them, until our lords and ladies joined the battle. We.... Did not kill them. Three of them were taken by the lady who I served directly, back into hell."

She paused, shuddering slightly, and then said something that didn't really make sense; "She was.... Fed to me." Her voice was very quiet, and she looked at Alexandra searchingly, trying to see if she understood.

(Not quite satisfied with this post. It makes it seem like Aescila doesn't care, when she does, but bleh. Perhaps it shall be edited later, if inspiration comes to me.)

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Alex felt... She wasn't quite sure how she felt. Disappointed? Depressed? Shamed? Perhaps it was a mix of them all. She had finally let out her secret, the driving force that tormented her soul and haunted her dreams for what felt like an eternity, and to Aescila it was nothing extraordinary. She had suffered the same herself. It was something that all demons dealt with, something that was expected. She had even said it herself, "I can't understand your pain." It was almost as if that pain were simply being dismissed...

Alex stopped herself from wallowing in her own self-pity. Besides, there were some other words that started to stand out. "...after a while, one simply gets used to it." Aes may not even realize it, but what she said implied something else, that there was a time when that struggle for dominance had brought her pain. To be constantly subjected to that kind of torture from your own family would probably be the very definition of Hell, and under that kind of pressure even the most innocent of souls would need to harden their hearts if they wanted to survive. So even if what she said hadn't sounded the most comforting, even a bit painful, perhaps Aes understood more than she was willing to admit to herself.

But as much as Alex wanted to ask about that Aes started her own tale. The pause that followed led to Aes searching for even a hint of understanding, and the dragoness was determined to at least try. "She was...Fed to me." Considering what feeding meant to a demon Aes just admitted to raping a celestial host. That meant she willingly feasted on the bound angel's soul. But...something just didn't sound right. Aes almost sounded like she had been forced into it, but even after feasting a demon only needs to wait until their victim's soul regenerates from that last little bit that remained untouch...

"How... How much of her soul did you consume?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila did indeed look ashamed at her inability to understand what had happened to her, but the demoness was at a loss for how to properly express it, and was too wrapped up in her own pain to worry about it. What that said about her was probably not pleasant, but also perhaps not entirely surprising, given her nature. Aescila waited for a moment before she could respond, and her voice came out a harsh whisper that, despite its low tone, rang out into the silence; "....All of it....." That admission alone seemed to cost the demoness dearly, as tears streamed down her face, and her eyes suddenly glowed brilliantly. It was not, however, their usual crimson, but rather a very soft violet, strangely free of the menace that a demons glowing eyes usually brought with it.

Before Alexandra could respond, Aescila began speaking very quickly, her voice raised to nearly a shout; "I didn't mean to! I didn't want to! I was.... I was drained, until I felt like I would die, and then set loose upon her..... We needed to be stronger.... I was supposed to ascend.... When she saw me, she just.... Just smiled! And I... Took her, but while I did, my mother...... She... She slit her throat.... I couldn't stop myself...." She suddenly might Alexandras eyes, any trace of their earlier hypnotic effect gone completely, but she seemed slightly calmer now, if only a little, as she said; "When we feed.... We can do so, fatally, but it is very rare for us to choose that route. It isn't prudent, to waste a source of strength like that for a short term gain.... And it can.... Damage us. Every time we take a piece of another beings soul, we take on some of their characteristics. If we take the whole thing, we are taking that being, totally and completely, into ourselves. I was..... Not prepared. The angels soul....."

For a moment, she was at a loss for words, but she heaved a frustrated sigh, and said; "It would be like if you tried to eat a full fledged dragon. And not just eat it, but swallow it whole, all in one bite. It's just... Not something that should be done." She waited a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was lowered, and she seemed to be filled with shame again; "The angel.... She could have destroyed me from within. It wouldn't even have been a contest, between us, and then she would have been free, at nearly her full strength. She could have destroyed us, freed her kin, and escaped. But.... She didn't. She just.... Fell apart, like she was feeding herself to me..... And I felt a sense of.... I don't know.... Peace, I guess you'd call it. It was more power than I'd ever felt before. Ever imagined that I'd live to feel coursing through me..... But, the cost.... I had done it at the price of the life... No, the very existence of the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes upon. And it wasn't even my choice...."

She shook her head, the glow fading from her eyes. She didn't look sad anymore. Only tired. "I deserted the day after. I made my way to the village as soon as I found out about it. I..... Haven't fed very often, since then. It reminds me. Of her. I still don't know why I didn't ascend, from the amount of power I gained from her. I should have, but.... It must not have been enough. I can still feel pieces of her, inside of me, sometimes. I know I haven't explained it very well.... And that it doesn't make any sense to you..... I'm sorry, Alex."

(This was difficult to express properly, but it was much better than last post. I'm more satisfied with it, at least, though the characters problem is understandably difficult to comprehend. I might just have built it up a bit more than it really deserves in my head.)

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

As Alex listened she started to realize that Aes may be right. She would probably never understand what the demon had gone through. Even when she was given a loose comparison that likened her to consuming an entire full-blooded dragon in one bite Alex still had trouble imagining what that would be like. She tried to picture it, another existence pulsing within her soul, a massive being slowly shoving into every little crack within her heart until she felt like she would simply burst if it even so much as twitched a toe. She tried to liken it to some other thing she had experienced, the only thing popping into her mind her struggle with her more human side. She had always tried to act according to her race, and as a proud dragon showing even the slightest of emotions at the wrong time could damn you to your kin. And there were times when her emotions would run wild, the need to cry welling growing within until she felt her whole body would explode into a whimpering mass of pathetic flesh. But all those comparisons were just too weak. Her struggles to keep her emotions in check were a struggle with her own identity, and the thought of eating a dragon didn't feel like it would do any justice to what Aescila had gone through.

But there was something she did understand. Guilt. There was no denying it was there. Aes admitted to destroying an angel, and she called it the most beautiful being she had ever seen. Aes admitted to consuming an existence far greater than herself, an existence that could have torn her to shreds without the least bit of effort, and all it did was smile and comfort her as it allowed itself to simply dissolve into nothingness. And there was nothing Aes could have done to stop it. She had been drained past the point of hunger, possibly to the point where her soul would have actually starved to death, and as her body acted in the only way it could the angel's throat had been slit. There was no way for the angel to survive, and even it had the chance to be reborn it chose to simply give in to its fate. Aes realized that something great had been lost, that something perfect had died within her arms, and even with a chance at redemption it simply sacrificed itself for the sake of an imperfect, uncontrollable demon. It was the very definition of guilt.

With this sudden realization in hand the dragon slid herself closer without a word, and once they were sitting side by side her arm wrapped around the demon's shoulders and pulled her closer until the succubus was leaning against Alex. "I can't say that I understand everything, but I think I understand a bit." She stayed like that for a while, her arm offering what support it could while her mind tried to fully digest everything that had been said. It was a lot to go through, but even then her focus was set on her friend instead of whatever little nuances were either shouted or muttered. But eventually one fact broke through. Those eyes. They were purple. And even when they demanded Alex's attention she didn't feel herself drifting out of focus. It almost felt like Aes's true self was forcing Alex to look at her and see her for what she truly was. It was a sharp contrast to what Alex had always seen, and it only led to one conclusion. Those weren't a demon's eyes...

Alex suddenly found a few more facts bubbling to the surface, and they were raising more questions than she would have liked. But something else was starting to form, a possibility. It seemed absurd the more she thought about it, but it just wouldn't go away. "What was her name?" With it refusing to leave her be Alex found herself unable to keep herself from asking a question. There was a very healthy pause to let Aes answer, and an even longer one let the both of them rest a bit before another question refused to stay silent. "You said you sometimes feel bits of her floating around. What do you feel when you find them?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila allowed Alexandra to come in closer to her, and leaned herself against the dragon without being pulled in. She was warm, and light, and she could feel the demoness shaking ever so slightly. She didn't respond to Alexandras statement, instead remaining close, her own arm wrapping around Alexandras back, in a gesture that might be her trying to comfort Alex in return. She hadn't been the only one to bare their soul, after all, and even if the demoness couldn't appreciate her pain quite as well as either of them might like, she could at least sympathize with it.

The demoness actually managed to smile, at Alex question about the angels name, but it was a very sad smile, and one tinged with... Something she hadn't ever seen on the face of the succubus before. Nostalgia, maybe? "Dina.... Her name was... Dina. She was.... A teacher, among her kind, if you can believe that." The brief time passes in silence, but that smile remains on Aescilas face, even though tears still stroll down her cheeks from time to time, some of them running down to fall onto Alexandras chest.

Eventually, her next question came up, and Aescila frowned at it. Not a hostile frown, but one of consideration. After a moment, she said; "It's... Difficult to explain. I.... When I feel a piece of her.... It's not like looking through a drawer, or a book, until you find what you want. It's.... When we feed, usually we just take pieces from the very surface. We get... Surface thoughts, recent memories, emotions that they're feeling in the moment. That sort of thing. When I.... Ate, Dina, I got all of her. So, sometimes, when I see, or hear, or smell something..... Or when something says something, I feel something. It's.... Not me. Not my thoughts, or memories. It's not just that, though. It's not how I think, or something that I would feel. Before I took her into me, I was... Very selfish. I still am, I guess, but now.... It's different.

"Now, when I do something, I sometimes feel... Guilty. Like, I shouldn't be doing it. And sometimes, I feel really good, about doing something trivial... Something that I don't really care about. Like.... Now... Normally, this.... Holding me like this, it would just be a build up to more. But now.... It's like, it's the best thing I've ever felt. It's never been this... Genuine. It's never meant anything before, except.... Ding! Food.... But now, it's.... Like before, when I first saw her.... It feels... Good. Better than anything I've felt before. Like.... Like nothing is wrong, anymore." Her halting speech came to a close, and she turned her gaze toward Alex, her eyes still glowing bright purple, instead of their customary red. They were extremely close together.

"We're supposed to change, like that, when we Ascend. It's... What happens, when we've fed enough, and gained enough power to become a knight. That's where our armor comes from, you know.... No one makes a demon knights black armor, and no one but its originator, or one of their progeny, can ever wear it. We don't smith it, as a mortal craftsmen might, but rather we grow it. I guess.... I thought I would have... But, I'm not any stronger than the day after I left Artmirst, my tail between my legs. Figuratively." She sounded like she were talking to herself out loud, more than to Alexandra.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Dina... Alex let that name roll around for a bit even as she listened to Aes trying to explain what it was like feeling those pieces floating through her soul. When she explained how even simply sitting with Alex and being held felt like so much more than just a dinner bell Alex noticed those eyes glowing that welcoming violet shade once again. That confirmed it, then. Those were Dina's eyes.

With that in mind the dragoness came to one conclusion. Dina still existed. She may only reveal herself as random pieces that simply drift through Aescila's being, but something was guiding those pieces and making them act whenever they did. So Dina was in there somewhere, hiding her presence from Aescila yet using her influence to guide the demon to some sort of goal. What that goal could be was anyone's guess.

Of course Alex held no proof. She only had the testimony of a tortured demon, but she trusted that testimony, and she trusted her own gut. Her instincts were certain that Dina was hiding somewhere in there. The only question was how to make her show herself. Would she come out if Alex simply called to her? And if she did come out what would happen to Aes?

Those questions were shoved to the side the very next moment. There was no point in worrying about a hidden existence, not when there was someone nearly clinging to you for support. But even then Aes wasn't just thinking about herself. The arm wrapping around the dragon's back was proof enough. She was trying to offer Alex some comfort as well, and Alex was tired of thinking of things that felt bigger than her. So she took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, the little bit of tension she held dissolving while she pulled Aes even closer and simply stared out into empty space. A slight movement caught her eye, and that was when she noticed that their tent was still sitting wide open. "Heh, we probably make a sorry looking sight." At that point she got up and made her way to the entrance. She started scanning for some way to close it, a curtain, a simple door, anything to give them both a little privacy. If she found something she would immediately put it to use, and once the world was shut out she'd smile and start walking back. "That's better."

She was done asking questions, and she felt like pampering herself for a bit, so she sat right back where she was just a few seconds earlier. This time, however, a bold streak shot through her, and instead of simply having Aes lean against her from the side she pulled the demon into her lap, her arms locking around her friend's waist and simply holding her there. Alex wasn't quite sure why she chose to hold them both together like this, but she couldn't deny that it made her feel better. Maybe it was just the closeness she was feeling that reminded her of her mother, that bit of comfort bringing her own sense of peace. Considering what Aes said about her siblings a little earlier Alex wondered if the succubus had ever felt anything like this in her life. Even if they were different creatures demons still had emotions, so they had to have some way to ease each other's pain. Maybe that would help relieve some of the tension that was still hanging in the air. "Hey Aes...how do demon's comfort each other?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

Spoiler

HP = 50, PP = 40, EP = 42, Status = Fine.

Aescila untangled herself from Alexandra, allowing the dragoness to get up and close the tent. There was a leafy flap one the side, that drew closed to block them from sight. The small space was darker with the light from outside mostly cut off, save for what little could get through the tent itself, and so the violet glow from Aescila eyes was all the more pronounced. She'd had to bend over to shut the tent, and Aescila had been staring at her the entire time, but even though she was now smiling slightly, she hadn't issued a quip like the demoness would have normally if Alex had been bent over in front of her.

The demoness tensed as she was pulled, but after a moment laid back against Alexandra as she pulled her into her lap, cooing softly as she was held and her eyes closing, shutting off the violet glow. She laid their contentedly in Alexandras arms, not making a sound or moving much at all except to shift slightly. But, when Alexandra asked her question, the violet glow returned, and Aescila turned her head to look Alex in the eyes. The glow was softer now, and she could easily see the orbs that emitted it, only to find that they were different colors. Both were a purple now, but Aescilas right eye was slightly darker, and had more blue in it, while her left was lighter, and had much more red. "We.... Didn't. Not like this, anyway. Mostly, we just.... Sort of tried to ignore each other. Unless we were of higher rank, or lower rank than another. I never liked being on either end of those sorts of relationships....

"There was... Something, that you could do with someone of equal rank. I don't know if it's really comforting... I only ever tried it once, and it showed me that I wasn't the only one to go through what I'd gone through. But I don't know if someone who isn't a demon could even do it. I could... Try to show you, if you want." Aescilas every word was delivered in a whisper, the near-darkness around them seemingly demanding it, and the two of them we very close, their faces only a few inches away. As she looked into the demons eyes, Alex began to feel a ghost of the hypnosis that she'd experienced earlier, easily pushed away if she desired to do so, but also extremely relaxing and comforting in its own right if she wanted to allow herself to fall into it.

 

[Termite]

Re: Alexandra (Termite)

With those eyes starting up at her once more Alex was rather intrigued. She's seen Aescila's eyes glow before, not nearly as intimately as she had in the last day, but this was different. This wasn't Aes attempting to use her power to woo either some stranger or a friend into bed. This was a being simply letting their power flow naturally, and it wasn't just her own that was showing. One eye distinctly favored her natural presence, the red so vivid it nearly overpowers the slightly purple shade, while the other clearly belonged to something else, the underlying blue calm yet pronounced. It showed Aes for what she truly was, a being of contrasts, demon and angel brought together within the same body. Alex wondered what kind of miracles the girl could perform if she somehow found away to harness those two powers...

But that question would simply have to wait. Alex had let her humanity loose in order to try to understand Aescila's pain and to offer what comfort she could, and she was woefully unprepared for the amount of pity that was starting to well within. But it couldn't be helped. It was almost impossible to believe that demons could be so cruel to each other. Aes made it sound like they treated their brethren as nothing more than slaves, objects to be put to use and toyed with as those in power saw fit without any consideration for any suffering they would endure. And those that suffered had no place to seek comfort. There were only two kinds within any sort of relationship, those who held rank and that that did not, and not even members of their own family were above this. Brother and sister were pit against each other at birth, their struggle for dominance forcing them to commit unspeakable acts against their own kin while their parents turned a blind eye or maybe even encouraged it. A demon would have to become the Devil himself simply to survive, and Alex couldn't even begin to fathom how any soul could manage to stay sane. Hell truly is a wasteland beyond measure...

Whether those thoughts were accurate or not didn't matter, the sheer possibility that such a place could exist most likely meant that somewhere it did. Alex couldn't help but feel for the poor girl, and she nearly wrapped her arms around the demon's head once again. But when Aes quietly whispered of something that was shared between equals Alex found a slight blush rushing to her cheeks. Those eyes were starting to pull her under once again. The effect was muted, it only felt like a light tug that was forcing her to relax, but even then she felt everything else starting to fade away as all her attention focused on that perfect body nestled in her lap. A part of her realized what was happening, and it remembered those times when this power was put to use. That monstrosity in the village that was reduced to a mere kitten under Aescila's gentle touch. That kiss in the stream that nearly turned Alex quivering pile of flesh. That power was used when Aes's libido started to rise, and that meant that whatever she was about to share would be quite intimate.

Alex could have shrugged it off. The pull was nowhere near as compelling as it had been when they bathed. She could simply close her eyes and have her pride force this intrusion out of her mind. But as she sat there and felt her resistance starting to crumble she realized something. She really didn't want to. Aes was asking to share something special with Alex, something she shared with only one other being, and the dragon-kin could practically feel her humanity screaming at her to accept. "I, uh... I guess we could try..." It felt odd letting herself be as open as this, but right now she was willing to do anything to make her friend feel better.