Lareth's castle

[Haeo]

Hot Champion_of_justice

Shale listened attentively. He knew that the king did not need a substantive reply but the thought that such a matter would not be of importance to him almost made him smile. Doubt makes people think strange things, sometimes. It was more than enough to know that his king desired this pardon. After all, just as the woman was unknown to Shale so too was her crime and sentence. The offered 'favor' was of little interest. Earning the gratitude of his king so easily while working toward another of his great goals was a chance that Shale would have to be a great fool indeed to pass by. The baron had no greater ambition at present than to become invaluable to his sovereign. There was no reason to start being foolish and easily distracted, especially so early.

"I understand, Sire, I will ensure that my preparations are complete in time to attend." Shale made no mention of his planned response to the request. It was time to move on.

Shale moved simply, opened the door and allowed king Lareth to leave first before leaving to seek a place on the grounds where the spire could be safely constructed without inconveniencing the castle's residents. The faint tingle of the silence ward shredding caused him to rub his fingers together absently. Perhaps the guardian would know a suitable place. His wards would likely allow him to determine how often certain places were frequented. He went in search of the guardian, knowing that he would likely be easy to find.  

[Haeo]

Hot Champion_of_justice

Ost was indeed easy to find. He had been patrolling the castle perimeter and fine--tuning some of the more delicate portions of the wards. He was mildly surprised by Baron Shale's directness in seeking him but obligingly jumped down to ground level to speak with, arguably, the most creepy of the king's nobles.

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Shale did not actually see Ost until he was well in sight. The guardian's habit of remaining in the uppermost portions of the castle architecture worked effectively to make pinpointing him visually quite difficult. The man had been almost perfectly composed since the first moment that Shale had set eyes on him. Such control in one so young was impressive, and reassuring. As the guardian alighted on the ground before him Shale began to speak in a businesslike tone.

"Ost, is there a place on the castle grounds that has not been entered by any but yourself in the last six months? Specifically, I require an area that is at least ten meters square and is out of sight of most vantage points. I require this for a project that the king has requested of me."

-------------------------

Ost thought for a moment. There were very few places that did not receive the attentions of the servants more often than every six months. There were two that he was vaguely sure would suit but he would have to examine the local sections of the wards to make sure that they had remained undisturbed for the requisite length of time. He answered cooly.

"There are two that I recall, m'lord. I can lead you to them but examining the local wards in detail will be necessary to determine the length of time they have been undisturbed."

With that, he turned and began walking toward the first of the two sites with the baron following quietly behind him.

((Exit both to The Crimson Spire))  

[Red Gypsy]

Several of the servants paused as Gypsy was carried out of the throne room and taken through the castle on the way to her tower. They knew that for her to be unconscious was a bad thing. She was well-respected and even a bit feared. For her to be in this condition spoke of something bad.

Thankfully, they said nothing where the arriving Barons could overhear it, so it never reached their ears.

The worried look on Hal's face as he followed the servants carrying Gypsy also spoke volumes. If he was worried, the situation couldn't be good at all...  

[Haeo]

Red Gypsy

Ost was still somewhat unfamiliar with many of the people in the castle but he knew that people losing consciousness in the throne room and being escorted by Hal toward resting quarters was decidedly uncommon. He felt no need to announce himself as he approached. Hal would be familiar with his manner of movement and the others were less than important. His last long jump carried him to a gentle landing only two meters to the right of the group of servants. He matched their pace with easy strides and swept his eyes and his senses over the group. The depleted state of Gypsy's primal energies was clear, as was Hal's concern.

"Hal, may I assist?" He asked flatly. His cool tone and expression betraying nothing of what may be beneath.  

[Red Gypsy]

Haeo

Hal gave Ost a tired smile, "If you would help them escort her to her tower, Ost, I would appreciate it. I have no idea how to take care of her energy in a safe way, though. It cannot be fixed by what we would consider normal means thanks to her mixed blood. If we could figure out how to fuse her two halves, as you did naturally, it would be easier on her. But it's as if her demon and vampire sides are at war with each other inside of her. The demonic bloodline she descends from means she would have to feed like a succubus would. Add to that her vampiric side and those needs, the situation only gets more complicated. The depletion of her energy is worrying, enough that I have no idea how to help her without risking the life of the one who helps her with it. But getting her home would be a start," he explained honestly, knowing that Ost could be trusted with the information.

He paused to cover just how tired he truly was from the short walk to this point, "Demonic hybrids are rare, as you well know. You two are the only ones to survive aside from the Demonicus that became their own race. She is special in so many ways, Ost... We need her... Just as much as we need you... You have your place here, a position that no one else can fill. It's the same with her. She helps to keep Lareth grounded, stands up to him where no one else will, tells him things that would get anyone else killed and gets away with it. And right now... She's the only family he has left..." he shook his grayed head a bit as he watched the servants continue on with the stretcher carrying Gypsy towards the tower she lived in, "I don't know what to do for her..." he finally said in a soft whisper.  

[Haeo]

Red Gypsy

Ost listened attentively and noted Hal's unusual state of fatigue. But, most of his senses were attuned to Gypsy. He had never examined her so closely before. Now, there seemed to be a need. He then sensed something that made him suddenly whip his head away from Hal to stare fixedly at Gypsy.

He could sense her two halves. "They're like... two different songs playing at the same time." He murmured. It was highly uncharacteristic for him to blurt things out, never mind mumbling under his breath. He would never admit it but the sudden ups and downs that had occurred since his return were taking a small but noticeable toll. "But, each has a different tempo."

Perhaps if the swifter of the two were to be slowed to match the other they might find a harmony that they could maintain. Primal ice could do that but it would be an extremely sensitive working. Ost's brow furrowed with frown lines as he felt deeply within himself in an effort to understand whether or not he would be up to such a task. Slowing the vampire nature enough to match that of the demon nature without causing harm would be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible. But, there is more than one way to create harmony. If he slowed the swifter song by just enough to allow it to weave through and around the slower one... that might make the necessary balance achievable.

"Perhaps... that."  

[Red Gypsy]

Haeo

You can move them to her tower if you want to.

Hal smiled at Ost's description of Gypsy's problem and simply reached out to pat him gently on the arm, "Go with her, my friend... See her home safely... Then consider what you know now..." he said simply then left Ost to follow the servants carrying Gypsy to her tower as he headed back into the castle to rest a bit.

Thankfully, Hal had designed that tower to be able to accommodate not only Gypsy, but anyone who wished to visit her as well. And he'd always had high hopes that she and Ost would eventually become friends at the very least.

After all, he'd already heard about Gypsy's offer to Ost to have him visit her for tea or coffee...  

[Haeo]

Red Gypsy

Alright. Done.

Ost followed Gypsy and her servant entourage to the tower without another word. The limits of his skills were being tested over and over again it seemed. He hoped that they would be up to the challenge this time. The door of the tower shut behind him decisively. If only he knew the decision.

((Exit to Gypsy's Tower))  

[TheHelmsman13]

Layloo

Let's see about that....

Layloo hated traveling through teleportation, but it was the swiftest way to travel into and out of the Demon Realm. She found herself standing in the courtyard of Lareth's castle and took a look around. One of the first things she remembered about the castle was Kal's tower and she decided to go and see Kal and Gypsy before she sought out Lareth. And with little afterthought, the Dhamphair began a long ascent through the castle to see her friends.


Exit to Kal's Tower

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[Red Gypsy]

Ash was dressed in a dark t-shirt, black jeans, and boots with his waist-length hair pulled back into a simple ponytail at the base of his skull. He was mostly healed by now but suffering a different kind of hurt right now.

Rebecca was gone with nothing to tell him where, how or why...

Part of him wanted to sit in the room and wallow in his pain. But his nature as an Incubus wouldn't let him. Nor would his king.

He needed sex to live and was the walking embodiment of it. He knew that, moved like it, and his very appearance conjured thoughts of things done in intimate surroundings between two or more consenting adults.

So he got plenty of looks as he moved through the hallways towards the front door, fully intending to head back to his room at the training fort. It was the closest he had to a home, after all...  

[Silquestnocte]

A white head poked itself around the corner, it's owner sniffing. He could certainly smell it, young male incubus, fairly clean, and even better, possibly ready for some fun!

In some ways, Zephyr was the closest thing to being the embodiment of naughty-deeds without actually being an incubus. He wasn't quite sure what he was blood-line wise, he had the red eyes and sharp teeth of some demons, the magic of another, and the "drive" that came very very close to matching succubi.

So here he was "on the hunt". He preferred this hunt to the one he got paid to do, hunting down people who got in the way of other people. He was a mercenary, bounty hunter, and a great assassin to call on if you didn't mind the fact that the job was going to be very, very messy in the way most deaths are when wrought via cleaver or spiked whip.

His necklace of teeth rested over his white collared shirt with the top two buttons left open to expose a pair of collarbones nearly sharp enough to glass, and a bit of pale muscle. His clothing rumpled in a surprisingly alluring way, likely due to his little meeting with a maid about three hours ago behind a tapestry. He still had a bit of lipstick on his left earlobe, but he didn't notice, or care.

There was a hot piece of beefcake around here, and he was going to gobble it up before anyone else had the chance.

His nose led him to a sober looking hottie~ He could tell that even though his back was turned to him, but that was fine as it gave him an amazing view of his rear. It ought to be a crime to look that good in jeans, but then he'd be guilty of the same crime.

A small breeze was one of the few things that signaled Zephyr's arrival, then he was there, pale hand already over the incubus's a**.

"Hello there. Nice glutes, you work out?"

Red Gypsy

Okay, finally someone who cooperated! That was fun!

 

[Red Gypsy]

Silenced Nocturne

Ash paused for a brief moment, not too sure why he was surprised. But he was. This was a very obvious come-on. It left him wondering.

Then he moved with surprising swiftness and had the demon male pinned to the wall by his wrists next to his head and his own body pressed very close as he let his dark eyes move over the features of the male briefly. But instead of being confrontational, he went a different route.

He lowered his head and ran his mouth over the skin of the male's neck. Not touching, but hovering as his warm breath teased at the skin as he moved slowly up towards his ear, "You shouldn't tease a full Incubus, you know... It can be dangerous for your health..." he whispered softly, his voice pure seduction all by itself.

Then he let his teeth teasingly graze at his skin the rest of the way up to his ear.

Once there, he caught a scent and raised his head with a frown, "You ducked into an alcove with Sara? I didn't know you were that hard up for a good time," he said in a pitying tone then tisked slightly and offered a teasing grin, "I would have left you wondering which way was up and if you would ever walk again..." he said with confidence then released the man and continued on his way towards the stairs.

"If you really want to get in the sack with someone who actually knows how to please, Just ask for Ash..." he added, unable to resist the teasing grin he tossed over his shoulder as he started down the stairs, "And yes, I do work out... You can always come out to the training fort to find out, though..." he gave a soft chuckle guaranteed to tease at the senses as he continued down the stairs, fully able to feel the eyes on his a** this time...  

[Silquestnocte]

Zephyr was not expecting to be pinned to wall, pressed up against a very very sexy incubus. Normally he was the one doing the pinning.

He liked this.

His hot breath on his neck, the teeth, mmmm. A faint shade of pink was working it's way onto Zephyr's face, he definitely liked this alot. At Ash's comment about teasing a Incubus Zephyr let out a slightly hissy laugh "Keseeeseesee, Good thing I don't care about my health then, Mm~?"

His red eyes were clearly full of only one thing as not-so-clean ideas began to chrun themselves up in Zephyr's skull. This man could certainly provide a good time~ His words were only like a challenge to Zephyr, and did he ever want to take him up on it.

But then the beautiful piece of beefcake released him, a cascade of black hair and a very appealing rump being the main focus of Zephyr's eyes. For a moment he stared, then he was by Ash's side again, although this time he had managed to link his arm in his with only a faint breeze as a warning. He may not be as fast, strong, or skilled as someone like Ash, but he certainly had some skills.

" It's kinda funny, because that's normally the effect I have on people. Any chance I could take you up on that challenge say... Now?" A impish grin spread over his face. "Ash, eh? I'm Zephyr. Nice to meet'cha.

Red Gypsy

 

[Red Gypsy]

Silenced Nocturne

Ash just gave a deep chuckle in return as they finished moving down the stairs then he directed them both to the door, "Then I do hope you can ride a horse, Zephyr. It's really the only way to get to the training fort, after all..." he commented simply as they went out the front doors and paused on the outer stairs.

He didn't even have to say anything. A groom simply came out of the stable with two freshly saddled horses. He got the stallion, Zephyr got the mare. The symbolism just made Ash grin again as he moved to the horses.

He got into the saddle with practiced ease then waited to see what the other demon would do, unable to resist a small jab, though, "I've always found that it's pretty easy to judge a lover by the way they sit a horse..." he pointed out, knowing damned well that he looked damned good on a horse...  

[Silquestnocte]

Zephyr tilted his head slightly. "I'm sure it'd be easy enough to fly there for me, but if you say so handsome~"

As they walked to the stables, Zephyr found himself admiring Ash's features, he'd kill to have a tan like that (all he ever did was burn). And his face simply looked delicious He was sorely tempted to steal a kiss before they departed, if only to find out what Ash would do, but his opportunity disappeared when the Groom brought out two horses.

Zephyr wasn't particularly fond of horses, he had a bad experience back when he was still small enough to be bucked off a horse and not have enough control to cushion his fall. The memory of several broken bones would be enough to make anyone uncomfortable on a horse. He could swallow his discomfort though, if it was going to end in some fun.

But nevertheless, he easily stepped into the saddle (with the help of a well-placed stiff breeze). After a moment, he had himself adjusted so he was loosely sitting astride, holding himself with an easy grace. He hooked a pale finger into his collar to loosen it even further, Zephyr was well aware that Ash was watching him now. "Guess we're both in luck then, Eh?" he winked before openly licking his lips while eyeing Ash. He tapped his heels into the side of his horse, ready to get this show on the road. "So you're a soldier then?" He would talk amiably (and flirt) while surveying Ash as if he was a dessert to be gobbled up the entire ride.

Red Gypsy