Messages

1

Areas / Re: Elizabeth's Domain

« on: October 03, 2021, 02:55:46 PM »

Nika

Those lovebirds quickly seized their opportunity to exit the scene, no doubt having better things to do than dealing with unwanted attentions of a guy who peppered his speech with gallicisms. Was he even French or just thought that French would make him more desirable in eyes of the women in this age? That was so... 18th century. She mingled with the polite society back then whenever she had enough patience, but emphasis on 'enough'. Marc hardly looked like he'd fit in the polite society either.

"Uhh, fine, I guess?" She played with her messy shortish hair, a habit she displayed in such awkward situations when she didn't have to control her mannerisms, her other arm held by the guy whose tryhard politeness now she had to endure. After a very brief, but palpable moment of silence, she said:

"You know, I didn't dress up for a date, so we can spare ourselves formalities and all that elaborate dance. I don't look the part, but I'm an aristocrat," Indeed, someone in a hoodie, black leggings and sneakers didn't look very regal. "so you have even have my permission to drop the macaronisms. It's not a "mademoisselle", it's "Nika". Feel free to hold my arm though. A blind date is still a date."

She supposed she'd still gobble him up a bit so she'd go along with what he thought about this meeting. Just... with less politeness. Felt too formal in their circumstances.

2

Areas / Re: Elizabeth's Domain

« on: October 02, 2021, 03:04:44 AM »

Nika

Meh. Part of her just itched to try and break through whatever witchcraft the woman put up and between her prey, but there was a difference between truly wanting something and being contrarian about something.

And well, it looked like that drunkard mysteriously sobered up and started rambling more coherently. Was that more of an act than the high alcohol content in his veins?

And obviously the guy had some fixation with the demon woman. Matters of courtship barely entered her mind, so normally she wouldn't care to meddle, but maybe she could spare the other women headache.

"You know, how about you give those lovebirds some space? I have no plans, committments and agenda for today."

What worst could happen? She was sure she could shake him off if his ramblings got on her nerves.

3

Areas / Re: Elizabeth's Domain

« on: September 23, 2021, 02:54:15 AM »

Nika

"I haven't even made my order yet."

Nika retorted sarcastically to Malicia's explanations, as some guy whose drunken stench she probably would've smelled from a stade away barged into the hallway. The petty creature she was (sometimes), she gained some schadenfreude from this encounter. She wouldn't give the demon a satisfaction of basking in it though. Her face was like a stone, not letting a smile betray her feelings.

Anyway, this made her more confident about pulling through than the demon's reassurances.

"I guess though I will help myself." She wanted to have reasons to complain. If his blood tasted bad, she could always speak to the management. Either way, he didn't smell like another maneater like her or Malicia under that odour of alcohol. She walked up to Marc, intent on just grabbing and sinking her fangs into his neck. What possibly could wrong?

4

Areas / Re: Elizabeth's Domain

« on: September 17, 2021, 03:41:58 PM »

Nika

"You don't mean you have some fast food chain down here?" She tried to shield her apprehensions about the place with a sort of small talk. That woman taunted her to just forego her caution, as clearly to her as cloudless night sky, and she wouldn't just play into her hands if she could help that.

"Those things were a novelty last time I walked the land of the United States. While many things must have changed, they probably still follow the essential principles of a fast food chain. Or am I wrong and perhaps this isn't fancy enough for a land of temptation?" She pretty much dared Malicia to show off with the land's own take on the idea.

She still haven't answered her question on her own take-out, but her hunger, as much as it started ramping up in intensity, could wait a bit. Honestly, she was sorta buying a bit of time to think how she could make sure she got a mortal for a lunch. Even a McDonald's wagie forced to work here was preferable to any demonic alternative, even as she smelled their appetizing blood even without any wounds on them. For now, wanting to have her own way helped her resist such urges out of sheer pride in her ingrained habits and principles.

5

Areas / Re: Elizabeth's Domain

« on: September 11, 2021, 05:29:00 PM »

Malicia

The demon soared through the skies as fast as a plane and as nimbly as a hawk. She flapped her great leathery wings with gusto, soaring through the skies and over the great river which divided the city into two parts. As they flew, her tails had elongated and fused into fleshy seamless harnesses that held the two passengers safely in place beneath her.

As they crossed over into the district, Malicia returned fully to her usual demonic form, shedding the remainder of the human costume she'd affixed to herself. After a short while, she dove down and landed in front of the main entrance to the tower. It soared up to the sky and through the clouds, and seemed as if it could hold a city itself inside its tremendous walls. The harnesses split apart, leaving Malicia standing in front of the two women, turning around and grinning. "Well, welcome to my home, Nika. I hope you're mentally prepared for what's inside."

Nika

Not a destination she had particularly in mind, but that's what you got for simplistic logic like going for the tallest building around. Wait, was it even in the same district? She wondered if Mira would have objections after all if this was the case.

But this was all idle speculation compared to the issue, or rather challenge at hand. That woman might have been questioning her capabilities to cope with whatever lied behind the doors. She believed in herself, and she'd never shy away from danger, but a little part of her mind rang alarm bells. If she didn't cling to her steadfast taboos about certain things, she might have taken up that one offer from the demon, and who knew what would've happened. And now a large building full of them...

"Do I look like someone who would balk at such warnings?" She put up an air of bravado and didn't openly show her misgivings. Besides, better the devil she expected, and considering how Malicia didn't bother to hide her nature, she had reasons to suspect the denizens of the tower would be as forthcoming about it.

6

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: September 05, 2021, 02:36:32 PM »

Nika

That was a tough question. So many possibilities even in a such small world. The unexplored wild tempted her to give it a try, but that wasn't right time and right place. To lose herself in her wanderings too much without being forged into a better self by the trials in the city first would court disaster, what remained of her common sense after those centuries basically told her. There was also  the appointments she had to prepare for anyway, and of course Mira didn't clearly want to stray from the district. It took her a moment to think through her options, if you called looking at whichever piqued her interest 'thinking'. She didn't know exactly what the hell she was doing, simply pointed a finger at the tallest building around. How she would be able to make out things perfectly from such an altitude anyway? She was a vampire, not a hawk, sharp senses didn't mean being some kind of a sensory Swiss knife.

"The taller the building, the more it must brimg with athletes, fighters and challengers. Like a stadium, but a vertical. I wonder how strong the walls are built for arenas." She tried to come up with a logic behind her rather arbitrary choice, putting on the airs of actually knowing what she was talking about. If that actually convinced anyone, she had no clue and she didn't care too much.

7

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: August 29, 2021, 10:52:47 PM »

Nika

She didn't ask for such help, perfectly okay with just going with her original plan of grabbing and hanging from Mira's leg. But it looked like someone else was stubborn of having to do it their way. The vampire promised to herself that she'd try to jump off before everyone landed, just for showing off.

Personally, it has been first time since she saw such vistas in the day time, but she wasn't completely taken off guard. Planes and looking down from them weren't something alien to her, but she chose to not point out the fact that she could crank up the altitude.

"This city is still stretching further than most things I've witnessed, larger than the City for sure. I need to check some time if there's clear boundary." There were many towers of glass and steel, but she was on the look for the landmark that defined the district.

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Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: August 24, 2021, 07:37:41 PM »

Nika

The vampire didn't think she'd get the best view of the surroundings if she didn't grab Mira's leg or something along those lines. There was no fun in this rare opportunity if her vision was obscured at all, and her grip was more than adequate.

"Go ahead and take off first. I'll 'catch up'" She actually meant jumping and catching up with Mira's leg, but as if she'd plainly spell it out. Perhaps she wanted to get out some reaction after the deed was done.

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Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: August 17, 2021, 07:31:58 AM »

Nika

Maybe the way she stood up to bigger fish was some subconscious suicidal ideation from living way past a human's allotted lifespan, or she simply she had been that way naturally. Undiluted honesty rather than bowing down to their betters like subjects of satraps. But she didn't care to dwell on that when the duo offered to move on.

And the wings definitely caught her attention now. Some of her kind was sometimes capable of such things, not surprising considering folk tales sometimes associated vampires with bats and certain birds of prey.

"I'm not a predator who swoops from the night sky, but I can't help but admit it must be useful to fly. We must both dislike the ground, in our own way."

She didn't have anything on her like sizable bag. For someone 'distrustful' of taking in blood of a demon she was more casual about a prospect of a flight. But indeed she liked sky. And she was confident that she'd survive a fall at terminal velocity anyway, even if that wouldn't be most pleasant experience.

10

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: August 14, 2021, 05:24:39 PM »

Nika

"I just have this principle that I don't drink from fellow predators. It's not a sign of disrespect. Her blood maybe have been too tempting if I wasn't someone who have seen enough and knew enough."

She admitted once again openly her suspicions, but she took no offense about Malicia's offer.

"I actually don't know into what exactly I'd get into if I took up your offer. But well, usually drinking a blood of people like me leads eventually to something not unlike a Faustian bargain. You're a deity or a daimon who admitted herself that it has been in your nature to prey on others like me. You are free to kick the shit out of me for being so upfront to the stronger, but I'd rather speak my piece than bottle it and find a dishonest excuse. And if all my claims are bullshit, even more fitting if you don't take this crap from me."

If Mira or her friend decided to argue back violently, she wasn't confident she'd take the beating well, but she wasn't going to politely look for lame excuse. All the hells, they could even force the blood down her throat as long as her forced her, in this might makes right world. She'd just not get into a potential blood oath just accepting it.

11

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: August 06, 2021, 08:07:32 PM »

Nika

The woman had a healthy distrust of drinking from people whose nature on some level wasn't that different from her own existence. No hard feelings though, she wouldn't feel offended if this stance was mutual.

"No, thanks, I will manage." She replied, though honestly it took some willpower to reject the offer, even if she had her own principles about from whom she exactly drank blood. "I can always grab a snack on the way if I need to."

As much as she put on airs of being a spectator for time being, she was confident she had enough might to make her right even now, even in this place. She could honestly take on people like the bodybuilder Mira brutalized before their eventful duel. Walk in a park.

"Honestly, maybe enough about talking about the food. I will distract myself with the highlights of the district. You mentioned a tower, right? I don't hold any divine powers in particular regard, but the place must be fun to take glance at."

12

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: July 26, 2021, 04:20:53 PM »

Nika

"If there are any festivities you want to invite me to, I will satisfy myself with taking a spectator's seat. With certain regrets, given my current state."

She could hold on to her sanity just fine, but fighting another serious match was out of question. The vampire needed to recover for the promised bout, and come up with something worthwhile for the duel with Sakura. All those revelations and advice weren't really anything new to her, but they were certainly a worthwhile company to observe the district with.

"I have my own life stories to share too, both from my breathing days and the nights I walked, but I'd take days to tell about everything worthwhile and memorable I have experienced. If you have any specific questions, I will just answer them."

13

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: July 11, 2021, 06:14:34 PM »

Nika

Food. That word only evoked one thing in her mind now, but she still felt a little bit shaken by that unpalatable experience. Not enough to not catch, albeit barely, the business card. Employment and earning her daily "bread" was all good, but that's wasn't all she lived about. There was a real pressing question on her mind that she bothered now to ask.

"That's all I can find all on my own, but there's one thing I still seek too. Ever more unbending and steadfast strength. Not that I won't reject your offer out of hand, but I'm very interested in how you two got to that point."

This was going to be a serious game of catch up. She didn't fight with the other woman, but suspected she might have been higher on the totem pole than Mira. No way she'd bow out and call it quits at this stage. If there was some secret to their strength that wasn't some kind of in-born talent, she'd figure out something. She had been getting better at this with age, but probably the abundance of such strong people in this great polis would've been enough motivation to pursue higher heights faster.

14

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: June 27, 2021, 12:17:58 AM »

Nika

"I honestly don't have a solid plan beyond classic 'sink or swim'. Don't get me wrong, I know my limits and I don't play with fire casually, but nobody gets stronger overnight by hard work alone. Well, can't say though I haven't learned something from this defeat."

Namely, be more cautious about feeding on strong people.

15

Areas / Re: Great Dojo

« on: June 26, 2021, 05:33:16 PM »

Nika

"Ah, right, right, I sometimes forget about the pleasantries in the heat of things. Chivalry wasn't my thing even back in old days." She shook the offered hand. She couldn't say she enjoyed someone being that close within her personal space, considering her state right now, but she couldn't refuse basic courtesy either.

"I'm Nika, in short. My old name is a bit wordy, and it's not my first one either, so just go with that."