Dark Side of the Moon
Cross Effects => Cross Effects => Areas => Topic started by: yinsukin on April 18, 2019, 06:13:21 PM
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Swole City
Overview:
Unhappy with your body? Wish you were less of a fatass?! Want stupid big SWOLE muscles?! Then come to SWOLE CITY!
This is a typical ad for SWOLE CITY, a smaller district home to the cities greatest fitness experts, magical plastic surgeons and nutritional experts. In many worlds upon worlds, there is no easy way to fitness and nothing any roided out fitness guru can say will be able to change that. However, in this city, in this district, that is just not true. Even so, everything worth striving for has a cost and that is especially true in this district.
Culture:
The residents of this part of the city are mostly rich fitness junkies, professional athletes and privileged dude bros out to sculpt their bodies to perfection. However, the district makes most of its money from insecure people who wish to change their bodies. Potions and visits to mages with powerful transformation magic cost money, lots of money but even the average person can afford to go to a gym.
Gyms in this district cost a bit more monthly than any other gym in the city, but the results are astounding. With just a month of consistent training, you could build a body that takes years thanks to the magical properties of these machines. Of course, because these machines are so powerful, they require that you follow a strict routine to avoid creating muscle imbalances. In the past, there were those who decided only to work their arms and ended up with strange proportions. If you work hard and stick to your routine as precisely as possible, most people can have the body of their dreams in less than two weeks.
Of course, sometimes people are not looking for aesthetics. Sometimes people just want power. The gyms in this district are famous for allowing those with the proper resolve to surpass their human limits. Muscle is built by breaking down said muscle and building it back up stronger than before. Many of the more expensive gyms use magic to speed up the repair process, with a "break room" that is infused with powerful magic. It resets both your central nervous system and rebuilds your body. Of course, you still need to eat to feed your muscles, so it can be dangerous to just workout, sit in the room and workout again. However, if you can afford to burn money on a ton of food, you could, in theory, do several weeks of workouts in a single day.
Because of the vast array of powerful beings in the Nexus, many gyms are setup to work with those of supernatural strength. There are exercise programs for most common species throughout the nexus, such as werewolves, succubi, vampires, demons, fallen gods and angels. Although most only have the capacity to work those of incredible strength or weaker. If one needed the power of fantastic or above, they would need to be within the inner circle of Armstrong. The chief possesses a special gym that can help someone achieve up to legendary stats.
Supplementation, nutrition, and steroids:
In any competition, there is a culture dedicated to exploiting it. Just as there is magical equipment, there exist special supplements, nutrition plans and magic steriods each with special effects. To start with, supplements simply supply a person with a particular nutritional needs. For example, protein shakes are a supplemental drink that gives a person's body access to a ton of protein and fat without having to consume a whole meal. There are also things such as preworkout, which is just body builder coffee, allowing tired workers to trick their bodies into being ready for a workout they didn't want to do. In swole city, there exist supplements that go beyond this, ranging from enhancing recovery, strengthen bones or skin and even maximize gains in ways never thought possible.
Going beyond supplements are special nutrition plans. Because of the nature of supernatural creatures and the culture surrounding them, many do not actually know how to maximize their body to the fullest. Therefore, nutritional experts exist in this district to help keep these creatures healthy. The swole city district maintains a good relationship with other more supernaturally oriented districts by offering nutrition plans to monsters and other weird supernatural beings. With exercise, these can have insane effects.
Lastly, there are steroids. These are special performance-enhancing substances that are capable of providing a shortcut to aesthetic or power-related goals. Each one grants a massive boost in gains and general performance, but comes at an equally bad cost. Some make you bigger, faster, stronger but force you to peak physically earlier than you would normally. Other substances will make you a sex machine but invite sexual predators and rapists. Swole city has the most exotic collection of performance-enhancing substances in the entire nexus and the largest collection of horror stories related to them as a result.
Chief Armstrong:
Chief Armstrong cares only about one thing, being and proving he is the strongest. There is a love for power and strength that rivals no other. He believes in the spirit of strength, which all previous leaders of the district followed. OF course, he also looks down on those weaker than he, and doesn't belive he should waste his time with someone who does not share his ideals, or are otherwise incapable of embarking down the path to power. People weaker than he are lesser, but worth training. People incapable of training or otherwise refusing to become stronger are worthless ants undeserving of his time.
Defenses: Other than the chief himself, you can expect this part of town to operate like any other. Seeing as it is a rich part of town, the place is decently staffed. Elites, swat teams and cops are not too far away if any ruckus is caused. As a result, crime is far lower than most places in the city.
Race: Human
Age: 35
Height:
Weight:
Appearance:
Physical Attributes (Can be all stats, see muscle control)
Strength: Human-Legendary
Agility: Human-Fantastic
Durability: Human-Legendary
Magic: High
Arnold's magic isn't offensive in nature. Instead, it is the basis for many of the gyms around town. He is capable of enchanting items to grant special properties to the physical body of the user. For example, he can enchant an entire track to instantly restore a person's stamina at the end of their workout. Much of this is done by turning the item into a sort of mana converter, feeding off of the expansion of energy a person uses during their workout session to convert into mana. Then, the energy is funneled back to them to achieve the desired effect.
Magic Resistance: Medium
Other Abilities:
Biological control: Armstrong has complete and utter control over his own body. He is capable of increasing his own muscle mass, size and density, offering him complete reign over his strength and durability. He can turn on and off his fight or flight reactions, turn off his pain receptors and overload his body with a shot of adrenaline and other forms of hormonal control. This also allows him to control his body composition, allowing him to look how he desires. He can also freely modify his own genetics, allowing him to control his own talent so to speak. The limits of human strength were lost to him long ago.
Regeneration: The biological control also extends to his cellular regeneration. By forcing his body's cells to divide and grow, he can effectively regenerate from any injury. However, unlike traditional regeneration, this comes at a steep cost. The first is that it drastically shortens his lifespan. The second is that if he relies too much on it in a single battle, it can age him rapidly, even driving him to death.
POWER OF SCIENCE: Despite his appearance, Armstrong is very intelligent. Since about age 16, he has dedicated his life to exercise science and the study of magic. By combining the two, he has been able to rise to the top of the fitness industry. He can augment any exercise machines to generate improved results with either magic, or sheer innovation, allowing his monopoly on his particular brand of special gym equipment.
Equipment:
Exercise equipment: Inside Armstrong's special gym is the equipment and knowledge to go even further beyond human limits. Because of the elite nature of the gym and the intensity of the workouts, Armstrong does not allow anyone without at least incredible strength to enter.
Transforming weights: Armstrong carries a set of transformable dumbbells in his pocket. With the push of a button, the dumbell can gain weight and size, allowing him to injure people by throwing it at them.
Weakness:
Lack of skill: While insanely powerful in his final form, he does lack formal training as a fighter. He can hold his own in a street fight, but a master can take him down in close quarters combat. Another option is to hit him from a range.
Likes: SCIENCE, DA PUMP, Sex, Showing off, being on top,
Dislikes: Weak people, weak minded people, lazy shits.
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Mira
6:00 PM
It was weird being back on the ritzy streets of 'Swole City' as some people called it. Mira walked through them without much of a care, her eyes lazily moving back and forth over all the building fronts to see if anything had changed. She kept her hands on the back of her head, long purple hair spilling down her back. She'd tied her jacket around her waist while it dried, and that left the huge tear in her tank top visible.
Also the muscle underneath it.
"Geez, I guess rich people don't bother with maps. Don't know how I ended up here." She muttered to herself, frowning. "At least I know the way back from here..."
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Roman
6:00pm
Roman placed a hand over his mouth, letting out a yawn. It had been a tiring day of doing absolutely nothing. Simply sitting on his couch, lounging around, telling himself he needed to get a job and get in shape. Every day he did the same thing, day in and day out expecting something to change waiting for the future. Now it was time to make it his own.
As his head drifted back and forth, scanning the upper-class area, he couldn't help but think about how ordinary the buildings looked. It was just like any other part of this city. No, the scary part was the people, all in great shape. If there was skin exposed, there was visible muscle. It felt so overwhelming. The fact was he was normal, completely and utterly normal. With each step meandering along the concrete, he wondered if it really was possible to reach supernatural levels of strength here. Well, perhaps it didn't matter. He made a single commitment when he left the house.
He wasn't going home without doing some kind of workout.
Thats when he saw her, his eyes darting to the side. Across the street stood a girl, her clothes roughed up, her powerful abs showing. There were plenty of girls running around in just a sports bra but... so little of them looked that in shape.
I should probably ask her to show me where to go....
Steeling his nerves, he raised his hand and gave her a nervous wave before dashing to the cross walk, seeing if he could cut her off at the next intersection.
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Mira
It wasn't long before Mira got the sense that she was being watched. That wasn't the strangest thing, because she was walking around with her top a bit torn and she was known in these parts besides. As soon as it went past that and into something getting closer though, her eyes immediately turned to the guy who'd been looking for other reasons. She raised an eyebrow as he waved and got closer and said, "Yo. Can I help you?"
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Roman
Finally meeting her at the crosswalk, the man's torso fell forward, his hands resting on his knees. He felt so out of shape, his chest heaving from the little run that he did. "I....haaa...am looking to....phew!" He stood up straight and...
Holy crap.
This girl was ripped. He could see her visible abs through her torn shirt. Moreover, she looked like she had just been in a fight. It was pretty common knowledge to not mess with supernaturals, especially when one was ordinary. Then again, people here in this district were ordinary people who became extraordinary through hard work... Maybe... maybe she was like him somewhere in there.
He shook his head and said, "I want to get strong, stronger than anyone else I know. I heard this is the place to do it. You look pretty good, pretty strong. Can you show me where you workout?"
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Mira
She looked down at him, literally thanks to his original position, taking him in and listening to his words. At first Mira didn't say anything, one of her hands resting on her hip as she stared at him with her bright blue eyes. But then after a moment she nodded. "Yeah, I can show you a place. What's your name?"
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Roman
Roman bit his lip. He had seen that look before. A woman's hand on the hip was a sign of impatience, sass, a waste of time. That moment seemed to last far beyond a few seconds. It felt like minutes. Then, he gained a reprieve.
"Yeah, I can show you a place. What's your name?"
"Roman," he responded, exhaling all of his anxiety in a single moment. "Is...that a bother? You looked like you were going somewhere important."
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Mira
"Mira." The girl, Mira, just tilted her head in consideration, then looked down at herself for a moment. "How about this - you get me dinner, and I'll set you up with a regimen somewhere."
Girl hadn't eaten all afternoon by this point after all.
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Roman
Roman burst out laughing, taken back by Mira's straightforward response. "Sure sure," he said, lazily waving his hand at her in a weak shooing motion. "If you don't mind going out with a boring old guy like me, i'll happily take you anywhere you want!"
At the very least this would be a fun outing. If all went well, he will get to say he hung out with a hot person and finished his goal for today.
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Mira
She raised an eyebrow, and grinned in amusement at Roman's bold proposal. "Anywhere, huh? Alright, I know this nice steak place just around the corner..."
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Roman
This was a mistake.
The second those automatic doors slid open, a nervous pang filled his gut. It was the kind of place where your first instinct was to look upwards, just to see how high the ceiling was. Chandeliers hung from a ceiling high enough to accommodate an actual giant, the pattern of the lightbulbs imprinting a crystal-like pattern of light onto the wall. The tables were lined with fine cloth, male waiters in sharp suits, females in tight dresses. It was odd to see this kind of treatment for steak. After all, it was just steak right?
Roman turned to Mira, gauging her reaction. Meanwhile, a man approached, bowing. Weird, he looked pretty ripped too. What was this district?
"How many?" he asked.
"Two," Roman replied.
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Mira
Mira was grinning the whole time as they walked in. She was definitely under dressed for this kind of place mind you, but she hardly seemed to notice as she whistled and looked around. "Yeah, I'm with him."
She shot one of those grins Roman's way.
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Roman
Roman's head slowly turned, his eyes becoming sharp as they drilled into the girl. You sly bastard! he thought, the sheer petty hatred clear from the fire in his pupils. One day he would make her pay for this. However, not today. Enjoy this moment hot fit girl.... enjoy this moment....
Roman took a deep breath as he faced the waiter. The two silently followed him to the table. It was a small round table with a blue cover, lined with only a salt and pepper shaker, utensils wrapped in napkins and a menu.
"May I start you off with anything to drink?"
"Water.... just water," Roman replied.
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Mira
"Yeah, coffee would be good." She stretched a little bit, seemingly reveling in Roman's misery, and looked at the waiter with a smile. "Black as the night."
And when the waiter was done and off to get them those, she looked back at Roman. "So what made you decide you wanted to start working out?" Mira tapped the table as gently as she possibly could, which still caused a loud 'thump' sound, and tilted her head in curiosity. "You clearly don't live around here."
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Roman
With the waiter gone, Roman let out a grumble. However, the moment that thump went off, he stared at her finger, then back at her. Folding his arms over his chest, he leaned back into his chair.
"Well its a stupid dream, but I want to be strong," he said, slamming his hand into the table. "I want to be as strong as any supernatural in this city. No I want to be stronger than all of them put together! I figured the first step is to start working out so I can get a body like one. I heard that in this city if you work hard enough, you can get a body that can match any vampire or warewolf in the city."
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Mira
"Yeah, most of them. If you have the money to pay for the gym membership." Mira lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "So you want to get strong. Why? Do you like fighting? Are you protecting something? Does knowing someone exists who's stronger than you offend you?"
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Roman
Roman sneered at the question. "You know, it pisses me off that your so on the nose," he said, flashing her a malicious smile. "Yeah. It pisses me off that someone is stronger than me. Specifically, that people in this world are born special and rise through the ranks with their special abilities. everyone in this damn city worth remembering has uncomprehendible power. They can't stand above me if they are licking my boots!"
The man slowly removed his hand from the table, letting it fall at his side once again. "Let me guess, your one of them aren't you?"
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Mira
"Worked for every bit of it." Her answer was immediate, and she clenched her hand audibly as if to demonstrate. "Only advantage I have is healing a bit faster than most."
If she was bothered by his ego, or his hostile intentions, Mira didn't let it show. Instead she lowered her fist and grinned at him. "Don't think I'll be doing any licking, though. You're welcome to try."
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Roman
Roman smiled and said, "Oh i'm going to like you. I tell you what, if and when I do kick your ass, ill just step on you instead. Sound fair?"
The man returned the gesture with an elbow to the table and an outstretched closed fist. Then with a deep breath, he relaxed that fist, opening it up to the world. "Unfortunately, I have nothing right now. I don't even have special healing like you did. I need something to get me up there. Honestly, anything could work."
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Mira
"Well, your best bet to start is just to increase your physical ability." Mira said while idly scanning the crowd for the waiter. She really wanted her coffee, damn it. "All the fighting skill in the world won't matter if you're so far outclassed your attacks do nothing and you get swatted like a fly. So you were right coming to this place."
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Roman
Roman raised an eyebrow and said, "Wait why are you still on board with helping me? I usually lose people after the crazy rant. Yet your looking at me like a completely normal person."
A clanking sound could be heard as the waiter came up behind them. He was pushing a cart carrying their drinks. "Your coffee ma'am," he said, placing the cup on the table. Another clank filled the air as he placed down two wine glasses filled with water.
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Mira
"Huh?" She blinked a few times and tilted her head, but then the smell of coffee arrived and she took a minute to utterly ignore Roman in favor of smiling at the waiter. "Thanks! I've been craving some caffeine." Mira immediately went about enjoying that for a little bit. "Ahh~"
But then, finally, knowing she was being stared at for ignoring the question. She placed her cup down in front of her, half empty, and said "You'll either give up when it gets too hard, or you'll keep pushing until you're more than just bluster. Kinda cool to see which way it goes, ya know?"
Her eyes pierced into him, as if daring him to pick the first one.
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Roman
The waiter looked at the two of them. It looked like he was interrupting something, but his brain wandered towards the most natural thing. "Are you two ready to order?"
Roman didn't hear the waiter. No, he was frozen in place, as if those words by themselves were a binding spell, a cage crafted by the nexus's most powerful mage. The eyes that stared back at her weren't the eyes of a man who knew the first not the second. In fact, deep down, he knew that he could have started this process earlier. Indeed if he was right about this he could have been a powerful teenager, but instead, he waited until he had reached his 20s. Why? Why did he do that? It was a simple but pathetic answer, because he lacked the will, because deep down he thought of himself as beneath those who were special, those who were "abnormal."
"Yeah," he said, staring at her with a blank expression.
But not today. He would conquer everything.
That blank expression turned into a small smirk. "I think you'll be happy. I'll show you that i'm the strongest weakling you've ever seen. If all that costs me is a stake and an expensive gym membership, I don't mind at all."
Now that he had regained his composure, he silently wondered why she dodged the question. In fact, this time, he waited for her to guide the conversation. After all, with an exchange like that even he could grasp the reality of the situation. The fact of the matter was she was stronger than him, in body and mind.
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Mira
Mira let out a hum as he mentioned the word 'steak', and then turned to the waiter with an innocent smile. "Oh, I think I would like the ribeye, medium..."
As she proceeded to get the largest steak available on the menu, with the most expensive vegetable sides they had, she just continued to smile. Like she was some pure virgin on a date rather than the cruel and cynical reality.
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Roman
GODAMN IT!
Roman eyed Mira, glaring at her with the intensity of a man who just watched hitler murder his jewish parents with a menrouah. Yes it was that dramatic. He was a man who lived with his parents and didn't make a lot of money. Plus he was a cheap shit and he was proud.
"I'll take the cheapest salad on the menu."
"Yes sir," the waiter said with a raised eyebrow.
As the man vanished into the crowd, Roman turned back to Mira. "Your going to give me your workout right? There is no way the gym alone is worth it anymore."
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Mira
"Huh. Your loss," Mira said as she grinned at him. Clearly thinking about steak. But then she let out a hum, and moved her hand about in that sort of way that said 'maybe?' "My workout is a little advanced for you right now. But I'll tell you what - I was weaker than you once."
She sat back in her chair, and flipped a stray bit of hair back over her shoulder.
"So I've got some pointers that can help you get the most out of what you find here. When you won't break like a twig, if you're still at it, I might help you figure out how to actually use that strength."
It was really good steak. He didn't even understand.
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Roman
Roman rolled back into his chair, taken a back. "Weaker than me? What were you a cripple?" he asked, immediately realizing that is what she meant. "Oh... i'm sorry."
Still he couldn't help but think about the training. He wondered if he could hold up against something that could possibly make a cripple into this. It couldn't be that bad if it worked on someone weaker than an average out of shape male adult. But then again.... the kind of mental fortitude she appeared to have had to come from somewhere, unless thats all hot air.
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Mira
"I know at least one quadriplegic who could break you like a twig." She waved Roman away, and picked up her cup of coffee to start finishing the rest up. "First lesson: Don't judge strength by appearances."
It was some pretty damn good coffee, too.
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Roman
"Oh well thanks for considering my ego," he retorted back, taking a sip of his water. "Do you mind if we start after the meal? I want to evolve from being able to get my ass handed to me by dudes in wheelchairs."
The waiter came back pushing a cart. The second it bumped with the table, the smell of fresh stake wandered towards the two. Roman sighed as he gazed upon the glorious meat. At the very least, it looked like it was worth the money.
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Mira
"No problem." Mira didn't make it clear if she was responding to his sarcasm or his question, because steak was officially here and she was smiling bright as a bulb up at the waiter. "Oh, thanks! Mmm, come to mama~"
The steak of course, not the waiter. As desirous as she was of it she managed not to eat like a slob. No, she took her time to savor the first bite...
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Roman
Roman rolled his eyes at her ignoring him, instead choosing to look down at his salad. It didn't look bad persay. It was an egg salad, all mushy but delectable. He sunk his fork into the meal, scooped some up and shoveled it into his mouth. It was not as tasty as the stake, he knew as much just from the way she ate. Although, he had heard that working out makes food taste better. Maybe that was the case for her?
Roman's eyes softened as he watched her. Honestly, it was sort of cute, the way she so genuinely munched down on the food. He couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he could find happiness living that genuinely, having that passion. Maybe if he completed his dream...
"Please don't tell me you want seconds," he said, his voice more monotone than usual. "But if you must, share it with me. You've got an eye for food... probably."
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Mira
"Hmm?" She looked up from her steak, guileless, and then shrugged and swallowed. "Na, I'm not that mean. Though one of those things we're gonna be working on is diet too."
She wiped her mouth with the napkin there, actual wiping and not that fancy shmancy patting some people did when they had money.
"If you don't eat right you won't gain right and next thing you know you'll pull something and bam!"
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Roman
Roman stared at her for a moment, before dropping his fork in his salad. "Wait...." he muttered. "Does that mean you ordered the stupid expensive steak on purpose so that i'd buy a salad, thus making me eat healthier!? Was this all part of your evil plan?!"
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Mira
Shit, that was actually a good idea.
Mira started laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. "Ohohohoho! You have seen past my schemes so easily!" She kept laughing to cover up her own embarrassment at being presumed more cunning than she actually was.
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Roman
Roman's face became red. Shoveling the salad into his mouth made him want to cry. One day.... One day...
After a moment or two of silent eating, Roman looked up at the girl. "By the way, why do you train? Why did you get so damn ripped? I mean, you can be healthy without being that strong. Are you one of those body builder girls or fitness models?"
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Mira
"I like to fight."
There was no hesitation between the end of Roman's question and the beginning of the answer. It hardly stopped her from steadily devouring her side dishes before the main course, the only pauses being to swallow before speaking.
"Strength without the knowledge and skill to use it is close to useless. Nothing shows both more than fighting."
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Roman
"Thats it? All you want to do is fight?" he asked, still admiring her strange gluttonous eating style. He realized why it looked cute. Its sort of a weird trait for a girl, the juxtaposition of something manly on a girl.
He looked at his salad, then at the meat... "Is that really what you work so hard for? I mean, isn't it hard to train? To work for such a petty reason is..."
Well maybe he didn't understand. After all, until now, he hadn't really fought hard for anything. No, even now he wasn't fighting that hard.
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Mira
Hearing that, seeing that, it caused the purple-haired martial artist to pause in her meal. Mira looked him right in the eyes, and just kinda... stared.
"It's what you're going to have to do if you wanna get good. If you wanna be the best."
She reached across the table, and grabbed Roman by the shirt before he could react.
"If you don't wanna pay the price for what you want, give up now. Don't waste my time."
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Roman
Roman's eyes widened as she grabbed his collar. All the sudden, he realized that his shirt was getting moist. He was sweating. "No! I can do it! I promise! I.... I told myself I couldn't go home until I trained today. I'll keep that promise!"
After all, he did want to be strong. Still, what did she mean? Was the price working hard or only enjoying the thrill of a fight?
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Mira
She shook him a bit, ignoring the attention their little scuffle was drawing. "And tomorrow. And the next day! Got it?!"
Mira's bright eyes were wide, filled with an almost frightening intensity as she seemingly attempted to drill motivation into Roman's head.
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Roman
Roman stared at Mira. His pupils shook with fear, fear of what would happen if he disappointed her. Despite him believing she could back up any threat she dished out, it wasn't physical harm he was afraid of. No, he was afraid of himself. What if he quit? If he lost such a good opportunity, he might as well give up on all of his dreams. He might as well let himself fade away.
"I'll do it!" he said, his voice shaky. "I'll do it!"
"Your check?" The waiter was standing beside them the entire time. Who knows how long he was waiting.
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Mira
And just like that, Mira let him go and sat back down. She smiled at the waiter. "Yeah, he's got this. Thanks."
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Roman
It was at this point that he had established a habit in his brain. Everytime she mentioned the money he imagined digging his foot into those stupid abs of hers, victorious over her smug face. After she gave him that harsh treatment, it only felt more intense. Well, maybe that was the fear that she had thrust so violently into his heart. Instead of his usual groan, he smiled at the waiter and said,
"Yeah its worth every penny."
"Well I am pleased you enjoyed your stay," the waiter responded. "Give me a moment."
"Sure."
The door slammed behind them, generating a small thud. "Honestly, that wasn't as bad as I thought," Roman said, putting his arms behind his head.
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Mira
7:10 PM Nexus Time
Mira patted her partially exposed belly through the tear in her shirt left from the fight hours back. "Good, because we haven't even gotten started. You're gonna follow me to this gym I used when I was getting started."
It had been a long time ago, and she wasn't really welcome to use any of the stuff there herself, but Mira didn't bother telling him that. Instead she grinned, and motioned for him to follow.
She started along the way without waiting to see if he listened.
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Roman
All Roman could think as he stared at Mira's belly was, man I wish I had abs like that....
But what he ended up saying was, "Sure, i'll do whatever you want." He thought he was nailing it pretty well, placing his hands behind his head, folded behind him like one of those cool jrpg protagonists.
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Mira
"Ya sure? Really, really sure?" Mira gave Roman a Look, the sort that withered over-confident early series shounen guys on the vine until they got their second wind of determination from being shouted at for being a wuss. Then she shrugged, and started to jog down the street. "Alright, keep up then!"
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Roman
The glare struck at his very core, his body paralyzed, his nerves broken. All of that bravado was gone in a moment. No it wasn't gone, merely hiding under a layer of fear. Of what he was scared of, he didn't understand yet. Roman watched for a moment as Mira's body flowed so gracefully forward, her strides effortless but powerful.
Inhale the pain and exhale the hesitation.
With that task done, Roman followed behind Mira, silent, his eyes locked on the purple-haired woman.
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Mira
At first her pace was fine, a light jog at most that even Roman wouldn't be too winded by. Mira's pace picked up over the next several minutes, seeming to plateau each time Roman caught up with her pace for a minute and then upping the ante from there.
But when he inevitably faltered, she slowed back down until he could catch up.
They didn't seem to actually be going anywhere yet.
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Roman
The hardest part is taking your first step. What a load of absolute bullshit. That was the easy part. The sound of his steps in sync with the vision of Mira's muscular back in front of him. Yes, this wouldn't be so hard after all.
That was just the first few minutes.
Doubt, the truest fear of all. Its paralyzing toxin trickled into Roman's body, almost as if it were being sucked in by the inhales that ran a bit harsher than normal. As the soft pants turned into harsh gasps, the trickle became a flood. Why did you bother coming out here? You can't do this! Your just a human, nothing special. You have no special powers, no particular genius, nothing. You can't possibly keep up with her! Look at those muscles! Do you really want to bother keeping up with her?
The panting became light wheezing.
Why don't you just stop now and see if she can match your pace, let you be a bit slower. Maybe.... maybe she will go easy on you. Your not special. You never were! You can't possibly expect to start with this much effort right off the bat.
"GRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH" he yelled, speeding up behind her. DAMN IT! ITS NOT TRUE! IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE! I WILL BECOME SOMETHING!
I WILL BE MORE SPECIAL THAN EVERYONE ELSE!
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Mira
And as if that were the very sign that Mira was waiting for she burst ahead, going double her previous speed while weaving between people on the sidewalk and not losing pace! Roman quickly lost track of her, only for moments later to find Mira coming up from behind him and running right next to him. "You enjoying your warm-up?!"
-
Roman
Roman could feel his heart pounding in his chest, begging him to stop. He blinked, her body vanishing in the split second. Tears began to well up in his eyes but for some reason he didn't stop running. That moment would stick with him. Well, maybe the reason was that Mira popped up behind him, scaring him into shooting forward with a sudden sprint.
"Holy sh- wait did you say warm up?"
-
Mira
"Hm?" She stopped, letting him catch up and hopping on her heels with a grin. "Yeah, that's the warm up! Here's the first lesson I got for ya: I couldn't afford gyms at the start. I had to make do with what I had, and that was the streets. My own body, barely."
She pointed to a nearby tree planted along the side of the sidewalk.
"You see that tree? Did my first pull-ups on one just like it. Got a nice hanging branch and everything. You're gonna give it a go next. Wanna see how strong those arms are."
-
Roman
The second Roman caught up to Mira, he kneeled over, gasping wildly. Each heave of his breath felt like a hand crushing his lunges, pumping them sadistically to remind him of the value of life, only to threaten that life by choking him. Really, he had forgotten he had lunges, had a heart. But it was impossible to ignore a heart that was thumping so wildly in his chest.
He wanted it to stop.
"Wait.... but I have money," he said, still heaving a little bit. "I might be weak but I have a job. I can afford a gym."
-
Mira
Some of the locals gave them odd looks as Mira shrugged, completely unbothered by the exercise they'd done so far. "Fair enough. How many hours you work at that job? What kind of work is it?"
She held a hand up and counted with her fingers. "How fast do you think you'll become the best working a nine to five? How late are you willing to stay up? How early are you willing to wake up?"
-
Roman
Still heaving he sauntered over to the pull-up bar. Despite Mira getting as close as she could to physically threatening him earlier, the bar somehow scared him more than her. He stared at it for a moment before turning to continue the conversation.
"I... its just an office job," he said. "I just manage this big system. It pays pretty well and all I have to do is essentially defer to people more capable to me. I work long hours, very long. Its strange... as i've gotten older I noticed time passed me by quicker, but in that office, I am basically a baby. The minutes are like hours, the hours like days. Depending on the time of the year it can be an eight to twelve-hour shift, but it somehow always feels even longer...."
Roman stopped. "Wait... what are you asking me? Slow down!"
-
Mira
Mira stopped, and allowed her hand to fall to her side with a deep sigh. It did interesting things to her chest while she shook her head.
"Just... look, I'm asking, how much are you willing to give up to become the best?"
-
Roman
Roman stopped, his breath finally slowing. It was weird. He felt alive, oh so alive. Life and death pulled at his heart, dragging it down while feeding him the satisfaction of having done something. Finally, Roman took a deep breath and said,
"I am willing to do anything."
-
Mira
"One hundred pull-ups, or until your arms can't move. Whichever comes first."
Mira just stared at him, daring Roman to prove himself a liar.
-
Roman
Well... he still meant what he said, but that didn't mean the bar looked any less intimidating. Roman approached the bar, each step having the weight of an elephant. Time seemed to slow down. All the sudden he took notice of the way his shoes ground against the dirt. Standing in front of the bar, he gulped.
I have to do it, no matter how stupid I look.
And he did look pretty stupid, at least he felt like he looked stupid. The man grabbed hold of the bar with two hands and tried with all his might to go up. However, all he could muster was his arms wiggling in frustration. Still hanging, he turned to Mira and said, "So I take it I still have one hundred more right?"
-
Mira
"... wow, you suck." Mira shook her head, and sighed in a small amount of disappointment. But then she smacked her fist into her palm, and nodded to herself. "Guess there's nothing to it. Try again! And again! And if you can't, get down on the ground and start giving me push ups!"
-
Roman
"So thats a yes..." he said, trying to pull up the bar. This was pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Roman kept pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pullling. Nothing changed, not a single one. He could feel the helplessness, the weakness of his own futility. So he did as his coach said, and dropped to the ground, pressing down into a push up. As he came back up, his arms wobbled, just barely pushing his body up once.
"N-now what? Mira... how much more do we have in this workout...?"
-
Mira
She visibly restrained a sigh. "Give me at least another ten of those."
-
Roman
A feeling of shame sunk into his heart as he felt her disappointment wash over him. "I can do more.... well I can push my body to try to do more!" The fact of the matter was that he still wasn't doing enough to reach his goals. He wanted to be the best. A no talent hack could never achive that without serious effort and endurance. The question was, how do you get something like that?
"Mira... can I ask you something?" he asked, wobbling upwards after another pushup.
-
Mira
She just nodded, waiting patiently despite how pitiful the display before her was. She didn't even make it more uncomfortable by making bored sounds or shaking her head again! But then Roman asked a question, and Mira took a moment to put some hair back behind her ear.
"Sure, whatcha got?"
-
Roman
"Was it worth it....?" he asked. "Like when you got to be as fit as you are, did you turn around and realize all the hours spent working your body came at too high a cost?" With that breath, he finally shot up to the top of the pushup. Once he went back down, he started trying to speak again. Did....AGH!"
The ground was oppressive. He had never thought of the ground as an oppressive force. It was something to push other people into. It was the dirt. To be shoved into the dirt was one of life's great humilations but.... but it was taunting him now.
"Do you still feel like going further?"
-
Mira
Mira was quiet for a moment after Roman asked that question. Her face twisted into a frown of concentration, like he had asked something strange.
Still, after that fight from earlier...
A smile crossed her pretty face. "Yeah. It really is - and I'm still going now. I don't know where the future takes me, but I know there are people stronger than me out there still." She clenched one of her fists tight enough for the sound to echo, and her smile grew teeth. "I'm ain't gonna stop until I can look 'em in the eye."
-
Roman
Roman growled, pushing down and up, down and up twice. When he grew strong, he would have to remember the power of a cute smile and encouraging words. Truely there could be no greater power.
"Make me your student," he said, finishing his pushups and sitting down crossed legged.
-
Mira
She blinked a few times, but then Mira shrugged in obvious ambivalence. "Tell you what - show me you can keep at this for a few weeks. Basic physical conditioning stuff. I'll check in and correct you if you're doing something stupid with it. If you can, I'll help you get the rest of the way."
Then she frowned. "But if I don't see you sticking with it, I'm not gonna waste my time. Got it?"
-
Roman
Roman nodded. "I understand."
This time, he wasn't subtle about checking her out. If cute girls were power, then he would unashamedly take in all of it. That cute face, purple hair, feminine figure: it was all so beautiful. One would think that the built muscles attached to that feminine figure would be intimidating, manly even but it was the opposite. The juxtaposition of the strong features with the feminine ones only accentuated both, with the added edge of fear and jealousy. As he stared at those abs and arms, he had only one thought.
I want to be that strong.
"And what happens if I do manage to stick with it huh?" he asked, that cocky grin returning.
-
Mira
If Mira was bothered by Roman's roaming eyes, or his sudden display of covetous desire, she certainly didn't show it. Instead her frown turned into a rather wicked smirk. "Then we get to the real work out." She gave him a once over again, quickly. "How fast do you heal, again...?"
-
Roman
"Uhhhh.... as fast as any non superpowered human I guess?" he asked, a chill suddenly running down his spine. He wondered if maybe she was about to do something to him he probably was not going to like.
-
Mira
Her pretty eyes blinked a few times. "Huh. This is going to take a while, then."
She shrugged, and then pointed over her shoulder down the street. "Might as well get started again. Run around the block a couple times while I find something to write on."
-
Roman
"Goddamn it..." he grumbled starting a modestly paced jog past her. Once he got away, he picked up the pace, moving at a relatively intense speed. He had always heard running was about pacing yourself or something. It didn't matter. She said to run around a couple of times, which in his mind meant three. If he didn't ask to clarify, she couldn't get mad at him for not knowing right?
Every minute of that run was filled with those same thoughts. Could he do this. Please stop running. Your legs hurt, its hard. But this time, he kept running, he ignored those thoughts.
It took about 15 minutes of constant running but he finally arrived back where she was sitting. Coming to a full stop, it felt like his heart was trying to blast through his chest. Every breath was a gasp, his underdeveloped chest going in and out. "What are you doing?" he finally asked in between breaths.
-
Mira
By the time Roman was done, Mira was standing there with a new black shirt, the tear revealing her abs to the world finally gone, and a pad of paper with a pen scribbling on it. She looked up as he stopped, took a look at his weak and sweaty body, and nodded. "Just writing up your workout routine. And diet."
She dotted an i and then tore the sheet off the pad before holding it out for him. "Follow this one. Don't skip any days."
-
Roman
Roman's heart sank as he approached. The view of the abs were gone, a damn shame. Instead of abs, all she had for him was responsibility. Reaching out his hand, he grabbed the paper and attempted to take it from her.
"And if I follow this you'll train me for real? I know this isn't the real deal."
-
Mira
"Well, yeah. That's what I said." Mira pulled the paper back for a moment, and then waved it at Roman a couple of times. "I won't waste my time if you're not serious! But if you are, I'll put you through hell and you'll come out the other side."
-
Roman
Roman stared at her, eyes blinking in before he said, "And then what are you going to do now then?" he asked.
-
Mira
Mira blinked at that question, clearly not having thought that far. "Uh... probably go home and update my instagram. Or check to see if that check I was waiting for came in." She frowned and tapped her chin in consideration. "I didn't bring my phone to that fight earlier."
-
Roman
"What?"
That was so mandane. Roman had always assumed people with powers went home to extravagant homes, or at least some mountain or cult lair or something. Aren't powers supposed to drastically change your life? Well, maybe if you do it naturally, it is more subtle.
"Oh sure... Actually no... why do you have an Instagram?"
-
Mira
Seemingly ignorant of Roman's bafflement, Mira just shrugged to herself and put her arms back behind her head. "Gotta post my pics somewhere, ya know? Not like I don't have friends."
The purple-head grinned. "Make sure you don't forget to have those along the way to power, or your life is gonna suck."
-
Roman
"Your instagram followers?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Whatever. Lucky you. I imagine you can just make freinds when you get the power. Its not like anyone is really there for you when your weak. When your weak, your nobody."
Roman sighed. "Sorry. Thats not true. Your helping me and i'm weak. Truthfully, I do not understand that. Is it pity? Or something else?"
-
Mira
"I don't do pity."
For the first time since he'd met her, Roman could feel the disdain in Mira's voice. It passed with nary a further comment, and she started waving him off as soon as it did.
"Maybe I'll tell you, if you keep at this for a while."
-
Roman
Roman's eyes widened as he heard Mira's voice. She was dead serious. He could hear the sheer disgust at the thought. At the very least, it appeared like the very suggestion that she was pitying him was insulting. I guess that made sense considering she said she used to be even weaker than him. Mira probably thought the same things in her darkest hours.
Goddamn it!
For a moment, Roman stared deep into Mira's cyan eyes, searching for an answer. However, he found nothing, not a single thing. Whatever she saw in him was beyond his experience. "Well damn. I guess I have to find out now. What happens if I gain power some other way?"
-
Mira
"I mean, you could try if you want." Mira turned and made to walk away now. "I don't really do cheating, either."
She waved back over her shoulder, a two-fingered salute with her right hand.
"Be seeing you around, Roman. Hit me up if you run into a snag."
-
Roman
"Cheating huh?" he said, wondering just what her life was like back in the day to say something like that.
-
Sakura and Shirou
12 PM, Nexus Time (following day)
Having returned home from an enjoyable but mostly uneventful dinner, Sakura and Shirou spent the evening together, before finally going to bed. The morning after, Shirou suggested that it might be a good idea to check out the gyms in the nearby Swole City district, which they had heard were exceptional quality, quite possibly even supernaturally-so. Aware of their need to maintain fitness, Sakura agreed with his suggestion and, so, the two of them took a gentle stroll out there, eventually arriving a little before midday.
When they arrived, they wandered around for a while, looking for some advice or a gym that looked interesting. They were in no real hurry, after all, they had plenty of money and no emergency which they needed to help deal with had arisen.
-
Rin Tohsaka
As they wandered down the street, a familar raven haired woman walked out of an extremely high class, massively expensive gym. However, something was off about her.
Sakura could feel the familar taint of shadows on her sister, as if she were made of them. Bound together into a humanoid form. She began walking at a brisk pace to another place, somewhere else.
But most strangely, she looked entirely too happy in the maid outfit she was wearing.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura did a double-take as she saw the familiar twin-tailed girl walk out of a nearby gym.
N..nee-san? she thought, confused, looking the girl over.
However, looking at what appeared to be her sister in greater detail only confused matters further. The girl was dressed in a maid outfit, something she'd never expect to see her sister wearing, and she wasn't acting like she was unhappy about it, either, despite there being no sign of her presumed employer, Luvia. And, even more oddly, Sakura could feel a shadowy taint on her, something akin to what she felt coming from her own shadow familiars. Thoroughly confused and maybe a little hopeful, Sakura decided to approach the girl, Shirou following behind her.
"N..nee-san?" she said, uncertainly. "What are you doing here?"
-
Rin Tohsaka
Rin turned around and stared at Sakura with a stupid, clueless expression. After a few seconds, a flash of recognition crossed her face and she smiled.
"Oh, Sakura, I'm so happy to see you!" It was as if gears were whirring in her head, but her voice sounded exactly like Sakura's sister. "I'm sorry about that." She did a curtsy, bowing well below her sister in a sign of contrition and weakness. "I'm simply too much of an idiot to have greeted you properly. Please forgive your moronic sister."
Then, her expression turned flat and robotic. "What can I help you with, Master?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura was confused and a little bit irritated by the clueless expression on her sister's face. Had Rin really forgotten who she was? Her own little sister?
Before she could say anything, however, the girl suddenly had a flash of recognition, and began to greet her happily, albeit a little robotically. But, then, things began to get weird, as the girl bowed, apologising profusely and insulting herself in the process. Sakura was surprised, amused and a little embarrassed by the display, wondering what exactly was happening. Shirou, meanwhile, could barely suppress a giggle at the sight, something that he felt might have come straight out of one of Sakura's darker fantasies.
But, before Sakura or Shirou could say anything, the girl's expression and tone changed once more, this time to something far more robotic. Addressing Sakura as "master", she asked what the girl wanted. For a few moments, Sakura looked at her, dumbstruck, before she came to a realisation. The girl's bizarre behaviour, the robotic manner in which she was acting and the weird, shadowy taint all pointed to one thing. This girl was some kind of very advanced shadow familiar. And, given the manner in which she was reacting to Sakura, Sakura's own history with her sister and her knowledge of what she might potentially be capable of, she had no doubt that this girl was the creation of an alternate Sakura. One who, seemingly, had even more issues with her sister than she did.
For a moment, Sakura hesitated. The last version of her that she had met had been completely insane, attempting to kidnap Shirou. And making a shadow maid that looked like Rin and humiliating her hardly pointed to sanity, either. At the same time, though, it wasn't really harmful, and it was something she could maybe have seen herself doing, once, if she had the capability. And finding a potential ally would be useful. So, she addressed the familiar with a smile.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me where the person who created you is?" Sakura asked. "I would like to talk to her."
-
Rin Tohsaka
"I'm sorry, my dearest little sister who I wronged so badly, I cannot. My mistress is currently asleep, although she may awaken soon. She fought a great battle last night where hundreds of people died before she saved the district of longdale. A dumb fool like me couldn't possibly understand it in its entirety, but she was very heroic."
Another bow.
"Any other questions for your foolish servant?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura rolled her eyes at the over-exaggerated, self-depreciating manner in which the fake Rin was apologising. Even so, a part of her did enjoy the feeling of superiority over her sister that the display gave her, even if it was entirely fake. But, even beyond that, the girl's words were interesting. On the way out, they had seen the damage caused in their district, and they had heard the stories of the battle. To find that her alternate self had apparently risked her life to defeat a giant and save their district from destruction was very gratifying, and gave her a much better impression of her than she had gotten from the ridiculously-self-depreciating Rin clone which she had turned into her personal servant.
"Oh, really? She did that?" Sakura asked. "That's quite impressive."
Then, Shirou spoke up.
"I'm not sure there's much for us to ask you, sorry", he said, politely. "But we would definitely like to meet her, if we can."
-
Rin Tohsaka
Rin turned her face, and stared at Shirou.
She snorted in derision at the taller man, and seemed to be looking down on him.
"And you are...?" She waved her hands, expecting him to explain just why he thought he had the right to talk to her, the tohsaka princess.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura glared at the construct, annoyed by the dismissive attitude she was taking to her beloved husband. It only enhanced her impression that this was a cheap, knock-off copy of her sister, who would never normally be so rude to Shirou. Further, from the construct's behaviour, she knew that an answer from her would get a much more positive reaction than one from him, so she decided to answer quickly, before Shirou himself could respond.
"This is my husband, Shirou", she said, clearly irritated. "He's a wonderful, kind man and you should treat him with respect."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura glared at the construct, annoyed by the dismissive attitude she was taking to her beloved husband. It only enhanced her impression that this was a cheap, knock-off copy of her sister, who would never normally be so rude to Shirou. Further, from the construct's behaviour, she knew that an answer from her would get a much more positive reaction than one from him, so she decided to answer quickly, before Shirou himself could respond.
"This is my husband, Shirou", she said, clearly irritated. "He's a wonderful, kind man and you should treat him with respect."
Rin Tohsaka
Rin blinked, and her form shimmered. "Mistress, I don't understand-what do you mean, husband?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura blinked for a moment, sure that she had seen the girl momentarily shimmer in response to to her question, before sighing at the comment.
"He's my husband. The person I chose to marry, the man I love", she replied. "I would appreciate it if you would show him the respect he deserves."
-
Rin Tohsaka
Rin glowered at Shirou. "My lady, what about your sister? Are you intent on betraying her as well!"
-
Sakura and Shirou
A look of utter bemusment came over Sakura's face in response to the construct's comment.
"W..what do you mean, betraying my sister? I've barely even spoken to her since I was four, and she has no claim on Sen.. my husband in any case", she said.
"Besides, your master doesn't seem like she holds her sister in particularly high regard either, judging from how she programmed you."
-
Sakura and Shirou
A look of utter bemusment came over Sakura's face in response to the construct's comment.
"W..what do you mean, betraying my sister? I've barely even spoken to her since I was four, and she has no claim on Sen.. my husband in any case", she said.
"Besides, your master doesn't seem like she holds her sister in particularly high regard either, judging from how she programmed you."
Rin Tohsaka
"I am not my lady's sister!"
Her eyes flashed red, and inky black tendrils sprouted from her back, pointing at the couple. "Even from you, my mistress, I cannot tolerate such a flagrant disrespect for her!" The raven-haired fascimile of her sister seemed to gyrate in an unstable manner, and her eyes rolled around in their sockets. "You must-you cannot be allowed to insult Lady Edelfeldt in such a manner, my mistress!"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura's eyes widened at the construct's angry reaction and apparently breakdown, thoroughly confused by her words. Recognising the hostile intent, Sakura took a step backwards, giving Shirou a look to indicate that he should remain silent and not initiate anything. Then, she paused for a few moments, as Shirou summoned up his swords to defend them both if necessary, before speaking briefly.
"I don't understand what you mean I wasn't intending to insult anyone", Sakura said, before pausing again to consider the situation.
From the construct's reaction, it appeared that she believed that Sakura's sister was an Edelfelt. And, given the issues that her alternate self seemed to have with her birth sister, it figured that she had been given to another family at some stage, just like Sakura herself had been. In which case, perhaps she had ended up in the Edelfelt family, instead of as a Matou. Presumably, given her age and status, the "sister" in question would be Luvia.
"I don't know your creator's past, but from your reaction, it seems like she was adopted into the Edelfelt family. I was not, I was adopted by the Matou family instead. As such, I have no sister other than my biological sister, Rin. I was not intending to insult your mistress or her adoptive sister, who I am sure is a very good sister. I simply was not aware that your creator had a sister other than the one you are based on", Sakura said, calmly and carefully.
-
Rin Tohsaka
Rin didn't seem to respond much at all to Sakura's words. The tendrils that had sprouted from her back seemed to solidify in a way Sakura wouldn't be able to fathom, taking on the color of skin before the ends shaped themselves into hands. Clothing sprouted from her back, becoming sleeves for her eight new elongated arms. It was highly likely that every part of her was constructed in such a manner.
"Holy shit!" They heard from off to the side. An enormous, strapping man with bulging muscles and well-oiled bronzed skin and wearing a tank top dropped his latte on the ground. "That bitch just grew eight arms!"
Rin turned to glare at him, and a dark aura began to emanate from her body. The man burst off into a sprint, along with the rest of the pedestrians. Some took out their phones to call the police, others to record whatever was going to go down, while others simply ran as fast as they could.
However, the construct suddenly went limp, head collapsing downwards and standing perfectly still, as if her power had simply been turned off.
All ten of her arms hung limp at her side.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura watched with confusion as the tendrils began to form into fully-fledged arms, forming hands and, eventually, even clothing. The bystanders were equally bemused, one of them earning a dark glare from the construct as a result, causing them to all flee in panic. Seeing the potential threat, both Sakura and Shirou reacted, tensing up in preparation for a fight. However, before anything happened, the construct suddenly went limp, collapsing forwards like a robot which had been powered-off.
Sighing in relief, both Sakura and Shirou stood down.
"What was that?" Shirou said, bemused.
"I'm not sure, I guess some kind of malfunction", Sakura replied. "I think we should stay well away from it, in case it wakes up."
"You're right, but I think we need to wait for the police to arrive, at least. Otherwise it might go rogue and hurt someone", Shirou responded.
"Yes, I suppose", Sakura said. "Plus, I would like to meet with her creator, if we can."
So, the two of them took a seat nearby and waited, keeping watch over the construct to ensure that it did not awaken and begin to attack people.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
12:30 PM, Nexus Time
Thirty minutes passed before Rin moved. People started to walk past her, giving her a wide bearth but otherwise ignoring her. They'd seen stranger things before. Rin stood perfectly upright, tendril arms limp against the ground and head hanging low. She didn't even seem to be breathing anymore.
But then, she suddenly stood upright, and split in half, opening up into what Sakura could recognize as a portal. And then, she saw a taller, more european looking version of herself walk out of her sister. She snapped her fingers, and Rin melted into the ground, returning to the abyss. She wore tight sweatpants and a sports bra that clung to her body, and her hair had the same drills that they had seen on Luviagelita, with her hair behind her tied up in a perfect braid.
She had well defined, striking looks-far better than Sakura. Her breasts had no sag to them, and there was no flab on her body whatsoever. Instead, she had a ten pack chiseled on her stomach, and perfect musculature showing off her impossible fitness. She turned to look at Sakura with her red, glowing eyes, raising one of them.
"So, you're the one who broke my familar?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Realising that the construct wasn't looking likely to move any time soon, Sakura and Shirou decided that this would be a good time to eat the lunch they had prepared before departing. So, the two of them took out their bentos and began to eat as they continued to watch the motionless construct. However, even after taking the time to eat, the construct had still not moved, and the two of them began to get a little impatient.
"Senpai, I don't think it's going to move", Sakura said. "We might want to get back to searching for a gym."
"I think we should wait a little longer, just to be sure", Shirou replied. "I don't want people getting hurt because of our negligence."
They waited a little while longer, considering whether it made sense to make a move. However, before they could make that decision, the construct suddenly jerked upright without warning. Surprised, the two of them immediately jumped off the bench they had been sitting on, preparing to take action if necessary. However, instead of moving to attack, the construct simply split apart, revealing what was clearly a portal, made out of Sakura's own magic. Out of which stepped a girl who was recognisably Sakura but, yet, also clearly different. She was taller, for a start. Her hair was set into drills, like those they had seen on her presumed sister. And she was beautiful, even in comparison to her alternate self. Her breasts were perfect, her body was chiselled and completely lacking in fat.
Neither Shirou nor Sakura could take their eyes off her. Shirou couldn't help but rake his eyes over the familiar-yet-different body, his gaze lingering especially on her full, perfect breasts, clad only in a tight sports bra. And Sakura, meanwhile, couldn't help but compare herself to the alternate, a comparison which was certainly not flattering. The girl had perfectly-chiselled abs and, unlike Sakura, her body was completely free of fat, aside from in the places where it was desired. She felt utterly inferior, a feeling that was worstened by a glance as her clearly-entranced husband. Yet, as she looked closer, Sakura couldn't help but notice a small bump in her trousers, something that would not be out of place on her husband.
Is that...? she thought, feeling a little better about herself at the thought that the girl might not be as perfect as she appeared.
But, then, Sakura's thoughts were brought back to their situation, as the girl looked in her direction and spoke, asking about the familiar.
"I suppose. But we never actually touched it. It would be more accurate to say that it broke itself, really", Sakura replied.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura scratched her forehead and gave her double a quizzical look. "Huh." She said quietly, happy that the overbearing bulge was shrinking away by the minute.
Usually Sapphire's medicines has far longer term effects.
"She probably got confused. Typical of Rin, really."
She walked forward, ignoring Shirou other than giving him a glance. She didn't really care about this woman's paramour and was far more interested in her smaller double.
Her red eyes twinkled with interest, stopping about a foot in front of Sakura and looking down at her.
"Well, come on. Introduce yourself. "My name is Sakura Edelfeldt, as I'm sure you're already aware.
She flipped one of her long purple drills, enjoying the feeling of superiority that came with being so obviously checked out by the two.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura grinned momentarily at the girl's comment, amused by her obvious dislike of their mutual sister. Then, as the girl approached her and asked for an introduction, Sakura bowed slightly.
"I'm Sakura Emiya, and this is my husband, Shirou", she said, gesturing in Shirou's direction, causing him to bow also. "Nice to meet you, Miss Edelfelt."
"As for your construct, yes, it seems like it got confused. I was never adopted by the Edelfelt family, so when she referred to my sister, I assumed she meant the person she was based off. From the way she reacted, I'm guessing you have a very.. loving relationship with your sister. Luvia, is it?"
From the way the construct had spoken and her total lack of interest in Shirou, Sakura had the strong impression that the sort of love that the two sisters held for each other was not purely platonic. After all, why else would her marriage be seen as a betrayal?
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"One could describe it like that, yes." She flipped her curl again before smirking, showing a toothy grin. Her teeth were perfectly straight and white, but what was most noticable where the four elongated canines which betrayed her as a vampire.
"I will be the woman who bears Luvia's children." She sounded so matter of fact, as if it weren't something scandalous at all. She gave Shirou another look, as if she were checking something out about him.
Then, she gestured at Sakura. "So, I take it that you married him for love?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura and Shirou's eyes widened at the alternate Sakura's comment and the obviously-enlongated canines which she possessed. Sakura had figured that her alternate had a crush on her sister, but for her to express it so openly was still somewhat of a surprise. And the fact that she was seemingly some kind of vampire took them both by surprise.
"Y..yes, our marriage was not arranged", Sakura replied, still a little shocked at the girl's brazen comment. "I love him just as much as you appear to love your sister."
Then, Shirou spoke up.
"Erm, Miss Edelfelt, are you some kind of vampire?" he said, warily.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
She chuckled at their reaction, shaking her head. "Is it really so strange to have feelings for someone so close to you? No matter. I don't consider our relationship to be something to be ashamed of."
And then, Sakura moved with blinding speed, her hand lunging toward's Shirou's face at inhuman speeds, palm outstretched...
Only to flick his forehead lightly and chuckle. "Yes, I suppose I am, as of last night. Are you going to hunt me?" She stuck out her tongue at the two of them. "Congratulations on finding love. I can't imagine myself being attracted to a man, but if my alternate self is anything to go by, it must indeed be possible."
Finally, she turned her attention to Sakura again. "So, what's your real name. What family did our loving parents pawn you off to?"
As she asked, fury blazed in her eyes, palpable and terrifying. Her rage was raw and unrestrained, looking like she'd happily disembowel Tokiomi if he happened to appear in front of them. "I'm assuming Emiya is his name-" She said, pointing at Shirou. "-since I've never heard of it."
-
Sakura and Shirou
"It is generally considered strange to be sexually attracted to your sibling, yes", Sakura responded, slightly surprised that the girl was so open about her incestuous desires.
As she was speaking, though, the girl moved rapidly towards Shirou, lunging at him with an outstretched palm. He immediately summoned up his swords and began to swing his swords to cut off the girl's arm, but he was far too late. Sakura watched on with horror and anger as the girl's hand lunged towards his face. She prepared her own magic in a futile effort to fight back. Only for her to suddenly stop just short, flicking his head lightly. Immediately, Sakura dispelled her magic, and Shirou dispelled his swords mid-flight, ensuring that the girl would remain unharmed.
"Do you hurt innocent people?" Shirou replied. "If not, then it doesn't matter to me what you are."
Sakura, meanwhile, smiled at the comment about finding love, before being slightly taken aback by the sudden look of fury in the girl's eyes. Clearly it was aimed at the father who had abandoned them, but she would have thought that this version of her would hold less hatred towards him. She had, after all, seemingly found a loving family, and one which had trained her properly.
"Yes, Emiya is my husband's name. I was gifted to the Matou family by our wonderful father", Sakura replied, the disgust and anger she felt clear in her voice. "But they were.. not kind, and once I was free of their grasp I had no desire to retain their name."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"Feh. What mage family is?" She shrugged her shoulders lazily. "The Matou family is very well known. So he fucked off to that backwater?" She shook her head, taking a moment before responding. Her emotions were too high, and she could feel her blood boiling. "Well, if you don't care about your bloodline, then more power to you."
She didn't seem to really care about that in this moment. She wanted to know why he had the same magic as the Archer card.
"Do that again." She almost sounded to be commanding him. She rubbed her legs against each other, excited by the prospect of new magics she might be able to steal.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura looked at her alternate self with confusion, unsure what she was talking about with regards to the Matou family. However, she could tell that the girl was a little upset, and she seemed to want to drop the conversation, so Sakura saw no reason to respond. Instead, the alternate Sakura turned to address Shirou, asking him to replicate his earlier feat with a very commanding tone. In response, Shirou immediately did as she asked, summoning up his twin swords once more and swinging them towards her arm, only to dispel them again once they got close.
Sakura, meanwhile, watched with amusement, noting with interest that the girl seemed very excited by the sight, almost to the point of sexual arousal. On seeing Shirou's overly-literal reaction, she giggled.
"Senpai, I don't think she meant it that literally", she said, with obvious amusement.
"Oh, right...", Shirou said, feeling a bit silly. "Sorry, I'm just used to instinctively reacting to that tone of voice from my wife. In a battle, you have to trust your partner's decisions."
With that, he took a step back and summoned up his swords once more, this time holding them up so she could see.
"These are the weapons I most commonly fight with, Kanshou and Bakuya", he said, with a gentle smile on his face.
-
Sakura
Sakura rolled her eyes, unamused by their foolish antics. One needed to think, not to be commanded. His role could easily be fillrd by a dog if that was the extent of his abilities.
"No, show me the strongest attack you can do. Surely your magecraft is stronger than just one singular spell."
She snapped her fingers, and tendrils appeared behind her. "Let's make it simple. Do your best as a team to defeat me. I'll give you the first attack."
She felt herself brimming with magic, and quickly reinforced herself. She may have been looking down on their abilities, but that didn't mean she was going to act like an uncouth fool.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Shirou frowned at the girl's reaction, unsure how to respond. After all, he had no idea how strong she actually was, and he didn't want to risk accidentally killing her. Sakura, however, wanted to prove herself against this version of her who seemed better in every way, so she nodded.
"That sounds like it would be interesting", Sakura said. "However, I think it might be better if we were to fight somewhere without any bystanders who might get hurt."
"Yes, definitely", Shirou added. "I wouldn't be comfortable using most of my abilities in such a heavily-populated area."
-
Sakura
She chuckled. "Knowing these muscleheads, they'd like the show. But fine. Lead the way."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura nodded.
"OK, follow us, then", she said, before walking off at a reasonably brisk pace towards a nearby area of wasteland, sending one of her shadow familiars towards the top of a derelict building nearby as she did so.
After a few minutes' walking, they arrived at their destination, and Sakura nodded to her alternate self.
"OK, this will do", she said, grabbing hold of Shirou as she spoke. "We will need to start somewhat further apart, though. Se..Shirou's strongest attacks are ranged."
With that, Sakura began to chant.
"Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen!" she said, tendrils spreading over Shirou's body as she did so. "Verschwinden! Teleportieren!"
With that, the two of them vanished into Sakura's shadow, before exiting shortly after from the familiar on top of the building. On arrival, the two of them chatted for a few moments, discussing what would be the optimal strategy to win the fight without risking accidentially killing their opponent. Then, they took up their positions and began.
"Trace on!" Shirou said, tracing a bow and a copy of a moderately powerful Noble Phantasm, preparing to fire.
"Erschaffe Hornissenschwarm!" Sakura shouted, a swarm of hornets beginning to form behind her. "Mehr! Mehr!"
"Erzeugen Schattenigel! Wiederholen! Wiederholen!" she continued, forming several blobs of shadow a little way behind their opponent. "Angriff!"
Simultaneously to her finishing the chant and sending the hornets towards the other Sakura, Shirou shouted the name of his noble phantasm, sending it hurtling towards their opponent. However, instead of targetting her directly, which he felt would be too dangerous, he instead set it to explode a little in front of her, close enough that he expected it to send her flying backwards and cause her significant burns, but not to kill her outright. Then, to finish off the attack, as the girl attempted to evade, Sakura made one last chant.
"Schießen!" she shouted, sending spikes firing out of the shadow blob, intending to pierce their opponent.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"You're underestimating me." She said simply, not moving an inch from where she stood. A black wall quickly rose up in the spell's path, sucking the mana out of the explosion as it impacted and disintigrating into fine black dust. "If this was a real fight-" Another wall rose up behind her, rematerializing into her "sister", who proceeded to spread outwards and block her doppler's attacks.
"-you'd already be dead. Come at me seriously." Suddenly, she charged forward, sprinting towards them as fast as some servants moved. Within seconds, she'd have closed the distance.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Shirou watched with a look of shock on his face as the alternate Sakura simply absorbed the force of the blast into her shadow, with absolutely no apparent effect. Sakura was a little less surprised, aware that it was in principle possible, but nevertheless she was impressed by the girl's power.
"Apparently I did, yes. But I'd far sooner do that than overestimate you", Shirou said, in response to the girl's statement.
They were even more shocked at the girl's speed of movement. Fortunately, though, Sakura was used to fighting against such powerful enemies, and she repeated her trick from earlier.
"Abfangen! Entmündigen sie!" Sakura shouted, sending her hornets after the girl, instructing them to attempt to incapacitate her with their tranquilizing stings.
The hornets did as instructed, splitting into smaller groups in order to be more difficult to destroy. Wasting no time, Sakura began to chant again.
"Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen! Verschwinden! Teleportieren!" she chanted, sucking Shirou into her shadow dimension once more, before disappearing and reappearing on top of another derelict building.
Realising the girl's power, Sakura additionally sent small familiars to every other potential vantage point, ensuring that she would have the ability to continue to escape her much-faster opponent in this manner. Then, having recognised the girl's power and escaped to a safe distance, they made a second attempt at attacking her, this time taking her full power into account.
"Erstelle Schattenball!" Sakura shouted, pointing in the girl's direction. "Anderer! Und anderer! Alles aufspießen!"
In response to Sakura's chanting, several more blobs appeared, just behind and to the side of the girl, as well as one above her. Then, on her command, they sprouted large spikes, intending to pierce her. Meanwhile, Shirou, taking advantage of the distraction Sakura was hopefully creating, began to chant once more.
"I am the bone of my sword!" he said. "Caladborg!"
With that, he fired the powerful Noble Phantasm directly at their opponent, not holding back in the slightest. Sakura, meanwhile, continued to summon up little blobs of shadow, each one designed to impale her if she was not careful. And, unless they were destroyed by either the explosion or the alternate Sakura's attacks, the hornets would continue to attempt to sting her.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Shirou watched with a look of shock on his face as the alternate Sakura simply absorbed the force of the blast into her shadow, with absolutely no apparent effect. Sakura was a little less surprised, aware that it was in principle possible, but nevertheless she was impressed by the girl's power.
"Apparently I did, yes. But I'd far sooner do that than overestimate you", Shirou said, in response to the girl's statement.
They were even more shocked at the girl's speed of movement. Fortunately, though, Sakura was used to fighting against such powerful enemies, and she repeated her trick from earlier.
"Abfangen! Entmündigen sie!" Sakura shouted, sending her hornets after the girl, instructing them to attempt to incapacitate her with their tranquilizing stings.
The hornets did as instructed, splitting into smaller groups in order to be more difficult to destroy. Wasting no time, Sakura began to chant again.
"Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen! Aufsaugen! Verschwinden! Teleportieren!" she chanted, sucking Shirou into her shadow dimension once more, before disappearing and reappearing on top of another derelict building.
Realising the girl's power, Sakura additionally sent small familiars to every other potential vantage point, ensuring that she would have the ability to continue to escape her much-faster opponent in this manner. Then, having recognised the girl's power and escaped to a safe distance, they made a second attempt at attacking her, this time taking her full power into account.
"Erstelle Schattenball!" Sakura shouted, pointing in the girl's direction. "Anderer! Und anderer! Alles aufspießen!"
In response to Sakura's chanting, several more blobs appeared, just behind and to the side of the girl, as well as one above her. Then, on her command, they sprouted large spikes, intending to pierce her. Meanwhile, Shirou, taking advantage of the distraction Sakura was hopefully creating, began to chant once more.
"I am the bone of my sword!" he said. "Caladborg!"
With that, he fired the powerful Noble Phantasm directly at their opponent, not holding back in the slightest. Sakura, meanwhile, continued to summon up little blobs of shadow, each one designed to impale her if she was not careful. And, unless they were destroyed by either the explosion or the alternate Sakura's attacks, the hornets would continue to attempt to sting her.
Sakura
Sakura ignored the hornets, speeding forwards far faster than they could even perceive, quickly leaving them in the dust. Bug magic matched up with her profile. She'd done a bit of independent research into the grail war at one point. She turned towards Sakura and Shirou before they even came up, seeming to have an instinctual knowledge of Sakura's magic.
To her surprise, it seemed to work differently from hers.
She saw the sword coming in towards her, and didn't waste any time. A black mist emenated from her shadow continuously, devouring all things magic within even the shortest of moments. The noble phantasm hurtling towards her's form wavered and then shattered inside.
She suddenly hurtled forwards, using the speed of her shadow to burst forward faster than they could percieve, until she was on the same rooftop as them.
"Stop. Thanks." She smiled at the two wryly. "That's better." She flicked Shirou's forehead, sending him stumbling back. "Your magic-it seems off?" Sakura turned to her doppler, frowning in concern. She could feel a strange connection to her that she couldn't place, and it gave her the heebie jeebies. "Something happen to you as a kid?"
She wasn't sure why she felt that way.
-
Sakura and Shirou
The couple were utterly astonished by the manner in which she destroyed one of Shirou's most powerful attacks, leaving Sakura wondering if she was capable of doing something similar. However, they had no time to really consider the situation, as the girl charged towards them, too fast for Sakura to teleport them away. Immediately, Shirou summoned up his trusty swords, only for the girl to shout out for them to stop, followed by immediately flicking his forehead hard enough to send him stumbling back. Then, as he desummoned his swords, she turned to address Sakura, a concerned frown on her face, and asked her about her magic.
"Y..yes", Sakura said, a sad look in her eyes. "I wasn't suitable for the Matou magecraft, so they.. changed me."
-
Sakura
Sakura spat on the ground to show her distaste. "Changed how?"
She crossed her arms under her chest and tapped her foot. She was angry. Not so much at the Matous, she was sure they did what had to be done. She focused her anger upon the Tohsaka family, for selling her off in such a brazen manner.
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura's face fell at the question, the bad memories upsetting her, and Shirou moved to hug her from behind, comforting her.
"T..they altered my body in an attempt to make me fit with their magecraft. I had the Matou element, Water, forced into me, as well as their attribute of binding It was.. not pleasant", she said, a clear look of disgust on her face.
-
Sakura
"Idiot. What were the Tohsaka family thinking. Rin could have been sent instead of you."
She seemed to be more upset at the Tohsaka than the Matou, and averted her gaze from the display of affection. She shook her head and pursed her lips.
She really didn't like men. Not even a little bit. And the way her stomach was turning made it hard to pretend otherwise.
"Anyway. What are you doing here?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura frowned.
"I don't think either of us should have been sent to that hellhole", she replied, clearly somewhat irritated by the comment. "They should have kept us together, like sisters should be."
Seeing that his wife was a little agitated and still distressed from recalling the bad memories, Shirou decided to take over.
"We didn't choose to come here. We just fell through a portal one day", he replied.
-
Sakura
Sakura chuckled derisively. "Why would you want to be sisters with her? She's a self centered prick who only cares about her own small ambitions. Let her take that sort of treatment. She deserves it."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura frowned. Whilst her sister had not been as kind to her as she would have liked, she could tell that, deep down, she was a good person.
"She's a good person deep down, she's just too wedded to father's idiotic ideals," Sakura replied. "She doesn't deserve what happened to me. No-one does...."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura frowned. Whilst her sister had not been as kind to her as she would have liked, she could tell that, deep down, she was a good person.
"She's a good person deep down, she's just too wedded to father's idiotic ideals," Sakura replied. "She doesn't deserve what happened to me. No-one does...."
Sakura
Sakura flipped her hair and scoffed. "No she isn't. I know her a hell of a lot better than you. She's a stuck up, repressed bitch, through and through."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura sighed. She didn't believe that her sister was anything like as bad as the girl made out, but nor could she put up a convincing argument against the claims.
"I see...", she said with a frown.
She couldn't understand the girl's reasoning. Some level of resentment of their sister was natural, but why did she seem to detest her so much? It simply made no sense.
"Why do you hate her so much?" Sakura asked after a few moments of thought. "I certainly have some issues with Rin, but I would never want to see her suffer like I did."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura sighed. She didn't believe that her sister was anything like as bad as the girl made out, but nor could she put up a convincing argument against the claims.
"I see...", she said with a frown.
She couldn't understand the girl's reasoning. Some level of resentment of their sister was natural, but why did she seem to detest her so much? It simply made no sense.
"Why do you hate her so much?" Sakura asked after a few moments of thought. "I certainly have some issues with Rin, but I would never want to see her suffer like I did."
Sakura
Sakura stared down at her double with a disgusted look on her face. "And why do you like her?"
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura's eyes began to tear up slightly in response to the question, the sadness she felt at her abandonment clear.
"Because she's my sister", she said, quietly. "She's the only family I have left."
-
Sakura and Shirou
Sakura's eyes began to tear up slightly in response to the question, the sadness she felt at her abandonment clear.
"Because she's my sister", she said, quietly. "She's the only family I have left."
Sakura
"And she's not mine." Sakura repiled sternly. "Never has even tried."
-
Sakura and Shirou
"She never tried with me, either, back when I was stuck with the Matou. She was always too pre-occupied with fulfilling father's idiotic magus ideal", Sakura replied, a sad and somewhat annoyed look on her face. "But, once I was free of the Matou's control, I reached out to her myself, and she was receptive. Our relationship was never as close as I would have liked, but I could tell that she cared, deep down."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura smiled, and looked like she was holding back something. "Hehehe..." She chuckled, a grin breaking out as she failed to contain her mirth. "Kyahahahaha~" With a full throated laugh, she suddenly turned around and walked towards the edge of the building. Without turning around, she raised her hand at the two of them. "Keep telling yourself she cares about you if it helps you sleep at night. Me? I know her true face. I've just spent the last year working intimately with her. She's a self interested, sociopathic cunt like everybody else who only cares about the growth of her magical knowledge."
Then, she hopped off the side of the building with starteling non chalance. "Ciao." They heard as she fell down.
-
Yusho
9:00 AM Nexus Time
Against a clear blue sky, Yusho's torn coat flapped in the wind, loosely opened. The hard lines of his torso rose and fell like a tide against the white bandages that covered most of it, except for a small depression right in the center of his body.
The dragon-blooded swam in vivid recollections of the battle that had dealt him his current wounds. No matter how many outcomes he envisioned, the truth of defeat was only one. His strength had simply not sufficed. If not for the prompt woman who called herself the Headmaster, Yusho wouldn't be here, and the results could have been much worse. He was indebted. Repaying this debt (and the one to the boy and the beast) was looking like a difficult proposition, however.
He sniffed peevishly. It's not as if meditating to find answers he already had would help in anything. The demon Dassu would be laughing at his bad eye now. The exalt would have liked to share the laugh, honestly.
But with his concentration interrupted, he opened his eye and looked down from the flat top of the marble column where he sat in the lotus position. This open hall of stone situated like an altar in the middle of a green lot resembled old, pale temples he had seen in kingdoms of the Scavenger Lands - but the divinity followed here was muscle. In this district where training devices seemed to rise out of every corner, countless women and men labored and pushed the limits of their bodies in whole-hearted dedication to a physical ideal. Some, against all odds, forged might that matched or surpassed the Dragon-Blooded without mastery of essence by whatever means.
It made Yusho ponder: perhaps he needed to go back to the basics.
-
Roman
Yesterday, Roman's goal was to spend all day looking for a direction to grow in. He found a potential trainer and a regime to follow. More importantly, he found a goal for himself, something to measure his progress against. If he could challenge her one day...
That might never happen...
Just as he had that thought, he arrived. It was the park known as the temple of muscle. In the center of the park was an actual temple with men and women who were sculpted like greek gods. These people weren't just strong, but superhumanly so. These men and women curled hundreds of pounds with just one hand. It was terrifying. The strangest thing was not all the men and women working out, but the one who wasn't. A single man sat in the center of the temple, eyes closed but spirit open. He was meditating.... or he was dead.
"Hey... can I ask you something?" Roman asked, tapping the man on the shoulder.
-
Yusho
Yusho's expression widened, as if awakening from a stupor. With a light grunt, he dropped from his seat to the floor, where he bent his body like a bow before turning to the person who'd called him.
"Hmm. Ask away, young man." He smiled roughly, years beyond his appearance imbued in his faint cheer.
-
Roman
"This is-"
He was cut off by a man screaming as he lifted an insane amount of weight off the ground. Roman stared for a moment before returning his attention to the man. "Why would you mediate here of all places, in a park gym? I mean how do you even concentrate?"
"ONE MORE REP! CMON MAN!"
-
Yusho
"It's noisy, right? But if you can concentrate like this, then your focus has got to be praiseworthy!" He bellowed with laughter, cheerfully striking himself, but winced deeply when he slapped his belly.
His wounds were the other reason for it. Yusho hadn''t fully recovered, but he wasn't fond of the ambience of hospitals, and so long as he could move around, there were people who needed the bed and effort more. As it was, he was going to be fine. And now, sensing something else behind the question, he leaned towards the young man.
"So, what else can I do for ya?"
-
Roman
Roman couldn't help but think of Mira's words, that idea of training the right way, able to keep up. He had heard that meditation was good for you, but he wasn't exactly sure how. After all, when getting stronger, all that matters is building one's body right? How was not moving and focusing thoughts going to help obtain strength?
"If you can concentrate? What the hell are you concentrating on?"
-
Yusho
"My latest defeat," he answered. Crossing his arms, Yusho leveled a look like an unmoving grey cloud at the young man. "What has you so cranky with a stranger though? I haven't even heard your name and I gotta bear with questions in that tone?"
His eyes narrowed at the lad as he smoothed out the hair under his chin. "Is there something you need to concentrate on?"
-
Roman
Roman raised a finger to answer the question, but paused just as it was came up to eye level. It was at this moment the powerless averagely built man realized he made a terrible mistake. This old dude retorted in a tone that sounded like a war vet ready to throw down with a petty teenage convenience store mugger. "Last defeat." That echoed in his mind. The way he saw it he had three options.
1) Apologize and back off
2) Double down like a dumbass
3) DO NUMBER 1 FOOL
"I want to get strong so I can kick someone's ass," he responded honestly. "Why the hell would you concentrate on defeat?"
SHUT.... THE FUCK..... UP! he screamed in his mind. He was going to die today.
-
Yusho
Yusho raised an eyebrow and regarded the young man bottom to top, then noisly stifled a laugh behind his hand. "... Ah, that right?! So you weren't bugging me for no reason!"
The seasoned martial artist stepped within an inch of him and smacked his back lightly enough that his average frame wouldn't topple. Like he thought, there wasn't much of anything there yet. "You see..." He began, speaking not with pride but experience. "The thing is, no matter how strong you get, there's no guarantee you won't meet someone stronger. Then you have to be realistic. There's a crucial difference between fixating on defeat, and reflecting on what you're going to do about it."
"My name is Yusho, a humble former monk." He set his mouth into a thin curve. "Are you going to tell me whose ass you want to knock into the dirt?"
-
Roman
Just as Roman could feel his heartbeat blast its way out of his ribcage, he felt a hand slam into his back. Staggering a bit, he looked up as he listened to the older man's surprisingly jovial words. Despite the tone there was weight to the way he spoke, the kind that made a small man like himself feel pressed into the dirt, even while standing with his back straight and head held high.
At least i'm not going to get into a fight...
"But that's depressing," he said, slumping his shoulders. "You saying no matter how strong I get, i'll always get my ass kicked? Now I almost don't want to tell you. Truth be told, its a girl I just met. She was so beautiful... and powerful. She said she started from a place even weaker than I am now. I want to be special like that too. I want power like that too."
For a split second, he smiled as he said, "Then I want to grind that pretty face of hers into the dirt."
-
Yusho
Yusho made a face like he was chewing on something particularly mistifying. At first, his expression was contemplative, but it shifted to awkward as he punctuated that final note. "I don't quite get those tastes, but I hope the miss you have in mind is of one mind with you."
Before he continued, he clapped the younger man on the shoulder and began to lead him into the park. "Chance and luck aren't anything to get depressed about. And there isn't anything wrong with starting from admiration, if you're going to pursue strength at all."
"Now then, what's your name?"
-
Roman
"The name's Roman," he said, trying to make that sound as confident as possible. It sort of worked.
Roman wasn't entirely sure what that face was. Truth be told that man's expressions were far beyond what he could read at the moment. At the very least, he seemed... not mad?
-
Yusho
The more Yusho looked at Roman, the more he felt that this man was out of place here, and doing his best to not seem that way. Granted, he himself was a touch atypical in these surroundings, perhaps that was why Roman had approached him. Considering the conversation until now, Yusho was quite sure he knew what the younger man really wanted from it. But he wasn't gonna offer - some things needed to be asked.
"Roman," he said, drawing them to the side, in the shade between the trees where they weren't in the way of runners or bodybuilders. "How much can you fight?"
-
Roman
Roman turned away, scratching the back of his head. "I.... have never actually been in a fight before. Unless you count getting your ass kicked by someone way stronger...."
-
Yusho
Dragons, they were starting from there? It couldn't be worse than teaching children, but the truly young didn't have the burdens that men and women did. Was Roman's as simple as he said, for one who had visibly not strained himself for might before, or was there more?
"And how did that make you feel?" Yusho asked. "Are you just rancorous to make up for bullying and aching to prove yourself to a lass better than you?"
-
Roman
Roman's eyes softened. Remembering that experience made his eyes feel watery. Although his normal reaction would be to turn away, he was feeling oddly bold. He looked the man in the eye, a single tear rolling down his cheek and said, "It made me feel weak. It feels like a person is only worth something in this city if they have special powers. If... if I can kick her ass, I can prove a stupid regular guy like me can do whatever he puts his mind to! But more than that, I want to be strong!"
Roman's face became red as a wave of self-consciousness took hold of him. The resolute stare gave way to wide eyes as he realized how much he had just spilled his heart out to a stranger. "Look... can you just..."
-
Yusho
He beheld this suddenly vulnerable man with calm befitting an ascetic, but his gaze softened ever slightly.
Yusho had struggled with his duties for a long time, but in the end he cared and would always care about acting first, and having the power to succeed second. And looking back, he had been blessed with the talent to live through it all. Even when the world was ashen and good melted into evil, there was no barrier between the grace of the Dragons and what he had accomplished. Not all were gifted the same, but they fought against the pains of living anyway.
"There's something you want to ask of me." He said, making a patient, winded gesture with his hand. "Go on."
-
Roman
For a moment, the world seemed to slow. Even the grunts of the body builders around them quieted, leaving only the moment. It was the kind of second in time that a person intuitively knew would be important no matter the outcome.
"Can you teach me, just enough that I can train on my own?" Roman asked.
-
Yusho
Yusho's contemplative look slowly split into a fond smile. But his stare lost none of its edge, nor did his brows soften even in the sensitivity of the moment. He answered plainly, but an ardent wind was in it. "I certainly can, but learning anything useful will be up to you! I was starting to wonder if you'd ask - I can't do miracles on my own. However, before we begin I have one more question."
"Are you certain you want strength? The kind that I help you nurture may not make for the easiest way to live." The dragon-blooded crossed his arms and stepped closer to the younger man. His voice trailed not like a teacher reading from a book, but like an elder speaking to a junior.
"The way I see it, the strong with even an inch of morals have a responsibility to the weak. And so long as you're strong, regardless of your wishes you will be called upon to exercise that strength. Simply possessing the potential will draw you into all manner of conflict, and from the moment you desire power, you are complicit in this cycle. You may gain the ability to choose, and to force choice, but only honesty and restraint can change an ill put in motion."
-
Roman
"And what did you sacrifice?"
Roman stared at the man with wide eyes, his breathing silent. The young man held onto those words with all the weight one would their very life. The words of the strong were just as powerful as their fists. After all, that was the nature of the world.
-
Yusho
It was like Roman entered the eye of the storm. Yusho's own breath stilled, and his gaze fled to the side before recentering itself on the younger man. "Friendships that should have lasted me a life. The ability to live quietly and enjoy the honors allotted to my blood. My eye. The peace to be satisfied with what the world is."
He chuckled, and the moment passed. The dragon-blooded stepped forward and hooked an arm around Roman's shoulders, shaking him vigorously. "Not satisfied with just answering, were you, you had to throw a question back at me? Precocious lad. If I was still a monk, that might have earned you a hit from the ruler!"
-
Roman
Roman felt a chill come over his body, but it left as quickly as it came. The sensation was like a sudden gust of wind. Before he had time to really think about it, he found himself being rattled by the old man, shaken out of whatever strange feeling came over him.
"Sorry, sorry!" he said, resisting the urge to cover the back of his head. "But I had to know! I needed to know what I could lose!"
Although, now his resolve was as strong as ever. After all, if his experience was like this guy's, then there could be no possible drawbacks. How can you lose dear friends if you have none?
-
Yusho
Yusho had a faint impression that wasn't all of it. That something was hollow about the young man's affirmation. But for now, it would do. He nodded, letting go of Roman with a solid pat to his back. He responded sharply, "I understand. I still expect you to reflect, but for now I'll accept your humble yes. Mark these words."
The dragon-blooded walked out towards the grass, and the air rose into a dignified frenzy around him. Leaves and dirt flew as he made a martial salute towards the younger man.
"From this moment forward, we are instructor and student, with all that entails. That flabby posture and those thin arms are going to be made of steel in the future! Ah, you don't need to call me master, but I will put you over the rakes if you skimp, Roman."
-
Roman
The pat on the back was a little strong, knocking him a few steps forward. His gaze was focused on the ground, only to look up at the old man walking along the grass. Leaves and dirt flew around them, as if the world was calling to him. A smile crept onto Roman's face as he stepped out of that marble park gym.
"Yes sir," he said, trying to hold back a laugh. For some reason, he felt undeniably happy in that moment.
-
Yusho
"We'll start right now, then!" He declared, losing the dignified stiffness of the salute in an instant.
Yusho stretched on the spot, looking to Roman in expectation while he worked the soreness off each of his limbs, then gestured to the closest path on the park. Before teaching how to throw a single punch, he needed to better gauge the man's starting point.
"Physical conditioning is the basis of all combat training, so let's go for a run. I'll take it easy on you."
-
Roman
"Oh goddamn it," he said, staring at Yusho before running behind him. "Not again."
How the hell did this happen?
Roman sat opposite to the old man, their table lined with a glass of water, silverware and a cute little floral pattern. According to Roman's phone, it was the absolute cheapest place in the area. That wasn't saying much considering this district was filled with juiced up rich boys with access to the finest supplements known to man. Even at the supposed cheapest place in town, the recipies had been adjusted to include more protein and electrolytes for more efficient recovery and muscle building. To think he would have to shell out another meal's worth of money.
"I take it you don't eat much?"
Please say yes.
-
Yusho
Yusho rubbed his hands together, shuffling his fingers between each other, as his eyes flew from cutlery to cutlery. He cleared his throat before answering. "I'm actually quite fond of eating well, but, I don't want to overdo it. Truth be told, I was thinking of just getting some ramen. It's true I'm famished though, so I'll be taking advantage of this. Thanks for your patience."
He chuckled unashamedly. "I'll cook something for you another time. It should be helpful when you start suffering from the real deal."
-
Roman
Roman chuckled, trying to hide his apprehension in how genuinely funny the whole situation was, even if it was at his own expense. The Raman costs about as much as a full on meal! I could get a burrito for this money! Wait, why didn't I go for texmex?!
"Wait you cook too?" he asked, genuinely surprised. He assumed this guy was just a weird jock monk or something. Clearly he was more sensitive than Roman originally thought.
-
Yusho
"It's a necessity when you travel alone," he chuckled. "And a valuable skill for many reasons, besides. Like making friends, bribery, offerings... though I suppose my former colleagues wouldn't approve of how much seasoning I use."
Yusho twirled the fork in his hand into a faint blur, before he set it down with a click. And looked wryly to Roman. "Not much of a chef yourself?"
-
Roman
Roman sighed and said, "I mean I can feed myself, but I wouldn't call myself a chef or anything. I had no idea you could bribe people with food...."
The man stared at the old man. He wasn't some monster and throughout their time together, it did not seem like he was a monster or mutant. Mages weren't known for their desire to get fit either, so what was he? "Can I ask a question?"
-
Yusho
Yusho hummed in return, thinking of what else he would have the chance to cram into this man. "There's some things I'd like to ask you too, since we have the time, but go ahead. What is it?"
-
Roman
"Your a supernatural right?"
Before Yusho could respond, the waiter returned, a cart holding two plates. On one end, the raman, on the other, a plate of meat. "Give me a moment," the waiter said, placing the raman on Yusho's side of the table. He turned around, grabbed the other plate and rested it on Roman's side. "Enjoy!"
-
Yusho
Yusho clapped his hands and nodded thankfully to the waiter. For a moment he stared at the chopsticks by his plate, but then split them cleanly with a snap, licking his lips.
"I'm human, but not mortal." He said, before diving into the broth of his meal with the utensils. Fragrant steam kicked up as he hooked the chopsticks on the noodles and pulled the first taste to his mouth. Yusho slurped with delight and took a moment longer to swallow. "I was blessed by the Elemental Dragons when I was young. My power is of them. Or from them. I don't fight people over that. Some do. But I don't suppose you've ever heard of the Dragons."
-
Roman
"So what someone gave you that power?" he said, leaning in a bit. Despite being famished, he barely registered the food in front of him, picking up the fork out of habit. "Was it a god or...?"
He couldn't help but hope it was something that could be found in the Nexus.
-
Yusho
His lips curled up as he inhaled of the rich smell of his meal. Yusho poked the ingredients with the chopsticks, pondering both what to first stuff his mouth with, and how to respond.
"The Five Elemental Dragons are more like... an integral part of the universe. They're around us, and beyond us. We are taught they're above reincarnation, and rest in immanent perfection in the elements." Upon speaking, Yusho finally threw an egg boiled in his mouth, and munched it down with meat and noodles. His face flushed at the combination of flavors.
"Mm, this is delish. Sorry, I'm digressing. They're not gods, but they are divine. The stories say that in the first of days, they empowered humans to bring order to the world. Then, this blessing was passed on through blood, and spread over Creation in families of heroes. To awaken as an Exalt and receive the gift of the Dragons, you must have some connection, no matter how faint, to those who first held it."
He slurped on the soup and allowed that to sink in for Roman.
-
Roman
With the possibilities crashing down around him, Roman finally took in the smell of meat below his chin. His fork sunk into the tender meat, the brown flesh calling to him. It didn't help that the old man seemed to be enjoying his own food so much.
"Wait whats the difference?" Roman asked before taking a bite.
Meaty, rich, chewy: those were the best adjectives to describe what he just ate. The sweet but slightly tangy sauce slipped down his throat with each mash of his teeth upon the meat. For some reason his mind wandered to the perspective of a god. For some reason he wondered if humans were to gods what animals are to humans. Then again, when you're that powerful, you don't need to hurt anyone.
-
Yusho
Yusho had a choice. He could go into a long ramble about the philosophical differences between the state of the Dragons to material existence and that of the proper gods, or he could go into a likely heretical chain of guesswork and approximations regarding divine taxonomy. He didn't want to spoil the meal with a lecture.
The exalt waved his hand in the air between them, rolling his wrist ambiguously. "The gods are overseers, and owed their allotted tribute, but except for about a handful, they're important but not inseparable from the cosmos. The dragons are both omnipresent and emanated into the material world."
As he spoke, he slowed down to sift through his bowl, before bringing the pork and vegetables to his mouth. The different textures melted together with a gentle contrast, embraced in the faint flavor of the sauce.
-
Roman
While he had a vauge idea what Yusho was talking about, the core of what he was saying flew over his head. Finally swallowing the meat he said, "So one is more tied into the world and the other is just godlike? I guess I can see why people want them so bad. Do you think its possible to surpass the limits of a human with training alone?"
All the sudden he found his view shifting a bit. If he rose to the level of these dragons, he would smite anyone looking for power. After all, if you could become that powerful, why let anyone else threaten that superiority. All this seemed like so much work after all.
-
Yusho
He paused his chopsticks against the bowl, tilting his head at Roman. "We don't aspire to the dragons because we want power, Roman. We do it because what lies at the end of virtue is peace, and there's no greater fulfillment than joining their perfection."
"If you don't do the journey right, there'd be no point in the destination, though," Yusho added, smiling again. "As for your question... No. There's countless ways you could find to breach mortal limits, and numberless paths you shouldn't take, unless you enjoy ceding control of your fate to amoral beings, but training alone can't change what you've got. I can teach you my skills, but not my talent."
The dragon-blooded slurped on the noodles for a long moment. Sauce spilled onto his facial hair as he raised his voice again. "But in this city, who knows?"
-
Roman
Roman sunk his fork into another bite of his meat dish, chewing as he thought, Peace? What the hell was that? Like death? Ah well, this guy looks pretty zen. Is that from being old or the dragons? WAit did he say join? Does that mean he is a dragon?
Although internally he was confused, his face didn't show it. A light hum is all that came from his lips as his mind moved to savor the flavor of the meat for a moment. It wasn't hard to feel relieved from that revelation. Joining the dragons sounded like an emotional experience he wasn't sure he was ready for yet. It was good to know there were other ways that he just didn't know about yet.
"Thats disappointing," Roman said with a sigh. "I wish everything could be taught. Maybe... wait? What do you mean there are paths I shouldn't take? Are they dangerous?"
This old man was starting to sound like Mira.
-
Yusho
Was Roman the kind of lad to put his foot in the mud before proudly declaring he'd keep going, and sink more every step? Yusho was starting to get the impression, and he wasn't having none of that on his watch. Maybe just sometimes when they both needed a laugh, but not in these matters.
"Selling your soul to demons, having your heart ripped out of your chest by a ghost, or getting your humanity consumed by fair folk sound like jolly good times to you?" Sighed Yusho. "Speaking of which. Roman, do you know the Vampire King?"
-
Roman
As Roman swallowed, he clutched his heart. "No I guess not," he said. The world felt far wider and more diverse in that moment. "I mean no more than anyone else. The vampire district is one of those places that your parents tell you never to go unless you find out you have a unique blood type. Even then, you make your donation, get your money and get the hell out. Why?"
-
Yusho
The concept of repayment for offerings of blood made Yusho stare deeply into his bowl. The claims of that whimsical vampire king floated in his mind in comparison... but whether it was compromise for survival or inhuman privilege that determined her kind's place in this city, he had yet to determine.
"Nothing much. A little while ago, I wasn't sure where I was going and had an interesting encounter there," he retorted, before bringing more ramen between his lips.
-
Roman
He had always been scared to, but at that moment, Roman genuinely considered a journey into the vampire district. While it may be a devil's deal, it could give him an edge he could use. Well, at this point he should see what he can do with training, then go there if he gets desperate.
Raising his eyebrow, Roman said, "And what was that? Don't tell me your a vampire too."
-
Yusho
"You think I was gonna lecture you about untoward paths to power and then get myself a bite of it?" The exalt put his food down with a grunt, and swallowed a laugh at the last word out of his mouth.
"I told you, I'm a human and a Dragon-Blooded. And don't you start getting ideas about it. What are you going to do with strength that costs you your autonomy as a person? Listen: whatever the circumstances of your birth, everyone has roles they can fulfill and decisions they can make to further goodness around them. You can accomplish things outside nature and a single man's ability by warping yourself, but what are you giving up in the process?"
-
Roman
Roman's face turned red and he shook his head. "No! I mean.... yeah... Its just..."
Turning his head to the side and staring off out of the window, he briefly contemplated his next thought. "I don't think i'd lose anything, even if I took a deal like that. I don't have any freinds, and I think i've hated almost everyone i've known. Why not take something like that when I have nothing to lose? I mean thats got to be it, how the greats are able to push themselves so hard. Inner strength is such bullshit."
-
Yusho
The exalt followed the words carefully, and found his eye widening at Roman. Yusho brought his palms down on the table, rattling both their dishes as he half-rose from his seat.
"Don't be a fool! You always have yourself to lose, and even without anything to value now, you can still gain friends or goals in the future. You want to remain human to enjoy that fully. Be warned, Roman. Damn mere ideals, for those that fight for naught but themselves are strong indeed; but those who have nothing to protect have nothing to give them strength." With a deep breath, he relaxed back to his seat, unresponsive to the crowd of stares and murmurs he had drawn.
Then he reached over and nudged the younger man in the chest with his fist. "If that's how you feel though, then you have me now. And that inspiring lady of yours."
-
Roman
What did he just say?
Roman blinked, staring at him as he screamed so passionately. It was odd, to hear someone yell at him like a concerned parent, especially someone he just met. "What...? What did you say? I can be strong fighting for myself?"
That wasn't what he wanted to ask. The old man said he would be there for him?
-
Yusho
Yusho huffed like a recently promoted minister and brought the napkin up to wipe his soiled beard. "I said, you can be stronger if you have something or someone to be strong for. And you definitely have ties to lose, if I have anything to say about it."
-
Roman
Roman froze. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, one where the barriers put up fall away, smashed down by a comment he wasn't expecting. Although, never in his life had he experienced a person who was so brazen in their compassion.
"And, you.... really think that?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.
-
Yusho
"I haven't lied about my feelings or beliefs to you. Why wouldn't I speak what I think and a protegé needs to hear?" Yusho made a thrumming, affirming sound from deep within, and uncrossed his arms.
Picking up his dish, he snorfed the rest of the noodles, reds and greens down like a tiger, and downed the rest of the broth down with an invigorated sound. It came back down on the table with a punctuating clink, and he stared over it at Roman, expectant.
-
Roman
Thats right.
Roman looked away. "Thanks," he said, taking the last bite of meat. "I haven't had someone who cares like that in my life before. Most of my 'friends' were not the best. I'll try not to disappoint you or Mira with stupid decisions."
In retrospect, the money spent today was absolutely worth it. "Well I guess we should keep moving right? Whats next?"
-
Yusho
"Don't mention it." Yusho made a sound not unlike satisfaction from his pursed lips, before his expression melted into an easy smile. "I have an idea of where you're starting for a physical regimen now. I can show you some basic hand-to-hand moves for self-defense today, but until we've built you up some, we're swimming with the essentials."
-
Roman
"Well the girl, Mira, she gave me a workout routine but no hand to hand combat training," he said with a sigh. "I technically already worked out a few hours before I met you. I was just scrounging around for more ways to improve myself."
He did not mention that he was stalking Mira on instagram for workout information and....other things.
-
Yusho
"Here I thought you were making slower headway." He laughed like an old oak groaning in the wind. "I should take a look at what you're doing then. If I'm unsatisfied, I'll supplement it with my own exercises, eh?"
-
Roman
Roman took out his smartphone and pulled up the Instagram app, realizing the workout he stole from Mira might not really be sufficient. He could mention the running combined with park pushups and pullups. That sounded pretty hardcore right?
"Well I was going to go to the gym, do some weight lifting and then do push ups in the park!"
Damn it! I combined the two!
-
Yusho
"How many sets? What kind of weights?" Yusho leaned forward, continuing before he could answer. "How long has it been since you started? I have some catching up to do for my recovery, but there other tasks troubling me, so I might not be able to stick with you every day."
Unsaid went just how much time he was actually expecting Roman to be putting into this training of his.
-
Roman
Roman pressed his fingers together, giving the old man a stupid guilty grin. "I just started today. Technically I did some workouts in my high school class but you know...."
At this point, Yusho was already reading his mind so there couldn't be too much more of a loss of his dignity right?
-
Yusho
He leaned back, crossing his arms with a sonorous nod. But his eye twinkled with something like challenge. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."
-
Yusho
2 PM, Nexus Time
Yusho didn't blink through the hundreth groan that made its way out of Roman's mouth, out of just as many falls on the hard ground. He leaned down and offered his hand, pulling the boy up with little time to rest. "Remember, you're made of soft and hard, and you don't want to hit the ground with the hard parts and risk breaking something.
He dusted off his student before straightening him out in front of him again. "You want to roll out of the soft parts, so it hurts less and you can bounce right back into the fight. Now. Let's try that again."
-
Roman
"Damn it," Roman said with a huff.
This was the third workout he had done today. Every order Yusho gave him felt like running a marathon at this point. It wasn't so much that he was physically tired, but that his body refused to act every time he ordered it to move. Vetoing that resistance caused him mental strain, annoyance, frustration. As he took the old man's hand, he said,
"If this can hurt me why are we doing it? Shouldn't you be teaching me how to kick someone's ass so I don't fall on mine?"
-
Yusho
The dragon-blooded pulled Roman to his feet and gave his back a curt slap. "Throw away the idea that you're going to be in fights and never get hurt. You can do everything right and still fall on your ass, and if you can't get up after the first time, you can forget returning the favor."
"Once more, with spirit" he commanded, assuming a relaxed stance for his student. "Then we'll call it for today."
-
Roman
What was that?
A stinging sensation filled the space between time returning to him. A hand-rubbed the cheek that was now red with pain. "I..." What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was he really doing that, assuming he would never be hit? Perhaps? After all, the strong never really seemed to get hurt, or at least not significantly so. Well, for now he would have to except that hand, the struggle of one not born special.
"Yes sir."
-
Richard Forbes
The Forbes family mansion, a place that is both extraordinary and ordinary at the same time. In a neighborhood where every home is large and every yard is larger, a moderately sized mansion is nothing worth noting. Even a house with its own bowling ally, bar and movie theater is just another place. In this house resides a simple nuclear family, a mother, father, son and daughter. Their story is a simple but grand one, a story of a family's determination to rise to the very top of pine guardian's wealth, only to settle somewhere in the middle. However, this isn't their story. No, it is the story of one teenage boy.
"Tch."
When the hell is she going to get here? When I pay that much of my allowance, I expect some good service, he thought to himself, lying down on his massive king sized bed. He could still remember that fight. The boy never would be able to forget it. His buddies were into sports, explained to him how the joy of such things was the catharsis of seeing two men at their peak fighting with all of their passion. On that day he finally understood.
And he wanted to fuck it.
Richard crawled to the edge of his bed and began walking towards the window. His "small" room was big enough to hold three cars, even with all the crap lying around it. In fact, he never had to clean the room, not only because maids came in every now and then, but because there was not enough space for it really to get dirty. Staring out of the window, he muttered under his breath,
"It better be the same girl and not some stand in. I know they can shapeshift."
-
Lily
It took some time to find her way through this neighborhood, since in a way all these buildings looked the same even if they were different. But after what felt like an hour of just scouring the are she had found the place that had hired her, probably.
Of course she had come in work uniform after getting it clean, it was quite neat how it did things like that but she still wasn't used to the high heels and her ankles were starting to feel a bit sore.
And thus she rang the front bell by the door whole hoping that she hadn't fucked up.
-
Richard Forbes
Oh shit!
Richard bolted down the steps as fast as he could, grabbing his pjs from his dresser along the way. He did not even consider the fact that the girl would need instructions and didn't even consider that she would show up In a goddamn bunny suit, probably should have, but didn't. Rushing out of the front door, he grabbed hold of the redheaded girl's arm and said,
"I hired you. Come on. My parents don't know you are here and I want to keep it that way."
-
Lily
"You are?" She blinked and stepped in past him. As she walked, her long tail swished by him with a relieved sway to it. This would have gotten really embarrassing if she'd gotten the wrong house.
"I'm really sorry for being late, Master Richard. My name is Lily, but you may calm me whatever you want.." She spun around and faced him for her introduction.
"If this is a bad place then lead the the way Richie, I won't bite-" She held out an arm like she expected to be escorted. Which to be fair she did. Lizland only employed high quality escort girls not some cheap hookers, so there was an image to maintain.
-
Richard
Richard blinked as he took in her full form. That fit body tightly wrapped in the bow that is a bunny girl outfit. Unwilling to linger too long on her tight little body for now, he grabbed the hand that extended out to her and bolted, running her through lavish halls, winding staircases and almost a hotel like upper floor. At last, they arrived at the door to his room.
"My parents don't know your here and I want to keep it that way," he said, glaring at her. He made it look like a harsh order, but the desperation and insecurity was impossible to hide. His face was flushed, his fingers twitchy, his breathing fast. "I'll give you a bonus if my reputation can stay intact through all this."
-
Lily
"Hey, do you know hard it is to bolt around in heels like these?" There wasn't any anger in her voice despite her raised voice, just a hint of annoyance followed by an adorable pout. "And I can't accept that since I came here late." Her expression softened though as she noticed his soaring levels of insecurity.
She then moved in and hugged him gently, using only the bare minimum of her strength so she wouldn't crush him by accident. "Calm down, it's okay. I'll take of it. Hmm... Why don't you take all that frustration you have bottled up and unleash it all on me? I'm really tough so don't worry about holding back, actually it's better if you don't. The faster I get an idea of how much you can take, the better I can serve you-"
-
Richard
Although she was wearing heels, Richard was still a head or two taller than her. Those tiny but powerful arms wrapped around his belly. It was a strange feeling being hugged by her, and not just because he never hugged anyone in his family since he was a baby. No, it was also because she was strangely warm. The feeling of sharing a hug with this woman was like having a human heater wrapping around his body.
"Well than shut up," he said, suddenly gaining a bit of confidence. He pulled himself out of the hug and pulled down his pj pants, revealing boxers with a nice little moderately sized bulge poking out of it. "If your that strong and I know you are, then you can't complain about some frilly heels."
Richard took off his shirt too, revealing a body that has been well taken care of. The best way to describe it is a bulky runner. Defined arms, muscular legs, a hint of ab muscles covered ever so slightly by a thin layer of fat. Quite frankly, he was small, especially for the people of this district, built for stamina rather than strength. Although, as far as the average human went, he was a bit stronger than most. That much was clear.
"Well if you want it hard, then on your knees and start sucking. I need it really hard if I want to start pounding someone like you. Oh and call me Lord Richard. I like my women to know who is in charge."
-
Lily
"Sure thing Richie. But I thought you specifically picked me because I was your type, and you're already hard as fuck, so who ado you think you're fooling?" Lily pulled back from the broken hug and giggled at him. It was cute how hard he tried to look like a hard ass, boys like that were always so sweet, especially the moment when she crass cracked then and she couldn't be more excited for that now.
It was perfect.
"And me strong? Pfft maybe for a girl but any true man would put me in my place easily~"
-
Richard
A hand was raised, followed by a loud clap. Richard's hand had slammed into Lily's face. "Lord Richard," he said, glaring at her. "And don't lie to me! I was there at the arena, in the Pleasure Palace. I've seen you fight. Even Chiefs don't fight like that. But right now, your going to be my little toy."
Weird... That felt pretty good....
-
Lily
"I'm gonna need to buff you up later on huh Lord Richard." She hadn't even flinched from the slap and no mark was left on her skin. "You'll have a hard time making me that in your current state hmm... Then how about this-" Her taail came around from her back and slithered into his palm.
"Now this is supposed to be a secret but it's okay to tell seeing as you are VIP now, this is a very big weakness. Pull that as hard as you can and enjoy the show.~"
-
Richard
Richard's heart sank as he watched her absorb the slap without her face even moving an inch. That momentary fear melted slightly as he heard the words "lord Richard." "B-buff me up later? You sound like my parents, think they are hot shit cause they broke their human limits. I don't need to be strong to get my way. I was born richer and smarter than any of you."
He held out his palm for the tail slithering towards him before staring at Lily with a tilted head. And with that, he pulled the tail as hard as his regular human muscles could.
-
Lily
"Smarts won't save you whe- Auuuughh!"
Her reply got cut short the instant he pulled on the tail. The effects were immediate, the weird moan was followed by her biting her lips as her took on a more anguished expression. At first her feet begun shaking slightly, but in just a few moments that spread up her legs as the whole of her lower body trembled.
"Ahh..." She crossed her legs as her knees slowly bent like an immense pressure was pushing down on her until finally-
Crash.
She collapsed head first onto the ground in front of him.
-
Richard
Woah.
Richard had never seen any girl react like that before, not even in porn. Then again, only the guys ever got off in the porn he watched. The girls just seemed to like whatever the men did to them. Still giving her a blank stare, he shook his head and said, "S-see! I can do whatever I want with the right touch...."
Richard walked over Lily, taking a moment to enjoy standing over her, his tall figure blocking the natural light cast on her, covering her body with his shadow. He reached down, grabbing her by her pretty red hair. Strange, even her hair was warm. The tail, her body and even her hair was warm like a heater. "And i'm not done," he said pulling her to her knees and shoving her lips first into his shaft. "I said suck me first. Just cause i'm a little hard doesn't mean I can't get harder."
Throughout the whole process, he had the tail in his other hand. Once she was wrapped around his lips, he gave the tail another yank.
-
Lily
"You act like a total virgi- aaaah!" Her strength gradually returned in the few seconds he let go and it was quite clear with how she stopped quivering but the moment he pulled again her mouth opened by its own and let the tip of his cock in. At the same time her legs trembled violently before giving out and she sank right down onto his length until the only thing keeping her up was that and the grip on her hair.
The vibrations of all her spasming muscles sent ripples throughout her body and it could even be felt in her mouth. She looked up at him with eyes that were beginning to tear up. "De wonger yu wpull dde wdwirse wit gwets." It was really hard to speak when your mouth was stuffed.
-
Richard
Richard thrusted in her mouth, using his hands to hold her head in place. "Shut up." She wasn't wrong. He wasn't a virgin, but he wasn't the most charming kid in the world. Living in swole city meant all the kids his age were smoking hot, in great shape and usually stronger than him. The only reason he wasn't a virgin was because he happened to be rich and smart.
It was after a few thrusts he realized, she couldn't do her work properly like this. It was hot to make her react like this but what was it? Was she cumming? But if he released the tail, she might pay him back hard for all the bullying. Well he was paying her so maybe...
Richard released the tail and her hair. "It does huh? In that case, get on my bed," he said, mustering his most commanding voice. "I wanna go inside you."
-
Lily
The redhead collapsed on the floor with a mean cough and remained unresponsive for a few seconds before she spoke up. "Th-thank you Lord Richard." She slowly got up on her knees and gave him a beaming smile. It was completely opposite to how she had been a few seconds ago, maybe she had enjoyed the abuse after all.
She slowly crawled onto the bed as he whole body was still shivering but she still managed to kick off the high heels before she went on it and spread herself out erotically. It was quite clear she was putting on a show for him as every action was slow, deliberate and exaggerated to emphasize every bit of curve she had. Then Lily turned to him and grinned. "You sure you wanna nut inside my tight cunt so early? We got all day on us~"
-
Richard
This is amazing. This was the moment, his eyes taking in her wonderful tiny form. The chest was small, firm looking, begging for him to touch it. Those legs were strong, firm, arms shapely and feminine. Richard could see the immense detail on her abs. Some of those lines he had never seen on a real person. He could be close to her heart or crushed by her might. It was hard to believe she was calling him master. Today, she was his plaything.
Richard's eyes widened as he realized the obvious. Thats right! I paid for her all day. She's not just a prostitute, but an escort. he thought to himself. I wonder what else she will do for me...
All a sudden a buzz went off on his nightstand. It was his phone. Since their mansion was so big, his parents often communicated with their phones. Earlier they had left to on a run to get some food. That probably meant they are back.
"What else can you do for me?"
-
Lily
She sat up straight at that question. "Oh that depends on what you want to do. But you can do anything to my body short of killing me. I could cook for you too if you wanna be served that way, or beat you into the ground and make you the strongest one around....we could also just go on dates, you have me for the foreseeable future with how much you paid."
The quivering of her form wasbeggining to subsume as she felt some of her power return to her.
-
Richard
Richard's head tilted back, taken away by the sheer breadth of options he had. She could train him, cook for him, even go on dates? So its anything outside of killing her huh? With someone as powerful as her as his human escort, he could do whatever he wanted. "Well, I told you, I don't need to be the strongest, I'm smarter and wealthier. In fact, I just bought something interesting that makes it so I don't have to train. My parents are home, so lets introduce you to them. We should get you into something more presentable though."
-
Lily
Lily raised an eyebrow at the final remark of his clearly amused by his lack of foresight despite him claiming to rely on intelligence. She stretched her arms and legs as feeling properly returned to her. "Your bed is really nice..." It was way better than any one she'd ever been in. Or could remember being in, the other times back at the pleasure palace she'd been too busy getting railed to take note....
"Do you actually have anything that fits me, I don't mind wearing something less feminine but we aren't exactly the same size. How were you planning around that?"
-
Richard
Richard sighed, reaching for her bunny girl ears and taking them off. "There," he said, a smirk coming to his face. "Now its not super obvious that your a hooker. Besides, I managed to do all this with their money. I wanna show every inch of you off to my family."
The other hand rubbed the bed. He was never sure what the material was made of, some ungodly substance found in the blessed woods, made from the fur of some magical beast from there. They were so expensive because they required the services of both a bounty hunter and a furniture store to create. Considering how much sleep matters to health though it was a good investment.
Moving to the drawers, pulling out a loose shirt black T-shirt and sweatpants. "Would you hurt someone for me if I asked?" he said, slipping the sweatpants onto his toned legs.
-
Lily
A faint blush covered her cheeks as he took the fake ears off. "Mhm... Of course I would, I'd beat them up, extort them or even make them disappear if thats what you want." She stood up but didn't put the heels on again, instead she gathered them up and placed them neatly next to his bed.
"I could change into my regular outfit but yiud get to see a lot less of my legs and ass then and I don't think either of us wants that."
-
Richard
Woah, she's really cute when she blushes, he thought. I wonder how much i'd have to pay her to stay for good.
"Oh yeah, neither of us want that," he said, slipping on his shirt. "Just keep in mind, I have some different views from my parents."
Chandlers with glimmering crystals shined down on a massive room. Four chairs made from leather-lined a table. The best way to describe the room is massive and pristine. A kitchen counter surrounded the eating space with a TV at the end of the room. Already sitting at the table were the two parents. Black hair, green eyes, strong cheekbones and the body of an accomplished body builder. He looked like he was about 220Ib of pure muscle, with his chest and arms pressing snuggly against his T shirt. Meanwhile, the other woman had orange hair, green eyes and an equally fit body. A sports bra hid her large chest, but her yoga pants highlighted her thick muscular thighs.
"So what did we get?" he asked, coming down the stairs, one arm wrapped around her waist. Truthfully, it felt like he was basically touching her skin. The suit was so tight. Maybe this wasn't a good idea...
"Lots of calories," his father said. "You need to get some more meat on you son."
"Who is that?" the mother said, a some glint of interest in her eye.
-
Lily
"Yo, I'm Lily~" The redhead was Waving her right hand at that them in a greeting. "Hmm what I am.. Friend, girlfriend, fuck buddy? No the second isn't really right, we haven done it yet... What do you say?" She glanced over at her supposed boyfriend. Her heat could be felt even through the fabric and walking all the way over here with her so close would no doubt have him work up a sweat.
-
Richard family dinner
And Richard could feel it. Her extraordinarily warm body, combined with the genuine tension caused by having someone so powerful next to him stacked on top of showing this person to his parents forced sweat to emerge on his brow. A hand wiped his forehead clean before he smiled at his mother. "Girlfriend," he said, walking her over to a seat next to his father.
"Girlfriend huh?" she asked, sizing her up. Good lord. That suit was so skimpy. Even so, the muscles on that girl were respectable. Of all the girls brought in, she was by far the most defined. "She's got a little more meat than the last one you brought home."
"Please Mom. She's far stronger than you. Bigger muscles than you and enough raw strength to manhandle dad. Oh and she's got a nice big firm ass. Lily, get on the table and show mom. She's the hottest girl I've ever scored."
"Stonger than me. Please. Son, why are you so brazen all the sudden? Where is this coming from?"
-
Lily
The redhead blushed slightly at the praise and shook her head. "Hey hey you don't gotta lay it on so thick, I know you like me already geeez... Fine fine I'll do it but just because you're so cool ok!" She took the last steps onto table and begun crawling towards his mother while carefully avoiding all of the food. Her hips swayed hypnotically, it was easy to make them move like crazy on their own when you had as much muscle control as she did.
She pushed her ass out and flexed her muscles for them, putting on a very slutty show. "I have him some pointers on how to be more manly and it's working wonders hehehe."
-
Richard and the Family
Oh good lord. Its huge! the mother thought, her pupil's tracking Lily's hypnotic hip sways, her gaze lost in the girl's asscheeks.
Richard reached into his pocket and grabbed a bottle of pills. The purpose of these pills was to maximize noob gains but he had recently found out they could bolster weaker bodies, so long as they were still within human limits. While both of his parents had eyes on Lily's body, he slipped the pills into his mouth and took a sip of some water on his table. Already he could feel his muscles growing inside his clothes, filling them out.
"Oh and its firm," Richard said, reaching out to grab Lily's ass with the biggest, stupidest smirk. Even with his large hands, it was too big to fill them, his hand sinking in only as he squeezed as hard as he could. Hopefully now he could make her a feel that without using her tail. He finished the ass massage with a well place spank that echoed through the dining hall. "Oh and her abs! Even Lexxi doesn't have abs like hers."
Its bigger than Sherry's Richard's father thought. He was glad the table was covering his crotch. The older man was stiff. Gathering himself, he glared at Lily. "Teaching him to be manly? C'mon son we are at the dinner table. Show some respect."
"Oh please dad. You told me not to waste time with girls out of my league, so I got a girl who's actually worth my time. Even you want a piece of her. Oh and not only is she hotter than mom, but she's stronger than both of you combined." Richard handed her a knife, one placed at the center of the table that was used to cut exotic meat. This one was specially smithed so it could dig into powerful monsters. It could take punishment even from his dad's pressure.
The mother was silent, just staring at Lily's ass.
-
Lily
Lily quite happliy pushed her ass back into hands, enjoying the feel of his touch and letting him grope her to his heart's content. "You should play with it more Richie, I love feeling your hands on me." Then she blinked as the fine knife was suddenly handed to her. At first she didn't get what he wanted her to do but there was really only one way to show off strength here with it and it was a real shame to do it.
That's why she grinned and crushed it completely with her hand. The edge dug into her palm only to not pierce her skin at all and for moment it looked like nothing would happen, until the blade suddenly folded in half as she closed her fist followed by the sounds of metal snapping. She opened her fist and dropped the now two seperate pieces of the knife that was left.
"See... Is there something shameful about how I look? I'm proud of my body and my gains, and so should you two be. Just look at how beefy you are!"
-
Richard and the Family
"Oh trust me I will," Richard said, smiling at Lily.
A natural primal fear reached into Richard's father's heart as he heard the metal groaning and breaking against the simple pressure of her hand. Even he couldn't do that to the knife, let alone with just the strength of his forearms and the durability of his skin. What the hell was she made of? That hand squeezed and sank his heart into the floor along with the falling metal. He could feel himself stirring, the kind of excitement that only a mixture of fear and arousal could possibly bring. He stared up at what would be the shorter girl and...
He forgot why he was upset at his son, the compliment washing over him. "Me? Beefy? I mean I'm no where near as strong as..."
The old man stopped, feeling the eyes of his wife who was peering at him from behind Lily's ass. "Its just so skimpy!" the wife said. "That outfit. But I suppose your strength is so respectable but this audacity! I mean this is no way to speak to us! And uhh... where did you meet her Richard?"
"A fighting arena," he said. "She was so passionate and.... powerful. I had to have her."
"Don't talk about woman like they are property Richard! This woman clearly works far harder than you! I'm sorry," the mother said, bowing her head a little bit.
-
Lily
"Me working hard has nothing to do with my preferences. Sure it's awful to be treated like nothing but goods by strangers but it's pretty amazing when it's a guy you like. There's no better defeat than submitting to a dominant guy you trust. "
Lily turned around to face the mother. "You could try it with your husband, you might like it~" The redhead blushed appearing a bit flustered as she explained herself, even so her voice was mostly even.
-
Richard and Family
The two grown adults looked away from her. "Oh of course we have done that." the mom said. " But well. Can he even 'defeat' you?' "Still I'm surprised you say dominant. He's not exactly the picture of manliness."
The father perked up, looking at Lily with suspicion. "I mean he talks a big game but..."
"Watch your tone dad," he said, lying back in his seat, his arms folded behind his head. "Your not talking to some kid. When a boy scores a woman this good, he becomes a man."
-
Lily
"Mhm... That's enough bragging Richard, I'm hungry." Lily nimbly slid off the table and landed on Richard's lap with a light thud, despite all of he rmuscles her weight wasn't that high. Probably because of her small size. And it was because of that small stature, that even when sitting on him like this, she still has too look up if she wanted to meet his gaze.
"Feed me.... Please" The last word came out quieter than the rest like she didnt wanna be heard saying that out loud but still did it for him.
-
Richard
The food that they had gotten was rich Indian food. The father had likely gotten it because of his desire for phytochemicals. Plus it was a good source of protein and fat, which was great for their next bulk. Richard reached for the fork on the table with one hand and dumped the food onto the already ready plate with the other. The sweet but savory scent filled the air, wafting around the room and reminding everyone why they are really here.
"uhh," Richard said, suddenly losing his confidence. "Here?"
He gentle shoved a spoon full of curry chicken into her mouth.
The married couple grunted in unison. That is more what they were used to seeing. "Sooo.... Are you training him?" she asked, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Please tell me you two lift together!"
-
Lily
Whoa.
She bit down on the fork by mistake because she was completely overwhelmed by the rich flavor of the food. The moisture of the meat and the mix of spices in the sauce blended in her mouth like a tastw bomb going supernova and she was fling into the outer cosmos of culinary delight. Even as she finished the bite sized portion, her tongue come out to lick the fork clean, all of it slowly. And not by moving her mouth, no her tongue extended out of he rmouth inhumanly far to reach all the way up the fork.
"Oh my God that was so good, the saltiness, the flavor I could just die. Please, please just give me some more. I'll be a good girl, so please-"
"I mean yeah I was planning to put him through some intense stuff." She shook her head like she just woke up out of some fever dream.
-
Richard
"What I am not training with you," he said, frowning. He tried to ignore the reaction to the food, but found himself poking her tight ass with his hardening head. God she felt so good, big and firm and... "I told you I don't need that."
"Yes you do you lazy little shit," the father said, pointing his fork at him. "A young man your age should be as strong or stronger than his father. Aren't you tired of every girl being stronger than you?"
Richard shook his head. "Nah that's hot! All that matters is that she listens to me."
-
Lily
"Maybe you should listen to me some too, having a better body would lead to increases in more areas than just fighting you know....Come let's get started." She stood up and pulled him away from the table. "Thanks for the food btw you're both great and don't worry I'll whip Richie into shape sooner rather than later." She waved them goodbye much like she had first greeted them in the same carefree way as she dragged him away to their gym.
-
Richard Family
"Oh ok," the mother said. "Run him into the ground for us! I want to have to buy him new clothes when your done with him!"
Private gym
"Lily I told you I don't need to train. Training to get stronger is for poor people and dumbasses," he said folding his arms. The two stood in the middle of a private gym. Free weights, more machines than a person could count and a school gymnasium's worth of space. Richard stared at the squat rack. He hated those, so much concentration needed, the intense load on his back. Working out 2-3 times a week. Thats all he ever needed.
-
Lily
Smash.
Without warning, her fist met his gut with the force of a speeding truck. It dug into him and made him fold in half for just a tiny moment that Lily could observe before he was unceremoniously launched across the gym towards one of the walls.
"Strength is all that matters in a a life or death struggle. What good is your brain if you're already dead, you dumbass!"
-
Richard
"Gah!"
The fist sunk into Richard's abs, folding him in half before sending him flying into the wall. The rubble collapsed on him, burying him in a hill of brick and dirt. Emerging from the pile, he felt the blood trickling from his face. It was all surface cuts, but his stomach, head and back still stung. Holding out his hands, his eyes widened. "I'm bleeding! Oh god I'm bleeding!"
Even with the supplements, a single punch still sent him flying like a tennis ball. "Lily what the hell?! Was that just to prove a point?"
-
Lily
"You suck."
She sighed and moves closer to him. "Complaining about shit like that is seriously uncool. You don't even believe in your own smarts bullshit, all you do is wave around money and your own influence to get what you want. But guess what, none of that is yours. It's all stuff you got from your parents, the only thing you truly have is your body. Master your body and you shall master the world."
She stopped right in front of him and flared her killing intent at him in a focused burst. In that moment it was like the girl had been replaced by a vicious dragon about to devour him, then the vision ended.
"I could kill you without even lifting a finger l, no degree of perceived influence will ever save you from that, the only thing that can is being prepared."
-
Richard
"Huh?"
The words struck at his core like no other in his life. Richard clutched his face for a moment, letting those dagger-like words cut his frail ego in two. Nothing without his parents? Thats not true! It didn't matter how he got it, he still had it. At the end of the day, he had things others didn't, no matter how hard they tried. He couldn't be. Then, he looked up and saw it.
Lily's body had shown its true form, a dragon. "NO Lily please! I-" he begged. And just like that, the vision ended. In truth, she was overexplaining. He understood way before she had told him anything. In that moment, no amount of money could have saved him from her wrath, nor any plan he thought up.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he fell to the ground on all fours. Then, he looked up, making eye contact with those stocking filled legs. Those legs looked so good in that moment.
-
Lily
"Oi stop crying. You're my boyfriend now so the first we're gonna do is make sure you're way better than your exes."The redhead kneeled so that she came face to face with him. "And then I'll let you pound me as much as you want... I can see your desires, you didn't just want to fuck me, you wanna own me-"
-
Richard
"Way better than your exs."
That phrase had a nice ring to it. He pictured himself, naked with the body of a greek god and the strength of one even further beyond, even as he stayed level with the ground, staring into those fiery eyes. All of his exes were lines up on their hands and knees, begging for the sweet cock they sucked so long ago.
Its true. He did want to own her. Truth is, he looked up to her because she was powerful in a way he wasn't. He wanted that power to be his in every sense of the word. Then, he wanted to pound every bit of dignity out of her beaten body. But most importantly, he just wanted to be as cool as her.
-
Lily
"Then it's time to start the training. First up is stamina." The redhead place both hands on the wall on either side if his face, trapping him between it and her body. "What's the point of being built like a God if you can even fuck a girl until she goes crazy right?"
Lily was right up in his face now and giving him the smugest look possible. "And if you can take this girl, there's no girl you can't have-"
-
Richard
"Stamina why-" he said, getting caught off guard by the sound of her hand against the wall. Staring into those fiery red eyes and that smug grin, he knew what he had to do next. "I understand."
It was the fastest he had ever gotten hard in his entire life. Trapped by her hands, there was only one way out, her lips. He leaned down, pressing his lips into hers, while slipping out of his pants. His clothed shaft rubbed up against her barely contained abs, before hooking underneath her crotch. Then, he took off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest. It had changed composition since the last time. His chest had increased in size, his abs now visible. Those arms were doubled, with a chiseled marble look to them.
"Give me a second," he said, breaking away from the kiss. "I just need to take it off."
-
Lily
"No."
She took hold of his shirt and ripped the rest of it in half. As he kissed her she pushed herself closer to him and grinded her crotch teasingly along his shaft. Her Crimson eyes lit up as she fed on his desire for her and in return moved and touched hjm the way he wanted, the way he had only ever wished amd dreamed his former girlfriends would.
"That's why. Stamina matters why more than having a monster dick..."She pulled away from the kiss yet continued with the impromptu lapdance. "If you wanna break bitches you gotta be able to fuck them stupid-"
-
Richard
"Oh, I-" he tried to get out before Lily ripped off his shirt and exposed his chest and abs. As she rubbed him, he grew to full mast, his veiny shaft pressing aginst her soft pussy, only thinly protected by the suit.
Warm lips pressed into his, filling his entire body with heat. It traveled down his neck and filled him to his very core with her warmth. It was a unique experience, unlike anything he ever really felt. When she broke the kiss, his lips quivered from being deprived.
"Oh yeah I like that idea," he said, growling as he pierced her already thin bunny suit with his throbbing cock. However, he only got as far as the suit itself, the head sliding in a little before being stopped by... "Holy crap your so tight."
Still in a frenzy for that sweet pussy, he sunk his hands into that thick ass and helped her grind against him with his own strength, his biceps and back bulging under the strain.
-
Lily
"Heh.... Even though you're so damn thick, just how loose were your previous girls?" Lily said smugly as she twisted her hips and sank down just a bit more but she didn't push any further. She could feel it, he wanted to be the one to do it and that was how it was supposed to be.
"Try twisting me around some to work it in, it'll get easier after you bottom out.... You're doing good Richard~"
-
Richard
Richard's face turned red. There was definitely a part of him that worried about living up to his own hype, that he needed to be this absolute unit of a rich man. Her words sunk into his heart like a vipers fangs, but what seeped into his skin wasn't poison, it was nutrients. Thats why when he grabbed her hips, he really moved them, wiggling her back and forth over his shaft.
"Like this?" he asked.
Yes he would figure out how to do it. He wanted to be in there more than anything. If her lips made him feel that warm, then what would being inside her feel like?
-
Lily
"Haaaah... You're doing good...." Lily breathed out a bit heavier than before, he was way thicker than she'd expected and slow place made her feel every torturous second of being stretched apart further than she was meant it. It was really good, especially after all the brutal fucking she'd done recently this felt way more intimate her cheeks suddenly felt way hotter, no her whole body heated up all of a sudden with steam coming off her head as she realized what it was. She wasnt having sex now, she was making love.
"Yeah.... Like that... But-" She sputtered and tried to hide her embassment by giving him more instructions. Her small hands firmly grasped his and moved them a tiny bit higher so he was grasping her tiny waist instead. "Y-You'll have b-better control like this." She couldn't even maintain eye contact anymore. His, his innocent expression was just way to cute and she had to look somewhere, anywhere else so she wouldn't have to see it.
-
Richard
Richard's eyes widened as Lily's cheeks turned red. Wasn't she a sex worker? Did this happen everytime? The young man didn't think too hard, he couldn't, not with her on top of him. Those thick legs around his waist, his bigger hands around her tiny one, it was all for one purpose.
I want to be inside.
And so with the slight flex of his hips, he pushed just a tad further inside of her. The head sunk inside of her, pushing her walls. With her being this shy, she might push him out so he reached for her tail, attempting to give it a slight pull.
-
Lily
Lily's eyes widened slightly as she saw what he was reaching for but she didn't feel like letting him take control that easily, not without having some fun first. She bit her lip as she felt his fat head slid in and wiggled her hips in response. Her thin tail flicked out of the way of his searching hand and swung over to the other side.
"Hey pulling that outta nowhere is baaad.... Ask nicely~" Her tail was easily long enough to go imbetween them to have the heart shaped tip wiggled right in front his face.
-
Richard
"Tch."
Richard clicked his teeth in disappointment. Now that he thought about it, he didn't even ask to be trained here. That sly girl pushed that on him. Well, no she was very persuasive. If she wanted him to be strong, strong enough to break any woman, then he would have to take charge here.
"Give it to me," he commanded, extending his hand towards the heart-shaped end. "This is what you wanted right?"
-
Lily
The tip slowly went down until it rested on his palm. The redhead didn't look submissive, no she was smirking like the whole thing was amusing.
"I know you won't pull because you want to have me without cheats. Sure you could pull and then fuck me non stop until our time is over. Or I can teach what you truly desire... I trust you make the right choice Richard, I know you're a sweet guy who just wants a kind and strong girl who listens to him. I'm here for you now-"
-
Richard
Richard's fingers gently wrapped around Lily's tail, before a single word sunk down into his heart. "Sweet?" Odd, most people just called him a brat or weak. Of course, this was only towards the end of the relationship but Lily had already done that.
"Damn it," he groaned, applying the tinest bit of pressure. "I'm not sweet. I... I just liked the idea. It doesn't count if I don't do it myself."
-
Lily
"Aww Richie that shoo good-" The tiny redhead collapsed on top of him, and loud moans followed every word she spoke. Her breathing picked up as her rested on his on chest and her tight pussy clenched down hard on him for a moment before letting up and making him sink farther in. Another inch past the head and then two which quickly became three, with every inch he sunk in the pressure but more importantly the heat rose and a bulge could be seen on her abdomen slowly moving up.
"Harder boy, come on show me why you're my Master. Fuck your little succubus slut like you mean it. You need to take of your girls and this girl neeeds raw carnal sex. So fuck me, fuck me until you cum and don't you dare pull out! Hehe.... You've never done it raw have you? It's so much better isn't it? Of course it is, you're fucking the legendary Lily, not some random skank-"
-
Richard
Oh.
It finally went in. He could feel her tight walls clenching down on his thick shaft. His veins pulsated, the shaft throbbing, if it had any room. With her head on his muscular chest, he sighed, taking in her forest-like scent. With the first thrust, he sighed. With the second thrust he groaned. With the third, he growled, snarled even. One hand on her tail and another holding her by her hair, he trusted as hard as he possibly could into her, caring little for what happened to her.
"Oh you want harder? I'll fuck you so hard, you won't be ABLE to be fucked like this again."
He cupped her by her ass, helping her thrusting motions along with his own strength, pulling her towards him, all the while timing his hips with hers. There was a light slapping noise as their legs collided. "Yes that's right I AM the master."
-
Lily
"Mhhmmm.." She moaned into his chest as her depths were savagely split by his awakened lusts. She was practically leaking now, her juices soaked his shaft in a visible sheen every time he pulled out. It wouldn't be long before he bottomed out at the rate he was going now.
She didn't mind that at all. Richard was a cute and she wanted him to have good time.
Lily looked up at him with a strange adoration to her gaze. "And how does Master enjoy Lily? Is she as good as he expected?"
-
Richard
"God it feels so good, so warm."
Richard hadn't noticed until this moment, but his entire body was sweating. It only took a few rams to get him panting and tired since they were at the absolute peak of his strength. That look of hers. It seemed like adoration. That meant he was doing good! It was hard not to cum with her moaning in his ear.
"Its better than I expected. I can't let it end..."
Growling, he grabbed her by the waist and yanked her off of him, the difference in temperature sending a chill down his spine. Still holding her, he rested her on her back and grabbed either leg and raised it over her head, exposing her to him. Richard's eyes widened as he finally realized how wet she was. It was glistening. Just as quickly as the surprise entered, it was replaced by that desire to go back in, his wet cock practically begging him to go back in. And so, he slid back inside of her, using one hand to grab her tail and the other to hold up her legs, thrusting back into that warm hole.
-
Roman
6pm
Yusho... Mira... what would they think of what I'm doing right now? he thought, looking at the flyer in the window. This was the cheapest one, one of those gyms that promised to take a person beyond their human limits. Of course, it was still far more expensive than a regular gym, almost as much as he paid for rent. Maybe he could never get powers like Yusho, but he could be strong like Mira maybe.
Plus, he was sick of being tired during those workouts. It would be cool if they no longer made him break into a sweat.
"Damn it!" he groaned aloud, thinking about the cost again. You can't make your money back just being strong right? Was it really worth it? "But I... I want to be strong."
-
Lily
"You're so much better than I expected too Master~" Lily's eyes shone with adoration, however that quickly shifted to annoyance as he flipped her over onto her back. Her legs held firm for a second but the tugging of her tail made her thighs quiver and eventually give out letting him push them all the way up. Even as she made a show of trying to push him back her her strength diminished by the second made that impossible.
She cried out as the next thrust split her wide open, it reached all the way in and bumped into the entrance to her womb. "Fuuuuck, you're so big!" He wasn't even the biggest she'd ever taken, but when you were as small as her everyone was big, but no need to let him know that. And she could feel that it was what he wanted to hear.
-
Roman
Yusho... Mira... what would they think of what I'm doing right now? he thought, looking at the flyer in the window. This was the cheapest one, one of those gyms that promised to take a person beyond their human limits. Of course, it was still far more expensive than a regular gym, almost as much as he paid for rent. Maybe he could never get powers like Yusho, but he could be strong like Mira maybe.
Plus, he was sick of being tired during those workouts. It would be cool if they no longer made him break into a sweat.
"Damn it!" he groaned aloud, thinking about the cost again. You can't make your money back just being strong right? Was it really worth it? "But I... I want to be strong."
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura had been wandering through the bodybuilding district for a couple hours, looking aimlessly for the best gym the city had to offer-she wanted to buy Edelgard and herself a membership. The bronzed elven woman didn't seem like the sort for whom therapy would be particularly helpful. She was far too taciturn and guarded, and in addition to that, she had trouble giving enough information to string together a coherent sentence.
She shook her head and grabbed the end of the brilliant purple braid, fiddling with its soft end. No, Edelgard needed to be willing to help herself before she could begin to be helped. So the least she could do was help her burn off some of the stress as a workout buddy.
"Damn it!" She heard a man exclaim as she walked past him-she turned her head and stopped, watching silently what he would do next. She walked up next to him and silently began to look at the promotional poster pasted upon the window.
She was wearing a tank top with a flower print on her chest over a tight sports bra. It left her midriff revealed, showing off her pride-her firm muscles brimmed with power and strength. The bottoms were entirely too tight, gripping her ass in an unrealistic manner and showing off the hardened curves of her legs.
-
Roman
Huh?
Roman's pupil's darted to the side, taking in the woman's shape in an instant before turning back. That must be one of the famous fit girls he had heard about here. Her body was like Mira, curvy, strong and pretty. It was strange, he felt nervous but not paralyzed.
What is she doing here?
Roman's pupils darted towards her once again, before following her eyes to the poster. Oh, she's looking at this gym? What is hers not good enough? Oh, I bet she's looking for something cheaper. Maybe after you use the special equipment for a while, it stops being worth it...
"Sup," he said, tilting his head back in that 'sup bro' kind of way. Hell yeah, nailed it. No reason to hit on this one, I don't want her to crush my bones.
-
Sakura
Sakura noticed his eyes tearing off her clothes and fetishizing her figure, but she didn't react-if she cared about things like that' she'd dress more conservatively. She'd worked hard for the body she had, and she was proud of it. If he wanted to check her out, it was his prerogative. She only acknowledged his existence after he addressed her.
She turned to look at him, eyeing the man up with her vibrantly red eyes. He was a usual guy, one whom was probably just here to hit on her and try to get laid. After this would come the pickup line. She couldn't wait to see how he fucked that one up.
"Sup." She responded after a second, recomposing herself and hiding her mirth. She didn't want to be too rude-he hadn't really done anything wrong yet.
-
Roman
Perfect! he thought, not noticing what laid below the surface.
"So uhh... what brings you to this gym? Here for the free spa?" he asked, turning his head to her and raising an eyebrow. "A strong lady like you probably needs the more expensive gyms to get a good workout."
There was no way in hell she was here just to workout, no way in hell.
-
Lily
"You're so much better than I expected too Master~" Lily's eyes shone with adoration, however that quickly shifted to annoyance as he flipped her over onto her back. Her legs held firm for a second but the tugging of her tail made her thighs quiver and eventually give out letting him push them all the way up. Even as she made a show of trying to push him back her her strength diminished by the second made that impossible.
She cried out as the next thrust split her wide open, it reached all the way in and bumped into the entrance to her womb. "Fuuuuck, you're so big!" He wasn't even the biggest she'd ever taken, but when you were as small as her everyone was big, but no need to let him know that. And she could feel that it was what he wanted to hear.
Richard
"Oh I bet I am," Richard said, ignoring the idea that maybe this is just dirty talk. In this moment, he let himself belive his own hype, even after Lily brought reality to him just a little earlier. He kept thrusting harder and harder. "Its so tight and warm.... Lily you feel so good!"
Wait
He could feel it and she would too, he was throbbing inside of her, twitching even. The pressure was hitting its apex but he could only slam his hips against her thick ass cheeks harder, growling as he squeezed her legs as tight as he could. In that moment he didn't care. He would use her like the sex doll he paid for, squeezing those delicious powerful thighs with all he had. The same was said for her tail too, crushing in in his fingers to deliver the best orgasm his body could.
"I'm going to cum Lily. Your going to take all of me and your going to like it."
-
Roman
Perfect! he thought, not noticing what laid below the surface.
"So uhh... what brings you to this gym? Here for the free spa?" he asked, turning his head to her and raising an eyebrow. "A strong lady like you probably needs the more expensive gyms to get a good workout."
There was no way in hell she was here just to workout, no way in hell.
Sakura
Sakura cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "I'm looking for a nice gym, actually." She replied. "One that gives me the most bang for my buck. Wasting money on stupid things isn't really my style."
She eyed him up idly, checking how how built he was.
She was sort of disappointed, but everybody needed to start somewhere. She wasn't the sort to deride someone attempting effort and commitment. "I'm just a bit dubious of their claims that you can get significantly stronger super fast, frankly."
Sakura sighed.
"Everything in this city seems to be crazy, though. So I can't exactly just dismiss these claims out of hand." She dramatically threw out her arms and shrugged, thrusting her chest forward just a hair and putting her left foot slightly in front of the other. The air around her began to sparkle faintly for several seconds until she broke the pose and returned to her normal stature.
-
Roman
"Well its what I need more than anything," Roman said, keeping his eyebrows raised at her flamboyant display and adding a tilted head. "I want to get strong, so I'm willing to believe in it. Besides, this district has many people who have broken the "human limit" here."
Weird, was she checking him out just now? No that didn't sound right. Maybe she was sizing him up? Did that mean she was going to fight him? Well, he had been lucky so far. Still, it was probably best to be nice then, just to avoid too much conflict.
"So do you think this one is stupid then?"
The building in front of them was pretty modest. As they looked into the window, they could see several fitness model bodies sweating and grunting, pushing massive weights. Even the girls were able to use 100Ibs. Even so, physique wise, Sakura outclassed just about everyone in there, even if only by a little bit. The price on the poster was reasonable, one of the cheapest in the entire city, that much could be confirmed with a quick internet search.
-
Roman
"Well its what I need more than anything," Roman said, keeping his eyebrows raised at her flamboyant display and adding a tilted head. "I want to get strong, so I'm willing to believe in it. Besides, this district has many people who have broken the "human limit" here."
Weird, was she checking him out just now? No that didn't sound right. Maybe she was sizing him up? Did that mean she was going to fight him? Well, he had been lucky so far. Still, it was probably best to be nice then, just to avoid too much conflict.
"So do you think this one is stupid then?"
The building in front of them was pretty modest. As they looked into the window, they could see several fitness model bodies sweating and grunting, pushing massive weights. Even the girls were able to use 100Ibs. Even so, physique wise, Sakura outclassed just about everyone in there, even if only by a little bit. The price on the poster was reasonable, one of the cheapest in the entire city, that much could be confirmed with a quick internet search.
Sakura Edelfeldt
She nodded. "With enough effort, it's possible. Anyone can get strong. What I'm dubious about is the claim that some of them are making-that you can make immense gains in days." She looked inside and took a good long look at the workers-it wasn't that impressive, frankly. Nothing looked fantastical, and it looked way too expensive for just casual workouts-she wanted more. "Well..." She scratched her head sheepishly, trying to think of a nice way to say it. "If you're a beginner, I guess it'd be ok... I'm looking for something a bit more intense, though."
-
Roman
"Well supposedly what matters is not the workouts, but these fancy rooms," Roman said, nodding in slight agreement. Annoying as it was, she was right about him being a beginner. "Apparently, they allow you to keep working out all day and make a bunch of progress. The only ones who really take advantage of that are those gym rats who can stand working out all day."
And so he thought maybe he could just work out all day and get strong enough to surpass his human limits. That would be easy right?
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura furrowed her brow. "Working out all day doesn't sound fun at all." She muttered with a shake of her head. "Having a life is pretty important too."
-
Roman
I don't have a life, is what he was thinking. But all he did was sigh and say, "Yeah well it doesn't sound all that bad to me. Go in weak and scrawny, come out muscular with the body of a true chad."
He said that, but he couldn't help but think back to Yusho's words. He couldn't help but wonder if that would be considered a devils deal or just working hard.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
In a single, blindingly fast motion, Sakura pulled her tank off and tossed it to the side, where it promptly dissolved into the pavement.
She was absolutely ripped. Her muscles brimmed with strength and power, there was no fat on her stomach, and she even had an eight pac. "I wouldn't have wanted to get strong that way, but-do you have any power? Like at all?"
Her voice sounded fairly interested in him all of a sudden.
-
Roman
Oh shit.
Roman stared at the girl's body, feeling a familiar stiffness in his pants. It was hard not to when he was seeing so much more skin. His eyes tracked along those enormous breasts before sliding down those massive arms. They were twice the size of his own. She looked like she could crush his head between her hands. His eyes wandered downward. Good lord she didn't just have a six pack but an eight pack. He'd break his hand on those if he tried to fight her.
Roman glared at her, biting his lower lip. "No...." he said, practically growling at her. "I have.... nothing"
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"W-wow. I've never really talked to anyone like you." She replied quietly. "Not in any actual depth, anyway. Outside of bussiness."
-
Roman
What the hell?
Roman's glare intensified. "What do you mean people like you?"
She could see it in her eyes. She was looking down on him. Not that he blamed her. The strong always cast their condescending gaze on the weak. This girl literally flexed in front of him and now she was shocked he couldn't do the same. "I will get strong!" he yelled, slamming his foot on the ground. It hurt, but he didn't show it. Or rather, he didn't care. He wouldn't be looked at like that, not again. "Don't you look at me like that!"
-
Sakura
A bit of heat flushed to her cheeks, and she shook her head. "No, not like that-I just don't-I didn't mean to offend you, sorry. I've been caught up in magic, and wrestling, and then being a magical girl... I've never had a chance to really talk with someone who isn't, you know..." She gestured at herself. "Like me. I've always been interested in a normal life. I didn't mean to look down on you like that."
-
Roman
Roman's eyes widened, before taking a deep breath. It was oddly cute, maybe one of the cutest things he had ever seen, a big strong girl like that, apologizing so profusely. Why would anyone that strong every apologize for anything? Why would they need to? Maybe that is why it was so adorable.
"Sorry, sorry," he said, reaching out his hand. "I... have always wanted an extraordinary one, to be special. You have no idea how much i'd want to trade places with you."
-
Sakura
Sakura snorted. but then shook her head. "Thanks. I really mean it. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, but it certainly isn't great here. With great power comes a great deal of politics and other such nonsense-I do empathize with you wanting to become stronger, though. Anyway, sorry."
-
Roman
Roman wanted to reach out, maybe touch her, but you don't do that with girls. After all, you never know how they feel about touch. Still, his hand outstretched craved a way to settle her down. "Its alright stop apologizing. Its weird."
"C'mon, you wanted to check out this gym right? Want to take a look inside? Maybe you can help me figure out if this place is legit."
-
Sakura
Sakura turned back and glanced inside. "Mh? I was planning on checking out another gym, actually. If you want to come along, I wouldn't mind. You're pretty cool, and doing stuff in a group is more fun."
-
Roman
Pretty cool? For the first time in a while, he heard a statement that brought a big stupid smile to his face. It was pretty flattering for a cute girl to say he was cool. Maybe he was doing alright after all.
"Sure!"
6:15
After only a few blocks of traveling, they finally came across a more expensive gym. The pair wouldn't need a flyer to know this was a more prestigious location. Men and women who looked like they were chiseled from marble walked in and out of this building. If they looked through the glass, they would see that the dumbells far exceeded the ones at that old gym. Some of the gym members were squatting actual cars, others simply massive weights. It was clear this was a gym for superhumans. Inside of the glass next to the open sign listed a price. It seemed like this place was expensive. Although there is a discount for those with the "swole spirit" with lacking funds.
"Wow," Roman said, suddenly feeling small. "I guess the rumors were true."
-
Sakura
"Y-yeah." Sakura replied. She sounded inordinately excited, squirming a bit and rubbing her thighs together as she stared at a busty blond woman lifting a car through the window.
"Check her out." She nudged Roman, glancing in her direction. "There are some really great ladies running around here!"
-
Roman
Roman could feel his heart thumping. He glanced over at the purple-headed girl. Of course, she wasn't intimidated. She was jacked herself. Although he'd be lying if he said she wasn't attractive. "I don't know if this gym is for me," he said, the nervousness coming out of his voice. "Maybe I should have started at that other place. I mean I've only done workouts out in the park and stuff...."
And that was literally earlier today.
-
Roman
Roman could feel his heart thumping. He glanced over at the purple-headed girl. Of course, she wasn't intimidated. She was jacked herself. Although he'd be lying if he said she wasn't attractive. "I don't know if this gym is for me," he said, the nervousness coming out of his voice. "Maybe I should have started at that other place. I mean I've only done workouts out in the park and stuff...."
And that was literally earlier today.
Sakura Edelfeldt
She patted Roman on the back. "Don't worry. We're just here to check it out, and I know what I'm doing. I won't let you do anything stupid that'll hurt yourself. If you want to break your human limits, this is the sort of place you'll need to look for."
-
Roman
"Yeah.... your right," he said. It was at that moment he gave up on trying to look sexy. There was no way he could pull that off to her or any other girl here. But maybe that was ok. Maybe if he focused today he could actually make something of himself.
And so he walked forward, opening the double door.
The pair were met with a ginger-haired woman with an icy blue stare. She had a modestly sized chest, but you wouldn't be able to tell from how the cleavage tried to escape from her tank top. Even this desk lady had strong muscle, far bigger than Roman's but a little smaller than Sakura. As she stood up from her chair, you could see the outline of her ass pushing her jeans to their limit, even in those loose sweatpants.
"So I take it you two are new customers?"
-
Sakura
"We're here to look around and maybe buy some memberships, yes." Sakura replied. "Do you have a tour that you could give us?"
-
Roman/Desk Lady
The woman smiled and said, "Of course. Give me a moment."
As the lady walked away to get someone, Roman turned to the purple-haired girl. "So I don't get it. I'm looking to get stronger but what are you here for? Are you trying to get even stronger than you are now? Or are you just here to hit on the ladies?"
The place was huge. It was even more intimidating seeing that woman squatting with the car on top of her. Of course, that also came with a great view of her tight bubbly ass flexing as it went up and down, but Roman couldn't help but stare at the fucking car. Could he really do that? There was actually a wide variety of people working out. There were treadmills that were going so fast it sounded like motors, huge hills of man muscle curling 1,000 pound dumbells, and even some doing shadow boxing.
-
Lily
"Yeees... Harder, HARDER!"
The little redhead moaned louder and louder with every thrust. The pleasure flowing through her was unreal, she could tell what felt better. Her being split apart by his massive cock that rubbed her in all the right place... Or the essence she was draining from him with every push inside her. All his negativity, his pent up emotions and stress were devoured greedily by the small girl beneath him.
Her eyes searched for his, there was deep understanding in her gaze, a compassion no one had ever had for him. The more she fed on him, the more she knew about him. Things no one else knew about him, she understood him like no one else and in a way she even grew to love him in her own way.
-
Richard
It was the best release he had ever had in his life. He wasn't sure if it was because he was inside of a succubi or because he had fucked the legendary fighter he never thought he'd be able to even touch. Every muscle in his naked body tensed, as he tilted his head back and groaned. "Yeeeessss. I did it."
It was strange. The afterglow of the experience left him.... light. He stared into Lily's eyes and smiled. There wasn't any girl that made him this good, who made him feel like he could do something. Even the dreadful reminder that he only bought her simply floated around in his head, free of the neurotic sting of anxiety. It felt like in this moment, he was incapable of anything other than happiness and satisfaction.
Finally releasing Lily's legs, he pulled out, pulling his pants up. "Thanks," he said, his voice more stern and confident. It was as if she fucked the weakness out of him. "I'll probably remember this for the rest of my life."
-
Roman/Desk Lady
The woman smiled and said, "Of course. Give me a moment."
As the lady walked away to get someone, Roman turned to the purple-haired girl. "So I don't get it. I'm looking to get stronger but what are you here for? Are you trying to get even stronger than you are now? Or are you just here to hit on the ladies?"
The place was huge. It was even more intimidating seeing that woman squatting with the car on top of her. Of course, that also came with a great view of her tight bubbly ass flexing as it went up and down, but Roman couldn't help but stare at the fucking car. Could he really do that? There was actually a wide variety of people working out. There were treadmills that were going so fast it sounded like motors, huge hills of man muscle curling 1,000 pound dumbells, and even some doing shadow boxing.
Sakura
"Eh, I just have a friend who's feeling a bit depressed. Excercise helps with that." She replied to Roman, her eyes following the woman's butt. "I don't really want to get too into it."
-
Roman
Roman raised his eyebrow before returning his head and gaze to the desk. "Alright I won't say anything else then," he said, folding his arms.
What a weird response. Does she think I'm stupid and weak? Checking out a gym for a friend? Why doesn't her freind go to the gym then?
The woman came back with a big beefy man. Brown disheveled hair covered the strong jawed face of a man built from training. He had sharp green eyes, thin lips and the face of a young man in his late 20s. To say he was built like a tank was an understatement. The man had massive pectorals that stretched against the fabric of his t shirt. His arms were cannons, bigger and thicker than even Edelfelts. His legs were like tree trunks, with a tight ass that stretched against his slacks.
"I heard you wanted a tour correct?" he asked, flashing them both a friendly smile.
-
Sakura
Sakura patted him on the back. "It's complicated." She said simply before waiting for the tour guide to arrive.
"Yes, we want a tour. I expect your facilities to be top notch, so don't disappoint me." She sized him up, staring at him. He didn't seem like he'd be stronger than her. Definetely didn't have the technique she had, from how he carried himself.
-
Roman/Trainer dude
Complicated huh? Roman thought as he waited for the man to talk.
"Well I won't pretend its the best gym in the district," he said. "That honor belongs to our chef's gym, but ill be damned if I wasn't proud to be a trainer here. To start with, take note of the supplements we sell here at the front desk. Suppliments at our gym are magically enhanced to allow recovery. We also have access to several specialists that can enhance your genetics if you have the money. In other words, here at our gym you can expect to rise far beyond your natural limits, so long as you work hard enough."
Roman's eyes widened as he realized he really could stay here all day and train. But the prices for the supplements were... high. No wonder this gym was so expensive. Clearly, these were for rich people. He always thought he was weak because he was born ordinary, but maybe it was also because he was born poor. How good it would feel to throw these rich assholes through a wall.
"What about the equipment?" Roman asked.
The man walked them down into the weight room. It was enormous. "We offer all sorts of equipment. Highly dense super heavyweights to actual physical items to lift such as cars and trucks. Here in this gym, you are allowed to grunt and groan as much as you please. We offer classes for specific functions such as flight, agility, speed and even endurance. There are no limits in a gym like this. We also can train a person to have stronger magical reserves, so long as their magic is biologically based."
Roman stared at the people lifting. They were all so intense looking. He was a little jealous of their passion. "When you get stronger, I can promise you will feel more empowered as well."
The blond woman grabbed a man by the shirt, lifting him into the air. "I told you to stop staring at my ass!"
"I wasn't!" the man said, grabbing her arm with his two hands and squirmed in her grip.
"Get lost," she said, throwing him into the wall. The man fell unconscious on the ground.
Ignoring the random act of public gym violence, the trainer stopped to looked at Sakura. "Despite how that may look, we have very few issues with inappropriate gazing. What are your goals?"
-
Sakura
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Just a pleasant gym experience, where I can work out casually with my friends." She replied. "Evidently, this gym allows violence on the workout floor, so I'm feeling a bit leery right now." She replied. "For a workout such as this one, you'll be trying to charge me a fair amount of money, so I'm trying to find the place right for me."
Still, training to be a stronger mage, now that seemed far fetched. Were they going to implant more circuits into her? No way. That would be a dangerous operation that could easily kill her, or cripple her ability to use magic for the rest of her life.
Hard pass.
She glanced at her aqquaintance to see how he was feeling about their claims.
-
Trainer/Roman
"Well each gym in swole city has its own culture," he said. "We keep an eye on our patrons and ensure justice according to our company policy. Our clientele tend to be those who seek strength with strong personalities and a drive to move forward. If you want, I can recommend other gyms that may be more suited towards your needs."
Roman just kept staring at the other gym patrons. He wondered how much of their raw power came from using the facilities, or if they came from outside training and power. After all, the purple-haired girl he was with managed to get that strong on her own, so maybe these guys couldn't attribute what they had to the workouts themselves.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura smiled. "Thank you. That would be wonderful." She replied.
-
Personal Trainer/Roman
The man guided the two into his office, reaching onto a large shelf for a book of brochures. He laid them out. "Are you two signing up somewhere together? You've clearly been training for a while, so it will need somewhere expensive. However, your friend is weaker, so he will get results from anywhere."
Roman glared at him. He couldn't believe that asshole was being so straightforward.
-
Swole City Mall
"Richard?"
Richars smirked as he turned around, hearing the sweet voice of his ex. It was a redheaded girl with long flowing hair and soft brown eyes. She wore a long sleave shirt with a v cut to show off her massive cleavage. If he remembered correctly, she was at least a double D. Long but tight pants covered her legs, showing off her wide hips, strong legs and protruding rear. She was a lot taller than Lily and Richard was, a whole head taller than Richard himself. She was an older girl too, just like Lily, around 19 now.
"Oh hey Rukka," he said, not even hiding his arrogance. His voice seethed with confidence in the way someone about to pull a terrible prank would speak. "I'm just here waiting for my girlfriend to get out of the changing room. Whats up?"
"Girlfriend? You? Are you kidding me?"
-
Personal Trainer/Roman
The man guided the two into his office, reaching onto a large shelf for a book of brochures. He laid them out. "Are you two signing up somewhere together? You've clearly been training for a while, so it will need somewhere expensive. However, your friend is weaker, so he will get results from anywhere."
Roman glared at him. He couldn't believe that asshole was being so straightforward.
Sakura Edelfeldt
"Hey hey hey, I don't know if you can call us friends yet. We just met. But there's no reason to be so blunt about it. Is that how you guys treat prospective customers around here? Talking down about them and belittling them?"
She shook her head in disgust.
-
Personal trainer
"Apologies for assuming but yes, part of my job is being blunt," he said, tilting his head. "Him being weaker is not a bad thing. Even in our rougher culture, being weak is not a sin. There are places in swole city where that is the case, but not here and not to me."
Roman folded his arms. "Thats a load of bullshit and you know it."
"Enough. Do you want to find a better gym for you or not?" he asked, standing up to assert dominance.
-
Personal trainer
"Apologies for assuming but yes, part of my job is being blunt," he said, tilting his head. "Him being weaker is not a bad thing. Even in our rougher culture, being weak is not a sin. There are places in swole city where that is the case, but not here and not to me."
Roman folded his arms. "Thats a load of bullshit and you know it."
"Enough. Do you want to find a better gym for you or not?" he asked, standing up to assert dominance.
Sakura
"Yes, we're very interested." She quickly replied, answering for him.
-
Personal Trainer guy
The man sat back down, taking a deep breath. On the table were several piles of gym brochures. "Alright," he said. "You mentioned that you wanted some place casual, so this is a list of gyms for people who workout casually. However..."
A pushed forward another pile. "For those who want to get stronger, this is a great list of gyms. Much like our gym, these have people who are supernaturally strong and all of them started as people as weak or weaker than you sir."
Roman grumbled, but he raised an eyebrow in interest.
"There are also all girl or guy gyms depending on your preferences there, but if you guys want to go sign up together, you both can't be in the same gym."
-
Sakura
She nodded at the trainer. "Thanks for the information." She said before turning her head to Roman and raising an eyebrow at the brat. "Well? What are your thoughts on this?"
She reached out and flicked his arm. There was enough strength in it to make him stumble. "And try not to take everything as an attack, please. At this point, it's pretty clear he's just doing his job here."
-
Roman
"I don't care," Roman said, grabbing his shoulder as he stumbled back a few steps. "I just want to be better than now and strong enough to kick your sorry ass."
The man chuckled, before returning his gaze to Sakura. "I don't think he's listening to you ma'am."
"I am," Roman said, folding his arms and looking away from the trainer. "That was my last one. Maybe prefer one with mostly girls? Guys at the gym piss me off and girls are nicer to look at."
Strange. He was being oddly blunt. Was it because of this girl standing up for him?
-
Roman
"I don't care," Roman said, grabbing his shoulder as he stumbled back a few steps. "I just want to be better than now and strong enough to kick your sorry ass."
The man chuckled, before returning his gaze to Sakura. "I don't think he's listening to you ma'am."
"I am," Roman said, folding his arms and looking away from the trainer. "That was my last one. Maybe prefer one with mostly girls? Guys at the gym piss me off and girls are nicer to look at."
Strange. He was being oddly blunt. Was it because of this girl standing up for him?
Sakura
"Keh! I know you do!" She exclaimed, turning to face him. "You've been checking me out for a while-taking peeks at my butt, my legs-even my midriff. You haven't even really tried to hide it!" She shook her head. "Regardless, you need to pick your battles better-he could crush your head pretty easily. Same as me. His advice is pretty valuable, even if he could have presented it more diplomatically." She glanced at him, red eyes shining with annoyance. "You're not going to find a better source of information than him-part of being strong is knowing how to network and use others to better yourself."
-
Roman
Shit
Roman looked away, his face flushing red as he realized he had been caught red handed. Whatever was building inside of him was replaced with a uncomfortable amount of self-awareness. He groaned and said, "Fine fine, then I'll ask you, whats the best way to get stronger?"
The man sighed and said, "Abuse a facility that has the famous swole city recovery rooms. So long as you have the conviction, you can continue to workout, building and rebuilding your muscles until eventually, you break your human limits. However, don't build anything you can't maintain or you'll hurt your body in the long term, or even short term."
"Alright," Roman said, finally looking back at Sakura with a glare, even with his face still red. The second he formulated his next thought, it turned into a smug grin. "You want a girl gym too right, one with hot strong blondes with phat asses?"
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"No, not really. I'm only interested in my sister. Anyone else is just a passing fantasy." Sakura replied without missing a single beat. She shook her head and seemed to be staring off into space, fantasizing about something. "Ehehe..." She chuckled before shaking her head and forcing herself back to reality.
"No, what I want is a place someone as strong as myself can go to have a casual workout where she can blow off stress."
She turned to face the man, staring him directly in the eye. "Do you need to test my strength or something, or do you have an eye for that?"
-
Roman/Trainer
Uh oh... he thought, his eyes widening at Sakura's on the nose response. She wants to fuck her sister.
"How can you talk like that in public with no shame?" Roman asked, shaking his head. "Does your sister even know about this?"
The personal trainer met Sakura's competitive glare with a smile. "Of course," he said, looking her up and down. "You look physically strong but you can never tell in this city. I don't want to recommend you a place you can't handle. Although if you can handle this gym, you can handle most gyms in this district."
Standing up, the man began to walk towards the door. "We can give you some basic strength tests if you would like, free of charge."
-
Sakura
Sakura took a step forward towards Roman. "Huh? What is there to be ashamed of in the first place? Is love something to hide? Should I be lying to myself instead, making myself miserable? Isn't pursuing my dreams more important than thinking about how society views me?"
She tapped her foot on the ground, eyes scrunched up at Roman in annoyance. "What right do you have to judge me, really?"
-
Roman
Oh shit she's pissed, he thought, instinctively raising his hands in surrender. He hadn't seen her fight yet, but looking at her body, he knew she could snap him in half.
"Actually it was admiration!" he said, the shaking in his voice sound like he was begging. However, he was actually being genuine. "I don't talk about my inner thoughts like that, especially dark ones. I mean does she know about it?"
Once again, he was being oddly bold. He closed his eyes, awaiting death.
The trainer merely raised an eyebrow in the corner.
-
Roman
Oh shit she's pissed, he thought, instinctively raising his hands in surrender. He hadn't seen her fight yet, but looking at her body, he knew she could snap him in half.
"Actually it was admiration!" he said, the shaking in his voice sound like he was begging. However, he was actually being genuine. "I don't talk about my inner thoughts like that, especially dark ones. I mean does she know about it?"
Once again, he was being oddly bold. He closed his eyes, awaiting death.
The trainer merely raised an eyebrow in the corner.
Sakura
"Don't bullshit me like that, Roman." She flicked a stray hair out of her face and turned towards the trainer. "Of course she knows. We're in a loving and healthy relationship." She replied before clearing her throat. "Anyway, I'd be happy to take you up on your offer." She said to the trainer.
-
Roman
"I'm not bullshiting," he said, his voice settling down as she turned her attention to the trainer. "I do admire you for saying it!"
Roman was shouting now, unwilling to let this go. "Its hard to be that upfront with people you just meet."
Then again, maybe that was because she was strong. Maybe that is just another privilege of strength.
-
Roman
"I'm not bullshiting," he said, his voice settling down as she turned her attention to the trainer. "I do admire you for saying it!"
Roman was shouting now, unwilling to let this go. "Its hard to be that upfront with people you just meet."
Then again, maybe that was because she was strong. Maybe that is just another privilege of strength.
Sakura
"If you meant the words you're saying, then you wouldn't have been covering your ass, as if you thought I would hurt you for judging me." She snorted, and continued talking with her back to him. "I thought you knew me well enough to know I'm not going to randomly attack someone. Apparently I was mistaken."
-
Roman
Roman's eyes widened, that last sentence stinging at his very core. "Are you kidding me? I just met you! All I know is you have a body like a greek goddess and the ability to crush my head between your palms! Its like walking around with someone who is constantly holding a gun and has a bad temper. Oh wait, guns probably barely even hurt you."
The young man realized that he had actually raised his voice at her again. Strange. He said all that, but is yelling at her now. Why is that?
-
Sakura
Her dangerously red eyes glimmered with wet tears. She crossed her arms underneath her breasts and held herself tightly. She bit her lower lips, accidentally revealing her fangs in the process. "Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I'm not a decent human being." Sakura shook her head. "Nor does me being a mage, nor a vampire, at that. When did I ever give the impression I'm the sort to run around killing people? I grew up the same as you, and worked hard to get as strong as I did today-anybody could have done it, with enough work. In that regard, I wasn't special at all."
Even though she was shorter than him, it was as if she were looking down on him. Her body language, her tone, and even her disposition oozed disappointment and even a hint of sorrow. "I thought we could be friends. I guess you're just as much of a prick as anyone else-judging me by my body instead of for whom I am."
She turned her head back to the trainer and smiled. "Thanks for the help. I'd really appreciate a recommendation for a casual gym for women about as strong as me."
-
Roman
Roman's eyes widened and he stepped back when seeing the fangs. "You didn't," he said. "You don't have too. Your strong, i'm not. Not only are you strong, but hundreds of times stronger than me. You could kill me by accident if you aren't careful."
Roman bit his lip. He hated this feeling, this powerlessness. How he wished he could switch places with her. "I didn't. People who are strong have strong friends. People who are weak have weak friends. I'm... I'm not on your level, not yet."
That couldn't be true right? After all Yusho didn't just see him as a worthless weakling. He even... no that was a mentor relationship. Well it didn't matter. If she didn't understand the power she had, it wasn't safe to hang around her anyway.
"Whatever!" he finally said in a huff and walked towards the trainer. "Just sign me up."
The trainer looked at Sakura, then at Roman. "Your welcome and... sure."
-
Sakura
Sakura's eyes seemed to stare into him. She looked closely at him, and she could tell he didn't really believe what he was saying. Reading people was a skill she was good at by necessity. If you couldn't see past people's bullshit, and didn't pay attention to their subtle cues, one would just get eaten up and used by the mages at the Clock Tower. Especially in the position she had there, as a foreigner, and as an Edelfeldt. So, when he stopped talking to her, she immediately shook her head and spoke up.
"That's bullshit, and you know it."
-
Roman
"Why are you acting like you know me all of the sudden? So what, its ok if you do it?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest. "You know nothing about me!"
-
Roman
"Why are you acting like you know me all of the sudden? So what, its ok if you do it?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest. "You know nothing about me!"
Sakura
"I don't need to know you all that well to tell that you're lying." She replied.
-
Roman
"I'm not lying. Thats what I think. Strong people hang out with strong people. Its networking right?" he said, parroting her words from earlier. "Why bother hanging out with a weakling like me huh?"
The trainer came back into the room with a bag of popcorn in his hands. Apparently he had left while the two were screaming at each other.
-
Roman
"I'm not lying. Thats what I think. Strong people hang out with strong people. Its networking right?" he said, parroting her words from earlier. "Why bother hanging out with a weakling like me huh?"
The trainer came back into the room with a bag of popcorn in his hands. Apparently he had left while the two were screaming at each other.
Sakura
"Iunno, maybe I like someone for more than their body, or their use to me to network? It's an incredible thing, you know-imagine, not being hyperfocused on strength, your world might expand!" She laughed before bringing her hands up to her head and making an explosion noise.
-
Roman
"How is that any better?!" he yelled. "That means i'm only good if i'm useful! I... I guess thats true though. Maybe thats why the strong hang out with the strong...."
Roman's eyes furrowed even harder and his lips curled into a scowl. Although, it looked as if a tear was forming in his eye. "Yeah we... we could never be friends."
-
Roman
"How is that any better?!" he yelled. "That means i'm only good if i'm useful! I... I guess thats true though. Maybe thats why the strong hang out with the strong...."
Roman's eyes furrowed even harder and his lips curled into a scowl. Although, it looked as if a tear was forming in his eye. "Yeah we... we could never be friends."
Sakura
Tears filled her eyes as well. "How the fuck did you get that from what I said? Being useful has nothing to do with friendship! It's all about if you enjoy each other's company! Feh." She turned her head, and began to walk away. "Jeez. And to think I liked you."
-
Roman
There was no retort. In a way he didn't care about getting the last word. He just couldn't comprehend how a woman who claimed to have earned her power forgot how terrifying it was to be weak. He couldn't belive this idiot had the balls to say people were just tools. Worst of all, a sinking feeling in his chest made it feel like she was right. What if people were just tools and he wasn't good enough to be useful. But that didn't answer one question.
Why did Yusho care?
And with that, he rushed out of the door, never to be seen again.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
9PM Nexus Time, Day 2
After Sakura left the gym, she immediately pulled out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts and tapped on Edelgard's entry. She leaned against the wall, blinking back tears and shaking her head.
"Fucking asshole."
-
Edelgard
9 PM Nexus Time, Day 2
At this time of the day, Edelgard was circling the stalls and halls of the lesser orders in the Citadel, stalking the side-paths and gates, and looking out for where each twisting street went. With Sakura busying herself with something she'd claimed was meant for the two of them, knowing her benefactor could take care of herself, Edelgard had decided to spend the hours familiarizing herself with the layout of this magical fortress of a town, and inquiring after any and everything with all the social tact of a scowling tiger.
When the contraption for communication the young mage had given her made a sound like bells and she turned away to answer it, the front guards of the guildhouse she was bothering heaved a sigh of relief.
"Sakura?" She asked over the line, tentatively careful to not miss the answer.
-
Edelgard
9 PM Nexus Time, Day 2
At this time of the day, Edelgard was circling the stalls and halls of the lesser orders in the Citadel, stalking the side-paths and gates, and looking out for where each twisting street went. With Sakura busying herself with something she'd claimed was meant for the two of them, knowing her benefactor could take care of herself, Edelgard had decided to spend the hours familiarizing herself with the layout of this magical fortress of a town, and inquiring after any and everything with all the social tact of a scowling tiger.
When the contraption for communication the young mage had given her made a sound like bells and she turned away to answer it, the front guards of the guildhouse she was bothering heaved a sigh of relief.
"Sakura?" She asked over the line, tentatively careful to not miss the answer.
Sakura
"Yeah. I didn't get very far with what I was doing. Ran into a speedbump. Do you want to hang out, maybe do some shopping?" SHe replied, scratching at her cheek and wiping away her tears.
-
Edelgard
She squeezed the phone harder than it was likely equipped to handle. Something sounded off about her. What had gone wrong?
"Where are you?" Edelgard responded, curtly jumping past yes or no .
-
Edelgard
She squeezed the phone harder than it was likely equipped to handle. Something sounded off about her. What had gone wrong?
"Where are you?" Edelgard responded, curtly jumping past yes or no .
Sakura
"A place called Swole-City. Ridiculous name, I know." Sakura laughed, trying to hide her emotional state from Edelgard. "Do you mind if I bring you over with my magic?" She asked, reformatting her own clothes more to her liking. "It'll only take a second or two."
-
Edelgard
There was a moment of silence. If Sakura paid close attention, she could almost hear her scowl over the meaning of the word "swole", but then, she ignored the drop of cold which fell in her gut and responded. "Acceptable."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
The shadow which had been following Edelgard around burst to life. Its wrapped around Edelgard's waist, and a third hand reached out and squeezed her palm. Then, it enveloped her, and she fell into the black abyss.
She was spat out a few feet in front of her benefactor. Sakura was wearing a low-cut, backless dress which clung to her curves a little too well to be natural, as well as now six-inch heels. She smiled, and wiped off her eyes. "Pretty dumb name for a place, isn't it? It makes you wonder what sort of musclehead designed it."
She chuckled. "It's good to be with friends."
-
Edelgard
Edelgard no longer stumbled on the way out. She stepped closer to Sakura, shaking the uneasy lightness out of her head. There wasn't any evident distress in Sakura's finely dressed appearance, but the Forsaken's gaze was drawn to her eyes.
To ask would be to pry when she only needed her here, however, and Sakura had asked a question. "The parlance... unfamiliar. What's swole mean?"
-
Sakura
"Ah-it means strong, muscular. They might as well have named it strong city, or muscle city." She replied, wrapping her arms around herself in a sort of nervous hug.
Her red eyes blinked a couple times, staring at her elven friend's face. "So, uh, do you have anything you'd like to buy, Edel?"
-
Edelgard
She wasn't sure how much stranger than was supposed to sound than "Spearplain", "Red-Ring Forest", "Emerald River", or "Nexus City", but it got her to thinking. Some of the names here didn't resemble any of the languages she knew. Others were clearly descriptive. Yet others seemed to draw on dialects nobody used anymore. And Sakura, like many of the people of the northern realms, traced her line by a single surname attached to her birth name. Should she find some way to shorten her lenghty matronyms and patronyms? It made no sense to go solely by one of the earliest ones when others wouldn't have the context to know her. And of Edelgard's deed names, there was none she could wear anymore, least of all in a world where they had no stories behind them.
She was getting distracted. Blinking, she looked down on herself and back to Sakura.
"Maybe... clothes. Easier to wear. When traveling, I only had one set, and twill cloaks."
Edelgard had no shame of her body, or her vests. But she wouldn't admit she felt inappropriate, constantly at the side of Sakura, who changed her garbs so easily and often out of a vast arsenal, with no distinction of her own.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura's cheeks flushed red a bit. How could she have been as discourtious as to leave her friend without proper garments, all while showing off her impressive array of outfits herself. "Ah. Sure, that'd be fine with me." She replied before taking a step closer, soaking in her friend's body type-she was firm, muscular, had cute ears, a nice tan, and a big butt. She walked around her in a slow circle, hand to her chin and examining her as if she were a work of art. "Mhhh, but what sort of outfits do you prefer? Stuff like mine? Maybe something looser?"
She circled back around to the front and smiled. "Well, trying things on is part of the fun, isn't it?" She offered Edelgard her hand with her palm facing up.
"Let's go."
-
Edelgard
There was a flattering energy to Sakura's attention like this, as if suddenly seeing her painted to the air of the city to complement her own colors was all that mattered to the younger woman. Her expectations were high, and the Forsaken didn't want to disappoint her. Edelgard loosened the hold on her spear and stretched her grip before clasping her other hand in Sakura's.
"Looser. Shorter is fine, too. Trust your taste," she said.
-
Edelgard
There was a flattering energy to Sakura's attention like this, as if suddenly seeing her painted to the air of the city to complement her own colors was all that mattered to the younger woman. Her expectations were high, and the Forsaken didn't want to disappoint her. Edelgard loosened the hold on her spear and stretched her grip before clasping her other hand in Sakura's.
"Looser. Shorter is fine, too. Trust your taste," she said.
Sakura Edelfeldt
"Mhh mhh... And maybe some earings, or some more exotic adornments to compliment your form..." She clicked her tongue and chuckled. "Hold tight."
The shadows enveloped them once more, dragging them to a place with a little more class.
-
Roman
Continued from the vampire district.
(http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,756.msg66035.html#msg66035)
What am I doing?
The sun slowly drifted over the car, bathing Roman in what could only be called truth. He had heard legends of the swole city beaches, but never in his life did he think he would see it. All the patrons looked as if they spent the last few months being carved in marble. Aside from Elizebeth's domain, this was considered one of the sexiest places in the entire nexus, a place where human physicality and power were on full display. Despite even that, the sight before them paled in comparison to the three girls in the car with him. Whether they liked him or not, Roman was rolling up to the beach with three hot girls, all sculpted to physical perfection. One was even the damn vampire king, the same girl sitting in his lap right at this very moment.
"I am going to oogle you and I will not apologize," he said, looking at her with soft determined eyes. The words spoken were not just of a man unashamed of his words, but a man who would rather die than not admit his true intentions. In this moment, Roman was the bravest and most bold he had ever been in his entire life.
-
Edelgard
She didn't deserve so much esteem from Sakura. She knew the mage wanted better for her. But how could she possibly be an equal with what she had so far offered? Had she proven herself in the slightest to this girl who had extended a hand to her with no other motive to it? The commitment between protector and charge was more comfortable. It was an oath she could rely on to provide a sense of honor that sat in a place universal and untouchable in her mind.
There was no unconditional support for her so long as this shame hung over her soul. But here was Sakura offering it anyway, and to refuse would be to dishonor her. Edelgard wasn't ready. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready. There was just shame, fear, unworthiness and anger spilling from her. Apologies. All the decades one had over the other were of no use here, wasted in the wind.
She could try. Maybe the Forsaken owed Sakura that much.
Edelgard raised a hand and slowly pressed it to the young vampire's. Other sights and sounds in the enclosed space felt muted when she answered, struggling. "I will... try."
-
Edelgard
She didn't deserve so much esteem from Sakura. She knew the mage wanted better for her. But how could she possibly be an equal with what she had so far offered? Had she proven herself in the slightest to this girl who had extended a hand to her with no other motive to it? The commitment between protector and charge was more comfortable. It was an oath she could rely on to provide a sense of honor that sat in a place universal and untouchable in her mind.
There was no unconditional support for her so long as this shame hung over her soul. But here was Sakura offering it anyway, and to refuse would be to dishonor her. Edelgard wasn't ready. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready. There was just shame, fear, unworthiness and anger spilling from her. Apologies. All the decades one had over the other were of no use here, wasted in the wind.
She could try. Maybe the Forsaken owed Sakura that much.
Edelgard raised a hand and slowly pressed it to the young vampire's. Other sights and sounds in the enclosed space felt muted when she answered, struggling. "I will... try."
Sakura
Sakura pulled her into a brief hug. "Thank you. For trying." She replied. "I know it'll be hard sometimes." Then, she released her friend and turned her attention to an eyesore. A blight upon this world who had the audacity to announce to her that he was about to masturbate in front of her.
It was unacceptable, and a betrayal of the restraint which she had shown regarding the numerous slights upon her body and character which he'd performed within the last ten minutes.
This time, there would be no mercy. A sterm warning was required. She pointed her finger at him and fired a powerful curse at him like a bullet. It'd make him feel sick, unable to get it up, and for a time impotent. She was sure that with his new powers, he'd recover soon enough.
"Never do that in front of me again."
-
Valerie
"Mfphhhh...."
Valerie bit her lip as Roman suddenly begun grinding into her but the building euphoric release was short lived as she registered movement behind her. Reacting with instincts born from millennia of conflict, she grabbed onto Roman and blurred out of the car and onto the nearby beach with him....
Over 30 feet away.
"I would prefer if you were to oogle me the most Roman... You see I am a needy girl and I crave attention, just a wait a moment while I discipline my rowdy childe....."
She turned her head back to the car and shouted, not that she needed to as Sakura should have been able to hear their normal conversational tone with her enhanced hearing. "Sakura you are not to use magic on your fellow siblings unless they attack you first. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?" Valerie went quiet for a second to let that sink in before continuing.
"Roman is newly turned, please try and remember how crazed you felt right after being turned. He is going through that as we speak, so I hope you will take that into consideration from now on."
-
Roman
She also started this by groping Valarie. She was full of shit earlier with her apology. Why is she allowed to grope people in front of me but I can't be intimate with Valarie? Even he wasn't so petulent that he felt the need to add onto that with a comment like that. If anything, this suggested Valarie herself may have been thinking that as well. At that moment, he considered that perhaps he didn't need to do that sort of thing anymore, snap back with words. Maybe. At least not all the time.
Wait. Roman looked around. The rays of the sun pierced his now vampire skin. Although it didn't feel any different than normal. The ring Valarie gave him really worked. He stared at the item as if it were his lifeline. Although, it felt weird to be on the sandy ground fully clothed. Just like before, it was hard not to see Valarie as beautiful in this moment. He couldn't tell if it was this weird new lust or her raw authority, but he really really wanted to stand hand and hand with viciously fuck her at that moment.
"At least now I don't have to feel bad about staring," he said with a groan.
-
Edelgard
Her arms were still stiff, but not as much as the last time they touched so closely. Edelgard was getting better at this. It was faint, but she could almost picture improving in other ways, held in the embrace. She counted her breaths, straightening them out, before pulling away carefully.
No caution she could muster could have stopped the commotion that ensued from ruining the moment, though.
She sniffed, mouth pulled into a thin line. "Strange people," she offered, making no effort to conceal her vinager.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
A painful mix of depression and anger mixed together as Sakura prepared herself for what she needed to say to Valerie. "I will not. I have already shown immense restraint leading up to that display. When he continually touched me, I did not react. Flirting with you and lusting after my body, that was fine. I do remember how I felt last night, and I have to say I had a little empathy for him despite myself."
She glared back defiantly at Valerie and clenched her fists. "As much as I respect you, as much as I long for you, and as much as I am grateful to you for turning me, his actions were out of line. Not only relieving himself in front of me, but also announcing that it was happening and drawing my attention to it, no." She took a deep breath. "I am not sorry, however rash my attack may have been."
She stepped out of the car and held the door for Edelgard. "However, if you would prefer a physical response to a magical one, I shall refrain from using my spells upon your other children, Valerie."
-
Valerie, later near the most popular beach
Valerie was practically clinging to Roman as they neared the beach, they had to leave the car behind and walk the final distance but now that they'd come so far she realized that she had forgotten something.
The blonde vampire suddenly turned her directly directly on her purple childe whom she had seemingly been ignoring up until now. She zipped in front of her and got real close, although that lead to her having to embarrassingly look up to get eye contact but she didn't seem to mind it all, in fact she only looked more excited as she got closer.
"I have seen the garment you make with your magic, could you make swimsuits though? I would really appreciate it after how the two of just barged in like that Sakura-"
-
Roman
Roman just sort of stared at Sakura. Although it seemed like he was staring at her, he really was looking past her. Between the half naked women in the background, the half naked women in front of him and the main hot woman clinging to him, it was a lot. It had been years since he had been a teenager, but at the moment, he suddenly remembered the experince, if his teenage self had somehow found a way to hang out with exclusively hot girls. The worst part was that half of them hating him sort of made it hotter.
Shaking his head, Roman said, "Yeah I didn't pack anything. I wasn't prepared for this...."
He looked down at the sand, playing with his feet, thoughts filled with snuggling with the girl clinging to his arm. Weird... that one was tamer than I thought.
-
Edelgard
In the periphery of her sight, the Forsaken registered the zipping form of the vampire monarch with merely automated caution. She stood still before the colorful and shining shore as the breeze whipped her hair, focus cast on a place far away yet all around her. On the droplets hitting her limbs, on the reflections of the waves warming her face, and the humidity seeping onto her feet, foreign images crowding her mind as to overwrite the flawed memories that she'd imagined.
The shores of the Wasteland looked nothing like this, but appearances were deceiving. She had a vague idea that this portion of the city was intended for physical training. That likely held up here.
"The beasts here," she said, squeezing her spear. "What kind?"
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura had been feeling a little bit left out by Valerie and a lot of resentment towards Roman for his rude and unjustified treatment of her in the car ride here. And annoyingly pasted on top of all that was an otherwise inexplicable jealousy which could have only been related to her bond with her sire, all fusing together into a rather unpleasant cocktail.
Even as she felt a rush of joy from the simple fact she was no longer being ignored, she felt like she was just being used for her powers, and that Valerie might just go back to ignoring her after she finished her prescribed task in favor of that cretin, whom even now, was staring right at her, as if he were waiting to watch her strip in front of her. Gross. Would it be just like her superiors at the clock tower? She wanted to give Valerie the benefit of the doubt, and she had to admit that her annoyance with Roman was coloring her entire mood.
So, she hid all of this from the world and smiled at Valerie. "I can make anything that I can imagine." She replied, restraining the impulse she had to pull Valerie close and make her her own. "I wouldn't mind making one for you, Val. It'll be better than anything you've ever worn before!"
"And if you want one, I want an apology. You got really touchy for no good reason earlier." She said, turning an ice-cold gaze towards Roman. "A sincere one."
If they were going to join the same cult, It would be better for them to be on basic terms.
No monsters here, Edel. You've never been to the beach before?
-
Valerie
"The only beasts here would be the ones listing after your pristine body Edelgard." Valerie flicked her hair as she explained the various unique dangers this place posed. "Many people but men in particular will want to posses the body you have been blessed with and do naughty things to you, and that is why you should only play with people you like."
Glomp.
The blonde vampire suddenly leapt onto Sakura and snuggled her very dearly because she was so cute and adorable and needed some affection. That's what she felt through their bond and she was always willing to cure loneliness.
" And do not think I have forgotten about you my cute child, I want you to make something that you would enjoy seeing me in, since you are the one providing it is only fair thay you get to dress me up."
-
Roman
Roman went back to eyeing them, a strange combination of feelings that were hard to describe. The blond's more slender body placed around Sakura's. Seeing as how she seemed bothered by him before, he kept his eye on his king's. To see her wiggle, the power in her arms squeezing Sakura's body. Roman could feel himself growing. He covered his pants with his hands, trying to make it look as casual as possible, like he was just letting them rest there.
"I already said sorry but uhh sure? Sorry, didn't realize you were so touchy. Don't worry, I won't do it again," he said with a shrug. He turned away from the two, walking up to the brown warrior. "So I dont get it. Whats your relationship with Sakura? Where did you even meet her?"
Truth be told, he just wanted to walk it off.
-
Edelgard
She watched the vampire king go, glowering faintly after, though not at her. "Lechers," she mumbled, shaking her head confusingly and frustatingly.
Speaking of confusion, there was the man now, the other vampire - seemingly recently turned too, like Sakura. But he didn't seem to be tripping over his own lust and threatening to have it spill down his pants right now, so she didn't have reason to threaten him again.
"Looking for allies," she said. "Struck a rapport. Lost a patron, but Sakura let me stay."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura's mood immediately turned for the better at the sudden but welcome burst of attention that her master was laying upon her.
It was nice to be proven wrong sometimes.
"Thanks." Sakura quietly replied to both Roman and Valerie. "I appreciate it." She wrapped her arms around Valerie and trailed her fingers down to the other's butt, palming her firm, well defined cheeks while looking down at the warm expression on her face. "I think you'll like what I have in mind for you..."
The shadow cast by the blazing sun against the two began to undulate like a creature of the deep, quickly spreading its tendrils out around their feet before creating a wall blocking sight from the outside. The tendrils crept up Valerie's body while her own clothes shifted, and when the wall fell, the two (https://imgur.com/a/GJ6PIsm) women (https://danbooru.donmai.us/data/sample/__cleveland_azur_lane_drawn_by_mirei__sample-29a80d0c8489786a83a1bcccd4e9d774.jpg) were standing in very different clothes.
Sakura playfully smacked Valerie's butt before releasing her from the hug. "Do you like my taste?" She asked with a bashful blush.
-
Valerie
"Oh my this is quite the statement...." The blonde King didn't allow Sakura to escape from her her embrace, instead clinging on with her inhuman prowess as the friendly demeanor shifted to something more mysterious. She took in her new swimsuit with stride, or rather what ought to be a swimsuit, it was very revealing, even more so than the usual stuff she wore.
"Am I really this slutty in your eyes? Should I assume you want more of me or perhaps you like showing me off to the whole beach like some prize? How depraved, maybe I really should give you a more thorough lesson on who the alpha bitch of this harem is...."
-
New Message
Roman's phone rang once, his obnoxious pick of message tone melding into the background of the busy-as-an-anthill beach, but loud to his newly enhanced senses. The number was only vaguely familiar, but he wouldn't mistake who it was from the ID. It read -
[we had plans, REMEMBER, unfaithful student? what happened?]
-
Roman
"Woah..." Roman said, staring at what almost seemed like a sexy magical girl clothes change, minus the dumb animation saving transformation sequence. THe suits hid very little and clung to their skin as if it was made to show more. Each and everyone of their plump figures were on perfect display. Truth be told, he was genuinely surprised Sakura felt comfortable dressing in something like that considering she made him apologize twice for touching her. He hadn't noticed the brown girl, as much during the car ride, but it was hard not to notice the tonned muscles and the plump but firm quality of her rear. Between the three it was hard to tell who had the best ass. Breasts were a little easier...
"Oh shit!" Roman said, pulling the cellphone from his trousers, interrupting his train of thought. "I... sorry Valarie. I gotta go. I have to go train. I'll be back!"
Swole City park
In the pursuit of strength, many avoid the gyms alltogether, instead choosing the simple grind of nature. Some people were relaxing on the smooth grassy land, others were simply relaxing under a tree. A few groups playing basketball could be seen within some fences, while others played sports. Outside the peculiar sight of more than average people working out, it was an average park.
Roman walked down the cleanly paved sidewalk staring at the floor. Shit what do I tell him? he thought, looking around. I decided to hang out with some hot girls instead of taking your training seriously? Maybe I should tell him about how everyone who i've talked to today has made me workout.... No that sounds like excuses...
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura took a step back before returning her sire's advances. "Well, it just felt like something you'd like, that's all." She replied with a sheepish smile. She could feel Valerie's arousal-she knew the other woman was enjoying the attention. "And I'd like to get you know better." She ran her hand against Valerie's thigh in a quick, circular pattern. "And I'm not really sure who's the alpha here, either." She replied with a proud smirk.
She turned her attention to Roman momentarily before he excused himself to go train. It was funny, she hadn't taken him for somebody who would actually be willing to try. But, he wasn't who she was here for anyway.
-
Yusho
It didn't take long for fortune to grind the train of though to a halt, rendering it into a sequence of poor hindsight by the arrival of Yusho. Leaves rustled above Roman's head for a second, and then a human body jumped down, setting down with a thump on the path with both feet.
"There you are," the Exalted said. He looked at the other man like a fisherman who'd finally hooked the fish that had been evading him all day, and was still sour about the wait. He looked like that for about a second, then squinted at him. "Where have - hrmm. Your breathing is different. You're walking different. And your build's filled out. What did you do?"
-
Roman
Roman looked at Yusho with a dazed stare, an eye twitching for a second as he thought, Oh shit.... uuuuuuhhhh
"I uhhh.... its gains....." he said, looking at the ground. "You know... the workout we did was pretty intense."
He must never know.
-
Yusho
He crossed his arms, staring through Roman. "And I suppose you must have taken some extraordinary wyld-oil elixirs to swell up so fast." His sculpted brows met in a crease formed in the middle of his forehead. "Don't disappoint your master and lie to him, have some class! Now, spit it out. Are you going to make me wring it out of you?"
Yusho stretched his fingers on one hand, playfully cracking them with his thumb.
-
Roman
One of life's greatest conundrums, at least those faced by ordinary men, is the choices that involve truth, lies, humility, ego, responsibility and avoidance. It is sometimes said that the true nature of a person can be seen under pressure, their true nature revealed in mere moments.
Roman stared at Yusho, his pupils darting left to right. In the breifest of moments where his pupils darted, Roman's mind went a mile a minute, his entire brain working in tandum to solve this pressing issue. The fact of the matter was that Yusho had told him not to go to the vampire district and to stay away from Valarie. It was a devil's deal and the he sold his soul to a very seductive devil indeed. The thing was, Valarie wasn't as harsh of a person as Yusho made her out to be, as cruel as a person he even expected her to be. Moreoever, this Vampirism got him a step closer to his goals much faster than the training was doing. Besides, the regeneration would allow him to spar all day without consequences right?
Therefore there were several options:
A) Tell Yusho the truth, apologize and take responsibility for his actions. Then politely explain the pros of his choice and hope his master understands.
B) Double down on the lies and deny everything.
C) Give Yusho a half truth and admit that he got vampirism but didn't get it from Valarie.
D) Run.
E) Play Dead.
"Yeah.... I took steriods... you know. It has this side effect of uhh, making you feel really confident so my walk has a bit more swag to it you know?" he said, shrugging his shoulders.
Yes. A man's true colors are revealed in mere moments, judged by all who witness it, including themselves.
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura took a step back before returning her sire's advances. "Well, it just felt like something you'd like, that's all." She replied with a sheepish smile. She could feel Valerie's arousal-she knew the other woman was enjoying the attention. "And I'd like to get you know better." She ran her hand against Valerie's thigh in a quick, circular pattern. "And I'm not really sure who's the alpha here, either." She replied with a proud smirk.
She turned her attention to Roman momentarily before he excused himself to go train. It was funny, she hadn't taken him for somebody who would actually be willing to try. But, he wasn't who she was here for anyway.
Valerie
The blonde deftly caught the greedy hand that was stroking her thigh and playfully spun Sakura around while restraining both her arms behind her back with just one hand.
"That would be me little Sakura~" Valerie whispered into the ear of the somewhat taller girl. Her free hand slowly trailed up Sakura's abdomen before seizing one the big round breasts and squeezed it through the fabric of her bikini.
"You may be taller than me, bigger than me... But I am the master here and your King. And if I feel like fucking one of my other progeny in front of you, then that is my prerogative.
-
Yusho
It took a lot less effort than he would have liked to not crack up even a little. Jokes were good for the temperament, and important to inner balance when you practiced a path rife with hardships and the betterment of the worst things in Creation. This one wasn't helping his humors or his inner balance, so did it deserve to be called as such?
"You do not have a sterling career as a swindler, Roman." Yusho shook his head, pointing at the man's face. "Your eyes are a very familiar shade of red."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"Ehehe~" Sakura couldn't contain a chuckle from the tickling feeling of Valerie playing with her abs. "I-" She squirmed in her master's iron grip, letting out a soft grunt as Valerie's hand sank into her soft mound like a pillow and settling into her restrained position. She could feel the poke of Valerie's modest chest pressing into her back as well as waves of lust and arousal from her addling her mind. Very quickly, Sakura's own nipples began to poke at her master's grasping palms and she began to grind her butt against her hips.
"I'm not just going to sit still and watch like a good little servant while I watch, even if you are my master." Sakura replied. "What do you see in him that you can't get in me?" She asked.
-
Roman
Failure. The route Roman took completely failed. Time to switch tactics. With a hand scratching the back of his head, and guilty eyes focused on the bottom of Yusho's feet, he said, "Yeah I.... uh... sorry. I went to the vampire district. I was so curious. When I went there, I was turned by a vampire."
Thats enough to satisfy him right?
-
Edelgard
This wasn't something she felt qualified to see. More accurately, she didn't want to be five feet away while Sakura and her sire were all over each other. Edelgard's skills weren't built for delicate social interaction, and they (and her mood) were definitely not built for this kind of incidental voyeurism.
"Will be, over there," she said through a loud cough. Purposefully, she scrambled on her feet to some further distance away, where she could watch from the shade.
-
Valerie
Valerie noticed the self proclaimed bodyguard making more distance between them but she chose not to bring it up just yet as she was too busy having fun with her minion.
"What I see in him.." Valerie stopped squeezing down on her mounds and held the taller girl still to stop her teasing. "For starters, he wants to claim me and make me his, that kind of drive to just keep going despite all the push back he is getting really gets me going, and even then he is so easy to tease." Then she leaned in closer and nibbled on Sakura's ear before continuing....
"The two of you are rivals now, and you are competing to see which of you I will fuck first so you can properly enter my inner circle. And if you do not wish to merely observe then you will have to take action and impress me...."
-
Yusho
Yusho's jaw fell, making a wide-mouthed stare, and then in an instant clacked back into place. The former monk raised a hand as if to slap himself, but ran it haphazardly through his hair instead.
"Dragons. Did everything I said a day ago enter through one ear and go out the other? Do you have no sense of self-preservation?" Yusho pulled his fingers from the ends of his cold-bitten mane, stiffly pulling the fist close to his chest. "You can't take something like this back."
Roman must have dunked his mind into the Underworld. Even for someone with a confidence complex and an obvious fixation on validation through force this seemed a bit much.
-
Valerie
Valerie noticed the self proclaimed bodyguard making more distance between them but she chose not to bring it up just yet as she was too busy having fun with her minion.
"What I see in him.." Valerie stopped squeezing down on her mounds and held the taller girl still to stop her teasing. "For starters, he wants to claim me and make me his, that kind of drive to just keep going despite all the push back he is getting really gets me going, and even then he is so easy to tease." Then she leaned in closer and nibbled on Sakura's ear before continuing....
"The two of you are rivals now, and you are competing to see which of you I will fuck first so you can properly enter my inner circle. And if you do not wish to merely observe then you will have to take action and impress me...."
Sakura
"Nnn-" A shudder went down Sakura's spine. Valerie's teasing was really getting her going, and it made her think of how Luvia would pin her down and fuck her after wrestling, both of them almost naked and sweaty...
"Rivals..." She said quietly. Her, with him? Only an hour ago she would have scoffed at such an absurd proposition, but life had its funny way of being unexpected. She still couldn't see it, but she trusted Valerie to be telling her the truth right now.
And, more than anything else, she didn't want to lose. Not to him, not to anybody. She wanted to prove everybody wrong and show them just how strong the strange adopted girl from Japan really was.
"I don't want to be fucked by you." She replied, suddenly reinforcing herself and attempting to break out with her suddenly enhanced strength. "I'm not just a toy who waits to be used, Valerie." The other vampire could feel both Sakura's arousal and determination to meet the challenge presented to her. "When I sleep with you, it'll be on my terms. Not yours."
-
Roman
Roman stayed silent, instead looking at the ground. The fact of the matter was Yusho was right. The old man told him not to go but his curiosity got the better of him. Besides, if he just takes this, then Yusho may never know the truth.
That this was a contract with the vampire king.
"I kinda was," he said, scratching the back of his head. "You wouldn't believe some of the things I said and did.... but I don't regret the decision, at least not yet. I.. learned a lot about the monsters I grew up hearing about. I don't think i'd want to take that experience back."
-
Yusho
Yusho deflated. A chill fell on his face, coursing downwards, and his whole appearance seemed to shrink. There was no wind among the trees strong enough to blow even a child away, but for a moment he was through Roman's eyes as light as paper, and as easily scattered as a pile of dust.
"Why?" He asked, eye focused away from the newly minted vampire.
-
Roman
Roman stared at Yusho, reaching out as if to touch his master, only to let his arm fall to the ground. The grunts of the patrons of the park fading into the void as an unseen hand gripped the young man's chest. In this moment, Roman wished he were truly the monster he aspired to be, if only because he was sure a person who couldn't feel empathy would be immune to this strange new feeling. Indeed, he had seen good and bad faces, all new from people and things he thought he knew.
"Well.... I mean do you see this body?" he said, smiling and flexing his arm, only to have it lazily slump downwards. No thats not it. "I mean, its more like.... vampires just... they aren't what I thought they were. Horny.... yeah? Its really weird how horny vampires are actually. Assholes.... Absolutely! But I can't just say they are monsters.... thats just not right. Yusho.... what happened to you when you fought the vampire king?"
-
Valerie
"How cute."
Valerie's grip remained in strong, in fact she shifted it around and with a simple, she brought Sakura down onto the sand and pinned her in a wrestling hold.
"Maybe I will think about it if you manage to break out of this. Are you sure you could handle the big leagues though? Then pin me down and take me, show me just how far you are willing to go to prove yourself my equal hehe..."
-
Yusho
He didn't answer right away, didn't even seem to immediately hear him. The ominous cold that had possessed Yusho's temperament lingered for a few seconds of utter silence, when at once he turned his face back. His eye and mouth curled with exasperation, and words tumbled from his tongue.
"She offered to make me a vampire, put on a tragedy about it after I refused, and we slammed under the sheets." The Dragon-blood made to shake his head, but awkwardly stopped, striking his forehead with his open palm. Incensed again, skin flushed, he continued. "That's not the point! Do you think a youth becomes an adult in a day? Did you learn to drink in one night? Does a capital take merely from dawn to sundown to build? Does a king decide the destiny of a nation for decades to come without more than a moment to think? The issue is not that Valerie is heartless, or that her kind are without place or value in the world! It's barely been a day since you started on the path I promised you and it wasn't even that before you accepted to change yourself to the bone! What's the matter with you?"
-
Roman
"Wait... what?"
Roman squinted, his eyes opening to the world one last time. Except this time he wasn't surprised, at least, not with the information given about Valarie. "You.... slept with her? So I was.... sloppy seconds? Wait.... so you slept with her then I..."
Roman fell to the ground on all fours, head dipped in absolute defeat. "I.... I don't know what I was thinking..... I just wanted progress, something anything. I told you I wanted power. I... didn't care how....."
Roman slammed a fist into the ground. He knew it from the start. The man was just her pray, a muse to entertain her, but he let himself believe he was something more. Sakura, Yusho, god knows who else. Nothing but another dick, that was Roman to Valarie.
"How humiliating...." he whispered.
-
Valerie
"How cute."
Valerie's grip remained in strong, in fact she shifted it around and with a simple, she brought Sakura down onto the sand and pinned her in a wrestling hold.
"Maybe I will think about it if you manage to break out of this. Are you sure you could handle the big leagues though? Then pin me down and take me, show me just how far you are willing to go to prove yourself my equal hehe..."
Sakura
Sakura's tentacles burst out of the ground underneath her, and with grasping hands, wrapped around Valerie's arms and legs. "I'll go as far as it takes to prove myself to you, don't worry!" She insisted, feeling her magic flare up inside of her. She didn't want to lose, and her circuits responded. Mana churned through them and she felt a bit lightheaded for it. Using as much strengthening as her body could handle, she tried to force Valerie up, lifting both of them up upon her back.
-
Valerie
"Ehh!"
Suddenly the Vampire King felt her limbs be pulled in different directions, her grip on Sakura broke after a few seconds struggle as the direction of the new assault made it impossible to resist.
She had no grounding nothing to brace herself on, if she tried pulling her arms back then her legs got spread and vice versa. This was so annoying, it's shy she hated magic, it just broke reality however it wished it was so damn unfair, she'd worked so long for her skill, longer than any mortal could comprehend and then this happened. Her annoyance flared through their bond in Tha tmoment even more clear than the arousal.
She bit her lip and glared at the purplehead. "Cheater, I would totally have won if you had not used magic."
-
Yusho
"What, you too?" He grimaced like he'd been kicked in the chins, more for Roman's sake than his. Really, so he'd just been seduced by the vampire king. It was really that? Yusho wanted to smack his fledgling apprentice in the back of the neck. Had he heard "power" from someone with tits and lost his whiskers over it? Slowly, he crouched over the young man's shape, unsure of whether to direct the roiling dissatisfaction in his breast at him, or the absent Valerie.
"Talented or not, empowered or not, respect doesn't come without doing anything for it," he said. "Tsk, she couldn't resist putting her fangs on someone else. Did you tell her the same things you confided to me and not consider what she wanted from you when you were so eager to become this?"
-
Roman
Roman stared at the ground. He could feel Yusho's body looming close to him, hovering over his decision. "What is respect?"
-
Yusho
Starting there? Better than ignoring it. At least they weren't scraping the bottom of the barrel again.
"Respect's difficult to appraise. There's different kinds, that justify themselves in different ways," Yusho spoke, closing his eye. He brushed his beard as he continued, like pondering on an ancient koan.
"But respect is the feeling of being recognized. It's the quality we show towards a value that deserves to be seen, and admired, or aspired to, and the care we should keep in our actions for it. Towards work that draws wonder and enchantment. Towards the indellible miracle that something is, even beyond reason. Towards mutuality, and cooperation. The respect for life and the respect for those willing to fight for something good are not the same, but they spring from the same source."
He took a deep breath. "Self-respect's just the same, but you don't seem to spare a thought towards it. That's a problem, if you haven't noticed."
-
Valerie
"Ehh!"
Suddenly the Vampire King felt her limbs be pulled in different directions, her grip on Sakura broke after a few seconds struggle as the direction of the new assault made it impossible to resist.
She had no grounding nothing to brace herself on, if she tried pulling her arms back then her legs got spread and vice versa. This was so annoying, it's shy she hated magic, it just broke reality however it wished it was so damn unfair, she'd worked so long for her skill, longer than any mortal could comprehend and then this happened. Her annoyance flared through their bond in Tha tmoment even more clear than the arousal.
She bit her lip and glared at the purplehead. "Cheater, I would totally have won if you had not used magic."
Sakura
Sakura's exhileration and joy flowed back through even through it. She flipped Valerie over and pinned her against the sand while straddling her stomach. Her red eyes shimmered with lust and desire for the other woman, but responded with a frown. "You're acting like it's a fair fight without it-without my wand, you're way stronger than me, and I didn't want to rely upon somebody else's power." She tightened her grip on Valerie's shoulders. "I worked for my magic fair and square, and it required a lot of pain and sacrifice for me to get where I am today."
Her hand slid down and palmed Valerie's modest chest. "It's not cheating, but if you want another go at it, I'll let you up so we can go at it for real. Hohoho~"
-
Roman
"I don't know," he said. "If I didn't have any self respect I don't think I would feel this shitty."
At last Roman stood up and stared at Yusho. "You don't really buy that crap about cooperation do you? That other stuff makes sense, but how does respect give rise to cooperation. It doesn't make sense. Everyone is always competing with each other..."
-
Yusho
This time he did strike the back of Roman's head. Lightly, for his standards.
"Idiot!" He barked. "You know so little of the world and you act like you've seen it all. Competition brings about cooperation, and then cooperation furthers competion, and after that comes cooperation to keep making it through where one alone can't! Look up! There are constructions higher here than I've seen anywhere in my world but ravaged Chiaoroscuro! Do you think individuals racing each other out of spite made them? Are you going to tell me that's actually the case, here? Are you going to lie just so you don't need to admit you're being ignorant?"
Yusho pushed himself up, frowning, as sparks flew off his face. "The way I see it, you just want to become someone else and be spared the pain of changing, because you expect nothing of yourself, and you think no one else expects anything of other people, you coward!"
-
Valerie
"I have no interest in getting into a fight at this point since I have been in too many as of late. What I
... I was merely playing around and testing your strength, having magical tentacles show up cheapens the outcome completely, now please get of me before I truly get angry."
Her annoyance remained as she levels another glare at her spawn that was straddling her, her fangs were pulsing so hard now with the restrained arousal but she wouldn't allow herself to be taken in such a haphazard way. Sakura had not truly earned it and her emotions should be easy enough to grasp for the other girl.
Still her arousal needed to be dealt with in some way and there were few that could deal with her when she was this riled up.. . If she actually went along with Sakura she'd probably rip her apart.
-
Roman
"GODDAMN IT OLD MAN!"
Roman slammed his threw a punch at the air, towards no one. "Shut up! I expect something of myself damn it! I just... don't think its anything comparable to what everyone else has!"
Sakura had her wealth, access to magic training, Valarie her vamperic biology, Mira an entire culture of muscle heads. But he was just an ordinary man from an ordinary background with an ordinary life.
"Competition is still the desire to destroy the other, to dominate them! You can't tell me that this is a cooperative thing! I don't care what I have to go through in order to change but I....."
Tears began to well in Roman's eyes, the stress of the day finally getting to him. "I WANT TO CHANGE! I WANT IT NOW! GODDAMN IT OLD MAN. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be average? Even if I had something bad happen to me, at least that would make me unique!"
-
Valerie
"I have no interest in getting into a fight at this point since I have been in too many as of late. What I
... I was merely playing around and testing your strength, having magical tentacles show up cheapens the outcome completely, now please get of me before I truly get angry."
Her annoyance remained as she levels another glare at her spawn that was straddling her, her fangs were pulsing so hard now with the restrained arousal but she wouldn't allow herself to be taken in such a haphazard way. Sakura had not truly earned it and her emotions should be easy enough to grasp for the other girl.
Still her arousal needed to be dealt with in some way and there were few that could deal with her when she was this riled up.. . If she actually went along with Sakura she'd probably rip her apart.
Sakura
"My magic is my strength as much as my body is." She insisted, but still let Valerie up. She could feel her annoyance blossoming into anger and mixing with her intense arousal, and Sakura's own interest flagged along with Valerie's-it wasn't fun for her to force Valerie down anymore, not like this, at least. The purplehead frowned. "Still, I'm sorry for pissing you off. I was just trying to play around a bit."
Her shadows disappeared back into the sand, and she hopped back and forth nervously between her feet. "I wasn't trying to offend you."
-
Yusho
The wind stilled, and the lightning muted. Like the whim of the atmosphere, anger and disappointment flipped in Yusho to a sinking calm and a familiar cold, winding inside of him rather than outside. That long-forgotten drive to be someone in the endless coils of death and reincarnation.
"Shit, kid." He sighed. "Aren't you confusing the means and the goal? Why do you want to be unique? Why do you think uniqueness can only be made from selfishness?"
-
Roman
Roman's face got red. "Because I want to be remembered! I want to go down as someone great! Everyone special in this place, the nexus has something special about them. The legendary Yamada mastered chi and ki, Valarie is the oldest vampire, Elizebeth is a goddess, the citidal has sorcers! Everyone has something! So I thought maybe if I could be like them then.... maybe I won't be forgotten..."
Roman paused. "So yeah I think it comes from selfishness! You can't tell me those people got power for other people! That kind of bullshit only happens in anime, superhero stories and fairy tales!"
-
Yusho
Yusho shook his head like he was trying to throw off a hangover, throwing words back down his throat until the right ones came up. After a moment, he sat down, legs crossed, and huffed.
"That may be so. I would be a fool to claim any of them lacked selfish motives. I would also be a fool to dismiss your desire to be remembered as pitiful," the Chosen of the Dragons spoke. "But does Yamada not have students, as a master does, and do his students not have their own students? Does Elizabeth not have worshippers and her protected people, as gods do?"
"Let me tell you a story of my land. There, ten thousand dragons rule the world. This world is beset upon by fangs and claws, and witchery and death - and by the greed of these dragons themselves. They have pulled the silver and the jade from the bones of the land in the name of their empire, and even now they displace the nameless and the misfortunate for their own designs. They are pillagers. But they are also heroes. The scions of legacies unbroken for hundreds of years, matches and cousins to one another. Do you know why they have held on to power for so long?"
"Because they are not alone. Because they seek glory and peace too, for the good of their kin and their family, and the prestige they have been entrusted with, from branch to branch and generation to generation, that they in turn will pass on to the next. Or for the people beneath them, that they have united, that they swear to drape themselves in honor and victory for. All humans are like that." Yusho paused, tilting his head at Roman. "If you reach the summit alone and never descend, then no one will remember you. There is more than one way to make your life matter."
-
Roman
"GRAAAAAH!"
Roman grabbing his hair and shook his head. The man was speechless. In truth, no one had ever spelled it out for him like that. And yet, he couldn't just accept that answer and move on. After all, he was already in too deep. It was at this moment that Roman understood why it was so difficult to take the first step towards something grand. To go in the wrong direction, to take the wrong step was an overwhelming anxiety, the consequence of that decsion had his heart in a vice, forcing it to pump and beat. All the while, another yet unseen hand grabbed his lunges, forcing it to breathe harder and harder.
Then it stopped as his mind cleared and he simply stared at Yusho. "Is... is that why your teaching me?"
-
Valerie
The Vampire King sat up, yet she didn't didn't get up on her feet, instead choosing to remain seated on the hot sand of the beach. "Why did you come Sakura? If you were so interested in casually hanging out with me then you would not have been so silent for days. But all of a sudden you want to be seen as my equal..... Just what are you trying to accomplish here? It does seem to me yo are allowing your emotions to guide you to an undesirable extent... Although I suppose I should have expected such from your youth. It appears even I have lessons to learn from this..."
-
Sakura Edelfeldt
"I... I, well..." Sakura began to respond, but bit her lip and stopped speaking. It was a hard question to answer, for some reason. The young magus found herself lost for words. "I don't have a good answer for that. Valerie." She sat down across from her crosslegged, staring right into her master's eyes. "I, well, Edel wanted to see my 'patron', as she put it, but that wasn't really why I came." The fledgling vampiress frowned. "And I didn't mean to ghost you, I've just, well, I've been busy helping Edelgard. She's in a rough spot, and she's been needing some help adjusting."
Sakura took a deep breath. This, this wasn't elegant at all. She wanted to be more like her sister, able to easily handle any situation and to not just follow, but to lead. But, even in a new place, she'd simply sought employment, and made a complete fool out of herself. It was just pathetic.
She clenched her fist and slammed it into the sand next to her. "I was jealous, and I don't know why. It was stupid, but really, I just want to get to know you better." Her emotions roiled, and the girl curled her toes into the sand. She felt lost, confused, and more than that, she felt like she didn't know what to do.
-
Yusho
He smushed one of his palms onto his face, leveling his one-eyed gaze more calmly at Roman. "I'm teaching you because you wanted help, and because I think you needed guidance, and because I believe in these things I've told you."
-
Roman
"Thats not true," he said with a grin. "Admit it old man, you just wanted company."
Weird. When did he start referring to Yusho as "old man?" It had a nice ring to it.
Roman walked to a tree and sat down, enjoying a cool gust of wind filtered by the shade. The leaves rustled and for a moment the earth felt still. He smiled at the old man and sighed. For the moment at least, he considered how silly he might have been, thinking in such absolutes. Maybe that is why the vampire king was able to take him so off guard. A monster, thats all he was willing to see her as, all until that moment she....
-
Valerie
"All vampires are drawn to their sire as part of their biology, What you are feeling is not genuine attraction but rather an extension of our bond." The King responded swiftly with unblinking eyes. Not that her eyes had blinked since she had come here. That was a part of human nature that didn't apply to her.
"You will get to know me in time, and in time your sense of urgency will fade as well. I see you are still stricken by the impatience of the mortal races, but you should know that these emotions you feel will not be resolved by forcing through it. Instead of comparing yourself to others, perhaps you should look inwards and work towards how you want to be."
-
Yusho
He protested, stepping up to the tree on his feet, but there wasn't any heat in it that reached Roman. "Even if I was lonely, I don't look that old. You though, how are you feeling, after this... transformation? Have any worrifying effects shown up yet?"
-
Roman
Roman sighed, buried his hands in his face and said, "You remember being a teenager? Because I remember why I hated it. I'm so damned horny all the time, I do stupid things to satisfy my dick and I cannot stop thinking about my master, even though I know she's probably in love with some chad of a man or woman. Was this what you had in mind when you said selling my soul? Reverting back five or ten years sexually?"
Roman's face softened, then a devious grin crept onto his face as he turned and looked up at his standing master. "Wait.... why did you try to sleep with her?"
-
Valerie
"All vampires are drawn to their sire as part of their biology, What you are feeling is not genuine attraction but rather an extension of our bond." The King responded swiftly with unblinking eyes. Not that her eyes had blinked since she had come here. That was a part of human nature that didn't apply to her.
"You will get to know me in time, and in time your sense of urgency will fade as well. I see you are still stricken by the impatience of the mortal races, but you should know that these emotions you feel will not be resolved by forcing through it. Instead of comparing yourself to others, perhaps you should look inwards and work towards how you want to be."
Sakura Edelfeldt
"Humbph..." Sakura didn't particularly enjoy the confirmation of her suspicions, and felt more than a little resentment towards Valerie for her failure to warn her of this beforehand. If she'd known, well, she'd probably still have taken the deal. Immortality and eternal youth were two tremendous assets that far outweighed their costs. If she'd known, she felt that she'd have been able to control it better and that it'd have been easier to manage her confusion, or at least to properly contextualize it.
However, she knew it wasn't fair of her to pin all the blame on her sire. It was her choice to jump right into it, and it was her emotions which she'd let get the better of her. Regardless of her lack of information, it was not an excuse for her shameful behavior. Comparing herself to him, and falling down to his levels, both of these things were completely unacceptable. And so, her annoyance passed into acceptance of her new situation. "I know." The young woman replied. "Of course not." She replied quietly with a calm expression before standing back up. "I'm sorry for messing up your date."
-
Yusho
"Your master, huh." Yusho stroked his beard, expression flat against Roman's blustering emotions. "A mental or physical compulsion to attachment originating from your new condition, most likely. Not unlike the effects caused by the attention of certain supernatural beings."
He shook his head at the lecherous grin. "She tried to sleep with me, not the other way around. But I suppose that hardly matters when it takes two to do the deed."
-
Valerie
"You are far too uptight with your emotions, you are no better than anyone else simply because you pretend to be in control. I think you will have a lot more fun if stop having such high expectations of yourself...." Valerie said as she stood and faced Sakura.
"And he was not my date.... I was trying to gently coax him into the new overwhelming senses he was experience, much like I did to you a few days ago. But now I have ended up blue balling him instead and I am worried he will hurt himself in his frustration or maybe he will hurt someone else....and I cannot allow that to happen"
-
Roman
Roman chuckled and said, "yeah... I guess now I have two... You know, it does make me feel a little better you know? Knowing even people like you do stupid shit like that. You don't regret it do you? Then again, i'd probably sleep with her again if given the chance its just...."
Roman let his head fall back, staring at the leaves under the tree. "I don't want to feel like a teenager again. I don't want to have a stupid crush on her like some dumbstruck teenager and I don't want to feel this strange compulsion to please her. But now I just... do. You said before i'd have to pay for power with some sort of devil's deal right? I thought that meant my dad or mom would die or i'd never be able to use my power on specific poeople or something, not 'feel like a teenager again.' I mean I know its not as bad technically but its the little things."
-
Valerie
"You are far too uptight with your emotions, you are no better than anyone else simply because you pretend to be in control. I think you will have a lot more fun if stop having such high expectations of yourself...." Valerie said as she stood and faced Sakura.
"And he was not my date.... I was trying to gently coax him into the new overwhelming senses he was experience, much like I did to you a few days ago. But now I have ended up blue balling him instead and I am worried he will hurt himself in his frustration or maybe he will hurt someone else....and I cannot allow that to happen"
Sakura Edelfeldt
The young vampire tapped her foot on the sand and quietly thought about the advice Valerie had given her. Was she uptight? Yes, she knew she was. She was used to it. She'd been pulled by so many conflicting agendas, some her own, most forced upon her by circumstance and the nature of her birth and subsequent adoption. Were they really nesseccary? She wasn't sure. Most of them were things she didn't truly care about, but she didn't want her loved ones to look bad or to humilate them through her own ineptitude.
"Mmmm..." She grunted before laughing. "Heh, I feel like kind of an asshole, now." She replied sheepishly. "I've really been making a fool of myself."
-
Valerie
"Hey do not look so downtrodden as there is one thing you will not lose to my other children in..." The King said as she drew closer to Sakura, her red eyes sharpened into a predatory stare but there was no killing intent to it. Her hand came down on the the other girl's top and pulled, letting the magical fabric stretch out before she suddenly let go and-
Snap.
The fabric bounced back making her massive breasts bounce. "You have the most appealing breasts, that is a quality inherent to you and if you wish to gain my attention, flaunting them would greatly help you... Oh and try not to tell anyone about this, I do not like to play favorites..."
-
Sakura
"Eh?" Sakura's cheeks flushed red with uncharacteristic embarrassment. A slow ripple pulsed through her mounds before they slowly settled back down. "I-Of course I do, hohoho~" She performed a sudden spin on her toe and struck a pose, leaning forwards with a slight sway to her hips to keep her chest in motion. With a smile and a warm feeling from the praise, she responded.
"Thanks. I'll keep it a secret. don't worry." She winked at Valerie and continued her confident swaying. "I've heard that these gyms in this district are pretty crazy." She added. "That you can get some crazy gains just by working out 24/7. That true?"
-
Valerie
Badumps..
With every sway of those captivating mounds, Valerie felt her fangs throb, more and more until it became nigh irresistible. She had to take it, the question Sakura had made didn't matter right now, she needed to to feel, to experience them closer.
Her hand hadn't really been lowered, so when the purple haired girl completely her spin, the blonde's hand was already on her breast, this time grasping one of them fully.she squeezed it hard enough for her fingers to sink in and let her feel the texture, then she loosened her grip and pushed it up to feel it's weight.
"And they feel even better than they look..."
Smack.
Her free hand had come down on Sakura's ass, slapping it playfully like Sakura had slapped hers earlier. "Not only do you have breasts like this but your butt is fantastic too and probably second only to mine,. I refuse to to let you make it even better with those gyms... It is unfair...."
-
Valerie
Badumps..
With every sway of those captivating mounds, Valerie felt her fangs throb, more and more until it became nigh irresistible. She had to take it, the question Sakura had made didn't matter right now, she needed to to feel, to experience them closer.
Her hand hadn't really been lowered, so when the purple haired girl completely her spin, the blonde's hand was already on her breast, this time grasping one of them fully.she squeezed it hard enough for her fingers to sink in and let her feel the texture, then she loosened her grip and pushed it up to feel it's weight.
"And they feel even better than they look..."
Smack.
Her free hand had come down on Sakura's ass, slapping it playfully like Sakura had slapped hers earlier. "Not only do you have breasts like this but your butt is fantastic too and probably second only to mine,. I refuse to to let you make it even better with those gyms... It is unfair...."
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura rubbed her thighs together as Valerie's fingers sank deep into her chest. Her own fangs matched Valerie's own, poking slightly out of her lower lip and throbbing with her own arousal. She reached up and trailed a finger against Valerie's abs, sliding up her stomach towards her modest chest and savoring her definition. "I don't really like the idea of the gyms, anyway. I was just curious if it was true." She replied, instinctively sucking in a breath she didn't need. "It's more fun to put in real work to strengthen yourself, I feel. Something that convinent just seems like cheating..."
Sakura leaned down to nuzzle Valerie's neck, curling up her lips to brush her fangs against Valerie's warm, bare neck. "I'd much rather practice with you." She whispered in Valerie's ear before sinking her fangs into her master's neck.
-
Valerie
The blonde vampire leaned into the embrace, the building tensions her senses and she subconsciously leaned her neck to the side to give Sakura better access as long forgotten instincts flared up for the first what had been too long now.
"Aah-"
She gasped and threw her head back as her back arched in a wonderful bow..Her hand that was fondling Sakura's breast fell limp at her as the relaxing euphoria coarse through her.
Still moving on autopilot, her body leapt off the ground to wrap her legs around Sakura's waist and she pulled them closer without meaning to, or maybe she did mean too but she couldn't tell through this haze in her mind.
Meanwhile her blood flowed to Sakura more filling than any meal she'd had so far, the blood of her sire reacted uniquely with her body and made her feel more at home.
"Sakura..." Valerie's voice was deep animalistic growl now, completely absent of her usual noble inflection. "You may take me now."
-
Valerie
The blonde vampire leaned into the embrace, the building tensions her senses and she subconsciously leaned her neck to the side to give Sakura better access as long forgotten instincts flared up for the first what had been too long now.
"Aah-"
She gasped and threw her head back as her back arched in a wonderful bow..Her hand that was fondling Sakura's breast fell limp at her as the relaxing euphoria coarse through her.
Still moving on autopilot, her body leapt off the ground to wrap her legs around Sakura's waist and she pulled them closer without meaning to, or maybe she did mean too but she couldn't tell through this haze in her mind.
Meanwhile her blood flowed to Sakura more filling than any meal she'd had so far, the blood of her sire reacted uniquely with her body and made her feel more at home.
"Sakura..." Valerie's voice was deep animalistic growl now, completely absent of her usual noble inflection. "You may take me now."
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura drank deeply. Her sire's sweet nectar was absorbed through her throbbing fangs, filling her world and making her forget where she was. She felt safe, completely connected with Valerie and wrapped her arms around her, instinctively catching her mistress as she jumped up against her. It was only after she drank her fill that Sakura withdrew her fangs and licked at the wound before it healed a moment later. "Val..." She muttered quietly. She bared her fangs with a large toothy grin, sliding her hand up the inside of her thigh and sliding her middle fingers into the blond's snatch.
"I'll make you mine." Her eyes gleamed red with vampiric lust for her sire.
-
Roman
Roman chuckled and said, "yeah... I guess now I have two... You know, it does make me feel a little better you know? Knowing even people like you do stupid shit like that. You don't regret it do you? Then again, i'd probably sleep with her again if given the chance its just...."
Roman let his head fall back, staring at the leaves under the tree. "I don't want to feel like a teenager again. I don't want to have a stupid crush on her like some dumbstruck teenager and I don't want to feel this strange compulsion to please her. But now I just... do. You said before i'd have to pay for power with some sort of devil's deal right? I thought that meant my dad or mom would die or i'd never be able to use my power on specific poeople or something, not 'feel like a teenager again.' I mean I know its not as bad technically but its the little things."
Yusho
"Regret it, no. Still feel it was impulsive and lecherous of me? Pretty much, yeah", he said. He didn't want to offend the vampire king after their other interactions, to make an enemy of her if he couldn't help it, but that was just an excuse. To Yusho , the other major relief of leaving the monkhood was not having to suppress his material impulses, as irregular as the wind.
"It could have been those things. It could have been a heinous exchange, for which I would have no choice but to treat you as an evil to censure. But what I worried over when I warned you were the little things. I don't think you understand yet how far the consequences reach, and I cannot determine that for you, but I think you will realize there is a myriad of things you will not experience in the same way again - or will experience against your will."
-
Roman
"Well you know the weird part Yusho?" he asked, turning to look at him as he spoke. The old man seemed so oddly calm about this whole thing. Sure he laid into him hard about the decision, but he expected to be demonized for this, most who heard his dream did. "Valarie was nice. I mean she was really nice to me. Thats... not what I expected the vampire king to be. I mean do you think its a trick, something to get her on my good side to take advantage of me? But... even that doesn't make any sense. She is so much stronger than me. She can do whatever she wants with me."
He doesn't regret it? Then why did he tell me not to do it!
-
Valerie
"Not ah....." She gasped as the fingers slid into her dripping wet folds, but compared to the stimulation of being bitten it was nothing, and the fog lifted somewhat from her mind. Even so... Her legs secured their grip around Sakura's waist tighter than before, allowing no escape for the purple haired girl. She'd make sure those words weren't just empty words.
"Not like that you are not, you lack the equipment my dear minion-"
-
Sakura
Sakura's digits danced inside of Valerie's maw. "We both know how easy that is to fix, Valerie." With a theatric gesture, she let go of Valerie's back and plunged her arm into a dark portal. After a few moments to build the suspense, she withdrew a familiar bottle of pills with a picture of Elizabeth winking. She popped the top off and tapped a few tablets into her mouth before tossing it back into the shadow.
A hot bulge began to rapidly grow against Valerie's crotch, and Sakura bit her lip as a familiar sensation of intense arousal clouded her mind with lust.
-
Yusho
He only made a rumbling, impatient sound in response, at first, letting Roman's questions linger. If it were so simple, perhaps Yusho's rebukes would strike very differently. There were actions which no explanations or nuance could excuse the simple evil of, but the dragon-blooded felt he would dissolve into the air that imbued him before he made an equal of this and the essence of those he could exchange feelings and words with.
"I don't know. Those who are people yet not human have different needs, and see us with their own eyes by necessity. She might want something from you, she might have simply felt you were endearing, and she might be trying to ensnare you as one does prey. One of these does not preclude the others," he said. Gravely, he squinted one-eyed at Roman. "That said, it would be extraordinarily stupid to give no thought to what you'll do now."
-
Roman
"You know, when I left my home I only had one thought. I can't come back until I start down the path of power," he said, finally looking Yusho in the eyes. "I didn't realize the sheer possibilities of this city. I have no idea what i'm going to do now. I mean the only thing left to do is to finish my journey right?"
-
Yusho
Spiderwebs of electricity flew inside Yusho's pupils. He voiced his next questions without shadow nor tremble to his tone.
"What does that mean to you? Are you going to hunt humans and feast on lives to grow? Listen to me. You may not think yourself weak now, but you're far from strong."
-
Roman
Roman thought back to earlier when he tried to manhandle Val after the transformation but she barely registered him. He didn't even think she noticed. Then again, she was the king of vampires.
"Yeah right. I may not be the strongest in the city, but i'm at least stronger than these bozos in the park. It was absolutely worth it. I mean now that i'm strong I can figure all that out right?"
Truth was, he didn't know what it meant to him.
-
Yusho
Yusho pinched his beard, trying very hard to not use all his strength in pulling.
"That mindset is what had you whining about your lot in life not five minutes ago, even after acquiring the inhuman strength you so wanted. Don't be disingenuous." Yusho shook his head and scowled at him. "If you don't know what power you truly hope for, or what the path you're claiming to walk means, then you should start figuring it out now."
-
Roman
"What are you talking about?! I'm not being disingenuous!" he said with a glare. "This mindset is what got me to find you and Valarie. Its whats going to get me the power I desire, whatever that is. Who cares about the mindset so long as I can move forward. Thats tenacity in of itself isn't it? I mean, maybe everyone else has talent, but if I just move forward no matter what, I can get something... anything. I'd take an echo of what I want just to have a taste."
Roman sighed. "I just want to know what it feels like to be special."
-
Yusho
"The problem isn't that you keep going, it's that you say you have a goal but you don't care that you have no idea where you're going to get there!" Yusho's rebuke drummed through Roman's ears as the man closed the distance and clasped his shoulder. The exalted's forehead was an ugly knot where his scowling eyebrows met, but his gaze was clear.
"There are many ways to be special. And I can still help you with that. Having the ability to keep going, regardless of the difficulties, is an important thing. But you can't just buy into what you tell yourself, and you can't let this go to your head."
-
Roman
"I've never heard of someone completely boring like me making it like that," he said, looking at the ground. "It doesn't ever feel like it, but supernaturals are a minority, not the norm. Its like living underground under a few dozen stars competing with who shines the brightest. They all bleed together and no one knows how to get up there. Truthfully, i've been told my dream is dumb. I just refuse to believe that. I will make it someday."
Roman paused. "Your training me right? You think I can become strong with your training? Do you think I could ever beat someone like Valarie?"
-
Sakura
Sakura's digits danced inside of Valerie's maw. "We both know how easy that is to fix, Valerie." With a theatric gesture, she let go of Valerie's back and plunged her arm into a dark portal. After a few moments to build the suspense, she withdrew a familiar bottle of pills with a picture of Elizabeth winking. She popped the top off and tapped a few tablets into her mouth before tossing it back into the shadow.
A hot bulge began to rapidly grow against Valerie's crotch, and Sakura bit her lip as a familiar sensation of intense arousal clouded her mind with lust.
Valerie
But just before Sakura put the pills in her mouth, her liege acted quickly and snatched the bottle away from her as well as jumped back to create some distance between them.
"Now it is your turn to feel the burning need of unfulfilled arousal. Furthermore this is a public bleach, we cannot possibly engage in something like that here, with so many mortals around us. Now how about you go see that your friend is not feeling too lonely and I will make sure my newest minion is not getting himself killed."
Valerie smiled and relaxed, the further she got from Sakura right now the better she could control her arousal. "You can come see me later if you wish to get an assignment, I need to think before giving one to someone of your talent... Can I have my clothes back? I doubt you could afford paying the cost to replace them, their worth is akin to a small mansion..."
-
Yusho
Yusho looked at him like he had gotten mauled by a bear and just asked him if enough meditation would make him strong enough to punch it into submission.
"I'm not sure I could beat her. You sure can't as long as your little drake is whipping back and forth to the sound of her voice," he scoffed. "Your dream isn't costless, and it will make you enemies. Make sure you don't add me to that number, Roman."
-
Roman
Roman felt a chill run down his spine, yet all he could do was let out a chuckle. "You know truth be told, i'm just glad you didn't say it was dumb or I couldn't make it. Maybe I just say that kind of thing to convince myself. The cost...."
He took out his phone and opened the camera app, turning the camera so it would face him. The red eyes, the improved physique; it all came with the cost of a strange infatuation with Valarie and a relationship he had yet to fully grasp. Then again, the same could be said for Yusho. "....yeah. I finally understand what you meant. Still you didn't answer my question. But... maybe you did. Do you really think some people can never measure up to people like her? Do you think neither of us will ever be able to beat her?"
Roman's crimson eyes met Yusho's and with every instinct telling him to stay silent, he said, "And... does that mean you won't help me?"
In that moment, Roman didn't really want to know the answer.
-
Yusho
He shook his head. The wind whipped uncertainly about him, like a shroud of harshness and doubt over the conversation.
"Everyone has things they can't measure up to. Perhaps I might gain the power to defeat her one day, if I hone my abilities further, until there is nothing for me but that. But I would rather not be given reason to seek her eradication, and I like martial arts, but that doesn't mean that's all I want to do in this life." The lines around his eyes softened, as she stepped around Roman and smacked his shoulder.
"There are desires I will not support, and aid I will not offer. But I'll help you figure things out. You can conclude yourself whether that makes you content."
-
Roman
So there was limits, even for someone like Yusho. Perhaps this was a sign, a crossroads in his life. What would happen if he just accepted where he was at, enjoyed the power he had gained? If he went back to Valarie, maybe he could do something under her district, really make an impact on the world. After all, now that he was a vampire, he was truly special. Those normal limits were gone now.
Roman took a deep breath and said, "Good for you. I really do think this is the only thing that I want though. So then what makes you feel happy then?"
-
Yusho
He hummed somberly to the first part of the response, but then a small smile stretched under his moustache. "Kicking rogues and abusers of the people in the head. Using my strength for others. Sleeping, eating and laughing well."
-
Roman
"So what you really like being old man robin hood?" he asked, smiling at him. There really was no reason for that man to lie about that. Thats probably why he smiled. "So thats really what makes you happy huh, just making others feel good?"
-
Yusho
"I'm not as selfless as to say that's enough," he said. "But it's not a lie. I've been happier, better at achieving the duties I have the power to perform and the disposition to know, since admitting this to myself. Knowing where you stand in the universal stair isn't just a paltry exercise of listening and seeing for what your circumstances have dropped in your lap. It's also an effort to know yourself, as you were and as you might be."
Yusho chuckled. Listen to him. It's almost like he was still a monk, albeit one who would affront his peers.
-
Sakura
Sakura's digits danced inside of Valerie's maw. "We both know how easy that is to fix, Valerie." With a theatric gesture, she let go of Valerie's back and plunged her arm into a dark portal. After a few moments to build the suspense, she withdrew a familiar bottle of pills with a picture of Elizabeth winking. She popped the top off and tapped a few tablets into her mouth before tossing it back into the shadow.
A hot bulge began to rapidly grow against Valerie's crotch, and Sakura bit her lip as a familiar sensation of intense arousal clouded her mind with lust.
Valerie
But just before Sakura put the pills in her mouth, her liege acted quickly and snatched the bottle away from her as well as jumped back to create some distance between them.
"Now it is your turn to feel the burning need of unfulfilled arousal. Furthermore this is a public bleach, we cannot possibly engage in something like that here, with so many mortals around us. Now how about you go see that your friend is not feeling too lonely and I will make sure my newest minion is not getting himself killed."
Valerie smiled and relaxed, the further she got from Sakura right now the better she could control her arousal. "You can come see me later if you wish to get an assignment, I need to think before giving one to someone of your talent... Can I have my clothes back? I doubt you could afford paying the cost to replace them, their worth is akin to a small mansion..."
Sakura
Sakura looked at her with a startled expression, then chuckled, before bursting out laughing. She looked down at her slick fingers and shook her head, taking a step back and focusing to cool her head. "You're right, this isn't the right place for this." She replied.
"Hey, what's up?" Sakura telepathically asked Edel. "Sorry if that made you uncomfortable.
Sakura reached into her shadow and pulled out Valerie's clothes, leisurely tossing them at her. "Why don't we talk about that now?" Sakura asked. "I can send a shadow to check on him for you, and I have some questions I'd like to ask you myself."
-
Roman
Roman paused for a moment, really letting the words sink. "Well its not like I haven't thought about why I want this... I think I just want to be remembered, to go down as someone special enough not to be forgotten. Still, its nice to know you can be greedy too."
Roman sighed, standing to his feet. "I'm sorry. We should get started right?"
-
Yusho
The master considered the student for a moment. He released a temperate air from his lungs that reached Roman's cheeks, mild with something like approval, and began to stretch. One arm over his chest, then the other, making his lean muscles ripple, flexing his body from side to side... before he contently crossed his legs and landed on the grass in the lotus position as if he'd done it a million times.
"Today we're meditating."
-
Roman
Roman sat down, placing one leg over another and glancing at Yusho with each muscle he moved. He managed to achive the lotus form, but he locked his joints. It also just sort of strained him since he wasn't used to it.
"Is this because I had sex?" he said. "Because if it is i'm sorry."
-
Valerie
She caught the clothes with a nimbleness that could only be achieved by the vampire King, then without Shane she stripped naked and put them on slowly as if she was putting in a show for Sakura, no she was definitely putting on a show. Her breasts were carefully slid into the cups of her bra and her she took her sweet time buttoning up the shirt that strained to contained even her modest bust.
"Mhm..."
Then she pulled on her shorts and panties, the string holding her underwear up could be seen sticking out of her shorts but it wasn't quite perfect yet. Val tugged it up further up until it rested on her hip bone. It'd be no good unless anyone could clearly see what kind of underwear she was wearing, and having rub against and tease her sensitive pussy was great binus.
"Oh forgive me, what were you say-" The Vampire King was interrupted by a beeping in her pocket and the blonde took out a phone from her pocket, she looked at it solemnly before shifting her attention back to Sakura.
"There has been a development. One or my sources just told me Halloween Town is under attack by what appears to be Pro Human Radicals. I cannot say how truthful that is but it is not something I can sit idly by and tolerate, I am sorry to say but I will have to and assess the situation personally."
-
Yusho
Yusho closed his eye and rolled his neck until a dull pop cracked from it. "I'm not celibate," he retorted, unwilling or unable to hide the blunt mirth in his cool tone. "You were frustrated, you came to a boil, you vented and you listened, but you're still troubled. Now, I want you to decompress while what we discussed is fresh. Let whatever you think you learned and you need to learn sink in."
-
Valerie
She caught the clothes with a nimbleness that could only be achieved by the vampire King, then without Shane she stripped naked and put them on slowly as if she was putting in a show for Sakura, no she was definitely putting on a show. Her breasts were carefully slid into the cups of her bra and her she took her sweet time buttoning up the shirt that strained to contained even her modest bust.
"Mhm..."
Then she pulled on her shorts and panties, the string holding her underwear up could be seen sticking out of her shorts but it wasn't quite perfect yet. Val tugged it up further up until it rested on her hip bone. It'd be no good unless anyone could clearly see what kind of underwear she was wearing, and having rub against and tease her sensitive pussy was great binus.
"Oh forgive me, what were you say-" The Vampire King was interrupted by a beeping in her pocket and the blonde took out a phone from her pocket, she looked at it solemnly before shifting her attention back to Sakura.
"There has been a development. One or my sources just told me Halloween Town is under attack by what appears to be Pro Human Radicals. I cannot say how truthful that is but it is not something I can sit idly by and tolerate, I am sorry to say but I will have to and assess the situation personally."
Sakura
Sakura simply stood back and enjoyed the show that Valerie was giving her. Her shadows threaded themselves around her body, solidifying and filling out around her curves until a tightly bound form-fitting dress.
She raised her eyebrow and frowned, following after her lord. "Pro-human radicals? You hired me as your bodyguard, so I'll be going along with you." Sakura insisted. "We can talk on the way there."
-
Roman
Show off, he thought.
Roman closed his eyes and thought back on the day. A lot had happened, even the idea of being left with his own thoughts forced a wave of anxiety through his entire body. Truth be told, the three or four workouts he has done today seemed downright easy next to the idea of facing his own angst.
"Are you sure we can't like, train or workout or maybe take a brisk walk? I'd enjoy a brisk walk."
-
Yusho
"If you don't want to do it, that's more reason why I want you to try." Yusho didn't open his eye or tense his expression as he responded. The rise and fall of his chest had dimmed to nearly nothing, steady tranquility radiating outwards. "Don't worry, we'll get hands on later."
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Valerie
"There is no time to talk, Halloween Town is far away."
In the next instant the Vampire King had picked up Sakura and begun running at full speed towards the north-east. Even though heading through Dojo district might be faster on paper, the chance of a hostile encounter that slowed them down there was too great which is why she chose to go around it instead. At their current speed they'd reach the shores of Halloween Town in a few minutes.
Continued in Halloween Town (http://darksidemoon.net/SMF_forum/index.php/topic,757.msg66619.html#msg66619)
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Roman
Roman stared at Yusho for a moment, perhaps steeling himself or maybe just deciding whether or not to trust the old man. After taking a deep breath he said, "fine then, walk me through this whole thing then. I have tried meditating in the past, but didn't like it. Whenever I tried it again, I could never concentrate."
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Yusho
It wasn't turning out great. No matter how many times they went over the steps, of the balance of breath and the kind of mental progression necessary to pass from conscious control to mental detachment and evaluation, Roman's focus seemed to take insidious pleasure in throwing both of them off, and his stiff limbs in kicking out against his will when Yusho tried to use pressure points to help.
The exalted slumped out of the lotus position, shaking his head. "You're a bigger mess than I thought. Alright, we'll try again later," he said, and instantly Yusho leapt to his feet, bending his limbs one after the other. "You need a better grasp of your body now. Have you tried fighting anything? How often do you need to drink blood, are you aware?"
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Roman
Holy shit. Watching an old man move that quickly was weird. It defied everything he knew about old men. If he didn't know any better, he would say Yusho was 24 rather than whatever age range of old he actually was.
Roman shook his head and said, "No to all of the above. I know nothing about my body outside of a general feeling of stronger vitality and that I... can have sex a lot more now... Valarie has weird priorities."
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Yusho
Yusho nodded. It's like that was all the answer he needed to formulate a plan of action. The plan in question became evident as soon as he bent his knees, spread his feet further apart, and positioned one knifehand slightly ahead of the other, facing Roman.
"Easy enough to figure out. Come at me," he said. "I won't channel essence."
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Roman
Roman nodded and grinned. Finally, he had an opportunity to show off his strength. "See just like the rest, looking down on me," he said, raising his fists. Knees were unbent and the arms raised didn't even cover his face. Really, it was as if his crappy boxing form was dedicated to protecting his neck.
Cocking his arm back, he rushed at Yusho, the attack aimed at his right cheek clearly telegraphed. "I'll put you in the ground old man!" he yelled, his fist shooting forward.
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Yusho
Yusho inhaled, and as Roman stepped within three feet of him, slipped his right palm at the outside of his forearm, pushing. The former monk stepped to the side and Roman careened past without touching his face. Exhaling, he slammed his left palm on Roman's back, and his student went hurtling to the ground.
"Idiot. This is what I meant. Now that you've gotten a slice of what you wanted, you're narrowing your vision to a single tunnel."
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Roman
Roman's body slammed into the ground, two hands catching himself on the fall. His head twisted around, looking up at the man standing above him. Damn it. Its the same as before. Getting to his feet, he threw another punch.
"Goddamn it," he said, throwing another clumsy punch at his face. At this point he wasn't thinking, just attacking mindlessly.
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Yusho
He leaned back, then flicked his head out of the way, and with a silent draw of breath, buried a fist in Roman's gut. The younger man was forced back, but not allowed to fall down. Yusho's hand caught his shoulder.
"Stop. Think," he said.
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Roman
Roman fell on all fours, struggling to catch his breath. It felt like the pain from the punch was squeezing his lunges, blocking part of his breath. Rarely in his life had he ever really thought about the necessity of breathing, nor how nice it was to be able to do it well until this moment.
"Think about what?" he said, his legs shaking as he stood. Strange, he didn't get hit in his legs right? Was this just the fatigue from the punch?
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Yusho
"What are you doing wrong? If you're strong now, then why aren't you hitting me? You think you can be the superior of anyone that matters like this?" His one-eyed glare weighed Roman down, and his hand squeezed on the young man's shoulder. "What do you want to accomplish by fighting me? What am I trying to show you?"
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Roman
"Your not making sense," he said, raising his arms into a imitation boxing stance. Although it looked more like a hollywood martial artist stance. "Aren't you just stronger than me?"
It stung, saying that after he had taken the deal with Valarie. To think that after taking a deal like that he still wasn't strong enough yet. Well, it was alright. Truth be told, he knew from the start this wouldn't be so easy. What was Yusho talking about? Is this lesson something that could increase his efficiency at progress? The most efficient path, that's the one he wanted.
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Yusho
"I am. Even like this. And yet you were just saying you'd put me in the ground," he scoffed, but his grip on Roman loosed up. "Can you see the extent to which this monster body of yours helps, now? It might as well be nothing in the face of your dreams, and even if it wasn't, you're not using it right."
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Roman
He is taunting me, just like them.
That feeling of frustration, helplessness. It was cradled in his heart, sealed in by the ribcage of inferiority. An image flashed through his mind. A ten year old Roman stood on the edge of a basketball court, staring at a group of kids all huddled together. Their eyes shone with a great power. "Sorry, you can't play with us, you'd only get hurt." That day Roman had learned that you can be surrounded by people, have their kindness extended to you in perfect authenticity and still feel alone.
Another image flashed through his mind. The still young but older eighteen year old Roman watched as his classmate informed him he was going to be training in the first district. Another classmate that day had told him she was leaving that day to go work under someone in pine guardian. Turns out if you manifest certain type of magic, you can make a killing constructing houses and augmenting jewlery. Both of them gave him that look, like they were watching a starving puppy, a creature that would never amount to anything.
There was a book in the library that was placed on a pedestal, filled with figures who had influenced the nexus for the better. Most of them had special powers or were otherwise born abnormal. They were special, except one. Chief Yamada. According to all the information he absorbed about the man, he was one of the few born with nothing. It was his discipline and strength of will that allowed him to stand above the rest. It was then that Roman thought to himself.
Maybe I can also be special, powerful, wipe that look off of their faces. One day they will all be under my foot. Thats what he thought as he cocked his arm back for another punch. They may be sloppy, but if he got even one hit in, then at least he would feel good.
"It wasn't for nothing Yusho! I am something now! I can train forever if I need to! I can fight all day now. So what if i'm slower. I can kick your ass all over the map if I just tire your old ass out!"
The fist shot forward, once again aimed for his face.
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Yusho
His mouth parted, hollow of words, for the vivid, heated window into Roman's mind that his expression was in that moment. It felt like a peek into something he wasn't intended to see. He wondered if that was how he looked when he realized the follies of his hearthmates, and nearly all his ties seemed to become lies overnight. He was no longer a young man then, for all the good it did him, but still his heart had wanted nothing more than to scatter to Mela's bitterly cold huffs. Instead, he was forced to stand and face the demanding world like a stone, arm and spirit more solid than he'd ever been. His monk sash and the respect of his religious siblings were only the first casualties of that decision, but in hindsight even a him a decade younger would have realized it was the only right one.
Yusho's thoughts went too far away to rightly see the wind-up blow headed his way. He hastened to raise his forearm, and blocked the punch an inch from his face with a dull and somewhat painful thud.
"I don't look that old, darned kid!" He glowered, stomping the ground. Uncompliant to the sting of his yet-unhealed injuries in his abdomen, he struck at Roman with a palm to the middle of the chest. His glare had softened, but he retorted like a knife. "Maybe you can train forever. But will you?"
Yusho shook his head.
"I'm not here as your enemy, Roman, and I don't want to see you down a path where you become mine. You said you want to be remembered, but by who? Be honest. Will the strength of a monster, or the strength of a martial artist make you shine for them? To temper strength, to remind you of why you do things, to bring you the calm you need to know and improve yourself, it's best to have a solid anchor."
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Roman
Roman's eyes widened as Yusho blocked the punch. What happened there? It looked like he may have gotten closer, but the inexperienced Roman couldn't tell if Yusho let him get closer to prove a point or if he actually was doing slightly better. Either way, it fell short. The strike struck true and a clapping sound filled the air as Roman's eyes widened with pain. His entire torso stung, but his abdomen was healing.
"I know it will shine for them," he said, frowning and covering his chest with his hands. "Because they shined for me. Wealth, fame, power: those are the things that make us shine as individuals. Success is like romance. Everyone likes to pretend it doesn't have to do with sexual attraction but it does. We all care about how attractive our partners are. Power, strength: those attributes are the things that make people look at you and remember you. Without them...."
Roman could feel his heart sink. Clenching his fist, he ran up to Yusho, swinging his leg upwards in an akward kick, his toe threatening to strike him in the abdomen. "I don't matter!"
No matter what it takes. Never again did he want to feel such profound helplessness.
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Yusho
Yusho grit his teeth and whipped a leg at Roman's clumsy kick, knocking it away, and then spun on the force, bending elbows close to his torso, and smacking Roman's chin with a spinning kick of his own.
"You're a bloated moron! An empty-headed swine! You think you're spitting high philosophy at me?" He yelled, sparks trailing from his beard. "Of course people are attracted to looks and strength! But people don't shine because of fame, they gain fame because they shine! And what of that shine? Millions of men know an empress, but how many of them know her? To how many of them does she matter, does she have any impact beyond understanding she rules far beyond what they will ever travel to see in life? If you tell yourself you don't matter, then you won't fucking matter even with all the power in the world! If you get as strong as me will you beat anyone to a pulp just so they know you exist? What's the point?! Do you want to be known for the sake of being known, or do you just want to feel superior so you can finally live your life safe? Which is it?"
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Roman
"Oh no,"
Roman spat out as his kick was parred by Yusho's leg. He didn't even know you could block with your leg. Roman's chin caught the full force of the strike, sending him flying into the air, his arms and legs flailing about until he landed back first into the dirt. And so he sat there, a grimace of pain and sorrow on his face as he listened to Yusho talk. Every single blow dealt by Yusho healed during that time.
Looking at the sky, words flowed from his mouth. "I... don't know. Its not like I had some air tight logic to my actions. I always just figured that they would remember me, just as I remember them. Every time i've been humiliated by someone better than me, I remember it. The way I see it, people have a harder time getting rid of scars than hugs."
Roman closed his eyes. "Part of me doesn't want you to be my enemy either. I've never had anyone actually believe in me like that. I feel good knowing you even consider me a potential threat in the future. Maybe i'm not so full of shit after all..."
This time, Roman did not get up. Instead, he merely took a deep breath, exhaling with a groan.
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Yusho
Yusho exhaled and went to crouch next to him.
"Cool your head a bit," he said. "Scars still fade, Roman. And it's better that they so. There are more valuable things to remember."
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Roman
Roman maintained his frown. "Actually they shrink. Did your scars fade?" he asked, looking up at the Yusho. For some strange reason, he had this strange urge to tug the beard hugging over his face, but resisted it to avoid getting smacked.