Find Them For Me (Private for the moment)

[Nathalia]

Silence, there was no noise apart from the wind, slicing across the hilltops. There was no one there; all was dark, silent, and alone.

The hill had been empty, and suddenly it wasn't. As though he had simply become corporeal after leaving the mist, a Euclides moved across the grass. He made no sound, and moved with a curious rolling gait, as though he was standing on a ship at sea, as opposed to land; earth and stone. Every now and then his head would twitch in the direction of his left shoulder, then back. His lips never moved, but he was obviously deep in concentration.



The Euclides was a Chiroptae, his large, black and red wings were tucked tightly to his sides, his face; handsome and thin with hooded, sunken eyes, was covered in black stripes and red fur. There were open wounds about his person, though on closer inspection, they were found to be clean, with the exception of a few maggots, who appeared to be tenants in the Carrion's body.

He smiled, teeth clenched around the stem of a pipe, small amounts of smoke arising from the bulb to mingle with the mist. He gazed up at the moon, it shone brightly down, nearly full and seeming so close.

"You should look to the left..."

The Chiroptae tilted his head slightly in the silence, as though listening to something.

"They always come from the left"

He nodded, as though agreeing with an inner thought, his left ear, horribly torn, flicked in the cold air.

"That's not always true!"

The Carrion ceased nodding, frozen, his eyes flickering down towards his leg.

"You can't take these things for granted, what if they come from the right? What then?"

[shadow=red,left,300]"It's not as though they couldn't come from anywhere... They didn't state what they were; they could be anything, anywhere."[/shadow]

The Chiroptae's eyes widened. He glanced quickly all around, making certain he was alone. Then he spoke, his voice was deep, smooth, and cautious.

"Aye, always look out for what might hit yeh...Magog's right, fellas." He gazed at his wingtip. "Trouble could come from anywhere."

[Nathalia]

The moonlight steamed over the hilltops. The wind was high; it spoke of many things, but not of what she was looking for.

The Masquerade picked her way quietly through the underbrush. She was still a good way off from the place she had deemed the meeting spot with the other Euclides, she could see the hilltop perfectly, but had stayed a distance away so that she would be the first to see the other. Always good to have the upper hand, especially when alone on a night like this...

She chuckled softly. Well, perhaps not entirely alone...but what good would he do if she needed him quickly? Aside from yell...she couldn't imagine much...Thus they would remain hidden until the other showed themselves.



She was quite beautiful, an elegant patchwork; Avian and Feline, and a Masquerade to boot. Her colors, slight greens and lilacs, laid in gentle patterns over soft white fur. She was adorned with silver jewelry, dangling with tiny purple, metal beads in a cluster. They made soft tinkling noises in the night, hanging the way that they were, they resembled grapes.

She settled down, she could wait. It was only a matter of time before the other turned up. He would not turn down what she had offered.

[Nathalia]

The Chiroptae settled himself down, at last seeming to have come to some inner peace as he tilted his head lightly from side to side, alternately smiling and frowning, shaking his head, as various expressions crossed his features.

He whispered on occasion, his voice low, though a tad muffled around the pipe, every now and then his teeth would clack against the pipe's cherry wood stem.

"Nah, lads. She'll be here shortly, I'm quite certain of it, she said she 'ad a job fer me, why wouldn't she want it carried out, now?"

Perhaps she's gotten someone else? I mean it's not as though there aren't any other Chiropt-"

"Oh shut it, will you! She wouldn’t have asked if she hadn't wanted us specifically...we're hard to find, we are."

[shadow=red,left,300]"True...quite true. As it is, have any of you noticed that we've only been here for about ten minutes? Perhaps she's run up against some trouble. We should at least give her the benefit of the doubt...perhaps a half hour?"[/shadow]

The red Chiroptae nodded, sagely.

"Aye Magog, always the voice of reason," He tapped the bulb of his pipe on a nearby stone. "We'll go ahead an' wait fer another twenty minutes, what say you lads?"

"As you will, then."

"Sounds good to me...but I think we should listen out, keep quiet until we hear her..."

[shadow=red,left,300]"Good idea, Varyn, listen then, my boy, wait for her...and we shall see what is proffered."[/shadow]

The Carrion type smiled, stared out at the moon, and in his mind...he laughed.

[Nathalia]

Ah!

Dayobi smirked happily; at last her patience had been rewarded. There, only forty feet away, a shape had slowly formed from the mist. It meandered out, and settled on its haunches, wings tucked tightly to its sides, as it settled onto the hill.

She watched it for about ten minutes, waiting to see if there were any others with it. When no one else appeared she slunk backward for about six feet and turned to her left.

"Anyone there yet, M'lady?" A voice rasped, it then coughed and wheezed in a way that suggested that the creature was attempting to hold back the noises.



Dayobi looked into the leaves and pushed a few aside, behind them was a pile of rubble, and protruding from a small hole in the stones was the face of an old Torn type Euclides. He grinned at his leader's smirking expression and laughed, quietly.

"Ahf coursh, he's there, eh? No one kin resist yehs, M'lady, ah've tol' yeh that."

Dayobi beamed at him, flexing her claws. "Indeed you have, Mulsej. I'm almost certain we'll be bringing a follower back with us tonight..." She glanced back out at the figure, who hadn't moved. "Wait for about five minutes, then reveal yourself." The Masquerade turns and moves herself back out to the opening in the bushes.

She then steps out and walks forward, confidently. Striding with deliberate steps toward the figure on the hilltop. As she came closer to it she watched the ears flick backward, and his body go still. He did not turn around.

"Greetings, my friend. A fine night it is for us to meet."

The Chiroptae's head turned to face her, he was smiling, it was a warm and kindly smile, Dayobi felt her blood chill slightly. He nodded.

"I am the Lady, Dayobi." She whispered. "You must be...Ja'kaefurl."

[Nathalia]

So this was the Lady...this was the one who had contacted him. Well, by thunder it wouldn't be too difficult to want to do something for her. Her sleek, patchwork form was appealing, the combination was very smooth. His smiled continued as he met her eyes; he had no further need to scan her body; if he had missed something they would pick it up.

After gazing into her eyes for a few more moments (kindly, he found that this unnerved almost anyone) he made sweeping bow. Removing his pipe and tucking it in the corner of his wing as he went down, and spreading the wings wide. He tilted his head up, in time to watch the smile flicker in her eyes.

Ah...not so perfect, are you, my Lady? He thought to himself, as three small voices agreed with him. Though I must admit...it has taken me a long time to learn to only let loose the feelings that I want to be on the outside...

"So you are the Lady, Dayobi?" He stood gracefully. "I have heard about you...about your ambition..." He let his voice trail off as he looked into her eyes again. She contradicted nothing, not in her eyes, face, or pose...so...she really was that ambitious. He'd never met a Director...especially not a female one, with such intent. So interesting.

...and so attractive an idea...and a body...

"You are in need of my services?" He asked, softly; kindly. A smile extended like a hand in kid gloves. "Why do you not simply seek out your own Cast and be done with it?" He shifted slightly, watching her eyes, while the others watched her posture, her breathing, her very existence painted a picture of emotions.

"Do you really need me? I'm just an old sailor who gets along with most other, dear Lady...not much else." He pulled his [pipe back out, and stuck it between his teeth. Do you really need a person in my field? Are you already being...watched?"

[Nathalia]

Dayobi watched the Chrioptae as he arose, without a hitch from his position on the ground. She had not expected grace or charm from a Carrion; it was slightly unnerving to her that he possessed both.

"Yes," She murmured, extending a paw. "I am the Lady, Dayobi. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Furl."

She listened to his enquiries and watched as his eyes roved over her body, she delighted inwardly; desire was such an exquisitely helpful tool.

"You have heard of my ambition?" She asked, tilting her head to the side slightly and smiling, catching the Chiroptae off guard. "Then you know why it is that I seek your services over anything my Cast could provide me with..."

She watched as the Carrion raised his eyebrows in response, his ears flicked forward. Dayobi repressed a shudder, she was certain that she could see something moving inside of his ear...

"I am in need of one who would be willing to be a part of my stronghold without appearing to be so while on the job." The Masquerade murmured, watching him pull out a pipe and stick it between his teeth. "If you are in fact and 'old sailor' than you are exactly what I am looking for."

She listened to his second inquiry, and wondered about him, watched? Did he know...? She ignored that question with as much grace as possible and moved closer to him. She was surprised to find that he lacked as terrible an odor as she had expected, he actually smelled fairly clean. Raising her head to his non-damaged ear, she whispered to him.

"I want you in my Cast, Ja'kaefurl...I want you and no one else, to be of special assistance to me..."

[Nathalia]

Mulsej crept forward slowly, careful to make as little noise as possible. Should he come out now? He had no idea, his Lady had just sidled up to the newcomer, he could now see that the Euclides was a Chiroptae, and had whispered in his ear. The bat-like creature responded with evident gallantry.

The Torn felt slightly affronted. He always did when others made a move on his Lady...he knew she would never have him, but why did that matter? He had been first in her Cast, he had been the one to help her establish her home, he had found the damn thing after all... He couldn't help but be possessive towards his Lady.

It helped that she was so beautiful...good thing she wasn't a mind reader...it would never do for her to know that her most loyal servant masturbated to the idea of her quite frequently...

He reached the edge of the bushes, letting the leaves cover his face as he peered through them. He watched his Lady wind around the Chiroptae and curl her neck; putting her head to the side. He loved it when she did that, it was so...damn adorable.

Mulsej tried to quell these thoughts as the scene below took place without him, as so many things did. It didn't really matter though; these people came and went...

Mulsej knew that he would never go. He would always be right here.

Beside his Lady.

[Nathalia]

The Chiroptae leaned in as the Masquerade pressed her face near his ear.

"So you actually came looking for me...not just for a hired hand?" He enquired, raising his eyebrows and watching her as she seated herself, her limbs moving to situate themselves about her slender body...she was quite beautiful... "If that is the case then..." He looked her over once more. "Tell me what it is you want me to do, Lady Dayobi, I would quite like to join your Cast..."

His large ears twitched.

"Get her to inform you of what you shall be receiving in return for your gracious work!"

Agreed, don't let her think you are so easily sold, Furl, ask what she intends to do for you.

The Chiroptae's eyes rolled unnervingly in his head, though his expression didn't change. "My Lady," He whispered to the Patchwork. "What is it that I might expect to gain from this alliance? Aside from the delight of your presence, of course..."

[Nathalia]

Dayobi smiled delightedly when the Chiroptae responded that he would indeed join her Cast, she listened to his inquiries into what he was being offered, and the smile slowly became a smirk.

"What is it you would want?" She asked, voice soft and cajoling. "I can offer you a home, a constant supply of food, friends, protection..." She cupped his face in a purple scaled paw. "....And when I say friends, I can mean a number of different things... You need be outcasted no longer. I can offer you an informational hub of existence."

Furl gave her a slightly perplexed look, the Masquerade winked. "I wan to know everything about everyone; I want to have a handle on what it is that every Euclides, Amuni, and human does. I want to know where they live, how many they are, who they love..."

She chuckled softly, watching out of the corner of her eye as a red and grey form began to drag itself down the hill. "With such information at your disposal...do you really think that much will be denied to you? People would be surprised at what they will suddenly be willing to part with...or do for information..."

The Patchwork held out a paw. "It may take a while to build my Court, but in time, we shall be given the fruits of bountiful knowledge... Have we an accord? Ja'Kaefurl?"

[Nathalia]

Furl listened intently to the Patchwork as she began to whisper to him her plans for the future. His eyes, though they did not stop flicking back and forth, widened considerably.

That was what the Lady was planning? She had far more ambition than he had credited her for! She was not even a Puppet Master...yet.... That much he could tell, this Lady would be a Puppet Master, no matter what the cost. He smiled.

So this was what he was being offered? A central tie to this eventual dream?

And here he had expected he would turn down the job after being offered something material...

This was going far better than he would have imagined...the best he could have seen her being able to give him was sex...perhaps he could still get that anyway...

"This still seems a bit beneath us... What are we going to do if that plan of hers fails?"

"Say see ya, and thanks for all of the free food?"

"Hahaha! Good one, Varyn! That's hitting the nail on the head and no mistake. We'll take advantage of her until she either proves her worth, or falls through. Either way, we've won, it'll just depend on what scale."

"Thank you, Magog, that's exactly the way I saw it too."

"Oh, shut it! Both of you..."

Ja'Kaefurl smiled, teeth clenching around the stem of his pipe as he pushed out a wing claw, and shook the proffered paw.

"My Lady, Dayobi, we most certainly have an accord."

He bowed at the waist and kissed her paw for good measure, no sense in stopping the charm...not if he wanted to see this Lady in bed... His head suddenly snapped up to look to his left.

There was another Euclides heaving it’s was down the hillside. He stared at it, mouth falling open, slightly.

"Good God! What in blazes is that thing?"

"Holy...Magog? Is that a Torn?"

"Dear Lord, I think you're right...that's...different..."

Furl chuckled to himself. "Now, now lads...so are we..."

[Nathalia]

Mulsej heaved his way down the hillside, grinning madly at the Carrion who was speaking to and sitting so closely to his Lady. He watched the look of uncertain revulsion, on the face of a Carrion, of all the hypocritical types to look at him like that. Mulsej cackled slightly, the irony was just too much.

Dayobi smirked, turning, she extended a paw to the approaching monstrosity, and then turned back to Furl. "Dear Furl, please allow me to introduce another member of my Cast. This is Mulsej, he is a reliable gatherer of information, and a rather helpful, if unsightly addition to my Cast. Mulsej? This is Ja'Keafurl, our new member in espionage."

"Heh, pleased tae meet'cha, lad." The Torn laughed, voice grating and wet. "It'll be good tae see another constant face about the place, eh?"

[Nathalia]

Furl recoiled slightly, though his expression remained the same. He slowly extended a wing claw and allowed the old Torn to shake it, becoming a bit more comfortable as the other's face and manner continued to portray simple enjoyment at the meeting.

What an odd creature, and with such a fantastic creature as this Lady…he wouldn’t have thought anyone like her would accept the likes of himself or anything that fit the likes of the old Torn before him.

"Well," He murmured, turning his gaze onto Dayobi. "What an interesting bunch you appear to be collecting, My Lady...and with you being such a treat to the eyes...I would have thought differently..."

The Patchwork bowed her head and smirked at him. "I do not require beauty of my followers...only perfection in job performance. The looks of a Cast doesn't matter as much as the ability to get anything done, dear Furl."

The Chiroptae smirked back, nodding as he puffed at his pipe. "Then perhaps this is the right place for me after all. As it is, My Lady, for the time being, I'm with you."

[Nathalia]

Mulsej burst into raucus chuckles, bending his head low to the ground and sniggering in delight. "Whe're glad tae 'ave yeh aboard, lad. Hevean knows we'll git news faster nohw, M'Lady can' be everywha' an' ahm not the fastest, yeh ken?"

The Chiroptae smiled at the old Torn...at least the elderly one had a sense of humor, he had met so many in situations like his who cursed existance...and everything that enjoyed it. It was good to see that this speciman was at least content to be alive at all.

Dayobi smiled, she raised a paw to the Carrion, ready to seal their deal. She loved dealing with gentlemen, nd took advantage of them each time she saw them. As she had expected, Furl caught the weght of her paw with a wing-tip and delicately kissed her apendage, ears tilted back, eyes flickering.

"Mulsej is right, Ja'Kaefurl...what a welcome addition you are."

The Chiroptae smiled, back. "A good thing to know, my Lady. What is it you would have me do? Shall I begin right away?"

[Nathalia]

Dayobi pressed her shoulder against the Chiroptae's side, she felt him shiver slightly. Grinning in her mind, though still presenting a seductive smile, she ran her paw over his shoulder.

"You can get started right away, dear Furl." She murmured, watching Mulsej huff quietly out of the edge of her vision. "I need you to find out everything you can about everyone. I want to know everything about all that you encounter, who they know, what they like to eat, where they live... Anything you can think of to bring up in polite conversation."

She paused and pulled the Carrion's head toward her. "And do be polite, dear Furl. We want these people to be our friends. We want them to come to us when they need help...we want them to rely on us... We want to be the friendly background people...the ones you can rely on, but take no real notice of. That is real power. The power over puppets...to be backstage, controlling every string."

She practically purred the last few words in his ravaged ear, she watched his eyes widen slightly, and let her smile grow.

Mulsej muttered sarcastically to himself, he knew his Lady was only buttering up the new guy...but still. It hurt to see her hang off of him like that, like she had never done for him... Like she never would. He sighed softly and waited for them to finish, so that they might continue on to meet up with others this evening.