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Colapso stops the fight and brings venus backstage with Serpent and himself! "... you accepted fighting with Ahlat? Vee... do you have any idea of what you are doing? At all? He is a God of War, he would be a big problem for... us!"
venus{A} "...I don't know... I was just so excited from the last fight... you don't think he'll kill me do you?"
Serpent convulses momentarily.
Serpent "Scuse me, Maiden business."
Serpent ducks out, looking for a bathroom.
Autumn{v} "... I am not sure! Look, you have been hanging with Elora, right? Did she tell you they are not human? I didn't spend any time studying Ahlat's customs and honor code, but Gods of War seem to like things like a good death after battle! This is bad. I think I'm going to have to take your..." He blinks... "Ah... damnit!"
venus{A} "What? What's wrong?"
Autumn{v} "Serpent leaving!" He paces about Vee, his scarves tapping the ground like hands
Autumn{v} "Think, think, think... damnit, I wish we had a Secrets here. We are made to fuck, not think."
Den Bao "You really are absolutely helpless without me sometimes, hm?" Lo and behold, the mighty Green appears practically out of no-fucking-where, looking sharply-dressed (scarf notwithstanding) and smirking like a bastard.
Autumn{v} looks up at the sky... then grins at Venus, then back at the sky again. "I wish all Five Maidens would come out of the Dome and give me a blowjob!"
Den Bao "You and I both, but not all wishes come true. Now, inform me on what in the hell's gone wrong this time?"
venus{A} "Maybe... I can challenge him to First Blood."
Autumn{v} "Anyways. Den... Vee accepted to fight Ahlat!"
venus{A} "It seemed like a good idea at the time..."
Den Bao "... I'm sorry, but I believe I somehow heard you say that Venus challenged a war god to combat."
Autumn{v} "But he may KILL you, and I don't like that!" He nods to Den Bao. "She did. And unless she has BIG tricks on her sleeve, he might just decide to kill her. I was thinking of taking her place... but then we gotta find some way to magic me in her shape, and I have none."
venus{A} looks duly embarrassed. "I won against the bull," she mutters.
Den Bao "First and foremost, I would like to say that this has to be incredibly stupid. God or no, Ahlat is nothing to take lightly, and he will most certainly smear you across whatever arena you choose if you prove to be an insult to his talent." He pauses. "... I consider helping you cheat, and cheat viciously, but that would not be a free service, considering that it could get me in tremendous amounts of trouble."
Den Bao "Even you aren't pretty enough for censure, and I'm only so good at shaking those."
venus{A} looks up at him uneasily, "What do you want for payment? I don't have a lot, other than, well, me. And what Autumn has given me."
Den Bao "That is true, but I have no serious desire to bed you. Perhaps I will simply extract a couple of favors from you, and Autumn could pay them in your stead. It never hurts to have his sort ready to take care of some undsightly manner for you at any given time."
venus{A} finds herself slightly offended that he doesn't.
Autumn{v} "Well... you get credit. Really." He tips his hat, "Cowboy's word."
venus{A} "You would pay Den Bao favors for me?"
Den Bao "Now. Considering I would help you cheat... that means I have many a stack of paperwork to file in order to help properly align your personal star, and to be honest... I'm nore adept at breaking and entry, so I may well have to coordinate with someone who's better as kissing up to the spiders."
Autumn{v} "You are mine, aren't you? Comes with the territory." He nods and smiles.
Den Bao "Outside of that!... we will need a team effort. I'll attempt to coerce and blackmail others as needed."
venus{A} "...how long will this take?"
Den Bao "How long do you have?"
Autumn{v} "Ahlat didn't specify, but I don't think he'll wait more than a couple hours before growing impatient."
Den Bao "... well, fuck."
Autumn{v} "They'd be ducking it out NOW if I hadn't asked for the timeout, so count your blessings."
venus{A} fidgets
Den Bao scowls. "Why does it always have to be the impatient ones..." He pauses, then spits up a green spider, which rests on his hand. "Find out when Ahlat intends to carry out his battle against Venus."
Den Bao "Considering the immediacy of matters, the best you're going to be able to do, barring out interference, is impress him enough to save you from a horrible death."
venus{A} "oh... good..."
pigeon "The question you have asked relies on information which is either generally forgotten or actively concealed. Please rephrase your question and try again."
Den Bao "Shit. Hrm... if possible, attempt to determine the general mood of Ahlat at the moment, using associates' reactions is need be. I at least need to know if one of his pretty meatmen didn't scrub his back the right way and he's in a foul mood."
venus{A} "I'm pretty sure he was impressed with me, at least." she ventures
Autumn{v} "So, one of us impersonating her is a no-no? Hrms." He holds his chin and thinks.
Den Bao "Doesn't hurt to be certain."
Autumn{v} "Shall we go back there and see for ourselves?"
venus{A} runs her hand over her armor nervously, and checks her bowstring.
pigeon "Ahlat is happy."
Den Bao "One moment. Let me get my---excellent." He promptly claps both hands on Venus' shoulders. "Listen to me, girl, and listen well."
venus{A} looks up at him, startled. "Yes sir."
Den Bao "You've apparently made a good impression, but do not ruin it. Stand tall, remain firm, and do not hesitate or back down an inch. Prove yourself strong in spirit. The body can be crafted, but the will is much harder to build upon."
Den Bao "... she's a cute one, Autumn. I hope all goes well, for her sake as well as yours." He lets go, adjusts his scarf, and idly scratches his belly.
venus{A} nods, "Yes sir, I will."
Den Bao "Just Den Bao will do."
Autumn{v} leans against the wall and listens
venus{A} smiles, "Thank you, Den Bao."
Autumn{v} "I hope so too. And Ahlat is going to pay if he hurts her. Dearly." He touches her shoulder... "Good luck."
venus{A} smiles and kisses Autumn, "Thank you... " She squares her shoulders, steps away from the two, and walks back into the ring.
Den Bao "She is in the hands of Maidens now, Autumn."
venus{A} "Ahlat, as you are the challenger in this fight, I claim the right to name the terms." she says boldly, facing the Bull-God.
Autumn{v} "The Maidens are cruel, Den."
Den Bao "That is what makes the game so alluring."
Ahlat "You may name the terms if I may name the forfeit."
Autumn{v} "As long as..." He pauses, looks at the Arena... "... nevermind. So, do we bet?"
venus{A} nods slowly. "That is your right."
Den Bao "If you so choose to. I am a gambling man... I'm a Starchaser, after all."
Ahlat "Then what are your terms?"
venus{A} "The terms, then, are this: The duel is to first blood only. No Essence may be spent, nor Charms used."
Autumn{v} "But we're both betting on her, right?" He looks around to find people who won't. "... hey, that's a great one."
Den Bao simply smiles. "That... is a secret."
Ahlat snorts, lightly. "Then if we shall face each other as timid mortals, I will give you a treasure fit for a mortal if you best me. And if you fail, I ask merely that you not darken my doorstep again."
venus{A} nods, "If I win, I will return when I have learned more, and set the stakes higher." She bows to him formally.
venus{A} nocks an arrow to her bow, though she leaves it aimed at the ground, and waits for the signal to begin.
Ahlat "Then...let us begin."
Ahlat With a careless flick of the wrist, the Bull God sends his obsidian-tipped spear in a tight razor-sharp spiral towards Venus's heart.
venus{A} keeps her eyes on the spear, and tries to dive aside, but she sees in the split second that she has to react that it follows her movements, and she tries to bat it aside, to direct it away from her heart at the very least.
venus{A} catches the spear in the shoulder with a strangled cry, and staggers back with the sheer momentum of the throw. Her crystalline armor splinters around the head of the spear, but slows it enough that she is only bleeding, and not broken.
Ahlat sighs.
Ahlat "Are you satisfied?"
Autumn{v} "... I should have taken her place."
venus{A} akwardly tries to yank the spear from her arm, but can't quite get a grip on the slippery weapon. "I will...never darken your door again," she says quietly, then looks up again and looks squarely at him. "Next time, you will come to me." She walks off, back to where the others are waiting.
Autumn{v} watches her, thanking the mask that his face is hidden. "He will."
venus{A} sags against the wall when she is out of sight of the God, and tears run down her face. She tilts her head forward, letting the musical waterfall of her braids cover her face.
Autumn{v} walks up to venus... and a little awkwardly, tries to hold her with the spear on the way
Den Bao does absolutely nothing. Not even sigh.
venus{A} leans into Autumn's chest, trying not to move too much, as each tiny movement sends a fresh stab of pain from the spear down her arm. "I was foolish to think I could win," she cries. "He is the War God, and I am only me." Then she adds, "Ow."
Den Bao "Were you trying to win, or were you trying to prove yourself?"
venus{A} "Isn't that the same thing?"
Autumn{v} "She chose terms that put her in disadvantage. So she was not trying to win."
venus{A} "What? I chose terms that would keep me alive." She tries to dislodge the damn spear again. "He did this without even trying."
Den Bao "It's not, when you consider which matters more. Were he truly disappointed, you would be dead." Bao walks over to have a look at Ahlat's fearsome spear. "I would say you have managed a pretty substantial victory."
Autumn{v} stares at venus, but says nothing
Autumn{v} "We should take this spear out."
venus{A} "I guess." she replies to Den... "Yes, please take the spear out... I can't reach."
Autumn{v} holds the spear... and tries to pull it out
Den Bao quietly takes hold of Venus' shoulder with his left hand, closer to her neck. With his right, he calmly administers three quick strikes---thumb, middle knuckle and outer edge of his palm---in a straight line along an invisible line dividing arm and shoulder. "If this works as expected... your arm will likely go numb for a minute or so."
Den Bao "Autumn, remove the spear."
Autumn{v} does pull it out now, in a single, strong pull! "There!"
venus{A} 's arm hangs at her side, now more useless than before, but at least it doesn't hurt. She braces herself and sighs in relief as the spear is freed. "Thank you.." she says, subdued.
Autumn{v} covers her wound with his scarves, letting them soak in the blood
Ahlat The muffled pounding of a pair of hooves announces the approach of the Bull God.
venus{A} remembers Den Bao's words, and stands straight, waiting for him to enter.
Autumn{v} allows the Scarf to remain in her, away from him
Ahlat turns the corner and regards the three of them, giving the Sidereals a rather disgusted look, before reaching out his hand for his spear.
Den Bao gives Ahlat an equally disgusted look, and the big oaf likely knows enough about Den to realize what he's thinking.
venus{A} watches him silently, with a hint of defiance.
Den Bao "Masterful work as always, Ahlat."
Autumn{v} stands between them, touching the spear. "The spear that has tasted the blood of your kin will be your gift to your daughter, a daughter brave enough to defy her father, the Southern God of War. For her courage, for her bravery, she deserves a parting gift."
Autumn{v} "If you cannot recognize courage, then I fear the South is lost, to become a land of craven men who will forget the fire that drives their souls! A man who cannot raise his spear to heaven and strike will never be worthy of Sun's smile, of Luna's kiss, of Mars' blood. Venus is one such woman, your daughter, and you will NOT do her such disservice."
Ahlat "I know not what mad and murderous schemes you seek to perpetrate today, Star-touched, but Ahlat is no fool, nor will he be your patsy. This woman is not my daughter. Were she such, I would claim her joyfully, though I would teach her to be brave during a duel, and not afterwards."
Autumn{v} "She believes herself to be. She has worshipped you all of her life."
venus{A} "I don't need you anyway." She turns away from him.
Ahlat "And I commend her dedication, though not her choice of advisors."
Ahlat "It is not I, after all, with a reputation for mendacity and manipulation."
Autumn{v} takes the spear and offers it to Ahlat. "If she is not your daughter, then she has no right to this. But if I find out that you are lying, Bull God, she will receive her due. With interest."
Den Bao "Some must bear the mantle of secrecy and deceit."
Den Bao smirks. "To allow for others to bask in simpler pleasures, of course. For the good of all."
venus{A} "Please, let's just go. There's nothing to be gained staying here any longer."
Autumn{v} "Yes, there isn't." He turns his back to Ahlat, placing a hand on her shoulder and walking out
Ahlat "Were things otherwise, Sidereal, you would not depart before I knew why you practiced this deception upon such a hero as this one."
Den Bao "Perhaps, but some things must remain shrouded until the time is right. Such is the way of the Maidens. Fare thee well, honored Ahlat." Den bows, turns and walks off. His smile turns into a vicious frown immediately.
Ahlat "But they are not, and so I will tell you only this: have a care, Star-touched, lest your schemes prove your undoing."
Ahlat "The butler will show you out."
Den Bao "Noted!"
venus{A} gives Ahlat one last, long, disappointed look, and follows the others out silently.
Ahlat meets her glance with a disapproving one of his own.
Autumn{v} waits until they are out, and allows the other scarf to wrap around most of her torso, tightly. "What do you want to do now, vee? Back home?"
venus{A} nods looking at her feet as they walk. She doesn't protest as the scarf covers her, just looking dejected. "She lied to me."
Den Bao "Welcome to the game of Heaven, dear Venus. It is not a fair one, unfortunately."
Autumn{v} "When did she tell you that?"
Autumn{v} "And is she still alive?"
venus{A} "It's been... two years, I think. She died in a raid by the Dragon Blooded... They said they were 'cleaning up the scum,' and.. I guess they were right."
Den Bao "This raises an interesting question: just what are you, then?"
Autumn{v} "A Dragon-Blooded raid on Nexus?"
Den Bao chuckles. "Aside from a pretty face."
venus{A} "No, just on our neighborhood in Nexus. They were hired by the Emissary, I think."
venus{A} shrugs.
Den Bao "Hm. So... it looks like you're in Autumn's care for the time being, then."
Autumn{v} "Tell you what!" He scoops venus, pulling her on his arms, and twisting around! "Now, you are free of your mother's manipulations! Of your fixation on Ahlat! Now venus can be her own self, and follow her own path! We should go and celebrate that, vee... in private!"
venus{A} "If... if you still want me... Oh!" She finds herself in his arms, "I guess that's a yes." She smiles, and leans her head on his shoulder. "Yes... I'm free now."
Den Bao "Pervert." Den smirks, nonetheless.
Autumn{v} "I will see you later, Den." He continues to spin with her until they are on his aerial rickshaw, opening the door with his feet and placed her comfortably in the cushioned seat!
venus{A} kisses Autumn, and settles back in the rickshaw. "Thank you" she smiles. "for everything."
Den Bao "Heh. Silly kids... they're meant for each other. Maidens help them both."
Den Bao shakes his head and goes off to handle Elora's paperwork for the week.
Autumn{v} takes out the mask and the hat, having a little black-and-red domino mask beneath and kisses her, saying some orders in Old Realm for the driver to take them to his Heavenly Ranch... "You have nothing to thank me for, Vee..." his fingers dance over her belly, almost tickling, as he uses that trick... and her vision clouds with bliss. "... yet."
Joker Ello
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