This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Messages - Rhi-Rhi
21
« on: June 19, 2017, 09:11:38 pm »
"Not to be cliche, but I was born ready," Jewel said with a grin, though she honestly wasn't sure. She had no idea what to expect, had never done anything like this before. "Let's do this!"
22
« on: June 19, 2017, 08:34:12 pm »
Sarah "spoke", and with each passing word, some of the tension seeped out of him. He had been ready to go on the offensive, ready to tear into her if she didn't have a damned good explanation.
Turned out, she did.
Another person might not have been so sympathetic--and perhaps it was an odd place for Sarah to find sympathy. Or rather, empathy. Ari wasn't the softest, squishiest person--but as it turned out, Sarah wasn't just in the company of one other slave.
But two.
Former slave. Mostly free. But still.
Her words were enough to take the fight right out of him, the tightness in his jaw slackening, his fingers uncurling from his gun, the lines around his eyes smoothing. But a furrow creased his brow the more she spoke, a sick, familiar sensation curling in his gut, and a slow, burning anger and disgust seeped in among the initial surprise. Maybe it was completely hypocritical, considering he'd trafficked people before, but she wasn't the only one that hated slavers. And besides, hypocritical as it was, he didn't deal in slaves. Taking the occasional prisoner and delivering them like cargo to the payload wasn't the same thing as that.
Or so he told himself.
He sucked in a breath, shoulders relaxing, and rolled them uncomfortably.
"I...see," he said at last, voice quiet, while Sitara looked between them in utter confusion, since she was not part of this conversation. All she could hear were Ari's words, and he had sense enough to keep private things private.
He knew better than to air something like this. There were only a handful of people that knew about him, so he knew good and well what it took for Sarah to let him in on this. He wasn't about to take that away from her.
He raked his fingers through his hair and let his hand come to rest along the side of his neck. "Look, I didn't know. Not fully. I knew what she was, yeah, but that Rhevi guy said it was your gig so I figured ya knew. And if I'd known all...that...well, shit." Another uncomfortable shrug. "We're good though. We're cool. Shit happens, eh?"
23
« on: June 19, 2017, 08:03:04 pm »
Jewel leaned forward to peer quizzically at the orb, eyebrow cocked. "What's that?" she asked, waving a hand at it. "That the SenseNet ball?"
She poked at it curiously, making it wobble on the table.
24
« on: May 19, 2017, 10:04:52 am »
Well, how's that for a fine how do you do.
For not the first time, Ari found himself at the end of Sarah's tail blade, head ringing from her silent--but still thunderous--roar. A roar that didn't quite cover up the sound of his ship cracking in places. A full-body cringe went through him that was punctuated by the cool sensation of Sarah's blade against his throat. Though he wanted nothing more than to turn and survey the damage done to his baby, he also sort of valued his life and respected her blade.
What.
The.
Fuck?
Sucking in a sharp breath and blinking dust from his eyes, his fingers brushed against the gun at his thigh holster. Sarah wasn't looking at him, was instead rounding on the Feylini, but he waited, kept his calm even as his heart beat a steady, heightened rhythm. Wouldn't be the first time someone had fucked him over, and he wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in Sarah's skull if that's how this was going down. Whatever the hell was going down. He didn't have a goddamned clue.
But not yet. He knew what she was capable of. Wouldn't do to be hasty.
"Rhevi delivered me to him!" Sitara was saying, obviously in response to something Ari couldn't hear. She was trembling, startled by how blindingly fast Sarah was, every prey instinct firing off in her brain and telling her to run, run, run. But her legs felt too heavy, too shaky, and instead she just stood there, frozen, as Sarah inspected her collar and the medallion she wore. "He gave me all this! The case and things! Said you'd understand."
Oh gods, she could practically count all of Sarah's teeth!
She seemed to be calming, though, and Ari could breathe again as soon as she'd lowered the blade.
"I don't know what the fuck you're talkin' 'bout. Did I know what?" he growled as he rubbed his neck, all humor gone, hand still at his gun. "What the shit was that about? Because I'm about five seconds off from decidin' ya ain't welcome back."
Oh, they'd gotten physical, sure. He was pretty damned sure he still had some old bruises lingering from when she didn't take a joke so well. But there'd been no joking about that.
25
« on: May 19, 2017, 12:05:08 am »
After scanning to ensure a safe landing, the Sassy Juice touched down, sand and dust billowing up all around it and creating a small dust storm.
Which, of course, wasn't ideal. Ari knew they were going to have to be quick, because there was no way this wouldn't draw attention, if those oversized lizards were near. But these were the coordinates he'd been given, and he knew Sarah was a smart cookie; she wouldn't hide out somewhere where she'd be a sitting duck.
Inside the Sassy Juice, Sitara was an anxious wreck. She paced her room, her bag with her meager supplies slung over her shoulder, and tried her best to calm down and not have a bloody heart attack. It was difficult, though; this was the last place in all the universe that she wanted to be, on a suicide mission. Yet here she was, because she really had no goddamned choice.
A knock came at her door, making her violently jolt.
"Alright, princess. This is your stop," came Ari's voice. "Hurry up now, I ain't got all day."
And it wasn't going to get any easier by stalling, was it?
Either way, she didn't really have a choice. Ari had been tasked to deliver her, and she didn't see any way out of this.
"Don't gotta nag me, I know," she growled back before she punched the door open and marched out past Ari, tail floofed in agitation.
Minutes later, she found herself outside with Ari, practically dancing in place with nerves as a being who looked, to Sitara, very much like a Rividean came climbing out of her makeshift bunker. Her heart lodged itself in her throat and she edged back away from the Draconian even as Ari flashed the reptile a bright grin.
"Hey there, sugartits," he greeted with a wink, a joke because Sarah was neither sweet nor did she have tits. "Miss me? 'Cause I missed ya. C'mon, darlin'! Gimme a hug!"
26
« on: May 10, 2017, 09:36:10 am »
"Oh, that dick," Ari said over the intercom, and if it was possible to verbally roll one's eyes, Ari did just that. "Yeah, I know the shitweed. Look, I'll getcha to the Cancer, and from there...you do you. As for Sarah's quarters, just down the hall. Tinker with her shit at your own risk, buddy."
Sitara gave an awkward glance from Rhevi to the speaker above, as though Ari could see her (which, actually, he could; there were cameras in all of the public spaces, but the speaker was not one of them!) and then scratched behind her ear again. She tapped her foot, much like a rabbit. "Erm...where should I...?"
"Ya could bunk with me, babe," came Ari's answer.
"Pass."
"Ouch, fiiine. There's an empty room across from Sarah's, but if ya ever change your mind, darlin'..."
"I won't."
27
« on: April 26, 2017, 10:44:09 am »
Sitara paled at his words, her hand fluttering up to her chest. She swallowed hard, stunned by how utterly calm he seemed. But then again, wasn't he important? High on their food chain? Maybe he was just putting on a brave face.
Or maybe she just couldn't read his face. She hadn't been around his species long enough to be able to intuit their body language, as it was so different from her peoples', and their faces didn't really seem to have the same capabilities for expression. Maybe he wasn't actually calm at all, and was deeply grieving, but she was just projecting her species onto his.
She bit her lip, shifting uncomfortably, and nodded at his advice.
"Er, I don't think I'll have any issues there," she said. "I know when I'm beat. I ain't so proud I wouldn't run." Her tail gave a small twitch, her frown twisting deeper, and she played with the end of one floppy ear. "Running's what keeps you alive. I only stand my ground and keep on fightin' when I know I can't run."
Over the intercom, Ari's voice rang out, "Yeah, yeah, I'm familiar with the Cancer. Intimately so. We'll be there in two shakes of a hooker's tits."
Sitara's eye twitched and her frown deepened, twisting into a scowl. "Lovely."
28
« on: February 27, 2017, 02:09:41 pm »
This was a bad idea. In the back of her mind, Yazuri knew it was a terrible and stupid idea. The smoke was hot and acrid, stinging her eyes and burning her lungs, and within moments she was blind from tears and ash. She coughed, choking, and by the time she realized just how BAD of an idea this was, that she couldn't see or breathe and would certainly be of no help to her cat, much less herself, it was too late. She turned around, blindly trying to feel her way out, but a wave of dizziness swept over her. She found she could hardly tell right from left, much less where she was or where she'd come from and where she needed to go, and all she could see was blurry, dark gray and sparks of orange.
Oh no...
She knew what to do in a fire emergency. She'd done a million fire drills in her life--especially important for a fire mage! But in her panic all those rehearsals flew right out the window. It wasn't the flame that usually killed, but the smoke--and she needed air. Choking on each breath, her lungs on fire, her head spinning, she was about ready to crouch down and pray for air when a hand tapped her shoulder and a cloth covered her face.
A muffled voice came to her, sounding distant not just because his mouth was covered.
The stranger? He'd come after her?
"Bella..." she managed to rasp out even as she slumped against him, a wave of dizziness crashing over her.
Outside her home, amid the rapidly growing crowd, several fire trucks and police cars pulled up. And among the onlookers, a collar lightly jingled as a gray cat wound through the crowd, meowing loudly and anxiously.
29
« on: February 27, 2017, 01:48:10 pm »
"Some shit called 'Devil's Kiss'. Real original, right?" Jericho said with a roll of her eyes. "Accurate, though. Guess it's the best high you could ever get, and it's really popular in the bar scene since it's flavorless. But you gotta sell your soul for a taste--it's highly addicting. One time is all it takes."
She gave Cal a look. "Personally, I'll stick to weed. Not worth it. You still got connections, though?" she added, switching topics abruptly as she strapped her thigh holsters back on and secured her guns. "After being...you know...a lab rat? And all the way out here, too?"
30
« on: February 16, 2017, 02:17:28 pm »
Ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuck.
Ari winced at the muffled sounds he heard through the bathroom door, clamping his hands over his mouth to keep his sharp, panicked breaths muffled. Was he going crazy? Was this what dissociation was? An out of body experience of some sort? Was this his brain trying to protect him from the horrors of his life like he'd heard sometimes happened?
He heard the other Ari choking, heard his sounds of pain and struggle, heard the tell-tale sound of a body being dragged. The slam of the door.
Silence, save for his own breathing.
Ari waited several long minutes. Then, when he finally felt he could move again, he pressed his back to the bathroom door and slid down onto the floor.
What the fuck just happened?
Was that...was someone pretending to be him?
Ari wiped a hand over his forehead, which was damp with more than just the shower's steam. Whoever that was...shit. They were in for a world of agony. Ari had been caught before--he always was, in the end--and each time he thought it just might be the time Darvish killed him. Shit. He had to get out of here.
Feeling trapped and hunted soon became unbearable, and finally Ari cracked the door open and slipped out into the cooler room. He didn't bother to look around for clothes to borrow as he headed for the door--and paused when he caught sight of a note in a familiar hand.
Stay put.
...Ykan?
Chilled to the core even after a hot shower, Ari grabbed the note and holed back up in the bathroom, keeping it locked and his back pressed to the door.
31
« on: February 16, 2017, 02:02:48 pm »
"EVERYTHING'S VALUABLE!" Yazuri wailed, wringing her hands in distress and bouncing from foot to foot anxiously. "I have everything in there! I live there! All my dresses and clothes and movies and art and plants and dolls and everything! Everything I own!"
If worst came to worst, the military would rehouse her, of course; this was a military home to begin with. But it was hers And her belongings were sentimental!
Oh, and her cat.
HER CAT!
"My cat!" she suddenly gasped, and grabbed the man's arm in horror. "Oh my gods, my cat's still in there!"
And before she could even think about what she was doing, she ran back toward the smoking home--and darted inside, into the thick black smoke.
In the distance, the wail of sirens could be heard.
32
« on: February 16, 2017, 01:54:33 pm »
[I backtracked and read because I forgot too. xD Turns out they're just going to hide out on this planet until things cool down!]
Ughhh, smuggling business.
Jericho pressed the cool metal of her bionic hand to her forehead and sighed. In all the excitement (and fun) her actual job had somehow fallen down a few bullet points on her priority list. "I did, but now that we're here I can't exactly meet my contact," she said as she fixed and straightened her tie. But then she looked over at Cal and grinned impishly.
"So I'll just get a new one. I'm sure there's someone on this shithole that could use some drugs. Everyone wants drugs." Oh, her contact would be pissed. But it wouldn't be the first time she screwed someone over.
That's why she had a fast ship.
33
« on: February 13, 2017, 10:25:02 am »
"'Technically'...?" Asher pressed, still frowning deeply.
34
« on: February 13, 2017, 10:23:44 am »
Ari let out a strained sigh. No, Nike wasn't fine; the smile was way too fake, his body language too downtrodden.
Ari shifted awkwardly, hands shoved into his pockets. "Yeah? Where ya headed from here?"
35
« on: February 13, 2017, 10:21:33 am »
"I always got room for another when it's free," Santiago said with a wide smile. Especially after such an awesome ego boost.
He washed his hands at the sink, then extended his hand. "Got a name, pardner?"
36
« on: February 13, 2017, 10:16:47 am »
...What.
No. No way.
But this kid had no reason to lie.
The blood froze in Ari's veins and he just stared at Nike, uncomprehending for a few beats. "Darvish? You're kiddin', right? Ya thinkin' some other guy 'cause...uh...Darvis h? No way..."
But the sight of Nike's bruises flashed in his memory and his stomach did another anxious flip-flop. He rubbed his sweaty palms onto his pants and swallowed hard. Darvish? He was the sicko? He'd lied to him? Pretended? And there, beneath the fear, a spark of anger kindled and he sucked in a deep breath, fists tightening.
Holy fucking shit.
"How the fuck do I 'play along'? Just...just keep pretendin' I don't know? Fuck!" He slammed a fist into the wall, ignoring the pain that blossomed as his skin split. "I shoulda fuckin' known! Fuck I'm a moron!"
37
« on: January 08, 2017, 12:47:02 am »
Between bites of ribs and potatoes, Ari winced at Sarah's conjecture. Yeah, he was pretty damned clueless about security, beyond the basics. That's why he hired someone who knew her shit so she could deal with it for him. For all intents and purposes, even though he did his damnedest not to act it, he was still fairly new to being captain and not crew.
"Looks like Kyss is last up," he said to Sarah, mouth full of meat. "Once he gets his stuff, let's bounce. I ain't buyin' what he's sellin'." He just gave away food for free? No strings attached? Right. Where the hell did he get his money from, then? The money he needed to buy product and fuel to run his "free" business? The answer, in Ari's criminal mind, was that they were dealing with a fellow criminal, and if he weren't so confident they had the guy outgunned and outmanned, he'd be high-tailing it. Because this was some angler fish bullshit right here: draw the prey in with shinies and yummies, and distract them so they never notice the teeth closing in around them.
But Ari could sense the teeth. Because when the guy addressed Kyssimri as your majesty, the hair rose all along on the back of his neck.
Yeah. Yeeeah. There was no way this guy should have even been able to know that.
Kyssimri wasn't on the roster.
Neither was fucking Riot.
But before he could tell Sarah to forget it, they were booking it now...plans changed.
Significantly.
Because it looked like they had friends, and for a hot second Ari thought that those two ships were the figurative teeth, that they were the food ship's muscle--and what muscle they were. Ari didn't have to run a scan to see that they were painfully outclassed, and if this guy didn't know them...
That kind of made it worse? At least then he would know his enemy, somewhat.
Well, shit.
He had no idea what the hell the guy meant by "get big", but he was 100% on board with throwing a stranger under the bus if he could. He grimaced as he flipped some switches and hit some buttons, leaving rib-sauce on the panels, and the engines roared to life as he steered them behind the food truck.
"Tell me those are customers of yours," he told Pierce over the comm.
38
« on: January 07, 2017, 11:20:27 pm »
Poe was just about to switch to a private showing when, suddenly, the credits started skyrocketing again--but not from Mister Echo. Oh no, it seemed they had a challenger, and this donation surpassed even Wannabe Boyfriend's donation. Poe's eyebrows lifted, and it took all her willpower to keep her jaw from hitting the floor. What...what the hell? She hadn't even taken off her bra, for gods' sakes! Was this for real? One lonely, pathetic guy she could get, but another one showering her with credits for no real reason?
What was going on?
Maybe it was because all the other shows were so extreme that vanilla was the new risque? 1 + 1 = 9?
She so didn't get it.
She also didn't particularly care so long as she was getting paid.
A message popped up on her screen, and she couldn't help but smirk. Now this guy got it. This one had her interest. This guy was real--and she couldn't help but feel not only richer for it, but saved. A private showing with a guy who just wanted to get off to her getting off was simple, uncomplicated, fun. So much better than all the boring emotional labor that went into playing Fake Girlfriend.
"Oooh, it looks like we've got a contender!" she announced, shifting again and letting the straps of her bra slide down off her shoulders. She pressed her arms together to push her breasts out even more, threatening to spill right out of her lingerie. "I guess the real question now is, who wants it more? Oh, it's so hard to choose! Maybe you can help me decide?"
---
Ari yawned as he stared at his terminal screen. He wasn't getting anywhere with this new piece he was writing, some story about alien bondage space lesbians, so he had resorted to playing solitaire while he let it all percolate. Playing, and losing. It was a relief when Pierce's voice interrupted, and he sat up straighter in his seat, wincing at the stiffness in his back that came from sitting so long.
He leaned over to peek at his other screen and snorted. "That guy for fuckin' real? Pffft, well shit, sign me up!" he said, and with a few clicks of his mouse, he logged into the chat.
Sassypants: hey darling, why don't you ditch the creepy beta males and come hang with some guys who won't leave mascara stains on your pillow?
39
« on: December 23, 2016, 02:26:14 pm »
Closer? Esha's heart sank. The way he was looking at her...he couldn't mean...?
Korto saved the day, however, and she wondered if he realized he had. Her sense of relief was temporary, though--because then shit hit the fan. Again.
With a cry, Esha dove down and curled up small, covering her head with her hands as though that would protect her from bullets. Wings, he'd said. They had flying artillery? Of course they did...they stole Feylini tech, after all...
Still staying low, she peeked out from between her fingers at the scene unfolding. She had to keep observing, no matter what. She wanted nothing more than to hide, but there was nowhere to go--and this was the only way she could be useful, for herself and for others.
40
« on: October 20, 2016, 01:35:33 pm »
...Oh.
Well.
That was one hell of a donation.
A big enough donation that she decided, hell yeah she'd play along! Sure, the comment was creepy as hell, but she was used to creepy. Though, admittedly, she found the sexually creepy comments less creepy than the ones that seemed to imply the dude was looking for an online girlfriend.
Yeah, I ain't your manic pixie dream girl, my dude, but I can play.
With a flirty smile at the camera, Poe shuffled closer to it on her knees and peered curiously back, head cocked. "Well now you've got me all curious, FlameShadow! Wanna do a private show so you can tell me all about it?"
|
Show Posts