What a Lovely Place This Is [PG13]

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] Hungry... that's about what he was feeling. Not that he ever got hungry, or even knew what the world "hungry" meant. He did not need to eat, or sleep, or breathe, or move really. He didn't need to do much of anything... but he had been very observant, and he had concluded that hunger was the thing that happened when you were particularly hard-pressed for something to shove down your mouth - possibly food, or a bab,y or whatever it was one considered edible nowadays. He liked hamburgers himself, so a quick stop off to the bar for a snack and he was skittering around happily, surveying the new territory. White seemed to like the old town idea. The way Coyle understood it, White had taken over the town last time - inherited it in a bloody kind of way. Coyle was in fact there when it happened, but he really wasn't much for current events, so the whole bloodbath had been lost on him - sad, considering he would have liked it. All he knew was one day there was a town full of happy villagers and the next there was a town full of slightly paler happy villagers. It had all seemed very minor to him at the time. But White went for that "old town" again... even though it looked nicer this time around. What was it with him and old? Was old better than new? And were they related in any way he should care about? Probably not. Coyle leaned against the side of an old-style cabin door and played with the cord of an old electric lamp while gnawing on his hamburger. Meat tasted funny. He liked sugar better, but variety was good... Yes, variety was indeed good, and he wasn't here on business as usual. After gulping down the last bite of his burger he found that he was still hungry. But that was okay. People came in twos to this place, for some reason. Two sounded good. He'd have to pop out fast after that though, because White got suspicious after the first few times! Oh well. That's business for ya.

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] There was something about this town that she really liked. Perhaps it was because it looked a lot like the towns she used to look down upon not so long ago. It reminded her of home. No, not her home. Her home was much different, and she would never be able to return to it. Still, living in a town just like the ones that had been a constant backdrop for her for all of her life was rather nice. This town, however, was quite strange. Many a times she would wander into a shop only to look around and realize that she had no idea what purpose it served. Luckily, it wasn't much of a problem if she looked confused or out of place. Everyone here seemed to be aware of everyone else's race, or at least have a general idea about it. That meant that she didn't need to hide so much. She was safe for now. Vera walked into a building absently, glancing around as she tried to remember what type of place this was. It looked very familiar, and she knew she'd been in many similar places so far. People came here to... Eat, right? That was the safe bet. Their society seemed to revolve around food. Food and alcohol. Always. Her society was quite similar, she supposed. Except for the food. She didn't need to eat. She walked further into the place and took a seat. Though she didn't need to eat, it was sometimes interesting to try these foods that the mortals enjoyed so much. Even more so, it was interesting to watch the very mortals. They were strange creatures indeed, and she never tired of observing them.

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] Colors were lost on Coyle, as were shapes, light, and plenty of other conventional sight-related nouns. This is because he did not "see" things in the way that most creatures seemed to see them. He hadn't even had eyes for a while there. Sight to him was almost useless - he needed but to understand something, not see it. And in that way, he understood many things, and he did so as they truly were. For example, when something with the most odd "look" passed him by, he naturally wondered what it was. This was no ordinary creature, because it was not like anything else that came from this world and in fact it was not from this world either. This "looked" very odd to him indeed, but she appeared normal. Normal hair, eyes, a mouth, some wings... The general humanoid shape. But she could dimension-hop. That was... kinda his gig. What was going on here? Coyle looked around, not really feeling hungry anymore although there were plenty of people here to eat. Oh well. Maybe she was like that Argus guy and she was something new and fun and useful and evil that he could play with? And that was enough incentive to follow her into the bar area and wait for her to sit down before joining her - blunt, yes, but he didn't do social rules unless they gave him something in return. And she didn't seem to be from around here at all, so who knows what kind of greeting he should give. So he ordered a drink, sat down, and cut to the chase. "Are we new here then? Well we're all new, but it seems like the whole world's new to you..."

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] Shortly after she sat down, she was joined by what seemed to be a man. She thought it was a man, anyway. After awhile, differentiating between men and women had gotten confusing. Men wearing women's clothes or having women's hair or vice versa. Just very confusing, and Vera wasn't skilled enough to be able to tell a man from a women based on facial features alone. That being said, she was about 80% sure that this was a man. She only stared at him as he sat down and began to speak. However, the complete disregard for social norms wasn't as strange to her as the way he spoke. She understood what he was implying well enough, though he had a strange way of dancing around the subject without explicitly stating it. It was enough to warrant a curious look from her as she put together her response. "You have a peculiar way of speaking." Normally, she would have been content to leave it at that, though she soon realized that she hadn't quite addressed his statement. She was so strange that people immediately knew she was not of this world? It was true that she spoke differently and acted differently and even looked differently, but was it really that obvious? "This world looks very similar to me, only now I see it from a different angle." She shrugged, then paused for a moment, realizing what it was about this man that had intrigued her at first. "You look as though you could be from my world. Very pretty." Just a simple statement, and with that, she let her eyes wander around the rest of the room. It may be too much to ask of her to keep a conversation going. Though it had been awhile, she was still unused to communicating through speech.

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] There was a small trickle of laughter from the beast. Very small, and very delicate - like the tinkling of champagne glasses to propose a toast. This creature had called him "pretty." Wasn't that a feminine adjective? It was always so hard to respond appropriately, but he'd been here long enough to know, and longer than that he understood the irony in it. Many things about the beast were "feminine." He had a light, soft swathe of hair as if it were maintained in the fashion of a woman's. And his features were not "manly" or even "attractive" so much as they were "cute" or "soft." He was not large like a man, and he was not muscular either. In fact, there really wasn't anything that said "masculine" about him. He looked a boy, and a shy, petty, girly boy at that... and that is exactly why he chose this form. Apparently sex determined dominance here, and although he'd made the mistake of being male when he first materialized, he would not let that get the better of him. What was he, but something to be overlooked? Something to be pitied, or thought weak and insignificant? It worked for him. He didn't want to clamor across the face of the earth with blood-tipped fangs and tentacles galore. What he wanted was quiet, and confusing for people. It made things easier, in his experience, for him to be underestimated. And it was funny, terribly funny, that he be called "pretty" by such a... well not so "feminine" creature. "Ah, and you too are pretty," the beast smiled, sweetly. "So fitting, that something so beautifully, bluntly deadly could say such on me... but it doesn't detract from your beauty." Al this with a silver tongue. Coyle kindly neglected to mention his "way of speaking." Bluntness never was something he liked, because for the longest time he never had the luxury of lying. Who could he hide from? All the other beasts with their perfect sights to see right through him? It was like... a foreign delicacy, for him to be so veiled now. Besides, language was just so fun to pervert. But on to business. "So what, may I ask, is something so wonderfully foreign doing in a place like this? Not like me who can hop from one place to another, I hope." Right, why he was here. Why was he here? It didn't really matter to him why, but he was here now, so he'd make the best of it. Simple enough. This creature seemed so blunt a tool as not to make the same fine, detailed preparations he could.

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] She had lived in this world long enough; studied this world's inhabitants long enough to know that as far as social norms went, this man was breaking most of them. Seating himself at her table without invitation was surely one of them. There was also the unusual way he spoke. She had yet to meet anyone who spoke in such a way. In fact, after he had finished speaking, it took her another moment or two to figure out what it was that he actually said. The first statement was relatively simple. There were many extra words thrown in at random intervals, though she was fairly certain that he also called her pretty. She responded to the statement with a simple "Thank you." His next words were much more complicated. She understood that he had asked her why she was here, but what was this about "hopping?" People usually walked in order to get to a certain place, didn't they? Rarely was "hopping" involved. "I... Have wings. I fly." Her head tipped to the side, unsure if she had answered his question. Well that was why she was here. She got to this world by flying, and she got to this town by flying. She walked to the building itself though. However, yes, flying. Flying was the main reason why she was here.

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] Coyle nodded, boredly, unhappily. He did not like this very much, because although she said things, she was very simple. Simplicity was hard to deal with, what with staying on track and all. Usually, people had their questions, or their concerns, or things they said other than the exact things that needed to be said. It was never just "I'm good" when asked how you were felling today. There must be a few smaller words that meant something different. Something a little more indirect and wasteful of time. "Fine, I guess." "Good, and you?" "I'm alive, aren't I?" All just a tiny bit more than was needed to finish the conversation, and yet it was a gold mine to work with. But with this one... very blunt. It was almost stupid to misinterpret what she said. Then again, he was still going to do it. "Ah, wings. Something to pull you from place to place, no? We all have our ways," and by this, he referred to his temporal claws, "but let's cut to the chase, shall we?" And at that, his voice changed to more of a low, movie quality. "What's a gal like you doing in a place like this?" Some... mortal thing or other said that. Movie. He liked movies. They were all about entertainment, and he did appreciate things that were only for entertaining him. People did have a lot of them around here- Riiiight. He was working on something right now. "Someone with such a pretty name as..." a moment of pause, and a false smile, say, what is your name anyways?"

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] Still more words. Words that jumped and fluttered about, bumping into one another and creating shapes that were very pleasing to the senses until one took a step back and realized that they had only made a circle. An open circle, at that. She rather disliked these words. People should speak in order to give and receive information. Any "feelings" or other such nonsense that one hoped to convey should be done with gestures and tones, not confusing speech patterns. Of course, this was only her opinion, and she was one still relatively new to speaking. The Valkyries would communicate through thoughts and senses, a way of communication that Vera felt was much more accurate and was able to convey much more than speech ever could. She listened to his flowery speech with eyes half closed, looking very disinterested in whatever he had to say. So she simply ignored anything that wasn't an actual question. What she was left with was "why was she here?" and "who was she?" "Vera," She said shortly, "I am here because I choose to be here." There was the slightest hint of what she could only assume to be annoyance in her voice. With a sigh, she prepared to say something more to the man, though she found herself unable to form the proper words. Giving up in this endeavor, she put her hands on either side of her head, massaging her temples, as she reverted to her natural manner of communication. Mentally, she sent out a feeling that was difficult to describe in words. However, if she were to try, she'd call it annoyance coupled with fatigue coupled with exasperation. Now looking up at him, she attempted to put together, in words, just what about him was so vexing. "I prefer to speak so that I may understand. Not for the simple joys of speaking. What do you want?" Rarely had she ever spoken in little more than a monotone. Perhaps it meant that she was beginning to assimilate into the customs of this world. To a certain point at least.

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] And there it was - the crux of it. Sad, how such beautiful disillusion and dramatic wordplay could end in such a short, blunt, cutting way. As one who was familiar with the droll of mindspeak, he was familiar with her struggles to actually articulate anything in this, the mortal coil. As someone who never shuts up, however, he was feeling a bit impatient with her. "Haha..." he cleared his throat, the melodic tones gargling away to what was most likely the most ugly voice that Coyle could consciously muster. So simple, so boring that it shouldn't ever be used. But it had to... if he was going to get anywhere with this one. "Sex. I would eat you, but I'm bored with that now." And there it was. The most poignant thing that would ever come out of his mouth - and it kind of summed up why he was never poignant. He just sounded horrible and needy. He, of course, was much more complicated and wonderful than that. If he sounded like he was, at least. People were so easily wooed with words. Figures it took some lump of a living thing to make him out to be the bad guy. You should never look like the bad guy. Then how were you supposed to be evil? It was all simple math. And now it was ruined. Still retaining his heavenly looks, Coyle smiled sweetly at the Valkyrie. Perhaps this bluntness would accomplish something. If not, there was always a life or death struggle. Those were super fun!

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] At first she had to wonder if her words had had any effect on him or if she'd have to sit through another round of confusing dialogue. She thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to the people of this planet, though when they sought her out and struck up conversations with her despite her disinterest, her patience could only last for so long. Even a Valkyrie wanted a little quiet time all to herself. However, he seemed to finally understand her annoyance and the answer he gave her was straightforward and very easily understood. "Oh." He wanted sex. Now that wasn't so bad. Although she was pleased to have an actual answer now, she was no longer quite certain about what she should do with it. What was the proper response to such an answer? Was there even a proper response? "I have... never done that before." She had heard the tales many times about Valkyries engaging in romances with mortal men. It wasn't uncommon at all, however, Vera had been too young to engage in such activities herself. She was still very young when compared to other Valkyries, though here the people would think of her as ancient, so it should be perfectly fine for her to give such romances a try here, wouldn't it? "Although my, erm, 'friend' tells me that it's enjoyable." Her eyebrows knitted together in concentration as she attempted to recall exactly what she had been told. She didn't need all of those graphic details; just the basics would do. Now she could almost remember something- something rather important. A question, perhaps? Something that her friend had told her was very important to remember to ask. "And what would be in it for me?"

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

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[bg=655064] Well, at least the bluntness paid off. For some strange reason, some things actually want to have a straightforward conversation. Took all the fun out of it, if you asked him. But there it was - this direct approach had yielded results, and he did like results very much. The Valkyrie herself didn't really know what to do with that, and it tickled Coyle to see her ponder through what she should say. Finally something other than disinterest - looks like the big bad birdie wasn't so terrible after all. And of course, she was dealing with a cat - a few points went to him automatically. When she answered, the beast let a sweet little giggle escape him. "What's in it for you..? Obviously you've never had sex..." Hmm. This friend knew how to make a deal. He liked that in a mortal, but the Valkyrie was too big a bird for him to see educated like that - it made the normally simple-minded dangerous. Ooooh. Danger. -but anyways, dangerous. And yet the thought didn't come from her, and he doubted this "friend" had coached her through much more than that. Easy. Not even worth convincing. Not that he cared that much about sex - it was the strangest thing if he'd ever seen it. People wiggling around making noises... so grotesque. Why weren't they already made? Why did people have to get made? And for that matter, why did they have to die. It just complicated things as far as he was concerned, but then again a complication was a distraction, and he was boooored. "What do you get..." The words dropped like honey from a golden comb. It wasn't a question so much as it was a stray thought said aloud. So she wanted something. He liked somethings. And trading somethings. Deals... Maybe he could have a little more interest come of this than he thought. It had been a while since he made a good deal, and with a pretty birdie at that... "Alright," Coyle said, suddenly. "We'll trade. You give me what I want... and I'll give you whatever you ask for." Oh yes... The game had begun.

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[elle]

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[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/mtqyde.png] Though she had expected him to tell her what she would get out of the deal, he instead gave her an option. She could have anything she wanted. This caused her to frown and furrow her brow, as if in thought. She would have preferred it if he hadn't given her any option, much less one so broad. What did she want? There were many things in this world, so how could she choose just one? So, first she went through the many mortal objects and places that she'd seen, looking for the perfect one. Whatever she asked for needed to have two very important criteria: she needed to want it, and she couldn't be able to get it on her own. But what could that possibly be? She liked her life well enough and she had next to nothing. She didn't need anything extra, and she didn't believe that she wanted anything either. So, she shook her head at the man, prepared to tell him the truth. "I don't-" She stopped, her eyes brightening as a thought crossed her mind. She had only been thinking about objects. He didn't say that she could only have an object. With this thought, another person came to mind. No, not really a person... She still wasn't sure what exactly he was. He was an interesting creature, though, and he had taught her a lot. What's more, she almost felt drawn to him. Since this man said that she could have anything, perhaps he would be able to get that strange creature for her. The concept of slavery was something she hadn't yet studied. "I met someone one time, not very long ago. He called himself a 'freakin' god'" She said, emphasizing each syllable, "I would like him." By now she had almost forgotten what she was supposed to give in exchange. Whatever it was would be fine with her, however. There wasn't much that she wouldn't try at least once, and she was still learning about this world.

[Я Є Đ WOLF]

[atrb=width,470,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][bg=655064] So simple, a thing as a deal - yet so enthralling. Deals were his most favorites of structures... because unlike words that dazzled, or smiles that could lie in volumes of ways, deals were the best misconception of all. They were agreements - tit for tat. They had a give and a take, and they were very tricky to play with. Perhaps why he liked them so very much, though, was they were his only constant. In his essence of fluidity, this was the one thing Coyle would always do: he would always keep his deals. Not that anyone else thought so... "Easy," the beast said, without pomp or flourish or garnish. There was no need to play the word games now that he had his deal, and so the simple, silky sound of his voice - unwoven with lies - would do him now. And as if to demonstrate this, Coyle rattled off a few facts concerning this "freakin' god." "Argus. A creature of evil. Kinda a nice guy, too, if you get to know him." and at this the beast smiled, be cause he did know Argus. A Deity was a bit above his paygrade.... but it wouldn't give him any trouble. So the lie that was an evil wrapped in a lie that would be a child slumped himself gracefully on the barstool where he sat. "What you've asked for, you shall have... and now that that's done with... we move to my part of the bargain." And at this point, it was merely politics. He didn't care about this sex so much as this little endeavor he was to set out on. A Deity. What fun!