NationStates Jolt Archive

"Hey, we chose them... and this... anyway, my life is substantially more boring when on leave. I hate leave, really, I do... especially when it's been forced"

"So, you enjoy going away and being shot at and captured and tortured, and prefer that to being at home?"

"Don't get me wrong, being at home has it's virtues*kisses her* but I've grown up out in the field... before this, it was all I'd ever known"

"I know that...I just...don't want to lose you to your job."

"I could say the same thing, but I don't"

She sighs and rests her forehead on his shoulder.

He rubbed her back softly,"I promise you, you're not going to lose me to my job"

"And you won't lose me to mine."

He put his hand on her chin, tilting it upwards, and kissed her softly,"Good to hear"

She kisses him back softly, her arms slipping around him in a gentle embrace.

Feeling left out, Rosie came over, and slipped between their legs, rubbing herself against both of them at the same time. Cougar rested his head on his wifes shoulder, and smiled as he saw the cat,"She doesn't like being ignored"

Rhenna laughed. "I can see that."

He bent down, and stroked his cat softly,"Strange one, aren't you"

Rhenna smiles softly.

"Go on, take a look around, you'll be fine for a while. You'll be able to find me," he said. Rosie rubbed herself against his hand once more, then left, leaving via the open door to investigate Rendelmar

He watched her go, and smiled,"She'll be alright.. would you care to join me for breakfast, even though you don't normally eat it"

"Of course."

He smiled, and took her hand,"Then let us go"

She kisses him softly, then starts walking with him.

He leads her to the canteen, and summoned up two plates/bowls of whatever was for breakfast that morning. He sat her down, and then sat next to her,"Honestly, how long has it been since you had breakfast?"

"H'mm...Probably since the month we were married."

"I see... so it's not exactly something you normally do"

She shakes her head. "It really isn't...then again, I told you that."

"I know you did... but having breakfast together is a nice expierence"

She nods.

He smiled, and continued to eat his breakfast

She ate, too. They were the only ones there that early.

"It's nice in Rendelmar when it's as quiet as this... won't last long though"

In an hour or so, this place will come to life...like it always has...and like it always will.

"I wish the same could be said for SHADOW... down to thirty members... and slowly rebuilding.. ever so slowly"

But it will rebuild. Even here, we are constantly having to seek out new members...some we must kill, some die here, and others die elsewhere.

"It's difficult to find people with SHADOW... still, it should work out"

"Things always do, in the end...some way or another."

"Very true... but in any case, that's for them to work out. I'm not there for another five months at the least"

"Don't go insane. If I see signs of insanity starting from boredom, I'll enroll you in my classes, not just Vedt's. And there are three others who teach classes you might be interested in, in case that isn't enough for you."

He laughed,"Don't worry, I think I'm insane enough, so I don't think I'll be getting any worse"

So you say.

"What?" he said, poking her playfully in the ribs,"Are you thinking that I am sane?*Jokingly*You need your head testing"

"As many blows to the head as I've seen you take, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the least sane person in this city."

He laughed again, kissing her softly,"Some goods come out of it though"

She kisses him back. "Such as?"

"If I wasn't ever so slightly insane, I wouldn't have come here in the first place... and that wouldn't have been a good thing at all"

H'mmm...true.

"And I wouldn't exactly call fighting Kaelis Ra sane either"

"Destiny and sanity are two different things."

"I like to see a link between the two. Taking on Kaelis Ra was my destiny... but to do it at such a level of control as I had that could be termed slightly insane by others"

"How much control did any of the others have?"

"There are historic records, albeit very vague. They had more control than I did at the time... but also died in the process"

Then what about you was different from them, that you lived?

"I don't know... but there was something that let me survive where they did not. I don't know the details, no-one does"

Except Leviathan... and he won't tell anyone

She nods.

"I've a feeling having Aras on hand was something that aided my survival though... I owe her my life on more than one occasion"

Aras could have pulled you back if you were the barest part of an inch from death. She was powerful...is even more powerful, now.

The Minotaur roared again. He was sensitive to Poison, and his legs felt weak. He gave up on the idea of eating the lizard, took him in both hands, and proceeded to rip him in half.

And now her power is used for the very opposite... strange the way things can change

It isn't really different. She always had the power to kill. Now, she kills those whose time has come, and guides them. We are only all given one lifetime, and then we die. It is natural. She takes life, but she can also grant it.

Well, we've got a lifetime together... so we should make the most of it

"Yes, we should."

The Minotaur roared again. He was sensitive to Poison, and his legs felt weak. He gave up on the idea of eating the lizard, took him in both hands, and proceeded to rip him in half.
*Isssssssssssssss ittttttt reeeeeeeeeeallly worth thisssssssssssss?*

The lizard wiggled and squirmed, trying to pull himself out of the Minotaur's grasp. He lashed out his neck and bit him again in the arm.

*A few hours later*
Cougar was working on something new that he had discovered recently, when he became aware of a beeping in his ear. He sighed, and activated the holofield,"Cougar here"

The familar tones of Watt Tyler came into his ear,"Alright, so you can answer"

C -- I've been busy

W -- Yeah... that's why you came out of the Icarus Building the other day

C -- You were watching?

W -- No, you got picked up by another operative, told me. What happened?

C -- I went up into space, and got attacked... my memory got screwed up... Rhenna had to come and get me

W -- Sounds familar. The last part I mean.

C -- Shut up. Theres another reason for this call I presume?

W -- Mostly just social, but Barbarossa said he wants to see you about something, he wouldn't tell me what

C -- Alright, I'll give him a buzz soon. So, how are the others?

W -- Mostly fine... Matt's off on some job. Oh, did you hear?

C -- Hear what?

W -- Wolf and Matt hooked up

C -- WHAT!? WHEN?

W -- About a week ago now

C -- Bloody hell.... Wolf and Matt... chances?

W -- Pretty high, I'd say. She seems pretty smitten, and I've seen him far worse

Cougar kneaded his forehead,"My god... all of us are starting to settle down"

W -- Had to start sometime, didn't it.

C -- True... how are your kids?

W -- *smiles* Michelle turns five next month, and Laura is set to pop within the next month.

C -- Give her my best

W -- I will. Make sure you get Michelle something for her birthday

C -- I'll do my best to get it too you... the Yellowstone comes in next week, I'll send it with Captain Jerome.

W -- Cool, I'll give him a bell

C -- Good. Alright Watt, I've got to get back to work

W -- *mock salutes*Yessir, oh Chosen one

C -- Why y...

Watt signed him off mid-sentence, laughing as he did so,"Oh, I bet the sects give him a bad time"

Cougar got back to work, his mind running in about thirty different directions at once

God, these powers do have some disadvantages to it

At that point in time, Rhenna was in class, teaching some of the older students the finer points of casting a geas...a quest that the victim was bound to do, or suffer insanity.

Cougar closed his eyes, and let out the energy, harnessing it as it left his body, and focusing it into a series of devastating strikes, destroying targets at the end of the room with a beam like a laser, with the power to tear them to shreds

After a time, little, weaker bolts of power start going alongside Cougar's. They're little more than wisps of light, and miss more often than they hit.

The Minotaur died, and began to decay at an accelerated rate. The Lizard man was still in his grasp though, but it was considerably loosened

He stopped, and looked down, seeing a familar Drow child next to him,"Hello Monian"

The Minotaur died, and began to decay at an accelerated rate. The Lizard man was still in his grasp though, but it was considerably loosened
The Lizard man wiggled free, then shook himself. Ouch. He then looked for a clue as to the next way to go.

He stopped, and looked down, seeing a familar Drow child next to him,"Hello Monian"
"Hello, Cougar."

"Hello, Cougar."

He crouched to put his eyes on a level with the childs,"And how have you been?"

"Okay. What about you?"

"I've been alright... your Common has improved"

"Been working with Shan."

"Working with Shan... a scary idea to say the least*gestures*wanted to play as well, hmm?"

"Yep." ^_^

He stood up, and put his hand at Monain's head height,"You've grown as well"

"Yep." Monian pushes himself up on his tiptoes. "Am tall now."

Cougar couldn't help but laugh,"You can't be the same kid that came here, what have you done with the real Monian?"

*Looks around.* "Am him. Or he disappeared."

"Rivvil humour is lost on you, no?"

"What is a rivvil humor?"

"A joke told by humans, not understood by Drow"

"Oh. Okay. Joke understood...Drow humor lost on Cougar."

Cougar smiled, and sat down,"Yes... Drow humour is lost on Cougar. Do you have classes with Rhenna?"

"No. Not for a few years."

"Who does teach you then? I know Vrasha teaches young ones"

"Vrasha, and Tari, and Shan. But Tari not here now."

"No, Tari's gone to Aust I think... cannot remember why. She will be back"

"Oh. Okay. When?"

The Lizard man sees a strange and unusual machine at the end of the hall, quite possibly unlike any ever seen before. It seems as a giant metal box with various sharp pointy rods sticking out of it. What could it be? what could its function and purpose be? The lizard man would definatly be able to sense a trap in that direction. on either side of the machine sat a pair of highly ornate doors.

OOC: gotta go make dinner all. cya tomorrow.

"Oh. Okay. When?"

He smiled,"I don't know... but she will return here, if only to check up on you"

The Lizard man sees a strange and unusual machine at the end of the hall, quite possibly unlike any ever seen before. It seems as a giant metal box with various sharp pointy rods sticking out of it. What could it be? what could its function and purpose be? The lizard man would definatly be able to sense a trap in that direction. on either side of the machine sat a pair of highly ornate doors.

OOC: gotta go make dinner all. cya tomorrow.
Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssoooooooo...thisssssssssssss issssssssssss where Iiiiiiiiiii goooooooooooooo.

He scurries along, stopping to glance at the doors while keeping an eye on the machine.

He smiled,"I don't know... but she will return here, if only to check up on you"
"Oh. O-kay."

"Oh. O-kay."

Cougar laughed softly,"So tell me, what have you learned in this year?"

Little bits of magick. Not much.

"Why don't you show me?"

What want to see?

"Show me everything you've learned"

"Light tricks." ^_^ He casts various (little) forms of light spells. "Not make anything blow up like yours."

"It's better than I could do when I started, I'll tell you that... Renor started teaching me, and I destroyed things"

"Learn destructive spells age thirty. No sooner."

"I can imagine... I cannot do light tricks like you though"

"Why not? Fire is light."

"I could try... but I find it difficult"

He brought a small amount of fire into his palm, seperating it into three orbs and juggling it,"Don't think this counts though"

His act gains a peal of laughter from the small boy.

"Have you never learned how to juggle Monian? Do you want to?"

"Never learned. But will try."

"Alright, I've got time to spare, I'll teach you"

Cougar conjured up three juggling balls into his hands, and tossed one to Monian,"Start with one... then we'll move you up"

He showed Monian the basic technique, going through it twice,"Now you try"

Monian tossed the ball a couple of times, then dropped it when he went to catch it. He looks down at the ball, then almost comically, he looks back up at Cougar.

Cougar couldn't help but laugh,"Come on, try again. You know you can do it"

So, he picks it up and tries again. He drops it after the fourth try.

Cougar smiled,"Watch what I do"

He threw the ball up and curved it so that he caught it in his other hand, then repeated the procedure the other way,"Just do what I do"

Monian tries, but it takes him a few times to get the hang of it.

OOC: Sad to say, but Drizzt Do'Urden he's not.

OOC: That means nothing to me

IC: Cougar watched as Monian managed to get it,"Well done... think you can manage two?"

"Ummmm...maybe......"

Cougar conjured up another ball, and passed it to Monian,"Now, do what I do"

He basically did the same thing again, but the balls started in opposite hands, and were both thrown at the same time, caught in the other hand, creating a circle in the long run

Monian took the balls, hoped for the best, and tossed them. They wound up going to opposite sides of the room.

Cougar summoned both balls back to him, and gave them back to Monian,"Don't worry, everyone finds this difficult to start with. Try again"

Monian takes them, then tosses the first, and while it's still in the air, he tosses the second, managing a staggered kind of pattern...for all of two turns, before they go off again.

"Getting better," he said, summoning them and returning them once more,"I'll do it with you, see if that helps"

Okay.

Cougar started juggling the two he had in his hands,"Alright, now join in with me"

"How?"

"Just do what I do"

*Tries to*

Cougar smiled,Rhenna was right... teaching is rewarding

"Having trouble?"

"Some."

The Machine glows, and an automated Illusion, not Hologram, but magical Illusion, fires from its depths.

The Executioner appears.

"Well, well, well. Congratulations on makeing it this far. I am going to tell you a few things, then disappear.

first off, behind one of these two ornatye doors, is Lord Kajeenith. Behind the other, is a warp to a black hole. Both rooms will look exactly the same when you open them, but even stepping a single foot into them, well seal your fate, whatever that might be.

Secondly, this is a magic machine, A magic machine is a machine, commonly known as a computer, that has a large battery of magic in it. The computer inside has been programmed with a wide variety of spells, none of them benifical, to you.

By defeating the Minotaur and progressing to this point, you have activated this machine. There is no escape, and your demise is envitable, unless you escape through Kajeenith's door.

I would wish you good luck, but that would be quite pointless, as none have gotten to kajeenith, ever. Are you powerful enough to be the first?" The Illusion of the executioner asked. It disappeared.

The machine crackled, hummed and levitated. Then, as energy shot down the spikes, a large fireball shot fown the hallway.

OOC: so, which do you choose? Left? Or Right? it is quite a predicament. Poor lizard man doesn't even have that much time to choose. Its a real headbanger I know, but I'm sure you'll grunge on through and figure it out.
By the way, I left you the answer in a cryptic manner whilst I wrote this, but I'm sure you have a smile, because you've already figured it out and have written your choice...

I would say good luck, but you really don't need it, I know your too smart for me. :)

"Some."

"It's alright, I found it difficult when I learnt to do this."

"How long does it take?"

"As long as it takes"

"Oh."

Cougar smiled at the look on Monian's face,"Don't worry if you don't get it at first... somehow I doubt Shan got it at first, and look at him now"

"Never seen Shan juggle. Just bounce."

"I'm sure he can juggle... but in any case, care to try again?"

"Okay."

"Alright... now, follow me and do what I do"

Cougar took two of the balls, and began to juggle them slowly, as he had done before

Monian starts, then one ball goes way out of its intended course. The child reaches out to grab it, and the other ball misses his hand. As he fumbles to catch the second, both are dropped. Frustrated, he picks them back up.

Cougad had known this was going to be difficult, so he didn't loose his cool. Instead, he ruffled Monian's hair,"You're too tense... loosen up, and it will come to you easier"

"Loosen up how?"

Your muscles are very tense, you're holding yourself very rigidly... it doesn't help any

The child sat down for a moment, and closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath, let it out, and stood.

"Okay."

Cougar watched him, and smiled,"Alright. Try once again"

He did. One...two...three...four...Drop!

He picked them back up...got up to five.

"This is going to take a long time."

"It always takes time to learn something new"

"I guess."

"It's alright to fail at first... I know I've done it in most things"

"Really?"

"Yep... no-one gets it right the first time"

"Oh. Okay."

"C'mon, try again"

He does so. (It's going to take him a couple of hours to finally get that (shakily) down)

Cougar watched the kid try, and try, and try,"You've got the right idea now... just keep going"

He does...takes him a full five minutes to drop one.

"See? You can do it, when you put your mind to it"

"I was trying before I got it."

"So, you can do it. Show me again"

He does.

"Good boy.. you've learned well. You should be proud of yourself"

"It's hard."

"Of course it's hard... that's why you should be proud of yourself"

"Oh." ^_^

"You've done well Monian... well there you have it... it's almost dinner time"

"What time?"

"About five in the afternoon at the moment"

"Oh. How you know?"

Cougar held up his wrist,"I have this. It's called a watch, something humans use to tell time"

Monian stands on his tiptoes to get a look at the watch. "Weird. Never seen one before."

"You've only ever soon one human, so it's no surprise that you haven't seen one"

"True."

"So, you want to get something to eat?"

"Yeah!"

Cougar laughed,"Me too... lets go"

Monian picks the balls back up and starts walking off.

Cougar took him to the canteen, sat him down, and pulled over two plates of that nights dish,"Tuck in"

"What's that mean?"

"Start eating"

"Oh. Okay."

Completely ignoring eating utensils, the child reaches at the plate and grabs something, putting it in his mouth.

Cougar stopped, the food halfway to his mouth,"Not being picky, but haven't you heard of table manners?2

"Yes. But forks too big."

"Carry on then"

Rhenna joins them with a plate of her own.

"I see you've made a friend, James...but now you see why we generally feed the little ones separate, with foods that are more easily held."

"It's funny to watch him try... poor kid, he's just learned how to juggle"

She smiles. "Your doing?"

He grinned,"Well, why not?"

"That would have been very difficult, him being so little."

"It took sometime, yes. But, he managed it... somewhat. He got the basic idea very quickly though"

"I'm not surprised. It sounds like you had a good day, long though it may have been."

"I did have a good day, surprisenly enough.. what about yours"

"It was just an average day."

"Is there an average day in Rendelmar?"

"In Rendelmar, almost every day is average."

He smiled,"If you say so"

"What would you consider an average day?"

"Not sure... I don't think I've ever lived an average day"

"Then let me phrase it like this: What sort of day is average for you?"

He thought about this,"Not actually quite sure, if I'm honest with you"

"I see."

He laughed, and squeezed her hand softly,"There you go then"

She laughs, then goes over and picks up Monian.

"I'm going to go get him cleaned up some. I'll see you later." She walks over to him, then leans down and kisses him, before leaving.

"Alright, see you later," kissing her back,"You too Monian"

M -- Bye!

Cougar smiled as he watched the kid get taken away to be cleaned up. He finished his own meal, and left the canteen, returning to the room to get some work done there

Rhenna comes in after about an hour, and sits down on the bed.

"I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon...I should only be gone for a few days."

He looked up from his work, and smiled slightly,"Alright.. at least you got the chance to tell me this time"

"I would have told you last time, if I'd had that ability."

"I know you would've, but it doesn't matter"

"I suppose not."

He closed the file, and moved closer to her, rubbing her back,"Seem tense"

"Maybe a little." She sat there, enjoying his touch.

"What's up?" he asked, moving slowly over the areas he found most resistance

"Nothing I can tell you about, unfortunately."

"I understand... somethings have to be kept secret". He moved his hands slightly lower, to an area he knew she enjoyed

Her eyes close halfway. "That feels good."

He smiled, and put his head over her shoulder, whispering,"Glad to be of service"

She turns her head to kiss him. "I love you."

He kissed her back,"That was unexpected... nice, but unexpected all the same. It's not something you normally say. What brought that out?"

"Does a woman need a reason to tell her husband she loves him?"

He smiled,"Of course she doesn't... just like I would like to say you look beautiful"

She smiles. "That is kind of funny to hear, after just having given a hyperactive toddler a bath."

"Ah... well, you do. He's kinda cute really"

"Yes, he is. Most are at that age, but that one reminds me a lot of Shan."

"Why does that worry me?"

She laughs. "I don't see why it should. Shan's a good kid, for the most part."

"Are we talking about the same kid?"

"I thought we were. Why, has Shan suddenly become a behavior problem?"

Cougar laughed,"No... but another Shan is a slightly worrying prospect"

"I don't think so."

"Ah well, it doesn't matter a great deal. Monian and Shan are both good kids," he said, still rubbing her back

She nods, starting to feel comfortable.

He smiled as he felt her relax under his massage, and continued to do so

"I'll be glad to get home...tis is one job I'd really rather not go on."

"I know that now... I'm sure you'll be fine"

She nods. "It can't have been deemed 'impossible,' because either Renor or Vedt would have taken it then. It's better to be the left hand, in some situations."

"Nothing is ever truly impossible...still, I see your point in the matter"

She turns slightly to rest her head on his shoulder.

he smiled, and just sat there with her, comfortably enjoying the moment

"What are you planning on doing for the next few days?"

"Same old, same old. I've got to find something to give to Watt's daughter for her birthday, but other than that... not much really"

"How old will she be?"

Five this year

"H'mmm...you won't find anything suitable for a five year old here...you might want to consider goiing up to Che'el."

"I proberly will... I'll find something"

She nods.

"It's going to be quieter without you here"

"I'll be back before you know it."

Why do I have a bad feeling about this

"I'm sure the time will just fly by"

"That's the spirit." She tilts her head up a bit to kiss him.

His hands moved round to her waist, resting there lightly, as he kissed her back, letting it linger slightly before pulling away, but still staying close to her

She cuddles closer, glad to be warm before she had to leave.

He took her hands in his, and then linked his hands together in front of her, smiling as he did so

She smiles at him. "I'm going to miss you."

"I know you are, I'm gonna miss you too... but such is life I'm afriad."

She smiles. "If the life is our, yes."