• New Everlight – Part 3

    New Everlight – Part 3

    World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)

    The room was quiet except for the initial pop I heard before standing in near the back wall with several glittering purple portals that hummed with magic. The room was mostly white with accents of purple lighting to highlight the glimmering portals in the room. A large polished reception desk sat in the middle of the room with an ethereal figure sitting behind it. Her scarves floated and twisted around her on unseen currents.

    She smiled at me with piercing green eyes behind a thin frame of glasses that made her look sorta like an owl. Though she had a smile on her lips she glared at me.

    “Welcome,” she said with a soft voice like she was talking in a library. “Your party will soon arrive.”

    “My party?” I asked.

    “Of course. You can’t be expected to do this alone. He should be alone any moment. The show’s about to begin.”

    “The show?”

    “You are full of questions, aren’t you?” She held her finger up in front of her lips and shushed me. “Shhh, I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”

    A bell tolled and there was another pop. Standing next to me in the moment was a man dressed in all black looking like he’d come from some alternative rock show. I didn’t give him a good look before I turned to him with a bright smile. His eyes were a piercing ice blue that made my heart melt and other things wake up as I placed my long fingers on his clean shaven face and leaned in and kissed him.

    The initial touch of our lips sparked but I leaned into it further and the man on the other side opened his mouth to gasp in surprise. Music started playing, the acoustic guitar serenading our kiss.

    Another disembodied voice began over the music. “Woah, looks like we have a hit here! Welcome to the Interdimensional Reality Entertainment Program. We are happy to have two new participants. Nox and Alex, and it seems they are hitting it off right off the bad. Let’s not interrupt them.” The voice was was like silk on a bed, flowed over you with ease and warmth. It carried the promise of a very entertaining night. Though I wasn’t certain I liked that there was someone watching me all the time.

    Alex pulled back with a chuckle. “Like that wasn’t an interruption.” He looked around seeing who might be watching.

    “I don’t think there are cameras as we know it.” The walls and ceiling were plain white. But on the plain white while facing the full length windows was a projection with projection of pair of purple lips speaking all Max Head Room style.

    Alex guffawed. “From one fucking frying pan into another.” He rolled his eyes.

    “I’m Nox.” I said offering my hand and ignoring the rest of the things going on.

    “No fucking shit.” Alex smirked. “Because I’m Alex.”

    “No really?” I laughed with a bright smile.

    Alex rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his inky black hair. “Alright, I shouldn’t be angry with you.”

    “It’s okay if you are. I did kiss you.”

    “Why did you kiss me?” Alex asked.

    “A flaming purple phoenix asked me to. As payment for keeping me alive today.”

    “You spoke to someone?”

    “Sorta. But not really. Made a pact with a devil, I guess.”

    “I didn’t sign my soul away.” Alex chirped.

    “You weren’t about to die.”

    “I sure the fuck was. Hit by a fucking car.”

    I dropped my gaze to the floor and nodded. “But when you stepped out of the portal and time started to flow normally, you weren’t going to be hit by the car. I would have died once time started flowing again.”

    “I don’t understand.”

    I sighed. “My heart gave out. I could feel it standing in that void. The end, the knowing. I didn’t need them to show me how I was going to die, I knew already. I knew there was no saving me. I was dead no matter what.”

    “So what? This devil healed you? Doubtful.”

    I shook my head. “No, but it’s keeping me in a state of existence, of ease, of freedom I’ve never had. As long as I do as it asks.”

    “Dead or favors. But you don’t know if you’d have died, they saved us didn’t they?”

    I shrugged. “You took a deal to continue living. I have two, why take the chance. The other options didn’t guarantee me I’d be defect free.”

    “I suppose.” Alex grinned. He took a step back and looked me over. I had been on my way to a rehearsal, I wasn’t dressed in anything special, my jeans were carefully ripped, the heather grey t-shirt I wore underneath the red hoodie was untucked and visible with the hoodie since at my waist. “At least I got a pretty boy to keep me company.”

    I blushed biting my bottom lip. I looked up at him with a shy smile. “I suppose I could do worse.” I said with a wink. He was hot, and familiar. He wore all black except for the t-shirt underneath the faux leather jacket. His jeans were black and buckles, zippers and pockets which were probably all just decoration. His black combat boots sported chains. He was a rockstar.

    A rockstar. Not really my scene, but I’d done some music videos for rockstars, though I’d have remembered him, if I’d been in a video. His eyes and his lips drew more of my attention. I wanted to kiss him again.

    “I’m sorry about the kiss.” I mumbled.

    Alex chuckled. “Why? It was good.”

    I laughed. “Could have been better.”

    Alex opened his mouth but the lady behind the reception desk cleared her throat loudly. “If I can draw your attention…” she said in a hushed roar. You know that voice librarian’s used when you were being too loud and they wanted to yell at you — that was the voice she used even though there was absolutely no reason to be quiet in a nearly empty room. There were literally only three of us.

    The Whole Story

  • New Everlight – Part 2

    New Everlight – Part 2

    World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)

    Sweat poured down the back of my neck, normally the heat of the stage didn’t bother me. Tonight was different, even the cool air wasn’t enough to keep the sweat from dripping. And it didn’t help that the lights were ten times brighter and hotter than usual. Or that there was an impending threat on my life. But I couldn’t cower away at home at let the dickheads win.

    With every fiery combustion from the set I jumped, so did the rest of the team. But it wasn’t what we should have been afraid of in hindsight. The night wound down without incident. Backstage had been calm until a mass riot was started and the crowd pushed passed the security guards. No one knew what had insighted the riot, they only ushered me out of the area as quickly as possible.

    But not as fast as we should have. Me and my body guards had to make a run for it. The crowd was gaining faster, and coming from multiple directions. Trey ran across the street first, Alonzo rushed me over the street, but even with my combat boots the black ice was too much for me and I slipped head first into the curb. We didn’t even see the blaring light as it raced towards us. I was done for no matter what happened.

    I was grateful for the blinding purple light. I didn’t have to see what happened next, but I felt it. My body twisted and turned. The pain was unbearable and I screamed. But then it stopped and I stood in the middle of utter darkness. There was no pain — no light only a disembodied voice.

    “You have been chosen.”

    As the words filled my ears, knowledge flooded my mind. I was being given a choice, participate or die. The vision of my death seared my eyelids and I tried to push the images away. “I don’t want to see that.”

    The voice commanded. “Choose.”

    Light and objects begin to radiate all around me. Each one different, and each one spoke of things I didn’t quite understand. The guitar in sheen black and the embellished flames more than spoke to me — it was me. I felt it more than anything else. There was no hesitation as I grabbed the neck of the guitar and it imparted its vast knowledge unto me.

    The other artifacts faded and I was left standing in a boring hotel room. The standard bed, TV stand with flat screen, and a desk in the corner.

    The feeling of otherworldliness left me with the knowledge of how to control this space. How to enter, leave and decorate the space. The space had one rule, I listened and nodded as it told me I couldn’t take anything out except that which I brought in. But I didn’t care. Anything I wanted? That was a lot of power.

    I thought up the most extravagant room I could think up. I’d never personally been there but I’d seen it. The ceiling was gilded in gold two foot by two foot panels depicting ancient sex scenes of the Greek Era. Navy blue drapes with gold embroidery and tassels covered the walls. A large portrait of some famous scene hung behind the bed that took up the whole room covered in blue velvet comforter and way too many pillows all gilded and embroidered. But if it was anything like I dreamed of the pillows I’d sleep on would be fluffy little clouds like the mattress and satin sheets so soft and warm that I would melt into the bed. I couldn’t wait to give it a try.

    But there was this nagging feeling that I had to move out of here or they might kill me just because I was boring. And I wasn’t boring.

    They’d said how to leave. I felt it with in myself but how I knew I couldn’t really say. But the word I knew. “Leave.”

    My entire body felt small and warped before I stood in the middle of a sterile room with the buzz of magic all around.

    The Whole Story

  • New Everlight – Part 1

    New Everlight – Part 1

    World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)

    It was just an ordinary day. Same things going on as usual. My heart was feeling a bit heavy, but nothing out of the ordinary. The streets were busy as I hung up the phone with my Dad. I’d called to wish him a happy birthday and to tell him I’d be late for dinner. The cross walk lit up green and as I stepped off the curb, a pain in my chest filled my vision with a blinding purple light as I collapsed to the ground.

    My body twisted and turned and the pain lanced through my body leaving the feeling of impending doom. This was it. I was done for. My life spiraling to a complete stop in the utter blackness after the light faded, just as quickly as it had come.

    I was dead? In the utter darkness the pain subsided and a voice echoed all around me. “You have been chosen.”

    As the words filled my ears, knowledge flooded my mind. I was being given a choice, participate or die. A vision of my death passed before my eyes like watching it on a TV screen. I fall to the ground. The paramedics arrive. After what I can only say is moments, but no telling how fast time is moving in the vision with everyone standing so still, I’m lifted on to the gurney with a white sheet covering my face. I’m dead.

    With he feeling and knowledge left by the voice I know that if I use the door with the blinking Exit sign, that is my fate. I’m dead — forever.

    The voice echoes again, like it’s all around me but there is nothing but blackness of the voice. “Choose.”

    Again there are things I just know as the words reverberate in my soul.

    Light and objects begin to radiate all around me. Each one different, and each one singing songs of what it can offer me when I look at it.

    I reach out to touch one, but jerk my hand back knowing that if I touch one, I’m forever bound by it.

    Seven objects floated in a ray of light all their own. A slick black guitar with flames radiating from the base promised deadly musical talents. A gleaming sword with untold power promised to avenge all those that wronged me. The glittering blow with strings of fire and ice, a shifting shadow cloak, A thick leather jerkin and a sparling ring all promised some other variant of justice, and power. But it was the simple scroll with purple flames flickering around it that called to me.

    “I’ll save you.”

    I approached it and the flames around the scroll formed the visage of a bird, with glowing purple eyes. “Sign and I will grant you a normal life — defect free, no medication, free from your fear.”

    I stepped closer and the flames grew bigger and brighter. “And what do I have to do in return?” I asked.

    “Nothing. Nothing more than a favor when I ask it of you.”

    “Just one?” I sounded skeptical.

    The flames rustled in amusement. “Just one for everyday you live.” The flames sparked, “But I won’t ask for more than one a day, and not everyday. It is fair, is it not?”

    “What kinds of favors?”

    “Today. I ask that you kiss…” the flaming eyes buried deep into my soul and a smile splayed across its beak, “Kiss the first man you see upon exit of this realm. Give me a reason, let me feel the touch of another.”

    “You aren’t going to ask me to kiss some stranger all the time.”

    It chuckled. “No. Just today. Tomorrow I could ask you to kill a foe.” The bird shrugged its wings. “I do not know. You live, I ask. I’ll add in an extra bit. I will allow you to reject my offer three times. On the forth, you will return to your life — dead. Dead. Dead.”

    The flames winked out and only the scroll remained. I looked at the others still floating innocuously near by. They didn’t promise me a healthy life — they didn’t promise me my hearts desire. I grabbed the scroll and it pricked my hand as I wrapped my fingers around it. Blood flowed to the parchment and my name appeared at the bottom.

    Power lurched in my body and a mysterious mist enveloped the area. The other artifacts faded and I was left standing in a room. It wasn’t huge or small, and is was nothing different from a simple hotel room.

    The feeling of otherworldliness left me with the knowledge of how to control this space. How I can enter, leave and make this place my own. The only rule: You may not take with you anything created here, only what you bring in may you take out.

    And with a thought, the room transforms into my bedroom at home — at least what would work here. A chest of drawers for clothes and things, my bed in all its comforts of home, and the same desk upon which was here when the room formed. I had little need for one and it simple vanished from sight with a thought.

    I sat down on the bed and felt myself for the first time. I felt light — lighter than I ever remembered. And all I had to do now was kiss a boy. I wondered how hard that would be.

    I looked around one last time before standing and spoke the single word. “Leave.”

    There was a pop and I felt like my entire bodied squeezed into the size of a pea and appeared in a blinding flash of light in a white nearly sterile room with clean lines and the buzz of magic all around.

    The Whole Story

  • NaNoWriMo

    NaNoWriMo

    Another start to another project. Nothing is sticking, but that’s what you get when your writer lets you drive the train. I’m a train wreck after all.

    Anyway, we are doing NaNoWriMo, and we’ve already started. For those who don’t already know NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It spans all of November where writers all over the world gather and commit to writing 50K words in 30 days. It’s great for setting a deadline, and creating a writing habit. It can be stressful too. But we try not to let it work against us.

    We are going to start posting now and you can follow along. We are still doing the random train. We will try to post all our content for you, but we will post the scenes we write. Might get more than one a day, might not. Since AJ will be using AI for ‘descriptions’ and stuff for places and people we won’t be posting them. But if you are interested AJ can checkout the dropbox folder so you can see all the wiki lore, dice rolls etc. We only plan on posting the story (as that’s all we are using for NaNoWriMo)

    We’ll start posting tomorrow!

  • Not Dead!

    Not Dead!

    Alex and I aren’t dead. Our story isn’t dead.

    AJ found Baldur’s Gate 3 and has been in a spiral of BG3 games and content and totally not letting me live my life in my world. Instead I’ve been loving every second of watching first the Half-Elven warlock beat the game while romancing a flirty and flamboyant vampire.

    The fam has also decided to play and they are running through a campaign on the weekends now.

    AJ’s current play through started as a straight up Paladin with an Oath of Vengeance, but is now running only 2 levels in Paladin, 5 in warlock and 3 in bard for some extra versatility. The rest will all go into Paladin I’m told. He too is romancing the vampire, but he did try Shadowheart and when he had the option of the Druid scene he had Karlach in the running too, so no idea what’s really goin on there mates.

    But AJ is headlong into BG3. Even thinking up possible characters and backstories for her Paladin/Warlock combination since it’s slightly against one another. But it is fun.

    AJ says the next solo play through will be as Astarion. Won’t it be sweet! He’s so fun, though we will highly miss the voice actor as he’ll become silent. That will be sad. It’s bad when AJ starts hunting fanfiction!

  • The Book – Part 14

    The Book – Part 14

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Evening

    Fucking hell this boy was gonna run me dry. And I loved it. He was so fucking hot. We ate our ramen when it came and he sipped at his water. We chatted about music. He loved dance music and gay boys, 80s glam and rock ballads. His playlists were littered with classical and ballet, even jazz and the roaring 20s. This boy loved dancing to everything it seemed. He moved like a dancer. And he was a trained killer too. Fucking damn. I couldn’t wait to get him in bed.

    He ordered a cup of coffee and no desert while I drank my own coffee with a simple desert. Nox watched as I ate, and he talked about a crepe with a berry compote. I interrupted him. “You are telling me you can make this crepe with berry compote?”

    He grinned. “I can. And I can make a better ramen than this. And probably a steak better than the best joint in town.”

    “That sounds like a lot of bragging for a Venatori hunter.”

    “I had a lot of time on my hand.”

    “You’ll have to prove that. Breakfast?”

    Nox smiled. “Now who’s teasing.”

    I stood up and dropped money on the table that covered the bill and the check and he shook his head. “I can help you know?”

    “Next time, pretty boy. And I’m not teasing you. Straight up stating a fact. You are going to take me out for a drink. We are going to scout out your little club for the night. And then I’m going to take you home.” I grabbed his arm and he stood up and I whispered into his ear. “I’m going to fuck you in the living room before we get to the bedroom. We’ll grab a shower, hit the bed and then in the morning, you are going to make me some fucking crepes and berry compote.”

    “Okay.” He said breathlessly. His entire body shuttered with pleasure and relief.

    Q: Anything happen on their way or inline?
    (1d20+0: [15]+0 = 15)
    Yes

    Q: In line?
    (1d20+0: [5]+0 = 5)
    No

    Q: Are they attacked?
    (1d20+0: [11]+0 = 11)
    Yes, but Carry, Weakness, Animal droppings

    Q: A venatori?
    (1d20+0: [12]+0 = 12)
    Yes, but Rites, Rainbow, Disastrous

    Q: is Jace with them?
    (1d20+0: [9]+0 = 9)
    No, but Shelter, River, Force

    Q: Is there more than one?
    (1d20+0: [8]+0 = 8)
    No, but Fetid, Success, Rainbow

    [!danger] NPC
    L6 Vengeful Venatori who Slays Monsters
    HP 30, damage 9
    loot: 2 inexpensive items

    Initiative:

    • Venatori – 18
    • Alex – 1d20: [13] = 13
    • Nox – 1d20: [17] = 17

    Round 1

    Venatori attacks Nox
    Q: Speed Defense (eased) (15)
    (1d20: [15] = 15)
    Success
    Developer: NPC Inhibitor
    Glitter, Persistent, Henchman
    (1d20: [17] = 17)
    Miss

    Nox casts onslaught (force)
    Q: Attack with Onslaught (15)
    (1d20: [7] = 7)
    Fail
    Developer: But…
    River, Proposal, Lounge
    (1d20: [8] = 8)
    Miss
    Chaotic Aura: 1d20: [11] = 11 -> A Bright Light Bathes the Area in Radiance

    Alex Steals the Venatori’s Dream
    Q: Alex steals a dream (eased) (15)
    (1d20: [13] = 13)
    Fail
    Developer: Find 1d6 Cyphers
    Miss
    Chaotic Aura: 1d20: [20] = 20 -> All Cyphers in an immediate distance randomly change

    We walked to Frozen. It was no farther than walking to my car the other night, but somehow it felt shorter. I suppose having a pretty boy next to me who I wanted more than anything I’d wanted in a very long time didn’t help the flux of time. It also felt way too long before I could get him home and carry out my plans.

    Nox tensed as we walked past a man. I saw the crossed swords tattoo just a moment before Nox dodged out of the way of the man’s sword. A fucking sword, where the fuck did that come from.

    In his movement, Nox did something and it whistled past the Venatori who attacked. The night sky light up like someone shown a spot light on us. What the fuck.

    I tried to steal a vulnerability but everything was happening too fast and it slipped through my fingers.

    There was a loud pop and Nox shouted. “Fuck!”

    Round 2

    Venatori attacks Nox
    Q: Speed Defense (eased) (15)
    (1d20: [10] = 10)
    Fail
    Developer: But…
    Bell, Gold, Shoe
    (1d20: [8] = 8)
    Nox takes 9 damage

    Nox casts Enduring Shield on Alex
    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [15] = 15 -> A Mysterious Mist Envelops the Area

    Alex tries Dream Thief again
    Q: Dream Thief (eased) (15)
    (1d20: [13] = 13)
    Fail
    Developer: GM Intrusion: +1XP
    Music, Oppress, Gamble
    (1d20: [12] = 12)
    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [14] = 14 -> An Unusual Animal Appears and Observes You

    The Venatori swings again at Nox and the blade slices across his arm and chest and blood begins to ooze from the wound. But it doesn’t hinder Nox as he reaches out and grabs my shoulder and a warm tingling sensation envelopes my body.

    A fog begins to roll in from nowhere and before my vision is obscured I try to grab another dream but his mind is slippery and I’m unable to grasp anything at all.

    In the fog, a pair of red eyes pierces the fog. What the fuck!

    Round 3:

    Venatori runs away with impaired vision.

    Recovery Rolls:

    • Nox : 1d6+1: [5]+1 = 6
      Chaos Aura: 1d20: [5] = 5 -> All Water Within 30ft Turns to Ice

    Nox grabbed my hand and we stood back to back waiting for an attack that never came. “Who the fuck was that?” I asked.

    Nox shrugged. “I don’t know. Venatori. I was informed that there was probably an unofficial kill order out on me.”

    “Why? What the fuck did you do?” I turned to look at him and only saw the peircing red eyes of an animal peering through the fog. “Let’s get out of here, this fog is creepy. Fucking eyes.”

    Nox laughed. “Sorry.”

    “Wait that’s all your fucked up magic?”

    I nodded. “Yep.” He took my hand and we walked a few steps out of the fog in the direction of Frozen and the fog was gone.

    “Fuck!” A cold chill wrapped around my body, and the puddle in the street gutter froze. I looked at Nox, he looked better. I swore he was bleeding much more than that.

    “You okay? I thought…”

    Nox nodded. “A minor wound.” He grinned. “Healing magic, sorta.”

    “That freezes water.”

    “Magic.” He said. “One of the side effects.”

    “Ah.” I said like I understood. “Still up for some recon?”

    Nox nodded. “Yeah. You?”

    I nodded. “Yeah. I think I need that drink.”

    “I’m sorry you got brought into that.”

    “I’m just glad you are okay.” I said.

    He grinned. “I’ll be fine.”

  • The Book – Part 13

    The Book – Part 13

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Evening

    We drove south east through Elysium. I actually got to sight see as we drove. The Church of the Damned passed on the right as we turned towards the Enclave. The church was much the same as the one in New York. Though probably it was the other way around, as this was the original. If you didn’t know better you’d think it was a Catholic church and not a church that worshiped vampires.

    Alex chuckled as I stared out the window. “First time?”

    “Outside of New York, absolutely.”

    “A virgin. I like it. Maybe I’ll break that cherry on Wednesday.”

    I bit my lips and pulled them in trying not to laugh. Though I know there was a reddening of my ears and neck. It wasn’t embarrassment. Sex wasn’t something I was ashamed of, but knowing we were definitely on the same page made me blush.

    “Too easy.”

    I laughed. “You have absolutely no idea.”

    “I think I do.” Alex said with a smirk.

    We drove past Frozen, the line was already wrapping around the building. “Looks like we’ll be waiting in line.”

    “Only if you want to.” Alex grinned.

    “If it’s magic, we should probably not do it.” I put my hands together and blew them apart making an explosion sound.

    Alex nodded. “I keep forgetting about that.”

    “I can try to avoid it, but it costs me.” I said. “Seems pointless, when we can stand in line and flirt, maybe make out some like everyone else.” I licked my lips in anticipation.

    Alex growled. “Okay food. We can walk across the street from the garage.”

    We parked in the garage, Alex chose a place in a corner where his car was safe from other cars. “Stay here.” He said as he got out of the car and came around to open my door.

    I slid out of the low seat and stood in front of him with the door between us. I bit my lip and smiled at him through the gesture. “We might not make it long tonight.” I said stepping away from the car.

    Alex chuckled and closed the door behind me. “You might be right. Those pants glued on?”

    “You could find out.” I teased.

    Alex growled and caught up to me grabbing my hand and squeezed my fingers. “You are a fucking tease.”

    “I’m not teasing. Just reminding you what’s on the table as the third date.”

    “Fuck me.” Alex muttered.

    “Maybe later.”

    “Okay.” Alex had enough, he stopped me near the cement pillar and pushed me up against it and pressed his lips to mine. I let out a small moan and he slipped his tongue over my bottom lip and the kiss deepened. My hand went behind his neck pulling him tighter against my lips pushing his tongue deeper.

    Moments passed. Alex’s fingers were digging into my hip when his stomach rumbled very loudly interrupting our kiss. Alex’s face was so close we were breathing the same air. He grinned. “I’m hungry.”

    “I noticed. All sorts of hungers. Shall we eat, go grab a drink at Frozen and do some looking, and then…”

    “Back to my place, since your brother is at yours?”

    “Sounds like a plan.”

    “One thing?” Alex asked. and I hummed in response. He leaned in and whispered, “Stop teasing me.”

    I laughed. “I can’t promise anything. But I’ll try.” I slipped past Alex and took his hand as I did and lead him the way we’d been going.

    The restaurant across the street had a pink sign with pink flower petals fluttering down on the screen. “Sakura Garden.” I said.

    “It’s great.”

    We headed inside. It was a quintessential Japenese restaurant. It smelled like one too, it wasn’t unpleasant but I wasn’t a fan of Japenese food. Mostly because the places served shellfish.

    “Kennedy,” Alex said to the hostess.

    “Right this way.”

    We followed and were sat down. Alex ordered some white wine. He frowned when he looked over the menu at me. “Not a fan.”

    “I know what I want.”

    Alex smirked and set his menu down. “What are you having?”

    “I will have the Ramen if it’s not seafood based.”

    “Chicken or Vegetable stock can be used.”

    “No shellfish at all.” I said. “Unless you want to be the avatar of my death. Highly allergic. That was a fun revelation.”

    Alex nodded. “Honey. Bees too, not that I’ve been stung by them often, only once. But honey nearly killed me as a kid.”

    “I will keep that in mind. Anything else you are deathly allergic to? Latex, leather? Glycerin, parabens? Red dye #4?” I asked.

    Alex laughed. He leaned forward, “Are you?”

    I shook my head. “Just making sure. Didn’t want to play and find out we were about to invest in an ambulance ride naked.”

    “What did I ask you?”

    I grinned. “Not to tease you.”

    “And?”

    “I’m not going to apologize. It’s not my fault you get turned on by common words and phrases.”

    “Uh huh.” Alex couldn’t take his eyes off me.

    “I like your shirt.” I said. “But the answer to that is, no fucking way.”

    “You are the most evil man I have ever met.”

    “Not evil. Fucking turned on.” I admitted.

    The young man who was our server blushed as he walked in on the tail end of our conversation.

    Alex smiled, “See you are embarrassing Ed here.”

    “That’s because Ed grew up in a world where sex was not talked about.” I sat back. “You and I both know that’s not how we were raised.”

    Ed’s ears were fire red and he cleared his throat twice before he was able to speak. “What can I get you?”

    I wanted to quick but Alex gave me that look that said shut up. So I did.

    “We’ll have two ramen bowls, no seafood of any kind and make sure that none of it touches, we have a seafood allergy at the table and we’d hate to have an allergic reaction. Chicken broth preferable.”

    The young man nodded, “Anything else?”

    “No.”

    I so wanted to say something but Alex’s eyes on mine prevented me from speaking. I just bit my bottom lip and watched him order for me.

    “Water with lemon when we have dinner for him. I’ll just have a coke.”

    Ed jotted everything down and left in a hurry. Alex chided me. “You are scaring the staff.”

    I just smiled and Alex leaned forward, waving me with a small gesture that I should do the same thing. It wasn’t a secret, he wanted privacy. “You listened well, I expected defiance. That gonna be a thing?”

    I smirked. “Oh, Alex. Wesley has nothing on me.”

    He quirked an eyebrow and I quoted a favorite movie, “As you wish.”

    Alex chuckled, “Inconceivable.”

    “I don’t think that word means what you think it does.”

    Alex grinned at me. “Other than cheezie old movies what else you like?”

    “I don’t like cheezie old movies. I like pop culture and that is a lot of quotes to things I’ve never seen.”

    “You’ve never seen The Princess Bride?”

    I shook my head. “Haven’t seen most things. As a Ward of the Venatori I lived without most things people take for granted — which included television, clothes some years and basic necessities other ones. All depended on which roster I landed.”

    “I know what we can do this weekend.”

    I grinned at him. “As long as there is making out like teenagers on a couch I’ll sit and watch a movie or two with you.”

    “You are a horn dog aren’t you.”

    I laughed. “Dry spell.” I said. It was sell imposed, but still the truth.

  • The Book – Part 12

    The Book – Part 12

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Evening

    Nox and Alex both spend 4XP

    So yesterday’s club visit was for the same purpose, but it wasn’t the same vibe. I wandered around the pool house after breakfast wondering what I should wear, something other than basic black that Benji called my signature calling card. Nox had gone in wearing a tattered hoodie and chucks. He didn’t act like he was out of place, if anything he felt perfectly at home with his casual attire.

    I flipped through hanger after hanger passing by shirt after shirt. Nothing really called to me. Nothing screamed a pretty boy would love this outfit. And sadly, I wanted to impress him. My dance moves hadn’t scared him away, I wanted to reward that. So, I gave up and went shopping.

    Shopping was far more entertaining than flipping through my closet. But in all honesty did I need another pair of jeans and a button up shirt — probably not but at least I would now have a set of clothes that the pretty boy might just love.

    I bought a shirt that matched the color of his hair to pair over a t-shirt with a picture of a rooster that says ‘Stop staring at my cock.’ I felt it was highly appropriate given our prior conversations.

    I arrived early at the Venatori compound and drove around the desolate road to the building indicated. Everything was a shit hole. Who the fuck would want to live here. The Venatori apparently. Or that they didn’t want to give up on their land. Which was likely the case more so than any other.

    The door inside was unlocked and I followed down the hall to the office. I glanced down the side hall and saw a familiar face. He pushed another familiar face against the wall and pressed his face to to the other man’s neck taking a whiff of his scent.

    “Awe, come on Damien, I ain’t got a girlfriend. You know you want me.” Jace said. My fucking brother was hitting on my guy. He wasn’t my guy, but what the fuck dude!

    I took a step forward but the door between me and the pair opened and I stared as the red tips of my pretty boy, and another nearly identical man pressed up against a wall winding up and punching Jace in the face. I bit back a laugh.

    And then shit broke down. Damien Sétanta. Jesus fucking Christ, my mother used him to scare the fuck out of me. You don’t want to be half human. You don’t want to know your father. See him. See how they treat him. You don’t want that. Over and over my whole fucking life.

    And then Jace gone and went and said my fucking name and he knew me. Though he could have been angry, he didn’t act it. He laughed, made a joke and was ready to go out. His brother slipped into his room as he did and Nox came out with ear cuffs with tiny little bells on the end. They gave off a tiny little jingle as he walked.

    “With bells on,” Nox grinned.

    “So we have some truths to say. I never kept it from you.”

    “Me either.” Nox agreed.

    “I don’t go by that anymore.” I added.

    “Hiding from the Venatori. Totally understand. Mine isn’t nearly so logical. I just hate the name. Our mother gave us evil names because we were the son of a Venatori she hated. After I sparked and caught our living room on fire, she sent me to the City. She tried to send Rider but since he shows no outward signs of being Venatori she couldn’t. So she gave him to the Sussuri to raise. Figured they would be at least prepared to raise him should he have magic or something.”

    “What’s Rider’s real name then?”

    “His real name is Rider, it’s just his middle name. Seth Rider and I’m Damien Nox. We just took our middle names.”

    “I can understand that.” I opened the passenger side door and Nox slipped past me, running his hand along my waist. Hmmmm. I tried not to make a sound but I was pretty sure I failed from the soft grin on his lips as he sat down.

    “I will miss not dancing with you,” he said as I closed the door.

    “We might have to find a different club to go dancing in then.” I said. I could spend a few hours grinding against him. Though I think there were other activities that might be more fun than the dance floor. My bedroom floor was one of them. My bed even better.

    He reached across the way and made sure the door was unlocked. He knew it was but he did it anyway. I was being the gentleman and he was playing to the courteous girlfriend. Not that he was anywhere near a girl, sure he had some sweet lips and fine eye lashes any girl would die for. But his shoulders were broad and his hips narrow and I could almost guarantee that his happy trail was the the only hair on his body. He manscaped everything. And I more than wanted to find out what was down below.

    I slide into the drivers seat and I started the car. Nox was smirking. “So your brother is Jace?”

    I rolled my eyes. “Half brother. He’s such a fucking asshole.”

    “He was my roommate in the Academy. I’m glad Rides broke his nose. Seriously hates being mistaken as me by asshats who think I’m an easy lay.”

    “Are you?” I smirked.

    “An easy lay?” He looked at me with an amused smile.

    “Yes, that’s what I’m asking.”

    “I told you I don’t put out on the first date.”

    “Just the third.” I nodded in agreement. “So, that’s a new rule.”

    Nox shrugged. “Not really a rule at all to be honest. I tend to avoid being close to too many people. The whole chaotic magic thing.”

    “You went out last night.”

    “I figured I’d be around humans which typically don’t have spare magic lingering around. Instead Jace took me to a vampire club that uses Nepenthe to keep their clientele happy and near fucking on the dancefloor so they can feed on the emotions.”

    “You mean they don’t have to bite you?” I asked.

    “Most vampires require blood to survive, but they can feed off of others emotions. It’s like a sugar high. Great for an immediate fix, but you crash hard afterwards.”

    “You’ve been studying vampires a while?” That was not a Venatori thing to do.

    “I study them all. Ask questions. Follow up on the answers. Ask more questions. No one really likes my results. But they expect a kill count, not a case solved count.”

    “Solved?” I asked. Again not very Venatori like.

    “I had this one case where a wolf was terrorizing the city during daylight hours. Turns out she’s weak of will, and during the three days of the full moon she’s unable to turn back. She escaped, and I returned her to her people and they locked her up better.”

    “Ah. So you didn’t kill her. You saved her and made an ally.”

    “I wouldn’t say an ally. But I didn’t make an enemy.” Nox said with a smile. He changed the subject “Where we going to eat?”

    “Fancy place in the Enclave, not too far from Frozen. You’ll like it.”” I hoped he liked it anyway.

  • The Book – Part 11

    The Book – Part 11

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Evening

    [!note]
    Nox goes to the Archives looking up runes

    Q: Does Nox find anything about runs in the Archives?
    (1d20+0: [18]+0 = 18)
    Yes

    Q: Anything on the book?
    (1d20+0: [13]+0 = 13)
    Yes

    Q: Does he know what it does?
    (1d20+0: [1]+0 = 1)
    No, and Decomposed, Rope, Awful

    After calling Alex I took a walk to the Archives. Only a few places still were maintained, and the place with all the books was one of them, despite it being empty. There wasn’t even a librarian in the place. I had to use the card catalog in the archaic ways of the old world to find the books I was looking for.

    There wasn’t a lot in the Archives. A few remnants of historicals on runes and the covens in the area. The Althalar coven was an offshoot of the Dioscuri Oneiroi who came to the New World and became Circuls Elysii or more notable The Circle of Elysium. According to the records the Elysium district was one home to one of their power circles, which has now become the Althalar Amphitheatre home to some rather famous rock and punk bands like Phantom Rage, Cursed Chains and Infernal Echoes. People regularly sit in the stands and busk and do other creative endeavors, the place is said to radiate muse vibes.

    The only thing I found out about the book Vlad/Michael had seen is that it went by the name, the Book of Origins. It’s rumored to be a guide to how the universe began — hence the name.

    Q: Does anything happen to Nox between the archives and the evening?
    (1d20+0: [18]+0 = 18)
    Yes

    Q: Something important?
    (1d20+0: [13]+0 = 13)
    Yes

    Q: Does it have to do with Jace?
    (1d20+0: [16]+0 = 16)
    Yes

    Q: Does someone come after him?
    (1d20+0: [6]+0 = 6)
    No

    Q: threaten him?
    (1d20+0: [5]+0 = 5)
    No

    Q: Does Jace hit on him?
    (1d20+0: [16]+0 = 16)
    Yes

    [!note] GM Intrusion
    Alex sees Jace hitting on Nox but it’s not Nox

    It was all sorta heavy stuff, and by the time my alarm went off to remind me I had a club to get ready for my mind was full of churning chaos. I needed time to meditate and cool the magic down.

    Meditates an hour and replaces all cyphers

    I didn’t grab anything to eat after my yoga routine, but I needed a shower and I wanted to look and smell my best for Alex. I spent too much time getting ready. It was nearing 7pm and I was still looking through my bag trying on clothes. Not that I had a lot but there were either too many holes in the jeans, or I felt they were too tight for a recon mission where I might need to move around a lot to do what needed doing.

    And the shirts. I wished to the high fucking heavens I could get past my fucking issues with what shirt came next. Pants were different. I don’t know why, don’t know why my brain said jeans were jeans and the order didn’t matter, but fucking shirts!

    I growled as I pulled on the next t-shirt in the line up over a pair of tight black jeans with only one ripped out knee. It looked stylish at least even with the shreds of thread hanging down. I pulled on a black mesh shirt over the Walking Toys t-shirt that depicted Woody and gang as zombies.

    Aggravated with the sleeves, I took both off and ripped the sleeves from the t-shirt leaving it look more walking dead than it had before. Tossed a few more slashes through the garment and made a very club going fare underneath the black mesh t-shirt. Some skin, but not too much. It all went very well together. I was more impressed with my outfit than I aught to be.

    I stood in front of the bathroom mirror fixing my makeup. The eyeliner was perfect, my hair could use a recoloring but I didn’t have time to do that, the red was fading into an ugly color so I spruced it up with some colored wax to keep it all from moving. Was shitty for making out but I’d survive that if I had to. Hopefully Alex wasn’t a fingers through the hair type guy.

    I grabbed a couple condoms and stuck them in my back pocket, applied a fresh coat of strawberry lip gloss and popped the stick in my front pocket with a a few travel packets of lube. Third date — right? I grinned at myself in the mirror and hoped I wasn’t presuming too much on this. I wanted to see Alex — but not just because I thought we’d have sex. I kinda just wanted to see him.

    I heard a faint noise in the hall. But the rune tended to muffle sounds of nearby places it was hard to make out. I had a strange feeling, it wasn’t the feeling of magic about to burst. More like two lines crossing or someone walking over my graved. I shuddered with the sensation.

    I opened the door and looked down the hall. To my left Jace had a man pressed up against the wall. It only took me a moment to realize what was happening when the man pulled his right fist back and popped Jace in the face.

    And to my right stood Alex. He was staring at the two men down the hall and then he looked at me. “You have a fucking twin?”

    I smirked. “My brother, Rider.”

    “He called him Damien.” Alex said.

    “That’s me.”

    “So you lied to me about your name?”

    Rider took that moment to wrap his arms from behind around my waist and lift me up in a giant bear hug. “Jesus, Nox, you have all kinds of guys hitting on you don’t you. Don’t they know I’m the better looking one.” He said then set me down and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “You look good. Going out?”

    “I was.” I looked at Alex who was staring at the two of us.

    Jace came over with his hand to his nose. “You broke my nose, bastard!”

    He looked at both of us and did a double take. “What the fuck!”

    “Touch my brother again when he says fucking No and I’ll do more than that you fucking asshat.” Rider said getting in Jace’s face.

    Jace turned to Alex and looked at me. “You gonna let your fuck twad boyfriend talk to me like that Xander.”

    “Wait.” I growled. “Xander.” I looked at Jace then back to Alex. “Xander Gerard.” I laughed. “I’m not the only one who didn’t say the whole fucking truth. Do you want to talk? Or do we want to go out as planned, we can talk while we eat.”

    “I’m only going out with one of you.” Alex jabbed.

    “That would be him.” Rider grinned. “I don’t fuck guys, and I sure as hell do not get fucked by them.”

    Alex grinned. “Got it.”

    “You can crash in my room. Or go out. Obviously no one noticed you weren’t me.”

    Alex chuckled. “You don’t even have the same color eyes.”

    “No one ever notices that.” We both said at the same time with a grin. “I’ll see you later?” I asked Rider.

    “I’ll be here.”

    Rider’s comment made me remember my promise. I stepped back inside and grabbed the ear cuffs with a bell on each end and pushed both on grinning at Alex. “With bells on.”

  • The Book – Part 10

    The Book – Part 10

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Morning

    About 10am while I was still in bed I got a text. It woke me from a dream of a sexy body dancing for me nearly naked — or at least I had hoped he was. The sound burst through my dreams with a piercing crack of a whip and my eyes shot open. Why the fuck did I choose that sound? It was jarring at best, though I expected in my coming down from the forced nepenthe hangover I felt it apt. Nox already had me whipped, it was apt as I sat up and grabbed my phone from the bedside stand.

    [!info] Nox
    Hey. Call me when you have a free moment.

    I flopped back in bed and pressed call. Might as well see what’s going on that he wanted me to call. It didn’t feel like a social call.

    It rang and after the second one Nox answered. “Hey Alex. I’m sorry did I wake you?”

    “It’s alright. I should get up. What did you need? As I assume because it was a flirty text with teasing links that it’s important.”

    “Not important. Well not like do or die. Well maybe it is do or die. Sorry. I was wondering if you’d like to go to Frozen with me? I have been tasked with getting a book from a safe.”

    I sat up straight in bed and smiled. “Oh really? What’s the Venatori want with a vampire book?”

    “Nothing good I’m sure.”

    Q: Did Nox learn anything new about the passage when he was looking at it? (eased x2) (6)
    (1d20: [4] = 4)
    Fail
    Developer: And…
    Pleasant, Scary, Disastrous
    (1d20: [4] = 4)

    “But in the journal I saw, there were sketches of runes. I didn’t get a good look though.”

    “And you are getting the book why?”

    He sighed. “I do it or they’ll kill me. At least try. Won’t be the first time, but I dunno. I figure I can check it out, see what is up and we can pretend it’s a third date. Stay off the dance floor and hope they don’t nepenthe the whole place.”

    I thought about it. Seeing him would be nice. He was going after the same thing I was, but how did I get it away from him if he wanted it too. “I’m in.” I said with little hesitation.

    “When would you like to pick me up? Or would you like to meet there?”

    “If I don’t pick you up how are you getting there?” I asked. I knew the answer, and it was out of the question.

    “I would take the train, same way we got there yesterday.”

    “Out of the question. No way.” I smiled to myself. “I’ll pick you up at seven, for dinner and then we’ll go to Frozen.”

    “Sounds good.” I could hear the grin in his voice. “I’ll be there with bells on.”

    “With literal bells on?” I asked.

    “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see. See you at seven. I’ll text you which building I’m in. Later.”

    “Later, Pretty Boy.” I said as he hung up. Date number three back to the place we met to plan a heist. I think I was faling in love.

    I called Benji. He answered groggily, “What?”

    “So, it turns out the Pretty Boy needs the book.” I said. “He’s invited me to recon the club.”

    “He told you what he was doing?” Benji asked.

    “He did. Very honest about it.”

    “So not you. How does this change our plans?”

    I shrugged, “No idea. But it puts a problem in our way if he needs to book too and I want it.”

    “I don’t know what got you so up in up on this book. Never seen you like this with a commission.”

    “Not a commission. A fucking dream keeps pulling me at it.”

    “You talk to your dad about it?”

    “Pretty sure my mother would shit a brick if she knew I knew who my father was.”

    “Since when do you care about what your mom thinks?” Benji asked. “You left the Venatori she all but killed you when you did.”

    “That’s just the Venatori talking. If she was truly pissed she would have killed me. But Mom’s always had a little rebel in her, I mean she did love my dad.”

    “We can go round and round in circles about that Alex, never changes a thing. The Venatori are fucked up people and you need to stay away from that Pretty Boy.”

    I sighed. “I know. I should. But…”

    “Fuck him and get it over with, Alex.” Benji growled at me. “Let those big brown eyes stare up at you while he sucks your dick and then get over him. He’s going to fuck it all up. The Venatori always do.”

    Benji wasn’t wrong. “I know… I’ll talk to you later. Tomorrow for breakfast?”

    “You could come over now for breakfast, Chef Tito is making something I can’t wait to taste it smells so good.”

    I frowned. “Yeah I guess. I need a shower and I’ll be over.”

    “Food might be gone. Dunno…” Benji said laughing as he hung up the phone.

    Benji wasn’t wrong. But there was something about the pretty boy with those big brown eyes and it was more than just wanting to sleep with him. I wasn’t even sure that was why I was drawn to him. It felt almost like the draw to the fucking book, except I wasn’t dreaming about him. At least I wasn’t until I saw him. Now I couldn’t get him out of my head.

  • The Book – Part 9

    The Book – Part 9

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Morning

    Q: Is there a spare room?
    (1d20+0: [19]+0 = 19)
    Yes, and Sarcophagus, Effect, Witness

    Getting back to my room wasn’t difficult. Jace had tossed all my things out the door into the hall. Sorta figured. I grabbed my bag with my pillow and headed down to the main office, the dorms always had someone on duty.

    I knocked, and a small woman with thick glasses and freckles looked up at me. “You already make trouble.”

    “Yes ma’am. I stepped between my roommate and an innocent vampire who was just asking Jace to leave to club, and to leave his friend alone. They had to man handle him to make him leave. I’ll take a fucking closet at this point.” I said.

    She grinned at me. “That can be arranged. Ain’t that what you New York City folks have.”

    “We have runes on the door.”

    “I got lots of closets. No runes.”

    “I can show you.” I said. “Though without the right magic it might not work. Wasn’t exactly allowed to practice Sussuri runes.”

    “Why would you want to?” she laughed.

    “Good to know.” I said. “But seriously I don’t need a lot of space. I’ll take a couch to crash on.”

    “I have a room. Most people think it’s a closet so they don’t much like it. No kitchen, shared bathroom, no windows. It was a closet but we have no use for it and a twin bed fits, so we rent it out.”

    “Sounds perfect and I don’t have to listen to assholes snore.”

    “You know Jace?”

    “Was my roommate back in school. Fucked with me then. Hates me now.”

    She chuckled and lead me down the hall, not far from the office and underneath the stairwell. “I think I forgot to mention that.”

    “It’s perfect. I don’t need much. This is all I got to my name.”

    “Maybe you should try that rune.”

    Magical Repertoire rewrites Cyphers

    Recovery: 1d6+1: [3]+1 = 4

    Q: Draw the run correctly? (9)
    (1d20: [19] = 19)
    Success
    Minor effect or Damage +3
    Developer: And…
    Turgid, Downward, Express
    (1d20: [2] = 2)

    Chaos Aura: (1d20: [2] = 2) -> all actions are hindered for one minute

    I pulled my pencils out of my bag and picked one with a duller lead so it would be a thicker line and take less time to draw. I remembered what it looked like. Or at least I think I did.

    It wasn’t a hard one to draw. I joked that it was the tardis run, and funny thing was it sorta looked like a tardis — at least Dr. Who’s tardis.

    There was a shift in magic when I finished the rune and I felt a little less coordinated and was grateful that was all it did. And it only affected me. No harm to anyone else. I don’t know if that meant it worked or if failed. I opened the door to find a slight bigger room than a closet I expected. And there was a small kitchen and a bathroom.

    The woman whistled. “Now that is handy. It’s got everything you need. A bed, the kitchen, even a washer and dryer, look at that. But why not something bigger?”

    I shrugged. “I’m good with the size.”

    I stpeed through the door and felt the slight tingle of magic and hoped that was the extent of my magical changes. Though I expected that I’d pop again when the nepenth ended during my sleep. I should prepare for the eventuality.

    She nodded her head. “I am Emily. Emily Ballard.”

    I offered her my hand and she took it softly in hers. “Nox.” I said, pulling her hand to my lips and bending over in a flamboyant bow and wave of my invisible hat. “A pleasure, mad’am.”

    Emily laughed. “I know who you are. And I know better than to fall for you.” But she didn’t correct me of my own name like most fucking Venatori.

    I leaned in and whispered. “I like boys.” I grinned.

    “I knew that too. Bowers wants to see you in the morning. Probably regarding your interference. We don’t have as many rules as New York City hunters, but getting in the way of his kill, that’s gonna take a hit against some of the people around here.”

    I smiled at her. “I think that’s why they sent me here. So someone will kill me. Goodnight, Emily. I have a boy to text.”

    “What are you texting him>”

    I snickered. “A tease.” I closed my door with a wave and set my things down on the floor. I’d grab a shower and then send Alex a text.

    I spelpt with dreams of a hot blue-eyed boy dancing in my dreams. I woke wondering where he might take me on Wednesday. It was Saturday. I wasn’t sure if I’d here still. But at least I’d have something to look forward too.

    My morning was started the same way I always started it. Yoga, a run. A run that took me round the deserted and run down compound. I was used to running in the city dodging people and cars that this was simple and I ran faster and further than usual before I grew tired and was back inside for a shower and breakfast. Breakfast in the dorm cafeteria because I hadn’t had time to go grocery shopping. Needless to say I was going to be paying for my breakfast later.

    I had a meeting with John Bowers at 9am in the Armory. There weren’t many buildings in repair. Only the important ones. most of them had broken windows and looked like the apocolypse had struck early. I half expected the walking dead characters to show up and save me from a walker.

    Q: Does Bowers want to see Nox because of Jace?
    (1d20+0: [11]+0 = 11)
    Yes, but Door, Disciple, Question
    GM Intrusion

    [!note] GM Intrusion
    Order Nox to retreive the book rumored to be in Johnny Rose’s possession

    I knocked on the door jamb of the open door. A man with a gruff exterior sat at a desk looking down with glasses perched on his nose going over a book. His finger drawing across the lines in the book he was reading.

    “Damien.” He waved me inside. “Normally, I’d have you in front of a firing squad for interfering in a kill.”

    “But?” I said trying my best not to growl.

    “But.” He looked up and turned the book around so I could read a passage he was pointing at.

    I’ve seen the book with my own eyes. It lies in a safe shrouded by darkness in the strangest of locations — the night club Frozen.

    “What’s this?” I asked.

    “It’s a journal from a hunter from about 30 years ago. He went after Einor and the Masquerade, didn’t come back. Only thing they found was this journal.”

    Nox recalls hearing the story from a remember spell and his knowledge of the occult.

    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [8] = 8 -> Creepy Dissonant Whispers emanate from everywhere

    “You only found the journal because he was turned into a vampire. Vlad Bazorov is a vampire who hunts Venatori as ruthlessly as he once hunted vampires. He was once called Michael Snell.” I said as creepy whisperes echoed in the room. It added to the effect of the lore and I chuckled. Sometimes the magic had a sense of humor.

    John Bowers looked around and shivered. “You know a lot about vampires. You a sympathizer?”

    “I don’t think we should kill them just because they are vampires. If that’s what you are asking.”

    Bowers sighed and shook his head. “I unfortunately need that knowledge, your uncanny knack to make friends in places you shouldn’t and I’m told that you were in the company of Johnny Rose last evening.”

    “I’m not going to kill him.”

    “I need you to get something from his safe.”

    “The book mentioned in the journal.” I asked.

    “Very astute.” He gave me the look that said he wasn’t happy about it. “Getting the book, is the only thing that preserves your life. I was given the authority to take any action should you pose a problem or get in the way of some mission or another.”

    “Oh, so I get the book or I die.” I sighed. “I got it. Can I go now?”

    He waved his hand. “And Jace is gunning for your head. I’d expect the others will be as well.”

    “So no different than home. Don’t worry about me.” I said and walked out of the room.

  • The Book – Part 8

    The Book – Part 8

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Morning

    The parking garage was empty of people but still full of cars. Maybe for work? Clean up? Or maybe just a place to safely park while you caught the train? I dunno. Didn’t really care.

    Nox’s hand in my felt warm. He watched me from the corner of his eye, and I watched him. I think my view was more entertaining. He was still squirming about the glitter. I was still wide eyed about that. How the fuck did a Venatori live with magic popping off all the time like he said. Anytime anyone used magic. That sorta give him away. Maybe that’s why he got sent to the City of Darkness from where ever it was he hailed. My guess was New York City. He talked way too fast, with a slight Brooklyn accent, it sounded like he tried to hide. But he clipped his Rs and elongated his awes. Pretty hot if you asked me if he’d just talk like he normally did. But blending in was the name of the game — he didn’t do a very good job of it, he just needed to stop.

    His eyes went wide when the lights on Serenity blinked. He whistled and stood at the back of the car admiring her as I walked around the passenger side and opened the door. He looked at me with a wide smile and his ears colored so did the base of his neck. “Such a gentleman.”

    “I try.” I said closing the door after he slide into the super low seat.

    I started my lovely and we were on the road heading towards the Promenade. It was quiet.

    “So?” I said.

    He laughed. “I’m not high anymore.” The color deepened on his neck. “So, this will sound very forward.” Nox shifted in his seat and turned towards me and leaned across the console without touching me and whispered. “I so want to suck your dick, Alex.”

    If I hadn’t been driving I don’t know what I would have done. But I didn’t take my eyes off the road. My heart raced. My dick was hard. It wasn’t just anticipation, it was the fucking way he said it.

    Nox sat back against the door, the seat belt cockeyed but he didn’t look away from me. His ears and neck were beat red and the look on his face when I glanced over at him said that his feelings hadn’t changed, but maybe the action was unwarranted now that he was sober. He smirked at me and settled back into the seat proper. “Just so we are clear. Yes. I was high. Yes I wanted to suck your dick. And yes, I still do, don’t get me wrong. But we only just met, and I don’t fuck on the first date.”

    “So what date do you fuck on?” I asked with my own smirk.

    “Third.” He deadpanned.

    “So dancing counts as the first?” I asked.

    “Yeah, sure.”

    “And breakfast counts as the second?” I sounded hopeful.

    He laughed. It was an amazing sound, the sound of his full hearted laughter. I wished it didn’t turn me on so fucking much. That’s a lie. I wanted to stop and watch him touch him self. Fuck I wanted to touch him.

    “What I wouldn’t give to know what thought ran through you head just then.” Nox interrupted my day dream.

    “Why’s that?”

    “Because you blushed.”

    “I did not.”

    “Oh yes, you did.” He flicked my ear, “Ears were pink and everything.”

    “I was just imaging watching you touch yourself.”

    He groaned and pressed his head backwards into the seat and readjusted his whole body in one lithe movement I wished he hadn’t done.

    “Don’t do that.” I begged.

    He grinned and put his hands on his thighs and sat perfectly still. “I think you can take me out on our third date soon.” He sat up and looked at me with a grin, “But not to a vampire club. I want to do something you like doing. No movies, no dinner. Someplace we can chat and get to know each other, but also someplace that we can distract ourself with something if we find we just don’t work.” He sat back proud of himself.

    We continued on in silence. But it wasn’t awkward, it was the opposite. Was comfortable as we watched each other, both with big smiles on our face. He fidgeted with his fingers picking at the chipping black nail polish.

    I pulled up to the Venatori compound and he stopped me at the gate. “I’ll get out here. I don’t really know where I’m going.” Was pretty sure that was a lie but I let it drop. He was probably just making sure I didn’t get caught crossing into sovereign land or something.

    Nox climbed out of the car and leaned down to look inside at me. “Pick me up at 3pm this Wednesday and take me out. Remember the rules.”

    I clicked my tongue and nodded. “Okay. 3 on Wednesday. I expect a text message from you with a proper address in this joint so I can come to your door.”

    He grinned. “Fair. I won’t invite you inside, I have a roommate, and he’s an asshole. See you Wednesday.”

    He wiggled his fingers at me and shut the door behind him. He waved a fancy card in front of a pad and the gate slide open, and he disappeared behind it. He was right about one thing. I definitely didn’t want to go inside there, but I kinda wanted to see where he lived.

    I went home the fastest way possible. I needed a cold shower. Not that it helped, my mind wandered to the many thoughts of the night. When I got back to my bed, my phone had a missed text. Who the fuck was messaging me at 4am.

    [!info] Nox
    Since you like watching me.

    In the next message was a link to his SMP account to a specific video he posted.

    The idea that this hot as fuck guy just sent me a naughty video made me even harder than I was when I came back to bed.

    I tossed my blankets back and crawled in to bed with my phone. It wasn’t a thing I usually did. No screens in bed — a rule I tried to live by. But…

    I clicked the link after getting comfortable and it opened up to a video of him doing a choreographed number side by side with a music video. It wasn’t the full song but we had danced to it only a few hours ago.

    He was right, I liked watching him.

    [!info] Alex
    not what I expected but wow! love the way you tease me

    I watched him dance. I was going to dream about his sexy body and his laughter.

  • The Book – Part 7

    The Book – Part 7

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Saturday Morning

    Q: How long were they dancing?
    1d4: [3] = 3

    Q: Am I high? (eased) (9)
    (1d20: [8] = 8)
    Fail
    Developer: None
    (1d20: [5] = 5)

    [!note] GM Intrusion (continued)
    Magical Effect of the Nepenthe should trigger the chaos aura.
    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [12] = 12 -> A Rain of Glitter Descends

    Everything felt good. Hot guy felt good. Smelt good. Oranges and citrus and his personal musk from sweating on the dance floor. Everything was amazing and when he started swearing as we left I was sure I fucked something up.

    But he tugged me through the crowd away from the bar and when we finally reached the cool air of the night I was spiraling down a rabbit hole of rejection despite the way my body and mind felt.

    We walked away from the club, his hand warm in mind, but my body was cooling rapidly. Hot guy stalked down the road, even the number of cars was less than I expected at this hour. What hour was it?

    “What time is it?” I asked.

    Hot guy stopped and stared at me. “Fuck!” I didn’t know what he saw, but he didn’t like it none-the-less. My freakout freaked out more, but my body still felt good. Something was definitely wrong.

    He looked at his phone and sighed. “Almost 4 in the morning. Fuck!”

    “I’m hungry.” I looked at him. “What’s your name? Cause if you told me, I’ve forgotten and I’d really like to say something to you, but I’d rather say your name when saying it.” Something was definitely wrong. My lack of charm was showing.

    “Food will help. Come on.” He clasped my hand harder and lead me into a parking lot and into a very crowded diner. But he took a seat at the bar and shoved me into the one next to him.

    I ordered steak and eggs and a large pot of coffee. Which the waitress brought as a single cup. “That’s not going to be enough.” My head was already starting to hurt.

    We ate in near silence, Mr. Broody Pants next to me grumbling and scowling the whole time. I didn’t want to interrupt. And besides he was kinda cute when he was angry.

    I ordered pumpkin pie when I was finished and another pot of coffee. I had managed to polish off the one before that much to our servers surprise.

    The diner was nearly empty by the time the pie came, we sat at the bar and I felt better — felt the distinct shift of magic and then there was the sound of a balloon popping and fucking glitter rained down from above.

    The waitress, in the moment before, placed a fresh cup of coffee on the counter, and the pumpkin pie with it glorious mound of whipped cream — the only real splurge of the night. And fucking glitter decorated it all.

    I jumped back from the stool stumbling over my own feet and fell backwards on to my ass. “Arg!” I growled.

    My friend, who had yet to share his name looked at me, looked at the glitter covering the area I had been sitting in. He looked up with the waitress and then they both looked at me as I shook the fucking sparkles from my hair and body and I was going to be covered in this metallic shit for months. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

    “What the fuck just happened?”

    I looked up at him. His ice-blue eyes staring down at me in amusement. The brooding seemed to have lifted at least for a little while.

    “It’s hard to explain.” I said.

    He offered me his hand and I scowled at it. “I still don’t know your name!” I said as I took it.

    He blinked at me. “Alex. It’s Alex. You okay?”

    “Fucking nepenthe!” I growled.

    The waitress giggled. “I ain’t never seen nepenthe do that. Seen them come in with blood dripping from their eyes on nepenthe. Never once in all this time being so close to that club have I seen glitter flutter about happily decorating the place.”

    “Happily? Glitter is the fucking herpes of the art world. Once you get that shit you can’t get rid of it.” I growled.

    Alex was chuckling. “I don’t think he likes glitter.” He plucked at a few pieces that were littering my shoulder. “Though it adds to his charm.” Alex dropped money on the counter and tugged me out the door. “That wasn’t the nepenthe, she’s right. Nepenthe doesn’t do that.”

    “Nepenthe doesn’t do that to you, or her, or anyone else I fucking know. It could have been worse than glitter. So much fucking worse.”

    “I don’t get it.” Alex said.

    I shrugged. “Hard to explain.”

    “Try me.”

    I sighed. “Okay. When people use magic around me it has a tendency to cause fucked up shit to happen. Glitter bombs being annoying, but I’ve seen random fires start, things floating in the air, sometimes all magic gets fucked up.”

    “So you are saying that nepenthe is making things happen because it’s magic?”

    “Nepenthe is made from the blood of supernatural creatures so yeah it’s fucking magic. It’s fucking chaos itself.”

    “So if I were to say, do this.” Alex waved his hand in front of him and a small flame popped into the palm of his hand.

    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [6] = 6 -> A Patch of Wildflowers Bloom Instantly

    As we walked flowers sprouted at my feet, bloomed in purples, reds and yellows until he closed his hand and the flame died.

    “You could have blown us up.” I said.

    Alex shook his head. “You aren’t high anymore, so why did nepenthe cause that?”

    “Because it changed in magical effect. I’ll pop off again in the morning or sometime when the whole shit and shebange is gone from my system.”

    “So you could blow yourself up because some fucking vampire spiked our punch?”

    I nodded. “Yeah. Though I’m pretty sure it was airborne. Though you still smell like oranges so maybe the water was spiked. But that would have been a whole other emotion.”

    We walked across the main street towards the parking garage. “I should get home. I’m sure they’ll be missing me.”

    “Let me drop you off.”

    Q: Notice Alex’s tattoo (12)
    (1d20: [13] = 13)
    Success
    Developer: Automatic Success
    (1d20: [20] = 20)

    “You wanna go near the Venatori even though you are trying so hard not to be Venatori?” I asked. When Alex had pulled upon the flame in his hand, the tattoo at his temple had appeared. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if I wasn’t trying to figure him out, the information he’d been hiding before.

    Alex looked at me like he didn’t know what I was talking about. I tapped my right temple. “You’re Venatori is showing.” I smirked.

    “Fuck!” Alex growled. “I used the same spell. Shit!”

    “No harm.” I said. “I can catch the train, if it’s still running.”

    “I’ll take you,” Alex said. He pressed his fingers to his right temple and the crossed swords tattoo vanished. “And while I drive you to the compound you can tell me whatever it is you wanted to say to me when you found out my name.”

    I laughed. “Maybe.”

  • The Book – Part 6

    The Book – Part 6

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    Q: What district does Alex live in?
    1d12: [11] = 11
    Botanical

    The default notification went off on my phone as I was scraping the last bits of icecream and pancake from my plate. I glanced down at the screen to see what it was — probably just some stupid spammy email but it wasn’t. Was a text from Nox — his name was Nox, it still caught me off guard that I’d taken his number and all we did meet eyes for a few moments. I never did this.

    I opened the message with a shit eattin grin on my face that had Benji laughing behind his milkshake he’d ordered while he waited for me to finish.

    [!info] Nox
    Still at the club. Buy you a drink? Find me dancing.

    I turned the phone so Benji could read the message and he rolled his eyes and stood up, dropping cash on the table. “Go. I’ll see you tomorrow and we can finish this.”

    “This is just recon.” I said. Though we both knew it wasn’t. It was all about the hot man I’d spied.

    I didn’t sent a reply to the message as I dropped more cash on the table to finish the cost and tip and all that jazz for the service. It was great food, Benji had been right.

    The club was still pumping when I arrived. It wasn’t that late, and the lie was super long. But I cheated a little. I reached into the man’s mind.

    Q: Intellect Attack – Dream Thief (9)
    (1d20: [11] = 11)
    Success
    Developer: Find 1d6 Cyphers
    1d6: [1] = 1

    1. L5 Hunter/seeker: With long-range movement, this intelligent missile tracks and attacks a specified target (target must be within sight when selected). If it misses, it continues to attack one additional time per cypher level until it hits. For example, a level 4 hunter/seeker will attack a maximum of five times. Inflicts 8 points of damage. (390) (MANIFEST)
      (1d20: [10] = 10)

    Q: Intellect Attack – Fast Talk (9)
    (1d20: [20] = 20)
    Success
    Major effect or Damage +4
    Developer: Find 1d6 Cyphers
    1d6: [6] = 6

    The bouncer was an easy read as I slipped in and found the key. I wrapped an arm around his waist and whispered into his ear the sweetest nothing that the man wanted to hear and slipped my other hand into his pocket with a hundred dollar bill left his his pocket as I rubbed at the growing cock in his pants. Men were easy to please.

    He was so close and I stopped, he opened the velvet rope and I stepped through with a grin on my face. He scowled and reached in his pocket. The bouncer didn’t even look at the bill as he slapped it against my chest. “I don’t take bribes.”

    I laughed as I left. “No just a hand job.”

    There was a calembour at the door as I shut it behind me. Seemed everyone was ready to give the guy a hand now. I probably wouldn’t be let in again. But nothing stopping me from doing it again. Not much anyone can do about it.

    Now to find the Pretty Boy. He said he was dancing. The music was thumping loud all around, he could be anywhere.

    Q: Perception – find nox (12)
    (1d20: [2] = 2)
    Fail
    Developer: GM Intrusion: +1XP
    Calm, Smell, Slime
    (1d20: [9] = 9)

    [!note] GM Intrusion
    Nepenthe is in the air
    1d6: [4] = 4 -> Level: 4 hours duration
    1d6: [2] = 2 -> Straight diffused : Ecstasy : Orange
    1d4+4: [1]+4 = 5 -> 5 hour hangover: Hinders social interactions

    I couldn’t find him in the crowd. At least not from the edge of it. And I walked the exterior of the floor several times before giving up and wading into the throng.

    The bodies were hot. The music even louder. Sex was on display everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The air smelled of oranges and citrus and sex. Though I didn’t see anyone actually having sex.

    Q: Nox finds Alex (12)
    (1d20: [10] = 10)
    Fail
    Developer: None
    (1d20: [5] = 5)

    Q: Alex finds Nox (12)
    (1d20: [16] = 16)
    Success
    Developer: PC Inhibitor
    Original, Obstinate, Explosion
    (1d20: [13] = 13)

    Once on the floor it wasn’t hard to find him. He had a small ring around him as those closest to him watched him move. It was captivating. His body moved perfectly with beat. I could never dance like that. And the way he touched himself was so fucking hot. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and ran down his face.

    The song ended and I could feel the smile on my face. The space closed around him as he noticed me and moved closer, his hand reaching out towards me. A giant smile on his face. God, he was beautiful. I took his hand and Nox pulled me close, his hips brushing against mine. He was hard as fuck in his jeans there was no denying it.

    His hand slipped to my hip and guided me with a slight pressure so we stayed in sync. I didn’t need his help but I couldn’t say no to the touch. His thumb found a small slip of skin above my waist band and it was electric. The pad of his finger was so warm.

    I put my arms around his neck and he curled around me pressing our bodies together with the closeness. His knee pressed between my legs and the there was no possible way we could get closer fully clothed in a public place.

    Like everyone else on the dance floor it was all sex but no fucking sex at all. My heart raced and not just because he was hot. It was a workout, song after song we swept across the dance floor. Swooping and swaying. Grinding against each other. He moved around me. Front to front, front to back, his ass against my dick grinding. I didn’t move nearly as much as he did and he loved dancing around me and touching me. His fingers touched my sides, he wanted more. I wanted more but it was like he was teasing us both with the desire for more.

    Blood pulsed in my ears more than the music. His brown eyes were alight with fire and I swear there was snaps of electricity and sparks of fire lighting from his skin when we touched. Or he touched me.

    My mouth was going dry for many many reasons. I didn’t need to lean in but I pressed my face against his ear anyway and shouted though he could probably have heard a whisper. “You said a drink?”

    He chuckled and let me go and waded through the crowd with me in tow by the hand. I watched his ass move and he seemed to sense it as he sashayed across the floor to the music. On the stairs leading towards the bar I yanked him the other direction. “Not here.”

    I was feeling way too good for this to be natural. It was already starting to wear off the further from the dance floor I got. Anger started to boil.

    Q: Break the spell of the drug? Intellect defense (trick) (9)
    (1d20: [14] = 14)
    Success
    Developer: PC Enabler
    Subliminal, Birth, Sarcophagus
    (1d20: [15] = 15)

    Q: Nox break the spell? Intellect defense (occult)? (9)
    (1d20: [5] = 5)
    Fail
    Developer: None
    (1d20: [14] = 14)

    And the rage broke the spell caused by the drug they’d dispersed in that fucking orange scented… “Fuck!”

  • The Book – Part 5

    The Book – Part 5

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    Q: Anything of interest happen while Nox is upstairs with Johnny?
    (1d20+0: [11]+0 = 11)
    Yes, but Escape, Guest, Shame

    Q: Does Johnny have an extra phone just lying around?
    (1d20+0: [13]+0 = 13)
    Yes

    Q: in the safe?
    (1d20+0: [10]+0 = 10)
    Maybe

    Q: In his desk?
    (1d20+0: [8]+0 = 8)
    No, but Language, Portal, Student

    Q: Does he need to call Jack?
    (1d20+0: [20]+0 = 20)
    Yes, and Priest, Fancy, Itch
    GM Intrusion

    I got the guys number. I was so happy with myself, but I was so pissed I didn’t have my phone. The music thumped around us as we climbed the glass steps to the offices above. It was surreal the allure of the cold and the vampiric energy in the whole place was wild. Back home you never felt this many vampires in one place, the Venatori would shut the joint down in a heart beat, killing every vamp it caught. It seemed to be different hear.

    The doors to the main office opened and when we stepped through it was silence. Even with the door open the sound was muffled, like magic, yet I hadn’t felt the press of magic against my skin.

    I must have been looking around for when the vampire sat down in his office chair he chuckled. “Sound proofing, no magic. Must be strange for one such as yourself to feel so many of us in one place. Being new and all. I hope you are smarter than your friend, killing one of us is an act of war on vampire soil.”

    “I have no problem with you or your kind. Unless you killed a human it’ll stay that way.”

    He chuckled again, he tried to give off the count Dracula vibe and I rolled my eyes. “Drink?” he asked.

    “Water with lemon if you don’t mind.” I smiled.

    “Do not partake?”

    “Addictive personality, what can I say, better to refrain.” It was a partial truth, not a complete lie. I didn’t drink because I didn’t like how chaotic my magic got when I wasn’t in full control of my senses. It took a great deal of effort to keep it bottled up inside.

    Q: Intellect defense (12)
    (1d20: [9] = 9)
    Fail
    Developer: And…
    Communion, Resident, Gold
    (1d20: [2] = 2)

    The vampire laughs. “I can smell that lie.” He waved his hand and someone from a nearby room floated towards him. “I need Jack Wyn on the phone, and a phone from the stash, latest model brand new. Nothing cheap.” The girl skittered off with a lick of her lips.

    “You enthrall all your employees?” I asked.

    He grinned. “No, my assistant works for blood. Wanna be vampires need to buy their way into the good graces of the council. But a ghoul, they can feast on the sex and allure of our kind without such acknowledgement.”

    “She’s a slave to your whims.”

    He laughed. “Are you not a slave to your Venatori law.”

    “I am not a slave to them or to anyone.”

    He took a long hard look at me. Those cold blue eyes piercing my soul. They were unnaturally blue — the blue of contacts, meant to bewilder and mystify his prey. And then he laughed and stood up. “Good. That is what I like to hear.” He sauntered over to me and offered me his hand like a goddamned sheik of Persia or something. Like I was going to kiss his rings. Fuck him!

    I took a step back and extended my arm and shook his hand good and proper. The insult was not lost on him. He growled softly.

    A hand from nowhere emerged and placed it on the vampires shoulder. He was human — completely, with the mark of the vampire floating about his body. Not completely human bound to a vampire through life and death. A chevalier. “Johnny, he’s just a kid.”

    Johnny growled, “He’s a fucking Venatori in my house. Disrespecting me.” He was on top of me before I could react.

    Q: Onslaught (mind) (eased) (9)
    (1d20: [12] = 12)
    Success
    Developer: And…
    Surprise, Bell, Food
    (1d20: [4] = 4)

    Chaos Aura: 1d20: [16] = 16 -> Nothing Happens

    His weight tumbled us to the ground and my magic flared releasing a single pulse into the mind of the vampire on top of me.

    He rolled off of me clutching his head. “What the fuck!”

    I rolled away from him and jumped to my feet crouching in a ready stance. A another bolt at the ready. “I’m not like other Venatori.” I said with a smile. “I don’t want any trouble, but I will defend myself.”

    The man from before stood in between us facing me offering me his hand. “Let’s start over. My name is Zach Moreau. I am Chevalier to Johnny Rose, the proprietor and current supplicant of your good graces.” He glanced back at Johnny.

    “Yes, yes, fine.” He waved away whoever was trying to help him. The girl from before had bestowed upon him a box and he handed it to Zack. “Get him away from me.”

    Zack nodded. “Same model, your sim card should work automatically.” He handed me the new phone and slide a card on top. “This is Jack Wyn’s number, he’s a technical assistant whom Johnny should not use without his sire’s permission, but if you need help. He’s obligated to help you get the phone started. I know Venatori don’t issue your devices, stuck in the stone age. Stupidest species on the planet if you ask me.”

    I chuckled. “I don’t disagree. Thank you. I really don’t want any trouble.”

    Zack nodded. “I know. We’ve been having issues as of late. Rumors abound that Johnny is in possession of something he is not. Not sure why anyone would think that his sire would leave such an important artifact in her delinquent childe’s hands. People are such idiots.”

    “People believe what they want to.” I said.

    “You are right there. Good luck, Nox. I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot about you now that you are exiled to the Den of Darkness.”

    “Thanks.” I said. I wasn’t sure exactly I was thanking him for, but it seemed the right thing to say as I was shown downstairs. At least I got a new phone out of the deal — and a boy’s number. That was a good start to a new life.

  • The Book – Part 4

    The Book – Part 4

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    I watched his fine ass walk away from me. He was trailing after the owner of the club out a side entrance. I almost followed him out but Benji slid into the vacant spot with a wide grin. “So, he was cute. But that’s Johnny Rose he’s trailing after.”

    “I know who it is.” I scowled. “Fucking vampire.”

    Benji ordered a drink and by the time the bartender brought it over Johnny Rose was walking back in with the Pretty boy in tow. He didn’t look overly enthused and his shirt had a dark stain that hadn’t been there. He walked past the bar, his eyes meeting mine and he grinned madly. There was a bright twinkle in those gorgeous eyes as he grabbed Johnny Rose’s arm and the vampire leaned back and listened to the words he spoke into his ear.

    And then with a lick of his fucking lips he was standing in front of me with that smile and those eyes and holding out his hand. He leaned in and asked, “Can I give you my number?”

    I smirked never taking my eyes off his lips and pulled my phone from my back pocket. “You can give me anything you want,” I said meeting his eyes and unlocking my phone with my thumbprint.

    He grinned at me and then dropped his eyes to my phone, and rapidly tapped through the contacts and added his number with ease, and then pressed ‘call’. “So I have your number. But asshat over there tossed mine, and I need a new one.” He held up the shattered glass of a now broken phone he had cradle in the pocket of his hoodie.

    He glanced over in the direction of Johnny Rose and nodded that way when he met my eyes again. “I don’t think he’s very patient. Call me,” he said with a shy grin, “Please,” he added with a little wave and was off following the fucking vampire through the club and upstairs.

    My eyes lingered on him while he talked just beyond the glass windows that overlooked the club.

    Benji kicked my boots and laughed. “I think someone’s a bit hot and bothered by a cute boy.”

    I rolled my eyes. “He’s vampire bait,” I said. Though I don’t think any Venatori would let a vampire bite them — not on pain of death anyway.

    Benji laughed. “You know that safe is in that room right? If he’s chummy with the vamps…” Benji let the thought trail off as I glanced back up and watched that Pretty boy take a sip of from a crystal glass filled with a clear liquid and topped with a slice of lemon. A bright smile shown on his lips as he talked with his hands.

    “I dunno.” I said.

    And I watched him until Benji touched my shoulder. “I’m starving. Let’s get something to eat.”

    I looked up one last time to see the Pretty boy taking another sip of his drink and nodding as the vampire spoke to him from the nearby desk. I sighed but nodded. “Let’s go.”

    We walked down the street in front of Frozen towards the corner and where Serenity was parked. “There’s a good diner at the corner shopping mall.” Benji said. “Great breakfast food. I’m sure they’ll serve pancakes and icecream.”

    I chuckled. “You know the way to my heart.” I pressed my hands to my chest and batted my eyelashes at my friend.

    “As long as that’s all I know the way to.” Benji laughed.

    We walked through the parking lot of the corner strip mall to a small hole in the wall diner situated between a barber pole and a nail salon. “Great neighbors.” I laughed.

    “Don’t knock it till you tried it.” Benji smiled and opened the door stepping through with a push of the heavy door so I could follow through. I caught the jingling door on my back foot and it eased closed behind me.

    “Welcome to the Corner Bistro.” A waitress said from the counter. “Find a seat and I’ll be right with you.”

    The place didn’t look busy, and there was only one waitress in view. This close to a Bar Bend they should get a lot of business.

    Benji chuckled as we sat down opposite each other in a booth in the corner. Benji let me face the door knowing my proclivitiy to know exactly who was around me. “They’ll pick up more around closing time. A few girls are probably chilling in the back while it’s slow.”

    I nodded as the waitress came by with water glasses. “I’m Shelly. What can I get you gentlemen to drink?”

    “Coffee.” I said. “He’ll take a glass of boring old water. And you can take my order too while you are here.”

    She grinned at me and pulled out her notepad. Benji added, “We’ll have a short stack of pancakes with strawberry icecream each. And don’t forget the maple syrup.”

    “Of course. Interesting choice. Icecream sounds like a great topping, I’ll have to try it.”

    “You should.” I said.

    We ate , and chatted and I day dreamed about when I might get a call from the Pretty Boy who was making friendly with vampires. I pulled my phone out and looked at the last call. He’d typed in his name… Nox. I sent him a text.

    [!info] Alex
    Call me when you get this message.

    Benji chuckled as I tucked my phone back in my pocket.

  • The Book – Part 3

    The Book – Part 3

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    Q: Is Jace being tossed because he’s Venatori?
    (1d20+0: [13]+0 = 13)
    Yes

    Q: Was he threatening a patron?
    (1d20+0: [7]+0 = 7)
    No

    Q: Did someone complain?
    (1d20+0: [7]+0 = 7)
    No

    Q: Did he hit on the wrong person?
    (1d20+0: [19]+0 = 19)
    Yes, and Duty, Question, Clue

    I was pretty sure the hot guy was flirting with me. His smile was infectious and he couldn’t take his eyes off my lips which only made me bite my bottom lip more. So maybe not as straight as I originally thought. But I didn’t get a chance to look long, or figure out what exactly he was hiding because he certainly was keeping something on the DL.

    Over his shoulder I saw Jace being hauled out of the club with one arm wrenched behind his back and he was trying to talk over his shoulder to the big vampire who was dragging him out.

    I should have asked for his number, or said something cooler than, ‘maybe I’ll see you around’. But I was a bit preoccupied with my roommate’s problem at that moment. I followed them outside with the other security guard looking back at me, or maybe it was the guy following them out. He didn’t look like he was the guy Jace had hit on, maybe a friend? But he watched everything with just a little distance behind the guards and my brother — like he was waiting to see what happened.

    Q: Is Johnny following Jace out?
    (1d20+0: [16]+0 = 16)
    Yes

    As I followed them out the side door, not even the front. Whatever he’d done was not something for the public to be privy to. The guy following them stepped into the alley after the guards tossed Jace through the heavy door.

    Q: Do they want to harm Jace?
    (1d20+0: [15]+0 = 15)
    Yes

    Q: Did Jace hit on Zack?
    (1d20+0: [11]+0 = 11)
    Yes, but Nothing, Carry, Smell
    GM Intrusion

    The guards standing at the door glared at me and I nodded past them. “I’m with him.”

    They took one look at me and shoved me out the door too. I guess they didn’t like the look of my tattoo. “Stay out!”

    I turned with a grin and frowned, “I guess I’ll give giving you a shitty review on Yelp.”

    The man who had been steadily approaching Jace stopped and turned towards me with a frown of his own. “You? What?” he said bewildered.

    “Ya know, the internet. It’s a website that has reviews of bars and restaurants and just about everything.” I pulled out my phone and opened the app, found ‘Frozen’ on the list and I showed him the screen.

    “Why the fuck?” The vampire said as he snatched my phone from me and glared at it like it was a foreign language.

    “Nox, don’t. I got this.” Jace tried to interrupt and he pulled out a stake from the inside of his jacket.

    The vampire’s back was to him as Jace raised the stake high to strike hard through the rib cage. I grab the vampire and move him out of the way as I step between Jace and him.

    Q: Speed defense (eased) (9)
    (1d20: [7] = 7)
    Fail
    Developer: PC Enabler
    Device, Fancy, Break
    (1d20: [15] = 15)

    Nox takes 2 damage

    The wooden stake jabs into my right shoulder and I can feel the wheels turning in Jace’s head. “What the fuck man!”

    “You can’t come into a vampire den and just whack a vampire because he’s a fucking vampire.” I shouted. “What did he do? Where’s your fucking contract?”

    Jace pointed at him. “He’s a fucking vampire and was going to kill me if I didn’t kill him first. And all be cause I talked to his precious human blood bag.”

    “His what?”

    “He hit on Zack. And Zack is tired of his shit.” The vampire said tossing my phone against the ground and it crackled and snapped.

    “Awe you fucker!” I complained, but the vampire was advancing on Jace and I raced between them again pressing my hands to both their chests as they tried to press in on each other.

    The guards at the door chuckled at the display.

    “Back the fuck off.” I shouted at the vampire. “He won’t do it again. He won’t come here again.” I looked over my shoulder to Jace. “Will you?”

    His dull green eyes glared at me as he pushed me towards the vampire. “Go fuck yourself!” And he ran off down the alley and into the street full of mundane people minding their own business.

    With Jace gone, the weight of the vampire’s stare fell on me. I just rolled my eyes as I removed my hand from his chest and walked around him to pick up my smashed phone. “Thanks for that.” I said to the vampire as I held up my phone and walked past him.

    The vampire grabbed my elbow and I turned to glare at him. “Yeah? You want something?”

    “What’s your name?”

    I stopped and turned towards him. “Nox.”

    “Nox what?” he asked with a smile forming on his lips, and the tips of his fangs peaking out.

    “Sétanta. Why? You know some other Nox?”

    He chuckled. “Just rumors. Your Venatori like to talk and complain while they drink.”

    “They aren’t my Venatori. They don’t like me.” I said and turned back to walk home. I was going to have issues with my roommate I think.

    The vampire grabbed my elbow again. “Come. Let me buy you a drink and replace your phone. I was careless. And you took a stake for me. I owe you at least that.” He offered me his hand with a generous smile. “My name is Johnny Rose.”

  • The Book – Part 2

    The Book – Part 2

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    Q: Is Alex at Frozen scoping out the book?
    (1d20+0: [20]+0 = 20)
    Yes, and Faith, Proposal, Crack

    Q: He brought Benji as cover?
    (1d20+0: [5]+0 = 5)
    No

    Q: Is Benji his informant?
    (1d20+0: [12]+0 = 12)
    Yes, but Persuade, Garbage, Curiosity

    The music was too loud. I fucking hated coming to this vampire den of depravity. It wasn’t the depravity that irked me it was all the willing innocents he exposed their veins to the blood suckers. Why the fuck you’d want to do that was beyond me. They all deserved a quick blow to the heart with a wooden fucken stake — yes, the myths on that one were true!

    Growing up in dens of sin I knew more than own fair share of lore. Hated every minute of those lessons but they stuck to some degree. But right now Benji was laying out the lay of the land and I tried hard to focus on his words. I listened more to his mind than to his words, it was easier to focus on that than my own ears.

    “The office is upstairs. Johnny keeps a safe and that’s where Rika says the book is. I don’t know why you want an old dusty tome of bullshit,” he complained again.

    I looked around and clocked all the guards and cameras. At least my training had come in handy for something. Too bad any Venatori here would likely put a bullet in my head as much as any vampire here. They frowned upon deserters, but when you get shit on your whole life you kinda don’t respect their authority. I sure as fuck didn’t.

    Benji glanced over at the bar and smirked. “Alex, seems you’ve got a fan.” I looked over in the direction Benji indicated and there stood a fucking Venatori. The cross swords at his right temple. He didn’t look like any of the smug bastards I grew up with. The painted black fingernails, the red dyed tips of his hair and the dark eyeliner encircling those big brown fucking eyes. He was clearly not your average shithead. He licked his lips and diverted his gaze.

    Benji leaned in and chuckled. “I think he’s hot for you.”

    “Who wouldn’t be?” I smirked. “We done here?”

    Benji shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. Nothing we can do tonight, too many fucking vamps, easier to do it when the suns up.”

    “I’ll see you at home,” I said as I stepped away from Benji and made my way over to my peeping tom.

    He turned around to face the bar and buried his face in his hands. The slight blush to his ears still visible as I pushed my way past the dickwad standing next to him.

    “Watch it asshole,” the guy shouted at me as he carried a pitcher of beer towards his table.

    I didn’t apologize as I squeezed in next to the strange Venatori who’d been watching me. “Like what you saw?” I asked.

    “Pardon?” he said looking over at me before he recognized me and stood up straight. The red of his ears grew darker and his neck flushed even brighter red. Almost the color of his hoodie he casually wore like armor.

    It was only a moment of shock before a bright toothy smile stretched his lips and he leaned back down on the bar and looked over his shoulder at me with a grin. “Maybe.”

    I couldn’t take my eyes off his lips. “Don’t see many of your kind around here. Unless you are on official business anyway.” I tapped my right temple.

    Q: Deceive Nox into believing he’s not Venatori (x2) (6)
    (1d20: [13] = 13)
    Success
    Developer: And…
    Animal droppings, Guard, Dungeon
    (1d20: [4] = 4)

    Q: Nox perceives the magic at Alex’s temple? (x1) (9)
    (1d20: [9] = 9)
    Success
    Developer: NPC Inhibitor
    Noxious, Knowledge, City
    (1d20: [17] = 17)

    He grinned at me with a smile. He knew I wasn’t being one-hundred precent truthful, though I didn’t really know how and he didn’t give away anything when he spoke. “I just got into town, my new roommate decided I needed to get laid.”

    “So your roommate brings you to a bloodsucker den to get fucked.” I rolled my eyes.

    He leaned in close and spoke softly. “Pretty sure he’s testing me.”

    “Testing you?” Why on god’s green earth would they have to test a tattoo’d Venatori. We were grown and passed and fully able to take c are of ourselves — at least that was the theory. I hadn’t been gone that long for things to change. He wasn’t that much younger than me, was he?

    He was watching something behind my shoulder as he spoke, “Yeah.” His single word was slow like he was paying attention to whatever was going on behind me. I turned to watch the scene unfolding. A man with the Venatori tattoo was being manhandled by two guards. He struggled and my new friend pushed away from the bar. “I gotta go.” He turned to me with a grin, “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

    He followed the struggling git out and I was torn between following him, or using the distraction to slip into the shadows and figure out my next move.

    [!note] GM Intrusion
    +1XP Nick is thrown out

  • The Book – Part 1

    The Book – Part 1

    Adventure Status: Unstable 4 (12)
    Date: Friday Night

    Q: Does Nox start asking for permission to follow the lead?
    (1d20+0: [9]+0 = 9)
    No, but Give, Village, Enthusiastic

    Q: Does he have permission to go?
    (1d20+0: [20]+0 = 20)
    Yes, and Punish, Turgid, Toss
    GM Intrusion – Not used

    Q: Is Nox suspended?
    (1d20+0: [12]+0 = 12)
    Yes, but Medicine, Duty, Slave
    GM Intrusion – Not used

    Nox has been exiled to Dangdhburg for disobeying a direct order.

    Q: Is Nox on patrol?
    (1d20+0: [4]+0 = 4)
    No

    Q: at HQ?
    (1d20+0: [1]+0 = 1)
    No, and Representative, Fresh, Dream

    Q: At his home?
    (1d20+0: [6]+0 = 6)
    No

    Q: At a club?
    (1d20+0: [19]+0 = 19)
    Yes, and Carry, Shoe, Foliage

    Q: Is Alex at the club too?
    (1d20+0: [11]+0 = 11)
    Yes, but Glare, Craft, Dispute

    The music was loud on the dimly lit dance floor of the nightclub I had been dragged to by my current roommate. I’d been in town for nearly an hour when I was shown to the shared occupancy room in the dormitory of the Dangdhburg Headquarters. My reputation preceded me and most of the higher echelon sneered and turned their nose up at me. It wasn’t anything I wasn’t used to, but whatever. My roommate on the other hand was all too happy to have a friend. He was one of those guys who floated from city to city looking for a fight and just before they’d ship him off to another city he’d leave all on his own. And I had the goddamned pleasure of rooming with him — again.

    My roommate turned to be my former Academy roommate who tormented and tortured me my entire teenage life. And now I had to live with his ass again. But what greeted me was a friendly smile and a long dramatic ‘you look good’ gaze before he dragged me out to get laid.

    Jace handed me a beer and leaned against the bar we stood at and gazed out over the thick crowd on the dancefloor. He looked me up and down with a grin on his face. He reached up and tousled the crimson red tips in my hair and tugged at the string of my gray hoodie. “You could have dressed up a little. You won’t get laid looking like this, Nox.”

    The smirk turned seductive as he leaned in and whispered. “But maybe I’ll fuck you.” He squeezed my arm and ran his fingers down my chest towards my belt buckle before he pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek and laughed. “I’m gonna go find me some,” he whispered and then shifted away from me with the lithe movements of a cat.

    While I appreciated being forgotten by my former tormentor, I was tired and drained from the anxiety filled flight from New York to this god forsaken city in the South. The heat was horrid and I was dying, or rather I would have been if the place wasn’t air conditioned. It still was hot because of all the bodies, but at least over half of the occupancy was vampire and cold to the touch.

    I followed the line Jace took and my eyes roamed the crowd for anything of interest. I’d already located all the exits and cameras like my training dictated. I was well aware of the security details lining the walls and the few watching from the balcony above. My eyes fell across couples chatting and singles mingling. Several vampires were cozing up next to their next meal.

    The whole place was charged with an energy that shouted sex and blood despite the clubs name Frozen, it was everything but. The dancers on the pole were sexy and sexual. The music imploded with the same energy. Everything about the place shouted vampire den seeking willing blood donors. And yet there were men in floral shirts and shorts and women wearing sun dresses looking like they were here on vacation. Jace said it was a tourist trap and it catered to the townies as well as those on vacation. Provocative and sexual all the hallmarks of a romantic getaway.

    Two men near the dancefloor stood close together but they didn’t look like they were a couple, their posture and placement were off and their conversation looked heated.

    Q: Perception (read lips) (12)
    (1d20: [8] = 8)
    Fail
    Developer: Find 1d6 Cyphers
    1d6: [6] = 6

    I was too far away to make out any of the conversation. But I couldn’t help but notice the taller of the two men with his dark inky black hair, the breath of his shoulders and the cut of his shirt. He work tight black jeans tucked over a pair of black combat boots and I couldn’t help but stare. He was hot as fuck and my reaction was visceral.

    His friend said something and Mr. Hottie looked in my direction with those piercing ice blue eyes and my dick hardened in my already tight jeans. I licked my lips and looked away. Not the first time I’d gotten caught staring at a hot straight man.

  • About My World

    About My World

    AJ saw a post on Facebook requestion people to ask about their world. We thought it was a great idea. So we’ve asked on Facebook and Twitter and will on Instagram and now I’m doing it here.

    Ask us anything and we’ll answer. And if we don’t know, we’ll make something up and you’ll have contributed to canonizing something for me to deal with later — maybe.

  • Interruptus Ideas

    Interruptus Ideas

    So I mentioned monster hunter genre. I mentioned we might be posting. AJ’s let me derail our full on fantasy game for a modern more adaptable Nox and Alex to how we think and feel. We aren’t our selves in exactness and we follow some basic cypher rules instead of full on out this is my world. AJ’s trying to adapt me to the rules of the world we’ve set up and we’ve got two scenes down. But AJ’s doubting the rules just a little and is considering rewriting my character sheet before we get to far into this. Doesn’t change the scenes written exactly, could throw one roll but we can let that one roll slide.

    So starting in the near future, we’ll post the new story. AJ’s not 100% percent sure on what we are going to call this adventure. Right now it’s titled “The Book” since that’s the object we are going after. And it may stay that. Not sure yet. We’ll be working on the menu here and getting a potential lore site going. Maybe. But I wanted to let ya’ll know that there will be a change in programming. AJ liked the game, was enjoying writing it but when the world and characters don’t prompt a night time vigil of what’s next we kinda flake on it. So this is more me. More fluid and hopefully we’ll stick to it. If not you’ll see another one of these posts and I’ll tell you a new story.

    So we’ll see how it all goes. Wish us luck

The Mind of Nox

escaping into reality

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