[[PT-PP-F29] Soul Sisters <<ON THE HOUSE>>

[Mari 1]

***

How did she end up like this? More than slightly inebriated wedged into the back of the cart between two very attractive and very…. “You both smell nice…”  Oops. Very nice smelling ladies. If anyone were to look at the scene - Mari would almost look like she had mad game - but she very much in fact did not have any game.

With one hand on Katoka's thigh - the other in her own lap and with Arcanthus wrapping her arm around Mari’s shoulders.The woman was stunlocked.

“My arms are just a little cramped. I’m not trying to be weird. I won’t be weird if you aren’t weird. If it’s weird, I can stop.” 

Mari shook her head, flushed and flustered. “You’re not being w-weird..” Her head lulled to rest on Katokas shoulder. Not as drunk as Arcanthus, walking all those stairs had helped sober her up but still feeling the dull buzz.  “The attention feels…nice.” Her thumb would absently  run over Katokas thigh. Last time Mari came here was with Freyd…She closed her eyes with a small groan. That had been a reintroduction that could have gone better.

But it could have gone far worse too.

Mari felt Arcanthus’ hand move across her shoulder, then with a flash, she mentioned something that piqued Mari’s attention Whiskey. The ginger was about to make for a taste of it, snake whiskey? That sounded even better.

 

 “There’s not a lot of room in the carriage. Maybe I’ll just ride on top instead.” She leaned across Mari one more time to look out, and that’s when Mari wrapped a hand around her waist, perhaps a little possessively so.

“Don’t!” The comment was said with a kind of panicked tone that caused the other two to pause.

“I-I mean-” Mari let go of the other woman, quickly apologizing. “Sorry-I just…no. When Freyd climbed to the top of it he was struck by lightning. I don’t want that to…hic-happen. Here.”

 “Mm. That probably wouldn’t work. Besides, we’re almost there. I can see the ship—”

A bolt of lightning cracked against the upper deck of the ship. Point Made.

Kat buried herself in Mari’s arm. “A-A-Acanthus is that supposed to happen?!”

Mari buried her face in Katoka’s hair, breathing it in for a moment then laughed. “Yeh. See. Point made. Be thankful its not raining right now.” Mari said as she motioned for them to leave the carriage. “C’Mon. Let’s get outta here. There should be some cargo in the bottom of the ship. We just got…got..-hic- bring it back to the carriage. Then downstairs. In that tavern.”

[Katoka 0]

The second that Mari's hand had ended up on her thigh, Katoka had felt a heat run through her that she hadn't felt in a long time. At least with someone else.

Each time her thumb stroked the bare skin it was like an electric shock ran through her, making her brain melt into soup in her head. At he mention of attention feeling nice, Kat almost let out a sound that would have made a nun blush. Instead she bit her lip and attempted to look out the window of the carriage. The attention was, in fact, unbelievably nice. She had lost count of the days (on purpose) of how long it had been since someone had touched her, held her, kissed her. She barely knew Mari, she could be horrible for her for all she knew. When Mari's head rested once again on her shoulder she realized at this point that she didn't care how bad or good the woman was, there was an ember or desire that was beginning to spark.

Mari had reached out, grabbing Acanthus' waist to pull her back into the cart and Kat felt something rumble inside her. She pushed the roar of jealously down, surprised at the feeling. It had been a while since she felt that as well. It all melted away after the lighting had startled her of course, even more so when she felt Mari press her face into her head and breath her in. If she could have she would have evaporated right then and there, letting her breath in her everything.

"Thank god I'm not drunk right now, I would not have any self control." she thought.

Instead she asked aloud to Mari, "So you know Freyd huh? He's like a brother to me. Not like, actually, but like in the sense of found family if that makes sense?" she felt as though she was rambling.

The three of them exited the carriage and Katoka took a deep breath in order to calm herself down. If she wasn't careful, she would end up in Mari's lap before the day would end and she didn't want to do that just yet. That was a lie, of course she wanted to do that but she probably shouldn't just yet. They had just met after all.

Clearing her throat she turned to the two women and placed her hands on her hips, "Alright ladies, shall we investigate this haunted as hell ship and get some booze?"

***

Getting on to the ship had proved to be much easier than Katoka had anticipated. When they approached from the dock there had apparently already been a gangplank placed ready for them to board. Even the parts of the ship that had been hit by the lightning were seemingly out of the way. When the group had descended below deck, the light level was near darkness. Something did manage to stand out to her, a figure in the darkness, followed by a constant brushing sound. Kat approached, her hand on her sword as the figure came into view. It was a person... Or, a fish? It was something humanoid. A broom in it's hands as it swept the floor.

The creature looked up at the samurai, and cocked it's head to the side. Kat similarly mirrored the confused look and the thing simple continued sweeping. Her shoulders relaxed, but her hand never left it's place on her sword. "I guess it's not hostile." she said aloud.

She began to inspect the various cargo boxes while keeping an eye on the fish man that seemed to be a few steps behind her the entire time.

----

ID#: 248053 | LD: 4

Edited Saturday at 04:06 AM by Katoka

[Acanthus 0]

Quote

“You both smell nice…”

Acanthus turned a color reserved for PK markers. Her eyes slid down to Kat’s lap, where Mari’s thumb playfully stroked the girl’s thigh, and Acanthus realized that she was sending an awful lot of false positives to her friends. The carriage had not yet stopped before Acanthus tumbled out, nearly caught under a slow wheel. “Ah, um, my hand just slipped on the door. Also, it was getting a little hot in the carriage. Just a lot of heat. That’s my bad.”

Quote

“Alright ladies, shall we investigate this haunted as hell ship and get some booze?”

“Absolutely.” Acanthus was grateful for the invitation, something to direct her gnawing anxieties towards. “Lead the way, Kat.”

The depths of the boat offered very little light for the players. Acanthus was grateful yet again for her low-light vision. And grateful yet again for Katoka taking the lead on assessing the strange fishman, sweeping silently.

“That’s very odd. That thing was not here at all when I did this the first time. We can keep an eye on it while we move things above deck. It will go faster if we form a chain, I think.” Acanthus made light small talk as they worked, crates under one arm, a bottle in the other hand. “Mari, you said Freyd got struck by lightning on this quest? How on earth did he survive that?”  

Last time she had been here, the world fragmented into different senses and shattered into a nonsense so terrifying that she had been convinced she would die. Today, there was just a fish man.

JUST A FISH MAN THIS TIME? A JOKE.

The familiar voice sliced into her nerves. She dropped her crate of alcohol, and it exploded with a loud noise. A new crate materialized by the fish-man.

LAST TIME, SHE SEES THE FACE OF GOD. SHE NEARLY DIES. THE IDIOT GIRL WAS SPOON-FED HER ESCAPE. AND SHE RETURNS, AS IF THIS QUEST WERE A JOKE.

The voice swelled with uncharacteristic emotion: fear. When had the voice ever been afraid? To Acanthus, it *was* the terror in the night.

WE ARE NOT AFRAID. WE ARE, IF ANYTHING, AWARE. The voice seethed as it trawled through Acanthus’ thoughts. IT IS YOU WHO IS NOT AFRAID ENOUGH. LEAVE. NOW.

Acanthus practically flew from the boat with the fresh crate of alcohol, waving off any questions the girls might ask until they had all left the boat. “... Just seasickness,” she would respond, with an air that begged for no more questions.

Rolling LD for Unloading the Cargo
248095 | LD 16
You hear a voice that only you can hear. It speaks in tongues but you understand. Terrible things whispered into your ear, Once you depart from the vessel, the voice is no longer with you.

Edited Saturday at 06:27 PM by Acanthus

[Mari 1]

 “Ah, um, my hand just slipped on the door. Also, it was getting a little hot in the carriage. Just a lot of heat. That’s my bad.”

Mari waved Arcanthus off, “Dun worry…dun worry.” She didn’t want to make the brunette uncomfortable. Mari pointed at the bottle of snake whiskey. “Can I?” She was beginning to sober up a little too much for her liking. Arcanthus nodded and passed it to her. Mari threw her head back and drank. Bitter it wasn’t like most whiskeys she enjoyed. This one was oaky, maybe a little too much peat for her liking. “Erhhh…soso.” Mari slurred as she passed the bottle back.

 "So you know Freyd huh? He's like a brother to me. Not like, actually, but like in the sense of found family if that makes sense?" 

Found family huh? Mari had to admit she felt a little jealous. She didn’t have anything like that. The ones she did all left. So what was the point of making those connections again. “A brother like Freyd, huh?” Mari asked as she absently pat Katoka’s head. “I don’t know how you’d put up with someone like that as a brother…” Mari said with a laugh as she drew her hand away. “He’s good people though…” A pause as she stumbled forward a few steps. “Very good people. Probably…” Mari lifted her hand, trying to count people she trusted. “Maybe one of two…three people I trust? Yeh…Good people.”

Finally, they were on the ship. Mari groaned when she saw the fish person, she pointed toward it as she nudged Arcanthus, the whiskey beginning to kick in. “Hey…that thing…washh ‘ere when..when i ‘ere..” She stumbled toward the fish person shoving the palm of her haand into it and pushing it several feet away from Katoka. “Nonono…no…noooo.” She kept saying as it kept trying to follow Katoka.

With alcohol nabbed, and fish people successfully pushed away from pretty ladies the women were heading back toward the carriage.

Mari, you said Freyd got struck by lightning on this quest? How on earth did he survive that?”  

Mari stumbled, almost collapsing into the side of the horseless carriage. “I -hich- oh..uhm…” she swung her hand around as though she had a sword. “Lightnin’ rod shord.”

[Katoka 0]

Opening the lids of various crates seemed to be the easiest way to find what they were looking for. It was odd though, considering most ships would have the lids of their cargo nailed down to keep things from breaking or falling out. This was a game though and that logic didn't always apply. Katoka felt relieved that Mari was keeping the odd fish man away from her while she searched. She still let her left hand rest on the hilt of her weapon just in case.

"Freyd is..." she opened another crate and smiled at the contents. Several bottles willed with an amber liquid. "He's not a bad person. A lot of people misjudge him based on first meetings or bad encounters in the past." The blonde hefted the crate up, tucking it awkwardly under one arm. "He's gone through a lot, he's grown and changed for the better. I witnessed him at a very low point and he witnessed me at more than one of mine."

She turned to face Mari, smiling at her warmly, "Being there to help someone up when they are at their lowest? That is someone that I can trust. Someone that I can call family, friend, or partner."

Kat watched as Acanthus hurried off the ship, she searched the room for anything that could have provoked her before following. As she passed Mari she reached out and grasped her hand, pulling her along with her. "Maybe one day you can add either of us to your list of people you trust."

Pulling the drunk woman along, Katoka was glad that she was ahead of her. The warmth of her hand made the samurai blush, but she didn't let go until they had made it off the ship. She checked on Acanthus, worried that something had happened. She claimed it had been sea sickness, though Kat didn't buy it. They were stationary for most of the time. She didn't push the subject, but she did rub her back slightly, "Take all the time you need. I'll load this on the carriage while you catch your breath."

Kat motioned for Mari to keep an eye on the woman while she approached the carriage. Glancing off in the distance she noticed a lone figure, perched on top of the hill with ragged clothes billowing in the wind. She squinted for a moment, attempting to make out what it could be. After a second she finally was able to put her finger on it. It was just a scarecrow. Chuckling to herself she went back to placing the cargo on the back of the carriage. There was a small area usually meant for bags or luggage that was a perfect spot. Once she had arranged the different cargo crates on the back she brushed off her hands and called over to the women.

"All arbored! Next stop, the bar!" she laughed. She stopped abruptly as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. Turning around and half drawing her sword she surveyed the area. There was nothing but the lone scarecrow half way down the hill.

She arched brow. Hadn't it been at the top of the hill initially? "Ok, lets get a move on. Something feels off."

Keeping her eyes on the scarecrow, she backed up and waited for the others to get inside the carriage. Once they had she hopped inside and slammed the door shut. "Let's move ghost horse!"

After a moment the carriage began to turn and head back the way it had came.

***

The entire trip back Katoka would see the scarecrow. Any time she looked away and back outside it was in a new location, the same tattered clothes and the same creepy face. She had barely noticed she was sitting next to Mari again until she had wrapped her arm around hers again and leaned against her. Her cheeks flushed but at this point she didn't care. That thing outside was giving her the creeps and she wanted some comfort. Burring her face into Mari's arm she reached out with her free hand and rested it on her thigh this time.

She stayed like that for as long as possible, taking in the warmth and touch of another for as long as she could. After all, she didn't know when she would get to again. With a lurch the cart came to halt and Kat peaked out of the window. They had made it back to town safe and sound. Now all that was left was to unload everything and they could have their drinks. Reluctantly the samurai unwrapped herself from the orange haired woman and exited the carriage. Looking around her eyes fell on the scarecrow once again, just down the street on the corner. She hurriedly grabbed a crate of alcohol and entered the cellar door that was propped open just outside the building. With a quick glance out the door again, the scarecrow was gone.

She sighed in relief and followed the steps down into the cold storage cellar.

----

ID#: 248097 | LD: 1

Edited Saturday at 07:51 PM by Katoka

[Acanthus 0]

“Lightnin’ rod shord.”

“I should have suspected. Freyd always has a way out, doesn’t he?”

Recovering from her “seasickness,” Acanthus watched Kat lead Mari back to the carriage hand-in-hand. Love, infatuation, plain horniness—whatever the emotion was, Acanthus watched it develop with an air of dispassionate intrigue. How did those feelings develop? Was it a conscious effort on her part? Anytime she’d asked her friends, the answer was the same: a casual shrug and a non-committal “you just know.” But I don’t. So either I’m clueless, or uninterested in the mystery.

Uninterested most of the time, at least. Acanthus cringed at the memory, taking a swig of a new bottle. Her “factory reset” comment had been crass, and honestly, she wished that she’d never said or thought anything of the sort. Edict was a good person to have shut her down like that. She needed to be careful around others, though. Bonding was acceptable, but some walls are in place for a reason.

Kat and Mari disappeared into the carriage, and Acanthus thought it would be best to give them a little time to bond. She called after them as the door shut. “I think I’m going to ride up front on the way back. There’s a strange scarecrow in the distance. Probably harmless, but it wouldn’t hurt to have eyes on it for—”

Her cloak caught as she climbed into the front. Mari had opened the carriage and seized a handful of cloth as Acanthus walked by. Acanthus turned back to meet Mari’s eyes: they were both playful and possessive—Acanthus felt like the favorite toy being pulled from the closet. Worse, she could not determine which emotion dominated. Acanthus sighed, and took a much longer pull from the bottle, and ducked into the carriage.

Acanthus relaxed as the carriage traveled. The new mystery liquor did most of the work, but the presence of the two girls was comforting as well. Even if she didn’t like the hand-holding, and she worried constantly about leading them on…

“You guys...” Acanthus started. (More faithfully, it sounded something like “Youguuuuyizh.” But Acanthus had reached a state of intoxication both endearing to listen to and painful to read. So I leave it up to you to translate.) “You guys, this has been fun. I haven’t really had a lot of time to just… I don’t know, goof off. And I know we’re doing a quest, and I know it’s on the weird fucky floor, but still… Today has reminded me of University in all the good ways. The few days where my friends pulled me away from books to go shopping or drinking, or Karaoke…”

She trailed off, watching the silent scarecrow chase them blink after blink. Acanthus giggled. It probably wasn’t funny, but it was more amusing than the weird Doppleganger she encountered on her last run. “Sorry, the straw man is being silly. Anyways, I’m trying to say thanks for everything. I hope we do this again. Maybe at my place next time... Or anywhere that isn’t Floor 29.”
 

Rolling LD for Travel Back
248246 | LD 2
You pass a scarecrow that moves every time you take your eyes off of it. It disappears as you enter the bar.

Edited 19 hours ago by Acanthus

[Mari 1]

. "Maybe one day you can add either of us to your list of people you trust."

"Maybeh...." Mari muttered as Katoka pulled Mari along and helped her into the carriage. Mari trusted very few people. She could count them on one hand - even then, most of those people she couldn't trust with much. Freyd...Raidou - okay. Two. Two people fit that category. At least it was better than none.

 

“I should have suspected. Freyd always has a way out, doesn’t he?”

Mari laughed, "hahah....yeh..." She spoke warmly, recalling the memory. "Yeh...he does...that'sh jush how he ish.. I worry fer him though." It felt like he was in the same position she was a number of years ago, always looking out for others, always planning contingencies, three steps.. four steps ahead. Running like that can only last you so long before you crumble.

Mari glanced out the window to see the strange scarecrow Arcanthus was talking about, every time Mari blinked it felt like it moved a little closer to the cart. "yehm...." She responded with a rub of her eye trying to dislodge the illusion. "I am pretty sure I saw that scarecrow last time too." Mari paused, in her drunken haze she had forgotten to apologize to Arcanthus for practically manhandling her into the back of the carriage. "Shory for grabbin' you back there." She said as she gestured behind her with a small wave of her hand. "I jus...lightning yanno? I didn't want see you explode. Or...uh...Summin."

"Hey - Shorry 'bout before." Mari began, " I just...Didn' wan shee you hurt.. yanno?"

I hope we do this again. Maybe at my place next time... Or anywhere that isn’t Floor 29.”

That's when Mari paused, giving Arcanthus a quizzical look. She...wanted to hang out again? When was the last time someone sincerely - albeit absolutely sloshed out of their fucking mind - but sincerely meant that? Mari was able to interpret most of the other womans slurred words.  "I don't...think I've really had sum one shay that befor." Mari said as she ran a hand through her hair. It felt awkward to hear, and even more awkward to admit.

When was the last time she had something like that?

****

Casual, albeit slightly awkward on Mari's behalf continued on the way back, mostly to do with scarecrows - and preferred alcohol types. Katoka was leaning up against Mari, and Mari didn't mind. She liked the warmth - and no problem with physical touch. Katoka seemed unnerved she shivered so Mari simply kept her arm around the womans shoulder, absently trawling her fingers through the womans hair. 

It wasn't long before they left the carriage, two of the three stumbling down into the basement. "There." Mari pointed to a corner - "Thatsh where I-I shoved my stuff last time."

 

ID:248253 LD 1 - scarecrow

Edited 3 hours ago by Mari