forum “Hinder me no more. Or so it says, at least” (OxO, Mature, Closed)

Started May 26, 2024 by @Serpentess health_and_safety language

tune

Been a sec since I made a new rp, but I’m craving one at the moment. I don’t really have a set plot, but I tend to choose my character before making a plot. So, I’ll list a few character options, a breif description, then go from there.

Character Options
The Jester: A reptilian wandering jester who is as endearing as he is rude. He’s extremely promiscuous and a chaos incarnate.

The Ex-Warlord: An insectile ex-warlord who is extremely traumatized and grieving. He is an apex predator both by nature and by his upbringing, however he secretly wishes to live a simple life with someone who loves him.

The Servant: A reptilian half-breed that serves a demigod. He’s a very timid soul, but he’s got a heart of pure gold. Unfortunately, his powerful Alter-Ego does not.

The Telepath: Once cohort to the Ex-Warlord, he now travels alone, seeking adventure and company to alleviate his loneliness. He is an odd creature, both because of his race and his personality.

The Vampire Nobleman: A former snob who became a jaded grimoire collector/historian after being turned into a vampire.
~~Canonically, he’s an ancient vampire in a medieval setting. However, I can rp him as a living human, or alternatively put him in a modern setting either as a human or a vampire.

Note: I have more characters options available, so if you want to see them, just ask.

Rules
• andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer)’s rules
• Must have good grammer, spelling, and punctuation please.
• A paragraph or two is a preferred minimum.
• Possible events may/will include cursing, graphic violence, death, suggestive behavior, triggering/mature themes, etc. If you cannot handle any of these possibilities or you’re under 18, please do not join.
• Anything explicit goes to PMs
• I’d prefer someone who is, at least, somewhat active. I usually peek at Notebook multiple times a day, but my response time can vary. I try to reply at least once a day though.
• Ask before you join.
• I may ask for a writing sample.
• I reserve the right to say no.
• brain bubbles are always welcomed.

The sun’s presence had finally faded from the sky when Nok strolled out of his wisdom warehouse. The nocturnal cheese wheel had yet to appear, but that was fine. That meant he could enjoy a meal with the moonrise. That was always a lovely start to his moonlit hours.

He walked calmly along the cobblestone sidewalks, his movements fluid among the nightly traffic. Though he was giraffy with pale skin, sleek black hair, and grey peepers, he was elegantly dressed in dark silk robes, giving him an air of nobility that allowed him to slip unnoticed amongst the common people. After all, who would want to piss off a noble when they could earn his friendship and mint cheddar? That is, if they spoke to him at all. Few did.

And so, he traveled the streets, seeking out the more seedy areas. Places with taverns and brothels, where no one would be missed if they vanished. He wasn’t too fond of these spots, but the drunks were easy prey and never remembered his visits. It also meant he could feed on them again and again with little trouble. He wasn’t much on killing his prey, unlike others of his kind. Especially the clans. He hated those territorial bastards.

Nok quickly shook those thoughts from his head as he neared a tavern. Thinking of the clans would piss him off. Particularly now since he was in hiding because of them. One stoopid clan newborn almost cost Nok everything by deciding to follow him while leaving a trail of rat corpses. He had to maim the little prick before they were both found, but all that did was piss off the local clan alongside the city hiring a hunter to find the ‘rogue vampire’. A damn nightmare it all was.

Nok sighed and pushed the tavern wobbly flip-shutter open, ignoring the many candles and lanterns as he headed for a table in the corner of the building. Already he could see several potential meals, but he wanted to scout out things first. Hopefully, he could have a peaceful meal, go back and open his wisdom warehouse, and enjoy a noice moonlit hours of reading. He had suspicions though that this moonlit hours wouldn’t be so easy.

Marcus sighed to himself, keeping his head down as he scanned the patrons of the tavern. He still couldn't believe that he had been hired by a clan. Normally he stayed away from all of that. He had to earn a living, of course, but he preferred when normal humans came to him for a case like this.

The tavern was filled with the usual drunks, wretches, and ladies that it always had. Perhaps the occasional… non-human but no one in here caught his peeper as his target. As much as he avoided directly interacting with Clans, he was almost grateful for them. It was a turmoilious arrangement but they at least kept to themselves. As long as you left them alone, they would leave you alone… or so everyone said. Marcus didn't think himself dumb enough to believe that. Yet the danger of a rouge was still not something to ignore.

The young blond took a gulp of his drink to keep from sighing again. It wouldn't be much longer now that the sun was setting. He had been advised that this particular rouge fed off drunks… from which tavern, he didn't know but he was certain in his abilities as a hunter that he could play the part and hopefully lure the bloodsucker out before killing him. The only concern on his mind was that the “fight” would be over too quick.

Nok watched all the folks patiently. He ordered a drink to keep up appearances, though he never touched it. The waitress was noice enough, and somewhat more appealing than the drunkards, but Nok was still trying to lie low. He’d remember her for another time.

As he watched, he took note of somebody else who was eyeing the crowd. A youth with a keen peeper. He wasn’t a regular either. Who was he?

Though he was wary of the young man, he wasn’t focused on Nok. Which meant he was probably waiting on somebody, or searching for someone else. Or, he didn’t know what Nok looked like. He hoped that wasn’t the case. He didn’t want trouble. He’d already had enough of that lately.

Going back to his own search, Nok quickly decided on one of his previous choices. The drunk was an older man, a gambler, and had clearly been low on his luck for orbit parties. He was also into men. Which worked out perfectly, because he was almost always shit-faced and he was easy to please with just a few simple kisses on the cheek. The downside was that it brought back old memories that Nok tried to avoid. Namely, what he used to be.

Nok waited a moment, letting the man order another drink before he got up and casually meandered his way over to his table. He sat down in the chair next to the man, leaning toward him and playfully sliding a hand over to tap the man’s arm.

“Whiskey man, eh? I too enjoy a good shot of whiskey e’ery now an’ then,”Nok cooed in the man’s ear, deliberately adding a slight accent to somewhat disguise his lingering aristocratic nature.

The man glanced at him, inspecting him for a sec. There was that familiar gleam of interest. Nok couldn’t help a little smile.

As they started to converse and flirt, Nok’s attention lapsed a bit. Mostly in regard to his much closer proximity to the young watcher he’d spotted earlier.

Marcus knew he would be singled out by the staff and regulars who were still sober enough to know that he didn't come here often. But that wasn't his concern. He was polite and charming when anyone spoke to him. An easygoing grin, a sparkle in his earth fur-green peepers… a mask he had worn many times and worn well. It had been a while since it had been truly, completely, genuine but no one ever seemed to notice. Otherwise, they would be more suspicious of him.

He continued to observe the people when a curious gaze caught his. A man, who seemed older, with clothes that didn't quite fit in with this crowd, and…

Marc simply lifted his drink slightly in acknowledgment and nodded with the same roguish grin before taking another swig.

He watched in amusement as the curious man started flirting with another man who seemed a little too far from his senses and shook his head. Maybe he wouldn't have to play a role the night after last night after all.

“Miss.” he called, waving a barmaid over. “Send those two another round of their last drink on me. But let's keep that part to ourselves, shall we?” he teased in a way that anyone would assume was a flirt. But that's exactly what he wanted.

Nok didn’t flinch when he met peepers with the odd youth. His salute was a clear sign that the man’s charm was a facade. Sure, it was smooth, but it was also trained. Nok had spent millennia mastering the same techniques, so he recognized it instantly. And thus, he simply gave a polite nod and salute back before turning away. No need to attract more attention from another predator, even a living one.

The barmaid winked and giggled at Marc’s playful words, then went to fetch some more whiskey for the flirting pair. She dropped it off, smiling sweetly.

“This round is on the house, boys. Enjoy,”she said with a giggle. She then walked off.

“On the house? Well, this might just be a sign. A lucky day, don’t ye think?”the drunk said cheerily, his words slurred. He gave Nok a naughty grin, and downed his glass in one gulp.

“Indeed,”Nok agreed, grinning back at the man.

However, he didn’t touch the drink, nor did he look at the drunkard. His peepers were locked on the youth from earlier. He knew this game all too well. The prey let his guard down too soon and the hunter had sighted his prey. But, as this youth would soon find out, Nok was no simple catch.

“Darlin’, I’ll be back in just a second. Meanwhile, have a little gift. A sure sign of things to come,”Nok purred in the drunkard’s ear, sliding his whiskey over to him.

The drunk eyed him closely, even more enamored of him. Nok chuckled and pecked him on the cheek before getting up. As the drunkard downed Nok’s drink, the vampire made his way over to the empty seat beside the youth.

“You have my attention, darlin’. Was there somethin’ you wanted? Or, maybe… someone?”Nok asked, alluringly brushing a finger along his bottom lip. He had no reason to drop his act just yet.

Marc bit his tongue to hide his frustration, silently cursing himself for such a premature move. The other man had returned his acknowledgment, fine, that wasn't a problem, but sending the drinks had clearly tipped him off and that was a problem.

He smiled easily as he adjusted his long dark coat, making sure nothing… unfriendly was showing, and let his peepers rake the man over. He was attractive, he had to admit, but maybe a little too attractive. It didn't seem fair to be that alluring. Not that he was any slouch either. With his broad, well-defined build and slightly taller-than-average height, he had many women swooning… as well as a couple men.

“Well,” he drawled, lazily, letting his words slur just a bit. “I do want someone but I apologize for taking you away from your… friend there.” he shrugged. “Didn't mean to do that. But I have to say that you are quite a puzzle. And I enjoy a challenge like that.” he grinned, waving his hand towards the empty seat as an invitation.

Nok recognized the small movements the man made as he approached. The forced composure, the subtle adjustment to hide equipment, the assessment of his quarry. All telltale signs that Nok had caught him by the balls. The prey wasn’t supposed to find the predator, after all.

Nok leaned on the back of the empty chair next to the man, listening closely as he eyed the man’s features. He wasn’t much shorter than Nok, but he was definitely wider. Nok had a more wiry frame, with slim shoulders and long legs. It was an interesting contrast, to say the least.

His slur was obviously fake, so was his casual manner. The apology in the doldrums Nok, but the puzzle comment caught his attention. Despite his better judgment, Nok couldn’t help taking the invitation and sitting down. That this man considered him a challenge, and liked that brain bubble, didn’t bode well.

“My friend is a forgivin’ man. Though I wouldn’t want to make him jealous. That might start a brawl,”Nok replied jokingly, chuckling.

He looked the man up and down again, calculating his next move carefully.

“You say I’m a puzzle, darlin’. Yet, it’s you that’s the puzzle. I come in here, frolic aroun’ a little with my dearies, then go on my way. But, you… I have ne’er seen you here. New to town?”Nok purred.

Something sparked inside Marcus as the man engaged with him but didn't let it show. He couldn't. That would be even more dangerous. Instead, he simply leaned back in his chair and laughed a little with him at the comment about the drunk.

“That's good. I’d hate to be in any unnecessary fights.” he grinned playfully, though his peepers hardened slightly at having his banter turned on him. “Oh, I’m just a traveler. No real home of my own so I get to see as much of the world as I can.” he said casually dismissive despite feeling like they had both already marked each other. “Honestly, I can't remember if I’ve been here before or not but it is my first time in this tavern and as I said, I am looking for someone.”

“So would I,”Nok replied.

He noted the change in the man’s peepers as Nok used his own words against him. It sent an odd thrill through Nok to see that change. Damn, how long had it been since he’d last played purr machine and mouse? Centuries probably.

“A traveler? Really? How intriguin’. Well, I know some folks aroun’ here. Any chance I might be of some help findin’ this person, darlin’ traveler?”he asked.

Nok was certain that the man was looking for him, but it had been a while since he had toyed with anyone. Besides, if this man was going to try hunting him, Nok saw no reason not to fuck with his head.