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    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 16th October 2019, 1:48 am

    Job sign-up approval

    “I didn’t know soldiers could look so good, Captain,” the sultry voice of Ivory Tremaine whispered, as her companion of the night opened the door to her side of the carriage. Keeping his silence but still offering his hand as support, Shane merely showed a wry smile on his expression as Ivory shifted some of her weight to his hand while she walked down the three steps between the carriage and the red carpet that had stretched from the road to the insides of the massive ballroom. Shane gave a quick glance at the 4-inch heels that the woman was wearing when she stepped down on the red carpet, displaying an unbelievable form of poise when stepping down on the soft carpet in those precarious heels of hers. Lacrima-powered image recording devices began to flash as the matriarch of the Tremaine household strutted down the red carpet, her designer clutch in her left hand while her right hand was elevated at chest level, showing off the many gem and diamond rings on her right hand.

    Shane followed behind her in the same quiet manner, trying to be as invisible as possible. It was difficult to understand how the woman in front of him could walk in the same confident and comfortable way in those high heels and tight dress the same way he would be in a pair of cargo pants and combat boots. He ignored the camera flashes, unflinching in the barrage of continuous, rapid-fire flashes, and followed Ivory to the long reception table at the entrance to the ballroom. Already the lady had met up with some of her friends or associates, engaging in small talk and the occasional quick hugs. His presence didn’t go unnoticed as some of her female friends threw glances in Shane’s way before repeatedly whispering with Ivory in hushed tones while giggling. The Captain’s hearing was better than most, and he could hear them above the surrounding noise, choosing not to react in any way to their points of discussion.
    “Mrs Tremaine!” one of the guys sitting at the reception table said with apparent glee when she finally approached the reception table. “How wonderful to see you tonight!”

    “Tristan, please! Call me Ivory. Mrs Tremaine is so… drab!” the lady replied in a coy voice, before laughing softly at her own joke. Tristan joined in as well, before proceeding to turn around and grab two masquerade half-masks from behind him after a few seconds of searching. He held them out with a wide smile, a very ordinary-looking dark blue mask with accents of silver around the edges and eyes in his left and an intricately designed golden one in the next with gems encrusted around the edges and below the eyes as well as a long feather on the left edge that shone with an emerald or turquoise hue depending on how the light hit it. “As how you have requested, Lady Ivory.”

    Ivory accepted her mask with a chuckle, satisfied with how Tristan had addressed her. It seems that despite her status in the higher circles of society, just being known was enough for her. She wanted to be addressed in the same way as well. Shane held out his hand to take the other one, no doubt a generic one but he was fine with it. Standing out was never his objective. As he put on the mask, keeping it in place with an elastic strap across the back of his head, the dark blue and silver colors of his mask matched that of his outfit. At the moment, for this particular event, Shane was dressed in a blue tail-less tuxedo, a three-buttoned vest of the same color with a white shirt beneath and a dark silver tie tucked in. A pair of brown leather shoes completed the outfit.

    His true objective for this entire charade was protecting this woman standing next to him, the matriarch of the Tremaine household and the chairman of Tremaine Unbound, one of the four largest logistics company in Fiore. Over the past three weeks, Ivory Tremaine had been the target of a series of assassination attempts, which had been repeatedly foiled by the her extremely well-trained security team at the cost of their lives. Despite the assassins’ repeated efforts, each and every time they had failed by the sacrificial acts of the Tremaine household’s guards. Shane knew not if the men were that loyal to the family, or if they were brainwashed. He had seen both types.

    With the wealth of her family and company combined, coupled with connections to some of the big names in the Magic Council, she had managed to secure the services of the Rune Knights, in the form of Shane, as her personal bodyguard for the masquerade ball. Touted as one of the biggest charity events of the year, it was impossible for Ivory Tremaine, with her immense desire to flaunt her wealth, to miss out on this event. And so, the pressure tonight was on Shane. The sole Rune Knight in the massive venue, to prevent an assassination attempt that was made several times more difficult when Ivory Tremaine was engaging with as many people as she could, all of them behind masks.

    “What I wouldn’t give for some eye magic right now,” Shane mumbled beneath his breath when they entered the ballroom. It was an elegant yet upbeat event, with multiple performances such as masked magicians performing parlor tricks, lithe females in dazzling leotards swinging across the halls as part of trapeze acts, floating candles and stunning chandeliers as well as the wait staff walking around with huge trays of finger food. All of the participants of the masquerade ball looked like they were trying to one up each other in terms of appearance, with so many outlandish outfits being paraded as they chatted with one another.

    A group of ladies observed their entrance, or rather Ivory’s entrance and called for her attention. Ivory replied with a soft wave and strutted towards them with purpose, Shane following behind her. However, three steps in, the lady suddenly spun around and looked at Shane, who had quickly stopped in response to avoid knocking her down.

    “That will be all, Captain. I expect that you will be able to do your job without having to follow me all night long?” Ivory Tremaine spoke in a questioning manner with a smile. Many men would have fallen for that smile, but Shane merely frowned.

    “Mrs Tremaine, you know very well that tonight is a great opportunity for those after your life. I best be by your side to avoid any untoward incidents. That could end your life,” Shane replied in a level voice.

    “I believe she’s in safe hands. After all, I’m here, aren’t I?” a suave voice replied out of nowhere, its owner swooping to Ivory’s side with a hand on her shoulder.

    “You’ve heard Mr Dexter, Captain. I’ll be in safe hands,” she replied haughtily, before the two of them walked off to join their friends. Shane’s expression was murderous, as he stood rooted to the spot, before shaking his head and walking to stand by one of the walls. Despite the distance, he kept his eyes attentively on the Lady Tremaine while the masquerade ball played on around him.

    [1219 words]
    [Total WC: 1219 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 17th October 2019, 7:38 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 1,533
    Job Word Count: 2,752/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Sydney
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    The faint clink, clink of metal against glass sounded from the edge of the balcony, only audible to those who chose to listen. Aeluri took another swig of her whiskey, then resumed tapping her rings against the pristine glass. She was waiting as patiently as she could for the night to get interesting. One arm resting on the balcony supported her chin as the other lazily held her drink, which was dangerously close to spilling. The woman wouldn’t allow it to spray onto the ball-goers below, though. Whiskey was too precious of a liquid to waste so carelessly.

    From the balcony, she could see nearly every part of the room except the bar underneath in the alcove. The elegant chamber was filled to the brim with high-class individuals of varying importance, with new ones arriving every few minutes. Entertainment of all kinds was scattered throughout the room, and more than once Aeluri found herself distracted by the sparkling outfits of dancers. Waiters carrying food and drinks navigated the crowds like expert sailors, the waves of people threatening to knock their trays over. Despite the chaos, not a single glass had fallen nor bite of food been dropped. It was clear that the staff hired for the event was top notch. When Aeluri had visited the bar earlier, she was enthralled by the speed at which the many bartenders hands flew. She had come to realize that the mixing of drinks, cutting of fruit, and garnishing of glasses was a true art form. The woman had left a large tip upon departure.

    Aeluri reached up to adjust the masquerade mask she had been given at the door. It was surprisingly comfortable, despite the sequins and lace that covered it. The item was intricately designed with red and black fabric bordered by black lace, with roses and sequins placed on the right corner. It was entirely Aeluri’s style, and she appreciated the thoughtfulness of the woman who had brought her here tonight.

    The dark mage was disguised by more than just the mask, though. Crimson and gold eyes were too memorable to those who saw her and she needed to blend in, so she wore a contact in her left eye to hide the red iris beneath. Of the two colors, gold was less likely to stand out, so she donned dually warm eyes tonight. The contact felt odd, but Aeluri had to just grin and bear it. She would be getting paid if tonight went well, so any small sacrifice was worth it.

    A hand was reached to her shoulder to toss a dark lock of raven hair over the back, but was met with nothing. Aeluri cursed herself for forgetting that her hair was up for the first time in ages. Delicate braids and pins held the locks together into a hairdo all too elegant in her opinion. The dark mage also wore an inconspicuous long sleeve black dress that was more revealing than she was used to. Alongside a diagonally low cut top, two large gaps in the fabric revealed the pale skin of her torso all the way across her back. Despite it being fancy for her own taste, the summoner barely stood out among the crowd. The highest quality fabric was used for everyone else’s outfits and they were designed by only the best and brightest tailors. After all, this was an event for the rich and famous, a charity disguised as a way for them to flaunt their wealth. What seemed like idle chatter was likely them sizing each other up, making alliances while analyzing their opponents.

    Aeluri noticed the doors open with a flourish, revealing Ivory Tremaine in all her businesswoman glory. The Tremaine heiress greeted everyone passionately, reestablishing connections made long ago. Even with a beautifully designed mask, it was easy to tell who she was. An air of elegance and importance followed her wherever she went. The woman had been all over the news lately due to multiple assassination attempts. Each time she barely escaped, but not without many lives of her employees sacrificed. The dark mage observing from the balcony had made sure to do plenty of research on Mrs. Tremaine before attending this event. The woman had reached out in the form of a cloaked man who had passed Aeluri a note in the streets of Crocus. It seemed she had heard of the summoner’s time in Basilisk Fang and was inquiring about her skills. With piqued curiosity, Aeluri had followed through with the communication. The two women had met in an abandoned factory in the slums of Crocus. It was clear that Ivory had been using the utmost caution. Aeluri hadn’t even recognized her until she took the hood down from her cloak. The businesswoman was surrounded by a circle of intimidating guards as the two ladies had conducted business. The male company hadn’t intimidated the dark mage, though she was infinitely more curious about the situation. In the end, Ivory had promised Aeluri payment if she conducted a certain task. Payment - especially a generous one - was always welcome, so the summoner accepted.

    Behind Ivory trailed a tall man in a fashionably simple blue suit and matching mask who attempted to accompany her further into the room. The lady turned and spoke to him in hushed tones. He appeared frustrated at what she had said. To the untrained eye, he may have seemed like a minor businessman who was in the process of doing business with Ivory and following her to get a word in. Yet, with the way he glanced around the room and held himself with caution, any assassin would be able to tell he was a guard of sorts. Aeluri let out a humph. With that suit, he wasn’t doing a great job of staying out of the limelight. In her opinion, black was the best way to blend into crowds. She may be biased though.

    All of a sudden the heiress was whisked away by a dashing-looking man. Blonde hair flopped over his forehead in a messy, yet endearing way. His golden suit stood out like a flower against dirt and his mask was an equally vibrant royal blue color. This was Jett Dexter, a up-and-coming businessman and Ivory’s new lover. Their relationship was the gossip of the upper class, so Aeluri hadn’t had to look far to find out more about him. The only thing she couldn’t discover was where he had come from. His business had seemed to sprout from almost nowhere, employing thousands in a company who dealt with trade deals. Every end the dark mage had attempted to follow lead to nothing. Lack of information made her curiosity blaze like a wildfire. As always, she wanted to know more only to satisfy her curiosity. Jett Dexter was not her target tonight, yet there was intrigue in his mysteriousness. Perhaps she would find time to conveniently overhear some of his conversations.

    Aeluri watched from the balcony as Ivory made her way into the crowds, greeting friends, allies, and business partners left and right. A group of her closest dignitaries flocked to her like birds, hovering around her to make themselves seem important. They jabbered on about nonsense like a bunch of magpies attempting to get a morsel of food. Any acknowledgement given by Mrs. Tremaine only made them squawk louder. Aeluri had to admire the woman’s patience. To be surrounded by such awful people sounded like hell.

    The dull roar of chatter quieted almost instantaneously. Aeluri shot her gaze to the door, where a man had just entered. Arco Tremaine, Ivory’s soon-to-be-ex husband, had entered with his own group of dignitaries and a woman whose waist his arm was wrapped around. His red mask complemented the deep maroon suit he wore. A freshly trimmed beard lined his jaw. The woman at his side donned an equally red dress and a white mask. Thousands of pairs of eyes focused in on the man, many glancing between Ivory and Arco. Any movement or reaction of the businessman was soaked up in the sponge of gossip that was likely to be squeezed out momentarily. Tension filled the air as Ivory realized the silence and looked up to lock eyes with Arco. The two stared each other down for what felt like hours. Years of resentment and betrayal rested in those gazes. A silent battle of wills was at hand. At last, Arco averted his eyes and made his way to the other side of the room with his group. Mrs. Tremaine smirked triumphantly, turning back towards the bar.

    While her magpies were distracted with gossip, the businesswoman began looking around. Her eyes traced the room, then all the way across the balcony until they landed on Aeluri. Without expression she gave a subtle nod, and Aeluri raised her glass in response. With one last swig, the empty whiskey glass was left on the balcony to either fall to the ballroom floor or be collected by a busboy. The clack of heels was muffled by chatter as the dark mage made her way to the balcony stairs, confidence in her step.

    The night was about to get fun.
    IVYLEAF33




    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 18th October 2019, 1:55 am

    Despite his apparent dislike for the situation, with his target of protection moving away from him and getting swarmed in crowd after crowd of people fawning after her, Shane hardly ever allowed for his emotions to mix with his professional logic. Well, there was only one time that that really happened with an ending that he can’t decide was disastrous or beneficial to him. As the first spark of the memory came to him, the faint smell of cinnamon coming up in his memory as if it was just yesterday, the Rune Knight Captain quickly shook his head slightly and pushed it to the back of his mind.

    “This isn’t the time for that, Shane,” he berated himself beneath his breath. Picking up his professional façade, the Captain began to survey the venue while always keeping Ivory Tremaine within his sights. The tall and flashy blonde who had come swoop his target out of his way was constantly with her, and from the small acts of intimacy they shared, Shane knew that there was something going on between the two of them. In fact, all of the participants at the masquerade ball were well aware of the rumors brewing around the two of them, which was now slowly getting cemented as they cared not about what others thought. It wasn’t weird that Shane wasn’t that well-informed about the news of the upper circles of society, and it wasn’t something he regretted either.

    However, as though a cold gust of wind had just swept everything away, the entire hall began to fall silent immediately. With his back to the wall, the entrance to the grand ballroom on the very same wall, Shane’s gaze followed those of the other guests as a newcomer joined the ball. Shane watched, puzzled as it was just another pompous-looking man dressed in a maroon suit, the color made even more outstanding by the blood red mask that he wore. It was a matching pair, the Captain realized when he saw the mask of the woman at his side, albeit in white. Like the man she was with, she was dressed in a red dress that flaunted all of her curves. And she was young, much younger than the other ladies in the room.

    He watched as the man in maroon locked eyes with Ivory Tremaine, slowly piecing the puzzles together when he heard hushed conversations, many of them identifying the man as Arco Tremaine. It wasn’t that hard to put the entire thing together, especially with the two of them arriving at separate times and each with their own partners for the night. The Rune Knight refrained from making or thinking of any comments. He came from a world where conflict was straightforward and direct, where life and death were what he gambled. The conflict and politics of the upper society, with everyone capable of wielding a backstabbing knife when they were right in your face, was something that he would never understand nor be able to navigate.
    As attentive as always to Ivory Tremaine, the Rune Knight couldn’t help following each and every of her movement and so when she looked up at the balcony overlooking the entire ballroom, Shane did the same.

    And he was surprised. Pleasantly surprised. The pair of gold eyes belonging to the lady in the black dress struck him with a wave of familiarity, despite the slight discrepancy. He watched, unable to take his eyes off her as she drained her whiskey glass before making her way to the stairs leading down from the balcony. There was no hesitation in his steps, as the Rune Knight Captain slowly weaved his way through the crowd with the same skill of the waiters and their large trays. In fact, he was so focused on reaching the stairs that he hadn’t even noticed the panicked expression on Ivory Tremaine’s face when she noticed him making his way over.

    With a grim expression on his face, Shane finally made it to the other end of the ballroom. He was quite sure that she was who he remembered, and if so, it would have been a great coincidence. With a deep breath, Shane reached the bottom of the stairs and held out his right hand with his palm up towards the lady in black as she approached. He was already quite sure of it when he saw her up close. The sharp, penetrating gaze that seemed to be able to look into his very core. Already he was convinced that the discrepancy in her eye color was nothing but aesthetic, contact lens to help her keep a low profile. It was an unnecessary attempt though, as Shane was sure that many of the young and wealthy heirs had long noticed her.

    “May I have this dance?” Shane said with a genial smile and a gentle bow, while still keeping up his right hand. At that very moment, the live band had just ended their song and was starting a new one. And it was just perfect.

    [841 words]
    [Total WC: 3593 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 18th October 2019, 7:32 am

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 608/2,141
    Job Word Count: 4,201/1,500
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Hands in the Fire
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    When the guard that came in with Ivory started making his way towards the bottom of the stairs, Aeluri narrowed her eyes. Was he coming to interrogate her? Or had Ivory filled him in about her task? His tall form wove through the crowd like a fish through water, dodging trays and people just as easily as the waiters. The dark mage began her descent, watching the guard from the corner of her eye.

    As she got closer, she enhanced her vision to a feline level. Golden eyes peered at his approaching face, trying to discern the man beneath the mask. After a moment it struck her so hard she nearly stopped in her tracks. It was Shane Stern.

    The pulsing of her heart increased, but she managed to keep her visible reaction to just pausing on a step. Her mind was racing. After the night they had shared months ago, Aeluri certainly thought she would never see him again. The vision of his broken, bleeding body lying within the trashed honeymoon suite was one that resurfaced in her head every now and then. Honestly, she had tried to forget about the situation. Mulling over a dead man was not her kind of thing. That was, until she saw his face - his new face - proudly plastered on the cover of Sorcerer’s Magazine. Aeluri had stared in shock at the magazine she found discarded in the streets of Crocus. She had taken it home, stared at it, and read the articles within. He had even mentioned her within his interview! For hours, she fumed, paced, and stared as his handsome likeness on the cover with fury. How dare he live through her attack! Now she had to worry about encountering him again, knowing he was alive and out there in the world. The man had plagued her mind the rest of the day, so much so that she had holed herself up in the room she rented at the Hidden Blades headquarters.

    Now here he was in the flesh, rushing to meet her at the bottom of the stairs. Aeluri nearly balked and ran back up to the balcony. Though she had scoped out all the exits upon arrival, there seemed to be no easy escape from this. The dark mage wasn’t sure how much of that night he would remember. Gemini’s hallucinogenic saliva did horrible wonders to the memory, but some people were more resistant to it than others. Would he remember her launching the attack, then standing by and watching him be torn up? Surely if he did, he would be on his way over to arrest her.

    Aeluri steeled herself. Ivory had brought her here and she was determined to complete her task no matter what it took. Any big reactions or loud speaking would draw attention to her, and she hoped the man had the sense to keep things on the down low as well. The raven-haired woman had to keep her cool in order to carry out her job. Golden eyes met his as she descended the final few steps. This was Shane, no doubt. His blonde hair looked soft in its styled position and striking blue eyes peered from beneath the mask he was given.

    Aeluri nearly rolled her eyes at his bow, unpleasantly reminded of how ridiculous formalities were. They were a necessity at this event, however. The dark mage gave a gentle nod as she took Shane’s hand. The feeling of his palm against her fingers was familiar and she was frustrated with the way it made her feel.

    “Yes, you may,” she answered, her voice smooth and composed.
    IVYLEAF33



    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 20th October 2019, 7:43 pm

    Shane could feel the burning stares of the other young men in the ballroom, their uncontrolled jealousy turning their eyes green with envy as they watched the attractive black-haired young lady took his hand. The Rune Knight’s smile grew slightly wider, very obviously betraying his emotions as he felt the soft hand and slender fingers on his calloused palm. Turning around so that they were facing the same direction, Shane led his lady to one of sides of the ballroom, taking up a position at the very fringe of the dancing and mingling crowd. The gazes from the other men in their vicinity lingered on them longer than it was necessary, even making their own dates jealous, but Shane could hardly bother with them. He only had eyes for the lady in front of him right now. And also, the target he was supposed to protect.

    Every once in a while, he would discreetly keep an eye on Ivory Tremaine as she toured the entire ballroom with her very own posse that seemed to be hell-bent on keeping her happy for the night. And also, to make sure the glass in her hand was permanently filled with champagne. The guy named Dexter was also hovering around her, his messy but attractive appearance a hit with the ladies.

    Shane softly placed Aeluri’s hand that he was holding and placed it on his shoulder while he moved his hand forward to lightly grab the back of her other hand and placed it on the other shoulder. The soft but slightly upbeat music had just started and Shane began to guide her movements as he allowed his body to flow to the rhythm of the music. It was slow dance, and with his eyes directly looking at hers, the Rune Knight found it difficult to pull his gaze away for his occasional check on his protectee. Shane cleared his throat slightly and then began to speak.

    “So… about that night,” he started before pausing slightly. “I just want to say… I’m really sorry about what happened. Someone probably found out about my identity and tried to pull off a sneak attack. I’m sorry that it put you in harm’s way, and I understand if you want to stay away from me. I wanted to look for you after that, but work got in the way.”

    Shane’s head dropped slightly before he looked back up at Aeluri. “I’m... I'm really sorry.”

    [407 words]
    [Total WC: 4608 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 23rd October 2019, 9:14 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 743/2,884
    Job Word Count: 5,351/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Song Link
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    Aeluri could feel the gazes of people nearby, painfully aware of how much attention was upon her at the moment. Male and females stares drilled into her with interest, lust, and envy. It wasn’t the whole ballroom’s attention, but it was enough that she was becoming recognizable to those around her and not just another masked face in the crowd. That, combined with the sudden presence of Shane, was making her mission more difficult already. How could she possibly complete her task with this big, handsome distraction at her fingertips? Aeluri stewed her frustration in silence as she was escorted by the Rune Knight to a quieter corner of the room. Most of her desperately wanted to escape the conversation likely to happen about the last time they met, but a slight curiosity nudged its way into her mind. The chaos-loving side of her wanted to know just how awful things could get if he did remember her attack. Thus she continued her trajectory behind Shane.

    For a moment she made eye contact with Ivory, whose discreet, watchful eyes gave nothing away. Surely she was trying to figure out why Shane was abandoning his close proximity to dance with the woman she had hired for completely different reasons. Having her guard so far away was nerve-wracking under the surface. The two knowing each other was not in her plans, just a coincidence - lucky or unlucky as it would come to be.

    Aeluri took up the dancing position without a second thought. The movements were familiar, albeit learned long ago. The material of Shane’s blue suit beneath her hands was smooth to the touch as her hands were placed gently upon his shoulders. The two fit together perfectly, dancing as if they had done it a thousand times before. Slow, soothing music played as other couples began to pair off and dance. Aeluri caught a glimpse of Jett and Ivory dancing together across the room, their bodies uncomfortably close to one another.

    Shane captured her attention once more as he began to speak. His voice was the same as she remembered, despite his outward changes. She almost missed his mismatching eyes that mirrored hers, but it was undeniable that the blue suited him well. As she listened to the words he spoke, her brow furrowed for a second in confusion. Put her in harm’s way? She was never in harm’s way that night. Then it dawned on her. He didn’t remember anything after she had returned from the shower. Not her calling the Rune Knights scum, not Gemini’s eruption from beneath the bed, nor how she left him to die. Nothing.

    Aeluri was rendered speechless for a moment. Of course it would be easy to correct him, to press herself closer and whisper the truth in his ear, to watch his beautiful face fall at the realization that she wasn’t who he wanted her to be. Ruining the man’s dreams in a heartbeat was so simple and attainable. The sorrow and anger he was likely to feel if he knew would be delicious and she would soak it all in as if it were whiskey. Yet, something held her back. Her disgust with the Rune Knights and his affiliation with them and the fury she felt at him for keeping it a secret was still there, though not as strong as it had been in the moment. She’d had mild intentions earlier that one night that turned sinister quickly, but still had found enjoyable moments that often came up in her memory. Despite it all, Aeluri found that as she looked in those gentle blue eyes she couldn’t bring herself to confess.

    “Er…” she stammered. Long eyelashes hid golden eyes as she glanced away, collecting her thoughts. “It’s okay, Shane,” Aeluri began quietly, gaining volume as she grew confident in the story she was making up on the spot. “I managed to escape out the window once they attacked. I figured you didn’t seek me out because you were kidnapped, or… worse.”

    It was a little lie, small and easy enough to say. Aeluri was used to lying to benefit herself. It was just a part of life. Little did she realize that some little lies grow bigger and bigger until it consumes everything and comes crashing down. But this was just a little lie, and it wasn’t hard for her to convince herself that it was not a big deal at all.
    IVYLEAF33



    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 27th October 2019, 7:59 pm

    Shane’s expression immediately lightened up when he heard Aeluri’s answer. It was a though a giant rock had been lifted off his shoulders, the guilt of not being able to protect her at that time and subsequently not searching for her dissipating along with her words. Shane held up his head and took a good long look at Aeluri, the initial stammer in her voice mistaken as nervousness, before giving a wry smile. As they danced along the edge of the crowd, the Rune Knight began to wonder if this was a second chance for the two of them. It could be the start of something but before Shane could even finish his thought, the memory of that night’s attack reappeared. He was a Rune Knight, and especially for one of his position, would he be able to keep her out of the dangers that he has slowly been associated with?

    It also jolted him back to the scene, and Shane’s attention was sparsely granted to Ivory Tremaine for a few seconds. The heiress of the Tremaine family was being very intimate with Jett, their bodies touching as they moved to the slow music. Their group of friends had also gotten back to their partners and they were enjoying the dance as well. A quick sweep of the room yielded nothing. No signs of danger yet. His attention was turned back to Aeluri after that, but at the very corner of his eyes, something he saw made him freeze.

    There was movement on the balcony, but Shane couldn’t get a clear look. A frown began to form on Shane’s face, and once again, it hit him with full impact that having a normal life and spending it in the arms of his loved one might be difficult to achieve.

    “Would you like a drink?” Shane offered just as the music stopped. A smile formed on his lips. “Cinnamon whiskey?”

    [319 words]
    [Total WC: 5670 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 30th October 2019, 7:12 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 313/3,197
    Job Word Count: 5,983/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: BRN
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    Shane lit up at her words and Aeluri almost scowled. How could he accept her lie so easily? If he pried deeper it was likely to be revealed. He was too pure and trustworthy of her for his own good. The dark mage was dangerous, a threat and likely a potential target to Shane’s guild. Should they end up tied together romantically, it would put a target on both of their backs.

    Aeluri noticed the sudden tension in Shane’s frame as he stared towards the balcony. Golden eyes glanced the same way without a turn of her head, discreetly observing the area. Nothing in particular caught her watchful eye, and the summoner wondered what Shane had seen. Anything that was a threat to her mission had to be eliminated. She was mostly aware of what was going on around her, occasionally heightening her feline senses to check for anything new.

    The Rune Knight inquired about getting drinks, and Aeluri was about to answer when he mentioned cinnamon whiskey. Ah, so he had remembered that part of their night together very clearly. A tight-lipped smile crossed her face for a moment. All of their interactions were certainly not helping her focus on the night at hand. If he was at her side the whole time, she wouldn’t be able to do what was necessary. She decided to bide her time and wait for some sort of distraction that would give her a second to slip away.

    A more pleasant expression overcame her as she answered. “Yes, I’d like that.” She waited for Shane to lead the way to the bar. Peering around the room briefly, her eyes landed on her target in the corner of the room. They were dancing with their date, surrounded by friends and dignitaries alike. She made a mental note of their whereabouts, then refocused on the man before her.
    @tagged
    IVYLEAF33



    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 30th October 2019, 8:29 pm

    As a member of the Rune Knights Spec Ops division, it would have been a failure for Shane to not have noticed how Aeluri’s smile was rather constrained but with how the current scenario was unfolding between the two of them, Shane took it as a small victory that she would have even talked to him at all. He doubted that that any other girl would have bothered with him after being sneak attacked during a moment of intimacy. However, even with his personal affairs starting to click into place, he hoped, there was still a mission to be completed.

    Shane made his way to the stairs that led up to the balcony and had just taken the first step when a waiter with an empty tray walked down. The Rune Knight decided not to pull too much attention, or rather any more attention than he had already gotten, to himself. He merely stopped in front of the waiter.

    “Hi sir, I seemed to have lost my partner. Did you see anyone up there when you were coming down?” Shane questioned politely, his confident smile ever present. The wait staff looked at him with a peculiar expression before reassuming his neutral expression, the professional one that they used.

    “No sir, there was no one upstairs. Someone had placed an empty whiskey glass on the balcony railing and I went up to collect it is all, sir,” the waiter replied in his service voice before walking away without a change in his expression. Shane quietly observed the waiter, and discovered that for a wait staff, he was surprisingly well built. The Rune Knight gave another cursory glance at the other wait staff that just went by his sight and noticed the same thing too. Was there a need for a waiter to be so athletic?

    Shane walked over to the bar and ordered two cinnamon whiskey, one for Aeluri and the other for himself. Although he wasn’t really a fan of cinnamon flavored food products, the taste of cinnamon whiskey had slowly grown on him after a few orders while he reminisced. He even had a bottle in his room, which he perused very sparingly. The bartender returned a few seconds later with both glasses, to which Shane gave a nod as thanks.

    He snuck a glance behind him and with both glasses in hand, turned around so abruptly that he knocked into a waiter balancing a tray with two glasses of champagne. The movement was swift, as the waiter calmly swiped the two glasses with his left hand before it could tumble to the ground while the right hand expertly shifted to keep the tray in hand. The waiter’s eyes widened in shock, whether it was due to Shane bumping into him or his miraculous save, but Shane had long been gone by then.

    He had his suspicions, but he would keep it to himself for now. Shane skirted around the crowd, keeping an eye on Ivory Tremaine who seemed to be enjoying herself with Jett Dexter. Nothing suspicious was in her vicinity, so Shane merely passed by and returned to Aeluri’s company.

    “Sorry I took so long. Here’s yours,” Shane commented, while offering one of the two glasses to Aeluri. “So previously you mentioned that you regularly travel. Been anywhere nice recently?”

    [553 words]
    [Total WC: 6536 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 10th November 2019, 3:27 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 543
    Job Word Count: 7,079/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Lion's Cage
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    Shane took off to retrieve their drinks and Aeluri realized she had a moment alone. Giving an occasional glance to the Knight’s location, she swiftly crossed the room in the opposite direction. Any time away from him would allow her to progress in her mission.

    Her golden eyes fixated on a man at the edge of the room. It was Arco Tremaine, his maroon-robed arm wrapped around his date’s waist as the two chatted cheerfully with another couple. She proceeded casually, appearing to be occupied with a charcuterie tray on a nearby table. Her eyes stared blankly at the cheeses while she focused on her hearing. Arco’s voice rang clearly in her head as if he was speaking right next to her.

    “-be over soon. We have our last few court appointments coming up in the next month.” Arco explained to the other couple. “It’s been a long road, but I can’t wait for it to be over. Freedom will feel so wonderful.”

    “Oh, it definitely will,” the woman across from him replied. “When I got divorced from my first husband I felt like a new person afterwards! Luckily I met James here shortly afterwards,” she added with a smooch to her husband’s cheek. The man gave a nod and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Yup,” was all he said.

    “Let’s go grab some more drinks!” she said to her husband, taking his hand and leading him away. “We’ll chat later!” the chipper voice called back to Arco and his companion, who both waved goodbye.

    Arco’s date turned to him. “We’ll be wed soon, right dear?” she asked coyly. She sounded very young, years less than her partner.

    “Of course, Arianne,” Arco cooed to her, grabbing her hips gently and pulling her closer. “As soon as I get my money’s worth from that old hag, I’ll give you anything you want. You can have your dream wedding dress and we can go anywhere on our honeymoon!” Arianne giggled and kissed him.

    “Aren’t you worried that she’ll send someone after you?”
    Arianne asked in hushed tones, her face suddenly becoming solemn. Her brow furrowed as she looked into Arco’s eyes. The man let out a quiet laugh.

    “My dear, I have nothing to worry about. She’s too proper and reserved to do anything of the sort. She’s bound by tradition and rules of the high class. I know she won’t play dirty like me,” he replied cockily.

    A glance in his direction revealed his smug grin to Aeluri. She had heard enough, and Shane was likely to be back soon with their drinks. Abandoning her false infatuation with the charcuterie board, she wove through the crowd back to where the Knight had left her. The summoner’s mind was going over what she had heard and tying it into her plan. Perhaps her task would be a little easier with the knowledge she had gained from eavesdropping.

    It was only a minute after she returned that Shane approached with two glasses in hand. Aeluri eagerly accepted the whiskey and took a long sip. The cinnamon comforted her taste buds and she relaxed slightly.

    “Hmm,” she mused, swirling the liquid gently in circles. “I visited Talonia for the first time recently. It’s a lovely place.”
    @Shane Stern / Arco - #ff3333, Arianne - #ff66ff
    IVYLEAF33




    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 15th November 2019, 2:57 am

    “Ahh, the waterfall of Talonia!” Shane’s reply matched the first thing that came to mind as Aeluri told him of where she had last travelled to. He had only been there once, to hunt a rogue mage down but the majesty of the waterfall right next to the town of Talonia had no doubt left a lasting impression in his mind, allowing him to relive the torrential pouring of the waterfall vividly when Aeluri had brought up the place.

    “How I would love to visit that place again. Maybe work would bring me to Talonia. I have just returned not too long ago from Desierto myself. Beautiful country, steeped in culture and heritage but much would have to be done if it is to be restored back to its former glory. The weather’s not for everyone though,” Shane mused as he shared his experience with Aeluri. After speaking, Shane took a drink from his glass, the sweet aroma of cinnamon embedded within the layers of the whisky bringing a wistful smile to his face after he lowered the glass.

    From the corners of his eyes, Shane was observing the wait staff around the hall. His previous test at the bar had yielded some worrying results that he couldn’t ignore. It seemed like the assassins eyeing for Ivory Tremaine’s head would be acting tonight as well. While his right hand held his glass, Shane’s left arm was slowly lowered to his side as discreetly as possible. When his hand was finally by his hip, a small flash of blue light around his hand caused a few ice cubes to appear in his hand. He had swiped these from the bar earlier and quickly stored them into the Requip dimension, keeping the ice from melting.

    Eyeing one of the waiters and estimating his path, with a quick flick of his hand Shane sent the ice cubes flying to the ground right into the waiter’s path. The precision of his throw was uncanny, landing right on the ground as the waiter’s right foot stepped down on the cubes and slipped. The waiter leaned backwards immediately as he slipped on the ice cubes, pulling the attention of those around him as they gasped, expecting the fall. But the waiter deftly stamped backwards with his other leg as he fell backwards before his other arm also shot downwards as well to stop his fall. Meanwhile, the tray full of empty glasses in his other palm merely trembled slightly, far from even losing their balance.

    The waiter gave a quick glance around but by then Shane had already averted his gaze. He had what he needed. He knew waiters were professionals at their job, but no way they were this good. While he took in this fact and tried to formulate a plan while keeping his eye on Ivory Tremaine, the waiter had already propped himself up to the applause of the surrounding guests that had expected him to crash noisily into the ground.

    [498 words]
    [Total WC: 7577 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 4th December 2019, 4:28 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 760
    Job Word Count: 8,337/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Song Link
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    ”Yes, the waterfall was beautiful,” Aeluri agreed nonchalantly. She took another sip of the drink Shane had brought, the harsh liquid bringing a familiar burn to her throat. The man had remembered her favorite drink, yet the abuse he had suffered at her hands was jumbled and lost by the hallucinogens. Gemini’s saliva was an intriguing substance that Aeluri had tested out a few times and got mixed results. Some victims forgot everything or had terrifying hallucinations, while others merely saw vibrant colors and felt a little dizzy. Though the substance and dosage was the same every time, the effects seemed to depend on the person. Aeluri planned to test more in the future to quell the burning curiosity she felt. Perhaps she would accidentally encounter some kids or a person walking alone at night. The summoner felt a dark amusement. If only Shane knew the things she had done and intended to do!

    “I haven’t been to Desierto, though I’ve heard it’s an interesting place,” Aeluri mused, tapping a ring on her whiskey glass absentmindedly. “Their mining industry is quite large if I remember correctly.”

    Aeluri’s observant eyes caught the movement of Shane’s hand. She was already on edge due to tonight’s task, so her brow furrowed slightly when some ice cubes appeared in the man’s hand. He seemed to have been planning this. As he flicked the ice cubes towards the waiter, Aeluri tensed. Hopefully nobody else noticed his actions. She didn’t need any more attention on her.

    The eyes of everyone were on the waiter, however, as he maneuvered expertly to keep his balance. In his hand, the tray barely wobbled. Aeluri clenched her jaw as she understood what Shane had been up to. Golden eyes scoured the crowd, picking out each waiter and watching them carefully. Minute movements and details confirmed it. These waiters were impeccably trained and physically fit. Their purpose was definitely not just waiting on the guests tonight.

    Aeluri was growing twitchy. If these waiters acted on whatever they were instructed to do, her own mission was doomed. Her window of opportunity was slimming. She had to act soon. The summoner opened her mouth to question Shane about what he knew, but was interrupted by a silky smooth voice.

    “Mr. Stern, would you like a dance?” It was Ivory, her expression sharp. The heiress and her date had meandered over from their group of magpie-like friends. She looked calm and collected, but up close one could notice the irritation brewing beneath the surface. Aeluri could see the slight twitch of her eyelid and knew Shane was in for a stern talking-to.

    Before the Knight could respond, Ivory was already grabbing his arm. “Ma’am, I’m sure my lovely Jett here would gladly dance with you until Mr. Stern returns. Right, Jett darling?” The businesswoman had just that on her mind - business. She wanted to question Shane about his actions with the waiters and make sure he wasn’t getting distracted from his duty.

    Jett grabbed Ivory’s hand and gave her knuckles a gentle kiss. “Of course, my dove,” he replied smoothly. Ivory’s stony smile softened for a moment, then she began to drag Shane off to the side of the room to have her chat with him. Aeluri raised her hand slightly and gave a mocking wave to the man.

    Turning to Ivory’s companion, she looked him over. Jett’s royal blue mask covered a large part of his face, the rich color making his skin tone look warm. The rest of him seemed to be coated in gold. His suit was expertly fitted and Aeluri could see the fine golden threads woven into it, giving it a subtle shine. Blonde hair flopped over the edge of his mask, not reaching far enough to cover his golden eyes.

    As their eyes met, gold clashed with gold. The two were subtly sizing each other up, watching to see if they could pick up any information about the other. It lasted for mere seconds, but it felt like Aeluri was staring down a threat. Jett seemed confident with a touch of cocky, but acted nothing but sweet towards Ivory. Aeluri was suspicious of him. The way he stared into her eyes like he was trying to devour her soul made her uneasy. Not to mention that she couldn’t find much information on him in her research. Jett was a mystery, and she hated that.

    “So, Ms. Atra,” Jett said in a honey-like voice. He bowed down and extended his hand for her to take. “Shall we dance?”
    @Shane Stern Arco - #ff3333, Arianne - #ff66ff, Ivory - #ffffff, Jett - #ff9900
    IVYLEAF33





    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 6th December 2019, 11:25 am

    Shane realized that his most recent attempt at trying to trip up the waiter and gauge his reaction had been executed rather poorly. Despite the general crowd’s attention on the fantastic balance of the waiter and how he had managed to avoid dropping his tray despite the swaying of his body, the Rune Knight had realized that those who knew of his identity had their eyes on him. He snuck a glance at Aeluri, and the slight change in her expression told Shane enough that his movements hadn’t escaped her notice. As she was about to open her mouth, Shane did the same, wanting to explain his motives.

    But before anything could be exchanged between the two of them, they were interrupted by a strained voice. Shane turned around to see the sharp gaze that was fixated on him despite the smile on her face. It was his employer, Ivory Tremaine. From her eyes and tone alone, Shane had no doubt that the woman had something important to tell her. Before he could even muster his response, he was dragged off by Ivory as she guided him through the throng of people while her partner accompanied Aeluri. His instincts were telling him that leaving Aeluri with Jett was a wrong move, but he had to trust that she was capable of protecting herself.

    When there was a considerable distance between Ivory and Shane with the other two, the two dance partners glowered at each other. Ivory Tremaine’s expression was strict and sharp, her gaze penetrating and if Shane had been someone with a weak will, he would surely have wilted. It was her business look, the one that she would use when she disapproved of something. But Shane wasn’t any normal person. Despite people addressing him as a Captain, he was actually a General in the Rune Knights. And he was definitely not lacking in the strength of his will.
    Fixing the woman with an indifferent expression while his gaze was equally sharp, holding back a silent fury, Shane would move his body stiffly according to the woman’s maneuvers. It was a simple four-step dance that the two were engaged in. The tension between the two of them were high, tension of the killing type.

    “I hired you to keep me safe tonight! Not for you to dance around like a fool with some girl,” the Lady Tremaine hissed at Shane. “Don’t think I didn’t notice what you were doing! Waiters falling down all around you while you slink away.”

    “I’m actually doing my job, if you must know,” Shane replied tersely in a low and gruff voice that very much resembled a growl. When he finished speaking, the Rune Knight gave a glance in Aeluri’s direction, but before he could even make half of the turn, Ivory’s manicured nails pressed into his lower jaw as she pulled his face back to face her. Shane’s eyes widened with rage as he returned his stare at her.

    “I’m not done speaking to you!” the woman spat in his face, her fingers still holding on to his lower jaw. With a hint of smile on his lips, Shane used his right hand to pull her hand down, increasing the strength of his grip slightly. If he could have his way, he would have crushed her hand. It would probably make his job easier.

    “You better not mistake my protecting you as me having to serve you, Lady Tremaine. Money might make the world go round, but that’s your world. In my world, we go by different standards,” Shane growled again before releasing her hand from his grip. Where his vice-like grip had held onto her hands, the complexion was extremely pale and devoid of blood flow. Numbness set in as the halted flow of blood suddenly rushed through her hand, causing her to gasp slightly. Despite being her protector, he had threatened her at the same time, leaving her speechless.

    “Now get to your boy toy and stick close to me and my partner,” Shane said as he removed himself from the close distance between the two of them and made to walk back towards Aeluri. Despite his fury, the Rune Knight was still keeping an eye on the overall situation of the ball, especially with the peculiarities in the wait staff. The entire event was just a time bomb waiting to go off. And he had no idea how to defuse the bomb.

    [742 words]
    [Total WC: 9079 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 11th December 2019, 10:52 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 2,428
    Job Word Count: 11,507/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Do Bad Well
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    ”I suppose so,” Aeluri replied to Jett with a collected tone. She wasn’t about to let her poised front down just because the man unnerved her. Something about him was familiar and it set her on edge. Whatever it was wasn’t clear. With all senses on high alert, she took the hand that was offered to her. The skin on his hands was tough and smooth. He definitely used hand lotion a lot. Aeluri could smell the faint orange scent.

    Jett led her farther into the dancefloor, away from Ivory and Shane. Aeluri followed without protest, but a worried gaze glanced from beneath the intricate mask back towards Shane. Hopefully Ivory wouldn’t lay into him too bad. For once, she despised the distance between herself and the Knight. Despite her current distaste for him after he had survived her attack, she couldn’t deny that if anything went wrong he was a valued ally. As a Rune Knight and a General, he was likely to be a fearsome fighting force.

    The two had just positioned themselves to dance when the current song ended. At once, a new one picked up at a faster pace. The piano grew louder while the violas plucked their strings at a consistent pace. Aeluri perked up a bit. It had been a long time since she’d danced so something this swift. Dancing was something she actually enjoyed. The energetic movements quite differed from her personality, but the profound feeling it gave was unlike any other.

    Jett positioned himself pristinely for the next dance. Not a muscle was out of place, and even his hair looked like it belonged exactly where each strand fell. “Ms. Atra,” he began with his honeyed voice, “You do know the Midian Waltz, correct? It’s become popular among the Fiorean upper class.” He was testing her, seeing just how involved she was in the billionaire culture.

    “I do,” Aeluri responded simply. The more basic she responded, the less he could glean from her words. She distrusted the man. There was sugar in his words and it left a bad taste in her mouth. The dark mage had been sure to do her research before arriving at this ball. Time had been taken to refresh her memory on the different dances and customs so that she would fit in perfectly with the other party-goers.

    “Good. Let us begin, then.”
    With that, he led her into a simple waltz. The two went a few counts with the easy step, assumedly to become comfortable with Jett’s lead. Aeluri’s heels clacked on the floor softly with each movement of her feet. Eye contact with Jett was avoided for the most part, but occasionally she couldn’t help but catch his gaze. His eyes were mostly a soft yellow, but at a closer distance she noticed a fiery orange-hazel color around the pupil.

    Jett began to pick up the pace. Their steps sounded in unity, echoing in time with the dancers around them. The masked man twirled Aeluri a few times, which she completed with perfection. A few more counts of basic steps occured, then Jett grabbed a strong hold on her hands. Aeluri remembered the proper move and leaned back, lifting one foot off the ground with her leg straightened. Upon uprighting herself, the duo continued their dance. Light, quick steps paired with spinning and exaggerated hand gestures made up the Midian Waltz. The dance floor looked like it was covered in pairs of elegant birds.

    Yet again, the music picked up pace. This would be the truest test of dancing skills. The two dancers met eyes, the saffron gazes staring intensely. Jett raised an eyebrow as if to challenge Aeluri. He was a competent dancer and wished to see if she could maintain her skill. The raven-haired woman’s mouth curled up at the edges ever so slightly, as if to say ‘game on’. Jett began to step and spin faster and faster. Aeluri kept up with him on every movement, never missing a beat. Surrounding people began to make space for the two as their dance became more fevered.

    A second was all it took for the mood seemed to change. With a yank, Jett pulled Aeluri closer to him. The woman felt the air escape her lungs for a moment, but otherwise did not waver in her dance. What was he doing? If anyone saw them so close, they would certainly gossip. Was he trying to hit on her? Aeluri went to pull away, but his grip on her hand and waist was like iron. The woman’s heart rate increased slowly as she realized she was trapped. The two had reduced their dance to a simple, yet swift basic waltz.

    “So, Ms. Atra,” Jett began to whisper in her ear, his voice low and quiet. “Ivory filled me in on your recent... employment to her. Just how is that going, hm?” There was a little sour note at the end of his question.

    “You shouldn’t be speaking of it out loud,”
    Aeluri hissed, keeping her mouth close to his ear. The two danced in tight circles so as not to disturb the other pairs around them. “If anyone was to hear, Ivory’s life and livelihood would be in jeopardy.” The dark mage cared little about the Tremaine heiress or her businesses. However, if she was to be caught or killed, Aeluri wouldn’t get paid. The summoner was eager to obtain the handsome reward, so she was even willing to protect Ivory just this once.

    “Oh, I don't care about that,” Jett responded. “Any eavesdroppers would be taken care of easily. What I am worried about…” his grip tightened on her hand and waist, fingers digging into the flesh. “...is that you’re not doing your job. My men have been watching you since you got here,” Aeluri clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the growing pain of his grasp. Her heart was racing faster now. Jett had people watching her. Was it the waiters? She glanced around and found that every waiter nearby was watching them through the corners of their eyes.

    “I’m doing what I can,”
    she countered shortly. “It’s not easy to do such a thing in a place like this, especially with distractions. It takes a bit of time. There’s tactics to it!”

    “Hmm,” Jett hummed exaggeratedly. “Those just sound like excuses to me,” he said dismissively. Aeluri felt his glare on her cheek and pulled her head back to meet his eyes. The fierceness within the gold startled her. Jett’s pleasant expression had been replaced by one of malice tinted with smugness. Gone was his loverboy persona. In its place was a man who had only ill intentions and savage words. Aleuri felt her gut twist. She had been right to distrust this man. Her feelings of unease were justified instantly when she realized his sweet face had turned sour.

    “Well what do you expect me to do?” she chided, her voice still soft enough to be heard by just him. Though their conversation had grown tense, their steps never wavered.

    “I just think you need a little motivation is all,” his snide voice turned into a snarl at the end. Her hand was still in his tight grasp and his eyes trailed over to it. Despite the dark mage’s rich appearance, she had still worn a few of her summoning rings tonight. Each one was to aid her in case she needed assistance with the night’s mission.

    Jett suddenly clenched his hand around hers, squeezing hard enough to send waves of pain through Aeluri’s arm. Try as she might, the woman couldn’t help but let out a little grunt at the sensation. “Oh, does that hurt?” Jett cooed mockingly. He squeezed harder and Aeluri tensed her muscles.

    “Maybe it’ll help you get a move on if you have a little incentive,” Jett explained. Using his fingers, he pushed at the Gemini ring on Aeluri’s middle finger. Her eyes widened and she wanted to pull her hand away, but it was too late. Jett popped the golden ring off of her finger and had caught it with his other hand. He held it up to the light to look for a moment, twisting the metal to and fro.

    “What a lovely ring you have, Ms. Atra,” he mused with a smug smirk. “You can have it back when you’re done with your little task.” Aeluri’s heart sunk and she felt frantic. Without the Gemini ring, she felt naked and helpless. The spirit assigned to the ring was her most powerful and always able to help her in a pinch. Not to mention that the woman cared deeply about her summons. They were her comfort, her friends. If anything were to happen to them, she would be devastated! Now one was in the hands of a man who intended to do harm!

    “Give it back, you bastard!” she growled, reaching up to grab it from Jett. The suave man pulled his arm back and out of her reach.

    “Ah, ah, ah! That’s not going to happen. Now get back into the dancing position before anybody starts to suspect anything.” He chided, slipping the ring onto his own finger. Aeluri reluctantly put her hand back on his shoulder, her golden eyes glowering from beneath the red and black mask. This man was infuriating!

    The two continued to dance for a few more counts, reduced to just a basic waltz as the music had slowed down. Their gazes didn’t break contact. Aeluri was furious and starting to panic. If she didn’t get the Gemini ring back soon, she may never get it back! Her brow was furrowed in an expression full of hatred. Meanwhile, Jett only looked smug, and continued to look even more so as Aeluri grew angrier.

    Aeluri forced her fingernails to begin transforming into claws. The cartilage bent and hardened, sharpening into fine tips. Fingers curled and dug into Jett’s shoulder, while the other hand cut into his. His smug expression began to slip as he realized what she was doing.

    “Listen here, you little punk,” she snarled lowly. “If you think that I wouldn’t tarnish this mission for any reason, you’re absolutely wrong. Ivory means nothing to me. This event means nothing to me. The money can be sacrificed. I don’t give a shit. Now, give me back my ring or I’ll make a scene!”

    Jett attempted to move away from her, but she dug her claws in deeper. For a moment, they stood there in silence. Their dance quelled with the tension, but Aeluri forced him to continue moving.

    “You think you can just overpower me with some claws, kittycat?” Jett whispered, venom in his voice. “Think again. I’ve got men all around. I’m not here to ensure Ivory’s objectives get completed, I’m here to make sure my own are successful. I don’t care about Ivory. I’m here for you,” His hand snapped up her own, crushing it with growing force. The other hand removed the Gemini ring and held it between his pointer finger and thumb.

    Aeluri sensed a growing magical force around his hand, though to the naked eye there was nothing to be seen. The currents of magical movement around his hand swirled and twisted, growing stronger.

    “You think you can just tell me what to do? You’re never gonna get your ring back, you dumb bitch,” Jett snarled, his fury growing feverish as his grip tightened. “Did you really think that stupid little contact would hide who you are? You don’t deserve to bear a single golden eye of the Dexter clan, let alone two! You disgust me,” he spat, leaning in close to her ear.

    “W-what do you mean?” Aeluri stammered in confusion. Dexter clan? What was he talking about?

    “You really don’t know? I suppose with a dead father and an insane mother you wouldn’t be taught about your heritage. Ha!” he let out a wry laugh. “Of course Alexander would try to leave you in the dark.”

    “Who are you? How do you know me?” Aeluri gasped. How did he know who her father was? The man had died long ago and she only had fond memories of him.

    Jett let out another quiet laugh. “Oh, dear cousin. The Dexters are always around, and we’ve picked up information here and there on you. I know about Basilisk Fang. I know about your little name change.” Jett flexed his hand and Aeluri felt a few of the bones in her hand crack.

    “I know who you are, Felicity Sinisterre.”

    As the words left his mouth, the magic in his hand surged. Pressure began to build around the Gemini ring until it was crackling with energy. All at once, it condensed. The Gemini ring evaporated on the spot, the remaining particles raining around Jett’s gloved hand in a golden glitter.

    The invisible explosion sent out a gust of magic and air. It was powerful enough to knock Aeluri out of Jett’s painful grasp. The woman’s balance teetered for a moment but she quickly fell backwards, landing on her butt and skidding across the floor.

    The people around them parted instantly. Gasps filled the air as they watched the fallen woman. Aeluri struggled to gain her breath and composure as her mind and heart raced. Jett knew her name. Not Aeluri Atra, the other name. The one she was born with. How? How could he know? Not to mention he had destroyed her beloved Gemini! She did her best to hold back her sorrow. There was too much going on at hand, mourning could wait.

    Aeluri’s chest heaved as she tried to breathe normally. Golden eyes glared up at Jett, who had returned to his loverboy persona. He looked concerned and shocked, but she knew it was all fake.

    “Ma’am! I’m so sorry you lost your footing!” Jett cried in feigned shock. He stepped forward and offered her his hand. Another man came forward and did so as well. She took their hands and returned to her feet, dusting off her dress. The summoner’s heart was pounding as her thoughts raced. On the surface, however, she looked fine.

    Jett opened his mouth to say something more, but Aeluri cut him off. “Stay the hell away from me,” she hissed, her voice laced with venom. The woman turned on her heel and stalked back towards where she had left Shane and Ivory. At this point, subtly going after Arco was the least of her concerns. Aeluri had to warn Shane that they were in danger.
    @tagged
    IVYLEAF33




    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 19th December 2019, 8:03 am

    While he pushed his way through the crowd and Ivory Tremaine fuming behind him, Shane had his eyes locked on Aeluri. The man named Jett Dexter had set off the alarms in his mind. With a job as dangerous as his, Shane had long learnt to trust his instincts and whenever his instincts told him to pay heed to certain characteristics or actions that others might miss, he would do so. And almost all of the time, it had pointed him in the right way to the mastermind behind an elaborate plan and cover up. This time, Jett Dexter was the one his instincts was screaming at.

    Despite making his way in a brusque manner, his large shoulders bulldozing through anyone who had decided to stand in his way, Shane eyes and ears were very much concentrated on what was happening between Jett and Aeluri. It wasn’t jealousy or envy regarding the boy toy was dancing so intimately with Aeluri, but rather, he sensed that he meant her harm. His sensitive hearing blocked out the rest of the noises and fully concentrated on Aeluri’s conversation with Jett, and while he could only pick up certain portions of the conversation, Shane’s face was slowly letting his anger show.

    And unlike the rest of the socializing dignitaries, the Rune Knight General’s eyes widened at the sudden outburst of magic. Aeluri fell to the ground, and Shane’s footsteps immediately quickened when the former stood back up and after a warning to Jett, turned around and walked back to where Shane and Aeluri had been earlier before being split up. On his way, Shane brushed past Jett on purpose, putting more than enough strength to push the man to the ground while he walked on.

    Ivory Tremaine gasped from behind him and quickly ran over to pull her lover back to his feet. Shane could feel the anger from the two as their glares hit him without any adornment. If looks could kill, he would have had two spears piercing his back.

    “Are you okay?” Shane asked in a low but concerned voice as he placed his hands gently on both of Aeluri’s upper arms before turning her around. “Did he do anything to injure you? That burst of magic. What was it?”

    As he spoke, Shane’s eyes were darting around them. The noose tied around the necks of all the dignitaries tonight was slowly tightening. The music had died down all of sudden, throwing the dancing crowd into disorder and confusion. The wait staff that had earlier been weaving in and out of the crowd inconspicuously were stationed out on the outermost of the crowd, forming an encirclement. Their neutral expressions now carried a hint of bloodthirst, and their eyes a steely glint.

    As the crowd began to turn their attention around them and raise their complaints towards the arrangement of the entertainment, the wait staff that had been lying low the entire night were now rid of their large trays. Some were just barehanded while some carried weapons. Above them, men and women dressed in a different outfit but equally masked were stationed along the entire length of the balcony ringing the hall. The bomb had exploded, and Shane’s mind was racing furiously to think of a way he could reduce the number of casualties. However, his priority was given to Aeluri first.

    The Rune Knight General unclasped the black watch he wore around his left wrist and took it off. His hands quickly found Aeluri’s, and deftly put it on her left wrist. The steel band which was originally wide enough to fit around Shane’s wrist comfortably had magically shrunk to fit around Aeluri’s left wrist. Without waiting for her to ask, Shane explained.

    “My watch Invicta. Put a burst of magical energy into it and it will generate an energy shield to protect you.”

    Pulling her in for a hug and then giving her a light kiss on the lips, Shane smiled lopsidedly. He hated how badly the night had gone tonight.

    “I’m not underestimating your ability to protect yourself. But at least it’s there when you need it.”


    [689 words]
    [Total WC: 12916 / 14000]


    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 27th January 2020, 5:08 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 1,356
    Job Word Count: 14,272/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Heroes
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    A few gasps from the nearby dignitaries led Aeluri to whirl around. Golden eyes locked onto Shane, who was powering his way towards her. Jett was on his knees, knocked down by the Rune Knight. Ivory was at his side, trying to help him up. Everyone around him had parted and were staring at the fallen businessman with shocked expressions. Despite all the eyes on him, Shane seemed to only have one focus.

    He grabbed her upper arms with gentle hands, but Aeluri couldn’t help but flinch in response. After what Jett had just done, she was frantic and not thinking clearly. Gemini had been destroyed before her very eyes. The thought sent another pang through her heart. Not only was she more defenseless now, she had lost a treasured companion. Aeluri did her best to shake the thoughts away. There were more pressing matters right now. Not only could her true identity become compromised, she and Shane were now in imminent danger.

    “I’m fine,” Aeluri snapped in reply, not intending for the words to come out as savagely as they had. There was no time or desire for apologies, though. “He destroyed something of mine with magic, and my hand…” she trailed off, raising her right hand. A sharp inhale came as she attempted to flex it. Jett had definitely shattered some bones in there, made clear by the searing pain she now felt.

    Shane began to look around and Aeluri followed his gaze. The people that once had appeared to be waiters now ringed the room in a threatening line. All the exits were blocked. Some of them held weapons while others summoned magic from their hands, which were held at the ready. Guests began to take notice of the trap and began panicking. A woman attempted to push through the surrounding waiters, only to be shoved back into the crowd with extreme force.

    Shane grabbed up her left hand. A sort of wristwatch-looking item was clasped around it. It shrunk to snugly fit around her wrist. For a moment, Aeluri felt a chill. Was Shane in cahoots with these threatening men and finally arresting her? Had she underestimated him? Her worries were dismissed as he explained what the item was - some kind of shield that was activated by magic power.

    He pulled her in swiftly for a hug, then gave her a gentle kiss. Aeluri was too stunned to protest. So much was happening that her mind was on edge. They only had moments to speak before the ballroom would explode into chaos. For a second, she appreciated his company. If she were alone in this fight, there was no doubt that she would struggle. Despite her experience as a dark mage, Aeluri was only so capable alone.

    Aeluri was sharply reminded of the injury to her right hand as she brushed it against her side by accident. The pain was familiar. She’d injured her other hand similarly long ago when she was a part of Basilisk Fang. Their fortress had come under attack and she had stuck her hand into a ray of energy in order to summon a feline and save herself. The woman raised her left hand and hovered it over her right. Golden eyes closed for a second as she focused. By outward appearance, she was vulnerable, but Aeluri had tapped into her feline hearing to keep herself alert and safe should anyone attack her while she was healing her hand. The shadow of her left hand over her right began to move as if they were alive, departing from their boundaries and swirling around the hand. In a second, they had been absorbed into the skin like a salve. Aeluri felt her cracked bones correct themselves as the shadows worked their magic. Once it was finished, the shadow returned to its boundaries.

    The summoner gave a nod to Shane, then looked around for where to go first. The ring of waiters had started to advance on the crowd, pushing them together and causing more confusion. People started to scream and panic. Aeluri tensed and tried to pick out a weak spot in the formation. There appeared to be none. She scanned the ring above, lining the balcony.

    From the middle of the balcony, a figure emerged. There stood Jett, his mask discarded. A smug grin covered his face as he watched the chaos in the room. Ivory stood at his side, a confused and worried expression on her face as she watched. The heiress was obviously not in on Jett’s plan, as she spoke to him with irritation and worry. This would be awful for her publicity. Not to mention, she still feared for her life.

    Jett raised his hand and snapped his fingers together. A lacrima emerged from nowhere in particular, manifesting itself in front of his chest. “Ahem!” he cleared his throat. The lacrima absorbed the sound and amplified it around the room for everyone to hear. Screams and chaos settled as everyone turned to look at the golden man on the balcony. The waiter-soldiers stopped their advance and waited for orders.

    “Dearest friends,” Jett began, his voice smooth and confident. “I’m afraid that this ball has come to an end. Recently I have discovered that there are those in this crowd that wish to harm my dearest Ivory. As you see, I’ve had to hire men to help protect my love and myself. I couldn’t take any risks.” His voice had turned woeful, and Aeluri scowled at him indignantly. How dare he turn this on her when he was the one who was a threat to her own and Ivory’s lives.

    “I would suggest that you all leave as swiftly as you can so we can deal with this threat ourselves. The exits will be open. Please don’t rush the door-”
    his voice was cut off as people started running towards the exits. Pushing and shoving commenced and some people were trampled. Screaming and yelling started up again.

    Once most of the room was cleared, it was just Aeluri, Shane, and the waiters. Aeluri scoured the space for any stragglers, and to her surprise, Arco and Arianne were surrounded by a circle of Jett’s cronies. They were being held on the other side of the room. There was a wall of enemies between Aeluri and the couple. All of a sudden, Jett’s plan became clear. If he could kill both Arco and Ivory Tremaine, there was a chance that he could inherit or steal their business empire.

    Aeluri turned to yell at Jett and confront him. Golden eyes widened as she noticed that he was running away from the balcony railing with a grip on Ivory’s arm. The masked heiress was being pulled along and couldn’t escape. The guards closed the gap behind the two, completing the ring around the upper balcony.

    The summoner didn’t care much for Ivory’s life at this point. However, she did still want to get paid if she ended up completing her task. Aeluri also desperately didn’t want Jett to win. In the short time she had known him, she already hated every fiber of his being. He had destroyed her Gemini ring and ruined her mission. Somehow he knew her true name and had claimed to be her cousin. He was also a smug little asshole. The woman wanted to wipe the grin from his face permanently, but not until she got some answers.

    Thus, she couldn’t let Jett get away with Ivory. Before she could pursue the two, a group of the waiters began to approach her. Two swung their swords while the other two summoned gold and blue magics at their fingertips. Aeluri braced herself, getting into a fighting stance while her mind raced on what to do. Which cat should she summon?

    “Shane!” she cried, turning to the Rune Knight for a moment. Her eyes were fierce with the spirit of battle. “You have to save Ivory! Go after them!” she ordered, feigning concern for the heiress. If Shane could deal with Jett, then she could focus on completing what she came here to do.
    IVYLEAF33




    _____________________________________________________________________________________


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 11th February 2020, 12:38 am

    As they parted after the kiss, sharing a moment of tenderness right before the unravelling of the night into nothing but chaos, Shane was going to heal her injured wrist but the girl was much faster than him. Not to mention that her healing magic was much more gentle than Shane’s crude spell. When he got affirmation that she was ready and well, the Rune Knight began to turn his full gaze to the situation at hand. As he stood beside Aeluri, the waiters and waitresses began to move step by step towards them and other dignitaries within the hall. Each step was solemn and well orchestrated such that there was no lag among them.

    Screams, shouts, wails, cries and shrieks rang out in the hall depending on the proximity of the person with the wall of assassins inching ever nearer towards them. Most of the men, well-respected in their respective fields and carriers of inflated egos, were bellowing at the would-be assailants, throwing threats of all sorts all around. A few women, matriarchs of their families, were joining the fray as well. However, with each step taken by the assassins, the authority in their voices began to fail, they began devolving into pleads before completely dissolving into sobs.

    As if marking the crescendo of the show, the perpetrator behind the whole thing, Jett Dexter appeared on the second floor balcony, the same one that Shane had caught sight of Aeluri. The smug grin on his face, as he stood above everyone, was revolting to the eyes. Clearing his throat once, the man pulled everyone’s attention to him, causing the whole hall to fall into silence. The assassins that were circling them stopped their advance, waiting for further orders.

    When he finally spoke, Shane’s expression visibly darkened. Using Ivory’s situation to put himself into a favorable situation, Jett had painted himself the victim. Numerous people in the crowd were disbelieving of his words, but when the man finally allowed them to leave the hall without any harm, he had won them over. The previously dignified men and women, people who stood at the peak of their industries, ran unhesitatingly towards the nearest exit, pushing and elbowing anyone in their way. In the face of their lives, who would care for their honor?

    It took less than ten minutes for the room to clear out, leaving only Jett and Ivory, Shane and Aeluri and surprisingly, Arco and his partner. The four of them were the only ones left on the dance floor, separated by the assassins. Above them on the balcony, Jett was smiling satisfactorily with an iron grip on Ivory’s arm while the woman was still bewildered by the events unfolding. At the moment, she seemed to have lost her bearings, unsure of what to believe and what to do.

    Aeluri tried to catch them, but her way forward was quickly closed by the assassins.

    “I’ll be back ASAP,” Shane replied with a nod. “You get to Arco’s side.”

    At their exchange of words, a group of five assassins began to advance towards Shane. Weapons were drawn, and Shane could feel the infusion of magical energy in the air. The Rune Knight was pissed but he still found himself smirking.

    “Just the five of you?” the Rune Knight asked condescendingly and in a flash, he had kicked off the ground and pounced on the one nearest to him. The assassin whipped his right hand horizontally, a stiletto in it, trying to ward off Shane’s approach but the latter was much too pissed to care about the small dagger. Shane closed his palm around the dagger and with a burst of magical strength, crushed the weapon before using the same fist to punch the assassin right in the face.

    There was a tinge of savageness in his punch, sending the assassin flying straight into the wall before dropping to the ground. A Rune Knight he may be, but he had no intention of sparing anyone at the moment. Two swords, one blazing with flame and the other crackling with lightning, struck downwards from his left side but Shane casually lifted his left arm, a circular shield appearing strapped to his forearm, defending against the swords. The moment the weapons clashed against his shield, Shane instantly rose into the air and swept his right leg in a roundhouse kick, causing the first assassin to crash into the second one before they collectively flew to one side of the room.

    The two remaining assassins tried to attack him from the front and the back, but before they could even succeed, Shane pulled the shield from his left arm and jumped over the assassin lunging from the front before turning around to throw his shield. The shield smashed into the back of the assassin he had just jumped over before bouncing into the one flanking him, dropping both targets immediately. The shield bounced off the second assassin and returned into his raised right hand, returning the shield to its place on his left forearm before charging off after Jett.

    The exchange had only taken three minutes and as Shane kicked open the door which Jett and Ivory had escaped through, he could still see the two of them running down the long hallway. Putting on a burst of speed, Shane gave chase. His thunderous steps got Jett to look behind him, still the same smirk ever present on his face, as he recognized Shane.

    “A little slow, aren’t you Captain?” the man shouted as he laugh callously, pushing the door nearest to him open and quickly running through. Shane followed closely, the door still swinging to and fro from Jett’s energetic push. It was dumb, rushing blindly after his enemy without caution and it proved to be his undoing. A large fist, as large as his head collided with his face the moment he took a step into the dark room and Shane was immediately thrown out the same way he had came in, crashing into the wall behind him.

    [1006 words]
    [15278 / 14000]


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    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 21st May 2020, 3:46 pm

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 3,200
    Job Word Count: 18,478/14,000
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Afraid of the Dark
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    Aeluri watched from the corner of her eye as Shane engaged a group of Jett’s men in battle. Such finesse couldn’t help but be admirable. He had kicked down a few of his attackers and knocked out several others with a round shield. The summoner found herself comforted in the slightest that her only ally in this situation was a competent fighter. Her attention to him was fleeting though, as she had her own enemies to deal with.

    Eyeing the approaching mages, Aeluri weighed her options. The two with magic energy at their hands were the most dangerous to deal with, as they could attack from a distance. Their abilities were unknown but she could sense the magic within them. Both swordsmen possessed magic as well, but not to the degree that the mages did.

    While she strategized, the mage with the blue energy in his hands let out a few bursts of magic that raced at Aeluri like bullets. She dodged the spray all fairly easily, though one managed to hit her foot. The high heel took the brunt of the damage, knocking her down a few inches in height on one side. Aeluri stumbled for a second. Damn heels! Quickly she kicked off the tall shoes. They would only hinder her in battle, moreso now that one was ruined.

    The dark mage snapped her fingers. One of her rings began to glow and felt hot against her skin. Dark gray steel housed a turquoise gemstone that shined in the light. From the shadow of a nearby table, a black feline appeared. While he was taller than a standard house cat, he was significantly smaller than any of the humans in the room. Wide green eyes stared eerily without emotion as he looked around the room. Oddly enough, though the cat seemed to hold a stony expression, his eyes leaked tears. The liquid dripped down from each eye at an unusually rapid rate, creating rivulets through his fur and little puddles on the floor beneath him. This was Lamentus, one of Aeluri’s many strange feline summons.

    Immediately the cat locked his intense stare on the two mages with magic-coated hands. The tears began to flow faster and faster. Each puddle on the floor seemed to come to life, weaving across the floor swiftly towards the feet of the enemy. Both stood stunned and baffled by the odd sight before them. His eerie stare was unnerving. Before they could react, the tears began to gain structure and build up around its targets. There was no escape quick enough. Within seconds, the tears had formed into bubbles that encased the waiters. They began to lift into the air, floating slowly up to the ceiling. The rafters were many meters above the dancefloor. Captured enemies collected there, their bubbles coming together to resemble a collection of weird fish eggs.

    While Lamentus worked his magic, Aeluri focused her attention on her own enemies. Shane had defeated his by now and was pursuing Jett and Ivory. His footsteps echoed faintly across the balcony before disappearing down a hallway. Aeluri focused all her magic energy to her hands. Shadows from nearby began to pull towards her in wisps of darkness. The smoky looking energy swirled in and covered her fists in a cloud of magical energy. It was as if she had formed translucent gloves out of the shadows themselves.

    Cockily she beckoned the two swordsmen forward. One took the bait, charging forward aggressively with a shout, baring his teeth. The blade in his hands glinted in the light. He swung it at Aeluri, who twisted out of the way and grabbed the sword. While the blade was sharp, the whisps protected her hands. Shadows raced up the metal like snakes, winding around his arm and up to his neck. They covered his throat all the way around, then began to squeeze. The swordsman dropped his blade and grabbed at his neck. However, his hands merely grasped at the shadowy smoke, unable to grab something tangible to stop the strangulation.

    As the first waiter collapsed to the floor, Aeluri’s golden eyes raised to the other. His calculating gaze met her own and the two stared for a moment. The dark mage brushed off her dress, which was surprisingly unrestricting so far. Hopefully it wouldn’t get in the way of battle. Aeluri removed the red and black mask from her face and tossed it to the side. She could see much better without it in the way. Besides, there was no reason to cover her face anymore. The sword, abandoned next to the body that had ceased breathing, was grabbed up into confident hands. Shadows wove over it, extinguishing any magic that had been attached to it from the previous owner. He wouldn’t be needing it anymore.

    Aeluri watched unflinchingly as the other swordsman beckoned the rest of the waiter minions forward. They surrounded her in an arc, keeping their distance and waiting for instruction. Most held weapons, only a few remained with magic power at their hands. Lamentus had made his way over to his summoner and now sat staring at the numerous enemies. Several were taken up in bubbles to the ceiling as the feline’s tears continued to flow. He was prepared to capture more at a moment’s notice.

    With another snap, Aeluri summoned a second feline. This time, a golden ring shaped like a chain glowed for a moment. From the nearby shadows, another creature appeared. He was much taller than Lamentus, standing at nearly human height. Human stature accompanied entirely feline features. Purple and gold robes covered his humanoid body as well as a scarf that covered his mouth with a sharp-toothed pattern. This was Llacheu, a feline sorcerer spirit. Immediately, he launched into attack without direction. The chains from the cuffs around his wrists extended with the loud sound of rattling metal. They acted like whips, lashing out against enemies. Some of the assassins were grabbed up and used as a bludgeoning tool to knock others down.

    The moment Llacheu attacked, so did Aeluri. There were many enemies that she had to get through to get to Arco and Arianne, who were still being held captive by two of Jett’s men against the opposite wall. They were her true targets. The rest were simply obstacles. Luckily for the sinister woman, a decent portion of the waiters had gone in pursuit of Shane. There was no way she could have taken on all of them by herself. Not that she wouldn’t have tried, though.

    The overtaken sword in her hands locked against the swordsman’s own blade as they came together. Metal on metal rang around the space in a clear, sharp clang. For a moment, the two pressed against each other in a battle of strength. Muscles strained from both, sweat beginning to form on his brow. She appeared unfazed. Aeluri kicked a foot forward, knocking him off balance. The blade was pushed aside and she thrust her own sword right through his chest. Limply the body hit the ground as the weapon was removed. She moved on to the next enemy, the shadowy blade cutting right through his shield and arm. As she battled through them, Aeluri pictured each one with Jett’s face. Anger surged through her, increasing the aggression of her attacks. She wanted nothing more than to rip that prick’s smug little face apart for what he had done and what he knew, but she had other things to do first.

    Aeluri and her summons held their own fairly well against the line of Dexter minions. The combination of all three made the battle easier. Several times she had to pour magic energy into the watch Shane had given her. It materialized into an energy shield that the enemies bounced off of like hail. As Lamentus’ bubbles began to pop, the captives fell from the roof onto the ballroom floor. Disgusting thumps of flesh and bone resounded around the room as most died on impact. Blood splashed up onto many of the remaining people. Some became so terrified that they ran away from the battle and abandoned their comrades.

    As the numbers thinned, Aeluri could feel herself becoming more exhausted. Not only had she exerted magic power to summon Lamentus and Llacheu, she was undertaking a large physical toll. Muscles burned with each swing of the sword. Many times she stumbled and received stinging retribution in the form of magic or the slice of weapons. Bruises would undoubtedly spot all over her body the next day. Several large cuts laced her arms and back that rendered the tight dress ruined. She couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed. The outfit was one she had quite enjoyed.

    At last, there was only one left. Aeluri braced herself, putting her left foot forward and raising the sword threateningly in front of her. The energy shield materialized on her wrist one last time. Her breath was ragged and her chest raised with each quick breath. Only one more and then she could complete her duty. Despite all that had happened, her mission had not left her mind. It drove her through battle, giving her determination. All of the waiters had to be defeated so she could make her way to the two remaining guests. If Ivory lived, Aeluri would be paid handsomely for the death of Arco. She had to see this task to its completion.

    Before the last Dexter minion could charge, a large object came flying from the side of the room and decapitated him on the spot. The head fell to the floor and the body moments later. A pool of blood began to form. The item clattered to a halt several feet away. Aeluri realized it was the charcuterie tray she had been staring at earlier as she eavesdropped on Arco and Arianne. Whipped her head to the side, she noticed Llacheu holding his paws out in the air. He had used his telekinesis magic to give life to the metal tray and send it flying at the waiter in a surprise attack. “Good thinking,” she complimented the feline sorcerer between breaths. Llacheu’s tail waved excitedly.

    Aeluri waved her hand at Lamentus, dismissing him. The feline stared at her for a second before turning and disappearing into the shadows. A trail of tears followed his departure. He had done well. Normally she would have scratched his head a little, but she had come to learn that the tearful feline didn’t appreciate affection.

    Across the room, the little group of four people stood. Arco held Arianne close while the two waiter guards held them in place. The woman was sobbing while she hid her face in her lover’s chest. Their clothes had several blood splatters, which stained dark red against the fabric. What the two had witnessed was awful beyond anything they had seen before in their privileged lives. Bloodshed at such a high volume was something most people in Fiore wouldn’t witness in their lifetime, especially those in the upper class. Arco himself looked disturbed, but he was trying to hold it together for Arianne.

    Aeluri stepped her way towards them, dodging bodies and puddles of blood. The soft sound of feed padding against marble echoed menacingly around the now silent room. Looking around as she went, the dark mage was quite proud of her gory work. It had been tedious, but she still found pride in her display of strength and malice. As she approached, the two Dexter guards became scared. One broke his resolve quickly, fleeing out of the ballroom. His weapon clattered to the ground. The other followed shortly after, leaving Arco and Arianne huddled together against the wall.

    Arco stared defiantly at Aeluri as she approached. “Leave us alone!” he cried angrily, pushing his glasses up. The assassin stopped a few feet away and observed the couple. Llacheu had followed behind her, chains scraping over the floor, and halted by Aeluri’s side. It was pathetic how the couple were cuddled up, so helpless. The two looked like cowering rabbits cornered by a hungry fox. They had no defenses anymore. Their lives were in her hands. Despite it all, the man still had the gall to lash out at her. What a fool!

    “Now, why would I do that?” she replied, a dangerous edge to her voice.

    “Please, just let us go! We didn’t do anything!” Arianne sobbed, looking at Aeluri through teary blue eyes. Delicate hands topped with perfectly manicured nails clutched at Arco’s suit jacket. The dark mage felt her fear. The smell of it graced her senses and set her heart pumping with adrenaline. The bloodlust was building within her.

    “You didn’t do anything, hmm?” Aeluri paced slowly in front of the lovers. “What was that I overheard earlier…” she mused, then raised a finger in exaggerated excitement. “Oh, right! You two were planning to have Ivory assassinated and steal the Tremaine empire for your own. How could I forget~”

    The couple gave each other a startled glance. Arco opened his mouth to protest. “Don’t try to deny it, Arco,” Aeluri chastised, waggling a finger mockingly. “I know exactly what I heard. All the previous assassination attempts were from you as well. It’s really not hard to come to that conclusion. Sure, Ivory has business rivalries, but none bad enough to want her dead. You tried to be discreet, but you’ve failed.” She took a threatening step towards the floor-bound lovers.

    “S-stay back!” Arco cried. “You can’t do anything to me! The Rune Knights will hunt you down! You’ll never get away with it!” His attempts at threatening her were halfhearted, though. The ex-Tremaine knew he had been discovered and that his fate was in Aeluri’s hands now. Fear caused desperation within him, so he felt the need to try to save himself.

    “Oh, can’t I? Don’t worry, I already have a plan for that!” Aeluri trilled. The delicious scent of their fear had alighted her more depraved side. She craved for the two to fear her, to beg for their lives. The dark mage wanted to see them suffer before their lives slipped away. Perhaps they could die at each other’s hands. Their bodies would be discovered together, holding each other in a final act of love. A crime of love and greed, how tragic!

    The dark mage pulled the slitted side of her dress back, revealing her leg. Strapped to her thigh was a knife with a thick blade. She quickly removed it from its hiding place, holding it up in the air. Light from the massive chandelier above glinted off the blade. “I sharpened my knife just for you~” Aeluri purred towards Arco, whose eyes were wide and terrified.

    It wasn’t actually her knife, though. It was stolen from Arianne’s father. The blade had a decorative hilt with the insignia of that clan at the bottom. There would be no mistaking where it came from. The assassin had chosen to use a weapon that had no connection to her. Ivory had made it clear that there was to be no trace back to herself or Aeluri from Arco’s death. This plan had come to fruition long before the start of the masquerade. It would be a dramatic setup that pinned the blame on Arianne.

    The young woman shrieked as Aeluri pulled the blade from its sheath. The tight grasp on Arco was released as she scrambled to her feet. Picking up her skirts, Arianne made a panicked break for the door. A sigh escaped the raven-haired assassin’s lips. “When will they ever learn?” she muttered to herself.

    With a wave of her hand, the feline sorcerer Llacheu kicked into action at her side. The chains from the cuffs on his wrists whipped out, soaring across the room. Arianne didn’t make it far. The metal wrapped around her midsection, pinning her arms to her sides. Llacheu reeled her in like an unruly and vibrantly-colored fish. The young woman’s flopping about and screaming only fit the part.

    “Now, now,” Aeluri tutted. Llacheu held the attempted escapee in the air before his summoner. “You would just leave Arco to his demise so easily just to save your own life? That’s not how lovers are supposed to act.” The assassin stepped up and pressed the blade to Arianne’s cheek, drawing blood in a thin line. Realization and fear filled her eyes as she recognized the knife. “Look at how hurt he is!” Llacheu turned the woman around to look at Arco. Defeat was written all over his face. He wouldn’t meet his lover’s eyes.

    “Let me go!”

    “I was going to do this differently, but now you’ve given me an idea Arianne.” Aeluri purred. She gave a nod towards Llacheu. The feline sorcerer removed one of his chains from around her waist. One arm was freed up, which he used the second chain to wrap around and control. Even her fingers were completely left to Llacheu’s whim.

    “Llacheu, would you do the honors?” Aeluri asked her summon. A quick auditory check was made to make sure Shane was still far away from the ballroom. The distant sounds of fighting confirmed that to be true.

    Without acknowledgement, the feline reached out with Arianne’s hand and grasped her father’s knife from Aeluri. The chains pushed her towards Arco despite her frantic protesting. Her voice turned into hysterical sobs as she approached.

    Within seconds, it was done. The knife had been plunged into Arco’s chest, right into his heart. The Tremaine had died at the hands of his lover. His life slipped away quickly before the watchful eyes of Aeluri. Arianne sobbed. Then it was her turn. The chained hand turned the weapon on its owner. She sobbed and pleaded, her words becoming incoherent. There was no salvation for her now.

    Llacheu placed the young woman’s body on the ground. The knife clattered from her hand as he released the chains. The scene portrayed a different story from the reality of the situation. To any observer, it would seem Arianne had used her family’s heirloom knife to end her lover’s life. She could have taken the opportunity created by Jett’s distraction to commit the deed. There would be no doubt the motivation: money. The Tremaine fortune was a hot topic among high class circles at the moment. Ridden with guilt, it would seem she had ended her own life because she couldn’t live with what she had done. It was a believable story.

    Aeluri gave Llacheu a pat on the head, signaling that his job was done. With a bow, the feline sorcerer disappeared in a puff of shadowy smoke. The assassin gave one last glance at her handiwork. A smirk graced her face. This would definitely make the news. Should Ivory survive tonight, her mercenary would be paid handsomely.

    After a moment, Aeluri turned and headed swiftly towards the staircase where she had last seen Shane take off. She had to help him ensure that Ivory wasn’t dying at the hands of Jett. Plus, maybe she would get a chance to lay her hands on that little bastard. The thought spurred her to run faster.
    IVYLEAF33



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    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 29th May 2020, 1:16 am

    Shane slid down the wall, landing firmly on his feet as he shook off the aftereffects of the blow he had taken that had sent him flying out of the room. The Rune Knight General turned his neck to the left and right, creating cracking sounds as he loosened his neck and began to take off his suit. It was one of the few coats that he owned and he wasn’t going to take his chances with it being ruined. The silver tie was also removed from around his neck, winding it up before tossing both clothing articles into his Requip dimension. Now dressed in only his white shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his dark blue pants and brown dress shoes, the Rune Knight General scoffed slightly as he approached the door. An effortless front kick from the man right at the centre of the double doors sent them flying off their hinges and straight into the room.

    Light from the hallway poured into the dark room, illuminating it dimly but good enough for Shane to see where the assailant was. Punching forward with both fists, the assailant was able to beat away the two doors flying at him, sending each to one side of the room as they crashed against the wall, breaking from the impact. The assailant was a tall and wiry man, with dirty blond hair and wearing a pair of shades. He was slightly taller than Shane, and he was dressed like one of the waiters-cum-assassins.

    “I have looked forward to this, Captain. My name is Jaron Lowenberg, a vassal of the Dexter family,” he said with a smirk on his pointed face before lunging forward to strike at Shane with his fists raised.

    “That’s General Stern to you,” Shane quipped back as he leapt into action as well. Like him, Jaron Lowenberg was also trained in martial arts and his magic revolved around his martial capability, allowing him to stand on equal footing with Shane. Jaron led the fight with a left jab, followed by a right hook to which Shane blocked with his right arm held high to take on the left jab. His left hand opened wide as he caught the incoming right hook, and at the same moment that he kicked outwards with his right leg, Jaron Lowenberg did the same. Both men were forcefully separated by the force of their kicks as they took the opposing kicks in their gut.

    Shane slid to a half, almost touching the wall behind him while Jaron was unlucky enough to fall back into a pile of stacked chairs. With the opponent on the wrong footing, Shane pressed the offensive this time, lunging at his opponent with a forward jumping knee strike, his knee stabbing into Jaron’s chest the moment he had climbed back out of the chairs, pinning him against the wall. It knocked the breath of the tall man, but his fighter instincts were perfectly intact. Jaron retorted with an elbow strike to Shane’s neck which carried enough force to snap the latter’s neck had he not softened the blow with a hastily raised arm. Still, it wasn’t good enough of a block and Shane was pushed to the side, releasing the grip he had on Jaron.

    With a huge stride, Jaron stepped back into the fight and spun on his right heel, throwing out a reverse roundhouse kick at Shane, aiming to peg Shane with his left heel. The spinning reverse roundhouse kick cut through the air quickly, forcing the Rune Knight to Requip his shield, appearing from air already strapped to his left forearm. Jaron’s kick struck the shield squarely, and while the shield had absorbed all of the impact, leaving Shane free from any aftershock, the latter knew that had the kick connected with his head, he would have been knocked out cold.

    Shane pushed the shield to the side the moment Jaron’s leg had connected with it, temporarily throwing the man off balance and flipped into the air, coming straight down with an axe kick aimed at the other fighter’s shoulder. The kick connected with a very loud crack but it had been off target. Shane had intended to break the man’s shoulder, but Jaron’s quick reactions had caused him to put his right arm to block the kick in haste, with Shane’s heel impacting on his forearm instead. The subsequent break drained the fight out of the man but it only lasted for a second.

    A hiss escaped through Jaron’s gritted teeth, but the man wasn’t going to let his broken arm stop him. The man caught Shane’s other leg with his left hand and with a shout, flung Shane onto the ground before spinning in a circle, dragging the Rune Knight along to smash him against the chairs that were littered on the ground. Shane held up his shield in front of his face as he collided with the chairs, his shirt doing nothing to protect him from the odd corners of the chairs poking into him until he was finally released by Jaron and sent sliding into a wall on his back, his line of sight still facing Jaron.

    The Dexter family vassal charged forward to continue his assault despite his injuries and Shane made a call to end it right here and then. Pulling his shield from his left forearm, the Rune Knight tossed the shield at Jaron, hitting him fully in the chest and sending him flying backwards. The shield bounced off the man and against the ceiling before returning to Shane’s right hand as he got up. Shane walked over to the fighter struggling to get off the ground and kicked him right in the face, putting him out of consciousness before walking down to the other door in the room and chasing after Jett.

    The fight had only taken a few minutes despite the numerous exchanges between the two of them, and with each running stride he took, Shane closed in nearer and nearer on Jett and Ivory. The door had connected to an extremely long hallway that Shane assumed ran the whole length of the whole building. Doors lined the inner wall of the entire hallway, while the outer wall on Shane’s right was entirely made out of glass, allowing the Rune Knight to look out from four stories high. He had taken two flights of stairs earlier, bringing him up to this level. He had left hints behind for Aeluri, stabbing a shuriken into the wall or door every time he needed to make a change in his direction.

    The lighting was bright and Shane could see the two figures running ahead, or rather one dragging the other, a distance away from him. He could hear them squabbling, a majority of them from Ivory’s end while Jett just continued to move briskly forward. Shane made no attempt to mask his footsteps, prompting Jett to turn around and see him. The two of them locked eyes for a second and the two of them hastened their pace. The sound of a door being flung open echoed back to Shane, forcing him to launch into a full on sprint. When Shane finally arrived at the door, kicking it in, he found himself in a stairwell, the footsteps of the two on the run coming from above.

    The Rune Knight followed after them, rushing past the fifth floor, reaching the final floor and catching the door just as it was about to close. Shane pushed it open and stepped through, a huge gust of wind greeting him the first thing he stepped out. Looking around told him they were on the roof of the building. The entire roof of the building was entirely made out of glass, supported by a framework of metal beams, curving downwards gently before reaching transforming into a steep decline after the corners.

    Jett was already halfway across the roof, with his left forearm across Ivory’s neck and his right hand pulling her right arm back as he slowly walked backwards and away from Shane. A droning sound in the air above Shane got his attention, and when he looked, he knew how Jett was going to get away with his quarry. It was an airship and right now, it was hovering above them from great heights, waiting for Jett to give the signal to land and pick them up. Ivory continued to try and resist but with an arm clamping down on her neck and her right arm twisted back, she could only do so much through the pain.

    “You’re too late, Captain!” Jett shouted over the roaring wind and the airship’s droning.

    “Let Ivory Tremaine go, Dexter,” Shane shouted back, his shield still mounted on his left arm while he used his left hand to support the bottom of the handgun in his right hand.

    [1482 words]
    [Total WC: 19960 / 24000]


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    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 5th June 2020, 10:56 am

    Outfit:


    Feles Noctis
    Aeluri
    I’m just a sentinel waiting for mountains to fall
    Job: Free Form
    Post Word Count: 919
    Job Word Count: 20,879/XXX
    Muse: 8/10
    Music: Song Link
    Items Used IC/OOC: Item 1, Item 2
    Active Spells: None
    Aeluri exited the ballroom balcony, sprinting down the hallway that Jett, Ivory, and Shane had gone only shortly before. The edge of her dress was in her hand to make running easier. Her bare feet hit the floor with dull thumps as she went, the sound muffled by the fancy carpet below. The summoner paced her breathing, shooting for endurance. Who knew how far her targets had gone while she was dealing with the waiters. They could have even fled the building by now. Aeluri shook the thought off. Shane probably would have caught up with them by now. She had enough sense to know that he didn’t give up easily.

    Pale hands clenched into fists. A fresh memory of what Jett had done to the Gemini ring flashed through her mind, along with a wave of anguish. Gemini was gone. Aeluri felt as if there was a gaping blank space beside her. The absence of the beloved feline spirit felt uncomfortable and wrong. Gemini had been with her for years and was her closest companion beside Umbra.

    Along with the woe came a hot fury. Claws extended at the end of Aeluri’s fingertips subconsciously, the sharp points digging into her palm. The pain went unnoticed. If Jett and Ivory hadn’t escaped the building yet, Jett was in for a beating. She would make sure he begged for his life at her fingertips. Not only had he destroyed something precious of hers, but he had attempted to sabotage her mission. While she had managed to complete it, the delay was only another reason to flay him within an inch of his life.

    Aeluri had been using her heightened senses to guide her pursuit by scent. Shane had only passed by maybe ten minutes before, while Jett and Ivory’s scents were more faint. She rounded a corner through some open doors and came to a battle scene. The room was strewn with torn carpet, scattered chairs, and blood. Several of the walls had holes in them. In the corner lay the body of a man, still breathing but knocked out cold. His arm was sitting at an odd angle, most likely broken. Aeluri slowed her sprint to a walk as she approached the body. This was definitely one of Jett’s minions. Something caught her eye and she crouched down for a closer look. Upon the back of his neck was an insignia tattooed in gold ink that shimmered in the faint light from the doorway. Her eyes narrowed. This mark was unfamiliar, but it had to somehow be connected to the Dexters. She made a mental note of it. Leaning over, she used a claw to swiftly finish Shane’s work. Blood began to pool on the floor as Jaron took his last ragged breath.

    Returning to her feet, Aeluri continued her quick pace down another hallway that led from the room. It was long, clearing the entire width of the Linden Manor. The trail of shurikens that Shane had left only confirmed that she was following in the right direction. Mismatching eyes glanced through the large windows that lined the hall to the ground rushing by far below. The sun was beginning to set, halfway covered by the distant hills. Reds, oranges, pinks, and golds began to streak across the clouds in the sky.

    The trail led to a set of stairs that climbed up the final stories to the roof. Aeluri was greeted by the blast of air from opening the final door. It blew loose a few pieces of her formerly neatly pinned hair. The sight before her only increased her adrenaline and sense of urgency. Jett and Ivory stood at the opposite end of the glass roof. Jett’s arm was around her neck and he had her arm pinned behind her back. The conniving bastard had that same infuriating smirk on his face. It only grew as he noticed Aeluri had arrived. Behind the two, high in the air, a large aircraft hovered, its edges lit up in orange by the sunset. The same insignia she had seen on Jaron’s neck was plastered on its side. The airborne vehicle seemed to be waiting for Jett’s signal.

    Shane stood about halfway across the roof with a shield on his arm and a gun in hand. Aeluri noticed that he had ditched his formal clothing, which she wished she could copy. While her dress hadn’t gotten in the way too much, it was ruined by the cuts and blows she had received during her battle with the waiters. The black fabric had been soaking up her blood for a while now. Something more comfortable would be ideal. Alas, this was not the time nor place.

    Aeluri swiftly crossed the glass panes to Shane’s side. Locking eyes with Jett, she bared feline fangs at him. At her side, clawed hands twitched in anticipation of battle. The Dexter man only cockily winked at her. He was waiting for their move instead of making a hasty escape into the aircraft. It was a taunt, testing how the two would react.

    In assessing the situation, there was no clear angle on how to come out on top. If they attacked the aircraft, Jett would surely use that opportunity to kill Ivory. Aeluri’s eyes drew to the glass beneath them. Maybe?... She glanced at Shane to see if he had thought of the same thing and to gauge his reaction. There had to be strategy to their attack if they wanted to save Ivory.
    IVYLEAF33






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    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 9th June 2020, 8:50 pm

    The door opened with a hiss from behind him, but Shane knew who it was without even having to take a look. Not that he could take his eyes away from the villainous Jett and his hostage as well as his escape transport. Shane knew how Jett was ridiculing him at the moment, General or not, he was just a Rune Knight equipped with a shield and a gun while he had an airship hovering in the air behind him. The structure of the airship and its maneuverability in the air told Shane much about its capability, not purely as a transport but as an aerial weapon as well. Shane’s sensitive hearing could pick up Aeluri’s feet on the glass roof as she neared him, the lack of heels tapping on glass puzzling but understood.

    Knowing that there was another pair of eyes to watch Jett and Ivory, Shane gave the airship his undivided attention as a huge door in the middle of the airship opened, revealing a huge machine gun attached with a seat. A lone man sat in that seat, hair hidden by a cap and eyes protected by a pair of shades. His hands were gripping the handles of the machine gun by its sides, moving it to aim at the two mages that threatened to derail their plan.

    With the sudden increased threat level, Shane turned his head slightly to give Aeluri a glance. The two of them locked eyes, his blue eyes staring into her red and golden orbs. One glance was all it took for the two to understand each other, communicating their intentions. The moment they broke their eye contact, Shane dived into action. The Rune Knight took one great stride forward, breaking the temporary stillness of the hostile situation, disappearing into thin air and instantly reappearing right in front of Jett and Ivory. Shane paid no heed to whatever reaction they were giving, as he gave his full attention to what he was required to do.

    Instead of taking down Jett or pulling Ivory away from his grip, Shane raised his glowing shield up into the air and slamming it right down into the glass roof at his feet, releasing a shockwave powerful enough to shatter the glass. His shield was brought up again, an endless barrage of energy bullets slamming ferociously into his shield. Jett and Ivory had already separated to make way for the gunner aboard the airship, with Jett having pushed Ivory away to fall along with the shattered glass while he himself pranced carefully on the metal frames holding up the fragile glass roof.

    Shane ignored a sudden burning pain in his left shoulder as he kept his shield up while kicking off the metal beam he had strategically landed on earlier before breaking the glass. The machine gun assault was still centered on his shield, the gunner still trying to punch through the shield to no avail, making it Jett the likely person to be the one behind the attack. While Ivory was falling down from the top of six floors down to the ground, Shane had angled himself diagonally, arm outstretched in front of him as he cut through the air to reach Ivory.

    The machine gun continued to roar from above, the bullets tracing a path through the air as the gunner’s aim slowly locked onto Shane’s position. With two floors left to go before they hit the ground as a bloody heap, Shane caught Ivory’s arm and reversed her trajectory by heaving her upwards above him. Three streams of energy left Shane’s shield at high speeds, two of them quickly enveloping Shane and Ivory to manifest as a shield while the third stream flew off towards where Aeluri was. Even with the shield, Shane pulled Ivory towards him and attached his shield to his back, hugging the woman tightly and shielding her body as they crashed into the ground.

    The two of them crashed to the ground filled with grass fragments, some huge enough to run them through but the shield worked, softening their fall and repelling any glass spikes that might kill them. While the shield and magic barrier had taken some of the impact, Shane was still shaken from the fall, the breath knocked out of him being the list of his worries, as he laid on his back, wide-eyed. He released his grip on Ivory, letting her slowly roll away from him to the side as he sucked in a few deep breaths.

    Shane rolled to his side after falling on his back, groaning as he pulled himself up from the ground. His right hand reached behind his left shoulder, tightening his grip around a spike jutting out of his shoulder, almost piercing through, and pulled it out with a grunt, blood soaking the tip of the golden spike. The Rune Knight tossed it to one side, before looking through the chaotic ground. But that wasn’t the end of his injuries.

    Ivory was slumped on the ground, still protected by the magic barrier Shane had cast on her, but she was unconscious, either because of the impact of her fall or the sheer terror of falling six floors. Despite that, she was fine, with no visible injuries on her body.

    Shane walked over to Ivory and swept her off the ground before finding a corner to hide. Blood was trickling profusely from his wounds and Shane knew it, leaving a bloody trail behind him as he carried Ivory. A large piece of glass stood to one side of the corner, and the Rune Knight looked at his own reflection, sighing as he finally noticed the bullet hole through his waist. The wave of adrenaline had kept the pain from registering in his mind, but now that he was visually confirming it, the pain returned all at once. He had taken a few bullets to his back as well, unprotected during the dive to reach Ivory.

    Aeluri could probably hold her ground against Jett, so Shane scanned the skies instead after making sure that Ivory was safely hidden. The huge airship was still hovering above the roof, or what was left of it, the gunner searching for Shane. Shane pulled out his iLac from his Requip dimension and brought it up to his ears after keying in a string of numbers. The repeated assault from the gunner had temporarily halted, the gunner trying to look for Shane and Ivory amidst the mess below him.

    “This is General Shane Stern. I need a squad to cordon off the Austere Palais and the surrounding area. Keep the civilians out until you hear anything from me,” Shane instructed the moment the call connected. The soldier on the other end of the call replied in affirmative, and then Shane ended the call. He had been keeping his eyes on the airship during the entire call, and after it was over, the iLac in his right hand disappeared and was replaced by a transparent vial containing a pale orange liquid. Shane popped off the cap with his right thumb and emptied the contains in one gulp before tossing the vial aside. The stained and torn white shirt was torn off from his body, revealing his wounds closing up and recovering, leaving scars. Shane’s recovery magic was crude and swift, serving only to keep him fighting on the battlefield.

    Before the vial touched the ground and shattered to smithereens, Shane had already took a huge leap into the air and instantly disappearing from view. The gunner had caught sight of Shane when he walked out into view, but he had only pressed down on the trigger for two shots before his prey had vanished again.

    [1287 words]
    [Total WC: 22166 / 24000]


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    aeluri
    aeluri

    Administrator- Moderator- Developer/GFX Artist- Main Account- Quality Badge Level 1- Quality Badge Level 2- Quality Badge Level 3- Zodiac Key- Dark Guild Ace- A-Rank- Wanderer- Job Creator- Working Together- Christian Minecraft Server- I Have Friends...- Teaming Up!- Unknown Powerhouse- Helper- Achiever- Expert Achiever- Over Achiever- Buddy Buddy- Monty Python- Shipped- Sticking Around- Dank Memer- Taskmaster- Halloween job event participant - Rich- Veteran Level 2- Veteran Level 1- Magic Application Approved!- Get A Pet!- Character Application Approved!- Complete Your First Job!- Obtain A Lineage!- Join A Faction!- Senior [500]- Novice [250]- 1st Place Event/Contest Winner- 3rd Place Event/Contest Winner- X-Mas Event Participant- Cookie Achievement- Cupcake Achievement- Rainbow- Villain- Have Onida On Your Friend's List- Have an Admin as a friend!- Have aeluri On Your Friend's List- Best GFX Artist Award- 1 Year Anniversary- Player 
    Lineage : Feline Sense
    Position : ULULU
    Posts : 1006
    Guild : ⫸ Hidden Blades ⫷
    Cosmic Coins : 70
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Age : 29
    Experience : 92,777

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Malefic Felines
    Second Skill: Sinister Arsenal
    Third Skill: Grimm

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by aeluri 22nd October 2020, 8:33 pm


    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu PnGhJv3


    As her gold gaze met his blue one, Shane seemed to understand what she meant at once. If the glass below them was shattered, then perhaps they could create enough of a diversion to separate Jett and Ivory. Knowing Shane would go for Ivory like the damned good-hearted Rune Knight he was, that left Aeluri to deal with Jett. That was something she wouldn’t complain about. Her fury at the man that was supposedly her cousin was still white-hot, mixing with the layer of sorrow at the loss of Gemini and burning through her veins to give her adrenaline and a cold determination. That blonde bastard deserved nothing less than her complete and cruelest wrath. If his goal was to make her an enemy, he had thoroughly succeeded.

    Shane had teleported next to Jett and Ivory in an instant, raising his energy-covered shield high above his head. In that moment, the light of his magic highlighting his features and his muscles flexing for the oncoming downward thrust, Aeluri found her heart rate picking up. Perhaps it was the raw power that drew her in, or simply how menacing he looked. Either way, she felt enticed. What the hell is wrong with you? she cursed at herself mentally. Now was not the time to be thinking about things like that, especially not about him.

    The shield was smashed downward, sending out a shockwave that shattered the glass outward from Shane. The entire roof caved in, save for the metal support beams. Aeluri was already occupying a beam, her bare feet keeping balance with ease. This was the benefit of having the best features of a feline. Not only could she enhance her senses, but her physical poise was impeccable. Moving like a gymnast on the beam, the dark mage seemed to dance her way towards Jett. Shane was falling far below among the glass shards. Hopefully he had caught Ivory by now. If the heiress was smashed to a bloody pulp, this would likely be a disappointing end for both her and the Rune Knight.

    The airship seemed focused on Shane at the direction of Jett, who remained on the roof beams as well. From her distance, Aeluri heard him speaking into an earpiece.

    “Kill that damned Rune Knight if it's the last thing you do. I want to see him full of bullet holes, got it?” Jett demanded in a voice dripping with venom.

    “Yes sir,” the airship pilot responded, already having shot a few rounds at the falling man. The machine gun started up again, its stuttering roar filling the air.

    Aeluri’s steady approach across the beam was quiet, not that much could be heard over the firing guns anyway. She was angry and focused on her enemy. Jett had a death wish for messing with her, and she was the reaper here to grant it. The dark mage was probably a sight to behold, covered in cuts, bruises, sweat, and blood. Her dress was ripped in many places and her formerly perfectly fixed hair had scraggly strands falling out all over the place. Like those of a predator, her gold eyes were fierce. As she got close enough to Jett, her shadowy smoke-gloves returned, giving her strength and protecting her hands and lower arms. Stepping lightly and swiftly, she pulled back her left arm in preparation to strike.

    Jett turned to face her right as she swung. From his jacket he pulled a magical gun of white and gold and pointed it straight at Aeluri. Shit! She ducked slightly, hearing the gun go off. It had some sort of muffler, so the sound was muted. The bullet grazed her ear, drawing more blood to add to the collection she had all over her body.

    Completing her fluid strike, Aeluri’s left fist collided with Jett’s hip, sending him spinning. Somehow the Dexter kept his balance on the metal beam. He backed up and aimed his gun again. The dark mage had nowhere to go, as the other roof supports weren’t close enough to leap to. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to try dodging again. This time she was certain she wouldn’t be so lucky.

    Crossing her fists in front of her, Aeluri made a mad dash for Jett. Even if she was taken out for the count, perhaps she could take him down with her. Six floors was a long fall, and with her weight on top, he would surely be unable to save himself. The shot reached her ears. Bracing herself for the pain, she prepared for the worst.

    A light shot upwards from below, surrounding her. It formed a shield around her, bathing her in light. This must be from Shane, perhaps he had assumed she had fallen with the broken glass too. The bullet from Jett’s gun ricocheted off of it and launched right back at Jett. He ducked with a swear. Aeluri didn’t waver in her charge, ramming into Jett with her shoulder and catching him off guard. With an added kick of power from the energy shield, he was sent flying backwards like a cannonball. The Dexter tumbled head over heels along the beam. Flesh on metal sounded through the air.

    As he came to a rest, he was bent backwards over the roof support with cold metal pressing into his back. Jett let out a groan, raising his head. His golden eyes met with those of the woman that would become his sworn rival, the bane of his existence. Aeluri had darted after her prey when the blow hit. She had no qualms hitting her opponent when he was down. In fact, she rather liked the idea of tearing him to shreds when he was defenseless. So here she was, reeling her left arm back with a snarl on her face.

    Jett had no time to react. Aeluri’s fist collided with his stomach with incredible force, the shadows over her hands granting an extra boost of strength. The impact smashed him against the beam, and with the groan and screech of straining metal, it snapped clean in two under him. Jett was sent plummeting down the very six floors that Shane and Ivory had fallen just minutes before. He fell much faster than they did, though, given momentum by the strike to his abdomen. Aeluri let out a malicious cackle, her face overtaken by a wolfish grin. Her eyes nearly glowed with the satisfaction of the pain she was causing Jett. It was well deserved. She wanted to skin him alive, heal him, and do it all over again. Perhaps she could even break some bones. With hellish and devious ideas in mind, she launched herself down after the Dexter man. The energy from Shane’s spell would protect her as she reached the ground.




    Post WC: 1,131 Thread WC: 23,297 Tagged: @Shane Stern Job Info: X Music: X



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    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu 60637_s
    Shane Stern
    Shane Stern

    Player 
    Lineage : Super Soldier
    Posts : 789
    Guild : Rune Knights
    Dungeon Tokens : 0
    Experience : 623,530

    Character Sheet
    First Skill: Plus Ultra
    Second Skill:
    Third Skill:

    Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu Empty Re: Behind the Masks | Shane & Aelu

    Post by Shane Stern 22nd November 2020, 8:16 pm

    The second after his leap into the air, Shane’s disappearing figure had reemerged but this time he appeared directly beneath the helicopter. His arms were stretched above his head, fingers wrapping around the landing skids with a solid grip. The sudden burst of shots aimed at his previous location had stopped abruptly after the man handling the heavy machine gun lost sight of the Rune Knight. He was fervently scanning the ground, the barrel of the machine gun moving in tandem wherever his sight landed as he tried to find his target. Looking below, he could only see his boss being thrashed by the female mage who was establishing herself as a very huge threat to his boss.

    Shane hadn’t failed to notice that as well, smirking slightly at Aeluri’s display of combat prowess. He had never actually seen her in combat, but now that he was looking at her from above, lithely striking Jett with the latter suppressed to the point of being unable to put up a proper defense, Shane found his heart beating very fast. The woman had surprised him again and again. But this wasn’t the time to literally hang around. Flexing his muscles, the Rune Knight pulled himself up and swung himself into the helicopter, shocking the mage handling the machine gun.

    The scare had been so bad and his instincts had almost pushed him into firing the machine gun within the helicopter itself, but he had stopped himself in time. Facing off the shirtless Rune Knight, the mage took a huge gulp as Shane walked towards him with an indifferent expression. With each step that Shane took, the mage’s actions moved towards surrendering. He began lowering the machine gun on the floor, and then in equally slow motions, raised his hand back up into the air. The mage had given up resisting, knowing that it wouldn’t come to fruition anyway. He had seen the Rune Knight leapt off a six-story high building amidst broken glass, stood back up unscathed and then mysteriously reappeared in the helicopter. And he knew, if he even resisted, the imposing Rune Knight would just toss him out of the helicopter.

    Shane pulled out of a pair of handcuffs out of thin air and tossed it towards the mage who grabbed at it with both hands. He stared at it for a few seconds before looking at Shane. The Rune Knight merely stared him down until the mage clasped the handcuff onto himself. The moment the cuffs locked into place, he could feel the magic within him coming to a standstill, not even budging despite trying his best to circulate his magic power. Satisfied, Shane swatted the side of the man’s head with a backfist, slamming the poor guy into the wall and knocked him unconscious.

    His gun appeared in his left hand as he poked his upper half into the cockpit, finding only one pilot and put his gun to the man’s temple.

    “Land,” Shane ordered. Again, there was no resistance as the pilot obediently put the vessel into descent. Five minutes later, with the pilot knocked out and handcuffed as well, Shane walked out of the grounded helicopter amidst strong winds from the slowing rotor blades. HIs messy blonde hair flew wildly in the wind as he walked towards where he had last seen Aeluri before she had jumped down from the roof, following after Jett’s involuntary drop to the ground.

    [573 words]
    [Total WC: 23870]


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