<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;"><span style="font-weight: bold">EDIT:</span> After some DM discussion, we've decided that it makes more sense to post Alyssa and Mindy's conversation in the thread. We'll shift it over sometime in the near future.</div></div></div><br/><br/>With the affairs of the day settled at last, Alyssa finally makes time to properly acquaint herself with the group: formally introducing herself to those previously absent, learning the names of her new companions, and listening to Soma's news of Armellian current events.<br/><br/>~~<span style="font-style: italic">sometime later</span>~~<br/><br/>Alyssa sits quietly across from Soma, listening to the latest round of expatiation until the purple-haired tiefling's interest shifts over to Mindy and her unusual powers. While Alyssa has wondered as to the nature of the elf's talents as well, she feels no particular need to ask about it just yet- her interest is merely idle curiosity, and she has the feeling that Mindy and Soma's discussion is rather beyond her at the moment.<br/><span style="font-size: 80%; line-height: 116%;">[Knowledge (nobility &amp; royalty) and Knowledge (psionics): failure (untrained)]</span><br/>At any rate, Alyssa's thoughts are elsewhere at the moment- specifically, on the powerfully built brown-haired husky occupying the chair next to her own.<br/><br/>Alyssa is still uncertain as to her feelings regarding Jess. She knows practically nothing of the huskygirl, and what little she has learned is distressing to say the least:<span style="font-style: italic">Maneater. Devourer. Pact-breaker.</span>Such individuals are anathema to the teachings of Rubin, and are to be regarded with pity at best, fear and contempt at worst. And yet, every time she so much as looks at the brunette beastwoman, her heart begins to flutter, and she feels as though they share a a connection...<br/><br/>Instinct, Jess called it. Drive. The bond between predator and prey. The notion has a certain appeal to it, she admits, at least in one direction: certainly, a predator would be drawn by its very nature to seek out prey. It's the inverse, combined with their seemingly mutual attraction, that troubles Alyssa; for if Jess is the predator- and she could hardly be otherwise- that leaves only one role for Alyssa herself...<br/><br/>But then, why did Jess hesitate when she first escaped in the bath, instead of pursuing immediately? And what of her and Soma's "game?" She said the other tiefling often requested to be eaten, but surely she wouldn't consider a friend to be prey... would she?<br/><br/>Only one way to find out...<br/><br/>"Miss Jess?" Alyssa whispers. "If it's alright with you, there's something I'd like to discuss... in private."