Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Extreme =&gt; Extreme Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Dahling on 02-05-2012, 00:57:35</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>02-05-2012, 00:57:35</strong>
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				<div align="center">Beats Antique - Revival (Official Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SA_kvN3pVk#ws)</div><br><div align="center"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">Walk with me, if you will, upon streets once cobbled and paved over with time; through a city that's held in a realm of eternal gray.&nbsp; The sun never shines here, the clouds never leave.&nbsp; Sometimes it rains, sometimes it drizzles and when it does it is as if all the misery in the world collects itself in the heavens only to return, to continue the viscous cycle.&nbsp; It is perpetual, it is unending.&nbsp; It is drab, it is gray and what colors....they're dark.&nbsp; Even the blooms in the window-boxes seem out of place here, softer, darker as if viewed through smoke colored glasses.&nbsp; Welcome to Wonderland.&nbsp; <br><br>Welcome to the world on the other side of the Looking Glass.<br><br>You never know who, or what, is going to be looking back at you.<br><br>Trash lines the streets and grimy shop windows are full of discount signs, announcing sales for things that are going out of business and simply out of style.&nbsp; Moss grows freely in the gutters and toadstools bloom from sewer grates and the buses run slow, full of victims, their hands pressed against the smooth glass, their faces contorted in pleasure...and in pain.&nbsp; For the predators are on the buses, unassuming, hidden behind newspapers and cell phones, behind books and smiling eyes.<br><br>The predators are on the streets, too.<br><br>From the whore on the corner, with her glassy eyes and too sharp teeth; her nails as red as blood.&nbsp; Don't follow her home.&nbsp; Don't go listen to their screams.&nbsp; Don't go listen to hers.&nbsp; And the bum on the sidewalk, Hatter's man to be sure, who rattles his change and gives a pat in thanks to all who offer their aid.&nbsp; But don't look at him.&nbsp; Don't look too long or you might recognize him later when that corner's taken you into an alley instead of further down the street.&nbsp; Always look back.&nbsp; It's when you look ahead that they get you.<br><br>There's carriers too, fleet men, thin, always in a hurry with somewhere to go, some package to deliver, heedless of who they might run into on the way, with bikes that seem to breeze by as if they flew.&nbsp; Never late, always on time.&nbsp; No.&nbsp; Never that.&nbsp; We can't be late.&nbsp; We mustn't.<br><br>You can sell your soul here, you can trade it for a dime.&nbsp; You can lose it on a bet and never know at the time.&nbsp; It's a place of muchness and more, of memory and mice.&nbsp; In the walls and in the floor, inching along the sidewalk quick for anything that might fall but even they have somewhere to go.&nbsp; It's a place of sharks and there's blood on the water and on the walls and on her hands when she screams, when she fights and when she falls.&nbsp; You're only safe when you ignore it.&nbsp; <em>If</em> you can.<br><br>Innocence isn't possible here in Wonderland.</span></div><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC Thread.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>02-05-2012, 01:35:40</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>It has to be a secret....if I tell you a secret promise to keep it....we can't handle any more lies....</em><br><br>No, no she had to stop listening to the voices, stop listening. Why? Why though? There was something, <em>someone</em> missing. It hurt. An empty ache in her heart, only was her heart still there? A hand lifted, pressing against her breast but the flesh was whole, not empty, not carved out. However much she felt like it was. Her head was spinning, the world seeming to tilt with it but...why? Why. Why. That kept coming back. Why was the world a way she thought it shouldn't be. Why was she asking why. No answers. None. No guidance either. Just that sense of loss. Grief. She thought she might suffocate on it, or choke from it. But she had to live, had to....What?<br><br>Shaking her head the petite figure of the questioner uncurled herself, realizing she was laying in a dark ally way, dank and chill as it was. Some cardboard, discarded, roughly handled lay above her and her motions sent it fluttering to the ground; such little covering and <em>yet</em> it had been covering. <br><br>Now she was bared. <br><br>Breath sucked in, the girl bit the inside of her cheek as sleep cleared from her eyes, a muzzy sort of sleep, a unnatural sort of sleep. That was bad. Odd. Like...like...someone's sleep. Familiar features, haunted eyes, gaunt cheeks and the scent of...what was it called? Tea? Maybe. Tea was suppose to sooth, to mellow, to blunt the hard edges of reality; it was a gift. A gift. She had taken some of that gift, after so long resisting because...she wanted to follow, to find. <em>Catch me if you can...</em> The voice had teased, bitter hope warring with fear and grief. Its just hide and seek. Only why couldn't she remember a name, any name? Even her own. Name. Her frowning contemplation was shattered though by the sound of a chuckle, a deep sound, but not pleasant, raspy, like an old engine guttering as it struggled to work. It brought her eyes upward quickly, the shimmering gold and grey color of them the most arresting part of her features, widened and uncertain, around those eyes were long long lashes, a deep brown almost black and her skin was a soft sun kissed golden brown color. Tilted eyes, a slender nose that despite that was cute rather then elegant with its button end, trembling full lips, softly rounded features all made up the rest of the girl's face. Indian perhaps, Hindu in descent, but only perhaps. Curly dark hair, tawny gold and nutmeg brown, chocolate and sable, a shimmering weave of colors cut short, just above her shoulders, tousled and wild around her as her shoulders tensed. <br><br>Again the laugh. <br><br>The curvy girl got to her feet, picking herself up with care, something about her delicate in a way that most are never delicate, as if one blow would shatter her. Perhaps it would. Those frightened shocking eyes scurried down the ally she was in first one way and then another. Nothing, yet not nothing. No. There. Shadow, yet form, blending, becoming and she shrank back against the mossy brick of the building behind her, whatever it was, wishing she had stayed hidden in the cardboard as a figure loomed toward her, skin dark and features holding a feral cast. Eyes promising pain. Pain. Eyes. Memories. The young woman made a sound between a squeak and a whimper, fear and shame pressing down on her. Failure. She had failed. And the pain, someone else had gotten hurt, someone had been taken from her...that missing..missing part. her fault. Grief. <br><br>She shrank, down and down, hunching inward on herself eyes squeezed shut against the sight of the man coming closer. He would touch her, touch and touch and take. Give nothing. Breath came faster, panicked and she felt his hot breath almost against her skin, only a drab little grey dress shielding her and it wasn't enough. Nothing ever would be. No one to help, no where to hide; she trembled, aching, fearing and yet with it came relief, it would be over, the game would be lost. Perhaps then there could be peace...</span></span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC Thread.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>03-05-2012, 03:31:58</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">It was going to rain again.<br><br>The sun was never going to shine.<br><br>The colors were never going to be bright.<br><br>Cat couldn't remember what they looked like.&nbsp; Oh she remembered red.&nbsp; She remembered red because it matched the little spiderweb lines there in her eyes when she looked in the mirror.&nbsp; She remembered black and blue and yellow, sickly yellow because when she looked in the mirror, there they were, framing the little spider lines that were red.&nbsp; On white.&nbsp; She supposed there beyond the pinpricks in the middle there might have been a dash of green, but it was far away and glassy and it could have been blue.&nbsp; But she wanted to see green.<br><br>The grass was green, certainly where it crept up through the broken sidewalks and the mushrooms where they sprang from sewer drains they were beige. But they also attracted bugs and they did not sit very well on her stomach.&nbsp; It wasn't the same green.<br><br>Still the cat knew what grey was, because the sidewalk was grey, it was grey and black and several other shades in between and sometimes she'd have flashes of images drawn against its grainy surface of bright flowers and smiling faces and people made out of lines but...there were no bright flowers here and people did lines and ran lines and stood in lines amongst a faceless crowd that never seemed to notice no matter how loud you screamed...but the people weren't made out of lines.<br><br>The people weren't made out of anything.<br><br>They were faceless, except for when you looked at them and then it was as if they knew you were looking; suddenly there was a face and eyes, suddenly there was a nose and teeth that were too sharp and hands that always seemed a little bigger than the arms.&nbsp; But when you looked away...when you looked away they were faceless.&nbsp; You could see it from the corner of your eye.<br><br>Nobody had a face like Cats.&nbsp; Her face couldn't decide what it wanted to be.&nbsp; Some days it was pale, pale and the eyes looked, well, they were white, with little pinpricks in the middle and red little spiderweb lines on the white. There could have been blue in the middle.&nbsp; There could have, but she wanted green.&nbsp; Her nose was small and dainty and she had a smile that was vicious, that was constant, that was made up entirely of pretend.&nbsp; It didn't change, like the colors of her face were prone too.&nbsp; Sometimes she wished she were pretend, too.<br><br>If she were pretend there'd be no hands but...if there were no hands who would take care of her?<br><br>There had to be hands.<br><br>Even when she didn't want to be a kept cat, even when she wasn't.<br><br>There had to be hands.<br><br>And no socks on the carpet.&nbsp; No feet.&nbsp; Cat could walk on her hands.&nbsp; She could walk on her hands and crawl on her knees and sleep on a dresser because tables were for people and no pets were allowed in bed.&nbsp; Or she could sleep in the garden, with the roses that never bloomed and the hounds that always barked and no knowledge of how to find the kennels.&nbsp; Or she could leave.&nbsp; She could leave where no one could watch her and the twins couldn't see with their fists as mean as their faces and hungry eyes.&nbsp; She could go back to her box.&nbsp; She could find the Hare...<br><br>She could go back to the box.<br><br>There was no biscuit.&nbsp; There wouldn't be.&nbsp; It was gone.&nbsp; She'd eaten it because there wasn't anything else and he'd given it to her. She could never find it again.&nbsp; <br><br>But she could go back to the box and watch the clouds and the streets and the people and try to look so quick she could catch them before they put their faces on.&nbsp; She could beg for change.&nbsp; She could plead for it.&nbsp; She could have all the change in the world...but she would never change.<br><br>And there were...noises.&nbsp; Noises near her box.<br><br>Low.&nbsp; She went low, on quiet Cat feet, with holes in the thick socks that ran up to her knees.&nbsp; There'd been color there too, once.&nbsp; But no more.&nbsp; No more color in the world.&nbsp; No more joy.&nbsp; Except when it rained. Or it splattered. Or it broke.&nbsp; Someone had torn down her box.&nbsp; Someone had torn down her box and...there was a creature.&nbsp; She could see its curves, see the hair, see the color.&nbsp; See the eyes.&nbsp; They were gold.&nbsp; There was more, but she could see the gold.&nbsp; The gold.&nbsp; And...<br><br><em>That's because it's your eyes.&nbsp; In your eyes that's your worth shining through and you're gold.&nbsp; You're pure gold, that's how pure you are...</em><br><br>"Dormouse!&nbsp; Mouse!&nbsp; There's no shoes on the carpet!" The girl called, sprinting forward in a run, in a quick run, all arms and legs, sharp elbows and bruised knees.&nbsp; With a face that was hidden, a face that couldn't be seen but for the chin, for the lips because the shadows failed to reach them.&nbsp; For the line that ran down the middle of the bottom, sore, swollen. She ought not poke it with her tongue.&nbsp; "My mouse!&nbsp; Hatter's Property!&nbsp; Hare's!&nbsp; Nothing's for free without pay!&nbsp; I'll tell them!&nbsp; I'll tell them all!"<br><br>So her teeth sank into his shoulder; sharp teeth, too sharp.<br><br>And his arm sank into her stomach; tender, soft and fragile.<br><br>And she landed against the wall.<br><br>But he went away and she whispered, "Dori."</span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC Thread.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>03-05-2012, 04:35:35</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Sound. There was sound. Not hurtful sound, not threatening; hope? was that the emotion lacing through the calling of a name that seemed directed at her like a arrow speeding through the air. Dormouse. Mouse. Herself? Perhaps, she thought it might be. The <em>voice</em> was familiar though. It was her someone. Her purpose. Cat. Kitty. Kitty Cat. But shoes? There was no carpet, carpet was soft and plush, you wiggled your toes through it...or was that grass? Still she lifted her head enough to glance, wide frightened eyes fleeting over objects she didn't focus on, no don't focus and then there was a blur of motion, colors of a bruise and pink, dead pink though, not bright. Cat should be bright. <br><br>Yet it was Cat. <br><br>"Cat!" Fierce came the whisper, tinged with relief, with want, with disbelief. Close her voice caught it, not drawing attention, never draw attention be quiet and soft, part of the wall. Flowers growing from the wall...No, no, that was not here. Nor was it there. She thought. Cat's mouse. Cat's ate mice, but she wasn't mice, she was Mouse, so named by the Cat. Did that make her prey? She shuddered at the idea and made a soft little meep, ducking her head back down once more. Small and smaller, as small as can be, if she was small enough they just might not see. Hiding, yes, she had done that before, under the bed, snuggled tight to the hard floor. Hatter's property. She belonged...belonged to no one, but that wasn't true, Cat, that was the only person she trusted that much, to Cat she belonged, she was the Cat's little mouse. Even if she ate her. It would be okay if it was her Kitty Cat. <br><br>A thump, a thud, a connection of flesh and stone. Oh no, oh no. She shuddered anew.<br><br>Loud thumps, hard thuds, they were bad, just why she didn't know but they were very very bad. Tighter, smaller, tight as can be but then came the whisper and it was said oh so gently. Careful her face rose, eyes wild with fright but they gleamed all the same, shimmering oddly for this place. Fear was there first but it bled away at the sight of the girl there beside her and she threw herself forward, arms wrapping round and lips dusting kisses. "Cat...Cat...you went away, too far away. I couldn't find you. Couldn't see. You left me all alone and it was my fault, mine I missed you Kitty, please don't leave me alone. I'll be good, promise, I'm yours are I not? Please don't leave again, please...." <br><br>Soft whispered confessions, a voice meek as a mouse, but then that's what she was it seemed, Dori the Mouse, Dormouse. Her body cuddled close, trusting and sweet, her face nuzzling the other girl's neck as she inhaled the scent and soft hands ran down limbs, making sure she was there. Was real. Was hers. Tears welled then, bright sparkling things and she wept into her best friend's lank hair, tears laden with guilt and relief, with joy and fear. "I missed you so, so so so much. Where...where are we? I can't remember a thing, just you, you are are my someone, my something. I'm yours aren't I Cat?"</span></span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>03-05-2012, 19:51:14</strong>
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				Hare walked along the street with a skip in his step.&nbsp; More of hop perhaps, as he was the Hare.&nbsp; Odd that he could be a Hare and man both but that was just the way of things and so he didn't much let it bother his mind.&nbsp; Not that he let much of anything <em>bother</em> his mind these days.&nbsp; Or those days.&nbsp; No, <em>those</em> days were gone... if they had ever been.&nbsp; He stopped and shook his head fiercely to scatter whatever that thought was before it could <em>bother</em> him.&nbsp; He didn't have time to be bothered after all, he was an important man with important things to do and oh my it was tea time and he hadn't seen that everyone that needed tea had tea.<br><br>It was then that a man rushed past, rude and bloody and without so much as a nod or a 'good day to you'.&nbsp; The hare frowned and wrinkled his nose since that was how a hare showed disdain for rude men.&nbsp; He gathered the sides of his coat and shook and straightened it.&nbsp; It had fit yesterday hadn't it?&nbsp; Of course, it had been a nice warm brown tweed suitcoat yesterday with those elbow patches he adored.&nbsp; How was a faded and drab green now?&nbsp; He pursed his lips and felt the threadbare edges of it under his fingers and then shrugged.&nbsp; Must have happened in the wash.&nbsp; He'd have to speak to that Tart... which one had it been?&nbsp; Cherry... no Cinnamon... Oh it was so hard to keep then straight sometimes but he really should try to remember so he could speak to her later.&nbsp; After all, the Queen did not tolerate slacking in her daughters and if the girl didn't shape up and do her chores she might get stolen by the Knave again.&nbsp; Or had she been yet?&nbsp; <br><br>He looked down the alley to see what had prompted the man to such rude and public bleeding.&nbsp; His eyes lit up and he grinned so hard he bit through the end of his cigarette.&nbsp; The cherry tumbled and exploded into little sparks against his coat as he spit the end of the filter out and began to stroll closer.&nbsp; His hands dipped into his pockets to find the tea he peddled.<br><br>"Girls!" he said warmly as he spread his arms with a tiny bag dangling from in each hand.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 00:37:58</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> <em>Cheshire</em><br><strong>Location:</strong> <span class="bbc_u">Side Street</span><br><strong>Tagged:</strong> <em>Dormouse, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br>Away?&nbsp; She'd gone away?<br><br>"Silly Dormouse," the Cat chidded, bloody teeth stretched into a parody for a full smile, "Silly silly silly.&nbsp; I haven't gone anywhere.&nbsp; I've always been here.&nbsp; Right here.&nbsp; Just....here." The girl sighed, inching up the wall so that the rough edge of the brick left a red rash against whatever flesh it touched.<br><br>Licking her lips, she moved forward, watching as the man ran and the Mouse.&nbsp; "Shhh, no.&nbsp; No no no.&nbsp; Don't look so sad, little Mouse, not sad.&nbsp; I'm not going to eat you," but there was something to the way she said it, to the gleam in her eyes and the way her tongue found the blood against her lips that said if the wind blowed...she just might.<br><br>"Promise.&nbsp; No one else is going to eat you either," but she could imagine that they might.&nbsp; That they would...and that she'd like it.<br><br>"Mine."<br><br>Where slim arms wrapped around the curve of her shoulders and she drew the mouse in close.&nbsp; Close enough to bite, until she could breath in the scent of her hair and feel the flutter of Dor's pulse there beneath the curve of crimson stained lips that rested against her neck.&nbsp; "No more leaving."&nbsp; She promised.&nbsp; Promised and meant it.&nbsp; Meant it more than anything at all ever in the world.&nbsp; More than anyone could ever mean anything.<br><br>Until someone else spoke.<br><br>"Daddy!"<br><br>Capracious, fickle.&nbsp; From one set of arms to another.<br><br>"Daddy I found the mouse!"<br><br>As if she'd been looking for her all along, as she crumpled down to her knees right there on the sidewalk, staring up at the bag in his hand.&nbsp; She'd been good, hadn't she.&nbsp; She deserved a treat.&nbsp; So she sat, she perched, she waited, while her toes wiggled through the holes in her socks.<br><br>"Can I keep her.&nbsp; She's mine, isn't she? I found her.&nbsp; I found her first.&nbsp; I loved her last.&nbsp; She's mine. But..<em>Can I keep her</em>?"</span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 00:58:50</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br>Comfort, yes, this was home, was known and familiar and with a happy sigh she melted into the arms she knew so well ignoring the dank conditions around them, ignoring the scent of blood. That too was familiar. Her shakes started again and she almost wanted to sleep so the raw panic could go away. But Kitty Cat's voice was there, coaxing her to calm down. She sounded serious about no one hurting her, eating her. Good. Hers. That was the only fact that made any sort of sense about all of this to her mind, that she had found her <em>someone</em>. <br><br>"Yours." Firm, even from such a meek little girl. "Staying...that's good...." she sound reassured, soothed nearly. <br><br>But then she was gone! Gone and the tears started all over again, the panic making her heart beat too fast and glimmering gold and gray eyes found the tall man, the ragged man standing there, saw Cat in his arms and then kneeling with focus. Confusion, hurt, she huddled further back, shoulders tensed and body language revealing just how frightened she was. Daddy? Was that his name? <br><br>A soft sound of skittering from behind her had her meeping and scrambling forward on hands and knees, going to right behind Cat and hiding in the slight shadow there. Her breathing came to fast and her hands had the shakes but she wrapped her arms around the other girl's waist and glanced from around her friend's hair up at the man almost demurely, frowning at the sight of little bags in his hands with tear stains still on her softly curved cheeks. "Cat..." almost petulant, but more simply afraid, needy came the tone. "Who is he?"</span></span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 01:56:14</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">The Hare smiled as one girl bounded over to him and the other crawled so fearfully and clung to her.&nbsp; The tears on Dori's face caught his eyes and he gazed at them, wetting his lips as a man starved would at the sight of a feast.&nbsp; And perhaps that was what it was.&nbsp; Teabags found their way to one hand and the other reached to pet the cat's hair.&nbsp; <br><br>"That's good kitty," he murmured as his fingers stroked, "Mmm... such soft fur..."<br><br>But his eyes were paying heed to Mouse's tears and he bent his knees to squat down and bring himself nearer.&nbsp; "Oh you've brought quite a pretty little mouse to Daddy haven't you?&nbsp; But is she a <em>good</em> mouse?&nbsp; I mean, isn't it the cat that's supposed to grip the mouse tight so they can't escape?&nbsp; What sort of proper mouse clings onto the cat instead?"<br><br>His tilted his head to the side and lifted an eyebrow as he considered a moment.<br><br>"Still, her tears do smell ever so sweet...&nbsp; And a bad Mouse would cry sour tears... So she must be a good little mouse.&nbsp; And if she's your mouse then it's fair and proper that you could trade me her sweet and pretty tears..."&nbsp; He lifted his right hand and the two tiny bags it held.<br><br>"One for each eye..."<br><br></span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 02:12:56</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Cheshire<br><strong>Location:</strong> Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Dormouse, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.<br><br>"Hare," said the Cat, as if it were the most natural thing in the world and she couldn't understand the confusion of the Mouse behind her. Against her.&nbsp; So soft that body.&nbsp; So warm.&nbsp; And she pressed back; pressed close and eager with an arm that swept around and a hand that found the Mouse's thigh, the eager walk of fingers in a mindless caress of assurance. What was there to be confused about.<br><br>"Daddy."&nbsp; She explained, because...Because weren't the two one in the same?<br><br>That was Daddy, and her head rolled back eagerly pressing into the stroking of his fingers, into the hands that petted and with it came the tip of her head, the press of her lips against his wrist in a little act of homage that made her sweet in the moment.&nbsp; Made her docile.&nbsp; It could have just as easily been a bite.&nbsp; She could have just as easily been after blood.<br><br>But...there was no need.<br><br>No need where he was saying sweet words.&nbsp; Such sweet sweet words of reassurance.&nbsp; The mouse was hers, he agreed.&nbsp; The mouse was hers and no one could take it away.&nbsp; But...Daddy had the candy.&nbsp; Had the sweets and she could see it.&nbsp; <br><br>All for the price of the Mouse's tears.<br><br>"Pretty Mouse.&nbsp; <em>Good</em> mouse, I promise.&nbsp; Prrrrrrrrrooooommmmise," for she rolled it with such long R's and Om's that it could have sounded a purr, or a chant.&nbsp; Perhaps it was.&nbsp; A promise for the tears.&nbsp; The tears for the candy.<br><br>"Come little Mouse," the cat crooned then; shifting her weight onto her hip so slender arms could twin about the Mouse's figure, twine and gently urge her forward; across her thighs, between her legs.&nbsp; Cradled.&nbsp; Cradled so close.&nbsp; Cradled so close and held so tenderly.&nbsp; Tender, like the sweep of her hand up the Mouse's stomach, the walk of those fingers between the valley of her breasts, up the slender cord of her neck until she could pink dirty fingers in beneath her chin - holding her still...for Daddy.<br><br>"Deal." <br><br>And the word came whispered with the soft feather of her lips against the Mouse's ear, tracing lightly against the sweet scented flesh before she traced it with a long lavish lick of her tongue.&nbsp; "Don't worry.&nbsp; It won't hurt."</span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 02:27:50</strong>
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				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br>The smile that came was no proper smile at all, it hinted at things though just what she didn't know. She didn't like it, not the way he looked at her, not the way that he seemed to coax. She trembled to be named and ducked her head behind the other girl to hide. Hiding was best when men like that were near. Of course she was good but that was just for Kitty, for her Cat. She shook at the thought of tears being good, memory tugging, taunting of a man wanting tears, saying how pretty she looked. Tears on the cheeks became a girl. No no no. She didn't like that at all. And so the Dormouse trembled and shook wanting to scamper away some other place and yet not for here was her someone, whether she liked it or not. And if she was honest she was actually quiet happy that the Cat was her person, her someone, even if she called this man Daddy. <br><br>Hare. Hare, that sounded better, it fit in her mind as if it always had.<br><br>She didn't want to come, didn't want to be pushed forward, shadows were her comfort but that coaxing voice, so beloved, and those gentle hands so well known. Dori trembled, and the tears came faster, this wasn't what she wanted but she let Cat direct her and shrank back into her arms, pressing pressing back into the arms that held her as if she would somehow pass through the other girl and be behind her once more. No such luck and the tender sweet touches, up her stomach, between her breasts and then to circle about her neck soothed her some. The word '<em>Deal</em>' alarmed her, and it seemed that was her fate. Every bit of reassurance replaced by something to upset and she cried all over again, great glistening drops of tears that rolled down her face. <br><br>"Kitty...Kitty Cat...for you, for you but please...it won't last long?" the meek little voice quavered, pleading, hopeful as she shook in that hold though it was something other then fear as lips teased her ear and then lap of tongue against her cheek. Touch, love, affection, protection. Hers. She was the Cat's, and if she desired then the Mouse would give in, but only for her, try to be brave. And so she kept her eyes downcast, demure, almost modest though her short scant grey dress rode up her thighs. And never, never did she meet <em>his</em> eyes. </span></span>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 03:16:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">"Oh yes," he agreed as she nuzzled and licked the girl, "She's a fine mouse indeed."<br><br>Hare watched as the Cat coaxed and teased and touched her mouse to present her to him.&nbsp; His hand moved to open his coat and to find one of the tiny mismatched bottles that lived in the folds and seams.&nbsp; They found an empty one, pale golden brown glass with a stopper in the shape of a heart to seal it.&nbsp; He lifted it and eyed it closely, turned to look between it and Dori a few times before nodding.<br><br>"This one's her."<br><br>He pulled the stopper free and leaned closer then, lifting the tiny bottle to Dori's cheek and brushing in slowly upwards to dam the flow of her tears until they spilled over the lip and trickled along the side of the bottle.&nbsp; He brought it to the edge of her wide and downturned eye and then moved to the other cheek, gathering the flow of salty tears from that one with the same intense care before lifting the bottle and swirling the liquid that now rested inside it.&nbsp; With a grin he capped it and it vanished into his coat to be replaced by the two little bags.<br><br>"Sweets for sweet girls as promised," he said as he held them out.&nbsp; His other hand moved to pet Cat's hair again, trailing through it to find and trace the curve of her ear and then to brush her lips where they nuzzled the other girl.<br><br>"Such sweet girls indeed."<br><br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 04:01:47</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Cheshire<br><strong>Location:</strong> Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Dormouse, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.<br><br>The Cat watched, she watched and she cradled and she held and she adored with every sweep of that free hand against the Mouse's side.&nbsp; Constant that touch, never once wavering even if the twin to that hand held her cheeks just beneath the base of her jaw, sharp by contrast, steady, cruel.&nbsp; At least here it was soft, gentle, the curve of her thumb catching just beneath her breast before it disappeared walking once more down the stairway of her ribs.<br><br>"It won't last long.&nbsp; I promise.&nbsp; Prrrrrroooooomis. Tears for a treat, my sweet!" She chimed and the last was almost in sing-song.&nbsp; Almost. But the Mouse was held with it. Cherished and protected, watching eyes lingering on the Hare's bottle.&nbsp; On his hands.&nbsp; On the way it pressed in against her cheek, the way her tears spilled in against the rim.&nbsp; Too focused those eyes.&nbsp; Too wide.&nbsp; And her tongue swept her lips in longing as her jaw gave way, creeping open and the urge to lean, to take and steal the taste of them away from herself was only barely over come.<br><br>"My. Mouse."<br><br>Though it's unclear to whom that announcement was meant there was a warning in its depths that was vicious, threatening and cruel; like a cat who's lunch is currently threatened by another.&nbsp; Me me me. Mine mine mine.<br><br>Cats play with their food, too.<br><br>"See," the cat said, when his hand drifted further away.&nbsp; Hands, always hands, with the petting and anyone could pet her.&nbsp; Anyone.&nbsp; Except...perhaps ..... "No pain." And it came out a disjointed pout, because she realized there wasn't and her tongue touched again against the split in her lip and she nuzzled the curve of her cheekbone so very near that black eye against the curve of the Mouse's shoulder just to content herself.&nbsp; Nuzzled....and drew the Hare's fingers in against her lips with an eager sweep of her tongue, tasting the salt from his skin as if she might find a hint of the Mouse's tears there.<br><br>She didn't let go either, except for of the Mouse's chin when her hand shot out like a snake to collect those bags. "M-ah-ne." Which....could have been 'mine', had there not been fingers in her mouth.</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 05:14:12</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br>Did not like. Did not like. Not at all. Not in the least. Too purring a voice, too wickedly pleased. Familiar but not, forgotten and not just right, whatever it was that was causing the Dormouse's fright. <br><br>But pretty, so pretty, that little golden bottle that gleamed in the air, regardless of weather.The girl bit her lower lip, not meaning for her attention to so slip; but pretty, and shinny and almost sweet, yet then she remembered just how they had come to meet. Bad voice, tricky voice, coaxing and clever; <em>lying voice</em>, false voice, it wanted them to sever. But she wouldn't leave Cat and Cat wouldn't leave her, she had promised, she had, so very sure. <br><br>Too close he came and too quickly at that, she whimpered and tremble fighting the urge to pull back. Breathe, just breathe, she chanted in her mind. Sadly it felt like a false empty line. Yet gather he did the tears from her heart, how happy she was when once again they were apart. It had been softened some by those oh so gentle touches, soothing and sweet, teasing caresses. Cat, Cat, just focus on her that wasn't too hard and it was all she needed to do to let down a little of her guard. Treats, she didn't care for treats yet her heart gave a happy little skip of a beat to be called her Kitty Cat's sweet. <br><br>"Yes...." came the soft, the frail voice of the Mouse, "Yours," Was the whisper of adoration even fear could not douse. Meek, shy, demure little thing, she would have still fought to prove what she said she did mean. The tone of her Cat had her atremble in reply, and yet inside her it warmed her and made her emit a little happy sigh. <br><br>The next comment confused, no pain, relief was felt yet Cat shared not the same; she wanted to be hurt by man's hands? Oh dear, oh my, she did not like this man. A nuzzle along her shoulder did soothe, intake a breath Dor did, though hardly she move for here was comfort in the arms of her Cat, lost for so long and now found like a long lost hat. She didn't want to be sweet but she was, she knew, sweet and meek. Weak. Another whimper, a squirm back into the arms that she was held in, not another touch from him, oh please not again. Something about the man in his rumpled suit made her skin claw with shudders and shakes, being polite, a proper smile, that she could not fake. "Are we done now?" She asked, slight whine to her tone, oh how so happy she was that he had not found her alone.<br><br>Something about him, some hint of inner quality, feral she thought, yes feral and heartless tied in but not apart. "Catch up...we need to catch up don't we Kitty Cat? Alone, just us two is best for that." Rude were her words and a blush they did cause but still they trembled from full lips without too much a pause.</span></span>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 09:23:32</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">The Hare squatted and smiled.&nbsp; Putting things one didn't want bitten and chewed and gone in Cat's mouth was a risky idea.&nbsp; Even when he was collecting payment in the currency of flesh he didn't use her mouth.&nbsp; Because the Kitty's teeth were sharp and quick and he might trust her to be a good girl but he didn't trust to be that good.&nbsp; But trust her with a fingertip or two he could and did.&nbsp; She liked her candy too much to be so bad as that.&nbsp; Or perhaps it was simply that it felt good to have her lips and tongue about his fingers.&nbsp; Felt good enough to make another part of him perk up in jealousy.&nbsp; <br><br>And speaking of jealously, he frowned at Dori's soft plea and shook his head.&nbsp; "Tsk tsk Now that's not a friendly mouse at all."<br><br>He wet his own lips then and lifted his hand, empty now that Kitty had her candy and lonely with the other getting such a kissing and licking and loving from her.&nbsp; So he reached forward to fill it with a handful of Cat's breast.&nbsp; It fit rather neatly and felt quite nice and soft as he squeezed it gently.&nbsp; One could always pet the pretty kitty as long one was gentle.&nbsp; Everyone knew that.<br><br>"Do you hear that Kitten... Your Mouse wants me to go and take my candy with me...&nbsp; But she's your mouse so it's up to you now isn't it?&nbsp; Make her say sorry to Daddy all nice like and maybe he'll have another candy for you..."<br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 09:45:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Cheshire<br><strong>Location:</strong> Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Dormouse, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.<br><br>Speaking meant that she had to let go of his fingers and there was something about the way that her affection had changed to suggest more than simply pleasing him had crossed her mind.&nbsp; Or maybe it was just the way she'd slid her head so far down that she could get a better feel of the meatier part of his knuckles, which she was even now caressing quite suggestively with her teeth.<br><br>The only thing the Cat could remember on her own...was what she liked.&nbsp; No one forgets what they like. That's not true. She does. She forgets everything but candy and the way her skin changes and her name.&nbsp; And no one really cares about the cat enough to tell her to eat like a proper person ought and the things she does eat....when she's hungry, and she's <em>always</em> hungry, squish, just like the meat against his knuckles do and she can make a bone last a week.&nbsp; The Knave's eye really hadn't been good for more than anything but a decent crunch but there was just a certain flavor to it as it rolled around against her tongue...<br><br>She just...had to let him go first.<br><br>And she didn't want too, because the Mouse was full of curves and tenderness and soft bits that'd go squish in her mouth and it was trembling...it was trembling but it was also trying to take her away.<br><br>Reluctantly, with her stomach growling in complaint...the cat let the Hare go and those dark eyes turned in sharp accusation on the Mouse. "You're being mean to Daddy," she accused; even as those thick lashes fluttered down against her bruised cheek and she all but arched beneath the mouse to better off her breast up to the Hare's hand.<br><br>Oh that's right, she was mad about something.<br><br>"You can't be mean to Daddy, Dori.&nbsp; I'll take you to the Hatter if you're mean.&nbsp; I'll take you to the Hatter and he'll make you cry and then the Hare will have your tears and I'll be forgiven for losing the biscuit.&nbsp; No shoes on the carpet. No pet's on the chairs.&nbsp; Are you going to be <em>mean</em> little mouse?"<br><br>No more fingers, no toes.&nbsp; But she had candy, she had candy when she didn't have sense and the mouse was being mean to Daddy, so she wasn't going to share either.&nbsp; Oh no.&nbsp; Instead the little tea bags disappeared into her mouth; one packed into each cheek and she shivered, oh how she shivered to his hand and those dark eyes they were turned on the mouse and they were not happy, no.&nbsp; Not happy at all.<br><br>"Phae 'ur 'aaaarree," the cat commanded in poor attempt, her now free hand wrenching a pinch against the mouse's thick tender thigh. "Ore its eee 'atter 'ur eww."&nbsp; But the words were jumbled against the candy, broken and bent; broken like she was. The Hare mustn't upset the Mouse, either.&nbsp; No, if the Hare upset the Mouse then he would be in trouble too.&nbsp; Funny there's no rules for herself in her logic.</span>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Jag</strong> on <strong>04-05-2012, 18:03:16</strong>
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				(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l521/ElliMichi/thetweedlesmini.png)<br><br><span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name:</strong> Mary Dee and Abigale Dum<br><strong>Location:</strong> Hatter's Hovel, Their Room<br><strong>Tagging:</strong> Each Other and Anyone On The Streets<br><br></span></span><hr><br>(Continued from The Hatter's Hovel) (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=139130.msg6230620#msg6230620)<br><br><span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">Forgoing shoes for the day, the twin girls skipped hand-in-hand over the rock and pebble covered sidewalks. It was hard to tell if they even noticed the poking and cutting the rocks were giving they bottom of their feet. They spun each other around, giggling madly as Mary tumbled to the ground, pulling her sister down with her. Their stockings were all but destroyed by this point. Neither of them really seemed to care about that though. <br><br>"Mary, we need to...""...focus. Yes we must find...""...a tat."<br><br>Their carefree smiles took on a more serious tone as they started looking around for a tat. It was the first time since they rolled out of bed and fought over their identical shirts that they split their hands apart. The moment they let go and started to walk away from each other, each seemed to take on a new personality. It was the same personality, but a different one from before.<br><br>"Fucking whore, she took my shirt and she knows it. Everyone knows I wear bigger buttons. I should set the bed on fire tonight and let her burn in it," Mary muttered under her breath as she gave her sister a glare from across the street.<br><br>Abigale had an equally disgusted and hate filled look on her face as she started looking for the tat, "Stupid cunt, she thinks she's so much better than me just because she wears her shirts backwards. I should slit her throat tonight."<br><br>The two spend nearly ten, maybe thirty or more, minutes saying slanderous things about each other. Everything from clothing, to who the Hatter liked more, to who had softer pubic hair (because that was important, right?), and finally to breakfast. Both of them had the same thought that the other had forgotten to tell the other eat breakfast and that was why both their stomachs were hurting, "She didn't remind me to eat breakfast. She knows I won't remember till the meal is gone and lost. She did that on purpose." "She knew I wouldn't remember to eat breakfast. It's her fault my stomach is hurting. Once a meal is gone, you can't get it back. You don't get back the meals you lost. She did that on purpose."<br><br>That all passed when Mary found a book laying on the ground outside a wrecked building, "Lie-berry. L-l-liberty?" she tried very hard to pronounce the chipped and broken letters on the building front, but it just wasn't happening, "Abigale! How do you spell 'tat'?"<br><br>Trotting over, she took the book from her sister, "What does it matter how to spell it? You wouldn't know what the letters were anyway."<br><br>"It's not my fault I can't read. You forgot to tell me how."<br><br>Shaking her head, Abigale flipped the book open. It was funny how she made fun of her sister for not being able to read when she could barely do so herself. Sitting down, the two started flipping through the pages. Some of them cracked and tore under their touch, but most of them were intact, "There it is. Tat. A small pro-ten in...uh..." she refused to look stupid in front of her sister for not knowing a word, "...the body. Viral jeans"<br><br>They looked at each other for a moment before dropping the book to the ground and taking each others hands and smiling as they had before, "It's in...""...someone's body. We have to...""...open them up and...""...and bring their tats back to...""...the Hatter. He'll be...""...so happy!"<br><br>So off the girls went. <br><br>Neither of them could remember the name of the place where they were living, but they knew where to stay away from. The Queen's Tarts weren't up for them to tear open. If they did that, they might have to replace them on the street corner. No. A tart wouldn't do for what they needed. The Hatter wanted a tat and a tat he would get. They just had to find the right person.<br><br>Luckily for them, the right person wandered right into their path. Or rather flopped down in the walk way. He was old, smelly, dirty, and obviously had a little too much to drink, "Whatch' ya think? Will he...""...do? Yes, I think he...""...will do nicely."<br><br>Bending at the waist, the two used their free hands and grabbed the man around the shoulders and lifted him up. One cloudy eye and one brown eye glanced the two of them over. He didn't know who they were, but what sort of man stops two lovely women from taking him where they wanted to? For all he knew, they were into toothless old men. It wasn't like that would be the strangest thing in this place. The frog-faced old man let the two girls pull him off the streets and into a nearby alley where they proceeded to tear at his shirt with their fingernails. The wrinkled skin of his chest was a pale green color, he was sickly. The girls were really doing him a favor. He would die soon anyway, so it was better this way. Men would prefer to die with women lavishing attention on them, right? Maybe not this sort of attention, but some was better than none they thought.<br><br>"Ow..." the man muttered as one of them, he wasn't sure which, scratched his chest, "Careful, Lovelies. I'm fragile."<br><br>"We know. That's...""...why we picked you. Old flesh...""...tears easier."<br><br>The man's eyes widened as he tried to kick at them and get away. Abigale wasn't having any of that though. Hatter wanted tat and the book said that it was in a person's body. Growling a little, she pulled a small knife from her bra and stabbed the man hard in the center of his chest. He screamed and Mary covered his mouth as her sister went to work cutting his chest open down the middle. She sawed the little knife in and out. Blood flowed quickly and created dark marks on her already red shirt, "Wish he would...""...die already. It's hard...""...to get him open when he...""...struggles so much."<br><br>The frogman either passed out from shock or his body finally gave out as Abigale put a heel into his rib cage and pushed it till it cracked and popped. Smiling at each other, Mary let go of his now limp body and went to help her sister in prying the broken rib cage open. The girls worked side by side, their shoulders touching as they dug through the inner cavity of the man's chest. Mary bent down and actually used her teeth to get through some of the muscle, but she didn't swallow it or eat it. It wasn't like she was some kind of animal or that damned Cat after all. She had a little more class than that. <br><br>They pulled, cut, tore, and bit at various pieces of skin and muscles to get into the man's body. Finally, they began cutting out organs. First the hearts. Then the lungs. Then various bits of his inner tissues, "I don't think...""...we're going to find it...""...in this one."<br><br>Unsure of what to do, they both headed out of the alley and sat down on the curb. Abigale held Mary in her arms. With the bloody mess they'd made, it looked almost as if they had tried to kill each other and were now making up, "Maybe he meant...""...something else? A tat could be...""...a tattoo? That...""...has to be it!"<br><br>They both smiled, but decided to stay sitting for a little longer to rest. Tearing open a man's chest had been harder work than they remembered it being. Not that they remembered doing it before, they just had a feeling they'd done it before. Human muscle was stronger than they'd realized. They both decided they should have cooked him first. That would have made it more tender and easier to tear through. Oh well, what was done was done. Now they needed to recover a bit before going off to find someone with a nice fleshy, fresh tattoo.</span></span>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>05-05-2012, 04:00:09</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br>The frown, the chastising had her pulling back further; mean man, cruel man. She didn't have to be friendly to big looming men that was a promise, was a thing she knew in her heart. Don't have to be nice. Be vocal, speak when unhappy. Tell, tell the protector. So hard it was, with her meek little voice, with the fear that made her heart race, the shivers that made her stomach clench. Her lips compressed, unhappy, unwanting of this attention.<br><br>Yet Cat, her Kitty Cat scolded her and she started to cry all over again, softer this time, gentle tears, shushed ones. That tone. That sharpness. The look in the eyes. She felt like she was going to be sick. <br><br>Stomach churned, clenched and twisted, round and round, clammy skin, aching skin, slick skin, oh no oh no oh no. Trembles came, faster and she felt unable to breath, to think, gasp, air, air was needed. Hatter. Who was Hatter? She didn't want to meet anyone new, didn't want to cry even though she couldn't seem to stop. She wasn't mean. She was afraid, wary, and meek. The pinch earned a yelp, a sharp sweet sound of protest, soft though, in utterance, trembling just as her limbs were. Smarting pain, enough to make her thrash, to close her eyes and whimper as she dissolved into pure tremors and shakes, hardly able to breathe. <br><br>"I....no.....please...please oh please oh please oh please...." Soft little voice, begging, pleading, panicked. <br><br>Grey gold eyes glazed over, seeing some inner place, some inner torment and she started to rock. Some connection was broken there inside, some part of her balking at saying she was sorry to a man, big man, bad man, tall man, silver tongued man. <em>'Never say you are sorry for your emotions little love'</em> she remembered that, soft hands, smoothing, a gentle kiss to her forehead. Comfort, safety. But not here. Not safe here. Must go away, away, away, far away from it, fade away inside, into the walls, into the flowers that waved their delicate heads. Fold self up tight, tight and tighter, a small little bundle of girl, small enough to ignore, to be uninteresting. <br><br>Retreat, that's the Mouse did, pulling back within herself tightly until there came no more tears only a blank wide eyed look, vacant as the hearts of those in this world. Those with hearts didn't last long. She felt too much, too deep. So make self smaller, fit into that tiny, dark space so deep within her that nothing else mattered. She shook still, atremble, and breathing panicked raced. </span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>05-05-2012, 21:41:07</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">Begging yes.&nbsp; More tears.&nbsp; The bottle danced in his fingers and scooped up the fresh tears.<br><br>But then the eyes faded and the hare froze, watching the color fade and flicker.&nbsp; "Yes..." he whispered ever so softly, "Yes..."&nbsp; His breath caught as he watched and waited and then rolled back on his heels to plop down on his rump with the manner of long shuddering sigh that generally only came from a man who'd left something behind rather than taken it.&nbsp; <br><br>The little gold-brown bottle vanished and he stretch and leaned back, laying in the street with a grin.<br><br>"Oh yes kitty, you have caught yourself a good little mouse."<br><br>But his eyes looked upward, watching what he alone seemed to see, peering at the sullen sky as if perhaps, maybe, just this once, he might catch sight of the dream that had gone out of her eyes.<br><br>Then the moment was over and he pushed kicking the ground and rolled backward to spring to a standing position.&nbsp; He did such things from time to time, a hare was a spry creature after all.&nbsp; And as always, there was the soft tink of bottles but never broken glass and not a one of his candies escaped.<br><br>They never escaped.&nbsp; Nothing for free after all.<br><br>He plucked a pill of jade pale green from that coat and rolled it between his fingers, turning it from one to two with slight of hand and then holding them out to the pair.<br><br>"Good girls get candy and you have both just been so very good."<br></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>05-05-2012, 22:44:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Cheshire<br><strong>Location:</strong> Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Dormouse, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.<br><strong>Action:</strong> Cat flees the scene.<br><br>"Good Mouse," the cat purred, a low hungry rumble once she'd crunched the candy that'd filled her cheeks down to a manageable level and then swallowed everything, tea-bags and all.&nbsp; A bit of choking ensued, a sharp glare in the Hare's direction for the sudden absence of his hands.<br><br>She liked him less then, just that quick.&nbsp; Not at all for the the loss and it was there in the accusing blue nature of her eyes, unless they were green.&nbsp; It would depend upon the Hatter really; cat only saw crimson.&nbsp; Only saw those little spider webs on the white.&nbsp; It took a man and not an animal to tell her the truth.&nbsp; Hatter's walked on two legs, Knaves and Queens and twins.&nbsp; Hares could perch on two legs, so could rabbits.<br><br>But not cats.<br><br>So as the Hare tumbled away, the cat wiggled free, untangling herself with a lanky sort of grace that displayed more flesh than it covered and looked between them.&nbsp; "I have a good...."&nbsp; Whatever she'd been about to say, something to the effect of the mouse most surely, it didn't finish because the creature slunk forward on hands and knees and plucked the pill from between the Hare's fingers with the sweep of her tongue.&nbsp; But she didn't swallow it.&nbsp; It was as good as a biscuit, she was sure and without another word, off she scampered, daring two legs proper when she reached the mouth of the alley and then, then she was off at a run towards the Hatter's.&nbsp; She'd been gone for days!&nbsp; ...or was it seconds?<br><br>But a good pet follows, surely, don't they?&nbsp; The mouse couldn't be too far behind; the cat never looked, the mouse might not have been there at all.<br><br>[Post finished here.] (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=139130.0)</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>08-05-2012, 20:37:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br>While normally the Dormouse would have protested her abandonment by the Cat she had so longed for she didn't notice the other girl leaving her side, didn't notice being left to sit on the cold stone of the cobbled ally way. <br><br>Didn't notice anything truly. A fine quiver moved through her, tremble and heart a flutter and lightly she rocked in place, her eyes unseeing. She didn't see the Hare offer the pills. Didn't see her Kitty Cat take them. Didn't see her Cat leave. Abandon her there on the street with no second thought. <br><br>If she had seen she likely would have followed. Would have scampered and scurried, tripping over herself to stay in her someone's shadow.<br><br>But she was wrapped up in the shadow of fear, consuming her mind and the Mouse had retreated to a small, slight place inside herself where it couldn't reach. It encircled her, no doubt meaning to lay siege and her heart spread with fright, thus the trembles, the quivers, the quickened breath. Instinctively her body shifted a little, crawling backwards, to the cardboard, to the shadows, to avoid, to hide. Her hair caught in a few places, the wetness of her cheeks providing dampness to cling and her thin little dress clung to her body as well, breasts heaving against the edge of it. <br><br>Smaller, tighter, small as can be, she curled herself up, eyes unseeing. <br><br>If she had a thought she might of squeezed them shut to block out the world around her. But see...it didn't exist, not now, not yet, hopefully not soon. She had lost her someone and thus surrendered herself to gloom. </span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>08-05-2012, 23:30:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">The mouse was creeping back from him and the Hare followed.&nbsp; He inched closer and leaned in to gazing into her sightless eyes.<br><br>"Windows," he murmured, "Gone and left the curtains open but wandered away."<br><br>And while her eyes weren't answering, her body was shrinking back and trying to shrink away and vanish.&nbsp; He nuzzled her cheek and ear, licking the curve of it and whispering softly.<br><br>"She's left you.&nbsp; Sold your tears and stole your candy.&nbsp; Left you behind.&nbsp; Left you.&nbsp; Left you."&nbsp; He reached up and closed a hand on her left breasts, squeezing it firmly through that flimsy dress and then reaching to take the right as well.&nbsp; "Right you..."<br><br>He chuckled and squeezed again, enjoying those plump and soft breasts.&nbsp; So hard to find anything soft here in Wonderland.&nbsp; Then he gripped her breasts hard and used them to push her back and down, forcing her onto her back and straddling her hips.&nbsp; The sudden pressure of his erect cock made him squirm, grinding it against her belly as he continued to fondle her breasts.<br><br>"Good girls squirm but they can't get away.&nbsp; Can't ever get away."<br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>09-05-2012, 00:11:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Cat, Hare, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em><br><br><br><em>Be still, be silent...</em> words, familiar but not. Just wait...just wait and help would come. It always did there was....but no, she was gone. Gone longer then Cat. Never to be found again. Sister. That was the word. Sister was vanished, beyond her reach. But there was another...only no. She was all alone. All alone. <br><br>Just wait. Pray. Salvation might come. <br><br>It didn't, dimly she was aware of <em>him</em> following her. Creeping closer, saying words her ears blocked out, touching parts of her body but she didn't feel it. No, no she had gone away too far to feel it. Just retreat and wait. Help would come. Rescue. Unresponsive were her limbs; the moment he touched her she had stopped trying to retreat and lay simply like a rag doll. Or like one of the dead. No reaction to the hands on her breasts. To the laughs. To the grinding, to that feeling of the wretched length of him. No, no, Dori had gone much too far away. <br><br>And so she lay, crumpled, eyes unseeing and breathing the only sign she was living. <br><br>In the end if no one came then perhaps she simply would never return, stay in that far off place that was far nicer then this world.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>09-05-2012, 03:23:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: The March Hare<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Dormouse, Anybody else who feels like eavesdropping in the vicinity.</em></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font">The Hare paused and tilted his head.&nbsp; He squeezed the firm mounds in his hands and watched Mouse's face.&nbsp; He tilted his head the other way and did it again.&nbsp; She couldn't be dead yet.&nbsp; He certainly hadn't touched her that way.&nbsp; Or... surely the wee thing hadn't died of fright?&nbsp; Hare scowled.&nbsp; He'd thought about that and it had always seemed like it would be more.. well... just more than this.&nbsp; He chewed his lower lip and considered.&nbsp; He could feel her breasts move in his hands.&nbsp; Dead folk did not breathe.&nbsp; No... no they did not.&nbsp; She was fainted then.&nbsp; That he'd seen before.&nbsp; Never with the eyes open like that though.<br><br>"Shouldn't leave the windows open if you're not home Mouse.&nbsp; It's rude and it gives people notions."<br><br>He sat back and reached up to stroke his chin.&nbsp; There wasn't a response.&nbsp; Well, what to do with her now?&nbsp; He supposed he might very well see to his appetites, though it seemed less fun if she wasn't going to do anything.&nbsp; He rolled off of her and reached, touching her thigh and watching.<br><br>Still nothing.<br><br>He eased his hand higher and felt her.&nbsp; She was warmer than a dead one, well a dead one that wasn't fresh dead at least.&nbsp; But sleeping or dead they were just floppy.&nbsp; He paused then as his fingers encountered something peculiar.<br><br>Oh well then, now that was really unkind of her.<br><br>Hare withdrew his hand angrily and frowned with his arms crossed.<br><br>"It is very rude to have something worth taking and not be considerate enough to take notice of it's being taken you know.&nbsp; I do not have the time to just wait for you come back to your senses and notice it's gone.&nbsp; And if no one is here then it's a moment completely wasted.&nbsp; You know mouse, you are not a good little girl AT ALL.&nbsp; I don't want it and I wouldn't take it if you offered.&nbsp; Besides, you're Kitty's Mouse so really it's hers to take anyway and I'll thank you to see her about it and not bother me with it any further.&nbsp; Humph.&nbsp; Good day to you."<br><br>With that, he turned his back and stalked away, stony and impervious to her lack of pleas for him to stay and take her maidenhead.&nbsp; <br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>23-05-2012, 03:08:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Andi<br><strong>Location:</strong> Side Street/Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> <em>Cinnamon, Anyone else who happens along</em><br><br>"We're here."<br><br><em>But where?&nbsp; </em><br><br>"Does it matter?"<br><br><em>Good point.</em><br><br>Smirk.&nbsp; "Look around, can't you guess?"&nbsp; Pale fingers smooth Their shirt.&nbsp; Such fragile looking digits, small boned, nails chewed past the quick, sliding down the surface of Their black striped shirt while He obligingly turned Their head so everyone could see.<br><br><em>Wonderland!</em><br><br>"Cat," He purred, and all the Others sighed.&nbsp; <em>Cat.</em><br><br>The figure stalked, as He always did, down the alley paying no attention no the beggar and only the briefest to the whore.&nbsp; Temptation, she was, but alas not enough for They had more urgent matters to attend to.&nbsp; No fear, no hesitation, just a casual aggressive walk down streets between buildings and bunnies, through mayhem and madness.&nbsp; The angles were just a <em>hair</em> off kilter, the colors a half-shade from <em>right</em>.&nbsp; And still the slender form moved as if this was the natural element, Their niche, Their home, Their domain.<br><br>Through danger He ruled until taking a path between mushrooms too-large and flowers too-scary.&nbsp; Passed a playground and benches and trees burdened with finches to a pond where the frog lilies grew.&nbsp; Then the figure relaxed, the pace more sedate, and a smile gave life to Their face.&nbsp; To the shore, then a bench, and the figure sat down to adapt and admire the place.<br><br>"Is there a reason We are narrating in rhyme?" Andy asked, heavily amused.<br><br><em>Sorry.</em>&nbsp; Such a meek reply.<br><br><em>Go to sleep, Andi.&nbsp; It's now time to wait.</em>&nbsp; And she did without question, because it was Him, and He told her to. </span><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>23-05-2012, 03:45:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong> Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> The Park, with a loaf of bread.<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Andrew, Andy and Drew.&nbsp; But mostly Andy.<br><br>Once a week and twice on Tuesdays Cinnamon crept out when she knew the Knave went to tea and the Hare went...actually, Cinnamon did not know where the Hare went, which was fine so long as she did not run across them.&nbsp; It was her habit...to avoid everyone since she'd come of age.&nbsp; She planned on keeping it a habit for quite a long time.<br><br>She was also probably going to die very young.<br><br>But it was Tuesday and as is custom on Tuesdays, Cinna stole a loaf of bread from the kitchen at the hotel and took the backstreets to the park, her tattered and worn little dress flirting about the very tops of her knees, shaggy hair cut chin length and left to flounce on the breeze.&nbsp; Cinna was nothing special to look at, there is nothing to identify her from the rest of the tarts at a glance and she doesn't get along very well with her sisters.<br><br>People keep talking about her future and that too, is something that she doesn't want to think about.<br><br>Cinna wants a world where things are...bright, where the people are nice.&nbsp; Where no one bleeds.&nbsp; Because Cinnamon is quite terrified of blood, especially hers.&nbsp; And it's usually quiet over here, near the pond.&nbsp; There are ducks and she can feed them and hide in the great bronze statue of Alice.&nbsp; She truly must be wonderful to be so remembered but..Cinna's never seen her.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her sister said she saw her once, in passing. Her second cousin twice removed said that he'd touched her hand.<br><br>And it was misting rain.<br><br>"Here ducky ducky ducky."<br><br>Not all of them are alive. In fact, there are several floating upside down and dead.<br><br>"Hey goose goose goos...."<br><br>Cinna didn't finish though, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth and her head canted to the side as she sat the bread beside her and crawled around the base of the statue to peer past the corner to the other side.&nbsp; No one ever invaded her sanctuary.&nbsp; <br><br><em>We?</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>23-05-2012, 04:14:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong> Andy, Andrew, Drew<br><strong>Location:</strong> The Park, with a lot of dead ducks.<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Cinnamon<br><br><em>Did you hear that?</em><br><br>"I did," Andy said, turning Their head towards the baby-soft rustle in time to catch a glimpse of ginger near the base of Wonderland's idol.&nbsp; No, not ginger... "Cinnamon," he nodded, and all of Them agreed.&nbsp; <br><br><em>Threat?</em><br><em><br>No.&nbsp; Any real threat would feel no need to hide.</em><br><br><em>Damn...</em><br><br>"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" he sang, wearing a gentle smile.&nbsp; Andy was the only one capable of that expression.&nbsp; He uncrossed Their legs and slightly leaned forward, crooking a finger as one would towards a wary animal.&nbsp; "Come on, pretty thing.&nbsp; Will you leave Us to talk to Ourselves?"<br><br><em>Why are we sitting in a park?&nbsp; I'm bored...</em><br><br><em>We are here for a reason. </em> <br><em><br>But...</em><br><br><em>Shut.&nbsp; Up.</em><br><br>Silence reigned inside Their mind, granting Andy a bit of peace.&nbsp; "It's alright," he cooed.&nbsp; "I'm not scary, although the same can't be said for the rest of Us."</span></span></span><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>23-05-2012, 19:35:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street/Park<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Andy, Andrew, Drew, Cinnamon.</em><br><br><br><em>Cat</em>.<br><br>A simple word really, dropped into the empty still pool that had become her. Her. Mouse. Dormouse. Dori. Lashes blinked, breathing regained, gasping, hands clutching at her breast as shudders wracked through her. And again her eyes saw, saw the dank murky street, the cobbles, the cardboard she had tried to hide herself in. Her legs were spread obscenely, her little dress riding up her body and she was upon her back, staring upward. Trembling hands pushed herself upward, and then darted swiftly to tug the garment down as she glanced about her and tried to remember. <br><br><em>Apologize...</em>, the voice of her something, her someone echoed through her head but her memories skittered away, fleeing facing the confrontation, her own fear. Not yet, she was not safe, could not brave it. <br><br><em>Cat</em>. Her someone, her something. She had lost her again, or was lost, left behind. But a voice had spoken, not one she knew but it had said the name and so meekly the Mouse peeked around the dumpster behind which she crouched and then noticed the figure striding away from her. A breath for courage, a memory of Cat's arms around her and she made herself move forward, keeping to the shadows, clinging to them as best she could and praying not to be noticed. At least not till her Kitty Cat reappeared. <br><br>She would come back for her, she would. <br><br>The taunting rhyme of come out, come out had her shrinking back into the last shadows of the street, watching the park across the street and the oddly familiar figure of another woman, girl, being, and the statue, a statue that her eyes touched and then danced away from with unease. It was all wrong. All wrong and no way to be set right until her someone was around again. A soft sigh well, a little whimper as she sniffled and tears welled&nbsp; in her eyes as she settled back to crouch, hands clenched and held up against her lips to hide her lower face.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>24-05-2012, 12:14:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park, hiding behind a statue.<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Andy, Drew (and I hope not Andrew) &amp; Dormouse<br><br>"You can talk to the ducks," Cinnamon ventured with a wary expression, her book tucked in against the belt at her waist so that it didn't get lost.&nbsp; Hir....didn't look familiar.&nbsp; Her?&nbsp; But that voice...that hair...Him.&nbsp; Definitely.&nbsp; But the sort of him who'd try to take her away?&nbsp; Back to the castle?<br><br>Pushing up to her feet, Cinna edged around the rest of the state, her hands following the lines of cool steel and avoiding the bird shit where necessary.&nbsp; She had a little half smile on her face that was slowly growing.&nbsp; "Sometimes they talk back," the shy voice ventured further, sweet as honey round the edges, touched with only a bit of spice.<br><br>"But...they're not very nice," her bottom lip tucked between her teeth and her eyes danced with quiet humor of the sort that suggests she generally has to keep it hid, to keep from getting smacked. "They called me a Quack." Grin.<br><br>"Would you like to help me feed them?"<br><br>The bread she held up was moldy and green with white specks all over and it looked as if ought to have been as hard as a rock, but somehow she managed.&nbsp; She managed in neat and precisely sized little pieces.&nbsp; Those dead ducks out on the water were clearly not her fault.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>25-05-2012, 05:34:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Andy, Drew, Andrew (sorry, but he's always watching)<br><strong>Location: </strong> Park, standing by dead ducks<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cinnamon, Dormouse<br><br>Black eyes slid to their corners, watching the furtive figure dash back into the cover of shadows.&nbsp; Slowly, reluctantly, Their gaze returned to Cinnamon, the flat expression giving way to one far more friendly.&nbsp; "What rude little Ducks," Andy said, blinking the light back in Their eyes.&nbsp; <br><br><em>I seen her.<br><br>So did I.&nbsp; <br><br>Not the first time?<br><br>No.<br><br>Where?<br><br>Not now, Drew.<br><br>Fine.&nbsp; Is he going to take the bread?<br><br>Drew...</em><br><br><em>That's just...ew.&nbsp; No wonder the fuckin' ducks are dead.&nbsp; Stupid bitch poisoned 'em, and dumbshit here is going to help her continue the massacre.&nbsp; </em><br><br>"Sure," Andy chirruped, perhaps a shade too bright as Their fingers took claim of a hunk of bread.&nbsp; <em>Ever heard of penicillin?&nbsp; Sweetie here may be why there's any alive at all.<br><br>Candyass.<br><br>Bitch.</em><br><br>Andy shook Their head and gave Cinnamon an apologetic look.&nbsp; "I'm sorry, They're very loud sometimes," he said, tapping Their temple with a blunt nailed forefinger.&nbsp; He turned Them toward the stagnant pond and began tossing crumbs, although none of the ducks seemed very interested in Theirs.<br><br>"I asked a duck to tell me a joke once...," he began, flashing Cinnamon a playful wink.&nbsp; "It quacked me up."<br><br><em>Oh.&nbsp; My.&nbsp; God.</em><br><br>Andy winced.&nbsp; "Alright, even I know that was lame but... I don't have many duck jokes."&nbsp; He shrugged and tossed another bit of penicillin, making a game out of hitting the dead ones.<br><br>"Do you know who that is watching us?" he asked, nodding Their head towards the lurker.</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>25-05-2012, 20:40:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park, tugging on sleeves.<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Them &amp; Her.<br><br>"I thought it was funny," Cinnamon said in the wake of her laughter, the smile that she wore one of genuine appreciation and delight and perhaps, just a touch simple.&nbsp; She liked his smile, even if she did frown somewhat with the way he kept tossing bits of bread towards the dead ducks.<br><br>It had her stepping closer, with a quiet ease as she tugged against the hem of their sleeve, "Excuse me," she whispered, full of eyes that trusted and lips that seemed all too quick to smile, as if they were longing too, hoping too and to often found reasons as to why she could not, "But you need to feed the live ones, it's not nice to make fun of the dead like that."<br><br>Her voice was gentle, as well, tender in a way that seemed so at odds with the world around them, as if the little creature still had a heart that hadn't been ripped away.&nbsp; And there was something all too pleading in the way those large eyes of hers went round and she added with such a heartfelt, "<em>Please</em>."<br><br>But the question...their question...their? Loud? Lurker?<br><br>"I'm not sure who that is, except it looks like it ought to be the Dormouse only...I don't know." And why she didn't know seemed to bother her as much as hir trying to feed dead ducks had, "Excuse me," there it went again, this time with her tongue peeking out between her teeth for a thoughtful moment, "What did you mean, 'They're very loud?'
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>29-05-2012, 01:57:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Andy, Drew, Andrew<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; Park<br><strong>Tagged: </strong> Cinnamon<br><br>Andy executed a courtly bow and swept an imaginary hat off Their head.&nbsp; "As the Lady requests, of course."&nbsp; He flashed her a wink and dutifully tossed what bits remained to those soon-to-be-dead-but-still-currently-swimming ducks.<br><br>There was a delay in the answer as he waited for an order or protest.&nbsp; Silence reigned inside Their mind, so Andy shrugged and gifted Cinnamon with a rakish grin.&nbsp; "Yes, <em>They</em>.&nbsp; Otherwise known as We, Us, Our, and Them.&nbsp; I would make the proper introductions but...I doubt if that's a good idea.&nbsp; You're a sweet little thing, it wouldn't do to...well, nevermind."&nbsp; He turned Their black eyes out over the water, lest He pay too much attention to this begging lass with her quiet pleas.<br><br>"We are Many inside one body," he explained, sliding her an apologetic look for the shoddy answer.&nbsp; "I'm not sure how else to explain it.&nbsp; But this is Wonderland, and from the stories We have heard We cannot possibly be the strangest thing here."<br><br><em>Cat.</em><br><br>Andy blinked, Their body stiffening for a moment before he nodded Their head.&nbsp; "Yes.&nbsp; My dear, I would love to learn your name, as it seems far more polite to ask and indulge in the usual idle chit-chat of fresh acquaintances but I fear I must make an urgent request.&nbsp; Do you perhaps know where Cat can be found?"</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>29-05-2012, 16:45:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong> Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park, <br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Them &amp; Her.<br><br>Cinnamon blushed profusely when They bowed, color filling her cheeks and her hand fidgeting with the hem of her gown.&nbsp; He was so courtly!&nbsp; It was just like something out of one of her books and it left the girl preening somewhat and catching her bottom lip between the pressure of her teeth to stifle the giggle that came when he winked.<br><br>"Oh thank you," she gushed, hugging tight again to his arm when he fed the proper ducks while she listened to their explanation.&nbsp; We? Us? Our? Them?&nbsp; Did he know everyone else that was there too?&nbsp; Only...Cinnamon didn't see anyone else but the girl she thought was the mouse and it didn't seem as if she felt like talking though Cinna kept glancing back curiously in her direction.<br><br>It was obvious she didn't understand the warning either, because she just kept right on clinging. "Of course this is Wonderland," that it needed pointing out seemed silly, "Where else would it be?&nbsp; People tell stories about it?"&nbsp; That was like saying people <em>left</em> Wonderland and everyone knew that no one did.&nbsp; They stayed.&nbsp; They stayed forever and ever and ever and a day.&nbsp; Where could they possibly tell stories? At the Broken Cup?<br><br>But then he was asking questions again, which meant that her own were going to have to wait, because she knew how these things worked. "I...I'm Cinnamon," that she was a Tart she did not say, because it wasn't the sort of thing one said in polite company and anyway you didn't get to choose your family.<br><br>"But I don't know the cat.&nbsp; The Hare does," and where he went stiff, she trembled, "He knows...he knows the cat very well.&nbsp; He was buying her shoes.&nbsp; He told me so.&nbsp; Pretty little things, with shiny buckles.&nbsp; Sometimes she goes to watch the television with Mother but...but I've never talked to her.&nbsp; I don't know how to find her either.&nbsp; I don't think anyone does...but you could try asking the Hare."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>30-05-2012, 01:22:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Andy, Drew, Andrew<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cinnamon<br><br><br>Her tremble was noted, Their black eyes sharpening with predatory interest as she relayed what little information was in her possession.&nbsp; Their body stood a little straighter, Their gaze piercing and Their mouth slanted with serpentine satisfaction.<br><br><em>Don't scare her, she's nice.<br><br>She's weak.&nbsp; I could break her in an instant.<br><br>And you would, too.&nbsp; But you're an evil bitch, We all know that.<br><br>...Cat?<br><br>Fuck, you woke her up...</em><br><br>Their body gradually relaxed, the smirk morphing back into Andy's wry, sheepish grin.&nbsp; "Thanks.&nbsp; We came a very long way to find her," he said, Their voice holding a slight nervous tremble.&nbsp; That had been too close.<br><br>He tossed out the last of bit of bread then dusted Their hands off on form fitting black jeans.&nbsp; "Cinnamon," he repeated, testing the name out on Their tongue.&nbsp; "It suits you, it's what I would have named you if it had been my decision," he said, wearing that same charming smile.&nbsp; He wanted her relaxed in case that brief visit by Him had put her back on guard.&nbsp; "You may call Us Andi, it's easier and besides," he winked.&nbsp; "My name is Andy, anyhow."<br><br><em>Were you talking about Cat?&nbsp; I want to see Cat.&nbsp; Where is she?<br><br>Shhhh...<br><br>Sleep, Andi.&nbsp; You will see Cat.&nbsp; Soon.</em><br><br>Andy canted Their head, listening to voices only he could hear and he sighed in relief when that dark promise was enough to send the Other back to sleep.&nbsp; He gave Cinnamon a considering look.&nbsp; "Do you know where we can find the Hare?&nbsp; I hate to ask, seeing as how pleasant I'm finding your company, but it is very important.&nbsp; Any help you can give would be just lovely."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>30-05-2012, 17:45:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name: </strong>Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Them &amp; Her.<br><br>The subtle changes that wove through their body was missed in the desperate need to be pleasing and find acceptance while skirting the prescribed fate for all of Mother's children.&nbsp; Cinnamon didn't understand the smirk, but she was glad when it was gone and that grin was back.&nbsp; She hugged him for it.&nbsp; And it was a him, because he had said so.&nbsp; But to hear that they'd come a long way to find her...brought a flicker of worry into the girl's eyes and she wondered now if she'd said something wrong, or too much and brought a dark fate down to the cat such as that which she herself aimed to avoid.<br><br>"She's not in trouble...is she?"&nbsp; The question came with trepidation and a faint quiver there in her bottom lip as her eyes darted out across the pond and then over her shoulder, back, back to where she'd seen the mouse as if she might suddenly shout a message and tell the girl to run.&nbsp; Run fast and far far away from it all, away to warn the cat.&nbsp; "Because I would hate to think that I was responsible for getting someone in trouble." Except herself, but that fate was unavoidable. "I don't want anyone to be upset."<br><br>That Cinnamon looked like she might cry then, did not ease with the tender way they said her name and the anecdote she had in regards to her namesake was forgotten on her tongue as she waited for reassurance to ease her fears.&nbsp; Fears...that courted tears near the very corners of her eyes.<br><br>"It's very nice to meet you, Andy," Cinna replied with every ounce of manners she possessed, while carefully unwinding herself and taking a protective step back; it became a leap when they asked if she knew where they could find the Hare and her eye went wide and panicked and she searched the horizon as if he might step suddenly from the shadows, come to claim her back. 'N-n-no.&nbsp; No no no.&nbsp; I-i-i I don't.&nbsp; I don't know where you could find the Hare.&nbsp; I shouldn't have mentioned him.&nbsp; I'm sorry.&nbsp; I'm sorry, don't tell him you've seen me please, <em>please</em>.&nbsp; Please don't tell.&nbsp; He'll take me back if you do and I don't want to go back.&nbsp; I don't.&nbsp; They'll move my room if I get in too much trouble again.&nbsp; They'll take off my belt." Except she didn't appear to be wearing one.<br><br>"I don't want to go back!"&nbsp; She shrilled, the sound of quiet terror rising in her voice as panic gripped its sickly hands around her middle and squeezed tight, threatening to choke out even the sound of her voice, so that she wanted to run once more.&nbsp; To run and flee and there was no hope for kindly smiles and gentle conversation.&nbsp; "Promise you won't tell!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>30-05-2012, 19:39:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Name:&nbsp; Andy, Drew, Andrew<br>Location:&nbsp; Park<br>Tagged:&nbsp; Cinnamon<br><br>They stiffened initially, taken off guard by the sudden embrace but the right One was in control to handle such displays of random affection.&nbsp; Andy relaxed, one arm lightly wrapped around her waist, hand splayed across the dainty keys of her ribs.&nbsp; The other stroked her hair while he murmured soft reassurance.<br><br>"No, no, dearheart.&nbsp; No trouble at all!&nbsp; We all adore Cat, she is one of the few things We all agree on."&nbsp; He gently cupped the back of her head and leaned back, gracing her with his most harmless of smiles.&nbsp; "Nobody will be upset, I promise," he cooed.&nbsp; "In fact, she may be quite happy to see We've arrived."<br><br>And then she was gone, having ripped herself out of Their grip leaving Andy to stare at her in shock.<br><br><em>Interesting...</em><br><br><em>Let me deal with this...please?</em><br><br>The silence granted Andy all the permission he needed.&nbsp; He took a careful step forward, moving slowly so as not to startle her further as he attempted to take hold of her wrist.&nbsp; "Easy, easy," he soothed, like one would a frightened mare.&nbsp; "We don't know this Hare, so there's no reason for Us to say anything to him at all.&nbsp; We merely wish to find our beloved Cat, that's it, I promise!&nbsp; The Hare need not learn of anything discussed between you and Us.&nbsp; We don't wish to get you in trouble or...uh...cause you to lose your belt."<br><br>If she allowed him to grip her wrist Andy would encourage her to sit beside Them with a gentle tug towards the nearest park bench.&nbsp; If not, then perhaps the soft, warm tone of his voice would suffice.&nbsp; "Come, sweetling.&nbsp; Sit with Us...," he patted the bench after he'd taken a seat.&nbsp; "There's plenty of time, an over abundance of it, really.&nbsp; Come tell us more of this room you adore, or how you take care of these lively park ducks."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>03-06-2012, 20:51:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Name: The March Hare<br>Location: Park<br>Tagged: Cinnamon, Them, whomever might be easedropping<br><br>After storming off The Hare had set out for the Broken Cup to drown his frustrations.&nbsp; Only, his feet had decided that this might be a better way than that and he'd been to busy wondering about the price of tea in China to correct them.&nbsp; Of course, feet were rather like animals and children, left to their own devices they wandered off and got into trouble more often than not.&nbsp; And they certainly made a mess in shoes.<br><br>He stopped when he spotted the statue.&nbsp; Now that wasn't supposed to be here was it?&nbsp; When had they put a statue of Alice in the tea house?&nbsp; And for that matter, when had there been a pond with ducks living, dead, and a few stages in between in there?&nbsp; He scowled hard enough that his brow hurt from it and then gave a long sigh.&nbsp; He wasn't <em>in</em> the Broken Cup at all!&nbsp; How dare the park try to deceive him like that.&nbsp; He had a good mind to give it a talking to.&nbsp; Only, well, he didn't actually have a good mind and he rather suspected that given how unrepentant it seemed at trying to trick him it would likely not care what he said. <br><br>He was grumbling about the impudence of the park and turning when he caught something out of the corner of his eye that he'd missed while he was facing them.&nbsp; Snapping his head to that side he narrowed his eyes as he found her to still be there.&nbsp; Oh that double damned park had tried to hide her by distracting him by pretending to be the tea house but he'd seen through all of its obfuscation now.<br><br>"Cinnamon Tart!" he barked as he strode into the grassy domain and made his way toward the pair and crossed his arms across his chest while putting on his stern face. "This is the <em>park</em>.&nbsp; It is not the Broken Cup and it is most certainly not your mother's castle."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>04-06-2012, 08:50:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong> Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Them, Hare &amp; anyone who's eavesdropping<br><br>Cat wouldn't be in trouble?&nbsp; Cinnamon looked...well, still worried but somewhat more calm than she had moments before.&nbsp; But at least she stopped trying to back away as Andy took hold of her wrist, offering nothing but reassurance.&nbsp; Cat was...beloved?&nbsp; Their friend?&nbsp; And there would be no involvement of Hare.&nbsp; They said so.&nbsp; They promised.&nbsp; They meant it.&nbsp; They did...mean it, right?&nbsp; But he sounded so sincere that it was hard not to want to listen.<br><br>So Cinna went, gently tugged towards the bench where she settled in small at Andy's side. "I don't love the room, I don't.&nbsp; I hate the whole castle, but they want...."<br><br>Whatever the girl had been about to say was brutally cut short by the sound of someone else's voice invading the scene and her eyes went wide when they landed upon the Hare and terror shot through the entire length of her body.<br><br>"H...h..ha...Hare!"<br><br>Cinnamon squeaked as her legs curled up on the bench, until she'd her knees crushed in against her breasts and her arms wrapped tightly around them.&nbsp; Her skirt crawled up too, offering a fleeting glimpse of the chastity belt that was worn beneath it as well as those soft supple thighs as she tried to bury her face and disappear; the words spilling out muffled against the top of her knees.<br><br>"I...I..I'm so-so-sorry Hare, I am.&nbsp; I didn't mean it, Sir. I didn't. I just had to feed the birds.&nbsp; There's no one else to you see and they were...I'm sorry, Hare. I am.&nbsp; Please...<em>please</em> don't be mad.&nbsp; Don't..."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>07-06-2012, 05:18:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Them<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cinnamon, The Hare, and eavesdroppers, of course.<br><br>They stiffened in response to Cinnamon's panic, dark eyes with too many minds working behind them focusing on the male who had dubbed himself The Hare.<br><br><em>He's handsome...</em><br><br><em>He's dangerous.</em><br><br>Upon that They all agreed, although They usually did when His voice made any declaration.&nbsp; Rigid and wary Their body did not move, although They did cast a glance towards the terrified tart.<br><br><em>The belt...</em> <br><br><em>Yeah, that's what she meant.</em><br><br><em>He's yummy.&nbsp; Not sure why she's so scared...</em><br><br><em>Andi?</em><br><br><em>Still sleeping.</em>&nbsp; Silence, always a beat of silence after He spoke.&nbsp; <em>Drew?</em><br><br><em>If I must.</em><br><br><em>I might still be of use...</em><br><br><em>I'll watch.</em>&nbsp; <br><br>It went without saying They would follow His lead.&nbsp; The Hare was greeted with a mechanical nod of a head with too many masters as They held Themselves ready for whatever may come.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amberghylles</strong> on <strong>09-06-2012, 14:49:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Name: The March Hare<br>Location: Park<br>Tagged: Cinnamon, Them, whomever might be eavesdropping<br><br>Hare stalked closer reached with his left hand to seize Cinnamon's hair and pulled her face up while his right hand slipped into his coat with a clinking and a rattling that resulted in him bringing out a brownish bottle that looked as if in another life it had lived in a spice rack.&nbsp; This was perhaps due to the golden label with 'Cinnamon' in fanciful lettering upon it.&nbsp; Currently, however, it had a liquid inside it's stoppered confines.&nbsp; In a feat of dexterity, he cupped the bottle and popped the stoppered lip with that one hand as he twisted her hair in the other.<br><br>"Don't waste a drop little tart," he said as he touched the bottle to her cheek, "Mustn't waste those tears.&nbsp; That's a rule and you've already broken quite enough of the rules for one day haven't you?"<br><br>But rather than allow her to answer, he turned and nod and somehow contort his form into a strange half-bow without relinquishing the tart's hair or moving the bottle away from her face.&nbsp; His hands stayed with her but his eyes drifted over this other curiously and he gave a toothy grin.<br><br>"I don't know you yet," he said cheerfully, "And I rather suspect I won't <em>know</em> you for a good while but since this wayward tart seems to have forgotten her manners as well as her place, I shall introduce myself.&nbsp; I am the March Hare, pleased to meet you whomever you are and whatever your pleasures and hungers might be.&nbsp; Though I should tell you that this particular tart isn't quite ripe and ready yet if that's your fancy but there are others most eager not far."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>11-06-2012, 03:06:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong> Cinnamon<br><strong>Location:</strong> Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong> Them, Hare &amp; anyone who's eavesdropping<br><br>The girl stretched high with a squeal as the Hare's hand caught her hair; legs spilling out to either side of his body so that his legs were framed by the soft curve of her thighs as those tear stained cheeks gleamed in the dim afternoon light while he fished within his pocket.&nbsp; Pain painted clearly across her youthful visage; a panicked glance cast towards Them as if she might ask for help that never came, because he was chiding her.<br><br>"I'm sorry, Hare.&nbsp; I'm sorry," the tart whimpered as her tears disappeared into the endless sea held within the glass confines and she imagined that she could hear the roll of waves there within that tiny bottle's depth.&nbsp; The sad truth was that she wasn't sorry, not really.&nbsp; She was only sorry that she'd gotten caught.&nbsp; Because getting caught meant that she'd have to be punished.<br><br>But then he went and said something that she could have hugged him for, and did, suddenly in an awkward lunge of arms against his middle, clinging far too tightly.&nbsp; Most might have found the not quite ripe and ready statement a slant against them, but not Cinnamon.&nbsp; It meant that no one would be forcing her into anything anytime soon, at least, that was how she took it and surely whatever punishment that he devised for her errant ways wouldn't be so terrible as that.<br><br>So she clung and she slumped and she let his bottle devour her tears where they fell and listened.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>15-06-2012, 16:02:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Them<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cinnamon, Hare, Eavesdroppers welcome<br><br>Their body relaxed, the smile on Their face one the tart was familiar with as Andy casually observed the Hare collecting her tears.&nbsp; If They thought the behavior strange it certainly didn't show.<br><br>"If you get to <em>know</em> any of Us I doubt it will be me and I haven't decided if that is a good thing or not," he grinned, dark eyes appreciative as they boldly took in the handsome Hare's form.&nbsp; "We were just helping Cinnamon feed the ducks, We weren't wanting anything else from her.&nbsp; Or anyone else, for that matter.&nbsp; We were actually looking for Cat, it's why We're here, afterall."<br><br>He tilted Their head, listening to voices only he could hear, then nodded in response to whatever he'd been told.&nbsp; A brief glance towards the tart, assuring she was fine now that she'd keep her belt and was comfortable, even grateful, for the Hare's presence.&nbsp; He curved Their lips into a polite smile.&nbsp; "We were wondering, sir Hare, if perhaps you could help?&nbsp; Could you tell Us where to find Cat?&nbsp; Simply point the way and We will leave you both to your fun."<br><br>While Andy tried to appear relaxed, even casual, Their slender body held a hint of wariness, an underlying tension betrayed by the unconscious, rhythmic clenching of hands.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Tumult</strong> on <strong>16-06-2012, 03:23:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center">(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y106/silveritha/banner-gryphon.jpg)<br><br><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>You look pretty when you cry.</em></span></span></div><br><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size">A puff of smoke, the linger of vanilla, and that cherry glowed to the fullest. Such was the means when sharp eyes watched and a tail curled. In truth, it was simply the careful gaze of dark honey and gesture of elegance that found that man seated as he let his ankle rest up at the top of his left knee. Relaxed in every manner he should be even when meticulous to the manner he kept that suit without a blemish to show. Easy enough when plucking a random hair - be it a cat or dog’s - and flicking it away.<br><br>Always here. Always waiting. It was his routine and one he maintained with care and obsession every morning until high past noon. He enjoyed these times, one where one noble isn’t on the thoughts and his own are all that were to be seen to. So it was at the park that found him, on time as it was, as if giving the watch on his wrist a run for it’s lovely make. <br><br>Why was he there?<br><br>Because he wanted to be.<br><br>The same while the gaze found a mouse, a cat, and a hare. All things to be prey for the eyes of an eagle and the jaws of a lion. And he was both. All knew that, even if many attempted to find the big cat that purred. But he never purred. Not even when he could get the Cat to purr instead. <br><br>His approach, both in the casual bend and stretch of his frame to see him up, was one more like a prowl with the flutter of great wings. To imagine, if he could only open his arms, he might be able to take to the air. He did that, however, in a different manner. Pilot as he was professional driver, with every use of that gray toned suit and black tie when he seemed as prim and proper as they would come. Even to the slick of hair looking far darker than it really was, he was polished down to the very gesture of his movements. He was where he belonged - high up above the others.<br><br>Even when out of sight by many. It was the best place to be. <br><br>“My my my...”, an introduction of words seeming more prose from his lips than true conversation when it was with that approach - the landing of the beast seen as The Gryphon - to spot not only prey but that of a jewel to be kept far away from the others. “…you’ll scare her. Silly.” <br><br>Though never wonder if one was to be missed or not in his gaze, for nothing leaves his attention without duly noted. Not when those golden hues browsed each there and found little details to tuck away for future times. When that stopped, however, and allowed his attention to settle, it was on the little lovely which found it with nothing but the most gentlemanly of smiles. But the introduction was for everyone, even if those eyes saw it only for the jewel in front of him.<br><br>“The name's Gryphon.” </span></span><br><br><div align="center"><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" class="bbc_size"><em>You’re made of my sin.</em></span></span></div><br><span style="font-family: times new roman;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Gryphon<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; Park<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cinnamon, Hare, Them, and all those in ear shot</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>16-06-2012, 05:16:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Side Street/Park<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Those she watches.</em><br><br><br>Too many. It was too many really, so many at once, all together, so close. She wanted to hide, to retreat to some hidden space, curl up small, so small so that no on could find her, could take her. But she had to find her Cat. Her Kitty Cat. But there were so many others who wanted Cat too it seemed, to whom Cat came and went. It made the curvy petite girl quiver, it made tears gather in her eyes that she fought, not wanting to shed them. Particularly not since the Hare was near. She couldn't forget before; he made her skin crawl and her heart twist. She wanted to hide. <br><br><em>Please... oh please... </em> <br><br>She thought they were just thoughts, they might have been whimpered aloud, a pleading heartfelt prayer. <br><br>Grey gown was not enough, if only the rest of her were more.. or rather less. Less to draw the eye, more to hold to shadow. The mouse of a girl pressed herself tighter against the stone, the crumbling brick as the Hare gathered another young woman's tears and her stomach churning. It was anguish to stay here, to force herself to watch others, to listen when she wanted to sink into herself, or out of this place all together. But she must find her Cat and she herself had no way to discover the elusive and needed girl. <br><br>"Why... oh why did you leave me... " she heaved in a sigh, tone inflicted with the ache within her heart. </span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>20-06-2012, 20:25:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><br><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size">Narration!</span></strong><br><br>In the forgotten square where stood the mighty Ben, thick and full and with a faint tilt to the left, the hour chimed to the shrill screams that echoed out across the streets and not one lash, not two, but three fell in full and a whole six more to mark the hour of eight o'clock and no sooner struck...<br><br>No sooner struck than did the darkness seem to sweep, lingering there at the mouth of every alley and just to the corner of your eye.&nbsp; Great bobby hats loomed in the distance on heads too large with hands that were the same and eyes, cruel eyes that gleamed.&nbsp; No one remained on the streets after dark, <em>no one</em> immune to the order that ruled Wonderland.&nbsp; It was not safe.&nbsp; Not safe even for the soft scurry of mousefeet, not safe even for the mighty Gryphon, not safe for the Hare.<br><br>Retreat, the very air seems to whisper, retreat and be safe, or stay and risk never knowing the sound of the cock's crow come morning.&nbsp; Risk never waking up.&nbsp; For there are men on the streets in the darkness, though no one knows to whom they answer.&nbsp; Men, and not just those with sticks.&nbsp; Men.&nbsp; And those left behind are never seen again, never heard from.&nbsp; To be on the streets after Curfew was to risk your life, or worse. <br><br>Remain if you will, but it had better be worth the price.<br><br>[Note: <em>What we'd like see started now and intend to do, to set precedent for future interactions is...switch scenes like one flips pages in a book, flashing from one to another.&nbsp; Which isn't a means to see anyone's fun cut short, but spread around. Hatter, Hare and Cinnamon at the Hatter's place; Gryphon and Rabbit at the Broken Cup; Mock, Andi and Cat on the streets. That should fairly work around everyone's posting rates and schedules and of course, they can change and crash at leisure</em>.]</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>23-06-2012, 23:39:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp;Mock<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp;Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp;Open<br><br><br>He'd lost the day already. There were a lot of those lost days piling up somewhere, never growing older, and always fighting pirates. No, wait. That was lost socks. Wasn't it?<br><br>The Mock Turtle stopped turning his notions over just as the stripes of night began to shatter what feeble light was left behind on the streets. He had one more key he hadn't tried yet and the door was almost there, almost here, just out of- BAM. There it was. He had a moment's pause as he picked himself up off the fractured pavement and straightened the bent feather in his helmet so that it bent in a more appropriately rakish angle. One tear escaped his left eye as he pressed his cheek to the door.<br><br>It was probably green once, he decided, that being his favorite color for as many minutes as he could remember. Smooth and green like painted emeralds. With those fancy arches and curlicues in the frame that told everyone it was an Exotic door. Of course it would lead to some place of deeply disreputable interest because that was exactly what Exotic meant. Things you shouldn't have but wanted even if it cost your reputation. Mock had several of those in storage so it was all right if he squandered one or two, now and then, if and when he was equal to the task.<br><br>And of course he was. What exactly are you insinuating?<br><br>He crouched with some difficulty so as to have a better look at the keyhole. “Good evening, my lovely,” he whispered to her as two more chimes ravished the time. He poured breathless sweet nothings into her inviting depths as he took the last key from the chain that jangled on his waistcoat between trembling fingers. “You must be the one, my darling, my poppet, my scrumptious brass coquette.” His tongue snaked out and laved her delicate curves in a wet display of concern for the door's satisfaction. He was, after all, still a gentleman.<br><br>Mostly.<br><br>Now was the moment, while the last lash of the bell teetered on the brink, to drive the key home. He slid it in with a whimper, turned it with a moan, cried out as the latch caught and the mechanism spilled its secrets. The door swung open and Mock fell to his knees on the inside, sobbing.<br><br>Screams began behind him, because that was Curfew.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>24-06-2012, 07:35:45</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Cheshire<br><strong>Location: </strong> Side Street<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Mock<br><br>Go he says.&nbsp; Git.&nbsp; And it hurt too, but she'd not been allowed to go just then had she, oh no.&nbsp; No, he'd gotten the Hare's acceptance before she'd been allowed to leave so there had to be egg shells.&nbsp; When it already hurt to move.&nbsp; Piece by piece, upright, not broken anymore than they already were.&nbsp; There were consequences to breaking things.&nbsp; And she'd been careful, oh so careful not to break anymore than what was already done. Meticulous, even, as cum dried against her thighs and blood dried on her arms.&nbsp; Her neck hurt.&nbsp; Her neck <em>really</em> hurt.&nbsp; Hatter's hands had left vicious marks.&nbsp; She'd been in a corner.&nbsp; And then on a wall. And then...then in the streets.<br><br>"Should have slept with the dogs."<br><br>The cat's skirt barely covered her ass, her panties were still on the floor of the Hovel and her shirt had gotten tangled in the barbwire that lined the top of the wall.&nbsp; But that was okay, because her belt was a rather fashionable pair of suspenders.&nbsp; The god forsaken man was trying to get her killed, he was.&nbsp; It was nearly dark thirty.&nbsp; There were <em>rules</em> against this sort of thing.&nbsp; Very firm rules, very harsh.&nbsp; Painful.&nbsp; So she had to find the mouse, perhaps, because the mouse could...<br><br>Well the mouse couldn't do anything but it was better found whole rather than in pieces.&nbsp; But where did mice hide?&nbsp; Curious, very curious and then the sound of shuffling caught the slut's attention as she prowled down the shadowed edge of the street, skirting wild hands and salacious looks.&nbsp; Skirting puddles.&nbsp; Something shiny sounded near as shiny things often door when they clink softly in the sing-song of a sirens tattle.&nbsp; Perhaps if she took him back something shiny instead?<br><br>On cat feet the cheshire padded down the alley as the great clock started its toll and yet, for every strike the creature froze, immobile, afraid to move, afraid to breath.&nbsp; The only steps allowed were those that were taken in the silence between the beats.&nbsp; The shadows were getting thicker too, they were getting friendly, rubbing in places they weren't meant to rub and filling, always filling up everything until there didn't seem to be any room at all.&nbsp; It would not do to be on the end of one of those bobby-sticks. No.&nbsp; No it would not.&nbsp; Not again.&nbsp; She'd been broken for three days the last time.<br><br>It was....<em>Good evening, lovely?</em><br><br>Really?&nbsp; It was dark, quite dark by the moment and the shadows were being somewhat unkind to her figure and the blood that stained her hands and the slender curves of her forearms wasn't that fashionable, she thought.&nbsp; But...someone found her lovely?&nbsp; And the one?&nbsp; Of course it was talking to her.&nbsp; There wasn't anyone else around to talk too unless one counted the shadows and behind her the heavy steps of a copper crunch crunched as if he walked on nails.&nbsp; He did.&nbsp; But they were aimed down, down down down, so when they tread upon soft flesh it squeaked and sang and bleed.<br><br>"You're really very sweet," the cat begins, because the antenna on his head is waving rather vigorously in her direction, but the "HEY YOU!" that comes from behind her isn't all that encouraging for her to draw out the conversation.&nbsp; "So let's just..."<br><br>The sharp tinktinktink of those nailed boots coming at jog behind her put the girl in motion, so that she comes barreling towards the Turtle at a dead run from behind, all but tripping over his kneeling form, screaming at the top of her already hoarse lungs as she dove through the open door, <br><br>"Shut the door, shut the door!&nbsp; He's got the stick!"</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>25-06-2012, 17:39:49</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Open.</em><br><br><br>"No... no no no no...." the word fell from her lips, transforming from a word into more of a sound, one of protesting, pleading, shock, fear. "No, no noonononononnonooooo." <br><br>But saying it wouldn't change the fact that the very world seemed to have altered around her, to have twisted further. Alone, she was alone again and out of her mind with her terror. She had retreated from the park, from the others. Two she might have watched quietly but three, one of them the Hare, no... she had fled, back to the scraps of cardboard, back to where she had felt Cat, seen Cat, been with her Kitty Cat. There was nothing there though but the worn down cardboard and she started to weep because of it. The tears tracked down her face but she didn't actually make a sound, not one that signaled crying. It seemed a bad idea. <br><br>In the darkened shadows she quivered with her fear, tears gleaming as they ran down her cheeks, her richly vibrant hair seeming a danger, an attractant. She didn't want to attract. Dori wanted only to hide. Yet curling up under the cardboard didn't seem safe, not safe at all. A thud, loud footsteps. She didn't even bother to look behind her, instead taking off into a spring, her petite body blurring so fast she scampered out of the ally and onto a main road. But main roads were worse, there was <em>more</em> there. <br><br>She darted back into the darker corners, trying to shrink into the shadows, panting, heart pounding. "Cat..." the name came out as a whine, a plea. "Kitty Cat please... help....."<br><br>The sounds again, the footsteps, sprint, shadows, hide, pattern, pray. Keep going. <br><br>Until hands reached for her, until they were cold and biting and vicious and she shrieked in panic, "NOOOOOO."</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>27-06-2012, 15:49:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Oh, come now. (If only.)<br><br>Scarce had he begun to savor the delectable agony of afterglow when Something ruffled his bent feather. Something nearly tripped over him! Something came diving in from Out There without a by-your-leave or how-d'ya-do or fuck-me-sideways! Through his very own best beloved door!<br><br>“Harlot!” he bellowed, fisting the tears out of his eyes, “False gash!” Mock lurched to his feet and glowered at the cat, who was crying out in her ecstasy about doors and sticks. He'd never been much for sticks, although there was that enticing young sting ray back in college that had made him question his aperturial orientation. But the point right now was something else entirely and he would have to deal with her very harshly indeed.<br><br>He spun in a flurry of rags and keys, thrusting one hand into a holey pocket while keeping the other free to wag accusatory fingers. He faced the blatant, gaping entryway with a stern expression. Shadows were already curling over the doorjamb, helping themselves to anything they could swallow, such greedy things. Another Something or so was already on the way, according to the crunching and squealing in the street that grew loud louder loudest as Mock stalked over to and stood beneath the salacious arch. “Madame! It is I who has ravished you into a state of open-ness yet you allow any dom, dick, and derriere to come flying into your fickle embrace? This will not stand, I tell you! It is preposter-OOF!”<br><br>His face, which had ended up slightly beyond the doorway, met the shoulder of another galloping Something and it gave him pause as well as a mild concussion. As the Second Something glanced off his temple he grabbed it – all soft curves and comely fears – and dragged it over the threshold. “Oh ho, do allow me the honor of welcoming you into this vestibular gang bang. How many friends have you brought? Enemies? Hangers-on? Hangers-off? Might as well call in the whole town!” He tossed the Second in the general direction of the First and turned back to the street.<br><br>The looming and unmistakable shape of a copper filled the doorway, causing even the shadows to retract. Mock gazed at his sorrowful reflection in its over sized belt buckle and shed another tear.<br><br>“No! No more! That's it! We're full up, good sir! Come again on someone else! No room at the ingress!” and he attempted, with undignified haste, to slam the door shut.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>27-06-2012, 16:14:26</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Cheshire<br><strong>Location: </strong> The Sewers<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; No one, it's a disappearance act!<br><br>Bloody insufferable!<br><br>She was not a harlot! Not at all!&nbsp; Nor, in fact, was she staying.&nbsp; Oh no.&nbsp; Not here.&nbsp; The cat wasn't allowed out after dark.&nbsp; No one knew that better than the cat did.&nbsp; There were rules!&nbsp; Things were important!&nbsp; So he turned and....she just...kept going.&nbsp; Oh she kept right on going.&nbsp; Around a corner, down a hall, across some boxes and under a table.&nbsp; There were ways.&nbsp; There were always ways.&nbsp; And there was a man at the door with a stick!&nbsp; <br><br>For shame!<br><br>Oh for shame indeed.&nbsp; Because she ripped her stocking wiggling out the crevice of a broken window into a side alley where the shadows were thick enough to suffocate.&nbsp; One whole width of a building away from where heroics were going on.&nbsp; Bare feet touched upon the grimy street; something groaned from beneath a dumpster and the cat made a mad-dash bolt for a sewer drain without a second though.<br><br>It was where all the rats were going.&nbsp; So down she went, down and flat until she was hugging the ground and wiggling through the gape between alley and sewer.&nbsp; Down again.&nbsp; Down down down with a wet splash into the realm of rats and forgotten things.&nbsp; It burned the skin.&nbsp; Things went bump in the darkness and then silence descended.&nbsp; Silence but for the chittering of rats.<br><br>But she knew their language.&nbsp; She spoke it well with hisses and snarls and dirty wet stocking feet as she stomped off through the darkness, for who could see better in the darkness than the cat?&nbsp; The only problem...was that some things one simply didn't want to see.&nbsp; But at least even here...even here, she knew the way home.<br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>27-06-2012, 20:29:08</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Them<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; The Sewers<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cat and the Rats<br><br>They could have stayed.&nbsp; No, that was wrong.&nbsp; <em>HE</em> would have stayed, <em>HE</em> wasn't afraid of clocks or coppers or cocks with attitude and power.&nbsp; <em>HE</em> wasn't afraid of anything which is why when They walked away They did so without panic or haste.&nbsp; Their body moved with steady confidence, each step a deliberate move in the direction He chose.&nbsp; Which happened to be <em>away.</em><br><br>Away from the men and the tart.&nbsp; Away from the park with its Death claimed ducks and tribute to Alice.&nbsp; Away from the clock and the coppers and the cocks.&nbsp; Away from the fading light and into the shadows, where He belonged.&nbsp; Their slender black clad form disappeared into the comforting arms of hungry shades that happily shielded Them from view, clasped Them close in a lover's embrace and carried Them away, away, <em>away.</em><br><br>The delicious scent of fear and decay was taken in with a soft, appreciative grunt as He calmly strolled to an alley's end.&nbsp; He moved as if He'd created these city streets, as if He'd been the original architect and was still in possession of mental blueprints.&nbsp; Without hesitation He followed the sleek gray rodent through filth and debris to a metal grate which was lifted aside in a show of strength those flimsy arms had no right to possess.&nbsp; Shielded by His beloved shadows, He simply stepped forward and fell further into the deeper darkness of the sewer, landing with a small splash on the balls of Their feet.<br><br><em>I can hear the rats.</em> <br><br>Andrew smiled cruelly at Andy's mental shudder.&nbsp; <em>One finds cats where there are rats.</em><br><br><em>Cat...</em><br><br>His dark chuckle echoed in the close confines of the tunnel.&nbsp; "Yes, Cat," He promised in response to Their multi-voiced sigh of yearning.&nbsp; He lifted to Their toes and managed to push the grate back in place with the tip of an outreached forefinger.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I can smell Her."<br><br><em>Cat...</em><br><br>Their shoes made deathly splashes as He followed the scent of She They Had Come For.&nbsp; Their Reason For The Trip.&nbsp; His Cat.&nbsp; A left.&nbsp; A right.&nbsp; Unerringly He navigated the twisted tunnels, following scent and grime coated slick gray bodies until a final left finally brought Her into view.&nbsp; The darkness was no obstacle to His vision.&nbsp; This was where He lived, where He'd been born and where He chose to dwell in more ways than one.<br><br>"Cat," He purred, satisfaction painted on the slant of His smile and the tilt of Their head.&nbsp; Silently He stalked towards Her.<br><br>"You are a difficult Kitten to find."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-06-2012, 19:58:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Mock.</em><br><br><br>Hands! There were hands on her! They were tugging and pulling on her the moment she had scampered down this street instead of an ally and she squeaked in her fear but did not fight them. They were warm at least, and felt somewhat less threatening then whatever was behind her. She whimpered as she curled up just inside a threshold and then made a sound of startled protest as she was tossed, sliding across a floor into a wall to thump into it. <br><br>Again the tears welled, large and swollen as they fell from her lashes and she cowered when shadows loomed in the doorway. "Don't let them in... don't let them in... oh please...." It as a pleading tone, near panicked that fell from her lips. <br><br>Noting that the man, the stranger, was trying to shut the door she picked herself up to her feet, feeling not at all courageous but indeed terrified. She threw that terror into a leap at the door, aiding in the struggle to get it closed, to remove whatever that had been from being able to get her. It thudded shut and she collapsed again, folding her curvy petite body up as small as she could make it, darting glances at the stranger from beneath lashes spiky from her crying. <br><br>"T...thank you sir..." be polite, being polite was important. Even if she just wanted to cry all over again that now she was trapped in a house, a room, a place witha&nbsp; stranger, a man she did not know and could not trust. She sniffled. She just wanted her Kitty Cat. Dori sucked her lower lip into her mouth, nibbling on it as she fought to calm her breath, her hair wild around her cheeks and shoulders as she inched slowly backward, at least until her back met the corner and she felt somewhat safe from one direction at least. <br><br>"Wh..why'd you help me?"</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>28-06-2012, 21:22:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				How curious. He was neither broken in half nor minced into jam. And those really were the sorts of things one would notice if they had happened to one. How excruciatingly curious!<br><br>Mock opened one eye and examined the woodwork he was currently embracing. The harlot door had crossed her proverbial legs at last and her charms were sealed up tight once more. For half a blink he was overwhelmed with curiosity – what secrets were on the other side? - but then his brain gently reminded him that he was, in fact, on the inside of the door and the boots and sticks were, in fact, on the outside. Which was not the place to be because of the breaking and mincing issues previously discussed. And then he was back where he'd started. Lovely woodwork, that.<br><br>Opening the other eye lead to a momentous discovery. The soft thing that had also been outside was inside and was backing itself into a corner. In the spirit of fair play Mock backed himself into the opposite corner and mimicked her curled posture with a bit of flinching thrown in for good measure.&nbsp; <br><br><em>"T...thank you sir..." </em><br><br>He checked over his shoulder for a sir but no one else was there. He looked around the otherwise deceptively empty room because there ought to have been a crustacean, no, a cat, an under-dressed cat at that, but that wasn't here either. Things were disappearing at a remarkable rate. He wiped away a tear of loss.<br><br>But the soft thing, soft... girl... she was still there. She was cowering. She was afraid. She looked good enough to eat. Well, yes, she did, but that was hardly a polite way to begin a relationship. Beat? Mistreat? Deplete? Something else yet. Ah. Good enough to greet.<br><br>“I greet you, miss-”<br><br><em>"Wh..why'd you help me?" </em><br><br>Her question was odd but so was the entirety of world, nowadays. Mock unfolded himself from the corner and began to creep towards the girl with his black, bloodshot eyes wide open and taking in every inch of her. “You were running,” he began, getting a bit lost in the wiry madness of her hair. “You were screaming,” he continued as he marked the swells of her breasts and the dangle of her petite earlobes. “You were afraid.” She still was and it made his mouth water and he swallowed twice as he slunk within arm's reach. “So it was right, you see, for me to put you somewhere else. It was the right thing to do. I remember rightness and sometimes I can still do it.”<br><br>He nodded and smiled sadly, bent feather bobbing over his head, as he sat cross-legged next to the girl. Leaning in a bit closer, eyes going round as saucers, Mock gasped. “Are you, miss, actually, I mean, truly, are you in fact... crying?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>28-06-2012, 21:46:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Mock.</em><br><br><br>There had been the belief that nothing would reassure her, would settle her down, that this was a stranger and therefore <em>bad</em> and <em>dangerous</em> most certainly. Yet incredulous grey eyes with flecks of gold watched as he backed himself into a corner, seeming as afraid as she herself was. Shyly head rose, shimmering hair shifting around her features and lips compressed ever so slightly so they did not tremble as she observed him. He didn't seem to be scary, not like the Hare. <br><br>She loathed the Hare.&nbsp; But this was not the Hare. What is was she didn't know and there was a flash of inquisitive light in her eyes before she could think to hide her gaze. <br><br>When he unfolded himself and slowly moved towards she shrank back into the corner as far as she could go, her neck hard against it and eyes wide, fixed, wary, pleading. <em>don't hurt me</em> they begged, tears clinging to the tips of her lashes and sparkling rather absurdly like out of the place diamonds. She had been running. She had been screaming, though Dori could have sworn that had been inside her own head not aloud. Don't scream aloud, it was the wrong thing to do. Gathered too much attention. And she was still afraid. Her teeth appeared, pressing down into the lushness of her lower lip when he gained so close to her, shaking with the effort not to bolt though when he sat, when he leaned, he had her quiet caged in. <br><br>"Right... rightness is nice..." Such a lame attempt at speech, conversation but she wasn't good at talking to others. That was Cat, Kit, Kitty Cat. Who was not here. Not here, not there, not anywhere. Mouse was alone; and oh how she loathed it. More then the Hare. <br><br>His question made her blink in surprise, and those tears poised so softly upon her lashes found there release, escaping to track cooling down her cheeks and summon another shiver. The petite Mouse sniffled and then jerkily nodded, her expression anguished. "I got lost... or was left... lost left, I don't know but I loath to be alone. And there was the Hare," That summoned a fresh wave of tears with interest and she kept shaking, nearly violently now, yearning for something soothing, something grounding. Cuddles. Touch. But he was a stranger, she had not his name, it was not proper but there was <em>no</em> Cat and so no one to do introductions or to speak for her.&nbsp; She squeaked in dismay.</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>29-06-2012, 04:45:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Cheshire<br><strong>Location: </strong> The Sewers<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Andi, Andy, Drew, Andrew; in that order. <br><br>Home.<br><br>It was like a beacon even on the darkest of nights; it tugged against every bruise and pulled on her feets, directing them even when the mind wandered and it did.&nbsp; It chased rats, it chased rats on silent little cat feet; crouched low and still, oh so perfectly still.&nbsp; It chased rats with bait.<br><br>It used toes.<br><br>Fleshy toes. Pink toes.&nbsp; Wiggling toes, poking through the holes of her stockings.&nbsp; <br><br>"<em>Here ratty rat rat-i-kin.</em>"<br><br>"FUCK"<br><br>Because it'd come.&nbsp; It'd come with sharp sharp teeth and scritchy little claws and now there was blood oozing from the swell of her big toe; already bruised from shoes too sizes to small, which made them perfect for catfeet.<br><br>The shrill squeal of the small little bastard as it was scooped and clutched into greedy hands echoed against the slim ridden walls and its sharp claws burrowed in sharply against the palms of her hands.&nbsp; Tiny claws.&nbsp; Painful claws.&nbsp; Claws that could dig through the soft soft tender of a belly if given half a chance and a pinch of heat.&nbsp; She knew.&nbsp; She did.&nbsp; And it was cruel, so very cruel, the way that almost-scaly-but-not-quite tail crunched between her teeth.&nbsp; But it was a satisfying crunch.&nbsp; It made those too sharp tiny teeth find the sensitive flesh of the webbing of her hand.&nbsp; <br><br>Cat teeth crunched again.<br><br>Rat squeals filled the hall.<br><br>She was panting.<br><br>Hot. Heavy. Hungry. And footsteps, footsteps in the distance, threatening to interrupt the meal.&nbsp; CRUNCH.&nbsp; No more tail.<br><br>No more tail and bloody fingers.&nbsp; Bloody hands.&nbsp; Bloody hands and a tailless rat. But not a tail-less cat.&nbsp; It dangled between her lips, left to dance by the point of a prodding pink tongue.&nbsp; <br><br>She let the rat go.&nbsp; She let it go so it run, run and flee, bloody, broken, to be eaten by its friends.&nbsp; Mmmm.&nbsp; She <em>shivered</em>.&nbsp; Shivered.&nbsp; And there They were.&nbsp; The tail disappeared in a single long slurp, twitching, twitching all the way down.&nbsp; Perhaps its blood had made her crazy but he sounded...he sounded so...<br><br>The cat's eyes rolled back in its head, when he spoke; as if His voice were a caress that rolled down the entire length of her body, so that there was no piece of her that didn't fail to respond in some way.&nbsp; Nails bit the flesh of her palms, nipples hardened, hips rolled and thighs flexed, arms stretched and she purred.&nbsp; Oh how she purred.<br><br>"Andi," the cat skipped to meet Them, greeting the young girl with a hug that wrapped her up tight and cherished, an adoring kiss to the cheek that was nothing if not chaste for all the tenderness that she put behind it.&nbsp; "I've missed you," spoken and meant, before those lips found her temple in a twisted parody of motherly affection.<br><br>"Andy," the tone changed again, just a little, but nimble fingers ruffled his hair, her grin lopsided as she winked.&nbsp; "I hope you're taking care of our girl."<br><br>But the touch of that hand changed then, drifted from the playful ruffle to the pointed tease of nails sliding down the back of her head, down the nape of her neck, getting just a little harder as they courted the fine line of Drew's collar bone, down down down between the valley of her breasts where those nimple little bloody claws teased against the inner swell of her breasts so that thumb and index could almost <em>almost</em> tease the soft bud of her nipples as they traveled on down the flat of her stomach, sliding out towards the v of her hip. "There's my bitch," came the purr.<br><br>Yet even that didn't last, and the cats nails retreated, so that it was nothing but the soft pads of her fingers, stroking down the length of His inner thigh.&nbsp; "But you found me.&nbsp; You always find me, Andrew.&nbsp; Nothing escapes you for long."<br><br>And for a moment.&nbsp; For a single moment in time, the cat was happy.&nbsp; Genuinely happy.&nbsp; And it showed, in a hovel far away, where forgotten treasures winked into vibrant neon life.<br><br>"Not even me."</span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Katsue</strong> on <strong>29-06-2012, 06:00:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Andi, Andy, Drew, Andrew<br><strong>Location:</strong>&nbsp; The Sewers<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; Cat<br><br>Dark eyes with too Many peering through them took in the Cat's blood coated lips and tattered stockings, alternately lingering upon and carelessly sliding away from pert breasts whose nipples were hardly shielded by the suspenders at all.&nbsp; Individuals shuffled through those black soul windows as quick and easy as a magician playing with a deck of cards.<br><br>"Cat," came the soft, timid sigh, fragile fingers clutching suspenders as Andi cuddled close between the Cat's breasts and nuzzled Their face in the hollow of her throat.&nbsp; "Oh Cat, I missed you, too!" her tiny voice whispered, the too-thin frame shivering with relief.&nbsp; There were only a few places safe on the Outside, the Cat was one of them.<br><br>The slender figure straightened, lips sliding into an embarrassed half-smile.&nbsp; "Aww, Cat...," Andy grumbled, crinkling Their nose against the indignity of a hair ruffling.&nbsp; He looked up at her from the tops of Their eyes and grinned.&nbsp; "I'm trying," he assured her with a humble shrug.<br><br>And then a pleasured shudder tremored down Their spine, lashes fluttering helplessly against the Cat's masterful teasing as Their body arched wantonly into those pressing claws that left long red marks upon milk white flesh.&nbsp; "I'm here," came the sultry rasp.&nbsp; "I'm here and yours, as always, for always," Drew promised fervently, hips twitching instinctively as that bird-like frame practically writhed in Cat's grasp.<br><br>Their body straightened, shoulders pulled back and Andrew graced the Cat with an all to familiar smirk.&nbsp; Those eyes, already black, deepened even further into obsidian pools that seemed capable of swallowing souls without a moment's hesitation.&nbsp; Fingers slid up the Cat's bare stomach and beneath the elastic suspender that tried and failed to trap and capture but nothing would halt the possessive exploration.&nbsp; Up, up, so very slow, black hole eyes glinting with sly satisfaction as He paused only long enough for a cruel pinch of her nipple, a reminder, a greeting, then further up that red spattered skin, over the so-easily-shattered collar bone and higher to take a Master's grip on the back of Cat's neck.&nbsp; And now the other hand came out to play, pressing between her breasts as digits firmly clutched her hair and the two hands worked to bend Their long-missed Cat back.<br><br>Andrew held her in a mockery of a dancer's dip, darkly romantic for those with a twisted bent.&nbsp; "Not even you," He finally agreed, bent over her arching form, supporting her weight with impossible strength and a wicked smile upon Their lips.&nbsp; Their tongue, His tongue, lapped from breast to chin and swirled around Cat's mouth.&nbsp; "You taste...," He smacked Their lips, "...dirty.&nbsp; Soiled," He grinned.&nbsp; "I like it."<br><br>Abruptly He moved, lifting Cat and turning until He'd pressed her against the tunnel wall, trapping her there with Their body full length and hard against hers.&nbsp; "Do you feel what isn't there?" He spat, pinning her with bitter intensity and a dangerous, mad glint in His eyes.&nbsp; A shift of hips against her thigh offered as a hint.&nbsp; "It is time to fix the problem.&nbsp; We will work together once again."<br><br>He canted Their head, face so close Their breath was a hot wash against hers.&nbsp; "You will play with me, won't you Cat?&nbsp; I promise panic and death and blood...and afterwards, if you are very very good..."&nbsp; He leaned forward, their breasts squished between them as He whispered in her ear...<br><br>"I will fuck you, cut you, bite you, bleed you until Death draws near, but I will never hand you over to him.&nbsp; He will watch you moan and grunt and scream and beg and I will laugh at his envy.&nbsp; But you...you will belong to me.&nbsp; One way, or another."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dahling</strong> on <strong>29-06-2012, 07:12:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: georgia;" class="bbc_font"><strong>Name:</strong>&nbsp; Cheshire<br><strong>Location: </strong> The Sewers<br><strong>Tagged:</strong>&nbsp; <em>Them</em><br><br>The echoes were so easy to see; the flitter of emotion across a face that could be just as expansive, from a mind just as shattered but in so many different ways.&nbsp; With an ease that seemed inborn, cat met the Many and loved them all the same.&nbsp; Different, yes, but equally.<br><br>"Oh Andi," the cat purred it full of affection, soft and love-laden, a reassuring hand stroking against the soft tufts of her hair, cradling her close.&nbsp; Oh so close in a hug that could crush, even if Andy got a look of near complaint for bringing her <em>there</em> of all places.&nbsp; It wasn't his fault.<br><br>"You do well," to him on a blink, a wink for his humbleness even if she fretted over how they'd fare.&nbsp; Too much cruelty here, too many hands. Hands to large, with hearts too small and never enough pussy to sate them all.&nbsp; "We'll do it together."&nbsp; Because it was better, so much better together.&nbsp; Easier.&nbsp; And Andi...<br><br>The sigh was soft, gentle and twisted itself to gleam in cruelty as Drew stretched, leaving Cheshire breathing deeply for a moment of her scent; tongue lapping out against her own lips in memory of the taste and a room full of people while they'd been writhing atop a table.&nbsp; It'd felt like Purgatory.&nbsp; This felt like Purgatory.&nbsp; Always in the middle.&nbsp; Stuck in transition.&nbsp; Always stuck.&nbsp; <br><br>"I'm going to take you home," it wasn't aimed at any of them in particular then, not in the beginning, "And there will be facials and tea and pedicures and Candyland."&nbsp; Something for everyone that wasn't Him.&nbsp; "And lots of <em>candy</em>." Something for her, too.&nbsp; "And then I'm going to make you scream."&nbsp; It was easy, so easy, that bouncing dance that went from one to another as if they were never One at all, but many.&nbsp; Because they were and she saw them, saw them all and fit to each.&nbsp; Like a puzzle for children, the kind that took five large pieces to make a whole in bright vivid colors and neon flowers.&nbsp; <br><br>Flowers splattered in blood.<br><br>That smirk brought a giggle that was almost girlish, the capture of her bottom lip between her teeth while His hand ran up her body and left her arching for it.&nbsp; Goose bumps proceeding the tips of those far too skilled fingers so that the pebbled nub of her nipple was hard, hard and aching before His hand ever reached it.&nbsp; She loved them all.&nbsp; She did.&nbsp; But she liked Him best.&nbsp; She did.&nbsp; Because he understood.&nbsp; More than Drew, more than Andi and Andy ever could.&nbsp; He liked the feel.&nbsp; He liked the splatter.&nbsp; He liked the screams.<br><br>Her neck ached where his hand settled over the fresh bruises, of that make-shift imprinted collar but it didn't stop the way she responded, the way her pulse raced and her cunt ached.&nbsp; So she dipped, she bent.&nbsp; Like another marionette beneath his command, stretched full while lips tasted and his tongue drove her to madness.&nbsp; He'd said to find someone to lick her clean and...hadn't He just?<br><br>It didn't stop her from chasing His tongue with her lips, from that heartfelt little suckle that was offered, the taste of copper still lingering there against her palate.&nbsp; "Was I ever clean?"&nbsp; The question could have been genuine, serious, for all that it was gone no sooner than He picked her up.&nbsp; Up and those long legs wound around His waist, as her hips ground in, forward, rolled against the terrible terrible absence.<br><br>"I can always feel you," came the reply and that, more than anything else was true.&nbsp; But it didn't stop the shiver that rolled through her with that look in His eyes.&nbsp; That need.&nbsp; Fix the problem?<br><br>"Oh god yes," so that she trembled with the very idea, because she knew what He meant.&nbsp; What He wanted.&nbsp; They'd talked about it before, considered but...but then there was nothing.&nbsp; There was darkness.&nbsp; There was In-Between.&nbsp; That time when They Weren't.&nbsp; But now, They Were.&nbsp; "<em>Please</em>..."<br><br>Please and He made it better.&nbsp; Made it More.&nbsp; So that she ground against Him wet, needy and aching for what wasn't.<br><br>"Will they let you go?" She asked it on a whisper, fierce, dark and possessive.&nbsp; Like the way those hands wound round his neck and clung for all they were worth, until those short broken nails dug in against his skin and threatened to break the blood.&nbsp; They <strong>had</strong> to.&nbsp; The sudden flicker of darkness in her eyes was terrifying, even to her, even knowing that she loved.&nbsp; That they were loved.&nbsp; There was a need in those eyes that was cruel, cruel and hungry and selfish.&nbsp; They had been more than Four, once.<br><br>"They have to let you go..." <br><br>How forlorn it sounded then, how teetering on the edge of hopelessness and fear and she hated fear.&nbsp; Hated it.&nbsp; Except when it made her cum.&nbsp; Oh dear.<br><br>Oh dear, oh dear.&nbsp; How she shivered then, how she trembled.&nbsp; Bathed in His words, drenched in them.&nbsp; Quivering.&nbsp; Long legs twined tighter still, the heel of her foot digging in against the cheek of His ass.&nbsp; Asking for more.&nbsp; Begging.&nbsp; "I've missed you...oh Andrew." Blink. Frown.&nbsp; Confusion.<br><br>"How did you find me?"<br></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>29-06-2012, 16:30:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name</strong>: Mock<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: Doormouse <br><br><br><em>"Right... rightness is nice..."</em><br><br>Clever soft girl. It always was and will be, though wrongness is commonly more efficient, profitable, and endlessly entertaining.<br><br>The tip of his tongue slipped out and was caught between his teeth in excitement as she nodded. There were tears, no mistake, trickling down from laden lashes drooping with dews of sorrow. Each one a salty sweet story of hurt in the heart. That's why they were so dazzling. Hurting the outside was the simplest way – anyone could wring tears aplenty given a spoon and enough time – but real heart-hurting tears, well, those were&nbsp; more precious than rubies or tea bags. People were so quick to leave their hearts and heads behind in this colorless world, lest they broken beyond repair.<br><br>His eyes began to ache from being so open for so long and he knew really should stop staring at her so hungrily but she simply would not stop being delicious and covered in high-quality tears. It made his own eyes brim and he turned his gaze modestly to her knee. Her ripe and curving knee, begging for a nibble... No! Rightness, rightness, rightness! <br><br>&nbsp;<em>"I got lost... or was left... lost left, I don't know but I loath to be alone. And there was the Hare," </em><br><br>Mock noticed his left hand, fingers clenching and unclenching with the desperate need to touch her, had gotten quite carried away and was nearing the girl's face. “Hare,” he repeated cautiously, stuffing his wayward hand in a pocket until it could behave itself. “You were alone with the Hare? A loathly alone there. Unless you fancy the candy he keeps. His prices ever rise so steep and you must know he gouges too deep.” He paused to rub at a twinging sort of phantom pinch in his chest. <br><br>“As for losing your left, they do tend to be bereft of common sense, though in other ways quite deft.” Mock stopped and looked back up at the girl's diamond-dripping eyes with a horrified expression. “Have I begun to rhyme?&nbsp; Oh, it comes on in darkest times. Apologies, sweet stranger, I should just resort to-” he brought his hand to his mouth and pretended to shove an invisible gag in place and tie it, which required both hands and then his finger got caught in the invisible knot and he ended up rolling on the floor for a moment while he put himself to rights. Knots were tricksy things at the best of times but invisible ones doubly so.<br><br>&nbsp;At that point he could no longer remember what had gone before so he went back to the beginning. He climbed to his feet with some difficulty, swept off his floppy helmet and bowed at the girl in the corner. “I greet you, miss,” soft thing, diamond tears, tasty knees, “for I am the Mock Turtle. Just Mock to most, I'll be your host in this empty ghost of a room. We will sit, “ and he sat with a loud clunk, “no longer coppers' quarry, not alone or quite as lost and share a story or two, perhaps? Might I learn your name, miss...?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>29-06-2012, 20:19:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Mock.</em><br><br><br>Almost he touched her. Almost. Dori had watched that hand with wide eyes, not trying to avoid but not leaning into it either. His response to mentioning the Hare eased her though, her lower lip trembling as she nodded and sniffled. "He... Cat traded my tears for tea but then... then I... got lost, in my mind and then here. She's gone and I don't know... " The petite girl trailed off, blinking in surprise when he started to rhyme. The stranger called her sweet, and he was rather polite.<br><br>But then he was rolling about on the floor so oddly that she couldn't help but stare, her legs loosening from the tight press against her chest as in concern for his thrashing she crept oh so slightly out of her corner. In her uncertainty she forgot that she could very well speak, could have inquired as to what was wrong with him but instead she simply watched until the man got to his feet. <br><br>She didn't retreat though, not completely back into the corner, rather tilted her head back to look at him with concern softening her features rather then fear sharpening them. He didn't seem threatening or scary in the least. The bow summoned a blush to sting her cheeks, her teeth to worry her lower lip again feeling not at all like a miss or lady to deserve such a proper introduction. He, Mock, sat again, with such an odd sound and mentioned stories. Host. Stories. No danger. Dori intook a shivering breath and nodded her assent, smoothing her short grey dress over curvy thighs modestly, eyes downcast now in meakness. <br><br>"Dormouse. Mouse, that is what Kitty Cat called me... I did not know my name till she gave it but a Cat likes mice, only I am her Mouse, good Mouse.. I think, I hope." She sighed, wistful, yearning, she just wanted her Cat, wanted to be good. But Mock was here and she couldn't be rude, not when he was so nice. She wanted him to stay nice. "Stories? Stories are nice.. what sort do you want to share? I fear I don't know much, everything seems so rather confusing, odd, and.. scary."</span></span><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>01-07-2012, 15:27:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name</strong>: Mock<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: Doormouse <br><br><br>“Miss Mouse,” he nodded, the bent feather wagging on his helmet. “I thought I saw a pud- I mean, a kitty-cat in this very place.” Mock pondered and waved vaguely at the air over his head. “Actually, somewhere in this space. Came hurtling in with fear on her face, too. Not unlike you. All thanks to our curfew.” Where had the cat got to?<br><br>He leaned back a bit, propped on this hands so they didn't start wandering again, and watched the stories start to creep across her features. Fear was such an old one; although each had its own personal twist it was repeated with such frequency in this world that it teetered on the verge of tedium. He was so often afraid of his own stories that – unless he was the one holding the sharp sharp pen – there was constantly a risk of writing himself into someone else's tale of terror. It didn't do to borrow fear. It always wanted to be paid back with interest.<br>&nbsp;<br>But now there, there was something unusual wandering around her eyes. Ever more softness. The look of something that begins with C because you could see it. Contrition? Complicity? Constipation? “C-c-c-c,” he began muttering out loud as he drew closer to his mental destination. “Compassion! There we are, mind the step!” He scrambled onto all fours and leaned in very close to Mouse, almost nose to nose.<br><br>“I see a tale upon your cheek, pink and soft and yet not as meek as you might think for you reveal a priceless streak of such exquisite... kindness.” Torn between desire to embrace and consume her rare beauty, his lips parted in a breathless smile. Tears, those constant companions, overflowed the corners of his black eyes.<br><br>There was something else one was supposed to say on such occasions but rightness dictated that talk of tongues and teeth not be included in the proceedings. Momentarily at a loss, Mock could only whisper, “I should like to hold you now.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>03-07-2012, 17:30:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Mock.</em><br><br><br>The mention of a kitty cat had her shifted upward, glancing at the direction his hand had gestured toward the ceiling as if Cat could be clinging up there. No, no Cat. Her eyes, her whole being rather, sighed and resigned herself to the fact that once again she had been too slow. Her lashes lowered, shielding her eyes from this stranger for a moment as she tried to control herself, to ease the tears that just kept coming. Crying here was a attractant to bad types, to scary people. This Mock didn't seem to be either but she didn't want to lure out that side, didn't want to make herself prey. <br><br>His voice drew her gaze up again though, confusion flashing through the gold and grey before he said 'compassion' and was moving suddenly, leading to her squeaking in surprise and pressing back into the corner again. Quick movements, lack of personal space, nervous, nervous. The nerves were fluttering so quickly inside her she thought she might be sick. <br><br>And that was not proper at all. <br><br>Mock's voice was compelling though, enthralling as he spoke, words weaving, teasing. A tale on her cheeks? She gazed up at him in surprise, in befuddlement though found herself thinking he had a lovely smile himself. Why&nbsp; he wept she did not know but a trembling hand rose to touch his cheek, to feel the dampness of his tears against her own skin, her expression softening into something near trust. Hold her. She wanted that, wanted to burrow into his arms and believe she could be safe. Perhaps that was a lie but it was what she desired so, though her throat worked with nerves, Dori nodded, her hair tumbling around her cheeks from the action. <br><br>"Y...yo..you can... I think... I'd like it... just... no hurt? Please?"</span></span>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Madriv</strong> on <strong>05-07-2012, 17:33:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Name</strong>: Mock<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: Doormouse <br><br><br>The light, such as it ever was in these parts, had faded from the high windows and was replaced by a cold blue luminescence of half-remembered lanterns held by half-forgotten hands. Wisps of the glow drifted around the room. The city was all secrets but doubly so at night.<br><br>Her hand, Mouse's hand, touched him first. He started, causing his various accoutrements to jingle in surprise, but completely failed to cringe. How scandalous! For such a small soft thing to be so brazen as to wet herself with his tears right off; usually there at least two supper dates involved prior to such an intimate act. But then this was a tryst behind an exotic door. <br><br><em>"Y...yo..you can... I think... I'd like it... just... no hurt? Please?" </em><br><br>It might have been a trick of the shifting light that caused his black eyes to glitter so brilliantly. Mustn't rush, wouldn't do, savor every last moment. Mock listed to the left until he met the wall with his shoulder and crept ever so close to the girl in the corner, his ragged coat whispering along the wainscoting. “You are such the generous mouse; we two alone in this eerie house of ghosts and tears with which, perchance, to dowse one another's fears?”&nbsp; His tongue was rambling but better that than the alternative so he let it go on as he reached for her. Long and clever fingers twisted her fallen curls around them, gently, carefully, not pulling, being very nice indeed. A surprisingly warm palm cupped her damp cheek with proper gentility and his thumb smoothed away one of her diamond tears. <br><br>“You weep, I think, and as do I, for loss. For every golden dream that's turned to dross, reflections now bereft of gloss, and needs that melt like candy floss on bloodied stone. Yet I cannot stop 'til I atone and find that which was once my own; for then, again, I might be real and not a mockery wrought of steel.” <br><br>He smiled to stifle a sob as he withdrew his hand and sat cross-legged once more, pushing his heavy key chains off to the side, his thigh touching hers. “Come come,” he managed. "No hurt." His teeth were ever so politely clenched. Mock extended both arms around her shoulders and tugged her into his lap. He enfolded her, pressed her ample bosom to his chest, rested his cheek on her curly hair, felt her soft curves meet his angular solidity, and a thousand other pleasant sensations that had almost quite gone out of his mind as the most distant of memories.&nbsp; A haunted lullaby drifted past and caught in his throat as he closed his eyes and mouthed the words in time to the pulsing of blood in her veins.<br><br><div class="floatright"><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">A Lullaby</div><div class="spoiler_body">O Willow Waly. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_annB8AsLcI#) </div></div></div><em>We lay my love and I<br>beneath the weeping willow<br>but now alone I lie<br>and weep beside the tree<br><br>Singing 'O willow waly' by the tree that weeps with me<br>Singling 'O willow waly' till my lover returns to me...<br><br>We lay my love and I<br>beneath the weeping willow<br>but now alone I lie<br>O willow I die...<br>O willow I die...</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Tainted Perceptions. [IC-The City Streets.]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Wistful Dream</strong> on <strong>06-07-2012, 20:01:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<span style="font-family: Ravi;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Name</strong>: Dormouse<br><strong>Location</strong>: Lost<br><strong>Tagged</strong>: <em>Mock.</em><br><br><br>Generous. She wasn't sure that word should be applied to her, she was more of the mind that words like 'petrified', 'meek', 'timid' and 'naive' would fit much better. His praise, so generous in its giving, summoned the softness of a rose blush to her cheeks, a gentling to her eyes. Though when he mentioned ghosts she shuddered, gold and grey eyes flashing with fear. But he proposed to dowse fears, and that would be rather lovely. It would indeed. Her throat worked as he touched her, but it was gentle, toying with her hair and blunting the edge of her terror with such a simple act. The petite girl trembled when his hand cupped her cheek but she turned her large, tear bright eyes back to meet his gaze again, hope flashing in her gaze when he smoothed away her tears. <br><br>"You do not seem fearful... but loss, yes, loss is haunting, sometimes stalking. It... you are clever, the flow of your words." Admiration mingled in her tone, the first strain in it that was between the fear and slender hope, expressing an emotion that had largely been cast aside for wont of more extreme feelings. Gentle emotions though, those were what lay best upon her soul, her heart. "What do you atone for?"<br><br>The question slipped past her lips before she could think to pause it, questing, inquisitive, more emotions, not bad, not painful. That was good, and he seemed... good as well. At least for now. Indeed the Mouse found herself almost sand when his long fingers left her hair but instead he sat, the sound of his keys like discordant heralding to the motion and then his arms were around her shoulders, promising no hurt and she went, obeying that "<em>Come come</em>" that came from lips she was beginning to find beguiling. <br><br>And so into the man's lap she went, her small body readily fitting in against his, and the angular, the muscular feel of his form in juxtaposition to her own softness felt rather right.&nbsp; "Fits..." she mused aloud, as if not quiet able to believe, feeling his cheek upon her hair, his heat around her form, warming a coldness she had not realized she had carried within the house when he saved her. Some lingering stiffness had come into his lap but it melted as he began to sing, his voice caressing over her and leading to her becoming a pliant, cuddly little Mouse in his arms, even nuzzling his chest, demurely inhaling his scent as she savored this feeling. Yes, this was right, held, safe, alone. He was not a stranger, no, she had his name and names meant things... things she couldn't remember. But good things, she hoped. <br><br>Mock's song was almost haunting but it was not something to rouse fear, rather a wistful sigh upon her full lips, a tilting of her head to gaze up at him with that inquisitive, hopeful light in her eyes. "That was... beautiful sir, so enthralling, enchanting. Your voice... its simply wonderful." Yes, Mouse had found someone to cling to, someone she liked and now her whole being was centered on him, admiring, affectionate in a shy way.</span></span>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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