The Guardian's Angel
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Foxfyr on 25-12-2011, 18:43:49</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>25-12-2011, 18:43:49</strong>
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				<strong><em>"...and our next slave up for auction is item number 0221: Isoke.&nbsp; An aptly exotic name for a truly unique find.&nbsp; At first glance he may look like your typical vulpine anthromorph, but the two tails - that's right - </em>two tails<em> is a dead giveaway that he is actually of a kitsune bloodline.&nbsp; It is not every day that you- "</em></strong>[/i]&nbsp; Isoke's vulpine ear twitched at the mention of his name as he stood passively in the narrow tunnel that led to the auction stage, listening to the longwinded auctioneer doing everything in his power to hike up his value.&nbsp; As with the rest of the male slaves, Isoke wore nothing but roughspun trousers and leather collar around his neck to display his muscular features that were only slightly muted by his burnt orange fur coat.&nbsp; <strong><em>"-though they may not be the most powerful or lethal bodyguard, they are undeniably the most loyal.&nbsp; They are biologically programmed as guardians who will do everything within their power to protect the one they are bonded to.&nbsp; A bond that can never be destroyed, only transferred by the current master or mistress to the new one.&nbsp; For your viewing pleasure, we have arranged a demonstration to prove he is a worthy purchase."</em></strong><br><br>There was a light tug at his collar that caused Isoke's brilliant blue eyes to open and look at the younger girl who was somewhere in her late teens that held the other end of the chain leash.&nbsp; <em>"That's our cue."</em>&nbsp; Following the girl's literal lead, the kitsune made his way onto stage and into view of the large audience of bidders.&nbsp; Also on stage was the portly auctioneer in lavish clothing as well as three men adorned in protective padding, one of which wielded a wooden belaying pin.&nbsp; The lithe hand of the girl reached up and unclipped the leash from Isoke's collar.&nbsp; <strong><em>"In this simulation, these men are going to attempt to accost this lovely young lady in order to earn a bonus to their pay this evening.&nbsp; If they touch her, then they go home that much richer.&nbsp; She will not run, she will not even move; the only obstacle standing in their way is Isoke unarmed and unarmored."</em></strong><br><br><em><strong>"GO!</strong></em><br><br>At the signal, the three unknown men and Isoke sprinted the couple dozen yards of the stage towards their goal.&nbsp; As he did so, the kitsune took stock of the men and used whatever information he could to find a way to negate their advantage of numbers.&nbsp; The first thing he noticed was the man with the simple weapon was the faster of the three by a slight margin, his stance intent on putting all of his weight into a powerful strike intensified by his charge.&nbsp; The next, and more crucial bit of information he observed was that the man on the left was focused upon the girl rather than him and he was then able to decipher their strategy.&nbsp; The first two intended to distract, if not subdue him while the third would make a beeline for their prize.&nbsp; With only a few yards left between them, Isoke stopped his charge and planted his feet as he prepared to counter their attempt.<br><br>As he suspected, the man with the belaying pin swung hard in a downward arc that was aimed towards Isoke's head.&nbsp; Rather than blocking the forceful swing, the kitsune used the massive amount of momentum in his favor by sidestepping and grabbing the man's arm at the last second.&nbsp; From there he fluidly stepped back and turned away from the man, pulling the arm with him in a way that stole away the attacker's balance sending him into a forward stumble in an attempt to catch himself from falling.&nbsp; Isoke wouldn't give him a chance and instead controlled the fall in a way to best serve him.&nbsp; Using all of his own weight, combined with the momentum already generated by the charge and attack, Isoke turned his would-be aggressor into a virtual sledge hammer.&nbsp; With a massive grunt of effort, he put all of his strength into the throw that carried through until he was on his hands and knees only letting go once he felt resistance in the swing.&nbsp; The resistance had come in the form of the third man attempting to&nbsp; bypass the obstacle and go straight for the girl as the two collided into one another with a heavy impact that left the unsuspecting runner unconscious and the attacker on his back stunned.<br><br>Rather than taking the time to stand, which would have made him vulnerable to the second attacker, he instead planted his palms and kicked up both feet.&nbsp; While the kick itself hadn't had much power behind it, once again the charging opponent more than made up for the difference as his rush was cut short when two vulpine feet caught him in the jaw, snapping his head upward before knocking him flat on his ass.&nbsp; Using the man's face as a springboard, Isoke used his newfound momentum and converted his handstand into a forward roll that ended with his leg slamming into the head of stunned man still wielding the belaying pin.&nbsp; Padded as his head may be, the impact was enough to finish the job that the hammer throw started.<br><br>As fluidly as the rest of the maneuvers had been, the kitsune sprung to his feet and squared himself facing the only man who was still conscious of the three.&nbsp; The man looked from Isoke then to the condition of his two friend and back before raising his hands.&nbsp; <em>"I give up!&nbsp; Please don't hurt me!"</em>&nbsp; Isoke stared hard at the seated man until a faint mechanical sound registered somewhere in the back of his mind from among the crowd.&nbsp; Turning in the direction, he quickly scanned the people along the stage until he spotted the revolver that had made that noise when the hammer was pulled back to the firing position.&nbsp; Time slowed in Isoke's mind as he took off in a dead sprint towards his mistress, reaching down to grab the belaying pin along the way without breaking his focus from the gunman who was bringing the weapon to bear upon the girl.&nbsp; Just as the man braced himself to fire, Isoke had a clear line of sight to him.&nbsp; The kitsune leapt immediately after he threw the pin sending it hurling towards the man end over end.&nbsp; An instant before the heavy wooden projectile struck the target in the temple, the hammer fell and the gun went off with a violent bang.<br><br>Isoke let out a yelp as he felt the round strike him, intercepting the shot from striking his mistress with his own body.&nbsp; Falling to the ground with a heavy thump, he pressed his hand just to the side of his chest where the round had struck him to help contain the bleeding long enough for somebody to help him.&nbsp; Adrenaline and dread filled every fiber of his being as he gathered up the willpower to survey the severity of the wound, but was dumbstruck when there was no blood to be seen.&nbsp; The area was certainly throbbing with pain so he knew he was hit.&nbsp; "What the hell?"&nbsp; He muttered under his breath as he pulled himself to his feet, still trying to figure out what happened when he noticed the round laying a little ways off from where it had struck him.&nbsp; Picking it up between his thumb and forefinger, he instantly noted that the weight seemed off and gave it a squeeze to realize it had give to it.&nbsp; "Is this... rubber?"<br><br><em><strong>"How about that folks?&nbsp; Not only did he manage to neutralize three attackers unarmed, but he even managed to detect the hidden gunman in the crowd and react in time to dispatch him while taking the round that was meant for her without an instant of hesitation!&nbsp; Like I said, you will never find a more loyal guardian than a kitsune!"</strong></em>&nbsp; While the auctioneer spoke, Isoke rolled his shoulder to try and work out the tenderness as his mistress approached and clipped the leash to his collar once more.&nbsp; <em>"You did very well, Isoke."</em>&nbsp; The feeling of pride and accomplishment helped to dull the pain a bit.&nbsp; "Thank you, my mistress."<br><br>With another gentle tug, the girl led the way around the crews who were helping the beaten workers off the stage until they stood next to the auctioneer podium.&nbsp; <em><strong>"We will start the bidding at a modest $25,000!"</strong></em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>26-12-2011, 03:07:14</strong>
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				<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="bbc_size">Spindly and plump, Marie felt a mite out of place against so many thin and stately faces in the crowd of the slave auction.&nbsp; Her worn brown face looking up at the stage.&nbsp; Slaves...&nbsp; The thought sent a chill down her spine.&nbsp; She wished she was not the one sent on such a task, but she new her mistress' reason for her aversion of such a place.&nbsp; Especially with such little hope that one of the poor creatures up for auction would be of any use.&nbsp; She swore the last one was a twig on legs, and she didn't like the look in the eyes of the man that had bought her.&nbsp; Looking at the others around her though, she was starting to wish she'd taken the advice given to her and worn something nicer...&nbsp; Many of the women there were in cocktail dresses...&nbsp; Bright and colorful or dark and sparkling.&nbsp; She wouldn't have been able to pull off such dresses at her age with her body, but at least a suit wouldn't leave her so out of sorts.&nbsp; She pushed down a wrinkle on her dress, not a maid's outfit, but certainly not something anyone of the ilk around her would wear.&nbsp; She'd thought it would be fine to wear what she worked in to this affair.&nbsp; Obviously not, she swore she could see a few not so kind and not so proper eyes on her.&nbsp; Did they think she was a slave?&nbsp; Lord, she hoped not!&nbsp; Suddenly she moved her hand to her purse, reassuring herself it was there with the papers her mistress had bought her so she couldn't be taken and sold.&nbsp; <br><br>Sighing as she felt the papers, she sighed, looking up, <strong>"Oh, won't they bring out the next one allready?"</strong>&nbsp; She didn't like the entertainment they put up in between acts - more sticky slaves dancing or doing tricks.&nbsp; Some were interesting enough to look at though.&nbsp; In their neck of the world, furred people weren't too common, except as slaves.&nbsp; On stage currently was some dancing cats and humans belly dancing.&nbsp; She gave a soft sigh of relief still as they were ushered off the stage by the announcer - the next slave up for auction was up - hopefully it would be a suitable one.&nbsp; She didn't want to stay there any longer than she had to - as soon as a slave was chosen and bought she was going to be out of there!&nbsp; The older woman smoothed back her short and greying black hair, listening to the auction announcer.&nbsp; Exotic name...&nbsp; Unique find...&nbsp; She'd been to enough of these things to know that meant - in the words of her Lady, not her - jack shit.&nbsp; Isoke...&nbsp; Probably another poor underfed thi-Thing?&nbsp; Her eyes widened as she saw the creature that came onto the stage.&nbsp; Well...&nbsp; He certainly wasn't underfed!&nbsp; She bit her lip and watched, a demonstration?&nbsp; He was a protector...&nbsp; That was a rare thing to find as a slave - why she'd been to so many of these accursed auctions.&nbsp; <strong>"OH!"</strong>&nbsp; She gasped along with the crowd at the battle, not quite sure what she was watching - she was too old to really care for such things, all she knew however...&nbsp; Is that it seemed he was perfect.&nbsp; Though...&nbsp; Why was his current mistress selling such a good slave?&nbsp; Well, if he was no good, she could always just set the poor thing free - her Lady had told her it would do to do such a thing if some poor creature seemed as if he could take care of himself out of the slave rings.&nbsp; And if anyone could, she was sure he would be able to handle it.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>"25,000,"</strong> the announcer started, making her smirk - might as well have been a quarter with the budget her Lady had set for this endevor.&nbsp; She didn't want to stay and dilly dally, however, and stood up to make a much larger bid.<br><br>She shouted out, <strong>"One Million - and more if that's what it takes!"</strong>&nbsp; She wanted out of the auction, and she wasn't going to make it last a second longer than it had to.&nbsp; It was needless to say, many of those around were quite slack jawed, even the prettiest bed slave hadn't gone for more than 200 thousand that night.&nbsp; Seeing her was possibly quite a shock for Isoke - she was an old woman who was no longer pretty or lithe, her spindly arms and deep brown eyes spoke of the beauty she'd once been long ago, but her wide hips and pudgy stomach spoke of an older woman who'd decided she wanted to enjoy other things than a man's company.&nbsp; She looked behind her at the door, a person there that she was glad to have with her - her young son, about as old as the Kitsune's current master.&nbsp; His eyes were worried but bright, she waved at him and he nodded, starting to heave the sachel on wheels that had been brought as his mother started her way to the table, <strong>"You take platinum currency, correct?"</strong>&nbsp; As she said that, her son reached into his waistcoat, letting his fingers caress the gun held there.&nbsp; He wasn't used to speaking as casually about money as his mother - Miss Brahaven paid her quite well, but unless she was on an errant for her, she didn't spend so frivolously, pinching every penny.&nbsp; She'd been hard on him as he grew up, insisting he grew up with her ethic, until he was twelve, he thought they were poor.&nbsp; The old woman knew that they did - it was a reason the auction was chosen, so she could carry such a large amount of currency in a small amount of space.&nbsp; Such currency was also quite the statement - only a handful of the population had access to it.&nbsp; She was either a person of importance, or was on an errand for such a person.&nbsp; She waved her son closer, pulling out a bar stamped for it's authenticity from the sachel.&nbsp; <strong>"Oh, why do they have to make these things so heavy..."</strong>&nbsp; If there was any protest among the audience that she couldn't pay such a sum - or that they wanted to pay more, it would have been quieted once they saw the second stamp on the bars - A strange emblem that seemed to be an H with two curved lines connecting the two vertical ones above and below the horizontal one, seeming to make a B in the same place as the H.&nbsp; Brahaven Industries.&nbsp; One of the largest corporations in the world, it would have been larger if not for it's preference to stay as merely 'one of the largest', it's many branches of industry touching almost everything to be touched.&nbsp; They even had the right to make platinum currency.&nbsp; No one wanted to come to the bad side of anyone who worked for Brahaven, least of all someone given access to that exclusive currency.&nbsp; <strong>"Stop staring flabbergasted,"</strong> she said to the man at the table, whose eyes were glued to the glittering object in her hands.&nbsp; <strong>"Jose, these things are worth a fourth right...&nbsp; Or was it a half?"</strong>&nbsp; She shook her head, <strong>"Oh, I can never remember!"</strong><br><br><strong>"A half of a million, mama,</strong>" the young man said with a blush, his unruly black hair getting in his eyes.</span>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>27-12-2011, 22:43:36</strong>
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				Though his expression didn’t look nearly as indignant or ridiculous as the countless slack-jawed aristocracy, Isoke articulated his shock by rapidly blinking his eyes in disbelief. For a moment, he was unsure if he had heard the mundanely dressed portly woman correctly or if all this had simply been a dream. Surely somebody with that appearance wouldn’t have that much coin to throw around, nor would somebody who did possess such wealth willingly hand it to a subordinate on good faith. Without even attempting to get a better deal, she spent over three times the highest amount he had ever been sold for; and that instance was out of sheer merit of being the item of fancy between two individuals whose deep wallets were only rivaled by their pride. She quashed any chance of finding herself in such a bidding war by putting forth a staggering amount of money as if on a whim. When the auctioneer finally did recover long enough to make the sale official, it was no surprise that there had been no opposition to that amount.<br><br>As Isoke was led off stage by his mistress, he caught the unbridled glee in the auctioneer’s eyes. He knew that the man was looking at him as a mountain of gold rather than a living being, though that was hardly anything new to the kitsune. Despite his appearance, Isoke was a few decades older than he looked. It was the supernatural blood flowing through his veins that helped prolong his youth as a whole, not just limited to outward physique. When combined with the fact that he had literally been born into slavery, he has become more than accustomed to his role in society and has had a fair number of masters and mistresses. He was well versed in just about every aspect of slavery; serving as a butler in his youth, laborer in his late adolescence, and now personal assistant and bodyguard. It was the latter that he truly excelled, largely in part to his natural instincts to protect the individual whom he is bonded to at all costs. That is not to say he hasn’t been involved with more shady errands that ran the gambit of criminal acts; his inborn loyalty as well as his natural agility and prowess made him an invaluable tool on many accounts. It all depended on the nature of the one who held the leash. Once he had become a well-seasoned guardian, Isoke was highly valued by his owners. It wasn’t through any of his own shortcoming that he had continued making appearances in slave auctions during the past few years. Some had been able to remove all significant threats during his service, thus removing the need for a guardian. Others had simply fallen on hard times or gotten caught breaking the law, resulting in him returning to the stage for the sake of raising revenue for one reason or another.<br><br>That was all in the past now. All that mattered was serving his new soon-to-be mistress, which left Isoke a little uneasy. If his value was based upon his demonstration, then the opposition he would be going up against was likely something not to be taken lightly. The way he saw it, he was about to find himself in a million dollars worth of trouble, if not more from the sound of that woman’s threat to go even higher. It was simple business logic; one only invests in something that would yield equal, or more likely, higher value than what was initially spent. Of course, he knew nothing of his buyer other than an idea as to the extent of her wealth, so it was entirely possible that reason could be superseded by whimsical fancy.<br><br>After a few minutes of navigating the auction house hallways, the two found themselves in the receiving room where they would await for the buyer in order to make the transfer. There was no need to make an additional trip to gather the kitsune’s things since his only earthly possession he, as a fur slave, was entitled to was the collar around his neck. Though it was certainly something he cherished, being made of fine leather with a soft fleece lining that complimented one another by texture since both were black in color. Upon close observation, one could notice the silver stitching that complimented the polished steel rings and rivets along its make. Something elegant and valuable, though not ostentatiously so it was very fitting to the nature of the individual who wore it. Though it would be up to the new owner to provide him with a new wardrobe in place of the roughspun trousers, should they wish to do so.<br><br>Isoke had been marginally surprised that the buyer with her escort had arrived much sooner than he had expected. She apparently was not interested in making any more purchases that evening since it was largely regarded as being in bad taste to return to the auction floor with an entourage of one’s recent purchases. With another gentle tug of the leash, the younger girl escorted Isoke to meet the woman halfway. <em>”Good evening, milady. May I see the receipt confirming your purchase?”</em> Her voice was honeysweet and the epitome of courteous as she retrieved proof of transaction that also provided the bit of information she needed to complete the exchange. With an approving nod, she handed the paperwork back all the while Isoke did his best to look as presentable as he could. One valuable bit of experience he had earned over his years of servitude was to reveal his personality in small increments to a new owner <em>after</em> everything was finalized. The last thing any slave wants is to entice the wrath of the slavers should they say or do anything that causes the buyer to back out of a deal at the last possible moment. Especially in this case when there is literally a million dollars on the line. <em>”Looks like everything is in order. I assume you’ve never owned a kitsune before, so I’ll go over the bonding process in brevity. Simply put, it is part of their being to serve their master with unwavering loyalty. Especially when they are raised with the training like Isoke had undergone. That is not to say they are mindless thralls that need specific guidance to do every task; rather it is something that always causes them to take a course of action that best serves the one they are bonded to. Basically, you have all the benefits of an intelligent free-willed servant without the concern of them being coaxed into betrayal by their own desires or influence from an outside party. The process of transferring a bond is simple enough, though it can only be done by his current master. The wording is arbitrary, but it ultimately comes down to the current master explicitly giving an order for Isoke to serve another individual. This can be assigned for a certain duration of time, until a particular goal is achieved, or indefinitely. I will demonstrate for you now, which will also serve to pass on ownership thus completing our business for this evening.”</em><br><br>The girl turned to face Isoke directly, his own gaze naturally meeting hers once he sensed her desire for his undivided attention as she unclipped his lead. <em>”Isoke. As my final order as your mistress, you are to serve this woman, Mistress Marie Carmelita Mendez, until such time that she wishes you to bond with another in her stead.”</em> With that, the vulpine kitsune felt a subtle shift in his mind as his attraction towards the young girl subsided and became redirected towards Marie. Giving the girl one final polite bow, Isoke bid a courteous farewell before turning towards his new mistress whom he greeted with another bow that was deeper than the last. “How may I serve you, my mistress?”
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>29-01-2012, 03:07:51</strong>
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				The older woman blinked, it happened so quickly.&nbsp; The young lady spoke a bunch of what may as well have been gobldy gook to her and then promptly left.&nbsp; "Ah, w-wait, I don't know if I-"<br><br>"Mama, it's allright, I got it," Jose said, his accent slipping as he felt a bit more comfortable among fewer rich and flamboyant people.&nbsp; "I'll help you with it when we get him home to Miss Brahaven."&nbsp; He looked at the slave, rubbing his head as he felt uncomfortable again.&nbsp; "I'm sure he'd help you with it anyways, if he's as loyal as the woman said, Ma."&nbsp; He looked at the Kitsune, blushing as he became a bit more uncomfortable - it seemed that Isoke wouldn't find anyone familiar with the practices of slavery in his new home with how the boy acted.&nbsp; <br><br>"I'm glad someone understands all this."&nbsp; She looked over at the slave, a little uneased herself by the bow, remembering when she'd helped her mistress host some asian business men, the Japanese men among them kept bowing to her almost constantly.&nbsp; She tried to bow back, but over half the time, they'd insist on doing it again!&nbsp; "Well, Ahm...&nbsp; Isoke, all I want to do now is get you to my Lady, Miss Exelis Brahaven."&nbsp; Even if he didn't know who she was, Exelis' name was well known and perhaps even recognizable to the Kitsune.&nbsp; Her father had made her work quite hard for her inheritance and she'd done it.&nbsp; She was completely running and owning the transportation sections of her father's empire, along with some of the fashion and product lines.&nbsp; If he'd been bought for her worth, it would have been billions instead of the mere million.&nbsp; "My son's car is outside.&nbsp; He will be driving us home," she told him, going to the bag her son had been dragging along.&nbsp; "I can't believe the men insisted on a leash.&nbsp; He's not a dog."<br><br>"Mama, you should be happy it's not the law they be leashed at all times."<br><br>"Might as well be with the collar.&nbsp; Poor thing.&nbsp; It must be rubbing his hide raw," she stood up, holding the end of the leash - a simple black one of some man made material.&nbsp; Cheap, it was obviously meant to be used only a few times.&nbsp; "Could you come here for me to put this on you, Isoke?"&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>03-02-2012, 18:36:52</strong>
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				After bowing, Isoke stood in the attentive and disciplined stance one typically associated with butlers. It was clear with the way the two floundered with his formal greeting that they were not used to owning slaves. With a precise smile across his vulpine maw that revealed a sliver of pearly white teeth between his parted lips, the kitsune confirmed the lad’s assumption by simply stating, “Of course.” Given the line of conversation he was able to easily gather his initial suspicion that his buyer was acting on the behalf of another individual. More specifically Elexis Brahaven. Though the person behind the name was unknown to Isoke, it would take a person who lived their entire life under a rock not to come across at least one of the countless products or services made by a company who shared the same surname. Though that information was trivial at the moment; despite Lady Mendez’s intensions, Isoke was still bonded to her and that would only change when she explicitly ordered otherwise.<br><br>A soft chuckle reverberated in Isoke’s throat as the two talked about the slave collar around his neck. He leaned forward at his Mistress’s request and tilted his head to the side so she could have easier access to the polished metal ring crafted into his collar’s working. “It’s actually the contrary to what you think. I’m actually quite fond of my slave collar for many reasons. The quality of its make is certainly a major contributor to that since it is actually quite comfortable, especially when you consider those less fortunate slaves who have nothing more than coarse rope or cold chain around their necks. Though, perhaps the primary reason I like it so much is that it is the only possession a slave is entitled to without a stack of paperwork to grant entitlement long enough for a new owner to go through the relative easy process of nullifying that permit. Though, if I may speak freely, my Mistress?”<br><br>Isoke waited for Marie to give him permission to voice his opinion about a topic that may conflict with her opinion, even though he was fairly confident she would not. He found entertainment in the way she struggled with her newfound absolute authority over another individual. “It is actually these pants that are something I struggle to cope with.” With a sweeping hand gesture, he guided her attention to the roughspun trousers that could have been fashioned from a burlap sack and twine. Strands of orange fur poked out through the gaps in the threadwork at numerous locations. “I find them to be itchy and they pull my fur when I walk…” As a well-trained servant, he would never outright request a new wardrobe and would wear whatever his Mistress provided him without question. Of course, once he allowed his true personality to shine through the formal façade, he would more freely make his opinion known subtly through witty commentary.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>07-02-2012, 02:20:29</strong>
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				"I am sure mi señora will not like it.&nbsp; But if it is a must, she'll probably search for something more comfortable or less...&nbsp; Prominent," the old woman said, letting her fingers touch the leather to get a feel for it.&nbsp; "It is of good quality.&nbsp; If you like it that much, she will maybe let you keep it on.&nbsp; At least at home.&nbsp; And of course you may speak.&nbsp; Mi familia es su familia, especially if you protect mi Señora Brahaven."&nbsp; She then listened to him, attaching the collar and the leash.&nbsp; "Hm...&nbsp; Yes, I don't think even my son would like wearing those when he goes out for parte tiempo."<br><br>"Mama!"<br><br>"What?&nbsp; Those things you wear for fun...&nbsp; I swear, you are near as bare as the day I gave birth to you!"<br><br>"Mama..."&nbsp; Her son groaned, putting his hand over his eyes in embarrassment.&nbsp; <br><br>"Ah, we are not talking about you anyways.&nbsp; We can stop, I think, to get better pants.&nbsp; A new wardrobe will probably be planned out by el idiota.&nbsp; Why she puts up with him, I will never know."&nbsp; Whoever 'el idiota' was, it was sure that Marie's opinion wasn't the best of him as she straightened the collar out like one would the tie of a loved one.&nbsp; "There, is that comfortable?&nbsp; If it is, we should go.&nbsp; This place sends shivers up my spine."<br><br>"Didn't Señora Brahaven say you might look for a-"<br><br>"Don't say it!&nbsp; Your papa's memory does fine for me if anyone comes by.&nbsp; He sawed off the end so I don't even need to aim," she shushed her son.<br><br>"Mama, I don't think that's how it works."<br><br>"Well, I say it does," she said matter of factually, looking at her son, the young man shut up, knowing when not to push her buttons.&nbsp; "Let's go, we can stop by a department store for more comfortable pants."&nbsp; She wanted out of that slave house then and there, and if her son tried to stop her and the slave, she had every intention of driving off without him, it seemed as she made for the door with Isoke's leash in hand.&nbsp; When they got to the car, it was an old little green thing - a sign of the way she'd brought up her son.&nbsp; It never went too far out of the city, so he'd just gone with something hardy that would last a while and didn't need to look shiney.&nbsp; The little bug was rusty in some places, but well polished and clean, taken care of.&nbsp; "You and I will sit in the back," she told Isoke as her son opened the door for them and then set about putting the suitcase up front.&nbsp; 
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>08-02-2012, 18:29:59</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Isoke couldn’t help but smile warmly as he watched the exchange between mother and son. Much of his experience with families while serving as a slave displayed neglect towards one another at best and outright physical violence at worst. It seemed most who fell within the upper tier of society relied on hired personnel to raise their children while going days, if not weeks, without directly associating with their offspring. It was the sort of emotional detachment that bred dysfunctional people more often than not. It was reassuring to see such a strong bond between parent and child. Even if it resulted in the latter to blush bright red with embarrassment. Such memories of his own family were old and few in number before his mother was sold back into the slave market without him at the age of seven. He had never met his father. Despite his mother’s attempts to mask the truth, the kitsune had since had plenty of time to understand the workings of the slave market and assumed his father had been a breeder slave who was taken away once his seed was planted.<br><br>A tilt of his head marked his interest in the mystery errand that his Mistress insisted wasn’t necessary before its nature could be revealed to him. Though as the conversation went on it was easy enough for Isoke to read between the lines and understand what was being talked about. Following Marie’s lead, literally, he couldn’t help but ponder what sort of trouble they may encounter that would necessitate firearms. It would seem whatever business Brahaven was involved in her opposition was playing for keeps rather than resorting to thuggish scare tactics. Isoke hesitated when he had the door opened for him for a change and couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable with the situation. Still, his Mistress had given him the order to sit in back with her and he was compelled to follow that command without question. Sliding aside while being mindful of his plumed vulpine tails to allow Marie room to enter, he waited until she got comfortable in her seat before speaking.<br><br>“If you are expecting trouble in this area, then we can worry about my attire another time. I may be a skilled bodyguard, but protection is just as much about avoiding danger as it is overcoming it.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>10-02-2012, 01:54:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Now don't be balking at just a little department store," the old woman said with a chuckle.&nbsp; "If you think that's bad, you'll love the places Señora Brahaven will insist on.&nbsp; She likes to check her factories personally - lots of small spaces with no people there.&nbsp; A department store is public - may be a danger to me - they just want to shoot me, but Señora Brahaven is a different story.&nbsp; If they want to get a hold of her, they would need a private place.&nbsp; Her home is probably the worst place for her to be, but she insists on staying.&nbsp; Bull headed, like her papa."<br><br>"Mama, I do not think you should speak that way about Miss Brahaven."<br><br>"When I can't speak that way about her, I think she'll have me fired," Marie said.&nbsp; "She doesn't like mousey people.&nbsp; She always scares away her assistants who are mousy.&nbsp; Strong people who help her put herself in her place, she likes.&nbsp; Brahaven is a big company, son.&nbsp; She doesn't want to be big headed like her father.&nbsp; She wouldn't be in this mess if he didn't have such a big head, his blood decided to abandon it and go for the other."<br><br>"Mama!"&nbsp; He winced at those words, making a face, he apparently didn't like to speak about it.<br><br>"What?&nbsp; He never has had a child with any of his wives.&nbsp; Always the Mistress!"&nbsp; She shook her head, "I am glad I was the first wife's maid, I got to chose to take care of the little Señora rather than that-"<br><br>"Mama, I will be working for that man soon, please, no more," Jose sighed.<br><br>"Yes, and you make your mama proud.&nbsp; An accountant!&nbsp; My smart boy," she said, it seemed being reminded of her son's smarts put her back in a good mood.&nbsp; The old woman was getting a bit temperamental in her old age.&nbsp; She looked at Isoke, "Now, what pants do you like, hm?&nbsp; Jose likes jeans, but the material is so rough - perhaps a pair of nice slacks..."&nbsp; She looked at him about the hips and legs, trying to determine what type of pants would be most comfortable for him.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>13-02-2012, 22:14:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isoke couldn’t help but feel more than a little unnerved at the news of his soon-to-be Mistress’ personality. Stubborn charges always tended to be the most difficult to protect since they made such easy targets of themselves; doubly so for the sort that seem to be as strong willed as Marie is implying. The only saving grace was that whoever would be after her would be pulling their punches in order to take her alive rather than kill her outright. Such hesitation always provided openings that would give him the opportunity he’d need to neutralize the threat. Regardless of the situation Miss Brahaven would put them it, the kitsune knew he would be bound to do everything in his power to ensure her safety regardless of how much the odds were stacked against him. Isoke would sooner be able to uproot an entire mountain with his bare hands than to abandon his Mistress.<br><br>The vulpine ears on his head twitched as he listened to the conversation between mother and son, giving the bodyguard some insight to the source of his pending assignment. Nobility and mistresses often went hand-in-hand from his experience, despite the world of trouble that often accompanied such an arrangement. Though Isoke had yet to fully understand the nature of their adversary and what they intend to gain. For the time, he decided to hold his tongue until he could attain the reasoning directly from its source.<br><br>Introspective thoughts were short lived as the conversation once again transitioned towards him. A wolfish smile spread across his extended maw, revealing a sliver of his pearly white teeth. “Compared to these shoddy burlap leggings, even wearing nothing at all would be a greater improvement.” The grin disappeared from his face once he realized a glimpse of his less-than-professional personality to bypass the filters and he was eager to redirect the attention from that remark. “The material itself isn’t the highest of my concern as long as it has a thread count that outnumbers the fingers on my hands. For the sake of efficiency, and material or make that will not inhibit my movements would be ideal. As you probably gathered from my demonstration at the auction house, much of my combat prowess relies upon my agility. Jeans may be a little too confining, but slacks tend to be more give to them and would certainly be a good starting point since I doubt a martial arts pants would be proper when travelling at Miss Brahaven’s side.”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>24-02-2012, 20:26:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The old woman could only nod, he would look better in slacks at the least by Miss Brahaven - a woman who only ever seemed to wear suits or fine yet conservative dresses.&nbsp; "Slacks then," she said, just before they pulled into the outlet store's parking lot.<br><br><div align="center">-0-0-0-</div><br>It wasn't too long before they were 'home'.&nbsp; A great large mansion greeting them, it was simpler than some, though still quite grand, the staircase leading to the door being marble and a walkway with such marble pillars protecting the many windows on the first floor.&nbsp; It had been a bit of a drive, but Marie had explained that Exelis preferred the privacy of being just in the country.&nbsp; Whether that was a boon or a hassle for the fox could be decided by him.&nbsp; On the one hand, it enabled her to have security that she couldn't in the city, on the other, if needed, authorities were quite far away, among other things.&nbsp; <br><br>Marie got out of the car after her son opened the door, toddling along on her old legs - Exelis and her son were trying to get her to have the knee surgeries she needed, but she never was one for getting scarred up.&nbsp; She'd be wheeling around in a wheelchair first, and if her arms couldn't push her around on it anymore, there was always her husband's old gun, she'd tell them.&nbsp; Not alleviating their fears at all for her.&nbsp; When she got to the stairs, she huffed, "Jose...&nbsp; Oh, help me up these things..."&nbsp; The young man hurried to his mother, Exelis had put a banister on each side, but Marie was still afraid of falling down those big marble stairs.&nbsp; She took his arm and they slowly started to make their way up.&nbsp; <br><br>"Mama...&nbsp; Didn't Senora Brahaven say she would meet us," Jose asked, looking up at the stairs.<br><br>"Someone probably called.&nbsp; If she's not here, she'll be in her office.&nbsp; Right wing," she puffed, glad that at least an elevator was in the two story mansion.&nbsp; "Oh...&nbsp; Maybe I should retire...&nbsp; These stairs will end me!"&nbsp; <br><br>Jose didn't say a thing, he and Exelis had been trying to get the woman to quit, she was getting a bit old for the work.&nbsp; He knew it would just cause an argument that would put her ten steps back away from any success they had had.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>27-02-2012, 17:58:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isoke was glad to be rid of the itchy roughspun leggings for the more comfortable slacks of modest quality. Though he still lacked any other attire, the slave was no stranger to partial nudity or even full on nudity for that matter, and accepted whatever dress code he was issued by his Mistress without complaint. Of course a lack of attire didn’t carry as much weight for him on account of the layer of orange vulpine fur that acted as clothing in their own right, alluding to the toned muscles beneath rather than outright display it.<br><br>Once they begun their approach to the manor proper, Isoke took stock of the property and assessed its properties from the perspective of both assassin and guardian to identify weaknesses, which could then be reinforced. Even if just through the knowledge of knowing where to look. Though its remoteness was a definite element of issue, the kitsune actually felt it would assist him in his duties rather than become a hindrance. In his experience local authorities always shown up too late to be of much help, especially when it came to assassins who typically made their move before an alarm could be raised. In his mind, it is far better to have wide open expanses of land to make it difficult to approach stealthily and all but impossible to do so in disguise. Without a crowd to blend into, any unannounced visitor could easily be viewed as a potential threat and precautions could be made accordingly with plenty of time to prepare.<br><br>As they pulled up to the large manor and exited the vehicle, Isoke once again found himself at odds of what to do as Jose helped his Mistress up the stairs. Normally a task like that would have fallen on his shoulders rather than to the young master’s, but she had made her will known and he wasn’t one to argue. Instead, he went to the front of the car and retrieved the luggage from the storage compartment before catching up to keep pace directly behind Marie. His stride was patient as his positioning was such that he could be able to catch her in an instant should her precarious legs give out on her. A slight grin spread across his maw at her verbal consideration of retirement, but recognized it as a remark that should not be met with a reply in any direction.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>02-03-2012, 04:08:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Mary hadn't even thought to ask the kitsune about the stairs.&nbsp; She was so used to never taking any help but her sons, and it made her feel better when he only helped when she asked for it - something the young man knew.&nbsp; He was surprised he still had his ears with how much the woman could chew him out about things.&nbsp; They were soon up the stairs and he himself was surprised when he saw the fox already up them - with the suitcase holding the large bars that were left over after they bought him.&nbsp; Again, still unused to having such a thing as a slave - it wasn't something expected, and he let the surprise show on his face.&nbsp; He smiled though, "Ah, thank you.&nbsp; That thing is heavy."&nbsp; He had no intention of breaking his neck before he could get the job his mother was so proud of.&nbsp; <br><br>"Mi Senora is likely in her office...&nbsp; She works much too much...&nbsp; Her father at least, takes a vacation," the woman said in exasperation as she finished climbing the stairs.&nbsp; She looked at the suitcase and nodded her approval.&nbsp; At least if he wasn't much protection, he might be some help around the house.&nbsp; "It is lunch time...&nbsp; I imagine she would like at least a sandwich...&nbsp; Lemonade and tea," she said as she turned away and went to the door, thinking about the things to do.&nbsp; Unlike the normal key lock in any other home Miss Brahaven's had a thumb ID panel, which Marie pressed her own thumb to.&nbsp; It scanned and the audible click of the door lock was heard.&nbsp; "We can...&nbsp; Do whatever it is the little woman said when I take it up to her," she said in a mumble, still planning, as she made a beeline for the kitchen.&nbsp; <br><br>Her son laughed, following her in,&nbsp; looking to Isoke, "You will have to forgive my mother.&nbsp; She is a hard working woman - and she likes it that way.&nbsp; Senora Brahaven is almost like the daughter she never had...&nbsp; I suppose that would make her my sister, but she is always so busy, I never have had time to get to know her as my mother has."&nbsp; He took the suitcase, "I will take this to the vault room in the basement.&nbsp; Mama and Miss Brahaven shouldn't mind you looking around - you will have to know the place to protect it, no?"&nbsp; <br><br>When the fox did make his way in, if he regarded his sense of smell at all among the grandeur that was allowed his eyes, he would notice something decidedly odd - most of the rich let many things in their home for their own pleasures, things that left lingering scents.&nbsp; Neko's, demons, and other races.&nbsp; The scent in this home however, was decidedly human.&nbsp; As if he were the first non human being to ever set foot in it.&nbsp; There was a waft, however...&nbsp; Of something feathery.&nbsp; Aside from that observation, the whole of the place was quite a sight to behold.&nbsp; White, silver and gold seemed to be the 'theme' for the great entry - which served as a bit of a ballroom as it allowed one to see through the home to the garden in the back.&nbsp; A pool could be seen beyond the grand thing, if one took a moment to see past all the plants.&nbsp; The whole back of the home in that room seemed to be made of windows - a few with decidedly painted aspects.&nbsp; Nothing to fancy, just a simple colored pane here and there, perhaps to act as art.&nbsp; Two grand staircases lead up to a veranda that lead to the two upstairs wings.&nbsp; One wing he would find would house upstairs things specifically for business purposes.&nbsp; A meeting room, a presentations room and the office that his new mistress spent most of her time in.&nbsp; No room in the whole of the place was small, so despite the largess of the building, it did have surprisingly few rooms.&nbsp; A kitchen and a dining room were underneath the business end of the manor. To the south wing, was where people would enjoy themselves.&nbsp; A living room for company and a den for the people of the home downstairs, and three grand bedrooms upstairs - one he would see was recently cleaned and taken care of though not lived in.&nbsp; His own room he would come to find when he finally met his mistress.&nbsp; The largest room at the end of the hall was locked - his mistress' room - and then the last bedroom was completely covered in white sheets.&nbsp; The door wasn't locked, but by how dusty it was, it was obvious no one went in there - at least regularly.&nbsp; There were a dismantlement of dust near the door, where someone had obviously come in, but who knew how old the footprints were.&nbsp; <br><br>Soon enough, Marie was calling Isoke's name, standing in the middle of the foyer, waiting with a tray of a chicken sandwich, home made sweet potato fries and a glass of lemonade ice tea.&nbsp; "Come, now...&nbsp; I've got work to do, and I'm sure that Senora Brahaven is ready to meet you."&nbsp; She looked at the stairs and shook her head, going to the elevator that was hidden underneath one to the side with the kitchen and dining room.&nbsp; It brought her to the hallway that ran along the back of the mansion on the upper floor, the windows expanding to include them to allow still a wonderful view of the garden that was so obviously well taken care of.&nbsp; One would think that Exelis Brahaven spent a small fortune for such a wonderful garden.&nbsp; <br><br>She balanced the tray on one hand as she came to the door, if Isoke made any move to take the tray from her, she would have turned away to discourage it.&nbsp; "Senora?&nbsp; I have lunch, and someone you will like to meet, I am sure," she said as she knocked on the door, reaching for the door knob to open the door to the office at the end of the hallway.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>07-03-2012, 16:36:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The kitsune quirked an approving brow at the high-tech lock; though it isn’t impossible to bypass it is certainly more tricky to do than a normal lock. It made him wonder what other security devices were in place. He followed the others into the manor, listening to his Mistress and her son as they spoke. Smiling down at the young man, Isoke shrugged at the mention of his mother’s work ethic. “I’ve seen people who could barely exert the effort necessary to retrieve their teacup from the end table next to them, instead asking a servant to retrieve what was already in arm’s reach. It’s reassuring to see the polar opposite for a change.” After handing off the suitcase, he nodded in the affirmative to his suggestion to get himself acquainted with the manor. Only when the young master went on his way did the kitsune take full measure of his surroundings.<br><br>There was no question that the manor was tastefully elegant. Décor was chosen according to the composition of the room rather than the price tag upon the individual pieces. Such a thing was a sign of good character, though whether it was Miss Brahaven’s or a skilled interior decorator’s character in question he did not yet know. Consulting his sense of smell, it was quickly apparent that Marie had been telling the truth that they did not own any other slaves apart from him. Or at least any non-human slaves. There may have been an avian servant at one point, or perhaps a regular guest given by the very faint scent of feathers that was prevalent throughout the house. The sheer number of windows in the back of the house was a little disconcerting when it came to security measures, but one could hardly hope to convince their charge to live in a large solid box of layered steel panel and concrete.<br><br>As he ventured upstairs it became obvious that Miss Brahaven did a lot of business from her home given the amount of space dedicated to work. Of all the rooms in the manor, one piqued his interest the most. This far along in his tour the interior was immaculately maintained, dusted, and polished. So when he came across a room, or more accurately a door, that had gone overlooked in the cleaning cycle given by the thin layer of dust upon it he couldn’t help but wonder. The thought to inspect the room had crossed his mind, but he dismissed it in the event it was the sort of space that was intended to remain private. He could inquire about it later, but best not take the risk of starting things on the wrong foot.<br><br>Isoke’s vulpine ears twitched in the direction of the foyer as he heard his Mistress summon him, which he proceeded to make his way to without hesitation. Standing attentively before Marie, he listened to what their intensions were and he nodded in acknowledgment. “Of course, Mistress.” He had been about to offer to take the tray from Marie, but his instincts warned him not to and she turned away from him rather than offered him her burden. Instead of offering, he remembered her son’s words and simply let the matter drop from his notice and followed her lead to Exelis’ room. Even when she balanced the tray on one hand in order to open the chamber door, her body language was such to discourage him from assisting her. It was a little awkward for him to be the one with nothing to do while his Mistress was doing all the work, but it was not his place to deny her. Instead, he assumed a professional posture to the side and a step behind Marie and waited for her to make the introductions and eventually transfer of control. From the sounds of it, he would be a little more comfortable serving Exelis who was likely the sort to keep him occupied with a good number of tasks.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Milanthe</strong> on <strong>27-03-2012, 04:58:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A small faint scent of blood would greet the kitsune's nose as the door opened and his Mistress (to be) was revealed.&nbsp; Dark curls were left to cascade messily down her back as she sat sideways in her chair, a data pad in her fingers, reading some information or other that was hard to catch with her reading speed.&nbsp; She blinked, as if startled awake, as she heard Maria, "Oh, thank goodness.&nbsp; I need hel-Hm?"&nbsp; The slim yet curvy woman straightened herself up in her chair as she saw the fox behind her.&nbsp; Remembering what she'd sent her maid out to do, the casual air that he'd been given a glimpse of dissapeared as soon as she saw him.&nbsp; "Ah, so...&nbsp; I suppose this...&nbsp; Man?&nbsp; He is the one you chose at the markets," she asked her maid, who only smiled at the change, bringing in the tray.<br><br>As she set it down on the mohogony desk, she looked at the kitsune, sounding rather proud, both of her choice and him.&nbsp; "Si, I do not think he will make trouble.&nbsp; And his skills are muy bueno.&nbsp; They had a demonstration.&nbsp; He was so quick, I couldn't see him!&nbsp; It is good you planned so much, I think it might have been a fight otherwise," the maid said that last part distastefully.&nbsp; "Several other women were eying him."&nbsp; Mary looked at Exelis' shoulders, they were properly straight, it seemed, but the old woman seemed to think something was off.&nbsp; She pouted, but looked between the two, knowing Exelis would have a choice question or two.<br><br>"You're a Kitsune.&nbsp; They're well known for their power and loyalty," Exelis commented, looking at the fox after listening to Mary.&nbsp; "How loyal were you to your last owner?&nbsp; Will I have to worry about you wanting to go back to her?"&nbsp; Would he try to fail on purpose?&nbsp; Would he need to be made to understand exactly what was at stake?&nbsp; She was her father's only retainer.&nbsp; Without her, his empire, and the one she was building, would go to the biggest stockholder.&nbsp; A man that her father had grossly underestimated, and who she'd not been powerful enough to stop untill he'd allready had his own foothold in her own section of the company.&nbsp; A man who'd likely ruin it just as he had so many other companies for their own gain.&nbsp; Who would happily put millions out of a job simply to gain more money for himself.&nbsp; Just thinking about Ronald Jacques made her feel ill, so she did her best to put that thought from her head to focus on her new employee.&nbsp; "I don't know how much longer my father plans on living, but I can promise you whatever you want - even freedom - when he's dead.&nbsp; Granted you aren't the one to kill him of course, and that you protect and stay loyal to me."&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Guardian's Angel</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Foxfyr</strong> on <strong>27-03-2012, 05:51:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As he was led into the room, his vulpine ears stood straight up in alert as he picked up the familiar metallic scent of blood in the air.&nbsp; The initial tone of Exelis' voice gave him the impression that something was amiss, which was only that much more obvious by the sudden shift in her personality.&nbsp; However, it was clear that she had no intention on sharing the source of her duress with him just yet, so he was not going to press the issue.&nbsp; Especially in front of Maria who would likely worry and force the woman into confessing her troubles despite his presence.&nbsp; Instead, he remained passively attentive as his Mistress spoke to her mistress.<br><br>Isoke nodded his head slightly in acknowledgment when she pointed out his race and the traits commonly associated with his kind.&nbsp; He possessed the insight to know that those comments were leading somewhere so he held his words until she asked him the questions that were on her mind.&nbsp; "I was as resolutely faithful to my previous Mistress as I was to the one before her and the one before her and so-on all the way back to my very first owner.&nbsp; However, those people are simply past acquaintances to me now no matter how long I may have served them.&nbsp; Presently, I am bonded to Mistress Mendez and she is the only one I am compelled to serve.&nbsp; Even though it is her intention to pass me on to you and despite the fact that you are her superior, as of now you have absolutely no direct authority over me.&nbsp; With everybody else it is a request, from her everything is a command that I can only willingly disobey if I am aware that doing so would intentionally put her in harm's way.&nbsp; It is part of my nature to do everything within my power to ensure the safety of my Mistress and I have been rigorously trained to ensure I am entirely capable of doing so."<br><br>When Exelis went on to offer him a vast rewards for his service, the kitsune shook his head.&nbsp; "I live to serve my Mistress for the sake of doing just that.&nbsp; I am a full-blooded kitsune, a natural-borne guardian.&nbsp; It is a purpose that is hardwired into my genetics and cannot be changed simply because I have a piece of paper proving my freedom.&nbsp; Regardless of my status in society, I will forever be bound to another and the notion of not having that bond is a very unsettling idea to me.&nbsp; It is also for that reason that my kind are such highly regarded bodyguards.&nbsp; After all, it is impossible to bribe an individual whose only ambition in life is to remain loyal to their charge."&nbsp; An amused grin spread across Isoke's lips.&nbsp; "Of course, right now that individual is Mistress Mendez and she is the only one who has the power to transfer my bond do another."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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