Loyalty's Price (punkjello & kika988)
<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: kika988 on 17-11-2010, 07:52:06</h2>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>17-11-2010, 07:52:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien snarled as he cut through the first of the bandits, jerking his elbow back into the face of a second as he pulled his sword free. He slid his right leg back and planted it firmly before turning on it to face two more coming at him from his right side. This group was bigger than he had expected, seven counting the three he had taken out silently before charging in, but as good as the reward money offered had been, he really wasn't <em>too</em> surprised. He disarmed one man and had turned most of his attention to the other when he felt a sudden burning sensation in his left arm -- the bastard had pulled a hidden knife and cut him! With no more acknowledgment to the injury than a grunt of pain, he swiftly dispatched the last two men, taking a savage pleasure in finishing off the one who had gotten past his guard to cut him. <br><br>With the bandits dispatched, Jien made the rounds to each body, making sure each was really dead and removing the pendants they each wore, as proof of his victory to the town's elders who were offering the bounty. As he bent over the last body, a wave of dizziness overcame him, strongly enough that he was barely able to right himself. The forest around him dissolved into a blur of green and brown as the ground seemed to tilt beneath him, and a sinking suspicion settled like a rock in Jien's gut. He stumbled on suddenly wobbly legs back to the body of the man who had cut him and sank to his knees beside the corpse before reaching out with numb fingers. He lifted the knife to his face and sniffed, scowling as his suspicions were confirmed -- the blade had been poisoned. <br><br>He ripped a strip of fabric off of the bottom of his shirt and wrapped it around his arm, doing a clumsy job of it between only being able to use one hand, and that one hand going numb. He glared at his hand as if that would make it stop trembling, and put it on the ground to help steady himself as he wiggled his way back to lean against a nearby tree trunk. He knew he had no chance of making it back to town in his condition, and he had no medical knowledge to know what to do himself to counter the poison. He could only hope that the poison was designed with humans in mind, and that his stronger demon's constitution could fight it off. He tilted his head back against the tree as the forest seemed to waver around him, and took several deep breaths in an effort to combat the darkness that seemed to hover on the edges of his vision. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>17-11-2010, 23:46:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji, a young demon prince who had apparently wandered a bit too far off from his home, had inevitably been watching the entire situation carry out. He had been living with his father and his asp of a stepmother for the majority of his life, so he knew that interfering on such a battle would not only distract this man from fighting, but also risk Kougaiji's safety. If he had saved him, it would have been a blow to the man's pride, as he had been saved by no more than a young man barely on the verge of adulthood. So he was forced to watch as the demons around this taller one were attempting to attack, only to be foiled by the vicious attacks being thrown at them. He was rather impressed, as Kougaiji was a fighter himself who respected others who had skills.<br><br>This man was definitely impressive. The only problem was that whatever attack had come into contact with him had inevitably broken him down into a state of weakness. Poison no doubt, something that Kougaiji had dealt with on multiple occasions because of his stepmother and her coward's way of fighting. With a frown, Kougaiji hesitated and soon stepped out into the clearing where Jien was.<br><br>"Poison takes affect pretty quickly." He spoke, adjusting his robes that billowed around his frame. The finely-toned demon looked much more royal than he would in the future, as he still held onto the hope that his father had all intentions of reviving his mother. His hope hadn't been broken and he didn't need to rebel just yet. With a slight bite of his lip, he would move forward and kneel down beside the larger man.<br><br>"Let me." He murmured, withdrawing a vial from his inner robes for these special occasions. He unscrewed the top and took hold of Jien's arm within his clawed hand, pouring the liquid upon the open wound. "It'll sting, but it'll work." He assured, looking down attentively at it. Without locking eyes, he would simply speak: "Kougaiji." He introduced, free hand held out so the man could shake it in greeting. That was if he accepted his help, of course.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-11-2010, 01:24:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien did not even hear someone else approaching until the other demon spoke; luckily he was so weakened by the poison that when he tried to lash out, out of pure instinct, he only managed to thrust an arm out at the air before him, coming nowhere near his target. He squinted up, seeing only red hair and tanned skin before he was distracted by a hand that felt cool against his skin, then a wet sensation over his wound that <em>burned</em>. He'd heard the man's voice, but couldn't pick out the specific words until the shock of the burn pulled him out of his stupor, and he caught his name. <br><br>"...Jien," he finally forced out around clenched teeth. He really hoped this guy didn't mean him any harm; he certainly wasn't in any position to be fighting anyone off. Besides that... this guy had an aura of power about him. He wasn't heavily muscled or carrying a large weapon, but even in his daze Jien knew that if this Kougaiji decided to take him out, he could probably do it whether or not Jien was operating at full capacity. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-11-2010, 04:47:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji did his best to keep his power under control, as the last thing he wanted to do was to intimidate this person that he was trying to save. He knelt beside the larger man, tending to the wounded arm in order to disinfect it and let the poison leak out of the wound. "A pleasure." He murmured slightly, watching while the poison began to seep out steadily. His clawed fingers would gently squeeze at the edges of the wound to help the poison out, ensuring that all of it was gone. Once nothing more came out, Kougaiji would remove his hand and give a warm smirk to the man that was stretched out beneath the tree.<br><br>"What are you doing out here in the forest?" He asked, lifting a brow. "I wouldn't expect someone to live out here." He crossed his legs beneath him, hands resting against his thighs.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-11-2010, 05:16:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A hiss escaped from between Jien's teeth as the man probed at his wound. "Likewise," he ground out. He let out a sigh of relief once it seemed most of the poison had been removed, and shifted a bit to get more comfortable. "It was a group of bandits, they'd been terrorizing the town a couple miles down the road. They were offering a bounty, I wanted to collect it." He shrugged. "It's a living, you know? I don't live out here, anyway. Well, not here specifically. I kind of... wander." He shifted again to allow himself to see the other demon better. He took in the regal clothing and raised an eyebrow. "What about you? <em>You</em> certainly don't look like the 'roughing it' type."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-11-2010, 15:17:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji certainly didn't look like he had seen his fair share of battle on his own with the way he was dressed. The red-haired demon looked upward at Jien's accusation and smirked. "Well, my father rules the lands west of here. A really vast expanse of land. You could say he's... a demon king, I suppose." He tore off part of his own sleeve and gingerly wrapped up the man's arm, securing it nicely around the man's wound. "There we go. All better." He rested his arms over his own knees and put on a warm smile.<br><br>"I guess you have to get money in whatever way you can." He mused to no one in particular. "If you need a place to stay, I'm sure that there's a vacant room back home. We don't usually take visitors, but I'm sure that my father will make an exception."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>19-11-2010, 05:01:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien sat up and looked down a his arm, flexing it and grunting approvingly at the way the impromptu bandage moved with him. This Kougaiji was certainly no stranger to binding wounds. "Demon king, huh? Guess I should feel pretty damn special, getting treated by a prince," he said, chuckling. "And thanks for the offer, but I'm already feeling much better." He set about proving his point by standing -- or trying to. He had almost made it upright when he sank back down to his knees. "...dammit."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>19-11-2010, 13:01:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon prince put on a slight smirk as Jien rose to his feet and then sank back down a few seconds afterward. "C'mon. You don't have to be irrational." He would sling his own arm around the man's, carefully pulling him upward and blinking at how taller the man was than him. He didn't say anything, though. He only pat his arm slightly and helped support the older demon while he moved his way through the forest path. He knew his mother would have loved to meet this Jien, though he had no one to really turn to anymore. Not until his father revived his mother, of course.<br><br>"We'll stop and take breaks from time to time. Just to get some fresh water and whatnot." He assured.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>19-11-2010, 18:38:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien's face flushed with shame at having to lean on the other man to walk. He had never been very good at relying on others -- had never had anyone to rely <em>on</em>, really. "Why are you helping me?" Jien demanded. "I can't pay you. You don't even know me. I could steal everything you own while your back is turned, for all you know."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>19-11-2010, 23:11:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji would grin from ear to ear as the man questioned him on why he was helping him. "I just have a gut feeling that you're a good person. That's all." He was always one to follow instinct and this was no different. "Just accept my help and stop analyzing me, eh?" He laughed, leading him along the path.<br><br>After hours of walking, they would stop and Kougaiji would stretch. "Now's a good time for a break, I'd say. Whew... I could use a rest for a moment."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>20-11-2010, 09:38:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I've just had a near-death experience and now I'm following some random guy who claims to be a prince back to his place," Jien said, scoffing. "I think I'm entitled to a little analyzing," he added, but didn't really have any interest in continuing. He was tired; he felt sluggish and drained, and it was all he could do to keep up with Kougaiji until they stopped for a rest. While Kougaiji stretched, Jien settled for sinking to the ground against a nearby tree. "A moment?" he said tiredly. "I need a nap."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>20-11-2010, 15:50:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The man laughed as Jien declared that he needed a nap rather than just a brief rest. "All right, all right. Get a nap, then." Kougaiji wanted to explore the forest a little bit and hopefully find a spring or maybe a lake to dip into for a moment anyway. "Just call out my name if you need me and I'll come running, eh?" He smirked, patting his shoulder. With that, Kougaiji rose up and made his way into the forest, heading away from the clearing.<br><br>Sure as he expected, he found a nice hot spring just a little bit away. He grinned from ear to ear, quickly shedding his heavy robes in order to dip himself into those warm waters. "Ahhh~"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>20-11-2010, 18:45:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien managed to doze off and on for about ten minutes, but found his instincts were still just too strong for him to fall asleep unattended in the woods. With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself to his feet, happy to find he was a bit steadier for his short rest. He headed off in the same direction he had seen Kougaiji go, and soon heard the telltale slosh of water. He stepped into the small shaded clearing and knelt by the water, dipping his hand in. "Mind if I join you? This feels great."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>21-11-2010, 15:41:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon prince was relaxed in the cool waters, his frame visibly slouched against the side of the lake. "Mmmh?" He lifted his head tiredly when the man came into the clearing and asked if it would be possible to join. "Be my guest." He grinned. "The lake doesn't belong to me, after all." He laughed and sank down a bit lower, for his body was not as he would want it to be seen. While he seemed proper and royal, his body was covered in scars, though they were not so easily distinguishable as to why they would be there.<br><br>"It's very nice, actually. Come on in."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>22-11-2010, 07:48:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien nodded and stripped off his clothes, moving carefully so as not to make his arm worse. He settled into the water, sighing as he entered. "It is nice," he agreed as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He could tell already that if he was not careful, his eyes might linger a bit too long on the body of this supposed prince. "So why were you out this direction?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>22-11-2010, 13:12:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji observed quietly as Jien removed his clothing, revealing the finely sculpted body underneath that even made the prince's cheeks fluster a bit. He was always rather comfortable with his attraction to both sexes, so he had to admit that the sight of the older man was quite wonderful. "Hmm?" He tilted his head, looking over to him while he finally eased into the warm waters. "Wandering." He explained. "My father rules those lands, as I said. And it's stuffy to have to stay in that castle all the time. I take my free time by wandering the forests and looking about the land to get a taste of it myself. If I hadn't, who knows what would have happened to you." He grinned, drawing one leg up to his chest.<br><br>"And you were just out looking to kill monsters for money? No reason more? Where do you live, Jien?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>24-11-2010, 05:58:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien fought the automatic urge to insist he would have been fine without Kougaiji's help; that would sound ungrateful, and if he were being honest with himself, it was untrue. It was a very real possibility that he would have died if Kougaiji had not shown up. <br><br>"Yeah, I was just taking them on for the money," Jien said slowly. "I mean... they were killing townsfolk, and..." His hands clenched involuntarily. "And they'd raped a couple young girls. They deserved it," he said, as if defending himself. "I don't have a permanent home, I just move around taking jobs like that one."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>24-11-2010, 16:14:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hm... well, I suppose you did the right thing then, no?" Kougaiji smirked, holding one leg up against his chest and lifting it out of the water eventually to clean it thoroughly. "It's sad that you don't have a permanent home, though. You've never had one or you just lost it?" He questioned as he paid attention to the other leg this time, letting water cleanse it of any scrapes or cuts that he might have encountered on his walk here.<br><br>He was rather happy that he had seen Jien, as Kougaiji didn't get too much interaction with the demons outside of the castle walls. With Jien, this would be his first true interaction and he was just happy that he could focus so intensely on it and not make a fool of himself.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>26-11-2010, 03:07:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien shrugged. "Right thing, who knows about that? All I know is I have the proof that I killed them, so I get paid." He averted his eyes when Kougaiji lifted his leg, but could still see more than he <em>should</em> out of the corner of his eye. "I, um..." He shook himself, closing his eyes for a moment. "I used to live with my mother and brother. Well, half-brother. But that's been years ago. Brother left home five years ago, I didn't see any reason to stay after that."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>27-11-2010, 04:56:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hmm..." A life based solely on getting a next bit of money wasn't a desirable one to him. Perhaps it was because he'd been raised in a different environment, but Jien clearly didn't know how to relax and enjoy himself rather than fixating his eyes on money. "Maybe you should just live in the forest or something. Life off of nature instead of having to buy things with anything like money." He lifted a brow, his arms crossing over his slim chest.<br><br>"I don't know you well but it's sad to see you not being able to enjoy yourself or having to lower yourself to just menial jobs for money."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>28-11-2010, 01:48:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"That's easy for you to say, <em>Your Highness</em>," Jien said, drawing the words out into a mockery of their intent. "Sure, I could live off the forest, but I need money to buy clothes. And booze," he added as an afterthought. "Besides, you aren't taking into account that maybe I <em>like</em> fighting. I mean, hell, I'm good at it." He shrugged. "Might as well use it, y'know?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>29-11-2010, 23:03:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Booze and clothes, hm?" He grinned, tilting his head. "I suppose you're right in that aspect..." He didn't know much about booze and he had always had clothes set out for him ever since he was a child, so he didn't really have to worry about that sort of thing. "Why don't you at least come visit the castle, hm?" He asked, stretching his body out slowly. "It's a lot better than being alone, you know?" He tilted his head, casting an intense gaze in Jien's direction and putting out a warm, eager smile.<br><br>Such a smile couldn't last forever, as Kougaiji would soon have his hopes come crashing down with the realization that his mother was not going to be revived. This happiness was only temporary.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>30-11-2010, 15:31:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien's eyes flickered down Kougaiji's body as he stretched. Well... it wasn't like he had any other plans, right? As those intense violet eyes caught his, he couldn't imagine and good reason to say no. "Fine," he agreed, his lips twisting up in a smile in reaction to Kougaiji's. "But I won't be staying long," he added quickly. "Just enough to maybe recover some." He shifted in the water, hoping the natural clouding was enough to hide his growing reaction to the other man's display.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>30-11-2010, 16:19:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Fine, fine. A few days is just all right." He chuckled, sinking down further into the water so it reached his neck instead of his chest. He let his body submerge completely so only his face was out of the water, almost as if he was going to intentionally slip under for no good reason. Nevertheless, he stayed afloat and enjoyed the warm water around him. "Maybe my father will like you enough to give you a job. You're not a bad man and I'm sure he'll need you for something or another."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>02-12-2010, 03:21:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien raised an eyebrow. "You keep saying that. That I'm not a bad man, I mean. You can't <em>know</em> that." He shifted in the water, leaning a bit closer to Kougaiji. "I could have all sorts of... ulterior motives, for coming along with you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>03-12-2010, 13:17:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"But do you?" He asked, having an airy and carefree personality that was so unlike what he would become in the future. He grinned and tilted his head, reaching over to poke the man's nose playfully. "If you do, I'd prefer that you just tell me right now, then. If you're so sure that you have ulterior motives for me, of course."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>03-12-2010, 15:09:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I don't," Jien said, frowning and reaching up to rub his nose. "Not that have occurred to me, anyway. But <em>you</em> can't know that, and you're trusting me anyway. It's just... weird, I guess." He snorted. "Of course, here I am, wounded and following along behind you when I'm pretty sure you could kick my ass even if I was healthy, so who am I to talk?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>03-12-2010, 23:25:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"And how do you know that I'm a good fighter, hm?" He asked, putting on a smirk as he stared at him. "See? Both of us are making assumptions." Sure, Kougaiji was a wonderful fighter when it came down to it, but it was nice to play around like this. Soon enough, the demon prince stretched his body out languidly and twisted himself around so his back was to Jien. He crawled onto the bank of the shores almost like a cat as he stretched himself, soon rising up onto his feet. "Better get dressed quickly so we can get to the castle by tomorrow."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>04-12-2010, 03:41:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You're a good fighter," Jien said with certainty, not bothering to look away from all that bare skin and sleek muscle as he pulled himself onto the bank, since Kougaiji's back was to him anyway. "Um... yeah. Right." He pulled himself out of the water as well, twisting his arm around a bit. "This thing's healing pretty well. Not as fast as normal, but faster than I would have expected, considering the poison."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>06-12-2010, 04:19:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Then come on. You're not incapable." He laughed as he was throwing on his clothing, hiding the tanned flesh from view. It was hard to imagine that such a cheerful lad, and rather smaller compared to other demons, or at least in muscle tone, would be so powerful. The aura of power could be felt just radiating off of his form as he moved closer to Jien, giving the taller man a playful elbow.<br><br>"C'mon. There's a nice bed back home and all sorts of good things to be had. You'll love it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>07-12-2010, 15:10:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien could think of a few good things to be had in a bed at the moment, with Kougaiji so close, but he bit his tongue and pulled his clothes on. "Lead the way, milord," he said, with an overly dramatic bow. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>08-12-2010, 22:56:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The younger man smirked and rolled his eyes at the bow, though it was rather adorable to see such a man like Jien bowing and referring to him as "lord". He folded his fingers together behind his back, walking alongside Jien the entire way and keeping up casual conversation to find out a bit more about the older man. When they finally did arrive on the outskirts of his father's lands, Kougaiji would pat his arm. "We should stop and set up camp. We won't make it by nightfall."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>09-12-2010, 01:31:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien nodded. "Right. Any sheltered areas nearby?" He was in the habit of camping alone, and therefore trying to find the most sheltered area possible to limit the chances of being discovered. "Or I guess we could take turns keeping watch," he added as an afterthought.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 04:25:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon prince would pop his back and shake his head slightly. "Not really. We don't have much to worry about. Demons usually don't come this close to my father's lands. They know what kind of horrors lay closer to the castle." He wiggled his fingers, speaking in a spooky tone as if it would scare Jien.<br><br>Not a chance.<br><br>"We'll just find a clearing and set up camp there." He grinned. "Hopefully there's a lake nearby too." He would wander his way off of the beaten path and toward the sound of running water, hoping to find a river.<br><br>And that was just what he found, nestled right inside of a clearing that they could use to make a fire and get some food. "Paradise!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 05:09:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien could not help but grin at the young nobleman's enthusiasm. "You really are easy to please, huh?" He set about gathering firewood, stealing glances back at Kougaiji every once in a while. He really was not used to traveling with someone else, but he found it was... nice. Something he could get used to, possibly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 05:19:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Pretty much." He was a simple young man that wasn't so spoiled as to need everything in the world given to him. "Go get some wood for us and I'll catch us some food." He quickly shed his shirt and pants, dipping into the water. Perhaps he'd take a bath eventually, but he had all intentions of catching some fish for them at the moment. The young prince's crimson hair hung over his shoulders and smooth back as he knelt in the water, watching the fish underneath the surface.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 05:56:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien slid his eyes to the side as he stacked the firewood, watching Kougaiji in the water. Was the man <em>trying</em> to tempt him? He soon had the wood arranged and a fire crackling, and he left it burning to move to the water's edge. "Any luck?" he asked, though he hated drawing attention to himself... it meant he could not watch the other man as freely. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:03:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji's body was fit for being quick and nimble, so it would only be a matter of time before...<br><br>Those hands shot down into the water suddenly and he pulled up a rather large fish, holding onto it tightly as it flopped and flailed around in his arms. He quickly tread through the water to place the fish on the ground, claws putting it out of its misery so they could at least have something to eat. "You know how to prepare food like this?" He asked, pushing himself out of the water.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:09:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien dragged his eyes away from Kougaiji to nod tightly. "Yeah. Give me about ten minutes," he said. He set to work, grateful to have something to distract him from Kougaiji, who somehow gained an unearthly beauty in the sunset's red glow. Soon strips of fish were cooking over the fire, even seasoned with some wild herbs he had found growing nearby. "They're about done," he announced as he turned them one last time. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:12:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji wrung his hair dry and threw on his clothing once more while he made his way toward the fire. The night was falling quickly and the temperature was dropping, so the fire would warm him up considerably. "Mmm. Smells delicious." He plopped down and when the portions were cooked enough, Kougaiji would take the one offered to him by Jien. He took a happy bite of it and licked his lips, clearly rather impressed by the other's cooking prowess.<br><br>"I wouldn't expect you to be able to cook so damn well. But I'm definitely not complaining. This is amazing!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:28:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien grinned. "Thanks. Learned how to cook for me and my brother. Had to suffer through some bad recipes to find the good ones, though," he added with a chuckle. He stood and tossed some more wood on the fire. "Damn, it gets cold fast around here at night, huh? Might have to get some more firewood than I anticipated."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:33:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You have a brother?" He tilted his head, finding that having a sibling might have been the luckiest thing ever. Kougaiji had always been alone as a child, so he didn't really have anyone to play with or relate to. "You're really lucky. Why aren't you with him now, though?" He frowned, observing the older man as he went to get more firewood.<br><br>"Well it's all right. I'm sure we'll be fine." Kougaiji was quite cold since he had just gotten out of the river, but he was not one to so quickly complain.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:48:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"A half-brother. We went our separate ways several years ago," he said, his tone making it clear that it was not something he wished to talk about. He circled the campsite, coming back with several more armloads of firewood. "Nonsense," he said, shaking his head at Kougaiji. "You're wet; you'll freeze if we don't build the fire up some." After adding some of the wood he'd gathered to the fire, he sat down by Kougaiji again. "You have any siblings?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 06:51:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon prince would allow his eyes to follow the handsome man around the clearing, watching while he hauled armloads of firewood back to the now-roaring fire. It was getting quite warm and he knew that the fire would last until morning. When Jien finally settled down beside him once more, Kougaiji felt a bit of warmth even radiating off of the larger demon's own frame that might have added to how comfortable Kougaiji was right now.<br><br>"No. My mother and father only had me." He explained, rubbing slightly at the side of his neck. "My stepmother might have a child eventually, though. I'm not sure."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>10-12-2010, 07:28:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Stepmother?" Jien said, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like a hot-button issue if I ever heard one." He frowned at Kougaiji as he rubbed at his neck. "You're still wet. Don't you have a blanket or something? You were traveling, right?" Not that Jien had any room to talk -- but for that matter, <em>he</em> had not been the one jumping into a lake at dusk before it got cold. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>12-12-2010, 03:25:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hm. She's... all right." He muttered, though he honestly had no idea how much he would grow to hate her as the years went by. And who would keep him sane during those times of all people? He took a glance to Jien and smirked, shrugging his small shoulders. "Nah. I didn't plan on running into any mercenary demons of sorts, so I didn't bring anything along. I didn't expect to be out this late either." He explained, leaning back on his elbows.<br><br>"It's all right. I've suffered a lot worse than this." He grinned. "It would be nice to have a sister, though... it's pretty lonely back at the castle all on my own."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 01:28:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien rolled his eyes. "We could have just gone back to the town, you know," he pointed out. "You could have left me there, and then I wouldn't be slowing you down."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 02:38:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Pft. I'm not that kind of person." He responded, rubbing at his arms as he sat there beside the fire. "Besides, it's nice to have some company for once. I don't get to go out much and see the people outside of my father's territory, so it's almost like a cultural exposure to meet someone like you." He grinned, elbowing Jien slightly.<br><br>"You don't regret coming along though, do you?" He soon shifted and took hold of Jien's arm under the guise of checking the wound he had suffered before, just to make sure there was no more poison in it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 03:54:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien snorted, but couldn't help but smile back. "I don't know -- I'm not very 'cultured'." He leaned his head close to Kougaiji's to look at the wound on his arm. "Seems to be healing up pretty quick," he commented. "For a poisoned wound, anyway. Doesn't hurt," he added, turning his arm in Kougaiji's grip a bit. "And to answer your question, no, I don't regret it. You're surprisingly refreshing to be around," he admitted. "Only guys I've spent much time with in the past couple of years have been other mercenaries... not a nice crowd, even if I am one too," he said with a wry grin. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 04:00:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He put on a slight smirk as he observed the man's arm, running his clawed fingertip over the healing wound. He figured that demons like themselves would always heal quickly. "Either way, you're outside of my father's kingdom. It's any kind of culture that I'll be happy to involve myself in. Even if it's only one man." He tapped Jien's nose with his finger and winked. "But thank you, Jien. You're refreshing to be around as well." He eased back down and yawned, laying back carefully so he was still resting by the fire and wasn't too cold.<br><br>"You have any interesting mercenary stories to tell?" He asked, rather eager to hear them, almost as if he were a child waiting for a bedtime story.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 04:40:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien clenched his jaw and suppressed a shudder at the feel of the fingertip running across his arm, but he could do nothing to prevent the goosebumps from rising there. He flushed and glanced away when Kougaiji winked at him, and cursed himself for being so socially awkward; he couldn't tell if the other demon meant anything by what he was doing, or if he was merely being friendly. Jien had been away from other demons for too long. <br><br>"Nothing too interesting," Jien said, shrugging. "People will hire mercenaries for anything -- fighting criminals, fetching runaway wives, joining their army for a turf war. I tend to do more of the brigand-fighting sort of stuff."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 04:53:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji would rest his hands over his stomach and look up at Jien who was still sitting up. The fire framed his features rather nicely and Kougaiji had to admit that the man was quite handsome. Even if he was just some mercenary that he had run across in the forest, he was able to appreciate how Jien looked.<br><br>"A wild man, hm?" He asked, nudging him with his foot and laughing. "Well you won't have to do that for long if my father enjoys your presence. He's always wanting someone to watch out for me. Maybe he'll want you to and you'll get a permanent home for once."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 05:25:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien smirked down at Kougaiji. "You think? I don't know if I'm too well suited for bodyguard work. Though I'm sure it wouldn't be half as boring with you as some of the other temporary bodyguard jobs I've taken in the past. I took one job, like an idiot... this paranoid guy hired me to watch his pregnant wife. Yeah, that lasted all of three days." He shuddered at the memory. "Pregnant human women... I'll take a troupe of thieves over that, any day."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 05:55:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Pregnant women can't be too fun, I'd imagine." He knew from stories that his mother had told him that she had been rather cranky when she had been carrying Kougaiji around. Such memories brought about a sad smile to the young man's face, as he knew that the woman was unresponsive and was not the same person that he had been raised by. It was such a shame and yet his father was still stalling on bringing her back.<br><br>"Well there's no one to be so bothersome at the castle. It's not simple bodyguard work anyway." He grinned. "Knowing all the things I get into, I'm sure you'd be challenged every day."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 05:57:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien raised an eyebrow as he laid back in the grass. "That so, huh? You tend to get into trouble you can't get out of? Do lots of rescuing random mercenaries, do you?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 06:16:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Not particularly that." He grinned, shrugging his shoulders. "Let's just say that I'm not always prone to doing what my father tells me. He wants to keep me locked up in that castle to take over when he dies, but I want to see more of the world, you know? I've only known the castle and that's it for my entire life. Nothing else."<br><br>"All the places and whatnot that you've been too... I want to know all about them."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 07:03:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"They're not that great," Jien said, shrugging. "And a lot of them are prejudiced against our kind. You're probably better off staying close to home. Besides, you have a <em>castle</em> -- why would you <em>want</em> to go looking for trouble?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>13-12-2010, 12:59:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"One can only live a life of luxury for so long before going crazy." He held his hand up as if he were giving advice, even if Jien didn't need it. There was no way he'd ever be some sort of rich, fancy man anyway, right? "Nah. I just want to see more than fancy robes, grand feasts, and endless hallways in a castle. I want to see the simple life too."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>14-12-2010, 07:17:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Eh, I bet you look good in fancy robes," Jien said with a smirk. "But I guess I can see how that would get boring. Anything does, after a while, castle life or simple life. Variety is what you want, not just to get out of the castle."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>15-12-2010, 15:57:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji blinked at the man's compliment, cheeks even flustering a slight bit as he laid there beside the fire. "See, you know this." He laughed, reaching over to shove the man's arm slightly. "I figure it would just do me well to have someone else in my life, you know? I don't want to live the same life every day, in and out. With you there, I think I'd get a lot more exposure to the outside world with stories and travels and all that."<br><br>"If you want to stay, I mean. I'm not forcing you to." He piped up, hands resting against his bare stomach.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>15-12-2010, 18:18:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I'll think about it," Jien replied, noncommittally. "Let's just see how things work out, yeah?"<br><br>That, and he was not about to make any decisions while Kougaiji was lying there, all red hair and golden skin and outlined in flame. That was just <em>begging</em> for trouble.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>15-12-2010, 19:21:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sounds like a plan to me." Kougaiji's lips parted in an exhausted yawn as he laid there, fingers dancing slightly over his own abdomen. The fire was warming him up considerably and it didn't take long before he was in a state of light slumber. His head rested to the side, soft red hair falling over his face while he let sleep take him over.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>16-12-2010, 12:47:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien watched Kougaiji as he drifted off to sleep, looking as if he didn't have a care in the world. He was tempted, <em>too</em> tempted, to trail his fingers along behind the other man's on his stomach, so when his hair fell across his face he settled for reaching out to gently push the red locks to the side. When his fingers accidentally brushed the other demon's face, he jerked back, afraid he would wake him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>16-12-2010, 13:03:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon would mumble slightly in his sleep as he felt those fingertips briefly brushing his face, though he made no action to show that he was waking up. He would only smile and shift himself slightly, unconsciously scooting a bit closer to Jien's frame since it radiated warmth along with the fire that was roaring beside them.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>16-12-2010, 18:12:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien flushed as Kougaiji moved closer to him. He pulled his hand back and moved what he thought was a safe and proper distance away before laying down to go to sleep himself. He couldn't help but wonder if Kougaiji was this open with everyone, or if there was just something about Jien he liked. He could not imagine going through life so open to everyone he met.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 05:48:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The red-headed demon would mumble quietly as he laid there, arm serving as a pillow for his head while he slept. When he did awaken that next morning, Kougaiji would find Jien still sleeping. Because of that, he moved quietly so he could get a few fruits and whatnot from the forest for them to munch on for breakfast. He returned with four apples, two for each of them, and gave a slight nudge to Jien's back since the man was laying on his side.<br><br>"Hey. Rise and shine." He teased, kneeling down beside the sleeping man. "I've got a snack for you."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 07:03:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien's hand shot out to latch onto the closest thing it could find, his grip almost bruising as his eyes flew open. "What are you-- shit!" As soon as he saw the shock of red hair he remembered all that had happened the previous day and jerked his hand back. "Dammit, Kougaiji, I'm sorry. Habit. I'm not used to traveling with someone else."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 07:11:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji figured he should have been a bit more wary on waking Jien up, though it was a bit late for that. He let out a sharp hiss as he felt the hand clamping into his hair and grasping it so tightly, though that grasp was soon let go and he would smooth out the locks. "No worries. I suppose I should have been a bit more careful." He grinned, tossing him the apples and nodding. "Eat up quickly. We have to get a move on." He rose onto his feet and moved to the lake so he could splash some water into his face.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 17:25:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien pocketed the apples and followed Kougaiji to the water's edge, dipping his hands in the cold water and rubbing them over his face. He gave a shudder at the cold temperature as he stood. "I'm ready to leave when you are; I can eat while we walk. Did you... sleep well?" The morning pleasantries were odd for the demon, not used to company, but not odd in a <em>bad</em> way.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 18:07:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Mostly. I'm not used to sleeping with someone else nearby, so it was a bit strange at first." He admitted before he g rabbed up his bag and hoisted it over his shoulder. He took a glance to Jien and smirked, tilting his head. "How about you? Have any bad dreams or anything?" He teased, elbowing the taller man slightly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 20:23:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien shook his head. "I was fine. I'm able to sleep almost anywhere. I think I actually slept better than usual, probably from the bit of poison still working its way out." He took a moment to flex his arm. "This feels fine, though, almost like nothing ever happened."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 21:08:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The smaller man smiled as the other tightened his arm to make sure that it felt all right. "Well I do my best to help." He laughed, giving a playful salute and grinning. He rested his hand upon the man's arm and gave it a slight pat before he began for the opening in the trees. "Well, come on! We can make it to the castle by nightfall." He assured.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 21:22:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Sleeping in a bed will be nice," Jien admitted with a smile. It wasn't a luxury he had very often, recently, so he was actually looking forward to it. He fell into step beside Kougaiji. "I've never been in this part of the country before. What's it like?" He liked knowing a bit about the lay of the land and the surrounding people; habit after so many years of having to act accordingly depending on where he traveled.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>19-12-2010, 15:38:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji stretched his body, finding that it wasn't too tense from sleeping on the ground. He was used to sleeping on the ground by now, though. "It's quite calm, really. My father's not the most sensible of leaders, but there are few villages of demons and whatnot that live in the territory. They're all rather happy from what I can tell. Most of the area is plains, but I know of a few waterfalls and river around the area too." He rubbed his chin, walking in sync with the older man.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 02:06:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien raised an eyebrow, surprised Kougaiji was so readily willing to admit his father's leadership flaws. "What do you mean, he's not a sensible leader? What does he do wrong?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 08:09:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"He has a bit of a temper. Plus his toleration for humans leaves something to be desired." He rolled his eyes, resting his hands behind his head as they walked. By then, no one had interfered, so Kougaiji didn't really mind humans all that much.<br><br>"I guess you could say he rules everyone because no one has enough bravery to go up against him." He looked up at Jien, grinning. "Ah well. Regardless, he may be fearful, but he'll appreciate someone coming to the castle with me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>20-12-2010, 17:42:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien frowned, Kougaiji's description of his father reminding him somewhat of his own mother -- and not in a good way. "I'll take your word for that," he replied, a bit uneasily. <br><br>The day passed quickly, the two traveling in companionable silence, with Jien occasionally asking questions about the region. He was surprised by how much he seemed to enjoy the young prince's company; when he had traveled with people in the past, by the second day he had been chafing to get back out on his own again, and he had yet to feel that way with Kougaiji. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>21-12-2010, 14:13:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kougaiji's hands clasped behind his back as they walked, happy to just do so in silence since it seemed that the both of them enjoyed it that way. He spoke up every so often to answer questions, seeming quite cheerful and more than happy to answer said questions.<br><br>He rather enjoyed Jien's company, after all. "We're almost there." He grinned, pointing to the distance where the sun was setting behind the enormous castle in the distance. "See?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>22-12-2010, 05:37:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien tried -- and failed -- to not gawk at the castle like some country bumpkin. "Wait -- <em>that</em> is your castle?" he said in disbelief. He didn't know what he had been expecting; maybe a manor, or even a small castle, but <em>this</em> was certainly not anticipated. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>22-12-2010, 06:33:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Yeah." Kougaiji grinned with triumph, staring at the castle in the distance. "Get your jaw off the ground and let's go or we'll be late." He laughed, tugging on Jien's good arm slightly. The walk to the castle wasn't all that long, and when they arrived, he opened up the doors to find that the hallways were completely dark. "Father and my stepmother are sleeping, then." He mumbled. "Come on. You can meet them both in the morning." He grinned, tugging on Jien's arm to lead him up the stairs.<br><br>"My room's on the top floor. I'm pretty sure there's a vacant room up there too."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>25-12-2010, 06:58:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien followed close behind Kougaiji, but didn't bother pulling his arm out of the other man's grasp. He normally was not one for contact with other people, but somehow Kougaiji had gotten in under his shell and Jien found himself not minding the touch. He was suddenly a bit nervous now that he was actually here, and Kougaiji's hand tugging gently on his arm helped ground him, calm him. <br><br>"I'm good wherever. Hell, I sleep outside most of the time, so I'd be happy on the floor."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>25-12-2010, 14:11:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Well we can't have that." The red-haired demon smirked, rolling his eyes while they headed up to his own quarters. When they arrived on the floor, he headed to the other end of the hall and pressed his hand against one of the doors, opening it up to reveal a rather majestic and grand room. And this was only the guest room! "Here you are. All you'll ever need, I think." He rested his hands on his own hips and looked around. "Bathroom is connected to the bedroom too." He rubbed his chin, finally glancing up at the taller demon.<br><br>There was a rather large king-sized bed, a nice view of the grand plains below... everything that Jien really needed.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>25-12-2010, 18:51:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien blinked in at the room, at the huge bed, the beautiful view. "Um... isn't there anything more... plain?" He took a step back involuntarily. "This is... this should be saved for some... real guest. Like a lord or something. I just need a cot or something." He had never stayed in a room this nice, and quite frankly he wasn't sure he was <em>comfortable</em> staying in a place like this.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>25-12-2010, 22:23:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"And you don't consider yourself a real guest?" He inquired, crossing his arms over his chest. "Even if I did have a room that was a bit less fancy, I still wouldn't give it to you. So just get comfortable and enjoy yourself for now, hm? You'll get to meet my father tomorrow." He was more than happy to drag Jien away from the life of working menial jobs in order to live day by day.<br><br>"I'm right across the hall." He gave a wave as he headed out of the room, long red hair flowing behind him as he closed his door behind himself.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>kika988</strong> on <strong>30-12-2010, 08:45:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jien scowled at the closed door for a long moment before turning back to the room. He sighed and went into the bathroom, washing his face and hands before removing his boots and sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed. He stared warily at the frilly pillows for a few minutes before shrugging and settling back onto them, lying flat on his back without getting under the covers. Despite his somewhat uncomfortable reception of the room, he fell asleep quickly and before he knew it he was blinking at the rays of run coming in through the window.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Loyalty's Price (punkjello &amp; kika988)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>punkjello</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 18:10:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				While Kougaiji was quite a capable warrior and had taken out many on his own, it felt rather nice to have someone have his back in such a manner, especially living so close to him. He was the only one living on this floor, so even his father couldn't advance on people if Kougaiji was ambushed. At least with this situation, Jien could help out if anything went wrong. <br><br>He slept until early morning and then bathed before he and Jien would be heading out to meet his father. His hair was tied back into a ponytail, the long red strands laying over one slightly bare shoulder as he wore his usual attire of an open jacket to leave his front exposed. "Jien." He called out, knuckles rapping on the door. "You awake?"
			</dd>
		</dl>
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