Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel & Cecily)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Remiel on 28-06-2010, 05:54:30</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>28-06-2010, 05:54:30</strong>
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				Once upon a time in ancient Greece, there was a maiden who had been chosen by lot to be sacrificed to a terrible monster.&nbsp; The monster, a half-man, half-bull beast called the Minoan Minotaur, lived within a labyrinth built and designed for the king of Crete by the architectural genius Daedalus.&nbsp; Twenty years ago, Athens had declared war upon the island nation of Crete;&nbsp; after a long and expensive campaign, Crete had emerged victorious and Athens had surrendered.&nbsp; The terms of surrender dictated that every year, one young man, or one young woman, must be sacrificed to the labyrinth, and to the vicious minotaur inside.&nbsp; Every year, in a sombre ceremony, the unfortunate youth was chosen by lottery, while his or her parents and relatives grieved and wailed and prayed futilely to the gods of Olympus.<br><br>This year, the maiden was chosen to be the unlucky victim.&nbsp; As their names rang throughout the amphibora, spoken in a gravelly, leaden voice by the town elder,&nbsp; the maiden's parents wept and embraced her tightly, for they knew they would never see her again.<br><br>How the maiden must have despaired! How the icy grip of fear must have seized hold of her heart, as she was ferried over the sea in a Cretian trireme.&nbsp; How alone and terrified she must have felt, as she was marched to the dungeons of the king's palace, before the cold and impersonal eyes of the king and all his courtiers.&nbsp; In the bottommost level, there was a great black hole, like the giant maw of Tartarus itself, and she was lowered into it on a rope which, once she felt her feet hit the dirt of the Labyrinth, was tossed in after her.&nbsp; &nbsp;Then the hole was closed; there was no escape.&nbsp; She had only her toga and her sandals to her name; there was no light, save the occasional torches which burned forlornly on the walls.<br><br>And here it came, snuffling and growling, its very breath as poisonous as the Sphinx, its massive bulk larger than a full-grown bear.&nbsp; With red eyes it stared at its latest victim, and it opened its great, beast-like maw, letting loose a roar which could be heard to the ends of the world! 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>30-06-2010, 00:27:43</strong>
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				Atalanta did not cry when they announced she would be the sacrifice to Crete, to the beastly minotaur of the labyrinthe. She held it all in in the amphitheatre, trying to look brave for everyone in her great city of Athens. Everyone wept for the young women and men sent off to die at the hands of King Minos's bestial monster, but they were also revered, somewhat. If they were not sent to Crete as tribute, surely the king could crush Athens and kill many more citizens. The parents of other potential candidates were also very relieved when their child's name was not called out. Atalanta chewed her lip nervously as the day progressed, a day where people seemed to mourn her death and exalt her as a hero to Athens at the same time. Yet Hades hadn't taken her yet. <br><br><em>Am I to be akin to Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, sacrificed to Artemis so long ago to grant united Greece's fleet favourable winds on their way to fabled Troy? She was seen as a hero, yet surely she died as well, and most likely a gruesome death. I can only hope I will be remembered like so, and leave a legacy for my family, for perhaps their relation to me will grant them prosperity in the future...<br></em><br>She sighed. How was she to know? The past youths sent off to King Minos all surely died, yet not all of them were remembered. Of course Atalanta, named after the heroine, did not want to die. Yet the minotaur was said to be a gigantic monstrous half-bull and half-man, how was she to kill it unarmed? She still refused to die easily. Somehow, she would die famed, or even better - yet far more rare - she could survive. Perhaps praying to the Olympian Gods would grant her mercy.<br><br>Atalanta did just that over the few days of freedom that she had, praying to Zeus, Poseidon, Ares, Aphrodite, every deity she could make a sufficient sacrifice to. Yet they all laid silent. Even Artemis, her patron goddess who she felt such a connection to growing up, ignored her pleas. Atalanta was not asking for an easy way out of the situation, all she wanted was a chance to live, yet...she received no response.<br><br>The girl wept in private every night on the boat to Crete. Then...everything happened so fast.<br><br>She was forced to the entrance of the labyrinthe. It seemed like a gigantic underground prison, with no escape other than the rope she was lowered down upon. Yet there had to be some way. Her mind panicked and swarmed with vague concept of escape or what she could possibly use as a weapon, yet it seemed like the Fates had already chosen her destiny and were ready to cut her thread - just one of the millions of the tapestry that represented every living creature.<br><br>Atalanta coughed back a sob as she tried to accustom her dark green Mediterranean eyes to the darkness all around her. She whimpered, utterly terrified and unable to hold back her fear in the sight of death. How long did it take for the mythical minotaur to find its victim? <br><br>Not long, apparently. Its heavy footfalls and snorting - truly like a bull - warned Atalanta of its appearance. As it got closer, she tried to creep her way silently down the labyrinthe walls, yet she ran into so many dead ends and had no idea where to go. The minotaur clearly knew its way around this prison, and calmly was hunting its prey. And then, after what seemed an eternity, she was cornered, with nowhere to go, and the minotaur just meters away. It roared at her so loudly that she could not hold back her scream, yet she remembered what she would do in this situation.<br><br>"Goddess Artemis, please take pity on the soul of your loyal follower..." The girl murmured, balling her hand into a little fist. She would not go down without kicking, punching and clawing at the beast. The Fates would not find her thread as easy to snip as they thought.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>30-06-2010, 08:31:40</strong>
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				Yet when the monster rounded a corner, and came upon her, what good were her tiny fists to do?&nbsp; The beast was easily ten feet tall, and nearly half that wide across the shoulders.&nbsp; With the powerful legs, massive chest, and heavily muscled arms of a man--perhaps a giant of a man--and the neck and head of a fully-grown bull, only a phalanx of well-armed and armored <em>hypsos</em> could stand a chance. Maybe not even that.<br><br>On it came!&nbsp; Bloodshot eyes rolling, fetid breath issuing from a great, cavernous maw from which spittle dribbled and dripped, splashing to sizzle upon the dusty stone.&nbsp; In its hand, it held a human femur bone, and seemed fully intent and eager to beat Atalanta to death with it.<br><br>Its very footsteps shook the stone of the great labyrinth causing tiny pebbles and dust to fall from the ceiling with each mighty footfall.&nbsp; It paused, looming over its victim, ready to devour her.<br><br>Suddenly, out of the darkness, something whistled through the air! And with a rush, a stone collided heavily with the skull of the mighty Minotaur.&nbsp; The sound it made was a staccato percussion that reverbrated through the drafty corridor.&nbsp; It reeled, stumbling back, its expression confused; then, seeming to regain sense, it snarled and roared in anger.&nbsp; It turned away from the girl, peering into the darkness, toward its unknown assailant.<br><br>Against all probability, out of the darkness stepped a man.&nbsp; He must have seemed like Adonis himself with his finely sculpted arms, well-defined chest, and olive complexion.&nbsp; His hair was very fair, the color of wheat; his cheeks were beardless.&nbsp; <br><br>Its eyes narrowing, the Minotaur lunged.&nbsp; The man dodged aside, with preternatural speed, and sunk what appeared to be a xiphos, or short sword, into its torso underneath its arm.&nbsp; With a wet, fleshy ripping sound, the blade drew a spray of blood from its flank.&nbsp; &nbsp;It snarled, and attempted to grab him, but he was too quick, wriggling out of the beast's grasp.&nbsp; He stabbed again, this time catching the monster in the leg.&nbsp; <br><br>The minotaur bellowed a blood-curdling yell of rage and pain and charged.&nbsp; This time the man was not quite quick enough, and the mighty bulk of the monster crushed him into the wall.&nbsp; That appeared to be the end for Atalanta's rescuer.<br><br>However, the man was not beaten yet.&nbsp; Holding the creature's jaw aloft with one hand, he drove the sharp point of the xiphos into its neck, stabbing again and again, cutting open the thing's throat.&nbsp; It fell to its knees, gasping, opening and closing a jaw that produced no sound but a wet burble.&nbsp; Its slayer watched it carefully, keeping his hold on the massive snout, until the bloodshot eyes glazed and it fell forward with the motion of a giant collapsing.<br><br>Slowly, the hero brushed off his knees, and walked, limping slightly, to where Atalanta stood gaping.&nbsp; There was blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, but this did not seem to faze him overmuch; he was bruised, but not beaten.&nbsp; He wiped his mouth, and stood, breathing heavily, staring wordlessly at the girl.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>30-06-2010, 15:18:50</strong>
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				Death was not something Atalanta was ready for when she departed Athens, yet in that dark, damp labyrinthe prison, with dried blood in patches on the walls, she felt like perhaps she was ready to die. The way the minotaur killed was unknown to her, but she hoped that the tales of the monster feasting on living sacrifices would not be true. <em>Oh, Artemis, please end my torment right now with an arrow.</em>And she wept.<br><br>As it approached her, Atalanta backed into a stone wall - a dead-end - trying vainly to escape or find some kind of weapon. While there were splotches of blood&nbsp; all around her, there was not a single bone. The minotaur clearly had some sort of lair in this maze where he kept all of such...objects. "This must be a dead-end that caught previous sacrifices...and I am to die on top of their makeshift graves," she choked back for tears. Let it all end.<br><br>Yet, just as the minotaur was about to devour a kicking, punching and screaming Atalanta, something - or someone - whirled from the darkness. It struck the monstrous half-man, half-bull right in its skull, and surprisingly the minotaur seemed to be surprised at that. Surely, the minotaur itself was aware of all trespassers in its disgusting home? Clearly not this time, as it whirled around and attempted to defend itself from the unknown assailant.<br><br>The flickering torch, illuminating this crevice of the labyrinthe just barely, gave off enough light for Atalanta to see this unknown assailant - or saviour, really. He was outrageously handsome, she noted, and quite good with a sword and his stance. Was he sent by the gods? Was he sent to save her from this fate? The scuffle between the two men - well, one man and one half-man - continued on for a short while, with Atalanta watching helplessly, unable to aide this hero. <br><br>With a devastating slash at the beast's throat, followed by its vain gurgling as blood poured all over the ground of the minotaur's home, it all seemed to be over. Yet, who was this man that had saved her? How did he arrive? Why? Atalanta had so many questions that she desperately wanted answered.<br><br>"Wh-who are you?" Was all Atalanta could croak out, her dark green eyes staring at him in complete and utter shock. Her long locks of that unusual dark red hair - said to be the colour of Aphrodite's - were matted and knotted from the excursion to Crete. She was fair-skinned, but obviously able to survive the hot sun of the Aegean Sea, judging by only a single nasty burn on her shoulder. While she had the hair of Aphrodite, it was obvious that she was more fond of Artemis, wearing a rather simple - and nearly boyish - chiton that was just above her knee. If she were to die in the labyrinthe, Atalanta at least wanted to die comfortable and able to move around. As she gaped at her hero, she could not help but girlishly chew on her lip admiringly. Even if he had not saved her from a legendary monster, he was still unbelievably handsome. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>30-06-2010, 20:55:17</strong>
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				And he was handsome.&nbsp; His features looked as if they had been carved by the Olympians themselves; Pythagoreas would have dropped his stylus in wonder and amazement.&nbsp; His hair, as previously mentioned, was light gold, the color of a wheat field at harvest time.&nbsp; His eyes, as he drew closer, were an amazingly vibrant blue, the color of the sea when it was calm and tranquil.&nbsp; Truely, this was a figure that could have matched Theseus, Jason, or Heracles in terms of heroic profile.&nbsp; His mystique, surely, was not lessened by the fact that he had just slain the fearsome Minotaur of Crete armed with nothing but a sling and a <em>xiphos</em>.&nbsp; He wore nothing but a pair of Greek sandals and a light blue exomis (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4174966913_9390f79044_b.jpg) which hung casually from his shoulder. <br><br>"I'm Walter," he said, catching his breath at last.&nbsp; He tilted his head to the side, studying the girl for a moment--<br><br>--and then he crouched, bending at the knees, balancing upon the balls of his feet, to examine her legs.&nbsp; Apropos of nothing, he reached out, running his hand along her calf, from her ankle to the back of her knee.&nbsp; He felt up her other leg in the same way, and then, without so much as a by-your-leave, tugged at the hem of her chiton and peered up it.&nbsp; While Atalanta no doubt reeled in shock, he snuck his arm up the backs of her thighs, and lightly swatted her bare buttocks.<br><br>He seemed to be pleased with his tactile inspection of her body, for he said, simply, "you'll do."&nbsp; And with that, he hefted the girl over his shoulder, bearing her like a sack of grain, and began to amble back in the direction from which he'd come.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>30-06-2010, 21:28:35</strong>
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				It was hard not to stare at him. She found herself stealing glances at those deep blue eyes, that flaxen, beautiful hair, his sculpted, tanned body, his muscled arms--<br><br>His name was Walter? Certainly an unusual name, even humorous sounding, yet it did not tarnish his allure. He truly was a wonderful specimen of a man. Perhaps Aphrodite herself had sent him here, to save her from the vile monster of Crete, and to marry her. That would certainly be a blessing. Of course, Atalanta was a tomboy in certain manners, at least in personality -- she was not that intrigued with the concept of marriage in general, yet with such a handsome, kind-looking, heroic man coming to sweep her off her feet, perhaps she could be persuaded, especially if it was the god's will.<br><br>And then he began inspecting her. Atalanta crinkled her face in slight distaste at his boldness, yet she thought that he was searching for any possible injuries. Yes, that had to be it.<br><br>Or so she thought, until he peeked up her chiton like a perverse boy! She yelped and tried to swat his hand away, but the only response to that was a stinging smack on her rear. The girl tried to kick at him and push him away, her cheeks bright red with embarrassment and shock. What was this man doing? He had to be absolutely insane! <br><br>She kicked, punched, scratched and screamed when he heaved her over his shoulder effortlessly - just like she had planned to fight the minotaur - yet it did not seem overly effective. Atalanta was headstrong, stubborn and fierce, and was not about to lie there idly on top of him like some chit. "Put me down this instant, you lummox! I am not a toy to be trifled with! I am the daughter of a Athenian politician-" that hadn't saved her from being sacrificed, "and a priestess-in-training to Artemis! Get your hands <strong>off</strong> of me!" 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 01:47:52</strong>
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				From her current position bent double over the shoulder of the "hero", it was difficult to put much force into her hits and kicks.&nbsp; It didn't seem to have much of an effect anyway; struggling against that massive arm was like trying to kick down a full-grown oak tree. Her nails scratched satisfyingly over his bare chest, leaving red furrows in the skin, but it didn't faze him.&nbsp; Instead, he seemed more puzzled by her behaviour than annoyed.&nbsp; "I don't understand why you're so unhappy," he told her, as he trudged along.&nbsp; "I rescued you from that monster; thus, you are now my slave.&nbsp; It's perfectly reasonable.&nbsp; Instead of being devoured by the Minotaur, you now get to serve a son of Zeus."&nbsp; &nbsp;He said this confidently, happily, as if it would make all the difference.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I've read about the other heroes in the ancient texts.&nbsp; Whenever they rescued a maiden, they got to do with her whatever they desired."<br><br>As he walked, he would stop occasionally to study the walls; if Atalanta was particularly observant, she might notice that there were small white chalk marks in conspicious places.&nbsp; Presumably, he had kept track of his progress by making a mark on the wall as he passed; if his path took him to a dead end, he would simply rub the chalk mark out and return to the previous junction.<br><br>He seemed self-confident, self-satisfied, full of purpose and idealism, to an extent which resembled self-centredness.&nbsp; It wasn't exactly malicious selfishness, perhaps, although from Atalanta's position, it was understandably hard to see the difference.<br><br>Eventually, he reached a hub, or junction, in the maze, from which the various corridors branched out from the axis like spokes on a wheel.&nbsp; He walked a circuit around the chamber, expecting to see one of his chalk marks, and seemed surprised when he did not.&nbsp; After making a second circuit, he set the girl down, and scratched at the red nail-marks on his chest, frowning faintly.&nbsp; "I don't get it," he said.&nbsp; "I remember this room. I remember passing here."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 03:10:11</strong>
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				He was a strong and durable man, which made Atalanta's attempts at escapes simply look petulant. Not like that stopped her, however, but after a few minutes of flailing around wildly like a fish out of water, she simply resigned herself to clawing at him as hard as she could. Perhaps then he'd somehow loosen his grip in annoyance, then she could attempt to squirm free and...go where? Atalanta sighed bitterly. He seemed to have some sort of system of navigating the labyrinthe, yet even the so-called hero did not know how to escape very easily. Surely her attempts would be no better, and being alone in this prison, to possibly die of thirst, would be extremely unpleasant.<br><br>She blinked at his explanation and ceased her clawing. Slave? <em>When heroes rescued maidens, they got to do whatever they desired with her?</em> The second half stood out frighteningly so. What did that mean? Surely...no, it could not be something as bold as that! In many of the stories, at least what she was told as a girl, the hero saved the maiden from the monster, and they essentially lived a peaceful, happy live with each other. Most of the time, anyway. Sometimes the heroes weren't the nicest men in existence, but they could never be capable of what he was implying. No matter how much she tried to suppress the growing redness of her cheeks, it would not work.<br><br>Yet he was a son of Zeus? Surely, if he was, then she had some kind of - obligation? - to him. In some manner of speaking. But it still did not seem fair. A life as a slave could be comfortable and relatively pleasant for a few, yet Atalanta loathed the very concept of being demoted to that social status. "I refuse this...proposal! It is outrageous! I am not a slave; I was born a free Athenian, and I am unmarried, therefor I..." she grunted angrily, "belong to my father." Women in Greece did not have the most rights in the world, yet she was glad that she couldn't be taken a slave by any man that trudged along, at least not legally. "I refuse to serve any mortal man! I have taken vows of chastity to Artemis that cannot be broken!" Atalanta glared back at him furiously, although the buffoon likely was not paying attention.<br><br>As she was carried along, in a rather immodest manner, Atalanta simply tried to inspect the labyrinthe and the directions they were going in. Perhaps if she could get away from this man, she could escape on her own, yet if he did not know where to go, surely she would not fair much better. Nonetheless, she was glad when her petite form was put down at the grown, and smirked smugly - as if proudly! - at those small, thin red gashes on his chest that she had given him. "How did you get in here, anyway? I was lowered down. Perhaps we can find some way to get up? And then once we leave, you can gain your fame for slaying the Minotaur, and I can go on my merry way back to Athens. I am sure my father will give you quite the reward for your...noble duty," she said the word with disdain, obviously not very fond of the dashing man any longer, "and you can continue your...whatever you do. Heroic acts as a son of Zeus or whatever that involves." It seemed like quite the favourable deal to Atalanta, surely. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 05:43:21</strong>
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				"Nevertheless," he said, patiently, speaking sidelong to her casually, dismissively, as if to a child, "you are now my slave.&nbsp; I slew the Minotaur; I rescued you.&nbsp; Therefore, you are mine.&nbsp; &nbsp;I will use you as my pillow when I sleep at night; I will make you bathe me every morning.&nbsp; I will...eat grapes...from between your toes?"&nbsp; he looked confused for a moment, as if uncertain of what he was speaking, but was simply reading from some internal script.&nbsp; He shrugged and continued on.&nbsp; "I will lay with you every day, until I tire of that; and then you will bear me many sons.&nbsp; Artemis will understand.&nbsp; After all, I am a son of Zeus!"&nbsp; He repeated that revelation definantly, as if it was his trump card, as if it trumped all other secondary, more minor concerns.<br><br>He continued circling the room; when the search did not produce the chalksign he was looking for, he sat down on a stone and scratched his head.&nbsp; "I'm certain I came this way," he grumbled to himself, but he sounded less sure than before.&nbsp; He glanced her way.&nbsp; "We could escape the way you were lowered in, yes, but that way leads directly into Minos' palace.&nbsp; We would walk directly into the great body of his soldiers.&nbsp; No, the safer way is the other entrance to the maze, the way that Ariadne revealed to me.&nbsp; No-one will be looking for us there."<br><br>He brightened up considerably, as if just having remembered something.&nbsp; "But she shared with me a secret, the secret to navigating the Labyrinth.&nbsp; A ball of thread, thereby to retrace my path."&nbsp; He reached into his exomis, and produced, sure enough, a ball of twine.&nbsp; &nbsp;He held it up, beaming at her, as if he was the cleverest man in the world.<br><br>Who held in his hands a perfect, unwound, ball of string. <br><br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 06:24:04</strong>
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				He was clearly mentally deficient. Or simply insane. There had to be some reason for this. Surely, there had to be some reason for his unnatural handsomeness, yet his intellect was certainly lacking in some regard. She growled under her breath like a trapped feline preparing to pounce and maul. It took all of her patience and discipline not to simply attack him. He was simply <strong>infuriating</strong>! Artemis would <em>understand</em>? Artemis attempted to <em>kill</em> one of her closest followers, Callisto, when the nymph "broke" her vow of chastity when Zeus raped her. Surely, the huntress would not murder her for this, yet it was defiling the very oaths she had taken. Pillow? Bathing? <em>Toe-grape-feeding?</em> It was positively <em>repulsive</em>, and she faintly felt the urge to gag. And...and she certainly was not going to lie with him! Yes, he was handsome, but she would not give herself up for any men any longer, especially not one as irritating as Walter -<em> what a stupid name</em>! "I am going to do no such thing! I am having no sons for any man, much less the likes of...you!" Atalanta did not notice her slightly petulant tone as she stomped her foot childishly. <br><br>Atalanta frowned grumpily at her suggestion being rejected. It did make a certain amount of sense, yet surely King Minos would have to accept that a <em>hero</em> - she could not rightly think of this <em>Walter</em> with such a title! - slew his beast in his famed labyrinth, and that the reign of terror over Athenian families would be over. Yet, there always was a possibility that he would react in an adverse manner, so perhaps that made her suggestion a little too dangerous. <br><br>She rolled her eyes ostentatiously at the foolish man as he produced the ball of twine. Atalanta was quick enough to figure out the reasoning behind it. But, why on earth would the Princess of Crete, Ariadne, aid this repulsive man? Surely he could not trick her with his looks. His true colours had been revealed to her minutes upon their first meeting. "Oh, by the gods, I am sure this will aid us in our escape. It surely must be a magical ball of thread!" Atalanta said, sarcasm dripping from her acrid tongue. His smile was charming, yet she cringed at it. He truly was mentally deficient, somehow. "Please do not tell me that the Princess of Crete fell to your so-called charm, and please tell me that you did not lie with her, and <strong>please</strong> tell me that you did not release your...spawn, into her womb." She shivered at the thought. <br><br>"I am leaving! You are too idiotic to get out of this labyrinthe, and clearly I am more qualified than you are for escape. I will simply find that hatch to King Minos's palace. They surely will not kill their innocent maiden sacrifice when they find out that some buffoon killed their monster!" And with that, Atalanta haughtily turned around, attempting to stride off into the darkness, muttering numerous obscenities under her breath, frequently matched with "Walter". 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 20:48:57</strong>
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				Atalanta wasn't the first to believe Walter to be worryingly deficient in his mental faculties.&nbsp; He'd often given people that impression, upon the first time meeting him.&nbsp; And, indeed, he was amazingly, almost unbelievably simple in some respects. But then, when you're the son of the king of the gods, the Lord of the Heavens and the wielder of lightning, you didn't have to be a deep thinker.&nbsp; Especially when you went around looking like Walter did.<br><br>"No, look, it's simple," he called out, to the girl's retreating back.&nbsp; "I simply tie one end of the string around something at the entrance, and then unwind it as I go.&nbsp; And then, when I want to get back, all I have to do is follow...oh."<br><br>There was a short, embarrassed pause, while Walter's ears caught up with his mouth.&nbsp; He coughed, hurriedly, and stuffed the ball back into his exomis.&nbsp; "Look, it doesn't matter, anyway.&nbsp; I marked my progress with chalk; all we have to do is find the signs, and they'll lead us out.&nbsp; Hey! Where are you going?"<br><br>He jumped to his feet, jogging after her.&nbsp; Catching up, he grabbed her by the elbow, whirling around to face him.<br><br>"I told you; you're my slave.&nbsp; You have to do what I say, okay?&nbsp; That's how these things go.&nbsp; Hero rescues girl, hero has his way with girl, everybody wins.&nbsp; Why are you so stubborn?&nbsp; Look at Zeus.&nbsp; Constantly changing himself into a bull, or an eagle, or something in order to lie with a mortal woman.&nbsp; Do you think they resisted? No, it was an <em>honor</em> to be chosen by the king of the gods!"<br><br>His crystal blue eyes sought out her green ones, imploring her to understand.&nbsp; No, not imploring; <em>explaining</em>.&nbsp; It was if he was trying to explain why the sky was blue or why it got cold and dark for three months out of the year.&nbsp; Some women just didn't know what was good for them.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>01-07-2010, 23:55:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta threw up her hands in disgust at the man's lack of wits and intellect. Surely, a son of Zeus could not be so imbecilic. Zeus himself could be a little lacking, as well; he got caught having affairs with mortal women often enough, after all. Yet a son of an Olympian, especially the King of the Gods himself, could not be as simple as Walter. Atalanta believed that he had to be lying. Although, in the physical sense, he did look similar to a god...the thought of that brought heat to her cheeks again. <em>Stop acting like a foolish chit, Atalanta!</em><br><br>The pause was quite humiliating for Walter, which caused Atalanta to smirk triumphantly as she walked away from him. Yet, he had the nerve to catch up to her and grabbed her arm! She swung around in a flash, attempting to slap him across his face. "Shut up, you hairy-eared oaf! I do not have to do anything, and I am not your slave, so stop saying that nonsense. This situation is not <em>winning</em> for me. I'd rather spend an eternity in Tartarus than spend any of my living moments with <em>you</em>!" Atalanta gave him another haughty sneer and tried to jerk herself free.<br><br>He had the nerve to bring up his so-called father's escapades? Truly he did not know much about the stories! Males could have such selective hearing when it came to the affairs of the immortals. "Are you truly a fool? Zeus has forced himself onto many women before! And you are not a king of the gods, either. In fact, I doubt your very deity patronage! Surely the son of Zeus himself would not be so idiotic! Choose someone else to be your slave!" Atalanta did not realize until she had stopped talking that she had been screaming and hollering every word out at the man. That brought more heat to her cheeks, from outrage and embarrassment, yet she tried to squirm away anyway.<br><br>That look he was giving her was so unbelievably condescending and uncomfortable that she desperately tried to look away, and even more desperately tried to run away from the buffoon. <br><br>Atalanta wished that the Minotaur had devoured her instead of this <em>Walter</em> coming along! 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 00:31:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter was completely unprepared for the slap; after all, had he not told her that he was her master?&nbsp; What kind of slave tried to strike her master? It made no sense at all!&nbsp; Her palm connected with his cheek with a flat, meaty sound, and left a satisfying red mark on his handsome visage in the shape of her hand.&nbsp; He blinked, and seemed more shocked by the very idea that she would do something like that than by any pain it might have caused.<br><br>"Clearly, you need discipline," he growled.&nbsp; "If you are going to act as a child, then I will treat you as a child."&nbsp; Seizing her shoulders, he dropped down to one knee, forcibly bending her over his other leg.&nbsp; Her chiton rode up, exposing her bare bottom once again;&nbsp; he raised his hand, then brought it down hard and forcefully against her skin.&nbsp; <em>Smack!</em>&nbsp; The sound reverberated around the confines of the labyrinth, echoing off the walls and floor.&nbsp; As the bruise had colored his cheek, so too did it redden her ass and sting most unpleasantly.&nbsp; He spanked her a couple more times, to drive the point home.<br><br>She might scream and shriek herself hoarse, for all the good that it would do her.&nbsp; The only other living thing around to hear it had been killed by Walter's blade, and even if Minos and the Minoan soldiers had heard her, they would not care.&nbsp; They might just think it was the minotaur devouring its latest victim.<br><br>Despite himself, Walter was fascinated by how soft, how smooth and youthful Atalanta's derriere was, and let his fingers linger there. He caressed and tickled her bum, his smaller fingers once or twice brushing accidentally against the outer edges of her womanhood.<br><br>"All right," he said, at last, once he had sufficiently amused himself.&nbsp; "We'll climb out through the way you were dropped in.&nbsp; We'll just have to deal with Minos and his guards as the time comes.&nbsp; Do you remember how to get back to the chamber by which you entered?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>02-07-2010, 01:19:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				By the smug look on Atalanta's face, she was clearly quite pleased that she had been able to hit her so-called master successfully, and with enough strength to actually leave a mark. She was surprisingly strong for her slim form - diminutive compared to Walter's, really - although Atalanta knew she was no match for the man, even if she refused to accept that. That satisfied look faded from her face when the man grabbed her gruffly and unceremoniously bent her over his knee and began to smack her behind!<br><br>She thrashed around, kicked and screamed, as if she truly were a rowdy child receiving punishment from an elder. Yet, no matter how hard she flailed around, she was not able to escape his iron-like grasp. "I...I am not a child! Stop it!" Atalanta wailed, even embarrassingly trying to cover her rear with her hands, as if that would somehow shield it from his stinging strikes. Atalanta had been a spoiled girl, for the most part, back in Athens, and hadn't received a spanking since she had truly been a small child. This was positively humiliating, being so exposed to a stranger she already despised, and receiving a <em>punishment</em> from him. He had no right! <br><br>Yet, even if he had no <em>right</em>, he still had enough brute strength to do whatever he wanted with her, which was a disturbing thought for Atalanta indeed.&nbsp; Once he finally stopped, Atalanta lied slumped over his knee like a doll, breathing heavily and crying slightly. It did hurt quite a bit, yet the tears were mostly from her fury and frustration that she could not escape and had gone through this ordeal. Truly, she wished that Minotaur had devoured her instead of <em>this</em>. "I loathe you..." She murmured angrily, yet she did not try to squirm, surprisingly. After such a long day, and all of this trauma, the girl felt quite fatigued. Atalanta was smart and decided it would be best to conserve her energy for times when it would be useful.<br><br>Atalanta did not possess the curvaceous, plump figure that drew some men wild with lust, yet she was far from being unattractive. She was quite lithe, and actually very fit, with a pert yet definitely womanly rear. It had not seen any paddling or smacks in years, so it had maintained its unblemished, smooth exterior - or, well, unblemished until Walter got his hands on it - and had been a sight many boys back in Athens snuck a peak at when she was not being particularly mindful while running around in her chiton. Nonetheless, even if she was exhausted, his groping brought the outrage out in her once again. Her face was so red it looked like she was about to die from shame and anger. "Stop touching me, you lecher! I...I'm a priestess of Artemis, no man is to see my body like this, unless the Lady of the Hunt decides otherwise!" Atalanta felt so ashamed that she had not been able to uphold the vows she had taken to the goddess, yet how could she in this situation?<br><br>Being with Walter was absolutely miserable so far, yet she did want to get out of this terrifying labyrinthe. While she would never admit it, she was somewhat glad to have him with her. It was unnerving in this endless darkness. At least he finally agreed to her plan, as his surely would not work. "I...I guess so..." Atalanta muttered angrily. She decided it would be smartest to cooperate - at least somewhat - and then try to gain her freedom later. Surely, King Minos and his guards would be able to get her out of this situation. She was not some commoner to be taken hostage by a maniac! 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>03-07-2010, 06:52:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Although a woman with curvy, matronly hips and ample breasts was the physical ideal for a woman in ancient Greece, Walter had to admit that the priestess of Artemis wasn't such a bad catch herself.&nbsp; Although broad hips meant a good physique for child-bearing (which was always an attractive quality in a woman) there was always something to be said for one who kept herself in good shape through consistent exercise.&nbsp; Perhaps she took after Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, who was said to be untouchable by any man or god.&nbsp; This, perhaps, gave rise to another name for the followers of Artemis -- and they mostly lived on the island of Lesbos.<br><br>Nevertheless, all of this was lost on Walter, who could admire a shapely leg when he saw one. And Atalanta certainly had fine legs; he found himself wanting to run his hands up and down them over and over.&nbsp; Well, she was his slave, wasn't he?&nbsp; There would be plenty of time for that later.<br><br>But for now, he had other, more pressing concerns.&nbsp; Releasing her, he dug into his exomis, and produced the yarn once more.&nbsp; "If we can tie this into a many-stranded rope," he began, "it might support our weight.&nbsp; But first, we must find the aperture by which you entered.&nbsp; Do you remember where it is?&nbsp; If we wait until nightfall, there will not be many guards and we can make our escape."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>04-07-2010, 17:31:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Experiencing Walter eyeing - and groping! - her legs had been utterly humiliating for Atalanta. He seemed to inspect her as if she were a skinned hog at the market, ready for sale. It truly infuriated her, yet she held back her fiery temper, or at least tried. She still clung onto the possibility that she could gain her freedom once she escaped the labyrinthe, ideally through Minos and his guards. While escaping at night lessened that possibility, Atalanta knew she had a strong pair of lungs on her and could scream quite loudly. Besides, even if she vaguely remembered where she was lowered down, it would likely take a few hours to find that location. <br><br>His plan with the yarn caused her to roll her eyes and shrug carelessly at him. Truly, Atalanta did not care if the hydra itself stepped out of a corner of the labyrinthe and devoured her whole. Did he really think that yarn would be able to support <em>him</em>? Perhaps if he could actually tie a strong knot, but the thought of this Walter doing anything that required wits was impossible. "That yarn may be able to support me, but I doubt it will be able to support you. You aren't exactly as light as a feather, you fat oaf," Atalanta jabbed him in the stomach to emphasis her point. He truly was not fat, yet he certainly was heavy enough. "Yes. I think I can find it, as long as you let me walk freely and avoid molesting me any longer." And with that, Atalanta looked away in disdain and pointed to one of the many corridors in the labyrinthe. <br><br>"I think it is that way. Unlike you, I managed to watch where I was going when you lugged me around like a sack of grain." Atalanta glared at Walter. She had always been rather careless about her tongue - it had frequently gotten her in trouble in the past - yet Atalanta did not care right then. She had faced death, then she faced short-lived heroism and possibly <em>love</em>, and then it all went downhill as she faced utter idiocy, lecherousness and crudeness. She surely would not speak respectfully to this man, son of Zeus or not!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>04-07-2010, 19:41:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter did not seem to mind the endless insults.&nbsp; He did raise an eyebrow every time she fired off an acrid retort or sharp-tongued criticism, as if he could not seem to understand why a slave would talk that way about her master.&nbsp; It puzzled him; like the labyrinth, she was a particularly devious enigma, one that he could perhaps unravel with enough time, care, and patience.&nbsp; Still, as long as she did what he said, he did not mind if she cursed him until her tongue rotted and turned into ash.&nbsp; Although, granted, he was beginning to wish that that very thing would occur.&nbsp; By the gods, she was a shrew!&nbsp; A witch with a mouth said to rival even Hera herself.&nbsp; It was no wonder Zeus was always sneaking off to have his amorous trysts.<br><br>He did not even mind when she poked or scratched him.&nbsp; He had faced much worse, after all.&nbsp; He had faced shrieking harpies (although, sometimes, Atalanta rather reminded him of one), a chimera, and now the Minotaur.&nbsp; A mere chit of a girl hitting him with her fists and kicking him with her feet wasn't going to faze him.<br><br>"Well, I'll raise you up, then," said Walter, surfacing from his thoughts, "and you can find a rope or something to lower down to me so I can follow you. "&nbsp; As much as he hated to admit it, she was right: even if he knotted the string several times, it would probably not support his weight.<br><br>With the girl as his guide, he followed her through the winding passages and twisting corridors -- pausing to stop occasionally and mark an "X" on a wall with a piece of chalk as he went.&nbsp; He hoped she knew where she was going; the chalk, by now, had been worn down to a nub.<br><br>When they entered a large, circular chamber, strewn with bones, scraps of rags, and fragments of rubble, it appeared that his faith in her was not misplaced.&nbsp; There was a aperture set high in the ceiling, a round portal; through it, Walter could see the light of many torches burning.&nbsp; It, presumably, was the way by which they could gain entrance into the palace.<br><br>"I do not see anything up there to secure the string," he said.&nbsp; "It looks like I'll have to throw you up." He stooped, interlacing his fingers together, making out of his hands a stirrup for Atalanta's foot.&nbsp; "Ready?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>05-07-2010, 00:22:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was quite proud of her sharp wit, and her whip or a tongue, so naturally after every insult and jab - some literal! - she seemed quite satisfied with herself, nearly petulant so. She seemed equally surprised as Walter was, although her shock came from the fact that the man did not seem to react to her digs at him at all. That did irritate her slightly; often it was more satisfying when one showed their dislike of her insults, yet at least she could continue her onslaught in peace, without any bizarre...punishments. The mere thought coloured her cheeks once again, which only fanned the flames of her temper further.<br><br>The girl nodded at his idea to lift her to the opening. After all, surely she would be able to simply run off and escape without him, leaving him down in that terrifying labyrinthe. It seemed like an unpleasant fate, even for him, yet Atalanta tried to convince herself that the Cretans would not leave him to die. He was a hero, in a vague way, since he killed the dreadful Minotaur. <br><br>It was difficult to find the area where Atalanta had been lowered down, yet she vaguely knew where she was going. When she was prepared to die at the hands of the Minotaur, she had paid close attention to all the twists and turns that she had taken. It helped calm her at the time, and her sharp memory was quite helpful in escaping this bizarre prison. <br><br>Finally, they entered the familiar clearing, and Atalanta sighed with relief. Not only that she had managed to find the way out, but that she had somewhat proved herself to Walter that she knew where she was going. She laughed quietly in delight when she could see the small exit above, with light pouring out of it. It was truly a beautiful sight, after being stuck in the labyrinthe. <br><br>Offering to toss Atalanta up seemed the most practical solution to the girl, yet she was a little hesitant. Was this man smart enough to not miss? She'd rather not die because a man had insufficient aim and smashed her skull into the stone ceiling. "I suppose so..." Atalanta chewed her bottom lip nervously, yet she walked forward obediently, putting one of her feet in his hands. Atalanta had quite a pretty pair of feet. They were petite and soft, although they were a little dirty from the excursion in the labyrinthe. "I swear on Artemis that if you miss the exit and throw me into the ceiling instead that I'll haunt you for eternity," Atalanta said dryly, although she did give him a faint - and surprisingly genuine - smile! <br><br>Atalanta was starting to feel the guilt of what she was going to do once he helped her escape this prison. <br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>05-07-2010, 23:05:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Don't worry. I won't miss," said Walter, confidently.&nbsp; And of course he couldn't miss. He was Walter, the hero! Son of Zeus!&nbsp; When faced with tasks -- however admittedly difficult -- like throwing a petulant princess through a hole in the ceiling, heroes like Walter didn't end up cracking her pretty skull against the stone.&nbsp; They just didn't.&nbsp; That's not how the stories went.&nbsp; <br><br>As she stepped into his hands, Walter found himself amazed by how soft and aesthetically pleasing her foot was.&nbsp; Although she bore the temperament of a spoiled Athenian noblewoman, she had the legs of a runner (much like her namesake), and it was something of a surprise that she managed to possess such shapely arches, such perfect toes.&nbsp; He found himself staring a bit longer than he had intended.<br><br>But the task called. Forcing his attention to the gap, he calculated the trajectory, judging distance, arc, and speed.&nbsp; Or so he thought.&nbsp; In actuality, he was probably just going to wing it.&nbsp; It's probably a good thing Atalanta didn't know that.&nbsp; At least he seemed to know what he was doing, judging by the intense look of concentration on his face.<br><br>Finally, at long last, he knew what he had to do.&nbsp; "Ready?" he asked.&nbsp; Before she could respond, he heaved, lifting her up as fast as his massive arms could lift.&nbsp; With a mighty yank, he tossed her upwards, toward the aperture.<br><br>Atalanta felt herself being thrown abruptly toward the ceiling of the chamber.&nbsp; The hole grew closer and closer; it would appear that, at least in some things, Walter actually did know what he was doing.&nbsp; She was borne through it, although she hit the apex of the toss and would have to reach out and grasp ahold of the edge of the pit, lest she fall back down through it again.<br><br>Around her, the marble pillars of the lowest level of the palace came once more into view.&nbsp; The torches were burning low, inferring that it was currently nighttime.&nbsp; There were no guards; no one had ever escaped from the Labyrinth before.&nbsp; <br><br>However, at the far end of the room, she heard the shuffle of footsteps, and the glow of a lantern peeked around a corner, as a soldier made his nighttime rounds.&nbsp; He had not seen her yet, but that would soon change in a moment.<br><br>Beneath her, Walter was looking hopefully and expectantly upwards, waiting for her to throw something down so he could climb up.&nbsp; By the expression on his face, it was obvious that it had never even crossed his mind that she would not.&nbsp; She was his personal slave, after all.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>05-07-2010, 23:34:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was not as confident with Walter's assurance, yet she found herself oddly more comfortable. This man was a lecher, but he seemed brutish enough to throw her through a hole properly. Besides, he had incentive, as he would not escape the labyrinthe very easily without her lowering down a ladder or rope for him to climb out. Perhaps Minos would not mind letting the man go free that killed his Minotaur, yet Atalanta was sure no one would want to gamble that. <br><br>She felt him - and saw him! - eyeing and even groping her feet a little, which caused Atalanta to sigh bitterly under her breath. She took such pride in her feet, washing, trimming and maintaining their pleasant appearance, although having Walter of all people notice and appreciate it seemed a little <em>too</em> ironic for her to appreciate. Hardly anyone seemed to notice her lovely feet that she took such pride in, or her legs, except now the man she despised was her chief fan in that regard! The gods were surely laughing at this debacle. <br><br>Of course he decided to launch her upwards at a staggering speed before allowing her to respond! Men were always so hasty and impatient, and clearly this oaf was no different. Thankfully, Atalanta was rather spry from her running and busy duties to Artemis, so she did not fumble very much at all when she reached the top of the opening, her arms heaving the rest of her body up rather effortlessly. The girl felt a shot of pride and excitement go through her body; she had surely not done <em>anything</em> that <em>fun</em> back in Athens! She was also greatly pleased that for once, her nimbleness was actually put to use. <br><br>She did not have much time to savour the moment other than to smile, and that smile faded just as soon as she realized that the chamber was not going to be unoccupied for long. Her mind clawed at the possibilites of what she should do. Should be approach the guard, calling for help and claiming that the Minotaur was slain, and that some insane man had attempted to enslave her? Or, should she attempt to hide from the man and think out her plan even more, and perhaps slip away into the darkness of night? There was the third possibility, the one that she did not think much about, of lowering down the nearby rope ladder into the labyrinthe for his escape. That was something that she quickly glossed over as idiotic. <br><br>Atalanta scrambled to her feet, surprisingly quiet for a woman of noble birth that likely did not need to move around quietly, and attempted to jump behind one of the elegant marble pillars in the room, hopefully out of the guard's patrol and sight. She truly did not care what Walter thought of her suddenly disappearing, although she hoped the lummox wouldn't reveal that she was above ground to the guard - and hopefully he wouldn't make a sound at all! <br><br>She found herself chewing her bottom lip nervously, a habit she never got rid of, as she hid behind that slim pillar hoping that the guard would not see her, and that Walter would remain quiet. What she would do once the man left, she did not know, although surely she could come up with a plan of escape, to return back to Athens. Her life there was pleasant, and while it was often boring, she did enjoy her service to Artemis greatly, and was looking forward to becoming a full priestess. It was said the the followers of Artemis could be chosen to go on grand adventures, sometimes with the Lady of the Hunt herself, and while Atalanta knew they were probably just stories and not for an aspiring priestess like herself, she had always dreamt of a life like that. Perhaps Artemis's favour would grow for Atalanta once the goddess learned that she had survived the Minotaur, and perhaps the goddess herself had saved her. Although, Atalanta hoped that the goddess had not chosen this man specifically. He certainly wasn't the hero of legend that she had in mind. <br><br>However, Artemis did seem to enjoy irony quite a bit. Perhaps she sent Atalanta Walter so that the girl's chastity and virginity would be ensured for life. After her encounter with Walter, Atalanta was ready to swear off men altogether! Lady Artemis was surely enjoying this indeed. <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>06-07-2010, 07:48:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Surprisingly, Walter did indeed remain quiet while the soldier walked his rounds.&nbsp; From her hiding place behind the pillar, she heard the guard's footsteps--slow, steady, measured--as he plodded across the room, to the hole she'd just crawled out of moments before.&nbsp; The island of torch-light followed him as well, for she could see the shadows of the pillars drift across the room as the torch moved.&nbsp; From the sound of things, the soldier had walked right up to the hole to the Labyrinth!<br><br>There was a pause, a dangerous pause, that could only mean the soldier was glancing down into the maze, where Walter surely waited.&nbsp; The pause seemed to extend far too long.&nbsp; What if he saw Walter?&nbsp; Would he raise the alarm?&nbsp; Would all Atalanta's avenues of escape be cut off?<br><br>Then the soldier's footsteps resumed, and the torch began to move back in the direction from which it had come.&nbsp; Could it be a miracle? Was Artemis looking after her?&nbsp; She risked a peek and saw the back of his himation, or cloak, sweeping the floor behind his sandals.&nbsp; Then he turned a corner, bearing his torch with him, and was gone.<br><br>When the near-darkness returned, she heard a voice from the hole in the ground, of someone not very good at speaking quietly trying to do just that.&nbsp; "Pisst!" said the hole.&nbsp; "Pisst!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>06-07-2010, 13:51:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was admittedly terrified as the guard surveyed the area, and his departure felt like it had lasted many hours. When she finally saw the man roaming away, she let out a relieved sigh, and slumped against the pillar in a more casual stance. She had done it! Surely, there were not any guards that would come along so soon after this one. Who could have escaped the deadly Labyrinth? Of course, she did not have long to savour her freedom and triumph, when she heard a certain someone attempting to whisper rather crudely.<br><br>Rolling her eyes skyward - and she could see the sky, to some extent! - Atalanta walked quietly over to the hole, glancing down and frowning at the man below. Truly, she did feel at least a <em>little</em> bad for leaving him down there, but it was his own fault for being so insane. If he had been a true hero of legend, one that would surely want to marry her and go on adventures with her - or, well, she'd insist on going with him and sharing the fun! - and they'd live happily ever after. Except, Walter was not this hero that she had dreamt up. He wanted to <em>enslave</em> her! <br><br>"I am sorry, Walter, but I'm not going to let you out of there. You have been persistent that you would enslave me, and I am not interested in such a fate. You will have to find your own way out. I'm sure it won't be difficult, with your claim to heroism." <br><br>Atalanta knew that she should have just ran off and not spoken to the man, yet she felt such a stab of guilt that she had to at least tell him what she was going to do. It truly was a shame that he was so insane. "If only you were not mad, Walter. Truly, I would have helped you then." Although, there was another urge that Atalanta had, that she couldn't quite suppress.<br><br>"Do not defy Lady Artemis or underestimate her followers, Walter. Perhaps you'll learn a lesson in humility from this, you big fat oaf." Atalanta had a smug smirk on her pretty face, and clearly looked proud of herself for thinking up of this plan.<br><br>She turned around slowly, obviously thinking of sneaking out of the palace right then and there. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>09-07-2010, 07:53:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The look on Walter's face as she bid her less-than-fond farewells was probably something that would haunt her for at least a day or two.&nbsp; It wasn't that he seemed hurt, or angry; no, his face remained perfectly blank.&nbsp; If anything, his eyebrows knit together in confusion, as if he simply couldn't understand, couldn't <em>fathom</em> that she would leave him behind.&nbsp; Obviously it never even crossed his mind, the big dumb trusting lummox.&nbsp; When she turned away, he was still staring upward with that same expectant, faintly confused, hopeful expression, as if she would suddenly exclaim "just kidding!" and find a rope to lower for him, after all.<br><br>She heard nothing behind her as she walked away from the hole.&nbsp; Of all the heroes of legend--Perseus, Heracles, Theseus, Jason--the hero that came for her had to have the brains of a bull, didn't he?&nbsp; Granted, he <em>did</em> have the strength of one to match...<br><br>Still, it was no time to dwell on Walter.&nbsp; Anyone who could slay such a fearful beast as the Minotaur surely wouldn't succumb to a mere maze.&nbsp; There were more important things to worry about, anyway.&nbsp; Such as how to escape from the palace, sneak out without anyone noticing, make it down to the quay, steal a boat, and find her way back home!<br><br>The palace was expansive and opulent; she had scarce before seen its like.&nbsp; The only structure that came close to it in Athens was the Acropolis, with its temples to the various gods of Olympus, and its sheer rock face.&nbsp; There was more marble here, and more gold, than any kingdom had a right to have!&nbsp; Elaborate, exquisite statues of men and fantastic creatures stared stonily at her in Ionic alcoves and atop marble plinths.&nbsp; <br><br>The trickling sound of water made her think that maybe there was a fissure in the palace roof, some crack in Minos' grand dwelling after all; however, as she crept along the darkened promenades, she discovered that the source of the sound was actually from a fountain.&nbsp; A fountain, <em>within</em> the structure! Such luxury!&nbsp; From its twinkling depths, orange and silver fish winked at her.<br><br>Atalanta was so entranced by the fish that she didn't notice the footsteps behind her until it was too late.<br><br>"Isn't it a bit late to be about the palace, my lady?&nbsp; Couldn't you sleep?"<br><br>For a heart-stopping second, it almost sounded like it was Walter.&nbsp; But it couldn't be; the accent was Minoan, the syllables too clipped.&nbsp; She whirled around to face a man clad in the himation and bronze armor of a palace guard.&nbsp; As he looked back at her, his expression faded from polite helpfulness to startled suspicion.<br><br>"Here, you're not Princess Ariadne!" said the guard, reaching for something on his belt.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>11-07-2010, 16:05:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter's face was indeed surprisingly haunting -- he still seemed blissfully ignorant of her abandoning him in the Labyrinth, yet it was as if the man did not understand this possibility at all. It was a little amusing to Atalanta, she had to admit, but the look of childlike stupidity on Walter's visage did stab more guilt into her. Surely, he'd still get out. He had to. He was an idiot, but he had enough brute strength to escape, as well as...charm. Atalanta did not like to think of him as handsome, but he surely was, outstandingly so.<br><br>The palace was indeed luxurious and breathtakingly beautiful. Atalanta was not fond of high class Athenian politics, scheming and snobbery, yet she found herself appreciating the architecture and sheer beauty of King Minos's palace. The fountain was one such beauty that she could not simply ignore, and Atalanta found herself idly admiring the beautiful fish that swam inside. After all, she had to stop to ponder her situation and her plan of escape, and she may as well look at something wonderful while she did that...<br><br>Except, perhaps it should not have been done right in the open. She had been so foolishly enthralled by the beauty of this place that she had not heard the guard approaching, and hadn't even bothered to think up of a plan before she spun around to stare at him, dumbfounded. "The Minotaur has been slain!" Atalanta screeched, and did not wait for the guard to decide what to make of <em>that</em>, running away at a surprisingly fast speed for a woman. Her namesake would surely be honoured by that, Atalanta thought fondly.<br><br>Yet, as she sprinted away from the guard, Atalanta was going so frighteningly fast that she did not notice a slight elevation in the tiles of the palace. Her sandals smashed into it, followed by her toes, and then her entire body began to flop down helplessly. She desperately tried to regain her balance and maintain her momentum, but it was of no use. The girl crashed down to the marble floor - onto her hands, thankfully - and hit her head. Her sheer speed did not allow her arms to take all of the force of the fall, and while the skull injury was not fatal, she was surely stunned. Atalanta had been down in the Labyrinth for quite awhile, with no sustenance, and her body felt like the tentacles of an octopus - only capable of thrashing around senselessly.<br><br>The guard was running up behind her, clearly, and Atalanta's ears were ringing that she was not sure if there were more than one set of footsteps. Her vision was blurred and gray, yet she managed to stay conscious. This fall had been utterly humiliating - she could have made such a heroic escape! - and now she had to experience the aftermath of it firsthand. Surely, she would not want to tell Walter about this...<br><br><em>Walter</em>. The thought of him rushed back into her mind, and Atalanta's body unconsciously began to thrash about. She refused to end up with that man again! Surely, King Minos would hear her plea and understand her case. He would not condemn an Athenian noble to the torture of being Walter's companion - nay, no companion, his <em>slave</em>! - and surely she'd be released. Atalanta did not want Walter to die, though surely there would be a way to work out that deal. Atalanta was not as skilled in oratory as a noble Athenian male, but she knew how to get herself out of a bind, usually.<br><br>However, there was always the possibility that she would not be able to escape this situation. The mere thought was aggravating enough. She would submit to no man! "I will not be a slave to anyone!" Atalanta realized she was screaming over and over again as she lied there on the ground.<br><br>Why had her escape been foiled by simple tripping? It seemed like perhaps the gods themselves were watching and had arranged that fall, and were now laughing at the mortal girl. The sheer irony, of escaping the Labyrinth - and Walter! - and then succumbing to a trip in the palace floor. It was infuriating! <br><br>The gods did so enjoy their irony. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>13-07-2010, 08:43:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As it turned out, the item that the palace guard had been reaching for was a bell.&nbsp; Although he gave chase, he mainly concentrated his efforts in ringing the bell as hard as he could, creating an impossibly loud, jarring jingle that grated Atalanta's nerves and rattled her teeth.&nbsp; Surely it would wake everyone in the palace!&nbsp; And, indeed, it seemed that it did, for after only a few seconds another pair of sandalled feet pattered from around the corner, and a similarly armoured figure appeared into view.&nbsp; A few seconds after that, and it was joined by another, and then another.&nbsp; Soon enough, the hall was filled with the sounds of running footsteps.&nbsp; It got much brighter, too, as torches were lit and brought into the gallery.&nbsp; <br><br>"Who is this intruder?" boomed the voice of command, most likely the captain of the palace guard, as Atalanta was forcibly picked up and hauled to her feet.&nbsp; As he lifted her chin, forcing her hair to fall out of her eyes, his own expression turned shocked and surprised.&nbsp; "It's the Athenian girl!&nbsp; By the gods, how did she escape from the maze?"<br><br>"She said that the Minotaur has been slain!" offered the soldier who initially found her.&nbsp; This met with an outcry of disbelief and outrage among those assembled.&nbsp; "Impossible!" was uttered over and over again, and "lies!" The captain's eyes narrowed, and Atalanta found herself the apex of a circle of spearheads, all pointed at her.&nbsp; "You had to have had outside help.&nbsp; Who was it?&nbsp; A mere chit of a girl like you couldn't have escaped the Labyrinth, much less the Minotaur," he rumbled, suspiciously.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>14-07-2010, 22:15:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The ear-piercing sound of the bell only caused Atalanta's head to throb more, and she burst into tears as she heard the scuffling sounds of sandals on the beautiful palace floor, all getting closer to her. She squirmed around slightly, as if trying to stand or simply attempt to crawl away, but she knew it was all futile. <br><br>As she was picked up, Atalanta seemed to regain some of her strength and composure, squirming around weakly. Atalanta was a fiery girl, and even when she knew she was going to lose at a game, she'd still stubbornly try to win, and usually get in trouble in the process. She figured that being the sacrifice to the Minotaur and getting caught in the palace was something she could not worsen, however. Her beautiful dark red tresses fell from her equally pretty face, yet her mouth was quite petulant right then. She was very attempted to make an acid comment to the captain, yet she bit her tongue and let the men explain to each other, as if she did not exist for a moment.<br><br>It was very ironic that all of these men were prepared to impale an innocent Athenian girl, unarmed and of noble blood. Atalanta was very tempted to roll her eyes at the show, yet she simply resigned herself to leering at each of the men, giving them a look surely similar to the look of Hades as he observed mortals judging souls soon to be damned. <br><br>Naturally, the men were all disbelieving that <em>she</em> could have done anything. Fools! Atalanta stubbornly held onto the notion that she could have killed the Minotaur if she had been given a weapon, as opposed to being thrust into an unfair battle. Yet she knew there was no way to explain that to these men, even if she <em>had</em> killed the Minotaur. Walter's existence would have to be revealed eventually, anyway. "I am not a little girl, you fools! I could have killed that Minotaur if I was only given a weapon! But, no, I did not slay it myself, I was...saved, by a man. Now let me go! The Minotaur is dead, and this annual sacrifice of innocent youths has come to an end. Unhand me! I am of the noble class, and my father would surely demand my return and send any funds required to the great King Minos for my venture back to Athens." It was strange, hearing the girl. It was clear she could not take ahold of her temper, yet she knew better than to disrespect the king, and she also believed that her haughty attitudes towards idiotic soldiers could be tolerated. They were not nobles, and could not make important decisions! She spoke like a furious yet educated and articulate young Queen. A Queen that still had to learn how to hold back her fire and anger. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>15-07-2010, 02:17:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"The Athenians believe that you are dead, torn to pieces by the beast in the Labyrinth," said a voice.&nbsp; It had a rich, deep timbre, and the confidence of one used to command.&nbsp; It belonged, in fact, to King Minos himself, who was annoyed at having been woken from his slumber and a very pleasant dream in which he was feasting on ambrosia with Aphrodite.&nbsp; "That is, after all, why you are here.&nbsp; Because your city selected you as their annual sacrifice, as their tribute." <br><br>The King of Crete descended the staircase from the royal bedchambers, while his guards hastily bowed and scurried out of his way.&nbsp; He was an impressive figure of a man, even into his late forties; his shoulders were broad, his arms rippling with muscles, although his stomach was round, the product of too many lavish dinners.&nbsp; Nevertheless, he still looked as if he could wrestle a man half his age and win.&nbsp; His beard was flecked with grey, his eyes were brilliant black, like burning coals from the depths of Tartarus.&nbsp; He walked over toward the girl, his robes sweeping on the floor as he passed; and every soldier that was not bowing was concerned with keeping Atalanta at bay at spear-point, making sure she did not escape.&nbsp; <br><br>"You say that the Minotaur, the offspring of my beloved Pasiphae and Poseidon's white bull, was felled by the hand of a mere man?&nbsp; Preposterous!&nbsp; Many who would proclaim themselves 'heroes' have fallen to its brutality and savagery.&nbsp; No mortal could have slain the creature.&nbsp; Assuming that you even speak the truth, you must have had divine help--but even that thought is laughable.&nbsp; What god would care about the fate of an Athenian girl so easily dismissed by her own city?"&nbsp; He laughed, and as if on cue, every guard laughed with him, although it was a forced thing, the kind of nervous laughter that comes when you know that your very life rests in the hand one who has just made a not-very-funny joke.<br><br>"No, I shall show you what happens to those who dare defy the verdicts of the great King Minos. "&nbsp; Turning to his captain, he said, "strip her, and bind her between the pillars in the palace gardens.&nbsp; I will use her, loose my seed into her womb; and then she shall be sacrificed upon the altar in the temple of Poseidon.&nbsp; So I have spoken."<br><br>"As you command, your Greatness," the guards chorused in unison.&nbsp; Rough hands picked her up, ripped the chiton away from her chest, shoved her along down the corridors and walkways of the palace.&nbsp; After some time, they came to an atrium, an open space where trees and soft grasses reached up torward the night sky.&nbsp; Besides the full moon, there were torches which burned, enlightening the garden.&nbsp; At its entrance were two large stone pillars, close enough together that a man--or as it turned out, a woman--could be stretched between them.&nbsp; Rope was bound tightly around her wrists, then wrapped around the pillars so that she could not move, however much she struggled, her dark red tresses falling over pale shoulders, her body pale and defenseless in the ochre of moonlight. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>15-07-2010, 02:50:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta struggled between bowing at the imposing king or staring at him in defiance. She knew that he was King Minos, most likely the most powerful man of the Aegean Sea, yet this whole affair was completely ridiculous! She couldn't help but stare in awe as he made a grand entrance, quite starstruck for meeting the legendary King Minos himself. Yet, he was not as kind as she expected...<br><br>Her big eyes bulged as he spoke his verdict for her. Even Atalanta, a defiant chatterbox, could not utter anything beyond a few inaudible grunts and whimpers. She was sent by Athens and was a heroine! She would be remembered! How dare he say otherwise! Atalanta wanted dearly to spring at the man and claw his black eyes out, yet there were spears pointed at her, and that would surely have her condemned to a worse fate. He was going to humiliate her and rape her, and then sacrificed! It could not be! This was not the way she was supposed to die, surely...<br><br>She screamed as the guards began to tear her clothing away, seeing King Minos saunter off casually. "I am a priestess of Artemis! I have taken vows of chastity! The Lady of the Hunt sent a man to save me, and he did! Your vile Minotaur is dead and gone! Release me!" She seemed to find newfound strength as the adrenaline pulsed through her body, flailing around wildly, yet there were many men around her, and all of them were armed and stronger than her. <br><br>Atalanta wept as the men tied her roughly to the two huge pillars. She would have admired their curvature and design, yet it was difficult to find beauty in them right then. Her cheeks were bright red with embarrassment, humiliation, shame...she was bared to the heavens, for all the men in the palace to see! It was horrible! And then King Minos would arrive, and do all of those horrible things to her...she could not let it happen. Atalanta tugged angrily on her bonds, yet they were so tight, and she was so exhausted. <br><br>She stared up at the sky, leering. The gods truly were looking upon her lately. All of these events; surely it meant that they were watching from Olympus and influencing these events somehow. How had Walter arrived just at the right time? And where was he now? Atalanta hoped that he would end up escaping that wretched Labyrinth. She was going to die anyway. It was ironic how she wished that the man could appear just now, and save her from this terrible fate. Surely, serving Walter as his slave would be a life of torture, but the man was so stupid that she'd likely be able to get out of it somehow.<br><br>Atalanta half-hanged there, cheeks crimson and eyes downcast and watery, hoping that the gods would take mercy upon her. Outside of one of them rescuing her in the flesh, the only thing that Atalanta fathomed as a possibility was Walter. Damn that man -- why did he have to save her all the time? Why did she rely on him? It was so unfair! <br><br>She pouted petulantly and muttered many unladylike curses. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>18-07-2010, 09:37:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The expressions on the faces of the Cretan guards ranged the full gamut: most were stony-faced, detached, viewing the spectacle with a grim sense of duty.&nbsp; Others leered, their faces lit up with malicious grins, taking vicarious pleasure in anticipating what was going to happen to the girl.&nbsp; A few looked sick, as obviously they wrestled with their inner consciences.&nbsp; Yet Minos was the King, and his word was law.&nbsp; He had been appointed by Zeus himself.&nbsp; It must be so; no one could bear the thought that he had ascended to rule in <em>spite</em> of the gods.<br><br>He descended the steps to the garden with a certain unnecessary amount of ceremony.&nbsp; <em>Let them see that I am King</em>, he seemed to say. <em>Let all bear witness to this act of punishing this girl.&nbsp; Let there be no doubt that my word is law.</em>&nbsp; As he approached Atalanta, he shrugged his long, thick ermine robe from his shoulders, and his servants scurried up to catch it before it hit the ground.&nbsp; Minos did not even turn around to see that they did; it would simply be unthinkable otherwise.<br><br>Like her, he was stripped completely nude but for his sandals.&nbsp; He was an impressive figure of a man, but there was no denying the cruelty in his smile as he ambled forward.&nbsp; He put his hands on Atalanta's shoulders, then let his fingers traverse her arms in each direction.&nbsp; "And now," he said, "I will take this girl.&nbsp; This Athenian who dared defy the mighty Minotaur, who dared profane my sacred palace with her ungodly ways.&nbsp; Let her be sacrificed to me, and then let her be sacrificed to Poseidon. "&nbsp; With a cold glimmer in his eyes, he took himself in hand, prepared to enter her by force...<br><br>He was interrupted by a shout.&nbsp; So surprising was the shout, and so out of place it was, that he actually stopped, and turned to see who would dare distract him from his edict.&nbsp; It turned out to be none other than the captain of his guard, the highest ranking soldier among those who stood in the hall.&nbsp; <br><br>A shield whizzed through the air, like a discus, hitting the captain directly in the stomach.&nbsp; He gave a muffled squeak, and fell backward into another guard, who stuck his leg out in a desperate attempt to right himself and ended up tripping a third.&nbsp; All three collapsed onto the floor in a pile of arms, legs, and armor.&nbsp; The rest of the soldiers peered about, nervously, fingers tightening on their spears.<br><br>The sound of running feet slap-slapping on the marble floor echoed throughout the atrium.&nbsp; Over Minos' shoulder, a familiar blond-haired visage barrelled out of nowhere into the nearest soldier, knocking him into his chums, and thus creating more confusion.&nbsp; But Walter didn't stop.&nbsp; He dodged a clumsily leveled spear, and kept running.<br><br>"Who is this?" shrieked Minos.&nbsp; But Walter had all the momentum and&nbsp; unstoppability of a charging bull.&nbsp; He kept coming, right up to the pillars and Minos himself.&nbsp; Atalanta had time to see a look of panic and uncertainty cross the king's face, perhaps for the first time in his life, right before Walter's knuckles sunk into his cheek.&nbsp; The force of the blow lifted the king off the ground, spinning him around and landing him in an unceremonious heap.<br><br>"She's <span class="bbc_u">my</span> slave!" Walter called out, angrily.&nbsp; "I rescued her! She's mine!"&nbsp; He went to grab Atalanta, trying to lift her, before realizing that she was held tight by the ropes.&nbsp; Quickly, he patted his exomis, to no avail; he must have lost his gladius somehow in escaping from the Labyrinth.&nbsp; Still, he had no time.&nbsp; Seizing the rope in both hands, he leaned forward and seized it in his teeth.&nbsp; He wrenched his neck, and with a *snap* somehow managed to bite it through.&nbsp; Leaning to her left, he repeated the process with the other rope.&nbsp; It shouldn't have been possible to bite through a rope as thick as her wrist, but Walter did it.&nbsp; <br><br>Thus free, Atalanta found herself being picked up in his arms as Walter began to run on again, spears clattering on the marble floor around him.&nbsp; At least she wasn't tossed over his shoulder this time.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Pthbbt--pthbbtt--Where's the exit?" shouted Walter, leaping through the gardens.&nbsp; He spit as he ran; bits of rope were still stuck in his teeth.&nbsp; He had no idea where he was going, but damned if he was going to stand still.&nbsp; "How do we--pttthbtt---pthbttt---get out of here?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>19-07-2010, 00:45:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The time spent prior to Minos's arrival had been quite torturous. Atalanta slumped in her bonds - not being able to stand up straight or release her arms entirely forced her to stay half-standing in an awkward and uncomfortable position. Combine with that the sheer boredom and fear that she knew King Minos would arrive and defile her body and steal her virginity that she had promised to Artemis herself. It had seemed to go on for an eternity, yet when she noticed that the King had appeared, that eternity of boredom and nervousness surely seemed better than her current position. <br><br>King Minos certainly wasn't an ugly man, but Atalanta could not stop herself from gagging slightly at the sight of him entirely naked and preparing to rape her. She thought he'd be far more reasonable, perhaps even kind, but then again, he was the one demanding innocent youths to be sacrificed to the monstrous Minotaur, purely for his own entertainment and fear-mongering. <br><br>She was quite ashamed of her whimpers and sobs as King Minos repeated his judgment to her. There seemed no point in arguing with him any longer, considering the man was already naked and prepared to...thrust...into her. The thought caused Atalanta to shiver. This was not fair! This was a horrible way to die, after escaping the Minotaur - and Walter - to be raped by a king and sacrificed to Poseidon? It seemed like once she had taken the boat to Crete that everyone she encountered was positively <em>insane</em>! <br><br>And then there was a bellowing that interrupted the lecher of a king just before he was able to enter his <em>vileness</em> into her body. Atalanta's big eyes widened in shock - and eagerness at the thought of escape - and seemed to bulge even further at the sight of a certain blonde-haired lummox bounding towards her. She supposed she should hardly be surprised that Walter seemed to arrive just in time - not early enough for her tastes! - with all of the bizarre events happening lately. Perhaps Lady Artemis was trying to protect Atalanta, and her pledge to the goddess, and...<br><br><em>"She's my slave!"</em><br><br>Atalanta recoiled as if she had just been slapped. Why had the fool not give up on that facade yet? She was no such thing, and would never be! She frowned at him petulantly - nearly a pout - as if she refused to give him any praise for saving her. She could have escaped herself, if the gods were not staging entertainment to watch! They surely had influenced Minos and all this foolery, and...<em>There is no point in arguing about it with myself,</em> Atalanta thought grimly. She was stuck with what she got, which was a very heroic Walter - when she discounted his words - running towards her, punching that disgusting Minos in the face and sending him sprawling, and <em>biting</em> her bonds off! It would have been romantic if it had been any other man, truly.<br><br>She realized that once Walter picked her up effortlessly and ran away at a staggering pace, that she was entirely naked in his arms. Her cheeks turned crimson, and she hopelessly tried to cover her body, but to no avail. At least Walter was not ogling at her, which she was thankful for. Although...it would give her a good excuse to smack him! He certainly would get quite the talking-to once they got out of this bizarre situation. Atalanta convinced herself that once she was done with him, he would be <em>begging</em> to send her back to Athens, and <em>grovelling</em> at her feet for forgiveness! <br><br>Until then, she had to cooperate with the man who was spitting pieces of rope out in every direction. He was a fool, even if he was handsome and managed to escape the Labyrinth. The girl had time to inspect her surroundings while tied to the two pillars, mostly out of sheer boredom, and had some idea where the exit was from this place. A beautiful palace, surely, but she no longer could appreciate the elegant nature of it having met the vile King Minos in the <em>flesh</em>. Quite literally.<br><br>"I...I think that way!" Atalanta pointed to a large exit to the east. She could not be sure, but she had an inkling that the exit was that way, judging by her eyeing the guards and eavesdropping on them earlier. Hopefully there would not be guards there to stop them. Atalanta was prepared to fight, if need be, but she had no weapon on her, and no clothing! She hadn't slept in a long time, and had no food or water either, and simply felt like curling up in Walter's arms and hiding from this chaos.<br><br>Yet she didn't. She did not want to give him any satisfaction or way to see her as weak. She heard sounds of guards fumbling around clumsily behind them, and even sounds of sandalled feet hitting the ground, yet all Atalanta could do was hope that Walter could run faster, find the exit, and not trip and crush her underneath. Damn the man! This made it the second time that he saved her life, and he'd likely take it as a sign that she'd <em>definitely</em> have to be his slave! Atalanta grumbled at the thought, pouting miserably.<br><br>When the oaf got them out of this situation, Atalanta was going to give her a piece of her mind, naked or not! 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>19-07-2010, 02:50:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter nodded.&nbsp; For once, despite the fact that she was completely naked in his arms (except, of course, for her sandals), he didn't seem inclined to ogle or molest her.&nbsp; There may have been other things on his mind as he charged through the palace gardens, going the direction that Atalanta suggested.&nbsp; He ran through the gardens, completely ignoring the splendid marble fountains, the impessive stone sculptures, the hanging terraces; his pounding legs carried him out into the courtyard, where between the full moon, and the lit braziers, their path was lit before them in the night.&nbsp; Behind them came a cacophonous din of shouting, as the entire palace seemed to be up in arms.&nbsp; As well it might be; Walter had just assaulted half of the palace guard and sucker-punched the king.&nbsp; And not just any king, the mighty Minos of the Aegean Sea.&nbsp; No doubt the entire island of Crete would be hunting for him after this.<br><br>He kept running, carrying Atalanta in his arms as he did so.&nbsp; Despite the burden, he did not seem especially fatigued or winded; it would seem that what he lacked in intelligence he more than made up for by strength and stamina.&nbsp; It was too easy to believe why he (and most Greeks, for that matter) would see himself as some kind of hero.<br><br>He ran out through the courtyard, down a rocky hill, and out onto a plain of grass.&nbsp; Behind him,&nbsp; the Cretan palace was in an uproar.&nbsp; There were shouts, barely audible from this distance, and the sounds of horses whinnying into the night.&nbsp; Yet Walter kept running.<br><br>It was fortunate for them both that it was in the dead of night, with only the moon to light their way; if they could find somewhere to hide, it would be hard for their pursuers to find them.&nbsp; If he could find something...anything...<br><br>Below them, the dark shapes of the city came into view, with the occasional firefly glow of torchlight through the city's main thoroughfares.&nbsp; He slid down a steep incline, balancing on his heels, still juggling Atalanta in his arms.&nbsp; He didn't see either the line of bricks at the bottom of the hill, nor the pile of hay that his progress brought him towards...<br><br>He tripped, flailed wildly in the air for a moment, and then toppled over.&nbsp; Fortunately, he had enough presence of mind to spin as he fell, so that Atalanta landed upon him, and not the other way around.&nbsp; Even so, she was still naked, but this fact didn't seem to be much of a consolation as he lay in he hay, winded and bruised.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>20-07-2010, 21:52:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter was quite the fast runner, and while Atalanta would never admit it aloud, he was even faster than her! She had been victorious in nearly every footrace since she was a small child, but unfortunately as she got older, men like Walter were able to be faster than her. Though she didn't complain about his speed inwardly, not at all; she'd rather be naked in Walter's arms speeding away from the palace than back in chains with King Minos, that swine! She smirked smugly, wishing she could see that bruised face he'd undoubtedly have when he woke, and to add a few more of her own bruises to his body. She'd have to settle for escaping and hiding for now, though.<br><br>The run seemed to go by so fast for the small woman, yet once she saw what seemed like could be their destination, she realized how far they were. Certainly far enough for any scouting parties, at least the first set. Getting off the island would be another difficulty, depending on how shamed Minos was over the failed sacrifice, but she was simply too tired to plan it out then, and as was Walter. Well, not like Walter's input mattered much to her, he was dimwitted regardless of fatigue.<br><br>The big oaf did not give her much time to savour the defeat of Minos once he tripped clumsily over something and went crashing to the ground! Thank the Gods of Olympus that he somehow had the presence of mind not to squish her. That would have been most unpleasant. She was still naked, and cold, but at least she landed on top of him. While her anger had faded somewhat at Walter as he ran, she certainly had all of that dredged up again by the annoyance of falling. His slave! Bah, nonsense!<br><br>Atalanta thrust a finger right into his face, speaking lowly, for now. "You listen to me, you hairy-eared oaf! You can't go barging around and proclaiming that I am your slave! You got us into all of this trouble in the first place. Get over it and find some willing trull to do all of that unsavoury work. I am a dignified <em>lady</em>! I will not participate in such ludicrous acts such as...<em>slavery</em>!" Atalanta did not seem to realize that shouting and thrusting fingers about was rather unladylike, not like&nbsp; she would care, either. She only brought up being a lady when it suited her.<br><br>She seemed to have enough strength to stand up, even if she was a little wobbly about it. In her tempest of rage she seemed to forget about her nudity. "I can't believe you! The nerve! I am going to make you regret even thinking those words, Walter!" Atalanta grumbled a string of curses under her breath and put one of her sandalled feet on Walter's chest. Despite all the scuffles suffered, she still had quite the pretty and cute feet, even if there were some smudges of dirt. "You are going to treat me with respect. Nay, debt! You are in debt to me for all you've put me through with your foolery, you goose-brain!" Atalanta grounded her foot into his strong chest, hoping it hurt at least a bit and intimidated him. "Are you listening to me? Walter? Walter!" <br><br>This time her hands went on her hips; certainly a dangerous sign for a woman to take on, even more dangerous than the finger-pointing. Clearly Atalanta's anger had reached its zenith. Her face was a bit red from the shouting and rage she had just thrown at the foolish man. Even in the midst of it, she still looked pretty, even if it was marred slightly by the aura of ire about her and the petulant shape of her lip. She couldn't help pouting at the man so often. He was simply infuriating and beyond <em>annoying</em>! She hoped that her lecture worked. Maybe he'd finally shut up about this talk of slavery and stop pestering her constantly. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>22-07-2010, 20:42:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter blinked as this strange, maddening, fiesty little woman stomped on his chest and ground her foot into it, and proceeded to give him an earful.&nbsp; &nbsp;He didn't understand why she was so resistant to the idea!&nbsp; This wasn't going anything like Theseus said it would!&nbsp; <br><br>Walter had encountered the man in Thermopylae .&nbsp; He was, by all accounts, a good-looking man, strong of arm and divine of aspect,&nbsp; having been fathered by mighty Poseidon himself.&nbsp; He was also, quite unlike Walter, crafty and wise.&nbsp; &nbsp; Walter had been wandering the rural villages and towns of Greece, seeking adventure, hoping to make a name for himself, but was unable to find any challenge worthy of his hopes for glory.&nbsp; All of his deeds so far had been trivial -- capturing bandits, fighting off wolves, bears, and the like -- nothing that bards would sing about.&nbsp; Depressed, he had gravitated to the Thermopylaean inn, when he met Theseus, the prince of Athens.&nbsp; <br><br>Theseus had a problem:&nbsp; the Minoan-Athenian war had ended in a victory for Minos, and as part of the terms of tribute, Athens was forced to surrender some of its sons and daughters every year in a brutal sacrifice to the Minotaur.&nbsp; This state of affairs couldn't continue; however, the Athenian navy had been so decimated by the war that he could not hope to exact his revenge on Minos.&nbsp; However, if by chance the dreaded Minotaur could be slain, it would be a sign from the gods that the Minoans could demand a tribute from Athens no more.<br><br>Enter Walter.&nbsp; The dope was perfect.&nbsp; He seemed strong enough and heroic enough to actually have a chance at pulling off the deed, and dim enough that Theseus could take all the credit.&nbsp; He told Walter that if he could go to Crete and kill the beast, he would be worshipped as the saviour of Athens.&nbsp; He also told Walter that if he managed to save the girl who was this year's sacrifice, she would instantly fall in love with him and be his for the rest of her life, or until he grew bored with her, whichever came first.<br><br>Walter was sold.&nbsp; A love slave sounded like a pretty good deal to him, and he had yet to encounter a real challenge.&nbsp; A quest <em>and</em> a maiden to save? How could he refuse?<br><br>And yet, Theseus never mentioned that the girl would have such a ...mouth on her, and that she would be so difficult to control.&nbsp; Why couldn't she just accept her fate?&nbsp; Why couldn't she just submit to him?&nbsp; Why couldn't she just throw herself at his feet and offer to please him in every earthly way?&nbsp; <br><br>He stared dumbly up at Atalanta as she ground her heel into his chest, wincing a little.&nbsp; However, she was still very much naked, and although she herself may have forgotten this, Walter sure didn't.&nbsp; He smiled slowly, quite obviously ogling her from crown to toe and everywhere in between.&nbsp; His eyes lingered on the patch of scarlet between her legs, then reeled back up to her face.<br><br>He waited until the realization set in, hoping to see the blush storm its way across her cheeks, before meekly pointing out that there was a white bedsheet hanging from a nearby clothesline, presumably set there overnight to dry. "But come," he said.&nbsp; "We must hide.&nbsp; Minos will surely be looking for us."&nbsp; He picked himself up, and stared down at the city.&nbsp; "We must find a place to hide for the night, and then we will find a ship to take us back to Greece in the morning."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>26-07-2010, 23:54:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				If Walter hadn't opened his mouth, perhaps Atalanta could have been fooled into thinking he was a hero for longer then 2.5 seconds. He truly was a fool, yet Atalanta felt obligated to prove to him that she was not a weakling or a goosebrain. While she wanted to flee from the man, it hardly seemed possible in this situation, and she needed to reclaim some of her harmed pride. She would be the one saving him next, and then he'd see the foolishness in his ways and relinquish the ridiculous title on her! <br><br>Until then, she had to deal with the dope. Ranting and raving at him was satisfying, yet he did not seem to be listening entirely, once again. Was he deaf? Surely he heard her words, and the venom attached to it, yet he blinked at her as if she was asking him if it was raining on a sweltering summer day. <br><br>Once the man realized that she was very much naked, clearly ogling and admiring her body, Atalanta's face turned bright red and she immediately tried to shield her body somehow. It was impossible, however, as she had not a scrap of cloth to aid her in that attempt. He was looking at her as if she were his wife, or worse; his slave that he used in the bedroom! He was so insolent, and a lecher, at that! She glared at him, and surely if her eyes were daggers they would pierce his flesh easily. Although, it was difficult to act indignant when she was entirely naked and clearly embarrassed about it. Why did this man have this effect on her, flustering her so often effortlessly?<br><br>She snatched the bedsheet from the clothesline, trying to look as if she did not care about her nudity and hardly noticed it. That was a difficult charade, but Atalanta was relieved nonetheless when she was able to cover some of her bare flesh. It wasn't an overly large bedsheet, but it covered all the important areas, and gave another opportunity to leer at Walter. "Fine. You may lead the way, I am not very familiar with this island. And once we get back to Greece, we will separate our paths. You can claim that you killed the Minotaur, a heroic act indeed, and I will become quite famous in Athens at being the first sacrifice to King Minos to survive, and the last that will ever be seen." The girl smiled wistfully at that. While she wasn't very interested in politics, what girl was not excited about being heralded as a hero? Surely it would get her higher standing in the service of Artemis and all of the gods would look upon her more often.<br><br>Once she got away from this man, anyway. She followed him, grumbling the entire time, of course, hoping that he'd be able to find a good spot. Perhaps a shed or a hayloft, or a soft bush out of the way? That would be most appreciated. Her body ached, as did her head, and she craved sleep and rest. Showing weakness was not something she would display to Walter, however after stomping on him and shouting she felt quite fatigued. If they did not find shelter and rest soon, Atalanta would collapse and embarrass herself even further, which she was not looking forward to. "Hurry up already! I saw you run, you aren't this slow!" She growled. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>30-07-2010, 02:54:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You know," said Walter, "considering the fact that I have rescued you--twice--you might be just a little bit more grateful."&nbsp; He looked hurt, or at least perplexed.&nbsp; There could be no argument that Atalanta was beautiful;&nbsp; she was in the bloom of youth, her complexion was smooth and flawless, and her lips were like rose petals, soft and inviting to the touch.&nbsp; In addition, she had a runner's legs; her calves were firm and toned.&nbsp; More than once, Walter found himself daydreaming about groping Atalanta's legs, or possibly having her rub them over his chest.<br><br>However, she certainly wasn't behaving like Theseus implied that she would.&nbsp; When Walter rescued the woman from the fierce Minotaur, Theseus said, she would be so overjoyed to be rescued that she would practically throw herself at him.&nbsp; In fact, Theseus said, Walter would have to use all of his resources to keep her from trying to get into his exomis over and over again.&nbsp; In all honesty, it had sounded like a pretty good deal to Walter.&nbsp; Theseus had also said something about drinking wine from the maiden's toes; Walter wasn't sure why he would want to do that, but he was suitably impressed that he didn't question it.&nbsp; Come to think of it, Theseus had seemed particularly fixated on female feet; he talked about them constantly.&nbsp; <br><br>What he didn't mention was that the rescued woman would be so....argumentative, and contrary, and even spiteful.&nbsp; For someone who should have been proud to be a slave of the great hero Walter Cupcake, she sure wasn't acting the part. He sighed, and simply shook his head as she stomped along in front of him, the bedsheet wrapped around her like a loose toga.<br><br>There wasn't much going on at this time of night, except for the chirruping of crickets and the occasional barking dog.&nbsp; Guided by the moonlight,&nbsp; Walter and Atalanta crept along the road, looking for a place to hide for the night.&nbsp; Cottages and households lurked and squatted on the horizon, their windows dark, their occupants sound asleep.<br><br>Suddenly, an island of light appeared at the end of the street, as a Minoan soldier on horseback appeared into view, carrying a bright torch.&nbsp; Hissing, Walter scooped up Atalanta and ran for it again, diving behind a low hill just as the soldier looked their way.&nbsp; He pushed the girl into the grass and then lay down on top of her, his superior bulk and weight crushing her fragile frame beneath it.&nbsp; The grass was soft, but the blades poked her in the nose.&nbsp; <br><br>"Quiet!" he hissed.&nbsp; Atalanta was trapped; she couldn't move, she could barely breathe.&nbsp; The masculine smell of Walter was all over her, engulfing her.&nbsp; His chin propped up on the back of her head, he watched the soldier as he went from house to house, knocking forcefully on the doors and awakening the residents inside.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>07-08-2010, 04:21:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She gritted her teeth, reluctantly holding her tempest of rage from Walter Cupcake. She did not asked to be saved! Admittedly, Atalanta was glad to be alive - especially because her two near death experiences would have been terrifying ways to perish - yet she didn't want to be in debt to Walter, especially when he expected such...lewd things! Yet, Atalanta thought that she was a woman of honour, and she knew that Walter lording this over her for the rest of her life would drive her crazy. Perhaps she should allow him to slip into a position of danger so she can rescue him, or maybe even hire some assassins to make a grand attempt at his life, only to have Atalanta repel them.<br><br>Yet, she had no money and wasn't sure how she would legitimately rescue the fool. She would have to plan out any attempts vigorously beforehand, although she knew Walter was likely too dim to see the truth, anyway. Perhaps if she rescued Walter <em>three</em> times he could owe her something instead. Yes, that would be quite satisfying. He was quite attractive - physically at least - and she could take advantage of that. He had such nice arms, and a lovely chest...<br><br>Shaking her head, she made an effort to get out of her trance. Fantasizing of Walter, with him right beside her! If he ever caught her doing that, she would die of pure shame! <br><br>Atalanta was very glad that Minos had not stripped her of her sandals when she was to be sacrificed. She wasn't overly delicate, but her soft feet did not have a single callous on them - which she was proud of - and if she had to run around barefoot in the countryside, her pretty little feet would have been bleeding. Her ankles and legs still had a few cuts from low bushes, as did her arms, and there were a few bruises beginning to form from her various encounters in Crete so far. At least her make-shift toga shielded her most sensitive flesh from any brambles. <br><br>Atalanta was just about to duck into the underbrush at the sight of the soldier when Walter picked her up like a sack of grain and dove like a madman onto the ground! There were a few cracking sounds, and Atalanta groaned softly in pain, but she realized that - luckily! - the fool ox didn't break any of her bones. He merely bruised her all over! The smaller girl squirmed around stubbornly, wishing to be free of the huge bulk - and smell - on top of her, yet he had her so thoroughly pinned that she couldn't move at all aside from a few twitches. She even whimpered - whimpered! - when he whispered harshly for her to be quiet. Atalanta never whimpered! What effect was this man having on her?<br><br>She could not see anything in the darkness, and being underneath Walter blocked any chance of seeing the soldier. However, the girl was smart enough to hear that he was likely looking for them. She tried to stay silent, but she grumbled miserably as she was overwhelmed by Walter's sheer size. Even if he was a little...stinky...she couldn't help but find herself slightly aroused at her position, even if it was embarrassing. Walter had an appealing body, and his scent was so masculine and musky.<br><br>Her cheeks reddened at the thought. How could she think of herself doing something like THAT with the man? Her body surely was betraying her; perhaps Eros himself was sent by Aphrodite to meddle with Atalanta's emotions! <br><br>"Well, I'm not going to let him turn me to do something like <em>that</em>!" She didn't realize that she said it until it was too late. She was thankful that, at least, she whispered it and didn't shout it out. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>11-08-2010, 06:21:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Shhhh!" Walter scolded her.&nbsp; He adjusted his weight, shifting slightly to the side so that she could breathe.&nbsp; It wasn't entirely uncomfortable, being pinned underneath him;&nbsp; his body heat was a nice change against the night's chill, and she could feel all the muscles in his chest, pressed against her back, as well as his thigh muscles, against the backs of her legs.&nbsp; From the feel of things, his groin was pressed snugly into her bum, although it also felt like he hadn't quite yet noticed this fact.<br><br>He held his breath as the soldier talked, at length, with the occupants of the home.&nbsp; From their position and distance, it was impossible to pick out individual words, but it soon became evident that the bewildered civilians were perplexed and unnerved by the soldier's demands.&nbsp; He dismounted, leaving his horse milling about in the street while he entered the home, much to its owners' dismay.<br><br>Walter pushed himself off of Atalanta, climbing to his feet, and then offering a hand down to her to assist her in doing the same.&nbsp; Wordlessly, he eyed the horse, then the open doorway, from which filtered light and the sounds of arguing and searching going on against someone's will.&nbsp; He grabbed ahold of Atalanta's wrist and half-dragged her after him, as he crept toward the unguarded horse.&nbsp; The animal eyed them warily, snorting its distrust, but Walter made quiet, shushing sounds in an attempt to pacify the animal.&nbsp; It whinnied softly, and backed away, but Walter darted forward, stroking the animal's neck until it seemed to relent.<br><br>Turning to glance at Atalanta, his plan was all too evident in his blue eyes.&nbsp; He crouched, and cupped his hands together, obviously creating a step from which she could swing onto the animal's back.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>16-08-2010, 21:46:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta muttered a few nasty curses under her breath, but having Walter's heavy body on top of her prevented her from making much noise at all. If he kept this up, he would crush her! The man seemed fond of putting her in the most uncomfortable positions. The only enjoyable thing of the arrangement was that his body was quite warm, a relief from the chilly night on her flesh. In addition to that, though...it was oddly pleasurable to feel his hard body pushing against her own. She even felt his groin rubbing against her rear; that brought heat to her cheeks, and more squirming, which would undoubtedly only make the position even <em>worse</em>. Atalanta did not know how men - such bizarre creatures! - functioned.<br><br>It seemed like an eternity that Walter had lied on top of her, and she was quite relieved when that blasted soldier went into the civilian's dwelling. She couldn't believe how obnoxious soldiers could be! They were prepared to sacrifice her - an innocent Athenian noble woman! - to that lecher King Minos, who wanted to rape and kill her! Atalanta would never trust soldiers again after that revelations. They seemed to have minds of sheep.<br><br>Speaking of sheep-wits, Walter seemed to have some sort of plan. Stealing the horse? Hopefully the man was skilled with mounts and wouldn't scare the beast away and cause a big scene. She refused his hand to help her up, and made an indignant growl when he dragged her over to the horse like an uncooperative child! <br><br>Atalanta watched silently - with a glare, of course - as Walter soothed and gained the animal's trust. It was quite interesting, to see how such a rough - and mean! - brute could calm the mount so. Perhaps he wasn't overly sheep-witted. Once again, he offered her a 'courtesy', this time trying to help her onto the mount. Normally, Atalanta would have refused, yet she was scantily clad in her sheet, was weak and exhausted, and certainly did not want to get the guard's attention and have Walter shove her around even further!<br><br>Half-smiling at him - why was she smiling at him at all? - Atalanta stepped gracefully onto his strong hands. Her sandals looked like they were about to fall apart at any moment - they were not made to run around the countryside or the Labyrinth - but her feet looked surprisingly supple, as they did so many hours ago. Atalanta was <em>not</em> looking forward to any potential calluses she'd get on this insane journey back to Athens with Walter. "Thank you," Atalanta muttered, attempting to climb onto the horse silently. She wasn't the best rider, but being a noble, she had decent training. In her exhausted state, however, she was scrambling around a little, but she managed to get on with little difficulty.<br><br>"Where are we going, Walter?" She whispered. At least now they could do their escape on a horse - the reprieve from running and skulking on feet was much appreciated by the bratty Athenian. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>19-08-2010, 10:48:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"To the harbour," he whispered back.&nbsp; "The longer we stay in Crete, the more we risk being found."&nbsp; With a mighty heave, he swung himself up on the animal's back behind her, taking up the reins that hung loosely around the horse's neck.&nbsp; He needed to lean forward to do so, and in doing it, his chest pressed up against her back once more.&nbsp; It almost seemed like Walter was doing this on purpose; but, even if he wasn't, there probably wasn't much he could do about it. For some reason, it seemed like the longer the headstrong Athenian girl remained in his company, the more often she found herself forced into close proximity with him.&nbsp; It was almost as if the goddess Artemis herself was testing Atalanta, seeing if she would remain true to her vows of chastity, or if she would surrender to temptation.<br><br>At first, the turn of speed was startling, even frightening, as the night-time countryside whizzed by, so dark she could barely see anything, but apparently Walter could, for he stared straight ahead, over her shoulder, using the moonlight to guide his path.&nbsp; After awhile, it wasn't so scary anymore, and indeed, the forward-and-back bucking motion was almost...comforting.&nbsp; The horse's back was powerful, the muscles writhing beneath her thighs, and of course Walter's broad chest pressed into her back was oddly reassuring as well.&nbsp; <br><br>The olive and wheat fields gave way to rolling brush terrain, and Walter continued racing down the dirt road, occasionally sneaking a glance over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed.&nbsp; Crete was an island, but it was a large one; it would still be some time until they reached the sea.&nbsp; And then it happened.&nbsp; Walter yawned; Atalanta felt the movement against her back.&nbsp; He shook his head, trying to clear it, but it was difficult to fight the fatigue that had settled after that day's events.<br><br>"I think we should be safe until dawn," he suggested, fighting off another yawn.&nbsp; "What do you say we look for someplace to sleep?" He cast his gaze about, looking for anything -- a cave, an abandoned hut, even a patch of grass sheltered by a copse of trees would do.&nbsp; <br><br>And, indeed, just as he thought that, a gurgling sound betrayed the presence of a small stream.&nbsp; Over the stream, someone had erected a bridge.&nbsp; And yep, it was just possible that two people could sleep underneath the bridge if they snuggled close together.<br><br>"Look there," he pointed it out as they drew near.&nbsp; "We'll rest there for a few hours, and then we'll move on."<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>20-08-2010, 17:13:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It seemed like the best possible course of action. After all, they couldn't simply swim off this blasted island! Perhaps Walter had a ship hired that he had snuck here on? Oh no, surely it could not be something that <em>simple</em>. It could not be with Walter. The position she was forced to sit on the horse was a pinch precarious; without the sheet properly tied around her, Atalanta's hands were both in a death grip, with one holding her toga up and the other clutching the saddle. Perhaps Walter would not let her fall off, but she wasn't about to trust him with that! <br><br>The ride was...not entirely unpleasant. It was relaxing, being able to sit on a horse, and Walter was quite warm behind her. She knew that it had to be some sort of illusion, because for once she actually felt decently comfortable with Walter. She was terribly tired, and being able to slump slightly in the saddle, knowing he was right behind her, was lovely. The rhythmic bobbing of the horse from its steps and Walter's breathing were nearly hypnotic, and she tried very hard not to fall asleep. Atalanta did not want the oaf to think that she was actually <em>enjoying</em> the ride with him, however slightly! <br><br>He was very strong, and perhaps there was some measure of intelligence in him. <em>Some</em>. Atalanta was not about to convince herself that Walter was secretly a genius philosopher or mathematician in disguise. The dark countryside changed slowly around them, and Walter yawned behind her, a strange-feeling rumbling behind her. Of course, she could not stop herself, yawning quietly in response. Surely she had been through more than Walter, and if he mentioned her being tired, she would gladly list the events for him that she had to endure! <br><br>Normally, Atalanta would have mocked him for being weak and infantile for wanting to stop and sleep. Except, she could barely keep her eyes open. She had almost fallen asleep in the saddle a few times. She was starving and thirsty; perhaps once they awoke, they could find some kind of sustenance? Surely he'd mention it first. He was the size of an ox; he'd be hungry! Atalanta was far too stubborn to bring it up. But, with her stomach's growling continuously growing louder, she was not sure how long she could keep up the facade. She would have to focus on that once she slept.<br><br>"I...I think that would be a good idea, Walter..." Atalanta said drowsily. Even in her exhausted state, she normally would have refused the spot. It was obvious that she would have so sleep very close to Walter if they were both to fit there and stay safe and hidden. Yet...she felt like she could trust him to some degree. And his body was actually quite pleasant to feel against her; when he was not lying <em>on top</em> of her, anyway. He actually wasn't that bad. When he didn't open his mouth Atalanta could actually admit he was a little <em>attractive</em>. <br><br>"But if you think that you can sleep on top of me, Walter, you've got another thing coming." Oh, there was the fire again. When the horse was close enough to the bridge, Atalanta attempted to scramble off; which was particularly difficult when her legs felt like jelly, and she had to keep one hand clutched to her chest to hold the sheet up. Still, she was far too stubborn to ask for assistance. She wasn't some useless chit of a noblewoman; she could climb off a horse by herself damn it! <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>25-08-2010, 07:23:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter watched as the Athenian girl half-dismounted, half-fell from the saddle.&nbsp; It wasn't that she was clumsy; anyone would find it particularly hard to slip off of a horse while clutching two ends of a sheet together over her chest.&nbsp; She did manage to stick the landing, though, and that was what counted, even if her legs seemed a bit wobbly.&nbsp; Shaking his head, he swung his leg over the horse's rear and stepped down to the ground.&nbsp; The horse flicked its head back, staring at him with one eye, as if to ask, "what are you going to do now?"&nbsp; And that was a good question--Walter didn't know.<br><br>He considered tying it up.&nbsp; After all, if he let it loose, there was a chance that the Minoans could find it, and thereby know that Walter and his captive were still in the area.&nbsp; If, however, he did tie it up, and a random passerby happened to wander by, it would be all too easy to peer beneath the bridge and find their hiding place.&nbsp; Thus, reluctantly,&nbsp; Walter gave it an amiable pat about the neck and left it to its own devices.<br><br>He turned, then, to the stream.&nbsp; Like Atalanta, he was parched, and the sound of rushing water was too tempting to pass up.&nbsp; As he strode by her, he simply said, "don't wander off" before kneeling at the edge of the stream.&nbsp; The bank was shallow enough that he could lean over, cup his hands, and form a dripping cup from which he thirstily drank.&nbsp; <br><br>It turned out that he wasn't the only one.&nbsp; Next to him, the horse seemed to have the same idea.&nbsp; Carefully bracing itself on the bank, it extended its long neck, and slurped from the burbling brook as well.<br><br>His thirst thus slated,&nbsp; Walter turned to the girl next to him.&nbsp; He raised an eyebrow as she made her declaration, and considered pointing out, once again, that she was his slave.&nbsp; Somehow, though, something told him that it wouldn't work.&nbsp; "Fine," he grunted.&nbsp; He knelt down and crept under the bridge, dropping into a sitting position so he could remove his sandals.&nbsp; Then, he lay back, resting his head against the soft earth.&nbsp; He'd certainly slept in better circumstances, but he'd also slept in worse.&nbsp; At least the grass was soft under his back, and when the curl climbed in on top of him, there'd be warmth there too.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>27-08-2010, 18:33:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta paid no heed to the horse. Perhaps if she had been fully clothed, rested, fed, and in a good mood, she would have fawned over it and petted it and praised it, but right then she could barely walk without falling over. She staggered over to the bridge, looking vaguely like she had far too much to drink. Grey spots danced across her vision. She knew she was tougher than most noble girls her age, yet she was not accustomed to going without food for such a long period of time. At least she could finally have a drink from the stream -- surely then she would not <em>die</em> from the lack of sustenance. Her father taught her once that someone could go much longer without food than they could without water. <br><br>She immediately staggered over to the stream, dropping - well, more like falling - to her knees and using her hands to cup the water as it was brought to her lips. She truly knew how horrible that man that had been eternally punished in Tartarus felt. What was his name again? Atalanta was too groggy to think of it. All she remembered was that he was said to be so thirsty, and would try to bend down and use his fingers as a make-shift cup, just like Atalanta, except whenever the water got close to his lips, it would slip out from his fingers. Atalanta shivered. That surely would be eternal damnation.<br><br>Atalanta glanced to her left, where Walter - and the horse! - were both drinking from the stream a couple feet away. Perhaps this horse was friendlier than she thought, and wouldn't cause them any trouble. Atalanta knew she would feel better after she slept, but she still did not want to runa round with this sheet. A horse to ride would be far more comfortable. She was certainly shocked when Walter responded to her demands, and actually agreed to them! He was doing that bizarre grunting that many men did, not saying more than a single word at a time. That usually irritated her, except if Walter was not bothering her with some ridiculous claim that she was his slave, then she could live with it.<br><br>She watched him with tired eyes as he lied down underneath the small bridge, actually looking quite comfortable. Atalanta knew that they had to sleep somewhere relatively out of sight, to be safe, yet he took up so much room underneath the bridge! Where was she supposed to sleep? If it rained, or became windy, she would certainly freeze and likely get sick if she slept somewhere without shelter. With an irritated growl, Atalanta barged over to the bridge, removing her own sandals as well. She could not risk them breaking if she squirmed around in her sleep too much or did something stupid. <br><br>"Walter, must you take up so much room? I may as well try to sleep beside an ogre." Atalanta tried to see where the best spot for her would be. She crawled over his body, still with the sheet clutched to her chest, awkwardly trying to get in beside Walter. However, if she was to sleep beside him, with a little room between them, she could see that part of her body would be exposed for all to see. "Will you shove over? Where am I supposed to sleep?" Atalanta grumbled, actually kicking him, trying to urge him to move over. It was so unfair, expecting her to sleep on a tiny scrap of area! Men were so rude. "This is so unfair," Atalanta actually pouted, whining a little. She was so tired and frustrated! 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>29-08-2010, 23:45:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Oh, of all the damsels in distress he had chosen to rescue, out of all the potential slaves he could have picked, why did it have to be this one?&nbsp; It seemed that she couldn't go two minutes without grumbling or complaining about something.&nbsp; In physical appearance, she may have been a young woman, in the full bloom of youth--but in personality, she was a shrew.&nbsp; For a moment, Walter briefly considered breaking back into the labyrinth so he could put her back where he'd found her.<br><br>But perhaps it was just because it was late, and he was getting cranky with exhaustion.&nbsp; He wiggled over when she kicked him, making a bit more room beneath the bridge.&nbsp; Of course, he was much larger than her, and it was like a cat vying for position with a St. Bernard--it seemed absurd, almost comical.&nbsp; Still, at least for the moment, he decided it was better not to argue.<br><br>Thankfully, it didn't take long for the girl to fall asleep.&nbsp; Walter listened until her breath became slow and regular, her back rising and falling in somnambulent motion.&nbsp; She had her back turned to him, which he supposed was only to be natural, given her disposition.&nbsp; <br><br>Turning toward her, he spooned his body up against hers, wrapping his arms around her waist and nudging his legs up against the backs of her legs.&nbsp; The action caused the sheet to lift a bit, and with a start, he realized he could feel her bum press against his groin.&nbsp; It was so soft and smooth and warm, it instantly provoked a response in his nether regions.&nbsp; Awkwardly, he shifted position, manipulating his growing member so that she simply sandwiched it between her thighs, instead of angling it toward her bumhole or her...other hole.&nbsp; Surprisingly, even that act didn't cause her to wake up.<br><br>Contentedly, with his male member comfortably wedged between her thighs, his hands splayed against her chest and stomach underneath the sheet,&nbsp; he shut his eyes and fell, too, into deep, blissful sleep. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>01-09-2010, 23:28:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was very thankful that Walter yielded <em>some</em> room to her, even if it was not much. Why did he have to be so big? There were plenty of men - heroes, ones that did not claim their rescued maidens as <em>slaves</em>! - that were not as large as Walter, Atalanta was sure. Yet grumbling about it wasn't going to help very much. Still, her berating of him seemed to be a little effective. Plus, she enjoyed it. <br><br>She tried to wait for Walter to fall asleep first, as if that meant anything, but Atalanta was simply exhausted. Her eyelids felt as if they were as heavy as the sky Atlas was forced to hold up for an eternity, and eventually they closed, forcing her to drift off into a much needed slumber. Naturally, she had turned around so she wasn't facing Walter. It was a little sullen, she admitted, yet she did not want to end up being squished beneath him! If she got to close, he'd likely roll on top of her. He was so good with a weapon, yet could be such a dope.<br><br>It was unlikely that an army of horses pounding on top of the bridge could have wakened the girl. In fact, some would have thought her comatose or dead, she was simply that deep in sleep. Eventually, though, she felt a small patch of warmth on her face, and when she opened her eyes, she realized that a faint ray of sunlight was shining on her. It was still quite early, yet Atalanta reminded herself that she was still not yet out of danger.<br><br>Yet...she felt so wonderfully comfortable. Maybe this was a dream? It was so tranquil, so warm, and so quiet. She felt someone's arms around her, strong and protective. Whoever was behind her, holding her - it had to be a man - was big and warm. He even <em>felt</em> handsome. Perhaps she had died in her sleep, and this was the fabled Elysian Fields, where the worthy and just souls were sent to exist, in the Underworld. Perhaps Hades had taken pity upon her suffering, sending a dead hero to snuggle up beside her. That sounded quite pleasant.<br><br>Something was amiss, though. She could feel it. She snuggled closer to the man, stretching her legs a bit, and then she felt...<em>something</em>...between them! Stifling a gasp, she wiggled one leg a bit, trying to discern what it could be. And then she realized it, suddenly. It was...well, she did not have to blurt it out, or think about it too much! That would simply be nauseating. And then she decided to look around.<br><br>Only to find Walter behind her. Her dream of Elysian Fields shattered. "Bloody Walter Cupcake..." she muttered miserably, but then she realized she had to somehow extract his bits from her legs! She was entirely naked, under that sheet, and Walter was almost claiming her maidenhood! It was difficult to know what to do, but then Atalanta quickly decided.<br><br>It seemed too cruel to simply punch <em>it</em>. Besides, Atalanta did not want to touch it, much less with her hand. She gave him a sharp elbow in the gut, and then tugged fiercely on her sheet, trying to squirm away from the man - and what he had put between her thighs! His arms were tight around her when she awoken, yet Atalanta hoped that her jab would loosen his grip on her, somewhat! She wanted to believe that his placement was an accident, yet that seemed very unlikely. "Walter!" She whispered fiercely, trying to wrench herself free with the sheet. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>06-09-2010, 23:56:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				But Walter was deeply asleep, wrapped up in the welcome wings of an extraordinarily pleasant dream.&nbsp; The mighty Zeus had finally recognized all of Walter's heroic deeds, and had been so impressed by them that he had invited his son to take his rightful place among the gods and goddesses of Olympus.&nbsp; The goddesses, especially, seemed to take warmly to Walter, so that currently he found himself lounging upon a marvellous bed, draped in all manner of luxurious commodities.&nbsp; The goddess Hestia was feeding Walter grapes from a silver plate, while Demeter offered wine from a golden chalice.&nbsp; Athena, Artemis, and Aphrodite were rubbing scented oils into his skin: Athena was working on his chest and arms, and Artemis his legs.&nbsp; Aphrodite, never one to be shy, had found his manhood and was slowly and deliberately teasing it and toying with it, her expert fingers caressing it into full arousal.&nbsp; <em>This is the life,</em> Walter was thinking.&nbsp; <em>I could spend all eternity like this.</em><br><br>Athena was being a little too rough, though.&nbsp; She punched him in the stomach.&nbsp; "Walter!" she barked at him, even as his brows knit in confusion.&nbsp; "Walter!"&nbsp; she shrieked, again, even as her coy lips curved in a tantalizing smile.&nbsp; Walter began to relax, but without warning, she turned and elbowed him in the solar plexus. <br><br>"Wstfgl?" groaned Walter, the clouds of blessed sleep slowly dissipating.&nbsp; He opened his bleary eyes to find not a trio of goddesses, but a familiar face, framed by flame-colored tresses.&nbsp; He sighed, bitterly dissipointed.&nbsp; What in all of Greece was she needling him about&nbsp; this time?<br><br>He stretched, and as he did so, realized the cause of her distress.&nbsp; A certain part of his anatomy had seemed to respond to the dream; his manhood was fully erect, and currently sandwiched between her thighs.&nbsp; Jolted into full wakefulness, blushing fiercely, he extracted the ... bit... of himself as gently as he could.&nbsp; "Forgive me," he muttered.<br><br>Turning around, as if to hide it from her, he returned to the stream.&nbsp; Cold water...that was the thing.&nbsp; Raising his exomis, he knelt down into the trickling brook,&nbsp; feeling the brisk, refreshing water around his legs and thighs.&nbsp; He closed his eyes, and counted slowly to ten, trying not to think of anything the least bit provocative.&nbsp; Gorgons! Yes, withered, wrinkled old crones, with breasts as sagging as burlap sacks, writhing snakes for hair.<br><br>It seemed to work. By the time he got to ten, his manhood had shrunk back to normal size.&nbsp; He cupped his hands, and splashed his face with the water.&nbsp; His stomach growled, reminding him that it was expecting breakfast.<br><br>"We should make for the harbour," he called out, over his shoulder.&nbsp; "It will be busy.&nbsp; We can hide among the crowd there, and find ourselves something to eat as well."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>24-09-2010, 22:49:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta took note of his glum sigh as he awoke to her visage, rolling her eyes in frustration. Did he really expect to wake up to her simpering at him and begging to follow orders? He was clearly a delusional man. At least it had not taken him overly long to realize the reason why she had pummelled him awake. Atalanta surprised even herself when she smiled and snickered at his embarrassment. Her cheeks were a little flushed, as well, but it seemed that she was becoming more and more desensitized to Walter's naturally lecherous nature. "I suppose I can forgive you this once, Walter, for your boyish mistake. You should learn to control such urges." Atalanta burst out laughing and flicked his cheek playfully.<br><br>She watched him with amusement as he stood by the river, drenching himself with the frigid water. Atalanta was clever enough to know why he looked like he was concentrating so hard. She was, frankly, not surprised. It seemed many men, like Walter, were simply sexual deviants and fiends. At least he had not forced himself upon her in any manner. Atalanta was not overly bothered by the <em>mistake</em> that had transpired between them. Her dream had been so lovely, and - she regrettably admitted - so had Walter. At least before she realized that it <em>was</em> Walter holding her. His manhood had felt foreign between her soft thighs, and a little frightening, but she hadn't been entirely <em>uncomfortable</em> about it. Reminiscing about what it looked like, positioned there, caused her to flush once more. <br><br>The girl strolled up beside Walter, her sheet still clutched around her nudity. She missed clothing. Perhaps in this harbour she could get some thing to wear? Her stomach was roiling in hunger, too. There must be some way off this dreadful island. "I am very hungry. And...perhaps there will be a few whorehouses for you to visit, so get rid of your <em>issue</em>." Atalanta tried to cover up her girlish smirk and snickering, but failed. Another thought occurred to her, though. "But...what about my clothing? I may look a little suspicious, with a filthy sheet around me. And my hair..." She bit her lip anxiously. The memories of her time in captivity under King Minos still haunted her. She did not want to end back in his custody. Surely, he would still have guards searching for a redheaded gir - especially one trying to find passage off Crete - and her appearance looked like a girl who was running from <em>someone</em>. "Is there any way that I can blend in...better? I don't want to get captured. Not again."<br><br>Atalanta felt strangely vulnerable, standing there in front of Walter. He was the only one that could protect her, and she had been so rude to him - though he deserved it! - and she knew that he would have to help her escape from Crete. It would be easier for him to escape alone, yet it seemed like he was intent on not abandoning her. Atalanta was relatively sure that Walter had given up all this talk of her servitude, yet she hoped that he would not prey on her desperate situation. She suddenly felt very sick of her usually apprehensive and independent nature. It would be so much easier if her someone simply came along and took care of everything for her. Her father, maybe, or one of her suitors back in Athens. Yet they were a sea away, and likely thought her dead. Perhaps news would spread from Crete of the Minotaur's demise and the survival of the sacrifice, yet that would surely take days. All she had was this bumbling fool, and Atalanta wasn't sure how he would react once he learned of the power he held over her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 06:47:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter tried to ignore the girl, but it was difficult when she was standing there, wrapped up in nothing but a simple bedsheet, vainly clutched around herself in a pretense of modesty, acting as coy as she was.&nbsp; Even despite her propensity to yell at him for the slightest of offenses, there was no denying the allure of youth.&nbsp; Good thing he was standing up to his waist in chilly cold water, or else the effect upon him would be once more noticeable.&nbsp; Damnable woman!&nbsp; He had half a mind to throw her down on the riverbank right then and there.&nbsp; After all, she <em>was</em> his slave, wasn't she?&nbsp; According to Theseus, that meant that she was his property, and he could do anything he pleased with her.&nbsp; If he wanted to pin her down and make her spread her legs for him, he would be well within his legal rights to do just that.<br><br>So why was he having such a hard time with the girl?<br><br>He didn't know, and it annoyed and frustrated him.&nbsp; He was just bright enough to know that just because a man (even a son of Zeus) could do a thing, didn't mean he <em>should</em> do it, and that there was a time and a place for all things.&nbsp; &nbsp;And this was neither the time nor place.&nbsp; They were on the run from King Minos, with a death warrant, no doubt, on both their heads.&nbsp; He would get her somewhere safe, somewhere away from Minoa.&nbsp; And then...well, and then, they would see.<br><br>"Mmmm...I should make you wear that for the rest of the way, just to teach you a lesson," said Walter, perhaps a bit more bitterly than he intended.&nbsp; He didn't mind being pummeled so much as the fact that she was obviously enjoying his discomfort.&nbsp; And did she seriously say "issue"?&nbsp; The woman had no shame!<br><br>"But, I suppose...it will slow us down," he sighed, dropping his exomis once more and wading out of the stream.&nbsp; It did feel good, after the heat and sweat of running around all the day previous.&nbsp; He climbed the bank, and peeked out over the bridge, craning his head this way, then that.&nbsp; In the distance, on the horizon, he could see the harbor city of Knossos, white-roofed houses gleaming in the morning sun. "That's where we need to go."<br><br>He yawned, and cracked his neck.&nbsp; "We don't have the horse," he pointed out.&nbsp; "Can you walk, <em>princess</em>, or do you want me to carry you?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 15:01:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta thought Walter was serious about forcing her to wear the filthy, flimsy sheet the rest of their journey. She recoiled from, clutching it to her chest and actually whimpering softly. The sheet was some comfort, at least - she wasn't walking around totally nude - but she'd much prefer <em>real</em> garb. Being so exposed in front of Walter was embarrassing enough, but if they entered Knossos, she'd likely die of embarrassment. <br><br>Regardless, Atalanata still thought that she should somehow force Walter to visit one of the whorehouses in the city - surely there were at least a few. It'd stop him from pestering her endlessly, and perhaps he'd be able to find an inexpensive tailor who could stitch something simple - but <em>modest</em>! - for the Athenian noblewoman. "Really, Walter? We need to go to Knossos? I <em>never</em> would have thought." She grumbled bitterly, rolled her eyes and threw up her hands, exacerbated. At least he knew where to go, but he seemed to assume that she had no knowledge of her surroundings whatsoever. She was an Athenian noble, of course she knew of every geographical location of importance in Greece! Foolish man, he was.<br><br>At least he wasn't going to force her to wear the sheet after all. He was much stronger than her, and being so starved did not help her very much, either. He could likely swat her away with one hand and she'd fall to the ground and be unable to get up. While Walter may be used to going without a meal on occasion, Atalanta certainly was not. <br><br>"The horse? Where did it go? I thought it was staying right here when we both fell asleep!" Atalanta stomped around in a circle, as if the horse was somehow hiding behind a bush. Obviously, there was no sign of it. Even if riding with Walter uncomfortable squished behind her was unpleasant, she'd much prefer that to walking. Her legs ached already, and she hadn't even started the trek to the city. However, regardless of such leg-cramps, she refused to shame herself in front of Walter. <br><br>"You? Carry me? Hrmph. I do not require such a service at this moment." Atalanta summoned up the haughtiest tone and glare she could, and without looking back at Walter, simply began to stomp off towards the city, with that ridiculous sheet clutched tightly to her lithe frame. After taking only two steps, she stumbled and nearly fell right over. She dared not look back at Walter. Hopefully he did not see, or if he did, he would not be openly amused. <br><br>"Well? What are we waiting for? If you deem yourself worthy to carry <em>me</em>, surely you will not lag behind." <br><br>Atalanta, pleased with her snobbery, smiled a little and continued walking towards Knossos. She felt far more timid than ever, but at least she managed to regain some of her confidence with her little jabs at Walter. They were very satisfying. Besides, she knew if she did not mock the man at all, he would undoubtedly try to take advantage of her <em>weakened</em> state. All men were like that, Walter most of all. The thought of being forced to march around naked was enough of a motivator not to fall down in the dirt and cry.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>12-10-2010, 07:04:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter stared, incredulously, as the woman mocked him yet again.&nbsp; Oh, by all the gods and Olympus, was there no end to her shrewish ways?&nbsp; Had he not rescued her from the slaverous jaws of the mighty Minotaur beast, and then done so <em>again</em> from the vengeful king Minos' hands?&nbsp; Had he not led her from the Labyrinth, led her far from the city, with the promise of freedom and, not to put too fine a point on it, her life?&nbsp; And in return, all she gave him was grief.&nbsp; He shook his head, sorely tempted to tell her to find her own way home.<br><br>He nearly opened his mouth to do so when he realized that, if he did, he would be allowing the woman to have power over him.&nbsp; She, a mere mortal! And he, the son of Zeus!&nbsp; No, he was her lord and master, and she was his slave, whether she liked it or not! No, she would submit to him, surrender to his will, and acknowledge his dominion over her, or else...<br><br>Or else...<br><br>Well, he'd think of something.&nbsp; In the meantime, there were other things to consider, such as fleeing the island and securing passage to Greece.&nbsp; Surely Minos couldn't have spread the word of the escape <em>that</em> quickly, or <em>that</em> efficiently.&nbsp; No matter how tight the net, there would be some holes in it, holes through which Walter and his ward could escape.<br><br>He snorted in disbelief when Atalanta refused his offer, sarcastic as it was, and then snorted in amusement and delight when she nearly fell upon her face.&nbsp; Then he shook his head as she stormed off again.&nbsp; Even though he was tempted to let her suffer the consequences of her pride, her pace would slow them down considerably.<br><br>And so she felt two strong hands lift her up, lifting her abruptly from the ground almost like a ballerina dancer (although, of course, she would not have known what a ballerina was).&nbsp; The moment of exultation, of soaring above the ground, was fleeting, however, as she found herself unceremoniously dumped over Walter's shoulder like a bag of potatoes.&nbsp; Held to his chest and shoulder with one strong arm,&nbsp; she found herself with a good view of the road behind him, as well as the back of Walter's heels.<br><br>Feeling his mood improved substantially, Walter strode along, looking for some farm or something where they might buy the day's breakfast.&nbsp; &nbsp;And if they were lucky, perhaps some decent clothing for Atalanta as well.<br><br>The hours passed slowly, the sun, pulled by Apollo's chariot, wheeling painstakingly upward in its ascent through the sky.&nbsp; Wild, untamed meadows gave way to grain fields, and occasional grassy plains where cows or goats grazed contentedly.&nbsp; Walter stared at the domesticated beasts as he passed, and it was upon this occasion that they both heard a very distinct rumbling in his stomach.&nbsp; <br><br>At last, they came upon a horse and cart, which happened to be travelling the other way.&nbsp; From the look of it, it was their good fortune to meet a travelling merchant; the back of his cart was filled with sacks of grain, and pots of dates, figs, dried olives, and grapes.&nbsp; "Hello!" called out Walter, setting Atalanta none-too-gently down upon her feet.&nbsp; "Might we barter for a bit of food, there?"<br><br>The merchant, who was a spry, sun-tanned, grey-bearded fellow, looked Atalanta up and down.&nbsp; A red-headed woman was a rare sight in Minoa, and even more one who appeared to be wearing nothing but a bedsheet.&nbsp; "Certainly.&nbsp; What coinage do you have?"<br><br>"Go ahead, pay the man," Walter prodded the girl.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>13-10-2010, 03:05:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was enjoying a splendid stroll - well, she was trying to <em>convince</em> herself of that - only diminished slightly by the location, her unwashed state, and her garb. The lumbering oaf she left behind in her dust had tried to shatter her composure by snorting at her savagely in amusement at her misstep, but she was not going to allow some filthy vagabond to discourage her so. <em>No, I am of a respected lineage, raised civilized and proper. Mere peasants cannot even annoy me.</em> <br><br>She continued to recite similar lines in her mind as she stomped off with a purpose, but was rudely interrupted mid-sentence as two burly hands lifted her up by her slim waist. Her head spun momentarily with overwhelming dizziness as the ground shrunk ever so slightly before her. She was deposited without a shred of tenderness over the intruder's broad shoulder, hanging there limply but securely. For a few seconds, Atalanta thrashed and kicked at the man, but she quickly gave up, knowing she was only embarrassing herself. Besides, she <em>was</em> exhausted. With an ostentatious huff of irritation, Atalanta crossed her arms angrily, as if trying to pretend that her upper body was not hanging partially upside-down. Thank the Gods that her sheet had stayed in its place during the encounter, but Walter had her legs securely clutched to his chest, and had a decent view of her rear if he simply turned his head. He'd <em>better</em> not get any ideas.<br><br>Atalanta attempted to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary, as if she was simply riding a horse, just in a most...<em>unconventional</em> manner. It was very difficult initially, causing her to make her typical loud huffs, sighs and grumbles, but otherwise she stayed quiet. Conversing in this position with Walter would simply be ridiculous. Oddly enough, Walter's steps and bobs on the dirt road were strangely rhythmically soothing, somehow. After an hour or so, her eyes flickered shut, and the tenseness in her body disappeared entirely as she drifted into a light sleep.<br><br>There were no dreams, only the pleasant awareness that she was sleeping whilst being carried by Walter like some young barn animal. There was an occasional gust of wind tickling the fields of grass, goats bleating, and, of course, Walter's stomach grumbling. Somehow, even that obnoxious sound did not ruin her lovely nap. <br><br>The culprit for that offence had been Walter's bellowing greeting to an unknown human being - hopefully the kook wasn't talking to animals or inanimate objects, anyway. Her body twitched in awakening, her eyes lazily being pried open by sheer will-power. Unfortunately, Walter did not seem to acknowledge that she was just regaining consciousness, plucking her relentlessly from his body and placing her unceremoniously onto the dirt. <em>Food</em>, she thought dimly. That was definitely worth the rude awakening, however unnecessary.<br><br>Atalanta goggled up at the old chap, awestruck at the possibility of food. Her big green eyes were wide and witless. "P-pay him with what? I...I don't have any coins, or anything of worth..." She looked back at Walter frantically, too groggy to understand the hidden meaning that he was offering her. All she had were her sandals, and she certainly could not part with those. <br><br>"Walter, can't you just do some strong-arm work or manual labour to earn it? I'm so hungry..." She pouted petulantly, wrapping her arms around herself and her sheet protectively. Would Walter really turn down the opportunity to feed both of them? He <em>couldn't</em>. She felt like she was close to death half the time from starvation, and while Walter was still strong and perhaps more used to going without meals, he was also slowing down slightly. Atalanta was willing to steal from the merchant, if she had no other choice. Stealing was dishonourable, but preferable to dying. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>17-10-2010, 23:09:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You don't have <em>any</em> coin on you?" asked Walter, irritably.&nbsp; Then again, perhaps he should have known.&nbsp; She was, after all, only the day before a prisoner of the Labyrinth, subject to the whims of the monstrous Minotaur.&nbsp; Of course she would have been searched, and anything of value would have been forfeited.&nbsp; <br><br>Walter dug into his own belt-pouch, and opened it to find, much to his dismay, only a few odd knickknacks: buttons, wooden pins, small rocks.&nbsp; There were a couple of bronze <em>drachmas</em>, but it was not nearly enough to purchase anything of value, much less a good breakfast for the both of them.&nbsp; It appeared that they were both in a quandary.&nbsp; Frowning, Walter considered that, perhaps, he should make a habit of carrying around more money on his person.&nbsp; As a wandering hero, he had rarely needed it, either finding what he needed in the course of his wanderings, or performing some service to the local town such that they were only too happy to give him a hot dinner and a flagon of wine.<br><br>"It appears that we have no method of payment," said Walter, shuffling his feet.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>"Too bad," said the merchant, his vaguely interested expression fading and turning disappointed.<br><br>"Wait!" said Walter.&nbsp; He noticed the way that the man's eyes seemed to linger upon Atalanta.&nbsp; "What about...something...from the girl?&nbsp; She's my slave, after all. She has to do what I say."&nbsp; Out of reflex, he winced, half-expecting Atalanta to kick him in the shins for that, or at the very least shoot him a baleful glare.&nbsp; But it was the truth, after all, no matter what she said.<br><br>"Really? Hrmmm...well, I suppose...."<br><br>"Yes?" said Walter.<br><br>"Is she wearing anything under that sheet?&nbsp; Perhaps if she were to...show me...her body...and then a kiss, I think.&nbsp; With tongue.&nbsp; That should be good for a few dates, and maybe a branch of grapes."<br><br>"A view of her body, and a kiss on the cheek, and you give us the dates, the grapes, a loaf of bread, and some wine," said Walter, the negotiator.<br><br>"Mmmmm...all right," said the merchant, after thinking about it a bit. "No wine, though.&nbsp; The dates, the grapes, and the loaf of bread."<br><br>"Deal," said Walter.&nbsp; He reached out, and tugged the sheet off of Atalanta. With a firm shake of his wrist, he pulled it from her, leaving her bare and exposed in nothing but her sandals.&nbsp; The merchant leaned forward on his horse, his eyes rapaciously and intently examining her body.<br><br>"Go on, then, kiss the man," said Walter.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>18-11-2010, 15:24:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta's eyes fille with a dejected sorrow when Walter was unable to produce anything of value. What had he been thinking? If he was such a successful hero, why hadn't he some money on him? He clearly hadn't planned this entire escape out! What, did he expect her, the to-be-sacrifice to the Minotaur, would have bulging purses filled with gold upon her rescue? She wanted to punch him, except she was feeling too stiff, weak, and afraid. How could they - especially herself - go another day without food? <br><br>For once, Atalanta had a rather meek expression on her face as she stared down at the ground. It was mostly due to exhaustion and starvation and the urge to weep that the merchant was going to leave them empty-handed. When Walter looked to her and said that <em>she</em> would be the payment, she so desperately wanted to turn around and attack him, but simultaneously, her tummy was aching and begging for food...<br><br>What choice did she have? Walter could do some strong-arm work for this man, but their risk of being discovered would be great. The old lecherous merchant wanted a kiss - with tongue, the pervert! - but she was relieved that Walter argued his way out of that particular demand. Regardless, she would have to deliver some harsh words after she got her food. Oh, and did he expect to get a large share of the reward she <em>entirely</em> earned by herself? Perhaps Atalanta would allow him a grape or two. Out of pity.<br><br>Atalanta was busy fantasizing about food - and how it would be <em>all</em> hers - when Walter viciously tugged her precious sheet away, revealing her nubile body. She nearly fell in the dirt from shock, but managed to stay standing, her knees wobbly from hunger. Her cheeks reddened in a way that only made her look even more innocent and attractive - although Atalanta was not aware of this. Her eyes were downcast, meek and shy. Surprisingly, the girl didn't try to cover her small, pert breasts, or her virgin sex, the latter covered with a light fuzz of reddish hair. <br><br>Red hair wasn't particularly common in Athens. Many people said that it was exotic, exciting - the hair that Aphrodite possessed. Atalanta was not sure of that talk - it certainly seemed nonsense to her - but perhaps if this man thought of her as some exotic beauty, they would receive the promised offer and more? Still, Atalanta was not feeling particularly confident in herself. In her haze of drowsiness, she did not think she offered anything different than other slaves. She was used to all of her family's household slaves being rather attractive - the ones sought out by the upper classes, to make their estates even more luxurious. <br><br>Realizing that Walter was urging her to kiss the man, and that she was just standing there shyly, Atalanta gave him a nod. "Yes, sir," she murmured, her big green eyes widening after she said the two words. They had just slipped out! There was no meaning to them! She was just trying to play the role of a slave in a more convincing manner, yes, that was it. Nothing suspicious at all. Likely that oaf Walter wouldn't even realize she had said anything out of the ordinary, what with his enormous ego. <br><br>The young woman walked over to the merchant, clad only in her sandals. She looked up at him with her big, innocent green eyes, and was not entirely repulsed. He was certainly not someone she would marry, or even kiss, but he wasn't overwhelmingly hideous. In fact, with the promise of food, he actually looked vaguely attractive. Atalanta knew she was likely hallucinating that particular trait, but she wasn't about to question it. The only thing on her mind were those dates, grapes, bread...<em>oh, it will be such a wonderful little feast. </em><br><br>Atalanta stood beside the merchant's horse, realizing that she could not reach him unless he came down. She spoke in a whisper, partially so Walter could not hear her, but also in an attempt to seduce the man. It wasn't lewd if nobody else could hear and she was hungry, after all. "Good sir, I will deliver to you all that is agreed. I only hope that you take mercy on my delicate soul. My master is cruel and rough, and on the rare chance we come across food, he eats it all himself, leaving only the tiniest scraps for me..." A little lying was necessary for sympathy. "Please, handsome and kind man, view me humble body and kiss me. I only ask that you give the food to me..." Atalanta gave him a shy, yet seductive smile.<br><br>The girl wasn't sure if her plot was successful. Of course she had seduced and teased boys before, but she had never tried to this extent. She had seen many plays where the actors spoke in such a dramatic, flowery manner, and <em>surely</em> this man would take sympathy on her. After all, one look at Walter and he'd know that she was telling the truth - even if she wasn't, exactly. <br><br><em>Oh, Walter, the payment in food will be all mine! I know you'd steal all of it from me anyway...</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>30-11-2010, 07:06:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The merchant examined the sweet young thing in front of him, his eyes lighting up like Helios' chariot wheels.&nbsp; He was married, and if pressed, he would have to confess that he did love his wife, but she was...well, to put it kindly, past her prime.&nbsp; Her breasts were anything but perky, and the rosy complexion of youth had turned into the sour scowl of middle age.&nbsp; Getting to ogle Atalanta was, frankly, a treat.<br><br>He took his time, inspecting her small, youthful breasts with the glee of an epicurean studying a twelve-course Dionysian feast table, noting how her hips curved just so, glimpsing the patch of fiery red between her legs that did indeed match the hair on her head.&nbsp; He strained forward in the stirrups, leaning to one side to get a better view. His hands ached to touch, to squeeze, but he noted Walter's possessive stare just over her head, and thought better of it.<br><br>Still, when she asked him, so shyly, and so sweetly for a kiss, not even Walter's looming presence could dissuade him.&nbsp; He leaned down, causing his horse to snort and shift sideways to keep his balance, and seized Atalanta's chin in his palm, bringing his lips over to press roughly against hers.&nbsp; His nostrils flared, imbibing her scent; his beard tickled her cheeks.<br><br>"Okay, that's enough!" exclaimed Walter, pulling the girl back against him and quickly wrapping her up in the sheet again.&nbsp; "The agreement was for a kiss on the cheek, not the mouth."<br><br>"Yes, it was," said the merchant, grinning.&nbsp; He winked at Atalanta, and then turned in his saddle.&nbsp; "Very well--help yourself to that loaf of bread, there.&nbsp; Take a handful of dates, and pick a sprig of grapes if you like.&nbsp; Oh, I may have some cheese back there as well. "<br><br>Walter nodded, and went to reach for the bushel in which the grapes were kept, but the merchant stopped him.&nbsp; "Ah, ah, I was speaking to the lady.&nbsp; You can share it with her, assuming she allows you to have any."&nbsp; <br><br>Walter blinked, his mouth dropping open.&nbsp; He was too shocked to be properly outraged.&nbsp; The merchant nodded to Atalanta.&nbsp; "Go on, dear.&nbsp; Take what you like.&nbsp; You can share it with your...master."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>02-12-2010, 01:31:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta was so starved that the merchant's hungry gaze on her didn't bother her overmuch. Perhaps it would have surprised her a few days ago, because after all she had been through -- being the sacrifice to the deadly Minotaur, saved by a handsome hero who turned out to be an obnoxious lecher, then being nearly raped by King Minos himself and sacrificed <em>again</em>, only to be whisked off by Walter and to be on the run from the entire island. Atalanta suspected that few things would surprise her anymore.<br><br>Her big green eyes stared up at the merchant in a mixture of adoration and desperation. She truly wouldn't mind if the man groped at her youthful body, if she would be able to eat afterwards. However, she wasn't disappointed that the man managed to avoid grabbing her, even if he clearly wanted to. Her mind was too dulled by exhaustion and hunger for her to know why, or even to care.<br><br>His rough hands seized her delicate chin, his grubby lips making contact with her own. Atalanta was astonished by the sheer ferocity of the merchant. While she managed to kiss him back, however daintily, she was slightly relieved when Walter tore her away from the man, wrapping her up in the sheet as if she was a prize only meant to be seen by him. The young woman had a hint of a smile on her visage, slightly satisfied that she had made Walter at least slightly uncomfortable -- and likely jealous.<br><br>Atalanta gave the man a shy smile at his wink. What was wrong with her? She knew that her mother would likely smack her for such lewd behaviour, but she simply did not care. The merchant was not an attractive man at all, she realized, but kissing him had not been as bad as she thought it could be. Besides, with the promise of food, she'd do it <em>again</em>, if needed. <br><br>When the merchant actually went along with her plead, proclaiming that the 'payment' would be made to her, she couldn't stop the huge grin that formed on her pretty, innocent face. Or perhaps not very innocent at all, because of what she had schemed. It had worked, though, and that was all that mattered. The little brat - who's smirk mirrored that trait - scurried over to the cart, one hand securing her sheet. "Thank you, kind sir, I appreciate your mercy upon a humble girl such as I." She gave him another smile, then her eyes stared down at the food in wonder.<br><br>Atalanta was going to wait for her feast. She immediately tore into the loaf of bread, taking an enormous bite out of it, reaching to the cheese and chomping into it, moving onto the grapes and dates. The small girl ate surprisingly fast, able to fill her tummy within a few minutes. While she may feel a little sick afterwards, she knew that her body would quickly replenish itself from the sustenance. While she felt that she should somehow hoard more food to herself, she knew that'd be difficult to maintain with Walter, and would likely be pushing her luck.<br><br>"Okay, Walter, help yourself. You just better not eat too much." Atalanta gave him a teasing smile, dangerously encroaching a taunt. She couldn't help herself. "Then you can pack it all up and we'll go. You'll have to carry it, too. Too bad this kind merchant doesn't have any clothing for sale." Atalanta sighed slightly. While she felt slightly liberated, after earning herself a meal and the right to torment Walter a little, it would be far more comfortable if she had true clothing to wear. Hopefully they could find her something in the next town they visit.<br><br>Smiling smugly with satisfaction, Atalanta gave the merchant a playful, teasing smile. It was very fun to fool around with men, like this, she had just suddenly learned. Besides, if the man was so dazzled by her smile and gave them extra food, she certainly wouldn't complain.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>15-12-2010, 05:27:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walter stared down at the scraps left.&nbsp; &nbsp;Atalanta had managed to devour the lion's share of the allotted food, leaving him little more than what could be considered a midmorning snack.&nbsp; Still, it was better than nothing.&nbsp; &nbsp;Giving her the evil eye, he polished off the rest of the bread, cheese, grapes, and dates.&nbsp; He was still hungry, but at least it was something.<br><br>"The way you stuffed your face," he chided, "you're going to find yourself sick in an hour.&nbsp; In fact, I hope you do."&nbsp; He licked his lips, hungrily searching for every last morsel, every last crumb.&nbsp; From the sour expression on his face, he was disappointed.<br><br>The merchant seemed to ignore him completely, smiling toothily at Atalanta.&nbsp; He seemed to enjoy the flirting, her coquettish way of smiling and winking at him.&nbsp; Or perhaps he just seemed to enjoy the view of her body beneath the sheet.&nbsp; Whatever the case, it would seemed that she wholly succeeded in charming him.&nbsp; "Here, have a flour biscuit as well, dear," he said, rummaging around into his personal satchel and offering her the baked good.&nbsp; "And if you get to Knossos, look for my cousin, Andromachus.&nbsp; He lives in the blue house by the grain mill.&nbsp; He is a tailor.&nbsp; Tell him Telemachus sent you and he will give you some clothes."&nbsp; And with that, reluctantly, he cracked the reins, spurring his horse forward.<br><br>Walter watched him go, then shook his head.&nbsp; "Are you happy?" he growled, barely able to contain his annoyance.&nbsp; "Did you have fun, acting like an Athenian harlot?&nbsp; You are my slave, and that means I get to do with you what I will."<br><br>Suddenly, without warning, he reached out and grasped the red haired girl by the shoulders, drawing her to himself.&nbsp; He pressed his lips to her own, his tongue licking the corners of her mouth for any food crumbs.&nbsp; Similarly, it explored her mouth, searching her teeth for any unchewed morsel.&nbsp; Only after he was satisified that he licked up every last bit did he release her.&nbsp; "Come, let's go," he said, sourly.&nbsp; "We're almost to Knossos, but Zeus knows who could be waiting for us there."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Cecily</strong> on <strong>15-12-2010, 05:56:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Atalanta rolled her eyes skyward at Walter's sourpuss expression. Oh, as if she hadn't left him plenty of food! The man was simply an ogre, and practically required an entire table of food just to be satiated. Of course, he ate the rest of it, not leaving a scrap of it for later. How selfish he was! Well, at least they would both go hungry. He would go faster, as she had ate her fill, and then some. <br><br>"Sick all over you, ideally," Atalanta said with a sneer, then smirking at him triumphantly. She could see the shameless man trying to find every last speck of food. He was not well-mannered, which Atalanta was hardly surprised by. Nonetheless, she turned her dazzling smile to the merchant, giggling with glee as he offered her the pastry. She held it in both of her hands protectively, planning on saving it for later. Unlike her fat oaf of a partner, she had some <em>logic</em>. Hearing that the merchant had a brother that would give her clothing somehow elevated her mood even higher. Atalanta could not wipe the smile off of her pretty face, which she knew Walter would be grumpy about. <em>All the better.</em> <br><br>"Oh, thank you kind sir! Farewell!" Atalanta waved, practically jumping up in the air in happiness. When Walter voiced his annoyance, Atalanta spun around, her bright smile vanishing as she glared at him. The man dared to insult her. She had gotten them food! And had permitted him to eat some! He should be on his knees, <em>thanking</em> her, not chastising her for his own jealousy. "Walter, I am an Athenian noblewoman, while you are some barbarian from gods-knows-where, probably some backwater town where people averagely have two remaining teeth. Clearly, you are not of the proper station to own me as a slave. And, regardless of that, I'd object to such ridiculousness." Atalanta gave him a smile, feeling immensely confident now that she had fed.<br><br>Until he suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing his lips against her own, and then his tongue! Atalanta nearly gagged in disgust and indignant rage. The <em>nerve</em> of the man! Struggling in his grasp, Atalanta attempted to punch his chest, to shove him away, all to no avail. Meanwhile, Walter continued to molest her with his tongue. What was he <em>doing</em> with it? It probed at the strangest spots, such as her teeth! <em>Likely some vile fetish from the land he came from,</em> Atalanta reflected. <br><br>She murmured a thanks to Artemis when the revolting man finally released her. Gasping for breath, spitting in an attempt to get the taste of his saliva from her mouth, Atalanta shot him another vicious glare. This time, with a promise of violence in her sparkling green eyes. "You act as if you did not <em>rape</em> my mouth with your tongue! I would have you executed, if we were in Athens..." Atalanta suddenly coloured, fuming, when she realized that she had no such protection here. Now she knew how commoners and peasants felt. It was a most unpleasant experience. <br><br>"Fine, let's go. You better watch your back, though," Atalanta ominously warned, then stomped off down the road, not giving Walter the subtlest of glances. The sooner they finally reached Knossos, the better! They'd be able to eat once more. Or, she would at least -- Walter could starve and scrounge for food. She'd have pretty clothing to wear, and perhaps could return to Athens, to her family. Atalanta wasn't decided yet. While she was secretly afraid Walter would force her to journey with him, the prospect was...strangely exciting. Not because Walter was there. No, of course not. What a vile thought. Who ever slipped it into her mind? Atalanta certainly didn't. No, she simply was intrigued by the prospect of exploring the rest of the realm. She didn't need Walter for that.<br><br><em>Though, he would make a good bodyguard</em>, Atalanta thought with a wry smile, clutching the sheet closer to herself, along with her pastry, and gazing down the road. Startlingly beautiful, in a rustic, natural way. Perhaps becoming an adventurer was a viable option. It'd just be a coincidence that Walter would likely accompany her. <em>Not the way around, damn it. </em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Once Upon a Time in Ancient Greece (Remiel &amp; Cecily)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Remiel</strong> on <strong>21-12-2010, 05:43:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He certainly looked like the bodyguard type.&nbsp; Curly blond hair, eyes the blue of a summer's sky, a chin you could crack nuts with and a body that was positively bulging with muscles.&nbsp; Arms, legs, chest, back, neck, you name it, Walter had muscles there.&nbsp; It was almost possible to believe that Walter <em>could</em> be the son of a god, or at least of godly stock.<br><br>Until, of course, he opened his mouth.&nbsp; Gods generally weren't paragons of either virtue or intelligence (with a few notable exceptions) but they were, more or less, quite clever, whereas Walter was about as clever as a brain-damaged bull.&nbsp; His general method of solving problems intended either the use of: 1. bluntly stating one's intentions, or 2. force, and although he preferred to use 1. whenever possible he almost inevitably found himself resorting to 2.<br><br>Perhaps, if there were some method of striking him dumb, so that he could be able to watch and listen but not speak, he would be the ideal bodyguard.&nbsp; Until then, she would just have to tolerate his stubborn opinions on women, vis a vis how they should all be the property of men.&nbsp; Or at least some, anyway.&nbsp; Definitely Atalanta, in particular.&nbsp; She was his slave, and that was that.&nbsp; There was nothing she could say or do about it.<br><br>Knossos, the largest port city of Crete, was bustling with activity.&nbsp; Although, by definition, Minos ruled <em>all</em> of Crete, including Knossos, the city tended to run more or less on its own.&nbsp; Although his soldiers would certainly be looking for them here, they were few in number among the sprawling, bustling hive that was Knossos.&nbsp; Walter and Atalanta could easily lose themselves among the crowd.<br><br>"We'll need some money, or a way to barter a ship off the island," he flatly informed the girl, as if she didn't know.&nbsp; Atalanta noticed she was still drawing stares, here: although there were other women, some of them as pretty as she, a few even prettier,&nbsp; she was the only one with flame red hair, and wearing a bedsheet besides.&nbsp; <br><br>Walter seemed to notice it too.&nbsp; "Perhaps we should find you some normal clothes," he admitted.&nbsp; "Where did that man say his brother was?"
			</dd>
		</dl>
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