>>453024
Right now, there's only one thing you CAN do.

Schlick furiously.

>>453053
I wouldn't mess around at dinner like that, what's to say a Geofahn won't be in there and spot you?

Just stay in your room until the needed time, then sneak out the back without being seen.

>>453024
Hmmm... What house was he in? Perhaps he is not overly fond of Geofahn. Or perhaps he plans to turn you over to Fauhredn for a cash reward, since you're politically important. Whatever the case, he didn't think it was important to try to stop you from escaping the city.

He mentioned not letting anyone from Geofahn seeing your face. I think he plans to disguise your markings. Makeup or something. Didn't we have that idea before, but discarded it?

>>453091
Yeah, what house is he?
His colors were similar to your own house's though I doubt there's a relation. Just pointing that out.

>>453053
Look. This is a pretty good plan. OK? Except the gossip part. We have Iaxio for that. No one will suspect that a ghost with non-Tash colors is actually working with the Tash bride.

I'm guessing that McTrinkets either has connections to House Fauhredn, or realizes that he can sell you out to Fauhredn for wayyyyyy more than what Geofahn will give him. They're basically hate each other, so if Fauhredn took you in and paraded you around, that'd be a huge blow to Geofahn.

>>453269
Fauhredn being as traditionalist as it is probably would want nothing to do with us. Even if they don't like the Geofahn I find it unlikely they would overlook how badly we skipped out on our duty to our house by running from our marriage and they would probably not want us anywhere near them. At the same time if he's planning to sell us out to Geofahn it would probably be hard once we're on our way out and they stop us to convince them that he was indeed planning to hand us over rather than run off with us. I would guess he would tell them before hand that he found us if he wanted a reward and they would either be asking the inn owner about us soon or maybe right now or that they would be waiting at the docks when we arrive to leave.

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/10(Mon)13:19 No. 453340 ID: a4f774
File 134730837402.png - (116.61KB , 750x750 , 46.png )

I can hear some quiet chat in the main room of the inn. Lots of hushed, gossipy whispers. I consider going out there and getting some information, but it seems better to stay put for now and keep out of trouble. I’ve already raised enough of a hassle.

But even still? I don’t let Iaxio insult me for making mistakes. This is hard. This is dangerous, and… I’m probably more scared than I’m letting myself admit. I tell him to ease off me. He does.

I don’t want to risk sleeping to talk to Maexiks, so I just…

>Schlick furiously.

… so I just wait patiently. Nervously. I wait in a worried wreck, ok.

I wait. Iaxio waits too. We watch the colors of the day grow darker through the stained, pink of the window. Waiting around bored with Iaxio while being super-worried is starting to become Our Thing.

>Can you afford enough material to create a new outfit within a single Fauhredn coin?

Maexiks had to really work her connections to get dye at all. I might be able to get un-dyed clothes, but that’d make me stand out even more than anything else.

>Yeah, what house is he?

Southdog McTrinkets is from the south. There’s a thousand towns and a hundred houses I’ve never heard of whose colors he could be wearing. At the very least, I know it’s no major power or anything, or I’d have recognized it.

We wait until it’s finally time.

>sneak out the back without being seen.
>We can walk to the docks around evening and check it out, to see if they are still even there.
>…they would either be asking the inn owner about us soon or maybe right now or that they would be waiting at the docks when we arrive to leave.

I’m not sure if I can trust McTrinkets, but I don’t really have any better plans right now. Iaxio and I sneak out the back door. The streets are mostly empty, but there are enough dogs walking around that Iaxio and I won’t seem suspicious for being outside. The atmosphere is really subdued and broken. It feels like the town's spirit's been crushed by what happened earlier this afternoon.

It’s a few minutes’ walk to the spot where McTrinket’s coracle is docked. I can take a position behind a house and get a good peep on what’s up. I can see McTrinkets in his coracle, packing up his stuff. He has a ghost in his colors there, now, too, standing on the sidewalk and just being casual. I don’t see any Geofahn around.

I’m not sure what to do.

Do I trust him?

… even if I don't trust him… am I going with him?

>>453340
Dude is still pretty much an unknown. As far as we know he hasn't sold you out, at least, so that much can probably be said for him.

If nothing else, though, it's a lot easier to know that he might be up to if you're hanging around him, and since he basically knows your secret it seems like it's probably prudent to keep tabs on him somehow.

Also this town does not seem like a happy place to be anymore. I don't think you want to be here tomorrow.

Go up and casually talk to him. I don't think you should trust him, but I think going with him is the best bet still.

Glance around to see if you can't see where any checking, if any, is going on.

>>453340
They look a bit pissed off. Or determined... but if you say they're basically being 'casual', go talk to them.

Ask what his name is, too. Leave Iaxio hidden for now; if they cause trouble for us it would be best if he was a surprise.

Go there, even though you don't trust him. It's not like you got a contingency plan, anyway. Just be sure that the birdie who saw you acting strange at the inn is not on the next boat watching you sneaking out suspiciously in the middle of the night.

On another note, maybe this is a good point to ask if you can swim.

I can't help but feel that if we don't go, we're fucked anyway if he does end up selling us out. We wouldn't last for long if he gave out our information to the Geofahns, we'd just have a slightly smaller advantage until we're eventually caught by them on or off the roads.

And if he doesn't, well, we have our best chance of getting out of here right in front of us. Traveling alone with just Iaxio on the roads is not a good idea even if they don't know our outfit and if we're caught by them OFF the roads it's even more suspicious behavior they're going to question, not to mention the danger of traveling alone off the roads even if your not a fugitive bride.
You DO still have a weapon on you though, right?
You might be able to kill them all if they aren't prepared for it.
Hey, if they do get their hands on you and kill you, are they gonna burn your corpse too? Or do they leave it at the first death for this kind of scandal? Not that you would last long without anybody taking care of you, but that's slightly better than a complete death.

Trust no one. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. McTrinkets's coracle boat is better than no plan at all.

>>453345

Would you be able to keep Iaxio hidden? Can ghosts sense other ghosts? Do they have, like, ectosensory perception?

Oh, hang on a second. Before we commit to anything, you should AT LEAST find out why he's helping you, and what his plan is. Then consider how dangerous it might be to go along with it.

We should approach McTrinkets, keep our ears open for trouble, and have a quiet chat. Be ready to defend yourself.

Take a good look around. Scan for possible approach points, and have an escape route ready if things go south (har). Then approach as casually as possible.

Watch them, but have Iaxio do it; They know you have a ghost with you, but they won't know that Iaxio's with you. If they do spot him, as long as Iaxio's mantle is out of sight, they might think it's a House Geofahn ghost watching the docks from a hiding spot. Tell Iaxio to not look directly at them, and act as if he was a Geofahn ghost watching this dock section by glancing back and forth along it. (Do ghosts cast a pale light of their own, or do they need to be "backlit" to show up?)

As a plus, if they do spook if they spot Iaxio, and move to leave immediately, that means they don't want to be watched by any House Geofahn agent, and is good evidence they haven't sold you out. Just make sure to step out and get to them before they leave.

While you're waiting, pick up some dirt and dust from the road and sprinkle and pat it on your mantle, especially the lower part. That'll make it not quite as bright, harder to pick out at a distance, and look more road worn. If there's a mud puddle in the alley, flop into it right before heading out. Getting your clothes muddy and wet will make the colors really hard to make out in the dusk light. If anyone asks, you can say you slipped and fell on the way to the dock.

Watch them until the very last minute, when they're untying the mooring rope to leave, then step out with Iaxio in tow and walk over as casually as you can.

I would like to second operation Iaxio Periscope

Geofan haven't exactly been patient and subtle about finding you. They'd be more likely to have barged into the inn to look for you than wait in ambush.

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/12(Wed)06:35 No. 453870 ID: 8e8c6b
File 134745691031.png - (152.84KB , 750x750 , 47.png )

>>453511

While that’s tempting, I don’t think they’d mistake Iaxio for a House Geofahn ghost. We’re a good distance away, so watching them a bit longer doesn’t really need much effort. They finish packing and McTrinkets leans back and waits. A dog or two walk by and he greets them and that’s about it. I think they’re just waiting for me.

>Take a good look around. Scan for possible approach points, and have an escape route ready if things go south (har). Then approach as casually as possible.
>We should approach McTrinkets, keep our ears open for trouble, and have a quiet chat. Be ready to defend yourself.

It’s time.

>Leave Iaxio hidden for now; if they cause trouble for us it would be best if he was a surprise.

“Iaxio, you wanna… go hide, for now? You can pop out if there’s trouble and…”

“There’s already been enough trouble. I’m going to stick around and make sure you don’t pull your shirt up for that ghost over there.”

“Ugh. All right, fine.”

>You DO still have a weapon on you though, right?

I didn’t have time to actually buy a knife to stick in my boot, or a thing to hold my hook-blade anywhere other than inside my sack, but I do have my spear. Uhm. I fumble around and try to find a place to hold the hook-blade without it being obvious I’m wearing it, but I can’t.

I just keep it at the top of the bag. I won’t be wearing it over my back in the coracle, anyway, so I’ll be able to grab it quick when I need it. Okay. Here we go.

I walk on over to McTrinkets, Iaxio right behind me. There are a few dogs walking along the water-side street but none of them pay us any attention. McTrinket’s ears perk up when he sees me and he waves me on over openly. He isn’t trying to hide this meeting, at least.

Looking down the river, I can see a big coracle floating near the middle of the river-road, near the exit of the town. I think it’s anchored at the bottom of the river? The shape moving around in it wearing Geofahn colors. It looks like he has a real long pole, but he doesn’t seem to have any ghosts on him. Okay. I guess that’s what we have to sneak past?

I kneel down next to McTrinkets. “So. How are we doing this?”

“We agreed that you would prefer not to be searched?”

“… yeah.”

“Neither would I. Two hours ago several more House Geofahn dogs arrived in town and set themselves up on every exit. I think there may be some in the forests, too? We will have to be searched.”

“If we don’t want to be searched, what do we do?”

“Well, I can give you a tip. If you want to sell someone something that is broken, only show them the parts that don’t look broken. Yes?”

“What?”

“Get down into the coracle. Quiet now.”

I do it. I might as well. Iaxio and McTrinkets’ ghost-friend stay up on the street and make some non-talk with one another. I think Iaxio’s caught on to something, though. He and the ghost are there to block McTrinkets and I from the town’s view. What are we doing in here?

McTrinkets opens up one of his boxes and lifts the junk out of it. There’s a secret compartment at the bottom, and a little box inside that.

“So why are you helping me?”

“I’m making an investment. Lift your neck up, pull your mantle down some more.”

I just realized McTrinkets’ plan.

>I think he plans to disguise your markings. Makeup or something. Didn't we have that idea before, but discarded it?

We did, and we didn’t do it because it wouldn’t work. “This is—this is it? You’re going to rub ash in my neck or something so I look like a guy?”

McTrinkets nods.

“I thought of doing that before, just, like, rubbing soot into my face. People won’t think I’m a guy, they’ll think I’m just dirty. I wouldn’t even look like a guy except for my neck! It’ll look more suspicious than anything! It’s not going to fool anyone.”

McTrinkets rubs his thumb on his teeth. “Well. You haven’t noticed yet.”

I haven’t noticed wha—oh. Oh come on McTrinkets is a girl. I can see a hint of white at the rim of her neckline. “No, wait, why—”

“There aren’t many southern dogs up here and I don’t want to be “mistaken” for someone who looks exactly like me, either. This isn’t soot, this is something I made myself; you won’t find this in a market anywhere. It actually works! I’ve been watching the watercraft leave, the Geofahn dogs don’t check them very long. They’ll see two men in a boat and won’t think twice of sending us forward.”

This uh. This is apparently the plan. I’m not really comfortable going face-to-face with some Geofahn dog, especially after… seeing how desperate they are. I haven’t really explored any other escape options, but maybe it’s too late for that? And, I mean, it fooled me, right? Uhm.

This sounds entirely legit and there's no way this would go wrong at all. So hey, why's he, uh, she being so nice to us? What's this business investment? Are we talking about licking boots clean here? Not that there's anything wrong with licking boots or anything.

WELP! Yeah I think it's too late to change plans. The most important thing is to keep freaking calm. No eye contact.

Also maybe if she can obscure some of your upper face markings too? Just to be safe? Safer?

Look. Just stay collected. I mean, also, you know her secret now too, so there is a risk she took to smuggle you. You can sell her out as well.

You may want to pretend to have a nap when you get up to the guys also.

Also... don't you think she's really cute? I mean. She is really cute. Just look at her cute little face, it's basically adorable.

>>453870
I think she might actually have believed your lies now.
At least she personally follows the lie's logic herself, she's somebody, for real, trying to avoid being mistaken you, just like you were saying you were doing. That and she's probably got some secrets of her own that she doesn't want Geofahn searching.
If this is an invention is unheard of in your society, maybe she's got some good personal contacts underground. This stuff is great for hiding your identity if no one knows to look for it, which provides good cover for illicit activities such as thievery, assassination, trafficking, smuggling etc.
This might be very concerning, moreso than when we thought she'd turn you in to the Geofahns.

This seems like an okay thing. Might wanna disrupt some of the rest of your facial markings too - widen some of the other spots too, that sort of thing. Does Ms. McTrinkets have some, yanno, not-dark colours too?

I wonder if that cut in her right ear is part of the disguise. Such distinct, large ears ought to be recognizable, no matter how much black powder she rubs on her throat.

Sounds like you're not the only wanted woman!

Go with her. Ms. Trinkets has got this down pat.

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/12(Wed)14:27 No. 453953 ID: 8e8c6b
File 134748522636.png - (256.92KB , 750x750 , 48.png )

>Go with her. Ms. Trinkets has got this down pat.

She clearly knows what she’s doing.

>This seems like an okay thing. Might wanna disrupt some of the rest of your facial markings too - widen some of the other spots too, that sort of thing.

“Do you wanna get some on my face, too, so it’s harder to go by my markings?”

“We probably shouldn’t. It works really well on white fur—not so well on any other colored fur. Let’s just go with this. Chin up!”

She has a comb and a rag in her hands. She gets the rag wet and blots it on the… stuff, and just mooshes it into my throat. It's gooey at first, but it dries in the evening air almost instantly. She uses the wooden comb to brush my fur out until it’s smooth and clean again. It… feels weird, letting her drag it across my throat like that. It makes me shiver. The coracle bonks against the street as it lists.

“Don’t squirm so much!”

>I wonder if that cut in her right ear is part of the disguise. Such distinct, large ears ought to be recognizable, no matter how much black powder she rubs on her throat.

“So what’s with the cut in your ear? I mean, it seems like it’d give you away more than anything else…”

“That’s the trick. I made it myself; I glue it together sometimes. If people are looking for a dog with a cut in the ear, they look over me if it’s not there.”

“Huh. Ow!” McTrinkets kind of mashed the comb into my throat.

“Sorry, sorry! Keep quiet okay? All right, you look fine. Try to hunch yourself up more. Space your arms, hide your chest with your mantle. I think we’re ready. Kekahkik?” McTrinkets calls up to her ghost. “Let’s cast off!”

Iaxio and the other ghost get down into the coracle. Like, they don’t really have any weight, so they just sit on the rim of the boat. McTrinkets unties us and sets a lantern at the boat’s center. It makes a cute orange glow. She gets out her paddle and pushes us off. Here we go. Okay. Right up to the Geofahn guy.

Any moment now. Uhm. Okay.

Okay, this is actually a really slow trip.

I try to make some small talk. “So uhm.”

McTrinkets hushes me. “We can talk when we’re safe. Just be relaxed.”

It’s hard to be relaxed. My back is towards the Geofahn guy, and all I can see is McTrinkets rowing us closer and closer and I’m seriously feeling sick to my stomach because I did not ever want to get this close to one of them like this.

I have to duck now and then when McTrinkets swings the oar around to paddle the other side. The ghosts duck, too. It’s kind of silly looking. The evening is really quiet. I can hear the quiet, sloshing noises of the water, and some distant birds, and that’s really it. The drag of McTrinket’s paddle through the river’s surface. More birds. I sneeze.

I can feel us getting closer, though. The Geofahn dog calls out to us.

“Stay your oar! We’re inspecting all out-bound from this town.”

“I know!” McTrinkets calls back. She keeps steering us right towards the Geofahn. My legs are shaking, okay? I’m trying not to let them shake. Iaxio gives me a Look and I take a deep breath, but I think they’re still shaking.

The Geofahn dog hooks his pole on our coracle and pulls us towards him. I can feel the pole’s vibration through the wood. I think it’s tipped with a metal hook? I uhm. Can’t stop thinking about the guy I saw kind of get blown apart earlier today right now.

Our boats are like right next to one another now. I can feel the water moving between us.

There’s a light held over our heads.

“Who are you?”

“Ofrehkik of Tahlekmehrdn-em-a,” McTrinkets answers. She’s keeping up her fake guy-voice real well, but, like. Her southern accent is so dusty and weird I don’t think it’d matter. I have no idea if that’s her real name she’s using. Most tombdog names work with either gender, so, like.

“What were you doing in town?”

“Selling stuff. Do you want a look? My wares don’t mind what time of day it is if someone has an interest in buying them—”

“That’s fine,” The Geofahn cuts her off. It’s impressive. McTrinkets made it sound like she was actually just eager to sell the dude stuff. The Geofahn dog doesn’t seem suspicious or anything, at least.

I feel a tap on my hat.

“Show me your face. Who’re you?”

I tilt myself around so he can see me. I make sure he can see the black dyed into my neck. I hope it looks natural. And oh, oh jeez. This Geofahn guy. He’s wearing a bunch of reliquaries on him, and he’s got a big butt-sized sword on his hip. He looks me right in the face.

“I don’t know your colors either. Who are you?”

“Taliaxix of Iaxholfrehdn-em.” I try to keep my voice meatier but it’s hard. I’ve never tried to sound like a guy before. I just pretend I’m tired so I’m talking weird. I yawn, too. Try to look bored. My stomach feels like it has a billion holes in it right now.

I see a weird look cross over this Geofahn guy’s face. His eyes are on my face-markings. He moves his lantern to the side so its light catches more of my fur. He—he thinks I’m a guy, right? But he’s really looking at me. What do I say?

>>453953
Squint and look away from the lantern to mess up his concentration. Act like you don't care. Don't even bother saying anything. Maybe grunt.

Tiny bits of your white fur are visible... I wonder how you can adjust your clothes to cover that better without drawing attention to it or your chest? Keep your posture correct.

Basically, don't fuck up or try anything creative.

Start coughing? Maybe he'll back off if he thinks you're sick.

>What do I say?

Don't say anything. Just tilt your hat back down as if you're trying to go back to sleep.

>>453957
Yes cough. This will get them away from your face for one.
Maybe a bad one, complain of a headache and make grunts at most.
If you must answer the question one the chick did, dry your throat. Tell them you're just traveling to find a good doctor that you can trust. You don't like northern doctors. They're just so fucking shitty at their jobs. Unless this is very untrue, then don't say it. Maybe your family is just familiar with a southern doctor. That you're getting directions from your uncle's ghost. Unless this is also suspect in your culture. Then I don't know what to say. If they question why you're taking a boat in cramped quarters, just say your tired of walking and just want some quiet travel you can sleep to. But again, talk only if they question, and keep the answers short and simple, appear tired and drowsy.
Another question they may ask why the merchant took you onto their boat, simply answer that you paid. That's it. That's all that needs to be said. If they question that, question them why a merchant wouldn't take money if they can?

Nah, don't pretend to be sick. The whole point here is to NOT leave an impression, and complicated stories about illness and doctors leave impressions, and give more opportunity for bad voice acting. Just grunt and shield your eyes from the light a bit. If necessary, mumble something along the lines of "just going home."

>>453974
Don't do this.

Cough, yawn, scrunch down further in the boat so the collar of your mantle covers the bit of white visible around your neck.

Make an eye at Beggar and McTrinkets from under the rim of your hat.

Also keep freaking calm. The most important thing is seriously to not freak out right now.

Don't say anything else if you can help it.

>>454032
this and say "Is something wrong with my face?"

Squint at the light and turn away, seconding that thought.

Let him look at your face for a few moments longer, then raise an eyebrow slightly, and make a questioning "hmm" sound if he's still looking.

Don't try to slouch down to obscure the white fur spots at your collar; That'll just draw attention. All you really can do is not draw any more attention to yourself, and hope he doesn't start asking you anything more.

If he does start asking questions, say as little as possible, so this guy doesn't have more of a chance to notice it sounds odd. Only respond if he asks questions, and keep the replies short and to the point.

>>454047
Avoid speaking. Could give you away.

>>454060
Yeah, I agree, squint at the light, lower your head again, and look like you're just tired.

Say nothing and give him a withering glare, like even looking at him is waste of your time - I bet you have a whole library of those glares.

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/13(Thu)13:48 No. 454300 ID: 3e4690
File 134756929894.png - (133.47KB , 750x750 , 49.png )

>Yeah, I agree, squint at the light, lower your head again, and look like you're just tired.
>Say nothing and give him a withering glare, like even looking at him is waste of your time - I bet you have a whole library of those glares.
>If he does start asking questions, say as little as possible, so this guy doesn't have more of a chance to notice it sounds odd.

I just stare up at him. Those colors. Those colors should terrify me but being this close, looking up at his face, I’m just. It isn’t. It’s just annoyance. I didn’t want to have to go through all this, okay? I’m still scared of the moment when I finally can really relax and realize what I’ve done. I mean, I don’t think I’ve really stopped to appreciate just. Just how much of my life is ruined because I was supposed to marry one of these guys.

I just stare at him.

“All right, move on. Keep your lantern up, watch out for boats coming up-river.”

And just like that, we’re clear.

The glow of the city grows faint, and the orange lantern soon becomes the only light around. It only fills the coracle. The water and trees outside are just dark shapes, moving past us in a blur. It's uh. Unsettling.

“I can’t believe that worked,” I say.

“I was a bit nervous myself,” McTrinkets agrees. “Kekahkik, I think we’re clear. You can go rest now.”

McTrinkets’ ghost just kind of disappears.

“Who is he?” I ask.

McTrinkets looks over at Iaxio. “Who is he?”

“Fair enough.” I might as well be honest about this, right? I don’t think it’s going to hurt. “He’s my uh, great-uncle. Great-grand-uncle? Apparently my grand-dad fooled around with his mom.”

“Oh. Kekahkik is my father’s friend. He helps me out with things.”

“Neat.” And we’re back to the only sound being McTrinkets’ slow paddling. Honestly the river has a gentle enough current we can coast along it without her having to do much more than steer it. “So what is your real name?”

“What’s your real name?” McTrinkets laughs.

I guess if I tell McTrinkets more about myself she’ll tell me more about her. Should I do it?

>So hey, why's he, uh, she being so nice to us? What's this business investment? Are we talking about licking boots clean here?

“So why did you help me? You said it was an investment?”

McTrinkets nods. “You don’t have to tell me why you didn’t want to be found, but it was clear you didn’t. You needed to escape, so I helped you out. I saved you, so now you owe me.”

My stomach churns a bit. I mean, it isn’t wrong to say that I am indebted to her, but, like. To put it that plainly? “Am I going to have to lick your boots or something now?”

McTrinkets’ ears flitter. “Would you do that?”

I. What? “I was uh—”

“Would you?” She pushes her boot over to my side of the coracle.

> Not that there's anything wrong with licking boots or anything.

I look over at Iaxio and he gives me a Look back. I think he wants to say something about how I’m being too trusting again, but he doesn’t want to say it now. He rolls his eyes. “I think I’m going to go back to sleep. Wake me up when something happens. I mean that, this time. Don’t leave me out of the big decisions.”

“I won’t.” Iaxio disappears.

But now we’re just kind of. Drifting along awkwardly. What do I say? What do I do?

Look. Maybe you should just take off her boot and massage her feet a little. Licking a toe wouldn't be all that bad would it?

Also, look, maybe the real reason you're running is because you don't want to be married to a man, like, at all. You wanted to lick Maexis's eye (and more) and you didn't even think about how cute McTrinkets was until you knew she was a girl. I think you're seriously into girls.

I don't think you should tell her you're the runaway just yet. Maybe just take off her boot and start playing with her feet, and maybe ask what kind of thing she is thinking about for you to repay her.

"If I lick your boots, then the debt is repaid, and I don't owe you anything any more. I mean it doesn't sound to ME like a good business investment, but if that's your thing, whatever."

>>454300
You could lick more than her boot~

>>454300
Don't lick her boot. Or her foot. Jeez. You might like, joke about possibly doing it, but don't actually do it.

After any possible joking around is over, ask her if she just wants a favor or something in the future, or if money will be fine.

Since she isn't insisting that you tell her who you are, don't. Not until you KNOW you can trust her. Right now she's just a merchant who decided she wanted to get something in exchange for helping someone escape from Geofahn, and since they don't like Geofahn ANYWAY, it doesn't matter who that person was.

Maybe you could ask her if she had any dealings with that demonbird or whatever. We were contemplating asking them to take us but then shit happened.

You know, actually, that's a very good question. You gave him/her the name McTrinkets because you didn't know of any other name to use. But your parents gave you the name Sabhaxlia for the exact same reason. So wouldn't that make Sabhaxlia just as fake a name as McTrinkets?

>>454300
Say you wouldn't do anything undignified, but you do owe her a favor.

>>454318
Not at all. Someone's first name is what they were given by their parents. That's how people are named.

We can't just call her McTrinkets though. Ask for her FAKE name.

"the river has a gentle enough current we can coast along it without her having to do much more than steer it"

>>449710

Isn't south upstream? Is the river still tidally influenced this far inland? /end pedant mode

Hold off on the real names for now. You clearly both have something to hide.

Don't lick her boot. Seriously. Play it up like a joke. Stick out your tongue. Call her a butt, playfully. Say you'd sooner lick a dreambug's eye.

It's undignified and is not an adequate repayment in any event. Know, you won't lick the boot. You owe her but that does not make you an indentured servant.

You should definitely lick her foot. Seducing her is only advantageous for you.

You should remain faithful to your one true love, Maexiks. Also, tell McTrinkets that licking a boot would be terribly undignified, but of course you are willing to repay her in some way.

you owe one favor.

don't. she's testing the waters, seeing how far she can push you. don't do it, have some morale backbone.

Remember Iaxio and the Shirt.
Don't lick her boots. She's just testing you.

>>454387
Yeah. Don't be easily manipulated, girl.

>>454304
The point of this sentiment is not to lick boots, but that it will cause McTrinkets to drop the boot licking topic without Sabhaxlia getting all flustered and stuttering and losing face AGAIN. Because there is no way a reasonable person wants to waste a favor on that. And if she does, we know to find a new traveling companion at the earliest opportunity.

Really, don't tell McTrinkets any more about yourself. You'll need loads more trust to do that with anyone, from here on out.

Drop the subject of boot licking, and ask her what name you should call her. You don't want to use "McTrinkets" anymore, since it sounds silly.

As long as you have time, you may as well practice talking in a male voice. You're going to need it if you're going to be wearing that black neck for awhile, so may as well do it when you've got someone to critique you.

>>454454
What the fuck? McTrinkets is an awesome name. Also, trying at least a little to seduce her is very reasonable. If she doesnt respond to it, she'll only underestimate us, and if she does, then we avoid a potentially bad/dangerous "favor."

Yeah, ix-nay on the ootlicking-bay. I'd ask her for a name we can call her and what kind of task she'd like us to perform, though.

[1/2] Sabhaxlia 2012/09/14(Fri)16:03 No. 454627 ID: 16d223
File 134766383497.png - (147.10KB , 750x750 , 50.png )

>Yeah, ix-nay on the ootlicking-bay.

Yeah, exactly.

>Remember Iaxio and the Shirt. Don't lick her boots. She's just testing you.

Seriously, exactly. I’m not that dumb.

>You should definitely lick her foot. Seducing her is only advantageous for you.

I mean, on the other hand, if I do, she’ll probably be so shocked she’ll let her guard down.

>Also, trying at least a little to seduce her is very reasonable.

Yeah, it isn’t that weird, right? And Iaxio isn’t around, he can stop telling me how to act. It’s not like licking her boot would be a bad thing, right?

>Don't be easily manipulated, girl.

But what if she only meant it as a joke, and if I really do it I’ll, like, gain the advantage?

>don't. she's testing the waters, seeing how far she can push you.

Right, she’s probably trying to trick me, though. The smart thing is to not be stupid.

>Look. Maybe you should just take off her boot and massage her feet a little. Licking a toe wouldn't be all that bad would it?

But it wouldn’t do any harm to me, and I mean, I do owe her, right?

>You could lick more than her boot~

Yeah like—

>Also, look, maybe the real reason you're running is because you don't want to be married to a man, like, at all. You wanted to lick Maexis's eye (and more) and you didn't even think about how cute McTrinkets was until you knew she was a girl. I think you're seriously into girls.

“I’m not actually going to lick your boot.” I say it out-loud.

McTrinkets stops her paddling and looks up at me. “What? I was joking.”

“… oh, yeah.”

“That was almost an hour ago. Did you fall asleep?”

What oh uhm uh “Oh, I guess I did.” That was probably the worst-told lie in my entire life. McTrinkets just laughs. I need something to talk about or the rest of this boat-ride is going to be uh. It’s going to be real weird.

>I don't think you should tell her you're the runaway just yet.
>We can't just call her McTrinkets though. Ask for her FAKE name.

Since I probably shouldn’t give her my real name, she probably isn’t going to give me hers. But, I mean, while she’s already McTrinkets in my head, I’ll need to know what fake name to call her so no one else gets suspicious. “So what should I be calling you? Are you going to keep using the name you told the Geofahn dog?”

“Ofrehkik of Tahlekmehrdn-em-a,” McTrinket says. “Let’s keep using that name for a bit longer.”

“Then I’ll be Taliaxix of Iaxholfrehdn-em.”

> Maybe just take off her boot and start playing with her feet, and maybe ask what kind of thing she is thinking about for you to repay her.

“Uhm, so other than licking your boot, what kind of investment are we talking about here for serious?”

“We’ll get to it later. I’m really sorry, but after such an adventurous day I’m too tired to talk business.”

“Well… okay. So long as it isn’t anything dumb, like, I do owe you, okay?” I guess I can let the details go, for now. I’ll make sure to not let her force me into anything super-stupid, for sure. And honestly, I’m tired. I don’t think I could say much more without putting my foot in my mouth. I. I really didn’t mean to use that phrase. I really should sleep. “I really should sleep, I think.”

“You probably should! I’ll mind the coracle.”

[2/2] Sabhaxlia 2012/09/14(Fri)16:04 No. 454629 ID: 16d223
File 134766387358.png - (126.17KB , 750x750 , 51.png )

I guess I’m asleep, because I’m back in the House Aifix town. Maexiks or dream-Maexiks or whatever it works must be around too, because the sky is completely weird again, too.

I’m also in Tashikoxix colors again.

Also there’s sort of a House Geofahn dog walking around over there. I mean. This is a dream, right? So it shouldn’t matter? But like. Like.

I don’t want to dream about being murdered, okay.

Can you sneak around to the hut with the red windows? Keep under the windows and stay low. Maybe he won't spot you.

>>454629
I'd like to point out that last time you dreamt, NOBODY was around. That may be an actual person invading your dream somehow. If that's the case, and Maexiks shows up, then she'll look extra suspicious! Also, I can't help but wonder if her species can be harmed outside the dream by being hurt inside the dream. It's possible that he's a threat.

I think we should try to use lucid dreaming to banish him. Can you focus on creating a suit of armor for yourself? Or summoning a house Fauhredn soldier to help?

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/14(Fri)16:44 No. 454645 ID: 16d223
File 134766627123.png - (84.86KB , 700x700 , 52.png )

>I'd like to point out that last time you dreamt, NOBODY was around. That may be an actual person invading your dream somehow.

Oh, but like. He’s a tombdog, they can’t… we can’t do that… right?

>I think we should try to use lucid dreaming to banish him. Can you focus on creating a suit of armor for yourself? Or summoning a house Fauhredn soldier to help?

Okay, I’m going to try it. I close my eyes real hard and focus on Fauhredn colors. Some big Fauhredn soldier. Or armor for me. Anything. That the Geofahn guy is gone. I open my eyes and uh. It’s all the same. He’s still there, too. Ugh.

>Can you sneak around to the hut with the red windows? Keep under the windows and stay low. Maybe he won't spot you.

Right, let’s go. I just kinda crawl-walk-hobble forward across the distance and keep to the far side of the houses.

I think it’s a good thing I stay below the windows, because, like, I think I can hear people moving around inside. I head over to the building with the red lights because. Uhm. Because!

The Geofahn guy isn’t doing a very good job of looking for me, and I mean, it isn’t even a challenge to get across.

Maexiks is standing in the door of the red house. Uhm, it was her wings making the light, I guess.

“Hi!” I whisper.

“Come inside. You have a nightmare following you around.”

Maexiks backs into the house and I go in after her. We close the door and I hope that’s that. “So like, are nightmares uhm. Dream-things?”

“They are bad dreams,” Maexiks says. “It is good it didn’t find you.”

“Oh, yeah. So uhm. Hi!” The building looks… a lot like Maexiks’ house, actually. I settle into a chair and relax.

“You are safe, now?” she asks.

“I mean, the Geofahn guy didn’t see me come in. Oh! Oh you meant like for real? Look I don’t know. I’m sort of in a coracle with some person that I can’t. Figure out. Look.” I just. I just explain the whole stupid day to Maexiks; looking for a boat south, the Geofahn guy killing the Aifix one, me freaking out, McTrinkets figuring out who I was, kind of… getting stuck escaping with her. “And now, like. I don’t know.”

Maexiks stands there, her big, spindly body swaying lightly. She’s listening to everything super-patiently. She’s really so nice to me. She waits until I’m done before saying, “If there is anything else you want to speak about, please do so. Afterwards, I have something important to show you.”

So uh. If I wanna see if Maexiks has any advice or help or anything, now is a good time.

Tell her absolutely everything that happened including your budding lesbian feelings. Ask her for any good futures she saw, and ask her if it' s okay if you practice kissing with her.

>>454645
Well now that we found her, perhaps it would be a good idea to like, ask if we're making her uncomfortable with the licking.

Hey, uh, wait.

Hold on.

This tower-of-ghosts guy, the same one who had remorselessly blown a guy in half just some hour ago. Don't you find it a little bitty bit suspicious that he passed Maexiks' town without doing anything to her? What more, this guy was apparently LAUGHED out of that town.

Ask her what's up with that.

Cut the lesbian shit out.

Never!

Wait you probably weren't talking to me.

>>454663
Uhm, they wanted to do more to her.
The entire town turned on them, though, and prevented it.

Has she heard news of your mother?

We've probably covered most of what's on our mind, for now. What'cha got for us, Maex?

There is one question rattling around in your head: Why did Maexiks help you so much? She used all her contacts, and her own money, to kit you out for your trip. She put herself at grave personal risk; She said so in the last dream. You were only a good acquaintance, not really a friend. Did she dream that you were important, somehow? Ask her about all of that.

Ask what House Geofahn has been doing back in the town, since they were thrown out. Have they done anything to your family; Not that you care, 'cause they're all massive butt-heads, but you'd still like to know.

Oh, and how about asking if she could bring another who is dreaming into your dreamworld, or if that's beyond Maexiks' ability. 'Cause if ghosts dream while they sleep, you could bring Iaxio in.

>>454675
Kinda like how this town tried to turn on them?

[1/2] Sabhaxlia 2012/09/15(Sat)14:53 No. 454963 ID: 56e719
File 134774600581.png - (117.26KB , 700x700 , 53.png )

>Ask her for any good futures she saw

“Have any good dreams about me?”

“I saw you escape the town. I had several dreams of it. Right now, too much of your future is open for me to give you good advice.”

Butts. “Oh well. Guess it’s too much to hope that I can know the future too.”

“Try taking a nap during the day. A decent-timed one. The closer the future is, the more clear dreams I can have of it.”

“What if you’re not asleep?”

“You will still dream of me.”

Huh. I’m not sure if I’m ever gonna figure this dreambug stuff out. I guess if I ever want to see what Maexiks’ future-advice is, I can take a nap when I have time.

>There is one question rattling around in your head: Why did Maexiks help you so much? She used all her contacts, and her own money, to kit you out for your trip. She put herself at grave personal risk; She said so in the last dream. You were only a good acquaintance, not really a friend. Did she dream that you were important, somehow? Ask her about all of that.

“So uh, like I said, I’m kinda stuck with owing McTrinkets something. What do I owe you? Why are you like, risking your life just to help me escape? You said you were expecting to die. And like, you’re a merchant too, right? So what are you getting out of this whole deal?”

Maexiks remains about as readable as ever. “I do enjoy being a merchant. I enjoy this town and this land—the tombdog land, I mean. All the other merchants, and the townsdogs, they defended me when House Geofahn wanted to kill me. Here, though, under the sky of my remnant, I still cannot bear the town's colors on my shoulders.”

“Oh.”

“Neither of us are at home here. I dreamed you could have found an actual home, and so I helped you. If I was killed helping you, when you found a home, I could persist there, with you, as a dream.”

I’m not entirely sure what she’s going on about right now, but like, I think Maexiks is uh. Is she upset that she didn’t get killed? What the flapping butts.

>ask her if it' s okay if you practice kissing with her.

I mean, look, I do feel like it’s appropriate to comfort her right now, okay? But I’m just going to pick up one of those tarsus things that come out of her arms and pat it a bit.

>Well now that we found her, perhaps it would be a good idea to like, ask if we're making her uncomfortable with the licking.

I try to say it, but like, I can’t phrase it, okay? I mean, she didn’t seem to mind, and she’s been a good friend. Let’s just. Let what happened have happened and what will happen happen? Right?

>Ask what House Geofahn has been doing back in the town, since they were thrown out. Have they done anything to your family; Not that you care, 'cause they're all massive butt-heads, but you'd still like to know.

“So uhh, any word of my family? Is there anything going on with them?”

“We have heard the rumors. Your mother and father’s ghost have a House Geofahn visitor in their manor. He is keeping watch over them. House Geofahn is… very angry at you.”

>This tower-of-ghosts guy, the same one who had remorselessly blown a guy in half just some hour ago. Don't you find it a little bitty bit suspicious that he passed Maexiks' town without doing anything to her? What more, this guy was apparently LAUGHED out of that town.

“Yeah, about that. So like, in the House Aifix town, the House Geofahn guy pulled out a ghost-tower and blew the Aifix dog’s butt across the ground. But they just let themselves be laughed out of your town? What’s up with that?”

“Now I have to show you something.”

[2/2] Sabhaxlia 2012/09/15(Sat)14:55 No. 454965 ID: 56e719
File 134774610823.png - (184.98KB , 700x700 , 54.png )

Maexiks leads me out of the town. It just. Ends. And I think the actual dreambug remnant begins. The trees are all thin and tall, and evenly spaced. The ground is like, it’s hay, dried leaves and twigs and stuff, but really soft and fluffy. The air is warm, but way dryer than anything I’m used to. But, like, our remnant is pretty wet all the time, so this is maybe just not-wet air.

Maexiks leads me for a while—I sort of lose track of the time and what I’ve seen, okay?—and we get to this edge of a cliff. It slopes down a little bit to a clearing, and there’s a dreambug sitting there. It’s pink, though, and white, and looks kind of spiky.

He’s wearing a House Geofahn mantle.

“He has been here for some time,” Maexiks whispers. “Since at least early last morning. He’s been watching the same movements I’ve been. He’s trying to dream of you. He doesn’t know you personally, so I do not think his dreams are very clear or accurate.”

An entire reliquary filled with swamp-piss. And it’s left open and it leaks onto your fur. That’s what this butt is. “Are you serious? House Geofhan has a dreambug stalking me?”

“I think House Geofahn knew where you were. At some point during the day, at least. They knew you would be escaping the House Aifix town.”

Well! That. That might help explain why Geofahn was so insistent on getting Aifix to let them search the water traffic. A bit. It… still feels like the whole ghost-tower thing was a bit overkill. “So, like. Does House Geofahn know where I am right now? That I escaped?”

“He cannot see your present. He can only dream of the possibilities of your futures.”

“… which means they can work backwards and figure out where I am. Butts. So are they still going to go after me? I… hoped that Geofahn would be too busy dealing with Aifix to look for me anymore.”

Maexiks looks at me. “I’m sorry.”

Damnit.

And I'm sick, and school is starting back up again so I might. Take a break for a day or two to get my stuff in order before continuing? We are kind of at the end of a cutscene or so anyway!

Could you.... could you kill this dreambug?

>>454965
Ask her if they will stop at least once we get into Fauhredn territory, or if that's at least in one of the futures.

Then ask her if the bugs feel more real here than they do on the other remnants, like, it's them dreaming of us there instead of the other way around? Bugs dream of dogs, men and birds, while the birds, dogs and men dream of bugs.

And why are you so obsessed with the word butt. Doesn't ass roll of the tongue better? Or buttocks? Rump, fanny, derrière, fanny, posterior, rear, rump, tail, or tush.

Because butts are butts.

Is there any way to counter this scrying, or counter-scry Geofahn's movements.

>>454968
If we CAN kill the dreambug, that would throw them off our trail. They would surely have proof Maexiks is involved, then, but she seems to WANT to be dead.

On the other hand, that would mean killing someone. That is not something to be done lightly.

After you decide what to do, ask Maexiks if she wants a hug. Try not to lick her again.

So, Maexiks wanted to die and live forever in your dreams? I think she might be into you, OK. And you ahve had thoughts about her too, so don't pretend like the interest isn't mutual.

You know you liked the kiss, and look, it seems very likely she liked the lick too. If she was creeped out by it, she wouldn't be going all out of her way to help you like she is. She legitimately wants to help you, and you said you don't even know her that well, really.

So, just think about that.

As far as dreambug, ask Maexiks if there's anything we can do about it.

Go kick that bug's ass. Also make note to apologize to Maexis because she may have to endure a dual existence for a little longer before she manages to off her waking self.

>>454989
Let's not make our presence known to the person tracking us.

Yeah, is there any way we can off this bug?

Clearly, the answer is to do something totally unpredictable. Something that wouldn't happen in even the wildest dreams.

How quickly can you get a jacuzzi full of oatmeal and thirty yards of leopard-print satin?

>>454987
Stop that. No lesbian bug stuff.

Ask Maexiks if it would be possible to kill the dreambug in here, though. Maybe not now, but perhaps later we could come back prepared to do the job.

We don't have to go so far as OFFING 'im, but is there a way to get him off our trail?

>>455030
Obviously the best plan.

Also, if we do anything too obvious to this bug, it'll implicate our bugfriend here. We need to find a subtler way to obfuscate our trail. How can you disrupt a dreambug's visions? If you can't, could we cause a calamity for their house even more disruptive than us?

No trying to kill this Geofahn dreambug. Leaving aside that it might not even be possible from in the dream, it'd be blatantly obvious Maexiks helped, and get her in trouble. And while she might not mind dying in the waking world, Geofahn could have more dreambugs on their side, and they could do bad things to her in the dream.

Back away from the Geofahn dreambug, then start asking Maexiks about how to "muddy the waters" in this dreambug's predictions. Is it a matter of either creating too many possibilities of roughly equal probability that none stand out, choosing actions that are erratic and unpredictable, or something else?

Huh. I wonder if House Geofahn's meteoric rise in power is 'cause they have some dreambugs on their side. The power of prediction would be quite a boon to a trading house. Though, they didn't predict you running off, so there's that.

>>454965
Ask her if there's such a thing as an "unpredictable" future for a dream bug; something that you can take advantage of. Or at least some way to confuse him.

Logically speaking, if they can track you easily, then you have only one choice: Go beyond their reach. Deep into territory they wouldn't dare go to, even to retrieve you.

Go to the lands of the F-dudes, like, ASAP.

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/17(Mon)10:10 No. 455598 ID: d293c8
File 134790179961.png - (137.64KB , 700x700 , 55.png )

>Could you.... could you kill this dreambug?
>Go kick that bug's ass.
>Ask Maexiks if it would be possible to kill the dreambug in here, though.

“So… can we uh. Can we kill him?” Actually saying it out-loud sounds a bit weird. I guess I’m ready to kill if I have to, though.

Maexiks shuts it down hard though. “You are only here as my dream. And then, I am a merchant. You are young runaway. This dreambug was hired by House Geofahn specifically to be a dreambug. I do not think attacking him could possibly go in our favor.”

“Oh.”

>We need to find a subtler way to obfuscate our trail. How can you disrupt a dreambug's visions?
>is there a way to get him off our trail?
>Or at least some way to confuse him.
>start asking Maexiks about how to "muddy the waters" in this dreambug's predictions.

“So we have to do something to throw him off, right? Maybe you can confuse him or…”

“If a house as powerful as Geofahn finds merit in his skill, I do not think there is much a merchant and a runaway can do. He does not know you and can not see you. His dreams of you will be indistinct and confusing.”

“There has to be something?”

“We can not choose which futures we see. If you want to confuse his dreams more, do more than run away. If you are focused on escape, he will dream only of your escape. If you have more problems than escaping Geofahn’s notice, his dreams may become worthless.”

“Like. Look, I’m not following.”

“I can tell you what dreams I had of you last morning. I had dreams of you leaving town, in many ways. With a tombdog; with birddemons; alone. I had dreams of you dying, dreams of you hiding in town. During my evening nap I only had dreams of you leaving with a tombdog. But these dreams were… less about your escape. They were of you and the tombdog.”

“Oh. Huh?”

“I very clearly saw a dream of you licking her boots.”

“Oh. Great. Just. Great.”

“I am only a dream of Maexiks. Maexiks is asleep now, and also dreaming separate dreams from you. It has been long enough I have had some dreams of your future. Your tombdog will offer you a box. Most of the dreams right now have been you accepting or rejecting it. It is hard to push any dreams past this choice. She will be very unhappy if you do not.”

An awkward silence kind of floats around us now. I’m not sure what to say. I’m not really sure I understand dreambug stuff very well.

>Also make note to apologize to Maexis because she may have to endure a dual existence for a little longer before she manages to off her waking self.

Because apparently Maexiks wanted to die and become my dream? Look, I’m not really sure how to feel about that. It’s almost sweet, and it’s almost creepy, and it’s this weird flavor between the two.

>I think she might be into you, OK. And you ahve had thoughts about her too, so don't pretend like the interest isn't mutual.

I have no idea what to think about any of that stuff, okay? I obviously did enjoy licking Maexiks. I mean, I can’t lie to myself about that much, at least.

>Stop that. No lesbian bug stuff.

I mean, yeah, but it isn’t that appropriate, is it? But like.

>You know you liked the kiss, and look, it seems very likely she liked the lick too.

“So, uhm. Look, thanks, Maexiks. Maexiks’ dream. Whatever you are and whatever I am when I’m here. I really am super-thankful for all of this.”

Maexiks looks over at me. It looks like she’s trying to say something but she doesn’t.

Instead she grabs me in her spiked arms and shoves her face against mine.

Her faceplates push against my nose and the little finglets on the side of her face pull into my fur. I can feel the smooth outside of her mandibles squish into my lips. Her parts, all her parts, they move and tug at my skin for a moment before letting go.

I think she just kissed me.

“Your dream is ending soon. I have more dreaming to do. I think tomorrow will be difficult.”

Tomorrow. Ugh. Yesterday I got to the Aifix town and dealt with all that mess. The day before… the day before, I had escaped from Maexiks’ town and ran into Iaxio’s granddad. The day before that, I ran away from home. It’s. It’s really been so short a time?

Sabhaxlia 2012/09/17(Mon)10:11 No. 455599 ID: d293c8
File 134790188604.png - (133.36KB , 700x700 , 56.png )

This thread has gotten a big butt, so we'll probably be picking up with a new thread this weekend!

Hooray! Threads with small butts!

 

awwwww

Oh I get it. You have to fill your life with frustrated sexual drama so that they'll dream about that instead of your plotted course.

>>455748
I laughed pretty hard.

>>455599

"Father, I cannot tell a lie. I like big butts." -George "Mysterio" Washington

A+ bug kissing will read again.