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.