Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-27303410-20171030011217/@comment-30014014-20171106221631

Johnny followed Malcom, sneaking at the back kitchen. Johnny rememebred fondly how much they used to come in here to 'sample' some pastries from the chef. ABout how he always ran from the angry cooker with a 'sorry' escaping him on the run. Good times!

Out of the kitchen and into the numerous halls, Malcom points at the door.

"Over here! Our exit!"

"Pff!"

Johnny puts a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. HIs demeanor had regressed to nonchalance.

"Dude, you really think they'll just let us wander out? They probably have someone waiting for an escapee to claim".

"Really? You really think so?"

"Lesson 101..."

Johnny takes out a book about monster girls, the encyclopedia to be exact. It had received quite a bit of information over the years. How to seduce one, what to do to avoid the gaze of one. Myths and truths. Johnny flips to a particular page titled 'Traps and ambushes'.

"Yep! According to this book, if they're to make a move here, they've already have someone check the exits. We're stuck here!"

Malcom, hearing this starts panicking a bit, his breathing accelerated. Of course, Johnny's course of action to calm his down is to shake him down like someone who owed him money.

"Calm down, dude! We're basically immune to this stick!"

"What!? How can you say that!? We'r stuck in a mansion with hungry monster women trying to get at us!"

"And they won't! Remember Samantha? Your fiancee? Your weresheep fiancee? The book says they won't touch you if you've already mingled with one! And with all the time you boasted about your...'conjugal' status, I'm pretty sure she had plenty of time to basically ink you. We're fine"

"But still, I'm not sure if it'll work"

"Alright, alright then! How about this? You remember our hiding room?"

Malcom starts making mental gymnastics, trying to remember what Johnny was speaking about, a light bulb shining in his head.

"Oh yea, our secret room. Dad had it made for me for our 'boy time'. Good idea, man!"

"Hold on, hold on! We can't just gun it to the room. It'd be too easy to find us now".

"Huh?"

"Monsters have this acute ability to literally smell us. It's a good place to hide, but we need a bait to distract them further".

"A bait?".

"Yea, check this out!"

Johnny takes out some mushrooms. Raging mushrooms from his bag that he shows to Malcom.

"When did you...?"

"Well, apparently, someone in your personel either is meeting with monsters or your business is cooking something for them when someone comes around because your fridge had some. But anyway, I recalled you have invited most of us old guys from school, right?"

"Huh-uh".

"Well, guess who I just spotted before you pulled me out".

"No way..."

"Yep! The old school jockey Jerome".

Malcom sighs a bit heavily at hearing this.

"I don't recall ever inviting him. Someone fond of him must have called him here".

"Well, in any other circustances, this would ruin a party. 'Other'. Right now..."

Malcom's eyes widen at the realization. His head nods profusely.

"Nice! Didn't think like that. Yea, let's do this!"

"Alright! Let me handle everything. You just go prep the room since you're so scared".

"Being worried is not something to shame someone for!"

"Whatever you say, chicken head! I outta remember putting that chicken hat on your scarredy head once we go here".

Johnny snickers blatantly on a grumpy Malcom leaving for the room. All alone, he takes the raging mushroom and throws it in the air a few times. He looks to the other side, where the party is hitting it's full might.

But first, to make some re-arrangements".

A good 10 minutes pass before Johnny walks out the kitchen with a plate of his favorite, all spraye with raging mushroom condiments. He walks pass Jerome, the latter busy wooing a woman with his dish full of goodness. The scent catches the man's attention. Johnny walks over to a table followed closely by Jerome who buries one of his fists on his other hand.

"Hey Johnny! What do you have over here?"

Johnny snickers silently, his back still turned. Now for the second act.

"Nothing that would interest you"

"Oh really? Because it looks like you've just brought me a fine dish".

"You want something to eat? Go make your own!"

Johnny continues to walk to a free table, devoid of anyone. He sits by a chair and takes out a fork and knife. He feigned ignoring Jerome as he usually would, but could see the man's face turning red with anger. Obviously, the man detested being spoken like this by a scrawny 'beta'. At least, in his words. By the corner of his eye, Johnny sees the hulking man marchign straight for him.

[The sneer is sprung, now to reel it in.]

"Hey!"

A slam resonates through the table, lifting Johnny's dish by a few centimeters. Jerome's hand is dangerously close to his left side, planted on the table surface but threatening to inflict physical harm.

"Did I just hear a little pipsqueak telling me off?!"

"No, you heard a guy telling you to get to the kitchen and use whatever is left of your pea brain to make something out of the available food! Especially since they made enough for even a slob eater like you!"

Jerome's palm strike Johnny square in the cheek, pushing him fromt he chair to the floor. A thud is made upon his fall, though muffled by the party. With a grunt, Johnny raises his head toward his old bully, already on his chair and munching on his dish. The feasting man halts for a bit, turning head meet his eyes, eyes full of pride at his domination.

"You're a funny lad, you know that? Consider this a friendly reminder not to speak against your better".

Johnny turns his head away from the man. A snarky laughter echoes from the table.

"That's right, turn thy gaze away, little man! I'll leave you the rest afterwards as thanks!"

Unbeknownst to him however, Johnny was trying not to let out a laughter, silently listening to him eat every scrap of food on the plate. He knew the men wouldn't leave anything for him. The countless times this scene happened in their teenage years were more than enough to convince him of that.

[Laugh it up, muscle brain. Laugh it up while you can]

Hastily finished with his eating, Jerome sighs in satisfaction before pushing his chair from the table. He takes the plate and sends it slide to Johnny.

"Like I said, have fun with the rest, little man!"

Jerome stands up and takes a few steps back to the revenous woman he was trying to seduce, buldging his muscles as a gesture of virility. The third step sticks to the ground. Jerome's breathing starts to accelerate, throwing his tongue out. Sweat pours from his cheeks. The inside of his mouth feels like someone just rubbed oil all around it, then threw a match at it before spraying even more spice at the extremities.

Jerome takes his hands arouns his head in panic, looking back at Johnny who was walking back, seemingly to make yet another plate.

"What the hell did you put in this dish?!"

"Oh, you know..."

Johnny turns his gaze to Jerome, sweaty at his armpits.

"Ketchup, some mustard, a bit of pepper, ghost pepper, some--

"What!? Ghost pepper!?"

"Yep, ghost pepper. Surely you have not forgotten how much a love a kick in the taste".

Jerome's eyes widen at hearing of this, taking his finger on the lower section of his mouth in a panicking momemtum to try and cool it with ambient air.

"Not gonna work, man. With all the dancing and partying people jiggling about, the air around us won't be a cool one".

"Wat'r...someon' giv' m' wat'r".

He stretches his hand toward Johnny, who simply sidesteps to avoid it.

"Wat'r? Ohh, you mean water?"

Jerome hastily nods his head.

"Wat'r..."

"Ohh, that won't do. Water won't help. Milk would be preferable".

"Milk..."

Jerome's hand slowly touch Johnny's face, moving about in a pleading motion. With his eyes staring into the sky out of pained heat, Jerome couldn't notice Johnny's blatant smile. His hands feel the other's, leading him away.

"Alright, alright, come on. Let's get to the kitchen".

"Thank...thank you, thank you".

"Yea, yea".

The two move away, Johnny listening to the mutters of some party-gooers. Women voices. Seems they were soon to initiate their ideal of 'fun'. He scoffs all the more, his diversion already tightly ensnared and soon to be primed. Some of them notice his nonchalent behaviour, subtly making obscene gesture directed at him. Only to be returned with mocking grin.

[Come all you want, it'll just be all the same. Another piece of the plan]

The two men walk, Johnny taking advantage of Jerome's aliment to divert them from the kitchen. Groaning comes from the sufferer, Johnny being quick to deliver an excuse.

"Ohh, the kitchen is filled to the brim with ongoing people. Waiting here woul have taken forever. No, my friend here have a hidden cache for you to relieve yourself. I will show you. You fine with that?"

A sheepish nod comes from Jerome, desperate for some milk to relieve the fiery cave that is his mouth. A grin protuses on Johnny while he continues to 'guide' his suffering further from the main rooms...

...a good thing, for his ears start hearing more rambunctious noises. A chord of male and female voice joining together. Hearing of this, Johnny felt no rush, no alert, being all the same on his composure.

[Pfff! Already have my pieces for this sorta mess! All part of the plan!]

Coming up to the last door, he opens it and brings Jerome inside. A pretty stylish bedroom, if unbelievably simple in its decoration. THe door they had come inside was the only door available one. Johnny sets Jerome on the bed, sitting but aching for some overdue relief from his mouth.

"Now stay here, I'll be back".

Jerome's paining jaw currently saps all of his focus, rendering him innatentive to the most obvious details. Such as Johnny gently pushing a button on the wall to the right side of the bed. A wall opening sideways to yet another, more secretive room. Johnny's entrance to aid room. His return with a cup of milk. Jerome couldn't much paid attention to that, only Johnny's tap on his shoulder with the desired white filled in glass.

"Wake up, snorax! Your awaited cup!"

Jeroms falls upon it like a water-derived man and gulps it down, once again, ignoring Johnny's prompt return to the secret room with the closing wall. Inside said room, a very spacious shelter with anything a boy would want. Food, entertainement, beds, tv, everything. Speaking of that, Malcom was sipping a can of root beer, perking up the moment he saw Johnny close behind him. He throws him a can of soda.

"Hey, you're finally here! About time, too, I can hear them even from here".

"Man, you worry too much. I told you I had this. Our snare is primed and ready. Nothing's coming here anytime soon".

Malcom's eyes widen.

"Wow! You actually went with that? How are you sure it'll work?"

"Pff, it'll work. This book never lies. Never did before. Seriously, relax, we're safe here".

Johnny, thinking of a job well done, soon goes to collapse on his bed, switching the tv on. He wanted to watch some cartoons. By then the ambient noise outside crept closer. Almost as if coming from the next room. Malcom got a bit worried.

"Yo, Johnny, I can hear noise just outside".

"And?"

Johnny was conpletely sunken on his bed, hands behind his head. His center of attention was on a pink dog attempting to re-take a tablet from an old man. The noise outside got a bit louder, breaking all illusion of silence the moment a large moan of a man echoed from the outside. Though the room was insulated, they could still hear what happened on the other side. Seems like some attendees were drawn to Jerome's raging condition.

"I'm worried about being found out".

Johnny sighs at his woes.

"Come one man, do you even know what's out there?"

"Predatory women".

"Nah, man. What we have outside is a ragin' man who can't help it but ravish whatever lady comes around because he ingested a triple helping of raging mushrooms. The same aliment that will mellow the monster ladies all the more to become docile and therefore unable to dicern anything else but the viril male standing before them. Don't worry, his mana is so imposing that our own will seem non-existant by comparison...."

"I guess..."

"And even then, should a man willing to give all of his mana to anyone stepping in the room not be enough, they'd have to find the way in to this room. A futile effort to two very uninteresting men inside. ONe already fiancee to another monster, therefore striken with immunity against the others and the other, a very unappealing guy not able to interest any of them during teenage years. Seriously! Do you remember the amount of monsters who just walked past me with no even as a second glance? I've stopped questionning this aliment and thought of it as a blessing"

"Well..."

Malcom raises doubt under the loud moans of the other side.

"...I remember one who..."

"Ehh, didn't count. Anyway, as I was saying, stop worrying, relax, slumber down and enjoy. Look, that old mummy just cursed that old man back on the tablet and now, he's whining inside of it. Man I love this cartoon!"

"..ohh? But she seemed like the one...whatever, sure. Pass me another can!"

"That's the spirit! Nothing to worry about. I've thought about every detail. Nothing can happen!"

Johnny throws Malcom another can of root beer before slumbering once more on his bed. The two join their eyes on the screen, this time of the old man stuck in a painting.

Two hours pass...

...and still, the cacophony does not relent. Johnny continued to relish some classic favorite, having downed at least 6 sodas. Malcom turned his attention to the state of his mansion.

"Man, think of all the cleanup needed after this disaster".

"Ehh, don't worry about it, you've got hands for that. I'm sure they won't judge...although some may ask for a pay rise after seeing the state of the rooms".

"Ugh, don't remind me. Especially this one. Dude, how many mushroom did you give Jerome?"

"Hmm..."

Johnny puts down his soda can, thinking a bit. A grin escapes his face as he shrugs.

"Well, since you were so worried and what not, I've quadrupled his dose and hide it under a ghost pepper".

"Four of them!? Really?! You didn't have to go so far!"

"You would have whined otherwise. It's nothing really, your personel will just burn everything once they're done".

"Really acting like I have money to throw down the chimney, don't you?"

"We both know I don't have to answer to that".

Johnny stretches his arms and yawns a bit before taking his can once more. He sets his eyes on the television while Malcom suddenly gets the urge to put his ear on the wall. Listening. That behavior earns him a whistle from his friend who saw him from the corner of his eye.

"Playing peeking Tom, are we? You want your fiancee to be here, huh? Hahahaha!"

"Dude, shh! I'm hearing something peculiar".

"Riiiiight...I'm sure that something isn't Jerome getting sandwhiched by three or four women at the same time. I mean, look at you! All hot and sweaty, blushing at the thought of getting close with your lady".

"That may be the case--

"Well, there you go! Case closed!"

"Dude--

"Case!"

"I'm serious man--

"Closed!"

"Just listen!"

Johnny rolls his eyes at his paranoiac friend and returns to the screen, only to hear two knocks coming from the wall.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yea, I did".

"Good, then perhaps we should--

"I'm hearing one of these idiots probably on the wall because what's happening on the other side isn't freaky enough or someone's foot is repeatably thumping from the bed! Gosh, could they be anyone annoying?!"

"No man, listen again".

Once again, two knocks from the other side. Distinct from all the noise erupting fom the room.

"Someone's knocking here".

"Man, you and your delusional paranoia. Hearing monsters on the other side is seriously affecting your psyche. Probably should have invited your fiancee and just mingle like the rest"

"You think i'm just bantering like that for no reason? I'M serious! Someone is--

"Hello?"

Malcom's blood freeze upon hearing a feminine voice calling out. Johnny, on the other hand, seemingly had another explanation.

"Well, you know, this is probably some sort of role play. Surely they must have a phantom amidst them".

"A phantom?"

"Yea, a phantom. Ghosts that love roleplays, especially on theaters. If anything she must be doing a play that's inevitably leading to mingling. Probably some sultry scene".

Malcom shoots him with doubt, once again hearing two knocks.

"Hello? Is anyone here?"

The accent seems...different to what they usually hear. It had a foreign touch but the vocalisation was refined. Almost like an aristocrate. Johnny comments with a joking term.

"Oh good, they're ropleplaying the renaissance era. I'm sure she's got the clothes and all. Or just made them out of thin air".

"No, I don't think that is it".

"Oh, here we go again with the--

"Can you open up? I dislike visual dissonance".

Malcom's heart skips a beat, slowly turning back to Johnny, eyes full of fear and sweat. The latter simply puts a finger before him, a silencing gesture while beckoning him away from the wall.

[Ok, so someone on the other side may have heard Malcom's whiny voice through the wall. But not to worry, they'll probably run off to the other room if we pipe down. And then, they'll just drawn their attention to Jerome. It'll be just as planned]

The knocking continues for a while going in an interval of 10 seconds followed by a demand of being opened. They keep quiet, albeit Malcom's heart pounded faster than drums Eventually, it does stop. Well, the knocking, not the unending moans. Malcom's heart rate slightly decreased, one of his hand reaching to his chest with a reproach toward Johnny, who simply shruged it off. A dispute in whispers followed.

"Dude, I don't know what this was, but that was not in the schedule!"

"Quit panicking, man! We're off scott-free, aren't we? She's gone!"

"We almost got caught! How is it that you are so relaxed?!"

"Because, as I've said before, I've thought of everything. Everything!"

Malcom scoffs silently at Johnny, who leaned back on the bed. Then his eyes returned to the wall. A defeated chuckle escapes him.

"Hey Johnny..."

"Now what?!"

He almost screamed in exasperation, throwing an impatient look at Malcom.

"You said 'everything', right?"

"Yea, what of it?!"

"Well..."

Malcom displays a flame wall appearing from the other side, yet again failing to spring Johnny from his relaxed state.

"Huh...alright, seems some dragon is coming here".

"A dragon?!"

Malcom backs away quickly, the flames stepping away from the middle, a woman walking through. Miraculously, the hidden wall sustains no damage, leaving the two to gaze at the red scaled woman with a silver chorus as her hair reaching her neck. A tanned skin comes to compliment that hair, as well as equally matching eyes, the slit in the middle for any reptiles. A modest yet immaculate set of jeans and jacket bearing the same red are visible on her. Her arms join in a crossing. her gaze scouring the two men in this shelter of theirs.

Malcom was a bit distraught at seeing a dragon in their sanctum and looks back to Johnny, who couldn't be anymore absent-minded, his thought of a pink dog invading his attention.

"Dude, a dragon is here! What do we do?!"

"Pff! You're seriously asking what to do against a dragon? Dude, you're literally sitting on a fortune. I think it's obvious what a dragon would want".

"As much as gold would be enjoyable, my eyes are not set on a meager treasure".

The woman interrupts their flow of discussion. walking toward them to the bed. Johnny rolls his eyes.

"Riiiight...seriously, my friend here has so much gold that the whole treasury under his mansion isn't even 10 percent of hs entire fortune. Just say the word and all of it is yours. Hell I'll even translate it all as gold for you ".

"A commendable offer, but I will have to refuse. As I've said, I already have what I seek in sights".

Her scally finger rises and point at Johnny. He raises an eyebrow and leans on the left, followed by her gaze and arm. He goes for the right, same result. Malcom, being one already influated with a monster, knew what her words meant. His mind went to wonder what would Johnny do, he who had managed to divert the stare of many others over the years. A chink in his 'perfect' plan, so to say.

Of course, rememebring the section about dragon being haugthy, he was certain that something else must be in play. No way some dragon would just tune in to him. He remembers the necklack he wore for years. Supposed to be a good luck talisman embeeded in gold. HIs hand reaches for the innard of his coat, taking it out. The woman's gaze soften upon seeing it. Johnny spots it without fail, a smirk appearing on his face.

"Ahh, this is what you saw, did you? I knewa dragon's sense for gold was great. but not to that point. Anyway, it's yours, have fun".

"You actually kept it..."

The woman gently takes the necklace, inspecting it. The thing is as flawless as it was before. She puts it next to her heart for a moment, shutting her eyes. Seems like she's is reviving certain memories, warm ones at that for a smile shapes on her face. Johnny looks at Malcom. Catching his lingering gaze, he quickly eyes the corner of the room, where a hidden trap door appears to be. Malcom's gaze is clouded in uncertainty but conceides anyway. The two makes one backstep toward it...

...only for the dragon woman to re-open her eyes, full of warmth. All of it directed at Johnny. Malcom whispers the obvious.

"Dude, she's staring you down".

"I know, keep calm and back away, she's probably indulging in a gold haze"

"I'm not sure, man. That's the same look my fiancee gave me when I gave her that ring".

"Well, don't you know dragons love the hell out of gold? Thing must be a rare item"

~Well, yes and no...~

Her wings unfold to their full span, dashing her straight before Johnny. Before he can muster the time for a reaction, the dragonic lady puts the necklace back on his neck, right before posing her hands on his chest. Johnny's eyes widen in stupefaction, not ever expecting that sort of reaction.

"Part of our fascination for a necklace like this one is from the massive wealth one can gain from parting with it. But, most dragons like to use it as a test to select our mates. Those able to forsake the immediate gain from such a thing is definitely someone with sights beyond what most people like to accuse us of~

"Wait! wait, wait, wait!"

Johnny began to panic. It was now obvious his plan was going nowhere where he wanted it to go. A dragon leaving no centimeters between her and him, her face close enough for him to feel the heat in her breath or his eyes to witness the shine in her hair. He had to explain himself quickly, perhaps she would see it as nothing more than a misunderstanding.

"This is just something I kept for someone who was supposed to claim it a few years after! I didn't know it was some test! You're making a grave mistake!"

"I know. I didn't tell you what this truly meant back then, did I? When I first came around in this country, unable to even grasp the concept of friends or close one because no one here could muster my mettle. Simple-minded brutes coming on to me thinking I would be swooned by trivial attempts at power demonstration even when I could effortlessly do 10 times the things they pretend to have dominion over. How refreshing was it to have someone come on with a set of harmless but entertaining pranks, even at my expenses".

Johnny's eyes skewer to Malcom who's mind was busy remembering their younger years, knowing of many pranks he had done to virtually anyone. It was funny how the foreign student had taken many of them so well when anyone else would have tried to stuff Johnny in a locker. He nods his head remembrance, her name clear in his head.

"I didn't think you would love this kind of attention, Monica".

"Truth be told. it didn't at first. But, with so many trying to seduce me by exploiting my dragonic weaknesses, having someone entertain a genuine kindship by a mist unorthodox manner was a true blessing. So, by the end of our college years, I issued him my pendant and pretending I was merely lending it to him, just to see whether he would keep it".

"What?!"

Johnny's voice raises in shock.

"You told me I was free to keep it if after 2 years you didn't come back to claim it!"

"And you kept it anyway, so eager to return me. You knew it meant something for me~

"Well, I didn't want to disappoint you!"

"And now, I'm here to reclaim it"

Johnny takes a long breath whilst taking a step back, taking off the pendant and displaying it in front of him. His face surges with strokes of heat despite himself, which he turns away, a hand on the remote to divert her attention.

"Well, here you go, take it and good luck with your endeavor".

"But I told you I can't claim it around the neck of my mate~

His face turns back to her, red cherry shades.

"Which is why I removed--

The pendant was on his neck once more, having slipped under his hand. A startled realization for him, followed by Monica joining her hands behind his neck. Their noses touch, as well as their chests, subtly devoid of scales on her modest wears.

~And like I said, I'm here to claim it and the one wearing it~

"B-b-but I'm not even a strong man! You of all people should know that!"

"And yet somehow, you manage to make yourself a passage for my fiery affection. A man of this quality is impossible to pass up, even among the human women. I didn't think I'd had to mark the pendant to have them all back away from your person~

Malcom makes no effort to hide his surprise at this revelation.

"So that's why nobody even bothered with him. To be honest, I was kind of wondering too, considering we went ot a-many places littered with other monsters".

~Of course! I wouldn't have anyone get their mittens on my man, would I?~

She speak with no hint of letting her closeness on Johnny lesser. He knew everything crumbled around him. But, at the same time, the deepest part of his mind jumped in jubilee. Too bad his mouth expressed nothing of that enthusiast. A defeated sight passes from him as he raises his hands.

"Fine, whatever. Just play your mind control on me and let's get it over with".

"Mind control?"

"Yes, mind control. The thing that makes men want to obey a monster's every call".

~I'm sorry, honey, no such thing as a simple hex to put on your mind~

Monica grins while saying, knowing exactly what he was going with.

~Trying to discard yourself with an easy method, are you?I see you still haven't changed on that department~

"Yea, sure, just do it. It'll be easier for the both of us"

~Oh no, you do not get to have a mere wash over. Not with all this love I have kept for so long~

"Wait, what?!"

"Well, she's not wrong".

Malcom speaks from the bed, twirling an empty can. A gigantic grin is plastered on his face

"They stopped doing that a long time ago, man. What you see here is all genuine. Have fun, friend!"

~Your friend is right, you know. Why would I change what I love so much. No, instead, I'll just remove this distant mask you have. 10 points if you guess what in the next ten seconds~

A wink escapes her visage, Johnny turning to Malcom in a stricken expression. Devoid of resources and methods of escape. How have the table have turned, with the latter pretty experienced with the more complex unerlines of love. Malcom is going to enjoy this.

"Well, there is one thing monsters like to do to convey their feelings. But telling you would be detrimental since you're about to feel it anyway".

A reproached stare fills Johnny's eyes, to a smirking Malcom.

"Anyway, I gotta go check up on my mansion state. Can't be a third wheel in a carousel of lovers when I have my own to look after Try not to destroy the furniture".

Johnny eyes, anguished as he saw his sworn friend hop down a hidden trap door. And now, the ten seconds had been counted down. A scally hand went on his face, to turn it to Monica's. The last thing he sees is her sparlking silvery eyes connect with his emerald gaze before all of his senses are flourished to his lips connected to another pair. Seeing became momentarily unimportant compared to this sensation. As such, the feeling of her hands tighten a round the back to his neck is glossed through, his entire mind concentrated on her taste...

[Un]fortunately for him, this is only the beginning, in due time...