Board Thread:What Would You Do?/@comment-27303410-20180602155755/@comment-30014014-20180602203349

Any another day prior to this one, Louis would have been weirded out by this sudden table invasion, of what used to be the higher echelons of monsters, no less. Each in their right, surorunding a rather mundane man.

Ironically, hearing them speak with disarray about their state of relationship only served to kickstart a scenario he's been exposed before. He turns to the on who seems to be speaking for the group, the lilim "Alright, but, can I be frank? It's sort of the requirement".

"Well, of course! That is what we're asking you", replies the lilim, her body shifted to face the man, as well as the rest of the group.

"Ok..." Louis claps his palms "Unfortunately, the first segment isn't something you'll like to hear".

"Try us" throws the demon, almost in a challenge fashion.

"Well, what are you people? A succubus, a demon, a vampire and a lilim. Of all the monsters around, you're probably the most demanding ones. I mean, the power you carry to this day will easily put others at a frightened state. Really, all you'd need is a dragon or a griffon and the band of proud individuals is done".

"Wait, hold on! We stopped those millennia ago. My mother's ascension to the throne for that exact reason!" contests the lilim, her recoiled body indicating a slight offense to his words. The others seem to be in agreement about him digging up the far past.

"I know, I know. I apologize for this. It's merely to set the mood to what to expect. But anyway, yes, you did change all of the monster into women in an attempt to severe the line of difference between humans and monsters. Unfortunately, while this did serve to do as you would expect, that noble legacy had yet to part from you..."

"Legacy? What legacy?" asks the vampire, rather interested by this part, being of a lasting bloodline.

"Exactly as I said. Legacy. You said you wished to distance yourself from those lifeless parties you're constantly endowed in. But, those are what made your kind. Even after that change, the high standard your kind has been bathing themselves in has shaped them to be utterly un-approchable by anyone for as high-standing as you. I mean, look around you..."

Surprised by this simple demand, she gives in and cranes her head in a dull circle. Quite a few are glancing at her, but none dare walking forward, instead content with pointing at the robe she's bearing. This accumulated galore of stares prompts her to look at what she's wearing. A pristine garb drenched in crimson colors. Perfect for a noble, ill-suited for a bar. The only thing she can muster..."Ohh, I see".

"If some of them had their eye caught by you, they're reluctant to approach you due to your attire. Yes, you wish to meet someone, but, not only are none here willing to introduce themselves due to the disparity between you and them, its probably not the only place where that ever happened. This set of clothes you're wearing is litteraly a wall between you and that someone. You think any man will accoast a vampire, know for their arrogance in her full panoply, knowing that the only thing they'll get out of it is a harsh rejection? I know I wouldn't".

The vampire slumbs down, still in the process of absorbing what was said to her. She pulls parts of her clothing, looking back at those around fixated on the games. One in particular had been lookng back, with no courage to act. She sighs in epiphany and placades her hand on her face "To think I spoke against those nobles..."

"It's alright..." Louis says, placing a hand on her shoulder. This subtle touch makes her flinch a bit, prompting her to look back at him, a reasurring gaze on his face "You're already taking steps to remedy to this issue. Where are your peers?"

"Well, at a party" she responds "There's a duke from Germany who's been invited as a guess and the mansion has been redecorated to welcome him".

"And yet, there you are, at a local bar, trying to distance yourself from this sort of thing. If you want the man over here to approach you..."

"Wha--you saw that?!"

"I've seen enough side glances to spot one. But anyway, you just have to loose the fancy dress and the mannerisms. Are you versed in the sport?"

"Of course! The Golden knights are my favorite!" she answers, sparks in her crimson eyes. "Their latest win was such beautifully earned!"

"Good, maybe he is too. This is the perfect place to speak of such things".

"Of course! How did I not see this?!" the vampire gulp down her drink, a renewed vigor in her soul.

Louis then turns to the succubus, the latter a bit unnerved about what he had to said. Never the less, she yearned for his input, charged with someone experience in this sort of things "I'm ready! Lay it on me!"

"Are you?" asks Louis insistantly.

"I am! I can take it! "

"Can you? Alright..." Louis gets up and walks around to reach the succubus, his hand gesturing her up "Come on. Stand". Curious about his request, the horned woman does as he says, her stance rather leferous. Her hips sway slightly to the left, hands crossed under her chest, giving importance to her 'size'. Her lips in a pout. Louis' stare is nothing short of asking 'are you serious'. Obviously, this gaze is blatant, yet it showers her in confusion "What?...what?!"

"You really don't see what's wrong with this picture?" asks Louis, keeping the same visage of disbelief, arms crossed as well in a reproching manner.

"What?! It's how I stand! Nothing wrong with a bit of a seduc---" The realization came to her as she saw how none of it seemed to draft the man to her side.

"Exactly. This is not the pose of someone looking to get in a relationship beyond a 'one-night-stand'. Look, I'm sorry for what I'm about to say, but right now, you look more like someone looking for some 'fun'. A word that repeatably comes with your kind".

"Ouch..." she whispers, a bit hurt by his statement.

"I'm truly sorry, but it's not all your fault. It's how succubus are. I mean, even before this change, they were always putting on a face of beauty to get the lifeforce of men with little to no resistance. It worked so well that you've barely looked elsewhere to get yourselves a someone close. Now that it no longer kills anyone, men all across with this desire will look to your kind since you're all so open..."

The succubus, speechless, slowly sits down, in a melancholic state, lime the vampire, only to have her shoulder invaded by his hand as well. A somewhat sad stare returns to him. "Don't worry, all you need his a change in your way to greet someone. And a new set of clothes. Something more casual".

"Really? I don't know whether it'll be enough"

"Oh, trust me, it'll be enough. In this era, a set of clothes is a dead give-away as to what your personality is. The thing is, men you've been accoasted by are people purely in the appearance. If they come across you in a set of attire hiding 90% of your body, no way they'll bother with you. Only those looking for more will greet you in full".

"I see. Never thought of it like that. Alright, I'll do it!"

Cue his change of subject. The blue-skinned demon, who at the way he spoke to her other friends, gulped down a bit. She takes a deep breath "...ok, your honest thoughts".

"Alright..." Louis responds, looking at the piece of paper standing next to her "How many times do you flash this contract of yours?"

"Well, at most men I greet..." Her stare sours quite a bit.

"See the problem? It's hard to get to know someone, truly know someone when you constantly flex this parchment at them. Isn't that supposed to be like a wedding band to your demons?"

"Well, yea, but--

"Then stop branding it like its a condition of union. Those jumping at it with no hesitation are looking for one thing...I'm sure you know what it is..."

"Yea..."

"And those hesitant to signing it will think you're just trying to snare them under your control, like your kind used to do before and even with this change. You think a guy likes to be restrained down with a magiical piece of paper?"

"But it's not! Like you said, its our way of mariage. It's what tells our dear from the rest, a bond that deepens with our understanding of each other".

"Good, good, treat it like that. Don't brand it like it's a 'guarantee night with me'. Forget about it, and just be who you are. The fact that you wish to know someone before even considering signing them up with your contract says a lot about your determination about finding that someone. My tip: that contract, put it away--

"I can summon it at will" she says in a quick manner as to not interrupt him all too much.

"...yea, do that in reverse. Forget about it, just ask about the guy you're interested in. Do things with him, share what you want with him. Don't think about that until you get a cue that he's the right one AND that he's pretty into sharing his life with you. Then, with a delicate explanation, tell him its your equivalent of a wedding ring".

The demon absorbs all he has to say, her hands on her drink. With his last sentence uttered, she downs it in one gulp, feeling a bit revigorated.

"And finally, you, madam". Louis turns to the lilim, who had been preparing herself mentally for this.

"Indeed, I" she answers "I take it I'm somewhat more problematic than my friends?"

"Not you in particular. Just your kind. You do realize you're the most powerful and highest echelon a monster can have, right? That means all three of them, but amplified".

She sighs heavily "I know, I know. Trust me when I say that I know. Legion of men kneeling down to me, hoping that I'll let them get a taste of what it's like to enjoy a night with me. Monsters all too afraid to initiate conversation with me because I'll supposedly smite them on the spot for failing to address me correctly. All I ever want...well, I have friends that can speak to be casually with no line between us, no wall to separate us. But, I wish for a man I can voice my worries to without some sort of restraint. A man who's shoulder I can rest my head upon without having to justify it. You know how tiring it is to have to look and sound strong all the time? You imagine if one of my sisters catches me leaning on a regular joe as my sanctuary?"

"Ohh, that I do. You're already aware of what plagues you. Well, the one tip I can give you: ignore them".

"What?! That's it? Just ignore them?!" the lilim speaks, a bit insulted by the lack of detailled inituition he gave to the rest.

"Yes, it is" Louis re-affirms "You're far from the only one with such an issue. Ever seen pharaohs before? Ryus? Valkyries? They all have the same issue you're plagued with, it being afraid of the reprecussions of the other of the same race. Always having to put on a façade of unsurmontable power. This sort of thing making them bitter and lonely because they can't break from what the others might say if you dare break from the mold. You already have the cards in your hands, it's all up to you to play them. Take your clics, take your clacs, meet the one you want to, and if your sisters so much as whine about your behavior, tell them that the door is over here and that they do as they wish. That is the best advice I can give you, and trust me, it works wonders".

The lilim stops to think about it. Everytime she's given in to reluctances, it was due to her siblings. The boy she once fell in love with, rejected because he had nothing to show to her, according to the same siblings.

"Yes, yes, I see" she springs, hugging Louis in a sudden fashion "Thank you. Thank you for telling me what I needed to hear".

"Yes, thank you very much" adds the vampire, joining in on the incredule man's hug pile, the latter not knowing what to do of this "Ladies, ladies, I was just giving my opinions".

"One that none would have given to us, no less" joins in the succubus as she proceeds to add herself in.

"And for that, we are grateful" ends the demon, drowing the poor Louis in a covenant of arms and gratitude.

Despite his complaints, they don't let up, swarming him for quite a few minutes before leaving, with words that they'll contact him on their progress. And his tab paid, as well.

Eventually, with the light of the moon rising and the bar slowly emptying, Louis saw fit to depart himself. His walk among the streets, uneventfully, at least until the steps to his domain were entered once more by his feet.

~Welcome home!~ spurns a enthusiast voice followed by a woman. A few bells are present on her backward horns, a large tail accompanied by a set of human legs adorned by a skirt and heralded by an apron. A golden sphere glides besides her, forsaken for a moment, as the woman goes for a hug, one Louis is not fit to refuse or refute.

His hands cradle her hips, while careful not to accidently poke her reversed crimson scale. He thoroughly savors the sensation of her silky scales, the scent of her more humane skin, everything about her, his wife.

"You've come awfully late today" she speaks, her hands still cradling his chest "Did someone attack you?"

"No, Lyss. Nothing of the sort" Louis places one of his hands on her cheek, lost in her vast cyan eyes "It's a call back, to when we met, rememeber?"

"Yes, I do..." Lyss starts her backsteps, keeping physical contact with Louis as she brings in inside, the door, closed by her mere will. Her haead finally leaning on his shoulder, whispers of that time seeping "Once revered as a goddess, but set in loneliness by the same title, for none would dare close the distance. Among all of you, I was isolated. Then you came, offering prayers, like so many, but, I guess you wanted to initiate a verbal speech with me".

"Actually, I wanted to know where you got the glass-like roses" Louis laughs a bit.

Lyss joins in it "Hmm, that too. Well, regardless of what brought you to me, our daily conversation could suffice me no longer..."

"...so, I brought you with me. Against the outrage of your once-worshippers..."

"...but with the blessing of my mother, who had for long waited for a smile to etch on my visage".

"Indeed. That is why I've been so late today. Nothing like a few distraught monsters willing to barter their inate abilities for a moment like this to sink your time at a local bar".

"Hmpf, don't lie to me, husband" Lyss chuckles while looking back into his marine gaze "I can smell them on your clothes. I have to assume they have expressed their gratitude with an accolade".

"Hey! I objected to it!" Louis returned with a laughter "They're the one who insisted".

"Of course they did, husband..." she replies, a mocking sarcastic tone on her voice "Looks like I have to 'purify' you again, do I?" Her scaled hand goes for his face as he did once, eyes showering him with a voiceless thanks for bringing perspective to others after her. A thing he learned to spot despite her awful sarcasm.

"Priestess, I am clean no longer. Will you 'wash' me?".

"I'll be glad to 'wash' you once more" she giggles, feeling her legs lifted by his hands, steps going for the bedroom. Lyss leans on his shoulder, shutting her eyes in a blissful state, forever thankful for the gift of erroded walls of her divinity she's been given.