>>511810
I guess we gotta sacrifice our lives as lawbringers if we wanna live.

We need to tell Allen/Vesta we're fine but not coming back, and someone needs to get that message to Officer Helman. Cellphone would probably work for both things, really.

Yet... ask him what's the issue. Don't the arkers already want you dead?

>>511849
No, see, Arkers are assholes. They're also power-hungry supremacists.

When Oren and Nessie killed the first Arker, what do you think the rest of the Arkers said to themselves? "Gee, this insignificant gnat sure is equal enough to us to be a legitimate threat.", or "Man, how incompetent do you have to be to get killed by an insignificant gnat? No real Arker would die like that."
All the Arkers cared about was getting the Oculus back, and Oren ditched that one quick.

The second Arker was the first one's master. It was a personal vendetta, so second verse same as the first. Since Oren ditched the first Oculus they could reasonably expect him to do the same here - blame Orpheo and call it a day.

This last Arker? Yep, still vengeance and they still don't care about her getting killed.

Now, Nessie using the Oculus? That's rage-inducing. Now she's 'stealing their power' and 'reaching above her station' or whatever.

>>511852
I already knew all that, man. The characters need an explanation, not me.

well Oren you're a dream mage, you could make use the new oculus and use your newfound illusion powers to hide you and Nessie forever.

Ask Allen before you leave to teach Nessie that body swap trick though, we're going to need that to make extra double sure everything will be fine in the end. If you could also get someone else besides the mage to body swap, a non-Thamauturgist, then you'll be safe forever too.

Just find two insane people like Allen did.

i would like to remind people that the sacrifice part of the prophesy has been fulfilled. by blejwas. probably.
or maybe by nessie for using the eye thing?

who knows. but i'm pretty sure it's been fulfilled maybe.

>>511865
what was the prophesy again?

>>511869
"Strength, love, sacrifice"

That's it. Pretty shitty prophesy. Still, wouldn't hurt to at least tell Orpheo or some mage about it. Might be a good idea to find out what exactly Oren is capable of, before possibly putting in the other oculus.

Brom 2013/05/21(Tue)21:50 No. 511962 ID: 0eef61
File 136919820659.png - (111.45KB , 800x600 , 106.png )

"Phone."
"What?" says Grett.
"Phone." Oren stands up. A sudden lightheaded, numbing feeling washes through his brain. He is monstrously hungry. "I need a phone. Nessie? Do you have-"
"Yeah." Nessie rifles through her pockets. "Allan gave it to me. Shit. Hold on. Uhhhhhhh here."
Oren grabs it and flips it open. "Mr. Loper, we have to go-" starts Grett, but Oren waves him off.
"Just- hold on, Grett. One minute."

He has spent his entire life keeping the peace. He's not going to run away from his post as a criminal.
Vesta doesn't pick up.
Allan doesn't pick up. Wait. This is his phone. Shake it out, Oren.
"Come on." Oren redials. "Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. They're not picking up."
"Have you tried Mendel? Or Celyne?" asks Nessie.
"I don't- wait. Wait."
On the second go-around, Vesta picks up.
There is a split second of silence on the other end of the line, then Oren says: "Hello? Vesta?"
"Sheriff Loper." Vesta's voice is as neutral as ever. "I believe I am under arrest."

>>511962
Tell her, not for long. Tell her to ask for officer Helman, because we have a message for him from Blejwas.

tell her about Contingency Opal and where to find Blejwas body... and the man who killed him if you can pick him out of the burnt mass of flesh that use to be the bastard. If you have to talk to police or something like that say you're looking into a lead or something and have to chase it before it grows cold and that's why you're leaving. oh and maybe tell whoever how Blejwas died so he can at least go out like a hero. I mean even if he doesn't deserve it he did save your ass at the expense of his life, he deserves something at least.

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)13:11 No. 512032 ID: 0eef61
File 136925350289.png - (207.83KB , 800x600 , 107.png )

"Not for long. I need to talk to a, uh, Helman. Officer Helman."
"Why?"
"I can get you out of there."
"Hold on." Oren hears a rustling as Vesta covers the phone.
"Mr. Loper, can you walk and talk?" asks Grett.
"Hold your friggin horses," says Oren. "We can't just leave everyone in the lurch."

"Helman." There's a voice over the phone. "We have your accomplices, Loper. It'd be best if you just turned yourself in now and saved everyone a lot of heartbreak."
"Contingency Opal."
Oren's greeted by about 5 seconds of silence, then Helman says, a lot softer than before, "How did he go?"
"He went well," says Oren. "I think he damn near saved my life."

"I'm going to need to talk to you, Mr. Loper," says Helman. "We'll uncuff your friends."
"You're talkin' to me right now."
"Face-to-face, Mr. Loper. It's how this has to work."

Shit's going down on a bigger scale, and you're putting yourself, and arguably the city, in danger if you stay around any longer. Give him the location of Blejwas's body and get out of there. You've done your job.

They can come meet with you at wherever you're going (where are you going?) if they need more.

>>512032
"Can't. City's in danger. Cyclops mage cult out for blood. We ain't coming back from this case. Tell 'em I'm I was an officer to the end."

Then hang up and yank out the battery before he can reply.
Get moving.

"that might be a bad idea until the whole mage cult thing blows over"

this isn't over, we're coming back, but after we regroup and get some options. we gotta go now, but make sure you'll have a way to keep in contact with your friends in high places.

We can't talk. There's evil cyclops Ark mages after our life now. Do you want to talk to the target of living WMD's? Because that's how Blejwas died, he broke some bones, got lurched back, and then Joseph finished him off with a bolt to the face. The damn things shoot fire, eat brimstone, sparkle healing dust, phase weapons in and out of nothing, and get in your fucking head. One mage is enough to frighten all the criminals in this city, which is how joseph got them all working under them.

NOW do you still want to meet with me? Because I have allies already risking their lives just waiting for me to finish this call and wisk me away.

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)16:04 No. 512060 ID: 0eef61
File 136926385933.png - (31.71KB , 800x600 , 108.png )

"I can't," says Oren. "Everyone's in trouble until I'm out of the city. I've done my job."
He starts pulling away from the phone, but Helman says, "I can't just let you go, Loper."
"Why not?"
"It's a Sheriff's Bounty on you, Loper. It can only be lifted by the sheriff of the town who put it on you."
"Blejwas is dead."
"Which means that although I can let your friends go, because all they was doing is abetting, I need to hold you until we find a replacement, and he needs to review the case."
"So just get a temp, Helman. Blejwas vouched for me. Opal."
"He did, but unless we have his presence and his signature, it don't mean anything, Loper. That's not what Contingency Opal is."
"What is Contingency Opal?"
"It's what happens when Blejwas ain't around anymore and he wants you to walk free. Contingency Opal means you're the new sheriff of Anchorturn, Oren Loper. And not a temp."

Oren remembers to breathe.

"I can't." Oren looks back at Nessie.
"You have to," says Helman. "You leave, you're going to leave a wanted man, and so is whoever you take with you. Either you take the job, take over Anchorturn, and sign yourself pardoned pronto, before word reaches Central, or this doesn't go away."

so let me see if I got this straight, Blejwas made a plan that was to put a bounty on our head then in the case that he should die the only way to make sure we stayed free men was to take over his job?... Sooooooo did he plan this because he had great confidants in our abilities or did he do this out of spite for us?

Why can nothing ever be simple, anyways ask Grett what kind of danger you and Nessie are in and what are the chances that we will ever return here and if he goes off saying we don't have time then tell him to give you the short version as right now you're being torn apart by two impossible options and would like to at least know SOME of the pros and cons of both before you make a life changing decision, and don't get me wrong there are points in a persons life where a choice is given to them that alters there entire life but is usually so small you never really see how it effected you to much later in your life. You have been given a choice that is so big that even the blind would see how this will change your future so DON'T RUSH INTO MAKING A DECISION WITHOUT ANY FACTS I guess is what i'm trying to say here.

Okay, so (word of god) Oren won't be able to join Nessie at the Arcanopolis unless he's a mage, and Nessie can't safely not be there anymore. That means Oren's only real choice is to use the second Oculus--we won't stand to see them parted over this, and besides, being a mage seems pretty neat.

The only question remaining, then, is how (if at all) we tie up loose ends here. If we're at the arcanopolis, we won't really be subject to arrest, so we can just leave it hanging, and if we come back in a decade as a mage we'll be in a good position to force a resolution in our favor.

Alternatively, we could take the oculus and use it now, then go do the paperwork and immediately resign. It'd delay and put us in some danger, but hopefully we'll have some time before the arkers hear about what happened. Hide it behind a headband or hat to avoid drawing further hostile attention. We don't want to risk losing it, and with it the opportunity to stay with Nessie, by not actually using it ASAP.

Or we could take the risk and keep it somewhere very secure on our person, and use it after sorting out the paperwork. I rate the risk of discovery as lower than the risk of losing Nessie, though.

Grett won't be happy with the delay regardless, but if we use the oculus we'll force his hand (or that of another representative of Orpheo) and they'll have to get us out to the Arcanopolis for the same reason they're getting Nessie out whether they like us or not.

that's... err... hmm...
well, shit. let's see.

so i see a few options. one is to go with grett and live in fear for the rest of your lives. you can't ever come back though, you'll never be a sheriff again. the second is sending nessie off and taking the job. you'll be separated and that sucks, but she'll be safer though still with the whole living in fear for the rest of her life thing. also you'll be fending off assassins for the rest time.

the third is riskier but with more hope. you take the job and nessie will stay with you as bait.
these guys are weapons of mass destruction, yeah, but if they use that power against a city they'll probably get annihilated because that's starting a war. so getting enough power to force them to use too much power in order to kill you might work as long as they don't assassinate you and as long as there would be people to actually respond to an attack.

you could barricade yourself in Anchorturn and wait for the attack to come. when it does send message to the kind and tell him his mages are in cahoots with the enemy (the war is still going on, right?) and are attacking his city. this plan will only work if you and nessie won't die/get assassinated and if they attack head on. and if the king will even believe/will even care.

how long will it take to re-sheriffy you? how long can we expect before backup arrives, for that matter?

i don't know, if we have time before the next attack we should sit down with some people and consider this. if not then surround yourself with mages and consider it anyhow. if we leave we can't come back it seems, and this needs planning if we want it to have a chance to work.

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)16:58 No. 512079 ID: 0eef61
File 136926709995.png - (6.80KB , 800x600 , 109.png )

Oren turns to Grett. "I have to go back. Just for a bit. I have to go."

"No," says Grett. "You can't. We're already in deep shit before you used the oculus. Why in the Spirit's sake did you use the oculus?"
"I had to," says Nessie. "They would have killed him."
"Yes, but-" Grett paces. "Okay. Yes. It was irresponsible, but yet. But now we have to go, and Mr. Loper if you come with us now I can take you half the way so you can say goodbye to your friend here but we can't delay-"
"Wait. Goodbye?" Oren lowers the phone from his ear. "What's goodbye mean?"

"Well, you can't come to the Arcanopolis from the outside if you're not a mage," says Grett, uncertainly. "It's not done. And that's where we're going."
"For how long?" asks Nessie.
"What do you mean, for how long?" says Grett. "You don't just stop being a Cyclops."

"Are you telling me that if I go with you, I'm never going to see Oren again?" says Nessie.
"Well, I mean." Grett swallows. "Not NEVER. You could certainly visit him from time to time. But Mr. Loper's going to be very busy with a city to watch over, so if you'll excuse us, Future Sheriff, we need to leave." He grabs Nessie's arm. "Now."

Lightning fast, Oren pulls Grett's hand off of her. He steps right into Grett's face. "Where she goes, I go."
"That's just not possible, Mr. Loper," says Grett. "Now it seems very clear that you have to go do this sheriffing thing, and I don't want to keep you from that just so that you can have a lengthy goodbye with, uh,"
"My name is Nessandra Squires, and I ain't going with you if it means leaving him." Nessie takes a step back to stand with Oren.
"You stay here, that thing on your forehead marks you for nonmages and Arkers alike," says Grett. "We. Need. To. Go. Now. Oren, you got five seconds to say goodbye, then you need to clear your name and we need to get to the Arcanopolis. She'll be safe there, for a while at least."

>>512060
"I'll spell it out for you. There's a crazy red-eye cyclops cult with horrible plans, and I ain't fool enough to think I'm coming back from this. I don't want to be remembered as a-FUCK!"

Hang up the phone, then ask Nessie to scorch the area wall a bit. Toss the phone somewhere so they can track down its signal and find the bodies and battlemarks, then bug out.

Ask Orpheo if he can trade the spare arker eye for a normal one. No reason Nessie should have to look at one too.

>>512079
let's make some things clear. we're not separating oren and nessie and if oren stays as sheriff he will still get attacked. they already killed a sheriff of Anchorturn, no reason to think they won't again.

that doesn't leave many options.
1. you and nessie go into hiding together, only to be found a week later through magic neither of you understand and killed in your sleep.
2. you both stay in Anchorturn, as i suggested in >>512072 but now that i think about it, it won't work because it's relying on the arrival of cavalry that might not come, and if they do come it'll be too late. again. this time you can be ready, have some mages on your side maybe, but i don't really see it work. they have more mages than you have friends, and what happens or doesn't happen to the arkers after you and nessie die is irrelevant. at best, it might force them to only use a limited amount of power on you, that you might be able to defend against, for fear of repercussions. but still, there will always be more of them and they won't give up after the first attack.
3. oren pops the Oculus in and they both go to temporary safety and a life full of fear which will end sooner rather than later with an assassin out of nowhere. or slightly better, become anti-arker assassins and bring the fight to them. you're already targets and you already killed 3 of them without magic so as long as you catch them one by one it might be possible. at the very least it's a better way to spend time than waiting to be murdered.

>>512079
You could just use the other Oculus Oren. Say your sorry, you had no choice. You two are a team that needs to help defend each other.

Oren I know you want to clear your name and keep your old life. But by using that oculus Nessie can't stay here. If you are going to follow her your old life here will be over anyways. So you can stay here and try to fix things or go with the girl you love and start over.

Maybe if you ask nice enough Grett will take her someplace safe for a day and let you fix things but every minute you stay here raises the chance of the arkers finding out what happened. And if they do before you can hide and get that eye recolored you will never be safe.

Also you probably have to use the other eye yourself if you want to go with her. If you can get a hold of your dream friends I would ask there advice.

I really really don't want to use the other eye as I feel forcing yourself to become something your not will never end well, but now that I think about it is kinda what love is all about I think. Don't now never been in love so I really have no idea what you are truly feeling but maybe you need someone to see this on a non-emotional level.

Blejwas fucked you over good here, he has pinned you between an active bomb and a woodchiper. Nessie being the bomb as her now becoming something else is bound to make a few things explode in the near future and truth be told I don't really think you can protect her, sorry to say but I think she would be better off protecting herself so there is no question she has to leave now. This new job that Blejwas is the woodchiper as it will try and chew you up and tear you apart like it did to him. The problem I'm seeing here is you have always put your job ahead of everything because you truly believe in helping people and I'm finding it hard to see you just walking away and turning your back on them even if this isn't something you don't want to happen in the first place.

sigh, Ask nessie if she would want you to put the Oculus in yourself because I now you would do it for her in a heart beat like she did for you but does she want you to do it, will it make her happy? I, and I really fucking hate myself for saying so but I do think that you two should split up... at least until you both have a handle on things, then when everything isn't falling apart around you try and fix everything. But if you do let her go know that it isn't forever and for the LOVE OF GOD GIVE HER THAT RING AND SAY YOU WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER not matter the distance between you or time apart you will always love her. Hell tell her that even if you do go with her.

Take spare oculus from Nessie. Smack into forehead. Dramatic gestures ho!

>>512092
The oculus makes the mage. Hell, even if it weren't for all this mess, using it is still the right thing to do so that Nessie doesn't have to be alone in it.

>>512080
Don't ask for a trade. Don't even let them know you have the other one until you've used it. Otherwise they'll just take it from you and you'll lose Nessie.

I go with option C
all the choices.

Call Orpheo and fill him in on the plan while you do it,(as long as he isn't being monitored anyway). Damn just get secure contact with him somehow.

Make sure YOU have the other occulus, tell Nessie that you will see her soon, then go take the sherrif job, sign yourself pardoned and make someone else be a stand in for a while. You aren't giving up this job, no not after what blej did, you have to shoulder that burden and prove yourself the better man.

Then occulize.

You will be away for a while, hopefully no more than a few years, still as head sheriff with Helman or someone else managing for a while. And then once it's safe for you to come back(i.e. when you get sufficently strong that you can hold your own or the dissenters are dead). Then you return, and take up the mantle of leadership.

Wear a mask.

Well if he does use the oculus he will probably be a illusionist so could just make himself look normal if he wanted to come back.

One way or another its a scary choice. Jam a magic rock in your face and become a mage cyclops or stay and run a corrupt town and be hunted by crazies. Cept one of the choices you have to go it alone. And if you do go do it alone then you are forcing Nessie to be alone as well.

>>512079
We're gonna use that fucking marble. Either now, or after we've cleared our name.

But I don't think we can have both. You gotta sacrifice one or the other. Either your time with Nessie, or your good name and badge.

If you ask me, I'd choose Nessie. Besides, being a mage is pretty cool.

She tooks this upon herself to save you. You can't abandon her to this journey alone. Use the occulus, go with her. Your lives are going to change but at least you'll have each other.

>>512104
We can totally have both. If we use the oculus and then hide it under a hat and go do the paperwork, or hold onto it and use it after doing the paperwork, Grett won't have any choice but to help us get out for the same reasons he's getting Nessie out.

No, no waiting, no having both. You can't really, you can't be the magic sheriff, people wouldn't put up with it. On top of that arkers would just kill him.

This is a choice and by my reckoning a pretty damn easy one. The only reason Oren is alive is because of Nessie five times over now. She's given him the strength to face his greatest fears and overcome powers greater than him. This isn't even a choice. Use the occulus, it's time to become something new.

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)23:43 No. 512124 ID: 0eef61
File 136929141576.png - (388.84KB , 800x600 , 110.png )

Oren kisses Nessie.

She holds him as tight as their first kiss, after their first run-in with the red-eyed spooks who ruined their lives. Her heart hammers as fast against his. He feels the rough fabric of her coat rising and falling beneath his fingers. He wants to melt into her. He doesn't want to stop.

He does.

"I need you to do two things for me," he whispers, "and they're going to be the hardest things I've ever asked you to do."
"What?" whispers Nessie.
"I need you to go with him," says Oren, "and I need you to trust me that this is going to work out in the end."

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)23:43 No. 512125 ID: 0eef61
File 136929143033.png - (30.89KB , 800x600 , 111.png )

"So that's it?"
"That's it," says Helman. "The heat's off."

Oren sits back in his chair. "Y'know, Helman, if you'd have asked me, couple years ago, where I wanted to be most in the world, I think I would have answered right here."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah. I joined up right outta high school, always told everyone I would. Didn't have much anywhere else to go. No money for college, no jobs that could get me out of the house. And I sure as shit had to get out of the house, tell you what. Dad was a waste in the factories. Stick a handle of whiskey in him and he could outpunch a prize fighter on the circuit." He chuckles. Helman joins in, nervously.

"But no," says Oren. "The big reason, and this was always true, was that I wanted to help out. Guess I sort of saw myself as a, uh, messianic figure, in a way. Didn't know why I thought I knew better'n everyone else what had to happen. Well, now I don't think anyone has a clue." He clicks the pen closed. "One night when dad was getting ready to whoop my sister, I whacked him." Oren hits the table for emphasis. "Bang! Back of the head. Of course, that landed me a black eye instead, and when I was picking myself up from the linoleum, dad took me, and he told me, his face all real close to mine, so I could smell the booze on his breath, 'If you give, and you give and you give, you won't never fill up the world. All the world will ever do to you is Take. That's it. That's the whole secret. And you'll never be happy until you end up taking a little for yourself.'"
"Did that stick by you?" asks Helman.
Oren purses his lips. "Maybe it did, Helman." He looks up at his new deputy. "But I think what stuck by me more was how much I hated the man."
"Ouch."
"Yep. Swore never to be like him. Well and look at me now! Sheriff of a great big old city. That's my first act, right? As Sheriff?"
"Yessir."
"Well, Helman," Oren clears his throat. "Don't get too mad, but I don't think you're gonna like the second much."

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)23:44 No. 512126 ID: 0eef61
File 136929144208.png - (27.22KB , 800x600 , 112.png )

"Pull your hood up," says Grett. "You have to cover that thing."

"It's the ears," says Nessie, flatly. "They get in the way."
Those are the first words she's said in around ten minutes.

Grett doesn't like this. He feels like the bad guy. He's just trying to help them, is all. These two country folks have no idea what they're swimming into. "Uh, look," he says, haltingly. "I'm sure the sheriff, uh, he's doing this purely out of a wish to see you protected, and-"

"You ever love someone so much it hurt to breathe, Grett?" asks Nessie.

"Well, no, but-"

"Then shut up."

"Sorry," says Grett.

He starts to try and catch up, when he hears, [Stop.]

What?
[Slow down, Grett.]

Grett slows to a standstill. His walking companion looks back.
Orpheo?
[Guess again, boy.]
Oh, no.
[Oh, yes. If you want to get all the Oculi outta town your day ain't over just yet, Grett. Tell you what. Cut for the Skimmer Quays.]

Brom 2013/05/22(Wed)23:44 No. 512127 ID: 0eef61
File 136929146069.png - (98.49KB , 800x600 , 113.png )

[If it's any consolation, I got us a ride we can take.]

whelp, this is going to be interesting

Fly majestically off into the sunset/sunrise.

>>512127
I guess it's time to say goodbye to all our friends.

Also this is a good time to propose to Nessie.

>>512130
second

Brom 2013/05/23(Thu)22:38 No. 512218 ID: 0eef61
File 136937391546.png - (11.34KB , 800x600 , 114.png )

"Oren!"

As soon as Nessie walks into the quay and catches sight of him she sprints into his arms.
"Hey, deputy," says Oren, holding her close.
"Never ever ever ever scare me like that again," says Nessie.
"Didn't you see me with all my guts hanging out about an hour ago?" asks Oren.
"You know what I mean." Nessie punches him in the arm. "There. That's what you get when you mess with the Ness."
"Ya got me," says Oren. "I guess I'm a mage too now."
"Can you do the thing with the fire?" asks Nessie.
"Naw," says Oren. "I don't think I'm that kind. I'm like Orpheo."
"Well, we can't all be badass." Nessie kisses him on the neck. "Ooh, you showered?"
"Had to get the grime off and the belly full, among other things," says Oren.
"Well I haven't yet." Nessie sniffs her pits. "And you are invited. To get that spot between the shoulderblades for me."
"I don't think I'm smelling anything for a week after them sewers anyway." Oren turns Nessie around. "Remember that?"

"The skiff?" says Nessie.
"Yours now, with compliments." Allan bows. "No, don't try to argue with me, dear, I'm in the body of a psychopath but my mind is crystal clear."

"It's just, um, money," says Celyne. "None of us could have done what you two did but we've got plenty of money."
"Yeah, and I supplied the brewskis," says Mendel Parter. "In the minifridge. You can thank-slash-pay me back for them later."

"It's the least we could um do," says Celyne, sharply. "Isn't it, darling?"
"Yeahhhh!" Mendel adjusts his collar. "So no need to, uh, you can just rip up the receipt."

"You're all very kind," says Grett. "But we really need to go. Mr. Loper, I suppose you're coming with us."
"I suppose I am." Oren rubs Nessie's shoulders. "No bad blood between us, though, Grett, all right? But if an army of thugs and warmages couldn't keep me and Nessie apart I was gonna be damned to let bureaucracy do us in."

"You're a lucky lady, Nessie," says Celyne.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mendel gives her a look.
"Can it, sugar." Celyne gives him a peck on the cheek. "The only man I'd ever take over you is Oren, and um he's leaving anyway."
"Neat," says Mendel. "Get him out of here, Nessie."

"We're getting, we're getting." Oren fishes around in his pockets. "There's uh, there's one more thing I gotta do before we go, though. Sorry, Grett."

Brom 2013/05/23(Thu)22:38 No. 512219 ID: 0eef61
File 136937393258.png - (100.31KB , 800x600 , 115.png )

"Where did I- aha. Here we go."
"What's that behind your back?" asks Nessie.
"I think we both know what it is," says Oren. "But I guess if I'mma do this in public we should probably follow the script, so, uh."
"Oren?"
Oren Loper haltingly gets down on one knee. He feels a little like a stupid kid asking his date to the prom, but damn it, something is going to go without a hitch today.
In a matter of speaking.
"I figure if we're running away together anyway, you know. Might as well get it down on paper. Um." Oren coughs. "Nessandra Squires, uh, now I ain't your sheriff any more, and you ain't my deputy, so I can't order you around any more. So I'm just gonna have to ask you instead.

Will you marry me?"

"Oh, shit." Nessie puts her hands over her mouth. "Oh, deities. Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes."

Brom 2013/05/23(Thu)22:47 No. 512223 ID: 0eef61
File 136937446655.png - (76.57KB , 800x600 , 116.png )

Oren don't know what comes next traditionally, so he just sweeps her off her feet and hopes that'll do.
"Grett says my ears ain't gonna fall off," says Nessie.
"That's good," says Oren. They kiss.

At the 45-second mark of said kiss, Grett coughs, nervously.
"Congratulations, you two. Ahem. Really well done, Oren and Nessie. We, uh, we really need to go."

>>512223
Alright, we've kept him waiting long enough.

You told our friends not to mention the red things in your heads to anyone, right?

ok we should leave, I mean we probably have a long skiff ride so you can be all lovey dovey when you two have nothing better to do, and I have a feeling there is more then just some shit bureaucracy that is making Grett nervous and we have fried this guy's nerves enough for one day I do believe.

Brom 2013/05/24(Fri)00:19 No. 512252 ID: 0eef61
File 136937998274.png - (9.80KB , 800x600 , 117.png )

"Now remember: you ain't seen me, you ain't seen Nessie, and you sure as shit ain't seen these things on our heads, right?" says Oren.

"Lips is sealed," says Mendel. "Don't worry about us."

"Once you reach the Arcanopolis, I imagine they'll either keep you somewhere your pursuers can't get at you, or maybe even somewhere off-plane," says Allan. "Have you considered a honeymoon in Plane Arcana?"
"Plane what now?" says Oren."
"They have floating mountains," says Allan.
"On water?"
"Air."
"You don't say." Oren raises his eyebrows. "Guess I got quite a lot to learn."
"It'll be brilliant, Oren, you'll see." Allan stretches out a hand. "You'll do all sorts of amazing magic tricks and not grow old till you're a hundred. Maybe I'll visit the arcanopolis. D'you think they'd let me in?"
"You're a mage, aren't you?" Oren shakes Allan's hand.
"I'm also a fruity serial killer in a suit. You two are going to be thrice as powerful as I could ever be." Allan grins. "And you already killed three mages with no magic whatsoever. If I was the Ark I'd bloody well let sleeping dogs lie."

Brom 2013/05/24(Fri)00:21 No. 512253 ID: 0eef61
File 136938008936.png - (183.23KB , 800x600 , 118.png )

After some heartfelt and tearful (Mendel) hugs and farewells, the skimmer slides siltily out of the quay. Grett sits hesitantly at the controls. "Now, this button turns on the headlight." He turns the pages of the dog-eared manual in his lap. "Okay."

"Hell of a sunset," says Oren. They watch the sun coast down the purple horizon, far ahead. The gloaming light shines off the scarlet marbles set into Oren and Nessie's foreheads. She kisses the back of his neck.
"Yeah."

"I missed you, baby girl."
"I missed you, sheriff."
"You don't gotta call me that any more."
"Just you try and stop me," she says. "Well, you boys can enjoy the view, but I got a date with an extremely long, extremely hot shower." She turns around and Oren jumps a little as she squeezes his ass. "And that's two-two," she whispers in his ear. "If you're in the mood for a tiebreaker."

She closes the door to the cockpit behind her.

"And that retracts the sails, so does that make us slow down? Or wait, it would make us aerodynamic-er, so Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't have sampled the minibar before doing this." Grett thumbs to the next page.

"Don't you worry about that," says Oren, a little distracted. "You deserve it. Sorry we were such a bother to you. We're both powerful thankful."
"Oh! It's no problem. No problem at all. Uhm." Grett laughs nervously. "Yeah. Windshield wipers. Oops. Uhhm, I think I can figure this out myself, if you want to, ah," He gestures to the door Nessie left through. "You know. Engaged, and everything."

>>512253
I wonder where the Undertaker is now. Or if Orpheo still has his eye on you.

You can stand to delay for a moment here to point out the most important controls- I wanna catch her in the shower.

This all makes me a little nervous. How fast are we moving? Would it be possible for anyone to know where we are? I wouldn't let my guard down if I were you until we're safe in the Arcanopolis.

I say enjoy yourselves but keep a crossbow and sword nearby encase any other little fucker feels like ruining your day.

>>512266
>keep a mundane weapon
>nessie can shoot fireballs

don't think they need it.

Brom 2013/05/24(Fri)02:06 No. 512269 ID: 0eef61
File 136938638927.png - (253.86KB , 800x600 , 119.png )

"How fast we going, Grett?" asks Oren.
"Uh, well that's the speedometer, and it says... around 70 miles an hour? Or so?" Grett whistles. "This thing's quick."
"You think anyone knows where we are?" Oren's listening for the water to start up.
"I think we're safe," says Grett.
"Well, if you think we're safe, I'd put money on it," says Oren. "We got any swords or anything on board?"
"Of course," says Grett. "Although if you still think you need those to protect yourself, you've got a lot to learn."
"Well, it can't hurt to have protection." Oren bows out of the control room. "Don't crash into anything, now."

Nessie is singing "Bazooka" by Polo Roko loudly in the shower. Handy for sneaking up on her.

"And I want a bre-ye-ya-ye-yaaAAaa Spirits, Oren. Do mages not knock?"
"Your siren song carried me unto you, lady of the rocks."
"You heard that, huh?"
"Kind of hard not to. I like your voice."
"That ain't all you came looking for, judging by little Oren down there."
"Guilty as charged."
"We aren't cops any more, remember?"
"No we ain't. I told Helman as much. You shoulda seen him."
"Pissed?"
"Hopping mad. Still, it was nice to kind of flip off Blejwas out in the afterlife, one last time. Even if he did save my life." Oren sighs. "I'm gonna sort of miss it."
"Being a cop?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not even gonna sort of miss it. I liked being a deputy."
"Do you like being a mage?"
"I don't know. It's flashier. I'll get used to it."
"Hey, now, honey, we ain't lost the most important thing we had back in that old precinct. Come here."
Nessie squeaks a little as her feet leave the ground. Then she breaks into a grin. "No we certainly ain't," she says. "Howdy there, sheriff Loper."
"I recall you daring me to try and stop you calling me that."
"Are you?"
"I think I actually kinda like it. Got anything else you want me to try instead?"
Nessie laughs, and the sound sends a shot of dopamine right through Oren's brain. She shifts, and kisses him, and they come together.

Brom 2013/05/24(Fri)02:06 No. 512270 ID: 0eef61
File 136938641092.png - (7.96KB , 800x600 , 120.png )

For the next two hours Oren Loper and Nessandra Squires take back what Anchorturn tried to steal.

They stumble out of the shower, take a brief detour in the hallway, accidentally find the pantry, refuse to let that stop them, and finally collapse into bed, laughing and kissing. They have wild, bucking, ear-biting sex and make slow, deep, gasping love. They fuck like giddy teenagers, like wild animals, like the immortal spirits of the Divines. They hold each other so tight Oren can't think of a world outside the rise and dip of Nessie's neck or the smooth valley of her hips. He doesn't want to. Their hearts hammer against their ribs, trying to get to each other. They make damn near enough noise that Grett probably has to stuff his ears with cotton, poor sod that he is. They twist up the sheets and the blankets something awful. Oren remembers the day Nessie saved him, and the night she saved him twice over. He remembers the feeling he got when he thought she was dead, or worse. He lets it flow from him with the rise and fall of her chest against his. He clings to her like a sailor adrift. He never wants to let go.

After it's over they both hold each other, breathing long and exhausted breaths in accidental syncopation. They stare into each other's faces for what seems like an hour, neither willing to shift an inch from the other.
"Damn, boy," says Nessie, finally, softly. "You wore me the heck out."
"I did?" Oren raises his head a quarter inch, then lets it fall back down. "Oh. Well, you fought boldly yourself."
"Can you feel your legs?"
"I can feel yours okay. That's probably more important. This is the start of something big, isn't it?"
"Actually that right there was the end of something big," says Nessie. "Looks like it's already halfway back, though."
"I mean," says Oren. "Us going off, like this. Out into, what?"
"The unknown," says Nessie, stroking his chest."
"The unknown," echoes Oren, thoughtfully.
Nessie shifts up to her elbows. She gazes into Oren's eyes, and she asks him a question he finds vaguely familiar. "You scared, Oren?"

>>512270
A little. You're heading into a whole new world, now. New job, new eye, new culture. With her by your side you know you'll be just fine, though.

Things will work out in the end.

>>512272
Or maybe Oren is enough of a man to not be afraid of the unknown. I mean, you'd think he'd be used to it by now, what with his job and all.

I dunno, really. This could lead into great things. It's exciting, but scary? Maybe not.

>>512270
"I'd say terrified, but I think I used all my fear up earlier. Maybe tomorrow."

don't know, I'll tell you when we get there. But with you with me I think I can manage just about anything.

>>512269
Subtle Polo and Rokoa reference there.

"Scared? I don't think that's the right word. Excited. Invigorated. This is a whole new journey, something completely different from what I thought I'd ever come across. I'm kind of savoring the anticipation. Were magi now! We have power beyond what most can ever dream of! Spirits, Nessie, and I'm marrying you? I feel like I just won the lottery."

>>512341
In every parallel universe Polokoa come to exist!

I recommend not feeling fear.

Brom 2013/05/27(Mon)23:42 No. 513047 ID: 0eef61
File 136972336641.png - (9.98KB , 800x600 , 121.png )

"I don't think I am any more." Oren strokes the small of Nessie's back, pensively.
"They say fear of what you don't know about's the strongest kind of fear there is," says Nessie.

"Yeah, well." Oren kisses her again. "They never had Nessie Squires in their corner."
"Nessie Loper." Nessie yawns and props her head up. "Ugh. I'm gonna fall asleep. I wanna stay up with you."
"Now don't you talk like that, Deputy," says Oren. "You love sleeping."
"Yeah. Well." Nessie yawns again and buries her head in Oren's chest. "That was before real life got better than dreams."
"In real life we're runnin' for our lives."
"Yeah. We are." She puts a warm hand on his chest. "But we are."
"I love you, Nessie."
"I love you, Oren."
"Deanna," she mutters, as she's drifting off.
"Hmm?"
"If the first one's a girl I say Deanna. You get it if it's a boy."
"Shoot, baby, I'm terrible at naming things."
"Mmmm."
"How bout I handle the dog?"
Nessie giggles, faintly.
"Ranger," says Oren. "Scout. Skip. Allan, if it's one of those little yappy ones. Whatcha think?"

"Baby?"

"Nessie?"

Her eyes are closed. Her breathing is low and even.

Brom 2013/05/27(Mon)23:43 No. 513048 ID: 0eef61
File 136972340038.png - (82.69KB , 800x600 , 123.png )

In her dream, Nessandra is standing on a windswept cliff, staring down at everyone she has ever known. On the foreheads of Joseph Bird, and Grease Galvin, and her mother, and her father, and her grandma, and all the cadets at the academy and even the old family dog, an unblinking oculus stares back at her.

Oren stands behind her, watching her. Her fists are balled up tight.

"What are you waiting for, Sheriff?" The undertaker stands next to her. "You gonna introduce yourself?"

>>513048
Say hi!

>>513049
Don't forget to be polite

>>513048
Did we actually introduce ourselves? It might be more fun to see how some of this takes place and change it up completely.

Brom 2013/05/28(Tue)01:13 No. 513057 ID: 0eef61
File 136972880720.png - (12.43KB , 800x600 , 124.png )

Oren walks toward Nessie. He steps over a low boulder on the ground
and past Ipsen, who's coming along pretty good for having the depth perception of a cuttlefish.
Most of the cadets don't hardly hit the bullseye one time out of five so far, but Cadet Loper's taken to the bow faster than anyone. The Rangemaster's having him go up and down the lines giving out tips, but Oren don't quite like the attention-slash-plain-old-tension that brings with his classmates, so he don't step in much.

Well, sometimes he has to.
Take the new girl, here. This is the second bowstring she's snapped.

"Well," she says. "Fuck." She looks back to see if she should tell someone, and catches sight of Loper right behind her. "Oh!" She sort of tries to hide the bow behind her back. "Didn't see you there, uh, Cadet Loper. How's, um, how's my shooting?"

She gestures nervously to the target. Two arrows lie entangled in the net behind it, with three sunk into the white outer ring.
Not exactly a sterling performance.

the string snapping means something weird is going on. get a new one and watch how she handles it.

>>513057
>>513048
So everyone has an oculus except us two?
Maybe Nessie doesn't actually want this?

>>513057
Compliment her arm strength- it'll sure come in handy in melee. But tell her she's gotta calm down, take her time to think things through. She won't break her bow if she keeps her head. And you'll help her to shoot straight.

>>513065
Yeah, she's deathly afraid of what she's becoming.

>>513057
"Hey, Cadet Squires. Just relax. Show me."

>>513082
agreed

could use a little work but nobody is born great at anything, why don't you grab another bow and we'll try this again.

Brom 2013/05/28(Tue)15:12 No. 513176 ID: 0eef61
File 136977917655.png - (12.40KB , 800x600 , 125.png )

"Hey listen, Cadet, uh."
"Nessie Squires. Cadet Squires, I mean." She salutes, nervously.

"Okay, Cadet Nessie Squires. I'm your rank, y'know."
"Right." She laughs, nervously. "Sorry."
"You could obviously use a little work but nobody's born great at anything. Actually, I'll bet something's wrong with that there bow. Hold on a tick." Loper jogs back to his own station and retrieves his bow.

"There you go. All right, show me what you're doing. Try it now."

"Oookay." Squires takes the bow and draws it back.
"Shoulders squarer," says Oren. "Don't be afraid to draw that thing back."
"I keep snapping them," protests Nessie.
"That was the bow. Don't worry about it. Straighten up a little more. Okay: now exhale and... release."

The arrow flies a good foot above the target.

"Well," Nessie lowers the bow. "Thanks for believin' in me, anyway."

Hey, if that was a person, it would have hit dead center in the forehead! And nothing broke, it went the distance, and didn't veer off to the left or right. You just gotta practice to get the height right.

>>513176
"you never were any good with a bow, were you"

>>513176
Once more. Correct your aim. Gotta learn how the arrows fly.

Or maybe she'd like to try a crossbow instead?

>>513176
raise your arms a little. touch your cheek with your right hand and try to touch the same spot every time you draw. look down the arrow and aim. release lightly.

She is still holding the bow to low. Should be able to aim your eye down the arrow. Once you get the basic form down its just a bit of practice and building up the right muscles.

...maybe you can like, guide her arms to help her shoot?

no that's alright just adjust your aim based off where the first arrow when. A good trick when start out with a bow is to just aim your first arrow without actually caring weather or not it hits then after you get your barrings on where the arrow will go then adjust and try again. over time you'll get to the point where you'll know where the arrow will fly even without a test shoot but that's later down the road, lets focus on the now for the time being.

(if she misses again maybe you could show her how you do it and let her try again)

>>513176
Your just getting used to a good bow. That's all. Still getting tense with it as you push your old compensations with your bad bows to the back of your mind. Got really blank that shit out. Learn anew. Like, name your bow and get attached to it. Make it an arm. That'll take a bit.

I have a hunch your meant to be a good shot, I mean, look at how well those arrows are embedded into the wall! That's good penetration, that'll take down violent perps real good. Some people have real good aim but can't penetrate for their own life. Your penetrating solid walls, poor organics won't stand a chance if you can get aim down.

This is a dream and a chance to flirt, remember.

Oren should show her how to hold the bow by putting his arms around her and showing her proper firing stance by basiclly holding onto her.

Brom 2013/05/28(Tue)17:57 No. 513223 ID: 0eef61
File 136978902257.png - (14.54KB , 800x600 , 126.png )

"Well think about it like this," says Oren. "If that had been, say, me over there, that arrow woulda caught me dead between the eyes. Good penetration, too. You ain't snapping any more strings, right? All we gotta do is correct your aim a little. Try again."
"I don't really-"
"Come on. I'll help you." Oren gets behind her and closes her fingers on the bow. "That was a good draw last time. You can get this."

He gently pulls her shoulders back a little, and guides her arms. "One hand on your cheek. Sight down the arrow. Aim juuust a nudge high. Breathe. You breathing?"

"I'm breathing, I'm breathing," laughs Nessie, as Oren steps back.

"Good. Keep that up. Aaand... release."

The arrow slams into the yellow ring and quivers there.
"Dang!" Nessie looks back at a clapping Oren. "That is the closest I've ever been to bullseye."
"See how well you can do when you give yourself a bit to work it out?" asks Oren.
"Well I see how good I do when you set me up," says Nessie. "Can I convince you to just follow me around and do that for me every time?"
"Can I convince you to come back here tomorrow afternoon? There's a group of us do some extracurricular shooting every couple days. We could make a sharpshooter out of you yet."
"That'd be cool," says Nessie. "Okay! I'll, uh, see if I can swing by sometimes."

"But you never got much better, did you?" says Oren.
"Nope," says Nessie. "I recall beating the crud out of you more than a few times in swordsmanship, though, Deadeye."
She looks back at the target. "That shot was basically where my big old unrequited crush on you got started. Couldn't believe my luck when I got to be your deputy, even though I thought it had all cooled down by then. You and whatserface were still together. I kinda just joined archery club hoping you'd touch me like that again."
Oren laughs.
"What?" says Nessie. "We were like 17. Hormones flyin' all over the place. And now here we are."
"Here we are," says Oren.
"Am I just dreaming about you, Oren Loper, or is this some weird new eyeball thing?"

>>513223
If it's an eyeball thing it's probably your eyeball thing. You probably don't have much control over your own supercharged dream powers now, so your dragging other people into it. I hope poor Grett didn't get up in here too.

I think it's Oren's eyeball thing truth be told, you had more hell fire and blue stuff with yours

>Is this some weird new eyeball thing?
I guess, unless exchanging rings gives people magic dream sharing powers the rest of the married world has been keeping secret.

As side effects go, it's not too bad.

>>513223
Tell her you always used to have some weird dream stuff going on, but this is the first time you've been able to visit someone else's so overtly. So, the latter.

Ask her if she's alright. The dream didn't start off so well.

Probably a side effect of Oren's new powers, which I imagine he doesn't know how to control properly.

Or maybe you are just having a real vivid dream.

Tell her about your dreams and the Undertaker.

You get fire and ice and I get awesome mind powers

>>513223
oren's a dream mage now so I'm gonna have to guess eye thing.

Brom 2013/05/28(Tue)23:43 No. 513278 ID: 0eef61
File 136980983861.png - (82.71KB , 800x600 , 127.png )

"I think it's an eyeball thing for me," says Oren. "You shoot fire and crazy blue stuff all over, and I do dream stuff."
"Well some of us have all the luck." Nessie grins.
"Hey, now. I also have mind powers and things. I think. Anyway, I've had lucid dreams for forever, and there's a fella named the undertaker in most of them."
Hello.
"Hi!" says Nessie. "Um, Mr. Undertaker."
I think it might be time I moved on, you two. It's getting mighty crowded up in here.
"You don't have to," says Nessie.
I think I will. We dreamfolk don't stick around that long in one place. I've been here much longer than by all rights I should. Don't worry, Oren. I'll see you again. Heck, you're a dream mage, now.

Sooo maybe you're a little scary too. No offense.

"See? Dream mage."
"What does that mean?"
"I ain't rightfully sure."
"Well. We're going to have a lot of time to figure it out. All this magic gunk."
"Are you all right? The dream didn't start off so well."
"No. It didn't." Nessie puts a hand on his neck. She grows and fills, from a lanky 17 year old to the woman he loves. "But then you showed up." She moves closer. The scar gently reopens itself on her ear. "And when I've got you I ain't afraid of this anymore." The oculus rises from her forehead. "None of it." She folds herself in his arms. "So you'd better stick around, mister sheriff," she whispers.

He holds her to him. "Always."

Brom 2013/05/28(Tue)23:44 No. 513279 ID: 0eef61
File 136980988058.png - (83.02KB , 800x600 , 128.png )

The undertaker, satisfied that the story has run its course, or at least doesn't need him any more, flits lightly from Oren's mind, rising to freedom in the shimmering web of dreams. He smiles, in a shadowy, dreamfolk way.

Below him, the skiff lances through the obfuscous twilight, east, toward the slumbering morning. It carries them, Oren and Nessie, loose in one another's sleeping embraces, the energy of the oculus pulsing and humming and singing through fresh veins.
They are changing.
Tomorrow they start the rest of a long and interesting life, together.

He is vaguely aware, as they hold one another in dream, of her physical body, soft and warm and beautiful on his. She is paradise. She is empyrean.

They course the night. They go somewhere better.

Everything is going to be okay.

good end <3

I wonder how long it's going to take them to get there oculus colors changed?

I bet Oren and Nessie are going to be regular characters in Eivr now. Coooooooool!

>>513283
Ten bucks says they eventually become some kind of Mage cops.

>>513307
no bet

>>513324
Agreed. I'd like to keep my ten bucks thank you.