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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 6, 2010 22:04:42 GMT -6
"It seems there has been a change in the management." Aiden gave a soft snort, perking up from under the mound of blankets in which he had taken to sleeping in. He yawned, rubbing a gloved hand over his eyes. "Wha' d'ya mean, Don?" The big African huffed, tossing a newspaper down onto the table and sitting down in one of the dining chairs, the wood creaking in protest. "It seems our host has flown the coop, as it were, and a new power has stepped in to take his place as Head of Night City." It took a moment for the man's words to sink in, after which the naga lurched up from his relaxed position, eyes wide and face pale. "W-What? Don lifted a hand, staving off the half-snake's flurry of questions. "Calm down, it's not all bad. Apparently the new Head was acquainted with our previous host, and all we have to do is explain the situation." The naga frowned, sitting back on his own tail in a manner similar to a person sitting back on their haunches. "Not every acquaintance is a good acquaintance..." The bodyguard nodded at that, his frown deepening. "Still, we need protection in this town, so an introduction is in order." Aiden frowned, really not pleased, but nodded anyway, moving to get his coat.
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"Kalideoscape?" The naga peered up at the new sign, head cocked to one side in curiosity at the title. At least the Blue Moon had made some sort of sense... A tug on his arm, and he turned to follow Don inside through the back door, a little smoother now after a good month's practice.
{was wondering why my post wasn't getting any responses, double checked post, derp they're not at the bar, FIXED >8|}
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 17:47:10 GMT -6
The bar was relatively quiet, being tended to by only a man in tails, diligently cleaning tabletops and ensuring that the place was perfect. He looked up at the faint ringing of a bell. The tall man smiled at the guests, slipping behind the counter to greet them, his red eyes glittering in the low light.
"Hello, welcome to Kaliedoscape. How can I help you?"
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 20:32:04 GMT -6
A chill went down the naga's spine upon sighting the stranger, wondering where that amiable Englishman and his cat had gotten to even as he sidled a bit to one side to better hide behind Don's bulk. Don didn't seem to notice his ward's unease, stepping up to the counter while Aiden hung back. "We're here to meet the new management. Is anyone in at the moment?"
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 20:35:31 GMT -6
The man straightened up, thinking for a moment. He picked up a phone from behind the counter and rang the upstairs. After speaking to a voice on the other end, he hung up and smiled.
"She will see you. Up the stairs to her office."
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 20:41:22 GMT -6
The bodyguard nodded, stepping back from the counter. "Thank you kindly. Come on, Mr. Longstaff..." Aiden swallowed, trying to at least dilute his anxiety as he moved to follow the large African-American, rattle buzzing as he gave the bar a wide berth. He didn't know what it was, but there was something... Off about the new barkeep. And it wasn't just his eyes.
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 20:55:42 GMT -6
Everything about the bar seemed to have changed. Ambiance. Atmosphere. But nothing was so different as the long hallway up to a door with the word "Administration" on a brass plaque.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 21:14:56 GMT -6
Something that really did nothing to help the half-snake's nerves, the buzzing of his rattle reaching an almost fever pitch by the time they reached the door. Don paused, glancing back to his charge to see the naga looking almost ill, pale-faced and shivering. "Mr. Longstaff?" Aiden blinked, yellow eyes focusing on the bodyguard. He managed a small smile, trying to get the man to just get on with things so they could leave. Don frowned, turning away from the door. "Are you alright?" The naga nodded, though his narrowed pupils and buzzing rattle said otherwise. "Y-Yeah, 'm fine, just a bit nervous..." Don's frown deepened, but he let the issue slide, figuring the half-snake would know himself well enough by now to keep his cool. Perhaps a very poor assumption... "Very well." The door opened.
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 21:22:30 GMT -6
The office was suddenly huge, books on the walls and small perches for a bird. There was a bright orange-red bird with a bright set of tail feathers nearly reaching the floor. It looked at the strangers, looking up from picking at the wood on the perch.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 21:30:16 GMT -6
While Don merely raised an eyebrow, wondering if maybe they'd got the wrong room somehow, Aiden froze up in the doorway, what little color remaining in his features fading completely upon seeing the large flame colored bird, eyes so wide one was able to see the white rimming the bright yellow iris. Instinct all but screamed at him, telling him to run and hide and to not come out until the bird was gone, the bird with the hooked beak and long claws that smelled of fire. The only reason he hadn't already fled was because Don was standing between him and the bird. He felt something click, and swallowed hard upon feeling his fangs come free, the long scythe-like teeth resting on either side of his tongue. Just in case.
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 21:38:21 GMT -6
The bird fluttered over to the desk, its feathers falling away to the form of a beautiful, black-haired woman wearing a bright red dress. She sits behind the desk and straightens up.
"Sebastian said I had a visitor... I did not expect it to be a naga."
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 21:56:32 GMT -6
"And we didn't expect a bird to have taken up management." Don was careful to keep calm, having realized that his charge was all but panicking. They had learned early on that the half-snake was terrified of birds, something that had gotten passed down in his reptilian DNA, though this would be the first time the naga had ever reacted so strongly. Aiden hissed warningly when the bird moved, a sound that only grew louder when it turned into a lady, hands flexing in his pockets to try and bring his gloved claws to bear. He got along alright with Hermes, the boy having earned his trust, but this woman... She frightened him like nothing else he had ever encountered.
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 22:00:49 GMT -6
The woman frowned. A bird? She was merely a bird? God, she would have that man's on a platter if he said that again.
"Miles left the city empty, and I could not let it simply go to waste." She stood up, feathers in her hair perking a bit. "I am Coraline, the head of Night City."
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 22:11:39 GMT -6
Unaware of the unintentional slight, Don gave a stiff nod, hands folded behind his back as he approached the desk. "My name is Don. I and my two associates are here concerning an upcoming trial concerning medical misconduct, of which Mr. Longstaff here is a key witness. We would like to assure your cooperation and assistance in keeping him safe." The naga's hiss caught in his throat as the bodyguard moved away, the sound trailing off into a frightened whimper. He feared for the African-American, thinking the bird-woman would harm the man, but he daren't move and capture the bird's attention any more than he already had.
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Post by Coraline on Nov 14, 2010 22:20:32 GMT -6
"What sort of danger is he in? Miles did not exactly keep proper paperwork on his notable citizens." She eyed the naga briefly, feeling his unease.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Nov 14, 2010 22:29:33 GMT -6
A moment to glance back at the petrified naga, the bodyguard frowning as he answered the woman. "Mr. Longstaff is the result of an underground experimentation facility funded by a rather... Influential pharmaceutical company. He is the evidence of their malpractice and human experimentation, and as such is under constant threat. We've been able to nullify most of the assassination attempts, but there's only so much three body guards can do to protect a man who's 60% snake."
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