Crested and Bound

An, aged, galleon ship perches on a platform a few feet thick, a foundation dipping in the centre cradling the ship while a thick bullet resistant glass case surrounds it, with pillars holding the galleon steadily upright.

The surroundings are even more industrial, with rebar concrete walls and supports. Some that connect as pillars by the display, reinforcing the case’s already robust structure.

In front of this display is a sprawling of wires and cables into a few monitors over what can just be seen as a desk underneath it. The glow of the computer light, dissuaded by the orange glow of a lamp on the far end of the next desk. Underneath lamplight, practically highlighting documents lay waiting.

The sound of a door opening, closing breaks the silence followed by heavy bootsteps walking closer to the desk on the concrete surface surrounding it. The person behind the array of screens peaks out.

"Hellur? Oh- Eliza, yes, so glad you could make it quick"

"You said this was another one for a grand. Of course came quick." "Always the money-hungry sort eh? No heart for who you're escorting to the drop off up in Ctoss Outpost?" "Oh I care plenty. I stick around a bit to make sure, then I disappear in shadow, however, I have people at home to fend for." "Well if that's the way you're headed, you have a ether gliding bike wouldn't-" "No I will not ride through space. Now, what is the mission?" "Tch. File's over there." "Thank you Ronnie." "You're welcome, read the brief there's conditions." Eliza nods casting her colder eyes to the warm lamp.

Blitzing forward in a blurred motion, her hand reaches out for the document but finds cute fluffy standing up ears instead.

"Headpat tax!" A mischievous voice breaks through the room's more terse atmosphere. A head pops up from behind where the folder lays, immediately patted caringly and slow by Eliza. "There's the office's face, hello Olivia" She comments to the woman as she pats side to side with one hand. "Payment accepted~"

Eliza opens the document, reading it as she continues the 'payment' to Olivia. "Oogh, love em pats" She comments as Eliza works into scratch behind her triangular animal ears, much to Olivia's delight. To the tune of "Hoooghh~" from said woman, while Eliza heavily eyes the details of her mission's instructions:

'Escort the customer, Miss Haruka and 1 other party, to Ctoss Outpost. This is to be done through Vanilla Villas, reached via the sea from Moonchill Town's west coast. The meeting point is also Moonchill Town itself, south of Magenta Ridge, with the expected time period for the travel and respite to be taken being 36 hours.

While the customer and additional party are under the care of chosen candidate, they must provide temporary food and shelter for 1 night in addition to guarding them safely during their travels, from the all monsters and hostile elements.

Etcetera, etcetera.'

(Hmm. Good thing transmutation is my forte, all for 1,000 on my end eh? My usual fee to move a civilian is 500, which is usually to a Dungeon Crawler's Party or similar functions to initiate them hmm). Eliza quickly ponders to herself, as her hand switches once more to slow deep head scratches upon Olivia's head. The motion and slowness, is practically a massage to their scalp. Her eyelids narrow, as her eyes no longer become 'fixed' at looking directly ahead. "Mmmnnn~" She happily sounds, rather than consciously voices.

But Eliza pulls away slowly, folder picked up in her other hand studying it twice more, to make sure you she didn't miss anything. "Heeyy noo I was nearly drooliing, that was the best. Why'd you stop scritchin' vampy?" "Oh really, little fluff? I have to go do my mission," "Naah- Can I come with?" "Is that something you'd want outside of the pats?" "I mean, you have to provide shelter for the client anyway right?"

"Oh yeah? So you're reading my mission briefs are you now? Sneaky wee babe." Eliza playfully says before resuming normal side-to-side pats to the head rather than something more in-depth or intense. "Aww no scritching. Yeah, I'm coming with and you're giving me scritches hmph." "Oh and why should I go along with this?" "Because you got me all warm n fuzzy by giving me them good-good scratches then didn't continue until I was fully scratched out. Fuckin teaser I say!" Olivia huffs and gripes. Eliza chuckles.

"At least when I lived with you, you could give me all the scratched to the top of my head, but now you won't" Olivia reveals to Eliza's changed expression. Veronica perks up and stands up quickly, "You were at her house? What was it like?" "I mean it was super nice, especially when Rox was there-" "My COUSIN Roxanne was at her house too?! When. I need details Olivia." Veronica erupts, taking a step closer, while Olivia unconsciously twitches.

Eliza puts a hand on her shoulder "You can come with me, but not a word more about my house or Rox'." She bargains, looking down to Olivia who looks unnerved. "Yeah, okaay," She plays up her voice with as if she's been dissuaded freely. "But payment upfront!" She then more confidently demands. Eliza delivers with a quick, but shallow scritches to behind Olivia's ear. But Veronica is less deterred.

"That's my family Eliza, you can't just keep information about them hush-hush from me." Veronica snarls, her attire more in view from the contract of the orange lamplight and the pale blue computer light. The latter highlighting the dulled shine on the metal of her loosened naval jacket's buttons, as well as her pistol. Her hand wasn't just hovering over it, it was already on it.

With Olivia in front of her, Eliza chose her next words more specifically. "Well, I didn't know she was your family at the Christmas party," she first tries playing it cool stepping to the side, body already turned to the exit. "Nope, no escaping this one. You're going to answer me: What did you do with her? Nobody's seen her for a while..." Veronica inches closer but hand lessened from its grip on her weapon.

"I mean they seemed pretty close at the party, I saw them in the room with the pink walls. They were doing more than the pats I get." Olivia blurts out, nervous in tone and delivery. "WHAT?! My baby cousin- you GLUTTON!" She draws her weapon, but just about at the same time Eliza draws hers. "She was 26. I was 27. She wasn't-" "Not. Another. Word. I know what you do outside of work, the people you've toyed with inside those dungeons." "With other consenting adults. With protection. What's your actual problem with me?" "You. You're not right for Roxie. You're not the right kind of people." "And there it is, because I'm as the common tongue calls me, a vampire eh?"

"That's correct. Roxie must have been such a quick snack you didn't notice leaving." A low whirring begins to come from Veronica's pistol. Building in sound. "Untrue and hurtful. She's with family." "What fucking family, no-" "Mine. With my sis' where she's safe." "What with Count Orlock or Count Dracula. Safe? Don't make me laugh, nobody's safe with you soulsuckers around." Olivia tugs at Eliza's elbow and whispers "Are you sure about this her gun is getting ready to fire." "We both know I'm above 800, hon. I'll make sure you're fine." Eliza reminds before turning to Veronica with a sardonic smile.

She begins in a calm, disgusted voice "Ooh there we go again for another rousing round of prejudice against people, that all things considering, didn't ask to exist in their current state of being. Us good ol' Lichtenburg, were made not born and not with our choice." "So what? You eat people's souls to survive." Veronica hisses back, weapon charging up and firing blasting Eliza's away.

"And I can make sure you don't get another bite!" Quietly said before firing multiple beams aimed at the head and chest. None however seemed to have connected. "What the-? What?" Then she sees Eliza's open palm outstretched, smoking. "You can't block these. You shouldn't be able to- They're rated above-"

"This is why she doesn't return calls." Eliza gravely states in a serious manner. "Who-" "Roxanne. This is why she stays close to me, instead of your preferred family members. These views are why." "No, she hated you lot of soul sucking fangers too!" "At one point, yeah. Then she learned how it's not really optional. Her views changed, she talked to me, asked questions if a little insensitive at first." "You... You brainwashed her to think this abomination is allowed? I swear I'll kill you myself."

Eliza's eyelids narrow, she stretches. "If you were more coming from the angle of concern that I or another would eat your cousin or drain her soul, I'd be willing to hear you out to an extent. But your comment about abomination, tells me all I need to. Goodbye Veronica, let's not do business after this. I'd like my 1000 up front actually and I'll never bother you again." "Go to hell you demonspawn." "Ah, another classic. I suppose I shall take my money from the company account then? Or perhaps the vault?" Eliza asks vague hand gesture at the ship.

The moment she moves her hand away however, Veronica unloads another few rounds of laser blasts. Eliza deflects them and one stray nearly gets Olivia. That does not go over well. "You nearly shot Olivia, Veronica."

"Maybe you should stand in the way then so she doesn't get shot." "You're really- Do you WANT me to retaliate?! Ok, screw this- this danger to a friend. 'Liv?" "Yeah?" "I'm going to need you to go outside now." "Will uh, will this prevent me from seeing something?" "No, no it will not. It's preventing you from being at great risk." "Ok, but what about the Cerberus lady inside-" "They will be fine. Now go please." Veronica glances over at the woman "Yes leave us Olivia, I don't want you to see this next part." Looking confident. (Oh this woman is in for a steep learning curve for how stupid she is) Olivia thinks while she scrambles outside.

"Well then, just us few." Eliza breaks the tension with. "And no weapon in your hand, tragic." Veronica responds, side-stepping to a cabinet drawer, pulling at a rifle of some description. "Your old rifle from service. How does the robes of the monastery taste by the way? Dry?" Eliza asks with a confident smile that shows her more pronounced canines and other teeth, intentionally taunting Veronica. It works as she quickly fires a laser round with much more kick to it than before. Eliza dodges, the resulting blast hits the concrete searing and partially melting it.

"Ooh, having to dodge rather than barehand it? Getting concerned it might hurt, fanger?" "Wow, fanger is a stupid attempt at a slur. Fanghead is there and better." "W-What you're critiquing me? I'm trying to kill you here." "Yeah but not really though." "Not really? Is dying with some guts all you have left? This rifle is rated for 1200-" "And I'm over 2000." "N-no, you came here at 800." "Yeah and that was a year ago. I've trained since then," (As well as doing all those picking poison mushroom jobs. 50/small mushroom and kill/investigation quests at 5k each. I guess it was good on Rin' t'tell 'on' me eh? To think that hot mercenary/pirate or somethin' had my better interest at heart... Hrm!)

"Die you demon!" Veronica yells, snapping Eliza out of her casually standing in the middle of the room getting lost in thought, from taking her as such a non-threat. Another rifle round goes off-

"Liz' are you done in he-?" Olivia calls out poking her head into the room through the door, a fraction of the rifle blast as it is fragmented from clashing with the back of Eliza's hand. She hears a tiny voice, react behind her ducking down "Sʜɪᴛ!" Eliza eyes the direction, sees Olivia huddled down and becomes rapidly more frustrated.

Clenching her hand into a fist, gritting her teeth, Eliza simply points to Veronica and says "Cease." "The hell do you mean 'cease' like you can order me around? Fucking uppity fang-for-brains." Her eyes lock with Eliza's as she aims her rifle at her head, dangerously intensifying the output by not letting go of the trigger even once it's ready to fire. The barrel itself is beginning to smoke.

Then all at once, Eliza disappears from Veronica's sight completely where, she hadn't blinked nor faltered her line of sight away. The most she feels, is a sudden heaviness to her left her eyes dart and there's Eliza stood an inch from her arm giving off no detectable stimuli that she was there. "You-" Veronica tries swinging the rifle's business end into her fairly passive foe's face. Though it is caught, barehanded for them.

Eliza is coldly looking Veronica in the eye, bare-handed to the gathering ball of plasma energy. "You fool we'll both-" "You will." She is icily cut off, taking in a sharp draw of breath as she tries pulling away. The overcharged plasma detonates, engulfing the rifle in an explosion, dismantling it and concussing Veronica back 10s of meters across the smooth concrete. "That ougghtta at least...!" She slurs her speech struggling to sway between consciousness and not. Pushing herself to get upright rather than having her face pressed into what is essentially her office's floor by the door in.

"YOU-!" She yells when she sees Olivia, reaching a hand forward at the beast kin woman, only to feel a hand grab the top of her head like a basketball. She's lifted up a few feet, to then be eye level with Eliza. Her gaze piercing Veronica's soul with the intensity, "No, what're you going to- NO NO!" She yells in repulsion, fear and some lingering animosity. Eliza blinks slowly, composing herself to not fall into the temptation of violence.

"Nothing you'd suspect or accuse me of doing, you crusty thing." "C-crusty?" Veronica question before being slid across the concrete like someone has just tossed a puck across the ice. "Wh...?" Olivia asks looking up scared, then immediately relieved when she sees Eliza, who gently pats her head. "Don't worry dear. No harm is coming to you from her. Foreseeably ever again," "I'm a dog not a deer." "Yeah.." Eliza answers giving Olivia headscratches until she makes tiny quasi-chirps noises of joy. "There we go," Eliza murmur before pulling her hand away.

"What noo" Olivia shallowly howls, before spotting Eliza at the ship. "Wait are you robbing her?!" Olivia asks in a yell. Veronica gets up hearing up, looking more agitated at the thievery than previous reasons. She gets up with a blind yell "RAAAAGH!" Only for Eliza to punch the air in front of her, causing a shockwave that blows Veronica back into the wall. She slumps over, probably dead from a blow to the head.

"Right that fly swatted, let's plunder the money reserves she has." "Is that ok to do?" Olivia questions, unsure of her standing. "Well she's at least prejudiced against me for my race, and for you I don't know. All I'll ask is are we robbing them or not?" "I mean maybe a little bit of stealing." "Sure."

Eliza replies a blur into the display case which she rebounds off of. She puts a finger to her chin "Hmm. Meh," And extends the index finger, energy flaring at the tip and pressed into the glass. Cracks run all across the surface, like lightning arcs before Eliza then flicks said enhanced finger shattering the glass away, practically back into sand. Though at this, Eliza does pull an incredibly strange face, stepping through the made opening. Pressing past the wood planks and begins searching the ship.

Soon enough, her gaze reaches across the dark room to a treasure chest. Glints of metallic shine which quickly becomes suspicious to Eliza. (That woman wouldn't leave so much as a pearl earring unguarded. So, a whole-ass old treasure chest is hard to believe). She thinks over, before releasing a small pulse of energy, which makes a lot of previously difficult to see wires glint and shiver. "Of course, yep, either grenades or..." She sees a glint of something else in the darkness of the back of the ship.

Eliza focuses the same energy to her fingertip as before, which gives off a fair bit of light, pointing it at the direction. "E.T. phone home...?" She quietly says as her eyes tries adjusting.(Wait, I'm a literal vampire so how is this a darkness something I can't look through that also had something move through it?) The woman ponders before blasting a small shot of energy into this darkness.

Eyes gleam with a glow as the tiny energy beam slips past the entity's face. (Oh shit, that's a Sonic Tigore staring at me... That's dark burnt sienna? They're usually snow white in this arctic ass- I, it's a Special that can become-). The Tigore snarls looking at Eliza, who can feel the air rumble from this alone. "Uhh pretty kitty...?" She musters a response. The beast moves its head slightly back, tilted slightly to the side, looking at Eliza with a side-eye stare.

(These guys are nine thousand minimum! I max out at seven! I'm not trying to get into a war of attrition with a beautiful bastard that can sonic boom my insides! ...But they haven't attacked yet?)

"Ah y'see I'm just collecting owed money," Eliza speaks softly feeling out the vibrations that this big cat is constantly letting off like an idling engine. Said big cat rolls it eyes with the attitude of a fed up Husky, moving backward. Eliza tries reaching forward only to have her fingers nearly chomp off, as this was just a fake out.

"Damn it pretty kitty..!" Eliza ejects out, which is followed up by a a low roar, from said Siberian Tiger sized 'kitty.' But under that, Eliza can feel something moving up to her from her right, she reflexively moves, backed up into a defensive stance only to see Olivia there. "Oh shit!" Eliza hurriedly says while blitzing to be physically in front of Olivia to out herself between the two.

"Eliza this isn't pizza delivery, I'm not a pepperoni." "Wha...?" "This big cat is friendly with me." "Well yeah who wouldn't be nice to you?" "No, not like thaat. You owe me headpat tax for that by the way, no, see this lady here is a friend of mine!" The beast snorts with attitude and turns their nose up slightly, as if Eliza is beneath her effort.

"You're friends with an apex predator that could obliterate anything in its own ecosystem?" "We're friends." "Yeah realised the moment I said it- I don't want to die right now (for once) can you please do the talking." "Sure, again, headpat tax, huehue~" "Done and you're living back with me, since Veronica isn't safe."

The Tigore looks back at Eliza ready to do harm with a vicious glare shining. "Done deal. Would be nice to live with you again, how's your sister?" "Better now she's safe at my place, same for Roxi, but please, communications?"

"Oh right right~ Now you listen here miss..." Olivia says fairly confidently, chest puffed out in her fairly high-pitched voice. "Eliza is a good friend. More importantly she's a true ally to all beastly kin. And we both know how difficult that is to come by," Olivia says in this tired tone with her hands on her hips, facing the Tigore directly, who in turn raises their head, then a paw gesturing in Eliza's direction.

"Yes. Her. 'Just saved me from Veronica too," The Tigore raises an eyebrow with a fierce fury of an expression. She looks over at Eliza, who does a small wave, the Tigore snorts and looks away. "Really? Sass? You could get away from Veronica too y'know." "Wait what?" Eliza asks, to Olivia waving a hand, then raising a finger. "Eliza here gave me food, shelter and lot of pats for fully free. When I asked what the price was she just said 'the price is taking it easy and recovering at your own pace'! This isn't like Veronica-ya!" Olivia squeals with passion at her friend.

The Tigore grumbles to herself, resting it's head down on it's crossed paws. Looking away. "There's no price for anyone.." Eliza interjects, which the Tigore looks annoyed by. "AY! Be nicer to her, she's close friend." Olivia asserts with a previous unknown fury to either Eliza or the Tigore. They look at each other, see one another's dumbfounded face both do a small, hesitant nod. "That's better! Hmph!" Olivia huffs.

"Is there a name I can call you?" Eliza asks of the Tigore. They roll their eyes once more. "Y'know if you were to do that companion thing you mentioned-" Olivia begins before the Tigore snarled. "Olivia." "Elizabeth Electra Wolfe." "Oh ok we're doing full names too, mhm, did you just suggest I induce miss 'will probably murder your face' as a companion" She roars once more "Despite who clearly not being my friend right now?" "Yes. Yes I did." "Why?" "It benefits everyone here. She gets to vocalise, you and everyone else get to clearly understand her words, she gets stronger from being induced as a companion." "How is that an everyone wins?" The Tigore snorts at this as if to second Eliza's opinion.

"Well it would also make it easier to house you with Eliza and co. too," Olivia presses. Eliza facepalms, the Tigore notices. She huffs. "No, it's not an issue per se, it's the fact you clearly don't really want this," Eliza answers the huge, powerful creature that could kill her; she answered flatly. Honestly.

She then decides to straight shoot her plea: "[Sigh] Look, it's winter, I have a warm house, Veronica is NOT an ally and I can keep up with your food needs. Anything else you want?" She asks in a sincerity Olivia is familiar with, but the Tigore is not.

"Ooh what about space to roam? To hunt?" Olivia asks on their behalf. As they tap their paws on the dusty wooden boards of the pirate ship, in a gloom of darkness. The Tigore looks at that reality and she processes it. "I have a big-ass log cabin in the middle of Juxtaposition Forest- on the edge of the 'light' side mind you. She can roam and hunt plenty, just don't hurt my existing companions, friends, family or allies." "Y'hear that? Sound goods?" Olivia directs towards the gargantuan feline.

She looks up. Olivia has a casual demeanour, Eliza is tense in much the same ways the Tigore herself feels. She snorts, getting up and walking towards Eliza slower, less menacing, but not peaceful. "You realise I have to give you a name right? To induct you as a companion/group member I mean." The Tigore growls. "Yeah I'm not going to name you something stupid Mrs Murder Mittens. You'd probably kill me, realise you can speak English then call me a slur." The Tigore motions their eyes, expression that could be read as admitting something begrudgingly.

"Ok sassy, is something with 'Fatalis' ok?" "DAMN." Olivia says loudly and snappily, 'Fatalis' has wide eyes of shock. "Ok, yeah, a proper name mixed about; Fang Jun Fatalis?" Fjf has to take a moment, slowly blinking, looking into the middle of the room for a second. Then quickly back at Eliza, nodding rapidly. Eliza motions with a hand to come even closer, which Fjf does.

Eliza takes the moment to put a hand gently on the top of her head. Hand aglow, it is done in silence. "Ok, we're companions now.." She confirms, pulling her hand away quickly though not as fast as she did before. "Hey, where taxes," Olivia states. "Ah of course." Eliza responds as she smiles gently, hand softly scratching the top of Olivia's head. Fjf watches this carefully. Intently. Her face winces. Eliza pretends she didn't notice that.

She continues on, switching to slow circular patterns of her fingers running through Olivia's hair "Oooghh that's that good shiiit" She comments, becoming unable to stand in an upright posture, leaning on Eliza for support. As Olivia's ears lower and eyes narrow, truly blissful for the moment.

"Ok, ok thas goobd. Oh hey Fatalis," Olivia finally says after the 1 minute if headscritches, sounding tired out and generally pleased. Fang Jun does not look pleased.

"Wow. None offered for me, rude." She comments shocking both other women. "Hwhat." Eliza responds look at her new ally with apprehension. "Whatever. When does this induction, make me look like you two-legged?" "Uhh. 'When you have a fully belly and full night's rest go to sleep and wake new'...?" "So when I eat then sleep. Ok. Let's leave." Fang Jun responds tersely, moving to and leaving.

She stops at the glass on the floor, she has some size gain in her back before letting out a deafening shout blowing away all glass. Or the door that was at the other end of the room. "Amateurs." She remarks before slowly walking forward. "Uh the treasure...?" Eliza puts the notion out. "Ah, those wires would just have shocked me. I would have flown into a Rampage. Rip it out." Fang Jun responds still plodding along as if nothing has changed, as if she's on a routine stroll.

Eliza and Olivia look at each other. Eliza reaches forward crushing the lock into the chest, opening the lid up and... Just 2 stacks and some leftover of cash notes. "'The fuck?" Eliza questions looking these over. "These are wads of 10s? This is 2,000 here, plus a few extras..." Eliza double checks, reconfirms the amount and puts the money in a dark portal. "Well that's stored in a shadow uhhh... We need a portal home- Hey Fang Jun?" Eliza turns calls, only to be met with their companion nearly face to face with her. "The fuck?? Oh, right, really cool sound stuff." She tries to recover.

"What is it." "Well, there's 2 thousand and a bit in the chest." "I saw that woman pull some out before. I assumed there was more given how fast she did." "Yeah so I also have a portal ability to go home, I-" "Then why didn't you use it already. Get to it already." "You're not murdering me, we can work on speaking to people later..." Eliza ponders while tracing a line on the ship's wall. She makes sure its wide enough for her new companion. The portal forms, undulating, opening into a hallway with visible light coming in.

"Finally." Fang Jun grumbles, but she does not move in. "Are you going to go or...?" "You first." "Yeah ok," Eliza responds zipping into her home with a calling "Yo Cass! We got company and a friend!" A small yelp can be heard from a few steps away.

"Damn it Liz!" "Sorry, it's urgent it's-" "Yes. Quite." Fang Jun says in low gruff voice entering into the spot with Olivia stepping in sync. Someone rounds a corner and freezes up. "Hello." Fang Jun curtly speaks. "Is... Are you a Sonic Tigore??" "No I'm just a mirage." Fang Jun replies coldly.

"Good one, 'be right back," Eliza retorts quickly getting into the fridge and coming back with a selection of deli meats. Sausages, a leg of ham, all on a plate with a little table underneath it. A detail Fang Jun notices, taking aboard, before quickly devouring the meats in front of her gluttonously. "Holy shit dude," Cassidy quietly says, observing this feasting. She looks to Eliza, who upon feeling their eyes, leans in.

"So, this is a friend of Olivia and now group member of mine, who I think, was also not treated very well by Veronica." Fang Jun stops eating for a moment "Got that fucking right," before immediately going back into her frenzy. "I mean there was a setup for tripwires that would shock Fang Jun here into a Rampage state. To guard 2 bands." "Only 2 bands? I though she was loaded- And to do that to someone? Not even a hired guard, just exploiting." Cassidy Park gripes as if confirming something for herself, from her quiet words.

"I can't believe your wifey is her cousin." She then continues after a short pause. Fang Jun stops eating, though not pulling away, looking up at Eliza. "Why did you stop eating for that? Take care of yourself now," "No. Explain." "Fine. Roxanne is in the same clan as Veronica, however-" "Any overlap." "Other than grandparents, no, not really. Not even looks." "Good for her." Fang Jun says softly, before finishing their remaining food. It wasn't all of what they needed for the day, but it was more than what they were getting and more than just 'surviving.'

Eliza takes the plate asking "Want anything more...?" Only to see a brief flicker of something raw in Fang Jun's eyes before composing herself. "Just some water, actually." she demands before sauntering off about the household, investigating it.

"So, about that escort mission.." Olivia brings up. "That's later today," "Are you still doing it?" "D'you even have to ask? Of course I will. Pay aside, people only make requests like this when they need it." Eliza answers casually. Little does she know, Fang Jun was eavesdropping this exchange, stood on all fours, around a corner.