Manor Post
"Of course not," Sekhmet responds. "No one has everything figured out." The second request is harder. Sekhmet would never tell someone they were doing the right thing unless she believed they were... And she has a hard time believing there's any perspective where Kama breaking into her home was the right thing.
But the last request. "Even thousand-year-old demon queens need a break now and again," Sekhmet says. "I don't mind if you rest here, so long as you don't go near Mary again."
Getting Ahead in Life
"I'm already pretty poisonous," one Mary admits. "What do you mean?" another asks about the comparison to Orochi or Ghidorah.
"Is there anything you can do to help at all?" a third asks, slightly exasperated.
BC's Best... Cottages?
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bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Getting Ahead in Life]
"It's been a week," Hydra replies with a long suffering sigh. "The longest week EVER. At least the crabs have been helpful."
"We are bound by the stars to serve!" says the crab still hanging onto Mary's foot.
At Mary's question(s) Hydra seems a little... put off? "Look, I'm trying, okay? I kind of stumbled into this gig and I'm figuring it out as I go. But SOMEONE has to do it. Allegedly. You wouldn't want the dead slipping out of the underworld while no one is watching."
That would be terrible, obviously.
"About the two dragons?" she asks of Mary. "They're just dragons with lots of heads. But what we need to figure out is whether or not you can UNGROW a head. A opposed to, you know-"
She makes a chopping motion across her neck with her fingers.
"It's been a week," Hydra replies with a long suffering sigh. "The longest week EVER. At least the crabs have been helpful."
"We are bound by the stars to serve!" says the crab still hanging onto Mary's foot.
At Mary's question(s) Hydra seems a little... put off? "Look, I'm trying, okay? I kind of stumbled into this gig and I'm figuring it out as I go. But SOMEONE has to do it. Allegedly. You wouldn't want the dead slipping out of the underworld while no one is watching."
That would be terrible, obviously.
"About the two dragons?" she asks of Mary. "They're just dragons with lots of heads. But what we need to figure out is whether or not you can UNGROW a head. A opposed to, you know-"
She makes a chopping motion across her neck with her fingers.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
"Given how hydras usually work I'm pretty sure that would be supremely unhelpful even if it wasn't traumatic as hell and likely to leave unpleasant stumps." snarks one of the bottom Kols.
"I don't want to be a stump!"
"Yes, that."
Many sets of eyes turn to Mary.
"So like...do you think with enough magic guidance you could ungrow a head?"
"Given how hydras usually work I'm pretty sure that would be supremely unhelpful even if it wasn't traumatic as hell and likely to leave unpleasant stumps." snarks one of the bottom Kols.
"I don't want to be a stump!"
"Yes, that."
Many sets of eyes turn to Mary.
"So like...do you think with enough magic guidance you could ungrow a head?"
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bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
"Sorry!" Mary's apologetic head repeats, "This is all just a little much."
Another head panics at the suggestion of beheading. "Let's not try that! I don't want my heads chopped off!"
A third considers the idea of ungrowing heads more carefully. "I probably can? I can ungrow wings and horns and legs, I don't see why I couldn't ungrow my extra heads in theory." The in theory bit needs a little explanation, so another head helpfully chimes in, "We can't focus our shapeshifting together in concert well enough to alter ourself beyond just our individual heads."
One of the other heads snakes around to examine Hydra's one human torso and head. "I like that look, do you mind if I copy it?"
"Sorry!" Mary's apologetic head repeats, "This is all just a little much."
Another head panics at the suggestion of beheading. "Let's not try that! I don't want my heads chopped off!"
A third considers the idea of ungrowing heads more carefully. "I probably can? I can ungrow wings and horns and legs, I don't see why I couldn't ungrow my extra heads in theory." The in theory bit needs a little explanation, so another head helpfully chimes in, "We can't focus our shapeshifting together in concert well enough to alter ourself beyond just our individual heads."
One of the other heads snakes around to examine Hydra's one human torso and head. "I like that look, do you mind if I copy it?"
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Getting Ahead in Life]
"But! You probably aren't actual hydras, right?" Hydra points out. "So your heads might not grow back as two heads."
She puts her palms together and then splits them, showing the whole one becoming two idea.
"Because I've learned since getting this job that it's less growing back two heads from one stump and more just... growing more heads? Here, like this," she says before lifting herself a bit further out of the water. Sure enough, below the toga there's a VERY big snake lower body with greenish and muddy brown scales. The area just below her toga begins wriggling as pale-egg-like growths push between the scales before bursting open into eight adders each as big around as a human arm.
"See? Like that. Just growing snakes all over. Cool but also very creepy. But then I can re-absorb them too, right?" she continues. And in like fashion the skirt of serpents begin to wither and shrink until they're gone. "If you can shape-shift you should be able to do that with each head one at a time, right?"
Of course, that might mean the new head dying.
Maybe?
Then a question is asked!
"Uh, sure? You mean the human on top of a snake look? I don't see why not. It definitely beats just being a gigantic snake," Hydra admits. Which, apparently, means she can in fact just be a gigantic snake.
"But! You probably aren't actual hydras, right?" Hydra points out. "So your heads might not grow back as two heads."
She puts her palms together and then splits them, showing the whole one becoming two idea.
"Because I've learned since getting this job that it's less growing back two heads from one stump and more just... growing more heads? Here, like this," she says before lifting herself a bit further out of the water. Sure enough, below the toga there's a VERY big snake lower body with greenish and muddy brown scales. The area just below her toga begins wriggling as pale-egg-like growths push between the scales before bursting open into eight adders each as big around as a human arm.
"See? Like that. Just growing snakes all over. Cool but also very creepy. But then I can re-absorb them too, right?" she continues. And in like fashion the skirt of serpents begin to wither and shrink until they're gone. "If you can shape-shift you should be able to do that with each head one at a time, right?"
Of course, that might mean the new head dying.
Maybe?
Then a question is asked!
"Uh, sure? You mean the human on top of a snake look? I don't see why not. It definitely beats just being a gigantic snake," Hydra admits. Which, apparently, means she can in fact just be a gigantic snake.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
"I can shift, but I can only poof between human and dragon. I can't do things all...precise-like how Mary can."
None of the Kols comment that that method of growing and un-growing heads is pretty gross. She seems to know.
"I don't know if I'd want to be a dragon-centaur but it probably beats tying yourself up in knots."
He can't help it! All of him just feel like they need to look around in different directions. It would be really useful if a hero was trying to sneak around him.
"I can shift, but I can only poof between human and dragon. I can't do things all...precise-like how Mary can."
None of the Kols comment that that method of growing and un-growing heads is pretty gross. She seems to know.
"I don't know if I'd want to be a dragon-centaur but it probably beats tying yourself up in knots."
He can't help it! All of him just feel like they need to look around in different directions. It would be really useful if a hero was trying to sneak around him.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]bc56 wrote: ↑Aug 11, 2024 9:21 pm Manor Post
"Of course not," Sekhmet responds. "No one has everything figured out." The second request is harder. Sekhmet would never tell someone they were doing the right thing unless she believed they were... And she has a hard time believing there's any perspective where Kama breaking into her home was the right thing.
But the last request. "Even thousand-year-old demon queens need a break now and again," Sekhmet says. "I don't mind if you rest here, so long as you don't go near Mary again."
"...I don't remember saying I wanted to stay here." Kama said, pacing back and forth. "Or that I needed to. I have a place to stay, near one of my counterparts." The daemon frowned and stopped in her tracks, turning to face Sekhmet again. "...Wouldn't do any good anyway. How would you sleep, knowing your tormentor is just upstairs from you, going about her life like nothing's happened?" She shook her head. "Fuck that. I'm going home."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
"Thanks!" and that one of Mary's heads distorts and expands and reddens into the torso and head of a teenage succubus (conjuring a crop top matching her scales for modesty). She stretches and turns to face the other heads, "Look, I have hands again!" She wiggles her fingers proudly.
Most of the other heads watch the head-growing demonstration with a lot less revulsion than Kol. Mary's seen some pretty gross stuff during her visits to Hell.
"I don't think that's going to work for us," one says. Another whines, "I don't want to wither away like that!"
"You prove my point," the first says, "Our mind is divided between our heads. We don't completely share thoughts so we can't cooperate well enough to merge back together."
Manor Post
"That's not what I meant," Sekhmet replies. She had no intention of inviting Kama to stay in her home. That would be a disaster. "I meant rest here," she motions to the clearing they're in. The weather is comfortably warm and there's a beach only a short distance away, just barely in eyeshot through the trees. "Spend a few minutes not worrying about life."
"Thanks!" and that one of Mary's heads distorts and expands and reddens into the torso and head of a teenage succubus (conjuring a crop top matching her scales for modesty). She stretches and turns to face the other heads, "Look, I have hands again!" She wiggles her fingers proudly.
Most of the other heads watch the head-growing demonstration with a lot less revulsion than Kol. Mary's seen some pretty gross stuff during her visits to Hell.
"I don't think that's going to work for us," one says. Another whines, "I don't want to wither away like that!"
"You prove my point," the first says, "Our mind is divided between our heads. We don't completely share thoughts so we can't cooperate well enough to merge back together."
Manor Post
"That's not what I meant," Sekhmet replies. She had no intention of inviting Kama to stay in her home. That would be a disaster. "I meant rest here," she motions to the clearing they're in. The weather is comfortably warm and there's a beach only a short distance away, just barely in eyeshot through the trees. "Spend a few minutes not worrying about life."
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"...Oh."
Kama stood there a moment, not seeming entirely certain of how to take that invitation. She glanced warily at the demon queen, as though trying to find some horrible ulterior motive, before reluctantly coming to the conclusion that there probably wasn't one. Or at least, nothing she could do about it if there was.
"...I think I'd like that." She said finally.
"...Oh."
Kama stood there a moment, not seeming entirely certain of how to take that invitation. She glanced warily at the demon queen, as though trying to find some horrible ulterior motive, before reluctantly coming to the conclusion that there probably wasn't one. Or at least, nothing she could do about it if there was.
"...I think I'd like that." She said finally.
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Getting Ahead in Life]
At Kol's comment Hydra seems a bit surprised?
"Wait, you can just turn into a human? Then why don't you just do that instead of complaining? That will probably get rid of all the extra dragon heads. It might even break whatever spell was cast here," Hydra suggests.
Seems to her that going for the easy solutions first is the way to go. THEN if that doesn't work you start trying more complex things.
And then Mary more or less copies Hydra's look! Perhaps more so than Mary would have thought at first.
"What do you mean, you don't want to wither away? It isn't like you would go anywhere, right?" Hydra asks. At that question another serpentine neck rises from the water just as big as the one the nymph is mounted atop. But instead of a woman in a toga this one ends in a massive adder's head! The giant flicks its tongue a few times before kind of... twitching? As it begins to shed its skin. Except instead of more snake being under the shed skin it's another nymph identical to the first one!
Apparently that toga isn't made of fabric.
It's made of shed snake skin.
Kind of gross but practical.
"Alright, so. Hi!" the new Hydra calls out. "I'm me."
"And I'm me, too. But oh no! I've been doused with soapy water! I'm melting! What a world!" the original Hydra laments as she withers away into a dried out snake skin husk just like the earlier reabsorbed serpent heads.
"Still me," the second Hydra interjects. "All the heads are you. Or at least they should be?"
At Kol's comment Hydra seems a bit surprised?
"Wait, you can just turn into a human? Then why don't you just do that instead of complaining? That will probably get rid of all the extra dragon heads. It might even break whatever spell was cast here," Hydra suggests.
Seems to her that going for the easy solutions first is the way to go. THEN if that doesn't work you start trying more complex things.
And then Mary more or less copies Hydra's look! Perhaps more so than Mary would have thought at first.
"What do you mean, you don't want to wither away? It isn't like you would go anywhere, right?" Hydra asks. At that question another serpentine neck rises from the water just as big as the one the nymph is mounted atop. But instead of a woman in a toga this one ends in a massive adder's head! The giant flicks its tongue a few times before kind of... twitching? As it begins to shed its skin. Except instead of more snake being under the shed skin it's another nymph identical to the first one!
Apparently that toga isn't made of fabric.
It's made of shed snake skin.
Kind of gross but practical.
"Alright, so. Hi!" the new Hydra calls out. "I'm me."
"And I'm me, too. But oh no! I've been doused with soapy water! I'm melting! What a world!" the original Hydra laments as she withers away into a dried out snake skin husk just like the earlier reabsorbed serpent heads.
"Still me," the second Hydra interjects. "All the heads are you. Or at least they should be?"
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bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
Sekhmet doesn't need to say anything more. She just beckons Kama over.
Sekhmet doesn't need to say anything more. She just beckons Kama over.
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"...What do you think you're doing?"
Kama stared at Sekhmet and her beckoning for a moment, crossing her arms. "You expecting me to come and sit in your lap or something?" She demanded with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know where you got the idea we have that kind of relationship. I don't think you're the kind of person I'm looking for. I don't trust you and you don't trust me."
The daemon flickered again, reappearing about a foot to Sekhmet's left.
"...Besides, I"m not a hugger to begin with." Kama noted. "I mean I am, I was an absolute cuddlebug back in the day, but I was also a lot dumber. Which considering what I'm like now, is saying something."
"...What do you think you're doing?"
Kama stared at Sekhmet and her beckoning for a moment, crossing her arms. "You expecting me to come and sit in your lap or something?" She demanded with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know where you got the idea we have that kind of relationship. I don't think you're the kind of person I'm looking for. I don't trust you and you don't trust me."
The daemon flickered again, reappearing about a foot to Sekhmet's left.
"...Besides, I"m not a hugger to begin with." Kama noted. "I mean I am, I was an absolute cuddlebug back in the day, but I was also a lot dumber. Which considering what I'm like now, is saying something."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
"What?" Sekhmet looks genuinely surprised at Kama's interpretation of the gesture. "I was just inviting you to sit down and rest," she says, but considers. "If you do want a hug, Mary need never find out," she adds. Sekhmet's willing to hug anyone. Well, almost anyone. If a third fragment of Sapphira shows up, she'll get stabbed on sight.
"What?" Sekhmet looks genuinely surprised at Kama's interpretation of the gesture. "I was just inviting you to sit down and rest," she says, but considers. "If you do want a hug, Mary need never find out," she adds. Sekhmet's willing to hug anyone. Well, almost anyone. If a third fragment of Sapphira shows up, she'll get stabbed on sight.
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
"I can't. The spirit that controls my shifting is supposed to be protecting me. She can't tell the differences between all of us and she can't do mental changes, so I don't think she can meld us without leaving someone out and that goes against her purpose. And it would leave a chunk of my personality on the cutting room floor."
Kol pauses, as if waiting for one of his other heads to pipe in about how one of them could probably be left out without an issue. But none of them voice that this time. No one wants to be the one left behind.
"I can't. The spirit that controls my shifting is supposed to be protecting me. She can't tell the differences between all of us and she can't do mental changes, so I don't think she can meld us without leaving someone out and that goes against her purpose. And it would leave a chunk of my personality on the cutting room floor."
Kol pauses, as if waiting for one of his other heads to pipe in about how one of them could probably be left out without an issue. But none of them voice that this time. No one wants to be the one left behind.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"I don't care what you tell that backstabbing bimbo!" Kama snapped, claws clenching into the dirt. "Tell her we traipsed down the beach and collected crabs together for all I care! We both know nothing you say is gonna make her like me any more, and there's no ammo you could give her she couldn't just make the fuck up and be believed about anyway!"
Kama's shoulders shook as she pulled herself into a ball again, shaking her head. "...No, no, I... I'm supposed to be calming down... she's not even here, why am I letting her hurt me?"
"I don't care what you tell that backstabbing bimbo!" Kama snapped, claws clenching into the dirt. "Tell her we traipsed down the beach and collected crabs together for all I care! We both know nothing you say is gonna make her like me any more, and there's no ammo you could give her she couldn't just make the fuck up and be believed about anyway!"
Kama's shoulders shook as she pulled herself into a ball again, shaking her head. "...No, no, I... I'm supposed to be calming down... she's not even here, why am I letting her hurt me?"
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Getting Ahead in Life
The head that's talking to Hydra also morphs into Mary's torso and head. She needs arms to gesticulate her points. "What happened to us is different. I'm me," she points to herself, "And we're all Mary," she gestures sweepingly to all eight of her other heads, "But she's not me." she points to another head that was busy trying to stretch to pull the crab off her ankle. "Huh?" that head turns to look Hydra and the other Mary in response.
The head that's talking to Hydra also morphs into Mary's torso and head. She needs arms to gesticulate her points. "What happened to us is different. I'm me," she points to herself, "And we're all Mary," she gestures sweepingly to all eight of her other heads, "But she's not me." she points to another head that was busy trying to stretch to pull the crab off her ankle. "Huh?" that head turns to look Hydra and the other Mary in response.
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bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
Sekhmet doesn't like to hear her daughter insulted. But she suppresses her urge to come to Mary's defense. It wouldn't help anyway.
"It's okay. Let it out. Deep breaths " Is Kama even able to breathe? She's made sounds so she at least can approximate it.
Of course this just further cements Sekhmet's belief that Kama needs a hug, but she's not going to try to surprise her with one again.
Sekhmet doesn't like to hear her daughter insulted. But she suppresses her urge to come to Mary's defense. It wouldn't help anyway.
"It's okay. Let it out. Deep breaths " Is Kama even able to breathe? She's made sounds so she at least can approximate it.
Of course this just further cements Sekhmet's belief that Kama needs a hug, but she's not going to try to surprise her with one again.
Avatar by me! No more outsourcing!
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"...You want me to let it out?"
Kama shook for a moment, before breaking into a series of nods. "...Yeah. Yeah, okay. Okay! You want to hear what I have to say about that goddamned daughter of yours?!"
...She hesitated. Maybe gathering her thoughts, maybe not actually sure what to say.
"...She's a gigantic fucking pain in the ass." The daemon began, fists shaking. "She's arrogant. She gets up on her high horse without a fucking clue of how to ride it. She's a goddamn hypocrite, and people fucking love her for it. Claiming to be against bullying in principle, but perfectly fine with body-shaming me in front of the entire goddamn school. Picking that moment to..."
Kama's foot slammed into the ground again. "We had an understanding!" She shrieked. "We... we had a truce. We agreed to not fight anymore. Maybe if things kept going that way, maybe..." Kama's gaze dropped to the ground. "...Maybe we could have even been friends."
"...But then she had to go and... and just fuck it all up." Kama growled, clenching her fists. "The very first chance she got to pull the rug out from under my feet, she took it! Without hesitation, without remorse, without-"
Kama shook, holding herself tightly. "...She lied to me." She closed her eyes, letting out a shuddery gasp. "She lied! She lied, and dammit, I should have known better!" She kicked a large stone free from the ground, sending it rolling down the clearing.
"...I should have known better." Kama sniffed, her hands over her face.
"...You want me to let it out?"
Kama shook for a moment, before breaking into a series of nods. "...Yeah. Yeah, okay. Okay! You want to hear what I have to say about that goddamned daughter of yours?!"
...She hesitated. Maybe gathering her thoughts, maybe not actually sure what to say.
"...She's a gigantic fucking pain in the ass." The daemon began, fists shaking. "She's arrogant. She gets up on her high horse without a fucking clue of how to ride it. She's a goddamn hypocrite, and people fucking love her for it. Claiming to be against bullying in principle, but perfectly fine with body-shaming me in front of the entire goddamn school. Picking that moment to..."
Kama's foot slammed into the ground again. "We had an understanding!" She shrieked. "We... we had a truce. We agreed to not fight anymore. Maybe if things kept going that way, maybe..." Kama's gaze dropped to the ground. "...Maybe we could have even been friends."
"...But then she had to go and... and just fuck it all up." Kama growled, clenching her fists. "The very first chance she got to pull the rug out from under my feet, she took it! Without hesitation, without remorse, without-"
Kama shook, holding herself tightly. "...She lied to me." She closed her eyes, letting out a shuddery gasp. "She lied! She lied, and dammit, I should have known better!" She kicked a large stone free from the ground, sending it rolling down the clearing.
"...I should have known better." Kama sniffed, her hands over her face.
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Getting Ahead in Life]
"Spirit that controls your- wait, no, nevermind. I don't need to know," Hydra begins, only to end just as quickly and wave that subject away. "So you can't change back because you don't actually change yourself. Someone else does it for you and it doesn't know how to deal with extra heads. And you-"
She points over at Mary.
Maries?
Something.
"Are different aspects of yourself? And here I thought being a pile of snakes was hard enough on its own," Hydra says as eight enormous adder heads pop out of the water. "My heads are more like extra arms I can see through, if that makes any sense. Though arms that can do their own thing if I'm not paying attention to them. I'm the only one at the helm as far as I can tell. Which gets REALLY confusing if I'm trying to assume direct control of all of the heads at once."
But she's only got eight heads plus the human one.
That isn't TOO many, is it?
An octopus arguably pulls it off just fine.
"How did this even happen, anyway? You were doing some kind of extra head spell? What exactly was it?" Hydra asks. One of the viper heads snakes toward Kol and flicks out its tongue at him.
"Spirit that controls your- wait, no, nevermind. I don't need to know," Hydra begins, only to end just as quickly and wave that subject away. "So you can't change back because you don't actually change yourself. Someone else does it for you and it doesn't know how to deal with extra heads. And you-"
She points over at Mary.
Maries?
Something.
"Are different aspects of yourself? And here I thought being a pile of snakes was hard enough on its own," Hydra says as eight enormous adder heads pop out of the water. "My heads are more like extra arms I can see through, if that makes any sense. Though arms that can do their own thing if I'm not paying attention to them. I'm the only one at the helm as far as I can tell. Which gets REALLY confusing if I'm trying to assume direct control of all of the heads at once."
But she's only got eight heads plus the human one.
That isn't TOO many, is it?
An octopus arguably pulls it off just fine.
"How did this even happen, anyway? You were doing some kind of extra head spell? What exactly was it?" Hydra asks. One of the viper heads snakes toward Kol and flicks out its tongue at him.
-
bc56
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
Ooooohhh. Sekhmet visibly winces. If that was the incident where Mary came home complaining about Aiko breaking their truce, that was the start of the school year... And that means it was Sapphira who did that. And it's fresh on Sekhmet's mins because Mary wanted to talk about it after she came home from lifeguarding the other day. But Sekhmet knows Mary treats her possession as a grave secret, and she doubts Kama would believe her if she told her anyway.
But Mary has said several of the same things about Aiko. Especially about how maybe they could've been friends. Sekhmet considers her response carefully.
"I don't have an excuse for her actions," Sekhmet says, "But she has confessed privately to me that she regrets how she handled that incident."
Ooooohhh. Sekhmet visibly winces. If that was the incident where Mary came home complaining about Aiko breaking their truce, that was the start of the school year... And that means it was Sapphira who did that. And it's fresh on Sekhmet's mins because Mary wanted to talk about it after she came home from lifeguarding the other day. But Sekhmet knows Mary treats her possession as a grave secret, and she doubts Kama would believe her if she told her anyway.
But Mary has said several of the same things about Aiko. Especially about how maybe they could've been friends. Sekhmet considers her response carefully.
"I don't have an excuse for her actions," Sekhmet says, "But she has confessed privately to me that she regrets how she handled that incident."
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"She's got a funny way of showing it." Kama grumbled. "Every time she could have backed off from that, she's doubled down instead."
The daemon inhaled sharply. "You know she tried to get me to try to kill her?" Kama looked back up at Sekhmet. "She thought I was capable of that. Of straight-up murder. Over a school grudge." She shook her head slowly. "...The others kept wanting to give her another chance. I know I was right not to. That relationship is broken beyond any chance of repair, and if I give her the chance to hurt me again, she'll do it and laugh about it."
Kama sat there on the ground, rubbing her arms wearily. "Because that's what you do with monsters, isn't it?" She muttered. "And that's all she thinks I am. A goddamned monster."
"She's got a funny way of showing it." Kama grumbled. "Every time she could have backed off from that, she's doubled down instead."
The daemon inhaled sharply. "You know she tried to get me to try to kill her?" Kama looked back up at Sekhmet. "She thought I was capable of that. Of straight-up murder. Over a school grudge." She shook her head slowly. "...The others kept wanting to give her another chance. I know I was right not to. That relationship is broken beyond any chance of repair, and if I give her the chance to hurt me again, she'll do it and laugh about it."
Kama sat there on the ground, rubbing her arms wearily. "Because that's what you do with monsters, isn't it?" She muttered. "And that's all she thinks I am. A goddamned monster."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Jul 25, 2022 3:09 pm
- Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
"You did show up at her home and attack her by surprise," Sekhmet points out, "Even if you'd told her that you weren't trying to kill her, she wouldn't have believed you." Sekhmet saw the damage to the orchard and the house. Trees splintered and boulders strewn about does not paint a picture of Kama not trying to kill Mary. "Did she fight back?" Sekhmet questions.
"You did show up at her home and attack her by surprise," Sekhmet points out, "Even if you'd told her that you weren't trying to kill her, she wouldn't have believed you." Sekhmet saw the damage to the orchard and the house. Trees splintered and boulders strewn about does not paint a picture of Kama not trying to kill Mary. "Did she fight back?" Sekhmet questions.
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"No."
Kama looked away, arms crossed. "But only because she couldn't properly perceive my body. She had no chance of winning and she knew it." The daemon flicked her hair back, annoyed. "And as soon as she can get a proper shot at me? She will. I garaun-fucking-tee it."
"Besides, I didn't come here for her." Kama said, reaching into what was left of her bag. "She was just sitting there all insufferable and I had to give her a piece of my mind. She distracted me. From this." She pulled her hand back put, producing the item Circe gave her, way back when she first agreed to this mission.
"No."
Kama looked away, arms crossed. "But only because she couldn't properly perceive my body. She had no chance of winning and she knew it." The daemon flicked her hair back, annoyed. "And as soon as she can get a proper shot at me? She will. I garaun-fucking-tee it."
"Besides, I didn't come here for her." Kama said, reaching into what was left of her bag. "She was just sitting there all insufferable and I had to give her a piece of my mind. She distracted me. From this." She pulled her hand back put, producing the item Circe gave her, way back when she first agreed to this mission.
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Jul 25, 2022 3:09 pm
- Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
Sekhmet's faint smile tells a different story. She's proud of Mary for not resorting to violence, and she doesn't entirely believe Kama's explanation.
But then Kama pulls out the emerald device. "Where did you get that?" she asks. She recognizes it immediately for what it is, a magical bug. Obviously one of her enemies put Kama up to this (she doubts the daemon would be able to make such a device or would plant it in the Manor on her own initiative). But which one?
Sekhmet's faint smile tells a different story. She's proud of Mary for not resorting to violence, and she doesn't entirely believe Kama's explanation.
But then Kama pulls out the emerald device. "Where did you get that?" she asks. She recognizes it immediately for what it is, a magical bug. Obviously one of her enemies put Kama up to this (she doubts the daemon would be able to make such a device or would plant it in the Manor on her own initiative). But which one?
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"I got it from a succubus called Circe." Kama explained, dropping the emerald. "Who promised me a lot of essence to put it in your ritual room. She didn't give me any of the essence I wanted upfront, though, and she seems like a snake besides. So I'm not gonna have any part of that."
The daemon kicked the emerald over to Sekhmet, before resuming her task of staring at the ground. "...So, yeah." She muttered. "With that, I'm pretty much fucked, huh? Can't get the essence I need for a body from her. Definitely not getting it from you. Probably not gonna find another stash of that scale anywhere else. So goodbye, any real chance of getting a body." She waved at nothing in the air. "Nice knowing you. Get the fuck out of my head."
"I got it from a succubus called Circe." Kama explained, dropping the emerald. "Who promised me a lot of essence to put it in your ritual room. She didn't give me any of the essence I wanted upfront, though, and she seems like a snake besides. So I'm not gonna have any part of that."
The daemon kicked the emerald over to Sekhmet, before resuming her task of staring at the ground. "...So, yeah." She muttered. "With that, I'm pretty much fucked, huh? Can't get the essence I need for a body from her. Definitely not getting it from you. Probably not gonna find another stash of that scale anywhere else. So goodbye, any real chance of getting a body." She waved at nothing in the air. "Nice knowing you. Get the fuck out of my head."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Jul 25, 2022 3:09 pm
- Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
"It's safe to assume she knows you betrayed her," Sekhmet says, picking up the bug. "You're right not to trust her, she's dangerous." All powerful demons are, including Sekhmet, but she doesn't like to call attention to that.
She pauses at Kama's defeatist statement.
"I was serious about the possibility of rejoining with your other selves. They need you." It's not Kama getting her own body, but it's as close as she's likely to get.
"It's safe to assume she knows you betrayed her," Sekhmet says, picking up the bug. "You're right not to trust her, she's dangerous." All powerful demons are, including Sekhmet, but she doesn't like to call attention to that.
She pauses at Kama's defeatist statement.
"I was serious about the possibility of rejoining with your other selves. They need you." It's not Kama getting her own body, but it's as close as she's likely to get.
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"Oh, I hope she knows I did and why. Fucking cheapskate." Kama muttered. "If she'd shown a little good faith, maybe I would've at least hesitated when someone told me she wasn't trustworthy."
The second part, however, just got a rueful laugh out of her. "Why don't you just spare me the trouble and send me straight to hell?" The daemon snarked, before holding up a finger in protest. "Don't."
Kama shuffled around in place before elaborating. "Mary and you aren't the only people who have problems listening to me." She continued. "Aikobaz- and the three bits of her psyche floating around doing whatever the hell they want now- she also didn't listen to me. And I didn't have my own body then, either. Not even this crude approximation. I was just a voice. A voice who could talk to one person, who disregarded everything I said." She snorted. "I'm sure you've got punishments in hell that aren't half as bad as that. So... fuck 'em. I don't care if they need me or not, technically. They're not getting me back."
"Oh, I hope she knows I did and why. Fucking cheapskate." Kama muttered. "If she'd shown a little good faith, maybe I would've at least hesitated when someone told me she wasn't trustworthy."
The second part, however, just got a rueful laugh out of her. "Why don't you just spare me the trouble and send me straight to hell?" The daemon snarked, before holding up a finger in protest. "Don't."
Kama shuffled around in place before elaborating. "Mary and you aren't the only people who have problems listening to me." She continued. "Aikobaz- and the three bits of her psyche floating around doing whatever the hell they want now- she also didn't listen to me. And I didn't have my own body then, either. Not even this crude approximation. I was just a voice. A voice who could talk to one person, who disregarded everything I said." She snorted. "I'm sure you've got punishments in hell that aren't half as bad as that. So... fuck 'em. I don't care if they need me or not, technically. They're not getting me back."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Jul 25, 2022 3:09 pm
- Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
"That's a shame," Sekhmet replies, "Because I think you need them too." She's sure it's not what Kama wants to hear, but she thinks it needs to be said. "Without Babaz, you can't think rationally about circumstances. Without Aiai, you don't have the focus to control your impulses. Without Koko..." Sekhmet pauses. This is the one she hasn't directly observed (and really can't) but she can theorize, "You can't feel much of anything, can you? Only a few emotions?" That seems like the worst of these problems to Sekhmet if it's true. Her dark eyes are full of worried compassion.
"That's a shame," Sekhmet replies, "Because I think you need them too." She's sure it's not what Kama wants to hear, but she thinks it needs to be said. "Without Babaz, you can't think rationally about circumstances. Without Aiai, you don't have the focus to control your impulses. Without Koko..." Sekhmet pauses. This is the one she hasn't directly observed (and really can't) but she can theorize, "You can't feel much of anything, can you? Only a few emotions?" That seems like the worst of these problems to Sekhmet if it's true. Her dark eyes are full of worried compassion.
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Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
[Manor Post]
"Oh, I can feel, all right." Kama snorted, crossing her arms. "Not just anger, either. Just cause I'm pissed at everyone I know within a ten mile radius doesn't mean I can't ever be anything but."
After a moment's pause, the daemon had let out a little sigh and lowered her arms. "...There is something missing, I'll give you that." She said. "...You know how when you look at the front of a car, or a gnarly tree, you can kinda see a face? It's kind of like that, but backward." She waved her hand in front of Sekhmet's own face for emphasis. "You look like a car to me. I can see you have that stupid look on your face, but it doesn't feel like a face. And without that, you kinda seem like a big dummy. A literal dummy, I mean."
"Oh, I can feel, all right." Kama snorted, crossing her arms. "Not just anger, either. Just cause I'm pissed at everyone I know within a ten mile radius doesn't mean I can't ever be anything but."
After a moment's pause, the daemon had let out a little sigh and lowered her arms. "...There is something missing, I'll give you that." She said. "...You know how when you look at the front of a car, or a gnarly tree, you can kinda see a face? It's kind of like that, but backward." She waved her hand in front of Sekhmet's own face for emphasis. "You look like a car to me. I can see you have that stupid look on your face, but it doesn't feel like a face. And without that, you kinda seem like a big dummy. A literal dummy, I mean."
Who're you? ...Don't matter.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
Want some rye? Course ya do!
Here's to us!
Who's like us?
Damn few,
And they're aaaaall dead.
-
bc56
- Arisen Zombie Poster
- Posts: 3204
- Joined: Jul 25, 2022 3:09 pm
- Location: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Re: BC's Best... Cottages?
Manor Post
"You can't recognize other people's emotions? You don't have empathy? At all?" That does sound bad. And no wonder Kama is so willing to use extreme force, if everyone else just looks like things to her. "Are you okay?" If anything that sounds incredibly exhausting and stressful; trying to judge everyone's emotions and behaviors without access to the instincts that normally govern that process.
"You can't recognize other people's emotions? You don't have empathy? At all?" That does sound bad. And no wonder Kama is so willing to use extreme force, if everyone else just looks like things to her. "Are you okay?" If anything that sounds incredibly exhausting and stressful; trying to judge everyone's emotions and behaviors without access to the instincts that normally govern that process.
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