Date: Thursday, 20 May 1993 15:24:46 EDT
From: Michael Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Message-ID: <93140.152446344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [BBD] [BDAY] Of Admiration and Recognizition

[ADMIN: Sorry it's been a while since I personally posted anything. And it'll
 get worse before it gets better, considering I'll be gone for approx. a week
 starting Sunday. The BBD thread _will_ go on, though, if I can help it.
 Anyway, thanks to... well, all involved in this thread for working with me
 on this post, and maybe I (we) won't set the record for "longest wait after
 an event starts to acknowledge it" :-)!]

>Good morning, I could not help overhear what you said before", his eyes
>focused on Lancos, "I am interested in providing you with my services."
>
>Seeing that Lancos is waiting for something, the young follower of the source
>adds, "My name is Tarkyn."

"Tarkyn..." the warrior paused, as if the name struck a chord, and continued
when something clicked mentally. "Oh, yes, I remember that name from when we
last read the bulletin board. It shall be interesting to have a ranger in the
party." Lancos smirked wryly.

"You mean _another_ ranger, don't 'cha, Mr. Lancos?" Lissa chirped in.

"If you insist, my dear lady." he said with a small nodding bow to her that
made her blush slightly. Turning his attention back to Tarkyn, he continued,
"Which reminds me; may I introduce..."

"You need not bother." the ranger interrupted, holding up a hand to stop the
conversation. "Among other things, I overheard your names.". After a moment's
thought, he decided to add something to make his eavesdropping seem more...
well, normal, "I guess you could say I like that sort of information. So, am
I in?"

Lancos' eyes focused on Darvos, silently suggesting he should field the
question.

Darvos took the cue. "I would", he paused," like to know a bit more about you
first, but any additional assistance is welcome if our enemy is as crafty as
he has shown himself to be so far.  And besides, I realize I know little about
anyone here anyways.  The fact that you are willing to help should be enough
in and of itself.  Well met Tarkyn, please have a seat and relax for the
moment."

The others nodded at Darvos' sentiment, perhaps trusting in themselves and
fate to see them through. "That answers every question I might have." Kaalzic
said. "Except perhaps one. Namely, when do we start?"

Lancos didn't need Darvos' gaze to tell him that _this_ query was his to
answer. "Uh, tomorrow, I suppose. Darvos wants to take Lissa to the safety
of their home, and I've got at least one thing I want to handle tonight.
The rest of you can spend the time as you wish, gathering information or in
festivity or whatever else strikes you fancy. Then we can meet back here early
in the morning, and move out from there. Agreed?

"Gather here tomorrow at the break of dawn.  I shall provide a good breakfast
for all.  Then we may begin our plans."

When everyone else remained silent, the warrior stated "Fine. If you will
excuse me, then...". He left the table, Bast trailing behind per usual.

Darvos also stood up from the table.  "Till tomorrow then."

Lissa was watching Lancos walk away with starry eyes and a small sigh escaped
her lips.  Then she realized Darvos was ready to leave.

"G'Bye everybody." she smiled and then followed him out of the inn.

* * * *
Arienne had risen early, or at least early for her. Pushing her way out of the
blankets and bodies that surrounded her, she scrounged for her clothes. As
she pulled on her boots, she heard Darrien mumble something and grop for her.
She leaned over his well-tanned form and kissed his ear. When he stilled she
tiptoed to the door. "So long, lover." she purred and exited the room.

Arienne loped down the stairs to the bar. She sat down and began listening
to the whirr of voices that surrounded her. Focusing in on a name she heard,
her attention turned towards Kryalla's table.

>Lancos... dismissed worry, saying that he'd always have enough money to be
>at least comfortable.

This caught and held Arienne's intrest. Lancos had money along with
everything else, apparently. Of course, for her this only made the prize
greater.

>"Fine, if you will excuse me, then...". He left the table, Bast trailing
>behind per usual."

Arienne's smile widened at hearing these words. Now her plan for "revenge"
could be executed. Her eyes followed him up the stairs for a moment, before
she decided to follow him bodily.

He trodded upstairs, to his room in 39A [ADMIN: I wonder if others had as
much "reason" {:-)!} behind their room numbers], unlocked the door, and
entered. Once within, he gathered up the supplies he had left here, ever since
he had had to make room for his present for Luthor and Serene's party.

Meanwhile, Bast pranced around the room, familiarizing herself with what she
apparently felt was more of her territory. She even tried to cuddle up on the
bed for a nap.

But by this time, Lancos had collected what he felt what needed, and would
have none of the cat's shenanigans. He picked her up from the bed -- carefully
cradling her -- and headed to the door.

As he reached it, a noise in the hallway caught his attention. His mind
panicked for a second, unwillingly running back to the last time he had
encountered something like this. When he had been forced to jump out of a
window with virtually no possessions, in order to avoid the wrath of some
assassins. But then he remembered that the Dragon's Inn was protected against
such violence, and visibly relaxed. Still, a bit of cautiousness remained.

It disappeared -- and was replaced with different emotions -- when he saw that
the noise was Arienne approaching his room. "What a pleasant surprise." she
purred as she closed. "You must allow me the pleasure of your company, sir.
I hope I have not interrupted something -- important.

Lancos was a bit taken aback by the words. Perhaps he had misjudged the woman,
or she had been under alcohol's influence before, for now she seemed kinder
than when he first met her. "You needn't call me 'sir'. And actually, I'm
involved with a quest right now, though I don't know that you would be
interested in such a thing."

"I have many interests that may surprise you," she returned.  "What is this?"
she queried, as she reached for the cat now hugging the ranger's legs.

"Oh, this is Bast. She mainly seems to follow me around."

"If this creature has adopted you, then perhaps I have something to learn
from you as well? Would you care to join me for a drink? Or perhaps a walk
outside?" she cooed, and clasped his right hand within both her comparatively
tiny fists. She dragged him along for a step or two, and tugged playfully at
at his tunic, bouncing about quite lavishly as she did so.

Lancos only smiled at the behavior. "Either is fine. I _would_ like to go
outside, though. After all, I've been reminded how much I appreciate the
outdoors."

He willingly followed her lead back down the stairs and out of the inn.
By this time, a party was in full swing. Everywhere they looked, people
were drinking or dancing or otherwise enjoying the founder's day. Fireworks
exploded in the sky and music filled the air. It was nearly impossible to
be alone in this area, but Arienne led them to a rather secluded spot. From
where they sat only a band with a small crowd could be seen.

The ribbon, so carefully tied, at the neck of Arienne's bodice chose that
moment to loosen itself from its bow, exposing the crests of her ample
bosom to view.

Lancos' bretah stopped for a moment as he caught the sight. He tried to put
forth a valiant attempt to not stare at her, but knew he was failing to do
so. Underneath the light of the moon and stars and fireworks, with a small
breeze blowing through her hair, he could not help but admire her beauty.
Finding no words within him to adequately express his feelings, he let the
moments pass without them.

Arienne fluttered her eyelashes a bit and began to retie her wayward
ribbon. But she did not have the modesty to turn away as she did so, nor
did she ahve the mercy to pretend it hadn't happened. "I guess it's your
turn, next." she uttered innocently as she stretched her arms around his
neck and pressed her body up against his.

And part of Lancos' mind was very willing to comply. It told him that for
all purposes it had been _too_ long since a woman's skin touched his. The
touch of skin, the smell of her perfume, the feel of her warm breath on his
face, all of it was intoxicating. It told him to combine his recent emotional
pleasure from uniting Little Rat and 'Raelf with a more physical one.

And the music. The lyrics weren't as important as the feel of the beat, as
far as his emotions were concerned. It seemed to be only encouraging his
wild behavior. However, it was also taking him in another direction. He felt
an animalistic urge in hearing it, and could not attribute it solely to the
satyr he saw -- out of the corner of one eye -- was leading the band. He
heard his medallion call to him louder than it had since they had been in
Ak' Irneg. It told him to rid himself on everything here, put it on, give it
control, let him be the animal he could be, and run and enjoy life not only
for this night but for endless nights on. And for a change, the idea was
so... tempting.

For a countless period, the two emotions clashed in Lancos' mind and heart.

* * *
A demon -- disguised as a clown -- came upon another young couple that
looked like they could use his special jewelry. Stepping near them, he
stated, "Excuse me, young lovers, but could I interest the gentleman in a
ring for the lady? The cost to either of you would be minimal, not even
worth speaking of."

Lancos' internal battle was put on hold -- before either side could really
win, so to speak -- by the clown. However, one thing he totally agreed on
was that he didn't need the interruption, or want to give Arienne that sort
of relatively minor gift at the moment. "No thank you." he said unexpectedly
coldly. "I don't think that's necessary."

"But come on. I know you'd both enjoy it."

"No." he said firmly. "When and if I wish to give something to her, I can do
so from my own accord."

The demon backed off from the duo. He figured that he had accidently stumbled
upon a previous success for the night, and didn't want to interfere in the
other's business. Especially when there were so many other targets available.

"Don't you like me?" Arienne asked rather downheartedly. "Or don't you think
I deserve that. I _do_ like jewelry, you know."

"Well, gifts like that should be special. And if I ever gave you something
along those lines, I doubt it would be a ring. A ring might only remind me
of a past love, and I'd want an item that would make me think of the person
I shared it with."

"All right. Now shall we have that drink?" she teased. Her warm breath
tickled his lips.

"Yes, let's go back inside.". During the clown's presence, rational thought
had returned. It had told him that all was not right, and that he best avoid
whatever was awry. They went inside and sat in a private spot.

There, the pressure from the medallion largely ceased, but his attraction to
Arienne hadn't as such. He wanted their next meeting to be more assured
than a surprise, and knew a way to insure it. "Say, I just realized something.
You know the group I'm with? How would you like to join us? I don't know what
would be required of you, but I'd bet you'd find your niche, hopefully without
having to fight too much if you didn't want to."

"All right. You better believe I'll fit in, and I think there's much I could
learn from you and your companions. And believe it or not, I enjoy a good
killing every now and again. I haven't made one in quite some time now..."

Lancos smiled, not wanting to register the ramifications of the last few
sentences. Now even his practical side was satisfied about her coming,
though. Even though the chances for tonight might be lost, the future was
unlimited as far as his and Arienne's relationship was concerned.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu
SAQ: "When you look at the impossible, many things are possible"-from the [DQ]