All's Fair in Love and War

by **Matthew** on December 31st, 2013, 9:36 pm

39th of Winter, 513 AV.
Ruby's Scarlet Sanctum

"Have you given any thought about how to bring down Brega?"

Ruby's elegant features twitched a bit at the name, but she managed to keep herself composed, instead raising an elegant eyebrow in question. She opened her mouth to speak, but paused as Matthew's hands twisted, finding another knot in her shoulders and gently rubbing it loose. He was excellent at seduction, but some of his complimenting skills could use some work. And who better to have the handsome harlot practice his massage skills on but Ruby herself? She slowly arched herself back, stretching the muscles he was tenderizing, letting out a soft sigh of pleasure as a few pops and cracks echoed through her graceful body. His hands paused long enough to allow her to move, but then right back to work as she stilled. Ruby purred, happy with his readiness to please. She had made the right decision in snatching this one out from under Brega's nose. But now, the harlot was asking something so personal? He was a bit too new in Sunberth to be asking something like that. She smirked to herself and then leaned her head back, lips lazily parting as she breathed out a few soft words. "I do believe that is a bit off-"

She was suddenly cut off as Matthew's lips found her own, a firm but rather urgent kiss that silently said the intimate contact was much more important than words. She allowed herself to melt into it for a bit, both delighted and peturbed. He had this aura of intense lust around him, something that was easy to get lost in. His skills as a seductive prostitute were well-practiced, so much so that she herself wouldn't actually mind being a paying customer. At the same time though, the idea that there was someone else besides Brega that was as skilled as her somewhat disturbed her thoughts. But at the moment, she didn't really mind. She was paying too much attention to the warmth and wetness of the kiss.

Eventually Matthew pulled away, studying her carefully with his bright blue eyes, his stare as intense and analytical as ever. He was definitely her new favorite toy. He had the looks and the charm, he just needed a few other different skills polished up. She could use him to take down Brega.

"Why do you ask, Mattie?"

The harlot paused and then tilted his head, a somewhat playful smile touching the edge of his lips. She saw through it. She knew he hated the nickname. She hoped that he'd one day turn that anger into something a bit more... passionate. She chuckled, rubbing her long legs against each other, wiggling about in her chair like some sort of cat before settling under his massaging fingers yet again. He made sure that she was comfortable and that his fingers were working her skin before he softly replied to her question. "She advertises about being the best." Ruby's face twitched again, just for a moment. She held her tongue, biting down on her lower lip, waiting for Matthew to finish. They were trapped in the Scarlet Sanctum due to the snow outside, so best to try and make love, not war. Matthew was a smart man anyways, or at least that was her impression of him. Too smart to be a prostitute, which kept her on her toes. "No matter if what she says is true, she is still competition. And if I try to think about it from a business-like perspective, what do you do to competition? You either join it..." His hands tightened on her shoulders, his nails digging into her flesh. She shivered a bit, a small smile playing across her beautiful features. She liked the show of force. She loved it, in fact. "...or you crush it on your way to the top. And when better to strike then when the city is distracted with the Hound and Robern? No one will pay attention to the likes of us..."

Ruby shivered again, oddly more aroused by that idea than the hands and lips that had been focusing on her for quite some time now. Crush Brega? She had thought about it more than once. She whispered out honeyed words from between her ruby lips, eyes sparkling as she rolled her head back and fixed her eyes on Matthew once again. "I love the way you talk. Oh please, Mattie. Go on." Since they were stuck in the Sanctum, she looked forward to seeing what sort of plot he came up with, while also experiencing his skill as a prostitute. She had to make sure all of her men were up to par, did she not?

Matthew :

by **Matthew** on December 31st, 2013, 9:42 pm

42nd of Winter, 513 AV.
Brega's House of Happy Endings

Brega was just taking a break outside when she saw him. Some of the men from the Wolf's Den had just had a round with most of her girls and some of her men, dirtying the entire second floor of her establishment. She had cleaned most of it herself while the lingering guests were entertained on the first floor, and she thought a step outside was as good of an idea as any. She deserved it. The approaching man had caught her eye though, his well-dressed body sticking out like a sore thumb. Whoever he was, he took care of himself, actually styling his hair and having some fashion sense whenever he chose his clothes. He had something of an aura around him as well, one she could feel. An aura of lust that he advertised. He was like her. A small smile played across her lush lips, and the beautiful Brega stepped forward, holding out a slim hand with a suggestive look to her eye. "Well hello, handsome. How may I-"

She barely had time to blink before he stepped past her hand, slipped his arms around her, and tugged her in gently for a very firm and very close kiss.

The owner of the House could have easily used some of her skills to step away, to break his arm, or to simply slap his head off of his neck. She was curious though, and actually... allured. She hadn't felt that in quite some time. He had been skilled in his gentle touch of her hips, in the way his hands slid to cup her curves, and how he had pressed his rather firm figure against her own as his lips collapsed upon hers. She could appreciate his skill, and she could definitely appreciate how one of his hands was teasing at the idea of grabbing her rear. He was bold, forward, confident... and cheeky. Their lips worked for a slow moment, the two of them just kissing in the snow. They broke off the kiss with a shared gasp for air, and she finally took a moment to study him up close. A thick mop of hair, a strong jaw, long eyelashes and very nice blue eyes. He didn't look like the average prostitute, but he seemed to be holding himself like one. A smile still playing across her lips, she gave him a small test. Her Djed silently leaked out to caress against his skull, Hypnotism imbedding a soft idea into his brain. Introduce yourself. Make it smooth.

"Hello. I am Matthew. Brega, I assume? It would make sense, seeing you are the most beautiful one I have seen in Sunberth." Brega grinned, a soft laugh slipping from her lips, the sound like music. Her magic seemed to have worked, and he didn't seem hostile. He didn't even seem that manipulative. She would play along for now. But first, she was curious about something. Touching a finger to her lips, she cooed at this 'Matthew', wiping a bit of lipstick from her already painted lips. "A pleasure, darling. Might I ask why you have the lipstick of another woman on that gorgeous mouth of yours? Did you think you could find better pleasures somewhere besides my House? Ruby doesn't have near as much to offer." She reached up, tracing a single finger down his slim chest, playfully dragging the nail so it scraped his skin just a bit. She studied his eyes, keeping up the appearance of a flirtatious business owner, but with her sly mind running a mile a minute. This visit was most unusual. Ever since the rumors of the Hound, everyone had to be on their guard. She studied his eyes closely, appreciating the fact that they did not waiver from her own. After a couple of moments, he spoke, the corner of his lips twisting up ever so slightly.

"I just came from her bedroom, actually." Brega rose an eyebrow, inwardly surprised at his confession, not quite seeing the point. "We were discussing her fantasies of becoming the best in Sunberth. How my skill can help her. She was practically quivering at the idea of besting you. She gasped about it for three nights straight, among other things." His smile grew just a bit, and Brega noticed his lusty aura thickening in the air. She couldn't help herself from smiling as well. He was cheeky, and apparently he was conniving as well. What a delicious mix. Her finger slipped from his chest to his hip, and from his hip to his hand, lacing her own fingers in it and giving him a tug towards the entrance of the House.

"Come in then, darling. I love the idea of being dominated by another. Please give me all the details."

Matthew :

Brega was dangerous. He could feel it when he approached her. He dedicated a bit more Djed to his Auristics then he had given with Ruby, and he kept a very close eye on Brega the entire time. The aura of lust and desire radiating around her was powerful, even stronger than his own. He could actually feel physical attraction to her, which really set off alarm bells in his head. It was only his own extensive knowledge of seduction that allowed him not to get swept away in her words and touch. He held onto this confidence in himself, and rode it during the oddly tense conversation they had. He felt similar to her. She was no doubt brillant and good at using her skills to get what she wanted. He liked to think he was brillant, but wasn't so sure if his skills would allow him to accomplish what he wished. He supposed he would be finding out.

His sudden kiss was spontaneous, mostly because he felt like she would be able to read him if he planned it out. He needed to let her know that he was brave and bold, and she seemed the sort of woman who would only truly enjoy something that could perhaps match up to her. He'd have to give the impression that he could. Thankfully, she accepted his embrace with her own, and they quietly kissed in the snow. She was good at kissing. He didn't like thinking that.

The touch of Hypnotism he saw flare in her aura nearly made him flinch back. She was so good at the magic that he had no idea what exactly she had done with it, just knew that she had used it. He would have to tread carefully here. To him, Brega was more dangerous than both the Hound and Robern. He had only heard rumors on the other two, though. He took a quick breath, which he was fairly sure she noticed. She seemed to delight in it though. She truly was sly. She enjoyed this.

Matthew was risking a lot by hinting at a betrayal of Ruby this early on in his employment at the Scarlet Sanctum, but Brega had forced his hand. Knowing Ruby's lipstick was something Matthew hadn't accounted for. It shouldn't matter. Brega had seemed to like his open honesty and carefree attitude. It shouldn't be a problem. He had done his best to make sure he wasn't followed, and in any case, he had been sure to suggest to Ruby (with a little bit of Djed mixed in) that he would be trying to get on Brega's good side. A double agent of sorts. He knew it was no risk to her, so she had happily agreed, though she had demanded a few more kisses. Brega's reaction of Ruby's ideals wasn't at all one of surprise. Matthew understood, as he had heard that their animosity of each other was well-known, though Ruby seemed to be the one who more openly displayed it. Brega was too much of a 'kind' figure to be seen in a bad light by most people of Sunberth.

When the owner of the House invited him in though, that coy smile on her lips and that sparkle in her eye... Matthew couldn't help but think that no one really knew Brega.

That's what he was counting on.

by **Matthew** on December 31st, 2013, 10:47 pm

Mature Content (Gore)
43rd of Winter, 513 AV.
The Doctor's Clinic

A sickening scream caused the Doctor to pause, as well as his associate. They both turned as one, stares locking upon the latest patient. He had been strapped to a very dirty table, with leather straps binding his wrists and ankles to the wooden structure. Another leather strap held his head down, his cheek pressed to the wood and his back aimed toward the air. He was filthy, covered in blood and shyke, and his screams were tormented. The Doctor and his associate seemed unperturbed, merely staring at the man quietly for a few ticks longer. The Doctor very slowly turned his head towards his associate and smiled widely, though it could not be seen from behind the mask. "I love their screams."

"Should we continue our work then?" The associate responded easily, and the Doctor studied him for a moment. Oddly enough, it delighted him that his volunteer associate was so accepting of what so many other people considered to be crazy. The associate had readily approached Petricious's experiments with an open and honest mind, seeking to learn more in the name of medicine. The Doctor hadn't yet had the heart to tell the poor man that most of this was just torture, though it would have some benefit for medicine in the end. Even with the volunteer, there was no way the Doctor could keep up with all of the sick that Sunberth was spitting out lately. Perhaps some of these experiments would lead to something. If they didn't, he would still have his fun.

Hopefully the Hound wouldn't get in the way of things. The Doctor didn't particularly care about the newest complication in Sunberth, as long as he was left alone. If he wasn't...

His head suddenly throbbed, and he waved a hand lazily in the air. "No, silence him. My own thoughts have ruined my pleasure. Make sure I can't hear him, then we get back to work on the other patients." The others were various members of the Wolf's Den, who had managed to get ribbons of flesh neatly sliced from the surface of their bodies by a moody Dastana. They were bloodied and beaten, but the Doctor and his assistant had managed to stabilize them. There had been some bandaging here and there, some disinfecting that made more of the delightful screams... now they just had to finish the job. He studied the men in front of him, lifting a needle and thread from a table in front of him, trying to picture the final product in his mind. Meanwhile, the associate obeyed, moving over to the strapped man. The associate forcefully ripped a piece of bloodstained cloth from his plain white shirt, balled it up, and reached his hand down to stuff it into the screaming mouth. The man couldn't choke back his cries of pain to close his mouth and stop the cloth from entering, his noises successfully cut off as the cloth was forced fairly deep into his mouth. Another leather strap was fetched and wrapped around the man, used to keep the thick ball of cloth from being spit out. The patient tried to struggle, but was too tightly bound to do a thing.

The associate tested his work, a scalpel flashing in his hand. A small incision was made at the back of the neck, at the very base, right between the shoulders where the back of the patient began. Muffled groans echoed out, and were soon turned to screams as the assistant gracefully wormed his fingers into the cut and beneath the surface of the flesh. Pushing his fingers in knuckle deep, the associate observed as the patient attempted to flail and scream, but only managed to twitch and make muffled grunts. Satisfied, he tugged out his fingers, and then glanced over the man's back. Closer now, he could see where they had cut pieces of flesh from him, ones that perfectly matched the missing flesh on the members of the Wolf's Den. The Doctor had wanted to try sewing on new pieces of skin, and the men from the Den had excitedly agreed. The bound patient was the only one who had protested, but apparently the Doctor owned him. The assistant didn't ask questions.

The Doctor spoke up, a chuckle coming from his mask. "Thank you, assistant. Would you mind coming and helping me thread this tiny string into the needle?"

Matthew turned, blue eyes sharp, his face perfectly composed as he gave a short nod. "Of course, Doctor."

Matthew :

He hadn't seen this much blood in awhile, and oddly enough, it didn't make him want to hurl. Apparently he had grown used to the gore at some point in his life. It was comforting to be able to help fix bones and mend cuts again, and the Wolf's Den and the local Pits seemed to have a steady stream of injured men and women to give. They were very different people than the sort Matthew was used to, and he soaked in their experiences and mannerisms the best he could. He simply wanted to learn. At first they were hostile, but soon they grew almost fond, if they were capable of feeling anything but anger and bloodlust. The Doctor seemed to share the same impulses and cravings that they did, and since the Doctor had placed some level of trust in Matthew, the brutes from the surrounding area did as well. He tried casual conversation with them, which had varying levels of success. All in all though, he had eventually become something more than just a suspicious stranger. Some well placed Hypnotism certainly helped.

When he had first met the Doctor, he had been intrigued. The man was very unique, having a thirst for blood and a desire to hear cries of pain. Matthew, while not able to enjoy it like the Doctor did, was able to understand the craving and accept it. Some men craved women, some men craved blood. Whatever the case, the Doctor was skilled at what he did, and volunteering allowed Matthew to brush up on his rusty medical skills.

He wasn't sure how to feel about the experiments. The Doctor said the men had signed a contract, stating anything he helped mend could be used by him in the future. If they had actually agreed to such a thing, then Matthew felt it fair that the torture happened. The Doctor always seemed to find it funny when he talked about the contract though, so the harlot had some suspicions on how real it actually was. More interesting to Matthew was the moral grey line. All of this would be considered wrong, wouldn't it? His association and sometimes aid in 'torture' would be considered evil, would it not? Was he now evil? He wasn't sure how that made him feel. Oddly, thoughts went to Edriena. He felt like she wouldn't approve. He wasn't sure why that even mattered to him. He didn't like it when his own thoughts confused him. He had given birth to them, they should be easy to understand.

It gave him something of a headache. He decided not to think about it. He spent days upon days with the Doctor, until he was somewhat known by the surrounding people. Just by title, really. The Harlot. Associating with the Doctor and making his living as a whore put him at the bottom of the barrel when it came to society, at least in the minds of most everyone else. Predictably enough, only when he was considered scum did those who were considered scum accept him.

Dastana would be the real challenge. All of this work, and it could end with his throat getting ripped out. He'd have to be careful.

No, not careful. Dangerous. Reckless. Dastana wouldn't like careful. She wouldn't want careful. She would want something totally different than anyone else had.

by **Matthew** on January 2nd, 2014, 10:17 pm

Mature Content (Gore)
49th of Winter, 513 AV.
The Wolf's Den

Several pairs of eyes turned as the bloodied visitor entered the Den. Dressed almost completely in white, the red stains on his outfit stood out like a sore thumb, showing that the visitor was just as blood-soaked as anyone else in here. A few of them nodded in satisfaction, turning back to their games and talks. Several of them had been patched by this man, and one or two of them had even been pleasured by this man. He didn't have much of a reputation, but he did have a face that most of them knew by now. He was scum, just like them. Scum with incredibly bright blue eyes, but scum nonetheless.

Some of them though, some of them didn't care who he was. There was a certain law to this place, and he wasn't the sort who knew it. He was walking in here without a single weapon on his person, and that spelled sure death. Wasn't he afraid? Or was he cocky? They didn't like anyone who was cocky.

A single fist lashed out of the crowded Den, bloodied knuckles slamming into the visitor's jaw, a sickening crunching sound echoing out as he was sent spinning to the side. One of the other people in the Den caught him, laughing at the blood pouring from his lip, and then quickly shoved him back where he had just come from. A dirty hand grabbed the guest by his shirt collar, and a pair of knuckles pulled back, ready to strike at the visitor's too-handsome face again. It was only the cry of someone from the back that caused the fist to waver in the air for a moment.

"You better not hit him too much, petcher. I've paid good money to see that face at night, and I want to make sure I keep seeing it."

The aggressor turned his head, sneering at the Isurian mercenary sitting in the back, showing his teeth at the person who was interrupting his fun. "You can have your way with it after it is dead. It'll be free then, too." The Isurian snarled at him, rolling up the sleeve on an arm rippling with muscle, slamming a single fist down on her mug of ale and shattering it with ease. "It isn't warm after five minutes of being dead, petcher. You better damn well drop him." The fist wavered in the air for a moment, contemplating the downsides of just beating the poor guest to death. It wasn't like the bloodied pretty-boy could stop him. He held the stare of the guest until his blue eyes dropped to the side, which he took as a sign of submission. With a dismissive grunt and a shake of his head, he dropped the pretty-boy and went back to his own drink. The pretty boy silently moved past him, only to be met by another man, this one a human as well. "Ah, you. I remember you. Fixed up a missing patch on my leg. Thank God, I was afraid the Doctor was going to try and make my other leg match just for his sick giggles. Are you here to take a look at Dastana? I remember you had wanted to see if she needed any care, since she gets cut up all the time but refuses to go see the petching psycho. Not that I blame her. You do realize she may rip your throat out, right?" The guest stared at the somewhat friendly face, blue eyes unblinking. After a moment he nodded slowly, voice soft but firm. "I do. If she does, oh well. At least I won't have to deal with stinking Sunberth any longer." A few laughs echoed around the dim-lit Den, nods of agreement passed around. "Well, take a seat boy. If you don't get a dagger shoved in your back before she gets back, then maybe she'll have a word with you."

Matthew nodded, grabbing his dislocated jaw and giving it a sharp yank. It took a bit of muscle, but it painfully popped back into place. He headed over to the Isurian female, who met him with a firm slap on his rear. He wasn't looking forward to the next few bells. He didn't wipe the blood from his mouth and chin. It helped him fit in, complimenting the gore already on his shirt.

Matthew :

He had been forced to put his arcane skills to the test in this den of murderers and rapists. His Auristics had been on ever since stepping foot into the place, and he had done what he could to keep an idea of the general emotional state of a few different Auras. He had to constantly switch the Auras to make sure he was paying attention to the half-dozen or so people currently in here, but it was doable. He had almost immediately had to add Hypnotism to the mix though, and that is when it had grown slightly more complex. He could only manage a few simple Suggestions here and there, but he had timed his visit to the Den at a time when he knew a few familar faces would be there. One he had slept with, and two he had helped the Doctor patch up. Those two could be used against the ones who would no doubt take offense to his presence. It was a hard task, keeping the two magics active at one time, but it was possible. If it stopped being possible, he would probably start being dead.

The ones who had aggressive emotions in their auras were soothed, suggestions given that Matthew was harmless, that he was blood-soaked and one of them, or that he was scum who had been seen around the streets and probably belonged in this area. If he couldn't sooth the aggression, then he used people who were allies (or at least close to it) to combat whoever acted on their aggression. People like this understood sex and violence more than anything else, and he had given both of those things to a few people in here. He was thankful that the Isurian female was one of the ones that he had decided to use. Her hulking arm was probably the most threatening thing in the place, and he had forced that point home in more than a few angry minds.

His shirt had been another tactic. He always wore this shirt when he came into this area, as it helped him blend in. He always made sure to scrub his body spotless after he took it off, though. No doubt Ruby would skin him alive if she saw him in it. She probably knew that he wandered around in this part of Sunberth, but if she minded, she didn't mention it. Business was business, and she wouldn't turn away guests who were well-behaved, especially if they were from Dastana's territory. There were only benefits to being on good terms with the woman, if there was such a thing with Dastana.

Matthew's combination of magic, seduction, medical skills, and general social skills had managed to get him into her lair without too much damage to his physical being. Hopefully he would be able to make it out as well. He supposed he would find out when he met her. She'd better hurry. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up his Auristics and Hypnotism without overgiving, and he wasn't willing to overgive unless it was a life or death situation.

by **Vanari** on February 8th, 2014, 10:00 pm

Matthew

Persuasion	+1 XP
Massage	+1 XP
Seduction	+2 XP
Hypnotism	+2 XP
Medicine	+2 XP
Torture	+1 XP
Auristics	+3 XP
Planning	+2 XP
Rhetoric	+2 XP
Acting	+1 XP
Tactics	+1 XP
Philosophy	+1 XP
Subterfuge	+2 XP
Intelligence	+4 XP

Lores :

Notes :

Solo All's Fair in Love and War