Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 21:59:27 GMT -5
Kalique could make her entrance whenever she felt like it; her brother was still in the act of composing the last sheafwork for the planet below. It was a harmless little world -- a picture drawn from Mother's vaunted memories of the dawn of the genetic age, a diminished twin of Ouros itself. A population of a solid four billion, only just coming to harness solar energy, trade routes on the brink of collapse, atmosphere threatening drought. For harvesting purposes, nearly ideal -- a world like fruit on the vine, bound to rot if not picked promptly. Still, it gave him a cringe to look at, even via FTL. Only the effort of raking it over into figures could make it comfortable, a column of numbers along the spine of a sheaf: so many living beings in this settlement, in this city, this many adults and this many juveniles, such-and-such a death rate in childhood, such-and-such a life expectancy overall. The oldest among them were hardly old enough to broker a marriage, to establish a domestic holding or represent themselves in a court of law. It was all very small, and very vulnerable, never more ready for the harvesting than now. And if not now, when?
It would have been polite to put a shirt on, but he was only expecting Kalique and one guest, so he had no intention of even getting off his glittering couch until absolutely necessary. The cruiser itself hung glittering in orbit over a world both little and dark. A few points of light struggled vainly on the surface, scarcely perceptible to the naked eye -- urban centers, most likely, their first destinations once they made the hop planetside. How helpful to see them marked.
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 22:10:39 GMT -5
There was a small shimmer in the doorway; the rippling purple spread and then suddenly broke like the surface of a pool of water as Kalique entered, a pair of vacantly grinning sims in black lace and visible undergarments spare enough that on a living being, they would have seemed indecent. Kalique, by contrast, was playing her current matronly appearance for all it was worth in a loose, long-sleeved sheath of deep blue satin, beaded over with tiny silver constellations. A similarly-colored veil was draped over her head today, and the heavy coil of hair that could just be seen at the back of her neck was streaked finely with silver threads of its own.
She smiled pleasantly.
"Buried in your work as ever?"
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 22:22:38 GMT -5
A few millennia before, he would have frettingly smoothed back his hair at the sound of her voice; now, he barely bothered to glance her way before rising, the shifting of his drapery causing a clatter of beads like a rainstorm in miniature. At least he was decent from the waist down, which was more than could be said for Titus half the time, and there was enough actual material in his dressing gown to permit decency -- delicate enough to let light through, weighted enough not to cling.
He did rattle his bracelets a little as he set down the last sheaf, but that was less a nervous tic and more a benign flourish. He looked at her now, brightly enough.
"Naturally, Kalique. How did the journey find you?"
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 22:54:42 GMT -5
He didn't stand to kiss her hand anymore, she noticed, quietly logging that away for potential future use.
Kalique swept over to sit opposite him, smoothing her skirts with lightly veined hands. The sims arranged themselves behind her like guards at attention, though their placid smiles somewhat spoiled the effect.
"I did ask our brother if he would like to attend, but... well, you know Titus," she said, with a fluttering laugh and a helpless shrug. "I suppose all we can do is give him more time to accept the weight of his position."
She covered her perfect teeth with her hand, as though suppressing a laugh at her own joke.
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 23:08:12 GMT -5
He'd have kissed her cheek if she didn't insist on wearing her wrinkles so brazenly. He did incline his head toward her, but that was all.
"I'll issue him a report with the production estimate once we're through. Shall I send your regards, sister?"
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 23:12:37 GMT -5
"As ever," said Kalique.
There was a slight pause and an uncomfortable silence; she had expected that their guest would have already arrived and ingratiated himself. She cleared her throat softly.
"You're looking very well," she said encouragingly.
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 13, 2015 23:52:06 GMT -5
"How good of you to say."
Balem's mouth twitched in a decidedly strained smile. He knew that he was looking the worse for wear, and yet could hardly do anything about it -- any response was too taxing to think of, and there was little incentive to eat or sleep. Almost absent-mindedly, he took her hand and rubbed at it a little.
"I took the liberty of putting everything in order. We are lacking only Mr. Tivan," he said, in the same offhanded way he'd mention a notarization that hadn't gone through.
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:01:45 GMT -5
"He does enjoy pulling rank," she reminded him.
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:08:09 GMT -5
"As is his prerogative."
Then they'd be waiting for hours, nothing for it but complete resignation. What a deeply unpleasant individual.
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The Collector
- Masterful Virgin -
oh jesus christ not this asshole again
Posts: 27
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Post by The Collector on Feb 14, 2015 0:31:14 GMT -5
However, it was scarcely a breath later before the doorway phased again and a particularly cleverly designed sim entered, hands folded in front of her like a schoolgirl about to deliver a speech, and skittered toward them.
Surprisingly enough, however, on closer inspection, she wasn't a sim at all, but a young Kree woman- actually a Krylorian, one of their hybrid client races, judging by the deep matte pink of her skin- though not nearly as young as the demure dress she wore and the twin tails her hair was styled into would have suggested. She bowed deeply before them.
"My lord and lady," she said, in an affected little chirp of a voice, "my master apologizes for the delay."
She stood again and gestured toward the door.
"It is my great pleasure to present to you- Taneleer Tivan. The Collector. "
There was a final phasing at the doorway, and the expected guest finally entered, casually divesting himself of his gloves. He gave a deep bow of his own.
"Lord Balem, " he said, in a low croak of a voice. "Lady Kalique. It is an honor, as ever."
He passed the gloves to his maidservant, who clasped them in her own hands and positioned herself between the sims.
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:32:46 GMT -5
"Mr. Tivan, " Kalique said, beaming as he kissed her hand. "Glad to have you, as ever."
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:43:08 GMT -5
Balem caught himself in the act of lowering his head, the way he might have before a well-regarded aunt, or a collaborator too expensive to offend. Having grown accustomed to voices of all timbres across species, he still found it faintly distasteful how old the man sounded; the lack of acknowledgement at least kept him from direct contact with the man's idea of manners. Too old, too inflexible.
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Kalique Abrasax
- Masterful Virgin -
[ontd-circa-2008-"bitchpls" powers activate]
Posts: 44
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Post by Kalique Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:46:37 GMT -5
"You must forgive me; the travel to this sector is interminable, " he said, "particularly when one must account for the presence of a flesh servant. "
Kalique raised her eyebrows mildly at the girl in silence.
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Balem Abrasax
- In the Duggins -
Space Douche On The Loose
Posts: 73
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Post by Balem Abrasax on Feb 14, 2015 0:59:19 GMT -5
The girl Balem scarcely looked at at all, being too busy trying to subtly position himself to best advantage next to his sister.
"No matter. Shall we begin, Mr. Tivan?"
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The Collector
- Masterful Virgin -
oh jesus christ not this asshole again
Posts: 27
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Post by The Collector on Feb 14, 2015 2:17:29 GMT -5
He held a hand out to the girl, who immediately passed him his gloves again.
"Thank you, Carina, " he said, pulling them back on. "Now then, Lord Balem. What is it you have to offer me today?"
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