Muttonhawk

The Depths of Deception

While we wait, Lightbox or Baskets, you guys could post about receiving the message to get to Pax to tide everyone over if you felt like it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Unfortunately, I'm going to be busy for several hours again. See you!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I'm serious, it's good. You discount yourself too much." Fendros said to Ahnasha, before shuffling forward to be seated next to her. "Even if you don't think so..." he put one arm around her and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, "as long as you're having fun, that's the important part."

Janius checked once more on the wamasu to double check that it was settled, then turned to face Kaleeth, putting both his arms around her and looking into her eyes. He stood silently and became absorbed in her smile, mimicking her expression. "Now, what was that you mentioned before?" He asked rhetorically, before giving her a deep kiss. They would have to find more potions if they really wanted to lay with each other again, but that was no excuse to not mess around for a few moments.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Right," Fendros repeated with a grin. Once Ahnasha was done, he let his arms fall against his sides and stood up properly. He walked over behind Ahnasha again, shaking the stiffness from his muscles and looking over the picture again. "You know, you're getting really good at this, Ahna."

Leaps had slept soundly for most of the time, but woke up to look around on a couple of occasions while Kaleeth assembled the nest. It seemed simple to make, but looked comfortable enough. Carefully, Janius knelt down and leaned forward, placing Leap-On-Elves in the middle of the small bed. The wamasu wriggled a little in protest when being held in the air, but settled once it was put down. It sniffed around a bit, before facing Kaleeth and Janius to chirp at them curiously.

"This is where you'll sleep, little one," Janius said to it with a smile, extending his hand to give it a rub under the chin. "Do you like it?" Leaps opened and closed its mouth, then bit lightly on Janius' finger. It didn't really hurt, it was playful more than anything. "Come on now, relax." Janius said, removing his finger from its mouth and stroking it on the back. Deciding to succumb to its sleepiness again, Leaps curled up in the nest and slowly shut its eyes. Janius looked up at Kaleeth and smiled, "I think it'll do just fine."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is probably the best way to do it. If I remember correctly, you still owe Ariel a rendition of the child. You might send it off if Sabine feels like writing to her in the next town. Can't say I've seen her do that yet, but we haven't really been anywhere with a courier since we left Thorn as far as I remember. Maybe back in that village with the merchants? Hmm, never mind." Fendros' mind swiftly went back to the child, "I wonder what it's going to grow up to be like?"

---

"I've not heard of it happening before, to be honest, but I didn't know that Khajiit could hold a Dunmer child until Fendros and Ahnasha." Janius held a blank, if cautious face, but he rationalised his worries away behind the potion as Kaleeth had.

Janius repositioned Leaps over his shoulder, holding the lower half of the hatchling's body to his chest while he picked up a few materials in his free hand. The materials were abundant, so it didn't take too long. Janius shrugged at Kaleeth's question, "I don't know, somewhere close to where we sleep? In or around the common hut, maybe?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, it's not how big it is, it's how you use it. The head, that is." Fendros quipped, standing up and assuming his pose again. His response to the prospect of himself learning to paint was an uneasy chuckle. "Be careful what you wish for. I'd be liable to make you look completely unrecognisable if I tried to draw you, never mind your stomach now. No, drawing was never really something I did, that was more my little sister." He smiled and glanced over at Ahnasha, "Don't worry, though, I'll always remember you looking like this."

"Quite, that would be uncomfortable." Janius remarked, standing up in a similar fashion to Kaleeth. "Alright, that sounds good, let's collect some materials."

A few moments later Janius lowered his brow and angled his head, wondering. "No one is going to be mistaken in thinking that we would actually be making the basket for Argonian eggs and not a wamasu hatchling, right?" Janius asked, speaking somewhat slowly so he wouldn't fumble his words. "That might... exacerbate things."

The Depths of Deception

The small harshly angular spacefaring transport looked lonely in the empty hangar as Shiva clomped towards it. As she approached it, the echo from the clapping of her footsteps along the floor were completely drowned out by the whirring of the engines starting up. At the base of the gangway on the craft's flank was a lone masulu officer that Shiva had not seen before. As expected she noticed his eyes wandering to the mark on Shiva's head before addressing her. "1st Eschelon Tasthagk?!" He said over the engines.

Shiva put down the rigid case that contained all her worldly possessions and straightened up. "1st Eschelon Tasthagk reporting, sir!"

"You're twenty seconds early!"

Although she didn't show it, Shiva didn't know what to make of the man. She opted not to respond.

"At ease, come aboard!" The officer beckoned Shiva up the ramp and turned to board the transport.

Taking a breath, Shiva redjusted her weapon holstered on the small of her back, retrieved her bag and climbed aboard behind the officer. The gangway raised itself shut behind her, blocking out the sound of the engines to a faint whistle.

"Glad you could make it, Tasthagk. I'm 10th Eschelon Desrick, I've been tasked to facilitate your transport to Pax." The officer held his hands behind his back and spoke in a more casual tone than Shiva was used to from officers so high up. He took a seat on one of the comfortable looking seats and gestured for Shiva to do the same. "Please, get settled in. It's a long trip."

Shiva was too busy wondering what was on Pax that warranted reassignment there. She had never been to Pax before. She hadn't even been in an officer's transport before, let alone seen a 10th Eschelon this close up. She stood dumbstruck until Desrick spoke up again. "Is something wrong, Tasthagk?"

"Er, no sir," She apprehensively took off her weapon holster and took the seat across from Desrick, placing her bag and gun at her feet, "I just... this is the first I was told I was going to Pax, sir."

Desrick rolled his eyes. "Pah, trust some credit-for-eight helmet hair 5th Eschelon with being transparent. He only gave you the memo, didn't he? Didn't think to tell you more?"

Shiva kept a blank, if confused expression. "No, sir."

"Then I have some explaining to do, Ghirex?" Desrick spoke into the communicator on his wrist, "We're secure, take off when ready."

A faint "Roger that, sir" could be heard through Desrick's earpiece and both Desrick and Shiva leaned slightly in one direction as the transport began to move. Desrick readjusted and held his elbows on the arms of the seat, weaving his large fingers together in front of his face. "This isn't like the last few reassignments you've had, Tasthagk. You're going to be part of a new initiative by Assembly to help strengthen relations with the other nations. A single, joint effort, interspecies, military team."

"Wait, sorry, I'm going to have to stop you there." Shiva raised a hand up to her shoulder level, "Why have I been picked for this?" She pointed to her tattoo, "I thought this big traitor sign on my forehead meant I was only here to serve my time. It's been twenty-four years, and I'm not allowed a promotion until I serve for fifty, aren't those kind of positions for spec ops elites or something?"

Desrick gave a sly look. "Technically, you're not being promoted, just reassigned. And even though not many like to admit it, as a convicted traitor you've saved more lives than you have taken." Desrick pointed his thumb over his shoulder, "Back in ArmSpecWar, I couldn't find a better candidate. Your record shows consistent work both off and on the field, you keep cool under pressure, not to mention that magical affinity you have makes you dependable." He leaned forward in his seat, "You're the best combat medic in our entire armed forces."

Once again, Shiva was utterly dumbstruck. No one had given her any praise in years, and now a 10th Eschelon was saying she was the best combat medic they had. This wasn't right. She blinked and stared at Desrick with skeptical look. "Is this some kind of joke, sir?"

Still leaning forward, Desrick shook his head. "Not a joke, Tasthagk. This is one hundred per cent real." He leaned back and pushed a button to extend a hidden drawer that held a couple of masulu sized drinking vessels and a flask of drink. He poured a couple of glasses, passing one to Shiva, who just held it and looked into the liquid in thought, pondering this new feeling of importance. Desrick continued, "I was surprised how easy it was to convince your CO to have you transferred, but apparently you don't get on with your squad so well."

"More like the last ten squads."

Desrick laughed quietly, "Any more questions?" Desrick gulped down his share of what Shiva smelled to be some kind of spirit.

"Yeah," Shiva looked up, "who am I going to be working with?"

Desrick poured himself some more of the spirit and shook his head. "That's where my clearance ends, I'm afraid. You'll find out when we get there."

The Depths of Deception

http://store.steampowered.com/app/234190/

It was made in just a week, so it's real janky and limited, but it's kind of addicting and really hard. It's likes to screw you over, but each time you get a little better at it. Also, it has all these fine controls for gun handling that make you feel like a boss when you master them. Still haven't finished it, but every so often I come back to it and try.

The Depths of Deception

Good. This is an excellent opportunity to cool and calm after trying and (once again) failing at trying to beat Receiver.

That damn game...

The Depths of Deception

I'm going to wait for one more post before putting up my second.