Avatar of Sanguine Rose

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4 mos ago
Current Wow three years since an update....well - I guess I've been busy. Finally getting back into real story writing instead of just editing and submitting old stuff.
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3 yrs ago
Responses didn't come like I meant them to. I'm working on being able to get to them this week. Thank you for your patience with me.
1 like
3 yrs ago
Responses to those waiting to hear from me will come tomorrow. Apologies.
1 like
4 yrs ago
Shit happens, responses slow. Working on it. Please be patient.
4 yrs ago

Bio

I'm an adult with a family and responsibilities that take priority, as well as mental health issues that can cause me to not get on this site for periods of time. Just know I will get back to you within a few days. If I had something going with you at some point, and you're interested in either starting it back up or starting something fresh, just reach out.

I recently started working on getting published, and have self published one story so far. Check it out on Amazon - Into the Night by Alexia Wynd.

You can also check out more of my work - short stories and the like - at my recently started Patreon: patreon.com/storiestocaptivate

Also found on Twitter: @AlexiaWynd

Most Recent Posts




For the time that it took for Duncan to meet with the new mage, Markovis considered the position in which he found himself from such a simple request. Playing babysitter wasn't exactly his forte. It shouldn't prove too challenging. Appearances were deceiving, as the latest member of their elite guild showed. For now, he would observe and complete the task given him. That would prove to be easy at least. At least, it would prove easier than pretending he wasn't also tasked to keeping her under control should the new mage become a threat.

Of course, there would be no hiding it if Kurt got overzealous. The older mage kept a positive outlook on the kid being able to handle himself appropriately. Given the spectacle the woman made showing up - something he understood - he was not surprised to see her gather attention. Some of their weaker members would certainly want to connect with someone as apparently brazen as her. Her choice in seats came as no surprise she drew the attention of other S class members as well. Perhaps a bit too much attention if his original assessment was accurate.

Markovis stood and approached the table. He stopped, hands folded neatly together behind his back, as his gaze leveled with those before him. "Arvin. Johan." Each name received an inclination of his head in greeting to the other members. "I believe Ms. Grasidia would be more comfortable if you did not crowd her." His tone was neutral, almost flat, but the seasoned members would not be mistaken to think it was any less an instruction to leave her alone. His dark eyed gaze landed on the woman in question. She was much more unassuming up close, which certainly could prove dangerous. "Ms Grasidia, I am Markovis. When you are ready, I will show you around and explain things. You will find this guild different than the one you were before." Another incline of his head, the mage turned and headed back to the table he alone frequented in the corner of the room. She likely needed to process things. He would not press for her company. If she was ready, she could seek him out. When it was right, he would do the same. Right now, it was not the time to press getting acquainted; it was time for her to adjust to her new arrangement. He was in no rush anyways.






Watching the fights, Ria mostly stayed on alert in case there was a rogue display of magic. But after the slayer was downed, there weren't any. It seemed the one Damian was fighting just used magic that once. But still...she wasn't about to risk the safety of those around them. Not until the guy had taken a powerful enough hit that landed him close to both her and Kaden. Considering he didn't seem quick to get up, she figured it was over and dismissed the water shield around them. The wall faded seamlessly, without leaving a trace it was even there before.

Salvis landed on his back with a grunt. He pushed himself up to his elbows, gingerly touching his jaw. The grimace of pain quickly gave way to a smirk though, and furthermore a chuckle. "Solid hit. Seriously - Steel Hydra - we've got a hall right in the city."

Kaden closed the bit of a gap and offered the guy a hand up. "Alright, enough recruitment. Go peel Teague off the sidewalk." He slapped the mage on his shoulder after the man was on his feet. Both laughed.

"You know, if you want to come crawling back after your poor decision to leave, I'm sure we can work something out. You'd have to beg to come back as S-Class though."

"Aw, how nice of you to be looking out for me. I'm good where I'm at." Kaden smirked. "I'll even keep it quiet that you got beat by a weaker mage from a nothing guild."

Salvis hoisted Teague up to support the woozy comrade. He chuckled softly. "Meet up at Sunset? Say, around 9pm?" The guy's gaze shifted to Ria and Damian. "The invitation is open to you two as well."

"Sure, maybe you'll have half a chance to get laid if you ditch the dead weight," he nodded toward Teague.

Ria's brow rose questionably. "You want us to go out for drinks with you? After you instigated a fight?"

"I didn't start it." Salvis looked at Damian with a smirk. "Didn't finish it either, apparently." He laughed. "But that's past. Right? So, if that's water under the bridge, we can all appreciate a nice pint. I'll be there. Heard Sunset is one of the better places to drink during festivals here." With that, the pair of Steel Hydra mages headed off, Salvis playfully tossing quips about Teague's loss at the still recovering mage.

Kaden smirked, shaking his head, before leveling his gaze on Damian. "Next time, ask before you steal someone's dance partner. That was going to be the most fun I've had since I joined up with this back alley guild." He smiled to himself as he turned and started walking away. "Think about what I asked, Ria. Could really use a decent water mage instructor."






The woman eyed Menzai when he started to talk like he had appeared out of thin air just to irritate her. The look only grew colder when he sneezed, despite the apology and her own curt acceptance of it. When he finally got to the point, she sighed. "Well, the most direct route is following the foot trail that cuts through the forest between here and Crocus. Ain't the safest though. Safest is probably back the way you came - following the main road. Easiest too, given those wheels aren't going to like the bumps the foot path have. Less you jostle those flowers up, the better you'll have it there, boy. One bad whiff, specially with your allergies, you might not make it back to Crocus. These ain't deadly to humans, but they'll still knock you on your backside for a solid day at the least if you give 'em a sniff before they're finished being prepared."

That was all the time the woman seemed to have. She turned, almost seeming to forget there were non-workers in the back, and started barking instructions at a pair of young workers who had apparently mixed up orders.

The bulkier of the two men who had been helping load up the cart shrugged at them. "Y'all be doin' just fine takin' that cart, though. Ain't too bad to pull if ye can't get help." With another shrug, the man turned and headed off to help load up a box another worker was struggling with.


The old man let out a deep chuckle as he straightened up. "Oh, that. Miss, not to contradict you but Sapphire Farms didn't post that job; Opal Arrangements did." He wiped dirt from his hands as he rounded the counter. The friendly smile didn't fade. "See we're a bit behind what with some increased requests from a lot of businesses. Apparently t'is the right time for being a gardener." He motioned for them to follow him toward the back of the shop where orders were being readied.

Coming to a stop next to the woman barking instructions at a young man, he touched her arm. She turned on him like a fury unleashed on him for a split second, until the woman realized who was interrupting her. "Oh, Kato. Sorry, thought you were - never mind." She turned to look at the two guild mages. "Who are they?"

"Sweetheart, these are mages from Fenixtear. Seems Lainy wasn't happy waiting another day or so for us to get the shipment to her."

The woman nodded, adjusting her own glasses as she looked through the paperwork on her clipboard. "I suppose she would. The order needs to be in the palace by Thursday and I'm not sure the trucks will be back by then." She looked at a pair of men finishing up with one truck. "Heath, Oscar - get the order for Opal loaded onto a cart," she said as she handed the pair a list. Her attention turned back to the pair. "All our trucks are in use at the moment, but if you two don't mind a bit more heavy labor, we've got a cart the two of you should do just fine pulling back to Crocus. But y'all better be mindful. Keep the tarp on them, especially during the day - and don't go sniffin' them until Lainy's dealt with them."

It would be another twenty minutes before the pull cart was filled up with the colorful array of flowers, some of which seemed to glow with a light all their own. The old man, in that time, had shuffled his way back to the front of the shop to help a walk in customer pick out a small table arrangement. The old woman had gone back to making sure everything was getting done properly. When the cart was full, the woman motioned them to take it and leave.






Ria's attention focused more on the crowd. She was a bit leery about what they might be thinking, but luckily most either looked intrigued by the fight or at least the mages involved. The only thing working for them was that it seemed they weren't using magic for the most part. There was the one guy that kept doing so, but if they kept it to that, then all the better.

Salvis ducked and dodged the blows, but not bothering to return any of his own yet. The latest dodge left him low, and he aimed a sweep kick for Damian's legs to get the other man off his feet. "Disciplined, not bad. Ever considered joining a real guild? We're always on the look out for new talent."

Kaden laughed, leaning away from another punch Teague aimed his way. "Classy as ever, Sal." He grunted as he landed square on his back when Teague tackled him. After slamming a few punches into the guy's ribs, the Fenixtear mage finally kicked the guy off him. He got to his feet in the same motion. Then sent the other mage sliding away with a solid kick to the ribs. When Teague finally stopped, close to the feet of Ria and the wolves, he lay there groaning but not really moving much.

"At this point, might as well just throw in the towel and clean Teague off the ground." He crossed his arms, tilting his head to watch the fight between Salvis and Damian if they continued. "Would have been one thing to be out done by me, but to lose to a schlub...? Might want to save the embarrassment."








The concept of power scale for Nyssa is that as a B level, she can only call elements that naturally occur to use for her dances. As she gains more control and power, she will be able to create elements to use for her dances.
She also has very little knowledge in Sand and Ice/Snow, so she can't call or use them. Yet.




Carver's face went from a mask of politeness to lit up with barely contained excitement after Jessica introduced them as the mages here to take on his job. His posture straightened up and he suddenly was very aware of how much of a state he must look, inspecting and patting at his clothes to get them to settle and adjust properly. "Oh, yes, Fenixtear, wonderful. You're just in t-"

His words caught in his throat as something cloth landed on his head and face. Catching a glimpse of skin from beyond the clothing he pulled from his face, Carver's gaze immediately shot toward the ceiling and his entire body went rigid. His cheeks flushed a nearly glowing pink. He cleared his throat several times. It took another few to find his voice. "I - um - no, yes, I think...Well...madam, I would suspect...If it - perhaps...clothing. Is, uh. Well, quite necessary. Not that - you - not entirely...appropriate...to be in such a state..." A shaking hand held out the articles of clothing Gwen had discarded onto his face while he did everything he could to not look in her direction.








Ria had lost track of where they were going while she tried to think up ways that maybe she could help Damian figure out what was going on with his power. The guild now had quite an extensive library, one that finally put hers to shame, so perhaps she could find something. If not in her books or the guild's, then she at least had some ideas as to what shops would be the best to go visit to see if they could find sources. Plans were swirling through her head enough that she blinked and realized just where they were and how she'd accidentally started leading him toward one of the better magical book stores in the city.

Only to then realize that Damian had mentioned a fight and she certainly heard a scuffle. It wasn't really something they should get involved with, given if it was a fight they were just an indie guild, but she certainly couldn't deny wanting to make sure it didn't end up involving innocent bystanders or cause property damage to the shops around it. Of course, the people they came across when moving to check it out certainly was neither a surprise nor something she was pleased to see. She blinked and looked at Damian, putting up a hand as he walked into the fray. "Damian, wait I -" but her words came too late.

Teague growled lightly. Cracks formed in the ground again, before he swiped at Kaden once more, but with rocks forming claws around his fingers. Kaden swept the hit to the side and returned with an uppercut.

Salvis had wound up to hit while Kaden wasn't looking but was stopped. He glanced over his shoulder at the newcomer when his arm was pinned behind his back. "Well, you'd be wrong, bud, considering your guildmate did ask for it. Nothing like a fight between friends. Bit of bad form though, jumping in without the details." His eyes narrowed, but the smirk grew into a smile. He flattened his hand against his back - palm toward Damian - and sent a powerful blast of wind entwined with lighting toward the new combatant. He followed that up by immediately pulling sharply toward the same side as the arm he had pinned to try to work Damian off him.

Kaden punched Teague squarely with a right hook, sending the other mage to the ground, as he looked toward Salvis and Damian. "Really?" He glanced the opposite way, considering he'd seen the two near each other before he left the field, and managed to find Ria. "Hey, what are you up to tomorrow?" He jumped over a sweep kick the other guy tried to send him. "Because maybe tomorrow you and I can get some training done, yeah?" He leaned back away from another punch, slapping the strike away, as he grinned crookedly.

Ria's brows rose. "You're asking me? And you're asking now?"

The mage Kaden focused on growled again before sucking in a deep breath. "Earth Dragon Roar" and shot a breath of rocks and dust toward Kaden. Kaden caught the attack with his shield, hitting it toward the side.

Only for it to slam into and dissipate after hitting a barrier of water. Another wall swirled into place to isolate the four mages from allowing any of their spells to get beyond them, with an opening leading toward Ria. "Kaden, collateral damage is unacceptable. Please take more care, least you draw negative attention toward the guild. Now finish up the fight quickly, boys, before someone calls authorities to break it up."








The walk from Crocus to Petunia town took roughly seven and a half hours. It left plenty of time for the pair to talk, or not, about virtually any topic they could desire. At the end of it, and some quick directions once they finally arrived in Petunia Town to locate Sapphire Farms. Petunia Town, as they would find walking the few dirt roads in it, was quaint. Small, still set in older ways, and with scant but a few buildings denoting the center of town - including the town hall, a general store, an inn that doubled as a restaurant and bar, and the post office - while plenty of homes and farmland stretched out around it.

Sapphire Farms, unfortunately for Menzai and Alina, was located on the opposite end of town. After walking down a long dirt drive past rows of green houses, they arrived at the main storehouse. A handful of customers were milling about in the shop - looking over the flower pots on tables or flowering trees in pots toward the back - while workers busied themselves out back getting delivers loaded up into carts and trucks.

An older woman oversaw the whole thing, watching the workers and directing ones that seemed to be doing things just a bit too slow or mixing up the orders. When they walk into the shop front, an older man is also visible behind a counter - ready to ring up orders. It is he who speaks up. "New faces. Haven't seen a pair looking like you two around town. What can I do ya for?" The old man offered them a gentle smile, adjusting his bifocal glasses up his nose when he realized they crept down.






The team agreed and ready, they set off. The most direct route to the museum would have taken them through the center of the festivities, but it was a deal easier and faster to simply go around it all. It meant only catching the sounds and smells of what the festival had to offer, but not having to push through the throngs of people milling about in the way. It also meant none getting distracted by vendors calling out their wares. The businesses throughout Crocus still saw an increase in foot traffic, but it wasn't as packed as the heart of the city and surrounding area.

In no time at all, the four found themselves at a large building set a little ways back from the road behind a brick wall with wrought iron gates. The grounds were well tended, with sculptures and large replicas of olden war machines and canons, and a pair of small fountains flanked the entrance. The museum itself was much how one would expect - plenty of floors of actual displays, with people walking the halls looking at everything, or with tour guides. Approaching the admittance desk to gain entry allowed them to bypass having to pay, and were escorted through the halls by a guide straight down to the workshops in the basement, and to a large room that still managed to be cluttered enough to induce a sense of claustrophobia for those nervous about tall shelves packed with dusty books, and scrolls, and artifacts that look more dusted up for being in this room than wherever they were found. Carver sat at a table, with his back to the door. On the table was a large map of the mountain range just outside Crocus, on which he was marking potential routes to get to a location he marked on the map.

The guide knocked solidly on the door, despite it being open, to draw Carver's attention that way. She then motioned for the group to enter as Carver straightened up, and took her leave as soon as Carver had given the group his attention. "Ah, hello. Sorry, I didn't -" He glanced over his shoulder then looked back at the group. After adjusting his glasses, he put a smile on his face. "I wasn't aware I had an appointment. I was just working on something. Apologies. I'm Carver Mandrake. And you are...?"






Jobs out, his fun gone, Kaden sighed softly. If he stuck around, he'd end up roped into helping with customers. There weren't enough hot women in here to want to turn on the charm. So, rather than stick around to see what might come of just sitting around the guildhall sipping whiskey, the S-Class mage aboutfaced and headed straight back out the door. This was a festival, after all, and there had to be something - or someone - interesting out there to keep his attention for at least a few hours. He just needed a distraction long enough to pass the time until more of the guild was back. Or maybe he'd find Tone - that kid liked sparring, so considering the other one was out, he could maybe get a good spar in with a dragon slayer; that was always interesting matches.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kaden Penderghast," called out a smirking blonde man. He laughed softly as he slapped an arm across Kaden's shoulders before they both stopped walking and the other man rounded to stand in front of the Fenixtear mage. "Man, I haven't seen you since that last job you pulled brought you close to Oshibana."

"Nah, you got hit one too many times, Salvis. Last time we saw him was two months when Soryu had us come to Crocus to deal with some stuff. Remember?" The new speaker stopped just behind Salvis' shoulder. Both men stood about even height with Kaden, but sported Steel Hydra guildmarks - Salvis on his left hand, this new mage on the side of his neck.

Kaden smiled, though like the smirks the other two sported, it was anything but friendly. "Teague, Sal, funny running into you two here. How's Oshibana been?"

"Business is as good as ever. But you wouldn't know that, would you?"

"Oh come on, Teague, who can blame glory-boy from looking for easy fame?" Salvis chuckled and nudged Kaden with a friendly elbow. "If I wanted quick, easy money, maybe I'd slum it with some indie trash too. I mean, how long do you really thing the times will be good for a shit guild like Fenixtear?"

"Well, considering we're in the favor of the people, and since their popularity there's been jobs going to us that Crocus hall would usually take...Can't say I'm bored as often here as I was in Steel." Kaden laughed, and Salvis joined him.

The other mage lost his smile to a darkening look in his crimson eyes. "Yeah, we'll see how much you joke about that soon enough. Indie guilds are shit, and Fenixtear is no better. This fame that nothing guild is seeing is fleeting. Especially considering rumor has it your new guild master pretty much shit on the council after that dragon fight. We'll just see how long things stay good if she keeps pulling shit like that."

Kaden laughed more. "Oh, I get it. You're jealous I got attention for leaving the guild and you're still pretty much nothing. Just some sloppy A level that can't stop trying to throw down with someone better than you. Teague, you've been jealous I get preferential jobs since we were both Bs in Oshibana." A toothy grin spread on his face as he leaned forward, eyes narrowing a little in unspoken challenge. "Then I scaled you in power ten fold faster than you ever could make up power. Want to show you're big shit now that I'm an indie guild mage? News flash, just being part of Steel Hydra doesn't make you big shit. Being powerful would - and you'll never be powerful. So might as well set your sights for something other than ever hoping to get into Black Curtain and be realistic. You're stuck with Steel until you retire, mate."

The ground rumbled and cracks formed in the street around the three mages. Pedestrians moved away at the strange occurrence even as Kaden and Salvis laughed. While they didn't react much, Teague threw a punch toward Kaden. Kaden sidestepped, and grabbed his wrist to help knock the other mage off balance and throw him to the ground. "Really? Gotta work on that temper, Teague.

Salvis sighed softly, shaking his head with a smile. "Kaden, you know what happens now..." He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, but the smile never faded. "Can't have an indie rat making us look bad."

Kaden smirked and stepped back a bit. "Nah, you guys will do it all on your own." Then immediately ducked under the next punch thrown his way from Teague, and tackled the guild mage to the ground.






Ria laughed softly. "Yes, you're quite right. Your issue is nothing like Felix's. His is a hereditary trait, not magical overload. That seems like it will take a bit to train up. But perhaps books in either the guild's library, or my personal library, might have suggestions for how to train your body up to your magical power without increasing your current magical power. It likely wouldn't be good to increase your current magic reserve levels until you can handle them. It is certainly unique; I've researched a lot about various magics and this is the first case I've heard of anything like yours."

She shrugged lightly as she watched the sky as they walked. Familiar and comfortable with the city as a whole, she generally didn't need to watch where she was going. It wasn't hard to absently avoid walking into something when you were used to moving around unseen obstacles all day at work. She at least lucked out in not being clumsy. "I also know a few bookstores in Crocus that could possibly help us find something. I'm sure there's a solution out there somewhere that can point to the answer of the question of what is going on, and what could be done to assist you."

Her smile broadened as she looked back at Damian. "Besides, I wouldn't blame your father for this either. It likely has nothing to directly do with his suggestion to not train further with it. Likely this would have come up regardless. Parents do what they believe is best for their children given the understanding they have. Especially if they aren't familiar with the magic at hand. My own parents shared very little in common with my magic, as does my sister. Clan Gospel almost exclusively had ice mages - exclusions being my mother and myself, and even my mother wasn't a water mage." She shrugged lightly. "But we learn and compensate. Seeing a magic doctor was a good first step, but it doesn't sound like he had the full answer. The full answer is out there, I'm sure."



Kali listened as the fox said his peace. She certainly had thought of all that, and he was absolutely right. If she didn't get access to her magic - and a fire - soon after getting the cuffs off, it wouldn't matter. It would certainly matter if she got shocked and couldn't get herself to a fire and overcome the magic of the cuffs. So it was a stalemate. He could shock her without any blowback if she snapped his arm, but if that shock caused another arrhythmia and she couldn't make any headway with the cuffs....they were both more than a bit screwed.

A deep grumbling growl reverberated in the woman's chest. She tensed, tightening her grip and even putting a bit more pressure on the joint as a threat, but ultimately released his arm with a shove. It was more the point of making sure he knew she could break it than breaking it and seeing what might happen. One of them had to relent, and she wasn't in any position to remain the aggressor. Not at the moment. He could win this one battle. She'd win the next.

"Fine." She rolled away, ending in a crouch. Taking a moment to catch her breath, and adjust to waning pain in her chest, she simply glared at him for another few beats. "Alright. A bargain then, a wager if you will." Standing, she looked to the sky. "It's getting dark, sun is setting. Not a great area to be traveling at night. Especially for a slimy fox and an injured mage with magic restrictors on. So camping out here is going to be, unfortunately, our best bet. Unless you think you can deal with the Vulcan, the green wyvern, and the bandits that are in these woods. Vulcan might still be a problem at night - how are you at countering their takeover magic?"

The fire mage looked at Izu. "So, like I said, a wager. I will wager my cooperation against you removing these cuffs for the single night. I heal up over the night, help defend if we get attacked, and you can put the cuffs on if I can't convince you over the course of the evening to not do the completely batshit awful move of taking me back for this bullshit. I won't fight. I won't struggle."
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