Mind Games (Open)

[Palenax]

"It was just too boring and stuffy, Nax. I felt chained. Like I was being forced to accept certain roles, or rules, or codes."

"I can understand that. So stuffy, I'd bet." She lifted her hand, a finger starting to trace over Minerva's hand. "It must feel much better to feel so unrestrained by all of that." She noticed Lily return, but didn't say anything. "Inhibitions are quite the waste of time, you know."

[Shugo]

Shugo food had finally arrived and the boy was happy for it. He immediately began to chow down and paid the waitress only after he took a bite. The tavern owners always demanded money from him immediately. Shugo was not sure if it was because he looked shady or his age. But everyone seemed to think he did not have the money to pay for his meal. As the boy ate he listened in one the conversation of the two women. If it was one thing the road had taught him that spying on other peoples conversations was profitable. One more than one occasion Shugo was able to find a job that way, or to get out of town before a troublesome person came in. The boy was a lot wiser for his years and his hearing was better than most adults.

[Lily]

Lily looked surprised at the barkeep's return, as if she hadn't actually expected the man to return. She perked her head up and blinked, on the spot now.

"I'll just... Hm. Something filling. And a stout to go with it, if you could," Lily said, her decisiveness not exactly being legendary. The man just nodded and disappeared again, seeming to be entirely flustered and not able to think clearly enough to do much else.

"Inhibitions are quite the waste of time, you know," she heard Nax say.

"You don't have any inhibitions yourself, then?" Lily asked curiously. There was doubt in her mind on that, sure, but if it were true then she also couldn't help but wonder what sort of person lived completely without inhibition. And what that sort of person acted like normally.

It seemed like a nice thought.

[Minerva]

"Nax... You seem free of worry. How do you do it?"

The alcohol was beginning to place a slight mist over Minerva's judgement, and she slipped her fingers into Nax's, interlacing their hands as she looked into the other woman's eyes. She was jealous of her carefree attitude, and her laid-back demeanor... It came so naturally to her. With her free hand, Minerva took up her glass and drained it, slumping slightly as she sighed and turned to Lily. "It's unbelievable, right? She's so calm, and collected, and stress-less, and beautiful..."

She felt warm and fuzzy inside, and the more she looked at Nax, the warmer she felt... In fact, it was as if Nax was a light and she was a moth. She found herself inexplicably drawn.

[Palenax]

"You don't have any inhibitions yourself, then?"

"None at all." Nax responded in a whimsical tone before tightening her fingers around Minerva's slighty, denoting a bit of strength beneath the beautiful woman's looks.

"Nax... You seem free of worry. How do you do it?"

"A love of life. Or so I like to so eloquently put it. I have a passion for following through on everything that I desire, you see..." She drew closer to the beautiful mage, her eyes seemed to glint for a moment as she smiled towards the other two woman. "And as it so happens, my passion is for many a cute and beautiful treasure. And I spy two right in front of me that I wouldn't mind indulging myself in."

[Minerva]

"Mmmm?" The feel of the firm grip was soothing. It was warm, like the warmth radiating from her stomach, and the warmth she felt rising to her face in the form of a blush. "What... What do you mean, Nax?"

Minerva was feeling warm and blissfully unburdened. It was if Nax had the ability to drain all of her worries and stresses and send them back to the deepest recesses of her memory, cast aside in favor of happiness and unbridled joy. It was a good feeling, to go with a good liquor. She slid her glass aside. No more. She wasn't out to get wasted, after all. Pleasantly buzzed was enough. Minerva smiled and rubbed Nax's hand gently with her thumb.

[Palenax]

"What... What do you mean, Nax?"

Nax proceeded to stroke the other woman's hand with her own thumb, continuing to smile as her violet eyes looked into Minerva's own eyes. She brought another hand up as she turned more towards the mage, starting to stroke her chin. The warmth all around Minerva seemed to increase as Nax continued in her actions, giving a feeling of security and bliss.

"I wasn't kidding earlier, you know. My tastes are for the much fairer sex." It was quite clear what Nax was getting at, her demeanor growing ever more confidant. "And all inhibitions ever do is just get in the way of true bliss." Her smile seemed to grow a tad as she continued to speak, her voice hypnotic to listen to. "You know what I mean, right? Or shall I offer to show you first hand?"

[Minerva]

"Well... I'm not quite sleepy yet, Nax, but I am an... active learner. Maybe later, you could teach me what you mean...?"

Minerva smiled freely. She had decided that Nax was right. Happiness needed to be pursued actively. She couldn't let her inhibitions keep her from experiencing the fullest life she could live. She would do what she liked, and nobody would stop her!

"Nax... What do you do? I mean, I like fire, and I... make fire... But what do you do?" Minerva asked, summoning gentle flames that wrapped around the two women's intertwined hands, flickering and dancing without harming or burning the other maiden. "They're pretty, aren't they? So free and wild."

[Drax]

As everyone was doing their own thang. Drax would walk into the building. His heavy black leather boots thudded each time he walked. The tall Manakete walked over to the person behind the counter and got himself a tanker. Sipping it slowly, his eyes looked around at the people. Normal people, but a scent of a familiar kind was in the air. One of his own kind was in this very building. Smiling to himself, he set down his tanker on the counter and let his own scent fill the air that only Manakete's could catch up on. Grabbing his drink, he went over to an empty table and sat down. Humming to himself at first, then he would begin to sing lightly.

"Oh has one heard of the demon in flames? Burning those that try to flee. His anger soars like the Wyvern's of Bern. Swallowing the taste of a grown man's Fear. A dragon flies through the night, destroying every village in sight. His crimson scales glows in the flames, he killed his tribe and left in shame. The demon of red is awake again..." Some people in the area around him didn't listen to him as they were in their own conversations or the were just simply to drunk to care.

[Palenax]

"Well... I'm not quite sleepy yet, Nax, but I am an... active learner. Maybe later, you could teach me what you mean...?"

Nax chuckled a bit. Oh, this lovely lass would be quite tired after she was done with her. "Trust me, oh lovely Minerva. I'll show you exactly what I mean." She chuckled a bit more, grinning at the buzzed blunette.

"Nax... What do you do? I mean, I like fire, and I... make fire... But what do you do?"

"I've done quite a number of things over the years. Though I've always thought of myself as a real connoisseur for the finer things. Food, art, and other pleasurable pursuits. I travel the world, taking in all of the beautiful sights." She cooed in the ear of the lovely mage, her free hand continuing to stroke her chin before starting to move down to one of her shoulders, stroking over her neck as well slowly. Everywhere her fingers traveled, they seemed to leave a warm and pleasant feeling behind.

"They're pretty, aren't they? So free and wild."

"Do you know what they say about fire?" The golden Fire Dragon couldn't help but be thoroughly amused by her interest in flames. It was quite fitting of the mage in this instance, even if she didn't realize it, both for what fire represented in the realm of alternate meanings and for the beautiful woman that sat beside the Ilian. "Fire represents passion, the emotions, and even freedom." She chuckled a bit more. "It's truly fitting that you love it so."

[Lily]

The only thing Lily could do at all this flirting was blush. She was in no way, shape, or form used to flirting with... Anyone. At all. Ever. And so she couldn't even think of what to say, becoming a bit withdrawn and uncomfortable. Minerva seemed completely more entranced by it all. Maybe it would be better to leave her to all that, she thought to herself.

After all, all she'd be able to do is stammer and twiddle her thumbs. Coming to Pherae to see the sights or no, some things she just... Wasn't ready for. Should she have pushed herself further into the spot? ... No, she couldn't really bring herself to.

It was a relief, then, once her food and drink came. The barkeep attended to another man's drink who just came in it seemed, but seemed content to sit by himself. Her... She took her tankard in hand and took a long drink. She was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the drink, but regretted that she didn't have the clarity of mind to really take in the details. But at least she felt better now.

"Those who play with fire, they say..." she said with a bit of a smirk. This girl, Nax... She seemed a lot like the fires Minerva was so interested in.

She could only wonder if she burned in the same way.

[Shugo]

As Shugo sat at the table he listened in on the three women conversation. The more he listen to the conversation the more he was starting to believe that he shouldn't. Shugo was young, but he was not dense. It sounded as if the two of them were having a personal conversation. A conversation that usually Shugo was sent out to go play once it started. Shugo had not placed two and two together, but it was a bit uncomfortable. Finally Shugo decided to add himself into the conversation.

"Umm", spoke Shugo as he turned around in his chair toward the three women. "I am not sure if you are suppose to be having that type of conversation in public", spoke Shugo.

[Minerva]

"Those who play with fire, they say..."

Minerva gave a giggle at the adage. "Mmm, I know, we all get burned in the end... But I think the flames love me. They dance for me... They speak to me. They caress me and listen to me, and support me. They light my darkness. So I think that there's no gain without pain... After all, love is a rose, and roses have thorns. Teehee."

To the young boy, she gave a little wink. "Don't worry, little man... We'll be heading to get some rest soon. You'll grow up soon enough, and once you do, I'm sure you'll realize that 'team sleeping' is a great way to relax and bond. Teehee."

[Palenax]

The golden Fire Dragon opted to ignore the boy much like the other one that had walked in. Though, perhaps he was right. Perhaps they should go somewhere more private. Though before she could make the suggestion, her lovely little Mage spoke up to the boy. "Team sleeping", huh? Nax couldn't help but chuckle at that term, that was a first she'd heard.

The rest of the tavern also seemed to start growing quieter and emptier as well. One by one or in groups, the result was all the same with only a few people being left by the end of the evening. Naxe continued to talk and flirt with the blunette awhile more before the latter finally did start to feel tired. Deciding to seize upon the moment that had been presented, the golden haired woman promptly invited Minerva up to her own room, gallantly escorting the lovely human woman up to a night she'd never forget for the rest of her life.

[Thread End]