The beginning with the juices was very creepy. She’s going to be totally dependent on that drug unless something changes.

Evangeline… she was so funny! I wonder if she’s totally lost it though. First treating that mouse like an infant and now trying to set Maxical up with Foxy! She’s such a randy old lady! At least Eyja doesn’t pretend to be proper! And all the discussion of swords...

I hope Maxical goes to Uriel first… she doesn’t know Foxy isn’t really Foxy. I see a trap here. Thanks goodness she decided to not go with Foxy there at least. I feel so bad for Maxical right now!

Argh! Why couldn’t relief come from Mouse juices instead of Vampire juices?!?

And we are still dangling on the edge of Maxical’s cliff. If Uriel was wise, he would have selected himself to perform the task – after all, the chance of a new little Septim in the realm could come in handy during the dark days ahead. . . ahem, oh. Well, seriously, I hope Maxical trusts Uriel’s judgment and doesn’t try to ‘fix’ it. I also hope DaMalan doesn’t twist Uriel’s intent into a mess. Poor Maxical – she is like a cat on a hot tin bed!

JUICY JUICY VAMPIRE JUICE! Geez, this chapter was just thriving with sexual stuff! Kudos! And once again, we see Evangeline and her hookup Maxical plan. Also, "It's a TRAP!", eh?



Hahaha. I just had to quote this part. Poor, poor Maxical! Perhaps Azura can show give her some larger (insert comment here) blessings.



No, no, no! Birds and the Cheese bees! Oh and Khajiit may have barbed swords, but argonians have polished split spears . Just thought I should throw that out there, buahaha! All jokes aside, do explain this "split" fact. Is it really? If so, could you provide a link? I never heard this before. No homo, though.

Good update, love the humor and still wondering when our dear Maxical will save the day(er, sleeping with one of the many presented candidates in the episode).

Actually, that scene was meant to be two women talking with no frame of reference other than gossip or stories (Barenziah).


Technically though, I did research this to give them some possibly accurate gossip:

The Khajiit barbs (as you know) have been verified as being true:

GT Noonan quote: "Only three 'breeds' of Khajiit have the adaptation of barbs discussed in The Real Barenziah."

Douglas Goodall names two, the "Cathay-Raht" and the "Suthay-Raht" - I think the third one GT Noonan referred to would be the Ohmes, because he refers to them as being the manly man's preference to play.

***

On the Argonians, Pete Hines stated unequivically that Argonians are ovoviviparous (eggs mature and hatch completely inside the female Argonian = live birth of hatchlings rather than the laying of eggs).

Greg Keyes said Cloaca, which doesn't exactly jive with Pete Hines statement since Cloaca use respiratory gas exchange for reproduction and (if I understand this correctly) ovoviviparous reptiles do not. If there is a discrepancy, I'm going with Pete Hines version.

I looked up ovoviviparous reptile reproduction for a frame of reference. Depending on the species of reptile, they can have one or two "swords."

Hemipenes - Only one is used at a time (from what I understand, the other stays hidden within their cavity while one is in use), and some evidence indicates males alternate use between copulations. The hemipenis itself has a variety of shapes, depending on species.

Often, the hemipenis bears spines or hooks, in order to anchor the male within the female. Some species even have forked hemipenes (each hemipenis has two tips).


* Penile spines are keratinized spines along the glans and/or shaft that when in full expression contribute to sexual pleasure and quicker orgasms.


I then went to the "sword" expert, AlienSlof. I could only find one Argonian screenshot, but it did appear to have keratinous lumps along the shaft that could have been spines. There was only one "sword," (quite long enough to have been two in tandem).

So technically, Argonian's could have the Hemipenes and penile spines - who knows?



*

This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 10 2012, 10:52 AM

While not of great importance, I did like the detail used to describe the scene where she drank the vampire juices. It was well-written and showed how she felt. Everything else was quite well-done as well, but that really shined.

Wow, you just never know when a discussion of hemipenes will pop up. With the variety of males on offer, Maxical is right to be concerned! Though an Argonian who could deploy both at once should be very popular with the mammals.


Very scary for Maxical to be running low on juice with no scrolls to be found. This passage was so vivid. It took the eew factor away and demonstrated what vampire juice means to the Khajiit women’s basic existence. What a devastating if unintended consequence of Uriel’s Law, especially now that his safety depends on Maxical juicing it up regularly.

The scene with Evangeline was a delight. I love that she gave some good advice and some bad advice, since that happens with real people all of the time. She must be very disturbed by her dreams. Is it from being used and fed upon, or did I miss something else? Argh, sorry!


How funny. Too late, Evangeline! Between the spilts, spines, and barbs, Maxical might go for Eyja after all! Where’s that trout?

There is so much potential for disaster building, I just have to hold on and watch. What a great chapter!!

I'm with Acadian on this one. Uriel should be thinking "If you want a job done properly, do it yourself"

Otherwise it's Baurus from the other side of the room.

*

@ Hazmick - Thank you so much, Hazmick (and Haa-Rei) !!! Neither Maxical or Evangeline are good sources of information about male anatomy, they both get their information from Casta Scribonia’s novels (or “The Real Barenziah“), ROFL !!! Thank you so much Hazmick!

*
@ King Coin - Thank you so much KC! Maxical hasn’t had to face the pain of that seal since the war broke out two weeks ago. The pain is tons worse now because Gils is dead - but Maxical doesn’t know that.



Don’t worry, Khajiit have been using vampire juices (or comforters) for hundreds of years and still do in all the other Provinces. Maxical is in no danger of addiction to the juices themselves, only a dependency on the relief of the pain.

Maxical is afraid the pain will weaken her and Amiela will take over her body - but she doesn’t realize that this is the same pain that drives Khajiit widows to their grave, she thinks it is just the regular seal pain.

That is kind of an indication how tough Maxical really is.

You are right about Evangeline, her mind isn’t her strongpoint emotionally right now, lol. Thank you so much, KC !!!

*
@ Acadian - EW !!! Mouse juices? URK !!! ROFL !!! You made me spray my monitor with that !!! ROFL!!! I think if Uriel and Maxical tried to bed, they would kill each other before the night was over, ROFL !! Can you imagine those two tempers in one bed? Lol. And a baby produced too - you had me in hysterics with this !!!! I loved it, you absolutely made my day with your comment !!! Thank you so very much Acadian!!!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so much Darkness !! I posted the “Split” and “Spined” explanations right after your comment, in case you didn’t see it yet. You had me rolling with your comment, lol. Azura’s breast augmentations, ROFL !!

Neither Maxical or Evangeline have any idea what they are talking about, they get all their knowledge from Casta Scribonia novels. Maxical spent her sex-ed class at the Arcane drawing dirty pictures, lol.

Thank you so very much again, Darkness!

*
@ Zalphon - Thank you so much Zalphon! I really was trying to make the reader feel what Maxical was going through, so I really appreciate what you said! Thanks again, Z!

*
@ Grits -

SPEW! There goes my monitor! ROFL !!

I loved what you said about how that passage “demonstrated what vampire juice means to the Khajiit women's basic existence.”

That is exactly what I was trying to get across. I quoted it on my comment thanks to King Coin - Maxical doesn’t know Gils is dead, but that excruciating pain is what she is experiencing right now. It is really a testament to her inner strength that she is fighting it as well as she is. I so appreciate that you caught what was going on with her.

You didn’t miss anything, and you are absolutely right about those dreams, Malan is still mating/feeding on her while she sleeps - but is implanting the thoughts of Jakben Imbel in her mind. Now he just came in and told Evangeline to seek out Jak because he is looking for a wife. Malan is def up to something here.

Your comments on Evangeline had me in stitches !!

Thank you so very much Grits, you ROCK !!!!

*
@ Ghastley - Baurus from the other side of the room - SPEW !!!! ROFL !!! Thank you so much Ghastley !!


*

*


Chapter 171: The Blind Date


I stood nervously inside the Temple of the One, glancing at each person who entered and turning scarlet if they were male. The searing pain on my tongue was an agonizing reminder that it should have been Gils I was meeting here, that thought was suffocating…it should have been Gils.

This was no place to meet for a blind date. With the war on there was a steady stream of visitors, many marked with ashes on their faces proclaiming they grieved over lost loved ones. Their wailing and moaning echoed around the circular Temple, even reverberating off the dome above me. I could easily have joined their keening the way I felt.

Tears…I’d begun crying even as I left the Battlemages quarters just from the fear of what I was facing. Standing here waiting for the stranger to come, being stared at by everyone this way, the pain of Azura’s seal…now they flowed steadily and my eyes felt swollen and sore from them.

Somehow even in that crowd of mourners it seemed far too many eyes were drawn to me, singling me out with piteous looks as their eyes darted to the brandy bottle clutched in my hand. I was humiliated.

The thought struck me that the man may have already come, then fled when he saw me. I prayed he had.

My tongue felt like a raging fire. I slid the brown vial of vampire juices from my pocket, moving to the far side of the room before tipping it to my mouth. Nothing.

The sun was streaming through the tall stained glass window beside me, I stepped in close and held the vial up into the bluish light coming through. There seemed to be another drop inside, but when I tipped it upside down over my mouth and shook it nothing came out. I leaned my head back further and shook it again, tapping hard on the bottom of the vial and praying to feel even a tiny drop of moisture hit my tongue. Nothing.

“What’s she doing, Momma?” A child’s voice close to me asked. I glanced around and saw a chubby little Breton preschooler pointing up at me.

An old woman grabbed my arm. “Skooma and the drink are evil curses, you are in the right place to get help…“

“Wha? No, this isn‘t Skooma! I have…er…health issues.“

“You need Jeelius to heal what’s ailing you, sister.” She tugged my arm.

“GAAAH! Dear gods, not Jeelius!“ I pulled out of her grasp.

The old woman tottered away shaking her head.






***


Several other people in the temple glanced at me like I was in the throws of addiction, and a mother with two young children was loudly shooing them away from my vicinity. I looked down in shame and noticed a glowing blue aura surrounding me.

Dear gods, the light from the window was illuminating me! It was pointing me out in this crowd, drawing everyone’s eyes to me! I wanted to sink down on the bench and bawl like a child, but then more of these good people may feel the need to rescue me from my errant ways.

There was no dark spot in this temple to hide, but I hurried from the window and leaned my face against one of the cold stone walls. I would have stuck it through the wall if I could have to escape the stares.

The pain of the seal was unbearable without the vampire juices, what was I going to do? Uriel would be able to see the difference, he’d know I’d been using juices all this time.

I tried to get that last drop again; but this time instead of drawing attention to myself by shaking and pounding the bottle I tried just fitting my tongue into the tiny mouth of the vial…oh dear gods, it was stuck!

“Maxical?”

I spun around, the bottle still stuck and dangling from my tongue…it was Janus Hassildor! What the hell was he doing here?

Regardless of the bottle flopping off my tongue, my hands went to my hips and I gave him one of my better glares.

“Wawus? Wha wa hew woo wooing heew?”

And then suddenly it hit me why he was here. This is who Uriel chose for me?

“Oh weer gogs!” I wasn’t sure if I should be livid or…relieved.






***


The burning, the pain of the seal…it was completely gone, just by Janus’s presence. The relief was profound from the desperation of seconds before.

The more I considered it, the better choice I realized Janus was. Any ancient would ease the seal, but Janus didn‘t want my blood. Better yet, he lived all the way off in Skingrad…I’d never see him again. We were already acquainted and comfortable with each other. The only person we knew mutually was Eyja, I doubt he’d discuss bedding me while mating her. I could already feel the fear slipping away. Improper or not, I leaned against him in relief.

“Oh Wawus, I so gwag iw was woo.”

“You are?” Janus stood in stunned silence, and for almost a full half minute I was convinced our squabbling was a thing of the past. Then he spoke.

“Why are you carrying that brandy? And what are you doing with that brown vial, is that illegal drugs?”

“Wo woo iwiow! Iw wuck!”

“What did you say? I can’t understand you, take the bottle off your tongue…OW! It was a joke! Here, let me help you get that off.” He reached up and tugged on the bottle.

“OW! WOP!”

“Maybe if I put something oily in your mouth it would slide off.”

“Wike wha?” I put my hands on my hips and eyed him suspiciously.

“There is a bowl of Frankincense for the worshippers to…”

“WO!”

“Are you saying no or go?”

“WO!” I waved my hand at him to emphasize no.

“This is quite pleasant, actually. You can’t berate me, and if you do I can’t understand…OW! Okay, just let me think.”

“Oh weah, we’we we hew wo weaws.” If he understood the insult, he ignored it.






***


“If it isn’t Skooma, then what is it that you were so desperate for to be sticking your tongue in the bottle?”

My face flushed red. It was an illegal drug, for all I’d called him an idiot. I turned away from him and averted my face when he followed.

“What is it, Maxical?”

“Iw wawiwe wooses.”

“Vampire juices? Oh Maxical, I forgot you were bound. I’d have better served you in finding Gils first instead of Fathis. I could have been helping you ease this till they returned, keeping you stocked in juices. My friend Jak said I should have stayed by your side to ease the pain like those comforters in Elsweyr do, he was right. You poor thing, no wonder you have been so irritable…OW!”

It was just like him to touch on my emotions so thoroughly through sympathy and then follow up with an insult that negated the goodwill even before he finished talking.

“I’m sorry, Maxical. That was uncalled for. Listen, I think I know how we can get that unstuck. You’re going to have to trust me, I have to let my nature out to do it. I give you my vow that I won’t even be tempted by your blood. We’re amongst all these people, you’ll be perfectly safe. Will you let me try? I’ll have to put some of my juices directly into your mouth to do it. When I’m done you can spit them into the bottle and you’ll have some for later. Do you want me to try?”

I gaped at him bug-eyed. Put his juices directly into my mouth? Here, in front of all these people?

“Woos wooses? Woo weaw…wom wewe?” I pointed to his nether regions.

Janus choked and then staggered around in a circular laughing fit while I fumed. “No! They come from my mouth.”

“Oh! Owaa.” I nodded.






***


Even in the large domed room the air became thick with the whopping amount of testosterone he produced. In seconds it became so dense it was hard to breathe. He leaned down to me, cupping my chin to raise my face to his.

The aroma of his cologne wafted in my nose, tingling it with a feeling of hunger like Fathis‘s always had. I breathed it in deeply just as his lips closed over mine and the searing juices shot from his fangs in a rush that filled my mouth. I felt his tongue moving, a gentle tug and the bottle was gone.

Janus lifted his head and pulled the bottle from his mouth, holding it out to me. “Spit the juices into the bottle now. Maxical? Maxical, are you all right?”

“Uuhhaauuuhh.”

“Dear gods, did you swallow that whole thing? I gave you enough to nearly fill the bottle! Oh [Censored]!”

I felt myself being scooped up and carried. Janus sat down on one of the benches with me cradled in his arms. I lay there glassy-eyed, unable to think or move beyond feeling the warmth of him against me and the scent of him wafting in and out with my breaths.

After a while he rested his head on top of mine. “If you needed me I was but a thought away to ease your suffering. I wish you’d asked me instead of resorting to those watered down juices from inferior lines they sell in Elsweyr. What you just swallowed is pure, and from the most elite lines. You don’t need but a taste to keep the pain away. I‘ll make sure you get whatever you need so you don‘t suffer again. I should have realized you would be going through this. We could have searched for your husbands together. I won‘t let you down again.”

“Uuaauuuhh.”

It felt like coming back from another realm as the strength of the juices slowly wore off. I don’t know how long we had sat like that, nor what time of day it was anymore. When I finally woke the rotunda was dark. I sat up quickly.

“Wha…what time is it?” I looked around, we were alone in the temple. “Where did everyone go?”






***


“I had to use mind control to empty it out, then lock the door with a spell that can’t be tampered with for your privacy. I read their minds too, everyone that was in here thought you were a Skooma addict, not to mention your alcohol problem. They assumed I was your supplier due to the dark cowl. Several thought we were using the Temple to sate our lust in the light of the Dragon Fires when I was removing the bottle.”

“Dear gods, I hope none of them work for the Black Horse Courier.”

Janus chuckled. “I was incognito in this cowl, they won’t be able to put shame to my name, only yours.”

“Janus, we have to go. It must be getting late, I can’t be out after dark.”

He pointed to the darkened window. “It is already past dark, Maxical. The vampires have been out fighting for well over an hour. You’ll be perfectly safe in here with me. They can’t pass the spell I put on the door, and wouldn’t dare enter while a line as powerful as mine is inside.”

Stuck in here all night? I glanced around at the hard stone floors and bench slabs. How were we supposed to mate in here?

“There’s no where comfortable in here, though. I’m not really sure how these things work in a place like this. Er, I’m still too wobbly to stand up.”

“Maybe we should work on filling up your bottle again while you’re sitting here, it will be convenient in case you swallow them again. I didn’t have much warning earlier, just barely caught you before you dropped. What I give you is a lot more powerful than what you are used to, it would be better if I just give you a little at a time just in case.”

“Now that you have the bottle, why do you have to transfer the juices? Why not just spike the bottle on a fang and let it squirt in?”

“The fangs are living tissue, Maxical. They are sensitive to being spiked onto vials.”

“Oh, sorry. Janus…er…aren’t vampires kind of like…uh…undead? How do you put out so much heat?”

“The nature is a fire that runs through our veins, a different kind of fire. Like those juices you drink or that brandy; it burns inside you till you sweat from the heat of it, but isn‘t hot to your finger’s touch. The juices are living fluids, they fuel what drives us…our lusts, our sensuality. In battle they become icy, and like a corrosive acid . Standing close to me in combat you‘d feel the chill of the grave.”


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 13 2012, 12:01 PM

See now, I like Hassildor... ...He's goody goodie... ...

Just like I liked Angel, that one from Moonlight (who's now in Hawaii five-O), Blade and those good ones from Twilight...It's all about the intent...

But - just for a change - I digress...

Fantastic chapter!!...

Much laughing at the bottle being stuck...Well worked out speech...I suspect you spent many an hour recording yourself with much the same predicament... ...

As I said, I loved the whole thing with Hassildor...I think he's an excellent character in Oblivion, and all of my characters have had decent dealings with him...Them all living just down the road from Skingrad and all... ...

Brilliant stuff...Love it!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

oooh is Hassildor really there for the reason Maxical thinks he is? I have a sneaking suspicion that he is not, I guess i'll find out soon enough if he is though then I'm glad it's him, he's a great guy.

good chapter though, I loved all the disgruntled temple goers mistaking our kat for a skomma addict!

“Oh weer gogs!”


This whole episode was magnificent! What a blend of pain and fear and misunderstanding and rolling laughter and hijinks as only you and Maxical can deliver! Oh, well done, mALX!

Yes, she could do worse than Janus. At least he’s a handy juice dispenser!

*Smiles* The pains of drug addiction--captured flawlessly. I really liked this whole chapter, mALX. Truly--one of your best pieces.

Hehe this looks like so much fun!

I think I may need to read the summary at the beggining of the story (thank you SO much for putting that there )

I can't wait to get started

Where's Foxy?

The ashes on the face of the mourners was a neat detail.

She still has the brandy!? I feel bad laughing at her, but that’s so funny! Are you kidding me? The bottle’s stuck to her tongue???

“This is quite pleasant, actually. You can’t berate me, and if you do I can’t understand…OW! Okay, just let me think.”
Oh my… this is so funny!! The banter between the two of them is hysterical!

Maxical thought the juices came from where?

“I was incognito in this cowl, they won’t be able to put shame to my name, only yours.”
What a relief?

What a great chapter!

Gosh I’d be willing to risk accidental injury and give Maxical a hug right here. And on top of her pain she has the humiliation of well-meaning gawkers pitying her for the wrong reason!


Oh my goodness, with her tongue stuck in the bottle! This whole scene was priceless. I love it every time Janus and Maxical get together, they are sweet and hilarious and a little bit awkward and a lot hot all at the same time.


Clearly that is one of the PRE-marital Dunmer Mysteries.

I love Janus’ explanation of what the juices are to vampires, and how he gives off heat or cold depending on the circumstances.

Hmm, all night transferring juices by the light of the Dragonfires… that sounds pretty romantic. Is Janus wearing a greatcloak? That might seal the deal!! I loved this chapter!!

Ha, wow, thanks for the information. You broke it down quite well! It only makes perfect sense! Just as the male cats' member is, well, you know. Likewise for lizard. I learned something new last week! Thanks.

I would agree with Mcbadgere here. Janus Hassildor IS my favorite NPC in Oblivion. Hands down. Okay, the vampire juices part . . .sort of left my mind in a heaping pile of all things dirty. But Janus is still the noble fellow I knew him to be from Oblivion, of course, he's still a kick butt vampire who still feeds .



Oh my. Seriously, Maxical? Hahaha! This had me cracking up.



I freaking loved this part. This right here is some nice info on the juices and how it drives the vampiric individual! Blood, lust, and the pride of life baby! Great chapter, loved the little children hahah. Especially the chunky Preschooler.

*

@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McB! I did practice that ‘bottle on the tongue‘. First wrote what I wanted her to say, then held onto my tongue and read them aloud, lol.

I like Hassildor too, he is my favorite vampire in the game. The un-modded game has Hassildor yelling stuff like “Give me your blood, I need your blood” in combat, and the first time I heard him say that on that Mages Guild quest - I was terrified of him for a while, lol. Now Maxical hangs out in his chambers, and without mods he’s only tried to kick her out once.

Thanks again, McB!

*
@ Hazmick - Thank you so much Hazmick! You are right in your sneaking suspicion, lol. I like Hassildor too.

There is a glitch in the un-patched game where he wanders around Cyrodiil occasionally, I saw two vids of him doing it. In one he was roaming Bravil and burning in the sunlight, the other he popped up in a random cave and told the Player that they were trespassing, lol.

I keep my game un-patched just to enjoy these random things, and they always get written into my story, lol.

Thanks again, Hazmick!

*
@ Acadian - You had me rolling with that “Handy juice dispenser” - the first thing I thought of was those “PEZ” dispensers where the head tips back and candy pops out, lol. Thank you so very much, Acadian !!!

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@ Zalphon - Technically not drug addiction, but I did want to capture that exact desperation for the juices! Thanks so much Z!

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@ Heather V - I was tickled to see you here, thank you so much for reading! I do need to update that summary, but it should bring the reader up to chapter 110 (I think). I love your story so far too! Thank you so much Heather V!

*
@ Ghastley - I have to agree with you, I usually get an email at home from Foxy on stuff like that! When something like that gets by him, I start worrying that he is still among us! Thank you so much Ghastley!

*
@ King Coin - Your comment made my day! Thank you so very much KC! Maxical’s lack of paying attention in school I guess, but what kills me is that she has been drinking the juices all this time thinking that, ROFL!! Thank you so much again, KC !!

*
@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! I love what you said here, the things that stood out to you - you made my day! And you are right, between Janus’s isolation stunting his social skills and Maxical’s naivety and temper - they take over the keyboard every time I do a scene with them together. I have to cut 70% of their scenes just to move the story ahead or their arguing and squabbling would take 3-5 chapters each time, lol. Thank you so very much again, Grits! I so appreciate you!

*
@ Darkness Eternal - You voiced exactly why I had that iffy question on the Argonians. I figure if Bethesda stuck so closely to reality on the cat/Khajiit, they may do the same with the Argonians. They did, Pete Hines made that announcement (but neglected any details about spines or hemipenises, lol).

Maxical and Evangeline are always half rumor and half guessing whenever they talk about anything, it gets worse when they discuss anything sexual, ROFL !!!

Hassildor is my favorite vamp, love his castle and in my game I’ve remodeled that “Lost chamber” that his wife stayed in to make it a hide-away for Maxical when she was a werewolf in her last story. When I had to reload the game, Rona appeared back in there, but glitched. I got some screens of it, it was some scary [censored]!

I hoped you’d like that last section explaining how the juices are the driving force of the vampire nature in them, it means a lot that you did! Thank you so very much Darkness!


*

*


Chapter 172: Misunderstandings And Promises



Janus handed the brown vial back to me. “Does Traven realize you are using vampire juices?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t told him, and he’s never asked.”

“Would he look the other way?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never done anything illegal before that I know of.”

“By law he’s supposed to report you. You’re taking a huge risk having them right there in Uriel’s chambers.”

“I know. I don’t think Uriel will put me to death or even jail me since Akatosh appointed me to him, but he may be disgusted with me for it. I couldn’t stand that, not when he’s finally starting to like me.“

“Akatosh has appointed you to him? What does that mean?”

“Gils almost died. I swore mine and my firstborn’s lives to Akatosh in exchange for Gils‘ life. Not days later Uriel knew it all, Akatosh had contacted him in a dream. He knew about the promise, about Gils…everything. It was supposed to begin when I turned twenty-one, but because of this war I was called in early.”

“Do you know what you have to do?”

“Whatever Uriel orders me to do, that‘s why I‘m here. But Akatosh…yeah, I know what his task is. I can‘t tell you anything about it, other than I‘ll not live long enough to give him that firstborn.”

“Maxical! Can’t someone stand in your stead?”

“No. Fathis and Gils both offered, so did my father. Uriel said Akatosh chose me, and that I shouldn’t make promises to gods and not intend to keep them.”

“Maxical, I don‘t want you to misunderstand what I am about to say. If you fear death and wish it, just ask and I will give you immortality. I’ve never offered to share my line with another soul, but…”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to be a vampire, no offense.”

“None taken, just know if you change your mind that the offer stands. It isn’t a life I would have chosen for myself, but has its benefits. The detriments are the isolation if you live here in Cyrodiil, but you‘d likely be given Diplomatic Immunity from the law. The other Provinces have no restrictions.”






***


“I don’t want to have fangs. Find a way to separate out Dagoth-Ur‘s immortality and I‘d consider taking that.“

“I understand. It isn’t pleasant when pretty Khajiit girls say ’urk’ when they see my face.”

“I’m sorry about that, Janus. I was brought up to draw my sword if I saw fangs. Give me time to get used to them, and I promise I won’t say ’urk’ anymore…Gaaah! What happened? You just tripled in heat and started putting out enough testosterone to impregnate the whole city.”

“Ancients like to hear the word ‘promise’, it’s a bond we take very seriously. The word ‘forever’ is the same. They excite the nature. While I’m producing juices, turn around and face me. Let’s fill that bottle up.”

“Okay.”

There was something a little too intimate about facing him while sitting on his lap. My cheeks flushed with so much heat I was sure my face must look like a tomato. I pushed my knees onto the hard bench and fought the jelliness in my legs trying to rise up off his lap, but was a little too wobbly to stay that way without leaning on him.

“Don’t fret, Maxical. Just seek your own comfort, I guarantee you are safe with me. I will never do anything you have not sought me to do, you can trust me.”

Without the bottle in my mouth it felt every bit of being kissed, but…more. A kiss on skooma maybe. I drew back.

“It feels like kissing.”

“It is, in a way. It‘s a vampire kiss. That’s the only way to pass the juices.”

“Ew, you and Hannibal? Urk.” I got a visual in my head at the thought.

“No! And I’m certainly glad you learned the juices come from my mouth before you got that visual image in your mind.”

“Gaaah! Now you put it there!”

“Stop it!”

“Stop eavesdropping on my thoughts then, I can‘t control what pops into my head. I wish I had that ability though, it must be loads of fun.”

“Most of the time all I hear is Hal-Liurz thinking of household arrangements.”






***


“What was the worst thing you ever learned listening in on people’s thoughts?” I deliberately held an image of Ocato nose-picking in my mind.

“That! Stop it, that is disgusting. You did that on purpose?”

“HA! Yes. I knew you were still eavesdropping on my mind.”

“I’ll confess if you don’t show me that again. It isn’t something I can control when the vampire nature is out, Maxical. It is innate, a part of its defense. The nature defends itself by every means available at all times when it is released. Most vampires keep theirs out at all times. I‘d never released mine till I came here. My friend Jak taught me more about being a vampire in one month than I’d learned in the fifty years since the attack.”

“It sounds kind of like the leopard that is part of me, except I don’t know how to release it at will. It happened once when I was being attacked by a Bloodworks full of prisoners, instincts just took over. I couldn’t bring it out at will though. I’ve seen a Khajiit that used her leopard, a girl not much bigger than me. She was fighting one of Malan’s giants with a sword, but her movements were all cat. For what I’ll be facing in this task for Akatosh, I’ll need to use every resource available to me. Maybe my beast is released the same way yours is, how do you do it?”

“Mine came out instinctively the first few times too. Try calling on it within yourself when you are doing something over your own capability. The more you call on it, the more readily available it should be.”

“I’ll try it, thank you. So Janus, er…how did Hannibal get all those samples from you?”

“Traven stabbed the roof of my mouth with a dagger every time he obtained the juices from me. It forces the fangs to extend, and is a very painful process.”

“Oh dear gods! Oh Janus, I don’t want to do that.”

“Neither do I. Here’s an idea, just imagine yourself a scientist and that I’m the subject of your experiment. Would that help?“

“That might help. My pack is at the Palace, do you have a white lab coat in yours that I can use to pretend with? What’s so funny?“

“Nothing. Let‘s just do this.”






***


What started off with embarrassment slowly changed till my fear of what I came here to do was gone. I hated to admit it, but Uriel chose well in Janus. His reticence to act till I was ready put me at ease in spite of the intimacy of what we were doing.

We were locked in here till morning anyway, and all but kissing already in transferring the juices. I’d rather get it over with tonight and just go back to the Palace. All the easy camaraderie between us here would be lost going to that romantic mansion. It would feel awkward.

Janus had proven truthful about not being interested in my blood, his nature had been out fully for hours and he never even ‘accidentally’ brushed my neck with his fangs. And…it had become slightly obvious he was interested. This time it was no bunching of his velvet suit, he was ready. I guessed he was probably waiting for me to give him the okay.

Twice I caught myself from giving response when his mouth was on mine before I got my courage up. The third time I looked up into his cowl while I spat the juices into the bottle, then set it down in the window sill behind him. It was now or never.

When he covered my lips with his this time I put both my arms around his neck, pulling back his cowl and drawing his head down to me. I felt his gasp against my mouth and his arms tighten around me before I responded, using the best Dunmer mystery I knew in a full kiss. Maybe that was my mistake, Janus isn’t Dunmer.

If I had set out to start a fire, it worked too well. His frenzied response was short lived and over before either of us had removed a stitch of clothing. It was already too late by the time I remembered Eyja’s spell. His breathing was so ragged he could barely gasp out his words.

“Holy Psijic [censored] [censored] [censored]! What the hell was that?”

“Er…a kiss?”

“That was a kiss? [censored] [censored]! That was the full [censored] act!

“Well, I see that now. I…er…forgot you were Imperial.”

“What?”

“I mean…er…we’re stuck in here for the night anyway, right? I thought we could…uh…you know…just get it over with now.” How could I explain that I didn’t want to go to that romantic mansion?






***


“Maxical! I’ve acted the gentleman, doing nothing that would make you feel uncomfortable about being stuck in here with me! Vampires are creatures of lust, driven by blood and sex. I’ve smothered my nature these fifty years, I never want to be connected with them! I am not like them.”

“Oh…OH! Huh? Wait, what does that mean? You won’t take what I’m offering you? Is it because we’re here in this Temple?”

“No! Yes! No! You took me by surprise! Shocked me is more like it! I blame that kiss, what kind of kiss was that?”

No sense telling him it was a Dunmer mystery. I spread my arms and did an all encompassing shrug.

“I am Khajiit.”

“Holy Psijic [censored] [censored] [censored], I just became a cat loving person! [Censored] [censored] [censored] [censored] [censored] [censored]!”

I was in awe. “Geez Janus, you must be the best curser in Tamriel! It was like a stream of them, you never even repeated any! What does [censored] mean? I’ve never heard it before, is it really filthy or just vile and disgusting? Can I say it to Ocato?”

“I don’t know, I think I just made it up. Maxical, did you mean what you just said? You are offering yourself to me? You want me to be the first one? Are you serious?”

Dear gods, did he not understand why Uriel sent him here? Maybe I’d better spell it out to him.

“I am, Janus. I thought it over, and I’m glad it was you that came today. I have to lose my virginity, will you take it from me? I’m asking, but the choice is yours.”

“I probably should be asking questions, but I won’t…just this one. Are you making a promise to me, Maxical?”

A promise? Did he mean not to start something I wasn’t going to finish? That must be it. I nodded.

“It’s a promise.”






***


Eyja said she didn’t know any secrets to enticing ancients, she should have tried using the word ’promise’. It is like waving a red flag at a bull to rile the beast in them. Janus’s nature was definitely incited, the testosterone was so overwhelmingly thick in the air that I was nearly choking from it.

The Temple wasn’t the ideal place, with only a stone floor and hard backless benches. The setting and atmosphere were not romantic, but a comfortableness and trust seemed to have developed between Janus and I that…if I had to be with a stranger anyway, I would rather it be him than any other.

This time Janus was not transferring juices, he was kissing. Long and lingering in a way that didn’t feel like his goal was sex, but establishing intimate bonds that were made to last.

Any other time I probably would have appreciated him taking the time to make it romantic. I don’t know why, but inside me was a feeling of urgency; wanting to get the act completed fast…a suffocating feeling, like doom bearing down on us and tension building within me. I wished he’d just hurry.

“Janus…something feels like danger, please…just hurry before it’s too late. Just do it now so I‘ll be safe, please! GAAAAH!”

The crash of shattering glass came a split second before the raining shards imploded on us. High up on the dome the hugest giant I had ever seen was leaping through the stained glass with the grace of a leopard. The look on his face was enraged…demonic.

“It’s Malan!” I gasped. Fear shot cortisol through my veins till they felt filled with frozen gel. My spine felt like ice, and the chill of a tomb was an aura coming off Janus as I scrambled off him. In the blink of an eye he was nearly as large as Malan.


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Sep 17 2012, 07:58 PM