A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Adventures, The Truth Behind The Oblivion Crisis Options

[Zalphon]

I really enjoyed the description, Maxical. Also, cool spell

[Remko]

Wow.... a whirlwind of fur, claws and fists..... Poor attackers

[Destri Melarg]

Dormant instincts for self preservation welled up in me, pushing my feet to the corner so no one could flank me. I kicked my shoes off as I moved and my claws unsheathed and extended of their own volition. I was trembling, my eyes widened and my ears pinned to my head. I felt my hackles rising, the fur spiking out stiffly as the blood in my veins thickened and gelled. My tail slapped the walls behind me in a rapid beat.

You should stop selling yourself short as a writer, mALX. Details like this (especially the tail) are why people hang on Maxical’s every word!

Somehow it seems strange that Gils would extend himself so much to save Maxical. Is his motive fear of what Agronak might do to him? Or is there something else going on?

[mALX]

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy! Er...Foxy? Is that good or bad? You ROCK !!

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@ Acadian - Thank you very much Acadian! I got my tips on that from Hauty!! Of all the chapters for her to miss! ARGH! Lol.

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@ MyCat - Thank you so much MyCat!!! There is another Oblivion story on this site that has me in hysterics every time I read it, there is at least one crotch kick per chapter - the two chapters of the character's meeting with Lucien Lachance had me spraying drinks for days!

WOO HOO !!! X rated pot boilers! Yeah! I got the "Basic Instincts" on my Oblivion game and thought it was just a fun way to strip NPC's temporarily - till one day in the Skingrad Mages Guild when I accidentally hit Druja with it. Then I got Stoker, who is supposed to love your character - Maxical folds her arms and turns away every time she sees him. He balls his fists up and turns away from her every time she walks in the room. - they hate eachother! I have had the mod over 6 months and they have not grown any closer, so I stuck him in the cellar with Eyja the Skingrad maid. He's all friendly to her, lol. (if they are having relations I have not caught them at it yet, but he is supposed to at some point).

Thank you so much MyCat! It is great to see you over here!!!

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@ Zalphon - Happy Birthday Zalphon!!! Thank you so much! Oh, that is a higher power all Khajiit come with, but it can only be used once a day.

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@ Remko - Thank you so much Remko! Maxical will go down fighting, lol.

***

@ Destri - Thank you so very much Destri!! That paragraph you quoted was the first thing written, I wrote the chapter around it. Hauty sent me a PM over at the BGSF that gave me every cat scenario and the actions the cat would be expected to display, I saved it and refer back to it a lot - that paragraph came from her knowledge and what I've seen on my own front porch with my feral colony of cats I tend, lol.

Gils is a caretaker type. (in my story) - Owyn's right hand man due to his longevity in the Bloodworks. He probably would have done that for anyone, but he does have a weakness where Khajiit are concerned.

[mALX]

*


Chapter 27: The Aftermath


When it was over Owyn was staring at the logbook of injuries with a dazed look on his face. “If this happened in the Arena it would be the special event of the century! A cage match! The Arena would be filled to capacity! A bare hands meet, I can have the cage built for it. You two against a cage full of Pit Dogs…the box office draw would be sensational! Maxical, what did you call that move?” Owyn jabbered excitedly.

I glanced over at Gils, but he looked noncommittal. “Decapitation. Cutting the heads off one end or the other.”

“Do you realize what a draw this will be?“ Owyn actually laughed. “Look at this! Gils, this is a list of the damage you did, it’s incredible! One guy lost his eye and half his face from your fist! Maxical, this is your list. Astounding that you two did this, just the two of you.”

Owyn pulled out his playbook of moves for us to use out in the Arena. “Both of you, I want a debriefing of moves you used. Gils, if you can think up names for your moves like Maxical did that is even better. I don‘t want you to mention any of this to anyone, do you hear me? This is top secret! I don’t want Haki beating me to it. No one but the three of us are to know about this. You two are going to have to start training together to coordinate your moves, and I don‘t want it done out here where someone could see you and start talking. From now on you'll train in with Pork Chop.”

I tried to give Gils a meaningful look but he seemed to be going along with Owyn's idea.

“When I was in the orphanage I heard some of the older Legion talking about something they used to do in a cage called a ’Rumble’. They would start each match by yelling…” I started and Owyn joined in.

“Let’s get ready to rumble!” Owyn’s eyes were lit up remembering it. “We’ll have to get permission from the Arena first, releases.”

I crossed my fingers that Jack would refuse it.





***

Owyn told Gils and me to brainstorm ideas to get the crowds behind us again once the arrests became public. Every time one of us thought of something he wrote it down.

“That band in the stands does nothing during the matches. I think we should have a certain song that is played each time any Blue team member sets foot in that chute and is heading up to the Arena. You will have to draw up a contract so the band is bound legally and can’t do the same for the Yellow team. You know, a song that makes everyone want to get up out of their seats.”

Owyn hooted. “That’s a great idea Maxical! But you can’t come out dancing, I’ve seen you dance before. What about…” He went on to list off some songs Gils and I had never heard of before. When we told him that he started singing them.

"You think you mixed silver, blue diamonds, and yellow grass!"
The King laughed, "Look up, Faer, up to the ceiling glass.
The light falling makes the ingredients you choose
Quite different hues."
"What do you get," asked the floating voice, bold,
"Of a potion of red diamonds, blue grass, and gold?"


I looked over at Gils, he rolled his eyes. “What is that song you were singing the other day during practice? I liked that one.” I poked Gils to sing something so Owyn would quit singing those old songs.

“Which one do you mean?”

“The one that said ‘fight, fight, fight’ in it. I can‘t show you, I’m banned from singing in the Bloodworks.”

“Yeah, well that was by massive request.” Gils said, then quickly dodged the tail hit I aimed at him. Gils sang a good rendition of his song for Owyn, he has an excellent singing voice.


“I'm not a slave to the gods
That doesn't exist
But I'm not a slave to a world
That doesn't give a [censored]

And when we were good
You just closed you eyes
So when we are bad
We'll scar your minds

Fight, fight, fight, fight”


I looked over at Owyn. “What do you think?”

“That is so modern, what about…

Now I know thou jest.
My boon Mate Darfang wouldst not fail.
There be no finer Bladesman.
If thou chargest him, he wouldst not fall."


Owyn started, but Gils and I both cut him off.

“We want something modern.” We both said in unison.

“Do that other one Gils, the one I love best.”

Gils sang again.


“New blood joins this earth
and quikly he's subdued
through constant pain disgrace
the young boy learns their rules

with time the child draws in
this whipping boy done wrong
deprived of all his thoughts
the young man struggles on and on he's known
a vow unto his own
that never from this day
his will they'll take away”


“What about that Owyn? Those old songs will only draw in a dying audience. We want to get the younger crowd in, a new generation of fight fans. And if we get a song with a good beat and lyrics people will be singing it every where they go, that is free advertising.” I looked over at Gils for support.

Gils sat up. “Salomon Geonette might write us our own song. But she’s right, it has to be something powerful and upbeat.”

“Those songs are classics. They aren’t affected by time.” Owyn declared.

“You gotta have modern music Owyn. Think about it. It could start off with an extended kettle drum roll to build the crowds into a frenzy…” Gils was tapping his hands on the metal table to mimic the sound.

“Yeah, something that sounds like thunder rolling in. We could call ourselves Blue Thunder.” I added.

“Exactly, make their hearts race. We'll run up the chute to the sound, then as we actually appear at the head of that chute it will be climatic!”

Owyn and I both stared at Gils for a moment.

“Keep your mind on the music Gils!” Owyn ordered. “We’re going to need every bit of this when Hassiri’s article hits the streets. We’ll have to get the crowds back behind us again.” Owyn said, then looked over at me while Gils was insisting he had been talking strictly about music.

“How did you get out?”

“I…escaped. They took me from my cell in the middle of the night. I was afraid they meant to hurt me.“

“How the hell did you escape?“ Owyn asked, staring at me with his eyes bugging.

“I disappeared.” I proved it by going chameleon, then dispelled it.

“And you were stupid enough to come where they would look for you?”

“I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Gils’ stared hard at me but didn’t say anything.

“I’ll bet that is why Jack demanded I see him right away.” Owyn said, glaring at me.

“They torture beasts in prisons Owyn. I had to escape.”

Gils distracted Owyn. “What was that thing you did tonight that made them all run like that? I was fighting two at once and suddenly everyone was running away like Dagon was after them.”

“That was my ‘Eye of Khajiit’.”

“Is that what you did in your last fight that made the man wet his pants?” Gils asked.

“Yeah. It has that effect sometimes. We will have to work out a signal between us so when I am going to use it you look away. It effects anyone it hits and doesn’t know who is friend or foe. You make up a signal that you will remember and I will learn it. And no tricks this time.”

Gils had taught me false signals that almost got me banned from the Arena when I was a Pit Dog.

Gils gave a wicked laugh, then looked up with excitement. “Hey, on the billboards they could do caricatures of the moves where they exaggerate my fist or Maxical’s claws, and have the name of the move above it so the crowd could scream the moves when they see them, or chant for them. They could put a different billboard in each window. Make one for her ‘Eye of Khajiit’ that shows Pits running away with terrified faces. For the ‘Decapitation’ they could show her claw oversized with trails behind it and a head flying. My fist one could show a guy‘s eye flying, half his head gone or something.” Gils grabbed one of Owyn’s parchments and started drawing what he was describing.

“Maybe we could ask some of the storefronts in the Market District to allow us to hang some advertisements for the cage match in their front windows. Or post them on the city gates between Districts. We may have to lay out a few Septims in bribes for it though. And definitely invite Hassiri and his brothers, we need the press back on our side.” I watched Gils drawing the caricatures. “You draw really well Gils!”

Owyn picked them up as he finished. “Gils these are great! What an idea! I want you both to work out names for any move that will get the crowds attention. Gils, can you do these billboard sized?”

“I can do them better than that if they are bigger.”

“Would you do the billboards for the cage match? These are much better than the ones that snotty artist has been doing for the Arena billboards, and I‘ll give you a bonus if you do. Can you draw a cage in the background? I want to bring these with me when I talk to Jack.”

“Better not bring him the drawing of the decapitation, I promised him I would try not to do it anymore. I didn‘t promise anything on the goring though.”

“Well, we have to be upfront with him, we want him on our side.” Owyn looked hard at me. “Can you decapitate someone using just your claws?”

“No, of course not. It is just psychological warfare in melee. Even superficial head wounds bleed profusely, so I just claw their head and it bleeds so heavily everyone thinks someone has been decapitated. They are more hesitant to attack then and gives me the advantage.”

“Good answer. I’ll take these with me when I talk to Jack.”

Before going to talk to Jack Owyn called an emergency meeting. I hovered close to Gils when the ones I had clawed came waddling in with their bandaged crotches and heads.

“All right everybody, listen up. I am going to be scheduling your fights in a three day rotation instead of five. That means three-a-days training and mandatory curfew. We have to make up for the revenue lost from the recent problems. I don‘t tolerate attacks like these on my fighters…”





***

Owyn told Gils and me to get some rest while he went to talk to Jack. We went in the bathing room and locked the door, not knowing how long Owyn would be gone. I picked a clean mat in the corner of the back wall and Gils pulled another mat in front of mine so someone would have to step on him to get to me.

He stretched out on his mat facing away from me, probably so I would feel at ease with his close proximity. I was exhausted but sleep wouldn’t come, and my fidgeting must have been disturbing Gils.

“You want me to sing for you?”

“Would you? You know which one.“

Gils voice echoed strangely in the bathing room, but still it relaxed me enough that I drifted off. When I finally did though, the images I had been fighting were released to haunt me; visions of the men’s faces as they were attacking, what could have happened to me if Gils hadn‘t charged through the mob the way he did. The thought of Claudius Arcadia’s daughter and what she went through.

I heard Gils’ voice calling me quietly, “Maxical, wake up. You’re having a bad dream.”

I woke up sweating and my face was drenched from crying in my sleep. I tried to sit up and found I was shaking too badly. “Gils?”

“What?”

“Thank you for saving me today. When I felt there was no hope I looked up and saw you charging through them all…I don‘t know what I would have done if you hadn‘t been there.”

“Shh, don’t think about that anymore. The fear will take you over if you do.”

“I think it already has.”

“What is it then? Talk to me.”

“…The look… on their faces and…Claudius Arcadia’s daughter.”

“You think he was among them?”

“I don’t think it matters, the result would have been the same if you hadn‘t helped me.“


*

This post has been edited by mALX: May 30 2010, 11:07 PM

[D.Foxy]

It is clear that SOMEONE has been watching way, waaaaaaay too much World Wrestling Entertainment and UFC.



My god...Dearest and most Beloved Red Riter, this story has NOT 'taken on a life of its own'. Since you are a cat, it's taken on NINE lives of its own!!!

[haute ecole rider]

No, I haven't missed anything!

Sometimes I just can't think of any constructive comments.

Oh, and how you described Maxical's reaction to the attack is spot on!

[Acadian]

I'm with Owyn; I like the older fashion stuff better too.

Gils seems like not a bad sort. I liked your reference to the daughter of Claudius Arcadia and the fate she suffered. I can understand why that would haunt Maxical.

“You think he was among them?”

I don't understand who 'he' is in this context. Can you 'splain for this old, slow paladin?

[mALX]

@ Foxy - Oh dear. Oh no. Should I start deleting chapters instead of posting them? - ARGH !!!! - I can always have it turned down of course...

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@ Hauty - Thank you so much Hauty! I used your PM at the BGSF for those details, I saved it to refer back to. There is more coming up that I got directly from it - stuff I knew nothing about till you sent me that. You ROCK!!!!

Oh, if you have a criticism, please post it! I'm running blind here without guidence, and you see where it is taking me!!!!! I'm like a loose horse here, someone grab the reins - quick !!! Lol.

I was thinking about doing what you did except dividing it up by Themes. This could be the Arena questline (if I can ever figure out how to edit the title) and the next could be "The Inept Assassin" or something.

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@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !! Gils is not a bad guy at all, but he does have at least one major flaw.

Maxical was remembering the rape on Claudius Arcadia's daughter.

Gils asked, do you think HE was among them (the rap - ist)

Maxical said, it doesn't matter, the result would have been the same if you hadn't helped me - in other words ( she would have been rap - ed and murdered if Gils had not been there to help her).

This post has been edited by mALX: May 27 2010, 05:54 PM

[Olen]

As with Haute I haven't missed anything and just couldn't think of anything useful to say.

Her reaction is well handled and she is showing quite an ability in advertising... she should set up her own agency and get paid far more

I'm not quite sure about Gils, he seems alright but I still don't trust him, good building of tension there.

[Destri Melarg]

Ah, I was beginning to wonder if Owyn would see the financial benefits to be gained by restaging that fight in the Arena.

Your song lyrics were an absolute pleasure to read. Are they all original?

“Exactly! Make their hearts race as we run up the chute! Then when we actually appear at the head of that chute it will be climatic!”

Owyn and I both stared at Gils for a moment.

“Keep your mind on the music Gils!”

[mALX]

@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I can see it now, a promotion where she dumps live turkeys off the top of a tower (not knowing they can't fly) ; or she could bring a live bull to the Market District to advertise "No Bull, Thoronir has the best prices in town" and the bull stampede the streets - or breeds that statue of a horse...

I may just do that later on Olen, thanks for the idea!!!

***

@ Destri - Thank you, Thank you so very much for that PM critique!!!! I made the changes you suggested, I hope it reads better now!!!! You ROCK !!!!!





********************








Chapter 28: Secrets In The Bloodworks


“Gils…I know Owyn gets a percentage of the Box Office receipts and he could get pretty rich off that cage match. But why do you want to do it? I mean, you almost got killed today.”

“I noticed you didn’t look too excited when Owyn was talking about it. Maxical, you face death every time you step out in that Arena, and for a lot less income than you can make on a special event like this. Owyn told you before you signed the contract your first day that someone dies every match. You live for the crowd or die for it.”

“I thought that was just a motto.”

“That’s how they keep stocked with Pits, naïve kids thinking it’s all a bunch of sword play or the one with the biggest hammer wins. It’s all skill and odds out there.”

“You mean like gambling?”

“Exactly. Every time you step out there you are gambling that your skills are higher than your opponent’s. Either way, there is always one loser that won’t be going home that night. Owyn‘s training increases the probability in your favor, but you never know when Haki is going to slide a ringer in there.”

“That’s what he did my last fight.”

“He has done it on several of your fights, that’s just the first time you realized it. Maxical, you know why I’ve stalled my career, because I won’t fight Aggie. But I’ve earned as much in these special events as the Yellow Gladiator has and he has to fight every five days. You do a few of these and you will have your golden armor.”

“It pays that well?”

“Look at your contract under the clause for special events. You get a small percentage of the Box Office for the event as a bonus. I got five percent last time, but there has been a cost of living increase since then. My take will be higher than yours because of my rank. And Owyn is right, it will be standing room only for an event like this. We could all come out of this one well off.”

I watched Gils spinning Agronak‘s ring on his finger.

“What about in here today? You weren‘t paid, and could have easily walked away but you didn’t…you faced death without a thought.”

“I saw the look on your face and knew I needed to do something, even if we both went down.”

“That’s the stuff heroes are made of.”

“Ach. You’ll give me a big head. Listen, you can trust me for now. I won‘t be trying you in here.”

“Is this a truce?”

“Just temporary. I can’t protect you and try at the same time, you know. I’ll warn you when the games begin again.”

“Deal.”

“Isn‘t this the ring Aggie gave you? Did you enchant it?”

“Hannibal did. I don’t want the ring anymore. Agronak lied, he said it was a behest from his mother, then told the press he bought it. Andronicus thinks he did it deliberately to ruin me with Fathis.“

“Will you sell it to me? It really helped me rally today. How does it work?”

“You can have it, you earned it saving my life. Give me your hand…feel that power when I slide it? When you are fighting and get injured, slide it just like I am doing. Feel that?”

“I feel it, like a boost of power! I can use this with the ladies and go forever, just slide the ring…”

“EW! GROSS! Don‘t tell me about it!”

“Er…now how do I work this again?”

I reached for his hand then caught the mischief in his eyes. “Hey, you said truce!”

“I thought you were wanting the truce broken, giving me expensive jewelry and playing with my hands that way. Look what hand you‘ve put it on too, is it marriage you’re wanting from me then?” Gils gave a wicked laugh and started singing ‘From Rags To Riches’.

I unsheathed just the middle claw on one hand and held it up to him.

“What do you call that?”

“The Khajiit Proctologist.”

“Now that sounds more like you. You’ll be okay.”

“Thanks Gils, I do feel a little better.”





***

The shadows in my corner gave way to the dim light slanting down from the windows cut into the high stone walls of the bathing room. The form of Gils was illuminated by it, he had turned towards me in his sleep. His face was lined by age and exhaustion, something I never noticed before. Normally his eyes draw my notice, filled with mischief or seduction depending on his mood. Would Fathis look the same in his sleep? Both are Dunmer…I tried but couldn’t remember seeing anything but Fathis’s eyes in all the times we spoke…I would have to make an effort to check his face for wrinkles next time I saw him.

I was counting the lines on Gils’ face but kept losing track of which I had already counted. Had he stayed awake to guard after I went back to sleep? Worry lines? No, they were from age. How old could he be? I made a mental note to ask Andronicus next time I saw her.

The sound of a key turning in the lock made me jump. It was followed by Owyn popping his head in and signaling me to come out. Oh dear, he was scowling.

I stumbled on the pile of Gils’ clothes trying to climb over him and the ring I had given him tumbled out and rolled loudly on the stone floor. I caught it and tucked it back into the pocket of his pants.

Owyn led me to his office, talking the whole way.

“You’ve got to take over Andronicus’s duties around here.”

“What duties?”

“You keep that Bloodworks clean, and that includes the bathing pool.”

“Andronicus has been cleaning?”

“Just do it! Listen, if you see Agronak ask him to drop charges against her.”

“I’ll try for her sake, but I’m a little mad at him right now. Agronak told me that ring was a behest or I wouldn‘t have taken it. Why would he buy a ring and lie to me about it? He is only a friend, could never be more than that anyway, even without his…problem. And Andronicus said he’s done this before with another girl.”

“What problem?”

“You know, he’s an Orc mix. They are incapable of…anything. Their privates don’t work for that kind of thing.”

“Where’d you hear that?”

“The Arcane. There has been a lot of research, it’s in the textbooks. It’s true too, Agronak doesn’t even give off any male aura to women. Gils does, and you do.”

Owyn had stopped walking. “So that’s the secret Gils has been covering for him all this time. Are you sure about this?”

“Ask Hannibal, it is scientific fact. Andronicus knows about it, remember she tried to tell you before the arrest. But why would he do this to me, I‘m just his friend?”

“Because he couldn’t find anyone else dumb enough to take a ring in front of the Courier offices. You’ve been walking around holding his hand, letting everyone think you two have been [censored].“ Owyn made a circle with his thumb and finger on one hand and ran a finger from his other hand through it in a graphic display to emphasize his words as he continued.

“Were you helping him cover it up? Boy are you stupid! Ruin your reputation to help that big Orc keep his secrets?”

“But…I’ve always held hands with my friends. Delphine and I held hands in school, it means nothing…Owyn why are you looking like that?”

“You listen to me, don’t you come down in my Bloodworks holding hands with girls unless you want to send Gils into an apoplexy. You ain’t in school anymore Maxical. You hold hands it means you’re [censored].” Owyn displayed his graphic gestures again for emphasis.

“You mean…I’ve been walking around…everyone thinks…Oh no! Fathis!”

“You idiot, what did you think you were telling everyone by doing that?”

“Oh my gods! Owyn I didn’t know! Fathis must think…oh dear gods!”

“So the big Orc can’t do [censored], and all these girls he’s dated have just been a front, huh? So that’s their game. Gils takes over…they’re tag teaming them.”

“What’s that?”

“Never mind, you just stay away from Gils. He’ll charm your pants off you and once he does he’s on to the next one. Don’t be stupid and believe him when he turns it on you.”

“Andronicus already warned me. She told me about Agronak’s glass jaw too.”

Owyn stopped walking again. “What?”

“She said that is how some Champion knocked him out twenty years ago. I knew he had a useless [censored], but didn’t know his jaw was glass.” I rhymed.

Owyn was too stunned to laugh. “So that’s why Gils paid…” Owyn suddenly stopped talking and was staring at me as if he was in shock.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just figured something out.” His expression looked calculating and he was staring hard at me. He shook his head. “So Gils has to know because he paid that Champion off to keep him from fighting Agronak. The kid knew…Andronicus couldn’t tell me because she holds his book…“

“Held. She said she is dropping him, so she doesn‘t care who knows now. She said Agronak did all this before with another girl, that it was deliberate. I just thought he was dumb like me. He’s my friend, why would he want to ruin me?”

“Because he ain’t right in the head. Gils said it was because he just lost his father back then, and he did get better till just here recently. Now he’s lost his mother, so it looks like he’s going downhill again. The father was the same way, died from a long illness that none of the healers could cure.”

“Er…she didn’t die from it Owyn. I didn’t tell Agronak because I didn’t want to upset him, but I found an empty bottle of poison in her bed when I was helping him clean up. And there was something weird in her journal too. She talked about dying as if it was going to happen any day, but it was written back when Agronak was young. Then she wrote the information on where to go get his proof of heritage.”

“Poison! I thought she looked awfully green!“

“Well, she is an Orc.”

“There’s a difference though, a good healer can see it. You say the whole bottle was empty? What size bottle?”

I nodded, and showed him with my hands the size of the bottle. “I guess she committed suicide.”

“She couldn’t have! No one can empty a bottle that size, you’d get too ill before you even got half that down!”

“Well it wasn’t spilled into the bedding. I pulled the old sheets off myself, that‘s how I found the bottle. Agronak was with her that night she died, he was asking her about the proof of his heritage. He wants to prove he is really the son of a Lord. From what she said in the journal she prayed he’d never find out for some reason.”

“There’s something weird about his background. I don’t know what his other half is, but it ain’t human.”

“You think it was like…a Daedric Lord? I wonder which one? Oh! It would have to be Malacath! The shrine is right in that same area too! I can‘t imagine his sweet mother making love to a Daedric Lord!”

Owyn wasn’t paying attention to me, he seemed lost in thought. Then suddenly he grabbed hold of my arm, startling me into shutting up.

“Listen Maxical. That Orc is crazy. You need to stay away from him from now on. I’m going to Jack and change his ban to a legal one so they can arrest him if he comes even near the door. I don’t want him around our Bloodworks period.”

“Better tell Gils, Agronak said Gils is the one that let him in after lockdown the other night. Should I sleep near you till Andronicus gets back?”

“Not unless you want her to kill you. Gils will protect you, he can be trusted when he’s needed. Don‘t be stupid and think that’ll apply after she gets back though.”


*

This post has been edited by mALX: May 30 2010, 04:27 AM

[D.Foxy]

“Ach. You’ll give me a big head. Listen, you can trust me for now. I won‘t be trying you in here.”


So! Our White Khajit knows how to give BIG HEAD, hey? And since Gils won't be trying her in here...WHERE will he be trying her 'big head'???



“I feel it, like a boost of power! I can use this with the ladies and go forever, just slide the ring…”

“EW! GROSS! Don‘t tell me about it!”

AHEM.

May I point out that if he COULD slide the ring over ... his .... erm ... sword with two oranges that produces whipped cream.... ... his sword would actually be the size of a swiss army knife... and if it DID expand to the size of a normal tool... it would look more like a number "8" than a normal sword...


“What do you call that?”

“The Khajiit Proctologist.”


DANG. That was GOOD!!!


or she could bring a live bull to the Market District to advertise "No Bull, Thoronir has the best prices in town" and the bull stampede the streets - or breeds that statue of a horse...


DANG. Let me see.... I wonder if some of my genes are in that bull...



No! No! Just a joke - NO BULL!!!

[Acadian]

Ooh, a new chapter. Nice, mALX!

[haute ecole rider]

Good Ol' D.Foxy beat me to the punch and picked out all my favorite parts!

Good work, yet again!

[D.Foxy]

My dear, if I picked out all your favourite parts, you wouldn't be able to...


...ah ... never mind.

[Destri Melarg]

Starting with the very first sentence I love the revisions that you made to the last chapter (except for your insistence on keeping the word ‘would’)! I especially love the subtle change that you made to Maxical’s attitude about the entire tenor of the conversation, and the fact that Gils notices it and comments on it early in this current chapter.

Speaking of which, I am quite impressed with the detail that you continue to bring to the inner workings of the Arena. Contracts, pay scales, special events, you seem to have thought of everything.

“The Khajiit Proctologist.”

Classic!!

[Remko]

D.Foxy; you're a perv

Loved the usage of "The Unforgiven from Metallica", it really suits the atmosphere
Khajit proctologist....

[mALX]

@ Foxy - ROFL !!!!! Er...I won't bother to make any corrections to your versions, but...ARGH!!!! ROFL !!!! Thank you so much Foxy!! You ROCK!

***

@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian!!!

***

@ Hauty - He even created some good parts out of boring ones! ROFL!! Thank you so much Hauty!!

***

@ Destri - ARGH! I fixed it on my hard copy and forgot to fix it on here!!! - oops! - I was never happy with the lack of detail in my last Arena storyline, but now I wish I could back off from it a bit, it is going to be 100 chapters of Arena if I don't quit, lol. - Thank you so very much Destri, and especially for the critique!!!!! You ROCK !!!!

PS: Anyone know how to alter the title on a thread? I can make this her Arena memoirs or something. ARGH !!!!!!

***

@ Remko - I meant to post that on the last thread when Destri asked, I PM'd him with the songs. I think it fit too. I listened to hundreds of songs to get just the right lyrics and sound to use on that. I hated using a modern song, but other than writing my own lyrics and having everyone guess at a tune I finally took the easy out on that. Last year I put Linkin Park's "In The End" in the original story and no one raised a rucous over it, so I thought it would be okay, lol. - Thank you so much Remko!!!

This post has been edited by mALX: May 31 2010, 11:06 PM

[mALX]

*


Chapter 29: Earning Septims For Dummies


Owyn shut his office door and unlocked a desk drawer. He grabbed out some parchments and shoved them under my nose.

“Now you listen up. You see this? It’s your application to fight for me. You want to tell me why you didn’t know your own birth date? You’re a minor, aren’t you? When will you be eighteen?�

“No one knows for sure. My parents had no documentation on them when they were killed. The Imperial Guard ordered it be the first of the year like all beasts. They guessed me to be two years old because of my size, but you can see I am still smaller than most Khajiit even fully grown. They didn’t even know I was Khajiit. And look Owyn, I have my blue show. Khajiit don’t get that till they are around twenty. They probably guessed my age wrong.�

“Are you an idiot? You think I can ignore your proofs and just point out your blue show? Now you listen to me Maxical. There are reasons for laws like this, they protect you and me both. We’re not done. It says you are an orphan on your application, now look at your Designated Claim, you’ve suddenly got parents! Alix Lencolia? Are you trying to ruin me? Do you know the kind of trouble I can get in having a minor in the Bloodworks? If those guys had succeeded with you or if you had been killed in the Arena, Alix would sue me if he didn’t kill me first. You’re a run away, aren’t you?�

I hung my head and nodded.

“You don’t lie to someone you work for. Now you fill these out right, and hurry it up.�

“What about me being underage?�

“Jack got Alix’s signature, but if he hadn’t you would be gone from here, you understand me?�

“Jack got Alix‘s signature…Is Alix in town?�

“How the hell should I know? Hurry it up, you need to get with Andronicus for a list of her usual duties. You’ll be taking them over while she is gone, and I expect you to keep up with them and your training till she gets back.�

“I can’t go out, remember? I’m an escaped prisoner.�

“Jack said he got the charges dropped on you, you are free now.�

“Oh thank goodness!

“Owyn, can you ask Gils to draw a picture I can bring to Andronicus? It might cheer her up.“

“Fat chance! You ask him, but don’t bring me in on an idiotic thing like that. Hey, do it in front of me will you? I could use a good laugh. Say, tell you what. If you talk him into it I’ll give you a Septim, but I’ve got to see it.�

“A Septim? You‘re on!�





***

“Owyn, let me show you this dual promotion the Arcane gave me. It’s for the debut of a music group they are sponsoring and my return to the Arena, which would include the cage match if you will be ready to advertise it this soon. I have to hand them out at the music festival coming up in the Arboretum.�

Owyn opened the safe and his jaw dropped when he saw the rings. “These are real!�

“I know. Hannibal is following my progress in the Arena because I have a rare healing disorder, he is researching alternative healing methods for me. Here, he gave me this note to give you about it.�

Owyn opened the note. “You can’t heal at all and have a total weakness to magic? You’ll need some special enchanted equipment for this, especially if you go out against a mage.�

“Yeah, he made me one ring but said I’ll need more coverage, he wants to talk to you about the rules on the raiment and about ordering me a shield.�

“I’ll get with him on this. This can’t get out Maxical, they’ll use it against you.�

“I know.�

“Why is the Arcane sponsoring a music group?�

“They are mages that just graduated, they combine magic with music. The band is going to bring me on stage to get excitement drummed up about my return. Then I hand out the rings.�

What do you mean they mix magic and music?�

“They make smoke, lightning, fire balls, stuff like that; but they do it in time to the music. Hannibal is sure they will take the prize at the music festival, they are that good. I went to school with them all, they played at graduation and the whole crowd was jumping out of their seats. They are really good Owyn.�

“Debut? They are unsigned?�

“Yeah, but they will be snapped up by someone at this festival. Hannibal is getting a suite for them at the Merchants Inn and told me to meet them there in the morning to coordinate them bringing me on stage. They go on in the afternoon. Try a ring on Owyn, they are enchanted to make everyone laugh, since my persona is being funny.“

“Tee-hee-hee! Maxical, this is some promotion! We need to get Gils to hurry with those billboards, I’ll ask Wes to come do the announcement and afterwards you and Gils go plaster those Billboards up. I want to interview this band before the festival. I’ll bring Jack, we may sign them.�

“If you sign them, give me a heads up beforehand so I can get Hassiri. We owe him and need the good PR.�

“You’ve really picked up a lot from Andronicus.� Owyn said as he locked the rings back up. He handed me the ring he had tried on. “Show that to Gils.�

My eyes lit with mischief. “Will you give me another Septim if I can get one over him with this ring?�

“You haven’t gotten him to draw you that picture yet. Okay, but I gotta see you do it. It isn’t easy to get anything over on Gils, he is a lot smarter than you.�

“Just have those Septims ready.�





***

Gils was snoring up a storm in the bathing room. I tiptoed to his pile of clothes and switched the laughing ring for Agronak’s, putting it in my pocket. I hurried out, grabbing a parchment from Owyn’s cabinet and scribbling a quick picture on it.

“Ready?“ I waited for Owyn’s nod, then banged on the bathing room door. I hurried back to stand beside Owyn, plastering an innocent look on my face. It didn’t take long before Gils cackling could be heard echoing around from the bathing room.

“Maxical! Tee-hee, tee-hee. Something is tee-hee wrong with tee-hee this ring you gave me! Tee-hee.�

Owyn plopped a Septim into my outstretched hand, then I handed him my drawing. “Will you write something to Andronicus on this?�

SPEW! “What the hell is this?� Owyn choked out, then doubled over laughing as Gils walked up holding the ring out to me.

“It’s a card I made to cheer her up. What’s wrong with that ring Gils? Let me see it.�

I palmed the real ring and slipped it onto his finger. “Did it work that time?“ Gils nodded. I took it back off and acted as if I was inspecting it, then palmed the gag ring and handed it to Gils. “Here, you try it again.�

“Tee-hee-hee-hee.�

I held my hand out to Owyn and he plopped another Septim into it.

“Hey! Tee-hee. What’s going on here? Tee-hee.�

Owyn gave me away by roaring laughing. I handed Gils the real ring. “You can have them both. The other one is a gag ring I‘m using for a promo. Say Gils, would you write something to Andronicus on the card I made her?�

Gils went into hysterics when he saw my picture.

“Is this another hint you want the truce at an end?� He grinned wickedly.

“What do you mean?�

“Look where your hand is! What were you doing while I slept, eh?�

“Look, see my arms both sticking out? That is my tail! This isn’t a dirty picture!�

“I’ll lay you a Septim Andronicus thinks it is. I’m not signing your dirty drawing, I’ll buy it from you for when the games are on again.�

“EW! No! I made it for Andronicus. There is nothing wrong with this picture, besides it’s the best I can do.�

“I could stick a quill in a mud crab’s claw and it could draw better than that. Any child could do better. You just want a picture of all of us in here? I’ll do a quick one for you.� Gils grabbed a fresh parchment.

“Thank you Gils.� I winked at Owyn and he started laughing.

Owyn reached in his pocket and pulled out a Septim, flipping it through the air at me. I caught it just as Gils looked up from the paper.

“What’s going on here?� Gils looked suspiciously at me, then at Owyn who was beginning to laugh louder.

“Nothing. Owyn has been laughing ever since I asked him to sign my drawing. Oh, this is wonderful! It even looks like us! You have a lot of talent Gils. Will you write a message to Andronicus on it and sign it? Thank you, this is beautiful!�

Gils went to use the bathroom and I nabbed Owyn. “Will you sign something to Andronicus on here?�

“Tell you what, I’ll give you a Septim anytime you can get one over on Gils. He’s really smart, it won‘t be easy.�

“I might be dumb, but don’t count me out for it, I just made three Septims in a few minutes.�

“You were just lucky, I’ll tell you what, I’ll double it if you get him again.�

“Deal.�





***

The Courier arrived and we were all surprised that the article Hassiri did was biased in our favor. Hassiri didn’t witness Owyn or Haki actually resisting arrest, only their injuries. He wrote the piece as an expose on the brutality of the guards and had Owyn and Haki figured as victims of a corrupt system. Reading the article one never got the impression Andronicus was too drunk to walk and wetting herself, instead it detailed her being dragged and mentioned she had wet herself in fear.

As far as the charges went, the article listed them under each of our names, but went on to say that the lawyer bringing these charges had a reputation for filing faulty claims against famous citizens trying to make a name for himself. It went on to say that although Agronak pressed the charges it was believed to be due to being in a vulnerable state from the loss of his mother and that the unscrupulous lawyer took advantage of him. Then it went on to a review of the funeral itself. It could not have been better for us.

*

Everyone signed Gil’s picture with funny sayings for Andronicus. I rolled it up with the one I drew and grabbed a copy of the Courier to bring.

Andronicus cried and reeked, I found myself grateful for the bars between us because I was sure she would have hugged me to death for showing up. In one of the few times I have spent out of my savings for the golden armor I bought her a meal from the Merchants Inn and stuck it between the bars for her. They packed it in a box to keep the bugs out of it in case she didn’t eat it all, but as it turned out they didn’t have to worry. She cleaned it up, chattering a mile a minute while she chewed.

“Gils is guarding me while you are out, he has called a truce on his conquest hunting till you come back.�

“If he told you that, you can believe it. Gils is very honest.� Andronicus said through a mouthful of beef. “When do you come off injured status?�

“Soon, but Owyn has found a way for me to earn while I’m off. He gives me a Septim every time I get one over on Gils. When you don’t have food in your mouth I will show you this mornings earnings. I don’t want you to spray out anything in here, it may draw a rat into your cell.�


*








*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 03:37 AM