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

[Zalphon]

As usual, well-written.

[Winter Wolf]

I AM IN SHOCK.

No, not because the Arena has been blown to Oblivion by our lovely kitty, but shock because Maxical managed to hit a flying (sorry, falling) object with her spell. And it only took one shot, too.

If Owyn had half a brain he would start to praise her for the destuction then recuperate the losses through the bookies. Lol.

The Veterinarian Vixen has beaten me to the great quotes in this chapter. Let's just say I had a huge smile while I was reading it. Awesome mALX!!

[treydog]

Don’t tell me you’re afraid of ghosts!” Owyn glared at me.

“Ghosts? There’s more than one?”

And from there it only got better. I can’t see because I have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. BTW- get S’Jirra to give Maxical some pumpkin- I hear it can help with certain… plumbing problems.

I HAVE to stop reading these at work! But I can't.

[D.Foxy]

Now something serious for you...MaLX...I am sorry if this causes some pain from both you and your regular readers, but I feel it must be said...


I think you should keep this Storyline, and ABANDON the one at the Beth forums.


*waits for HOWLS from enraged readers and anguised MaLX to subsided*

OK, now hear me out.

When you were writing at the Beth Forums you were GOOD - oh, HOW you were GOOD!!! But now you have come here, and come up with a storyline that everyone can now see has diverged too much from the Beth Storyline to be merged back again...

...let not GOOD become the enemy of BRILLIANT. For there's no two ways about it. This Storyline is fecking BRILLIANT.

And I have noticed that your posts on the Beth side seem to lack the sparkle that shines here.

It's like riding a Corvette all your life, loving the sheer quality of the car, and THEN being put into a limited edition Ferrari...


...you thought your driving experience was perfect before, but now you find something perfecter than perfect.


End the Beth. And from now on, make it Chorrol all the way!!!!

[hazmick]

genius! Poor Maxical, you can't blame her when she reacts to a naked body falling from he sky into a haunted chamber. I blame Owyn.

[Olen]

While things went from bad to worse the story went from good to awesome. The ghosts frightening her and the 'moves' were funny. Then she goes down the tunnel and, with only a few mistakes, everything which could go wrong does. With hilarious consequences. Turn the wrong lever - easily done. Get spooked by noises and sudden darkness - fair enough. Naked man falls from ceiling - who wouldn't blast him? Brilliant. I laughed several times.

Hanibal at the end was the icing on the cake.

[mALX]

@ Hauty - That has actually happened to me playing on the 360 in a dangerous spot and suddenly everything is black - and then my character takes a beating from the enemy before I realize my night vision had worn off, lol.

You picked out some of my fave spots too - Hannibal's calmnes when it is happening to someone else, etc. Thank you so much Hauty !!!

***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian! Lol - er...BHC?

***
@ Foxy - Thank you very much Foxy !!!! ...wait, did you just call her asinine? ARGH !!! Lol. - I have an end to the one on the BGSF partially written, and not very many chapters off...but I will think about it. I know not many read her there anymore, but the FanFiction site on the internet is still having a great response on that story. I think it is the forum itself that is at issue, no one goes there anymore! But, that said - I like this one better too in a lot of ways. Thank you again Foxy !!!!

***
@ Zalphon - Thanks Zalphon !!!!!

***
@ Winter Wolf - Thank you so much Wolf !!!!!! - oh, I looked this up to be sure I was accurate on it. The spell has two hits, the first has a span of ten feet, the second spans twenty feet. That ups her chances of hitting a target. - not that she can't still miss with it, which you will see when she makes it to Crowhaven, lol.

***
@ Treydog - ROFL !!!! I do give it to one of our female cats that has had issues since her spay. Oh Treydog, you picked it out. That was my favorite line in the whole chapter, lol. Thank you so much Treydog !!!

***
@ Hazmick - ROFL !!! You have an instant friend now !!! Thank you so much Hazmick !!!

***
@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen !!! You picked out everything I liked in that chapter !!


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 26 2010, 07:58 PM

[mALX]

*


Chapter 36: Broke, Busted, Disgusted



******* Owyn


Hassiri smiled and shook hands with Owyn as they met in Jack Thompson’s doorway. He was carrying a stack of passes to the manager‘s box.

“Jack told me about the accident.� He grinned.

“Accident? Oh…you mean…the…er…oh, that accident!� Owyn covered quickly, not knowing what Jack had told Hassiri. He quickly shuffled some more manager’s box passes into Hassiri’s hand.

Owyn took a deep breath before entering the office, dreading the scene ahead. Jack was sitting at his desk going over requisition lists and looking up prices.

“Come in Owyn. Have a seat.�

“I’m sorry Jack. I should have had Gils do it. He told her about the haunting and…�

“Yes. You or Gils will do it from now on. I just wanted to make sure she was fine, no one was hurt.�

Owyn’s mouth gaped open. “Well, I didn’t… check her…yet. She is staying away from me till I get over being mad.“

“Are you over being mad yet?�

“Yeah, sure.�

“Well make sure she wasn’t hurt. She is not to do the pit again.�

“No! No. I’ll have Gils do it. Er…the damages? Should I charge her account…�

“No. Just leave them to me. Is there anything else Owyn?� Jack gave Owyn his pleasant smile.

“No, no. Thank you Jack.� Owyn backed out of the office feeling like he had stepped into another realm. What just happened in there? Jack wasn’t mad…Owyn needed a drink…and fast. But first he better check on Maxical.






***

“Gils, from now on you do the pit. Jack doesn’t want her to touch it again.�

“I figured that. How bad was it up there with Jack?�

“He was…smiling.� Owyn’s voice still reflected disbelief.

“Has he cracked up from the shock?�

“Maybe…he asked if she was injured.�

“I told her not to open the door till I give her the signal, you over being mad then?� Gils gave Owyn a hard look.

Owyn nodded. “He was…smiling…he’s not even charging her for the damages…what in the hell just happened? Surely she's not...�

“No way Owyn! Listen, when you check her over, can you look at her shoulder? Agronak grabbed it earlier, I think he really hurt her.�









******* Maxical

My shoulder throbbed. Instead of the pain easing it had gotten worse. The bruise was massive, places where Agronak dug his fingers in were visibly marked.

I couldn’t ask Owyn to heal it till he got over wanting to kill me, so I duplicated healing potions to tide me over. I opened one and was just about to drink it when Owyn and Gils came in.

“You drinking Skooma?� Owyn demanded.

“No, I don’t take drugs! This is a healing potion.�

“I know that you idiot! Why didn’t you come to me if you have an injury?�

My mouth gaped open. “Er…I thought you were going to kill me. It’s nothing really, a sore shoulder. I was hurrying so I could catch the Merchants before they quit selling dinner. I worked up an appetite today with all these extra chores…�

Owyn‘s eyes bulged and his face took on a purplish hue. He swallowed several times before resuming in a slightly strained voice. “Gils will go for you while I work on your shoulder. Did this happen in the pit?�

“Er…no.�

Gils’ eyes were glued to the bruise, he had an odd look on his face. He caught Owyn’s eye and gave him a signal I didn‘t recognize.

“Well hurry up and tell Gils what you want, meet me at the fount.� Owyn left the bathing room.

I stared after him. So they had private signals between them? Aha! I needed to keep my eyes open and learn them. That one was telling Owyn to leave.

“Maxical, Aggie is hanging outside the door waiting to catch you when you go out. Haki has banned him from the Yellow Bloodworks, and if that deed was delivered he will be in a rage. It may be best not to go out without me or Owyn for a while�

My sword arm was injured, I couldn’t defend myself. “I’ll stay in.� I sank down on my bed.

“You always eat from the Merchants, don’t you. What do you want?“

“A Famous potato bread, three strawberries and a sweet roll. If you tell Velus it‘s for me he‘ll know what I want.�

Gils gave me a funny look. “No meat?�

“No, I don’t eat meat. Why?�

“Hello, you are a cat. This book I’ve been reading says you should eat meat.�

“What book?�

“It’s called ‘The Khajiit Mystique‘.�

“Can I read it?�

“No, you better not. It’s got dirty drawings.�

“Why does it say to eat meat?�

“Your metabolism is enhanced by meat.�

“I guess I could have a piece of grilled crabmeat then.�

As soon as the door closed behind Gils I pulled myself up and hurried over to the looking glass. I had caught Gils fiddling with it a few times…it was too heavy to lift down, so I pushed it to one side. Sure enough there was a hollowed out alcove behind it. Inside was a stack of dirty books, the drawings on them were obscene. On the front of each was written in big letters “Property of Gils.�

My hand fumbled through till I felt a hard covered book and pulled it out. ‘The Khajiit Mystique‘. I walked back to my mat leafing through it, leaving the looking glass askew and Gils’ dirty books dripping out the gap.

My eyes bugged out at the drawings, I turned the book different directions to be sure I was seeing things right. Gils had not exaggerated about them, they were filthy…and every one of them Khajiit! I held the book out and craned my neck down to see if what I had looked like the drawings. The sound of the door opening caught my attention and I looked up quickly.

“AHA! I knew you would do that! Give it to me!� Gils charged up, his hand reached out.

I dropped down on my mat and tucked the book under me, jarring my shoulder and yelped.

“Ow! That book is all about naked Khajiit women…now stand back or I’ll do my ‘Biting Cobra’ move with my tail.�

“Let me see it then.� He waited.

I made my tail dance like a snake in front of him then dart in toward his face like a biting cobra going for the eyes. He grabbed it and held it tight.

“Ow, let go of my tail!� It didn’t hurt, in fact I was surprised it actually felt… pleasant. No one had ever touched my tail before, and suddenly I wondered if it was something I shouldn’t be allowing. I flushed and he released it immediately.

“That doesn’t hurt, you’re faking. I already read that chapter. Now give me my book.�

“Why can’t I read it?�

“Because then you’ll know what I’m doing when I make moves on you.�

“My tail feels funny where you touched it.“ I reached out and tried squeezing my tail where he had. “How come it doesn’t feel the same when I do it? Was that one of the moves?�

“Yes, but I didn’t mean to do that. I apologize. Maxical, I can‘t wrestle you for the book with the truce on and you injured.�

I handed him the book and he tucked it into his pack. He’d have to sleep sometime. I wanted to know what else he was finding out about me that I didn’t know.






******* Agronak


Agronak tried his key several times, then pounded on the door to the Yellow Bloodworks. It was opened by Haki, who blocked the doorway.

“There’s your [censored], you’re banned from here.� Haki pointed to a crate and slammed the door.

Agronak lifted the lid on the crate and found the contents of his locker filled it. He grabbed it and headed over to the Blue Bloodworks. He set the crate down and plopped onto it facing the door. It wasn’t long before Gils stepped out.

“Oh, it‘s you. What are you doing over here?� Gils looked wary.

“Haki has evicted me and all my things from his Bloodworks and banned me.�

“What did you expect? You were crazy to arrest them Aggie. What got into you?�

“I hoped Owyn might let me move in here.“

“Are you nuts? I’ve never seen Owyn so mad! He’s got a legal ban Aggie, you’ll be arrested if you come around here. Better just go to your mother’s house till Haki cools off and try him again.�

“I guess. Are you going to the Feed Bag for dinner? I’ll join you.�

“No, we’re on threes and a three day rotations. You know that means mandatory curfews. I’m just picking up something and bringing it back here. None of us can get out anymore.�

“I thought that lying [censored] Maxical said she was going to the music festival?�

“We all thought we were, but Owyn laid down the law since then. Are you going?�

“I don‘t know. You remember what I said Gils. You leave her alone or I‘ll kill you.�

“At least I’m her friend, you can’t even stand her. You’re so transparent lately, even someone as dumb as you think she is can see through it. Get out of this before it blows up in your face, because if you don’t you are going to destroy what took you a lifetime to build. What has gotten into you? I haven’t seen you like this since my father died. Is it your mother’s death that has you losing your mind? I think you should see a healer.�

“Don’t give me that friends bull, I know too many of your tricks to not see what you’re up to.�

“I begged you to switch turns with me Aggie. I offered you my next three and you refused.�

“It was my turn Gils. That’s my privilege.�

“Well I’m sick of the game, find someone else to play it with when this one ends. I’m waiting for Maxical and then you and I go our separate ways.�

“There won’t be a tag this time Gils, I’m going to marry her so I’ll never have to worry about not looking normal again. I’ll look just as capable as you are.�

“She’s not going to marry you after what you did today! And even if you tricked her into it, how are you planning to explain the blue show that doesn’t go away? You made me play by the rules when you called your turn, you can‘t change them now. Finish the game out Aggie.�

“I‘m calling an end to the game now. You will never get a tag.�

“You can’t call the game off!“

“I am. Game is over.�

“You’re calling the game off?� Gils glared into Agronak’s eyes.

“Game is off.�

“You called it off three times, that’s the rules. The game is officially over Aggie. That means the gloves are off. The game was the only thing holding me back, I can act now.�

“You can’t do that!�

“Yes I can, you called the game off. Gentleman’s rules only applied in game. I am free to make my move now.�

“You tricked me into dropping the game! You tricked me! You manipulating mother [censored] [censored] ! I‘ll kill you!�

“You can’t Aggie, and you know it. Maybe you should go get that proof of your heritage yourself, now would be a perfect time.�

“That [censored] gave her word she would do it for me.�

“That was before you had her arrested and laid hands on her.�

“You know I can’t, I have fights scheduled.�

“By who? Andronicus can’t set them up, she is in jail.�

“I know the dates, I’ll just show up. I don’t need that [censored].�

“What Bloodworks chute will you enter from? You better get with Jack and find out how to handle that, you may have to climb down from a balcony.�

“This is all your fault Gils! All of it! You put the pressure on me till I had to…I did everything…you don’t know the half! You pushed me into it!�

“I put no pressure on you, I was waiting my turn like I always do…what have you done Aggie?�

“LIAR! The candles were all out Gils! You can’t tell me it wasn’t you! Andronicus passed out and that lying [censored] Maxical didn‘t admit to me that anyone tried her. I guess she thought I was as dumb as her.�

“You should check one of your Pit spies for scratches then, there was blood all over a mat by the fount the next day. What did you do Aggie? What don’t I know the half of?�

“Forget it. I’m sick of you knowing everything about me. Jack has to let me into the Arena, I’m the [censored] Grand Champion! I need to know if that [censored] [censored] Maxical is going to Crowhaven for me. When I get proof I am the son of a Lord all of you will be kissing my [censored] [censored].�


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 02:10 AM

[treydog]

Our favorite Khajiit needs to get out of the Arena. Or finish what she started there with the gas-works and the Enemies Explode... hmm.

The Khajiit Mystique? Almost all books about cats are wrong. Ditto for most books about females. So a book about female Khajiit? Despite there being some truths, Gils may discover it is not wise to believe everything he reads (or sees in pictures).

I held the book out and craned my neck down to see if what I had looked like the drawings.

[haute ecole rider]

I have to echo treydoggie on the comparison of oneself (Maxical) with the drawings in the book. He he! Were there any drawings of male Khajiit in there?

[Kazaera]

Eeeh more Maxical!

I really love this fic. Maxical is an amazing character, and the trouble she gets herself into is nothing short of hilarious. I do worry about what exactly will happen when Agronak finds out she's been spreading his secrets all over Cyrodiil, but it's such delicious revenge. Think she's stupid, hm, Agronak? XD

And the Khajiit Mystique really made me crack up...

[hazmick]

[censored]! Agronak and Owyn both need to calm down, Gils needs to find some proper reading materials and Maxical needs to...blow something up! I love this story, especially when I can think of words to fill in Aggie's [censored] spaces.

[D.Foxy]

Maxical discovers Khajit porn!!!



Oh boy...


From now on, she's going to be MaXXXixxxcal!!!!

[Acadian]

From the previous story: By BHC, I meant Black Horse Courier. Sorry for the confusion.

Maxical continues to successfully have each of Andronicus' chores reassigned - clever kitty.

Oh my, and now Maxical has her very own owner's / operator's manual - with pictures that show her [censored]!

Speaking of [censored]. . . is [censored], the Grand [censored] really a [censored] [censored] and does he really think our feline heroine is a [censored] [censored] [censored]?? LOL!

And Maxical has her own Cobra's Dance. . . sort of.

Why am I not surprised that she would order up a portion of that world famous potato bread made by the one and only you know who?

This was great fun, mALX!

[Winter Wolf]

Incredible!!

How lovely that Maxical went straight to the hidey-hole and helped herself!! Her cat-like curiosity and innocence just came through in spades during this chapter. Ha, ha!!

And what did she do then? She tucked the book underneath herself when caught red-pawed. She didn't even realize that this is almost encouraging him to 'come and get it' !!!!!!
It is these parts of your writing that hit the spot so beautifully. Maxical's true spirit always shines through.

I turned the book different directions to be sure I was seeing things right

Magic!!!

That doesn’t hurt, you’re faking. I already read that chapter.

Pure Magic!!

Were there any drawings of male Khajiit in there?

And what rumor are we trying to start here, Haute?

[Olen]

Khajit porn?! Gil's bedtime reading. Now there's an image... Next she'll be heading to the first edition to get her own books.

I agree with Trey on the comparasons, hilarious and so Maxical.

It also appears you've found a method of stopping Foxy, I'm not sure there was any mroe meaning to be twisted form those words.

As Acadian said, Great fun

[mALX]

@ Treydog - Your wish is my command...in a few chapters. I got the idea to do the Khajiit Mystique from Acadian, although he doesn't know it, lol. Thank you so much Treydog!

***
@ Hauty - ...No barbs zone? Thank you so much Hauty !!

***
@ Kazaera - Thank you so much Kazaera!!! It seems she came by it honestly...but that is for a future chapter, lol.

***
@ Hazmick - Thank you so much Hazmick! I actually considered putting numbers in the [censored] places and putting a key at the bottom of the page [censored - 1] = British boat (etc.) - but thought it would be better to let everyone fill in their own ideas, lol. Thank you again!

***
@ Foxy - ROFL !!!! XXX rated Maxical? No way, Hauty beat me to it with her rendition of Deep Throat in her story. It seems Julian...JUST KIDDING!!!! Thank you so very much Foxy !!!

***
@ Acadian - I love that you caught that - and then she said she worked up an appetite from doing all the extra chores, I thought everyone would have choked over that one, I did, lol. Thank you very much Acadian !!!

***
@ Winter Wolf - Oh I loved the things you picked up on! Thanks very much to Hauty, I have tried to bring out more cat-like actions and personality in her.

That line: "I already read that chapter" - I am so glad you caught that, a bunch of that part was written around that line! Thank you so very much Wolf!!!!

***
@ Olen - Thank you so much Olen! I may actually have left Foxy with no more twists to add, he taught me very well, lol !!! My favorite part of Gils having a secret stash of dirty books is that they were DRAWINGS of dirty pictures, and he put "Property of Gils" in huge letters across the front covers of each - I don't know why, but picturing a man looking at drawings - I was in hysterics thinking about it.

[mALX]

*



Chapter 37: A Secret By Any Other Name



******* Gils

It had been quite a while since he left to get Maxical’s dinner, Gils opened the door to the bathing area quietly in case Maxical had gone to sleep. She was sitting up on her mat and appeared to be choking her tail at the end where he had grabbed it earlier. As if sensing his presence she turned her head toward him and dropped her tail abruptly.

“The Merchants had already stopped serving dinner. Sorry it took so long, are you starving?�

“A little. You didn‘t get this at the Feed Bag did you?�

“No, my ears are still ringing from the last time I made that mistake. Your mouth ran on about it for…OW! Now that is taking advantage, I can’t throw it back with you injured! Why is that bandage so…big?“

“Owyn did a breast reduction on me while he was there.� Maxical pointed to the crisscrossed bandage.

“You should have had him do a butt reduction instead, at least there would be something to reduce…OW! Throw that one more time and the truce is off.�

“You threaten that all the time, you have to change your threats around if you want me to fear them. I’ll quit if you let me see your book again.�

“Forget it. I’ll be back, I need to take care of something.�

“Geez, Owyn said you did that before you left.�

“What would he tell you that for? Is he drunk?�

“A little.�

“Anyway, it’s not that.�

“Oh. Sorry.�






***

Owyn sidled up to the corner Gils was standing in and stared bug-eyed at the side of his face. “What the hell are you doing? Didn’t you just do that right before you left?�

Gils stopped what he was doing. “Yeah, thanks for telling Maxical about it. Do you mind? You ain’t helping me here.�

“What are you, taking vitamins or something?� Owyn asked without budging.

“I’m trying to stick by the truce. Go on now, you ain‘t helping things here.�

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.� Without moving away, Owyn tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling and scratching the side of his temple. “I remember being on a truce once…years ago…I was younger then…�

Gils gaped at Owyn. “Just forget it, you’ve killed the mood now. What was wrong with her shoulder?�

“It was Agronak all right.�

“Tell me something I don’t know, will ya? She’s usually pathologic about blabbing everything she knows, but she’s clammed up about this.�

“She’s dumb, but even she knows you always side with…hic…Agronak.�

“Yeah, well you and Andronicus drilled that into her head.�

“Someone needed to warn her. She’s idiot enough to fall for your bull [cens…hic…ored]. …I learned a secret about her the other day…“

“A secret? What?�

“I’m not telling you…hic.�

“Well why’d you…say, your brandy is empty, I’ll get mine for you…“

“Forget it! …Er, not the brandy though, I‘ll take that.� Owyn grinned like a possum before draining his bottle and handing it to Gils. “You ain’t doin’ her like you did S’Jirra…�

“S’Jirra! That was twenty years ago! Why’r you bringing her up?� Gils handed a full bottle of brandy to Owyn. “You have to share this with me, you know. So, tell me about this secret…�

Owyn tipped the bottle up while Gils got two glasses. “Forget it…hic…I’m not telling. Did you challenge Agronak for hurting Maxical?�

“…No.�

“Then you ain’t changed a bit. Ysabel…we been split thirty years. I’d still kill anyone that hurt her. Women need a man that’ll protect them, not just a smile in the sack.�

“Someone smiling in your sack recently Owyn? Now about this secret…�

“Hey! Hic…huh? What were we talking about?�

“You were in the middle of telling me a secret about Maxical…�

“Fat chance Gils. Hic. I noticed you didn‘t teach Maxical those moves you taught Agronak. He promisss…hic…ed to teach her them if she went to Anvil for him. I don‘t want him near her.�

“I’ll teach her all of them. I’m going too if she goes, and she can’t leave the Bloodworks without you or me with her…Aggie may kidnap her. So…you were telling me about Maxical…�

“He’s a nutcase, and getting worse all the time.�

“He just lost his mother, Owyn. Last time he got this bad was when my father died.�

“He killed his mother, he’s insane Gils.�

“Owyn, you can’t possibly believe that.�

“Can’t I? She was green! I knew it was poison before finding out about the empty poison bottle in her bed. Agronak was there with her that night. You need to open your eyes Gils.�

“Suicide?�

“It wasn’t suicide Gils, she couldn’t have finished that bottle. Maybe he’s been doing it all along, there’s gotta be some reason why healers could never cure her.�

Gils froze as images of green pallor tainting his father’s face during his last months flashed through his mind. “I can’t have this conversation Owyn.�

“Gils, I know it’s hard to face, but you have to. He’s dangerous. You should have seen Maxical’s shoulder. Why the hell didn‘t you stop him?�

“I couldn’t get there in time. He was following her to finish the job when I jumped him.�

“You shouldn’t have let him near her, he needs to be locked away.�

“I had no choice, it was his turn. I tried to talk him out of…�

“His turn? You don’t game on someone you care for! You say ‘not this one’ and put ‘em down with your fist till they listen. I would have put the Emperor down over Ysabel.�

Gils filled Owyn’s glass absentmindedly and set the brandy bottle down on the cabinet. Owyn downed the glass and then grabbed the bottle, tipping it up before refilling his glass.

“And another thing, Khajiit aren’t like…hic…humans. Start one and they’re bound to you for life. She‘s not…hic…started yet, so stay away from her. You won’t stick with her…you’ll screw it up for her with Fathis Aren if you touch her.�

“He broke with her when Aggie gave her that ring.�

“Is that why you gamed on her? To get rid of Fathis? Man, you’re a real piece of work, you know that? Damn Gils, you and Ag…hic…anak deserve…er…what was I saying?�

“You were telling me about a secret…“

“What, his problem?� Owyn pointed downward. “What the hell does it matter if he can‘t?� Owyn made a sloppy hole with the fingers of one hand and tried to run a finger from the other hand through the hole but kept missing. “I can’t do it right now…but you get the idea…what was I saying? Oh yeah. He’s crazy! You let that nutty Orc…hic…game on her. That’s as low as you can get.�

“You know about Agronak?�

“You think I’m as dumb as him? I know everything that goes on ‘round here…or doesn‘t…hic…in his case.�

Gils shook his head as if to clear it.

“Owyn, Maxical sent that deed back to Aggie. He was outside the door when I left to get her dinner. That’s what took so long, I didn’t leave till I was sure he was gone. Make sure she doesn’t go out alone.�

“Hic! He’ll be in jail…soon as Jack files assault charges…hic…Maxical‘s shoulder.�

“…Why would Jack file them?� Gils voice reflected surprise.

“Why, did you think you could sweet talk her out of filing charges?� Owyn’s voice raised to a bellow on his last words.

His face infused purple as he slammed his fist down on the cabinet and then pointed a shaking finger in Gils‘ face. “I’m this close to throwing you out of here, just let me see you take that Orc‘s side in this. You ain’t learned a thing in twenty years! You stay the hell away from her with your love [censored] bull [censored] [censored] you worthless piece of [censored] [censored].�

Gils went to an empty mat by the fount and slumped down, images of his fathers last days surfacing in his mind. Agronak visiting his sickbed nightly…just like he did with his mother…no. Agronak could never do those things. Owyn was just drunk and spouting.

“Gils? Are you okay?� Maxical’s face peered down into his.

“Some things Owyn said are bothering me. Come on, lets go to the bathing room.�









******* Maxical

Gils was laying on his back staring at the ceiling, his eyes looked bleak and full of an inner turmoil. I had never seen him unhappy before. He got up quickly after I disturbed him, but his eyes reflected a mind that was still mulling the problem. I followed him to our mats in the bathing room and watched him slump down.

“What’s wrong Gils? I’ve never seen you so upset, do you want to talk about it?�

Gils shook his head. “I need to stop thinking about it…or it‘ll drive me crazy. Talk to me about something else. How was your dinner? Did you eat the crab?�

“Dinner was fine. The crab was…good. But it made me feel funny, kind of like…a hunger.�

Gils rolled over so he faced me and rested his head on his hand. “That’s what the book said is supposed to happen. What were you doing with your tail when I brought your dinner in?�

“Nothing.�

“Talk to me.�

“Well…no one ever touched it but me before. It feels funny where you grabbed it. I was just trying to see why it didn't feel that way when I squeezed it like you did.“

“A good feeling?�

“Yeah, kind of.�

“Like how?�

“It‘s…pleasurable but…agonizing at the same time.�

Gils sat up, the molten lava in his eyes glowing. “Do you know what that means?�

“No.�

“It means Khajiit are not Orc.�

“You mean because I am a mix?�

Gils gaped. “…How did you know that’s what I meant?�

“I’ve worried about that a lot, especially since Fathis is so experienced.�

“Worried about what?�

“Being like Agronak, you know. Geez, and I thought I was dumb.�

“You’re not dumb, you know. Just naïve. Now tell me what you’re talking about.�

“Everyone knows the offspring of an Orc mix…can’t.� I gave Owyn’s graphic hand signal to demonstrate. “The technical term is asexual. I’ve always worried Khajiit mixes might be the same.“

“…I can’t believe I am hearing this! How could everyone know this about Orc mixes?�

“It’s common knowledge, you can read it in texts in school. I learned about it at the Arcane.�

“I wonder how many other people know about it?�

“Anyone who reads, goes to school…there are childhood rhymes about it.� I glanced at Gils to see if he believed me.

“Rhymes?�

“Sure. Orc will even breed a duck, but their offspring cannot [censored]. There are tons of them. Andronicus and I heard a bunch of them when we were in the jail cell.�

Gils stared hard at me.

“Then there are the usual ‘How many Orc mixes does it take to screw a candle into a sconce’ jokes.�

“How many?“

“None, they can’t screw. Then there are limericks:

The notes on racial phylogeny
say an Orc mix produces misogyny
though he'll have something dangling
it won't do no wrangling
nor anything else it oughta be�


“You mean all this time Agronak thought it was a secret, but really everyone knew about it?�

“Yep. I was probably the worst student at the Arcane, so if I know it everyone does. Besides, he has no male aura. Even someone as…naïve as me could tell that.�

“What is that?�

“Gils, if anyone knows about that it is you. You exude it like Fathis does, like a torrent instead of just a faint sense.�

“I am dreaming this conversation and will wake up soon.� Gils collapsed onto his back on the mat.

“Okay, look. I know I’m dumb, but even I can pick up on this intangible scent or aura that men emit. Agronak doesn’t emit any at all. I knew instantly when I met him even before I knew he was mixed. That‘s why I felt safe hanging out with him when I was promised to Fathis...and didn‘t hang out with you.�

“So everyone knows.�

“Every school child...everyone.�

“Well there is a lifetime wasted helping him cover up.�

“Pretty much.�

“So, I put out torrents of it?�

“Yes. It is…distracting.�

“Maxical, that reaction you had proves you have nothing to worry about.�

“Whew! That makes me feel so much better!“

I turned away so Gils couldn’t see what I was doing and looked at the end of my tail. All the fidgeting I had done tonight had worn patches of its fine fur away. It looked ratty with bald places, embarrassing.

“This truce has got to go and fast. Say Maxical, have you ever heard back from Fathis? Have you made up?�

“…No.�

“What are you doing?� Gils sat up.

“Nothing.� I dropped my tail.

“Look what you’ve done to your tail Maxical!� Gils eyed the bald spots. “What’s going on with it?�

“I don’t know, I think I need to see Hannibal.�

“You want me to rub some wound balm on it?�

“NO! I don’t think you should touch it again.�

“You’re right, I better not.� Gils took my hand.

His eyes were intense, glowing. “Fathis will probably be at the music festival. If it is him you want then you better get him to start you. I’ve made no secret how I feel about you, and I’ll be coming for you if he hasn’t made his move by the time our truce ends.�


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 4 2016, 02:13 AM

[D.Foxy]

Hmmmm, that story reminds me of when I was young, and I discovered I had a tail, and I couldn't stop touching it until the tip was worn bald and shiny -


.

.wait a minute...

....


DANG! That must have been a DREAM, for I'm not a Khajit, am I?



Things are SO confusing at that age. I STILL don't understand why everybody was saying that I needed to have lessons in how to fish.

I mean, I ALREADY knew how to fish! I knew how to bait and everything!!! I didn't need to attend any master baiting classes!!!

[treydog]

I shall have to warn Juneipurr to stop chasing her tail if she doesn't want to go blind... Of course, I have heard of men who were blind to everything else because they were chasing... um. And if Gils found some of the fur Maxical wore off from fidgeting would that mean he had gotten a piece of... ? Yes, right. Where were we?

The plot ... no, better just leave that phrase by the side of the road, as well...

Agronak is going to discover that cats are dangerous and subtle enemies- and he will probably never quite know what happened to him.