Why Chocolate Kills

[Vega]

1st Ashan, 719
Goblin Sanctuary
Yaralon

"Shurrup," Vega said, digging a sharp elbow into his ribs. "How was I supposed to know that it wasnt not there any more? I heard this was the best bakery, an' they did chocolate." Vega had an almost pathological love of chocolate and she glared, balefully, at Faldrun's spire. "Not even my love of chocolate's real. I hate that guy, I really do." Her Immortal father, Faldrun, that was. With a slight sigh, she glanced at Arlo and lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "Least it's not dark no more, I hate Cylus, too. All dark an' gloomy an' stuff." It wasn't true, she didn't dislike Cylus at all - in fact she thoroughly enjoyed the season, being marked by Xiur as she was. "An' that's another thing. Who doesn't appreciate 'ope? I mean. I ask you. Wanderin' round gloomy an' miserable, they are."

There was no doubting that Vega was foul of temper ~ and coarse in her language, too. But she couldn't maintain a bad mood and never had been able to. Her face lit in a smile as she looked at him. "Gloomy an' miserable. Not ever like that, myself. I'm a ray of sunshine, I am." Her grin was genuine as she added. "Sorry."

Either way, they weren't getting any chocolate here. Vega looked at the ruined bakery and sighed. Glancing up to the skies, where at least the sun shone once more, Vega's eyes narrowed slightly and she focused on a specific point, quite a way up.

"Arlo," she said, and pointed to it. "Does that look like a flat openin' in the world, hangin' in the middle of the air an' glowin' orange to you?" Turning to her husband, she waited to see whether she was just hallucinating, due to extreme chocolate desire. It was certainly possible, she knew that. But when it turned out that he saw it too? "Right, well, that's better'n chocolate that is. That's somethin' well odd what we can explore." Feeling much more upbeat and pleased with life, Vega gave Arlo a companionable thump.

"Wanna?" And, of course, if so, how?

[Arlo Creede]

Vega's love of chocolate was legendary. If there was chocolate around, she ate it and it wasn't going to last. She'd eat it, drink it, and he'd even come up with a pepper crusted beef tenderloin and drizzled it with a chocolate port sauce. She'd gobbled that up too. He had to admit though, it had been delicious.

"It's a good thing you're as naturally small as you are, and active," he'd teased her as she led him toward this supposed bake shop. For good measure gave her shapely bottom a loving smack. "There'd be more of you to love." He wouldn't mind that a bit, of course, but he knew the remark was likely to get her back up. "Your love of chocolate is real," he said, staring at the place where the shop ought to have been. "It's all you, nose to toes." Still, either the shop owners had decided to retire and had abandoned the place. Or maybe they'd left because the business wasn't lucrative enough.

Some people, and Immortals, weren't happy unless they were unhappy about something, he suggested when Vega wondered. But it was true, hope and all the things wrapped up in it made the world go round. Hard to imagine why anyone wouldn't appreciate that. But yes, that was her. Ray of sunshine, he quipped and ducked out of the way. Just in case. But then there was the abandoned shop to consider. There didn't seem to be much to think about until Vega pointed up towards the sky. Now that was different.

"It....does," he drawled slowly, curiously as he studied the opening in the air above them. Quite a ways above them too. And why orange? When she suggested that they ought to explore, Arlo quirked a brow and couldn't help but grin a little. Anyone with any real sense, and a healthy sense of self-preservation, would turn and walk away, pretend that they hadn't seen it. But Vega and Arlo weren't that kind of anyone. "Of course I want to," he said. But the question was how to get up there. "Maybe we have a look inside. From in there, there might some way up there."

From the inside of an abandoned building to a portal up in the sky, in an ordinary world he'd say never. But the world in which he and Vega lived was not ordinary, and neither were they. So he reached out and took hold of the doorknob, jiggled it a bit and the thing eased open with an eerie creak. "That's not foreboding at all, is it?" he teased Vega, and then stepped inside the building.

[Vega]

1st Ashan, 719
Goblin Sanctuary
Yaralon

When Arlo Creede smacked her on the bottom, Vega stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him. He knew too well by the colour of her eyes that she was nothing except amused, but still. "You're a clever boy, you are. You watch it, sunshine, or I'll... well... I'll." she glared at him with baleful eyes and realised that she had no comeback because she was so not concerned. "Well, you jus' wait an' see. Shurrup. An' gerroff, too, while yer there. What if one of my boyfriends saw you pawin' at me?" She shook her head at that. It's all about mutual respect, Arlo. I didn't jump up an' interrup' you an' your big-knockered Mixie." Of course, if both her legs weren't shattered, she'd have done more than jump up, she'd have punched Mixie into next arc, but no one needed to know that and Vega was most certainly not admitting it.

Her love of chocolate was her, nose to toes? Vega smiled at that, but kept her own counsel on it. Mostly, because she didn't believe it, but she was working it through in her own way, at her own pace and that was enough for her. Thankfully, it was enough for him, too. In a burst of romantic sentiment, Vega bumped her shoulder against his. "A'right, that works. Lets go." The bakery itself had been destroyed, but there were still bits of it which were structurally intact and so the pair of them could go into the abandoned building, up the stairs and, where there were no more stairs, they were both able to clamber and climb. She wasn't as agile as him, but she more than held her own and Vega was happy to be scampering around.

But no matter how they climbed and clambered, they couldn't quite get there. Vega looked at him. "Aright, so if I'm on yer shoulders, I can have a little peek an' see. Now, I know, but I reckon it's gotta be me, an' here's why-for an' for-why." She gave him a wicked grin as she said that. "You are stronger'n me, an' if I get sucked into it, you can jump up an' do the heroic thing. Whereas, if you get sucked up, I'm gonna get myself deader than a very dead thing tryin' to get you. So. I'll climb up on you, an' then I'll peek in, carefully, an' see what I can see."

Happy and secure in the knowledge that not only was she right, but she was absolutely right, Vega assumed that Arlo had agreed, and began to climb up on to his shoulders. "Plus, I'm small, you said. Before you smacked my ass in public. Stay STILL Arlo!" Up onto his shoulders she climbed, unmindful of his agreeing, or not, and she put her hand out to steady herself before peering... "Noobab's Nuts Arlo, we've gotta go in there, there's like.. it's another world. Or somethin' it's somethin'. Can you jump up if I clamber in half way an' hang down?" Vega slid down off his shoulders, eyes shining with excitement. "There's like a cave, or somethin' an' a river what's a weird lookin' yellow. Come on, Creede, lets get goin'!" She knew Arlo, he'd want to go first and she didn't begrudge him that. Cassion's son and all that. "Get some rope an' get yerself up there. I'll keep hold of the other end an' get myself climbin', yeah?"

[Arlo Creede]

"I can hardly wait," Arlo teased when Vega warned him about a latter comeuppance. it was foreplay for them, really, this giving and taking of jabs. As for Mixie and Vega's reaction to his top heavy admirer who'd come calling. The son of Cassion wasn't born yester-trial. If only Vega had been able at the time, she'd have cleaned the woman's clock and right well. Her famous temper was only one of the many things that Arlo loved about her.

But for now, there was the abandoned chocolate shop and the strange portal hovering there above it. And them, determined somehow to get up there. Clearly neither of them possessed the sort of sense that would have kept others from going through that rickety door. Then again, he was his father's son and Vega was all her, nose to toes, in spite of her Immortal father. The man wasn't a father at all, in fact. But normal people wouldn't have gone up those stairs at all. They looked beaten, splintered, fractures; there were probably countless reasons related to physics as to why they should leave them alone. But Arlo didn't know physics from his left foot, and he'd have gone up the stairs anyway.

Slowly, gingerly along the wall where the supports might be in better shape. Directly behind Vega and not beside her, though close enough he could grab hold of her should the stairs crack and give way. Luckily, below the portal they were interested in, the footing was more solid. He'd like to have argued with Vega's idea and say that it ought to be him that first poked his head up into that thing. But he was larger, heavier, had broader shoulders and him standing on her shoulders just wouldn't work. So, with a dash of protest just for the sake of it, he agreed. "Be careful," he said as he helped her get up on his shoulder. "Don't be taking any extra chances."

Once she was balanced on his shoulders, he grabbed on and held to her ankles just in case, as she said, she got...sucked up. "What do you see?" he asked. "What do you mean another world?" Now he really wanted to get up there, and leaving her hanging temporarily seemed like the only way they could do it. "Alright, but you hold tight and no rushing ahead," he warned, thinking about just how he could manage it without her to give him a hand. So a climbing rope. He had one of those along with a grappling hook. And after putting on a pair of leather gloves, Arlo handed Vega the hook. "Is there something to lodge it too up there?" he asked. As soon as she was able to, the rope would be there for the both of them to climb.

And when they were there, standing side by side in what was indeed another world entirely, Arlo let out a quiet, long whistle of appreciation. "Alright then, lead the way...Though I think we ought to avoid eating and drinking anything while we're here that we didn't bring alone with us," he suggested. Mostly, he meant the water from the yellow river.

[Vega]

1st Ashan, 719
Goblin Sanctuary
Yaralon

Don't take any extra chances? Vega snorted in a most unlady-like fashion as he said that. "Livin' with you is the ultimate risk, Creede, we're all good." But, she held on tight and didn't take any risks as she climbed onto his shoulders. There was no point to being foolish, after all. It was how they always were; they took ridiculous risks - often ones which any sane person would refuse outright - but did so in as calculated and sensible a way as they could. Mostly. Still, they clambered through and Vega looked around at the place with eyes which were wide with delight. "This place is wild," she said, softly.

Nodding her head in response to him suggesting they didn't eat - or drink - anything, Vega kept looking around and then, motioned towards the canyon. There were no signs of life at the moment, but she didn't trust it. Her hand fell to the hilt of Melody, her sword, and she started to tense, just a little. There was a feeling here, that was for sure. But it wasn't a bad thing, per se, it was that thrill of excitement which delighted them both - the anticipation of knowing that there was some adventure here to be had. Vega blinked slightly as a small will-o-wisp type creature fluttered in front of her, briefly, and she glanced at Arlo and grinned.

Within a few moments, there were a small swarm of these tiny glow-fly little things, high pitched twinkling sounds coming from them. They were distracting as they buzzed about, but they did no harm. However, as the pair moved forward, there was a sudden change to the noise the small fluttery things made, a sort of screeching, a definite sound of fear and then, they were gone. Vega frowned and, as the strange-looking creature stepping out, tongue licking the air like it could taste them somehow, she pulled her sword. "Who be ya? Taste ya. Strooong taste. Yum. Eat you... you... AAAHHH!"

The last was a high-pitched screech as it looked at Vega. It pointed one bony finger and screeched at her. "Da Queen! Da Goblin Queen!! Flame hair an' many tooths!!", "WOT!?" Vega said over it as it started jumping up and down in excitement. "Pits in face, too!! Goblin Queen!! Hail! DA QUEEN!"

Vega's sword came free from it's sheath and she snarled. "I'll 'ave you know, these are freckles not pits. I'm gonna..." However, whatever she was going to do drifted off as it became obvious to both of them that there were a few - a fair few - of these creatures around the place.

"You with da Queen!? DA QUEEN BOYZ!! GOBLIN QUEEN!"

Vega muttered to herself, softly - but loud enough that Arlo heard. "I'm gonna kill you." In fairness? It wasn't entirely clear who she was talking about as a chant of "Da Queen" started up.

[Arlo Creede]

That the place was wild, as Vega put it, was a monumental understatement. Still, while Arlo didn't think it would be wise to partake of the native water or foodstuffs while they were there, that sense of caution didn't extend to taking samples, that they could take home with them and figure out later. With that in mind, he reached into his sack in search of a jar...at least one of which he always had on him, and then dipped it into the strange colored water. Filling the jar almost completely, he screwed the lid on tight and dropped it back in his sack.

So through the canyon passes seemed like the best way to go, and while Vega's hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, Arlo checked his pistol crossbow to make sure a bolt was loaded, but with the safety catch on just in case. He grinned upon spotting the small winged creature, but he didn't sense that the creature meant them any harm. Lyova seemed to agree, and was fascinated with the happy seeming little things. "Stay close for now Lyova," he warned. "At least for now."

"Funny little things, aren't they?" he remarked to Vega, but then as quick as he said it, the swarm began to buzz and worry and then they were gone. In a hurry. "You think they're trying to tell us something?" he wondered. And as soon as Arlo said that, he realized that maybe they had been, and he reached a hand closer to his crossbow, but didn't produce it just yet. No sense starting something until they knew what exactly they were facing. He stopped, shoulder to shoulder with Vega, frowned and whispered in her ear. "What the heck are those?" More concerning was the odd little man's suggestion that they might, the two of them, make a very tasty meal. They might, in fact, need to start something. And soon.

But then the tide changed. The queen? Arlo gave Vega a side ways glance, a quirk of a brow, and in spite of still wondering were they in danger, he was forced to suppress a grin. "Put it away love," he warned, whispering in her ear when she drew out her sword. "I think they'd rather worship you than eat you." Unless of course, for these creatures, eating was part and parcel to worship. Then they'd be in real trouble. "Me?" he asked, when they asked about his presence. "Indeed. I am just her humble servant, basking in the glow of her majesty's glory, eternally grateful for any kindness or favor that may tumble like crumbs from her sweet and generous lips. All hail the Goblin Queen." Ok, maybe he was laying it on a bit thick. Vega could kill him later. It would be awkward and probably troublesome, was she to do it now.

Arlo assumed then, that the goblins, or whatever they were, would be leading them off somewhere along the way. And Arlo at least for the moment saw no reason why they shouldn't indulge them. So still working to suppress that grin for all he was worth, he bent himself into a deep courtly bow before Vega. The works. One foot forward and bent low. One arm swept back, the other sweeping his hat of his head. "After you, your most glorious Majesty."

[Vega]

It was with a poor grace that Vega put away her sword and she glared at him. "Don't you even dare.. oh, I'm gonna doofer you, Creede." That, she muttered as he started pontificating on about her being the glorious Queen and how he hung around waiting for crumbs to drop. Vega, at that, did what she would always do. She punched him. On the shoulder. The goblins looked on and a "ooooohhhh" made it's way around them. Then, the group of goblins all started punching each other, and Vega sighed. "Shurrup, you don't need to do that. Knickers, Arlo, this is... this is..." He knew her far too well to doubt it. Vega's expression broke into a grin as she looked at him. "I'm gonna get you, you know. I am."

She looked at the goblins and nodded. "A'right, what d'ya wanna show us, then?" Arlo gave a low bow and Vega snorted again. There was going to be a reckoning, and Arlo Creede was going to pay.

"Comez wiv us, Queenie!" one particularly cheery goblin said. Vega nodded her head and glanced at Arlo. He, at that point, was the center of attention for another one of the goblins - of indeterminate gender, but fluttering eyelashes at him. When she spoke, though, it became obvious that she was female - or unfortunately high pitched for a man. "Hello." Of course, she might have something in her eyes - it grew more likely all things considered. It would explain the way she stumbled into him too. Then, there was the ... inappropriately intimate touching. "Me named Gert. You?"

Vega chuckled and glanced at him. "As my loyal retainer, you know, I can order you to do all sorts. Might wanna play that role a bit less, Creede." Vega chuckled at him and nodded to the blinking goblin. "Nice to meet ya Gert. This is Arlo. He's soon to be single, an' his wife tells me that he's righ' good at kissin'." Gert's eyes widened and Vega beamed at Arlo. "Pucker up, love." Of course, if he did, she'd be thumping him into next Cylus, no doubting it.

Then, they rounded a corner and there, in front of them was a very strange looking thing. It looked almost like a chair but not. Almost like a torture device, but not. A little bit like a religiously significant thing and very much like a ramshackle shoved-together construct made almost entirely of junk.

"Da THRONE!" Vega realised that she was looking at something she was supposed to engage with in some way. "You want me to park my butt on that? I'll 'ave you know I'm all muscle, an' I reckon if I sit on that, I'm gonna be sittin' in twigs on th'floor." But they nodded, tugged at her and Vega sighed and sat. "Well this is bloody uncomfortable, so it is." She looked at Arlo and Gert tugged at him. "When we cook her, can I keepz you?"

"Shuzh Gert!" One of the goblins said, slapping Gert over the back of her head. "We obey her command first, then cook her!" They were both whispering, but Arlo heard them clearly. Vega however, was largely oblivious.

[Doran]

Vega:

Knowledge: -
Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: -
Points: 15

Arlo:

Knowledge: -
Loot: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: -
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: This was a fun thread. You two write together so well. It’s a pity it was never finished. I wanted to read more about the new queen!

The title immediately attracted my attention. I couldn’t help but wonder why chocolate killed! Would Vega treat a dog that accidentally eat chocolate? Would someone have a terrible allergic reaction to one of the things that are in chocolate?

I would never have anticipated what really happened!

When Vega asked Arlo about the “flat opening’ in the world”, I laughed. Her using all those different swearwords amused me as well. I also liked that Arlo teased her back. Vega and Arlo are a great couple!

Good job, the two of you, and enjoy your rewards!