Second Life in the Afterlife (Open to all)

[Santino Marcone]

Darkness wrapped around Santino and covered his sight. He could not see where he was, nor where he might be able to see. Exploring hands, however, patted against a stone wall to his right. With a hand pressed to it, he made his way... where? Somewhere. Was it deeper into the darkness, or towards light? Both could spell doom, and both could spell security. Depending, of course, upon what he found on either side. But where was he right now? That was still the question.

The spell that brought him here was intentional, and he was well aware of it as it was being cast. He was here intentionally, to ... pave the way? He was to gather information first and foremost. Before he could, he had to find out where he was, and hopefully, if he did find light, it would not be the light of the sun. No sense roaming around in the day, to be noticed by someone before he could establish a good hiding place.

In time, he did find his way to an opening, from which light reached into this cave. He slipped out into the night, and into the wilderness. Where he was, what this world was called, was still unknown to him, but he would find out all he could, in order to report back to those that had him sent here.

Directly outside, there was a ledge, but he maneuvered his way about the cave opening he had just stumbled out of, and weaved his way throughout the woods. He wandered one way, and then another, turning himself in circles for a moment before he could get his bearings. His eyes scanned the distance, as if staring throughout the thick enclosure of trees, he could still see what was in the distance, and where he would need to go. After a moment, sure enough, his lips split into a wide smile, he righted himself into a set direction, and walked off.

He walked with more assurance now, and as a sign of his confidence, his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. His jacket was a sharp looking --or had been, before the filth of the cave dirtied it up-- black business jacket. Though wrinkled now, the white shirt underneath still managed to make him look distinguished. The slant-striped tie disappeared within the closed jacket. Black pants as well were slightly wrinkled and caked in dirt, and atop his head, he wore a fedora.

The neatly trimmed beard on his face framed his chin, but did not cover it completely, and did not reach up over his cheeks. His deep blue eyes peered here and there as he walked, but ultimately remained fixed on whatever goal he seemed sure to be heading towards now. His mood had seemed to have changed from just moments ago, and as further proof of this, he began to hum and sing softly.

"Purple shadows are creeping..
and the fountain is weeping..
hear the trees gently sigh,
while the winds murmurs by,
as they ride from afar...
All my memories awaken...
'neath each bright, watching star..
Play for one who's forsaken...
On my Roman Guitar.."

[Venis Jordianthan]

The first indication that Santino would have that he wasn't alone would be the soft whisper of fur brushing against the foliage. No footsteps were heard, though they were being made.  A pause in the steps, there was another about, she sensed him, smelled him, then saw him.

She listened to him hum and sing softly for a moment.  He was approaching.  He would pass to her right, unless she interrupted him. Unlike this new being, she knew exactly where she was.  And she had chosen to go East, despite the voices in her head telling her to go West.  But this new being, one she had never seen, felt, sensed, or smelled around here before.  He was heading West.  He was headed for the Tel.

It was then that she decided to speak. "You reek of cave dirt." Simple words in a flat tone. Her voice a slightly lower key than normal, slightly more bass to it.  It wasn't her natural voice.  It was their voice.  The voices in her head. It was what they could do with her vocal chords. 

If he cared to look, and managed to see her, he would find a tall woman.  She was six foot two in her stocking feet.  She was currently wearing thigh high red leather boots with an eight inch heel and a two inch platform under the toe.  Which put her at six foot ten.  She wore a cloak made of red fur, adorned with a great collar in the shape of many horns.  The collar was adorned with gold and gemstones. From the shoulders and the collar there was a thicker fur of white, with black feathers in it.  There was a gold trim around that and some strands of pearls.

She had red leather opera length gloves on, and several pieces of jewelry.  The only thing missing was a crown upon her head to make her look like royalty.  Well, that and her clothes.  She wore no clothing.  Only the gold toned metal bikini that her son had made for her.  The top was made of three chains and two disks.  The two disks were shaped to fit over a portion of her more than ample breasts.  They had pentagrams in raised relief.  They were held together by one chain between them, one to wrap around her body and then one to go from the top of one disk to up and around her neck and back down to the top of the other.  The bottoms were made of two chains and one metal plate.  The metal plate was made to cover her butt in the back, and the front came up like a golden flame from between her legs.  The two chains ran from the flames, up over her hips and down to the plate in the back, to hold the plate on.

She wore no other adornments as she stood with her weight shifted to her left leg and her left hand on her hip.  She had spoken already, there was no need for more words.  At least not until he got closer and she could get a better read on him.  The voices in her head that had been slowly working to take over her mind were causing interruptions with some of her natural abilities.  She couldn't tell if he meant anyone harm or not.  She couldn't tell what breed of being he was.  Which could be very dangerous for someone else.  So she waited for him to get closer.