Paths of Gold

[C H E Y E N N E]

Zach just shrugged. "I dunno. I'd say I was being bitter because zombies generally aren't ranked up in the Best Looking Creature category, but I'm pretty sure the only emotion we can feel is annoyance. And possibly anger. All directed towards Gabe. DAMNIT GABE, PUT THAT DOWN - THAT'S MY DRINK!"

[Rogue of Night]

ooc;; Really? Huh. I wonder why they're never in the Western movies.....

[Rogue of Night]

Syclaine couldn't help but laugh. "With good reason too, I see."

[C H E Y E N N E]

ooc;; ... They are.
What have you been watching?
xP
Go see "Tombstone."

bic;; "Exactly. YOU KNOW YOU CAN HOLD YOUR ALCOHOL NO - YES - NO. Yes, Gabe, that is yours."

[Rogue of Night]

Syclaine rolled her eyes. "While you two spend your time with petty arguments, I have other matters of sheer importance to attend to." She smiled, dipping her head to Zach, and started out of the saloon, not even bothering to acknowledge Gabe while she moved.
"I'll see you later, yeah?" Robin called after her.
Syclaine paused at the doors, glancing over her shoulder with a fond gaze to Robin, and nodded. "Yes. You will." And with that, she left.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"What, whoring?" Gabe muttered lowly.
Zach didn't even bother with him this time, instead moving to grab his drink.
"Y'know, there was another zombie here," Gabe said.
"Hn."

Across the saloon, in a large white wooden hotel that bustled with energy, a young-looking man sat in one of the tables, finely dressed. His name was Ranulf Van Deiran, vampire and owner of the hotel, aptly named Last Bite at the request of his sister.
The freaks come out at night, Ranulf thought, his eyes glimmering. Outside, the sun had set, and the sky was now a very dark blue - almost black. The other vampires would be arriving soon, and even the werewolves, though they tended to stay out of his establishments. Good.

[Rogue of Night]

Syclaine ignored his words which she had clearly heard as she moved away from the building. Why was it that EVERYONE thought that to be her strong point? This just made her angry.

Robin glanced at Gabe, nodding. "She comes in here everyday, although she's not old enough to consume the product. I've never once heard her speak."

Tenphyss climbed up to the hotel's roof, sitting on top just as before, watching the darkening sky begin to light with glowing orbs; the stars. She wasn't partial to nighttime, but ignored the thoughts which dwelt in her mind regarding the black abyss which darkened the world.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"Not old enough?" Zach asked incredulously. "My good man, there's no age limit on good alcohol."
"Maybe not to you mortals."

--

"Kiche!" Mem said as the fires danced to the sky. Today was a celebratory night: a festival of sorts for summer. While it had arguably been summer for a couple months now, this was the official bit, and it was Mem's favourite. The little girl was dressed in her ceremonial gear, and her deerskin dress and leggings were decorated with beads and dyed porcupine quills, like her moccasins. She also wore a couple stone necklaces, and around her head was a decorated leather band.
"Kiche, I get to open the festival tonight!" Mem crowed. "Then everyone else is invited to jump in and dance! Oh, please say you'll join!"

[Rogue of Night]

Robin shook his head. "She is different and never touches the stuff. I do know, however, that she is sixteen. You can tell by the adolescence of her body."

Swift Hawk's eyes flashed though her gaze never strayed from the wood she was carving. She had completely forgotten about the festival. She wasn't one to gallivant around like the rest of the natives she had become apart of, but, to blend in like the rest, it was imperative she join in. Oh joy.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"I'd make a comment about you checking out the undead, bartender, but you've probably heard it from a drunken patron who didn't know what he was talking about," the black-haired zombie replied. "My name is Zacharias Qellic, Boy-Zombie Wonder. I don't remember if I told you that. Over there is Gabriel Erestus Raphime, Idiot Extraordinaire."
"I really, really hate you."
"Hate is a sin. You're going to hell now, Gabe."
The Lucent paled until Zach smiled.

Kiche blinked, sighing. "I... I do not know, Mem."
"But you never have before!" She begged.

[Rogue of Night]

Robin shook his head. "I have observed. I never 'check-out'." He laughed a little then, at Zach's comment. "It is a pleasure to make both your acquaintances. The woman who just left is Syclaine. I promise she'll be friendlier the next time she comes around."

Swift Hawk stood then, tossing her totem-like piece over her shoulder as she moved toward them. "You should do it." She was talking to Kiche. In her experiences, making a child upset wasn't a good idea.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"Not to him," Zach deadpanned, though that was more his default tone of voice. Zombies had to work to put emotion into their voice, expressions, and general movement like no other creature. Because of that, they usually didn't even bother, unless they were angry and wanted someone to know it. "Lucents and Umbras generally don't, though, to the extent of my knowledge. Them both being stubborn doesn't help."

Kiche started - he hadn't heard the other girl coming. When he turned and saw Swift Hawk, his eyes narrowed, though it was more in thought.
She was an odd one - even odder than he. Beautiful, obviously, and like him, she had short hair. In fact, they were the only people in the village with such.
Still, it was like there was something... not right. He didn't know, but he didn't care to - it wasn't his business.
Mem smiled at Swift Hawk. "Yes, Kiche, don't upset a child!"
"If I have to, then you will be as well," Kiche told Swift Hawk, the challenge clear.
Mem glanced up at the moon, which would be full in a day or two. "Come oooon! It's going to start!"

[Rogue of Night]

"Ah," Robin replied dryly, pouring another drink. "No, it doesn't, and let me tell you, Syclaine can be stubborn. She's crafty too, as well as...well...somewhat snobby, actually. She rants and raves about this fiancé of hers, yet I am sure that, by the sound of her voice, she will never see him again." He shrugged as he pushed the glass to a patron. "But, if I should tell her that, she would beat me flat."

Swift Hawk exhaled with exasperation. "Fine, but I'm doing it for her," she motioned to Mem, not actually knowing the names of the people she spoke to. She had never made it her business to know of any other than the more important members.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"She's engaged?" Gabe spoke up this time, walking over and joining Zach at the stool. "I didn't know Umbras could get engaged."
"Don't Lucents?"
"No, we..." Gabe shifted, deciding to shrug his shoulders. "We can reproduce within our own species, but... I mean, yeah, we have love and stuff, but it's more of an... we don't... With Lucents, the birth of a child is consider a bond of matrimony. There's no engagement period. We meet someone we like, and if we love them, we have a child, and that seals our 'bond', so to speak. Once that happens, even if a couple grows apart, they have to stay together until the child is at least two centuries old. At least, that's how it's supposed to be." Gabe frowned at his glass, which was empty. "When they don't, they bring shame upon their children, and themselves, and other plans are made for the raising of the Lucent child until we're old enough."

Kiche looked at Swift Hawk. "... Mem," he said at last, nodding once. Mem smiled happily and hugged Swift Hawk before lightly taking Kiche's hand. The two then moved over to where the fire was going, and where the village elders and musicians were waiting.

[Rogue of Night]

"They are engaged in human terms; intended to be one in Umbra terms," Robin responded with the utmost discretion. "Umbras are far different from Lucents when it comes to things like this. They can have children at will, much like the humans. There is no special bond that comes from two Umbras conceiving. It's all in the legality of it all. At least, that was what she told me."

Swift Hawk's eyes widened when Mem hugged her. She wasn't used to such a form of affection. With a sigh, she followed behind the other two reluctantly.