A/N: This one's very connected to the fall of Glast Heim snippet - this would probably take place just a few hours after that, actually. I wrote it entirely for Veji/Plantman/Plantman.EXE/whatever the hell she goes by now, and it probably wouldn't actually make it into the final product if I ever get up the will to write it.
He had to admit they were both impressive specimens; for humans, anyway. The swordsman's brown clothing signified he had mastered his duty and abilities earlier in life - a knight, most likely - and he was in the final stages of transitioning to a higher order of knighthood to become a Lord Knight. Such professions were rare, even for Glast Heim which had been the first region to begin allowing its people to further their studies and advance beyond their current abilities. Not many humans were devoted enough to their professions to want or be capable of advancing. Still, Shade had to admit he was fairly disappointed that this one was still only a swordsman - a high swordsman, but still only a swordsman. A Lord Knight would have been tremendous fun to experiment with.
Quick squirmed weakly on the rock he had been placed upon, writhing in a fitful, unbreakable slumber as Shade's power violated his mind, picking out the pieces Shade wanted to preserve and locking away the chunks he did not. He taught the human abilities he normally would have been incapable of performing and also enhanced his body. Muscles were tightened to enhance speed, bones strengthened for more durability. It was very painful if his writhing was any indication, but Shade found it somewhat entertaining. He was hurrying with this one though - he had sated his creative side with the other one, the crusader.
The crusader stood silently in the shadows, his head lolled forward from the magic still keeping him asleep. Only his torso and head were truly intact - Shade had felt especially creative with him. Both arms ended at the elbow, the forearms replaced with the long, razor sharp blade of an enormous lance on the right arm, the left adorned with a shield "welded" into place to connect with the bone. Mockingly, the shield bore the cross which signified the crest of the crusaders. His human torso ended at the waist and melted into the body of a white horse with hooves the size of the crusader's head. His armor had been dusted white by deviruchis Shade felt had nothing better to do, and a three-horned helmet now shadowed his face. Shade was rather proud of it and was considering sending his new "Lord of Death" to Nifflheim until needed.
A sharp, angry hiss tore Shade's attention away from the squirming swordsman momentarily, and he sighed in exasperation at his "pet"'s raised hackles and bushed tail. Burner could be obstinate when it came to Shade's attention, and he often regretted making him so dependent on him. It seemed like fun at the time, and the rogue Burner used to be certainly deserved it for being so cocky to think he could fight Shade alone, but it grew to be tiresome frequently.
One knee buckled slightly when Burner's head bumped it with a demanding growl, making Shade cut off what he was doing with Quick so he could glare down at his pet with his full attention. Burner just puffed up at the glare and did his best to make every strand of fur on his body from his furred hands and feet to the strip of fur between his shoulders and down his spine stand on end to show his displeasure, flattening his ears as well. It looked ridiculous with his knees tucked up under his arms so he could crouch properly. Shade had to give him credit for being so adamant though - what Burner wanted, he didn't stop being an insistent pest until he got it.
Shade finally gave in and reached down to run his fingers through Burner's hair for a moment which prompted the werewolf to push his head into the vampire's hand for more, crawling forward and arching his back to guide Shade's hand down the strip of fur over his spine where Shade begrudgingly smoothed down the fur of his tail until it was no longer standing on end. Burner's purr echoed off the cavern walls as he rubbed against Shade's legs happily, beaming the way he always did when he got what he wanted. Once Shade had had enough, he waved his hand to shoo his pet away so he could finish modifying the swordsman. Burner sauntered away, smug and satisfied for the time being and leaving behind a slightly more than annoyed Shade who glared at a snickering deviruchi. It was not exactly a secret how easily Burner could get the attention he wanted, but that did not mean Shade liked being so blatantly pushed over.
A/N: Aaaand this one probably would make it into the final project. Also written mostly for Veji. And for any of you who actually play RO, yes, Quick is Doppelganger.
Water trickled slowly down blue-grey walls of stone, loosening and collecting dirt from the rocks as it flowed toward the ground to form small puddles of mud. Some water was snatched by thirsty moss and lichen clinging to the stone while more was consumed by parched red bats and flies. The upright inhabitants of the caverns ignored the water -- the undead did not need the stustinance as they were never thirsty. Fiery hooves lit moss and lichen aflame as ghostly nightmares passed the water, patrolling for their master who watched them even from further underground.
He looked to the stone ceiling, listening to the familiar snorts of nightmares and the quiet drag of undead feet from the third "level" of the caverns. Drainlairs flitted overhead and perched upon stalactites to hide inside their wings, and hunter flies buzzed by to search for the bodies of unfortunate adventurers who met their fate underground. An occasional deviruchi chittered to itself as it used a rock to sharpen its trident before dashing after the flies to join in on the feast.
The sounds were all familiar, including the way they bounced off the walls and echoed through the caverns. They were soothing to a point, calming. However, the sounds were different today. He could hear how restless his followers were from the intelligent nightmares to the simple-minded zombies. Everything could feel anticipation in the air. Even the bats and flies knew the time was finally approaching.
"Forty-one years tomorrow," he murmured, his chin resting in one hand as his other hand toyed with red hair, running his fingers through it and tracing over pointed, red-furred ears. "I'm sure Skull has found the last one by now, the last piece of our lord." He looked down into content, green eyes and felt a rumbling purr against his leg as his pet nuzzled his thigh, pale skin luminous in the dim light of the caverns. "We'll make our move soon. After all, we can't let Skull have all the fun." Shade looked down at his pet once more, running his fingers through its red hair again and making it purr and wave its long, red tail in delight. "Isn't that right, Burner?"