Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:42 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Is THAT all you want!? Some godsdamned romance TRASH!?” Lewis yelled. “For fucks sake, if that’s all you want…” He walked over to his bag, and threw her a book that happened to be in it. “There. HAPPY!? It’s some random book that one of the women at the brothel told me to read for some stupid reason.”

Simone caught the book, and read the title. “The…Flames of Lust?”

At once, the other two men in the room groaned. They had all heard of this novel, and how it was what all the women were ranting and raving. It had ‘unrealistic standards for men’ or whatever that meant. All Darren knew was that the women in the brothels were comparing them to the men in the novel.

“I’ll get the rest of your damned books later. It’s HIGHLY unlikely that Lord Raith has such books in his library.”

If only Lewis knew how wrong he was.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:36 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stood there with the vase at the ready. “And I’m Simone a princess hidden in a goddamn tower. Lewis Dusk if you don’t let me go to the goddamn library this instant I’m going to throw this vase at your damn head!”

She was staring at Lewis, “YOU JUST THREATENED THEM BOTH. Jack is literally about to piss him–”

“I AM NO-”

“SHUT UP JACK,” both Simone and Lewis yelled at him.

“I DEMAND A COMPROMISE,” Simone yelled at Lewis. “If you don’t let me leave this tower I am going to scream until you give up because you can’t sleep.”

“OH MY FUCKING GOD YOU ARE A GODDAMN BRAT,” Lewis yelled up at her.

“I DEMAND A COMPROMISE! AGREE TO IT OR I’M GOING TO SMASH THIS VASE INTO YOUR HEAD,” Simone yelled down at Lewis. At this point, Darren and Jack were staying for the drama.

“What the fuck do you want woman?!” Lewis yelled back at her.

“I want six romance novels on the raunchy side immediately,” Simone turned her nose up at him. “Or. Else. I. Scream. And smash this vase into your head.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:30 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Don’t you know who he is!?” Darren shot back. “Of COURSE he threatened me, he’s Lewis gods-damned Dusk!”

Lewis crossed his arms. “How is that so hard to believe!?” he demanded. “What more to do you need!?”

Simone looked at Darren, “Who the hell even are you!?”

“Darren,” he repeated. “I thought we established this.

“Okay, but who the hell do you think you are!?” Simone demanded.

“I’m the third best assassin in the temple,” Darren said, suddenly offended.

Before anyone else could say more, the door opened, and Jack walked in. He was surprised to see everyone on edge, and started to turn around. “I’ll just come back later,” he muttered.

“NO YOU DON’T!” Lewis and Simone yelled at the same time.

Jack flinched, and walked in. “Ok…what seems to be the problem?” he asked nervously.

“Tell her who I am,” Lewis demanded. “Rank and all.”

“Lewis Dusk, top assassin in the realm?” Jack asked, confused.

“And do you look up her skirt?”

“Of course not!” he snapped, “You would absolutely kill me!”

Lewis smirked, crossing his arms. “There. That’s TWO people who can vouch for me.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:23 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone didn’t leave her spot with the vase. She put the vase on the windowsill and took a book she had no attachment to. As soon as he walked in and started ordering the man around she chucked it at his head. Unfortunately, Lewis was very good at his job and he caught the book. Simone was looming over him with the vase again. “STAY BACK I SWEAR TO GOD I’LL CRUSH YOUR HEAD WITH THIS VASE,” Simone threatened. “I. Want. To. Go. To. The. Library. NO! I AM GOING TO THE LIBRARY!” She changed her language to him.

Simone’s gray eyes locked with the man’s. “Who is this?” She raised the vase once more and ‘intimidated’ the new man. “STAY BACK.”

“This is Darren,” Lewis was calm but slowly about to lose it. “Tell her who I am!”

“He’s Lewis Dusk, the top-rated assassin,” Darren put his hands up.

“YOU THREATENED HIM DIDN’T YOU?!” Simone was threatening Lewis with the vase again. “And you! Did he threaten you to tell me who he was?! WHO ARE YOU ANYWAYS?! Don’t just let him bully you!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:17 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had ended up in this predicament wholly on his own actions. While Lord Raith had given him a certain amount of agency within the godly realm, he had not given Lewis explicit permission to get away with everything. It wasn’t just that Simone couldn’t leave, it was that if Lord Raith caught wind of her, that could spell disaster for all parties involved.

“I’m Lewis Terrowin, top rated assassin of the realm,” Lewis shot back, completely serious. He was getting annoyed at her acting like he wasn’t a big shot. Which, to be fair, he was, but that actually didn’t matter in this situation.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean!?” she demanded. “You’ve locked me in this tower, threaten me daily, and now you’re some oh so fancy big shot!?” The vase almost left her hands, but she hesitated. It was a really nice vase. “I. Don’t. Believe. You.” She said the words slowly, and with emphasis.

“What do you mean you don’t believe me?” Lewis asked, completely caught off guard. What did this have to do with the library? “I’m the best assassin here. There’s no contest.”

“Unlikely,” she snapped back with a glare.

Lewis stared at her in complete shock. “Just…” If looks could kill…

“Wait here,” he demanded as he turned around and stormed out of the tower. There was an audible click as he locked the door. It only took about five minutes, and when he appeared, he was half dragging a man almost double Lewis’ size.

“All right, all right,” the man said as he looked around. “But why am I-” His eyes locked on Simone’s frame. “Lewis. There’s a woman in here.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:00 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

I Don’t Believe You
(before the dream dive)
“I want to go to the library.”

“No.”

“I. Want. To. Go. To. The. Library.”

“Ask again and I’ll sew your lips shut.”

“IT WASN’T A REQUEST I WANT TO GO TO THE LIBRARY LEWIS.”

Which had led to the current predicament that Lewis was now in. Standing on the table in the main living quarters Simone had a vase and she was ready to chuck it at Lewis. “I wasn’t asking. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO KEEP ME HERE WITH NO HUMAN INTERACTION BESIDES JACK TRYING TO LOOK UP MY SKIRT WHEN HE ORDERS FOOD,” Simone yelled as she kicked her legs to get him to back up.

“HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THAT YOU CAN JUST HOLD ME IN HERE?!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2023 4:31 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis saw Simone and was furious, but had been learning to control his emotions and not completely fly off the handle.

He was really struggling.

“Oh no, you don’t get to worm your way out of this one,” he said after she started to walk off to grab the new nightgown. He was about to go off again when she produced the nightgown, and he immediately held his tongue. There were a flurry of thoughts running through his mind at the moment, all of them involving her and that nightgown.

“Put it on…now,” Lewis demanded as he crossed his arms. “And the next few hours will determine just how much trouble you’ll be in…” But Simone had to know that the distraction was working. “And…I guess I can tolerate it…for now…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2023 4:24 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone heard Lewis come home and she had been in her room journaling away about what she had done. She was pretty proud of her color choices. Pastels were in, or so the wallpaper specialist had said. That was when his voice boomed and Simone flinched.

“Whelp, time to come up with something to distract him,” Simone muttered to herself.

She got up with a smile on her face and opened the door to her room. “You told me I could do whatever I wanted as long as I didn’t touch your stuff… I thought we could use some color so I did it.” She put her hands behind her and played shy.

“Besides I thought it would look nice as a backdrop for your present…” She mused and rolled her eyes back and forth. This had been the… If Lewis hates it then I should distract him button. She went over to the closet in his room and pulled out a lace nightgown. It was black and there was barely anything to it. “See? It looks nice against the light green of the room. You can definitely see it better in the dark.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2023 4:12 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It had been a long three days. Lewis was never one to openly complain about a job, but this one had taken him by surprise, and he barely had the energy to make the trip home. He was, shockingly, looking forward to the familiar walls and the light day to day activities. Even he knew the importance of resting in a place you felt safe.

Lewis entered the main hall of the temple, and found it oddly quiet. The new batch of recruits were either out, or all of them had failed. He took a small detour to the kitchen and picked up a plate of food. He wondered if Simone had eaten yet. Knowing her, not likely. He sighed and grabbed her a plate as well, placing both on a tray.

“What a pain,” he muttered, making his way to the tower. At the top of the steps, he tried the door. Locked. Good. She’s learning. He balanced the tray carefully, and unlocked the door, kicking it open. “I’m ho-” The tray dropped, spilling meats and cheeses everywhere. The walls were wrong.

“What the fuck.” He walked into the room. It was all wrong. He rushed to his room, and looked around again. “What the fuck?” he repeated. “Simone!? What the actual fuck?”

Blue. Green. It was all wrong to him. He was an assassin. Death and darkness. These colors clashed with his soul. And whether or not he would ever admit it, he did have a soul.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jun 6, 2023 3:55 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A Little More Color

Lewis was on a three day stint from home. It was rare but it did happen once in a while. Simone had permission to do whatever she wanted as long as she didn’t touch his weapon’s room. He didn’t own the walls.

So she was one day into her lonedom when she had the bright idea to spruce up the tower. There was a rather talented wallpaper specialist who lived in the town below. So with Dala in tow, she went to town for his services. Pouring over the vast samples of wallpapers she finally settled on a few.

Their common room was a very nice baby blue light floral print. Her room was done in a lilac purple with roses here or there. Finally, she chose a spring green with a slightly darker leaf pattern for Lewis’s room.

Spending time on his bedding she had decided he needed new sheets and blankets. He wasn’t much for caring as long as they were comfortable so she got dark green bedding. The whole time Snowball was watching with wide eyes.

This was one dead woman when Lewis got home.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:28 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis looked down at Rafael’s body after hearing Simone’s comment. “So, if we toss him out of the window he might be discovered. I’ve been experimenting lately with acids that can dissolve flesh and bone. Maybe we could try that instead…”

It took the rest of the day, alongside an explanation to Darren on why they had disappeared for so long. When Lewis mentioned a body, Darren immediately held up his hands and wanted nothing to do with it. It was better that way for him. And so, it was known to the whole Bastion that Rafael just mysteriously disappeared one day, leaving a pregnant Sofia to raise her child alone. Many speculated that he wanted nothing to do with the kid, and simply ran from the responsibility. Others figured he took a job and failed.

The truth, though, is that Lewis and Simone were a terrifyingly jealous couple.

And that sometimes, killing someone was simply just the best answer.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:22 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She couldn’t honestly tell if Lewis was proud of her or just in awe of her… Or maybe it was something else all together. It wasn’t very often that she did it to him but this was something else entirely.

Simone was starting not to be bothered by blood but this time she had really done it. Now she had to clean it up. “Alright…” She took the dagger from him and puffed out her face. “Stop judging me.”

“… I don’t know if that’s possible in this situation,” Lewis replied with his dull tone.

“Look, I came and I told him… and He blew me off and he said even though I was flat chested that if I wanted to offer myself to him that he would consider what I was saying. So maybe it was more than just the flat-chested comment.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:17 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis surveyed the room, and immediately his eyes went to Simone. Next, they trained on the body of Rafael. This was the same Rafael who had assassinated a Lord surrounded by twenty fully armored knights without being caught. The same Rafael who had killed a man in a locked room with no windows. The very same man who, without a doubt, was a better assassin that Lewis was. Well, not by much…

“How…” He stopped himself. “Why…” Again he stopped himself. First, he closed the door behind him, and locked it. The first mistake that Simone had made. “Simone. I’m going to need a very good explanation as to why Rafael is dead.”

“He called me flat chested.”

Lewis blinked. “Okay, so first, you need to remember to lock the door. Anyone can walk in.” He walked over, and leaned down. “Second…when disposing of someone bigger than you, I recommend doing so in parts.” He pulled out his dagger, and handed it to her, hilt first. “A sharp edge will do wonders cutting through bone.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:06 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone agreed and Snowball flew with her. When the infamous Dusk Assassin’s lady comes to see you… Well, the look on Rafael’s face was interesting. “I have to tell you something can I come in?” She was innocent enough about it that Rafael let her in without thought.

“I know that you are expecting a baby with Sofia but…” So Simone went and told her story to Rafael.

–

When Lewis opened the door he was met with a scene as Snowball was setting off an alarmed set of chirps.

“Fuck,” a tiny voice cried out but once Snowball knew it was Lewis he was quick to readjust his tweet.

However, Simone and Lewis’s eyes met while she was in a situation. She held the body of Rafael whose head had been bashed open. There was blood everywhere and on her. She was attempting to throw the body out the window from how she was positioned but the man was bigger than she was and it was hard to get the leverage.

“…This is probably what it looks like…” Simone chirped out a response. Snowball was now oddly quiet as he tried to close the door by himself.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:58 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was surprised at how well Darren was taking the news. “If it were me, I probably would have killed someone.” Simone gave him a look like she was about to slap him, but held herself back. Instead, she consoled Darren for a moment longer before stating they should look for the others.

“I think it would be more efficient to split up,” Lewis said as he looked to Darren and Simone. “Simone, you take Rafael. I’ll handle Geoff and Orion, and Darren you take Strom and whatever that newbie’s name is.” Lewis hardly cared for the other assassin. The fact that he knew most of their names was a shock to Darren.

“R-right,” Darren said as he stood up. “On it.”

“Just take Snowball with you when you go,” Lewis reminded Simone. “I feel better when he’s around.”

Lewis tracked down Orion easily enough, and explained the situation. Orion was in shock, and had to sit down, taking a few moments to process. In the end, he understood what had to be done. Geoff took a little longer to track down, but once he was cornered, Lewis told him what had happened. This particular assassin waved his hand, dismissing the idea.

“Well…your loss,” Lewis said as he shrugged. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

He knew Darren wasn’t having any trouble, but he wondered how Simone was handling Rafael. “Let’s see…his room should be…this one?” He found the door on the east wing tower, one that was only a few feet smaller than Lewis’ own tower.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:43 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stared at him in absolute shock. “But. But…” He pulled her using the belt and she realized she was beaten as he took it off of her like a child.

“No buts,” Lewis put his finger to her lips and she puffed up her face.

She was about to absolutely go off on the fact that she had seen Lewis on multiple occasions killing acolytes because he couldn’t contain his jealousy. She crossed her arms even harder as the conversation continued. She hadn’t even thought about what Lord Raith would do if she had killed someone intentionally but did that mean that Lewis was a special case? Probably, he had value to the god.

“Okay…” She took a big breath and looked up at Lewis with big eyes now wholly agreeing with the plan. “Let’s start with Darren before she gets pregnant for real… Patricia, Sofia, Alexandria, Gloria, Melody, and Felicia are their names. I have the assassins they are attached to.”

Each one had attached themselves to someone who could make a lot of money. Simone wasn’t dumb and knew that killing was a good business. There would be multiple reasons to attach yourself to an assassin. The gold was one but the other was that it was a dangerous job. Be married to an assassin for a bit and you might just end up a rich widow.

After calming her down they went and grabbed Darren. Simone forced him to sit in their living room. “What’s this about you two?”

“Well…” Simone was hesitant but soon she was speaking about her experience.

“…What?” Darren looked at her a bit weirdly. “That’s weir– No, that actually makes sense…” He thought about it. “These girls started at the same time in the temple.”

“So… they came here with the goal already in mind?! That’s crazy…”

Darren didn’t look too heartbroken since as far as Simone had known it hadn’t been that long since Patricia had started to see Darren. “We should tell the others… Sofia is already pregnant…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:30 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis took a deep breath, and exhaled. “Assassination isn’t the solution to everything.” This was rich coming from him, but in this instance he was right. “What we do is we have a discussion with Darren about what you have heard. A normal discussion.” He pulled her close via the belt, and undid it. “Just because we’re emotional, doesn’t mean we can just kill people.”

The irony was lost on him.

“Contain your jealousy for a moment and think. If you hurt someone intentionally, Lord Raith may kill you on the spot. There are better options. Why kill someone when you can make their life a living hell? If we tell Darren and the other boys, we can turn this around on the circle.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:20 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone felt like a child getting ‘her’ gear adjusted. “I’m going into battle.”

“Not with this you’re not,” Lewis took the dagger out and held it above her.

The girl started to hop up and down trying to get it. Her face was puffed out and she was getting more frustrated. “Lewis, I need it to assassinate someone.”

“Is this like when you assassinated that trash on the beach?”

“YES,” Simone stopped hopping and crossed her arms, “I am very, very upset. I learned today that girls get pregnant on purpose so their boyfriends won’t leave them! I LEARNED BECAUSE THEY SAID I SHOULD DO IT TO YOU!” She pointed at Lewis. “I don’t need a baby to keep you! I AM MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING YOU ON MY OWN! AND TO ADD SALT TO THE INJURY THEY GAVE ME?! I found out that Patricia girl that has been looming on Darren plans on ensnaring him in her vicious web of pregnancy lies!”

She turned around and went for his poison bottles, “This must be stopped! They have hurt my pride as a woman! SEX ISN’T A WEAPON!”

She stopped and put her hands on her hips turning to him, “And how dare they think of my Lewis in their dirty little brains!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:14 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis came into the weapon room, unsure of what to expect from the whole situation at hand. He knew that she had been enjoying her time outside of the tower, and he was almost thankful that she had been making friends. It was something that he had never really intended for her, but as time had passed them by, and he was slowly starting to trust that she wouldn’t run.

Not that she really could escape him if he put his mind to it.

“What’s wrong,” he asked. His voice sounded bored, but there was the slightest hint of curiosity mixed with worry for those who knew how to discern. He noticed one of his belts wrapped around her. “You…have that on wrong,” he said as he walked over and adjusted the belt. “I do hope you plan on cleaning up the baby clothes. The belt goes like this…see, now you can reach for the hilt easier.” He paused. “Though, before you walk out of here, you’re going to tell me why you want my gear.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 8:07 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A New Circle

“I’m going out for a bit while you clean all your weapons,” Simone kissed his cheek. “I got invited to hang out with the other girlfriends of the acolytes! They are doing a knitting circle today! One of them is apparently pregnant and we’re all making her some clothes!”

This was the first time she got invited to anything but everyone knew she was good at knitting. She was proud that she was invited. “My baby clothes are going to be the cutest!” She proclaimed as she ran out of the tower to attend this meeting.

Sophia was her name and Simone thought she was going to be the cutest pregnant woman. She was going to dote on her! She even made patterns for the baby clothes to share with the others!

This went on for a few days before Simone figured something out. She came into his weapon’s room in fury as she tossed her baby clothes and started to get Lewis’s weapons. Even taking his belt and strapping it to her. She was furious.

Snowball was in a panic as he flew to Lewis and chirped away. Simone was losing her shit downstairs. Evident by the slamming.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 7:43 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis looked at Darren, and then at Simone, and then finally took Snowball off his should and held him.

“Oh? So this was a calculated lie? Revenge?” Lewis said with an odd tone. “I would be proud of you, but you involved Simone…and for that, you need to be punished.” There was a menacing undertone in his voice, one that sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

Snowball looked terrified, and chirped quickly with panic.

“What? No. I’m not going to kill you.” Lewis shook his head. The menace in his voice was gone. “Why would I kill you over that? No…you’re going to fly laps around the tower.”

“Wait, so that’s his punishment?” Darren asked. “He almost gets me killed…YOU almost kill me, and that’s all he gets!?”

“I still have the image of you corning my Simone in my mind. I’d thank all of the Gods in the pantheon that you’re still alive at this point…” The malice was back.

“…fine,” Darren replied, defeated.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 7:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone put her hands on her hips and was glaring at Snowball. Then she pointed at him and started to shake her finger. That was when a mom voice came out of Snowball, “Snowball! You know better! If you have any more birdseed you ARE going to get TOO fat! You heard from the doctor said! We just had a check-up on you! Did you not tell Lewis?!” She was glaring at the bird.

Lewis had been out on a job so she hadn’t had time to sit down about Snowball’s doctor visit. He had a slight issue with flying around at the moment.

“The doctor said he is too fat,” Simone stomped her foot. “So NO MORE extra bird seed! He’s on a diet! I asked Darren to prune him for me so I could go read!”

Snowball let out a few chirps of defeat as he hid more behind his ‘father’ as it were.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 7:34 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was glaring at Darren, but with Simone in his way he couldn’t possibly do anything without talking it through with her first. The assassin lowered his arms.

“No, I’m pretty sure Snowball said he cornered you in the library and-” Lewis started, but there were sudden tweets and chirps from Snowball that interrupted him. “No, you definitely sa-” More frantic chirps. “I did not mishear you, Snowball. You definitely said that he had his-” Once more, frantic cheeps.

Darren was starting to calm down, and it was slowly dawning on him what had happened. “That lying son of a fluff,” he started, pointing at the bird. “IS THIS ABOUT THE GODSDAMNED BIRDSEED AGAIN!?”

“Bird…seed?” Lewis said, giving Simone a confused look.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 7:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was in the library reading some fancy erotica she found. She was letting out her sighs as she always did reading romance. “Simone!” Jack tore into the library. “Lewis has lost his shit!”

Looking up from her book, “What this time? New acolyte make a comment on me?”

“NO! He’s trying to kill Darren!!!! Snowball is really mad!”

Simone’s eyes got large. Darren was one of their friends that knew better than to say anything about her. “Alright,” she snapped the book shut and went with Jack in a hurry.

“He did WHAT to her?!” Simone heard Lewis yell.

Simone tried to think hard about what Snowball was doing… Then it hit her. “LEWIS WAIT!” She got in front of Lewis before he could launch more daggers and held out her arms to shield Darren. “Please stop! I think you’ve heard incorrectly!” Simone was looking at Snowball with interest. Snowball was now perched on Lewis's shoulder hiding from Simone's gaze.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2022 7:12 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The Bird Lies

“You’re a dead man,” Lewis said as he marched towards Darren. At once, a flurry of daggers were launched at the older man, nearly pinning him to a wall.

“WHAT THE HELL!?” Darren yelped as he started to run. “Lewis what are you doing!?” It was clear that the assassin was out for blood.

Lewis rushed forward, another dagger in hand as he tried to slash at Darren. Behind him was a floating ball of fluff, Snowball, chirping madly. Whatever the bird was saying seemed to egg Lewis on.

“He did WHAT to her!?” Lewis yelled as he slammed his fist into the wall. His bloodlust was out of control, and it seemed as if nothing could stop him.

“What the hell is that damned bird telling you!?” Darren said as he started to run. LEwis chased after him, keeping at pace with the older man.

“I’LL KILL YOU DARREN!” the assassin roared. Snowball chirped behind him, seemingly smug.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 9:07 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was good at dropping things and having Simone get them. On more than one occasion he suddenly would pick her up and they would fuck right where they stood. Simone couldn’t understand what was going on with him lately.

For a week straight he was constantly dropping things and Simone would pick it up for him out of habit. She didn’t think anything of it. Sometimes they had sex and sometimes they were just in too public of a place.

“Lewis… You are a fucking genius,” Darren and Jack had noticed what he was doing. It seemed innocent enough at first but the boys caught on pretty quick he was doing it on purpose.

“Hi Lina,” Simone stopped into the infirmary to see one of the apprentices. “I’m worried about Lewis…” She explained to the woman what was happening with his hands and the doctor just stared at her.

“Simone… I don’t know how to tell you this but… He’s doing it on purpose to you.”

“But… why?” Simone blinked at her.

“Think about how short your dress is…”

Simone got bright red before storming out to find Lewis training with Darren, “Lewis Dusk!” Her voice shrieked and it made everyone stop. “You fucking pervert!”

“Oh… She caught on.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:58 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis did his best to tone the smugness down once Simone came over, and he nodded. “We can go to the library.” He started to walk, and took three steps. In a single motion, he unclipped one of his daggers, and let it fall to the floor. The steel hitting stone made a loud clanging noise, and Lewis took a step to the side.

“Oh, oops. Must have had a loose buckle,” Lewis said. “Can you get that for me?”

Darren nodded, “Su-”

“I meant Simone, dumbass,” Lewis replied, glaring.

“Oh, of course,” Simone said happily, bending over to pick it up.

Lewis got the perfect view, and cherished the moment. Simone handed him the dagger, and smiled.

“Oh,” Darren said with his eyes glistening over. “My boy has grown up so fast…”

Lewis ushered Simone on to the library. If he could get her to bend over again in the library, then maybe they could have a little fun between the isles….

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:53 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis took Simone down for breakfast and all the girls were freaking out. “SIMONE YOUR DRESS IS SO CUTE!” Simone spun and showed it off to them.

“Lewis had it made for me,” she gloated as she showed it off. Soon most of the girls had a plain version of the dress Simone had or a variety of it.

Darren and Jack pulled Lewis aside, “You are an absolute fucking genius. Look at all the legs…” The boys were drooling. “And you’ve had a smug look on your face every time Simone’s worn hers.”

“I have a what look?” Lewis asked confused.

“Smug. Like you are so proud of yourself for getting her to wear it.”

“Oh,” Lewis turned his smugness up and smirked. It was really good to be him as his eyes stayed glued to Simone’s butt.

Simone came over to him, “Are you boys having fun?” She snuggled up into Lewis. “Are you ready to go to the library?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:44 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was staring at Simone for a good moment before he realized she asked him a few questions. He nodded slowly, and then tried to speak. “I think I need to see you bent o-, I mean you look amazing,” Lewis said, realizing he wasn’t talking correctly. “And I’ll just gouge out eyes if anyone looks at you.” Simone gave him a look. “Fine…I guess it’s fine for you to wear out. But if anyone makes a move on you, I can’t guarantee they’ll live.”

“I guess that will have to do,” Simone sighed. She smiled.

Lewis walked over to her and looked her up and down. “It’s amazing.” Without missing a beat, he knocked over a vase on the table. It hit the ground, but miraculously didn’t break. “Oh…uh…oops?”

“Wow, you must be impressed,” she said as she leaned down and picked it up.

Lewis started at her butt for as long as she was bent over. It took everything he had not to take more of an advantage than he already had. There would be plenty of time for that later.

“I think…this will work out…well,” Lewis said with an actual smile. “Very…well. I’ll have to commission more to be made.”

That tailor was truly a genius.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:35 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Once Lewis had gotten hold of the dress he presented it to Simone in a gift box. “For me?” The girl was blushing as she opened it and pulled out the dress. “A new dress?”

“They call it a sundress. They are popular on the mainland,” Lewis knew how modest Simone was and how easily embarrassed she was. “It’s hot out now.”

Simone was blushing as she looked at the short dress with the exposed back, “I’ll try it on…” She was shy as she went over to his weapon’s room and closed the door. “Don’t peek.” She closed it. After a good fifteen minutes, she came out and she was fidgeting with the bottom of the floral dress he got her. It was perfect for her small bust. It had thin straps that went around like a halter. It was a tiered short white gown with floral print. A thin strap of almost see-through lace was around her waist. “How… Does it look?”

As usual, the tailor was a god damn genius when it came to how Simone was built.

She did a little spin for Lewis. "It is really airy… and feels nice in this heat I will admit. Is it okay for me to wear this?"

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:25 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis wasn’t really in the mood for Jack and Darren’s machinations, but the moment sundresses were mentioned, he gave pause. The idea of them was more or less useless to him. What point would it be for the women here to wear them? And then Simone’s name was mentioned.

His mind wandered for the briefest of moments to Simone wearing a sundress. And then he imagined her bending over. And then the access that it allowed…

“Fine,” Lewis said as he grabbed the catalog. “I’ll…be back.”

Darren and Jack high fived as Lewis walked away.

—

The tailor was, as usual, busy working on a variety of different outfits. It was an art form for him, and he never felt as though he were truly finished with any of his outfits.

“I have a request,” Lewis demanded as he walked in, ignoring whatever the tailor was doing.

“I’m busy,” he replied with a bored tone. “I’m far too invested in-”

“I need you to make something for Simone,” the assassin interrupted. “Now.”

“Fine, let me see it,” the tailor replied. It was obvious he wasn’t going to get anywhere with the stubborn asshole.

Lewis presented the catalog to the tailor, who flipped through the pages. “Dull. Boring. Oh but…the concept…” There was a spark in his eyes. “And this is for Simone…” There was a hint of amusement in his voice. “I see…”

“Oh…and Darren and Jack want it to spread to the whole place. Don’t really care about that, bu-”

“MY DEAR BOY!” The tailor exploded suddenly. “I will make a dazzling dress for her…one that will be the envy of ALL the women here, and they will flock to me for their needs and desires. This…this will be a new wave of fashion! Something delightful! Lewis, you have given me SUCH a fantastic idea!”

Lewis was just staring at him. “Okay…but I really just want to see Simone in one.”

“Yes, yes…give me a day.” The tailor sighed. “You have no sense for fashion…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:15 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The color was draining from the acolyte's face. “Yo-you?”

“Lewis Dusk!” Simone stood there with her hand on her hip and the other holding her basket. “Are you hazing the new acolytes again?” She came up to Lewis and the assassin put his arm around her waist. Simone giggled at him. “You shouldn’t do that…”

“But it’s fun…” Lewis looked down at her with a ghost of a smirk.

“I’ll make you a pie out of these if you let it go… This time.” Simone was bargaining with her lover as she held up the basket. “I won’t even let the others have it. Just you.”

“I guess I can forgive someone for staring at my Simone’s butt,” Lewis said it lazily as he leaned into her. Darren could tell that he didn’t want to let it go but hoarding Simone’s full attention was at stake.

As the two walked away the one acolyte fell down, “She’s a fucking angel.” He almost pissed himself.

“Just… Don’t let Lewis catch you next time,” Darren laughed nervously. “Sometimes Simone can’t reign him in… That’s when we take bets, WHICH LEADS ME TO MY NEXT THING! We have daily bets on if someone will piss Lewis off and you can make a good bit of silver off of it!”

–

His Imagination Runs Wild

Darren was holding a catalog in his hands, “Boys…” He came over to Jack and Lewis putting his arms around them. “You guys… This tailor is a fucking genius. Now before you kill me, Lewis… Just… Just look at this.” He showed both Jack and Lewis a whole bunch of very short dresses on women. “They call them… a sundress. A dress for summer… My dear men… We live on a summer island.”

Jack looked at him, “What… do you want to try and make them popular around the temple?”

“…Who wouldn’t want to see a cute ass in a short dress? For Lewis… This is massively beneficial.” Darren took Lewis’s head and turned to where Simone was chatting with a few of the temple girls. She bent over to pick something up and Darren immediately looked away.

“Oh my god you’re a god damn genius,” Jack took the book from him. “… I need to spread this to the other assistants in my work center so I can watch them.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 7:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

One of the acolytes with a hood walked up to the group, and put his hand on the new man’s shoulder. “Well you see,” he started in an odd tone, “That girl there has a psychotic boyfriend.” There was an awkward pause as the information sank in.

“”P-psychotic? How so?” The new acolyte seemed a little unnerved. “She seems so delicate. I doubt she could stand anyone like that…”

“Well, here’s the thing. Her boyfriend saw the last batch of new acolytes here, standing just like you all…and one of them made a comment about her butt. It’s a nice butt, don’t you think?” He was fishing for an answer.

“I mean…yeah, it…it is?”

“Yeah, he answered just like that when his buddy asked,” the hooded acolyte asked. “Her boyfriend gouged his eyes out for noticing.” Dead stop.

“He what!?” the new start asked, suddenly panicking.

“The other guy? The one who made the comment? He was dismembered piece by piece. Started with the toes. Then the fingers…so on and so on.” It was alarming how much this hooded man knew of the psycho boyfriend. Was this some sort of hazing ritual?

“Darren, sir…is he=”

Darren was pale, “Nope. He definitely did that…why do you think we have rules about it now?”

The new guy swallowed hard. “Well…I mean, thanks for telling me all of this. Can…can I ask one more question?”

The hooded man nodded, “Sure. Go for it..”

“Do you know who this psycho bastard is?” The new guy seemed a little emboldened. “Maybe we can ban together…do something about him. If he’s like that with us, then there’s no telling what he does to Simone! She’s far too pretty to be left to a nutcase like that.”

“Oh…the psychotic boyfriend is me,” Lewis said, taking the hood off. “And believe me…she gets taken care of better than anyone in this place.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 7:49 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The one acolyte looked up at Simone and noticed how adorable she was. Her long black hair to her waist with part of it pulled back in a blue ribbon. She was wearing a cute light blue beach dress and holding a basket full of fruit. “…but why? She looks so innocent.” The guy spoke up and Darren looked over at him with a scared expression.

“It’s… not her you have—” Darren stopped as Simone saw him and came over. “Good morning Simone!” Snowball was sitting on Simone’s shoulder. “And good morning Snowball.” Snowball chirped at him. The bird seemed to be in a good mood today.

“Good morning Darren! I decided to go down to the little wooded area and gather the fruit there with Dala.” She held up the basket and smiled at him. “I picked some for you and Jack.”

“Oh! That was really thoughtful of you.” Simone gave him a tiny bag of them before waving to the new acolytes and being on her way. She needed to deliver Jack’s fruit to him. Luckily, Lewis had known she was going to go berry picking and only agreed if Snowball was with her.

“…But she’s so nice. Why can’t we talk to her? And she’s cute.” The color was slowly draining from Darren’s face.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 3:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The New Acolytes

“All right,” Darren said as he read down the list of new names. It was orientation day for the new acolytes in the temple, and there were quite a few rules to go over. There were three new men and two new women who were joining Lord Raith today. The first man seemed like a smart one. He kept his mouth shut and was ready to learn. The second one seemed like a mistake, but he would either shape up and learn, or die trying. The last one, though, seemed in utter awe of the whole area.

“Rule one,” Darren said as he tapped the paper. He spouted off the first set of rules…basics, really. Lord Raith was their lord. Common courtesy, tithes, and other general rules were covered. And then, it came to the last set of rules.

The…unique rules.

“There’s a girl here. Her name is Simone,” Darren started. At this time, the doors opened and a few acolytes and servants game bustling out into the main halls. “Ah, speak of the devil…well, she’s off limits. You can say hi…but it is highly recommended that you steer clear of her. Don’t stare at her. Don’t comment on her. Hell…if at all possible, don’t even think about her…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jul 4, 2022 2:03 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Gods he knew how to absolutely drive her mental and this time he broke her too! While she was delirious she had a fantastic and quick daydream of him doing it again! It was just as sexy as the first time he did it! So she began to mutter how hot it was out loud.

Simone drank the potion the best she could and as she regained most of her consciousness she was looking at Lewis with a bright red blush across her face. “Do it again.”

“…Wait… What?” Jack looked at the blood on the wall and then at her. “Has he made you mental?”

“If he keeps doing that I’ll let him make me whatever he wants,” Simone squeaked out. Snowball looked less than thrilled but gave a series of angry tweets at Lewis.

“…I’m leaving… If she needs more tonic let me know… I think you rattled something when you smacked her head onto the wall.” Jack looked back at them before shaking his head and closing the door.

Simone was still staring at Lewis with a blush, “…Make sure to do it more… Just don’t knock my head too hard into the wall. Even if I don’t mind it.” She looked away shyly. “And don’t do it to other girls.” She said the last bit so quietly. “I don’t want to have to fight them.” He really did rattle her brain.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jul 4, 2022 1:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The look on Simone’s face was priceless. The way that she lost her breath, the way that her eyes got wide, the small squeal she made as she whispered how hot it was… it was all perfect. So the books were right. The gossiping seamstress was right. It had worked.

Of course, none of that actually mattered in the end. Simone’s smile slowly faded as she slid down the wall, obviously dazed from the sudden blow to her head. The content ‘look’ on Lewis’ face disappeared, and was replaced with a slightly wider eyed look of surprise.

Of course, to anyone looking on the outside, Lewis merely just stared as Simone slid to the ground leaving a smeared trail of blood on the door. Snowball immediately came over, and started pecking Lewis’ head in irritation.

“I know! I know! I fucked up!” He quickly carried her over to the couch and placed her down gently. She was still conscious, going on about how sexy Lewis looked, but it was delirious and slurred as she spoke. Lewis cursed again, and ran out the door to find Jack for a tonic or something to help her.

It didn’t take long for the two to return, and Jack already had a potion in hand. “Here we go…just drink this slowly Simone…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jul 4, 2022 1:24 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was always trying so many new things with her. Simone liked all of them but her fragile body under his muscular one always posed a rather unique challenge for the assassin. She was easily bruised and hurt, which for the most part didn’t even bother the two of them. However, people started to make a bad habit of asking her if she was alright and if Lewis was abusive again. Which caused her confusion and made her get flustered. So Lewis had taken to being more careful if only to save Simone from embarrassment. Simone had tried to protest but he had evidently taken offense to the questions and couldn’t kill everyone involved.

It became a daily routine of theirs for Simone to greet Lewis at the door. She hopped off the windowsill letting Snowball fly off her shoulder and onto the fireplace ledge. “You’re ho–” He had grabbed her and moved her putting her against the wall rather hard. However, Simone couldn’t even be bothered to notice just how hard.

That one set of motions had her squealing and blushing across her face, “Thatwashot.” It came out rather quickly from her lips before she slumped over. A quick inspection would show that she hit her head rather hard against the wall but was too enamored with Lewis to have actually cared she was bleeding.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jul 4, 2022 10:02 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It was at that point that Lewis learned a valuable lesson. One that he would forever hold dear to his heart and never forget…

Trying to be Cool


It was a trope that he had read. Of course, Lewis had no idea what a trope really was, but he saw that women liked it. That women melted when it happened to them. He wasn’t exactly sure why he wanted a woman to ‘melt’, but front he way that the trope read, they liked it.

A new romance novel had released that day, and Lewis had overheard the local seamstress gossiping about the scandalous actions of the mistress and her new lover. At first, Lewis scoffed at the concept of a book on ‘love’, but the way that the seamstress spoke of what happened in the book, barely able to continue on as her face flushed, he took notice.

He had seen Simone act that way when she read some of her books. Was that what women liked?

Lewis walked over to the seamstress. “What the hell are you going on about,” he demanded.

At once, the seamstress blushed, “Oh…I guess all types of people are into these novels. Well, you see….”

—

When Lewis returned to the tower, he stopped at the entrance. It seemed so stupidly simple. Would such a trick work? Would it do anything? Would she laugh? Or swoon?

Emotions are stupid… he decided finally as he walked in. Yet, the moment he saw her, something stirred in his heart. A feeling that controlled him before he could logically think the actions through. He took her arm, and pulled her, moving deftly out of the way so her back hit the door. In a swift motion, he slammed his hand against the wall.

‘The wall slam.’ An act of showing ‘dominance’ over a woman, impressing and exciting her. This action alone was what women craved…to be wanted and desired.

At least, that was what the romance novel said. What those women said.

“Hey…” he said in his awkward tone, trying to be smooth.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was up as she stood still for the tailor. “This robe is way too big for measuring.”

“That’s fine.” Simone slipped it off and turned around so Lewis couldn’t see.

“She doesn’t have a lot to work with…” The tailor said it as a matter of fact under his breath.

“What’s that mean?” Simone was curious.

“It means your flat-chested… and your ass is small,” Lewis said lazily.

Simone was quiet for a minute. “Excuse me for a moment…” She gave the tailor a smile before she started picking up the small furniture and hurling them at Lewis. “For all the dumb stupid shit you gave me for seeing you naked. You have the god damn audacity to call me flat-chested?!” She was seeing red.

She was raising all sorts of hell before she let the tailor finish. He was laughing his ass off at the small girl. “I’ll have some dresses made and sent up as soon as possible. Word of advice, don’t call girls flat-chested they don’t like it.”

Simone puffed up her face at Lewis and nodded. “Not that you would know what to do with it anyway!” She pulled the robes around her and stomped upstairs as the tailor left. "You fucking asshole!" She yelled down and slammed the door.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:07 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis slammed the door shut behind Jack, and locked it. “No one comes in or goes out until this damned side effect bullshit it taken care of.” First, he destroyed the hex totems. That was easy enough to handle. Next was getting her to detox. He mixed the new medicine in with tea, and helped her start to drink it.

There was a loud, pounding sound as someone knocked on the door.

Shit. Lewis looked to the door. “This isn’t a good time, can we-”

“YOU’RE THE ONE WHO DEMANDED I CLEAR MY MORNING FOR THIS LEWIS DUSK! YOU OPEN THIS DAMNED DOOR NOW!” A voice called out.

“Fuck,” Lewis replied. He got up, and opened the door. “Fine. But as a warning, your subject today is experiencing severe side effects from a sleeping potion, so I can’t guarantee how well she’ll act.”

“Oh please…I can handle just about anything,” he said as he pushed past Lewis. “All right, missy. Let’s get your measurements…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:02 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stared at him for a minute, “I don’t understand why you are so upset. I can get naked too..” She started to take her robe off and go it almost down her bust before Lewis stopped her.

“YOU NEED TO GO TO BED,” Lewis couldn’t even look at her as he fixed the robes.

She was acting weird now and she went to bed after having more of the tonic. In the morning, Jack brought breakfast. “…The Potion Master wanted me to tell you to be carefu–”

“What’s your name?” Simone was over by the door with her giant robe that was falling off her shoulder.

“Jack…” He was looking at the weird girl with big gray eyes. His face was flushing as he looked her over.

“Can you get naked? Because Lewis won’t answer me if all boys look the same naked,” Simone puffed up her face and Jack was bright red.

“THE POTION MASTER WANTED ME TO TELL YOU THERE ARE SIDE EFFECTS TO THE TONIC. THIS IS ONE OF THEM.” He hadn’t realized how bad it was. “You have to detox her with this.” He had a vial. “After the hex is broken you have to detox her!” He left the food and ran away.

“Huh… Boys are dumb.” Simone went over and slumped over on the couch sleepily. She had been a lot more tired since she started taking the tonic a lot more.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was hesitant to let her grab one of his daggers, but she seemed to be walking to the map on his wall. She struggled, but eventually slammed it into place before falling. He quickly moved to check her over. Other than passing out from exerting herself, she seemed unharmed.

Lake Verian. The next clue. A white haired man, and a lake. The shackle had triggered a memory. She had said there were four of them, and she mentioned a lake. Her aversion to water suddenly made a lot more sense. She was shackled at the bottom of a lake, and her curse.,,.

So there are things that even the curse cannot reset. The trauma she had would probably last forever.

Lewis carefully tried to wake her up, and as she came to she uttered complete nonsense.

“W-what do you mean,” Lewis demanded, annoyed that she had to go and mention that damned thing. It didn’t matter, but he also didn’t want to have to deal with it.

“It’s a damned body, how the hell should I know. It looks like any other guy’s.” Lewis stood up suddenly, leaving Simone on the floor.

“Well, it’s not like I can compare you to anyone else,” Simone huffed, giving him an annoyed look. “It’s not like I have a boyfriend. You’re literally the only boy I’ve seen naked.”

Lewis turned red. It didn’t matter. It didn’t fucking matter. “JUST SHUT UP AND GO TO BED.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:39 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone did stare at him. She had never seen a boy naked before so she had stared at him then too. Her face flushed and she looked away from him while trying to think about it. “I don’t know the vial of hair.”

Taking a moment she finally turned herself back to the shackle and touched her wrists. “There… Were four of those.” She touched her head. “…The Lake.”

It looked like it hurt her but she dragged herself up to the wall and stumbled a bit as if she were losing energy. She had grabbed one of his daggers and slammed it into the wall at a point before falling over and passing out.

Lake Verian.

It wasn’t that far from the lands the Somersets owned.

Lewis tried to wake her up and her eyes flickered a bit to his. They were gentle and gray but also there seemed to be mischievous hiding in them. "Do all boys look like you naked?" It was probably against her better judgment but she also wanted to know. Anything to make the emotionless assassin react to her.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It had been awhile since Lewis had pushed himself this hard, so when he awoke, he was surprised to find that things had changed. For one, he was covered. It was warm, and he felt…cleaner than he had been before passing out. New clothes? He looked to the table, where his dirty clothes were neatly folded, and his daggers were carefully laid.

Someone changed me. The fact that he hadn’t woken up was a problem. If it had been an enemy, he would have been dead. Even if he was home in Lord Raith’s temple, it wasn’t an excuse for his poor behavior. He groaned and sat up. Just how long had he been out? The fire had died down, and was now just smoldering embers. He got up and stretched, taking a moment before adding to the fireplace. Once the flames were roaring again, he poured himself a glass of water.

All this time, he was trying to reconcile what he knew to be true: It had to have been Simone. This girl who was terrified of him had taken the time to try and help him. And she had seen him…

“Irrelevant,” he said aloud, forcing the thought out of his head. It didn’t matter that she had seen him naked. It didn’t matter at all.

He made his way to her room, and walked in. “Come out here. We have things to discuss.”

Simone looked up at him from her bed. “O-okay…” She got up and followed him into the common room, and sat down.

“These here are likely related to a hex that is affecting your body,” Lewis said as he produced the vial of hair and the shackle. “Do these mean anything to you? I’m going to destroy them…but I want to make sure that these won’t trigger a memory or something before I do.”

She stared at him for a moment. Lewis started to feel self conscious, as if she were looking at him nake-

“Just answer the damn question already…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:11 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone came down from her room and spotted Lewis who was on the couch. He was covered in dirt. Whatever he went to go find he most likely found it. Was he trying to help her? That was the only reason she could think of. Perhaps he wasn’t as much of a dick as she thought he was.

A sigh left her lips as she went upstairs and hesitated to go into his room. She rummaged around until she found fresh clothes. “He can’t complain… Much.” Her face flushed. “I guess he’s not too bad…”

He was really out like a light as she gently undressed him and changed his clothes. Laying him down on the couch she put a blanket over him and folded up everything next to him. Everything he had on him was next to him so he didn’t freak out.

She was curious but she shouldn’t mess with things she didn’t know about so… She just didn’t get nosy about what he got. Going back upstairs she laid back down in her bed and passed back out. What was the worst thing he could do?

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It seemed that the hex and the curse of immortality were unrelated. Lewis clicked his tongue in annoyance. The curse wouldn’t let her speak of it. But a white haired man? It was a single clue, but based on just that alone, it was nothing to go off of. It would be better to deal with the hex first, and the curse later.

“Here,” he said as he took the tonic and mixed it with some fresh tea, handing it over to her.

As she sipped on the tea, Lewis thought about the source of the hex, and the best way to go about breaking it. There were plenty of people here at the temple that knew how to break hexes. Once Simone fell back asleep, Lewis wandered down to the library, and started to look up a few different books on hexes.

It didn’t take him long to locate one that had a similar effect to what Simone was feeling. This particular spell used something that was strongly leaked with the one they were inflicting the curse on. A favorite necklace, a lookalike doll, a strand of hair…anything would do. It was placed on a ritual circle, and a variety of different incantations were recited. As long as the object remained, the hex would remain in effect.

“Great…so it’s likely her hair…” he said to himself. He closed the book. Time for a visit to Emil Somerset…

—

It had been a long time since Lewis had broken into a place as a mere thief. He slipped down the halls of the elegant mansion, and looked about the main rooms for any semblance of a shrine. It took him a few hours, but in the end there was nothing to show for it. He cursed himself, and moved to the main hall.

Wait…leftover invitations? He picked up one of them. A funeral and a ‘death celebration’ were happening. Ah. A way to dispose of the evidence. It’s likely that he’s burying everything related to her in a ‘closed casket.’ The invitation stated that the funeral had already passed, but the celebration of her death was ongoing. It listed an address not too far from Emil’s mansion, only a block down from the local cemetery.

It didn’t take Lewis long to find the fresh grave for Simone Somerset. There were a few flowers scattered across the headstone and dirt. Lucky for Lewis, they hadn’t quite cleared out all the of the equipment from burying the empty casket.

“Time to get to work, I guess…” Lewis grabbed a shovel, and started to dig…

—

Lewis was in luck. IThe dirt barely had any time to settle, so it was easy enough to dig out the casket. Furthermore, nobody seemed interested in coming back to check up on her grave…nobles could be such wretches when it came to their false sympathies. Emil was likely drowning in wine, thankful that his problems were over…

He opened the casket, and smirked as he saw the objects inside. Papers from the assassination contracts that he had signed. A rusted shackle. And a vial with a single hair in it. He took both the shackle and the vial, leaving the papers. These were the only things that might link her, so he planned on destroying both of them.

He didn’t bother re-burying the casket. Let the bastard Emil panic that his secret might have gotten out. That wasn’t Lewis’ problem….

Hours later, he returned to the temple an absolute mess. For the time being, Simone was okay, so he could toss the shackle and hair into the fire later. For now, he needed to rest. He plopped down on the couch in the main common room, and closed his eyes. Digging holes was quite exhausting…

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:35 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone’s eyes were large as she listened to Lewis. Her death? Whoever cast the hex on her… He knew who it was? “Was… It was the white-haired man?”

The words left her lips before her face went blank. “What was I thinking about?” It was the curse in play. She remembered something she shouldn’t have. “Oh… Right… The hex.”

She looked really tired now as she pushed the food around on her plate. “Why not check where you found me?” Her eyes looked up at him. “I can’t remember where that was though. Wouldn’t it be there?” Still, she had no idea why someone would want to hex her.

“Did I cheat on someone or something? Why would they hex me?” If only she knew it was something along those lines. To make someone suffer over something so trivial as an heir. Taking the tonic she offered it up to Lewis. “I’m tired… can I have some tea?” The nightmares were too much.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:27 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis thought about that for a moment, and then shooed Jack out of the room. He turned his attention back to Simone, and crossed his arms. A hex? One that kills? But she was immortal, so that made no sense. He had little idea of how most major hexes worked, but he at least understood a few of the basics. Most hexes were cast with an end goal. In this instance, Simone’s death.

It was possible that the crazed idiot, Emil Somerset used a hex as a backup plan in case Lewis failed. Or he had tried something before, and it didn’t trigger until her death.

“Your death though,” Lewis said thinking out loud. From what he could understand about the immortality she possessed, it reset her body to a certain point in her life upon her death. Meaning that a reset would have wiped out any hex or curse on her body. Unless….

His eyes lit up. “He took your hair..” Hair wasn’t a part of the immortality curse. It only reset the organic parts of her body, and not the inorganic. It didn’t affect her clothes, her hair, or her nails. Even the dirt and grime stayed on her body from the reset.

“So…the hex is in your hair….”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:15 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone looked up at him for the first time with curiosity before looking away, “You told me to be quiet.”

For a moment, Lewis was taken back and had to think of something, “Obviously, I meant that when I wasn’t talking to you directly.”

She nodded once more, “Yes, I’m still hungry.” It was more audible this time but she was still unsure of how he would react to her. Was he just testing her? Was he going to take the food away? What was his angle in all this?

When he did in fact bring her more food there was a shocked expression on her face but her stomach spoke for her as she dug into it. The hunger strike was finally over now that they had the tonic.

There was a knock on the door and it was Jack, “So I talked with the potion master. It’s a hex. I took some of her hair down to him.” He held up his hands to Lewis. “Look you can be pissed off at me but the hex can be broken. It’s a pretty nasty one. The tonic just keep giving it to her. It’s a hex to kill. People don’t do that unless they are holding a grudge.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:05 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Stupid hobbies, but if it keeps her occupied, Lewis thought to himself. His face remained ever stoic as he write down a few things on a spare piece of parchment. “We have a library. I can bring up some books next time I go out. As for the knitting and needlework, I’m sure the maids have something.”

Simone slowly nodded, unsure of the sudden change in Lewis. She shifted uncomfortably, and the robes she was wearing slipped off her shoulder. She stayed still, unmoving, seemingly not bothered by it.

But Lewis, evidently, was. “And a tailor first thing tomorrow. Those robes are practically worthless…” There was a harshness in his voice, almost practiced. “You will comply with their every command, and once they are done, you will not complain about whatever is given.” He looked. “You ate most of your food. Are you still hungry?”

“Y-yes.” she said timidly. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Speak louder, and more clearly,” Lewis said, annoyed at her response. Despite his old desire to free the enslaved children, he was never quite good at taking care of them. That had always been handled by Xeik and the other boys of the guild.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:41 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was laying on the bed staring out the window. She seemed far more awake than before. Once she heard the door close downstairs she made her way back down to look around. She was quietly avoiding Lewis.

Jack had come back up with a potion and some soup knocking on the door, “For her head.” He was glaring at Lewis. “Hey,” his voice spooked Simone but this time she didn’t run. “Lewis asked me to get you this.”

Simone narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head.

“Too many people?” Jack was trying to see just who this girl was but he left. “If she needs any more tonics just write a message at night and I’ll bring it in the morning. Can’t have people dying here unless we mean it.”

Once Jack was gone Simone went over to the soup and sat down to eat.

“If you’ll be staying here… You’ll help clean.” Lewis didn’t get a response but she acknowledged him. “What do you even like to do?” At this rate he didn’t know if she would even respond but…

“Read. I like to read… and I like handicrafts,” her voice was gentle a far cry from how scared she had been. “Like… Needlework or knitting.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:32 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis rolled his eyes when Jack entered the room without knocking. The fool had a deathwish…had it been any other day, he would have been riddled with daggers. “Knock, or next time I’ll end you.” There was just the perfect hint of edge in his voice, just enough to validate the threat. He took the potion from the other boy as Simone ran off.

“She’s…” This was hard to answer. It took Lewis only a moment to realize that explaining her actual situation would be far more work than it would be to lie. “She’s a pet project for the time being. A broken shell of a girl that I wish to see if I can fix.” For the time being, that would suffice.

“Wow, that makes you sound like a creep,” Jack replied with a sigh. “But it seems like you’re sort of taking care of her. Has she eaten yet?”

“No…” Lewis grimaced. She had been refusing to eat, and that was the next problem to tackle.

“Cool, I’ll bring up some soup. If she really needed that nightmare tonic, then it might be messing with her stomach. Soup is light and will probably help.” Jack seemed to want to be helpful.

Of course, Lewis knew all of this, but he hadn’t thought to apply that knowledge to this situation quite yet. This made him come across a much worse person than he really was. “Fine…do that then. And be quick.”

“So touchy,” Jack replied with a growl. “How about you go get it yourself, jackass!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:08 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stared up at him. Her head still hurt but still she took what he said as fact. Maybe he wouldn’t let her suffer in this horrible place. She cleaned her wound up before going downstairs. She wasn’t used to it but it seemed… Homey enough. There was a fire going and a couch in front. She sat down and waited for Lewis to return.

He came back with some tea and poured some of the tonic into it. She was silently watching but she didn’t know if she trusted it completely. Though if he wanted to kill her there were a variety of different ways she knew he could do it. She took the tea and drank it. It stung from the visible response it had.

Before long she was curled up on the couch and asleep. There was no movement and her breathing was fine. She stayed asleep for a very long time. You would have thought she was dead but the amount of rest she hadn’t gotten… It was all being made up for now. Lewis left her on the couch and there was a knock on the door.

“The Potion Master wanted me to bring another tonic jus—” Simone slumped herself up and was rubbing her eyes as Jack spoke to Lewis. “Holy shit you actually do have a girl.”

His voice spooked Simone and she took off up the stairs and into the room Lewis had put her in.

“…What the fuck is wrong with her?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis watched the girl struggle against the sleep, and the tension seemed to leave him. For a moment, he had forgotten the real reason he wanted all of this power in the first place. He had seen what children had to go through, what suffering was caused by those in power. The kids running down the streets, stealing for food. Offering themselves for slave labor or worse… Being sold and traded amongst the filthy nobles…

All he had wanted was the power to end all of that. And now, sitting before him was a girl who was, much like the rest of the children back home, suffering.

“There’s a bathroom down the hall. It isn’t much, but you can wash your face. Take care of the wound…” He paused. “Clean yourself up, and wait in the common room.” He walked over to the tower door, and glanced back. “Do as I say…and I’ll try….” He paused. “I’ll make the nightmares go away…” His voice was barely audible, as if he were struggling to find a kind way to speak to her.

With that, he descended down the tower, and to the potions master of the Temple.

It was there, he met the apprentice, Jack. Lewis had seen the boy every so often running about doing a variety of tasks. It seemed like he was doing everything he could to secure a place in the Temple, and this was just another step in his journey.

“I need something for nightmares.” Lewis was giving him a dead stare.

“Oh, the infamous Lewis…having nightmares are we?” Jack mocked. He had never liked the way Lewis strut around the Temple, acting as though being a direct apprentice to Raith was so special.

“No, the girl I have kidnapped in my room can’t sleep.” Again, Lewis didn’t seem phased by the mocking tone.

“Excuses, excuses,” Jack replied as he started to work on the potion. It was a fairly easy one to make, something even he could manage. It was hard to screw up…

“When have I ever needed to lie,” the assassin responded curiously. “I tell you things at face value, and yet you refuse to believe me.”

“Because you would never have a girl in your room. That’s just impossible, even for you,” Jack replied as he passed the finished tonic over. “Sweet dreams, Dusk.”

“Whatever…” Lewis waved his hand, and made his way back to the tower.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:44 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone had stirred the moment she heard his voice. The world was lurching as she reached up and felt her head. The sticky warmth that was there answered her question before she began to scoot her body away from him.

The girl made it to the other corner and curled up putting her head against the wall. She was trying to stay awake and her labored breathing showed as much. “I’m trying!” She finally shouted at him. “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?”

She started to cry but it was a silent sob, “I can’t sleep. I’m trying not to sleep.” The head wound made her dizzy as she lurched back against the wall and closed her eyes.

It was the screaming and the sobbing again. She was asleep.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis bit the tip of his thumb as a scream echoed through the halls of the tower. Nobody would be around at this time, and he wasn’t overly concerned with what others might think of him. Much worse happened in Raith’s realm, and he didn’t give a damn what the others thought of him. As long as Master Raith continued to teach him about strength…

Well…nothing else mattered.

The problem was that he couldn’t get a damned night’s rest. Ever since he had taken that job from the Duskwood, he had found himself in a hell of a bind. His promise to kill her had technically been fulfilled, but the problem was that she refused to stay dead.

This was a morally grey area when it came to the fact that he submitted the job as ‘complete’ to the client…but that didn’t really leave much of a stain on his pride nor his reputation, Besides…there was no such thing as immortality. Death would come for her as swiftly as it came for everyone else. Even if it had to jump through some minor hoops.

His first attempt at her life had been a shock to the heart with a rope dagger. That had failed. So he tried again. And again.

And each time she had thanked him.

It was that act that had captivated him. Who would thank him for death? Someone who wanted to die. Someone who couldn’t die.

Once more the screaming started, and this time there was a crash that followed it. Lewis let out an audible sigh of disgust, and stood up. He walked through the door, and noticed the blood all about. “What the hell is this…” There was anger in his voice. One of the easier emotions to use, and one that usually produced results. He more or less knew the reason she was screaming, but he had no idea how to make it stop.

Of course, he had tried ‘resetting’ her, but that ended up being more work than it was worth. Keeping her alive was the easiest to do at the moment, as resetting her forced her to lose all memories. No, he had to take the time to solve this problem.

“What can I do to make you shut the fuck up…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 3:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Imprisonment Enrichment

It was two days into her imprisonment. Lewis, as she had come to know him, (if that was his real name) came and went as he wanted. She was put into a room with just a bare bed and a blanket. The blanket was god knows how old and she could smell it. She was left in the clothes he had managed to wrangle in for her. They were large robes that looked ridiculous on her.

Her hair was braided, not because she wanted it to look good but because she was sure that she was never going to see a brush ever again. God forbid he threatened to take her hair from her too. She was scrunched up into the corner of the room looking out the window to the sky.

She could feel the heat of summer. It was quite a large gap in her memory that was missing. She remembered snow. She hadn’t spoken much since after the bath they had gotten when they arrived. If anything she was too eerily quiet.

The girl had gone on a hunger strike to refusing everything given to her and leaving it alone on the writing desk in the room. She was trying to survive on her own terms. That and the constant nightmares every time she closed her eyes were making her not hungry at all.

There were patches of blood all over the room from god knows what she did to herself while asleep. She knew her throat hurt from screaming and she could taste blood. It led her to curling herself up and putting her head against the wall.

Was she even who she thought she was?

Her eyes felt heavy as she closed them. She had been trying not to sleep for the last day and a half, the first peace and quiet Lewis had gotten since bringing her back. The exhaustion was setting in. Maybe… If it were a quick nap…

Then the screaming started again. Something was after her and she was bound and determined to fight for her life. Her body seemed to move by itself but she managed to fall right off the bed hitting her head off the corner. Enough to knock herself out for the time being. She had a nice wound now on her head as the blood trickled. Whatever was haunting her was doing a lot more damage than anything she could do to herself.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had stayed silent during the whole explanation, and once Simone had finished, he stayed quiet for a moment longer. It took him some time to contemplate and process what had happened, how it had happened, and what he was going to do about it in the future.

“I’m not apologizing for the marks,” he said as he poked one of the bite marks, getting a yelp out of Simone. “As for everything else…” He frowned. “I can’t threaten to kill everyone in the room. But I figure a few well placed threats should be able to keep the gossips quiet.” He got up and stretched, still stark naked. Simone stared at him with a happy smile before realizing that she had lost her train of thought. Even if he had been obnoxious the night before, she had still enjoyed it…

“Snowball…we have a busy day today. A lot of letters to write and deliver. A lot of threats to make. Maybe some bribes…” He glanced back at Simone as he started to get dressed. “We need to make sure that this never happens again…right?”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:13 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“…Because you demanded sex from me. You tore my dress off and tossed me like a pillow,” Simone knew this was coming.

“He didn’t spike your drinks. He didn’t realize you didn’t want the alcoholic punch and you hadn’t said anything so we didn’t stop you.” She sat up and winced a bit from a few bite marks that Lewis had left on her. “For the love of Angela,” Simone looked at all her bruises and bite marks. “You seriously… SERIOUSLY did a lot last night. You kept me up for five hours drunk as shit. You kept yelling that everyone needed to know I was yours.”

There was a look of judgment in her eyes. “Okay, I’ll tell you everything that you did.” So she started to tell him EXACTLY what he did. “And now here we are. I barely got Darren out the door before you threw me. You were yelling BUT YOU PROMISED.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:09 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis woke up slowly, groaning. “Why am I naked…” He looked to the snuggled Simone, and groaned as a spike of pain surged through his skull. “…what…the fuck happened…” He could remember the afterparty, and then…

“That bastard must have spiked my drinks,” Lewis said suddenly and a little too loud for his own good. He winced. “No…he wouldn’t dare.” There had to be a better explanation than that. “Simone…I demand an explanation of everything that happened last night. Leave out absolutely no details…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:05 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was smacking her forehead. “He’s talking about Snowball. The little white bird who flies around.” She sighed a bit and pet his hair. “He’ll seriously kill you so be careful Jack.”

Then Simone got a good idea, “Hey Lewis.” She looked up at him with big eyes. “What would you do if someone tried to steal me?”

“I’d… Fucking kill them!” He tried to go for his dagger and spun around falling down. “Mine.” He clung to her leg and that got a laugh out of the acolytes.

“Yes, yours.” She chuckled a bit and was happy with this obvious public display of affection that Lewis was having.

“Forever?” Lewis looked up at her with big eyes.

“For as long as you’ll keep me.”

“Forever then.” Lewis sounded happy as he clung to her.

“I’m going to need help getting him to our room.” Simone sighed a bit. “He’s never going to make it up the stairs.”

“The couch is fine,” Lewis said.

“The couch is definitely not fine,” Simone put her hands on her hips.

“We do it on the couch all the time,” Lewis said innocently.

“I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT SEX! I am talking about us going to bed,” Simone facepalmed.

“YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME TONIGHT.”

“Oh for the love of Raith,” Simone groaned.

“You’ve created a monster now Simone,” Darren chuckled.

They got him up to bed and Simone helped him change. However, once she got his shirt off he pounced her and ripped her dress. She easily gave in now that they were alone. In the morning she snuggled up to him and pulled the blankets up on them. “How’s your head?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:56 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis sighed as he tried tos tumble away. “Fine…I won’t mention our amazing sex life anymore. I’ll just…” He frowned. “I’ll just…uhhh…” He suddenly stood up straight, smirking. “Yeah! I can say what a wonderful…person she is. Like…how she can knit things…and how she tends to my tit…”

“Your,,,what?” Darren asked.

“His bird,” Jack responded. “This…might be the happiest moment of my liffe.”

“He’ll kill you if you ever mention it,” Darren replied with a smirk.

“I know…” the apprentice potion maker replied solemnly. “I will have to keep this moment ingrained in my heart and memory for all time though…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:51 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone’s face was completely red as Darren was laughing so hard. “Okay, I’m going to lower my hand but if you say anything about our sex acts… I won’t give you ANY tonight or tomorrow. Do you understand me?”

The other acolytes felt almost bad for Lewis. There was an immediate pout on his face at her that they found actually really cute. The resting bitch face Lewis was actually showing how he felt to Simone.

“Do not give me that look,” Simone’s eye twitched. “It’s not going to work this time. You are being a bad boy for mentioning what we do in your room.”

"He pouts at you?" The acolytes asked.

"Sometimes but you wouldn't be able to tell normally. I can tell because I've spent enough time with him," Simone gave a grin as she was pretty proud of herself.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:46 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Oh but you ARE flexible, Simone…especially when you wrap your-”

Simone immediately clapped her hand over Lewis’ mouth, her eyes wide with terror as he continued talking. At this point, Lewis had made enough of a spectacle that there were plenty of people paying attention to his shenanigans. Once she felt that he had stopped talking, she slowly let her hand drop.

“YOU’RE FLEXIBLE WHEN WE FUC-”

Once again, Simone slammed her hand over Lewis mouth with a resounding clap. “Maybe..we should leave…”

“Mmmhppphhmmm” Lewis grumbled. It was obvious that he didn’t want to leave. He hadn;t had the chance to proclaim that Simone was amazing to enough acolytes yet.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:43 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone gave him a clap as he did a backflip. “Wow… You did so good Lewis.” It was like giving praise to a toddler. She was glaring at Darren. “You let him drink all that punch?!”

“Didn’t he know?” Darren looked scared.

“No, otherwise he would have quit,” Simone scolded Darren. “Now I got a toddler for a boyfriend.”

The larger acolyte looked amused and Simone got up and took Lewis’s hand. “Come on trouble. You can show off to me over here. You know I’m not graceful enough or flexible enough for backflips.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:39 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

For Lewis. This was heaven. Of course, he was so drunk that he would likely not remember the night’s events. And when he was sober, he’d threaten anyone who even dared mention what happened.

So, for the night, the rest of the acolytes in their group merely enjoyed the spectacle of a drunk Lewis and an embarrassed Simone as she did her best to take care of him.

“Simone…” Lewis said as he bolted up suddenly. “I can do a flip. I’ll show you how to…” He stood up somehow, stumbling over to the table. “Here, let me…” He climbed up and spread his arms. “See…watch.”

To everyone’s surprise, he did a perfect backflip, completely sticking the landing. “See…backflip. Now you tr-” He immediately stumbled, and fell backwards into one of the larger acolytes, spilling his drink. “Oh…hey…you should watch…watch where you’re going…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:31 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone’s face was bright red by the end of it all. “He’s so drunk…” She was touching her face trying to decide if she should help her silly assassin. “I know what will make you feel better while you yell at them.” Lewis looked up at her with big eyes.

The small woman got off of her stool and sat on the floor. He was like a puppy. She pat her thighs and Lewis practically crawled onto her lap and laid his head on her thighs. “He’s so drunk…” Lewis reached up and cupped her face. Mone leaned her face into his hand and smiled.

“SHE’S THE BEST!” Lewis yelled at the other boys which just made Simone cringe a bit.

“I’m only the best to you…” Simone sighed a bit.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:25 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis couldn’t taste the alcohol in the punch. For whatever reason, he just couldn’t tell the difference. As the night went on, he started to wonder if he was getting tired. Weird things were happening, but he barely cared. Suddenly he felt warm…good…

“Let me see…that one girl at the brothel. What was her name…the one with the big breasts?”

“Lucia?”

“No…The other one. Right, Cynthia! Her. She’s fantastic.”

“No, no, no…the ideal woman is tall. With a nice ass.” Darren crossed his arms. “Definitely not Cynthia. Her backside is as flat as a board.” He smirked. “I know what Lewis’ ideal woman is, though…” He was grinning as Lewis’ eyes lit up for a second. He could tell just how drunk the assassin was.

“Yeah? Cause she’s sitting next to me,” Lewis said as he slammed his cup down.

“What, Simone? But she barely has a-”

“HER BREASTS LOOK AMAZING, SHUT UP OR I’LL KILL YOU,” Lewis said as he fell out of his chair, reaching for a dagger.

“…how…much did he drink?”

Darren started count, “…nine cups?”

“NINE CUPS!?”

“He’s toasted…”

“Ideal woman…she has a nice butt too…” Lewis mumbled into the floor.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone had gotten a pretty little dress and had her hair done. Dala had been particularly useful for this. The girl looked good on Lewis’s arm. Though she was a lot smaller than most of the other girls. She had a look on her face as she looked at the big-chested women with a bored expression. “That’s alcohol right?” She looked at the wine and pointed at it. “Can I have some?”

A waiter came over and offered her a glass so she took it and sniffed it. Looking at Lewis she showed him it. “I’ll only drink this one.” Once she drank it down she had a look on her face.

“You don’t like alcohol, Simone?”

“It’s weird… I don’t like it. Can I have regular stuff?” Simone looked up at Darren with big eyes.

“If I don’t get you regular punch Lewis might kill me,” Darren had been bringing Lewis the spiked version since he hadn’t specified. Once Simone had the regular punch she felt okay with it.

Simone sat in with the acolytes and Darren gave a smile, “If you get uncomfortable with the topics just say so okay?”

She nodded, “I’m not that shy.” Though she could hear Lewis calling her a liar. She made a face and stared at him. “Lewis killed any shyness I have.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2022 2:02 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The Afterparty

Every so often, Lewis was more or less required to go to social events. It was a part of his training as an assassin, to which he reluctantly had to agree was necessary. Normally he had to attend these events on his own, but a certain group of individuals convinced him that it would look better if he had someone on his arm.

That meant Simone. Anyone else wouldn’t cut it.

Lewis had been against the idea from the start, but the majority of the night went well. It was when the guests left and there were only temple acolytes and workers that things started to get…problematic.

Most of those who knew Lewis and Simone knew to steer clear of them. The problem was that Lord Raith had a very large temple, and an obscene amount of acolytes who served him. And that inevitably would lead to conflict.

Lewis took a sip of the wine he had been given. He barely understood the purpose of alcohol, but it was what others did, and that meant he needed to do it to blend in. Even if it was an afterparty…

“This is…annoying,” Lewis stated with a dull, bored tone. At least, to Simone that was what it sounded like.

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone with a little dance and hugged herself to him, “You are the absolute best!” Lewis kissed the top of her head and she squealed.

“What the fuck?!” Margret looked at Simone and Lewis. “What are you rich?!”

“I mean… He is. Doesn’t your boyfriend make a lot… doingggg?”

“He’s another potions apprentice,” Jack seemed to be enjoying Simone knocking Margret down a peg.

“Oh, well that explains it.” Simone held a bored expression on her face. “No offense Jack…”

“None taken, it's why I’m a messenger boy too,” Jack smirked up at Margret who stomped out.

Simone shrugged and looked at them, “You don’t have to buy me anything I just wanted to piss her off. I’m pretty happy with just flowers and books.”

“I know you are,” Lewis looked at Jack. “Get out. I have business.”

“Am I the business?” Simone loved asking it.

“Of course, you’re the fucking business.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Essentially, yes,” Lewis said as he looked around the room. “Fine, we can go…I guess we can stop by that jewelry store as well.” He shrugged as if it were nothing. “Bah…what a pain it would be to take you all the time. I guess I can start giving you a weekly allowance…”

Margret had obviously done something to Simone, and her asking for things was her way of getting back. So why not indulge a little and cause some shock? He wasn’t allowed to kill her, so this was the best he could do. “I’d say…one thousand silver a week should be enough…”

To him, that was a pittance. The absurd amount of silver he made on the side doing assassinations was more than enough to cover this for years without even touching his main reserves.

Killing was a lucrative business…

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:10 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone blushed a bit at his meeting. “Oh, we were playing games while you were out. Jack brought along this… Uhhh…”

“Margret!” She yelled at Simone.

“Yeah that,” She smiled at Lewis. “I did! I love peonies!” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” That was when she set a plan in motion to put the girl beneath her feet. “Hey Lewis,” she took his arm in hers and squished it into her chest. She had the biggest begging eyes he had ever seen. “Do you think we can go to town and do some shopping? Margret said there was this dress bouquet…”

“But why? I had the tailor come here personally to make all your clothes,” Lewis looked at her with a weird look.

“Oh, that’s right,” Simone said with shock she was clearly lying. “I forgot.”

“How did yo–” Lewis looked at the other girl. He seemed to put two and two together. Margret stood there in shock. Custom dresses? Brought the tailor to Simone.

“What are you a fucking princess?” the girl looked at Simone with shock.

“Mmm…” Simone debated answering the question.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:00 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had walked in with his nose in a book. It was a rather curious read on ways to mix unique poisons into foods and mask the taste and smell. When he looked up and noticed the woman that had been pushed in his direction, he immediately scowled. “Out of my way.” He pushed past her, ignoring the fact that Simone had advocated a ‘date’, and immediately looked at Simone.

“Why are there people in our room…” He glanced about. “We can’t…” He paused. “Nevermind…” He put his nose back into the book. “Oh…did you get the flowers I left in your room? You mentioned something about liking them…so I got more…” He sounded so disinterested to the rest of the room.

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:48 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Your Boyfriend is Rich

Simone was happily moving about the dining area. “You still haven’t found someone to bring you lunch?” Jack made a face.

“No… and it’s horrible,” Simone pouted. “I get all comfy on the sofa with Lewis and then I get hungry!” She threw her hands up. “It’s absolutely dreadful.”

“…Lewis threatened him.”

“Oh, he thought he was trying to take me,” Simone shrugged. “It’s kinda cute but I won’t tell Lewis that because I don’t want him to do it just because I find it cute.”

“…You two have the weirdest relationship…” Jack couldn’t deny they were made for each other now.

“It works,” she shrugged.

“It’s a poor relationship.” One of the girls spoke up. Simone didn’t know her but it looked like one of the healing apprentices. “Where's your dresses? Your jewelry? What does he get you?”

Simone made a face. All of her dresses were custom made, Lewis had bought them for her. Jewelry? She wasn’t too big into it… Most of the gifts Lewis got her were flowers and books. “Why does that matter?”

“Cause Lewis doesn’t care if he doesn’t,” she shrugged. “Any girl could take him.”

“Okay so go try. Go on. Try to take Lewis. Go on,” Simone shooed the girl towards Lewis as he walked in. “Go ahead. Try.” Lewis quirked an eyebrow. “She wants to go on a date with you,” Simone said out loud with her hands on her hips.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:30 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis looked at Simone with that expression, and Simone pointed. “SEE, SEE!? HE’S DOING IT NOW!”

Everyone leaned in even closer to him, yet still none of them could tell a different. “She must have a gift of some kind. I just don’t see it…” Jack sat back in his chair and sighed. “I swear…this is either some divine gift, or she’s pulling our leg…”

Lewis rolled his eyes. “I hate you all…”

“Except mmeeee,” Simone squealed as she dealt out another hand. “You like me!”

“Yes…I do…”

Jack, who had taken a sip of water, choked.

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:22 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

One of the other acolytes were looking at her afterward, “How did you know he was lying?”

“Can’t you tell by his face?” She made a face. “It’s really easy to tell how he’s feeling.”

“Lewis feels?” All of the acolytes were looking at Lewis studying him. “He has the same face all the time.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Simone puffed up her face. “For instance, when he’s having a good day he… um…” She tilted her head. “HE HAS THIS THING WITH HIS FACE! I can’t describe it.” She threw up her hands. “I just know.”

“Simone has a gift,” Jack joked, “She can read Lewis’s resting bitch face.”

The other two acolytes looked at each other, “They have a name for that… Simone is a bitch whisperer.”

“What’s that?”

“It means you have your way with Lewis where others don’t,” they gave her a grin. “It’s a gift.”

Simone squinted at Lewis and got closer to him, “You should see his face when he gets a rise out of me. He’s practically grinning.”

The other three leaned in, “Lewis smiles?”

“Well… No… but… Yes?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:13 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis walked in, and a very happy Snowball chipped and flew over to his shoulder. Before he could do anything too rash, Snowball went ahead and explained what was happening and that he had no real reason to worry, but that didn’t stop the dagger-like glares that he gave Jack and the others.

“Fine…I guess I can accept this. It is boring when I’m not around.” He sighed and walked over, sitting down next to Simone, in between her and Jack. “Deal me in.”

“Wait, you can play poker?” Jack suddenly seemed nervous. Lewis’ expression never changed…the ultimate poker face.

Simone, Lewis, Jack, and the others all looked at their cards. Lewis replaced two. Jack, one. And Simone?

“I uh….all five?” Simone shrugged as she was handed five more cards, and she looked at them. It was obvious from her face that she wasn’t entirely sure what she had.

Lewis stared at everyone. “Well?”

“Okay…raise,” one of the men said as he pushed three seeds into the pot.

“Call.” Jack tossed three seeds in.

“Raise.” Lewis tossed in eight seeds.

Jack and the other men all looked at him with a shocked expression. “F-fold…”

Simone watched as each of the men gave up, and looked at Lewis confused. “But why…he’s lying, isn’t he? It’s written on his face.”

Jack gave Simone an incredulous look. “What crazy nonsense are you spouting. His face hasn’t changed at all.”

Simone shrugged, “Call then, I guess?”

Lewis put down a pair of jacks.

Simone threw her cards down. “Whatever this is…”

“A flush,” Jack said as he whistled. “Damn, Lewis…she beat you outright…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:05 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A Great Hand

Simone was sitting in the kitchen dining area with three other acolytes. She had a twisted look on her face. “Simone… Your poker face is horrible,” Jack was laughing.

“Shhhh,” Simone frowned. “I’m trying!”

Lewis had gone away for a three-day job. Snowball was resting on the table and watching her for Lewis. Soon he would be back. Actually, it would be really soon. Jack had come to get Simone and wanted to know if she wanted to learn a new game. She was bored so she agreed.

“Poker is really hard okay! I’m not a good liar!” She yelled at Jack as he laughed at her again. She folded because her hand was bad. They had piles of birdseed that they were using since Simone didn’t have any money.

Once they started to play again her face lit up. “Simone your face.” Jack was laughing again. “How does Lewis teach you things.”

“He… Um…” She blushed and threw down her hand. “ROYAL FLUSH.”

“That’s… not how this works…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at Simone for a moment when she started to cry. He wasn’t entirely sure what he should do, but something was telling him just to hold her. And so that was what he did. He held her as she cried, until she couldn’t cry anymore. And when she fell asleep, he held her for a moment longer before carefully standing up. He threw a few additional logs into the fireplace, and then made his way to the equipment room.

There were only a few things he needed, and when he left for the healer’s wing, he knew that the acolyte was in for a night.

“Let me see,” Lewis said as he sat down next to the sleeping acolyte. “A drop of this…mixed with…” He grinned evilly. “A hint of that…” And within minutes, a strange smell filled the air. “Perfect…” He held out a vial of liquid, looking at the color through the light. “And now..”

The acolyte woke up to a strange taste of something in his mouth. When he noticed that it was Lewis who had given him the substance, his eyes widened.

“Now, now,” Lewis said with a grin. “No need to panic. It’s just a sedative. A really strong one. So strong, that it’ll stop your heart in about…oh say, two hours. But here’s the neat thing…it won’t kill you.” He stood up, and walked over to another sleeping patron. “It’ll only make everyone think you’re dead.”

The sadistic assassin clapped his hands together. “Tell me…do you…remember if we burn bodies? Or just bury them?” Lewis thought for a moment. “Never can remember. But I do know it happens fast. Within hours of declaration. Lord Raith hates keeping bodies around.” He shrugged. “Regardless…you’re in for some suffering.”

As Lewis left the wing, the acolyte tried to struggle against the sedative.

He would never be seen again…

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:45 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone immediately let her guard down when she saw Lewis. She met him partial way running right into his arms as he held her. She nodded and put her head under his chin. Everyone was looking at the couple to the acolyte. They were probably never going to see him again.

Now that she had time to be afraid she was shaking more but she was comforted by the large blanket around her. She gave Lewis a smile and nodded as he handed her the food. “I told him you didn’t want me talking to other acolytes but he didn’t back down so I insulted him.”

She looked up at Lewis, “That just made him mad but I think he was going to do it regardless.” She was just happy he was there with her now. Immediately she dropped her spoon and started to cry. She had been really scared and now that Lewis was here she could show that.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had walked into the kitchen to see Simone pinned to the wall by one of the acolytes. Instinct was about to take over when suddenly a cast iron pan seemingly appeared in her hand and slammed into the side of the man’s head, flooring him immediately.

“Huh..” Lewis sheathed the dagger that he had drawn. “I…” He glanced over to Simone, who seemed to be shaking as the pan dropped from her hands. Her walked over and pulled her into his arms, holding her as she shivered in his grasp. “You did well…” He wasn’t sure if it was comforting, coming from him, but he could only hope.

“Simone, let’s…go.” Lewis quickly got them two plates of food, and carefully lead Simone out of the room, leaving the probably catatonic man in his own pool of blood.

Lewis would make sure that he would never wake up again…later though.

When they got back to the tower, Lewis wrapped a blanket around Simone and ordered her to sit in front of the fire and eat.

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:35 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone obediently followed him without protest, which happened a lot now compared to before. “Okay, you better. I won’t forgive you if you don’t eat.” She kissed his cheek and left for the kitchen.

She knew she had the habit of attracting unwanted attention. It had happened more than once in her time with Lewis. “I’m sorry do I know you?” She looked up at him. “Lewis told me not to talk to other acolytes.” But she talked to them all the time, this time she was using it as an excuse.


“Oh come on! Lewis isn’t here and we all know I’m better than him.”

“Says who?” Simone quirked an eyebrow. “I know you!” She bopped her fist into her palm. “You’re the one Lewis beat the shit out of at training. Yeah, I remember you because he told me all about how you sniveled!”

The guy took her wrist with an upset expression. “Take that back.”

“I’m going to give you a second or two to let my wrist go,” Simone was getting a bit stronger because of how rough Lewis could be with her. Sure, he was a lot more gentle with her now but he was still rough.

“I’ll show you,” he twisted her wrist and pushed her against the nearest wall. “We’ve all seen how Lewis pushes you around. I can do that too for you.”

“Yeah, no. You smell and need a bath,” Simone rolled her eyes as he reached to touch her. “Did I say you could touch me?” She grabbed the nearest thing which was a frying pan and started to hit him upside the head. “Did I say you could touch me?!” She screamed at him again.

Blood was splattered on the ground from how hard she hit.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:26 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis rolled his eyes at the two women talking about romance. He barely had any stake in the matter, but it was QUITE weird that he was being called a romantic. It didn’t really matter to him all that much in the end. He motioned for Simone to follow him as he finished up in the library, and the two left.

Later in the day, Lewis was busy cleaning his weapons and armor, carefully oiling the blades and wiping the blood splatters off of the leather gauntlets he had. So, Simone decided that she would go down to the kitchen to get herself some food.

They still hadn’t found a replacement aide to order them food…

“I’ll be down shortly,” Lewis said with a half smirk. “Once I’m done here…”

The kitchen was dar as it usually was during the off hours. Food had been left for those who wanted it, as well as bowls and silverware. Normally at this time of day, there were few people around, but today there was one particular acolyte that Simone had seen before. One of the male acolytes from earlier, who had joked about Lewis being a romantic.

It sauntered up to Simone as she started to dish out her food.

“Hey…you’re uh…here alone, this time?” he said with a sly grin.

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:10 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A Day at the Races

“And I caught him with a bouquet of flowers and he got flustered… It must have been a surprise.” One of the female acolytes was sighing over the boy she was dating.

Simone looked up from her book, “Sounds to me like he’s cheating on you.”

“What?” The woman looked at her and Simone shrugged.

“Whenever Lewis brings me flowers he doesn’t hide it and he doesn’t get flustered about it. If he got flustered about it and you’ve been dating a while… He's giving those flowers to another girl.” She brought the book back up to read more.

“THAT SON OF A BITCH,” the woman yelled and stormed out.

“Since when the hell is Lewis Dusk a romantic?” One of the male acolytes in the room sneered.

“Since if you say anything like that he’ll probably slit your throat,” Simone waved it off. They had worked a lot on their relationship. "Mostly because it makes it sound like you're insulting him and he's pretty prideful. He'd probably take your hands off though… That would be hilarious." She was just recounting the ways Lewis would say he would punish people. She didn't really like it but he did.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:57 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis sighed, “Fine. But just so you know…” He picked her up suddenly and pushed her hard against the wall. “I’m getting my revenge on you…right now…” He kissed her hard, and pressed up against her. “Better not complain too much…”

—

Lewis walked down into Jack’s room, and gave the apprentice a look. “I need…to put in a work order for-”

“A door,” Jack replied. “Again. I’m surprised.” He didn’t look surprised.

“Two…doors…”

The apprentice stared at Lewis. “You are unbelievable, you know…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:53 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone had this look on her face as she watched the man and the bird fight. It was terrifying how they communicated and she was actually pretty jealous right now. It sounded like Snowball was scolding Lewis and winning. She popped more snacks in her mouth and crunched on them like a slob. The mess was getting all over his shirt and it was clearly being done on purpose.

She hopped off the bed and closed the book. It sounded like Lewis and Snowball were done. She tossed the book and came over to him. Once more she started to poke at his chest. “The. Next. Time. You. Take. A. Job. Like. That. Please. Tell. Me.” She was mad and she felt like she had a valid reason to be mad. “I. Don’t. Want. To. Find. Out. From. The. Other. Acolytes.” She crossed her arms and gave him a very, very stubborn look.

“Next time just tell me. It hurts my feelings to hear people gloating about women being all over you and how jealous they are of it.” So she had destroyed the tower because that was the only way she felt like she could convey herself.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:37 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at the mess that was his room, and it slowly dawned on him that if all of her stuff was in his room, that would mean all of his stuff was in her room. Without wasting a second, he marched down to her door, and tried to enter the room. Only the door was locked.

Yet again, the poor door of Simone Auclair was busted down, knocked clean off the frame as Lewis stomped in. “What the fuck is actually wrong with you!?”

Again, Snowball intervened, and Lewis rolled his eyes. “THE WOMEN!? WHAT WOMEN!? THE THREE WHO SAT THERE AND GOT COMPLETELY WASTED AND PASSED OUT? THE ONE THAT ALMOST CHOKED ON HER OWN VOMIT!? OR HOW ABOUT THE ONE THAT DECIDED TO HANG OFF THE CHANDELIER AND SCREAM AS SHE NEARLY KILLED HERSELF!?” He threw up his hands.

Snowball chirped more.

“WHAT….I mean..yeah, I would bu-”

More chirps.

“Okay, but that does-”

And yet again, more chirps.

“….you…make a valid point…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:27 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone got back up pulled up his pants that she was wearing, straightened her hair out, and closed her eyes. She thought about her response, “I’m going to go with… I don’t feel like it.” She turned on her heel and went upstairs before slamming her door shut.

And he would have had a door but it was laying on the ground. The pins had been taken out and that had to have taken a lot of work. His bed was bounced on and she had disorganized his paperwork but it was still easily found. The amount of effort she had put in was… amazing and terrifying.

His closet was filled with her clothes and his dresser had his clothes. So where were his clothes?

His books were replaced with her books… So where were his books?

Meanwhile, Simone was laying on her bed flipping through some of Lewis’s books with a bored expression on her face. “How can he read this…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:20 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was in what amounted to shock for him. Which, on the outside, looked like his normal resting bitch face. On the inside, he couldn’t even begin to describe the fury that he was feeling over what had happened to his tower. Simone had completely and utterly trashed it, and for what reason?

“What the fuck did you do!?” Lewis yelled. He hated yelling at her, ever since he…well, that didn’t matter right now. What mattered was that she wrecked the place. “Snowball!? YOU LET HER DO THIS?!

There were some angry chirps as the white puff ball of a bird alighted on the edge of the table, puffing his chest out.

“IT WAS A JOB!” Lewis yelled back. “IT’S NOT LIKE I HAD A CHOICE!” He glared at Simone. “FIX IT. I HAD A REAL SHITTY DAY, AND THIS ISN’T HELPING!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:11 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone saw him off and waved to him. Today would be interesting. “Come on Snowball.” Snowball hopped on her shoulder and she grabbed the pile of books to return. “Hello!” She greeted the librarian who was getting used to seeing her face. “I brought back Lewis’s five books on…” She looked at the spines. “I’m guessing practical torture!” She said it with such happiness that it could disturb some people. Then she had two books of her own, romance novels but the librarian knew they were hers.

“He told me to get…. Three books on…” She pulled out the note and looked. “Good places to dump bodies.” She let out a sigh. “That is not helpful.” Still, she looked around and ended up getting a book of maps, swamp books, and even books on the ocean. “I don’t know what else to get him. It’s such a vague answer Snowball.” Snowball tilted his head and nodded. It was indeed very vague. He should have told her about the job.

“Man, I wish I was Lewis right now,” Simone tilted her head to listen as she signed the books out under Lewis’s name. He had given her permission to use his name as long as she didn’t cause problems.

“Yeah, that job he got is something else… There’s gonna be a ton of naked ladies!”

And… Simone saw red. Snowball’s feathers stood on end as he sensed a similar hostility that usually only the white-haired master had. “Thank you~” She went back up to the tower set the books down, put Snowball in his cage, and proceeded to crack her knuckles.

After a few hours, the tower was wrecked. Simone was laying on the table of all things in Lewis’s clothes with his daggers strapped to her clumsily. The only room she had avoided was his weapon’s room. “Look at me I’m Lewis Dusk,” Simone got up and strutted. “And I take jobs from whores~” She clumsily threw a dagger at the door frame and stuck it mere inches from Lewis’s face as he came in.

“Oh.” She puffed up her face and jumped off the table but tripped in his pants because they were too big.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 5:58 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A Day of Havoc

It was an unusual job, for sure, but Lord Raith had insisted that it needed to be done. Well, not the god specifically, but one of the many acolytes who demanded that these jobs be done. Lewis couldn’t tell for sure if they actually came from him or not.

But that wasn’t the point. It was to guard a bachelorette on her ‘night out’ the day before her wedding. It was an…unusual custom, one that many lands did not follow. In fact, Lewis had never even heard of it. Sure, the noblemen got to do something similar, but it was usually frowned upon when a woman did.

Society rules never really did make sense to him.

So, without a second thought, he left for his job as usual. After a quick kiss to Simone. That was…rather new.

“Just another job,” Lewis said as he hopped out the window and used his ring to gate away. He would only be gone for the night.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Mone smirked at him. "Shut up." She kissed him and pulled him close. They lost all their clothes and found themselves on the sofa afterward. "You know… You have to get up and go get our dinner now. I don't think anyone is going to bring us food now." She stared at him. "It's going to be mighty cold here without you."

“What do you mean without me?” Lewis glared at her.

“You. Have. To. Get. Up. And. Get. Us. Dinner.” Simone spelled it out for him.

“Oh.” Lewis looked away slightly ashamed of himself. “I’m not apologizing.”

“No one is telling you to apologize just get someone else to come ask us about food,” she looked at him with that expression that she wasn’t going to settle for less. “It cuts in on my cuddling time when you have to get up like that. And that sir is pretty rude.”

Lewis stared at her for a few seconds before he lazily got up and put his clothes on. Before he could even pull his pants on Simone smacked his rear and she stuck her tongue out. That made him almost pounce on her but she crossed her arms. “Nope. Dinner. Punishment for having to get up.”

“You are such a pain in my ass….” Lewis sighed a bit and made his way down to get dinner. “My pain in the ass wants dinner.” He was talking to the chef. “And we need someone else to come ask us about dinner. I scared the last one off.”

“I don’t think anyone else will Master Lewis,” the chef answered.

“Do you understand how pissed she is going to be if you don’t have someone come?” Lewis’s eye was twitching. “She’s been feisty lately.”

Sure enough… Simone marched her little ass down to the kitchen and raised all holy hell at Jack until he agreed to come ask her about food. “Dear gods, she acts more and more like Lewis every day. It’s terrifying.” Jack was almost in tears.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:08 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“So, it is wrong that I want sex…now? Cause…” Lewis looked down. “That…you know what, never mind,” he shook his head. “Simone I…I don’t understand what this is between us.” He had to pause. “I’ve never…I don’t…” Even now he was struggling grasping the feelings that were overwhelming him.

“Look…I don’t…want you to…be with anyone other…than me. Cause…I’ll…probably kill them. Cause…I like you. And want you…to be mine…” It was the most awkward he had ever been in his entire life. Every other words was a large pause, and he sounded absolutely absurd. “Can we…….”

But we can’t be together forever.

That realization hit like an airship.

“Can we be together till the end…?” It was just vague enough.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:00 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Huh, he’s the jealous type.” Angela looked bored a bit. “Kinda feel sorry for anyone talking to Simone right now…” She looked down at her work. “All well~”

–

Simone was looking forward to dinner as she crossed her arms and looked at Lewis. “Well… Now, who’s going to get us dinner Lewis?” She looked at him actually dumbfounded. “And replace you? You’re the one!” She slammed the door shut so they had privacy. People had already opened their doors to stare at the drama. “LEWIS DUSK!” She screamed and started to poke at his chest.

“You! YOU!” She was trying to get her brain together. “JUMPED OUT A WINDOW SO YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ME! Then you come back in here and accuse me of trying to get sex WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET SEX FROM YOU!” She had her hands going crazy as she got in his face. “You are so stupid sometimes!”

Simone pointed her finger at him, “Do you have any idea how much I want you and only you?! I don’t even understand it! It drives me crazy! It’s been driving me nuts since before we went to the temple!” She was still screaming at him. “But nooooooo Simone is replacing Lewis as soon as he flings himself out a fucking window when he avoids her sex advances!” She threw her hands up. “You are so fucking unbelievable!”

Her stormy gray eyes stared at him with stubbornness, “I can’t even think about someone else. You are all I think about. No one compares to you! You… YOU STUPID DUMBASS.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:48 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at the Goddess as she spoke. He was trying to understand her words, as so far her wisdom, though brunt and direct, was usually pretty well on the nose. When she mentioned other guys, though, Lewis lost all train of thought, and immediately grew a scowl on his face. It was one of the few times that his emotions were shown on his face.

“I’ll kill him then,” Lewis said with a sadistic tone. “Strip his skin off, peel away the flesh, and let him suffer as he dies…” He turned around, more or less missing the whole point of the hypothetical situation. “No one touches her but me…” He paused. Was that what this all settled on? What he wanted from this? Perhaps…

“I get it now…she gives me purpose of sorts. A reason to come home. Something to look forward to. I should stop fighting it…” Lewis grinned. “And just kill anyone who dares take that happiness away…” He waved back at Lady Angela. “Thanks, crazy Goddess. I got my answer.” Without waiting for any sort of confirmation, he ran out and immediately came back to the tower.

There was a servant at the door, offering to take any food orders. It was about that time. Simone had answered the door and was thinking of what might be a good meal for her, when Lewis popped back in.

“Oh…is that the boy who’s promising you sex whenever you want?” He threw the door open. “Talk to her again…and I’ll skin you alive.” The terrified servant tumbled down the first set of stairs, and scrambled away.

“Do I really mean so little that you would throw yourself to the first guy you see?” Lewis asked. Simone could tell he sounded almost hurt, despite barely showing it.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:39 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“LEWIS DUSK!” She hung herself out of the window screaming his name. “YOU WOULD RATHER THROW YOURSELF OUT THE WINDOW THAN DEAL WITH ME?! WHAT THE FUCK?!” She was screaming and throwing a fit but he was already gone. Several windows lit up with candles and she blushed as she blew his candles out. “I don’t know what anyone is talking about. Nope, it was his whore yelling. Definitely not me.” She hid under his blankets.

Angela was working diligently in her land as she marked stuff off and dropped in other ingredients to what she was doing. “I’m sorry who are you?” She looked at Lewis. “And what were you saying I didn’t quite hear you.”

Lewis looked at her pissed off and she started to laugh, “Just kidding.” The goddess found a seat and sat down. “For your information Lewis… I’m a scientist before I’m a goddess and I’m experimenting with rather toxic herbs.” She gave a smile before thinking about what he was saying. “I mean… You are wasting more energy fighting them than you are actually getting used to them. That’s why you can’t focus… That and you are at the peak of youth.”

She shrugged at him. “It’s sort of wired into you to fuck as much as possible no matter who you are. However, I think that only scratches the surface of what you want to ask me about… The other feelings. When we find someone who gives us true purpose we fixate on them. However, if you keep tossing her to the side eventually she’ll get tired of waiting for you. Who knows maybe you’ll go back to the tower and some guy will be taking her with the promise of sex whenever she wants.” She was only joking.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis wasn’t entirely sure how to react. Ever since he had dream dived into her mindscape, things had….changed between them. It was impossible to explain everything that had happened in simple way. If anything, simplifying it would make it even harder to explain. As he stared up at her, all he could think of was how cute she looked.

Which, within itself, was a huge problem.

“I…” Lewis glanced away. “What the hell do you even want. I’m trying my best here…” He tried to avoid her gaze. “It’s…not…” It wasn’t because she was flat chested. It was anything but that. He grumbled, and pushed her off of him, and went for the window. “I…need some time to think. I’ll be gone for a few hours…”

Before she could answer, he jumped out of the window, and used his ring to create a gate. Anywhere but here.

Turns out, Elysia was his destination. He wasn’t sure what brought him here, or why. The Goddess’ realm…

“Lady Angela? Why the hell did I end up here?” He sighed, wandering about until he finally found her. It had taken some time to track her down, including talking to several of her acolytes. Finally, he opened the door to her lab, which surprised him.

“I…are you wearing a labcoat?” Lewis had never seen her like this before. “N-nevermind. Lady Angela…I have…questions. I think I’m broken. I’m feeling so much, and I can’t stop it. These stupid human emotions won’t stop confusing me. Even Lord Raith’s…training isn’t helping. All I wanted was power, but now all I can think about is her. I just…I need them to stop so I can start focusing again.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:15 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Time skip to post dream dive after Angela’s

It was so weird. After going to see the goddess Lewis treated her differently. It put her on the defense. That tension they had after she woke up after that awful nightmare. The sex, which just thinking about made her blush.

So that was what sex actually is. At least… between lovers.

The sex between her and Lewis before going to Angela’s was normally because they had been screaming at each other. One of them normally initiated it. Always in her bedroom or really anywhere but his bedroom. He even pinned her down in the library! How no one had actually paid any attention was beyond her and that time made her especially mad at him. Which just led to more fucking in their common room once they got back because she had cornered him to call him a pig.

“LEWIS! What if they saw my butt! WHAT IF THEY SAW MY CHEST!” Not that he had taken off her clothes… Turns out Lewis knew how to fuck without ripping her clothes off. He just liked doing it. Which just infuriated her more once she thought about it.

“Do you want me to kill them? We could kill them together,” Lewis held out his arms as Simone started to poke his chest and corner him against one of the common room walls. “We could make it a date even!!!”

“Lewis Dusk!” She slapped him across his face. “You are a fucking pig!” The moment it left her lips she looked more like a scared rabbit as he picked her up and slammed her into the wall.

Yup, that was normally how it went before the trip to Lady Angela’s.

Now… Lewis was avoiding her after the one time in his bedroom. They had slept in his bed. They were still sleeping in his bed because he had kicked in her door and the temple help hadn’t fixed it yet… It was the third time he had done it and they didn’t want to waste the effort just for him to do it again.

Though…. Lewis still was awkward about it. These weird feelings he was giving her and how much they were welling up were special and now she had to handle it. So… Simone took things into her own hands.

This time she slammed open his door stormed in, with her little nightgown, climbed up onto the bed, and sat on his chest looking down at him with the most disapproving face she could muster. “What did I do for you to avoid touching me?”

He said he stopped going to the brothel. Why didn’t he want to touch her? “Is it cause I’m flat-chested?!” She started to pull at his face.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:17 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared down at her for a moment as she finished chewing. The moment he was sure that she had swallowed her food, he leaned down and kissed her. “I guess…make a better memory out of it…” He gave her a look. “After you fucking eat.”

—

Lewis shut the door behind him. She had passed out again, but this time he had made sure to be more gentle. If anything, she was exhausted from the lack of food and then the sex right after. It wasn’t as intense and passionate as the first time, but it was far from the emotionless stress relief he received when he went to the brothels.

What the hell is wrong with me…I need to stay away from her, yet all she does is draw me back in.

Lucky for him, he had a job to do…

It was an easy job. Eliminate the target. There wasn’t even a strict time table. Just ‘by dawn.’ So, within a few hours, he had the job…mostly complete.

His target was hanging upside down, crying out in agony as the wounds across his body bled out slowly. Lewis was walking around him with a sullen look across his face.

“I just don’t get it…” He brought his dagger to the target’s chin, drawing a bit of blood. “She drives me insane. I can’t stay away…she brings up all these stupid, useless emotions in me. Makes me feel completely off. I think my edge is slipping…”

The tied up man cried, screaming for help.

“I dunno…have you ever met a woman like that? Is this…normal?” Lewis sighed as the man merely whimpered and fought against his restraints, crying. “Yeah…thought so…” Without another word, the assassin ended the man’s life, completing the contract.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:08 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It was weird that Lewis even had a gentle side to him. It was giving her goosebumps and made her even more stubborn that he was being this way. If he had just been an asshole the whole time she might have snapped out of it a bit sooner.

“You need food. You look like shit. I didn’t think you could get any more stick thin but you proved me wrong,” the whole time she had that pathetic puffed-out pout on her face.

“Besides, if I starve myself it just means you’ll be rid of me sooner!” She was frustrated with him but one extra blank look at her and Lewis shoved bread in her mouth.

“Don’t be a fucking idiot,” Lewis let out a sigh. “You are entirely responsible for how I look right now.”

She was chewing the bread and swallowed, “WELL EXCUSE ME MR. LEWIS ‘FUCKED SIMONE UNTIL SHE PASSED OUT’ DUSK.”

“Did… You really pass out?”

“YOU BANGED MY HEAD INTO THE WALL!” Simone yelled.

“Oh… I did?” Lewis looked a bit shocked for a second and got a nod out of Simone. “Oops.”

“I don’t even know how it ended!” She yelled at him. “You made my first time suck!” She kept yelling. “HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE UP FOR IT!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:48 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis put the soup down on her side table, and sat down. This time, he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She needed to eat, and if she didn’t, he’d force her to.

Of course, the moment he had entered the room (with at least a halfhearted knock), she had turned away and ignored his presence.

“Eat,” Lewis demanded, crossing his arms. “I’m not leaving till you do.”

Simone didn’t make any motion to move, and merely turned the page of her book. Lewis glared at her, but of course she couldn’t see it.

“I said, eat. Now.”

Nothing. Another page flip.

“Damn it, girl,” he stood up and grabbed the book out of her hands. Instead of reacting to it normally, she pouted, and crossed her arms, still refusing to look at Lewis.

Without thinking, Lewis grabbed her shoulder and forced her on her back, and finally she looked at him. Their eyes met, and neither one of them moved.

“E-eat…” Lewis said finally. “,..you need food…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:37 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It took a week for her to come around and start speaking again. It was short answers and she was unusually obedient with him but it wasn’t her being scared. That was perhaps the most peculiar part for Lewis. It wasn’t something he was familiar with.

Still, he left her alone, and since she had simply holed herself up in her room he would bring her stuff. He didn’t need her starving, her bored, or any of that. He didn’t care about her, just didn’t need her dead corpse coming back. At least that was what he told himself.

He had already started to go to the brothel to get himself under control. He was going more frequently because he didn’t trust himself around Simone. The look she had in her eyes gave him a feeling of guilt, not that he would admit that’s what it was.

However, the more Simone thought about the welling feelings she knew she had… The more depressed she got about it. Which caused her to push the food away from her after two bites. She left the food outside her door and just laid in bed with her books. At least her books never hurt her nor did they confuse her as Lewis did.

It was now two days into her practically starving herself despite Lewis bringing her breakfast, lunch, and even dinner.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:24 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was surprised at how much damage he had actually done. The healer was concerned for Simone’s safety, and briefly Lewis wondered if he should just kill her to reset her, but a part of him didn’t want to have to go through all of this again with her. No, better to keep her alive and learn…

“Fine…” He showed no expression on his face as he started to walk into the room. He opened the door, and stepped halfway through. When he saw her covered in a blanket and hunched, he let out a heavy sigh, and lightly knocked as he entered the room. “Do you…need help applying the salve?” He barely wanted to get near her.

The times he had fucked other women int he brothels held nothing clsoe to the time he had with her. The raw emotion that had flooded his system, the endorphins and other stupid checlicals that made him feel like it was heaven…the adrenaline rush that made him feel invincible.

He hated it. Absolutely despised it. Emotions were worthless, and feeling them was only a hindrance.

Yet, when he saw her, something welled up inside of him. Something…raw and powerful. And so he pushed it down.

Simone didn’t look his way, but as if to answer his question, she moved the blanket to reveal her body to him. Taking that as an invitation, Lewis walked over and started to carefully apply the salve to her broken skin. She shivered and made small whimpers as the salve touched her skin.

“Roll over.”

Simone did as instructed, and Lewis carefully applied the slave across her whole body. Everywhere that had been scratched and bruised was tended to. The healer was right, he had been far too rough with her. It was his lack of inexperience that had caused this. The brothel had only ever been for stress relief…

If this happened again, he would need to be better. To know better.

I don’t want this, though. Of course he didn’t want it. The emotions were far too much for him to handle. So, he would train his mind first to stave off this temptation with Simone…and train his body, just in case he gave in…

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:10 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She had lost so much to Lewis at that moment and she had little doubt that he even realized how rough he had been with her. It was partially her fault for fighting back with such force. I’m such an idiot… I clearly wanted it and yet I fought him as my life depended on it. It was so stupid.

She laid there curled up and didn’t say anything to him. How could she? She was on the verge of tears and she didn’t want him to see that side of her. She got dressed enough for the healer to see her after Lewis left.

The healer bunched his eyebrows together. “He can’t be this rough with you.” It was almost like he had beaten her up and forced her but according to Simone, she was a willing participant. The healer got her some salves and helped her back up into her bed. Someone had to help the girl up. “Jack get a work order for the door.” The apprentice potions maker looked at Simone and nodded. “And something for pain.”

Once Lewis arrived back in the tower the healer stopped him. “You did a lot of damage Master Lewis.” It was important he understood that. “Do you have any idea how many girls are traumatized by having intercourse that rough the first time? They’ve killed themselves or worse. She’s in a lot of pain but I’ve given her salves for the bruising and requested the potion master to make her pain killers. Try not to break her after this.” He wasn’t trying to be rude with Lewis but he hardly understood what he had done to the girl. “She also won’t talk anymore. It might take her a bit to come back around. I’m not sure what’s bothering her. It’s not my problem though.” He didn’t have to live with her.

Mone laid in her bed with the blankets over and the salve not too far from her. It didn’t even look like she had even used it yet.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared blankly as the door slammed open with Simone spouting off that he needed to go visit a brothel. Except that he barely recognized the words she was saying. Despite wearing a nightgown, all he could see was her naked form as she yelled. And her lips. And her eyes. And…

The door slammed behind her, and all he could think about was her. It was absolutely maddening. Infuriating. She was pissing him off. And getting a rise out of him. But why…

He walked out of his room and to hers, but as he tried to press against the door, realized it was locked. A locked door had never stopped Lewis. Normally he would simply pick it. It would take seconds at his level. But something about the fact that Simone had locked the door in his tower pissed him off.

So he kicked the door in.

It came clean off the hinges, and Lewis barged in. “HOW DARE YOU LOCK THE DOOR IN MY TOWER!” He looked her dead in in the eye. “You waltz into my room and make these childish demands as if you’re the one with power. Remember your place…” He trailed off, realizing that he was staring at her again.

“Fuck you, Lewis,” Simone said, strutting up to him.

“No, fuck you…” Lewis glared down at her, his face inches from hers.

Simone’s face moved closer…

Lewis leaned in, and kissed her. It didn’t take long for the nightgown to get torn off alongside Lewis’ own clothes. Simone was thrown on the bed, and within moments the two were making animalistic sounds as they tried to ravage each other, each fighting for the upper hand in the moment.

It only lasted thirty minutes before both of them tired out. That, and Lewis had a job to do. When he looked back, though, he realized something about Simone was…off. In the moment, she had enjoyed it. He could at least tell that much, but now…as she stared back at him, she seemed in pain. She sat up and winced, and suddenly she seemed much more tired than he was.

“I’ll…call up a healer…” Lewis looked away.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It pissed her off to no end that Lewis had been absolutely adamant that she wasn’t allowed to see him naked but CONSTANTLY he walked in on her like it was nothing. At least she had her chastity unlike this whore visiting scoundrel. She had heard about brothels before and she knew they were places men went to release steam and sure Lewis was definitely stressed with his line of work.

But for the love of God did he have to be such a prick even when his dick was wet?

“YOU ARE WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME!” She threw the book and hit him right in the face. Excellent aim Mone! That will teach this dick!.

Except that lead to this new current problem. Lewis was pinning her naked form to the wall basically towering over her and she liked it. WHY DID SHE LIKE IT?! What the hell was wrong with her. Holy shit was she was psychopath too?

“Oh fuck, I think I waited too long to have my first kiss,” she lamented as she threw herself on the bed. This was completely bad. He kidnapped her! He was an asshole to her on a regular basis. Why the hell did she feel like this with him?!

She threw on a nightgown and threw open her bedroom door before practically kicking his in. “LEWIS DUSK!” She pointed her finger at him. “You need to go visit your whores because YOU ARE OUT OF LINE WITH ME! You don’t get to do that with me just cause you feel like it!” She yelled with a blush. “AND DON’T THINK I LIKED IT CAUSE I DIDN’T!” Except he totally knew she did.

She slammed his bedroom door and then slammed her own shut.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Separation Anxiety

“YOU’RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE!?” Simone screamed as she threw a book in his direction. Countless times he had just waltzed in to her room without any warning, and this, like some of the past times, had been when she was changing. So, stark naked, she started screaming at him and throwing anything and everything she could find.

Sure, they had already seen each other naked. But that wasn’t the problem. No, the problem today was that he gave her zero personal space. And Simone snapped because of all of it.

“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?” Lewis yelled, dodging another book. This girl was absolutely maddening. She was the only one who could get a consistent rise out of him like this. It didn’t help that she was so god damned beautiful.

What did I just thi-

A book slammed square into his face, and he reeled. At once, the fury took over, and he was across the room in a flash, pinning her to the wall, her arms above her head. His face was mere inches away from hers, and both of them were staring at each other with semi-shocked expressions.

Lewis could feel his heartbeat. Could feel her heartbeat. The heat between them. Her lips stood out to him. Her eyes. He wanted…

What the fuck is wrong with me?

All he wanted to do was take her now. She was helpless, and more so, he could feel that she was excited by this. But…

Lewis let her go, and slammed the door behind him.

“Disgusting…” He slammed his fist into the stone wall. I’m disgusting…

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:43 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She realized that Lewis was saying what she wanted to hear in his own Lewis way. She cleared her eyes a bit and jumped on him. “I’m sorry I’m such a pain!” She buried her head into his neck. “I… am just scared you’ll leave me all by myself…”

“Why the hell would I leave you alone?” She could feel Lewis hugging her now. It was different from when that woman had jumped on him and he was trying to push her off.

“Because… I drive you crazy?”

There was a sigh from Lewis and he shook his head, “That’s an understatement.”

She gave a pout and pulled away from him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He was quiet and she gave him more of a face, “That’s the silence you do when you don’t want to answer an embarrassing question.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:33 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“SIMONE I DIDN’T WRITE THE LETTER!” Lewis yelled. His voice echoed down the alleyway. “I’m not getting married.”

Simone stared at him for a moment with wide eyes. “Ohh…”

The assassin closed his eyes. “Thank Lord Raith that you finally listen to reason. It was a stupid letter sent by a stupid man. She’s off to marry him now.” Thankfully, Lewis had nothing else to do with either of them. That was an entire mess that he wanted to avoid at all costs.

“But…she is much prettier than me. You could marry her…or someone else. Or anyone else…”

Snowball seemed to roll his eyes, and huffed, flying away. It was as if he were saying, “Well at least she’s not trying to run off. Your problem now…”

“I don’t…” Lewis sighed. This damned woman was too complicated and annoying. “Why the hell would I want anyone else?”

“Because her body is better. And prettier. I’m just boring.” Simone truly believed that in her soul.” She seemed as though she were about to cry. “Why did you even bother coming to save me? I’m-”

Lewis looked around. “Because…you belong to me?” He seemed to be questioning what he had just said.

“W-what?” She wiped away a tear. “Is…is that all it is?” She seemed almost disappointed.

“Isn’t…that what this is?” Lewis motioned between them. “This stupid feeling I have to chase after you when you run away. This ridiculous feeling that I need to protect you? To hunt you down the moment you disappear? To keep you for myself and no one else? Isn’t that what that is? You belong to me. You’re mine. I own you…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone dropped the board as soon as she cuffed her mouth shut. She was watching Lewis. This was his job but why was he here. “Why aren’t you going to get married?” She cuffed her mouth again. “Oh! OH NO!”

She backed herself against the way. “I’m a loose end now aren’t I?! You are going to get rid of me now!” Her poor little heart was a lot like a rabbit’s.

Snowball was now tweeting angrily at him. Fix it! Fix it! Fix it!

"Your wife to be wants me dead doesn't she?!"

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:14 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The man reached for her again, thrusting his hand out to grab her. There was malic in his voice, but when he tried to grab her, he found that he couldn’t. Something was wrong. He looked at his hand. It felt…very weird looking at it for some reason. It finally dawned on him why. His hand was lying in a pool of blood at Simone’s feet.

Odd. That wasn’t where it should be.

“I suggest you walk away why you still have limbs intact,” Lewis said as he stepped out of the shadows. Simone almost screamed, but managed to slap her hands over her mouth before she could.

The man looked at what was now a bleeding stump of a wrist, and nodded slowly. Shock had set in. He carefully picked up his hand, and did a half, apologetic sort of bow before he wandered off.

“Probably won’t even make it two streets,” Lewis said as he turned to Simone.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:05 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was hyperventilating as she looked around. “The way back to the tower has to be here somewhere,” she said as she wanted to go home. Why though? Her fists clenched. “Why?” She pouted. Lewis obviously didn’t want her. Why did… She want to go back? “STUPID LEWIS!”

“Hey, pretty little thing why are you crying?” An older man grabbed her by the shoulders and she froze up. “I can bring you back with me.” She could feel the man’s breath and smell the alcohol.

“No thank you… I’m just lost.” She cleared her eyes and tried to get away from him.

“I didn’t say you could leave.”

“Let me go!” Simone yelled as the man attempted to take her with him.

“I said! LET! ME! GO!” She grabbed a random board and swung herself as hard as she could knocking the man against his head as she got herself free. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” She shouted. What was this feeling? This feeling that she didn’t want to be the victim again?

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 9:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“I DIDN’T GO THOUGH!” Lewis yelled at the bird.

Snowball made a huffing noise, and pecked Lewis’ forehead, chirping angrily.

“HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW!? Have you EVER seen me write letters!?” Lewis threw his hands up. If there was any emotion he was capable of, it was anger.

“Excuse me, honey?” Sara asked. “Are you…arguing with a bird?”

“This doesn’t concern you,” he stated, emotionless again as he glared at her. “And I’m not marrying you. I have zero interest in you.”

“Oh..” Sara looked hurt. “But…if you didn’t write the letter, then who…”

“Sara?” A rather charming looking man walked up to her, taking his hat off. He looked rather innocent. “D-did you get my letter?”

She stared at him, and then at Lewis. “Oh dear…I…I’m sorry, Lewis.” She smiled and turned to the innocent man. “WILLIAM, YES! OH HONEY LET’S GET MARRIED!”

Lewis stared at Sara and William as they wandered off hand in hand. “What…the fuck…”

The red haired woman from the window peeked out. “Oh there’s that wily Sara again. She does this every week, and gets cold feet at the altar. Poor sap…”

Lewis shook his head, “That doesn’t….that doesn’t matter.” He looked at Snowball. “Track her down. Now.”

Snowball, suddenly changing teams, made a confident chirp, and flew high into the sky. It was almost immediate that he saw where she was, and he pointed like a faithful hound.

“Great!’ Lewis took off running. This wasn’t exactly the safest town in the world…

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone did a little happy dance. “Yes!” She had three bottles of it already but she loved presents from Lewis. She had tried lilac perfume but Lewis didn’t like it as much as the orange blossom. It wasn’t her. She started to associate herself with the perfume too since Lewis did.

They went to get his daggers and Simone held a look on her face as he was tackled down to the ground. She was going to shove the woman off but her words… The Canary… She looked up as she remembered the name from Lewis telling him herself that he went there. Immediately she did a very angry pout face and glared at Lewis.

“Lewis… LEWIS DUSK YOU CHEATING PIECE OF SHIT,” She hauled off and smacked him good before throwing up her arms. “I TRUSTED YOU! You told me you stopped going!” She was crying now as she hauled off and hit him again. “Fuck you.”

She took off running into the crowd disappearing easily enough. Snowball landed on Lewis's shoulder with a look as he tweeted up at Lewis chastising him.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:46 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis hesitated for a moment, and made a note of the shop. “If we have time, we can stop by on the way back. After I get my daggers,” he said. The weapons were needed for the next job he was going on, and he knew that the smithy would close without a second thought if they were late.

Once more they passed the brothel. Lewis was, as usual, noticed immediately, but no one had a chance to say anything until he left the smithy. With the freshly sharpened daggers returned to his belt, he and Simone walked by the brothel.

Out of seemingly nowhere, a blonde woman jumped Lewis, tackling him to the ground. Normally, Lewis would have blocked any blow that was meant to kill him, but there was no bloodlust when it came to this attack. Instead, he was immediately hugged and nuzzled.

“Oh dearest Lewis! I’ve missed you! It’s been so long since you’ve visited!”

“Sara…” Lewis stated with his usual emotionless tone. “Get off.”

“Oh! I’m sorry!” She immediately got off him and helped him up. “I was just so overcome with my emotions when I saw you! Remember last time!? It was amazing…and that letter you sent.”

Lewis stared blankly at her. “Letter?” He had no recollection of a letter.

“Why yes…the letter that said you want to marry me!” Sara stated, clutching the front of her shirt so sheepishly. “There was no signature, but I just knew it was you who did it.”

“I didn’t send a let-”

“YES! OF COURSE I’LL MARRY YOU, SILLY!” she said excitedly.

“I’m going to have to disappoint you…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:31 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Timeskip: Just after the dream dive

Simone no longer wandered around in a cloak. Lewis wasn’t dragging her about anymore. “Lewis! Look at this!” She was pressed against the glass of a shop. “They have a new bottle for my perfume!” They had become so much closer. It showed in the way Simone was wearing cute tailor-made dresses now. Even the ribbon in her hair was silk. “I think it has orange blossoms painted on it!” Was this the one thing she wanted?

He took hold of her hand though it wasn’t to yank her away. “You’ll get lost in the crowd.”

Simone looked down at his hand and gave him a smile. “I won’t get lost…” After finding out who was after her… It made Lewis nervous. “Oh! Right! We have to go get your daggers right?” She looked up at him now and smiled. “We can always get my perfume another day if we are too busy.” She wasn’t as bratty with him anymore.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:26 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It was rare for Simone to request anything like this, and Lewis could immediately feel that something was wrong with her. The tone of her voice was similar to that of those who feared for their life. It was small, short of breath, and as if they were clinging on for dear life. At first, Lewis wondered if she had been wounded somehow, but he immediately dismissed the thought. He would have sensed it.

“We can go, then,” Lewis said. He wasn’t sure why he was agreeing with her. This was his outing, and she was just tagging along. Yet, here he was trying to calm her down by acquiescing. The assassin frowned. “I-I have nothing else I need to do anyway. It’s best if we head back now.” He glanced at the brothel, wondering if he should even bother arranging another visit. Simone was being needy, and if that meant he had to watch her, he’d lack the time to do anything other than his jobs.

Why do I even care… Lewis was getting annoyed. He cared because if she got sick, he needed to know if it would affect her death in any way. That was all.

That…was all.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:20 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone followed Lewis closely. He had a good grip on her as not to lose her in the crowd. She stopped to look around the weapon shop. She asked questions about a glaive that stood out to her. It looked familiar to her. Once they were done he took her hand again and led her out of the shop… Which was what made her stop to hear the conversation.

It made her blush. It sounded like Lewis had a relationship with these women. Did he think of her the same way? She reached up after gripping Lewis’s hand hard. “Lewis?” The redhead looked at the very small voice by Lewis’s side finally. “I want to go home, Lewis. Can we go home?” Why did it feel like she was being suffocated?

“I just don’t feel good anymore.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 8:12 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis took care of the cost of the book, and the two left. He was once more dragging her by her hand, making sure that she kept up through the crowds. They were nearing the weapons shop that Lewis had dropped off his best set of daggers for maintenance. Sure, there were perfectly capable acolytes that could do it for him, but Lewis preferred someone outside of the God’s realm.

Next to the weapons shop was the brothel that Lewis frequently visited. It wasn’t something that he desired, per say. No, this had been a recommendation to ‘blow off steam’ from the acolytes. The concept made sense on paper. Time spent with them was ‘relaxing’ and ‘tension relief’. From that perspective, it worked wonders for Lewis. But the physical aspect of it all was…rather dull. His body reacted as it should, sure, but his mind was anywhere but there.

The women of the Canary were quite attractive, but none of them seemed to hold a spark that caught Lewis’ eyes. He had been with more than half of them in his time there, and there was one, only one, who managed to be the most efficient at getting him in and out. And since Lewis was always priding himself on efficiency…

“Oh hey Lewis!” a red headed girl said as she waved. “Haven’t seen you in awhile! Want to have some fun today?” She blew a kiss.

“Busy,” Lewis stated gruffly.

“Suit yourself,” she replied with a smile. “Sara misses you! Say’s she can’t wait for another day with you.”

“It’ll have to wait. I have…other things to attend to.” The other thing, was of course, Simone.

Simone was…different. It wasn’t like purchasing someone’s time. It was more complicated. A whore’s feelings didn’t matter. It was all about the client. Simone, though…well…

“Well, just so you know…I found something else you might want to try. THat little experiment you did last time was quite the ride. Might let you do it again!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:57 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone blushed, even more, when they looked at her. One was staring at her contently. “This your girlfriend Dusk?” Which made Simone hide more before Lewis dragged her off.

Once they were in the bookstore her face lit up and she immediately ran for the romance section. She thumbed through a few books and she looked genuinely happy. Once she found one she hadn’t read she ran back over to the owner of the bookstore. “This one,” she showed Lewis. She was in and out in five minutes. There were plenty that she hadn’t read yet.

Simone blushed again once Jack looked over at her and she pushed her hair behind her ear. “She is way too cute for you Lewis,” Jack huffed and left them alone.

“I… I HAVE MY BOOK NOW!” She shouted to avoid Jack as she took Lewis’s sleeve. “Come on…” She didn’t like people staring at her. "It's making me uncomfortable."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 7:48 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis glared at the acolytes and at Jack. “None of your concern,” the assassin stated firmly. “Just keep to yourself and don’t bother me.” He took Simone’s hand once more and led her deeper into the city. He made a mental note of each and every one of their faces. They would be receiving a visit much later, one that may or may not end in bloodshed. That was on them.

“There’s the bookstore,” Lewis said as they neared the building. It was a smaller store, but the windows were filled to the brim with books. When they entered, Lewis glanced around, noting the narrow pathways between piles, and grimaced. This place was a nightmare, but there was only one entrance.

“You have ten minutes. Get your damned book and let’s go. We don’t have time to waste.” He took a step back and pushed her forward towards one of the paths.

From behind him, Jack slipped into the store. “So what…she’s allowed out now?”

“What did I say earlier?” Lewis replied, looking towards the mediocre healer. “Mind your own damn business.”

“Fine, fine,” Jack said as he raised his hands defensively. “Just…try to act more naturally. You stand out like a sore thumb.”

The assassin stared at Jack for a moment, and then took a breath. “Fine.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 5:14 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

This was Simone’s first trip to the outside since she had come to the tower. Looking down at his hand she blushed lightly and nodded, “Alright.” He was an asshole but… He gave her feelings that were difficult to understand.

Mone had on a cloak since it was a fair bit windy and it hid who she was but it didn’t hide the small innocent voice that was under it. “Well, well… Lewis, who do we have here?” A small group of acolytes gathered around and Simone instinctively hid herself. “You got a partner? No, they seem too shy.”

Lewis said not to talk to strangers so she didn’t.

“You guys know better than to fuck with Lewis… He’s a jerk,” Jack walked by them and Simone lifted up her head just enough to see who called Lewis a jerk. “A-A GIRL?!” Mone freaked out and hid behind him more which made her hood fall down spilling out her long black hair. Jack was eying the stormy-eyed girl.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 4:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The Misunderstanding

Lewis was feeling in a giving mood today, for whatever the reason. It had been only a few weeks since Lord Raith had, thankfully, approved of Simone’s presence. Sure, Lewis was being heavily punished for his lack of forethought in asking his God’s permission, but in the end it had all worked out.

Maybe that was the occasion. A celebration of his allowance to keep his pet project at home while he worked out how to permanently kill her. A walk down to the local city. It was large enough to get lost in, but small enough not to be on any map. Perhaps that was how Lord Raith intended it.

“Stay close,” Lewis ordered, taking her hand. He had to make sure she didn’t get separated; after all trying to locate one person in a city like this was likely to be a pain in the ass. “Don’t wander. We’re headed to the book store for your one treat, and then to the weapons shop. Don’t idle. Don’t look at anyone, and don’t talk to strangers.”

His demands were straightforward. In the overall sense, they were wise words, but coming from him they made it seem like he was a controlling asshole. Which, to be fair, he was.

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 8:09 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

For a moment Simone was stunned into silence. She pursed her lips as her face turned a shade of red, “You’ve been doing that for me every day?” It would make sense she wouldn’t have noticed but… Why hadn’t she thought about that? Was it because Lewis was still sorta rough around the edges and she didn’t think he would go that far for her?

She hugged him tightly and put her face into his chest, “I didn’t know you were replacing them… I thought they were enchanted or something… and that I had broken it.” She shyly looked up at him and then looked down at herself. He was right she was a mess.

“Okay…” Snowball helped her get her clothes and a towel before she ventured to clean herself. She was still… shocked. Once she was clean she made her way back into the tower and found Lewis. “I don’t stink anymore… Is that okay?”

Her hair was braided but still wet but thankfully out of the way. “I feel silly now…” She hadn’t been eating, she had been crying, and she had been depressed over nothing. “I just didn’t want to ruin a gift you picked out.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 8:04 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was confused at first that Simone was crying over what she called ‘broken’ flowers. It took him a moment to realize that she was referring to the fact that they had wilted. “Oh. Flowers do that. I’ve been replacing them,” he said as he walked over. “I didn’t think about bringing new ones today…that’s my fault.” He walked over to Simone and pulled her into a hug.

“They aren’t broken. Just wilting. I’ll get you new ones…” He wrinkled his nose at her, though. It was obvious that she hadn’t taken any care of herself over the last few days. “You…should probably take a bath and get a change of clothes. You’ll feel a lot better. I can make a trip out and get more lilacs…"

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 8:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone had dark circles under her eyes once he lit the braziers. She was still in her nightgown and it was a wrinkled mess from her just laying around. She stood nervously and grabbed hold of her wrist as she stood there shyly looking away from him. “I broke them.”

She frowned deeply before she turned around and pulled out the flowers, “They didn’t start wilting until the other day… I think I broke them. They don’t even smell anymore… You must have worked so hard to get them for me and I broke them…” She frowned deeply and started to cry again.

It was obvious she was feeling guilt over breaking Lewis’s gift. “I don’t want you thinking I didn’t like your present… I tried really hard to take care of it but it wasn’t enough.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 7:56 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis blinked at her. He wasn’t really one to talk when it came to eating proper meals, but at least he knew the meals and their correlating times.

“Simone..it’s…well into the evening,” Lewis replied with a look on his face. It was hard to discern, but Simonme could see it easily if she were focused. “What’s wrong?” He could tell that she was hiding something, but it was dark in her room and hard to see. It was one of the few things he needed to work on, and he lacked the ability to quickly adjust his eyesight.

“Tell me what’s going on,” he demanded as he stepped more into the room and started to light the braziers on the wall. “You’re a mess. This is very unlike you.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 7:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was laying on her bed just staring at the wilting flowers. When Lewis stormed in she jumped off the bed and hid the flowers behind her. She looked like a wreck, her clothes were in a tad loose on her thanks to not eating, and she looked scared. “Lew-LEWIS! Welcome home?” She gave a nervous smile.

“I’ll be down in a while~” She called and pushed the flowers behind the view of her chair at the desk she had. “You can leave my room if you want…” She said it lightly knowing he probably wasn’t going to leave. “You have to be really busy. Definitely too busy to hang out with me right now…”

She was lying and the heartbreak was seeping through that she had broken the present he had gotten her. She loved her lilacs and she had no idea they were just regular flowers that Lewis was replacing. She was none the wiser at how sweet Lewis was being about it.

“I was just thinking about going downstairs and cleaning! And ordering breakfast…” Only it was well past dinner time now.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 7:46 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It was unusual for Lewis to take multi-day jobs, but he had been trying to avoid them since the incident with Simone and the dream dive. Something had awakened between the two of them, and they were still working on figuring out how to navigate it. That, and with his newfound knowledge of the fae lord and Simone’s history…well, he didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone for long periods of time.

He had gotten her the lilacs as a gift. She had liked them so much that he had started to replace them at the first signs of wilting. Seeing her take such delicate care of the flowers was heartwarming. Of course, he had no idea of knowing what that feeling was, or why he was feeling it, but it made her happy and that was all that mattered.

So when he came home days later, he found things were…oddly bleak. The lights were out, and it looked like the castle help had not been in days. Normally, Simone took care of the chores, but she knew that if she needed help that Lord Raith had plenty of staff available. Yet, it seemed like nothing had been done.

“Strange,” Lewis said as he walked around. Snowball was fluttering about, angrily tweeting that Lewis had been gone too long at that Simone was-

“Locked away in her room? Why?” Lewis looked at the bird.

Snowball let out a flurry of harsh tweets, and puffed up.

“Look, I know. It wasn’t my choice. I even brought her.. I don’t know, chocolate? The lady at the store said that’s what you’re supposed to do. I don’t get it bu-”

The bird tweeted in response.

“Gods damn it, bird. I’m working on it. I’m going now.” He straightened up his shirt, and barged into her room.

“Simone, I’m back.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Oct 4, 2021 7:35 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

When They Wilt

Lewis had gotten her beautiful lilacs to show their new relationship. They had only just committed to it. They would try and that made her happy. She took the very best care of her lilacs and got them a pretty vase. She was very proud of her lilacs often moving them from window to window of their tower to follow the sun. At night she put it in Lewis’s bedroom window so they would get the first rays of sunlight.

This went on for a month. Never did they wilt and Mone was convinced he got her magic flowers. She couldn’t tell the difference and she would smell them as she carried them carefully. Snowball happened not long after she got them and even he helped her pick the right spot.

Today was the first day Lewis would be gone for a few days. “Please be careful? I wouldn’t want something bad happening to you,” she looked away shyly with a blush and kissed his cheek before waving him off.

Simone continued doing what she was doing, including switching the water out… But after a few days, she noticed that they were starting to wilt and she sat in front of them. “I don’t understand… Did I break them somehow?” She laid on the bed and stared at them. They had started to lose their color and tears were forming in her eyes.

“I broke Lewis’s present to me.”

Snowball was trying to get her to leave the room. She hadn't been eating since she realized the flowers were wilting and Snowball knew Lewis wouldn't be happy.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:43 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis blinked at her statement, and without hesitating made a rather bold yet expected statement. “I’d kill anyone who lies a hand on you. Without questi-” He paused and thought about it for a moment. “Oh. I see. That’s jealousy. That’s what it does.” The fact that it was described in such a simple way seemed to drive the whole point home.

“Well, I think that settles it then…I should go kill them, then.” He started to grab his daggers, and Simone put a hand over his.

“No, that’s still…too extreme. But maybe you can take out that frustration another way?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

“I…don’t think I understand what you mean…?” Lewis responded, giving her a puzzled look.

“You…have a lot to learn,” Simone said with a sigh. “I’ll lend you one of my books..” She blushed. “Maybe you’ll get the idea then.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:37 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Mone looked up at him and tilted her head, “Lewis… If you overheard someone making vulgar statements about my body… What would you do?” Her gray eyes were watching him. “Or if let’s say Chess made a comment about wanting to grab my breasts…”

She knew how Lewis would react. She had seen him get jealous over Jack just talking to her.

Dala excused herself saying that she wanted to leave them alone now that they were talking about private things. “No! I’ve done enough I think… I took a clump of hair out of the blonde one. And the redhead! I broke her nose!” Simone declared proudly. “I want to be able to protect and defend you too even if I’m not good at it…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:32 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had crossed his arms, staring in anger at the start of the tale, but as Dala continued through each action, his anger changed to confusion. All of that over a woman that he used to see mentioning something about him in passing. Was it even anything relevant? The look of bewilderment was apparent on his face, because Simone saw it and started to pout.

“I don’t understand,” Lewis said as he reaffirmed his stance and glared at her. “You got into a fight over a body part?” He didn’t understand why she would go to such lengths. Dala said something about jealousy, but that didn’t make any sense. Why would Simone be jealous? He stopped going like she asked. Not that he derived any real pleasure from going in the first place.

Still, something about the story of Simone beating up a whole punch of people over him was…a little exciting. He couldn’t quite understand why, but he was feeling a little hot and bothered by the whole thing.

“Should I…go kill them all?” he asked. He really didn’t care either way, as long as Simone was happy.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:27 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Dala looked up at Lewis, “Well, everything was fine and then Simone decided she wanted a career as a cage fighter.”

“THAT IS NOT…” She opened her mouth as Lewis took the blanket off of her. “I CAN EXPLAIN!”

“Simone got jealous,” Dala said lightly. “Should have seen her Lewis… She’s an absolute–”

“I CAN EXPLAIN!!!!” Simone was blushing and looked away.

“No, no let me. So we’re going past this brothel called the Canary. Somehow Simone here overhears two of the brothel workings talking about Lewis Dusk’s penis. I’m TELLING you, Lewis… Simone was like a wild animal.”

“I… I!” Simone blushed.

“She was jealous.”

“I WAS NOT!”

“She was green with envy!”

Simone was almost crying now as she tried to deny it.

“Anyways, Simone jumps them and starts to rip their hair out and beat them up like she’s been doing it her whole life. The brothel owner Helga I think she said her name is… Reported us to the guards because Simone just wouldn’t stop. Of course, I got a snack and sat on the closest barrel so I could watch all this go down. Once the guards were coming though I had to fight to get Simone off of them and portal us back here.”

Simone was pouting, “I got beat up because I beat them up first.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:18 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis’ time alone had been surprisingly well spent. It wasn’t that he didn’t mind having Simone around all the time, but it was nice to be alone with one’s thoughts. It was a rare moment for him since they had met. He severely missed this time alone, and wondered if this might be something he needed more of. He loved Simone dearly, but being together all the time probably wasn’t something either of them wanted or needed.

As he ascended back to his tower, he got a notice that Dala and Simone had returned. That gave him a rather confusing, fluttery feeling in his chest, which he proceeded to ignore.

However, what he was met with was a rather beaten and bruised Simone.

“What…the hell happened?” he asked, coming over to throw the blanket off of Simone. He looked at Dala. “Is this your idea of keeping her safe?”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:11 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone did a little dance as Dala won over Lewis. “Girl time!” She was excited as she grabbed her cloak. Before they left she jumped on Lewis and gave him a hug. “I’ll be good I promise! I’ll stay in Dala’s sights!”

They went to town and she got excited over the shops, over the food, and the people. Lewis gave her an allowance to spend in town and she was giddy. The book shop was her favorite place and she spent a good amount of time there. Dala showed Lewis Simone in a corner with a pile of books. “See, she’s fine.” The ten-year-old sounded proud of herself.

Three hours went by and what Lewis walked back in on… was hysterical depending on how you looked at it. “Don’t wince ya big baby,” Dala had a healing kit as she used the ointment on bruises and cuts that Simone had.

The color drained from Simone’s face as soon as she saw Lewis and she tried to hide from Lewis using a blanket.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:02 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The Brothel Brawl

It had all started with a conversation about how Simone never got to leave the tower. There were far too many reasons that she shouldn’t leave, the worst being that a powerful fae lord was after her. Still, Dala confronted Lewis over it, and despite being a small rascal of a child, she was very pushy. She knew just how to push his buttons and raise his temper. Since he couldn’t risk killing the girl, he relented.

“Fine. Just a few hours. And only to the closest town. I want regular check ins with magic. You should know how to do that, right?” It was entirely possible that Lewis was being overcautious, but the reality was that he couldn’t risk losi-…her getting lost. She was his responsibility, after all.

Lewis spent the free time he had wandering about the keep’s walls. It had been a long time since he had been alone. In the end, he decided on a nice hot bath, and relaxed as best he could. His mind, though, constantly wandered to Simone and her safety. He hoped that Dala was keeping a keen eye on her. Those two….they could get into some kind of trouble…

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:42 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Mone was excited as he kissed her and she eagerly returned it. There was a small noise from her as he pulled her down but she looked happy. She had heard the dagger, food, and plate hit the ground but she didn’t care either.

Tilting her head as he looked away from her Simone tried to gauge what he was thinking about. When he finally spoke a blush came across her face. “I would really like that Lewis… Sleeping in my bed doesn’t feel right now…” She admitted. “It’s lonely without you.”

There was a small flush forming on her face as she snuggled into him. “Every night…” Her hand found his and she laced her fingers with his. “I like this…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:36 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was confused at what Simone was doing. Was she trying to tease him? Punish him for being late? Or was this her way of saying that she was happy and excited that he was home again? The girl was honestly confusing him, but she was leaving herself wide open for whatever came her way at this point. He moved up and kissed her, tasting the fruit on her lips. He pulled back for a moment to chew and swallow, and then leaned in for another kiss.

This time, though, he pulled her down onto the bed, not really caring if the fruit spilled across the sheets. No, the food was a lost cause at this point. Now, it was Simone. That was all that was on his mind, and he was home again. Tonight…

“Tonight…you sleep here. And…” He looked to the side, avoiding her gaze. “Every night…if you want…even when I’m not here…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:24 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Oh! They look yummy,” Mone smiled and immediately went about snatching his dagger to cut it. “Oh really? Let me taste,” she kissed him and thought about it before plopping a piece in her own mouth. She was clearly teasing him as she happily munched on the sugar apple.

Mone began to cut up the guava after a moment and thought about how she would tease him with it. He always had the upper hand on her. She munched on more of the sugar apple as she thought before finally making her move.

“Here, have a piece of the guava,” She put it on her lips lightly and put it close to him. “Here,” she said it without moving her lips. Clearly, this was meant as some sort of punishment for him being late but it wasn’t cruel.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:19 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was a little too tired to argue with Simone as she helped get him out of the day clothes he was wearing. He wandered back into the commons where a rather bloated Snowball was rolling around, and picked up the fruit he had gotten Simone. To his surprise, she was still awake as he handed each of them to her, telling her the names.

“This is a…what was it, sugar apple? And this one is called a guava. I’ve never seen them before, and I figured you’d enjoy something from the outside world.” He handed them over, and without warning the girl popped into his lap happily. Without a word she snatched the hidden dagger he had in his back belt, and started to slice up the fruit

Before he could get much of a complaint out, Simone popped a piece of the guava into his mouth. “It’s….really sweet…” he said, a little surprised at the taste of the new fruit. She was happy, though, and that was probably what mattered the most about this.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:45 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“He’s going to get fat…” She gave Lewis an amused look as she joked about Snowball and his snacks.

Simone sat on the bed and watched him for a while, “Really? Wanna try it with me?” She was moving about nervously. After a bit, she got up and pulled out some of his sleep clothes. “Come on.” She beckoned him to come to her. “Arms up.” She helped him get changed and waited for him to get the fruit.

“What’s this one? And this one?!” She was excited over fruits she had never seen before and she plopped in his lap without even thinking about it as she took his secret dagger he always kept on him out and sliced the fruit up. When he looked at her strangely she looked at him, “What? I know where you keep all your daggers.”

She held up part of the guava to his lips. “Try.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:36 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at Simone for a moment once she woke up, her panic mostly amusing the assassin more than anything else. Once she settled down and got embarrassed, he smirked.

“I am fine,” he said simply. There wasn’t much else to say or do when it came to how he felt. “I’m glad to be home.” Lewis got up and started to wander around the room, unsure of exactly how to act. This was the first time that he had ever come home to a woman in his bed, and it was…different. He wasn’t sure if he was to leave Simone there, join her, or what.

“The client decided that he didn’t want to pay,” Lewis said, realizing he owed her the explanation. “Because it took so long dealing with that issue, I…stopped and got a surprise for you and Snowball.” At that, the bird chirped and flew to Lewis’ shoulder, practically demanding his gift. “It’s in the bag in the commons…”

Snowball flew off, leaving Simone and Lewis alone. “I…got you fruit…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:51 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

There’s that warmth that she had come to love. A small smile once more appeared as she rubbed her forehead against his and made a few sleepy noises. Once his words registered her eyes shot open and her arms were immediately around his neck. “You made it home!” She looked him over and hugged him again in a tight hug.

Snowball looked triumphant in their awakening of the princess from her slumber. “Are you okay? You were late normally you are never late. Was the job hard? Was the client an asshole?” She entered into a panicked worried mode that she normally never showed but she had been waiting for him this time. He hadn’t come home at the time they had discussed.

“Are you tired? Do you need me to get you food? I’m sure someone is still in the kitchen if you are hungry…” Simone always let him take care of himself but this Simone was going above and beyond her normal poking. Willing to absolutely get out of bed and get him what he needed.

“I’m… happy you are home.” She blushed a bit when she realized how ridiculous she must look.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:46 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

At first, Lewis thought that Simone had woken up. At the end of her statements, though, Lewis figured out that she was in a half-sleep state, and he smirked. Snowball had tattled on her of course, but now was not the time to bring all of that up. He continued to pet her, and leaned down to put his forehead to hers.

“I’m home okay, Simone.” There was no sincerity in his voice, and to anyone watching, it would look almost as if a serial killer were trying to scare his victim half to death before doing the deed. But, to Lewis, this was as sincere as he could be. The look in his eyes, though dead, still held a fragment of caring and understanding.

Snowball chirped softly along with Lewis, trying to pull Simone out of her slumber.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was in a good deep sleep as she snuggled her head against his hand and grumbled a bit. “Waiting for you to come home,” she let out a small yawn as she snuggled closer to the pillow. “I waited up for you…” She was fighting the sleep pretty hard as she brought a hand up and rubbed her head.

Snowball stirred awake and flew out and got onto the bed just to chirp softly giving him updates. Noting that he took the time to make sure she didn’t actually try to wait up for Lewis. Once done the bird went back to sleep in his cage.

Mone finally opened her grey eyes and looked at him with a small smile though it was clear sleep could take her back at any moment. “I like falling asleep with you… and I miss you when you are gone. It feels strange to sleep in my room,” she seemed a bit more honest and full of courage when she was yawning and stretching before laying herself back down and closing her eyes. “Let me know when you get home okay… I miss you.” It was a small tired voice. One that hadn’t realized it was actually him home now.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was usually one for a sense of punctuality, however there were far too many factors that night that seemed dead set on delaying his arrival back to the tower. The first, and most annoying in Lewis’ honest opinion, was the argument in which his client decided to short half of the silver that Lewis had earned on completing his job. This was not the first, nor would it be the last, that someone would dare try to stiff an assassin.

It was a relatively easy problem to fix. Most of those who threatened to withhold payment soon found themselves blacklisted in areas frequented by assassins and mercenaries. For Lewis, though, he preferred a much more direct approach. So, instead of losing out on half of his pay, Lewis gained a hefty sum of silver that night.

Finding himself running behind, Lewis stopped by a merchant on his way back for a small gift to get Snowball and Simone for being late. Snowball was easy; a bit of unique birdseed. Simone, though, ended up taking even more time than he wanted. In the end, he chose a few new fruits…one of them called a sugar-apple, and the other a guava. Neither of them were anything that Lewis had any interest in, but for her…

The assassin stepped into the tower using his gate ring, and looked around. It was dark, and Lewis assumed that Simone had gone to sleep. He paused, wondering if he should wake her up, but decided against it. Moments later, he opened the door to his room, and started to remove his gear. There was a slight stirring, and he drew a dagger, ready for-

“Simone?” he whispered. Surely enough, the girl was sleeping peacefully in his bed, snuggling his pillow. “…but why?” He finished putting his gear away, and sat on the edge of the bed, slowly running his hands through her hair. “Why did you fall asleep here?”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:14 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

You’re Still Here

“And make sure she eats. I don’t need her passed out or sick again. Escort her to and from the baths. Remember the faces of all the men who ogle her and report back to me,” Lewis spoke to Snowball who was basically saluting him.

“It’s only a few days,” Simone smirked up at Lewis.

“Yeah, the last time I left you for a few days you were sick on the floor,” he flicked her forehead and she made a face.

“I’m not sick this time. I have Snowball.”

“And Snowball will make sure you follow orders or I’ll punish you when I get back.” He gave her a deadpan face before setting off on his job.

During the few days he was gone she did her hobbies, kept up with the cleaning, made sure to eat on the schedule that Lewis had told Snowball, and made sure to avoid any of the other temple goers. She didn’t want any to get a dagger to the forehead.

It was the night when Lewis was due home when Simone had changed into her nightgown and sat on the end of the bed. Snowball watched her wait for a bit before he tugged on her hair and hopped towards the covers. “You’re right… I guess he got caught up in the job…” She frowned a bit and climbed up into their bed and got under the blankets. “Goodnight Snowball… Maybe he’ll be back tomorrow night.” She was depressed about it as she grabbed his pillow and snuggled into it.

Snowball made sure she was asleep before flying into his cage and snuggling down for the night too. Though he kept an eye out for intruders just in case.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Aug 6, 2021 8:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis sighed as Simone got close to him. This was as close to heaven as he would ever feel, and it was pure bliss. It was about then that Simone found the perfect words to push him forward.

“What do I think?” he repeated, his cold eyes locking with Ionia’s. “I think that she never stood a chance…” He smiled. The darkest part of Lewis’ heart had been unleashed, and Ionia wouldn't live much longer. Her screams, though, echoed throughout the tower…

And she was never heard from again…

—

“Shh,” he said as he gently tucked a sleeping Simone into bed. She grumbled, and let out a soft whimper as his warmth left her. “I can’t stay. I’m a mess…I need to clean up.” She whined again, and curled up with her blanket before drifting back off to sleep.

The assassin watched her for a moment longer, a dead stare in his eyes. She was precious to him. That much he knew. But…it had to end. It would end soon. And then…

Then, I’ll be alone again…

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Aug 6, 2021 8:23 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone smirked a bit as she watched him work on her nails. She held Ionia and restrained her the best she could so Lewis could get the fingernails off. “You both are fucking insane.”

“And now you see why we work as a couple. My younger self is innocent like the snow but me? Not so much. Tell me my love what is your favorite parts of both of us? You never get time to spend with me… You must have missed me so much~”

Once he healed her hand and they began again Ionia’s screaming filled the air. She was sure that other people had heard and were staying away. Once her hands were done she wrapped her arms around Lewis’s waist and looked into Ionia’s eyes.

“You thought you were Lewis’s perfect woman, didn’t you? That’s why you tried to get rid of me… Lewis’s what to do you think about that?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Aug 6, 2021 8:05 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis frowned when she mentioned that the older Simone had a time limit. He should have known, but he had gotten far ahead of himself due to the excitement of the whole situation. Still, the compromise was something that he could accept, and watched eagerly as Simone dragged the dagger across Ionia’s flesh, eliciting a beautiful scream.

“You see, Ionia,” Lewis said as Simone asked her question. “I know a lot more about torture than you think. Lord Raith may have taught me the basics, but I went and studied it. Extensively. I even practiced when I had the time. I think…an appropriate punishment for hair…my Simone’s beloved hair… hmm… We could start with nails. No…not the kind you hit with a hammer…” He smirked, and produced a second knife. He pulled her free hand over to him, and placed the dagger’s tip between her nail and finger.

“See…I don’t quite have all the tools to make this work like I want to…” The assassin smirked. “It’ll be messier this way, and I’ll probably screw up a little…” The dagger inched forward, and Ionia struggled, causing the edge to slip and slice her fingers. Lewis frowned. “Ionia…please…you’re making this harder than it needs to be….” He looked at Simone with a sorrowful look. “Can you hold her still? I’ll have to heal her hand and try again…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Fri Aug 6, 2021 7:54 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone smirked a bit at her loved and she took the dagger out of Ionia’s hand before touching the blood dagger to Lewis’s lips. “You know I’m on a time limit though. We can torture her only so much before I must sleep again. I’ll tell you what though~ I will torture her with you and then you can return the princess to the tower for sleep… Do whatever you want with Ionia after if she isn’t dead…”


She lowered the dagger and kissed his lips. “Does that sound good? We can’t have our precious being tainted by such dirty things.”

“You talk about her like she is someone different,” Ionia managed to get out.

“Because she is. She is Lewis’s precious gemstone.” Simone took the dagger and stuck it in her hand good getting a nice scream out of Ionia who was holding it in. “You shouldn’t have killed her in the library Ionia. You could have avoided all of this. Lewis, what would you have done if she even pulled my little Simone’s hair out?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Fri Aug 6, 2021 7:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis smirked at Ionia, who was now struggling against her restraints. The smirk slowly turned into a sadistic smile. One of the few things that Lewis took absolute pleasure in was torture. It was a sick and twisted kind of affair for him, one that brought an unusual amount of giddiness from an otherwise stoic young man. The cruelty that he displayed was only amplified by the fear of his victims…which was unfortunate for poor Ionia. She was built to be a little durable, and withstand interrogation. That meant she could take a lot of pain.

That would make Lewis just want to try harder.

“I guess we’ll have to…attend to this problem,” the ex-assassin said, practically salivating at the chance to watch Ionia squirm. He pulled a dagger out of his belt and slammed it into Ionia’s hand.

“Oh darn…seems I didn’t get it pinned,” Lewis said with a frown. “That’s a bit of a shame.” He looked over to Simone, his eyes wide with glee. “Would you like to try? I’m not pressed for time. This could be fun, right? You could use the exercise…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 2:03 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone took a breather as Lewis swept in and dealt with Ionia. "I'm okay. My knee hurts but other than that I think I'm okay." She put her hands on his and gave him a tender smile. 

Ionia stared at him before laughing, "She doesn't know does she?" Ionia looked at the small woman with Lewis. "You are a freak. You can't die. Lewis has probably tried getting rid of you and couldn't. How does that make you feel?" Ionia thought she could hurt Simone by revealing the truth.

However, as Simone turned her face to Ionia it was her eyes that shut Ionia up. They were dead looking. Her face had no fear and almost no facial expressions. "Lewis, dear this is a problem. What if she learns about herself." Simone took one of Lewis's arrows and balanced it on her fingertip after smelling it. "This is coated with a toxin that can kill in about thirty minutes if given in a low dose~ it's used for interrogation." 

She strolled over to Ionia and gave a smile, "honestly, I could give only a few fucks about what you try and do to me… However, throwing me in the ocean? I detest water…" She slammed the arrow into Ionia's abdomen and gave it a few good twists.  

"What the fuck," Ionia stared at Simone who was giving a tender smile to Lewis.

"I put her to sleep for the time being. She'll think she fainted. Should be enough time for you to get some revenge on this pathetic little thing." 

"Who are you?"

"I'm Simone," she answered quietly. "The one that's hidden away behind a younger mind. The one Lewis is fighting for." She walked behind Lewis and put her arms around his shoulders putting her chin on his shoulder. "Lewis is keeping my shell safe for me. My innocence if you will."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 1:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had not been sleeping, as usual, and was laying in the window staring outside. He was lost in thought on how things were progressing with the curse and how to find the source of it all. What would happen at the end? Would Simone find the peace that she desperately craved, and Lewis would go back to his own quest for the strength to protect what he cherished… no matter the cost.

Before his mind could wander into anything deeper, Snowball flew through the window and made three chirps. That was all it took for Lewis to jump from the window and dash towards the door, grabbing his bow. When he came into Simone's room, she was… surprisingly handling the situation quite well.

Of course, that didn't mean Lewis was going to stay out of it. He rushed forward and put himself between the two, kicking Inoia back into the wall. Within the same motion, he drew his bow back and let loose and arrow that slammed into the woman's arm and into the wall behind her, pinning her.

Lewis looked to Simone, and dropping his bow and placing his hands on her shoulders. "Are you okay? Hurt? Did anything else happen?" It took him a moment to realize that there was a box that was still burning, and he put two and two together.

"You know…so you saw…" Lewis looked back to Ionia. "Well…that makes things simple then…"

Author: Simone, Posted: Sun Aug 1, 2021 9:28 AM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was already embarrassed about what had happened. She must have scared them good of one was willing to try and catch her. 

She wiggled a bit to get her grounding before she got up with Lewis's help. "I'm okay. I just slipped." She had a soft landing though… They were still semi-holding hands as Lewis let go and killed the helper.

Simone tilted her head at Lewis, "And you said you don't get jealous." There was no point in being shocked at what Lewis had done or was willing to do for her. This was who he was and she accepted him wholely. He didn't even try to change her just make sure she was safe and healthy.

"Youhaveacutebutt." It came out of Lewis's mouth all at once and Simone found herself with a blush.

"Oh. Thank you?" She didn't know how to answer him but she was thankful. 

Ionia was about to lose her mind. She couldn't think of a way to get rid of Simone if she couldn't or wouldn't stay dead. So…

Later that night, Ionia had someone take Simone from her way back from a bath. Snowball had been on the watch and immediately went to tell Lewis. Simone though wasn't going without a fight as she bit and smacked the bigger man who had hold of her. "Let. Me. Go." He was taking her down to the beach where there was a box.

Simone kneed the man as hard as she could and got dropped. Soon she had a branch and was beating him. "Stay back! I have a branch and I will use it!" Simone's eye went up to an oil lantern and soon she grabbed it lit the branch and threw oil all over the man chasing her. When that didn't stop him throwing the fire at him was the last resort. 

Simone's eyes were big as she watched her kidnapper go up in flames with his screams filling the night air.

"Now why did you go and do that?" Ionia stepped out.

"You!" Simone went to get something else to defend herself with but all she had were rocks and a pretty good aim as she hit Ionia upside her head.

"STOP BEING A PEST AND GET INSIDE THE BOX!"

"YOU GET INSIDE THE BOX," Simone mocked before throwing more rocks but she was quickly running out of energy to evade the woman so Simone tripped the flailing man into the box and let light on fire. "Fuck your box!"

"You… Little bitch," Ionia said as she seethed and went to strangle Simone.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:08 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis had told Snowball to be on guard. While it wasn't easy to confirm, the assassin had an idea of what might have happened and who was responsible. There was no proof, yet, and that was the problem…

He was watching her from afar as he tried to ascertain the best way to get his needed proof; he would hate to kill someone without a good reason. It was against what passed for his moral code.

Simone grabbed the book she was looking for and started down the steps. Much like before, she misjudged and fell down, bouncing her butt onto the poor helper assassin's face and then landing on all fours.

Lewis stared at Simone's butt for a second, turning a little red. "….cute butt." He ran over to her, and helped her up. "Simone, are you okay?"

The other assassin got himself up and started to dust himself off. "Damn, that kind of hurt. Are you oka-"

Lewis pulled a dagger from his belt and threw efdortlessly, embedding the blade into the assassin's forehead. Simone gave him a curious look, and he shrugged.

"He saw your butt…"

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 8:10 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Oh…” Simone looked exhausted as her arms went around Lewis’s neck. “I’m tired.”

“Then rest,” Lewis pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’m going to take you home and get you something to eat okay?”

Simone nodded and snuggled into him.

“What the fuck?” Ionia spoke and when the other assassin ran back in with Jack they smelled the room and held their noses. Their eyes went to the blood.

“Where did Lewis go?”

“He took her back to the room. It ended up not being that bad of a wound just bleeding a lot,” Ionia had a feeling even if she told them what she saw… They wouldn’t believe her.

So the group ventured back to Lewis’s room and knocked. Lewis was carrying up a tray of food. “What do you want?”

“Can I see Simone? Isn’t she hurt?” Jack was frantic. He really liked Simone and it sounded like a bad wound.

“Only Jack,” Lewis spoke as he opened the door. “She’s in my room resting.”

Ionia paused as she realized Lewis was actively living with her in his space. “Fine,” Jack brought in a kit and Lewis took him up to Simone. She was laying in bed peacefully sleeping. “She doesn’t have any wounds…” Jack looked over Simone and looked up at Lewis. “What did yo–”

“Say anything to anyone and I’ll kill you.” Lewis mouthed to him. Simone looked up and Lewis gave her his best ‘smile’. “How do you feel Simone? Jack says you look fine.”

“I don’t feel like I hit my head…” Simone felt her head.

“You did… I guess you got lucky.” Lewis put the tray of food on her lap. “Now eat.” Looking at Jack he motioned him to leave. “You can go.” Lewis slammed the door on Jack once they were down in the common room.

–

The next day Simone asked to go to the library and Lewis gave in. He would have to keep a good eye on her. With Lewis being shoved up Simone’s ass Ionia couldn’t do anything more to her… Though it didn’t look like she could. Did Lord Raith know about this?

Mone was quick to climb the ladder this time Snowball was trying each step for her. “I don’t understand you… Why are you doing that?” Simone smirked a bit. “All well…” She got to the top of the ladder and Snowball gave a confirmation tweet to Lewis that the ladder was safe now.

One of the assassins who had seen Simone fell came over to Lewis. “She’s just as lively as ever… Even after her fall.” It was like nothing ever happened.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 7:54 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis has just pulled out a book and started to read up on types of rebirth. When one of his feelow assassin's came running about Simone, he dropped the book immediately and ran.

Simone had fallen and his her head on the table, and was convulsing on the floor, writhing in pain. Blood was pooling on the floor.

Lewis looked back at the assassin who had come to him, and yelled for him to go get help from the infirmary. When he went, Lewis looked down at Simone with cold eyes.

"Ssh…" he pulled out a dagger, and with a swift motion ended her pain. At once, she stopped, and the room filled with the smell of death. Her body started to glow, and a shockwave hit as her body restored itself back to it's original form.

"Where …who?" Simone bolted up in panic. She looked at Lewis with a terrified whimper.

Lewis pulled the pendant off from around his neck and placed it over Simone's head. It glowed softly, and at once Simone grew faint.

"Oh…Lewis… that's strange. I was just…"

"You passed out on the ladder," he responded. "I keep telling you that you need to eat…". He picked her up and cradled her softly. "Let's call it a day…,"

From the shadows, Ionia was watching with wide eyes…

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 7:20 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone was once again looking super cute. If anything a lot of the boys Lewis’s age envied him as they watched Simone walk with him hand in hand. A cute little ribbon in her hair and the dress was also just as cute. Even some of the other assassins had stopped to watch until Lewis gave them a look.

“Got it,” Simone bounded off for her section of the library. She never asked what Lewis was researching since he just said it was for a job anyways.

Ionia had been watching and knew where Simone was going. After setting up the ladder with loosening some of the steps she sat back and watched. Gracefully Simone started to climb up to go to her favorite part of the romance section. Lewis hated the raunchy books she pulled from it only because most of the time he ended up reading them too. It was his own fault for grabbing the book to see what she was so into.

Once she reached the upper levels of the ladder though that was when the steps started to come undone and Simone tried to catch herself but ultimately let out a noise as she fell hitting the tables before.

What Ionia couldn’t have foreseen was how durable Simone was.

“Lewis!” One of the assassins who knew him well ran over. “There was an accident. Simone–” He couldn’t get it out before Lewis panicked.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 7:06 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Ionia was shocked at what had just occurred. This woman…no, this tiny girl dared to push the great assassin Ionia out of her beloved's room. The audacity of that Simone…

While the woman tried to come to grips on what happened, she heard a rather loud crash come from the other room, and her eyes widened. That bitch was having her way with her Lewis, and that was unacceptable. The fact that she could hear it was not making the situation any better.

"That whore has to go. I have to do it if Lewis is to be mine .."

—

Lewis looked up at Simone as she collapsed off to his side panting. After being insulted by Ionia, she seemed fired up and had to take out that anger somehow. It was downright rare for Simone to take the lead, but when she did it was full speed ahead until she was done.

The assassin was tired out after the second round. Not only had he worked, but they had fucked twice that day already, and Lewis was not one to sleep. Simone snuggled up to him, and smiled as she whispered it was okay to sleep.

Soon, Lewis drifted off ..

The next day, Lewis was off. He had taken the day to do more research into Simone's curse. So after breakfast (and other things), Lewis and Simone made their way back to the library.

"Don't leave…got it?"

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Teenagers had a crazy amount of energy and Simone and Lewis were no different. They had nothing better to do even when Simone had the books. Instead, she had chosen to start things with Lewis and Lewis had responded to her.

“I’m sorry, I’ll try…” She gave Lewis a cute little smile.

Ionia had spotted a part of Simone’s ‘outfit’ as Simone blushed and moved it under something. “So? You don’t notice me but you notice the spoiled princess? Where the hell did you even find her?”

“In the wood?” Simone spoke up.

Ionia looked at her and then looked at Lewis, “She was a job wasn’t she?”

“A job? Lewis said he was keeping me until he knew what to do with me.” Simone shrugged. It was something Lewis had the tendency to forget now.

“Look at her Lewis… Her body isn’t that mature at all!” Ionia gestured to her own. “Isn’t this better?”

Simone got a look on her face before she got up. “Get out,” the little princess had heard enough as she came over and start to shove Ionia out the door. “OUT. OUT. OUT.” She gave Ionia a real good shove as she fell on her butt. “Don’t you ever comment on my bust ever again!” Even Lewis knew that was a sore topic for Simone…

“What?” Ionia had a surprised look on her face as Simone slammed the door on Ionia and locked it.

“HMPH,” Simone crossed her arms and turned her back to the door. “Undress now!” Her voice made it to Ionia’s ears. “I’ll show her!” She actually sounded really cute angry and jealous. Something Lewis didn’t get to hear often.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis took Simone back to the tower, and took a few minutes to chastise her on her lack of self care. This, as usual for the two, turned into a fun romp in the couch in the common area of the tower. The assassin had her pinned down beneath him, their clothes scattered across the floor.

"Are you-"

There was a knock on the door, and at once Lewis rolled off of her, hissing at the interruption. Simone didn't seem happy either.

"Why did you stop?" She whined.

"Door…"

Simone looked at the door with disappointment, and rolled out of bed, throwing clothes on haphazardly. She opened it, and lit up. It was a different visitor than usual, and she walked back over to the couch and pretended to busy herself with embroidery.

Lewis had already thrown his own clothes on and glared as Ionia walked in. She was looked around as if she were trying to ascertain what they had been up to.

When Simone hurt herself, Lewis was hoevering over her in an instant, looking at her finger. "You need to be more careful." He was practically ignoring Ionia at this point.

"What…what does she have that I don't?" Again, she was vying for Lewis' attention.

"Why are you still here?" Lewis asked, finally noticing her. "Don't you have anything better to do than bother us?"

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:36 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone blinked a bit at this new woman. She seemed to like Lewis a lot. The way she was glaring at Simone reminded her of the way Lewis got when Jack was around. Only, Lewis had been clear… He didn’t like anyone else in the tower. “Um… Okay. Nice meeting you.” She waved in her own friendly little way before Lewis pulled her along.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She looked back at the woman when he said she was defective and nodded. “If you say so, Lewis.” They were holding hands out in the open and once she had caught up to him Lewis no longer dragged her…

He merely led her back to the tower away from everyone else.

The woman held a look on her face. “Damn it, I just missed her didn’t I?” Jack said as he ran in. “Lewis is going to kill me.” He had a tray of food.

“You just missed him… but tell me Jack… Who’s that girl?”

“Oh Ionia… You’re back.” Jack made a face since this woman was just as crazy as Lewis tended to be. “That’s Simone… and she really needs a new boyfriend.” After checking around the temple Ionia didn’t discover much about the girl. Lewis had brought her here tied up and kept her in his living quarters. It was only recently that Lewis even trusted her to even be on her own… It was also known that they were exclusive to each other… Something that made her upset.

Ionia went up to the tower and found Lewis’s room. How shoved up his ass was this girl? She knocked and there was a muffled noise. A gasp.

Had she interrupted something?

Simone opened the door and her hair was certainly a bit more untamed than before, “Yes? Oh. Lewis! It’s for you!”

“Lewis, I fail to see how this girl fits you?”

Simone perked her head up from the couch as she worked on her embroidery. She was so into what Ionia was saying she pricked her finger, “Ow.”

“See? A simple needle is enough to hurt her,” Ionia sneered but she had no idea about the real Simone.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:27 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Snowball went on his rant about how Simone failed to take care of herself throughout the day, and Lewis nodded along and even made comments after every few tweets from the bird.

“I see,” Lewis said as he glared at the girl. “And I take it she ignored you when you told her?” Snowball made another chirp. “Right.” The assassin crossed his arms yet again and sighed. “Let’s just get you back to the tower and get you something to eat.” He turned to leave, but there was someone else in the library, a woman that he did not recognize. At least, not at first.

The woman had silver hair that matched Lewis’, flowing down to her shoulders. To keep it in place, she had a neat little red bow that matched her crimson eye that was leering at Simone. When Lewis moved in front of Simone, her face changed from jealousy to happiness.

“Oh LewLew! Did you miss me?” she said as she took a step forward.

“…excuse me? What the fuck did you call me?” It was meant to sound intimidating, but coming from Lewis it was, again, almost comical.

“Did you enjoy my gift?” she asked. “I set it up just for-”

Lewis took Simone’s hand and started to walk past her. “We’re done here. I think I need to request that Lord Riath check with his followers. Obviously this one has a defect…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:12 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Ahem

Then the foot tapping.

Simone sheepishly looked down to see her boyfriend’s face and she gave him a smile trying to get out of it. “Oh… Is it that time already?”

Snowball was angrily hopping and tugging at her hair. “But.” Simone made a face before she decided to slide down the ladder. It was a quick way down but one wrong move and Lewis was catching her in his arms.

“Heh,” she gave him another sheepish look. “I promise I didn’t mean to stay out all day. I was looking for the books you told me to find.” She held them out to him once he put her down.

Snowball immediately went on a rant telling on her. She had not only missed breakfast but also lunch… and now it was close to dinner. She had no idea what the bird was telling on her about but he was angry. “Snowball, this is a library.”

Snowball hopped onto Lewis and glared at Simone as if saying… Okay and? She was in serious trouble and let out a groan. “I promise I didn’t mean to. You know how I get.”

“Aw… Lewis and his little girlfriend~” Someone in the library said and it made Simone blushed before tucking her hair behind her ear. There was a woman there though with an eyepatch. She was watching the situation carefully.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 10:06 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was having a very, very strange day. His job was given to him by a strange contact, one that immediately set off red flags. But, he wasn;t one to turn down a hit just for any old reason, and found himself tailing a stranger. It was all too easy, though. The target did everything they possibly could gave wrong, and in the end they were eliminated with a swift slash to the throat down a back alley.

It was a textbook case on how everything could go absolutely perfect. Except that a job never went that perfect. There were always complications, even if only minor. It was too perfect. Almost as if it was staged. But…nothing came of it. Lewis took his time going back to Lord Raith’s realm, and when he got back to his tower, he noticed that Simone and Snowball were missing.

“I give him one task,” Lewis muttered as he went down to the library. Where else would she be?

“Ahem,” Lewis said as he approached the later, his arms crossed. It was almost comical how the emotionless, deadpan assassin was acting in order to get Simone’s attention. It even got a look from the librarian, who had known Lewis to be…abrasive.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 7:36 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Love at First Loss

Lewis trusted Simone not to run away now and that meant that Simone was allowed out and about. Though briefly. Under the supervision of Snowball. The little white bird was on her shoulder as she went to the library. “Here you go,” Simone handed off the books to the librarian. “I also have Lewis’s books too that he took out.”

The books from Lewis were research material for how to kill people… and hers were poetry and romance novels. It got a look every time she turned stuff back in. She returned five books in total.

“Now,” Simone pulled out a piece of paper with a topic for Lewis. “He asked us to get some books on various poisons.” Snowball hopped in assertion. This was important as it was for Lewis. He was out on a job today and she wasn’t sure what type of job it was.

Going to the section she needed to be in Simone immediately went up and down the ladders trying to find a couple of good books to bring back for Lewis. Simone looked adorable as she got a frustrated look on her face once in a while as she read up on the ladder. The things he had asked her to find… turned out to be way more difficult than she thought it would be. She was avoiding stepping on her dress so she didn’t fall down.

Every time she had come to this part of the library recently she got plenty of looks. Lewis’s little prisoner and he was letting her out and about finally… With a white tit. “I don’t know Snowball I can’t find it. This particular poison he wants isn’t in a lot of books.”

She put it back and grabbed another one flipping through it. “Oh here it is,” she showed it to Snowball. At this point, she had spent hours looking for it and Snowball was starting to get impatient. If she waited any longer she was going to be outside the tower for longer than Lewis tended to like. At this rate, it was for her own good that she stayed put away. "We should find one more to bring him though. Just in case."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:58 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis leaned over and put his finger under her chin, tenderly pulling her face closer to his. “I won’t replace you…” His eyes locked with hers for a moment, and his breath caught. He wasn’t ready to deal with what was to come, and he knew it. For a moment, his eyes softened, but before Simone could notice he pulled away. When she mentioned JAck’s name, though, both he and Snowball made a sound.

“Aha!” Lewis said with his monotone lifelessness. “It was Jack. That’s who’s handwriting it is.” He looked at Snowball, and then to Simone. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Need to go have a quick talk with Jack…”

—

Jack was sitting at the table with three bottles and a vial. The task he was given was simple. Mix an antidote for the poison that was in the vial. This would be his third attempt to make the correct dose. The first time, he had added too much solvent, and the antidote had become more like a lethal acid.

“Huh, that looks oddly familiar,” Lewis said in Jack’s ear. The novice potion boy jumped, almost knocking the table over in the process. Luckily, the vial didn’t spill. “Seems like a poison I’ve used before. Kills in about three minutes…”

“The hell Lewis!?” Jack exclaimed. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Lewis looked at him with curious eyes. “I never really understood that phrase…”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh. Came to put in an order for a door…”

“Again?” Jack asked. “You know I don’t-”

“You see,” Lewis said as he picked up the vial of poison. “Someone wrote a note to frame me. Simone was very upset. So…I had to break the door down to talk to her. You see…” He started to play around with the vial. “She gets quite emotional. But…once she calms down, it’s really easy to talk to her.”

“O-okay?” Jack said nervously as he kept an eye on the vial. “What does this have to do with me?”

“Oh. Nothing…” Lewis set the vial down and started to walk to the door. Without warning, he spun around and tossed a dagger, which crashed into the vial and spread the poison all across the table and Jack.

“Oops. My bad. Thought I saw a spider…but you can make an antidote. Right? Should be easy enough….” Lewis shrugged, and walked out of the room.

Jack was panicking as he looked at the mixtures. “Shit, shit…shit!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Why are you both ganging up on me,” she made a face. “I am allowed to be emotional.” She threw her hands up. “I never said it had to be logical. I’ve never been in a relationship before.”

Once he brought up the lilacs and the chocolates she took them and smiled, “I love things like this.” She smelled them and looked up at him with a blush. “I’m sorry I overreacted. I’m just scared of not being good enough.” It was easy to point out that flaw in her traits. “So I thought you had replaced me already. Cause… I would have replaced me I mean.” She got sad for a moment and looked away with a guilty face.

“If anyone knows who wrote the note it would be Jack. He delivered it.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:42 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at Simone, and crossed his arms. “Well if you took the time to open your mouth and actually TALK to me, then none of this would have been a problem.” He pointed a finger at her, which Snowball landed on. “You read SO MUCH, that it should have been a clue. Never thought I would be the one saying that. Two, you should have asked me….I could have told you this letter is bullshit. Third…well, you don’t ever need to go to one. So…that’s good. I guess.” At every point, Snowball made a triumphant chirp.

“Last…” He looked down at the lilacs. “The…lady at the shop told me it meant something about ‘first love.’ So…” He thrust them towards her, along with the chocolates. “Just…take it. If you even like this kind of stuff….”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:29 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“It came in the mail for you today with breakfast,” Simone sat up and looked at him with a displeased look. Lewis threw the note at her then took it back. AND THEN he spoke with Snowball. Simone got a displeased look on her face, “It suddenly makes a lot of sense how Snowball tells on me and how you are so good at knowing when I don’t eat.”

She opened her mouth and closed it before flopping back down on the bed, “First off, I didn’t even realize it was misspelled because I read over it. Second, we’ve never discussed your sex life before. Third, I’ve never even been to a brothel so I don’t know anything about them because until you I was a virgin. Fourth, why do you have lilacs?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:23 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis rolled his eyes, “He said you’re an idiot for believing a stupid note.” The assassin sighed, and pulled out the note. “Where did the note even come from? I wasn’t at the brothel. I haven’t been to one in…” He paused. “Actually I can’t remember the last time I went…” He sighed. “First….the brothel I went to was named the “Canary” and was run by a lady named Helga. It was 200 silver a night. Second…” He threw the note at her. “Mistresses at a brothel tend to be well educated and can spell. Whoever wrote this note…” He paused.

“Wait…” He marched up and looked at the note again. “That handwriting…” Lewis sighed. “I recognize it…” He sighed. “I can’t remember though…” There was more angry chirping from Snowball. “No, he’s too stupid to write. Can’t even do basic math. But Chess might have done it.” Another tirade of angry chirps. “No, you’re right. Chess is far too up his own ass to think about anyone else…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 8:11 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“SERIOUSLY?! What is with you and kicking in this door? Why do we even have them put the door back up,” Simone threw her hands up? She rolled on the bed and got the covers over her. Sure the bed wasn’t used anymore but she still made it daily.

“How would you feel if you got a note that said I went to the brothel!” Sure, Lewis hadn’t been home last night but he told her he was on a job. HOW DID SHE KNOW IF HE WAS? “You can’t even stand another guy talking to me!” She was upset. “Now, you are going back to the brothel? What am I not good enough?”

Snowball was on Lewis’s shoulder jumping around and tweeting angrily.

“NO, I DO NOT WANT BREAKFAST SNOWBALL!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 7:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was only out for a half day. The particular role he was playing was more reconnaissance than anything else. He had all the information he needed to make the next move, and so that meant he had the rest of the day free. He wondered what to do for Simone. Since they were…together now.

The first stop on the way back to the keep was a flower shop. Girls liked flowers, right? But what to get her. There were poems about all kinds of flowers, and in the end he more or less just asked the shop keeper what they recommend. Lilacs were apparently the way to go for a ‘first love’ situation.

“Sure, whatever. As long as she likes them,” Lewis said as he tried to hide the fact that he was turning red. Next was a sweets shop. This was a little bit easier to do, as everyone liked chocolate. It was just a universal thing. As he walked out of the shop, though, a small white fluff ball bumped into him.

“What the hell…?” A very flustered snowball landed on his shoulder, and dropped the note into Lewis’ hand. “A note?” He opened it…

“Deer Lewis. You owe me for the last night. Four hundred slivers. Love, Nern.” Lewis blinked. “Who the fuck is Nern?” He held out his hand and Snowball landed in it. “The hell are you bringing me a random note from a woman I don’t even know?”

Snowball started to chirp angrily, and Lewis nodded along. “Right. Right. Okay. That’s normal. And then she read the note and got really quiet?” The assassin sighed. “Let’s go then…” He stepped into the alleyway, and opened a gate into the main common area.

Without hesitation he marched up to Simone’s door, and knocked. “Simone. What’s wrong?”

Fuck off!” she said, her voice muffled through the door. This was far too familiar of a scene, but the assassin pressed on,

Lewis took a deep breath, and sighed. “Open the door.”

“No!” It was like deja-vu.

“Fine.” With a swift kick, the door snapped off of the hinges, and Lewis walked in. “What. The hell. Is wrong.” Once again, the door was busted. Having to explain that was going to be a royal pain.

Author: Simone, Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2021 7:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Set up

Simone was humming as she dusted the lower part of their home. Lewis was away for the morning and he had done the thing again where he kissed her cheek without thinking about it. A blush came across her face as she skittered from one end of the tower room to the other trying to tidy up. They were… exclusive. That was what Dala had told her. That meant he was hers and she was his.

The knock on the door made her jump as she came over, “I have your breakfast, Simone.”

Snowball flew over on her shoulder as she opened the door. “Thank you. OH! You remembered the extra strawberries.”

“Of course, how’s Snowball?” Jack gave her a smile.

“All better!”

“Surprised Lewis let you keep him.”

“Snowball is a traitor. Don’t let his looks deceive you. He is working for Lewis as his evil partner.” Simone pet Snowball’s head as she took the tray of food.

“Oh, this came in for Lewis.” He passed her a note and she took it.

“Thank you!” Closing the door she put the tray of food down and watched Snowball pull his own seeds out of the strawberries. “Aren’t we a little spoiled now.” Snowball chirped up at her and she chuckled.

Opening up the note Simone got really quiet for a moment. There was visible sadness on her face as she dropped the note on the food and went upstairs slamming the door. Snowball hopped around and took the note in his beak. Obviously, Lewis needed this.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:44 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis flushed when she apologized, and he glanced away. “Well…apology accepted. It’s the least I can do for my…” The word felt so strange to him still. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t anything he ever expected to be saying. “Girlfriend.”

Awkwardly, he stepped forward and gave her a quick hug. “Now let’s…get food. You probably haven’t eaten anything today.” He was more than likely right, and started out the room. He looked at the door, and sighed. “And…put in another work order for the door….”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:38 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She sat there like a little doll. Her eyes stared at him practically yelling all the things she wanted to say to him. She looked away from him and blushed. “I’m sorry I misunderstood you.” She looked up at him. “You didn’t think we were… in a relationship?”

She pulled herself off the bed and hugged herself around his waist. “I’m sorry… I get scared when I think about when you’re gonna send me away finally.” She blinked a bit more. She knew that when Lewis wanted to get rid of someone it wouldn’t be… that hard.

She kissed the tip of his nose and blushed. “I overreacted…”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis huffed and turned away. “What do you take me for? Of course I didn’t forget.” To anyone else, it was the perfect lie. To Simone, it was such an obvious lie that she merely gave him a glare.

“Fine,” Lewis said and he rolled his eyes. “I did forget. It felt like a lifetime ago.” Of course, to Lewis, it practically was. Simone didn’t remember the dream dive like he did, and that was a life changing event. It was impossible to explain to her, but he didn’t actually have to.

The assassin sighed. “I’m not going to kill you and dump your body in the swamp. I wouldn’t do that to my…” He paused. “To my girlfriend…” He practically muttered it, but he did at least say it. “I was musing over my next job and how to dispose of the body. It had nothing to do with you.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:17 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone had a blush go across her face once he asked her the question. “Of course! You can’t be my boyfriend without me being your girlfriend. I’ve been saying it for a few weeks now… Cause we are sleeping together… and you let me stay in your bed. You wouldn’t do that for just anyone… We’ve gone on a date now too. Doesn’t that mean…?” Did she misunderstand?

Psychopath? She stopped and stared at him. “Lewis… You kill people for a living. You threatened me for months when you first brought me here… and… you threatened to remove my limbs countless times. So forgive me for misunderstanding… You told me when you brought me here I was only here until you knew what to do with me…”

She sat on the bed with a frown. “Did you forget?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:10 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The fact that she was referencing the swamp meant that she had overheard the conversation he was having with himself over what to do with his next job. It was easy enough to misunderstand, and he could almost get why she was panicking so much. He wishes, at least briefly, that she would have at least had a rational discussion about this.

Lewis opened his mouth with the clear intent of rectifying this misunderstanding.

“Did you just say boyfriend?” The assassin blinked. Had he heard her right? Was that his imagination?

“Y-yeah?” Simone said, giving him a look.

“Since…when have you called me that?” Obviously this was the less important of the two subjects, but for some reason it was at the forefront of his mind. “Are we…?” His face turned red. “…does that make you my…girlfriend?” That was such a weird word to say.

It dawned on him that he had never really said what he intended to say originally. “Why would I throw you in the swamp!? What do you take me for, a psychopath?” The ultimate irony in that statement was not apparent to Lewis.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:02 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone jumped up at his voice and shook her head as she grabbed the blanket and threw herself onto the bed. Rolling up she hid herself under the blankets. “Like you care,” she held resolve as she yelled at him more. She was very obviously upset.

Lewis threw the blanket off and she went to flail to grab it. “No!” She puffed up her face to him and her eyes were obviously red from trying to cry. “You are going to get rid of me! WHY WOULDN’T I BE UPSET! Any girl would be upset when their boyfriend decides to throw them in a swamp.” She yelled up at him.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 4:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It was a rather simple job that Lewis had to do, but there was an unusual request that came with it. Instead of leaving the body for proof, he was to dispose of it in a way that it wouldn’t be found. Having the entire tower to himself, he usually ended up vocalizing his plans. It was a stupid little thing, but it helped him focus on what needed to be done and how to do it.

“I could just dump her in the swamp…” Lewis ran down that train of thought. The target was close by, and the swamp was rumored to be bottomless. There had been several times where people had gone missing, and they blamed the swamp swallowing them whole. It was good enough.

Before he could go over the rest of the plan in his head, he heard the door slam. The assassin stood up, and walked over to Simone’s room.

“Simone?”

“Fuck off!” she said, her voice muffled through the door.

Lewis took a deep breath, and sighed. “Open the door.”

“No!”

“Fine.” With a swift kick, the door snapped off of the hinges, and Lewis walked in. “What. The hell. Is wrong.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:50 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Of course! I gave it to him today! Everyone has to have a name!” She noticed that his face was starting to flush and she smirked a bit. “Sure! I’ll keep a close eye on him.” She leaned down and kissed him. “Thank you!” She got up and stuck her tongue out. “That’s for leaving me on the windowsill and being perverted.”

Lewis got more flustered and looked away from her, “Yeah whatever.”

Miscommunications Round 2

(This is before Simone’s death after dream dive)

Simone was drying her hair with a towel as she came into the tower. She could hear Lewis talking to himself. Maybe he was debating him with himself. She tilted her head and listened in, “I could just dump her in the swamp. It's as good of a place as any. Then it's not my problem…"

Simone jolted back a bit before she started to back up. Her breaths were heaving and she felt herself start to hyperventilate. Before she could break down and cry right in front of his door she opened her bedroom door and slammed it as hard as she could.

Locking the door she went and crawled onto her bed. Bundling her blanket around her it wasn’t long before she started to cry. Though crying for Simone meant all the emotions and no tears.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Snowball, huh?” Lewis said with a raised eyebrow. “You gave it a name already?” He eyed the bird, who seemed quite full of himself despite the whole situation that was happening. The assassin shrugged, and started to wander off, but was attacked by Simone. Even though Lewis could have easily taken control of the situation, he let Simone drag him down and pin him to the ground.

Lewis stared up at Simone as she spoke, and her words barely registered. “Right…” He glanced away, trying not to show that he was flustered being beneath her. “Well…just…make sure he doesn’t do anything funny in the tower, right?” He had already said that, but it was hard to focus.

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:26 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“What other big secret would I have? A mystery boyfriend I hide in your closet?” She quirked an eyebrow. “Nothing that exciting. Just Snowball,” she smiled but Snowball protested. “Forgive me, Snowball thinks he is mighty exciting.” Snowball puffed his chest and she chuckled.

Putting Snowball down she ran and jumped onto Lewis latching onto his back and around his neck, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She was kissing his cheek now as she pulled him down using her weight. “Revenge!” She had him pinned on the floor. “Next time don’t leave me hanging outside the window for so long okay?” She was staring down at him but honestly, it took most of her strength to get them this far.

“Thank you for letting me keep Snowball. It makes me really happy.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:22 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared at the bird, and then at Simone. “This is it? Your big secret?” The assassin rolled his eyes. “And here I thought it was going to be something important.” He sighed, and turned around, waving his hand. “Do whatever. Just make sure it doesn’t make a mess. If it does, just clean up after it.” Despite his tone, he was smirking as he faced away from Simone. He couldn’t let her know that he knew. More importantly, he couldn’t let her know that he honestly didn’t care.

“You’re in charge of ordering him food though. Don’t expect me to be nice about it.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:14 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Obviously I’m going to swan dive into the abyss below,” Simone said with sass as she shook her head. “AND I KNOW YOU ARE SMIRKING AT MY EMBARRASSMENT LEWIS,” she struggled once more. She could tell right from the attitude he was giving her after all they spent enough time together now.

Simone’s face flushed as she looked towards the window. “You can’t be mad.” She went over and leaned once more this time being careful of what she was caught on. She held the little white bird in her hands and presented him to Lewis. “This is Snowball. He hit your window about a week ago. I’ve been feeding him the seeds from our fruit. He really likes strawberries though.”

Snowball puffed his chest up at Lewis before letting out a light song and looking up at Simone. “He won’t hurt you. At least… You won’t right?” She looked up at him. “Can I keep him? Please?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:09 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis stared for a moment, a smirk starting to form. “Only if you tell me what you’re doing out there. Obviously it can’t be to escape. The window isn’t the best way to leave the tower. We do have doors.” The assassin was amused, even if the tone of his voice didn’t convey it well. After a moment more of her flailing about, Lewis grabbed the back of her top and pulled her back into the common room.

“Now…what exactly is so important that you had to almost fall out of my tower…” The assassin glanced over towards the window. “A secret of some sorts? A stash of goods? A pet, perhaps?” It was fun playing this game when he already knew the answer. Though, fun may not have quite been the right word.

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone wiggled and blushed a bit, “Not funny! Help me!” She wanted to flail a bit but she didn’t want to knock herself over the windowsill. That would be one grim fall if she did. “Come on Lewis… And take advantage how might I ask?” She couldn’t think of anything at first until she blushed and flailed her legs, “Pervert! Get me off this ledge!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:56 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

It wasn’t hard to know that Simone would immediately go for the bird. She was predictable in that sense, and all it took was waiting for just the right moment. The assassin descended the stairs, and stood behind Simone for a moment, his arms crossed. “Well, well…what do we have here?”

The assassin, of course, already knew that this bird was here. The trick was to see how the poor girl would respond to his sudden ‘intrusion’ on the whole event. Right now, though, there was no way of knowing that the bird was out there. All he had was a rather compromising position for Simone.

“Are you stuck?” Lewis asked. “It would be so easy to take advantage of this situation, but I’m more curious than I am anything else.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:30 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The look on Simone’s face was one of hurt for a moment. Though she looked like she didn’t believe after too long. Her eyes were studying him constantly. “Okay…”

She kissed his cheek and ran up the stairs. She stopped part way and turned to him, “I touched you.” She stuck out her tongue and went into her room after that. Coming back down she had a towel and a change of clothes. “Are you ready?”

She looked at him. Once she spotted that he wasn’t down in the common room she opened the window and got the strawberry seeds. She hung out the window and put the seeds down in the makeshift nest that she made.

“They are from Lewis. He said the kitchen had too many today.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:21 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“I am not attached!” Lewis said with a slight rise in his voice. “I just don’t want to clean up a dead body!” But it was hard to sell that lie. The fact that he was getting even the tiniest bit emotional over the whole situation was the ultimate tell itself. But, maybe she wouldn’t pick up on that.

Maybe.

“Fine.” That was all it took. Maybe agreeing to her stupid request qould get her to stop nagging him over the attachment issue. “I’ll take a damn bath with you. Just…don’t touch my belongings. Blood stains are a pain to get out of wood once it’s soaked in.” The assassin crossed his arms. “Well? Go get a towel and a change of clothes. I’ll be down once I get out of my gear.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:03 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Throw me out the tower window?” She tilted her head at him. “Lewis Dusk are you attached?” Her hands tightened on her hips and she gave him a look. “Your cleanliness does matter! To me, it matters!”

She felt like they were at a stand-off. “Your health matters to me too. And I didn’t get hurt I was really careful. I’ve been watching you put away stuff… and I know which bottles not to open. Which blades not to touch. See I separated the ones you had poison on. I pay attention to you Lewis.” Her big stormy eyes were looking up at him.

“So… Just take a bath with me?” She took baths on the regular when Lewis was in the tower. “It’s where I go when I disappear for a bit.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:56 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“This room is filled with sharp weapons and poisons. You could have hurt yourself, or worse.” Lewis turned to her, putting his hands on his hips to counter her absurd stance. He barely realized he was even doing it. All of the feelings he had felt earlier in the day were surfacing. “What if I came home to you dying of a mixture of toxins. What would I do then?”

The fact, though, was that Simone was already trying to change the subject to his own cleanliness. “That’s not important.” He couldn’t remember the last time he had a hot bath. There were a few instances where he had soaked himself in a lake for a job or two, and that one time last week underneath a waterfall…

“Stop trying to change the subject. My hair doesn’t matter. Your health does.” If someone had walked in on them, they would have assumed it was a bickering couple with the way that they were standing off to one another.

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:49 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Deal,” she smiled a bit and went with him.

Once he couldn’t make his mind up about poetry she smiled and watched him move. Though her smile slowly disappeared when he went to the storage room. She hopped up off the sofa and went over to him. “I tidied up so you didn’t put yourself. I rolled my sleeves up like this,” she rolled her sleeves up as she spoke and put them on her hips. It was cute how intimidating she was trying to be. “And then I cleaned the room. I’ll clean you too if you don’t stop.” There was a smirk on her face.

“How long has it been since you washed behind your ears?” She took his ears as she tried to get him not to yell at her about the room. “Or really scrubbed your hair?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The assassin should have definitely seen that line coming from Simone. Lewis looked to the side, avoiding her gaze. “I guess I can try to eat more. Only if you eat breakfast.” He wasn’t used to negotiating with terrorists on this kind of level. Still, it was hard to completely avoid her eyes, and he looked back to her, holding his deadpan expression.

“I can do quite a bit when I set my mind to it,” he responded hastily. What he wasn’t expecting, though, was Simone calling him out on the poetry. He tried to look away again, his face flushing a little as she asked what he would like to hear. Lewis wasn’t well versed in anything involving fiction and creative writing.

“I don’t know anything about poetry. Just read whatever you want to. I won’t mind.” Admitting that she was right was not an option. He stood up and walked over to the room that she had tidied, and opened the door. “What…did you do to all of my stuff…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:27 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“So….” She smirked up at him. “Does that mean you’ll start eating more too?” She was quick to deflect as she held up one of the strawberries to his lips. “Come on then Mr. Health Advisor.” Simone was teasing him and it was easy to see as she met his eyes easily.

“Oh, I didn’t know The Great Lewis could do other things than kill people.” She teased him softly before leaning into him and eating her lunch. She sat quietly for a little bit and looked up at him. “Is that your way of asking me to do it?”

She was shocked and her voice held it a little. She blushed and pushed her hair back, “What kind of poetry would you like to hear?” She wanted to know what he liked too.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 3:16 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Now that Lewis knew what she had been doing, he could easily pick up on the tells that she was hiding the truth. At least, what he thought were t ells. Humans all had similar traits…and usually when it came to lying, they did specific things on instinct. Simone’s was trying to move the conversation along in a specific manner. And her eyes. She avoided locking eyes with him, though that may have just been a normal thing she did.

“The kitchen had far too many and they;ll go bad if we don’t eat them,” Lewis replied as the strawberries made their way into Simone’s hands. “That’s no excuse, Simone. You should eat. Avoiding meals has been proven to be bad for your health. Or…something.” He wasn’t actually sure. Not that he was one to talk.

“It wasn’t a difficult job,” he said finally as he sat down next to Simone. She hadn’t hidden the scarf very well, but he pretended not to notice. “Mostly spying. Information gathering.” That was the truth. They sat in silence for a few moments before Lewis closed his eyes.

“I’ve heard from the help that you…read poetry out loud.” It was weird lying like this. “I don’t hear it much when I’m around… if it’s something that you like to do, I don’t….I don’t mind if you read it aloud while I’m here.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 2:57 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone jumped up off the couch and smiled at him, “Welcome back!” She looked at the couch when he talked about the excitement for the day. “No, I sat around and I read all day… Oh! I practiced my balancing!” She was a terrible liar. But she was quick to come over and take the plate, “You got a lot of strawberries today… Is it because they are in season?” Her eyes flicked up at him a little as she fell on the couch.

She patted the spot by her as she started to take the seeds out. “I forgot to eat breakfast. Jack upset me so I forgot.” It was easiest to lie about that. “Told him I would take lunch instead.”

Simone looked him over, “You aren’t hurt today… Was it an easy job?” She hid the scarf from him and put it on the side table. “Come on we should eat lunch.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:52 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis watched her tend to the bird, which she named Snowball. It was an odd name, but her talks with the bird were…interesting. She liked snow. She missed her home. These were all details that he hadn’t known about her. It was definitely a surprise. The assassin figured now was a good enough time to leave, and as she started to work on the scarf, Lewis slipped out of the room, and headed down towards the kitchen.

As usual, he ordered food to be brought up later, but this time he made a new request. “Extra fruit this time. Strawberries, if you would.” The extra would go to Snowball. He made his way back towards the tower, and ascended it normally, coming into the common room through the door.

“I’m back,” Lewis stated as he walked in. “Anything exciting happen while I was out?” He knew everything that had happened. Would he be able to feign surprise? Even he struggled to fake an emotion. “It was a short day…have you eaten anything?”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:37 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Let’s change your bandage okay?” Simone put the bird in her lap. “Lewis had these laying around and he hasn’t noticed. I’ll just ask for more when he goes to town for us.” She gently scratched the bird’s little chin. The dirty small bandage came off and she bound the wounded wing again. The bird was an odd breed for the area. Someone must have abandoned it. It was a little white snowbird. “I think. I’m going to call you Snowball!”

The bird let out a sound and she giggled. “You like it? You remind me of fresh snow! When it would snow in Auclair I used to get in snowball fights with the other kids. We would sneak out of the castle and dive into the snow. I like the snow. It’s a good excuse for hot chocolate.” She grinned and picked up the bird. “And I think you would be much more comfortable in a place like Auclair. So when you get better… You should fly that way okay? Check on my father and make sure he’s okay?” But he wasn’t. She didn’t know that. “I don’t know how long I’ve been gone… He might be missing me a lot. I miss him.” She was sad a bit but she brought the bird up to her lips and kissed the top of its head.

“Okay, back into your nest you go.” She leaned outside the window again and put him back in. “Stay put Snowball. I saw you on the windowsill yesterday!” She pointed her finger at the bird and the bird shamed itself into the nest. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She put more seed in the nest with him. “Now be good.” She climbed down off the window and closed it.

“There. Snowball taken care of.” She danced back to the couch and flopped back down. “Now…” She started to knit. “I wonder if Lewis would like… a scarf?” She furrowed her eyebrows a bit as she got out some colors. “I wonder what colors he would like…” She picked out a dark blue and thought about it, “He favors this one.” So she started on a scarf for Lewis.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The pleasant feeling Lewis had evaporated once Jack showed up. Still, Simone seemed wholly uninterested in him. At least, that’s what Lewis thought. She used his name to deflect, but…was that something that she was doing because she wanted to, or because she truly feared him? What if she liked Jack? Would she leave if given the chance?

For the most part, Lewis had to push these feelings back down, and sighed inwardly as the door shut back into place. Simone was right on one point; he was frustrated that she was skipping breakfast. A mental note for later, to make sure that she started eating it again. He hated how she rarely ate.

When she went for the window, Lewis nearly panicked, thinking she was jumping out like a mad woman. To his surprise, though, she came back with a hurt bird.

Lewis smirked. She was clever. He had noticed she was doing something, but it didn’t set off any feelings of danger, so he let it slide. So this is what you do. If it had been Lewis, he would have let the bird die. But Simone had a kind heart. When she mentioned that the bird was stubborn like he was, Lewis rolled his eyes. Of course she would think that.

The last statement she made, though, was one that shocked Lewis. She wanted to make sure he could take care of himself. What a fool of a girl…I can already… But he realized how much she forced him to tend to his needs. Food. Rest. Sleep.

I should…see if Dala can stop by more. She seems lonely… A deflection from his own feelings.

What time was it? Would he realistically be back so soon? Lewis thought for a moment. He would at least wait for her to return the bird. Simone panicking and throwing the poor creature out the window was something he wanted to avoid.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:03 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The knock at the door made her kick herself off the sofa and go over to the door. “Good morning Simone.”

“Good morning Jack! Do you have any messages?”

“Just one,” she opened the door carefully as Jack answered. The door was only a little bit open. Just enough for her to slip her hand and take the note. “You know you can open the door and talk to me.”

“Lewis wouldn’t like that.”

“Is Lewis always this much of an asshole?” Jack narrowed his eyes down on her.

Simone held a sheepish smile, “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s being an asshole. This is just his own way of showing he cares.”

“…Simone… Does he hit you on the head?”

“No?” She tilted her head. “You just don’t get Lewis.”

“You always say that but I stand by what I said… I don’t want to get Lewis,” he looked away from her. “Anyways… Did you want breakfast brought up.”

“Can I skip breakfast?”

“Lewis is going to kill me… Fine. But lunch?”

“I’ll eat a little.” Simone smiled a bit.

“Alright,” Jack waved off and Simone shut the door putting the note on the table.

“What should I do now… How long until Lewis is back?” She squinted a bit and groaned before bounding over to the window of the common room. “Okay,” she opened it and hung herself out of it. She pulled in a little bird with a bandaged wing. “Hey,” She rubbed her finger against the bird’s feathers. “How are you doing today?”

The little bird made noises up at her. “I know.” She brought it over to the sofa and pulled out some seeds. “I took these out of the strawberries I had yesterday. I stole Lewis’s too. He didn’t notice.” She giggled and watched the bird eat. “Just a few more days I promise.” The bird protested with its tweets. “You can’t. If you try you will hurt yourself again. You remind me of a certain assassin who is too prideful for his own good sometimes…” She smirked and she said it as it was endearing to her. “Eat up. I’m going to make you gain weight like Lewis!”

She looked at the bird, “Don’t look at me like that! He won’t notice.” She was nervous a bit. “I want to teach him to take care of himself so I don’t have to worry when he sends me away. Is that okay?” It was clear she was a bit lonely when no one was around.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis watched with a weird sense of…excitement? That was really hard to understand. The desire to see something, or anything really, happen with Simone. Excitement. He smirked. Today would be a very productive day.

Or not. It started off rather mundane. Lewis knew that Simone took to cleaning and tidying up throughout the day, but he never realized how…dull it was. Sure, she was balancing some books on her head, but it wasn’t really all that exciting. Though, her rather ditzy moments were almost cute. Almost.

If only he could keep that lie up…

When she moved on to one of his side rooms, Lewis almost broke out of the shadows. What was she thinking!? The weapons and poisons in that room were deadly and she could very easily hurt herself, or worse! The assassin struggled to keep himself in the shadows, and watched with a strange feeling in his stomach…a pit? Was this a worry?

It was when she finally took a break and started to read poetry in the main room, though, when Lewis got a piece of information that he had been looking for. The poem…the words didn’t make sense, though it was easy enough to memorize. Her voice, though, seemed to bring the words to life. Lewis almost forgot that he was hiding, and when she stopped he wanted to question why.

Her words answered it. Simone was questioning whether or not he’d enjoy hearing her read aloud. Lewis wanted to say yes, but he wasn’t here, and her own answer to her question gave Lewis some thought. Was he really like that? Perhaps he would have to come up with an excuse to have her read.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:34 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone offered a wave from her windowsill, “Have a good day and be careful!” She offered him her common farewell for the day. He would be back he always came back. Once he was gone she hopped off of the window sill and came down into the common room.

She tossed a basket with her handicrafts in it. “Now… Dala wanted to learn… Balance.” She nodded and got some books as she balanced them on her head. She began to dance around the room as if practicing there were a few times she tripped or they fell over. She got back up and she tried again. “Been a while since I did this… At least… I think so?” She questioned herself as she attempted it for a few more minutes.

Getting bored she swung open one of the lower room’s doors. “He’s so messy…” She rolled up her sleeves. “He’s going to get hurt one of these times,” she scoffed as she went in and began to straighten out the left half of the room.

She spent only twenty or so minutes doing so before she came back out and flopped on the couch. She took out a red book of poetry and opened it. Reciting the poems word by word aloud she practiced her reading. Then she paused, “…Would Lewis like it if I read aloud?” She frowned a bit and pulled the book closer to her face. “Would probably sew my lips shut.” There was a chuckle before she continued to read.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:26 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis smirked as Jack ran off. “This….might be a problem.” Despite his statement, he was happy. This was probably the happiest he had ever felt in his life. And now that he knew what the emotion meant…

“I think we should talk to Raile…”

Curiosity

[Before Simone’s death, after Dream Dive]

After the papaya incident, Lewis was careful about communicating with Simone. But it was getting harder to know what she did and didn’t like. Furthermore, there were a lot of questions Lewis had about how she spent her day, and he had a gut feeling that she would hate him asking. Whether or not this was true or not was beside the point.

“I’m off for the day,” Lewis said with his usual monotone voice. His face betrayed no emotion, but he was lying through his teeth about having work today. Well, not exactly. He did have a job planned, but it wasn’t anything from Lord Raith or from the temple. No, this was a job to spy on Simone for the day, and figure out what she did all day, and what her likes and dislikes were. There was no reason for her to hide anything while he was gone. It was the perfect plan.

Sort of.

With a wave, Lewis bolted out the window, and disappeared in a portal. With ease, he circled around to the common room and hid himself in the shadows of the room.

And now…we wait.

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:08 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone cuddled her head into his shoulder and smiled a bit, “Oh, he isn’t lying though. See I’m not human anymore.”

Jack’s eyes got large and looked at Lewis, “You made a deal with the damn devil.”

“I’ve heard her called that,” Simone shrugged and from Lewis’s memories she knew that Jack had seen Angela when she was sick. “However, my darling Jack. The Simone you knew is all washed away~ I’m the real Simone that was hidden.” Her pretty little eyelashes batted at him.

“Did death make you crazy?”

“Did you ever wonder why he wouldn’t let me leave? Why he brought me here in the first place? Why would someone like Lewis waste his time on a little girl?” She stared at Jack and gave a playful smile. “Because I was cursed to live and die. A cycle of endless pain. He was contracted to kill me and he did… Only to find the younger me before him.”

Jack was catching on as his eyes got bigger, “How old are you?”

“Over fifteen hundred. Though this body was created in Lewis’s image of me,” she looked down at it. “I do wonder why you picked this form.” It was the form from the tower. When he first met her real form.

Jack backed up, “You both are cursed.” He ran away. Most likely he was speaking of what Lord Raith might do. They were blessed by the Goddess Angela. They knew it was a problem.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

The fact that Lewis was now with Simone made all the difference in how he saw the room before him. What he thought was an escape from his reality was really a nightmare that had dragged on for far too long. It had been that drunken visit to Lady Angela that had awoken him from the nightmare. Well, more the strike from Lady Angela for disturbing her rest. It was that moment that things started to change for the better.

“I can’t make any promises,” he replied as he glanced over to her. “If anything happens to you…well, I’m not sure I would contain myself.” That was the truth. Now, more than ever, he felt a powerful bond with Simone. He would move the heavens and the earth itself for the woman beside him. That feeling washed through the resonance, and Simone felt it too. The intensity of it all was almost overwhelming.

Lewis was brought back to reality, though, when he heard Jack’s voice. The young man had grown some stubble since their last encounter, and looked quite tired. Perhaps he was busy learning his potions. Or, maybe, worried for Simone. Despite his willingness to back off, he still held a strange fascination for the girl.

“Oh, I killed her,” Lewis said with a smirk. “And then I brought her back.” Lewis was grinning like a mad man. “Want to see me kill her again?” Simone had said ‘if he wanted.’ What he wanted to do was enjoy his time alone with Simone, but that didn’t seem possible.

Jack stared at the couple. “Whatever, freak,” he snapped at Lewis. “Simone. Obviously he’s lost it. But…” Simone looked different than he remembered. But it was still Simone, right? “He’s a drunk asshole who’s come unhinged. I don’t know what kind of freedom he gave you, but it can’t be worth it.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 7:43 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone wrapped her arms around his waist and smiled at him, “You don’t have to lie to me. It looks horrible.” She shook her head at him as she looked at all the ale bottles. “You love me so much…” She put her chin on his shoulder. “You missed me a lot?” She smirked a bit. “Or did you miss how much I warmed your bed?” She was teasing him. “Or… did you miss how you would steal stuff out of my hands and I would try and get it back?”

Was it everything?

She nuzzled her head against his neck.

“Please don’t drink like that ever again… Not in sadness anyways.” She frowned and kissed his neck now. “I couldn’t watch you do that to yourself in sorrow.” Her stormy eyes were full of love and devotion.

“I am glad… that you missed me though.”

The door was still wide open. There was something special about crossing the threshold of their home as a married couple. It been but a simple request from Simone and an innocent one at that.

"Simone?" Jack stood there staring at her. She barely looked like herself. The way she held herself… The way she looked was even older. "I thought… I thought Lewis sent you away."

She turned her head and looked towards the boy who doted on her. "He only gave me what I thought wanted. Freedom of the permanent kind." It was the way she said it that made Jack's eyes widen as he caught the hint.

"But… You look… different."

You can explain if you want. It's not much of a secret… Not really. My real body is dust.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Sat May 22, 2021 10:01 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis barely heard Simone when she tried to wake him at first. After nearly two months of self destructive behavior while waiting for her, this week long vacation was just what he needed to get back into form. When Simone spoke inside his mind though…Lewis' eyes shot open when he heard her voice in his head. It was still something that was new to him, and it was impossible to ignore. It was definitely going to be a change. After all, they could hear each other's deepest and darkest thoughts no matter how hard they tried to hide them."I don't want to go," Lewis complained. Simone's death had changed the way he had viewed the world, and how he viewed her. To everyone else, he seemed normal, but to Simone, he was more vulnerable and open. It was a frightening change for Lewis, but he was sure that Simone was welcome to it."Fine," he said finally as he sat up in the bed. "Need to give that girl her room back anyway.". The assassin smirked. Their first encounter was quite the unique one, and poor Ayaa had caught them in a rather ravage scene.  He stood up out of bed and stretched. There were light marks that were still healing across his body, leftover from the night before. "Let's get going then…" Lewis was not looking forward to this.Almost an hour later, a gate opened into the center room of the tower. At once, it was apparent the state of the tower. The fireplace that was normally lit was cold, and it looked as though it hadn't been used the entire time Simone had been gone. Bottles littered the floor, and if anyone bothered looking, would find them strewn about all of the rooms.Lewis glanced down at one of the bottles, and kicked it under a couch. "… it's uh….not as bad as it looks."

Author: Simone, Posted: Sat May 22, 2021 9:14 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Her Return

Simone stretched her arms as she laid with Lewis in the comfortable bed that they had stolen from Ayaa. This was one of the last few days of their honeymoon and today they would be returning to the tower for the first time… As husband and wife. “Mr. Terrowin,” her eyes sparkled a bit as she nuzzled his neck and pulled her head away from him. Lewis had been dead asleep. Lewis had been holding tightly onto her since she was reborn. “Mr. Love of my Life,” Simone cooed as she kissed his jawline. “It’s time to get up and you are holding me tightly.”

She could hear him grumping at her as his grip tightened on her naked form. She chuckled a bit. She could feel his love and his fear that if he opened his eyes she wouldn’t be there.

Lewis, I’m right here. She rubbed his hip softly. It’s time to go home today.

Yesterday had been the last full day in Jayou and today they would be returning to the tower. Together as one. It had been two months since she was last seen and she wondered just how people would respond. She knew Lewis hadn't told anyone his plans. She knew he had suffered in silence. She kissed his cheek once more and gave him a love filled smile.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Wed May 19, 2021 6:40 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis looked at Simone with a dead stare as she clapped the side of his face with her hands. “Me? Jealous? Why the hell would I be jealous?” Was that the emotion he was feeling? What a pain these emotions were. Ever since that damned dream of hers, he was feeling more and more of them. He took a step back from Simone and scoffed. “Of course I’m not feeling jealous.” The tone of his voice, though, said otherwise.

“I have work to prep for…” he said suddenly as he started towards the door. “…I’ll be busy for the rest of the night.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 9:02 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She tilted her head, “He brings what the kitchen is cooking on the daily. Now that someone is here all the time it's worth the trip. He also tells me if the library has any new books in.” She was trying to think about what angle Lewis was coming at but for the life of her she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“I always talk to him through the door if it makes you feel better. Open it only long enough to get a message if he has it.” What was this feeling he was giving off? She couldn’t place it. “He once asked me if you were as big of an asshole as you can come off as.” She said it with a smirk.

Then it hit her. The look on his face… More so it was his eyes. She calmly walked up and clapped the sides of his cheeks with her hands holding his face. “Lewis?” She waited for him to look at her. “Are you jealous?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:57 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis started to say something, and then stopped. He opened his mouth again, but couldn’t seem to find the words. She was right about a few things, but that wasn’t the problem. At least, not the one that Lewis was focused on. It was…a different one. He opened his mouth again, and finally managed to say something.

“What…do you talk about with the boy?” Out of everything that she had said, that was the thing he managed to get out. The boy was about a year younger than Lewis, and no more than a messenger for the whole temple. His name was Jack, and from what Lewis could remember, he was an apprentice potions maker. In his spare time, he earned a little extra silver playing messenger.

“I barely get any actual messages…why does he come here so often?” That annoying feeling was there. It was one he couldn’t quite recognize. But it was there. And it was annoying. And for some reason, that put Lewis on edge. What a stupid emotion…

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:51 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone looked at him with an amused look on her face. “How do you know what I do when you aren’t here?”

It was obvious she never left the tower. “On the contrary, I like handicrafts a lot. I tend to do that when you aren’t home. It takes more focus. When you are here I–” She caught herself and she huffed a bit as she choked down a few words. “Anyways, I read when I know you are coming home just in case you want anything from me. I knit when you aren’t here.”

She tilted her head. “And when the messenger boy comes to deliver messages to you I chat with him too. I don’t leave the tower because you don’t like it when I wander… Remember?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:47 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis rolled his eyes. “Right. A schedule. From breakfast to lunch, read. Take a five minute break to tidy the room, then read.” He twirled his finger in the air. “After that, you set down your book for tea time and a side book of poems. And then back to the main….romance novel. Such a busy schedule…” For the most part, Lewis was gone throughout the day, but it did seem like every time he came for Simone, she was reading. He didn’t really care, but he wondered if all that reading was good for her.

“You should get out more. Walk around. Learn a skill. All that reading won’t do you good in the real world.” Reading was a luxury for him while growing up. Time spent reading was time that could have been stealing. As such, he barely did it. At most, it was to learn about weapons, poisons, or anything else that might aid his assassination techniques. Anything for pleasure was strictly a waste of time.

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:41 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“Hey! Lewis!” Simone hopped from the sill as she had done with him many times at this point when he wanted her attention. He kept her at bay as she tried to get it before he could read it. Her face flushed more as he read it and returned the flush. “It’s a romance novel.”

It was a bit raunchy and she was getting to the good part… Lewis must have read it. “I heard all the girls like it so I got it.” Then she heard the dinner was canceled and she got a tad sad. “Oh.” She didn’t want to blackout again and be an embarrassment but no one ever seemed mad at her.

“I guess I can put my dress back.” She put a bookmark in the book and set it down so she could hang the dress back up. Neat and orderly was how she liked it. She paused when she heard his words. “I don’t just read Lewis. You catch me reading all the time because I like doing things on a schedule.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:32 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

A Bit Absent Minded

Lewis knocked on the door and waited for a moment. No response. He knocked again. Nothing. “Fine…I’m coming in.” He opened the door, and looked around. Her room, as usual, was in pristine condition. Not a thing was out of place, and it was almost uncanny how she was able to keep it so spotless.

“Simone?” He looked across to see her in the windowsill, curled up with a book in hand. Her eyes were darting across the page, and there was a smile as she flipped to the next page. Whatever it was, she was entranced. “Simone.” She giggled at something on the page. “Simone.” Another page down, and she turned to the next.

“SIMONE.” He walked up, and grabbed the book out of her hands, and looked it over. “What the hell are you even so engrossed in?” He read the first few lines, and glanced over to Simone, who was blushing. “What the hell even is this?” What he had read, though, was something that put a flush on his own face as he handed the book back to her. “W-whatever. Just…answer when I call you. Dinner with Lord Raith has been cancelled. He’s busy. Again.”

The assassin turned around and made his way for the door, and paused, looking back at Simone. “Is that all you do? Read junk like that?”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:25 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

She looked confused for a moment when he said he wanted her happy. It was weird that since the trip to Angela’s her happiness mattered to him. This was a new bridge for them and she didn’t quite know how to handle it. She let it go for now. “I’m happy…”

She held out her hands as he started to devalue himself. “No! I don’t think you fucked up at all! I just was confused. It was insensitive of me to think you were playing a joke on me. It’s just… I’m not used to you…” She let the comment go off and didn’t finish the thought. They both knew where it was going. They couldn’t talk about it yet.

She chuckled a bit and ushered him into the seat on the other side of her. “You have to be hungry too. You look like you haven’t eaten in a week.” She paused a bit before she sat down. Her stormy eyes laid on his before she blushed and looked away. “It… It was really sweet and I like it. Even if it isn’t my favorite fruit… I still like and enjoy it.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 8:12 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis glanced to the side when she mentioned that she whispered it. “I heard you. I hear most of what you say, and of course I’d remember it. Why wouldn’t I? I…” He paused. He wasn’t ready to admit it. “Need to make sure that you’re still happy here.” That wasn’t the real reason, but it would suffice for now. But that was what this was? A misunderstanding? Somehow that made him feel better.

“Look, it’s not like I go to Rhenakos for actual advice but…” The assassin huffed. “It’s just…I don’t know anything about this. I don’t know how to make people happy. I just…kill. I can do that in my sleep.” He sighed. “So I fucked that up, I guess.” Though, her favorite fruit was something he had never heard about. He tucked that into the back of his mind for research later.

Lewis was about to make his exit after the rather mortifying mistake he had made, when Simone called him over, stating the food was actually pretty good. He walked over, and tried a small piece of the chicken. It was an…odd combination for sure, but it wasn’t bad. Very unique in flavor.

“It isn’t that bad…” So, it wasn’t a complete and total wash.

“I’m sorry…I should have known better than to take any advice from Rhenakos…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:59 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stared at him blankly. “I said I was craving papaya yes. I was reading a poem about it.” She blinked at him. “Made me reali–” She waited for a moment before shock hit her face. “HOW DID YOU REMEMBER THAT?! I swear I whispered it. I didn’t think you heard me!”

She gave him a blank stare, “You listened to Rhenakos of all people? Os is pregnant… She cries over Rhen’s voice changing a smidgen too much.”

She tilted her head at him, “But now I understand you thought it was my favorite fruit didn’t you?” She started to laugh and held her mouth for a moment as she tried to stifle it. “I haven’t had papaya for a very long time. It made me hungry for it when I read about it. I like papaya but my favorite is called a pawpaw.”

She felt bad as she looked over at the food, “You really did this for me?” She went over and scooped up some of it eating it. Her stomach had rumbled loudly as she chewed on it. “I’m starving…” Her eyes got big and she smiled, “This is really good! Lewis have some!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:53 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“…” Lewis just gave her a blank stare. What mind game was this? If this was what women were like, Lews was sure that he wanted nothing to do with this. He would rather face Lord Raith after a complete failure than deal with this absurdity. “Yes. It’s a fucking gift. Why the hell would I give you anything else? You SAID you liked them.” At least, that was what he thought she said. Again. Women.

“Last week…you said you had a craving for a papaya. According to Rhen…when a lady asks for something, she means business. I saw the way Osiria got mad over pears. That idiot was crying about it for days…” He crossed his arms. “I’m trying to be nice. For fucks sake…if this is what it takes, it’s almost not worth it.” It was a strange cross of him being mad and hurt. Of course, Lewis barely understood what he was feeling. The anger was easy, but the hurt? That was new.

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:46 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Simone stared up at him from the floor with disbelief. “First you FORBID from coming into my bedroom and now you are acting all MYSTERIOUS!” She threw her hands out as she got herself up off the floor.

She quietly picked up the stack of puts and put them on her nightstand. Looking back at the papayas. “Is this a joke?” She tilted her head. The gears were turning in her brain as she furrowed her brow at him.

Then as if it suddenly hit her she covered her mouth for a moment. “Lewis, what made you think I wanted papayas? Is this a gift?” She didn’t know how to handle this. Lewis had to be playing a joke on her. “Is this your goodbye present to kick me out?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:42 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

Lewis was a little irritated that she was so late, but it was to be expected. After all, it was one of the few times that he had let her off on her own in the library without supervision. Despite this, though, the recent uptick in work caught up with him, and he started to doze. It was the sound of books crashing to the floor that woke him up, and suddenly he was alert, dagger in hand.

When he realized what had happened, he sheathed the weapon, and gave Simone a look when she asked what was with all of the papayas.

“What do you mean ‘what’s with the papaya’s’….” Lewis stared at her in disbelief. He had gone to so much effort for this, and for what. For her to merely question it? Or was this one of those wily mind games again? The assassin frowned, and doubled down. “You know exactly what they’re for…there’s no use playing dumb. I went to a lot of trouble for this. Don’t act like you don’t know…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:37 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

“But…” Simone tilted her head. “He’s what now?”

“Forbidden you from coming into the room. Please go to the library and come back in a few hours.”

Simone frowned a bit. What the hell could he be doing? Or… with who? She shook her head. Lewis was barely able to form a bond with her, it made no sense there was someone closer to him. Even if she thought he hated her. There was an undeniable bond since their trip to Angela’s.

“Alright…” She made her way to the library where she got lost. She came back a half-hour past when she was told to arrive but she didn’t think he would mind. He never cared about what she was doing before. She had a pile of books in her hand that she was borrowing now.

Once she got to her room she almost dropped the books. A crashing sound came as she tried to saved the pile she had from hitting the floor. After all, they weren’t her books. It caused her to stumble and she fell over a chair that had been set up.

She laid on her back on the floor covered in books. “What’s with the papayas?” It was an exhausted tone she took from her fall. “And the candles?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 7:28 PM, Post Subject: Shenanigans: The Younger Years [P/R]

[A Compilation Thread of the Terrowin Misadventures pre-Koskaan]

Miscommunications

It had been no easy feat, but he managed it. It was a weird thing to request, but Simone had said it was her favorite. At least, that was what Lewis figured. He had been told that women were crafty in the way they worded things, and that reading in-between the lines was something of a skill. So, her offhand comment about wanting a papaya…

It’s got to be her favorite food. Lewis had the servants decorate her room in the tower with a lavish, near tacky looking papaya display. There were scented candles that had been lit, and the smell of the fruit was already wafting into the air. There were a variety of dishes spread about the table, from toast with papaya flavored preserves to a whole chicken that had been baked, flavored in the papaya juices. And, of course, there was the raw fruit, cut into nice little squares for easy chewing.

“There has to be something I’m missing,” Lewis muttered to himself. This was the first time he had tried to do something for someone else…at least, in this regard. The servants were rather taken aback at the sudden desire, but given Lewis’ usual temperament, they were all but willing (see: forced) to help with his absurd request.

And that included getting Simone out of the room. She had been…redirected to the library for a time. “She’s obsessed with those stupid books…”

But, it was almost time for her to be coming back. There was an odd feeling in his chest. A fluttering. He had felt it a few times before, but this time, it was stronger. Nerves? Anxiety? Was that what it was? That feeling of…

“What if she hates it…”