Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » An unexpected future (1x1)

Kate frowned and shook her head, "Look, if one of your people is missing, The Society will look into it. But we can't do anything if we have to constantly look out for another one of your kind luring women out to sea. Besides, we all know that if you little friend stays out too long, he could de."

"He is quite aware that to stay away from the sea after midnight means death. He is young and foolish, but not quite that foolish." The former seal said with a shake of his head, "I shall speak with him... I shall attempt to put an end to his... play, but you must give me your word that you will seek out the lost female."

Kate nodded, "We'll keep an eye out."

"Then, with ou business concluded... perhaps you lovely ladies will stay a while and-" He began.

Kate held up a hand, "No thanks, neither of us want to end up being your seal-brides. And if we go missing, you'll have the rest of Cell Theta to deal with... and I'm sure you don't want to have another misunderstanding with Commander O'Hara... or Knight Paladin Jerian."

The creature winced, "Your point is made as... forcefully as ever, Knight Guardian. Very well, then if you will excuse me, there is much for me to do before midnight." He turned around and walked away, back towards the sea where more of the 'seals' were throwing off their seal-coats to reveal very attractive creatures that looked human, of both sexes.

Kate released a breath and smiled, "Well... that went well." She visibly relaxed and gave Kayleigh smile, "As I'm sure you guessed, those," She pointed at the group of humanoids, "Are Selkies, shape-changing Faeries. The Selkies are aligned with the Seelie Court... mostly. So they're mostly benevolent. The males have a tendency to seduce women; teenagers, bored wives, that sort of thing, and take them back to the sea with them... the females, though, are sometimes captured by human men and forced to become their wives, though only if the human manages to separate her from her seal-coat and hide it from her so she can't resume her seal form and return to sea. Like most of the Faerie folk you have to keep your wits about you, unless you want to be seduced, tricked or trapped."

Kayleigh nodded. "I've read something about them in one of the books of the library back at the mansion." she replied. "They do have an interesting story... 'The males are the hunters and the female are the hunted'." she quoted. The line intrigued her for some reason, though she couldn't recall who wrote it down.

Kate grinned, "Yeah, that sums it up pretty well, actually. I'll have to remember that." She turned her gaze back on the Selkie who were apparently ignoring them as they mingled on the shore, "There's a lot of Selkie blood up north, mostly in the more isolated islands. Mostly it's from captured Selkie wives, but there's the occasional story of Selkie fathers." She watched the Selkie for a moment and then said, "There are a few different types of Faerie who will be attracted to Humans, mostly it's the Selkie or the Elves, or other creatures of the Seelie Court, but you do find a few Unseelie Faeries who likewise use their magic in that fashion. They're also tricksters, and love to play pranks on Humans, all of them. So if you ever go somewhere you might encounter Faerie Folk.. be especially wary."

Kate smirked, "I remember one of my old instructors at The Academy went away with the Faeries once. We didn't hear back from him for... oh, six, seven years?" She shook her head, "When we finally managed to get him back he took to wearing armour made of iron everywhere he went, since most Faeries are repulsed by it."

Kayleigh chuckled to that little anecdote. The thought of a man walking around in a suit of armor, traumatized by faeries somehow made her laugh. "How did he sleep?" she curiously inquired.

Kayleigh shrugged, "I asked him once. He said he said his bed frame was made of iron, so he could sleep without the amour... I then asked him what would happen if the Faeries avoided the bed frame and went for the mattress instead... he...ah... ran off screaming." Kate giggled, "After that, I heard rumours he slept with iron underwear on. Though... that would be incredibly uncomfortable I'd imagine." She shook her head, "Seriously though, just watch out for Faeries. Especially near the full moon or midsummer. Oh, and if a Seelie Faerie tells you that you've offended them, apologise profusely and do whatever it takes to get back in their good books. The Seelie Faeries are the only ones likely to actually tell you that you've offended them before they act on it."

Kayleigh nodded, and made a mental note to write that down somewhere when they got back to the mansion. "I'll remember." she confirmed.

Kate smiled and nodded, "Make sure you do. I don't want you to end up wearing iron underwear for fear of the Faeries." She smirked at that and shook her head, "Anyway, we came here to speak with the Lord of this group of Selkies, Dawn wanted to find out about a few rumours... now it seems we have a missing Selkie maiden on our hands." The blond archer frowned thoughtfully, "More than likely she's been caught by some fisherman, or some fool who has no idea just what he's dealing with." She smiled, "At least it's a female that's missing an not a male, other wise things could get ugly. Male Selkies can't survive past midnight on dry land, whereas the females have no such limit."

She looked back at the Faeries who were walking along the shore or in the water, "Hm, let's get going, before any of that lot get bored and decide to start having fun with the mortals in their midst. We'll have to report this missing Selkie to Dawn, she knows more about the Faeries than any one I've met."

(I've just found this really awesome song about Selkies on Youtube. The Maiden and The Selkie)

Kayleigh nodded, sort of disappointed that this had been all. She had expected at least a little fight. But on the other hand, she really didn't want to get captured and have to wear iron underwear... she smiled at that and gathered her stuff, ready to follow Kate back to the mansion.

As Kate moved towards the car parked above the beach, a younger-looking male Selkie, still possessing the unearthly beauty inherent to a Fae, his long jet black hair hanging down over his shoulders, dripping wet and salt-encrusted thanks to his sojourn into the sea and with sat water still dripping from his swimmer's body, came striding up to the archer, his expression was cold and haughty, "You, Human. What are you doing here?"

Kate eyed him up and down and quirked an eyebrow, "You need to learn some manners, young Selkie. I'm a Knight Guardian of The Society, here on official Society business. It does not concern you."

His mouth twisted into an ugly, feral snarl, "Watch your tongue, filth. It was your kind that took my wife."

"Oh? So you're the mate of the Selkie that went missing?" Kate asked, ignoring the slur.

"I am." He said, puffing his chest out, "And I want her returned to me, but not by human filth. This is a Selkie matter. It doesn't concern you."

"This is an incident between a human mortal and a Fae. This is directly under The Society's jurisdiction. We will handle the matter." Kate said coldly, "We will not tolerate any aggression from the Selkie towards humans."

"Hah! You think you can scare me, you? A mere human female?" He sneered.

Kate's eyes narrowed dangerously, "You would be a fool not to be."

The Selkie's eyes narrowed and his hands bunched into fists, "Is that a threat?"

"No, a warning." She shot back, "Leave this matter to The Society, and stop posturing like an adolescent... I don't want an incident."

"You might not, but I fear nothing, on land or sea!" He declared, raising himself up to his full height, his expression filled with rage, darkening like a sea-storm.

Arrow's hand unobtrusively strayed towards one of her hidden knives, "Calm down, or you might do something you might regret."

Kayleigh eyed the selkie, and occasionally switched to looking at Kate and back at the fae. She may have been hoping for a little fight, but this one seemed more than capable of defending himself. Kayleigh's hand was behind her back on the hilt of a dagger, and she was shaking slightly. wether it was excitement or fear, she couldn't tell.

"Uisce! Stop this at once!" Shouted the Selkie Lord that Kate had been conversing with earlier, the handsome Fae's eyes were hard and his expression darkened with anger, "She is a sanctioned delegate of The Watchers, attack her and you bring their wrath down upon all of us!"

"What have I to fear from mortals?" The younger Selkie sneered, "They are so frail, they die easily."

"They outnumber us, and their powers have only waxed stronger." His elder replied, "You know this."

"I don't give a damn about these Humans. I'll show you!" The younger Selkie snarled, suddenly he lunged towards Kate, his teeth sharpening, claws growing out of his fingers, feral snarl tearing from his throat.

Kate moved almost too quickly for the eye to follow, she ducked down under his lunge and grabbed him, using his own momentum against him she tossed him over her back and whirled around, slamming her foot into his chest and bringing one of her iron knives to his throat. The Selkie stilled instantly, the cold taint of the iron freezing his Faerie blood in his veins, "I'd suggest you think very carefully before moving." Kate said softly, a hard, cold look in her eyes.

All of the Selkies in the water had frozen and were staring at the young male trapped by the human, the Selkie Lord had drawn a sharp breath and recoiled at the sight of the knife, and the younger male had gone deathly pale, "K-kill me and my clan will tear you apart." The young Selkie said, though his wavering tone undermined the threat.

"And bring down The Society's wrath upon themselves? I don't think so." Kate said, then she glanced quickly towards Kayleigh, "Draw your bow and keep an eye on those Selkies." She said, before turning her eyes back on the male beneath her, "Now... I'll let you up, and I shall take no further action against you. You're angry, worried about your mate. I understand. There'll be no hard feelings, and my people will never have to know about this... incident."

The Selkie nodded silently, and Kate drew the dagger away from his throat and took her foot off of his chest, she sheathed the knife at her hip and nodded, "Good boy. Now, I have a missing Selkie to report."

Arrow turned away from the downed Fae and began walking away, but the male Selkie charged at her as soon as he got to his feet and knocked her to the ground, he grabbed her wrists to stop her going for her weapons, "Human scum!" He spat, "I'll not let you get away with humiliating me!"

"Uisce! Enough! She spared your miserable life, don't be a fool and throw it away over wounded pride!" The Selkie Lord shouted angrily, taking a step towards them.

"Take one more step closer and I'll snap her neck, let's see what The Watchers will do to us when they hear of that!"

The Selkie Lord paled slightly and stepped back, "Uisce, this is madness! You threaten your own clan?"

"I want these humans to pay. I want my mate back." The young Selkie snarled.

Arrow was frozen in his powerful grip, unable to reach for her knives or her arrows, she stilled and seemed to take a calming breath, then she looked over at Kayleigh and mouthed towards her, "Don't do anything stupid."

The Slkie noticed and growled, moving one of his hands to her throat and gripping it tightly, choking her, "Be quiet, Human witch."

Kayleigh nodded as she took her bow and held it at ease, but with an arrow resting on its string. She watched from the corner of her eye when Kate released Uisce and was about to put her bow away again, when he lunged at Kate. She stepped back, startled, as he wrestled her senior to the ground and pinned her. He threatened her, seemingly forgetting about Kayleigh. She was about to move when she saw Kate warn her.

Kayleigh froze in her footsteps. She nodded slightly and sat down, about five meters away from the selkie, where she had been standing before. Her legs crossed, she sat with her bow next to her and the knife given to her by Kate in front of her; within reach, but not holding it.

"Hey.. eh... Uisce, is it?" she started, hoping to get his attention. "I know how you feel. I know how rough it is on you, I promise, but I do know that we can help you. I may not be in the society for a long time yet, but I do know that they're here to make it easier for all beings in this world." She looked at the selkie with a gentle look on her face.

The Selkie turned, his eyes narrowing dangerously as they came to rest on Kayleigh, "Quiet, girl. I have no wish for your pity. I will handle this myself, we have no need of human scum to-" He cut himself with a hoarse scream of pain and released Kate, who had apparently kneed him in the crotch whilst he was distracted. In one fluid motion, she was up on her feet, knife in her hand again as the Selkie lay curled on the floor, cradling himself and moaning in pain.

"You might be a Faerie, but you're still just a man." Kate quipped hoarsely, her voice rough from the Selkie's strong grip bruising her throat, Kate turned towards the Selkie Lord, "I'd suggest you get this idiot out of here, befoe he tries anything else."

The Faerie Lord nodded and grabbed the younger male, hauling him to his feet and twisting his arm viciously, "I will deal with you later." He snarled into the male's face. Uisce could do little but whimper in pain and let himself get dragged away by the larger male.

As soon as the young Selkie had been dragged away, Kate sheathed her knife and massaged her sore throat, "Strong hands. Note to self; don't get into a brawl with a Selkie." She smiled wanly at Kayleigh, "I'd hoped to get though today without getting injured... ah well, I guess it's an occupational hazard." Kate's neck was already starting to discolour with bruises and she winced as she touched it, "Well, I'm going to hate explaining this one to Dawn. At least it wasn't a Siren. Those girls are vicious."

Kayleigh sighed. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "That looked like it hurt pretty bad.." she put away her weapons again as she walked with Kate.

Kate nodded, "I'm fine." She croaked, "I've had worse." She glanced over at the Selkies warily, but none of the Faerie shapeshifters seemed inclined to approach the humans after what had happened, "Let's get out of here, I want to tell Dawn bout the missing Selkie, and get her advice on how to proceed." She began walking over to the car, "Oh, and by the way, how's your self-defence training with Jerian coming along? I hope he's not been taking it too easy on you."

Kayleigh smiled. "Alright then." she replied
To her last question, she grimaced. "Oh he's not taking things easy at all!" she sighed, but smiled at the same time. "I guess that's sort of a good thing.."

Kate smiled, "Yeah well, as you've just seen the kinds of creature we deal with aren't likely to take it easy on you either... at least Jerian isn't trying to tear your throat out, steal your soul or set you on fire." She smiled wryly, "I mean, being part of The Society is both boon and a curse. I've been on missions were the big uglies have run away at the mere sight of my insignia, on others I've had demons and vampires hurl some pretty nasty words at me and then try to tear my throat out... or steal my soul.... or set me on fire." She smirked, "But at least I don't have a death wish. I mean, you've not been out on missions with Jerian yet, but that boy is crazy. He'll laugh at or make fun of anything. I heard he even decided to throw a few wise cracks at the Demon Lord Abbaddon once... though whether that's true or just a good old Society urban myth I don't know."

Kate got into her car and started up the engine, activating its communication device at the same time, "Hey Ops, just about to head back to The Hub. Got a report of a missing Selkie female."

"Missing Selkie, huh? Hm, I'll put out some feelers, see what turns up... uh, Arrow, what's up with your voice?" Dawn asked over the radio.

"Hm? Oh... uh... nothing, just a bit of a cold." Kate said, wincing as she massaged her bruised throat and coughing a few times to try and clear it.

"Cold? Ugh, don't go spreading it around, the last time on of you lot brought the flu back it left me bedridden for a week... the backlog afterwards was nightmarish. Thank the Nine my dad's the Grandmaster, or I'd have gotten a proper chewing out from European HQ."

Kate smiled, "I'll be sure not to infect you, Arrow out."

As they drove, Kayleigh quietly relaxed in the car. Without realizing, she had been tensed up during the entire confrontation, and was now feeling all that tension abandon her body all at once. She sighed in relief as she closed her eyes, trying to get some rest while she could.

Kate drove on in silence, sensing that Kayleigh needed a little time to herself, to relax after the rather tense confrontation with the Selkies. It took them nearly an hour to return to The Hub, and by that time Kate had become lost in thought as she contemplated the problem of the missing Selkie girl.

Dawn came out of the mansion to meet them and Kate gave her a rather vague, half-hearted salute, "Any leads yet?"

Dawn shook her head, "No, not as yet. I'll be assigning this case to you, Arrow. I'll have Jerian keep an eye out too, but he'll be busy with an assignment of his own. Kayleigh can accompany you, she'll need a bit of hands-on training anyway." A vaguely worried look crossed Dawn's face, "Aetherian Peterson is on his way over here, father's decided that he wants to rotate a few of the Aetherians to a few different Cells, probably some bureaucratic nonsense. The Aetherian will probably want to have a look at Kayleigh himself, since she does seem to have a fair bit of latent power."

That caught Kate's attention, "An Aetherian? Here?"

"I don't like it. Aetherians lie outside the existing command structure, they answer only to my father and the Council. Besides, having someone that powerful under my roof makes me nervous." Dawn shook her head, "But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now let's just concentrate on ou little Selkie problem."

The announcement of the Aetherian being on his way to Cell theta filled Kayleight with fear as well as curiosity, and she was nervously shifting her stance from one foot to the other. As soon as she realized what she was doing, she stopped it, just listening to the rest of Dawn's explanations.

As far as Kayleigh had picked up, Aetherians were sort of like mages she had read about in fantasy novels from the library, mainly focusing their power on the magic capabilities they held. Kayleigh was curious about what a "mage" would look like.

Her mind now shifted back to the selkies as well. "How will we take care of that?" she asked curiously.