VentOblivion releases you from its clawed grip and you slowly swim up out of the gloom of your fevered slumber. Your entire body aches and smarts: your skin is peppered with countless cuts and bruises, and a dull gnawing pain radiates through your wrists and hips. A hazy, almost indiscernible memory hovers somewhere at the edge of your consciousness — a memory of pain... and of the pleasure reaped in its depths.
VentMarazhai stares at you from beneath half-lowered lids. His naked body seems to be knit from ropes of lean, lithe muscle, and his pale skin, marked with the same traces of violence as your own, seems to glow faintly in the half-light. Blood has pooled in the hollows of his clavicles — he wipes it away and licks his fingers, savouring the remnants of the 'feast.' "You are awake, my pet."
VentHis hand lazily strokes an object lying beside him. In the faint light, you can just barely make out the agoniser, coated with blood.
Vent"The oblivion of ecstasy... it has been so long since the last time I plunged into it." He does a full-body stretch. "Your servants had not known true fear in a long time — and the terror they felt when my blades began to rip open their bodies was especially... powerful. And you... you were good. Better than I could have imagined. You are like a sponge, absorbing everything I can give you."
YOU"What... happened... exactly?"
VentThe corners of his lips quirk up into a smile. "Words are a pale shadow of the reality. But there is still plenty more meat on your ship. And plenty more... opportunities for a repeat performance."
YOU"What... happened... exactly?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know what 'personal desires' of yours required the Haemonculus's services."
VentMarazhai merely chuckles in response.
YOU"What... happened... exactly?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know what 'personal desires' of yours required the Haemonculus's services."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to continue."
Vent"I do not doubt it." Marazhai silently closes the distance between you and leans over you, his breath tickling your ear. "Do not keep me waiting."
YOU[Kiss Marazhai]
VentHe flinches away from you, his lip curling in disgust. "Spare me these mon-keigh absurdities, [Name]."
Vent"Well... I will go now. Until the next time. I am certain that our next feast will be even more... intense."
end of branch
YOU"I shall decide when."
Vent"Well... I will go now. Until the next time. I am certain that our next feast will be even more... intense."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Nod wordlessly]
Vent"Well... I will go now. Until the next time. I am certain that our next feast will be even more... intense."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not take part in this again."
VentMarazhai tilts his head in that now familiar way. "Mmm? Why not?"
YOU"It is not who I am. I do not do such things."
VentMarazhai's laughter sounds like the cawing of a bird of prey. "Ah, misguided mon-keigh thinking! You have only just begun to discover your true nature, and you are running away..."
VentHe straightens and glances around at the bedroom. "Well. In that case, I will leave you alone with your regrets."
end of branch
YOU"It was an amusing experiment. Not to be repeated."
VentMarazhai scowls faintly. "You are right. Consorting with a mon-keigh is a step too far... even in an orgy neither of us will remember."
VentHe straightens and glances around at the bedroom. "Well. In that case, I will leave you alone with your regrets."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Actually... I have changed my mind. Perhaps we could do this again sometime."
Vent"I do not doubt it." Marazhai silently closes the distance between you and leans over you, his breath tickling your ear. "Do not keep me waiting."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to continue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not take part in this again."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Now I know what 'personal desires' of yours required the Haemonculus's services."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I want to continue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will not take part in this again."continues where this line first appears above
Vent"The oblivion of ecstasy... it has been so long since the last time I plunged into it." He does a full-body stretch. "Your servants had not known true fear in a long time — and the terror they felt when my blades began to rip open their bodies was especially... powerful. And you... you were good. Better than I could have imagined. You are like a sponge, absorbing everything I can give you."continues where this line first appears above