harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Oct 8, 2011, 9:46 am
Glory and Darlene barely had time to get themselves situated before Neirin and his burly friends reached the car. Thankfully the windows were tinted, so Neirin couldn’t see anything amiss. He still looked at her oddly as he and his bully boys piled into the car, his nostril’s twitching. Without ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Oct 4, 2011, 9:00 am
“Turn here,” Neirin said, rapping on the Plexiglas that separated their seats from the driver. The woman seemed confused. She slowed but still almost missed the turn as she hesitated. Neirin hissed angrily, but kept his temper in check. He directed her down long streets which turned into narrow...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Oct 1, 2011, 7:31 pm
They rode in silence for several minutes, but the trip to Tara was over an hour long. It was too much to hope for that her silence would keep Neirin from talking. He seemed to want to fill her in on the thirty years he’d spent in her world, as if they were old friends… as if they had mutual feel...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Sep 27, 2011, 9:00 am
Neirin unchained her, carelessly dropping the manacles to the floor. He gripped her by the chin, turning her head this way and that and tracing a few tattoos before releasing her. “Get up.” Glory silently climbed to her feet. There was only a bit of blood from the dagger, and the wound had alre...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Sep 24, 2011, 9:00 am
“Let me tell you a story,” said the woman as she examined the stone. She was dressed in a flowing burgundy gown, her hair perfectly styled and her nails long and looking sharp enough to slit throats. The masked duo stood on either side of the door to the ornate dining room, silent and unmoving. ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Sep 20, 2011, 9:00 am
“Hey!” A woman waved from an open doorway up ahead. “In here.” The building looked abandoned. The woman stood just out of sight in the doorway, holding it open with her leg. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. Glory bolted into the opening, content that the man behind her hadn’t turned th...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Sep 17, 2011, 9:00 am
Glory was not pleased with Jack’s arrangements. A ferry? Really? Another ferry? She fumed silently, giving Jack an irritable glare whenever he made the mistake of showing his face. Apparently the old man who ran it ‘knew how to keep a secret for the right price.“ That was not exactly a comfort...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Sep 13, 2011, 9:00 am
“Hey,” Trevor said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “We got it. Come on. Time to go.” Glory flinched. She’d managed to restore her hands to their proper shape as Mike and Jack carried the stone to the car, but their color was still way off, and their size… her knuckles dragged on the gr...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 30, 2011, 9:00 am
Trevor’s misgivings were too ambiguous to deter Glory. She’d worked it all out in her head, exploring the tendrils of lore she’d inherited from her father’s people until she found something that might help. Every night since the door to her racial memories had been opened, she’d spent her ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 27, 2011, 9:00 am
“I suppose I should just be glad that I won’t be causing an incident between England and Scotland, and quite possibly Ireland,” Jack griped as he threw himself onto the bed. It made alarming creaking noises and sagged under his weight. “Boggles the mind how far I‘ve fallen… so we‘re to...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 23, 2011, 9:00 am
“Alright. Security’s down. Just have to worry about the guards then.” Jack was scowling. It seemed he’d left his good mood in the Summerlands along with Maria. “You’ll be returning the stone when you’re done with it,” he said, a statement, not a question. “I don’t want to be resp...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 20, 2011, 9:00 am
“Brother!” Caoimhe cried, and Gwythyr barely restrained her from throwing herself at the men. Glory stared hard at Aonghas who stood beside the insane prince, his sword drawn, but the Fomorian seemed too ashamed to meet her eyes. “Ah, if father were here, my victory would be complete,” Neir...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 16, 2011, 9:00 am
Before the pack leader could take another step towards them, Maria jumped between them, her own hackles raised. The lead dog flinched in surprise, backing up. That was all it took for Maria to press her advantage. Like any pack of canines, a show of weakness was a show of submission. As soon as he l...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Aug 2, 2011, 9:00 am
By and large, most of the bandits had rolled themselves up in their bedrolls by the time Prince Lorcan’s men returned to the camp. There were a few men still awake and most of them on guard duty, but the camp was quiet with the sound of sighs and snores. It was Aonghas and the few men still loyal ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jul 16, 2011, 9:00 am
The harp seemed to be stuck. Glory tugged on it with one hand without making it budge, which did strike her as funny, but she had no intention of touching anything else in the chest to dig it out. She reached in with her other hand and tried to lift it from the pile, but not a single coin shifted fo...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jul 12, 2011, 9:00 am
Neirin’s tent was dimly lit and smelled of musk, like the den of an animal, and smoke. It was cluttered with piles of… things. In the dark, it was hard to tell, but some were bulky, perhaps his hoard of ill-gotten goods, and others were formless mounds that stank when Glory drew near. Furs, she ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jul 9, 2011, 9:00 am
“Ah, Gwythyr.” Aonghas’ expression became at once contemptuous and bitter. He clenched his hands as if he’d like to get them around his cousin’s throat. Glory glared at him. “Whatever you think you know about me and Gwythyr, you’re wrong. He’s a nice person, but anyone who condescen...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jul 5, 2011, 9:00 am
“Let’s get them,” Maria whispered, and Neirin’s head turned like shot. There was no time for recriminations as Neirin called the Fomorians’ attention to the woods. Jack hissed, “Scatter!” and they ran in three different directions. Glory lost track of both of her companions quickly i...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jul 2, 2011, 9:00 am
They walked through the dense copse as long as they could, hoping the tightly compacted trees would help disguise their passage even if the soft soil under them would not. The ruse would probably not protect them long. Once the horses were discovered to be riderless, the most logical course of actio...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 28, 2011, 9:00 am
“What the hell did you think you were doing?” Maria raged at Jack as they slowed momentarily to bypass a thick copse of trees. “What Trevor told me to do,” he replied mildly, “at the first sign of trouble.” “Why wouldn’t he have just warned everyone that there would be an ambush?�...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 25, 2011, 9:00 am
The trip out from the city was uneventful and tedious, though the alternative was not to be preferred. The party took a more direct road out of Rhaonastil than they had bringing Glory and her friends in, and they reached the outskirts of the walled kingdom by midmorning. Up until then, the knights h...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 21, 2011, 9:00 am
Everyone fell into an awkward silence. Glory finally excused herself, admonishing them to get what sleep they could. She scampered back to her room, still shaking her head. So Jack was… Springheel Jack? Considering Maria had said he hated that song, it was the only conclusion she came to. Not that...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 18, 2011, 9:00 am
“So… you’ll give me this key?” Glory asked in a hopeful voice. Somehow though, the Queen’s little story smacked of a set up. “I am afraid it is not that simple,” the Queen replied. Glory sighed. “It never is.” The Queen gave her a mirthless smile. “A simple quest is hardly wor...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 14, 2011, 9:00 am
“You seem troubled,” the Queen of Rhaonastil said from her seat by the fire. Glory had been shown to the private room by a servant at the conclusion of dinner. Both Gwythyr and Sir Euan had been notably absent from the meal, which had not made Glory feel any better. Then there had been Maria, f...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 10, 2011, 9:00 am
“My lord,” a young man appeared from the nearby doorway. “A traveler has arrived with possible news. Gwythyr leapt from his perch but paused and looked indecisive. “Would you accompany me?” he asked, holding out his hand to her. “You have a way of discerning things others do not. Perhap...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 8, 2011, 9:00 am
The queen of Rhaonastil was small, nearly as tiny as Maria, but her stance and expression radiated power. Her hair was parted into two fat honey-brown braids which hung down over her dove white dress. For all that, she seemed tired, dark circles under her eyes visible even from the bottom of the dai...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 6, 2011, 9:00 am
The city was an ovoid sprawl that settled like an iris around the black stone keep. As they wended their way through the city, the knights and pedestrians ignored one another, the wide streets allowing those on foot to step out of the way without pausing in their tasks. The city, and in fact the ent...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 3, 2011, 9:00 am
Despite her complaint that it really was not necessary, Gwythyr insisted upon letting Glory ride and led the horse deeper inland. All through their trip, she felt Maria staring daggers at her back. It was useless to wonder if the woman understood the intricacies of courtly etiquette. She either did ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Jun 1, 2011, 9:00 am
Glory shrugged. “Considering I was told to come here specifically and use the cave to get to Rhaonastil, we can assume that this is some portion of the fairy lands or the Dreamlands. From what I’ve been able to find out, there’s not much difference between the two.” “At least we beat your...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 30, 2011, 9:00 am
The weather didn’t get much better, but at least it didn’t get too much worse. So there was that. As the sky darkened, they were lucky enough to find a cozy hollow with a wall of rock at their back and a long armed oak overhead. It wasn’t much, but it would keep the rain off provided the wind...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 27, 2011, 9:00 am
“What the shite…” Maria blurted as they neared the entrance. The cave had not changed, but the world outside certainly had. It was drizzling, but that wasn’t anything unusual for the time of year, even if the sky had been clear when they went inside. Before, the island had been well on its ...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 25, 2011, 9:00 am
Careful to keep the light on the floor and more or less hidden by her body, Maria trailed her hand along the wall to keep from walking into it. She could see Glory’s light ahead and stayed far enough away so as not be casually noticed. Glory did not diverge from her straight path, which made Maria...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 23, 2011, 9:00 am
“Hey, hold up a sec,” Trevor said suddenly and trotted away towards the sounds of the sheep. He disappeared over a low hill. “Bog break,” Maria snickered. He jogged back a few minutes later. “Okay, the shepherd said the caves are over this way.” Maria scowled, while Mike chuckled. Sho...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 20, 2011, 9:00 am
“How the hell did you get way out here?” Maria asked, confusion replacing her perpetual cheerfulness. “I run fast.” Glory pulled the door open and climbed inside. She studiously ignored everyone as they turned to stare at her. “Just drive wherever it is you’ve decide we want to go,” s...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 18, 2011, 9:00 am
“Is my cooking okay?” Maria asked as Trevor carried the breakfast dishes back into the house. It was already midmorning and Glory was beginning to feel inviting Mike and Trevor had been just about the biggest mistake she could have made, especially as it had involved Maria. “It was fine,” G...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - May 16, 2011, 9:00 am
Glory didn’t trust the SUV Maria had rented and had shipped over on the ferry with them, but she said nothing as they made their way towards Ardtalla. It was a very nice vehicle… a bit too nice so far as she was concerned. Maybe it was just a nasty rumor that civil servants in the UK made next t...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 29, 2011, 9:00 am
For all its novelty, the trip by plane was uneventful. Glory wasn’t particularly anxious about the flight despite never having been on a plane in her entire life. Boarding was more awkward and obnoxious than actually getting to Scotland, though once Steiner and Redfield flashed their official-type...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 27, 2011, 9:00 am
Steiner sullenly gathered up their papers and the file, which only seemed to amuse Redfield more. He stood by Glory as Steiner stormed from the room like a thunder cloud, casting his partner sullen glances. Snickering, Redfield led the way from the room and back to the parking lot and to what she as...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 25, 2011, 9:00 am
Redfield was waiting for them when they got back. “Boss man’s been called away,” he said with a smile and a shrug. “Said to continue without him.” “Okay then…” Steiner rubbed his cheek and forehead. They returned to the conference room, Redfield taking up the task of secretary. Unab...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 22, 2011, 9:00 am
“Steiner, why don’t you escort our guest to the cafeteria,” Bitman said already patting his jacket for his phone. “I’ll meet you both back here in an hour.” He was at the door in a few strides and gone without waiting for an affirmative from Steiner. Not that he needed one, but it was st...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 20, 2011, 9:00 am
Steiner must have noticed her bewildered expression. He smiled and took her by the elbow as she gaped up at the dirty building. “We keep our military and research arms in separate facilities so this site doesn’t attract too much attention from the neighbors. At least half the staff are agents, a...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 18, 2011, 9:00 am
It was four days before Glory called Steiner. She didn’t want him to get the wrong impression about how much she might or might not need his Company’s help. She wasn’t that desperate, but it might have appeared that way if she approached them so soon after his visit. It wasn’t as if she hadn...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 15, 2011, 9:00 am
“How… is she?” Glory asked, her eyes on the bundle on the table, but her mind a million miles away. “You would not recognize her,” Ehecatl said. “I know you are twins only because you told me so. It seems as though she is much more her father‘s child.” Glory felt decidedly queasy an...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 13, 2011, 9:00 am
“OK,” Glory said with a little smile. “I believe you. Don’t sulk.” He flushed even deeper, but she interrupted him before he could squawk. “I just have one question then. It‘s a personal question…” “OK?” he said, tugging on his sleeves. He sounded equal parts confused and unco...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 11, 2011, 9:00 am
Steiner looked perplexed as Glory stalked from the room. For her part, she didn’t know why it was so important that she prove she’d been at the museum alone… aside from the fact that Steiner didn’t seem to have a high opinion of her. Considering he’d been through two divorces, maybe that w...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 8, 2011, 9:00 am
Steiner frowned at that but didn’t dignify her question with a response. Reaching into his briefcase, he removed a picture and set it on the table between them. “Do you recognize any of these symbols?” “Yes.” “You do?” he asked with sudden excitement. “They were the symbols the li...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 6, 2011, 9:00 am
“Sorry… it was just force of habit; I swear!” He was probably more distressed at the thought that his boss would be angry at his failure to get her cooperation than that he had unduly offended her. “It comes in handy when we’re trying to keep people calm after an event. I wasn‘t attempti...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 4, 2011, 9:00 am
Phoenix was in no better mood when she stepped into the vault later that night. Glory didn’t bother to apprise him of what had happened while he sulked. She put his gem back down on the shelf after holding it only a few seconds, though she felt him brooding behind her for the rest of the night. I...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Apr 1, 2011, 9:00 am
Robert returned to the living room with a thoughtful expression on his face, hopefully to do his homework. She didn’t like to nag him about it. That would make it seem that she considered him irresponsible. His report card would be coming soon, and then she’d know if he’d been slacking. Glory...
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harmony0stars c. posted an article on Tattoo - Mar 23, 2011, 9:00 am
The shadow paused as she glared at it, turning uncertainly to its companions and the fallen soldiers around it as if it wasn’t sure it wanted to or was allowed to tangle with her. She snatched at the tendrils which had attached to Redfield from a half dozen different shadows as they fed on the dow...
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