vintage_magic | IC Mailbox for Holly Heights

[Why was she helping him!? This stubborn woman-]

I'm flattered, really, but you really ought to go before they decide they haven't had enough with me!

[He grasped vines and pulled. Come on, you idiotic things, enough of this! He had nothing left on him!]

...Behind you!

[She brought the broom down on another of the vines, knocking it away from him.]

That's just why I'm not leaving you here! What if these things decide your clothes were just an appetizer and try to take a chunk out of your backside next?!

[Because she wasn't going to abandon him to a supernatural peril like this.]

[But the vines finally seemed to be realizing that there weren't any scraps of cloth left on him and started to unwind from his legs. His warning distracted her a moment and caused her to send an energy blast in his direction, shoving him towards some nearby bushes.]

[She whirled around, managing to deflect the vine in question with a swipe of the broom. But the vines that had been attacking Lezard now latched onto her skirt, unraveling warp and weft threads alike to reveal the petticoat underneath.]

Land sakes! Let go of my dress!

[Lily got in a few more whacks of the broom before one of the flowers latched onto the ends of her hip-length hair. A scream left her throat as it tugged her head back.]

Edited 2015-05-23 05:23 (UTC)

Oof- [Into the bushes he goes, but he manages to catch himself. Good; he had some decency for the moment. Now they were chewing on her dress, and munched away a first layer. How ridiculous... they really did like fibers! They ignored him now that there wasn't anything left worth eating-

...Spoke too soon. Lezard moved without thought and pushed out of the bushes, seizing the end of her hair in one hand and the vine in the other. Muscle taut, he tore plant fiber and flower, prying it away.]

Miss Ivory, what of your backside!?

...Give them something to eat as a decoy! Remove something!

[Lily was starting to panic a tad and had dropped the broom at the unexpected tugging. But the pull on her hair was soon alleviated although the wavy locks were now missing an inch or two.]

Thanks. But what the heck would I give them? I didn't exactly spend much time accessorizing this morning!

[She hadn't even tied a scarf around her hair that morning! Did he expect her to surrender what bits were left of her dress?! She swatted at the vines and even browned a few tendrils in her irritation but they still kept coming, one latching onto her sleeve and tearing the threads that held it to the rapidly disappearing bodice. At this rate, it was soon going to be evident that her underwear was also the old-fashioned variety to match the vintage dress.]

[He absolutely expected her to surrender what was left, because they were going to take it otherwise! He assisted in tearing off vines, but with the sound of more cloth being torn he wished he had his teleportation spells. Then he could get them both home in short order, but he was sadly lacking.

Rather, he reached out and seized her hand.]

I see an opening! Let's go, before we both become a public spectacle!

[Well, he was right about that! The delicate bits of old cloth weren't any match for the persistent vines and they tore away what was left of the bodice as well as a chunk of her retro brassiere despite her efforts to get them away. Even her shoes and the netting of her petticoat were getting ragged as the vines searched for any fibers they could feed on.]

Sounds good to me!

[She didn't protest as he grabbed her hand and ran after him, not even questioning where they were going.]

[But the motion did in the remnants of her bra, the scraps fluttering to the ground. What remained of her Keds also flew off as they fled, helping provide a distraction. The vines set on the undergarment scraps and tattered canvas sneakers like a pack of ravenous dogs on a bone.]

[For now, she was so focused on escaping that she still didn't completely register the fact that Lezard was nekkid and she herself had lost more clothes than was decent. Or the fact that her house keys had been in her dress pocket and therefore gone as well...]

[It hadn't exactly registered for him, either. Instead he ran with hands clutched, idea in mind that he needed to start bringing his knife wherever he went, for lack of any flame magic. Fire Lances would have made short work of these, but he couldn't so much as conjure a spark. Shame...

Once breaths were short, he stopped for air, heart racing as he wasn't exactly a swordsman of thick arms and thicker upper trunk. His body was... decidedly average for a man of his age, subtle angles and fine lines against his skin marking musculature that could be more prominent if he took up a heavy blade and trained, but he was more for tossing fireballs. It was a sight he soon realized when he looked up, saw her, widened his eyes, then turned to himself.]

...Oh.

[Oh indeed. He wasn't exactly of sound mind to even make a joke. Not after what he'd admitted to her.]

[Lily was glad to finally stop, panting as she tried to catch her breath. Even if her arms were toned from the many loads of laundry she did at the shop, she wasn't exactly athletic and her figure was pretty average. Although slender enough to fit into most vintage dresses with their smaller sizes, she had a fair amount of curves rather than being fashion model skinny.]

[...A fact that Lezard possibly noticed when he looked over her way. With how the breeze created by their running had blown her hair back over her shoulders, even less was left to the imagination than with the Landlord's previous tricks of forcing her into sexy costumes. (Heck, once she realized her current indecent state, she would have gladly worn that dang witch costume or even the maid outfit!)]

[But it only slowly dawned on her with Lezard's "Oh" and widened eyes. Her own eyes roamed down his torso and she looked away, cheeks coloring as she realized the vines hadn't left him with a single stitch. And then as her eyes moved down to assess the damage to her own clothes...]

Jiminy Crickets!

[She blushed even more as she quickly crossed her arms over her exposed chest and yanked her long hair to the front to help conceal her bare skin.]

We've got to get back to the house without being seen!

[Unfortunately, in their hurry to flee, they'd run away from their house instead of towards it and were now a dozen blocks away. Something she was realizing with a sinking feeling as she looked at the number on the nearest house. At least, this street seemed to be deserted at the moment.]

[Grimacing, she stepped behind a tree and tugged off her partially eaten petticoat after she was sure her panties were still intact. Keeping her eyes averted and an arm over her chest, she held out the layers of netting to him. It was somewhat scratchy and not the most opaque thing but it was better than nothing, right?]

Here.

[Now they had a task ahead of them. A task, and no keys. It would be fixed by morning, but that left them with the hope that someone was home to let them in lest he break a window to break into their own home.

He looked incredulously at the offered petticoat.]

...You can't be serious...

[Well. Once that bit of his masculinity had a moment to frown at the idea of wearing such a thing, he realized logically it was this or walk around with your most vulnerable parts out in the open. Frowning, he accepted the petticoat and tried to get the thing on- it would cover his waist if he grasped it and tied it tight like a sarong, because securing it normally wouldn't fit on his broader waist.]

I suppose it can't be helped... how is your climbing skill?

[She wished she was joking but as ridiculous as it was, this seemed like the only thing available to make him look somewhat less indecent. He certainly wasn't going to fit into her panties! And she hoped he had the decency not to stare at them now that they were the only thing she had on.]

Climbing skill?

[Now it was her turn to look at him incredulously.]

You're not suggesting we make our way back through the tree tops, are you?

[Because trying to climb a tree in their current state just seemed like asking to be poked in uncomfortable places with twigs and leaves.]

The fences. If we're quick, we can cross through yards and cut our travel by a significant amount.

However, it leaves us open to having neighbors spot us...

[She stayed huddled close to the tree, trying to make herself seem as inconspicuous as possible.]

While it would make being seen by random pedestrians less likely, I'm not not sure if it'd get us home any quicker with having to climb the fences between every yard. What if someone had a dog out in their yard too?

[A critter like that would be sure to start barking if two nearly nekkid strangers suddenly dropped into the yard, alerting anyone who might be home of their predicament and forcing them to flee again.]

Or something even worse... I've heard of other folks keeping lions as pets around here!

Maybe, we could make our way back on the streets and hide if we see anyone coming...

Right... I hadn't thought of guard dogs or even lions.

[But he nodded.]

We'll have to go in that fashion.

[So he sighed, and proceeded to lead the way, keeping his wits about him. It was a nice enough day that most had decided to head to the ponds and parks for their leisure. He just hoped they'd have no trouble.]

Folks around here seem to have strange ideas of pets.

[...Said the witch with a gobgoyle/piggy familiar back home. But she was glad to not have to climb over any backyard fences with the possibility of being chased by a pet lion.]

We can try to hide behind parked cars and trees and bushes, I reckon.

[And with her own sigh, she followed after him, keeping low and trying not to stare at his butt. Whenever possible, she ducked behind whatever obstacles there were along the street to be less exposed even if the streets seemed empty. But after a couple of blocks, she asked in a hushed tone...]

Do you hear something?

[At the sound of an approaching car, she grabbed his hand and ducked into a crouch behind a parked car.]

Edited 2015-05-24 20:28 (UTC)

[He visibly paled with the mention of hearing something and was alert, looking around. But his hand was grabbed and he was pulled along, and he saw no reason to fight it.

Once behind the car he hunkered down, feeling his heart race.]

...Clothes-eating plants... I never...

[Thinking aloud. That's new.]

[She shook her head in agreement and let out an exasperated huff, waiting for the car to pass by.]

I sure as shootin' never thought I'd see such a thing. Or be sneaking around town nearly nekkid because of them. I hope we can get back home without anyone seeing us. Do you know if Eagle and Lion planned on going out today?

[It'd be too humiliating if anyone ever found out. Doubly so if it was one of her friends.]

[He opened his mouth, then closed it, eyes narrowing as he looked ahead.]

...If they did, they did not speak of such plans with me. If they aren't home...

[He looked to her.]

How are we to get inside? My keys were in the pants that were eaten, and I don't imagine you have spare keys tucked... anywhere...!

[He gestured vaguely to her.]

[She blushed as he gestured to her and shifted her arms in an attempt to cover more of her chest. Obviously, she didn't have a spare set of keys either. Because who keeps extra keys in their underpants? Something that she finally realized now with a groan.]

Dag nab it! I hadn't thought of that! I was sort of hoping they'd be out so we could sneak in without them seeing us like this. What would they think?! [~~if they saw their mom and dad like this?~~ Her shoulders slumped for a moment before she glanced over at him again.]

Do you suppose that dragon of yours could open a door for us somehow?

[The realization alighted against his face.]

I possess spare keys in my desk, but I need to be close to communicate with my familiar. That may be our only chance!

[He peered around the car.]

The coast is clear. Let's get moving. Quickly.

Did you leave any windows open so he can squeeze out or toss the keys to us?

[She hoped so or they really might have to resort to breaking into their own house!]

[She nodded, realizing the sound of the passing car had died away and didn't waste any time in following him. They made it a few more blocks without seeing a single pedestrian or driver. But she went a bit pale as she heard voices. It sounded as if a whole crowd was coming their way. Looking around frantically for a hiding place.]

Behind that tree!

[She gestured and then dashed for it herself. It was going to be tight squeeze but it was the closest hiding place and they couldn't be seen now! She wondered if that Daphne glamour she tried once would work; she'd never had good reason to try it out here.]

Right! [Oh nonononononono-

He doesn't care, diving behind that same tree she was and mushing up the best he could to obscure his frame. It wasn't about comfort levels or nudity, and never was- it was about not becoming a public spectacle and shattering reputations! Who are these people, and why did they have to be out TODAY?]

[No, it certainly isn't comfortable with two nearly nekkid magic users hiding behind a single not-too-large tree, between the rough bark as Lily pressed herself close to the tree and the accidental brushes of bare skin against hers as Lezard shared her hiding place. She tried not to think about that as the voices drew nearer -- was it some of the teenagers out enjoying a nice Saturday? -- and she reached out towards him.]

Give me your hands and stay as still as you can. I'm going to see if I can cast a glamour to disguise us as part of the tree.

[And with that, she pressed closer to the tree and started chanting, drawing on both the tree's energy and his to help power the spell. She envisioned them becoming one with the tree, their skin taking on the appearance of the bark and blending into the trunk.]

[He readily offered his hands and was still. He watched in fascination as she began to chant, trying to glean any important words or phrases she used out of his own curiosity. His eyes widened as her skin changed in front of him, and his hands began to feel warm, as his were wont to do whenever he used magic.

Slowly, his skin darkened too, formed lines, craggy markings that matched that of the tree. Rather than break her concentration to tell her it was working, he simply made use of the glamour to save both their skins.]

[The chant was a purposeful but quiet murmur. After all, it wouldn't do for her to cast the spell yet still be caught because the passersby heard her Texas twang. And even if his magic was locked away, Lezard's energy was just what she needed to help complete the glamour. She could feel the illusion taking shape, flickering a little before settling.]

[Now if only the crowd would pass! But they didn't seem to be in any hurry and it was a good few minutes before their voices faded away in the other direction. Dropping the glamour, her skin faded back to normal mostly. But the glamour had started to stick, leaving bits of bark stuck to their skin in places like a scattering of scales. Drained from the spell, she tiredly slumped against him, somewhat unsteady on her feet.]

Are you okay?

[He blinked in surprise and had to sweep off a few stray bits of himself as well, but he was quick to support her when she was unsteady.]

I'm alright, though I feel as if you tapped into my power a bit. Interesting... mine's still locked away, and yet that's possible.

[With that, he stepped back once he was sure she could stand on her own.]

Though I feel it would be unwise to use it too often, you're welcome to tap into my own magic as you need it. We'll likely need our combined power to get back unseen.

IC Mailbox for Holly Heights

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