>>39551241
1/??

Your true name cannot be spoken by any human tongue, nor can it be written by any mortal hand. For the moment however, you are usually called Hiss and that is the furthest thing from your mind right now.

Cennen nudges you, waking you from your brief moment of weakness. You have to restrain yourself from trying to bite him anyway. How dare he lay hands on you right now? You’ve made it far from a secret during your time together that you don’t like to have your personal space intruded upon, that your first instinct in such a situation was to fight or flee. And you don’t flee as a rule.

Why couldn’t he keep a proper distance like Tash, who had moved fast enough to attract your attention from far away and thus assured that you knew of his approach well beforehand? Tash, who had immediately slowed and kept an easy circle of space around you and only broke it with cautious gentle movements? Tash, who wore a mask that smoothed his facial features and spared you the irritation of trying to keep up with the human face language? Tash, who might as well have been a living window to the realm of your greatest dreams, an exotic world of ancient brethren and the patricide you’ve been dreaming about for so long. Tash, the one who could bear you away to the fulfillment of your plan, to a country where snakes ruled and humans served.
And while you had been cautious of him, you saw his true nature now. He wasn’t a constrictor, far from it. And why would the lords of Quedesh ever leave their paradise? He was just a human, one no doubt trained from birth to serve the pleasures of serpents.
And who else should he serve but you, the Serpent Queen? Or Queen-to-be, you suppose. Cennen had had the right idea with that, as strange as that sounded. You only had to act like you were the Queen you were meant to be and the Quedeshi ambassador had immediately folded and promised her a place aboard his ship.
Everything was well in hand.

>>39551263
2/??

“I’m fine! I see now, Tash. I’ve afforded you too much respect. You’re just a human.”

His masked face is refreshingly blank.
“Absolutely correct.”
His voice was rich and deep, almost intoxicating, like a flat stone on a sunny day. You’d never heard its like among any other human, though you’ll admit that your sample size is still rather small. If your theory about him is correct, his voice is doubtlessly trained for just this effect, to be aesthetically pleasing for his serpentine masters.
And just how else has he been prepared to please them?, a traitorous thought voices itself. You do your best to banish it but there can be no denying the desire you feel for even but a moment within your soft human heart. Your human body, as treacherous as ever, wants you to take the plunge. And he is undoubtedly attractive, you can’t deny that nor do you really want to. You know you haven’t done a great job hiding it. And is it any great crime to do so? You yourself had said that you wouldn’t fear your own body any longer and the damned thing barely ever shut up. You’ve participated several times in the post-hibernation mating balls back in Snakehome in your natural form and you’d never felt back then the way you do about either of the men with you now. It had been cold-blooded and passionless, the fulfillment of a fleeting seasonal desire with snakes she barely even saw.
Humans, apparently, had a much more exciting time going about it and you’re not entirely sure how to deal with that.


Cennen doesn’t like it but that’s to be expected. Cennen doesn’t like a lot of things. Are you not the Queen here? Is it not your prerogative to take whatever, WHOever you pleased? Whether it was him or Tash (or both of them, those traitor thoughts thrilled).
Not that you have any intention to, of course! You’re just going to extract what you can from the ambassador, that is your only purpose here.

>>39551296
3/3
And yet Cennen’s jealousy doesn’t seem capable of letting him just stand by even during this innocent exchange, you can almost feel him glowering him behind you. Tash must surely be aware of it.
You need some sort of excuse to send him away before he fucks everything up.

"Still, at least you seem to have been trained well. Cennen, I've got this in hand. Can you go check on what's taking Oster so long? He should be back by now."

That should do it.

“No, I think I’ll stay.”

His bald-faced refusal leaves you at a loss for words for a moment. Has he already forgotten what the two of you had spoken about? You were the Queen here, asserting your authority in an effort to make the ambassador pliable. And yet here he is, undermining that in Tash’ full view!
Not to mention that the issue of him glaring at the ambassador while you are trying to talk to him hasn't really been resolved. How are you supposed to get anything done?

> Make it clear who is charge in here.

> Do your best to leave him behind.

> Relent and look weak in the process.

> Other

>>39551344
>> Make it clear who is charge in here.

>>39551344
>> Make it clear who is charge in here.

>>39551344
> Relent and look weak in the process.

> Make it clear who is charge in here.

You digest a little more of the scattered wreck of Alder's soul so that you can plaster a convincing smile over your face.
"I beg your pardon?"
You let your tone completely freeze over as a contrast to let the servant know just how badly he's messing up.

And yet, Cennen seems unbowed. You should have expected that. One of his more fascinatingly awful traits.
"I said that I think I'll stay here. With you."
Does he not realize how transparent he is being right now?

This is your fault, isn't it? You've always given him too much slack, allowed him his cute little insubordinations. But now you can't afford to be seen as weak. What can you do to make him listen?
Ah. That makes sense.

You slap him, hard enough to shift his head to the side and to make him stagger back in surprise. The sound echoes through the rambunctious ballroom and you're very thankful that everyone is far too preoccupied with the dandelion catastrophe.
Cennen looks at you with an expression you've never yet seen before from him. Does he feel betrayed? Confused? Did he think the wishbond stopped you from inflicting pain?
You can see the imprint of your hand welting upon his cheek and yet it doesn't bring you satisfaction. There's barely any vindictive pleasure leaping within your heart. Only a sort of ...sickness, like you'd swallowed a bad egg.

"Go. Find. Oster. Are you not the servant? Am I not your master?"

It seems to finally dawn on him that he's been undermining you and he strides away without even a word back in your direction. You have defeated him and perhaps even broken his spirit for good in a single blow.
So why can't you feel good about it? You eye his lingering disappearance for a second too long.

Even Tash has lost his luster when you turn back to him. Nothing seems right.

> "Sometimes servants need to be reminded their place."

> Don't even acknowledge what just happened.

> Make an excuse to leave after Cennen.

> Other

>>39551697
>> Don't even acknowledge what just happened.

>>39551697
> Don't even acknowledge what just happened.

>>39551697
>> Don't even acknowledge what just happened.
Lets face it, we're acting a part here, whether or not we want it to be who we actually are or not the great play must go on.

>>39551697
> Make an excuse to leave after Cennen.

>>39551755
Can we have tash waifu as best waifu?

Anyone else hoping Cennen just goes off later? Like Full crazy alchemist?

>>39551697
I am torn between acting in character and what I want to happen and am refraining from voting

>>39551755
Second

> Don't even acknowledge what just happened.

"So how goes the treaty?"
You leap to a convenient piece of small talk, refusing to acknowledge Cennen's departure at all. You are playing a part right now, even if it is the part that you will someday become. You weren't able to quell his public insubordination before it became noticeable so the best you can do is to at least appear that such physical discipline is trivial to you, an action not even worth mentioning.
You won't apologize to him later. Probably.

"The treaty has almost been completed," Tash says. "In all truth, I played very little part in it. Just a signature and a vow, little more. We didn't partake often in the war and so I am here to witness, little else."

"And just how is your homeland, these Witchlands of Quedesh? The humans here have a lot of tall tales about you."

Tash nods, a tiny short bow in recognition of your desires.
"Words better left unspoken here, my fair lady. Quedeshi words are not for the unworthy."

"And I'm not worthy?"
You decide to make it abundantly clear to him that for all his foppery, he's still treading on very thin ice. It doesn't seem to affect him at all.

"You are worth more than everyone else here combined. There are none who do not deserve them more than you."
Yes, that was good. That was exactly what you wanted to hear.
"But among these humans, true talk of Quedesh is dangerous. Shall we retire to my chambers? There I can speak to you of my homeland for all you desire."
And fulfill any other desires you might have, the words leap out unspoken and you can't stop yourself from squirming a little.
No. Stop that.

> Acquiesce.

> Demand to speak in the ballroom.

> Agree to go elsewhere but to a place of your choosing instead of his.

> Other

>>39552023
>other
He just seems to want to get us alone maybe this isn't such a good idea

Like this will work but whatever

>>39552023
>> Demand to speak in the ballroom.

>>39552023
>> Agree to go elsewhere but to a place of your choosing instead of his.

>>39552023
>> Agree to go elsewhere but to a place of your choosing instead of his.

>>39552023
>> Demand to speak in the ballroom.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Looks like a tie between staying in the ballroom and negotiating a place of your choosing. Evens for the former, odds for the latter.

>>39552226
> Agree to go elsewhere but to place of your choosing instead of his.

"Why, so you can isolate me and try to work me over? I thought I just told you before, if I want something, I take it. You go where I tell you to go, human."

"As you wish."
He offers no resistance whatsoever. Is it a ploy on his part or simply the result of a lifetime spent serving snakes? Or could it be that you are simply an irresistible force? You like the sound of that more than the other two options so it's probably true.

But where do you take him?

> See if you can get into some other part of the palace.

> Out to the carriages.

> Out to the carriages and then take them back to the Trebain House

> Abduct him.

> Other

>>39552307
> See if you can get into some other part of the palace.
Secluded balcony, Supply closet, etc.

>>39552307
> Out to the carriages.

where'd everyone else go?

>>39552307
>> See if you can get into some other part of the palace.
>>39552488
Shit missed the update

>>39552319
This. I can't really participate much but remember that acting in character is good but this is still a character development thread for hiss

>>39552307
Carriages

>>39552307
>> Out to the carriages.

>>39552505
>Character development in a supply closet.

Do you just want Hiss to give him a quickie or something?

>>39552540
No that's the opposite of what I want. I want the balcony. That was more of advice in general for the thread since I'm too busy to participate consistently

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>39552319
>>39552372
>>39552504
>>39552505
>>39552508
>>39552518

Looks like another tie. Evens for carriages, odds for palace.

>>39552505
And by character development I mean character development contrary to her slutty urges

>>39552677
This is a message I can get behind

Let's just all vote for whatever makes that happen heh

Witch brings up the point sometimes I don't know what to vote for because I don't really know how it will be executed like right now all these choices seem pretty arbitrary so I don't know what I'm actually voting to do

> Out to the carriages.

You walk him from the ballroom, the two of you going almost unnoticed as you do so. That scarred humans are still being very loud about all sorts of trivial human matters that you don't care about at all.

The royal guard let the two of you pass back outside without incident, though one leers at the two of you, no doubt believing that this was some sort of tryst.
And would you be so disappointed if it was?

Well, Cennen wouldn't like it. But since when did you care about things like that? Why would his feelings rank higher than even your most fleeting and transient desire?
You remember his expression just before when you had hurt him. You don't want to see something like that. How dare he assault you like that?

Not like Tash, with his pleasant mask. You don't have to worry about that.

The two of you step out by where the carriages are still lined up in the courtyard. You open the door of the closest one, the coachman getting the drift and leaving hastily as Tash takes your hand and helps you into the coach.

You're not going anywhere but inside a carriage is nice and secluded as well as holding a little warmth against the cold of the night.
And it was cold, quite a bit cooler out here than it was in the ballroom.

You sit next to Tash and lean into him for his warmth. He's lucky he's so distinctly nonthreatening.

"I think I understand these," he says. "These are much like a palanquin."

"They lack the style though. Being borne aloft by slaves is a much better message than being carried by wheels."

"Your taste is impeccable, as to be expected. I take it you approved of my palanquin? They are common from where I come."

"I did approve, it was a very pleasant spectacle all in all."
You neglect to mention the brief unsettling feeling that seeing him for the first time had caused. That he had both seen you and seen through you. Surely it was just him recognizing one of his rightful masters.
1/2

>>39552758
2/2

"I can't help but notice that you've been missing your men tonight, the faceless ones from the procession. The men who moved as one."

He laughs respectfully.
"They aren't truly faceless. They are slaves, ones that were raised along with me from birth. Their only duty is to serve me. They're very proud of their discipline. Shall I pass your compliments along?"

"If it pleases you."

> "Do you keep many slaves in Quedesh then?"

> When can your ship leave?

> Ask him about the constrictors.

> Demand his servitude.

> See if you can trap him within a hypnotic gaze. You'll take what you need to know.

> Other

>>39552735
Fair enough, I'll try to restrict those. That said however, the main immediate difference between going into the palace and the carriages is that the carriages are colder.

>>39552821
>> When can your ship leave?
Be direct.
I'd say the last one, but don't think the hypno-gaze will work. That mask must have a purpose.

>>39552821
> "Do you keep many slaves in Quedesh then?"
> When can your ship leave?
> Ask him about the constrictors.


> See if you can trap him within a hypnotic gaze. You'll take what you need to know.
Try to mix this in while questioning, him we do it right we're golden, we do it wrong hopefully he won't notice.

>>39552847
Wow ok so I inadvertently voted to cuddle with this fucking asshole who is causing me very real actual distress because yes I am fucking mad because it's god damn colder at the fucking carriages fuuuuccckk this Shit

>>39552902
Cold outside, warm inside, Why did you think I voted for palace and added suggestions? Servants and Cennen are going to get the wrong idea no matter what.

>>39552821
I vote to bite and kill this asshole and just count that as one vote killing him for every option presented for the rest of the time he is in our presence fuck

>>39552919
Cold may make her wake up. Stop getting all touchy feely head over heels for him.

Or.. it could mean she forgets about Cennen gives no shits and fucks him.

>>39552821
> See if you can trap him within a hypnotic gaze. You'll take what you need to know.

>>39552932
Anon I know you're waifuing Hiss ahrd, but she's not going to kill him until she get to Quedesh at the earliest.


This is what we get for waifuing a literal snake in the grass with no real thoughts to the future, a superiority complex, has no people skills, and usually could care less about who she hurts to get what she wants.

>>39552959
The cold literally just made her Cuddle Tash in the last update. If clumsy oafish Cennen could touch her while cold, imagine what Tash could get away with?

>>39552979
I don't even care about hiss really I just hate this guy so much and I don't know why and I don't like that I have no idea what voting for what does

>>39553019
This quest is rather thought intensive. Calm down and think. If we did that more we'd be in better shape.

>>39552821
Hypnotic gaze

>>39553040
How bout before we vote we all discuss what we think each option will do so we can solve this together

>>39553062
Yeah, might be best. Can we at least question him while trying to stare him? If we do is subtly he'll go down easier, or prove he's a snake easier. The more questions the better for us anyways as we get more info.

>>39553095
I like this change
>>39553046

To this guy's plan

> When can your ship leave?
> See if you can trap him within a hypnotic gaze. You'll take what you need to know.

Alright, you've had enough time for fun. It's time for you to simply take what you want. Is that not your duty to yourself?

"When can your ship leave? The earliest time?"

He stalls for but a moment, seeming a little surprised that you are still focused on your original goal.
As it should be. His powers are no match for your own and it's about time he truly recognized that.

"Alas, I cannot place your demands over that of my country, even for you. After the treaty is signed, no earlier. It should only be two more days if all goes well."

He's not being entirely honest with you. You're not sure how you know but you can just TELL. Why else is he here? Does being the signatory of a mostly meaningless treaty really mean that much to Quedesh, a country so far away that conflict here cannot touch them?
You consider simply asking him this as bluntly as you can but you don't particularly feel like the answer he could give you. You'll take your answer the proper way, from his soul.

You lean into him as closely as you can, feeling his pulse increase underneath all of his robes. He fears you, just a little. As it should be.
"Tell me more about your homeland."

You let yourself drift closer and closer as he speaks about Quedesh and it's satrapies, a bevy of slave kingdoms tied to the true heartland of Qesh where the constrictors dwelt.

A lot of human details that you don't care for but you're close enough now to meet his eyes. You are the predator and he is the prey. It's not as difficult as you think, ensnaring that glitter of consciousness behind the mask. In fact it might even be a little easier than usual. There's no futile struggle, the last resistance of a prey already inside your mouth.

They breed humans willing in Qesh.

You coil yourself around his soul, pushing his comatose form along the carriage seat and slamming your hand along his chest.
1/2

>>39553205
2/2

He is yours.

> Eat the memories of his trip here to help divine any true purpose.

> Eat his much earlier memories for information on the constrictors.

> Eat away all of his earlier memories.

> Give in and swallow his soul.

> Other

>>39553247
>> Eat his much earlier memories for information on the constrictors.
He kinda needs the rest.

>>39553247
> Eat his much earlier memories for information on the constrictors.

>>39553247
So what is the possibility his soul is trapped

I'd be all for devouring this guy but we have had run in with bad soul before

>>39553247
>> Eat the memories of his trip here to help divine any true purpose.

>>39553247
Trip here.. as to the city? Or trip here as in coming with Hiss?

>>39553270
We eat his soul he dies and we lose getting the ship. He needs to be functional at the very least. unless you want angry big sneks how can roflstomp Hiss, Oster and Cennen in a 1v 3.

>>39553290
To this country in general.

>>39553287
True purpose and what he was really trying to accomplish while he was talking to us

>>39553247
>>39553290 My vote is backing up >>39553308

>>39553295
I know I was just thinking out loud I really wish we didn't need this guy

> Eat the memories of his trip here to help divine any true purpose.

Part of you doesn't want to hold back, just wants to swallow his delectable soul whole and carry him within you forever. But no, you need him, which is what makes him so temptingly frustrating.
He isn't someone who you can simply kill or injure until they no longer bother you. You need him in some sort of working order. And though while he might be useful for other things along the way, you can't help but feel a little offended by such forced reliance.
At least you have the excuse of the wishbond for Cennen.

You settle for identifying, isolating then devouring the thoughts about his trip here. The journey aboard his ship that had taken several months, even when going by a secret route that nobody save the Quedeshi knew of.
Well, the Quedeshi and you that is.

They had stopped several times, the most recent at a Venish island city called Venni. Tash had enjoyed his stay there quite a lot, singing songs to pretty ladies. But he hadn't gone any further than that. Why?

Probably not your concern. You aren't going to go there with him either. Are you? For a moment you are extremely aware of his body beneath your hands before returning to digesting the chosen scraps of his soul.
You aren't polite or neat about your extractions either, leaving ragged bite wounds in his consciousness. And yet otherwise the entire thing is so...clean. His soul was unmarked before you began to have your way with him. He'd never been fed upon. Odd.

And there, deep within his memories of his travels, you divine the great marked chest. The chest currently aboard his ship now, still in the harbor. It was immensely heavy and filled with...with...something that Tash didn't know about. He'd been instructed not to open it, that he would know when it was proper to do so.

1/2

>>39553627
2/2

You rip the rest from him in one gulp, a rush of routes and travel information. Now he'll need to take you because how else could he ever find his way back home?
...Or one of the many sailors aboard the ship knew the way. That was probably more likely. Damn.

You sit there for a long minute, thinking on what to do next.

> Take off his mask, you're curious.

> Keep eating. You need to know more! Who gave him these instructions!

> Rouse him.

> Other

>>39553705
> Take off his mask, you're curious.
> Keep eating. You need to know more! Who gave him these instructions!
You can replace him, looking like him till you leave on a boat will be a small price to pay.

>>39553732
we can kill him?
Oh can we can we!
But is it smart...

>>39553705
>> Take off his mask, you're curious.
then put it back
> Rouse him.

>>39553764
Constrictors would Id in a second. If he can see Hiss for what she is, his masters would do so as well.

>>39553764

Fuck it I support.
>>39553732

>>39553732
Unless there's a constrictor Hibernating on the ship in that chest.

>>39553785
Ugh now I'm not sure my bloodlust has left me blind

>>39553836
Oh god I just had a thought

He's some constructors alchemist
Maybe

Now I feel maybe bad if I'm right

>>39553887
And if I'm right we already fucked up bad. No no it can't be. We have to check in for a penny in for a pound

>>39553785
This

>>39553705
Check under the mask and find out more about his past

>>39553705
> Take off his mask, you're curious.

>>39553705
>> Take off his mask, you're curious.
That mask has to have some purpose. It's too fancy not to.
I have to know. Why does he wear the mask?

> Take off his mask, you're curious.
> Keep eating. You need to know more! Who gave him these instructions!

This only whet your appetite for knowledge. You need more! And how can possibly say no when a banquet has been laid out before you?
But first, while that mask has been so very comforting, you can't help but wonder what lies underneath it.

Your hand on his chest drifts upward, fingers hooking under the bottom edge of the golden mask before slipping it up. There's a band holding it tight to his braided hair but it's no challenge to work it off to reveal...

A human face. You're not sure what you were expecting. Some sort of grotesque disfigurement or wound? But no, he appears to be fully formed, his skin quite darker than the nut-brown skin of the Jheri humans but still far from the obsidian coloration of the Kheprites.
He is clean-shaven and you suppose his face would be considered quite effete by the standards of Teleran but you find it to be quite a striking look.
His lips are stained purple, a deep shade almost indistinguishable from red. No, not stained, a hesitant touch confirms. Some sort of lasting ink.
Your investigation causes his already slack muscles to relax, his mouth drifting open. His teeth are perfectly white but it's not those that catch your interest immediately. Marked upon the flat of his tongue is a black spiral, a crude snake coiled in around itself to infinity.

The design of the mark itself is unfamiliar to you but its purpose is not. Had you not administered one yourself just scant days ago? This is a brand, not just one of ownership but of Art.
Just what is this supposed to be?

You can't resist it any further. You need to dig deeper. You wrap yourself around his soul and begin to wound it further and further, snipping away memories and emotions years dead.
1/2

>>39554208
>Marked upon the flat of his tongue is a black spiral, a crude snake coiled in around itself to infinity.
Sonuvabitch literally had a hypnotic tongue. No wonder he got to Hiss.

>>39554247
Should cut out his tongue, could be useful for alchemic brews.

>>39554208
Damn I just got here. Eating more of his memories was a bad call guys come on

>>39554267
I doubt it. Only reason we can use our gift is that it's quantifiable venom.

>>39554284
Yeah only 2 anons voted for it.

>>39554208
2/2

...You had only been five years old when your father had presented you with the flute, a double-piped contraption small enough to fit in your child's fist.
Just a toy, he had said while your mother had cried. If little Tash could master it, he would give him a bigger one...

...You'd always had a good voice and could recite all of the Songs that you knew. You spent your days adrift in the dreams of the heroes presented within, each of the Illustrious Songs dedicated to only the grandest of humans that had brought glory to the true masters of Qesh. You didn't have musical accompaniment but you'd been trained since birth in the art of the Shedal, the spoken rhythm. Your father takes away your flute and gives you one nearly twice its size, teaching you the secret breathing methods from which one could inhale without interrupting the melody. You ask him what this is all for and he beats you until your chamberpot the next morning is stained red. You do not ask again...

...You are twelve years old, now well-trained in the Jabi flute. Your father presents you with the Jabit flute, a behemoth that is taller than you and one that you cannot lift even with both hands. This is the final step, he tells you. Not long after, you are withdrawn from the teaching houses and told to stay away from the others. Your tongue is not for humans...

...Your mother dies when you are thirteen. Your father doesn't seem to notice until a few days later. As some of the highest scions of Qesh, your family has the honor of presenting her to the high lords themselves. Burial by serpent, the greatest honor. It is the first time you've ever seen any of the masters. They come in their true forms and your father holds your head and stops you from looking away as one of them slowly swallows the corpse whole. Near the end he nudges you forward and tells you to sing for the revered guests.
2/3

>>39554480
>Hiss develops emotional attachment to him.
Clearly he is her husbando.

>>39554517
Eh, hiss killing him would be quite honorable for him.

>>39554480
You do realize the eating memories got 2 votes right?

>>39554480
3/3

It is the first time you have sung for anyone who wasn't your father. You sing the Song of Nashi, the Shedal devoted to your most well-known ancestor, he who had traveled with a Scaled Lady for many months before giving his life to feed her in the desert. This was many hundred of years ago. The masters listen and later one of them speaks to your father. They will consider it, they tell him...

...You are fifteen when you finally master the Jabit flute. You play it for your father's funeral, a ceremony attended by only you and the snake eating him. The snake doesn't grant you the honor of assuming human form but tells you that she needs a new bardsman. You accept it and take a venomous kiss...

...You throw the woman to the floor at the feet of your most honored Lady. Nothing but a foreign slave captured in the Jheri war, she had attempted to seduce you to gain her freedom. And then when you had refused, she had attempted to kill you and you had only been saved by the quick actions of your Ishmin, the slave guards who had lived silently within your compound from birth. You could have told her that it had been futile. The strength of the masters was too much. She would have been caught again. And the seduction attempt? You, who had been preserved by your Lady, held no desire for human women...

And then suddenly you are Hiss once more as someone knocks on the side of the carriage.
"Oi, what's going on? Who's in here?"

> "None of your business!"

> Offer to pay him.

> Attack.

> Ignore it.

>>39554692
> "None of your business!"

>>39554556
Yeah I'm way too tired today, sorry. I miscounted.

>>39554692
> "None of your business!"
Are you going to take another 2 votes and then force it through?

>>39554692
> "None of your business!"

>>39554711
Second

> "None of your business!"

"None of your business! Go away!"

Whoever it is hears the sudden anger in your voice and decides that it isn't worth their time. Or pay. Whoever the fuck they are. Can't they tell they're interrupting something?

And it's well and truly interrupted now. You can see Tash's eyelids flutter as your attention wavers. Is he waking back up already? You weren't even done!
Not that you were interested in his shitty human life but the small bits about snakes themselves was more interesting. You didn't even get to whatever the brand did yet!

> Let him wake.

> No.

>>39554866
>> Let him wake.

>>39554866
>> No.
Brand info stat.

>>39554866
>>39554887
This.

>>39554866
> Let him wake.

>>39554866
God hiss is dumb gee I wonder what this brand did when he new just what to say to me all the time gorsh

We've come this far. We might as well Snag the brand info as well.

>>39554887
Guess we got to know for sure

Third

>>39554866
Just so we're clear, if we vote no do we have to keep looking through his mind?
Because I just want him unconscious and not annoying us.

Yeah none of this is coming off well at all. I'm fucking it all up. I knew I shouldn't have run today, I don't have the feel for it and I feel legit terrible, which is throwing me off a lot. But I'd already postponed it yesterday.
Sorry, you guys don't deserve this sort of subpar shit. I think it's actually my duty to not write at all when I'm like this. I'll do another thread in a few days time, going back to Cennen. Twitter will have the details when it comes I guess.

>>39555044
>About to learn if the brand is mind mojo.

Divert! Quick back to Cennen!

>>39555044
Can you at least write up the last bit about his brand before you go? Also thanks for running.

>>39555044
Thanks for running dude.

>>39555044
I just want to get through this rough patch of plot quickly

>>39555044
Are you gonna archive it or should I?

>>39555044
Your doing good I'm not even raging like the end of last thread

if this guy was supposed to be a bad guy well done I really hated the Shit out of him

If he wasn't well Uh better luck next time champ...

HAVE WE CAUGHT ANY SNAKES YET?

>>39555190
Just the one and it seems to be more trouble than its worth

>>39555089
>>39555072

You hold him under, preventing him from waking. No, you're not done with him yet. You won't allow it. You drive your fangs into his soul one more time, aiming for one particular aspect alone.

The brand is a strange one, containing an Art that you don't think even exists back in Snakehome. A Snake Art designed for purely human use. It's the 'hiss', the snakespeech mark.
It allows humans to speak with snakes while the snakes are in their true forms. And yet it carries with it the unavoidable side-effect of forever modulating their voice to something that snakes find inherently comfortable, even when speaking regularly.

You have but a moment to ponder the implications of this before Tash's hand closes around your arm.

>>39555231
Oh...

>>39555176
You can, if you're willing. If not I'll come back and do it later when I don't feel like shit.

>>39555177
He wasn't meant to be a bad guy but I really wanted you to hate him, if that means anything.

>>39555190
its an ongoing process

>>39555231
Well this is going to be fun, at least Hiss knows why she likes him now. Although now this is going to be bad.

>>39555282
Thanks for running!

>>39555282
Well done then I guess still wanna kill him even if he isn't a bad guy even if I know for a fact it will be 10 times harder to achieve our goals if it was solely up to me he would be dead.

So good job I guess something about him just rubs me the wrong way I can't even put my finger on it

so this whole thread is cennen getting cucked?

>>39555434
>cucked
Go back to /pol/

But seriously nothing lewd happened and Hiss figured out why she was attracted to him. he got marked with Snaketongue which means he speaks snake and has a voice they like.

>>39555529
She's attracted to him because she recently developed human desires but still has no human sense of right and wrong

>>39555553
>Implying she'll ever have that.

>>39555434
Turns out he is so smooth with the snake lady's he can have her turn on her companion and slap the Shit out of him without even trying

>>39555434
That was last thread. This one is similar. Cennen just got bitch slapped from interrupting Hiss's private time.

>>39555613
>>39555633
Well he did just disobey her orders. That'd earned most anyone else a death sentence. Honestly don't see why anons like her.

>>39555633
Yeah no plot no mind control just being in her presence

really goes to show you how much Cennen actually means to hiss I say we WISH her luck and just fuck off on our own we'll probably get killed by the goons after us but we don't know that

She obviously doesn't give a Shit so why should we

>>39555684
Now I just want to go find our pet and go on cool alchemical adventures, fuck this snake bullshit

>>39555714
I could have told you that anon. She's the devil's daughter, that isn't a good thing.

>>39555730
We'll see. I doubt Bunyip is findable now though.

Can we change to Bunyipcatcher quest?

>>39555684
I don't think many people like her anymore actually see the latest replys

>>39555778
Because they got smacked with the cold hard reality that she isn't tsun, but a massive soul eating, narcissistic, vindictive, short sighted, cold hearted bitch?

Yeah I saw. Too late Cennen is already too far in because of waifuism.

>>39555810
Let's see vote right now

>>Fuck the snake (leave)
>>Fuck the snake (stay)

>>39555831
If only it were that simple. Us leaving means death full stop. If Hiss doesn't kill us for treachery, if we can somehow best Oster and if the Quedeshi doesn't send his men after us the snake man will find and kill us to get at Hiss.

Yeah the direction that the last couple threads has been going in has really started turning me off

>>39555865
Well if hiss kills us poetic tragedy end cannot fight the nature of the beast

And we don't know that there is guys after us he'll maybe we feel so betrayed we help them catch her

>>39555965
Anon the snake man thing knows our face. It's after us so it can get to Hiss. It doesn't take prisoners. All this provided we can dodge the other pitfalls before it.

>>39555926
I can kinda see what the qm was going for but he laid it on way to thick

>>39555988
You're surprised that the daughter of the devil only cares about her self and her owns urges to the detriment of everyone else? That's been her character since day 1.

>>39555983
Well were fucked ether way I guess to quote '' The computer war tennis shoes" the only winning move is not to play

>>39556002
I thought we had some nice character development going on but this kind of ruins it all

>>39556002
according to Ouro's ask.fm this was supposed to be a chance for her to put cennen's feelings before her own desires and provide some character development but that kinda never happened for some reason

>>39556002
Eh call me a softy but I was sorta hoping for a redemption arc but don't worry that dream is dead

>>39556029
Because all these guys bitching voted to treat Cennen like shit.

I kept voting for that. Anons are pricks.

Literally in the first two fucking votes, "Don't treat Cennen like shit?"

Followed by "Maybe.. salvage it?"

And these guys that are throwing a fucking fit.. voted for this.

>>39556029
That's what he wanted to do man where was the option to make that happen I would have voted for that in a heart beat

>>39556025
Thing is she's always been and always will be a selfish snake. We just got better at playing her desires against her pride and other emotions.

>>39556023
Yeah Cennen is pretty much fuck over no matter what now.

>>39556029
Thing is would she really ever do so? It'd be blatantly OOC, which he even said in part of that post. She's selfish always has been always will be.

>>39556047
Ouro straight up said she's trying to be a BBEG. If we wanted Redemption Cennen should have lead, not followed.

>>39556070
>>39556078
Matter of all those votes being OOC for her. Really redemption for her unless something changes radically is a pipe dream at best.

>>39556070
What vote would have made that happen

>>39556078
You stupid fuck.
> Relent and look weak in the process.

But more solidly

> Make an excuse to leave after Cennen.

>>39556094
We could have followed Cennen after we slapped him. Unfortunately I wasn't here to vote for that option

>>39556091
She clearly felt awful about slapping him. I don't think it would have been out of character to vote to go after him at all.

>>39556100
I voted for both of those guess I should have same faced then

>>39556091
I don't think you understand the concept of character development

>>39556127
You didn't vote for the first one. I was the only one who did.

You may have seconded the second one. But the actual vote for it.. was me.

>Pissed off because waifu treated them like shit
>They voted for her to treat them like shit

>>39556126
and? That's just proof Cennen is Being a shitty servant making her feel that way. She's a bitch.

>>39556127
If this is going to turn into samefag quest so you can get a waifu this is going to go down hill fast. What do you see in her?

>>39556148
I do, but what has Cennen done for her? Almost nothing. Additionally he ignored her orders. Why would she reward such churlish behavior? She's the queen he must no his place, beneath her. At her boots.

>>39556164
what is IC behavior?

>>39556100
Wow 2 of 3 people got to vote the first one and 3of 5 the second so few people got to decide to ruin the characters relationship

>>39556149
Yeah sorry I didn't get to vote in the first one but I would have had I saw it and I was the second in the second one

>>39556186
I wish I got in here earlier, this whole thing was a huge clusterfuck

>>39556180
Last thread. Cennen outright shoved her and she took it in stride.

She's also been warming up to him. Instead of choosing to maintain the relationship you voted to treat Cennen like shit.

Then get upset.. when Cennen is treated like shit.

All of those options were IC. The QM wouldn't have written them if they weren't in the realm of possibility.

>>39556235
The thing is 2 people got to decide the fate of an entire thread basically and it was important so perhaps the entire quest

>>39556235
I'm not upset. Then again I never liked her to begin with.

Can you really see her suborning herself to ANYONE, let alone Cennen?

>>39556164
switching to Hiss's POV was a huge mistake

>>39556255
The first vote was iffy?

The second vote I could totally see her going after him.

You let your dislike of the character tank things.

I really hope you're not also one of the fools voting to abandon her... because the relationship between them is the premise of the quest.

>>39556267
Yes it was. Because I probably lean too far into the be nice category. Where everyone else was afraid of being out of character so they hardlined bitch.

>>39556281
Well after this some major Shit has to go down or quest over I guess...

>>39556281
>because the relationship between them is the premise of the quest.

I think you're mistaken in that because Cennen got wishes off her he MUST waifu her. But not the point.

I voted to stay Ic with her. No more no less. I also vote against Cennen leaving, for now anyways. He needs to realize just how little he means to her(compared to herself) before he goes off on his own. He takes his promises seriously after all and promised to serve her.

>>39556337
>before he goes off on his own.

This is snake catcher quest. Not Wandering Alchemist.

I'm not saying that wouldn't be an interesting idea.

But you're literally trying to throw away the premise because you don't like one of the main characters.

Hiss was warming up to Cennen and he was starting to mean more.

Apparently according to the Ask. This was a big moment where Hiss could have changed.

You assisted in shooting that down.

Your prejudices are keeping the status quo.

>>39556396
Fuck I don't know what to do I wish I could have gotten here a little earlier all this could have been avoided I feel personally responsible

>>39556434
I feel the same way bro

>>39556434
It happens and honestly could have been a lot worse.

>>39556434
Same here. At least they didn't vote to bang the ambassador though

Just think, Cennen could've waifu'd one of the twins

>>39556479
>boring peasant waifu
no thanks

>>39556452
Heh just thing the 3 people in this chain could have swung all the first votes

This quest really is a tragedy

>>39556396
>This is snake catcher quest. Not Wandering Alchemist.
Quest have artifact or nonsensical names all the time anon. Additionally we'll be dealing with Snake catchers looking for Hiss for year to come regardless how we vote.

>But you're literally trying to throw away the premise because you don't like one of the main characters.
Not throwing away anything, Cennen is still going to be next to her for a while. He may never leave. That going off on his own was hypothetical.

>Hiss was warming up to Cennen and he was starting to mean more.

Hiss>Her desires>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Cennen

>Apparently according to the Ask. This was a big moment where Hiss could have changed.
And all the votes for it would have Made Hiss not herself and turned her into generic quest waifu #whatever.

>You assisted in shooting that down.
>Your prejudices are keeping the status quo.
Because we had no options to change that which wouldn't make Hiss act 180 degrees from what she normally did.


>>39556434
>>39556452
>>39556463
>>39556474
>>39556546
>MUh waifu
>Anons making her be mean and ansty
>Not her fault.
Wake up. She's an evil self-serving bitch. She always ahs been. Cennen is being led around by his boner cause she has a pair of tits. If this was genderbent. R63Hiss would have been ditched or bound to our will with a wish and we'd be pursuing our own adventures and lots of /U/ action.

>>39556761
Well it seems probably you and 2 other people got to pick so I guess your right

>>39556789
>Wanting her to act like a whipped bitch despite never being one ever.
>Wanting her to show weakness
>Wanting her to be nice, good kind.
Waifu goggles are strong with you anon.

Alright, let's start conniving on how to make this right rather than pissing away the night, talking about how this went wrong. To do so, we'll need to tabulate available resources. Assuming that we dispatch Tash, we'll have two days to enact plans, maybe more on the voyage. We can see that Hiss has developed some remorse, but not enough to break character.

The problem at hand is that Cennen feels betrayed and used, and/or is questioning whether or not he ever meant anything to Hiss at all. I'd like to chalk down the deeper root of this issue as one of trust. All too often in character, we simply don't trust Hiss to do the right thing, maybe even in situations where she can be; I.E. sussing out Tash's motivations. Perhaps trying to understand Hiss' boundaries better could help?

In Hiss' shoes, I think it's much more clear-cut. We had to define our relationship. All this ambiguity makes it harder for quest readers to under Hiss' boundaries playing as Cennen. Perhaps we can use the time before the ship to do so?

My solution is to have a long talk with Cennen essentially; to define our relationship, establish borders, and suss out what Cennen means to her exactly. I believe that I've an in-character motivation and opener. In thread 12, Hiss admitted she made a mistake.

>>39252209
You jump a little before turning around. It looks like the snake had transformed back into Hiss while both of you had been caught up in speaking with each other. She has a strange look on her face that you can't identify.
"This insistence was my mistake."

We can start the conversation by stating that Hiss *thinks* she *may* have made a mistake. This will allow Cennen to air his grievances, stuff about how she always places herself first, etc. It'll be another potential watershed moment like immediately after striking Cennen. Hopefully this time, dice or player votes will lead us the right way.

>>39556813
I never said anything like that

I think you did a good job you picked a stance and stuck with it and it's not the typical stance of the board.

Even if I disagree your side was the one that got chosen so that must have been what the people wanted I'm not top proud to admit when I'm in the minority.

I'm sure if nothing else what happens next will be interesting.

>>39556396
>Your prejudices are keeping the status quo.
>This is snake catcher quest. Not Wandering Alchemist.
Er, not that I favor his approach either, but don't those two statements conflict a bit? Both entail letting votes be guided by a premise (the basis of the quest, the nature of snakes / Hiss).

But eh. We've made it out of the worst timeline before, maybe we can do so again. Dragging even more loose ends behind us the whole way, no doubt, but still.

>>39556761
She's developing an understanding of human relationships through Cennen.

Following Cennen after striking him wouldn't have been a total 180. But you're biased and hate the character.

Hiss isn't a guy and if she was I have a feeling there would be a different style of writing and it'd be more a chauvinist mind set.

Whether Cennen would or would not be around in that instance we're unable to determine because it didn't happen.

I'm not going to argue with you anymore about it. It's pointless. Neither of us is going to shift.


Overall it was said earlier, possibly by you that we really shouldn't have taken Hiss's perspective for this.. and I whole heatedly agree.

However that leads to the problem that if Hiss had taken the same exact course of actions which would be enough to piss me off, we would be unable to determine if they were under her own power or if she was being influenced by Tash.

>>39556863
Another thing of note is that Hiss had never deliberately and maliciously tried to hurt Cennen, until now. I feel that its safe to say that Hiss, despite her selfishness, doesn't want to. It's always been accidents or misunderstandings. We need to establish in the following conversation that Hiss doesn't want to hurt Cennen, due to wishbond as well as personal fondness.

>>39556863
Hmm sounds good let's hope it's not at the very beginning of a thread where only a few people can make the decision

>>39556892
Yes it will be interesting.

>>39556895
Indeed. Let us see what happens with Cennen next thread. We spent a good deal of time with Hiss, meaning Cennen has likely stepped in it.

>>39556904
>Hiss doesn't want to hurt Cennen
Until he disobeys her again, at least.

>>39556863
We'll be controlling Cennen for the next thread

>>39556893
I see what you're saying. I think I'm a bit miffed that we've got, "I vote Hiss treats Cennen like shit," followed by, "WOW DID YOU SEE THAT? HISS TREATED HIM LIKE SHIT! WHAT A CUNT LETS LEAVE!"

>>39556957
See, I voted the former and am not overly upset over it. I came to terms with Hiss being a cunt long ago. I was just surprised it took anons so long to figure out she's not a nice person, at all.

>>39556957
I think by the time more of the people invested in the quest got here it was already to late

>>39556940
That's why we need to establish exactly what our relationship is and what Hiss expects of it. Hiss needs to tell her that we need to trust her in some things. That way, we won't be stepping on each others toes while trying to do the things that we think are right. If Hiss treats Cennen like a team member rather than a tool, we can help.

In character, as Cennen, we need to make this clear. We are not a tool, and we don't think our relationship is that of master-tool. There needs to be communication and trust.

>>39556976
She's a horrid person. Eats babies. We're all aware.

She generally treats Cennen decently.

>>39556993
Yeah we'll have to talk. But her actually listening isn't her strong suit.

>>39557008
for the vast majority of it(til now-ish) she treated us decently cause of the wish bond and we gave into her will.

>>39556993
Yeah when we are Cennen we never know if she actually has the situation in hand or if it's just bluster she is confident to a fault so we worry

File: Sad.gif (448 KB, 500x275)

448 KB GIF

>tfw I missed the thread and now everything I warned ouro about is happening

>>39557089
Which was? I'm curious.

>>39557107
Anons hating hiss
Hiss POV going poorly
Anons getting 300% mad

>>39557029
I don't think so. We've never really talked about this specifically with the goal of comprehension. It was always, "Hiss, please don't do that." Or, "Cennen, I'm going to do this because I'm a Snake, get out of way." If we can establish with each other why they act the way the do, really get everything out in the open and air all our expectations, we can make progress. Cennen can't just go on thinking, "Hiss has self-esteem problems." Hiss has to say, "I really need you to comply when I put my foot down, or else I can act irrationally. That's just the way I am." We really can't afford any more ambiguity at all.

I'm going to point down what went wrong in this instance. We know for a god-damn fact that Hiss has a self esteem issues. So when she puts her foot down on something, and we don't obey, there's going to be a real big problem. Just like when we defied her express issues in this case.

For Cennen, like >>39557052 says, Hiss is really cocky and we can't always trust her. We have to learn to recognize when to do so. It's another thing we can do as players to resolve this: to give her some more slack. She really needed just a bit more last thread. We're good at not bending. We've got the endurance stats to match. But we have to learn to give just a little more.

>>39557135
>Anons hating hiss
Don't hate her, I just no she's horrible people
>Hiss POV going poorly
Went about how I expected it, but yeah waifu fags are hurt over it.
>Anons getting 300% mad
Shatttered preconceptions of waifu fags. They realize Hiss is neither good nor pure. MAkes em mad.


>>39557139
>I'm going to point down what went wrong in this instance. We know for a god-damn fact that Hiss has a self esteem issues. So when she puts her foot down on something, and we don't obey, there's going to be a real big problem. Just like when we defied her express issues in this case.
True and I could have told you what happened last thread when that vote finished. Anons and waifuing mucked it up again, like the kiss nearly killing us. If Cennen took off waifu goggles we'd be in a better place both with Hiss and in general.

>>39557135
I even predicted that anons would try to argue in favor of ditching Hiss and by extension the entire premise of the quest

>>39557201
I kind of agree with you on this point. Cennen has completely different expectations for what to get out of this relationship. We need for both Hiss and Snake to ground their expectations in reality.

If this means we'll have to put our romantic aspirations on hold for a bit to solidify our relationship and to understand each other, I'll vote for it in a heartbeat. Now really isn't the time for Cennen to look for romance in Hiss, in all honesty. Players have been jumping the gun too hard in that direction.

>>39557232
Bah. I meant Hiss and Cennen. That's late night stuff and "got-stabbed-with-epees-for-two-hours-a-bit-ago" me talking.

>>39557201
No one thought Hiss was "good," or "pure." We've known that since the start. Our first encounter she ate some of Cennens memories for fuck sake.

>>39557232
Don't forget that both hiss and Cennen have romantic affection for each other, the ambassador attraction was just a case of hiss following her new human bodys desires too much and having a different cultural view of romance. Not to mention that the idea of putting a servants wishes above her own is completely foreign to her

>>39557273
We do have a strong foundation and the chemistry is there. However, we have to resolve the massive obstacles and culture differences that are in the way, and understand each other better. Obstacle-wise, there's the trust issues with Cennen and the whole perception thing with Hiss. I don't think we can work those things out if Cennen keeps pushing Hiss and Hiss keeps shoving back or pulling away.

It's my opinion that if we develop a better dynamic, where we can work with each other instead of over or against each other, like we're doing know with Cennen keeping a tight leash and Hiss lashing out for that, we can build a stronger relationship that there can be romantic potential in. If we keep being adversarial while preforming basic functions, we'll tear each other apart. That means both Cennen and Hiss will have to take a step back and be honest with each other.

>>39557329
Unfortunately next thread butthurt anons will try to sabotage the relationship entirely when we take control of a heartbroken cennen

>>39557355
Why the fuck would he be heartbroken

>>39557329
Hmm rather than a complete disaster this could be a wake up call, rock bottom if you will

I can get behind that

>>39557355
I'm putting the epee and padded jacket for good next week. It's Spring already and I've better things than staying inside and waving bits of metal at people. Like staying inside and trying to herd a bunch of anons into acting like socially intelligent human beings.

>>39557371
He thinks hiss shaped his Shit and went off to be with that dude which is what happened

>>39557371
His waifu slapped him in the face and told him to fuck off so she could chat with the guy she is clearly attracted to.

>>39557220
>entire premise of the quest
We kinda already did that by letting Hiss lead. Honestly we could leave right now and quest would still work, considering we'd have snake catchers after us for the rest of our lives. Not saying we're going to at all, since Cennen swore and oath and take such seriously, but it's there.

>>39557232
Waifu fags gonna waifu hard. If Ouro hadn't said no lewd/smut they'd be trying to fuck her already.

>>39557259
So why are you so shocked she doesn't act like the ideal good and pure waifu? We disobeyed her. If Cenen was anyone else he'd be snakebit for that.

>>39557273
Well yeah. Still the waifuing is causing Cennen to not think. The nearly fatal kiss and this incident being case in point.

>>39557329
Yeah, hopefully we can talk with no interruptions, but getting to the talk IC won't be easy. Especially if Cennen did something stupid in the interim.

>>39557355
Oh wah Hiss was perfectly In character. Cennen isn't going to up and leave asap. Stop whining. I voted for the slap and I'll vote for Cennen to talk to her, after he cools off.
>>39557392
>>39557401
Which depending on how Ouro says Cennen sees it, may take a bit.

>>39557413
I'm not shocked. I'm ticked because anons voted to treat Cennen like shit. Then fucking bitched about it like it was a surprise.

It's not what I wanted but I didn't vote for it.

Worse. You keep posting, "See she's mean and evil! Let's bail!"

We're all aware she's evil. But you're trying to use a set of interactions decided by a minority to drive away from the original premis of the quest. Or at least that's what it appears to be.

It's a sort of a, "Hey I loaded the deck! Boy doesn't this game suck?"

I just want to point out that we've doubled the length of the actual thread with discussion/bitching about the thread

>>39557527
Well Qm can at least know his questers give a Shit and it seems like we have a plan for next thread which we could have used for this one but hey better late than never

>>39557527
Bitching and talking yeah. But I don't think any of us are actually mad or anything. It's not a shit storm.

>>39557611
So... what's the plan?

>>39557723
To reduce ambiguity as much as possible. Hiss can initiate in-character by suggesting that she might have made a mistake. This is in-line with what she has done before and her admissions of mistakes before. She only has to admit that she thinks she made a mistake, though obviously claiming it in full would be best. This is up to the QM. Hiss needs to tell Cennen that he needs to trust her and can't keep her in such a tight leash all the time. I would suggest that we stick to statements of fact. They have a bond. She cares for him, relatively speaking, a lot. It hurts her when he doesn't trust her. She doesn't want to and hates hurting him. She has self esteem issues and when she puts her foot down on certain matters with complete conviction, he needs to bend.

Cennen needs to tell Hiss what he expects from her. He wants a relationship, and this is obviously not what Hiss wants. They need to reconcile what they want and what they can give to one another. Cennen also needs to tell Hiss that he is not a Servant and she can not make him into a Servant, and that he'll never be a servant. But that he's willing to go with her wherever and support her whenever she needs it.

Hopefully, this will allow them to better understand each other *in-character* and to develop with each other, instead of because of and in response to each other.

>>39557723
Don't fuck up again!

Basically it's real talk time as soon as whatever Shit we caused that's not relationship stuff gets sorted out

>>39557805
>this is obviously not what Hiss wants.
Citation needed
>Cennen also needs to tell Hiss that he is not a Servant and she can not make him into a Servant
He literally swore to be her servant. That doesn't mean he can't be something more as well though

>>39557843
I meant a servant in the traditional sense; I.E., snakes can do no wrong, declare Jihad on all that oppose the glorious Snek. He'll support her fully in almost everything she does, but he has his limits.

As for the relationship stuff, Hiss has reciprocated affection and has gotten physical, but she has a lot of cultural stuff that makes the exact type of relationship Cennen wants difficult. Just look at the whole "considering claiming Tash" thing. To clarify, Hiss doesn't want the type of relationship that Cennen wants, though she does seem to want *a* relationship.

>>39557876
I get the feeling that she'll change her tune about the whole multiple partners idea when she sees what a wreck Cennen is in the next thread

>>39557876
Your so smart anon good job I feel better knowing someone has a handle on this Shit

>>39557843
>He literally swore to be her servant. That doesn't mean he can't be something more as well though
Remember Hiss's words when she was conveying the Art to Cennen.
>You shall and forever shall be my tool and I shall and forever shall be your master.
Her tool. not her ally. Her servant, not her partner. As long as either of them consider him bound to those words, he'll never truly be able to become more than maybe a favored underling, if that. And I don't know about you, but I want more for Cennen than that.

That said, if anything, I could see the swearing thing being a factor to drive Cennen away rather than keep him with her. Sure, he swore... after Ophi / Oster had kicked Cennen into kneeling position, while Hiss was striking down on Cennen ("It's too quick to be avoided.") And this was all right after Ophi was about ready to pull his sword on Cennen for not speaking respectfully enough regarding his princess.

The character did not consent to receiving Art, nor did he know if he'd survive refusing her. The whole matter was suddenly thrust upon him by Hiss like usual, and like usual, he went along with what seemed to be the safer option. But that's a status quo that can't keep forever.