You hear a skittering of pebbles echoing at the opening of your cave. It sounds like they're bouncing off of your cavern walls. Do you...
Keep your [[eyes closed->Eyes Closed]]
[[Open them|Eyes Open]] to the darknessYou look downward, protecting any innocent creatures from your dangerous gaze.
You hear more pebbles falling. What could be entering your caverns? Better check how you look before you go to meet them.
You glance at the [[lower part of your body|tail]]
[[Your hair|hair]] seems a little unrulyYour dangerous gaze doesn't hurt anyone because you keep your eyes shut.
You hear more pebbles falling. What could be entering your caverns? Better check how you look before you go to meet them.
Feel blindly along your [[face|face]]
Smooth your hands down along your [[torso|torso]]Your hands check your face as though you were looking in a mirror, wiping away stray dirt from cheeks, checking to make sure rows of teeth are well hidden behind your lips.
You think you look presentable enough and smile with anticipation. Although... you do feel like you're still missing something.
Is it your beautiful hand forged [[badass spear|spear]]
Or perhaps an [[old lipstick|lipstick]] that's a gorgeous blue to compliment your greenish skinWith sharp claws you quickly check over your scaly bod. Golden necklace celebrating the moon? Check. Scales moisturized? A little dry, so you splash some cool water from the nearby pool to make them all shiny.
You think you look presentable enough and smile with anticipation. Although... you do feel like you're still missing something.
Maybe it's your shimmery [[silk kimono|kimono]]
Or... some [[decorative body piercings|piercings]] you've been saving for a special occasionYou grab your spear and you feel even more glorious, strong, and beautiful.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Double check your [[torso too|torso]] before continuing.
Or... [[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]You apply the lipstick delicately to make sure you don't go too far beyond your lipline. It makes you feel as gorgeous as a swamp witch.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Double check your [[torso too|torso]] before continuing.
Or...[[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]You slither toward the opening with
(if:(history:) contains "spear" ) [...a tight grip on your spear]
(if:(history:) contains "lipstick" )[...your blue lips pursed]
(if:(history:) contains "kimono" ) [...the soft kimono silk against your scales]
(if:(history:) contains "piercings" )[... shiny golden nipples and ears]
(if:(history:) contains "cuffs" )[... golden cuffs adorned with warrior women]
(if:(history:) contains "harness" )[... leather straps all down your tail]
(if:(history:) contains "charms" )[... golden charms jingling in your serpentine locks]
(if:(history:) contains "scarf" )[...blue silk wrapped about your snake hairs]
... and manuever along the slick stone through a forest of tall rocks. These rocks are human shaped and you know them well. They're all the other humans who have come to visit you over the years. You pause to [[take a closer look|look]].You slip into the soft blue kimono, an image of something not unlinke you embroidered into the back. It's so soft on your scales, you feel absolutely luxurious and fancy.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[face too|face]] before continuing.
Or... [[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]You open the nearest treasure chest and root through it, tossing aside precious gems and delicate earrings for a pair of rad golden horn shaped ear plugs and two nipple sheilds in the shape of pentacles. They slip in to your piercings easily and glint in the halflight like shining beacons of your badass beauty.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[face too|face]] before continuing.
Or... [[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]You gaze backward at your long serpentine tail, scaly, green, and in need of a little moisturizing. You quickly dip in the pool of water by your basking rock and those scales are good as new.
You think you look presentable enough and smile with anticipation. Although... you do feel like you're still missing something.
It's probably those [[gold cuffs|cuffs]]
No it is definitely that [[leather harness|harness]]You look upward at the snakes dangling from your head. They are in complete disarray, groggy because they're still waking up from your nap. The strays are tucked and braided after a few moments of fussing, and the ones beginning to wake up slither into a nice pattern, understanding your intent.
You think you look presentable enough and smile with anticipation. Although... you do feel like you're still missing something.
Those [[golden hair charms|charms]] you love
A decorative [[silk hair scarf|scarf]]You dig through the nearest treasure chest full of more delicate jewels until you find gorgeous thick cuffs. They're golden and etched with images of the war of the Amazons. You arrange them carefully down along the end of your tail, almost making it look like you have a golden rattle. You feel regal like an Amazonian princess.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[hair|hair]] before continuing.
Or... [[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]Your clawed hands wrap long straps of leather in criss-crosses all the way down your scaly tail. They meet somewhere in the middle, attached by large golden rings and rivets. A few swishes of your tail and you nod in approval. You feel confident and strong in the tightly wrapped leather.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[hair|hair]] before continuing.
Or...[[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]You dig through the nearest treasure chest and pass up the delicate jewels for something a bit more you. Ah there it is, a small enameled box filled with tiny golden charms. You affix them to your snake hair by placing them around each little neck where they dangle like little collars. A few of the snakes puff air frustratedly out their noses but concede. You feel magical and mysterious.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[tail|tail]] before continuing.
Or...[[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]From a nearby pile you draw a beautifully patterned blue silk scarf. Your clawed hands wrap it around the base of your hair and forhead muliple times so that the snake hairs can do as they wish out the back. It makes you feel wild and free.
Still feeling a little ruffled? Fancy up your [[tail|tail]] before continuing.
Or... [[slither from your warm basking rock down toward the sound you heard|slither]]This one wears an expression of pure surprise. They bear no weapons or armor. They probably weren't expecting to see you here. It brings you sorrow because they meant you no harm, but here they are turned to stone by your dangerous gaze.
This one is terrified. They were young and carried only a small sword and sheild. Likely someone had sent them on an errand to kill you against their will. If only you hadn't looked at them they'd still be alive.
This one is full of rage. You don't regret turning this one to stone. They were trying to kill you, and almost did. You absently rub a scar beneath your shoulder where their sword had pierced you.
Whoever just entered your caves could either try to kill you or be another innocent. It's a toss of the dice.
Do you continue with [[your eyes open|open]] or [[your eyes shut|shut]]?You squint as you slither through the caverns and closer to the sounds of the footfalls.
You're nervous about hurting someone, so you [[squint at the ground|ground]].
You're nervous someone's going to hurt you, so you [[keep your eyes wide|wide]].Eyes shut, you slither further through the caverns, closer to the sounds of the footfalls.
You're nervous about hurting someone, so you [[keep your eyes sealed|sealed]].
You're nervous someone's going to hurt you, so you [[squint at the ground|ground]].You can hear the pebbles come lose and tumble down close to you, and then you see them. The footsteps stop. You stop.
[[Your breaths are heavy and short and your heart is racing|heart]]You can see the light glancing across the cavern walls as you get closer to the entrance. A shadow appears on the wall to your right, and it stops. You stop.
[[Your breaths are heavy and short and your heart is racing|heart]]You can hear the pebbles come lose and tumble down close to you, and then things get incredibly quiet. The footsteps stop. You stop.
[[Your breaths are heavy and short and your heart is racing|heart]]This thumping in your chest becomes more than you can bear and you slither forward. Immediately you hear "Hark! Is there a demoness who lives here?"
You're pretty sure it's a woman's voice.
You reply [["Uh... I mean that's not how I identify but yes there's someone here"|reply]]
You're too nervous to say anything, and [[inhale deeply instead|inhale]]A few seconds of silence. Ahhhhhhhhh did you do the wrong thing?
Then "Oh sorry, ah, that's what some people down in the town told me. How do you identify?"
"I like to think of myself as a [[Queer Serpentine."|queer]]
"I've been going by [[Serpent Femme|femme]] for awhile now I think I like it."The voice continues "It's cool, I get it. You probably get a lot of angry dudes coming in here."
[["Yea, totally, you have no idea,"|relieved]] you finally answer, a bit relieved.
[["And... you're not one of those?"|cautious]] you reply, still a bit cautious."I like the sound of that," the voice replies. It sounds like she's smiling.
You hesitate, but then ask [["Oh well then uh how do you identify?"|identify]]"Neat. Kinda sounds like a femme fatale or something," she replies with intrigue in her tone.
You hesitate, but then ask [["Oh well then uh how do you identify?"|identify]]"Ah, I get it. I heard some rumors in the town I'm visiting that many brave men have failed to vanquish you. Hah, just like men to try and vanquish something before talking to it," she replies with some annoyance.
You nod in silent agreement, then ask [["Oh well then uh how do you identify?"|identify]]"OH GODDESSES NO. No no I'm not a man in any way," she says, the last bit a little mischevious.
You nod in cautious relief, then ask [["Oh well then uh how do you identify?"|identify]]"I guess you could call me monstersexual." She laughs. "Just kidding. Well half kidding. I would never objectify anyone because of my desires. I'm a queer femme, though. Human."
She begins to move further down the caverns toward you, about to enter your line of vision.
Do you:
[[look directly at her because you're not sure she's a threat|direct]]
[[avert your gaze but keep your eyes open|avert]]
[[keep your eyes closed because you think you can trust her|closed]]You're not sure how to feel about this person coming into your caverns, but she seems kinda ok. You look at the wall just to the right of her as she rounds the corner, and can see she's feeling her way along with her hands.
You say [["Don't come any closer! How do I know I can trust you?"|how]]Something about this person makes you want to trust them. Even despite the many who have entered your caverns in the past who tried to hurt you, or left you wounded.
You really want to trust her, but you say [["Don't come any closer! How do I know I can trust you?"|how]]You watch as she rounds the corner into your caverns. You have no reason to trust this person, even if she sounds kind of ok. It could be a trick.
You say [["Don't come any closer! How do I know I can trust you?"|how]]"I mean, I guess you can't really. Trust is something that's earned over time, not something you can just like, give to me when I'm walking into your home for the first-"
She stumbles over some rocks and just catches herself from falling.
"Whew, that was close," she says, and you can feel the vibration of her heart racing through the stones with your extra sensitive serpentine vibration sensors.
"Can you help me the rest of the way down?" she asks.
Whoa. [[Nobody's ever asked YOU for help before.|help]] "Yes, sure. Hold on," you say, your hospitality getting the better of you.
(if:(history:) contains "avert" ) [You keep your eyes averted, watching only her short shadow on the wall as you cautiously slither toward this clumsy human.]
(if:(history:) contains "direct" ) [You get a better view of her, in a plain dress and long black hair. You cautiously slither toward this clumsy human.]
(if:(history:) contains "sealed" ) [Your eyes still shut but your flicking tongue able to smell the way, you catch a scent of lavendar as you cautiously slither toward this clumsy human.]
You [[reach out|reach out]] to help her and......she grasps your arm for support. Her touch is warm and soft, but you still won't look into her eyes.
"Thanks! I'm blind, if you haven't figured it out already with those superior senses of yours. I couldn't see down here even if I had a torch to guide me. I'm assuming its dark. It feels dark," she says.
[[Your heart swells.|swells]] "Every time I gaze into someone's eyes they turn to stone," you say.
"That must be so lonely," she says.
"It is," you agree.
"Well maybe it won't work on me. Give it a try."
"You're very trusting, walking blind into a monster's den."
"Well, I'm pretty lonely too. Most people think I'm a kind of monster, y'know?"
You take a deep breath and take a [[chance.|chance]] You look into her eyes.
You can't bring yourself to look into her eyes. You're [[afraid.|afraid]]Her eyes are looking up at you, glazed white, her dark hair falling wildly all about. Her skin, you see, is a dark brown, and she wear a flower crown of lavendar. She's... beautiful.
"You're [[beautiful|beautiful]]," you say, breathless.You're too afraid your gaze will turn her to stone, even if she's blind, and so instead you look down at her hands and her dress. The fabric is trimmed neatly with a teal ribbon, and her hands soft but worn a bit by age. She might be middle aged, you guess. Her wild black hair falls nearly to her waist. She's... beautiful.
"You're [[beautiful|beautiful]]," you say, breathless.She runs her hand along your arm, and gently, like she's asking permission, it heads up toward your face. You don't stop her from running her hand all over your scaley cheeks, nose, eyes, lips, and up toward your serpentine hair. The snakes are curious and some don't like being touched but most are placid.
She giggles. "You have snake hair."
You smile. "Yea they're a pain sometimes."
She asks, "Well, can I come in?"
You glance back at the tower of human stones, hesitating, [[your heart beating hard.|hard]]"Yes, come in," you finally say... and slither beside this human as you guide her down to your favorite basking stone, and tell her the story of how you got here, and how much you've been longing for this day.
She holds your hand gently.
FIN