The second man glances suspiciously at where Temptation and Joy are seated, scrutinizing the masculine figure in the dark cloak and drooping cowl. "Hmm. Now who wears their hood up inside? The weather's not even bad." He muses. A third man, slightly younger than the other two, peers alongside the other two. "I've never seen them in town before. They're strangers." He realizes. The first man replies quietly, still stroking his mustache. "Not exactly unusual, what with Merryleaf's Sandwich Festival coming up. Lots of people like to come up here each year to join in the celebration." His gaze narrows thoughtfully. "Looks like they've come a long way. I wonder if they know about that being that haunts the southern road." "You mean. . ." The younger man glances hesitantly around the booth, then lowers his voice to venture. ". . . The one they call 'Temptation'?"
LordTigress and I have now reached the point where new updates to the story are completely new and unread parts! Everything you have previously read was already in Finding Friendships (for those of you who actually managed to follow)
Thank you so much for reading our story and stay tuned for new parts of Tales of Desires!
LordTigress and I have now reached the point where new updates to the story are completely new and unread parts! Everything you have previously read was already in Finding Friendships (for those of you who actually managed to follow)
Thank you so much for reading our story and stay tuned for new parts of Tales of Desires!
-last edited on Aug 24, 2018 6:14:39 GMT by Gnuehchcaz
Post by Gnuehchcaz on Aug 24, 2018 6:14:29 GMT
"Shhh, don't say his name out loud. If it's really him, he might hear us." The first guy says cautiously. "How will we know it's him?" Asks the second guy. "Well, they say that whoever falls to Temptation disappears and never comes back, at least what legend states." The first guy says.
The third guy thought for a moment, then spoke, "Well, that guy can't be Temptation because he has a girlfriend." The other two guys looked at him with awkward and confused looks. Then the third guy spoke again, "What? I was just saying that she wouldn't be here if she fell to Temptation, right?"
"I suppose that sounds right." The second guy replies, then continues, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to warn them, just in case."
Together the three men leave their booth and amble over to where Temptation and Joy are seated. Temptation, catching movement from the corner of his eye and seeing these guests coming over, stiffens and bows his head lower. "Remember I can't talk." He hisses. Joy, confused by the sudden change of subject, blinks and gives him an odd look. Before any more words can be shared between the two of them, however, they find themselves abruptly surrounded. "We don't often get strangers in these parts." The first man, broad-shouldered and with a large belly, rumbles. "You two look like you come from a long way," The second man adds in, before Joy can think of a reply. "You oughta watch yer step 'round here."
-last edited on Aug 25, 2018 4:30:11 GMT by Gnuehchcaz
Post by Gnuehchcaz on Aug 25, 2018 4:29:13 GMT
Joy finally replied, "Yes, we did come a long way. Oh yes, we have been very careful. We've already encountered one obstacle, but we got through it."
The first man spoke, "That obstacle didn't happen to try to... tempt you... in some way. Did it?"
"No, not at all. If anyone is going to try to tempt me, I'd pull out my sword and point it at their face before they try anything. Right, Luke?" She says boldly as she faced Temptation. Temptation felt a nervous kick in his stomach as he imagined the tip of her sword right in front of his face as she described it. He realized he had to respond to her question, but he just nodded.
Joy turned back to the men and continued, "We'll both be fine. Thank you for warning us. Anything else we need to know?"
"Yeah," The second man returns. He glances around the room at the other customers, then drops his voice lower. "Yeh might wanna keep an eye out for this phantom, anyway. This thing -- he doesn't let his victims go too easily. Even if yer outta the woods where he's said to haunt, you'd better keep looking over yer shoulder." "That's right," The first man continues, keeping his voice low and grave. "This thing ain't natural, see. Folks disappear sometimes, when they wander too far away from the town, or when travelers come by alone. Years ago we learned from a guy who managed to escape that this thing tempts his victims away from the path -- that's why we call him Temptation." Temptation, the subject in question, flinches, but sits very, very still and listens with increasing dread. "Tell them about the cookies." The third younger man whispers, eyes wide at the tale. He looked almost as creeped out as the men's listeners did.
Following Joy's example, Temptation bites into the hot hamburger. He has not tasted food like this for a long, long time, and he suddenly remembers. Brick, this is good. He savors the juicy, meaty flavor mixed with sticky cheese. He felt as if his mouth was bursting with taste. He catches Joy's eye as he eats, and, almost against his will, he grins. Unbeknownst to the couple-- well, not couple-couple, merely friends of course, right? um -- Several men gathered in a booth over mugs of root beer stare at Temptation and Joy suspiciously. They share discreet glances with one another and occasionally mutter something under their breath.
"Yeah," The second man returns. He glances around the room at the other customers, then drops his voice lower. "Yeh might wanna keep an eye out for this phantom, anyway. This thing -- he doesn't let his victims go too easily. Even if yer outta the woods where he's said to haunt, you'd better keep looking over yer shoulder." "That's right," The first man continues, keeping his voice low and grave. "This thing ain't natural, see. Folks disappear sometimes, when they wander too far away from the town, or when travelers come by alone. Years ago we learned from a guy who managed to escape that this thing tempts his victims away from the path -- that's why we call him Temptation." Temptation, the subject in question, flinches, but sits very, very still and listens with increasing dread. "Tell them about the cookies." The third younger man whispers, eyes wide at the tale. He looked almost as creeped out as the men's listeners did.
-last edited on Aug 26, 2018 19:29:34 GMT by Gnuehchcaz
Post by Gnuehchcaz on Aug 26, 2018 6:52:14 GMT
"Cookies?" Joy asks curiously. Temptation could only feel more nervous as they got closer and closer to knowing his identity in front of him.
"Yeah, cookies." The first guy continues. "That guy who escaped said that he was tempted with cookies!"
"Interesting." Joy replies. She puts her hand to her chin to think about it for a bit, and she also stares at Temptation, who sat there nervously but with panic in his heart. She is so close to knowing that she's been spending her time with Temptation, and if she connects the pieces together, then he knows he's doomed.
"I haven't heard of anyone giving me cookies so far." Joy replied.
What is she doing? Did she forget? Is she lying? Temptation thought in his mind.
"Yeah," The second man returns. He glances around the room at the other customers, then drops his voice lower. "Yeh might wanna keep an eye out for this phantom, anyway. This thing -- he doesn't let his victims go too easily. Even if yer outta the woods where he's said to haunt, you'd better keep looking over yer shoulder." "That's right," The first man continues, keeping his voice low and grave. "This thing ain't natural, see. Folks disappear sometimes, when they wander too far away from the town, or when travelers come by alone. Years ago we learned from a guy who managed to escape that this thing tempts his victims away from the path -- that's why we call him Temptation." Temptation, the subject in question, flinches, but sits very, very still and listens with increasing dread. "Tell them about the cookies." The third younger man whispers, eyes wide at the tale. He looked almost as creeped out as the men's listeners did.
That last line made me laugh out loud.
Because cookies are a really serious subject and shouldn't be taken lightly. o.o
The first man grunts. "Well, thought we oughta warn you two, anyway." He continues in a friendlier tone, leaning against a nearby chair with one hand. "Y'all look like you've come a long way. Where you off to?" Please leave. Temptation's mouth feels dry. His heart his pounding uncontrollably in his chest, and he even feels a little light-headed. What if Joy's figured out what he is by now? Will she reveal him? What will he do if she does? Just leave. Leave, leave, leave, you country pea-brains. He wants to shout at the men trying to make small-talk. Just leave us alone, please! Yet he remains silent and focuses on chewing his burger -- even though by this time he's completely lost his appetite. "Oh, nowhere in particular," Joy replies lightly. She shows no sign of suspicion at Temptation -- whether that was good or not, he couldn't tell. She glances at her companion across the table. "I'm just traveling with my. . ."
Thanks. 
