Checking email account “tporrell@nilstu.edu.”

No messages waiting.

Checking email account “temporal@chaospirals.com.”

One message waiting.

Downloading 1 of 1.

Done.

Idle.

“Hey Temporal.

I was looking for you on Starlink and DALnet. I’m on Undernet now. Look for me in the usual places, and if none of those work, try #backroom or #alley. I’m looking to play. GMTA?

—Barbed ”

Tim smiled to himself and double-clicked on the IRC client icon. “Great Minds certainly do Think Alike, lady.”

Looking up IP number for irc.under.net

Found IP number

Identd waiting for connection

Contacting server

Connection established

*** PING

*** Welcome to the Internet Relay Network NewUser

*** Your host is Under.net

*** There are 52045 users and 62034 invisible on 33 servers

*** There are 69 operator(s) online

*** 41056 channels have been formed.

*** I have 5321 clients and 1 servers

*** Highest connection count: 5452 (5375 clients)

*** End of /MOTD command.

*** Notify list: mundane_echo, jaded_glance, tr33_(1imb3r, lucien, WolfNOne, ChaoSpiral, buckysinister, barbed, brianvf19, meghanlore, dr4g0n8ait, mickey_lvs_mallory, fr_eliot, adamiikhan, soultoast, burninCow, peachnut

***barbed, tr33_(limb3r, fr_eliot, ChaoSpiral are Online

/nick Temporal

NewUser is now known as Temporal

/join #vampyre

/join #whiterosecafe

/join #fianna_inn

/join #themasquerade

/join #wolfslodge

/join #forthright

/join #BloodySatin

The computer beeped as Tim joined each channel, and he received the entry information and warnings. He scanned the user list in each channel, looking for Barbed. He didn’t see her nickname in any of the “usual places,” so he resorted to the /query command. A new window popped up with “Barbed” at the top.

Temporal: Hey.

Barbed: there you are. hiya. ::hugs::

Temporal: {{{Barbed}}}

Temporal: I’m pretty good. Long day at work. Paper due on Monday.

Barbed: its friday now. play w/me. :)

Temporal: ok, cool. What do you want to do? And where?

Barbed: do you want #backroom or #alley?

Temporal: Sounds sketchy. This gonna be dark and twisted? ;)

Barbed: if you’re lucky. feelin lucky? <weg>

Temporal: Uh oh. I dunno if you’re going to start giving me the wide evil grins. Let’s start in #backroom. Maybe we’ll end up in #alley.

Barbed: meet me there

/join #backroom

Barbed: ((welcome to my lair))

Temporal: ((Thx. What’s the plan?))

Barbed: ((get in costume. i'll set the stage))

Temporal: ((KO.))

Tim looked through his collection of characters and descriptions. He’d set up several hotkeys to automatically post general descriptions of the characters, so he wouldn’t have to describe them each time he logged on and entered a channel. “Temporal” was a character he played who controlled the flow of time. He was Tim’s favorite character, and the one with the best background and development. It was easy for Tim to put him in many different situations, as well, because he could always use the reasoning that Temporal was merely shifting in and out of time, and so could have been anywhere, anywhen.

Tim typed the command /me, which inserted his nickname before the rest of the post. He followed the /me command by holding down the COMMAND key and pressing 9, his hotkey for Temporal’s “out on the town” description.

Temporal walks into the room. He is of moderate height, tending to the lean side. His hair is close cropped at the sides and slightly spikey at top, with a sort of blue-grey cast. A braided rattail falls in a queue down the center of his back. He wears black pants, which fall over dark blue Creepers. His sportcoat is dark blue as well, and his shirt is grey. His tie is black, to match the pants, with a silvery-grey line, echoing the color of his hair and eyebrows. He wears silver thin-rimmed sunglasses. A silver pocketwatch chain curves across his midsection.

Barbed: ((yummy))

Barbed is waiting in the room.

Barbed: [the room is behind the stage in a club. the club is loud and the music is heavy techno and industrial. dancers grind and sweat against each other out on the dance floor, and two DJs battle over turntables and trade off spinning disks. the sound of the music is muffled by the door, but the beat of the bass can be felt thru the floor]

Temporal closes the door behind him.

Barbed: [the room is somewhat small. there is a desk, with a small lamp on it. there is also a couch, a desk chair, and a big leather and wood chair.a tall lamp with a dimmer knob stands in the corner, casting a dim glow up toward the ceiling. the light in the room is slight. another door leads out the far side of the room, past the desk. it is open, and a hallway heads off to the left.]

Temporal looks around the room, noting the other exit.

Barbed is in the room, leaning back against the desk, one foot up on the desk chair, adjusting her boot.

Barbed is 5’10”, with long auburn hair in curls dripping down her neck and over her shoulders. she wears thigh high stiletto heel black boots. beneath her neck and shoulders are bare, as she has on only a black bodice. her hips are wrapped in a black miniskirt. she’s also wearing a red leather jacket, obviously custom tailored to fit her figure. her waist is narrow, her ass is tight, and her legs are long and toned.

Temporal: ((um… yeah. yummy. ditto))

Barbed: (( ::winks:: ))

Barbed: so. you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for you. ::she puts her foot back on the floor and smooths her skirt, standing a moment, then leans back against the edge of the desk::

Temporal: Yes. I got the call, and got here as soon as I could, Ms….?

Barbed: Barbara. my friends call me Barb.

Temporal: You don’t have a last name?

Barbed: who needs one?

Barbed gives him a sexy grin

Temporal: Alright then. So what was the problem?

Barbed: there’s something going on in the club.

Barbed fixes him with a smoldering stare. her long, full lashes glisten with moisteness. her lips press together in a red line, not quite a frown.

Temporal arches one eyebrow. “Something…? Like what?”

Barbed: something…unusual. something… not of this world. ::she sifts her weight from one hip to another, never letting her stare leave his eyes.::

Temporal: Interesting. What makes you think that whatever … is going on… is not from this world?

Temporal returns the stare, through the sunglasses. His face is otherwise impassive. He has one hand in the pocket of his sportscoat.

Barbed: i’ve seen things. ::she leans back, with her hands behind her, flat on the desk. one knee is bent slightly, and the skirt rides up that thigh a little::

Temporal: What sort of things? ::his eyes, behind the smoked lenses, glance down a moment to appreciate her thigh. His face remains impassive::

Barbed: you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. ::she turns her face away, looking at the corner, at the floor.

Temporal takes a step toward her, slowly, non-threatening.

Temporal: Try me.

Barbed looks up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded like marylin monroe, her lower lip full and glistening red.

Barbed: (whispers) are you sure you want to know?

Temporal: (w) No. But I’m willing to take that chance.

A line of text appeared in the /query window Tim had earlier opened with her. He clicked on the “Barbed” window to read the message and reply.

Barbed: hey, can we pause a minute?

Temporal: Sure. np. why? everything ok?

Barbed: yeah. but i gotta pee

Temporal: LOL. ok. let me know when you’re back

Barbed: ok. afk fas brb

Tim laughed to himself. So much for the mood of the scene they were writing together. He got up from his dormroom desk, stretched and walked around a minute, grabbing a can of pop from the minifridge in the corner, and returned to the computer. He clicked on a few of the other channel windows he had open, but nothing held his interest. He closed those windows and clicked on the /query with Barbed again. It always struck him as funny when people who had just told you that they were leaving to go take care of something wrote the abbreviations for “away from keyboard for a second, be right back.” Sometimes, habits died hard, he supposed.

Barbed: back

Temporal: wb

Barbed: thx. shall we?

Temporal: yes ma’am

Barbed: hey! don’t make me feel old! i’ll cram that ma’am up your ass

Temporal: Sorry! I meant to say “Yes, miss”!

Barbed: i dunno if that’s better or not

Temporal: Yes, Ms. Queen of All Creation?

Barbed: much better

Tim clicked on the “backroom” window, reread the last few lines, and waited for the story to recommence.

Barbed looked down at the ground a moment, thinking, then looked up at him and licked her lips

Barbed: you should come with me

Barbed stood up straight, bringing her closer to him

Temporal arched his eyebrow again.

Temporal: Where to?

Barbed didn’t turn her head, but looked left out of the corner of her eye, toward the back door

Barbed: it’s in the alleyway

Temporal looked at her. He reached up and removed his sunglasses, revealing his blue-grey eyes. They changed with his mood and with the weather. Now, they were bright and icy. He looked from her, to the door, and back to her. He folded the sunglasses and placed them in the pocket of his sportcoat.

Temporal: Show me.

Barbed: This way. ::she turns and strides from the room. her legs are long, and she places one foot in front of the other as she walks. her hips move fluidly and she carries herslf proudly::

Temporal follows, trying hard not to just stare at the beautiful woman before him, but to also be alert for whatever might be waiting in the alley.

Barbed: [they go down a short hallway. the light fixture in the ceiling flickers and sputters as they walk beneath it, but remains on]

Temporal: ((nice touch, very David Lynch))

Barbed: (( ::winks:: <weg> ))

Temporal keeps his hand in his sportcoat pocket.

Barbed looks back over her shoulder at him, as they approach a door at the end of the hall, on the right. the hallway is short and dingey. she rests her hand on the knob and looks at him::

Barbed: are you ready?

Temporal: Yes, indeed.

Barbed opens the door. The alleyway awaits them. it is surprisingly uneventful there. just a regular alleyway with 2 dumpsters, some trashcans knocked over. a streetlight glows down to the left, at the spot where the alley meets the street. to the right, the alley deadends. graffittii covers the walls. a cat is startled when they open the door, and hisses then runs away

Temporal steps into the alley and looks around. He turns back to her.

Temporal: What is it you want me to see, exactly?

Barbed: it is hidden from sight. i only saw it because i used a cantrip

Tim knew that in the vocabulary of the game, the word “cantrip” meant something very specific, and implied that the character she was playing was of a particular group of supernatural beings. He was surprised that she used it so readily. Each of the supernatural groups had rules and laws about whom they could trust and talk to openly. But Tim also realized that he had never actually talked with Barbed about which game they were playing. In another game system, “cantrip” just meant a simple magical spell. Maybe that’s all she meant. He decided not to be such a rules lawyer, and just let the story continue. He was having a good time.

Temporal: So. You have knowledge of arcane arts? ::he looked at her skeptically::

Barbed: ::smiling seductively:: Quite a bit, actually.

Temporal: (warily) So… why call me? If you’re so knowledgable and skilled?

Barbed: ::licking her lips, and then lowering her gaze, looking at the ground:: I failed to seal it up alone. you came…

Barbed licks her lips again and looks up at him

Barbed: …highly recommended

Temporal looked around the alley once more, and then back at Barb.

Temporal: So. Someone told you of my abilities? Who made such a glowing recommendation

Barbed: “They.”

Temporal: They talk a lot, don’t They?

Barbed: They do

Tim laughed at himself. This was getting a little too pulp novel-ish. Actually, it had elements of cheap noir and trashy bodice-ripping romance novels, too. He was having a good time, though. It was rare to encounter someone online with whom he could really tell a good story. Most people had too much trouble coming up with anything more interesting than describing their characters’ clothing and how they drank either wine or beer…wait, no… “wyne” or “ale.”

Temporal: So. Why don’t you tell me what it is that you saw. What it is that you say you can’t “seal”.

Barbed fixes him with a smouldering look. she draws herself up and stands very straight and dignified.

Barbed: i can’t explain it with words. there aren’t really any words to adequately describe it. i think i’ll have to show you.

Temporal: Then show me. But what are we talking about, at least in general? Can you give me at least an idea of what we’re talking about here?

Barbed: i think we’re dealing with a leak in reality, maybe. it looks like it might be a portal to another dimension or realm, but it’s not one i’ve ever seen or heard about before. i think we made need our combined power to merely slow this thing down. it’ll take something more to stop whatever this is from happening

Temporal looked at her, amazed. He’d never heard anyone speak so freely about something so important or so terrifying. He wondered who this woman was, and what her real agenda was.

Temporal: Show me.

Barbed: yes. i will. i will require your assistance for the cantrip, though, as i will be casting it upon us both this time. have you heard of sexcraft?

Tim wrinkled his brow and sat back from the keys and screen. Sexcraft? What the hell was she talking about? He’d never heard that term used in any of the books. He glanced over at his collection of rulebooks a moment, then leaned forward and started typing once more.

Temporal: Sexcraft? ::He took a step away and looked at her askance::

Barbed smiles at him and walks toward one of the brick walls lining the alley. she starts feeling along the bricks until she finds a place that seems suitable. She kicks a few broken boards and old cans out of the way.

Barbed: yes. it’s an ancient combination of lore that combines the chakra focusing power of tantra and the kama sutra with arcane rites that release chi and allow access to the spirit world.

Temporal: Fascinating. ::He watched her, wondering what she was up to::

Barbed: my family, thousands of generations ago, taught the art of sexcraft to shamans and wise women. i am the last of my family, though. here, i will need your assistance. come over here, behind me.

Barbed plants her feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart, and presses her palms against the bricks, to test the posture. the stilletto heels lift her into a shapely position, and her back curves and arches alluringly

Temporal narrowed his eyes suspiciously but moved over behind her, standing back a few feet.

Barbed stands up straight once more, and shrugs out of her red leather jacket. she tosses the jacket aside, letting it drape over a stack of boxes, and then resumes her position, hands flat against the wall.

Temporal: What should I do now?

Barbed smiles at him, looking over her shoulder, as her auburn ringlets fall down her back in a cascade. from beneath the hair, something seems to be growing and unfolding from her bare shoulders. her eyes seem to get darker.

Temporal stepped back as he watched the strange transformation. His hand went to his pocket watch.

Temporal: What th…?

Barbed laughs, and he can see the points of her upper canines. the white teeth shiny and sleek. her head seems to crack, but only delicately, at the browline, and a long red curved horn grows from each temple.

Temporal gasped. His eyes widened.

Temporal: What is happening?! What are you…?

Barbed reaches back and lifts her short skirt up around her waist, revealing a perfectly rounded ass and a shaved, wet spot… and a long red tail, winding down from the base of her spine.

Barbed: I’m showing you my true form, human. i need to be in my natural state to work the sexcraft incantation that will show you the rip in the world. now, step up here and unzip. we’ll need your potency to fuel the cantrip if it is to work for both of us.

Temporal looked at her, amazed, not sure how to proceed.

Barbed ’s hair lifted and fell back into place as her black, leathery batwings spread out and open from her shoulders. she grinned at him over her shoulder again and gyrated her hips.

Barbed: besides, I’m one Hell of a fuck…