Convincing Hecate

Lexi's eyes soften while looking at Hecate. "Hecate," She places a hand on Hecate's. "winning isn't everything. Besides, you're still getting to spend time with Gloria. Just... Not exclusively." Hecate glances at Lexi's hand. A soft sigh escapes her lips while placing her other hand on top of Lexi's. "Doesn't make me want to try any less." Taking a moment to move her pawn at D4 to C3, taking Lexi's bishop at C3. Before either of them can react, Lexi's queen at E5 slides over to take Hecate's pawn at C3.

Lexi moistens her lips. "You don't even have two moves a turn anymore." She looks from the board into Hecate's soft glowing light blue eyes. The slight pulse drawing more of her attention within that moment. "You know... You're quite beautiful, Hecate." Hecate blinks. Her eyes focus on Lexi's. A very light hue of pink mixes in with her pale gray skin. Her form shifts to an elder. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Lexi." The wisdom of her withered exterior dispels as soon as she sticks out the tip of her tongue.

Lexi can't believe what she is seeing. Forcing an abrupt warm smile and chuckle to follow suit. "Perhaps, but that doesn't make it any less true." Her eyes glance at Hecate's lips for just a moment. "Honestly, I think Gloria will love meeting you. I know I am glad to have met you." Hecate's lips part as if to say something but closes almost immediately after. Her eyes glance at the chessboard. She lets out a soft sigh as her form shifts back to a teenager. "This would have been easier if I hadn't been so distracted by the prize at hand."

Her eyes glance at Lexi a few times. Each time appearing to widen just a little more, like a cat or dog trying to garner sympathy, treats, and/or affection. Lexi blinks as she continues to watch Hecate's youthful and wide eyes trying so hard to make the most of the situation. "Looking at me like that one help, but make sure you don't teach that to my children and Chasan." Hecate giggles. Her expression instantly changing to a playful grin. "Understood, but I had to give it a try!" She gazes back at the board.

Her pointer finger lightly touches the top of her king. She wiggles it to teeter it back and forth and side to side. Amidst the wiggling, she pulls back her hand and her form switches to an adult. "It's my loss. Congratulations, Lexi." The word loss is punctuated by the sound of her king landing sideways on the board. Followed by the board and pieces vanish into thin air. Lexi tips her head slightly to Hecate. "Thank you, Hecate. I had a wonderful time with you. This was quite the experience." A notification appears in the center of her view.

Quest complete: A chess match with Hecate!

Reward: Jacob's promotion to Apostle and David's promotion to Saint. Completion of Evelyn's Phylacteries with optional bonus is deferred until you recover the three phylacteries from Jacob and turn them over to Evelyn. Information you forgot you wanted will be given by Hecate shortly. 3 day timer for information about why you've been chosen by Gaia will begin once you leave Hecate's space.

Hecate moistens her lips. "A promise is a promise. The information you forgot you wanted is as follows: Evelyn wants the phylacteries for two reasons besides the most obvious. The most obvious being that she desires information from more than two phylacteries for her research. She is lustful and gluttonous when it comes to data," Her form shifts to a teenager. "but you already knew that, right?" She leans in slightly as her form shifts to an elderly woman. "She will focus on learning how it corrupts others. This will lead to good and bad advancements in corruption as we know it."

A coy smile creeps upon her lips as her form shifts to a teenager once more. "But a smart girl like you would have figured that out if you gave it any real thought." Lexi's eyes focus on Hecate's. "Yeah, but I didn't want to think about that..." Hecate giggles. "Which is why it had slipped your mind!" Her eyes glance at Lexi's cleavage before looking at Lexi's eyes. The skin around her eyes withers as her form shifts to an elder's. "This isn't all she will do. Advancements in spiritual and soul armor and weaponry will soon follow."

Lexi lifts a brow. "I suppose that is to be expected, right? If not me with her, someone else somewhere and time would do it with her or someone else." Hecate tilts her head slightly. "True enough, but... Will you be okay with being the cause of such advancements?" Lexi's eyes glance at the table. "Honestly, I don't know. I doubt it'll lead to the end of the world or anything serious." Hecate's hand touches Lexi's. The firmness of her hand returning to its prime as her form becomes an adult. "The end of one person's world is the beginning of another's."

Lexi scoffs then smirks. "Cryptic, but true in a way." Her eyes look at Hecate's hand. 'I haven't known her long, but spending time with her is... relaxing. It's like I've known her my whole life.' She turns her hand over to hold Hecate's. "The world will continue to move forward regardless of our decisions, right?" Hecate's fingers lightly run over Lexi's palm. "Generally speaking..." Their eyes lock, spending a moment lost in one another's gaze. No words were spoken, but the internal exchange they felt said otherwise.

First a smile, a chuckle before laughter ensues a minute later. A cute and sweet display of mutual affection and trust. Hecate gently squeezes Lexi's hand. "As much as I enjoy spending time with you, I know you must go." A vibrant purple hue begins to pulse behind Lexi's right shoulder. Lexi turns slightly to look at Mallory. "It's time already, huh?" Mallory's moves up and down. "Yes, my Goddess. Your followers await your return. Please let me know when you are ready."

She nods, turning to look back at Hecate. "It has been a lot of fun, Hecate. Don't you dare forget to visit, okay?" Hecate warmly smiles and nods. "Of course." A light mist forming at the cusp of their eyes. Lexi sniffles, realizing that her eyes are doing much the same. Should she hug Hecate gently, warmly, or romantically before leaving?

(Author's note: It's nice to be writing again. Sadly, still no job, but I have also found out that "ghost" job postings are real and quite annoying. For those that don't know, it is basically a job posting that a company posts they aren't planning to fill and/or doesn't exist, (Unless someone amazing applies...). Usually with the idea in mind of keeping current employees from asking for raises or other benefits because the company has proof that others are vying for their position, making the employee feel wary and ill at ease since they are given the impression they are easy to replace. There is even a petition going around to put an end to them. Hopefully it goes through. Oh, and I'm glad only one person voted for option 1. I wasn't thinking about it when I wrote the option, but it would have given away information that's important and could have made the twist at the end of the story lackluster. ^-^; )