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by yingguoren in Fantasy, Horror, Mystery added 20 days ago

Clumsily spill a little on your shirt

As I bring the glass to my mouth and tilt it back, a slight twist of the elbow is all it takes for some of the liquid to spill over the rim and dribble down my chin and shirt.

It is one of those moments when you are conscious of every tiny movement that you make. But the important thing is, how aware is my host. I try to read his expression: deadpan. He could be seething inwardly, knowing that he has been foiled; but equally could just have come to the conclusion that I was either careless or mad.

Well, if he does not think I am mad now, he certainly will when I make an exclamation of 'damn', brushing my chin with the sleeve of my spare arm and placing the half-full glass onto the edge of the table in such a way that it topples, spilling the remaining drink over a genuine polar bear rug.

Immediately, he is frantic. Hastily putting down his own glass and dropping to the floor to pick up my now empty one. So, he does not suspect me - that is something - as he is at my feet, vulnerable, his neck and back exposed.

I may have the upper hand. And I will need it. Running my tongue across my lower lip, I can taste the contents of the glass. Brandy, undeniably. But something else, something...caustic. Just this taste is enough to make me nauseous; what would a full swig have done to me?

It is proven then. He knows!

Confront him verbally2 more branches to read

Restrain him

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32 COMMENTS ABOUT THIS STORY RSS

comment on branch Confront him outright and hope he doesn't kill you on... [show comment]

"yessss... mmm... juicy"

posted 18 days ago by Rac7hel

comment on branch Cal comes back into the room. [show comment]

"Hey Rachel - your idea for conjoining branches: that was what I had in mind for my story Public Unlimited Company... feel free to add one!"

posted 18 days ago by JJ1979

"A short, but very powerful introduction Rachel! I like your style :)"

posted 18 days ago by somebodysomeday83

"I like how you've adapted your style Dr.Pinch. You've climbed into his mind-set and have moved the story on well."

posted 18 days ago by somebodysomeday83

"I enjoyed that Seldom. I liked the question you posed about the advantage of weakness. So true. You've portrayed the clashing of two intellectual-minds well I think, and I like the description!"

posted 18 days ago by somebodysomeday83

comment on branch Confess, but take a defensive stand [show comment]

"Sorry! Wasn't my intention!"

posted 20 days ago by JJ1979

"oh good, now we know how to #!*% up the site while Nick is in Hawaii"

posted 21 days ago by Rac7hel

"Evidently not."

posted 21 days ago by JJ1979

"It doesn't catch "whore" though"

posted 21 days ago by Rac7hel

"Swearing in comments on the site is fine (not encouraged, obviously, but as long as you don't go overboard I'm sure it's not gonna bother anyone.)

FWIW, it'll get bleeped out if people aren't logged in or if they have the profanity filter turned on. If they're logged in and have it disabled, they'll see it. (It's not the greatest filter, but it gets the obvious stuff.)"

posted 22 days ago by surreal78

"Some talented-bast**ds (what is the protocol on casual swearing in comments on this sight?!) just make it look easy! It is truly a struggle."

posted 22 days ago by JJ1979

comment on branch Awkwardly grab the one in his left hand instead. [show comment]

comment on branch Take the brandy and pretend to drink it. [show comment]

"No one seemed to be taking the other road. Is it cool to start a new branch from the beginning even when one choice has 13 posts? What's the ettiquette there?"

posted 23 days ago by DrPinch

"lol that would be a seriously awkward dinner..."

posted 29 days ago by Rac7hel

"Oh boy... If he said he was a killer first, then he must really be a monster, since he's not just using that as an excuse to not be called a killer. Hmm..."

posted 29 days ago by Rac7hel

"I'm starting to wonder about Gabrielle myself. : P"

posted Apr 15 by redhat

comment on branch Act like you don't believe him [show comment]

"We lived in New Orleans until I was about four. They really did tell stories about the loup-garou... the wolf-man."

posted Apr 15 by redhat

"Ooh nice : ) This opens so many lovely possibilities.

I've already thought of where I'm going to take this but I won't be able to post it until a little later."

posted Apr 15 by Jillian

"Okay, I hope you like it! I still don't know whether Cal is telling the truth or just making stuff up..."

posted Apr 15 by Rac7hel

"This is a very complicated story; does Cal really want to get out of his 'dirty lifestyle' (whatever that may be), or is he only setting Edward up for failure to get him out of the picture? And what about Edward? What does he have up his sleeve?
Oooo the suspense!"

posted Apr 12 by Jillian

comment on branch Ask what the proposition is [show comment]

"Oh good, I'm glad you named them. Good choices. ;)"

posted Apr 10 by Rac7hel

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this story has 23 branches this story has 32 comments 8 page markers have been added for this story 5 users call this story a favourite this story has been rated 59 times for an average of 4.53

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THE GOODS

You're currently reading a branch in the story Outsmart. This branch was posted on April 26, 2008 by yingguoren.

This story is filed under:
Fantasy, Horror, Mystery

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Clumsily spill a little on your shirt

POST A COMMENT

"yessss... mmm... juicy"

"Like that?"

"hey... what happened to "you" being edward? quick! fix it!"

"She's gonna have a little wolf-baby."

"Hey Rachel - your idea for conjoining branches: that was what I had in mind for my story Public Unlimited Company... feel free to add one!"

"A short, but very powerful introduction Rachel! I like your style :)"

"I like how you've adapted your style Dr.Pinch. You've climbed into his mind-set and have moved the story on well."

"I enjoyed that Seldom. I liked the question you posed about the advantage of weakness. So true. You've portrayed the clashing of two intellectual-minds well I think, and I like the description!"

"I guess if we're adding to branch B or whatever we call it, they don't have to even be the same people do they? Should we have diff names for the characters in branch B? :)"

"Sorry! Wasn't my intention!"

"oh good, now we know how to #!*% up the site while Nick is in Hawaii"

"Evidently not."

"It doesn't catch "whore" though"

"Some talented-bast**ds (what is the protocol on casual swearing in comments on this sight?!) just make it look easy! It is truly a struggle."

"Yep I know what you mean. I go through that struggle pretty much every time I write dialogue."

"Yeah, I always struggle over that... it's always a bit of a tussle between hardboiled & coherence! Thanks"

"At first I was confused about who was speaking, since there aren't any "he said"s and "you said"s. But I got the picture. Nice job."

"No one seemed to be taking the other road. Is it cool to start a new branch from the beginning even when one choice has 13 posts? What's the ettiquette there?"

"lol that would be a seriously awkward dinner..."

"Oh boy... If he said he was a killer first, then he must really be a monster, since he's not just using that as an excuse to not be called a killer. Hmm..."

"I'm starting to wonder about Gabrielle myself. : P"

"Nice post; I was looking forward to writing that one but I guess you beat me to it!"

"We lived in New Orleans until I was about four. They really did tell stories about the loup-garou... the wolf-man."

"Ooh nice : ) This opens so many lovely possibilities.I've already thought of where I'm going to take this but I won't be able to post it until a little later."

"Okay, I hope you like it! I still don't know whether Cal is telling the truth or just making stuff up..."

"This is a very complicated story; does Cal *really* want to get out of his 'dirty lifestyle' (whatever that may be), or is he only setting Edward up for failure to get him out of the picture? And what about Edward? What does he have up his sleeve?Oooo the suspense!"

"or, is the lack of knowledge more binding than the agreement? If you're obsessed with obtaining the knowledge..."

"Interesting tension. Learn but bind yourself by honor not to tell, or stay in the metaphorical dark but retain your freedom... What's more enticing--knowledge or freedom?"

"Oh good, I'm glad you named them. Good choices. ;)"

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THE GOODS

SPREAD THE WORD!

"I guess if we're adding to branch B or whatever we call it, they don't have to even be the same people do they? Should we have diff names for the characters in branch B?

:)"

"Ooh nice : ) This opens so many lovely possibilities.

I've already thought of where I'm going to take this but I won't be able to post it until a little later."

"This is a very complicated story; does Cal really want to get out of his 'dirty lifestyle' (whatever that may be), or is he only setting Edward up for failure to get him out of the picture? And what about Edward? What does he have up his sleeve?
Oooo the suspense!"