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Post by theron on Jan 10, 2012 12:26:20 GMT -5
(OOC: Thread is [CLOSED]. If you really, really, REALLY want in, PM me and we'll see if it can work.) T H E M E . M U S I C Discolor from the Umineko OST [/i][/ul] Pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. There were few things that bothered Theron d'Metreon more than indecision. It was something he'd been taught years ago to resist -- "the most vital quality for any ruler or leader is to make decisions quickly and accurately" -- but, even more troubling, a frame of mind he'd found himself in more and more often lately. And so he paced slowly back and forth across the checkered black and white floor, sock-covered feet padding quietly, one hand occasionally rubbing his chin or raking through his hair as the young prince alternated between contemplation and frustration. Not more than a dozen feet away Schrodinger sat placidly curled up on the couch, one half-open eye watching his owner with muted interest. The conflict within was clear on Theron's face, nervousness chasing guilt around in circles like two reckless children 'round a table. Nova. She was foremost on his thoughts these days, and not merely because they were partners or had saved each others' lives on a handful of occasions. Almost a month ago he'd finally worked up the courage to tell her who he really was -- no more hiding behind the facade of "just another strange foreigner". He'd told her everything: his family, the Sovereign Barony, the competition for the throne, the push for excellence in each potential heir... -- ALMOST everything. And that one sliver of untruth was now stuck in his mind like a stray thorn, stabbing every thought it touched and causing no end of agitation. After all, wasn't that the most vital part? Theron wanted to kick himself when he thought about it; Nova had agreed to be his partner without ever knowing that her Meister could end up a bloody corpse at the hands of his own kin... and that her involvement with him could put her at risk, too. It was driving him crazy, that contrast between her trust and the danger just knowing him might put her into. He hadn't been able to get any sleep once he got thinking about it and now here he was, in just socks and loose workout pants, pacing around the apartment like an insomniac. "I have to tell her..." The Romanian muttered to himself. Of course, telling November about the Reckoning wasn't as simple as saying "when my dad dies my brothers and sisters will try to kill me for the throne". Admitting anything of the sort, even to the one person he really truly wanted to trust and be trusted by, had all manner of implications. Would she still trust him? He couldn't very well ask Nova to help him with this fight; the school was very clear about only killing those on Shinigami's list in all but the most extreme of circumstances and surviving the Reckoning meant more than just self defense. What if the school found out? What if he were expelled? He could lose everything... But wouldn't that happen eventually anyway? The Reckoning wouldn't wait forever. "... Damn it." The muttered curse left his lips as he marched over to the table where his seldom-used cell phone sat waiting for him, taunting him. For the dozenth time he picked it up. This time he entered her number. This time he hit 'send'. The phone started ringing; Theron unsuccessfully willed his racing heart to slow down and let him catch up. It was the moment of truth. Only then did it occur to him that she might be asleep and how cowardly it was to say this over a phone instead of in person. She'd probably want to knock him around a bit like last time, knock some sense into him. [/i][/ul]
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Post by nova on Jan 10, 2012 17:37:51 GMT -5
SwEeT dReAmS aRe mAdE oF tHiS...
She didn't know where this was, but it seemed so familiar. Out of place yet, so suited. The wooden room was old an worn, cob webs hung from the high corners of the four walls that entrapped the girl, rooted to her spot as it where anyhow. The shadows moved and clawed and crawled. Clambered towards her feet, yet sown to their rivets in the joining of the walls and flooring.
Creeaaak Creaaaakk Creaaaaakkk
The sound of the rocking chair. Rocking vacant. In the furthest corner. Illuminated by soft pale moon light. So...Wrong. So Right. As pale as her face. She'll give you a fright. She see's you, you know. She's behind you.
BOOM
SCRRRREAAAAACCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHH
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH""
~And your nightmare shall become you~
"NO GET AWAY!"
Ring, ring, ring
The young weapon shot up out of her bed, shaking in cold sweats, the tears of terror in the corners of her eyes. Blue orbs locked onto the sheets of the bed, her hands clutched the dark hair that fell wild and random over her face. For a short while she was oblivious to the cell phone by her desk that was ringing close by. Nova refused to move just yet. She could still see her. Feel her eyes watching her from the door without her being there at all.
And the clock ticked ever forward.
Her shoulders heaved, though she knew it was a dream that terror filled her soul like it always had. An immovable force. It sought to drive her to insanity she knew it. In a sudden undetectable sweep of the wind, the feeling was gone, and the weapon registered the sound and light coming from off side. Her phone? At this time of night?
At the same moment, the Shiba puppy, who had a tendency to sleep on Nova's bed, had scrambled up to her owner and was attempting to comfort her. Nova half consciously stroked Fox as the equally nervous puppy snuggled into Nova's chest. However, she kept her eyes on the cell phone. She stared at it for a fleeting moment before extending a shaking hand to check it.
The name on the screen flashed green. Theron?
With an instinctual rush, hesitation a contemplation of after thought, she answered, and taking a shaky and nervous breath, paranoid, looking over her shoulder, she spoke; "Why on earth are you ringing me at this time...We have school tomorrow...Damnit" The voice of the Chakram was shaking and wavering, tired and worn, she was too sleepy for this but she didn't really have a choice. With Theron, she never had a choice.
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Post by theron on Jan 10, 2012 22:32:14 GMT -5
(OOC: Brilliant post, love! And now... let the wild ride truly begin!) Her voice... was that fear? For just a moment his blood ran cold, a thousand terrible thoughts assaulting his senses. The moment passed, the steady if slightly shaken rhythm of her breathing on the other end bringing him back around. She was right, he realized -- it was late, unreasonably late, and... ... no. 'If I lose my nerve now... she has to know.' Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Theron spoke into the phone. "Sorry to call you this late Nova... I wouldn't, but this is important." He paused to choose his words. "You remember that day in the park? The one where we finally got Soul Resonance to work? I... told you a lot of things that day, about who I really am and why I came to Shibusen."As Theron spoke he strode over to the window, the dim hint of moonlight that filtered in through the dark curtains revealing scar after nasty scar across his chest, arms, shoulders and back. Some were fresh, tokens of the battles fought against Lizzie Borden and those creatures in the zoo, but most were showing the first signs of beginning to fade, physical reminders about "home" and everything he'd run away from. "There's... more. Something very important I still haven't told you -- something I'm not sure you want to get involved in, even as my partner. But not telling you has been tearing me apart."He reached out and swept the curtain to one side, continuing as he did so. "The truth is... I didn't just come to Shibusen to get stronger. I --"A shadow blocked out the moonlight suddenly. Theron's eyes went wide and a chill like frozen lightning shot through every fiber of his being. "O doamne." -- the whispered Romanian words were the last thing Theron said; anything more was cut off by the banshee shriek of shattering glass and the phone tumbling out of his hand. All Nova could hear of what happened next was what sounded like a man's voice saying something... ... and then a scream. Theron's scream.
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Post by nova on Jan 11, 2012 17:22:05 GMT -5
For a moment she wasn't sure if she were awake or still dreaming. Some part of her hoped she wasn't. Another hoped she was. Something was obviously not right, an amateur deduction at best but she knew she didn't like this, need this, or want this. If what ever he had to say was so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow then there was no way it could be good. Nothing ever was with him really, apart from those rare few moments that she cherished when he would smile and laugh, her whole world would light up. The feeling of having someone so close, a friend in who you could bestow all your trust.
To who you'd promised never to keep a secret from, and from their party also the same promise kept.
"There's... more. Something very important I still haven't told you -- something I'm not sure you want to get involved in, even as my partner. But not telling you has been tearing me apart."
And with the words that brought the memory of that day when he told her who he was, she knew. He'd been keeping more from her than was healthy, and the puppy in her arms could sense her owners discomfort, whining loudly and scrambling more.
"The truth is... I didn't just come to Shibusen to get stronger. I --"
Pause
The following calamity of noise took both the girl and her companion by surprise, the shattering of glass and a foreign swear. A thud as the phone hit the ground...and the scream of a soul who'd not once shown a fear of such terror than within that single sound that hurled the Weapon from the rivets she'd set in his place. Her heart dropped further than it ever had before, a thudding in her ears with a fresh new rush of fear. Scurrying, the raven haired girl clambered from her bed along with the puppy who'd made haste long before, slamming her fist into the light switch. "THERON! Theron! What...What..." She knew that was pointless.
Nova stood a shook. The light meant she was safe, but Theron...her partner. Her best friend. She needed to help him and protect him but she was so far away. The night was fast but she was petrified. What if he's hurt?...You'll never live it down....
There was no time to change and that was the last thing on her mind, tank top and shorts at midnight, but nothing a good coat wouldn't fix. The deserts night could be as cold as its days warm. The coat was the same as the one she'd warn to Fall River, a fact of no real significance, nor the fact that the converses were the ones she's bought after her old ones were ruined there as well. Though Fox wished to come she knew it was probably a bad idea. The door to the corridor was thrown open, and Nova looked back at the whimpering puppy, before she closed the door behind her, and did what it was she did best.
Ran.
She was sure that a few of the people who shared her block had open their doors and shouted down to her about what the noise was, but she paid no heed. Nor did she want to explain it all later. Something told her there would be rumours before the week was out anyway. Whisperings in the corridors of Shibusen, like those that haunted her every night. All she knew was she couldn't stop, even if he was joking with her, she needed to know...
...It hadn't even struck her, until she was at Theron's block, that she wouldn't even be able to get in. No key was in her possession, and she wasn't strong enough to force her way in. The latter she only found out when the door loomed in front of her and for the first time that night she had to stop and think, regardless of the time it wasted. There came a white glow from her right arm, and a half-circle blade pronged outwards. He'd kill her for this.
Forcing the blade into the gap between the door and frame, she put whatever strength she had left into breaking the lock on the door with a crack, before the weight she'd placed on the wood sent the freed door flying open. Nova barely kept her balance. It was dark in here. That was one thing she knew. By extension, whatever hid in the dark, wasn't ever good at all.
"THERON!"
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Post by theron on Jan 11, 2012 23:27:33 GMT -5
"He's here."
The words were spoken by an unfamiliar voice, middle-aged and masculine with a slight hint of American Southwest gravel to it. As Nova's eyes adjusted to the dark of the unlit apartment a scene of progressively more horrifying destruction and pain materialized before her view.
The first thing to come into sight was the couch nearest the shattered window, a beam of moonlight cutting across it and gleaming upon scattered shards of glass. Just barely poking out from underneath was Schrodinger, hissing angrily while sticking warily to his hiding place. The fragments of window glass splayed out across the room like crystal confetti and the thick window curtains that had kept any and all chance of prying eyes out of the apartment lay on the ground in tatters -- along with pieces of the window frame. One look towards the open window would make clear that whatever had broken it hadn't simply punched through... it had exploded. Otherwise the apartment appeared completely undisturbed, the damage done both deliberate and precise.
There was one other bit of damage, though. A narrow hole on the opposite wall, less than half an inch long and slightly diamond-shaped. A hole with blood splattered all around it, a trail of crimson cascading down from the macabre splotch of color.
And where the trail ended was a young Romanian prince, teeth grit and groaning in pain, slumped up against the wall. Both of Theron's hands were on an object on his shoulder... no, on second glance, in his shoulder, black metal gleaming dimly in the moonlight. The object could've passed for a miniature lance, a spike of cold black-burnished steel almost a foot long that had been driven clean through him and poked out the other side. The pain on his face was unmistakeable; compared to that, the assortment of lacerations and stuck-in glass shards seemed like paper cuts.
And there, crouching next to him, was a stranger. Black trench coat with large upturned collar; rough and unstyled brown hair shot through with bolts of stark silver-gray. When he turned to look at Nova a long scar, cutting from the upper-left corner of his forehead to the tip of his nose, came into view along with a set of coal-black eyes that seemed almost to glow blue at the edges in the dim light. One hand was on Theron's less-wounded shoulder... and the other gripped the hilt of the stabbing blade that was buried in the Meister.
"But he's not in good shape." The man added, then turned back to look at Theron. "Okay, deep breath, then on three."
The young d'Metreon nodded shakily, looking like he was halfway between going into shock and screaming in anguish. The stranger gave a slow count down; on 'two' Theron pulled in a chest full of air and tightened his grip on the black-bladed short sword.
"Three!"
It wasn't clear what came first: Theron's scream, the blade clattering to the floor by the window, or the slick gloosh blop splat of blood gushing out of the wound. Almost as quick, though, the stranger was suddenly wrapping long strips of the window curtain around the stabbed shoulder, adding more when those quickly became drenched with crimson. Gasping and heaving like a fish on dry land, it was all Theron could do to lay there, clenching his fists and trying desperately not to pass out.
"Damn. Doesn't this figure." The man slowly rose to his feet after tying the lump of improvised bandaging up securely. He turned to Nova and seemed to study her for a moment. "Close the door before the neighbors come knocking... then take a seat. We need to talk."
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Post by nova on Jan 12, 2012 15:14:49 GMT -5
Out of all the things she'd imagined, she didn't know which one would have been worst. This came close, that much she knew.
The moonlight cut into a room that was silent, but echoed with the sounds that had been before. The glass reflected the light like diamonds, too beautiful for this macabre scene. The mess seemed almost picturesque, a perfect photograph, a perfect painting. Horribly so, but true. Nova felt a chill run the length of her spine and she shivered, her heart still beating violently in her chest, her breathing fell heavily on the imposing silence.
"He's here."
She turned to the voice, one unfamiliar to her. Immediately she was tense, and as she turned her eyes burnt bright blue in the reflection of the moons light. Stunning a colour, but the emotion inside a changing swirl, and her head was just as unsettled. Before her eyes glanced at the scarlet ribbon that danced it's way toward the floor...and met it's end with a familiar face. The weapon was unsure what to make of him now. She was glad he was still here but his predicament tore her heart apart.
A bladed weapon pronged from his shoulder, buried itself through flesh and bone, lodged out on the other side. Then the running caught up, her legs felt weak for a moment and she fell against the door frame with an expression of complete helplessness. Yet, she couldn't look away. It was one of those moments where her confidence made for nothing, and she could only watch him bleed, and she felt the pain in her heart and soul of being truly useless. November had no idea what to do with herself. Nor could she bring herself to look when the unknown stranger pulled the weapon from Theron's shoulder, or stop his scream freezing her down to her bones. Or stop her from crying.
How miserable of her.
"Close the door before the neighbors come knocking... then take a seat. We need to talk." The weapon looked at him, and then to Theron, at least wanting to make eye contact. She couldn't leave him there, not like that. She...She wanted to be with him. Anything to give him so comfort, though she doubted it would help. That much was clear in her own eyes. Anything to try and just do something, and yet all she could do was nod slowly, and close the door behind her. A faint white glow and the blades on her arms were gone, wiping her eyes. Nova knew she should probably listen to this stranger but two parts of her conflicted, her head and her heart. Closing her eyes and taking a breath, though glancing at her Meister as if to say she was sorry, and sat down like she had been told.
However, she couldn't stop one question from escaping her lips, voice wavering a frightened, more than she had ever been, almost. "You...you didn't do this...did you?"
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Post by theron on Jan 14, 2012 12:01:18 GMT -5
The strange man looked at her with a strange expression, caught somewhere between annoyance and grim amusement. "Just what kind of guy do you take me for?" There was a pause, then he closed his eyes and sighed. "No. I was about a minute too late to catch the one who did, though. Didn't think the little brat could move so fast... but I guess fifteen years does change a lot."He spared a glance over to Theron, clearly reading the concern in the young Weapon's eyes. "Don't worry, he'll be okay." His gaze seemed to direct her to Theron's now blood-splattered chest scars. "If I had to guess I'd say he's had worse... though, probably not by much. D'Metreons are a stubborn lot; just give him a few minutes."The man strode over towards the table, his gaze intent on something there. In the dim light it could've easily been mistaken for a folded-up napkin, so neatly was it placed. He picked it up and flipped the letter over, revealing a red wax seal with an embedded crest of a two-headed dragon. Shaking his head sadly, the mystery man tossed the envelope down in front of Nova, his voice not leaving any room to argue as he instructed "Open it. My bet is that'll make things a bit clearer."Letting her take her time, the man pulled over a chair from the table and sat down in front of her. "There's a lot you need to know. For starts, my name is Alek Kalsen. I'm a Demon Weapon, like you. Used to attend the school, years back, but... let's just say that a difference of opinion made me and my Meister decide to leave. She died about a year back, right before Theron came to Death City." He straightened somewhat, as if bracing his shoulders against some unseen weight. "And I promised her I'd protect her kid -- her son -- when trouble came knocking."The contents of the letter were simple and chilling. Dominating the page was the image of a crown, large rivulets of blood dripping down its face and side and hanging in heavy, thick droplets from its base. Underneath, in writing so elegant and precise as to almost seem jarring, was an epitaph writ in both Romanian and then English: Eminenta Sa, Domnul Baronul Dorak Margrave d' Metreon, s-a, la a 15-a din Luna Martie a acestui an, au pierit. Nu trebuie sa fie un an de pace si apoi a Faca Socoteala.
His Eminence, Lord Baron Dorak Margrave d'Metreon, has, upon the 15th of March this year, perished. There shall be a year of peace and then the Reckoning. "Theron's brother Aleister came here to deliver a message -- that message." He leaned forwards slightly and gave Nova a look of utmost absolute seriousness. "And I need you, and him, to come with me."
"Tonight."
"To Greece."
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Post by nova on Jan 14, 2012 17:48:36 GMT -5
For one, Nova didn't know what to make of this man, whoever he was. This was all so strange, but, she had to admit, things with her and Theron, who he was and where he'd come from, had been getting... peculiar. One by one the secrets were coming out, and it was an easy deduction that something else was about to fall into place, whether she liked it, or not. Theron included. This man spoke of her Meister like he already knew him. Though her Meister had been prone to surprise her unwillingly in ugly ways, she still wasn't used to it. In a way that was a good thing. There would be something wrong with everything if these happenings started to become so normal you didn't even being to notice any more.
Following his eyes, a short moments worth of attention realised something. One way to describe the array of scars that dominated her Meisters upper-torso, would be a battleground. Ironic, though holding some amount of truth, she also realised that most certainly couldn't attribute them just to their two missions and the encounter at the Zoo a month or so back. Quickly, her eyes turned to the stranger, who picked up something that occupied a place on the table, looked over it quickly before throwing it over to her, and he followed, placing himself close to her also.
Though, by now, her thoughts were too muddled to feel uneasy.
Nova spent a few seconds just looking at the envelope that sat before her. Apparently, whatever was inside would clear some things up for her but she doubted the notion entirely. For a few split seconds, she glanced at Theron, and then back at the paper before her. She almost didn't want to open it yet curiosity was something she found hard to subdue. Reaching out and picking up the letter, her hands were shaking with nervousness and when she went to break the seal, she did so with extreme cautiousness and care.
"There's a lot you need to know. For starts, my name is Alek Kalsen. I'm a Demon Weapon, like you. Used to attend the school, years back, but... let's just say that a difference of opinion made me and my Meister decide to leave. She died about a year back, right before Theron came to Death City. And I promised her I'd protect her kid -- her son -- when trouble came knocking."
The Demon Chakram paused to listen to the now acquainted Alek, though she remained ever silent. This late at night, however, Nova couldn't piece together exactly who he was, but that was for a later time. Nova knew he wasn't up for her tedious questions though she had so many. Most of them for Theron, regardless. With a deep breath, Nova pulled from the envelope that letter it contained, and almost couldn't comprehend what she read.
Her expression said everything.
"Theron's brother Aleister came here to deliver a message -- that message. And I need you, and him, to come with me."
"Tonight."
"To Greece."
So much was running through her head, that she felt like she was due for a panic attack at any moment. The Reckoning? As far as she could remember, that had never come up. And Theron's father was dead, but she didn't know if that meant anything personal to him. Putting the letter down, she put her head in her hands, and took her time to breathe. A couple of moment passed before she lifted her head up again. "But...I...I just don't understand what's going on. What is this? It's all so clear to both of you..." She paused and glared at Theron. And there was hatred in her eyes. "What the fuck is going on?!".
"And I can't leave! What do we tell the Academy? My friends? My family?! I can't just walk off! I don't know if you've noticed, but someone has to pay the fucking rent!. And then...then there's Fox..." Nova stood up, throwing the chair out behind her, her head fell back, hands gripping tightly in her hair. She sighed deeply, blue eyes closed, her hands falling back to her side. She couldn't sort things out in her head, Nova was completely overwhelmed.
"I don't know what's going on anymore..."
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Post by theron on Jan 20, 2012 3:00:05 GMT -5
"What the fuck is going on?!"
Nova's words cut through the fog of pain covering Theron's mind like a bullet through paper; his expression became first wide-eyed shock... then gradually soured into something stuck between a grimace and mournful, distant contemplation. It was a confused, frustrated look, that of someone who knows he's supposed to feel a certain emotion but can't help but resist it. It was a grim expression that spoke volumes as he slowly turned his head to look over at her.
Alek's gaze met his first, disappointment writ large. "... So you haven't even told her that much. Geez kid, seriously?" The sound of an approaching police siren caused him to look away briefly. "Okay, you two need some time to talk. I'mma go deal with the police; should be able to convince 'em this was just a burglary gone bad. You," He pointed a finger at Theron. "Don't move -- you'll open up the wound if you try, and I don't feel like cleaning up blood all night. And you," Alek's eyes turned on Nova. "Get him to tell you the whole story and don't take no for an answer. This is serious business... what's going on effects you, too."
With that the trenchcoated man got up and headed for the door, giving Nova and Theron a modicum of privacy. A long, tense moment of complete silence passed. The young Romanian considered the scene around him and how it must look to her... how he must look to her. Guilt, finally rising through his stubbornness, mingled with the pain and he looked away, grimacing.
"La naiba... I thought I'd have more time than this."
"Yes, I didn't tell you. How do you tell someone something like this? Would you -- do you -- even want anything to do with me now that the truth is out?" He paused for a deep, anguished breath."...They want me dead. My brothers and sisters. That's the Reckoning -- a bloody-handed ritual slaughter when all the heirs to the d'Metreon throne fight and kill one another to decide who gets to rule. Every generation has done it... and those who run away get assassinated."
"That's why I came to Death City, Nova. That's why I'm here. I'm here because I've got twelve brothers and sisters who, now that my father's dead, will be out for my blood in one year's time." He grunted as he tried to shift his position, giving up as a lance of fresh pain stabbed through him. "I thought I'd have more time... time to get stronger, to become powerful enough to at least have a chance. I thought escaping from home and putting a city full of Weapons and Meisters between me and them would make them think twice about coming to take me back... but I was a fool. They never cared where I was -- even here they could reach me. Even here..."
"That's why the Sovereign Barony looks like a throwback to the dark ages -- my family rules through fear and intimidation. Those people we met, the way they glared and shrank away from us when the village chief told them we served the d'Metreons? They hate my family. They've been kept in squalor by the d'Metreons for centuries, Nova, like rabid dogs on a short chain to keep outsiders away... and sometimes, they get fed the losers of the Reckoning to keep them satisfied."
"That's the fate I fear: being torn apart by an angry mob while Hadrien or one of the others watches. I'm just..."
Theron had always been the kind to hold his emotions in check... but suddenly the walls began to crumble. Whether it was from pain, fear, or remorse even he didn't know, but there was no denying as the first tear fell slowly down his face. And there were more that followed; there was no denying that the Romanian prince had reached the edge of his boundaries in more ways than one. "You can hate me if you want. That's fine. But I'm just... just trying to survive."
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Post by nova on Jan 20, 2012 14:37:40 GMT -5
[/font].[/size][/i][/right] There was a silence that followed her outburst and ,eyes swallowed in confusion, she caught the gaze of her Meister. He held her return for less than a passing moment; she couldn’t look at him, of course not, how could she now? She couldn’t bring herself to care about that expression he wore, or that look she saw in fleeting moments settled in his emerald eyes. It hurt her not to care, but she knew it would hurt her more if she did. “And you,”Nova turned to Alek, meeting his eyes with a strong glare, the weakness that had been, seemingly vanished from existence. “Get him to tell you the whole story and don’t take no for an answer. This is serious business…what’s going on effects you, too.”You're feeling the rush of anguish settling Her eyes followed him out of the door, before they fell in front of her and she seemed stood perfectly still. Nova was trying to clear her head, all of this was… crazy, insane, ridiculous and absurd . That was for lack of a better word. Only in the corner of her eye, after a moment of heavy silence, despite the wail of sirens, did she see Theron look away. Nova listened, and she listened well, but she’d never hated the sound of her Meisters voice so much. It no longer mattered what would happen to him, what all this was or what it would mean. He’d lied to her, kept a secret from her, Nova no longer knew what words were the truth and which were the lies, expertly chosen. ”You can hate me if you want. That’s fine. But I’m just…just trying to survive.” There wasn’t one thing about that sentence she liked. Nothing. Right now, turning to see him broken was a gift she’d never had the guts to ask for, but she glared at him, once beautiful eyes seemed to ugly with emotions that shouldn’t belong in a soul so kind and gentle but they were there and they were raging. Nova had almost walked away the last time he’d had something to say but this… …this was in a completely different field. ”You don’t mind if I hate you? Does our ’friendship’ mean that little to you?! Well, I guess you’ll be glad to hear I don’t hate you…”Speaking with a harshness she’d never used, she strode towards her former partner, and lent right into his face… ”I loath you. I despise you.
I should kill you now and save your siblings the trouble of wasting their time, but then I'd be as bad as them...as you.
I'm guessing that's the only reason you partnered with me, to 'survive'? Oh no, you didn't mean anything you ever promised me. Not the day we met, or that day in the forest, or any other time at all! You just treat people like shit. You treat me like shit, but d'ya know what? The only person who deserves to be treated like shit, is you. I don't care any more, because you never did. I'm just some stupid little girl who will swallow the lies you feed her, and will follow you like a sheep into a battle that isn't hers. Well fuck you[/b], I'm not that stupid.”[/color] Only then she stood up, she took a breath, calming herself, but she looked down on him either way. Her partner..."I don't care about this 'when would I have told you' bullshit. Because, come on, lets face it, this wasn't exactly ideal. Hey, d'ya know what else isn't ideal to tell you right now?
I loved you, you idiot![/b] But I never really knew you, just some make-shift persona for your own personal gain... "[/color] By now, regardless of that heartless and callous mask she couldn't sustain, she was crying to. Her heart was beating in her throat, but she sighed, shaking and angry. "...I loved you...and all I ever wanted was to be able to make you smile, but...I... I guess I was just being foolish, because there's not one thing about you, that could bring me to hate you any less..." She turned her back to him, "I want nothing more to do with you. Go to Greece and...good luck.", and she began to walk away. Away from the last 9 months of her life, and as she walked, she found herself more and more detached from the world and the heart she'd already given away. And you need to heal the hurt behind your eyes [/font][/size][/right] [/blockquote]
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Post by theron on Jan 21, 2012 14:33:42 GMT -5
"I loath you. I despise you."Her face right in front of his own, the words had a more chilling effect than he'd ever imagined. Theron knew she had every right, every reason... but the reality of it was not so simple. Her blue eyes, which seemed always to hold the sparkle of happiness and hope even in the worst of situations, gave off a completely different set of emotions now. Outrage. Rejection. Malice. Betrayal. The light was still there but now it was harsh, like twin lasers cutting into his soul. As much as he wanted to he couldn't find the strength to look away from those accusing, piercing eyes. And then, with a dimly recognized sense of surprise, the Romanian who had manipulated, lied, and concealed from so many discovered that the pain in his body was suddenly not registering as much... as another pain. Every word made it sharper, every moment seemed to drive it more deeply into his core. It was like a barrier inside himself that he'd never known was there was being torn open by a thousand knives. This wasn't a pain he was familiar with -- it stung like ice on a raw nerve, cutting through all his defenses. He hadn't felt like this... since that day. The day she died. The day he ran away and swore to never feel a pain like that again. And yet here it was... and Theron, for once, was truly helpless. And then... "I loved you, you idiot!" ... the ground seemed to fall out from under him. Somewhere deep inside, beyond what anyone could see, in a black expanse whose loneliness had only seldom been filled, only ever truly illuminated by the intimate harmony of Soul Resonance... in that dark void, a blue orb flickering like a lit candle floated. A soul... the soul of a boy that had been tortured, beaten, terrified, and spit upon his entire life. A soul that had once been hard like stone -- had to be to resist it all. A soul that had endured terrors and yet held together through raw force of will, a soul that, over the last nine months had slowly, very slowly, begun to soften. A pinprick of light cut across the surface, then went dark. A crack. As his entire body seemed to go cold Theron did nothing but lay there, head hung, as she walked away. He didn't answer the righteous fury in her heart -- how could he? Nothing he could say would matter now. She... was right. About him. About what he'd done. About what he deserved. No words could change that, not now, not ever. There was only one honest thing he could say to the girl who'd once loved and cared for him enough to put her own life on the line for him. Nothing. As Nova headed for the door Alek came back in. His eyes traveled quickly from Theron's death-like expression to the pain and fury in Nova's face, sighed, and shook his head. "Damn.""November Black, right?" He asked. Obviously this guy had been keeping tabs on Theron somehow, well enough to know who she was. "Sorry for not askin' earlier, your name that is. Listen, cops want us to get him to the hospital -- said they'll meet us there, get a statement from you and let you go home after that. I'll drive you; my car's down in the parking lot, the black hummer with the big spotlights mounted on top. I'm sorry about all this... but I'll need you to stick with me for a while yet. Can you do that?"
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Post by nova on Jan 21, 2012 18:50:03 GMT -5
The first thing Nova had wanted to do was just go home, plan what happened next for her, but even that seemed too far fetched by now. She met Alek on the way out, he peered at them both and sighed.
What else did he expect? Nova had just found out that her Meister had kept yet another secret from her, one that could endanger her own life, and yet, he said nothing. He looked the part, sure, but who was to say what was an act and what wasn't. He'd made it clear he wasn't strong enough to survive, was he hoping she'd stick by him and either watch him die, or take lives of those she'd be condemned for? It was almost as if he wasn't even sorry. She scoffed at herself. Of course he wasn't. Theron was too good for emotions, too good to care about anyone else, or the impact he may have had on them.
It mattered not what emotions a person was willing to give in return. She guessed it made deception all the sweeter.
"I'm sorry about all this... but I'll need you to stick with me for a while yet. Can you do that?" The weapon looked at him for a moment, just breathing. She didn't want to think on how he knew her name, or how much he knew at all. If anything, she just wanted to be done with this but yet, some part of her still wanted to help, still wanted to forgive her stupid Meister but she'd just be asking for more trouble, he'd walk right over her. It was a strange conflict.
A feeling of anger beyond any words capability, an anger enough to turn into hatred that seemed to swell and grow at the thought of it's cause, being fought with by a love that had kept itself hidden for months, fighting with another strange and foreign emotions that craved to be noticed. To be cared about... to have something, someone, desperately afraid to loose her. Yet nothing was said, nothing was done, and there was silence.
"It's fine...I'm used to not having a choice. I'll...I'll head down. After that...well...you can leave me behind."
She looked over her shoulder briefly, before turning her eyes back from Theron to Alek.
"I don't think I'll be coming with you after that."
Nova brushed passed the man, and headed down towards the ground floor, and out into the parking lot, where she'd wait for them both. There, she'd probably do nothing. Nothing but think. Nothing but contemplate. Contemplate the options she truly had.
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Post by theron on Jan 21, 2012 22:59:17 GMT -5
Alek watched Nova go with a perfectly neutral expression, waiting patiently until he was sure she was out of earshot before he turned to Theron. For several long moments the older man didn't say anything, his silence matching Theron's. Then he slowly pulled a cigarette and lighter from one of the inner pockets of his trench coat and lit up. "Damn. If Syl saw you now she'd have a fit."" . . . Alek. Alek Kalsen." Theron half-muttered, still looking down at the floor like all the life had been drained out of him. "You were my mother's Weapon; I read about you in the file I stole.""Yeah, that's right. I've been shadowing you for about four months now. Last thing Syl... that is, your mother, asked me to do for her was come here and keep you alive." Alek's expression hardened. "But if she knew you'd been leading that poor girl along like that she'd have smacked some sense into you. Even if you are hers, you're definitely Dorak's too, unfortunately. And it shows." He took a deep drag then puffed out, angling the smoke towards the open door so that the night winds caught it and carried most of it off. "Way that girl sees it right now, you were playing her from the start. But you don't see it that way, I'm guessing -- or at least, maybe you didn't until now. Doesn't matter though. I don't know what they taught you in the Sovereign Barony, kid, but it wasn't partnership and trust, that's for damn sure."With a flick of the wrist he tossed the half-finished cigarette out the shattered window, then walked over and picked up Theron's cell phone from where it had fallen. He held it out to the wounded Romanian who at first ignored it completely, then almost resentfully reached up and took the device. "C'mon, let's get you to the car.""Leave me alone.""Not an option.""Says you. Right now I'm perfectly content to sit here and bleed out. Maybe slit my wrists. If I'm going to lose everything and die it might as well be on my own terms."Alek's face took on a slight twist of anger suddenly as he crouched down to look right into Theron's face. "Like I said, not. An. Option. There's a hellova lot more going on here right now than you know and I'm not gonna have some emo little twerp bring it all crashing down on our heads because the girlfriend he didn't even know he had just dumped him. Now man up and face what's going on -- it doesn't get any easier from here."A bright fury flashed across Theron's features, mixing with the sickly pale of moments before to give him a look that was utterly warped and unsettling. "GO TO HELL!!"He never even saw Alek's hand come down in an open-handed chop to the base of his neck -- there was just the dull feeling of a thud right before his vision blurred and darkened. Theron's head rolled to one side as he went unconscious, the expert strike having just enough force to put his protests to sleep. The Demon Weapon collected him and slung the boy's limp body over one shoulder, then headed for the door... before suddenly looking down. There, like it had been waiting for him, was a small glass chess piece: a queen. Alek blinked; it hadn't been there when he'd been smoking just a minute or two ago, had it? No... that was impossible. But then how...? And then there was that familiar feeling, that feeling he'd almost forgotten. The southwesterner's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then, hesitatingly, he reached down to pick the tiny object up. Holding it up it caught the light just so, making it almost seem to glow from within. "The chess set...? Well, I'll be damned." He quickly pocketed the queen and headed out of the apartment. --------------------------------------- Nova was waiting outside as he came down the apartment steps; it must've been a strange sight with Theron tossed almost casually over his shoulder. "Passed out when he tried to stand; blood loss must've affected him more than I thought." His free hand dug out a set of keys and, with the press of a button, the Hummer's tail lights flashed briefly as the doors unlocked. Alek laid Theron down across the back seat then opened the passenger door for Nova. Despite its owner's bad habit there was barely any trace of smoking smell in the interior of the rugged SUV; the entire car looked practically pristine, lovingly handled on the inside and tough-as-nails outside. As Alek got in and turned on the engine a Death City police car, distinct mostly for the Shinigami skull emblem emblazoned on its side, turned on its lights and sirens ahead of them. Alek frowned slightly. "Guess they were serious about that escort. Well, let's get going."The two vehicles pulled onto the road, the police car leading them onwards. There was near total silence in the vehicle; Theron looked to still be out cold, Alek wasn't making any attempt at conversation, and in all likelihood Nova wasn't eager to talk to either one. The drive continued like that for several minutes... ... before Alek suddenly turned off on a side street and sped up, leaving the escort behind. And the smug smirk on his face made it clear that the turn was no accident. They weren't headed for the hospital at all.
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Post by nova on Jan 22, 2012 15:47:38 GMT -5
"Passed out when he tried to stand; blood loss must've affected him more than I thought."
Shook from her thoughts, Nova turned her head towards Alek. Personally, she would have dragged him out by his hair, but that was just her preference right now. Probably not the best, but the most satisfying. Some part of her soul couldn't believe she was thinking that, but she was. Only briefly had she thought on what effect her words back in the apartment might have had on him, before convincing herself 'none at all'.
When the door opened for her, she went and sat on the seat without a word, without a fuss. If anything, she wanted all of this over and done with before too long. She was a fool too think it would be that easy at all. Then again, she hardly knew Alek; what he was like, his personality. Nova quickly looked back at her slumped Meister. The weapon paused for a moment, before reaching over to the ring hanging by a chain on his neck, opening the clip and pulling it away.
Sitting back down in the front and putting on the seat belt, Nova mused at the ring in this odd light. Her mothers creation, lovingly made, lovingly given. What a waste. The girl pocketed the gem-stone ring quickly, before she got too sentimental. As the engine started, she took a breath.
It couldn't end like this, could it? Truly?
The car and it's escort travelled along the familiar Death City streets. She would have so many questions to answer tomorrow at Shibusen, if she went. Even so, she'd be chased down. 'What was that last night?', 'Where did you go?', 'Why did you get into that car, following the police?', 'Where's Theron?'. Nova brought a hand to her face, closing her eyes. Not all of this was quite making sense yet, it would probably better if it never did.
No, no of course not.
[/b] She lifted her head when the sirens got a bit quieter and the vehicle sped up. "...You didn't just do that..." Her eyes went wider, almost not sure about what Alek had just done. "...Fuck sake..." Nova sighed and slumped back in the chair. She couldn't do anything as her heart dropped. "Why couldn't you have just left me here. All this bullshit doesn't need to involve me, why the hell would you drag me into this? Why?![/b] As far as I understand, your not under any obligation to protect me..."[/color] She was too furious to scream, too tired to largely object to any of this. She closed her eyes. "Screw it, I'm going on holiday to Greece. Expect me to do fuck all, will ya?" [/blockquote]
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Post by theron on Jan 22, 2012 20:04:20 GMT -5
Alek spared a glance over to Nova as she protested, his expression somewhere between amused and sarcastic but only mutedly so -- the man was still very much serious even when he wasn't trying to be, a characteristic that made him seem even older than he looked. "Yeah, like I said: sorry about this, but I'll need you to stick with me for a while yet." The way he said it made it fairly obvious that he'd been planning to use that line. Then his expression lost its humor and he was all shades of serious again. "We're not going to the hospital; technically, I never said we were, so don't start hating on me. And believe it or not, this does concern you; there's things going on -- and I don't mean the Reckoning -- that neither of you are aware of yet. Things that put both your lives at risk, regardless of whether you decide to walk out on him forever right now."The Hummer pulled onto a major road out of the city, racing down the nearly empty night streets with a clear sense of urgency. "I don't know all the details either, but I'm taking you both to someone who does. Suffice it to say that if she's right -- and she hasn't been wrong yet -- you two kids are in waaaay deeper than you know. The Reckoning's just the icing on the cake; bigger things are going on. You, him, fates worse than death, that sort of thing. Not pretty."
"So here's the deal." He offered, reaching over to activate a dashboard-mounted GPS. "I'm not really the kidnapping type, y'know. If you want I'll let you out right here with money for a taxi, get you back home to your friends and your life, and you can try to forget about this entire crazy night. Be completely unawares of any of the horrible stuff that might happen to you in the future and live out the rest of your days in blissful ignorance. Probably never be bothered by me or Theron again, for that matter. Or," He plugged in an address that, from the map, looked to be the Las Vegas airport. "You can trust me for the time being. Probably learn things you'll regret ever having known from my... informant in Greece. She has a bad habit of doing that to people, just as a heads up. But if you go -- if you listen to what she has to say -- there's a chance, just a chance, that you can keep yourself and the lousy bum back there from a very, very bad ending."
"BUT, that all depends on what you decide to do with whatever you learn... and, having been given a sneak preview by the old crone, I feel I should warn you."
"You may throw up."------------------------------------------------- Theron was completely still and silent when he slowly stirred to wakefulness, Nova's removing of the chain around his neck having been just barely enough of a trigger for his light sleeping habits to pull him through. One eye slowly opened and took in what it could see: inside of a vehicle, moving at high speeds, likely some kind of pickup or SUV, rolled onto his good shoulder facing the seat back. As consciousness came slowly back to him he caught bits and pieces of Alek's conversation while the memory of what had happened before blacking out flooded back to him. Strike to the base of the neck... this guy knew what he was doing. But he'd made a mistake. Slowly, taking care not to make a sound, the wounded prince reached into his pocket and pulled out the cell phone. Right then, it was the only resource he had to work with. Police? No... too many questions. And besides which, these "answers" Alek kept talking about might be useful somehow. Still, it was a bad idea to be completely at this stranger's mercy... and it wasn't likely Nova was going to help him, not now after, well, everything. No... he needed... ... yes. A favor. What was his number? After racking his trauma-addled brain for a few moments it finally came to him and, taking care to muffle the phone as he set it to silent, keyed in a number and quietly typed out a short, concise text. [/tt][/ul] With careful, slow movements he put the phone away and went back to feigning unconsciousness. For as long as he was still alive he certainly wasn't going to play the good little puppet for Alek, no matter what his intentions were. (OOC: So, just as a heads-up, Rocton contacted me about joining the thread on the premise that his character owes Theron a favor for something in or after the Zoo thread. Shouldn't break up the flow I think -- he's got some good ideas that'll help with things coming up. And yes, I know I am / Alek is being a total plot tease here, but it'll all be revealed once we get to Greece. And you'll discover just how brilliantly you set this story arc up, Nova. ^_^)
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