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Post by Vultis on Aug 18, 2016 19:34:49 GMT -5
{{- I'm here , wasn't on earlier today because of a rock climbing party that was awesome. -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 18, 2016 21:42:06 GMT -5
(No problem! Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, school's been hectic. I'll start working on my reply now)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 18, 2016 21:49:00 GMT -5
{{- Don't worry it's totally fine. I'm soon going to very well understand you as my school starts tomorrow and I am very much dreading math. Also I probably will not be able to respond tonight as I am waking up at 3: 45 a. m. tomorrow to see my sister fly off on her plane that she takes to go to college ;~; -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 18, 2016 22:22:21 GMT -5
Anya bent down, slipping out a small dagger that had been pressed between her leg and shabby sock. It was nothing impressive, with it’s plain, leather wrapped handle and slightly rusted blade, but it offered Anya some comfort in this empty castle. Even if the knights had no idea about it. She’d always figured that some protection was better than none if anything dangerous—that wasn’t one of her delusions—ever happened. Given, if the threat wielded anything longer than her weapon, like a sword or even just a longer dagger, she’d probably still be screwed. She wondered if that was the case now.
The feeling of the dagger’s hilt in her hand was familiar. For a moment, she was a decade younger in a brightly lit and well taken care of court, a scrappy boy who looked hardly old enough to wield a sword teaching her how to fight and defend herself.
No, hold it like this. There you go.
Anya frowned, shaking her head to clear her vision of the memory. Farren. She hadn’t thought of him in… well, she wasn’t quite sure when the last time had been. Still, now definitely wasn’t the time for reminiscing about old childhood friends. She fixed her grip on the dagger, moving quietly through the rows of shelves.
Anya trailed her free hand along the books closest to her. The intruder’s voice had likely come from around where she had been sitting, as it was the only area that really hinted towards her being there, but she had lost track of her location when fleeing. The panic that still tightened her chests and the memories clouding her mind did little to help. The Berdth Dynasty. Corre I - XXI. History of royal families. Okay, that was… was… where was that?
Anya paused, fiddling with the dagger. She knew this library’s layout better than almost anything, and yet, here she was, stumped. Was she was twenty-seven rows deep and thirteen columns left? Or was it twenty-seven columns and thirteen rows?
“Who are you?” she demanded, raising her voice as much as she dared. Part of her wanted an answer, but another part hoped that the intruder, who’s distant voice had sounded male, would not hear her and instead give up and leave.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 18, 2016 22:32:43 GMT -5
(Math sucks so much. And holy cow that’s early. Yeah, you should probably get rest instead of staying up on here)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 19, 2016 5:33:49 GMT -5
{{- I know it's really early in the morning but I have time so I'm gonna reply c: -}}
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Post by Vultis on Aug 19, 2016 7:26:21 GMT -5
Azar brought the small dagger out from the inside of his coat, holding it firmly in his right hand. He almost flinched at the reply, having dearly hoped to be alone. The voice seemed distant, almost too faint to be heard. It belonged to a girl, and the quietness of it spooked him. It sounded like it had came from his immediate left, almost as if she were right next to him.
The shelves. The source of the voice (which was hopefully a girl and not a ghost) had to be on the other side of the shelf that was on his left. He looked ahead of him to see the table that he had taken the golden-lettered book from. He would just have to walk to it, turn, and then peer around the other side of the corner to see if anyone was there- simple.
As quiet as possible, Azar made his way to the end of the line of shelves. Once he got there he turned, moving slowly to peer around the corner. There she was, far down the aisle with her back facing him, looking at the spot where he had taken the blue book. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Azar thought while mentally punching himself. He had never tried to take the book in the first place, and now his thievery was about to get himself caught. He turned the corner, the hand with the dagger behind his back.
"Hello," the thief said smoothly, trying his best to keep a straight, emotionless face.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 19, 2016 18:41:59 GMT -5
(hey, just got home. I'll start working on my reply now. How was your first day of school?)
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 19, 2016 19:01:54 GMT -5
Anya had made her way back to the table, scowling at the empty patch in front of the chair. Her book. The intruder had seriously decided to take the book that she was in the middle of reading, of all things. Lost in her own thoughts, Anya jumped when someone spoke from directly behind her. She quickly spun on her heel to face him, holding the dagger in front of her with both hands.
No, not like that, you idiot! Farren’s voice hissed in her ear. Anya dropped her left hand back to her side, mumbling an indistinct apology. She kept the dagger in front of her in her right hand.
Were it not for the dagger, Anya would have almost looked calm. A bit startled, sure, and her furrowed brow meant she was definitely confused, but she buried her anxiety, ignoring the tight feeling in her chest.
“Hello,” the once princess replied, studying the intruder. She had been hoping the noises were just her imagination, but he definitely looked real. Even if he wasn’t what she had expected. She wasn’t sure what that had been, but it certainly wasn’t a boy who looked hardly older than herself and just as, if not more, abandoned by society.
Anya tilted her head slightly, her unnaturally blue eyes bright.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing in my library?” Unlike the thief’s smooth voice, hers was harsh, more demanding an answer than asking for one.
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Post by Vultis on Aug 19, 2016 21:08:09 GMT -5
{{- It was good, I got an amazing Latin teacher and my Algebra II class is actually going to be pretty enjoyable because the teacher there is amazing as well. I'll start working on my reply now. c: -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 19, 2016 21:10:08 GMT -5
(Ew, Latin. I'm so glad I'm free of that class this year. Good to hear that you got some good teachers, though!)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 19, 2016 21:26:52 GMT -5
Azar studied the dagger in her hands, but decided against bringing up his own. He felt a bit more safe that there was quite a distance between them, but then frowned, a bit confused at what she had said. "Do you live here?" he asked, wondering why a girl of his age would be living alone in a ruined castle. Maybe she was like him- another orphan who decided to seek refuge elsewhere (and if that was the case she had done a lot better than him).
"Why do you live in a huge castle by yourself?" He added, his curiosity inside of him sparking because of the situation. What it must be like to live in a place like this- even alone (and even though it was slightly run down). He lived alone anyway- except for Magnus, of course, but he hadn't had an actual roof over his head in years.
Yeah I wonder why, he thought for a split second, but then shook his head in a feeble attempt to get the horrible memory out of his head. Now was not the time.
{{- Not much I know xC -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 19, 2016 21:48:06 GMT -5
Anya’s frowns became even more pronounced when he responded. She looked him up and down again, not bothering to try hiding the fact that she was examining him. She was so used to the knights just ignoring her when she said something that an actual response that wasn’t a voice in her head was… well, it was weird.
And the intruder himself was strange. His clothing suggested he was a peasant, or somewhere around that bottom rung of the social ladder. But the castle was far from any villages or towns, so how did someone so obviously poor get to her?
“No, of course I don’t, I just called it mine for the heck of it,” she said, her sarcastic tone too overdone. It had been quite some time since she had spoken like that and sometimes people fell out of practice. Like her.
“I live here to keep others safe,” she said quietly. For a moment, her posture shifted, her gaze going to the ground and her shoulder’s curling inward.
Anya took a deep breath, quickly shifting back to her original stance. She spun the dagger’s tip in small circles. “You didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”
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Post by Vultis on Aug 20, 2016 0:21:52 GMT -5
Azar frowned yet again. Lives here to keep others safe? Before he could ask what that meant she went on to asking the previous question, to which he would obviously respond with a lie. "I kind of uhhh... got lost- yeah," he replied, which wasn't a total lie although it did cover his other motives. Secludes themselves to keep the people around them safe. Was she dangerous? He pondered about what she had said for a moment. He had left orphanages, lived in poverty, and tried to keep something hidden deep within himself all because he didn't want to hurt anyone, but she couldn't be like that, and besides his memory was faded after 12 years of trying to forget. He barely even remembered what happened that night.
He snapped out of the daydream quickly and returned his gaze to the girl, "What's your name?" he asked, wondering if she even had one if she had lived here all of her life. Or maybe she hadn't (which was more likely), since she seemed able to talk properly, and was definitely able to read if she had claimed a whole library in front of him.
{{- So sorry for the delay I was watching a movie with my fam ;~; . Also I have to go to bed as I have rock climbing tryouts tomorrow. cx -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 20, 2016 13:53:01 GMT -5
(Hey, just got on! Sorry it took so long, I was boating with my family. I'll start working on a reply now)
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 20, 2016 14:15:33 GMT -5
Lost. Yeah, sure. He didn’t even sound certain of his own story. If he was going to lie about that, she saw no reason to believe anything else he said. “You’re the intruder and yet you’re asking me what my name is? That doesn’t seem right. Wait, I’m sorry, you got lost and obviously that makes breaking and entering okay,” she said, placing her free hand on her hip.
“I’m Ana—“ She paused, biting her lip. Anya knew that saying her full name would be stupid, even a peasant from another kingdom would probably be able to recognize the name of the nearby royal family. But she realized now that even just saying Anastanya could give her past, or at least her family (which could possibly lead to her past) away. And even a lowly peasant could cause problems with that information.
She cleared her throat, trying to push away her thoughts. “I mean, I’m Anya. Um, just Anya.” Anya was reluctant to have him call her by her old nickname, but it was the only one she could think of. She did like it, but very few people had called her by that instead of her full first name or just a title. Farren, her chambermaids, her tutor, and her… her parents. Anya’s face paled and she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shake away the memories and control her breathing.
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Post by Vultis on Aug 20, 2016 21:00:17 GMT -5
{{- Hello! Tryouts have ended and I'm pretty sure I got in since there were five slots and only three people including me showed up xD. Anyway yeah I'll get my reply up now. -}}
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Post by Vultis on Aug 20, 2016 21:30:34 GMT -5
Azar certainly wasn't sure that his story would work, so he wasn't surprised when she seemed to not believe it either. "Well it's not like I expected anyone to actually live here- it's a ruined castle." He retorted, elongating the last two words to make the emphasis clear. He brought the hand that had the dagger behind his back to the side. He didn't believe that the girl would actually attack him, and he was trying to make it pretty clear that he wouldn't attack her either.
Ana- no wait - Anya, Azar thought as she cleared herself. He hadn't met any Anya's before- then again he wasn't really the social type, and the only people he'd ever known that were near his age were at the orphanages. Two of which were horrible and gave him a second reason to flee, but the third had been harder. There he had actually made some friends and the care workers weren't all that bad. He had been reluctant to leave, but in the end he did, concerned for the safety of his newly found friends.
"Cool name, never heard it before," he mentioned, although not completely sure why, "I'm Azar." He added lastly, not really used to the whole meeting-another-person thing. "Soooo, why again do you live alone?" He asked, remembering the question he'd had in his mind since she mentioned living there for the safety of others.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 21, 2016 9:08:45 GMT -5
Anya’s gaze flickered to his revealed hand. She shuffled back a little bit without thinking at the sight of the dagger. She’d figured he’d had a weapon back there, considering there was little reason otherwise for keeping a hand behind one’s back, but she couldn’t understand why he would bring it out and just leave it at his side. After a moment, Anya lowered her own weapon and outstretched arm. She kept her hand tight around the handle.
Ruined castle. Anya refused to admit it aloud, but Azar had a point. That was one of the points of her living here, after all. No one would ever think that someone would be living here, so no one would come searching for her. And more importantly, the castle was already ruined. Who would notice if any more damage happened upon it? No one. Ruins are forgotten, even by those who live closest to them. It was the perfect place to imprison someone like her.
“Azar’s a decent name, especially for a thief.” Anya almost said ‘peasant,’ but she caught herself just in time. It did sound like a name suitable for a thief. “Where’s my book? I want it back and don’t say you don’t have it. Books don’t just vanish.” She completely ignored his question.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 21, 2016 9:09:53 GMT -5
(I'd be very surprised if you didn't get in if that was the case XD Rock climbing seems so cool. I'd love to try, but I also have a fear of heights, so...)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 21, 2016 21:13:37 GMT -5
{{- Lol yeah I used to have a fear of heights when I was very little, but thankfully I don't anymore. Sorry I wasn't on earlier today I was watching Stanger Things preoccupied. I'll get my reply up soon but first I have to take a shower and get ready for bed and such. -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 21, 2016 21:17:34 GMT -5
(No problem! I have a huge test first thing tomorrow, so I've been studying a lot of the day. Also, I watched The Little Prince with my mom cos that's a great movie. I may or may not still be on by the time you reply. If not, I'll get to it as soon as I can tomorrow)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 21, 2016 22:34:22 GMT -5
Despite believing that Anya wasn't going to attack him already, it made him feel a bit better when she lowered her weapon. He looked at the dagger in her hands as she brought it down. He breathed out quietly and put his own dagger back in his inside coat pocket. The thing might be ragged, old, and nearly torn apart, but it kept him warm- especially with winter behind not to far around the corner.
While listening to her he felt appraised by the first part of her sentenced, but then angry at the rest. True, he was a thief, but he did what he could to get the little money he had. Deciding to play it cool, he reached back into his coat to withdraw the book with golden letters etched into it. "You must mean this," he said, "Didn't know it was yours- actually thought it would be a pretty interesting read." He looked at the book again, dearly hoping that his foolish lie would get him by this time.
That didn't cover up the other books though, or maybe it did. He could just say they all looked like interesting reads, if she even noticed that the others were gone. He held the book out in front of him, "You'd like it back, I'm assuming?" He asked with a tease, almost daring her to come forward.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 22, 2016 7:02:04 GMT -5
Anya started to lift her dagger again when he slipped his hand back into his coat, worried he would withdraw a weapon that could easily triumph over her small dagger. She immediately dropped it back to her side when it turned out to be her book, perking up. That only lasted a moment, though, and then she was scowling. So she was right, he had taken it. What type of person stole a book that was clearly in the middle of being read?
His teasing tone was lost on her, but the challenge of his words wasn’t. “Really? You can read? I never would have pegged you as the type.” And she still didn’t. She walked forward and snatched the book from his hand. “And of course I want it back.”
Anya hugged the book to her chest for a moment, her tension vanishing. Books wouldn’t yell at her or beat her if she stepped out of line. She couldn’t hurt them and they couldn’t hurt her. Anya looked up at Azar, her guard going back up as quickly as it had disappeared.
“Where are the other books you stole?” It was a guess, nothing more. But if he was willing to take one book, and one that was open and dustless no less, then what was to stop him from taking more? And if she was wrong about it, fine, but she didn’t think she was.
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Post by Vultis on Aug 22, 2016 11:01:58 GMT -5
Her first words hurt. What she said was true, of course, but he hadn't expected her to know. Maybe it was his clothes, or the obvious ragged and thin look that he possessed. Either way he didn't like being seen as a shifty low-life. Unknowledgable and resorting to thievery and crime to get by. He was half-surprised when she came and snatched it out of his hands, but didn't express it nonetheless. He watched her cling to the book, like it was everything to her. Did she have a family? Was she wondering the same thing about him?
How does she know about the other books? He frowned slightly, reaching back into his coat to pull out the other two books that had caught his eye. One thin, and one in the mid-range for a book. Or at least what he thought would be mid-range for a book. He held them both out, but very tightly. "You can have these books back once you answer my question," he offered, "Otherwise they're staying with me."
He grinned ever so slightly, holding the books in his hand while waiting for her response.
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 22, 2016 12:08:56 GMT -5
Anya’s brows knit together when he pulled out the other two books, her arms instinctually tightening around the book she had already gotten back. She couldn’t fathom how all of these books were hidden in such a shabby coat. How many more had he taken and hid in there? She leaned over to see their spines, sighing softly when she realized that she had yet to read either of them.
Anya looked up at him and opened her mouth to respond, but she couldn’t. The words seemed to stick in her throat. She couldn’t look him in the eye and tell even him, a lowly thief. She looked down at her feet, seeming to curl in on herself again. “I told you already. It’s to keep other people safe from me,” she mumbled, all of her confidence and hostility gone, instead replaced with shame and fear. “Okay? What else do you want from me?” She just wanted him to leave and let her live in peace. Why did he insist on dragging this out with questions she had already answered?
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Post by Vultis on Aug 22, 2016 12:38:55 GMT -5
{{- Okay I only have a few more minutes of lunch left but I'll try to reply before it ends. If not then I'll reply after school. -}}
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Post by SparkyFlames on Aug 22, 2016 18:41:12 GMT -5
(I'll be on-off for the next 4-5 hours)
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Post by Vultis on Aug 22, 2016 21:37:19 GMT -5
{{- Okay, I'll get my reply up now. -}}
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Post by Vultis on Aug 22, 2016 22:05:23 GMT -5
Azar's grip loosened on the books drastically. To keep other people safe from me. The words echoed in his mind. How could someone like her be dangerous? He already knew the answer to the question that filled his head. He thought back to the night when he had been eager to practice his newfound abilities, even though his father had forbid him to use them under any circumstances. They'd only known about them for a short time, and being the little ball of curiosity he was he couldn't resist trying them out. In his dark room, illuminated only slightly by the small flame of light that danced on the palm of his hand. His breathing quickened slightly. He didn't want to be thinking about this- not now, not ever. A silent tear drifted down his cheek and he turned to wipe it away immediately.
Had she seen? No, that didn't matter. He hid all of his emotions, looking at her with a blank face. "Here," he said as normal as ever; holding out the book with his extended left arm. "I'm... sorry for uhh... taking them," he mused quietly. And for the question, he wanted to say, but refrained from doing so.
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